DES MOINES Over 350 high school students wearing blue corduroy from over 50 schools flooded the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines on Jan. 31. The students visited with legislators, exhibited skills learned in the agriculture classroom and learned the importance of citizenship. This was all part of the 32nd Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol. During the morning, FFA members heard from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. Libby Crimmings of the World Food Prize addressed students about the future of Iowa agriculture and the importance of being involved with statewide issues. The FFA members also heard remarks from Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds about the importance young agriculturalists can play in the legislative process. Climbing Strast (WI5+, 150m) and Mali zec (WI 4, 150m) in Tara Canyon, the two most difficult icefalls in Montenegro Photo by Ilija Peric Climbing Strast (WI5+, 150m) and Mali zec (WI 4, 150m) in Tara Canyon, the two most difficult icefalls in Montenegro Photo by Ilija Peric Climbing Strast (WI5+, 150m) and Mali zec (WI 4, 150m) in Tara Canyon, the two most difficult icefalls in Montenegro Photo by Ilija Peric Climbing Strast (WI5+, 150m) and Mali zec (WI 4, 150m) in Tara Canyon, the two most difficult icefalls in Montenegro Photo by Ilija Peric Montenegro: most difficult icefall climbed in Tara canyon A mixed team of climbers from Montenegro and Serbia, comprised of Nikola uric, Dusan Brankovic, Dusan Starinac, Danilo Pot and Ivan Lakovic, recently climbed the two highest frozen waterfalls in Montenegro: Strast (WI5+, 150m) and Mali zec (WI4, 150m) in the Tara canyon close to Dobrilovina. Lakovic provides the report. Despite being a Mediterranean country, Montenegros mountains provide almost every aspect of the alpine climbing. Playing with the frozen waterfalls became an integral part of local climbing scene only some fifteen years ago. The ice climbs that form most regularly and which are consequently the most popular are located in the Komarnica valley and in the surroundings of Boan, a small village close to Savnik, as well as in the Moraca and Tara canyons. Unfortunately, these icefalls last very little due to their proximity to the seaside and sudden arrival of the warm air fronts, but when the right conditions prevail, some of these climbs would be considered significant outings even at the most prestigious ice climbing venues. December 2016 and January 2017 brought with it a prolonged period of stabile and freezing-cold weather, enabling many classic winter lines to form. Furthermore, some long-awaited first ascents and repeats have taken place. A mixed team from Podgorica and Belgrade Nikola uric, Dusan Brankovic, Dusan Starinac, Danilo Pot and Ivan Lakovic climbed the two biggest frozen waterfalls in Montenegro on Saturday, January 28th. Both icefalls are located near Dobrilovina, a small village in Tara canyon, close to the road that leads to Lake Zabojsko. Nikola and myself made the first ascent of Strast (Passion) WI 5+, 150m on the left, while the two Dusans and Danilo repeated Mali zec (Little rabbit), WI 4, 150m on the right . The latter had been climbed for the first time only three weeks earlier by Sran Lecic and myself. Weather conditions were almost ideal, with temperatures ranging between -12/-5C. Strast is currently the most difficult ice climb in the country, and we climbed it in four pitches (P1:WI4, 50m; P2:WI5, 50m; P3:WI5, 30m; P4:WI5+, 20m). It received its second ascent two days later, when fellow climbers Mican Cerovic and orije Vujicic climbed the route and confirmed the grades. A crew from Riders.me team recorded these ascents with photos and video. by Ivan Lakovic Climbers: Nikola uric, Dusan Brankovic, Dusan Starinac, Danilo Pot, Ivan Lakovic Video: Sasa Vujanovic, Bojan Gnjidic, Ilija Peric No charges brought by GMP following Operation Clifton Investigation into rumours of a high-level cover-up involving historic child sexual abuse have resulted in no criminal charges. The force said it would not be providing interviews on the subject Date - 8th February 2017 By - John Toner - Police Oracle - 8th February 2017 0203 119 3303 or alternatively get in touch via the Do you have an interesting news story? Contact the newsdesk onor alternatively get in touch via the contact form Greater Manchester Police will bring no criminal charges over rumours of a historic child sex abuse cover up at a Rochdale school. Operation Clifton was launched in July 2014 to look into reports of child sex abuse being mishandled or covered... FOREST CITY The Forest City Family YMCA has launched its 2017 Annual Campaign, which aims to focus on work in the North Iowa area and beyond. The Y works to ensure all individuals have the support they need to achieve their full potential, said Bruce Mielke, executive director at the Forest City Y. The Y provide services addressing critical issues such as youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The campaign runs through March 31. Those interested in donating to the Forest City Family YMCA can stop by and visit the front desk, visit www.forestcityymca.org or call 641-585-5220. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print During oral arguments over Donald Trumps immigration ban that targets Muslims and refugees, a three-judge panel seemed ready to deal the latest legal blow to the presidents controversial and unpopular executive order. One key moment during the arguments came when lawyers for Washington and Minnesota two states that are challenging the ban claimed that Trumps executive order clearly violates the Constitution by targeting immigrants based on their religious beliefs. When asked for evidence to back up that assertion, Washington state solicitor general Noah Purcell simply referred the judges to Trump and his advisors rather shocking rhetoric during and after the campaign. The public statements from the president and his top advisors prove that the goal of Trumps order was to limit or ban Muslims from the United States, Purcell argued. Not to mention, as the LA Times noted on Tuesday, The day [Trump] signed the order, he gave an interview to a Christian television network in which he said he wanted to give priority to Christian refugees. When one of the judges defended Trumps ban by saying it only makes up a small portion of the global Muslim population, Purcell was quick to respond. We do not need to prove that this order harms only Muslims or that it harms every Muslim, he said, saying its only relevant that religion was a factor in barring people from entering the country, which in Trumps own words it clearly was. The legal team opposing Trump made sound arguments as to why the presidents ban is unconstitutional, and the panel of three judges two appointed by Democratic presidents and one appointed by a Republican appeared to have largely agreed with the concerns laid before them. One Supreme Court and Appellate Attorney tweeted this shortly after the arguments, suggesting that its highly unlikely there are enough votes on the panel to favor the president: 11/ Most important practically, I dont see 2 votes to say that ban should immediately go back into effect, in whole or in part. #WAvTrump. Brian Goldman (@briangoldman) February 8, 2017 While the media advisory released prior to the oral arguments stated that the courts decision isnt expected today, its clear that opponents of Trumps travel ban have the advantage. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In the highly anticipated CNN debate between former presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz regarding the Affordable Care Act, Cruz boxed himself into a corner and Sanders was happy to let him stay there. After Cruz expressed phony concern that insurance companies have racked up huge profits over the last six years, Sanders excitedly pounced, telling the Texas senator that there is an easy way to combat insurance company greed simply scrap the for-profit system altogether. Ted, lets work together on a Medicare-for-all, single-payer program, Sanders tells Cruz, latching on Cruz words about insurance companies Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) February 8, 2017 Once Cruz essentially admitted that the only goal of insurance companies is to make billions of dollars, not help people get health care, Sanders had all the ammunition he needed to urge Cruz to put is money where his mouth is and support a system that puts patient health above profits. Predictably, Cruz changed the subject and instead told Sanders they should work together in going after big pharma, hoping to maneuver himself out of his own trap. Once again, though, the Vermont senator was happy to engage, urging Cruz to walk the walk and join him in crafting legislation to take on the issue. Video: Cruz to Sanders: I would love for us to work together to go after big pharma #CNNDebateNight https://t.co/bIRFGMYqCK https://t.co/eIVkbUcxnk CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 8, 2017 Sanders said: Im gonna introduce legislation to have Medicare negotiate prices with the pharmaceutical industry. Im going to introduce, again, legislation to allow Americans to buy less expensive medicine in Canada, the UK, and other countries. Lets take on the greed of pharma. Each time Cruz tried to pretend to care about greed and profits for the sake of not looking foolish, Sanders made him pay and Cruz was forced backed down. Ultimately, Sanders exposed the Texas senator as a phony who talks a good game but will always defend insurance company profits over his constituents. None of this should be all that surprising given the fact that Ted Cruz has received nearly $150,000 from insurance companies since 2011. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) selectively enforced an obscure Senate rule to silence Elizabeth Warren as she discussed Trump attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL). Video: As Sen. Warren was quoting Coretta Scott King, McConnell interrupted and said, The Senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama as warned by the Chair. Sen Warren said, Sen. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. I call the Senate to order under provisions of Rule XIX. Warren said, Mr. President, I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate. I ask leave of the Senate to continue my remarks. McConnell objected. Warren appealed, and the result was a 49-43 party line vote rebuking Warren for violating the Senate rules during a floor speech. In a statement to PolitcusUSA, Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumers office pointed out the selective enforcement of the rule, Senate Republicans have regularly flaunted Rule XIX in the past but Republicans never asked them to sit down. This is a clear case of selective enforcement. Only Sen. Warren accurately quoting from MLKs widow provoked Republicans to action. Senate Rule XIX was most famously broken by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in 2015 when he called Senate Majority Leader McConnell a liar on the Senate floor. Rule XIX was not invoked against Cruz, so the lesson is that it is fine to call the Senate Majority Leader a liar as long as you are a Republican, but Democrats will be considered in violation of the rules if they quote a Civil Rights hero accurately. Even for Mitch McConnell, this is a new disgusting low. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Kellyanne Conway claimed that the press is not showing proper respect to Trump, which is why the president continues to attack the media. Video: CNNs Jake Tapper said that he would rather be talking about real issues like veterans issues and immigration, and counter-terrorism with Kellyanne Conway, But instead, there are these sprays of accusations and sprays of falsehoods coming from the White House. It would be better if they were not coming from the White House for me and for you. Conway answered, Agreed. And let me just say it has to go both ways. I mean. I do, Jake. I sincerely dont see a lot of difference in coverage from when he was a candidate, and when he became the Republican nominee, the president-elect, and indeed, the president. Some outlets, some people are covering him the same way, and it doesnt have a great deal of respect for the Office of the President, and its current occupant. Kellyanne Conway then complained about CNN giving too much coverage to Trumps Muslim ban. Its clear that by respect, Kellyanne Conway meant more favorable coverage towards Trump. Press outlets should cover Trump in an even more critical manner now that he is president than they did when he was a candidate. One of the problems in the media coverage of the 2016 election is that too many members of the media didnt take Trump seriously as a candidate. Donald Trump got softer coverage as a candidate as cable news found a campaign that they thought was nothing more than a ratings draw sideshow. Now that Trump is president, he is being covered like a president, and this White House doesnt like it. President Trump is the person who claimed to be at war with the press. It was Trump who repeated the comments of his White House senior adviser Steve Bannon who called the media the opposition party. The press has been very respectful of the President. The problem is that Donald Trump has no respect for the free press. The White House complaints about a lack of respect are only serving to remind reporters to examine Trump at all times with a critical eye because Donald Trump doesnt want respect. He wants to silence disagreement and dissent. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Trump White House suffered another defeat in their war with the media today as CNN immediately shot down a Sean Spicer lie about why the network turned down an offer to interview Kellyanne Conway. Video of Spicer: Press Secretary Spicer was asked if the White House is willing to provide alternative representatives after CNN turned down an offer of Kellyanne Conway over concerns about her credibility. Spicer said, Frankly, my understanding is that they retracted that. They walked that back or denied it. However, you want to put it, I dont care. I think Kellyanne is a very trusted aide of the president. I think that for any characterization otherwise is insulting. I think if they choose not to work with someone thats up to them, but were going to continue to put out key leaders of this administration including Kellyanne, that can articulate the presidents policies and agenda. CNN wasnt having any of Sean Spicers lies: CNN declined the offer to interview Conway because they had serious credibility concerns about Trumps senior adviser. The White House press secretary looked the American people in the eye and lied to them. For any other administration being told that a White House senior adviser lacks the credibility needed to be on cable news would be a problem. For the Trump administration, it is an excuse to lie about the actions of a cable news network. CNN isnt putting up with the White Houses daily distortions of truth. I dont support the limiting of access to information, but the time has come for television networks to evaluate the decision to show White House events live. If an administration is going to use the platform of the presidency dishonestly, the press has a duty to check the White House statements for factual accuracy. What CNN is doing is a good first step, but stronger remedies need to follow. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Deputy Assistant to President Trump, Sebastian Gorka, said that the White House is going to continue calling the media fake news until the press stops being critical of Trump. Audio: According to CNN, Gorka said, There is a monumental desire on behalf of the majority of the media, not just the pollsters, the majority of the media to attack a duly elected President in the second week of his term. Thats how unhealthy the situation is and until the media understands how wrong that attitude is, and how it hurts their credibility, we are going to continue to say, fake news. Im sorry, Michael. Thats the reality. Any story that criticizes Trump, or that the President does not like is going to be labeled fake news by the White House. It seems that the only real news that the White House will accept is stories that praise Trump. The real point of the Trump White Houses adoption of the fake news term as a weapon is the delegitimation of the free press. The White House is attempting to delegitimize facts and information that they dont like by labeling them as not real. If President Trump and his team are able to successfully confuse the American people, it will be more difficult to hold them accountable for their actions. The fake news punishment is more than a way to pressure the press to give Trump positive coverage. The White House is trying to discredit the flow of factual information to the public. Gorkas comments demonstrate that the nations real fake news problem is currently residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print This morning, Donald Trump took his lies straight to a gathering of sheriffs at the White House and immediately bragged about his support for two controversial pipelines, Keystone XL and DAPL, claiming nobody opposes his support for either project. As Trump fact checker Daniel Dale of the Toronto Star related this morning, Trump explained at length to sheriffs that nobody complained when his exec order approved Keystone. His exec order didnt approve Keystone. pic.twitter.com/Z7PLl0G96d Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 8, 2017 Of course, if Trump doesnt know people oppose Keystone XL and the Dakota Access Pipeline it is because he doesnt want to know. It is ignorance of a willful sort, of the type so frequently exhibited on the campaign trail and since his inauguration. Trump claimed, As you know, I did the Dakota pipeline and nobody called up to complain because it was unfair. Years of getting approvals, nobody showed up to fight it. This company spends a tremendous hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and then all of a sudden, people show up to fight it. Its not fair to our companies. And I think everyone is going to be happy in the end, okay? We have a president who armors himself in ignorance. He claims to be a smart guy but is somehow ignorant not only of the fact that Keystone XL will not create thousands of jobs (it will create 35) but that nobody opposes DAPL despite numerous beatings, bitings and pepper sprayings, blunt force trauma and open wounds inflicted by police and hired thugs perpetrated on protesters blocking its path. Despite President Obama ordering the Army to re-route the pipeline. Despite Malia Obama making headlines by protesting DAPL. Despite Trumps own and his energy secretarys own economic interest in seeing DAPL completed, we are supposed to believe that he is unaware of opposition to these projects and that everybody is happy with his decision. Even as supposedly inviolate treaty rights are violated. It is literally impossible to remain unaware of opposition to DAPL. The Standing Rock Sioux have responded to Trumps support for DAPL and he will find it difficult to pretend people are not opposed to his rape of the land and his racism directed against Native Americans: We are greatly disappointed, but we are not DEFEATED. Stand with us. Together, we will rise. #NativeNationsMarch https://t.co/CyxmpNbpSV pic.twitter.com/S2fEYjoeeJ Standing Rock Sioux (@StandingRockST) February 8, 2017 Donald Trump says DAPL protests werent fair to our companies but apparently depriving the people of Standing Rock of their only supply of clean drinking water so Trump and Rick Perry can line their pockets is. Of course, Trump also brought a cheering section to the CIA and then pretended that it was the CIA employees who were cheering for him. There is not a lie Donald Trump is unwilling to tell, bald-faced and obvious, it will still be embraced and spread as gospel by the most corrupt administration in American history. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The following is an editorial by PoliticusUSA co-publisher Sarah Jones. When Republicans voted to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren Tuesday night on the Senate floor, they justified it by using shame. It wasnt the right thing to do and The Senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, they lectured. This matters because this is how Republicans silenced dissent under George W. Bush, and way too many liberals and Democrats fell for it then. In order for Republicans to continue to abuse this nation, the nation has to agree at some point. That will happen by a quiet acquiescence among pundits and then Democrats, conceding to the accusations of it wasnt right it was rude. That acquiescence is the final leg to fall before the true assault begins. The tenets of our nation are under relentless attack right now under the Trump administration, which makes Ws look like a play date for dictators. We cant afford to let this tactic work now. Republican Orrin Hatch justified the silencing of Warren with this ironic claim to a moral high ground as he defended the attempt to confirm a person who worked to steal liberty from American citizens due to their skin color, Even if what she said was true, it wasnt the right thing to do. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accused Warren of impugning the motives of Sen. Jeff Sessions, who has been nominated for U.S. attorney general, by reading a letter about his work record, The Senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama. If the facts impugn Sessions motives and conduct, that would be his fault, not Warrens. As Ms. King wrote, Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. This conduct is his own, and reporting it is not impugning anyones motives. Senator Warren didnt let it work; she took Coretta Scott Kings letter outside to the hall and read it on Facebook live, a video that as of this writing at 9:51 AM on Wednesday morning has 5,862,192 views and counting. But listen again to the words of these Republicans, for they are echoing their comments about the anti-Trump protesters and indeed any reporting of the truth about the Trump administration, which Kellyanne Conway has dubbed the act haters as Steve Bannon declared the press to be the opposition party. If you werent around during the Bush administration you might not remember the country, liberals and Democrats as well, being silenced by stern lectures that it wasnt right to criticize the president while we were at war. The country music group the Dixie Chicks were censored by the entire nation and banned by radio stations when they said, Just so you know, were ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas. Contrast that with the way Republicans gleefully and boastfully treated President Obama, yelling at him during a 2010 joint session of Congress, with an inaccurate charge of You lie! meant to smear the Presidents attempt to provide all Americans with access to affordable healthcare. Watch here to refresh yourself on what Republicans thought was appropriate under Obama: Michael Moore used a 2003 Oscars speech to rail against the Iraq War and a Republican president who was, many felt at the time, basically appointed by the Supreme Court, and liberal Hollywood turned their backs to him. I was working there then, and the feeling was that this was simply the wrong way to do this, it was rude and disrespectful. Moore was booed for saying, We like non-fiction, as we live in fictitious times. We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether its the fiction of duct tape or fiction of orange alerts we are against this war, Mr Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. It might have been rude, but it was also necessary. A study has shown that nationalism can be used to enable and legitimize authoritarianism. This requires the consent of the people, which is achieved in moments like the shunning of Michael Moore and the shaming of the vagina hats protesting Trump. This is the part we must not forget. We must not be so afraid of criticism that we shirk our duties to speak out against assaults on freedoms. Martin Luther King, Jr spoke out about this in his April 16, 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail, noting (paraphrasing) that people often say its the wrong time to speak out. MLK opened his letter, My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities unwise and untimely.' He observed, You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations. Where was the Republican concern for respect for the most basic rights for black Americans last night? They valued selling a whitewashed lie to the American public about Senator Sessions over even allowing a reading of his record of assaulting the rights of vulnerable citizens. The Kentucky Democrats shared this today: Just going to leave this right here. pic.twitter.com/hPmAfZ2QuA KY Democratic Party (@KyDems) February 8, 2017 Republicans are making the charge It wasnt right now in defense of people with known racist and misogynistic records. They arent working for the people. They are working for a small subsection of the Republican Party base, with an end goal to undermine and destroy the values of freedom and access to opportunity for all that make this country great. Do not let these words silence you even for a moment. Republicans are not standing on any moral high ground, indeed they are actively working to destroy our fragile, imperfect but aspirational democracy. The moral high ground here is in the dissent. There is no morality in the work of elected Republicans right now. They are actively working for Putin, against freedom and liberty, and against the hopeful, welcoming spirit of our country. When the facts impugn your motives, the right thing to do is self-reflection, not silencing of the facts. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In a disgusting display, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tried to dodge criticism of the disastrous Yemen raid by claiming that anyone who criticizes the raid is dishonoring the memory of deceased CPO Ryan Owens. Video of White House Press Sec. Sean Spicer responding to criticism of the raid: Spicer responded to criticism of the raid by using the sacrifice as a Ryan Owens as a shield to deflect questions about the raid. The Press Secretary said, Its absolutely a success, and I think anyone who would suggest its not a success does a disservice to the life of Chief Ryan Owens. He fought knowing what was at stake in that mission, and anyone who would suggest otherwise doesnt fully appreciate how successful that mission was. What the information they were able to retrieve was, and how that will help prevent future terrorist attacksI think anybody who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology and a disservice to the life of Chief Owens. Spicer continued, The action that was taken in Yemen was a huge success. American lives will be saved because of it. Future attacks will be prevented because of it. The life of Chief Owens was done in service to this country, and we owe him and his family a great debt for the information that we received in that raid. I think any suggestion otherwise is a disservice to his courageous life and the actions that he took. Full stop. The White House was responding to criticism from Sen. John McCain who after receiving a classified briefing on the mission called it a failure. McCain later toned it down a bit but released a statement saying, Every military operation has objectives. And while many of the objectives of the recent raid in Yemen were met, I would not describe any operation that results in the loss of American life as a success. Spicers claim of great success contradicts reports from officials who say that everything went wrong in Yemen. The Presidents White House is using the death of someone who they got killed to avoid accountability and criticism for their actions. No one is saying that Ryan Owens wasnt a brave hero, but there are legitimate questions that need to be answered by this administration about what went wrong in Yemen. To use a death that their poor planning caused as a shield to deflect criticism is repulsive and unpresidential. OSAGE | After reviewing an analysis submitted by a non-profit citizens environmental action group, the Mitchell County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Jan. 31 denied two master matrix applications for new concentrated animal feeding operations. The application was for construction of two 2,500-head deep pit swine finisher confinement buildings in rural southeastern Mitchell County, submitted by Grey Owl Farm II LLC, operating as Underwood Finisher Farms, Orchard. The LLC works with Iowa Select Farms, who operates 25 farms in Mitchell and Howard counties. It employs 61 local residents and contracts with six other area families, operating on an annual payroll of $2.1 million, with another $405,000 in contractor payments. The supervisors' denial was based on analysis of the applications by Erica Blair, an organizer on the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvements (CCI) Farming and Environment team. CCI was heavily involved in Cerro Gordo and Wright County campaigns regarding Prestage Foods of Iowa's pork processing plant, which will be built near Eagle Grove. Blair on the the CCI's website says she "works with communities across the state to lift up family farmers and stop corporate ag giants from polluting Iowa's precious resources." We believe supervisors need to be more closely involved with the matrixes, Mason City resident Tom Willett said during a public hearing. Its about water quality and quality of life. These issues need to be addressed." Willet said he also believes neighbors should be notified by letter when a matrix application is submitted. A master matrix is a scoring system used to evaluate confined feeding operations, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. A notice of public hearing regarding the matrixes was printed in the Mitchell County Press-News January 18 after being submitted by the county auditor. Operators are required to score a minimum of 440 points on the application. Grey Owl Farm II says it scored 445, but Blair's analysis indicates the company took in 105 erroneous points for not meeting DNR standards. That left a score of 340, well below the required 440. Blair was contacted Osage resident and CCI, Penney Morse, who presented Blairs findings during the public hearing. Morse said she believed someone who had evaluated many such matrixes needed to be contacted and assist the supervisors in their determination. As proposed, the confinement is not in the best interest of the county, Morse said. Iowa law indicates supervisors are mandated to score the master matrix, which includes a site visit to proposed construction. However, since the law was passed, Mitchell County says it has relied on applicants scoring their own master matrix applications, with the board approving them as presented. This was the first time the county has denied applications. Gene Tinker, Iowa DNR coordinator for animal feeding operations, said via phone Tuesday many Iowa counties will contract with groups or organizations to help score a master matrix. Blair, who has been with CCI less than a year, said via phone Tuesday, Mitchell County was about her sixth application to score. She said CCI has evaluated and scored hundreds of applications the past 20 years. Blair said no specific training or education was needed to score a master matrix. The application was designed by the legislature so community members can review them to see if something is missing or needed to be looked at closer," she said. We are really excited they did take the community input into account, Blair said. They (board of supervisors) did their job. They saw the application wasnt up to snuff and by denying the application, they did what they needed to do. Supervisor Stan Walk said in the past the county has not scored the matrixes before passing them on the DNR. "How can we make an issue if we are not qualified to know there is a problem?" he asked Tuesday. "The DNR is supposed to be qualified in making these decisions just pass it on to the DNR." Supervisor Shannon Paulus said it is the board's job to "review everything." It (application) has been evaluated by someone who knows," Paulus said. "It is our due diligence to deny the application and send it back. With denial of the applications, Tinker said his office will now conduct an independent review of the applications to determine an independent score, ultimately determining if the master matrix was correctly scored. Tinker said his office annually sees 12 to 15 applications denied by counties across Iowa. Of those denied each year, one or two may be overturned, with the remaining applications either being withdrawn all together or a new application being submitted. Keith Kratchmer, environmental compliance officer for Iowa Select Farms, said via phone Tuesday he was not able to comment on the denial, since he was not aware of the specific reason the master matrix was denied. The application submitted was completely legal and points taken were valid," he said. Iowa Select Farms in July 2016 announced a $100,000 Community Care matching grant program for the community of Riceville. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. CEDAR RAPIDS | A federal judge stated Wednesday that a man living in Cedar Rapids actively participated in the Rwandan genocide. Gervais "Ken" Ngombwa, 56, is to be sentenced March 2 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa for making false statements to gain entry into the United States as a refugee from Rwanda. He was convicted following a jury trial a little more than a year ago. The evidence at trial showed Ngombwa knowingly made several material false statements to gain entry into the United States as a refugee from Rwanda in 1998, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Notably, Ngombwa falsely claimed to be the brother of Faustin Twagiramungu, a former prime minister of Rwanda, who lives in exile in Belgium. During a two-day sentencing hearing in September, the government presented testimony about the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which hundreds of thousands of people from the Tutsi ethnic group were killed. The evidence showed Ngombwa was charged and convicted in two Gacaca courts in Rwanda for his involvement in the Rwandan genocide. The court then took the contested sentencing issues under advisement. In a 48-page sentencing order filed Wednesday, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade noted witnesses in Rwanda credibly stated Ngombwa personally killed numerous Tutsi, transported and directed the youth militia to kill Tutsi, looted Tutsi property, and led brutal attacks on groups of Tutsi seeking refuge in locations such as a local church and a priests compound. Reade has revoked Ngombwas U.S. citizenship. WASHINGTON The number of open jobs was mostly unchanged in December from the previous month, leaving openings at a healthy level. The Labor Department said Tuesday job openings were flat at 5.5 million in December. Total hiring rose slightly to 5.25 million, while the number of people quitting fell. The figures suggest that December was a mostly stable month for the job market, with many employers possibly waiting until the new year to step up hiring. Last week's jobs report showed that employers stepped up hiring in January, adding 227,000 jobs, the most in four months. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.8 percent from 4.7 percent, but the increase was mostly for a good reason: More Americans began looking for work, but not all immediately found jobs. Last week's jobs figure is a net gain after layoffs, quits and retirements are subtracted from overall hiring. ADVERTISEMENT Tuesday's data comes from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey, or JOLTS, and are more detailed and provide a fuller view of the job market. The number of available jobs has risen 4.2 percent in the past year, while total hiring in the JOLTS report has actually fallen in the past 12 months. That suggests businesses are having trouble finding the workers they need to fill their open positions. Some companies, including many manufacturers, say that many job applicants don't have the skills they need. Many economists, however, argue that companies may have to pay more to attract better applicants. They also may have to do more training of prospective employees. The rising number of openings in the past 12 months could force employers to offer bigger paychecks. Average hourly wages rose at a healthy pace in December from the previous year, then slipped back in January. Job openings fell in construction, financial services, restaurants and hotels and in state and local government. They rose in manufacturing and retail trade. Winona State University is celebrating its new downtown location in partnership with Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday. WSU-Rochester will host a ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m. Thursday at its new downtown location, 400 South Broadway, Suite 300. The event is free and open the public. WSU President Scott R. Olson is scheduled to deliver brief comments about WSU-Rochester's history, programs, partnerships, and plans for its upcoming centennial celebration. "WSU-Rochester has been an integral and steadfast part of the Rochester community for the past 100 years," said Olson in a news release. "We have been serving our students and the Rochester community with quality programming for the past century, and will continue to do so for the next 100 years." Metered street parking is available. Parking is also available at the 3rd Street and 2nd Street Ramps. ADVERTISEMENT For more information, contact Brenda Phillips at bphillips@winona.edu or 507-535-2520. DES MOINES | Business representatives Wednesday applauded a House proposal to preempt cities and counties from going beyond statewide standards for minimum wages and civil rights, while critics blasted the bill as an overreach that flies in the face of home rule and local control. We think there needs to be a clear policy across the state, not a patchwork, said Jessica Harder, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Business & Industry. He was joined by representatives of retailers, city chambers of commerce, casinos in supporting the bill. It would bar local entities from establishing minimum wage levels or employment regulations, marketing or consumer merchandise sales restrictions or adopting civil rights ordinances that go above and beyond statewide standard. Its kind of an inconsistent policy to have, she added. A section of House Study Bill 92 deals with any terms or conditions of employment that exceed or conflict with the requirements of federal or state minimum or living wage rate. It states that any local ordinance or resolution in conflict with the preemption slated to take effect upon the governors signature would be void and unenforceable after that enactment date. For folks who believe in small government and local control, this makes absolutely no sense, Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund Connie Ryan told two majority Republicans. She questioned why lawmakers were pushing civil rights law preemptions designed to protect marginalized people in our state with a change that could reestablish discriminatory practices of the 1950s. Why are you messing with the Iowa Civil Rights Act? she asked. Joe Fagan, a Des Moines resident who applauded his Polk County supervisors for raising the countys minimum wage above $7.25, chastised legislators for their inaction to address the issue until someone else did it for them. You didnt do anything for all these years. Now they did something and now youre here to take it away. The people who are poor, youre acting like you want to keep them that way, he said. You finally did something by doing something bad. At the local level, Johnson County was the first in the state to pass a countywide minimum wage ordinance, which brought the local rate up to $10.10 last month. Future adjustments are possible based on committee recommendations. Several speakers expressed concern HSB92 would actually lower wages for some Iowans, while Pastor Debbie Griffin of the downtown Disciples of Christ Church. She implored lawmakers not to adversely impact changes that are helping to support, feed and empower disadvantaged Iowans. It is just appalling to me that you would do this injustice to people who are hungry, people who cant afford child care, people who have to lower their pride to get assistance and they dont want to, she said. So to take away the pride and the equality and the ability for people to earn a living wage, I just beg you not to do this and I completely cannot understand why. Subcommittee chair Rep. John Landon, R-Ankeny, said the bill would get more discussion from subcommittee members who did not vote publicly Wednesday. Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, said he opposed the measure but planned to offer amendments in committee and on the House floor that would include an effort to raise the statewide minimum wage to $11 an hour. Olmsted County could join a growing number of Minnesota counties increasing sales tax to pay for transportation projects and laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of state and federal lawmakers. "They have failed us year after year after year," said board Chairman Ken Brown as the board discussed a proposed quarter-cent sales tax to pay for road and bridge work. Commissioners repeatedly pointed to the lack of state and federal funding as the reason for considering a sales tax increase. They set a March 21 public hearing on raising the sales tax by as much as a half cent. While an annual $10 wheelage fee provides $1.2 million a year to fund preservation efforts, it covers only about four miles of work each year, short of the 15 miles Olmsted County Engineer Kaye Bieniek said should be done annually. An existing quarter-cent transportation tax funds the county's contribution to Destination Medical Center transportation efforts. ADVERTISEMENT It leaves the county to use its property tax levy to pay an estimated $17.8 million in debt related to transportation projects during the next five years, unless another source of revenue is tapped. An additional quarter-cent sales tax would generate an estimated $34 million during the same five years, enough to pay off the debt and fund other needed projects, according to county staff. Estimates presented by Wilfredo Roman-Catala of the county's finance office show the county expects to collect $72 million from existing funding sources during the next five years, which would leave $14 million in planned transportation projects unfunded during the same period. "This is the scary part of that presentation," he said. "That unfunded line is a scary number." Estimates for unfunded projects rise to $118 million for the five years starting with 2022. The county board's two new commissioner, Mark Thein and Gregg Wright, questioned whether the quarter-cent tax is enough, noting the state allows counties to double the amount, as long as the need is proven. Bieniek said the need could be proven by moving delayed projects forward and increasing highway preservation efforts. Thein and Wright suggested it would allow the county to take pressure off the property tax levy, while putting the county in a better position for future projects. ADVERTISEMENT "Do you want to have to do this again?" Thein asked. Commissioner Jim Bier, however, noted the lower amount leaves wiggle room in case future needs arise. Additionally, he said it keeps some pressure on state officials to fund local projects. "We can't just throw up our arms and let them off the hook," he said. Deputy County Administrator Heidi Welsch said county administrators are requesting the quarter-cent tax to cover current need, noting future costs of will likely prompt a return to the issue unless other funding streams are found. "We do recognize that we will likely go to that half-cent sales tax at some point," she said. Twenty-nine of the state's 87 counties collect a half-cent sales tax for transportation projects. Of those, 15 also collect a wheelage tax. Ive been writing about Keith Ellison since he was endorsed by the DFL Fifth District convention to succeed Rep. Martin Sabo in the spring of 2006. I wrote some 20 Power Line posts under the heading Who is Keith Ellison? I summarized my findings in the Weekly Standard article Louis Farrakhans first congressman and in the companion Power Line post Keith Ellison for dummies. When Ellison published his 2014, memoir cum manifesto My Country, Tis of Thee, I wrote about it in the Weekly Standard article The Ellison elision and the Star Tribune column Keith Ellison remembers to forget. I still had enough left over for the Power Line post The Ellison elision: A sidebar. My work on Ellison has been driven by the oversights and misrepresentations and laziness of the political reporters at Minneapoliss Star Tribune. They have left the story of Ellisons back pages to others. They apparently lack the professional pride necessary to keep themselves from being scooped on a big story in their own back yard, despite the fact that much of it could be told from their own archives. Ellisons run to chair the DNC has made him a national story all over again. Ive told my friends at the Star Tribune its not too late! They have another reason to dig in and tell the story. I took another whack at the story myself for the Weekly Standard in The trouble with Keith Ellison. Now I have to take that back. The bimonthly left-wing magazine Mother Jones shows what the Star Tribune could have done any time in the past 10 years in the deeply reported investigative piece by Tim Murphy, Keith Ellison Is Everything Republicans Thought Obama Was. Maybe Hes Just What Democrats Need. Murphys is an extraordinary piece of journalism. Although it is written from a radical perspective, it provides sufficient information for readers to make up their own minds about him. It shows what the Star Tribune could have done if they were driven by professional pride and if their reporters cared to detach themselves from their political passions. One more conditional observation. If anyone at the Star Tribune has professional pride, he is embarrassed by Murphys piece. Murphy covers the story of Ellisons participation as a University of Minnesota Law School student in the infamous speech given by the late anti-Semitic raver Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) the law schools Room 22. He even digs up and posts the video below with Ellisons introduction of Ture. Ellison appears in the video introducing Ture under one of his Nation of Islam pseudonyms, Keith Hakim. Poring over my Ellison file this year, I found an email message and notes of my interview with 1989-1990 University of Minnesota Daily opinion editor Michael Olenick. Olenick recalled his resistance to publishing Ellisons Daily opinion columns under the stupid pseudonym Keith Hakim. Ellison told him that he was in the process of legally changing his name to Hakim. He noted that it might just have been one of those things that Ellison forgot to get around to, like paying his taxes. Murphy also tracked Olenick down. Murphy quotes Olenick: Olenick told Mother Jones that in their conversations Ellison argued that blacks and other oppressed groups could not be racist toward Jews because Jews were themselves oppressors. European white Jews are trying to oppress minorities all over the world, Olenick said Ellison would tell him. Keith would go on all the time about Jewish slave traders. Thats our man. Ellison has staked his career on the assertion that his involvement with the Nation of Islam was limited to a period of 18 months around the time of the Million Man March. Ellison claims ignorance of Farrakhans and the Nations anti-Semitism based on his limited involvement with the cult. Based on my own reporting, I find this claim to be demonstrably false. Given his false claim of ignorance despite his long involvement with the Nation of Islam, Ellison cannot talk about his involvement without lying about it. He therefore either lies or avoid talking to knowledgeable reporters. Murphy covers Ellison from a supportive radical perspective, yet Ellison refused to talk to him. Ellison obviously refused to talk to Murphy because Murphy had the material with which to raise questions about Ellisons involvement with the Nation of Islam. Murphy notes parenthetically: [Ellison] declined to be interviewed for this story, and his office did not respond to detailed questions from Mother Jones (and there is more to this effect below as well). That is a credit to Murphy. Murphy reports, for example: Ellison has said that he was never a member of the Nation of Islam and that his working relationship with the organizations Twin Cities study group (the national organizations term for its chapters) lasted just 18 months. He has said that he was an angry young black man who thought he might have found an ally in the cause of economic and political empowerment, and that he overlooked Farrakhans most incendiary statements because when youre African American, theres literally no leader who is not beat up by the press. In his book, Ellison outlines deep theological differences between the group and his mainstream Muslim faith. But his break from Farrakhan was not quite as clean as he portrayed it. Under the byline Keith X Ellison, months after the march that he described as an epiphany, he penned an op-ed in the Twin Cities black weekly Insight News, pushing back against charges of anti-Semitism directed at Farrakhan. In 1997, nearly two years later, he endorsed a statement again defending Farrakhan. When Ellison ran (unsuccessfully) for state representative in 1998, Insight News described him as affiliated with the Nation of Islam. Two organizers who worked with him at the time told me they believed Ellison had been a member of the Nation. At community meetings, he was even known to show up in a bow tie, accompanied by dark-suited members of the Fruit of Islam, the Nations security wing. Minister James Muhammad, who in the 1990s led the Nation of Islams Twin Cities study group, confirms that Ellison served for several years as the local groups chief of protocol, acting as a liaison between Muhammad and members of the community. He was a trusted member of our inner circle, says Muhammad, who is no longer active in the Nation of Islam. Ellison regularly attended meetings and sometimes spoke in Muhammads stead, when the leader was absent. An Ellison spokesman declined to answer questions about the congressmans role in the study group and instead replied in an email, Right wing and anti-Muslim extremists have been trying to smear Keith and distort his record for more than a decade. Hes written extensively about his work on the Million Man March, and has a long history of standing up against those who sow division and hatred. Murphy has more of interest on Ellisons treatment of the Nation of Islam: Critics in the Twin Cities view the relationship in cold political termsFarrakhan was a useful affiliation for Ellison up until he wasnt. Keith was able to climb up some steps by talking about his respect and love for the honorable minister, says Ron Edwards, a Minneapolis media fixture and a former director of the radio station where Ellison co-hosted his show. People dont forget that. Spike Moss, an organizer who worked with Ellison on the Million Man March, called his reversal the ultimate betrayal. Farrakhan even recorded a Facebook video responding to Ellison this past December. If you denounce me to achieve greatness, he said, wait until the enemy betrays you and then throws you back like a piece of used tissue paper to your people. Menakem attributes the various identities that his book club buddy and radio co-host adopted over the yearsKeith Hakim, Keith X Ellison, Keith Muhammadto him becoming conscious and him trying on different ways of being before he settled on who he is, he says. Hes always remaking himself, says Anthony Ellison, the congressmans younger brother. The Keith Ellison from 20 years ago is not the Keith Ellison today. I seriously doubt that Ellisons DNC candidacy can succeed in the face of Murphys friendly if honest reportage. That means we will be dealing with Ellison in Minnesota for some time to come. if so, Murphys reportage should help us understand whom we are dealing with. Michael McConnell, formerly a federal appellate judge and now professor of constitutional law at Stanford, is one of Americas top lawyers. His tenure on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overlapped with Neil Gorsuchs time on that bench, so Michael knows Gorsuch well, and they sat on nearly 50 cases together. If anyone is qualified to evaluate Judge Gorsuch as a potential Supreme Court justice, it is Michael McConnell. His assessment of Gorsuch at Hoovers Defining Ideas therefore deserves attention. Here are some excerpts: More important than his qualifications are his qualities of mind. He is rigorously intelligent, fair-minded, and one of the finest writers in the entire judiciary. Like Justice Scalia, he tries to minimize the role that judges own views play in the interpretation of the law. Perhaps unlike Justice Scalia, a pugnacious lover of intellectual battle whose intellectual inclination was to clarify and sharpen differences, Gorsuch looks for common ground, even with judges of a generally opposing position. *** I asked my research assistant to pull every case in the last five years where Judge Gorsuch sat with both a Republican-appointed and a Democratic-appointed judge and the panel split as to the outcome. The results were striking. In almost a third of the cases, Judge Gorsuch voted with his presumably more liberal Democratic colleagues rather than the presumably more conservative Republicans. That is the mark of an independent, non-partisan jurist. *** Judge Gorsuch is a longstanding proponent of the view that the Constitution must be interpreted according to its text as it was understood by those with authority to enact it. In his words: Ours is the job of interpreting the Constitution. And that document isnt some inkblot on which litigants may project their hopes and dreams for a new and perfected tort law, but a carefully drafted text judges are charged with applying according to its original public meaning. (Cordova v. City of Albuquerque (2016)). That sometimes leads to conservative results, but not always. As one liberal law professor wrote: He is way too conservative for my taste, but his decisions are largely principled and fair from his originalists view of constitutional interpretation. . . . That approach can result in decisions that dont reliably fall into any one place on the liberal-to-conservative spectrum. If the Constitution, fairly interpreted, does not speak to an issue, Judge Gorsuch leaves it to the political process. *** Judge Gorsuchs approach has led him to defend the constitutional autonomy of the states whether exercised by a conservative Republican governor in Planned Parenthood v. Herbert (2016) or a liberal Democratic governor in Kerr v. Hickenlooper (2014). In light of the recent revival of interest in local autonomy in progressive circles, these power-devolving doctrines may win newfound respect. *** Judge Gorsuch has never had a case on abortion rights, same-sex marriage, gun rights, or affirmative action. Any worries or hopes on these issues are purely a matter of speculation. Judge Gorsuch did, however, dissent from a Tenth Circuit decision forbidding the governor of Utah from cutting the funding from Planned Parenthood. The legal issue was the imputation of an unconstitutional motive to the governor without actual evidence of it, which could arise in any number of political contexts. Nothing in his opinion suggests that the abortion context affected his analysis. Gorsuch also dissented from the conviction of a defendant charged with knowing possession of a firearm, on the ground that the government did not prove an element of the crime. This decision has, absurdly, been treated as evidence of pro-gun views. *** Among Judge Gorsuchs most impassioned commitments is to the freedoms of speech and religion. Probably his best-known cases are Hobby Lobby v. Sibelius (2014), which upheld the right under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of a closely-held family corporation not to be compelled to pay for insurance coverage of what they sincerely believe to be abortion-inducing drugs, and Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell, which applied the same principles to a Catholic religious order. I suspect most Americans agree that Catholic nuns should not be forced to pay for things their religion condemns. In my opinion, a government attentive to civil liberties would never have tried. Judge Gorsuchs commitment to freedom of religion extends to all faith and all kinds of people: to prisoners, to Muslims, to Native Americans, as well as to Christians. If I were president and were interviewing prospective Supreme Court nominees, I wouldnt ask their opinion on abortion, gay marriage and so on. I would ask what they think about the administrative state. This is the great constitutional issue of our time. The government we live under, in which most power is exercised by unelected, largely unconstrained federal agencies, is not the government described in the Constitution. Either this will change, or we will lose our freedom as citizens. McConnell reads tea leaves, perhaps, and sees reason for optimism on this issue: Tenth Circuit judges do not have many opportunities to rule on the scope of executive power, but arguably this will be the most prominent Supreme Court issue of the coming decade. Not only will there be high-profile contests involving the ever-controversial President Donald Trump, but there will be even more cases involving the ever-increasing authority of bureaucratic agencies to govern our lives without congressional say-so or real democratic accountability. As it happens, Neil Gorsuch has addressed this question, albeit obliquely. Awfully obliquely, in my view. You can read the whole thing and judge for yourself. It seems clear that Neil Gorsuch is superbly qualified for the Court, not only by training and experience but by temperament. Conservatives would be happy if the entire federal judiciary consisted of apolitical judges like Gorsuch, who will apply what the law says to the case before them, rather than twisting it to achieve political ends. The problem is that our judiciary is littered with judges who dont do thatwho, rather, act as ideologues rather than judges in high-profile cases. All four liberal justices on the Supreme Court are in that category. In any politically-charged case, they can be counted on to vote as a bloc in favor of the Democratic Partys position. There is no similarly reliable bloc on the right. As a Supreme Court justicehis confirmation seems a foregone conclusionJudge Gorsuch will continue that tradition. He may be a conservative, but he will not be a conservative justice in the same way that Ruth Ginsberg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan are liberal justices. Sen. Tom Cotton and Sen. David Perdue have introduced a bill that would cut legal immigration to the U.S. in half. The legislation is called the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act. Its goal is to restore historical levels of immigration in order to give working Americans a fair shot at wealth creation. The current system fails to do this. Rather, as Sen. Cotton argues, by accepting an average of one million immigrants annually, the vast majority of whom are either low-skilled or unskilled, we create intense downward pressure on the wages of working Americans. (Ironically, the wages of recent immigrants are the hardest hit). According to the Senator, wages for Americans with only a high school diploma have declined by two percent since the late 1970s. Wages for those who didnt finish high school have declined by nearly 20 percent. Wage pressure due to immigration doesnt explain all of this decrease, but I believe it has been a significant contributor. This collapse in wages threatens to create a near permanent underclass for whom the American Dream is always out of reach. The RAISE Act would help raise American workers wages by reducing overall immigration by half and rebalancing the system toward nuclear family household reunification. Thus, it would retain immigration preferences for the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent legal residents. But it would eliminate preferences for the following: Adult parents of U.S. citizens Adult siblings of U.S. citizens Unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens Married adult children of U.S. citizens Unmarried adult children of legal permanent residents. To me, this makes perfect sense. I see no reason for preferring such immigrants other than, perhaps, in cases where elderly parents need to be cared for in the United States. In these cases, the legislation creates a renewable temporary visa on the condition that the parents are not permitted to work, cannot access public benefits, and must be guaranteed support and health insurance by their sponsoring children. The Cotton-Perdue legislation would also eliminate the Diversity Lottery which awards 50,000 visas a year. This is another good idea. The Diversity Lottery is outdated. As Sen. Cotton says, it is plagued with fraud, advances no economic or humanitarian interest, and does not even deliver the diversity its name promises. Finally, the RAISE Act would limit refugees offered permanent residency to 50,000 per year. This is in line with a 13-year average. In my view, the RAISE Act is sensible legislation that is well-tailored to give American workers a better shot at economic advancement. Critics on the left will tell us, as they constantly do, that we are a nation of immigrants. We are, but the RAISE Act wont change us. We became a nation of immigrants via immigration at our historical levels. By restoring immigration to about those levels, we would remain a nation of immigrant, but one in which the wages of Americans, including recent immigrants, arent so severely squeezed. Critics on the right may argue that rather than restoring historical immigration levels, we should stop taking new immigrants. I consider this too draconian; nor does it seem necessary to address the problem of wage squeeze. I trust that the Trump administration will back the RAISE Act and that it will have substantial Republican support in the House and Senate. In the latter body, the Democrats have enough of a presence to block the bill. But Senate Democrats who join in such obstruction will have to explain to their constituents why they moved to put the interests of foreigners ahead of the interest of working Americans at the lower end of the economic spectrum. Scott has said that August Flentje, the Justice Department lawyer who defended the administrations executive order limiting entry to this country, did not argue effectively. Even taking into account how difficult it can be for an appellate advocate to deal with a hostile panel, especially over the telephone, I must agree. Im told that Flentje won an award from Eric Holder for leading the team that argued that DOMA was indefensible. This doesnt mean that Flentje did less than his best in defending President Trumps order; nor does it mean that his heart wasnt in it. I dont know how Flentje feels personally about DOMA or about the immigration order. The problem with having him defend that order resides elsewhere. For a case like this, the governments advocate should not have been a career DOJ employee, and certainly not one as uninspired as Flentje showed himself to be. The case should have been argued by Noel Francisco, the acting solicitor general and an outstanding advocate. Why wasnt it? Because a partner at the law firm of Jones Day, where Francisco practiced until last month, filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit arguing that the executive order is illegal. Meir Feder, an appellate lawyer in the firms New York office, submitted the brief on behalf of professors from Boston University, Yale Law School, University of Texas School of Law, and New York University School of Law. As a result Francisco recused himself. So did acting assistant attorney general Chad Readler, also formerly of Jones Day. Was recusal required? I doubt it, but have not thoroughly researched the matter. The last minute Jones Day filing left Francisco and his team with little time to research and analyze the recusal issue. The DOJ brief states: The acting solicitor general and acting assistant attorney general have refrained from signing this brief, out of an abundance of caution, in light of a last-minute filing of an amicus brief by their former law firm. I dont blame Francisco for being abundantly cautious. I do hope hell be able to reenter the battle over the executive order, which wont end when the Ninth Circuit panel upholds the lefty district judges order. The moral of this story is that big law is part of the resistance, just as it was at key times during the Bush administration. Perhaps even Jones Day, now that more than a dozen lawyers have left to serve in the administration, will be a permanent part of it, though the brief that Feder filed on behalf of leftist law professors the one that sidelined Francisco and Readler may prompt some discussion within the firm. UPDATE: What happens at big law when a partner advocates a conservative position in a hot button case? At King & Spaulding, the firm withdraws from the litigation. That was the scenario when Paul Clement, former solicitor general of the United States whom many regard as the best Supreme Court practitioner around, signed on to lead the legal defense of DOMA. Authoritarians in the gay and lesbian community raised hell, and King & Spaulding stood down. Clement resigned and continued to lead the DOMA defense team from outside of big law at his new firm, a boutique. Big law: The swamp that cant be drained. Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here. WATERLOO A driver who abandoned three small children in a truck after a police chase ended in a crash was a fugitive living in Waterloo under an assumed name, authorities say. Popular Nigerian comedian, Gordons, has apologised for calling Tuface an illiterate. Gordons said this after Tuface backed out from leading the nationwide anti-government protest of Monday. Tuface initiated the protest but called it off Saturday evening. The cancellation triggered reactions especially on various social media platforms. In a video posted on Instagram Tuesday by Goldmyne TV, Gordons was seen firing shots at the popular Nigerian pop star, suggesting that Tuface used a wrong approach in airing his grievances. Tuface is my mentor when it comes to music, he is one musician I adore, legendary to me. But you cannot use a tool that you are not used to. When Fela was fighting government, he used a tool that he was used to and that was music. Sunny Okposo before he died, he was fighting (for) freedom with a tool that he was used to. How on earth will Tuface be fighting a fight that he is not used to? Tuface is not a politician, he is a musician. If you want to lead a protest, he should lead it with music. How are you going to express yourself Tuface, when Microphone is right in your face and you are asked to express your grievance? You cant express yourself; its not your game. Do it with music that you are used to. Tuface is the only illiterate who can sing correctly in music, he said. This however did not sit well with fans as they took to social media to blast Gordons for publicly calling out Tuface in such a manner. The reactions however spurred Gordons to tender an open apology on Instagram. Whats up people, I just did an SMS of an apology to Tuface and his family because sometimes people misunderstand the reason why we do what we do. I am just a comedian Im just like a gynaecologist who is doing his job, it doesnt matter who comes, I will do my job, he said. This is not intended to insult Tuface or the family. But I understand the situation we are in and I felt that was a little bit below the belt and I had to apologize, so fans please take it easy with Tuface and the family. This was not intended to bring a fight. Thank you so very much, thanks for all the love and support, peace, he added. However, Tuface in a recent post on Instagram, thanked Nigerians for lending their voices to the cause, adding that he was not moved by those calling him a coward for backing out. Share this: Twitter Facebook At least five civilians were reported wounded on Tuesday following al-Shabaab attacks in Mogadishu a day before a planned presidential election, police and said. Explosions could be heard even as a police officer, Mohamed Dahir, explained they were mortars launched by the militant group. Al-Shabaab wants to disrupt the election, said the officer. At least five mortar shells fell. Five people were reported injured when two landed near the airport, police said. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility using its radio station, Andalus. Militants also fired several mortars at an African Union military base on the outskirts of the capital, according to Somali police. It was unknown if those had resulted in casualties. Security has been beefed up in the capital precisely because of fears al-Shabaab might try to disrupt the election. Authorities in Mogadishu have vowed to ensure a safe vote on Wednesday. Local flights have been cancelled until Thursday. Additionally, flights from Kenya responsible for bringing in supplies of the popular stimulant khat have been cancelled temporarily. There are also temporary controls on movement inside the country, with all bus service cut for the time being. Residents have been encouraged to walk instead. Hundreds of Somali forces and AU troops have been placed around the capital to handle security, said Somali security official Mohamed Hassan. (dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, has warned African countries that withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, ICC, could have grave implications for victims seeking redress for serious human rights violations. Mr. Dieng, who stated this in a commentary, said the setting up of the tribunal was a reckoning for those who had long disregarded the lives and dignity of their people. The UN envoy explained that the ideals and values that inspired the creation of ICC still hold true. The establishment of the Court signified a global commitment to protect victims, when national judicial mechanisms lacked the capacity, willingness or jurisdiction to prosecute those responsible for the most serious crimes, he said. Highlighting the significance of the Court, Mr. Dieng said that the fact that most of the cases in the continent were submitted by African States themselves, reaffirmed their belief that it would strengthen the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the African people. He, however, added that in spite of the ICCs achievements, it is increasingly coming under threat, with recent announcements by Burundi, South Africa and The Gambia to withdraw from the Rome Statute. Other States have threatened to do so, if certain conditions are not met, he said, noting that key among the concerns raised by these countries included the lack of fairness in the prosecution decisions of the Court, perceived by some to disproportionately. Drawing attention to the ongoing atrocities in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan and in other parts of the world, he underlined that the time is not right to abandon the Court. Rather, States and non-State members should reaffirm their commitment to strengthen the Rome Statute and ensure accountability for these horrendous crimes, Mr. Dieng said. He appealed to African countries to work collectively to ensure that the Court could effectively administer international criminal justice without fear or favour, contribute to the fight against impunity, and promote respect for the rule of law and human rights. As someone who witnessed first-hand the horrors in Rwanda, the Former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone and elsewhere, and who has been closely involved in the delivery of international justice at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, I know too well the consequences when the international community undermines the efforts of international justice. We owe it to the victims of these horrendous crimes to strengthen rather than undermine the International Criminal Court, and to reaffirm our commitment to the Rome Statute to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and thus contribute to their prevention, he said. According to him, a candid dialogue by the African countries and ICC will enhance mutual trust and cooperation. Since the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998, more than half of the worlds States have joined the Court, 34 among them are African nations, the biggest regional block to date . In July 2017, the Courts founding Statue will mark the 15th anniversary of its entry into force. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Presidents Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Donald Trump of U.S. agreed in a phone call overnight to act jointly against Islamic State in the Syrian towns of al-Bab and Raqqa, both controlled by the militants, Turkish presidency sources said on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed issues including a safe zone in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against terror, the sources said. They also said Mr. Erdogan had urged the U. S. not to support the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units or Yekineyen Parastina Gel (YPG) militia. Mr. Trump spoke about the two countries shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and welcomed Turkeys contributions to the fight against Islamic State, the White House said in a statement, but it gave no further details. The Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, an alliance of U.S.-backed militias, started a new phase of its campaign against Islamic State in Raqqa on Saturday. Turkey, a NATO ally and part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, has repeatedly said it wants to be part of the operation to liberate Raqqa but does not want the YPG, which is part of the SDF alliance, to be involved. Mr. Erdogans relations with former President Barack Obama were strained by U.S. support for the YPG militia, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organisation and an extension of Kurdish militants waging an insurgency inside Turkey. The Turkish army and Syrian rebel groups it supports are meanwhile fighting Islamic State in a separate campaign around al-Bab, northeast of the city of Aleppo. Ankara has complained in the past about a lack of U.S. support for that campaign. The offices of both leaders said Mr. Trump had reiterated U.S. support for Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally during the phone call on Tuesday. The Turkish sources said new CIA Director Mike Pompeo would visit Turkey on Thursday to discuss the YPG, and battling the network of U.S.-based Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating a July coup attempt; a charge he denies. Turkey has been frustrated by what it sees as Washingtons reluctance to hand over Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington of Pompeos visit. (Reuters/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to receive the report of the police panel that investigated activities surrounding the December 10, 2016 parliamentary re-run polls in Rivers. The panel, which was constituted by police high command, submitted its report to the Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday in Abuja. The report said that N111 million bribe money was recovered from 23 INEC officials that participated in the elections. The recovered cash was displayed during the presentation of the report at police headquarters. INECs Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the commission had not been briefed on the report. He said if availed with the report, INEC would support all processes to prosecute officials who were bribed. Chairman of the panel, Damian Okoro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, made the allegation while presenting the teams report to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, in Abuja on Tuesday. He alleged that three senior INEC officials collected N20 million each out of the N360 million allegedly given to key officials by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike. He said the other officials received N15 million each. Mr. Osaze-Uzzi said we await the police report; just like everybody saw it on the media that was how we also saw it. As at today, they have not communicated to say this is the report. We know the panel has submitted report to the IG, maybe, he will study it and avail us with the report if need be. The director said the commission would allow the law to take its course on any of its staff members indicted in the alleged bribe. If any of our staff has been found culpable, we will deal with him appropriately and then allow the law to take its course. If they are charged to court, then normal administrative process will follow. If they are convicted, necessary action will be taken. If they are not convicted, we will examine if they have committed any administrative breach. If they have committed any administrative breach we will deal with that administratively, while the police will deal with the criminal aspect of it. Mr. Osaze-Uzzi said the commission had been cooperating with the special investigative panel and the police on the matter. We are determined to weed out any bad egg from the system, he said (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has nominated Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, ushering in the first southern head of the apex court in about 30 years. The decision was announced in a tweet from President Muhammadu Buharis handle shortly before noon Wednesday. It came a day after Mr. Osinbajos office told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Onnoghens name could still be forwarded before the February 10 deadline stipulated by the Constitution. Hon. Justice W.S. Onnoghens name has been sent to the Senate for confirmation as the next CJN, the tweet said with an accompanying link to Mr. Onnoghens biography on the Supreme Court website. The announcement came four months after Mr. Onnoghen was first recommended to Mr. Buhari as the next head of the countrys judiciary. The delay would have triggered an automatic constitutional provision that could block the president from proceeding with the nomination process by February 10. The presidents delay in nominating Mr. Onnoghen as substantive chief judge despite the NJC recommendation fuelled allegations of ethnic bias against Mr. Buhari. Wednesdays announcement is expected to douse that criticism. The jurist will now await a confirmation by the Senate to assume duty as substantive chief judge. Although the Senate is on recess till February 21, an emergency sitting could be called to ensure early resolution of the controversy. Hon. Justice W.S. Onnoghens name has been sent to the Senate for confirmation as the next CJN. His profile here: https://t.co/E198hYIGDv Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) February 8, 2017 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Efforts to reach Senate President Bukola Saraki on the confirmation letter and process were unsuccessful as at the time of this report. His media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, did not pick or return calls to his phone. Mr. Onnoghen is the first CJN from Southern Nigeria since Ayo Irikefe retired from the position in 1987. The Supreme Court website said Mr. Onnoghen was born on December 22, 1950 in Okurike Town, Biase Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State. He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town between 1959 and 1965. He later proceeded to Accra, Ghana to attend Odorgorno Secondary School, Adabraka, Accra, Ghana between 1967 and 1972 for his West African Examination Council (WAEC) Exams. He was at Accra Academy, Accra Ghana between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC (A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons)) and graduated with 2nd Class Upper Division. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos between 1977 and 1978 for his B.L certificate. Her previous professional appointments/positions held include: Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Ikeja, Lagos, Ogun State (1978 1979) Partner in the Law Firm of Effiom Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 1988) Principal Partner/Head of Chamber of Walter Onnoghen & Associates, Calabar (1988 -1989) High Court Judge, Cross Rivers State Judiciary (1989 1998) Chairman, Cross Rivers State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal (1990 1993) Chairman, Judicial Enquiry into the Crisis between Student of the University of Calabar and Obufa Esuk Orok Community, Calabar (1996) Chairman, Failed Bank Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1998) Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 2004) Justice of the Court of Appeal (1998 2005). Share this: Twitter Facebook The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has again amended the charges brought against Senate President Bukola Saraki. Mr. Saraki is facing trial on a 16-count charge for alleged false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja. The trial, which began in September 2015, was earlier amended in 2016, with an addition of three charges. A prosecution witness, Samuel Madojemu, was already in the dock presenting his evidence when the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, announced his decision to amend the charges against Mr. Saraki. After informing the tribunal about the application for hearing on the amended charge, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, said he had not been briefed about the decision to amend the charges. The defence counsel, however, said they had been served with a motion for the amendment of charge by the prosecution. Subsequently the matter was stood down for an hour for hearing on the application to amend the charges. Earlier Mr. Madojemu, who was head of investigation at the CCB, told the tribunal that investigation which led to the trial of Mr. Saraki had been triggered by a previous investigation conducted by a presidential investigation team in 2006. When we joined the team, a review of the investigation was done by the CCB, EFCC and other members of the team. In the course of the review, the team discovered that there was a previous report by a Presidential investigation team set up in 2006 consisting the CCB, EFCC and the SSS. It was that report which covered the beginning of tenure 2003 of the defendant. That report was what triggered the investigation, he said. Mr. Saraki was Kwara governor between 2003 and 2011. Mr. Madojemu explained that the said investigation began with the EFCC after which the commission forwarded the result of its investigation to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. He said the AGF found the infractions allegedly committed had to do with false declaration of asset and that was how the Code of Conduct Bureau was invited into the matter. The trial will continue later on Wednesday after the one hour adjournment. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Government of Nigeria says it has adopted some measures to reduce the price of food items. This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC. The Council had last week set up a task force to advise the government on how best to address the rising cost of food items across the country. Mr. Ogbeh said the task force submitted an interim report to the council on Wednesday. He said the committee had identified that the hike in cost is not due to shortage but high cost of transportation. He said food items are generally moved across Nigeria with heavy trucks and the price of diesel which has gone up has therefore, led to increase in prices. He said the government had therefore, decided to start using railway wagons to transport food items. The minister said the use of wagons to transport cattle from the north to Lagos has already greatly helped in reducing cost and will be replicated in food distribution. We will also work with state governments to reduce delays experienced by trucks along the roads through all sort of taxes by local governments, he said. Mr. Ogbeh also said the government has decided to adopt the Ivory Coast model in which trucks distributing food items are given special labels. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Senate on Wednesday vowed to tackle the Presidency over claims by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, that the National Assembly was yet to approve loans that would be used for rail infrastructure. In a statement by its spokesperson, Aliyu Abdullahi, on Wednesday in Abuja, the senate said Mr. Amaechi alleged that the non-approval of the loan was frustrating construction of Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna-Kano rail lines. It said that the ministers claim was not only false but misrepresenting and contradictory to available facts. It insisted that the minister must withdraw the claim which was made at the North Central Town Hall meeting in Ilorin on Monday. The senate expressed disappointment that such statement could come from a cabinet member, adding that it was evident he was not in tune with the position of the government he was serving, on the matter. PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr. Amaechis claims that the federal government had secured $7.5 billion loan for rail projects but was waiting for the National Assemblys approval to access the loan. The $7.5 billion loan is part of the $30 billion the Buhari administration has said it needs to finance infrastructure projects. Mr. Amaechi on Monday provided details of the rail project at the North Central Town Hall meeting held in Ilorin for the people of Kogi, Niger and Kwara states. According to him, the loan was secured from a Chinese bank and the ministry is waiting for approval of the National Assembly to access the loan. He said that $1. 4 billion of the loan was for the construction of the rail gauge from Lagos to Ibadan, while $6. 1 billion would be used on IbadanIlorinMinna-Kaduna Kano line. Contrary to Mr. Amaechis claim, the Senate spokesperson said, no such loan request was before the Senate. As at today, the only request for approval from the executive for loan was the one dated January 27, 2017 and signed by Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The request was seeking a `resolution of National Assembly for Issuance of one billion Euro Bond in the International Capital Market for funding of 2016 Budget Deficit and we immediately granted the approval. Also, in the letter quoted above, the Government mentioned the two rail lines cited by the minister as part of the projects for which the Euro Bond will be utilised. So, we do not understand what the grouse of Mr. Amaechi is. We view that statement based on false and misinformed premise strongly as a mere attempt to incite the people against the National Assembly, it said. The senate further said that as a former Speaker of a state House of Assembly, we believe that a minister like Amaechi should always check his facts and refrain from making unguarded and inciting remarks against the legislature. What Nigeria needs at this point is for all arms of government to work together and create the synergy necessary to take Nigeria out of the present economic crisis we have found ourselves. Comments designed to infuriate one arm of government or incite the people against another arm of the government will do no one any good. Share this: Twitter Facebook Brandon Ketchum's name is headed for the U.S. Congress. The 33-year-old was thrice deployed in the War on Terror, returning home to Davenport to do battle with PTSD. As indicated in his straight-forward obituary, he lost that last battle. When Brandon asked to be admitted to the psych ward at the VA hospital in Iowa City in July, he was told the unit was full. He drove back to Davenport, wrote a Facebook post that conveyed his profound disappointment in the VA and asked, "Why even try anymore?" Then, he shot himself. As a result of the outcry over Brandon's death and the estimated 20 suicides committed each day by U.S. veterans, Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, introduced a bill that would require the VA to offer emergency psychiatric help. The bill now is being reintroduced to the new Congress, and it has been renamed: Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act. The text of Congressman Loebsacks legislation remains the same as last years bill," Loebsack spokesman Joe Hand said Tuesday. "After speaking with members of his family, Congressman Loebsack changed the title to the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act to honor his life. Not everyone in the Ketchum family approved of the naming. Although Brandon's brother, Brad, also a combat veteran, said he is pleased to see legislation protecting veterans like his brother, he would have preferred that Brandon's name did not headline the bill. "I felt it was not appropriate to use just one veteran's name on it, since it is such a widespread issue," he said Tuesday. Brandon's mother, Bev Kittoe, approved of the naming. Despite Brad Ketchum's position on the matter, he said he can appreciate that others are doing "what they think is right." Loebsack and 38 other members of Congress co-sponsored last year's bill. Reintroduced this week, the measure seeks to ensure that no veteran seeking in-patient psychiatric care at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center is ever denied such care again. I am proud to reintroduce the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act to ensure no veteran in crisis is ever turned away," Loebsack said in announcing the bill Monday. "This legislation would require VA Medical Centers to provide psychiatric care for any veteran that asks for it. Our veterans have sacrificed too much to ever feel alone when struggling with mental health issues. When these veterans reach out, we as a country owe it to them to answer their call. I am proud to help honor Sgt. Ketchums life by working to ensure our veterans get the care they are seeking. Meanwhile, Hand said, no new word has come from the office of the Inspector General for the VA, regarding an official review of Brandon's visit to the VA, along with the death of another Iowa veteran, Curtis Gearhart. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has been demanding answers from the Inspector General, who finally responded in November that the investigation in Iowa City should conclude this spring at least eight months after Brandon died. Barb Ickes writes for the Quad City Times, another Lee Enterprises newspaper. Reach her at 563-383-2316 or bickes@qctimes.com. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reiterated the federal governments stance that President Muhammadu Buhari is not sick, despite seeking an extended medical vacation. Mr. Mohammed stated this while briefing journalists at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting. He said the fact that all the ministers were working optimally was an indication that the president was hale and hearty. Do you think we will be consulting our business like this if Mr. President is ill? the minister asked rhetorically. He (pointing to Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola) was in Anambra last week, I was in Kwara yesterday, all our ministers are busy doing their work. Mr. President is well and is absolutely not in danger, he said. I can say without any hesitation that Mr. President is well, is hale and hearty. No question about that. Mr. Mohammeds statement comes two days after a similar statement by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo who said he spoke to the president on phone. Contrary to the federal governments stance, other public officials like the Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow, have asked Nigerians to pray for a sick Mr. Buhari. President Buhari had on Sunday written to the Senate to extend his 10-day medical vacation. The Senate later confirmed to reporters the extension was indefinite as the president did not indicate his return date. The information minister also reacted to publications recalling his position when the late President Umaru YarAdua was ill. Mr. Mohammed, who was the spokesperson of the defunct opposition party, Action Congress, at the time, was quoted to have said the handlers of the president should be giving Nigerians hourly update on his health status. He said asking for the same update now is simply like comparing oranges with apples. He said unlike late Mr. YarAdua, Mr. Buhari is not in admission or in danger; adding there is no need to give anyone, any bulletin about his health. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Government on Wednesday filed two separate charges against Supreme Court judge, Sylvester Ngwuta, and his Federal High Court counterpart, Adeniyi Ademola, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for alleged violations of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Act. Mr. Ngwuta is already facing a separate corruption charge before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court while Mr. Ademola is facing a separate corruption charge at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Salihu Isah, the spokesperson of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, provided information on the fresh charges on Wednesday. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Isah said the office of the AGF filed an application at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, requesting it to commence trial of the two judges. The charges, according to the statement, were filed by the principal state counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Hajara Yusuf, on behalf of the Attorney General, pursuant to Section 24 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. In the FG request to arraign Justice Ngwuta, the application averred that he engaged in private business as a public officer, contrary to Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. He is also alleged to have refused to declare his assets as a public officer contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act. Justice Ngwuta is expected to face a ten count charge. Part of the charges against him includes that; between 2nd June 2011 and 19thJuly 2016 while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal, that Justice Ngwuta did make a false declaration of assets to the CCB when he failed to declare three duplexes at Chinedu Ogah Avenue, Ntezi, Aba in Abakaliki, while being a Justice of the Supreme Court, the spokesperson said. In the second charge, Mr. Ngwuta is alleged to have made a false declaration to the CCB when he failed to declare 22 plots of land at Igwe Uga Avenue, Abakaliki, between the June 2, 2011 and July 19, 2016, while serving as a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria The third count states that he failed to declare six plots of land at Frank Okoroafor Avenue, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Counts four to eight state that the judge failed to declare several vehicles including a Wrangler SUV, a Toyota SUV, and a BMW 5 series. The ninth count states that, between the 1st day of August 2014 and the 16thday of July 2015, Mr. Ngwuta received from Mr. Ogudu Nwadire, through his personal bank account numbered (0018113021) domiciled at Union Bank PLC, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, the total sum of Thirty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira (NGN 36, 310,00.00) in the discharge of his official duties as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act. The final count reads; Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta between the 2nd June 2011 and 19th July 2016 in Abuja, while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal did engage in purchase and sale of rice, palm oil and other related products, while being a Justice of the Supreme Court and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Code Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act. Mr. Isah said that in an affidavit to support the charge, Samuel Madojemu, who is Head, Investigation Division at the CCB, confirmed the said asset declaration by Mr. Ngwuta, which according to prosecution, was investigated and alleged offence discovered. He said Mr. Madojemu confirmed that the asset declaration form was investigated upon by the CCB and the State Security Service. The spokesperson said a two-count charge was proffered against Justice Ademola at the CCB for which an affidavit was also deposed to by Mr. Madojemu. The first count states that, he failed to declare his asset to the Bureau, an offense contrary to Section 15 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act, while the other count states that he engages and participates in private business contrary to Section 6 of the CCB and Tribunal Act and punishable under Section 23(2) of same Act. According to the charge, Mr. Ademola is accused of engaging in the purchase and sale of foreign exchange currencies, while being a judge of the Federal High Court, and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 6 of the CCB and Tribunal Act. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed disappointment with the remarks by Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, condemning religious leaders for spreading incendiary messages through the media. In a statement on Tuesday, the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, denied the claim by Mr. Mohammed that religious leaders spreading such messages were engaged in a campaign of calumny against the present administration. Mr. Mohammed spoke at a town hall meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday. The alleged Islamisation of Nigeria under the current administration is totally false and should be perceived in its entirety as a campaign of calumny, the minister had said. There is no bigger threat to the peace and unity of our country today than religion-coated incendiary messages, which are being carelessly sent out by some religious, political and opinion leaders. In recent times, the media has been increasingly awash with incendiary statements that seem designed to pitch the adherents of the two prominent religions in the country, Christians and Muslims, against one another. Such fallacies like the Islamisation of Nigeria, the killing of Christians by Muslims, the labelling of Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world can only serve one purpose: trigger a religious war, the minister said. Those who are making these allegations know that they are not true, but they have found in religion another tool to demonize the government of the day, divert attention from the governments anti-corruption stance and create undue tension in the polity, he added. But reacting to Mr. Mohammeds comments, Mr. Ayokunle said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES that never in the history of Nigeria had there been a leadership so biased as that of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration. We have never had a government like this that is so religiously biased. If Nigeria is not moving towards Islamisation; why do we have to join the Islamic coalition against terrorism? Despite all that was said by Nigerians, this administration went ahead with that decision. The lopsided appointments; with almost all the security chiefs coming from one religion, as if members of the other religions cannot produce competent hands. When a preacher in the Federal Capital Territory was brutally murdered, what has become the outcome of that matter? The woman that was brutally murdered in Kano what has happened to that matter? Even the Attorney General of that state says the suspects have no case to answer. The killings in Agatu, Southern Kaduna, that all took place in Christian dominated communities; are we not privy to that? The handwriting is clearly there for all to see. They can try, but they cannot succeed, said Mr. Ayokunle, who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. Continuing in the same vein in a statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Adeboyo Oladeji, Mr. Ayokunle said CAN is made up of patriotic Nigerians who love the country too much to threaten its peace. He said the association only spoke out of sheer concern for what was obvious. We are disappointed but not surprised with the disparaging lies and abusive statements credited to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Ilorin during the Town hall meeting where he was accusing religious leaders of making alleged provocative statements that can lead to religious war. We want to boldly declare that Nigerian Christians love their country and they not only promote peace and unity but also always pray for her and the leadership. In the last one year, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared fasting and prayers for Nigeria and her leadership twice. If we are thirsty for a war, we wouldnt have gone that far. Is Lai Mohammed accusing of us of telling lies: That our members are being killed, maimed and burnt by the Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast? That our members are being killed by the Fulani herdsmen in Plateau, Benue and now Southern Kaduna states? That those responsible for these killings profess Islam as their religion? That those who killed Madam Bridget Agbahime in Kano were Muslims who were arrested but later discharged and acquitted by the court as requested by the State Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice? That those who killed Madam Eunice Elisha Olawale while doing the morning preaching in Kubwa, Abuja, were Muslim fundamentalists who were arrested but also freed by the Police? Is Lai Mohammed telling us that no Christian was killed by the Fulani herdsmen who invaded Southern Kaduna, killed and maimed our members and razed down their communities recently? Is Mohammed saying the Fulani herdsmen who have been killing our members are not armed with sophisticated weapons and is it wrong for us to ask where they get the AK-47 and other weapons they are using? When all those killings were going on in Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna, was there any time Lai Mohammed or anyone in the Federal Government raised up a voice against the atrocities?, Mr. Ayokunle queried. He described the Fulani herdsmen who attacked the various communities as murderers, and queried the failure of government to curtail the matter, before the killings occurred. If those murderous Fulani herdsmen are faceless, how come the Sultan of Sokoto is claiming that they are not Nigerians and in another instance, the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai said they had been paid for the wrong done to them? Why is it that whenever these murderers are perpetrating their atrocities, the security agencies look elsewhere until their victims decided to fight back? Is it because the security agencies are Muslim dominated? CAN says No to disparaging remarks in the name of politics. Enough of these lies by Lai Mohammed, concluded the statement. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, on Tuesday appealed to the National Assembly to return control of Hajj Commission to the ministry for proper coordination. The minister made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja when members of the committee on Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship and Hajj Affairs, led by its chairman Abdulahi Balarabe-Salame, visited her. She explained that Hajj Commission used to be under the control of the ministry before it was taken to the presidency. She said that the commission was now domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF. Ms. Abba-Ibrahim said: by tradition in diplomatic cycle, a country does not relate with sub-organ of government but the state through Foreign Affairs Ministry. Hajj office domiciled in the office of the SGF will not be able to operate effectively because Saudi Government will not have any direct dealing with the office of the SGF. That explains the reason we always communicate with them through diplomatic channels of communication of Note Verbal. The minister pointed out that since the commission was still domiciled in the office of the SGF, the ministry was not involved in its activities. So we are appealing to you; if there is anything in the legislation you can use to bring back Hajj Commission to the ministry, we are seeking your assistance to help us. There is no point in us doing all the policies; if the affairs of the commission are not domiciled in the ministry; it is worrisome, she said. The minister urged the committee to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, saying the two countries had areas they could explore for their mutual benefits. She listed some of the areas to include trade and economy. She said that there was large volume of trade between the two countries. The tie between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria is very cordial and has been for ages; there is therefore need to reinforce and sustain the relationship. Ms. Abba-Ibrahim said that when President Muhammadu Buhari visited Saudi Arabia, he reiterated the need to revive the Joint Commission between the two countries. Earlier in his remarks, the committee chairman, Mr. Balarabe-Salame, called on the ministry to facilitate multiple entry visas for the members of the committee wishing to visit Saudi Arabia. He also stressed the need to convene the 3rd Saudi Arabia-Nigeria joint commission which was held in 2013. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Federal Government has expressed concern over the spate of extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa, and demanded speedy action on pending cases. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said in Abuja on Tuesday that there was no justification for the killings. Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, who visited the South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Lulu Aaron- Mnguni, appealed to authorities in that country to ensure that justice was done in the case of a Nigerian killed last December to serve as deterrent to others. Tochukwu Nnadi, a 34-year-old businessman, was killed allegedly by South African police on December 29, 2016. She said we are worried about the criminalisation of illegal migration, especially among ourselves as brothers in Africa. We are worried in particular about the criminalisation of Nigerian migrants in South Africa. Yes, some do commit crimes and deserve to be punished, but the extra-judicial killings worry us a lot. We also want to appeal to Nigerians wherever they are to obey the laws of the land: we are worried as well, about extra-judicial killings anywhere in the world. She said Nigeria lost 116 persons to such killings in South Africa; and in 2016 alone, 20 persons were killed. Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa hoped that relationship between both countries remained strong and better and distractions avoided. Mr. Aaron-Mnguni said the killings would be investigated and those involved would be punished. He said South Africa has high level of technology to know how a person dies. According to him, pathologists and the police will fish out the truth and those found guilty will be sentenced. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook A 20-year-old man, Lekan Akinyemi, charged with rape was on Wednesday arraigned at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates Court. The accused, an apprentice who resides at 16, Alhaji Oladipupo St., Oko-Oba, Agege, suburb of Lagos, was alleged to have raped the 14-year-old daughter of his neighbour. The prosecutor, Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on January 20, 2017, at the residence of the accused. Mr. Donny said that the accused called the girl into his room with the pretence of sending her on an errand, but shut the door and raped her. He said that the offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty. The Chief Magistrate, Davies Abegunde, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000, with two sureties in like sum. Mrs. Abegunde adjourned the case to February 27 for mention. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has advised Nigerians to stop blaming President Muhammad Buhari or any of the nations past leaders for the economic recession in the country. Governor Ahmed gave the advice on Wednesday in Ilorin while receiving members of the Kwara State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KWACCIMA. He said that rather than blaming anybody for the countrys economic woes, Nigerians should collectively think outside of the box for an enduring solution. According to the governor, there is nowhere in the world where a nation runs a mono economy like Nigeria without running into economic recession. Over the years, the money earned from oil-driven economy did not go into regenerative programmes, but went into consumption and payment of petroleum subsidy. So what do you think will happen? The economy cannot be better. It is not the fault of Buhari or Jonathan; it is the fault of Nigerias leadership from inception. It is the fault of everybody. As a people, we must begin to see how we can improve our resourcefulness. Enough of blame game, it wont take us anywhere. Once we improve on human capital development, we can begin to drive entrepreneurship and we would begin to move out of the recession, Mr. Ahmed said. Earlier, the president of KWACCIMA, Ahmed Raji, commended Mr. Ahmeds giant strides on infrastructure development, provision of education and health facilities in spite of the dwindling economy. He said that the chamber was working towards assisting some of its members in resuscitating ailing industries in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook A 28-year-old man, Chikaodiri Agwu, who allegedly raped a minor, on Wednesday appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrates Court in Lagos on a count charge. Mr. Agwu, a resident of Ajakaiye Street on Onipetesi Estate, Mangoro area of Lagos, was charged with having sexual intercourse with his 9-year-old female neighbour. The prosecutor, Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the accused committed the offence at his residence on January 16. She said the accused took the girl to his apartment and had carnal knowledge of her in contravention of Section 139 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail by Chief Magistrate Ipaye Nwachukwu in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Mr. Ipaye held that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the other must be a community leader or cleric with evidence of tax payment. She adjourned the case till March 30 mention. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook An operative of the State Security Service, Umar Ahmed, on Wednesday at an FCT High Court, Maitama, tendered N54 million and other items the service said were recovered from the residence of Justice Adeniyi Ademola. Justice Adeniyi Ademola, his wife Olabowale and Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, are standing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to receive gratification. Justice Ademola was among the seven justices investigated after raids carried out last October by the SSS. The items, tendered by Mr. Ahmed, the exhibit keeper with SSS who was the 11th witness, included 121, 279 US dollar, 400, 400 euros, 110 Indian rupees and 80 pounds. Others were: two pump action rifles and licence bearing the names of Justice Adeniyi Ademola and Justice Mohammed. The items were admitted in evidence. Earlier, Malik Olatunde, an official of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) testified how Mr. Ademola transferred N175 million in two tranches of N90 million and N85 million respectively, to a property company named Don Parker Properties Ltd.. He also narrated to the court the procedure of opening an account. Two more charges were added, bringing the charges to 18 counts. The judge, Jude Okeke, granted the prosecution leave to amend the charges as the defence counsel did not object to the application. Mr. Okeke also upheld the existing bail terms and conditions as given on December 13 after pleas were taken. Mr. Okeke had admitted them to bail in the sum of N50 million each and on self-recognizance. The court ordered that they deposit their international passports pending the conclusion of the trial The case was adjourned till Feb.9 for continuation of hearing. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Lanre Tejuosho, has decried budgetary allocation to health sector, saying it was disproportionate in comparison to its mandate. He said that the ministrys allocation had continued to show no break in gloomy pattern over the years. Mr. Tejuosho stated this on Wednesday at a news briefing in Abuja and said that in the 2017 Capital Budget of N2.24 trillion, the health sector was allocated N51 billion (representing 2.78per cent). According to him, Nigeria is spending over one billion dollars (about N305.25 billion) annually on medical treatment abroad and such external expenditure is not good for the nations economy. He said that in spite of being a signatory to the 2001 African Union Abuja Declaration, Nigeria had not met with the minimum requirement of allocating 15 per cent of the total annual budget to health. Shedding the toga of the past, 2017 budget presents a unique opportunity for us to enhance and develop our health sector, he said. The lawmaker noted that the 8th Senate was committed to improving health conditions, health standards and service delivery through realistic appropriation and judicious utilisation driven by legislative oversight. He also decried the high poverty rate as well as infant and maternal mortality rates in the country. The 2015 World Health Organisation (WHO) says that approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and child-birth every day. A high percentage of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries, including Nigeria. More specifically, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) reports that every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 children under five years and 145 women of child-bearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under-five and maternal mortality rate in the world, he said. Mr. Tejuoso said that their collective incomes as legislators could not solve the problems of all citizens who found themselves in such unfortunate situations. We believe strongly that if we are able to, through policies, reduce mortality rate and set our sector on a right footing, we will be setting the stage for a healthy workforce. The workforce that will give birth to a robust economy and sustainable development. That is why we have engaged stakeholders from within and outside the shores of Nigeria to discuss processes and mechanisms that would promote health financing, development and accountability in the country. In this period of recession, our goal is to achieve value. We must give all it takes to find and consolidate lasting solutions to Nigerias maternal and child health challenges through legislation and appropriation, he stated. He pointed out that the Federal Government was concerned on how to reduce maternal and child mortality to the barest and was attending to it with seriousness. With the situation in the country, a practical way to walk our way out of the economic recession is by boosting investment in human capital which will in turn stimulate growth. The chairman while also decrying the non-implementation of the National Health Act and provisions of the Consolidated Revenue Fund called for an emergency intervention to the health sector. It is a sector we must champion a revolution through the right appropriation and diligent oversight to ensure judicious use of resources for optimum results, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook EAGLE GROVE | The Iowa Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of an Eagle Grove woman who pleaded guilty to killing her boyfriend's daughter six years ago. Kara Crapser, 26, pleaded guilty in 2012 to second-degree murder for the Jan. 8, 2011, death of Mikayla Valentine. Mikayla, 5, died of a head injury. Crapser, serving a 50-year prison sentence, told the court that she wouldn't have pleaded guilty if she had been told that she had the right to subpeona witnesses to testify. Had Crapser known that, she would have called her boyfriend to testify he kicked a door closed, which hit Mikayla in the head, she claimed. Crapser said the district court judge didn't explain to her that she had this right, and as a result her attorney should have filed an arrest of judgment, which could have allowed her to withdraw her guilty plea. The Iowa Court of Appeals opinion issued Wednesday acknowledged the mistake, but said the failure didn't result in prejudice against Crapser and that her case would not have gone to trial. It said school employees and others who observed the child were prepared to testify that Crapser had abused the girl. And, of the child's siblings and Crapser's brother's girlfriend also were prepared to testify about specific disciplinary methods Crapser used. "Her buyer's remorse is insufficient to merit relief," the court wrote. Crapser was being held Wednesday at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Woman in Mitchellville. She must serve 70 percent of her sentence, which is 35 years, before she is eligible for parole. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kaduna on Wednesday described as unfortunate the allegations by motorist accusing the corps of mounting indiscriminate check-points and extorting motorists in Kaduna. The Sector Commander, Francis Udoma, denied the allegation while reacting to the state government order that barred FRSC from erecting checkpoints in Kaduna and other urban centres in the state. Mr. Udoma said that since he resumed office as the sector commander of the corps in the state, no motorist or any member of the public had filed a complaint bordering on extortion of any sort. FRSC do not condone any form of corruption. Collecting bribe under any guise is outright dismissal and our men are fully aware of that, he said. We are only doing our job as prescribed by the Act that established FRSC. Asking motorists to pay fine for committing traffic offences is a matter of law and no official collects any money from motorist, they pay in the bank and the money goes to the federation account, he said. On the mandate of FRSC, he said that FRSC was empowered to patrol federal, state and local government roads with the core mandate of keeping Nigerian roads accident-free. But if Gov Nasir El-Rufai insists that we should leave, we will do just that because he is the chief security officer and the number one citizen of the state. But we will continue to discharge our duties where necessary in accordance with our mandate, he said. The Kaduna State Government had in a statement signed by Special Assistant to the governor, Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday barred FRSC from inspecting vehicles in Kaduna and other urban centres in the state. Mr. Aruwan said the decision was taken by the state Security Council after a meeting in which it reviewed complaints from the general public against the road marshals. The government further directed the FRSC officials to henceforth, concentrate their activities in ensuring safe travel on highways such as the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and other federal highways. The Kaduna State Government had in May 2016, inaugurated traffic and environmental agency tagged, Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Laws Enforcement Agency (KASTELEA). The agency is empowered by law to control and regulate traffic around Kaduna metropolis and other towns in the state. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook Rakiya Adamu, the only surviving sister of President Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to Nigerians to pray for the President, instead of spreading rumours about his health. She made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura, Katsina State, on Wednesday. The 84-year-old said the president needed the prayers of every Nigerian for him to succeed in the task of addressing the problems facing the nation. She said that President Buhari being a mortal was bound to fall ill or even die at any time his creator wishes. According to her, she speaks with the president daily since his departure to London on annual leave and he is in high spirit. She added that I just returned from the lesser Hajj and even while in Saudi Arabia, I was communicating with him daily. The presidents sister, popularly called Amadodo, told NAN that while in Saudi Arabia, she communicated with Buhari every 10 hours. We were 28 from our mother, late Hajiya Zulaihatu, who died in 1992, but Buhari was her last born, she said. A cross section of people in Daura, President Buharis hometown in Katsina State, expressed dismay over how some Nigerians spread rumours about the presidents health. Abdulrahman Daura, the Northwest Organising Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), described the rumoured death and state of health of the president as baseless and unfounded. Mr. Daura said Buhari is in good health and is only conducting routine medical checkup in the United Kingdom. He advised those spreading rumours to always be constructive and avoid campaign of hate and calumny, adding that it is only God that gives health and takes life. Similarly, Aminu Na-Dari, a close ally of the president, said he had also been in constant touch with Mr. Buhari since his departure and their conversation did not in any way indicate that he was having health challenge. He said the current economic hardship was not caused by the present administration and the Buhari-led government had been working hard to remedy the situation. A group of students of the School of Health Technology, Daura, described the rumour as unfortunate and asked the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to issue a statement condemning it. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook In order to air their displeasure of government policies and the economy, protests were held in major cities across Nigeria. Here are the pictures below: Abuja Abuja Pro-government protesters Lagos Akwa Ibom Share this: Twitter Facebook The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, has hailed the striking out of a motion seeking an injunction to stop hijab usage in the state by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Tuesday heard the motion stay of execution filed by the Lagos State Government and struck it out. The case, CA/L/135/15, is between Lagos State Government, Asiyat AbdulKareem (through her father), Moriam Oyeniyi and Muslim Students Society of Nigeria. The struck motion was asking the court to stop the use of hijab in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State pending the ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter. After hearing from both parties, the presiding justice, Muhammad Garba, struck out the motion. With the current ruling, students in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State can now wear hijab to school without harassment unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise. Earlier, the Lagos State Government on Thursday, July 21, 2016 lost at the Court of Appeal when a full panel of the court gave approval to the Muslim students to use hijab to school. The Amir (President) of MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, Saheed Ashafa, applauded the judgement, saying that the favourable outcome was expected. According to him, the judgement will further strengthen fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution. He stated that the MSSN Lagos would not entertain any act or form of harassment after the current judgement. He said, We applaud the judgement as this is not unexpected. The position of the law is very clear on the subject matter. This matter once more assure us that all hope is not lost on having a redeemed society. It gladdens to see that the injunction which the LASG is using as a basis to deny the implementation of the Court of Appeal judgement has been struck out. We hereby urge all stakeholders to be law abiding for a peaceful implementation of the judgement. There should be no violation of human rights against our Students while we expect an immediate implementation of the judgement in all schools across the state. While congratulating and thanking Muslims on the recent victory, Mr. Ashafa said, We congratulate the entire Muslim Ummah (community) and urge our Muslim students to uphold decency and cleanliness which are the hallmark of Islam while exercising their right. A special constituted panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on July 21, 2016 unanimously set aside the judgment of a Lagos High Court which banned students in public primary and secondary schools in the state from putting on the hijab with their school uniforms. The special panel of the court presided over by Justice A.B. Gumel held that the appeal was meritorious and should be allowed. In his lead judgment, Justice Gumel held that the use of the hijab was an Islamic injunction and also an act of worship, hence it would constitute a violation of the appellants rights to stop them from wearing the hijab in public schools. Resolving all the five issues raised in favour of the appellants, the appellate court held that the lower court erred in law when it held that the ban on hijabs was a policy of the Lagos State Government (respondent). Other justices in the five-member panel were M. Fasanmi, A. Jauro, J.S. Ikyegh and I. Jombo Ofor. Justice Modupe Onyeabor of an Ikeja High Court had on October 17, 2014, dismissed the suit instituted against the Lagos State Government by two 12-year-old girls under the aegis of the MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit. Dissatisfied, the appellants urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment and protect their constitutional rights. The government had banned the use of the hijab, arguing that it was not part of the approved school uniform for pupils. Following the ban, the students filed the suit on May 27, 2015, seeking redress and asked the court to declare the ban as a violation of their rights to freedom of thought, religion and education. In her judgment, Mrs. Onyeabor held that the prohibition of the wearing of hijabs over school uniforms within and outside the premises of public schools was not discriminatory. According to her, the ban did not violate Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the plaintiffs. Share this: Twitter Facebook CHARLES CITY | An Iowa man was high on drugs when he caused a head-on collision that injured four in Charles City three months ago, troopers say. Anthony Schmitz, 44, of Ionia, was charged with two felony counts of child endangerment, one felony count of serious injury by vehicle and one misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated first offense. Troopers say Schmitz was high on amphetamine/methamphetamine when he crossed the centerline of U.S. Highway 18 and hit an oncoming vehicle near Commercial Avenue. Schmitz and Mary Jane Schmitz, 11, were flown by helicopter to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Another girl, Miley Schmitz, 10, was taken by ambulance to Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City. Doctors performed surgery to repair serious injuries on one girl's face and arm and on the other girl's leg, according to a criminal complaint. Trooper Brian Sinnwell wrote in the complaint that Schmitz said he veered into oncoming traffic because he had "swerved to miss a rabbit" and tried to leave before authorities arrived at the crash site. "Witnesses stated that Mr. Schmitz was asking for help from being trapped in the vehicle so that he could get out of there before the police arrived," the complaint stated. The woman driving the other vehicle also was flown to the Mayo Clinic. The next court hearing for Schmitz is Monday in District Court in Floyd County. Four Communities in Southern Kaduna on Wednesday engaged in dialogue to find lasting solutions to the lingering crisis in their areas. The four communities, whose residents are made up of both the natives and the Fulanis are: Goska, Dangoma, Ambam and Bakin Koji. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the peace dialogue, which had all communities represented by their various leaders, was convened by Global Peace Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO. In his speech, the District Head of Ambam, Hosea Dodo, said that the communities must leave peacefully together as brothers, saying that peace was paramount for meaningful development to take place. There is need for genuine reconciliation for lasting peace in our area. We are committed to lasting peace, because we are fed up of this crisis, he said. Also, the District Head of Dangoma, Alhassan Saidu, said that all the communities must be confronted with the truth on the need to live in peace. There is no point in killing; there is no need for the destruction of our lives and property for no reason, he said. However, the Country Director of the NGO, John Oko, said that only peace could bring about meaningful development. That is why we are bringing the four communities together to hear from them and see the way forward. We are happy all the communities agreed to dialogue genuinely for a permanent and lasting peace, he said. The Northern Coordinator of the NGO, Haliru Maraya, described the destruction of both lives and property as unnecessary, sad and painful. This has to stop as we need to embrace peace, he said. Joseph Hayap, also of the NGO, urged the communities to imbibe the fear of God and embrace peace. Todays meeting is to douse tension, fear, mistrust and build a lasting peace because peace must be seen as a collective responsibility; and all have shown reasonable commitment to peace, he said. Members of the various communities promised to forget the past and continue to live together peacefully. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook MASON CITY | City Council members on Tuesday asked the public to learn as much as they can about the proposed capital improvements tax levy they will be voting on in March. "Get engaged. Find out as much as you can. But I encourage citizens to debate this on the facts. This really is a smart thing for the city," said Councilman John Lee. The proposal is to allow the city to levy up to 67 cents per thousand for small item purchases. The alternative would be to bond for them in which case taxpayers would be paying for them long after their usefulness and paying interest as well, said Finance Director Kevin Jacobson. "It's a tool to use to not accumulate too much debt," he said. Jacobson said the levy would be used to pay for "tangible, fixed assets" such as computers and vehicles and cannot be used for operating expenses such as for heat and electricity and payroll. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer pointed out that tax money is going to be spent for necessary city purchases, one way or another. The March 7 vote gives people the chance to choose the method, he said. "This is a non-partisan issue. Jacobson said the capital improvement levy will be tied to the city's debt levy policy which has a limit of $3 per $1,000. So if the debt levy was at $2.75, for example, the capital improvement levy could be no more than 25 cents. The City Council would have the option every year to determine the amount of the levy to be used, if any. Jacobson said he didn't anticipate using it for two years. There are no fundamental differences between Germany and Poland as far as transatlantic relations, the EU's future and the conflict in Ukraine are concerned the presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski said after a meeting of the Polish president and the German Chancellor. Krzysztof Szczerski said that transatlantic relations, the future of the European Union and the conflict in Ukraine were the main topics of Tuesday's Warsaw talks between President Andrzej Duda and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. As far as all these three issues are concerned - the need for Atlantic ties and the significance of these ties for Europe's security, the EU's future and its reform needed today for Europe to regain trust and give a new development impulse to the European economy, and Ukraine's future, especially the way this conflict is solved - there are no fundamental differences between Poland and Germany" Krzysztof Szczerski told reporters. President Duda and the German Chancellor talked about "how to maintain the lasting nature of transatlantic ties, which are valuable and important from both the Polish and the German perspective", minister Szczerski added. Asked about the nature of Europe-US ties, Krzysztof Szczerski said that both President Duda and Chancellor Merkel stressed that it was to early to formulate sharp assessments regarding their shape and to call "America an external threat to Europe". The conversation also concerned the future of the European Union and the reforms needed today for Europe to regain the trust of its citizens as well as its capacity to function effectively as a single market. Andrzej Duda and Angela Merkel also discussed "the conflict in Ukraine and prospects for its resolution, Poland's attitude towards Ukrainian politics and contacts of signatories of the Minsk Agreements", minister Szczerski said. "The two politicians exchanged views on what the new US politics towards Ukraine and Russia could look like, and where there could be possible corrections. And how to lead a conversation with the American partner in this direction, in order to keep the main line which is shared by us today, and on which both Poland and Germany agree as far as Ukraine is concerned", Krzysztof Szczerski said. According to minister Szczerski, both the president and the chancellor agreed that "there could be no consent to the lasting legitimisation of aggression against a sovereign state". "One cannot agree to the situation returning to the level of normal contacts, to 'business as usual', after what happened in Ukraine, not until this conflict has been solved and international order based on international law has been restored in Ukraine", minister Szczerski said. He added that the two politicians had expressed their concern over the recent developments in Ukraine and stressed that "the situation was developing towards the deterioration of the peace process instead of its improvement". Minister Szczerski said that President Duda and Chancellor Merkel agreed that it was necessary to meet more often, and added that a security conference in Munich and a NATO summit in May would surely be an occasion for their meeting. Szczerski also said that the Duda-Merkel face-to-face meeting lasted longer than planned.(PAP) MASON CITY | A Mason City man with a history of domestic assault has been sent to prison. Michael W. Holton, 29, was sentenced Monday to up to five years in prison for felony domestic abuse assault, third or subsequent offense. On Nov. 6 he prevented a woman from leaving the bathroom of a Mason City residence for about 45 minutes while he stood outside with a pair of scissors and threatened to stab her in the face, according to the criminal complaint. Holton then allegedly followed the woman outside the residence and reached in her pockets to take her keys, cell phone and debit card. During the struggle the woman fell to the ground and Holton was seen standing over her and yelling, the complaint stated. Witnesses said they saw him pull her hair. Holton pleaded guilty in January. A $750 fine was suspended but he is to pay court costs and a $100 surcharge, as well as $1,400 restitution to the Crime Victim Compensation Program. Holton has four previous domestic assault convictions on his records. Mary Pieper ATLANTIC CITY A new administration and direction in Washington, D.C., has New Jersey farmers worried about their supply of workers to pick and pack what they produce. President Donald Trump and Congress plans and statements about limiting foreign workers in the U.S. were hot topics on the opening day of the annual New Jersey State Agricultural Convention at Harrahs Resort. Augie Wuillermin, who farms 275 acres in Hammonton with his brother Ed, ranks the availability of labor as one of two top worries going into his growing season. Where are we going to find the people who do the work? said Wuillermin, who is also one of eight members of the states Board of Agriculture. Thats a question that comes up every year, but it has added urgency now, with the president talking about building a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and his appointments to key positions, including people with reputations as hard-liners on keeping foreign workers out of the United States. Craig Regelbrugge, a senior vice president with AmericanHort, a horticulture and landscape industry group, presented a program on the labor market in farming. He said that of about 2 million hired farmworkers in the U.S., roughly 72 percent are foreign-born. They show documents to their employer which appear genuine. But if their documents were held up to close scrutiny, roughly half of our workforce, maybe more, could be removed from the country, removed from employment, Regelbrugge said. Shirley Todd Kline runs one of New Jerseys smallest farms, just 6 acres in Cumberland Countys Stow Creek Township. She said farmers have only limited discretion in how closely they can do their own scrutinizing of those workers papers. If they look legitimate and we dont accept them, we can be charged with discrimination, said Todd, whos also a state Board of Agriculture member. Regelbrugge, the outside expert, also noted that Trump nominated U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, of Alabama, to be the next attorney general. Jeff Sessions is arguably the hardest hard-liner that there is in the U.S. Senate on immigration policy, and not just against illegal immigration but also with respect to the legal avenues, including visa programs for farmworkers, he said. Mr. Sessions has worked to reduce or eliminate the legal labor options that we now have. Ryck Suydam is president of the New Jersey Farm Bureau and a farmer himself, with about 300 acres in Somerset County producing a variety of crops, animals and related food. He says labor availability is one of the top-five issues all farmers in the state face, but the problem is even worse in South Jersey. Thats probably No. 1 or 2, he said. I feel for them, because theyre competing with each other for a shrinking labor force. If we want to keep eating Jersey tomatoes or Jersey sweet corn, we need people to pick them. Or were going to be eating Arkansas tomatoes and Florida corn, and nobody wants that. If he had his way, Suydam by his count a 12th-generation farmer in New Jersey said one helpful fix to the system for agriculture would be that the guest worker and immigration (programs) should be two different things. As he sees it, a crucial effect of tighter borders and harsher rhetoric is to encourage people to overstay their visas to protect their jobs. If you come to this country now, he said, youre not going to want to go home, because you may not get back in. The convention brought hundreds of people to the Waterfront Convention Center at Harrahs Wednesday and continues Thursday. One key figure who wasnt there was state Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher, a Cumberland County native. State officials said hes recovering from a January car crash that left him with two broken bones in a leg. Jamie Castano never thought hed own an animal rescue. A few years ago, he took in a horse named Star after her previous owner had a stroke. Later, he got a call for a pig running loose. Then some geese. From there we saw the need for a farm-related rescue, and it kind of exploded, said the 27-year-old Castano, who started Freedom Farm Animal Rescue along with his fiancee, 25-year-old Tara Seay. The rescue is in the midst of moving from its Mays Landing farm to a larger property in Greenwich Township, where the animals will have more space. Its a new beginning for the nonprofit and some of the animals who had a painful start in life. For some local animal rescues that open their arms to creatures with everything from hooves to wings, caring for a flock of animals is an emotional and financial investment. Often, they depend on the donations and kindness of others. Every animal that comes in, no matter what, especially the ones who come in who need extra care, you get so attached to them, said Castano, who said theyll adopt out the animals they can to help make space for more. Then its bittersweet to see them go, he said. Before becoming a nonprofit and receiving donations, Castano and Seay paid for everything out of pocket. Going to the bar or out to dinner are on the back burner for the young couple who put their animals first. On a recent morning, Seay toted along a lamb rescued from a dairy farm. The lamb was named Clark, after Supermans alter ego, Clark Kent, because of the odds stacked against him. Snuggled into her arms, a large abscess on Clarks leg either from not healing properly from an injury or from a contagious sheep disease will need amputation. Clark lives in the house while hes still on the mend, and his recovery inspired Castano and Seay to go vegan after they realized how intertwined the dairy and meat industries are. People just think of pets as dogs and horses, said volunteer and friend Glenn Truscio. They dont think goats and sheep are pets also. A few miles away at Funny Farm Rescue in Mays Landing, owner Laurie Zaleski said farm animal rescues are needed. All life has value. Sometimes people treat animals as if they are disposable and theyre not, said Zaleski, who cares for over 400 animals on her 15-acre farm where they freely roam. Theyre living beings. Everybody deserves a second chance, and I think thats why were here. At Steve Serwatkas New Jersey Nature rescue in Dennis Township, owner Serwatka cares for a myriad of reptiles, birds, mammals and a resident otter, Olive, who was once someones pet. With everything from hawks to gators, the former science teacher has had to become a mini-expert in their care over the past 30 years. Some animals are rehabilitated and sent back to the wild or adopted out, while others remain in his care. Serwatka doesnt always get animals in bad shape; rather he sometimes bears the brunt of ill-informed, exotic animal purchases. Once the novelty of those new pets disappears, the pets come to him. People like the idea of big snakes, but once they get big, its like, Uh-oh, what did I get into? he said. Come spring, Serwatka and his assistant director, Chris Conroy, will have their hands full with rescued baby squirrels and raccoons. Conroys mother and grandmother even lend some extra bottle-feeding hands. If we didnt do this, no one else would, said Conroy, who has been volunteering for over six years. We dont make money off this. Unfortunately theres no state grants or any way to support ourselves. Serwatka said he receives help from vets in the area who work on animals at low cost. Others drop off food or extra items. Caring for so many animals comes at a price, as most of the rescue owners continue to work to supplement the rescue costs. At Funny Farm, Zaleski has donation boxes around the farm, picnic tables for visitors, a small store and occasionally hosts events. It is amazing how many people want to help. I think it makes them feel good, they feel like they can help something they cant help themselves, said Zaleski, who said she once had volunteers come on Christmas. Zaleski said theres nothing like the unconditional love she receives from her animals. For Castano, seeing some of the animals he rescues get back on their feet is one of the best feelings in the world. However, he hopes theres a day where there will be no need to rescue animals. Its almost impossible for us to think that will happen, but thats the biggest hope there wouldnt be a need for us. WHAT: Funny Farm Animal Rescue WHERE: {span}6908 Railroad Blvd, Mays Landing WHEN: Every Tuesday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, or even snow.{/span} If you have a snow machine, come on out said Zaleski with a laugh. For more information, visit funnyfarmrescue.org or on Facebook. Donation boxes are located around the property to help the farm rescue. WHAT: Freedom Farm Animal Rescue Follow Freedom Farm Animal Rescue and Clark the Lambs journey on Facebook at facebook.com/freedomfarmanimalrescue or instagram @freedomfarm_animalrescue To donate visit their Amazon wishlist at www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/1H5LNV9TVR0WV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ip_wl_o_73Zuyb0CP30WF or to PayPal at freedomfarmanimalrescue@gmail.com WHAT: Steve Serwatka's New Jersey Nature Found out more about Steve Serwatkas New Jersey Nature rescue, visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/Steve-Serwatka-New-Jersey-Nature-282138388849 To help out, donations can be made to {span}New Jersey Nature INC. PayPal account. Growing up in Rhode Island, I never heard of wearing your pajamas inside out to help cheer on a snow day, although its much less labor-intensive than the way I chose to help the cause. My contribution involved waking up early, often before 5 a.m., then changing out of my pajamas and dressing in full winter battle gear. My main weapon was a snow shovel. My army was the rest of the neighborhood kids, well, at least the ones I could rile out of bed to battle that early in the morning. Our enemy: the town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, Public Works Department. More specifically, the snowplow. Let me explain. The superintendent of the Cumberland Public Schools lived on our street. My theory, which seemed perfectly logical at the time, was that he would simply look out the window to see how the roads are and make the decision to cancel school based solely on what he saw. And what he saw, thanks to some ill-advised yet determined neighborhood kids that called themselves the Highland Road gang, was a snow-covered road. If the plow had not come just yet, our task was to shovel even more snow on the already-covered road. If we arrived to find the plow had regrettably done its work, our task was to undo it. No, not the entire road. But, rest assured, the street in front of our beloved superintendents house was covered with as much snow as our bodies could shovel onto it. Of course, if school was canceled, our gang would proudly take the credit and consider the battle won. If there was no snow day to be had, we promised to shovel harder and faster the next time to successfully earn a coveted snow day. Thankfully, the inside-out pajamas superstition didnt make its way to Highland Road in Rhode Island, or I may have been the only kid outside shoveling. Do you have your own way to ensure a snow day? Leave your methods in the comments, and we can add it to our online story. Here are readers rituals to make sure a snow day occurred. Winter wardrobes Patti Barnett Wythe: PJs inside out and backwards. Barbara Blackman: I worked in the public school system for over 35 years. Superstition was that wed have a snow day if the kids wore their pajamas inside out and chanted something (cant remember). Chris Corona Moses: I used to have my son wear his pajamas inside out! Sometimes it worked! Ice cubes in where? Heather Hoffman Wieland: Pjs inside out. Spoons under the pillows and ice cubes in the toilet. Bring on the snow. Useful utensils Whitney Katz Poppert: PJs inside out and backwards, snow dance, spoon under pillow and ice cubes in the toilet. Elizabeth Price Maurer: Kids always sleep with the PJs inside out and a spoon under their pillows. Out-of-the-box methods Heather Sudol: Snow dance. Vicki Biggs: Pray! Diane Pannelli: When I was a child and it started to snow during the school day, it was always said that you dont tell the teacher because it would stop snowing. If you keep the secret, it would continue into the night. Al Heston: I was a second-grade teacher and would do a Native American war chant and dance up and down my hallway, seemed to really work! Southern New Jersey will need to nearly double the number of psychiatric hospital beds specifically used to treat substance abuse and mental illness patients to meet demand, according to state health officials and Gov. Chris Christie. Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties need 180 additional beds for drug and alcohol addictions and mental illnesses, the state says. Currently, there are 163. All of the beds for Atlantic and Cape May counties residents are at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Galloway Township. Christie has made a plea to health providers to establish more inpatient services to meet a growing demand that includes skyrocketing heroin abuse. James Cooney, CEO at Ocean Mental Health, said the beds are needed, especially in Ocean County. You cant just create beds, but you have to make sure theyre also connected to community programs, he said. Im very happy with what (Christie) has done. Its the right thing for him to be doing. Cooney said additional inpatient beds at local hospitals and health providers can help his organization provide follow-up care for more people. Christie and state Department of Health officials have identified a need for 864 more adult acute-care psychiatric beds statewide. I always have believed that there is no soul that is beyond redemption and that everybody can have more chances, Christie said at a recent press conference. About 7.9 million adults in the United States had co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, according to a 2014 survey by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Experts also say emergency room visits involving both substance abuse and mental illness were more likely to result in inpatient hospitalization and treatment. Emergency department visits in New Jersey hospitals increased overall by more than 117,000 patients from 2014 to 2015, and nearly 54,000 of those new cases included a mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis, according to the New Jersey Hospital Association. Greg Speed, CEO of Cape Counseling, a behavioral health care network in Cape May County, said the problem with establishing inpatient beds like these has been a lack of psychiatrists coming to work in South Jersey and the local need to sustain the costs of running these inpatient units. He said Cape May County health officials do not yet know enough about the process to determine if its feasible. State health officials said Christies support of legislation that would require health insurers to pay without prior authorization for up to six months of inpatient treatment should help the establishment of these additional inpatient beds. If health providers apply to establish additional beds and get approved, state policy mandates they reserve a percentage of treatment days per year for Medicaid and uninsured patients. Laura Rodgers, chief programs officer at Jewish Family Services, said treating both mental illness and substance use together has led to the best outcomes for clients and that additional beds would get the state closer to meeting the needs of clients the agency serves. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. OCEAN CITY A truck moving sand on the beach Wednesday morning went up in flames, officials said. The Ocean City Fire Department responded at 7:30 a.m. after getting a call of a truck ablaze on the beach near Fifth Street, said Doug Bergen, the citys public information officer. The dump truck was being operated by a city Public Works employee who was moving sand to an eroded part of the beach. Bergen said the work was routine and permitted by the state, but not part of any beach replenishment. The employee was not injured in the incident, Bergen said. He said the fire posed no environmental concern and firefighters prevented debris from entering the ocean during the blaze. The fire broke out on the truck about 50 feet from the Boardwalk, which made it easier for firefighters to put out the blaze with hoses, Fire Chief James Smith said. The fire is still under investigation and no cause has been determined, Smith said. After the investigation is complete, the Public Works Department will remove the truck, Bergen said. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Two weeks after millions of people across the country took to the streets to march for womens rights, students at Stockton University gathered to discuss how they can keep the momentum going forward. On Tuesday, a panel of five students talked about their experiences at the Womens March on Washington. The event was sponsored by the Political Engagement Project, a nonpartisan effort at the school that also recently held a forum about students experiences at the presidential inauguration. All student panelists at this forum agreed that the march in Washington, D.C., was nothing like anything they have experienced before and said they are more motivated than ever to try and encourage people to stand up for what they believe in. I was one of those people that said it couldnt happen, but then it happened, said Caroline Fanning, referring to the election of Donald Trump as president. The next day I knew I had to do something. On Jan. 21, more than 2 million people in cities across the country protested the first full day of Trumps presidency. The rally featured signs and chanting as well as celebrity guest speakers. Many of the students at the forum said they first heard of the protest via social media and knew they had to go to try to make a difference. The students on the panel described the march in Washington as having a happy atmosphere with people staying on message about womens rights and the rights of all human beings. The message was a refusal to accept that what Trump is doing is normal, Fanning said. The march stood as an example that were not going to stand for what hes saying. Courtney Volpe, who wore a shirt that said A Womans Place is in the House and the Senate, said during the forum that people need to be aware that the country is run by the people, and that just being an observer will not help change anything. Its not all about what the president wants, she said. Its about what the people want. Its not all about him. The students also discussed what they plan to do now. Alejandra Londono, a junior, said she wants to start a bi-lingual news source for South Jersey residents who do not speak English. Theres nothing like that in South Jersey right now, she said. Fanning said that it is easy to get involved around campus and the community. Look for things in your community. There are plenty of things you can do to help, she said. A good start is helping people get registered to vote. Obama didnt do enough to fight opioid epidemic With the conclusion of President Obamas tenure, his role in the nations opioid epidemic must be addressed. Yes, in his final days as president he became more vocal about the epidemic. However, this was too little, too late in the extreme. His words were in stark contrast to his record-setting pardoning and lessening of drug-dealer sentences, which included heroin dealers. To Americans who have witnessed a loved one succumb to opioid addiction, the characterization of a heroin dealer as a nonviolent criminal was nonsense. Heroin and opioid addiction has destroyed countless families and killed thousands. Yet a war on cops seemed more appealing to President Obama than continuing to fight a war on drugs. And the opioid casualty count only tells part of the story. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are addicted to heroin. Yet, heroin flows into the nation every day and is readily available on city and suburban street corners. This level of accessibility was reason enough for Obama to slow the porous borders. Yes, as Obama said, a voice can change a room, but Americans now are left to wonder how his voice and the power of the presidency could have done more to thwart the epidemic that he has left behind. Robert Cochran Manahawkin Blue line backing police might distress others Painting a blue line down Central Avenue in Ocean City is not the best way to show support for law-enforcement personnel who are dedicated to serving and protecting all. The fact that the blue line is unlawful creates an opportunity for the city to look deeper into the matter of respect. The blue line movement is closely associated with the Blue Lives Matter movement, which arose as a reaction to, and some would say against, the Black Lives Matter movement. Perception is of extreme importance in this issue. We need to be able to support police without further alienating, distressing and threatening the nearly 40 million African-Americans in the U.S. and the countless millions from all races and backgrounds who are allied with them in the quest of ensuring the civil rights of all Americans. Let us show support for police by continuing to invest in opportunities for police and communities to come together as neighbors and friends. Handshakes and hellos create stronger positive ties than a painted line. Love is the only functional antidote to fear. Jack Miller Petersburg Pinelands pipelines exist, unknown, without impact Im getting so very tired of hearing the same old anti-pipeline comments from the same anti-everything groups about the proposed pipeline along Route 49. Dont they know that pipelines have existed for years in the pinelands already without any environmental impact? One great example is the pipeline stretching 15 miles from Mays Landing to Tuckahoe along Route 50. It goes throughout the pinelands along similar wetlands and forests. Guess what no one even knows its there. Wheres the impact? The proposed pipeline would provide significant economic benefits without contaminating the environment. Dont these people know the difference between natural gas versus liquid-oil pipelines? I believe the anti-pipeline complainers have an agenda far different than whats being presented to the public about the pinelands. It really is just a smokescreen for their hatred of the power plant that we need in Beesleys Point. Regardless, we shouldnt let the tyranny of the few stifle meaningful progress for area communities and citizens. Harold Olson Egg Harbor Township MASON CITY | A Mason City woman accused of making her children sleep in a feces-covered room is pleading guilty to one felony count of neglect of a dependent person. Alexis Rae Martinez, 26, entered a written guilty plea Wednesday. Her formal plea change hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21. 3 Mason City kids forced to sleep in feces-covered room, documents say MASON CITY A Mason City mom accused of making her children sleep in a feces-covered room f In exchange for her guilty plea, the state has agreed to recommended a deferred judgment with four years of probation instead of prison time or a suspended sentence, according to court documents. The maximum penalty under Iowa law for neglect of a dependent person is up to 10 years in prison. The state has also agreed to drop two other counts of neglect of a dependent person originally filed against Martinez in the case. Martinez forced three children, ages 2, 4 and 6, to sleep for a week in a room with feces on the walls and floors toward the end of August, according to court documents. The children were placed in this room and the door was then locked from the outside, the documents state. Mary Pieper MASON CITY | The City Council on Tuesday approved two requests for forgivable loans to small business owners, made available through the city's Corridor Revitalization Loan program. Matt Marquardt has purchased the former Friends Church building at 146 Sixth St. S.W. and is converting into a business office. He will receive a forgivable loan of $30,000 to install a new front facade; replace the roof; and make extensive interior improvements. Total cost of the project is $73,310. Clear Lake Bank & Trust has provided a letter indicating Marquardt can meet the 100 percent match requirement. The other loan will go to Chad and Mary Kay Swenson for renovating Mary Kay's Grooming Station at 1520 N. Federal Ave. The building was originally a veterinarian's office and later housed the Humane Society of North Iowa. The Swensons are putting an addition on the building and plan to repave the parking lot. Total cost of the project is $46,778.40. North Iowa Community Credit Union has provided a letter indicating the Swensons can meet the 100 percent match required. Councilman Paul Adams thanked the property owners for their willingness to invest in improving their properties and praised the city for implementing the program. The Corridor Revitalization Loan program was approved by the City Council in 2015 with the goal of improving and enhancing the citys older commercial corridors, primarily North and South Federal avenues. The program provides a forgivable loan of up to $30,000 for improvements that enhance the aesthetic appearance of the area and raise property values. The loan must have a 100 percent match. If the owner maintains ownership and maintains the improvements for seven years, the loan is forgiven. 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. MASON CITY | A North Iowa man whose two-year prison sentence on a public intoxication conviction was vacated by the Iowa Court of Appeals in December had his original punishment re-instated during a district court hearing Monday. Michael Robert Handt, 60, Charles City, originally was sentenced in March 2016 in Cerro Gordo County District Court after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication, third or subsequent offense. North Iowa man has prison sentence vacated MASON CITY | The Iowa Court of Appeals Wednesday ordered a North Iowa man to be re-sentenced On appeal the defense claimed the district court considered improper claims when sentencing Handt, noting the judge referenced his allegedly being prescribed medication for a mental health disorder and taking that medication with alcohol even though he was not supposed to. However, the record did not indicate anything about Handt's taking medication for a mental health disorder or combining prescription medications with alcohol consumption, according to the defense. The appeals court sent the case back to district court for re-sentencing. Mary Pieper BASSETT | A 16-year-old former resident of Osage who died last week is being remembered for his caring nature and sense of humor. Jaykob Wiese, of Bassett, died on Feb. 2. His memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Osage. Jaykob Lee Wiese BASSETT | Jaykob Lee Wiese, age 16, of Bassett and formerly of Osage, died Thursday, Feb. 2, Wiese, who attended school in Osage before moving to Bassett, began his sophomore year at Nashua-Plainfield High School in the fall. Superintendent Randy Strabala said staff members who worked closely with Wiese say he was "always smiling," had a good sense of humor and cared a lot for his family and friends. This death "bothers a lot of students as well as staff," he said. Multiple grief counselors were available at the school the day after Wiese's death. They are still available for students and staff who need them, according to Strabala. The sophomore class is planning a memorial for Wiese. "We feel for the family," Strabala said. Wiese lived in Charles City and then Lyle, Minnesota, in the earliest years of his life. In 2005 his family moved to Osage, where he started school. He attended school there through 2015. Osage Superintendent Barb Schwamman said the two middle-high school counselors have been meeting with students as needed. Professional therapeutic services are also provided in the building on a weekly basis. BUFFALO CENTER Douglas G. Hanson, 68, formerly of Buffalo Center, died Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Buffalo Center. Burial will be in Olena Mound Cemetery, Buffalo Center. His family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Winter Funeral Home of Buffalo Center in charge of arrangements. STOCKHOLM, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Munich-based investment manager Catella Real Estate has taken advantage of the current favourable market conditions in the Netherlands by selling an office building in Amsterdam and reinvesting in a modern residential and retail property in Utrecht's city centre for the Sarasin Sustainable Properties European Cities fund. The office building at Middenlaan 14-16 in Amsterdam has 5,490 square metres of office space and 1,090 square metres of storage space. Due to the dated quality of the space in the building, constructed in 1972, Catella took the decision to sell the property above market value. "The Dutch real estate market is on course for recovery. Its good performance is also reflected in the favourable market conditions, which have benefited this sale," says Henrik Fillibeck, Managing Director of Catella Real Estate. The capital has been reinvested in a residential and retail property at Oudegracht 152-156/ Vinkenburgstraat 17 in the Binnenstad district of central Utrecht. The property has almost 3,500 square metres of usable space and stands on a 1,200 square metre piece of land. Residential space takes up 1,455 square metres, while 1,250 square metres are allocated to retail and 789 square metres to food and drink outlets. "The Dutch recovery is filtering through to the retail sector. All the indices suggest that the Dutch have regained their appetite for spending more money on consumption. Reinvestment in a residential and retail building is an excellent way to further diversify the portfolio and spread risks. By selling a dedicated office building and buying a mixed-use property, the diversification in retail and residential space can be further expanded. Oudegracht is the city's best-known canal and a prime retail location, with a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars, and helps to make the city, byopening a new location in the area of Randstad, a metropolitan area in Europe," says Henrik Fillibeck. Catella's Sarasin Sustainable Properties European Cities fund focuses on sustainable investments in fast-growing major European cities. For more information, please contact: Dr Tim Schomberg Head of Business Development Institutionals +49-89-189-16-65-25 E-mail: tim.schomberg@catella.de Press contact: Ann Charlotte Svensson Head of Group Communications +46-8-463-32-55, +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---property-investment-management/r/catella-sells-and-reinvests-in-the-netherlands-for-its-sustainable-property-fund,c2181813 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/9880/2181813/624521.pdf Press release SOURCE Catella - Property Investment Management DUBLIN, Feb 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "China Water Purifiers Market By Technology (Membrane, Ultraviolet & Offline/Gravity), By Sales Channel (Direct & Indirect), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025" report to their offering. The China water purifier market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 18% during 2016-2025, due to increasing water TDS levels along with advancements in water purification technologies in the country. Additionally, growing concerns among consumers regarding ill effects of packaged water on environment and human health is boosting sales of water purifiers in China. A water purifier is a device that eliminates impurities from untreated water by means of a fine physical, chemical and biological processes and make it suitable for human consumption. Rising water contamination in rivers is propelling demand for water purifiers in China. In addition, presence of large population base that has limited access to clean and safe drinking water, is further attracting various water purifier manufacturers' to penetrate the country. Further, increasing urbanization and industrialization is resulting in uncontrolled pollution of water bodies, thereby generating huge demand for water purifiers in residential setups. Based on technology type, China water purifier market has been categorized into membrane based water purifiers, ultraviolet water purifiers and offline/gravity water purifiers. Few of the major players operating in China water purifiers market include Midea Water Appliance, A.O. Smith (Shanghai) Water Treatment Products Co., Ltd. and Zhejian Qinyuan Water Purifiers Co., Ltd. Why You Should Buy This Report? To gain an in-depth understanding of China water purifiers market water purifiers market To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next ten years To help industry consultants, water purifier manufacturers, vendors and dealers align their market-centric strategies To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players To avail of 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs Companies Mentioned 3M China Limited A.O. Smith ( Shanghai ) Water Treatment Products Co., Ltd. ( ) Water Treatment Products Co., Ltd. Beijing Originwater Technology Co., Ltd. Midea Water Appliance Ozner Water Purification Paragon Water System Shanghai Canature Environmental Products Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Angel Drinking Water Industrial Group Corporation (ANGEL) Shenzhen Litree Purifying Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejian Qinyuan Water Purifiers Co., Ltd. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Global Water Purifiers Market Overview 5. China Water Scenario 6. China Water Purifiers Market Outlook, 2011-2025 7. China Membrane Water Purifiers Market Outlook, 2011-2025 8. China Offline/Gravity UV Water Purifiers Market Outlook, 2011-2025 9. China Ultraviolet Water Purifiers Market Outlook, 2011-2025 11. Sales Channel Analysis 12. Market Dynamics 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Import-Export Analysis 15. Policy & Regulatory Landscape 16. China Economic Profile 17. Competitive Landscape 18. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zsr9pn/china_water Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ContourGlobal Power Holdings S.A. (the "Issuer") today announced its intention to offer an additional 50 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.125% senior secured notes due 2021 (the "Notes") in a private offering to eligible purchasers as an add-on to the existing 600 million aggregate principal amount of such notes currently outstanding (the "Existing Notes"). The Notes will have identical terms as the Existing Notes, other than the date of issue, the initial date from which interest will accrue and the initial price. The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes. The Notes are being offered in a private offering that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and, outside the United States, to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. About ContourGlobal The Issuer is a finance subsidiary wholly-owned by ContourGlobal L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "ContourGlobal"). ContourGlobal is a premier developer and operator of wholesale electric power generation businesses in 19 countries worldwide. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Issuer undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, including, without limitation, changes in ContourGlobal's business or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Related Links http://www.contourglobal.com SOURCE ContourGlobal Chronic Respiratory Wireless Pulse Oximeters Shift from the Finger to the Wrist LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chronic respiratory diseasesasthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)affect up to one billion patients globally. While in the past, clinicians monitored patients' vitals through regular checkups, new wearable technology now allows them to track this information remotely. ABI Research forecasts device connectivity will drive new chronic respiratory disease wearable form factors, with shipments to grow from three million shipments in 2017 to 12 million in 2022. COPD, alone, costs U.S. healthcare systems $50 billion per year. ABI Research forecasts the U.S. will spend the most on chronic respiratory disease wearables, accounting for $6 million in 2022 of $21 million in global market revenues. Following the U.S., Europe and the Asia Pacific will also see high adoption rates. As the nascent market gains momentum, the devices will gradually shift from wireless finger-clips to wrist-worn devices. "Wrist-worn chronic respiratory disease wearables are the ideal form factor, because they allow patients to carry out daily activities uninterrupted while collecting data continuously and in real time to note any subtle fluctuations in oxygen levels," says Stephanie Lawrence, Research Analyst at ABI Research. "Finger-clip devices must be manually attached and activated throughout the day to provide one-off readings. Though they still provide more information than pulse oximeters in a clinical setting, finger-clip devices often miss subtle fluctuations that could indicate worsening conditions." Non-invasive medical monitoring solutions developer Nonin Medical's latest wrist-worn pulse oximeterWristOx 2, Model 3150measures patients' oxygen saturation and pulse rates, transmitting the data using Bluetooth 2.0. Additionally, medical device manufacturer and startup Oxitone Medical recently released its Oxitone wrist pulse oximeter that continuously monitors blood oxygen levels and sends the data to an app via embedded Bluetooth Smart. Challenges vendors need to overcome as the market develops include meeting medical regulatory standards. The mandatory standards are critical, as they are clear proof that the device is an effective and accurate form of monitoring a patient's condition. As obtaining medical regulation is a lengthy process, manufacturers must consider it in the early design stage as the global market develops. These findings are part of ABI Research's Chronic Respiratory Disease: Wearable mHealth Device Market Overview (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/product/1018562-chronic-respiratory-disease-wearable-mheal/) report. About ABI Research ABI Research stands at the forefront of technology market research, providing business leaders with comprehensive research and consulting services to help them implement informed, transformative technology decisions. Founded more than 25 years ago, the company's global team of senior and long-tenured analysts delivers deep market data forecasts, analyses, and teardown services. ABI Research is an industry pioneer, proactively uncovering ground-breaking business cycles and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com. Contact Info: Mackenzie Gavel Tel: +44.203.326.0142 pr@abiresearch.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276887LOGO Related Links http://www.abiresearch.com SOURCE ABI Research DUBAI, UAE, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The New agreement aims to support DHA's development of a comprehensive, integrated health system and achieve goals of Dubai Health Strategy 2021 Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, have agreed to collaborate on the DHA's strategic goals for developing a comprehensive and integrated health service system and improving the health sector operations and information systems. His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of the DHA, and Jacqueline Duvoisin, Regional Director for Clinical Solutions MEA Turkey, Iran & Central Asia, Elsevier, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Commenting on the MoU, Al Qatami said DHA's developmental drive depends on constantly updating its information and data-supporting systems to ensure that the best tools and information are available for decision-making. He added that utilizing the best technology and state of the art systems helps the authority achieve its healthcare goals that are in line with Dubai's developmental drive, be it in its medical affairs, services technology or state-of-the-art equipment. The MoU's objective is to enhance cooperation between both parties through various evidence-based projects to support DHA's organizational transformation and innovation goals of the Dubai Health Strategy 2021. "We have been collaborating with DHA since 2010, and we are pleased to build upon our long-standing relationship with DHA to support its effort to achieve its five-year plan and beyond," Duvoisin said. "This agreement demonstrates that Elsevier, the largest medical and scientific content provider globally, leads the way in the region's evidenced-based solutions that improve patient care, decrease variation of care, and reduce of hospital costs." Key projects that DHA and Elsevier will embark on together include establishing Dubai as a center of scientific research and scientific publications in the medical and health fields based on the procedures and systems at DHA. Supporting the goal of innovation through Elsevier's evidence-based content solutions: integrated decision support related to the unified Electronic Medical Record system; patient engagement systems aimed at raising patients' awareness, safety and satisfaction; integrated clinical decision support through patient-specific pathways; and telemedicine and patient self-care advice and triage services. The MoU also aims to support DHA in conducting research, identifying risks and building internal competencies in research and quality, as well as building continuing medical education through various solutions. About Dubai Health Authority The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority. The DHA's aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA's mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector. In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai. The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff. It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff. Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery. About Elsevier Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com Media contact Christopher Capot Director, Corporate Relations, Elsevier +1-917-704-5174 c.capot@elsevier.com SOURCE Elsevier LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The rising demand for energy-efficient, easily operable, and smart sensor-embedded hydraulic systems that are Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-enabled is driving hydraulic manufacturing companies to expand their presence across the globe. The hitherto sluggish market will recover within five years as consumers across user verticals such as construction, material management, automotive, agriculture, and oil and gas exhibit willingness to invest heavily in integrated hydraulic solutions. "Key mobile hydraulic equipment market participants, including Bosch Rexroth, Eaton Corp, Parker Hannifin and Danfoss, are venturing into smart platforms, especially for the automotive, chemical and energy industries, embedding sensors in pumps, cylinders and even accessories such as hoses to enhance power density and control oil leakage from equipment," said Frost & Sullivan Industrial Automation and Process Research Analyst Kiravani Emani. "Electronic integration will continue to play a pivotal role in boosting demand for hydraulic products." Global Mobile Hydraulic Equipment Market, Forecast to 2020, part of Frost & Sullivan's Industrial Automation and Process Control Growth Partnership Service programme, highlights the opportunities emerging as traditional hydraulic systems give way to electronically integrated ones. The study explores the magnitude of the impact on the industry owing to the operational excellence that consumers will garner through smart sensor integration in these systems. Click here for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders. Despite low investment activity in major mobile vertical markets such as agriculture, construction, and oil and gas, which has contracted the revenue margins of hydraulic manufacturers, the overall market remains positive: Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Germany exhibit high demand for mobile hydraulics, especially for the automotive segment; and exhibit high demand for mobile hydraulics, especially for the automotive segment; Strong investment activity makes Asia-Pacific the most attractive region; the most attractive region; Adoption of smart hydraulics is bolstered by the shift toward Factories of the Future and smart machinery that can be wirelessly controlled and remotely monitored; The largest product segment, hydraulic cylinders, is expected to see more integration with electronics and sensors; Valves remain the second-largest segment, driven by user demand for directional, pressure, and flow control; Hydraulic pumps account for nearly 18.2 percent of total mobile hydraulic revenue and will witness positive demand until 2020; The market for hydraulic motors will continue to grow for the next five years due to advanced capabilities such as high power density and ruggedness; Hydraulic transmission is widely used in mobile applications, and demand is likely to increase from the off-highway segment. To boost uptake, manufacturers must focus on educating consumers on the long-term benefits of electro-hydraulics solutions, and position themselves as one-stop vendors for a holistic range of services from installation to maintenance and replacement. "End users will continue to invest in purchasing or replacing products that help to reduce energy consumption, noise levels, and oil leakages caused during equipment operation," observed Kiravani. "Hydraulic manufacturers who complement their product offering with service capabilities are likely to be a preferred choice for end users." About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion Global Mobile Hydraulic Equipment Market, Forecast to 2020 MCB3-10 Contact: Evgenia Oleynikova Corporate Communications Europe P: +48 224816210 E: Evgenia.Oleynikova@frost.com http://ww2.frost.com Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan NEW YORK, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuously expanding automobile fleet and growing sales of automobiles in the country to drive Eritrea tire market through 2022 According to TechSci Research report, "Eritrea Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022", tire market in Eritrea is forecast to cross US$ 11 million by 2022, on account of growing automobile sales and expanding automobile fleet across the country. Vehicle fleet in the country increased from 81,412 units in 2012 to 96,547 units in 2016, and exhibited a CAGR of 4.35% during 2012-2016. Growing GDP (official exchange rate) of the country, which stood at USD5.35 billion in 2015, as per CIA, is also anticipated to boost demand for automobiles and tires in the country during the forecast period. Eritrea is an import driven economy and the country is completely dependent on tire imports. Tire market of the country is entirely replacement driven due to absence of automobile manufacturing facilities in Eritrea. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 ) Browse 6 market data Tables and 51 Figures spread through 114 Pages and an in-depth TOC on "Eritrea Tire Market" https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/eritrea-tire-market-forecast-opportunities/887.html As per the CIA, in 2016, the country's GDP growth stood at 3.7%. In 2016, major demand for tires emanated from Central region of Eritrea, on the back of several infrastructural development projects initiated by the government, and increasing demand for commercial vehicles as well as tires. Chinese tires being comparatively cheaper than other leading flagship European and American tire brands, are expected to dominate Eritrea tire market. Other prominent tire manufacturing companies which have a moderate presence in the country include MRF, Apollo, Continental, Michelin, Bridgestone, etc. Download Sample Report @ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=887 Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report. "Over the next five years, passenger car tire would continue to dominate the tire market in Eritrea, followed by medium & heavy commercial vehicle tire, light commercial vehicle tire and OTR tire segments. Moreover, passenger car tire and two-wheeler & three-wheeler tire cumulatively accounted for more than half of the share in the country's tire market, and this trend is expected to continue through 2022. Introduction of number of infrastructure projects such as Asmara Housing Project, Gahtelay Dam Construction, etc., in the country are further expected to drive demand for commercial vehicles in the country. Thus, growing demand for commercial vehicles is forecast to drive demand for commercial vehicle tires in the country during the forecast period." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm. "Eritrea Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022' has evaluated the future growth potential of Eritrea tire market and provides statistics and information on market size, structure and future market growth. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities in Eritrea tire market. Browse Related Reports Russia Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022 http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/sri-lanka-tire-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2021/654.html Serbia Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021 http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/serbia-tire-market-forecast-opportunities-2021/633.html Latvia Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2021 http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/latvia-tire-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2021/643.html About TechSci Research TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends. Contact Mr. Ken Mathews 708 Third Avenue, Manhattan, NY, New York - 10017 Tel: +1-646-360-1656 Email: sales@techsciresearch.com Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research SOURCE TechSci Research Former FXCM clients will be transferred to FOREX.com BEDMINSTER, New Jersey, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCAP) ("GAIN" or "the Company"), a global provider of online trading services, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the client base of FXCM's U.S. operations. For the 3 months ended December 31, 2016, average daily volume from customers of FXCM's U.S. operations was approximately $2.4 billion. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, customers of FXCM's U.S. regulated business will be transferred to GAIN Capital's retail trading service, FOREX.com (www.forex.com). The transaction is subject to final regulatory approval. It is expected to close before the end of February. "We are excited to welcome customers of FXCM's U.S. operations to our award-winning FOREX.com service," said Glenn Stevens, CEO, GAIN Capital. "They will become part of one of the largest and most well-capitalized providers of retail FX trading services globally. At GAIN Capital, we pride ourselves on our 17-year track record of protecting our clients and delivering on their FX trading needs." GAIN Capital is one of the largest providers of retail FX & CFD trading services globally. The Company is currently regulated in eight jurisdictions, with approximately 140,000 customers and over $1.5 billion in assets. In addition to its U.S. regulated retail forex business, GAIN operates regulated retail trading operations in the United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, Grand Cayman and Canada, conducting its retail trading business globally under its FOREX.com and City Index brands. In addition to its retail trading business, GAIN operates a broadly diversified business, which includes a U.S.-based retail futures business and an international institutional trading business, GTX. About GAIN Capital GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. provides innovative trading technology and execution services to retail and institutional investors worldwide, with multiple access points to OTC markets and global exchanges across a wide range of asset classes, including foreign exchange, commodities, and global equities. GAIN Capital is headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, with a global presence across North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions. For further company information, visit www.gaincapital.com. Forward-Looking Statements: In addition to historical information, this press release contains "forward-looking" statements that reflect management's expectations for the future. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, statements relating to GAIN Capital's expectations regarding the proposed acquisition of the U.S. accounts of Forex Capital Markets L.L.C., including expectations regarding the timing of the closing. All forward looking statements are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that GAIN Capital will consummate the acquisition of accounts or otherwise realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct. The forward-looking statements included herein represent GAIN Capital's views as of the date of this release. GAIN Capital undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason unless required by law. Related Links http://www.gaincapital.com SOURCE GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. DUBAI, UAE, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GEZE announces supply and installation of their featured range of automatic door technology systems for a series of key projects in line with Kuwait's five-year development plan. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160209/331044LOGO ) The standard requirements in terms of building safety technologies are getting increasingly stringent and complex within the GCC. GEZE specializes in system technologies that ensure the highest safety standards while covering other government requirements that make an intelligent system. From access control, preventive fire protection, emergency exits and rescue routes through to controlled daily aeration and ventilation. In the event of a hazard, the coordinated opening and closing of doors and windows is initiated. The automatic door systems from GEZE open up an almost unlimited range of door design options. Daily, millions of people enjoy their natural convenience. The most modern and innovative drives in which high performance capability, security, convenience and design are a priority and go towards ensuring that the automatic door solutions from GEZE are both the focus and the eye catcher of every entrance area. Some of the GEZE's most recent projects in Kuwait include, Shaab Cultural Centre, Al Jaber Hospital, AESSB Shuwaikh Campus, Public Authority for Applied Education and training (PAAET), Al Sabah Hospital and Avenue Mall amongst several others. For more information, please visit http://www.geze.com About GEZE The GEZE brand stands for innovation and premium quality products, processes and services. GEZE is one of the leaders on the market and is a reliable partner worldwide for door, window and safety technology products and systems. No matter what the requirements of the building are - GEZE realises optimum solutions and combines functionality and security with comfort and design. GEZE door closers open up numerous technical and visual options. Every day millions of people go through doors equipped with the overhead door closers from the TS 5000 series and enjoy the barrier-free convenience of automatic door systems, e.g. the Slimdrive and Powerturn lines. The integrated all-glass design systems are pure aesthetics. GEZE also has a wide product range for window and ventilation technology. Complete 'intelligent' smoke and heat exhaust solutions (RWA) and a comprehensive selection of door systems for RWA air supply solutions are also available for preventative fire protection. GEZE's safety technology includes escape and rescue route solutions, lock technology and access control systems. With system expertise, GEZE creates coordinated system solutions that combine individual functions and security requirements in one intelligent system. The latest innovations are a new building automation system and interface modules for integrating GEZE products into networking solutions which turn buildings into Smart Buildings. GEZE product solutions have received numerous awards and can be found in renowned structures all over the world. The company is represented by 31 subsidiaries, 27 of which are abroad, a flexible and highly efficient distribution and service network and almost 2,800 employees worldwide and generated revenues of over 394 million Euros in the 2015/2016 business year. http://www.geze.com SOURCE GEZE STOCKHOLM, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- January December 2016 compared with January December 2015 Stadshypotek's operating profit increased by 6%, or SEK 650m, to SEK 11,366m (10,716). Net interest income grew by SEK 606m to SEK 12,362m (11,756). This increase was primarily due to higher lending volumes to the private market in Sweden. Of the net interest income, SEK 577m (875) was attributable to the branch in Norway, SEK 377m (417) to the branch in Finland and SEK 345m (276) to the branch in Denmark. The decrease in net interest income at the Norwegian branch was attributable to lower margins for both the private and corporate markets, although this was offset slightly by an increase in lending volumes. The decrease in net interest income at the Finnish branch can mainly be explained by lower margins, while net interest income at the Danish branch rose due to an increase in lending volumes to the private market. Excluding the branches, net interest income increased by SEK 875m. Net gains/losses on financial transactions increased to SEK 82m (29). Expenses decreased by SEK 18m to SEK -1,047m (-1,065), mainly due to a lower level of sales compensation paid to the parent company for the services performed by the branch operations on behalf of Stadshypotek in relation to the sale and administration of mortgage loans. Net loan losses totalled SEK -2m (2). Lending Loans to the public increased by 6%, or SEK 68bn, to SEK 1,151bn (1,083). In Sweden, loans to the public increased by 5%, or SEK 46bn, to SEK 983bn (937). Loans to the private market in Sweden increased by 7%, or SEK 46bn, to SEK 670bn (624). The credit quality of lending operations remains very good. Impaired loans, before deduction of the provision for probable loan losses, decreased by SEK 6m and totalled SEK 103m (109). Of this amount, non-performing loans accounted for SEK 41m (66), while SEK 62m (43) related to loans on which the borrowers pay interest and amortisation, but which are nevertheless considered impaired. There were also non-performing loans of SEK 328m (338) that are not classed as being impaired loans. After deductions for specific provisions totalling SEK -32m (-32) and collective provisions of SEK -4m (-5) for probable loan losses, impaired loans totalled SEK 67m (72). Funding Issues made under Stadshypotek's Swedish covered bond programme totalled SEK 112.7bn (112.8). During the year, a nominal volume totalling SEK 82.7bn (115.3) matured or was repurchased. In Norway, bonds to the value of NOK 10.2bn (1.5) were issued during the year and bonds to the value of NOK 200m were repurchased. Issues of covered bonds under the EMTCN programme totalled EUR 2.75bn (1.25), of which EUR 0.5bn related to the first issue using the cover pool that was established in Finland during the year as collateral. During the year, bonds to the value of EUR 1.5bn, CHF 225m, GBP 350m and SEK 4.7bn matured. Capital Adequacy The total capital ratio according to CRD IV was 67.4% (67.8) while the common equity tier 1 ratio calculated according to CRD IV was 39.2% (40.2). Further information on capital adequacy is provided in the Own funds and capital requirement section on page 19. Rating During the year, Fitch upgraded Stadshypotek's long-term rating from AA- to AA. Stadshypotek's other ratings remained unchanged during the year. Stadshypotek Covered bonds Long-term Short-term Moody's Aaa - P-1 Standard & Poor's AA- A-1+ Fitch AA F1+ Ulrica Stolt Kirkegaard Chief Executive Stadshypotek discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. Submitted for publication on 8 February 2017, at 11.00 CET. Contact: Ulrica Stolt Kirkegaard Tel: +46 (0)8 701-54-00 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/stadshypotek/r/highlights-of-stadshypotek-s-annual-report-january---december-2016,c2182815 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/5572/2182815/625215.pdf Stadshypotekas Annual Report January a" December 2016 SOURCE Stadshypotek Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy GENEVA, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Outstanding Employee Offerings Acknowledged in Four Countries JTI (Japan Tobacco International) has once again been officially certified as Top Employer in the Middle East region, acknowledging the excellent work conditions in JTI's offices and factories in Iran, Jordan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130528/617491 ) (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/465827/Top_Employer_Middle_East_Logo.jpg ) "Top Employer has confirmed that we were able to improve our already excellent HR standards even further over the past year, most notably in the areas of learning and development, and our corporate culture," says Mark Phillips, JTI's Human Resources Vice President for the MENEAT region[1] and World-Wide Duty Free. "We are particularly proud about offering a work environment that gives our people every opportunity to excel so they can be their best." The annual international research is an independent assessment undertaken by the Top Employers Institute which recognizes leading employers around the world: those that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organization, and which strive to continuously optimize employment practices. "Our extensive research concluded that JTI forms part of a select group of employers that advance employee conditions worldwide. Their people are well taken care of," says Dennis Utter, Global Business Director for the Top Employers Institute. JTI employs nearly 1200 people in the certified entities of and has hired 105 new employees in 2016. In addition to Top Employer Middle East, JTI was also once again named Top Employer Europe[2] and Asia-Pacific[3]. It was one of the few companies to be awarded as a Global Top Employer in 2016. 1. Middle East, Near East, Africa and Turkey 2. Europe: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom 3. Asia-Pacific: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russia About JTI JTI, a member of the Japan Tobacco Group of Companies, is a leading international tobacco manufacturer. It markets global brands such as Winston, Camel, Mevius and LD. JTI is a global player in the e-cigarette market with E-Lites and Logic, and has been present in the heated tobacco sector with Ploom since 2011. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and with operations in more than 120 countries, JTI employs around 26,000 employees worldwide. Its core revenue in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, was USD 10.3 billion. For more information, visit http://www.jti.com. About the Top Employers Institute The Top Employers Institute globally certifies excellence in the conditions that employers create for their people. Optimal employee conditions ensure that people develop themselves personally and professionally. This in turn enables companies to grow and to develop, always. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company, previously known as the CRF Institute, has recognized Top Employers around the world since 1991. SOURCE JTI LAGOS, Nigeria, February 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MainOne, a leading provider of telecom services and network solutions for businesses has concluded plans to host the third edition of its annual Nerds Unite IT conference, Nigeria's biggest customer event for networking and data center professionals. Themed "Disruptive Technology: Achieve more with less", the one-day program will deliver a wealth of content on best practices and solutions on Cloud, Connectivity, Data Centre, Managed Security, and Small and Medium Enterprises from MainOne and its technology partners. Speaking ahead of the event, MainOne's Head of Marketing, Tayo Ashiru says, "This year's event is special, as some of our partners will showcase the latest virtual reality and hologram technologies. We will also have the latest solutions from our partners, the industry's top vendors including Microsoft, Cisco, Radware, Signal Alliance, SAP, Huawei, and Samsung among several others. Nerds Unite 2017 also provides an opportunity to network with colleagues and experts across the IT industry and share ideas and insights". Now in its third year, MainOne's Nerds Unite conference focusses on equipping IT Managers with knowledge on the latest technologies and trends to sharpen their competitive advantage. In addition, the forum provides attendees with a platform to extend their professional networks by forging new connections with like-minded colleagues. SOURCE MainOne LONDON, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global humanitarian and aid organisation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has selected Prepaid Financial Services Limited (PFS) to provide a cashless management solution for refugees in Greece. PFS, an established e-money issuer and alternative banking provider with an extensive background in financial solutions for the unbanked, is acting as the issuer of prepaid cards to target beneficiaries under the Hellenic Red Cross and IFRC Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) for people seeking asylum in Greece. Due to the mass influx of refugees arriving in Greece, IFRC required a solution that offered refugees a secure and efficient way of receiving and managing money. It also needed to be deployed quickly and to allow IFRC to audit how the money was being spent. The bespoke PFS prepaid card can only be used in Greece, and there are some restrictions on certain merchant category codes to ensure the money is used for the purpose of aid. Since the programme launched, cards have been issued to more than 4,250 people. Noel Moran, CEO, Prepaid Financial Services said: "The prepaid cards allow refugees to make purchases for food and other essential items in a secure and dignified manner, as the cards look like any other credit or debit card. Importantly, as the card removes the need for refugees to carry large sums of cash, they are therefore less likely to be a target for criminals. "PFS is incredibly proud to be able to support IFRC as we have other National Governments and charities that distribute aid via prepaid programmes across Europe in the wake of the ongoing migrant crisis. Our latest partnership with IFRC demonstrates that prepaid continues to be an effective and efficient method of distributing funds to those who are most vulnerable." Ruben Cano, Head of Country Officer, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said: "More than 60,000 people remain stranded in Greece, and in the North, many of them have survived the winter in tented accommodation, in areas where temperatures frequently fall below zero. It was therefore vital that IFRC found a secure method of disbursing funds to help refugees access basic provisions like food and warm clothing. "The monitoring and reporting functionality of the programme has also been very important to us, because as a charity we have to demonstrate accountability. Not only that but being able to see where money is being spent, is also critical in helping us develop our future aid strategy." About Prepaid Financial Services: Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) is an award winning payments technology specialist offering a comprehensive range of e-money and banking solutions including e-wallets, physical and virtual prepaid cards and current accounts in the UK and the Eurozone. Authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK, PFS has passported its e-money license across the SEPA region to enable card issuance throughout the region. Founded in 2008, PFS is now one of the fastest growing issuers in Europe, with programmes live and active in 23 countries with the ability to transact in 20 different currencies. Its products and cutting-edge technology platforms are utilised by governments, local authorities, mobile networking operators, banks and corporates globally. PFS has been listed within the top fastest growing technology companies in the UK by the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 for four consecutive years and most recently ranked number 108 in Deloitte's EMEA Technology Fast 500. In the last 12 months, PFS has seen explosive of 60% growth from 2015 and a projected EBIT for 2016 of 6.5 million. For more information about PFS's payment solutions please contact: sales@prepaidfinancialservices.com About International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. Founded in 1919, the IFRC comprises 190 member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, a secretariat in Geneva and more than 60 delegations strategically located to support activities around the world. SOURCE Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) DUBLIN, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Eritrea Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022" report to their offering. The Eritrea tire market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 4% during 2017-2022 driven by consistently expanding automobile fleet size, increasing infrastructural developments and increasing average selling prices of tires. Eritrea tire market is dominated by Chinese tire companies, which accounts for more than 50% share in the country's tire market. Other leading flagship tire companies operating in Eritrea include Bridgestone, MRF, Apollo, CEAT, etc. Replacement demand dominated Eritrea tire market, as there are no automobile manufacturing facilities in the country. Eritrea is prominently divided into three regions including Northern, Central and Southern region, with Central region, dominating tire demand in the country. Growth of the tire industry of the country is prominently backed by growing sales of vehicles and expanding automobile fleet in the country. Increasing population of the country is also boosting demand for automobiles and related tire products. As per the CIA, population of the country stood at 5.86 million in 2016. Moreover, rising government focus on development of infrastructure and industrial sectors is further anticipated to boost demand for automobiles and related tire products in the country during 2017-2022. Companies Mentioned: Apollo Tyres Ltd. Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE CEAT Limited GITI Tire ( China ) Investment Company Ltd. ) Investment Company Ltd. Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. MRF Limited Michelin AIM FZE Prinx Chengshan ( Shandong ) Tire Company ) Tire Company Shandong Wanda BOTO Tyre Co. Ltd. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Eritrea Tire Market Outlook (2012-2022) 5. Eritrea Passenger Car (PC) Tire Market Outlook 6. Eritrea Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Tire Market Outlook 7. Eritrea Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) Tire Market Outlook 8. Eritrea OTR Tire Market Outlook 9. Eritrea Two- & Three-Wheeler Tire Market Outlook 10. Import Export Analysis 11. Supply Chain Analysis 12. Market Dynamics 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Policy & Regulatory Landscape 15. Eritrea Economic Profile 16. Competitive Landscape 17. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/g2vcsg/eritrea_tire 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 DUBLIN, Feb 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Mattress Market 2012-2022" report to their offering. The market for mattress across the globe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of over 7% during 2017-2022, on account of changing consumers' preference coupled with various health benefits. Global mattress market has been broadly segmented into five categories, namely, innerspring, memory foam, latex, air filled, water and others. Increasing health concerns due to growing number of cases of backpain, body aches and sores across the globe, continuous innovation in mattresses by companies and aggressive marketing by companies and online retailers and high demand for luxury products coupled with growing per capita spending on mattresses are projected to drive global mattress market through 2022. Asia-Pacific region stood as the highest demand generator for mattresses followed by North America in the mattress market across the globe. Asia-Pacific and North American countries are witnessing increase in population and as a result demand for mattresses is expected to grow in these countries as people are becoming aware about the advantages of good quality mattresses. Due to wide variety of high quality and luxury products offered by the leading companies such as Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Simmons, Spring Air, Select Comfort, Kingsdown, Reylon and Southerland and robust distribution network along with huge consumer base the market for mattresses is anticipated to spur over the coming years. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Global Mattress Market Outlook 5. Global Innerspring Mattress Market Outlook 6. Global Memory Foam Mattress Market Outlook 7. Global Latex Mattress Market Outlook 8. Global Air Filled Mattress Market Outlook 9. Global Water Mattress Market Outlook 10. Global Others Mattress Market Outlook 11. Asia-Pacific Mattress Market Outlook 12. North America Mattress Market Outlook 13. Europe Mattress Market Outlook 14. South America Mattress Market Outlook 15. Middle East & Africa Mattress Market Outlook 16. Porter's Five Force Analysis 17. Market Dynamics 18. Market Trends & Developments 19. Competitive Landscape 20. Strategic Recommendations Companies Mentioned: Corsicana Bedding LLC. Dorel Industries Inc. HastensSangar AB King Koil Licensing Company Kingsdown, Inc. Leggett & Platt, Inc. McRoskey Mattress Company Nilkamal Ltd. RELYON GROUP LIMITED Restonic Mattress Corporation Sealy Corp. Select Comfort Corporation. Serta, Inc. Silentnight Group Limited Simmons Bedding Company LLC Slumberland, Inc. Southerland Bedding Co. Spring Air Company Tempur-Pedic International Inc. Zhejiang Huaweimei Group Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/h59zw8/global_mattress Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Somalia Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022" report to their offering. The Somalia tire market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 6% during 2017-2022 driven by economic growth, coupled with growing construction activities, expanding vehicle fleet and increasing automobile sales in the country. With a lion's share of over 50 percent, passenger car segment dominated the country's tire market, followed by growing light commercial vehicle tire segment. Due to the absence of automobile manufacturing facilities in the country, replacement demand dominated Somalia tire market. Somalia is prominently divided into three regions including Lower, Upper and Middle region, with Lower region, dominating tire demand in the country. Growth of the country's tire industry is prominently backed by growing sales of vehicles and expanding automobile fleet in the country. Increasing population of the country is also boosting demand for automobiles and related tire products. As per the CIA, population of the country stood at 10.81 million in 2016. Moreover, rising government focus on development of infrastructure and industrial sectors is further anticipated to boost demand for automobiles and related tire products in the country during 2017-2022. Companies Mentioned: Apollo Tyres Ltd. Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE CEAT Limited GITI Tire ( China ) Investment Company Ltd. ) Investment Company Ltd. Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. MRF Limited Michelin AIM FZE PrinxChengshan ( Shandong ) Tire Company ) Tire Company Shandong Wanda BOTO Tyre Co. Ltd. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Somalia Tire Market Outlook 5. Somalia Passenger Car (PC) Tire Market Outlook 6. Somalia Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Tire Market Outlook 7. Somalia Two-Wheeler and Three-Wheeler Tire Market Outlook 8. Somalia Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) Tire Market Outlook 9. Somalia OTR Tire Market Outlook 10. Import-Export Analysis 11. Supply Chain Analysis 12. Market Dynamics 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Policy & Regulatory Landscape 15. Somalia Economic Profile 16. Competitive Landscape 17. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ntm234/somalia_tire 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 OSTERSUND, Sweden, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska invests EUR 33M, about SEK 310M, in the second phase of the office complex Mill Park in Budapest, Hungary. The second phase will offer a total leasable area of about 17,700 square meters on seven floors above ground and three underground parking levels. 100 percent of phase 2 is currently pre-leased. The Mill Park office complex, located on the Pest side of the Danube, will offer 36,000 square meters of leasable office space. In addition to its user-friendly aspects and the quality of the building, Mill Park is attractive due to its easy accessibility. The complex, which is going to be LEED Gold certified, features various sustainable solutions to minimize the building's environmental footprint and significantly reduce its operating costs. Construction work has already started and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2018. Skanska is one of the leading development and construction companies in Europe. Outside the Nordics the company has european operations in building construction and civil engineering in Poland, Czech Republic & Slovakia and UK. Skanska develops commercial properties in select home markets, also in Hungary and Romania, while the residential development is limited to Prague and Warzaw. Skanska also offers services in public-private partnerships. Skanska had sales of 36 billion SEK and about 16,500 employees in its European operations in 2016. For further information please contact: Magorzata Kubica, External Communication Manager, Skanska in Poland, Tel: +48-502-747-454 Andreas Joons, Press Officer, Skanska AB, Tel +46 (0)10-449-04-94 Direct line for media: +46-10-448-88-99 This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-invests-eur-33m--about-sek-310m--in-second-phase-of-an-office-project-in-budapest--hungary,c2182823 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/95/2182823/625218.pdf 170208 HU office investment Budapest http://news.cision.com/skanska/i/170208-skanska-mill-park-exterior,c2071473 170208 Skanska Mill Park Exterior Related Links http://www.skanska.com SOURCE Skanska STOCKHOLM, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- During 2012, Swedish Match initiated a standardized labelling system in its own snus coolers placed in stores at no cost to the retailers. The ambition with the labelling system was to make an orderly and transparent presentation of snus products in the coolers. Such practice is commonly used for other consumer goods. Both Swedish Match's and the competitors' products were to be presented in Swedish Match's coolers in a standardized manner communicating brand, taste, format and price. Swedish Match's intention was that the retailers were free to decide themselves whether to use the labels or not. Several international cigarette companies, active also in the snus market, decided to raise a complaint against the labelling system with the Swedish Competition Authority. The authority carried out an investigation, and decided in 2014 to file a claim with the Swedish Patent and Market Court. The Swedish Competition Authority claimed that the labelling system was in breach of the competition rules and asked the Court to impose fines on Swedish Match. Throughout the process, Swedish Match has vigorously contested the claim. According to Swedish Match, the labelling system has not had any effect on competition in the Swedish snus market, and neither customers nor consumers have suffered any damage. Today, the Patent and Market Court announced its judgement. The court considers Swedish Match to have acted in breach of the competition legislation when designing and implementing the labelling system and Swedish Match is fined approximately 38 MSEK. This despite the fact that the court found that the labelling system did not have any effect on the market. - We do not share the court's assessment and we intend to appeal the judgment to the Swedish Patent and Market Court of Appeal. It should be noted that this case essentially concerns whether Swedish Match had the right to introduce labelling guidelines for 73,5 x 39 mm labels in its own coolers. Standardized labels are common practice for almost all product categories in stores, says Swedish Match General Counsel, Marie-Louise Heiman. - Our ambition has been to create an orderly labelling system which would help our customers and consumers to get an overview of the wide assortment of snus in our coolers and at the same time ensure that the very strict tobacco legislation is adhered to. We have noticed that marketing of snus in our coolers by other companies often challenges the legislation. We believe that it is both in the interest of Swedish Match and our customers that other manufacturers do not use material in our coolers that is in breach of the tobacco legislation, concludes Marie-Louise Heiman. Contact: Johan Wredberg, Director Communications & Media Relations Mobile +46 730-27-93-43 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/swedish-match/r/swedish-match-intends-to-appeal-the-decision-by-the-swedish-patent-and-market-court,c2183321 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Swedish Match NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- After three months of beta testing, today, Careers In Salesforce formally launched as the global go-to niche job board to connect employers with candidates who are experts on the Salesforce.com clouds. Whether you are seeking a Salesforce Administrator, Developer, Architect or Consultant - from Madison, Wisconsin via London, England to Sydney, Australia, Careers In Salesforce has the talent that you are seeking. The job site launches with over 4,000 active opportunities from more than 1,000 companies and with a candidate database of more than 31,000 screened and vetted Salesforce professionals. Commenting on the launch, Richard Eib, Chief Executive Officer said: "Clients are tired of being charged $10,000+ for a Salesforce expert and candidates are tired of being used - used in so far as being promised the world and delivered nothing by recruiters who position themselves as 'experts' in this space, yet never return a candidate's call. "Careers In Salesforce aims to bridge the service divide and connect employers with quality candidates for significantly less than traditional recruiters, all while providing a positive experience for both parties." Careers In Salesforce launches with three offices, one in Chicago, Illinois; London, England and Sydney, Australia. The company is on track to list more than 10,000 jobs by the end of March 2017 and is putting recruiters and competitors on notice that they need to bring their A-Game to keep their market share. Speaking further, Richard Eib said: "Salesforce is a rapidly developing technology. Employers and job seekers are long overdue for a solution that makes finding talent and securing new job opportunities easy and more affordable. Careers In Salesforce intends to be that solution." About Careers In Salesforce: Careers In Salesforce is a global niche job site that connects employers with candidates who are experts on the Salesforce clouds. Head officed in Chicago, Illinois, Careers In Salesforce, during its beta period has connected thousands of applicants with thousands of opportunities, saving employers more than $5 million in recruiter finders fees. Media Contact: Joshua Whitney US: 1-312-546-7657 UK: +44 0 208 068 1718 Australia: +61 2 80148297 SOURCE Careers In Salesforce SAO PAULO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- From April 4-8, the Sao Paulo Expo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will host the 23rd Feicon Batimat. Divided into 18 sectors and considered to be the most important trade show in the sector in all of Latin America, Feicon Batimat attracts nearly 90,000 participants and more than 300 exhibitors. The event promises to bolster the country's entire construction industry. This 23rd edition boasts some new things: for the first time it will be held at the Sao Paulo Expo, the country's most modern facility for trade shows, with space of 100,000 m2 and easy access to Sao Paulo city. In addition, for the first time Feicon Batimat will have a floor plan that is completely divided by sectors and organized in a manner that should encourage business. "The meetings between professionals that the trade show engenders is helpful in encouraging networking among companies that wish to expand their businesses," said Alexandre Brown, Director of Feicon Batimat. Reed Exhibitions Alcantara Machado believes that trade fairs are drivers of the economy. In Brazil, it is estimated that more than R$ 16 billion in business is transacted in Sao Paulo during trade shows, according to a survey done in 2013 by Fundacao Instituto de Pesquisas Economicas (Fipe) [Economic Research Institute Foundation]. In April, Feicon Batimat provides the ideal environment to develop the sector in the country. Large companies also confirm the importance of the event for creating business and professional networking: "Lorenzetti meets with its clients, exchanging information and learning more about their needs," said Alexandre Tambasco, the company's Marketing Manager. At the 2016 Feicon Batimat, the composition of the participants was the following: 27% owning partners, 21% directors, 18% managers, and 3% presidents. The high-level qualifications of the professionals reflect the trade show's reputation for driving business. "This growth also reflects the relevance of Feicon to the market and the entire value chain," said Elisangela Duraes, Marketing Manager for Vonder. Side by side with the Salao Internacional da Construcao e Arquitetura, Feicon participants may go to the Expo Arquitetura Sustentavel, which exhibits sustainable construction methods. The event displays models and certification rules for the market, and includes the entire industrial chain, with presentations of innovations, technologies, concepts and sustainability solutions in construction. Service 23rd FEICON BATIMAT Date: April 4-8, 2017 Time: Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Sao Paulo Expo Sao Paulo/SP Brazil Address: Rod. Imigrantes Km 1.5 s/n Information: www.feicon.com.br Contact: +55 11 3897 4122 Related Links http://www.feicon.com.br SOURCE Reed Exhibitions Alcantara Machado BASSETT Jaykob Lee Wiese, 16, of Bassett and formerly of Osage, died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, at his home. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Osage with Pastor Chip Uhrmacher from the Prairie Lakes Church officiating. Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage is in charge of the arrangements. DUBLIN, Feb 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Turkey LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025" report to their offering. The LNG market in the country is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over 5.5% during 2016 - 2025. 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, owing to increasing use of LNG for manufacturing of glass, ceramics, fertilizer, cement, steel, etc. Turkey produces only about 2% of the country's total natural gas consumption, while remaining 98% is imported through pipelines from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran. Ongoing political tensions between Russia and Turkey have led to decline in supply of natural gas from Russia. Thus, Russian natural gas producer Gazprom, which supplies more than half of total natural gas consumed in Turkey had to cut supply to Turkey by about 10% in 2015. Growing focus on expansion of LNG regasification terminal infrastructure, rising demand from various industrial applications, declining LNG prices and implementation of favorable government policies are expected to boost demand for LNG in the Turkey during 2016-2025. In 2015, Algeria, Qatar and Nigeria were the leading suppliers of LNG in Turkey. However, in the coming years, United States is expected to become the second largest LNG supplier to Turkey, after Algeria. Turkey LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025, discusses the following aspects of LNG market in the Turkey: Why You Should Buy This Report? To gain an in-depth understanding of LNG market in the Turkey . . To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next ten years; To help LNG terminal operators, aggregators, suppliers, marketers and consultants in aligning their market-centric strategies; To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material; To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players; To avail of 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Turkey Primary Energy Consumption 5. Turkey LNG Supply Market Outlook 6. Turkey LNG Potential Demand Market Outlook 7. Turkey LNG Potential Demand Supply Gap Outlook 8. Turkey LNG Regional Market Outlook 9. Turkey LNG Market Outlook 10. Import-Export Dynamics 11. LNG Pricing Analysis 12. Turkey Pipeline Infrastructure Outlook 13. Competitive Analysis 14. Customer & Supplier Analysis For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ns54cp/turkey_lng_market Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- $227 million in damages will be paid to the 19 plaintiffs including the loved ones of the seven that died in the June 5, 2013 Salvation Army Family Thrift Store collapse following what is believed to be the largest personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history. The settlement was announced today, according to trial attorneys Robert J. Mongeluzzi, Steven G. Wigrizer, Harry M. Roth, Jeffrey P. Goodman, Adam E. Grutzmacher, Jason S. Weiss, and James G. Begley. They collectively represented the seven who died, and half of those who were injured and survived when a four-story building being demolished collapsed onto the adjacent Salvation Army Thrift Store at 22nd & Market Streets. The Salvation Army, New York-based developer Richard Basciano, Plato Marinakos, his local owner's representative, and others were among the defendants in the case. Testimony in the case established that Basciano's company, STB, had sent five emails in the weeks before the catastrophe - to the Salvation Army warning of a 'threat to life and limb" and the potential of an 'uncontrolled collapse". Mr. Mongeluzzi and Mr. Goodman (Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky), Mr. Wigrizer (Wapner, Newman, Wigrizer, Brecher & Miller), Mr. Roth (Cohen, Placitella & Roth), and Mr. Grutzmacher (Clearfield & Kofsky), commended the Hon. Teresa M. Sarmina, who presided over what is believed to be the longest civil trial (nearly six months) in Philadelphia history, along with the 12-person jury and four alternate jurors. Mr. Mongeluzzi and his firm filed the first legal action in the case, the day after the catastrophe, and represented three of those that died (Anne Bryan, 24, Juanita Harmon, 75, and Danny Johnson, 59) and six survivors. He called the settlement, believed to be the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania history, "epic in dimension, fair, just, and, most importantly, a powerful deterrent to all those in any business or organization, at any level, whether they wear a suit or a uniform, who try to cut corners, save a buck, shove safety aside and put human life at risk." Mr. Wigrizer, whose firm represented Mary Simpson, 24, and Roseline Conteh, 52, said, "No amount of money can erase the heartache that comes with the loss of life, but at least this settlement avoids what would certainly have been a future perhaps years filled with added pain through the inevitable and seemingly endless appeals process." Mr. Weiss, of Wapner Newman, also represented the firm's clients. Mr. Goodman added, "This settlement sends a message to the Salvation Army and all other business owners that the safety of customers and employees must always come first, and that safety risks can never be ignored." The SMBB legal team also included Andrew R. Duffy and Larry Bendesky. Nancy Winkler and Jay Bryan, the parents of Anne Bryan, stated after the announcement, "We will never get over Anne's tragic death. This trial, for the first time, shed light on the full story of how and why the collapse which was so preventable - occurred. We will forever miss Anne, but we will also be eternally grateful for the work of the jury. They sent a strong message that owners have an absolute duty to protect public safety above all." Mr. Roth, counsel for the estate of Borbor Davis, 68, added, "The jury was committed to its work in this case and clearly understood after assessing all of the evidence that this was a preventable tragedy; they recognized the utter failures of those who had the best opportunity to prevent the loss of life and limb. The Davis family is grateful for the jury's remarkable service and is pleased by the message their verdict sends to the defendants, and to others engaged in construction and demolition in the city that safety comes first." Mr. Begley, of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, also represented Mr. Davis. Mr. Grutzmacher, counsel for the estate of Kimberly Finnegan, remarked that, "June 5, 2013, was Kimberly's first day on the job and, tragically, her last. It is now abundantly clear that her death and that of the others was foreseeable and preventable." The settlement proceeds will be allocated to the plaintiffs through an arbitration process, similar to the one used in the cases of the: fatal Pier 34 collapse, fatal Tropicana parking garage collapse and the fatal duck boat disaster. Note: A news conference will be held following adjournment - at the offices of SMBB, 1650 Market Street (One Liberty Place), 52nd Floor. SOURCE Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, P.C. CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) awarded over $57,000 in Fund-a-Farmer grants to independent family farmers across the country. Now in its fifth year, FACT's Fund-a-Farmer Project helps farmers improve animal welfare on their operations to ultimately increase the number of farm animals that are raised humanely. Pigs roam and forage in open pasture at Truelove Farms, a previous Fund-a-Farmer Grant Recipient. This year the Fund-a-Farmer Project offered two distinct types of grants: one for pasture-based farming systems and the other for farm improvements that result in successful animal welfare certification. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is underwriting the Fund-a-Farmer Project's 2017 Animal Welfare Certification Grants. FACT awarded 24 grants to farms located in 15 different states, with 15 pasture improvement grants and nine animal welfare certification grants. With these new grantees, FACT has now cumulatively awarded 91 grants to deserving family farmers across 27 states, directly impacting more than 66,000 animals since the project's inception in 2012. "Today, an increasing number of people want to know where their food comes from, who produces it, and how it was grown," stated Larissa McKenna, FACT's Humane Farming Program Director. "Small and mid-sized sustainable farms are essential to meeting consumer demand for humanely-raised food, but often face financial challenges due to high costs associated with economies of scale. Our organization supports these farms by funding projects that improve animal welfare and also help farmers increase their profit margins." 2017 Animal Welfare Certification grant recipients include: 2017 Pasture Improvement grant recipients include: For more information on FACT's Fund-a-Farmer Project, please visit www.fundafarmer.org. In addition to awarding grants, FACT also offers free webinars, conference scholarships, and an online farmer forum as part of our services benefiting family farmers. If you have questions about the Fund-a-Farmer Project, please contact Larissa McKenna at (773) 525-4952 or [email protected]. FACT promotes the safe and humane production of meat, milk, and eggs. Learn more at www.foodanimalconcernstrust.org. Contact: Sidney Freitag-Fey (773) 525-4952 [email protected] SOURCE Food Animal Concerns Trust "Most people expect higher utility bills during winter because they're running the furnace to stay comfortable and warm inside their homes," said Darrin Gilmore, general manager of Gilmore Heating, Air, Solar. "We don't know whether the recent gas line leaks and the reported higher utility bills are related, but there are a lot of things that people can do to save energy and spend less on utilities during the cold winter months." Gilmore recommends doing these six things to save energy and keep utility bills low. Clean the furnace filter. The first thing to do is to clean or replace the furnace filter more often at this time of year. A dirty filter blocks up airflow causing the furnace to work harder, which draws more energy. The first thing to do is to clean or replace the furnace filter more often at this time of year. A dirty filter blocks up airflow causing the furnace to work harder, which draws more energy. Seal up doors and windows . Cold air leaks into the home through all the overlooked cracks and gaps around the windows, doors, plumbing, and wiring. Consider having a home energy audit to help you detect where all those leaks are. . Cold air leaks into the home through all the overlooked cracks and gaps around the windows, doors, plumbing, and wiring. Consider having a home energy audit to help you detect where all those leaks are. Run the indoor fans . If you have fans inside your house, let them run at a low speed. This helps to move air around the room and eliminate cold spots in the corners. . If you have fans inside your house, let them run at a low speed. This helps to move air around the room and eliminate cold spots in the corners. Have the furnace checked by a professional . The HVAC system is a complex system. If it doesn't work, you'll get cold fast. Worse yet, a malfunctioning furnace could lead to greater damage and a more expensive repair. An HVAC professional will make sure that the system runs as efficiently as possible, saving you money. . The HVAC system is a complex system. If it doesn't work, you'll get cold fast. Worse yet, a malfunctioning furnace could lead to greater damage and a more expensive repair. An HVAC professional will make sure that the system runs as efficiently as possible, saving you money. Get a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat lets you set the temperature for various times in the day so that your furnace turns on to warm up your house just before you wake up, and it shuts off to save on energy when everyone is asleep. A programmable thermostat lets you set the temperature for various times in the day so that your furnace turns on to warm up your house just before you wake up, and it shuts off to save on energy when everyone is asleep. Turn down your thermostat and water heater if you're going away. You won't need a warm home or hot water while you're away. Make sure you don't turn them OFF, just turn them down. You don't want the water in your pipes to freeze, so a bit of warmth in your house is a good thing. For Sacramento-area residents who are interested in learning more about how to be energy smart, contact the professionals at Gilmore Heating, Air, Solar at (800) 200-9696 or visit www.gilmoreair.com. About Gilmore Heating, Air, Solar Gilmore Heating, Air, Solar has been serving the Sacramento area since 1979, when John Gilmore took his years of experience in designing heating and air conditioning systems and opened his own company. It was, and continues to be, a family business. The business has grown to more than 90 employees, all dedicated to the "Get More with Gilmore" motto that promises outstanding customer service with a commitment to environmental protection and community service. To find out more, visit www.gilmoreair.com or call (800) 200-9696. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE Gilmore Heating, Air, Solar Related Links http://gilmoreair.com DALLAS, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven out of ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, and share information (PewResearchCenter). But, six out of ten Americans are disconnected from their health plans on social media. The data comes from a January 2017 HealthMine survey of 750 consumers with sponsored health insurance. Are you connected to your health plan on social media?* Answer Percent Facebook 31% LinkedIn 10% Twitter 17% Instagram 17% None of the above 63% Social media is an important communication tool for the healthcare industry to connect with, engage and help members better manage their health. For many, it is a direct pipeline to the topics, trends and events affecting them in real time. Social media is a factor in humanizing an organization and building trust with members. Seventy-eight percent of respondents who do follow their health plans on social media said the information their plan posted was helpful. Does your plan give you helpful information on social media? Answer Percent Yes 78% No 22% Brennan Collins, vice president of product at HealthMine said, "Health plans must optimize every communication tool to meet members on their terms. Social media is obviously a growing venue for plans to effectively educate members with preventive information, tools and strategies for health behavior change and other important data." About the Survey The HealthMine Health Plan Intelligence Survey queried 750 insured consumers who are enrolled in a wellness program. The survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) in January 2017. Data were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 Years. *Total greater than 100% due to multiple responses About HealthMine HealthMine is a leading healthcare technology company that delivers Health Intelligence for plan members and plan sponsors. HealthMine's cloud-based Health Intelligence Solution facilitates better health outcomes and lowers healthcare costs by providing: 1) insight into health status and risk, 2) clinical guidance on necessary health actions, 3) personalized motivation to close gaps in care and 4) measurement of outcomes. The Health Intelligence Solution derives business value from all clinical and lifestyle health data including data from existing wellness programs. HealthMine has more than 1 million users and has saved health plan sponsors more than $100 million in healthcare costs. HealthMine is on the web at www.healthmine.com. SOURCE HealthMine Related Links http://www.healthmine.com "Progress is being made in how Americans view mental health, and the important role it plays in our everyday lives. People see the connection between mental health and overall well-being, and our ability to function at work and at home," said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia . "This is due in large part to those hard at work on behalf of the cause through research funding, we now know more about how to prevent suicide; through education we have a more informed public; and through advocacy, we have made improvements to policies which support research funding and access to mental health coverage." With the help of its chapter volunteers and donors, AFSP is raising more than $20 million annually to further advance suicide research, education and advocacy. In the last 30 years, AFSP has also made a number of important contributions in the field, including: Research AFSP continues to be largest global private funder of suicide research. Since 1987, the organization has funded more than 552 research grants totaling more than $34 million. In 2016, the organization invested $4.35 million in new research grants, including two Focus Grants totaling nearly $3 million. Education In its first year, Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention was delivered to more than 12,000 people nationwide through AFSP's network of 85 community-based chapters. The program provides participants with a general overview of suicide and mental health, including the latest field research, the risks and warning signs of suicide, and how to take action to save lives. Now in all 50 states, AFSP's chapters deliver hundreds of public education programs each year within schools, workplaces, and community organizations to promote prevention and save lives. Advocacy In 2008, AFSP launched its advocacy and public policy program to demand appropriate legislation and increased funding in suicide research and mental health resources from our state and federal policymakers. Today, AFSP's advocacy program has grown to nearly 10,000 volunteer advocates from all 50 states who participate in State Advocacy Days each spring, and the annual Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., every June. The Advocacy Forum is the organization's largest effort to educate federal officials about mental health and suicide prevention initiatives. In June 2016, 240 advocates from all 50 states went to our nation's capital to ask all 535 members of Congress for their support on suicide prevention policy priorities. Out of the Darkness Walks In 2002, AFSP became the beneficiary of the first nationwide walk event for suicide prevention. At the time, many detractors told AFSP that no one would walk for suicide prevention because of shame and lack of understanding for the cause. The reality was quite the opposite. Nearly 2,000 people registered for the first Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, and walkers raised over one million dollars to fight suicide. In 2016, AFSP hosted two annual Overnight Walks with more than 4,000 walkers, and raised nearly $5 million. Over the last few years, AFSP also expanded the walks program to communities and campuses nationwide. In 2016, there were 415 Out of the Darkness Community and Campus Walks all organized by local chapter volunteers. "There is still much work to be done, and we know that we can't do it alone," said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. "In 2014, we announced a bold new goal of reducing the annual suicide rate 20 percent by 2025, and set out on a path to figure out how to reach it. With the help of experts in the field, we've developed Project 2025 to achieve our goal of saving thousands of lives over the next 10 years." Project 2025 Launched in 2016, Project 2025 is an unprecedented initiative which began with an in-depth analysis of who we are losing to suicide, where we are losing them, and how we are losing them. Drawing on input from a national advisory panel of the leading experts in suicide prevention, AFSP identified four critical areas our country needs to invest to have the greatest impact on reducing loss of life from suicide: firearms and suicide prevention, emergency departments, large health care systems, and criminal justice settings. If we work collectively to expand programs and interventions in these four critical areas, we can cumulatively expect to save more than 20,000 lives through 2025. To learn more about our fight to #StopSuicide, visit: History of Suicide Prevention. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. AFSP celebrates 30 years of service to the suicide prevention movement. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Related Links http://www.afsp.org WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Now through April 18, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 49th year, is the nation's largest free tax assistance and preparation service, offering free tax preparation help to anyone, especially those who are 50 and older, who can not afford a tax preparation service. Tax-Aide, which is offered free of charge, is available to AARP members and non-members and includes more than 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers nationwide. Since 1968, Tax-Aide has helped nearly 50 million low- to moderate-income taxpayers. "AARP Foundation Tax Aide offers worthwhile, free tax assistance to those who need it most," said AARP Foundation Vice President of Tax-Aide Lynnette Lee-Villanueva. "For nearly 50 years, Tax-Aide has provided help to millions of low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Our hard working IRS-certified volunteers offer peace of mind during an already stressful tax season." In 2016, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers helped 2.7 million people navigate complicated tax codes, ensure proper credits and deductions and file their federal and state tax returns. Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide received $1.41 billion in income tax refunds and more than $240 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs). For more information on documents to bring to the tax site or to locate an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site, visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669). AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS. About AARP Foundation AARP Foundation works to ensure that low-income older adults have nutritious food, safe and affordable housing, a steady income, and strong and sustaining social bonds. We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to innovation and our passion for problem-solving. Supported by vigorous legal advocacy, we create and advance effective solutions that help struggling older adults transform their lives. AARP Foundation is the charitable affiliate of AARP. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org. SOURCE AARP Foundation Related Links http://www.aarp.org SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Acalvio Technologies, an innovator in Advanced Threat Defense, will be showcasing their industry-leading offerings at RSA Conference USA 2017. The company will be exhibiting at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, booth #3138 in the North Hall, where subject-matter experts will be on hand to address emerging security challenges faced by businesses of all sizes struggling to secure their users against information security breaches in today's evolving threat landscape. "Recently, attackers have breached well-known enterprises, confiscating intellectual property, credit card information and data within privileged accounts as they move through the businesses' networks," said Nat Natraj, President and co-founder, Acalvio. "Our advanced threat defense platform is exactly what businesses need as it systematically detects and contains attackers through a unique combination of deception and data science, which we believe will forever change the face of the security market. We look forward to showcasing our industry-leading technology to attendees at RSA Conference USA 2017." Acalvio helps organizations address significant security challenges by providing the most comprehensive breach detection, containment and response to combat advanced, multi-stage attacks available today. With Acalvio's next-generation deception technology, cybercriminals will be immediately and accurately detected while breaching and then isolated into a shadow network where attackers are contained. Acalvio's solution leverages an enterprise's existing security network to provide high-fidelity actionable events, real-time forensics and complex adversary behavior analysis. Unlike competitive offerings, Acalvio's fluid deception technology, and advanced data science, enables automated, authentic deception at scale across enterprise networks. RSA Conference USA 2017 attendees are invited to stop by the Acalvio booth (#3138) to learn more about how the company can detect and contain attackers through a unique combination of deception and data science. Acalvio leverages its patented technologies to detect, engage and respond to malicious activity for IT and Internet of Things (IoT) environments. The result is fewer false positives, improved threat intelligence and actionable Indicators of Compromise (IOCs). For more information on Acalvio, please visit http://acalvio.com/ and follow the company on Twitter at @AcalvioTech and on LinkedIn. Join the conversation at the event on Twitter with the hashtags #RSA2017 and #RSAC. About Acalvio Technologies Acalvio provides Advanced Threat Defense (ATD) solutions to detect, engage and respond to malicious activity inside the perimeter. The solutions are anchored on patented innovations in Deception and Data Science. This enables a DevOps approach to ATD, enabling ease of deployment, monitoring and management. Acalvio enriches its threat intelligence by data obtained from internal and partner eco-systems, enabling customers to benefit from defense in depth, reduce false positives, and derive actionable intelligence for remediation. The Silicon Valley based company is led by an experienced team with a track record of innovation and market leadership and backed by marquee investors. PR Contact: John Kreuzer (408) 896-3307 [email protected] SOURCE Acalvio Technologies Related Links http://acalvio.com SANTA CLARA, California, BANGALORE and DUBAI, UAE, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Acceliant, the global leader in clinical trial management solutions, has announced that it has received the prestigious World Health Organization (WHO) Drug Dictionaries Medical Coding certification. The WHO Drug Dictionary is an international classification of medicines used by pharmaceutical companies, clinical trial organizations and drug regulatory authorities to identify drug names, active ingredients and their therapeutic use in spontaneous ADR reporting and in clinical trials. The WHODrug-B2E certification makes Acceliant one of the few clinical trial solutions that meets the WHO criteria in providing accurate data through their coding engine. The certification further boosts Acceliant's eClinical Suite by enabling its clients to augment efficiency and productivity in the broad areas of clinical trials and new drug discoveries. The drug dictionary created by WHO Program for international drug monitoring is managed by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre, an independent foundation for scientific research based in Sweden. The center is authorized by the WHO to maintain the WHO Drug Medical Dictionaries. Vivek Gupta, Worldwide Vice President at Acceliant, said, "We are extremely pleased to receive the WHO Drug Medical Coding certificate for Acceliant clinical trials platform. Our medical coding module is well accepted and received greater appreciation from our clients because of its ability to accurately 'auto encode terms' and its flexibility to allow users to set threshold limits. The module supports different medical coding dictionaries. The WHO certification will tremendously expand Acceliant's credibility at the market place." Besides WHO Drug Dictionary, Acceliant also provides integrated coding mechanism, allowing users to code terms using MedDRA. About Acceliant Acceliant is the medical industry technology division of Trianz, a global technology and services company. Acceliant provides real-time, integrated clinical trial solutions for life sciences, CROs and pharma tools and expertise to take intelligent and smarter decisions. Its eClinical Suite allows users to build studies, design electronic case report forms (eCRFs), capture data through multiple sources (EDC), capture data directly from patients (ePRO), and manage other clinical data management functions. Prashant Bhavaraju CMO [email protected] +1-408-387-5899 http://www.acceliant.com . SOURCE Acceliant SEGUIN, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Old Dominion Brush Company, Inc. ("ODB"), a privately held company. ODB manufactures and sells replacement brooms for street sweepers and leaf vacuum units primarily sold to municipalities, contractors and commercial landscape markets. ODB reported unaudited sales of approximately $27.7 million for the year ending December 31, 2016. Total consideration for the purchase is approximately $20 million subject to certain adjustments. The purchase is anticipated to close within 30 days. ODB was founded in 1910 and is based in Richmond, Virginia with an assembly and warehouse operation in Kansas City, Kansas. The company is owned by the Brizzolara family and led by Tim and Duke Brizzolara who will continue managing the company upon completion of the transaction. ODB will become part of Alamo's North American Industrial Division. Ron Robinson, Alamo Group's President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are pleased to have Old Dominion as part of the Alamo Group. This is a well-respected brand whose products are complementary to our existing range of infrastructure maintenance equipment and parts. We are also glad that Tim and Duke will continue to lead the company as they bring a wealth of knowledge and history to help in Alamo's ongoing development." Tim Brizzolara, President of ODB, added, "We feel Alamo is a good partner for our company as they have a track record of maintaining the integrity of the brands they acquire and investing in their future." The purchase price will be funded under the Company's existing and recently renewed $250 million unsecured revolving credit facility. About Alamo Group Alamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agriculture and other applications. Our products include truck and tractor mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, snow removal equipment, excavators, vacuum trucks, other industrial equipment, agricultural implements and related after-market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, has approximately 2,900 employees and operates 24 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil as of December 31, 2016. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas and the headquarters for the Company's European operations are located in Salford Priors, England. Forward Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date. SOURCE Alamo Group Inc. Related Links http://alamo-group.com CLEAR LAKE | The Winter Dance Party was a dream come true for one Clear Creek Elementary third-grader when he received a guitar from headliner Johnny Rogers. Rylan Dorenkamp, 8, and his class went to the Surf Ballroom on Friday for the Winter School Dance Party where Rogers and his band were performing. Johnny had been talking to this group of boys, said Tara Dorenkamp of Thornton, Rylans mom. Rodgers had been interacting with Rylan and his friends throughout the show. After the last song, Rogers hopped down dressed as Buddy Holly and handed the guitar to a beaming Rylan. I was surprised, Rylan said. Rogers, of Chicago, performs his shows portraying different classic artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Holly. He plays at schools across the country where he frequently gives out guitar picks and CDs. But once in a great while, Ill give out a guitar, Rogers said. Youve got to pass the torch on. God moves me to do these things. Rylan was attracted to guitars as an instrument because he likes the way they sound and how loud they can be played. For Christmas he had asked for a guitar, Tara said. Was it just one of those things? I dont know. Over the weekend, Tara took Rylan to get an acoustic guitar and signed him up for lessons. The last time Rogers gave out a guitar, he said he was playing a benefit concert in a large theater for a young boy with leukemia. I told him, heres the deal, youre going to fight this and youve got to get better and learn to play, Rogers said. Now, hes 15-years-old and he has a band. Playing for the kids and sharing classic music with them is rewarding for Rogers. Im happy to do it, Im blessed to do it, Rogers said. If youre going to keep this music alive, youve got to give it to the children. Its a wonderful thing. Rylan is excited to learn. One of Rylans favorite songs, "Summer of 69" by Bryan Adams, features a heavy guitar intro and is a song he might learn to play one day. Rogers has made seven appearances at the Winter Dance Party. I love the towns Clear Lake, Mason City and the Surf is my favorite place to play, Rogers said. Ive played for four presidents and the Queen of England but theres no place like Clear Lake. When he returns to Clear Lake, Rogers said he looks forward to giving Rylan guitar lessons. Its so thoughtful, Tara said. At his age, hes just starting to learn about life. WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Alliance to Fight the 40, a broad-based coalition committed to repealing the 40 percent tax "Cadillac Tax" on employer-sponsored health benefits announced the expansion of its mission to include "Don't Tax My Health Care," which will work to prevent increased income taxes on the health benefits 177 million Americans receive from their employers. "Employer-sponsored coverage is the backbone of our health care system," said James A. Klein, president of the American Benefits Council. "The Alliance to Fight the 40 is launching 'Don't Tax My Health Care' to continue as the voice of a diverse coalition whose common purpose is to protect workplace health coverage for the 177 million Americans who depend on it," said Klein. "This effort is the logical extension of our ongoing work to ensure that the Cadillac tax is fully and permanently repealed," Klein added. Over the last few years, workers have already faced reduced benefits, higher deductibles and increased co-pays as a result of the looming "Cadillac Tax." Proposals to "cap the exclusion," would, for the first time, directly tax workers on the health benefits they receive from employers by treating the cost of those benefits as taxable wages. A recent nationwide poll found that large majorities of voters would reject proposals to tax employer-based health insurance. The American Health Policy Institute estimated that capping the tax exclusion at the 90th percentile of the value of employer plans would cost 11.4 million employees an average $636 in higher payroll and income taxes per year from 2018 to 2026. "For decades, employers have been on the cutting edge of innovation, to improve health quality outcomes, while mitigating costs. This is essential to ensure a more productive workforce, secure families, and a healthy nation. In its efforts to reform health care, Congress should not harm the largest and most stable source of coverage for American families," Klein said. "We speak for millions of employers and employees when we work to repeal the 'Cadillac Tax,' when we oppose a cap on the exclusion, and when we implore Congress and the Trump Administration: Don't tax my health care." The Alliance to Fight the 40 | Don't Tax My Health Care is a broad-based coalition comprised of businesses, patient advocates, employer organizations, unions, local governments, health care companies, consumer groups and other stakeholders that support employer-sponsored health coverage. This coverage is the backbone of our health care system and protects over 177 million Americans. The Alliance seeks to repeal the 40% "Cadillac Tax" on health benefits and work with Congress and the Administration to prevent increased income taxes on workers, families and retirees who rely on employer-sponsored health coverage. The Alliance is committed to ensuring that employer-sponsored coverage remains an effective and affordable option for working Americans and their families. Contact: Tara Bradshaw 202-467-4316 SOURCE Alliance to Fight the 40 Related Links http://www.fightthe40.com ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the American Diabetes Association (Association) announced $9.75 million to six recipients of the 2017 Pathway to Stop Diabetes (Pathway) research grants, providing $1.625 million to each scientist over a five- to seven-year grant term to spur breakthroughs in clinical science, technology, diabetes care and potential cures. Pathway grants are awarded in three categories: 1) Pathway Initiator, for postdoctoral fellows who are transitioning from training to research; 2) Pathway Accelerator, for diabetes researchers early in their independent careers; and 3) Pathway Visionary, for scientists established in another field who are interested in applying their expertise to diabetes research for the first time. "Pathway to Stop Diabetes is a unique program in the fight against diabetes. The Pathway program provides exceptional researchers with multiyear grants that allow them to follow the science where it leads them," said C. Ronald Kahn, MD, chair of the Association's Mentor Advisory Group, which advises the Association on Pathway, senior investigator and past president of the Joslin Diabetes Center, and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "We are excited to build upon the already remarkable portfolio of individuals and research from our previous Pathway awardees. The substantial level of research support and flexibility enabled by Pathway provide opportunities to locate the hidden clues that can lead to innovative advancements that could improve outcomes for millions of people with diabetes, prediabetes and diabetes complications." Now in its fourth year, the program is supporting six new grant recipients starting their projects in 2017: Jonathan N. Flak, PhD, University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor , received a Pathway Initiator Award for his basic research project titled, "Targeting the VMN to Understand Hypoglycemia Pathogenesis." , received a Pathway Initiator Award for his basic research project titled, "Targeting the VMN to Understand Hypoglycemia Pathogenesis." Aleksandar David Kostic , PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center, in Boston , received a Pathway Initiator Award for his basic research project titled, "Generation of an in vivo System for Dissection of the Human Type 1 Diabetes-associated Microbiome." , PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center, in , received a Pathway Initiator Award for his basic research project titled, "Generation of an in vivo System for Dissection of the Human Type 1 Diabetes-associated Microbiome." Paul Cohen , MD, PhD, The Rockefeller University , in New York , received a Pathway Accelerator Award for his basic research project titled, "Dissecting the Role of Beige Fat in Metabolic Homeostasis." , MD, PhD, , in , received a Pathway Accelerator Award for his basic research project titled, "Dissecting the Role of Beige Fat in Metabolic Homeostasis." Sarah A. Stanley , MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York , received a Pathway Accelerator Award for her basic research project titled, "Central Nervous System Regulation of Glucose Metabolism." , MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in , received a Pathway Accelerator Award for her basic research project titled, "Central Nervous System Regulation of Glucose Metabolism." Sumita Pennathur , PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara , received a Pathway Visionary Award for her basic research project titled, "Untethering Diabetes through Innovative Engineering." , PhD, , received a Pathway Visionary Award for her basic research project titled, "Untethering Diabetes through Innovative Engineering." David A. Spiegel , MD, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine , in New Haven, Conn. received a Pathway Visionary Award for his translational research project titled, "Targeting Glucosepane Crosslinks in Diabetes." Since launching in 2013 and including the six 2017 awardees, Pathway has awarded more than $36 million to 23 leading scientists. Each awardee is selected from a highly competitive application pool of only one nominee per institution; approximately 100 applications are received each year. Their list of accomplishments to-date is notable: Five Pathway Initiator awardees secured their first independent faculty positions; Three patents have been filed by Pathway scientists to protect the intellectual property they have uncovered; and Nearly 40 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals by Pathway awardees. The scientific contributions include notable advances in developing a "smart insulin" patch; identifying a molecular trigger for the autoimmune attack that causes type 1 diabetes; linking genetic and environmental factors to development of type 2 diabetes; and uncovering how diabetes causes blindness, among other complications. The Pathway program is supported by more than $40 million in contributions from corporate sponsors Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Merck, and AstraZeneca, along with generous philanthropic support from individuals and foundations. The funds allow the Pathway grant program to extend support to individuals who are just starting their independent research careers, as well as to exceptional scientists already established in other fields of research who want to apply their expertise to diabetes. "Sanofi applauds the latest class of Pathway to Stop Diabetes award recipients and is looking forward to all of their accomplishments in scientific research that will help people living with diabetes," said Philip Larsen MD, PhD, senior vice president and global head of diabetes research and translational science with Sanofi. "We are encouraged by the work we have already seen coming from the previous Pathways classes and are confident that this new group of researchers will bring even more innovative solutions that could improve diabetes care." "People living with diabetes need information, support and access to medicines to lead healthy and fulfilling lives," said Todd Hobbs, MD, chief medical officer, Novo Nordisk Inc. "We're proud to support the Pathway to Stop Diabetes program and its research that could help improve the lives of 30 million Americans currently living with the disease." Pathway grant recipients are selected by a Mentor Advisory Groupeminent scientists from diabetes and other fields who review the core elements of exceptional science in picking an applicant: rigorous thought processes, keen intellect, and capacity for innovation, creativity and productivity. The advisors also provide the Pathway grant recipients with mentorship and scientific and professional guidance during their grant's term. In addition to the substantial and flexible financial support and mentorship, Pathway provides grant recipients with networks for communication and collaboration, special symposia and speaking engagements, and unique collaborative opportunities that will accelerate the advancement and translation of their science, and lead to breakthrough discoveries. "Lilly is proud to continue as a partner with the ADA in supporting research that has the potential to benefit the millions of people worldwide who live with diabetes or who may be at high risk for diabetes and its complications," said David Kendall, MD, vice president, global medical affairs, Lilly Diabetes. "The Pathway Research Grant program is an important opportunity for creativity and innovation in research, which is key to addressing the diabetes epidemic itself and to making life better for those living with diabetes. On behalf of the diabetes community and Lilly Diabetes, we are pleased to support the efforts of these talented scientists." "While advancements in diabetes research are making a remarkable difference, the fight against diabetes is not an easy undertaking. Merck commends innovative research efforts to advance diabetes care, and is proud to continue to support the Pathway award scientists," said Sam Engel, MD, associate vice president, Merck clinical research, diabetes and endocrinology. The Association is now accepting nominations for the 2018 class of Pathway awardees. The Pathway program seeks to bring new investigators and new perspectives to diabetes research. Supporting scientists with different backgrounds and experience is critical to achieving that objective. Pathway accepts nominations for exceptional investigators with medical and scientific backgrounds who propose innovative basic, clinical, translational, behavioral, epidemiological and health services research relevant to any type of diabetes, diabetes-related disease state or complication. Pathway solicits nominations for candidates in all disciplines as applied to diabetes, from medicine, biology and chemistry to engineering, mathematics and physics. In addition, nomination of scientists from diverse backgrounds, including minority groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research, is strongly encouraged. Applicants must be nominated by a U.S. accredited academic and non-profit research institution prior to submitting an application. Institutions may nominate a maximum of one investigator per grant cycle. For more information on the nomination process, visit diabetes.org/pathway. "AstraZeneca recognizes the need for a broader approach to diabetes management and is proud to work with the American Diabetes Association on Pathway to Stop Diabetes," said Mike Crichton, vice president, cardio-metabolic disease, AstraZeneca US. "We are committed to progressing science that may ultimately lead to innovative solutions and treatment options that address the many complexities associated with living with and treating diabetes." For more information about the Pathway to Stop Diabetes grant program, visit diabetes.org/pathway. About the American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). SOURCE American Diabetes Association Related Links http://www.diabetes.org SHANGHAI, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Elson China joins Advertising & Marketing Independent Network (AMIN) Worldwide, an alliance of more than 50 independent marketing agencies from around the world. This new member is the second agency from China to join the network of successful firms, strengthening its APAC reach. China has the world's largest internet user base and is the most active social media environment. China also operates its own domestic search engines, social media, shopping platforms, loyalty programs and more, which is why it is crucial for AMIN to be continue expanding in this advanced and unique ecosystem. "We are very excited to have Elson on board and strengthen AMIN's footprint in China," said AMIN Board Member and head of global recruiting, Kevin Flynn, CVR, Indiana, USA. "From the initial call with Elson China, we knew that this was a going to be a great partnership. There is an immense opportunity for Elson to further AMIN's mission, as well as the opportunity for AMIN to help enhance Elson's global reach." This newest partner member works with marketing clients to ensure branding programs unlock its value in the Chinese marketplace. They specialize in branding, corporate communication and digital marketing. Their roster of clients include Nestle, Club Med, Philips, Delixi Electric and Lay's. Arnaud Debane, owner and CEO of Elson China, is originally from France and has over 20 years of experience in Asia including 11 in mainland China. He has experience on both the client side and the agency side. "After 6 years of growth, joining AMIN is a tremendous achievement and recognition for Elson China," said Arnaud Debane, CEO of Elson China. "We value the global reach and expertise within AMIN: the AMIN partnership approach will expand our client reach while retaining our capabilities to build meaningful brands in China. In addition, some of our domestic clients have been looking for a partner to help them reach international markets. AMIN now provides us access to market insights around the world." AMIN members remain independently owned, but collaborate seamlessly to successfully meet any challenge. From connecting with new customers, growing into global markets, building stronger brands, to giving access to local insights and much more. For the full list of AMIN Worldwide partners and their locations, please visit aminworldwide.com. To learn more about AMIN, please contact Janna Sundby at [email protected]. About AMIN The Advertising & Marketing Independent Network (AMIN) Worldwide is an alliance of 50+ independent marketing firms across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and now China. We increase the reach of members and clients through industry expertise, global market insight and knowledge of emerging trends. Since 1932, AMIN has been providing award-winning solutions at greater value. See how we've helped companies reach their potential at AMINWorldwide.com. About Elson Elson was established in Shanghai as an innovative marketing and communication agency helping brands to build meaningful relations with their Chinese audience. Elson provides clients with a deep understanding of Chinese markets and capacities to engage Chinese consumers with creative and impactful marketing programs. For more information, visit www.elson.cn.com. SOURCE AMIN Related Links https://www.aminworldwide.com SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Blumberg Capital, a San Francisco based early-stage venture capital firm, today released findings that reveal 60 percent of Americans believe they have never been a victim of cyber hacking or are unaware if they have. In fact, statistics reveal nearly the opposite is true. Every day, more than a million people become a victim of cybercrime (Source). In fact, in the U.S. alone, $15 billion was stolen from 13.1 million American consumers in 2015 (Source), prompting the question of why are Americans so overconfident about their cybersecurity knowledge? A large majority of Americans rate their knowledge of cybersecurity equal to or higher than the likes of Donald Trump (63 percent), Hillary Clinton (62 percent), their employer's IT departments (57 percent), former FBI director James Comey (44 percent) and former CIA director John Brennan (42 percent). Yet nearly half (45 percent) of people admitted to not being able to recognize a cyber crime unless contacted by a vendor or law enforcement authorities. The Blumberg Capital 2017 State of Cybersecurity survey, conducted in association with Researchscape, reveals the overconfidence and disconnect between American consumers' cybersecurity knowledge and concerns with reality. "Consumers vastly underestimate cybersecurity threats and don't know how to identify, respond or protect themselves from future attacks," said David Blumberg, founder and managing partner of Blumberg Capital. "Naivete and arrogance are a really dangerous combination. The cybersecurity landscape is complex and ever-evolving. Bad actors are constantly finding new ways to bypass security measures to infiltrate confidential systems and steal information or sabotage infrastructure. Even experts can miscalculate how to mitigate risks and existing security solutions are no longer enough, especially in areas such as IoT or cloud security. At Blumberg Capital, we support companies at the forefront of innovation in cybersecurity. We partner with innovative startups creating new ways to minimize cybersecurity threats and protect personal, business and government information." Mother Knows Best, Unless it's Cybersecurity The national survey asked American adults about cybersecurity and their perception of the biggest cybersecurity issues facing consumers, businesses and the United States government. The survey found that Americans believe their cybersecurity knowledge to be superior or equal to American leaders and those with specialized training. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed believe they know more about cybersecurity then their mothers, but the survey did not ask about appetite for risk. The majority of people don't believe they've been hacked; although data shows otherwise, and 74 percent believe that a simple password change is ample protection. Additionally, the survey revealed: About half of respondents don't believe they have ever been a victim of a cyber-attack (48 percent), while a quarter thought it was possible they had been (24 percent). Baby Boomers are more likely to believe they have never been a victim (54 percent), while Millennials are more suspicious that they may have been comprised (32 percent). The most common actions take in response to a cyber-attack were to change a password (74 percent) and to contact the bank (46 percent). Forty-five percent of people said they would not know if they had been hacked or would only know if contacted by a vendor or legal authority. Only 13 percent expressed complete confidence in their own ability to recognize if they have been hacked. Less than half (39 percent) of Americans are concerned about potential hacks of their laptop computers and 38 percent are concerned about potential hacks of their IoT devices such as smart appliances and smart phones. Biggest Cybersecurity Concerns Respondents are concerned about a variety of cybersecurity threats to their personal information and to U.S. businesses. Americans are also very concerned about espionage against the U.S. Government (72 percent), but are less concerned about hacking for a "cause," presumably one they favor. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed cite identity theft as the biggest cybersecurity issue facing consumers. Forty-four percent listed their social security number as the most important information to keep safe, followed by bank account passwords (27 percent), credit card numbers (22 percent) and personal email passwords (12 percent). Consumers are least concerned about protecting work email passwords (10 percent), online dating passwords (9 percent) and nude or racy photos (7 percent). Fifty-five percent believe the most important cybersecurity problem for businesses is securing customer information. Thirty-seven percent listed securing employee information as top priority with 17 percent listing data being encrypted by hackers and held for ransom. Overwhelmingly, 72 percent rank foreign espionage threats as the biggest cybersecurity problem facing the U.S. Government. Twenty-three percent believe the top government concern is securing confidential intelligence reports and 17 percent feel the top government concern is securing citizen records such as IRS filings. Only one in 10 believe interfering with elections through propaganda is a serious concern. Sony Employee Hack or Locky Ransomware ring a bell? Apparently not-- Despite those famous cybersecurity attacks, Americans still trust employers and doctors most to protect their personal data. Most Americans don't know whom to trust with their online data. Those surveyed cited their current employers as being most trustworthy (61 percent), followed by their doctors (52 percent) and their banks (45 percent) despite infamous hacks such as the Sony breach and Locky Ransomware attacks on hospitals. When it comes to transferring sensitive information, most Americans reveal a strong distrust in technology and believe that in-person hand delivery is the best method, despite impracticalities. Eighty-four percent of Americans find social networks to be not all trustworthy, slightly trustworthy or only moderately trustworthy. Eighty-eight percent of Americans list dating sites as not all trustworthy, slightly trustworthy or only moderately trustworthy. Participants believe hand delivery is the safest way to send confidential information and secure its safety, followed by commercially encrypted email. On the contrary, only one percent of Americans ranked courier as the safest way to deliver information, ranking it only safer than a fax machine. America Online: e-Commerce Risk Prevention Habits and Online Marketplaces Ninety-Five percent of adults expressed at least some concern about their personal information being hacked on e-Commerce sites with eleven percent being very concerned. Gen X-ers are the most concerned with 25 percent reporting being "very concerned" compared to 17 percent of all other respondents. Fifty-four percent of Americans who shop online trust online marketplaces, such as eBay and Amazon, with their financial information Only 33 percent of consumers trust established retail brands such as Walmart, Gap, Target, and Macy's Thirty-three percent of Americans believe they are more secure online if they don't save their credit card information. Others choose to only use PayPal or other payment services they trust (30 percent). To learn more about the findings, visit: http://cybersecurity.blumbergcapital.com Methodology To better understand current cybersecurity attitudes and concerns, Researchscape International surveyed 1,012 U.S. adults about their technological devices, cybersecurity knowledge and top concerns. Respondents were quota-sampled using 32 different cells (gender by age by region) to closely match the overall U.S. population. About Blumberg Capital Blumberg Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with passionate entrepreneurs to innovate and build successful technology companies. The firm specializes in leading Seed and Series A rounds collaborating with angel investors, other venture capital firms and strategic partners. The Blumberg Capital team are active investors and board members operating as an extension of the entrepreneurs' network. Blumberg Capital is headquartered in San Francisco with team members in Tel Aviv and New York. For more information, please visit blumbergcapital.com. Connect with Blumberg Capital on Twitter: twitter.com/blumbergcapital Connect with Blumberg Capital on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/blumberg-capital Connect with Blumberg Capital on Facebook: facebook.com/blumbergcapital Media contact Andrea Meyer Blumberg Capital +1.415.503.9592 [email protected] SparkPR on behalf of Blumberg Capital [email protected] SOURCE Blumberg Capital Related Links http://www.blumbergcapital.com "For nearly 24 years, Linda has played a formative role in the evolution of Astellas," said Hatanaka. "Linda's role will help develop a new model for our Legal team, allowing us to better serve our global and regional business, while focusing on the needs of patients worldwide." In 1993, Friedman joined Fujisawa (which merged with Yamanouchi in 2005 to create Astellas) as a corporate attorney and has since held positions of increasing responsibility. In 1998, Friedman was named senior corporate counsel and vice president, responsible for oversight of the legal function in the U.S. and subsequently the Americas region. Prior to joining Fujisawa, Friedman was chief corporate counsel at Chicago-based insurance agency, Associated Agencies, Inc. Friedman graduated Magna Cum Laude and Bronze Tablet from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's in social work. She earned her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. Friedman currently serves as a chairperson on the board of directors of the iBIO Institute. Friedman is also a member of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Law Section and former chair of the Law Section Executive Committee and a member of the Healthcare Business Women's Association (HBA). Friedman serves as a board member of Youth Build Lake County (YBLC), a not-for-profit organization providing educational and vocational services for youth in Lake County, Illinois. Catherine Levitt will succeed Friedman in April 2017 as the Legal head for the Americas region. Levitt was named vice president, Legal, for Astellas US in March 2016, after serving as vice president of Risk Management and chief litigation counsel for Astellas US since 2013. Levitt joined Fujisawa in 2004 as assistant general counsel, specializing in litigation. After the formation of Astellas in 2005, she was promoted to associate general counsel, followed by deputy general counsel. Prior to Astellas, she served as corporate counsel at Baxter Healthcare and People's Energy, and began her career at the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Levitt earned her JD from the University of Illinois College of Law. Chieko Mori will join Astellas Americas April 1, 2017, succeeding Yoko Saiki as vice president of Corporate Development for Astellas Americas, and will serve on the Management Committee. Saiki is returning to Astellas headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, where she will have strategic business management responsibilities in Astellas Japan Sales and Marketing. Mori joined Yamanouchi in 2002 and has held roles of increasing responsibility in product and portfolio strategy, as well as in Astellas' Pharmaceutical Research & Technology Labs. Mori is a licensed pharmacist and holds a master's in clinical pharmacy from the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. About Astellas Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS, Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma. SOURCE Astellas Related Links http://www.astellas.us WARREN, R.I., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AVTECH Software (AVTECH) is pleased to announce that its entire line of Room Alert proactive temperature and environment monitors and sensors is now available for purchase by government and municipal entities through the GSA Advantage program. Room Alert, the world's most popular environment monitor, is made in the USA and proactively monitors environment conditions such as temperature, humidity, flood, power, smoke, and more. Room Alert is currently in use in over 180 countries by organizations ranging from thousands of SMBs through Amazon, Boeing, Sprint, Microsoft, over 80% of the Fortune 1000, the United Nations, Pentagon, and all branches of the US military. AVTECH's Room Alert helps organizations monitor the environment threats that can cause data loss and downtime. Many business continuity plans include network and data monitoring that do not monitor the environment factors that cause 30% of outages suffered by businesses. With models beginning at just $145, there is a Room Alert solution for organizations and applications of every size or type. "Having Room Alert available to government and municipal organizations directly through GSA Advantage is a huge benefit for AVTECH," said Richard Grundy, President of AVTECH. "GSA Advantage helps government agencies, including state and local government, easily purchase supplies to help prevent and recover from disasters. Room Alert proactively monitors environment conditions such as temperature, humidity, and flood which can help prevent facility damage by alerting to their presence before they cause downtime." Room Alert monitors are fully designed and built in the United States, making them TAA compliant for all agencies who can purchase through the GSA Advantage program. Additionally, AVTECH provides Device ManageR software and the GoToMyDevices cloud-based portal for Room Alert monitoring, management, and reporting. Both software packages are completely designed, supported, and updated at AVTECH's corporate office in Rhode Island, making them TAA compliant as well. AVTECH offers a wide range of digital, switch and analog sensors designed to help users monitor as many environment conditions as possible to help protect their facilities. All the sensors are available through GSA Advantage and made in the USA, conforming to TAA compliance standards. Room Alert users can protect their facilities by easily adding sensors to monitor environment factors such as temperature, humidity, flood, power, and smoke while also monitoring factors such as motion, fuel/water tank levels, and panic buttons as well. "With our three decades of history providing support for government and municipal agencies, it was important for us to be able to help staff more quickly and easily purchase monitors and sensors," continued Mr. Grundy. "We are confident that the GSA Advantage program will help agencies and organizations proactively install Room Alert to quickly trigger alerts for any environment issues, rather than adding a monitor only after they've suffered losses and damages due to environment factors. Room Alert qualifies for both Disaster Purchasing as well as Cooperative Purchasing, which allows budgeting for environment monitoring in multiple ways. It's never been easier for any organization who qualifies for GSA purchasing to add environment monitoring to their business continuity plan." About AVTECH AVTECH Software (AVTECH), a private corporation founded in 1988, is a computer hardware and software developer and manufacturer based in Warren, RI. AVTECH Room Alert products are made in the USA and proactively monitor critical facilities and assets for conditions such as temperature, humidity, power, flood / water leakage, smoke / fire, air flow, room entry, motion, cameras and more. Room Alert is in use in over 180 countries, and can be found in over 80% of the Fortune 1000, most state and federal agencies, and all branches of the US military. Room Alert is "environment monitoring made easy don't wait until it's too late!" Media Contact: Russell Benoit Phone: 401.628.1600 Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg image2.png Related Links Corporate Website Room Alert Model Comparison This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE AVTECH Software IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Banc of California, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: BANC) today announced that Chad Brownstein has decided to retire from his position as Director of the Company and its banking subsidiary, Banc of California, N.A. Robert D. Sznewajs, Chairman of the Board, said, "Chad has been part of the Company since 2011 and I want to thank him for his years of service to the Company and his many contributions to its growth and success. He worked tirelessly to serve the broader interests of the communities we serve, in particular his efforts on behalf of the Company to improve financial literacy among at-risk youth in California have been a source of great pride to us." Mr. Brownstein said, "Banc of California has grown substantially by almost every measure in the last 5 years, and I am proud to have served the Company during this time. I am particularly grateful for the Company's commitment to community which has set the standard for all of California's institutions." About Banc of California, Inc. Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) provides comprehensive banking services to California's diverse businesses, entrepreneurs and communities. Banc of California operates over 100 offices in California and the West. The Company was recently recognized by Forbes for the second straight year as one of the 100 Best Banks in America for 2017. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors, including those set forth from time to time in the documents filed or furnished by Banc of California, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and Banc of California, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made. INVESTOR RELATIONS INQUIRIES: MEDIA INQUIRIES: Banc of California, Inc. Abernathy MacGregor Timothy Sedabres, (855) 361-2262 Ian Campbell / Joe Hixson / Kris Cole, (213) 630-6550 [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE Banc of California, Inc. Related Links http://bancofcal.com NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New York accounting and advisory firm Berdon LLP celebrates its 100th Anniversary by hitting the airwaves with a new campaign that highlights some of the most memorable moments in New York history. From the building of the Empire State Building to the Beatles live concert at Shea Stadium, Berdon pays homage to the city it has operated in since 1917. The new campaign will be airing on iHeartMedia's Q104.3 (104.3 FM), New York's Classic Rock station, as well as on Bloomberg Radio (1130 AM) and focuses on how Berdon's accounting, tax, and advisory professionals have been providing innovative solutionshelping New Yorkers and local businesses perform at their bestsince 1917. To listen to Berdon's unique advertisements and to connect with a Berdon professional who can help you achieve your own great moment in history, click here. About Berdon LLP CONTACT > Frank Vitale | [email protected] | 212.331.7650 SOURCE Berdon LLP Related Links http://www.berdonllp.com RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bodega Catena Zapata, the renowned Argentine winery whose wines are imported into the U.S. by MundoVino, a member of The Winebow Group, is pleased to announce that the auction lots it donated to the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend on January 19 raised more than $80,000, accounting for two-thirds of the $125,000 total proceeds raised that evening. Offered to patrons at the event's kickoff dinner, the combined Catena lots sold for an average of more than four times their original estimates. "We were thrilled by the community's response to the Catena wines at the auction," said Laura Catena, a fourth-generation vintner and a pediatric emergency medicine physician. "It was a fantastic event, made even more so by the fact that the proceeds will go to local healthcare and arts programs for children. I'm honored to have been a part of it." Auction lots donated by Catena Zapata included large-format bottles and multiple-bottle sets from the family's high-altitude Adrianna Vineyard, vertical collections of the Nicolas Catena Zapata flagship wine, and a luxurious trip to Argentina to visit the winery, tour the vineyards, stay at the family estate and experience several exclusive tastings. Another top lot at the auction was a private tasting and dinner with Laura Catena for 16 guests at New York Vintners in TriBeCa, featuring a dozen of the winery's top wines, donated from the collection of David and Pam Furr. "This event continued our tradition of bringing the best wines and most influential winemakers in the world to Charlotte," said Mr. Furr, Chairman of the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend. "The ethereal 1997 Nicolas Catena Zapata was my first introduction to these wines, and that bottle inspired my near-15 year exploration of these South American masterpieces. After meeting Laura five years ago, I knew I had to bring her to Charlotte. She thrilled our guests with her stories and wines and the response at the auction was evident. It was a great night for the children of Charlotte and we are so grateful for Bodega Catena Zapata's participation and generosity." Since its founding in 1989, the annual Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend has generated more than $5 million to benefit children's charities. The weekend draws notable winemakers from across the United States and around the world and pairs them with top chefs for four days of epicurean and educational events, all leading to a charitable auction featuring wine, dinners, and travel packages. For further information on the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend and the beneficiaries of its efforts, please visit www.charlottewineandfood.org. About Bodega Catena Zapata Bodega Catena Zapata has been at the forefront of wine culture in Argentina since their vineyards were first planted in 1902. Over the past 40 years, the pioneering vision and tireless work ethic of Nicolas Catena has been rewarded by the fact that Argentine wine now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best wines in the world. Under the current direction of winemaker and managing director Laura Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata continues to lead Argentina into the next century of winemaking, balancing innovative, research-based ideas with the country's traditional winemaking processes and techniques to create wines that offer a view into the heart and soul of Argentina's wine culture. For more information, please visit www.catenawines.com. About MundoVino MundoVino, a member of The Winebow Group, is a voyage of authentic taste and exceptional discovery that redefines the Old and New Worlds. With a portfolio that comprises a comprehensive collection of wineries reflecting the very best of Argentina, Chile, Spain, Portugal, and beyond, MundoVino represents some of the most iconic, family-owned properties in these areas, as well as a new generation of winemakers dedicated to innovation and quality. These producers craft vintages of pure character that capture the unique essence of their terroirs, regions, and histories. For more information about MundoVino and its portfolio, please visit www.mundovinoimports.com. SOURCE Bodega Catena Zapata Related Links http://www.catenawines.com CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The CAGC Foundation announces the launch of a construction industry-wide program, Build Your Career, to help tackle the biggest challenge in North Carolina and South Carolinathe shortage of a skilled workforce at a time when there are thousands of well-paying, career opportunities available in the construction industry in both states. The goal of Build Your Career (BYC) is to get more people aware of construction career opportunities by launching education efforts on the middle school and high school levels, as well as in community colleges, and with individuals wanting to change careers. To do this, BYC will send construction industry leaders out into the school system to educate students, educators and parents about what a terrific career the construction industry offers. BYC emphasizes that the construction industry offers well-paying and rewarding jobs that need to be filled now. CAGC Foundation Chair Claudia Dodgen of Crowder Constructors Inc., sees BYC as a construction ambassador program and financial vehicle that can turn things around by putting enthusiastic young men and women in promising careers. Careers, for example, where it's not unusual for a welder to make $90,000 a year; or a crane operator to make $60,000 a year; or a carpenter to make $50,000 a yearall with the potential to move into incredible lifelong careers. However, according to Dodgen, "the CAGC Foundation can't do it alone. Please be our partner in helping solve this challenge by donating to BYC today." (To donate, visit www.buildyourcareer.us.) Carolinas AGC has been meeting with other industry stakeholders to provide a home-grown program that will enhance the entire construction industry, and has sponsored career day events in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Thousands of high school students were exposed to a variety of construction craft professions, given an opportunity to experience hands on activities, and were provided information about the training needed to become a skilled craftsperson. With support, this effort can be amplified in 2017 and beyond. BYC's goals for 2017 include recruiting 42 volunteer ambassadors from within the construction industry to meet with students in their area to promote construction as a career, as well as host booths at 14 career fairs throughout the Carolinas. BYC will also promote construction firms who already have similar programs, such as Contract Construction and LCI-Lineberger in South Carolina, and Pinnix, Inc. and State Utility Contractors in North Carolina. Greg Hughes of Contract Construction and past CAGC Foundation chair said it best: "I have built lots of schools and now it's time for me to give back to the students in those schools." For more information, visit www.buildyourcareer.us, call Roddy Craft at Carolinas AGC, 704/995-3901 or email Roddy at [email protected]. SOURCE Carolinas Associated General Contractors Related Links http://www.cagc.org America can force Mexico to pay for a wall along our southern border. President Trumps proposed 20 percent tax on Mexican imports is but one of many ways. Over $25 billion is wired from the U. S. to Mexico annually, much of it by illegals. Transfer facilitators like Western Union and Wal-Mart are subject to customer ID verification, but it hasnt been enforced. That will soon change. Via executive orders and modified regulations, Trump can dramatically reduce the amount of money wired there. This will hit Mexico hard. Prohibiting illegals from wiring funds will quickly bring the Mexicans to the table. Trump can also extract a one-time payment of $5 billion to $10 billion from Mexico, by applying Rule 130.121 of the federal anti-money laundering rules. A bill in Congress - the Remittance Status Verification act requires verification of customer legality, and slaps a 7 percent fine per transfer. This can be raised to 20 percent. Twenty percent on $25 billion equals $5 billion, each year. The GOP tax bill that slashes corporate tax rates contains a border adjustment provision. It imposes a 20 percent tax based on location of consumption, instead of location of production. Economist Martin Feldstein says this will bring in $120 billion annually. Mexico ran a $60.7 billion trade surplus with America in 2015; its 2016 trade surplus with us will be approximately $65 billion. Once this becomes law, Mexico must pay $13 billion in additional taxes to the USA each year, and couldnt stop it. The Federal Communications Commission can levy large fines on radio and TV networks that air commercials for money wiring services. America can also impound remittances and use the cash for the wall. The wall may cost up to $25 billion, but savings will also accrue by keeping out illegals. Mexico has turned a blind eye to this illegal invasion, not only from Mexico, but also from its neighbors. They had little to lose, especially with Obama. But Trump is having none of it. Arrested Illegals can also be made to help build the wall, just like with the bridge over the River Kwai. No work, no eat. Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens can also be employed. Mexico has gained much from the U. S., including a growing economy and a stable currency. But its government does us dirty, and makes pay for their liabilities. Brochures describing how to reach America and get welfare are distributed by Mexicos government. Transit visas issued by Mexico to foreign nationals allow them to travel the length of that nation to cross into ours. Thats diabolical, and it must cease. Some liberals say the wall is racist, which is nonsense. Its about the rule of law. Are pro-Trump Hispanics racists? Mexican President Pena Nieto says his country wont pay for the wall, but Trump holds the cards. Absent America, Mexico would be a third-world nation, and Nieto has brought a rusty switchblade to a gunfight. Tangling with Trump will play out for el Presidente Nieto like the Battle of the Alamo did for Davy Crockett. Texans say, "Dont mess with Texas." But messing with the United States now means messing with Donald Trump, who recently warned Nieto that if Mexico wont get rid of its bad hombres, then the U. S. military might pay them a visit. Throwing down with Trump makes about as much sense as thugs in a "Dirty Harry" movie squaring off against inspector Callahan. Its easy to imagine Trump saying, Go ahead, make my day, or Better luck next time, and backing it up with force. The media, and every Republican who took him on, and Hillary, found out the hard way that its not smart to mess with Donald Trump. So, the message is: "Obtendra una pared, amigos. Pronto. Mexico va a Pagar, por la pared. La Paz." Translation: Youll soon get a wall, friends - and youll pay for it. Peace. SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Green Beret Foundation is enthusiastic to welcome entrepreneur and business leader Mark Copeland as a new board member for the non-profit aimed at helping members of the U.S. Special Forces community and their families. Mark Copeland is a financial expert, transaction specialist, and business executive who brings substantial expertise to the Green Beret Foundation. Based in Dallas, Texas, Copeland serves as a Transaction Advisory Services Managing Partner. He helps oversee a team of 250 professionals based in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Denver, and Phoenix. Copeland specializes in the execution of buy-side and sell-side due diligence and advising clients throughout the lifecycle of a transaction. He has extensive experience with purchase price adjustments, transaction structuring and analysis of business plans and forecasts. "It is an honor to be part of an organization focused on assisting the members of the Green Beret community. This elite group has made the ultimate sacrifice to defend and protect our freedom with unwavering commitment and strength; therefore, the opportunity to play a small role with these families in humbling," Copeland said. Mark has approximately twenty years of public accounting experience, including more than sixteen years of transaction-specific experience. He has gained extensive transaction knowledge from providing advisory services for over 300 transactions. Mark coordinates domestic and international projects relating to multinational companies and serves Fortune 1000 clients including Bank of America Corporation, Nucor Corporation, SPX Corporation, Snyder's-Lance, Inc., Sysco Corporation, Apollo Education Group, Inc. and Koch Industries, Inc. He is a CPA in the State of North Carolina and the State of Texas. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from East Carolina University. About Green Beret Foundation The mission of the Green Beret Foundation is to answer the call of Green Berets and their families so that they can succeed in their next mission. GBF has assisted 1,118 families since inception in October 2009, and continues to provide programs and services in support of the community on a daily basis. GBF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. For more information visit www.greenberetfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Contact: GBF Media 844-287-7133 [email protected] SOURCE Green Beret Foundation Related Links http://greenberetfoundation.org PALM BEACH, Florida, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The acquisition of land and other assets continues to be a trend in the developing cannabis industry as leaders strive to keep pace with rapidly growing demand due to the evolving marketplace. As the demand for cannabis products and services in industry continues to rise at an unprecedented rate, Sector related performers continue to ramp up operations: Future Farm Technologies Inc. (OTC: AGSTF) (CSE: FFT.CN), Canopy Growth Corporation (OTC: TWMJF)(TSX: WEED.TO), GB Sciences, Inc. (OTC: GBLX), Terra Tech Corp. (OTC: TRTC) and Aurora Cannabis Inc. (OTCQB: ACBFF)(TSX-V: ACB.V). Future Farm Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AGSTF) (CSE: FFT.CN) is pleased to announce that it has closed on its previously announced definitive agreement to acquire a 15-acre parcel of land in Redland, Florida, in a county that is designated to legally cultivate, process and dispense cannabis. Redland is an unincorporated community within Miami-Dade County, with Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Redland is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area. Miami-Dade County is referred to as the nation's "Salad Bowl" and "Winter Bread Basket." "We are pleased to have reached this contract to acquire this prime parcel of land as it has a long history as a plant nursery, which was first established in 1963," says Mr. William Gildea, Future Farm Technologies Inc.'s CEO and Chairman. Florida's Legislature is beginning the process of figuring out how to implement Amendment 2, which allows for the expansion of legalized medical marijuana in Florida. The new law took effect on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. The Florida Department of Health now has until June 3, 2017 to finalize its MMJ regulations and until September 3, 2017 to issue the first ID cards to patients. Amendment 2 was approved by 71 percent of Florida voters on Election Day, and will allow higher-strength marijuana to be used for a wider list of medical ailments. Read this and more news for Future Farm Technologies at: http://marketnewsupdates.com/news/agstf.html With this acquisition, Future Farm Technologies has the potential, if fully licensed, to develop 15-acres of cannabis crops and is positioning itself to be a part of the Florida Cannabis market as it rolls out in 2017. If current state projections for the cannabis market size hold up to their $1.8B projection by 2020, Florida will have considerable demand for medical marijuana, even without factoring in the potential for recreational legislation. This is an exciting acquisition for Future Farm as the 15-acre farm is located in a designated legal grow zone with close proximity to Miami. Future Farm is in a unique position as a Canadian based company because it is poised to quickly commence operations within the United States rather than potentially wait years to become a licensed producer under Canadian law. In other cannabis company developments in the markets of note: Canopy Growth Corporation (OTC: TWMJF)(TSX: WEED.TO) will release its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 ended December 31, 2016 on February 14, 2017. Following the release of its third quarter fiscal 2017 financial results, Canopy Growth will host a conference call and audio webcast with Bruce Linton , CEO and Tim Saunders , CFO at 8:30 AM Eastern Time the same day. Webcast Information - A live audio webcast will be available at: http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1350656&s=1&k=1C4DF1B689538C61DF6BF810ECC1EEEE - Calling Information - Toll Free Dial-In Number: 1-888-231-8191 - International Dial-In Number (647) 427-7450 - Conference ID: 55425439 GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) this week announced filing the second in a series of patent applications for life science inventions by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Growblox Life Sciences, LLC. - Inflammatory disorders represent a serious health and economic burden in the US with over $200 billion spent annually. GB Sciences' novel cannabis-based therapies could significantly help both patients and society. According to the CDC, arthritis affects 22.7% (52.5 million) of adults in the US (2010-2012), and the prevalence is projected to increase to an estimated 26% (78 million of the projected total adult population) by 2040. The total costs associated with arthritis were $128 billion in 2003, and they have been increasing over time. Additionally, 8.6% (7 million) children and 7.4% (17.8 million) adults had asthma (2014), which costs the US $56 billion per year. Inflammatory Bowel Disease ("IBD"), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) affected between 1 and 1.3 million people in the US (2007). Per the CDC, IBD is an expensive, chronic disease, which cost the US $11.8 billion in 2008, despite the lower prevalence rates. Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC), a vertically integrated cannabis-focused agriculture company, today announced it has been named to the 2017 OTCQX Best 50, a ranking of top performing companies traded on the OTCQX Best Market last year. The OTCQX Best 50 is an annual ranking of the top 50 U.S. and international companies traded on the OTCQX market. The ranking is calculated based on an equal weighting of one-year total return and average daily dollar volume growth in the previous calendar year. Companies in the 2017 OTCQX Best 50 were ranked based on their performance in 2016. Aurora Cannabis Inc. (OTCQB: ACBFF)(TSX-V:ACB) and Radient Technologies (RTI.V) recently provided an update on their previously announced collaboration arrangements. As previously announced, the parties have entered into a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") to evaluate an exclusive partnership for the Canadian market with regard to the joint development and commercialization of superior and standardized cannabinoid extracts. Read the full announcement at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/aurora-cannabis-radient-technologies-exclusive-013647225.html DISCLAIMER: MarketNewsUpdates.com (MNU) is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. 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Contact Information: Media Contact email: [email protected] (561)325-8757 SOURCE Marketnewsupdates.com In an attempt to defraud Multitech, the suit alleges that John Wallis and Sherry Persad arranged for Ms. Persad to travel to Miami, FL with counterfeit bank checks in a ruse to show that it intended to pay the outstanding gambling equipment debt. The scheme collapsed after Multitech's president discovered the fraud. In a court filing, the Trinidad-based Sunny Group did not deny the charges. International business attorney Santiago Cueto of Cueto International Law Group was retained to handle the lawsuit. Cueto described the scheme as one of the most brazen he has ever seen: "[T]o come to the United States and walk past U.S. Customs and Border Patrol with undeclared counterfeit checks like this casino executive did was the ultimate gamble. The risk they took in clearing customs without being caught was absolutely reckless." "Fortunately, my client uncovered the scheme and will prosecute the lawsuit to the fullest extent of the law," Cueto added. While the original suit named only Sunny Group of Companies, Multitech has expanded the lawsuit to join all of the Sunny Group entities including naming John Wallis and Sherry Persad individually. The lawsuit is Multitech Games USA, Inc. v. Sunny Group of Companies, et al. Case No. 15-CV-20663 United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. About: Cueto International Law Group, P.L. is a global law firm headed by international business attorney Santiago A. Cueto. Cueto Law Group: "Representing International Business Clients from Boardroom to Courtroom." You can learn more about Cueto Law Group by visiting the firm's websites at www.CuetoLawGroup.com and www.InternationalBusinessLawAdvisor.com Contact: Santiago A. Cueto, 305-777-0377 SOURCE Cueto Law Group, P.L. Related Links http://www.cuetolawgroup.com TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Siskinds LLP regarding the Canadian Air Cargo Shipping Services Class Action. Siskinds (Toronto, Canada), Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman (Vancouver, Canada), and Liebman Legal Inc. (Montreal, Canada) announced today the court approval of a protocol for the distribution of settlement funds in the Canadian Air Cargo Shipping Services Class Action. The class action alleges price-fixing in the market for air cargo shipping services on shipments to/from Canada (excluding to/from the United States) between January 2000 and September 2006. Settlements totalling CDN$29.6 million have been reached in the litigation. The Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec courts approved the settlements and a protocol for distribution of settlement funds. The class action is continuing against Air Canada and British Airways. "We are proud of what we have recovered thus far on behalf of class members. The court-approved protocol we are announcing today is an invitation to eligible businesses and consumers to recover expenses that should not have been billed in the first place," said Linda Visser of Siskinds LLP. "In concert with our colleagues in Vancouver and Montreal, we will continue to pursue the class action against Air Canada and British Airways." Persons who purchased air cargo shipping services on shipments to/from Canada (excluding to/from the United States) between January 2000 and September 2006 can apply to receive settlement monies online at www.aircargosettlement2.com no later than May 11, 2017. About Class Counsel Siskinds LLP is a full-service law firm with offices in Toronto, Canada, and London, Canada. Siskinds LLP is the largest plaintiff-side class action firm in Canada. CFM is a boutique law firm based in Vancouver, Canada specializing in class actions, aviation accident litigation and product liability litigation, on behalf of plaintiffs. Liebman Legal Inc. is a law firm based in Montreal, Canada, specializing in civil and commercial matters. Contact information More information about the settlements, the distribution of the settlement funds and the claims process is available online at www.aircargosettlement2.com , by email at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-291-9655 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-614-553-1296 (International). SOURCE Siskinds LLP SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog has petitioned the Department of Insurance to reject GEICO's and Progressive's use of occupation in setting auto insurance rates. The challenges seek to stop the insurance companies from giving discounts to drivers who are employed in elite professions such as lobbyists, lawyers, and bankers while surcharging drivers who do not meet the companies' selective criteria, including those in less-skilled or non-professional occupations. Such discriminatory pricing results in lower-income drivers paying more and is unlawful under California's landmark insurance reform law, Proposition 103. GEICO's proposed rate increase would overcharge people because they are in less elite professions, those who have lost jobs or are otherwise unemployed, students and retired people, by $10 million. Progressive overcharges those in non-professional occupations by $8 million. "Progressive and GEICO want to attract customers who they deem desirable by adding a person's occupation into the equation, giving breaks to the wealthy while squeezing out those less economically advantaged by charging them more. They are trying to get around the reforms of insurance reform Proposition 103 that require that auto insurance premiums be based primarily on a driver's safety record, the number of miles they drive annually and the number of years they've been driving," said Consumer Watchdog staff attorney Jonathan Phenix. A recent Consumer Federation of America report reviewed premiums in 15 cities nationwide and found that GEICO and Progressive overcharge drivers of lower economic status by 92% and 80%, respectively, the worst record of the companies reviewed. In December, New York state insurance regulators called on four insurers including GEICO and Progressive to explain why rating a person based on their occupation should not be prohibited. Prop 103 also requires insurance companies to set premiums based primarily on a driver's safety record, annual mileage driven, and years of driving experience. Any additional factor must be adopted by the Commissioner by regulation after a public hearing and then only if it can be proven that it is "substantially related" to a driver's risk of getting into an accident. Occupation has never been adopted by regulation as a rating factor and has never been shown to be related to risk. Consumer Watchdog Seeks Public Hearings on GEICO and Progressive Under the voter-approved Proposition 103, insurance companies like GEICO and Progressive must justify their auto, home and business insurance rates and practices. Consumers have the right to request a public hearing before the Department of Insurance to challenge illegal practices or excessive rates. In the petition filed against GEICO, Consumer Watchdog challenged the company's application for an overall rate hike of 4.9%, or $11 million. Consumer Watchdog's analysis found that GEICO is proposing a rate decrease or modest overall rate increases of between negative 0.4% and 2.2% for the elite occupations that the company prefers, including: dentists, "white collar" contractors, scientists with masters degrees and members of university alumni associations. But GEICO wants to raise rates for drivers not employed in one of those occupations by 11.5%. In addition to challenging GEICO's occupation-based discrimination as unlawful, Consumer Watchdog's analysis concludes that GEICO has failed to support its proposed rates and that all of the company's 150,000 policyholders are actually due for an overall rate decrease. In a petition filed against Progressive in July 2016, Consumer Watchdog called out the insurer for overcharging people who aren't in preferred professions, including bankers, doctors, engineers and lawyers. Consumer Watchdog also challenged several procedures the company is using to deny some good drivers a 20% discount that they are entitled to receive under law. Progressive has made early moves to fix some of its good driver discount procedures, but not on its use of occupation in insurance ratemaking. Consumer Groups Have Requested Regulation to Enforce Proposition 103 Ban on Illegal Rating Factors In 2014, Consumer Watchdog asked the Insurance Commissioner to investigate occupation and education-based surcharges and to issue a regulation that would explicitly "prohibit auto insurance companies from surcharging motorists based on their occupation, education level, membership in elite organizations and other unauthorized rating factors, many of which are thinly veiled surrogates for wealth, ethnicity and race." New rules would ensure other auto insurers don't use the same tactics as GEICO and Progressive to overcharge drivers based on their occupation in the future. The Commissioner convened an informal "workshop" on the matter but has taken no further action. Read Consumer Watchdog's petition here: Consumer Watchdog is a non-profit non-partisan organization. It has used the public participation process under Proposition 103 to save auto, home, business and medical malpractice insurance policyholders over $3 billion since 2003. Proposition 103 has saved motorists alone over $100 billion since its passage in 1988, according to a 2013 report by the Consumer Federation of America. SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Related Links http://www.consumerwatchdog.org Aboard Crystal's fully customized Boeing 777, guests will journey to the world's most celebrated wine regions and be treated to tasting and educational experiences, inspired by Wine Spectator magazine. Expert sommeliers and renowned wine lecturers will accompany guests on this exciting journey, and conduct numerous special tastings throughout the trip. Wine connoisseurs from the lauded publication have also guided the selection of wine estates to be visited in the storied regions of Bordeaux, Champagne/Paris, Tuscany, Mendoza, Santiago and Cape Town. On board, wine lovers can expand their knowledge with sommelier-guided tasting sessions, as well as through certificate courses by Wine Spectator School . "Savoring the Winelands" in cooperation with Wine Spectator is the world's only private jet tour offering expert-guided in-flight wine tastings in the comfort of an expansive, on-board lounge and Skye Cellar. The "Savoring the Winelands" Crystal AirCruise in cooperation with Wine Spectator is available for booking now, with fares of $73,000 per person. Contact a travel professional, call 855.207.2778, 789.971.1010 (international calls) or visit www.crystalaircruises.com During the journey, Crystal guests will explore the vineyards and surrounding cities of the regions with immersive experiences that include: Chianti tasting at 16 th century Castello Della Paneretta Winery, dining at Michelin-starred La Torre , truffle hunting with the local Savini family, and exploring the surrounding landscape by Vespa in Tuscany, Italy . century Castello Della Paneretta Winery, dining at Michelin-starred , truffle hunting with the local Savini family, and exploring the surrounding landscape by Vespa in . Exploration of Chateaux Margaux and Pomerol, a hot-air balloon ride over Saint-Emilion, and dining at Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay's Le Pressoir d'Argent and Phillippe Etchebest's Le Quatrieme Mur in Bordeaux, France . and Phillippe Etchebest's in . Roaming the vineyards and underground cellars of the Montagne de Reims, exclusive access to the Louvre and Palace of Versailles, and Michelin-starred dining at Le Fouquet's and Victoria in Champagne/ Paris, France . and in Champagne/ . Learning the art of blending at South Africa's Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, and a cooking safari at Cape Malay that showcases local ethnic cuisines in Cape Town, South Africa . "The specialized experiences planned for this Crystal AirCruises' journey are simply unparalleled. Our experts, along with the esteemed authorities recommended by Wine Spectator, have created a global travel adventure that will whet any wine and food lover's appetite for travel," says Crystal Chairman, CEO and President Edie Rodriguez. Throughout the journey, guests will have access to further wine discoveries with editions of the magazine's tasting reviews aboard the aircraft, a dedicated Wine Spectator app on the personal iPad devices included on board, and additional tastings in the spacious tasting lounge. In flight, guests will enjoy the extraordinary amenities of the well-appointed private jet, including Michelin-inspired cuisine and the renowned vintages within the expansive Skye Cellar which will be stocked with wines relevant to the specialized itinerary. Aircraft operated for Crystal AirCruises by Comlux Aruba NV. As it expands its reach to all luxury travelers across the globe, Crystal evolves to The World's Most Luxurious Hospitality and Lifestyle Brand Portfolio. Crystal Cruises is the World's Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line, having earned "World's Best Cruise Ship" in Conde Nast Traveler's Reader Choice Awards for 23 years; been voted "World's Best Large Ship Cruise Line" by Travel + Leisure readers for 20 years; and the "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by travel professional organization Virtuoso for three consecutive years (2014, 2015 & 2016). The newest and upcoming extensions of the celebrated Crystal brand include Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, Crystal Luxury Air, Crystal River Cruises The World's Most Luxurious River Cruise Line , Crystal AirCruises and Crystal Exclusive Class with Crystal Residences. CONTACT: Paul M. Garcia Molly Morgan Director, Global Public Relations Publicist, Public Relations (310) 203-4305 [email protected] SOURCE Crystal AirCruises Related Links http://www.crystalaircruises.com Real-Time Location, Communication and Control Makes Freight Transport More Efficient and Effective for Fleet Managers, Brokers, Drivers and Customers TECUMSEH, Ontario, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CX North America Information Services Inc. (CX North America), a leader in freight collaboration solutions for the transportation industry, announced today the launch of its next-generation mobile app for drivers. The CX North America Mobile App provides real-time information exchange and tracking within the context of specific freight shipments, offering drivers, fleet managers, brokers and customers the most up-to-date information possible. Beyond delivering unparalleled location, communication and control functionality at the tap of a finger, the app offers a ready means for enhanced vehicle utilization, better load and capacity management, lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions. The CX North America Mobile App was created by transport professionals for transport professionals. As an outgrowth of a proven application in use for over 16 years, the app comes to market with optimizations derived from practical experience conveying hundreds of millions of dollars of freight shipments by some 4,500 companies. The app integrates seamlessly with CX North America, the firm's advanced online platform, and with most telematics and transportation management systems. The CX North America Mobile App is perfect for carriers, drivers, brokers, freight forwarders and third-party logistics providers. Key benefits of the app include: Delivers visibility and control functionality that increases vehicle utilization, load management and use of excess capacity. Sends real-time job alerts directly to drivers in the field, matching vehicle location, capacity and capabilities with businesses in need of freight services. Allows drivers to send alerts showing both current status and future availability. Provides live tracking links that allow customers and partners to see job status in real time from acceptance of the job until after proof of delivery (POD). Conveys all shipment details at a glance, including full load information and pick-up/delivery notes and instructions. Has a built-in CX Messenger feature that allows real-time, secure, two-way communications with drivers, controllers and partners and links all conversation records to specific jobs, creating a fully auditable trail. Allows capture of electronic PODs in real time and stamps date and time on PODs. Puts the app user in full control over the information visible to others. If users want to limit visibility to their own company, they can do so. If they want to be invisible and turn off tracking while on break or off duty, for example, then they can do so. Control rests exclusively with the app user. There are no hidden settings. Sharon Coburn, CX North America's vice president of business development for North America, says, "Location, communication and control are paramount to efficient and effective freight movement. They are even more important requirements when our subscribers are partnering with other transportation providers to move shipments. CX North America has developed an easy-to-use, secure app that concurrently places all the tools drivers, managers, partners and customers need in a single place. Our app allows jobs to be assigned and tracked from acceptance to after POD and transmits and files all related communications and documentation electronically. And, because everything occurs in real time, potential issues can be anticipated and quickly solved and resources can be aligned perfectly with new or changing requirements." The CX North America Mobile App is available for Google Android operating systems now, with the Apple version coming soon. It is free of charge for CX North America subscribers and firms doing business with subscribers. Notably, the app is optimized for display on a full range of screens. CX North America will be exhibiting its mobile app at the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) 2017 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition, April 58, 2017, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada. About CX North America CX North America Information Services Inc. (CX North America), headquartered in Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transport Exchange Group, a leading provider of technology for the transportation industry and operator of two of the United Kingdom's largest and fastest-growing independent freight exchanges. CX North America brings Transport Exchange Group's proven technology and business model to the North American marketplace to enhance visibility, increase agility, optimize efficiency and improve communication and collaboration for carriers, brokers and 3PLs. We offer users a number of ways to engage with our products and services, depending on the technology they already have in place. For more information, please visit our website at http://cxnamerica.com, call 1-888-270-0482 or email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. SOURCE CX North America Information Services Inc. NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Global Dignity announced the hiring of Cynthia Guyer as the organization's first Executive Director. The announcement follows a six-month international search. Simultaneously, Global Dignity is opening a global headquarters in New York City. Global Dignity was founded in 2006 by HKH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO of Operation HOPE and Pekka Himanen, a renowned philosopher from Finland. Board Chairman John Osborn, who is also CEO of advertising agency BBDO in New York, stated, "Cynthia has vast experience in scaling non-for-profit organizations and in deepening the impact and reach of similar causes. Her energy, passion, creativity and commitment will serve us well as we continue to spread the message and practices of dignity across the globe." Before joining Global Dignity, Cynthia Guyer was the founding Executive Director of the Portland Schools Foundation in Oregon,1996 to 2007. Over her tenure, she worked with the Board to organize and win six successive campaigns that together raised over $800 million in public funding for City and County public schools. Under her leadership, Cynthia raised $60 million in private funding for a number of initiatives that helped teachers, school leaders and parents improve and strengthen the quality of education in their local schools, especially in Portland's highest-poverty and most diverse neighborhoods. The New Vision Challenge Grants invested in school leadership teams over two to three years, to strengthen both teaching and learning. Data showed that New Vision Challenge Schools made dramatic increases in student learning and achievement. Parent, Family and Community Involvement Grants strengthened parent and family engagement in Portland's low-income school communities and invested in innovative school wide partnerships with universities, businesses and nonprofit partners. Cynthia also worked alongside a group of high school student leaders who launched the Arts Alive Fund to support music and art in the City's public schools, working with Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and other West Coast artists. Cynthia was hired in 1996 with one initial grant to the Foundation of $50,000. Eleven years later, she left an organization with an annual budget of $10 Million and a staff team of ten. In 2011, Cynthia was recruited from the West Coast to be the first Director of External Affairs for one of the newest and most creative cultural spaces in New York City. The Rubin Museum of Art, founded in 2004, has a staff of 90 and an annual budget of $15 million. Working with the Executive Director and the Board, Cynthia led the development of the Museum's first Strategic Vision and Plan, and recruited nine new members to the Board of Trustees. Under her leadership, fundraising increased 60% and the Museum established a permanent endowment of $120 million. HKH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Founder, Ex-Officio Board Member and Special Advisor to Global Dignity, stated, "Cynthia embodies our core values of dignity. Her energy, drive and strategic ability will serve us well as we continue to expand and accelerate this important movement." Global Dignity, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization founded in 2006, works to strengthen dignity- centered leadership in over 70 countries around the world. The organization is focused on engaging young people in understanding the values and principles behind what "dignity" means and aims to inspire the next generation to make change in their own communities and on the major challenges of our time. Over 500,000 young people from around the world participated in Global Dignity Day/2016. SOURCE Global Dignity CHONGQING, China, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) ("Daqo New Energy", the "Company" or "we"), a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry, today announced that it has commenced initial production at the Phase 3A polysilicon facility located on its Xinjiang polysilicon manufacturing site. All the construction and installation work related to Phase 3A was completed by the end of 2016. With the new Phase 3A facility having started initial production, the Company expects to reach a full production run rate of 18,000 MT per annum at its Xinjiang polysilicon facilities by the end of the first quarter of 2017. "We are very excited to have successfully completed the Phase 3A project and commenced initial production at this new facility ahead of schedule. We expect to reach full production throughput by the end of the first quarter of 2017, months ahead of our original schedule. In addition, we have achieved the highest capital expenditure efficiency in the Company's history of polysilicon capacity expansion by reutilizing idle machinery and equipment in Chongqing and leveraging existing shared facilities in Xinjiang," commented Dr. Gongda Yao, Chief Executive Officer of Daqo New Energy. "In addition, with technology upgrades, equipment addition, and process improvement, we anticipate we will achieve further cost reduction and quality improvement, which will help us better serve customer demand, especially from the high-end markets such as high-efficiency mono crystalline wafer." About Daqo New Energy Corp. Founded in 2008, Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) is a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. As one of the world's lowest cost producers of high-purity polysilicon and solar wafers, the Company primarily sells its products to solar cell and solar module manufacturers. The Company has built a manufacturing facility that is technically advanced and highly efficient with a nameplate capacity of 18,000 metric tons in Xinjiang, China. The Company also operates a solar wafer manufacturing facility in Chongqing, China. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Daqo New Energy's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the demand for photovoltaic products and the development of photovoltaic technologies; global supply and demand for polysilicon; alternative technologies in cell manufacturing; the Company's ability to significantly expand its polysilicon production capacity and output; the reduction in or elimination of government subsidies and economic incentives for solar energy applications; and the Company's ability to lower its production costs. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the reports or documents the Company has filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Daqo New Energy does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Daqo New Energy undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For further information, please contact: Daqo New Energy Corp. Investor Relations Department Phone: +86-187-1658-5553 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Daqo New Energy Corp. RESTON, Va., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a global science and technology company, was awarded a contract by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to support DTRA's Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) and Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program through a worldwide Scientific & Technical Engagement Partnership (STEP) program. The single-award, time and materials contract has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options, and a total contract value of approximately $170 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed primarily in Northern Virginia and internationally in several combatant command areas of responsibility. DTRA provides the Department of Defense's core intellectual, technical, and operational support expertise for countering threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and high-yield explosives. The CTR Program promotes collaboration with international and non-governmental partners to advance regional engagement and multilateral cooperation in the biological warfare non-proliferation sector. The STEP Program will build long-term partnerships between strong research and technical centers and CBEP partner-country institutions to reduce biological threats through enhanced biological safety and security, awareness of biological risks, and knowledge related to biological pathogen research in foreign countries. Under this new contract, Leidos will partner with industry, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local scientists to develop collaborative overseas research programs, and provide specialized training in laboratory research and containment facilities engineering, public health preparedness and emergency response, and disease outbreak field surveillance and response. "Leidos is proud of the decades of support we have provided to DTRA's critical mission and we are honored to have been selected to support DTRA's key international partner engagement," said Leidos Defense and Intelligence President, Tim Reardon. "The international assistance provided under this contract will strengthen US Government international outreach in countering threats posed by weapons of mass destruction, particularly biological weapons. This outreach, research, and training will help the US and our international partners prevent or mitigate CBRNE events throughout the world." About Leidos Leidos is a global science and technology solutions leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 33,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported pro forma annual revenues of approximately $10 billion for the fiscal year ended Jan. 1, 2016 after giving effect to the recently completed combination of Leidos with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions business (IS&GS). For more information, visit www.Leidos.com. Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 1, 2016, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SOURCE Leidos Related Links http://www.leidos.com SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Design News is pleased announce the winners of the 16th annual Golden Mousetrap Awards. The Golden Mousetrap Awards were created to acknowledge and recognize American people, companies, and technologies driving innovation in the industry. The winners were officially recognized at the 2017 Golden Mousetrap Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, February 7th. The evening's festivities were a celebration of manufacturing and innovation in North America by honoring the companies and individuals who impact the industry through their hard work and ground-breaking ideas. The Golden Mousetraps Awards ceremony is held alongside UBM's three-day Advanced Design and Manufacturing event at the Anaheim Convention Center. To learn more about UBM's Advanced Design and Manufacturing show in Anaheim, please visit: pacdesignshow.designnews.com Sponsors of the 2017 Golden Mousetrap Awards include Design News, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, and Allied Electronics. "We are honored to recognize those companies and individuals who have demonstrated a drive for excellence in their respective fields," said Suzanne Deffree, Content Director and Editor-in-Chief of Design News. "The future of engineering and manufacturing is truly innovative, as the companies and individuals celebrated at the 2017 Golden Mousetrap Awards have shown the leadership and direction needed to push the industry to new heights." The 2017 Golden Mousetrap Award winners for each category are as follows: Lifetime Achievement Winner Cees Links Rising Engineering Star Lindsay Craig Gadget Freak of the Year David Prutchi, Ph.D. Automation & Motion Control: Controllers Bedrock universal control system - Bedrock Automation Automation & Motion Control: Drives Omron 1S Servo Drive & Motor - Omron Automation Automation & Motion Control: Fluid Power Technologies No Drip External Mix Atomizing Spray Nozzles - EXAIR Corporation Automation & Motion Control: Industrial Network Technologies (e.g. I/O, Ethernet, Wireless) SimpleLink Dual-Band CC1350 Wireless MCU - Texas Instruments Automation & Motion Control: Motors and Mechanical Motion Devices Flexion N-Series 6-Axis Robots - Epson Robots Automation & Motion Control: Sensors, Vision Systems, Feedback Devices, & Peripherals ULTRA Puck (VLP-32A) - Velodyne LiDAR Design Tools: Hardware & Software: Analysis & Calculation Software MSC Apex Fossa - MSC Software Corporation Design Tools: Hardware & Software: CAD/PDM/PLM Software Arena PLM - Arena Solutions Electronics & Test: Analog/Power Management/Control ISL78365 Laser Diode Driver for Automotive Head-Up Displays - Intersil Corporation Electronics & Test: Components, Hardware & Interconnects TouchView TDDI Technology - Synaptics Electronics & Test: Embedded Computing/Processing R-Car H3 SoC - Renesas Electronics America Electronics & Test: Test & Measurement AEGIS Shaft Voltage Tester Digital Oscilloscope - Electro Static Technology Materials & Assembly: Adhesives BETAFORCE 2817 structural adhesive - Dow Automotive Systems Materials & Assembly: Engineering Plastics & Composites Densified SOLIMIDE - Boyd Corporation Materials & Assembly: Fastening, Joining & Assembly Components LQR Lock and Quick Release System - Bal Seal Engineering Materials & Assembly: Metals & Alloys Belvedere Lateral Plating System - NeuroStructures Inc. Materials & Assembly: 3D-Printing & Rapid Prototyping, Materials, Tools & Services Blue Dot Lasers - Blue Dot Laser Systems To learn more about the Golden Mousetrap Awards, please visit: goldenmousetraps.designnews.com Follow the Golden Mousetrap Awards on Social Media with Official Hashtag: #GMTA17 About Advanced Manufacturing Expos & Conferences UBM's Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is the leading B-to-B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3 trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the advanced manufacturing market and leverage our proprietary 1.3 million name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is organized by UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc (UBM.L), an Events First marketing and communication services business. For more information, visit ubmamericas.com. About UBM Americas UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc, is the largest business-to-business events and trade show organizer in the U.S. Through a range of aligned interactive physical and digital environments, UBM Americas increases business effectiveness for both customers and audiences by cultivating meaningful experiences, knowledge and connections. UBM Americas has offices spanning North and South America, and serves a variety of specialist industries with dedicated events and marketing services covering everything from fashion, tech and life sciences to advanced manufacturing, cruise shipping, specialty chemicals, powersports and automotive, concrete, hospitality, cargo transportation and more. For more information, visit: www.ubmamericas.com. SOURCE UBM Americas CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The revival of Southern-inspired treats such as Mississippi mud pie, Kentucky butter cake and fruit cobbler is just one of many leading dessert trends sweetening operator menus. According to data from Technomic's latest Volumix Cakes and Pies Report, operators are ensuring that their guests save room for desserts in this category by increasing their purchases of these manufacturer products. In fact, total sales for the cakes and pies category increased 5.5% year over year in 2016, with the largest sales increases occurring in the fine-dining, fast-casual and casual-dining sectors. This information, as well as the wealth of other valuable data points featured in the Volumix Cakes and Pies Report, can give suppliers visibility into what brands and products operators are purchasing and for what price, also showcasing new product entrants giving perspective on trends evolving in the category. Other notable takeaways from the Volumix Cakes and Pies Report: Sara Lee Bakery, Sweet Streets Desserts and Lawler Foods Inc. are the top three manufacturers in this category Distributor brands represent nearly 10% share of volume of cakes and pies The average price per pound of cakes and pies increased 3% over a year period Volumix generates SKU-level data from over 28,000 independents and small chains, independent operators, serving as an effective tool for suppliers to better understand the competitive environment. To view sample data or to learn more about this resource, please visit Technomic.com or contact the individuals listed below. For Technomic updates, please follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn. Contacts: Press Inquiries and Program Details: Bernadette Noone, (312) 506-3830 or [email protected] Purchasing Details: Patrick Noone, (312) 506-3852 or [email protected] About Technomic Only Technomic, a Winsight company, delivers a 360-degree view of the food industry. We impact growth and profitability for our clients by providing consumer-grounded vision and channel-relevant strategic insights. Our services range from major research studies and management consulting solutions to online databases and simple fact-finding assignments. Our clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants and retailers, other foodservice organizations, and various institutions aligned with the food industry. Visit us at www.technomic.com. About Winsight, LLC Winsight, LLC is a business-to-business media and information services company specializing in the convenience-retailing, restaurant and noncommercial foodservice industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio including four publications, CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director and Convenience Store Products, a suite of digital products including websites, e-newsletters (Restaurant Business Daily and CSP Daily News) and webinars, plus video products, mobile and tablet apps and custom marketing solutions. The Winsight Events group produces six exclusive, large-scale executive-level conferencesRestaurant Leadership Conference, FARE Conference, Outlook Leadership, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC and MenuDirectionsin addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings. Winsight recently acquired Technomic, Inc., a food industry provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services. Winsight is a recognized leader in the markets it serves. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to http://www.winsightmedia.com/ SOURCE Technomic Related Links http://www.technomic.com MANCHESTER, England, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EDM, a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation and defence sectors, announced today that it has won the Greater China Business of the Year Award 2017. The Newton Heath based company beat a host of other businesses to the prestigious award at an evening ceremony held at The Lowry Theatre on Friday, 3rd February. Organised annually by the UK Department for International Trade, the award recognises the achievements of businesses that have been successfully exporting products or services to the Greater China region for over 3 years. Having won orders in excess of 25m since 2008 and establishing itself as the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of cabin crew training simulators to airlines in Greater China, EDM was again successful having last won this award in 2012 and coming runners up in 2013. Earlier in the day, EDM's Sales and Business Development Director and Department of Trade Export Champion, Mick Bonney, gave a presentation to over 100 delegates looking to learn more about how to enter the Greater China market entitled: 'More Cooperative Success With Greater China'. EDM counts Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines amongst its client base in mainland China as well as Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. EDM has doubled in size over the past 3 years and is forecast to achieve further growth in 2017. Philomena Chen, North West Head of Asia Pacific Business for the Department of International Trade said: "EDM has demonstrated innovation, drive and long term commitment to the Greater China aviation market over many years now and their award win is very much deserved. Everyone at the Department of International Trade is committed to ensuring the Year of the Rooster is the most successful twelve months yet for North West businesses operating in Greater China." "It's an honour to win the 2017 Greater China Business of the Year Award," said Tony Bermingham, Managing Director of EDM. "We will continue to focus on this region to help support our ambitious growth targets and retain our position as the number one manufacturer of cabin crew training simulators in the world. We hope that our success in Greater China will encourage other UK companies to explore this exciting market." For information about EDM visit: www.edm.ltd.uk About EDM EDM is a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation, defence, rail and other industries. Combining the highest engineering standards with leading-edge technologies, EDM provides airlines with Door Trainers, Cabin Service Trainers, Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers and Full Size Mockups and defence organisations with Procedure Trainers, Maintenance Trainers, Ejection Seats, Simulators and Full Size Replicas. Serving organisations worldwide from its UK headquarters, EDM is committed to delivering exceptional quality and value to its clients to help them enhance safety and operational efficiency. SOURCE EDM Limited NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President Tom Kuhn and three other EEI officers David Owens, Phil Moeller, and Richard McMahon today briefed Wall Street analysts, bankers, and investors on the state of the U.S. electric power industry. Kuhn and the panelists discussed a range of issues, including the importance of working with the Trump Administration and new Congress, as well as many new governors, legislators, and regulators in the states to develop a shared policy agenda. "EEI will work with President Trump and with key policymakers on both sides of the political aisle to develop an agenda that supports investments in infrastructure, grows the economy, and recognizes the vital role of the energy grid and the importance of maintaining reliable, affordable, secure, and increasingly clean energy for all customers," said Kuhn. The EEI team outlined other top industry policy priorities, which include supporting comprehensive tax reform, workforce development, smart city and electric vehicle initiatives, streamlining and expediting the process for permitting and siting energy infrastructure, and updating state regulatory approaches for planning, pricing, and allocating the costs of the distribution system and flexibility in pricing customer services, including grid services. "Today, EEI's member companies are making significant investments to make the energy grid smarter, more dynamic, more flexible, and more secure to integrate and deliver a mix of both central station and distributed energy resources to customers," said Kuhn. "They are investing in cleaner generation sources that make business sense. And, they are partnering with leading technology companies to create innovative energy solutions that give customers more control over their energy use." EEI's member companies are investing more than $100 billion each year, spending a projected $120.8 billion in 2016 alone. This is more than twice the level of investment of just a decade ago. The industry contributes more than 2 percent to America's real GDP, and directly and indirectly provides well-paying jobs for more than one million men and women in communities large and small across the country. There is already widespread recognition that investments in the energy grid are enabling greater reliability and resiliency against natural threats, such as Hurricane Matthew, as well as manmade threats, such as cyberattacks. "Protecting the energy grid is our top priority, and every day we are working to improve grid security, reliability, and resiliency," said Kuhn. "Our security strategies constantly evolve and are closely coordinated with the federal government through a partnership called the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC). By working together through the ESCC, industry and government greatly enhance our nation's ability to defend and protect against cyber and physical security threats." During the presentation, the EEI team emphasized the industry's commitment to a clean and affordable energy future. Today, one-third of U.S. power generation comes from zero-emission sources nuclear energy and renewables, such as hydropower, wind and solar. As of 2015, industry carbon dioxide emissions were nearly 21 percent below 2005 levels. With declining prices for natural gas, renewable energy, and new technologies, this trajectory will continue. "More than ever, we must remain focused and excited about the changes our industry is facing and our future," concluded Kuhn. "It is up to us to deliver the energy future our customers want and expectit is a great privilege, and one that comes with awesome responsibility. To deliver on this future and our customer-driven vision, we are focused on smarter energy infrastructure, cleaner energy, and innovative energy solutions. By continuing to lead together on the issues driving the electric power industry's transformation, EEI and our member companies will demonstrate Power by Association, and we will deliver America's energy future." View the full briefing here. EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and directly and indirectly employ more than one million workers. EEI has dozens of international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members. SOURCE Edison Electric Institute Related Links http://www.eei.org BRUSSELS, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterland Private Equity Investments will provide growth capital to Enhesa, an environmental, health & safety (EHS) regulatory compliance assurance content provider. Enhesa is a global EHS regulatory consultancy based in Brussels, Washington, D.C. and Tokyo. Enhesa provides a global approach to EHS compliance and simplifies regulatory complexity for international companies. By utilizing a standardized risk-based approach, Enhesa provides regulatory insights and analysis that helps companies mitigate risks, stay on top of regulatory change and ultimately achieve and maintain global EHS compliance. To accelerate its international growth strategy, Enhesa has decided to reinforce its capital structure with financial partner Waterland, who will actively support Enhesa's management in implementing this growth strategy. "With Waterland as a partner, we are convinced we can accelerate our growth plans," said Peter Hermans, CEO of Enhesa. "They offer the expertise and capital required to execute our ambitious growth strategy." "For Waterland, the investment in Enhesa fits perfectly with our strategy to invest in growing, high-quality companies. We are looking forward to support Peter and his team in expanding Enhesa's position in the global regulatory industry," said Cedric Van Cauwenberghe, partner at Waterland Private Equity Investments. The former shareholders will pursue other opportunities outside the EHS industry and wish the management team success with the further growth of the company. The sellers completed the transaction with the support of Deloitte Corporate Finance and Laga. About Enhesa: Founded in 2001, Enhesa is the market leader in global environmental, health and safety compliance assurance providing support to businesses worldwide. We leverage our unique knowledgebase utilizing our in-house team of more than 75 dedicated EHS regulatory analysts from more than 40 different countries to provide insights and analysis regarding EHS regulatory developments from around the world. Enhesa provides this key regulatory intelligence for more than 200 jurisdictions around the world in both an easy to understand and utilize manner. Please visit www.enhesa.com for more information. About Waterland Private Equity Investments: Waterland (www.waterland.nu) is an independent investment firm that supports entrepreneurs in realizing their growth ambitions. With substantial financial resources and specific market knowledge, Waterland enables its portfolio companies to accelerate growth both organically and through acquisitions. Waterland is active on a financial, strategic and operational level. Waterland has offices in Antwerp, Belgium; Bussum, the Netherlands; Munich, Germany; Dusseldorf, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; and Manchester, United Kingdom and currently manages a committed capital of 4B. Contact: Enhesa [email protected] 15 rue du Mail 1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 775 97 97 SOURCE Enhesa Related Links http://www.enhesa.com According to TechSci Research report, "Eritrea Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022", tire market in Eritrea is forecast to cross US$ 11 million by 2022, on account of growing automobile sales and expanding automobile fleet across the country. Vehicle fleet in the country increased from 81,412 units in 2012 to 96,547 units in 2016, and exhibited a CAGR of 4.35% during 2012-2016. Growing GDP (official exchange rate) of the country, which stood at USD5.35 billion in 2015, as per CIA, is also anticipated to boost demand for automobiles and tires in the country during the forecast period. Eritrea is an import driven economy and the country is completely dependent on tire imports. Tire market of the country is entirely replacement driven due to absence of automobile manufacturing facilities in Eritrea. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 ) Browse 6 market data Tables and 51 Figures spread through 114 Pages and an in-depth TOC on "Eritrea Tire Market" https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/eritrea-tire-market-forecast-opportunities/887.html As per the CIA, in 2016, the country's GDP growth stood at 3.7%. In 2016, major demand for tires emanated from Central region of Eritrea, on the back of several infrastructural development projects initiated by the government, and increasing demand for commercial vehicles as well as tires. Chinese tires being comparatively cheaper than other leading flagship European and American tire brands, are expected to dominate Eritrea tire market. Other prominent tire manufacturing companies which have a moderate presence in the country include MRF, Apollo, Continental, Michelin, Bridgestone, etc. Download Sample Report @ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=887 Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report. "Over the next five years, passenger car tire would continue to dominate the tire market in Eritrea, followed by medium & heavy commercial vehicle tire, light commercial vehicle tire and OTR tire segments. Moreover, passenger car tire and two-wheeler & three-wheeler tire cumulatively accounted for more than half of the share in the country's tire market, and this trend is expected to continue through 2022. Introduction of number of infrastructure projects such as Asmara Housing Project, Gahtelay Dam Construction, etc., in the country are further expected to drive demand for commercial vehicles in the country. Thus, growing demand for commercial vehicles is forecast to drive demand for commercial vehicle tires in the country during the forecast period." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm. "Eritrea Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022' has evaluated the future growth potential of Eritrea tire market and provides statistics and information on market size, structure and future market growth. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities in Eritrea tire market. Browse Related Reports Russia Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022 http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/sri-lanka-tire-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2021/654.html Serbia Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021 http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/serbia-tire-market-forecast-opportunities-2021/633.html Latvia Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2021 http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/latvia-tire-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2021/643.html About TechSci Research TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends. Contact Mr. Ken Mathews 708 Third Avenue, Manhattan, NY, New York - 10017 Tel: +1-646-360-1656 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research SOURCE TechSci Research BRUSSELS, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- European tourism demand continues to grow and proves resilient to safety and security challenges and political turmoil. Overall growth, however, has slowed from the previous year (+5% in 2015) affected by those destinations required to rebuild market confidence following tragic events. The most visited region in the world welcomed 620 million international tourist arrivals in 2016, a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2015[1]. According to the European Travel Commission's latest report, "European Tourism - Trends & Prospects", the majority of destinations reported healthy growth in the last months of 2016. Iceland remains the top growth destination (+40%) followed by the outstanding performance of Cyprus (+20%) and Slovakia (+19%) owing to improved air connectivity and off-season visitation. Bulgaria (+16%) also saw robust growth while other destinations such as Serbia and Portugal (both +13%) are increasingly becoming appealing for bargain hunters. On the contrary, safety and security concerns weigh down on visitor numbers in Turkey (-31%) and Belgium (-14%) while a strong Swiss Franc weakens Switzerland's tourism performance (-2%). "European destinations acknowledge the need to remain competitive in a sector that is swiftly adapting to the diverse needs of travellers from both established and emerging markets. Only through increased commitment and cooperation from the European tourism authorities will Europe remain a competitive destination and will succeed in fostering inbound travel" said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of ETC. Europe's Large Source Markets Continue to Drive Growth European travel remains heavily reliant on intra-regional demand. Several destinations reported double-digit growth from Germany and France, attributable to stable economic conditions in the Eurozone. In the UK, a weaker pound failed to deter travel demand, with almost one in two European destinations reporting double-digit growth from this market. Visitor arrivals from Russia are gradually improving with significant increases recorded in the Mediterranean and the Baltic destinations. Russian tourist flows are expected to grow throughout 2017 as the rouble strengthens. US arrivals to Europe increased by 8% (some 27.4 million) in 2016 helped by a strong dollar, encouraging economic conditions and favourable airfares. However, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue due to the new US administration's retrenchment from globalism. Overall, Chinese growth (+2%) has slowed down from 2015, as safety concerns dissuades travel to Europe. [1] World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Contact: Miguel Gallego, [email protected] , +3225489000 SOURCE European Travel Commission (ETC) AUSTIN, Texas , Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global cybersecurity leader Forcepoint today announced the acquisition of the Skyfence business from Imperva. The acquisition plays a pivotal role in Forcepoint's strategy to deliver cybersecurity systems that help customers understand people's behaviors and intent as they interact with data and IP wherever it may reside, including fast-growing cloud applications. "Forcepoint is committed to enabling our customers to empower individuals to leverage critical business data and intellectual property how, when and where they choose," said Matthew P. Moynahan, chief executive officer of Forcepoint. "The integration of Skyfence across Forcepoint's broad product portfolio will further deliver on this promise, while helping to reduce enterprise security risk." Integrating Skyfence's cloud access security broker (CASB) capabilities with Forcepoint's web security and data loss prevention (DLP) technologies will provide customers increased visibility, control and security as users interact with data wherever it resides, including within cloud applications. The integration also provides Forcepoint customers greater flexibility in deploying web security via on premise-, hybrid- and cloud-based solutions. "As cloud applications become more pervasive, customers are trying to strike a balance between the benefits these services offer and the risks that exist," said Kris Lamb, general manager of the Cloud Security business at Forcepoint. "Integrating Skyfence with Forcepoint's cloud security platform will offer the best of both worlds. Businesses will feel comfortable providing the productivity benefits cloud services offer, while not jeopardizing the security of critical data and improving their overall governance and compliance posture." As more organizations migrate to cloud services, the CASB market is expected to experience significant growth. According to Gartner, "By 2020, 85% of large enterprises will use a cloud access security broker platform for their cloud services, which is up from less than 5% today." 1 Skyfence provides visibility and control over cloud applications approved for use by an organization (e.g., NetSuite, Office 365, Salesforce, Workday), as well as those employees might use without approval (e.g., Dropbox, G Suite and Box). Skyfence helps companies to determine which cloud applications are in use by employees, analyzes content in real-time to prevent malicious or unauthorized leakage and quickly identifies and blocks cyber-attacks. Integrating Forcepoint DLP with Skyfence will further broaden customers' abilities to protect critical business and personal data. Skyfence capabilities are particularly important to companies seeking to protect intellectual property, as well as those facing compliance requirements, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) and Sarbanes Oxley (SOX). The acquisition of Skyfence by Forcepoint extends a relationship launched in March 2015. At the time, Forcepoint (then RaytheonWebsense) entered into a licensing arrangement that enabled the company to embed the Skyfence Cloud App Catalog into the company's web security gateway products. Upon the close of the transaction, Skyfence technology and employees will join the Forcepoint team. The Skyfence team will continue to be based in Ramat Gan, Israel. About Forcepoint Forcepoint is transforming cybersecurity by focusing on what matters most: understanding people's intent as they interact with critical data wherever it resides. Our uncompromising systems enable companies to empower employees with unobstructed access to confidential data while protecting intellectual property and simplifying compliance. Based in Austin, Texas, Forcepoint supports more than 20,000 organizations worldwide. For more about Forcepoint, visit www.Forcepoint.com and follow us on Twitter at @ForcepointSec. Join Forcepoint on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForcepointLLC/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forcepoint Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/forcepointsec Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forcepoint Media contact Susan Helmick [email protected] 703-989-3429 1 Gartner, "Market Guide for Cloud Access Security Brokers" by Craig Lawson et al., Oct. 26, 2016 SOURCE Forcepoint Related Links http://www.forcepoint.com AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global cybersecurity leader Forcepoint today announced the company will unveil new capabilities, as well as a new strategic focus, at RSA Conference 2017. Historically, cybersecurity has centered on preventing breaches and data loss by securing infrastructure. However, the concept of a corporate network unraveled as public cloud, BYOD and partner connectivity provide more places for critical corporate data to exist. Forcepoint will unveil the company's new focus, centered on enabling companies to drive toward what matters most: understanding people's behaviors and intent as they interact with data and IP wherever it resides. By delivering capabilities that meet this objective, Forcepoint will help customers provide open, unobstructed access to data, while reducing risk. "Companies are caught in a never-ending cycle of attempting to secure technology systems, which change faster than anyone can keep up with," said Matthew P. Moynahan, chief executive officer at Forcepoint. "It's time for a new standard. We must direct resources towards understanding the human point of interaction; this is where value and vulnerability exists, and where we can make the most significant positive impact on cybersecurity." Forcepoint Activities at RSA Conference 2017 Forcepoint will be highlighting the company's focus areas and solutions in the North Expo Hall, booth #3527. Specifically, security professionals will have the opportunity to participate in onsite technology demonstrations that highlight Forcepoint's capabilities in both cloud and on-premise email and web security; next generation firewalls; data loss prevention and insider threat; and cross domain solutions. Forcepoint's other activities at RSA Conference 2017 include: Forcepoint CEO Keynote: Moynahan will present "Protecting People and Content from Threats Already on the Inside," on February 16 at 4:00 p.m. (Moscone West, Level 3). Moynahan's keynote will address a new paradigm for cyber, centered on focusing security where the greatest value and vulnerabilities exists: the intersection of people and their behavior and intent while interacting with critical business data. Moynahan will present "Protecting People and Content from Threats Already on the Inside," on at (Moscone West, Level 3). Moynahan's keynote will address a new paradigm for cyber, centered on focusing security where the greatest value and vulnerabilities exists: the intersection of people and their behavior and intent while interacting with critical business data. CSM Passcode's third annual #BeatTheBreach Town Hall event: On Tuesday, February 14 from 5:00 9:00 p.m. at the Minna Gallery, Forcepoint is participating in CSM Passcode's #BeatTheBreach event, a VIP event where senior security executives and government leaders discuss cybersecurity war stories, best practices and lessons learned. Interested attendees can register here. On from 5:00 at the Minna Gallery, Forcepoint is participating in CSM Passcode's #BeatTheBreach event, a VIP event where senior security executives and government leaders discuss cybersecurity war stories, best practices and lessons learned. Interested attendees can register here. Panel Discussion "Could U.S. Anti-Hacking Laws Handicap Cybersecurity?": On Wednesday, February 15 at 2:45 p.m. (Moscone North -131), Forcepoint Commercial Chief Technology Officer Dr. Richard Ford will moderate this debate between legal experts, academics and cyber engineers on the pragmatic dangers that anti-hacking legislation could have on cyber R&D. For more information about Forcepoint at the RSA 2017, please visit: https://www.forcepoint.com/rsac. About Forcepoint Forcepoint is transforming cybersecurity by focusing on what matters most: understanding people's intent as they interact with data wherever it resides. Our uncompromising systems enable companies to empower employees with unobstructed access to data while protecting intellectual property and simplifying compliance. Based in Austin, Texas, Forcepoint supports more than 20,000 organizations worldwide. For more about Forcepoint, visit www.Forcepoint.com and follow us on Twitter at @ForcepointSec. Join Forcepoint on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForcepointLLC/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forcepoint Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/forcepointsec Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forcepoint Media contact Susan Helmick [email protected] 703-989-3429 SOURCE Forcepoint Related Links http://www.forcepoint.com MORRISTOWN, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Edward Cohen, former CEO of Ammann & Whitney, passed away Saturday, January 28 at the age of 96. He was interred Monday, January 30 at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, New York. Between 1977 and 1996, Cohen served as the CEO for Ammann & Whitney, established by renowned New York long-span bridge designer Othmar Ammann. Cohen started at the firm in 1949 as an associate engineer, before becoming a partner, senior partner, managing partner, director and executive vice president. He served as president of Safeguard Construction Management Corporation between 1973 and 1977 before returning to Ammann & Whitney in 1977 as CEO. While with the firm, Cohen aided in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Roebling Delaware Canal Bridge and the United States Capitol building. He served as commissioner for the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial Commission (1981-1983) and as special advisor for the New York State Centennial Commission-Statue of Liberty in 1985. Cohen held leadership positions in a number of industry and professional associations, including serving on the board of the New York Concrete Industry Board, the New York Association Consultant Engineers and as chair for the original American National Standards Institute Load Standards Committee. He also served as president of the American Concrete Institute, where he was a 2004 Centennial Honoree. An American Society of Civil Engineers fellow, Cohen served ASCE as chairman for the committee on design loads for buildings and other structures (American National Standards Institute A58) and as chairman for the reinforced concrete research council. He was recognized with the 1974 Civil Engineering State of the Art award, 1987 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement award, 1976 Raymond Reese award, 1983 Ernest Howard Gold Medal, 1987 Service to People award and 1986 Metropolitan Civil Engineer of Year award. Cohen, who was prohibited from military service due to a rheumatic fever-induced heart condition, was awarded a medal for civilian engineering service during World War II by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was a Society of American Military Engineers Fellow. Cohen spent over 55 years in research, design, and restoration in bridges, wind forces, hardened design and tower analysis. He was a member of the advisory board for the Journal of Resource Management and Technology and was co-editor of the "Handbook of Structural Concrete," in addition to author to a multitude of professional journals and articles. Cohen began his career in 1941 at the Connecticut Highway Department after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Columbia University. He was a registered professional engineer in 15 states, a licensed land surveyor in four states and a chartered civil engineer in Great Britain. Cohen is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Ida (Tanewitz) Cohen, as well as his first wife, Elizabeth Belle Cohen and eldest son, Samuel. He is survived by his second wife Carol Simon Kalb, his children Libby M. (Cohen) Wallace and James Cohen, and his brother Alexander Cohen and sister Sonia Cohen. Click here to view an image of Edward Cohen that can be used for distribution. Ammann & Whitney is now the long-span bridge division of Louis Berger. 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: Regine de la Cruz 1.202.303.2791 [email protected] SOURCE Louis Berger Related Links http://www.louisberger.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Future Farm") (OTCQB: AGSTF) (CSE: FFT) is pleased to announce that it has closed on its previously announced definitive agreement to acquire a 15-acre parcel of land in Redland, Florida, in a county that is designated to legally cultivate, process and dispense cannabis. Redland is an unincorporated community within Miami-Dade County, with Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Redland is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area. Miami-Dade County is referred to as the nation's "Salad Bowl" and "Winter Bread Basket." "We are pleased to have reached this contract to acquire this prime parcel of land as it has a long history as a plant nursery, which was first established in 1963," says Mr. William Gildea, Future Farm Technologies Inc.'s CEO and Chairman. Florida's Legislature is beginning the process of figuring out how to implement Amendment 2, which allows for the expansion of legalized medical marijuana in Florida. The new law took effect on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. The Florida Department of Health now has until June 3, 2017 to finalize its MMJ regulations and until September 3, 2017 to issue the first ID cards to patients. Amendment 2 was approved by 71 percent of Florida voters on Election Day, and will allow higher-strength marijuana to be used for a wider list of medical ailments. With this acquisition, Future Farm has the potential, if fully licensed, to develop 15-acres of cannabis crops and is positioning itself to be a part of the Florida Cannabis market as it rolls out in 2017. If current state projections for the cannabis market size hold up to their $1.8B projection by 2020, Florida will have considerable demand for medical marijuana, even without factoring in the potential for recreational legislation. This is an exciting acquisition for Future Farm as the 15-acre farm is located in a designated legal grow zone with close proximity to Miami. Future Farm is in a unique position as a Canadian based company because it is poised to quickly commence operations within the United States rather than potentially wait years to become a licensed producer under Canadian law. Concurrent with this announcement, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of John Sweeney as its Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Sweeney will transition into this executive position from his current role as a consultant and his big pharma background and expertise will help the Company capitalize on its current growth initiatives. While serving as a consultant for the Company, Mr. Sweeney helped position the business firmly within the North American cannabis market through organic and inorganic growth initiatives. Going forward, Mr. Sweeney is going to play an important role in the next phase of the Company's growth strategy. Mr. Sweeney brings with him 16 years of direct cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturing experience in operations of industry leading biotechnology companies including Pfizer, Wyeth, Genzyme and most recently as Vice President of Operations at Tilray, a 60,000-square foot federally licensed Canadian medical cannabis operation on Vancouver Island. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the requirements of regulated manufacturing for commercial and clinical products and served as liaison for auditing regulatory agencies including the FDA and EMA. Mr. Sweeney holds an MS in Engineering Management from Tufts University in Medford, MA and a BS in Biology from the University of New Hampshire, Durham. For further information, contact William Gildea, Director, at 617.834.9467. On behalf of the Board, Future Farm Technologies Inc. William Gildea, CEO & Chairman About Future Farm The Company's business model includes developing and acquiring technologies that will position it as a leader in the evolution of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for the global production of various types of plants. Future Farm provides scalable, indoor CEA systems that utilize minimal land, water and energy regardless of climate, location or time of year and are customized to grow an abundance of crops close to consumers, therefore minimizing food miles and its impact to the environment. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generate yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. The contained system provides many other benefits including seed to sale security, scalability, consistency due to year-round production, cost control, product safety and purity by eliminating environmental variability. The Company is also in the business of designing and distributing LED lighting solutions utilizing the COB and MCOB technology. The Company is focused on delivering cost efficient lighting to North America via advanced e-commerce sites the Company owns and operates. LEDCanada.com which caters to B2B customers is a supplier of the newest and highest demand LED solutions. The Company also owns and operates COBGrowlights.com which caters to both large and small agriculture green houses and controlled cultivation centers. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. For further information, contact William Gildea, Director, at 617.834.9467. SOURCE Future Farm Technologies Inc. On a 1,000-point scale, scores in the safety and reliability and billing and payment factors were 802 and 800, respectively. Both show marked improvements over previous study periods. A total of 76% of business customers said their gas utility was either somewhat helpful (47%) or very helpful (29%) in preparing for safety issues. Overall satisfaction among customers who indicated their utility was helpful was 173 points higher than among those who said their utility was not helpful. "Effective communication is everything when it comes to utility customer satisfaction," said Carl Lepper, senior industry analyst, utility & infrastructure practice at J.D. Power. "The phenomenon is most pronounced when dealing with safety issues, but even with more routine tasks like billing inquiries and alerts, participation in community events, and media appearances, we're consistently seeing higher overall satisfactions scores when utilities are most proficient at communicating with their customers across a number of different channels." Following are additional findings of the 2016 Calendar-Year Study: Digital Communications Critical: The customer service channel driving the sharpest increase in satisfaction was online interaction, with the channel accounting for a 39-point improvement in customer satisfaction scores from the previous study. Additionally, electronic billing and use of automated bill alerts were found to be key variables driving an increase in business customer satisfaction. The customer service channel driving the sharpest increase in satisfaction was online interaction, with the channel accounting for a 39-point improvement in customer satisfaction scores from the previous study. Additionally, electronic billing and use of automated bill alerts were found to be key variables driving an increase in business customer satisfaction. Corporate Citizenship Is Felt Locally: Support for local economic development programs had the highest recall of all corporate citizenship initiatives among business customers, outranking energy efficiency programs and environmental efforts. Recall of these programs has a significant effect on business customers' satisfaction. Support for local economic development programs had the highest recall of all corporate citizenship initiatives among business customers, outranking energy efficiency programs and environmental efforts. Recall of these programs has a significant effect on business customers' satisfaction. Media Perceptions Matter: Positive stories about a gas utility in the press have a significant impact on customer satisfaction. Satisfaction among customers who recalled a positive media story about their utility was 793 vs. 776 among those who recalled a communication from the utility itself. The flip-side is also true. Among customers who recalled a negative media story about their utility, scores fell to 667. Study Rankings The industry results for the 2016 Calendar-Year Study are reported across four U.S. geographic regions: East, Midwest, South and West. The following utilities rank highest in customer satisfaction in their respective region: East Region: Con Edison Midwest Region: Louisville Gas & Electric South Region: TECO Peoples Gas West Region: NW Natural Now in its 11th year, the Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study measures business customer satisfaction with gas utility companies in four regions: East, Midwest, South and West. Each of the 61 brands included in the study serve more than 25,000 business customers, representing more than 4 million business customers in total. Overall satisfaction is measured by examining six factors (listed in order of importance): safety and reliability (25%); billing and payment (17%); corporate citizenship (15%); customer service (15%); price (15%); and communications (13%). The study has been restructured for 2016 and now includes safety and reliability as one of the primary factors contributing to business customer satisfaction. Overall customer satisfaction is 774. The study is based on responses from more than 10,000 online interviews with business customers who spend at least $150 monthly on gas. The study was fielded from March-July 2016 and August-December 2016. Media Relations Contacts Geno Effler; Costa Mesa, Calif.; 714-621-6224; [email protected] John Roderick; St. James, N.Y.; 631-584-2200; [email protected] For more information about the U.S. 2016 Calendar-Year Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/us-gas-utility-business-customer-satisfaction-study. See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2017012. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. Those capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices serving North/South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/about-us/press-release-info SOURCE J.D. Power Related Links http://www.jdpower.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Genes in Space, a competition that fosters creativity, collaboration and critical thinking among young innovators, opened a call for entries today. The competition challenges U.S. students in grades seven through twelve to design DNA analysis experiments that address a challenge or opportunity of space travel. Student proposals use the International Space Station (ISS) as a testbed for deep space exploration. The competition is sponsored by miniPCR, Math for America (MA), Boeing, The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and New England Biolabs, Inc. (NEB). The winning experiment will be conducted on the ISS. Students can submit their proposals as individuals or in groups of up to four via genesinspace.org. The deadline for submissions is April 21, 2017. Five finalist teams will receive mentoring from world-class scientists to help refine their experiment ideas and make them feasible for space. Members of the finalist teams will gather in Washington, DC, in July 2017 to present their proposals at the ISS Research and Development Conference to a panel of scientists, educators, and technologists who will judge the entries and select a winner. Finalists will receive a donation of a miniPCR DNA Discovery System for their educational institutions. These donations will enable the same hands-on biotech experimentation available at high-end research laboratories. The winners will attend Space Biology Camp at New England Biolabs to prepare their experiment for space flight and witness their experiment launch. "The Genes in Space competition gives STEM teachers a unique opportunity to help their students engage in cutting edge science," said John Ewing, MA President. "We hope all math and science teachers will participate in this breakthrough competition, encouraging their students to become science pioneers." "We are proud to launch the third national Genes in Space challenge to promote STEM education and offer authentic research opportunities in schools," added Dr. Ezequiel Alvarez Saavedra, miniPCR co-founder. Anna-Sophia Boguraev from Bedford, New York won the first Genes in Space competition. Her experiment, launched in April 2016, tested effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation on the immune system and was the first PCR experiment conducted in space. Julian Rubinfien, winner of the 2016 competition, is scheduled to fly his experiment to investigate the genetic basis of accelerated aging in space in March of 2017. About the Sponsoring Organizations: Boeing A unit of The Boeing Company, Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Defense, Space & Security is a $31 billion business with 53,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense. Math for America Math for America is a nonprofit organization that aims to make teaching a viable, rewarding, and respected career choice for the best minds in science and mathematics. The MA Master Teacher Fellowship achieves this goal by bringing together outstanding, experienced teachers to share knowledge, advance teaching skills, and define excellence itself. This remarkable community of teachers is changing the very landscape of science and mathematics education. MA offers fellowships and advocates for this model around the country, so that all students can have great math and science teachersteachers who are true masters of the subject matter and deeply committed to the craft of teaching. www.MathForAmerica.org miniPCR miniPCR reinvents lab technology to make science simple, accessible, and exciting, enabling everyone to experiment at the cutting edge of biology. www.minipcr.com The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) CASIS was selected by NASA in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. CASIS is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people and our planet. www.iss-casis.org New England Biolabs, Inc. (NEB) NEB is the industry leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications and now offers the largest selection of recombinant and native enzymes for genomic research. For over 40 years, NEB has been committed to the advancement of science and science education. For more information on our products and corporate initiatives, please visit www.neb.com Contacts: miniPCR: Emily Gleason, [email protected], 781-990-8727 Math for America: Sarah Rooney, [email protected], 646-437-0921 Boeing: Kelly Kaplan, [email protected], 281-226-4367 CASIS: Patrick O'Neill, [email protected], 321-480-1054 New England Biolabs: Deana Martin, Ph. D., [email protected], 978-380-7464 SOURCE miniPCR Related Links http://minipcr.com NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilt.com, the innovative online shopping destination, today announced a partnership with Livelihood Inc., a new socially and ethically conscious apparel company founded by Ashley Biden. Gilt and Livelihood are selling a collection of premium hoodie designs, beginning today on Gilt.com, with 100 percent of net proceeds donated to Livelihood's community development initiatives. "Gilt is excited to partner with Ashley for this worthy cause, which is a meaningful way to unite Gilt's expertise in design, production and e-commerce with Ashley's dedication to communities in need. Gilt has a history of partnering with innovative charities and we are thrilled to help bring Ashley's vision of a new, socially-conscious apparel brand to life with the Gilt x Livelihood collection," said Jonathan Greller, President of Gilt and Saks OFF 5TH. Founded by Ashley Biden, daughter of former Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, Livelihood is focused on grassroots initiatives to help fund schools, vocational training programs and job placement services. As part of its local community focus, Livelihood targets specific zip codes and will initially dedicate resources to Wilmington, Delaware (zip code 19802), where Ashley grew up, and Anacostia, District of Columbia (zip code 20373), where Ashley first worked as a social worker. "Over the past 15 years, I've worked as a social worker and learned first-hand that civic participation is an essential component of community development. My goal with Livelihood is to celebrate that ethos with creative and innovative programs that directly impact local neighborhoods. I'm excited to launch this initiative with a hoodie design, created and sold in partnership with Gilt. I chose a hoodie because it is universal, was once ubiquitous with the Labor Movement and is currently symbolic of important social justice movements," said Ashley Biden, founder of Livelihood. The Gilt x Livelihood collection encompasses full-zip and pullover hoodie styles in women's, kids' and unisex sizing. Fashioned from soft, double-napped cotton, the hoodies are completely sourced and manufactured in the U.S.A., including the premium zipper. Signature details include a reflector stripe on the right cuff, extended sleeves with thumb holes, heavy gauge draw cords and the inspirational motto, "Keep Your Hood Up," printed on the exterior neckline. Available in a range of colors, including black, slate grey, winter white, navy, emerald and blush, the hoodie styles retail for $79 -$99. The collection is sold exclusively on Gilt.com/Livelihood and at the Gilt Shop on 57th Street in New York City (located within the Saks OFF 5TH store), for a limited time while supplies last. Actress Aubrey Plaza, of Parks and Recreation, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Legion, is supporting the Livelihood mission. A Delaware native like Biden, Plaza wears the hoodie in exclusive content on Gilt.com for the launch. "I believe Wilmington and surrounding communities in Delaware need help and I want to get involved. I think Ashley is incredibly smart and I love her ideas. We both talked about our love for Wilmington and for Delaware. I told her how some of the community programs in Wilmington influenced me as a child and helped me get to where I am todaynamely, the Wilmington Drama League, a community theater, which allowed me to explore acting at a young age among other like-minded, aspiring artists. It's places like these I want to support so they can change other people's lives as well," said Aubrey Plaza. The multi-tiered campaign with Plaza and Biden will appear on Gilt.com, social media, email and mobile marketing material. Visit Gilt.com/Livelihood for more details and to purchase the Gilt x Livelihood hoodies. ABOUT GILT: Gilt, www.gilt.com, is an innovative online shopping retailer offering its members special access to the most inspiring lifestyle merchandise and experiences all at exceptional prices. Gilt is a daily destination for discovery of the most coveted brands and products, including fashion and accessories for women, men, and children; home decor; unique activities in select cities and destinations; and luxury hotel stays. Gilt is part of the Hudson's Bay Company portfolio of brands. ABOUT LIVELIHOOD: Livelihood is a social and ethically conscious apparel company inspired by the extraordinary spirit of everyday people working to strengthen communities in need. Livelihood's goal is to motivate people on a grassroots level to get involved in their local neighborhoods by funding revitalization projects via sales of Livelihood original clothing designs. For more information on Livelihood's mission, visit www.getinvolvedinyourhood.com. SOURCE Gilt Related Links http://www.gilt.com LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet Protocol-based Software and Devices Offer Improved Functionality and Cost Control while Health Management Systems Usher Market toward a Truly Connected Flight and MRO Environment The global aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) market, like many others, is in a state of change. The introduction of enhanced Internet protocol-based software and equipment is driving the market in new directions. This insight covers the market from 2016 to 2026. Logistics to support MRO and spares sales is a significant part of the overall aerospace industry. New platform procurements will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4%. The MRO portion of the global aerospace market will grow at a CAGR of 1.6% and will present a 2026 market size of $88.17 billion. Over the 2016 to 2026 period, the global MRO revenue share from North America (NA) is forecast to decline from 27.5% to 24.6%, while Europe is expected to decline from 27.3% to 24.3%. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow from 28.4% to 31.1% of the total market. Latin America (LATAM) will grow from 4.9% to 5.1% and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) from 11.9% to 14.9%. Improved software, mobile devices, and health management systems are moving the MRO market toward a truly connected environment. The first steps have been taken. The next steps will change the face of MRO. Research Scope: - Analysis of IoT-enabled devices and their potential impact on work structure and efficiency - Discussion of information issues (areas in need of transformation, MRO challenges, logistics value chain) - Outline of software solutions (ERP, maintenance management, health management, technical publications, technical documentation management) - View of IoT horizon Key Questions This Study Will Answer: - Which regions offer the most opportunities for MRO service providers? - How can IT businesses capture new market opportunities? - Where will the market demand be in 10 years? - Should any capability gaps be anticipated, and if so, which ones? - Are airworthiness authorities involved in the transformation, and if so, how? - What are the best market opportunities for commercial IoT equipment? Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4683684/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Applications of microfluidics in drug delivery and diagnostics will continue to fuel the market for microfluidics over the next few years. "The US$ 2.9 Bn microfluidics market will possibly cross US$ 11 Bn by the end of 2026. North America is expected to contribute over US$ 3 Bn to the total revenues in 2026. The collective share of North America and Asia Pacific will be over 40%," states Future Market Insights in a recently published market report outlook, titled "Microfluidics Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026." (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161020/430874LOGO ) The report by Future Market Insights analyses the global market for microfluidics over a 10-year forecast period, 2016-2026. The market is likely to witness a robust CAGR of 14.4% over the assessed period. Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-398 Key Insights: Market Dynamics Increasing discretionary funding from national labs for R&D in the developed regions will remain a primary factor driving the growth of market through 2026. Improving healthcare infrastructure and wide availability of affordable microfluidic devices or kits are also foreseen to boost the market growth in near future, especially in developing countries. Expansion of drug delivery sector will favour the market growth in near future. Consistent advancements in the fields of genomics and proteomics are also expected to benefit the sales of microfluidics-based devices and kits. Dynamic collaborations between key market players and active involvement of government entities will collectively foster the market through 2026. Key Insights: Segments Ceramics will remain dominant material type Based on material, ceramics will continue to be the most sought after material for microfluidic device or kit manufacturing. Ceramics segment is expected to remain dominance, accounting for over 42% market value share in 2026, followed by glass, polymer, and silicon. While ceramics is likely to witness the fastest growth, polymer segment is anticipated to exhibit a significant CAGR of over 15% over 2016-2026, driven by PVC. Preview Analysis on Global Microfluidics Market Segmentation By Material Type - Polymer (Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Non-polyvinyl chloride), Glass, Silicon, Metal, Ceramics; By Application Type - Point of care testing, Clinical Diagnostics, Drug Delivery, Analytical Testing (Genomics, Proteomics, Cell Based Analysis); By Industry - Pharmaceuticals, In-vitro Diagnostics, Environmental Research, Life Science Research, Clinical Diagnostics: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/microfluidics-market POCT will be dominant application segment By application, POCT (point of care testing) segment is projected to retain dominance through 2026, accounting for over 33% share in terms of revenues. Clinical diagnostics and analytical testing will remain the next major segments in the global microfluidics market. In-vitro diagnostics industry will hold maximum revenue share On the basis of industry, in-vitro diagnostics, life science research, and pharmaceuticals are likely to be the key segments. In-vitro diagnostics segment is estimated to hold a share of over 35% in the total market revenues. The fastest growing segment will be in-vitro diagnosis. APEJ will be the most lucrative regional market Geographically, North America, followed by Western Europe are expected to remain the dominant regions for microfluidics, capturing respective market value share of over 26% and over 21% share by 2026 end. Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) will possibly represent the most lucrative market, expanding at a significant CAGR of over 14% throughout the forecast period. This growth is attributed to growing use of microfluidics devices and kits for in-vitro diagnostics. North America and Western Europe will also exhibit significant growth rates over 2016-2026. Speak with Analyst for any Report Related Queries: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-398 Key Insights: Leading Market Players Some of the most prominent players in the global microfluidics market, include Agilent Technologies, PerkinElmer Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Qiagen NV, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Fluidigm Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Almost all the leading companies serve point of care testing application and survive the competition with an individual differentiating strategy. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and Abbott Laboratories, through active engagement in agreements and collaborations with leading regional companies, highlight a growing trend of strategic mergers and acquisitions among the top companies. More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence: Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Segmentation By Product - Medication Dispensing Cabinets, Packaging and Labelling System, IV Pharmacy, Robotic Dispensing System, Carousel Storage Systems and Tablet Splitters; By Application - Drug Dispensing & Packaging, Drug Storage and Inventory Management; By End-User - Hospital Pharmacies, Clinic Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Mail Order Pharmacies and Pharmaceutical SMEs: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-pharmacy-automation-system-market Segmentation By Product - Medication Dispensing Cabinets, Packaging and Labelling System, IV Pharmacy, Robotic Dispensing System, Carousel Storage Systems and Tablet Splitters; By Application - Drug Dispensing & Packaging, Drug Storage and Inventory Management; By End-User - Hospital Pharmacies, Clinic Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Mail Order Pharmacies and Pharmaceutical SMEs: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/global-pharmacy-automation-system-market Paediatric Vaccine Market Segmentation By Technology - Live Or Attenuated Vaccine, Inactivated Or Killed Vaccine, Toxoid Vaccine, Conjugate Vaccine and Subunit Vaccine; By Indication - Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, DTP Vaccine, Influenza, Meningococcal Vaccine, Polio Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine, MMR Vaccine and Varicella Virus Vaccine; By End User - Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Institutional Health Centres; By Vaccine Type - Monovalent Vaccines and Multivalent Vaccines: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/pediatric-vaccines-market Segmentation By Technology - Live Or Attenuated Vaccine, Inactivated Or Killed Vaccine, Toxoid Vaccine, Conjugate Vaccine and Subunit Vaccine; By Indication - Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, DTP Vaccine, Influenza, Meningococcal Vaccine, Polio Vaccine, Rotavirus Vaccine, MMR Vaccine and Varicella Virus Vaccine; By End User - Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies and Institutional Health Centres; By Vaccine Type - Monovalent Vaccines and Multivalent Vaccines: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/pediatric-vaccines-market Central Venous Catheter Market Segmentation By Product Type - Tunnelled Catheters and Non-Tunnelled Catheters, By Property - Antimicrobial Catheters and Non Antimicrobial Catheters, By Design - Single Lumen, Double Lumen and Multi Lumen, By Composition - Polyurethane, Polyurethane / Poly Carbonate and Silicone, By End Use - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Specialty Clinics and Others: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/central-venous-catheter-market About Us Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends. Browse More Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices Market Insights Contact Us 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 T (UK): + 44-(0)-20-7692-8790 Sales: [email protected] Press Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com SOURCE Future Market Insights LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Scope of the Report The report titled "Global Online Takeaway Food Delivery Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2016-2020)", provides an in-depth analysis of the global online takeaway food delivery market by value and by penetration rate. The report also gives an insight of the global food services market and takeaway food delivery market. The report provides a regional analysis of the online takeaway food delivery market, including the following regions: US, Canada, UK, Australia, Denmark, Italy, Spain and France. 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. Growth of the overall global online takeaway food delivery market has also been forecasted for the period 2016-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the global online takeaway food delivery market is fragmented with several new players emerging in the industry. However, key players of the online takeaway food delivery market, Just Eat, GrubHub and Rocket Internet (Foodpanda and Deliver Hero) are profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies. Country Coverage US Canada UK Australia Denmark Italy Spain France Company Coverage Just Eat GrubHub Rocket Internet (Foodpanda and Deliver Hero) Executive Summary The food services industry is experiencing a revolution. Even the food delivery market is undergoing a dynamic change. It is the online mode that is reaping attention in the current scenario. The food delivery market is both online and offline. The online food delivery market is also known as online takeaway food delivery market. Online takeaway food delivery market provides an online and mobile platform for food takeaway. The platform is essentially a marketplace where consumers are matched with restaurants. Consumers choose to order on takeaway restaurant (TR) webpage or an app rather than directly on restaurant websites because they can easily compare multiple cuisine options, and also pay safely. In online mode mobile apps are available for iOS and Android of either the restaurants or TR. Customers select restaurants that deliver to their locations, make selection from menus and prices, and make purchases using a mobile device or via the web without the need for phone calls. In recent years online food delivery market is gaining popularity because of the increased internet penetration across nations and increased smartphone dependence. The online food delivery market has three business models namely pure-media, fully integrated and on-demand delivery models. The global online takeaway food delivery market is expected to increase at a significant CAGR during the years 2016-2020. The global online takeaway food delivery market is expected to increase due to increase in urban population, increase in spending of global middle class population, increasing technological innovations, increase in smartphone usage, increase in internet penetration, etc. Yet, the market faces some challenges such as, fluctuations in profit earning, threat to aggregator business model, data server crash, etc. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4672233/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 ) Get detailed information visit @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/plasticizers-market Plasticizers are additives applied in polymers & other materials to enhance their softness, flexibility, and processability. They are applicable in flooring & wall coverings, films & sheets, wires & cables, coated fabrics, consumer goods, and several others. The global plasticizers market is segmented based on type, application, and geography. Raw materials for plasticizers generally comprise esterification of different types of alcohols & acids as well as other chemicals as per the required application. Emerging applications of plasticizers in various end-user industries and high demand for non-phthalate plasticizers in different regions are major factors that are expected to drive the market growth. However, strict government regulations over some of the phthalates and toxicity of PVC polymer may hamper this growth. Increase in demand for bio-based plasticizers for products, such as personal care cosmetics, toys, food contact materials, health care commodities, and others, are expected to create growth opportunities for various players in the market. Bio-based plasticizers, such as epoxides & sebacates, are expected to grow at the highest CAGR throughout the analysis period, due to their remarkable properties such as non-toxic nature, high efficiency, improved heat stability, lower volatility, and others. These are employed in automotive, adhesive & sealants, paints & coatings, and other end uses. In 2015, the phthalates type occupied major market in terms of revenue; However, this trend is expected to decline to some extent during the forecast period, owing to the harmful effects of few phthalate plasticizers such as endocrine disruption and damage to reproductive system as well as kidney, lungs, and liver, resulting in their complete or interim level ban by regulatory bodies. The main applications employing plasticizers include floorings & walls and wires & cables. Moreover, the wires & cables application segment accounted for second largest market share in 2015, and is expected to grow at the CAGR of 2.3% during the forecast period. According to Eswara Prasad, Team Leader, Chemicals & Materials at Allied Market Research, "Construction & packaging firms have resulted in high growth rates of flooring & wall as well as film & sheet covering application segments. Asia-Pacific is a leader in plasticizers market due to huge production & demand in China. Increasing focus of manufacturers & consumers on bio-derived plasticizers has led to rigorous R&D, thus resulting in a large number of patents published on it in recent years". Key Findings of Plasticizers Market Film & sheet coverings is anticipated to be the fastest growing application segment, in value terms, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2016 to 2022. Asia-Pacific is expected to continue to be the dominant share holder, with more than half of the global plasticizers market, with highest CAGR of 3.2% in terms of revenue. is expected to continue to be the dominant share holder, with more than half of the global plasticizers market, with highest CAGR of 3.2% in terms of revenue. The flooring & wall segment occupied the maximum market share, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period. China is the largest country in terms of demand & supply in global plasticizers market. is the largest country in terms of demand & supply in global plasticizers market. DINP segment accounted for one-third of the global phthalates market in 2015 In 2015, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA collectively accounted for more than half of the global plasticizers market, with lucrative CAGR and are expected to continue this trend. This is attributed to upsurge in construction & packaging industries, specifically in China, India, Brazil, and other developing economies. Growth in urbanization & industrialization are the main reasons for growth of the plasticizers market in Asia-Pacific. The major companies profiled in the report include Arkema S.A., BASF SE, Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd., Dow Chemical Company, LG Chem Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, ExxonMobil Chemical, Eastman Chemical Company, Ineos Group, and UPC Group. Read similar market research reports on at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/materials-&-chemicals/speciality-and-fine-chemicals-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: Pankaj Kumar 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: [email protected] Website: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com SOURCE Allied Market Research NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, known throughout the United States and abroad for its roster of more than 90 former state and federal prosecutors, has added two exciting names to its shareholder ranks. Daniel P. Filor, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, joined Greenberg Traurig's New York City office. Nathan Muyskens, former Co-Chair of the White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations Practice at Loeb & Loeb, joined the Washington, D.C. office. Filor's tenure at the U.S. Attorney's Office and his previous stint in private practice will make him indispensable to clients who are faced with both criminal and regulatory investigations involving financial institutions, securities and tax regulation, antitrust and False Claims Act inquiries, and national security matters. Muyskens is well known for his successful representation of corporate and individual clients in criminal grand jury investigations and prosecutions, internal investigations, regulatory inquiries and enforcement matters, and related parallel civil proceedings. His practice also includes defending companies in corruption investigations and other matters related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. "Dan and Nate add significant firepower to our world-class white collar criminal defense and governmental investigations team and the services we provide to clients. They are doers who make things happen," said Marc L. Mukasey, Global Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig's White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice. "Clients facing government scrutiny demand driven attorneys who can address their needs and are cool under pressure. Clients also often have to navigate parallel civil and criminal matters and our world-class team, now further enhanced by Dan and Nate, can address any issue that may arise." "We have created a remarkable platform in the White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice with professionals who understand what is at stake and have the reputation and commitment to deliver superior client service. The addition of Dan and Nate further enhances this outstanding team," said Alan Mansfield, Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global Litigation Practice. "We have built an entire law firm around being proactive, creative, hardworking, and delivering quality to clients. Dan and Nate will join a national team that provides excellent client service while offering a value proposition that no other firm offers," said Brian L. Duffy, Greenberg Traurig's Chief Executive Officer. While at the U.S. Attorney's Office for 10 years, Filor prosecuted federal crimes involving fraud, public corruption, civil rights, money laundering, narcotics, racketeering, and violent crimes. He also litigated on behalf of the United States and federal agencies in areas of taxation, class actions, employment discrimination, environmental law, national security, civil rights, and bankruptcy. "It was an easy decision to join Greenberg Traurig a firm that is uniquely empowering and collaborative, with a culture that provides the perfect environment for the next phase of my career. I am looking forward to working with such a diverse array of experienced colleagues in 38 locations around the globe," Filor said. Muyskens has conducted numerous internal investigations into cyber breaches, phishing schemes, denial-of-service attacks, and other cyber crimes. He also routinely counsels boards of directors and audit committees on issues of corporate governance related to cyber intrusions. "My clients will benefit from the global reach and unparalleled platform. I look forward to working alongside the well-respected attorneys at Greenberg Traurig and the opportunity to bring a new level of service to my clients," Muyskens said. "It is particularly important that I am joining at this time, given the firm's focus in growing its white collar and cybersecurity practices." Filor received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was the Executive Editor of the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems. He has a B.A., cum laude, from Binghamton University, State University of New York. After law school, Filor clerked for the Hon. Sylvia H. Rambo, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Filor received the DOJ Executive Office of the U.S. Attorneys Director's Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA, in 2014 and the DOJ John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement for Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2008. Muyskens previously was a trial attorney with the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition, where he led investigations into the retail and energy sectors. Prior to his service at the commission, Muyskens was an associate independent counsel with the Office of Independent Counsel. Muyskens received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law, where he was the Publications Editor of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. He has a B.A. from the University of Virginia. About Greenberg Traurig's White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice Greenberg Traurig's White Collar Defense & Special Investigations Practice has wide-ranging experience protecting companies and individuals under government scrutiny. The firm's creative defense lawyers are at the forefront of client service in this area, and Greenberg Traurig is one of very few firms with more than 90 former federal and state prosecutors in its litigation group, and where the majority of litigation shareholders and counsel have first-chair trial experience. The team's defense capabilities includes vast experience in structuring internal investigations, developing guidelines and implementing compliance programs and addressing issues of voluntary disclosure, as well as extensive representations involving alleged securities fraud, FCPA violations, health care/pharmaceutical fraud, environmental crimes, money laundering, financial services fraud, public corruption/campaign finance, tax corruption, defense contracting, and bankruptcy fraud. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 2,000 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, second largest in the U.S. on the 2016 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2016 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com/. Contact: Lourdes Brezo-Martinez, 212-801-2131, [email protected] SOURCE Greenberg Traurig Related Links http://www.gtlaw.com Last week, Senate File 158 was introduced in the Iowa Legislature. In short, it's a proposal that would allow government entities to post public notices on government websites in lieu of posting them in newspapers. It's an issue that has been introduced in previous sessions, and with lobbying from the Iowa League of Cities and the Iowa State Association of Counties, we expect the issue to keep returning. However, approving such a proposal, we believe, would be a large step backward in government transparency. Consider some of the following statistics. A survey conducted in December 2015 by Newton Marketing and Research showed 85 percent of Iowans believe state and local government should be required to publish public notices in newspapers. An overwhelming 91 percent of Iowans find their local newspaper trustworthy when publishing public notices, compared to only 67 percent who find government sponsored websites trustworthy. Iowans rely on their local newspapers to stay informed, and 76 percent of Iowans read their local newspaper. Those are the kind of numbers our state leaders should heavily consider since the accessibility to information about government dealings is an important premise upon which the principle of democracy is based. Newspapers have the responsibility to publish public notices in a timely, complete and accurate manner. Nobody has ever hacked a newspaper, unlike internet sites where public notices have mysteriously disappeared. Putting public notices from schools, cities and counties on hundreds of government websites is a good way to make sure they will not be noticed by a larger portion of the public. Proponents of the change will point to cost savings for government entities. Research by the Iowa Newspaper Association shows, on average, cities, schools and counties spend 1/20th of 1 percent of their budgets on public notices. Do we really want to sacrifice government transparency for that? Residents of Iowa communities for decades have been relying on notices being published in their local newspapers as a way of keeping tabs on their local governments. The easier we make keeping tabs on our government dealings the better. Public notices have been available to the public via newspapers for 200 years. Newspapers are a respected third party unlike a government agency posting public notices on the agency's own website. Notices in newspapers also are a permanent record. We expect our lawmakers to give these latest statistics and the important concept of government transparency the proper consideration. Newspapers offer maximum opportunity for the public to be aware of the way our government agencies are conducting business and spending taxpayers' money. That's an important aspect of government transparency we need to maintain, not allow to erode. This editorial was published in the Feb. 3 edition of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, another Lee Enterprises publication. BLUE ASH, Ohio, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Handyman Connection, a home repair company with over 25 years experience, held its annual franchise conference last month in New Orleans, Louisiana. As part of the annual event, the brand announced the recipients of their 2017 awards, which acknowledged local franchise owners, craftsman and brand partners for significant achievements with Handyman Connection over the last year. The four-day conference theme focused on "The Journey Forward" where Handyman Connection franchisees took part in educational sessions and peer panels geared towards growth strategies and development of their businesses. "We are excited to recognize all of our 2017 franchise award winners for the achievements they have made in their businesses over the last year," said Jeff Wall, President and CEO of Handyman Connection. "These awards are a true testament to the outstanding leadership and commitment of our talented network of franchisees and their craftsmen, and we look forward to their continued success." The top recipients of Handyman Connection's 2017 franchise awards include: Franchisee of the Year Award Steve and Celeste Lefebvre , Handyman Connection of Charleston, SC , Handyman Connection of Rookie of the Year Award Joe Cox , Handyman Connection of Ann Arbor, MI , Handyman Connection of Brand Experience Award Bryan and Tiffany Peters , Handyman Connection of Winchester, VA , Handyman Connection of Market Share Award Shaun McCarthy , Handyman Connection of Colorado Springs, CO , Handyman Connection of Sales Growth Award Steve and Celeste Lefebvre , Handyman Connection of Charleston, SC and James Cochrane , Handyman Connection of Tuscaloosa, AL , Handyman Connection of and , Handyman Connection of Craftsman of the Year Award Mike Banghart , Handyman Connection of Charleston, SC and Max McGonegal , Handyman Connection of Ann Arbor, MI Handyman Connection operates more than 70 locations throughout 27 states and Canada. For more than 25 years, the brand has offered homeowners across North America a complete resource for professional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. Handyman Connection offers a variety of services ranging from traditional home repairs to painting, remodeling and more. About Handyman Connection Since 1991, homeowners across North America have been calling on Handyman Connection for our professional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. Each Handyman Connection franchise is locally owned and operated, backed by the company that helped launch the industry. Our values are steeped in a long-standing dedication to the people we serve, and truly differentiate Handyman Connection as a home repair company. CONTACT: Julia Block Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Handyman Connection Related Links http://handymanconnection.com AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, today announced that Havelock AHI, a leading interior manufacturer and fit-out contractor, has implemented the next-generation Epicor ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution across its six locations in the GCC (gulf cooperation council). With Epicor ERP serving as the backbone of the business, Havelock AHI has been able to improve communication between departments, streamline operations and ultimately deliver the highest quality products and services to its customers in the region. Commenting on the decision to upgrade from a 'home-grown' ERP solution to Epicor, Aiman Mahmoud, senior IT manager, Havelock AHI, said, "Because our core business is built on offering bespoke solutions, it was only natural that we would expect the same from our ERP system. We needed a customisable system to meet the needs of the manufacturing and contracting pieces of our business without incurring significant costs or long implementation delays. We also wanted a solution that would scale easily to meet the demands of our growing business." In addition to choosing a solution that was tailor-made for their industry, ease of implementation was another key criterion. As Aiman explained, "The Epicor ERP solution architecture is extremely user friendly so, unlike other IT implementations where we have worked together with the vendor and partners, we managed the entire implementation of Epicor ERP in house. The only module that we did consult with the Epicor team on was accounting, since this is one of the critical modules that ties everything together." Epicor were equally impressed with the technical knowledge of the Havelock team and recognised Havelock last year with the customer award for "Achieving Last Mile and Leveraging Epicor Framework." With anywhere between 75-80 users accessing the system across the six Havelock locations in the GCC at any time, one of the biggest benefits has been the improvement in visibility and transparency across all departments. Citing a recent example of an order of cashier counters for a large customer, Aiman said, "The sales cycle of every single customer from tender to fulfilment is unique. Flawless execution hinges on tight integration and coordination between our associates in sales, engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, shipping and accounting. Implementing Epicor ERP has allowed us to rely on systems rather than manual processes, improve communication between departments, streamline operations and ultimately ensure that we deliver the highest quality product and service to our customers." With the Epicor ERP system now serving as the backbone of the business, Aiman and his team are beginning to benefit from its rich functionality, specifically its reporting features, to improve business operations and aid management decision making. "We are currently working on building customised reports for each department. For example, our associates in purchasing now have granular visibility of purchase orders which ultimately contributes to improved OTD (on time delivery), arguably one of the most important manufacturing metrics. In addition to departmental reports, we are also working on developing data rich reports and dashboards for our senior management team that will give them a clear snapshot of the health of the business and allow them to make more informed business decisions." "Havelock AHI faced some significant challenges with their previous ERP solution, specifically around usability and maintenance. We focused on delivering a solution that not only addressed the requirements and challenges of their industry and specific business, but was also easy to deploy and achieve last-mile functionality, operate, manage and upgrade," said Sabby Gill, executive vice president, International for Epicor Software. "I am confident that Epicor ERP will provide Havelock AHI with the flexible and scalable platform they need to continue to innovate and grow their business in the region." Aiman concluded, "At Havelock AHI, our core values are offering our customers outstanding quality, service and value, attention to detail and continuous improvement. We are also committed to providing our associates with an exciting and rewarding work environment. Choosing to partner with Epicor has provided us the platform we need to stay true to our values, and at the same time grow our business." Full success story: http://www.epicor.com/MENA/Press-Room/Success-Story/Havelock-AHI.aspx About Epicor Software Corporation Epicor Software Corporation drives business growth. We provide flexible, industry-specific software designed around the needs of our manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industry customers. More than 40 years of experience with our customers' unique business processes and operational requirements are built into every solutionin the cloud or on premises. With this deep understanding of your industry, Epicor solutions manage complexity, increase efficiency, and free up resources so you can focus on growth. For more information, connect with Epicor or visit www.epicor.com. Epicor and the Epicor logo are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation. SOURCE Epicor Software Corporation Related Links http://www.epicor.com CLEVELAND, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Cavallo announced today the release of his latest novel Rites of Azathoth published by Bedlam Press (An Imprint of Necro Publications). Necro specializes in hardcore horror fiction and aims to bring the best in modern horror to the masses, publishing the best names in modern horror like Edward Lee, Charlee Jacob, Jeffrey Thomas, Gerard Houarner, Patrick Lestewka, Wrath James White, Mehitobel Wilson and dozens of others. Rites of Azathoth "Rites of Azathoth is an occult-thriller rooted in the H.P. Lovecraft tradition, or what is sometimes called the Cthulhu Mythos. It is a book that will appeal to general horror audiences, especially any fans of Lovecraft himself, as well as fans of Clive Barker, Peter Straub and Jack Ketchum," says Cavallo. Synopsis: F.B.I. criminal profiler Diana Mancuso doesn't do field work anymore. Not since a tragic mistake that cost innocent lives. But when notorious serial killer Luther Vayne escapes from prison and resumes his campaign of brutal murders, the Bureau convinces her to take one last case. To catch him, she must understand him. She must delve into the arcana that fuels his madness, risking her life and her sanity to follow his twisted path. The trail plunges her into a shadowy world of occult rituals and unspeakable horrors, leading to a secret cabal operating at the highest levelsand a plot to summon the darkest of all powers, to bring forth an evil that does not belong in our worldto enact the Rites of Azathoth. About the Author: Frank Cavallo is a horror and dark fantasy writer. His previous works include Eye of the Storm, The Lucifer Messiah, The Hand of Osiris, and the Gotrek & Felix novella Into the Valley of Death. He was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Communications in 1994 and he earned a JD from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2001. His life-long fascination with the darker side of human nature has led him to devote most of the past 15 years to a career as a criminal defense attorney, at the Cuyahoga County Public Defender Office, in Cleveland, Ohio. There he has come face-to-face with some of the truest horror in this world. Murder, rape, burglary, drugs. That's his bread and butter. To learn more, go to http://www.frankcavallo.com/ For more information, contact Kelsey Butts at Book Publicity Services at (805) 807-9027 or [email protected]. SOURCE Book Publicity Services Related Links http://bookpublicityservices.com THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) has joined the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and President and CEO Peter Huntsman has been appointed to ACC's Executive Committee and Board of Directors. ACC is the chemical industry's leading advocacy organization. As a global leader developing some of the world's most innovative products, Huntsman's membership in the ACC is consistent with the company's values, including stakeholder engagement, sustainability, sound science and technology leadership. Peter Huntsman said, "We are enthusiastic about joining the ACC and look forward to working with them to address many of the challenges facing our industry. Under the leadership of ACC President & CEO Cal Dooley, the organization has a proven track record of success and has been an effective industry advocate for the critical role we play in the lives of people around the world." Cal Dooley added, "Huntsman Corporation is an iconic American company and we are thrilled to welcome them to the ACC family. ACC has achieved great success and I look forward to working alongside Peter and his team as we build on our momentum in 2017 and beyond." About Huntsman: Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2015 revenues of more than $10 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 100 manufacturing and R&D facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 15,000 associates within our 5 distinct business divisions including the Pigments and Additives division that we intend to spin-off as Venator Materials Corporation. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com. Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman Forward-Looking Statements: Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting, the spin-off of Venator Materials Corporation, the ability to implement cost reductions and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws. SOURCE Huntsman Corporation Related Links http://www.huntsman.com "At every level, 2016 was a sea change for Impartner and the PRM industry," said Impartner CMO Dave R Taylor. "We've seen an absolute deluge of demand from top corporations worldwide, who have figured out that the secret sauce of unlocking the potential of their indirect channel is ensuring a contemporary PRM solution is a foundational element of their channel program." "To win 18 national and international awards, add blue chip customers at the rate we have, see our annual recurring revenue (ARR) climb to industry leading rates, have three times as many customers headed to our conference and have the number of partners signing into our portal climb to nearly 3 million in such a short amount of time, is an incredible testament to the power of PRM to transform the performance of our customers' networks and to the team at Impartner to drive this growth," added Taylor. In addition to Adam and Walsh, other key speakers at ImpartnerCON include Channel Strategist and Penton Content Director T.C. Doyle; Intacct SVP of Channel Sales Taylor Macdonald; Is Inspired Channel Strategist and President Gina Batali-Brooks; and Channel Chiefs from leading Impartner customers, including National Instruments, BigCommerce and LogRhythm. To learn more about the conference, click here. To learn more about how companies with contemporary SaaS PRM solutions help generate an average of up to $9 million a year in additional channel revenue, click here. About Impartner Impartner delivers one of the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solutions, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. Impartner PRM is the industry's most award winning PRM technology and one of the industry's only turnkey solutions that can deploy a world-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, three-step Velocity onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883. Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Contact: Kerry Desberg Impartner 425-231-9529 [email protected] SOURCE Impartner Related Links http://www.impartner.com NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial valves are mechanical/electromechanical devices used for controlling, regulating and diverting flow and pressure in fluids (liquids, gases and slurries) by closing, opening or blocking the passage of fluid. Industrial valves are widely being used in diverse sectors including oil & gas; petrochemicals, chemicals & fertilizers; power; etc. Over the years, the Indian Government has been continuously focusing on the expansion of pipeline network for the distribution of natural gas across the country. As of September 2016, the total length of gas pipeline network in India stood at 16,121.21 kilometres. Moreover, the demand for natural gas in India is projected to increase from 446 MMSCMD in 2016 to 523 MMSCMD by 2019. Hence, with increasing demand for natural gas coupled with continuous expansion of natural gas distribution network, the country's industrial valves market is expected to grow at a robust pace over the next five years. From operational, safety and reliability point of view, industrial valve is one of the crucial components used in oil & gas industry. Oil & gas is expected to remain the largest source of fuel in India in the next five years as well, consequently aiding India industrial valves market. According to "India Industrial Valves Market, By Functionality, By End Use Industry, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2012 2022", the industrial valves market in India is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of over 9% during 2017 2022. Widening demand supply gap in Indian power industry has been driving the need for power capacity additions, which, in turn, is providing a boost to industrial valves market in the country. On/off industrial valve segment occupied the largest share in Indiaindustrial valves market in 2016. The segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period as well. Low cost and easy maintenance are some of the major factors responsible for growing penetration of on/off industrial valves in India. An oil & gas processing plant spends 80% of total industrial valves cost upon on/off valves, while the rest 20% are spend on control valves. Some of the major companies operating in Indiaindustrial valves market are Larsen & Toubro Valves, Emerson Valves, Instrumentation Limited, MIL Valves and Kirloskar Brothers Limited, among others. "India Industrial Valves Market, By Functionality, By End Use Industry, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2012 2022" discusses the following aspects of India industrial valves market: - India Industrial Valves Market Size, Share & Forecast - Segmental Analysis By Functionality (On/Off, Control & Others), By End Use Industry (Oil & Gas; Petrochemicals, Chemicals & Fertilizers; Power; & Others), By Region, By Company - Policy & Regulatory Landscape - Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities - Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations Why You Should Buy This Report? - To gain an in-depth understanding of India industrial valves market - To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years - To help industry consultants, industrial valves manufacturers, vendors, dealers other stakeholders align their market-centric strategies - To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material - To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players - To avail 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs Report Methodology The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary sources. Primary research includes interviews with industrial valves manufacturers, distributors and industry experts. Secondary research includes an exhaustive search of relevant publications such as company annual reports, financial reports and other proprietary databases. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04683641-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. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com RICHLAND, Wash., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IsoRay, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ISR), a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications for the treatment of prostate, brain, lung, head and neck and gynecological cancers, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2017, ended December 31, 2016. Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $1.03 million, a 14% decrease compared to $1.19 million revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The decrease in revenue is primarily due to the continuing maturation of our recently adopted marketing approach and ongoing training and support for our sales staff following recent changes in personnel. Prostate brachytherapy represented 86% of total revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to 87% in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Total operating expenses were $1.48 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, a modest increase compared to $1.44 million posted in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Increases in research and development and sales and marketing expenses were offset by a decrease in general and administrative (G&A) expenses of $0.25 million, or 22%. The G&A decrease is primarily due to lower legal fees as well as the absence of one-time costs associated with the retirement of the Company's former CEO, which were recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Operating loss was $1.48 million, a modest increase compared to an operating loss of $1.41 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The net loss was $1.45 million, or $(0.03) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.31 million, or $(0.02), per basic and diluted share, for the same period of fiscal 2016. Basic and diluted per share results are based on weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 55.0 million shares in both periods. IsoRay had cash, cash equivalents and certificates of deposit of $11.9 million as of December 31, 2016, and no debt. "While not yet reflected in our financial results, our newly adopted, focused marketing approach that positions IsoRay and Cesium-131 as a leader in brachytherapy for prostate cancer treatment is gaining traction, supported by our recently expanded and experienced sales force. We are continuing to bolster the sales force, and replaced two salespeople in the second quarter. Our sales force now numbers six, which includes four salespeople that are new to IsoRay. We're also continuing to add content, case studies and other resources to our recently re-branded website, collateral marketing materials and a recently launched expanded social media presence, all in our effort to raise awareness of IsoRay and the advantages of Cesium-131. The sales force has become increasingly effective in delivering IsoRay's renewed message of commitment to prostate brachytherapy, which has been reinforced during follow-up visits and conversations with senior management, including myself," said Thomas LaVoy, Chairman and CEO. "At the same time we are continuing to support and pursue opportunities for Cesium-131 as a treatment for cancers in other areas of the body, including brain, lung, head and neck and gynecological cancers. We believe these areas represent important avenues of potential revenue growth for the Company. During the second quarter, we announced a poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology that was held in November, which details recurrences of high grade glioma which were treated with surgical removal of the recurrent brain tumor followed by placement of the GammaTile radiation therapy system. The GammaTile system uses Cesium-131 radiation sources embedded in a collagen carrier and enables very high doses of radiation to be precisely delivered to targeted tissue. At the time of presentation, the median time to recurrence had clearly been extended from four months previously for this group of patients, but remained fully undefined due to the majority of patients still experiencing no recurrence at six months post treatment." "Also during the second quarter, we announced the launch of a pilot study using intraoperative placement of Cesium-131 permanent interstitial brachytherapy in resectable high risk recurrent head and neck cancer by Case Western Comprehensive Cancer Center, a leader in cancer research and among the 41 Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated in the U.S. by the National Cancer Institute. The study will evaluate the impact of Cesium-131 therapy on disease control in recurrent head and neck cancers as well as the safety of the approach beginning in early 2017. These are just the two latest examples of the research we are supporting in the other areas of the body that we're focused on," continued Mr. LaVoy. "Our financial results do indicate incremental improvement, with the second quarter operating loss nearly flat year-over-year, despite the 14% decline in revenue. This reflects tight expense control and reallocation of resources toward revenue producing areas such as sales and marketing and research and development. We are also continuing to invest in the automation of our production processes and expect to realize lower costs over the next 12 months from these efforts. Looking ahead, we believe that there is increasing market interest in Cesium-131 and, if revenue levels begin to increase and costs stabilize around current levels, we expect to benefit from increasing operating leverage. We also continue to expect a stronger second half of fiscal 2017, which began on January 1st, and are estimating a revenue increase of approximately 20% year-over-year for the remaining six months of fiscal 2017," concluded Mr. LaVoy. For the first six months of fiscal 2017 ended December 31, 2016, revenue was $2.11 million, a 14% decrease compared to revenue of $2.45 million for the same period of fiscal 2016. Prostate brachytherapy represented 88% of total revenue for the first six months of both fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016. Operating expenses were $3.10 million, a 19% increase compared to $2.61 million for the six months ended December 31, 2015. Operating loss was $3.05 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016, compared to a $2.50 million operating loss for the comparable period of fiscal 2016. The net loss for the six month period was $2.95 million, or $(0.05) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.31 million, or $(0.04), per basic and diluted share, for the six month period of fiscal 2016. Basic and diluted per share results are based on weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 55.0 million shares in both periods. About IsoRay, Inc. IsoRay, Inc., through its subsidiary, IsoRay Medical, Inc. is the sole producer of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds, which are expanding brachytherapy options throughout the body. Learn more about this innovative Richland, Washington Company and explore the many benefits and uses of Cesium-131 by visiting www.isoray.com. Join us on Facebook/IsoRay. Follow us on Twitter @IsoRay. Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this news release about IsoRay's future expectations, including: the advantages of our products and their delivery systems, whether interest in and use of our products will increase or continue, whether the new marketing strategy will increase sales, whether the changes to the sales staff will result in increased sales, whether the additional resources being added to IsoRay's online presence will increase patient or clinician engagement and interest, whether use of Cesium-131 in non-prostate applications will increase revenue, whether further automation of production processes will be completed or will result in lower costs, whether revenue will increase by 20% year-over-year for the remaining six months of fiscal 2017, and all other statements in this release, other than historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"). This statement is included for the express purpose of availing IsoRay, Inc. of the protections of the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA. It is important to note that actual results and ultimate corporate actions could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements based on such factors as physician acceptance, training and use of our products, our ability to successfully manufacture, market and sell our products, our ability to manufacture our products in sufficient quantities to meet demand within required delivery time periods while meeting our quality control standards, our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights, whether additional studies are released and support the conclusions of past studies, whether ongoing patient results with our products are favorable and in line with the conclusions of clinical studies and initial patient results, patient results achieved when our products are used for the treatment of cancers and malignant diseases, successful completion of future research and development activities, whether we, our distributors and our customers will successfully obtain and maintain all required regulatory approvals and licenses to market, sell and use our products in its various forms, continued compliance with ISO standards as audited by BSI, the success of our sales and marketing efforts, changes in reimbursement rates, changes in laws and regulations applicable to our products, the scheduling of physicians who either delay or do not schedule patients in the six month period that an increase is anticipated, the use of competitors' products in lieu of our products over the six month period we expect an increase, less favorable reimbursement rates during the six month period we expect an increase, and other risks detailed from time to time in IsoRay's reports filed with the SEC. Unless required to do so by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. IsoRay, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Dollars and shares in thousands, except for per-share amounts) Three months ended Six months ended December 31, December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Product sales, net $ 1,028 $ 1,189 $ 2,109 $ 2,450 Cost of product sales 1,029 1,162 2,062 2,340 Gross profit / (loss) (1) 27 47 110 Operating expenses: Research and development 150 58 322 202 Sales and marketing 496 254 1,020 533 General and administrative 880 1,125 1,807 1,876 Change in estimate of asset retirement obligation (Note 13) (48) - (48) - Total operating expenses 1,478 1,437 3,101 2,611 Operating loss (1,479) (1,410) (3,054) (2,501) Non-operating income: Interest income, net 29 56 60 112 Change in fair value of warrant derivative liability - 43 27 58 Other income - - 20 - Financing and interest expense - - - - Non-operating income, net 29 99 107 170 Net loss (1,450) (1,311) (2,947) (2,331) Preferred stock deemed dividends - - - - Preferred stock dividends (2) (3) (5) (5) Net loss applicable to common shareholders (1,452) (1,314) (2,952) (2,336) Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.03) $ (0.02) $ (0.05) $ (0.04) Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share: Basic and diluted 55,017 55,014 55,014 55,013 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. SOURCE IsoRay, Inc. Related Links http://www.isoray.com SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RizePoint, the global leader in quality and safety management solutions, today announced that Jesse Dowdle, vice president of technology at RizePoint, has been named as one of Utah Business' Forty Under 40, an honor recognizing Utah's exceptional talent. "Jesse is known for process improvement with a record of reducing bugs and increasing critical functionality," said Frank Maylett, president and CEO of RizePoint. "Jesse has been able to rally the team behind his vision and improve both morale and productivity." Dowdle joined RizePoint in September 2016. In his first six months, he built a commitment to quality for the entire engineering team, from meetings and training to research and product launches. "I've been fortunate to be given so many opportunities to grow in my career, first at Workfront and now at RizePoint. I enjoy being a mentor and getting others involved in Utah's tech community," Dowdle said. "It's an honor to be recognized for the work I love, both at RizePoint and with AngularJS Utah, Utah Valley University's Computer Science Department, and Neumont University." Before launching his career at Workfront (formerly AtTask), Dowdle worked as a designer and writer for indie video games. He excelled in many roles at Workfront, from senior director of product development to his most recent position, vice president of technology. Dowdle holds dual degrees in history and broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University. Dowdle will be recognized with all of this year's Forty Under 40 honorees at an awards ceremony and luncheon held at The Grand America Hotel on February 23. RizePoint At-a-Glance RizePoint mobile and cloud-based software helps organizations improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of their products, services, and facilities. RizePoint's software is used by 5 of the top 8 hospitality brands and 5 of the top 8 food service brands. RizePoint serves more than 387,000 users in 120 countries and territories, speaking 40 languages: 105,000 food service restaurants 27,000 hotels and resort properties 13,000 grocery and retail stores About RizePoint RizePoint formerly Steton Technology Group is the global leader in software solutions that proactively safeguard enterprise compliancefor both internally imposed standards and externally imposed regulations. RizePoint software builds and protects brand equity by enabling a consistent customer experience. Our customers gather better data, see necessary actions earlier, and act faster to correct issues before they become costly liabilities. Considered the industry standard for food service, hospitality, and retail, RizePoint mobile and cloud-based solutions serve nearly 2 million audits with 200 million questions answered annually. RizePoint is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit RizePoint.com. About Forty Under 40 Awards This program recognizes business professionals under the age of 40 who have climbed the corporate ladder quickly, who have become standouts in their field, demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, created a disruptive technology that has had a major impact in their industry or an entrepreneur who has created a market or industry for a new product and had a high level of success. For more information, visit http://www.utahbusiness.com Press Inquiries: Whitney McCarthy 801.285.9827 [email protected] SOURCE RizePoint Related Links http://www.rizepoint.com LIVINGSTON, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston-area real estate developer Charles Von Schmidt has been exonerated by a Polk County district court jury of all charges related to a buyout agreement involving lakeside vacation homes. The jury returned its not guilty verdict on Feb. 3 after a weeklong trial before Judge David Wilson in 411th District Court in Livingston. Mr. Von Schmidt, president of Vacation Home Builders, was represented by Houston attorneys Chip B. Lewis and Alicia O'Neill of Chip Lewis Law, Conroe attorney Steve Jackson and Lufkin attorney Melissa Hannah. "All I have done is work tirelessly to build beautiful homes in the Cedar Point development on Lake Livingston," Mr. Von Schmidt said. "My family and I are deeply grateful the jury saw through these absurd allegations against me." The case grew out of claims by investors Jack and Penny Uselton who filed a civil suit against Mr. Von Schmidt that was quickly dismissed. Two weeks later, the couple pursued criminal charges through the Polk County District Attorney's office. The Useltons testified that they had been tricked into entering a buyout agreement with Mr. Von Schmidt. However, testimony from Jeremy Robin, consulting director at the international accounting firm BDO, revealed that Mr. Von Schmidt had paid the Useltons more than fairly and in fact was ahead of his scheduled payments by $150,000. Also testifying for Mr. Von Schmidt was Polk County real estate lawyer Malcolm Jones, who educated jurors on the intricacies of complex real estate transactions, Pam Pierce of Polk County Abstract Inc., and Polk County Clerk Schelana Hock. "The jury resoundingly rejected the allegations against Mr. Von Schmidt," Mr. Lewis said. "The Useltons sullied his good name and cost him dearly due to their unconscionable greed." Mr. Von Schmidt intends to proceed with his current and proposed development projects in Polk County, as well as several projects in Harris County. For more information, contact Chip Lewis at Chip Lewis Law at 713-523-7878 or [email protected] or [email protected]. SOURCE Chip Lewis Law TEANECK, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of parents in Palm Bay, Florida will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school math and reading program, is opening its third learning center in Brevard County and first in Palm Bay. "We are excited to bring the first Kumon Math and Reading Center to Palm Bay," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "Kumon continues to prove that it's a time-tested learning method that helps children reach their maximum potential. We are looking forward to helping as many children in the Palm Bay community discover a love of learning." Kumon's Presence in Florida: 13,575 subject enrollments at 84 Kumon Math and Reading Centers First center opened in 1995 40 percent increase in number of centers opened in last ten years 48 percent increase in subject enrollments in last ten years The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance children's math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life. To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com. About Kumon Math & Reading Centers: Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more. About the Kumon Franchise Business Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ. SOURCE Kumon Related Links http://kumon.com Thank you for the much-needed and timely editorial about the frivolous legislation being proposed ; a waste of our tax dollars and the legislature's time. Just because the majority party can; meanwhile, refusing to effect meaningful change needed and requested by the citizens of Iowa. This is a prime example of why many well -reasoned Iowa voters strongly think that our legislature should meet every two years. The monetary savings would be significant and,hopefully, our state representatives would learn the skills of time-management and prioritization. Obviously, it is not currently on display in Des Moines this session. TEANECK, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of additional parents in Greater Portland will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school math and reading program, is expanding in Greater Portland with the opening of Kumon Math and Reading of Portland-Hollywood. Portland was recently recognized as one of Money Magazine's six best big cities, while also earning honors as the best in the West. The growth and popularity of Portland makes it an ideal location for Kumon's expansion. "Kumon has experienced a great deal of success in Greater Portland for over 20 years," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "As the demand for Kumon continues, our main goal and commitment remains to provide as many children with an academic advantage and love for learning." Kumon's Presence in Greater Portland 2,206 subject enrollments at 14 centers First center opened in 1993 35 percent increase in numbers of centers opened in last 10 years 51 percent increase in subject enrollments in last 10 years The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance children's math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life. To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com. About Kumon Math & Reading Centers: Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more. About the Kumon Franchise Business Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ. SOURCE Kumon Related Links http://kumon.com TEANECK, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of parents in Dunedin, Florida will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school math and reading program, is expanding in the Tampa Bay area with the opening of a new learning center in Dunedin. There are 17 Kumon Math and Reading Centers in the Tampa Bay area, including four in Pinellas County. The school district in Pinellas County is the seventh largest in Florida and 26th largest in the nation. "A great deal of emphasis is placed on education in Pinellas County as many of the schools offer opportunities for academically advanced and gifted individuals," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "We are excited to provide even more students in the area with an opportunity to receive an academic advantage while developing a love for learning." Kumon's Presence in Tampa Bay 2,753 subject enrollments at 17 centers First center opened in 1998 37 percent increase in number of centers in the last ten years 59 percent increase in subject enrollments in the last ten years The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance children's math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life. To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com. About Kumon Math & Reading Centers: Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more. About the Kumon Franchise Business Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ. SOURCE Kumon Related Links http://kumon.com MANCHESTER, England, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The aviation industry will gather in Las Vegas next week (14 and 16 February) at the 10th annual Routes Americas conference to plan new flights in North and South America. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150730/250177LOGO ) Routes Americas brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to develop new air services. It moves to a new city every year to highlight the diverse aviation markets across the Americas. The Las Vegas event will be the largest to date with 820 delegates taking part in 2,700 meetings. Las Vegas is the ideal destination for Routes Americas because the tourism and convention industries are the bedrock of the local economy. Nearly half of Las Vegas' 42.9 million annual visitors travel by air and the airport generates $30 billion in local economic impact. The city held more than 21,000 meetings, trade shows and conventions in 2016 which supported 65,000 jobs. McCarran International Airport and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) will host Routes Americas 2017. The leading airlines that will attend include American Airlines, Air Canada, Aeromexico, Delta Air Lines, jetBlue, Latam and United Airlines. Around 100 airlines, 260 airports and 40 tourism authorities are expected in total. The latest issues and challenges facing the aviation industry will be debated at the event's Strategy Summit. The high profile speakers include Brian Hedberg, director of the Office of International Aviation at the US Department of Transport; Roger Dow, president and CEO of US Travel Association; and Peter Cerda, Regional Vice President of International Air Transport Association. This will be the second time that LVCVA and McCarran International Airport have brought a Routes event to the city - the benefits of hosting World Routes 2013 led to the decision to bid for Routes Americas. Las Vegas gained more than 120 weekly flights with an estimated annual economic impact of $440 million in direct visitor spending in the year after the event. "The US aviation market is the busiest in the world and it is expected to grow to 904 million passengers a year by 2025. Hosting Routes Americas will help Las Vegas to attract more airline capacity and achieve its growth targets," said Steven Small, brand director of Routes. "We are excited to welcome yet another Routes event to Las Vegas. World Routes 2013 was an exceptional opportunity for airline executives and high-level decision-makers to experience first-hand the features and benefits of McCarran International Airport," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation. "As a result, we increased air service and visitation to our community, but McCarran hasn't rested on those laurels. Routes Americas attendees will see how we have continued to evaluate airport infrastructure and operations and implemented ways to enhance customer service, maximize efficiencies and increase flexibility." "Tourism is the driving force of the Las Vegas economy and ample and efficient air service is crucial to maintain and grow our tourism base," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "Hosting industry-leading events such as Routes Americas allows us to showcase the destination and the business activity taking place to those who impact future. Routes is a critical component in reinforcing to airline carriers that they can grow market share and fill all sections of their planes with routes to Las Vegas." More information about Routes can be found at routesonline.com Routes Americas 2017, 14-16 February, ARIA Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. Notes to Editors A press conference will be held at the ARIA Resort and Casino at 9am on 15 February. Please contact Karen Reeves for more details. on 15 February. Please contact for more details. Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of new air services. Five 'regional' route development forums are held between February and June in the Americas, Asia , Europe and Africa , with the flagship World Routes event taking place in September. http://www.routesonline.com , and , with the flagship World Routes event taking place in September. http://www.routesonline.com The events revolve around pre-scheduled meetings and an exhibition and conference which are delivered in partnership with host stakeholders. Hosts tend to be a collaboration between airports, tourism authorities and investment partners (the bidding process takes place two to three years before the event takes place). Routes was founded in 1995 and is part of the EMEA division of UBM plc. For further information contact: Karen Reeves Communications & Content Marketing Manager Routes, UBM EMEA T: +44-(0)-1612-342-721 M: +44-(0)-7966-405 105 E: [email protected] SOURCE Routes ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research firm Kalorama Information said the last FDA statement on lab developed tests (LDTs) provided no clarity on regulatory intentions, setting up the FDA under the new administration to act in the way it wishes. Uncertainty about the regulation of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) is an ongoing major issue for clinical laboratories, and this uncertainty continues as the FDA issued a discussion paper on LDTs this month. It has been over two years since the FDA issued a draft guidance on regulation of LDTs, plus a second guidance document on FDA notification and medical device reporting for LDTs. The proposals in the guidance on regulation of LDTs were controversial, and were opposed by the laboratory community. In November 2016, in the wake of uncertainty following the presidential election, the FDA announced that it would delay finalizing the draft guidance on LDTs. On January 13, 2017, the FDA issued a "Discussion Paper on Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)." This discussion paper synthesizes feedback that the FDA received on the 2014 draft guidances, and proposes a prospective oversight framework. Some of the proposals in the discussion paper include "grandfathering" LDTs (except when required to protect public health), exempting certain categories of new or significantly modified LDTs, reduced time-frame for phasing in regulation of LDTs with risk-based and phased-in oversight, evidence standards, third-party review, clinical collaboratives, transparency, quality system requirements, and post-market surveillance. Kalorama Information is a New York City-based IVD market research firm. It covered molecular diagnostics in its report, The World Market for Molecular Diagnostics, 7th Edition. In that report, Kalorama said the LDT market is an important driver of molecular sales of probes and other reagents purchased from IVD manufacturers for use in tests that labs create for themselves and some large companies market to smaller labs as a service product. It also has some effect on instrument sales for molecular diagnostics equipment. "Since the final FDA paper of the Obama administration gave no definitive answer on regulation, maybe LDTs are here to stay as increased oversight is not likely in the new admin," said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. "That's good and bad for molecular diagnostic companies, according to our report. On one hand LDTs provide income to diagnostic companies, though on the other hand they may have preferred to market packaged kits into labs." The FDA's discussion paper on LDTs can be found at the following link: FDA Discussion Paper on Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs). In the discussion paper, the FDA states: "In the absence of issuing final guidance and at the request of stakeholders, we feel it is our responsibility to share our synthesis of all the feedback we have received, with the hope that it advances public discussion on future LDT oversight." This discussion paper is not a substitute for a final FDA guidance, and it is not possible at this time to predict what the final LDT regulations will be. Also, it is impossible to predict when this uncertainty will end. A Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) paper provides more discussion on the FDA's latest statements. Kalorama Information's The World Market for Molecular Diagnostics, 7th Edition provides information on several segments of molecular testing, as well as geographic breakouts of the market and market share by category of test. Competitive analysis and profiles of companies is also provided. About Kalorama Information Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com. We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog on our company website. Please link any media or news references to our reports or data to http://www.kaloramainformation.com/. Press Contact: Bruce Carlson 212 807 2262 [email protected] SOURCE Kalorama Information Related Links http://www.kaloramainformation.com SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium Technologies announced Spotify has implemented the Lithium Reach social media marketing solution. Building on Spotify's use of Lithium to grow its base of superfans and manage 30 Twitter handles across the globe, Spotify has added Lithium Reach to ensure they deliver a cohesive experience to customers across social marketing and support. Leveraging Lithium Reach, Spotify is now able to easily manage global coordination, share calendars, and create more visibility across various campaigns and assets. And with Lithium Response, Spotify can quickly answer customer questions at scale and personalize engagement in "Random Acts of Kindness" to surprise and delight followers. For example, Spotify received overwhelmingly positive customer feedback by proactively answering support questions with songs. The award-winning Spotify customer support team also uses Lithium to provide one seamless customer experience via Spotify Community. The Lithium-powered community is the ultimate digital destination where Spotify users can get help, share ideas and discuss music. With more than 6 million members, the Spotify Community gives passionate members a place to interact with other music fans and Spotify super users (@AskRockStars) who love helping other members. To date, the community has received more than 21,900 accepted answers. Download our Lithium Spotify Playlist here. About Lithium: Lithium builds trusted relationships between the world's best brands and their customers, helping people get answers and share their experiences. Customers in more than 34 countries rely on Lithium to help them connect, engage, and understand their total community. With more than 100 million monthly visits over all Lithium communities and 750 million online profiles scored by Klout, Lithium has one of the largest digital footprints in the world. Using that data and the company's software, Lithium customers boost sales, reduce service costs, spark innovation, and build long-term brand loyalty and advocacy. To find out how Lithium can transform your business, and to share the experience enjoyed by 300 other leading brands around the world, visit www.lithium.com, join our community at community.lithium.com, or follow us on Twitter @LithiumTech. Lithium is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco. The Lithium logo is a registered Service Mark of Lithium Technologies. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Lithium Technology Corp. Related Links http://www.lithium.com "The Dickey's Barbecue Pit family congratulates Owner/Operator Jane Wabs on opening her third Dickey's location in the state of California," says Renee Roozen. "Dickey's is growing rapidly nationwide and we are proud to continue our expansion with existing Owner/Operators." Doors open this Thursday and guests can enjoy the grand opening events over the next four weeks: Thirsty ThursdaysAll guests will receive a free iconic Big Yellow Cub with a reusable travel lid and straw. The first 50 guests will receive a taste of Dickey's Butcher Taco of the month, the Buffalo & Bleu. Philanthropy Fridays "You Give, We Give", guests who donate to Dickey's charitable foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, will receive a gift card in appreciation for supporting Dickey's foundation. Uniformed first responders also receive 50 percent off their meal. Kids Eat Free All Day Every Sunday with the purchase of a $10 dine-in meal per adult. To find the Dickey's Barbecue Pit nearest you, click here. Wabs' with her business partners, Chris James and Angela Pasten, have opened three Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations in the past year in California. After trying Dickey's delicious pit-smoked barbecue, the trio decided to invest in the brand and serve communities throughout Southern California. "We have had such great success with our other two locations," says Wabs. "We are excited to bring slow-smoked barbecue to the residents of Rancho Santa Margarita." Residents of Rancho Santa Margarita can find their newest Dickey's location at 30451 Avenida de las Flores Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. The phone number is 949-635-8100. Find Dickey's Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey with the goal of authentic slow-smoked barbecue. Today, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant living up to the company tagline, "We Speak Barbecue." The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers a quality selection of signature meats, savory sides, tangy barbecue sauce and free kids' meals every Sunday. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 600 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" and ranked in the top ten of Franchise Times' "Fast and Serious." Dickey's Barbecue Pit was recognized for the third year by Nation's Restaurant News as a "Top 10 Growth Chain" and by Technomic as the "Fastest-growing restaurant chain in the country." For more information, visit www.dickeys.com or for barbecue franchise opportunities call 866.340.6188. Media Contact: Michelle George / Callie Head [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue Related Links http://www.dickeys.com DENVER, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MassRoots, Inc. (OTCQB:MSRT), one of the leading technology platforms for the cannabis industry, announced today that the Company will host a shareholder update call on Monday, February 13, 2017 at 4:15 pm EST. During the call, management will provide insight on recent and upcoming developments at the Company and within the evolving cannabis marketplace. In order to participate in the conference call, please dial (toll free) (877) 407-8293. Please use conference pass code 13655333. For international callers, please dial (201) 689-8349. An audio replay of the conference call will be available in the investor relations section of the Company's website following completion of the call for approximately 2 weeks. To listen to the replay, please dial (toll free) (877) 660-6853 or (international) (201) 612-7415. About MassRoots MassRoots is one of the largest technology platforms for the regulated cannabis industry. The Company's mobile apps enable consumers to make educated cannabis purchasing decisions through community-drive reviews. MassRoots is proud to be affiliated with the leading businesses and organizations in the cannabis industry, including the ArcView Group and National Cannabis Industry Association. For more information, please visit MassRoots.com/Investors. Forward-looking Statements Certain matters discussed in this announcement contain statements, estimates and projections about the growth of MassRoots' business, potential partnerships, new features, and related business strategy. Such statements, estimates and projections may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time. MassRoots undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The recipient of this information is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE MassRoots, Inc. Related Links http://www.MassRoots.com HOUSTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Juan C. Lopez-Mattei has been named by Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars as one of the top doctors in Houston, TX for 2017. The Rising Stars edition looks to the future of medicine by recognizing outstanding physicians who have been fully licensed to practice medicine in their respective specialty for approximately 10 years or less. Dr. Juan C. Lopez-Mattei These doctors have made noteworthy achievements early in their careers and are rising through the ranks of their field. While approximately 5 percent of the physicians within the respective state or region are named to Super Doctors, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. Dr. Lopez-Mattei joined as faculty in the Cardiology Department of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2013. He has the highest level of training that can be achieved in echocardiography and cardiovascular MRI (level III). Currently he is an Assistant Professor in Medicine and Radiology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a full-time faculty in the Department of Cardiology. He is Co-Director of MD Anderson's Cardiac Radiology Services. This program provides expertise to perform cardiac CT and MRI for cancer patients. SOURCE Super Doctors SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, members of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the nation's largest pro-Israel organization, will join with Texas state legislators Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-4) and Rep. Phil King (R-61) to lobby elected officials in support of legislation that prohibits state entities from investing in or engaging with companies that Boycott, Divest from, or Sanction (BDS) Israel. The anti-BDS bills, HB 89 and SB 134, enjoy bipartisan support in the legislature and have the backing of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The Citizens Advocacy Day will kick off at 9:00 AM at the Old Supreme Court, Room 3N3 in the State Capitol. Following remarks from local leaders, pro-Israel Texans from around the state will fan out across the Capitol to lobby in support of the bills. In addition, while in Austin, CUFI staffers will hand deliver letters authored by the group's San Antonio based founder and Chairman, Pastor John Hagee, to every member of the legislature. The letters state in part, "Israel is among our closest allies in the world. The Jewish state shares our values, and its soldiers fight bravely to keep at bay the same radical Islamic terrorists that have perpetrated attacks in the US, Europe and elsewhere around the world." In the letters, Hagee also notes the close economic relationship his home state enjoys with Israel, "in 2015 alone, Texan exports to Israel totaled just under a half billion dollars. Standing with Israel is both the right thing to do and in our own self-interest." The Texas legislation is just the latest in a string of state-level anti-BDs bills that have received strong support from CUFI. The group is also actively working to advance legislation in Montana, Nevada and Wyoming among several others. With more than 3.3 million members, Christians United for Israel is the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States and one of the leading Christian grassroots movements in the world. CUFI spans all fifty states and reaches millions with its message. Each year CUFI holds hundreds of pro-Israel events in cities around the country. And each July, thousands of pro-Israel Christians gather in Washington, D.C. to participate in the CUFI Washington Summit and make their voices heard in support of Israel and the Jewish people. SOURCE Christians United for Israel Related Links http://cufi.org SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesosphere, creators of DC/OS, the premier platform for building, deploying, and scaling microservices and big data applications, is capping a year of dramatic growth with the announcement today of the addition of two new executives to help fuel the company's growth. Peter Guagenti has joined the company as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Yrieix Garnier has assumed the role of Vice President of Products. Mesosphere has more than doubled revenue in the last year, and now has over 200 employees and over 100 enterprise customers. The rapid growth is driven by the continued explosion of cloud computing, big data, microservices and containerization. Verizon, Autodesk, Bloomberg and many other leading companies now use Mesosphere DC/OS to bring cloud capabilities to their datacenters and to help accelerate their digital transformation. Similarly, four of the top 10 banks in North America, three of the top five cable providers, and three of the 10 largest telcos all now use Mesosphere enterprise software. Investors have been similarly impressed, leading to a $73.5 million Series C funding round last March. Earlier this week, the company announced a global reseller agreement with HPE to help customers transform and modernize their data centers with hybrid IT solutions that span traditional infrastructure, private, public, and managed cloud services. To help expand awareness of the powerful capabilities of Mesosphere DC/OS, the company brought Guagenti on board as CMO. A 20+ year technology and marketing veteran, he recently helped scale two other successful open source companies: Acquia, which provides commercial support, services and cloud infrastructure for the popular open source web experience development tool Drupal; and NGINX, which powers more than half of the world's most popular web applications. Guagenti has also worked for a host of other well-known brands during his time as an agency and consulting leader, including work for Google, Microsoft, Apple, SAP and eBay. "Peter is a strong leader who has a track-record of building strong, successful businesses. He brings a passion for marketing and a unique understanding of what it takes to win as an open source company," said Florian Leibert, co-founder and CEO at Mesosphere. "With a proven history leading global and cross-functional marketing organizations, Peter will energize our teams and help us better share our story of helping the world's best technology professionals succeed with containerization, big data, artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud infrastructure." "I'm excited to join Mesosphere as I believe the company has transformative technology and a dedication to dramatically evolving how we create and operate modern applications," said Guagenti. "In my career, I've worked with industry leaders, many of whom began where Mesosphere is today. I look forward to working with this amazing team, and with our community, to help develop the brand, bring new customers and partners into the fold, and do my part to help make it easier to build and scale the kind of applications that are changing our world." In addition, Yrieix Garnier is joining Mesosphere as VP Products. Yrieix has nearly 20 years of industry experience. He most recently comes from Tintri, a provider of virtualized and cloud solutions. Previously, while at Hewlett Packard Software, he led projects to transform and modernize the product line to support HP Cloud solutions. Garnier also held multiple product leadership roles at Mercury Interactive both in EMEA and US headquarters. "We're focused on building an organization with world-class products and the addition of Yrieix is a large step in our evolution," said Tobi Knaup, co-founder and CTO at Mesosphere. "His ability to bring the customer's perspective to product definition, and to successfully guide our products to market are major assets for the company." About Mesosphere Mesosphere is leading the enterprise transformation toward distributed computing and hybrid cloud. We combine the rich capability you get from public cloud providers with the freedom and control of choosing your own infrastructure. Mesosphere DC/OS is the premier platform for building, deploying, and elastically scaling modern applications and big data. DC/OS makes running containers, data services, and microservices easy across your own hardware and cloud instances. Mesosphere was founded in 2013 by the architects of hyperscale infrastructures at Airbnb and Twitter and the co-creator of Apache Mesos. Mesosphere is headquartered in San Francisco with additional offices in New York and Hamburg, Germany. Mesosphere's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Microsoft. SOURCE Mesosphere Related Links http://mesosphere.com/ Here are Republicans, state and national, working for the common person: Minimum wage increase: Linda Upmeyer said is wasn't needed. Health care for women: It did not fit our legislators beliefs. Sorry women. Care for our vulnerable population: Oh well, they can get by with less. Dodd-Frank law: Poor banks couldn't make enough money. Fiduciary rules: Financial investors need to make more money. Who cares about our money? National security: We have Steve Bannon and General Flynn. Maybe those of us who believe in gun control need to be armed to protect ourselves from our own government. Health care: At least we know our legislators will be covered - on the cheap. Good luck to the rest of us. Education: Wait until Betsy Devos defunds public schools. She calls them " a dead end". Environment: With Scott Pruitt, what's more importa! nt , environment or fossil fuel companies. Sorry environment. Oh it appears we also need more coal debris in our streams. Welcome immigrants: They want us now to be suspicious of our own neighbors. Sorry, no more neighborly love. At this rate we won't need to worry about what we leave for the next generation. There won't be anything left. Is this your government working for you? Continue to voice your concerns to your legislators. Lissa Holloway, Britt FREEHOLD, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation (NYSE:MNR) reported Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders of $6,156,000 or $0.09 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2016 as compared to $4,787,000 or $0.08 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2015 representing an increase per share of 13%. Core Funds from Operations (Core FFO) were $13,857,000 or $0.20 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2016 as compared to $11,012,000 or $0.17 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2015 representing an increase in Core FFO per share of 18%. Adjusted Funds from Operations (AFFO), for the three months ended December 31, 2016 were $12,939,000 or $0.19 per diluted share versus $10,725,000 or $0.17 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2015 representing an increase in AFFO per share of 12%. A summary of significant financial information for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows: Three Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 Rental Revenue $ 23,281,000 $ 19,065,000 Reimbursement Revenue $ 3,901,000 $ 3,194,000 Net Operating Income (NOI) (1) $ 22,980,000 $ 18,656,000 Total Expenses $ 13,263,000 $ 11,167,000 Dividend and Interest Income $ 1,292,000 $ 1,185,000 Gain on Sale of Securities Transactions, net $ 806,000 $ 8,000 Net Income $ 9,854,000 $ 6,939,000 Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders $ 6,156,000 $ 4,787,000 Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders Per Diluted Common Share $ 0.09 $ 0.08 Core FFO (1) $ 13,857,000 $ 11,012,000 Core FFO per Diluted Common Share (1) $ 0.20 $ 0.17 AFFO (1) $ 12,939,000 $ 10,725,000 AFFO per Diluted Common Share (1) $ 0.19 $ 0.17 Dividends Declared per Common Share $ 0.16 $ 0.16 Weighted Avg. Diluted Common Shares Outstanding 69,830,000 62,949,000 A summary of significant balance sheet information as of December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016 is as follows: December 31, 2016 September 30, 2016 Net Real Estate Investments $ 1,069,045,000 $ 1,022,483,000 Securities Available for Sale at Fair Value $ 74,321,000 $ 73,605,000 Total Assets $ 1,209,680,000 $ 1,223,486,000 Fixed Rate Mortgage Notes Payable, net of Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs $ 505,574,000 $ 477,476,000 Loans Payable $ 76,000,000 $ 80,791,000 Total Shareholders' Equity $ 611,138,000 $ 597,858,000 Michael P. Landy, President and CEO, commented on the results for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, "This was another record quarter for Monmouth and represents an excellent start to fiscal 2017. We are pleased to report continued strength across multiple fronts. During the quarter we: Increased our occupancy rate to 100%, representing a 120 basis points increase over the prior year period and 40 basis points increase over the prior quarter Increased our per share AFFO to $0.19 , representing a 12% increase over the prior year period and a 6% increase sequentially , representing a 12% increase over the prior year period and a 6% increase sequentially Increased our Net Operating Income (NOI) 23% over the prior year period Increased our Same Property NOI 2.4% on a GAAP basis and 3.1% on a cash basis over the prior year period Acquired two new Class A built-to-suit properties comprising 552,000 square feet, for an aggregate cost of $56.1 million Grew our acquisition pipeline to nine brand-new Class A build-to-suit properties, representing 2.34 million square feet, for a total purchase price of approximately $250.5 million million Increased our gross leasable area (GLA) 15% to 16.6 million square feet over the prior year period. Our GLA is expected to grow to 18.9 million square feet upon the completion of the above acquisitions Renewed five of thirteen leases scheduled to expire in Fiscal 2017, representing a weighted average lease term of 5.9 years. These five leases consist of 719,000 square feet and result in a 2.7% increase in GAAP rents. One lease was renewed on a short term basis and the remaining seven leases are currently under discussion Generated approximately $806,000 in net realized gains in addition to the $10.2 million in unrealized gains we held at quarter end on our REIT securities investments in net realized gains in addition to the in unrealized gains we held at quarter end on our REIT securities investments Redeemed all of our 7.625% Series A Preferred Stock for $54.0 million which was funded with a portion of the proceeds from our recent $135 million issue of 6.125% Series C Preferred Stock." Mr. Landy stated, "We have generated double-digit AFFO per-share growth in each of the prior three years, and with our first quarter AFFO per share up 12% from the prior year, fiscal 2017 is on track to continue this very favorable trend. Our property portfolio is 100% occupied, reflecting the mission-critical nature of our properties." "Looking forward, we have entered into agreements to acquire nine brand-new, Class A build-to-suit industrial properties, representing approximately 2.34 million square feet, for a total purchase price of approximately $250.5 million. These properties are expected to generate annualized rental revenue of approximately $16.5 million and will benefit from an average lease term of approximately 13.5 years. Six of the nine purchase commitments, consisting of approximately 1.7 million square feet, or 72%, are leased to investment-grade tenants or their subsidiaries. Subject to satisfactory due diligence, we anticipate closing these transactions upon completion of construction and occupancy over the next five quarters. The Company is very well capitalized to continue building upon the substantial growth that we have achieved to date." Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation will host its First Quarter FY 2017 Financial Results Webcast and Conference Call on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Senior management will discuss the results, current market conditions and future outlook. The Company's First Quarter FY 2017 financial results being released herein will be available on the Company's website at www.mreic.reit in the Investor Relations section, under Filings and Reports. To participate in the Webcast, select the 1Q2017 Webcast and Earnings Call "Link to Webcast" on the homepage of the Company's website at www.mreic.reit, in the Highlights section, which is located towards the bottom of the homepage. Interested parties can also participate via conference call by calling toll free 877-510-5852 (domestically) or 412-902-4138 (internationally). The replay of the conference call will be available at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 9, 2017. It will be available until May 1, 2017, and can be accessed by dialing toll free 877-344-7529 (domestically) and 412-317-0088 (internationally) and entering the passcode 10097752. A transcript of the call and the webcast replay will be available at the Company's website on the Investor Relations homepage, www.mreic.reit. Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation, founded in 1968, is one of the oldest public equity REITs in the U.S. The Company specializes in single-tenant, net-leased industrial properties, subject to long-term leases, primarily to investment-grade tenants. Monmouth Real Estate is a fully-integrated and self-managed real estate company, whose property portfolio consists of 100 properties containing a total of approximately 16.6 million rentable square feet, geographically diversified across 30 states. In addition, the Company owns a portfolio of REIT securities. Certain statements included in this press release which are not historical facts may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve various risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the Company can provide no assurance those expectations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from expectations are contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and described from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Notes: (1) Non-U.S. GAAP Information: FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") as net income applicable to common shareholders, excluding gains or losses from sales of depreciable assets, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization. We define Core FFO as FFO plus acquisition costs. We define AFFO as Core FFO excluding lease termination income, gains or losses on securities transactions, stock based compensation expense, depreciation of corporate office tenant improvements, amortization of deferred financing costs, non-recurring other expense, the effect of non-cash U.S. GAAP straight-line rent adjustments and less recurring capital expenditures. We define recurring capital expenditures as all capital expenditures, excluding capital expenditures related to expansions at our current locations or capital expenditures that are incurred in conjunction with obtaining a new lease or a lease renewal. We define NOI as recurring rental and reimbursement revenues less real estate and other operating expenses. FFO, Core FFO and AFFO per diluted common share are defined as FFO, Core FFO and AFFO divided by weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. FFO, Core FFO and AFFO per diluted common share, as well as NOI, should be considered as supplemental measures of operating performance used by real estate investment trusts (REITs). FFO, Core FFO and AFFO per diluted common share exclude historical cost depreciation as an expense and may facilitate the comparison of REITs which have different cost basis. However, other REITs may use different methodologies to calculate FFO, Core FFO and AFFO and, accordingly, our FFO, Core FFO and AFFO may not be comparable to all other REITs. The items excluded from FFO, Core FFO and AFFO per diluted common share are significant components in understanding the Company's financial performance. FFO, Core FFO and AFFO per diluted common share (A) do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; (B) should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities; and (C) are not alternatives to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. FFO, Core FFO and AFFO per diluted common share, as well as NOI, as calculated by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other REITs. The following is a reconciliation of the Company's U.S. GAAP Net Income to the Company's FFO, Core FFO and AFFO for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015: Three Months Ended 12/31/2016 12/31/2015 Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders $6,156,000 $4,787,000 Plus: Depreciation Expense (excluding Corporate Office Tenant Improvements) 6,954,000 5,567,000 Plus: Amortization of Intangible Assets 268,000 323,000 Plus: Amortization of Capitalized Lease Costs 206,000 189,000 Plus: Loss on Sale of Real Estate Investment 95,000 - FFO Attributable to Common Shareholders 13,679,000 10,866,000 Plus: Acquisition Costs 178,000 146,000 Core FFO Attributable to Common Shareholders 13,857,000 11,012,000 Plus: Amortization of Financing Costs 281,000 234,000 Plus: Stock Compensation Expense 100,000 105,000 Plus: Depreciation of Corporate Office Tenant Improvements 39,000 28,000 Less: Gain on Sale of Securities Transactions, net (806,000) (8,000) Less: Effect of Non-cash U.S. GAAP Straight-line Rent Adjustment (343,000) (310,000) Less: Recurring Capital Expenditures (189,000) (336,000) AFFO Attributable to Common Shareholders $12,939,000 $10,725,000 The following are the Cash Flows provided (used) by Operating, Investing and Financing Activities for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015: Three Months Ended 12/31/2016 12/31/2015 Operating Activities $14,153,000 $11,637,000 Investing Activities (55,150,000) (55,597,000) Financing Activities (24,029,000) 44,813,000 SOURCE Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation Related Links http://mreic.com/ The article revealed that Verizon Communications received more than $107 million in small business contracts in 2015, and that the Small Business Administration (SBA) counted contracts with 150 Fortune 500 firms towards its small business contracting requirements in the same year. Josh Harkinson cites the fact that small businesses are excluded from the majority of Federal discretionary spending as further evidence that the U.S government favors corporations over small businesses. Additionally, the article exposed the methods by which corporations are receiving small business contracts, bringing to light the revelation that large Corporations are receiving billions in small business contracts through small businesses they acquire and don't recertify as large businesses. "Corporate behemoths that acquire smaller firms may simply ignore a requirement to recertify the size of the firms they acquire (the Verizon contracts were awarded to a subsidiary, Terremark Federal Group, that Verizon purchased in 2011)." Josh Harkinson started writing for Mother Jones in 2006, specializing in tech, labor, drug policy and the environment. His article made a huge splash in congress, indicated after its release by the congressional extension of the Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test Program (CSPTP), a 28 year old Pentagon test program that removes all transparency regarding federal contracting within the program, as well as all penalties for non-compliance with Federal contracting law. On receiving his award from the ASBL Josh Harkinson stated: "I am honored to accept this award from the American Small Business League. Through FOIA requests and lawsuits, the ASBL shines a spotlight on federal small business contracting. This information is of vital importance to journalists and anyone who wants to understand the often opaque world of federal procurement." SOURCE American Small Business League POINT PLEASANT, W.Va., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week independent production company, Small Town Monsters, launched a crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter.com to fund the production of their Mothman documentary. In less than two hours the film, titled The Mothman of Point Pleasant, had reached 107% of its asking goal of ninety five hundred dollars. In the days since, the project has gone on to garner thousands of dollars more, ballooning to over 160% of its goal. Small Town Monsters has turned to Kickstarter twice before, and while both campaigns were successful, this campaign has outdistanced anything before it. The company is run by husband and wife team, Seth and Adrienne Breedlove out of their home office in Wadsworth, Ohio. The official poster Director, Seth Breedlove and Cinematographer, Zac Palmisano The crew that works on the films is a varied mix of young and old cryptid enthusiasts from around the country. The team has been toiling away on "Mothman" since last September, driving back and forth between their headquarters in Ohio and filming locations in West Virginia. The Kickstarter campaign is offering a Mothman statue (designed and sculpted by Jean St Jean and produced by CreatuReplica) as one of its primary rewards. Other rewards include getting your name in the credits of both films, a Mothman t-shirt created by Sam Shearon, an exclusive cryptid poster by Matt Harris, DVD copies of the films and much more. The campaign also offers the opportunity for backers to watch a pre-release copy of "Mothman" ahead of its official release this June. The Mothman of Point Pleasant will tell the truly bizarre story of thirteen months that changed the town of Point Pleasant forever. It promises the first in-depth, chronological look at not just the Mothman-creature encounters but all of the unusual activity which took place around the town and seemed to culminate with the collapse of the Silver Bridge. The Silver Bridge incident claimed the lives of 46 people in 1967, an event which still affects the community to this day. Invasion on Chestnut Ridge, the second film slated for release from Small Town Monsters in 2017, is the first STM documentary to focus on UFOs. The documentary tells the strange tale of the Chestnut Ridge, a one hundred mile stretch of land where eerie events have been transpiring for decades. The town at the heart of this story is the rural community of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania where, in December of 1965, many local residents claimed to see a UFO crash in a nearby forest. Since 1965, events have transpired on "the ridge" that truly stretch the boundaries of our reality. Previous Small Town Monsters films include Beast of Whitehall and Boggy Creek Monster. Both films recently took honors at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards. The entire series is available on DVD through their online storefront (http://shop.smalltownmonsters.com) as well as streaming through Vimeo OnDemand, Amazon Instant Video and soon, iTunes and Google Play. To learn more about the Kickstarter, visit the page at The Mothman of Point Pleasant and Invasion on Chestnut Ridge Contact: Seth Breedlove 330-685-6758 [email protected] SOURCE Small Town Monsters INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- M.S. WOODS REAL ESTATE, LLC has announced the winner of its spring scholarship essay competition: Nice Loufoua of Boise, Idaho. Entrants were asked to write about the importance of home and community in their lives, particularly in preparing them for higher education and the world beyond. To read Loufoua's winning essay, visit the m.s.Woods blog. As the winner, Loufoua will receive $1500 toward her educational expenses. Nice Loufoua on Campus Loufoua's experiences immigrating to the United States from the Congo in central North Africa inspired her to pursue a career in Social Work. She is currently working towards a bachelor's degree in that field at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. With the knowledge gained from her education, she plans to work helping incoming immigrants and especially for agencies like World Relief that relocate refugees facing persecution in their home country. This marks the second year of many to come for the M.S. WOODS' spring scholarship essay competition. "We started this program to encourage students to consider how the home or community they grew up in got them to where they are today," CEO Mike Woods said. "Education is important not only for the individual, but also for everyone around them. We decided to do our part by providing college financial assistance for one hardworking, well-spoken student, and will continue to do so each year." "Nice's essay was beautifully written, but it also highlighted her determination and her commitment to creating a welcoming home environment for everyone including refugees," Woods added. The M.S. WOODS' spring scholarship is available to any current or prospective college student who is or will be attending an accredited U.S. institution. To learn more about this scholarship opportunity and upcoming deadlines, visit the M.S. WOODS' scholarship page. About M.S. WOODS REAL ESTATE, LLC M.S. WOODS REAL ESTATE, LLC, founded in Indianapolis in 1998, is committed to providing state-of-the-art training, technology, and a reliable client base for its agents. Its unique 100% commission plan ensures that agents keep as much of their sales as possible while providing superior service to buyers and sellers. CONTACT: Mary Boyer 1-317-578-3220 x 103 [email protected] www.mswoods.com SOURCE M.S. WOODS REAL ESTATE, LLC JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TriageLogic announces the implementation of myTriageChecklist for Multnomah County Health Department. Multnomah County Health Department was searching for a way to improve the consistency of the advice given to patients. MyTriageChecklist has been able to provide that consistency with the Schmitt-Thompson, electronic-based protocol checklist. Multnomah County Health Department Uses TriageLogic(R) to Streamline Patient Calls and Save Unnecessary ER Visits MyTriageChecklist is telephone triage software that helps manage daytime patient calls. Using the myTriageChecklist, a Multnomah County nurse is able to ask all the right questions and direct patients to the appropriate level of care quickly and accurately, while making sure that no symptom or issue is missed. Multnomah County Health Department is using TriageLogic's software to manage patient calls from their Primary Care Clinics, School-Based Health Centers, and the HIV Health Services Center. Multnomah began using the TriageLogic software in the spring of 2016. They have surveyed about 30 percent of patients who have called in since the implementation. The following are some of the results from the surveys: 79% were on hold for less than 2 minutes 78% of clients were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their phone call results 74% of patient concerns or questions were answered by the nurse 64% responded they would have gone to an Emergency Department or Urgent Care if they did not receive advice In addition to using the triage software, Multnomah County has incorporated TriageLogic's Learning Center into their new nurse orientation. Kellee Hollyman, RN, BSN, MN, Lead Clinical Implementation & Training Specialist at Multnomah County Health Department says, "I find the videos and course materials in the Learning Center to be a wealth of information." TriageLogic's Online Learning Center is available free of charge to telephone triage nurses and teams as an educational resource and practical training guide. Along with course videos, coursework includes class notes, related articles, and learning materials. Managers can also set-up teams and check on their individual nurse progress in the course. Multnomah County Health Department has found that overall patients like the new process. "Patients feel that it is well-organized and they are cared for," says Hollyman. For many patients, the call saved them an unnecessary trip to the ER or an urgent care center. About TriageLogic Founded in 2006, TriageLogic is a URAC accredited, physician-led provider of high-quality services and software for Tele-health. We integrate a unique blend of innovative communication solutions with medical expertise based on practical experience and a thorough understanding of the field. TriageLogic is a leading provider of top-quality triage technology and call center solutions. The TriageLogic group serves over 9,000 physicians and covers over 18 million lives nationwide. With over 10 years of experience and six customizable products, TriageLogic continues to partner with private practices, hospitals, and corporations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.TriageLogic.com or contact (855) 734-4463 for more information. About Multnomah County Health Department The Multnomah County Health Department services an average of 72,000 patients between their primary care clinics, dental clinics, and school-based health centers. Of the patients they treat, 85 percent are at or below the poverty line. Their clinics provide affordable healthcare to underserved, low-income and uninsured families. The Health Department's School-Based Health Centers are located in 13 schools. These health centers encourage access to care by being located in the schools and offering confidential care in a safe environment, regardless of insurance coverage and ability to pay. The HIV Health Services Center serves people in Multnomah County living with HIV. This center provides on-site primary health care, medical case management, mental health, nutrition, and a clinical pharmacist. Media Contact: Amy Smith [email protected] 3365292493 SOURCE TriageLogic Related Links https://triagelogic.com LISLE, Ill., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) today announced it has appointed Martin Ketelaar as vice president, investor relations effective February 13, 2017. In this role, Ketelaar will be responsible for developing and implementing Navistar's investor relations strategies, leading its investor marketing activities and managing relationships with the company's shareholders, analysts and overall financial community. Ketelaar has a 20-plus year background in investor relations, corporate finance and public accounting for publicly traded and privately held companies. He served as vice president of investor relations for Houston-based Quanex Building Products Corporation from 2012 through 2015. In 2013, he added the treasurer role at this industry-leading manufacturer of components sold to original equipment manufacturers in the building products industry. "I look forward to the broad expertise Marty Ketelaar will bring to Navistar at this important time in the company's history," said Walter Borst, CFO and executive vice president, Navistar. "Marty has deep and relevant experience working across the investment community. Our CEO, Troy Clarke, and I are confident he will be successful in effectively communicating our long-term value proposition to current and future shareholders." "I'm very excited to join Navistar and lead their investor relations efforts," said Ketelaar. "Navistar is a market leader in the truck and bus industry with a great brand name and outstanding products, and Troy Clarke, Walter Borst and the entire management team have done a terrific job positioning the company for success. I look forward to utilizing my skills and experiences in investor relations to communicate the Navistar story to the investment community." Ketelaar was vice president of investor relations and assistant treasurer at The ServiceMaster Company from 2007 to 2012. Prior to that he was vice president of investor relations at AmerUs Group Co. Ketelaar, a CPA, holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Iowa and an MBA in Business Administration from Drake University. He is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. About Navistar Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, proprietary diesel engines, and IC Bus brand school and commercial buses. An affiliate also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com. SOURCE Navistar International Corporation Related Links http://www.navistar.com (All dollar figures are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated) TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold") (TSX:NGD) (NYSE MKT:NGD) today announces that the company has entered into a binding letter agreement with Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") to sell the company's gold stream on the El Morro project to Goldcorp for $65 million cash (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will provide New Gold with additional liquidity as the company advances the construction of its Rainy River project, which is scheduled to commence production in September 2017. "Our interest in El Morro has generated significant value for our company over the last several years," stated Hannes Portmann, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The sale of the stream allows us to realize $65 million from an asset that is not a core part of our portfolio to support our key, near-term growth project at Rainy River." The total expenditures on El Morro by New Gold and its predecessor companies since the asset was first acquired has been less than $7 million. New Gold is proud that, including the $65 million payment for the stream, the company will have generated total proceeds of $205 million through a series of transactions related to El Morro over the last seven years. Goldcorp has been a great partner to New Gold at El Morro and the company wishes them continued success as they advance the property over the coming years. The Transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the negotiation of a definitive agreement. All required internal Goldcorp and New Gold approvals of the Transaction have been obtained. The Transaction is expected to close in February 2017. ABOUT NEW GOLD INC. New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company. The company has a portfolio of four producing assets and two significant development projects. The New Afton Mine in Canada, the Mesquite Mine in the United States, the Peak Mines in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro Mine in Mexico (which transitioned to residual leaching in 2016), provide the company with its current production base. In addition, New Gold owns 100% of the Rainy River and Blackwater projects located in Canada. New Gold's objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold expects to occur are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to targeted timing for start-up, production and commercial production of the Rainy River project; and the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, including the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions of and complete the Transaction. All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, New Gold's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), its Annual Information Form and its Technical Reports filed at www.sedar.com. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this news release are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold's operations; (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (3) the accuracy of New Gold's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Mexican peso and U.S. dollar being approximately consistent with current levels; (5) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) equipment, labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (7) arrangements with First Nations and other Aboriginal groups in respect of the Rainy River project being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (8) all required permits, licenses and authorizations, including the amendment to Schedule 2 of the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, being obtained from the relevant governments and other relevant stakeholders within the expected timelines; (9) the results of the feasibility study for the Rainy River project being realized; and (10) conditions to closing of the Transaction being satisfied in a timely manner. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: not realizing the potential benefits of the Transaction; significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for metals and other commodities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States, Australia and Mexico; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; changes in national and local government legislation in Canada, the United States, Australia and Mexico or any other country in which New Gold currently or may in the future carry on business; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates, including, but not limited to: in Canada, obtaining the necessary permits for the Rainy River project; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the uncertainties inherent to current and future legal challenges New Gold is or may become a party to; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves and mineral resources; competition; inherent uncertainties with cost estimates and estimated schedule for the construction and commencement of production at Rainy River as contemplated; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies including the feasibility studies for the Rainy River project; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of indigenous groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the amendment to Schedule 2 of the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations for the Rainy River project. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses and risks associated with the start of production of a mine, such as Rainy River, (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in New Gold's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE New Gold Inc. Related Links www.newgold.com BOSTON, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Nido Surgical, Inc., a development-stage medical device company focused on creating innovative solutions for beating heart surgery, has raised $1.3 million in a Series A financing led by Broadview Ventures (Boston, MA). The funds will be used to finance the development and First-In-Man studies of Nido Surgical' platform product, the CardioPort. Nido Surgical has also received a $1.4 million Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the National Institutes of Health to support this work. The CardioPort is a novel patented platform designed to enable video-endoscopic trans-cardiac surgical repairs inside the beating heart. Based on technology developed at Boston Children's Hospital, the CardioPort is designed to be inserted through small incisions in the chest and heart wall for intracardiac procedures. The device allows video-endoscopic visualization through a camera and light source encased in a bulb lens. The device body also includes a channel through which standard thoracoscopic/laparoscopic instruments and catheter-based device delivery systems may be inserted into the beating heart, and a fluid purging system to prevent air and debris from entering the bloodstream during instrument insertion. The initial clinical application for CardioPort is to repair congenital heart defects with 40,000 pediatric cases diagnosed each year in the US. The most common candidates include children with septal defects or "holes in their heart." The potential US market is 20,000 surgeries annually, and the European market is equal in size. In addition to Broadview Ventures, the initial round of the Series A financing was comprised of new and existing angel investors. Nido Surgical intends to raise a total of $3.5 million in the Series A round. Commenting on today's announcement, Farzad Parsaie, CEO of Nido Surgical said: "Because of the strong and innovative underlying research by the clinical team at Boston Children's Hospital, the CardioPort platform has the opportunity to transform high-risk "on-pump" cardiac surgeries to minimally-invasive "off-pump" procedures where the patients may benefit from improved outcomes and faster recovery. With the funding we have announced today we will be able to finalize device development, complete our preclinical validation, and launch the First-In-Man studies." Dr. Rick Jones, Director at Broadview Ventures said: "The investment we have made in Nido Surgical reflects our commitment to supporting companies with cutting edge technologies that have the potential to transform medical practice. We look forward to working with the company as they demonstrate the utility of the CardioPort in an initial clinical trial." About Nido Surgical: Nido Surgical, Inc., founded in 2015, is a development-stage medical device company that is developing the CardioPort, a novel platform designed to enable video-endoscopic trans-cardiac surgical repairs inside the beating heart, and trans-thoracic electrophysiology (EP) procedures based on patented technology developed at Boston Children's Hospital, and supported by research funded by NIH. Preclinical proof of concept has successfully been established in several large animal studies for creating and closing atrial and ventricular septal defects in the heart, as well as interventions on mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets and annuli. These studies have been published in prestigious medical journals. Nido Surgical was co-founded by Pedro del Nido MD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, and Professor of Child Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and by Nikolay Vasilyev MD, Staff Scientist at Boston Children's Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. About Broadview Ventures: Broadview Ventures is a philanthropic for-profit venture firm with a mission to accelerate the development of promising technology for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and neurovascular disease through targeted investments. SOURCE Nido Surgical, Inc. Related Links http://www.nidosurgical.com NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) today announced that CBS Television Stations has signed a multiyear renewal agreement for Nielsen's Local Television Measurement. The renewal provides local market ratings insights for CBS owned and operated stations in 17 U.S. markets. CBS Television Stations will utilize Nielsen's local television services, including Local Digital in TV Ratings, to provide their stations with a broader and deeper understanding of their complete over-the-air and digital audiences. The suite of services will also allow CBS local stations to have an in-depth look at consumers' viewing habits across their markets, and create specific trading areas whether they are by geography, audience characteristics or demographics. "As many American cities are becoming more diverse and populations continue to grow, it's critical for TV stations to have a complete picture of who's viewing their content. Nielsen's local television services enable us to maximize our viewership and deliver value to our local advertisers," said David F. Poltrack, Chief Research Officer of CBS Corp. and President of CBS VISION. "We look forward to an exciting and fruitful relationship with Nielsen." In addition, Nielsen's use of big data including set-top-box data and out-of-home viewing will deliver more stability, boost ratings fidelity and increase market insights. These enhancements to Nielsen's local television services will help CBS local stations and others capture all viewing occasions in an effort to demonstrate the strength of their total audience. "We're delighted to reach an agreement with CBS Television Stations," said Jeff Wender, Managing Director for Nielsen Local Media. "CBS is at the forefront of delivering quality content across a wide range of consumer devices, both at home and outside in the local community. We look forward to helping CBS demonstrate their broad reach, and deliver upon enhancements in our local television service that will provide even greater accuracy and fidelity." ABOUT NIELSEN Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers watch and buy. Nielsen's Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Nielsen Total Audience measurement services for all devices on which contentvideo, audio and textis consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry's only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen also provides its clients with analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com. SOURCE Nielsen Related Links http://www.nielsen.com BOSTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a study released today, "The Business Impact of Online Communities," by Leader Networks, a digital business research and strategy firm, online communities are challenged to track metrics. However, data suggests a strong relationship to customer retention and driving revenue. In November 2016, Leader Networks surveyed nearly 300 U.S. marketing and community leaders online to answer three key questions: How is online community impacting business goals? Are communities using metrics that resonate with business stakeholders? Is there a better way to measure and demonstrate the competitive advantage your online community delivers? According to Leader Networks, online business communities usually exist on an owned platform, have a business plan and success measures in support of business needs, as well as executive sponsorship, and staff. This research led to the Community Impact Framework, a ground-breaking resource which for the first time gives marketing and community leaders a set of measures and metrics/KPIs that they can use to track and prove the business impact of their community using vocabulary and methods that resonate with financial and business stakeholders. Key Study Findings Competitive advantage means keeping existing customers for most firms. 57 percent of marketing and community leaders reported customer retention is key for competitive advantage. What's more, 37 percent of organizations have not integrated their communities with the company's CRM system, which prevents community leaders from syncing interactions and data across the customer lifecycle. 57 percent of marketing and community leaders reported customer retention is key for competitive advantage. What's more, 37 percent of organizations have not integrated their communities with the company's CRM system, which prevents community leaders from syncing interactions and data across the customer lifecycle. There is a burning need for better reporting on community cost savings. 45 percent of marketing and community leaders say that their community reduces costs for their organization. However, an additional 37 percent don't know if their community saves them money on support, customer retention, marketing, or other expenditures. 45 percent of marketing and community leaders say that their community reduces costs for their organization. However, an additional 37 percent don't know if their community saves them money on support, customer retention, marketing, or other expenditures. Communities are producing revenue in substantial amounts but it takes time. Nearly half of community leaders say that their community generates or influences revenue. But mature communities have a greater impact on top-line growth. Nearly half of community leaders say that their community generates or influences revenue. But mature communities have a greater impact on top-line growth. Marketers are at the helm of online communities which is an incredibly strategic position. Marketing is the primary owner of the community for most organizations (79 percent) although many other lines of business are involved in community initiatives. Marketing is the primary owner of the community for most organizations (79 percent) although many other lines of business are involved in community initiatives. Business-focused metrics are nascent but a standard of measurement is emerging. 72 percent of community leaders face challenges related to analyzing and reporting data and an additional 22 percent lack reporting tools. "This report will help marketing and community leaders better prioritize and articulate the business impact of online communities, and showcase the powerful advantages that online communities can provide. The Community Impact Framework is an invaluable resource for anyone with or considering a community," remarks Vanessa DiMauro, the study's lead researcher and CEO of Leader Networks. "We're delighted to support this new research into a growing practice within the business community," said Alex Parkinson, Associate Director, Society for New Communications Research of The Conference Board. "Measuring and reporting the benefits of new technologies is a challenge for most companies and is proving to be a barrier for broader digital transformation. This study helps companies understand the importance of aligning metrics with business objectives." "B2B communities, such as those that gather a brand's loyal customers or like-minded business owners, are leading the way to demonstrate the role online communities can and should play in delivering concrete value for businesses in the form of increased profits and loyalty," said Rob Wenger, founder and CEO of Higher Logic. "Higher Logic is excited to support Leader Networks on this study as the industry moves towards reinforcing clear models for building the business case for communities across the entire organization." Click HERE for a complimentary copy of Leader Networks' "The Business Impact of Online Communities" research report. This study was sponsored by Higher Logic and The Society For New Communications Research at The Conference Board. Data slides of the research are available HERE. Follow us on Twitter for updates related to this new research using the hashtag #CmtyImpact. SOURCE The Conference Board Related Links http://www.conference-board.org LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation plc (NYSE: NE) today announced that David W. Williams, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Credit Suisse 22nd Annual Energy Summit being held at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Vail, Colorado. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. U.S. Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, February 15, 2017. A live webcast and presentation slides will be available at the time of the presentation in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's Website http://www.noblecorp.com. A replay of the presentation will be available on our Website approximately three hours after the conclusion of the live presentation and will be available for 30 days following the event. About Noble Corporation plc Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 29 offshore drilling units, consisting of 15 semisubmersibles and drillships and 14 jackups, focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high-specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Noble is a public limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 08354954 and registered office at Devonshire House, 1 Mayfair Place, London, W1J 8AJ England. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com. SOURCE Noble Corporation Related Links http://www.noblecorp.com LONDON, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsis Timetric's 'Non-Life Insurance in Italy Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Italian non-life insurance segment, and a comparison of the Italian insurance industry with its regional counterparts. It provides values for key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020). The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Italian economy and demographics, explains the various types of natural and man-made hazard and their impact on the Italian insurance industry, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country. The report brings together Timetric's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure. Summary Timetric's 'Non-Life Insurance in Italy Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Italian non-life insurance segment, including: - The Italian non-life segment's detailed outlook by product category - A comprehensive overview of the Italian economy and demographics - A comparison of the Italian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterparts - The various distribution channels in the Italian non-life insurance segment - Detailed analysis of natural and man-made hazards and their impact on the Italian insurance industry - Details of the competitive landscape in the non-life insurance segment in Italy - Details of regulatory policy applicable to the Italian insurance industry Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-life insurance segment in Italy: - It provides historical values for the Italian non-life insurance segment for the report's 20112015 review period, and projected figures for the 20152020 forecast period. - It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Italian non-life insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020. - It provides a comparison of the Italian non-life insurance segment with its regional counterparts - It analyzes the various distribution channels for non-life insurance products in Italy. - It analyzes various natural and man-made hazards and their impact on the Italian insurance industry - It profiles the top non-life insurance companies in Italy, and outlines the key regulations affecting them. Reasons To Buy - Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Italian non-life insurance segment, and each category within it. - Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Italian non-life insurance segment. - Assess the competitive dynamics in the non-life insurance segment. - Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. - Gain insights into key regulations governing the Italian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future. Key Highlights - In 2015, motor insurance was the largest category in the Italian non-life segment, accounting for 63.7% of the segment's gross written premium. - The Italian motor insurance category suffered from low profitability during the review-period. One of the key factors for the decreasing profitability was a high rate of undetected fraud. - Property insurance was the second-largest category, accounting for 22.7% of the segment's gross written premium in 2015. - The infrastructure construction market is expected to benefit from the government's plan to develop railway infrastructure across the country, coupled with high-speed railway network in metropolitan areas. - Marine, aviation and transit insurance was the smallest category in the Italian non-life segment in 2015. - Italian tourism to Egypt fell sharply in 2016, due to incidents such as the killing of tourists along with their Egyptian guides in September 2015, the downing of a Russian plane, and the death of an Italian student on the streets of Cairo. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/924711/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com BOSTON and MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company which operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials in the United States and Canada, today announced that its North American businesses have been certified by the Top Employers Institute for exceptional employee offerings. In addition to North America, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has also achieved Top Employer status in the following regions where it operates businesses: Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. "Throughout our nearly 350 year history, attracting the best and brightest talent in key regions such as North America, has been a fundamental part of what we do as a successful global company. Whether one is seeking a career in the research lab, or on the manufacturing floor, the opportunities are boundless at MilliporeSigma, EMD Serono and EMD Performance Materials in this region and this recognition only reaffirms the potential for people joining our organization," said Udit Batra, Member of the Executive Board, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and CEO, MilliporeSigma. "We are honored to receive this official certification as all of the businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany are committed to empowering our talented employees to do their best work," said Gary Zieziula, President and Managing Director of EMD Serono and the spokesperson for the North American businesses for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "We are focused on continuing to foster a collaborative and creative environment so our employees can grow professionally and be inspired to further our mission of creating technologies that enhance the lives of people around the world." The annual, international research undertaken by the Top Employers Institute recognizes leading employers around the world: those that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organization, and which strive to continuously optimize employment practices. This recognition follows the Massachusetts-based businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, GermanyMilliporeSigma and EMD Serono which were named to The Boston Globe's annual "Top Places to Work" list in 2016. In addition, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, ranked number 11 among the top 20 employers in the global biopharmaceutical industry by Science magazine, a leading peer-reviewed international scientific publication, also in 2016. To achieve the Top Employers certification companies undergo a stringent research process in which they are assessed on criteria including talent strategy, workforce planning, leadership development and culture. "Optimal employee conditions ensure that people can develop themselves personally and professionally," said David Plink, CEO of the Top Employers Institute. "Our comprehensive research concluded that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany provides an outstanding employment environment, and offers a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programs that are well thought out and truly aligned with the culture of their company." To learn more about the Top Employers Institute and the Top Employers Certification, visit: www.top-employers.com. About EMD Serono EMD Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the U.S. and Canada - a leading science and technology company - focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has 1,200 employees in the U.S. with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts and 100 employees in Canada with its Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. www.emdserono.com www.emdserono.ca About MilliporeSigma The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 19,000 employees and 65 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry. MilliporeSigma is a leading supplier in the life science industry. With products for protein research and cell biology as well as the manufacture of chemicalbased and biopharmaceutical drugs, MilliporeSigma covers the full bioprocessing value chain. Its aim is to solve the toughest problems in the industry by collaborating with the global scientific community. About EMD Performance Materials EMD Performance Materials is the North America high-tech materials business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, comprising a portfolio of applications in fields such as consumer electronics, semiconductors, lighting, coatings, printing technology, plastics, and cosmetics. Key products include display materials, LED materials for lighting as well as OLED materials for lighting and displays, functional materials for solar panels and energy solutions, effect pigments as well as active ingredients and fillers for cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products, effect pigments and functional materials for coatings, printing and plastics and high-purity specialty chemical materials for the electronics and semiconductor industry. Today, the business has about 500 employees around the country with main operations in Philadelphia (PA). For more information, please visit www.emd-pm.com. About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 12.85 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. The company holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand except in the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is one of the world's leading suppliers of effect pigments for the coatings, plastics, printing, cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Effect pigments underscore the emotional impact of color and are an important design element when creating surfaces with a special appearance or quality. Application possibilities range from cars to packaging and high-tech products up to building facades. In addition to decorative effect pigments, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, offers pigments that also have functional applications such as heat-reflecting or anti-counterfeiting pigments. Contact: Melissa Manganello +1 781 681 2393 SOURCE Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Related Links http://www.emdgroup.com/emd/index.html WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Novant Health has named Rick Brajer as the senior vice president of business strategies for the health system. In his new role, Brajer will support business imperatives and strategic acquisitions and partnerships. "Rick brings significant experience to Novant Health and I am pleased to welcome him to our organization," said Jesse Cureton, chief consumer officer, Novant Health. "As the business of healthcare continues to shift, our duty is to create synergies between better access, the patient experience and affordability, while focusing on quality, safety, transparency and proactive thinking. Rick is known for emphasizing accountability, collaboration and service. I am confident he will help us continue to move in the right direction." Prior to joining Novant Health, Brajer served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). He came to DHHS after two decades of serving in leadership roles in healthcare and medical technology industries. He has experience with a broad variety of business challenges, including initial public offerings, growth stage, mergers, changes in business models and shifts from private company to public company status. Brajer has also successfully led health care service, diagnostic, medical device and technology enabled service businesses ranging from $24 million to $1.2 billion in revenue. Brajer has a master's degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in Stanford, California. He has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. About Novant Health Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Named in 2016 by Becker's Hospital Review as one of the nation's 150 best places to work in healthcare, Novant Health consists of more than 1,380 physicians and nearly 24,000 employees and provides care at 530 locations, including 14 medical centers and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the health system serves more than 4 million patients annually and in 2015 provided more than $706 million in community benefit, including charity care and services. Diversity MBA has recognized the organization as one of the 50 best places for women and managers of diverse background to work. Novant Health provides care in Virginia under the joint operating company, Novant Health UVA Health System. For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE Novant Health Related Links https://www.novanthealth.org LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanEquity is an annual invitation-only event hosted by Innovator Capital, the London based specialist investment bank. The conference provides an intimate and collegiate setting for inventors and entrepreneurs to share their stories with delegates - key decision makers looking to assist them with reaching their commercial and strategic goals. Other partners and sponsors include Prince Albert II of Monaco's Foundation, Covington & Burling, Cisco EIR, Cision, Cranfield University, Hobbs & Towne, the Monaco Economic Board, Parkview and the Social Stock Exchange. Pajarito Powder LLC has been identified by an expert panel as one of the world's most innovative sustainable technology companies and has been selected to present to senior financial and strategic cleantech investors, policy makers, legislators, end users and media. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, Pajarito Powder LLC, a materials company, manufactures the critical component to reduce platinum, improve performance and extend the durability of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), the automotive industry-recognized long-term replacement for the internal combustion engine. Pajarito Powder's intellectual property - licensed from leading research institutions such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of New Mexico - is rooted in its proprietary VariPore manufacturing platform. VariPore enables the production of Engineered Carbon Supports (ECS) that address the automotive industry's near-term need to improve fuel cell performance and durability while lowering cost. Pajarito Powder's family of Engineered Carbon Supports (ECS) enable high specific platinum catalyst activity in combination with superior resistance to carbon corrosion, ideal for demanding applications such as automotive fuel cells. Pajarito Powder's ECS products are inexpensive to produce and can be readily scaled for high volume manufacturing, conditions ultimately necessary for cost-effective, widespread fuel cell adoption. Pajarito Powder also provides the world's leading commercial precious-metal-free catalysts, providing additional savings for less strenuous fuel cell and electrolyzer applications. For more information, please contact Webb Johnson, Senior Director of Business Development. V: +1 (505) 550-2096. EM: [email protected] or visit www.pajaritopowder.com About Innovator Capital Innovator Capital, established in 2003, is a specialist investment bank advising emerging technology companies on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. Its expertise includes intellectual property and multinational strategic partnering. www.cleanequitymonaco.com SOURCE Innovator Capital Related Links http://www.innovator-capital.com SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the administration in Washington announced today they would eliminate many parts of the Dodd Frank legislation that was put in place to protect consumers and the country from the financial malfeasance that lead to the Great Recession of 2008. Bill Harris, CEO of Personal Capital and former CEO of Intuit, implores the administration to retain section 1033. Section 1033 protects consumers from being denied access to their own financial data: SECTION 1033. CONSUMER RIGHTS TO ACCESS INFORMATION. "(a) In general, subject to rules prescribed by the Bureau, a covered person [a bank or broker] shall make available to a consumer, upon request, information in the control or possession of the covered person concerning the consumer financial product or service that the consumer obtained from such covered person, including information relating to any transaction, series of transactions, or to the account including costs, charges and usage data. The information shall be made available in an electronic form usable by consumers." "I can't imagine any bank or broker trying to prevent their customers from getting access to their own financial data," said Harris. "And yet, that's what they're trying to do. Many of the largest financial institutions in the world have been lobbying Washington and strong-arming other firms to achieve this goal for over a year." Luis Aguilar, a renowned former commissioner of the SEC, appealed to our better angels: In his renowned Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln eloquently described the United States as a 'government of the people by the people and for the people.' Many American values stem from that cherished sentiment. The Fiduciary Rule that prioritizes a clients best interest and the legislation that ensures an individual right to having access to their own information are prime examples of putting the people first. I would hope that those rights will prevail. The following is Harris's commentary on an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on January 25, 2017. Read the full article here. "J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Intuit Inc. have ended a long standoff." When the bank shut off Intuit's access to their customers' data a few months ago, they did not shut off the data to Personal Capital or Yodlee, the largest data aggregator. They're hitting the smaller players like Xero and Intuit first, then using that as momentum and leverage to hit the bigger players who would otherwise have more clout to fight back. It's amazing how transparent they are about their motivations: "J.P. Morgan Chase and Intuit said they will pursue similar agreements with other companies The bank then said it would like to use the partnership as a blueprint for dealings with other more widely used sites." BREAKING NEWS: Wells Fargo and Intuit today announced they too would attempt to limit customer access to their data. As reported by Reuters, "The move follows a similar data-sharing agreement between Intuit and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co last week." And, of course, Wells Fargo cites the same phony justifications. "Many banks said the old arrangement could compromise cybersecurity." This is baloney. I founded three different cybersecurity companies and served on the board of RSA Security, the largest electronic security company in the world. I can tell you with certainty that the cybersecurity of Silicon Valley financial technology companies which use new state-of-the-art technology is far superior to the large banks which use old patched-together-with-chewing-gum technology that dates back four or five decades. Moreover, the best way to insure your accounts are not compromised is to use an aggregation service like Personal Capital to continually monitor activity in all of your accounts of all types in all financial institutions. "Many banks said the old arrangement could overload bank websites at busy times." This is more baloney. It's 2017. Google handles over 40,000 requests for information per second. Either this is a red herring, or the banks have technology from the 1970's. Oh, right, they do have technology from the 1970's. Still, the excuse that their servers are overloaded stretches credulity. "Data will be shared via an application-programming interface, or API, which the companies say is more efficient and secure than the previous method." Again, baloney. The largest aggregators already get the data via direct connections using APIs. J.P. Morgan customers will have to "download their bank-account data through a bank-provided token." A bank-provided token puts the banks in control of who gets their own data and who doesn't. This is what they want, so they can prevent you from comparing services and finding hidden fees which unfortunately are rampant in our industry. "More information is taken than the third party needs to do its job." Baloney. This is a direct indication that they want to limit the breadth of access. What I've heard is that they want to limit access to just balances, and eliminate access to transactions, holdings and fees. This would obviously make the data useless and prevent consumers from getting true financial planning. Pretending to do financial planning without a comprehensive view of each family's financial situation is close to malpractice. "While bilateral agreements between two big companies are a good first step, there will ultimately need to be more industrywide standards for data-sharing that include smaller banks and startups, says Beth Rockland, a managing director at the Center for Financial Services Innovation, an industry group." Baloney. Creating an industry standard where all 14,000 financial institutions would be forced to enter bilateral contracts with other institutions would create a legal tangle that could never be untangled in my lifetime or yours. Some banks have even demanded compensation from financial technology companies to permit their customers to get their own data. "When we all readily click 'I agree' online or on our mobile devices, allowing third-party access to our bank accounts and financial information, it is fairly clear that most of us have no idea what we are agreeing to, Jamie [Dimon, CEO of J.P. Morgan] wrote." Baloney. Wow, is that the pot calling the kettle black. Have you taken a look at the agreements that banks make their customers sign by clicking an "I Agree" button? And by the way, when they click the "I agree" button at Personal Capital, they know exactly what they're agreeing to, because aggregation is the specific reason they're clicking. "J.P. Morgan's Mr. Dimon wrote in his annual shareholder letter." Why in the world would Jamie Dimon who runs one of the biggest and most complex financial institutions in the world even pay attention to this issue? And why would the banks focus their mighty lobbying efforts in Washington to fight against their consumers' right to their own financial data? This is the final proof that the banks' real objective is to cripple the new financial technology firms which they view as competitors who have more agility and do more innovation and prevent their customers from comparing offers and from getting the data they need to let non-bank financial advisors truly advise. SOURCE Personal Capital Related Links http://www.personalcapital.com SAN DIEGO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco today announced the launch of a new brand campaign designed to highlight the strength of the company's more than 50 years of experience in the pet specialty category and remind pet parents everywhere that Petco is all about pets. "Petco has spent more than 50 years focused on one thing, and one thing only pets," said Petco CEO Brad Weston. "And in a world where consumers can find pet supplies just about everywhere, Petco is more than just a place to buy stuff. We've evolved over more than half a century by listening to our customers and cultivating a unique understanding of what modern pet parents want and need. This new campaign emphasizes that, whether they shop Petco in-store or online, pet parents will find a shared passion for animals, guidance and expertise they can trust, and everything they'll ever need to provide complete care for their pets." The campaign debuted over the weekend with a national television spot that features an array of fantastical scenes of people and pets rejoicing in shared experiences. Set to the familiar tune of "Getting to Know You," the hero spot is intended to demonstrate that Petco knows pets in a way no one else can. The overall campaign message reflects the company's ongoing growth strategy in response to evolving customer needs, which includes new experiential store layouts and service offerings, an increased focus on nutrition and complete pet wellness, and a growing portfolio of online resources for pet parents on petco.com, drsfosterandsmith.com and liveaquaria.com. "Grocery, mass, club and online-only retailers do not and cannot offer the total pet experience," Weston continued. "We believe that our in-store experience -- which features services including bathing, grooming, dog training and vet services like vaccinations -- when combined with our online offerings, is a winning strategy that will continue to resonate with pet parents who want only the best for their pets." The campaign will be activated across multiple touch points, including national print and broadcast, digital, social, email, in-store, and more, and will feature refreshed creative elements. The campaign was created by VITRO San Diego. To view the hero spot, visit: Youtube.com/Petco. To learn more about the campaign and join the conversation, follow Petco on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and use #AllAboutPets. For more information about Petco or to find a location near you, visit petco.com. About Petco and the Petco Foundation With more than 50 years of service to pet parents, Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful relationships between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,500 Petco and Unleashed by Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico; prescription services and pet supplies from the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier, Drs. Foster & Smith; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has invested more than $175 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year. Contact: Lisa Stark, [email protected], 1-858-453-7845 x 22-2558 SOURCE Petco Related Links http://www.petco.com SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Phone-n-Fix, a South Dakota-based leader in the mobile retail and repair industry, has sold its first franchise to Jill Solberg of PBJ Platinum Partners of Sioux Falls. The new franchise operation is the first of many expected to launch in the next year. "We are pleased to have Jill join our growing brand," said Steve Michael, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Development of Phone-n-Fix. "Her experience as a successful entrepreneur is a perfect fit for our business, and we feel she is the right candidate to help grow our franchise network." Jill Solberg, center, joins Phone-n-Fix as company's first franchisee in Sioux Falls. Solberg is no stranger to the industry, having operated several successful franchise concepts over the years. Combined with extensive support from Phone-n-Fix Franchising and the franchise leadership team's 40-plus years of experience, Solberg is poised to create a dynamic business force. "I am really looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to the Phone-n-Fix brand," Solberg said. "Not only do I get to provide great service and top-of-the-line, like-new cell phone products and repair services, but I'm doing so with the support of the Phone-n-Fix team. That will allow me to build this business beyond what I could have done on my own." Through the comprehensive franchise program, Phone-n-Fix franchisees benefit from a multi-tiered system of exclusive purchasing power and an executive team with a combined 40-year knowledge of the mobile and business industries. Franchise owners also benefit from the backing of a brand dedicated to providing premium customer experiences. For more information about the Phone-n-Fix franchise offering, Phone-n-Fix of Empire Mall or all Phone-n-Fix locations, visit phonenfixfranchise.com, call (605) 681-6440 or email [email protected]. About Phone-n-Fix Phone-n-Fix is a premium like-new cell phone retailer and repair company. In combination with a dynamic and premium customer experience, Phone-n-Fix provides certified pre-owned cell phones at an affordable price with a full-service repair department, device payment plans and leasing options. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, Phone-n-Fix boasts two corporate-owned locations in Sioux Falls and one at the West Acres Mall in Fargo, ND. Phone-n-Fix franchise affiliates are offered a full suite of ongoing support, including purchasing power with exclusive suppliers and vendors in the industry, access to 40-plus years of industry and business experience, and a consultative selling process. Media Contact: Amy Kent [email protected] (708) 249-1042 SOURCE Phone-n-Fix Related Links http://phonenfixfranchise.com SAN FRANCISCO and ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Promontory Interfinancial Network, LLC and Social Finance, Inc. (SoFi) today announced a new program to enable community banks to purchase super-prime student loans originated by SoFi. The program will help community banks gain access to SoFi's high quality assets by streamlining the due diligence process. "We are always looking for new product and service opportunities to meet the needs of the thousands of banks that are Promontory Network members, and we are excited about this strategic alliance with SoFi," said Mark Jacobsen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Promontory Interfinancial Network. To assist banks in assessing these loans, Promontory Interfinancial Network commissioned Promontory Financial Group, LLC, an IBM Company, to review and report on SoFi's underwriting, operations, and systems. The report provides information and analysis banks can use to complement their own due diligence and assists them in their efforts to satisfy regulatory expectations for loan purchases and third-party risk. The report describes SoFi's current loan origination and post-origination practices and outlines the controls that SoFi has in place, including those that promote regulatory compliance, consumer privacy, and information security. In preparing the report, Promontory Financial Group reviewed SoFi policies, procedures, and contracts related to underwriting and servicing and tested loan files so as to confirm compliance with federal laws, regulations and guidance. "Promontory Financial Group did the work to simplify the due diligence process for banks, adding levels of review individual institutions could not perform on their own," Mr. Jacobsen continued. "As a leading risk management and bank regulatory compliance consulting firm, Promontory Financial Group's expertise is unsurpassed." SoFi President and Chief Financial Officer Nino Fanlo said, "This unique partnership opens us up to a new group of bank investors and further diversifies our funding sources. Large banks have been buyers of our loans for several years, but this program will help small to mid-sized banks participate in the growth of this asset class, and we look forward to building relationships with them. With one of the largest bank networks of its kind, representing more than 47% of all U.S. banks, Promontory Interfinancial Network is an ideal partner for us." The companies expect that SoFi loan program information will be available on Bank Assetpoint, Promontory Interfinancial Network's loan marketplace, beginning this month. The cost to banks for buying SoFi loans will be the same as buying loans directly from SoFi. Under the program, SoFi will pay Promontory Interfinancial Network a fee for each transaction. About Promontory Interfinancial Network, LLC and Bank Assetpoint Promontory Interfinancial Network was founded by leading figures in the banking industryEugene Ludwig, Alan Blinder, Mark Jacobsen, and Alfred Mosesto provide financial institutions with profit-enhancing solutions. The founders envisioned a network, composed of thousands of financial institutions, whose "synthetic size" would help each member institution to compete more efficiently to benefit from the Power of ManySM working together. Bank Assetpoint, brought to you by Promontory Interfinancial Network, is a nationwide marketplace for loans offering access to new loan opportunities via high-touch service from professionals possessing in-depth knowledge of banks. Bank Assetpoint's team helps its more than 1,400 registered bank participants to connect with each other and with nonbank buyers and sellers About SoFi SoFi is a new kind of finance company taking a radical approach to lending, wealth management, and insurance. From unprecedented products and tools to faster service and open conversations, we're all about helping our members get ahead and find success. Whether they're looking to buy a home, save money on student loans, ascend in their careers, or invest in the future, the SoFi community works to empower our members to accomplish the goals they set and achieve financial greatness as a result. For more information, visit SoFi.com. To date, SoFi has received more than $1.4 billion in funding, including a 2015 $1 billion Series E led by SoftBank, and SoFi's customers now number more than 230,000. The company has over 800 employees across offices in San Francisco (HQ); Healdsburg, CA; New York City, NY; Helena, MT; Washington D.C.; and Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Contacts: For Promontory Interfinancial Network: Phil Battey Senior Vice President, External Affairs [email protected] (703) 292-3357 For SoFi: Bryant Park Financial Communications Richard Mahony - [email protected] (917) 257-6811 Bill McBride - [email protected] (917) 239-6726 SOURCE SOFI Related Links http://www.sofi.com "As the world wakes up to the economic, environmental and performance benefits of battery-electric transportation, I couldn't be prouder to represent a company like Proterra that has cemented its place at the forefront of heavy-duty EV innovation," said Matt Horton, chief commercial officer at Proterra. "On the heels of a truly exceptional 2016, I'm looking forward to connecting with new customers and supporting existing customers like Seattle's King County Metro, Southern California's Foothill Transit and others as they achieve their 100 percent zero-emission fleet goals." Since joining Proterra in 2014, Horton has helped establish the company as the leading innovator in the electric mass transportation industry. In 2016 alone, Horton helped Proterra achieve more than 225 percent sales growth, a number that is expected to continue to grow in 2017 as the company expands in different infrastructure categories like airports, universities, corporate enterprises, national parks and ski resorts. Prior to joining Proterra, Matt was the CEO of Propel Fuels, one of the leading distributors of alternative fuels, which provided him with a wealth of experience and expertise in energy technology that he has applied to Proterra's strategy since day one. "Thanks in large part to Matt's efforts, Proterra has emerged as an integrated, customer-focused organization dedicated to helping transit agencies, commercial enterprises and other institutions across North America transition successfully to clean, quiet, electric transit solutions," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "As we continue to build momentum toward a future of zero-emission transit technology, Matt will play an indispensable role in supporting our customers, driving additional growth and ensuring the procurement process continues to move seamlessly from sales to deployment." About Proterra: Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 380 vehicles to 36 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc. SOURCE Proterra Related Links http://www.proterra.com ATLANTA, Feb. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA), will present at Gabelli & Companys 27th Annual Pump, Valve, and Water Systems Symposium. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. local time in New York City. The presentation will be webcast on Mueller Water Products websitewww.muellerwaterproducts.comand will be archived for approximately 90 days. About Mueller Water Products Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. Our broad product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, metering products and systems, leak detection and pipe condition assessment. We help municipalities increase operational efficiencies, improve customer service and prioritize capital spending, demonstrating why Mueller Water Products is Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure. Visit us at www.muellerwaterproducts.com. APEX, N.C., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- InspectionXpert Corporation announced today that its Beta Program for its new cloud-based, shop-floor quality system, QualityXpert, was a success with participation by a wide range of precision manufacturers. QualityXpert integrates directly with InspectionXpert OnDemand and provides its users with visual data-collection at the source of production, automatic quality alerts, real-time reporting and easy access to their data. The QualityXpert Beta Program was announced last September 2016 at the IMTS Show in Chicago, and to date has over 60 companies using the new platform. Click Here "The Beta Program was intended to introduce companies to QualityXpert so they could use it at no cost to see how it can dramatically streamline their manufacturing quality processes, lower costs and improve quality," said Jeff Cope, Founder and CEO of InspectionXpert Corporation. "We were really pleasantly surprised at the high level of interest and the energy focused on truly advancing the state of quality management across precision manufacturers." The common use of spreadsheets and legacy SPC systems results in silos of dispersed and untraceable data, which causes manufacturing personnel to operate from different sources of truth. QualityXpert solves this problem by storing all inspection results in a controlled, fully-traceable cloud environment with instant alerts and real-time actionable insights to improve processes and reduce waste. "Actionable analytics and real-time alerts are key elements to world-beating quality and QualityXpert has made this capability, previously only available to large companies, affordable for even the smallest job shops," said Jeff. "QualityXpert enables InspectionXpert OnDemand users to aggregate all of their inspection results in the cloud where they can be accessed at any time. This represents a revolutionary step in a more integrated and effective design and quality planning process, and we are excited about the great response and innovative ideas to make it even better." Key facts about QualityXpert: One-Click publish from SOLIDWORKS Inspection Enables quality inspection at the source Integrated SPC Integrated Gage Management Supports PPAP Cloud-based with no servers to provision and no software to install Fully secure and can even run in an export control setting (e.g. ITAR, EAR, etc.) InspectionXpert Contact: [email protected], 800-379-0322, www.inspectionxpert.com, www.qualityxpert.com InspectionXpert, the InspectionXpert logo, QualityXpert and the QualityXpert logo are registered trademarks of InspectionXpert Corporation. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. 2017 InspectionXpert Corporation. All rights reserved. SOURCE InspectionXpert Corporation Related Links http://www.inspectionxpert.com NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Often, marketers and strategists prioritize the middle class consumer for growth opportunities. However, reaching consumers through income-based approaches (dividing the market into specific groups based on financial standing e.g., middle class) is an insufficient and outdated predictor of consumer spending, according to a report released today by The Demand Institute, a non-profit think tank jointly operated by The Conference Board and Nielsen. Rather, the report defines a new concept, "Connected Spenders," that better enables companies to effectively reach consumers who are ready and able to spend on goods and services. The interactive digital report, Introducing the Connected Spender: The Digital Consumer of the Future, can be viewed here. Income-based approaches ignore two critical factors: consumer mindset and engagement, and access to goods and services. For the first time, these shortcomings are addressed with the "Connected Spenders" consumer group. As a result, this group gives businesses a more relevant population to prioritize as it identifies the most engaged consumers from each income group, with no lower or upper boundary. Furthermore, the number of global Connected Spenders increased by nearly twice as much as the number of middle class consumers between 2001 and 2011. "The Connected Spender is the ideal consumer for a variety of goods and services," said Louise Keely, president of The Demand Institute and executive vice president of the global retail vertical at Nielsen. "Consumer-facing businesses should use Connected Spenders as a lens in making decisions about which markets to invest in, how to communicate with and reach consumers and what actions they can take to support growth across different markets." Low- and High-Income Consumers Can Be Connected Spenders, Too Connected Spenders, who will account for 46 percent of the world's consumer spending over the next decade, are defined by two factors. First, and most importantly, they have access to the internet. The ability to participate in the digital economy hinges on this access. Over the next decade, an additional 2.3 billion consumers will gain access to the internet, and nearly all of that growth will come from emerging markets. Second, they believe they have discretionary income. In fact, even the lowest income Connected Spenders participate more frequently and allocate more income to discretionary products than the highest income non-Connected Spenders. With internet access increasing globally, the number of Connected Spenders will increase dramatically. Over the next decade, the number of Connected Spenders around the world will more than double, from 1.4 billion in 2015 to 3 billion in 2025, rising from approximately 19 percent to 37 percent of global consumers. More importantly, spending by Connected Spenders could grow from about $15 trillion in 2015 (about 35 percent of global consumer spending) to more than $32 trillion in 2025. Other key findings from the report include: More than any other consumers, Connected Spenders expect a full omnichannel experience. They use their internet access for a variety of consumer activities, including researching and shopping online, sharing ideas and reviews on social media, and viewing media and advertising. Emerging markets such as Indonesia , Pakistan and Nigeria will contribute significantly to growth in Connected Spenders due to increased access to the internet. , and will contribute significantly to growth in Connected Spenders due to increased access to the internet. By 2025, the typical Connected Spender in a mature market will spend nearly $40,000 annually, 10 times the amount of a typical Connected Spender in an emerging market. To learn more about Connected Spenders, view the report here. About The Demand Institute The Demand Institute illuminates how consumer demand is evolving around the world. We help government and business leaders align investments to where consumer demand is headed across industries, countries and markets. A non-advocacy, non-profit organization and a division of The Conference Board, The Demand Institute holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in the United States and is jointly operated by The Conference Board and Nielsen. For more information, please visit: demandinstitute.org. About The Conference Board The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status in the United States. For more information, visit: conference-board.org. About Nielsen Nielsen N.V. (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers Watch and Buy. Nielsen's Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Total Audience measurement services across all devices where content video, audio and text is consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry's only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen provides its clients with both world-class measurement as well as analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries that cover more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit: nielsen.com. SOURCE The Conference Board Related Links http://www.conference-board.org CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Reward Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of business loyalty and reward solutions, today announced a breakthrough agreement with Zapier, a Web app automation service, that embeds Reward Sciences into more than 500 of the most popular SaaS applications used by companies today. Available immediately, this integration makes rewarding loyalty and driving engagement an integral part of the everyday business marketing and employee benefits workflow for companies around the world. Through this integration, any business currently using Zapier to automate custom workflows can improve customer service and marketing performance. Because the integration occurs on the existing Zapier platform, companies don't need to deploy any development resources to enable Reward Sciences' capabilities. "Customer loyalty happens everywhere, not just at point-of-sale," said Justin Jarvinen, Chief Innovation Officer of Reward Sciences. "The launch of the Zapier and Reward Sciences integration brings powerful campaign and reward tools directly to the vast number of companies who already use Zapier to create unique and incredibly efficient workflows." The Reward Sciences integration with Zapier makes connecting points-issuance and rewards into every aspect of the customer and employee experience easier than ever before. Businesses are now able to issue points and offer rewards to customers who register for events via Eventbrite, buy products using PayPal , or click links in MailChimp emails, among hundreds of other options. But that's just the beginning: Teams can improve performance by issuing points for entering new leads into Salesforce, team messaging with Slack, or managing projects with Trello. In reality, the sky's the limit. Some of the more notable apps into which Reward Sciences can be integrated easily and quickly include: Google Drive, Google Sheets, Evernote, Twitter, Salesforce, Quickbooks, Dropbox, WordPress, Google Calendar, Gmail, MailChimp, Trello, HubSpot, Asana, GitHub, LinkedIn, Eventbrite, Buffer, PayPal, Braintree and Zendesk. "Today's always-on business needs a simple and effective way to drive online activities in the apps it already uses and loves. Our Zapier integration enables companies to achieve this seamlessly, something that is not possible with other loyalty and reward solutions," said Vero Rebagliatte, CTO at Reward Sciences. "Our Zapier integration is the simplest solution available for connecting points-issuance and rewards into many of the most popular applications available today." About Reward Sciences Reward Sciences offers organizations of all types the ability to quickly set up behaviors that can be tracked as they happen, and reward those behaviors with points and high-value rewards. This process happens seamlessly from within an organization's own sites, apps or products and can be used by organizations to drive a myriad of behaviors such as sales or process improvement, wellness and wellbeing, engagement on social media, impressions in media, or at point-of-sale, among many others. Media contacts: Reward Sciences Media contact: Cara-Jane Feingold Phone: (872) 588-8825 Email: [email protected] Website: http://rewardsciences.com SOURCE Reward Sciences Related Links http://rewardsciences.com RED BANK, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Honorable Ronald Lee Reisner, who recently retired as a Superior Court judge in Monmouth County, has joined Scarinci Hollenbeck (www.sh-law.com) as "Of Counsel." Judge Reisner brings decades of experience to his new post, both as a judge and a litigator. He is based in the firm's Red Bank, New Jersey office. Judge Reisner will devote his practice primarily to alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, joining Ira Kreizman, J.S.C. (Ret.). Ronald Lee Reisner, J.S.C. (Ret.) "My service as a judge has given me a comprehensive understanding of various areas of the law in New Jersey, and I am honored to bring that knowledge to Scarinci Hollenbeck," said Judge Reisner. During his tenure on the bench, Judge Reisner served in every Superior Court division, including family, civil, probate and criminal, and was responsible for the resolution of thousands of cases. He was assigned many high profile civil and criminal matters, including In Re Stockdale , a complex will contest, as well as several white collar and murder cases, such as State v. Suarez-Perez and State v. Bienkowski , where he imposed life sentences with no possibility for parole. "Judge Reisner's time on the bench, as well as his distinguished career as a litigator, give him a broad perspective. He is an asset to the firm," said Russell Ascher, the firm's Executive Director. "He brings experience in a vast array of legal areas, and has an exemplary reputation throughout Monmouth County." Judge Reisner started his legal career as a law clerk to Clarkson S. Fisher, Sr., Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Among his many appointments, Judge Reisner served as the attorney for the Borough of Monmouth Beach as well as the Atlantic Highlands Planning Board. He also served as the attorney for the Marlboro, Rumson, and Shrewsbury Planning Boards, and as the attorney for the Townships of Old Bridge and West Windsor. About Scarinci Hollenbeck With a growing practice of more than 60 experienced attorneys, Scarinci Hollenbeck (www.sh-law.com) is a regional alternative to a National 250 law firm. With offices in New Jersey, New York City, and the District of Columbia, we serve the niche practice areas most often required by institutions, corporations, entities, and the people who own and control them. Please take some time to search our blogs or look through the biographies of our attorneys to see who might be a good fit for you. Contact: Peter Moeller Telephone: 201-896-4100 x 3324 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced the arrest this week of Dr. Eugene Sickle, a South African citizen, for money laundering. OIG Special Agents apprehended Dr. Sickle in Washington, D.C. for offenses committed in relation to USAID-supported HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa. Dr. Sickle, who had served as Deputy Executive Director for the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI) program, resigned from his position last year following the discovery of his potential involvement in the submission of fraudulent documents to WRHI by a third party. USAID staff reported Dr. Sickle's resignation and evidence of questionable costs charged to USAID awards to the USAID OIG. OIG opened an investigation, which remains ongoing. "I commend the work of our Special Agents in making today's arrest and thank our federal law enforcement partners for their assistance and support," said Ann Calvaresi Barr, USAID Inspector General. "Any fraud in U.S. foreign assistance programs is unacceptable, but fraud in global health programs is all the more troubling. Programs to help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS offer critical support to people around the world and OIG will continue to aggressively protect their integrity." In 2012, USAID awarded WRHI three cooperative agreements worth nearly $77 million to help strengthen treatment programs for HIV/AIDS patients and support the South African Government to develop, implement, and evaluate plans to treat at-risk populations. USAID OIG is conducting the investigation and effected this week's arrest in concert with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. OIG conducts independent oversight of U.S. foreign assistance programs that fall under USAID, as well as the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. As part of its mandate, OIG investigates allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse and operates a complaint hotline. Anyone with information about violations of law, rules, or regulations or mismanagement of agency programs or funds is urged to contact OIG. Telephone +1 (800) 230-6539 or +1 (202) 712-1023 Email [email protected] Online, via OIG's public web site http://oig.usaid.gov Information reported to OIG is treated in confidence and OIG protects the identity of each person providing information to the maximum extent provided by law. SOURCE USAID/OIG Related Links http://oig.usaid.gov DALLAS, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its January preliminary traffic statistics. The Company flew 9.4 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in January 2017, an increase of 4.6 percent from the 8.9 billion RPMs flown in January 2016. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 6.2 percent to 12.3 billion in January 2017, compared with January 2016 ASMs of 11.5 billion. The January 2017 load factor was 76.3 percent, compared with 77.5 percent in January 2016. Based on these results and current trends, the Company continues to expect its first quarter 2017 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) to be flat to down one percent, as compared with first quarter 2016. This release, as well as past news releases about Southwest Airlines Co., is available online at Southwest.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Company's financial outlook and projected results of operations. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) changes in demand for the Company's services and other changes in consumer behavior; (ii) the impact of economic conditions, fuel prices, actions of competitors, and other factors beyond the Company's control, on the Company's business; (iii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; (iv) the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions related to the Company's operations; (v) the impact of labor matters on the Company's business; and (vi) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Southwest Airlines Co. Preliminary Comparative Traffic Statistics JANUARY 2017 2016 Change Revenue passengers carried 9,381,967 8,897,041 5.5% Enplaned passengers 11,324,383 10,924,106 3.7% Revenue passenger miles (000s) 9,352,649 8,941,796 4.6% Available seat miles (000s) 12,265,438 11,544,677 6.2% Load factor 76.3% 77.5% (1.2) pts. Average length of haul 997 1,005 (0.8)% Trips flown 108,437 103,660 4.6% SW-T SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. Related Links http://www.southwest.com LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Square co-founder, Jim McKelvey and TODAY Show technology contributor, Katie Linendoll will address attendees at the annual GS1 Connect 2017 conference and exhibit June 20-22, 2017 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Nevada. The theme of the conference hosted by GS1 US, "Collaborating for Business Excellence," reflects the role of GS1 Standards in bringing industry communities together to drive business process innovation. During the keynote address on Wednesday, June 21, Mr. McKelvey, an inventor, entrepreneur and author best known for co-creating the revolutionary payments company, Square, will share his Silicon Valley approach to problem-solving, innovation and a concept he calls "unlearning." Attendees will understand how success in business today means relinquishing old rules and behaviors and how learning agility can drive success in an uncertain, unpredictable and constantly evolving business environment. Ms. Linendoll, a technology guru who regularly lends her expertise to a variety of platforms, including the TODAY Show, CNN, Fox News, HLN and Popular Science, will share her thoughts on becoming "future proof" during the closing keynote on Thursday, June 22. This includes applying the latest technological breakthroughs to advance innovation, the role of data as a foundation for business growth, and how industry leaders must embrace the host of opportunities that come with evolving technology. "Forward-thinking organizations understand that to remain competitive amid constant disruption, business innovation is critical. We hope that attendees will be inspired by Jim and Katie's keynote talks, and gain thought-provoking insights about technological advances impacting their businesses and new approaches that promote growth," said Bob Carpenter, president and CEO of GS1 US. In addition to the keynote speakers, experts from the healthcare, retail, foodservice and grocery industries will examine other emerging trends and solutions during a host of educational sessions and exhibits at GS1 Connect 2017. Each year, GS1 Connect is attended by more than 1,300 industry professionals seeking to learn about the application of GS1 Standards to address today's most pressing business challenges. The conference and exhibit is geared toward executives, directors, and managers in customer service/relations, electronic data interchange (EDI), finance, information technology (IT), e-commerce, marketing, materials handling, operations, packaging, quality/safety/compliance, supply chain management, and transportation/logistics. In addition to five main conference tracks, GS1 Connect features GS1 US University certificate courses and workshops for those looking to build their foundational knowledge of GS1 Standards and maximize the conference program. The conference will also feature "How to Do Business With" sessions hosted by major brands and retailers, as well as the popular Trading Partner Roundtables, the "Standardsville" exhibit area, Tech Track, and other various networking opportunities. To learn more about GS1 Connect 2017, visit www.gs1us.org/conference. About GS1 US GS1 US, a member of GS1, is an information standards organization that brings industry communities together to solve supply chain problems through the adoption and implementation of GS1 Standards. More than 300,000 businesses in 25 industries rely on GS1 US for trading-partner collaboration and for maximizing the cost effectiveness, speed, visibility, security and sustainability of their business processes. They achieve these benefits through solutions based on GS1 global unique numbering and identification systems, barcodes, Electronic Product Code (EPC)-based Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), data synchronization, and electronic information exchange. GS1 US also manages the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC). www.gs1us.org. SOURCE GS1 US Related Links http://www.gs1us.org CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis, LLC has the great pleasure of announcing that Drew Whiting and Alex Pappas have joined our firm as partners on February 1, 2017. Drew Whiting Alex Pappas Drew and Alex come from Axia Law, where they established their respective practices in the venture capital, private equity, real estate, hospitality and banking communities. Their dedication to advancing the interests of entrepreneurs is a differentiator for Stahl Cowen, an established business law firm specializing in corporate transactions, commercial real estate transactions, M&A, representation of financial institutions, and complex commercial litigation. The addition allows the firm to add depth and expand into new, niche areas of practice, where clients will continue to receive the benefits of the energy and personal attention that they have come to expect. Robert Mintz, Chair of Stahl Cowen's business transaction group, adds "We are fortunate to welcome the talented and dedicated Drew and Alex to our team." Media Contact: Robert Mintz 312-377-7769 [email protected] SOURCE Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis, LLC Related Links http://www.stahlcowen.com SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the heels of a wave of Teamster strikes at the University of California, 26 California State Assembly Members have sent a letter to UC President Janet Napolitano, urging a "speedy and fair resolution" of the labor dispute. The legislators called upon Napolitano to provide leadership to address the issues of declining real wages and worker hunger at the University. "UC is the state's leading public educational, research, and medical institution; it is also California's economic engine, the third largest employer in the state, and an anchor employer in many communities," the letter said. "[T]he manner in which UC interacts with its workforce affects millions of Californians who might never set foot on a campus or in a medical center." UC wages are so low that over 70% of full-time administrative support workers suffer from hunger or food insecurity, according to an Occidental College report, and real wages have declined by 24% over the past two decades. More than 92% of these workers are paid too little to afford the basic necessities of life, an Economic Policy Institute (EPI) study found. Skilled trades workers at both UCLA and UC San Diego, also represented by Teamsters Local 2010, are paid below prevailing wage by as much as $10 an hour and have gone up to four years without a raise. The Union and the University have returned to the bargaining table in the wake of the strike actions. "We are heartened to see our state legislators take a stand for fairness for UC workers who are struggling due to low wages," said Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010. "The time has come for UC to heed this call, reach a fair agreement with the workers, and end this costly and disruptive labor dispute." Teamsters Local 2010 represents approximately 12,000 administrative support workers across the UC system, as well as the approximately 800 electricians, elevator mechanics, plumbers, and facilities workers at UCLA and UC San Diego. CONTACT: Christian Castro, Telephone: (213) 247-9500 Email: [email protected] Website: Teamsters2010.org SOURCE Teamsters Local 2010 Related Links http://www.teamster.org LONDON, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sudan is one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa. Rapidly expanding middle class population in Sudan is pushing the demand for automobiles, which, in turn, is generating huge demand for tires. Moreover, expanding fleet coupled with increasing investments in agriculture sector are also boosting the demand for tires in the country. On account of unstable political environment in the country, automobile as well as tire companies are facing problems in conducting their operations in Sudan. However, with the country gradually regaining political stability coupled with better fiscal and regulatory policies, tire companies are planning to set up their plants in the country in the coming years. Moreover, the country's government plans to strengthen the agriculture sector which is expected to boost the demand for OTR vehicles over the next five years.Growing per capita income, expanding automotive fleet and launch of new vehicle models are some of the other major factors driving Sudan automotive industry, consequently propelling the demand for tire in the country. According to "Sudan Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022", the tire market in Sudan is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5% during 2017 2022. Despite of numerous challenges related to financial constraints and long construction time in Sudan, the country's government is announcing projects related to road as well as transportation sector, consequently increasing the demand for commercial vehicles over the next five years during forecast period. In terms of vehicle type, the tire market in Sudan has been segmented into Passenger Car (PC), Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV), Two-Wheeler (2W) & Three-Wheeler (3W) and Off-The-Road (OTR). Among these categories, passenger car segment dominated the country's tire market, followed by LCV and M&HCV segments. Some of the major players operating in the country's tire market are MRF, Bridgestone, Apollo, Michelin, Ceat and Continental, among others. "Sudan Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022" discusses the following aspects of Sudan tire market: - Sudan Tire Market Size, Share & Forecast - Segmental Analysis By Vehicle Type (Passenger Car (PC), Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV), Two-Wheeler (2W) & Three-Wheeler (3W) and Off-The-Road (OTR); By Ultra Budget, Budget and Premium Brands, By Radial Vs. Bias, By Region - Policy & Regulatory Landscape - Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities - Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations Why You Should Buy This Report? - To gain an in-depth understanding of Sudan tire market - To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years - To help industry consultants, tire companies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies - To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material - To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players - To avail 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs Report Methodology The information contained in this report is based on both primary and secondary research. Primary research included interviews with tire companies, distributors and industry experts. Secondary research includes an exhaustive search of relevant publications such as company annual reports, financial reports and proprietary databases. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4683645/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com Finnish English Poyry PLC Stock Exchange Release 8 February 2017 at 8.45 a.m. Notice to Poyry PLC's Annual General Meeting Notice is given to the shareholders of Poyry PLC to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday, 9 March 2017 at 4.00 p.m. in Vantaa, Finland at Martintalo, Jaakonkatu 2, 01620 Vantaa, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting and the distribution of voting tickets will commence at 3.00 p.m. A. Matters on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting At the Annual General Meeting, the following matters will be considered: 1. Opening of the meeting 2. Calling the meeting to order 3. Election of persons to scrutinise the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes 4. Recording the legality of the meeting 5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes 6. Presentation of the annual accounts, the report of the Board of Directors and the auditor's report for the year 2016 Review by the President and CEO 7. Adoption of the annual accounts 8. Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that no dividend be distributed for the financial year 2016. 9. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO from liability 10. Resolution on the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes based on the proposal made by the Nomination and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors that the annual fees for the members of the Board of Directors for the term until the close of the following Annual General Meeting be 45 000 euros for a member, 55 000 euros for the Vice Chairman and 65 000 euros for the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the annual fee for the members of the committees of the Board of Directors be 15 000 euros. In addition, the Board of Directors proposes based on the proposal made by the Committee that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board of Directors to resolve on an additional fee of not more than 15 000 euros per annum for each of the foreign residents of the Board of Directors as well as on an additional fee of not more than 5 000 euros per annum for the foreign residents of the committees of the Board of Directors. The authorisation shall be in force until the following Annual General Meeting. Travel expenses are proposed to be compensated according to the Company's Travel Policy. 11. Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting based on the proposal made by the Nomination and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors that the number of members of the Board of Directors be four (4). 12. Election of members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting based on the proposal made by the Nomination and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors that the present Board members Helene Bistrom, Henrik Ehrnrooth, Michael Rosenlew and Teuvo Salminen be re-elected for the term until the close of the following Annual General Meeting. The above mentioned persons have given their consent to the election. Pekka Ala-Pietila and Alexis Fries have informed that they will not be available for re-election. 13. Resolution on the remuneration of the auditor The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting, in accordance with the recommendation of the Board's Audit Committee, that the auditor be reimbursed according to the auditor's invoice approved by the Company and in compliance with the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee. 14. Election of auditor According to the Articles of Association of the Company, the Company's auditor has been elected until further notice. Thus, audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy continues as the Company's auditor and APA Ms. Merja Lindh as the responsible auditor. 15. Proposal by the Board of Directors to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on the acquisition of the Company's own shares The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board of Directors to decide on the acquisition of a maximum of 5 900 000 of the Company's own shares in one or more tranches by using distributable funds. Such share acquisition reduces the Company's distributable unrestricted shareholders' equity. The Company's own shares may be acquired in order to develop the Company's capital structure, to be used as payment in corporate acquisitions or when the Company acquires assets related to its business and as part of the Company's incentive programmes in a manner and to the extent decided by the Board of Directors, and to be transferred for other purposes, or to be cancelled. The amount of shares in the possession of the Company shall at no time exceed one tenth (1/10) of the aggregate amount of shares in the Company. The shares may be acquired in accordance with the Board of Directors' decision either through public trading, in which case the shares would be acquired in another proportion than that of the current shareholders, or by a public offer. The consideration paid for the shares acquired must be based on the company's share price as it is quoted in trading in the Helsinki Stock Exchange's stock exchange list. The Board of Directors is authorised to resolve on all other terms and conditions regarding the acquisition of own shares. It is proposed that the authorisation be effective for a period of 18 months from the decision of the Annual General Meeting. 16. Proposal by the Board of Directors to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board of Directors to decide to issue new shares and to convey the Company's own shares held by the Company in one or more tranches. The share issue can be carried out as a share issue against payment or without consideration on terms to be determined by the Board of Directors and in relation to a share issue against payment at a price to be determined by the Board of Directors. The authorisation also includes the right to issue special rights, in the meaning of Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act, which entitle to the Company's new shares or the Company's own shares held by the Company against consideration. A maximum of 11 800 000 new shares can be issued. A maximum of 5 900 000 own shares held by the Company can be conveyed. Based on this authorisation, the Board shall have the authority to decide on a share issue and issue of special rights in deviation of the pre-emptive subscription right of the shareholders (directed issue) subject to the conditions mentioned in the Companies Act. The authorisation can be used e.g. in order to strengthen the Company's capital structure, to broaden the Company's ownership, to be used as payment in corporate acquisitions or when the Company acquires assets relating to its business and as part of the Company's incentive programmes. In addition the authorisation includes the right to decide on a share issue without consideration to the Company itself so that the amount of own shares held by the Company after the share issue is a maximum of one tenth (1/10) of all shares in the Company. Pursuant to Chapter 15 Section 11 Subsection 1 of the Companies Act, all own shares held by the Company and its subsidiaries are included in this amount. The Board of Directors is authorised to resolve on all other terms and conditions regarding the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares. It is proposed that the authorisation shall be effective for a period of 18 months from the decision of the Annual General Meeting. The authorisation granted to the Board of Directors regarding issuing shares in the previous Annual General Meeting shall expire simultaneously. 17. Closing of the meeting B. Meeting documents of the Annual General Meeting This notice as well as more detailed information on the proposals of the Board of Directors mentioned above under point 15 and 16 relating to the agenda of the Annual General Meeting is available on Poyry PLC's website at www.poyry.com/agm2017. Poyry PLC's annual accounts, the report of the Board of Directors and the auditor's report are available on the above mentioned website no later than 16 February 2017. The above-mentioned proposals of the Board of Directors and the annual accounts are also available at the Annual General Meeting. Copies of these documents and of this notice will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website as of 23 March 2017. C. Instructions for the participants in the Annual General Meeting 1. The right to participate and registration Each shareholder who on the record date of the Annual General Meeting 27 February 2017 is registered in the shareholder register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd., has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders whose shares are registered on his/her personal book-entry account are registered in the shareholder register of the Company. Shareholders wanting to participate in the Annual General Meeting must register for the meeting no later than Monday 6 March 2017 at 10.00 a.m. Finnish time by giving a prior notice of participation. Such notice can be given: by filling in the registration form on the Poyry PLC website at www.poyry.com/agm2017; by telephone +358 10 33 21455 (Katriina Anttinen) Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Finnish time; or by letter to Poyry PLC, Legal Department/AGM, Jaakonkatu 3, FI-01620 Vantaa, Finland. In connection with the registration, shareholders shall notify his/her name, personal identification number or date of birth, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number or date of birth of the proxy representative. Shareholders, their representatives, or proxy representatives present at the meeting should, where required, be able to prove their identity and/or authorisation to represent a shareholder. The personal data given to Poyry PLC is used only in connection with the Annual General Meeting and with the processing of related registrations. 2. Proxy representative and powers of attorney A shareholder may participate in the Annual General Meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise demonstrate in a reliable manner his/her right to represent the shareholder at the Annual General Meeting. When a shareholder participates in the Annual General Meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares on different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the Annual General Meeting. Any proxy documents are requested to be delivered in originals to the Company before the last date for registration. 3. Holders of nominee registered shares If a holder of nominee registered shares is entitled to be recorded in the Company's shareholder register on the record date of the Annual General Meeting 27 February 2017, the shareholder may in accordance with the instructions of his/her custodian bank request that he/she is notified for temporary registration in the shareholder register of the Company for participation in the Annual General Meeting at the latest on 6 March 2017 at 10.00 a.m. Finnish time. A holder of nominee registered shares is considered to be registered for the Annual General Meeting, when he/she is notified for temporary registration in the shareholder register as described above. A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request necessary instructions regarding the temporary registration in the shareholder register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the Annual General Meeting from his/her custodian bank sufficiently in advance. 4. Other instructions and information The Annual General Meeting will be conducted in Finnish and it is translated into English. The President and CEO's presentation will be presented in English and will be translated into Finnish. Pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the Annual General Meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting. On the date of this notice to the Annual General Meeting 8 February 2017, the total number of shares in Poyry PLC is 59 759 610 shares and the total number of votes is 59 340 555 votes. Vantaa, 8 February 2017 POYRY PLC THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Additional information: Jutta Karlsson, Group General Counsel Tel. +358 10 33 49696 MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- They may not have put out ads for the big game, but many law firms intend to make more of a splash this year. Nearly half (45 percent) of lawyers interviewed by Robert Half Legal anticipate their firms will boost marketing spending in the months ahead. Only 1 percent said marketing budgets would decrease. The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a legal staffing and consulting solutions firm specializing in lawyers, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on 175 telephone interviews with lawyers among the largest law firms in the United States and Canada. Lawyers were asked, "Does your law firm plan to increase or decrease its spending on marketing its services in the coming year?" Their responses: Increase significantly 4% Increase somewhat 41% Neither increase nor decrease 44% Decrease somewhat 1% Decrease significantly 0% Not applicable/does not use marketing services 4% Don't know 6% 100% "In an increasingly competitive environment for legal services, law firms are making a bigger effort to differentiate themselves," said Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal. "Managing partners are hiring marketing specialists and consultants to help distinguish their firm's brand and broaden its exposure to potential clients." Volkert noted that some of the marketing strategies being implemented by law firms include expanding digital advertising, enhancing social media efforts and redesigning websites to improve their online presence. "Law firms are placing greater emphasis on providing client-focused web content to showcase their practice area expertise, such as blogs, videos and podcasts," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service for interactive design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. "There's high demand for web and mobile designers, content strategists and brand managers who can use the latest technologies to help firms deliver enhanced customer experiences via digital channels." About Robert Half Legal Robert Half Legal is the premier provider of legal staffing and consulting solutions for law firms and corporate legal departments. With North American and global locations, Robert Half Legal provides a customized approach, including managed review, legal project management and eDiscovery services, to help organizations handle constantly changing workloads. The company offers in-demand expertise across practice areas as well as highly skilled legal professionals on a temporary, project and full-time basis. More information about our full suite of legal staffing and consulting solutions can be found at roberthalf.com/legal. For career and management advice, follow our Legal Blog at roberthalf.com/legal/blog. SOURCE Robert Half Legal Related Links http://www.roberthalflegal.com CAMPBELL, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Valley startup Tachyum Inc. launched today, announcing its mission to conquer the performance plateau in nanometer-class chips and the systems they power. Based on new proprietary computational mechanisms, created specifically to unlock the performance of nanometer-size devices, Tachyum will deliver solutions with unprecedented speed, power, and cost to solve the most complex problems in the cloud, big data, deep learning, mobile devices, autonomous systems, and large-scale computing. The impact of Tachyum products will be felt across a broad spectrum of applications and markets. Tachyum was cofounded by Dr. Radoslav "Rado" Danilak, who has spent more than 25 years designing state-of-the-art processing systems and delivering technically inspired, economically significant products to market. Holding more than 100 patents, Rado pioneered enterprise and consumer MLC flash adoption, with a Flash Memory Controller that increased Flash endurance (limited by device physics) by 10X. Dr. Danilak was founder and CEO of Skyera, a supplier of ultra-dense solid-state storage systems, acquired by WD in 2014. At Wave Computing, he architected the 10GHz Processing Element of their deep learning DPU. He was cofounder and CTO of SandForce, acquired by LSI in 2011 for $377 million; a chipset and GPU architect at nVidia; a CPU architect at Nishan Systems and Toshiba; and chief architect of 64b x86 CPU at Gizmo Tech. "We have entered a post-Moore's Law era where performance hit a plateau, cost reduction slowed dramatically, and process node shrinks and CPU release cycles are getting longer," said Danilak, Tachyum CEO. "An innovative new approach, from first principles is the only realistic chance we have of achieving performance improvements to rival those that powered the tech industry of past decades, and the opportunity is a hundred times greater than any venture I've been involved in." Tachyum is also cofounded by Ken Wagner, with more than 25 years of relevant experience: Ken was a cofounder of machine learning company Wave Computing, chip synthesis tools company Silicon Analytics, and Theseus Logic, a clock-less logic company that invented patented Null Convention Logic (NCL). As vice president of software engineering, cofounder Igor Shevlyakov brings more than 20 years of compiler experience to Tachyum as a core competency. At Skyera he led the performance aspects of the flash-translation layer, and led compiler and system tools development at MicroUnity, which designed BroadMX CPU and licensed its innovations in SIMD processing to microprocessor industry leaders. Before that, Igor was part of WindRiver's GCC compiler and GNU toolchain team, working on code generation for several processor architectures. As one of the founders of Excelsior's JET, Igor spearheaded the development of the AOT Java compiler. Cofounder and chief hardware architect Rod Mullendore brings a unique set of critical hardware skills to Tachyum, along with his 30 years' experience designing extremely complex storage and networking chips and systems. Rod architected and implemented ASIC and FPGA-based flash controllers at Skyera. He was chief architect for the flash controller chips at SandForce, and he was a member of the founding team of Nishan Systems, which developed Storage over IP adapted for the IETF iFCP RFC4172. Follow Tachyum https://twitter.com/tachyum https://www.linkedin.com/company/tachyum https://www.facebook.com/Tachyum/ About Tachyum Named for the Greek "tachy," meaning speed, combined with "-um," indicating an element, Tachyum emerged from stealth mode in 2017 dedicated to engineering disruptive intelligent information processing products. Tachyum's founders have a track record of solving problems caused by device physics to deliver transformational products to market. The Campbell, Calif.-based company received seed funding in 2016. For more information visit: http://tachyum.com. Contact: Mark Smith JPR Communications 818-798-1472 [email protected] SOURCE Tachyum Related Links http://www.tachyum.com NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Transparent conductive films market is projected to reach USD 8.46 billion by 2026" The transparent conductive films market is projected to reach USD 8.46 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2016 to 2026. Increasing use of transparent conductive films in smartphones, tablets, notebooks, LCDs, wearable devices, and other applications due to growing population and consumption of electronic display products is one of the significant factors driving the growth of the transparent conductive films market. However, growing need for films with higher conductivity and difficulty in achieving properties offered by ITO using alternative materials are some of the major challenges. "Smartphones is the largest application segment of the transparent conductive films, while the LCDs segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period" Smartphones are the largest consumers of transparent conductive films. Transparent conductive films, owing to their growing consumption as thin films, allow users a rich touch experience. With the growth of the smartphones application segment, the demand for transparent conductive films is estimated to rise during the forecast period. The LCDs segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. Large screen size, technological advancements, and changing preference of consumers for luxury products are factors that are expected to drive the transparent conductive films market. The transparent conductive films market in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The Asia-Pacific transparent conductive films market is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2026. Growth of this market can be attributed to the increasing demand for transparent conductive films for various applications. The transparent conductive films market in China and Japan is expected to register significant growth during the forecast period. The growth of the transparent conductive films market in these two countries can be attributed to the rising demand for electronic components such as smartphones and tablets. Increasing use of notebooks on production sites for effective management is another major reason for the growth of transparent conductive films market. Teijin Ltd (Japan), Toyobo Co., Ltd (Japan), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), and TDK Corporation (Japan) are some of the major producers of transparent conductive films in the Asia-Pacific region. BREAKDOWN OF PRIMARY In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews were conducted with key industry personnel. The break-up of profiles of primary participants is given below: BREAKDOWN OF PROFILES OF PRIMARY PARTICIPANTS: - By Company Type: Tier 1 - 52 %, Tier 2 - 34%, and Tier 3 - 14% - By Designation: C Level - 50%, Director Level - 31%, and Others - 19% - By Region: North America - 34%, Europe - 28%, Asia-Pacific - 24%, South America- 7% and Middle East & Africa - 7% Major companies profiled in this report are Teijin Ltd (Japan), Toyobo Co., Ltd (Japan), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), TDK Corporation (Japan ), Canatu Oy (Finland), Cambrios Technologies Corporation (U.S.), C3Nano (U.S.), Gunze (Japan), Dontech Inc. (U.S.), and Blue Nano Inc. (U.S.). Research Coverage: This report offers an overview of market trends, drivers, and barriers with respect to the transparent conductive films market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market across five regions, namely, Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America. The report categorizes the transparent conductive films market on the basis of application, material, and region. A detailed analysis of leading players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them is also covered in the global report. Reasons to Buy the Report: This report covers the following key aspects: - What will be the market size by 2026 and what will be the growth rate from 2016 to 2026? - What are the key market trends? - What are the factors that are expected to drive the growth of the market? - What are the barriers that are expected to impact market growth? - Who are the key players in this market? - The global report covers key regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, including major countries in these regions such as the U.S., China, Japan, India, France, and Germany. Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04680741-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. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com In 2016, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK experienced 10 percent growth in year-over-year sales compared to the year before, ultimately completing more than 500,000 moves nationwide. The brand also awarded 19 franchises and expanded its corporate support team, including CFO Brant Hartle joining the Home Office staff of more than 200 employees. These milestones resulted in TWO MEN AND A TRUCK being ranked number 10 on Forbes' annual Best Franchises in America list for franchises with a medium investment ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. The final month of the year also marked the 85 th consecutive month in which TWO MEN AND A TRUCK experienced record growth. That growth took place in both domestic and international markets. In 2016, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK expanded into two new states New Jersey and Maine. The brand is also gearing up to open two locations in Montana, another new state, in April of 2017. Internationally, there's a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise that's currently in development in Etobicoke, located in Ontario, Canada. That unit will continue the brand's expansion across the country following last year's momentum. In 2016, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK opened franchises in Calgary North, Alberta; Edmonton South, Alberta; Vancouver, British Columbia; Burnaby, British Columbia; Coquitlam, British Columbia and Winnipeg, Manitoba in addition to a transfer of ownership for a location in Vaughan, Ontario. "Last year, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK enjoyed company-wide accelerated growth while focusing on innovation with the intent of finding new ways to provide customers with the best service possible," said CEO Jeff Wesley. "By placing a keen focus on expanding options for customers, we're excited about the launch of new services this year, including the scaling of a more affordable long-distance move option." That program, which TWO MEN AND A TRUCK piloted last year, is the brand's solution to long-distance moving services and adds to its comprehensive list of offerings. Through Value Flex, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK utilizes the service of a dedicated long-haul carrier to transport the customer's belongings to another TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise near the final destination. From there, that local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK professional team will make the delivery and unload the customer's belongings in their new home. Value Flex isn't the only new program the brand introduced in 2016 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK rolled out a new mini markets model last year, enabling entrepreneurs in smaller territories to become franchisees. The brand also launched a Customer Relationship Center (CRC) to support customers after normal business hours ensuring communication when it is convenient for the customer. Innovative programs like Value Flex, the mini market model, and the CRC will continue to fuel TWO MEN AND A TRUCK's growth throughout 2017. The brand, which currently has more than 350 open locations, plans to add 25 full market territories and five mini markets to its system in 2017. To get those new locations up and running, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is actively targeting cities including Tucson, Arizona; Baltimore, Maryland and Frederick, Maryland for development in addition to states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Northern Virginia. "Even though we're a 30-year-old brand, we're very agile and can still act like a start-up. That's what continues to make TWO MEN AND A TRUCK stand out from the competition," said President Randy Shacka. "By bringing on new franchisees and launching new services, we're confident that 2017 is going to be another exciting year filled with milestone moments that will fuel our impressive trajectory." ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is the largest franchised moving company both in the United States and internationally. Currently there are 352 national locations and 2,628 trucks operating in the U.S.; in total, the company operates more than 380 locations and 2,700 trucks. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has performed more than 6 million moves since its inception in 1985. The company has seen consistent monthly growth dating back to December 2009 and more than 65 consecutive months of record growth. Each location is independently owned and operated. For franchising opportunities, visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Kaminski No Limit Agency 312.526.3996 [email protected] SOURCE TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Related Links http://www.twomenandatruck.com ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association's (AFA) CyberPatriot program has announced that Texas Women's University (TWU) will be hosting its fourth consecutive CyberCamp this summer. AFA CyberCamps are week-long seminars designed to educate students in grades seven through twelve on the introductory topics of cyber ethics and network security. Each camp culminates with a mock cyber defense competition. TWU was a part of the CyberCamps pilot program in 2014 and has continued to be a valued partner to CyberPatriot over the years, instructing hundreds of students in the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. "CyberPatriot is excited to partner with TWU for the fourth year in a row. TWU has been with us since our pilot in 2014 and has been a part of growing and shaping the program over the past few years," said Rachel Zimmerman, CyberPatriot Director of Business Operations. Hosted during the summer months by approved schools and organizations, AFA CyberCamp curriculum kits include several 4-hour instruction and activity modules, accompanying instructor guides, student workbooks, as well as demonstration and competition software. CyberPatriot, the nation's largest and fastest growing youth cyber education program, is the Air Force Association's flagship science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiative dedicated to strengthening cyber skills among American youth and exciting students toward careers in STEM. Students in the program gain valuable knowledge from the expertise of CyberPatriot's many supporters, including the Northrop Grumman Foundation, CyberPatriot's presenting sponsor. Other program sponsors include Cyber Diamond sponsors AT&T Federal and the AT&T Foundation, Cisco, Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Cyber Gold sponsors Facebook, Riverside Research, Splunk, Symantec; and Cyber Silver sponsors the Air Force Reserve, American Military University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Leidos, and University of Maryland University College. The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, LinkedIn, and YouTube!" SOURCE Air Force Association Related Links http://www.afa.org BALTIMORE, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Maryland (UM) Ventures and SurgiGyn, Inc., a developer of minimally invasive surgical devices, today announced that the Company has executed an exclusive licensing arrangement for the rights to innovative laparoscopic surgical device technology developed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). SurgiGyn also announced that it has closed a seed round of funding from UM Ventures and a private investor. Proceeds from the financing will be used to accelerate the development of the company's Uterine Electrosurgical Device (UED). The UED is designed to address the most technically challenging and rate-limiting aspects of laparoscopic hysterectomy. The device identifies and automatically positions a blade at the exact location required enabling the precise, reproducible dissection of the cervix and uterus from surrounding tissue. SurgiGyn is working with Baltimore-area engineering and manufacturing company, Harbor Designs, to develop and manufacture the UED. SurgiGyn anticipates initiating a clinical study in the United States in 2017. SurgiGyn is a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) startup company founded by the UED inventors Roger Brecheen, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist from Jackson, Wyoming, and Vadim Morozov, M.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Services at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The company will locate its headquarters in the historic Lion Brothers Building located in downtown Baltimore. "Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery among women. The UED is designed to significantly simplify minimally invasive hysterectomy procedures, providing a safe and more effective solution that improves patient outcomes and reduces surgical time," said Dr. Brecheen, Co-founder and President of SurgiGyn. "We continue to be impressed with SurgiGyn's commitment to delivering transformative medical device innovations to women's health. The team has already made tremendous progress with its minimally invasive surgical device for laparoscopic hysterectomy," said Phil Robilotto, DO, MBA, Chief Commercialization Officer for UM Ventures, Baltimore. About SurgiGyn SurgiGyn, based in Baltimore, Maryland, is developing innovative minimally invasive surgical devices for gynecological surgery. SurgiGyn's Uterine Electrosurgical Device (UED) is designed to enable precise, reproducible and efficient dissection of the uterine cervix in laparoscopic hysterectomy. The UED is an investigational medical device and is not yet commercially available. About UM Ventures UM Ventures is an initiative to channel the tremendous technical resources and research expertise of the University of Maryland, engaging partners in industry and social ventures to expand real world impact. By encouraging students and faculty, and by providing expert advice and business services, more discoveries will reach the market. By engaging directly with external partners, UM Ventures brings new investment, expanded markets and more start-up ventures. Visit http://umventures.org/ to learn more. SOURCE UM Ventures Related Links http://umventures.org MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Veritas Technologies today announced that Scott Genereux has joined the company as executive vice president of Worldwide Field Operations overseeing all aspects of sales, channels, services and support. Genereux is a key member of the Veritas senior leadership team and reports to Veritas CEO Bill Coleman. In this global role, Genereux is responsible for advancing global sales, services and support to drive the company's strategy that includes 360 Data Management solutions to help organizations migrate, operate and manage data in the cloud, while extracting new business value. "Scott brings a unique set of skills and leadership capabilities to Veritas that will help our customers accelerate their digital transformation," said Bill Coleman, CEO of Veritas. "His extensive experience in cloud computing, software and sales will drive the next phase of our company's growth and play a critical role in enabling our global sales teams and channel partners to provide industry-leading data management capabilities to customers around the world." Genereux is a cloud pioneer with more than 20 years of global experience leading sales across a wide array of industry-leading technology companies. He joins Veritas from Oracle, where he was senior vice president of the company's Cloud Converged Infrastructure Group and played a key role in helping customers increase productivity and decrease costs across hybrid cloud environments. In that role, Genereux was responsible for customer facing sales, business development, systems engineering, channels and operations. Previously, Genereux was CEO of Nirvanix, a provider of enterprise-class cloud storage services, which was later acquired by Oracle. Genereux also held leadership positions at QLogic, DataDirect Networks and Hitachi Data Systems. Genereux holds a bachelor's degree in management information systems from California State University, Northridge and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. About Veritas Technologies Veritas Technologies enables organizations to harness the power of their information, with information management solutions serving the world's largest and most complex environments. Veritas works with organizations of all sizes, including 86 per cent of global Fortune 500 companies, improving data availability and revealing insights to drive competitive advantage. www.veritas.com PR Contacts Veritas Technologies: US Contact Dayna Fried +1 925 493 9020 [email protected] SOURCE Veritas Technologies Related Links http://www.veritas.com ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Who's Who recognizes Vie Loriot de Rouvray as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in recognition of her contributions to the field of Sound and Light Therapy. Loriot de Rouvray was born in the French Aristocracy on the island of Caledonia. In 1987, she experienced what she describes as a dramatic shift in consciousness that led to a series of lifestyle changes, ultimately resulting in her creating her mind, body and spirit healing company, Bio Institute of Light and Sound Therapy. "During my first contact experience, my Spiritual Galactic mission and purpose were activated," Loriot de Rouvray said on her company bio. "I am an Aquarius, I speak the language of the Light and I tone, chant and sing. I am a visionary healer and vibrational transformation and metaphysical healer gifted of re-connective healing." Currently, the brand of Bio Institute of Light and Sound Therapy markets Loriot de Rouvray's services in a manner that advertises her gifts and expertise to heal people metaphysically, demonstrating light and sound therapy to others. Loriot de Rouvray has been guided to write and create music with the language of light. She continues to expand her business and heal those in need, utilizing her expertise in alternative medicine, aromatherapy, emotional freedom therapy, metaphysics, nutritional assessment, spiritual and soul awakening and vibratory and energy healing therapy. Over the course of her career, Loriot de Rouvray has amassed a series of accomplishments. She earned an International Bachelor's degree, has been honored by the National Association of Professional Women as a VIP Woman of the Year and has authored a number of books ranging in topics from natural healing to Christianity, to theory thrillers. She has also created and produced a healing audio CD. For more information, visit www.instituteoflightandsound.com. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634 [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com PLANO, Texas, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a rowand distinguishing itself among more than 47,000 businessesWorking Solutions made the top 10 out of this year's FlexJobs Top 100 companies offering the most "remote-friendly" opportunities. The 2017 annual ranking placed Working Solutions, a leader in distributed workforces for more than 20 years, at #7. That's ahead of name brands such as Sutherland Global Services, Convergys and IBM. Working Solutions Last year, the Plano-based contact center outsourcer made #9 out of the Top 10. It ranked #13 in 2015. Recognizes Legit, Remote Jobs Kim Houlne, founder and chief executive of this woman-owned business, said: "It's gratifying, for us as a private company and for our thousands of independent agents nationwide, to again earn this respect and distinction. "And it's especially rewarding coming from FlexJobs, an industry leader in recognizing legitimate, work-at-home opportunities." Writing for Forbes Personal Finance, Laura Shin reports that FlexJobs evaluated job postings from its database of nearly 50,000 companies to determine its Top 100. "Such opportunities seem to be increasing the percentage of workers doing all or some of their work at home increased from 19% in 2003 to 24% in 2015," Shin writes, citing U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further Validates On-Demand Business Model In its announcement, FlexJobs states remote workforces are "often used strategically by companies to reduce costs, improve productivity, increase retention, hire the best talent, and reduce the negative environmental impacts of commuting." This news further validates that the on-demand business model pioneered by Working Solutions in 1996is made for modern times, observed Houlne. "Anything less leaves you behind." About Working Solutions With 20+ years of success, Working Solutions is a recognized leader in remote contact center solutions. Its U.S-based, on-demand workforce includes sales, customer care and technical experts with 110,000+ registered agents nationwide. They deliver fast-flex business process outsourcing (BPO) services for clients and their customers across diverse industries, such as healthcare, retail, travel and hospitality. Contact: Gail Rigler [email protected] 1820 Preston Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75093 Phone: 972-964-4800 x296 Related Links Resources & Blog News Room This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Working Solutions Thursday, 2 March 2017, 9:00am (CET) - presentation for media, analysts and investors Dear Sir/Madam GAM cordially invites you to participate in the presentation of its 2016 full-year results which will take place as follows: Date: Thursday, 2 March 2017 Time: 9:00am CET (8:00am GMT, 3:00am EST) Location: Convention Point, Room "Exchange", Selnaustrasse 30, 8001 Zurich The results will be presented by Alexander Friedman, Group CEO, and Richard McNamara, Group CFO. Please indicate if you would like to attend the presentation by completing and returning the attached registration form or by replying to this email invitation by 22 February 2017. Telephone dial-in facilities and a live webcast will be available for those who are unable to attend the event. Detailed information on the 2016 full-year results of GAM will be available on www.gam.com from 7:00am CET on Thursday, 2 March 2017. Kind regards, Elena Logutenkova Media Relations GAM Holding AG Patrick Zuppiger Investor Relations GAM Holding AG To listen in to the presentation by telephone: UK Free Phone 0800 279 4977 UK Local +44 (0) 20 3427 1907 USA Free Phone 1877 280 1254 Switzerland Local +41 (0) 22 592 7953 Germany Local +49 (0) 30 3001 90538 Please provide the code 9915600 when requested. Please dial-in approximately 10 minutes before the start of the presentation in order to register. Telephone participants will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. Presentation playback: UK Local +44 (0) 20 3427 0598 USA Local +1 347 366 9565 Switzerland Local +41 (0) 44 567 1860 Germany Local +49 (0) 69 2222 2236 Please enter the code 9915600 when requested. This playback facility will be available after the presentation until 5 March 2017 at 1:30pm CET. To watch the webcast of the presentation: The webcast will be accessible, both live and as a replay, on www.gam.com, along with the accompanying presentation slides. Please note that there will be no facility to ask questions via the webcast. You will need to log in and register prior to the event. Investor distribution list: If you wish to be removed from the distribution list, please email us at media@gam.com New Delhi, Feb 4 : Calling it "spineless", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission had "completely surrendered" before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kejriwal's remarks came in response to reports of people allegedly visiting polling booths with party symbols and also campaigning on social media and TV on polling day. "Election Commission has completely surrendered before Modiji, just like the CBI and the RBI," Kejriwal tweeted. "This is a completely shameless and spineless Election Commission." The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has repeatedly targeted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for acting on the directions of the Prime Minister's Office. "Just like Modiji destroyed the RBI, he has also destroyed the Election Commission by appointing his cronies in the Commission," Kejriwal said. He has been at loggerheads with the Election Commission ever since it pulled him up for asking voters in Goa to "accept money from other political parties but vote only for the AAP". Kejriwal accused the EC of acting at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office. An FIR was filed against him last month on directions from the Election Commission. He asked the poll panel to file an FIR with the "same urgency" against Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Congress leader Amarinder Singh for making similar remarks in Goa and Punjab respectively. Kejriwal on Saturday also asked why voting in Goa started an hour before Punjab when it is slated to stop at the same time. "As per Election Commission notification, polling time in Goa (is) from 7 am to 5 pm but in Punjab, it is from 8 am to 5 pm (one hour less). Why?" Kejriwal also slammed Modi for his November 8 demonetisation move and said it had failed to curb black money. "Modiji had said that the note ban will put an end to black money. But it is being openly distributed in Punjab and Goa. Then what was the use of the note ban," Kejriwal asked. Washington, Feb 5 : A US court has rejected the Justice Department's appeal asking to pause the sweeping decision that temporarily halted enforcement of President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. The Ninth Circuit Court has asked to file legal briefs before it makes a decision, CNN reported. Just after midnight on Sunday, the Justice Department filed an appeal asking the court to put on hold its sweeping decision that temporarily halted enforcement of Trump's travel ban nationwide, saying in a strongly-worded filing that blocking the travel ban "harms the public" and "second-guesses the President's national security judgment". The legal battle, which now moves up to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, surrounds a Friday ruling issued by US District Court Judge James Robart, who halted the implementation of several key provisions of Trump's executive order. Trump's policy banned foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority -- Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen -- countries from entering the US for 90 days, suspended all refugee entry to the US for 120 days, and indefinitely suspended entry for Syrian refugees. The government's emergency motion sets forth a mutli-pronged attack on Robart's decision, emphasizing the President's broad authority in the immigration context. "(Robart's ruling) contravenes the considered judgment of Congress that the President should have the unreviewable authority to suspend the admission of any class of aliens," the Justice Department wrote in its appeal. The department further argued that the parties who filed the lawsuit -- the attorneys general of Washington state and Minnesota -- lack the authority to sue in federal court because their alleged harms are too "speculative". The three judges on the Ninth Circuit who will likely hear the case -- assuming no one has to step aside over any conflicts -- are Judge William Canby, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter; Richard Clifton, who was appointed by George W. Bush; and Michelle Friedland, a President Barack Obama appointee, CNN said. When the President was asked at a gala in Florida whether he was confident his administration would prevail in the appeal, Trump replied, "We'll win. For the safety of the country, we'll win." On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security announced it had suspended "any and all" actions to implement the immigration order and would resume standard inspections of travellers, as it did prior to the signing of the travel ban. Bengaluru, Feb 5 : With an aim to eradicate Rubella and Measles from India, the Union Health Ministry on Sunday launched the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign here, targeting 41 crore children across the country. According to the ministry, after the campaign the MR vaccine will be introduced in routine immunisation, replacing the two doses of measles vaccine given to children at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age. "The government is committed to eradicating Measles and Rubella from the country. We have taken this as an achievable target. This shall be taken up in a mission mode and rolled out in partnership with state governments and NGOs, among others. "In this nationwide campaign, the ministry will reach out to and cover 41 crore children in the age group of 9 months to 15 years," said Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Health, at the campaign launch. The campaign will first be launched in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep, covering nearly 3.6 crore target children. However, it will later be extended to cover the entire country. According to a Helath Ministry statement, all children aged between nine months and less than 15 years will be given a single shot of MR vaccination irrespective of their previous measles/rubella vaccination status or measles/rubella disease status. "MR vaccine will be provided free of cost across the states from session sites at schools as well as health facilities and outreach session sites," the ministry said. Measles is a deadly disease and one of the main causes behind child mortality in the country. It is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing. Globally, in 2015, measles killed an estimated 1,34,200 children, mostly under the age of five years. In India, it killed an estimated 49,200 children. Rubella is generally a mild infection, but has serious consequences if infection occurs in pregnant women, causing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which is a cause of public health concern. Currently, Measles vaccine is provided under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). Rubella vaccine will be a new addition. New Delhi, Feb 6 : A Congress leader on Monday flayed the Social Welfare Department of the Delhi government over the working of care homes for mentally challenged people in the national capital. "All the good work of the previous Congress government has been undone by the AAP government. Five 'halfway homes' -- including one in Dwarka and two in Rohini -- were built by 2013 during my three years as minister to house the mentally challenged people. Family members would leave the mentally challenged people at these homes in the morning and take them away by day-end," former Social Welfare Minister Kiran Walia told IANS. She said the building of Asha Kiran Home in Rohini was expanded and a number of its inmates shifted to a building in Narela for decongestion. The Asha Kiran Home is now in the news for the death of 11 inmates in the last two months. "... but after 2013, these people (the current government) completely forgot about these buildings which are in disuse now. Even the Supreme Court had praised our efforts then," Walia said. Walia's comments came in the wake of a visit by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal to the Asha Kiran Home on Saturday, where she found inmates living in inhuman conditions. Maliwal submitted a stinging report to the Department of Social Welfare and sought an explanation by February 8. The report mentioned the death of 11 inmates in two months at Asha Kiran Home. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday expressed shock over the matter and ordered the Chief Secretary to file a report on the lapses that led to the deaths. ATLANTA, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boyden, a premier global talent advisory and leadership solutions firm, today announced that Steve Nilsen, well-known for his expertise in global marketing and executive search, has joined the firm as a Partner in its Atlanta office. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52484ef3-c081-43ff-b514-9c23fc8741ed Steves knowledge of international business, specifically in the consumer and healthcare industries, makes him an outstanding addition to our U.S. team, said Trina Gordon, President and CEO of Boyden. His global expertise further underscores our commitment, as a worldwise firm, to provide clients with exceptional global and regional insight and the right leadership. Most recently, Nilsen was a partner with a national executive search firm, where he specialized in the placement of C-level executives in the consumer and healthcare sectors. Prior to his career in executive search, Nilsen served in a variety of management roles for The Coca-Cola Company in Bogota, Oslo, London and Stockholm. He has also held general management and lead marketing roles with a number of other organizations over the course of two decades, including Bloomin Brands and AFC Inc. (Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen). With over 20 years of global experience in Europe, Latin America and the U.S., Steve brings an important added dimension to our capabilities in the U.S. and for our global assignments, said Robert Travis, a Managing Partner in the United States and Canada. Were thrilled that hes chosen Boyden and excited to begin working with him. Steve holds a bachelors degree in English literature from UCLA and a masters degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He is fluent in Scandinavian languages, English and Spanish, and proficient in Italian, Portuguese and German. About Boyden Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 65 offices in over 40 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. For further information, visit www.boyden.com. New Delhi, Feb 6 : Delhi Police arrested a wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 during a shootout in the national capital early on Monday, police said. The shootout took place around 2.30 a.m. near Eros hotel in Nehru Place when a police team tried to stop the criminals. Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya told IANS that the police retaliated after the criminals, Akbar and his brother-in-law Asif, started firing to evade arrest. The police intercepted them while they were going on a bike to Govindpuri area via Nehru Place to meet one of their associates. "After the shootout near Nehru Place Metro Station, Akbar, was arrested, while Asif managed to escape," he said. The officer said Akbar, 22, was a notorious robber and snatcher of the Satte gang. "He is wanted in many cases of robbery, theft, snatching, extortion and attempt to murder," he said. Baaniya said that two policemen who were hit in the gunfight escaped without injuries as they were wearing bullet-proof jackets. Police fired 5 rounds, while the accused opened 8 rounds of fire on the police team. "Akbar told police he is a resident of Nand Nagri area and had started his criminal career in 2013 with Asif after he married the latter's younger sister. Akbar was arrested in eight cases and wanted in 14 cases," he said. Asif had been arrested in 16 cases and was wanted in 22 cases. Baaniya said that Akbar, Asif and another of their associates, Mukram, carried a reward of Rs 25,000 each on their head for opening fire at a police party to evade arrest in Pul Prahaladpur in south Delhi in December 2016. The police are on the lookout for Asif and Mukram, the officer said. Chennai, Feb 6 : The date for swearing-in of AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is yet to be finalised, a party spokesperson said on Monday. A Raj Bhavan official here also told IANS that Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, who holds the post of Tamil Nadu Governor as additional charge, has left for Mumbai and there is no plan for him to travel to Chennai on Tuesday. "There is no information (yet) on the swearing-in date," AIADMK spokesperson C.R. Saraswathi told IANS amid speculation that it could be on February 9. Meanwhile the Madras University Centenary Hall is being readied for the swearing in of Sasikala. Rao accepted Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's resignation on Monday. In a letter to Panneerselvam, copies of which were given to the media, Rao said: "I hereby accept your resignation and the resignation of your Council of Ministers tendered vide your letter dated February 5." "I request you and the present Council of Ministers to function until alternate arrangements are made," he added. Panneerselvam tendered his resignation on Sunday to enable Sasikala, who was elected the legislature party leader of AIADMK, to become the third woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. New Delhi, Feb 6 : The deplorable conditions at the Asha Kiran Home for the mentally challenged where 11 inmates have died over the past two months saw the opposition BJP and Congress attack the AAP government on Monday even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ordered the Chief Secretary to file a report on the lapses. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that Kejriwal cannot escape "moral and legal responsibility for mismanagement" of Asha Kiran Home by shifting responsibility to bureaucrats, while the Congress party said the Aam Aadmi Party government had "undone" its work for the mentally challenged. In an official note to Delhi Chief Secretary M.M. Kutty, Kejriwal ordered him to file a report by February 13 and to "personally ensure" that the situation is rectified within a week. Kejriwal's directions came a day after Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal paid a surprise visit to the Asha Kiran Home and found deplorable conditions that had led to the death of 11 inmates. Maliwal noted over-crowding with up to four patients on a single bed, women inmates made to remove clothes in the open while queueing up for bath and walking naked in the corridors, and CCTV cameras being monitored by male staff. She also observed stinking rooms, filthy toilets and excreta and urine in the corridors. Expressing shock, Kejriwal wrote that he was "extremely disturbed" by the reports. "Chief Secretary should personally ensure that all these deficiencies are removed within a week to the satisfaction of DCW," he ordered. He also ordered Kutty to submit a report by Monday evening on how many times the Secretary of Social Welfare and Women and Child Development departments, Dilraj Kaur, visited the Asha Kiran Home and two other homes for mentally challenged in the past. The Chief Minister also asked why the official did not bring the reports of deaths to the notice of the government. "What steps did she take when each death was brought to her notice? What steps did she take to prevent these serious lapses," Kejriwal asked. Responding in the matter, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta accused Kejriwal of "cunningly shifting" the responsibility from politicians to bureaucracy. Referring to the order of the Chief Minister to Chief Secretary, Gupta said: "It speaks of callous behavior of the Chief Minister that he asked the Chief Secretary to report about visits of the Secretary to the home and why deaths were not brought to the notice of the government." "It appears that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister by themselves owe no responsibility to run the home," Gupta added. Congress too attacked the AAP government. Former Social Welfare Minister Kiran Walia told IANS that the Congress, during the Sheila Dikshit regime, had built five 'halfway homes' -- including one in Dwarka and two in Rohini -- in 2013 to house the mentally challenged people. "Family members would leave the mentally challenged people at these homes in the morning and take them away by day-end," she said. She added that the building of Asha Kiran Home in Rohini was expanded and a number of its inmates shifted to a building in Narela for decongestion. "But these people (the current government) completely forgot about these buildings which are in disuse now," she said. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari visited the Asha Kiran Home on Monday, a day after reports of its pathetic conditions surfaced. Vadodara, Feb 6 : A scuffle between two groups of Indian and foreign students on a private university campus near Vadodara left at least 20 youths injured, including nine from abroad, the state police said on Sunday. The injured -- at least one of them seriously -- were admitted to a hospital on the Parul University campus in the Waghodia suburb of Vadodara. Those injured on Sunday night included six from Afghanistan, two from Uganda and one from Congo, and the remaining 11 from India. The police detained 18 students, including eight foreigners, and filed two cross first information reports in the matter. A posse of police maintained a vigil on Monday amid an uneasy calm on the campus. "The scuffle occurred when a group of Indian students was passing by the international hostel. An altercation ensued over a trivial issue, after which both sides summoned their supporters and clashed," Waghodia police station Sub-Inspector Aniruddhsinh Kamadiya said. "We requisitioned additional force to control the situation," he added. The exact cause of the row is yet not clear. University authorities shut down the hostel. "It is a very serious matter. We will take firm action. We are yet to identify some miscreants... they will be put behind bars, irrespective of their nationalities," the police official said. Kamadiya said they will inform the respective embassies about the incident. He said two cases were registered. "Since one of the Indian students was seriously injured, an FIR in this case was registered for attempt to murder and rioting, while the cross-FIR filed on behalf of foreign students mainly related to rioting," he said. N0ew Delhi, Feb 6 : The Afghan envoy to India on Monday said that US President Donald Trump's way to fight radicalisation and global terrorism was the only way to combat it. "The greatest challenge for the region and the world is terrorism and radicalism, And he (Donald Trump) has said that it has to be eradicated," Shaida Mohammad Abdali, the Afghan Ambassador to India, said at a seminar here. "We hope that the policy of the new US administration will be such that engages the countries in the region around Afghanistan and the countries that are sincerely fighting terrorism. India has always been at the forefront of that," he added. Terming Afghanistan as a linchpin to regional stability owing to its geographic location, Abdali said that Afghanistan should be mainstreamed into regional economic cooperation to bring peace and security. Speaking on the role of China in the stability of Afghanistan, the envoy said: "We would like to utilise their resources and their potential. When it comes to their relationship with Pakistan, we hope they will be able to influence for productive engagement for peace." Talking on the peace deal with militant Hezb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hikmatyar, Abdali said: "It's a good beginning for us when it comes to peace process. We hope that this will be used as a positive step towards engaging the Taliban and our neighbour Pakistan for successful peace process." In September last year, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani signed a peace accord with Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The United Nations at the request of the Afghan government dropped sanctions against Hekmatyar on February 4. Washington, Feb 7 : A US raid in Yemen last week missed its primary target -- an Al Qaeda leader considered the third most dangerous terrorist in the world -- who survived and is now taunting President Donald Trump in an audio message, according to a news report. Military and intelligence officials told NBC News on Monday that the goal of the massive operation was to capture or kill Qassim al-Rimi. But while one US service member -- Chief Petty Officer William Owens, a Navy SEAL (sea, air, and land), 14 Al Qaeda militants and some civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed during a firefight, al-Rimi is still alive and in Yemen. On Sunday, al-Rimi, who landed on the US' most-wanted terrorist list after taking over Al Qaeda's Yemen affiliate in 2015, released an audio recording that military sources said was authentic. "The fool of the White House got slapped at the beginning of his road in your lands," he said in an apparent reference to the January 29 raid. According to the officials, it was not clear whether al-Rimi was at the Al Qaeda camp but escaped when SEAL Team 6 and United Arab Emirates (UAE) commandos descended, whether he happened to be elsewhere, or whether he was even tipped off. Military officials told NBC News that it was the prospect of taking out al-Rimi that convinced the US chain of command that the mission was worth the risk. The so-called "package" for the mission was larger than any counter-terrorism strike since the 2011 killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden: two dozen SEALs, backed up by 30 to 40 other Americans on the ground and in the air. A half-dozen Yemeni soldiers and a dozen UAE commandos who had developed the intelligence leading to the target were also involved, and a Marine Corps Quick Reaction Force was waiting offshore, the officials said. A senior US intelligence official told NBC News that "almost everything went wrong" once the raid got underway. Occupants of the targeted house were alerted by something - possibly a barking dog, a drone crash or walkie-talkie chatter. The raiding force on the ground came under fire, and fighting erupted around houses where women and children were staying, with some armed women firing on the US and UAE forces, the official added. London, Feb 7 : At least 13,000 opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were secretly hanged in a government jail, where mass executions of up to 50 people at a time occur every week, the Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday. The mass hangings took at Saydnaya military prison near Damascus between 2011 and 2015 - and there are clear indications that they are still ongoing, according to the 48-page report, "Human slaughterhouse: Mass hangings and extermination at Saydnaya prison, Syria". The executions take place after one- or two-minute lawyer-less "trials" using "confessions" extracted through torture, the report said. Harrowing accounts of survivors led the London-based NGO to conclude that the suffering and appalling conditions at Saydnaya have been deliberately inflicted on detainees as a policy of "extermination", the report said. "On top of these extrajudicial executions, the Syrian authorities are deliberately inflicting brutally inhuman conditions on Saydnaya detainees, with systematic torture, deprivation of food, water, medicine and medical care," it said. According to Amnesty, the Sadnaya hangings follow a set procedure. Carried out in the middle of night and often twice a week, usually on Mondays and Wednesdays, those whose names are called out are told that they would be transferred to civilian prisons in Syria. Instead, they are moved to a cell in the basement of the prison and severely beaten over the course of two to three hours (the intensity of the beatings is such that one former detainee described people "screaming like they had lost their minds"). The prisoners are then transported to another prison building (the "White Building") on the grounds of Saydnaya, where they are ultimately hanged in the basement. Throughout the process, they remain blindfolded. They are informed they have been sentenced to death only minutes before the execution, the NGO added. After execution, the bodies are secretly buried in mass graves. Their families are given no information about their fate. Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty International's regional office in Beirut, said: "The horrors depicted in this report reveal a hidden, monstrous campaign, authorised at the highest levels of the Syrian government, aimed at crushing any form of dissent within the Syrian population." "The cold-blooded killing of thousands of defenceless prisoners, along with the carefully crafted and systematic programmes of psychological and physical torture that are in place inside Saydnaya Prison cannot be allowed to continue." Chennai, Feb 7 : Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK needs to evolve a collective leadership to galvanise its cadres, who are against the present dispensation, and move forward, a former MP has said. "At the ground level, the cadres are not for the current dispensation at the party's top leadership. The days of the party revolving around a single individual - example party founder and Chief Minister late M.G.Ramachandran (MGR) and his successor General Secretary and late Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa - are over," former Lok Sabha member K.C. Palaniswamy told IANS. The lack of massive support at the grass root level for General Secretary V.K. Sasikala is evident across the state where her posters and banners are being torn down. "Look at this. Ever since AIADMK legislators elected Sasikala as the leader of the legislature party so that she can become the Chief Minister, the social media is full of anti-Sasikala comments. None of the party members seems to be in a mood to defend her online," Palaniswamy said. According to him, the party had collective leadership when M.G. Ramachandran was ill in 1984 and the party faced the assembly polls and won. Palaniswamy and other AIADMK leaders agreed that Sasikala could have waited for some time before rushing forward. "The party could have held an election for the post of General Secretary. If she had won then there would not be such opposition to Sasikala," Palaniswamy said. A senior party leader, on condition of anonymity told IANS: "Over a period, the Sasikala clan put its people in all the party posts. In the government also they have put their people." He said the party seniors had to agree to Sasikala's leadership to protect the party from breaking up and prevent its cadres being poached. Though it is said Sasikala was a close aide to Jayalalithaa, people within and outside the party knew that the former was playing a key political role from the background. "If Jayalalithaa believes in a person then she will not change her belief. That seems to have worked in favour of Sasikala," he added. According to Palaniswamy, the Sasikala juggernaut would have waited for some time had only Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam asked her to wait for some time as the mood was against her. The former MP does not forsee a split in the party but the disenchantment of the cadres with the current leadership could impact the party's fortunes during the local body elections. However he agreed that there is a negative view against the party owing to the recent developments. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader told IANS: "The AIADMK now runs the risk of losing sizeable genetically anti-DMK votes. Now people would compare between Sasikala and (DMK acting head M.K.) Stalin. Given the current mood, Stalin may be preferred over Sasikala." "Collective leadership is ideal for all political parties but it will not happen in AIADMK now. The current leadership will be tested only at the polls," political analyst Gnani Shankaran told IANS. Damascus, Feb 8 : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a cooperation between Russia and the US would be positive, not only for Syria, but the entire world as well, state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday. Speaking to Belgium reporters in Damascus, Assad said the remarks of US President Donald Trump were "promising," as Trump regarded the war on terror, mainly the Islamic State (IS) group, in his presidential campaign, while also noted that it's still too soon to judge such remarks, Xinhua reported. He said that prioritising fighting terror as mentioned by Trump was what the Syrian government has been calling for since the beginning of the war in Syria six years ago. Assad's remarks came as President Trump has made clear in his campaign that he would cooperate with Russia in the war on terror, but that hasn't been materialised yet, at least publicly. Russia also seems to favour Trump over his processor, pertaining to the need to put an end to the growing threat of the terror-designated groups in Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that his country believes that the efforts of the Trump administration in fighting terrorism will be more efficient than that of former President Barack Obama. For his part, Assad pointed out "two components" for peace, the first is fighting terrorism and halting all support to it, and the second is the intra-Syrian talks to determine the future of the country. Naples, Feb 8 : Anti-mafia police in Naples on Tuesday arrested a suspect accused of extortion against Bangladeshi immigrants in the southern Italian city. The suspect, named as A.D.C. was put under house arrest as part of the operation which was carried out on the orders of Naples anti-mafia magistrates. Tuesday's operation followed an investigation into alleged intimidation of Bangladeshis living in the town of San Gennaro Vesuviano on the eastern outskirts of Naples aimed at extorting money from them. Intimidatory acts reported to police by the local Bangladeshi community including gluing up the entrance to a building they used as a mosque A.D.C. led the intimidation, introducing himself as"the boss of San Gennaro", prosecutors said. The ruthless workings of the Camorra, one of Italy's oldest and most violent mafias, were laid bare by Roberto Saviano's best-selling book 'Gomorrah' and the award-winning film of the same name. The Camorra's main sources of revenue include drug trafficking, extortion, arms trading, prostitution and waste disposal. Second Quarter recurring fee revenue growth driven by acquisition of NACC and 6% organic growth Record second quarter Closed sales up 15% Reaffirming guidance for recurring fee revenues, Adjusted EPS and Closed sales; revising guidance for total revenues and Diluted EPS LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended December 31, 2016 of its fiscal year 2017. Summary Financial Results Second Quarter Six Months Dollars in millions, except per share data 2017 2016 Change 2017 2016 Change Total revenues $ 893 $ 639 40 % $ 1,788 $ 1,234 45 % Recurring fee revenues 536 399 34 % 1,053 792 33 % Operating income 59 70 (16 %) 125 129 (3 %) Operating income margin 6.6 % 11.0 % 7.0 % 10.5 % Adjusted operating income - Non-GAAP 84 80 6 % 166 148 12 % Adjusted operating income margin - Non-GAAP 9.4 % 12.5 % 9.3 % 12.0 % Diluted EPS $ 0.25 $ 0.33 (24 %) $ 0.52 $ 0.61 (15 %) Adjusted EPS - Non-GAAP $ 0.39 $ 0.38 3 % $ 0.75 $ 0.71 6 % Closed sales $ 56 $ 49 15 % $ 77 $ 66 18 % Broadridge delivered another solid quarter, said Rich Daly, Broadridges President and Chief Executive Officer. We reported strong revenue growth, driven by the acquisition of NACC and organic growth of our recurring fee revenues. We also continued to benefit from strong momentum in Closed sales, which positions us well to sustain growth going forward. Our success reflects the breadth of our products and the depth of our relationships with industry-leading clients." We are well on track to achieve our three year financial objectives and our fiscal 2017 key guidance metrics of recurring fee revenue growth of 29% to 31%, Adjusted EPS growth of 12% to 17%, and Closed sales in the range of $140 million to $180 million, Mr. Daly concluded. Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Guidance The Company updated its guidance for fiscal year 2017: Broadridge 2017 Financial Guidance Current Prior Recurring fee revenue growth 29-31% * * Total revenue growth 40-42% 43-45% Adjusted operating income margin - Non-GAAP ~15% * * Diluted earnings per share growth 2-7% 9-14% Adjusted earnings per share growth - Non-GAAP 12-17% * * Free cash flow - Non-GAAP $350-400M * * Closed sales $140-180M * * Segments: ICS Total revenue growth 50-52% 55-57% ICS Pre-tax margin ~12% ~14% GTO Total revenue growth 6-9% 4-6% GTO Pre-tax margin ~19.5% ~18.5% * * = unchanged Financial Results for Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Revenues Revenues for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 increased 40% to $893 million, from $639 million for the prior year period. Revenues from acquisitions contributed $273 million of this total increase, with the revenues of the North American Customer Communications business acquired from DST Systems, Inc. ("NACC") contributing $267 million. Recurring fee revenues rose 34% to $536 million from $399 million. The increase in recurring fee revenues reflected organic growth of 6%, including 4% from Net New Business and 2% from internal growth. Acquisitions accounted for the remainder of the increase, including $106 million from the acquisition of NACC. Distribution revenues rose $149 million, or 76%, to $346 million, largely driven by the acquisition of NACC. Event-driven revenues declined 48% to $30 million from $57 million. Changes in foreign currency rates lowered Broadridge's revenue by $6 million as compared to the prior year period. Operating Income For the second quarter of fiscal year 2017: Operating income was $59 million, a decrease of $11 million, or 16%, compared to $70 million for the prior year period, driven by a decline in event-driven revenue and higher acquisition-related amortization expense primarily due to the acquisition of NACC. Operating income margin decreased to 6.6%, compared to 11.0% for the prior year period. Adjusted operating income was $84 million, an increase of $4 million, or 6%, compared to $80 million for the prior year period. Adjusted operating income margin decreased to 9.4%, compared to 12.5% for the prior year period. Interest Expense and Other Non-operating Expenses Interest expense, net for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 was $11 million, an increase of $4 million, or 66%, compared to $6 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to higher interest expense driven by higher indebtedness. Other non-operating expenses, net were essentially unchanged at $2 million. Net Earnings and Earnings per Share For the second quarter of fiscal year 2017: Net earnings decreased 25% to $30 million, compared to $40 million for the prior year period. Adjusted net earnings were essentially unchanged at $47 million, compared to $46 million for the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share decreased 24% to $0.25, compared to $0.33 for the prior year period. Adjusted earnings per share increased 3% to $0.39 from $0.38 for the prior year period. Segment and Other Results for Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Investor Communication Solutions ("ICS") ICS revenues for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 increased $238 million, or 50%, to $710 million, compared to $472 million in the prior year period. Revenues from the acquisition of NACC contributed $267 million of this total increase. ICS recurring fee revenues in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 rose $116 million, or 53%, to $334 million. The increase reflected: (i) contributions from our recent acquisitions (49pts), including (48pts) from the NACC acquisition; and (ii) Net New Business (4pts). ICS distribution revenues rose $149 million, or 76%, to $346 million. Event-driven revenues declined $27 million to $30 million, largely as a result of lower mutual fund proxy volumes. Position growth compared to the same period in the prior year, which is a component of internal growth, was 1% for mutual fund interims and 4% for annual equity proxy communications. ICS earnings before income taxes declined $28 million, or 61%, to $18 million. The decline was primarily due to lower event-driven fee revenues and higher amortization related to the acquisitions of NACC and the Inveshare technology assets. Pre-tax margins decreased by 7.2 percentage points to 2.6%. Global Technology and Operations ("GTO") GTO revenues for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 increased $22 million, or 12%, to $202 million, compared to $180 million in the prior year period. The increase was attributable to higher Net New Business (4pts), internal growth from higher trade and non-trade activity levels (4pts) and revenue from recent acquisitions (3pts). GTO earnings before income taxes rose $17 million, or 57%, to $46 million, reflecting strong revenue growth and recent efficiency initiatives. Pre-tax margins increased by 6.6 percentage points to 22.9%. Other Other Pre-tax loss increased by $5 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 to $21 million from $16 million in the prior year period. The biggest contributor to the increased loss was a $4 million increase in net interest expense. Additional Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Events Acquisition of M&O Systems On November 4, 2016, Broadridge completed the acquisition of M&O Systems, Inc. (M&O). M&O is a provider of SaaS-based compensation management and related solutions for broker-dealers and registered investment advisors. The aggregate purchase price was $25 million in cash, subject to customary working capital and other closing adjustments. Financial Results for the Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 Revenues Revenues for the six months ended December 31, 2016 ("six months fiscal 2017") increased 45% to $1,788 million, from $1,234 million for the prior year period. Revenues from acquisitions contributed $551 million of this total increase, with the revenues of NACC contributing $539 million. Recurring fee revenues rose 33% to $1,053 million from $792 million. The increase in recurring fee revenues reflected: contributions from our recent acquisitions (28pts), including $212 million from the acquisition of NACC, gains from Net New Business (4pts) and internal growth (1pt). Distribution revenues rose $330 million, or 89%, to $702 million, largely driven by the acquisition of NACC. Changes in foreign currency rates lowered Broadridge's revenue by $10 million as compared to the prior year period. Operating Income For six months fiscal 2017: Operating income was $125 million, a decrease of $4 million, or 3%, compared to $129 million for the prior year period. Operating income margin decreased to 7.0%, compared to 10.5% for the prior year period. Adjusted operating income was $166 million, an increase of $18 million, or 12%, compared to $148 million for the prior year period. Adjusted operating income margin decreased to 9.3%, compared to 12.0% for the prior year period. The decrease in Operating income and increase in Adjusted operating income was primarily due to the acquisition of NACC. Interest Expense and Other Non-operating Expenses Interest expense, net for six months fiscal 2017 was $21 million, an increase of $8 million, or 65%, compared to $13 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to higher interest expense driven by higher indebtedness. Other non-operating expenses, net were $7 million, an increase of $3 million, primarily due to higher foreign currency transaction losses. Net Earnings and Earnings per Share For six months fiscal 2017: Net earnings decreased 14% to $64 million, compared to $74 million for the prior year period. Adjusted net earnings increased 5% to $91 million, compared to $86 million for the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share decreased 15% to $0.52, compared to $0.61 for the prior year period. Adjusted earnings per share increased 6% to $0.75 from $0.71 for the prior year period. Segment and Other Results for Six Months Fiscal 2017 Investor Communication Solutions ("ICS") ICS revenues for six months fiscal 2017 increased $532 million, or 59%, to $1,433 million, compared to $901 million in the prior year period. Revenues from acquisitions contributed $542 million of this total increase, with NACC revenues contributing $539 million. ICS recurring fee revenues rose $229 million, or 53%, to $663 million. The increase reflected: (i) contributions from our recent acquisitions (49pts), including (49pts) from the NACC acquisition; and (ii) Net New Business (4pts). ICS distribution revenues rose $330 million, or 89%, to $702 million. Event-driven revenues declined $28 million to $67 million as a result of lower mutual fund proxy volumes. Position growth compared to the same period in the prior year, which is a component of internal growth, was 1% for mutual fund interims and 2% for annual equity proxy communications. ICS earnings before income taxes declined $29 million, or 36%, to $51 million. The decline was primarily due to lower event-driven fee revenues and higher amortization related to the acquisitions of NACC and the Inveshare technology assets. Pre-tax margins decreased by 5.3 percentage points to 3.6%. Global Technology and Operations ("GTO") GTO revenues for six months fiscal 2017 increased $33 million, or 9%, to $390 million, compared to $357 million in the prior year period. The increase was attributable to higher Net New Business (4pts), revenue from recent acquisitions (3pts) and internal growth from higher trade and non-trade activity levels (2pts). GTO earnings before income taxes rose $25 million, or 41%, to $85 million, reflecting robust revenue growth and efficiency initiatives. Pre-tax margins increased by 5.0 percentage points to 21.7%. Other Other Pre-tax loss increased by $14 million for six months fiscal 2017 to $44 million from $30 million in the prior year period. The biggest contributor to the increased loss was an $8 million increase in net interest expense. Subsequent Event - Revolving Credit Facility Amendment In February 2017, the Company entered into an amended and restated $1 billion five-year revolving credit facility, which replaced the $750 million five-year revolving credit facility entered into in August 2014. The Fiscal 2017 Revolving Credit Facility is comprised of a $900 million U.S. dollar tranche and a $100 million multicurrency tranche. Earnings Conference Call An analyst conference call will be held today, Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. ET. A live webcast of the call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis. To listen to the live event and access the slide presentation, visit Broadridges Investor Relations website at www.broadridge-ir.com prior to the start of the webcast. To listen to the call, investors may also dial 1-844-316-2037 within the United States and international callers may dial 1-213-785-7185. A replay of the webcast will be available and can be accessed in the same manner as the live webcast at the Broadridge Investor Relations site. Through February 22, 2017, the recording will also be available by dialing 1-855-859-2056 passcode: 16509431 within the United States or 1-404-537-3406 passcode: 16509431 for international callers. Explanation and Reconciliation of the Companys Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures The Companys results in this press release are presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP except where otherwise noted. In certain circumstances, results have been presented that are not generally accepted accounting principles measures (Non-GAAP). These Non-GAAP measures are Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Operating income margin, Adjusted Net earnings, Adjusted earnings per share, and Free cash flow. These Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the Companys reported results. The Company believes our Non-GAAP financial measures help investors understand how management plans, measures and evaluates the Companys business performance. Management believes that Non-GAAP measures provide consistency in its financial reporting and facilitates investors understanding of the Companys operating results and trends by providing an additional basis for comparison. Management uses these Non-GAAP financial measures to, among other things, evaluate our ongoing operations, for internal planning and forecasting purposes and in the calculation of performance-based compensation. In addition, and as a consequence of the importance of these Non-GAAP financial measures in managing our business, the Companys Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors incorporates Non-GAAP financial measures in the evaluation process for determining management compensation. Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Earnings per Share These Non-GAAP measures reflect Operating income, Operating income margin, Net earnings, and Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted to exclude the impact of certain costs, expenses, gains and losses and other specified items that management believes are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance. These adjusted measures exclude the impact of Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property, and Acquisition and Integration Costs. Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property represents non-cash expenses associated with the Company's acquisition activities. Acquisition and Integration Costs represent certain transaction and integration costs associated with the Companys acquisition activities. We exclude Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property, and Acquisition and Integration Costs from these measures because excluding such information provides us with an understanding of the results from the primary operations of our business and these items do not reflect ordinary operations or earnings. Management believes these measures may be useful to an investor in evaluating the underlying operating performance of our business. Free Cash Flow In addition to the Non-GAAP financial measures discussed above, we provide Free cash flow information because we consider Free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated that could be used for dividends, share repurchases, strategic acquisitions and other discretionary investments. Free cash flow is a Non-GAAP financial measure and is defined by the Company as Net cash flows provided by operating activities less Capital expenditures and Software purchases and capitalized internal use software. Reconciliations of such Non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP can be found in the tables that are part of this press release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and other written or oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Broadridge may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature, and which may be identified by the use of words such as expects, assumes, projects, anticipates, estimates, we believe, could be and other words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. In particular, information appearing in the Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Guidance section are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on managements expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. These risks and uncertainties include those risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 (the 2016 Annual Report), as they may be updated in any future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in the 2016 Annual Report. These risks include: the success of Broadridge in retaining and selling additional services to its existing clients and in obtaining new clients; Broadridges reliance on a relatively small number of clients, the continued financial health of those clients, and the continued use by such clients of Broadridges services with favorable pricing terms; changes in laws and regulations affecting Broadridges clients or the services provided by Broadridge; any material breach of Broadridge security affecting its clients customer information; declines in participation and activity in the securities markets; the failure of Broadridges outsourced data center services provider to provide the anticipated levels of service; a disaster or other significant slowdown or failure of Broadridges systems or error in the performance of Broadridges services; overall market and economic conditions and their impact on the securities markets; Broadridges failure to keep pace with changes in technology and demands of its clients; Broadridges ability to attract and retain key personnel; the impact of new acquisitions and divestitures; and competitive conditions. Broadridge disclaims any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than as required by law. About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) is a leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for banks, broker-dealers, mutual funds and corporate issuers. Broadridges investor and customer communications, securities processing and managed services solutions help clients reduce their capital investments in operations infrastructure, allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities. With over 50 years of experience, Broadridges infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 90% of public companies and mutual funds in North America, and processes on average over $5 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day. Broadridge employs approximately 10,000 associates in 16 countries. For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Revenues $ 892.6 $ 638.9 $ 1,787.9 $ 1,233.7 Operating expenses: Cost of revenues 707.8 464.5 1,425.7 903.1 Selling, general and administrative expenses 126.0 104.2 237.3 201.3 Total operating expenses 833.8 568.7 1,663.1 1,104.4 Operating income 58.8 70.2 124.9 129.3 Interest expense, net 10.6 6.4 21.0 12.7 Other non-operating expenses, net 2.5 2.4 6.7 3.6 Earnings before income taxes 45.7 61.3 97.2 113.0 Provision for income taxes 15.6 21.1 33.4 39.2 Net earnings $ 30.1 $ 40.2 $ 63.8 $ 73.8 Basic earnings per share $ 0.25 $ 0.34 $ 0.54 $ 0.62 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.25 $ 0.33 $ 0.52 $ 0.61 Weighted-average shares outstanding: Basic 118.7 118.5 118.6 118.4 Diluted 121.5 122.0 121.5 121.9 Dividends declared per common share $ 0.33 $ 0.30 $ 0.66 $ 0.60 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) December 31, 2016 June 30, 2016 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 235.7 $ 727.7 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3.0 and $2.3, respectively 515.5 453.4 Other current assets 148.1 108.0 Total current assets 899.4 1,289.1 Property, plant and equipment, net 145.5 112.2 Goodwill 1,139.6 999.3 Intangible assets, net 485.9 210.3 Other non-current assets 296.8 261.8 Total assets $ 2,967.3 $ 2,872.7 Liabilities and Stockholders Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 124.9 $ 124.8 Accounts payable 140.6 133.2 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 294.2 352.2 Deferred revenues 78.5 82.7 Total current liabilities 638.2 692.9 Long-term debt, excluding current portion 1,081.1 890.7 Deferred taxes 72.8 61.6 Deferred revenues 71.6 70.3 Other non-current liabilities 117.7 111.8 Total liabilities 1,981.5 1,827.3 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders equity: Preferred stock: Authorized, 25.0 shares; issued and outstanding, none Common stock, $0.01 par value: 650.0 shares authorized; 154.5 and 154.5 shares issued, respectively; and 118.2 and 118.3 shares outstanding, respectively 1.6 1.6 Additional paid-in capital 951.6 901.2 Retained earnings 1,283.5 1,297.8 Treasury stock, at cost: 36.3 and 36.2 shares, respectively (1,189.9 ) (1,116.9 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (60.9 ) (38.2 ) Total stockholders equity 985.8 1,045.5 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 2,967.3 $ 2,872.7 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Abridged Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In millions) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 Cash Flows From Operating Activities Net earnings $ 63.8 $ 73.8 Adjustments to reconcile Net earnings to Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 34.5 25.8 Amortization of acquired intangibles and purchased intellectual property 33.1 16.2 Amortization of other assets 15.2 12.5 Stock-based compensation expense 22.8 22.2 Deferred income taxes (8.9 ) (13.8 ) Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation awards (22.0 ) (5.5 ) Other 5.3 4.3 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets and liabilities acquired: Current assets and liabilities: Decrease in Accounts receivable, net 29.3 36.7 Increase in Other current assets (22.8 ) (20.5 ) Decrease in Accounts payable (1.9 ) (14.0 ) Decrease in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (100.2 ) (68.1 ) Decrease in Deferred revenues (5.5 ) (6.3 ) Non-current assets and liabilities: Increase in Other non-current assets (57.4 ) (23.8 ) Increase in Other non-current liabilities 9.3 3.2 Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities (5.5 ) 42.6 Cash Flows From Investing Activities Capital expenditures (19.9 ) (28.7 ) Software purchases and capitalized internal use software (12.1 ) (8.2 ) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (428.4 ) (13.3 ) Purchase of intellectual property (90.0 ) Equity method investment (3.0 ) (1.8 ) Net cash flows used in investing activities (553.4 ) (52.0 ) Cash Flows From Financing Activities Proceeds from Long-term debt 230.0 105.0 Repayments on Long-term debt (40.0 ) (40.0 ) Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation awards 22.0 5.5 Dividends paid (74.0 ) (67.4 ) Purchases of Treasury stock (101.2 ) (10.6 ) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 34.0 11.0 Payment of contingent consideration liabilities (1.0 ) Costs related to issuance of bonds (0.7 ) Net cash flows provided by financing activities 70.2 2.5 Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents (3.3 ) (12.2 ) Net change in Cash and cash equivalents (492.0 ) (19.0 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 727.7 324.1 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 235.7 $ 305.1 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Segment Results (In millions) (Unaudited) Segment results: Revenues Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (in millions) Investor Communication Solutions $ 709.6 $ 471.7 $ 1,432.9 $ 901.4 Global Technology and Operations 201.8 180.3 389.6 357.0 Foreign currency exchange (18.8 ) (13.0 ) (34.6 ) (24.7 ) Total $ 892.6 $ 638.9 $ 1,787.9 $ 1,233.7 Earnings (Loss) before Income Taxes Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (in millions) Investor Communication Solutions $ 18.2 $ 46.1 $ 51.1 $ 80.0 Global Technology and Operations 46.3 29.4 84.6 59.8 Other (20.8 ) (15.7 ) (43.6 ) (29.6 ) Foreign currency exchange 2.0 1.5 5.2 2.8 Total $ 45.7 $ 61.3 $ 97.2 $ 113.0 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Measures (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (in millions) Operating income (GAAP) $ 58.8 $ 70.2 $ 124.9 $ 129.3 Adjustments: Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property 20.4 8.1 33.1 16.2 Acquisition and Integration Costs 5.0 1.5 7.8 2.7 Adjusted Operating income (Non-GAAP) $ 84.2 $ 79.7 $ 165.8 $ 148.2 Operating income margin (GAAP) 6.6 % 11.0 % 7.0 % 10.5 % Adjusted Operating income margin (Non-GAAP) 9.4 % 12.5 % 9.3 % 12.0 % Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (in millions) Net earnings (GAAP) $ 30.1 $ 40.2 $ 63.8 $ 73.8 Adjustments: Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property 20.4 8.1 33.1 16.2 Acquisition and Integration Costs 5.0 1.5 7.8 2.7 Tax impact of adjustments (8.7 ) (3.3 ) (14.1 ) (6.6 ) Adjusted Net earnings (Non-GAAP) $ 46.8 $ 46.5 $ 90.7 $ 86.1 Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) $ 0.25 $ 0.33 $ 0.52 $ 0.61 Adjustments: Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property 0.17 0.07 0.27 0.13 Acquisition and Integration Costs 0.04 0.01 0.06 0.02 Tax impact of adjustments (0.07 ) (0.03 ) (0.12 ) (0.05 ) Adjusted earnings per share (Non-GAAP) $ 0.39 $ 0.38 $ 0.75 $ 0.71 Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 2015 (in millions) Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities (GAAP) $ (5.5 ) $ 42.6 Capital expenditures and Software purchases and capitalized internal use software (32.0 ) (36.9 ) Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) $ (37.5 ) $ 5.7 Note: Amounts may not sum due to rounding. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Measures Adjusted Earnings Per Share Growth, Adjusted Operating Income Margin and Free Cash Flow Fiscal Year 2017 Guidance (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Adjusted Earnings Per Share Growth Rate (1) Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) 2% - 7% growth Adjusted earnings per share (Non-GAAP) 12% - 17% growth Adjusted Operating Income Margin (2) Operating income margin % (GAAP) ~13% Adjusted Operating income margin % (Non-GAAP) ~15% Free Cash Flow Net cash flows provided by operating activities (GAAP) $470 - $550 Capital expenditures and Software purchases and capitalized internal use software (120) - (150) Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) $350 - $400 (1) Adjusted EPS growth (Non-GAAP) is adjusted to exclude the projected impact of Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property, and Acquisition and Integration Costs, and is calculated using diluted shares outstanding. Fiscal year 2017 Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS guidance estimates exclude Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property, and Acquisition and Integration Costs, net of taxes, of approximately $0.47 per share. (2) Adjusted Operating income margin (Non-GAAP) is adjusted to exclude the projected impact of Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property, and Acquisition and Integration Costs. Fiscal year 2017 Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating income margin guidance estimates exclude Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property, and Acquisition and Integration Costs of approximately $87 million. United Nations, Feb 8 : The UN political chief warned on Tuesday that Islamic State terrorist group is adapting to increasing military pressure by shifting to the "dark web." Jeffrey Feltman, the UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, made the remarks when he was briefing the UN Security Council on the UN chief's latest report on the threat posed by the IS to international peace and security, Xinhua reported. Feltman said that IS was adapting in several ways to military pressure by resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using the "dark web," encryption and messengers. The report stressed that IS was on the defensive militarily in several regions. "Although its income and the territory under its control are shrinking, IS still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," Feltman said. Feltman noted that IS relies mainly on income from extortion and hydrocarbon exploitation, even though resources from the latter are on the decline. UN member states are concerned that the IS would try to expand other sources of income, such as kidnapping for ransom, and increase its reliance on donations, he said. While the previous reports on the subject have focused on Southeast Asia, Yemen and East Africa, Libya and Afghanistan, the report, which is the fourth on this subject, zeroes in on Europe, North Africa and West Africa. It noted that the IS has conducted a range of attacks in Europe since declaring in 2014 its intent to target the region. Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by IS personnel, while others were enabled by IS providing guidance or assistance or were inspired through its propaganda. Los Angeles, Feb 8 : Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has suggested that villain Thanos could be seen as a main character in their upcoming film "Avengers: Infinity War". "Thanos in 'Infinity War' is-in a movie that has a lot of characters, you could almost go so far as to say he is the main character," said Feige, reports aceshowbiz.com. "And that's a bit of a departure from what we've done before, but that was appropriate for a movie called 'Infinity War'." "Avengers: Infinity War" will bring back Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. They will be joined by "Guardians of the Galaxy" stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan and Dave Bautista. "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage is also starring and is speculated to play MODOK, while Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise his role as Doctor Strange. "Infinity War" and its untitled sequel are planned to be filmed back-to-back, with Atlanta and Scotland as their settings. The superhero movie is set to hit the US screens on May 4, 2018. Washington, Feb 8 : US President Donald Trump has expressed his commitment to NATO and bilateral cooperation with Spain during a telephone call with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a media report said on Wednesday. They also discussed the fight against the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), Efe news reported. Trump and Rajoy spoke on Tuesday for about 15 minutes to reaffirm their strong bilateral alliance regarding a series of mutual interests, according to a White House statement. The statement said both leaders discussed shared priorities on security, economics; with Trump emphasising on the importance of all NATO allies sharing the burden of defence spending. The Spanish government previously reported the content of the call, which began around 3.45 p.m. in Washington DC. According to Rajoy's office, the Prime Minister told Trump that Spain was in the best situation to be an interlocutor for the US in Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. When Trump brought up the future of the European Union in light of Brexit, Rajoy said he was confident of a strong EU integration in the coming months and assured Trump that Spain would work towards that end. Rajoy and Trump also discussed the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in May in Brussels, which will be their first personal encounter. Washington, Feb 8 : Angry at civilian casualties incurred recently in the first commando raid authorised by President Donald Trump, Yemen has withdrawn permission to the US to run ground operations on its soil, a media report said on Wednesday. Grisly photographs of children apparently killed in the crossfire of a 50-minute firefight during the raid caused outrage in Yemen, New York Times quoted US officials in its report. A member of the Navy's SEAL Team 6, Chief Petty Officer William Owens, was also killed in the operation. While the White House continues to insist that the attack was a "success", the suspension of commando operations is a setback for Trump, who has made it clear he plans to take a far more aggressive approach against Islamic militants. It was unclear if Yemen's decision to halt the ground attacks was also influenced by Trump's inclusion of the country on his list of nations from which he wants to temporarily suspend all immigration, an executive order that is now being challenged in the federal courts. It also calls into question whether the Pentagon would receive permission from the President for far more autonomy in selecting and executing its counterterrorism missions in Yemen. The White House continued its defence of the raid on Tuesday, making no reference to the Yemeni reaction. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, denied reports that the purpose of the attack was to capture or kill any specific Al Qaeda leader. "The raid that was conducted in Yemen was an intelligence-gathering raid," he said. "That's what it was. It was highly successful. It achieved the purpose it was going to get, save the loss of life that we suffered and the injuries that occurred." Neither the White House nor the Yemenis have publicly announced the suspension. Pentagon spokesmen declined to comment, but other military and civilian officials confirmed that Yemen's reaction had been strong. New Delhi : The peremptory rejection of the shipborne variant of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) by the Indian Navy seems to have surprised most navy-watching analysts. Their confusion has been compounded by the near-simultaneous issuance of a global request for information (RFI) for procurement of "57 multirole fighters for its aircraft carriers" by Naval HQ. One can deduce two compelling reasons for this, seemingly, radical volte face by the only service which has shown unswerving commitment to indigenisation (lately labelled 'Make in India') for the past six decades. Firstly, by exercising a foreclosure option, the navy has administered a well-deserved and stinging rebuke to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for its lethargic and inept performance that has again disappointed our military. The second reason arises from the navy's desperate hurry to freeze the specifications of its second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2). The choice of configuration, size and propulsion of a carrier has a direct linkage with the type of aircraft that will operate from it. This constitutes a "chicken and egg" conundrum -- should one freeze the carrier design first or choose the aircraft first? The Indian Navy has obviously decided the latter. The IAC-2 will enter service in the next decade, at a juncture where a balance-of-power struggle is likely to be underway in this part of the world -- with China and India as the main players. It is only a matter of time before China's carrier task-forces, led by the ex-Russian carrier Liaoning and her successors, follow its nuclear submarines into the Indian Ocean. Since the Indian response to such intimidation will need to be equally robust, the decisions relating to the design and capabilities of IAC-2 (and sisters) assume strategic dimensions. Essentially, there are three options for selection of aircraft for the IAC-2. Conventional take-off and landing types like the US F/A-18 Super Hornet and French Rafale-M that would require a steam catapult for launch and arrester-wires for recovery. The relatively large ship would need either a steam or nuclear plant for propulsion. Types like the Russian Sukhoi-33 and MiG-29K would require only a ski-jump for take-off and arrester-wires for landing. This would mean a smaller ship, driven either by gas turbines or diesel engines. The LCA (Navy) could have been a contender in this category. The F-35B Lightning II version of the US Joint Strike Fighter, capable of vectored-thrust, would require only a ski-jump for take-off, but no arrester wires since it can land vertically. This would result in the simplest and cheapest ship; a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) carrier. Once the navy has selected an aircraft, the ship and its operating and maintenance facilities can be designed around it, avoiding some of the pitfalls encountered on IAC-1. Reverting to the LCA saga -- as far back as the early 1990s, the navy had initiated a study for examining the feasibility of adapting the LCA to shipborne use. While confirming feasibility, the study had revealed some major problem areas, which included lack of engine thrust, requirement of an arrester hook and stronger undercarriage, and need for cockpit/fuselage re-design before the LCA could attempt carrier operations. Undaunted, the navy re-affirmed its faith in the programme by contributing over Rs 400 crore as well as engineers and test pilots to the project. The IAF accepted the Tejas into service, in July 2016, with considerable reservations because it had not been cleared for full operational exploitation and fell short of many qualitative requirements. The prototype LCA (Navy) had rolled out six years earlier, in July 2010, raising great hopes. However, it is obvious that the DRDO failed to address the problems listed above with any urgency, leading to ultimate rejection of this ambitious project. By its failure to deliver on the LCA (Navy), the DRDO has let down its most steadfast supporter amongst the armed forces -- the Indian Navy. A little introspection by those at the helm of this organisation would reveal to them three reasons for its abysmal performance despite a wealth of talent and a network of sophisticated laboratories -- an exaggerated opinion of their capabilities; a lack of intellectual honesty in denying obvious failures and an unwillingness to seek external help when required. Today, India has the ignominious distinction of being the world's biggest importer of military hardware, whereas China counts amongst the world's leading arms exporters and its aeronautical establishment has delivered aircraft ranging from UAVs to 5th generation fighters, helicopters and transports to the PLA. While one would be justified in blaming the scientists and bureaucrats responsible for defence research and production, the root cause of this colossal failure lies in political indifference and the inability to provide vision and firm guidance to our massive but under-performing military-industrial complex. (Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) is a former chief of the Indian Navy. The article is in special arrangement with South Asia Monitor/www.southasiamonitor.org) Vrindavan, Feb 8 : Once famous for its 12 dense forests and hundreds of water bodies, Vrindavan, the "leela-bhoomi", sacred land, of Sri Krishna and his consort Radha, Hinduism's popular divinities, is fast turning into a concrete jungle. "Instead of trees you have multi-storeyed apartment buildings coming up all over. Where are the sacred forests where Sri Krishna frolicked with gopis and thousands of the devout meditated for salvation," asked a Hare Krishna devotee from Russia, not wanting to be named. "The green cover has vanished. The dominant colour is brown and gray today," he lamented. The holy town has several hundred foreign "bhakts" seen chanting "Hare Krishna" while performing the "parikrama"-- circumambulation of sacred places -- along the Yamuna. Local environmentalists blame large-scale construction and extensive sheet-piling activity on the flood-plains of the Yamuna river for the steep decline in the water table of this holy town, visited by millions of Sri Krishna devotees round the year. At most places, the fall has been precipitous, say activists. "The quality of water pumped out has also suffered. In many places, it is muddy and black. The Yamuna remains dry for most part of the year. What flows down is waste, sewerage and industrial effluents from upstream industrial clusters. The odour is noxious," said Madhu Mangal Shukla, a petitioner in the Allahabad High Court, which has stayed construction on the flood-plains. The imminent water crisis ahead of summer has caused anxiety. Local environmentalists say the Yamuna River-Front Development Project of the Uttar Pradesh government on the flood-plains has choked the aquifers. "Metal sheets were inserted 25 feet deep inside the ground in a two kilometre area in front of the heritage ghats of Vrindavan," said heritage conservationist Shravan Kumar Singh. "The groundwater level of Vrindavan is entirely dependent on the Yamuna as the town is surrounded by the river on three sides. The percolation recharge of Vrindavan's ground water is determined by the river's water level. The sheet-piling activity may have impacted the city's water level," he added. The priests, or pandas, of local temples fear that the depleting water table may hit Vrindavan hard, as the city's water supply is largely dependent on the tubewells bored on the banks of the Yamuna. Since the Yamuna's water is unfit for human consumption, it is the 50-odd tubewells along the river which cope with the city's water needs. "Groundwater decline has become a real and serious problem in Vrindavan. Although a large number of tubewells were dug by the municipality to provide water to the residents, no steps have been taken to conserve water," said B.L. Upadhyay, a resident of the Cheer Ghat neighbourhood. "There are 14 wells and a water tank (kund), in our temple. Water supply for all the rituals of the temple is largely dependent on the water of the wells and the kund. We have seen a drastic fall of water level in our water reservoirs. The borewells in many parts of the city have dried up even before the onset of summer," Charchita Rangacharya of the Rangji temple explained. Acharya Naresh Narayan, a senior member of the Braj Vrindavan Heritage Alliance, said: "The floodplains have been a self-recharging and self-sustaining aquifer for the city's water. The illegal dumping of debris, construction rubble and the extension of settlements on the flood-plain are the chief reasons for the groundwater not being adequately recharged. Now, the sheet piling activity has sounded the death knell in the potable water supply of the temple town." The National Green Tribunal and the Allahabad High Court have stayed the River Front project started by the Uttar Pradesh government without expert consultation and NOCs from appropriate authorities, including the Archaeological Survey of India. But the civil works undertaken so far has already fundamentally impacted Vrindavan's fragile ecology. "Unfortunately all over the Braj area, including Goverdhan, Barsana, Gokul and Mathura, one sees unprecedented construction activity, often without permission. The world's tallest Sri Krishna temple being built in Vrindavan could only add to the pressure on scarce water resources," fear green circles here. (Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in) New York, Feb 8 : Though Facebook controls what you see in your News Feed, its lawyer claims not everything can be controlled -- like policing all racist posts -- media reports said. According to a report in Engadget on Wednesday, while defending against a German lawsuit over misuse of photos in fake news, Facebook's attorney said it wasn't possible for Facebook to watch for racist language in every post arguing that there were billions of posts every day, which would require a "wonder machine" to catch every possible instance of abuse. Syrian refugee Anas Modamani recently sued Facebook to have it delete all fake news stories using his image. Modamani had taken a selfie with German Chancellor Angela Merkel which was used by fake news stories, falsely connecting him to terror attacks. But plaintiff Modamani refutes the arguement by citing an example of Volkswagen, claiming: "It couldn't make every car safe, just because there is a large volume of content doesn't mean you're off the hook." Modamani was quoted as saying that Facebook was quick enough to detect nudity. "Why can't Facebook tackle racism and misused photos with similar enthusiasm?" he asked. "Facebook is so far opposed to paying out damages in the case, but it's open to a court-offered proposal that would settle the case by blocking use of the photo in question across Europe," the report noted. Lucknow, Feb 8 : Gorakhpur MP and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mahant Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of protecting and patronising mining mafia in the state. Addressing a press conference in the state capital, the firebrand BJP leader asked the Chief Minister to respond to why he had given ticket to tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati despite serious charges and scathing observations on him by the courts. "Illegal mining has been taking place right under the nose of this government in 30 districts of UP; people are forced to buy expensive construction material like sand because of this. Can the Chief Minister explain what action has he taken against such people?" he asked, and added that Akhilesh Yadav will have to answer these questions. He also slammed the state government for doing nothing to improve law and order in the state and alleged that people have been forced to migrate for employment, for fear of safety. "The BJP assures the people of the state that once voted to power it will ensure that all criminals are not only behind bars but also that the rule of law is established in UP," the Mahant said. Mumbai, Feb 8 : As the political cauldron boils over in Tamil Nadu, state Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao has not finalised plans to go to Chennai, official sources said here on Wednesday. Rao, the Maharashtra governor who has additional charge of Tamil Nadu, would be busy with official commitments till late Wednesday evening and there is no word when he is likely to proceed to Chennai, the sources said. They dubbed as "sheer speculation" reports claiming the Governor was planning to call both the warring factions in Tamil Nadu -- led by caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and interim AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala -- to prove their majority among the ruling party legislators. "The Governor is monitoring the situation closely and when his plans are finalised, it will be announced accordingly," the sources added. Mumbai, Feb 8 : Indian equities markets traded on a flat-to-negative note during the mid-afternoon trade session on Wednesday as caution ahead of the upcoming domestic monetary policy review and broadly negative global cues subdued investors' sentiments. The key indices traded marginally in the red, as selling pressure was witnessed in FMCG, banking and healthcare stocks. The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) inched down 10.30 points or 0.12 per cent to 8,758.00 points. The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,386.08 points, traded at 28,279.19 points (at 1.30 p.m.) -- down 55.97 points or 0.20 per cent, from the previous close at 28,335.16 points. The Sensex has touched a high of 28,391.64 points and a low of 28,274.68 points during intra-day trade so far. In contrast, the BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,445 advances and 1,276 declines. "The markets traded in the flat zone with a negative bias as investors awaited the monetary policy review of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)," Astha Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Hem Securities, told IANS. "Besides, lower crude oil prices and mixed Asian markets also added to the downward trend of the indices." According to Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, the CNX Nifty traded with sideways sentiments due to profit booking. "Banking, pharma and FMCG stocks traded with mixed sentiments due to profit booking," Desai added. On Tuesday, the benchmark indices were dragged lower by negative global cues and profit booking. The NSE Nifty had inched down 32.75 points or 0.37 per cent to 8,768.30 points, while the BSE Sensex was down 104.12 points or 0.37 per cent at 28,335.16 points. NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone Real Estate Advisors today announced it closed over $1 billion in multifamily investment sales in 2016. This volume, which represents the multifamily divisions first full year in operation, caps an active year of expansion during which the team extended its reach and capabilities in affordable housing and market rate multifamily advisory. During 2016, Greystone Real Estate Advisors added several notable sales advisory teams in Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco, further establishing Greystones nationwide presence as a preeminent commercial real estate lending, investment sales and advisory firm. The team expanded its capabilities in affordable housing advisory, with a specialization in Section 8 and LIHTC disposition and redevelopment advisory services, and now has an established presence in regions such as the Bay Area, where tight real estate markets mean a full-service advisor can add significant value. Notable multifamily transactions closed by Greystone Real Estate Advisors in 2016 include: A premier 680-unit multifamily community located in Marietta, GA Two-property portfolio of 270-units located in Michigan 128 Affordable Housing units located in Little Rock, AR With the support of Greystones full-service infrastructure, weve been able to mobilize a network of advisors specializing in affordable and market rate multifamily assets, said Jim McDevitt, President, Greystone Real Estate Advisors. Having access to a premier lending platform at Greystone, which includes Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD, bridge, CMBS and EB-5 financing, our growing team can offer full-service financial advisory to property owners nationwide. We thank our clients for their continued confidence in our ability to both assess and provide for their portfolio investment and finance needs, he added. About Greystone Real Estate Advisors, Inc. As a part of the Greystone group of companies, Greystone Real Estate Advisors provides services in sales, acquisitions, and a full spectrum of advisory services including debt, equity, acquisition, and investment sales to multifamily owners and investors. For more information and to access our available properties, visit www.greycoadvisors.com. About Greystone Greystone is a real estate lending, investment and advisory company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA and Fannie Mae lender in these sectors. Our range of services includes commercial lending across a variety of platforms such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS, FHA, USDA, bridge and proprietary loan products. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc., Greystone Funding Corporation and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greyco.com. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 8 : The 29-day-old student protests at the Kerala Law Academy ended on Wednesday with the management acceding to the demand that Principal Lekshmi Nair be removed and a new principal be appointed. Talks were held on Wednesday under State Education Minister C. Raveendranath with the Academy management and the student leaders of the protesting organisation. The management had given a written assurance, signed by the Minister, that Lekshmi Nair would be removed and a new qualified principal would be appointed. "The talks have been successful. The students agreed to the written assurance given by the management that a new principal having all the prescribed qualifications would be appointed," said Raveendranath. Things turned for the worse on Tuesday night when a 63-year-old onlooker died in the chaos that broke out at the protest venue. A huge crowd had gathered on the main road leading to the academy after a student climbed a tree and threatened to commit suicide if his demands were not met immediately. The student demanded that academy Principal Lekshmi Nair -- whom the protesting students accuse of ill-treatment, and who has been charged under the SC/ST Atrocities Act -- should be arrested and her passport impounded. He also sought that the academy students' demands should be taken up at the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Thiruvananthapuram Sub Collector Divya Iyer assured the student that his demands would be taken up with the higher-ups. As the student agreed to come down from the tree, chaos broke out and stones were pelted. In the melee, 63-year-old onlooker, Abdul Jabbar, collapsed and died. Following this the ruling Left Front's second biggest ally - Communist Party of India (CPI) -- also strongly supported the student protest. On Tuesday night, senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and CPI leaders discussed the issue. On Wednesday morning, the student leaders called on CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran, paving the way for the protest to end. The biggest setback came for the CPI-M-backed SFI, which had withdrawn from the strike last week stating that all demands was accepted. However, other student organisations said the SFI was coerced by the CPI-M to withdraw from the strike. "Even the SFI has signed the agreement that was prepared today," said other student representatives. The director of the Academy, Narayanan Nair, father of Lekshmi Nair said they have advertised for a new principal and the interview will take place on the February 18. "She has resigned as principal but she will continue to be in the service," said Narayanan Nair. Local legislator K. Muraleedharan, whose indefinite fast entered the seventh day on Wednesday, termed it a victory for the students and said he is ending his fast. State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said also termed it a victory for the student community as their demands have been met. "Even though the protest has ended, the other demands with regards to the ownership of the land will continue to be taken up and we will wait for the report that is being prepared," said Sudheeran. State BJP president Kummanem Rajasekheran said their leader V.V. Rajesh, who was also on an indefinite fast, has also called off his fast. Lucknow, Feb 8 : The Congress party on Wednesday released its manifesto here for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and announced 50 per cent reservation for women. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Raj Babbar releasing the poll-related document that focuses on women in a big way, said the party would distribute cycles to girl students. Babbar said the party was committed to safety and honour of women and on being voted to power it would open three women police stations in every district. Besides women, the manifesto also targeted the youths and farmers. Babbar said the party would ensure 150 workdays under MGNREGA. The Congress is contesting the state polls in alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). Under a last-minute accord, the Congress is contesting in 105 constituencies while the SP led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is contesting in 298. The manifesto was released in the presence of senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, P.L. Punia and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Uttar Pradesh goes to polls in seven phases, starting February 11. Tehran, Feb 8 : Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister left here for Moscow on Wednesday for talks on a series of bilateral and international issues, Tasnim news agency reported. In his one-day stay in Moscow, which takes place at the invitation of the Russian side, Abbas Araqchi will meet Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and the two sides will discuss regional and international issues, including disarmament, nuclear cooperation, and implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal, Xinhua news agency reported. Iran is one of Russia's major supporters on Middle East issues. The two countries, together with Turkey, are jointly mediating a political settlement of the Syrian civil war. Moscow, on Monday, regretted the imposition of new sanctions by the US on Iran after the latter's missile test. Last week, the US had announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's ballistic missile programme and providing support to a military force in Iran. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Oscar contender "Hidden Figures" will release in India on February 17. Its release date was announced by Fox Star Studios via a statement on Wednesday. A biographical drama film directed by Theodore Melfi and written by Melfi and Allison Schroeder, "Hidden Figures" is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about female African-American mathematicians at NASA. The film is an untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: The launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. "Hidden Figures" is also this year's highest grosser in the US for any Oscar nominee. The film has crossed more than $120 million and still holding very strong, the statement read. New Delhi, Feb 8 : The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which enables employers to pay wages through cheque or by crediting it to bank accounts, was passed by Parliament, with the Rajya Sabha too clearing it on Wednesday. The Bill was passed by the Upper House by voice vote, while the Lok Sabha cleared it on Tuesday. The Bill removes the requirement of obtaining written authorisation for payment of wages by cheque or through a bank account from the labourer concerned. However, the existing provision of payment in current coins or currency notes will remain in place. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017, was passed by the House after the reply of Bandaru Dattatreya, Minister of State for Labour and Employment. The Minister, replying to over two-hour long debate on the bill, said that his government was "very sensitive" towards the issues related to workers. He said the bill would help curb exploitation of workers by their employers. "We are going to give identity cards to all workers (of the country) in a phased manner," he said. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 15 last year but could not be taken up for discussion. Later, the President issued an ordinance on December 28. New Delhi, Feb 8 : In an unprecedented step, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to a sitting Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan for writing letters casting aspersions on several judges. Asking Justice Karnan to appear before it in person on February 13, a constitution bench comprising Khehar and six other judges directed that Justice Karnan would not discharge any judicial and administrative functions during the pendency of the proceedings. Justice Karnan "shall remain present in Court in person, on the next date of hearing, to show cause". It also directed Karnan to hand over all files relating to his judicial and administrative functions to the Registrar General of the High Court. Justice Karnan "shall forthwith refrain from handling any judicial or administrative work, as may have been assigned to him, in furtherance of the office held by him. He is also directed to return, all judicial and administrative files in his possession, to the Registrar General of the High Court immediately", said the constitution bench in its order. Noting the assistance by the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Wednesday, the court in its order said that he would assist the court in the course of further proceedings. Besides Chief Justice Khehar, other judges on the bench are Justice Dipak Misra, Justice J. Chelameswar, Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Kurian Joseph. The issuance of contempt notice to Justice Karnan assumes significance as it is for the first time in the history of the Supreme Court that it has invoked powers to initiate contempt proceedings against a sitting judge of a High Court. At the outset of the hearing, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that the nature of various communications by Justice Karnan were "very very scandalous" and "embarrassing" and the "time has come for this court to act". He urged the court to act so that a clear message should go to the citizens that the top court will not hesitate in taking action against its own judge in the High Court. Urging the court to ask the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court not to assign Justice Karnan any judicial or administrative work, AG said that he was through his actions "destroying the administration of justice". The AG said this pointing out that Justice Karnan wrote disparaging letters to the Prime Minister, Law Minister, Supreme Court Registrar about sitting and retired top court and High court judges. In case of some judges, Justice Karnan had even levelled the allegation of corruption and caste discrimination. Justice Karnan had also stayed the top court collegium's decision transferring him from Madras High Court to Calcutta High Court. AG said that the top court was empowered under Article 129 of the constitution read with Article 142(2) to punish the High Court judges and the members of subordinate judiciary. However, Chief Justice Khehar said that since it was happening for the first time and "We have to be very careful in going about it." "We must be as careful as we can be. We have to see what we can so, what we can't do... it is a vital issue. We have to see cause and effect," said Chief Justice Khehar. "This is presumptuous. You are presuming," the bench said as Attorney General said that "any further communication (from Justice Karnan) will compound the matters". "We are receiving letters from him for a long time. Suppose if he denies writing letters, it will change the situation. We will have to hear him and we have to hear every one," the bench told the AG who was advocating a strong action against his alleged misconduct and to protect the judiciary. New Delhi, Feb 8 : AAP MP Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to expunge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe at him in the Lok Sabha. In a letter to the Speaker, the Aam Aadmi Party member from Sangrur in Punjab asked her to expunge Modi's remark or send his complaint to the Privileges Committee of the House. Speaking on Tuesday, Modi quoted a saying from the Charvaka school of philosophy to say a person should take loan and drink 'ghee'. "I generally tell people 'ghee piyo'... but if Bhagwant Mann were to tell people he will ask them to drink something else," Modi had said. Mann wrote in his letter: "...you may kindly exercise your power and expunge the derogatory expressions alluded to me by the honourable Prime Minister. "If you find it difficult to expunge the remarks of Prime Minister... you may kindly refer my grievance to the Committee of Privileges of the Lok Sabha." Chennai, Feb 8 : Reacting to the current political turmoil in Tamil Nadu, actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Wednesday said there's no use blaming corrupt politicians. He suggested that people should become incorruptible. "We've wasted our freedom years gambling our franchise on wrong and corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them. Let's become incorruptible," Haasan tweeted. He also said that the entire country will fight for Tamil Nadu in a "civil war of ahimsa". "None might die but the ignorant will come alive," he added. Calling out his fellow actors to react on the stand-off between AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam and Sasikala, he tagged actor R. Madhavan in a tweet. "Madhavan, please talk on crisis in Tamil Nadu. We have a voice with decibel levels not conducive to bad politics. You can also disagree but do it loud please," he wrote. In reply to Haasan's tweet, Madhavan shared a series of posts. He said: "Sir, we have always discussed how TN should be the best state in the world, leave alone India. With the talent and potential we have, we should have been an example to the world." Madhavan highlighted that the state needs "right leadership and right intent to harness that volcanic expertise". "This is the time we nudge in the right direction. The whole state needs to believe that and make themselves heard. And I am very sure that will happen as this the right time. Speak up folks. This is your time to be heard." Haasan also clarified that his account hasn't been hacked. "Just because I'm not saying expected things doesn't mean I'm bought or hacked. Agree to disagree. I like you, I am my own man," he tweeted. Kathmandu, Feb 8 : Nepal has proposed to host the fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) towards the end of 2017. As Chair of the regional grouping, it is Nepal's turn to host the summit. Nepal has offered to host the summit in October or November and the exact date will be circulated to the member states during the upcoming BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting that is scheduled to take place in June, according to officials who attended the meeting of the seventh session of senior officials of BIMSTEC. The meet concluded in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The three-day meet of Foreign Secretaries and Joint Secretaries from the seven-member states deliberated upon various issues related to strengthening and revitalising the BIMSTEC process. Earlier in 2015, during the third BIMSTEC Summit in Myanmar, Nepal had committed to host the summit in 2016 but the event was postponed due to the devastating earthquake in 2015 and other reasons. Nepali Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi told media that some important decisions were taken to revitalise the BIMSTEC process. "Nepal offered to host the 15th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in June 2017 and the fourth BIMSTEC Summit in Nepal towards the end of 2017, in consultation with BIMSTEC members," he said. The agenda of the meeting included important priority sectors such as connectivity, trade, tourism, investment, energy, and technology transfer, among others. The three-day meeting also tasked an Eminent Persons' Group to work out BIMSTEC vision -- a roadmap for future BIMSTEC roadmap in the UN Agenda 2030. It is also decided to conclude the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement at the earliest. The meeting also decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of BIMSTEC with various activities in member states and its secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The activities include releasing commemorative stamps in June this year designating BIMSTEC heritage sites and promoting BIMSTEC Buddhist circuit and tourism. The member states, according to Bairagi, have agreed to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the BIMSTEC Gird Interconnection at the third Energy Minister's meeting which is expected to be held in Kathmandu on March 30-31 after completing their internal procedures. During the meeting, Nepal has offered to prepare a concept paper on the mountain economy for exploring and exploiting its potential, said Bairagi. Other decisions included finalising the financial matters and others like salaries, allowances and other facilities of the Secretary General, directors and general service staff of the secretariat. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Wednesday said journalists were not being attacked too often in India. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha about attack on journalists, Ahir said that going by the figures of attacks on journalists, it is "not a large number". He said that in 2014 a total of 114 cases of attacks on journalists were registered and 32 persons arrested in this connection. In 2015, the total cases registered were 28, and the number of persons arrested was 41. "This is not a large number given that our country is so large with so much population. I don't think journalists are being attacked too frequently," Ahir said. He added that the police and public order were state subjects. "Police and public order are state subjects under the seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The existing laws are adequate for protection of citizens including journalists. The Press Council of India takes prompt action on receipt of specific complaints from affected persons," Ahir said in his reply. Although he said that all police stations readily register cases if journalists complain of any threat or attack on them (implying there was no cover up of such cases), shortly afterwards he contradicted himself when he said that Uttar Pradesh was probably not reporting all the cases. Responding to a supplementary question on the state of Uttar Pradesh -- where the cases of attack on journalists were highest (63) in 2014, but in 2015 there was only one case -- Ahir said that perhaps the state was not reporting all cases. "Going by the data provided to us, it does not seem that all cases are being registered in Uttar Pradesh," Ahir added. Earlier, raising the issue, nominated member K.T.S. Tulsi cited a report by international NGO Reporters without Borders which stated that India is the third most dangerous country for journalists, ahead of even Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ahir said that the picture is not as grim as being portrayed by some members. NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC reminds investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (New Oriental or the Company) (NYSE:EDU) and certain of its officers, and is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired New Oriental American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) between September 27, 2016 and December 1, 2016, inclusive (the Class Period). Such investors are advised to join this case by visiting the firms site: http://www.bgandg.com/edu. This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) New Oriental engaged in college application fraud; and (2) consequently, New Orientals statements about its business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On December 2, 2016, Reuters reported that New Oriental has been accused of college application fraud. The report describes how New Oriental engaged in writing application essays and teacher recommendations, and falsifying high school transcripts. Reuters also said that the American International Recruitment Council (AIRC) will investigate the company in response to the report, and that the AIRCs president-elect said the allegations were highly concerning. Following this news, New Oriental stock dropped $6.99 per share, or 14.27%, to close at $42.00 on December 2, 2016. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firms site: http://www.bgandg.com/edu or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in New Oriental you have until February 13, 2017 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firms expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Manila, Feb 8 : Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday called former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria an "idiot" for advising him to abandon his controversial and heavy-handed campaign against drugs. Gaviria, who headed the Colombian government between 1990 and 1994, had written an article in the Spanish edition of The New York Times, urging Duterte not to repeat the mistakes made by his country because a tough stance does not give results and comes at a huge cost. Gaviria "has been lecturing about my (war on drugs)...that idiot," Duterte retorted during a speech in Manila during the commemoration of the 115th founding anniversary of the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines. Duterte also stressed on the difference between cocaine, the product managed with by the Colombian cartels, and methamphetamine or "shabu", a potent hallucinogen very popular among impoverished communities in the Philippines, Efe news reported. The Philippines President said that cocaine and marijuana are "kind of okay" as people who ingest them can still communicate, but with shabu, just the fact that is mixed with battery water is a clear sign of its impact on mental capacity. Duterte noted that he has received much criticism over the war on drugs, but insisted the Philippines will be reduced to slavery if they do not control drugs, especially with the number of addicts totalling 4.5 million. Gaviria headed the government during the harshest years during the anti-drug war in Colombia, which for decades has been the highest producer of cocaine in the world, the report said. During his term, the then-head of the Medellin cartel, Pablo Escobar, was jailed. But he escaped and was finally gunned down by the security forces. This is not the first time Duterte has abused and insulted those critical of him. He also called former US President Barack Obama a "son of a b****", and has also used the same term to refer to bishops in the Philippines. Chandigarh, Feb 8 : With the agitation by a section of the Jat community gaining momentum in some districts, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said political parties should desist from taking part in agitations. Khattar's comment during a media interaction was made regarding the support extended by some political parties to the resumed agitation by the Jat community for reservation in the state. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to demonstrate peacefully and within the ambit of law, but in case anyone tried to cross his limit and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere, he or she will be dealt with sternly," Khattar said. He said the protesting Jats could approach the five-member committee led by the state's Chief Secretary and the doors of the Haryana government were always open for them for talks. Anyone can meet him directly, the Chief Minister said. Quoting precedents, Khattar defended his government's decision to have only officers on the committee. Khattar said he hoped the Jat grievances will soon be resolved. Following the resumed agitation by the Jats, the Haryana government on Tuesday set up the five-member committee "to consider the demands and resolve the problems of those agitating for reservation" in the state. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas, Principal Secretary Industries Devender Singh, General Administration Secretary Vijayendra Kumar and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mohammad Akil are on the panel. The BJP government's move came in the wake of the resumed agitation by the Jats since January 29 in support of their demands and grievances. The agitation resumed by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti led by Yashpal Malik has seen protests in 19 districts of Haryana. More protesters, including women, the elderly and children, have joined the agitation in the past week. The protesters are seeking implementation of reservation for Jats, jobs for the kin of those killed during the earlier agitation of the community in February last year and action against officials who ordered the use of force on Jat protesters. The Jat agitation in February 2016 left 30 people dead and over 200 injured. Haryana has been on high alert in the wake of the resumed agitation due to bitter memories of last year's large-scale violence. Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Jind, Fatehabad, Hisar and some other districts were the worst affected. Damascus, Feb 8 : The Syrian Ministry of Justice has denied a report released by Amnesty International about mass hangings of detainees in a military prison near capital Damascus. In a statement carried by state news agency SANA on Wednesday, the ministry said such a report aims to "tarnish Syria's reputation on the international arena, particularly after victories of the Syrian Army in many areas recently". "The Justice Ministry completely denies and vehemently condemns the report, because it wasn't based on true evidences, but on personal emotions aiming to achieve known political goals," the ministry said in its statement. A day earlier, the Amnesty released a report stating that Syrian authorities in Saydnaya prison near Damascus carried out mass hangings of as many as 13,000 people, Xinhua news agency reported. The rights watchdog accused the government of a "policy of extermination", adding that its report is based on interviews with 84 witnesses, including guards, detainees, and judges. The executions happened between 2011 and 2015, said the report, adding that most of those slain are civilians opposed to the Syrian government. They were taken out of their cells "in the middle of the night and in total secrecy". "Throughout this process, they remain blindfolded. They do not know when or how they will die until the noose was placed around their necks," the report said. The report went viral and grabbed the headlines since Tuesday, pushing the Syrian Ministry of Justice to respond. Chennai, Feb 8 : Caretaker Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday assured his supporters that a government wanted by the people will be formed in the state. Addressing his supporters gathered at his residence here, Panneerselvam said: "A government expected by you will be formed soon." He said the people of Tamil Nadu want the good rule of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa back. Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016, after undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals for 75 days. Earlier, speaking to a Tamil television channel, Panneerselvam said he will not seek the support of any other party to form the government. He said many legislators and party members are extending their support to him. Chennai, Feb 8 : In terms of public perception, caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has a better rating than AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, admit party officials in private. Party officials preferring anonymity told IANS that moood of the cadres and the public is against Sasikala, and over a period of time the legislators and other party members may switch their loyalties towards Panneerselvam. "If the corruption case in the Supreme Court goes against Sasikala then the support for Panneerselvam will swell like anything," a party official told IANS. "When party founder late M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) was expelled from DMK, the grassroot workers were supporting him while legislators started siding with him under the pressure of the cadre," he added. According to him, Panneerselvam's outburst did not come as a surprise as it was "bound to happen". And his statements made at Marina are "valid", he added. The AIADMK official also did not forsee Panneerselvam seeking DMK's support. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh knew the "art of bathing wearing a rain coat", creating a huge uproar in the Congress benches in Rajya Sabha. The Congress reacted sharply to the comment and staged a walk out from the House. Modi made the comment while responding to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. Modi said that Manmohan Singh was an economist who has been at the helm of affairs for around 30-35 years. "For the last 30-35 years, he has been directly involved with India's economic affairs in a decisive capacity... There might not be another person, in 70 years post Independence, he has been at the helm of affairs for half of the time," Modi said. "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... so much happened he did not get even a taint. Only Doctor Sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing wearing a rain coat," he said in a jibe, resulting to a huge uproar from Congress benches. As Congress members protested, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said: "The Prime Minister has been called Hitler and Mussolini... Don't teach us." Angry Congress lawmakers then staged a walkout from the Upper House. Singh was the Prime Minister for 10 years and headed UPA-I and UPA-II governments. During the Winter Session, he made a speech in the Rajya Sabha in which he called demonetisation a "monumental failure" and "organised loot". Chennai, Feb 8 : AIADMK legislator K. Manickam on Wednesday was the first party lawmaker to openly side with Tamil Nadu's caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. "There is no need for a change in the Chief Minister's post. Panneerselvam was identified with people. I always liked his approach," Manickam, 50, representing the Sholavandan constituency in Madurai district, told IANS. "It was Amma (late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa) who identified Panneerselvam and gave him the Chief Minister post twice when she faced legal troubles. He became the Chief Minister for third time after her death," Manickam said. Manickam said he was impressed at the way in which Panneerselvam worked during the Vardah cyclone that hit Chennai or for reviving Jallikattu - bull taming sport - when youth protested across the state. Manickam, a first time legislator, is confident that Panneerselvam will emerge victorious in the end. He said around six legislators have extended support to Panneerselvam and the numbers are growing. New Delhi, Feb 8 : The JNU students community on Wednesday responded with an emphatic 'no' in a referendum conducted here asking whether a UGC notification on M.Phil and Ph.D admissions was acceptable to them. The referendum was conducted on Tuesday by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) asking 'Should JNU accept VC's unilateral imposition of May 5, 2016 UGC notification for the conduct of M.Phil and Ph.D admissions?' A total of 3,455 students voted in the referendum, of which 3,398 voted against the notification, while a mere 45 voted in support. The referendum was against a University Grants Commission notification that proposed a change in the admission process for the M.Phil and Ph.D aspirants. Many students protested against the adoption by the university of UGC notification on December 26, some of whom later went on a hunger-strike intensifying their opposition. The notification -- which proposed 100 per cent weightage to viva voce and reducing entrance examination to a qualifying criteria -- was later discussed by the Steering Committee for Admissions of the varsity, which came up with a few changes in the procedure, while promising to raise the issues of the students with the UGC subsequently. Another reason behind the referendum was the Vice-Chancellor's contention that it was only a handful of students who were holding the entire campus captive to their ideology, whereas most of the students and teachers were happy with the changes. Chandigarh, Feb 8 : With re-polling announced by the Election Commission in 48 polling stations, scheduled to be held on Thursday, the Punjab government has announced a holiday in five districts. "In wake of the re-polling schedule to take place on some booths in five districts of the state tomorrow, the Punjab government has declared a holiday in Amritsar, Moga, Muktsar, Mansa and Sangrur districts on February 9," a Punjab government spokesperson said here on Wednesday. All offices, boards, corporations, educational institutions and other public undertakings of the Punjab government would remain closed on February 9 in these five districts, the spokesperson said. The state government has also declared a 'paid holiday' in factories, shops and commercial establishments situated in the area of Amritsar parliamentary constituency and the assembly constituencies of Majitha, Moga, Muktsar, Sardulgarh and Sangrur, to enable people working there to cast their votes. The EC on Tuesday ordered re-poll in 48 polling stations of five assembly constituencies in Punjab where polling got interrupted due to snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) equipment. The poll panel said the re-polling was ordered "in order to uphold the integrity of electoral process". Re-polling has been ordered in 12 polling stations in Majitha, nine in Muktsar, six in Sangrur, four in Sardulgarh and one polling station in Moga. Besides, re-poll has been ordered in 16 polling stations of the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat for which by-election was also held on February 4 along with the assembly election. "In some places due to VVPAT and EVMs malfunctioning, polling process got interrupted. Out of 24,697 ballot units (BUs) and 24,256 control units (CUs) used in Punjab, 180 BUs and 184 CUs failed. This works out to 0.73 per cent BUs and 0.76 per cent CUs," the Election Commission said. "In the case of VVPATs, which were used for the first time in 33 assembly constituencies, out of total of 6,293 VVPATs, 255 (4.05 per cent) failed." The fate of 1,145 candidates, including 81 women and one transgender, has been sealed in the EVMs following the Sunday voting. The vote count would take place on March 11. Lucknow, Feb 8 : In an effort to woo the women voters, the Congress in its manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls released here on Wednesday announced 50 per cent reservation for the fairer sex in urban and rural local bodies. Besides women, the manifesto also targeted youths and farmers. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Raj Babbar released the document that focuses on women in a big way and said the party will distribute cycles to girl students if it comes to power. Babbar said the party was committed to the safety and honour of women and will open three women police stations in each of the 75 districts in the state in case it formed the government in politically crucial state. Babbar said the party will ensure 150 workdays under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. 'Karza Maaf, Bijli Half' (full loan waiver, electricity at half rate) is another highlight of the Congress manifesto. The party promised to come up with Kanya Sashaktikaran Yojana, a scheme to ensure Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for every girl child on turning 18. It also promised scholarships to young women pursuing higher studies. The Congress also focussed on police reforms, while promising a new Uttar Pradesh Skills and Employment Mission for skilling youths and ensuring jobs for 50 lakh persons. The manifesto also promised to provide wheat at Rs 3 and rice at Rs 2 per kg, and talked of giving nutritious meal in midday meal scheme and restructuring the Public Distribution System. The party said a cell for job creation will be set up at the Chief Minister's Office. For the minorities, the party proposed a scheme to encourage young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. The Congress is contesting the polls in alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). As per the last-minute accord, the Congress is contesting in 105 constituencies while the SP led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is contesting in 298. The manifesto was released in the presence of senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, P.L. Punia and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Uttar Pradesh goes to polls in seven phases, starting February 11, to elect 403 members to the assembly. One member representing the Anglo-Indian community is nominated to the house by the Governor. CHICAGO, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Family Office Exchange (FOX), the leading peer-to-peer network for ultra-wealthy families, has released the agenda for the 2017 FOX Spring Global Investment Forum, the semi-annual family investment-focused gathering taking place on April 4 in San Francisco. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fbeda6a-084c-4cd8-9fa9-9dffe20ebbad This FOX Global Investment Forum is programmed by Kristi Kuechler, President of the new FOX Private Investor Center. It will highlight the latest thinking by leading institutional and private investors on asset allocation and will examine the role of hedge funds and private equity in a portfolio today. Topics include the significant shifts in long-only investing including recent developments in active and passive investment strategies and structures. There will be discussion of the complex macroeconomic landscape from the perspective of a significant institutional real estate investor and a family office CIO's observations on the challenges of chasing performance. Highlights of the program include: New Thinking in Asset Allocation Moving beyond the Single Portfolio Allocation: Segmenting Based on Risk Real Estate Investing in a Time of Uncertainty The Challenges of the Endowment Model for Family Offices Hedge Funds and Private Equity: Adapting to Survive There will be ample opportunity for FOX investors to meet and share their thinking across topics of common interest with peer exchange sessions for the FOX Direct Investing Network (DIN), the FOX Investment Strategy Network (ISN), and the FOX Strategic CIO Council (SCIOC). For more information on the 2017 FOX Spring Global Investment Forum, please visit https://www.familyoffice.com/learning-events/forums/2017-fox-spring-global-investment-forum. About Family Office Exchange Family Office Exchange (FOX) is the premier global member network for enterprise families and their advisors who are pursuing best practices for managing their family enterprise and growing their family wealth. The community includes over 8,000 family leaders and sophisticated advisors from 500 organizations in 20 countries who utilize FOXs resources each year for advice, networking, education, and best practices in wealth management. FOX is headquartered in Chicago with offices in New York, San Francisco, Madrid, and Sydney. For more information about FOX, email us at info@familyoffice.com or visit www.familyoffice.com. Moscow, Feb 8 : Russia's main opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been held guilty of embezzlement and handed a five-year suspended sentence on Wednesday that bars him from running for President in 2018 against Vladimir Putin, the media reported. The Kremlin critic denied the charges and said he will appeal against the verdict, the BBC reported. Navalny also vowed to take part in the presidential race regardless. His conviction came in a retrial after the European Court of Human Rights ruled the first trial to be unfair. Reacting to the sentence, Navalny said: "We don't recognise this ruling. I have every right to take part in the election according to the Constitution and I will do so." He also said the sentence in the case, which he claimed is politically motivated, was a sign that the Kremlin considered him to be too dangerous. In addition to the suspended sentence, he and a co-defendant were both handed a 500,000 rouble ($8,500) fine. Navalny, 40, is known for his anti-corruption campaign, which targeted senior officials close to the Kremlin. He said the case against him is an effort to keep him out of politics. He had recently stepped up his political activity after announcing plans in 2016 to run for the presidency in 2018. Putin is allowed by the Constitution to run for a second consecutive six-year term, but he has not said yet if he plans to do so. Navalny's rise as a force in Russian politics began in 2008 when he started blogging about alleged malpractice and corruption at some of Russia's big state-controlled corporations. He described the President's United Russia as "the party of crooks and thieves", a phrase that stuck among many in Russia. He stood for Moscow mayor in 2013 and got more than a quarter of the vote. In the first trial, in 2013, Navalny was held guilty of heading a group that embezzled timber worth 16 million roubles ($500,000) from the Kirovles state timber company while working as an adviser to Kirov's Governor Nikita Belykh. He was then given a five-year suspended sentence. The verdict was widely condemned by the European Union and the US, with opposition supporters clashing with the police in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. The verdict was overturned by the Russian Supreme Court last year following a judgment by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that said he was not given a fair hearing at the first trial. The ECHR also said the original trial had failed to address allegations that it was politically motivated. And last week, the ECHR ordered Russia to pay him more than 63,000 euros ($6,7400) in compensation, saying his right to peaceful protest had been violated multiple times, in cases dating back to 2012. Washington, Feb 8 : US President Donald Trump sought to lend his own legal argument for his executive order banning travel from certain Muslim-majority countries on Wednesday, discounting a legal challenge to the order as anti-security. Contending that a US President has wide powers to control who comes into the country, Trump said that even a "bad high school student" would rule in his favour, CNN reported. "This isn't just me. This is for Obama, for Ronald Reagan, for the President. This was done, very importantly, for security," Trump said. "It was done for the security of our nation, for the security of our citizens, so people don't come in who are going to do us harm. That is why is was done. It couldn't have been written more precisely," he said. Trump said his executive order was "written beautifully" and fully within the bounds of US statute. "We're in an area that, let's just say, they're interpreting things differently than probably 100 per cent of people in this room," Trump told a group of major city police officers and sheriffs in Washington. "We want security," Trump said. On Tuesday evening, a federal appeals court heard arguments in the legal battle over the travel ban. The California-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide soon whether to reinstate the executive order. The top legal officials in 16 states, including Pennsylvania and Iowa which voted for Trump, filed a memorandum in support of efforts to halt the travel ban. The state attorneys general from these states argued that they have standing as the executive order inflicts harm on states, including disruption at state universities and medical institutions. Beijing, Feb 8 : China on Wednesday said it blocked the US' move at the UN to have Pakistani militant Masood Azhar declared as international terrorist as conditions were yet to be fulfilled for Beijing to support the proposal. Beijing vetoed the US proposal "to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community". "The 1267 Committee of the Security Council discussed the listing issue last year with no consensus reached, as members of the Security Council held different views on this issue. As for the renewed application filed by the relevant country, conditions are not yet met for the committee to reach an agreement and make a decision," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. Lu said the decision was in line with the Security Council resolution and the committee's rules of procedure. Asked if China's move would impact Sino-India ties, Lu said: "The Security Council and its subsidiary organs have their own rules of procedure. I hope and believe that all members of the committee will act in accordance with these rules in handling applications, whoever the applicant is. China and India have also exchanged views on this issue. I do not want to see it impact China-India relations." On the question of China blocking the proposal at the behest of its all-weather ally Pakistan, Lu said: "We have, more than once, exchanged views with relevant parties, including India, on this issue." "The purpose for China to place the technical hold is to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community." "What matters is not how long it takes, but whether consensus can be reached based on thorough consultation," Lu said. Last year, China rejected thrice India's resolution to add Azhar Masood to the UN list of international terrorists. Azhar, the chief of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, is said to be the mastermind of the Pathankot airbase attack and Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir last year. New Delhi, Feb 8 : The central government on Wednesday said that the Indian Railways has deployed doctors on-board Duranto trains on a pilot basis for a period of two years. "A pilot project of deployment of doctors in Duronto Trains was undertaken for a period of two years," Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain informed the Lok Sabha. However, the Minister clarified that patients with serious aliments would be de-boarded for medical treatment as necessary equipments like ECG machines do not function properly on-board due to vibrations. "Station masters of all stations have details of doctors, clinics and hospitals, both government and private, in the vicinity of the station, so that their services could also be availed, in emergencies," the minister explained. "Ambulance services of both railway hospitals and state governments are utilised when required," he concluded. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday congratulated Gujarat on becoming the first state in the country for establishing cashless distribution of food grain. According to a release, the minister also lauded the efforts of the Gujarat government for installing Aadhaar Enabled Payment System in 17,250 Fair Price Shops (FPS) much before the target, March 31. "The beneficiaries under NFSA (National Food Security Act) will need to carry only Aadhaar cards for getting their food grain in Gujarat. This will help in establishing the identity of beneficiaries, help in stopping the leakages of grain at shop level and above all eradicate corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS)," reads the release. In a meeting with Paswan in January, state food ministers agreed to make arrangements to establish cashless system in the PDS by March 31. According to the ministry, Gujarat has taken a step ahead by partnering with common service centres, a Special Purpose Vehicle of Ministry of Electronics and IT, by offering 30-odd digital services through the FPSs. "Now a consumer will also be able to get his Rail, air and bus ticket reserved at the FPS itself. A beneficiary can pay his mobile bill, a farmer can deposit crop insurance premium, LIC premium etc. at these centres," reads the release. "A farmer can get the Soil Health Card and registration for Centrally Sponsored Schemes." The release said that Gujarat government was also trying to make provision for monthly bus travel pass for students and payment of electricity bill through these shops. Mumbai, Feb 8 : Power generation and coal resources company Reliance Power on Wednesday reported a surge of 14.52 per cent in its consolidated net profit for the third quarter (Q3) of 2016-17. According to the company, its consolidated net profit grew to Rs 276 crore in the quarter ended December 31, 2016, from Rs 241 crore in the same period last year. The company's consolidated total income increased by 16.74 per cent to Rs 2,985 crore from Rs 2,557 crore during the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. Reliance Power's operating revenues went up by 12.51 per cent at Rs 2,778 crore from Rs 2,469 crore. The company informed that its Sasan UMPP (Ultra Mega Power Projects) in Madhya Pradesh generated 7,718 million units and operated at availability of 89 per cent. "The Rosa Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh generated 2,165 million units, operating at availability of 96 per cent. The Butibori Power Plant in Maharashtra, generated 1032 million units, operating at availability of 97 per cent," the company said in a statement. "The 40 MW Dhursar Solar PV plant in Rajasthan generated 17 million units, operating at availability of 100 per cent. The 45 MW Wind capacity in Vashpet, Maharashtra, generated 8.5 million units, operating at availability of 98 per cent." "100 MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project at Dhursar, Rajasthan, generated 21 million units, operating at availability of 98 per cent." The company's scrip at the BSE gained 0.55 per cent per share to Rs 46.05 from its previous close of Rs 45.80 per equity share. Currently, the company has the largest portfolio of power projects in the private sector, based on coal, gas, hydro and renewable energy, with an operating portfolio of 5,945 megawatts. Raipur, Feb 8 : The DNA test on the skeletal remains of the parents of Udayan Das, who killed and entombed his girlfriend in Bhopal, will be conducted in forensic science lab here, Raipur Superintendent of Police S.P. Sanjeev Shukla said on Wednesday. "The forensic test will help determine the time of their death," Shukla said. Das was arrested on February 2 by the West Bengal Police on charges of murdering Shweta Sharma (28) and entombing her body in a concrete block inside his house in Saketnagar in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. After Das was arrested on the charge of murdering his live-in partner and entombing her body in his house in Bhopal, he also confessed to his parents' murder. He told the police that he murdered both his parents in 2010 and interred their bodies in their house in Raipur in Chhattisgarh in a way similar to what he did in the case of Shweta. New Delhi, Feb 8 : Perhaps avenging former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's strident criticism of the note ban, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a surprise attack on him, saying that politicians should learn from Singh how to maintain a clean image even after 35 long years of public life dotted with scams under his stewardship. Replying to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address to the two Houses of Parliament, Modi also chose to attack another former Prime Minister of the Congress - Indira Gandhi. In his one hour and 10 minutes speech, Modi also dismissed observations made by economists across the world about the November 8 move to demonetise higher value currency, saying the move is "unparalleled" and economists can never calculate its effects as such a massive decision "has not been taken before anywhere in the world". Modi first cast aspersions on the scholarship of Manmohan Singh, a former RBI governor and an eminent economist, saying he (Modi) recently came across a book purportedly written by Singh, but found out that only the foreword was by "Doctor sahib" (Manmohan Singh). "Looks like, even the speech Doctor Sahib delivered in the last session...," Modi said, just stopping short of saying anything further, but implying that Singh's speech lambasting the note ban was not his own. The Prime Minister continued amid aloud protests by the Congress members: "For around 35 years, he (Manmohan) has had a say or a role in India's economic policy and decisions. In these 35 years, we heard of many a scam, but he has remained free of any blemish." "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... so much happened he did not get even a taint. Only Doctor Sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing wearing a rain coat," he said in a jibe, resulting to a huge uproar from Congress benches. The Congress MPs walked out at this point, though Manmohan Singh himself did not budge from his seat. A few senior Congress MPs including P. Chidmabaram, A.K. Antony and Karan Singh asked the former Prime Minister to come along and walk out, which he did. Modi's attack comes after Singh on November 25, speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session, termed the implementation of demonetisation a case of "organised loot and legalised plunder". Singh had also described the note ban exercise as a "monumental disaster" -- which Modi had listened to quietly, without any change of expression. On Wednesday, Modi justified his attack on the former Prime Minister, saying he (Manmohan Singh) could have thought about "maryada" while using words like "loot" and "plunder" in the context of demonetisation. "We have the power to pay back in the same coin," Modi said. Earlier, the Prime Minister also targeted Indira Gandhi, saying the then former Prime Minister Gandhi never tabled the Wanchoo Committee report against black money in Parliament in the early 1970s. "(Madhav) Godbole's book mentions it. Why did you not protest against him or take any action when he came out with the book? Were you sleeping at that time?" Modi asked, looking at the Congress MPs. Speaking of demonetisation, Modi said that the economists' or the experts' opinions about the effect of demonetisation on the Indian economy being thrown around by the opposition had little weight as "they (economists) cannot give any accurate opinion about demonetisation". "They have never seen it before, so how can they judge it. This is an unparalleled move. No such huge decision was ever taken anywhere in the world," Modi said. He said the move created a "horizontal divide" in the society - that of neta versus public. "Usually it is public versus the government whenever a tough decision is taken by a government. But this time around, it was government plus public versus others," Modi said. He said that digitalisation of the economy could be difficult but to criticise this idea altogether, which he said opposition was doing, was ridiculous. The Prime Minister said that institutions like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and its Governor should not be dragged into a controversy. Modi cited an extract from a book by former RBI Governor D. Subba Rao wherein he has expressed his displeasure with then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's decision, and has accused him of treading in the exclusive territory of the RBI without even keeping him in the loop. "We have not undermined RBI's authority, we have given it greater autonomy by amending the RBI Act," Modi said. Opposition leaders including Sitaram Yechury of CPI-M and Sharad Yadav of JD-U tried to intervene at certain points while Modi was speaking but the Prime Minister told them to sit down and put their point later. After the speech when Yadav and Yechury stood up to made their point, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi objected to it saying there was no tradition of putting up a point after the Prime Minister's reply. The entire opposition walked out in protest one after the other, and the Motion of Thanks was adopted with almost the entire opposition benches vacant. Sanaa, Feb 8 : The Yemeni popular resistance forces backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition on Wednesday took full control of the liberated city of Al Mokha while scores of Houthi militias were killed or taken prisoner. The resistance, supported by the Coalition Forces, executed a three-front offensive from the east, south and north, after laying siege to the whole city. The United Arab Emirates armed forces played a key role in liberating Al Mokha, taking part in the land operations and providing massive firepower, air and intelligence support to the forces. The resistance forces managed to liberate large numbers of civilians, including women, children and the aged who were detained by the militias as hostages and human shields. New Delhi, Feb 8 : A 30-year-old Sudanese woman was allegedly raped by an e-rickshaw driver in south Delhi and has been admitted to a private hospital here, the city police said on Wednesday. According to the police, the woman was brought by her uncle on Tuesday evening to the hospital in Jasola area. She had arrived in India on October 16 last year for treatment but her visa had since expired. "Her uncle filed a missing complaint on Monday at Jasola police station. Later, she came to the police station on her own around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night but neither she nor her uncle told the police about the crime," Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Banniya told IANS. The woman claimed she was raped by the e-rickshaw driver after she asked him to drop her at a hotel in Jasola. The driver took her to a desolate spot and raped her, the police said. Woman police officers and a counsellor were asked to record her statement. French English Paris, 8 February 2017 - 17h35 Coface results at 31 December 2016: Operating performance and progression of Fit to Win in line with plan, confirming our ambition to become the most agile global credit insurer in the industry FY 2016 operating performance in line with guidance Turnover in line with previous quarters trends, at 1,411m down (3.6)% vs. '15 (ex. FX) Net loss ratio in target range at 65.5% Net cost ratio at 31.9% ; supported by tight expense control French State export guarantees management transfer finalised Teams (~250 FTEs) and IT systems transferred as from Jan. 2nd '17 Fit to Win launched and progressing in line with expectations Launched risk and cost actions as per schedule Consultations well underway First benefits materialising Net income (group share) FY 2016 at 41.5m Includes 36.5m French State guarantees and Fit to Win one-offs Solvency ratio in target range at c.150% ; proposed dividend : 0.13 per share, incl. 0.06 special 2017 guidance: net loss ratio below 61% Unless otherwise stated, changes are in comparison with 12M 2015 Xavier Durand, CEO of Coface, commented: "The second half of 2016 marks the beginning of the transformation of Coface. We delivered a net profit of 41.5m in the year, successfully closed the transfer of our French State export guarantees activity, and launched our 3-year strategic plan, Fit to Win, the implementation of which is now well underway. During the last quarter of 2016 we also finalised the strengthening of our senior leadership team to enable us to drive the rigorous change management necessary to our plan's success. With Fit to Win, we aim ultimately to position ourselves to deliver a RoATE (return on average tangible equity) of 9% or above across the cycle. The uncertainty dominating the economy is unlikely to lift in 2017, which will be a transition year as we continue to execute on the strategic priorities that guide the plan: to strengthen our risk management and information, drive operational efficiency and enhance client service, and to implement selective growth strategies." Key figures as at December 31st 2016 The Board of Directors of Coface SA examined the consolidated financial statements for FY-2016 during its meeting on 8 February 2017. They were subject to review by the Audit Committee. Non-audited financial statements; they are being certified. Income statement items - in m FY-2015 FY-2016 V% V% ex. FX Consolidated revenues 1,489.5 1,411.3 (5.3)% (3.6)% of which gross earned premiums 1,185.9 1,115.1 (6.0)% (4.1)% Underwriting income after reinsurance 143.4 12.8 (91.1)% Investment income net of expenses 53.1 48.0 (9.5)% Current operating income 196.5 60.9 (69.0)% Other operating income and expenses incl. State guarantees mangt. transfer and Fit to Win one-offs in 2016 (4.2) 53.5 Operating income 192.3 114.4 (40.5)% Tax (48.8) (48.1) Net result (group share) 126.2 41.5 (67.1)% (65.0)% Key ratios Loss ratio net of reinsurance 52.5% 65.5% +12.9 ppts. Cost ratio net of reinsurance 30.5% 31.9% +1.4 ppts. Combined ratio net of reinsurance 83.1% 97.4% +14.3 ppts. Balance sheet items - in m 31/12/2015 31/12/2016 Equity (group share) 1,761.0 1,755.2 (0.3)% Turnover Coface registered a turnover of 1,411m for FY 2016, down (5.3)% against FY-2015 and (3.6)% ex. FX. Premiums followed a continuous trend throughout 2016, impacted by weaker client activity and persisting soft conditions in mature markets, particularly in our Northern and Western Europe regions; the latter was also impacted negatively by the decrease in French State export guarantees management fees. In Central Europe, turnover was down (1.1)% ex. FX, driven by lower services revenues (debt collection fees), in line with the low claims level in this region. In the Mediterranean & Africa region, good commercial momentum in Italy was offset by premium refunds in Spain, where the risk environment is favourable. Turnover was down (1.3)% against 2015. In North America, turnover grew 4.0% (ex. FX), mainly driven by some global clients. In emerging markets, restoring profitability was the number one priority this year: revenue growth was negatively impacted by portfolio adjustments in Asia ((10.9)% ex. FX), whereas some positive re-pricing helped drive an increase in turnover in Latin America (+9.0% ex. FX). Business turnover in m FY-2015 FY-2016 V% V% ex. FX Western Europe 363.3 327.2 (10.0)% (8.4)% Northern Europe 324.5 307.3 (5.3)% (5.3)% Mediterranean & Africa 340.3 331.9 (2.5)% (1.3)% North America 131.3 136.1 +3.7% +4.0% Central & Eastern Europe 125.3 121.3 (3.2)% (1.1)% Asia-Pacific 121.3 109.8 (9.5)% (10.9)% Latin America 83.5 77.7 (6.9)% +9.0% Consolidated business turnover 1,489.5 1,411.3 (5.3)% (3.6)% New business production, at 139m, was stable vs. 2015 outside of Asia. Coface's client retention rate remains close to record levels at 88.5%, a slight improvement compared with 2015. Driven by some re-pricing actions in Latin America, price erosion slowed down compared to 2015 at (1.7)%. Client activity, a key driver of premium growth, slowed down this year, affected by strong declines in some sectors (metals, commodities.). However, this trend improved slightly towards the end of the year. Results Combined ratio The Group's net combined ratio stood at 97.4% for FY 2016. Loss ratio Against the backdrop of a volatile and risky environment, Coface's loss ratio was driven by claims in emerging countries. Measures were taken throughout 2015 and 2016 to reduce our risk exposures in these areas and their effects are expected to materialise gradually. Quarterly trends over the second half of 2016 pointed to first signs of loss ratio improvement; this trend is mainly driven by Latin America, contrasting with Asia where loss levels remain high. The Group's loss ratio after reinsurance was down (4.4) points in Q4 2016, at 67.9% against 72.4% in Q3 2016 and stood at 65.5% at 31 December 2016, in the target range for 2016. Cost ratio Coface is keeping tight control on expenses outside of Fit to Win investment areas: total expenses decreased to 699m (including 2.1m Fit to Win set-up costs in Q4), compared with 713m at 31 December 2015 ((0.6)% ex. FX). The Group's cost ratio after reinsurance stood at 31.9% for FY-2016. Financial income Coface maintains a diversified and proactive investment strategy. However, the current low rate environment is putting pressure on returns. Financial income stood at 48.0m (of which 3.5m gains on sales) at December 2016, against 53.1m (of which 4.5m gains on sales) for FY-2015. The accounting yield, excluding capital gains, was 1.6% for FY-2016, compared with 1.8% for FY-2015. Operating income and net income Operating income stood at 114.4m at 31 December 2016, including a 75.0m gain on French State export guarantees transfer, 38.6m Fit to Win restructuring expenses, 14.1 of reserve releases linked to social benefits and 5.1m actuarial rate change totalling 55.6m before tax. Net income (group share) stood at 41.5m, to which the above mentioned non-recurring elements contribute for 36.5m. A distribution of 0.13 per share will be proposed for 2016. In line with previous communication, this distribution comprises 0.07 per share, corresponding to 62% pay-out ratio on adjusted earnings (0.11 per share) and 0.06 special dividend. Financial strength At 31 December 2016, IFRS equity (group share) was 1,755.2m (flat vs 2015). The change in equity is mainly the result of positive net income of 41.5m offset by the distribution of 75.3m to shareholders linked to the FY 2015 dividend and an increase in re-evaluation reserves of financial assets available for sale. The new regulatory framework Solvency II came into force on 1st January 2016. On the basis of the standard formula, the coverage ratio of required capital to insurance and factoring risk coverage remains strong at c.150% as at 31 December 2016. This level is consistent with the Group's targeted comfort level and allows Coface to confirm its long term pay-out policy of above 60% of adjusted earnings, as proposed this year. Ratings agencies Fitch and Moody's reconfirmed the Group's ratings (IFS) at respectively AA- and A2 (stable outlook), on 29 September and 28 November 2016. Fit to Win update The Group launched in September 2016 its new strategic plan called Fit to Win, which aims at positioning Coface as the most agile global trade-credit partner in the industry, while evolving to a more capital efficient business model. The implementation of Fit to Win is currently progressing as planned. Strengthen risk management & information Actions undertaken to strengthen risk management and information are well underway, particularly in emerging markets, including recruitments in the domain of enhanced information, updating of underwriting guidelines and processes, and the setting up of a dedicated senior expert support team. Their effects are expected to fully materialise over the next two years after implementation. Improve operational efficiency and client service Under this second strategic priority, Coface set out several initiatives in fields such as sourcing and real estate optimisation, rationalising the organisation and reviewing social benefits. Work Councils consultations have been launched and are progressing as planned. Transforming the Group's technology and processes in order to improve client service and productivity requires restructuring costs and investments that are fully financed by the non-recurring gain subsequent to the transfer of the French State export guarantees activity. In line with previous communications, 38.6m restructuring costs and 2.1m set-up costs were accounted for in 2016; in 2017 and years following, Coface expects these expenses to amount respectively to 21m, 6m and 3m. As a result of these actions, Coface is targeting to achieve 10m cost savings in 2017 and 30m in 2018, thus entirely offsetting the loss of margin resulting from the transfer of the French State export guarantees activity. Implement differentiated growth strategies Prioritising value creation over growth, Coface is adapting its commercial approach to each specific market/sector/customer profile. This translated into some re-pricing actions in Latin America and portfolio restructuring in Asia. In mature markets, where priority is given to efficiency and innovation, Coface is reinforcing account management teams and processes. New partnerships were recently signed with Bank of China, Unicredit and BPCE. Reduce capital intensity Coface is committed to maintaining a strong capital position, illustrated by a targeted solvency ratio towards the upper end of the 140-160% range, and a minimum single A financial strength rating. Without compromising these fundamentals, Fit to Win has identified ways to further improve Coface's capital efficiency, in particular, through the increased use of reinsurance. A first step has been achieved with the increase of the quota-share reinsurance cession to 26% as from 1 January 2017 (vs. 20% in 2016). The reinsurance cession increase is expected to impact capital needs gradually so as to contribute to Fit to Win's ambition to achieve 9% or above RoATE across the cycle. Outlook Coface is totally focused on the execution of Fit to Win and the impacts of the initiatives we have now started to implement are expected to materialise gradually. In 2017, our priority remains to execute our strategic plan while monitoring closely the development of the risk landscape. In line with the first signs of improvement observed at this stage, we anticipate a net loss ratio below 61% in 2017. We expect to begin to benefit from the Fit to Win operational efficiency measures already taken and have planned to achieve 10m costs savings in 2017, while investments and restructuring charges for the year should amount to 21m. Conference call A conference call to discuss Coface FY 2016 results will be held on 8 February 2016 at 6.00 pm Paris time. Dial in numbers: +33(0)1 70 77 09 41 (France), +44 (0)20 3367 9456 (UK), +1 855 402 77 63 (US). The presentation will be available at the following address: http://www.coface.com/Investors/Financial-reporting Appendix CONTACTS MEDIA Monica COULL T. +33 (0)1 49 02 25 01 monica.coull@coface.com Maria KRELLENSTEIN T. +33 (0)1 49 02 16 29 maria.krellenstein@coface.com ANALYSTS / INVESTORS Thomas JACQUET T. +33 (0)1 49 02 12 58 thomas.jacquet@coface.com Cecile COMBEAU T. +33 (0)1 49 02 18 03 cecile.combeau@coface.com FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2017 (subject to change) Q1-2017 results: 26 April 2017, after market close Annual General Meeting: 17 May 2017 H1-2017 results: 28 July 2017, before market opening 9M-2017 results: 25 October 2017, after market close FINANCIAL INFORMATION This press release, as well as Coface SA's integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group's website: http://www.coface.com/Investors For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim half year financial report About Coface The Coface Group, a worldwide leader in credit insurance, offers companies around the globe solutions to protect them against the risk of financial default of their clients, both on the domestic market and for export. In 2016, the Group posted a consolidated turnover of 1.411 billion. Supported by its 4,200 staff, Coface is present directly or indirectly in 100 countries and secures transactions of 50,000 companies in more than 200 countries. Each quarter, Coface publishes its assessments of country risk for 160 countries, based on its unique knowledge of companies' payment behaviour and on the expertise of its 660 underwriters and credit analysts located close to clients and their debtors. www.coface.com Coface SA. is listed on Euronext Paris - Compartment A ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA DISCLAIMER - Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to the section 2.4 "Report from the Chairman of the Board of Directors on corporate governance, internal control and risk management procedures" as well as chapter 5 "Main risk factors and their management within the Group" of the Coface Group's 2015 Registration Document filed with AMF on 13 April 2016 under the number No. R.16-020 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group's businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance. New Delhi, Feb 8 : The Union Cabinet was on Wednesday apprised of the agreement between India and Vietnam on the usage of outer space for peaceful purposes, said an official. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Cooperation with Vietnam through this Framework Agreement would lead to development of joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity," said a government statement. The Framework Agreement on cooperation in the exploration and usage of outer space for peaceful purposes was signed during the Prime Minister's visit to Vietnam in September last year. The agreement would enable the two countries to explore the potential interest areas of cooperation in the space science, technology and applications like remote sensing, satellite communication and navigation and other areas. New Delhi, Feb 9 : The Union Cabinet was apprised on Wednesday of the signing of agreement between India and France to ensure exchange of best practices and technology. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to a release, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Cooperation will be signed between Technology Development Board (TDB), India, and Bpifrance, a public investment bank of France. "The agreement will ensure exchange of best practices and setting up of coordinated measures to foster technological exchanges in the field of science, technology and innovation through collaboration between companies, organisations and institutions of France and India," read a release. TDB, which comes under the Department of Science & Technology, has been constituted to promote development and commercialisation of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application. As per the release, this agreement is aimed carrying out activities related to exchange of best practices in the field of science & technology through the TDB and Bpifrance. Kolkata, Feb 9 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that the agitation in West Bengal's Bhangar was based on "a false campaign" and denied that two villagers who died during the movement had fallen to police bullets. "A false campaign was going on... And that led to the situation," Banerjee said while addressing the state assembly. "The state government is in no way involved in the matter," she said about the killing of the two persons in South 24 Parganas district's Bhangar. While emphasising the advantages of a power grid to improve power supply in the area, Banerjee categorically said nothing will be done against the wishes of people. "On the day the incident occurred we announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for families of each of the dead. If the family members want to work, we will provide jobs also," she said. Asserting that the bullets were not fired by police, Banerjee said the killing of the two villagers was being investigated. "The matter is under investigation. The family members of the victims have themselves said that police did not open fire," she retorted. Bhangar was on the boil for days recently over the "forcible land acquisition" for a Power Grid Corporation of India project. The agitators blocked roads and fell tree trunks protesting against the "forced" acquisition of 16 acres of farmland -- spread over the villages of Khamarait, Machhi Bhanga, Tona and Padmapukur -- by the state government for the project. Banerjee claimed arms were smuggled in there while the state government was busy organising the Gangasagar Mela. The Trinamool supremo also said when land was acquired in 2012-13, there were no disputes. Touching upon other instances of violence in the state like Dhulagarh and Ausgram, she said the administration has taken action in each of these incidents. She described Dhulagarh as a "small incident" something which the BJP has taken advantage of. New Delhi, Feb 9 : Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Modi demeaned his position and himself more than anyone else. "When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor-years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament and the nation," Gandhi tweeted on his official Twitter account. "He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly they were shameful," he added. Modi on Wednesday launched a surprise attack on Mammohan Singh, saying that politicians should learn from Singh how to maintain a clean image even after 35 long years of public life dotted with scams under his stewardship. Replying to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address to the two Houses of Parliament, Modi also chose to attack another former Prime Minister of the Congress -- Indira Gandhi. Modi first cast aspersions on the scholarship of Manmohan Singh, a former RBI governor and an eminent economist, saying he (Modi) recently came across a book purportedly written by Singh, but found out that only the foreword was by "Doctor sahib" (Manmohan Singh). "Looks like, even the speech Doctor Sahib delivered in the last session...," Modi said, just stopping short of saying anything further, but implying that Singh's speech lambasting the note ban was not his own. The Prime Minister continued amid aloud protests by the Congress members: "For around 35 years, he (Manmohan) has had a say or a role in India's economic policy and decisions. In these 35 years, we heard of many a scam, but he has remained free of any blemish." "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... so much happened he did not get even a taint. Only Doctor Sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing wearing a rain coat," he said in a jibe, resulting to a huge uproar from Congress benches. The Congress MPs walked out at this point, though Manmohan Singh himself did not budge from his seat. A few senior Congress members including P. Chidmabaram, A.K. Antony and Karan Singh asked the former Prime Minister to come along and walk out, which he did. HARTSVILLE, S.C., Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Sonoco (NYSE:SON) today declared a $.37 per share quarterly common stock dividend. The dividend will be paid on March 10, 2017, to shareholders of record as of February 22, 2017. According to Jack Sanders, president and chief executive officer, this is the 367th consecutive quarter, dating back to 1925, that the Company has paid dividends to shareholders. About Sonoco Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $4.8 billion, the Company has 20,000 employees working in more than 300 operations in 35 countries, serving some of the worlds best known brands in some 85 nations. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com. Coinfirm keeps pushing their momentum as they receive more funding to expand and further build services and features onto their platform. With an investment of $700k from Luma Ventures already secured, Coinfirm has opened the current round to other investors. The startup has been on a roll lately and is looking to add some extra fuel in their engine with a capital injection. As the blockchain ecosystem continues to grow exponentially and the regtech market is expected to rise to $100b over the next few years, Coinfirm has positioned itself to be an important player in both spaces. Their blockchain AML risk and compliance platform solves one of the largest roadblocks in cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption and does so in a new and innovative way. By streamlining the compliance process and taking it to near-automation with big data analysis and machine learning Coinfirms platform not only significantly reduces costs and time spent but also maximizes efficiency and changes how the compliance landscape has operated until now. With a wide range of clients and partners already under their belt ranging from Bisnode to Dash, Coinfirm provides actionable data that is valuable for many different kinds of entities and industries whether cryptocurrency, banking or business intelligence. Recently Coinfirm has been having a lot of success dealing with larger and more traditional entities as they began collaborating and partnering with the likes of MIT Enterprise Forum, the largest Polish bank PKO BP and PWCs Startup Collider. A few more relationships with some significant companies are supposed to appear soon and their monthly blockchain event and networking ecosystem Warsaw Block recently just gained a few partners as well including Cointelegraph and Cointelegraph Events. The current funding round is being led by Luma Investment, a CEE based fund comprised of veterans and entrepreneurs from multiple industries. Although not widely known in the US or UK, Luma investment has quietly built itself into one of the largest private investment funds in the region with over with over $1.1b in transactions to their name already. Although already invested in many innovative technologies and industries, Coinfirm marks Lumas big jump into the blockchain technology space. With their technological development operations and blockchain lab centered in Warsaw, the London based Coinfirm gets an institutional investor that can directly contribute on a regional and international level. Were growing at a very fast rate and need to scale up quickly to continue to lead and expand on the global market. Luma brings not only a valuable VC investor but also a synergistic one that brings many benefits to the table and were looking to bring in co-investors that provide the same dynamic. They give us a new set of extensive experience, network, and assets in tech and financial ecosystems as well as a partner who can assist us on in our further development from the ground up, said Pawel Kuskowski, Co-Founder and CEO of Coinfirm. Coinfirms team convinced us by showing their in-depth industry expertise, passion and determination to realize their ambitious long-term plan. We are confident that with our support they will secure their leading position in the blockchain AML risk and compliance space. This is an important investment for Luma as it allows us to play a strategic role in the imminent transformation of the FinTech sector, said Tomasz Cichowicz, Partner at Luma Ventures. With multiple new clients, partners and products and services in the pipeline, Coinfirm has set itself up to have an exciting year. With that said, 2017 promises to be an exciting year for the blockchain and cryptocurrency market especially due to such solutions as Coinfirms compliance platform as they will add the structure and cohesion needed for further commercial and mass adoption. About Coinfirm A blockchain technology company with a specific focus on Compliance as a Service, Coinfirm built the first blockchain risk and compliance platform as well as the first blockchain lab in Central Europe. Coinfirms platform brings transparency and security to blockchain transactions while solving the AML/CTF/Sanctions and counterparty risk management problem. Blockchain and digital currency agnostic, the Coinfirm platform is utilizable for many potential applications and lays a foundation for the adoption of digital currencies and blockchain that ensures parties are compliant and operate in a safe environment. http://www.coinfirm.io/about About Luma Luma Ventures is an IT focused VC fund under management of Luma Investment S.A. Luma invests in start-ups that build their competitive advantage on data-driven solutions that fall into categories like Big Data/Data Science, Fintech, Blockchain, Automation of Knowledge Work, Enterprise Software and IoT. The funds team consists of experienced managers, business practitioners, former entrepreneurs and functional specialists of the highest class with Lumas partners having professional background in the financial sector. The Luma team brings with it a track record of over $1.1B in total value of carried out transactions that constitutes for a unique non-financial value that Luma provides to its investments. . http://lumainvestment.eu/en/about-us/ Assessing talent easily and effectively can be difficult when it involves distances between companies and their potential talent Learnosity, a leading provider of B2B SaaS assessment technology and Invedyn, a provider of next-generation online assessment testing and proctoring services, announce their new strategic partnership. The partnership will combine Invedyns language assessment, higher education and industry certification testing solutions with Learnositys expertise in creating and delivering large scale, interactive assessments in their brand new online platform: Proctest. Gavin Cooney, CEO & Co-Founder of Learnosity said, The demands of the 21st century workplace are evolving at a rapid pace. The businesses of today are recruiting on a significantly higher global scale than ever before. Assessing talent easily and effectively can be difficult when it involves distances between companies and their potential talent. There is a definite gap in the market, said Noorullah Akbari, CEO & Founder of Invedyn and Proctest. Companies dont have what they need to do business and recruit on a global scale, something thats becoming more and more important and beneficial to organizations. Akbari went on to say how each company has unique needs in regards to recruitment and training, and how important customization is to the process. Both companies understand the importance of engaging and providing authentic learning experiences - whether thats upskilling, reskilling or recruiting employees. Producing quality software that is scalable is a core interest to Proctest and Learnosity. Learnosity and Proctests partnership is set to expedite and improve the training and hiring processes of many well-recognized global brands. The combination of software will allow for an extremely accurate assessment of skills, knowledge and talent, bringing global recruitment to the next level. About Learnosity Learnosity is an award-winning educational technology company that offers a suite of assessment technologies (APIs) which enable organizations from a wide range of sectors, to easily incorporate powerful, interactive assessment capabilities into any digital product, new or existing. With intuitive authoring, powerful analytics and over 65 technology-enhanced items (TEIs), Learnosity shortens development cycles, effort and time-to-market, without sacrificing quality or value. Learnosity works with many of the top names from K-12 and higher education, to test prep and corporate training institutions. Learnosity has dedicated offices in Dublin, New York, Sydney and Los Angeles as well as local representation in the UK, Washington DC, Utah, and Hawaii. For further information on Learnosity, visit http://www.learnosity.com or contact media(at)learnosity(dot)com. About Proctest Proctest is a skills assessment testing platform offering customers an end-to-end testing solution with built-in proctoring and third party integration. The site is easy to use allowing customers the freedom to design and administer tests using a highly secure and customizable platform. Proctest currently supports the U.S. Department of State, NATO, U.S. Military, and the European Union. Large-scale global organizations in sectors including government, education, healthcare, staffing and training, and professional certification benefit from Proctests innovative technology. Whether your organization needs to test job candidates, employees or individuals seeking certification, Proctest provides universal testing and proctoring customized to your needs. For further information on Proctest, visit http://www.proctest.com or contact: media(at)proctest(dot)com We have wanted to take this step for a long time since a large number of our clients are Spanish speakers. Now, it has materialized into this great website in Spanish that will please all the clients who requested it. Quick Cash Auto Loans is a renowned Miami title loans company in Florida that has been in the market for several years. Their team of loan specialists is dedicated to helping people fulfill their needs for extra money by offering a fast and easy loan service. Since they serve customers in South Florida, their customer base includes not only English speakers, but also Spanish-speakers. Therefore, they have decided to launch a new website in Spanish, looking to fulfill their Hispanic customers' needs for a website in their native language and expand their market. "We have wanted to take this step for a long time since a large number of our clients are Spanish speakers. Now, it has materialized into this great website in Spanish that will please all the clients who requested it. Our clients have always been so supportive that we think they deserve the effort and dedication we are putting into this new project. We are always looking to improve the quality of our service," said Quick Cash Auto Loans's owner, Robert MacDougall. This auto title loan company serves people who need extra money and want to avoid the long loan application processes of other financial institutions. They have been in the consumer finance business since 2011, providing loans to a great number of people, regardless of their credit history. The experienced company prides itself on having a professionally trained staff that is ready to assist each customer with personalized attention. The company relies on a strong presence in the online market, providing their customers with the possibility to apply for a loan anytime and anywhere. The loan service provided by Quick Cash Auto Loans strives to minimize the number of required documents and paperwork, granting clients a simpler and faster loan process. In the same vein, Quick Cash Auto Loans created this new website to satisfy the needs of their Spanish-speaking customers and to broaden their business by gaining new clients from this prevalent percentage of the population in Miami, FL. The new website has all the features of their popular website in English, including their user-friendly, cutting-edge responsive design, which makes it possible to access their website from any device. Also, this new website has all the information and content as the one in English, including blog posts, instructional videos, and social media posts. The content is professionally translated by qualified specialists, avoiding machine-generated translation tools, ensuring an optimal experience for Spanish-speaking users. To see their new website in Spanish and get more information about this auto title loan company's service, visit them at esp.quickcashautoloans.com. If you have any questions or wish to start a loan application process, fill out the form on their website or call (786) 600-3411. We are very excited about recruiting our largest start-up class to date and deepening the Centers support of the growing FinTech community here in Boston. - Vasilios Roussos The DCU FinTech Innovation Center (the Center), the leading sponsor of FinTech startups in Boston, announced today the eight new seed-stage ventures in the Centers latest Cohort. The Center is the collaborative effort between Digital Federal Credit Union, better known as DCU, and Boston-based coworking network company, Workbar. The January 2017 Cohort Includes: Doni, Inc. - Social Goal Saving - Social gifting app for planning, saving and buying together. Energetic Insurance - InsurTech/CleanTech - Data-driven insurance product for commercial solar projects. FutureFuel - Student Debt Repayment - Tech jobs marketplace eliminating student debt. Lara - Personal Finance - Daily money management for Millennials. LearnLux - Personal Finance - Helping financial institutions acquire, engage, and retain millennial customers. Perfectosoft - Payment Processing - Helping merchants optimize payment processing. RateGravity - Residential Mortgages - Redefining how consumers finance their home. SalesBrief - Marketing Automation - Marketing automation for a frictionless customer journey. The Center, fully sponsored by DCU and managed by Workbar, accepts seed-stage FinTech startups varying from concept stage to product fit stage and that can benefit from the FinTech ecosystem of mentors, investors, institutions, and value-added service providers that the Center provides. DCU executives set the path in providing mentorship, assistance, and an open platform for working with the startups. David Chang, Senior Cohort member, former COO of Paypal, and PersonalVC founder, welcomed the new class and stated that, DCU/Workbar have been terrific partners for us. They recognize the power of startups to innovate and have taken a leadership role to create a welcoming, collaborative space in the heart of downtown Boston. We are lucky to be part of the program." The Center is an opportunity to go beyond DCUs legacy of promoting and adopting innovative banking solutions, stated David Araujo, DCUs Vice President of Technology. The space serves as a platform to help drive the Boston FinTech ecosystem and banking industry forward. In addition, the Center also allows us the ability to work hand in hand with a group of pioneering start-ups who are adopting new technologies and rethinking solutions. The Centers key focus is on providing startups with the support, tools, and opportunities to acquire their first customer(s) and gain market traction. Rather than putting all startups through the same structured program, the Center provides individual resources as each company and entrepreneur requires throughout the year. The latest Cohort marks a shift in programming for the Center, as it moves towards providing one-year of free dedicated office space instead of six-months to Member startups. The shift reinforces the Centers commitment to supporting the development of FinTech startups in Boston during a crucial stage in their growth. Companies now have the time and resources to develop over a pivotal stage in their development and reach significant milestones while at the Center. We are very excited about recruiting our largest cohort to date and deepening the Centers support of the community, says Managing Director, Vasilios Roussos, who joined the Center in September of last year to direct its growth and outreach. Roussos, who is also Innovation Centers Head at Workbar states, People are enthused about a growing FinTech startup center in Boston. With new partners and mentors joining regularly, the Center is connecting even more people, resources and networks to help Members succeed. The new class joins five prior Cohort Members who focus on venture capital, real estate, distributed ledgers, and gamified savings. The senior Cohort members include Adjoint, Arx Urban, Good Growth Capital, PersonalVC and Pyggly. Three additional companies graduated the program and will be working out of the Centers alumni space. These include AlphaPack, Cielo and The Texthood. Ravi Balasubramanian of AlphaPack says, The support we received from the DCU FinTech Innovation Center has been critical to the growth of our company. Access to DCU leadership and connections into the Boston FinTech ecosystem strongly boosted our growth trajectory. About the DCU FinTech Innovation Center The DCU FinTech Innovation Center is the leading sponsor of FinTech startups in Boston and is dedicated to fostering FinTech startups and the Boston FinTech community. The Center focuses on helping startups gain initial customer traction and provides seed-stage FinTech startups with one year of free mentorship, workspace, community and a professional network. The Center is fully funded by DCU, is supported by DCU executives and is operated by Workbar. For additional information, visit http://www.dcufintech.org. About DCU DCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative based in Massachusetts that serves over 500,000 members across all 50 states. DCU offers a full range of financial services to consumers and businesses, including banking, lending, financial management, insurance and realty. For additional information, visit http://www.dcu.org. About Workbar Workbar creates great places to work that bring the ideal office to you convenient, affordable, and populated by a friendly mix of motivated professionals. Its growing network of high quality coworking spaces offers independent professionals, small businesses, startups, remote teams, and other mobile professionals a mix of comfortable work space, meeting space, and amenities so you can make the most of your work day. Workbars hub-and-spoke network is connecting urban centers to well-placed suburban locations, making coworking more connected, convenient, and local. A robust digital presence and active events calendar supports interaction and community both online and in person; members share tips, ideas, and recommendations, identify the right tools and talent, and are inspired to do great work. For additional information, visit http://www.workbar.com. 5 Arch Funding provides the robust level of customer service and exceptional value that our everyday homeowners and investors have come to expect from Renters Warehouse, so naturally we felt there was a great fit here." Renters Warehouse, one of the largest and most awarded residential property management firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce a new partnership with 5 Arch Funding, a private mortgage company for residential real estate investors. This partnership means that investing in residential properties in the U.S. has never been more flexible and easier. Owning residential investment properties is the best way to generate recurring monthly revenue, setting yourself up for financial freedom. 5 Arch Funding offers fast and flexible access to funding for property investors, not only to purchase the best rental properties, but also to make required repairs and capital improvements that allow investors to receive the greatest return on their investment. Combining 5 Archs strategic financing expertise with Renters Warehouses industry leading residential property management platform that currently manages more than 17,000 homes for over 12,000 investors across the country means that it has never been easier to invest in Rent Estate. This partnership provides additional value to Renters Warehouse clients, so they can grow their investment portfolios with a special financing rate through 5 Arch Funding. Renters Warehouse partners only with the best complementary service providers in the industry to help clients make the most with their investments in the maturing single-family rental industry. We are making a more concerted effort to support and inspire our current clients with the tools, resources and trusted partners to grow their Rent Estate portfolio, says Kevin Ortner, CEO of Renters Warehouse. 5 Arch Funding provides the robust level of customer service and exceptional value that our everyday homeowners and investors have come to expect from Renters Warehouse, so naturally we felt there was a great fit here. Were excited to offer 5 Arch Funding as one of our preferred lending partners. The partnership with Renters Warehouse also gives 5 Arch Funding clients peace of mind, knowing that their investment properties will be managed by the leading residential property management firm in the country. At 5 Arch Funding, we put the borrower in the center of our business, providing flexible lending products through a hassle-free, personalized rental property loan process, says Gene Clark, President of 5 Arch. They also deserve the best in property management once they have made the decision to invest. Partnering with an industry leader like Renters Warehouse will make the decision to invest in residential properties even easier, and it will allow our clients to reap the benefits of property investment with no hassles. Renters Warehouse exists to help homeowners and investors create wealth and financial freedom through Rent Estate. To learn more about Renters Warehouse or to find out how much your home will rent for, visit http://www.renterswarehouse.com today! -30- About Renters Warehouse Renters Warehouse is one of the fastest growing and highest reviewed residential property management companies in America. Backed by growth equity investor and majority stakeholder Northern Pacific Group, and under the leadership of President and CEO Kevin Ortner, Renters Warehouse now manages more than $3 billion in residential real estate, servicing 12,000+ investors across 17,000+ residential homes over 35 markets and 20 states. NPG Managing Partner Scott Honour, who in 1999 was a founder of YapStone, a leading online rental property payment service provider, serves as Chairman. Renters Warehouse expertly serves everyday single-property homeowners as well as real estate investors. In 2015, the company officially trademarked the term Rent Estate to redefine the entire SFR (Single Family Rental) industry as more traditional real estate gives way to this new lucrative asset. Through their dedicated Portfolio Services Division led by Chief Investment Officer Anthony Cazazian, the company also brings professional, scalable and efficient single property management solutions to investment portfolios with both centralized services and local market expertise and staff. Not only has Renters Warehouse received the prestigious honor of being included on the Inc. 500 | 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in America seven consecutive years in a row, it was also named one of the Best Places to Work in Minnesota (where they are headquartered) by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The company was also honored as a best place to work in Arizona (a centralized corporate services center) by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2013 and 2014, and achieved a spot on the prestigious 2016 Top Companies to Work for in AZ list. Nationwide, Renters Warehouse has been honored as one of America's "Best Places to Work" in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by Outside Magazine. Recognized as pioneers in real estate, business management and innovation, Renters Warehouse has been awarded 22 Business Stevie Awards both internationally and stateside. In 2016, Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) offering a wide array of services including operational risk assessments, assigned its MOR RV2 residential-vendor ranking to Renters Warehouse as a residential property manager, indicating that the company demonstrates proficiency in managing key areas of operational risk. About 5 Arch Funding 5 Arch Funding began with a simple approach to be customer-centric. We are committed to disrupting the status quo in lending. We realize investors need more convenience, speed, and agility to fund their investments. We are focused on providing reliable capital to residential Investors, Mortgage Brokers and Private Lenders nationwide. Our goal is to provide you with the working capital to revitalize and rebuild your community. The company is led by four industry veterans, each with over 20 years of experience in residential mortgages, structured finance, investment banking and special servicing. Throughout the course of owning and managing thousands of residential loans and REO properties across the country, the team gained firsthand experience with the challenges faced by investors like you. As a result, 5 Archs approach to lending is centered around the investor, allowing you to focus more on execution and less on the loan process. From square footage additions to 100 home rental portfolios, 5 Arch has experience working with a wide range of client and property types. We are institutionally backed experts in the industry the go-to source for serious investors. So whether youre an experienced flipper, landlord, broker, or lender our team has the qualifications to exceed expectations and help you expand your business. Treadstone 71 announced today enhancements and expansion of their industry leading Force Multiple Intelligence Advisory Services. Our services deliver actionable intelligence to consumers enabling proactive threat mitigation strategies, said Jeff Bardin, Chief Intelligence Officer for Treadstone 71. The intelligence community proven methods, structured techniques, and Kent/Heuer-based procedures increase client awareness of their threat posture while supporting rapid response to their cyber incidents. The Treadstone 71 Force Multiplier Intelligence Advisory Services clarifies the cyber threat intelligence strategy while illuminating a path for tactical implementation. In developing this strategy, we adhere to guiding principles. Principles validated when building-out threat intelligence programs from Arizona to Australia. The Treadstone 71 advisory services enable: proactive cyber defensive strategies, and accurate intelligence and information requirements, aligned to learned business needs client understanding of organizational specific cybercrime, espionage, and sabotage targeting through timely and usable intelligence while accelerating incident responses through structured methods, integrated data and information sources and the need for complete, usable, and relevant early warnings, threat estimates, strategic analysis, and research intelligence geared towards stakeholder requirements. We assist in stakeholder collaboration, priority intelligence requirements development, collection planning and execution, continued Bardin. Our principles ensure clients deploy sound analytic tradecraft to support organizational needs and overall corporate strategies. Treadstone 71 services include threat intelligence, competitive, and business intelligence functions. The landscape has changed. Clients require a broad base of knowledge about their adversaries, their motivations and tactics so they may better protect their customers, critical systems, and intellectual property. If you look at the industry, Treadstone 71 has trained professionals in the most critical industries including other organizations offering like services, stated Bardin. These organizations require our expertise to rapidly and efficiently mature their cyber intelligence programs. Treadstone 71 provides threat intelligence leadership services designed to assess and benchmark your organization's cyber intelligence program examining incident response, cybercrime, hunt groups, red, blue, purple teams, threat intelligence, leadership, stakeholder issues and needs, reporting, and dissemination. Our services are customized and scaled based on the size of your organization and industry type. Treadstone 71 measures and develop your intelligence direction in your image. Treadstone 71's Cyber Intelligence Tradecraft Certification and Advisory Services are the gold standard in the industry today derived from both academia and from Treadstone 71s experience in building cyber intelligence programs at Fortune 500 organizations worldwide. Visit Treadstone 71 at the RSA Conference on Thursday February 16. One of the leading global, independent digital agencies, Vertic, has today announced the assignment from their client Mannaz, an international boutique leadership consultancy, to provide a full marketing function. The task carries responsibility of strategy and execution for long-term business growth based on the gradual transition of Mannaz marketing from that of a paid media ecosystem to one that is otherwise earned and owned. Paid media is ultimately an inactive spending structure, says Sebastian Jespersen, CEO of Vertic. This needs to shift over time towards an active, measurable media spend, one which supports the objective of creating an increase in the owned media platform This owned media platform would have a focus on content creation such as POVs, articles, infographics, video creation and other customer centric content. The vision is for the change of the marketing model to not only increase the volume of platform activities a more distributed and focused use of various social media channels but also the effect derived from it. Mannaz wishes to leverage managed marketing services to accelerate the modernization of tactical and operational marketing-related activities, says Claus Rydkjaer, CEO of Mannaz and continues by modernizing and professionalizing the approach to marketing planning and execution, it will be possible to work smarter and shift marketing spend from a Paid Media approach towards an Owned Media approach that will be more cost-effective and improve marketing impact. We envisage that this strategic move and collaboration model will be instrumental in doubling our revenue by 2020. The long-term approach is expected to increase transparency between media spend and results, with this increase in transparency allowing Mannaz to allocate spend resourcefully into communications that are primarily driving conversion from lead to sale, and secondarily elevating owned and earned channels. This always-on model is very much in line with our principles of Entangled Marketing, continued Jespersen. It will not be constrained and dictated by budgets but rather take into consideration user behavior and their decision journeys. Through servicing the organic and earned customer audiences with valuable, relevant content at the right time and right place at each stage of the customer decision journey, Mannaz will be able to entangle with their audience and drive long term mutual value. About Mannaz: Mannaz is a boutique leadership consultancy and among the largest international specialist providers of organizational development, leadership development, talent development and change management services. We are a team of more than 400 experts, consultants and facilitators that continuously works with many of the worlds largest and most complex businesses. About Vertic: Vertic is a global independent digital ad agency. Our award-winning solutions are based on our ability to blend the core competencies of strategy, story-telling, creativity, interaction-design, and in-depth understanding of content creation, in the pursuit of tangible business results. Vertics mission is to help industry leaders apply interactive solutions to build their brands and create great customer experiences across the entire digital channel. Founded in 2002, we are represented in Copenhagen, New York, Seattle and Singapore. Our passion is creating 360 multi-channel solutions that generate demand for our clients brand. Please visit http://www.vertic.com NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Securities, the investment banking and capital markets division of Guggenheim Partners, announced today that Barry Knapp has joined the firm as a Senior Managing Director. Mr. Knapp joins Guggenheim from BlackRock, where he was a Managing Director of Fixed Income Investment Management. Prior to BlackRock, he was a Managing Director and Chief U.S. Equity Portfolio Strategist at Barclays. Before joining Barclays, he worked at Lehman Brothers as a Managing Director, focused on Principal Strategies and Trading. We are excited for Barry to join Guggenheim, said Jerry Donini, Co-CEO of Guggenheim Securities. Barry has a long track record of advising clients across a broad range of asset classes and strategies. His deep industry knowledge will support our continued ability to provide our clients with differentiated and valuable insight. Mr. Knapp earned his M.B.A. from Fordham University and his B.A. in economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is based in Guggenheims New York Office. About Guggenheim Partners Guggenheim Partners is a global investment and advisory firm with more than $260 billion1 in assets under management. Across our three primary businesses of investment management, investment banking, and insurance services, we have a track record of delivering results through innovative solutions. With more than 2,300 professionals based in more than 25 offices around the world, our commitment is to advance the strategic interests of our clients and to deliver long-term results with excellence and integrity. We invite you to learn more about our expertise and values by visiting GuggenheimPartners.com and following us on Twitter at twitter.com/guggenheimptnrs. 1Assets under management are as of 12.31.2016 and include consulting services for clients whose assets are valued at approximately $63bn. MIMI TRAN unveils an exclusive Invitation Only preview of her Fluorescence Fall-Winter 2017 Collection on February 15, 2017 during New York Fashion Week. A much-anticipated part of the event is the debut of the brands breathtaking capsule bridal dresses. Renowned for her ravishing evening dresses, Mimi rolls out an array of glamorous pieces with ultra feminine silhouettes cut close to the body but draped for graceful movement from the finest silk blends, all awash in scintillating colors. The collection features distinct design elements from the 1920s and effervescent 1970s hues within Mimis signature aesthetic of using classical design foundation to create exceptionally modern looks. The entire collection highlights the visionary designers innovative juxtapositions of the past and the future in artisanal hand beaded floral patterns and digitally rendered original prints. Mimi explains, These elegant hybridizations of previously disconnected elements create a visual template of an exciting future for fashion. In her recent collections, Mimi has been gradually going beyond her affinity for neutrals and defying limitations to embrace an exciting spectrum of vivid hues and design elements that embody the push-the-limits confidence of modern women and inspire them to greater heights. ABOUT MIMI TRAN Conceived in 2013, the MIMI TRAN Collection represents the culmination of Mimis dedication to design. Born in Vietnam, Mimi Tran relocated to Paris at the age of seven where she eventually attended boarding school and was recognized as a gifted child in free style art. At 14, her family moved to the United States where she later graduated from college with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering and began her career at Cisco. She earned an MBA in International Business Management from Santa Clara University, but her artistic side kept pulling her toward a means of creative expression. She eventually began creating cocktail dresses that sculpted the body and accentuated feminine curves before she finally embraced the red carpet-ready glamour of evening gowns. The brand immediately drew a following among fashion aficionados for the sophistication of her black and gold gowns and has evolved to even more daring creations. Today, the San Francisco-based label is sold worldwide in specialty boutiques and stores. http://www.mimitrandesign.com Alkane Signs Agrale Exclusive Agreement We are very excited about having exclusivity with Agrale in the North American market. The unique vehicles we will be offering through Agrale will fill existing market voids. Alkane Truck Company, the South Carolina-based manufacturer of alternative fuel trucks and off-road vehicles, has signed an exclusive agreement with Brazilian truck manufacturer, Agrale. The agreement names Alkane its sole representative for sales and service in North America--to include the U.S., Canada and Mexico. This announcement comes at the same time as the companys launch of a new crowdinvesting campaign on equity crowdfunding platform StartEngine, allowing anyone across the U.S. to join the company in their vision for providing clean-burning alternative fuel vehicles, American jobs, and energy independence for the trucking and off road vehicle industries. Signing the agreement from Alkane was its CEO, Mr. Bob Smith, and representing Agrale was CEO Mr. Hugo Zattera. The company, founded in 1962, is best known for building rugged and durable products and is the sole supplier of military vehicles to the Brazilian government. We are very excited about having exclusivity with Agrale in the North American market, said Smith. "The unique vehicles we will be offering through Agrale will fill existing market voids. The first Agrale/Alkane collaboration introduced in the U.S. is the humvee-style Alkane Dominator. This rugged vehicle was part of the Line-X Body Armor Coating Exhibit displayed at the SEMA Expo in Las Vegas on November 1, 2016. Alkane brings to the market a unique production and distribution model, using streamlined manufacturing and distribution to reduce costs and allow Alkane to offer more competitively priced vehicles in their respective markets. Alkane imports the main body and chassis as an assemblage of parts and incorporates U.S.-manufactured components such as engines, transmissions, fuel systems, wheels, tires, brakes, safety elements and other key components required for DOT compliance. Together, Alkane and Agrale will offer a new class 7 truck line, the humvee-style, off-road Dominator and various commercial chassis options for recreational and public transportation vehicles. We are ready to move forward and we anticipate the North American market will be very receptive to these rugged and durable vehicles, said Bob Smith. "This agreement is a unique and exciting opportunity for both companies, and we look forward to working together. New rules as part of Title III of the JOBS Act have enabled Alkane to launch a new crowd investing initiative on equity crowdfunding platform StartEngine to allow anyone across the United States the opportunity to invest in the companys signature alternative-fueled vehicles. Interested individuals may visit https://www.startengine.com/startup/alkane to learn more. About Alkane Truck Company Alkane Truck Company is an OEM for 100% dedicated natural gas powered vehicles. Alkanes vehicles are sold worldwide and are available in Gasoline, Diesel, Propane Autogas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The company is headquartered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For more information, visit our website http://www.Alkanetruckcompany.com The gym is amazing, the vibe and energy when you walk in is incredible! The Real Housewife of New Jersey star, Dolores Catania is getting ready to kick off the Grand Opening of her second Powerhouse Fitness Center gym in Whippany, N.J., this upcoming Saturday, February 11th. Friends and family are encouraged to join in the festivities and take advantage of free guest passes, membership specials and rates. The celebration will kick off at 10am with a ribbon cutting ceremony. In addition, the gym will be hosting vendors including, Lifestyle Nutrition, Maximum Health & Wellness, Xcel Precision Training, and many more. There will also be a Kids Party in the gym's daycare. Powerhouse Whippany is my newest project that I'm really excited to share with everyone. The gym is amazing, the vibe and energy when you walk in is incredible! But what really makes it special are our members, it already feels like a family. said co-owner Dolores Catania. Powerhouse Fitness Center of Whippany conveniently located on Route 10 West, is a family owned and operated gym with friendly and reliable staff. Powerhouse is a full amenity facility with state of the art equipment and brand new free weights and cardio deck. Powerhouse offers classes from aerobics to yoga to Xcel Precision Training and has a daycare center on site to make it easy for parents to come with kids. Powerhouse offers tanning and their delicious juice bar makes it easy to hydrate after a workout. Maximum Health and Wellness is conveniently located in the gym, and offers everything from chiropractic to acupuncture to massage therapy. With tons of parking and luxurious locker rooms, the Powerhouse Fitness Center of Whippany is a perfect addition to the community. The Powerhouse Gym name and brand has been one of the top leaders in the fitness industry for over 35 years. With 300 licensees in 39 states, Powerhouse has continued to steadily gain global attention by expanding into 17 different countries worldwide. Dr. Deborah Wenkerts knowledge and expertise in adult and pediatric metabolic bone and genetic disorders, in addition to, her extensive experience in pediatric rheumatology and pediatric clinical trials will provide an excellent resource to our clients. NDA Partners Chairman Carl Peck, MD, announced today that Deborah Wenkert, MD a former Clinical Research Medical Director at Amgen and pediatrics, rheumatology, and bone disease expert has joined the company as an Expert Consultant. Following an immunology postdoc at Harvard University, Dr. Wenkert was an instructor at Washington University School of Medicine and then, for eleven years, an Adjunct Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor at St Louis University School of Medicine in the division of rheumatology. Concurrent with her position at St. Louis University, Dr. Wenkert conducted research in adult and pediatric metabolic bone and genetic disorders and provided care to affected children as the Associate Director of the Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research at Shriners Hospital for Children, St Louis. Dr. Deborah Wenkerts knowledge and expertise in adult and pediatric metabolic bone and genetic disorders, in addition to, her extensive experience in pediatric rheumatology and pediatric clinical trials will provide an excellent resource to our clients and to our growing Pediatric Practice, said Dr. Peck. We are very pleased to welcome her to NDA Partners. Dr. Wenkert earned her MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, Texas), attended graduate school at Baylor College of Medicine Graduate School, and obtained a BA in Biochemistry from Rice University. She is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric rheumatology, a member of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Rheumatology. About NDA Partners NDA Partners is a strategy consulting firm specializing in expert product development and regulatory advice to the medical products industry and associated service industries such as law firms, investment funds and government research agencies. The highly experienced Principals and Premier Experts of NDA Partners include three former FDA Center Directors; the former Chairman of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK; an international team of more than 100 former pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agency senior executives; and an extensive roster of highly proficient experts in specialized areas including nonclinical development, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, CMC, medical device design control and quality systems, clinical development, regulatory submissions, and development program management. Services include product development and regulatory strategy, expert consulting, high-impact project teams, and virtual product development teams. Contact Earle Martin, Chief Executive Officer Office: 540-738-2550 MartinEarle(at)ndapartners(dot)com Speedtiller Powerflex now available in North America By opening a U.S. operation and continuing to manufacture industry-leading equipment such as the Speedtiller Powerflex, we hope to revolutionize the farming industry and make tilling more efficient for farmers worldwide. To mark its U.S. market debut, the K-Line Ag subsidiary company will be present at the National Farm Machinery Tradeshow, February 15-18, in Louisville, KY to discuss the unveiling of the Speedtiller Powerflex. As a family of farmers, we not only understand the agricultural industry from first-hand experience, but have a deep-rooted passion for it, said Bill Larsen, Director of Sales and Marketing at K-Line Ag. By opening a U.S. operation and continuing to manufacture industry-leading equipment such as the Speedtiller Powerflex, we hope to revolutionize the farming industry and make tilling more efficient for farmers worldwide. The new Speedtiller Powerflex is the award-winning flagship of K-Line Ag and incorporates highly advanced and field-proven features with the existing Speedtiller advantages. This dual-purpose machine was designed and built for superior performance in all soil types and conditions, allows for maximum weed-cut, a smoother field finish, and more consistent sizing and incorporation. Equipped with 31 separate 24-inch discs, the Speedtiller Powerflex is designed to accommodate the needs of large-scale farmers and custom operators seeking efficiencies in todays challenging agricultural environment. Ideal for sizing, mixing, and incorporating high residue crops in corn, beans, and cereals, the Speedtiller Powerflex features a heavy-duty disc arm for a maximum digging capacity of up to 348 pounds per disc, power down wings, and rubber suspension rollers with dual float and fixed working modes. The dual operating mode allows the tiller to operate in Full Float Mode for undulating fields and terrace following, or Non-Float Mode, allowing the tiller to go further in soft, wet, or sandy soils. Some of the key advantages of the Speedtiller Powerflex include: Unique ability to vary disc and roller pressure on the go Handle greater range of diverse soil types Increased digging capacity digs like an offset in hard soils Far superior performance in soft, wet, or sandy soils Less machine damage in rocky soils Proven for heavy trash incorporation Simple machine setup with hydraulic on-the-go adjustment To schedule a meeting with K-Line Ag at the National Farm Machinery Tradeshow, please contact Christina Perry at cperry(at)planitagency(dot)com or (410) 746-5288. For more information, please visit http://www.k-lineag.com or call 1-800-445-6882 About K-Line Ag A family-owned and operated company, K-Line Ag was founded in 1993 by Richard Larsen and is the leading global manufacturer of agricultural machinery and technology. Headquartered in Australia, the company manufactures heavy duty lines of farm machinery, including Speedtillers, Trash Management equipment, CropCommanders, Harrows & Bars, Turf Mowers and Hay Rakes. In 2012, the company established a subsidiary company in North Dakota, thus making its high-end machinery accessible to farmers in the North American and Canadian markets. Under the direction and leadership of the Larsen family, K-Line Ag has transformed from a two-person company in 1993 to a market-leading international business in 2016. Our annual conference not only offers value-driven collaboration and educational opportunities but also provides a great networking experience and the ability to meet with current OneStream customers. OneStream Software LLC, leader in Corporate Performance Management (CPM) solutions for the large enterprise, today announced its 2017 OneStream Splash User Conference and Partner Summit has already surpassed registered attendees from previous years. From May 17-19, finance and consulting experts from around the globe will gather at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual conference will include multiple days of customer presentations and hands-on training covering 30+ sessions on tips, tricks, best practices and roadmaps. "Thanks to tremendous business and customer growth, we are projected to attract the largest number of attendees to date," said Tom Shea, President of OneStream Software. "Our annual conference not only offers value-driven collaboration and educational opportunities but also provides a great networking experience and the ability to meet with current OneStream customers. As the leading provider of on-premise and cloud CPM solutions, we are excited to help advance Corporate Performance Management by simplifying financial processes with our SmartCPM platform. OneStream customers and partners along with OneStreams own experts, will be sharing their implementation stories at the conference. Additionally, financial industry professionals and technical specialists from around the globe will be sharing best practices and participating in several breakout sessions that cover various aspects of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and analysis. There will also be the ever-popular Ask Me Anything Lounge and Partner Expo, which provides conference attendees the unique opportunity to ask in-depth questions regarding OneStream XF directly to OneStreams partners, founders, developers and implementation experts with a different point of interest every hour. Before the Splash User Conference is in full swing, short hands-on training workshops are offered across four concurrent tracks to offer attendees the opportunity to gain specific new skills. These workshops are sponsored by OneStream partner, METAVERO. We are excited for our fifth annual Splash User Conference and for the first time complementing the week with our Partner Summit, making this the cant-miss Corporate Performance Management event of the year, stated Eric Davidson, Vice President of Knowledge Management at OneStream Software. Splash provides an exclusive forum for the OneStream community and with all of the unique sessions, workshops, networking events and experiences, its no surprise that 90 percent of attendee companies return to Splash again and again. For more information on Splash, please visit http://www.onestreamsoftware.com/splash/ CONTACT Craig Colby OneStream Software 362 South Street Rochester, MI 48307 404-786-7932 Ccolby(at)onestreamsoftware(dot)com About OneStream Software LLC OneStream Software is a privately held software company created by the same team that invented the leading financial solutions of the last decade. We provide a Smart Corporate Performance Management (CPM) platform which enables the enterprise to simplify financial consolidation, reporting, budgeting and forecasting for complex organizations. Powerful extensibility enables the enterprise to deliver additional analytic solutions without adding any technical complexity. By delivering multiple solutions in one application, we offer increased capabilities for financial reporting and analysis while reducing the risk, complexity and total cost of ownership for our customers. We are driven by our mission statement that every customer must be a reference and success. For more information, visit OneStream Software http://www.onestreamsoftware.com or on Twitter @OneStream_Soft. #SpashVegas Our laser focus on building a world-class cloud CPQ experience, with best in class integration to market leading CRM and ERP platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, continues to pay off. Experlogix, Inc., the global leader in Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) solutions for Microsoft Dynamics, announced today another record breaking year of sales growth and industry accolades. During the past year, a wide range of new customers were added, spanning a broad spectrum of industries and sizes, from Fortune 500 to SMB. Revenue grew at a double digit rate, a pace which has been consistently maintained for the past 12 years. It has been a truly amazing year of high honors from industry leaders, innovative product development, and sustained strong demand for CPQ solutions in the market, said Christian Stepien, President of Experlogix. Our laser focus on building a world-class cloud CPQ experience, with best in class integration to market leading CRM and ERP platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, continues to pay off. In addition to strong revenue growth, Experlogix received awards and recognition from Microsoft and Gartner. Microsoft honored Experlogix as its 2016 Dynamics US ISV of the Year, crediting sales contribution, unparalleled cross-platform support, and extreme focus on customer satisfaction as reasons for our selection. Gartner acknowledged Experlogix in their October 2016 Market Guide for Configure, Price, Quote Application Suites. Additional 2016 highlights include: Release of Version 8.0, a major new product update featuring a sleek new modeling environment, unlimited levels of nested configurations, seamless integration with the new Dynamics 365 and Mobile Client platforms, exciting new UI and Rule capabilities, and much more. The first CPQ Application certified on Microsofts AppSource marketplace The only CPQ on Microsoft AppSource supporting both Dynamics 365 for Sales (CRM) and Dynamics 365 for Operations (ERP) Announced first cloud-based CPQ for Dynamics AX 7 (Dynamics 365 for Operations) 83% new customer revenue growth with significant international demand "In 2016 we worked in concert with Microsoft to secure major wins in multiple industries worldwide," says Scott Rich, Executive Director of Strategic Alliances, Experlogix. "Were looking forward to another record shattering year of product innovation and growth in 2017, as customers and partners of Microsoft continue to turn to us with confidence to solve their complex CPQ requirements." About Experlogix Experlogix is a premier provider of Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) technology, specializing in fully integrated quote and order automation solutions for Microsoft Dynamics and NetSuite. Experlogix delivers the scalability and flexibility needed to handle virtually any CPQ requirement at a low total cost of ownership. Hundreds of companies worldwide in a variety of industries rely on Experlogix, including Allegion, Analogic, Assa Abloy Hospitality, FEI Company, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Malibu Boats, Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift, Nikon Instruments UK, Okuma America Corporation, Otis Elevator, Takeuchi, TelePacific Communications and Teradata. For more information, visit http://www.experlogix.com. Since being founded in 2003 by Claudia and Azam Mirza, Akorbis revenues have soared an impressive 758% in the last three years. The Womens Business Council Southwest (WBCS) honored Akorbi with its prestigious Women Business Enterprise of the Year Award (over $5 million in revenue) on February 2 at its 2017 Parade of Stars Awards Gala. The event was held at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas and was attended by hundreds of Dallas/Fort Worth-area entrepreneurs, as well as corporate and community leaders. The event honored Womens Business Enterprise (WBE) and Sustaining (Corporate) Members who go above and beyond with their advocacy, volunteer and sponsorship efforts to ensure that women-owned businesses succeed. It also recognized the corporations and government agencies that provide Womens Business Enterprises with growth opportunities. Since being founded in 2003 by Claudia and Azam Mirza, Akorbis revenues have soared an impressive 758% in the last three years. The company plans to continue growing by expanding its translation and interpretation services, worldwide contact centers and learning services, as well as by launching new proprietary technology, which will revolutionize the translation and interpretation industries. The company also plans to continue hiring top industry talent and expanding its global workforce of more than 750 people. We are incredibly honored to receive this award and are very grateful for the support weve received from the WBCS over the years, said Claudia Mirza, CEO of Akorbi. WBENC certification and WBCS membership have been instrumental in our growth due to the valuable relationships its helped us establish with corporate members and other business owners. About Akorbi Akorbi offers global and multilingual business solutions in more than 170 languages to some of the largest companies in the world. The company offers a full range of language, localization and global marketing solutions, including: professional staffing, translation, interpretation, multilingual call centers, business process outsourcing, video remote technologies, sign language interpretation, alternate formats, transcription, eLearning and eDiscovery. The company holds several certifications including ISO 9001:2008, ISO 13485:2003, EN 15038:2006 and M/WBE Certification. For more information, visit http://www.akorbi.com or call 1.877.4.AKORBI. About WBCS Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, WBCS is dedicated to increasing mutually beneficial procurement opportunities between certified woman-owned businesses, corporations, businesses, government entities, institutions and other organizations. With more than 1,000 WBE members and nearly 100 Sustaining (Corporate) Members, WBCS is in its 21st year of providing national certification to women-owned businesses. To find out more about the WBCS, please visit http://www.wbcsouthwest.org. WBCS is a regional affiliate of the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) covering Oklahoma, north central Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico. Founded in 1997, WBENC has become a powerhouse organization for women entrepreneurs across the country. Mary-Frances Castle, NATC Business Development Manager Mary-Frances embodies the NATC commitment to adding value to the customer experience through education and training. North American Title Co. (NATC) announced that Mary-Frances Castle has joined the companys Louisville, Colorado, branch as business development manager. She brings more than two decades of title experience to her position. Mary-Frances has been an incredible resource to the real estate community throughout her career, said Devin Storms, NATC Vice President, Metro Area Manager. She embodies the NATC commitment to adding value to the customer experience through education and training. In addition, she generously shares her wisdom and expertise to help customers grow their business. Castle began her career in the title insurance industry in 1995 in Summit County, where she was head of business development for a title company. Over the past several years, she was in business development for two Boulder-based title companies. She is an active member in the Boulder Area Realtors Association, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce and the Boulder Rotary Club. She is also a volunteer for several area organizations, including Yard Busters, Junior Achievement and the Boulder County schools. The vibrant real estate market throughout Boulder County makes this work endlessly exciting and challenging, Castle said. Having the backing of the experienced and talented staff at North American Title will be invaluable, as we work to assist our customers and ease the pathway to homeownership for their clients. Castle earned her bachelors degree in marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi. She will be located at the NATC Louisville Branch at 357 S. McCaslin Blvd., Suite 200, Louisville, CO 80027 and can be reached at mcastle(at)nat.com or phone number (303) 926-4988. About North American Title With well over 1,000 associates and a vast network of branches from coast to coast, North American Title Group, LLC (NATG) is among the largest real estate settlement service providers in the United States. Consisting of both agent and underwriter operations, NATG reported annual net revenues in fiscal 2015 of $229 million. The company also has the resources and stability of a wholly owned subsidiary of an S&P 500 company with over $14.4 billion in assets (fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 2015). North American Titles agency network operates nationally under the name North American Title Co. and similar names (NATC) in 19 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia, in addition to the District of Columbia. Through our relationship with our expanding affiliate network, NATC provides real estate settlement services in all 50 states. NATG is headquartered in Miami, Florida. To learn more, visit http://www.nat.com Lighter Capital provides revenue-based funding for early-stage growth companies Revenue-based financing has quickly become a mainstream funding alternative for early-stage companies, something thats reflected very emphatically in our growth statistics in 2016. Lighter Capital, the leading provider of revenue-based financing for early-stage growth companies, reinforced its position as the most active investor in software as a service (SaaS) technology companies in the United States, based on deal flow and investments in 2016. Lighter Capital invested $26 million in 101 deals in 2016, a 90 percent increase in deal volume from 2015. The firm was particularly busy last December when it completed 24 deals, including 11 during the week between Christmas and New Years Day. Overall, Lighter has funded 150 SaaS and other tech companies and completed 225 initial fundings and follow-on deals since it was founded in 2010. Revenue-based financing has quickly become a mainstream funding alternative for early-stage companies, something thats reflected very emphatically in our growth statistics in 2016, said BJ Lackland, chief executive officer for Lighter Capital. Its very attractive because its non-controlling, non-dilutive and enables entrepreneurs to focus on company business rather than arduous task of fund raising. Lighter Capital announced its 2016 growth statistics today in conjunction with SaaStr 2017, the largest annual conference in the U.S. for SaaS companies. Lighter Capital is a Gold Sponsor for the 2017 SaaStr conference, which runs Tuesday through Thursday in San Francisco. Lackland said the companys steadily growing pace of investments is driven by two key elements: Lighter Capitals proprietary technology and the demand from entrepreneurs for alternatives to traditional venture capital funding. Lighter Capital helps entrepreneurs grow their companies without giving up equity or control. Venture capital firms often require founders to give up between 20 to 40 percent of equity in their company as well as a board seat in exchange for growth capital, Lackland said. Lighter Capital provides revenue-based financing, which is leveraged against future revenues. For example, with a revenue-based funding model, a company agrees to share a percentage of future revenue with an investor in exchange for up-front capital. The loan payments are tied to monthly revenue, going up for strong-revenue months and down for low-revenue months. As a result, investors and entrepreneurs are working toward the same goal: higher revenue, Lackland said. The faster a company grows, the faster it can pay off the loan, he said. If a company stalls out, neither the entrepreneur nor the investor wins. This stands in sharp contrast to conventional debt financing, where loans must be paid off regardless of revenue performance. Additionally, Lighter Capitals technology, which analyzes risk and predicts the internal rate of return of investments, has gotten dramatically better due to improvements in software and data science, Lackland said. That enables the company to predict long-term revenue projections for its portfolio companies with more than 95 percent accuracy. As a result, we can evaluate and execute investments at a high scale, often funding more than 10 companies a month, he said. Its a unique approach thats very beneficial to entrepreneurs. One of the primary benefits is the speed at which the funding can happen, Lackland said. For many entrepreneurs, looking for funding under the traditional models becomes a full-time job and takes them away from their real business, he said. Indeed, entrepreneurs seeking funding via traditional models such as venture capital and angel investors contact nearly 60 investor groups and actually meet with 40, many of them several times, according to a 2015 survey conducted by TechCrunch. Obviously, there are huge opportunity costs here in time and expense for entrepreneurs and their teams, Lackland said. By contract, our process involves an online application, evaluation of the application via our software and a handful of follow-up phone calls. Usually, a funding happens within three to six weeks, not six to eight months. While revenue-based funding is relatively new for technology companies, the model is used frequently and successfully in other industries, Lackland said. Were not reinventing the wheel, Lackland said. Were just applying it to an industry where the older models dont always work for entrepreneurs. The funding approach is identical to how Hollywood finances films, how the energy sector finances solar and gas projects, and how the pharmaceutical industry allocates capital in efforts to discover new cures and drug treatments. Many companies that received early-stage funding from Lighter Capital go on to receive subsequent funding rounds from traditional venture capital companies. For example, MapAnything received five rounds of funding totaling $1.2 million from Lighter Capital over a three-year period. Last week, MapAnything closed a $33 million Series B funding round from Columbus Nova, Salesforce Ventures and several other VCs. Our company wouldnt have existed if no one had gambled on usand Lighter Capital did, said MapAnything CEO John Stewart. About Lighter Capital Lighter Capital is an alternative funding firm founded in 2010 that focuses on providing early-stage companies up to $2 million in growth capital without equity dilution or personal guarantees. Lighter Capital uses proprietary technology to streamline the lending process so entrepreneurs can focus on running their business, not pitching VCs or dealing with bank paperwork. Lighter Capital raised one of the largest funds focused on revenue-based funding when it closed a $100 million fund in 2015 from Community Investment Management, a San Francisco based investment firm that focuses on marketplace lending for small businesses in the United States. Lighter Capital was ranked #335 on the Inc. 5000. For information about Lighter Capital and revenue-based financing, please visit lightercapital.com. Technology is constantly evolving - innovations changing the way we communicate with our friends, peers and the world around us. We invite you to join our live digital event where we will make a very exciting announcement under embargo. Here, you will get an exclusive preview of how we help operators transform for the 5G evolution. Join us for a session with Arun Bansal, Head of Ericsson's Business Unit Network Products, as he unveils the new solutions, and shares his insights on 5G, its importance and use cases. You will also have the opportunity to participate in an interactive Q&A session with senior Ericsson spokespeople. Be a part of our mission to create ONE network that will cater to a million different needs. Block your calendar, today. www.ericsson.com/mwc Date: February 15, 2017 (Under EMBARGO until February 15, 6 pm CET) Were grateful for this opportunity to continue supporting The Last Well and to help them save lives. Its easy for a vendor just to think about generating revenue when it comes to HIMSS, but our focus is on paying forward the blessings weve been given . Access today announced that it will donate money to The Last Well on behalf of customers who visit the companys booth at the HIMSS17 Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Fla., February 19-23. These funds will enable the nonprofit group to build a well that will provide an entire Liberian village with clean water. The initiative is the first of its kind at the worlds largest health IT show, and it is Accesss plan to have a working water pump in its booth (1778), alongside its paperless, web-based eForms, electronic signatures and automated workflow solutions. Access also will host a presentation and Q&A session with Todd Phillips, founder and president of The Last Well, on Tuesday, February 21 at 1 p.m. (Eastern) in booth 1778. Phillips plans to discuss the organizations history, mission, progress and future. Were grateful for this opportunity to continue supporting The Last Well and to help them save lives, said Access founder and CEO Tim Elliott. Its easy for a vendor just to think about generating revenue when it comes to HIMSS, but our focus is on paying forward the blessings weve been given to make our world a better place. Liberia is a desperately poor country that has endured two civil wars and struggles with corruption. In many families, young girls forego school to walk miles (sometimes up to 8 hours in a day) to the nearest well. The water they collect often is dirty and diseased, leading to outbreaks of cholera and other potentially fatal conditions. As a result, thousands of men, women and children die needlessly each year. The Last Well aims to change this. To date, the organization has completed 1,800 water projects, which are providing 1.1 million Liberians with water. To meet its ultimate goal, The Last Well still needs the funds to reach 850,000 more Liberians with 2,300 additional new water wells. For a company to focus their energy and resources on giving the gift of clean water at a renowned event like HIMSS is unbelievable, said Phillips. We hope that their generosity also opens the eyes and minds of everyone who sees the water pump in their booth and understands the opportunity it represents. Any member of the media that is attending HIMSS and wants to interview Todd Phillips or Tim Elliott can schedule a time by sending an email to lindsey.keith(at)accessefm(dot)com. Those wanting to support The Last Wells mission can start a fundraising project on TLWs website or make a recurring or one-off donation. Or they can mail a check to: The Last Well, attn. Jennifer Holland 2255 Ridge Road, Suite 206A Rowlett, TX 75087 About The Last Well The Last Well exists to do something that has never been done: provide access to clean water for the entire nation of Liberiaborder to borderand offer the Gospel to every Liberian we serve by 2020. At the same time, were encouraging the next generation of Christ-followers to live out Gods purpose for the church and to be the agent of change for the world, regardless of the need. Learn more at http://www.thelastwell.org. About Access For more than 15 years, Access has developed electronic forms management solutions that eliminate the unnecessary expense, risk and inefficiency of paper forms. Our 100 percent paperless technology enables organizations in any industry to capture, manage, sign and share forms data without printing or scanning. Learn more at http://www.accessefm.com and help Accesss partner The Last Well bring clean water and the Gospel to Liberia at http://thelastwell.org Ignite Australia is happening at an extremely exciting time in the Microsoft ecosystem as Office 365 and Microsoft Azure continue to grow rapidly and dominate the enterprise collaboration marketplace. AvePoint, the Microsoft Cloud expert, announced today that it will present three sessions to help organisations understand, adopt, and manage the latest Office 365 technologies at Microsoft Ignite Australia, which takes place from February 14-17 at Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, QLD. As a Platinum Sponsor, AvePoint will be available at booth 29 throughout the event to showcase its latest solutions to migrate, manage, and protect content in the cloud, on premises, and across hybrid environments. Ignite Australia is happening at an extremely exciting time in the Microsoft ecosystem as Office 365 and Microsoft Azure continue to grow rapidly and dominate the enterprise collaboration marketplace, said Dux Raymond Sy, Chief Technology Officer at AvePoint Public Sector, Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), and Regional Director. With great new innovations around Office 365 Groups and Microsoft Teams as well as the continued evolution of SharePoint, the AvePoint team and I look forward to connecting with attendees to share how organisations can take advantage of the latest Microsoft Cloud technologies while overcoming any management, information governance, and data protection challenges that might be in the way. Get Office 365 and SharePoint Best Practices from the Microsoft Cloud Experts Throughout the event, AvePoint experts will deliver three sessions designed to help attendees take advantage of Microsoft Cloud technologies to drive user productivity, deliver innovation within their organisation, and overcome challenges around information management and governance. Sessions include: Visit Booth 29 for AvePoints Latest Migration, Management, and Protection Solutions Throughout Ignite Australia, attendees can visit booth 29 to meet subject matter experts to receive live demonstrations of AvePoints latest Office 365 and SharePoint solutions, including: AvePoint Online Services is the industrys first and only 100 percent Azure-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for Office 365, serving 5 million users worldwide and providing a central home for business users, decision makers, and IT administrators to seamlessly access resources and extend cloud computing as their needs dictate. AvePoint RevIM brings order to information management chaos and eliminates the burden of traditional records management tasks for end users. Administrators can easily apply automated business rules that manage the end-to-end content lifecycle to provide organisations with efficient information management. DocAve Migrator, part of the fully integrated DocAve Software Platform, supports all stages of migration projects providing assessment, planning, and reporting capabilities to efficiently migrate from legacy collaboration systems to the latest versions of SharePoint or Office 365 SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business with minimal business disruption. DocAve Governance Automation provides end users with a business-centric, role-based service catalog for provisioning, restructuring, or migrating content across SharePoint versions, sites, or deployments. Enter to Win a Brand New Honda CRF230F Dirt Bike from AvePoint Throughout the event, attendees can enter to win a brand new Honda CRF230F dirt bike from AvePoint by visiting booth 29. The winner will be announced at on stage by Dona Sarkar, Leader of the Windows Insiders Program at Microsoft, during the Closing Vision Keynote at 2pm AEST on Friday, February 17. For more information on AvePoint and Ignite Australia, please visit our event website. About AvePoint AvePoint is the Microsoft Cloud expert. Over 15,000 companies and 5 million cloud users worldwide trust AvePoint to accelerate the migration, management, and protection of their Office 365 and SharePoint data. AvePoints integrated cloud, hybrid, and on-premises software solutions are enhanced by 24/7 support and award-winning services. Organisations across six continents and all industries rely on AvePoint to ease transition to the Microsoft Cloud, increase IT administrator productivity, and satisfy governance and compliance objectives. A three-time Microsoft Partner of the Year, AvePoint has been named to the Inc. 500|5000 six times and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 five times. AvePoint is a Microsoft Global ISV Partner, a Microsoft Gold Partner in Application Development, Cloud Platform, Cloud Productivity, and Collaboration and Content, and a US Government GSA provider via strategic partnerships. Founded in 2001, AvePoint is privately held and headquartered in Jersey City, NJ. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. With so many remote employees, its important to develop a sense of community and to share common best practices. SBS Group, an industry leading information technology and consulting company, will hold their annual Kickoff meeting on February 10, 2017 at the Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center in Edison, NJ. Over 100 employees will travel from across the country to convene at the hotel. Kickoff is an annual meeting convened for the purpose of performance review and yearly planning. SBS Group employees will have an opportunity to discuss the activity of the past year and learn about the plan for the year ahead. The event starts the night before, February 9, with an awards banquet where leading performers are recognized through various awards. The next day, February 10, is an all-day event that consists of breakfast, lunch and multiple sessions including business unit presentations, a HR and training overview, and breakout team meetings. This years Kickoff event will be focused on the opportunity for SBS Group to grow through ingenuity. Each employee will be encouraged to think creatively in order to deliver the best results to SBS Groups expanding client base. With so many remote employees, its important to develop a sense of community and to share common best practices, said James Bowman, President and CEO of SBS Group. Our Kickoff Event gives us the opportunity to do just that. In November, Microsoft officially released their new, revolutionary business solution: Microsoft Dynamics 365. At Kickoff, SBS employees will learn about the solution as well as how this new announcement changes the industry for Microsoft Dynamics Partners. SBS Group is committed and prepared to evolve to the future market and bring the best solutions to its clients as well as electronic purchasing through SBS Groups Cloud Marketplace, shop.sbsgroupusa.com. About SBS Group SBS Group is a national Microsoft master VAR (Value Added Reseller) with Gold level competency in enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM). Over the past 30 years, they have been recognized as Microsoft Partner of the Year, Inner Circle Member and Microsoft President's Club member multiple times. The company is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey and operates offices across North America. For more information, please visit SBS Group's website at http://www.sbsgroupusa.com. Follow us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/sbs-group, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SBSGroup and find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SBSGroupUSA. S.T. Karnick, Research Director, The Heartland Institute DeVos support for school choice over the years suggests that U.S. Department of Education policies will encourage state recipients of federal education money to increase the amount of education choice for all families. - S.T. Karnick The United States Senate today voted to confirm school-choice advocate Betsy DeVos as President Donald Trumps first Secretary of Education. She was approved as the nations 11th Secretary of Education by a vote of 5150, with Vice President Michael Pence casting the tie-breaking vote. The following statements from education policy experts at The Heartland Institutea free-market think tankmay be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact New Media Specialist Billy Aouste at media(at)heartland(dot)org and 312/377-4000 or (cell) 847/877-9100. The status quo in American education must be broken, and Betsy DeVos is the first nominee for the Department of Education who might actually break it. It is time to dismantle the business-as-usual of the American district-based school system, and replace it with a system that puts parents and children first, not unions and patronage-based administration employment. Bruno Behrend Senior Fellow, Education Policy The Heartland Institute bbehrend(at)heartland(dot)org 312/377-4000 Congratulations to Betsy DeVos on becoming the Secretary of Education. As a champion of education choice, DeVos should work quickly with Congress to pass the following education policies: implement education savings accounts for students in Washington DC and Native Americans in Bureau of Indian Education schools; expand Coverdell 529 plans to allow expenditures from pre-kindergarten through high school while increasing pre-tax limits to $5,000 per year per child; implement a personal education income tax credit for all pk12 education expenses; end all federal mandates on testing and requirements to maintain Common Core State Standards; and announce all current federal education grants will not be renewed upon completion in conjunction with a Department of Education staff reduction of at least 25 percent. Lennie Jarratt Project Manager, Education The Heartland Institute ljarratt(at)heartland(dot)org 847/302-3985 The fight against Betsy DeVos was not really about Betsy DeVos at all. It was really a fight against education choice. Democrats in Congress are far beyond the mainstream on this issue, including the majority of their own constituents. However, when it comes to choosing between the interests of low-income families searching for something better for their children and the wealthy, check-cutting teachers unions looking to preserve their power and privileges, the wealthy, check-cutting teachers unions win with the Democrats every time. The way they went to the mattresses over the DeVos nomination was a signal to their union backers that they havent strayed from the faith. The education choice movement grows stronger and more popular every year, and Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration have a real opportunity to take significant action that would benefit the lives of thousands and thousands of families. Congressional Democrats can now decide if they want to become part of this movement, or if they just want to help their union backers futilely try to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Tim Benson Policy Analyst The Heartland Institute tbenson(at)heartland(dot)org 312/377-4000 The federal government has no constitutional authority to interfere in education, but the appointment of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education is the best we could hope for short of abolition of the department and all federal intrusion into this state and local matter. Initially taken in by hype over Common Core, DeVos now opposes that effort to nationalize school curricula, which was a truly awful and repugnant idea. We shall have to hope that her conversion remains in effect. Insofar as the federal government unconstitutionally intrudes into K12 education, it should at least refrain from discriminating in favor of our tragically underperforming traditional public schools. DeVos support for school choice over the years suggests that U.S. Department of Education policies will encourage state recipients of federal education money to increase the amount of education choice for all families. That will reduce the damage the federal government does to education though elimination of all such interference should be the goal of those who want to bring excellent educational opportunities to all of the nations children. S.T. Karnick Director of Research The Heartland Institute skarnick(at)heartland(dot)org 312/377-4000 Betsy DeVos first order of business as Secretary of Education ought to be cutting federal controls on local schools that make the prospect of federal school-choice vouchers so problematic. Common Core and choice are fundamentally incompatible. Robert G. Holland Senior Fellow, Education The Heartland Institute rholland(at)heartland(dot)org 312/377-4000 Speaking in Washington recently, Jeb Bush said the country needs to redefine public education. He asserted that it should not be focused on the system, but focusing on customizing the learning experience for each and every child. Bush is right. And Betsy DeVos is the perfect person to implement the redefinition. Larry Sand President, California Teachers Empowerment Network Policy Advisor, The Heartland Institute media(at)heartland(dot)org 312/377-4000 Todays vote is a victory for those wanting to change the public school education monopoly that often impedes parental choice, competition, and efficiency, instead putting adult school employees ahead of children. Richard Vedder Professor of Economics, Ohio University Policy Advisor, The Heartland Institute vedder(at)ohio(dot)edu 740/593-2040 Watching the Betsy DeVos confirmation process proved some things I hoped would not be true. For example, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) who says he is a proponent of school choice and has spoken at more than one event hosted by DeVos turned on her during the confirmation process and came across as opportunistic at worst and weak at best. Many people proved they do not know what school choice is, how it works, or why it matters to families. In this history-making vote by Vice President Pence to confirm DeVos, only one thing became clear to me. Its up to voters and state legislators to remain vigilant and make sure the school choice laws and programs encouraged by the Trump administration are in fact good and solid laws and programs that will yield results for students. I dont think the fight ends here. The public outcry against DeVos only means more people are paying attention to the way school choice laws and programs will be crafted. This is really the beginning. Heather Kays Policy Advisor, Education The Heartland Institute heather.a.kays(at)gmail(dot)com 312/377-4000 The vote for Betsy DeVos is a vote for Americas children. Mrs. DeVos has exercised her constitutional right to put her money where her mouth is into school choice and were excited to see her promote her preference to give families options for their childrens education. Competition is a rising tide that lifts all boats; theres especially no reason for an unchallenged government monopoly for Americas low-income families. The new Secretary of Education will promote access to choice for families who are, after all, the best, most local option while encouraging traditional public schools to be more innovative in improving academic achievement. As our recent study on Georgia education spending demonstrated, its high time this nation refocused education to work on how instead of how much. The January 26 study titled 'Balancing the Books in Education found the Georgia Department of Education website underreports by about $3.5 billion annual state public education funding. That missing money was not spent on real salary increases for teachers, according to the study author, Dr. Ben Scafidi. It went to a staffing surge beyond what was needed to accommodate student growth. Kelly McCutchen President, Georgia Public Policy Foundation kellymccutchen(at)georgiapolicy(dot)org 404/256-4050 Why did the mainstream media deliberately exclude mentioning parent groups as opponents of the DeVos/Hubbard nominations? Sandra Stotsky Professor of Education Emerita, University of Arkansas Policy Advisor, The Heartland Institute sstotsky(at)aol(dot)com 312/377-4000 This is a victory, by the edge of a razor, for democratic process and the right of presidents to choose their own cabinets. But the appointment of Betsy DeVos is also a tremendous frustration for those who have fought Common Core and the rise of Fed Ed. DeVos will be good for school choice advocates, but what good are charter and voucher schools if the money they take from state and federal entities compels them to replicate failed public school models of education? Choice only works if parents can choose genuinely different options from what goes on in our government schools. We must continue to pressure President Trump and his new Secretary of Education to fulfill those critical campaign promises: Remove Common Core and dismantle the Department of Education. Duke Pesta, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English, University of Wisconsin Policy Advisor, The Heartland Institute pestaj(at)fpeusa(dot)org 312/377-4000 The Heartland Institute is a 33-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000. Guild Education, which is pioneering a new approach to education-as-a-benefit with employers like Chipotle and Public Service Credit Union, today announced the addition of three senior hires. Rachel Hiemstra, formerly of Craftsy, joins as Vice President of Operations; Misha Charles, formerly of HotChalk, joins as Director of University Partnerships; and Anuradha Kumar, formerly with Shutterfly, joins as Product Manager. Collectively, these women add decades of experience in operations, organizational development, partnerships, and a passion for building products and services that meaningfully impact the lives of users, said Rachel Carlson, co-founder and CEO of Guild. Misha understands and shares our deep commitment to building collaborative university partnerships. Rachels proven track record in leading technology startups combined with a unique background in education will serve our cross-functional organization well. And Anuradhas experience driving product innovation at companies like Shutterfly will be critical as we scale. Hiemstra comes to Guild with nearly 20 years in education and technology companies, including five years with Denver-based startup Craftsy, where she held leadership roles in Product and Development. She brings deep experience in technical product management, product development, and operations, as well as in education, having started her career as a teacher. Hiemstra received her bachelors and masters degrees from Stanford University. At Guild, she will lead business and student experience operations. Charles brings more than 15 years of experience in the education and learning space, where she forged innovative partnerships with education institutions. Prior to joining Guild, Charles managed strategic university partnerships for education technology company HotChalk. Under her leadership, Guild will extend its powerful collaboration with leading colleges and universities to improve student experiences and retention outcomes. Charles received her bachelors degree from Princeton University, a masters degree from the University of Cape Town, and a masters degree from George Washington University. Kumar joins Guild after leading product management as a General Manager at Shutterfly. In her new role, Kumar will lead the rollout of products and solutions to continually improve the Guild student experience. Kumar received her bachelors degree in computer science from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Guild Education partners with leading employers to make it possible for working adults to take college courses or earn a degree at one of Guilds nonprofit university partners. Every Guild student has an advisor to help navigate between the world of work and higher education. Guild recently announced $8.5 million in Series A funding led by Redpoint, and Guild co-founders Rachel Carlson and Brittany Stich were recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for education. For more information, visit https://www.guildeducation.com/. About Guild Education Guild Education is bridging the gap between education and employment to help working adults navigate the two worlds of work and college. Their platform enables employers to offer education-as-a-benefit, with tuition benefit policies that align business goals, like talent development and retention, with affordable education programs that employees love. Guilds network of nonprofit universities and learning providers offer a consortium of classes, programs, and college degrees. We are honored to receive the Guildmaster Award for the fifth year in a row. Thompson Creek Window Company of Lanham, MD has received the 2017 Guildmaster Award from GuildQuality for demonstrating exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry for the fifth consecutive year. Since 2005, GuildQuality, an Atlanta-based third-party customer satisfaction software surveying company, has powered the Guildmaster Award to recognize and celebrate home building, remodeling, and contracting professionals demonstrating the highest level of customer service within the U.S. and Canada. Thompson Creek Window Company was recognized by GuildQuality for delivering exceptional customer experiences. GuildQuality reviewed thousands of survey responses submitted by customers of Guildmaster candidates. In determining the companies who were recognized with this honor, GuildQuality considers two primary metrics: the percentage of customers who would recommend your business and the percentage of customers who responded. Thompson Creek Window Company achieved a recommendation rate of greater than 90% from their customers, who were surveyed through GuildQuality. Thompson Creek has implemented a very comprehensive customer survey system, where they measure and review all aspects of their performance. They ask their customers to review the initial home visit and consultation, installation, scheduling and final product. Management studies the customer reviews on a regular basis. All of this attention to each and every customer comment has helped Thompson Creek to make improvements with 100% customer satisfaction as their goal. We are honored to receive the Guildmaster Award for the fifth year in a row. We enjoy reading all our customer satisfaction surveys to review our successes while constantly looking for strategies to improve our business, said Rick Wuest, CEO of Thompson Creek Window Company. Customer satisfaction is very important to us and receiving this award validates our continued effort to deliver the best customer service in our industry. For more on the 2017 Guildmaster Award and qualifications, visit http://www.guildquality.com/guildmaster/. About Thompson Creek Window Company Thompson Creek Window Company is a privately owned and family-operated manufacturer and installer of energy-efficient home improvement replacement products. Founded in 1980, Thompson Creek Window Company began as a manufacturer of maintenance-free, energy-efficient vinyl windows. Since that time, Thompson Creek Window Company has evolved into one of the leading specialty home improvement contracting companies in the nation. The companys product mix includes replacement windows and doors, vinyl siding, roofing and a clog-free gutter system. Thompson Creek Window Company is headquartered in Lanham, Maryland and recently moved into a 117,000-square-foot building in Upper Marlboro to house its new manufacturing and warehousing operations. Thompson Creek employs over 400 people in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD region. About GuildQuality Over 2,300 residential construction professionals rely on GuildQualitys customer satisfaction surveying software to help them deliver exceptional customer service and get the recognition they deserve for their commitment to quality. Join GuildQualitys community of quality today and see your company through your customers eyes. For more information about GuildQuality, visit http://www.guildquality.com. Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. will speak at USF on Wed., 2/8 at 11 a.m. There is no talent deficit, there is an opportunity deficit, said Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. What: University of San Francisco (USF) will host civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, Sr. for a community conversation as part of USFs African American History Celebration. The event includes a one-on-one interview with Rev. Jackson and Dr. Clarence B. Jones Sr., a former speechwriter, attorney, and advisor to the late Martin Luther King Jr. and Diversity Scholar at USF, followed by an audience question and answer session. Discussion topics include: -What does African American History Month means to Rev. Jackson? -How has Rev. Jackson shaped Black history? -Rev. Jacksons relationship with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King -Presidential runHow 1984 and 1988 set up 2008 -Rev. Jacksons take on President Obamas impact & legacy -The 2016 Election Trump, Clinton, Sanders -The Trump Administration -How Rev. Jackson has been leading the charge to bring diversity to Silicon Valleyfrom the security shack to the boardrooms of Apple, Intel, HP, etc. -Whats Next for Rev. Jesse Jackson? There is no talent deficit, there is an opportunity deficit, said Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. But diversity isnt just a moral and legal imperative, its good for the bottom line. America will soon be a minority majority country. Those corporations and institutions that reflect and embrace this reality are more likely to thrive. When: Wed., Feb. 8, 2017, 11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Where: McLaren Conference Center, University of San Francisco 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117 Contact: Members of the media interested in covering Rev. Jacksons visit to USF should contact Anne-Marie Devine Tasto at abdevine(at)usfca(dot)edu or 415.279.9137 with your name, media outlet, and contact information. Anne-Marie will be your contact for parking details and a press pass. About: The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of Americas foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Over the past 50 years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. On August 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Reverend Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Reverend Jackson has been called the Conscience of the Nation and the Great Unifier, challenging America to be inclusive and to establish just and humane priorities for the benefit of all. He is known for bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, culture, class, gender and belief. Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort This is a testament to our teams unwavering commitment to providing guests world-class service, remarkable amenities and destination-inspired experiences that create lasting memories. Auberge Resorts Collection, owner and operator of award-winning small luxury resorts and residences, announced today that six iconic resorts have been named to the U.S. News & World Report Best Hotels of 2017 awards list. Auberge du Soleil, Calistoga Ranch and Solage in Napa Valley join Hotel Jerome in Aspen and Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas as Gold Badge winners representing the top 10 percent of all ranked luxury hotels in the U.S. and Mexico. Malliouhana, An Auberge Resort in Anguilla, also gained recognition within its Caribbean market. The annual awards program from U.S. News & World Report, nationally acclaimed publisher of consumer news and information, evaluates more than 3,000 luxury properties across the United States, the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico. The methodology accounts for both expert and guest sentiment and industry accolades a hotel receives to determine each hotel's rank. We are honored to have six of our market-leading resorts once again distinguished among top luxury properties in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, said Craig Reid, Chief Executive Officer, Auberge Resorts Collection. This is a testament to our teams unwavering commitment to providing guests world-class service, remarkable amenities and destination-inspired experiences that create lasting memories. Best Hotels of 2017 Rankings Calistoga Ranch (Napa Valley, Calif.) #1 Best Napa Valley Hotels Auberge du Soleil (Napa Valley, Calif.) #3 Best Napa Valley Hotels Solage (Napa Valley, Calif.) #5 Best Napa Valley Hotels Esperanza (Cabo San Lucas) #4 Best Cabo San Lucas Hotels Hotel Jerome (Aspen, Colo.) #2 Best Aspen Hotels Malliouhana (Anguilla) #2 Best Anguilla Hotels The Best Hotels of 2017 rankings evaluate over 3,000 luxury hotels across the U.S., Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean, with the top 10 percent in each of these four destinations earning Gold badges as the best hotels in the U.S., Mexico, Canada or Caribbean. To view the full list of 2017 rankings, please visit http://travel.usnews.com/. For more information about the Best Hotels of 2017 awards, please visit http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels. About Auberge Resorts Collection Auberge Resorts Collection owns and operates a portfolio of exceptional hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While Auberge nurtures the individuality of each property, all share a crafted approach to luxury that is expressed through captivating design, exceptional cuisine and spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. Properties in the Auberge Resorts Collection include: Auberge du Soleil, Calistoga Ranch and Solage, Napa Valley, Calif.; Esperanza and Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Los Cabos, Mexico; Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colo.; Malliouhana, Anguilla; Nanuku, Fiji; Element 52, Telluride, Colo.; Hacienda AltaGracia, Costa Rica; and Auberge Beach Residences and Spa Fort Lauderdale (opening 2017), with several others in development. For more information about Auberge Resorts Collection, please visit http://www.aubergeresorts.com/. Follow Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/AubergeResorts and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeResorts. February 8, 2017 Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, today released the results of a new study evaluating insurance sentiment and coverage rates of U.S. millennials as it relates to their personal finance habits. The survey of nearly 450 consumers ages 18 to 35 revealed that more than three-quarters (77%) of respondents understand not having insurance is risky, yet they remain the most underinsured generation covered on average 14 percent less than older age groups across health, renters, home, life, and disability insurance. Ironically, while a vast majority of millennials (80%) have health insurance, prioritizing healthcare over all other forms of insurance, 88 percent admit they would rather go without health insurance for a year than give up their cell phone. With more than half (52%) of younger millennials (18-25) now under their parents healthcare plan and at risk of losing coverage if the ACA is repealed, this could mean giving up favored millennial luxuries such as Netflix, cell phones, or dining out. Key findings of Vertafores 2017 millennial personal finance and insurance survey include: Healthcare is Top Insurance Priority but ACA Repeal Could Impact Coverage Rates Covered at a rate of 80 percent, millennial respondents prioritize healthcare over all other forms of insurance. However, that rate of coverage could significantly change given that more than one-third (35%) of all millennials aged 18-35 are either covered under their parents plan or purchase insurance through an exchange, both key mandates of the ACA. If the ACA were to be repealed, this group would be at risk of losing health insurance altogether. Additional key findings include: Young millennials (18-25) are most vulnerable to losing access to health insurance if the ACA were to be repealed, with more than half (52%) currently covered under their parents plan. Following the recent presidential election, one-fifth (20%) of millennials cited feeling more at risk of losing their health insurance. Insurance Gap is Putting Millennials at Financial Risk Although a majority of millennials believe insurance is complicated and expensive, more than three-quarters (77%) do understand that not having insurance is risky. When evaluating rates of insurance coverage, however, a gap emerges between millennial personal finance habits and the insurance they purchase, such as: The most significant disconnect in insurance coverage falls to millennial renters, with more than half (58%) failing to purchase renters insurance. According to Allstate, the average renter in a two-bedroom apartment has $30,000 worth of personal belongings property that would not be replaced in the event of a fire, flood, or break in. When it comes to auto, 17 percent of millennial drivers were uninsured 5 percent higher than the national average of 12 percent (according to the Insurance Research Council). This puts millennials at greater risk, liable for thousands of dollars if held responsible for an accident, which at last count averaged anywhere from $9,300 per incident for property damage to $80,700 for a disabling injury (National Safety Council). As it relates to disability insurance, older millennials (26-35) were nearly two and a half times more likely to purchase coverage than their younger (18-25) counterparts. When Push Comes to Shove, Millennials Choose Luxuries over Insurance Despite the common assumption that millennials are irresponsible with their money, when comparing insurance purchases and personal finance habits, the survey reveals they buck the misconception and incorporate insurance into their budgets as financially able. That is, unless that means giving up television streaming services such as Netflix, cell phones, or dining out. Additional personal finance insights include: Although renters insurance costs an average of just $144 annually, only 40 percent have purchased this type of insurance indicating a stronger preference to spend $100 a year on television streaming services like Netflix as well as craft beer and spirits over coverage. Millennials are not all irresponsible nearly 60 percent reported being unwilling to skip, delay, or temporarily stop paying for healthcare insurance if given the choice to save money. A majority (63%) of millennials spend less than $300 a month on all forms of insurance, and more than half indicated they would invest in more insurance if they could afford it. Ironically, over 60 percent admit to spending more than $75 a month on eating out. Despite common misconceptions that millennials are unaware and uneducated about insurance, our research clearly shows they value insurance but financial barriers and personal spending habits inhibit securing proper coverage, said Bruce Winterburn, VP of Industry Relations at Vertafore. As we begin the new year, now is a great time for millennials to align what they know to be true with the actions they take on insurance coverage. Their future finances depend on it. Vertafores study polled 1,294 U.S. residents, including 444 millennials ages 18 to 35. Approximately 48 percent were males and 52 percent were females. SurveyMonkey conducted the survey in November 2016 and the full survey results are available upon request. About Vertafore Vertafore offers the broadest and most adaptable technology solutions to better prepare the insurance industry for digital disruption. The Vertafore product line is built on a platform, empowering customers and other solution providers to adapt and thrive as the market changes. Vertafores platform features fast innovation, partnerships with the best technology companies, and customizable solutions to help companies remain independent during a time of industry disruption. As the leader in modern insurance technology with the largest customer base in the industry, Vertafore connects every point of the distribution channel, from agencies and carriers to MGAs, MGUs, and state governments. For more information about Vertafore, visit vertafore.com, read the companys blog, and follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2017 Vertafore, Inc. All rights reserved. Vertafore and the Vertafore logo are trademarks of Vertafore and its subsidiaries. Dr. Kevin Omara I'm honored to continue to serve my colleagues in this way. The High School District Organization (HSDO) of Illinois has named Dr. Kevin OMara as the organizations first full-time executive director. Dr. OMara, a resident of Oak Park, will assume the role on July 1, 2017. "Im honored to continue to serve my colleagues in this way, said Dr. OMara. Public education faces many challenges and weve certainly got a lot of work to do on behalf of students, parents, teachers and administrators of Illinois. Dr. OMara, who will retire in June as superintendent of Argo Community High School District 217 in Summit, is no stranger to the HSDO of Illinois, having previously served as the organizations president. Among his accomplishments on behalf of HSDO, OMara worked closely with Illinois legislators to abolish the use of the controversial PARCC exam in Illinois high schools. He has also addressed issues concerning the continued need for graded report cards at the high school level and high school graduation requirements. The HSDO was established in 2001 to provide Illinois high school districts with a common voice in addressing issues of particular importance to secondary schools. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund today filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the actress eldest son Sean Ferrer, claiming hes interfering with the charitys work for his own benefit. The Fund raises money for childrens charities with exhibits of Audrey Hepburn memorabilia based largely around a collection of extraordinary gowns designed by world-renowned fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy and worn by Hepburn. At issue is the right for the Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund to continue using Audrey Hepburns name, likeness and image (the Hepburn IP) in connection with exhibitions of her memorabilia to raise money to provide support for children in need. If Ferrer isnt stopped, he will interfere with and prevent the Fund from honoring Hepburns memory by providing support for childrens charities, the suit says. As a result, it says the Fund will be unable to meet its existing charitable obligations and commitments, will be unable to conduct business, and will completely lose its reputation and credibility. Sean should be ashamed of himself for violating his mothers deepest wishes to care for children, says the Funds attorney, Steven E. Young, a Partner at Freeman, Freeman & Smiley LLP in Los Angeles. During Hepburns lifetime, she worked tirelessly to raise money for various childrens charities and remains an iconic figure for both her work on screen and as a champion for childrens causes, the suit says. Her two sons Luca Dotti and Ferrer, along with Robert Wolders, created the non-profit Hollywood for Children, Inc. to honor Hepburns memory in 1993, the year she passed away. It was later renamed the Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund, based in Pasadena, CA. According to Board Member Wolders who was Audreys life partner for 13 years and who accompanied her on all her UNICEF missions, If there is anything she (Hepburn) would have wished for it is that her work be continued. In addition to her dedication to serving children, Hepburn received two Academy Awards (Oscars), five additional Oscar nominations, an Emmy, a Grammy, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and numerous other awards. Ferrer is maliciously and intentionally interfering with fundraising activities on behalf of childrens causes, the suit says. Ferrers actions will irreparably damage the sterling reputation of the late Audrey Hepburn. In 2013 and 2016, Ferrer delayed or stopped exhibitions in Australia and South Korea. This January, Ferrer threatened through his Swiss lawyer to sue a Chinese exhibitor to block multiple shows of Hepburns memorabilia in 2017 and 2018. Ferrers actions were taken for the sole purpose of harming the Fund and preventing it from helping childrens charities, the suit says. Starting in 2008, Ferrer began to suffer a personal financial crisis and began to actively interfere with the Fund, the suit says. Dotti, Chairman of the Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund, is seeking to continue his mothers legacy and keep the Fund operating to benefit childrens charities. He is a New York Times best selling author who donated the royalties to the Fund from his latest book, Audrey At Home, as well as a previous book, Audrey in Rome. After convincing Dotti to become Fund Chairman, Ferrer stepped down from the Board and resigned as Chairman. Thereafter, the suit says, Ferrer purported to terminate the right of the Fund to use the Hepburn IP for fundraising purposes. The suit says Hubert de Givenchy donated certain gowns to the Fund in 2002, but Ferrer attempted to have Givenchy backdate and falsify a letter revoking the donation of gowns to the Fund. Givenchy refused to do so, the suit says. Even though he is no longer affiliated with the Fund, Ferrer seeks to entirely control, limit and prohibit the Fund from using the Hepburn IP unless it is willing to pay a significant portion of the fundraising proceeds to Ferrer or as directed by him to preclude the Fund from utilizing the Hepburn IP altogether, the suit says. Ferrers actions also included taking control of the Funds hosting account, which manages its domains and emails, by changing its password, and registering Hollywoodforchildren.com and .org without obtaining the Funds consent, the suit says. The suit was filed in Superior Court of the State of California County of Los Angeles, Central District. The plaintiff is Hollywood for Children, Inc. dba The Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund. The defendant is Sean Ferrer, Hepburns eldest son with Mel Ferrer, an American actor, director, and producer. Ferrer lives in Florence, Italy and has a residence in California. Luca Dotti, who lives in Rome, is the son of Hepburn and Professor Andrea Dotti, a prominent Italian psychiatrist. eMazzanti makes sure Pandora can focus on what we do best, making memories. eMazzanti Technologies, a NYC area retail IT consultant and MSP, recently released a video spotlighting the reliability of POS systems and personalized service the company provides to Pandora jewelry retailers. The video features the Times Square Pandora location, one of more than 2,000 concept stores in the Denmark jewelry manufacturers retail chain. In the short video, Pandora employees explain the importance of reliable tablet POS systems supported by eMazzanti. The mobile POS terminals are critical to delivering the beginning-to-end consumer experience that international and local customers receive at the companys stores. They also report that using eMazzanti as an integral part of their store opening process, was the best thing that ever happened to us. Delivering an exceptional consumer experience for Pandora customers is our joint mission, stated Almi Dumi, Project Lead, eMazzanti Technologies. Pandoras success is our success. View the complete video here: eMazzanti Technologies: Retail Solutions for Pandora Times Square Below are a few excerpts from the video transcript: We have customers that come in and want to be serviced right away or that want to have an experience. Technology is a major part of that customer service. We have to have a reliable system, and eMazzanti does that for us. When we opened our first store, eMazzanti was not part of the plan in opening the store. Big mistake! We opened this store, eMazzanti was, from the beginning to the end, fully integrated into our system, and it was the best thing that ever happened to us. The quintessential element that eMazzanti brings to our stores is the customized and personalized service they give us. Each store has different needs. eMazzanti makes sure Pandora can focus on what we do best, making memories. eMazzanti Rocks! several employees exclaim near the end of the video, which runs two minutes and 15 seconds. The Pandora video will be used in eMazzantis marketing campaigns targeted at multi-location retailers, an important segment for the company. eMazzanti Technologies functions as a one-stop network security, PCI compliance, digital video security and IT solution partner for most Pandora franchise locations in the U.S. The company also provides network management, digital marketing services, disaster recovery, ecommerce, payment automation, and merchant services to global retail organizations. Related resource information: New Retail Technology for 2017 Digital Advertising Basics, What You Should Know About eMazzanti Technologies eMazzantis team of trained, certified retail IT experts rapidly deliver cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring and support to increase productivity, data security and revenue growth for clients ranging from single store to high-end global retailers. eMazzanti has made the Inc. 5000 list seven years running, is a 2015, 2013 and 2012 Microsoft Partner of the Year, 2016 NJ Business of the Year, 5X WatchGuard Partner of the Year and one of the TOP 200 U.S. Microsoft Partners! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info(at)emazzanti(dot)net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies. Francisco Canales, MD and Heather Furnas, MD are excited to bring patients the cutting-edge, noninvasive miraDry technique. The procedure is the first and only noninvasive technique, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, to permanently end axillary hyperhidrosis. Created by Californias Miramar Labs, miraDry was first approved by the FDA in 2011, as a safe and effective method for men and women to end continuous underarm dampness, sweat stains, and repeated deodorant reapplications. Up until now, the traditional treatments for hyperhidrosis have been limited to prescription strength antiperspirants, oral medications and Botox. However, none of these can provide the permanent results of miraDry. Using a concentrated beam of light energy, miraDry works by targeting and destroying the underarm glands responsible for sweat, located immediately below the skins surface. As MiraDry addresses approximately 5% of the 2 million sweat glands, the body retains its natural ability cool down and eliminate toxins, as needed. Surrounding, healthy tissues are unharmed during treatment. Each miraDry treatment takes less than an hour, utilizing a small, contoured handpiece. Pressed gently under the arm, the miraDry applicator emits short pulses of energy, approximately 20-30 seconds long. Depending on the individual patient, treatment will take less than an hour. Patients are back to their normal routine immediately after treatment and the benefits from the MiraDry session can be seen immediately. As the targeted sweat glands will not regrow, the results from MiraDry are permanent. Plastic Surgery Associates Dr. Furnas and Dr. Canales are happy to offer this one-of-a-kind procedure to their patients. Dr. Canales further explains the unique benefits of treatment, MiraDry uses energy to target and destroy the underarm glands that are responsible for sweat and odor. He then continues, So, if you are tired of ruining clothes with sweat stains and deodorant marks, and you are ready to drastically reduce sweat and odor from your underarms, MiraDry is a solution that has immediate and permanent results. Dr. Francisco Canales and Dr. Heather Furnas founded Plastic Surgery Associates in 1992. Today, they each bring patients more than 25 years of surgical and noninvasive experience. Both avid writers and lecturers, the surgeons often present at plastic surgery conferences around the world. When Drs. Canales and Furnas are not seeing patients, they donate their time and skills to underserved children with birth defects in Peru, Honduras, El Salvador, Western Samoa, and the Philippines. Patients interested in more information on reducing sweat with the innovative miraDry technique should contact Plastic Surgery Associates for additional details. Contact the Santa Rosa location at 707.537.2111, or those individuals closer to San Francisco can call the newest Plastic Surgery Associates location in Novato at 415.895.5032. Visit the MiraDry site for expanded data on this innovative technique for excess sweating. The aim was to understand where Italian producers stand in the largest wine market in the world Wine Opinions Vinitaly Survey: Preliminary Findings to Italian Wines and American Palate, presented at Italian Wine Week VINO 2017 Latest survey on wine consumers in the US revealed the heavy usage of social media among the young generations in their 20s and 30s when exchanging infor-mation about wine thus showcasing the importance for wineries to be socially active in order to gain competitiveness in the US. Italian wines showed their high potential in the market ranking as the most chosen imported wine by 30%, as other countries followed with France 27%, Spain 19%, Australia 12%, Chile 11%, and were most preferred by consumers in their 30s and 40s (source: http://www.slideshare.net/VinitalyInternational/wine-opinions-vinitaly-survey-preliminary-findings-to-italian-wines-and-american-palate). February 6th marked the beginning of Italian Wine Week VINO 2017 in the US, or-ganised by the Italian Trade Commission in collaboration with Vinitaly. A round ta-ble moderated by David Lynch, sommelier, expert of Italian Wine and editorial di-rector of SommSelect with Michele Scannavini, Global President of ICE/ITA(Italian Trade Agency), Leena Baran, Senior Manager of Import Wine Buying for Total Wine & More, Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International, Joe Cam-panale, Operator of Alta Linea, was held on the first day at Spring Studios in New York. At the roundtable, John Gillespie, the CEO of Wine Opinions presented the results of Wine Opinions Vinitaly Survey: preliminary findings to Italian Wines and American Palate, conducted by Wine Opinions, leading provider of market in-sights and intelligence. He addressed how Italian wines are considered in the US market with respect to the price, purchasing behavior and consumer consumption, in order to understand where Italian producers stand in the largest wine market in the world. The original survey was conducted on 1,463 members. According to the Survey, frequent Italian wine consumers in the US often buy wine over $12, and for cheaper wine they will choose bottles from other countries. The survey also revealed that when it comes to the choice of the wine, consumers that were under 40 leaned towards Advice from a Friend or Family Member and Wine is from a Country or Region I like compared to Tasted in Store or Recommenda-tion from the Retail Store Staff, which highlights the importance of social media among the younger generation. Among multiple Social Media channels, Facebook ranked the highest with 46% of the surveyed consumers using the platform to post, exchange information or images, followed by Instagram, Vivino, Pinterest, Twit-ter,Youtube, Delectable and Hello Vino. Consumers under 40 skewed higher for all channels, nearly double for Instagram and Delectable. Favourite Italian wines that consumers frequently buy were, Pinot Grigio by 68% , Chianti by 67%, Prosecco by 64%, and Chianti Classico by 64%, proving their high recognition in the US market. In contrast, more than 50% of the consumers had never heard of wines such as Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, Falanghina, Fiano, Fran-ciacorta, and Salice Salentino, which showcased the further need of awareness in the US market. Findings about the survey were presented on February 6th at Spring Studios in New York for Italian Wine Week VINO 2017 organised by the Italian Trade Commis-sion in collaboration with Vinitaly. Please note that these are preliminary findings and will be followed up with the full-length version focusing on the preference of each generation, soon after. For more information about the event go to http://www.vinitalyinternational.com/events/vinitaly-usa-newyork-2017 or https://extraordinaryitalianwine.us/seminars-new-york/ or write to me-dia(at)vinitalytour(dot)com About: VeronaFiere is the leading organiser of trade shows in Italy including Vinitaly (http://www.vinitaly.com), the largest wine and spirits fair in the world. During its 50th edi-tion Vinitaly counted more than 4,100 exhibitors on a 100,000 square meter area and 130,000 visitors including more than 2,600 journalists from 46 different coun-tries. The next edition of the fair will take place on 9 - 12 April 2017. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine (http://www.vinitalyinternational.com) Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers, will unite international wine professionals on April 8th in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Specta-tor. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly Internation-al. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vin-italy International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the ex-cellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA has now also created its very first Certification Course with the aim of creating new Ambassadors of Italian Wine in the World. European Union data security rules are extremely strict. So, when a company complies with the European regulation, it meets the consumer requirements everywhere in the world, including in the USA. Europe sets the standard. EIT Digital, the leading European open innovation organization, is presenting three selected cybersecurity scaleups at RSA in San Francisco on 13 17 February, 2017 amongst the scaleups will be the winner of the CES 2017 European/American Pitch Awards Competition. In todays digital world, information is a very highly valued commodity. Safeguarding that information has become a top priority. The mission of RSA Conference is to connect corporate security officers, security companies and global thought leaders on security with the people and insights that will empower the delegates to stay ahead of cyber threats. The conference is an excellent resource for exchanging ideas, learning the latest trends and finding the answers to the most current topics in cybersecurity. Chahab Nastar, EIT Digitals Chief Research and Innovation Officer said: Our Accelerator supports fast-growing European startups to scale up their business in Europe and beyond. We accelerate their growth by helping them secure target customers and raise capital. Cybersecurity is one of EIT Digitals core innovation areas, and one of Europe's strengths. He continued: European Union data security rules are extremely strict. So, when a company complies with the European regulation, it meets consumer requirements everywhere in the world, including in the USA. Europe sets the standard. During the RSA 2017 conference, EIT Digital will present three selected cybersecurity scaleups from the EIT Digital Accelerator scaleup program portfolio all eager to expand to North-American markets: Origone. UK cyber-security scaleup Origone scooped the first place at the European/American Pitch Awards Competition during MatchFest at CES 2017 (Las Vegas). Origone's software provides large corporates and SMEs with comprehensive protection against ever-changing email malware threats, such as phishing' and Trojan Horses, that can cause havoc at organisations. The clever software dis-assembles and sanitizes all incoming messages and attachments before they can be opened, giving businesses a powerful protective shield against cyberattacks. Read more. App-Ray. Austrian App-Ray is a mobile security analysis tool designed to automatically scan applications for detecting cyber threats. The App-Ray tool helps mobile users to keep control of their personal data by detecting backdoors and data leakages and in addition it scans other apps that have access to or that may send data to other third parties. App-Ray provides a fully automated security analysis of mobile applications to find security issues, privacy breaches and data leaking potentials. The tool is developed as an outcome of profound academic research work at the German Fraunhofer AISEC institute, partnering to the EIT Digital research ecosystem. Read more. DigiFlak. Estonian Cyber Security scaleup DigiFlak is the developer of the Flak Secuter, a highly innovative all-in-one device that secures and protects computer-held data for its entire "internet life". DigiFlak helps companies and individuals to easily manage and fully protect digital identities and sensitive information with a personal hardware-software solution. Read more. RSA Conference 2017 will be held in San Francisco, California, USA, at the Moscone Center and Marriott Marquis, from Monday 13 to Friday 17 February, 2017. Investors and all other interested in EIT Digital and the scaleups presented at RSA Conference are welcomed to contact EIT Digital for further information. About EIT Digital EIT Digital is a leading European open innovation organization. Our mission is to foster digital technology innovation and entrepreneurial talent for economic growth and quality of life in Europe. We bring together entrepreneurs from a partnership of over 130 top European corporations, SMEs, start-ups, universities and research institutes. EIT Digital invests in strategic areas to accelerate the market uptake of research-based digital technologies and to bring entrepreneurial talent and leadership to Europe. Our innovation and education activities are organised in and around our co-location centres, where students, researchers, engineers, business developers and entrepreneurs come together to drive the digitalisation of society. EIT Digital is a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Since 2010, EIT Digital has consistently mobilised talent, ideas, technologies, investments and business across Europe and beyond to stimulate disruptive digital innovation. EIT Digital headquarters are in Brussels with co-location centres in Berlin, Budapest, Eindhoven, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Paris, Stockholm, Trento and a hub in Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.eitdigital.eu/ Follow us on Twitter: @EIT_Digital Follow as on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EITDigital IXTROM Group, developers of advanced software solutions for 360-degree situational awareness, and command and control, today announced that it will introduce a new technology at the upcoming IDEX exhibition and conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE. IXTROM is introducing the Intelligence, Mission Management, Command, Control and Dynamic Collaboration (IXM2C2) system, specifically designed to meet the operational requirements of military, law enforcement, government and corporate clients. IXM2C2s principal benefit is the systems ability to provide real time situational awareness and a common operating picture (COP). This advanced multi-mission system incorporates the Incident Command System (ICS), which allows for comprehensive resource management and the capacity to mitigate risk in all operational environments. IXTROM solutions interoperate seamlessly with existing IT infrastructures, are easy to adapt and scale cost-effectively. IXTROM solutions contribute to information superiority by enabling operators to plan, direct, task, coordinate, supervise, assess and report on operations in the most demanding missions conflicts, emergencies, disasters and daily operations. The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE from February 19 to 23. It is the largest tri-service (land, sea and air) defence exhibition in the world and represents a unique opportunity to build relationships with governments, armed forces and businesses across the Middle East and North Africa. IXTROM will be in the Canadian Pavilion, stand 01-A22. We are very pleased to be attending IDEX for the first time, says Soledad Bourque, President and CEO, IXTROM Group. We recognize the importance of information superiority as a critical asset that helps commanders make the best decisions rapidly and efficiently while mitigating risk. Our new IXM2C2 helps organizations obtain and share the right information to make the right decision at the right time. We look forward to meeting people from all over the world at IDEX and we invite any interested parties to visit us at the Canadian Pavilion. About IXTROM Group IXTROM (Information Exchange Technology for Risk Operational Management) Group is a Canadian company specialized in software engineering and the development of collaborative intelligent solutions for decision-making processes and command, control, computer, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. For more information, please visit http://www.ixtrom.com. Media Contact: Mark Lowe, PRagmatic Communications for IXTROM. mark(dot)lowe(at)pragcom(dot)com / (514) 499-9632 / (514) 576-2519 Penn Community Bank is proud to announce that it has donated more than $77,000 to United Way of Bucks County, raised during its 2016 company-wide support campaign. Penn Community Banks more than 300 employees, executives and directors raised $52,274.32 through a variety of programs and activities held throughout the year. The bank then matched $25,000 worth of contributions, bringing the final total donation to $77,274.32. Each of our team members is dedicated to upholding Penn Community Banks commitment to strengthen our local communities, said Todd Hurley, Executive Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer at Penn Community Bank. We are proud to support the vital work that United Way of Bucks County is doing to alleviate poverty, support education, and increase self-sufficiency across Bucks County. The mission of United Way of Bucks County is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good. It focuses on three key issues: access to a high-quality education, a stable income and good health. The organization plans to use the funds from Penn Community Banks annual campaign to assist with day-to-day operations and special events and programs. We are so grateful to and for the team at Penn Community Bank, said Marissa Christie, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Bucks County. Their dedication and support of our annual United Way campaign, along with their passion for our programs like Bucks Knocks Out Hunger, supports local children, families, and seniors in need. The generosity of the Penn Community Bank team strengthens our entire community and helps to create a better life for people in Bucks County. Photo caption: Penn Community Bank President and CEO Jeane M. Coyle, second from left, presents a check for $77,274.32 to Marissa Christie, third from left, President and CEO of United Way of Bucks County. They are joined by, from left, Antoinette Gellentien, Penn Community Bank Highland Park Branch Manager and United Way Campaign Coordinator; Todd Hurley, Penn Community Bank Executive Vice President / Chief Relationship Officer; Kirsten Palmieri, Human Resource Business Partner and UW Campaign Coordinator; and Jessica Sweeney, Corporate Administrative Manager and United Way Campaign Coordinator. About Penn Community Bank: Penn Community Bank holds more than $1.8 billion in assets and employs more than 300 people at 22 bank branches and two administrative centers throughout Bucks County, Pennsylvania. As an independent, mutual financial institution, Penn Community Bank is not publicly traded and operates with its long-term mission in mind: to help businesses grow and prosper, to support individuals and families throughout their lifetimes, to strengthen the local economy, and to partner with local organizations to act as a catalyst for positive growth in every market it serves. # # # Aptech Computer Systems announced that Lightstone, a national real estate investor/developer, implemented Aptechs Execuvue Business Intelligence System. Lightstone has accumulated a broad hospitality portfolio of more than 3,800 keys in seven states. Its current portfolio emphasizes select services hotels, branded by Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Starwood. Aptech is the leading provider of hotel software for business intelligence, budgeting, and enterprise financial accounting. Click here for more on Aptechs products and services Lightstone had 32 properties and needed to automate property data gathering and analysis. We buy properties to grow our portfolio and we were building new Moxy hotels, said Marc Dober, Vice President Asset Management, Hospitality at The Lightstone Group. As we grew it became more difficult to oversee our operation and asset performance. We wanted a robust hotel software system to automate property information gathering and analysis, one that could provide next-day performance reporting to Lightstones investors and management. Execuvue enables us to do this. Lightstone implemented the Execuvue Business Intelligence System in 4Q 2016. Execuvue automatically integrates data from Lightstones Marriott, Hilton, IHG and other properties daily and creates custom flash reports to save time. Lightstone also uses Execuvue for financial analytics from P&Ls. In addition, Lightstone utilizes Execuvue to collect Smith Travel Research STAR report information on regional market dynamics and correlate it with property performance data to optimize market strategies. Execuvue is Aptechs IBM Cognos-based ASP enterprise hospitality business intelligence hotel software application that enables faster goal achievement for large and small hotel companies. Lightstone puts its Execuvue property data to work across a number of financial and business processes. We often develop underwriting pro forma performance analysis reports on properties we are evaluating for investment, Dober said. We run several different Execuvue reports on our new properties. We review a pre-purchase report on expected property value and return. If we buy a property we compare its actual performance with its earlier underwriting numbers. Execuvue is also a good tool for evaluating our management companies to see why a hotel exceeded forecast or underperformed. Aptech hosts Lightstones Execuvue system and data from its secure network operations center. Remote hosting greatly reduces Lightstones total system costs by eliminating the need for additional hardware and data servers and their associated corporate and hotel software. Hosting also off-loads system setup, management, and support duty so Lightstone can focus on revenue generating activities. I login with a secure username and password and our data and reports are easily accessible. I worked with Aptech at two other hotel companies. They are a team of hospitality experts that do a great job, added Dober. About Lightstone Lightstone, founded by David Lichtenstein, is one of the most highly-regarded and diversified private real estate companies in the United States. Operating in all sectors of the real estate market, Lightstones $2 billion portfolio (in 26 states) currently includes over 6 million square feet of office, retail and industrial commercial properties, 11,000 residential units and 3,800 hotel keys. It also owns over 12,000 land lots across the country. Headquartered in New York City, Lightstone continues to grow its local presence with $2.5 billion worth of projects currently under development in the residential and hospitality sectors. About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include Profitvue, Execuvue, Webvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue and Profitvue are registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit http://www.aptech-inc.com. GSI Exchange Announces Limited Release of 2016 Canadian Gold and Silver White Falcon Coins For gold and silver investors seeking greater diversification and security, the 1/4 ounce 2016 Canadian Gold Snow Falcon and 1 1/2 ounce 2016 Canadian Silver Snow Falcon promises to be one of the most attractive bullion investments in recent memory. GSI Exchange, a leading online precious metals dealer specializing in gold and silver coins and bullion, recently announced the release of a limited quantity of brilliant uncirculated 2016 Canadian White Falcon coins (also known as Snow Falcon coins or Gyrfalcon coins), including the 1/4 ounce Gold Gyrfalcon coin and the 1 1/2 ounce Silver Gyrfalcon coin. For coin collectors who appreciate the artistic beauty and expected rarity of this unique issue and for gold and silver investors seeking greater diversification and security, the 1/4 ounce 2016 Canadian Gold Snow Falcon and 1 1/2 ounce 2016 Canadian Silver Snow Falcon promises to be one of the most attractive bullion investments in recent memory, according to Anthony Allen Anderson, Senior Partner at GSI Exchange. Best of all, the Gyrfalcon coins are of the highest quality and qualified to be included in a Gold IRA or Silver IRA. Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, the 1.5 oz 2016 Silver White Falcon is the fourth release in the 1.5 ounce series of coins featuring the wildlife of the Canadian Arctic. The Silver Snow Falcon coin is 99.99% silver and is eligible for inclusion in a silver IRA account. The .25 oz 2016 Gold White Falcon by the Royal Canadian Mint, is 99.99% gold and also eligible for inclusion in a gold IRA account. The coins obverse, designed by Susanna Blunt, features Queen Elizabeth II shown in right-side profile. The coins reverse, designed by Canadian artist Steve Helpburn, features a white falcon (or snow falcon), a large bird of prey, in flight, set against a striking background pattern. In 2016, for the first time ever, the Royal Canadian Mint instituted a unique Bullion DNA process to protect buyers and sellers of Gold and Silver bullion from coin counterfeiting. The Bullion DNA device works by reading a micro-engraved security mark appearing on the reverse of the coin. The mark, consisting of a textured maple leaf and the last two numerals of the coin's production year, visible only under magnification, is laser-engraved on the dies which are used to strike these coins. Each die is registered in a secure database after a microscopic view of the mark is captured and converted into a complex, encrypted digital code using the Mint's digital non-destructive activation (DNA) technology. When a genuine coin is placed in the Bullion DNA device, it can read the security mark like a fingerprint and match it to a registered Royal Canadian Mint die. The expected low-mintage, unique anti-counterfeit protections and high collector and investor interest in these coins can contribute to price appreciation that is significantly greater than the spot value of their respective metals. 2016 sales for the American Gold Eagle, at 984,500 ounces, was the highest year-end total since 2011. While high demand can contribute to appreciation above spot price, the supply can limit potential growth. Premium over spot is a direct reflection of a coins supply and demand. High supply typically means a coin's valuation will be closer to the prevailing spot price. Collector and investor interest has resulted in significant price appreciation for other recent limited strike coin issues. For example, the Royal Canadian Mint Issued, 2011 Canada 1 oz. Silver Wildlife Series Wolf" and the US Mint issued, 2012 5 oz Silver America the Beautiful (ATB) Hawaii Volcanoes National Park coins. These silver coins currently sell for 2 to 4 times higher than the comparable price per ounce of spot silver. Demand is currently very high for bullion and collectible precious metals have recently begun surging under President Donald Trump. It wouldnt be surprising if the Gyrfalcon coins enjoy comparable price appreciation in the coming years, said Anderson. GSI Exchange is launching a new promotion to highlight investor interest in gold and silver coins. Prospective buyers can enjoy an additional five percent discount on their initial purchase by visiting: https://gsiexchange.com/Canadian-White-Falcon-Coin/ About GSI Exchange Founded by industry veterans, GSI Exchange is a leading national coin and precious metals company based in Calabasas, California. The firm specializes in wholesale precious metals trading as well as direct sales to the general public. GSI Exchange enjoys 5-star reviews from its clients and is an accredited, A-rated company with the Better Business Bureau. The GSI Exchange investment management team has over 75 years of combined market experience and relationships with most of the largest suppliers around the world. With experience successfully placing more than $1 billion in commodities and precious metals transactions around the world, GSI Exchange offers clientele a full range of customized precious metals portfolios and physical possession precious metals IRA accounts. GSI Exchange has an almost unlimited inventory of the highest-quality silver, gold, palladium and platinum coins at the most competitive prices. For more information, visit https://gsiexchange.com or call 1.800.765.7188. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is conducting a firmwide training program at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP as part of the firms award-winning pro bono program. IRAP organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. More than 200 firm attorneys, as well as clients from throughout 33 of its offices, will participate in the cross-border event. Todays program, to be led by IRAP Legal Director Stephen Poellot, will train hundreds of Greenberg Traurig attorneys on how to represent the most vulnerable refugees around the world in applications for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) to the U.S., first instance refugee applications before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), appeals of UNHCR adjudications, and requests for reconsideration of USCIS adjudications. The importance of this humanitarian program cannot be understated, said Caroline J. Heller, Chair of Greenberg Traurigs Global Pro Bono program and litigation shareholder in the firms New York City office. The type of refugee represented in a typical case include: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, interpreters, and other U.S. allies being hunted down by local extremists, LGBTI individuals, persecuted religious minorities, and children with medical emergencies. Representation of these most vulnerable individuals aligns with our firms pro bono focus. We are proud to be able to offer this training and of the response from our colleagues. Greenberg Traurig strongly encourages all of its attorneys to give personally of themselves by providing pro bono legal representation to people of limited means and organizations whose mission is to address the needs of the underprivileged. In handling pro bono matters, Greenberg Traurig works with numerous organizations around the United States, including Advocates for Children of New York, Inc., Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Her Justice (Network for Womens Services), Children and Family Justice Center, Just Neighbors Immigrant Ministry, Center for Community Change, University of Miami School of Laws Children and Youth Law Clinic, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, D.C. Employment Justice Center, ABA Death Penalty Representation Project, and the Archdiocesan Legal Network. Most recently, the firm received the Hope Award for its long-standing pro bono and financial support of The Center of Hope (Haiti), Inc., related to the creation and operation of the orphanage and elementary school; was honored by Equal Justice Works for its historic program participation; received the Common Good Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; and was presented with the Allegiance Award from Kids in Need of Defense. Current pro bono projects focus around the following: Death Penalty; Family Court: custody, visitation, child support, orders of protection; Immigration: Violence Against Women Act petitions, Special Immigrant Juvenile, Status petitions, Asylum petitions; Children: Special Education advocacy, children in the foster care system, adoptions; Defense for indigent clients in misdemeanor cases; Veterans: benefits claims; Non-profits: real estate, corporate transactions; and Amici Curiae in Federal Courts and the United States Supreme Court. About Greenberg Traurigs Pro Bono Program Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firms offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing and homelessness. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A single firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudera, the global provider of the fastest, easiest, and most secure data management, analytics and machine learning platform built on the latest open source technologies, today announced a jointly tested solution with Intel to advance capabilities for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. Benchmark tests on Cloudera with Apache Spark and the newly released Intel Math Kernel Library (Intel MKL), demonstrate the combined offering can advance machine learning performance over large data sets in less time and with less hardware. This helps organizations accelerate their investments in next generation predictive analytics. Cloudera is the leader in Apache Spark development, training, and services. Apache Spark is advancing the art of machine learning on distributed systems with familiar tools that deliver at impressive scale. By joining forces, Cloudera and Intel are furthering a joint mission of excellence in big data management in the pursuit of better outcomes by making machine learning smarter and easier to implement. By combining Spark, Intel MKL libraries, and Intels optimized CPU architecture machine learning workloads can scale quickly. As machine learning solutions get access to more data they can provide better accuracy in delivering predictive maintenance, recommendation engines, proactive healthcare and monitoring, and risk and fraud detection. Theres a growing urgency to implement more rich machine learning models to explore and solve the most pressing business problems and to impact society in a more meaningful way, said Amr Awadallah, chief technical officer of Cloudera. Already among our user base, machine learning is an increasingly common practice. In fact, in a recent adoption survey over 30% of respondents indicated they are leveraging Spark for machine learning. With constant advancements to Spark, and now through our collaboration with Intel to tap into Intel MKL, were confident Cloudera will continue to lead the market in advancing the use of Apache Spark for machine learning across every industry. Benchmark results released today, comparing the jointly developed solution to both OpenBLAS and F2J BLAS, prove Cloudera and Intel have surpassed the leading hardware acceleration libraries in every iteration of the testsproviding more actionable performance with less investment in infrastructure. http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3703759d-3d1c-454e-9ef4-9cf2448a6dd6 Machine learning helps Clouderas customers meet the demands of predictions on much larger data sets. Transamerica, for instance, uses Cloudera to test and validate data models at a much faster scale. As long-term business collaborators invested in each other's technology, expanding our efforts in AI was a logical step. Collectively, we see the future potential in AI as untapped, despite massive leaps in technology and growing implementation in recent years, said Michael Greene, vice president and general manager of the System Technologies and Optimization in Software Services Group, Intel Corporation. Together Cloudera, Intel and our ecosystem will unleash the power of AI to be faster, more expansive, and smarter from the beginning. Read more about the benchmark. About Cloudera Cloudera delivers the modern data management, analytics and machine learning platform built on the latest open source technologies. The worlds leading organizations trust Cloudera to help solve their most challenging business problems with Cloudera Enterprise, the fastest, easiest and most secure data platform available for the modern world. Our customers efficiently capture, store, process and analyze vast amounts of data, empowering them to use advanced analytics to drive business decisions quickly, flexibly and at lower cost than has been possible before. To ensure our customers are successful, we offer comprehensive support, training and professional services. Learn more at cloudera.com. Connect with Cloudera Read our blogs: blog.cloudera.com and vision.cloudera.com Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/cloudera Visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/cloudera Join the Cloudera Community: cloudera.com/community Cloudera, Hue and associated marks and trademarks or registered trademarks of Cloudera Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. ### Both SiteMinder and Agilysys are committed to providing solutions that enable hotels to compete more effectively. The global hotel industrys leading cloud platform, SiteMinder, today announces a partnership agreement with Agilysys, Inc. whereby SiteMinders Channel Manager will connect with Agilysys next-generation cloud hospitality platform, rGuest, to integrate with Agilysys award-winning property management systems and automate the flow of rates, availability and reservations for hotel customers. SiteMinders Channel Manager allows hotels to continuously promote available rooms on all their booking channels and immediately update inventory across those channels when a booking is made. It eliminates manual entry and reduces the risk of overbookings with deep, two-way integrations between a hotels property management system (PMS) and the online travel agencies, wholesalers, hotel websites and global distribution systems it sells through. This partnership reinforces our mission and strategy to partner with technology leaders that deliver significant value to hotels, says David Chestler, executive vice president of global enterprise sales & business development at SiteMinder. Both SiteMinder and Agilysys are committed to providing solutions that enable hotels to compete more effectively. We are excited to expand our footprint in the U.S. hospitality market and to join forces with Agilysys to deliver a state-of-the-art solution to hotel customers of all sizes. Agilysys next-generation cloud hospitality platform, rGuest, provides the industry standard integration framework that connects SiteMinders Channel Manager with the Agilysys PMS solutions. rGuest provides a standards-based solution on an open architecture with public APIs to enable richly-integrated applications delivered from Agilysys, its partners and customers. Agilysys property management solutions include the Lodging Management System (LMS), Visual One PMS and the groundbreaking cloud-based rGuest Stay PMS. The companys award-winning property management solutions are used in hotels around the world including large casino properties, boutique hotels, chain hotels and resorts to streamline operational efficiency, increase revenue and enhance the guest experience. This partnership combines the power of our rGuest cloud hospitality platform with the breadth of SiteMinders Channel Manager to make the online distribution of rooms simple and seamless for our joint customers, says Jim Walker, senior vice president of global revenue at Agilysys. The partnership between SiteMinder and Agilysys addresses a key finding in Phocuswright and h2Cs Independent Lodging Market Report, co-sponsored by SiteMinder, that half of U.S. independent hotels use a PMS, yet only 13 percent use an integrated channel management solution. The partnership also addresses the need for hotels to adopt secure technology. SiteMinders Channel Manager and all of Agilysys PMSs comply with PCI DSS standards. ABOUT SITEMINDER As the leading cloud platform for hotels, SiteMinder allows hotels to attract, reach and convert guests across the globe. We serve hotels of all sizes with award-winning solutions for independents and groups alike, wherever they are in the world. SiteMinders products include The Channel Manager, the industrys leading online distribution platform; TheBookingButton, a wholly-branded booking engine for direct bookings via the web, mobile or social; Canvas, the intelligent website creator for independent hoteliers; Prophet, the real-time market intelligence solution that takes the guesswork out of pricing rooms; and GDS by SiteMinder, a single-point of entry to a six-figure network of travel agents and the worlds major GDSs. With more than 23,000 hotel customers and 550 of the industry's top connectivity providers as our partners, today we have presence in more than 160 countries on six continents. For more information, visit http://www.siteminder.com. Reston, Va.-based financial advisory team hosts online seminar discussing market opportunities and challenges for 2017. We break down why it is smarter to own companies than stock, and how to apply a strategic, value-based approach to expanding ones investment portfolio. The Wise Investor Group at Robert W. Baird & Co., a team of experienced financial professionals specializing in financial planning, portfolio management, investment analysis and account services, today launched its 2017 Annual Outlook Seminar online. This years seminar evaluates market performance in 2016 and provides investors with expert perspective on what to expect from the markets, investments and the economy in 2017. Aiming to provide a comprehensive, practical analysis, the Wise Investor Group discusses specific stocks, giving consideration to consumer trends, political climate, and regulatory shifts. In this years seminar, we place a heavy emphasis on value investing, says Chase Hinderstein, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Wise Investor Group. We break down why it is smarter to own companies than stock, and how to apply a strategic, value-based approach to expanding ones investment portfolio. In particular, we look at companies like Nestle, Apple, and Abercrombie & Fitch as case studies, and discuss the different factors that uniquely position them as value investments. In years past, the Annual Seminar was held in person, attracting an audience of more than 400 investors from Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and beyond. In order to make the seminar accessible to a wider audience, the Wise Investor Group has transitioned the Annual Seminar to be held exclusively online for the first time this year. Simon Hamilton, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, and Chase Hinderstein, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, are hosts of this years seminar. Hamilton and Hinderstein are also regular hosts of The Wise Investor Show, which airs every Sunday on WMAL 105.9 and AM 630 in the Washington, D.C. metro. We are excited for this transition to a digital seminar and hope that the platform will enable more investors to participate and benefit from our teams expertise, says Hamilton. Our seminar will provide specific ideas that investors can consider incorporating into their portfolios in todays increasingly uncertain environment. To view the seminar, please visit http://thewiseinvestorgroup.com/2017-Seminar-Login.htm, and provide your name and email address. There is no registration fee required. About The Wise Investor Group The Wise Investor Group at Robert W. Baird & Co. is a full-service investment firm located in Reston, Virginia focusing on financial planning, portfolio management, investment analysis, insurance and annuity services as well as overall account services. Formed in the 1990s, the firm follows a disciplined, research-based approach to value-oriented investment. To learn more about The Wise Investor Group, please visit http://thewiseinvestorgroup.com Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East English Norwegian Jotun, of which Orkla owns 42.5%, has issued a press release presenting the highlights for the 2016 results. Please find the press release and an executive summary of the financial statements for 2016 enclosed. Orkla ASA Oslo, 8 February 2017 NEW YORK, Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP: To: All persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired American Depositary Shares of New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (NYSE:EDU) between September 27, 2016 and December 1, 2016. You are hereby notified that a securities class action lawsuit has been commenced in the USDC for the District of New Jersey. To get more information go to: http://www.zlk.com/pslra/new-oriental-education-edu or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you. The complaint alleges that during the Class Period the Company made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) New Oriental engaged in college application fraud; and (2) as a result, Defendants statements about New Orientals business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On December 2, 2016, Reuters reported that eight former and current New Oriental employees informed the news outlet that the Company engaged in college application fraud, including writing application essays and teacher recommendations, and falsifying high school transcripts. On this news, shares of New Oriental fell $6.99 per share from its previous closing price to close at $42.00 per share on December 2, 2016, damaging investors. If you suffered a loss in New Oriental you have until February 13, 2017 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. The firms attorneys have extensive expertise and experience representing investors in securities litigation, and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Cookies What are cookies ? How do we use cookies? How to control cookies? Managing cookies in your browser see what cookies you have got and delete them on an individual basis block third party cookies block cookies from particular sites block all cookies from being set delete all cookies when you close your browser X A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site. 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Willow Wilson, celebrated journalist turned acclaimed graphic novel writer, to pen a tribute essay to legendary novelist Margaret Atwood and to her delightfully nerdy graphic novel, Angel Catbird. These days, Wilson is best known for turning a classic superhero, Ms. Marvel, into a Pakistani-American Muslim teenage girl living in Jersey City. Writing the series, Wilson, who is an American Muslim as well as a much-lauded comics and prose author, contributed to the creation of a bestselling comic book heroine for a new era of diversity in superhero comics. In this essay, which will be published as the introduction to Angel Catbird Volume 2, coming from Dark Horse Comics on February 14, Wilson pays tribute to Atwoods literary legacy of social rebellion and political resistance and to her geeky love of superhero comics. Like all true Chimeras, the work of Margaret Atwood defies easy categorization. From the bleak dystopia of The Handmaids Tale, which seems more relevant than ever in our era of newly restricted reproductive rights; to the sly surrealism of the Oryx and Crake trilogy, in which humankind reaps the whirlwind of hypercapitalism and ecological destruction; to the lush psychological drama of Cats Eye, which throws the lessons of adolescence into painful relief, Atwood moves nimbly from subject to subject and from genre to genre. And like a Chimera, she seems to be fueled by some secret fire, one that makes her as dryly, mirthfully witty on Twitter as she is in the pages of the Michigan Quarterly Review or Harpers Magazine. Most fiction writers alive today have been influenced by Margarets work, whether they know it or not: by tackling the most pressing issues of each unfolding decade, she has achieved a kind of cultural ubiquity. I first picked up The Handmaids Tale in the mid-1990s, when I was twelve or thirteen, which in retrospect is probably a bit too young to tackle that book. In the awkward grip of puberty, it read like a kind of body horror, a warning that there was no part of womanhood which could not be commodified. To encounter a novel like that in the banal, apolitical atmosphere of the nineties, when sexism and racism were over and strong viewpoints were seen as impolite, was an electric experience; it showed me that you could, in fact, address real-world issues in a meaningful way within the realm of fantasy and science fiction. Speculative fiction wasnt simply an escape; it was also an arrival. Do Margarets disparate creations have a unifying message? If they do, I think it might be tidily summed up as a simple directive: resist complacency. Resist it with whatever tools you have on handwith wit, with humor, with irony, or with anger, but resist it, and do not apologize. In Angel Catbird, we see that message at its most jubilantly pulpy. It is an unselfconscious romp through a world instantly recognizable both to fans of Silver Age comics and to the furriest corners of the Internet, a world in which the boundaries between human and animal blur and our most primitive instincts come into play. Like all great superheroes, Strig, the titular protagonist, is only momentarily alarmed by the onset of his strange powers: when you are given the ability to transform into a half-cat, half-owl, half-man (thats three halves), you must carpe that diem, and he does. Angel Catbird represents a side of Margaret Atwood we dont get to see very often: an unabashedly geeky side, one conversant in the tangled continuities of superhero comics and at home in fandom. The story is pure, distilled nerd catharsis, delivered by a literary legend. Atwoods story is well served by coconspirator Johnnie Christmas, whose gleeful, kinetic art style pays homage to the era of Jack Kirby and Russ Manning, masters who peaked before the age of irony and to whom pulp was a kind of religion. If there is a joke, Christmas and Atwood are in on it together, and it makes for one heck of a read. There are puns, and then there are cat puns, and then there are Dracula cat puns, and then there are visual Dracula cat puns, and if you hung around for the end of that list, this is the kind of graphic novel you need on your bookshelf. Meow. A large anthropomorphic figure with a book-shaped heart greeted visitors to the 25th edition of the Taipei International Book Fair (TIBE), which runs from February 8 to 13. Designed by local installation artist Akibo Lee, the giants body is formed by more than 2,000 donated books, which will be sent to far-flung areas with limited access to books across the island after the fair ends. It stands as a metaphor for reading as a force of movement that can bringing about change. A total of 621 exhibitors from 59 countries are taking part in the six-day annual event. This year, the number of Taiwanese exhibitors increased by around 55%, totaling 315. Several new features were added to the fair this year, including an Independent Publishers and NGOs zone, and an extended opening hours of up to 9.00 p.m. (and 10.00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday), which are aimed at attracting office crowds. Some 450 events are scheduled, including the first-ever International Bookstore Forum with representatives of Foyles (from the U.K.), Readings (Australia), Eslite (Taiwan), Urara (Japan) and others to explore impacts of e-books, online retailing and mobile devices on bricks-and-mortar operations. The closure of many independent and smaller bookstores has been a major concern for many Taiwanese publishers. The vibrancy and well-being of small bookstores are crucial to the longevity and survival of the publishing industry. Less outlets for distribution and sales means lower revenues for publishers, said publisher Rex How of Locus Publishing, pointing out that fixed pricing to cap deep discounting is one way out. It is not the cure but it will stop the bleeding. On the other hand, a more fundamental issue is the islands examination-focused educational system, which, said How, does not encourage students to read for leisure and general knowledge, and therefore, buy books. Publisher Jungwen Wang of Yuan-Liou Publishing, while sharing Hows concerns, offered some optimism for the flagging industry. The creativity and innovation in publishing and content creation to suit changing tastes and times has been ongoing for hundreds of years. So yes, the Taiwanese book industry has its ups and downs, as so do those in other countries, but I am sure we will be able to find the right mix of content, channel and media to fit new and emerging market needs and conditions, Wang said. Managing director Jerome Su of B.K. Norton, an agent for well-known American houses and university presses, is seeing local institutions going back to purchasing print books instead of having digital subscriptions. Aside from discovering that the end of a subscription means zero access to the digital content, there is the higher tendency of cut-and-paste plagiarism, which in turn necessitates the institutions to spend more on plagiarism detection software, he said. For Su, last years popularity of adult coloring books has spilled over to his childrens titles (published under the Bookman imprint), specifically the translated Highlights series of Hidden Pictures/Coloring titles. Childrens books are doing well, and we see that growth with our Scholastic list. With so much information available on the Internet and mobile devices becoming ever cheaper, publisher Linden Lin of Linking Publishing is seeing a segment of the younger generation simply not buying print books. Fortunately, we have university students and researchers continuing to purchase titles and frequenting bookstores, said Lin, adding that childrens books and humanities titles are the two biggest -- and brightest -- segments in the Taiwanese book industry in the past five years. (So it is not surprising at all to find Hall 3 of the Taipei World Trade Center dedicated to the fairs Childrens Pavilion, hosting nearly 60 exhibitors.) In general, the Taiwanese book market has declined, with total sales of books estimated to have dropped around 25% compared to the previous year. But it still produces an average of 40,000 new titles annually. Translated titles remain a big portion of the market. Despite the soft market last year, Taiwan is still an important market for overseas publishers, especially children's publishers. The Quarto Group, for instance, is exhibiting at TIBE for the first time, and foreign rights manager Lucy Gibbs is looking at nearly 20 scheduled meetings at the fair (while her colleague has 30 on schedule). We have been doing co-editions in Taiwan since 2008, and in the last three years, with better market understanding and networking, our sales here have gone up. This is my first Asian book fair, and I am pleasantly surprised that there are so many meetings to fill up my schedule. And interestingly, while there are many Korean, Japanese and other Asian publishers attending this fair, all my meetings are with Taiwanese publishers. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. DALLAS, Feb. 8, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa, the industry's largest community management company, recently donated more than 100 items locally to One Warm Coat following the drive at its home office in Dallas. The One Associa Spirit Committee organized the donation effort and asked for gently used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to be distributed to those in need. The company employees, about 150 at home office, came through by donating about an item per person. "The response was tremendous. We were able to give dozens of coats and other winter clothing that will be keeping folks warm this season instead of sitting in our closets," said One Associa Spirit Committee Member Faith DeSmet. "We're thankful to have so many generous team members as part of the Associa family who fully support the mission behind One Warm Coat." One Warm Coat is a national organization, started in 1992, dedicated to providing anyone in need with a warm coat, free of charge. To learn more about its support of more than 3,000 coat drives each year and to find out how you can help, visit the website at www.onewarmcoat.org. Delivering unsurpassed association management services to communities since 1979, Associa leads the industry operating more than 180 branch offices across North America and employing 10,000 team members dedicated to serving nearly five million residents who are part of the Associa family. With unrivaled industry expertise, safeguarded finances and trailblazing innovation, Associa provides solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more go to www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/associamarketing Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Associaonline/ A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=42158 ALEDO Mercer County may become home to a 100-acre solar farm, according to discussion at the Mercer County Board meeting Tuesday. Board member Ron Fullerlove-R, Sherrard, told the board a company called Cypress Creek Renewables out of Arizona is interested in establishing the solar farm in Mercer County as an addition to the 16 farms it already operates. They dont necessarily have to have one single 100-acre plot, they could conceivably split that up. Theyre willing to issue a 20-year lease to the property owner on their land.What theyre indicating now is that they could potentially pay them more than what they were to cash rent that property. He said the immediate benefit to the county would come in the form of higher assessed value on the land which would translate to more tax dollars. Mr. Fullerlove said the zoning board would have to pass an amendment changing the zoning ordinance to allow it. That gives us the permission to move forward with doing this. Mr. Fullerlove said, We think that probably the bigger part of this - It tells everybody out there that Mercer County is open and willing to work with business owners and business entities for development. Mr. Fullerlove said the Zoning Board is expected to pass the amendment which would bring the measure to the March board meeting for approval as a county ordinance. In other business, the board passed an ordinance requiring door-to-door sales people to purchase a peddlers license from the county sheriff in order to sell in the unincorporated areas of the county. States Attorney Meeghan Lee said, When peddlers register at the Sheriffs Department, they are background checked for criminal history and to see if they have a fraud conviction. Sheriff Dave Staley said, "Its going to be a huge help to me and my guys. Ms. Lee said, If somebody comes to your door and they are attempting to peddle something . If you ask them for a copy of their peddlers license and they dont have it, you call the Sheriffs Department immediately. They will have an officer out there very quickly. Changes to the verbiage of the countys liquor control resolution was simplified to mirror the state liquor ordinance of 1934. Language now more clearly reads that any official serving in any elected capacity cannot have a direct interest in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcoholic liquor in their jurisdiction. Teresa Smith, Director of probation services for the county said her office hired a new probation officer, Janet Lomb-Stairwalt, last week, after five months without one. Between the two positions a total of $17,000 was saved for the fiscal year after the retirement of Vicky Hanson. Ms. Lomb-Stairwalt previously worked with the Henry County States attorneys office. The board approved appointment of Dick Nash for a five-year term on the Sheriffs Commission. He previously served the remainder of a vacant unexpired term. DAVENPORT The 23rd annual Quad City Regional Auto Show will be held at the Davenport RiverCenter Friday through Sunday. The event, which showcases 2017 and some 2018 vehicles, is a joint effort of auto dealers of 17 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. In all, 23 domestic and import manufacturers with more than 150 vehicles will be represented. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 7-12; younger children are admitted free. Free opening day tickets and coupons are available at participating Hy-Vee locations while supplies last. For more details, discount tickets and coupons, visit quadcityautoshow.com Test drives of selected vehicles are available all three days of the show from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Other highlights include: Drive as if youre at a NASCAR track on the Toyota NASCAR simulator. Saturday offers face painting and balloon artists. Sunday is Family Day with a carnival noon to 4 p.m. There will be games with prizes, a petting zoo, professional balloon artists making animal characters for kids, a jump house and cookies and milk for kids. New this year is Memory Lane Classic Cars. Proceeds from the show benefit the Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show Scholarship Fund. To date, more than $337,000 has been given to college-bound and trade school students to date, with more than $40,000 expected to be awarded at this years VIP Premier Event. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D Moline, along with U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bill Tuesday that would require all iron and steel used in federally funded drinking water projects to be American made. The Buy America for Drinking Water Extension Act aims is to expand and extend the provision that iron and steel products used for projects funded through act be produced only in the U.S. According a news release from Rep. Bustos' office, she saw a chance to address problems occurring in the nation's water supply, as well as create more jobs. As our nation works to get lead out of our drinking water supply, I see absolutely no reason why we shouldn't use this as an opportunity to create more good-paying American jobs in the iron and steel industries," Rep. Bustos said. "Im proud to join Congressman Jones in this bipartisan effort, and I will continue to fight for Illinois manufacturers and working families. Rep. Bustos press secretary, Sean Higgins, said the bill is also focused on closing loopholes. "It helps close loopholes federal agencies use to get out of the Buy American Bill," Mr. Higgins said. Mr. Higgins also said the bill is only focused on projects pertaining to cleaner drinking water and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The Buy America for Drinking Water Extension Act will be included in another bill, the Buy American Improvement Act, proposed by U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski. Rep. Lipinski's bill will expand and strengthen existing Buy America requirements across a wider range of infrastructure projects, according to Rep. Bustos' news release. Mr. Higgins said Rep. Bustos' team is optimistic about the bill. "We're optimistic about it because it's something the president (Donald Trump) has prioritized," Mr. Higgins said. Mr. Higgins also said because the bill is bipartisan, it has a good chance to pass. WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa City, wants to make sure Sgt. Brandon Ketchum's story isn't repeated. Rep. Loebsack has named a bill in honor of Sgt. Ketchum, 33, of Davenport, who took his own life in July after being refused admittance to the Iowa City VA Medical Center. Sgt. Ketchum was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse after two tours of duty with the Marines in Iraq and one in Afghanistan with the Iowa National Guard. This week, Rep. Loebsack and U.S. Rep. Seve Stivers, R-Ohio, re-introduced a bill from last year to ensure no veteran seeking inpatient psychiatric care is denied it. The re-introduced and renamed bill is called the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act. "Last summer, after learning of Sgt. Ketchums death, Congressman Loebsack met with many different groups in the area including local veterans, Veteran Service Organizations and community members to develop this legislation," said Rep. Loebsack spokesman Joe Hand. "In terms of naming the bill, after speaking with members of his family, Congressman Loebsack changed the title (from the Never Again Act) to the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act to greater honor his life," Mr. Hand said. The bill would require that any veteran enrolled in the VA health care system be admitted at a VA medical center's psychiatric ward if the veteran requests it. If the ward is full as was the case at the Iowa City VA Medical Center in July the center must arrange for care at a non-VA facility. On July 7, 2016, a federal government analysis found that 20 veterans commit suicide every day, with the highest rate of suicides among veterans serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Our veterans have sacrificed too much to ever feel alone when struggling with mental health issues," Rep. Loebsack said in a statement. "When these veterans reach out, we as a country owe it to them to answer their call." U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, is among more than 40 co-sponsors of the original Never Again Act. ROCK ISLAND City and school officials are exploring options for lead testing of water. City interim public works director Larry Cook said he will meet with Rock Island-Milan School District Superintendent Dr. Mike Oberhaus today to discuss lead testing options. A new Illinois law requires lead testing of water at municipal, school and day care buildings. The cost of those tests and possible mitigation efforts have yet to be determined by the city, Mr. Cook said. Holly Sparkman, the school district's spokeswoman, said administrators also are reviewing the lead testing requirements and any potential follow-up that may be needed. The law requires Rock Island to inventory and list the number of service lines in its system consisting of various materials; the number of known lead service lines, including those privately owned; and the number of lead service lines added from the previous year. That inventory must be submitted annually to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency starting April 15, 2018 until all lead is removed, Mr. Cook said. At the Rock Island-Milan School District, Mr. Cook said the work is "a huge undertaking a lot of regulations involved and we want to make sure there's not a 't' that's missed or an 'i' not dotted." While the city will assist the school district, Mr. Cook said the district is responsible for the testing. He said he and Dr. Oberhaus plan to talk today about how the city can help the school district comply with the regulation. "If it is a sink in the kitchen, a drinking faucet or any other faucet that can be utilized for food preparation at all, then it does fall under a fixture that qualifies and has to be tested," Mr. Cook said. The city also plans to test 17 fixtures at the city-run Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center, as well as seven at the city-run Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and fixtures still being identified at the city's three libraries. Rock Island uses the Mississippi River for water, which Mr. Cook said was a consistent, reliable and minimally corrosive water source. Every three years, he said, sites around the city are screened for lead. The law requires schools built before Jan. 1, 2000, to test all water sources used for cooking and drinking where kindergarten through fifth-graders are present. Elementary schools built before 1987 must be tested by the end of the year. Schools built between 1987 and 2000 must be checked by the end of 2018. There are 36 school buildings in Rock Island County that must test for lead in drinking water, according to regional superintendent Tammy Muerhoff. Funds from the 1 percent school facilities sales tax approved in November cannot be used to pay for the tests, Ms. Muerhoff said. Those funds can only be used "for the alteration, reconstruction, or to purchase and install permanent fixed equipment," she said. Instead, Ms. Muerhoff said school districts can use money in their life safety funds and operations/management funds to test for lead and make an required changes. She has estimated the testing will cost districts between $500 and $5,000. Today is Wednesday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2017. There are 326 days left in the year. 1867 150 years ago: Candidate Coe, who seeks to serve in the legislature, journeyed to Edgington and sang a couple songs, which lost him a few votes. 1892 125 years ago: Deputy Sheriff Silvis sold his stock in the American Clothing Co., to Dedrick Oltman for $4,080. 1917 100 years ago: Frank North opened an investment office in the Central Trust building. 1942 75 years ago: Dr. J. W. Selds, county corner, conducted an injury into the collapse of the old Bengston Building. 1967 50 years ago: Police today are seeking a gunman who robbed the National Food Store, 2727 23rd Ave., Moline, last night and escaped with approximately $600 in cash. Witness told police that the man had a accomplice waiting outside the store in a 1965 or 1966 model gold Pontiac Tempest. 1991 25 years ago: Moline Mayor Allen McCaulley cast three tiebreaking votes Tuesday to push through approval of the proposed merger of United and Franciscan Medical Center. The merger now must be approved by state and federal agencies before it becomes official. I want to be safe. Like everyone, I want safety for myself, my family and my community. And the fact is that we currently have security procedures in place that help to assure our safety, while allowing deserving refugees and immigrants entry into our country. Those wanting to enter the U.S. are currently screened by several agencies, including the FBIs Terrorist Screening Center and the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. What further precautions are necessary? The presidents travel ban on those entering from Muslim countries is unnecessarily cruel. America is a nation of immigrants, and this was and continues to be a source of great strength. I teach English to immigrants and I see examples of this every day. In addition, a recent study showed that, nationwide, one in five doctors is foreign-born or internationally trained, and about 8,000 of these were trained in Muslim countries. These doctors are the backbone of healthcare in small, rural communities, and reducing access to medical care would not help assure our safety and security. More important is the fact that the Presidents ban in no way coincides with our avowed principles of liberty, tolerance and compassion. For I was hungry and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Dee Canfield, Moline Go To The Polls And Pull The Lever We hope everyone turns out to pull the lever next Tuesday (Nov. 8). Actually, new voters wont know what we are talking about, as the... Letters To The Editor Street Closure Dangers Neighbors, Friends, Citizens of NYC/QUEENS: Many may not know that NYC has decided to close off miles of streets to cars in... "These tournaments are about getting better and building into the big game, so we'd like to think that we'll see more improvement tomorrow," Gardiner said. 20 minutes ago Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) placed a 288m order with Alstom in May 2014 for 50 type KZ8A 8.8MW electric locomotives. This was subsequently amended in 2015 to comprise 10 AZ4A 3kV dc/25kV ac passenger locomotives and 40 AZ8A 25kV ac freight locomotives. Delivery of the first unit is scheduled to begin by the end of 2017. Turkeys transport minister Mr Ahmet Arslan said in December that work on the 826km corridor would finish in mid-2017 at which point the railway will be available for the start of commercial services. The much-delayed project was agreed by Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey as long ago as 2007 and was expected to open to cross-border traffic in 2010. However, problems with construction have resulted in numerous delays. The project has involved constructing a new 98km line from Kars to Akhalkalki, 68km of which runs through Turkey and 30km through Georgia. A 183km section of the existing Akhalkalki - Tbilisi corridor has also been reconstructed as part of the project. The line is expected to carry five million tonnes of freight per year initially as well as 1 million passengers. The $US 1.2bn contract is part of the 1216km stretch that will eventually link Dar es Salaam with the rest of the country as well as Rwanda and Burundi. The government had already set aside $US 500m for the project according to works, transport and communications minister Mr Makame Mbawara, and he also said the government expects to secure soft loans from development partners and financial investors for the project. In July 2016, the Chinese Export-Import (Exim) Bank agreed to provide $US 7.6bn to Tanzania to build around 2200km of standard gauge railway. The Turkish and Portuguese firms beat 39 other bidders to win the tender according to Tanzanias infrastructure manager Railway Assets Holding Company (Rahco) acting director-general Mr Masanja Kadogosa. Kadgosa also said that the 160km/h standard gauge railway will be able to handle 17 million tonnes per annum, running parallel to the existing central line. Tenders for the rest of the project will be opened in April this year, comprising the Morogoro - Makutupora (336km), Makutupora - Tabora (294km), Tabora - Isaka (133km), and Isaka - Mwanza (248km) sections. For the latest project updates from around the globe, subscribe to IRJ Pro. You want to kill yet another chance to bring U.S. passenger rail into the 21st Century? Play a disingenuous game of smoke and mirrors by attempting to associate the object of your loathing to something else that has only little to do with it, and try to kill it as well. Thats exactly what House Railroads Subcommittee Chair Jeff Denham, the California Republican who has made destruction of the California High Speed Rail Program his lifes crusade, has done. On Feb. 7, he and all 13 of his fellow California GOP colleagues sent a letter to newly installed U.S. DOT Secretary Elaine Chao requesting that the Trump Administration rescind nearly $650 million in funding for the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project, which is a major component of the Caltrain Modernization Program. The strategy, as we see it, is to position Caltrain Electrification as the first step in killing off California HSR. The two projects are entirely separate, despite what the California Republican delegation wants you to believe. Hopefully, Denhams disgusting game of dominoes wont succeed. Ever the diplomat, Caltrain Executive Director Jim Hartnett issued the following statement on Feb. 8: Electrification must move forward. Caltrain is on the cusp of accomplishing a 25-year-old vision to modernize the corridor and replace the systems aging diesel equipment with high performance electric trains that will increase capacity and improve service on one of the nations fastest growing commuter rail corridors. For decades, lack of sufficient funding had put this vision out of reach, but over the last several years Caltrain has worked with our local, regional, state and federal partners to make significant progress and overcome tremendous challenges. Ballot measures have been passed, funding agreements have been signed, legislation has been approved, lawsuits have been won and contracts have been awarded. Now, a new challenge must be overcome. The Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP) hinges on execution of a $647 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Core Capacity program that will be matched with more than $1.3 billion in secured local, regional, and state commitments. Since 2005, Caltrain ridership has quickly outpaced the systems capacity as commuters have increasingly relied on the service to connect to some of the worlds most innovative and fastest-growing companies. Today, Caltrain provides a much-needed alternative to the heavily congested U.S. 101 freeway, but the systems peak hour service is over maximum capacity, with many trains exceeding 125% of available seats. The Electrification Project is an opportunity to increase the capacity of the system and transform the way Peninsula residents experience transit. Caltrain is already the mobility option of choice for over 65,000 daily riders. By connecting our communities with more service to more stations and reducing travel times, electrification will make Caltrain even more attractive, equipping the system to accommodate more riders and providing significant relief to drivers on our busy local streets and roads and our increasingly congested freeways. Last year, Caltrain awarded contracts to advance work on the project, but construction cannot start without the investment that is awaiting approval by the new Administration. Time is of the essence. For the project to move forward as planned, the Administration must approve the grant prior to March 1. Any delay would result in costly penalties and cost increases that may threaten the viability of the project. We are at a critical juncture in Caltrains 150-year history. Electrification is the most transformative opportunity this corridor has ever undertaken and it offers unique economic, environmental and mobility benefits that will have an impact not just in our region but across the country. Federal investment in this project will create more than 9,600 jobs here in the Bay Area and spread throughout the nation in places like Salt Lake City, Utah; Jacksonville, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; Hudson, Wisc.; Littleton, Colo.; and [others]. It will create over $2.5 billion in economic value and address one of the regions principal barriers to economic growth by eliminating more than 619,000 daily vehicle miles from the regions roadways. These are some of the reasons that members of the Bay Areas Congressional delegation and our regions largest employers are pushing back strongly against calls by some to deny funding for the project. With their help, and support from a broad coalition of support from around the state and the nation, we look forward to providing the communities we serve with the rail system they deserve. Caltrain has been planning for the electrification project since the 1990s and the PCEP has received broad support from the business community, labor and environmental groups, regional transportation advocacy groups, local, state, and federal elected officials. In September 2016, Caltrain awarded two contracts, one to a contractor to install the infrastructure to electrify the corridor, the other to a contractor to build and deliver high-performance electric [multiple-unit] commuter rail trains. A Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) has been issued to those contractors to advance design of the project. A Full Notice to Proceed (NTP) must be issued by March 1, 2017, in order to maintain the terms of the contracts and avoid costly penalties and project delays. Before an NTP can be issued, PCEP must receive the $647 million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the FTA Core Capacity grant program. Caltrain has secured all local, regional, state, and Federal non-Core Capacity funds for the project. The only funding that is needed is $647 million from the FTA Core Capacity program. Back to Denham. Why is he so hell-bent on killing California HSR that hes willing to destroy Caltrains program? As far as we can tell, his top political donors arent companies or individuals who would benefit from the HSR system not being built. A few Class I railroads are among them. The HSR system, except for possibly some first-mile/last-mile right-of-way, will be on dedicated trackno freight train interference, which is exactly what railroads want. So seriously, Congressman, shut off the standard political rhetoric and tell us the real reason why you dislike fast, efficient high-speed trains. You head the Railroad Subcommittee. Shouldnt you be an advocate for state-of-the-art passenger rail? Shouldnt you want an HSR system in your state? Whats your point? Believe me, its got nothing to do with wasting taxpayer dollars. Thats a tired old BS argument with little or no relevance when you take into account the trillions that have been spent on other things that have only resulted in death, destruction and further destabilization of already-destabilized areas of the world. Our country needs to invest in HSR and other modern technologies, for societal as well as economic and environmental reasons. We are very far behind the rest of the world in passenger rail. We cannot afford not to invest. Our taxpayer dollars would be better invested in public transportation, education, health care , space exploration, electric automobiles, solar, wind and hydro energy, R&D in numerous areas, and hundreds of other programs that would create jobs and improve our quality of life. Weve been experiencing a brain drain for years, and Trump is widening the sieve. Where has our imagination gone? Our dreams? We attained John F. Kennedys bold vision of reaching the moon by the close of the 1960s, and then just sat back. We dont think big anymore. We dont do great things. We elect a profoundly narcissistic President whose chief strategist is a white supremacist, whose press secretary is a rabid attack dog and whose chief counselor is living on another planet. A President who wants to close our borders and shut out people who are trying to escape terrorismnot conduct itand make a better life for themselves and contribute something; to ignore the fact that this is a global economy; and to stifle free trade. A President who . . . . Oh, whats the point of continuing? Its just so very, very sad. Is Jeff Denham content with latching onto the Trump train to this weeks Saturday Night Live parody or Last Week Tonight With John Oliver? We hope that Elaine Chaoan immigrant whose personal story embodies what the United States is all aboutwill rise above the thick layer of pollution that has settled on Washington D.C. and dismiss attempts to derail the very types of projects her boss says he wants to dowith the possible exception of the one for which the Mexican government will amass a stack of unpaid bills. I wonder what her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) thinks of this mess. There are signs that he disagrees with Trumps plan to spend $1 trillion on infrastructure. From a recent Fortune magazine article: There are also real political headwinds facing any Trump infrastructure plan. In a preview of what could be ongoing struggles with a legislative branch now dominated by Republicans who often have battled with their own candidate, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said infrastructure is a low-priority for the Senate. Californias Congressional Republicans are calling on the Trump Administration to block $647 million in new grants for electrification on the Caltrain rail line between San Francisco and San Jose. This project, part of the Caltrain Modernization Program, is only loosely connected to the California High Speed Rail Authority San Francisco-Los Angeles High Speed Rail project. The request by 14 GOP members in a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao reported by The Hill said that the money, following more than $3.5 billion in previous federal funding for construction of California HSR, would go to waste. The request did not say that Caltrain Modernization and California HSR are separate initiatives conducted by separate agencies. In the letter, Republicans wrote, We think providing additional funding at this timewould be an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars, according to the report. Leading the move was Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads Subcommittee. Denham has had it in for tthe California HSR project for years and now hes probably jumping for joy that he has a better chance of realizing his dream of sending the project to the grave with the Trump Administration in power, said one observer. Said another, The electrification of the commuter line from San Jose to San Francisco is a highly desirable element of Caltrain Modernization. Its unfortunate it gets rolled into the HSR project skepticism. Where politics is concerned, reason often loses. Look at what happened in New Jersey in 2010. Gov. Chris Christie cancelled one of the most sensible and needed projectstwo new rail tunnels under the Hudson River, which was fully funded and already under construction. Prospects do not look good. Nevertheless, I cant see why this is such good politics for Denham; there should be juicier targets. Yet another observation; Go back to the pre-BART days, and check the news stories in the San Francisco Bay area newspapers regarding the BART system. The news stories predicted that no one would ride BART, and that it was a waste of money. The mentality of we are Californians, we dont ride trains, we drive cars seemed to prevail. Nowadays, you cannot find anyone who was opposed to BART, even in the counties (like San Mateo) that initially opted out of BART and are now paying plenty to bring BART to San Jose (San Mateo County) as soon as possible. Much the same can be said of Los Angeles, where MetroRail ridership has outpaced any ridership forecasts. LA Union Passenger Terminal, formerly a ghost town except for a few Amtrak trains, now bustles with Metrolink commuter activity and passengers in the tens-of-thousands per day. So much for the naysayers. These are substantiated statistics. The naysayers will always be with us. They are the prophets of doom. If we had listened to them in the past, we would be illuminating our homes with larger candles. While even the most avid proponent of high speed rail will admit that high speed rail is not the sole answer to improving our mobility system, it is insane to continue to pretend that high speed rail has no part in our transportation system for a growing population, and Californias growth and density in the narrow strips of land where all the people actually live make it an ideal application for high speed rail. The three California Intercity passenger rail routes (Surfliner Corridor, Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin Corridor), once called a pipedream, now carry 20% of all the Amtrak riders in the country (including the passengers on the busy Northeast Corridor). Further California ridership growth is hampered only by lack of faster services (more time competitive), more frequent service, and a direct LA connection, all of which the California high speed rail system will deliver. An audit by Chaos office was also requested by the Republicans. The states GOP has long opposed the HSR project, which is championed by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, who also has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. The California HSR project received billions in grant funding from the Obama Administration as part of the 2009 stimulus package and a 2010 omnibus appropriations measure. Almost $10 billion in bonds to fund the project was approved by voters in 2008. Since then the price tag has soared to $60 billion from $33 billion. In January a risk assessment by the Federal Railroad Administration found that for the first segment of the rail line, taxpayers could foot the bill for much more than first estimated. In a statement, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Republican opposition to the rail project was endangering more than 9,600 jobs, and holding back modernization along the congested corridor between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Its unfortunate that while Congressional Republicans continue to target the progress of California High Speed Rail with inaccuracies and innuendo, they also chose to take Caltrain electrification hostage, said Pelosi spokesman Jorge Aguilar. A broken axle led to a collision between two BNSF trains that touched off a crude oil spill and fire, a National Transportation Safety Board probe has found. Several covered hopper cars in BNSF grain train no. 6990 derailed near Casselton, N.D., on Dec. 30, 2013 due to a broken axle on one of those cars and was hit by crude oil train no. 4934, which was moving in the opposite direction on a parallel track, the NTSB said Tuesday. The collision derailed no. 4934, spilling 476,000 gallons of oil from 18 of 20 derailed tank cars that caught fire. There were no serious injuries in the incident. The tank cars were the type DOT-111, which are required to be removed from service by 2029. The NTSB reiterated its recommendation that the cars be pulled from service as quickly as possible. The investigation revealed a void in the broken axle, which had been used previously on another car. At the urging of the NTSB, the Association of American Railroads wants to require testing of secondhand axles. Click the arrow below to view the NTSB video of the wreck derived from the onboard forward-facing cameras of both lead locomotives. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK MOSCOW, February 8 (RAPSI) - The Leninsky District Court of Kirov on Wednesday found Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny guilty of organizing embezzlement at the Kirovles timber company and passed a 5-year suspended sentence on him despite the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights concerning this case, Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on her Twitter account. Another defendant in the case, Pyotr Ofitserov, received a 4-year suspended sentence. Additionally, they were fined 500,000 rubles ($8,500) each. According to Yarmysh, Navalny has paid the 500,000-ruble fine in the case following the first trial. The court held that their guilt had been proven. Earlier, prosecutor demanded a 5-year suspended sentence for Navalny and a 4-year suspended term for Ofitserov. The court was also asked to impose fines on both defendants. Defense in turn urged to acquit Navalny and Ofitserov. Navalny in his final speech pleaded not guilty and said that the case against him had been framed up. He added that he would appeal guilty verdict in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and Russias Supreme Court. In November, the Supreme Court of Russia overturned sentences against Navalny and his accomplice Ofitserov in Kirovles embezzlement case and sent it for retrial. The court delivered the ruling taking into consideration the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In February 2016, ECHR held that the applicants right to a fair trial had been violated and ordered Russian authorities to compensate Navalny with 48,000 of legal costs and Ofitserov with 22,000. Additionally, Russia was obliged by court to pay 8,000 euro each in damages. Russias Justice Ministry filed a request seeking referral of the case to the Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg Court, but the request was dismissed. Navalny was given a five-year suspended sentence for embezzlement at the Kirovles timber company in July 2013. Later, Moscow's Lyublinsky District Court increased a probation period for him to 5.5 years. Ofitserov received a four-year suspended sentence. According to investigators, while serving on a voluntary basis as an adviser to the Kirov Region governor Navalny organized the theft of over 10,000 cubic meters of timber from Kirovles company between May and September 2009. Investigators claimed that Pyotr Ofitserov, then Director of Vyatka Timber Company, and Kirovles CEO Vyacheslav Opalyov were involved in the scheme. Proceedings against Opalyov were treated as a separated criminal case after he had admitted his guilt. Russian Ministry of Labor prepares bill on protection of corruption whistleblowers MOSCOW, February 8 (RAPSI) Russian Ministry of Labor has proposed to change the Federal Law on Countering Corruption by adding a new article on protection of whistleblowers, who provided information regarding corruption. The bill was published on the website for legal acts on Wednesday. According to the bill, a person with knowledge of a corruption offense is to inform a representative of the employer, prosecutors or law enforcement agencies with those being obliged to take measures regarding reported offenses in accordance with the legal procedure. A person, who is reporting a crime offense or is taking other measures to counter corruption is to be put under protection of the state, the draft law reads. In particular, authors of the bill, among other measures, propose to provide whistleblowers with the confidentiality of the information contained in the report and an option to obtain free legal aid. The bill also suggests protection against unlawful dismissal and being subjected to disciplinary liability for a person who reported the corruption offenses in line of the execution of official duties. Over the course of his campaign, President Trump marched to the White House, in part, by recognizing and promising to act upon widespread desire amongst voters to create economic opportunity in the United States. If the first weeks are any indication, President Trump is on the right track, with companies like Ford and Sprint announcing plans to move thousands of jobs back to the United States, and Department of Labor hiring numbers far exceeding expectations. While this is all good news, its important to remember that there is more to economic opportunity than headline-grabbing job relocations. And its equally important to remember that, as strong as the first weeks have been, its not all good news, and much more work remains to be done. This fact is on clear display on Navajo Nation land in Northeastern Arizona, where just outside of a town called Page, a 2,250 megawatt coal-fired power plant is on the verge of being suddenly, prematurely, and unnecessarily decommissioned by its owners, Salt River Project, nearly 30 years ahead of schedule. The closure of the Navajo Generating Station would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, billions in economic activity, and hundreds of millions in tax revenue. It would also undermine energy reliability and affordability in Arizona and throughout the region. And it would devastate tribal communities like the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, each of which rely upon the plant and the accompanying Kayenta Mine which would close alongside the plant as crucial economic engines. Beyond the direct impacts, a piece of the vision for job growth and economic opportunity that President Trump voiced from the campaign trail is at stake. The Navajo Generating Station was developed as part of the Central Arizona Plan after more than a decade of debate in Congress, settled upon as Arizonas best path forward for power generation, economic development, and environmental sustainability. In addition to powering the region and providing water, the Navajo Generating Station had the added advantage of preventing the construction of additional hydroelectric dams on and around tribal lands vitally important to tribes like the Navajo and Hopi. The plant and mine are vital to the future of all Arizonans, and play a role in the future of our nations economy at large. But they are particularly important to the Navajo and Hopi, whose mineral rights entitle them to look to their land and the coal it houses as a source of economic well-being. Thousands of jobs are supported by the facilities. Of the 825 direct, skilled jobs at the plant and mine, nearly all of them are held by Native Americans. These are good paying jobs opportunities that can sustain a community, and in many ways, they are doing just that: the facilities also account for 85 percent of the Hopi general fund, and coal revenues account for 60 percent of the Navajo Nations general funds and operating budget. The tribes are pushing hard to maintain this vital piece of their economic future. The Navajo and Hopi issued statements opposing early closure, and have urged Governor Doug Ducey, members of Congress, and the Administration to take action to halt early closure. For the tribes, early closure would be a tragedy, pushing their economies to the brink of collapse. Their opposition is about maintaining control of their future, control of their land, and control of the mineral rights that help their people live rewarding lives. Amid unemployment rates of more than 60 percent in some native communities, the urgency of the issue is profound. For the rest of America, the closure of the Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine represent movement in the wrong direction and for the wrong reasons. The future of the Navajo Generating Station deserves open, transparent, and thorough consideration led not by a single-minded utility like Salt River Project, but by elected representatives of the people that will be impacted from the Administration to local regulators. The plant is still economically viable, and the business and policy landscapes are shifting toward greater support for the coal industry and its role in future power generation. The Feds, through the Bureau of Reclamation, are part owners, and have an obligation to speak up as the process moves forward. We all have a great deal at stake Navajo, Hopi, Arizonan, American and now is not the time to allow a self-inflicted economic blow to undermine our future. Bruce Stokes is director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center and an associate fellow at Chatham House. This piece is part of a special RCW series on Americas role in the world during the Trump administration. The views expressed are the author's own. The Trump administrations executive order temporarily banning admission to the United States for refugees and emigres from seven Muslim-majority countries was a reminder that immigration has been a hotly contested issue in American politics at various times in both the 19th and 20th centuries. Surges of people arriving from abroad have often raised questions about the social impact of new arrivals, about cultural diversity, and about what it means to be a true American. Yet, in the international backlash in reaction to President Donald Trumps executive order -- not to mention the intervention of the U.S. court system -- it is easy to forget that debates over refugees and national identity trouble many societies, particularly in Europe. Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor is the Emma Lazarus poem offering refuge to the worlds downtrodden: Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. And in 2015, 13.9 percent of the U.S. population was foreign-born. But the American public has often been opposed to accepting large numbers of refugees. In January 2017, 46 percent of Americans said a large number of refugees leaving Syria and Iraq posed a major threat to the United States. Earlier, in October 2016, 54 percent of registered voters said the U.S. does not have a responsibility to accept refugees from Syria. Moreover, U.S. public opinion polls from previous decades show Americans have largely opposed admitting large numbers of refugees fleeing war and oppression. In 1958, 55 percent of Americans disapproved of a plan to admit 65,000 refugees who escaped the Communist regime in Hungary. And in 1979, in the wake of the Vietnam War, 62 percent disapproved of the governments plan to double the number of refugees admitted each month from Indochina. Yet Americans are not alone in being worried about refugees. Today, many Europeans are concerned about the security risk posed by recent waves of refugees from the Middle East. In spring 2016, more than seven in ten Hungarians (76 percent) and Poles (71 percent), and roughly six in ten Dutch (61 percent), Germans (61 percent) and Italians (60 percent) believed that refugees arriving from Syria and Iraq would increase the likelihood of terrorism in their country. Despite their views about refugees, being native-born is not necessarily core to Americans sense of national identity. Only 32 percent say that having been born in the United States is very important for being considered truly American. Language is judged to be a much more significant requisite of nationality: Seventy percent voice the view that it is very important that a person speak English. At the same time, more than four in ten (45 percent) believe that sharing American customs and traditions are very important. And 32 percent hold that being Christian is very important to being a true American. It is noteworthy that there is not much partisan difference over the link between the land of ones birth and U.S. national identity. Roughly a third of Republicans (35 percent) and Democrats (32 percent) say being born in the United States is very important. There is a greater partisan divide over language, culture, and religion. Eight in ten Republicans (83 percent) say language proficiency is a very important requisite for being truly American. Fewer Democrats (61 percent) agree. Among Republicans, 60 percent say that for a person to be considered a true American it is very important that he or she share U.S. culture. Only 38 percent of Democrats agree. And while more than four in ten Republicans (43 percent) say that being Christian is a very important part of being an American, only 29 percent of Democrats share this view. By comparison, in several European countries, the emphasis on birthplace as a marker of national identity is greater than in America. For example, roughly half the people surveyed in Hungary (52 percent) and Greece (50 percent) hold the view that it is very important to being a true national, as do 42 percent of those polled in both Poland and Italy. To Europeans, speaking the local language is more important to national identity than birthplace. Majorities in all 10 European nations surveyed by the Pew Research Center in 2016 said that it is very important to be able to converse in a countrys official language, ranging from 84 percent of the Dutch to 59 percent of Italians. Fewer believe that adhering to local customs and traditions is essential: in only five of the European countries surveyed do half or more say this is very important. And relatively few Europeans think being Christian is a requisite for belonging to their respective nations. Only in Greece do more than half (54 percent) characterize religion as very important to national identity. America is a land of immigrants. But the United States also has a history of wariness of refugees. However, publics in a number of European countries hold far more restrictive views of national identity. While travel bans may not be on the horizon for most European countries, European and American views on what it takes to be truly one of us suggest that immigration will remain a hot-topic political issue on both sides of the Atlantic for some time to come. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Property details: Please note that iVacay LLC is not affiliated with nor does it represent the resort described in this item ad. Please read entire ad! If you have any questions, please e-mail us before placing a bid. (Due to West Virginia guidelines on purchasing Real Estate; West Virginia Residents will not be able to participate in this Auction) LEGACY HILLTOP RESORT Steamboat Springs, Colorado Hilltop Legacy Vacation Club Steamboat Springs Hilltop is an all-seasons destination for family fun and excitemen... Price: $ 52 Seller State of Residence: Texas State/Province: Colorado City: Steamboat Springs Number of Bedrooms: 2 Location: , Steamboat Springs, Co You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 2 By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/07/2017 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! , We're sorry, this article is not currently available A lot goes on around campus, and sometimes it's hard to keep up with. From Black History month to the Super Bowl, The Red & Black compiled Hollywood is a fickle mistress, and you never know when someone is about to explode into a major star or fizzle out into a C-list nobody that makes people say, "Oh, what's he been doing lately?" While it's probably impossible to separate the Emma Stones from the Adam Brodys, we picked five actors who will almost certainly be on the rise in the next year. 1. Haley Bennett Advertisement Haley Bennett attends the Premiere of Rules Don't Apply during the AFI Fest opening night. (JEAN BAPTISTE LACROIX / AFP/Getty Images) Where you've seen her: The Magnificent Seven, The Girl on the Train What's next: Thank You for Your Service, Weightless Advertisement You may have seen mention of the 28-year-old actress earlier this year when people couldn't stop freaking out about her resemblance to Jennifer Lawrence. She had a big year in 2016, going toe to toe with Chris Pratt in "The Magnificent Seven," mysteriously disappearing in "The Girl on the Train" and being one of Howard Hughes' starlets in "Rules Don't Apply." In 2017, she'll star in "Thank You for Your Service" alongside Miles Teller and Amy Schumer and then keep good company in Terrence Malick's "Weightless." It can't hurt to be in a film with Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender. 2. Zoey Deutch Zoey Deutch arrives for the world premiere of 'Why Him?' at the Regency Bruin Theater. (NINA PROMMER / EPA) Where you've seen her: Everybody Wants Some!!, Why Him? What's next: Rebel in the Rye, Before I Fall While you may not expect the girl from "Dirty Grandpa" to amount to much, the 22-year-old has already worked with some big names. She was the lone female character in Richard Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some!!" and the point of conflict between James Franco and Bryan Cranston in "Why Him?" Up next, she's in Danny Strong's J.D. Salinger biopic alongside Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey and Sarah Paulson. She also stars in the adaptation of the 2010 teen novel "Before I Fall." 3. John Boyega John Boyega poses for a photo during a promotion for the film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss / Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Where you've seen him: Star Wars: The Force Awakens What's next: The Circle, Star Wars Episode VIII Advertisement Sure, the 24-year-old Boyega is already on everyone's radar because of his fantastic turn in "The Force Awakens," but Hayden Christensen is proof that "Star Wars" does not necessarily a star make. In addition to playing Finn in the next installment, Boyega has other impressive projects on the horizon. First, he'll appear alongside Emma Watson and Tom Hanks in an adaptation of Dave Eggers' novel "The Circle." He's also starring in Kathryn Bigelow's next film, currently untitled, about the 1967 Detroit riot. Kid's got range. 4. Riz Ahmed Riz Ahmed poses for photographs during the premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. (ANDY RAIN / EPA) Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Where you've seen him: The Night Of, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Nightcrawler What's next: City of Tiny Lights Between his performance in the buzzy HBO drama "The Night Of" and his role in "Rogue One," the 34-year-old Ahmed had a big 2016. You may also recognize him from "Nightcrawler," where he garnered award nominations and praise for his performance as Rick. In 2017, Ahmed will have a starring role in "City of Tiny Lights," a British crime drama based on the 2005 novel. With both high-profile film and television projects under his belt, Ahmed is certain to book new challenging roles going forward. 5. Zendaya Advertisement Zendaya attends 2016 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in Hollywood, California. (VALERIE MACON / AFP/Getty Images) Where you've seen her: K.C. Undercover, pop star What's next: Spider-Man: Homecoming Though she doesn't have a lot of acting credits to her name (starring in a Disney Channel series doesn't inspire a ton of confidence), Zendaya is certainly part of the pop culture zeitgeist. The 20-year-old stands out on the red carpet, has her own fashion line and has also released a studio album as a pop star. But she's jumping into film acting in 2017 as Michelle in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." The girl can do it all. (Oh, and Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton suggested her as a potential write-in candidate for the electoral college on "SNL.") Chicago is home to some of the biggest, most recognizable names in the industry. Stephanie Izard, Rick Bayless, Graham Elliot, Paul Kahan and Charles Joly have all made their mark on this town. But every year, we welcome a new crop of heavy hitters, the budding chefs, bartenders and restauranteurs who show great promise. Get to know these seven faces. They're sure to do incredible things in 2017. Dustin Drankiewicz Where you've seen him: Moneygun, The Promontory, "Cocktails for Ding Dongs" What's next: Deadbolt (2412 N. Milwaukee Ave.) Despite mixed feelings on the Two Way Lounge's closing, the Logan Square watering hole was a classic for nearly 50 years. Drankiewicz intends to keep it that way, breathing new life into the space by focusing on what the dive was in its heyday. Like Moneygun, he's staying away from labels. "We're not gonna have a thousand whiskeys and craft beer from down the street." Havin' a good time is the Drankiewicz way, and his primary focus is curating a feel-good place to hang seven days a week, bringing back classic booth seating and a bandstand for performances, similar to what used to be there. With a targeted Feb. 15 opening day, Drankiewicz said guests can expect signature classic cocktails with a modern touch (in the $10 and under price range) and an endless supply of Old Style, the former bar's mainstay. The folks from Furious Spoon next door are also behind the project, and Drankiewicz said they've acquired the space on the other side of Deadbolt for another concept. Advertisement Zoe Schor Where you've seen her: Ada Street. Before that, she could be spotted behind the scenes at top restaurants in Los Angeles including The Darkroom, Bouchon, Beso and Craft. What's next: Split-Rail (2500 W. Chicago Ave.) When we heard Schor was leaving her post at fan-favorite Ada Street late last summer, we poured one out and wondered what we'd do without her innovative, comforting small plates. But in the same breath, we were relieved: The lauded chef announced she'd open something new on her own. And the time is near. Split-Rail, Schor's Americana-inspired West Town spot, is slated to open in 2017, and if her previews are any indication (think a 64-degree hen egg, caviar, uni cream and brioche toast), this opening should be well worth the wait. Brian Fisher of Entente Brian Fisher Where you've seen him: Schwa, Saved by the Max What's next: Entente (3056 N. Lincoln Ave.) Following an epic four-year run at Schwa under the guidance of Michael Carlson, Fisher dreamed up a menu for one of Chicago's most buzzed-about pop-ups, Saved by the Max. Unexpectedly thoughtful dishessuch as Tori's fried chicken, a tender coconut milk waffle topped with crunchy Korean fried chicken and spiced maple syrupmade the spot more than a kitschy diner. In October, Fisher and Mari Katsumura (Grace, Acadia) took on the chef-ly duties at Entente in Lakeview, a casual fine dining newcomer that landed on many best-of lists at the end of the year. The a la carte menu is packed with dishes that sound simple enough (chicken, cheesecake, duck) but show up to the table lookingand tastinglike Michelin-level fare. Entente and Fisher top our list of watch-worthy names this year. Advertisement Bo Fowler Where you've seen her: Owen & Engine, Fat Willy's Rib Shack What's next: Bixi (2515 N. Milwaukee Ave.) The forthcoming Asian-focused brewpub from the executive chef behind English gastropub Owen & Engine has been in the works for nearly two years. Inspired by brewpubs in China, Fowler told Draft magazine in January to expect "bastardized Asian food" and house beers with rice additions and Asian tea infusions with selections from Rare Tea Cellar at the 200-seat brewpub. Eater reported in early December that the project is still ticking along, and delays caused by securing funding aren't an issue anymore. Here's hoping for another culinary-driven brewery to join Band of Bohemia and Forbidden Root in 2017. Moneygun cocktails: Jack Rose (left), mojito, Vieux Carre, dirty martini, mai tai, Pimm's Cup, Bee's Knees. (Photo courtesy of Clayton Hauck for Moneygun) 16" on Center Where you've seen them: Thalia Hall, Longman & Eagle, Revival Food Hall What's next: A sandwich bar, event spaces and The Empty Bottle's 25th anniversary 2016 was busy for the folks behind 16" on Center, with openings including Saint Lou's Assembly, Moneygun and Revival Food Hall. The hospitality group is generally hush-hush about upcoming projects, but managing partner Bruce Finkelman didn't allude to any slowing down in 2017. Look out for a sandwich bar, a few event spaces and an entire year of celebrating The Empty Bottle's 25th anniversary. A series of events throughout the year at the Ukrainian Village venue and "all over" will be announced in early January. Whatever magic tricks 16" on Center is planning, they're bound to be good if they're any reflection of 2016. Dan Salls of Quiote Dan Salls Where you've seen him: The Salsa Truck and The Garage What's next: Quiote (2456 N. California Ave.) Salls isn't one to sit still. After trekking all over town with The Salsa Truck, his taco-slinging restaurant on wheels, and giving the brick-and-mortar thing a shot with The Garage in West Loop, he's cooking up a new concept that's garnering a lot of buzz. That might be because it's actually four concepts. Quiote, coming to Logan Square later this month, will open as a casual cafe-slash-coffee bar, taqueria, full-service Mexican restaurant and subterranean mezcal bar. The mega-concept is the perfect storm of things Chicagoans love most: tacos, mezcal and Mexican food. Expect Quiote to be one of the top restaurant openings of 2017. Sherrie Tan (Chelsia Lai) Sherrie Tan Where you've seen her: Sweet Mandy B's and Instagram (she's the face behind @sherriesavorsthecity) What's next: Pushing the envelope at Sweet Mandy B's If you're a budding food enthusiast in Chicago, chances are you follow Tan on Instagram. The local pastry chef not only photographs her sugary masterpieces for Lincoln Park bakery Sweet Mandy B's but also shows off her favorite eats around town. With 31,000 followers and counting, Tan said she hopes to build her personal brand and peruse business partnerships in 2017. She specializes in nostalgic desserts with a twist, such as ooey-gooey monkey bread and cookie dough sandwiches, and creates the most over-the-top, sprinkle-laden treats we've ever laid eyes on. Brimming with creativity and dedication to her craft, we're excited to see what Tan has up her sleeve for 2017. Could Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao have contributed to a betterment of the situation by being in Chennai after the AIADMK legislators voted to replace their CM, and not flown to Delhi from Coimbatore on Sunday afternoon? Is a faxed resignation of a CM was valid under law, as the Constitution clearly states that any such resignation of a minister, including chief minister, has to be 'under his own hand'? What if the AIADMK legislators resolve to reiterate Sasikala's election as CM? Can the governor still delay returning to Chennai? And what would be the role and game of the Opposition DMK-Congress combine with a total of 98 out of 234 MLAs in the state? OPS' revolt raises more questions than there are answers, says N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam at J Jayalalithaa's burial site at Marina Beach in Chennai. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo Independent of the political consequences for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in Tamil Nadu, Tuesday's late evening revolt by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, or OPS, against the leadership of CM-elect V K Sasikala has raised more questions than provide any answers. Among them are the questions involving the governor's role under the Constitution, with particular reference to acting governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. There can be no question about the prevailing cadre disenchantment over Sasikala first becoming party general secretary, and quickly following it up with what OPS now indicates was 'usurping' the Constitutional office of chief minister. As a political aspirant and backroom operator through much of the late Jayalalithaa Jayaram's term as party chief and CM, Sasikala may have been entitled to believe so, but it is a different cup of tea that the cadres, as different from the much-obliged second-line of MLAs, MPs and district secretaries, would want it that way. Increasing cadre disenchantment, which was becoming even more visible with each passing day, and the perceptible unwillingness of a substantial section of opinion makers and youth across the state, to accept Sasikala as CM seem to have finally made up OPS' mind to 'revolt' when he did -- after an unscheduled and near unexpected 'meditation' at Jaya's samadhi on the Marina sands in Chennai. If he swore by Jaya's 'atma', it could not have been otherwise -- for he was addressing the cadres as much as the Sasikala leadership that was tied down and which was tying down the second line to its apron strings. AIADMK politics, and that of the state, will not be the same again, unlike what it was perceived to be when Jaya's niece Deepa began protesting against Sasikala. Deepa is not a member of the party nor was she associated with the cadres or voters until after Jaya's death, and a purported vacuum arose for her to try and step in. Panneerselvam is a leader with a lot of political background and experience -- three-time CM, including the current one, in 16 years, and a party cadre since 1977, five years after the late M G Ramachandran founded the AIADMK. As Jayalalithaa's Man Friday in the political and electoral arena through the past years, OPS has also remained accessible to cadres at all levels, and understands the political and electoral dynamics of individual districts and regions as much as anyone else in the party. Yet, Panneer is just now friendless in the party's second-line, but the situation could change as and when Governor Rao arrives in the state capital, and sets the Constitutional ball rolling. It is anybody's guess why the governor took his time coming to Chennai after the AIADMK legislature party elected Sasikala to replace OPS as chief minister, in what the latter now has acknowledged was a hurried meeting, called without his knowledge. Panneerselvam has the right to complain. As chief minister, he was also leader of the House, and as such was entitled to be informed of and associated with the legislature party meeting. For better and worse, on the implementation of the anti-defection law, courts across the country, from the Supreme Court downwards, have repeatedly distinguished between the organisational wing and the legislative wing. That's as far as technicalities go. But in reality, at least as of now, most ministers and MLAs, if not all, seem to be siding with 'Chinnamma', or Sasikala. In his late night news conference on Tuesday, OPS did say that he would soldier along all by himself, if it came to that, and he was responsive only to Amma's 'atma' or soul, and cadres could still hop onto his side, in legal terms, it does not change the situation on the ground. Now that Panneerselvam has also said that he would consider withdrawing his resignation if the people desired it, the question would arise if Governor Rao could accept such a change of mind. At least the Constitution does not provide for it, that too after Rao 'hastily' accepted the faxed resignation, if only to avoid speculation on that count. The question arises if Rao could have contributed to a betterment of the situation by being in Chennai after the AIADMK legislators voted to replace their CM, and not flown to Delhi from Coimbatore, where he was at the time of the Chennai meeting, on Sunday afternoon. There is also the question if a faxed resignation of a CM was valid under law, as the Constitution clearly states that any such resignation of a minister, including chief minister, has to be 'under his own hand. OPS did not at all address the issue if the state cabinet formally met to resolve on his resignation, as is customary even after the party in power loses power in elections. In continuation, the question would also arise if the governor could authorise any withdrawal of such a resignation as ab initio void, without a cabinet authorisation for the CM to do so. What if the AIADMK legislators resolve to reiterate Sasikala's election as CM? Can the governor still delay returning to Chennai, if only to address the undeniable Constitutional crisis that the earlier delay might have pushed the state into, in which Sasikala's election, and possible reiteration, form a part and climax of sorts? It's not untrue that Sasikala is faced with the Supreme Court verdict in the Jaya wealth case, wherein a mere 'conviction' would deny her the Constitutional office under earlier the Supreme Court verdict (the Jayalalithaa case, 2001) and observations (Manoj Nurula, 2014). It would have served a Constitutional purpose if the governor was present on hand in Chennai, to elucidate legal opinion on the one hand and educate the AIADMK legislature party on the other. As coincidence would have it, the Supreme Court bench hearing the wealth case clarified only a day after Sasikala's election as CM candidate that it would pronounce the verdict within a week. The possibilities before the bench are immense. It can either acquit Jaya and Sasikala, or convict them, or even revert the case back to the Karnataka high court for hearing it afresh. A fourth possibility is for the two judges on the bench to pronounce a 'split verdict'. What would be the governor's position if the latter were to be the case, even if he were to wait until such time that the Supreme Court pronounces a verdict? Definitely, Rao would go back to the Centre for legal advice, but would the latter be required to seek the Supreme Court's imminent view in the matter of deciding on Sasikala's legitimacy vide earlier court verdicts? Would the currently prevailing situation, viz the AIADMK legislature party, or OPS' claims of forced resignation and possible withdrawal, or a split verdict by the Supreme Court in the wealth case mean that the state assembly might have to be kept under 'suspended animation' until the legal and Constitutional issues get cleared and clarified? It does not stop there, however. Should the governor permit OPS to withdraw his resignation, but with a rider that he proves his majority on the floor of the House within 10 or 15 days, the decision itself could be challenged in the courts. Legal issues on why the governor accepted a faxed resignation without seeking personal confirmation from OPS, and why he stayed away from the state capital at a crucial hour, and was instead attending a social function in Delhi, would all be issues that could be agitated, too. Likewise, it would be incumbent upon Panneerselvam to prove that he was pressured into submitting his resignation, and that despite being chief minister of one of the enlightened and urbanised states in the country, he could not agitate his own case before the governor or other Constitutional authorities but could do so only in public -- that too after the passage of a whole week and more. Yet, in the prevailing nebulous situation, even if the governor were to accept the AIADMK legislature party's decision and possible reiteration of the election of Sasikala as CM, he might decide to ask her to prove her majority on the floor of the House within a fortnight or so. But then, that's the kind of time, or even less, that the Supreme Court has fixed for itself to pronounce the wealth case verdict. What if at the time the Supreme Court verdict implies that Sasikala cannot continue as CM, and there was no case for her to face the assembly? Leave aside the fact that she would become the second CM of the state after MGR's widow Janaki Ramachandran to quit without facing a trust vote, she would also become the second CM of Tamil Nadu, after mentor-master Jayalalithaa, to be sent to prison in a corruption case, and on court orders. The Constitutional question, and the political nebulousness of the present day, would have returned, too. Should the governor ask the AIADMK legislature party to elect a new CM, or consider other options? Politically, the question would arise if the AIADMK legislators, in such a scenario, would go back to OPS, or look at other options. Would all of them be together in it, or split, vertically or horizontally, or both? And what would be the role and game of the Opposition DMK-Congress combine with a total of 98 out of 234 MLAs in the state? For now, the DMK's Leader of the Opposition, M K Stalin, has been guarded in his early reaction to OPS' Marina 'disclosure'. But then, OPS also later told newsmen that he had revealed only 10 per cent of 'what all had happened' -- but denied that either the Centre was behind him, as alleged by rival faction leaders, or that it was wrong to be friendly toward the political Opposition in the assembly. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter. 'Even if someone other than Trump had become president, the US distancing from Pakistan and coming closer to India was already set in motion.' 'With Trump openly declaring his intent to take on Islamic extremism, the days of US political correctness are over,' says Colonel (Dr) Anil A Athale (retd). Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com I have been a regular visitor to the United States since 1991 and been interacting with Washington-based think-tanks, American government functionaries and universities for the last 25 years. The understanding of American policies is mandatory for any serious security analysis as it has been virtually the fulcrum around which world politics has been revolving for over a century. Despite the economic rise of China in the last few decades (itself promoted by the US since 1972), it would be realistic to say that the US will continue its domination. China is only half a superpower and US military reach and effectiveness worldwide is un-matched. Donald Trump won the US presidential election on the express promise of 'change' and 'disruption' and therefore it is worth speculating what changes this will bring to our part of the world, generally and specifically to India-US relations. Long term engagement with the Americans prompts me to take a look at the 'real' past before one speculates what changes may occur. This is not a 'diplomatic' analysis that is based on just one tenure in the US. Diplomats, especially of the Indian variety, tend to forget that they are the foot soldiers of foreign policy, and not policy makers (with some notable exceptions). Many of these 'diplomatic' analyses are essentially a version of a worm's eye view, a collection of anecdotes or subaltern histories that miss larger geo-strategic issues. As far as the Indian subcontinent is concerned, the American approach to the region was on the cusp of change from the Cold War era in 2000. The demise of the Soviet Union and the ousting of the Russians from Afghanistan had a profound impact on the US approach. At a lecture at Georgetown University in April 2000, I recall an American official pointedly mentioning if the time was now ripe to dump Pakistan! President Clinton at the fag end of his second term reached out to India. In his first term, his administration, particularly his secretary of state Madeline Albright, was pronouncedly anti-India. It was Pakistan adventurism in Kargil in 1999 and India's restrained response that led to this change. George W Bush who succeeded Clinton carried this forward. In the normal course, India-US relations would have come far closer, but then 9/11 occurred. Pakistan quickly capitulated and made available its territory to launch attacks on Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Some analysts regard the American operations in Afghanistan as a failure. This is totally false and is based on the naive belief in the American political rhetoric of 'nation building' ushering democracy in Afghanistan et al. The single American aim in Afghanistan was destruction of Al Qaeda and punishment to the Taliban for sheltering the terrorists. After Vladmir Putin's rise in Russia and the souring of US-Russia relations over Ukraine and Crimea, the northern route to Afghanistan was no longer an option. Pakistan was vital for logistical support to American troops, who at one point numbered over 100,000. America waged an unrelenting campaign in Afghanistan to kill Al Qaeda members. With the killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011 in Abbottabad cantonment in Pakistan and not Afghanistan, the Americans have achieved their military aim. The secondary aim of preventing Taliban-like extremists from taking over Afghanistan is being achieved by stationing a small garrison and air power. America no longer needs Pakistan to provide it land access to Afghanistan. Pakistan milked this American need to maximise its economic and military aid. At the same time it played a double game of sheltering Islamic extremists since public opinion in Pakistan would have it no other way. With the American military aid, Pakistan maintained a technological edge over India for the last 16 years. Bolstered by this American aid, Pakistan continued to fight a proxy war against India. All this has changed now and for all intents and purposes, the situation is back to what it was in 2000. There are some caveats though. American and Pakistani intelligence have a long historic relationship and Pakistan has managed to convince the Americans that it is equally against ISIS. In addition, there is also a long standing bond between the two armed forces built over 70 years of an alliance. Many in the US state department and the Pentagon look at the Pakistan armed forces as an asset for use in the Middle East. I have personally seen how Pakistan's ISI chief (Lieutenant General Mehmood who was subsequently sacked for his links to Al Qaeda) could walk into the state department while Indians had to be vetted, checked and escorted! Over the last 25 years, every Indian discussion with the Americans ended with the Americans pleading Pakistan's case and urging restraint on India's part. Such was the American need to keep Pakistan in good humour that even though American citizens were also killed in the Mumbai attacks of 26/11, the American response was less than severe! Even if someone other than Trump had become president, the US distancing from Pakistan and coming closer to India was already set in motion. With Trump openly declaring his intent to take on Islamic extremism, the days of US political correctness are over. With his likely outreach to Russia, America will ensure that a northern route to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan and Russia is available to it to support anti-Taliban operations in Afghanistan. At long last, the Americans may also recognise that India faces a proxy war from Pakistan backed by China. If the US wants India to check China in Asia, then the US has to back India by building its conventional warfare capability to deal with the proxy war. With the Trump supported plan to exploit American shale oil reserves, the US is likely to become an oil surplus nation. This downgrades the importance of the Middle East in American calculations. In addition, advances in solar tech is reducing the demand for oil. With the Middle East downgraded in importance, the need to mollycoddle the Pakistan army will also reduce. In the last two-and-a-half decades, virtually every single terrorist incident has had a Pakistan linkage. Donald Trump is not likely to shy away from acting against Pakistan. Pakistan's only game plan is to blackmail the world with a threat of an 'insecure' Pakistan unleashing a nuclear war. The world and US have seen through this game of Islamabad playing the 'mad mullah' and is unlikely to be fooled again. It is not unlikely that Pakistan joins the ranks of 'rogue' States like North Korea with its attendant isolation. The recent outreach by the Gulf countries to India and the visa ban for Pakistani citizens by fellow Islamic States like Kuwait are straws in the wind. The impending changes in geopolitics of the region augur well for India. Colonel (Dr) Anil A Athale (retd), a military historian, is the coordinator of the Pune-based think-tank Inpad. Asserting that all the people who live in Hindustan and who have respect for its traditions are Hindus, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that although Muslims have a different way of performing prayers, they are Hindus by nationality. "Whoever lives in Hindustan and has respect for its traditions, are all Hindus. Muslims may have different way of performing prayers, but their nationality is Hindu. All Hindus are accountable for Hindustan," Bhagwat said while addressing 'Hindu Sammelan' in Madhya Pradesh's Betul. "Across the world Indian society is known as Hindu. All Bharatiya (Indians) are Hindus and we all are one entity," he said. Hindus should remain alert for the honour of the country, Bhagwat said adding, "Across the globe it has been said that Bharat will become the world guru. In such a situation we are accountable for the country. It is necessary for Hindus to remain united and bury their differences." "Our caste, sub-caste, rituals and language may be different, but the language of our hearts is one. Diversity in life is beautiful, but it should also have unity," he said. Urging people to take pledge to remain united, the RSS chief also asked them to conserve nature and perform such acts that will enhance the pride of the nation. Stressing on social harmony, he said that if the differences among Hindus persist, then society will suffer, instead of becoming strong. "The outside world is uniting, but it is not happening here in the country," Bhagwat remarked. He called upon people to embrace all sections saying that it enhances the beauty of the society. The function was also addressed by former Union Minister Satpal Maharaj, who laid emphasis on women's empowerment. Earlier in the day, Bhagwat visited Betul district jail and paid tributes to second Sarsanghchalak of RSS late Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar alias 'Guruji'. Bhagwat visited barrack no. 1 of the district jail, where Golwalkar was detained for about three months in 1949, after the organisation was banned following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. RSS sah-sarkaryawah Suresh Soni, local MLA Hemant Khandelwal and other Sangh leaders accompanied Bhagwat. However, the state Congress objected to Bhagwat's visit while terming it as violation of jail manual and an effort to glorify the member of the then banned organisation. "The BJP is trying to glorify Golwalkar, who was detained as a member of a banned organisation then. This is also a violation of jail manual. Only the family members, friends of a prisoner can visit the jail premises with prior permission of jail management," Congress spokesman K K Mishra said. Calling Sasikala a 'temporary general secretary', he said proper elections have to be held to elect new party chief. After raising a banner of revolt against V K Sasikala, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said he will withdraw his resignation, if required, and said his strength will come to be known in the state assembly. Panneerselvam, sacked as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer by Sasikala on Tuesday night following his outburst against her, insisted she was made general secretary of the party under 'extraordinary circumstances' following Jayalalithaas death. Election will be held soon to elect the 'permanent' general secretary, he added. Striking an aggressive stance, Panneerselvam said his strength will come to be known in the state assembly. "If required, I will withdraw my resignation," said Panneerselvam, who was flanked by, among others, senior party leader P H Pandian, partys Rajya Sabha MP Maithreyan and Kavundampalayam MLA V C Aarukutty. The Tamil Nadu chief minister also made it know that he could not meet Jayalalithaa even once during her 75 days of hospitalisation and said he would recommend an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge to probe the doubts surrounding the health condition and demise of the late leader. He said he will reach out to the people by going from street to street and welcomed the idea of working together with Jayalalithaas niece Deepa Jayakumar, who is also opposed to Sasikalas elevation. Panneerselvam also dismissed Sasikala's charge that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was behind his revolt against the party leadership and said she has no powers to sack him as treasurer. "She should be asked to explain the basis of her charge. I was never cordial with the DMK. A look back into the history will make it clear," he said. "There is no relationship at all between me and the DMK. Its only the human approach to reciprocate when some one smiles at you. That is the difference between animals and humans," he said. He was apparently referring to Sasikala on Tuesday night pointing to the exchange of pleasantries between him and DMK working president M K Stalin, the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, during the recent session. Panneerselvam also stuck to his charge that he was forced to resign from the post of chief minister, but declined to answer a question whether he would stake claim with the governor to continue, saying, Just wait and watch. "I don't want to go into it. I had already explained in detail at Ammas (Jayalalithaa) memorial the circumstances under which I was forced to resign," he said. Elaborating on his contention that Sasikala had no powers to sack him from the party post, Panneerselvam said already there were legal problems facing the party. He said the general secretary was elected on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation faced by the party (after Jayalalithaa's demise). "This is the party's norm. As per the partys constitution framed by founder M G Ramachandran at the time floating the AIADMK, legal sanction for the post will come only when all primary members elect the general secretary. Such a general secretary alone has the powers to appoint or remove party functionaries," he said. On the attack against him by AIADMK leaders, including his cabinet colleagues, Panneerselvam said it was a 'compulsion of time'. "They can only speak like that when they are there (with Sasikala). They are in a state of mind of retaining their office for the next four years. They should act keeping in mind that they have to go back to the people," he said. On the charge that he had betrayed the party high-command, the senior leader said he resigned when he was forced only because he did not want the charge to fall on him. Recalling he had been appointed the chief minister when Jayalalithaa 'faced challenges' (court conviction), Panneerselvam said he had always abided by the principles and ideals of party founder M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. About allegations of the Bharatiya Janata Party backing him, Panneerselvam said, "It is a lie." Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo Expressing her readiness to "face any probe" over the death of J Jayalalithaa, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary V K Sasikala said that she hopes the Tamil Nadu Governor would "uphold the Constitution" and invite her to take oath as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. She also said she was pained at the "politicisation of Amma's death." Sasikala said that she was looking for an "explanation" why Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao refused to give her an audience despite many requests. "We tried to meet him, but was told that the Governor is in Ooty. I hope the Governor protects the Constitution and upholds the dignity of law," she said in an interview to CNN-News18 TV channel. Apparently referring to the questions raised by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who has rebelled against her, she said "Amma Jayalalithaa knows who am I. So I don't need to answer anyone else." Attacking Panneerselvam, whom she called a "traitor", she alleged that his act was a betrayal to Amma and claimed that his actions in the assembly were "suspicious." She alleged that the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is now looking at Panneerselvam as one of their own. Earlier, Panneerselvam had ordered a probe into what he said were doubts regarding the death of Jayalalithaa, which would be headed by a retired high court judge. He had also accused Sasikala of not allowing him to meet the late Chief Minister when she was hospitalised for over 70 days. "I am ready to face any inquiry into Jayalalithaa's death. Jayalalithaa knows who I am and how I behaved with her. Even the doctors who treated her know how I had treated her. I don't have any problem with an enquiry commission," she said. The AIADMK leader said that she was not a bit worried about a probe but it is sad that Jayalalithaa's death was being politicised. "We called doctors from the world over. All the news about her health is planted. There was no delay in taking Amma to the hospital," she asserted. Sasikala also rubbished Panneerselvam's claim that he was threatened and forced to resign as Chief Minister. "There is no truth in his claim that he was threatened by us. He proposed me to take over as General Secretary of the party. Somebody is behind this. I think all this is politically motivated," she claimed. Sasikala was chosen as CM nominee on Sunday but is yet to get an invitation from the Governor for swearing in. Refusing to be drawn into a debate over this aspect, she only said "we have faxed a letter to the Governor. We have sent a letter again to him to remind him about our request. They gave an acknowledgement, but that's it," she told the channel. Sasikala also targetted rival party DMK alleging it may have had a role in instigating Panneerselvam to rebel. "The DMK must be behind Panneerselvam's recent activities," she said. DMK President M K Stalin, has vehemently denied his party has had anything to do with it. "The DMK is not only our political opposition, they are enemy our party too. We want to serve the people like how Jayalalithaa did. DMK did nothing for them," she said. Notwithstanding a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, a defiant candidate on Wednesday filed his nomination as a Congress nominee from Gauriganj assembly seat which has been given to the ruling party for the high-stake Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Mohammed Naim, who had unsuccessfully contested the last assembly polls from Gauriganj assembly segment on a Congress ticket, is the latest entrant in the list of candidates who have refused to withdraw their candidature despite the seat-sharing pact between both the parties. Ameeta Sinh, the wife of Congress leader Sanjay Sinh, will also file her nomination as a Congress nominee from Amethi seat from where Sanjays estranged first wife Garima Sinh is contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. The SP, which has got the Amethi assembly constituency under the seat-sharing arrangement with Congress, has given ticket to sitting MLA and controversial leader Gayatri Prajapati from the Congress bastion. SP has already fielded its sitting MLA from Gauriganj seat. Candidates of both the SP and the Congress have filed their nominations in over 10 seats despite forming the alliance. However, both the parties have downplayed it, with All India Congress Committee general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad saying SP candidates had filed their papers when it appeared that the alliance would not come through and though at some places they wanted to withdraw, they could not do so due to uncertainty. In Muzaffarnagar, the Election Commission has allotted party symbols to the candidates of both Congress and Samajwadi Party from Purkazi assembly constituency, the seat which was given to the Congress. There would be a three-cornered fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh. Out of the 403 assembly seats, SP would be contesting 298 and the Congress the rest 105. United States President Donald Trumps controversial immigration order on Wednesday faced intense scrutiny as a court of appeals grilled the Trump Administration whether the travel ban unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims and questioned the arguments that curbs were motivated by national security concerns. Asserting that President Trump was within his constitutional rights and obligations to sign the executive order that temporarily bans immigration from seven countries, the Justice Department urged court of appeals to reinstate the travel ban -- put on hold by the courts last week. During the hour-long hearing, conducted by phone, before a three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Fransisco, the Justice Department lawyer August Flentje said in signing the executive order Trump struck the balance between national security and the practice of allowing people from entering the country. The President struck that balance, and the district courts order has upset that balance. This is a traditional national security judgement that is assigned to the political branches and the president and the courts order immediately altered that, Flentje said in his hearing which was telecast live by a number of television news channels. The lawyer urged the San Francisco court to remove the halt on the executive order by a court in Seattle. The district courts decision overrides the Presidents national security judgment about the level of risk and weve been talking about the level of risk thats acceptable, he said. Flentjes assertion led to a series of rapid fire exchanges with all three judges pressing him to explain the limits of his position. Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism, asked Judge Michelle Friedland. The Court of Appeals is expected to give its verdict soon. The case is likely to hit the Supreme Court in coming days. The three-judge panel asked the government lawyer whether the Trump administrations national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism, asked Judge Friedland. Are you arguing then that the Presidents decision in that regard is unreviewable (by a court)? he asked another time. Another judge Willian Canby asked if the President could simply say the US will not admit Muslims into the countries. Could he do that? Would anyone be able to challenge that? he asked. Thats not the order. This is a far cry from that situation, Flentje replied. But said that a US citizen with a connection to someone seeking entry might be able to challenge the executive order if that were the case. US President Trumps controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Pleading before the court to continue the stay on the executive order, Noah Purcell, Solicitor General of Washington State challenged the claims that there is no evidence of religious discriminatory intent behind the Trumps order. There are statements that are rather shocking evidence of intent to harm Muslims, he alleged. You dont have to prove it harms every Muslim you just need to show the action was motivated in part by animus, he argued. It would not remedy the orders violation of the establishment clause which harms everyone in our state...by favouring one religious group over another. It also would not fully remedy the orders violation of the equal protection law -- denying some of our residents who are here, allowing them to receive those visits and so on, Purcell said. In his rebuttal, Flentje said the Department of Justice is not saying the case shouldnt proceed. But it is extraordinary for a court to enjoin the Presidents national security determination based on some newspaper articles, he argued. During the hearing, Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the US who, he alleged, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group after judges asked for the evidence. Trump last week lashed out over a court order to block the immigration ban, saying on Twitter, The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! Image: A protester outside the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals courthouse in San Francisco, while the court hears arguments regarding President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban on people from seven countries. Photograph: Noah Berger/Reuters Manavi Kapur profiles Sheikh Rafik Mohammed of Calicut, who has been appointed major general of the Central Asian country's military forces. IMAGE: Sheikh Rafik Mohammed, the chairman of Gammon Group, fashioned himself as an economic diplomat in West and Central Asia. It isn't every day that an Indian makes headlines for being appointed to the top military post in Kyrgyzstan, a country of 6 million people, located at the borders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and best known for its place in Soviet-era politics. For the Indian expatriate community in West and Central Asia, Sheikh Rafik Mohammed has set the bar high. Chairman of the Gammon Group (not to confused with Gammon Construction, the multinational), Mohammed has been appointed Major General of the Kyrgyzstan military forces by Ali Mirza, the country's defence minister. "It is a rare military position occupied overseas by a Keralite," says Omar Baker, his media adviser. And it is rare when one considers that Mohammed has reportedly not even finished high school. As a young boy, Mohammed dropped out of school when he was in Class V in Calicut in Kerala. He then made it to Mumbai where he did odd jobs before he could migrate to West Asia. All that is known is that Mohammed was a young man in his 20s when he moved out of Mumbai. His personal life is summed up in a Khaleej Times report: he lives with his family in Dubai. A portly man with his hair swept back, he is seen in most pictures sporting a formal jacket, shirt and trousers. Mohammad did not respond to either emails or phone calls. IMAGE: Sheikh Rafik Mohammed, second from left, with Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Azim Isabekov, center, and other delegates . Photograph: Gammon Group/Facebook.com. And yet, for a man about who so little is known has been written about extensively in most media publications emerging out of the region. The Gammon Group itself is curiously opaque on its history, financials or even its management team. The company's website proudly proclaims that it is a "century-old" company, with 200,000 employees in 28 countries. "It is one of the largest civil engineering construction companies, which has built the maximum number of bridges in the whole of the Commonwealth," the homepage reads. By far, the biggest feather in the company's cap has been procuring the project to build a city in Jazan in southwest Saudi Arabia. For this project, Mohammed and Gammon's president, His Royal Highness Prince Saud Bin Musaid Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, have been receiving media attention. A section of the website is also devoted to pictures of Mohammed with several politicians and prominent businessmen, Datuk Hamzah, then home minister of Malaysia, and Davit Kirkitadze, the governor of Tbilisi, Georgia. A Saudi news report also claims that Mohammed met Oomen Chandy, former chief minister of Kerala, in 2014 to discuss India's business relations with Saudi Arabia and other West Asian nations. Going by the number of reports on the various meetings he has held with people in power, his position in the Kyrgyzstan military is not surprising. Mohammed met Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev, Kyrgyzstan's president, as a "young entrepreneur" in Iran while working on a steel plant project. Bakiyev promised Mohammed that were he to win elections, he would clear a similar project for him in Kyrgyzstan. Going beyond this pact, Bakiyev appointed Mohammed as his chief adviser during his tenure between 2005 and 2010. This was, and continues to be, the turning point for Mohammed's career. Fashioning himself as an "economic diplomat", he played a key role in attracting investment to the young country, which was only beginning to shed its communist past and opening up its economy. While Bakiyev's fled the country after large protests in 2010, Mohammed seems to have only strengthened his stronghold over the country's affairs. And he seems to be spreading his wings to India, too. According to Gammon's website, Mohammad will build a "1,000-bed" hospital in Bengaluru. Karnataka-based businessman B R Shetty has also tied up with Gammon to set up a pharmaceutical plant in Jazan, as part of the ambitious port city project. A dropout in India making it big in the world -- sounds like a Bollywood film is in the offing. Insecurity in Yemen threatens incoming refugees and migrants Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Insecurity in Yemen threatens incoming refugees and migrants, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad6c34.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Mention to someone the words "Yemen" and "refugees" and they will certainly have in mind people fleeing the war-torn state. Yemen is a country that has been ravaged by fighting since 2015, and the situation there has only worsened as third parties have contributed to that civil war. So it is perhaps surprising that while thousands of people are indeed fleeing Yemen to the Horn of Africa (some 87,000 last year), more people still are going the other direction, with more than 117,000 reckoned to have travelled across the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea into this place of insecurity last year alone. Since 2013, nearly 290,000 refugees and migrants have landed on the Yemeni coast. Nearly 80 per cent of these were Ethiopians, and most of the rest Somalis. Most journey to Yemen in the hope of using it as a transit point, while others look to stay in Yemen, often unaware of the dangers The most recent figures represent a steady increase in irregular movements from Africa to Yemen - up from 65,000 in 2013, 91,600 in 2014 and 92,500 in 2015 respectively. And this notwithstanding a worsening environment in Yemen, where a full-scale war has been ongoing since 2015. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a campaign today to raise awareness of the dangers faced by those crossing to and through Yemen. These range from death at sea to assault, extortion and abuse by criminal networks, as well as the hazards stemming from the war in Yemen itself, which has made fully four-fifths of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. "We want to empower refugees to take informed decisions about their future," says Volker Turk, UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. "Those who decide to flee need to know which dangers lie ahead. We must not allow unscrupulous smugglers and traffickers to lure people into risks and dangers where they hope to find protection." UNHCR has received reports of physical and sexual abuse, deprivation of food and water, abduction, extortion, torture and forced labour by smugglers and criminal networks. There has also been an increase in arrests, detention and forced returns. Women - who account for roughly a third of the refugees and migrants from Somalia and 13 per cent of those from Ethiopia - are particularly at risk, as they may be targets of sexual violence and at risk of being trafficked. Figures from partner agencies monitoring the Yemeni shoreline suggest that around a quarter of those travelling to Yemen are children. Smugglers frequently cast passengers out to sea short of the coast. A total of 446 people were reckoned to have been killed or gone missing over the previous three years out of the thousands of refugees and migrants making the journey. It is only reasonable to suppose these figures understate the actual number of deaths, since it is difficult for UNHCR and its partners to operate in what is a war zone. "There is nothing here for me and life is very dangerous," says an Ethiopian woman who made the trip. "I was beaten up badly last month by other people who were looking for money and they accused me of stealing. They injured me so badly and I couldn't even get any medical treatment. I just had to wait for the wounds to heal by themselves and they still haven't healed. I am sick, hungry and miserable here." The core of the problem is that it is very difficult to provide assistance to those who need it in a place that is as dangerous as Yemen. For while the central mandate of UNHCR is to protect refugees, "safety" is a misnomer within a country at war. The operational capacity of the agency is severely limited by the lack of security, both for its personnel and partners and for those whom it would want to help. Almost 19 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The difficulty of establishing safety nets for refugees and migrants within an environment that is so insecure is part of the reason that UNHCR has for a long time warned of the dangers of people voyaging to Yemen. Reports suggest that while the journey may cost somewhere between US$300 and US$500, the reality is that people on the move stand to lose much more from extortion, with stories abounding of refugees and migrants being kidnapped and ransoms demanded of their families. It is clear that a great number of those who undertake the journey to Yemen are not aware of the dangers they face. Smuggling networks downplay the perils and threats that people moving irregularly face and those who survive the ordeal frequently fail to feed back home the full picture of what they went through. UNHCR is committed to encouraging greater awareness of these risks. Afghanistan: UN condemns deadly suicide attack in Kabul near Supreme Court Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Afghanistan: UN condemns deadly suicide attack in Kabul near Supreme Court, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad7b240c.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - The United Nations condemned today's suicide attack outside the Supreme Court complex in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and stressed that those behind the deadly bombing must be held to account. "We express our condolences to the families of the victims and convey our solidarity to the Government and people of Afghanistan," said a statement issued by his spokesperson. According to the media, at least 20 people were killed and more than 40 were reportedly injured in the suicide bombing, which took place outside the Afghan Supreme Court complex. "Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including employees of the judicial institutions, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified," said the statement, adding: "Those behind today's bombing and other such despicable acts must face justice." Russia, Turkey, Iran and UN hash out details of monitoring regime for Syria ceasefire Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Russia, Turkey, Iran and UN hash out details of monitoring regime for Syria ceasefire, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad7e140e.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - The delegations of Russia, Turkey and Iran as well as United Nations representatives held their first meeting yesterday to discuss the establishment of a ceasefire implementation regime in Syria that was decided at the 23-24 January talks held in the Kazakh capital of Astana, a UN spokesperson in Geneva said today. This meeting was held as a follow-up on the agreement reached in Astana on a mechanism - a group of experts - to monitor the ceasefire, which had been brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey. "The participants had discussed the implementation of the cease-fire regime in Syria, and specific measures to facilitate effective mentoring and verification in order to ensure full compliance with the cease-fire, prevent any provocations, and determine all the modalities of the cease-fire," Yara Sharif, the spokeswoman for the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told reporters in Geneva. The participants also discussed confidence-building measures to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, and the delegations acknowledged their readiness to continue collaboration towards ensuring full implementation of the ceasefire regime in Syria, she stated. The UN experts who attended the follow-up meeting shared UN experience and best practices related to the monitoring and verification of cease-fire arrangements in other settings, the spokeswoman added. Ms. Sharif also said that Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura has welcomed the meeting, expressing his hope that their efforts would strengthen the cease-fire on the ground and thus contribute to the UN-facilitated intra-Syrian talks in Geneva towards a political settlement. Turning to Mr. de Mistura's visit to the United States, Ms. Sharif said the envoy was appreciative of the opportunity to have conducted a series of successful meetings with the new US Administration. His bilateral meeting with the new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was positive, she said, adding that the Special Envoy briefed on the upcoming intra-Syrian negotiations and the context. Ms. Sharif also said that the invitations to the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva would go out on 8 February. The Special Envoy is of the view that the effectiveness of those negotiations, to be launched on 20 February, can be significantly enhanced through direct negotiations between the Government of Syria and "a united opposition delegation," she noted. In his briefing to the UN Security Council on 31 January Mr. de Mistura announced the postponement of the UN-supported talks from 8 February to 20 February, explaining that the delay would give time for the ceasefire to solidify, give the Government a chance to consider concessions, and give a chance for the armed groups to come as "one unified opposition." Adapting to increased military pressure, ISIL shifts to 'dark web,' UN Security Council told Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Related Document(s) Fourth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat Cite as UN News Service, Adapting to increased military pressure, ISIL shifts to 'dark web,' UN Security Council told, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad80f40e.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - The terrorist group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), is on the defensive militarily in several regions, but is also adapting to military pressure by resorting to covert communications such as the 'dark web,' the top United Nations political affairs official warned today. "Although its income and the territory under its control are shrinking, ISIL still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said, briefing the Security Council on the UN Secretary-General's fourth report on the threat the group poses to international peace and security efforts to "check and roll it back." Mr. Feltman noted that ISIL relies mainly on income from extortion and hydrocarbon exploitation, even though resources from the latter are on the decline. UN Member States are concerned that ISIL will try to expand other sources of income, such as kidnapping for ransom, and increase its reliance on donations, he stated. "ISIL is adapting in several ways to military pressure - resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using the 'dark web,' encryption and messengers," he warned. While the previous reports on the subject have focused on South East Asia, Yemen and East Africa, Libya and Afghanistan, the fourth report zeroes in on Europe, North Africa and West Africa. VIDEO: UN political affairs chief highlights the need to improve global response in combatting ISIL (Da'esh). Credit: UN News It notes that ISIL has conducted a range of attacks in Europe since declaring in 2014 its intent to target the region. Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by ISIL personnel, while others were enabled by ISIL providing guidance or assistance or were inspired through its propaganda. While the military offensive in Libya has dislodged ISIL from its stronghold Sirte, the group's threat to Libya and neighbouring countries persists. Its fighters - estimated to range from several hundred to 3,000 - have moved to other parts of the country. Ultimately, it is the spread and consolidation of peace, security, development and human rights that will most effectively deprive terrorism of the oxygen it needs to survive ISIL has increased its presence in West Africa and the Maghreb, though the group does not control significant amounts of territory in the region. The reported pledge of loyalty to ISIL by a splinter faction of Al-Mourabitoun led by Lehbib Ould Ali may elevate the level of the threat. ISIL-affiliate Boko Haram is attempting to spread its influence and commit terrorist acts beyond Nigeria, and remains a serious threat, with several thousand fighters at its disposal. It is, however, plagued by financial difficulties and an internal power struggle, and has split in two factions, Mr. Feltman reported. While the fourth report also notes some of the measures taken by Member States and the United Nations, it stresses the need to develop sustained, coordinated responses to the grave threat posed by ISIL and associated groups and entities. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefs the Security Council on the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh) to international peace and security. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas Mr. Feltman said that there are 19 universal counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, as well as related regional instruments on international terrorism, and relevant UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. "But we need to do more, as Member States continue to face significant challenges to ensure effective international cooperation," he said, warning that foreign terrorist fighters leaving the conflict could pose a grave risk to their homeland or to the countries they are travelling to or transiting through, such as Iraq and Syria's neighbours, as well as countries in the Maghreb. "Ultimately, it is the spread and consolidation of peace, security, development and human rights that will most effectively deprive terrorism of the oxygen it needs to survive," he concluded. Standing outside Dave and Buster's in Times Square on a summer evening isn't many New Yorkers' idea of a good time, but police accountability activist Roy Beckford got a taste of how much worse things can get in an absurd incident last summer. Beckford was walking past the West 42nd Street establishment with friends at about 11 p.m. on a weeknight in June 2016 when he noticed NYPD Officer Michael Ashford leaning against the wall fiddling with his personal cellphone, according to a lawsuit being filed today in Manhattan federal court. Most people would not have dwelled on this sight amid the chaos of Times Square, but Beckford is not most peoplehe and his compatriots are members of the group Copwatch Patrol Unit, which roams the streets and the internet documenting police activity. So Beckford started to film Ashford, and Ashford demanded Beckford's identification, according to the suit (in New York, police can only detain a person if they believe that he committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime, and people are not required to carry ID, although they may be detained for the purpose of identification if they are being written a summons or arrested). Video shot by a fellow cop watcher picks up what happened next: In the clip, Officer Ashford grabs at the phone of another man filming, then pushes him, ordering, "Go over there." He then returns his attention to Beckford, demanding identification, and reaching for his phone. "Nope. No," Beckford says, backing up. Ashford grabs him again, this time by the wrist, and tells him he's under arrest. As Ashford awaits a supervisor, Beckford and company bombard him with whataboutery based in the law and the patrol guide. When Beckford asks what he's being arrested for, Ashford says obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor for interfering with police work. From there, Beckford was hauled down to the Midtown South NYPD precinct station house, where cops took his phone, the suit says. He was released at 1 a.m. with a ticket for disorderly conduct, a violation, and upon getting his phone back, he allegedly found that his video of the encounter had been deleted. The disorderly conduct summons, signed off on by a Sergeant Tanakur Chowdhury, was dismissed before Beckford's court date, and last November the Civilian Complaint Review Board substantiated three allegations total of abuse of authority against Chowdhury and Ashford. The CCRB recommended that Ashford be retrained, and that Chowdhury be docked vacation days. Whether those penalties were ultimately imposed is unknown because the NYPD commissioner has final say over what to do with substantiated disciplinary complaints, and the department started keeping disciplinary actions secret last year after decades of disclosing them. An NYPD spokesperson said that both officers are on active duty. Beckford's lawsuit seeks damages for the officers allegedly violating his rights and destroying his documentation. "He was taken off the street in handcuffs and placed in a cell for a number of hours," Beckford's lawyer David Rankin said. "If a private citizen took someone off the street in the manner that this police officer took Mr. Beckford off the street, theyd be facing felony kidnapping charges. So, just because somebody is annoyed does not give a police officer anything that resembles the right to handcuff them and place them in a cage." He added, "It certainly seems to us that the officer deleting video is evidence that the officer knew that his conduct was wrong." The suit claims that the NYPD has a "custom and practice" of making retaliatory arrests of people observing and documenting police activity, citing 13 instances of wrongful arrests of journalists, 28 of arrests of concerned citizen photographers and videographers, and 5 of observers of the police, dating back to 2005. Four of the citations refer to Gothamist stories. Last Thursday, a federal judge dismissed a suit by police accountability activist Ruben An, who had been arrested under similar circumstances and was seeking a court injunction barring officers from arresting people solely for recording them in public. In her decision, Judge Lorna Schofield wrote that the six lawsuits and New York Times article cited by An's lawyers "do not plausibly support an inference of a widespread illegal custom of violating individuals First Amendment rights." A 2014 memo to all NYPD personnel reminded officers that filming police activity is not a crime, and said that interfering with people recording "constitutes censorship." Similarly, in 2011, following the repeated arrests of reporters during Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, then-commissioner Ray Kelly wrote a memo instructing officers not to interfere with journalists on the job. "We actually think is evidence of the policy" of illegally arresting people who document police activity, Rankin said of the memos. "Why on earth are they having to say, 'Please stop arresting people for observing police behavior' if theyre not arresting people for observing police behavior?" A Law Department spokesman said that agency lawyers will review Beckford's suit when they are served. Senior UN official urges Libya to protect migrants from conflict-related sexual violence Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Senior UN official urges Libya to protect migrants from conflict-related sexual violence, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad84940c.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - The highest United Nations official tasked with advocating against the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war urged today Libyan authorities to protect migrants from rape and other human rights violations. In a statement, Zainab Hawa Bangura, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, called on the Libyan Government and on the international community as a whole to protect migrants who are living or passing through Libya. "In the course of their journey, women and girls but also men and boys face grave human rights violations, including conflict-related sexual violence, committed by parties to the Libyan conflict, as well as smugglers, traffickers and other criminal groups," said Ms. Bangura, who is also an Under-Secretary-General. She noted also that migrants face sexual violence in official and unofficial detention centres, some being held "for days, weeks or months." In addition, Ms. Bangura voiced increasing concern about the "systematic use of sexual violence" by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Libya, a phenomenon which the office of the Special Representative has been investigating in Iraq and Syria. "Testimony from women and children recently released from ISIL as a result of the military operation in Sirte reveals a pattern of rape and sexual slavery, particularly against migrants," Ms. Bangura said, noting that some of the survivors are pregnant. She voiced alarm also that most of the women and children are being detained in Al Jawiya prison in Misrata "in precarious conditions including overcrowded cells, lack of adequate access to food, water and medicine, and absence of women guards as an important protection measure." Among her proposals, Ms. Bangura is urging authorities to urgently review the country's migration policy, to protect escapees from ISIL and provide them with adequate support, to assist all victims of conflict-related sexual violence with adequate medical and other resources, and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the crimes. She also reiterated the recommendation of the Secretary-General that all countries give due consideration to recognizing conflict-related sexual violence as a form of persecution that warrants refugee status. Land urgently needed to avert 'drastic deterioration' in Burundian refugee camps in neighbouring countries Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Land urgently needed to avert 'drastic deterioration' in Burundian refugee camps in neighbouring countries, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad86f40e.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - Stalled peace talks in Burundi are forcing hundreds to flee every day seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, the United Nations refugee agency warned today, appealing for more support, particularly land to shelter for new arrivals and to ensure protection of children and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), since April 2015, more than 384,000 Burundian refugees have fled to Tanzania (222,271), Rwanda (84,866), Uganda (about 44,000) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (32,650) and its projections indicate that numbers will cross half-a-million by the end of the year. "Without allocation of new land to extend capacity in existing camps or build new ones, these countries will struggle to provide sufficient shelter and life-saving services in the camp sites," William Spindler, a UNHCR spokesperson, told the media at the regular bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva today. "Camp facilities also need to be upgraded, including construction of more homes, schools, health centres and better drainage systems to lessen the risk of disease," he added, noting that host countries have been generous with their support but more action is needed to avert a dangerous slide in standards and conditions. UNHCR also appealed to donor nations to step up their assistance and funding. Last year, the UN agency received a $96.1 million in contributions for the Burundi situation, however, it was 53 per cent of the amount needed. Relief organizations struggling to meet needs The pressure is most intense in Tanzania, where average arrivals in January reached almost 600 persons daily. A girl walks past a pile of firewood in Mahama refugee camp, Eastern Province, Rwanda, which is hosting thousands of refugees from Burundi. Photo: UNICEF/Mike Pflanz Of the three camps hosting refugees, only Nduta - that recently passed its current capacity of 100,000 persons - is taking new arrivals. According to Mr. Spindler, humanitarian agencies are struggling to provide minimal basic services and fear outbreaks of health emergencies if the crowding gets worse and facilities fail to keep pace. Similarly, land shortages are also hitting the Lusenda camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where risk of fire is rising as shelters are getting closer due to paucity of land. In Rwanda's Mahama camp (hosting more than 53,000 against its capacity of 50,000), many are living under plastic sheeting in overcrowded communal hangars, waiting to move to a family shelter. In addition to poor hygiene, living conditions present serious protection risks due to lack of privacy. Even a 'progressive settlement approach' is struggling to cope Uganda, which presently hosts 44,000 Burundian refugees in total, according to the UN agency runs a "progressive settlement approach" to refugee management and protection. The country provides refugees with plots of land to build new homes and grow crops, and live among the Ugandan host communities. However, Mr. Spindler added that significant investments are needed in local infrastructure to ensure that refugees are able to access key basic services. UN rights expert urges Thailand to loosen restrictions around monarchy defamation law Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights expert urges Thailand to loosen restrictions around monarchy defamation law, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad8b940c.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - As a student activist awaits trial in detention for posting a news article about the new monarchy on social media, an independent United Nations expert today called on Thai authorities to stop using royal defamation laws to stifle free speech. At issue is the concept of lese-majeste the defaming, insulting or threatening of the royal family which in Thailand carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Lese-majeste provisions have no place in a democratic country, said David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of freedom of opinion and expression. The lese-majeste provision of the Thai Criminal Code is incompatible with international human rights law. The expert underlined that public figures, including those exercising the highest political authority, may be subject to criticism. The fact that some forms of expression are considered to be insulting to a public figure is not sufficient to justify restrictions or penalties, he stressed. The comments were sparked by a case against Jatupat Boonpatararaksa, a student activist, who shared a BBC news article on the new King, Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, on his private Facebook page. Mr. Boonpatararaksa is being held in detention after an appeals court revoked his bail on 27 December, reportedly justified by the case's sensitive matter and on public order and national security grounds. He is expected back before a judge on 10 February. In 2015, three people were sentenced to decades in prison for criticizing the monarchy on Facebook. Mr. Kaye has repeatedly urged the Thai Government to allow free speech, including in July of last year when authorities clamped down on public and social media expressions ahead of a constitutional referendum later in the year. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. Thousands of children out of school as classrooms shelled in eastern Ukraine - UNICEF Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Thousands of children out of school as classrooms shelled in eastern Ukraine - UNICEF, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad8da412.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 7 February 2017 - With thousands of children forced out of school in eastern Ukraine due to last week's surge in fighting, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have strongly condemned the indiscriminate shelling of schools, and called for all sides to immediately recommit to the ceasefire signed in Minsk in August 2015. The shelling of schools, the one place where children find safety and normalcy during conflict, is unacceptable and has to stop, said UNICEF's Representative in Ukraine, Giovanna Barberis, in a news release. Children in eastern Ukraine have suffered enough and we must ensure that they have safe spaces to seek solace and support. At least five schools and two kindergartens have been damaged by heavy shelling and 11 other schools have had to close, according to humanitarian organisations supporting the emergency education response in Ukraine. More than 2,600 children from 13 schools in government-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine have been affected by the sharp escalation in fighting, along with hundreds more from schools in non-government controlled areas. Schools being shelled has tragically become commonplace in this conflict, said Save the Children's Representative in Ukraine, Michele Cecere. There are reports of large numbers of unexploded ordnance in the streets, putting children at enormous risk when going to school, even when they can reopen. It's vital that children can get safely back to school as soon as possible so they don't miss out on any more learning. In the town of Avdiivka, seven schools and kindergartens remain shut, with almost 1,400 children out of school. Families in Avdiivka and other villages in the area are afraid of sending their children to the schools that remain open, due to the heavy fighting and fears of unexploded ordnance in the streets. The latest closure of schools has worsened the ongoing education crisis already affecting more than 600,000 children in eastern Ukraine. After nearly three years of conflict, more than 740 school one in five have been damaged or destroyed, resulting in girls and boys missing many months of schooling due to displacement and the effects of conflict. UNICEF and Save the Children urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure that schools and other civilian infrastructure are never attacked or in the line of fire. Kenya: End media crackdown and allow British journalist to return Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Kenya: End media crackdown and allow British journalist to return, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad9264.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The Kenyan government must halt its crackdown on media freedom and allow Jerome Starkey to return to the country, said nine human rights organizations today, two months after the British journalist was detained and deported. The organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya and Human Rights Watch, have sent a letter to Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Internal Affairs and Coordination of National Government Joseph Nkaissery, and other senior government officials, calling for Jerome Starkey to be allowed to return to Kenya to resume his work, and that the government publicly reaffirm its oft-expressed commitment to the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. "It's a travesty that Jerome Starkey, a well-respected international journalist was detained and deported under questionable circumstances and is now no longer able to carry out his work in Kenya. But this is just one of many cases of media harassment and intimidation of journalists carried out by the Kenyan authorities," said Justus Nyang'aya, Amnesty International Kenya's Country Director. "Journalists must be allowed to investigate and report on important issues without fearing for their safety. In the run-up to elections and beyond, Kenyan authorities must publicly declare their commitment to freedom of the press and show that they mean it, by investigating all allegations of attacks on journalists and ensuring that suspected perpetrators are brought to justice in fair trials." The statement also calls for thorough, impartial and transparent investigations into all attacks against journalists in Kenya, including the murder in 2015 of John Kituyi, the editor of a regional newspaper. The letter has been copied to the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the Commission on Administration of Justice, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Jerome Starkey, The Times' Africa Correspondent, who had been living and working in Kenya for five years, was detained at the airport in Nairobi and deported back to the UK on 8 December 2016 without any explanation at the time. After several requests for an explanation from The Times, a spokesman for the Kenyan High Commission informed the newspaper in a letter dated 10 January that Jerome was expelled because his work permit application had been rejected. However, he had previously been assured by the Immigration Department that no decision had been made. Then, more than six weeks after he was deported, a letter from the Immigration Department postmarked 23 January 2017, informed him that he had been refused an entry permit and a work permit. The human rights organizations are calling on the authorities to withdraw the rejection letter and allow him to return to the country and resume his work as a journalist. The statement lists several cases of Kenyan journalists and activists who have faced harassment and interference in their work over the past year. Most notably: Duncan Wanga, a K24 television journalist was harassed and attacked by police, who destroyed his camera while he was covering a demonstration in Eldoret town in September 2016. Boniface Mwangi, a prominent activist and former award-winning photo journalist, was sued for defamation in October 2016 after posting a tweet linking Deputy President William Ruto to the murder of businessman Jacob Juma. Boniface later received a death threat and briefly fled the country. Denis Galava, then Managing Editor of the Daily Nation's Weekend Edition, was sacked over an editorial he wrote on New Year's Day 2016 that was critical of the government. His employer, Nation Media Group, said in a statement that he had not followed the correct procedure in writing the editorial. Galava has since sued the Daily Nation for wrongful dismissal. The organizations signed up to the letter are: Amnesty International Kenya, ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect Journalists, English PEN, Human Rights Watch, INDEX on Censorship, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), PEN International, Reporters Sans Frontieres Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Colombia: Spike in killings as activists targeted amid peace process Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Colombia: Spike in killings as activists targeted amid peace process, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589ad9e64.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. A spike in the number of human rights activists killed in the last month highlights the continuing dangers faced by those exposing ongoing abuses, said Amnesty International today as the much-delayed talks with the National Liberation Army (Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional ELN) get under way in Ecuador. The organization is calling on the government to immediately provide effective protection to at-risk human rights defenders after at least 10 were killed in January alone; nearly double last year's monthly average. "The peace process in Colombia is a bright light at the end of a long and dark tunnel that has already brought some tangible benefits to many Colombians. However, unless the killings of activists stop, this will leave an indelible stain on any resulting peace accord," said Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International. "These brave activists are being silenced by powerful local and regional economic and political interests, as well as various armed groups, including paramilitaries, for defending their rights or exposing the country's tragic reality." The sharp drop in combat-related violence affecting civilians since the start of peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) has offered a glimpse of what a post-conflict Colombia could look like. But the rise in killings of community leaders, land rights and environmental activists, with around 80 killed last year, as well as reports of increasing paramilitary activity in regions such as Uraba, in the north-west, could undermine such gains. Killings this year have included those of Afro-descendant community leader Emilsen Manyoma and her partner Joe Javier Rodallega. They were last seen alive on 14 January and their bodies were discovered on 17 January in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca Department. Justice The justice deal hammered out with the FARC last year, which is currently being debated in Congress, and which will also benefit members of the armed forces, and will likely be applied to the ELN, is a step forward in terms of realizing victims' right to truth, justice and reparation. However, it falls short of what is in compliance under international law, in part because the definition of command responsibility used in the agreement is too narrow and so would make it very difficult to bring guerrilla and security force commanders to justice for the crimes committed by their subordinates. "True peace will only become a reality once all those suspected of criminal responsibility for some of the most horrific crimes imaginable are held properly to account in fair trials," said Erika Guevara Rosas. "Effective measures must be put in place to end the killing of human rights defenders, and guarantees given to ensure the safety of Indigenous, Afro-descendant and peasant farmer communities in many rural areas, who continue to be targeted, mainly by paramilitary groups." Background Following the start of the implementation of the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the government is starting talks with the ELN, after the group released one of its high-profile hostages, Odin Sanchez, on 2 February. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Turkmenistan: Upcoming Presidential Poll Lacks Rights Protections Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Turkmenistan: Upcoming Presidential Poll Lacks Rights Protections, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589adb814.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Turkmenistan's appalling human rights record undermines the possibility of a free and fair presidential election on February 12, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. The election climate in Turkmenistan denies its citizens the ability to choose their president freely or enjoy freedom of expression or access to information. "Turkmenistan has never held a free and fair election and this one is no exception," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director for Human Rights Watch. "Genuine elections are impossible where authorities maintain tight control over all aspects of public life, violating basic rights relating to freedom of the media, expression, and civil society." The incumbent president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, 59, who has served for two terms, is running for re-election as one of nine candidates. Constitutional changes in September 2016, widely seen as allowing him to remain president for life, removed restrictions on the president's age, and extended the presidential term from five to seven years. The election will be the first with candidates from parties other than the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, following a 2012 law that permitted new parties to form. Durdygylych Orazov, Mary region party chairman, is running from the Agrarian Party, and Bekmyrat Atalyev, a member of parliament, is running from the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. However, the government's near total control over public life, including the media, public meetings, and access to information, means that there is nowhere close to a level playing field between candidates, Human Rights Watch said. Voters cannot express their views about all candidates in an open manner and without fear. Berdymukhamedov, a former health minister, was appointed acting president after the death of former president Saparmamed Niyazov in December 2006 and the arrest of the constitutionally-designated successor, Ovezgeldy Atayev. Under Niyazov's increasingly tyrannical 20-year rule, Turkmenistan had become one of the world's most closed and repressive regimes. Berdymukhamedov won overwhelming victories in tightly controlled, pro forma elections in 2007 and 2012. The Turkmenistan government denies freedoms of association, expression, and religion. The country is utterly closed to all independent scrutiny and has no political freedom. The few activists who try to promote human rights under the radar face a constant threat of government reprisal. Authorities often impose arbitrary travel bans on activists and relatives of exiled dissidents and others, and deny entry to foreign journalists, human rights defenders, and rights monitors. For years the government has waged a campaign to force people to dismantle their privately owned satellite dishes and subscribe to government-controlled cable television packages that cut them off entirely from alternative sources of information. In May 2016, the European Union postponed ratification of its Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Turkmenistan over human rights concerns. Berdymukhamedov has made a few modest steps to reverse some of Niyazov's damaging policies, such as restoring compulsory education to 12 years from 9, and allowing internet access to the public under Niyazov only government agencies, diplomatic posts, and offices of international companies were allowed internet access, but other apparent reforms have not been fully implemented. For example, changes made to the 2010 Criminal Code and the 2011 Criminal Procedural Code to provide fundamental due process guarantees, such as the right to an attorney of choice, are often not allowed in practice. Under Berdymukhamedov, authorities have continued some of the most serious abuses of the Niyazov government, such as imprisoning perceived opponents, and have ignored repeated calls by international partners to address those abuses. Berdymukhamedov has also introduced several highly restrictive laws inconsistent with international standards, such as to place undue restrictions on the registration and operation of public organizations, restrict public gatherings, and control access to information, including through the internet. The Berdymukhamedov government has failed to provide information about dozens of people arrested in the late 1990s and early 2000s, many of them on politically motivated charges, who have disappeared in the Turkmen prison system. On February 1, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) sent a limited observation mission to Turkmenistan to review election laws and their administration, and the media environment for the election. The UN Human Rights Committee will review Turkmenistan's compliance with its civil and political rights obligations at its upcoming session in March. "The people of Turkmenistan have never been given the opportunity to elect leaders genuinely of their own choosing, who could possibly end some of most inhuman aspects of tyranny such as enforced disappearances and holding political prisoners," Williamson said. "Turkmenistan's international partners should press the government to end these practices and carry out urgently needed and long-overdue reforms to ensure at least minimal respect for human rights." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch UN: North Korea Exploiting Children Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, UN: North Korea Exploiting Children, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589adbd34.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child should press the North Korean government to end the exploitation of children through forced labor and discrimination, Human Rights Watch and three Korean nongovernmental organizations said today. During the week of February 6, 2017, Human Rights Watch, the International Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), the New Korea Women's Union, and the Caleb Mission will brief the pre-sessional working group of the committee in Geneva about the situation of children's rights in North Korea. Although the North Korean government claims to have abolished child labor 70 years ago, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and other government agencies still require students and other children to take part in forced labor on behalf of the state. Other human rights violations include government discrimination regarding access to education, abuses against children with mothers in third countries, corporal punishment at schools, and children compelled to work extended hours without pay in paramilitary forced labor brigades (known in Korean as dolgyeokdae). "Forcing children to work is an egregious human rights abuse condemned worldwide, but for many North Korean students, it's a part of their everyday life," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child should demand that Pyongyang tell the truth about these abusive practices and immediately bring them to a halt." The Committee on the Rights of the Child will hear the experiences of two North Korean teenagers who escaped the country. Jeon Hyo-Vin, 16, experienced forced labor in school almost daily, until she had to leave secondary school because of her family's inability to pay the required cash payments. Kim Eun-Sol, 18, endured forced labor in school while she was a teenager. By age 13, she became an unpaid worker in a private home in order to survive since her grandmother could not support her. Her mother, who had left to earn a living in China, could not maintain contact with her daughter. The committee reviews the compliance of each state party with its obligations under the Child Rights Convention, which North Korea has ratified. This pre-sessional meeting, which is closed to the public, allows civil society organizations and children, in a separate meeting, to confidentially brief the committee members about their concerns regarding North Korea's child rights record. A list of topics, to which North Korea can then respond, is issued following the pre-sessional meeting. Nongovernmental organizations can make further submissions ahead of the full, public review in September 2017, during which the committee will question government officials on the topics raised. Research conducted by the groups found that both the Workers' Party of Korea and the Ministry of Education compelled labor from children in collaboration with schools and universities. They also made use of party wings such as the Korean Children's Union (which students between the ages of 7 and 13 are required to join), and the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League (which is comprised of students between the ages of 14 and 30). Schools, party wings, school administrators, and teachers required students to farm, to help construct buildings, statues, roads or railroads, and collect materials (for example, scrap metal, broken rocks, pebbles, rabbit skin, old paper) that could be used or sold by the school. If a student cannot meet the required quota for products collected, which happens in many cases, then the student is required to pay a cash penalty. The North Korean government has also compelled numerous children after they finish mandatory school at age 16 or 17 to join paramilitary forced labor brigades, which are controlled and operated by the ruling party. These brigades have a military-like structure, and work primarily on construction projects for buildings and other public infrastructure. Children with low songbun (a socio-political classification system the government uses to discriminate among North Korean citizens based on their perceived political loyalty to the ruling party) or those from poor families are often forced to do hard labor in these brigades without pay for up to 10 years. "Children who end up in North Korean forced labor brigades live under terrible conditions, and are not free to leave," said Kwon Eun-Kyoung, secretary general at the ICNK. "This type of enslavement must immediately be abolished and those responsible for directing these brigades punished." A 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in North Korea found a gravity, scale, and nature of violations that revealed a state "without parallel in the contemporary world." Abuses faced by children included, detention of children in political prison camps, trafficking and sexual exploitation of North Korean girls by Chinese men as wives or in the sex industry, and lack of civil and political rights and freedoms starting from childhood. The Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly have condemned the human rights situation in North Korea. The UN Security Council has recognized the gravity of the situation by addressing North Korea's bleak human rights record as a threat to international peace and security as a formal agenda item three years in a row. "The North Korean government's practice of child exploitation not only neglects its obligations to protect children," said Lee So-Youn, director of New Korea. "But it also exploits and discriminates against the most vulnerable children from families with low songbun and those who are the poorest." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Iraq: In Mosul Battle, ISIS Used Hospital Base Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraq: In Mosul Battle, ISIS Used Hospital Base, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589add644.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Islamic State (also known as ISIS) fighters who had occupied a Mosul hospital for two years put staff and patients at risk of attack during the December 2016 battle by the Iraq Security Forces to retake Mosul, Human Rights Watch said today. After the battle around the al-Salam hospital in Wahda neighborhood, ISIS dragged seven Iraqi soldiers' corpses through the streets. One resident told Human Rights Watch that several days later he saw the bodies of three soldiers hanging from a bridge. The area is no longer under ISIS control. "As the battle for Mosul unfolds, we are finding that ISIS is regularly occupying medical facilities and placing civilians and staff there at risk of incoming attacks," said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Shamefully, ISIS fighters have also taken to advertising their abuses on the streets, as they did with the soldiers' bodies." Under the laws of war applicable to the armed conflict in Iraq, hospitals and other medical facilities receive special protection. Armed forces or groups should not occupy medical facilities, undermining their protected status and placing civilians and civilian objects at risk. Even when medical facilities are used for military purposes, they are only subject to attack after a warning has been given, setting a reasonable time limit, and after the warning has gone unheeded. On October 17, 2016, the Iraqi central government and Kurdistan Regional Government, with the support of the United States-led international coalition, formally began military operations to retake Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, which ISIS fighters captured in June 2014. By early November, the army entered neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city. On January 24, 2017, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that all of eastern Mosul had been retaken, while the western half of the city remained under ISIS control. A staff member at al-Salam Hospital in Wahda neighbourhood of eastern Mosul said that when ISIS took control of Mosul, it set up a consistent presence of about 10 fighters inside the hospital, and took over its administration. Three neighborhood residents, including the hospital worker, said that on December 6, as 9th Division soldiers reached the hospital entrance, all patients who could fled. On December 7, projectiles started targeting the hospital, said eight neighborhood residents, including the staff member. The hospital worker said he saw ISIS bring in about 100 additional fighters. Some hospital staff and some patients who could not flee hid in the basement, and in an administrative office, as fighting raged until the early hours of December 9, when the Iraqi forces pulled back. Human Rights Watch has not yet been able to verify whether any civilians were wounded in the fighting. On December 7, residents said, as the fighting raged, ISIS fighters used the local mosque's loudspeaker to call for the army's surrender. They said that ISIS fighters also used the mosque loudspeaker on December 9, to say residents should come to the hospital to, "see the Iraqi army's losses, the apostates." At about 11 a.m. on December 9, residents said, they saw ISIS fighters driving a pickup truck down the main street leading from the hospital, dragging the bodies of three soldiers in uniform, with bullet holes but no further signs of mutilation, by their legs. A second car dragged another three, and a motorcycle dragged a seventh. "We just stood there on the street, horrified," one resident said. "ISIS used to come to the neighborhood and give us these videos of executions, telling us we needed to watch them, but we ignored them and didn't. So witnessing this was just so awful." Five other residents said they saw the motorcycle dragging the body, but not the other two vehicles, as the drivers went down different streets. One resident said that as the motorcycle passed him, an ISIS fighter about 15 years old fired twice at the corpse but missed. He also said that four days later, he was traveling through a nearby neighborhood and saw the bodies of three uniformed soldiers with bullet holes in their heads hanging by their shoulders from a bridge. Under the law of armed conflict, all parties must take all possible measures to prevent the dead from being despoiled. It is a war crime to "commit outrages upon personal dignity," which includes dead bodies. Human Rights Watch has previously documented abuses by members of the Iraqi Security Forces and Popular Mobilization Forces, known as the PMF or Hashd al-Sha'abi, which are also under Prime Minister al-Abadi's direct command, dragging bodies of ISIS fighters in the town of Qayyarah and in the city of Fallujah. Iraqi criminal justice authorities should investigate all alleged crimes, including unlawful killings and degrading treatment of bodies by any party to the conflict, in a prompt, transparent, and effective manner, up to the highest levels of responsibility. Those found criminally responsible should be appropriately prosecuted. This is also not the first time ISIS fighters have positioned themselves inside medical facilities in Iraq. ISIS fighters occupied a clinic in the town of Hammam al-Alil, 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul, which was then hit by an airstrike without warning on October 18, killing at least eight civilians. ISIS had also been occupying the second floor of Fallujah General Hospital for several months before an airstrike hit the hospital at 8 p.m. on May 25, without warning. The attack damaged the emergency room and other parts of the facility. Local doctors told Human Rights Watch that ISIS also had offices in clinics in Qayyarah, 60 kilometers south of Mosul, and Jadah, 65 kilometers south of Mosul, when they controlled those towns. A senior healthcare worker at the Hammam al-Alil clinic said that doctors at various Mosul facilities told him that ISIS has offices in all the facilities they work in the Republican, Ibn Sina, al-Salam, and Mosul General Hospitals. "Abusive retaliation is not the right response to ISIS abuses," Fakih said. "Iraqi security forces should demonstrate their commitment to protecting civilians on the front lines and to achieving justice for victims of ISIS abuses before courts that provide fair trial rights." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Bangladeshi ruling party tries to cover up role in journalist's death Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 7 February 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Bangladeshi ruling party tries to cover up role in journalist's death, 7 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b06644.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) accuses Bangladesh's ruling Awami League of trying to conceal its role in the death of a journalist who was reportedly shot by an Awami League official during rioting in the northwestern district of Sirajganj. Abdul Hakim Shimul, a local correspondent for the daily Samakal, was shot on 2 February while covering clashes between members of rival Awami League factions, some of who were protesting against Halimul Haque Miru, the major of the town of Shahzadpur. The authorities have not yet established the precise circumstances of Shimul's death or whether he was shot deliberately. But a police officer who was present said: "The mayor opened fire ignoring my repeated requests. Only the mayor fired, no one else did. He fired several times." Shimul was taken to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and died the next day. His widow quickly filed a complaint against the mayor, his brother, 15 other Awami League members and 20 unidentified persons. On 5 February, the Sirajganj police arrested the mayor while the local Awami League branch called for his dismissal as the party's local secretary. At the same time, health minister Mohammad Nasim announced that Shimul's widow had been offered a position with the Essential Drugs Company, a pharmaceutical company that is wholly state-owned. "We note that the authorities have arrested Shahzadpur's mayor, we urge them to bring the perpetrator of this murder to justice and, given the Awami League's repeated association with violence, we ask them to seriously consider its criminal responsibility," said Benjamin Ismail, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "Meanwhile, the latest political reactions are unacceptable. Senior Awami League officials have not only failed to vigorously condemn violence by their supporters but are now also trying to cover up the case and to gag the journalist's widow, who has brought a complaint against many Awami League members. "We urge Shimul's widow not to accept this offer, which is designed to buy her silence, and we advise her instead to bring a complaint against the Awami League itself, and against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, who are the party's most senior officials." Bangladesh continues to register a very high level of violence by its political parties and their supporters, above all by the ruling Awami League. In 2013, the Bangladesh Publishers Council voiced concern about the violence and urged the country's political parties to get their activists to stop targeting journalists. Prime Minister Hasina's government often displays hostility towards media outlets that criticize it or expose its failings. RSF issued a press release in February 2016 condemning Hasina's harassment of Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam. Bangladesh is ranked 144th out of 180 countries inRSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today RSF asks Kenya to lift ban on Times correspondent Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF asks Kenya to lift ban on Times correspondent, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b07444.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and eight other human rights NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are calling on the Kenyan government to lift its ban on Jerome Starkey, a British reporter for The Times of London who was expelled two months ago without explanation. In a joint letter to Joseph Nkaissery, the Secretary for Internal Affairs and Coordination of National Government, and to other government officials, the nine human rights NGOs ask the Kenyan authorities to let Starkey resume working as a Kenya-based correspondent and to publicly reaffirm their commitment to respect the right to free speech and media freedom. Based in Nairobi for the past five years, Starkey was detained without explanation at Nairobi airport on his return from a visit to the United Kingdom on 8 December and was put on a flight back to London the next day. The Kenyan authorities later claimed that his work visa application had been refused although he had never been notified of this. "The way the Kenyan authorities treated Times correspondent Jerome Starkey violated all of the usual procedures and we urge them to allow him to return to Kenya and to resume his work," RSF said. "The Kenya government must do whatever is necessary to guarantee the public's right to information and journalists' safety. This includes ending the prevailing impunity for crimes of violence against journalists." RSF reminds the authorities that the public's need of information is greater than ever in the run-up to the elections that are taking place this year. The joint letter also asks the authorities to conduct impartial and transparent investigations into cases of violence against journalists in Kenya including the 2015 murder of John Kituyi, the editor of a regional newspaper, who had been investigating intimidation of witnesses in the International Criminal Court case against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto. Kenya is ranked 95th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index. Lukashenka's Eccentric Conversation With Russia and the World Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 6 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 13 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Lukashenka's Eccentric Conversation With Russia and the World, 6 February 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 13, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b08374.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website President Alyaksandr Lukashenka held a record-long press conference for the Belarusian press corps, on Friday, February 3 (TV.rain.ru, YouTube, February 3). It lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes. Lukashenka's central message was in response to a dramatic worsening of Belarus's relationship with Russia (see EDM, January 18, 20, 31). He assigned blame for the still unresolved conflict over the pricing of natural gas to a venal collusion between the Russian leadership and Russian oligarchs, including but not limited to Gazprom. In the opinion of Yury Drakakhrust, of Radio Liberty, Lukashenka's long and colorful quotations from his dialogues with Vladimir Putin resembled a comic fight between the cartoon cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry. Lukashenka-Jerry is clever, cunning, and slightly condescending, while Putin-Tom is a klutz. At one point, tired of Putin's scheming and procrastination Lukashenka reportedly told him pointblank: "Listen, Volodya, don't spoil my evening"this is when Putin sheepishly backed off from the already-agreed-upon deal about gas prices, according to which Russia's budget was supposed to compensate Gazprom for lowered prices on natural gas for Belarus (Tut.by, February 4). Regarding Russia's decision to penalize Belarus for its intransigence on gas prices by curtailing its deliveries of duty-free oil to Belarusian refineries, Lukashenka exclaimed, "Why take us by the throat? Yes, we will survive without Russian oil. We will buy it elsewhere. Sure, it will not be cost-effective. But freedom and independence are cost-effective, and they cannot be measured by any money or numbers whatsoever!" Thus, though couched in economic terms, Lukashenka's message was about defending Belarus's independence. Andrei Piontkovsky, a fierce critic of Putin, believes that Lukashenka became aware of some plans to conduct a palace coup in Belarus, perhaps during the planned military exercises this year (Zapad 2017), and decided to preempt those plans by appealing to the entire world (Rusmonitor, February 4). Lukashenka's other verbal attack on Russia pertained to Moscow setting a special border zone regime with Belarus in violation of their mutually agreed common migration space. Because the Chairman of the Russian Federal Security Service resolved to set up this zone 11 days prior to Lukashenka's decree to allow for five-day visa-free travel for citizens of 80 countries, Russia's border zone decision was no retaliation; rather, it was a hostile political move. One more reproach dealt with a lingering practice on the part of Russia's agricultural import control agency to blacklist Belarusian food processors. Lukashenka even proposed launching a criminal investigation of the agency's boss, Sergei Dankvert. The latter's prompt response to the accusation of impropriety was to ban meat exports from the Minsk Oblast for the alleged attempt to sell 10,000 tons of Ukrainian foodstuffs under the guise of meat produced in Belarus (Tut.by, February 3). Lukashenka's other most memorable statements included his declared commitment to putting "fairness" above the law; his defense of his foreign minister, Vladimir Makei, whose steps to improve relations with the West were initiated by the president of Belarus himself; his professed attitude toward Donald Trump; and his overall treatment of the topic "Russia and Trump." To Lukashenka, Trump is no pro-Russian or pro-Belarusian but a pro-American president. "He is not as foolish as some think!" remarked Lukashenka. "He may be inexperiencedyes, he makes certain steps that seem that way from where we are I myself used to be a novice; but there are many smart people around him. Eighty percent of them are Jews [sic]you cannot say they are stupid." This last remark has circulated especially widely in the Russian media (e.g., EADaily, February 3). Lukashenka also related how he reasoned with Putin: Do not harm Trump by making believe that you indeed appointed him. According to Lukashenka, expecting that Trump's election would do miracles for Russia is baseless. The press service of the Russian president responded to Lukashenka's accusations by stating that Russia had extended its helping hand to Belarus even at Russia's own expense. Thus, only from 2011 to 2015, the Russian budget received $22.3 billion less than it could because of duty-free oil sold to Belarus (Tut.by, February 3). Bombastic Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who for the most part conveys what the Kremlin itself refrains from saying, simply stated that if Belarus wants to pay Russian prices, it should become part of Russia (Tut.by, February 4). Dismissals of Lukashenka's passionate appeals can be found all across Russian media. A popular justification for such dismissals points to Russia's experience of being an unusually benevolent empire that used to invest in its colonies more than in the metropolis itself. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia embarked on changing its relations with the other former Soviet republicsfrom being a benefactor to being a partner, thus implying a relationship that yields mutual benefits. Belarus is the last redoubt of Russia's one-sided benefaction, these Russian commentators allege; for a long time, Belarus has been shielded from the aforementioned change to a more balanced association, but everything comes to an end (Vzglyad, February 3). The members of Belarus's Westernizing opposition, its liberal and nationalist wings alike, predictably dismissed Lukashenka's appeals as a ploy. One seasoned opposition journalist opined that Lukashenka is tired and almost ready to retire (Belaruspartisan, February 3). Even an inkling of Lukashenka's recognition as the national leader is a sacrilege in those circles. One recent social media post by a dissenting voice in the opposition suggested that Lukashenka is now behaving like an "enlightened monarch" who is so assured of himself that he can afford to engage people of multiple persuasions. Therefore, the post continued, Lukashenka's political opponents should be ready to meet the president halfway (Bobrovich, February 4). But this argument was immediately met with almost unanimous condemnation by the Belarusian opposition. If, however, Belarusian liberals turn for inspirationas they often doto their Russian comrades-in-arms, the opinion of one important voice in Russia's liberal community would displease them. According to Piontkovsky, "despite all his mistakes and even crimes, Lukashenka will be listed by all history textbooks as the father of Belarusian independence" (Rusmonitor, February 4). Apparently, in that capacity, he will meet Putin on February 9 or shortly thereafter (RIA Novosti, February 2). The clock is ticking. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation China Intensifies Effort to Establish Leading Role in Asia, Dislodge U.S. Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Timothy Heath Publication Date 6 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, China Intensifies Effort to Establish Leading Role in Asia, Dislodge U.S., 6 February 2017, China Brief Volume: 17 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b08bc4.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website In early January China's Foreign Ministry published a White Paper on "Chinas Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation" signaling an intensification of China's effort to establish itself as the dominant power in Asia and dislodge U.S. influence (FMPRC, January 11). Building on the country's economic strength, China is challenging U.S. power in Asia at its source: America's role as a security provider. The paper provides a glimpse into China's ambitions by outlining a three-part strategy to build an alternative architecture, normalize U.S. acceptance, and enforce regional compliance with Chinese leadership preferences through rewards and punishments. Since 1998, China has issued security-related white papers, but these have largely centered on developments related to the country's military and national defense policy. The "Chinas Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation" white paper, by contrast, focuses on the broader strategic question of how to ensure security for the Asia-Pacific region (FMPRC, January 11). As such, it is the first official policy document to provide China's view of its leadership role in Asia. An accompanying Peoples Daily commentary noted that this is the "first time" China has "provided a systematically organized policy on Asia-Pacific security cooperation" (People's Daily, January 13). Numerous high-level meetings paved the way for the policy. In 2013, China held its first work forum on foreign policy to the Asia-Pacific region (China Brief, November 7, 2013). At the 2014 Shanghai summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), President Xi Jinping proposed a vision for how Asians could manage security for themselves. In 2016, President Xi elaborated on his concept of Asia's security at a follow on CICA meeting (Xinhua, April 28, 2016). Drivers of Regional Security Policy The issuance of a security policy for Asia reflects China's view that it should assume duties befitting its status as a rising great power, as well as frustration with U.S. efforts to maintain its position in Asia. Decades of rapid growth have propelled China into the upper ranks of world powers, and it has sought to expand its leadership role accordingly. As the white paper put it, China regards the "advancement of regional prosperity and stability as its own responsibility [emphasis added]." China's objection to American power owes in part to the potential threats posed by U.S. alliances and in part to problems inherent in divided regional leadership (The Diplomat, June 11, 2014. From China's perspective, an alliance with the United States emboldens neighbors to challenge Beijing and elevates the risk of a devastating U.S.-China conflict. Chinese authorities also regard divided leadership along economic and security grounds as unsustainable and as an impediment to growth. In a 2015 commentary in the Peoples Daily, Wang Yiwei, a professor at People's University of China, explained that the "root cause of all kinds of security problems" lay in the fact that "Asian countries depend on China economically and on the United States for security" (People's Daily, May 24, 2015). The ideal of "community of common destiny" frequently invoked by Chinese officials expresses a similar idea that the economic and security leadership should be mutually reinforcing. Applied to Asia, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has explained, this "community" is one in which the "two wheels of economic and security cooperation move together" (FMPRC, April 25, 2015). Not surprisingly, Chinese commentators have accordingly leveled harsh criticism of U.S. leadership in Asia. A representative commentary in People's Daily last year accused the United States of seeking to "strangle the new East Asian order that was taking shape" (People's Daily, September 18, 2016). U.S. authorities have countered such criticism by seeking stronger cooperative ties with China, even as Washington undertakes a "rebalance initiative" aimed at shoring up its influence in Asia. But such engagement has scarcely mitigated China's resentment of the rebalance. A typical commentary in the official news agency, Xinhua, denounced the rebalance as "corrosive to the regions peace and stability" (Xinhua, September 8, 2016). It said that to realize regional peace and prosperity, the United States should "come up with an epitaph to the pivot". More than harsh criticism will be required to dislodge the United States, however. The white paper summarizes a three-part, long-term strategy to entrench Chinese leadership and devitalize the rebalance. First, China aims to provide competitive alternatives to the main features of the US-led security architecture. Second, Beijing aims to normalize U.S. and other great power acceptance of the emerging order. And third, China intends to incentivize regional compliance through rewards and punishments. An Alternative Security Architecture Beijing's proposed security architecture competes directly with many aspects of U.S. ambitions. In a Fact Sheet published in 2015, the Obama administration defined the rebalance in terms that include: 1) a vision for Asia and the Pacific; 2) a deepening of relationships; 3) the advancement of a rules-based regional order; and 4) the promotion of cooperation on global issues (WhiteHouse.gov, November 16, 2015). The below subsections contrast China's with the U.S. approach for these elements. Competing Visions The U.S. Rebalance Fact Sheet outlined a vision of a "stable and diversified security order" in which countries "pursue their national objectives peacefully and in accordance with international law and shared norms and principles." It stated that the United States seeks to "build a network of like-minded states that sustains and strengthens a rules-based regional order and addresses regional and global challenges." Chinas white paper offers a competing vision at odds with key elements of the U.S. view. China's vision centers on "common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security." It defined "common security" as one that "rejects the idea of security for some countries while leaving the rest insecure." This directly contradicts the idea of a network of states that share "like-mindedness" with the United States. Indeed, the white paper pointedly argues that a "strengthening of military alliances targeted at a third party is not conducive to common security." The white paper defined "comprehensive security" as one that required taking into "full account the historical background and reality" of security-related affairs. This rejects the U.S. idea that disputes should be mediated according to international rules and claims legitimacy instead for "historical facts" raised by China and the "reality" of Beijing's views. The white paper explained that "cooperative security" prioritizes "dialogue and cooperation" as the main means of "increasing strategic mutual trust" and resolving differences. This idea does not inherently conflict with the U.S. vision, although it does imply alliances are not necessary. The white paper defined "sustainable security" principally in terms of a focus on "development." In calling for a "synchronized progress of regional economic and security cooperation," this idea by definition prioritizes China's preferences over those of the United States since China plays a larger role in driving the region's economic integration. Competing Views of Rules and Order The U.S. Rebalance Fact Sheet highlighted the pursuit of a "rules-based order" featuring strengthened "regional institutions," "good governance," and "universal values" such as "respect for human rights" and "fundamental freedoms" (WhiteHouse.gov, November 16, 2015). Once again, the white paper presents a contrasting view. It argues that all countries in Asia [i.e., China] should determine the rules. The white paper stated international and regional rules should be "discussed, formulated and observed by all countries concerned," rather than being "dictated by any particular country." As an example, the white paper listed the Chinese originated "five principles of peaceful coexistence" as a "universally recognized law" that should be "abided by" in resolving maritime dispute issues. Competing Security Relationships The U.S. rebalance prominently features the development of a "network" of alliances and partnerships. China rejects the idea of alliances. In a 2014 speech, Xi Jinping warned countries against strengthening alliances (VOANews, May 21, 2014). The white paper builds on China's long-standing opposition by urging all countries to "pursue partnerships rather than alliances." Chinese official media since 2014 has highlighted "partnerships" (huoban guanxi ) as an important idea in contemporary foreign policy. Diplomatic officials regard a partnership as a flexible category of bilateral or multilateral relationship distinguished principally by cooperation between non-allied parties to achieve mutually profitable goals. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has explained that partnerships are characterized by "equality and inclusiveness" and they are "not directed against a third party" Partnerships include both weak varieties in which little is shared and robust ones between like-minded countries that collaborate on sensitive political and even military endeavors. As Wang explained, "Those who share a common goal and cherish the same ideal can become partners, and so can those who put aside minor differences in order to seek common ground" (People's Daily, May 4, 2016). Writing in Seeking Truth, Foreign Minister Wang stated that China established an "initial network of partnerships" in 2014 (Qiushi, January 1, 2015). Although Chinese authorities oppose alliances, they recognize their appeal. The white paper recommends countries retain the form of alliances, but deprive them of potency. It called for "relevant bilateral military alliances" to become "more transparent and avoid confrontation," so as to "play a constructive role" in promoting regional peace and stability. These suggestions amount to a recommendation that alliances support China's efforts to build a regional security order and avoid actions that Beijing finds objectionable. Competing Venues for Cooperation While both countries agree on the need for cooperation to address security challenges, China advocates institutions and mechanisms in which it plays a leading role, rather than those that depend on U.S. alliances and initiatives. However, China recognizes the reality that U.S. power will persist. Accordingly, for the medium-term, at least, the white paper affirms the likelihood that Chinese led mechanisms will co-exist alongside U.S. based ones. To cope with this situation, the white paper called for "improving" and increasing "close coordination" between the existing mechanisms. It noted the "diversity" of institutions, such as the Chinese-led SCO and CICA, "as well as military alliances formed in history." Acknowledging that a "consistent framework is not foreseeable in the near future," the white paper anticipated a transition period in which "multiple mechanisms advance together in the evolution of a regional security framework." The white paper does not preclude a role for the United States. Indeed, it called on "major powers to jointly promote a regional security framework." However, the outcome of such collaboration should be "based on consensus," which suggests China seeks greater say over the U.S. role. The white paper also outlines a larger role for the PLA in promoting stability, combatting transnational threats, and maintaining peace. The white paper stated Chinas armed forces "make positive contributions to the maintenance of regional stability." It also explained that the PLA will "intensify military exchanges and cooperation to offer more guarantees for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region." This again contrasts with China's desire to see a reduction in the U.S. military's presence and posture in Asia, which Beijing regards as threatening. Normalizing Major Power Acceptance China's ambition to overhaul the region's security architecture faces a major hurdle in the form of potential opposition from the current leader, the United States. Another danger lies in the potential collaboration of other major powers, such as India or Japan. The white paper advocates cooperation and coordination as a means of avoiding war and normalizing gradual acceptance of the emerging security order. The white paper builds on a recent development in official foreign policy thinking that distinguishes between the role of major and minor powers. The shift in official parlance towards describing China as a "major power" reflects both the reality of the country's national strength and a long-standing belief that the world is moving towards a multi-polar era (The Diplomat, December 22, 2014). In this understanding, major powers coordinate amongst one another in bilateral and multilateral venues to address threats while respecting the authority of one another in their respective geographic areas. The white paper hails this "new type of major power relations" as one defined by "non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, and mutually beneficial cooperation." The white paper illustrates its application in Asia, identifying China, the United States, Russia, India, and Japan as major powers that should "jointly promote a regional security framework" to "effectively deal with the increasingly complex security challenges in the region." The paper also calls on "small and medium-sized countries" to "not take sides." This point reinforces the idea that smaller powers should follow the lead of the major powers responsible for managing the security order. Enforcement of Chinese leadership The third part of China's approach to establishing itself as the region's security leader lies in enforcing its leadership. Since 2013, Chinese leaders have signaled their intent to use rewards and punishments to incentivize countries to accommodate Chinese political preferences, an idea well captured by the "profit-righteousness concept" introduced by Xi Jinping (China Brief, November 7, 2013). The white paper and current events provides two examples of how China intends to enforce its leadership. The first example involves maritime security disputes, and the second concerns the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system in South Korea. The white paper reiterates China's stand on these issues. The implication is clear: relevant countries are expected to act on Beijing's preferences. Those who support China will reap rewards, while those who do not will be punished. Regarding territorial disputes, the white paper shows a remarkably sanguine view. It states, "Regional hotspot issues and disputes are basically under control." Although authorities remain intent on defending Chinese claims against encroachment, this assessment suggests leaders are focused on the much bigger prize of securing regional leadership, rather than squander such an opportunity for the sake of fighting over desolate maritime features. The paper argued that the "region should follow the tradition of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and peaceful coexistence, and work to solve disputes properly and peacefully through direct negotiation and consultation." Philippine President Duterte's decision to heed this advice and downplay the dispute in favor of warmer ties with China yielded generous pledges of $24 billion in investment (Bloomberg, October 21, 2016). Regarding the THAAD deployment, the white paper observed, "forming Cold War-style military alliances and building global and regional anti-ballistic missile systems will be detrimental to strategic stability and mutual trust." Beijing has responded to South Korea's disregard for China's preferences with economic and military retaliatory measures (KBS World Radio). Chinese pressure has driven down public support in South Korea for the THAAD deployment from 44 percent to 34 percent and made the deployment a divisive election issue (VOANews, January 16). Implications By undercutting the most compelling justification for U.S. leadership role, the issuance of a security policy poses a serious challenge to the U.S. position in Asia. Replicating its approach in the economic domain, China seeks to create alternatives to the institutions and mechanisms that underpin U.S. power. China's variants in some cases may compare poorly to that of the United States. Partnerships may offer benefits, for example, but they lack the assurance and close ties of alliances. But this may matter less than commonly assumed if countries decide that the entire package of economic and security goods offered by China leadership surpasses what the United States can provide. It is possible to envision a situation in which countries increasingly opt to follow China's lead, even as they formally uphold alliances and partnerships with the United States as "insurance" against Chinese misbehavior. Warning signs of this possibility may be seen in Philippines President Duterte's moves towards closer security ties with China and the debates in Australia over proposed security arrangements that downplay traditional alliance obligations (Lowy Institute, August 15, 2014). If China succeeds, a United States that finds its influence waning could be tempted to rely on military strength to uphold its status. Statements by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson threatening to impede Chinese access to the South China suggest senior U.S. officials may already be contemplating such a path (C-SPAN, January 11). Although tempting, the adoption of militarily confrontational policies would not only spur China to redouble its efforts to marginalize the United States, it would raise the risk that the two competitors for regional influence could head down the tragically well-trodden historical path to conflict. China's rise cannot be denied, and a blended security architecture featuring Chinese and U.S. elements may well be the only way to resolve fundamental differences in a manner that does not lead to war. If so, the paramount task for both sides will be to mobilize resources and effort to shape the terms of the evolving order. To bolster its leverage, America will have to work harder than ever to engage the region across a broad range of issues. But the prize of economic benefits gained by ensuring U.S. access to an increasingly vital part of the global economy provides a powerful incentive. Paradoxically, the Trump administration is likely to find that progress on its domestic agenda will depend on the progress of America's competition for influence in Asia. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Beijing's New Scorched-Earth Policy Against the Uighurs Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Willy Wo-Lap Lam Publication Date 6 February 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Beijing's New Scorched-Earth Policy Against the Uighurs, 6 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b09bb4.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website Under the pretext of joining the global war on terrorism, the Xi Jinping administration has imposed unprecedentedly harsh restrictions on the civil liberties and rights of the 10 million Uighurs living in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The shift in President Xi's Xinjiang policy was marked by the replacement of the region's Party Secretary Zhang Chunxian ()a moderate cadre noted for his "soft and flexible methods in running Xinjiang"with Chen Quanguo () (Dwnews.com [Beijing], August 29, 2016; Ming Pao [Hong Kong], August 28, 2016). The persistence of violence in the XUAR, however, has called into doubt whether Beijing's draconian tactics will work towards the goal of changzhi jiu'an (; "perennial order and stability"). Chen, 61, who served as Party Secretary of neighboring Tibet Autonomous Region from 2011 to 2016, announced in his first meeting with local cadres a comprehensive, ten-pronged package of stringent rules to rein in anti-Beijing activities in Xinjiang. These included promoting intelligence gathering; tightening control over the media and "Internet space"; hitting out at pockets of Uighur resistance according to law; improving "religious work", boosting law enforcement in cities and the countryside; increased policing of Xinjiang's borders; and improving "comprehensive law-and-order management" (People's Daily, September 18, 2016). What critics call Beijing's scorched-earth policy has pushed the boundaries of the Orwellian police state to their limit. In November, all XUAR residents were told to surrender their passports to police for safekeeping. Uighurs, in particular, who want to travel abroad must go through elaborate police vetting before they can get their travel documents back (Hong Kong Free Press, November 25, 2016; Human Rights Watch, November 21, 2016). Police are also taking aim at the weapons used in attacks. Firearms are very carefully regulated in China, and most violent crime in China including in Xinjiang has involved knives and cleavers. Authorities now require purchasers of knives to have their names and ID card numbers carved on the blades. According to police circulars posted on the walls of knife vendors, this stricture applies to kitchen knives, meat cleavers, choppers for killing animals, cutting knives used in cloth-making, swords used in martial arts classes, farm sickles, axes and other sharp metal implements (Radio French International, January 10; Oriental Express [Hong Kong] January 10). These measures complement frequent body searches of "suspicious looking" Uighurs by police and the para-military People's Armed Police (PAP) in subway stations, bus terminals, airports and highway checkpoints. Combatting Terror with People's War and Community Policing Chen has promoted the concept of waging a "people's war" against destabilizing forces, which was first used by Beijing in the run-up to the 2008 Summer Olympics in the capital city. Some 850,000 volunteer-vigilantes in Beijing were hired by the Ministry of Public Security to keep track on "suspicious characters" in the immediate neighborhoods of the volunteers (See China Brief, July 17, 2008). Since the horrendous anti-Beijing riot in Urumqi in July 2009, which resulted in the death of close to 200 Han Chinese, Xinjiang authorities have devoted huge budgets in turning ordinary Han Chinese residents into part-time spies. In August 2014, XUAR authorities broke all records by earmarking 400 million yuan for rewards for citizens who could provide intelligence and other kinds of assistance in cracking a "terrorist" cell in Maiyu County, Hetian District. With the assistance of 30,000 mainly Han Chinese residents, the police were able to track down this gang of ten Uighurs. In the ensuing battle, nine Uighurs were killed and one captured. Not a single police or Han Chinese volunteer was injured (People's Daily, August 4, 2014; Wen Wei Po [Hong Kong], August 4, 2014). Since the early 2010s, Xinjiang has pioneered the establishment of cunjing () or village police tasked with ensuring political stability in the relatively remote southern and western XUAR, where Uighurs outnumber Han Chinese by significant margins. Unlike the police or PAP, cunjing officers, who are attached to particular villages, participate in farm work during daytime and patrol their designated territories at night. So successful was the Xinjiang experience that the cunjing system has also been adopted by provinces and regions with large ethnic minorities (China News Service, May 6, 2016; Tianshan Net, April 11, 2014). Chen has further beefed up the surveillance apparatus by putting together a labyrinthine network of "convenience police stations" in both urban and rural areas. These law-and-order outlets are on the one hand citizen-interface centers where police and other officials help residents seek government benefits such as health insurance and stipends for the severely handicapped. On the other hand, "convenience police stations" function as intelligence-gathering and filtering centers where police mingle with ordinary residents who may report juicy stories about their Uighur neighbors. The capital city of Urumqi alone is set to have some 950 such stations (Foreign Affairs, December 23, 2016; South China Morning Post, December 12, 2016). Chen has also upped the ante in reining in the religious, cultural and educational life of ordinary Uighurs. Huge numbers of both uniformed and plainclothes police and PAP officers are being deployed to monitor activities in the XUAR's mosques, which are seen by Han Chinese authorities as hotbeds for radicalizing Uighur youths. Despite his reputation as a tolerant leader, former party boss Zhang initiated the policy of forbidding men to grow long beards and schoolchildren to observe Ramadan. It is understood that Party Secretary Chen is gravitating toward the idea of gradually reducing the number of mosques particularly in southern and western Xinjiang. As of 2015, there were 20,000 mosques in the autonomous region, ten times more than the figure of three decades earlier (Xinhua, March 2, 2015). However, many Han Chinese Uighur experts are convinced that mosques are prime sites for nurturing Islam fundamentalism as well as anti-Chinese sentiments. For this reason, the number of places of worship may be curbed despite anticipated opposition from Uighurs (China Review Net, November 28, 2013; Club.China.com, July 1, 2013). Economic Carrots The Chen leadership is optimistic that investments in the XUAR by the central government and state-owned enterprises will improve the overall living standards of Uighursand serve to defuse ethnic tensions. Since coming to office, Chen has advocated a "double-fisted approach", combining tough crackdowns with economic incentives. "[Economic] development is the key to solving all problems," Chen said in January (Xinjiang Daily, January 10). The projected GDP of Xinjiang in 2016 was 955 billion yuan, a rise of 7.6 percent over that of 2015. While the economic expansion is one percentage point higher than the national average, the figure is a disappointment given the fact that western Xinjiang is supposed to serve as an important launch pad of President Xi's ambitious One Belt One Road global infrastructure game plan (Finance.china.com, January 12; Xinjiang Daily, August 20, 2016). Moreover, it is a long-established fact that Han Chinese are doing much better economically than their Uighur neighbors. Statistically the education level of Han Chinese is much higher leading to greater economic opportunities. At the personal level Han Chinese are often linked into the requisite guanxi ("connections") networks of friends and favors to find jobs and bring in investment from different parts of China. To Chen's credit, apart from attracting mega-infrastructure projects, he is paying attention to modernizing agriculture, an area where Uighurs stand to benefit. Urumqi has been promoting organic or ecological agriculture as well as agriculture tourism (Xinjiang Daily, January 11; Xinjiang Economic Daily, December 21, 2016). Moreover, the government has emphasized reviving Xinjiang's textile industrythe one sector that has the potential to employ large numbers of both Uighurs and Han Chinese. According to the regional government's 13th Five-Year Plan (20162020), Xinjiang is set to become a key hub for textile production. It will also expand the industry chain from cotton spinning to making garments. By 2020, Xinjiang is expected to produce about 500 million garments annually and create more than 600,000 jobs (China Daily, February 15, 2016). Will Chen's new gambit be successful? Few Xinjiang watchers doubt the zeal and the long hours that the party boss is putting into his work. Since the time of former Party Secretary Wang Lequanthe so-called "Xinjiang Emperor" who ran the XUAR from 2002 to 2010the position of Xinjiang party secretary has carried Politburo status. And should he gain the trust of President Xi, it is probable that Chen will be inducted into the Politburo at the 19th Party Congress slated for this autumn. This is despite the fact that in terms of factional affiliation, Chen is much closer to Premier Li Keqiang, who is the top representative of the much-diminished Communist Youth League Faction. Chen was as one of Li's deputies when the latter served as acting governor, governor and then party secretary of Henan Province from 1998 to 2004 (BBC Chinese, September 27, 2016; Ming Pao [Hong Kong] August 30, 2016). However, terrorist incidents have continued unabated since Chen took office. Last September, a deputy head of the Public Security Bureau in Pishan County, Hetian District was killed and several policemen injured when they tried to crack an underground terrorist cell which doubled as an explosives factory. This is despite the fact that Pishan, being infamous as a base for anti-Beijing activists, has been under significantly higher levels of scrutiny by police (Radio Free Asia, September 19, 2016; Radio French International, September 19, 2016). Nevertheless, in late December, Uighur activists detonated a bomb when they rammed a vehicle into the office building of the Party Committee of Maiyu County. Five people, including a Han Chinese official, a policeman, and three Uighur perpetrators were killed in the ensuing gun battle (Xinhua, December 29, 2016; Oriental Express, December 29, 2016). Equally significant is the fact that a growing number of radicalized Uighur youths have become jihadists. Many have successfully left the XUAR and hooked up with international terrorist groups including the Taliban as well as affiliates of the Islamic State. Turkish police arrested several Uighur young men who were allegedly involved in the New Year's Eve attack on a nightclub in Istanbul in which thirty-nine people perished. Official Chinese media has claimed that would-be Uighur jihadists went to Turkey by way of Thailand and Malaysia (Global Times, January 13; Deutsche Welle, January 6; Hurriyet Daily News [Ankara], January 4). Conclusion The exacerbation of police state mechanisms under Chen has obviously failed to deter the growth of radicalism in the autonomous region. As Patrick Poon, China researcher of Amnesty International pointed out, "repressive tactics [in Xinjiang] will only backfire." "When the Uighur people can no longer tolerate the discriminatory measures, some of the more radical ones might fight back," he added. "The authorities' restrictive measures can never bring peace to the region." [1] For many liberal Chinese intellectuals, the path to perennial stability in Xinjiang lies not in oppression but in the resumption of dialogue between Han Chinese and Uighursparticularly the younger generation who fears for the loss of their cultural and religious identity. "How can we create a multi-faceted and common culture [in Xinjiang] without a genuine public sphere for reciprocal [dialogue]?" asked Tsinghua University professor Wang Hui, a respected public intellectual (Dong Yue Tribune, May 18, 2016). If only for a short spell, Xinjiang authorities seemed to be making some efforts towards reconciliation across ethnic lines. In March 2016, former party secretary Zhang designated the year as "Year for Unity and Progress of the Nationalities." While saluting the imperative of CCP leadership, Zhang urged "various nationalities [in Xinjiang] to boost their communication, interchange and blending together." "Members of different nationalities should mutually respect, reconcile with, and appreciate each other," Zhang said, adding that they should "learn from each other, help each other so that their feelings for each other should ceaselessly increase" (People's Daily, March 30, 2016). Unfortunately, Zhang lost his position five months later, and the "Year for Unity and Progress of the Nationalities" became a thing of the past. Notes: Author's interview with Patrick Poon, January 16. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Rural China and the Asian Methamphetamine Trade: a Case Study of Lufeng Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Zi Yang Publication Date 6 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Rural China and the Asian Methamphetamine Trade: a Case Study of Lufeng, 6 February 2017, China Brief Volume: 17 Issue: 2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b10564.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website East Asia is in the midst of an intensifying struggle with methamphetamine trafficking that has led to dramatic political changes. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, elected on a populist agenda, has made the swift elimination of narcotics trafficking the central promise of his administration. While his methods have largely drawn criticism from the international community, China has backed his campaign, citing its own concerns about the growth of drugs (Inquirer [Philippines], July 20, 2016). This is not without cause. China is also facing domestic troubles due to rising production of cheap methamphetamine and increasing rates of addiction. Shabu, or methamphetamine ("meth" for short), is the drug of choice for most of the Philippines's 1.7 million addicts (Philippine Star, December 16, 2016). In July 2016, Duterte, with his typical bluntness, issued death threats against three prominent Chinese drug lords and accused China of harboring narcotics smugglers (SCMP, July 28, 2016). To date, Chinese nationals do play a role in the Philippine drug trade, although the vast majority of traffickers are local Filipinos (Inquirer, July 7, 2016). To make matters more complicated, the Philippine press has a tendency to lump Mainlanders, Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, Macanese and members of the Chinese diaspora into one umbrella term"Chinese"thus creating further confusion on the origins of "Chinese drug lords." Nevertheless, regular appearances of Chinese individuals in the Philippine drug war highlights China's role in the Asian narcotics trade (HK Standard, September 8, 2016). China is the world's largest cultivator of Ma huang (ephedra sinica; ). A precursor of meth, Chinese Ma huang is used to manufacture one-third of Asia's total meth production (2009). [1] Although Chinese officials frequently downplay the country's role in this illicit industry, increasing efforts to clamp down on rising meth production shows that the Chinese state does recognize this as a problem (South China Online, January, 3). In recent years, total drug-related criminal cases involving opiates shrunk to 30 percent while cases relating to meth and synthetic drugs climbed to 60 percent. In 2014, there were 1,459,000 registered synthetic drug addicts, 1,771 percent higher than 2005's 78,000. A 2013 study of 2,773 recovering synthetic drug addicts in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Yunnan and Hunan provinces show that meth was the first choice of 65 percent of respondents, followed by the meth precursor ephedrine (27 percent) and meth tablets known as magu (4 percent). [2] Although domestic and international consumers of Chinese meth are mostly city-dwellers, China's meth trade is actually rooted in the countryside. An examination of China's most active meth manufacturing regionGuangdong Province's Lufeng Cityprovides insight into the rise and resilience of meth trafficking based out of rural China. Lord Thunder's Domain Sandwiched between the special economic zones of Shenzhen and Shantou is the tri-city area commonly referred to as Hailufengcomposed of Shanwei, Haifeng and Lufeng. Although the region is home to several natural harbors, its economy remains stagnant and is often overlooked by investors. Yet underneath the gray surface, subterranean business is booming. Since the beginning of Reform and Opening-up, the tri-city region has accumulated a reputation for illegal activities. As a local saying goes, "Up in the heavens there is Lord Thunder; down on earth, there are the people of Hailufeng (, )." The City of Lufeng is probably the most lawless of the three. In the 1980s, Lufeng was known for smuggling. In the decade following, it gained infamy for counterfeiting. Now, Lufeng typically occupies headlines as the busiest region for narcotics manufacturing. Prior to a major crackdown in December 2013, the region supplied one-third of China's meth. [3] Most of Lufeng's meth comes from its suburbs and outlying areas, and in particular, an area called sanjia (), made up of three townsJiazi, Jiaxi, Jiadong. A hub of criminal enterprises, in 2016, half of Lufeng's 328 wanted criminal suspects came from sanjia, and 65 belong to the village of Bosheonce China's largest meth factory (The Paper, May 18, 2016). A little over two kilometers from the sea, Boshe is a village of 14,000 all belonging to the Cai lineage (). During the early hours of December 29, 2013, 3,000 police, armed police and border control troops descended upon Boshe (BBC, July 10, 2015). After encircling the village, the authorities began their largest ever operation seeking to completely root out drug manufacturing. By daylight, the police had broken up eighteen narcotics gangs and arrested more than 182 gang members. Seventy-seven drug labs, as well as an explosives manufacturing plant, were destroyed. A total of three metric tons of meth, along with twenty-three tons of precursor chemicals were seized. Nine guns, 62 rounds of ammunitions and one grenade were also netted (People's Daily, January 3, 2014). The village of Boshe has been subdued ever since. As of May 2016, 43 security cameras and more than 40 policemen monitor the villagers' every move (The Paper, May 25, 2016). But only a few years ago, Boshe was the richest village in the area, nicknamed "Little Hong Kong" for its wealth. More than two-thirds of its villagers were involved in meth manufacturing (RFA, January 3, 2014). Money and precursor chemicals flowed in daily. New country homes and refurbished ancestral shrines reminded visitors of Boshe's opulence. And neighboring villages even began to circulate a rumor that Boshe worshippers burned wads of newly minted notes at ceremonies to honor their ancestors (Guanchazhe, January 18, 2014). Boshe's Rise as a Meth Village How did Boshe become involved in the meth trade? What was its position in the value chain? Who led the enterprise? To answer these questions, we must start with the story of one manBoshe's former party secretary, Cai Dongjia. A native of Boshe, details about Cai's early life is murky except that he was a gregarious man who made good investments in personal relations. Once the security chief of Boshe, Cai left for Shenzhen in 1999 as narcotics manufacturing in Lufeng intensified (Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, December 15, 2015). After returning home in 2005, Cai rejoined the bureaucracy with the help of a few old friends in the government and was appointed the village committee secretary and Party secretary of Boshe a year later (QQ News, March 30, 2016). Cai came from the largest of the Cai lineage's three houses (). Therefore, not only is he the Party's man but also he carries a weighty responsibility to the Cai lineage as their informal clan leader. Initially, Cai wanted to lead his fellow kinsmen on a path to wealth () legally. But after failures to introduce cash crops, Cai, along with a few close relatives, decided to try narcotics manufacturing (China Dissertation Online, June 30, 2014). Using his personal connections, Cai gained support from corrupt superiors in the government and even made partnership with police officers. [4] Business boomed like never before. Young men, elementary pupils, and even septuagenarians joined the enterprise. Investments poured in from businessmen and crime syndicates based in the Pearl River Delta that provided Boshe men with funds to purchase Ma huang from Fujian province, which was shipped to Boshe by the truckloads (The Paper, May 25, 2016; People's Daily, January 2, 2014). Barrels of ephedrineprocessed from Ma huangand over-the-counter medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine were also stockpiled in the village. [5] Meth production was conducted as a township or village enterprise, where each household took up a division of the labor. The finished products were then transported to the nearest harbor, only 2.5 km away, to be loaded onto vessels that sailed to the Pearl River Delta. A common fishing vessel could carry two tons of meth if properly concealed (Xinhua News, June 22, 2016). Upon arrival to the Pearl River Delta, Triads from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau made purchases and drove the goods onward to the international destinations, but especially the Southeast Asian states of Malaysia and the Philippines. [6] Meth Manufacturing Techniques in China The "Lufeng Method" is a way of cooking methmodeled upon the ephedrine/pseudoephedrine reduction method that was perfected in its namesake town before spreading throughout China. Meth manufacturing in Lufeng, which was once done openly, has gone underground after the December 2013 crackdown. Intimidated by the heightened security, Lufengnese meth cookers left their hometowns to set up labs elsewhere around Guangdong. One such operation was rapidly built in a mountainous and swampy area 371 km away from Lufeng. This small-scale meth factory designed by Lufeng meth cooks produced 837.3 kg of meth in only six days. Funded by investors from Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the factory, built by brick and wood, was divided into three areas: living quarters, work area and garbage disposal. Carefully designed, factory supported rotating 24-hour shifts for a maximized output (Xinhua News, November 4, 2015). With the government crackdown on supply raising meth prices from the wholesale price of 20,000 RMB per kilogram in 2013 to 30,000 RMB per kilogram in 2016, the lure of greater profit will continue to entice cooks and traffickers to defy the law (Wenweipo, December 31, 2016). Impact of Meth on Rural China From criminal's perspective, there are a few short-term positive and long-term negative effects regarding meth manufacturing. Employment and financial gains are the greatest incentives for most people in the drug trade. An average Boshe laborer makes 1,000 RMB per month. But as a drug trafficker, one can easily make a few hundred, if not more than a thousand RMB a day (China News, January 1, 2014). Although fast money comes with equally high risk since China has severe penalties for drug dealing, and authorities have not been reluctant in executing traffickers (Sohu News, June 27, 2015). The impact of meth on society and the environment raises long-term developmental obstacles for local communities. Drug addiction is increasing in Lufeng, in congruence with the provincial pattern (QQ News, May 30, 2012). Addicts to one kind of hard drug are more likely to try other drugs, which is reflected in the surge of HIV/AIDS in rural Lufeng through needle sharing. [7] Gun crime is also a concern in these areas since traffickers are likely to be armed (South China News, October 14, 2016; People's Daily, October 28, 2016). Poisonous waste from meth production, freely disposed, contaminates the environment and retards economic development in the long run (Sohu News, January 3, 2014). State Initiatives in Combating Meth Manufacturing In addition to enacting laws to limit the public's access to medications containing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine (Sina News, December 27, 2012), the government's response so far has mostly been the tried and true method of strike hard (), where it uses overwhelming force and a harsh application of the law to quickly reduce crime. Although Boshe is now a poster child of China's anti-meth efforts, one author wonders how long this may last, given the costliness of maintaining such a campaign. [8] Yes, meth making is down in one village, but surrounding narcotics villages in the sanjia region are still in business (QQ News, January 18, 2014). Not to mention that despite the crackdown, Boshe villagers are still making meth, if not, traveling to new parts of China along with other Lufengese in search of a freer business climate to set up shop. Moreover, Chinese anti-drug police forces are fraught with internal challenges such as low pay, insufficient training, understaffing, overburdening, low morale and bureaucratic politics. China still has a distance to cover in developing a strong law enforcement counterweight against the deadly attraction of meth. [9] There is no singular approach to solving the problem of meth trafficking in China. Ninety percent of people and goods enter China through Guangdong, which accords all of the province's coastal cities a natural advantage in trade that includes drug trafficking. Lufeng's stagnant human development limits economic mobility for its residents. [10] Take education for example. Despite population growth, the number of middle school students in attendance dropped from 147,000 in 2010 to 107,600 in 2014. Likewise, elementary school students in attendance diminished from 205,700 in 2010 to 116,500 in 2014 (China Data Online). But the determining factor influencing the meth trade is official collusion with drug traffickers. Local officialsincluding policemenworked with Cai Dongjia's enterprise. Yet this is far from the only instance. [11] Lufeng's city government, especially its public security bureau has a notorious reputation for being a cesspool of corruption. Two former Lufeng public security bureau chiefs, Chen Junpeng and Chen Yukeng, were convicted of taking bribes from and protecting drug traffickers. [12] In 2013, the entire Beidi dispatch station was placed under investigation due to similar concerns (Hailufeng Info., April 8, 2016). Shanwei, the prefectural-level city that governs Lufeng, fares no better. Ma Weiling, the former Shanwei public security bureau chief and one-time provincial drug czar, sold official posts at will to the highest bidder and shielded city officials from criminal investigation. When Cai Zhiquan, a deputy of Shanwei city's people's congress was identified as a suspect in a shooting incident, Ma helped him avoid criminal charges after accepting a bribe of 1.3 million HKD (CCP News, April 8, 2016). Without Ma's support, Chen Junpeng and Chen Yukeng, powerful patrons of Lufeng's traffickers, would not have been Lufeng's top cops (CCP News, October 21, 2015). Conclusion The alarming death toll of the Philippine drug war has refocused the world's attention on Asia's drug trade. At the center of Asian meth manufacturing, China's successes and failures in combating drug trafficking will have regional, if not global, implications. Although the current hardline approach did have an impact on reducing meth manufacturing in one area, strike hard campaigns only last for so long. Official collusion with traffickers and economic underdevelopment cannot be addressed by simple, quick fixes. What is needed is a regular application of the law by professional law enforcers supported by a corruption-free government, and more importantly, greater investment in human development to expand opportunities for vulnerable communities like the townships and villages in the vicinity of Lufeng. China's drug problem will continue to highlight a number of issues that the Chinese government faces. The rural-urban divide is changing crime and public safety. Domestic stability will increasingly take up more resources of the state and further strain the links of authority that tie the central government and the provinces. Despite the growth of China's security budget in recent years, the state's seemingly inability to stamp out the drug business shows us the corrupting effects of the trade on local administrators who protected traffickers for financial gains. Moreover, China's internal security strategy, which prioritizes political crime and threats against national unity, gives traffickers space where they can operate without impunity. Zi Yang is an independent researcher and consultant on China affairs. His research centers on Chinese internal security issues. He holds an M.A. from Georgetown University and a B.A. from George Mason University. Ralph A. Weisheit and William L. White, Methamphetamine: Its History, Pharmacology, and Treatment (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2009), p. 134. Xinmin Fan, " [New Trends in Narcotics-Related Social Problems in Our Country and Thoughts on Counter-Measures]," Social Sciences in Guangdong, no. 2 (March 2015), p. 189; Yanping Bao et al., " [The Characteristics and Associated Factors of Heroin Poly Drug Use among Synthetic Drug Users in 5 Areas in China]," Chinese Journal of Drug Dependence, no. 6 (December 2015), pp. 452, 453. Jiadi Zhuang, Ning Bin, and Guangjie Li, " [Analysis of the Evolutionary Game of Mass Incidentsusing Guangdong Province's Lufeng City's Boshe Village as an Example]," Market Weekly, no. 9 (September 2014), p. 85. We do not know exactly how many officials were involved in Lufeng's drug trafficking, and we may never find out. Cai Dongjia might, in fact, be a lower-level player who was sacrificed to protect higher-ups. Likewise, we do not know the exact number of police officials involved in the drug trade. However, with a meager salary of 2,000 RMB per month, traffickers easily bought off the policemen. See: Gang Liu, "'''' [Why Did Guangdong's 'First Narcotics Manufacturing Village' Became a 'Lawless Territory']," Country, Agriculture, Farmers, no. 2 (February 2014), p. 37. There are about 31 types of common Chinese medications that contain ephedrine/pseudoephedrine. 67.7 percent of drug traffickers arrested by the Guangdong police from January 2015 to May 2016 were Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau nationals. See: Sohu News, June 23, 2016. Yuanyuan Xu and Zhixin Qiu, " [On the Status Quo and Developing Trend of Drug-Making Crimes in Guangdong Province and Countermeasures]," Journal of Political Science and Law, no. 5 (October 2015), p. 22. Xuezhong He et al., "20122015 HIV/AIDS [Analysis of the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Guangdong Province's Lufeng]," Journal of Applied Preventive Medicine, no. 4 (August 2016), p. 308. Fei Zhu, " [Problems Existing in the Construction of Guangdong's Anti-Drug Laws and Legal Application and CountermeasuresFrom the Perspective of Striking-Hard Campaign against Drug Crimes in the East Region of Guangdong Province]," Journal of Political Science and Law, no. 5 (October 2015), pp. 2627. Weili Zhu, " [Analysis of Current Problems in Building Anti-Narcotics Forces in Eastern Guangdong Region]," Public Security Education [], no. 12 (December 2015), pp. 1718. Qingcai Sheng, " [Research on the Reasons for Crimes by Organized Criminal Gangs in Guangdong]," Journal of Guangdong Ocean University, no. 5 (October 2009), p. 42. The Chinese Communist Party never intended to portray itself as absolutely corrupt and irredeemable. Thus, corrupt scandals exposed by the official press only shows the tip of the iceberg. Chen Junpeng accepted bribes that totaled 1.66 million RMB and 200,000 HKD. Chen Yukeng's case involved bribes totaling 2.5 million RMB and 940,000 HKD. See: Xinhua News, July 1, 2015; Xinhua News, October 22, 2015. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Russia: Domestic violence law puts women at greater risk Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Russia: Domestic violence law puts women at greater risk, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b4fa44.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. After President Vladimir Putin signed a legal reform that decriminalizes some forms of domestic violence, Anna Kirey, Deputy Director for Campaigns for Russia and Eurasia at Amnesty International, said: "While the Russian government claims this reform will 'protect family values', in reality it rides roughshod over women's rights. It is a sickening attempt to further trivialize domestic violence, an issue the Russian government has long attempted to downplay. Far too often, victims find they cannot rely on the law for protection and their abusers are let off the hook, with only a tiny fraction imprisoned for their actions. "In the more than a decade since Amnesty International's last report on rampant domestic violence in Russia, the authorities have failed to implement a single measure to enhance protection and services for the victims. "Russia is far behind global developments to protect victims of domestic violence, having very scarce measures in place such as government-funded shelters, effective practices of protection orders or police officers trained in how to respond to reports about abuse and protect victims. "Russian authorities must scrap this abusive legislation and put together a comprehensive package of measures to address the vast scale of domestic violence in Russia once and for all." Russia is a state party to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The UN's CEDAW Committee has specifically criticized Russia for its failure to take actions to address domestic violence. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Afghanistan: Attack on ICRC is a horrific crime Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Afghanistan: Attack on ICRC is a horrific crime, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b50034.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The killing of six employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in northern Afghanistan is a horrific crime, Amnesty International said today. "By targeting the ICRC, who devote their lives to helping people in desperate need, the perpetrators have demonstrated a horrific contempt for human life," said Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty International's South Asia Director. The killings in the northern Jowzjan province come a day after a suicide bomber killed more than 20 people at the entrance of Afghanistan's Supreme Court in Kabul. Afghanistan is currently reeling from a series of attacks on civilians, including the murder of four women in Herat and Badakhshan provinces over the past week. In Herat, the killers left behind a note saying, "This is the punishment for prostitutes." No one has yet claimed responsibility for today's attack, the bombing of the Supreme Court, or the killings of the ICRC staff. The deaths of the ICRC employees mark the latest in an escalating wave of violence. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, 3,498 people were killed and 7,920 people injured in 2016 - marking the highest number of civilian casualties since the UN began documenting statistics in Afghanistan. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the people killed in this and other attacks on civilians, as well as to our colleagues at the International Committee of the Red Cross on this incredibly sad day," said Biraj Patnaik. "The Afghan authorities must immediately investigate these civilian deaths and bring the perpetrators to justice. They have a responsibility to deliver justice. The war in Afghanistan is not winding down, but tragically escalating with consequences for human rights that should alarm us all." Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Zimbabwe: End persecution of human rights defender Pastor Mawarire Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 8 February 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Zimbabwe: End persecution of human rights defender Pastor Mawarire, 8 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589b504e4.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The Zimbabwean authorities must drop all politically motivated charges against human rights activist Pastor Evan Mawarire and stop using the criminal justice system to harass and intimidate him for his activism, Amnesty International and Civicus said today after the Harare High Court granted him bail and ordered his release on 9 February. Upon his return to Zimbabwe last week, he was arrested and charged with subversion and "insulting the national Flag of Zimbabwe" in connection with protests he led in 2016 over corruption and economic decline. "Pastor Evan Mawarire is being subjected to political persecution through the courts for exercising his freedom of expression. His continued persecution has a chilling effect on peaceful activism in Zimbabwe," said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Southern Africa. "The release of Pastor Evan Mawarire on bail is not enough, the politically motivated charges against him must be completely withdrawn. The state cannot continue to harass and intimidate him simply for standing up for human rights." The two organizations are calling on the Zimbabwean government to stop punishing those who seek to hold their government accountable. "No one should be put behind bars for asking difficult questions about the governance of the country. Instead of listening to them, the government is subjecting people like Pastor Evan Mawarire to trumped-up criminal investigations," said David Kode, Senior Policy and Research Officer at CIVICUS. "The actions of the state go against the principles of justice, and demonstrate a systematic targeting of those who dare to hold the government to account." Background Pastor Evan Mawarire, founder and one of the leaders of the #Thisflag movement, led several anti-government protests in 2016 against corruption, human rights violations and the declining economy in the country. He was previously arrested on 12 July 2016 and charged with incitement to commit public violence after leading a national shutdown between 13 and 14 July 2016. He was released after a magistrate found his arrest to be unconstitutional and dismissed the charge against him. His USD 300 bail came with strict conditions, including surrendering his passport to authorities and reporting to the police twice every week. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International When 17-year-old Bronx high school student Hebh Jamal decided to organize a city-wide student walkout to protest President Donald Trump's policies last week, the idea was to focus on the recently-instated travel ban, barring refugees for at least four months and non-citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries for three. Jamal, a Palestinian-American Muslim and seasoned activist, wasn't deterred when Seattle Judge James Robart ruled to temporarily suspend the policy. "I think we need to capitalize on this momentum," Jamal told Broadly in a recent interview. "I think protests and the total outrage were what made the judge and parts of government realize it may take sacrificing your job. I want more of that: people willing to risk something for the greater good." Then, just as hundreds of high school and college students left their classrooms on Tuesday to rally in Foley Square, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Education Secretary after a history-making 50-50 vote (Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie). The scope of the protest quickly broadened, as students decried DeVos's lack of experience and conflicts of interest, including investments in Performant Business Services, Inc., a debt collection agency that collects student loans. "They [the students] are really woke around student loan debt, watching the generation in front of them not be able to pay their loans or find jobs," 28-year-old organizer Carlene Pinto, campaign manager for the New York Immigration Coalition, told Gothamist. "It's like, 'Oh you guys are paying attention to all of the Sallie May memes on Instagram." According to organizers, students walked out of more than 25 schools on Tuesdaypublic, private and charterin Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. In the spitting rain, they mic-checked with activists, many of them students. "It was the youth who walked out during the civil rights movement. It was the youth who tore at the Berlin wall with their bare hands. It was the youth who stood in front of tanks at Tiananmen Square, said 17-year-old Youssef Abdelzaher, a high school senior from Astoria. In the same Broadly interview, Jamal explained why she felt it was important not only to protest Trump and his policies en masse, but to do it in the middle of the school day: I always hear from people, "Why can't you just do it after school?" It doesn't have the same significance. I always frame it in the terms of labor. When you're a worker and you want to strike, you're doing it as a disruptive force of your labor. "I'm not going to continue as if this is normal right now because it's not." I feel like it's the same for students. We're part of this kind of workforce. So if we're going to protest something it makes sense to disrupt it and be part of a movement. We can't just continue on normally with our lives and do it after school. Before leading a march to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) building at 26 Federal Plaza, organizers circulated a flyer outlining next steps, including monthly student organizing meetings and a commitment to consistent, nonviolent protest. "Everyone should have a voice, especially us," Jordan, a 14-year-old freshman at Beacon High School in Hell's Kitchen told Gothamist. "We are the next generation and it will be up to us in the future to run the country." Pressed for space and fresh out of shabby-chic options on Airbnb, the U.S. Military is hoping to move into Trump Tower. Speaking with CNN last night, Lt. Col. J.B. Brindle said the Defense Department needs the real estate "for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building." "In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower," Brindle continued. While the Defense Department setting up shop inside, or very close to, a president's private residence is historically precedented, the Times keenly notes that were the military to lease space inside of Trump Tower, government funds, collected from American taxpayers, would go directly into the president's real estate business. Shortly after Trump's election in November, the Secret Service also looked into renting space inside Trump Tower, but ultimately abandoned the idea. Speaking with CNN, Jared Horowitz, a real estate agent in charge of leasing open space in Trump Tower, quoted $1.5 million per year for an open floor ranging from 13,000 to 15,500 square feet. If military officials do eventually move into Trump Tower, they'll be vey well-protected. Trump's 5th Avenue residence and commercial flagship is surrounded by a maze of closed streets, concrete and metal barricades, checkpoints, and NYPD officers, all of which currently costs the city of New York an estimated $500,000 daily. Lviv, Ukraine -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/08/2017 --We have arranged the project in order to reveal the most captivating and informative data bringing the greatest use to the readers. Our mission is to take off the blanket and show all the benefits of IT outsourcing that Ukraine can offer to both national and foreign clients. The website is being built in a way any user can find everything necessary helping to choose Ukraine as its priority for doing business with. Different topics coverage in the Blog provides an analysis of the main advantages and disadvantages of the country since there is a good pile of information already available. Another part is the IT Outsourcing Playbook which is a brief and structured outline of the main information about Ukraine and its current IT outsourcing potential. Playbook aims at providing the most significant and precise data that will not mislead the reader about the local IT environment. And, finally, an analytic Research on different IT outsourcing-related issues and trends can be ordered in case if you need more information about Ukraine or other CEE region countries. Moreover, the team is already working on new updates to the structure of the website. Ukraine and its IT arena are open to the world and invite new businesses to be established. If you don't want to miss and keep tuned with the newest issues, visit our website http://outsourcingreview.org/?scr=rw and subscribe via email to receive our newsletters. A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017 The leader of Cambodias opposition party plans to sue the countrys prime minister in the International Criminal Court over a failed plan to militarize the countrys border after the fall of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. I will not file a complaint to get money for myself, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Sam Rainsy told RFAs Khmer Service on Wednesday. I will file the complaint to seek justice for the entire population of Cambodia. Known as K5, the plan has been described as an attempt to build a kind of Berlin Wall on the Thai border in an effort to prevent the Pol Pot-led Khmer Rouge and other guerillas from reestablishing their bases and infiltrating Cambodia after their defeat by the Vietnamese in 1979. While K5 was never completed, its estimated that up to a million Cambodian workers were pressed into duty as slave laborers to clear the land for the proposed fortifications. Thousands of Cambodians and ethnic Chinese died from disease or were killed or disabled by land mines as they labored on the ill-conceived project, which was bedeviled by corruption and mismanagement. Sam Rainsy wrote on his Facebook on Feb. 7, that hundreds of thousands of Cambodians were forcibly sent to help build the "strategic" K5 Wall along the border with Thailand. Many never returned, and only their ashes were returned to their families, he wrote in the post, adding that he is in the process of collecting more evidence and witness testimonies. After his investigation is complete, he then plans to file a case with the ICC. The ICC has convicted only 39 individuals since it was established in 1998, and Sam Rainsys case appears to be a long shot. But the attempt reflects the rising tensions between Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy and the Cambodia National Rescue Party. Sam Rainsy has been cornered Hun Sens own previous involvement with the Khmer Rouge is clouded in secrecy, and his relationship with Vietnam has become a potent political issue as the opposition has attempted to paint him as Hanois stooge. Sam Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest for a defamation case brought by former Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in 2008, and he has been convicted in several court cases brought by members of the CPP. In October, Hun Sen ordered police, immigration, and aviation authorities to "use all ways and means" to prevent the opposition leader from returning to the country, as Sam Rainsy has pledged to do before the countrys elections. In January, Hun Sen filed a defamation suit against Sam Rainsy for remarks made during a Jan. 14 speech in Paris in which the opposition leader accused the Cambodian strongman of giving a $1 million bribe to rising opposition social media star Thy Sovantha to persuade her to switch loyalties to the ruling party. Despite the legal battles, Sam Rainsy told RFA he still holds out hope for a reconciliation. We need to remind ourselves that our country has lost some land to foreigners, he said. We have been taken advantage of, looked down on, and exploited by foreigners. We must not fight or kill each other. CPP spokesman Sok Eysan threw cold water on the reconciliation notion. Sam Rainsy has been cornered," he told RFA. "His political life is numbered now. To build K5, the Vietnamese military command in Cambodia began hacking a path through the jungle along the border with the intent to mine and fortify the border in 1984. At the time, Hun Sen was a rising figure in the Vietnamese-installed government that ruled the country. In early 1985 he was elevated to the post of prime minister. The late Sin Sen, who was deputy Interior Minister for the Peoples Republic of Kampucheaas the country was known at the timehas said that Hun Sen ran the operation. K5 was led by Hun Sen. He was assigned the responsibility by Vietnam, Sin Sen said according to the 2015 report 30 Years of Hun Sen written by the New York-based investigative nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch. Reported by Vuthy Tha for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. A man spins a wheel to predict which candidate will win forthcoming elections for Hong Kong's chief executive at a stall set up in Hong Kong's Victoria Park for China's Lunar New Year celebrations, Jan. 27, 2017. Pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong have launched an online nominations website for candidates in forthcoming elections for the city's top job, in a bid to get around the lack of public involvement in the poll. The new "civil referendum" website gives the city's seven million residentsmost of whom won't have a say in who their next leader isthe chance to nominate their preferred candidates alongside the official nominations process. Users can nominate from among 12 public figures including Beijing's favorite and former second-in-command Carrie Lam, as well as less well-known names, government broadcaster RTHK reported. In the actual poll, only members of a 1,200 pro-Beijing Election Committee will get to cast a vote, and media reports say Beijing has made it clear that Lam has been picked as the preferred candidate of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. The referendum site is being run by HKU Public Opinion Programme and the Polytechnic Universitys Centre for Social Policy Studies, backed by legal scholar Benny Tai, who initiated the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement. Pan-democratic groups are represented on the committee, and could theoretically use their 300 seats to nominate one or two candidates who receive more than the one-percent threshold of 37,790 votes via the referendum site. Not enough backers yet But official nominations can only be made with the backing of at least 150 members of the committee, and not enough members have openly backed the plan yet. Even if a publicly nominated candidate makes it into the race, they are unlikely to win enough votes to get the job, given that the Election Committee is strongly weighted in Beijing's favor. Anyone garnering the backing of one percent of total eligible voters will enter a mock public election in March, providing a snapshot of how the public might have voted if they had been given the chance. Veteran social activist and pan-democratic lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, known by his nickname "Long Hair" on Wednesday announced his intention to run for chief executive. Leung, who is was elected to the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) for the League of Social Democrats party, hit out at the current election arrangements, saying he will seek official nomination if he garners enough votes on the referendum website. The pan-democrats on the Election Committee have yet to use their votes as a bloc, however, despite of calls by Benny Tai that they should back a candidate who promises to withdraw attempts to remove four pan-democrats from LegCo amid an ongoing row over their swearing-in ceremonies. "I don't think the pan-democrats should support any of the four current candidates," Leung told reporters. "The reason for this is that not one of them represents the [views of] pan-democrat committee members." "I am putting myself forward because it's the quickest way to ensure that there is a candidate for everyone," he said. He said the pan-democrats haven't had a chief executive candidate to vote for in the 19 years since the 1997 handover to Chinese rule. "I think we should avoid that happening again," Leung said. "I don't think I'm necessarily the best person to represent the pan-democrats, but I'm coming forward because there isn't anyone else." He said Benny Tai's innovation could at least get around the lack of public nominations, and have some impact on a "closed-circuit" election. Leung Kwok-hung (C), chairman of the League of Social Democrats, protests against China's National Day celebrations in Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2016. Credit: AFP Hotly contested election Lawmaker and pan-democratic Election Committee member Kenneth Leung said he is in favor of a hotly contested election. "We respect Leung Kwok-hung's desire to take part in the election, and we want to see a competitive election for the chief executive," he told reporters. "We don't want anyone to be able to control it," he said. But he admitted that there is currently no unified voting strategy among the 300 pan-democrats on the committee. But Leung Kwok-hung was criticized for not discussing his bid for nomination with other pan-democrats in advance. Veteran pan-democratic lawmaker James To said many in Hong Kong fear that Carrie Lam will simply be another version of incumbent Leung Chun-ying, who won't seek a second term in office. "Right now we are worried, and we have seen that many local people are worried, that we will just see a continuation of the bureaucratic lineage with Leung Chun-ying 2.0," To said. "This issue doesn't seem to be a worry for LegCo member Leung, and he doesn't seem to have thought through whether standing as a candidate would make prevent it from happening, or make it more likely to happen," he said. Retired judge and chief executive candidate Woo Kwok-hing, however, said he saw Leung's bid as divisive. "The more political opinions there are on offer, the more it will contribute to divisions in society," Woo told reporters. "I don't want to see further divisions in Hong Kong society; I would like to heal those divisions and make it harmonious," he said, using a term frequently employed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to silence dissent and criticism. Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. An editor of a Hong Kong newspaper has fled the city and is seeking asylum in the United States, citing political persecution by the ruling Chinese Communist Party after he showed support for the former British colony's 2014 pro-democracy movement. Long Zhenyang, 47, handed in his resignation as assistant editor-in-chief of the Commercial Daily, one of a trio of Beijing-backed newspapers in the Chinese-controlled territory, after being placed under "political measures" for more than a year, he told RFA in an interview on . He said the newspaper has been controlled by Chinese officials under the aegis of the Shenzhen Press Group since 1999. He had been placed under "political measures" for more than a year prior to his departure, he told RFA in an interview on . "I'm already in the U.S.," Long said. "There's no way I would have laid all my cards on the table until after I had left [China]." He described the Communist Party as "a terrifying organization." "I had already been placed under political measures at the paper for over a year, which basically meant that they didn't trust my politics," Long said, adding that he is seeking political asylum. "It was all because back at the time of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, and also the time when they were demolishing churches in [the eastern Chinese province of] Zhejiang, I made a few comments that they found out about." "They stopped trusting me," he said. "I hadn't been to work in more than a year, although they were still paying me my salary." Old-fashioned political struggle Long, whose job as assistant editor also gave him the status of a party cadre at deputy division chief level, arrived in the United States last year. He confirmed that the document purporting to be his resignation letter, which began to circulate online last month, was written by him to his then editor-in-chief Chen Yin. In it, he accuses the paper of a return to the political struggle sessions of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). "The sociopolitical climate in Chinese politics has grown more and more like the Cultural Revolution in recent years," the letter said. "All hope for social reform, and reforms to China's political system, has now been extinguished." "My [religious] beliefs and my political views mean that I am no longer able to fulfill my role as assistant editor of the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, which is controlled by the Communist Party regime, and so I hereby resign my post," it said. However, local media reported that Commercial Daily management claimed to have made Long redundant with effect from Jan. 1. Long said that many of the Hong Kong staff of the newspaper had been "underground party members," but this didn't stop them being sidelined and replaced since the takeover of the paper by the Shenzhen Press Group. "It became very clear that they didn't trust any of them, and they were all replaced," he said. "The paper's investors [the Joint Publishing Group] were all directly managed by [Beijing's] Central Liaison Office." "After the takeover by the Shenzhen Press Group, then their opinions would be taken into account as well." Employer remains silent An employee of the Shenzhen Press Group confirmed that Long had the status of a deputy division chief in their organization, but declined to comment on his departure. "You'll have to ask the propaganda department about this, the municipal government propaganda department," the employee said. "Because this is dealing with [queries from] overseas." "We can't answer any of your questions until the propaganda department has cleared it." An employee who answered the phone at the Commercial Daily newspaper offices in Hong Kong also declined to comment. "I don't know. You should call the personnel department," the employee said. But calls to the personnel department rang unanswered during office hours on . Long was born in Wuchuan, in the southern province of Guangdong, in 1970, graduating in literature from the Changchun Normal Institute in the northeastern province of Jilin. He initially took up a post on the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone News, a newspaper run by the Guangdong Foreign Trade Research Institute, before taking a job as chief reporter on the Commercial Daily in 2000 and being promoted from there. Chinese rights activist Zhang Baocheng said many people share Long's view. "If you look at the overall direction China has been going in, including President Xi Jinping, it looks more and more like a Red Guard mentality and method," Zhang said. "We are gradually moving backwards, towards the Cultural Revolution." Last year, China marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the Cultural Revolution, which many still fear could return in another guise. The decade of factional armed struggle, mob lynchings, and kangaroo courts turned the country upside down, as late supreme leader Mao Zedong took on his political rivals, using the "revolutionary masses" as political support. According to political commentators, the administration of President Xi Jinping has played a role in fueling popular support for late supreme leader Mao Zedong, allowing leftists within the party to denounce or attack liberal intellectuals, several of whom have been fired or otherwise targeted after they criticized the Maoist left or Mao himself online. In public, Xi has stuck to the party line that Mao was a great leader who made some "serious mistakes," and warning that the Chairman was human, not divine, and shouldn't be worshiped as such. But the government has also denounced any criticism of Mao Zedong or the Communist Party's legacy as "historical nihilism" in recent years, and some analysts fear the president is well on the way to setting up his own personality cult in Mao's stead. Reported by Wong Siu-san and Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Lam Wing-kei, one of five Hong Kong booksellers detained by the Chinese authorities for selling "banned" political books to customers across the internal border in mainland China, is the only one of the five to speak openly about his experiences in detention and about threats to his personal safety since his release last year. Two of Lam's colleagues at the now-shuttered Causeway Bay Books store, Lee Bo and Gui Minhai, are foreign passport-holders who went missing outside China's borders: Lee Bo from his workplace in Hong Kong and Gui Minhai from his holiday home in Pattaya, Thailand. Colleagues Lui Por and Cheung Chi-ping, like Lam, were detained as soon as they crossed the border into China. While Gui remains in an unknown location, Lui, Cheung and Lam were released with a set of instructions from China's state security police: to reappear in Hong Kong, refute reports of their disappearance, and claim to be voluntarily helping police with their enquiries. Only Lam refused to to stick to that script. He spoke to RFA after arriving in Taiwan this week to speak publicly about his experiences under the "one country, two systems" arrangement that Beijing also hopes to extend to the democratic island. He was immediately offered 24-hour police protection. RFA: So what are the security arrangements like around you? Lam: I am in someone else's home right now, and there are four or five police officers stationed in the alleyway out back. There were more than 10 of them following our car. I feel sorry, as a guest, that I am causing them so much trouble, and that things have gotten this way whenever Hong Kong and Taiwan try to have such exchanges. RFA: Why so much security? Lam: I think the Taiwan authorities are really worried about anything untoward happening. Ultimately, this is all because of the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party. Even if [all this security] isn't necessary, [my hosts] would still feel unsettled. It's not good for me, either. All my plans to move around freely have come to nothing. How can I move around anywhere freely? RFA: What kind of a visa do you have? Lam: Initially they told me I could get a month, but that was cut to just two weeks, then they must have started to worry, and they said I could only have a week. I had planned just to come here and then extend it, and I asked them about that, but the Taiwan authorities said I couldn't do that. I have been cleared for a single return trip. It used to be that you got a little booklet that was good for several trips, but now there are security concerns, because of [the attacks on pro-democracy leader] Joshua Wong [last month]. I heard that this means there's a lot of pressure on the chief of police here, who could lose his job if anything happens to me on this trip. RFA: What do your hosts, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and Independent PEN have to say about this? Lam: The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy said to me that perhaps I could limit the number of media interviews I give. I said that would be very difficult, because everyone knows I am here; it's public knowledge. Anyway, I'm not doing anything illegal. How about if I only speak to the media if they ask me something? But I will take their concerns into consideration. I can't just act as I please as if I were in Hong Kong. RFA: Are you going to avoid the topic of Hong Kong independence too? Lam: If I'm asked about it, I will speak about it, but I will be careful what I say. RFA: What is the state of freedom of publication in Hong Kong right now, would you say? Lam: It's very clear that there are some things you can't publish. For example, a couple of months ago a Malaysian woman wrote a book, but no publishing house in Hong Kong or Taiwan dared to publish it, because they were too worried about the impact in mainland China. To put it another way, they were afraid of annoying Beijing. They had a book that they wanted to publish, and they could have done so before the Causeway Bay Books incident. But they don't dare, now that this has happened. So this shows us that of course things have changed. Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Hwang Chun-mei for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Adulterated foodstuffs and medicines produced in North Korea are sickening consumers and leaving health problems untreated, leading to widespread preference for more expensive products made outside the country, North Korean sources say. In North Koreas Yanggang province, lying along the border with China, bread baked at one factory in Hyesan city has caused outbreaks of vomiting and hives, a source in Yanggang told RFAs Korean Service. People who ate the bread produced at the Hyesan Food Factory were left with symptoms of vomiting and hives, so the Hygiene Epidemics Prevention Office has begun an investigation, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Hyesan factory produces refined soybean oil, bread, red pepper paste, cellophane noodles, and other foods, the source said. Hyesans bread, which is made from a mixture of corn and wheat and is popular with college students and other North Korean residents because of its low price, was formerly made with yeast produced in China, the source said. But factory workers say they began to use self-produced yeast this year, he said. However, this is all being done without permission from the Quality Supervision Department of the North Korean Peoples Committee or the Hygiene Epidemics Prevention Office, he added. 'No effect at all' Speaking separately, a source in Jagang province told RFA that domestic medicines too are failing to meet desired standards, and people are purchasing only expensive Chinese medicines. A single pack of aspirins made by the Sunchon Pharmaceutical Company in South Pyongan province contains 100 pills and costs 3,000 won (U.S. 37 cents in unofficial rate), RFAs source said, also speaking on condition he not be named. But these are not effective against fever, no matter how many pills one consumes. It is much better to take two pills of Chinese medicine than to take 100 pills produced domestically, he said. Medicines said to clear the heart and used in traditional medicine are also widely prescribed, but are trusted more and available more cheaply as imports from China, the source said. There are lots of domestic medicines, but they have no effect at all, he said. As a result, North Korean residents are only interested in Chinese medicines. Reported by Sunghui Moon for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Soo Min Jo. Written in English by Richard Finney. Myanmars government is coming under increasing criticism for its handling of the crises in Rakhine state where an army crackdown may have killed more than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims. While the actual number of dead in the western state that borders Bangladesh is disputed by the government, which has demanded more evidence from its critics, the crisis has brought international condemnation from human rights organizations, the United Nations, and the Vatican. In his weekly general audience Pope Francis rebuked the Myanmar government for a campaign that has led to reports Rohingyas have been tortured and killed because of their religion. They are good people, they are not Christians, they are peaceful people, they are our brothers and sisters and for years they have been suffering, they are being tortured and killed, simply because they uphold their Muslim faith, he said, according to a report by Vatican Radio. Pope Francis' remarks come after a U.N. flash report detailed killings, rapes, forced disappearances, and other abuses committed against Rohingya Muslims allegedly by Myanmar security forces. The U.N. report found that it was very likely that the abuses are crimes against humanity. While the U.N. report detailed some of the alleged abuses, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) went even further. The U.S.-based investigative nongovernmental organization on Feb. 6 detailed how Burmese army and Border Guard Police personnel took part in rape, gang rape, invasive body searches, and sexual assaults in at least nine villages in Maungdaw district between Oct. 9 and mid-December. These horrific attacks on Rohingya women and girls by security forces add a new and brutal chapter to the Burmese militarys long and sickening history of sexual violence against women, said Priyanka Motaparthy, HRWs senior emergencies researcher. Military and police responsibility Military and police commanders should be held responsible for these crimes if they did not do everything in their power to stop them or punish those involved, Motaparthy said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was horrified" by the Human Rights Watch report, according to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric who gave the U.N. chief's reaction to the findings on Tuesday. A separate report by ND-Burma, an organization comprised of 13 Burmese human rights organizations, found 154 human rights violations nationwide in 2016almost double the 84 violations recorded in 2015. Torture was the most common human rights violation, the organization found, with 67 cases recorded in 2016 compared with 26 in 2015. The majority of abuses were perpetrated by government forces, with the rest having been committed by armed ethnic organizations, the group said. The report did not specifically focus on Rakhine state or the Rohingya and found most of the abuses were in northern Shan state where ethnic armies are fighting the national military. We believe that the legal immunity enjoyed by the army under the 2008 Constitution has allowed the military to continue committing human rights violations with impunity, resulting in this depressing spike in human rights violations, said ND-Burma management board member Moon Nay Li. Meanwhile Reuters reported that more than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims may have been killed in the crackdown by Myanmars military. "The talk until now has been of hundreds of deaths. This is probably an underestimation-we could be looking at thousands," a U.N. official told Reuters. Reuters based its report on information provided by two U.N. officials who in separate interviews cited the weight of testimony gathered by their agencies from refugees over the past four months in concluding the death toll likely exceeded 1,000. Government questions casualty reports Myanmar's presidential spokesman Zaw Htay said the latest reports from military commanders were that fewer than 100 people have been killed in the counterinsurgency operation against Rohingya militants who attacked police border posts in October. Asked about the U.N. officials' comments that the dead could number more than 1,000, he told Reuters: "Their number is much greater than our figure. We have to check on the ground." About 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims live in apartheid-like conditions in northwestern Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship. Many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and refer to them as Bengalis. Last week the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi promised to investigate the allegations in the report. It has previously denied almost all accusations of killings, rapes and arson. But mounting evidence of atrocities by the military puts Aung San Suu Kyi, who has no authority over the armed forces under a constitution written by the previous military government, in a difficult position. The Nobel peace prize winner has faced criticism from the West for her silence on the issue, but challenging the generals is risky as it could put Myanmar's democratic transition in jeopardy. Bengali broadcasts ignite protests Aung San Suu Kyi's tenuous position is underscored by the announcement of protests in 13 states over a decision by the Ministry of Informations decision to broadcast in the local Bengali dialect in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships in northern Rakhine state. We cannot accept the decision of the government that was made without consulting the local people Maung Maung Thet, a local protestor told RFAs Myanmar Service. It is an insult to all ethnics that the authorities are making plans to give these non-citizens priority and broadcast in the Bengali dialect when our nationals are not getting programs in our own dialects, Maung Maung Thet said. Rakhine state parliament members also plan to object to the program when the states parliament reconvenes on Feb 20. The Ministry of Information defended the programs in a statement, saying that they are meant to give the latest news to people in those areas and that no other groups have been allowed to make such broadcasts. A lot of false and fabricated news has come out during the recent conflict in Maungdaw, and the government wants area residents to learn the truth about the work of various government ministries, the ministry said. The broadcasts are in Burmese, Rakhine, and a local Bengali dialect. Reported and translated by RFA's Myanmar Service. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Instead of spending his days in school studying, 16-year-old Rohingya refugee Md. Sadeq begs in the streets of Coxs Bazar district. The teen had gone to school in Myanmar before his family fled to the district in southeastern Bangladesh to escape violence in his home state of Rakhine. I used to study at the ninth grade, but I could not continue education after I came here, he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. I am not getting to work here. [I] am ashamed of begging. He is among thousands of Rohingya children who have been barred by Bangladeshi authorities from attending public schools in the district because they are officially unregistered, compared with children of refugees living in U.N.-registered camps who are able to go to school. Thousands of Rohingya children, whose families have settled in camps and settlements for unregistered refugees in and around Coxs Bazar, instead receive a religious education where they memorize the Quran in Islamic classrooms called maktabs. The government estimates that at least 400,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar over the past decades. That number includes an estimated 66,000 who entered Bangladesh since October 2016, when Myanmar security forces launched a crackdown following the killings of nine border guards by suspected militants in Rakhine state. As every family has at least four to five children, we can assume the number of children is half of the population, Md. Alam, a leader of the Rohingya camp in Leda in Teknaf sub-district, told BenarNews. Of the total, only children of 35,000 Rohingya who live in UN-registered camps attend classes up to grade eight. Unregistered Rohingya children are being educated in maktabs, classes instructed in the camps by imams, who, in many cases, have little education themselves. Moulvi Tayebur Rahman teaches at one of nine maktabs in an unregistered camp in Leda, in Coxs Bazar. About 450 children are receiving Arabic education. They do not get any mainstream education so they are lagging behind, he told BenarNews. Arabic education means that children memorize passages from the Quran and are not taught subjects such as language, math, science or history. A leader of the Kutupalong Rohingya camp, Md. Tayob, told BenarNews, The children of these camps study Arabic in the morning and evening. They go begging the rest of the day. Lack of support The U.N. has no permission to provide support to those in unregistered Rohingya camps, an official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told BenarNews on condition of anonymity. UNHCR provides education, including classes in Burmese, the official language of Myanmar, up to grade 8, for about 8,000 children of registered Rohingya refugees. Because there is hope that the children will return to Myanmar one day, Burmese is taught so they can continue their studies there. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government does not focus on education for Rohingya refugees, according to a government official. Our target is to repatriate them as soon as possible. The government has no other plan, said the official who asked to remain anonymous. So the government will not recognize as refugees the Rohingya entering Bangladesh now. Few opportunities Educational opportunities are lacking in the country the Rohingya were forced to flee. The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. In Myanmar, the Rohingya children do not get education provided by the government. With payment, the children are educated, Ahmed Kabir, a resident of an unregistered refugee camp in Leda, told BenarNews. A BenarNews correspondent visited Rohingya camps in Coxs Bazar in January and spoke to children and parents about schools. Some Rohingya refugees who have lived in Bangladesh for years send their children to local schools by concealing their identity. Faruk, a grade three student, was spotted writing in a classroom in a Leda camp. He has been very passionate about education since his early years. He has been a good student. We have been living here for 18 years, so we can avail this opportunity, his mother told BenarNews on the condition of anonymity. Burden for two countries Kazi Reazul Haque, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, outlined a major barrier for local schooling. Language is associated with education, so ensuring education for these children is difficult. This is because they are here temporarily, Haque told BenarNews. Another educator called for technical training. These uneducated children would not be able to make a skilled and productive generation even if they are repatriated to Myanmar. In that case, they may get back to Bangladesh as irregular laborers, professor C.R. Abrar, a founder of the Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Unit, a private think-tank, told BenarNews. Keeping this factor in mind, they should be provided with technical education with the support from international agencies. Reported by Jesmin Papri from Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, for BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Vietnamese people huddle on a fishing boat bound for Australia in an undated photo. Three Vietnamese families returned by Australian authorities last year after they tried to illegally migrate there have fled Vietnam a second time by boat hoping to make it to Australia again, their lawyer said. Attorney Vo An Don wrote on social media on Feb. 3 that the families of Tran Thi Thanh Loan, Tran Thi Lua and Tran Thi Phuc, comprising at least a dozen adults and at least seven children, left Vietnam on Aug. 31. At the moment, their boat has passed Indonesian waters and is heading to Australia, Don wrote on his Facebook page. All three families fled to Australia in 2015 but were returned to Vietnam the same year where some of them were sentenced to a total of six years in prison by a court in Binh Thuan province on Vietnams southeast coast, he said. If they are returned by Australia this time, Loan will face up to seven years in prison, and Lua will face six years in prison, he said, meaning that they will have to serve the remainder of their existing sentences combined with new prison terms. Loan and Lua told Don by phone that if the Australian government does not accept them and decides to return them to Vietnam, they will drown themselves at sea, the lawyer said. They dont want to be returned to Vietnam a second time, he said. I wish them a safe trip and that they reach their harbor of freedom. This time Loan left with her four children because her husband is still in prison, Son said. She was sentenced to 36 months in prison, and her husband who was sentenced to 24 years is still serving his term, Don said. Lua was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Both Loans and Luas prison sentences have been put on hold for one year and will resume in July, Don said. Lua left Vietnam this time with her three children and husband who is piloting the boat to Australia, he said. Don does not know how many people are in Phucs family. Three people among the group of adults received suspended prison sentences, he said. Vietnam and Australia signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on human smuggling last year to counter irregular migration by Vietnamese boat people who try to enter the country illegally in search of work. The Australian government takes a zero-tolerance stance on boat people under its Operation Sovereign Borders policy. Other Vietnamese boat people who were caught and returned to the country by Australian authorities last year are serving longer sentences under Article 349 of a new penal code approved by Vietnam in July 2016, which pertains to organizing for others to flee the country illegally. Reported by Mac Lam for RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. More than 1,000 Bucharest residents, young and old, women and children, gathered in front of the Romanian government building on Saturday (February 4) to protest against the weakening of anticorruption laws. The protest was organized via Facebook by a civic initiative called Corruption Kills under the slogan "Education for Democracy." (RFE/RL's Moldovan Service) Russia-backed separatists say one of their commanders in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine has been assassinated. Mikhail Tolstykh was better known by his nom de guerre, Givi. In Current Time TV's documentary about the brutal battle for Donetsk airport, he explained how he came to join the separatist forces. In 2016, Givi was charged in Ukraine with crimes including the creation of a terrorist organization, abduction, and abuse of prisoners of war. Afghan officials say a suicide bomber has detonated his explosives at the gate of a district headquarters in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia, killing two civilians. A guard was also wounded in the February 8 attack in Dand-i-Patan district near the Pakistan border. The suicide bomber wanted to enter the district headquarters, but police...asked him to stop, provincial police chief Qadir Gul Zadran, said. "The bomber immediately detonated his explosives." On February 8, at least 20 people were killed when a suicide bomber struck at the entrance to the Supreme Court in the capital, Kabul. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the Taliban frequently use roadside bombs and suicide attacks to target officials and security forces across Afghanistan. Based on reporting by AP and Pajhwok Six Afghan employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been killed in an attack in the northern Afghan province of Jowzjan, officials say. The international charity said on February 8 that another two ICRC workers remained unaccounted for. "Devastated by this news out of #Afghanistan," ICRC President Peter Maurer said on Twitter. "My deepest condolences to the families of those killed -- and those still unaccounted for." No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but provincial Governor Mawlawi Lutfullah Azizi said suspected Islamic State (IS) gunmen were behind it. Militants loyal to the IS group were "very active" in the area, he added. Azizi also said the aid workers were in a convoy carrying supplies to areas hit by avalanches when they were attacked in the Qush Tepa district. The Taliban, which frequently uses roadside bombs and suicide attacks to target officials and security forces across Afghanistan, denied involvement. IS militants have made limited inroads in Afghanistan, but have carried out increasingly deadly attacks. The killings come after a Spanish worker of the ICRC was abducted in northern Afghanistan in December and released less than a month later. The ICRC or Afghan officials did not say how he was freed or who was behind the abduction. Also on February 8, the IS group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed at least 20 people outside the Supreme Court in the capital, Kabul. The bomber, identified as Abu Bakr Altajiki by the militants, detonated an explosive belt as court employees were leaving work in the evening of February 7. White House spokesman Sean Spicer called the bombing a "cowardly attack" and said U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn had phoned his Afghan counterpart, Mohammad Atmar, to "reaffirm our support to the Afghan government." Elsewhere in Afghanistan, officials said a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the gate of a district headquarters in the eastern province of Paktia, killing two civilians. A guard was also wounded in the February 8 attack in Dand-e Patan district near the Pakistan border. "The suicide bomber wanted to enter the district headquarters, but police identified and asked him to stop," provincial police chief Qadir Gul Zadran said. "The bomber immediately detonated his explosives." No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack. With reporting by dpa, AP, Reuters, and AFP "Green Acres" it ain't, but we love owning and visiting the Hawksbill Cabin, near Stanley and Luray, Virginia, and a wealth of outdoor activities, including: the "World Famous" Shenandoah River, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Luray Caverns, and Massanutten Resort. From time to time we'll post about other stuff, too. As the number of blog posts grows, we've added a few navigation tools in the right column to facilitate getting around the site. Russia is increasingly cracking down on Internet users as courts impose harsh jail sentences for posts expressing political views, a rights advocacy group warned. "The Russian authorities have begun to see the Internet as a theater of war, both inside and outside" the country, with the slightest criticism "seen as like an armed attack," the Agora advocacy group said in a report released in Moscow on February 7. Agora's comprises some 50 lawyers who have worked on leading rights cases, including that of the Pussy Riot punk collective and radical performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky. The advocacy group said that the Kremlin is increasingly zeroing in on what it considers "enemies" on the Russian-language Internet, known as the Runet, leading to "strong censorship" and increasing pressure on Russia's estimated 66 million to 84 million web users. The group said it recorded seven criminal cases opened against Russians for expressing views online in 2016, with four ending in a prison sentence. In addition, it recorded 97 proposals last year from politicians and officials to strengthen Internet controls, and 116,103 instances of "Internet freedom limitation" where content was filtered or blocked during the year. That was up from 15,000 in 2015, it said. "All this allows us to draw a definite conclusion -- the Runet has entered a state of martial law," the Agora report said. The Russian government also focuses on external threats, it said, with the FSB security service saying it foiled 70 million cyberattacks last year, although Agora questioned whether that figure was too high. The report details criminal cases brought against Russian citizens, including the case of journalist and blogger Aleksei Kungurov in the Urals city of Tyumen, who was jailed for two years by a military court for online criticisms of Russia's bombing campaign in Syria. He was found guilty of publicly justifying terrorism in December over a post on the Live Journal site. Meanwhile, an electrical engineer from the central Russian city of Tver, Andrei Bubeyev, was sentenced to two years and three months in a penal colony last May. He was found guilty of support for extremist activity and breaches of Russia's territorial integrity after reposting a pro-Ukrainian article and a picture of a toothpaste tube with the caption: "Squeeze Russia out of yourselves." With reporting by AFP and Interfax Leonid Tibilov, de facto president of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, has issued a decree scheduling a referendum on amending the region's constitution to rename it the Republic of South Ossetia-the State of Alania. But he stopped short of pushing for a proposal that he had floated several years ago, and that many of the region's population consider the logical next step: the unification in a single polity of the Ossetian nation, which is currently divided between South Ossetia and the neighboring Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, which is a Russian Federation subject. Russian pundit Modest Kolerov, who is said to be close to the Kremlin, predicted in late 2015 that over 85 percent of South Ossetia's voters would vote in favor of unification. The toponym Alania refers to the Indo-European Alans, who settled in the North Caucasus during the first millennium A.D. and from whom the Ossetians claim descent. The ethnonym Ossetian derives from the Georgian term "osi" to designate the population of the region, which borders on Georgia. The Ossetian language is related to Persian. As Tibilov had hinted in late December, the referendum will take place on April 9, concurrently with the presidential ballot in which Tibilov is seeking reelection for a second term. It will inevitably compound the animosity between Tibilov and his only serious challenger, parliament speaker Anatoly Bibilov, who for the past three years has repeatedly advocated South Ossetia's incorporation into the Russian Federation at the earliest possible opportunity, even though Russia has officially expressed no interest in such a scenario. (South Ossetians voted overwhelmingly in a referendum in January 1992 in favor of the region becoming part of Russia.) Announcing the planned referendum, Tibilov explained that the proposed change is intended to give the region back its historic name. "A country should bear the name of those who created it," he said. At the same time, Tibilov stressed that the two terms -- "Republic of South Ossetia" and "State of Alania" would be equally legitimate. He reasoned that since Russia formally recognized the region as an independent state under the name Republic of South Ossetia, to abandon that designation would only generate confusion among the international community (which has overwhelmingly refused to recognize the breakaway republic's independence.) Ever since Bibilov's Yedinaya Osetia (One Ossetia) party won the 2014 parliamentary ballot, garnering 20 of the 34 mandates, domestic politics has been dominated by the debate over whether, when, and how the region should eventually become part of Russia. Bibilov has lobbied persistently for holding as soon as possible a referendum on the unification of South and North Ossetia within the Russian Federation, despite Moscow's repeated refusal to endorse that proposal. Tibilov, however, has been less than consistent, repeatedly modifying his stance in light of the constraints imposed by the changing international situation (the ongoing repercussions of Russia's annexation of Crimea, the fighting in Syria) and possibly also of his perception of just how serious a threat Bibilov poses to his reelection. Tibilov's election program in March 2012 stressed the need for strengthening the republic's sovereign status while crafting increasingly close ties to Russia. But the following year, he told journalists that "the Ossetians are one people and should live in a single state within the Russian Federation. And if this comes about under my rule, I shall consider that I have fulfilled the mission entrusted to me." In October 2015, Tibilov duly announced plans for a referendum on the issue. Two months later, in late December 2015, he said that referendum should take place "long before" the 2017 presidential ballot, and should also decide whether or not to rename the region the "Republic of South Ossetia-Alania." In April 2016, however, Tibilov came up with yet another option: he floated the concept of South Ossetia forming a "union state" with Russia, and simultaneously called for the holding of a referendum by August on amending the region's constitution to empower its leader to formally request the incorporation of the Republic of South Ossetia into the Russian Federation as a separate federation subject. That trial balloon precipitated a major standoff between Tibilov and Bibilov, who objected that if a referendum took place, the sole question put to voters should be whether or not South Ossetia should become part of Russia. The two men finally reached agreement that in order "to preserve domestic political stability," the referendum should take place only after the 2017 presidential election. By scheduling the referendum on changing the region's name for April 9, Tibilov has violated that agreement. (His stated rationale for holding the two votes concurrently was to save on the expense of a separate vote, which makes sense given that the impoverished region is almost wholly dependent financially on Russia.) The fact that Tibilov issued that decree on February 6 -- Bibilov's 47th birthday -- adds insult to injury. The wording of the referendum question nonetheless serves two purposes. First, it demonstrates Tibilov's commitment to the hazy prospect of Ossetian unification without committing him (in the event he is reelected) to embark on an immediate course of action that could put him at odds with Moscow. And second, if approved, it would give legitimacy to the Ossetians' claim to be the heirs to the medieval Alan kingdom in the teeth of arguments, to which Tibilov has previously alluded, by some Ingush scholars that their republic constituted the nucleus of that state. Among the other four (to date) potential presidential candidates, the only one likely to uphold South Ossetia's nominally independent status, former President Eduard Kokoity (Tibilov's predecessor) is likely to be refused registration given that he has lived in Russia since he left office in late 2011. He thus fails to meet the requirement that candidates should have been domiciled in South Ossetia for the five years prior to the ballot. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL It's hard to figure out whether Alyaksandr Lukashenka is crazy -- or crazy like a fox. Over the past week, the Belarusian strongman has been on something of a roll: He lashed out at Russia for establishing border checkpoints; He rejected Moscow's plan to build a new air base on Belarusian soil; He lauded Ukraine's fight for independence from Russia; And he launched an investigation into Russian food-safety officials for banning Belarusian agricultural products. All these moves came as Russia threatened to cut oil supplies to Belarus in half, and amid increased fears in Minsk that Moscow is contemplating a hybrid attack on its neighbor. We've of course been here before. Over the years, and especially since the annexation of Crimea, Lukashenka has been something of a master gamer, bobbing and weaving between Russia and the West. And up to now, it's worked. He's managed to assure that Moscow keeps subsidizing his economy and has gotten the West to ease sanctions against him. He's flirted with the West, presenting himself as a bulwark against Russia, but hasn't broken with Moscow. He's managed to be Vladimir Putin's Nicolae Ceausescu. But in recent months, the game has changed. Putin's regime believes it has the upper hand on the West and Moscow is clearly emboldened in its neighborhood. And, with NATO troops in Poland and Lithuania, Belarus's strategic value has just increased. Up until now, Lukashenka has been a master gamer. But the game has now become a lot more dangerous. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. has fallen gravely ill in Moscow for the second time in two years, and his wife has said doctors' preliminary diagnosis this week was the same as the first: "poisoning" by an unidentified substance. Kara-Murza previously said he believed he was deliberately poisoned with a sophisticated toxin in May 2015 as retribution for his political activities, and his most recent illness has raised concerns that a similar attack led to his February 2 hospitalization and subsequent organ failure. His case has also reverberated in Washington, where federal lawmakers have urged President Donald Trump's administration to prioritize Kara-Murza's plight as it formulates its Russia policy. Here's what you need to know about the case. Who Is Vladimir Kara-Murza? Kara-Murza, 35, is a veteran politician who has been active in Russian liberal opposition parties and movements since President Vladimir Putin's rise 17 years ago. The son of a prominent journalist, also named Vladimir, he worked for several years as a television correspondent in Washington before joining political projects launched by former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a prominent Putin foe who now lives in Europe after spending more than a decade in prison. Kara-Murza was also a friend and ally of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent opposition leader killed in a February 2015 assassination-style shooting near the Kremlin. A dual Russian-British citizen -- he lived with his mother in Britain as a teenager -- Kara-Murza resides part of the year outside Washington, where his wife and three children live. What Happened To Him? In May 2015, Kara-Murza became suddenly and violently ill in Moscow. He had been conducting seminars and meeting fellow political activists in several Russian cities over the previous weeks. He was shuttled to various hospitals as doctors tried to determine what was wrong with him, and his major organs -- lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, intestines -- subsequently failed. He was placed on life support, and doctors determined he had suffered from acute poisoning "of an unknown origin," his wife, Yevgenia, told RFE/RL at the time. Kara-Murza ultimately survived and spent months in treatment in Moscow and outside Washington. He suffered lasting nerve damage and had to walk with a cane following his hospitalization. Was He Deliberately Poisoned? This is unclear. If so, the substance and delivery mechanism remain a mystery. Kara-Murza's doctors in Moscow in 2015 concluded that he was "poisoned" by the widely prescribed antidepressant citalopram, which he had taken for several years. But an Israeli doctor consulted by Kara-Murza and his supporters viewed this diagnosis with skepticism, saying the near-fatal symptoms he suffered would be unusual for either an intentional or unintentional overdose of the drug. Independent toxicologists who viewed Kara-Murza's medical documents also said citalopram was a highly unlikely culprit. An independent analysis of his blood, hair, and fingernail samples by a prominent French toxicologist led to no firm conclusions. Kara-Murza believes he was targeted with a lethal toxin: "I have no doubt for a second that this was deliberate poisoning, that this was deliberate poisoning aimed to kill, and that it was motivated by my political activities," he told RFE/RL in a December 2015 interview. He added that he believes the toxin was likely a "very sophisticated" substance that typically only security services would have access to. Several prominent government critics have fallen gravely ill or died in alleged deliberate poisonings during Putin's reign in what Kremlin opponents call a revival of Soviet-style techniques of dealing with dissent. Russian officials dismiss such claims, including those concerning the 2006 poisoning death of former Russian security-services officer Aleksandr Litvinenko in London. Why Would Anyone Want To Kill Him? Kara-Murza is far from a household name in Russia, where the fractious liberal opposition has been not only steadily sidelined and demonized by the government and its media machine, but also mired in constant infighting. He has neither the fame nor the fiery public persona of opposition leader and anticorruption crusader Aleksei Navalny, but he is a dogged political organizer. Perhaps more notably, he has the ears of prominent members of the U.S. Congress, where he has repeatedly lobbied for sanctions against senior Russian officials. He was a prominent advocate in Washington for the Magnitsky Act sanctioning alleged Russian rights abusers, a 2012 law that has infuriated the Kremlin. He also urged Congress to sanction Kremlin-loyal television "propagandists." Kara-Murza told RFE/RL in the December 2015 interview that he did not know of any specific threats against him prior to his illness but he believes his work for Khodorkovsky or Magnitsky Act lobbying were the most likely reasons for the alleged assassination attempt. In February 2016, the volatile Kremlin-backed head of Russia's Chechnya region posted an Instagram video showing Kara-Murza and opposition politician Mikhail Kasyanov framed in what appeared to be a sniper's crosshairs Kara-Murza's connections among Washington's political elite were evident after he was again hospitalized due to an apparent poisoning last week. Several leading U.S. lawmakers issued statements of support. U.S. Senator John McCain (Republican, Arizona), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on February 7 delivered a statement to the floor of the Senate honoring his "good friend," Kara-Murza. "Vladimir has once again paid the price for his gallantry and integrity, for placing the interests of the Russian people before his own self-interest," McCain said. WATCH: John McCain On Vladimir Kara-Murza Representative Ed Royce (Republican, California), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on February 7 called Kara-Murza "one of the bravest people I know." The same day, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation urged Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to "pay close attention" to Kara-Murza's case as he reviews U.S. policy toward Moscow. What Happened To Him Last Week? Kara-Murza's wife, Yevgenia, told RFE/RL that he was at staying at her parents' house in Moscow on February 2 when he suddenly experienced symptoms similar to those of his 2015 poisoning. Over the previous weeks, he had traveled to several Russian cities to present a documentary about Nemtsov. He was rushed to the hospital and again experienced organ failure, she said. He was placed in an induced coma and subsequently diagnosed with "acute poisoning by an undetermined substance," she said on February 6. Yevgenia Kara-Murza told RFE/RL that the "clinical picture is the same" as in 2015. As of February 7, he remained on life support in stable but critical condition, his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov, said in a Facebook post. Kara-Murza's abrupt illness has only heightened suspicions of his family and friends that he was targeted with poison. They say American doctors examined him exhaustively following his 2015 hospitalization and found nothing that would seriously imperil his health going forward. Furthermore, he stopped taking citalopram or any other medicine after the 2015 incident, his wife told RFE/RL on February 6. Samples of Kara-Murza's blood, hair, and fingernails have been sent to an Israeli lab for an independent analysis, his wife said. Prokhorov, his lawyer, told RFE/RL on February 7 that he was told it could take around 20 days for the results from the Israeli lab to be ready. There's no guarantee, however, that those results will yield any firm conclusion about what triggered Kara-Murza's latest symptoms. Toxicology experts say determining a particular toxin -- particularly an exotic one -- through blood, hair, and fingernail analysis can be exceedingly difficult if it's not clear what one is looking for. Are Russian Authorities Investigating The Case? Russian investigators have looked into Kara-Murza's 2015 poisoning and are examining his latest illness as well, according to Prokhorov and media reports. But the lawyer has previously said authorities do not appear to be taking the case seriously. He previously based this assessment on the fact that it was being handled at a low level: the federal Investigative Committee's local branch in Moscow's Khamovniki district, which summoned Kara-Murza for questioning in January 2015. Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency on February 7 cited an unidentified law-enforcement source as saying that the Investigative Committee is conducting a probe into his most recent illness "based on media reports." Prokhorov said in a Facebook post the same day that he had received "confirmation from law-enforcement officers" of Kara-Murza's diagnosis upon his hospitalization: "toxic effect from an unidentified substance." Moldova's pro-Russia President Igor Dodon has warned NATO against moving too quickly to seek closer ties with Moldova and opening a planned liaison office in Chisinau. Speaking after talks with NATO deputy head Rose Gottermoeller on February 7, Dodon said the liaison office would be of no benefit to the majority of Moldovans and NATO should not "rush" to open it. "For me, the opening of such an office is not helpful for the security of the people; it is a provocation set up by the previous government," he told reporters at NATO headquarters during his first visit to Brussels. The Moldovan presidency is largely a symbolic position. Chisinau's government remains under the control of a coalition of pro-European integration parties. Since being elected in December, however, Dodon has repeatedly said he wants to restore political and economic relations with Russia, reversing the closer NATO and European Union links championed by his predecessors. His first trip out of the country was to Moscow. Gottermoeller described her talks with Dodon as "intensive positive discussions," but insisted that NATO will proceed with plans to open its liaison office in Chisinau later this year. The new office will be similar to those set up in other countries, such as Russia or Ukraine, and will be staffed only by civilians, not by military personnel, she said. "This is not a military base, but a small diplomatic mission staffed only by civilians," Gottemoeller said. "There will be no NATO troops in Moldova." "It will increase transparency about what NATO does with Moldova," she said. Disappointing Economic Performance The U.S.-led military alliance fully understands Moldova's desire for neutrality and respects all nations' right to decide their own security arrangements, she said. "Moldova does not want to join NATO," she said, but neutrality does not mean isolation. Gottermoeller added that the two parties had worked together in the past and she hoped they will do so in the future. After a meeting later on February 7 with EU President Donald Tusk, Dodon said Moldova will cooperate with both the East and West, but its economic performance since signing an association agreement with the EU has been disappointing and it is important for Chisinau to resume stronger economic relations with Russia. "We have failed to expand exports to the European Union but have lost the market in Russia, which used to be of major importance for our country for years," he said. Since signing the free trade agreement with the EU in 2014, Dodon said trade and investment have been on a downtrend while public debt has exploded as a result of low economic growth. Russia imposed customs duties on Moldovan imports after Chisinau signed the EU agreement -- a move that likely contributed to the disappointing economic performance Dodon cited. With reporting by AFP, dpa, Interfax, and TASS Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratified a deal to build the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline to southern Europe, state media reported on February 7. The deal foresees at least 30 years of Russian-Turkish collaboration on the nearly 1,100-kilometer pipeline, including construction of the conduit, which will transport Russian natural gas across the Black Sea into Turkey and then across the border into southern Europe. Some European Union members, including Greece, Hungary, and Slovakia, have expressed interest in joining the pipeline collaboration. Russia and Turkey have in recent months restored their once-robust economic ties, which were frayed amid tensions related to the Syrian civil war, where they back opposing sides. Aside from resuming business together, Russian and Turkish forces have been working in tandem in recent weeks to fight Islamic State forces in Syria and the two nations have been sponsoring talks aimed at establishing a cease-fire and settlement of the Syrian conflict. Based on reporting by dpa, Interfax, and TASS Apologies for the belated good wishes. Chances are that anyone who has followed developments in Uzbekistan for the past two decades has heard of Elena Urlaeva. But for those who have not, or those who might not know her so well, we'd like to share with you a bit about the courageous woman we know. Elena Mikhailovna Urlaeva is one of the world's strongest people. Her strength comes from her morality, her sense of fairness, and her respect for others. There are, of course, many Uzbek human rights defenders, both inside and outside the country, who deserve great honor and recognition for their daily sacrifices to the cause of human rights. But we wanted to make sure to send our best wishes for Elena's 60th birthday, which she marked on January 21. Elena was born in the western city of Andijon, though she grew up in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, where she still lives. Elena is a human rights defender in a country where the government has not shown much regard for the rights of citizens for a quarter of a century. Uzbekistan's government has a long record of torture, forced labor, censorship, and religious persecution, and is believed to hold thousands of political prisoners. Elena's been threatened, beaten, locked up, and confined to psychiatric hospitals, but none of that has stopped her from standing outside courtrooms to protest unfair legal proceedings against Uzbekistan's citizens, or from going out into the cotton fields at harvest time to try to document the use of forced labor. Not so long ago, the cotton was picked by children forced by the government to work in the fields rather than attend school; but thanks to Elena and others like her, that is not so much the case anymore. One particularly brutal attack on Elena took place in May 2015, when police officers in the town of Chinaz detained her as she was interviewing doctors and teachers forced to pick cotton. Police and medical staff under their control forcibly sedated Elena, and then subjected her to a body-cavity search, X-rays, and other cruel and degrading treatment during an 11-hour interrogation, saying they were looking for a memory card from her camera. Elena has seen countless colleagues land in prison or be forced to flee the country over the years. Anyone who endured even a fraction of the horrors Elena has lived through simply for peacefully criticizing the government would be easily forgiven for choosing to leave the ranks of Uzbekistan's courageous human rights defenders. But rather than retreat into the shadows, Elena keeps fighting. Those of us who have been privileged to spend time with Elena in Uzbekistan have most likely been invited to visit her at her apartment on the outskirts of the city, which doubles as the nerve center for the human rights group she heads, the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, and is a meeting point for activists, victims of abuses, and visiting diplomats. A collection of courageous souls who accompany Elena on various protests, alliance members monitor human rights in a country that has become one of the most closed in the world -- Uzbekistan has banned both our organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Human Rights Watch (HRW), just for doing our work. Alliance members also provide much-needed moral support and encouragement to the victims of abuse -- forced laborers, torture victims, political prisoners, and their family members -- who need it the most. Apart from all the arrests and ill-treatment, Elena also lives a life of constant surveillance. For those of us who live in free societies, it is easy to take for granted just how invasive life can be for a human rights activist in authoritarian Uzbekistan. One example came the day one of us visited Elena at her home in 2010. Five minutes after the visit began, we heard a knock at the door. Elena opened the door to find the neighborhood policeman. He had just come by to check everything was "OK." As she is with the many officials she deals with, Elena was polite but firm, rejecting the policeman's "offer" to come inside the apartment. Relieved to be able to resume the conversation, the calm didn't last long. Five minutes later came another knock at the door. It was the meterman; he had come ostensibly to check Elena's water usage. Elena again sent him packing and, as if nothing had happened, launched effortlessly back into a discussion about a torture case she was monitoring: "I went in to see this young man detained at the police station," she said. "He told me that several officers had forced him to confess to having stolen a cell phone. They put cellophane over his head and then put a gas mask on him. He couldn't breathe and eventually...." Knock, knock, knock. This time it was someone insisting on checking the gas meter. Sending this one away, Elena almost pitied the man, saying he was a "shestyorka" -- a Russian slang term that is hard to translate but means an ineffectual, pathetic, powerless person forced to do someone else's bidding. This is Elena's life. Elena's nerves of steel are what allow her to keep going. She understands all too well that behind the endless visits stands Uzbekistan's security service, the country's most powerful and feared institution, commonly known by its Russian acronym, SNB. Last year was a tough one for Elena. In August, she lost her husband of 20 years, Mansur, whom the security services also constantly harassed as a way to get to her. Amid her grief, Elena did what she always does. She wrote a moving public letter about their love and commitment, which defied years of pressure by the authorities. Ultimately, Elena's is a profile of profound courage in the face of incredible repression. Hopes are now high that Uzbekistan's new president may see that it is time to improve the country's abysmal record. But absent concrete evidence, this journalist and human rights activist are not holding our breath. Elena, you're needed now more than ever. We sincerely hope that your years of activism and self-sacrifice will finally see an Uzbekistan that is more democratic, more open, and more just. Happy birthday, Elena Mikhailovna! S dnyom rozhdenia! Tug'ilgan kuningiz bilan! Steve Swerdlow is Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch and was director of Human Rights Watch's Tashkent office before the authorities forced its closure. Follow both authors on Twitter @brucepannier and @steveswerdlow The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL. Russia said it will convene a conference of regional powers this month on settling the Afghanistan conflict and push again to include the Taliban. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed on February 7 during a press conference with his counterpart from Kabul Salahuddin Rabbani that Moscow will host the meeting in mid-February with representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Iran, and India. "We are expecting that our partners will be represented at a high level. Most have confirmed their participation," Lavrov said. Lavrov repeated Moscow's stance that "the Taliban must be included in a constructive dialogue" to help find a solution to halt worsening violence in the nation, which has been at war for 15 years. Russia's meeting does not include NATO powers who have had troops in the country since the American-led invasion in late 2001, but Lavrov said Moscow was hoping better ties with .U.S President Donald Trump would jump-start cooperation over Afghanistan. Moscow -- which fought a disastrous military campaign in Afghanistan during the Soviet era -- has increasingly asserted itself as a broker for solving the world's conflicts since intervening in the Syrian war in 2015. Based on reporting by AFP, Interfax, and TASS A senior U.S. legislator has voiced concern for the life of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, Jr., who fell critically ill last week in Moscow for the second time in two years. John McCain, a senior Republican senator from Arizona and a regular critic of Russia, told the U.S. Senate on February 7 that Kara-Murza had suffered "another apparent poisoning" because "he kept faith with his ideals in confrontation with a cruel and dangerous autocracy." Kara-Murza's wife, Yevgenia, told RFE/RL on February 6 that doctors have diagnosed him with "acute poisoning by an undetermined substance" after being hospitalized on February 2 with kidney failure. Kara-Murza, 35, was placed in an intensive-care unit and put on life support after being placed in a medically-induced coma. McCain said that, although Kara-Murza is very ill, "I am encouraged to learn his condition is now stable." Kara-Murza's symptoms closely resemble those he suffered in May 2015, when he abruptly fell ill in Moscow and was hospitalized in critical condition. He said he believed his 2015 illness was the result of deliberate poisoning with a sophisticated toxin and that he was targeted for his political activities. McCain said that "it appears that Vladimir has once again paid the price for his gallantry and integrity, for placing the interests of the Russian people before his own self-interest." The U.S. senator said that, following the violent deaths of several critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kara-Murza "knew that Putin is a killer, and that he might very well be the next target." But, although "knowing that his life was at risk, Vladimir returned to Russia," McCain added. Kara-Murza is a coordinator for former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky's nongovernmental organization, Open Russia, and has advocated for sanctions against Russian officials and media executives before U.S. lawmakers. A court in the Russian city of Kirov has found opposition political activist and anticorruption campaigner Aleksei Navalny guilty of embezzlement. Judge Aleksei Vtyurin said on February 8 that the trial had established that Navalny "organized the commission of a crime" and sentenced him to a five-year suspended prison term. Co-defendant Pyotr Ofitserov was also convicted, and he was given a four-year suspended sentence. Both men were fined 500,000 rubles ($8,350). Both Navalny and Ofitserov maintained their innocence, and Navalny said the charges against him were politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from running for president. "What we have seen is a sort of telegram from the Kremlin," Navalny said after the verdict, "a telegram saying that [the authorities] believe that I, my team, and the people whose views I voice, are too dangerous to be allowed to take part in the election campaign." The conviction renders Navalny ineligible for public office, according to Russian law. However, Leonid Volkov, who is managing Navalny's campaign for the 2018 presidential election, said the February 8 ruling would have "no impact." After the trial, Navalny said he would appeal the verdict, meaning that he can continue his political activities while his appeal is pending. Navalny and Ofitserov were retried on charges of embezzling funds from the state-controlled forestry company KirovLes after the Supreme Court last year nullified the Kirov court's 2013 guilty verdict in the case. The text of the verdict was virtually identical to the verdict read out by another judge in that 2013 trial. As the judge was reading, Navalny was posting on Twitter photographs of the old verdict in advance for comparison. After the hearing, Navalny said that because the text of the verdict was the same and because it had already been overturned, he was confident his appeal will succeed. The defendants have said they will file a complaint regarding the court's ruling with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), if necessary. The EU's foreign-policy office said in a statement that the verdict against Navalny was an attempt "to silence yet another independent political voice" in Russia that "further constrains political pluralism...and raises serious questions as to the fairness of democratic processes in Russia." Michael Georg Link, director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern over Navalny's conviction, saying in a statement that the ruling "appears to have been handed down with the purpose of limiting his political rights -- including the right to stand for office." Opposition politician Vladimir Milov told the BBC that the verdict was "widely expected" and expressed confidence Navalny would proceed with his election campaign. Former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, now an opposition politician, denounced the verdict as "a political decision that has no basis in law." "The Kremlin is taking revenge on Navalny for his anticorruption investigations and does not want him to have access to the national television channels with his anticorruption agenda," Kasyanov wrote on Facebook. Navalny announced in December that he would run for president in a March 2018 election in which Vladimir Putin, in power as president or prime minister since 1999, is widely expected to seek a new six-year term In February 2016, the ECHR ruled that the 2013 trial in the case violated the defendants right to a fair trial. According to the ECHR ruling, the Russian court found the men "guilty of acts indistinguishable from regular commercial activity." Navalny was convicted of fraud in a separate case in 2014 and given a 3 1/2-year suspended sentence. Bikram yoga studios have to maintain workout rooms heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit for every day of operation. This can be extremely expensive for businesses relying on fossil fuel sources of energy. Many Bikram yoga owners have gotten creative considering not only cost but ecological friendliness in keeping with yoga's overall concept of maintaining oneness with nature. Solar Panels Some Bikram yoga studios in places like Arizona and California, that get a large amount of sunlight for most of the year, install solar panels to source their heating needs. Solar panels literally trap the sun's energy during daylight hours for efficient energy production. In addition, heat from the sun better mimics the naturally hot workout conditions of India, where Bikram yoga originated. According to a 2012 "Los Angeles Times" article, decreased silicon prices and regional government subsidies have made the purchase of solar panels more affordable. Radiant Heat Panels If you visit a studio that is in the northeast United States, where sunlight duration and intensity varies drastically with the change of the seasons, you may encounter a place using radiant heat panels. While solar panels are installed on building roofs, radiant heat panels are installed onto ceilings and trap heat from the inside. They are also useful in sunny states because they do not have to be connected to a city's electricity grid. In addition, radiant heat panels do not push heated air through a room, so not only do they reduce the expenditure of energy, but they do not transfer germs and airborne disease. Hydronic Heating Another creative, eco-friendly way of heating a Bikram yoga studio is hydronic heating. Hydronic heating warms the air with moisture from insulated hot water tanks. If a studio has a shower room, it more than likely already uses a hot water heating tank. A single pipe can transfer the hot, moisturized air to an exercise room. Also, this method contributes to the 40 to 60 percent humidity factor requirement of Bikram yoga environments. President Vladimir Putin has put the Russian Air Force on high alert for a snap inspection, the latest in a series of drills amid tensions with the West. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the drills launched on February 7 will check the air force's readiness and its ability to repel enemy aggression. Shoigu told military officials that special emphasis will be given to practicing the deployment of air defense systems. "A surprise check of the Aerospace Force began today in line with the decision of the Armed Forces supreme commander in chief in order to assess the preparedness of military command centers and forces and to tackle training combat tasks," Shoigu said. The maneuvers are the latest in a steady series of war games intended to strengthen the troops' readiness. Despite Russia's economic downturn, the Kremlin has continued to spend big on military training and weapons modernization amid strained relations with the West spawned by the Ukrainian crisis. Based on reporting by AP, Interfax, and TASS WASHINGTON -- A group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation that would hamstring any effort by President Donald Trump's administration to lift sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine. The bill, called the Russia Sanctions Review Act, has both Republican and Democratic backers and comes amid mounting concerns in Congress about the Trump administration's policy intentions toward Russia. Trump has repeatedly signaled he wants more cooperation with Russia in areas like the fight against international terrorism, particularly in Syria. But his administration has made statements about Ukraine and other issues that echo Russia's perspective, in contrast to the previous U.S. administration. Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) and Ben Cardin (Democrat-Maryland) are among the group backing the legislation that would impose strict congressional oversight and veto power over the Trump administration if it sought to lift sanctions on Russia. "The reason for the Russia Review Act is that we've heard the president speak several times about potentially reducing or eliminating sanctions," Cardin told reporters on February 8. "So it's aimed at getting consultation from Congress and, if necessary, action from Congress, if the president were to change our policy on the current sanctions without the broad support and understanding of Congress." The bill is co-sponsored by Senators John McCain (Republican-Arizona), Marco Rubio (Republican-Florida), Claire McCaskill (Democrat-Missouri), and Sherrod Brown (Democrat-Ohio). Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, froze assets and banned visas on a range of top Russia officials after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Ukraine, the United States, and the EU also say that Russia has supported separatist forces in eastern Ukraine who are fighting Ukrainian troops. Russia denies those charges. More than 9,750 people have been killed in the fighting in Ukraine's Donbas region. At a February 8 news briefing in Washington, White House spokesman Sean Spicer declined to comment on the bill, saying that he was "not going to get into pending legislation." But he referred to February 2 comments by Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, expressing "strong condemnation of Russia's actions" in eastern Ukraine and stating that Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Moscow hands control of the peninsula back to Ukraine. "With respect to the sanctions that specifically deal with Ukraine and Crimea, I think Ambassador Haley has spoken very, very clearly about that," Spicer said. McCain said in a statement after the legislation was introduced that easing sanctions against Russia "would send the wrong message as [Russian President] Vladimir Putin continues to oppress his citizens, murder his political opponents, invade his neighbors, threaten America's allies, and attempt to undermine our elections." "Congress must have oversight of any decision that would impact our ability to hold Russia accountable for its flagrant violation of international law and attack our institutions," added McCain, who has repeatedly been accused by officials in Moscow of baselessly stirring up anti-Russian sentiment in Washington. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Cardin said the legislation was modeled after the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, a 2015 law giving Congress a say in the landmark deal between Tehran and world powers to restrict Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for easing sanctions. He expressed optimism that the legislation will receive broad bipartisan backing in Congress and said he believed it could be passed with sufficient support to prevent Trump from vetoing it. With reporting by Mike Eckel Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged heavy artillery fire in multiple locations, officials in both countries said, as Russian-appointed officials continued evacuating people from the west bank of the Dnieper River amid a mounting Ukrainian counteroffensive. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Ukraine's national grid operator, meanwhile, said on November 5 that it would increase rolling blackouts in Kyiv and seven other regions as the countrys national grid remained severely damaged by weeks of Russian air strikes. Electricity consumption is rising across Ukraine as the weather turns colder, and energy providers have raced to do repairs, ordering planned power cuts to avoid overloads. Ukraines General Staff said that its troops thwarted Russian attacks a day earlier in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The military also claimed that Ukrainian air defenses shot down multiple Russian and Iranian drones and two Kalibr cruise missiles. The claim could not be immediately verified. The head of the Vynnytsya region, Serhiy Borzov, said the central region was hit overnight by Russian kamikaze drones. Russian troops have been actively using Iranian drones in recent weeks to attack critical civilian and infrastructure objectives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the fiercest fighting over the last week had taken place around Bakhmut and Soledar in Donetsk and that Ukrainian forces are holding their positions there and elsewhere. He also spoke of "good gains" in the south, praising infantry and artillery brigades for destroying enemy equipment, Russian manpower. The claims of battlefield success could not be independently verified. Ukrainian forces have been mounting a slow, incremental counteroffensive in the southern Kherson region for weeks now, moving closer to directly threatening the Dnieper River port of Kherson, which was captured early after Russias February invasion. In response, Russian authorities have been evacuating civilians and military troops to the opposite bank of the Dnieper. Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russia-installed administration in the Kherson region, announced a 24-hour curfew on November 4, saying it was necessary to defend it from an expected Ukrainian attack. The Russian military said "more than 5,000 civilians" were being evacuated daily to the east bank of the river. And Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 4 called for civilians to be moved out from Kherson. Those who live in Kherson must now be removed from the zone of the most dangerous hostilities, Putin said in remarks broadcast on state television. The civilian population should not suffer from shelling, from the offensive, counteroffensive, and other measures related to military operations. Russias Defense Ministry said on November 5 that troops had repelled Ukrainian attacks in in the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions. In the Kherson region, which the Kremlin last month declared had been annexed, authorities reported the heaviest artillery fire in days. Ukrainian officials have likened the departures of Kherson residents to Soviet-style deportations, though its unclear to what extent the departures are forced or voluntary. Russian officials said people were being moved to safety from the path of the Ukrainian advance. Ukraines counteroffensives in Kherson and the northern Kharkiv region have been powered in large part by powerful Western weaponry. On November 4, the U.S. Defense Department announced another $400 million shipment of weapons and other equipment, including refurbished tanks, surface-to-air missiles, new coastal defense boats, and other items. The announcement came around the same time that the U.S. national-security adviser, Jake Sullivan, made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to meet with top Ukrainian officials. At a news conference later, Sullivan sought again to calm Ukrainian jitters about whether U.S. weapons would continue after the upcoming midterm U.S. congressional elections. Polls show that Republicans are poised to take control of one, or possibly both, chambers of Congress, and a small but vocal number of Republicans have voiced misgivings about the amount and duration of U.S. aid for Ukraine. There will be no wavering, Sullivan said at a news conference. Im confident U.S. support for Ukraine will be unwavering and unflinching. Asked about the prospect of peace talks with Russia, Sullivan repeated what U.S. officials have said in the past: "Nothing is discussed about Ukraine without Ukraine." "For me, the main question about these negotiations is what a just peace looks like and how it can be achieved, Sullivan said. If you look at Russian accusations, Russian actions, in particular regarding the annexation of [Ukrainian] territories, it does not really encourage negotiations. With reporting by RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service, Reuters, dpa, and AP KYIV -- A separatist commander in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk has been assassinated, the Russia-backed separatists say. Mikhail Tolstykh, better known by his nom de guerre Givi, died after a bomb exploded in his office in the separatist stronghold of Donetsk just after 6 a.m. local time on February 8, de facto separatist authorities and a source with ties to its military told RFE/RL by phone. The separatists announced two days of mourning. Donetsk separatist leaders called the killing a "terrorist" attack organized by the Ukrainian intelligence services. "The Ukrainians...cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so they kill us in a malicious way," separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko said. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) denied it was responsible, instead suspecting an internal operation to clear the rebel ranks. "People tied to illegal armed groups are purged by special agencies beyond the line of contact," Yuriy Tandit, an adviser of the SBU chief, told the 112 Ukrainian channel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the killing "an attempt to destabilize the situation" in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 9,750 people since April 2014. Givi, 36, was leading the Somali battalion and made a name for himself in the brutal battle for Donetsk airport. Video footage from 2015 shows him verbally and physically abusing Ukrainian servicemen captured during the battle. Another separatist commander -- Arseny Pavlov, who was better known by the nickname Motorola -- died on October 16 when a bomb exploded in an elevator in his apartment block in Donetsk. With reporting by AFP, RIA Novosti, TASS, and Interfax A date has been set for the high-profile trial of journalist Mykola Semena in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian region of Crimea. Semena's lawyer, Emil Kurbedinov, told RFE/RL on February 8 that preliminary hearings into the case will be held by the Zaliznychnyy district court in Simferopol on February 17. Kurbedinov said the actual trial for Semena, an RFE/RL contributor, will start on February 28. Semena has been charged with separatism and may be sentenced to five years in prison if convicted for an article he wrote on his blog that was critical of Moscows seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Semena denies the charges. He is currently under a court order from occupying Russian officials that bars him from leaving Crimea and forces him to seek permission before traveling outside the region's capital, Simferopol. The United States, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and international media watchdogs have expressed concern over Semena's case, which activists say is part of a Russian clampdown on independent media and dissent in Crimea. Ukrainian officials say Belarusian journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed because of his professional activities in a contract killing. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in Kyiv on February 8 the results of a pretrial investigation into Sheremet's death "lead to the conclusion that this crime was carefully prepared by a group of people." "Investigators do not rule out that the order for the killing came from the Russian Federation," Avakov added. Oleksandr Vakulenko, the deputy chief of Ukraine's National Police and head of its main investigative unit, said Sheremet's journalistic activities in Ukraine, where he lived, and Belarus and Russia "is considered in the first place" as a motive for his killing. Sheremet, 44, was killed when the car he was driving to work was blown up in central Kyiv on July 20. Jailed in Belarus in 1997 while recording a story on the Russian-Belarusian border, Sheremet was often critical of top political leaders and other government officials in his reporting. He had also warned in the last blog post before his death that Ukrainian politicians who were former members of volunteer battalions that had fought separatists in eastern Ukraine could carry out a coup in Kyiv. Vakulenko said an antipersonnel mine was used in the blast that killed Sheremet. He added that no one had yet been arrested for the killing. Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko agreed with Avakov in saying that Sheremet's "killer was not alone. This is a group [of assassins] and we can see part of this group in the video [taken where Sheremet's car was parked before he drove it]." Based on reporting by Interfax and the Kyiv Post U.S. appeals court judges posed tough questions about President Donald Trump's immigration order during a hearing on February 7 to determine whether to keep blocking the order. U.S. Justice Department attorneys asked the San Francisco appeals court to restore Trump's January 27 order, contending that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter the United States. "Congress has expressly authorized the president to suspend entry of categories of aliens," attorney August Flentje said. "That's what the president did here." But more than a dozen U.S. states and hundreds of companies obtained a sweeping court block on the order, which temporarily bans all refugees as well as travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations -- Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan -- arguing that it is unconstitutional and has "irreparably harmed" their residents and employees. The judges -- two appointed by Democratic presidents and one by a Republican -- repeatedly posed tough questions for the Trump administration's lawyer. Asked by Judge William Canby Jr. to cite an offense committed by anyone who has been granted a visa from the seven banned countries, Flentje admitted there was none in the record. Circuit Judge Michelle T. Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked if the government had connected any immigrants from the seven banned countries to terrorism. Flentje said a number of Somalis in the United States have been connected to the Al-Shabab extremist group. He also pointed out that Congress and the Obama administration in 2015 determined that the seven targeted countries posed the greatest risk of terrorism because they either host a significant terrorist presence or are considered safe havens for terrorists. Still, the questioning on this issue was so intense that Flentje said at one point, "I'm not sure I'm convincing the court." Skeptical Questions The justices also grilled the Trump administration attorneys on why U.S. states should not be able to sue on behalf of their residents or on behalf of their universities, which have complained about students and faculty getting stranded overseas. But the justices also shot some skeptical questions at lawyers for the two U.S. states -- Washington and Minnesota -- which obtained the temporary block on Trump's order. Judge Richard Clifton, appointed by former President George W. Bush, wanted to know how the order could be considered discriminatory if it potentially affected only 15 percent of the world's Muslims, according to his calculations. In response, Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell cited Trump's campaign statements that he would impose a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants and travelers, although the Trump administration since then has insisted that the immigration order is not targeted at Muslims. Judge Clifton was unconvinced by the response, saying "I don't think the allegations cut it at this stage." Earlier on February 7, Trump continued to criticize the numerous opponents of the order for bringing the court challenge. "I actually can't believe that we're having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation," Trump said, suggesting that terrorist attacks might occur as a result of the court-ordered delay in carrying out the order. "[Islamic State] said we are going to infiltrate the United States and other countries through the migration," he said. "And then we're not allowed to be tough on the people coming in? Explain that one." Although the legal fight over Trump's ban is ultimately about how much power a U.S. president has to decide who cannot enter the United States, the appeals court is only looking at the narrower question of whether to uphold a Seattle court's move to temporarily block implementation of Trump's order. The court is expected to rule later this week on the case, but it may ultimately be appealed and decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Separately, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly conceded in testimony before Congress on February 7 that, given the chaos and confusion that followed announcement of the order, it likely should have been delayed rather than issued abruptly by the White House during Trump's first week in office. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa For a time in the early 1940s, the barking of about 1,000 dogs in Rimini filled not only that gulch, but spilled over into other drainages. The dogs and 100 or so men were training in support of one of the Armys greatest missions never attempted, the invasion of Nazi-occupied Norway although most of the soldiers didnt even know that was the plan until a half-century later. Go up Rimini Road to the flat areas that once held barracks and kennels and there is no sign or historical marker. Most of the record of the life and adventures of Camp Rimini live now in the home and mind of Dave Armstrong, the first name in Montana mushing, who arrived from his native New England just about 70 years ago, on Feb. 5, 1943. Three of us and 40 dogs climbed in a baggage car and came out here, Armstrong, nearly 92, said last week. The soldiers at Camp Rimini trained teams of dogs to run. Sometimes, the dogs refused. Sometimes they got sick or wounded. They got stuck in brush. Some of the breeds just werent cut out for pulling. Armstrong and the others learned about the kinds of dog-personalities that work together. They developed sled systems that could carry 1,000 pounds or more of equipment for hundreds of miles where virtually no other means of travel was possible. They developed a mount that could support a .30 caliber machine gun on a sled. Later, the Army even developed parachute harnesses so dogs, along with sleds and mushers, could airlift where needed. The invasion of Norway, to be launched by the First Special Service Force, training at Fort Harrison at the time, was called off the British took that on instead. The dog sled forces took up a different mission, rescuing and recovering pilots and airplanes lost in places like Greenland and Baffin Island. Stationed in Newfoundland, the work was grim. Armstrong recalls bringing in a large container of body parts from a plane wreck. Army investigators later told him the remains were from two different people. He said the worst recovery was the last, a B-24 that went down with 11 people aboard. It was equipped with something new and secret radar and the Army Air Force wanted the plane back. Soldiers searched for three weeks. The plane was finally located by a trapper who had been out in the wilderness for 30 days and saw a shirt in a tree, and then saw a leg hanging in the tree. Mushers would find duffel bags at wreck sites, closed and filled with clothes, and found tiny slits in the garments. It turned out aluminum shrapnel from the plane crash was so forceful it pierced the bags and clothes leaving almost no mark. They found crash sites in forests while looking for broken tree tops, the first things planes would hit in their way down. Basically, its a horror story, Armstrong said. One time in Newfoundland, Armstrongs dogs lugged a sled full of radio equipment to the top of Table Mountain. The radio provided key communications in the war effort, and the dog teams made scores of missions. Yet, Armstrong said, he found no mention of the dogs in a regional museum. Similarly, theres very little in Helena to memorialize the dogs and men of Camp Rimini and its unique mission in some of the worlds toughest conditions. At the Montana Military Museum, inside the gates of Fort Harrison, several items tell the story of the local role in the canine mission. The collection, including a sled, may be the best set of records and relics anywhere of Camp Rimini except for Armstrongs collection, both physical and in his tales. Armstrong returned to Montana, about two decades after the war, with his wife, Alice. He was a founder of Race to the Sky, Montanas top sled race, and remains a mentor to mushers. Mark Ibsen, a local physician, recalls learning much of the skill from Armstrong. When Armstrong fell from a sled and cracked a rib, Ibsen and his then-wife ran Armstrongs dogs and learned from the master. He was very, very generous with his knowledge and with his opinion, Ibsen said. I really think he is connected deeply to the bond between man and dog. He said Armstrong also taught him the skill of taking a brow-beating from a crusty old Down-easterner. In Armstrongs home, a large, historic structure, the first thing he showed to recent visitors was his own wood carving, about three feet long whittling, he called his handiwork of a team of dogs pulling a sled and musher up a slope. Now Armstrong has just three dogs. But around the house are uncountable other dogs, sleds and mushers in paintings, drawings and photos and etched in glass. The cream team, his top team, figures prominently. On one area are framed promotional posters of every year of the Race to the Sky begun three decades ago with the starting line at the state Capitol and finish line at Holland Lake. Among Armstrongs photos is one of his very first dog. He has photos of numerous sleds in action and, in binders, probably the single best collection of photos anywhere of Camp Rimini, and possibly the best documentation of the Race to the Sky anywhere. He says sled dogs nowadays are bred and raised too thin, with mushers looking for speed instead of endurance. Ibsen joked in response that Armstrong trained dogs to go at about 4 mph all day not a pace that will win races now. One thing not well documented is the history of the individual dogs themselves. Their transfers to Newfoundland and Greenland are not recorded anywhere, Armstrong says. When Camp Rimini closed in 1945, the dogs dispersed. The Army tried to give some away, but the old war dogs didnt make good pets. Armstrong says there are no records, other than the 254 dogs sent to Fort Robinson, in Nebraska. That left maybe 400 or more unaccounted for. The word that I got was that they put the dogs down, piled them, and burned them, he said. I wasnt there so I cant prove it. A BARE-KNUCKLE boxer with an IQ of 54 was told by a crown court judge that he must wait until January to discover his fate after being convicted of raping a woman in a care home. John Archibald, 29, of Wapseys Wood Caravan Park, Gerrards Cross, was found guilty on November 22 of groping, fondling and raping the woman on February 8 while she was in a Buckinghamshire nursing home. She is dying from a wasting illness. Judge Mary Mowat, sitting at Reading Crown Court on Friday, decided that Archibald would have to undergo further psychiatric tests before being sentenced and she remanded him in custody until January 19. Archibald was found guilty of rape and indecent assault on November 22. The Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees reviewed draft bond language with the districts bond counsel, Dan Semmens of Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, of Missoula Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was for discussion only. The board is set to vote on the bond language at its Feb. 14 school board meeting. The proposed $63 million bond would fund three new elementary schools at the Central, Bryant and Jim Darcy campuses, with possibly changing the Bryant location to a site in the vicinity of the current school. It also would install safety and technology upgrades at all the elementary schools. The board needs to adopt the final bond language by Feb. 21 -- 70 days before the election, which is set for May 2. Ballots would be mailed to voters April 17. They must be turned in by 8 p.m. May 2, Semmens said, to either the county elections office or May Butler Center. The Lewis and Clark County elections office will be handling the election. If something comes up, can you change the timeline? asked trustee Tyler Emmert, noting there are still some hurdles to clear as far as whether the school district will have permission to demolish the old Central School. The Helena City Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, on the demolition permit and is expected to vote that night on whether to grant or deny it. Interim school district Superintendent Jack Copps noted that the deadline for turning in ballot language to the elections office is Feb. 24. We hope to not wait until the last minute, said board chair Aidan Myhre. Emmert also asked if ballot language could be flexible and leave open options about how Central School building would be dealt with, either constructing a new building or a combination of renovating the historic building and new construction. Both Semmens and Copps recommended clarity in the bond language. The ultimate decision on the language is a board decision, said Semmens. I look at this ... as an educator, said Copps following the meeting. I want Central School to be the best investment for the downtown area." I understand the desire to preserve Central School, he said, but added that the school has to address 21st-century education needs. These would be best met by constructing a new school, he said. If the bond passes, he would immediately set up a committee to identify and salvage remnants of the old Central structure that are of historic significance and to advocate for use of that historic decor and remnants into the design and architecture of a new school. The second purpose of the committee is to advocate for an architectural design of the building to blend with the larger area of the historic neighborhood as well as the newer buildings that have been built there, he said. The board recommended deleting language from the draft bond language that discusses possibly salvaging the existing Bryant School gym for future use, because it could be confusing to voters. There is no mention of the Seventh Avenue historic gym in the bond language. Copps and Semmens said the $63 million bond is expected to cover three new schools, demolition and removal costs of existing buildings and the furnishing of the new buildings, as well as the design and engineering costs of new construction and some land acquisition. In addition, it funds the safety and technology upgrades at all elementary schools and costs of issuing the bonds. Citizen Nancy Nicholson urged the board to include Central School language in the bond that would allow for renovation and expansion of Central. We still think it could be a wonderful facility, she said, adding that there is strong sentiment in the community for renovation. Police are asking the public to help identify a man who who broke into a church in Richmond's East End and stole several items last month. The crime happened about 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, at Faith Holy Church, police said. The church is located at 1022 N. 22nd St. The suspect is described as a black male with a medium complexion, short dark hair and a beard. He was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt beneath a jacket with a zipper on the left arm and light-colored cuffs, as well as light-colored pants and dark shoes. A tattoo was visible on his right hand. Anyone who can identity the suspect is asked to call 1st Precinct Detective Nathaniel Reese at (804) 646-0671 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word iTip followed by the tip. An updated mental evaluation has been ordered for a Richmond man charged with first-degree murder in Henrico County. Jarvis B. Williams, 48, already had been ruled competent to stand trial in the April 29 shooting death of Shaun Bernard Johnson, 35, of Henrico. But Williams defense attorney, Kevin D. Purnell, told Henrico Circuit Judge Gary A. Hicks on Wednesday that hes concerned about whether thats still the case. His competence may have slipped from what it was before, Purnell said. The defense attorney said in an interview that Williams has shown some signs of confusion and that hes concerned about his clients ability to understand the court proceedings. Prosecutors did not object to Purnells call for an updated report on Williams ability to understand the court process and help his attorney with his defense. Williams reported that he has had bipolar disorder throughout his life, according to a Sept. 28 mental evaluation in the case. That previous evaluation found the defendant had a factual understanding of what a trial is and that he was capable in helping his attorney defend him. Johnson was found dead in his vehicle in the 1100 block of Old Williamsburg Road with a gunshot wound to his upper torso, police said in a May 2016 search warrant on file in the case. A man who lived in a home on that block told police he was very close friends with Johnson and that Johnson brought his daughter over to play with the residents children. The resident said he went inside his home while Johnson was outside talking on his cellphone, and while he was the house, he heard three or four gunshots, a pause and then what he thought was two more gunshots, the search warrant says. He came outside and found Johnson behind the wheel of his Mercedes, suffering from a gunshot wound. Attorneys for Henrico County are asking that a court dismiss a lawsuit over a road that a developer wants to use to connect a master planned community in Henrico with another proposed development in Hanover County. The county contends that it did not violate any of HHHunts rights involving Dominion Club Drive, according to court papers filed in Henrico Circuit Court on Tuesday asking for the dismissal. The November decision by Henrico leaders effectively prevents HHHunt from realizing plans to link Wyndham with a planned 366-acre, age-restricted development across the county line. John Walk, an attorney representing the developer, said Wednesday morning that he hadnt yet received the countys filing in the mail. HHHunt filed its lawsuit against Henrico in December, arguing that the countys Board of Supervisors overstepped its authority by amending its major thoroughfare plan to remove part of the road. The lawsuit argued further that the road connection was included in plans involving Wyndham dating back to 1989 that the county previously approved. The county, according to the lawsuit, was motivated not by reasonable planning or emergency considerations but by opposition from current Wyndham residents to a connecting road. Droves of Wyndham residents expressed support for the countys decision by signing a petition and flooding a November Board of Supervisors meeting where the matter was discussed, airing worries about increased traffic and safety. The head of Montana State Parks would be hired and fired by the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board rather than the director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, under a bill heard by the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee on Tuesday. Rep. Bradley Hamlett, D-Cascade, brought House Bill 324, saying that his observations as a legislator led him to conclude that State Parks needs more autonomy from an agency often dominated by fish and wildlife issues. Having a Parks executive director hired by the board while keeping administrative duties, such as budgeting, with FWP, was the most painless way of providing that autonomy without creating a new agency, he said. The bill comes after former State Parks administrator Chas Van Genderen was fired last year by retiring FWP director Jeff Hagener. Hamlett asked for HB324 to be drafted before the termination, but the move seemed to further cement the representatives position, calling the firing without board involvement disingenuous. I think there was a turf war going on here, Hamlett said. I think this bill offers a solution going forward thats fair to fish and wildlife and fair to parks, and I dont think the director of parks should serve at the pleasure of the fish and wildlife director. In 2013 following a recommendation from the Environmental Quality Council, legislation passed forming the parks board, independent of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The move has not solved a continued rift between divisions, Hamlett believes, and HB324 would allow those divisions to better focus on their missions. Member of the State Trails Advisory Committee Frank LaLiberty spoke in support of the bill. Trails are largely seeing increased usage but decreased maintenance, and more autonomy for Parks would allow better focus on recreation needs. Coordinator for the Montana State Parks Foundation Marne Hayes also voiced support for HB324. We believe it gives State Parks the autonomy it deserves, that has been long withstanding, she testified, citing record-setting visitation numbers and community ties to local parks. Parks volunteer Bob Walker noted his frustration to the committee at a seeming lack of interest from FWP in parks issues brought before the Legislature, noting that the department did not request a recreation bill this session. It doesnt appear to them and to us that the leadership of FWP devotes adequate if hardly any time to parks and recreation, he said. It sends a message to the community and Montana. Speaking against HB324 was Paul Sihler, chief of staff for FWP, saying that the bill eliminates the chain of command and accountability critical to good governance. Before the Montana Constitution was updated in the 1970s, the state government included more than 100 agencies and many boards unaccountable to the governor, described by Sihler as, a collection of individual fiefdoms. Under the current system, the directors of agencies such as FWP are hired or removed by the governor, and the parks administrator hired or removed by the FWP director. While State Parks faces many challenges from budgeting woes to maintenance backlogs, HB324 seems to exaggerate these problems rather than solve them, Sihler testified. Under questioning from committee members, Sihler further noted that the separation creates some complicated questions about federal funding spent on things such as fishing access sites that later became state parks, and whether some of that money would have to be paid back. Hamlett balked at the federal funding issue, saying his understanding was that federal funding would not be jeopardized as long as Parks remains attached to FWP administratively. Former State Parks administrator Doug Monger voiced strong opposition to the bill, saying that similar arrangements such as the Montana Heritage Commissions loose ties to the Department of Commerce, lacked oversight and made resource allocation difficult. If this bill came up on my watch Id be really embarrassed, he said. Theres been a derailment here. Parks hasnt been doing their job, or the agency hasnt been doing their job. Monger described the divisions in FWP as a sibling rivalry, and he said rather than the history of divisiveness the department would benefit from more inclusiveness. If youre not talking today and youre in the same agency, heads need to be cracked, he said. Hamlett closed on his bill addressing Monger's comments. The problem I see with banging heads is that Parks always loses and gets the concussion and gets the (Parks administrator) fired, he said. Hamlett said he believed that much of the perceived conflict comes from funding, who has it and who controls where it goes. The committee did not take immediate action on HB324. At some point, nearly every worker faces a moment when they need leave, whether its to care for an aging parent, help a family member after surgery, recover from their own illness or injury, or welcome a new child into the family. As the Montana Legislature debates ways to improve the lives of Montanans, I wanted to take a moment to highlight one important issue. Paid family and medical leave has been making national headlines, and here in Montana we have the opportunity to design a plan that is unique to the needs of our state, is affordable for business and employees, and helps both families and our economy. Some of us are fortunate to have employers who provide time off for maternity leave or vacation time that can be used for medical reasons. Unfortunately, most working Montanans do not have access to any paid leave, and they are forced to make impossible choices between their paycheck and the health of themselves and their families. The United States is the only industrialized country that does not guarantee workers paid leave. Only 13 percent of working Americans have access through their employers. Many people think that the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) helps, but the reality is that this law is not enough. It provides some employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Many people do not qualify because they work too few hours or work for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. In Montana, only one out of three workers qualify for the FMLA. Even for those who do qualify, many workers cannot afford to take unpaid leave. Four states have successfully created statewide insurance programs that provide workers access to paid family and medical leave benefits. Through these statewide plans, workers receive a portion of their wages for a defined number of weeks to bond with a new child, recover from a serious illness or injury, or care for a loved one with a serious illness. We can do this in Montana. We can implement a program to cover most workers, and help families make ends meet during some of the most wonderful or most difficult times of their lives. Most importantly, we can do this with modest monthly premiums. Estimates suggest that for an employee making $40,000 a year, premiums would be around $15 per month. Paid leave allows men and women to better balance work and caregiving responsibilities. Paid leave increases the likelihood that new mothers will return to work after giving birth, allowing them to earn more over their lifetimes. Paid leave helps when single people get hurt or sick and need the time to recover and still earn a paycheck. Paid leave helps parents (both men and women) take the time to bond with a new baby or take time to care for their kids if they get sick or hurt. Paid leave helps seniors who often need family members (spouses, partners, adult children, or siblings) to care for them as they age and would make it possible for them to stay in their home. Family should be able to help without sacrificing their job. What would this mean for Montana business? At a time when tens of thousands of workers will be aging out of the Montana labor force, paid leave can help businesses keep workers attached to the workforce and their business. Paid leave helps businesses save money through reduced employee turnover. Retaining one employee can save a business between $5,000 and $15,000. We know that workforce stability is critical to businesses success. Paid leave encourages women and low-wage workers - populations most likely to not have access to paid leave - to return to their same employers after taking leave. Research shows that paid leave in Montana would keep $45 million in the pockets of thousands of working families and stimulate local economies. It is time for Montana to invest in solutions that help families balance home and work responsibilities. Montanans need and deserve the time to support themselves and their families when they are sick. We can do this. It is affordable. It is important. Paid family and medical leave is good for moms, dads, kids, seniors, businesses, the economy, and most importantly, families. Rep. Jenny Eck, D-Helena, is the House Minority Leader in the Montana Legislature. Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Tom Perriello announced Wednesday that he opposes two proposed natural gas pipeline projects in Virginia a position that represents the progressive upstarts strongest break yet from the policies of Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Perriello, a former congressman and diplomat who is running against Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam for the Democratic nomination for governor, said he would work to stop both the Atlantic Coast Pipeline through central Virginia and the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Roanoke region. If elected governor, I will use the authorities available to me to prevent these pipelines and instead encourage all stakeholders to invest in opportunities that create far more Virginia jobs, keep more value in the community, protect our landholders rights and protect our beautiful natural heritage, Perriello said during a news conference at Richmonds Libby Hill Park. The proposed 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would cut a swath through central Virginia from the West Virginia line to North Carolina, has drawn the most attention and opposition from environmentalists who see it as a threat to drinking water and natural resources, as well as from landowners who feel their property rights are being violated. The smaller Mountain Valley Pipeline would run through the Roanoke area to Southside Virginia. Pipeline opposition perhaps is strongest in Nelson County and other rural areas near Charlottesville, Perriellos hometown. Citing the threat of climate change, Perriello said investments should be made in other energy sources such as wind and solar, as well as weatherization to make buildings more energy-efficient. The energy industry, he said, should be decentralized to encourage small-scale production. Time and time again, when our farmers and small-business owners wanted to have a small piece of the energy sector, we saw the utilities and others make it as difficult as possible to grow those businesses, to sell power back to the grid or go off the grid altogether, Perriello said. Perriellos stance could put Northam, the favorite of Virginias Democratic establishment, in a pinch by forcing the lieutenant governor either to stand by McAuliffe or alter his views to appeal better to pipeline opponents. Bubba Sanderson, 44, one of roughly a dozen Perriello supporters at Wednesdays event, has a cattle farm in Cumberland County that lies in the pipelines path. He called McAuliffe a great cheerleader for the state but said the governor has been weak on the pipeline. Tom is a guy who has crossed our state and been to Cumberland County and wants to know what the citizens want to do, instead of what big companies want to do, Sanderson said. The campaign of Ed Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman and front-runner in the four-way race for the GOP nomination, said in a statement Wednesday that Gillespie agrees with McAuliffe, Republican General Assembly leadership and Virginia business leaders that the pipeline would help the economy. Tom Perriello made clear once again today that hes out of step with mainstream Virginians, Gillespie spokesman Matt Moran said. The only question left is, will Ralph Northam side with Virginia employers, workers and families or the left wing of his party? McAuliffe, who is backing Northam for governor, has pitched the $5.1 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline as an economic driver that will bring low-cost energy critical to landing industrial projects and creating jobs. The governor has said that even if he wanted to stop the pipeline, he has no authority to do so. That stance has led environmental activists to begin pressuring McAuliffe at public appearances. Perriello said he will look at all authorities available to governors, including instructing the state Department of Environmental Quality to conduct additional water-quality testing. Asked for comment in response to Perriellos event, the Northam campaign issued a written statement that urged a rigorous review process but didnt flatly state opposition or support for the projects. As a doctor and a scientist, Ralph Northam always believes in a robust and transparent process driven by science, facts and property rights, Northam campaign spokesman David Turner said in a statement. This is why he urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Virginias Department of Environmental Quality to hold this process to the highest possible standards with the utmost due diligence given to protecting our natural heritage. That approach, Turner said, drives Northams long-standing opposition to offshore drilling. Perriello has supported offshore drilling in the past but said Wednesday that hes always been very skeptical of offshore drilling and supports offshore wind. The energy giant Dominion, a major donor to Virginia politicians from both parties, is leading the Atlantic Coast Pipelines development in a partnership with Duke Energy and Southern Company Gas. Perriello pledged Wednesday that he will not take one dime from Dominion but is willing to meet with the company to discuss pragmatic solutions. I think too often in our system we see things that are tilted in one direction because of where the contributions are coming from, Perriello said. Northam has received $20,000 in donations from Dominion since he launched his gubernatorial campaign. In a statement, Dominion officials said they were very disappointed by Perriellos stance and called his statement ill-informed. This project is essential to the economic vitality and environmental future of Virginia, Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby said. It will create thousands of new jobs, promote cleaner air in our communities, and enhance the energy security of our region. Its unfortunate Mr. Perriello has disregarded these important public priorities and the aspirations of most Virginians. Because Perriello has not yet had to file a campaign finance report, its not clear whether he has received funding from environmental groups. Perriello is the second 2017 gubernatorial candidate to oppose the pipeline. Denver Riggleman, who owns a distillery in Nelson near the pipeline route, is running an insurgent Republican campaign fueled largely by anti-Dominion rage and a populist message of supporting ordinary Virginians over Richmond power brokers. Riggleman is competing for the GOP nomination with Gillespie, state Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, and Prince William County Supervisor Corey Stewart. Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order in April restoring the voting rights of more than 200,000 felons who had served their sentences. The Democrats move took the Virginia executives power to restore civil rights further than any previous governor and led to a court challenge and eventually legislation. That legislation generated a bitter, partisan debate in the Senate on Tuesday over McAuliffes actions and Virginias history of hindering African-Americans from voting. In the end, the Senate voted 21-19, along party lines, to pass Senate Joint Resolution 223 from Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City. The debate came just as legislators reached crossover, the functional midpoint of this years 46-day session. In contrast to McAuliffes policy of liberally restoring rights, the Norment proposal would set criteria to curtail such power for any future governor. It would require felons to pay restitution, fines, costs and fees associated with their convictions something McAuliffe does not require. And for violent felons as defined by the legislature it would require a five-year wait following the completion of a sentence and any period of probation or suspended sentence. Norment called his measure a step toward a consistent policy for felons to have their rights restored. Democrats called it a disingenuous attempt to suppress the black vote, prompting Republicans to say they were appalled by such shameful comments. Norments legislation is a proposed constitutional amendment that would need approval from the House of Delegates and then the full General Assembly again next year before going before voters. And its not clear whether theres any appetite in the House for Norments proposal to insert the General Assembly into the rights restoration process. Similar legislation from Del. Gregory D. Habeeb, R-Salem, was halted earlier in the session by a 4-3 vote in a House subcommittee. Unlike most states, felons in Virginia do not automatically regain the right to vote after serving their sentences. While then-Gov. Bob McDonnell touted his efforts to restore voting rights to an increasing number of felons, McAuliffe in April announced a policy that even Democrats didnt expect. Using his power to review applications and restore rights, he said, he would grant blanket voting rights restoration to felons each month because he wanted them to be fully contributing members of the community. Republican leaders immediately attacked the move as an attempt to win votes for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Norment opened the debate Monday by saying it was curious that his proposal had become so partisan and said he was aware McAuliffe was lobbying Democratic senators to oppose it. He singled out Democrats who in 2013 voted for a proposal by Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, similar to his legislation this year. That included a requirement that felons pay full restitution, fines and fees before their rights could be restored. Attorney General Mark R. Herring and Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, both then state senators, voted for the 2013 proposal. Mr. President, Norment said to Northam, who presides over the Senate, you voted for it and perhaps thats how you got to be lieutenant governor. At that point, Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, asked permission to interject. I will not yield, Norment said. Ive been around the horn once or twice and I understand how the worm can twist sometimes, said Norment, a senator for 25 years, But I just suggest to you that Ive tried to pick up many of those provisions that Democrats backed in 2013. Sen. Mamie E. Locke, D-Hampton, read from written remarks and said Norments proposal allows the General Assembly in the future to tighten the criteria for someone to have rights restored. This is a cynical, dishonest and disingenuous proposal that the people of Virginia will surely reject, she said. Over 60 percent of Virginians have supported the governors restoration of rights initiatives. We will not be going backwards on this issue, that Mr. Glass let us know his purpose in putting forward, which is all that this resolution does. The reference was to future U.S. Sen. Carter Glass, a delegate at the 1902 deliberations over the Virginia Constitution, who said voting restrictions would eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this state, so that in no single county will there be the least concern felt for the complete supremacy of the white race in the affairs of government. Lucas said: Carter Glass would have co-signed onto this measure in a heartbeat. She also said she has two brothers who are felons whose voting rights were restored under McAuliffe. Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond, said Norments resolution would undo progress made to restore rights for nonviolent felons. She said McAuliffe listened to advocates who explained that the biggest impediment to restoration of voting rights was that people couldnt afford to pay all the fines, court costs and restitution. Once someone has the word felony slapped on you they have trouble getting a job, she said. If you cant get a job, youre never going to pay your fines. A defiant Norment then said he was appalled by the comments invoking a comparison of his proposal and a poll tax. To hearken back to ... Carter Glass in 1902 and invoke that on this bill is equally inexcusable, he said. The restoration of your rights does not mean you are not a convicted felon, Norment said. You are a convicted felon and youve got to check that box as long as its on any employment application, he said. That barrier already exists. That barrier exists because you broke the law. You broke the law. And thats what creates the barrier, not any Senate joint resolution. Rebutting the argument that felons could not pay costs, he said: Talk about disrespect to the judiciary. ... You are ordered to pay restitution to that victim that you raped or you maimed or you maliciously hurt. And to say that there is no accountability for that? Unbelievable. Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said it was difficult to talk about the topic without bringing up Glass. McAuliffes initial policy was ruled invalid by the Supreme Court of Virginia, but he continued restoring rights under a quick process the court has allowed. Since taking office in 2014, McAuliffe has restored voting rights to at least 130,000 felons, according to his office. Winter will blast into the Richmond area on Thursday after two days of record warmth. Richmond topped out at 75 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, tying the daily record first set on Feb. 8, 1925. Snow flurries could make an appearance in parts of Virginia on Thursday, but the heaviest snow will be confined to the northeastern states. Temperatures will drop after early morning rain clears out of the Richmond area. A winter coat and gloves might seem like overdressing for the morning commute, but they'll be welcome accessories for the late afternoon and evening hours. Rain could arrive with some thunder overnight Before the colder air arrives, low pressure will bring rain to much of the state early Thursday morning, possibly with embedded thunderstorms. Don't be surprised to wake up to a rumble of thunder during the overnight hours, especially near the North Carolina border. A severe storm or two with damaging wind gusts couldn't be ruled out south of U.S. highway 460. For the Richmond area, the rain chance is mostly between midnight and daybreak, but some showers could linger into mid-morning. Most areas will see rain totals between 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch. Flurries possible as colder air blows in Some of the departing morning rain showers could mix with snowflakes, especially in Northern Virginia and the Northern Neck. Accumulations are unlikely as far south as Richmond, but Winchester, Washington D.C. and much of Maryland should see snow sticking to the grass on Thursday morning. The nor'easter will dump several inches of snow along the Interstate 95 corridor from Philadelphia to Boston. Virginians will get another chance to spot snow flurries on Thursday afternoon and evening, but it will be in hit-or-miss fashion and anything that falls wouldn't stick to the warm ground. Thursday's temperatures will feel drastically colder than Wednesday's, and the high and low temperatures will be thrown off from their usual timing. The downward trend will start early, with a sharp drop from mid 50s late overnight to around 40 when the rain exits the area around daybreak. Expect a range of upper 30s to mid 40s for the morning and midday hours, then a steady drop through the 30s for the late afternoon and evening hours with a wind chill in the 20s. A gusty northwest wind will make the cold air feel even colder. The wind will pick up noticeably right around daybreak with gusts to 20 and 30 miles per hour. Even stronger 30 to 40 mph gusts could blow through the western Piedmont. The wind will persist into the evening, then calm down overnight into Friday. The cold air will exit just as quickly as it arrived. After a brisk Friday in the 40s, Saturday will warm to the mid 60s. Highs could climb into the 70s again on Sunday. A representative of the state's hotel industry said Tuesday a bill that would require Airbnb-style rentals to register with the Department of Revenue would help ensure everyone pays rental taxes equally. Senate Bill 150 is carried by Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse. It would have the Department of Revenue provide a listing of facilities that collect the state bed tax. It also redefines facilities that must collect the tax to include vacation homes, homes, apartments or a room rented by or on behalf of the owner for less than 30 days. "It's a way for outside visitors to check if their facility is registered with the state and in compliance," Brown said. The state collects a 4 percent lodging facility use tax that pays for tourism promotion efforts and a 3 percent sales tax that goes into the general fund. The amount collected over the last several years has increased as the state has drawn record numbers of tourists to Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. Cities around the state have struggled as Airbnb and VRBO rentals have become more common. Just last month Bozeman held a forum to talk about the challenges the city faces. Those who offer rentals say it's a vital part of their income, while some neighbors don't appreciate properties being used for short-term stays. Stuart Doggett, executive director of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association, supported the bill, saying the money collected for tourism promotion benefits everyone who rents to tourists. "Accommodation tax pays for tourism promotion. We're shorting the tourism promotion efforts my members have established." David Herbst, with Americans for Prosperity Montana, said instead of making everyone pay the tax, the Legislature should consider if the money collected is well-spent. Last year a $7 million contract to promote tourism in the state was awarded to a Wisconsin company who had an employee related to the tourism department's marketing office bureau chief. Herbst said money that could go to Montanans shouldn't end up at an out-of-state company. Gene Walborn, deputy director of the Department of Revenue, said money from the tax spent on tourism promotion helped attract 12 million nonresident visitors to the state last year who spent nearly $4 billion. "That's a tremendous number," he said. "We think it's hugely effective. If we don't have the 4 percent tax to market our state we're not going to see those increases." The Senate Taxation Committee took no action on the bill Tuesday. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A former Virginia Tech student who wants to see more scientists elected to office is running for the Virginia House of Delegates seat currently held by Del. Joseph Yost, R-Pearisburg. Andrew Schultz, 25, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 12th District, which generally splits its vote evenly between Republican and Democratic candidates. Half of the districts voters live in Montgomery County, a quarter in Giles County, and the balance in Radford and Pulaski County. Shultz said he decided to run for office because he wants state government to embrace science and take more evidence-based action. Schultz has his bachelors and masters degrees in material science and engineering from Virginia Tech. The government would benefit from more scientists being elected, he said. Schultz first contemplated running for office prior to Donald Trumps election as president, which has caused unease among scientists, some of whom are planning to march in Washington, D.C., in April to oppose Trumps climate and environmental policies. Schultz, a Bernie Sanders supporter in last years presidential election, would have preferred running as an independent, but felt like he wouldnt have a good chance at winning unless he ran as a major-party candidate. Yost plans to run for re-election, and has faced Democratic opponents every year since his first race in 2011. I welcome Andrew to the race and I look forward to a competitive dialogue, which is an essential part of a vibrant democracy, Yost said. Last year, Schultz was convicted of misdemeanor assault for an incident that occurred after his car had been towed to an impound lot in Radford. On Feb. 18, Schultz entered the impound lot, and attempted to retrieve his car without paying the towing fees because his car had been illegally towed, he said. As he drove his car out of the lot, an employee tried to stop him by jumping in front of the car, he said. At the time, Schultz was charged with reckless driving and assault. In August, Schultz signed a plea deal and was given a $100 fine and six months of suspended time. In his campaign materials, Schultz said he supports the Second Amendment, investing in renewable energies, legal recreational marijuana, free or low-cost birth control and a womans right to choose to have an abortion. He also believes voters should get a modest tax rebate for voting. His campaign materials also list the piano as his favorite instrument, Kurt Vonnegut, Terry Pratchett and Chuck Palahniuk as some of his favorite fiction authors and Tiny Dancer by Elton John as his favorite song. Schultz was born in Fairfax County and attended middle and high school in Virginia Beach. While he is job hunting, he stays home to take care of his 4-month-old son. He is not married. Schultz hasnt yet started fundraising for his campaign. Yost, 30, has represented the district since 2012 and has almost $50,000 in campaign funds. RICHMOND As Virginias 45-day General Assembly session nears its final two weeks, legislators will only consider bills already approved by the other chamber and finalize state budgets changes. Many bills relevant to the Roanoke and New River valleys were among the 1,000 out of 2,600 introduced last month that didnt make it past Tuesdays crossover deadline. The Republican-controlled legislature quickly shot down numerous gun control measures, such as a partial gun ban for Roanoke, and killed efforts to raise the minimum wage, including a bill by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021. General Assembly committees also killed a bipartisan effort to reform the process of reinstating felons voting rights, including a constitutional amendment by Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem. Efforts to allow recall elections within Virginia, which were partly based off citizen efforts to oust Montgomery Countys Circuit Court clerk, were also sidetracked. Heres a look at what other bills will move forward. Abortion-related matters Legislation proposed by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, would prevent the Virginia Department of Health from giving funds to any non-hospital entities that perform abortions outside of those done in emergency situations like rape, incest, fetal deformities or to save the mothers life. Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed the same bill last year, calling it an attack on Planned Parenthood. The House was one vote shy of overriding the governors veto. House Bill 2264 passed in a 60-33 vote Tuesday and moves to the Senate Education and Health Committee. Cline also introduced a resolution to proclaim Jan. 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, as a Day of Tears, which passed the House and became official last month. Those who oppose abortion can use the day to lower their flags to half-staff to mourn the landmark Supreme Court decision that granted women the right to have abortions. Reckless driving A bill that would raise the threshold for reckless driving from 80 mph to 85 mph cleared the Senate last month. Under the bill by Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, a person would have to drive over 85 miles per hour to be charged with reckless driving. He proposed similar legislation last year. James River scenic designation A bill to expand the scenic river portion of the James River is close to heading to the governors desk. HB 1454 by Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, and Chris Head, R-Botetourt, would expand the scenic river designation from 14 miles to 49 miles including all portions of the James in Botetourt and Rockbridge counties. The bill awaits a final Senate vote. The scenic river designation means no one can build a dam or any other structure that impedes the rivers flow on that section of the river. I-73 funding For the second year in a row, a bill earmarking funding for Interstate 73 is making its way through the General Assembly. The bill by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, would put the interstate, which would run from Roanoke to the North Carolina line just south of Martinsville, next in line for a pot of money currently earmarked for U.S. 58. When the money becomes available in about two decades, I-73 would receive about $40 million a year a fraction of the projects $6 billion price tag. RICHMOND The Virginia Senate approved legislation Tuesday that would cut the number of days students may be kept out of school, joining colleagues in the House who approved suspension reform bills Monday. The Senate passed Senate Bill 995 by a vote of 32-8 and SB 997 by a vote of 34-6. SB 995 calls for reducing the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 60 school days. School officials would conduct a review after 45 days to work on how best to integrate a student back into a school setting. The legislation, however, would allow schools to go over 60 days but not more than 364 days if a case involves offenses including felonious assault, criminal sexual assault, arson or the sale or possession of Schedule I or II drugs, and the criminal activity occurs at school or school events. And SB 997 eliminates long-term suspensions of preschool through third-grade students but gives schools leeway to go up to 10 days if the incident involves a weapon, inappropriate sexual behavior or serious bodily injury. The two Senate bills, along with the legislation approved in the House, are geared toward changing how schools administer suspensions in an effort to make sure students dont fall further behind. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, who sponsored the bills, said suspending students, particularly younger students, has few benefits and isnt always effective. Kids in elementary school, he said, often are too young to understand consequences and dont necessarily learn the error of their ways from a suspension. That means their misbehavior needs to be addressed in a different way. Plus, children in poverty who are suspended often are left home alone and dont have access to lunch and breakfast as they normally would at school. On Monday, the House approved House Bill 1534 which calls for reducing the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 90 school days. It also approved HB 1536, which would prohibit students in preschool through third grade from being expelled or suspended for more than five days, except in cases of drug offenses, firearm violations or certain criminal acts. BILLINGS To hear Genevieve Plaster tell it, Planned Parenthood could close shop in Montana tomorrow with little consequence, though many women would disagree. Plaster is senior policy analyst for the anti-abortion Charlotte Lozier Institute, an organization that has worked closely with U.S. Sen Steve Daines, R-Mont., and other Republicans in making the case for a post-Planned Parenthood America. When Daines and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, launched their plan Jan. 31 to defund Planned Parenthood, it was Loziers research that Daines relied on to assure Montana women that there are enough community health clinics providing health care to take the place of Planned Parenthood. Lozier identified 130 Better Health Care Alternatives to Planned Parenthood that already receive federal funding and do not provide abortions. These are health centers that are identified by the Health Resources and Services Administration that are licensed and eligible to receive Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements," she said. "They are identified as primary and preventative healthcare providers. 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. Abortion accounts for about 3 percent of Planned Parenthoods services. The list includes community health care mainstays like RiverStone Health, the designated healthcare provider for Yellowstone County. RiverStone is a family medicine primary care clinic that treats patients for all their medical needs, including all of the services provided by Planned Parenthood except for abortion. But theres one big difference between Planned Parenthood and RiverStone, said the clinic's CEO John Felton. We do not anticipate being the patients only reproductive health care provider." RiverStone wants to see its patients for everything. The patient who relies on RiverStone for long-acting reversible contraceptives, like an intrauterine device, is preferably using RiverStone for nonreproductive health issues. When it comes to scheduling non-urgent care, the wait for an appointment can be weeks. Planned Parenthood is more immediate. We are unique in our ability to provide Montanans same-day appointments, which many providers are unable to do, and we see every patient regardless of their ability to pay for the health care they need, said Laura Terrill, Planned Parenthood of Montanas vice president of external affairs. There are provider shortages across Montana, making our ability to see patients quickly and provide high-quality care essential to ensuring our communities remain healthy. Patients dont come to Planned Parenthood to make a political statement, Terrill said. Taking Planned Parenthood away as a choice for political reasons is wrong. Other care providers listed by Lozier include all 17 of Montanas federal community health centers. These health care providers focus on providing care to uninsured and underinsured people usually living in poverty. The Montana Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Council in Billings is listed. The argument against these centers picking up Planned Parenthoods clientele is that theyre already maxed out. Planned Parenthood has clinics in only four Montana cities: Billings, Helena, Great Falls and Missoula. But the counties those communities are in represent 40 percent of the state population and serve the medical needs of surrounding counties, as well. In 2014, Planned Parenthood of Montana served nearly 12,000 patients, nearly half of whom used federal assistance to pay for health care. Nearly 10,000 women received prescriptions for birth control through Planned Parenthood in Montana. The 17 community health centers provided fewer contraceptive services combined than Montanas Planned Parenthood clinics. In 2010, half of the women in the state received contraceptive care through Planned Parenthood. Im a woman that would be close to retirement age. I dont know a woman my age that hasnt used Planned Parenthood at some time in their life, said Elizabeth Marum, of Belgrade. And we use it for basic health care. Planned Parenthood has, for decades, been a safe harbor for women needing reproductive care, Marum said, in a way that more generalized clinics and rural care providers arent. Its a place of medical privacy in a state where no degree of federally mandated confidentiality can fully pull the curtain between the personal goings of rural neighbors. Imagine youre about 18 years old and you want reproductive care and youre in rural Montana and everyone in that county health clinic knows you, your grandparents, your brothers, sisters and uncles, your religious affiliation and everything else about you and has judgments about you, Marum said. And yet youre asking for the pill. I mean, theres something beautiful about the anonymity of being able to go into a Planned Parenthood where all you have to do is get in the door and you're safe. Thats how I felt when I was 18. Plaster countered that there are states where Planned Parenthood has closed shop and that hasnt been the end of the world for women. Its worth noting that in North Dakota, theres no Planned Parenthood at all, Plaster said. There are 71 health centers. There are North Dakota clinics that provide abortions. RICHMOND Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order in April restoring the voting rights of more than 200,000 felons who had served their sentences. The Democrats move took the Virginia executives power to restore civil rights further than any previous governor and led to a court challenge and eventually legislation. That legislation generated a bitter, partisan debate in the Senate on Tuesday over McAuliffes actions and Virginias history of hindering African Americans from voting. In the end, the Senate voted 21-19, along party lines, to pass Senate Joint Resolution 223 from Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment , R-James City. The debate came just as legislators reached crossover, the functional midpoint of this years 46-day session. In contrast to McAuliffes policy of liberally restoring rights, the Norment proposal would set criteria to curtail such power for any future governor. It would require felons to pay restitution, fines, costs and fees associated with their convictions something McAuliffe does not require. And for violent felons as defined by the legislature it would require a five-year wait following the completion of a sentence and any period of probation or suspended sentence. Norment called his measure a step toward a consistent policy for felons to have their rights restored. Democrats called it a disingenuous attempt to suppress the black vote, prompting Republicans to say they were appalled by such shameful comments. Norments legislation is a proposed constitutional amendment that would need approval from the House of Delegates and then the full General Assembly again next year before going before voters. And its not clear whether theres any appetite in the House for Norments proposal to insert the General Assembly into the rights restoration process. Similar legislation from Del. Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, was halted earlier in session by a 4-3 vote in a House subcommittee. Unlike most states, felons in Virginia do not automatically regain the right to vote after serving their sentence. While then-Gov. Bob McDonnell touted his efforts to restore voting rights to an increasing number of felons, McAuliffe in April announced a policy that even Democrats didnt expect. Using his power to review applications and restore rights, he said, he would grant blanket voting rights restoration to felons each month because he wanted them to be fully contributing members of the community. Republican leaders immediately attacked the move as an attempt to win votes for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Norment opened the debate Monday by saying it was curious that his proposal had become so partisan and said he was aware McAuliffe was lobbying Democratic senators to oppose it. He singled out Democrats who in 2013 voted for a proposal by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, similar to his legislation this year. That included a requirement that felons pay full restitution, fines and fees before their rights could be restored. Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, said Norments resolution would undo progress made to restore rights for nonviolent felons. She said McAuliffe listened to advocates who explained that the biggest impediment to restoration of voting rights was that people couldnt afford to pay all the fines, court costs and restitution. Once someone has the word felony slapped on you, they have trouble getting a job, she said. If you cant get a job, youre never going to pay your fines. McAuliffes initial policy was ruled invalid by the Supreme Court of Virginia, but he continued restoring rights under a quick process the court has allowed. Since taking office in 2014, McAuliffe has restored voting rights to at least 130,000 felons, according to his office. SMALL JR., Robert Coleman December 2, 1936 - February 4, 2017 Robert Coleman Small, Jr., 80, died Saturday, February 4, 2017, at NHC in Bluffton, S.C., after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Small was born on December 2, 1936, in Washington, DC. He was the son of the late Robert Coleman Small, Sr. and Edna McCrae Small. He grew up in Baltimore, Md. Robert was a graduate of the University of Virginia where he received his baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. At the University of Virginia, Robert's mentor was Dr. Richard A. Meade, who instilled in his pupil the habit of an open, enquiring mind. Robert was elected to Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1958. He was a member of the Parish Church of St. Helena. Dr. Small joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., in September, 1970. He remained there through May, 1991, serving as a Professor of English Education and eventually as the Associate Dean of the College of Education. From 1991 until his retirement in 2003, Dr. Small served as the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Radford University, Radford, Va. In those roles, his teaching and professional demeanor inspired students and colleagues and significantly shaped the minds and careers of teachers and professors who are now spread across the United States and around the world. He was a dedicated scholar and published numerous articles and books in his field of literature, especially young adult literature, and the teaching of English. His work with and leadership of professional organizations such as the Virginia Association of Teachers of English and the National Council of Teachers of English led to his being the editor of two influential refereed professional journals: the Virginia English Bulletin and the ALAN Review (the journal of the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE). Through these editorships, Robert extended his influence on the teaching of English and especially the teaching of young adult literature to a national and international audience. Today, thousands and thousands of students in public schools, colleges, and universities are the beneficiaries of Dr. Small's investment in the lifetimes and professional development of teachers and professors who had the privilege of being his students and who themselves strive daily to be as good as he was convinced that they could be. In the words of one of his doctoral students: "We will all miss Bob, but we will all live better lives because Bob taught us how to be better and more caring and more thoughtful people." A teacher can have no greater legacy than that his students and their students continuously strive to emulate his tireless quest for understanding and wisdom. Surviving are his partner/spouse of 47 years, Donald J. Kenney of Beaufort, S.C., and their beloved Australian terrier, Tobi. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to a local humane society. Robert loved his volunteer work with the Pulaski, VA, Humane Society. Memorial services will be planned and announced for a later date. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family. DECATUR With Illinois in its second year without a budget, one state legislator seems to think discarding state symbols is a good use of his time. A bill proposed in the Illinois Senate would get rid of state symbols, such as the state bird, flower and state animal, among many others. Republican state Sen. Tom Rooney of Rolling Meadows proposed the bill. He said too many state symbols has decreased the value of the "important" ones. Rooney's legislation would only keep the state flag, seal, motto and song. During the 1974-75 school year, Dennis students mounted an effort to have the monarch declared the state's official insect. The project taught students hands-on lessons in how government works and was the first time children had ever proposed a bill to the Illinois legislature that became law. Then-Gov. Dan Walker signed it on Oct. 2, 1975. If I could talk to that man, I'd say 'Back off!' said Andrew Finley, a fifth-grader who was one of the students who gave presentations to the school board and city to get Dennis' mosaic butterfly sculpture declared a local landmark. When Andrew and his classmates were in third grade in 2014-15, they followed suit with their effort to get the mosaic butterfly named a local landmark, and they, too, succeeded, celebrating their success on the 40th anniversary of the original law. I worked hard on that, Andrew said. I do not want them to do that. Why would someone want to do that? Andrew said he learned the entire process of how to get a bill moved through the process to become a law, both locally and federally. He also learned about monarchs and that they're endangered, and he and his family planted milkweed, which monarchs require to live and breed, to lend the butterflies a helping hand. Sadly, it hasn't all been working, but we're trying our best, he said. Monarchs are important and beautiful. Robert Burries said the monarch represents Dennis School to him, and is a symbol of what makes the school special and unique. I feel like we should have the monarch butterfly because we worked very hard to turn (the mosaic) into a landmark, Robert said. And if they take that (symbol) away, it's not going to be Dennis the same way, because our symbol is the butterfly. That's what Dennis is. I think we should keep it. The process of learning how to get a law passed, Robert said, made him and the other kids realize that you don't have to be an adult to change things. It made us realize we're powerful, he said. We can do things. You don't have to be grown up to be powerful. Teacher Linda Burnham, whose class the boys were in during the landmark project, said she thinks the state symbols provide a teaching tool for kids to learn about the native flora and fauna, and losing those symbols will take something precious from kids and adults, too. It teaches our students what native elements are in our state, she said. I believe the symbols are important to our schoolchildren, for them to recognize things that belong to us. I just believe they're very important symbols that they can take ownership in and learn to preserve. State Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview, sponsored successful legislation in 2015 that was prompted by a group of fourth-graders at Chatham Elementary School to make sweet corn the official state vegetable. McCann defended the use of the various state symbols in a statement, saying he feels the state symbol bills grow organically within regions and communities throughout Illinois. Dear Dr. Roach: I have a 53-year-old daughter who is troubled by muscle twitches. They occur on various parts of her body, some lasting for several minutes, and others much longer. No pain is associated with these mysterious twitches, but recently their frequency seems to be increasing, along with the severity. She has seen several neurologists and internists, and had numerous tests, and nobody has made a diagnosis. My daughter is relieved that nothing serious has been discovered, but is quite nervous that the problem persists. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions? -- Anon. A: I have published columns recently on degenerative neurological diseases, and many of them include muscle twitches, or "fasciculations," in medical jargon. It is perfectly understandable to be worried about these, especially when they seem to be long-lasting or worsening. Up to 70 percent of people get muscle twitches from time to time, but there is a subset of those people -- and it sounds like your daughter is in this group -- whose symptoms are significantly more severe. However, in my role as a general internist, the vast majority of people I see with this concern do not have any identifiable disease. In this case, the term "benign fasciculations" is used, even if it doesn't seem so benign to the person suffering with them. A careful history and exam usually is enough to confirm the benign nature of the person's condition. Sometimes an EMG (electromyography) test is performed, just to be sure. If the EMG is also normal, the risk of a serious condition is just about zero. Blood thinners Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 66-year-old female in great health. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation about eight years ago. I don't feel like I have a-fib often, or an intense case of it. I have been taking diltiazem with an aspirin daily. Although, over the past three months I have been trying to wean myself from the diltiazem and have been taking it every other day instead. My doctor is encouraging me to go on blood thinners, which he knows I do not want to do. What is your opinion on blood thinners and their side effects? There are so many people being diagnosed with a-fib these days, with many different paths to follow with medications. I don't like taking medications, because the side effects are sometimes worse. I don't take meds for any other medical issues at this time. It seems doctors don't agree on how to treat a-fib. -- K.N. A: It may seem that doctors don't agree how best to treat a-fib, but one reason for that is that everyone has his or her own individual risks. The decision of whether to use anticoagulants in a person with atrial fibrillation thus needs to be individualized, and most experts use a scale called the CHA2DS2-VASc score to evaluate an individual's risk. Your score is at least 2, and in a study using people with a score of 2 or higher, anticoagulation had more benefit than risk, so I would agree with your doctor's recommendation to use an anticoagulant, such as warfarin, or one of the newer agents (which have the benefit of not needing periodic blood tests). I have mentioned before that there are alternatives to anticoagulation. I discussed the WATCHMAN, a left atrial appendage occlusion device, in a previous column. For people who really don't want to be (or can't be) on an anticoagulant, it is worth considering. The booklet on abnormal heart rhythms explains atrial fibrillation and the more common heart rhythm disturbances in greater detail. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 107, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. SPRINGFIELD (AP) The Illinois Senate passed another day in Springfield without a vote on its much-anticipated budget compromise. Democrats and Republicans discussed the plan separately in private meetings lasting hours Tuesday. But there were no votes on the plan. Democratic and Republican leaders have been discussing for weeks ways to break a nearly two-year budget stalemate. Chicago Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont hoped they had a compromise budget to present shortly after the new year. But they failed twice in January to call it for a vote. The wide-reaching proposal would raise income taxes to tame a multibillion-dollar deficit. It also includes business-friendly changes in law and local property-tax freeze that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has insisted on. HARRISBURG, Pa. A key Pennsylvania state Senate committee on Monday approved a controversial bill that critics say would roll back abortion rights in Pennsylvania. The bill, championed by Republicans who control the Senate, would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy except in medical emergencies, instead of the 24 weeks allowed under current law. The Judiciary Committee passed it along partisan lines just days after it was introduced and without first holding a hearing or seeking input from medical organizations, a number of which have expressed concerns about its potential impact on decisions made between doctors and patients. Though a nearly identical bill moved through the Legislature last year before failing to win passage, this effort could have more momentum. The measure now moves to the floor of the Senate, where it could come up for a final vote as early as this week, before heading to the GOP-controlled House. And though Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has vowed to veto the legislation, Republicans have majorities in both chambers this year that are large enough to override his veto. The bill would follow the lead of more than a dozen other states that have moved to put newer restrictions on abortions. Abortion opponents in 19 states have enacted laws that ban abortions at 20 weeks, even though viability is currently about 24 weeks measured from a womans last menstrual period. Pennsylvanias bill is really pulling from trends weve seen across the country, said Elizabeth Nash, a policy analyst for the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research center that supports abortion rights. State health department data shows 31,818 abortions were performed in the commonwealth in 2015. Of those, 380 or less than 1.2 percent were performed after the 20th week of pregnancy and would be banned if the law passes. Beyond the 20-week provision, the bill would also sharply curtail a procedure known as dilation and evacuation, often used in second-trimester abortions, according to medical experts. The bill itself refers to the procedure as dismemberment abortion, although that is not a medically accepted or defined term. At Mondays hearing, Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, the committees chair, said the legislation was necessary given what he said was significant medical research showing that fetuses can be viable before 24 weeks. He did not offer any examples; medical experts say the age of viability has barely budged since 1973, despite improvements in technology. Opponents, all Democrats, called the legislation a thinly veiled effort to roll back constitutionally protected rights. Rio Tinto has decided to gift the Bunder diamond project in India to the Government of Madhya Pradesh after a comprehensive review, says a press release from the Group. In August 2016, Rio Tinto announced it would not proceed with the development of Bunder due to commercial considerations and would be seeking to close all project infrastructure. Under a Government of Madhya Pradesh order signed in January 2017, the Government will accept ownership and take on responsibility for the Bunder assets. The inventory of assets and associated infrastructure handed over to the Government comprises all land, plant, equipment and vehicles at the Bunder project site. The inventory will also include diamond samples recovered during exploration. This approach will assist the Government to package the assets if it were to proceed with an auction process for the Bunder mineral rights. Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive Arnaud Soirat said Our exit from Bunder is the latest example of Rio Tinto streamlining its asset portfolio. It simplifies our business, allowing us to focus on our world-class assets. We believe in the value and quality of the Bunder project and support its future development, and the best way to achieve that is to hand over the assets to the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Rio Tinto has long and enduring ties with India and we continue to see the nation as an important market for our metals and minerals and as a key hub for Rio Tintos business services. Rio Tinto remains committed to its diamond business and the Indian diamond industry through its worldclass underground mines, the Argyle diamond mine in Australia and the Diavik diamond mine in Canada. Rio Tinto continues to enjoy a strong partnership with the Indian diamond industry, with more than 250,000 diamond cutters and polishers employed in processing Rio Tinto diamonds. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished The diamond jewellery retail arm of the De Beers group, is considering giving up its flagship London store after nearly 15 years due to substantially higher rents and property taxes. The company said that the prospectively significantly higher costs of its lease had led it to exploring alternative options on Old Bond Street. The UK government plans to overhaul the business rates system from April and central London retailers are faced with average increased costs of 50 percent. Simultaneously, rents in Old Bond Street have seen a tremendous surge. De Beers moved into its Bond Street premises when the rates were around 400 per square foot. At the end of last year, however, Polo Ralph Lauren, with a store at the end of the street, signed a rental agreement at 2,225 per square foot when it chose to remain in its store. De Beers said it continuously reviews its store locations around the world and notes that it relocated its New York store to Madison Avenue. The company said it planned to bring its New York store concept to what may be a smaller London store. South Africas State Diamond Trader, which is permitted to purchase up to 10 percent of the countrys diamond production by volume and value, only managed to acquire 2 percent by volume and 3 percent by value of rough diamonds it inspected from nine producers during the course of 2015-2016. The diamond trader said in its trading report obtained by Rough & Polished at the ongoing Mining Indaba in Cape Town that it purchased 451 000 carats during the period under review against a target of 552 000 carats. It also sold 460 000 carats against a target of 574 000 carats during the period under review. The diamond trader attributed its failure to achieve the budgeted purchases and sales to a lack of demand from beneficiators for rough diamonds from representative samples selected deemed not suitable for local beneficiation. Larger clients were unwilling to commit capital to purchasing rough diamonds when the demand for polished diamonds was weak and prices continued to decline, it said. Meanwhile, South Africas State Diamond Trader said the average price of diamonds it purchased was $194.71 per carat compared with $423 per carat, a year earlier. This reflects the execution of the sales strategy in which [we were] able to market those diamonds not preferred by clients to beneficiate. This enables [us] to supply suitable rough diamonds for local beneficiation, it said. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished WFDB President Ernie Blom told the 2017 Presidents Meeting on Tuesday that the organisation will work in close cooperation with the Diamond Producers Association (DPA) in order to help boost its generic diamond marketing efforts. Mentioning reports that the DPA was looking to boost its annual budget from the current $6 million, he told the international gathering taking place in Mumbai this week that the increase in the DPA's budget will allow it to invest in more sophisticated and long-term programmes."Advertising today is a different world to the one most of us here grew up with," he commented. "No longer is it simply a case of producing a TV, radio, newspaper or magazine advertisement. Markets are incredibly fragmented, with people getting their information from a wide range of sources, especially the Millennials. That means researching the market and allocating resources in a way that enables you to reach your target audience in the most efficient way possible. The WFDB-supported World Diamond Mark (WDM) initiative will work with the DPA because we recognize that generic marketing is critical for our business. We wish the DPA great success in its efforts and pledge to work together for the good of the entire industry."Blom laid out the challenges facing the global diamond business, but urged colleagues to remain positive in order to deal with them. "Although the issues of financing, mixing of undisclosed synthetic stones and others are difficult, we must be determined in dealing with them." There are many bright spots from which the trade can draw great confidence, he said, including the tax agreements in Belgium and Israel last year and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council's (GJEPC) generic diamond promotion campaigns in India with De Beers. In addition, the GJEPC has become a full WFDB member and the Federation is working on bringing in more members, Blom told the meeting. Furthermore, the WFDB is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, with events to be held to celebrate it, as well as a special commemorative book planned for publication later this year.Welcoming the WFDB Presidents to India, Bharat Diamond Bourse President Anoop Mehta spoke about synthetic diamonds and the widespread efforts the Indian diamond trade has taken in providing detection equipment and seminars on the issue for traders. GJEPC Chairman Praveenshankar Pandya talked about the challenges facing the diamond industry. "Unless the midstream is strong the rest of the industry cannot be strong," he commented. Meanwhile, Ashish Mehta, the convenor of the Natural Diamond Monitoring Committee established by the Indian trade to monitor the scope of synthetic diamond trading, especially undisclosed mixing, spoke about the work of the GJEPC in this regard across India.DPA CEO Jean-Marc Lieberherr addressed the meeting, providing an update on the work of the body. The DPA will increase investment in the United States, and plans to enter the Indian market in September 2017 and China in January 2018. He revealed a DPA initiative to combat undisclosed synthetic diamonds by establishing an independent diamond screening equipment testing lab to test the range of detection machines available. "The project will be led by the DPA, but will involve key industry organizations, including the WFDB and GJEPC, and main equipment manufacturers so that the solution delivered meets the needs of the industry and satisfies the manufacturers' expectations of independence and objectivity," Lieberherr explained.The meeting also heard a report from World Diamond Council President Andrey Polyakov on the work of the organisation.Ending the meeting, the WFDB Presidents agreed a proposal to engage with the International Grown Diamond Association, with Ernie Blom saying he will seek to create a dialogue with the organisation.WFDB Vice President Yoram Dvash told the gathering that the 2018 World Diamond Congress will be hosted by the Israeli diamond trade in Tel Aviv in May or June next year. Australia and South Korea extended their bilateral currency swap deal for another three years on Wednesday. The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Bank of Korea signed the agreement allowing for the exchange of local currencies between the two central banks of up to A$10 billion or KRW 9 trillion. The swap agreement was initially signed in 2014. The new agreement is designed to promote bilateral trade for the economic development of the two countries, to enhance financial stability and for other, mutually agreed, purposes, the bank said in a joint statement. The agreement will ensure that trade between the two countries can continue to be settled in local currency even in times of financial stress. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Hargreaves Lansdown plc. (HL.L) reported that its profit before tax for the six month period ended 31 December 2016 rose 21% to 131.0 million pounds from 108.1 million pounds last year. The key contributors to profit growth were sustained significantly elevated equity trading volumes since the 23 June 2016 "Brexit" vote; higher levels of stock generating additional revenue from asset based charges; new revenue from new assets and clients; and continued cost control. Profit attributable to owners of the parent for the period was 106.07 million pounds or 22.4 pence per share up from 86.71 million pounds or 18.3 pence per share in the prior year. Net revenue for the period rose by 16% to 184.8 million pounds from 158.8 million in the prior year. Net new added during the period was 2.34 billion pounds, down 16% from the prior year. The Directors recommended a 10% rise in the interim dividend to 8.60 pence per share. The interim dividend will be paid on 30 March 2017 to all shareholders on the register at 10 March 2017. This amounts to a total interim dividend of 40.7 million pounds. Ian Gorham, Chief Executive, said, "We are also pleased to confirm that Chris Hill, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer , and, in line with our plans for an orderly handover, I will step down from the Company's Board and as CEO following today's Interim Results, subject to regulatory approvals. I will remain an employee of the Company until 30 September 2017." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Ani Hovhannisyan We were asleep. I was woken by the sound of a female police officer by my bed, telling us that we had two hours to collect our stuff. We were returning to Armenia, recounts Lousineh (weve changed her name). In 2014, Lousineh, her husband and two children were deported from Sweden. They had been living there for six years but were refused residency status. A year before, Swedens Migration Agency (SMA) had announced its intention to deport 22,000 illegal migrants, sending them back home. The news, announced by the Swedish Border Police Chief Patrik Engstrom, was reported by Aftonbladet, a large Swedish newspaper. Lousineh and her family were living in an apartment provided by the SMA. Swedish police were thus able to track them down easily. Four police officers escorted them to Yerevan aboard a special flight. They treated us well during the entire flight. When we reached Zvartnots [airport], the Swedish police handed our documents to the Armenian border guard who glanced at us in such a way that I immediately realized we were back in Armenia. So, these are the deportees? asked the border guard, who started talking to us with a gruff tone. I became stressed. Our home, our belongings, the kids schoolwe left everything and found ourselves at the entry to Armenia where they reluctantly accepted us. Yearly, on average, 315 citizens of Armenia are forced to make the same trip back to Armenia. According to eurostat, a European Union database, some 90% of Armenia citizens seeking asylum in European Union countries are turned down. 50% of those accepted are admitted as refugees and 30% receive humanitarian status (the sick, unaccompanied minors). The status of the remaining 20% isnt specified. Compared with neighboring countries, Armenia leads in the number seeking asylum. Consequently, it also leads in the number being accepted and refused. Nevertheless, fewer Azerbaijani citizens seeking asylum in the EU are refused when compared to Armenia and Georgia. Out of 100 asylum seekers from Azerbaijan, 21 were accepted. For Armenia, the number was 11 and 8 for Georgia. In large part, this is due to the level of democratic governance in each country as measured by the Democracy Index, in which Georgia ranks 87th, Armenia-120th, and Azerbaijan-148th. Most Armenia citizens refused asylum in EU countries remain there illegally. Only 22% of them voluntarily return or are deported back to Armenia. In 2014 and 2015, 1,305 individuals returned to Armenia 52% voluntarily and 48% forcibly. On average, 4,623 citizens of Armenia file asylum requests with the EU per year. Thats seven times the number (652) who voluntarily return to Armenia. The government of Armenia offers nothing in the way of reintegration services for those deported or those voluntarily returning. The EU The government of Liechtenstein and "Caritas Austria" have allocated 1,230,944 Euros to the Armenian Caritas NGO to carry out the Migration and Development Program (MDP), tasked with resettling such individuals in Armenia. From 2010 February 2016, the MDP allocated each adult an AMD amount corresponding to 700 Euros and each minor 350 Euros. Each family received no more than 2,000 Euros in AMD. Tatevik Tovmasyan, a public affairs assistant at the MDP, told Hetq that the above amounts arent directly given to beneficiaries in cash, but rather are spent to purchase domestic animals, household appliances, to pay rent, and on other items. Not all those returning to Armenia are covered under the MDP. It only services those who had spent a minimum of six months in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Lichtenstein, and who applied for assistance within six months of returning and meet eligibility requirements (families with minor children, the infirmed and the elderly, one parent families, etc.) According to the Armenian Caritas NGO, 519 individuals have received reintegration assistance in the past six years. After returning to Armenia, Lousineh and her family again left the country. The 1,500 Euros allocated by Armenian Caritas in assistance wasnt enough to keep them in Armenia. Given conditions in Armenia, we werent able to raise our children as we wished. We tried to raise animals and start a business, but couldnt. We decided to leave once again, Lousineh says. Also read - Armenia: Three Times More Citizens Apply for Asylum Status in Europe On average, 4,200 citizens of Armenia yearly receive residency papers for the first time. Women outstrip men when it comes to receiving residency permits. While women receiving residency status for marriage or education purpose outstrip men, more males get residency for work-related (remunerative) purposes. The bulk of Armenians applying for family or marriage purposes are accepted by France, Spain, Belgium, Sweden and Greece. Spain and Poland lead when it comes to work-related applications. 2010 - 2015: Citizens of Armenia Receiving Residency Status in EU (Purpose of Application) Photos: Narek Aleksanyan This article was produced during #ddjcamp, a data journalism training organized by European Youth Press - Network of Young Media Makers. Slovakia foreign trade gap widened at the end of the year, as imports grew faster than exports, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic said Wednesday The trade deficit rose to EUR 119.8 million in December from EUR 83.6 million in the corresponding month last year. In November, the trade balance ended in a surplus of EUR 305.7 million. Exports climbed 6.2 percent year-over-year in December and imports grew by 6.8 percent. For the whole year 2016, total trade surplus of the country was EUR 3.7 billion versus EUR 3.3 billion in 2015. Both exports and imports increased by 3.6 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Denmark's exports and imports increased in November, mainly led by higher dmenad for machinery, figures from Statistics Denmark showed Wednesday. Exports grew 3.5 percent and imports rose 1.6 percent from a year ago. The trade surplus was an unadjusted DKK 3.3 billion and a seasonally adjusted DKK 6.9 billion. In 2016, exports grew 1.3 percent and imports increased 2.2 percent. The country's exports to Germany declined 8.6 percent during 2016, while shipments to the entire EU grew 2.3 percent. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren was forced to stop reading a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday after Senate Republicans voted to formally silence her for impugning a peer. The incident, a set back for Democrats, took place during the debate on whether to confirm Jeff Sessions as the next Attorney General. She tried to read on the floor of the Senate a letter from 30 years ago by Coretta Scott King. The letter, written in 1986 to oppose President Reagan's nomination of Sessions as a federal judge, criticizes his record on civil rights. Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell objected to Warren's recital of the letter saying that she had broken Senate rules by impugning the conduct of another senator. Senator Steve Daines, who was in the chair, interrupted Warren's speech. McConnell's objection was put to vote, and it passed in a party-line 49 to 43 vote, forcing Warren into silence. The Senator from of Massachusetts is now banned from speaking on the Senate floor until the showdown over Sessions' nomination is complete. Jeff Sessions cleared a key procedural hurdle Tuesday after the Senate voted 52 to 47 in favor of limiting debate on his nomination. The vote in favor of the cloture motion sets up a final vote on Wednesday, with the Alabama Senator likely to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch of dodging questions on key legal and constitutional issues during his meeting with federal appeals court judge on Tuesday. In a press conference following the approximately 45-minute meeting, Schumer told reporters Gorsuch "avoided answers like the plague." "This President is testing fundamental underpinnings of our democracy and its institutions," Schumer said. "These times deserve answers and Judge Gorsuch did not provide them. I have serious, serious concerns about this nominee." Schumer argued the bar for a Supreme Court nominee to prove they can be independent has never been higher, accusing President Donald Trump of showing deep contempt for an independent judiciary. The Senate Democratic leader said he pressed Gorsuch on a number of issues, including Trump's immigration ban and claims of voter fraud as well as a clause in the Constitution prohibiting the president from receiving gifts from foreign leaders. Schumer claimed he has not made up his mind on whether he will support Gorsuch but argued that Trump's Supreme Court nominee deserves intense scrutiny in light of the president's actions. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Ben Sasse, R-Neb., offered a far more positive assessment of his meeting with Gorsuch, calling the judge a supremely qualified and thoughtful nominee. "The Chicken Little hysteria from some of my friends on the other side of the aisle is just sad and absurd," Sasse said. "If they keep working to paint Judge Gorsuch as a mouth-breathing bald eagle hunter, they'll embarrass themselves." "Judge Gorsuch and I talked at length about our constitutional system of checks and balances," he added. "Whenever Democrats want to stop dealing in fiction, I'm confident Judge Gorsuch is ready for a serious conversation." Trump's nomination of Gorsuch will need support from some Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster, although Republicans have suggested they may invoke the so-called "nuclear option" to require only a majority. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News At a meeting on February 6 in Yerevan with Chinas Ambassador to Armenia Tian Erlong, Armenias Finance Minister Vardan Aramyan argued that Armenia, for centuries regarded as a bridge between Asia and Europe, coupled with its economic ties to the Eurasian Economic Union and the EU and friendly relations with Iran and the Arab world, had all the attributes for greater economic cooperation with China. In an apparent attempt to woo Chinese investment, Aramyan described Armenia as a country with a favorable climate for investment and business. The minister said that Armenia had great potential to integrate into the global economy and that the country wants to adapt to global developments. At a Yerevan meeting today with Ivan Volinkin, Russias Ambassador to Armenia, Armenian Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchyan noted that work is underway to draft a new program designed to spur the development of foreign languages, particularly Russian, in Armenia. Mkrtcvhyan said that the new program would clarify the issue of teaching foreign languages in Armenias public schools and set standards for foreign language teachers. The two also discussed issues related to a joint competition organized by Armenias Ministry of Education and Science and Russias Science and Culture Russian Center for admission to college and post-college programs in Russian universities. Ambassador Volinkin and Minister Mkrtchyan also discussed the future activities of the Moscow Lomonosov State University branch in Armenia. Still Standing: Four the Moments legacy honoured at Nova Scotia Music Week When a quartet of Halifax women began singing together a cappella in the name of social justice in 1982, there was little in the way of a music industry at play in Atlantic Canada. And even if there had been, its likely that Four the Moment would ... By SA Commercial Prop News Emira Property Fund CEO, James Templeton attributed the solid results to proactive leasing and asset management which boosted its distribution by 7.5%. Proactive leasing and asset management boosts Emira Property Fund interim results in the year ended June 2014, growing its distributions per share 7.5%, the company announced last Wednesday. Emiras net asset value increased by 9.2% during the year to 1 447 cents per participatory interest (PI). The performance in distributions was an improvement on the 6.5% achieved in the six months to December. Emira Property Fund CEO, James Templeton attributed the solid results to contractual escalations on the bulk of the portfolio, vacancy reduction and stringent cost control, including savings from its property management tender, investing in upgrades to prime properties, as well as disposing of non-core properties. During 2014, Emira achieved the highest occupancy level across its portfolio since 2005. The benefit of our improved occupancies and our forecast containment of property expenses in the coming year will drive another year good performance in 2015, should there be no major deterioration in the economy, Mr Templeton said. Listed on the JSE since 2003, the Fund began trading as a REIT from 1 July 2013. It has a diversified portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties. Its assets comprise 141 properties valued at R10.8 billion. Emira is also internationally diversified through its direct interest in ASX-listed Growthpoint Properties Australia (GOZ), valued at R666 million at 30 June 2014, with total assets now at R11.6 billion. The company says its vacancy levels decreased from 5.6% to 4.5%. Industrial property, which makes up 16% of its overall portfolio, achieved vacancies of a mere 1%, fully-let portfolios in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Its Retail sector recorded a vacancy rate of 2.7% but its office sector, representing 50% of its portfolio, improved from 10.7% to 8.8%. Old Mutual Investment Group portfolio group manager Evan Robins says "Operationally, Emira is getting a handle on itss portfolio, it's not an easy portfolio, but operational metrics were impressive." Robins says on the distribution growth front, Emira delivered slightly better than expected. "We are more conservative with our numbers. We have seen many property companies delivering on 8% growth." During the year, the average value of Emiras properties increased from around R64 million to R76 million. Acquisitions totalled R705m at a forward yield of 8.7 percent. Total building sales were valued at R501m, which would fund acquisitions and developments. Income from Emira's offshore investments in Australia increased by 21.7% due to an increase in the distribution per unit received from GOZ, the depreciation of the Rand against the Australian dollar and its increased units held. By SA Commercial Prop News The South African Property Owners' Association (SAPOA) has dropped legal efforts against City of Johannesburg Consolidated Town Planning Scheme 2011. The South African Property Owners' Association (SAPOA) confirmed on Monday afternoon that it had decided to withdraw its appeal against the Johannesburg Consolidated Town Planning Scheme 2011. This comes after 18 months and much negotiation between the City of Johannesburg and property owners. Thanks to persistent discussion and negotiation, SAPOA is satisfied there has been sufficient progress to warrant withdrawing our appeal, says SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal. The draft scheme, published for comment in 2011, consolidates separate town planning schemes that were promulgated as far back as 1975, for a slew of former municipal areas. Its aim is to focus on enhanced land use management, coordination of urban growth, integrated transport planning; and innovative urban regeneration strategies. At the time of its publication, SAPOA called the draft scheme unworkable and argued strongly that the document did not reflect any of the extensive input submitted by the commercial and industrial property sector. SAPOA's main concerns centered around the effective appropriation of rights without compensation; and the fact that the municipality is not bound by its own scheme. "In addition, the draft scheme contradicted itself in numerous places; referred to schedules and annexures that do not appear in the document; includes a number of confusing and inadequate definitions - and even contradicted other legislation," explains Gopal. In December 2011, SAPOA lodged an appeal against the draft scheme - along with three other, separate, appellants. The appeal process was delayed because no Appeal Tribunal Members were appointed. But in the 18 months since the appeal was launched, various meetings have been held between the City and SAPOA to discuss industry concerns, and work collaboratively towards concessions that address those concerns. The last of those meetings was held in early July 2013, and SAPOA agreed to withdraw the appeal on 19 September 2013, he adds. By SA Commercial Prop News A multi-billion rand project, Cornubia, as a mixed use and mixed income development, spanning over 20 years, will alter the skyline of Umhlanga in the future Up to R20 billion in private sector investment is expected to be injected into the Cornubia mixed-used housing, commercial and industrial district planned adjacent to the N2 near Umhlanga over its development lifespan. Thats the word from Michael Deighton, a director of Tongaat Hulett developments, the property group and master-planners leading several major projects north of Durban and who are working jointly with the eThekwini municipality on Cornubia. He was speaking at a Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industrial business seminar last week on the developments together with Dube TradePort official. Dighton said Tongaat Hulett Developments was on the verge of securing two investments totalling between R2bn and R3bn into Cornubia. We are in serious negotiations with major JSE-listed groups and hope to finalise these deals by September. Cornubia is one of the biggest developments being planned north of Durban and is essentially new mini city. He said. The Daily News has reported that a wrangle between the municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Housing Department had settled the R25-billion project. But Deighton said reports about delays were a result of a misunderstanding between the council and provincial government. I can tell you it is happening. The EIA for the entire Cornubia South is under way, he said. Construction on the pilot phase of the first 500 low-income houses by the municipality would start before the end of the year. In the first phase in Cornubia South, Tongaat Hulett has sold about 370ha of developable land to city, for affordable housing. The group retained about 354ha of developable land in the area, part of which would include the Cornubia Industrial and Business Estate. Cornubia represents more than 1 500ha of developable land on a site about 2 400ha. Cornubia North would have about 813ha of developable land heading towards the airport. Cornubia is being developed as Kwazulu-Natal and eThekwinis first sustainable integrated human settlement, but over the next two decades most of the investments into Cornubia will be from the private sector. The public sector including the municipality, as well as provincial government will invest about R5bn in the project, mainly on housing, infrastructure again. I beg to differ. We are seeing this in the interest already being expressed in Cornubia Industrial and Business Estate will only go on to the marketing in February/March 2012, but already half is spoken for, he said. Special Public Prosecutor Anand Grover on Wednesday withdrew his plea before the Supreme Court that the assets of the Maran brothers should not be released after their discharge in the Aircel-Maxis case. Dayanidhi and Kalanithi Maran were discharged by the Special CBI Court on February 2. Allowing withdrawal of the plea as Grover sought direction whether he could approach Delhi High Court, the bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and others said: "Do your job. Go wherever you have to go. Do we tell you where to go." Grover is leading the prosecution by the CBI and Directorate of Enforcement before the Special CBI Court trying the 2G cases. Grover had moved the top court on February 3 urging the court to stop the release of the Marans' assets which were attached by the ED in the alleged money laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The assets which were attached by the ED were ordered to be released by the trial court on February 2 after it dropped charges against the Marans and others in the alleged kickback of Rs 742 crore in the deal. The court in its order then said that the "perception of suspicion was not backed by concrete evidence". Authorities imposed restrictions and shut educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir's Kalakote town on Wednesday following clashes between National Conference and BJP activists. Prohibitory orders will remain in force in the town, in Rajouri district, until further orders, officials said. All schools and colleges have been closed. The clashes erupted on Tuesday over fresh delimitation of the Panchayat wards. Some National Conference activists accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to tailor fresh delimitation of the wards to suit itself. One person was hospitalized after the violence. Kalakote is represented in the state assembly by BJP's Abdul Ghani Kohli, who is also the Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Minister. Jammu and Kashmir is likely to hold Panchayat elections in March-April as the term of the elected Panchayat members expired in July last year. The government on Wednesday said the country has enough jails for women prisoners. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said there were 18 jails for women where over 2,000 women are lodged. Pregnant prisoners or women with children were provided good medical care, the minister told the house. The minister accepted that jails meant for males were overcrowded and said new prisons were being built. The capacity of the existing ones was being increased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his governments war against corruption and black money was not a political fight ' title=' not a political fight '>not a political fight and said it was meant to empower honest people. "There is no denying that corruption has spread its roots in the society. The biggest sufferers of this parallel economy are the poor whose rights are snatched and the middle class," Modi said during a debate in the Rajya Sabha. "How long will we continue to brush things under the carpet and move on? "There is no reason to believe this a political fight or to create problems for any political party," he said. Defending his November 8 decision to demonetise Rs 1, 000 and Rs 500 notes, Modi said the step was to empower the honest. "Honest forces will not be empowered unless harsh steps are taken against the dishonest. The ultimate beneficiaries of these steps will be the poor. These steps will empower the honest." AAP MP Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to expunge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe at him in the Lok Sabha. In a letter to the Speaker, the Aam Aadmi Party member from Sangrur in Punjab asked her to expunge Modi's remark or send his complaint to the Privileges Committee of the House. Speaking on Tuesday, Modi quoted a saying from the Charvaka school of philosophy to say a person should take loan and drink 'ghee'. "I generally tell people 'ghee piyo'... but if Bhagwant Mann were to tell people he will ask them to drink something else," Modi had said. Mann wrote in his letter: "...you may kindly exercise your power and expunge the derogatory expressions alluded to me by the honourable Prime Minister. "If you find it difficult to expunge the remarks of Prime Minister... you may kindly refer my grievance to the Committee of Privileges of the Lok Sabha." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh knew the "art of bathing wearing a rain coat", creating a huge uproar in the Congress benches in Rajya Sabha. The Congress reacted sharply to the comment and staged a walk out from the House. Modi made the comment while responding to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. Modi said that Manmohan Singh was an economist who has been at the helm of affairs for around 30-35 years. "For the last 30-35 years, he has been directly involved with India's economic affairs in a decisive capacity... There might not be another person, in 70 years post Independence, he has been at the helm of affairs for half of the time," Modi said. "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... so much happened he did not get even a taint. Only Doctor Sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing wearing a rain coat," he said in a jibe, resulting to a huge uproar from Congress benches. As Congress members protested, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said: "The Prime Minister has been called Hitler and Mussolini... Don't teach us." Angry Congress lawmakers then staged a walkout from the Upper House. Singh was the Prime Minister for 10 years and headed UPA-I and UPA-II governments. During the Winter Session, he made a speech in the Rajya Sabha in which he called demonetisation a "monumental failure" and "organised loot". _ _SHOW_MID_AD__ The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Jamia Milia Islamia on Wednesday paid rich tributes to Zakir Hussain, one of the founders of the university, on his 120th birth anniversary and praised him for his humanism and egalitarian approach. "His novel and painstaking work in education opened a new chapter in the life of Jamia. The small sapling that he planted decades ago has now become a tree and is bearing fruits. His teachings and vision have become a mandate for us which we are working hard to fulfil," said VC Talat Ahmed expressing his gratitude to the former President of India. Ahmad said that it is important to remember how Zakir Hussain rose above narrow divides and taught us not to differentiate among people on the lines of religion, caste, creed, race and gender. He also demanded that the Bharat Ratna holder be "included in the category of the Saints of India" for his "extraordinary humanism". Ahmed also mentioned Hussain's role as pioneer in introducing a 'Taleemi Mela' (Education Fair), because of which the "people in the neighbourhood ... too are sensitised about the importance of education". The VC wished for lasting peace for the soul of Hussain and remarked that the university still abided by the ethos embodied by the late President. During a Q&A session in Armenias parliament today, Armenian National Congress (HAK) MP Levon Zurabyan expressed amazement that the government had taken no steps to investigate the offshore case of Mihran Poghosyan, Armenias Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer. Zurabyan said he was amazed to read a statement released by the government regarding a recent meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan and the Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, during which Karapetyan said that his government would get tough on corruption. On January 25, Armenias Special Investigative Service (SIS) said it stopped investigating the offshore accounts of Mihran Poghosyan after Swiss and Panamanian authorities refused to help the probe into Panama Papers revelations. However, the Swiss Federal Department of Justice later announced that it had turned down the Armenian request for legal assistance on November 8, 2016 because the requirements of the request were not fulfilled. Zurabyan reminded those present that years ago, Poghosyan purchased Chinese cars for the Compulsory Enforcement Service (CES) via a company he owned. And now, Zurabyan pointed out, we have the Panama Papers. After Hetq broke the news about Poghosyans offshore business interests, as revealed in the Panama Papers, Poghosyan resigned but continued to claim his innocence. We were on the verge of being glad, but then the case was dropped, Zurabyan said. The MP then asked Prime Minister Karapetyan, who was fielding questions in the parliament, how could the ruling government see fit to field a candidate like Poghosyan in the April parliamentary election. Minister of Justice Arpineh Hovhannisyan responded to Zurabyans question, restricting herself solely to various public pronouncements the government has made regarding the fight against corruption. Zurabyan countered by saying that the government had refused a request by Hetq to see the material regarding the decision to drop the Poghosyan investigation. Hovhannisyan said that as a representative of the executive branch of government, it would be incorrect for her to evaluate any action taken by law enforcement, and that if she did so, it would be regarded as meddling. Photo (from left): Mihran Poghosyan, MP Levon Zurabyan Police have detained two students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IITG), for allegedly molesting three students of Gauhati University, police said on Wednesday. The alleged molestation took place on February 3 but came to light only on Tuesday after the girls registered an FIR alleging molestation. The victims said the incident took place when the educational institution was celebrating its annual festival "Alcheringa". "The programme was over by 10.30 p.m and we were looking for accommodation in IITG on rent. At this stage the accused promised to help us," said one of the girl students. They were later offered some soft drink. After consuming it, they felt dizzy, the victims stated. "I could sense someone was trying to molest me. I tried to resist but lost consciousness. However, one of my friends remained conscious and she witnessed the molestation," the girl said in the FIR. A police official said the two youths had been detained. The Congress party on Wednesday released its manifesto here for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and announced 50 per cent reservation for women. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Raj Babbar releasing the poll-related document that focuses on women in a big way, said the party would distribute cycles to girl students. Babbar said the party was committed to safety and honour of women and on being voted to power it would open three women police stations in every district. Besides women, the manifesto also targeted the youths and farmers. Babbar said the party would ensure 150 workdays under MGNREGA. The Congress is contesting the state polls in alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). Under a last-minute accord, the Congress is contesting in 105 constituencies while the SP led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is contesting in 298. The manifesto was released in the presence of senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, P.L. Punia and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Uttar Pradesh goes to polls in seven phases, starting February 11. Around 15, 000 people in the Philippines took to the streets in a slum here on Wednesday after a fire, lasting for more than six hours, razed entire rows of houses, a media report said. The fire, which swept through Parola town of Tondo district, started around midnight on Tuesday and gutted some 1,200 homes. It caused roughly 6 million pesos ($120,400) in damage before the fire was extinguished by firefighters around 7.30 a.m., according to Bureau of Fire Protection, Efe news reported. Though up to 90 fire trucks were dispatched in an attempt to douse the flames, many of the displaced residents expressed anger over the alleged slowness of the response by the firefighting crews. The government has set up three temporary evacuation centres in the vicinity, but many residents say they cannot go because they need ID cards to register and their records were all burned in the fire. Though the origins of the fire are still not known, authorities suspect it could have been caused by a poorly wired power cord or an unattended gas stove. Bill Self, Kurtis Townsend won't be on sidelines for KU's first four games New Zealand is a country of immigrants. So reminded New Zealands High Commissioner to Samoa, David Nicholson, during the local celebration of Waitangi Day on Monday night at Letava. Having taken over from former New Zealand High Commissioner, Jackie Frizelle, Mr. Nicholson and his wife, Debbie, hosted dignitaries, guests and members of the Kiwi community in Samoa to celebrate at their residence. The tangata whenua, the original inhabitants of the land have been joined by people from around the world people from Samoa and other Pacific nations, European nations, Australia, Asia, the Americas and Africa, Mr. Nicholson told the gathering. Their children have been born as citizens of New Zealand, representative both of the promise of our country and the commitment made by those who have journeyed to Aotearoa, New Zealand. The people of Samoa play a very important role in New Zealand. This year is the 55th anniversary of Samoas independence from New Zealand and of the Treaty of Friendship between our two nations, he said. The Treaty of Friendship is special as neither nation has signed such a document with any other nation. That reinforces to me the strong diplomatic, constitutional, economic, social and cultural ties between New Zealand and Samoa. Mr. Nicolson highlighted the growing relationship between New Zealand and Samoa. Both of our countries have worked to ensure that the Treaty remains a meaningful document through initiatives as diverse as the arts, education, health, justice, disaster preparedness and response and tourism." NZs and Samoas joint ongoing commitment, collaboration and investment in these areas ensure that the Treaty remains a living document. The importance of the relationship was not lost on Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, who congratulated New Zealand for another successful Waitangi Event. Fiame also acknowledged New Zealands contribution to the development of Samoa. Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. Ceremonies take place each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840. In front of the government, development partners and business community, the Samoa Submarine Cable Company broke ground for the commencement of civil construction of the Tui-Samoa Submarine cable landing station at Vaivase-Tai on Monday. The Tui-Samoa cable is an eight terabit system which will connect Samoa, the territories of Wallis & Futuna and Vanua Levu to Suva on the Fiji mainland. The Tui-Samoa ground breaking also signalled Samoas intention to become a hub in the region by also announcing its partnership with Southern Cross Networks. The government through the Samoa Submarine Cable Company (S.S.C.C.) formally announced its commencement of commercial negotiations to host a spur off the 12,500km Trans-Pacific Southern Cross Next connecting Australia and New Zealand (and also Samoa) to the Los Angeles in California, USA. Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Mataafa Naomi said this an exciting time for Samoa. Today is the commencement of commercial negotiations between S.S.C.C. and Southern Cross Cables in relation to Southern Crosss Project Next, she said. This is an important step towards positioning Samoa as a submarine cable hub in the region and will further enhance the prospects of winning the rights to also land the Pacific Connectivity Project submarine cable from Tahiti at this cable landing station. The Government of Samoa and SSCC look forward to working with Southern Cross Cables to be your reliable and trusted partner and to fulfil our ambition to be the cable hub for central Polynesia. Tui-Samoa Cable will greatly help to improve the lives of ordinary Samoan people. It will provide school children in rural villages the same access to information that children in developed countries take for granted, it will provide local Samoan businesses the platform to promote their goods and services and compete in international markets, and it will also allow our Government to fast track our National Digital Economy Strategy in order to provide eGovernment services to our people. Pepe Fiaailetoa Christian Fruean, Chairperson of S.S.C.C. said affordable internet services should be a basic right. The Samoa Submarine Cable Company is committed to delivering fast, reliable and affordable internet services as a basic right not only for Samoa but across the region, he said. Information is power and S.S.C.C. is pleased to be the vehicle to empower economic and social development by providing communities access to information and services that will help improve their peoples lives and also accelerate I.C.T. development and growth in the region. S.S.C.C. is fully supportive of governments plans to position Samoa as a hub for the region and Southern Cross is an Extraordinary partner who will help deliver that vision. Anthony Briscoe, C.E.O., of Southern Cross Networks, said: The continued need for greater connectivity in order to bridge the digital divide for the Pacific is core to Southern Cross involvement in the Pacific region. We are pleased to work with Samoa as a hub to help them enhance broadband connectivity for Region. The event ended with the Deputy Prime Minister Fiame, thanking Samoas development partners the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Australian Government for their support of the project as well as the S.S.C.C. equity investors, the Southern Cross Networks for the opportunity to develop Samoa as a hub for the region. ABOUT SAMOA SUBMARINE CABLE COMPANY LIMITED S.S.C.C. is a private company registered in Apia Samoa which will build, manage and operate the Tui-Samoa submarine cable between Apia Samoa and Suva Fiji on behalf of the government of Samoa; the main trunk will support branching units to Wallis & Futuna and Vanua Levu, Fiji. S.S.C.C. will operate a Cooperative Sustainable Wholesale Model (C.S.W.M.) with the mandate to deliver fast, reliable and affordable internet services to stimulate I.C.T. innovation and development as an enabler of economic growth and social prosperity for the people of Samoa. The outpouring of support and admiration for the governments push to amend the Constitution to declare Samoa officially as a Christian state has been overwhelming. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is without a doubt the man of the moment. He is being hailed by church leaders in all corners of this country as savior of Samoa for initiating what they say is something that should have been done a long time ago. But thats to be expected of course in a country like Samoa where more than 99 per cent of the population are self-confessed Christians. The admiration is without a doubt deserving especially when just about everybody believes that this is a God-ordained move. Given the unquestionable commitment of our people to their churches and beliefs, it would be very hard to argue. It means anything you say against or even to remotely question the popular status quo would be seen as an affront to the almighty. Which is sad but very telling of what Samoa has become today. As a one-party state, it is one of the symptoms we should expect. When people have been brainwashed for so long, their ability to critically analyse a situation disappears and they will find it a lot easier to subscribe to a school of thought thats forced down their throats than to be objective and think critically. Now whoever said the church and state are supposed to be separate entities would be most unpopular on these shores now. He/she might even risk the wrath of this church going nation. For the undeniable truth is that the church and the government in Samoa have become one. And because they are bed buddies, we have inevitably reached a stage where politics and religion can no longer be separated. Indeed, when you add the use of Gods name in the mix, it becomes even more complicated. After all who would dare question God? And who would be brave enough in Samoa to stand up to the church leaders to tell them that what they are doing is wrong? Ive watched some of the local TV debates, listened to radio talk back shows over the past few weeks and how most commentators have spoken out against Muslims being a threat to Samoa. To me this is one of the saddest aspects about this debate. It is the amount of hatred and ill feelings that is being created towards people who dont subscribe to what the government and the church are doing. To be brutally frank, such a suggestion is ridiculous. We are talking about less than one per cent of the population. People who are quietly going about their business and yet they have suddenly become the target of some very ill-willed opinions. But its not just Muslims who have come under the microscope in Samoa. Its anyone else who is outside of the so-called Christian circle including Bahai followers, Mormons and others. What have they done to deserve this? Are not these people Samoans too? Did their forefathers and forebears not play a part in developing this nation we are proud to call our own? The worry is that regardless of what the government is saying about the amendment, the fact is a persons freedom to choose and to worship will inevitably be affected. Which is a sad, sad day for this country. Our forebears will be turning in their graves; they will be very disappointed to know the vision and foundation upon which they established this great country is being trampled upon at the whim of powerful people who obviously think they can do anything and everything. Now lets go back to the basics. In this country of Christians we abide by Jesus Christs teachings of compassion, passive resistance, forgiveness, love our neighbors as we love ourselves. And yet something is sadly amiss in the Christian make-up of Samoan society today. Weve lost count of the number of fatal attacks reported over the recent months. Then there have been so many suicides among young people and grown up adults. Incest has also been rising. Young girls are being sexually molested by their own fathers or grown relatives. This has become so commonplace. And so has theft, robbery, rape and other heinous crimes. Which begs the question, is it really the Muslims or foreign beliefs we should be worried about? Let me rephrase that, what is going on this country Founded on God today? What triggers a man to commit a violent act in blind fury, or another to take advantage of his young daughter and messes her up for the rest of her life? What moves a young girl to commit the ultimate act of ending her life? Why have our people found it so easy to steal and rob other people of their valued possessions? What about cases of adultery and immoral sexual relationships both in the church and the state? What is being done to stem the hurt, the huge emotional cost and the suffering being inflicted on our people? If the government is successful in amending the Constitution which they will of course given they have the numbers how will that help change the ugly situation we have found ourselves in? Lastly, if doing what is right by God is the churchs main focus, why has the church been so silent on corruption, collusion and the abuse of positions that has been allowed to continue in the halls of power, hurting Gods poor people in the process? And what is the church doing about the plight of the poor people in Samoa who are screaming out for help everyday? Do they care? Tell us what you think! Have a great Thursday Samoa, God bless! Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is in Singapore this week. He is among leaders from the Pacific and other countries attending a High-Level Ministerial Study Visit there. The two-day study visit ends today. Tuilaepa and delegates from the Pacific and Timoe Leste are being hosted by Singapores Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. This is the second Study Visit following the inaugural Singapore-Pacific Ministerial Study Visit held in 2012. The Study Visit will feature briefings on Singapores experience in areas such as port management, water management, economic development, vocational education, public administration and tourism promotion, a statement from Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The U.N. Development Programmes Global Centre for Public Service Excellence, which is based in Singapore, will also conduct a segment on effective public service reform to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Singapore enjoys warm and friendly relations with the Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste with whom we cooperate regularly in international fora such as the United Nations including at the Forum of Small States (F.O.S.S.) and Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S.), as well as the Alliance of Small Island States (A.O.S.I.S.). The Study Visit will provide an opportunity for Singapore to share its development experience, and exchange views with the Ministers in areas of common interest including climate change and sustainable development. Singapore has trained close to 5,000 officials from the Pacific Island States and Timor-Leste under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (S.C.P.). Since Tuilaepas departure, his Deputy Fiame Naomi Mataafa has taken over the role of Acting Prime Minister. Australia is committed to help Samoa and the Pacific region to fight climate change. So assured Australias Ambassador for the Environment, Patrick Suckling, who was in the country to see first-hand some of the challenges faced by the Pacific region. This is a special region for Australia, he told the Samoa Observer. As the Ambassador for the Environment, I thought it was very important to come and see firsthand some of the challenges, threats and priorities of the Samoan people, the communities, businesses and government in terms of one of the greatest threats the whole world is facing. Having visited Tuvalu and Fiji prior to Samoa, Mr. Suckling believes different countries encounter unique challenges. For instance, when I visited Tuvalu last week, their Prime Minister told me that they might not exist into the future. And that not is not the same for Samoa and Fiji. Still there are some particular sharp threats from climate change in this region. But the good news is that Australia is committed to help. This is what the Australian Prime Minister made very clear at the Pacific Island Forum last year. The message he delivered last year was that Australia is strongly committed to continue their support for this region through actions against climate change, said Mr. Suckling. As you aware, we also co-funded the Green Climate Fund meeting with Samoa last year, so Australia is also making sure that funds are coming into this region including Samoa. Mr. Suckling said part of his visit is to discuss the priorities of the governments and where Australia can help. There are implications of climate change that affect communities and the government in Samoa has been a great leader. The Prime Minister has been an international leader in raising awareness and driving commitment to address climate change. So I thought it was very important to come here and see for myself some of the threats and challenges faced by the people of Samoa. Mr. Suckling met with a number of senior government officials during his time here. Among them was Acting Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, who is also the Minister for Natural Resources and Environment and the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti. We talked about the priorities and challenges of climate change in the region, he said. She underlined the appreciation of the government of Samoa for the support that Australia provides in addressing all sorts of issues especially climate change. And we discussed a range of priorities that we have in terms of further work on climate change. For example, climate proofing infrastructures, whether it is roads, schools, hospitals and electricity, that sort of infrastructure is not destroyed by natural disasters. We talked about water security because of the increasing problem of water security as it is associated with climate change. And thats where the G.C.F. will be going. We also talked about the importance of regional actions, where countries of this region can come together and think in the strategic string lines, and coordinated ways about how can we as countries can work together to make sure that countries are following what we agreed upon in Paris. So that we can make a difference and fight against climate change, both in terms of mitigation reducing emissions, but also in terms of adaptation, and building resilience economy and community. We talked about how we can work together on implementation of what sorts of issues can we have, and Samoa has been a great leader on regional initiative and I know it is the host of the Pacific Island Forums this year. So the Minister was underlying to me that they are continuing to support and carry on the leadership role in the region. Mr. Suckling said funding assistance for the Pacific region is key. At the moment, we are working in conjunction with the World Bank on the projects of having better roads for Samoa, climate proofing the roads, to make sure that the roads are not going to get washed away and destroyed during rainy seasons or natural disasters. We do a lot of capacity building in terms of bilateral aid programme. Were working on regional initiative on water, on climate data meteorological services that can predict weather patterns and that can fit in to adaptation plans. So we are open-minded and really want to be guided by the priorities of the Samoan government in terms of where to next. Finally, how committed is Australia to the Paris Agreement? From our perspective, we are not sure where the policy will go, because they are still doing it, he said. He was referring to the shift in policy with the new administration at the White House in the United States and the threat from President Trump to abolish the E.P.A (Environmental Protection Agency). But we understand that at this stage, nothings changing in terms of U.S.As commitment to the Paris Agreement. We have an open-mind in terms of where the U.S goes on its policies, because they havent pulled out of the Paris Agreement, so lets see what will happen. But the Ambassador is sure about one thing. Australia is very committed to the Paris Agreement. That was a very significant historic agreement in Paris, 2015. 196 countries agreed for the first time ever, all collectively to take action against climate change. Then around 170 countries turned up in New York to sign it in April, so within months, we had a huge amount of countries turning up to sign. And then within a year, which has never happened for an international Treaty before, that treaty came into force. I think it reflects the fact that sings of climate change are getting stronger and stronger and more and more consensus that there is a real threat. So thats a global consensus. The other thing is, all countries have come together in agreement to take actions now, and to increase ambition over time to address climate change. Moreover, many more people are seeing this as an opportunity not a cost. For examples, in Australia, they have reduced emissions but their economy has grown by nearly 50 percent, said Mr. Suckling. What the Paris Agreement says, is the world has to transition to a lower emissions global economy, so every sector has to change. This effectively means its an economic issue; trillions of dollars have to be spent changing energy sectors, transport sectors, agricultural sectors, just anything that you care to think about will have to be changed. Thats literally trillions of dollars worth of opportunities. Australia does sometimes get criticized for our commitment to climate change. However, he reiterated that Australia is rock solid when it comes to supporting their neighbours on the Pacific. A 29-year-old mother of five has been jailed for a year and six months theft, being deceptive and forgery. Faatonu Lotonuu, a former employee of SL Refrigeration, was sentenced by Justice Mata Tuatagaloa in the Supreme Court in December last year. She was found guilty of 13 charges of theft as a servant, 12 charges of obtaining by deception and 12 charges of forgery. According to the summary of facts by the Police, on 12 separate occasions, the defendant would tear out blank cheques from her employers cheque book and from 07 June 28 July 2015 she forged the owners signature on the company cheques, and used them to purchase goods from various companies. The total amount she stole from the company was $15,374.54. The defendant told the Probation service her actions were driven by anger and hard feelings towards her employer because her employer was very disrespectful and unkind to the employees including her. The defendant admitted to the probation service of her stealing the company cheques and forging the owners signature that she had learnt by heart. She used the forged cheques for personal and grocery shopping for her family. Justice Tuatagaloa noted that the defendant is a first offender and her husband told the probation service that their family financially depends mostly on the defendant. The defendants husband is said to be shocked and disappointed with the defendant for what she has done. Justice Tuatagaloa noted that the most obvious is the breach by the defendant of her employers trust in her. She pointed out this was not a one-off incident of fraud but 12 separate incidents from 07 June 28 July 2015. This shows that the offending was planned and pre-meditated. The sentencing remarks of Justice Tuatagaloa in full: SENTENCING OF TUATAGALOA The charges: 1. The defendant Faatonu Lotonuu appears for sentence on thirteen (13) charges of theft as a servant, twelve (12) charges of obtaining by deception and twelve (12) charges of forgery. 2. The charges of theft as a servant under s. 161 of the Crimes Act 2013 which s. 165(e) provides a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each charge. The offence of forgery under s.194 of the Crimes Act 2013 provides for a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment for each charge while the offence obtaining by deception under s. 172 of the Crimes Act 2013 to which s. 173(a) provides for a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. The offending: 3. The summary of facts by the Prosecution was read out and confirmed by the defendant which summary of facts says the following: The defendant was an employee of SL Refrigeration (Samoa) Ltd as Administration Officer. On twelve (12) separate occasions the defendant would tear out blank cheque leaves from her employers cheque book. The defendant on twelve (12) separate occasions from 07 June 28 July 2014 forged the owners signature on the company cheques. The defendant took the forged cheques and used them to purchase goods from various companies. The defendant in receiving the said goods from the forged cheques also stole monies from her employer by way of the purchases she made through the said cheques. The defendant on one occasion on 01 June 2014 stole cash of $1,569.07. The defendant stole $15,374.54 in total. The defendant: 4. The pre-sentence report (PSR) shows that the defendant is 29 years, married with five children between the ages of 13 years old to 1 year old. The defendant finished school at Year 11 and had worked in several employments mainly as cashier or shop assistant. In 2010 she started working for SL Refrigeration Company. She has been terminated as a result of this offending and is currently unemployed. 5. The defendant told probation service that her actions were driven by anger and hatred feelings towards her employer because her employer was very disrespectful and unkind to the employees including herself. 6. The defendant admitted to the probation service of her stealing the company cheque leaves and forging the owners signature that she had learnt by heart. She used the forged cheques for personal and grocery shopping for her family. 7. Even though the defendant had personally apologised to the owner of the company she worked for, the owner felt betrayed and did not accept the apology. The owner told probation service that this is not the first time the defendant had stolen from the company. The first time she forgave the defendant and still employed her. This time she leaves the matter with the Court. 8. The defendant is a first offender. Her husband told probation service that their family financially depends mostly on the defendant. The defendants husband is said to be shocked and disappointed with the defendant for what she has done. The testimonial from the defendants Pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church attests to the defendants contribution as a Sunday School teacher and a proactive person in church work and youth activities. It is however noticeable that there are no testimonials from previous employers of the defendant given that she had worked for various other employers prior to SL Refrigeration Company. Those testimonials from previous employers would have provided the Court as to her character as an employee which is an issue with her offending which offences are those of dishonesty. I therefore do not place too much weight on the testimonial by the defendants pastor. The victim: 9. The victim from the summary of facts is a refrigeration company operating from Lotopa. There was no other information provided by the Prosecution or an impact report from the company on how they are affected by this offending. The aggravating factors: 10. There are several aggravating factors of this offending. The most obvious is the breach by the defendant of her employers trust in her. The defendant was employed as Administration Officer and would obviously have access to office cash and the cheque book even though she is not one of the signatories. The defendant by stealing the cheque leaves and forging the owners name and then using those cheques for her personal use is a serious breach of trust. 11. Secondly, this was not a one-off incident of fraud but twelve (12) separate incidents from 07 June 28 July 2014. This shows that the offending was planned and pre-meditated. The defendant by learning off by heart the owners signature shows a high degree of pre-meditation. 12. Thirdly, is the amount stolen of $15,374.54 would be a significant amount to SL Refrigeration Company. As such, it would definitely have an impact on the companys books and would affect its operations for a certain period. Samoa is a small country and work is limited therefore the competition will be very high especially so if there are other companies providing the same service. 13. There is no aggravating factor personal to the defendant. The mitigating factors: 14. There is no mitigating factor relating to the offending. As to mitigating factors personal to the defendant I have decided not to treat the defendant as a first offender. The first offender status of a defendant on its own does not say or show whether the defendant was of good character prior to the offending. The first offender status is therefore neutral.[1] Something more needs to be shown in order for the first offender status of an accused to be counted as evidence of previous good character.[2] 15. The oral testimonial of the husband in the pre-sentence report of the defendant as a trustworthy wife is contradictory of the offending she committed. 16. The owner of the company the defendant worked for told probation service that this was not the first time the defendant has stolen from the company but this is the first time they have brought the matter to the law. 17. The only mitigating factors are the defendants personal apology which shows remorseful and acceptance of her actions and the defendants guilty pleas. I will give 25% discount for the defendants guilty plea. Discussion: 19. Due to the number of offences committed I will apply the totality principle. 20. For the offence of forgery and theft as a servant with a penalty of maximum 10 years imprisonment and given the aggravating factors relating to the offending I take 4 years starting point, less six months for the apology and then less 25% for guilty plea. This leaves two years and three months. 21. The defendant is convicted to two years and three months imprisonment for each charge of theft as a servant and forgery. 22. For the lesser offence of obtaining by deception the defendant is convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for each offence. The terms of imprisonment are all to be served concurrently. LONDON (AP) The mother of a backpacker slain in an Australian hostel wrote an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, rejecting the decision to label her daughter's death as a terror attack. The August slayings of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, and fellow Briton Tom Jackson, 30, were on a list of 78 attacks the White House says were "executed or inspired by" the Islamic State terror group and under-reported by the media. Rosie Ayliffe says the possibility of terrorism was discounted early in the investigation. "My daughter's death will not be used to further this insane persecution of innocent people," she wrote. Police in Australia allege that suspect Smail Ayad shouted "Allahu akbar" an Arabic phrase meaning "God is great" during the attack, but said there was no indication the assault was motivated by extremism. They have said they are investigating whether Ayad, who is French and was 29 years old at the time of killing, had a romantic obsession with Ayliffe-Chung. Ayad's lawyer told a court in October that her client had been given a preliminary diagnosis of schizophrenia. The case has been referred to the Queensland state Mental Health Court, which determines whether a person is competent to stand trial. The attack took place in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene. Jackson tried to stop the attack and was fatally wounded. "This vilification of whole nation states and their people based on religion is a terrifying reminder of the horror that can ensue when we allow ourselves to be led by ignorant people into darkness and hatred," Ayliffe wrote. The $13 million replacement for Anthonys Fish Grotto, which closed last week after 71 years on San Diego Bay, ran into objections from the California Coastal Commission on Tuesday that could delay the project for months if not years. The commission staff declared a 10-day appeal period, ending Feb. 21, to last years approval by the San Diego Unified Port District of Portside Pier, a three-restaurant project by Brigantine Restaurants. Staff said issues include public access, architectural design and additional coverage over the water. Advertisement The coastal staff also is sparring with the port district over jurisdiction. The port says the commission has no right to review restaurants and the coastal staff says it does. As a steward of the tidelands, we are developing the port in a responsible manner, the port said in a statement. It is not unusual for public agencies, in the course of our duties, to have disagreements. In those cases, the port works toward amicable resolutions. Both design and appeal could come up at the commissions March 8-11 meeting in Ventura or in San Diego in May. If there is no resolution on jurisdiction or design issues, the project could end up in protracted negotiations or litigation. The port also stands to lose out on rental income from the Brigantine if Portside Pier opens later than planned. Thats not in anybodys best interest, said Brigantine President and CEO Mike Morton Jr., referring to any lengthy delay. Demolition of the Anthonys building is projected to begin by years end with an opening next year. The Brigantine still needs a go-ahead from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Morton said. In a letter to the port last Thursday, the coastal commissions district manager, Deborah Lee, laid out her agencys views that restaurants are a form of shopping facilities that the California Coastal Act says the commission can review. In its response Monday, the ports deputy general counsel, Rebecca Harrington, said restaurants are not explicitly listed as one of the things the commission can review. A restaurant is not a shopping facility, Harrington said, and therefore Portside Piers development permit cannot be appealed to the commission. Anthonys, which began as a small diner near the old Coronado ferry landing at the foot of Pacific Highway in 1946, opened its most recent location covering 23,285 square feet in a one-story structure at 1360 N. Harbor Drive in 1966. The company had hoped to remain as part of a redeveloped restaurant complex on the site, but the port selected Brigantine instead. Anthonys served its last meal Jan. 31, the last day of its lease, and is moving to auction the contents this month and turn over the property to the port by the May 1 deadline. Brigantine plans a 37,225-square-foot replacement on a slightly larger platform to accommodate a Brigantine on the Bay, Miguels Cocina, Ketch & Grill Taps and a walkup gelato and coffee bar. The present 565-square-foot dock-and-dine would be enlarged to 3,370 square feet to accommodate up to 12 vessels and a second-floor public viewing deck would represent a new feature. A public walkway would surround the development. Lee said the coastal staff does not think public access is sufficient, because visitors would have to walk through the restaurant to get to the walkway and observation deck. The proposed signs appear so small that many passersby might not realize those areas are accessible without having to buy food or drink. She also said the development, which will be built on top of new pilings, will cover more of the water than Anthonys. In a letter to the port last summer, the commission staff also mentioned a shortage of parking, lighting issues and impact of rising sea levels. Were also raising character concerns in the style and design when youre sitting there next to the Maritime Museum and along such an incredible promenade, Lee said. The museum includes the 1863 Star of India sailing vessel and reconstructed San Salvador that carried Cabrillo to San Diego in 1542. Morton said he would leave to his design and development team what changes might be agreeable. Business roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley Feb. 17 will mark exactly one year since the massive gas leak at the Aliso Canyon storage facility was finally plugged. Now, the facilitys operators, Southern California Gas, says the site is ready to go back online. Advertisement State regulators have put forth an initial recommendation to get the plant up and running again, but not at a capacity as robust as SoCalGas wants. And last week, some of the residents of the Porter Ranch subdivision forced from their homes because of the largest methane leak from a natural gas storage facility in U.S. history gathered at two raucous public hearings and insisted the natural gas facility stay shut down until more investigations are completed. Others said Aliso should never open again. So what does Gov. Jerry Brown think? A spokesperson for the governor, who declared a state of emergency in January 2016 as the result of the leak that was first discovered in October 2015, gave no indication whether Brown believes Aliso Canyon should be permanently retired or not. We expect the process will continue to be guided by facts, science, safety, objective analysis, public input and the requirements set forth in statute and the emergency order, said deputy press secretary Deborah Hoffman in an email to the Union-Tribune. Hoffman did not elaborate. The Aliso Canyon disaster has highlighted a host of issues related to natural gas reliance in the state and Brown, despite his credentials as a clean-energy leader, has received flak from some quarters for not being green enough. I would say, Gov. Brown, youre at somewhere between a D and C-minus, and thats pretty generous said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group based in Santa Monica. If you open Aliso, you get an F. In the year since the massive leak was stopped, the 114 wells at Aliso Canyon have undergone a series of tests overseen by the states Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). The division says 36 wells have passed two batteries of tests and may be used for injection, should regulators sign off on them. The other wells have passed one series of tests and have been temporarily plugged and isolated. SoCalGas officials insist the field is safe for injections. DOGGRs Underground Gas Storage Unit has recommended resuming gas injections at the reservoir, but at a maximum pressure of 2,926 pounds per square inch about 20 percent lower than the maximum proposed by SoCalGas and an independent third party. Two weeks ago, SoCalGas tapped into the facility for the first time since last year because the area experienced cold temperatures. The utility said it wanted to avoid potential supply shortages and said the operations went smoothly. But the leak forced the evacuation of more than 8,000 households in the Porter Ranch neighborhood near Aliso Canyon and many of those residents are calling on Brown and regulators to resist any attempt to put the facility back online, even on a limited basis. Jane Fowler, center, a member of a residents group called Save Porter Ranch, joins other members in a protest last January calling on a shut down of the Aliso Canyon storage facility. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) If they were to start re-using Aliso Canyon were going to be in trouble, said Jane Fowler of Granada Hills who said she was sickened by the leak and had to be relocated for seven months. Please shut down Aliso Canyon, Gov. Brown, I urge you. According to The Associated Press, about 15 residents near Aliso Canyon met with at least one member of Browns staff and a deputy secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency last August, arguing that the plant should be permanently closed but did not get a commitment from Browns office. A number of state officials have described Aliso Canyon as a critical piece of the states energy infrastructure. The facility has the largest daily deliverability of any storage facility west of the Rockies, estimated at 1.9 billion cubic feet per day, and Steve Berberich, president of the California Independent System Operator, told the Union-Tribune last June that without question the grid was more vulnerable with Aliso Canyon offline. Natural gas makes up 44 percent of the states electricity power mix, by far the largest source. But some have questioned just how pivotal Aliso Canyon really is. Warnings that Southern California could face as many as 14 days of scheduled blackouts last summer because of depleted reserves at Aliso did not come to pass and a number of environmental groups say advances in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar combined with developments from battery storage make many natural facilities in the state redundant. This stuff is alive and well and coming online much faster than anybody really expected, said Liza Tucker of Consumer Watchdog, a persistent critic of Brown. Tucker wrote a report released Monday called How Green is Jerry Brown? Consumer Watchdog criticizes Brown for not banning hydraulic fracturing in the state, accuses him of being too friendly with fossil fuel interests and points out that his sister Kathleen Brown is a member of the board of directors at Sempra Energy, which is a natural gas powerhouse in the energy industry. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra. Browns staff scoffs at the charges, pointing to Browns advocacy of green initiatives such as the states commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels, cut petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent and generate half of the states electricity from renewable sources. Brown has taken a pugnacious stance in regards to the new Trump administrations comments about environmental and climate mandates such as the Paris accords, saying in a recent speech, Well set the example. And whatever Washington thinks theyre doing, California is the future. Of the Consumer Watchdog report, Brown press secretary Evan Westrup said, Same drivel, different day. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission is expected to vote on whether to establish an investigation into looking at the feasibility of minimizing or eliminating Aliso Canyon. Update 2/9/17: The CPUC on Thursday did indeed open a proceeding to investigate the use of Aliso Canyon going forward. A final decision is not expect until mid-2018 but the commission said it has slated a 24-month time frame to complete all the work. RELATED Porter Ranch resident Michelle Theriault voices opposition to the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility after hearing by state regulators to gather public input on a proposal to allow Southern California Gas Co. to resumed operations. (Gary Coro Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski ALSO Cut back on natural gas use at home, SoCalGas says in advisory Aliso Canyon looks to get back online Report blasts Brown over fossil-fuel donors In the depths of the Vietnam war, helicopter pilot Daniel Iman was repeatedly shot at while bringing comrades to safety during a mission June 24, 1970, in Cambodia. Iman, who served as aircraft commander, tried to land, and despite heavy fire, kept returning until he was able to pick up troops, some badly wounded, and bring them to safety. Shrapnel from enemy artillery seriously wounded him as the troops loaded onto the aircraft, and he was injured again while lifting the aircraft out of the pick-up zone. After months of recovery in the hospital, Iman, whose injuries included a shattered left hand, received medals in the mail for his valor during this mission and others, but he was never presented with the awards. Advertisement The Oceanside resident was formally presented with his medals in a pinning ceremony Jan. 28 led by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa at the Veterans Association of North County in Oceanside. Issa, representative for the states 49th congressional district, pinned a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, an Army Commendation Medal and the Air Medal on the retired chief army warrant officer. The Air Medal, awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, was awarded for Imans valor March 28-31, 1970, when he participated in more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory. During all these flights, he displayed the highest order of air discipline and acted in accordance with the best traditions of the service, according to the citation. The ceremony drew dozens of veterans of Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan and World War II, along with local leaders, including Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood, Councilman Jack Feller, and Chuck Arkinson, director of the Veterans Association of North County. Navy veteran the Rev. Michael Diaz, of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Oceanside, gave the invocation. The North San Diego Young Marines presented the colors. Joining Iman and his wife, Jeanne, were their children and families: Sara and Ramon Logan with children Carver and LilaAnn; Jennifer and Tyson Lund with children Abigail and Graham; Maria and Mike Zwickelbauer, and Sgt. Trebel Iman. Mr. Iman fought hard for our nation, risking his life to save his fellow brethren. He deserved to be recognized for this incredible act of bravery. This ceremony is just one small act to help make sure he received the long-overdue recognition he deserved, Issa said. A bid to let Vista voters decide whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city hit the skids Tuesday, thanks to a technical error on the paperwork. The group backing the initiative turned in petitions with the signatures of nearly 7,000 registered Vista voters well more than the number needed to force the matter onto the ballot. But some of the pages of the petition itself had a technical flaw, in that some did not include the title of the ballot measure which is required by state election law. Advertisement That omission led Vistas City Clerk to reject perhaps half the signatures. And that means that petition-backers fell far short of gathering the more than 5,600 signatures they needed. Vista city officials could not immediately say if the initiative backers would be allowed to simply gather more signatures, or if they would have to start the months-long process from scratch. On Tuesday afternoon, Sacramento-based election consultant Vince Duffy, hired to run the campaign, said the city should allow the measure to move forward. We submitted nearly 7,000 valid signatures and we believe the citizens should now have the right to decide this issue by a vote of the people, he said. Our lawyers are reviewing their claims and we are confident that the people of Vista will have the final say on whether to tax, control, and regulate dispensaries. The initiative calls for authorizing a limited number of dispensaries in Vista and allowing the city to license, regulate and tax them. It is being backed by a group called Vistans for Better Community Access, and is primarily funded by two corporations with current or former ties to the medical marijuana industry. Under the proposed measure, 10 medical marijuana dispensaries would be permitted in Vistas commercial and industrial areas, business parks and mixed-use zones, which includes much of downtown. Vista is one of several North County cities that have laws specifically prohibiting marijuana sales. In recent years, Vista has aggressively chased out dispensaries and has taken the unusual step of going after dozens of store operators, staffers, and even landlords in criminal court not based on laws prohibiting the sale of illegal drugs, but rather for misdemeanor violations of city zoning regulations. The proposed initiative calls for lowering penalties for violations from a misdemeanor to an infraction. If the group had gathered enough signatures, the initiative would have gone to the City Council either to approve the measure outright or schedule a special election at a cost of roughly $350,000. Related San Diego legalizes recreational pot dispensaries The measure solely addresses medical marijuana, not recreational use, and emerged as attitudes toward marijuana use have shifted across the state. Medical marijuana use has been legal in California for 20 years, although finding a place to obtain it has been difficult for patients. For years, dispensaries have existed in the shadows, often in unmarked storefronts. In November, California voters passed Proposition 64, which allows people to smoke marijuana for recreational reasons. At the state level, California is establishing the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation to oversee licensing and regulation, although the formation is more than a year away. Last week, the city of San Diego legalized recreational pot dispensaries once the state regulations are in place. It is the only city in the county to do so. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT The clock is ticking for a handful of businesses in National City that dont conform to zoning regulations. The public, including residents and business owners, were given a 60-day period to review a draft ranking of the citys top 20 gross polluters within whats called the citys Westside Specific Plan area. Advertisement Ranking is part of a long amortization process that identifies businesses that dont meet city codes, and gives them time to become compliant, relocate or recover their investment before closing. Ranking factors include the value of the land and improvements, how long businesses have been operating, adaptability and compatibility with residential uses and densities, and threats to public health and safety. The City Council will accept input about the top 20 list through March. Targeted businesses previously received notices informing them of violations. The entire process goes through July. At that time five business will ultimately be on the chopping block unless owners can demonstrate theyre in compliance with zoning regulations. Currently the top two ranking businesses are Southland Transmission and Residential at 1905 Wilson Ave., and Joses Auto Electric at 105 W. 18th St. Genny Torres spoke during public comment representing Southland Transmission, saying she was confused about the process. No one has reached out to us to talk to us about nonconforming uses, what does it actually mean? she asked. Torres also said many business owners, including herself, were under the impression they would have help from the city financially to relocate. A business may relocate within the city if the underlying zoning allows for it, however the city does not provide any relocation money to businesses as a result of amortization. The citys first two business were moved through the termination process in 2015. They were Joses Auto Electric, at 108 W. 18th St., and Steves West Coast Automotive, which operated at 1732 Coolidge Ave. They both relocated. But Joses Auto Electric just moved across the street, still within the amortization area. City staff said they notified the owners of this. The push to clean up National Citys industrial past began in 2005. Residents began working with the city to establish a schedule that would close the businesses that pose health hazards to residents, including children and seniors with asthma or other respiratory illnesses. A year later, the city adopted whats called an amortization ordinance, giving the city authority to phase out nonconforming uses that endanger residents. National Citys Old Town, a 1940s industrial area, was rezoned in 2010 to separate industrial uses from residential neighborhoods. The same year, the City Council adopted the plan with new zoning, with all previous industrial zones replaced by nonindustrial zones, including residential and mixed use among others. which made previously conforming businesses no longer compliant. And in 2011, the council approved the amortization ranking process, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the city and stakeholders. Amortization will continue until all businesses within the specific area conform to city code. There are currently about 96 out of 137 left. NEXT STEPS: Does having a degree in political science and international relations make Sara Petite over-qualified, under-qualified, or perfectly qualified to be a musician? Perfectly qualified! replied the San Diego troubadour, who is about to release her fifth album, Road Less Traveled. The 2004 USIU graduate laughed heartily. Advertisement Is anybody ever qualified to be a musician? Petite asked. I think the qualifications are if you dont mind odd hours, sleeping in beds with your band members and alcohol. She laughed again. Im making a joke, because my guitar player is here at my house right now. A dozen songs strong, The Road Less Traveled finds Petite and her crack band performing with twangy verve. They will play an all-ages album release concert Sunday at Tango Del Rey in Pacific Beach. Petite wrote all but one of the songs by herself on her accomplished new album. She is equally effective whether ruminating about loss and love gone wrong (Getting Over You, You Dont Care At All, Sweet Pea Blues); celebrating family (Patchwork Quilt); painting playful pictures of seduction (Sweet Pea Patch); or delivering potent declarations of tenacity and self-affirmation (Like a Phoenix, Good 2 B Me). The result is a thoroughly engaging album that at times sounds like it could have been made in Bakersfield back when Buck Owens and Merle Haggard were that California towns twin titans of unadulterated country music not in San Diego. Thats assuming, of course, Patty Loveless and Emmylou Harris had grown up in Bakersfield, not in Alabama and Kentucky, respectively. I think that, at this point, I pretty much have a lot more confidence than Ive ever had, Petite said. My voice is my voice, take it or leave it. But Im a lot more confident and (accept) it as it is. I think Im that way in every part of my life now. Ive been on kind of a spiritual path in the past five years and I think a lot of this album is about that. I think my life is a lot richer because Ive done a lot of work on myself. Doing that brings up sadness. But it also lets you see things in a more compassionate way. And that helps you be able to let go and have a lot more fun. On her honky-tonk-flavored romp, Monkey On My Back, Petite delivers an impassioned kiss-off to the negative forces trying to drag her down. On the following song, the trumpet punctuated waltz, Like a Phoenix (which is subtitled I Will Rise), she vows to rise up from the ashes. This whole album is like dealing with monkeys on your back, she said. Ive kind of been in abusive relations and it took me five years to learn to not be a victim, to speak up for myself and get away from things that arent good for me. With the song I Will Rise I started doing Kundalini yoga and then I kind of got that idea about rising from the ashes, like a phoenix. Also, Maya Angelou is a really big hero of mine and she has a poem called I rise, which is quite sassy. On Its Good 2 Be Me, Petite slyly mashes up elements of two classic Tom Petty songs Mary Janes Last Dance and Its Good to be King with Chris Isaaks Wicked Game and a reference to Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaugheys Alright, alright, alright! catch-phrase from the 1993 movie Dazed and Confused. Oh, my god! I cant believe you caught that reference, she said of the song, which she wrote last year while visiting Rome after completing a tour of Europe. It was inspired by the most incredible dream Ive ever had. Petite credits her band for taking her songs to a new level on Road Less Traveled. The groups members have played with her for between five and 12 years each. That longevity accounts for their musical chemistry. I wrote the songs and know what I want to hear, she said. But its the parts they come up with that really make it come alive. Did You Know? When shes not performing with her band, Sara Petite tends bar. I get to know a lot of people, and they tell me a lot of stories. But I respect their privacy. Sara Petite album release concert When: 3 p.m. Sunday Where: Tango Del Rey, 3567 Del Rey Street, Pacific Beach Tickets: $20 (general admission); $40 (VIP seating). Shuttle bus service to and from the concert is $10, with departures from Hooleys Irish Pub in La Mesa and the Old Soud in Normal Heights. Phone: (858) 581-1114 Online: sarapetite.com Twitter @georgevarga george.varga@sduniontribune.com Edith Eva Eger, known as the Ballerina of Auschwitz, saw her parents led to the gas chamber of a Nazi concentration camp and made it her lifes mission to help others heal from trauma. Eger will share her story Feb. 12 at the Village Churchs fellowship hall in Rancho Santa Fe. In spring 1944, during World War II, Eger and her family were forced to leave their home in Hungary and go to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Advertisement Her parents were sent to die in the gas chambers of Auschwitz with more than a million other Jews. Eger, 16, was left in the prison camp and fellow inmates volunteered her to dance for Josef Megele, who had sent her parents to the gas chamber. She received a piece of bread and was spared death, at least temporarily. American soldiers liberated her in 1945. For decades, Eger, 89, has worked to help others overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her work as a clinical psychologist included helping veterans of wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and treating patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. She has helped establish shelters for female victims of domestic abuse and continues to run a practice in La Jolla. I realized early on that true freedom can only be found by forgiving, letting go and moving on, Eger said. It is not about forgetting, but coming to terms with it, Eger said. In this way you are liberating yourself and not becoming a hostage of the past. The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. in the churchs fellowship center, 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe. Wine and hors doeuvres at 6 p.m. Tickets: $25 for adults; $10 for students. Advance purchase is required by 5 p.m. Feb. 8 at https://villageviewpoints.com Visit dreee.com After enduring an unusually bitter confirmation battle for a sitting U.S. senator, Jeff Sessions will barely have time to settle into his fifth-floor office at the Justice Department before he takes center stage in some of the nations most acute controversies. Sessions was approved 52 to 47 on Wednesday night after a prolonged fight, in a vote largely down party lines. Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia was the only Democrat who supported him. Sessions voted present. With too few votes to block the nomination, Senate Democrats slow-walked the confirmation, staging a dramatic overnight session Tuesday after Republicans silenced Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), preventing her from reading decades-old criticism of Sessions from Coretta Scott King, the widow of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Advertisement Even House Democrats, who have no vote on the confirmation, joined in protest Wednesday evening in the Senate chamber. At the Justice Department, Sessions will be responsible for leading the legal defense of President Trumps immigration restrictions, for halting and investigating terrorist attacks, and for investigating hate crimes and abuses by local and state law enforcement. He also is expected to play a key role in implementing Trumps promised crackdown on illegal immigration by increasing deportations. His boss isnt making things easier. Last weekend, Trump denounced a federal judge in Seattle who had temporarily blocked Trumps executive order suspending immigration and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. A three-judge panel from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard arguments Tuesday on the governments effort to lift the stay. The judges did not issue an immediate ruling, and Trump complained Wednesday that the legal process was taking too long. You could be a lawyer, or you dont have to be a lawyer. If you were a good student in high school or a bad student in high school, you can understand this, and its really incredible to me that we have a court case thats going on so long, Trump told a law enforcement chiefs conference in Washington. The legal battle over the travel ban is expected to wind up in the U.S. Supreme Court. Sessions is in a tight spot, that is for sure, said John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. He has a tough job for a whole panoply of reasons. Sessions was first elected to the Senate from Alabama in 1996, and served two decades on the Judiciary Committee, which reviews federal judges and conducts oversight of the Justice Department. But in a staunchly partisan era, his confirmation hearings quickly broke on party lines. In the end, he did not receive a single vote from Democrats on the committee. Supporters say Sessions is uniquely qualified to lead the Justice Department in such a turbulent time. Pointing to his 12 years as U.S. attorney in Alabama, and two years as state attorney general, they said Sessions has the experience to prosecute criminals, make policy decisions and aggressively tackle illegal immigration. They described him as personable and courteous, traits that led him to be generally well regarded in the Senate, and could help him win over career Justice Department lawyers. He is serious about both the law and the department, and with his background he is uniquely equipped to handle the job, said Michael B. Mukasey, who served as attorney general under President George W. Bush and who testified in support of Sessions nomination. I suspect the learning curve wont be too steep for him. Democrats and civil rights groups worry that Sessions conservative record on civil rights, voting rights and environmental laws portends trouble. They also are concerned that such an ardent Trump advocate Sessions was one of Trumps earliest and most enthusiastic campaign surrogates will oversee the reported federal investigation into potential ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. U.S. intelligence agencies last month issued a report that concluded Russian intelligence agencies launched cyberattacks against Democratic Party officials and took other measures aimed at influencing American voters to support Trump. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and other Democrats have questioned whether Sessions can be trusted to enforce the law, especially if potential investigative targets are in the White House. 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 to explain why she voted against Sessions nomination in the Judiciary Committee. Sessions has said he wont be afraid to tell Trump he is wrong or that a planned action is unconstitutional. An attorney general has to be able to say no, both for the country, for the legal system and for the president, to avoid situations that are not acceptable. I understand that duty, Sessions testified. Legal experts and former Justice Department officials said Sessions would have a difficult task. Trump is used to getting his way. He also has expressed expansive views of presidential authority that worry even the most conservative legal scholars. John Yoo, a law professor at UC Berkeley who served in the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration, said Sessions would have to combat those presidential impulses while retaining Trumps trust a task that Yoo likened to walking a tightrope. If you are too far from the president, you will get cut out of the decision-making process and you are not doing your job as attorney general, said Yoo, who recently wrote in the New York Times that he had concerns about Trumps use of presidential authority. While in the Justice Department, Yoo was a vocal advocate for a muscular executive branch. He wrote the so-called torture memos that gave the Bush administration the legal authority to approve the CIAs use of enhanced interrogation of suspected terrorists, including waterboarding. On the other hand, Yoo added, someone has to tell the president that what he is doing is illegal or unconstitutional, even when Trumps instincts and his political advisors are pushing for it. Sessions is the only person in the administration now who can do that, tell the president no. We will have to see how that plays out. In contrast, Yoo said James B. Comey, the FBI director, has little political capital. In July, Comey publicly announced that no charges would be filed against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for her email practices as secretary of State, infuriating Republicans. Then, about a week before the November election, he announced the FBI was reviewing newly discovered emails, astonishing Democrats. The last-minute disclosure threw the presidential race into chaos, and even though Comey said several days later that the review had ended with no change in the bureaus conclusion in the Clinton case, Democrats blamed Comey for tipping the election in Trumps favor. Sessions had no role in that controversy, but he may have to deal with its aftermath. Comeys actions and others taken by the Justice Department in the email inquiry are under investigation by the Justice Departments inspector general. The outcome of that inquiry could be very messy, Yoo said. Suppose it determines that Comey acted improperly and made bad decisions. The natural question then is, should he be replaced? Whatever the decision, it is going to be unpopular. Sessions is the only person in the administration now who can ... tell the president no. We will have to see how that plays out. John Yoo, who served in the Justice Department under President George W. Bush Sessions can expect a frosty reception from some staffers at the Justice Department, particularly those in the civil rights and environmental units, which expect their broad authority under the Obama administration to be curtailed. Lawyers in other divisions said they didnt expect much to change. Despite the uneasiness, lawyers at the Justice Department said they were pleased with early White House choices for key department posts. In particular, they cited the selection of Rod Rosenstein, a longtime Justice Department lawyer who has served as U.S. attorney in Maryland in both Republican and Democratic administrations, to be deputy attorney general. Rod is a great pick, said David ONeil, a former top Justice Department official in the Obama administration, echoing comments of current lawyers. He is as institutional as they come. He has a lot of integrity. The deputy attorney general runs day-to-day operations in the sprawling department, which includes the FBI, Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It has more than 100,000 employees and a $28.7-billion budget. Follow @delwilber on Twitter del.wilber@latimes.com ALSO: Federal agents are reinvestigating Syrian refugees in U.S. who may have slipped through vetting lapse The long and complicated road to understanding Jeff Sessions and matters of race How these Brooklyn prosecutors work to get innocent convicts out of prison UPDATES: 4:27 p.m. This article was updated with Sessions confirmation. 7:21 a.m. This article was updated with comments from President Trump made Wednesday morning. This article was originally published at 3 a.m. Few attorneys who bill by the hour end up posing for pictures with their clients, or stopping and answering questions from reporters. Which is why Tuesdays visit by Eric Holder to Sacramento was so notable. Good morning from the state capital. Im Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers, and yesterday was full of meetings attended by the former United States attorney general. They were private affairs, mostly confined to Holder huddling with members of the California Legislature. Advertisement HOLDERS HELP IS FOR COORDINATION, SAYS RENDON With an entourage of attorneys from the law firm for which he now works, Holder made his way to separate private meetings with Democrats in the state Senate and Assembly. Later on Tuesday afternoon, he paid a visit to Gov. Jerry Brown, with Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra joining by phone. What did they talk about in terms of responding to the proposals made by President Trump and Republican leaders in Congress? Hard to say. As Melanie Mason reports, legislators were instructed that the conversations were covered by attorney-client privilege. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) offered this assessment: The theme was coordination. As weve previously reported, Holders firm has a 90-day contract for $25,000 a month to advise legislators on federal policy changes. But absent from the former attorney generals client meetings on Tuesday: legislative Republicans. Legislative Republicans grumbled about that, although the office of Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) did decline a meeting with other attorneys in Holders firm, Covington & Burling. Holders visit to Sacramento, though, was hardly Tuesdays biggest high-stakes discussion over the early actions of the Trump administration. TRUMPS APPEAL TO THE U.S. 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS For more than hour, three federal judges heard arguments on both sides of whether the presidents executive order suspending entry into the United States was constitutionally lawful. The early take: There was skepticism about Trumps ban. Even so, Judge Richard R. Clifton an appointee of President George W. Bush repeatedly noted that the moratorium on entry from the seven targeted nations affected only 15% of the worlds Muslim population. Its worth noting the three-judge panel isnt expected to rule on the underlying constitutional issues, but whether the lower courts block of the ban should remain in place while the other questions are resolved. In the run-up to Tuesdays big hearing, some legal observers suggested there are limits to Trumps power. In short, they said, theres not unlimited deference by federal courts to a presidents national security powers. And in case you were looking for more information about the three appellate judges: Two were appointed by Democratic presidents; they hail from three different western states; and all are viewed somewhere in the realm of moderate judges. MADAME SECRETARY, WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION The fate of a presidential executive order remains in doubt, but Trump can celebrate victory in the confirmation of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. As expected, it all came down to a tie-breaker. Vice President Mike Pence cast the decisive 51st vote in the Senate on Tuesday, the first time in history thats happened for a presidential Cabinet confirmation, thus putting DeVos over the top. Pence later gave her the oath of office, ending a fierce battle that saw some Republicans distance themselves from the wealthy self-styled education reformer. Democrats held an all-night Senate floor session into the wee hours of Tuesday morning to protest the DeVos nomination, though they knew it was unlikely to sway any additional GOP senators to jump ship. Californias newest lawmaker, Sen. Kamala Harris, said in her Monday night stint on the Senate floor that DeVos has a complete lack of knowledge about special education law, among other areas. LABOR WOES FOR THE LABOR NOMINEE The presidents nominee for secretary of Labor, Andy Puzder, was forced to offer a mea culpa on Tuesday, admitting that he had once employed a woman in the U.S. illegally as a housekeeper. When I learned of her status, we immediately ended her employment and offered her assistance in getting legal status, Puzder said in a statement. The fast-food company executive also said that he and his wife have paid back taxes to the IRS and the state of California. By the way, can you remember the other prominent political figures caught in a similar predicament in years past? On the national level, there was the failed nomination of Zoe Baird to be attorney general (her family hired two people to care for their kids). Here in California, there have been two high-profile cases of candidates domestic helpers lacking legal residency. Former congressman Michael Huffingtons revelation rocked the 1994 campaign for the Senate. And in 2010, GOP gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman admitted the same thing happened in her family, shaking up her race against Brown. SESSIONS NOMINATION VOTE COMING, WARREN REBUKED Trumps choice for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, is expected to receive a full Senate vote later today. Tuesday night, however, his nomination sparked a formal reprimand for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for reading from a letter once written by the late Coretta Scott King. King had written the letter opposing Sessionss failed judicial nomination three decades ago. THE (SEE-THROUGH?) WALL WONT HAPPEN QUICKLY, SAYS KELLY A bit of a political reality check was delivered on Tuesday by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly: Its going to take some time to build that wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Were not going to be able to build a wall everywhere all at once, Kelly told a House committee. And then this nugget, which seems to undercut the presidents campaign promise: Border Patrol agents, said Kelly, prefer barriers they can see through rather than a solid wall. NEWS ON CALIFORNIAS GOVERNORS RACE NEXT YEAR A few nuggets of news in the still nascent 2018 race to replace Brown in the governors office. Most notable, perhaps, is the decision by Assembly Speaker Rendon to endorse state Treasurer John Chiang in a crowded field of prominent Democrats. One prominent political analyst called Chiang the undervalued stock in the governors race. Meanwhile, those close to Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel made it clear that the PayPal co-founder has no intention of running for the job. And Republican outsider John Cox, a Rancho Santa Fe venture capitalist, said hes forming an exploratory committee. As always, were tracking these and other politics and government happenings every day on our Essential Politics news feed. TODAYS ESSENTIALS A state lawmaker wants to prohibit state agencies, higher education institutions and public service providers from disclosing any personal information of applicants that would reveal immigration status. With little discussion and no opposing testimony, the state Assembly Public Safety Committee on Monday passed a bill to fund immigration law resources for public defenders offices across California. Two new candidates have joined the special election in Californias 34th congressional district, while another one has dropped out. And an endorsement in the race by the California Democratic Party sparked some challengers to issue a joint statement claiming the process was rigged. John Burton, chair of the California Democratic Party, endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison on Tuesday to lead the Democratic National Committee. The decision could help swing the largest state delegation behind the Minnesota congressman. Less than a year after a closely watched lawsuit challenging union fees assessed to California teachers was killed by a deadlocked U.S. Supreme Court, critics of the fees are back with a new effort. State officials are reviewing the rules on how they spend money from Californias cap-and-trade program, with a new emphasis on sending funding to low-income communities. A GOP lawmaker in Sacramento celebrated President Ronald Reagans birthday this week by handing out cookies to his state Capitol colleagues. LOGISTICS You may have noticed weve shifted to a Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule. Its the same great newsletter, just not every day. You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Miss Mondays newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox. Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com. john.myers@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter at @johnmyers and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast I have to admit, I have always been a sucker for Valentines Day. Growing up, the holiday meant my dads pink heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, and always next to our plates at the table sat a glossy, red, heart-shaped box of candy. Nothing felt more decadent than chasing our pancakes with a few chocolate-covered caramels before heading off to school. This happy indulgence has informed my delight in Valentines Day ever since, and nothing makes me more giddy than the gift of a heart-shaped box of assorted chocolates. The fun lies in discovering the secret confection hiding inside each chocolaty treasure. Is that fat square a gooey caramel, a sweet coconut cream or a crunchy almond toffee? Is the innocent dark chocolate cloaked-mound encasing my favorite vanilla buttercream or hiding the dreaded rum raisin nougat? The thrill of discovery is never-ending. Making your own bonbons and truffles to give as gifts is fun, and easier than you might think. Candy making can be intimidating, as many recipes for old-fashioned favorites like divinity, caramels and homemade marshmallows require careful timing and a good candy thermometer to get right. But my favorite recipes require more creativity than experience to master. Advertisement Chocolate truffles start with ganache; a French confection made by melting chocolate in warm cream, stirring it into a thick, rich sauce. When it cools and solidifies, ganache is easily scooped and rolled into truffles. For a little twist, I melt the chocolate in warm homemade caramel sauce instead of plain cream. When allowed to set, the gooey chocolate-caramel ganache is rolled into balls and frozen until they are firm enough to dip in melted chocolate. If you prefer the flavor of white chocolate, try adding freeze-dried strawberries to a simple white chocolate ganache. When crushed into a fine powder, freeze-dried strawberries add a beautiful pink color and an all-natural, concentrated fruity flavor that is even more intense than fresh berries. Cookie Butter-Bourbon Bonbons by Jill OConnor. (Eduardo Contreras / U-T) If you prefer peanut butter cups, you will love Cookie Butter-Bourbon Bonbons. Cinnamon and bourbon add an extra kick to these easy-to-make candies made with cookie butter. With a rich, caramelized flavor of spiced Belgian speculoos biscuits, and the creamy spreadable texture of peanut butter, cookie butter is a real treat and a great base for these sweet and crunchy bonbons. The filling can be stirred together in minutes, and requires no cooking at all. When you are ready to dip your truffles and bonbons, you will need to use tempered chocolate. Tempering is the delicate process of melting chocolate, slowly heating and cooling it so that when the chocolate hardens, it maintains a crisp consistency and a glossy sheen. If tempered incorrectly, the cocoa butter will separate and cool improperly, and the chocolate may develop a grainy texture or an unattractive hazy, white coating called bloom. If you are reticent about tempering chocolate yourself, its OK to substitute confectionery coating, sometimes called melting wafers or candy melts instead. They are available in dark, milk or white chocolate flavors, as well as a variety of colors. Formulated to melt easily, they need no tempering, so dipping your own candies is just a few-seconds-in-your-microwave away. Ghirardelli melting wafers are available in most supermarkets, while Wilton and Merckens wafers are available at cake decorating and craft stores, or you can order them online. OConnor is a San Diego based food writer and author of six cookbooks. Her seventh cookbook titled Cake, I Love You will be released in April 2017. Can-do candy: Tempering chocolate To temper 1 pound of dark chocolate: 1. In a glass bowl, melt 10 ounces of finely chopped dark chocolate in the microwave oven set on high, in 30 second bursts, stirring gently after each burst, until the chocolate is melted and smooth and reaches 115 to 120 degrees F. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature. 2. To the bowl of melted chocolate, add the remaining 6 ounces of finely chopped chocolate, stirring it in a little at a time until melted and smooth and the temperature reaches 86 to 89 degrees F. 3. Immediately use the tempered chocolate to dip truffle and bonbon centers. If the chocolate cools too much and becomes too thick for dipping, reheat on low in the microwave for about 5 to 10 seconds to soften. Stir smooth. To temper 1 pound of white or milk chocolate: 1. In a glass bowl, melt 10 ounces of finely chopped white or milk chocolate in the microwave set on high in 15 second bursts, stirring gently after each burst until the chocolate is melted and smooth and reaches 100 to 105 degrees F. 2. To the bowl of melted chocolate, add 6 ounces of finely chopped white or milk chocolate, stirring it in a little at a time until smooth and the temperature reaches 83 to 86 degrees F. 3. Use immediately to dip truffles and bonbon centers. If the chocolate cools too much or becomes to thick for dipping, reheat on low in the microwave for about 5 to 7 seconds to soften. Stir smooth. Cookie Butter-Bourbon Bonbons Makes 2 dozen bonbons Filling: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup confectioners sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons bourbon 1 cup Cookie Butter (see note) 1 cup toasted, coarsely chopped pecans Coating: pound melted and tempered dark chocolate, or dark chocolate melting wafers, like Ghirardelli (see sidebar for directions) 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans In a large bowl, beat the butter and confectioners sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the cinnamon, vanilla, bourbon and cookie butter. Fold in the chopped pecans. Cover and refrigerate the mixture until it is very firm, at least 2 or 3 hours. Roll the mixture, by heaping tablespoons into 1-inch balls. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cover the bonbons with plastic wrap and freeze until they are very firm, at least 1 hour. To dip the bonbons: Dip the truffles, one at a time, in the melted tempered chocolate or melting wafers, quickly rolling it around to coat completely. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. With a fork, drizzle the top of the bonbon with a little more chocolate and sprinkle with chopped pecans. Note: Cookie Butter is available at Trader Joes. Jill OConnors Chocolate-Carmel Truffles. (Eduardo Contreras / U-T) Chocolate-Caramel Truffles Makes 2 dozen truffles Filling: 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped or semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1 teaspoon lemon juice cup heavy cream 3 tablespoons salted butter 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla Coating: pound tempered dark chocolate, or dark chocolate confectionery coating or melting wafers, like Ghirardelli (see sidebar below for directions) cup dark chocolate sprinkles For the ganache filling: Place 8 ounces of the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in a medium heat-proof bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons water. Over medium heat, melt the sugar, swirling the pan occasionally without stirring (stirring causes the sugar to crystallize at this point instead of melting smoothly). Increase the heat to medium high and let the syrup cook until it turns a golden amber color, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Return the pan to the heat and stir until the caramel is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir in the vanilla and pour the warm caramel over the chocolate chips. Let set for 1 minute to soften and then whisk until smooth. Let the truffle filling set at room temperature until firm enough to scoop, at least three hours but preferably overnight. Roll the mixture, by heaping tablespoons into 1-inch balls. Place the truffles on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until very firm, at least 1 hour. Dip the truffles, one at a time, in the tempered dark chocolate or melted dark chocolate confectionery coating, quickly rolling each one around to coat it completely. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. When the shell on the truffle has hardened, drizzle with a little more melted chocolate and top with chocolate sprinkles. Strawberries and Cream Truffles created by Jill OConnor. (Eduardo Contreras / U-T) Strawberries and Cream Truffles Makes 2 dozen truffles Filling: 8 ounces finely chopped white chocolate, such as Lindt, or white chocolate chips 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier 1.2-ounce bag freeze-dried strawberries Coating: 3/4 pound tempered white chocolate, or melted white confectionery coating or melting wafers Heart-shaped sprinkles, white chocolate sprinkles, or white sanding sugar In a food processor or blender, crush the freeze-dried strawberries to a fine powder. (If the berries are packaged with a small bag of desiccant, make sure to discard it before crushing them.) Place the chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips in a medium glass bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the cream and corn syrup to a healthy simmer over medium heat. Right before it starts to boil, pour the cream over the white chocolate and let it sit for a minute. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in the Grand Marnier and the crushed freeze-dried strawberries. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap. Let the mixture set at room temperature until it is firm enough to scoop, at least three hours but preferably overnight. Roll the mixture by heaping tablespoons into 1-inch balls. Place the truffles on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Dip the truffles, one at a time, in tempered white chocolate or melted white wafers or confectionery coating, quickly rolling each one around to coat it completely. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. When the shell on the truffle has hardened, drizzle with a little more melted white chocolate and top with heart-shaped sprinkles or sanding sugar. One reluctant jihadist provided a doctors note. Iraqi forces taking back the city of Mosul have found documents showing that some foreign fighters for the so-called Islamic State are trying to dodge combat, including by pleading medical conditions. Advertisement The documents might seem like just a typical human resources headache. But they also could be a sign of ISIS willpower weakening as Iraqi forces are poised to attack the western half of Mosul, the terrorist groups former stronghold in Iraq. He doesnt want to fight, wants to return to France, said the notes on a 24-year-old French resident of Algerian descent, according to the Washington Post. Claims his will is a martyrdom operation in France. Claims sick but doesnt have a medical report. Welcome to The Intel, a blog examining the hot military news of the day The documents detailing 14 problem fighters from the Tariq Bin Ziyad battalion were found in a desk drawer. That battalion is full of foreign fighters, or non-Iraqis who have come from Europe and other continents to fight with ISIS out of sympathy for the cause. Between 27,000 and 31,000 people have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS and other violent Islamic fundamentalist groups from at least 86 countries, according to a December 2015 analysis by The Soufan Group. Analysts have long noted a difference between local fighters and the foreigners who come to join them. Foreign fighters are seen as fierce in battle but also more ideologically severe, leading to tension with locals. The ISIS soldier who provided the medical note, about back pain, was from Belgium. He asked not to join the battle. A Frenchman asked to leave Iraq to carry out a suicide attack at home. Others wanted to fight in Syria. And some simply refused to fight, according to the Posts account. In social media reaction, some have dubbed it a militant morale crisis and are sneering at these fair-weather fighters. Islamic State foreign fighters are malingering, morale dropping in Mosul. "I can't; I have a headache": https://t.co/tUp7x2QpgN Graeme Wood (@gcaw) February 7, 2017 Another Twitter quipster invoked Epsteins mother, a reference to a character in the television show Welcome Back Kotter who provided fake sick notes for other high school students. Others called it not surprising that any army, even the irregular ISIS force, would face malingering. Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Facebook: U-T Military Twitter: @jensteeley Prosecutors filed murder charges Tuesday against three people suspected of setting one of the deadliest arson fires in Los Angeles history, an apartment blaze that killed 10 people in 1993. Johanna Lopez, 51, Ramiro Greedy Valerio, 43, and Joseph Droopy Monge, 41, were each charged with 12 counts of capital murder, according to the Los Angeles district attorneys office. On Monday, Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said Lopez, Valerio and Monge were responsible for a May 1993 blaze at the Burlington Apartment complex in Westlake. Lacey said the fire was set as payback after a vigilant apartment manager took steps to discourage drug dealing inside the building. Advertisement Lopez, who was paying the notorious 18th Street Gang for the right to distribute crack cocaine in the neighborhood, enlisted Valerio and another gang member in a plot to set fire to the building after growing frustrated with the managers interference, according to a transcript of testimony by an L.A. Police Department detective during a 2011 preliminary hearing. Valerio was a known shot caller within the 18th Street Gang, which terrorized the Westlake community and dominated drug trade in the area during the 1990s. Prosecutors said in a news release Tuesday that the manager was moving furniture into her second-floor apartment when a mattress was set ablaze in the hallway. Prosecutors did not say which defendant or defendants is believed to have actually set the fire. The fire tore through the building, which was largely populated by immigrants from Mexico and Central America, spreading quickly in part due to faulty smoke detectors and fire doors. Ten people died, including seven children and two pregnant women. Valerio and Monge were arrested last week by Los Angeles police. Lopez has been in custody on charges related to the fire since 2011, according to court records. The previous case against her was dismissed Tuesday morning, and she is now set to be tried alongside the other defendants, prosecutors said. A fourth suspect remains at large and may have fled the country, police said Monday. All three defendants were set to be arraigned Tuesday and are currently being held without bail, according to the district attorneys office. Lopezs attorney, Bob Horner, said Tuesday that his client has repeatedly denied any involvement in the fatal fire. He also questioned the veracity of testimony given by retired LAPD Det. Olivia Spindola at Lopezs preliminary hearing in August of 2011. Horner claimed that Spindola interviewed Lopez several times without an attorney present. The former detective stitched together her testimony from conversations held over several years while Lopez was in federal prison because of a 2000 racketeering conviction, he asserted. I think the testimony she repeated was her own words, Horner said. The LAPD and the district attorneys office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Horners claims. Horner also criticized prosecutors for waiting more than five years to bring Lopez to trial. Though she was arrested in connection with the fire in 2011, her trial was not scheduled to begin until Feb. 14, court records show. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen Marcus, who has presided over the case in recent years, said Tuesday morning that the trial was delayed by repeated requests for continuances from both prosecutors and Horner. A spokesman for the district attorneys office said prosecutors also took more than two years to decide whether to seek the death penalty for Lopez, ultimately declining to pursue capital punishment in December 2013. james.queally@latimes.com Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California. Californias top water cops will decide Wednesday whether to extend the states emergency drought rules. The staff of the State Water Resources Control Board has recommended against nixing the regulations, which have been in effect since June 2015 and would expire on Feb. 28. Advertisement If the five-person board agrees, urban water districts up and down the state would have to continue monthly reports on consumption, as well as stress tests to certify they have enough inventory to withstand three straight years of drought conditions. The regulations would be extended for another 270 days if approved at Wednesdays meeting of the water board in Sacramento. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that about 50 percent of the state still remains in moderate to extreme drought, down from about 95 percent a year ago. However, statewide snowpack the so-called frozen reservoir now stands at a whopping 182 percent of normal for this time of year. And eight of the states dozen largest reservoirs are filled up above their historic average. Last month, water managers, including from San Diego County, traveled to Sacramento to vociferously lobby regulators to end the emergency regulations. They argued that continuing the rules following recent storms that blanketed the state with rain and snow could undermine credibility with ratepayers and make it harder to convince people to embrace cutbacks in the future. Conservation groups have backed the continuation of the rules at least through the end of spring, based largely on concerns that water use could rebound even as groundwater reserves remain dramatically overdrawn in parts of the state. The emergency drought rules initially mandated a reduction in statewide urban water use of 25 percent. That was eased considerably last year at the behest of scores of water districts throughout the state. The states conservation mandate caused some districts to lose considerable revenue because of their customers reduced water use. Gov. Jerry Brown has directed the state water board to design permanent conservation rules for water districts that will stay in place regardless of whether California is in drought, including permanent caps or indoor and outdoor water use. Those standards would likely be phased in starting in early 2018, and in some instances, will require lawmakers to pass additional legislation. Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com As the new administrations executive orders take hold and Cabinet nominees are confirmed, pressure is mounting on San Diegos representatives in Congress to push against President Donald Trump. Protesters targeted Democrats and Republicans alike Tuesday, assembling outside the downtown San Diego offices of Democratic U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, as well as the district offices of Republican Reps. Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter. Advertisement Organizers said they plan to make Resist Trump Tuesdays a regular thing. Whatever action we did in the past, we have to up it now. Yeah, you could burn out, but look at where we are, Natalya Lukin said outside of Harris office. She carried a sign with a rainbow pattern, laminated for durability and reuse. Lukin said she is concerned that the Trump administration will dismantle the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, and eliminate provisions that prohibit health insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Shes a single mom and her son takes a medicine that costs $3,200 per month. Without the Affordable Care Act I cant pay for it, she said. Around 60 other protesters had assembled there after walking over from Feinsteins office where a staffer for the senior senator accepted a message for his boss, as well as a large bag of cookies. A member of Sen. Dianne Feinsteins staff carries a message and a bag of cookies from protesters. (Joshua Stewart / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Harris and Feinstein have consistently opposed the Trump administration and on Tuesday, alongside all other Democrats in Congress, voted against the appointment of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Harris and Feinstein appear to be aligned with the protesters causes. But Kathy Stadler, an organizer with Indivisible San Diego, the group that planned the event, said the two senators need to know that their constituents want them to aggressively oppose the administration. We want them to fight as hard as possible, Stadler said. Some of the roughly 150 people who gathered outside Issas Vista office said they are taking cues from the Indivisible Guide, a kind of blueprint for political activism that borrows from the tea party playbook and walks people through the process of reaching out to their congressional representatives. I have never in the past gone to any rally until the Womens March, said protester Belle Hazlehurst. I just feel called to stand up for justice. Issa, who like Hunter was a high-profile Trump campaign supporter, is targeted by Democrats heading into the 2018 midterm elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is trying to build momentum from protests like the Womens March and Trump Tuesdays to vote him out of office. Political organizations have traditionally waited until the spring to launch their efforts, but the DCCC is targeting 20 districts early, including Issas. They plan to hire full-time organizers, run social media advertisements, and train local supporters. Doug Applegate, Issas opponent in 2016, announced in November that he will run again. Issa won another term by 1,621 votes. Protesters also demonstrated outside of Hunters district offices in Temecula and El Cajon. PREVIOUS Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 San Diego police are looking for two men accused of robbing four cellphone stores at gunpoint within the past two weeks, including one in Clairemont Tuesday. The spree began on Jan. 27 when a man armed with a semi-automatic handgun robbed a Metro PCS Store on El Cajon Boulevard near 42nd Street in Kensington. The same man and an accomplice are suspected of robbing a Metro PCS store on Adams Avenue near John Adams Elementary School in Normal Heights three days later. Both were armed with handguns, police said. Advertisement Then, on Feb. 1, one of the suspects, armed with a Taser and handgun, held up a Metro PCS store on Coronado Avenue near 19th Street in Egger Highlands. Police later released surveillance footage of the theft. On Tuesday, two men, one with a gun, robbed a Metro PCS store on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard west of Interstate 805 about 12:20 p.m. Detectives said the duo wanted in the spree also is suspected in the latest robbery. Investigators previously said one of the men is the getaway driver. In the latest robbery one of the suspects was described as Latino, in his 30s, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a stocky build. He was wearing a red hoodie, jeans and a shirt pulled over his face. The second man was described as Latino, in his 30s, with a stocky build. He was wearing a blue hoodie, black jacket and jeans. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A sinkhole about 4 feet across prompted the closure of a Vista road for several hours while city crews made repairs Tuesday afternoon. The pit was reported in eastbound lanes West Vista Way near Thunder Drive about 1:15 p.m., San Diego sheriffs Lt. Robert Smith said. Deputies estimate the hole was about 4 to 5 feet deep. An old, 42-inch, stormwater pipe was to blame, said city spokeswoman Andrea McCullough. Crews will fix the broken connection and will check a stretch of the metal pipe to ensure no additional repairs need to be made. The pipe, which is more than 50 years old, was inherited from the county when Vista became its own city. An eastbound lane was closed until about 5 p.m. while city crews worked. Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com Its hard to know just how much fast food Americans would eat without the influence of San Diego transplant Ray Kroc. As one of the countrys first modern celebrity CEOs, Kroc helped transform a Southern California hamburger joint into the most successful restaurant chain in history and one of the most recognizable brands in the world: McDonalds. Known for his acerbic and unpretentious personality, Kroc who liked to eat his own companys burgers was estimated to be worth roughly $500 million at his financial peak. Advertisement He wasnt your prototypical businessman, said George Belch, chair of the marketing department at San Diego State University. He felt that business and marketing were driven by common sense. Before his death in 1984 at age 81, Kroc retired from McDonalds and took on the mantle of San Diego Padres owner. Later in life, he and wife Joan Kroc gave away millions of dollars to charity. He was a salesman with a big personality, a volatile temper, who had a vision. He was a larger-than-life personality, said Lisa Napoli, a journalist and author of the upcoming book Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonalds Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away. Other San Diegans who have changed the world It wasnt all smooth sailing for the feisty entrepreneur who came from the Chicago suburbs. Kroc started franchising McDonalds hamburger restaurants in 1954, when he was 52. And at first, the profit margins were thin. A veteran salesman, Kroc had been selling milkshake mixers for 17 years before running into Richard and Maurice McDonald. The brothers had started a hamburger stand in San Bernardino that drew attention for its streamlined approach. Like many others, Kroc was impressed by the brothers efficient operations shortening customers wait times significantly by using a basic assembly line to put together the burgers. The establishment also did away with seating and used paper plates and plastic utensils, which was unique for the time. The menu boasted only nine items, including burgers, fries, shakes and pies. After reading about the hamburger operation in a national trade magazine, would-be businessmen started flocking to the site, Napoli said. Most of the guys who showed up in San Bernardino were going with an eye toward doing it themselves, Napoli said. Ray didnt want to go home and just open up Krocs. He wanted to go home to Chicago and replicate this thing all around the country. The McDonalds brothers agreed to let Kroc use their brand to open up franchises. Kroc charged franchise operators 1.9 percent of gross sales, a low fee designed as an incentive to join in. Of that, the brothers took a half-percent royalty for their idea. By one measure, this deal was more favorable for the brothers than for Kroc, who had to pay for all of his marketing and overhead expenses out of his modest share. In 1955, Kroc opened his first McDonalds franchise in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, and it took off almost immediately. Other similar establishments quickly followed, with Kroc imposing an exacting vision for consistency across all of these franchises an approach that eventually became the gold standard in fast food. He kept things simple in the early days and focused on keeping the menu simple, Belch said. People very quickly started to see the success of McDonalds, he added, and it led to other companies entering the market. Still, in those early years, Kroc found himself somewhat overwhelmed. Staring down a tidal wave of debt, his company needed to expand or face collapse. To retain his top employees, Kroc gave away a sizable amount of stock to make up for low salaries. One of those employees was Harry Sonneborn, a finance executive that Kroc recruited from Tastee-Freez. Sonneborn suggested that McDonalds buy potential restaurant sites and then lease them to franchisees at a substantial mark-up. Kroc established the Franchise Realty Corporation in 1956 and rolled out a strategy that would fit perfectly into his vision of strictly imposing uniform rules. Leases were crafted to enforce Krocs corporate policies. The strategy proved lucrative. Kroc flew around the country in a small plane to scope out suburban neighborhoods primed to embrace his business experiment. Real estate along busy streets was quite affordable in this period before developers aggressively embraced the strip-mall concept. Kroc bought out the McDonalds brothers in 1961 for $2.7 million, solidifying his control over 228 thriving franchises. To complete the deal, he had to take out a loan that would eventually cost him about $14 million when all the interest was paid. Its been rumored that Kroc reneged on an unwritten revenue-sharing deal with the brothers following the buyout. A movie scheduled for release this fall The Founder, starring Michael Keaton as Kroc touches on this idea, according to a recent preview of the film in The New York Times. The current McDonalds corporation didnt respond to questions concerning the supposed handshake deal. Napoli, who researched Krocs life for five years, said she found no evidence of the purported agreement. This whole thing is a fiction, she said. Less controversial is the story that Kroc opened a McDonalds next to the original location and put the brothers out of business after they refused to relinquish their property. With Sonneborn handling McDonalds day-to-day finances, Kroc focused on building his empire. In Chicago in 1961, he launched Hamburger University to inculcate franchise operators with his standards for quality and cleanliness. The institution also set up a laboratory to develop new techniques for freezing, storing and cooking food. Ray did not want innovation (decentralized) in the stores, and (corporate consistency was) what he worked very hard to do in the early years, Napoli said. She added: Its hard for us to imagine today, because today you can walk into a (fast-food) sandwich shop anywhere in the world and the food is exactly the same. Back then, that was a difficult thing to do. Kroc married his third wife, Joan, in 1969. Partly in response to her husbands fondness for alcohol, she created a national education program to help families of alcoholics called Operation Cork Kroc spelled backward. In 1965, the couple started the nonprofit Kroc Foundation, which supported research on diabetes, arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Kroc long suffered from diabetes and arthritis, his sister was crippled by multiple sclerosis, and his daughter died after suffering from diabetes. In 1974, Kroc started transitioning into retirement and bought the San Diego Padres for $12 million. He and his wife moved to La Jolla and spent the rest of their lives there. After suffering numerous strokes and dealing with complications from diabetes, Kroc died of heart failure on Jan. 14, 1984. Rep. Duncan Hunters campaign continued in the last quarter of 2016 to spend money on food/beverages at a cigar lounge in his district, where he was photographed apparently smoking a Cuban cigar on election night. Advertisement Hunters financial disclosure report, filed last week with the Federal Election Commission, shows his campaign spent $404 at Alpine Tobacco Company Cigar and Wine Bar in Alpine in November. The spending is in addition to the $3,018 Hunters campaign has reported spending on food/beverages at that smoking lounge and two others since April 2015. Interactive map of Hunters expenses Hunters campaign spending has come under scrutiny by the Office of Congressional Ethics since the FEC and The San Diego Union-Tribune first raised questions last April. He has reimbursed his campaign for more than $60,000 his office identified as personal, mistaken or insufficiently documented. None of the tobacco expenses have been reimbursed. Hunters office has declined to say the campaign purpose of the spending at the tobacco lounge. A photograph of Hunter with Shawn Karjo, owner of Alpine Tobacco Company, was posted Nov. 10 on the establishments Facebook page. In the photo, Hunter is sporting an I voted sticker and holding a lit cigar in his mouth. Karjo is holding an unlit cigar. The photographs caption says Cubans 2 celebrate congrats Duncan hunter and Donald trump!! Reached by phone, Karjo referred questions to Hunters office. Hunters chief of staff, Joe Kasper, declined to answer questions about the origin of the cigar or how Hunter obtained it. It remains illegal to buy or sell Cuban cigars in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As of January 2015, travelers coming from Cuba could bring up to $100 worth of cigars into the U.S. for personal use or gifts, under an executive order from then-President Barack Obama. Hunter, R-Alpine, addressed the order shortly after it was signed in a December 2014 interview with San Diego television station KUSI. A summary of the interview on KUSIs website indicated Hunter was critical of aspects of the administrations changes, saying the policy does not look good because it is rewarding bad people and bad behavior. The video of the interview was not available on the KUSI website, nor was a transcript of what was said. Kasper, Hunters chief of staff, responded to questions from U-T Watchdog seeking to reconcile the cigar lounges photo of Hunter with the congressmans criticism of the executive order. Cuba policy is viewed through multiple lenses and requires differentiation between Cubas government and its people, the statement said. Hunter was most likely referring to the government side of things only. Last year, restrictions eased again, allowing international travelers to bring up to 100 cigars into the country for personal use or gifts. Hunter has pushed for laws to protect the electronic cigarette and cigar industries. He made headlines and earned his nickname as the Vaping Congressman when he puffed on an e-cigarette during a Congressional hearing last year (accidentally blowing vapor into a fellow committee-members face) to protest legislation that banned e-cigarette use on airplanes. Hunter has also supported the cigar industry. This year, Hunter was one of three congressmen who signed a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, encouraging him to halt FDA regulations that would be devastating to the premium cigar industry and small businesses across the country. Federal law does not allow the expenditure of campaign contributions for personal benefit, to protect against undue influence by donors. Hunters campaign treasury is largely funded by defense contractors, transportation companies and others whose business is affected by Congressional committees upon which Hunter serves. Previously: Hunter PREVIOUS morgan.cook@sduniontribune.com A military family that used to be stationed at MCAS Miramar and now lives in Alaska is hoping that a dog found in Spring Valley is their long lost pet that disappeared two years ago. Kierra and Travis Moss, who were both Marines, were living in Lemon Grove in December 2014 and were packing and preparing to move to Texas where she was being transferred when their dog Missy ran off. The couple had gotten the shepherd-breed dog from a co-worker a few years earlier, along with two other smaller dogs. Advertisement Kierra Moss described Missy as sweet and smart, and her go-to pet when she needed a hug. She said the couple delayed their departure and checked shelters and looked for Missy for days. Heartbroken, they finally had to leave without her. We were both crying, Moss said. She was a family member to us. The couple now has an 18-month-old daughter and they are living in Anchorage. Travis Moss was stationed there after he was discharged from the Marines and later joined the Army. Moss said she posted Missys information and photo on all the missing dogs websites she could find. As time passed and she heard nothing. We assumed the worst, she said. Then, about two weeks ago, Roy and Linda Patrick noticed a tan-and-white dog wandering near their property on Avocado Boulevard in Spring Valley. Roy Patrick said the dog eventually came into the couples backyard where she made herself at home under some bushes. She wouldnt leave, he said. Thinking that the animal was lost, Patrick went online and ended up on LostMyDoggie.com where he quickly saw a picture of a dog that looked a lot like the one in his yard. He called the number on the listing and talked to Kierra Moss. Once he sent photos she was sure it was her missing pooch. Its definitely her, shes very unique, Moss said. The dog would not let the Patricks touch her, however, so the couple finally lured her into the house with some food and successfully captured her. They turned her over to San Diego County Animal Services where she now awaits a hopefully happy reunion soon. That wont happen right away however. Department spokesman Dan DeSousa said that the dog has been microchipped, but the owner was listed as someone else. Now, officials are trying to contact that person. DeSousa said the listed owner will have five days to claim the dog. If she is not picked up, she will be available for adoption and the Moss family will be first in line to take her home. Moss said she and her husband are excited at the prospect of having Missy home again. They have had some tough times recently. They lost a baby and her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. Regaining their lost pet would be a blessing, she said. Moss has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to fly to San Diego and bring Missy home, should they get the green light. 619-293-1710 debbi.baker@sduniontribune.com twitter.com/Debbi_Baker The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board met with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week to discuss voting and other election issues. Here is an edited transcript of the interview. Q: The big issue on everyones mind is the presidents unsubstantiated-as-yet claims on voter fraud. He singled out California as a place where that may have happened. Thoughts on that? PADILLA: Weve been responding to that question for a couple of months now. Its not just this last week. As far as our job goes were not done on Election Day. Theres still this canvas period. Were processing vote by mail ballots and provisional ballots and counties have a month deadline to get us their final numbers, and then of course the Electoral College process in December. So around Thanksgiving, I was kind of taking a breather, spending a little time with the family when [the president-elect] starts tweeting about massive voter fraud, millions of illegal votes across the country. Are we gonna respond to everything he says? Its gonna be like a roller coaster for four years if we do, but when he made California specifically we had to respond. Advertisement So, no, theres absolutely no proof, no evidence of massive voter fraud in California or anywhere across the country. Im happy to share with you the statement put out by the National Association of Secretaries of State my counterparts across the country on a bipartisan basis standing by the integrity of our elections. I mentioned to Team Trump then, and Ive mentioned it again more recently if they have proof, if they have evidence we welcome it. We have procedures in place to investigate allegations of voter fraud, prosecute when the evidence is there, but as of now we have no evidence of noncitizens voting in November or voter impersonation at the polls. If somebody has information well pursue it, but the invitation was extended then, we havent heard from them, but with now President Trump making those same allegations [recently] reminded folks of that offer. We havent heard from anybody in his team. And so now its not just allegations of voter fraud, right? He says theres gonna be this major investigation. And so weve been waiting. My biggest concern here is actually a couple things. Number one, its now an investigation based on allegations based on zero evidence or proof that weve seen. So I dont know where theyre going with this. Number two, my fear is that his team is simply setting the tone for proposed changes to policy or changes to the law that will take us backward in the area of voting rights. Ive worked hard to make California sort of the counter example to the [states] where theyre changing the rules to make it harder for eligible people to be registered or harder for registered voters to actually vote. We want to maintain the integrity of our elections, but make it easier for people who are eligible to participate. So Im fearful that theyre setting the stage for that, again, based on allegations that are not based on proof or evidence. If the president was genuinely concerned about fraudulent activity in last Novembers election, he has an Intelligence Community report sitting on his desk that shows unanimity of the Intelligence Community concluding there was foreign interference with the elections. He should acknowledge that and act on that, but going forward theres still another opportunity that Ive conveyed in multiple ways to folks in the White House. Look, there is a potential crisis in the integrity of our elections in the future, and thats our aging voting systems. The last time there was a significant investment in equipment was more than a decade ago. After Florida 2000, Congress acted on a bipartisan basis to put monies out to the states for new election systems. And it was great then, but that was more than a decade ago. What did your phones look like a decade ago? You wouldnt settle for that technology, but thats the kind of technology that were running our election systems on. So just the age of their equipment is starting to make it tougher to maintain, keep functioning properly, etc. We ought to invest in new equipment going forward. No, theres absolutely no proof, no evidence of massive voter fraud in California or anywhere across the country. Alex Padilla Q: Whats the effect of such skepticism and second-guessing coming from the highest levels of government? PADILLA: My concern is people start getting it into their minds slowly but surely that well, why should I vote then? If the elections gonna be hacked or rigged that was the conversation before November why should I get out and vote? Thankfully Californians didnt seem to buy into that. We should be working hard to encourage more people to participate because thats how you measure the strength of a democracy. There is research thats out there. There are investigations that have been posted, and they all conclude the same thing voter fraud is exceedingly rare. Is there an isolated case here and there of some sort of violation? Yeah, but it is, statistically almost negligible, which means that the protocols and the safeguards that we have in place are working. Q: Do these grass-roots efforts that popped up after the election the Calexit movement and the Electoral College movement do they add to or subtract from the conversation in terms of encouraging participation by voters? PADILLA: I think it adds. Personally so secretary of state hat off Alex Padilla hat on Im not for California succeeding from the nation. I dont give up that easy. Im aware of the State of Jefferson stuff up in the northern part of the state. But look, to the extent that it gets people talking and engaging theres probably more people who Googled what is Electoral College after the election than weve seen in 16 years. And I think its a worthwhile discussion, by the way the Electoral College piece. I cant ignore the parallels between the Supreme Court a few years ago gutting the Voting Rights Act the pre-clearance element of the Voting Rights Act under the basis of well, its based on an old formula of who it applies to and who it doesnt. It ought to be revisited because its 50 years old. Well, how old is the Electoral College structure? You know, our nation has changed significantly since the Electoral College was established. I know thats the rules today, and we respect those rules, were operating under those rules, the results are the results, but its absolutely a worthwhile conversation of is there a better way for the United States of America going forward, just like were having the debate on the Voting Rights Act. Im not for California succeeding from the nation. I dont give up that easy. Alex Padilla Q: Weve talked about voter roll, you know, drivers licenses, going to every high school kid. What would automatic voter registration look like? PADILLA: So AB 1461 passed by the legislature in 2015 signed by the governor so were now in implementation mode proud of that because its record number of registration that we hit, that was without automatic registration. Once that kicks in were gonna move the needle even more dramatically. Once its implemented it will automatically enroll every eligible Californian whether they apply for or renew a drivers license or a state ID either at the DMV or online. So were capturing the same information for people when they apply for an ID or drivers license name, address, signature on file, date of birth, and have the opportunity to ask the questions, do you want to register to vote, citizenship, age requirements, et cetera, vote by mail or not, political party, you can choose it systematically. So just integrating it into that process. If Oregon is any indicator the rate of participation there its gonna capture millions of Californians very quickly. Q: For the people with the drivers licenses and the state IDs, what percentage of the total is that? PADILLA: The researchers say that 90 percent of eligible voters have a drivers license or a state ID. Many are already registered, but not all, right? So when I came into office we were told theres probably about 6.7 million eligible but unregistered Californians. That went up to about 7 million at one point. We made a dent in that, so now its down to about 6, 6.5. So its a moving target, right? People turn 18 every day, people become citizens every day, so the effort never ends, the work never ends. Q: Do you think the date of the California primary should change going forward or are you happy with the June day? A lot of people said this was the year California would have an impact, and, you know, the Republican race was settled and the Democratic almost settled. PADILLA: But we still had a great turnout and we saw leading up to the primary an almost unprecedented level of activity by presidential candidates campaigning in the state. I would love for it to be earlier. Q: But even when it was March, California never really seemed to play a role. It was always decided by then. PADILLA: Given the dynamics of the primary on both sides of the election, and then, as we saw the general and the Electoral College impact and beyond. If it was just up to me, lets make California right after Iowa, New Hampshire. I was elected for the Senate in 2006, and in 2008 was a vote for well, lets move the Presidential primary in California from June up to March only to see a bunch of other states leapfrog, right? Q: Do you ever see that happening or those other states New Hampshire and PADILLA: I think putting us if we were say to be consistently third right because theres penalties politically if you leapfrog New Hampshire, Iowa, et cetera. If California would be consistently third, then California would be consistently very much paid attention to in the primary by both parties. Q: I dont know if you saw our ballot statements down here in San Diego this last go-around, but at our home weve got two very fat booklets of information that it was as overwhelming as Ive ever seen anything in an election. Im wondering is that just overwhelming for the average voter to be able to pick all that stuff up, and does that discourage participation? PADILLA: So by law Im required to provide that Voter Information Guide, but what we try to do try to make it as helpful for voters if you look at the first sort of 16, 18 pages of it or so, it was a quick reference guide, right? So you got most of what most voters want or need in that first, you know, dozen and a half pages, as opposed to reading a 242-page Voter Information Guide. Another reason why we worked with MapLight to provide the Quick Guide to Propositions so that on your smartphone where more people go for information than the mailbox these days you had that basic information that can help inform your decision with links to the full language of the measure and the arguments for and against the rebuttals for and against, if you were interested, but to try to put as much of the helpful information as readily accessible to voters as possible to try to make an impact. Q: What are your thoughts on the top-two primary? Do you see that as transformative? PADILLA: Weve gone through a couple cycles now, so weve seen it what does it mean for congressional races, for house seats, for legislative seats? Only one full cycle of constitutional offices I think by and large it still ends up in November with one Democrat, one Republican. So has it drastically changed that? Not a ton, but, you have not insignificant a race here, a race there where it is two Democrats or two Republicans. So its had a little bit of an impact. From what I recall, the debate of going to top-two, it was also with the goal in mind of just kind of moderating the political debate both on the campaign side and in the Legislature, right? Try to allow for a stronger voice for those a little bit closer to the middle. I have observed that in the legislature. Im not so sure its because of the top two or because of the term limit modification. Q: The conventional wisdom, though, is that businesses being able to spend money to get moderate Democrats has created a big bloc, at least in the Assembly, of people who are right down the middle when the Legislature, before 2010, was not in a way, really. Do you buy that? PADILLA: Democracy is for anybody whos interested to get involved in some way, shape, or form. At the risk of painting with a broad brush here, just like with Congress, across the country wherever you find a moderate Democrat now today they probably replace a moderate Republican. So its increasingly who gets elected is a function of that district and the voters of that district and whos registered and whos voting are the ones that have that political voice. So thats what determines who the legislatures are. Democracy is for anybody whos interested to get involved in some way, shape, or form. Alex Padilla Q: Im going to take you back to one of the points you raised at the beginning of the Voting Rights Act. Do you see that as under threat? You mentioned the Supreme Court and then the possibility that this claim of voter fraud is kind of laying the groundwork for some incursion into that? PADILLA: I think voting rights fundamentally are under threat and are under attack. It is not a coincidence. If there was a lot of chatter before that Supreme Court ruling the Shelby v. Holder case or there was, you know, chatter about voter ID or things of that nature, after that Supreme Court action dozens of states with hundreds of pieces of legislation to change how elections are done in their states. And its not just voter ID. It is creatively written voter ID thats very intentional. Things like in certain states well, what count as your ID? License, passport, et cetera. Gun permit? Yes. But a state university ID so thats all of a sudden state issued ID doesnt. Thats not a coincidence. Things like how people manage their voter rolls. Are they overly aggressive in purging the voter rolls in a way that hurts low propensity voters? Is it either in some states the reduction of early voting opportunities or the elimination of early voting opportunities or where that happens county by county? You know, Alabama may be one of the most egregious cases where no sooner than they passed their voter ID law then they closed DMV offices in the county with the highest percentages of African-American population. Coincidence? You decide. So the playbook has been out there facilitated by the Supreme Court action on the Voting Rights Act. This trying to set the tone for those types of actions at a federal level look, I hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. When Secretary Kobach from Kansas is one of the court advisers to the president on this stuff, I know what hed like to see happen. And thats not good for our democracy, so weve got to be prepared to push back and fight against that. Thankfully, theres sort of bipartisan pushback or resistance across the country when it comes to this stuff because states have run elections. You know, the federal government doesnt intrude on how we conduct elections. So you hear equal concern from Republican secretaries of states as you do from me and other Democrats, but we dont know what theyre gonna do so we better be ready. I think voting rights fundamentally are under threat and are under attack. Alex Padilla Q: But the Tenth Amendment argument is that whats not explicitly assigned to the federal government should be left to the states. Some states go back and forth on this all the time. Eric Holders gonna make the Tenth Amendment argument against the federal government trying to tell California how to do its immigration policies, but yet people want the federal government to be able to tell states how to do their voting policies. Now, Im not defending all the horrible things that some of the states have done the last six or eight years, but it just seems like these arguments come and go and theyre used for convenience. The Tenth Amendment matters or it doesnt? Well, no, its an a la carte thing. It depends on the issue. PADILLA: Heres another reason why Im concerned that something is coming down the path. Its not just whos in the White House. Now theres still a Republican majority in both houses of Congress. So if it was part of either a Trump agenda or a GOP agenda or both, you know, the tools are there to get a bill introduced, clear both houses, and get a signature by the president. And, if challenged in courts depending on which district and which Court of Appeals, eventually going up to the Supreme Court you know, Supreme Court nominees and confirmations are gonna make a difference there. Q: I assume you get a lot of Election Day-related complaints ... polls not opening in time, the lines too long, poll workers being too invasive you know, looking at your ballot before you put in the box, things like that. So what kind of complaints do you get and how does it break down? PADILLA: By far the most common question is where do I go vote, right? And thats not a person who votes every time wondering that because they know what theyre doing. Its the occasional voter, maybe the new voter wondering. Thats like 90 percent of the calls that we get. You get the occasional Im not on the voter list, what do I do? So youve got to talk them through a provisional ballot. We do everything we can in the days leading up to Election Day, and on Election Day itself, to ensure that despite inconveniences a voter is not kept from being able to cast their ballot. But heres an upside. Senate Bill 450 that was passed, 2016, signed by the governor will help us county by county change how we do elections. Starting in 2018, a handful of counties are eligible. Starting in 2020, the rest of the state is transitioned to a way of administrating elections that San Diego was willing to do on a pilot basis. Automatically mail every registered voter their ballot four weeks before Election Day, and you afford options of how those ballots come back. U.S. mail, fine. Lets set up ballot drop boxes throughout the county clearly marked different from a mailbox for ballots only but you dont even need a stamp at that point, and you can drop it off anywhere at any time thats convenient for you in the weeks leading up to the election. But modernized polling places, as we know them, in our field is called Vote Centers. The key difference is this two three key differences. One, when you go vote in person today were limited to one location, right? And when you get there you get to the front of the line, you start flipping the ledger to find your name. Well, what if that ledger was in place with a tablet or a laptop and they had electronic access to the list of voters? In doing so, you can give each location not just access to the list of voters in that neighborhood, but to the whole countys list. For the voter, all of a sudden you can anywhere in the county to vote. Q: Isnt this what you talked about when you met with us in 2014? Like what they did in Colorado. PADILLA: Exactly. And so we introduced legislation, it got signed, and now, you know, counties will have that option starting in 2018. But the way vote centers are successful in other jurisdictions, you havent transitioned every polling place into a vote center, right? You can redo the formulas of how many locations versus how many voters. So its going to be fewer vote centers than weve seen polling places, but the upside is both the flexibility of where to go vote anywhere in your county and when to go vote because vote centers, as weve seen in other states, are open not just on Election Day, but for a period of early voting. So Senate Bill 450 calls for 10 days of voting up to and including Election Day. So you can vote by mail if you want, you can vote in person, you can vote on Election Day, you can vote early weekday or over the weekend, you can vote close to home, close to work, close to the mall, whatever point is convenient for you. By moving to fewer locations, but still a very accessible model, you can professionalize the poll worker operation, right? Youre gonna be less reliant on more and more volunteers and fewer people maybe with more experience, maybe more county employees staffing those poll centers to improve that experience. And it saves money because with the fewer locations you need fewer of the (booths) going in to mark your ballot. So a lot of benefits of this that weve seen it play out in other jurisdictions. Q: Im gonna ask about absentee voting. Clearly the trend is that thats soaring. Whats the realistic ceiling for the number of folks who will vote absentee or early as opposed to actually go to the polls and do it on Election Day? PADILLA: So the trend has been this is what like the sixth cycle now where the majority of ballots were cast by mail. Vote by mail ballots were just shy of 60 percent, but it had been hovering just under 60 percent for several cycles now. So I think well continue to build on that because as convenient as it gets for the voters right and they come in the mail, you process it and get counted. One of the trends that were seeing is request to receive your ballot by mail is up, but coming back by mail is not up as much. So whats happening? People are getting their ballot, filling it out in the comfort of their own home, and dropping it off on Election Day. So all the more reason for these vote centers to create those options. This move to vote centers under SB 450 and the implementation of same-day registration well be able to tackle now vote by mail ballots, but provisional ballots, right? Thats always a big concern what is a provisional ballot or do provisional ballots really get counted? Theres this myth out there that provisional ballots dont get counted. They only get counted at close races. Thats not true. Thats why it takes us so long to get final numbers. But through the implementation of same-day registration and the convenience of going in over the counter to go vote youve done away with the two most common reasons for needing to do a provisional ballot. I went to the wrong polling place, thats no longer an issue. Or maybe there was something with your registration. You missed a registration deadline or you have moved since then you can update your registration on Election Day, still cast your ballot, and you can go anywhere. In Colorado its like 96 percent provisional ballots are just gone because theyre real ballots, which means you can count real ballots sooner so you get closer to final results sooner rather than later in the canvas period. So last fall we moved from the old sort of operating systems, if you will, to a system called VoteCal. This is what we technically call our system of record. Based on federal requirements from the Help America Vote act that was the bill that sent money to states post Florida 2000 for new systems. Since then every state was required to centralize the voter lists, right? Instead of each county maintaining their own list of voters we now have a centralized statewide voter registration database. And its not just about having that database, its about ensuring that theres certain tools available to voters. The ability to verify your registration status online thats just one of em. But if you submitted your vote if you mailed back your ballot, how do you know it got there on time or if it was received and counted or your provisional ballot? So now a voter will be able to go online and see if their vote by mail ballot was received and counted. And if not why not. Or the provisional ballot was processed, you know, approved and counted. And if not why not. You know, for a vote by mail ballot maybe it got there too late or provisional balance maybe the signature didnt match to the signature on file. And we now have an eight day sort of reconciling period where as these issues are identified, registrars reach out to the voter and say hey, if theres a way to rectify this lets figure it out, lets come in, you know, update your signature or that sort of thing. All 14 California House Republicans have asked Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to cancel the Obama administrations plan to give a $650 million federal grant to Caltrain for a $2 billion project that would shift the Bay Area commuter rail agency from diesel locomotives to electric-powered rail cars. The California High-Speed Rail Authority plans to contribute $713 million to the project because it is vital to setting up a statewide bullet-train network. House Republicans say no federal dollars should be forthcoming until the finances of Californias $64 billion bullet-train program are audited. California Democrats want the grant authorized and soon. Advertisement But before this issue gets caught up in the flap over how President Trump might punish an out of control California, an obvious point must be made: A federal audit of how the state has used $3 billion-plus in federal funds for the bullet train project is long overdue. The funds were only supposed to be used if California could show its project had a sound financial plan (capital and operating) that reflected a minimum quality of planning process. The state doesnt have a sound financial plan or quality planning. Want proof? Because of insufficient funding, present plans call for the trains first segment in the Central Valley to end not at a city but at an almond orchard. Federal taxpayers shouldnt have to help fund such extreme foolishness. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: UTOpinion In late 2015, Ray Major chief economist for the San Diego Association of Governments realized that the agencys taxable sales projections were highly unrealistic. In an email to a colleague, he wrote wtf about the estimates. Yet a year later, SANDAG was relying on the bad numbers to ask county voters to back Measure A, a half-cent sales tax ballot measure to fund infrastructure improvements. Now Voice of San Diego reports the realization that the measure would not generate SANDAGs predicted $18 billion over 40 years was never shared with voters or the agencys governing board even though a report on the faulty forecast was prepared for SANDAGs executives. Advertisement Measure A didnt get the two-thirds support needed for a tax hike. But this doesnt lessen the case that SANDAG abused the publics trust. In a phone interview Tuesday with two San Diego Union-Tribune editorial writers, SANDAG Director Gary Gallegos said, We never meant to manipulate anybody. Gallegos said he doesnt remember being told of Majors concerns about future taxable sales or seeing a skeptical staff PowerPoint presentation. But even if this is true, it still speaks horribly of SANDAG management. Gallegos knew that TransNet, a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation projects that was approved in 2004, had generated far less sales-tax revenue than forecast. Measure A was the agencys biggest initiative since TransNet. How could SANDAGs chief economists doubts about it never have surfaced until now? County Supervisor Ron Roberts the SANDAG board chair who led the push for Measure A is right to be upset about this debacle. SANDAG has it tough selling big projects to the public now. This self-inflicted wound will make its job much harder. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: UTOpinion On Sunday, President Donald Trump continued to defend Vladimir Putin (Republicans decry Trumps defense of Putin, Russia, Feb. 6), even in the face of accusations that Putin murdered journalists and dissidents. Interviewed by Bill OReilly, Trump said, There are a lot of killers. We got a lot of killers. Well, you think our country is so innocent? It has been a mainstay of conservative rhetoric that America is exceptional, unique in its place in the world. This argument has been used to excuse all types of questionable activities because our motives are always pure and good. Advertisement Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. E-mail letters@sduniontribune.com Mail: Andrew Kleske, Reader Outreach Editor San Diego Union-Tribune P.O. Box 120191 San Diego, CA 92112-0191. You can also leave a comment below Trump just threw the Republican Party under the bus. Apparently, we are no better than Russia. Americas enemies around the world are celebrating today. We have conceded the moral high ground. Phil Heinz Rancho Bernardo Refugees contribute to our diverse nation Kudos to Anne Krueger (Refugees want the same things all Americans want, Feb. 4) for being the eloquent voice of my immigrant/refugee students, who in so many ways enrich this country. Mimi Pollack La Mesa Readers at odds over columnists assertions The column by David Brooks, The American myth (Feb. 4), is worth the price of a years subscription. Its a brilliant diagnosis of the decay of American idealism over the past 50 years. When I was a boy in the 40s and 50s, courses in American history and civics were required of all public school students. But now it seems possible to escape learning about American institutions and history almost altogether. I wonder, how many young American adults can pass the test on those subjects that is required of every naturalized citizen? The American ideal is like the ideals set by the moral teachings of the great religions not always achieved, but something to be striven for. God help us if we lose it. Frederick P. Boynton III La Jolla * * * It is easy to see David Brooks believes in the rich getting richer and doesnt believe in draining the swamp. Something tells me he voted for Hillary Clinton. Maybe Brooks can tell us how America became so scandal-ridden and corrupt in our government. And does he believe we need a change? The Republicans made it clear, no Clinton, yes Trump. And drain the swamp. Junious D. Montgomery Carlsbad Trump using childish ploy to avoid challenge As children, we often would try to get our way by quickly proposing our questionable activity to preoccupied parents using the strategy, it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. It appears that President Trumps almost comic rapid-style signing and execution of executive orders is an attempt to skirt asking permission in order to potentially address unintended consequences by asking forgiveness/forbearance or, more hopefully, not having to ask at all. Darlene A. Pienta Rancho Bernardo California should invest more in desalination K. Potter from Tierrasanta (Desal, not dams, is the answer for droughts, Jan. 28) was right on the money. The state should develop desalination plants up and down the coast to provide drinking water to the states residents at a reasonable cost with a guarantee of supply, even in a drought period, which we will have more of in the future. Power them with mostly wind and solar power, again to stabilize the price and not degrade the air we breathe. We could pay for a number of these plants with the money Gov. Brown plans to spend to dig tunnels under the delta. A no-brainer, win-win opportunity. Craig Clark San Diego Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. An hour-long federal appeals court hearing on a challenge to President Donald Trump s travel ban turned into a national sensation as it was live-streamed over the internet and mainstream media carried it uninterrupted Tuesday. Three judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals met in San Francisco to listen to arguments from attorneys from the state of Washington and the Department of Justice, which was attempting to reverse a trial judges decision to block the presidents executive order last Friday. Appellate court hearings are hardly sensational or ever demand uninterrupted coverage, but Tuesdays hearing became the latest and most significant challenge to Trumps executive order banning travel into the U.S. to citizens from seven mostly-Muslim countries, a decision that has been heavily protested and criticized around the country and the world. Missed the hearing? You can listen to the entire audio here, but well show you some of the tweets that accurately summarize the hearing: 100,000+ people tuned in to listen to the hearing Analysis, live-tweeted At one point, the judges expressed skepticism on whether the travel ban was necessary. Attorney August Flentje argued on behalf of the Department of Justice that the federal government had not yet offered any evidence to support the presidents ban. On the other hand, the judges also pressed Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell on the merits of the legal challenge and whether the ban had harmed any residents. Instead, Purcell argued that the ban was unconstitutional because it was based on a religious test for Muslims. Flentje argued the order did not do that. Many journalists and lawyers tuned in to listen to the hearing and live-tweet their analysis. Among them was Cecillia Wang, a deputy legal director with the American Civil Liberties Union. David Pearce holds a sign outside of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Any indication who will prevail? A decision is expected to come later but the judges did not give a date when that would come. Instead, many people watching shared some takeaways that summarized the hearing. Did you catch any takeaways that we did not? Share them with me via email or Twitter. Have some thoughts to share? Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet. Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @RunGomez In just a few days, a conflict between Ivanka Trump and Nordstrom has turned into a clash between the president and the department store. Lets break down the breakdown. After deflecting criticism for months, Nordstrom announced last week it would stop selling Ivanka Trumps clothing and accessory line, citing the brands lack of success. Weve said all along we make buying decisions based on performance, Nordstrom said in a statement. In this case, based on the brands performance, weve decided not to buy it for this season. RELATED: Why Kellyanne Conway can't just tell Americans: 'Go buy Ivanka's stuff!' That marked a reversal from the retailers earlier position. It had defended having the brand in its stores in November, a week before President Donald Trumps defeat of Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. But even if the decision was truly made based on performance, the timing couldnt look worse. An activist campaign called #GrabYourWallet urging Americans not to shop at retailers associated with the Trumps has had Nordstrom at the top of its list. And the movement has only been growing. The founder says shes tracked more than 230,000 tweets about it, and we found plenty too. Here are just a few. Nordstrom still maintains that it was strictly a business decision, but they arent alone in cutting ties with Ivanka Trump. Retailers Neiman Marcus, Belk, Jet and ShopStyle have also dropped the brand. The New York Times is reporting that T.J. Maxx and Marshalls employees have also been instructed to discard any Ivanka Trump signage and remove her merchandise from any special featured areas. Wednesday morning, Donald Trump got involved. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the companys decision was a direct attack on Trumps policies. Nordstrom stock dipped briefly, but recovered. Since Trumps tweet, many people have rushed to defend Ivanka and even called for a boycott in return. Others said Trumps tweet was an excuse to shop at Nordstrom more. And some people felt this was a problematic case of Trump using his power as president to get involved with his familys business dealings, especially after he retweeted the tweet from his @POTUS account. What do you think? Should retailers get involved with politics? Do you want to buy anything from Ivanka Trump? Tell us at @sdutideas. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin ALSO Why Kellyanne Conway can't just tell Americans: 'Go buy Ivanka's stuff!' LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) President Evo Morales said Monday he was not abandoning hope despite indications Bolivians had rejected by a slim margin amending the constitution so he could run for a fourth straight term in 2019. A member of the national electoral tribunal, Antonio Costas, said later that decisive official results from Sundays referendum could not be promised for Monday. Morales said at a televised news conference he had faith in the slower-reporting countryside, where he has greater support. Advertisement They dont like us much in the city, Morales said. In municipal elections last year, urban voters showed themselves more insistent on new blood in Bolivian politics and less tolerant of official corruption. With 80 percent of the ballots counted just after midnight Monday, the no vote stood at 55 percent. Unofficial quick counts by polling firms based on samplings of voting stations said 52 percent voted no. One pollster, Ipsos-Apoyo, counted ballots at one of every 15 polling stations. The chief of the Organization of American States observer mission, former Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, said there was no evidence of fraud but called the vote count slow. Morales said he would respect voters will, whatever the outcome. If the ballot question loses, life will go on, Bolivias first indigenous president said. He blamed his disappointing showing on an opposition smear campaign. The votes timing could not have been worse for Morales. He was stung this month by an influence-peddling scandal involving a former lover revealed by an opposition-aligned journalist and by a deadly incident of political violence. In 10 years in office, Morales has presided over an unprecedented economic boom as prices for raw materials soared just as he took office. He is credited with spreading Bolivias natural resource wealth and empowering its indigenous majority. Gross domestic product per capita rose by nearly one-third, according to the International Monetary Fund, and a new indigenous middle class was born. But the boom is over. Bolivias revenues from natural gas and minerals, making up three-fourths of its exports, were down 32 percent last year. Economists say Morales leaned heavily on extractive industries to pay for populist programs and failed to diversify the economy. Analysts said the influence-peddling scandal clearly cost Morales. It was revealed that a former Morales lover was named sales manager of a Chinese company in 2013 that has obtained nearly $500 million in mostly no-bid state contracts. The president denied any impropriety and claimed he last saw the woman in 2007. But a picture of the two together last year emerged, casting doubts. The governing Movement Toward Socialism also has been wracked by scandal, including the skimming of millions from the government-managed Fondo Indigena, which runs agricultural and public works in the countryside. Judicial corruption has been endemic and press freedom suffered as major news outlets were purchased by people friendly to the government. Critical media and environmentalists complained of harassment by the state. Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington, called the tight vote a big blow to Morales, who tallied more than 60 percent in his 2014 re-election. While few can deny that Bolivia has seen impressive economic growth and social progress under Morales rule, many voters are sending a message that it is not enough, Shifter said. They want cleaner, more competitive politics, he said. Morales, who entered politics as a coca growers union leader, could now be motivated to groom a successor, Shifter said. At his news conference, the president said it was too early for that. ___ Associated Press writer Carlos Valdez reported this story in La Paz and AP writer Frank Bajak reported from Lima, Peru. AP writer Paola Flores in La Paz contributed to this report. A helicopter pilot made repeated attempts to land at a Carlsbad airport last month before the aircraft spun out of control and crashed, killing him and a passenger, a federal report said. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the helicopter ultimately missed the portable helipad, rocked wildly back and forth several times, spun in place for more than five minutes, and broke off the tail before being enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Bruce Erickson, 65, of Rancho Santa Fe, had piloted the aircraft several times since September, but always before with a professional pilot present, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the accident. Advertisement Erickson was president of American Bank in Montana and spent part of his time in Bozeman. His passenger on Nov. 18 was Wayne Lewis, 60, of Cardiff by the Sea, a Realtor who was rated as a private pilot, not a professional, the NTSB said. Erickson bought the Airbus helicopter on Oct. 29, the report said. The entire sequence of events leading up to the disaster, including at least four landing attempts on the raised helipad, were caught on airport security cameras and several witnesses cellphone cameras. The report said Erickson and Lewis took off from McClellan-Palomar Airport about 2:11 p.m. in clear weather. They returned a little more than two hours later and started to land at 4:24 p.m. on a helipad on a ramp in front of Premier Jet hangars. A ground crew had rolled the wheeled helipad to the west end of the ramp. The helicopter approached the airport from the northeast, turned left and approached the ramp in a low hover. It approached the helipad from the east, facing the sun, and landed short. The center of the skids touched the pads front edge, sending the helicopter in a series of back-and-forth oscillations, with its tail skid striking the ground, the report said. The impacts knocked the helipad loose from one of the chocks that was holding a wheel in place. The pad began to spin on one front wheel, then the helicopter also began to spin. The copter then climbed, rotated, and 50 seconds later landed partly on the ramp at a 45-degree angle. Crewmen re-secured the helipad by installing chocks on three of the four wheels. The pilot lifted off and approached the pad from the west this time. He made three more landing attempts in the next four and a half minutes, getting within five to 20 feet of the pad each time. On the last approach, caught on video by a witness who stood behind a car for safety, the helicopter landed short of the pad again. The aircraft spun 180 degrees to the left as the nose went up and the tail rotor hit the ground and broke off. The helicopter bounced, completely rotated once, then landed hard on its left side. Once on the ground, the main rotor blades and cabin continued to spin wih the engine still running. The helicopter continued spinning for the next 5 minutes and 10 seconds while slowly sliding about 530 feet east along the ramp, the report said. The tail boom, horizontal stabilizer and main rotor blades snapped off. The engine operated for 30 more seconds while fire crews doused the aircraft. White smoke billowed from the engine exhaust, but the craft did not catch fire, the report said. By the time rescuers got to the helicopter cabin, the men inside were dead. The NTSB said Erickson had flown demonstration and familiarization flights in that helicopter totaling about 8.8 hours since Sept. 20. All those flights were conducted with a certified flight instructor present. He had two additional hours of flight training on Nov. 13. Friends and instructors told investigators that although Erickson had previously owned a Bell 407 helicopter, his final flight in the Airbus was his first time flying a helicopter one without a professional pilot present. A man armed with an orange flare gun and a hammer was arrested inside a Chula Vista bank after what police said was a failed attempted robbery. The suspect threatened to kill employees, fired two shots and used the hammer to try to shatter a bullet-proof partition that the six workers hid behind, Chula Vista police Sgt. David Oyos said. All of the employees are pretty shaken up, Oyos said. Advertisement He did not know whether the man shot at a worker or into the air. No one was injured. The suspect slipped inside the Bank of America branch on E Street at Third Avenue minutes before it closed at 6 p.m. and loosely tied the doors with a rope, Oyos said. Police believe he waited for the last customer to leave. The employees saw him enter and knew something was not right, Oyos said, so they ran behind the partition. Meanwhile, the sergeant said, the man yelled, give me the money, and threatened to kill the employees, who called 911. At one point the suspect also smashed phones with the hammer. Officers arrived at the bank and forced open the doors, Oyos said. An officer released a police dog but the suspect put his hands in the air, so the dog was called back before it bit the man. Police did not identify the suspect. He had the New Zealand passport of a 29-year-old, but Oyos said the suspect appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/07/2017 -- Anthopogon is an aromatic medicinal herb whose stems and leaves are broadly use in Tibetian herbalism. Its botanical name is Rhododendron anthopogon whereas commonly known as sonpati. Anthopogon is sweet, bitter and strigent to taste and release heat. Though it is found in North American and European region but is native to the Himalaya ranging from East Asia to Western China. It blossoms at the hillsides of Bhutan to mid Nepal, harvested in wild and is known for its medicinal and cosmetic beneficiaries. All parts of this shrub is vital to use; flowers and leaves are used as a tea to cure digestive system. Its Oil is extracted by steam distillation of aerial part of anthopogon shrub which is further used in perfumery, cosmetics, soaps, bath oils, shampoos, creams and many others usage. More than 80% of anthopogon oil is exported to Europe and North America. The global anthopogon oil market is anticipated to expand with an impressive CAGR over the forecast period. Download exclusive Sample of this report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19103 Global Anthopogon Oil Market: Drivers & Restraints The rising demand of aromatherapy coupled with growing applications for fragrance and flavors in food and beverages, medicinal usage and personal care is encountered as the major factors that drive the market of anthopogon oil. Unlike most conventional drugs and medicines, naturally extracted oil, anthopogon carry no detrimental side effects therefore consumers' reliability increases towards natural product, increasing demand for natural care product line and pleasant scented fragrances in cosmetic, spa, perfumes and relaxation application rises demand and expectations worldwide. Rapid industrial growth and increasing disposable income of consumers are also fueling the market of anthopogon oil worldwide. Although demand and necessity of anthopogon oil in the essential oil market can be seen broadly, but the major factor which hamper the market particularly for anthopogon oil is the rising concern of shortage in resource cultivation, as an excessive amount of plant material is required to prepare single ounce of oil. Similarly, many other challenges such as expensive production process, high capital investment and government certification for trading the herbs are some factors that hinder the market growth. Browse Full Report with ToC: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/anthopogon-oil-market.html Global Anthopogon Oil Market: Segmentation The global anthopogon oil market is segmented by its applications and distribution channels. Based on end use industry the anthopogon oil market is segmented into: Pharmaceutical & Medical Food and Beverage Personal Care and Cosmetics Others Global Anthopogon Oil Market: Regional Outlook Based on the geographies, anthopogon oil market is segmented into seven regions - North America anthopogon oil market, Latin America anthopogon oil market, Eastern Europe anthopogeon oil market, Western Europe anthopogeon oil market, Asia Pacific excluding Japan anthopogon oil market, Japan anthopogon oil market and the Middle East & Africa anthopogon oil market. Owing to rising awareness and growing demand for medicines, natural cosmetics and beauty products among youth and vast geriatric population of countries such as France, Germany, UK, Spain and Italy made Eastern and Western Europe dominating region in the market of anthopogon oil. High disposable income, governmental subsidies and tax benefits encourage production and application of anthopogon oil accelerates its market in North America region. Asia Pacific excluding Japan is an emerging region because of the rapid industrial and disposable income growth in the developing countries such as India, Chian, Vietnam and Thailand, this growth is fueling the market of anthopogon oil including other essential oil. Global Anthopogon Oil Market: Key Players Some of the market players accounting on anthopogon oil market includes Sydney Essential Oils, Farotti Essenze, Biolandes, The Lebermuth Company, HRF, doTerra, Essential Oils, Young Living Essential Oils, , Sydella Laboratoire, Moksha Lifestyle Products, Falcon and Ungerer Limited among others Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/08/2017 -- The leading players operating in the global dental consumables market held a share of 62% in the overall market. Danaher Corporation, Dentsply Sirona, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., and Henry Schein Inc. have been leading the market due to their low pricing strategy and excellent brand recognition, states Transparency Market Research. These players are expected to focus on mergers and acquisitions to improve their presence in the global market. For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=554 According to Transparency Market Research, the global dental consumables market is expected to be worth US$33.4 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$19.6 bn in 2015. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 6.1%. Europe to Acquire a Share of 41.1% by 2024 The various products available in the global market are crowns and bridges, dental implants, orthodontics, retail dental care essentials, periodontics, endodontics, and dental biomaterials among others. Amongst all of these products, the crowns and bridges segment is expected to show remarkable progress in the coming years. This segment alone is expected to rise at a CAGR of 7.2% between 2016 and 2024. Geographically, this market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Europe is anticipated to lead the global market in the coming years due to improving oral health care facilities across countries such as Norway, Greece, Spain, and the U.K. By the end of 2024, Europe is projected to acquire a share of 41.1% in the global dental consumables market by 2024. Improvements in Dental Implants Assure Uptake The emergence of services such as dental tourism in developing countries of India, Turkey, and Hungary have triggered a massive demand for dental consumables over the past few years. The low cost of oral health care services provided in these emerging economies has lured in several consumers over the past few years for treatment. The low labor cost, effective treatment methods, and minimum government intervention pertaining to healthcare industries in developing countries are expected to boost dental tourism, which in turn is expected to have a positive reflection on the demand for dental consumables. The improving success rates of dental implants, especially for the upper jaw is also likely to play a crucial role in the development of the global market. This has led to increased uptake of several procedures that use dental implants. The market is also thriving due to the growing incidence of dental diseases such as tooth decay, gum diseases, tooth erosion, and mouth sores. Furthermore, high prevalence of periodontal diseases have also fueled the growth of the global dental consumables market. The rising disposable incomes in emerging economies and changing lifestyles, which have inclined patients toward improved oral health care, are expected to drive the demand for dental consumables. View exclusive Global strategic Business report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dental-consumables-market.html High Cost of Treatment and Poor Reimbursement Policies Restrain Market Growth The increasing expenditure on the research and development of dental consumables has spiked the prices of products. Thus, the high cost of products has also made the treatment costlier, which is likely to have a negative impact on the sales. The poor reimbursement policies of in developed countries of France, the U.S., Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, and Japan is also hampering the growth of the overall market as it is coaxing patients to migrate to cheaper places to seek treatment. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend 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. Contact us: Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/08/2017 -- The expanding population in Saudi Arabia has put pressure on the country's existing infrastructure. This has compelled the government of Saudi Arabia to initiate several large-scale projects aimed at infrastructural development in the coming years. According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the increasing construction activities witnessed in the country will significantly aid in the expansion of electrical market in Saudi Arabia. Surging Infrastructural Development Activities Boost Demand for Electrical Products in Saudi Arabia The surging demand for electrical products that are compatible with the infrastructure has led to the renewal of existing electrical and lighting systems. This, as per TMR, will boost the Saudi Arabia electrical market at a robust10.4% CAGR between 2015 and 2023. The market was valued at US$4.5 bn in 2014 and is expected to reach US$10.8 bn by the end of 2023. The Saudi Arabia electrical market is also expected to significantly gain from the rising energy demand in the Middle East. Development activities on card for the energy generation and transmission infrastructure will boost sales of electrical products, as it would require a higher number of cable management products such as trays, cable, floor ducts, cable conduits, raceways, and cable reels to efficiently manage cable networks. Get More Information : http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8713 Volatility in Raw Material Prices to Emerge as Major Bottleneck Despite Saudi Arabia exhibiting favorable opportunities for the electrical market, the volatility in the raw material prices will continue to be a major challenge inhibiting its growth. The unforeseen economic recession also creates major bottleneck for the market. Nevertheless, with companies increasingly engaging in mergers and acquisitions, the market sees lucrative prospects for growth in the near future. As per TMR, the rising opportunities in solar energy and grid modernization will also influence the market's trajectory positively. Demand for Energy Efficient Lighting Solutions to Fuel Sales of LED Lighting By application type, decorative lighting, commercial lighting, hospital lighting, flood lighting, tunnel lighting, street lighting, area lighting, pool lighting, solar lighting, and cinema and theatre lighting are the key segments of the Saudi Arabia electrical market. Of these, the tunnel lighting segment is expected to exhibit strong growth. Besides this, the market is also expected to witness significantly rising demand for LED lighting. This segment is likely to benefit from the rising demand for energy efficient lighting solutions. However, tunnel lighting is expected to emerge as the segment exhibiting the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The construction of new tunnels and upgrades of the existing ones in Saudi Arabia will boost sales of tunnel lighting in the country. Demand for Tunnel Lighting Poised to Surge Exponentially By products, the Saudi Arabia Electrical market comprises metallic cable management, wiring devices, low voltage systems, lighting control systems, and lighting protection systems. Of these, the lighting control systems is poised to surge at a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period. The rising demand for efficient energy systems and the growing infrastructural development activities in the country is expected to give significant impetus to this product segment. However, with a market valuation US$1.5 bn, the low voltage systems segment emerged dominant in the market in 2014. TMR forecasts, this segment to continue its lead in the market through the forecast period. Some of the most prominent names in tshe Saudi Arabia electrical market include Honeywell International, Inc., Legrand S.A., ABB Ltd., Eaton Corporation, Atkore International Holdings Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens AG, GE Co., Schneider Electric SA, and others. Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/08/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley. http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/ Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region. Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child. Tampa, Florida General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Announces New Geneology Asset Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604. SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England. CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles. CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth. DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269 Contact Adam Green! c: 801-809-7766 e: g3president@comcast.net Master Christopher Jones and several business partners purchased the ship Mayflower about 1607. Its origins prior to that remain uncertain. Its first documented voyage of record was to Trondheim, Norway, in 1609. Andrew Pawling hired the ship to take a cargo of London goods to Norway, sell them off, and buy Norway goods (lumber, tar, and fish) to return back to England. Unfortunately on the return voyage, the Mayflower encountered a severe North Sea storm and the master and crew were forced to toss most of Pawlings goods overboard to lighten the ship. The home of Master Christopher Jones: Harwich, co. Essex, England. http://mayflowerhistory.com/ Following that, Christopher Jones seems to have stuck with safer trading routes. The Mayflower made numerous trips primarily to Bordeaux, France, returning to London with cargoes of French wine, Cognac, vinegar, and salt. The Mayflower could freight about 180 tons of cargo. The Mayflower also made occasional voyages to other ports, including once to Malaga, Spain, and twice to Hamburg, Germany. Upon returning from a voyage to Bordeaux, France, in May 1620, the Mayflower and master Christopher Jones were hired to take the Pilgrims to Northern Virginia. This was the first recorded trans-Atlantic voyage for both ship and master, though Christopher Jones had several crewmembers, including pilot and master's mates John Clarke and Robert Coppin, who had been to the New World before. The Mayflower was supposed to accompany another ship, the Speedwell, to America, but the Speedwell proved too leaky for the voyage so the Mayflower proceeded alone. Departing on 6 September 1620, the ship was at sea for 66 days, arriving November 9. The ship and crew overwintered with the Pilgrims and departed back for England on 5 April 1621, arriving back to England on May 6. Christopher Jones took the ship out for a few more trading runs, but he died a couple of years later in March 1621/2. The ship was appraised for probate purposes in May 1624, and was referred to as being "in ruins." It was only valued at 128 pounds sterling, and was almost certainly broken up and sold off as scrap. The End of the Mayflower: "Mayflower's End," by Mike Haywood. The Mayflower returned to England from Plymouth Colony, arriving back on 9 May 1621. Christopher Jones took the ship out on a trading voyage to Rochelle, France, in October 1621, returning with a cargo of Bay salt. Christopher Jones, master and quarter-owner of the Mayflower, died and was buried at Rotherhithe, co. Surrey, England, on 5 March 1621/2. No further record of the Mayflower is found until May 1624, when it was appraised for the purposes of probate and was described as being in ruins. The ship was almost certainly sold off as scrap. The claim, first originating from J. Rendel Harris' book The Finding of the Mayflower (1920), that the Mayflower ended up as a barn in Jordans, England, is now widely discredited as being a figment of an overzealous imagination on the tercentenary anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage, combined with a tainted oral history. None of the evidence has withstood subsequent investigation. Regardless of the lack of evidence for its authenticity, it has been featured in National Geographic on several occasions and is a tourist destination. It is important to realize that in 1624, when the ship was scrapped, it was not at all famous, and nobody would have thought twice about letting it rot away. The Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought. A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/ -Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider. -Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles. -Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets. -Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot. -Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle. -Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors. Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.MarketingChocolateInternational.com http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/ http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen http://www.ImAdamGreen.com About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com Earlier this January, the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) or also known as a goat plague pestered the iconic Saiga antelopes in Mongolia. It killed about 2,500 antelopes and now threatens the remaining population of the said endangered Mongolian species. This may jeopardize the species and may be wiped out soon. The carcasses of the antelopes have found to be positive for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), which is a highly contagious virus that afflicts the goats and sheep. It kills almost 90 percent of the infected animals that undergone symptoms of the virus such as fever, diarrhea, mouth sores and pneumonia. The scientists from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) discovered that the disease originated in livestock. The carcasses were burned to prevent the virus from spreading. Meanwhile, Dr. Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba, WCS veterinary scientist, told BBC News that 2,500 antelopes had already died. "The first case of PPR was confirmed in the Saiga on only 2nd January this year," said Dr. Shiilegdamba. The team also said that this is the first deadly infectious outbreak that happened in this population of animals. They further said that beyond this one, rare species, there is the concern for the impact on the wider grassland ecosystem. Meanwhile, New Scientist reports that the first outbreak of PPR in sheep and goats in Mongolia was in September 2016 after the virus spread from China. Then, it crossed to Saiga during close contact at grazing grounds, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Bouna Diop at FAO said that if PPR is confirmed to be the main cause, the Saiga death toll is likely to reach into the thousands in the next three months. The Saiga antelopes with great numbers inhabited the grasslands of Europe and Asia. On the other hand, their numbers reduced from 1.25 million to 50,000 over the last four decades. This is because of hunting and diseases. Currently, the further 900 Saiga antelopes or almost 10 percent of the endangered Mongolian subspecies have vanished in Khovd province and thousands may be at risk as well in the coming months. COLUMBIA, S.C. A longtime University of South Carolina board of trustees member says he has gotten rid of a painting on display at his house by Adolf Hitler, the World War II Nazi leader who sent six million Jews and millions of others to be killed in death camps. Eddie Floyd, a retired heart surgeon, top state Republican fundraiser and philanthropist, said he got rid of the Hitler painting after a State newspaper reporter told him he was doing a story about the states Jewish community being troubled by it. The reporters request made him realize that what was a collectors item to him could cause great distress to others, he said. Im truly sorry if I upset anybody, said Floyd, 82, who has been a USC board member 35 years. It really upset me; Ive lost sleep over it. An art collector whose Florence home is filled with paintings and sculptures, Floyd said he only bought the painting to complement two other paintings he had by World War II leaders British prime minister Winston Churchill and U.S. Gen. (later president) Dwight Eisenhower. For months, rumors that Floyd had a Hitler painting an untitled watercolor of a Catholic abbey with trees in the foreground, signed by A. Hilter had sparked behind-the-scenes concern in the states Jewish and African-American communities. Specifically, people were wondering how a prominent state public official could display, even privately in his home, a painting by one of historys greatest mass murderers. Hitler approved what Nazis called the Final Solution the attempted extermination of people of Jewish descent in Europe, also known as the Holocaust. Today, Hitlers efforts are memorialized by the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day and the National Holocaust Museum in Washington as a reminder to never again allow genocide. Tales about Floyd possessing a Hitler painting took on new life last year after it was exhibited at the Florence County Museum. A press release about the exhibit, which highlighted art-related themes from the Civil War, World War I and World War II, noted that the Hitler, Eisenhower and Churchill paintings were from a local private collection. The exhibit did not highlight the Hitler painting, and a plaque beside it noted Hitler committed crimes against humanity. This January, Hitlers toxic racial ideas received national publicity when evidence introduced during S.C. mass murderer Dylann Roofs trial showed that Roof, a white supremacist, had been motivated to kill African-Americans by Hitlers writings on racial purity. I believe one day that Adolf Hitler will be inducted as a saint, Roof wrote in a jailhouse diary after his arrest for the 2015 hate crime killings of nine African-Americans during a Bible study at a historic Charleston church. In January, a jury sentenced Roof to death. Former state Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, a prominent member of the states Jewish community, was one who had heard the rumors and wondered how someone of Floyds education and prominence could have a Hitler painting in his home. Something that Hitler created is a sign of evil its not a conversation piece, Lourie said, adding he is glad Floyd has gotten rid of it. Bakari Sellers, a former state lawmaker, USC Law School graduate and CNN commentator, said rumors of Floyd having a painting by Hitler had been swirling for months. Now that the matter is in the open, Sellers said, he hopes it will spark public conversations about racial healing. This has probably been the worst kept secret in South Carolina politics, Sellers said. Dr. Floyd didnt even understand anything was wrong. Theres no doubt Dr. Floyd is a great man for his many contributions to South Carolina, but even great men have blind spots. Floyd's art collection Kay, his wife of more than 50 years, and Floyd over the years have collected hundreds of paintings and sculptures, mostly from places theyve visited in their travels, largely Europe, Russia and the Caribbean. Many landscapes, portraits and still lifes hang in their Mediterranean-style house in a quiet Florence neighborhood. The places we go, instead of buying souvenirs, we will look for art, Floyd said. After he acquired the Churchill piece some 25 years ago, and later the one by Eisenhower, Floyd said he bought the Hitler painting about five years ago from an auction house in England. In all, including commissions and shipping, the painting cost about $10,000, Floyd said. The Churchill painting features a scene from Marrakesh; the Eisenhower, a snow scene. Over the years, Hitlers paintings have sold between several thousand dollars and several hundred thousand dollars each. As a young art student in Vienna before World War I, Hitler made hundreds of paintings no one knows exactly how many mostly of street scenes and landscapes, to sell. Between 300 and 600 are believed to have survived. Both Eisenhower (1890-1969) and Churchill (1874-1965) were amateur painters. Churchill painted most of his life; Eisenhower took up painting as a hobby on the advice of his doctors in the 1950s. Floyd is a prominent figure in the Florence area and South Carolina cultural and political life. He has helped raise millions for Republican state and national presidential candidates over the years. But he also can support Democrats, such as Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. In the Florence area, Floyd has a reputation as a major benefactor. I cant think of anyone who has done more for our region than Eddie Floyd, said Fred Carter, president of Francis Marion University for 18 years. In his position as chairman of a wealthy local foundation, Floyd has spearheaded tens of millions of that charitys money to Francis Marion as well as to help build local projects such as a new library, the museum where the painting hangs, a county performing arts center and a university health science center that educates nurses and other health care professionals, Carter said. Take any major project in this community that has benefited people and youll find that Eddie Floyd has helped put it together, Carter said. False equivalency Lilly Filler, a retired Columbia physician whose parents survived Hitlers death camps, was shocked that a painting by Hitler would ever be put alongside paintings by Allied leaders Eisenhower and Churchill. That legitimizes what can never be legitimized, she said. Hitler was the leader of a diabolic, destructive group of people. Eisenhower and Churchill fought against Hitler to keep him from taking over the world and annihilating a whole group of people. Its a false equivalency, a false narrative. Where do you put a painting by Hitler? asked Filler. Maybe you put it in a museum that talks about the Holocaust. Hitler is not known for his artwork I can tell you that! Filler is on the board of the S.C. Council on the Holocaust. She is also part of a Columbia Holocaust group that is sponsoring a Holocaust exhibit currently at the McKissick Museum on USCs main campus. Seldon Smith, a now-retired Columbia College history professor who taught about the Holocaust for 25 years, said in an interview that most of his students had heard of Hitler, but were not familiar with the Holocaust. Young people generally know Hitler was bad, but they would have a hard time telling you what-all he was up to, Smith said. Any exhibit involving Hitler cries out for explanation that he tried to exterminate a portion of humanity, Smith said. Floyd said he was particularly shaken to learn some in the states Jewish community were troubled by the Hitler painting. Some of the people who helped him most in his medical career were Jewish, including the late Dr. Isadore Cohn, a legendary mentor at Lousiana State University Medical School, where Floyd got his start, he said. Floyd would not say what he has done with the Hitler painting, only that it is out of his and his familys hands. If he ever receives any money for it, he will donate the proceeds to worthy causes, including Jewish causes, he said. Asked if he would ever think of buying another Hitler painting, Floyd shook his head. Hell, no! I wouldnt touch one with a 10-foot pole! JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. Having been without a manager for the Johnsonville Public Library for some time, community members recently welcomed Cathy Pruett to that position. Pruett is a native of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, but moved to Surfside Beach when she was a freshman in high school. Pruett received an undergraduate degree from Charleston Southern University and a masters degree in library and information science from the University of South Carolina. She briefly taught high school English and served as a high school media specialist before finding her niche in the public library. For the past 14 years, Pruett said, she enjoyed working as the youth services librarian at the Marion Library System. "I love all aspects of library work, but I have a special passion for promoting early literacy to infants, toddlers and preschoolers, and for sharing secrets on how to raise readers with their parents and caregivers, Pruett said. Actually, they are not secrets, and they are simple everyday things anybody can do talking, playing, singing, reading and writing with little ones are the keys to unlock a lifetime of learning and a love of books. Pruett is the mother of three children, who she said bring her joy every day. Her oldest, Mark, is a Coastal Carolina University graduate who studied theater arts and works in Myrtle Beach. Her daughter Beth is a senior in the honors college at the University of South Carolina and will soon be moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to work with IBM. Joe, her youngest child, is a freshman studying computer science at Clemson University. Pruett said she is also fortunate to have her mother living down the street from her in Aynor. "In just the first few days I have been here in Johnsonville, I have been touched by the kind and welcoming reception from both the library visitors and our staff," Pruett said. "I'm learning new things about the library and town every day from Grainger Britt, our assistant branch manager, as well as Rollet Dunmore and Brittney Stalvey, our library associates. Now that the library is fully staffed, we are looking to restarting our preschool story-time programs and trying new programs as well. To suggest programs to be featured at the library, contact Pruett at 843-386-2052 or send an email to cpruett@florencelibrary.org. HARTSVILLE, S.C. The United Way of Hartsville is seeking nominations for Volunteer of the Year to be presented at the 96th annual membership banquet of the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 20. The deadline for nominating someone is Friday. The banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a networking social and dinner and program at 6:30 at the Harris E. and Louise H. DeLoach Center at Coker College. Joann DeLong, executive director of United Way, said there are so many people who give of their time in this community that United Way wanted a way to publicly recognize the most deserving. Last year was the first year of presenting this award at the chamber banquet. DeLong said there were eight nominations. That is more than I expected, she said. She hopes those whose nominee didnt win last year will renominate them this year. Last year, DeLong said, she sent the nominations to friends in Utah, New York, New Jersey and other places for judging. The recipient of the first Volunteer of the Year award was Clayton Richardson. We have so many Hartsville heroes, DeLong said. Each one of those nominated was deserving of recognition, she added. Criteria for the award include being at least 18 years of age and being a volunteer within the Hartsville area for a minimum of two years. The nominees may volunteer anywhere and at more than one place. Also they may not receive any wages, but may be reimbursed for mileage and expenses. DeLong said the nomination application form is simple and only a page. We want to make the public aware we are looking for nominations, DeLong said. My focus is to make sure these people get recognition. Application forms are available at the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce for the Volunteer of the Year. Other awards being presented at the event are the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce Will Woodham Business Person of the Year, Hartsville Rotary Clubs Citizen of the Year, the Pilot Club of Hartsvilles Caregiver of the Year, and Hartsville Young Professional of the Year. Application forms for these awards are also available at the chamber office. Some deadlines may have already passed. Banquet sponsorships and tickets are available online. For more information or to purchase tickets over the phone, call the chamber at 843-332-6401. MARION, S.C. U.S. Rep. Tom Rice announced last week that $52 million of South Carolinas $65 million allocation in relief aid has been secured for Marion County to help recover from Hurricane Matthew damages and subsequent flooding in October. The vast majority of the Seventh District suffered damages from Hurricane Matthew, Rice said in the announcement. The Housing and Urban Development Department has deemed Marion County as the most impacted and distressed area of South Carolina, qualifying 80 percent of the states allocation to the county. During my district tours after the storm, I saw entire towns underwater many that do not have the resources needed to fully rebuild. Rice said although other areas of South Carolinas 7th Congressional District have significant needs, the funding is critical to helping Marion County residents rebuild and get their lives back to normal. Rice and his staff worked with members of the House Appropriations Committee to secure storm recovery funding in the Continuing Resolution for 2017 that was passed on Dec. 8. Marion County Administrator Tim Harper said he was encouraged by Congress seeing the need for Marion County and looks forward to learning more details about the allocation. Were encouraged by the support and look forward to working with officials to determine how this will be used for recovery, he said. Harper said he is thankful for the support from representatives on the federal level. HARTSVILLE, S.C. The chief of the Waccamaw Indian People, Harold D. Hatcher, was the guest of Standing Rock Hartsville on Jan. 24 at a forum on the Coker College campus. Hatcher led the forum on Standing Rock and Indigenous Culture in the 21st Century. Hatcher told those attending about the situation with Standing Rock, North Dakota, regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline that will run close to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation and under Lake Oahu, the source of drinking water for the Sioux. He also talked about the division between tribes and their common goals. Casey Copeland, founder of Standing Rock Hartsville, said they held the forum to raise awareness about the issues in Standing Rock from a different cultural viewpoint: Native American. It is a rare opportunity for the public to learn about Indigenous/Native American values as it relates to Standing Rock and other issues facing the Native American population, Copeland said. We believe that the earth is a finite resource that should be respected and considered when we, as people, make decisions, Copeland said. Our group began last year when we learned what was happening in Standing Rock, North Dakota, concerning the Dakota Access Pipeline. Hatcher said the pipeline will run very close to sacred sites. He said former President Barack Obama had stopped it, and now President Donald Trump has reinstated it. The fighting had stopped, but now it will start again, he said. He said Native American leaders have a common goal to protect the land. I dont know the future of Standing Rock, Hatcher said. But when asked by a member of the audience what they could do, he told them to write letters. Hatcher also gave a brief history of his family and his life. He is a Vietnam veteran and the recipient of the Bronze and Silver Star and the Purple Heart. He said he was the first owner of an American Indian company registered in South Carolina. After the forum, Copeland said, We wanted to create a dialogue on how locals can get involved as well as expose the community to other world views. In essence, we want to expand the conversation rather than provide specific answers. I feel we accomplished that very successfully," he said. "We received quite a bit of interest from individuals in the community. We will now link those persons with information on how they can get involved locally to support indigenous people's rights, preserve their values and culture. We plan to meet and determine our next steps on how we can continue to do this in the community. We all have a lot that we can learn from Native Americans. Their perspective is more long term, and they prize the earth as sacred. They do not see the earth as a resource but the Source. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A 60-year-old La Crosse man is accused of raping a woman who had him over for Thanksgiving dinner. According to a complaint filed Tuesday in La Crosse County Circuit Court, a woman told police on Monday that she had been sexually assaulted in the early morning hours of Nov. 25 at her Seventh Street apartment. The woman said she met Steven Volden through a mutual friend and had invited him over for Thanksgiving. She said Volden had too much to drink, so she let him stay on the couch and took her prescribed OxyContin and Fentanyl painkillers before going to bed. According to the complaint, the woman woke up around 2 a.m. with Volden on top of her. She tried to push him off but he applied more weight and said dont it feel good, according to the complaint. The woman said she eventually got away and spent the rest of the night in the living room. In the morning, Volden told her multiple times he was not a bad guy and had been an altar boy. Questioned Monday by police, Volden said he had sex with the woman the weekend prior to Thanksgiving but denied using force, saying he was 60 years old and not the type of guy to force himself onto someone. According to the complaint, he registered 0.24 percent blood-alcohol concentration on a preliminary breath test when he was arrested. Volden, of 3479 Mormon Coulee Road, No. 19, was charged Tuesday with second-degree sexual assault, which carries a maximum 40-year sentence. He was released on a signature bond. Speaking at Mare Forum Singapore on Wednesday Dato Benny, a partner with Joseph Tan Jude Benny, said he always maintained: The greatest threat to peace and stability is dysfunctional American politics - boy have I been proved right. Trumps first weeks in office have seen a slew of controversial policies including the Executive Order on immigration temporarily banning citizens from seven countries entering the US, and the plan to build a wall between the US and Mexico. The President has also offered sharp public criticism of states ranging from Iran to China to Australia. Dato Benny noted that Trumps chief strategist thrives on disruption. From a shipping perspective this is worrying because it affects confidence, he said. The kind of sabre rattling we are seeing is completely unnecessary, its all disruptive. This is the opposite of what the global economy thrives on which is stability. Were in a state of flux and in my view that is extremely worrying, he stated. Dato Benny believes that foreign powers will not accept the policies President Trump is thinking about and there will be a huge push back from the likes of China and countries in the Middle East. However he also believes Trumps policies will be pushed through by his supporters, with both the House of Representatives and the Senate controlled by the Republicans. Others though believed the impact of Trump would not be as great as the publicity his statements and policies have attracted. Singapore-based American executive Kenny Rogers from Aurora Tankers Management commented that it was very early on in the administration. A lot of the rhetoric is just rhetoric, he said. I think it's a little bit over stated the effect he will have on the world economy. Rogers said American consumers would accept some restrictions on China as they live off Chinese goods. Retired United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral Robert North, currently president of North Star Maritime expressed similar views. We really have to see what time tells us in the process. I dont think it will be quite as extreme as some people predict. Zhejiang Shipping announced on its website that the financial aid has helped to boost the company's registered capital to RMB3.27bn ($475.3m). The amount of cash injection was not specify. Zhejiang Shipping completed a restructuring in 2016, and during the process it streamlined its business and downsize its fleet to 24 bulk carriers with a total capacity of 1.05m dwt. Wenzhou Shipping, Taizhou Shipping and Wuzhou Shipbuilding, all subsidiaries of Zhejiang Shipping, have been liquidated over the course of late 2015 to 2016. For 2017, Zhejiang Shipping has set itself a target of returning to profitability, the company stated. In life, Corey Compton funded special science programs for Baraboo elementary schools for 10 years. In death, hell provide educational enrichment forever. A 1950 Baraboo High School graduate who found success in facility management, Curt Corey Compton died in June 2016. A decade earlier, he created a fund with the Greater Sauk County Community Foundation that paid for the Center of Science and Industry to visit Baraboos public elementaries each year. Compton made the Community Foundation the beneficiary of his estate, including an $800,000 trust to be put toward science education. That sum will form an endowment, the annual earnings from which will fund special science programs at local elementaries. Those earnings should total tens of thousands of dollars each year. You can do a lot with that, said Robin Whyte, associate director of the Community Foundation. District Administrator Lori Mueller said the gift is much-needed and greatly appreciated. These funds will ensure that our elementary students have access to sufficient supplies and hands-on experiences to deepen their understanding with science concepts and skills, she said. This marks the last in a string of gifts from Compton to his hometown schools. His fund annually gave $3,000 to $5,000 for science programs at Al Behrman Elementary, among other grants. Compton was motivated to create his charitable fund by other philanthropic residents with affection for local schools. One was Al Behrman, a volunteer at South School it was later renamed in his honor who established a fund for special programming there. Compton joined him in helping pay for such programs. Another inspiration was Targe Mandt and the Baraboo High School class of 1956, which established an Excellence in Education Award that recognizes outstanding teachers and helps them further their own education and training. These philanthropists directed Compton to the Community Foundation, which administers a variety of funds for charitable causes across the county and beyond. We will manage and watch over that gift forever, Whyte said. Compton attended East Elementary when it was still called the Second Ward School. He spent most of his adult life in southern Ohio, retiring from AK Steel as manager of administrative services and founding Facility Management Consulting. Talking with friends spurred him to give something back to the people of Baraboo. In a 2009 interview, he told the News Republic he wanted to sow some seeds of a love of science in young learners, hoping some would choose careers in science and mathematics. We dont have enough of those people in this country, he said. If we can get 10 to swing toward this as they grow through school, it would be a double home run. Compton traveled to Baraboo annually to visit the schools and see the Center of Science and Industry program at work. Monetarily I did well in life and I can afford to do this, he said. This is the most meaningful thing Ive ever done in my life. Mueller said the district already has plans for the annual grants to come from the endowment Compton created. The funds will be used to add equipment and manipulatives to the elementary science curriculum, extend student activities outside of the classroom for science exploration, she said, and support professional development for teachers to deliver inquiry-based instruction. After years of delays, the federal government approved Wisconsins plan to give polluters less-costly options for meeting phosphorus standards aimed at reducing unnatural weed and algae growth that has impaired hundreds of lakes and streams, state lawmakers said Tuesday. The state sought an option for expensive improvements that would remove phosphorous from waste water before it was dumped in lakes or streams. Manufacturers and sewage treatment plants would be exempted from the standards for 10 years if they paid fees that would be spent on cutting phosphorous pollution that rain carries off farm fields. Some conservation groups have opposed the state plan, saying it lacked teeth to ensure that the fees would result in any significant improvement in water quality. But Chicago-based EPA spokeswoman Anne Rowan said that if the variance performs as expected it would result in much greater reductions in phosphorus pollution than would have occurred if each exempted factory and wastewater treatment plant instead installed feasible treatment technology. Rowan said she couldnt provide details on how reductions would be enforced. Some state officials and environmentalists also said it was too early to comment. The state has been pushing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for years to approve the rules, which originated with Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature. The timing of the EPA decision sparked speculation about whether it was related to the new administration of President Donald Trump, who has talked about dismantling the EPA and greatly reducing regulation of businesses. However, two state lawmakers said the EPA decision will result in lower costs for businesses and utilities and stronger protections for water quality. Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, and Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, emailed an announcement to news organizations. This newly approved reform measure will offer a vastly more cost-effective and resource protective means of reducing the phosphorus in our waters while lowering costs to water utility ratepayers and potentially saving thousands of Wisconsin manufacturing and food production jobs, the lawmakers said. Im incredibly pleased that we were able to move this much-needed legislation, Cowles said in a statement. However, I am still disappointed by the amount of time it took the EPA to review and approve our creative approach to reduce phosphorus. Among the first In 2010, the state was among the first in the nation to adopt specific, measurable standards for how much phosphorous could be released into state waters. The rules approved by the state Natural Resources Board were the result of lengthy talks between state regulators, businesses, local governments and environmental advocates, said Bill Davis, who directs the states chapter of the Sierra Club. But after Republican Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2011 along with GOP majorities in the Legislature, changes were sought by business interests. The original rule package recognized that in some cases, businesses and municipalities would face especially high price tags to reduce phosphorous to the levels scientists said were needed. So the rules allowed those polluters an option called adaptive management. Instead of installing new anti-pollution equipment in their plants, they would be able to provide funding for projects that would reduce phosphorous runoff from farms at a lower cost, Davis said. They would be held accountable by provisions written into their pollution permits, which are legally binding documents. If phosphorous runoff from farms wasnt reduced, the permit holders would be penalized. Madison and Green Bay were enthusiastic about the idea, and they worked with the DNR to implement legally binding adaptive management programs, Davis said. But Walker and the Legislature sought to make the adaptive management option much more widely available, and without the binding permit provisions designed to give sewage plants and manufacturers strong incentives to ensure that phosphorous runoff reductions were accomplished, Davis said. But Loudenbeck said polluters wont receive a free pass or a proverbial get-out-of-jail-free card. Cowles said the states plan would keep the numeric standards for phosphorous on the books even if many polluters are exempted from them for 10 years. Its too early to know how widely the option will be made available, but it will create significant revenue for preventing runoff, and the state can review its effectiveness after 10 years, Cowles said. Fees would equal $50 per pound of phosphorous. Jimmy Parra, an attorney for the public interest law firm Midwest Environmental Advocates, said the EPA decision isnt based on the states claims about economic costs, but on an entirely new argument that was never aired at any public hearing that water quality will be improved, Parra said. The public should have had (an) opportunity to weigh in on this new information to ensure that the decision is based on facts and science, not politics, Parra said. State Department of Natural Resources spokesman Jim Dick said the department was reviewing a letter on the topic from the EPA. Revenue for preventing runoff Progressively tighter standards under the federal Clean Water Act have reduced phosphorous pollution from industry and sewage plants. Now the majority of nutrient pollution originates on farms. Runoff is relatively inexpensive to control, but state and federal laws dont set the same clear-cut limits for agriculture as they do for industry. Farmers are offered financial incentives for voluntary efforts such as erosion prevention, which can be accomplished by planting cover crops near stream banks or by rotating crops. Cowles said he doubted the new Trump administration was responsible for the EPA approving the rules, because they have been in the works a long time. But the Sierra Clubs Davis said its possible the timing is the result of career EPA staff members taking a long view, and deciding it was important to preserve the phosphorus standards even if they are circumvented for a number of years. The alternative continuing to negotiate would have run the risk that the state would succeed in getting the standards thrown out completely after more Trump appointees are in place, Davis said. Trumps nominee for EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, is awaiting a confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate. The dorado catfish, a native of the Amazon River, can grow to be up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. But size isn't this river giant's only superlative: New research finds that these goliath catfish migrate farther than any other freshwater fish in the world. The dorado catfish (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) lives its life out across the entire extent of the Amazon River, which stretches across an area as large as the continental United States, researchers reported Feb. 6 in the journal Scientific Reports. The fish spawn 3,595 miles (5,786 kilometers) from the Amazon estuary where they mature. Over their lifetimes, they may travel as far as 7,208 miles (11,600 km). "It's the longest freshwater fish migration that's ever been reported in the world," said Michael Goulding, an aquatic scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society who conducted the study along with lead author Ronaldo Barthem, of Brazil's Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, and other researchers. [Quest for Survival: Photos of Incredible Animal Migrations] It wasn't easy to track the movements of this record-breaking fish. The dorado catfish is one of several giant catfish species that live in the muddy Amazon. Some of these aquatic predators can grow to be as long as 9 feet (2.8 m) from their snout to the fork of their tail. The fish are caught by commercial fishers all along the river, and it was clear that they were traveling large distances, Goulding told Live Science. But no one knew exactly how far, and surveying the enormous river is no easy task. "It's like canoeing, if you could, from New York to San Francisco," Goulding said. And the headwaters in the Andes are turbulent and dangerous for fieldwork, he added. So instead of trying to follow the river's goliath catfish in their migratory cycle, the researchers surveyed the distribution of adults, larvae and juvenile catfish of four species: Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, B. platynemum, B. juruense and B. vaillantii. They gathered year-round data from the river's Madeira basin, an area that drains about 502,000 square miles (1.3 million square km), as well as all the data they could find from multiple years in the entire Amazon basin, an area of about 2.9 million square miles (7.5 million square km). RELATED: Catfish Eating Mice in Aussie River All of the species except B. vaillantii travel to the piedmont area of the Andes to spawn, the researchers found. Even B. vaillantii is an accomplished traveler; though it appears to spawn in the western Amazon rather than in the Andes, it still makes a journey of 1,944 miles (3,129 km) from the Amazon estuary where the river empties into the Atlantic and where young fish mature to adulthood, the researchers found. The real record breaker of the bunch, though, was B. rousseauxii, the dorado catfish. This species spawns in the far western Amazon, near the Andes, Goulding said. The larvae then head downstream, maturing into juvenile fish as they go. It takes them about a month to travel about 3,595 miles (5,786 km) downstream to the estuary, where they spend several years eating and growing. At age 2 or 3, the catfish take off for the return journey, traveling back to the Andes to spawn. Once they do so, they travel downstream to the western Amazon - a journey of about 600 to 1,200 miles (1,000 to 2,000 km). Adults then make the journey from the western Amazon back to the Andes waters each year to spawn again. The migration is similar to the one that salmon undertake, but much longer, Goulding said. (Salmon travel about 3,700 miles, or 6,000 km, in their lifetime - about half of what the dorado catfish manages.) "The amazing thing, looking at it in terms of evolution, is that these fish evolved with the entire system" of the river, Goulding said. The findings have important implications for conservation, because the catfish's broad range means that the entire Amazon system must be protected to ensure that the fisheries in the estuary and along the river's length remain productive, Goulding said. The fish would be particularly threatened by dam building in the Andes, which could block their migration and change the river's ecology. "About 80 percent of the commercial fisheries in the Amazon are based on migratory species," Goulding said. "The only way to manage those fish realistically in an ecological sense is to consider the scale of their life history, and in this case, it's all the way from the Andes to the estuary." More from Live Science: Australian scientists are rallying behind their counterparts in the United States amid fears that President Donald Trump could ram through a damaging anti-science agenda over the next four years. Trump's moves to censor federal government scientific departments and undermine the integrity of climate research have triggered sympathy and anger in Australia, where many scientists believe the country's conservative government has conducted a similar assault on science over the past few years. "My sense is that morale among the science fraternity in the U.S. is extremely low at the moment," said Associate Professor Stuart Khan, a water researcher at the University of New South Wales and one of the organizers of the Australian March for Science. "We want to show that we understand what is going on and we stand in solidarity." The United States is an important research partner for Australia and a bilateral science and technology relationship has existed in some form for 48 years. However, Trump's recent directives, particularly his administration's instructions that any data from the EPA must undergo review by political appointees, have many Australian scientists concerned. "It's reminiscent of the censorship exerted by political officers in the old Soviet Union," Dr. Alan Finkel, the chief science advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, told a roundtable discussion in the capital Canberra on Monday. "Every military commander there had a political officer second-guessing his decisions." Gag orders aren't the only sign of Trump's apparent anti-science stance. His pick to head the EPA, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, has made a career of challenging the agencies environmental regulations. Trump has also reportedly tapped vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr., who has erroneously linked vaccines with autism, to lead a commission into immunization safety. RELATED: Will Trump Go After Vaccine Science? Australian scientists have not faced directives limiting interaction with the media and public like those imposed by Trump, but several said political interference has taken different forms. "It's primarily lack of funding, pulling out government support, and public campaigns that undermine and belittle scientific achievements," Khan said. After taking office in 2013, former prime minister Tony Abbott slashed science funding, abolished climate science programs and chose not to appoint a science minister for the first time since 1931. Funding for Australia's main research grants body, the Australian Research Council, was cut by $74.9 million; the national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, had its funding slashed by $111 million. As a result, severe job losses - including up to 110 roles in the organization's Oceans and Atmosphere division - were announced by CSIRO in February 2016. The decision was reversed and extra resources allocated to climate change research only after a public outcry and widespread international criticism. "It was a brutal act to try and force compliance and control because they didn't regard the organisation to be sufficiently beholden to government directives," Dr. Michael Borgas, a climate scientist and former president of the CSIRO staff association, said. RELATED: Cities Are Tackling Climate Change by Freeing Their Data Abbott, who once declared that climate change was "absolute crap," was ousted by Malcolm Turnbull in a party coup in September 2015, but key science policies have remained intact. In fact, the Turnbull government has proven it's not above scrubbing science from the record. In May 2016, it was revealed the Australian government intervened to have all mentions of the country removed from a UNESCO report on climate change impacts at world heritage areas. One of three Australian case studies, the Great Barrier Reef, experienced its worst coral bleaching ever in 2015-2016, an event scientists said was 175 times more likely because of human-caused climate change. More than 93 percent of the smaller reefs that make up the wider ecosystem were affected by bleaching and preliminary surveys have shown widespread reef mortality. "I was confidentially told by the editor of the report that the Australian government asked that the Great Barrier Reef case study and two others that referred to Australia were taken out of the report," said Professor Will Steffen, a climate science expert at the Australia National University, who reviewed the Great Barrier Reef chapter. The Australian government later admitted the request was made because the reef's inclusion may have impacted tourism. Borgas, who spent 15 years advocating for employees at CSIRO, said there were lessons from the Australian experience that could be useful to scientists in the U.S. Participating in a trade union or scientific society that advocated for the rights of scientists was a good start, he said. But he also urged U.S. scientists to keep speaking out about threats to science integrity. "Scientists sometimes don't like to be politically engaged," said Borgas. "But it's something you have to do. You have to learn to do it." WATCH: The Difference Between Global Warming and Climate Change A brilliant, bright-green meteor blazed through the sky just north of Milwaukee early this morning (Feb. 6), and likely sprinkled space rocks into Lake Michigan. The falling space rock likely burned up in the sky about 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 kilometers) north of Milwaukee, or about 100 miles (160 km) north of Chicago, according to the American Meteorological Society (AMS). More than 220 people have filed reports with the AMS claiming to have seen the fireball at about 1:25 a.m. CST (2:25 a.m. EST/0725 GMT), according to the NASA Meteor Watch Facebook page. Most of the eye-witness reports came from people in and around Chicago and Milwaukee, but reports have also come in from witnesses in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, New York, Kentucky, Minnesota and Ontario, according to the AMS website. At least a dozen videos of the fireball racing through the sky have appeared online or have been sent to the AMS, Mike Hankey, operations manager for AMS, told Space.com. [5 Amazing Fireballs Caught on Video] One video of the fireball was captured by Jim Dexter of the Lisle Police Department in Lisle, Illinois. Dexter saw the bright flash moving through the sky, and quickly turned on the dashboard camera in his car to capture the event. "In this profession, we see so many things that the public doesn't" get to see, Dexter said in a written statement from the Lisle Police Department. "Sometimes that's good sometimes that's bad. I'm just glad that in this instance I was able to capture this for everyone to see." RELATED: Russian Meteor Shock Rippled Around Earth, Twice Another video of the fireball streaking through the sky was captured by a camera on the roof of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences building. The various videos of the event reveal that the meteor was exceptionally bright, which means it qualifies as a "fireball." The splitfin flashlight fish lives up to its name, as researchers have just determined it blinks its eyes to switch a self-generated light on and off. The light controlled by the fish (Anomalops katoptron), is so bright that it can illuminate and stun prey. The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, help explain at least one purpose of the fish's light, which has long puzzled scientists, not to mention scuba divers and snorkelers who have been startled by the sight of the fish in its "on" mode. The light can be viewed from up to 100 feet away. "I have observed Anomalops several times in the field and a thousand times in the lab and the luminescent light is definitely bright and impressive," Jens Hellinger, chair of the Department of Zoology and Neurobiology at Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany, told Seeker. He explained that a large bean-shaped organ under each eye of the fish is filled with bioluminescent bacteria. It is a complete mystery as to how the fish evolved the ability to harbor such useful bacteria. href="http://www.seeker.com/bats-fish-with-their-fingers-glowworms-fish-with-their-urine-2147210680.html">RELATED: Bats Fish With Their Fingers, Glowworms Fish With Their Urine When the fish blink, they "rotate the light organ backwards," Hellinger said, preventing each colony of bacteria from releasing visible light. When the light is on, he explains, "it is projected from the bean-shaped light organs under the eyes and not from the eyes." Fascinated by the ability, Hellinger and his team studied the fish on moonless nights in waters off the Banda Islands of Indonesia. The fish are popular with aquarium enthusiasts, so the researchers also obtained a school of them from a commercial wholesaler and studied the fish back at their lab. They found that during the darkness of night, the flashlight fish blink very frequently, at 90 blinks per minute. This causes their light to go on and off for an equal amount of time. Before it was blocked last week by a federal judge, President Donald Trump's imposition of a travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries directly affected thousands of visa holders and previously approved refugees who were headed to the U.S., leaving them in international limbo. Now secondary effects from the ban are beginning to surface. Research released on Tuesday by Hopper, a mobile app that processes airline price data to analyze and predict airfares, found that flight searches to the U.S. from foreign countries has dropped 17 percent since Trump's inauguration and his speedy implementation of the travel ban, compared to the final days of the Obama administration. This steep downturn is highly unusual. "The executive order had a pretty big negative effect on people searching for flights from outside the U.S. into the U.S.," Patrick Surry, Hopper's chief data scientist, told Seeker. "There's always some normal variation you expect in flight searches each year, but it drifted out of that range just before the ban was announced and then it bottomed out on the Saturday after it was actually implemented." To put the decline into perspective, it's a big jump from the 1.8 percent decrease that occurred last year, indicating that this is not merely a seasonal change. Though Hopper's research showed that flight search has fallen by 33 percent in countries that were affected by the travel ban, these nations are not the only ones having a change of heart about visiting the U.S. "Search decreased a lot as people were told they weren't going to be allowed to travel," Surry said of the seven countries subject to the ban. "But we were also interested to see how it would impact search from many other countries that were not involved in the initial restrictions that were announced." Flight searches to the U.S. are down in 94 of the 122 countries included in the data. These nations include Denmark and New Zealand, where searches have fallen by 31 percent, and Australia, where they have dropped by 25 percent. RELATED: An Uneasy Silicon Valley Denounces Trump Immigration Ban "The secondary effect of these restrictions is that people feel less welcome in the U.S. and are either canceling or changing their U.S. travel plans," Surry explained. "This could have a big impact on the travel and tourism industry in the U.S. It could be that the reverse is also true - that people in the U.S. become less willing to travel internationally." One notable exception to the list of countries that saw a decrease in flight searches to the U.S. is Russia, where searches have increased a whopping 88 percent since Trump's inauguration and subsequent travel ban. During his campaign for office, Trump repeatedly professed his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin and spoke of improving ties between the two countries, whose relations soured after Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. "The broad conclusion that you can draw from the appearance of Russia at the top is the impact on perception of travel into the U.S.," Surry explained. "There's a perception that the U.S. is closing its doors and is unwelcoming to visitors. With Russia in particular, it's anecdotally the other way. The popular perception in Russia is that Trump is going to be much friendlier to them and the relationship between the U.S. and Russia is going to improve. It may be that people [in Russia] who are feeling it's a good time to come and visit are exploring those options." Surry noted that this data is also unique because Hopper has never seen flight searches to the U.S. decrease so dramatically before. "The one striking thing for us is that almost every travel event we've looked at with this kind of analysis, the short-term effect is an increase in search, even if it's a negative event," he said. "People are trying to plan or change or investigate their travel options. This is probably the first time we've seen such a big negative impact." As the saga of Trump's travel ban unfolds, Hopper plans to continue analyzing flight search data to the U.S. from foreign countries and sharing their findings with the public. WATCH: The Dark History of Immigration Bans in The U.S. Despite modern society existing in a full-on digital age, paper production is still going strong. That's a problem if you're concerned about deforestation, pollution and waste. It takes 75,000 trees to print the Sunday edition of the New York Times and although many people recycle, about a quarter of America's landfill waste and a third of its municipal waste consists of paper. Now scientists have figured out a way to make paper that can be printed with ultraviolet light, erased by heating it and then rewritten more than 80 times. "That means you don't have to spend a lot of money on the paper and the inks," Yadong Yin, chemistry professor at the University of California, Riverside, told Seeker. And it saves trees, too. "Before you had to cut 88 trees to make the same amount of paper that now takes one," he said. Yin and other colleagues from Shandong University in China as well as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory think their rewritable paper could be used to make newspapers, notepads and price tags, which can be rewritten when the amount changes. To make the inkless paper, the researchers found a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to coat conventional paper with a thin layer of nanoparticles that respond to light. For this experiment, they used two types of nanoparticles: those made of Prussian blue, a common, nontoxic blue pigment, and titanium dioxide, a nontoxic chemical used to, among other things, print the white M&Ms label on the candies. Yin and his colleagues mixed these two kinds of nanoparticles in a solution and then applied it to a conventional piece of paper. The paper turned a deep blue. It's not just commercial shipping that will be faster in the future. The changing ice conditions will likely lead to shifts in geopolitical military power as well. According to Khon's study, icebreakers will only be needed for 10 percent of Russia's future sea route. "The opening of the northern sea route will significantly reduce expenses for icebreaker escort, shorten shipping time and diminish risks," Vyachislav Khon, a climate scientist at A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Moscow, told Seeker via e-mail. "This will increase reliability and decreased cost of transit traffic through the NSR. To realize a potential benefit, however, it is required modernization of the Arctic transport system, more new ice-reinforced cargo ships and icebreakers." Warmer global temperatures and thawing sea ice are opening a new shipping channel, cutting the distance from northern Europe to northeast Asia and northwest North America by half compared to routes through the Suez or Panama Canals, according to a new study in the journal Environmental Research Letters. At the same time, the region will be ice-free up to six months of the year by the end of this century. Climate scientists now have a better idea of what Russia's northern coastline will look like in the coming decades and it's probably going to be smoother sailing for oil tankers, cruise ships and naval destroyers that patrol these strategic waters. Russia's superhighway to global power may not run through the neighboring Baltic States, Poland or Ukraine, but rather its northern sea route along the Arctic Ocean. Russia is already preparing for the opening of this sea route with a big boost in Arctic military bases, according to Foreign Policy. In recent years, Russia unveiled a new Arctic command, four new Arctic brigade combat teams, 14 new operational airfields, 16 deepwater ports, and 40 icebreakers with an additional 11 in development. In contrast, the United States has one working icebreaker for the Arctic - it's only other one is broken. Khon and his colleagues used global climate models and existing satellite data to make their predictions of conditions along the northern Russian coastline. RELATED: A Texas-Sized Chunk of Ice Is Missing from the Arctic At the same time, as Khon's paper points out, the breakup of sea ice could cause other trouble for ships: stronger winds and bigger waves. "Ice conditions are important," said Marika Holland, a sea ice and climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. "There are other risks, such as wave conditions and how storms might change in a warming arctic. All of things will also affect shipping." Holland said while the general trend is for a more ice-free Arctic zone, there's still uncertainty about which areas will be most affected and the kind of weather conditions mariners should be expected in the future. "One big question is how storminess is going to change in the Arctic," Holland said. "There's a lot of work being done on that and it is an active research topic. We don't completely know. There are these other aspects on how changes in the climate might be risks to shipping, so you have to look at the whole picture." The melting ocean route could destroy coastlines as well, according to Tarmo Soomere, professor of coastal engineering at the Tallinn Institute of Technology in Estonia. "A large part of Russian Arctic coasts are not rocky or sandy, and consist of just frozen mud," Soomere said. "When there is no protecting ice cover, these coastal sections will simply melt. While, Baltic Sea ice cover protects the coasts from the direct impact of waves, in such 'frozen mud' coasts the ice serves as an insulator. As a result, these coasts may easily retreat by some 100 meters in relatively warm summers. There seems to be no way to stop this process." Top photo: The Arktika, shown here during its 2016 launch in St Petersburg, is the first of a new class of ships being built by Russia to forge a path through the Northern Sea Route. Credit: YouTube screen grab. WATCH: Could Alaska Be the New Center for Global Trade? Sen. Gatchalian Commends Duterte's Push for Mandatory ROTC Senator Win Gatchalian on Wednesday commended President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to certify as urgent legislation which would require students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in a mandatory Reserve OfficersTraining Corps (ROTC) program. "Instituting a mandatory ROTC program for senior high schools students is a great way to shore up our military's reserve corps while instilling the fundamental ideals of patriotism and public service in the youth. I am definitely willing to sponsor this bill when it is forwarded to the Senate," said Gatchalian. Gatchalian also urged the President to certify as urgent Senate Bill No. 200, which seeks to revive the mandatory ROTC program in post-secondary educational institutions. Senate Bill No. 200, one of the ten priority bills filed by Gatchalian at the start of the 17th Congress on June 30, 2016, would require students enrolled in colleges, universities, and technical and vocational schools to complete a two-year ROTC program before graduation. "The future of this country will depend on the character and virtue of our future leaders. Mandatory ROTC programs at the secondary and tertiary levels will help ensure that the youth of today will lead the Philippines with honor, selflessness, and love of country in the future," said Gatchalian. Press Release February 8, 2017 Hontiveros to Duterte: Heed Colombia's warning, stop mimicking failed war on drugs Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros, a staunch critic of the government's police-centric war on drugs, called on President Rodrigo Duterte today to listen to a former Colombian president's advise not to mimic his country's failed drug war campaign. In a New York Times article published on Wednesday, Cesar Gaviria, the president of Colombia from 1990 to 1994, wrote that Duterte is repeating his mistakes in confronting the drug problem. Gaviria, who during his term waged a bloody war on drugs that killed notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar and slaugthered thousands of Colombians in the process, said that any anti-drug campaign cannot be won by armed forces and law enforcement agencies alone. He admitted that the drug war his government waged was a failure. "Throwing more soldiers and police at the drug users is not just a waste of money but also can actually make the problem worse. Locking up nonviolent offenders and drug users almost always backfires, instead strengthening organized crime," Gaviria wrote. Hontiveros said that Gaviria's admission is proof that a strictly law enforcement approach to the drug problem is flawed. "Cut and paste approach" "The Duterte government should stop its 'cut and paste' approach to illegal drug trafficking. If Colombia's war on drugs, acknowledged as one of the most relentless and heavy-handed in the world, failed, what makes President Duterte think that his own drug war, smeared with thousands of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations, will succeed? What's so special about the president's war on drugs that it will not end up just like the rest of the failed drug wars implemented by Colombia, the United States and Thailand?" she said. Last year, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronaldo Dela Rosa visited Colombia to learn from its drug war. Dela Rosa expressed his desire to form a Philippine version of Colombia's Search Bloc, a special Colombian police force that targets wanted and dangerous personalities or groups. Hontiveros reiterated her call for a strong public health framework to address the country's drug problem, which was similarly advocated by Gaviria. The former Colombian president said that real reductions in drug supply and demand will come through improving public health and safety, strengthening anticorruption measures and in investing in sustainable development. On Monday, Hontiveros filed Senate Bill No. 1313 otherwise known as "the Barangay Health and Rehabilitation Strategy Act of 2017" to replace the government's "corrupt and abusive anti-drug campaign" with an "alternative health and law enforcement strategy" to address the country's drug problem. Press Release February 8, 2017 Hontiveros hears bill calling for better bed occupancy rates in DOH hospitals Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today chaired the Senate Committee on Heath and Demography that deliberated a bill that seeks to improve the bed capacity of Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, and processes related to bed capacity. Senate Bill Number No. 1143 otherwise known as the DOH Hospital Bed Capacity Rationalization Act, authored by Hontiveros, aims to give the DOH the ability to set and approve the bed occupancy rates of its retained hospitals. Hontiveros said that there is a need to improve bed occupancy in public hospitals. The current bed occupancy standard set by the World Health Organization is at 80-85%. However, the senator said that with the devolution of health services, there are now only 70 DOH-retained public hospitals nationwide, of which 51 are considered general hospitals while 19 are specialty hospitals. The said DOH hospitals complement the devolved district and provincial hospitals, as well as private hospitals, in providing health care services to millions of Filipinos. "Often serving patients beyond their allowed bed capacity, these hospitals are constrained by lack of adequate manpower and resources to fully provide the quality of health care their patients deserve. As a result of the mismatch between their authorized bed capacity and hospital bed occupancy rate, which according to one study averages at 121%, it is not surprising to hear stories of patients spilling over in public hospital hallways or of 2 patients sharing one bed," Hontiveros added. Under current regulations, a DOH hospital can only increase its bed capacity via legislation. Hontiveros said that adjusting the bed capacity of a public hospital to be able to serve patients better has to compete with thousands of proposed bills in Congress and more often than not, these do not get approved or once approved, the need has already changed. Hontiveros' bill gives back the DOH the mandate to address the problem of bed occupancy. "The DOH is the best equipped agency to do this job given that it has both the technical expertise and the internal mechanisms to anticipate the public hospitals' future needs. By allowing the DOH to administratively set and approve the authorized bed capacity of its hospitals, we remove one barrier that impedes the efficient delivery of health service. Bed occupancy refers to the utilization rate of the total number of beds in a hospital over a given period of time. Bed occupancy is critical to hospital resource planning and ensuring optimal care for patients. High bed occupancy rates normally means fewer days for in-patient care for those people who need hospitalization. Press Release February 8, 2017 Keynote Speech of Senator Loren Legarda Media Forum on Water Security and Climate Change 8 February 2017 | Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City Water is a basic need yet it is a resource that we have taken for granted. Perhaps the seeming abundance of it--as the Earth is composed of two-thirds water--creates a sense of complacency without realizing that of all the world's water, only 0.5% is suitable for human consumption. This forum is very timely. Two days ago, I delivered a privilege speech in the Senate about water security and it stimulated a discourse among us senators on the various problems and possible interventions to strengthen water security. We have various statistics on clean water and sanitation but the USAID estimates that more than three million Filipino families still have no access to safe water supply; 337 municipalities in 10 poorest provinces are still waterless. Moreover, water affects our food security as agriculture accounts for 70-85% of our water consumption. But water security is not only about the provision of sufficient water for the needs of our people and our economic activities, it is also about having healthy ecosystems and building resilience to water-related disasters, including storms, floods and droughts. Extreme weather events, such as intense or more frequent rains and increasing number of hot days, along with weak resource management are factors that lead to low water security. A study by the World Resources Institute revealed that the Philippines will likely experience severe water shortage by 2040 due to the combined impact of rapid population growth and climate change. Furthermore, the Philippines ranks 57 out of 167 countries that are highly vulnerable to severe water shortage. The continued overlapping and fragmented regulation of water supply services in the country by several government entities is one factor that hinders the enactment of a doable and long-term solution to prevent water shortage. Last January 20, an interagency meeting for the National Water Summit and Roadmap was convened in Malacanang. Together with Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, Dr. Ernesto Ordonez, Convenor of Agri-Fisheries Alliance, and representatives from various water agencies, we dissected issues on water security. Using the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) key dimensions as guide, we identified seven sectors to focus on--household, urban, agriculture, economic, environmental, resilience, and governance. For each sector, the group identified issues and initial recommendations. In the household sector, there is the problem of sewerage, high incidence of water-borne diseases, infrastructural deficiencies, lack of rainwater harvesters, management of water supply, flooding and contamination of waterlines. Suggested interventions included providing water treatment for household wastes, enhancing watery quality monitoring programs, regular drainage maintenance, and strict implementation of solid waste management plans. In the agriculture sector, irrigation inefficiency and water pollution, such as pesticide leaching, must be addressed. We need to develop water efficient technologies such as selecting crop varieties requiring less water, to operationalize river basin management, increase irrigation water productivity and improve irrigation governance. For urban water security, water supply and allocation, flooding, and mixing of sewage water with domestic water are the main challenges. Initial recommendations include the review of current city plans, providing incentives for investors in urban water collection, construction of water impoundments and rainwater harvesters, and enhancement of water treatment facilities for industries. For the economic sector, issues on ecotourism, industrial waste and water as an energy source were raised. It is important that we maintain the integrity of our ecotourism spots, implement payments for environmental services in all major watersheds, and strictly implement the Water Code. We can also utilize water as an energy source by promoting small water turbines along river systems. Issues raised in environmental water security include the deterioration of rivers and lakes, solid waste management, mine tailings, sedimentation and erosion, as well as lack of early warning systems. Last week, Secretary Lopez announced the results of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR's) mining audit. It is appalling to see degraded forests and polluted watersheds. For many years, these mining firms operated in the country and while they may have given employment to some, the cost on our environment is already irreparable. Many of those recommended for closure or suspension have caused the destruction of functional watersheds. We can further address challenges in environmental water security by enhancing river health through clean-up activities, enforcing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, implementing sediment removal in water impoundments and reservoirs, and enhancing forecasting systems. Meanwhile, to strengthen resilience to water-related disasters, the country needs to evaluate existing programs to combat desertification and prevent flooding, and improve its evacuation strategies, early warning systems and disaster risk reduction and management plans. Capacity building activities for indigenous peoples must be undertaken so they can adapt to water extremes. The issue of having over 30 water agencies has been a challenge because of overlapping mandates and conflicting programs. We need to have a national center for water to coordinate everyone's efforts. But for the meantime, a steering committee for planning collaborative workshops towards a comprehensive roadmap for water security needs to be established. All these issues and recommendations will be discussed in a National Water Summit that will happen this year. The main goal is to create an Integrated Water Resource Management Framework as well as short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies and programs for the National Masterplan for Water. In the context of climate change, water management is very crucial. We have witnessed several times how extreme weather events such as stronger rains and storms have caused massive inundation, claiming lives and destroying livelihoods. In 2016, farmers in Kidapawan City staged a protest as the climate-related drought affected the lives and livelihood of their farming communities. The bloody dispersal that ensued claimed the lives of at least three farmers and wounded several others. Water stress, amplified by climate change, will create a growing security challenge. Dr. Ordonez succinctly describes the water situation in one of his commentary pieces. He said: "Water significantly affects our lives. When it is everywhere and when it is nowhere, we have serious problems. That is why we need a water master plan so we can control water, instead of water controlling us."[1] It is on this note that I laud the USAID for giving due importance to this issue and for crafting a handbook that will guide journalists in effectively reporting about water security. The media has a crucial role to play. Understanding the issues and how they affect people's lives, our communities, our economy, and our sustainability would help in effectively promoting awareness and communicating the necessary actions that we must all take. Each of us has opportunities to make a difference for our future, whether that difference would be beneficial or detrimental depends on the action we take now. Let us not wait for the well to be dry before we act because by then, it would have already been too late. Again, congratulations to USAID for organizing this event and I hope for a more engaged media as our partner in addressing water security and climate change. Thank you.*** ________________________________________ [1] "Water everywhere and nowhere", Ernesto M. Ordonez, Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 20, 2016 Press Release February 8, 2017 Koko wants compensation for Martial Law victims hurried Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Wednesday once again appealed to the members of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) to speed up the processing of compensation for human rights victims under the Martial Law regime. Pimentel, the son of Martial Law victim and former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., expressed concerns that the HRVCB might not be able to finish the processing of compensations before the end of the Board's mandate on May 12, 2018. "It took 27 years after the fall of the Marcos regime before a law was passed to create the HRVCB. The victims have waited too long already", Pimentel said. Republic Act No. 10368, which created the HRVCB, was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III during the commemoration of the 1986 People Power Revolution in 2013. The law created the HRVCB to recognize and provide reparations for victims of human rights abuses during martial law. The Board is an independent and quasi-judicial body that has the sole and original jurisdiction to determine the eligibility of claims, extent of human rights violations and award of reparations. RA 10368 gave the Board two years, from the effectivity of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (May 12, 2014), to accomplish its mandate. Pimentel, in 2016, sponsored Senate Bill No. 3153 which sought to extend the deadline for the Board, in view of the 75,730 applications they received for the reparation and/or recognition of human rights victims, which was far in excess of the original estimate of 20,000. RA 10766 amended the law and gave the HRVCB two more years to accomplish its mandate. However, Pimentel expressed reservations on the HRVCB's pace of work. After almost three years, the Board has only adjudicated a total of 30,027, or 40% of the total number of claims, with 45,703 more remaining. Pimentel, in an earlier interview, called the HRVCB to task, saying that Congress already did its job by extending their deadline, and that the Board should in turn do its job. The Board already decided to release initial payments to 4,000 claimants by the second quarter of 2017 after a meeting between members of the HVRVB, members of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), and President Rodrigo Duterte on January 19 this year. Pimentel said, "They were able to speed up the process because President Duterte wanted it to happen. I hope they can do the same for all the other claimants still waiting for their compensation." Press Release February 8, 2017 POE: ENVIRONMENT MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED IN E-POWERS Environmental protection must remain a top priority in the implementation of projects in the traffic-related emergency powers, Sen. Grace Poe has assured. During the opening of the plenary debates on Senate Bill No. 1284 or the Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act, Poe said that while the process for securing permits is streamlined and certain licenses are being waived including the grant of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), she suggested that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) be part of an advisory council that will make recommendations to the Traffic Crisis Manager. "We will definitely not sacrifice the environment and natural resources for this because if we do so, then we are just creating one problem after attempting to solve one," said Poe, the measure's sponsor, in reply to queries from Sen. Risa Hontiveros. "What's sad even in the right-of-way issues that we have or even in utilizing a particular land or a particular building, we will notice that it is one government agency against another government agency, when in fact the reason why we are doing this is we are all in this together in a crisis. So I think that the least of our worries should be our own agencies throwing hurdles in front of us, rendering this Emergency Crisis Act inutile. We will streamline this and if they need to have a representative in the board or in the advisory council then maybe that's one area that we need to put as safeguard," Poe added. Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, however, hopes that while environmental protection is very critical, it should not hold hostage the key projects to be implemented under the emergency powers since the duration of the special powers to be granted to the Executive will be less than three years. According to Poe, "experience tells us" that the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate usually takes six to seven months, "so we really need to expedite the process." Under Section 16 of the emergency powers bill, provisions of the Local Government Code on the issuance of building permits and requiring prior consultation, the National Building Code requiring building permits before any work is started, Presidential Decree No. 1586 and its implementing rules and regulations, and the Labor Code requiring clearances for foreign employment are temporarily suspended to expedite the process and effectively roll out transportation projects. The grant of an ECC-a document issued by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) indicating that the proposed project will not cause significant negative environmental impact-is mandated under PD 1586 issued in 1978 but which the emergency act could suspend for a short duration, while the traffic crisis is being addressed. Currently, contractors are required to secure five permits from different government agencies before it can proceed with the construction of an infrastructure project. The required licenses are local government permit from the local government unit concerned; approved traffic rerouting scheme from the Metro Manila Development Authority; ECC from the DENR; excavation permit from the DPWH; and tree-cutting permit from the DENR. The measure authorizes President Rodrigo Duterte, through his appointed Traffic Crisis Manager, to use alternative methods of procurement under existing laws to speed up the implementation of key transportation projects. Press Release February 8, 2017 Sponsorship Speech Ease of Doing Business Act Senate Minority Leader Ralph G. Recto 08 February 2017 Mr. President, my dear colleagues, magandang hapon po. The bill is pretty straightforward, so instead of reiterating its provisions, may I just describe the social context, the government culture, and the business atmosphere which makes its passage urgent. Red tape is an overdiagnosed but undertreated disease. Instead of being mitigated, it has metastasized all over the bureaucracy. And that is what we get for trying to cure it with rhetoric, instead of reforms. And judging by how the world sees us, our vitals have gone from bad to worse. In the 2016-2017 Edition of the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, we rank 137th out of 138 economies in the number of procedures to start a business. And 115th as to the length of time to start one. In the World Bank's "Ease of Doing Business", we have gone down four rungs, from number 95 in 2015, to 99 in 2017, out of 190 economies. It is, however, the subsets of these report cards which tell us of our biggest problems. In the 2015 report of the World Bank, we are 161st in starting a business, 127th in ease in paying taxes, 115th in the paper work to employ workers. In the 2017 ranking by World Bank, we are 171st in starting a business, 85th in dealing with construction permits, 112th in registering a property. In many of these metrics, failed states, like Afghanistan, are ranked higher than us. The seven countries covered by Trump's immigration ban even fare better. As we are still nursing a Miss Universe hangover, let me give you another vital statistics which depict not the beauty of our system but its defects: 34-35-36. 34 days to start a business, 35 days to register a property, 36 days spent in a year to pay taxes. To those who would dismiss these numbers as alternative facts, then perhaps the kilometric queues in getting government licenses and documents would convince you. Incensed at the daily sight of promdis lining up overnight to apply for a passport in a mall in his native city, even President Digong had railed against red tape. But this should anger us more: red tape costs small businesses P140 billion in lost economic opportunities yearly. Digong must be reminded that red tape is a bigger problem than the Reds. So what's the culprit of all of these? The byzantine maze of regulations in a balkanized bureaucracy. If you're a freelance writer, you get a business permit, but to get one, you need a fire clearance, when you're still freeloading at your parents' home and you do your work in that corporate headquarters of the Facebook generation called Starbucks. Pag na-approve ang business permit, magbabayad ka ng plaka, na may Photoshopped picture ni Mayor, habang ang plaka ng Vios mo taon nang wala. Kung nagkataong pasok ka sa VAT bracket, you have to make 36 annual pilgrimages to the BIR. Walk-in ka sa casa, with only your handsome face as collateral, in 72 hours, your P1 million loan application will be approved. Go to PAGIBIG with a land title worth P2 million as collateral for a loan half that amount and it will take you weeks and tons of paperwork to get an approval. Ang kotse pwede mo itakbo, ang lupa hindi. Many small transactions require physical appearance. If you have a postage stamp-sized lot in the province, you cannot wire RPT payments, nor can you make advance payments for the subsequent years. Here, the size of business permit plates is as small as a chocolate bar. There, it is as big as a cartolina. And I am glad that this is answered by a provision in this bill which requires unified and standardized forms in all government offices, especially local governments. If one senile coconut tree is in danger of collapsing into your roof, you cannot cut until you have a permit , and even if you have it, you can only do so with a registered chain saw. Mr. President: In getting government documents, we have to shorten the process, shrink the number of requirements and signatories, speed up the delivery, and price them in a way mandated by law: to recover the cost in making them, but not to make a profit. If we demand premiums for prompt service, we must likewise give discounts for delays and slap those responsible with demerits, which this bill mandates. It says here that if an application does not get approved within a prescribed time, it gets automatically approved. Tama nga naman. Kung ang pizza hindi dumating in 30 minutes, libre na, bakit ang reimbursement ng bayad sa phantom plates wala pa? We have to lengthen the validity of licenses, permits, passports, NSO clearances, and make them transactable online. If documents are not perishable items, why must they have short expiry dates? This brings me to another rule which must be applicable nationwide: The multipurpose use of clearances. For indeed, why must one be required to submit an original clearance to this office, to that office, and to the next, when it ought to be one-size-fits-all? And I am happy to note, again, Mr. President, that this bill, insofar as local permits are concerned, prohibits the duplication of required documents. Red tape is an equal opportunity oppressor, hitting businesses of all sizes. Big-ticket items like PPPs are not immune, kaya para sa kanila more one-stop shops and clear and unchanging rules ang kailangan. Minsan kasi ang transparency cost mas malaki pa sa moral hazards na iniiwasan. Exhibit A: MRT. When anticorruption measures wind up more expensive than the corruption sought to be avoided, then where is the advantage and the benefit in imposing them? Let me make a quick detour here. The 196-kilometer Manila-Dagupan line was completed in five years in 1891. One section, the 76-kilometer Tarlac to Dagupan, was completed in six months, in the midst of the typhoon season, and when workers were using carabaos instead of Caterpillars. It took three days to lay a kilometer of track 122 years ago. Today, it takes months for one rail-related document to move from one table to another. Kaya nga ba natagalan magawa ang Common Sense Station, di ba? Speaking of common sense, it does not actually require laws to ease doing business or cut red tape. More relief can be given by simple acts than by Republic Acts. In airports for example, why would travelers queue to pay travel tax when this can be embedded in the cost of the tickets, and if airlines are deputized as collection agents, then compensate them, and I am sure that the cost would be lower than what we pay TIEZA employees to manually issue the receipt and manually count the money. Adding more frontline personnel does not require legislation. Putting up portals does not require a congressional franchise. Mr. President, my dear colleagues: This bill does not only promote ease in doing business, but more importantly, it will make it easy for the government to reach its targets. By target, I do not refer to the people who are in the cross-sights of the gun. You know at present, the only tally we're making concerns body bags. While there are far more important numbers to track, the national scoreboard shows only deaths. What are the numbers that truly matter, against which government's performance must be measured? These are poverty and employment. Between 2016 and 2022, the government said it will create 12 million jobs, or 2 million a year, quality jobs--hindi yung nagpastol ka lang ng isang kambing, counted ka na as gainfully employed. Between 2016 and 2022, the government has also promised that it will "graduate" 7 million poor, or more than a million a year, out of poverty. Two million jobs a year plus one million liberated from poverty. So you ask me, what is the role of this bill in achieving those targets? Simple. Jobs can only be generated by businesses which can only flourish if not choked by regulations. Why? Because nothing strangles Filipino exceptionalism and creativity more than countless and useless rules. The red tape yoke must be lifted for government to meet its other targets as well. It cannot be for local permits alone. We can exist with a bicameral legislature, but not with a bifurcated government, where documents are processed fast in LGUs, but move in slow motion in the national government. Magbibigay ako ng dalawang halimbawa. We are about to enter a very taxing season. But to encourage tax obedience, we must simplify, shorten and streamline tax payments. What I am saying is that the tax program must be predicated in eliminating red tape first. The truth is, taxpayers are willing to pay their dues if only it isn't cumbersome and complicated. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Income Tax Return which is 11 pages long that one wonders if it is designed to extract financial data or your autobiography. Speaking of taxes, government must also increase the share of LGUs from internal revenue collection, from 40 percent to 50 percent, or 50-50, hating kapatid, because, believe it or not, the pressure from a series of national government-mandated salary increase is what is driving up local permit cost. Isang solusyon sa red tape ay ang pagdadagdag ng mga kawani. Pero maraming lokal na pamahalaan ang nagpatupad ng hiring moratorium dahil nga sa lumolobong Personal Services expenses. Hindi nakapagtataka kasi payroll cost of LGUs rose by 50 percent from 2010 to 2015, and their General Services expenses rose five-fold during the same period. Kaya nga ang pangamba ng iba: aanhin mo ang konting rekisitos, kung kakaunti naman ang bilang ng mga kawani na magproproseso nito? Let us remember that while this bill mandates expeditious processing of permits, it does not rule on the pricing. At totoo po naman talaga na opening up of more offices and additional frontline services is an antidote to red tape as well. Isa pa pong halimbawa, lahat ng kotseng nabenta sa Metro Manila sa loob lamang ng apat na buwan, kayang punuin ang buong kahabaan ng EDSA pag pinarada mo doon ng bumper-to-bumper pero ang bilang ng LTO offices ganoon pa rin. One more bad thing about red tape is that it deflates government spending. Scratch the surface of an unobligated appropriation and you will find complex rules lurking below. Thus, if we want to turbocharge the release of money, in a manner which will shortcut the process but will not leave the government shortchanged, then let us slash the thicket of rules governing the use of funds. This is important because government spending impacts on the business environment. Public spending, if not a growth-driver, is at least a growth-influencer. When a road to a port used by exporters does not get built because funds have been embargoed is but one of many examples of how underspending dampens growth and reduces the velocity of government money. Again, let me cite one example: the use of calamity funds. The government of a town flattened by a typhoon will have to submit documentary requirements through a gauntlet of agencies. Eh kung naanod na nga ang computer, tinuklap pa ang bubong ng munisipyo, sugatan ang empleyado at walang kuryente, paano ka magco-comply sa dalawang dosenang checklist? Ang problema po kasi, government operates under a mentality that it has to post bid notices for a water hose while its neighbor's house is already on fire. Mr. President, my dear colleagues: I am glad that this consolidated bill calls for the optimization of ICT in reducing red tape, and promoting ease in doing business. There is no doubt that we must harness technology. In this selfie, Facebook, and some say fake news capital of the world, permits, licenses, land titles should now be electronically applied-for, processed and issued. As I have often said, let us leave to the MRT the exclusive franchise of organizing long lines. But this would require reforms in the telecoms sector, because what use is online application forms when it downloads pixel by pixel in Tetris speed? Mr. President: Let me beg your indulgence if I have expanded the subject of my speech beyond the metes and bounds of the bill before us. My point is that there should be a comprehensive solution to red tape. For a problem so prevalent, there can never be a piecemeal approach, nor a fragmentized cure. The ease of doing business should be enjoyed not just by businesses, but even by government offices. Intra-agency transactions, especially in public bidding, the release and utilization of funds, should be seamless as well. So I hope that this bill is just our maiden salvo against red tape, and that more of its kind are forthcoming. Before I close, let me make this observation : As a proponent of small but smart government, I have my reservations as well to the idea of creating another layer of bureaucracy for the purported reason of making that bureaucracy more efficient. It seems that whenever we are confronted by a problem, we seem so unable to resist the temptation of solving it by creating a commission to handle the job that it has become an automatic reflex. Sa halip na isang bagong Commission, hindi ba pwede na isang inter-agency committee na lang, na kinabibilangan ng mga Kalihim na may direktang kaugnayan sa pagtanggal ng red tape? This is akin to passing a law reducing the number of rules only to implement it through an IRR longer and more voluminous than the rules to be abolished. Anyway, Mr. President, I know that the proponent, a good friend of mine, can convincingly explain to us the rhyme and the reason why amidst the galaxy of offices, we need to create another one. Nonetheless, I support this measure, proud to author it, and I call for its immediate approval. Before the sun rises, students in uniform walk the Tenderloins dark streets on their way to school. Theyre headed to De Marillac Academy, a free private school for children of low-income families in the Tenderloin and SoMa, that has worked out an agreement with the neighborhoods drug dealers. They take a break during the childrens morning walk and when school is dismissed. But the ill-lit city blocks remain a safety concern for students and residents. To help with that, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission plans to start installing 100 streetlights in the neighborhoods darkest corridors this year. An unsatisfactory bid for the $4.2 million project has pushed back the projects timeline, but officials say the new lights will be up by spring 2018. Neighbors and those who plan to work at the new California Pacific Medical Center on Van Ness Avenue are pleased with the project, but wish it had been done years ago. It will prevent community violence, because dark corners, blocks and streets have a tendency to be places of crime, said De Marillac Academy Vice President Michael Anderer. Its critical to be able to do this in a neighborhood like the Tenderloin. I only wish it was able to happen sooner and quicker than what it has. The $4.2 million project will replace traditional cobra head streetlights, commonly seen in residential areas, with decorative twin teardrop poles like the ones illuminating the streets near City Hall. The 22-foot-high poles will be installed on the north and south sides of Jones, Leavenworth, Hyde and Larkin streets between McAllister and OFarrell streets, and also on Eddy Street between Larkin and Mason streets. This is a complete teardown and rebuild, said Barbara Hale, assistant general manager for power for the PUC. We havent done much of it historically because we havent had the dedicated funding. This opportunity wont just improve lights. Its going to give a different look and feel to the streets. The Tenderloin is going to get a spiffing up. The project was funded by the PUC and a community benefit grant given to the city by the new medical center that seeks to beautify and improve safety in the Tenderloin. The lights outfitted with LED bulbs will emit less stray light and consume less energy. The new lights will be brighter than the current sodium bulbs. A similar project was completed in 2015 on 10 blocks of Guerrero Street from Market Street to San Jose Avenue in the Mission. The new lights will cover nearly 25 blocks in a high-crime area of San Francisco. Studies have been unable to confirm a link between streetlights and crime rates. A 2011 study of London that followed street illumination and crime over a 14-year period showed no correlation between increased lighting and decreased crime. But city officials say it will make the area feel safer for pedestrians. I am so excited that a project which neighborhood residents have worked on for years is finally happening and we can light up the heart of the city, said Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district includes the Tenderloin. Most streetlights here are designed for cars, not pedestrians, so these new lights will mean that residents and workers who walk through the Tenderloin will literally have safer streets. The PUC plans to approve a new bid for the project as soon as this month. The powder-blue painted poles could be in place as soon as May 2018, said streetlights project manager Mary Tienken. As opposed to utilitarian poles, they will be more decorated and bring color and light to the streetscape, Tienken said. Theres a concerted effort to make the Tenderloin a destination. Its one of San Franciscos most diverse and unique neighborhoods. This is important for the patients, workers, employees, students and neighbors who walk on the neighborhoods sidewalks every day. De Marillacs Anderer said its part of a push within the neighborhood to implement community safety by environmental design everything from installing more windows on the first floor of buildings to having more streetlights. It will make students feel safer, he said. Safety has as much to do with perception of safety as much as the reality of whether that neighborhood is safe, he said. The lights will help change peoples perceptions. You are less likely to stand in the light and sell drugs right there because someone can see you. We have been really looking forward to the new lighting coming in. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn Organizers of the anti-Milo Yiannopoulos demonstration last week at UC Berkeley that ended in $100,000 worth of window-breaking chaos declared it a stunningly successful protest one theyll happily repeat if the right-wing provocateur tries to return to campus. We are happy with the results, said UC Berkeley Law School alumnus Ronald Cruz of the group By Any Means Necessary, or BAMN. We were able to meet Mr. Yiannopoulos fascist message with massive resistance. An estimated 150 black bloc anarchists attacked police with rocks and fireworks and used barricades to smash windows at the student union Feb. 1, forcing the cancellation of Yiannopoulos appearance. We are not affiliated with them, but were united in shutting down the Milo event, Cruz said. Everyone played a part, he said. Some engaged in breaking windows others held signs and made sure that the fascists and the police did not attack anyone. This was self-defense, Cruz said. Windows can be replaced. People cant be. Protesters may have a chance to do it again. The Berkeley College Republicans, who were sponsoring Yiannopoulos appearance, tell us they have met with university officials about the Breitbart News editor returning to the campus. He has said that he wants to, and we are looking into it, said Pieter Sittler, a spokesman for the group. Nothing official yet, but the club would like to have him back. Cruzs take on that: I would be surprised if he tries to after his humiliating defeat. But if he wants to be defeated again, he will be if he tries. San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matierandross The transfer of some parcels at San Francisco Shipyard to the city for development will be delayed by at least a year after employees of a contractor cleaning up the property admitted faking soil tests, a Navy spokesman confirms. Derek Robinson, the environmental coordinator for the U.S. Navys Base Realignment and Closure program at Hunters Point, said a group of six consultants is reviewing all the soil testing on the the former naval shipyard, which closed in 1994. It is being developed by FivePoint Communities into a sprawling mixed-use neighborhood with more than 12,000 housing units, hundreds of acres of parkland and millions of square feet of office space. We want to resolve these issues as soon as possible and transfer the property to the city as soon as possible, said Robinson, who is an employee of the Navy. Concern over the accuracy of the soil tests first emerged in October 2012, when the Navy discovered that some results were inconsistent with results from previous samples collected in the same areas. While the dirt in question was identified as having been collected from beneath a former lab used to conduct radiation tests on animals, an internal investigation by the contractor doing the cleanup, Tetra Tech, found that in at least 386 cases it had been pulled from areas already given a clean bill for radiological contamination. That prompted Tetra Tech to retest 12 additional areas of the 420-acre property, and more contaminated soil was discovered. The contractor has since cleaned up those areas. While Navy and Environmental Protection Agency officials thought the problems had been taken care of, they cropped up again last year when Anthony Smith, a former Tetra Tech employee, revealed in an interview with television station KNTV that the soil misrepresentations were more widespread than previously thought. We had done a completed review of the data in question, but Mr. Smith brought up specific areas that allowed us to look at it a little differently, Robinson said. About 50 acres have been transferred to the city so far, including Parcel A, where 150 housing units have been completed, sold and occupied, and another 180 are either under construction or will be in the next year. Robinson emphasized that the area where the condos are was never used for industrial purposes by the Navy. We want to make sure people understand that if they are living in Hunters Point, it is 100 percent safe, Robinson said. Nobody who works there or lives there has anything to fear from anything that was left behind by the Navy. The next three parcels to be transferred B, G, and D1 are expected to be handed to the city next year. The Navy is now doing additional analysis on those parcels. Officials for Tetra Tech, which over the last 20 years has been awarded more than $300 million in contracts to clean up the former naval shipyard, did not return a call seeking comment. While the Navy is the lead agency responsible for the investigation and cleanup, the EPA and its state regulatory agency oversee and enforce compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly called the Superfund law. The EPA is taking the allegations regarding Tetra Tech EC very seriously, EPA spokeswoman Michele Huitric said. The Navy will host a public meeting Wednesday to explain the soil-sampling misrepresentations and its plan to resolve the questionable data. The 420-acre shipyard was one of the nations most notorious Superfund sites, home to a federal nuclear program begun in 1946 that included a secret laboratory where tests were conducted to determine the effects of radiation on living organisms. Military equipment and ships contaminated by atomic bomb explosions were kept at Hunters Point, and the grounds were polluted with petroleum fuels, pesticides, heavy metals, PCBs, organic compounds and asbestos. FivePoint Communities Regional President Kofi Bonner said that the soil testing problem is an issue between the Navy and the regulators, for the most part. They are working through ensuring for themselves that Tetra Tech has not created issues in the cleanup, said Bonner. Obviously, we applaud that. From our point of view it is absolutely imperative that the Navy clean the property up to the level that was promised to the community. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Bonner said that the delayed land transfer to the city would not change the development schedule. FivePoint first needs to build replacement spaces for artists studios before starting on the next phase of construction, which will be more housing. Residents are anxious for information, said longtime resident Yolanda Jones. As a resident of Bayview-Hunters Point, there is still a lot more to be told about what is actually out here in the ground and in the environment, Jones said. The redevelopment has been positive its brought in development and the hiring of local people. Its given the community new meaning. But am I convinced the shipyard is free of toxins? Not quite. The jury is still out. In recent months, Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the neighborhood, and Mayor Ed Lee have pushed the Navy and the EPA to make sure all the Tetra Tech soil data has been reviewed as soon as possible. This is a big deal for the entire city, whether people are paying attention to it or not, Cohen said. We are not going to accept the transfer of any land until the federal and state regulators can assure us that the land is clean and safe. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SFJKDineen Public meeting The owner of a San Rafael home demolished by a massive mudslide Tuesday morning compared witnessing his house get leveled to watching a weird movie. John Futschers family home, built by his father in 1959, had withstood numerous storms for more than half a century before the hill behind it collapsed around 8 a.m. Futscher, 51, the father of two, said he heard the mud start creeping down the hillside early in the morning, but didnt think it was that big of a deal. The house in the 200 block of Mountain View Avenue in San Rafael was later destroyed, and two homes on either side were evacuated and red-tagged as the mud crept toward them. The family cat was rescued by firefighters. Futscher evacuated the house not long before the mudslide rushed in and trees toppled onto its roof. Standing across the street, he watched in astonishment as a major part of his family history was destroyed. For a long time, I was just watching it move, Futscher said. It was pretty quiet. You would hear a little bit. Some 3 inches of rain pounded San Rafael Tuesday, with the bulk of that falling after midnight, according to the National Weather Service. Staring into space at the mud-slicked wreckage his home sheared nearly in half with a tree resting on the broken roof, bits of brick and splintered wood piled up in between Futscher said he had dropped his daughter off at school, as he usually does, earlier that morning. When he returned, public works employees suggested they get out of the house, as a tree behind it looked precariously close to falling, Futscher said. He then watched the mud, in multiple slides, take the house apart. The windows were shaking, and they popped out, Futscher said. Then, there was finally another big slide where it just came down and pushed the house forward and sheared the house. Nick Curcio, a painter, said he was working on a nearby home before the mudslide happened. He said all he could do is watch helplessly as Futschers home was destroyed. The whole hillside was just coming down into this guys house, Curcio said. And it kept going and going. Though neighbor Steve Gershik said the hill behind his own house looked stable for the most part, he added that the tremendous amount of rain throughout San Rafael had him and other residents concerned. As neighbors milled in the street around him, quieted by the damage but wanting to support Futscher and his family, offering up food and places to stay, the devastated homeowner kept looking at where he had lived for so long. I don't know that its really hitting yet, Futscher said. Sarah Ravani and Michael Bodley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com and mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @SarRavani and @michael_bodley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed criticized for the Fire Departments failure to inspect the Ghost Ship and thousands of other commercial buildings before the deadly blaze at the converted artists warehouse has gone on leave. We havent seen her in over three weeks, and dont know where she is or whats going on, said Zac Unger, vice president of the Oakland firefighters union, which has made no secret of its desire to see Deloach Reed replaced. On Tuesday, a staffer answering the phone in the chiefs office told us she was on leave and referred us to her acting replacement, Deputy Chief Darin White. He did not return our call. In the meantime, City Administrator Sabrina Landreth has been spotted running daily meetings at the Fire Department. Landreth already has plenty on her plate, having been in charge of the Police Department since that agency underwent a management upheaval in June. New Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick is expected to be on the job by the end of the month. City Council President Larry Reid told us Tuesday that he had no idea where Deloach Reed was. I plan to ask the city administrator about that myself, he said. I guess she needed a break. She deserves a vacation like anyone. Mayor Libby Schaafs spokeswoman, Erica Terry Derryck, gave us the same answer we got from the city administrators office when we called about the fire chief: The city does not comment on the leave status of employees. Reed, a former top deputy at the San Jose Fire Department, faced some tough sledding over her management after taking over the Oakland department in 2012. Many more questions were raised after the Ghost Ship fire Dec. 2 killed 36 people. The one-time warehouse had been operating as a live-work space for artists and others for several years, without city permits, officials said. People who had been inside described it as a cluttered maze with jury-rigged electrical wiring. Several days after the fire, Deloach Reed said the Fire Department had been unaware of what was going on at the Ghost Ship, which was two blocks from a fire station. Firefighters told us the departments inspection bureau was chronically understaffed, and an Alameda County civil grand jury took the department to task in 2014, saying it wasnt checking thousands of commercial buildings for fire safety violations. After the fire, Schaaf called for a review of the citys guidelines for inspecting warehouses and other properties like the Ghost Ship where people may be living illegally or holding events without permits, such as the music show that was under way when the fire broke out. City and federal investigators have not determined what caused the blaze. Tensions between the chief and the community boiled over last month when Deloach Reed met with an Oakland hills citizens advisory group, where one member pressed her about a lack of inspections designed to prevent wildfires. The East Bay Times reported that the chief went on a 10-minute diatribe in which she said the group was making her a scapegoat for its own problems and threatened to sue one homeowner who read a lengthy critique of her. That... is full of a bunch of lies, Deloach Reed was quoted as saying. Im going to be talking to my attorney about this. San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross A vehicle stopped for speeding near Lodi early Sunday morning led to the arrest of a man for allegedly growing and selling marijuana. Terrence Opalewski, 44, of Lodi, was tentatively charged with manufacturing and possession of marijuana and for maintaining a drug house, Lodi police said. The investigation was instigated by a traffic stop in the town of Lodi, on a vehicle that had reached speeds of 100 mph before being stopped by a State Patrol trooper. "It was learned (during the traffic stop) there was a domestic incident that occurred back in the city of Lodi," said Police Chief Scott Klicko. The investigation led to a residence at 210 Hill Street in Lodi. A Lodi officer and a Columbia County deputy approached the residence and noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence, and the odor continued as they talked with Opalewski. "They asked him about the whereabouts of the male involved in the possible domestic disturbance, and he denied he was in the residence, but the officers saw him as he tried to duck out of sight," Klicko said. Both were ordered out of the house, while the officer and deputy noticed drug paraphernalia and marijuana plants in the house. A search warrant turned up about 135 grams of high-grade marijuana, marijuana plants, grow lamps and other equipment. Another man at the residence, Tanner Roth, 23, of Lodi, was arrested on a probation violation, but the man who was the suspect in the domestic disturbance was released. Long before an inferno consumed the labyrinth of dangers inside the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, city police officers were told it was illegally occupied, and rolled to the place because of complaints about unpermitted raves. There were fights, fires and reports of guns. Building inspectors showed up, too. None of that was enough to save the 36 people who perished in December amid the warehouses makeshift warren of wires, ramshackle stairs and sleeping cubbies. According to hundreds of city documents released Wednesday, police were repeatedly called to the live-work warehouse in the two years leading up to the blaze for reports of thefts, fights, stabbings and guns, as well as two rave parties one of which ended with a frightened person saying people were barricaded inside in the middle of the night. Though they had to break up that party, officers didnt make any arrests or issue any citations, despite the warehouse not being licensed as a nightclub. And theres no evidence of any follow-up by the city, such as an inspection that might have targeted the perilous conditions inside the artists collective, according to the new cache of documents , which was released in response to media requests. The documents bolster criticism that has mounted about why the city did not step in before the Dec. 2 fire in the Fruitvale neighborhood, which trapped guests at an electronic music event that had been advertised on Facebook and has spurred investigations and lawsuits as well as soul-searching over Oaklands underground warehouse culture. The most serious prior incident at the warehouse on 31st Avenue, according to a police report, came on March 1, 2015. At 2:35 a.m., someone placed a 911 call reporting there were 15 people barricaded inside what police called a 24-hour art studio. The caller heard sounds like a tazer (sic) and threatening remarks. Upon arriving at the Ghost Ship which was being used illegally as a home for up to 20 residents officers talked to the owner, who agreed to let people leave. The report indicated that officers stood by and preserved the peace as people left the scene. The account did not specify whether the owner was the buildings primary tenant, Derick Ion Almena, who charged others rent to live there, or the buildings actual owner, Chor Ng. About an hour before that, another officer had responded to a call about an illegal rave with drug and alcohol sales at the Ghost Ship, records show. The officer noted a possible infraction for operating without a cabaret license, but did not arrest or cite anyone, according to his report. Records released Wednesday suggest there was no city follow-up after that. Fire officials have said they did not inspect the warehouse because city records indicated it was unoccupied, and they were not told by police or anyone else what was really going on. Whether youre police, public works or building inspection, public safety means not just to react and go to a scene and check off a box on your paper, said City Councilman Noel Gallo, who represents Fruitvale. It clearly demonstrates the lack of cooperation from department to department. Its the culture of reaction as opposed to pro-action, he said, and this is an example of what we need to do better. Erica Terry Derryck, a spokeswoman for Mayor Libby Schaaf, said Wednesday that city police officers are not trained to be building inspectors. Their job is to serve and protect, and in the instances where officers visited the warehouse ... they were on-site to deal specifically with the rave and potentially dangerous activities. Police officials did not respond to requests for comment on the new documents. In all, police visited the illegal collective and its immediate surroundings dozens of times in just over two years, according to the city records. During one chaotic call with dispatchers on Jan. 31, 2015, a woman told police that Almena threatened to kill her and had a gun. Police were told by the caller that Almena lived upstairs with his wife, and that others living in the warehouse might have firearms too. An officer took a report, offered to do a security sweep and gave the woman a card that had information on getting a restraining order, records show. The accounts were included in more than 600 pages of records released by Oakland detailing visits by police officers, firefighters, building inspectors and public works staffers to the Ghost Ship warehouse and its neighboring buildings before the two-story structure burned. Echoing prior statements by city officials, none of the documents describe a formal inspection of the premises to ensure it was safe and up to code. Citing an ongoing investigation into the fire by the Alameda County district attorneys office, the city has yet to release many other requested documents. The papers that were released are heavily redacted. Attorneys for victims in the blaze said the documents offered fresh proof that the city could have prevented the tragedy but didnt. This is going to show the city knew what was going on in this warehouse and they failed to take any action to red-tag, close it down or help the people living there or coming to events, said attorney Mary Alexander, who is representing the families of seven victims. They allowed a place to exist that had no fire alarms, smoke detectors or good way to get out. It was a death trap. Families of fire victims have sued Ng, Almena and others connected to the property. Attorneys plan to seek damages against Oakland as well, although state law provides a liability shield for local governments for failing to conduct building inspections. City Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed has said her department had not inspected the warehouse since at least 2004. State law requires that all commercial properties be checked by fire inspectors once a year, but Deloach Reed said the Ghost Ship building was supposed to be vacant and thus was not covered by the law. Deloach Reed, who is on leave from her job for an unspecified reason, said in December that she had not been alerted to serious complaints there by other agencies, including the police. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The documents released Wednesday include reports from the Department of Planning and Building that raise questions about why inspectors apparently never went inside the warehouse after the arts collective took up residence in late 2013, despite multiple complaints about violations both inside and outside the structure. Two complaint-driven cases were opened in November, just days before the fire. On Nov. 13, a neighbor complained of garbage and blight in the vacant lot next to the warehouse. The next day a second complaint alleged that an illegal interior structure had been built in the warehouse. An inspector went to the property but was unable to verify the allegations. In October 2014, the city received a complaint that a structure had been built in the warehouse without a permit. The next day, department records state, the structure was removed before inspection, but there is no report of an inspection actually being carried out. Building department officials did not respond to requests for comment on the new documents. The cause of the fire has not been determined. But Jill Snyder, the special agent who heads the San Francisco division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the buildings electrical system is part of the analysis. People familiar with the warehouse described a tangle of extension cords powering living and work areas, propane tanks used to heat an improvised shower and exposed wires covering a back staircase. The Ghost Ship did not have permits for either residences or special events, and no business was registered there. Nonetheless, in November 2013, Almena and his wife, Micah Allison, leased the warehouse , paying $4,500 a month, and subleased space to as many as 20 residents at a time who typically paid $565 a month. Almena, who declined comment Wednesday, has said he is not responsible for the tragedy. Ngs d aughter has said the family leased out the building as an art space and didnt know it was being used for residences or events. Ngs attorney did not respond to an interview request. Kevin Fagan, Kimberly Veklerov, Cynthia Dizikes and J.K. Dineen are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com jkdineen@sfchronicle.com Read the reports At a moment in our nations politics when chaos is the new normal, no wonder that Monday evenings UC Berkeley panel discussing Cities in the Age of Trump sounded as skittish as everyone else. There were thick clouds of gloom and thin rays of hope. Philosophical what-ifs and pragmatic advice. We will need to throw tacks in the road when they try to roll back things we dont think should be rolled back, said Carol Galante, a professor at the College of Environmental Design. The college organized the discussion of what the local impacts might be now that the Republican Party controls Congress and we have a new president with no experience in government but a loud contempt for how it works. Galante was one of four panelists being quizzed by Jennifer Wolch, the dean of the college. The others included Prudence Carter, the dean of Cals Graduate School of Education, and two visiting lecturers. One, Gabe Metcalf, heads the Bay Area planning think tank SPUR. The other, Fred Blackwell, is CEO of the San Francisco Foundation. Of the four, Galante has the most varied background before coming to UC Berkeley in 2015 she was the assistant secretary at the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. She spent most of her career at Bridge Housing Corp., a San Francisco nonprofit that has developed nearly 13,000 affordable homes since it was founded in 1983. The quest to provide housing for low-income people is a field where one savors small victories rather than being overwhelmed by the immensity of need. Though Galante is troubled by the actions of President Trump and those around him its hard even for me to be particularly optimistic, the self-described optimist said she suggested that much of the current sound and fury might pass. You can only do so much with executive orders, Galante said, referring to such actions as Trumps decree that federal funding be withheld from sanctuary cities because they have caused immeasurable harm ... to the very fabric of our republic. Im not saying they dont have consequences, but they cant change basic laws and rights, Galante said. In other words, an order to change rules and regulations starts a process. You dont just say Youre fired! and cut to a commercial. The federal workforce really believes in the work they are doing, Galante emphasized. And if the bureaucracy doesnt want to move something, the bureaucracy is not going to move it. Carter, who has written books on persistence of inequality in the education of Americas children, added a twist to the question of how public schools might fare the next four years. Shes no fan of newly confirmed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, a longtime booster of charter schools. But Carter pointed out that most education funding comes from local governments, not Washington. The decision making that counts is what we do as citizens, Carter said. We should be real about what our practices are. ... What makes any school work is the resource context and the cultural context. This was a strand throughout the discussion: Federal-level efforts by Trump and Republicans to undermine the more inclusive values embodied by former President Barack Obama can also serve as a prod for liberal metropolitan regions to prove that forward-looking innovation pays dividends for all. If cities across the country can be a success, they can be beacons within their states, Metcalf said. The Bay Area can be a model, staking out a claim that we have a different way by welcoming immigrants and finding ways to boost new forms of research and business. That point of view is hardly limited to Metcalf in our self-satisfied region. And it brought a mild rebuke from Blackwell, a city official in San Francisco and Oakland before his 2014 move to the San Francisco Foundation. That philanthropy distributes nearly $100 million annually and has turned its attention to the regions need for racial and economic equity. We have to be careful about how much we in the Bay Area characterize ourselves as a model, Blackwell suggested. Our perception of ourselves is out of line with how people of low incomes and people of color experience this region. If there was a takeaway from the evening, it was that the future is murky and there are reasons to be fearful. The flip side? People get it. These are not normal times and in a place like the Bay Area, if were lucky, urgency might translate to a productive reaction. This is a moment to crystallize and capitalize on the energy in response to something that we see as dangerous, Carter said. Instead of self-interest, she sees a pursuit of the common good in such efforts as last months womens marches. Not just the one in Washington, but also around Oaklands Lake Merritt and through downtown Walnut Creek. After all, she added with a laugh and referring to the national scene, I wont be able to sleep if Im completely cynical about this. Place is a weekly column by John King, The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron For all you hear about local, pasture-raised meat on Bay Area menus and farmers markets, its still a relatively niche product. That was something David Evans and Claire Herminjard each wanted to change when they founded their companies: Evans in 1999 with Marin Sun Farms, a line of pasture-raised meats, poultry and eggs, and Herminjard in 2013 with her organic beef company, Mindful Meats. Both were based in the Point Reyes area, and thanks to their shared interests and values, a romance eventually ensued. After they married in summer 2016, two companies no longer made sense, especially as their businesses grew and began to overlap. They officially merged in January, and now Mindful Meats, the smaller of the two companies, is an organic beef brand within Marin Sun Farms. Theyve been the perfect partner on many levels to Mindful Meats, says Herminjard, laughing. By creating whats now a business with $12 million in annual sales, the two are beginning to reach their original goal of bringing local meat to a wider audience. Thats in large part because Marin Sun Farms also operates a Petaluma slaughterhouse and has a delivery and sales infrastructure that removes some of the typical barriers faced by small ranchers and meat companies. Cattle and calves are the fourth-largest sector of Californias agricultural economy, worth $3.4 billion in 2015. While theyre officially a leading agricultural commodity in the Bay Area counties of Marin, Napa, Alameda and Contra Costa, the majority of the states beef is produced in the Central Valley. Previously, Mindful Meats cattle were transported from their pastures in Marin and Sonoma to Merced and back again for processing, and there were often holdups that cost the company money. That is, until Herminjard lobbied Evans to get his Petaluma slaughterhouse certified organic, which she needed for her beefs certification. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Now we have the ability to really get our meat to market in the best, most efficient and most timely manner, Herminjard says. While Marin Sun Farms has much more of a retail presence, with a butcher shop in Oakland and a restaurant and store in Point Reyes Station, 75 percent of Mindful Meats business goes to institutions like the Oakland Unified School District and Stanford Medicine. For the latter, it is the sole beef supplier. Mindful Meats supplies 4,000 pounds of beef per quarter to public schools and 8,000 pounds per quarter to health care providers. It just made a deal to provide 3,000 pounds a week to supply ground beef and patties to seven Northern California colleges, including University of San Francisco, whose cafeterias are run by Bon Appetit Management Co., which has a commitment to spend at least 20 percent of its food budget on local food. Its really only possible if you buy local meat because its so much more expensive than vegetables. Finding local meat companies is really important, says Maisie Ganzler, Bon Appetit Management Co.s chief strategy and brand officer. The food-service company was also drawn to the fact that the meat comes from cows no longer in milk production from six organic dairies in Marin and Sonoma. We were really fascinated by the double use of the animal the dairy cow then becoming a meat cow and what that meant from a carbon impact, Ganzler says. The idea of having the animal producing food as its growing, not just being a machine that is fed food and is releasing carbon, was really attractive. Normally, organic beef costs $1 to $2 more per pound than pasture-raised beef because of the increased cost of supplemental feed and extra regulations involved with certification, although larger food-service groups can buy Mindful Meats product at a reduced cost. At Marin Sun Farms stores, both the organic and pasture-raised ground beef will be around $10 per pound, sometimes less. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle In addition to beef, Marin Sun Farms also sells heritage pork, goat, lamb, veal, chicken and eggs at its two shops and restaurants and through meat shares direct to customers. Its slaughterhouse is used by roughly 180 local ranchers in addition to the ranchers it buys from. And yet, the couples own home ranch in Point Reyes National Seashore, which has been in Evans family since 1939, is not immune to controversy. Its one of several historic ranches involved in a lawsuit by environmental groups calling for increased scrutiny of the ranches impact before their leases are renewed by the National Park Service. Herminjard says they are in discussion for a settlement to the suit. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan The American dream for some might be a twisted ideal in our national consciousness, but for Rishi S. Bhilawadikar, glimpses of it remain ever real. His film, For Here or to Go? an independent feature exploring the struggles of Bay Area Indians stuck in the limbo of the immigration system is a reflection of both the anxieties and the boundless possibilities that come with arriving on American soil. Bhilawadikar, an H-1B visa holder waiting for permanent residence, muscled the film into being with zero experience in the industry, but a relentless passion for the project. I dont think Id be able to do this anywhere else, probably, say Bhilawadikar, 33, who wrote and produced the film. Thats the greatness of this country. It really allows you to pursue your dreams if you demonstrate the passion and are gritty about it. And immigrants have this special secret sauce that, the more barriers you put, the more they want to overcome. Bhilawadikar has worked as a user experience designer in Silicon Valley for the last several years after first coming to the U.S. on a student visa for graduate school at Indiana University. He was one of the lucky ones to have found work in the Bay Areas tech industry and not only receive an H-1B visa (granted to foreigners employed in specialty occupations) via lottery, but also a sponsorship from his employers for a green-card application for permanent residence. For many Indian immigrants, who comprise the majority of recipients of the 65,000 H-1B visas granted annually, the clock is constantly ticking. Those with H-1Bs can stay a maximum of six years, unless a green-card application is sponsored within five years, after which one-year renewals are allowed indefinitely until a decision is made on the application. The wait for green-card status often lasts years. Inspired by his own situation, Bhilawadikar wrote the script to For Here or to Go? to highlight an issue often only seen in political contexts. Characters in the film face the sort of crises that Indian immigrants face in what Bhilawadikar sees as a broken system: Vivek (Ali Fazal) is thwarted in love and ambition without green-card sponsorship; Lakshmi (Omi Vaidya) fears that a forced return to India means repressing his sexuality; in a time of tragedy, visa entanglements bar Vish (Rajit Kapur) from returning home. My intent is to bring empathy and really put a human face to it, Bhilawadikar says. Its not just about numbers. Its about human potential. Its about an immigrant, or anybody, really, who leaves their home who wants to pursue a better life. What happens when you lock up that human potential? The film is a two-way mirror reflecting both the lustrous potential America offers and the loss of stability, belonging and home. But this dichotomy is becoming unbalanced, Bhilawadikar fears, especially in light of President Trumps recent executive order banning travel to the U.S. for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries. At first the order included barring green-card holders. Bhilawadikar sees the restriction as regressive and a threat to the foundation of promise that immigrants helped build. I just told my mother not to travel here, he says. She wants to come for the premiere of the film, but I told her, dont travel right now. Thats unfortunate, that you cant enjoy moments with your loved ones. Bhilawadikar hopes For Here or to Go? can help change the political climate. He recalls a private screening at the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute where an immigration lawyer who had been filing H-1Bs for 20 years was in attendance. He watches the film and he comes up to me and says, This is the first time I understand why my clients are anxious all the time. This is a practicing professional, and he doesnt completely process the anxieties. The film will premiere in San Francisco, where it was set and shot, on March 31, the day before the annual H-1B lottery results come out. Some in the audience may see part of their story told onscreen as another chapter unfolds the next day. But Bhilawadikar is also focused on the long term, hoping the film will reach beyond coastal cities to areas throughout the country. Ideally it will add to a larger portrait of spotlighted immigrant experiences working to bridge gaps. Theyre all critical stories, Bhilawadikar says. You have to put a human face to it. This is how you create that compassion. Art has that power. Storytelling has that power to transcend these misconceptions that people have. Brandon Yu is a Bay Area freelance writer. For Here or to Go? opens March 31 at Bay Area theaters. To see a trailer: https://vimeo.com/119445810 Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch called President Trumps tweets criticizing the federal judiciary demoralizing and disheartening during a meeting Wednesday with Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, CNN reported. Trump called U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle a so-called judge when last week he suspended the presidents executive order banning travelers and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. Blumenthal told CNN that Gorsuch said Trumps comments were demoralizing and disheartening and he characterized them very specifically that way. What we know: Robarts ruling has moved to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in San Francisco. Trump on Wednesday appeared to be accusing the three judges of Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals of playing politics, while anticipating they will uphold the ruling against his executive order. If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! Trump wrote in a tweet Wednesday. In a follow up tweet, Trump said the anticipated ruling should be an easy decision in his favor. Big increases in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be EASY D! Trump tweeted. Trump nominated Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge known for conservative views on religious freedom, last month to succeed the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The Ninth Circuit Court will not rule on the case Wednesday. The earliest ruling could come Thursday. What we dont know: The Chronicle reached out to Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for Gorsuch, to try to confirm the report. He did not immediately return phone calls and emails. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky Dane County will pay Ralph Armstrong, whose 1981 murder conviction was overturned in 2005, $1 million to settle his claim that a prosecutor acted improperly during events leading to his conviction. In the settlement agreement, released to the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday morning, now-retired Assistant District Attorney John Norsetter does not admit wrongdoing, but Dane County offers the $1 million payment to end the portion of Armstrongs civil rights lawsuit that pertains to Norsetter. The $1 million payment is on top of $750,000 that Armstrong will receive from the city of Madison and the state of Wisconsin for a separate settlement, released on Monday. Armstrong, now 64, filed the lawsuit in 2012, and about a year later recruited a Chicago civil rights law firm, Loevy & Loevy, to represent him in U.S. District Court. Armstrong filed the lawsuit seven years after the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned his convictions on first-degree murder and rape charges for the June 1980 death of UW-Madison student Charise Kamps, who was 19 years old. The court found that DNA evidence did not support Armstrongs conviction. After the convictions were overturned in 2005, prosecutors sought to retry Armstrong on the murder and rape charges. But in 2009, a judge threw out the case citing prosecutorial misconduct, after learning that DNA on a key piece of evidence, the belt to a bathrobe from Kamps apartment, had been used up on a test performed at the behest of the prosecution team, without the approval of Armstrongs defense team. The test found that it was possible that Armstrongs DNA was in a DNA mix found on the belt, but because there was no DNA left, the judge ruled, Armstrongs lawyers were unfairly denied a chance to order their own tests to confirm or refute the finding. The parties in the civil rights lawsuit filed a stipulation to dismiss the case on Friday because settlements had been reached. The city of Madison agreed to pay $600,000 to Armstrong on behalf of retired Madison police Detective Marion Morgan, who had taken the belt to the state Crime Lab for testing, while the state Department of Justice agreed to pay $150,000 on behalf of retired Crime Lab DNA analyst Karen Daily, who performed the DNA test. The agreement pertaining to Morgan and Daily was released to the State Journal on Monday. Norsetters conduct was not specified in the agreement released Tuesday, but it occurred while prosecutors were county employees, before they became state employees in 1990. According to a July ruling, when U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb denied motions by Norsetter, Morgan and Daily to rule in the case in their favor, Crabb allowed a claim to proceed against Norsetter that he allowed evidence taken from Kamps apartment to be destroyed. Armstrongs lawyers claimed that that evidence could have been checked for the killers fingerprints. The agreement pertaining to Norsetter does not allow any parties or lawyers to comment on the agreement, not only to the media but on social media as well. Contacted on Friday, Armstrong attorney Mark Loevy-Reyes declined to comment, citing the confidentiality clause. David McFarlane, who represented Norsetter, also declined to comment. Armstrong is currently in prison in New Mexico, according to the New Mexico Corrections Departments website, serving a sentence related to sexual assault convictions that pre-date Kamps murder. Corrections Department spokeswoman Ashley Espinoza said Armstrong violated a condition of his parole that he have absolutely no internet access except as required by employment. He also committed reporting and employment violations, she said. He is currently awaiting a parole hearing. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File / / President Trump on Wednesday morning took a shot a Nordstrom on Twitter, saying his daughter was treated so unfairly by the department store chain for its decision to drop her clothing line. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Trump tweeted from his personal account. CNN has made a series of strategic moves in its daytime lineup this week, and has added both a senior economics analyst who was part of the Trump campaign and a former Weekend Fox and Friends co-anchor to work the early morning shift. The lineup change follows the decision to move Carol Costello from CNN to its sibling HLN. Costello told viewers last week that she requested the move because her husband is now working at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and Costello wanted to switch coasts. Shed been at CNN for 15 years. That said, Costello has been a target of complaints by conservative media watchdogs such as the Media Research Centers NewsBusters and the Conservative Review. CNN President Jeff Zucker wasted no time moving pieces on his game board because it wasnt so much about Costello as it was about trying to appeal to a broader political spectrum of viewers. That means: more conservative viewers because, you know, Trump and all. Effective this week, Poppy Harlow has joined John Berman anchoring CNN Newsroom from 9 to 11 a.m., leaving Kate Bolduan to solo as the anchor of At This Hour at 11. Beginning on Feb. 23, Dave Briggs, former co-anchor of Weekend Fox and Friends, will team with Christine Romans to anchor Early Start. Briggs also worked for CNBC and NBC Sports, but its unlikely he was hired to appeal to accountants or jocks. Stephen Moore, former senior economics adviser for the Trump campaign, former consultant for Fox News, a Wall Street Journal contributor and a member of the Heritage Foundation, is CNNs new senior economics adviser. All of this follows NBCs hiring of former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly to host the third hour of the Today Show, among other high-profile activities. Kelly was a major get, regardless of the fact that she came from Fox News, but her conservative bona fides only made her more attractive when her Fox contract was up. In a related development, NBCs giving Kelly the third hour of Today was followed by Tamron Halls announcement that she would leave the network altogether. She had been co-hosting the third hour with weather forecaster Al Roker. The network said it was disappointed she has chosen to leave, but not as disappointed as the National Association of Black Journalists, which accused NBC of whitewashing. What can we conclude from all of these moves? First, that television media outlets want to counter the belief that they have a liberal bias by hiring card-carrying conservatives. And that NBC, at least, was willing to open itself up to being slammed for not finding a way to keep a talented and popular African American on-air personality. President Trump likes to apply the word failing to the news media in general and to any outlet he disagrees with. Yes, it matters whether thats true or not, but in television, perception is nine-tenths of reality, and the reality is that even before Trump became president, Fox News has been topping CNN and MSNBC in ratings on a regular basis. The Fox News Network ended its 20th year in 2016 as the most watched basic cable outlet and the fifth-most-watched in prime time, behind only NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox. Obviously, it makes sense that other cable news outlets and broadcast news divisions want to shore up their trustworthiness among conservative viewers. But at heart, this isnt entirely about trust. Trust may sound good in a speech or a commercial, but really, its also about money. It doesnt take a senior economics analyst from the Heritage Foundation to point out that news outlets are competing for ratings. When viewers say they trust Fox News, they really mean that Fox News reflects what they believe. And if more of them are watching Fox News than the other options, that means Fox News is that much more attractive to advertisers. The big question, though, is how far news organizations will go to secure the trust of conservative viewers. Are they willing to be as trustworthy i.e., conservative as Fox, or even more so? The challenge for every TV news outlet is whether viewers really want truth or affirmation of their own points of view. As long as viewer numbers translate into ratings that in turn affect advertiser support, that discussion has to be more than a philosophical one. On Sunday, Feb. 5, Brian Stelter welcomed Hollywood Reporter media columnist Michael Wolff to CNNs Reliable Sources. Wolff was there to support his argument that the media is not the story. He also said Stelter could border on being sort of a ridiculous figure for his frequent sermons about the need for a vigilant media. The media will be fine, Wolff insisted. The media is always at least part of the story, in a post-McLuhan world, but more so when it is being targeted by the president of the United States. The media, collectively, would rather not be the story, or at least, not this particular story. But what other reaction should news outlets have? What is the difference between rising above it and acquiescence? After acquiescence, what is the next step? Tailoring news reports to ensure access at the White House? Although Stelter did a good job of disguising a hint of whininess when he talked about how the White House has iced out CNN, the danger remains that news organizations open themselves up to being punished if they attempt to report the truth in response to alternative facts. Thats not a ridiculous worry. WHATS ON NBC airs the 400th episode of Law and Order: SVU at 9 p.m. TV One airs the news special Excellence in Black Hollywood at 9 p.m. A three-episode documentary miniseries about air travel called City in the Sky takes off on KQED at 10 p.m. The show comes from BBC 2 and begins with the aptly named episode Departure. The premiere will be followed by Airborne next Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Arrival the week after that. Personally, Im waiting for Drink Cart. The second season finale of Code Black airs at 10 p.m. on CBS. The catch of the day is the premiere of Legion, created by former Bay Area resident Noah Hawley and starring Dan Stevens as the haunted young man at the center of the Marvel-comic-book-based show. Another former Bay Area guy is part of the show, Bill Irwin, who was just in town a couple of weeks ago doing his On Beckett bit onstage. David Wiegand The U.S. Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary on Tuesday, in a squeaker vote that was historic for all of the wrong reasons. It was the first time a vice president, in this case Mike Pence, was called on to be the tie-breaking vote for a Cabinet nominee. DeVos is not the only one of Trumps Cabinet picks to meet with vigorous public opposition (his pick for attorney general, the retrograde Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, has been overwhelmingly opposed by civil rights groups), but her confirmation was contentious for a number of specific reasons. DeVos is a wealthy Republican donor from Michigan who has strong opinions about expanding educational choice through charter schools and vouchers, but little experience with the public school system attended by the vast majority of American students. She performed poorly during her confirmation hearings, failing to understand basic questions about federal law and school performance. Education is also an issue about which Americans care deeply. Congressional offices reported being inundated by tens of thousands of phone calls from constituents opposing her nomination. The two Republican senators who voted against her confirmation, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, both cited negative feedback from their constituents. The DeVos fight also marks a new chapter in opposition for the Senate Democrats, who are responding to a remarkable swell of public anger from their own voter base. Not only did all of the Democratic senators vote against DeVos confirmation, but dozens of them took to the Senate floor to speak against her for most of the day on Monday, through the night Tuesday. The odds of collegial bipartisan confirmation for any further Trump Cabinet nominees look slim indeed. Now an inexperienced, embattled secretary will assume the helm of an agency that plays a role in the education of 50 million schoolchildren. Given the circumstances of her confirmation, we urge DeVos to abide by her own determination that education should be left to state and local governments. DeVos may be no fan of public schools, but two-thirds of public-school parents give their childs school a grade of A or B, according to a 2016 poll from PDK. Many of them just demonstrated their willingness to oppose her not those schools vociferously. There is plenty to be upset about in todays world, but who knew parking spots were on the list? One of the perks of being a San Francisco supervisor is a guaranteed parking spot right outside of City Hall. But some of the supervisors think the spaces should be free. They now cost around $250 a month thats the going rate for parking spots in garages around City Hall. Now, behind the scenes, Board of Supervisors clerk Angela Calvillo is floating a proposal to amend the boards budget to include the cost of the spaces so the supervisors can have them for free. Calvillo couldnt be reached for comment, and many supervisors didnt want to speak on the record because they thought the proposal could look bad to the public. Privately, they said having a parking space is necessary for them to make all of their meetings around the city. Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who represents the Excelsior district and has two small children, said he believed the spaces should be free for the supervisors. I honestly think its not inherently family friendly, because if I had the choice I would probably not choose to be in a car, but for me to be a good dad and a good husband ... I have to have a car. Not to mention my district is one of the farthest ones in the city, Safai said. If you choose not to have the spot, then great. But I have to have a parking spot. But Supervisor Norman Yee said he didnt care if he had to pay for the parking space. Calvillo mentioned some people are proposing it and I said, Eh, whatever, Yee said. Another issue is whether the parking spaces should be reserved for the supervisors seven days a week. City Administrator Naomi Kelly said that the signage is inconsistent and that she is working with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to put in signs indicating the spots are reserved at all times. Thats something Yee could get behind. He said sometimes he comes in on the weekends and has to pay to put his car in a garage. Its irritating. I pay for it and I cant even park, Yee said. Emily Green A vote for retirement: A record number of city employees cast a ballot in an obscure election for a seat on the San Francisco Retirement Board. Thats the board that decides how and where to invest $20 billion for the citys retirement pension fund. The winner was challenger Al Casciato, a retired San Francisco police captain, who defeated incumbent Herb Meiberger, who teaches corporate finance and investments at San Francisco State. Casciato got 9,871 votes to Meibergers 6,137. That was the most votes in a San Francisco Retirement Board election since 2008. The election was unusually contentious. Casciato, who previously served on the board for 17 years, ran against Meiberger with the backing of many of the citys biggest unions. They criticized Meiberger for making poor investment decisions and being a divisive presence on the board. Meibergers supporters warned that Casciato wanted to put the funds money into risky pension funds. Emily Green Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfcityinsider, @emilytgreen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Twenty-five years after their first date, Peter Getty and Shannon Bavaro tied the knot Dec. 15 at their San Francisco home during an intimate, family-only ceremony presided over by their friend, Californias new U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. The bride, a technology adviser and investor, wore a Vera Wang gown. The groom, a musician, producer and environmentalist who sits on the Getty Family Trust board, was natty in black tie. And his feet were comfortably (and casually) shod in a pair of Nike Air Force 1 kicks. Sadly, Bavaro shared, her father, the late James Farthing (who died in January), was too ill to give away his daughter. But he was represented by his sister Linda Murphy and her husband, Patrick, who flew in from Ireland to celebrate the happy couple. And the new Mrs. Gettys brother, Thieves Bar Group owner Paul Bavaro, ably stood in for his dad. Later that night, composer-philanthropist Gordon Getty and his wife, Ann, hosted an exquisite black-tie reception and dinner-dance for 200 friends of the newlyweds. Among revelers: actress Connie Nielsen; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and her husband Paul; Houston philanthropist Becca Cason Thrash; Nicole Curran and her fiance, Warriors owner Joe Lacob, who gave up his front-row seat to attend this game-time soiree; and Getty family members, including John Getty and his daughter, Ivy; Billy Getty and his wife, Vanessa; and cousins Alexander Getty and Beth Townsend. In my life, my sister, Shannon, has always been a force: constantly advising, constantly pushing me toward my better self, Paul Bavaro toasted, with a tease. So, good luck with that, Peter. Also raising glasses: Christopher Vietor , a lifelong friend of the groom who first introduced the couple. And PR pro Lori Puccinelli Stern got the crowd laughing as she recalled adventures with her longtime pal in their 20s . When I first met Shannon, we got any reservation in town because everyone thought she was Christy Turlington. Then Anne Hathaway came on the scene, and our reservations doubled, Puccinelli joked. When I briefly moved to L.A., Peter was so nurturing and included me in everything. Seeing him so happy with Shannon and their daughter, I realize Peter is as loving and thoughtful as ever. Fare thee well: This winter, alas, has been filled with not enough new beginnings and way too many endings. The premature loss of arts philanthropist and family advocate Cathy Topham was a gut punch. While many tears were shed at her moving memorial, beautifully organized by her family with devoted pal, designer Stanlee Gatti, her bright spirit will always be remembered. The Bay Area also lost a trio from the Greatest Generation, all titans of science, banking, philanthropy and the arts. Pioneering Silicon Valley bio-tech VC William Bill Bowes , also a generous philanthropist to numerous music and science organizations, passed away Dec. 28. Atherton-based Daniel Deke Jackson, a leading investment banker (Sutro & Co.; Hambrecht & Quist; Jackson Capitol), died Jan. 7. Then Adolphus Dolph Andrews, a proud Marine, arts philanthropist and protector of Lake Tahoes blue shores, died Jan. 13. His family and friends gathered recently at Grace Cathedral, where the Very Rev. Dr. Alan Jones presided over a graceful memorial. Mourners fondly recalled Andrews elegant style; his devotion to family and his wife, Emily Taylor Andrews. Andrews scholarly knowledge of antiques was equaled only by his passion for bridge, dominoes and his great love of Lake Tahoe. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. My father was the perfect host with an innate ability to make everyone in the room feel like they were the most important person there. He was also a humble man and would be totally embarrassed by the attention today, said his son, Gordon Andrews . But my father was a true Renaissance man, and my hero. Dolph Andrews is also a hero to the League to Save Lake Tahoe, the environmental organization he served as a trustee and assisted in organizing its inaugural August fashion show that continues to benefit the leagues protection of the lakes fragile beauty. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco also hailed Andrews, a longtime donor-trustee and leading voice on its European Decorative Arts Council. Andrews spearheaded the drive to restore the Salon Dore at the Legion of Honor. For its 2014 reopening, FAM curator Martin Chapman dedicated the Salon book he wrote to Andrews and his tremendous efforts. Dolph was completely instrumental in the salons refurbishment, says Chapman. He was always very gentlemanly, yet determined to raise the money required. Chapman recalled Andrews numerous fundraising parties and polite hand-written notes requesting the communitys support. Dolph entertained beautifully in his home with spectacular candlelight dinners. And those dinners made a huge difference in the fortune of our fundraising, he continued. No one here entertains like that anymore. I loved and admired Dolph dearly. He was a San Francisco institution. Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney discussed the need for immigration reform with President Donald Trump during a meeting Tuesday at the White House that included nine other sheriffs from around the country. Mahoney told Trump that Dane County is home to many immigrant families, some of which have been here for multiple generations and are integral parts of many communities. As a result, we, as a nation, need to come up with a comprehensive immigration reform and I would also like to see this administration move forward and expedite the process for citizenship, Mahoney said. Mahoney is a member of the National Sheriffs Association executive committee that was invited to the White House by Trump to discuss issues important to them. He said committee members thought that the key legislative issues for the association, which is having its national conference this week in Washington, D.C., would be central to the meeting that also included Vice President Mike Pence. But Trump started by saying he wanted to hear from each of them about key issues in their communities. Mahoney called his discussion with Trump very cordial even after they began discussing immigration, the most controversial issue during the first weeks of Trumps presidency. Citing national security concerns, Trump has tried to temporary halt the U.S. refugee program. After Mahoney expressed his views on immigration, Trump told him that he understood his position and agreed that there are many long-standing immigrant families who deserve and need a process. But then he pivoted to his position on the seven countries that are currently under a temporary ban, Mahoney said. He certainly heard me because he responded to it. He didnt blow me off. He heard my message and knew where I was coming from. Speaking fourth among the sheriffs, Mahoney first talked about the impact that the drug addiction epidemic is having in the county and how the federal government can help by doing more to halt the flow of heroin into the area. I said we need to increase staffing of our Drug Enforcement Administration, as an example, to stem the tide, Mahoney said. We know that the heroin in Dane County comes up from the southern border, through Chicago on its way up to Minneapolis. Mahoney also told Trump that 40 percent of inmates at the Dane County Jail suffer from chronic mental illness and the county doesnt have the facilities to properly take care of them. Trump said he understood that there had been a lack of funding for community- based programs over the years, Mahoney said. Later, three other sheriffs pointed out that sheriffs now run the largest mental health institutions in the country and they are called jails. (Trump) acknowledged that but there was no lengthy discussion about what he is going to do about it or anything of that nature. Mahoney said. Mahoney had been to the White House several times prior to Tuesdays meeting. He met with presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush there as a labor representative and with President Barack Obama on a few occasions as the National Sheriffs Associations representative to the presidents task force on 21st century policing. None of those meetings had the amount of back-and-forth dialogue that we saw this morning, Mahoney said. I thought this was pretty outstanding, that sheriffs from around the country got over an hour to talk with the president of the United States. That did not surprise Mahoney. If I believed everything I read (about Trump), I would have been surprised, he said. We were invited, we were asked for input and we provided it. The sheriffs thanked Trump for inviting them to the White House and listening to their concerns, according to Mahoney. But we also made it abundantly clear that were not going to just talk and then go away, he said. Were going to expect some action and were going to continue to put the pressure on for that action. British actor Dan Stevens drew from disparate sources to develop his approach to playing the lead in the new series Legion. In addition to the original Marvel comic, an Anderson Cooper news report and conversations with show creator Noah Hawley about shared musical tastes, Wes Anderson, Louie Anderson, Jorge Luis Borges and British New Wave cinema figured into what viewers will see when the series premieres on FX on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Stevens, 34, who plays David Haller in the drama, talked with reporters last week about how working on the show was a novel experience for the former cast member of Downton Abbey. When I met Noah, we both wanted to try something that was successful, but also (make it) a playground for writers, actors and even directors to come and try something fun, he said. Theres a little bit of mischief going on about how playful the show is. That mischief begins with Hallers character, who, as Stevens observes, has a deadpan sense of humor that adds an unexpected element to the fact that hes been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and sent to a mental institution called Clockwork (with a nod to Stanley Kubrick and Anthony Burgess). He hasnt gotten to the point of Haller as comic book fans know him, Steven added. In the first chapter, theres a lot of deep questions going on and a lot of crazy things happening. Eventually, Haller will become Legion, who, as created in 1985 by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, made his first appearance in the New Mutants comic. There are only a few hints of Hallers future identity in the first three episodes of Legion, and Stevens would allow only that I think were going to work up to that. Stevens performance is intense and layered with nuance and physicality, making it impossible for viewers to detach themselves from what he is dealing with in his head and the even more screwed-up real world. Stevens is grateful to Anderson Cooper for helping him convey the exhaustion Haller feels from just trying to stay alive. A few years ago, Cooper did a news report on paranoid schizophrenia and participated in an experiment designed to replicate what someone with the condition experiences every day. With voices pumping into his brain through headphones, he tried to walk around New York and participate in normal activities, but found it impossible to concentrate and overall, unnervingly alienating and ultimately depressing. This is Hallers state of mind when a new patient arrives at Clockwork, a beautiful young woman named Syd Barrett (nod to Pink Floyd), played by Rachel Keller. Haller is immediately smitten and asks her to be his girlfriend, and she agrees. For the first time, he is displaying hints of hope. The only hitch is that she is terrified of being touched in any way. They have to find a way to pursue their relationship without physical contact, Stevens said, but thats the least of their challenges. Theyre driven apart by whats going on in Davids head, and he learns to navigate that, and she learns to navigate that, and there are darker forces at play that are kind of using and abusing his attraction to her and her attraction to him. Those forces begin to emerge when David begins treatment with Melanie Bird (Jean Smart), who wants to help him, but perhaps not for altruistic purposes. The relationship between Haller and Barrett becomes the key to Haller beginning to find his way out of his own nightmare. Stevens and Keller were forced to break the ice early in the production schedule as they joined other cast members and professional dancers for the Bollywood musical number. Wait, what? Yes, the big musical number, which takes place in Clockwork, is more evidence of the playground Hawley envisioned Legion to be. The musical number was fantastic, and its something Ive had to do in a few of my recent projects, and it generally involves dance lessons, Stevens said. Its also an incredible way of getting to know people. It breaks down a lot of bull, a lot of barriers among the cast. As much of an odd fit as a Bollywood number may seem, the series costume and set designs are equally loopy but perhaps even more important to Hawleys crafty manipulation of the shows viewers. The set seems to have been inspired by either the ancient series Lost in Space or perhaps a 70s musical variety show. Are we witnessing the story playing out in real time, in the past or in the future? The audience is intentionally left as untethered as Haller. The actors didnt really know when the story was happening, Stevens said, and Hawley didnt care. It didnt seem to matter to him, he said. As weird and playful and kind of mischievous as the script (by Hawley) was, it matched the show, Stevens said. Things that kind of look retro, but theres this kind of retro future thing going on. ... Thats kind of the way comic books exist. How did he react when he saw the set for the first time? The real world is far, far weirder right now than any Legion set, Stevens sighed. David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV Legion: Drama. 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, on FX. To read David Wiegands review of the show, go to http://bit.ly/2lbPGIe. KABUL A suicide bomber struck an entrance to Afghanistans Supreme Court on Tuesday, killing at least 19 people in the latest in a series of attacks on the countrys judiciary. The attacker was on foot, and targeted a side door as court employees and other people were exiting the building in downtown Kabul, the Interior Ministry said. Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz said 41 people were wounded, including 10 in critical condition. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which bore the hallmarks of the Taliban. The insurgents have been at war with the U.S.-backed government for 15 years and have increasingly targeted the judiciary since the execution of six convicted insurgents last May. Shortly after the executions, a suicide bomber targeted a minibus carrying court employees in Kabul during the morning rush hour, killing 11 people in an attack claimed by the Taliban, which called it an act of revenge. In June, three Taliban fighters stormed a court building in the eastern Logar province, killing seven people, including a newly appointed chief prosecutor, before being shot dead by police. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the Supreme Court attack, which he blamed on the enemies of our people. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul called it an attack on the very foundation of Afghan democracy and rule of law. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the suicide attack. Those behind todays bombing and other such despicable acts must face justice, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at U.N. headquarters in New York. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including employees of the judicial institutions, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified. Rahim Faiez is an Associated Press writer. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The relationship between Samira, a 15-year-old refugee in Lebanon, and 10-year-old Lindsey from Massachusetts might not be obvious at first sight. But their geographic distance and the difference between their lives is bridged by Rania Matars camera. Samira and Lindsey are portraits from Matars Becoming, a collection of photos on display at the RayKo Photo Center through Feb. 21. The images showcase the transition of young girls into young women, capturing them in private, personal settings throughout their teenage years. These girls represent adolescence and womanhood from two distinct places: Lebanon, the country where Matar was born, and the United States, the country where she and her family live and work. I am from both these cultures, and I am the same person. Matar said. This whole rhetoric we keep hearing the them and us for me, its such an artificial label. Matar lives in Boston, but throughout her travels, shes photographed girls across a wide range of classes, cultures and faiths, making this exhibition especially timely. Lebanon was not included in the list of Muslim-majority countries in President Trumps recent immigration and travel ban, but the images, which feature Muslim girls across Lebanon in their homes, public city spaces and refugee camps, still resonate strongly. Becoming is made up of straightforward, centered pieces from Matars past photography projects: portraits of young girls in their rooms, of girls and their mothers, of girls revisited and documented over time. Instead of getting a selfie pose, Matar strives to capture the girls at their most natural. Its difficult, if not impossible, to discern who is from Lebanon and who is from the United States. And thats the point. I am trying, photographing girls and women, to show that I dont care if the girl is wearing the hijab or veil or not, Matar said. At the end, shes also a girl growing up, and that happens anywhere. Ann Jastrab, RayKos gallery director, finished installing Becoming on Jan. 21, the day after Trumps inauguration and the day of the Womens March. Samira and Lindsey were the last to be hung on the wall. It was really powerful, Jastrab said. It was like, OK, time to go. Now Im ready to go march. Ive got all my girls up, and were going to do this. Becoming is the latest to join a long list of Raykos ranks of women-driven shows, whether as the artists or in subject matter. Its a tradition Jastrab established after noticing a lack of outlets for female photographers to showcase their work. But this exhibition is on display amid the centers potential closure in April, which means it could be the centers last solo gallery show. Jastrab addresses this possibility while standing in front of Matars A Girl and Her Room, a giant asymmetrical photo grid that serves as the shows centerpiece. Its an entire wall covered with portraits of 50 young women, each staring out at the gallery from their most personal spaces: their bedrooms. As with the rest of Becoming, the piece is simple, documentarian and timely. If we were going to have one last solo show, she said, it should be Ranias. Alejandra Salazar is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: asalazar@sfchronicle.com Becoming: 12:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Through Feb. 21. RayKo Photo Center, 428 Third St., S.F. http://raykophotocenter.com Long before an inferno consumed the labyrinth of dangers inside the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, city police officers were told it was illegally occupied, and rolled to the place because of complaints about unpermitted raves. There were fights, fires and reports of guns. Building inspectors showed up, too. None of that was enough to save the 36 people who perished in December amid the warehouses makeshift warren of wires, ramshackle stairs and sleeping cubbies. According to hundreds of city documents released Wednesday, police were repeatedly called to the live-work warehouse in the two years leading up to the blaze for reports of thefts, fights, stabbings and guns, as well as two rave parties one of which ended with a frightened person saying people were barricaded inside in the middle of the night. Though they had to break up that party, officers didnt make any arrests or issue any citations, despite the warehouse not being licensed as a nightclub. And theres no evidence of any follow-up by the city, such as an inspection that might have targeted the perilous conditions inside the artists collective, according to the new cache of documents , which was released in response to media requests. The documents bolster criticism that has mounted about why the city did not step in before the Dec. 2 fire in the Fruitvale neighborhood, which trapped guests at an electronic music event that had been advertised on Facebook and has spurred investigations and lawsuits as well as soul-searching over Oaklands underground warehouse culture. The most serious prior incident at the warehouse on 31st Avenue, according to a police report, came on March 1, 2015. At 2:35 a.m., someone placed a 911 call reporting there were 15 people barricaded inside what police called a 24-hour art studio. The caller heard sounds like a tazer (sic) and threatening remarks. Upon arriving at the Ghost Ship which was being used illegally as a home for up to 20 residents officers talked to the owner, who agreed to let people leave. The report indicated that officers stood by and preserved the peace as people left the scene. The account did not specify whether the owner was the buildings primary tenant, Derick Ion Almena, who charged others rent to live there, or the buildings actual owner, Chor Ng. About an hour before that, another officer had responded to a call about an illegal rave with drug and alcohol sales at the Ghost Ship, records show. The officer noted a possible infraction for operating without a cabaret license, but did not arrest or cite anyone, according to his report. Records released Wednesday suggest there was no city follow-up after that. Fire officials have said they did not inspect the warehouse because city records indicated it was unoccupied, and they were not told by police or anyone else what was really going on. Whether youre police, public works or building inspection, public safety means not just to react and go to a scene and check off a box on your paper, said City Councilman Noel Gallo, who represents Fruitvale. It clearly demonstrates the lack of cooperation from department to department. Its the culture of reaction as opposed to pro-action, he said, and this is an example of what we need to do better. Erica Terry Derryck, a spokeswoman for Mayor Libby Schaaf, said Wednesday that city police officers are not trained to be building inspectors. Their job is to serve and protect, and in the instances where officers visited the warehouse ... they were on-site to deal specifically with the rave and potentially dangerous activities. Police officials did not respond to requests for comment on the new documents. In all, police visited the illegal collective and its immediate surroundings dozens of times in just over two years, according to the city records. During one chaotic call with dispatchers on Jan. 31, 2015, a woman told police that Almena threatened to kill her and had a gun. Police were told by the caller that Almena lived upstairs with his wife, and that others living in the warehouse might have firearms too. An officer took a report, offered to do a security sweep and gave the woman a card that had information on getting a restraining order, records show. The accounts were included in more than 600 pages of records released by Oakland detailing visits by police officers, firefighters, building inspectors and public works staffers to the Ghost Ship warehouse and its neighboring buildings before the two-story structure burned. Echoing prior statements by city officials, none of the documents describe a formal inspection of the premises to ensure it was safe and up to code. Citing an ongoing investigation into the fire by the Alameda County district attorneys office, the city has yet to release many other requested documents. The papers that were released are heavily redacted. Attorneys for victims in the blaze said the documents offered fresh proof that the city could have prevented the tragedy but didnt. This is going to show the city knew what was going on in this warehouse and they failed to take any action to red-tag, close it down or help the people living there or coming to events, said attorney Mary Alexander, who is representing the families of seven victims. They allowed a place to exist that had no fire alarms, smoke detectors or good way to get out. It was a death trap. Families of fire victims have sued Ng, Almena and others connected to the property. Attorneys plan to seek damages against Oakland as well, although state law provides a liability shield for local governments for failing to conduct building inspections. City Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed has said her department had not inspected the warehouse since at least 2004. State law requires that all commercial properties be checked by fire inspectors once a year, but Deloach Reed said the Ghost Ship building was supposed to be vacant and thus was not covered by the law. Deloach Reed, who is on leave from her job for an unspecified reason, said in December that she had not been alerted to serious complaints there by other agencies, including the police. The documents released Wednesday include reports from the Department of Planning and Building that raise questions about why inspectors apparently never went inside the warehouse after the arts collective took up residence in late 2013, despite multiple complaints about violations both inside and outside the structure. Two complaint-driven cases were opened in November, just days before the fire. On Nov. 13, a neighbor complained of garbage and blight in the vacant lot next to the warehouse. The next day a second complaint alleged that an illegal interior structure had been built in the warehouse. An inspector went to the property but was unable to verify the allegations. In October 2014, the city received a complaint that a structure had been built in the warehouse without a permit. The next day, department records state, the structure was removed before inspection, but there is no report of an inspection actually being carried out. Building department officials did not respond to requests for comment on the new documents. The cause of the fire has not been determined. But Jill Snyder, the special agent who heads the San Francisco division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the buildings electrical system is part of the analysis. People familiar with the warehouse described a tangle of extension cords powering living and work areas, propane tanks used to heat an improvised shower and exposed wires covering a back staircase. The Ghost Ship did not have permits for either residences or special events, and no business was registered there. Nonetheless, in November 2013, Almena and his wife, Micah Allison, leased the warehouse , paying $4,500 a month, and subleased space to as many as 20 residents at a time who typically paid $565 a month. Almena, who declined comment Wednesday, has said he is not responsible for the tragedy. Ngs d aughter has said the family leased out the building as an art space and didnt know it was being used for residences or events. Ngs attorney did not respond to an interview request. Kevin Fagan, Kimberly Veklerov, Cynthia Dizikes and J.K. Dineen are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com jkdineen@sfchronicle.com Read the reports One of the Richmond police officers who had been slated to be fired for his connection to the sex scandal involving a teenage sex worker known as Jasmine will return to the force, according to the city manager. The officer was one of four officers originally recommended to be fired following an extensive probe tying them to the Bay Area-wide sex scandal in which dozens of officers from various departments are alleged to have had sex with the teenager. In a letter sent Monday to Richmond Mayor Tom Butt and the City Council, the city manager, Bill Lindsay, reversed his earlier recommendation to fire the officer, citing a mandatory meeting between the officer and city officials that presented new information. Lindsay did not specify what the new information was, and he has not named any of the involved officers. The officer will instead be suspended for one month, Lindsay said. Of the 11 Richmond officers tied to Jasmine, two have been terminated from the force, and another officer was recommended for firing pending a similar review. Jasmine, originally known as Celeste Guap and whose mother was an Oakland police dispatcher, said she had sex with 29 officers from several Bay Area police agencies over a two-year span. Five other Richmond officers received reprimands for their involvement, Lindsay said. In his letter, Lindsay noted that despite the one officer with a lessened punishment, from termination to the one-month suspension the discipline he meted out across the board was in excess of the police departments own preliminary recommendations in October 2016. Three of the officers recommended by Lindsay for firing had originally been proposed for suspensions or other lesser discipline internally within the police department, he said. None of the 11 officers have faced criminal charges, and the Richmond police chief has previously said that while they may have broken the departments policies on ethics, the involved officers did not break any laws. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This article originally appeared on KSBW.com. Here's what Skyland Road near the Santa Cruz mountain summit looks like right now. The blue van driver left his house in Los Gatos to buy candles at a nearby store during Tuesday's atmospheric river-powered storm. When he drove to the store, the road was there. When he drove back, the road was gone. It was 10:20 p.m. and pitch black outside, so there was no way of seeing that Skyland Road had collapsed and washed down the mountainside. The van plummeted into a 100-foot-wide gap. Neighbor Philip Anderson said a tow truck attempted to haul the van out of the gap Wednesday afternoon, but the rain-soaked ground was too unstable. A nearby tree was also threatening to topple over. Amazingly, the van driver walked away from the crash uninjured. "He seemed to be OK," Anderson said. "It's pretty crazy." The van remained in the gap at 2 p.m. Residents are using Stetson Road was an alternate route. This article originally appeared on KSBW.com. The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to withdraw $3 billion in city operating funds from San Franciscos Wells Fargo in response to the banks financial backing of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The city will open a bidding process to find a new bank to hold its funds, but the new ordinance more widely aims to strengthen policies for conducting business with partners that are committed to fair business practices. The city must trust the practices and integrity of the institutions that handle our public funds, Councilwoman Debra Juarez said in a statement Friday. In October, Seattle canceled a $100 million bond deal with Wells Fargo, citing the banks practice of opening deposit and credit accounts without customer knowledge. Juarez called the bond cancellation a drop in a very big bucket, but added that withdrawing all city funds is a bigger hit to the bank. Co-sponsored by Kshama Sawant and Tim Burgess, the ordinance passed out of committee on an 8-0 vote. Outside City Hall, people rallied in support of the vote. Many in Seattle have protested the Dakota Access Pipeline, prompting the move to cut all ties with Wells Fargo because it has backed the project. Executives Autodesk CEO will step down The longtime CEO of design software company Autodesk is stepping down after reaching an agreement with activist investors. The San Rafael company said Tuesday that hedge fund Sachem Head Capital Management will vacate two board seats when a new CEO is named. Carl Bass will step down Wednesday, but still holds a seat on board of directors and will be nominated for re-election at the companys annual meeting. Crawford Beveridge will remain nonexecutive chairman of the board. In the Sachem Head agreement, Scott Ferguson and Jeff Clarke will resign from the board of directors. The company said Bass, who has led the company for more than a decade, and Autodesks board began discussing succession more than 18 months ago as part of the boards long-standing succession planning process. Economy Borrowing slows down Consumers increased their borrowing in December at the slowest pace in six months, as growth in credit card usage decelerated sharply. The Federal Reserve says total borrowing rose $14.2 billion in December, a slowdown from Novembers increase of $25.2 billion. Borrowing in the category that covers auto loans and student loans rose by $11.8 billion, just slightly below the $13.4 billion increase in November. But borrowing in the category that covers credit cards slowed to a gain of just $2.4 billion after a surge of $11.8 billion in November. It was the weakest showing since credit card debt had fallen last February. Data collection Vizio settles TV spying case New Jersey officials say television manufacturer Vizio and a subsidiary will pay $2.5 million to settle allegations that they surreptitiously tracked consumers viewing habits and sold the information to marketing companies and data brokers. The settlement announced Monday ends parallel investigations conducted by the state and the Federal Trade Commission into the use of data-collecting technology on Vizios smart TVs. The FTC will get $1.5 million and the state will receive $1 million. The state will suspend $300,000 in civil penalties included in its settlement amount if Vizio complies with the agreement. According to documents, Vizio and a subsidiary manufactured smart TVs that captured second-by-second information about video displayed on the sets. The data was sold to marketing companies and data brokers to measure viewing habits. Maps Waze widens carpool app Waze, the mapping company owned by Google, said the carpool option on its app is available in nine Bay Area counties and in cities including Sacramento and Monterey. People request rides through the Waze Rider app and pay no more than 54 cents per mile to Waze drivers who pick them up. The carpool option is offered in the Bay Area and Israel. Waze started testing ride-requesting in the Bay Area last year. Waze drivers can accept only two requests a day. Were not trying to enable carpoolers to make a living off of driving (a) carpool, said Josh Fried, head of business development for Waze Carpool. He declined to say how many people have used the service, but said the company is pleased with the progress so far. Waze said it is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, UCSF and Kaiser Permanente on carpools for employees. Earnings GM profit General Motors net profit fell just under 3 percent last year but the company made $12.5 billion ($6.12 per share). Revenue of $166 billion was up 9 percent. The company is benefiting from strong sales of higher-priced trucks and crossover SUVs, while cars are selling slowly. Chronicle News Services The $600 million scientific research initiative announced last year by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, has named a team of 47 researchers and engineers to study the prevention and treatment of human disease. The project, called Biohub, is a research center that will house engineers and scientists in varied disciplines from UCSF, UC Berkeley and Stanford University. It is part of a larger $3 billion philanthropic commitment from Zuckerberg and Chan aimed at improving treatments for disease. The newly named scientists whom Biohub calls investigators include experts in cancer research, genetics, psychiatric disorders and other specialties. Each will receive a five-year appointment and up to $1.5 million in funding to conduct research in their field of expertise making the Biohub investigator program a roughly $50 million project. The physical Biohub research center is scheduled to open by the end of February in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco. This is very focused on the Bay Area, said Joe DeRisi, co-director of Biohub and professor of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF. It was meant to bring together people from the three powerhouse institutions to collaborate in bold and new ways. Earlier this week, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced that it would donate $3.6 million to help alleviate the housing shortage in the Bay Area. Of the contribution, $3.1 million will go to Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto a nonprofit legal aid group that represents tenants facing displacement and $500,000 will go to UC Berkeleys Terner Center for Housing Innovation, which studies housing policy. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is the limited liability company into which Zuckerberg and Chan, a pediatrician, can transfer their Facebook shares. The for-profit entity has more flexibility to lobby, make political contributions and invest in companies than a charitable trust or foundation. Biohub is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity that operates separately from the initiative but is also funded by Chan and Zuckerberg. In January, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced that it will acquire Meta, a Canadian company that is developing artificial intelligence programs that help scientists analyze data. It also hired David Plouffe, President Barack Obamas former campaign manager, who left an executive post at Uber to become the initiatives president of policy and advocacy. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Cat__Ho The personal information of more than 10,000 patients of Verity Health may have been compromised after the website of the Redwood City health system was hacked. The information included patient names, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, medical record numbers and the last four digits of credit card numbers, dated between 2010 and 2014, Verity said. It did not include Social Security numbers. Verity is notifying the affected patients by mail. On Jan. 6, company officials detected an unauthorized breach on the Verity Medical Foundation-San Jose Medical Group website, which has since been shut down. An internal investigation showed the breach happened between October 2015 and January 2017. There is no evidence that the information has been used in an unauthorized fashion, the company said Tuesday. It is the third-largest breach of health information reported in 2017 in terms of the number of patients affected, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, which tracks hacking incidents of health systems affecting 500 or more people. This year, 24 such incidents have been reported to the department. Verity Health System takes the security of our patients information seriously, and we regret that this incident occurred, CEO Andrei Soran said in a statement. We took immediate steps to investigate this incident, notify the affected individuals and appropriate authorities, and ensure enhanced protection of our information systems. Verity Health runs six hospitals, including Seton in Daly City, Seton Coastside in Moss Beach, OConnor in San Jose, St. Louise in Gilroy and two in Southern California. It also includes Verity Medical Foundation and Verity Physician Network. The health system was known as Daughters of Charity before it was taken over by investment firm BlueMountain Capital Management in 2016. Verity is offering free credit monitoring services for affected patients for one year, and has set up a call center to answer questions. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Cat__Ho WOLFSBURG, Germany One of the first things Ole Harms did after taking over Volkswagens new ride-hailing startup was leave town. Staid Wolfsburg, Volkswagens home, was not the best place for the automaker to mount a defense against Silicon Valley challengers keen to upend the car industry, and he needed to move. Nobody knows how the world is going to look in the coming years, said Harms, a bearded 41-year-old dressed in a gray cardigan over a crisply pressed white shirt. The biggest skill you have to have is the ability to change. So he packed up and took his team to new digs in Berlin, where increasingly urgent attempts to tap into a growing tech scene are part of German carmakers efforts to ride a digital wave sweeping the industry before it rolls straight over them. Autonomous driving, electric cars and ride-hailing apps from the Bay Area, like Uber, are reshaping transportation. Young people no longer feel as compelled as previous generations to own cars. And Wall Street shows scant respect for automakers and their global manufacturing prowess: The market value of Alphabet, which is building a driverless car, is more than double that of BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen combined. At stake is the fate of the German economy, Europes largest, at a time when the region is only beginning to emerge from a decadelong economic malaise. Germany, in particular, is as dependent on its carmakers as Michigan is on Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Industry executives in Germany often cite how Apples iPhone quickly erased Nokias once-dominant position in the mobile handset market, and they are determined not to let something similar happen to them. I am convinced that we are going to see more change in the next 10 or 15 years than we have seen in the last 100 years, Peter Schwarzenbauer, a member of the BMW management board, said in a telephone interview. The big question is always, Do we car manufacturers learn to become tech companies more quickly than a tech company learns to be an automotive player? Non-German carmakers have readily embraced Silicon Valley through partnerships and investment deals. Fiat Chrysler, for instance, is working with Alphabets Waymo on self-driving cars. General Motors has poured $500 million into San Francisco ride-hailing service Lyft. And Volvo, the Swedish automaker owned by Geely of China, provided the chassis for Ubers recent driverless car tests. By contrast, Germanys automotive giants have favored a more confrontational approach. That has been backed by many locals, who have so far rebuffed Ubers aggressive local expansion plans that have often run roughshod over domestic regulation, and by German politicians eager to please some of the countrys biggest employers. BMW, for example, is working with Santa Claras Intel and Mobileye, an Israeli tech company, to develop a self-driving car of its own by early in the next decade. It has also formed a partnership with IBM to use artificial intelligence to allow vehicles to automatically adapt to their owners preferences. To combat the likes of Tesla, the Palo Alto electric automaker, BMW is planning to expand its iSeries line of battery-powered and hybrid vehicles. Since 2014, it has sold 100,000 of the i3 model, which runs on batteries and has a lightweight carbon fiber body. Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks, has similarly been investing in digital alternatives. Of the three automakers, it has also been the only one so far to become an active partner with Uber, albeit in a limited deal where it provides a set of its autonomous vehicles to the ride service. The German carmakers digital plans have led to increased collaboration among what have long been staunch rivals. In 2015, BMW, Daimler and Volkswagens Audi unit joined forces to buy Here, a digital mapping unit of Nokia, for around $3 billion. While not a household name, the Berlin company provides about 80 percent of the built-in navigation systems for cars in North America and Europe, and is the only large-scale competitor to Google Maps. The future of Germany as an industrial nation depends on how companies succeed in bringing the manufacturing and digital worlds together, said Frank Ridder, research leader for Germany, Austria and Switzerland for Gartner, a technology research firm. Taken together, the carmakers digital efforts are designed to rejuvenate Germanys vaunted industrial base. About one-fifth of the jobs in Germany are in manufacturing, double the portion in the United States. But factory jobs as a percentage of total employment have been declining for years, prompting the government to dole out hundreds of millions of euros in research and development funds to meld traditional manufacturing with the latest technology. The project, called Industry 4.0, reflects a dawning realization that Germanys historic success may not necessarily help the country thrive in a smartphone-centric world. The experience of Volkswagen is a case in point. The company, which is still dealing with its emissions cheating scandal, is the worlds biggest automaker, but was the slowest of the three to embrace the digital age, and is now trying to catch up. That is where Harms comes in. A former consultant at Capgemini, he joined the carmaker in 2008 and is now CEO of Moia, a new Volkswagen service that sits somewhere between ride-hailing services and traditional city bus networks. Moia has yet to sign any deals, but it is negotiating with cities including Hamburg and Berlin. It hopes to expand quickly into the United States and China. In smaller cities, Harms said, Moia could offer an inexpensive form of public transportation, even though rivals like Uber and Didi Chuxing, a Chinese ride-hailing service, are already well established in many of these locations. The whole mobility market transportation as a service is just at the beginning, Harms said. Jack Ewing and Mark Scott are New York Times writers. Dozens of supporters turned out Tuesday as Madison City Council members unanimously approved a resolution that designates the council office, along with public libraries, as a safe place where immigrants can get help in obtaining information and interpreter services. The meeting stretched into early Wednesday when the council also narrowly approved a controversial proposal that would effectively bar roadside panhandling along the terraces and medians of the citys busiest streets over safety concerns. The resolution condemns President Donald Trumps recent actions on immigration, reaffirms the citys support for immigrants and codifies current practice related to federal immigration enforcement. Tonight, I just wanted to come and tell you I am so grateful, said Fabiola Hamdan, who was born in Bolivia and is now a U.S. citizen. I am proud to be a citizen of this great city. Mayor Paul Soglin opposed an earlier version of the resolution that designated the council office on the fourth floor of City Hall a safe space where all residents would be safe and protected. Soglin said he was concerned about possible retribution that Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-led state Legislature could take. But at Tuesdays meeting, Soglin expressed support for the resolution after the language was altered. It allows us to maintain the very nature of what we are committed to doing without in any way creating a setback or an opportunity for someone else to unduly inflict harm or pain on us, he said. The beauty of it is that we are the ones who are within the law. We are the ones who are protecting the Constitution. Introduced by Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, 5th District, the resolution designates the council office a safe place, where all residents may readily obtain phone interpreter services and immigrant rights information. An amendment also designates Madison public libraries as similar places. This came from a place of knowing we need to stand together and strong, Bidar-Sielaff said. Were standing up to a state and federal government who are definitely ready to come after us. The resolution calls out Trumps executive orders to immediately start construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, deny federal funding to sanctuary cities, and bar visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries. A federal judge halted enforcement of the travel ban order on Friday. Laura Minero, a UW-Madison doctoral student, said shes an undocumented immigrant and that by passing the resolution, the council sends a message to other undocumented immigrants that they are accepted by the community. All we do and all we ask is to be a part of this community, she said. Council members voted 12 to 8 to approve the highway restriction change. The plan will prohibit people from entering a road to approach an operating car on roughly 90 of the citys most active roadways, while limiting people on medians to two consecutive opportunities to cross a street. It will also apply to the first 200 feet of any road with a median that intersects one of the streets named in the ordinance. Panhandlers, advertisers, campaigners and firefighters conducting donation drives could be affected by the change. Council members delayed a vote on the plan last month, citing concerns about how people would be educated on the change and asking for a future briefing on its enforcement. The fourth iteration of the plan will delay enforcement until 60 days after its passage. It also calls for a plan to educate people to be ready within three weeks of passage. Six months after enforcement begins, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval will need to brief the council on how many people were cited, if they have no permanent address, and other related data. Exceptions are built into the ordinance for law enforcement, city maintenance work and entering into a legally parked car, among other situations. Early last year, the city stopped enforcing its broad panhandling ordinance after court rulings shored up the First Amendment rights of panhandlers. President Trump says drug prices are astronomical and something needs to be done. Pharmaceutical giants have an answer that doesnt involve lowering list prices: refunding some of the money to insurers if a drug doesnt work as expected. The concept of pay-for-performance isnt new in the industry. But the number of such agreements between drugmakers and insurers has grown in the past year as Big Pharma seeks to defuse criticism over the soaring prices of some brand drugs, which can cost $10,000 a month or more for cancer treatments. The new administration talks about getting more value for less, said Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, CEO of Novo Nordisk, the worlds biggest maker of diabetes medicines. Outcomes-based contracting could be one of the elements. The drug industry is seeking to dodge Trumps most drastic threats to reduce prices, including forcing companies to bid for government business. Lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America plans to propose an outcomes-based price plan this month as part of its proposals to address drug pricing concerns. Executives have touted the idea during a big investor conference and on earnings calls, and brought it up unprompted in media interviews. The topic was also discussed when a group of top pharmaceutical CEOs met Trump at the White House last week. The buzzword of the day is value-based pricing paradigms, Brent Saunders, CEO of Allergan, said in January. While reimbursing part of the cost for a treatment that doesnt perform well sounds like a sensible solution, the concept is hard to execute. In conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol, results can be tracked with simple numerical measures. But it may be harder to pull off in areas like depression or cancer. Theres also little evidence that pay-for-performance will significantly lower drug prices overall. And one of the largest drug benefit managers in the country, Express Scripts, has criticized outcomes-based plans. Still, many insurance companies are intrigued. Cigna, for instance, has entered into seven outcomes-based deals since 2009, including two last year for injectable cholesterol-lowering drugs. Novo, based in Denmark, recently signed its first contract for the diabetes drug Victoza as part of a pilot project with Humana. At least five other companies have reached deals with various insurers in the past year, including Novartis, Merck, Amgen, Sanofi and Eli Lilly. Details on those agreements are proprietary, and remain scant. Swiss giant Novartis, one of the biggest boosters of the concept, has deals in place to refund four insurers, including Cigna and Humana, if its Entresto drug doesnt keep heart failure patients out the hospital. It is considering agreements for leukemia treatment Tasigna, which costs more than $12,000 a month, and multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya, which lists for about $6,700 monthly. Weve been able to get the best of both worlds, said Chris Bradbury, senior vice president of integrated clinical and specialty drug solutions at Cigna. The insurer gets competitive guaranteed discounts on prescriptions, and the manufacturer is aligned and accountable when something doesnt work. So far, all the drugs have performed up to expectations. Drugmakers have defended their prices, saying it helps fund research and development of life-saving medicines. Digital data and medical records helped make pay-for-performance popular, yet tracking the results remains difficult with conditions that have subjective metrics, like those in the central nervous system. Everyone likes the idea of outcomes-based contracting, but the contracts themselves are really complicated, said Mark Fendrick, director of the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design at the University of Michigan. While outcomes-based pricing is useful for some drugs, the obstacles to apply the concept across the board are nearly insurmountable, said Peter Bach of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. It could require calling patients in for additional tests they dont need merely to determine reimbursement. And because almost all of the details are proprietary, it is hard to know whether the programs are actually saving money, he said. It would lower some drug prices, but the idea that this is a panacea is unfounded, said Roger Longman, CEO of Real Endpoints, which analyzes drug reimbursements. There is a significant amount of hype around these deals. Steve Miller, chief medical officer at Express Scripts, agrees. The drug benefit manager prefers arrangements that refund money if a patient discontinues an expensive cancer or inflammation drug prematurely, rather than agreements that link discounts to hard-to-track results. Jared S. Hopkins, Robert Langreth and James Paton are Bloomberg writers. Email: jhopkins38@bloomberg.net, rlangreth@bloomberg.net, jpaton4@bloomberg.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 If you see a stranger wearing a pair of shoes that you like, a new feature on Pinterests mobile app will allow you take a picture of those shoes and in theory find them for you. It might even give you suggestions on how to wear them. If this sounds a bit like that chatty friend who tags along on every shopping trip, you have a sense of Pinterests enduring if quiet ambitions to take over commerce. CEO Ben Silbermann announced the new feature, Lens, at one of the companys South of Market offices Wednesday. The app uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to recognize objects such as home decor, food and clothing. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich and President Trump announced today that the company will invest $7 billion to complete an existing factory space in Arizona that has been idle for the past few years. The Chandler, Ariz. manufacturing plant, where Arizona has long had manufacturing operations, will be used to make computer chips. In a statement, Intel said the opening of the factory will lead to 3,000 high-tech, high-wage jobs and will create more than 10,000 long-term jobs in Arizona. "When they go low, we go high," Michelle Obama said in her final address as the First Lady of the United States. These Reddit users had some other ideas, and they took to the site to share their hilariously wicked acts of retribution. This story originally appeared on Hoodline. While hella has long been associated with the Bay Area, questions regarding its exact origin persist. Many locals say Oakland is the word's birthplace; with help from several linguists, we've uncovered evidence that backs up that claim. Strictly speaking, the word is a submodifier an adverb that gives an adjective more meaning, like "very," "extremely," or Southern California's totally. In practice, hella is also a "linguistic boundary" that separates the state, concluded UC Santa Barbara sociologist Mary Bucholtz in a 2007 paper. UC Berkeley Professor Sharon Inkelas told Hoodline that students from SoCal still report being surprised by hearing the word when they arrive on campus. "It must not be entrenched there yet," she said. "I've heard it goes up the west coast too, to Seattle, but can't confirm that." UCLA linguistics professor Pamela Munro has documented the word's usage on her campus since 1994, but "everyone seems to believe it originated in Northern California," she said. Linguist Ben Zimmer, a member of the American Dialect Society, said he believes "the earliest known printed usage" appears in an August 1986 interview with Metallica's James Hetfield in Bay Area skateboarding magazine Thrasher. "Metallica had moved to the East Bay a few years before that," notes Zimmer. "That's slightly earlier than first known use in rap lyrics Oakland's own Too $hort used it on the album Raw, Uncut and X-Rated, released in November 1986." Other linguists and etymologists have made similar reports. UC Berkeley linguist Geoff Nunberg told KQED that he traced the word back to Oakland based on two citations found in a Berkeley student's 1987 dissertation. Because slang often originates in African-American communities before crossing over to wider use, Nunberg said it was likely hella originated in Oakland. In The Journal of English Linguistics, Bucholtz affirms the word's East Bay origins, adding that it was adopted widely in the 1990s as West Coast rappers established themselves in pop culture. The Oxford English Dictionary added hella to its lexicon in 2002, defining it as a word used for emphasis, or to describe a large quantity. Although technically accurate, the OED fails to capture the emotion and sense of place the word evokes. As one Urban Dictionary user wrote, hella is "a statement of cultural identification, of a long-standing bond of trust and respect for fellow Northern Californians, and of a mutual understanding between you and the rest of the world that you are from... NorCal." Its not 10 cents anymore, but the Balboa Theatre has been determined to revive the old Saturday matinee feeling with its Popcorn Palace series. On a weekly basis, the 90-year-old Richmond District treasure offers up a classic safe for the whole family and 10 bucks gets you a ticket, popcorn and a drink. Steven Spielberg, in Phoenix, and George Lucas, in Modesto, likely saw their Saturday matinees in the 1950s at theaters very much like the Balboa. Their Indiana Jones series grew out of the love of those serials and B movies that were low in budget, but rich in imagination. So it seems natural that the Balboa is bringing back the series for the next three Saturdays, beginning with Raiders of the Lost Ark at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. The 1981 original is a nearly perfect movie that changed action films forever, with a rock-solid story and screenplay (by Bay Area filmmaker Philip Kaufman and Lawrence Kasdan, both terrific directors in their own right) and fresh characters Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) and a host of great character actors from John Rhys-Davies to Denholm Elliott. (Most of you already know this, but youd be surprised how many Millennials Ive encountered who have yet to see an Indiana Jones movie.) For the underrated Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Feb. 18), Lucas wanted to go much darker than the original, much as he had with The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in his Star Wars trilogy. He wanted Indy to suffer through a crisis of conscience, much as Luke Skywalker had in Empire. (The dream sequence in Empire, where Luke encounters Darth Vader, and finds his own face behind Vaders mask, is paralleled by Indys drugged-out trance administered by the Kali cult.) Maligned by many, but theres so much to like: A fantastic Busby Berkeley musical number to Cole Porters Anything Goes to open the film; a wonderful new character in Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), Indys 10-year-old helper who is a tribute to Sam Fullers Short Round character in the 1951 Korean War film The Steel Helmet; and a fantastic mine car chase done with mostly miniatures capped by a thrilling climax on a rope suspension bridge. It contains some of Spielbergs best action work. The conventional wisdom holds that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Feb. 25), which imagined Sean Connery as Indys father, as the far better film than Temple of Doom. Not true. Last Crusade also a wonderful film is a little too light; its almost a comedy first, action film second. But Connerys magnetism gives it much-needed heft. To think that Lucas, Spielberg and Ford are supposedly getting together to make another Indiana Jones movie scheduled for a 2019 release, when Ford would be 77, just goes to show, you never get too old for Saturday matinees. At the Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa St., S.F. (415) 221-8184. www.cinemasf.com/balboa Hippie Modernism: Cinema and Counterculture, 1964-74: Screening in conjunction with the Berkeley Art Museums new exhibition Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia, this movie series examines the groundbreaking, politically charged independent cinema that flowered in a turbulent time. Take Medium Cool (8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12), Haskell Wexlers brilliant tale of a photographer (Robert Forster of Jackie Brown) covering the chaotic 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago filmed documentary-style during the actual convention. The series, which runs through May 11, includes two Rolling Stones documentaries, one by Jean-Luc Godard (Sympathy for the Devil, Feb. 18) and one by Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter, Feb. 19); Michelangelo Antonionis fascinating head-scratcher Zabriskie Point (March 4, March 19); and Alejandro Jodorowskys midnight movie acid trip The Holy Mountain (May 7). At Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St., Berkeley. (510) 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu Nightclubbing: Downtown New York, 1975-80: Picking up where the hippies left off, the punk and alternative music scene thrived as an anarchic counterpoint to the disco-fueled club scene of Studio 54. This four-program weekend series opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, with Punk and New Wave, a collage of performances by Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, Bad Brains and the Dead Boys, among others. Many other bands, including San Franciscos the Dead Kennedys and the Offs, are featured in the series that runs through Sunday, Feb. 12. At Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. (415) 978-2787. www.ybca.org When Harry Met Sally ... : Yup, Ill have what shes having too, as the Rob Reiner-Billy Crystal-Meg Ryan comedy classic is this months Cerrito Classic series pick at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. At Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, 10070 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito. (510) 273-9102. www.rialtocinemas.com Ernst Lubitsch series: The German-born Golden Age Hollywood director of sophisticated comedies and musicals that were so distinctive they were said to have the Lubitsch touch is celebrated with a series that runs through March 26 at the Stanford Theatre. On deck: a pair of Jeanette MacDonald musicals, The Love Parade and Monte Carlo, on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12. 221 University Ave., Palo Alto. (650) 324-3700. www.stanfordtheatre.org G. Allen Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ajohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BRfilmsAllen NEW ORLEANS Dwight Powell lost his Lexus to the massive tornado that injured 33 people and destroyed or seriously damaged 940 properties on a half-mile-wide rampage through 2 miles of east New Orleans. He had just parked it inside his garage to avoid hail damage when the twister struck. At least his Yukon pickup truck would be OK, he thought: It was in a friends repair shop, 60 miles north. Then his phone rang. The man called me this morning and said, Man, the tornado hit your truck, Powell said Wednesday. Thats a bad joke to tell a friend who just lost his house, he told him. But it wasnt. The truck was slammed by another tornado that hit Donaldsonville, one of at least five confirmed twisters tearing up Louisiana on Tuesday as a line of severe weather moved across the Deep South. Ive got to pick up the pieces and walk in faith. God is going to take care of me, Powell said Wednesday. Other tornadoes injured nine people in the Baton Rouge area and two north of Lake Pontchartrain, but nobody was killed, authorities said. Parts of the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama also saw severe weather Wednesday, but no injuries. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Wednesday that two people remained hospitalized and that 78 people spent Tuesday night in a shelter. His statement also said that two-thirds of the 10,400 Entergy customers who lost power have had their electricity restored and that the rest may have to wait up to five days before getting their lights back on. He also said that he asked Gov. John Bel Edwards to keep the 150 members of the Louisiana National Guard assigned to New Orleans in town until after Mardi Gras, which wraps up Feb. 28. National Weather Service teams fanned out Wednesday in Louisiana and Mississippi, analyzing the destruction. They determined that the twister that struck eastern New Orleans was an EF3 on the enhanced Fujita scale, meaning its winds reached from 136 to 165 mph, capable of causing severe damage. Janet McConnaughey is an Associated Press writer. The first federal appeals court to consider President Trumps ban on travel to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries held a contentious hearing Tuesday and appeared, in the end, to be leaning against reinstating Trumps order, which has been suspended by a federal judge. During the one-hour session of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in San Francisco, the three-judge panel focused on the critical question of whether Trumps Jan. 27 executive order, which also halted admission of all refugees, was a national security decision immune from lawsuits or judicial review. Yes, argued Justice Department attorney August Flentje. The president is the official that is charged with making those judgments, he said. Are you arguing, then, that the presidents decision in that regard is unreviewable? asked Judge Michelle Friedland in apparent disbelief. Later, she cited evidence offered by the states of Washington and Minnesota, which filed the suit, that Trumps order was a camouflaged version of his call during the presidential campaign for a ban on Muslim immigration. Judge William Canby chimed in, asking Flentje: Could the president simply say in the order, Were not going to let any Muslims in? The government lawyer called the question irrelevant to the case. And when Flentje said Congress and former President Barack Obama had identified the same seven nations as trouble spots in a law requiring their emigrants to obtain visas, Canby pointed out that the government screens visa holders and had not uncovered any federal crimes by anyone from those countries. The third judge, Richard Clifton, agreed with his colleagues that Trumps order was subject to court review but appeared less skeptical of the justifications offered by the government. Its possible to ban people from countries without a religious motive, Clifton said. The vast majority of Muslims seeking U.S. entry would not be affected by the seven-nation order, he said, and the administrations concern for terrorism by those Islamic sects in the seven countries would be hard to deny. He also appeared to endorse a suggestion by Flentje that if the court was not willing to reinstate all of Trumps order, it should at least allow him to apply the ban to people from the seven nations who had not yet entered the U.S. or obtained visas. Friedland was appointed by Obama, Canby by another Democrat, Jimmy Carter, and Clifton by Republican George W. Bush. The panel is expected to issue a ruling in the next few days, and the losing side is likely to appeal immediately to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trumps order banned U.S. entry for 90 days for anyone from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen. It also placed a 120-day ban on all U.S. admission of refugees who are fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries and indefinitely suspended admission of refugees from Syria. Once the refugee ban expires, the presidents order said, the U.S. will give priority to admission of religious minorities who claim persecution in their homeland. That provision was worded neutrally, but Trump told a Christian Broadcasting Network interviewer that his intent was to protect Christians in majority-Muslim countries. The order, issued without warning, had a widespread and tumultuous impact, disrupting plans of migrants and refugees who had taken years, in some cases, to win U.S. approval to enter the country. Trump said only 109 would-be entrants had been detained and held for questioning. But a Justice Department lawyer later estimated that 100,000 previously valid visas had been revoked, while a State Department official put the number at 60,000. The executive order also appeared to apply to legal U.S. residents with green cards that allow them to work, but the administration later said green card holders were not covered by the order. Parts of the presidents order were briefly blocked by a half-dozen federal judges in suits around the nation, but Fridays decision by U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle suspended the entire order nationwide. Robart said lawyers for Washington and Minnesota were likely to prove that Trumps order discriminated against Muslims. Their evidence included his singling out of Muslim-majority countries, his pre-election call for a ban on all Muslim immigration, his Jan. 27 comments about fighting radical Islamic terrorism and protecting Christians, and a Jan. 28 television interview during which former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Trump adviser, said the president wanted a Muslim ban and asked him to find a way to do it legally. Flentje, the Justice Department lawyer, dismissed that evidence in Tuesdays telephone hearing, saying judges shouldnt overturn the presidents order based on some newspaper articles. Pressed by Clifton, Flentje didnt dispute that the statements had been made but said only affected individuals and not the states had the right to sue for discrimination. But Robart said in his ruling that the travel ban, by stranding some people overseas and forcing others to cancel plans to leave the country, was causing financial hardship to the states residents and to institutions like state universities and hospitals. Thousands of residents of the two states have been affected, Washington states lawyer, Noah Purcell, told the appeals court. Its the federal government that is asking to overturn the status quo, he said. At this point, things have slowly gotten back to normal. In response to Cliftons observation that most Muslim would-be immigrants would be unaffected by the seven-nation ban, Purcell said a presidential order motivated by religious discrimination is a constitutional violation that must be prohibited nationwide. Robart, meanwhile, has asked for written arguments through Feb. 17 on whether he should issue a preliminary injunction that would block Trumps order indefinitely. An injunction, if issued, could be appealed in an extended process that could lead to a definitive Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the executive order. WASHINGTON Pondering new restrictions on how the Environmental Protection Agency can use scientific data, congressional Republicans are seeking advice from the chemical and fossil fuel industries. House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith this week accused the Obama administration of relying on faulty and falsified data to justify new regulations, such as limiting carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Texas Republican has been a frequent critic of climate science showing the world is warming and that man-made carbon emissions are to blame. WASHINGTON President Trumps immigration and travel ban made an awful lot of sense but probably should have been delayed at least long enough to brief Congress about it, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told lawmakers Tuesday. Kellys comment to the House Homeland Security Committee was the most direct acknowledgment by a high-level administration official that the rollout of Trumps executive order had been mishandled. In retrospect, I should have this is all on me, by the way I should have delayed it just a bit so that I could talk to members of Congress, particularly to the leadership of committees like this, to prepare them for what was coming, Kelly said in his first public meeting with lawmakers since being confirmed by the Senate last month. Trumps executive order temporarily stopped citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. and also temporarily barred the admission of refugees. A court has blocked the order, but the administration is appealing. Kelly defended the order, saying it will enhance public safety for all our citizens, but said in hindsight he would have delayed its launch by a day or two. Kelly was put on the defensive by Democratic lawmakers who have argued that the travel ban is inhumane, counterproductive and essentially a Muslim ban an allegation Kelly repeatedly denied. Kelly referred to the order as a pause that would give the U.S. government time to fully evaluate how would-be visitors and refugees are being vetted before they are allowed into the country. The Trump administration, including Justice Department lawyers defending the order in a federal appeals court, has said the travel ban was necessary to keep would-be terrorists out of the country. Pressed by Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committees ranking Democrat, to address the presidents claim, Kelly said only that the government wont know for sure if someone with bad intentions entered the U.S. until the boom, referring to a possible attack. Kelly also addressed questions about the Trump administrations plans for a wall along the border with Mexico. He did not address how any new walls or fencing would be paid for but wouldnt rule out barriers in places including the rugged Big Bend area of Texas, parts of which are marked by towering jagged cliffs on either side of the Rio Grande. Alicia A. Caldwell and Kevin Freking are Associated Press writers. There will be no ruling Wednesday on whether to reinstate President Trumps ban on travel to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard arguments by telephone Tuesday, said at midday that no decision would be issued by the end of the day. WASHINGTON Just hours after President Trump complained that journalists often didnt report on terrorist attacks on Monday, the White House released a list of 78 attacks that were underreported by the press from September 2014 through December 2016. It was a wide-ranging but at times hard-to-understand list, with a number of spelling mistakes that suggested that it may have been drawn up hastily. The November 2015 attacks in Paris which left at least 129 dead were included, for example, even though they were on the front cover of many newspapers around the world and led cable news coverage for hours, if not days. Though some more obscure attacks were included, too the next incident listed on the White Houses document is an attack in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, that left an Italian priest wounded many critics argued that the lists focus on Islamic State-inspired attacks meant that its omissions were glaring. The Madison School District is at risk of missing out on its $16 million share of proposed new school spending Gov. Scott Walker has included in his two-year budget plan. Thats because Walker is attaching a major string to that $649 million: Districts must be in full compliance with the governors 2011 law shifting more pension and health insurance costs onto employees. The law, known as Act 10, required local governments who offer a state health insurance plan to their employees to pay no more than 88 percent of the average premiums. Walkers 2017-19 state budget will now require the same of all school districts, regardless of which health insurance plans they offer. That spells trouble for the Madison School District, which for years after Act 10 was enacted didnt require staff to pay any portion of their health insurance costs. The district does now require employees to pay something toward their monthly health insurance premiums, but the contributions do not reach the 12 percent threshold Walker proposed. The contribution levels in Madison range from 1.5 percent for lower-paid staff to 10 percent for school district administrators. While we have not done an exhaustive review, we are only aware of the Madison School District that did not capture the reform savings, said Walkers spokesman Jack Jablonski. If the Madison School Board does not make the change, the district could be left out of the funding increase of $200 per student in the first year of the biennium and $404 in the second year amounting to more than $16 million the district would not receive. Mike Barry, the Madison School Districts budget director, said district officials and school board members would need to discuss the governors proposal before considering next steps. We understand the idea of efficient use of taxpayer resources, said Barry. Weve come at it the Madison way and we think weve been successful. Barry said while the districts employee contributions do not meet the 12 percent level, the health insurance plan renewals with the districts three HMOs have had no financial impact on the district in the past two budgets. He emphasized the strategy has been considered successful for the district. Compliance with Act 10 Under Walkers budget, the district would get a $5.5 million increase in the first year and a $5.6 million increase in the second year, based on 2016 enrollment figures. If lawmakers agree, school districts will be required to certify compliance with Act 10 with the Department of Public Instruction before receiving the funds. The Madison School District and Walker have been at odds in regard to Act 10 since it was first proposed. Its teachers union, Madison Teachers Inc., was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that unsuccessfully challenged the law. Since the law was adopted, and after the districts collective bargaining contracts with its employees expired, school board members continued to keep employees from paying toward health insurance costs until last year, when teachers began to pay 3 percent of their premiums. Board member T.J. Mertz said the proposal undermines the boards ability to exercise local control. (Supporters) of Act 10 have touted the idea of districts being able to compete for teachers, and teachers being able to make choices, Mertz said. The combination of salary and benefits in the compensation package is one way districts can position themselves in this market. Longtime board member Ed Hughes said the boards approach to employee contributions to health care costs has been supported in the community. Im proud of the collaborative working relationship weve forged with our teachers thats delivered balanced budgets, kept a lid on health insurance costs and earned strong community support, said Hughes. Well persist and keep working together no matter what Gov. Walker throws at us. State Superintendent Tony Evers said he believes the Madison School District should be allowed to make decisions about how it spends its money. Madison School District might be making cuts in other areas in order to keep that insurance plan that they have, said Evers. Evers said he is not concerned about being put in charge of determining whether districts are compliant but is concerned about another piece of local control being taken away. Eighty-eight percent might be a magic number to some; Im not sure it is for every school district, Evers said. Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, said the governor is forcing the Madison district to not adequately compensate our teachers; not adequately give them benefits. Hes basically forcing us to cut teachers salary to get more money for our public school kids here in Dane County, which is absolutely outrageous, she said. Republican lawmakers, however, were supportive of the proposal. I definitely support the idea of making sure that people are using the tools we gave them, said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. If were going to continue to invest more and more state resources, they have to at least find ways to help us share the burden by reducing costs, asking employees to pay a small amount for their pension, their health care. Repeals of mandates for districts: Walkers budget also recommends repealing the minimum hours of instruction for public schools, required monthly school board meetings and the requirement that school district administrators have contract terms of two years, among other mandates. Limits on raising revenue: The budget also eliminates one way school districts have raised property taxes despite state-imposed limits on overall revenue. Since 2009, school districts have been able to spend above their revenue caps without first going to voters if the money is being used for projects intended to improve energy efficiency in the district. But districts rarely took advantage until 2012, when Walker and Republican lawmakers tightened revenue limits. Walkers budget proposal said property levies associated with the revenue limit exemption grew 115 percent in the last three years and in 2016 alone, districts were authorized to spend $327 million above revenue caps. Teacher licensing changes: Wisconsin teachers also will no longer need to renew their licenses to teach in classrooms if lawmakers agree to Walkers proposal. Currently, teachers must renew their licenses every five years. Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday called for nearly $600 million in reduced taxes and fees along with significant new spending in areas where he made sizable cuts in the past as part of his $76.1 billion two-year budget proposal. Total spending under the plan would grow by nearly $2 billion, or 4.2 percent over the previous two-year budget. Taxpayer-supported spending would increase nearly $600 million. The total number of state employees, who would receive two 2 percent raises and have their health care managed and paid for by the state, would increase by about 262 positions, including about 20 taxpayer-supported positions. The budget includes several changes to state government, including proposals to self-insure all employees, centralize more agency administrative functions under the Department of Administration and eliminate printing and mailing requirements in several areas. Walker is presuming self-insuring workers would save the state $60 million over two years, though previous studies have suggested the move could have the opposite effect and cost the state more. If savings dont materialize the state would pull back on the more than half-billion dollars in new funding for K-12 schools. Republican lawmakers expressed skepticism at both the self-insurance proposal and the large increase in K-12 spending. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the Legislatures budget might reduce Walkers boost to K-12 education to fund other priorities, such as cuts to taxes on utilities and some business property. Theres a lot of different priorities, Fitzgerald said. We should be cautious and wait to see the finance committee work through those dollars to see exactly what can we get support for. Walker plans to keep most ongoing major highway projects on track, partly by ending a wage-floor requirement for workers on state-funded construction projects, known as the prevailing wage, and by paying off debt and diverting petroleum inspection fees used for paying that debt through 2026, a move expected to save $431 million over that period. The state would close a nearly $1 billion roads shortfall over the next two years by borrowing $500 million the smallest amount since 2001-03 and pushing back major projects in southeast Wisconsin, such as a reconstruction of Interstate 94 between Madison and Milwaukee and part of the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee County. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, reiterated his support for increasing the gas tax, which Walkers budget does not do. He also emphasized his opposition to a 5 percent University of Wisconsin System tuition cut Walker has proposed, saying money should go to financial aid. Just because hes the governor doesnt mean that we just salute, Vos said. Tax cut details Walker is proposing to cut the states two lowest income tax rates by a tenth of a percentage point to 3.9 percent and 5.74 percent and increase the amount of income taxed at the second-lowest rate by about $30,000. A median income four-person family making about $86,000 a year would save $139 over two years, while state revenues would decline by $203 million under the proposal. Walker is also seeking to make good on a promise to reduce property taxes below 2010 levels by eliminating a state forestry property tax that brings in about $90 million a year and paying for the programs it funds with other state tax revenue; boosting a property tax credit by $87 million; and increasing aid to school districts by $72 million, which, paired with a state-imposed lid on district revenues, will drive down property taxes. Walker also plans to create a sales tax holiday in August on certain school supplies, clothing and computers, estimated to cost the state about $11 million in lost sales tax revenue. His budget also increases a tax credit for low-income working families with one child and increases the Homestead Tax Credit for seniors and the disabled. The increased funding for K-12 schools, the UW System and in the earned income tax and homestead credits are in areas where Walker has proposed deep cuts in the past. Walker said common sense reforms and wise fiscal management in previous budgets have led to a strong economy and a positive outlook going into the next budget. We call this the reform dividend, Walker said during an address Wednesday to a joint session of the Legislature. And wow, as the Fiscal Bureau pointed out, thats a whole lot of money. Walkers spending plan for the two years that begin July 1 will first go to the Legislatures 16-member Joint Finance Committee, made up of 12 Republicans and four Democrats, where it likely will undergo several changes. The Republican-controlled Senate and Assembly will then have an opportunity to make further changes. During those deliberations the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau will provide updated revenue projections, which Fitzgerald said could result in more revenues or less. Structural deficit ahead Walker adds $20 million to the states rainy day fund, pushing it above $300 million, and the state would end the 2019 fiscal year with an $8 million balance. However, he also packs a lot of the new spending and tax cuts into the second year of the biennium, which contributes to a structural deficit the amount of money the state expects to spend relative to revenues if nothing changes in 2019-21 of $738 million. The $76 billion total spending figure is $8 billion more than what Walker proposed in each of his last two budgets before the Legislature made changes. Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said increases in this budget are largely driven by increases for K-12 funding, Medicaid and tax relief. Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, budget committee co-chairman, said hes concerned about increasing state spending. When you talk to citizens they arent so concerned about the total number, theyre concerned about first of all funding their priorities, things that are important to them, and then their overall tax burden, Nygren said. So Im not going to get caught up in the size of the number, but I am concerned about the trajectory of spending. Nygren said areas where the Legislature could differ with Walker include the UW tuition cut, how to fund transportation and self-insurance. Nygren said the budget committee would hold a hearing on self-insurance, which could negatively affect the states health insurance market. For the 2017-19 state budget, Walker and lawmakers are working with revenue estimates that are about $700 million better than expected in the fall when agencies prepared their budget requests. The better budgeting position comes from improved economic forecasts since the November presidential election, which translates to higher tax collection projections and lower-than-anticipated Medicaid costs. Election on horizon The new spending for public schools and universities and numerous other government operations comes as Walker is mulling a third term and as his approval rating hovers around 40 percent. His 44 percent rating last October was its highest since early 2015, when he embarked on a failed bid for the presidency and engineered a 2015-17 state budget that included unpopular cuts to K-12 schools and the UW System. What we saw today is what you might expect from somebody who is getting ready to run, said Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, who is mulling a challenge in 2018. On Wednesday, ahead of Walkers budget release, Democratic lawmakers who sit on the budget-writing committee said Walkers proposals were too little and too late. When asked whether Democratic lawmakers think Walkers proposal to add $649 million in new spending for schools is a bad idea, Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said the proposal signals Walker is pushing difficult budget decisions to the Legislature. Is it real? said Taylor. Or is he specifically punting so the Legislature has to govern? Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, also criticized the priorities of Walkers budget proposal, saying it likely wont address the transportation budget deficit. The governor is choosing re-election over safe roads and bridges here in the state of Wisconsin, Erpenbach said. According to USGS experts, this is even more dangerous than it looks. But Hawaii native Kawika Singson looks right at home swimming next to the lava zone on Hawaii's Big Island. The video Singson posted on YouTube shows steam coming off the rocks as the water comes into contact with the hot lava. Conditions weren't exactly calm that day. As each wave hits, Singson was thrashed around, often getting far too close for comfort to the lava zone. Experts advise you should never get too close to a lava zone because the steam it emits when it mixes with water can be harmful to your health. "It's super-heated steam laced with hydrochloric acid from the interaction with the seawater and has shards of volcanic glass," USGS geologist Janet Babb said. "It's something to be avoided." According to the USGS, lava continually pours into the ocean from Kilauea at East Kupapa'u and Kamoamoa. In January, a "firehose" of lava was seen shooting into the ocean on the southeast side of the Big Island. The USGS says lava is over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit but surrounding water doesn't reach a boiling point because the volume of water cools the lava very quickly. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unleashed a new feminist battle cry on the Senate floor on Tuesday. "Nevertheless, she persisted." The Kentucky Senator said these words when he called on an arcane rule to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in the middle of her speech criticizing attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. Warren was reading a 30-year-old letter from from Dr. Martin Luther King's widow that dated to Sen. Jeff Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago, when McConell made a statement that inspired thousands of tweeets and a trending hashtag #neverthelessshepersisted. "Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech," he said. "She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." RELATED VIDEO: Sen. Warren reads Coretta Scott King's letter on Sessions Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Sessions, though senators have said far worse stuff. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate. Still, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions' nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. Warren argued: "I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. I'm simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her." Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by former Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that labeled Sessions a disgrace. Democrats pointed out that McConnell didn't object when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. The episode was followed by lamentations by Senate veterans, including its most senior Republican, Orrin Hatch of Utah, about how the Senate is too partisan. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wisconsin will move to self-insure state workers beginning next year after the controversial plan was adopted Wednesday by the Group Insurance Board, but it still must be approved by the state Legislatures budget committee. After years of discussing the idea, the insurance board voted 10-1 to change the way the state finances a $1.5 billion health insurance program that covers about 250,000 state and some local government workers and their dependents. Instead of paying premiums to 17 HMOs, which accept the risk for medical claims, the state intends to pay benefits directly and take on the risk. Well be leaving money on the table if in the end we do not move to (this) model, said Michael Heifetz, a board member who is state Medicaid director. What the board is doing is controlling more of what it can control, rather than ceding that authority to folks with whom we contract. Under the plan, Dean Health Plan, part of SSM Health, and Quartz, which includes UW Healths Unity Health Plan, will administer the self-insured program in Dane County and surrounding counties. Network Health Administrative Services and Compcare Health Services Insurance, run by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, will serve the eastern part of the state. Security Administrative Services will operate in the north and HealthPartners Administrators in the west. Compcare will run a statewide option. The move should save $60 million over the next two years and retain access to 98 percent of medical providers, the insurance board said. Gov. Scott Walkers 2017-19 budget proposal, released Wednesday, incorporates the anticipated savings. Walker has said savings from self-insurance will be used on public education. Consultants hired by the state have said self-insurance could cost $100 million a year or save $42 million a year, largely by avoiding $18 million in Affordable Care Act fees, cutting $11 million in administrative costs and eliminating $11 million in insurance company profits. Rick Badger, executive director of AFSCME Council 32, which represents thousands of front-line state workers, criticized the insurance boards action. At a time when the future of health care in the U.S. could not be more unpredictable, Wisconsin is preparing to take a dangerous leap of faith, Badger said. Appointees of the governor are pulling numbers out of thin air to help the governor pretend to balance his next budget. The Wisconsin Association of Health Plans, which represents many of the 17 HMOs in the current system, opposes self-insurance, saying it would disrupt the states competitive insurance market and regional health care systems, which own many of the HMOs. The Group Insurance Board chose to abandon market competition and consumer choice in favor of consolidation, more government control and new financial risk for the state, said Phil Dougherty, spokesman for the health plan association. Other health care groups, including the Wisconsin Hospital Association and the Wisconsin Medical Society, asked Walker in November to consider how the shift to self-insurance could impact the states health care market and economy. The state worker program makes up about 15 percent of the states fully insured health insurance market, in which insurers carry the risk. Removing that business could drive up insurance costs for others, critics of self-insurance say. Heifetz said, however, such a cost shift could mean the state is currently overpaying for benefits to state workers. We have a fiduciary responsibility to our members and to the taxpayers, not to our stakeholders out here in the audience, he said. Dane County is home to nearly 100,000 of the 250,000 people in the program. The county residents are mostly covered by Dean Health Plan, part of SSM Health; Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin; Physicians Plus, part of UnityPoint Health; and Unity, part of UW Health. Physicians Plus is merging with Unity, so Group Health is the only company not included under the self-insurance plan. Officials with Group Health, where about 15,000 of its 75,000 members are part of the state worker program, declined comment Wednesday. WEA Trust, which is based in Madison and involved in the state worker health plan outside of Dane County, bid for self-insurance business but was not selected. About 22,000 of WEA Trusts 82,000 members are in the state worker health plan. Losing the business could have a fairly sizable impact, spokesman Kyle Humphrey said. But, he said, theres a lot of opportunity that this kind of uncertainty can create. WPS Health Insurance in Monona, which administers a small state worker health plan that is already self-insured, didnt bid to be in the new program. The Legislatures Joint Finance Committee has oversight over any self-insurance contract for state workers. The committee needs to approve self-insurance contracts by May 1 in order to implement the change by January as planned, according to the state Department of Employee Trust Funds. Leaders of the budget committee have expressed skepticism about self-insurance. We have only scratched the surface on improvements to the current fully insured state health insurance program that can be made without causing significant disruption in Wisconsins insurance marketplace, Sen. Albert Darling, R-River Hills, and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, wrote in a letter in December to Michael Farrell, chairman of the insurance board. The insurance board, which is largely controlled by the governor, had several options to consider, including leaving the existing system largely in place. All options would include some changes, however, such as establishing more quality measures for insurers and requiring three-year contracts instead of annual contracts. The options were structured to achieve comparable cost savings, ETF staff said. Walkers proposed budget contains another item affecting some state workers. Domestic partnership benefits would be eliminated because all couples can now get such benefits through marriage, Walker said. The move would save $6.9 million over two years, the budget says. In other action, the insurance board delayed a vote on whether to drop one of four health plan options offered to local governments that join the state worker health program. Two of the remaining three options mirror those offered to state workers, and the other is a richer, more expensive plan with no deductibles or co-payments. Local government workers and dependents, including about 7,000 City of Madison employees and family members, make up about 39,000 of the 250,000 people in the state worker program. Trimming options for local workers would make the program easier for the state to administer, ETF staff said. But staff said Wednesday the move should be done in 2019, not in 2018 as originally proposed. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said the change could cause the city to leave the program. Switching to the expensive plan would cost the city $2.4 million, and shifting to one of the other plans would cost the city $600,000 and increase out-of-pocket costs for employees, Soglin said. The other option would be a high-deductible plan that would cost workers even more. In this time of great uncertainty surrounding health care in our nation, the elimination of this option for health insurance by the Group Insurance Board seems less than well thought out, Soglin said Monday in an email to city employees. The student government at Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit college in the South Bay, has voted not to pass a proposal to legitimize a chapter of Turning Point USA on campus. Turning Point USA, which states on its site that it is nonpartisan and exists to promote the "importance of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government," drew criticism for creating a "Professor Watchlist" in late 2016. The Watchlist's About page, which doesn't reiterate Turning Point's nonpartisan claim, states that its mission is to "expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom." Offenses that landed professors on the Watchlist included calling Vice President Mike Pence "anti-gay," being pro-Palestine, or aggressively encouraging students to address climate change. Nevertheless, the Watchlist was not the student government's most immediate concern (though the student senators did ask whether or not the petitioners backed it they did). Rather, the SCU senators expressed worry that the petitioners' claim to keep the club focused on fiscal issues would not hold, as Turning Point's parent body has been outspoken on social issues as well. Given the current tense nature of political conversation, some also stated that validating such a group would make Santa Clara students "uncomfortable" because "the [parent group's] economics and the social aspects cannot be separated." Still, there were challenges, primarily from those who invoked the need for freedom of speech. "Fundamentally their viewpoints don't matter; it is their ability to speak out as an organization," said At-Large Senator Ahmer Israr. "We should allow all views to be represented. Conservative students are also a minority group on campus and don't feel comfortable speaking in class." Ultimately, the naysayers won, following a point by an At-Large Senator, Ye Chit Ko. "Free speech has been brought up a lot," he said, "and we need to draw the line between free speech and hate speech." The group was not made official as a result of the vote, meaning that while the group can still gather (and is already recognized as a chapter by Turning Point), it won't be able to utilize school resources. President Trump on Wednesday morning leaned on the judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in San Francisco, anticipating they will uphold a ruling against his executive order banning travel to the United States by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. If these judges wanted to - in my opinion - help the court in terms of respect for the court, theyd do what they should be doing. I mean, Its so sad, Trump said at a meeting with the National Sheriffs Association. More than 50 California leaders of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and venture capital firms have signed a letter opposing President Trumps temporary ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, as uproar over the presidents executive order continues. The letter, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on Tuesday, says the order threatens to compromise the biotech industrys ability to keep developing innovative medicines and treatments. It cites a 2014 study that found that 52 percent of the 69,000 biomedical researchers in the United States are foreign-born. Trumps order was poorly conceived and implemented and has raised deep fears and concerns across the biotech industry, in which diversity and the free flow of ideas and people have created an American powerhouse of medicine, says the letter, which was signed by 166 leaders and founders of biotechnology firms nationwide. Our colleagues who are here on visas or are in global outposts are now fearful and uncertain of their status, the letter says. Scientists based in other countries and employed by our companies are afraid to come to the United States or are canceling trips. The parents and families of immigrants who live and work in the United States are reluctant to attempt to travel to and from the United States. Bay Area signatories include executives at Cytokinetics, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Canaan Partners and Chrono Therapeutics. Industry leaders at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Princeton University also signed on. The letter comes on the heels of an aggressive move by major tech companies including Apple, Google, Twitter, Facebook who jointly filed a legal brief Sunday opposing the executive order in federal appeals court. The executive order, signed by Trump on Jan. 27, barred people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for at least 90 days; imposed a 120-day ban on refugees fleeing violence and persecution; and indefinitely suspended U.S. admission of refugees from Syria. It drew immediate and widespread criticism, prompting thousands of people to protest the policy at airports around the world. Trump has said the policy is necessary for the nations security. The immediate fate of the order is now being considered by three judges on the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, who heard oral arguments on the case Tuesday. The lawsuit challenging the order was originally filed Friday by the attorneys general of Minnesota and Washington state, who argued that the travel ban is discriminatory. A federal judge in Seattle temporarily halted enforcement of the order Friday; that ruling is now being reviewed by the Ninth Circuit. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Cat__Ho This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A concerned citizen unfamiliar with the interior layout of Tesla cars erroneously reported a kidnapping in progress, police say. Police in the Santa Clarita Valley town of Newhall received a call on Feb. 4 that someone was loading a child into the "trunk" of a Tesla, possibly to kidnap them. When cops arrived on the scene, they realized the good Samaritan's mistake. "It was not a kidnapping," Lt. Rob Hahnlein told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. "The new Teslas have a weird back seat and when they put the (child) in the back seat it looked like they were putting them in the trunk." The seats aren't exactly new, though. As far back as 2013, Tesla Model S cars have offered the ability to seat seven. The third row of backwards-facing seats cost extra and are really only suited to children; there's not much room back there for most adults. Unfortunately for that Tesla driver, they got a rather shocking cop stop that day. The sheriff's department said they detained the driver at gunpoint while they assessed the situation. More for you Self-driving cars are getting smarter, reports show The Signal reports that the driver had to get out and show "law enforcement officials how a passerby might mistake the incident as an abduction due to the design of the back seat." "We're not Tesla experts," Hahnlein said. MANILA President Rodrigo Duterte dressed down more than 200 police officers on national television Tuesday, presenting them with a thorny ultimatum: Resign or be shipped off to a terrorist hotbed known for beheadings and attacks on police stations. Duterte accused the 228 officers of a litany of criminal and professional misdeeds including corruption, drug use and dealing, and, in one high-profile case, the kidnapping and murder of a South Korean businessman. Calling the group of National Police officers from Manila, the capital, rotten to the core, Duterte said he was ordering them to Basilan, an island in the countrys restive south and home to the Islamic terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf. I need policemen in the south. There is a lack of police officers in Basilan; that is why the police stations there are often under attack, he told the officers, who were forced to stand for more than an hour in the sun. That is why all of you who are here; you are going to be part of Task Force South, he told the officers. If you dont want to go there, go to your superior officer and tell them that youre going to resign. He gave the officers 15 days to prepare for their new assignment, and he said the deployment would last for at least two years. If you survive, come back here, Duterte said. If you die there, Ill tell the police not to spend to bring you here and just bury you there. Since taking office in June, Duterte has led a bloody crackdown on drug users and dealers that has left at least 3,600 people dead, and possibly thousands more. Last week, the president replaced the National Police force with the military as the primary enforcers of his campaign after a scandal emerged when it was discovered that it was police officers who killed the South Korean businessman. Felipe Villamor is a New York Times writer. MOGADISHU, Somalia A former prime minister who holds dual Somali-U.S. citizenship was declared Somalias new president Wednesday, immediately taking the oath of office as the long-chaotic country moved toward its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded defeat to former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo after two rounds of voting, saying that history was made; we have taken this path to democracy. Fears of attacks by extremist group al-Shabab limited the election to members of the upper and lower houses of parliament instead of the population at large. Lawmakers voted at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu, while a security lockdown closed the international airport. Thousands of cheering Somalis quickly poured into the streets in jubilation, chanting the new presidents name. Cheering soldiers fired into the air. Somalia will be another Somalia soon, said Ahmed Ali, a police officer celebrating in the crowd. Mohamud held a slight lead over Farmajo, 88 votes to 72, after the first round of 21 candidates, but Farmajo won the second round among the three candidates remaining, with 184 votes to Mohamuds 97. This victory represents the interest of the Somali people. This victory belongs to Somali people, and this is the beginning of the era of the unity, the democracy of Somalia and the beginning of the fight against corruption, Farmajo said. Farmajo, who is in his mid-50s and holds degrees from the State University of New York in Buffalo, was prime minister for eight months before leaving the post in 2011. When he was in office, al-Shabab was expelled from Mogadishu, his campaign biography says. He had lived in the United States off and on since 1985, when he was sent there with Somalias foreign affairs ministry. Somalia began to fall apart in 1991, when warlords ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other. Years of conflict and al-Shabab attacks, along with famine, left this Horn of Africa country of about 12 million people largely shattered. Across Mogadishu, Somalis had gathered around TV screens at cafes and homes, eagerly watching the vote. We need an honest leader who can help us move forward, said Ahmed Hassan, a 26-year-old university student. Somalias instability landed it among the seven Muslim-majority countries affected by President Trumps executive order on immigration, even though its government has been an increasingly important partner for the U.S. military on counterterrorism efforts, including drone strikes against al-Shabab leaders. The new president, Farmajo, can travel to the United States on his U.S. passport. Tremendous challenges remain for Somalia and its new president, even beyond graft, al-Shabab attacks and an economy propped up in part by the countrys diaspora of more than 2 million people. Abdi Guled is an Associated Press writer. 1 Mosul residents return: Some 30,000 people have returned to Mosul since Iraqi forces launched a massive operation in October to retake the countrys second-largest city from the Islamic State, the United Nations said Tuesday. The number of returnees has increased since Iraqi forces drove the militants from the eastern half of the city last month, according to U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid. The militants still hold western Mosul, home to an estimated 750,000 people. The Islamic State captured Mosul in the summer of 2014. Since then, Iraqi forces have slowly clawed back territory, leaving western Mosul as the last major urban area held by the group in Iraq. 2 Gay-sex law: A Tanzanian official has ordered the arrest of three men accused of promoting homosexuality in the East African country. Hamisi Kigwangalla, the deputy minister of health, said in a statement Tuesday that he wanted the men prosecuted for advocating sodomy through social networks. One of the men, identified as James Delicious, was ordered to report to the police after posting a video on Instagram that allegedly showed a gay sex act. The others wanted are Dani Mtoto wa Mama and Kaoge Mvuto. Gay sex is illegal in Tanzania and carries a lengthy jail term. In the political turmoil of the past weeks and months, the staff at the Santa Fe Art Institute (1600 St. Michaels Drive, 424-5050) has had personal links to some of the biggest headlines. Former participants of the SFAI Residency Program are spread out across the globe, and theyre taking decisive action. One of our residents is a lawyer who went to JFK to provide legal help for people affected by the immigration ban, says Robert Gomez Hernandez, SFAIs communications and development director. Former residents marched for womens rights in Paris, and across the United States. SFAI's interdisciplinary residency is specifically designed to react to the rollercoaster of current events. For the past three years, each round of residents has embraced a topical theme during their stay at the institute. The current program, which began last fall and runs through July, centers on water rightsan issue that has played a huge role in the national public discourse this year. As SFAI's staff puts together spring programming with its current residents, they're also looking ahead to their most ambitious theme yet. Their 2017/2018 residency is titled Equal Justice, and has inspired the institute to make dramatic shifts to its structure. "This program is a unique platform in Santa Fe, because we support artists whose work is in progress," says Jamie Blosser, SFAI's executive director. This approach allows for unusual flexibility in the format of each residency. Last November, SFAI deployed four of the program's current residents to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota for a week. That's a significant block of time to be out of residence, particularly for a program whose participants stay from one to three months. However, the expedition brought knowledge from a significant water rights battleground into the program's sphere. Resident photographer Andrew Williams, who has chronicled the effects of the California drought for years, made portraits of Dakota Access Pipeline protesters and documented their stories. "It's really about the investigative process for the residents," says Residency Program Manager Toni Gentilli. "We don't put expectations on them for a particular end product. They apply with a project proposal but we allow that to incubate, percolate and organically grow." Back in Santa Fe, several program participants have been exploring Southwestern water rights by literally walking through waterways in and around the city. It's a subtle, multilayered issue. Water, if it's allowed, can flow through fences and across borders; water rights aren't nearly as fluid, and they're dictated by barriers both physical and legal. To tackle such complex topics (food justice and immigration/emigration are previous themes), SFAI seeks out a diverse cohort of 60 to 70 residents for each cycle. Several New Mexicans make the cut each year, along with applicants from around the nation and the world. Fifteen residents can live and work at the institute at a time, while local participants usually maintain studio space there but live elsewhere. Throughout their stay, residents teach workshops, run exhibitions and programs in the institute's gallery space, and work with the program's community partners to explore the chosen theme. These residencies have been a central undertaking of SFAI since the institute's founding in 1985, and they've primarily accepted artists and writers. In the past few years, however, residencies have broadened to accept practitioners of many other disciplines. "We're realizing that for us to really dig into these themes each year, we need to stop siloing," says Blosser. Intersectionality is an even higher priority for SFAI's 2017/2018 cycle. For the Equal Justice residency, the staff hopes to bring many different streams of knowledge into a single channel in search of ways to engage systems of power and foster social and racial equity. "We're inviting people from all across the boardin law, in education, in health careto bring their specializations and organically interact with each other," Gentilli tells SFR. "We want to look at ways to share information between disciplines, to deal with these issues in new and creative ways." The theme also marks a big change in the residency's operations. It costs SFAI $4,000 per person to run the program, and residents are typically asked to pay $1,000 to participate. Blosser says about 60 percent of residents are already offered assistance in covering the tuition, but the Equal Justice program will fully subsidize that cost for every participant. Though the program still doesn't offer a stipend, SFAI hopes that lowering this economic hurdle will further broaden their pool of applicants. "It felt like with the Equal Justice theme in particular, now is the time to go tuition-free," Blosser says. "It's a risk that we took. We want to do mission-driven work, and open the doors to as many people as possible." SFAI is planning a series of workshops and fundraisers this spring to cover the added costs. Meanwhile, they're reaching out to allies such as the Santa Fe Dreamers Project, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the Southern Poverty Law Center and other local and national organizations to find potential applicants that they might not otherwise reach. "It's feels like across the world, and nationally, and locally, now is the time to act," says Gomez Hernandez. "Our responsibility as a residency program is bringing people together that wouldn't normally connect, and giving them the opportunity to share ideas and be more than their singular footprint." SFAI's deadline for applications to the Equal Justice residency is Feb. 12; more information is available at sfai.org. The residency will run from September 2017 through July 2018. Santa Fe Reporter Cover, February 1: Our Schools are Drowning in Data Its Not on the Test There is no time to teach anymore. Teachers just have to skim through lessons so they don't fall behind on the test schedule. Important things like civics, history and geography are being passed over because there is no time for meaningful discussionand, hey ... It's not on the test anyway. Reformers have no clue what it takes to teach, and they seemingly have forgotten there are children's futures at stake. Corie Jones Olympia, Washington Best in the World Thank you Matt Grubs. The elephant in the (class)room is poverty, and ridiculous data collection burdens are not going to fix it. When we adjust data for poverty, US schoolsand teachersare among the best in the world. Far-right politicians and profiteers have repeated the lie that public schools are "broken" for so long that too many believe it, and blame teachers for the failure of politicians to end poverty. Cate Moses SFReporter.com News, January 18: Cash Withdrawal Not so Fast Before the City of Santa Fe divests itself from business dealings with Wells Fargo, the City Council and Mayor Gonzales should consider the following: In 2016, the 120 Wells Fargo employees in the North Central District (Santa Fe, Pojoaque and Espanola) contributed 1,771.5 hours of volunteer service to the Santa Fe community through their support of the American Cancer Society's Black and White Ball, St. Elizabeth's Shelter, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Wells Fargo employees also participated in citywide cleanup efforts in Santa Fe and Espanola. Wells Fargo provides educational resources to teach financial literacy in Santa Fe and Espanola. Please do not blame local Wells Fargo employees for decisions taken at the corporate level. Victoria Erhart Pojoaque Cover, January 18: Chop Suey on San Francisco Street Deport Us from Mexico Let's hope and advocate that the Mexican president is wise and clever to learn from Mr. Trump. The Mexican government might set up a deportation back to America of all Americans who went to Mexico for tax breaks and "easy living." For those American deportees returning to their country of origin, there would be housing and jobs for them left behind by the millions of Mexicans and other South Americans who Obama had deported and Trump plans to deport. It would be a fair trade deal exchange of expat properties. This brings American taxpayers back to the US to participate in today's vibrant society, to add deposits to banks, purchase health plans, boost home sales, lower gas prices and help build the Trump wall to keep Americans in. Imagine the emptying of expats from San Miguel de Allende, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta! James A McGrath Santa Fe Memories of Canton See attached photo [left] of a menu from the New Canton Cafe. I grew up going to this amazing Chinese restaurant in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. I would walk across the street from my parents store, Bells Department Store, where I was greeted by Alice Gee, who always had a smile and was so kind to me. I was about 9 years old when the restaurant closed. The food was amazing, the longtime waitstaff were attentive and knew their patrons by name. Oddly, the Canton Cafe lives on at Tia Sophia's. The yellow napkin dispensers on each table are remnants from the Canton. I enjoyed reading your well-written article about Santa Fe's diverse history. Lance Bell Santa Fe Blue Corn, January 25: Are You Taking Requests Today? Climate Change? C'mon, Basler, quit complaining about the ice sheets on Santa Fe's streets. These minor and temporary glaciers are not evidence that the city is ineffective or indifferent to street maintenance. Instead, they "establish Santa Fe as a leader in taking proactive measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change" (Santa Fe Climate Action Task Force, Objective 9). Let's hope they last until May. J Estes Albuquerque News, January 25: Unearthed, but Unseen Show us the Exhibit It would not be too difficult to design and build a mini power grid using PV Solar paired with a battery backup. The Chaco area has plenty of reliable sun exposure. Brian Siebert SFReporter.com News, February 1: Aid in Dying New Best Friends Your source has done the public a disservice. Their ordinary bait-and-switch campaign is demonstrated by their selling "must self-administer," then they do not provide in their legislation for an ordinary witness of the "self-administration." ... The difference is that a witness would honor individuals' rights and choices. Without a witness, it allows euthanasia. ... This omission eviscerates the flaunted safeguards putting the entire population at risk of exploitation by the medical-industrial-complex, human trafficking by predatory corporations, organ traffickers, predatory heirs and "new best friends." ... All of Oregon's model laws/bills, including Hawaii's, DC and Colorado's non-transparent Prop 106, simply allow forced euthanasia. Bradley Williams President, Mtaas.org SFReporter.com SFR will correct factual errors online and in print. Please let us know if we make a mistake, editor@sfreporter.com or 988-7530. Mail letters to PO Box 2306, Santa Fe, NM 87504, deliver to 132 E Marcy St., or email them to editor@sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specic articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity. Santa Fe Reporter Um, have you guys seen the cover on this week's issue? It's pretty amazing, right? Right. See, when we started looking for super-rad indie artists to engage with, San Antonio, Texas-based Shelby Criswell was on the top of our list. Criswell attended SFUAD, though they never graduated, but that hardly means they aren't epically talented. I mean, look no further than the glorious dinosaurgy on the cover or the inside images in the issue. If you'd like to know more, head to their website at shelbycriswell.com, or read the following Qs and As. What about the world of illustration drew you in (ha!) as opposed to other art forms?? I grew up reading comics and flipping through magazines like MAD and The New Yorker, so little drawings that told a story were always much more interesting to me than something hanging in a gallery. Plus, my dad drew a lot a little cartoons here and there and my grandfather got hired as an illustrator for Hallmark, so I guess they helped push me in that direction. You have a very specific style, I'd say. Was this always your style, or was it devloped over time? Oh it's definitely developed over time. I mean, I traced anime in middle school and wanted to write and draw mangas. Then I came across a bunch of independent comic artists like Daniel Clowes and Ben Passmore during and after high school and realized I should create my own style, something more me. If you look at my style from three years ago, even then I'd say it's a huge jump. Any words of wisdom for aspiring pro artists? Don't go into comics. It's a terrible choice. You'll end up dead in a pile of unpublished work and a pool of ink. But if you do, read a bunch of other comics before you even start to make your own. In fact, study everything you can in any field of art. Just go to the library, dammit! Go to events, support other artists and talk with them. Santa Fe Reporter More than 500 people arose at daybreak Thursday to attend Planned Parenthoods annual Breakfast of Champions, the events largest turnout since it started four years ago. Patrons filled round tables in the Eldorado Hotel ballroom and shelled out more than $100,000 for the nonprofit provider of reproductive health services. The money follows a national trend of donations pouring into nonprofit groups that advocate for causes anathema to President Donald Trump's agenda. Conservatives in Washington for years have threatened to yank Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood. Those efforts have consistently failed, but with Republicans seizing control of both Congressional chambers, not to mention the White House, the organization is now facing the real possibility of losing a significant source of revenue, threatening its health care centers across the country. As Wendy Davis, the former Texas state senator, gubernatorial candidate and invited guest speaker, put it, women "are seeing a renewed assault on the reproductive freedoms that gave us opportunities in the workforce." Davis rose to political prominence in the wee hours of a summer night in 2013 in Austin by filibustering an anti-abortion bill. Speaking from a lectern at the breakfast, she offered her home state as a cautionary tale for what can happen when the government cuts women's health programs. Since Texas started rolling back access to contraceptive and abortion services in 2011, teenage pregnancy rates haven't declined with the rest of the nation. And the maternal death rate in Texas has nearly doubled. Cuts to Planned Parenthood's funding could disproportionately sting New Mexico, where 24 percent of women are on Medicaid (compared with 15 percent nationally). Planned Parenthood operates six health care centers in the state, offering services such as contraception, uterine care, cervical and breast cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and abortions. Statewide, the organization served about 11,000 patients in 2016, including about 6,000 patients on Medicaid. The nonprofit's Santa Fe location (730 St. Michael's Drive, Ste. 4B, 982-3684) served 1,541 patients in the same year, including 500 Medicaid patients. According to a 2010 analysis by the Guttmacher Institute, the group saw about 18 percent of clients in New Mexico seeking publicly funded family planning services, a disproportionately large share. All of that could be under threat if Congress pulls the group's funding. "What they're talking about doing is, quite frankly, intentionally creating a public health crisis," says Vicki Cowart, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which oversees this state, Colorado, Wyoming and southern Nevada. "There are not enough providers to pick up the slack." Shannon Sanchez-Youngman, a University of New Mexico faculty researcher who specializes in public health, says the patchwork of nonprofits providing women's reproductive health services in the state is already fragile. Cutting Planned Parenthood's funding could be especially damaging for rural areas served by the organization, notably Farmington. "Given that this is a rural state and one of the poorest states in the country, there is already very little access to health care," Sanchez-Youngman says, pointing to research by the Department of Health showing that 40 percent of New Mexicans lack access to basic health necessities. "We have a shortage of providers. In the research I do, for women in rural areas, one of their top needs is access to reproductive health care." Santa Fe community health care provider La Familia Medical Center (1035 Alto St., 982-5460) could potentially absorb some low-income patients if the local Planned Parenthood office were to scale back or completely shutter, according to medical director Wendy Johnson. But La Familia wouldn't be able to replace the organization. "We really depend on that relationship with Planned Parenthood to refer them to services we don't offer, namely abortion," says Johnson. Santa Fe's only full-service hospital, Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, does not provide abortion services. "It's also an issue of patient choice. Some people prefer to get their services from Planned Parenthood," Johnson adds. "We support them and want to see them around for a long time." Under New Mexico law, women making up to 250 percent of federal poverty guidelines are eligible for financial assistance for family planning services, a higher threshold than most states and the 133 percent line drawn by the Affordable Care Act. Pamelya Herndon, executive director of the Southwest Women's Law Center, says the state Legislature should stand by that state policy if Congress moves to weaken or repeal former president Obama's signature health law. "What we expect the state of New Mexico to do is to continue to support women and continue to provide family planning services," Herndon says. "'Low-income' as set by the federal government is really not what is indicative of what is low-income for women." And while Congress seems intent on rolling back the Affordable Care Act, state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would adopt as state law provisions of the law that guarantee access to all forms of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration. "I just don't trust what's going to happen on the federal level," says Rep. Debbie Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, one of the bill's five original sponsors. She says the president's appointee for secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department, Tom Price, has an agenda to decrease access to women's healthcare. Armstrong's bill would also require insurers to cover up to 12 months of birth control at once and some over-the-counter methods of contraception. The bill is currently assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee. The ascent of President Trump, who once bragged about groping women and asserted that those who seek abortions should receive "some sort of punishment," has galvanized support for women's rights and reproductive freedoms on a grassroots level. Millions of women and men marched in cities across the country, including Santa Fe, the day after the presidential inauguration. "Where women are right now is they feel they should be doing something and not just sitting back and allowing things to happen," Herndon says. "We can't allow fear to immobilize us," Davis tells SFR. "We have to use our voices and fight back." Jeff Proctor contributed reporting to this story. Santa Fe Reporter Camerota: Why isn't the president talking about white terrorism? Duffy: There's a difference. https://t.co/YEgSitUsdS Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) February 7, 2017 DUFFY: Let him protect us. Give him a shot. CAMEROTA: Congressman Congressman, why isn't the president talking about the white terrorists who mowed down six Muslims who were praying at their mosque? DUFFY: Yeah, I don't know. But I would just tell you, there's a difference Again, death and murder on both sides is wrong. But if you want to take the dozens of scenarios where ISIS-inspired attacks have taken innocents, and you give me one example of what happened, I think that was in Canada CAMEROTA: Yeah. DUFFY: I'm going to condemn them all. But again, you don't have a group like ISIS or Al Qaeda that's inspiring people around the world to take up arms and kill innocents. That was a one-off. That was a one-off, Alisyn. And you have a movement on the other side CAMEROTA: Hold on a second. Hold on a second, Congressman. DUFFY: Bring it on, Alisyn. [laughs] CAMEROTA: You don't think there are white extremists? You don't remember Oklahoma City? You don't think that this guy who was involved in the mosque shootings said that he was inspired by things that he read online? DUFFY: So, you give me two examples, right? And in recent time, we would talk about the one example. And there is [sic] radicals all over the world and here in America that will take up arms and do bad things. But if you want to compare this one person in the last ten years that you can give me an example ofOklahoma was, what, 20 years ago, the Oklahoma City bombingthat's different than this whole movement that's taken place through ISIS, that's inspired attacks. I mean, are you going to compare the one attack up in Canada to all the death and destruction in Europe from refugees, or the attacks in the United States CAMEROTA: How about Charleston, Congressman? How about Charleston? How about the Charleston church shooting, Congressman? He was an extremist. He was a white extremist? DUFFY: Yes, he was. Okay? CAMEROTA: How about that? That doesn't matter? DUFFY: No, it does matter. It does matter. Look at the good things that came from it. Nikki Haley took down the Confederate flag; that was great! But you want to say: I can give you a couple examples. There's no constant threat that goes through these attacks. And you have radical Islamic terrorists and ISIS that are driving the attacks, and if you want to compare those two, maybe you can throw another one CAMEROTA: You can. DUFFY: Look at Gabby Giffords. Look at Gabby Giffords. The Marxistthe Marxist, who took her life, a leftist guy, and now you see violence and terror in the streets all across America, burning and beating people with Donald Trump hats. The violence you have to look at, you're trying to use examples on the right. So, where do you go, the left CAMEROTA: Congressman, just to be clear DUFFY: the left has to say violence is wrong, whether we look, love and peace, as you brought up in San Bernardino, why don't we look at Berkeley? CAMEROTA: Orlando. DUFFY: Thank you. People get beat up for wearing a Donald Trump hat, "Make America great again" hat, again, or they get kicked, and stores get vandalized and they burn and they beat Where does the left, and CNN and MSNBC, stand up and go "this is wrong"? If we're going to have peace in our hearts CAMEROTA: Yes, it's wrong when Muslims are attacks as well, and when swastikas are spray-painted on buildings. We've been talking about DUFFY: Alisyn, come on. CAMEROTA: Why are you using isolated Why do you think that when it's a white terrorist, it's an isolated incident? DUFFY: What I am saying is: You have a cell, a heart, a beat of ISIS that's inspiring people around the world. And do you deny that? That's going to Europe and come to America CAMEROTA: Right...? DUFFY: whether it's lone wolves. So what is the heartbeat of the attack that you referenced in the mosque? Or what happened in Charleston? Is there a common theme? CAMEROTA: Extremism. Hatred. White supremacy. DUFFY: Can we vet that? How should we vet that to keep ourselves safe? I will join you in that effort, what do we do? CAMEROTA: Do you not think it was white supremacy? This is what the shooter said it was. DUFFY: Yes, it's horrible. So, what should we do? I mean, I'll join you What do we do on the white supremacy front to make sure we don't have another attack like Charleston? I am with you on that, Alisyn. CAMEROTA: Speak out about it, and crack down on it, talk about it as extreme violence much as we about DUFFY: Yes, yes! [crosstalk] CAMEROTA: terrorism that you call radical Islamic terrorism. DUFFY: So let's crack down on ISIS. Let's crack down on the seven terror countries that are riddled with terrorists and give Donald Trump 90 days to 120 days, give him a pause, to make sure he can keep us safe. Because you know what? If we could have vetted that guy who went into the mosque in Canada or the guy that went into the church in Charleston and kept them from those deaths, wouldn't we do that? Wouldn't we take that step together? So, if we would try to prevent those attacks in America from two examples you gave me, why couldn't we, if we can protect America from people who might come in to do us harm, why wouldn't we do that? The argument is the same on both sides. CAMEROTA: Yeah, the only problem with your argument is that there is no terror attack that a refugeeno deadly terror attack that a refugee has been responsible for. DUFFY: But there have been in Europe. Many in Europe. CAMEROTA: Right. But not here. DUFFY: And this, but again, this is a pause, Alisyn. So, why not take a pause? Why not learn from Europe and say we can take a pause, we can review, we can analyze, and then we can bring those people in who are truly victims, and want to come in and need a refugee status. They need a new home. I am with you on that front. CAMEROTA: Okay. Congressman Sean Duffy, thank you very much for the debate. Nice to talk to you, as always. [said in a tone that clearly indicated it was not, in fact, nice to talk to him] [Content Note: White supremacy; eliminationist violence.]Something about which I've written many, many times is conservatives' insistence that every incident of public violence committed by a Muslim is reflective of jihadism and every incident of public violence committed by a Black person is reflective of an innate propensity for violence and corrupt communities with immoral beliefs, but every incident of public violence committed by a white man is a singular act that exists in a vacuum: Their bootstraps made them do it This contemptible exceptionalism was taken to extraordinary new lengths yesterday by Rep. Sean Duffy, during an interview on CNN with host Alisyn Camerota.Camerota began by grilling Duffy on Trump's Muslim ban, which Duffy naturally defended, eventually whining impassionedly: "Let him protect us! Give him a shot!" And then this happened:Now, everything about this is incredibly despicable. Duffy's frantic, spinning desperation to draw a nonexistent difference between eliminationist violence motivated by religious extremism and eliminationist violence motivated by political extremism (or religious extremism, in the case of anti-choice terrorists, though they were not mentioned here); his utterly filthy admonishment to "look at the good things that came from" the slaughter at Charleston; his straight-up lies about U.S. refugees; his implication that it is leftist violence which has unleashed terror across this nation.But note the number of things this Republican "expert" on terrorism just gets1. He isn't sure where Alexandre Bissonnette's white supremacist murder of Muslims took place: "I think that was in Canada."2. He imagines that the examples provided by Camerota are theexamples of white supremacist acts of mass violence in recent years, which they are absolutely not. Nor are they the only examples of movement-inspired mass violence committed by white men (see, as mentioned, anti-choice terrorism).3. He believes Gabby Giffords is"Look at Gabby Giffords. The Marxistthe Marxist, who took her life..."4. He confuses the San Bernardino and Orlando shootings.5. He unaccountably asserts that a Muslim ban will somehow prevent white supremacist terrorism, despite the fact that all of the white men who have perpetrated these acts were American.He has no ideanonewhat he is talking about. All he knows is his own garbage ideas about jihadism being a movement, but white supremacy being something we can't "vet" and thus can't prevent.Even by the rock bottom standards of conservative racism and ignorance of anything resembling facts, this is remarkably offensive.This is where we are: White supremacists in Congress spinning their gross fever dreams about killer refugees, being sent out as experts, when they don't even know that Gabby Giffords is very much alive. (Adds Bunnings comment in 4th and 5th paragraphs) The Commerce Commission has filed 45 charges in the Auckland District Court against Bunnings New Zealand, alleging the building supplies retailer misled consumers by advertising the prices of its goods as being the lowest in the market. Bunnings advertising at its stores nationwide, campaigns on television, radio, online, and in newspapers and catalogues gave an overall impression it offered the lowest prices for its products, when this was not true, the regulator said in a statement. The investigation focused on the period from July 1, 2014 to Feb. 28, 2016. As the case is before the Court, the commission said it was unable to comment any further. The matter will be called in the district court for the first time on March 7. Bunnings said it is "disappointed" with the Commerce Commission's decision to file charges. "We disagree with the Commerce Commissions view of our lowest prices policy and will defend our highly competitive price guarantee," said Jacqui Coombes, NZ general manager in an emailed statement. Coombes said the company would continue the policy, backed up by "behind the scenes" processes and procedures. "We remain absolutely committed to creating more value for New Zealand consumers and believe in the right of all businesses to compete on price," said Coombes. Bunnings New Zealand is headquartered in Auckland and its parent company is Australia's Wesfarmers, which also owns Coles, Target, K-Mart and Officeworks. It has 46 retail stores nationwide, all of which it owns and operates. It employs 3,700 staff and stores stock on average 46,000 product lines, according to the Commerce Commission. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update New Zealand has been ranked worst in a global survey for depreciation in cars, with a 54 percent slump in value after just 56,000 kilometres beating the UK and the US, while cars in China have the smallest drop in value. The survey by Carspring, an online vehicle trading site based in the UK, showed that not only do cars lose their value fastest in New Zealand but the country ranks well down the field in terms of the affordability of used cars, at 19th. The US is the cheapest place to buy a used car followed by the UK and Russia, while Singapore ranks as the most expensive. Carspring, launched as a start-up in 2015, didn't provide an explanation other than to note that taxes, tariffs and currency valuations play a part. But the national body of car dealers, the Motor Trade Association, says factors that affect New Zealand car values include the large volumes of used imports on the market and the tendency for new vehicles to sell below their list price. "New Zealand is somewhat unique amongst developed markets in that we have a two-tiered tiered market structure with new vehicles entering our fleet, as well as used imports," said Tony Everett, the MTA's dealer services and mediation manager. "After many years of considerably higher volumes of used vehicles than new, used imports now make up the larger share of our national fleet. Used imports can be accessed and shipped to NZ and still be a marketable proposition in effect they are already heavily discounted at their source". The Carspring survey covered 40 countries, including "the majority of the largest car producing nations, plus other countries of automotive interest, whilst brands were selected based on global popularity," it said. But it has some quirks. There is no mention of Honda, Mitsubishi or Nissan and Toyota only rates a mention for pick-ups and hybrid vehicles. Japan is included in the survey, though, ranking 12th in terms of the most affordable country to buy a used car. Australia ranks better than New Zealand for depreciation, with a drop of 45 percent in a car's value after 56,000 km but in terms of the affordability of used cars is only one notch above New Zealand at 18th. If cars are a dud investment in terms of capital gain in New Zealand, that hasn't deterred Kiwis from buying. New Zealand new vehicle sales hit a record in January, signalling no imminent slowdown from three straight years of record sales. Registrations of new vehicles jumped 16 percent to 13,823 in January from the year-earlier month, the highest level ever recorded for the month, according to the Motor Industry Association. Toyota was the overall market leader for the month, with a 17 percent market share, followed by Holden with 13 percent and Ford with 11 percent. The MTA's Everett said assessing depreciation can be problematic in New Zealand because sales of new vehicles "are often well below the so-called list price." "This is not unique to NZ, but does mean a considerable discount is applied to start with which can serve to add to the perceived new vehicle depreciation," he said. "The majority of new vehicles sold in New Zealand are to business and fleet buyers, so discounts can be significant. Recall, it is not unusual to see promotions offering up over $10,000 discount on selected models during periods like the agricultural Fieldays event, and other occasions." Some segments of the market held their value better than others, such as diesel SUVs and utes, he said. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update Shane Scott, whose interim name suppression lapsed today, has pleaded not guilty in the Auckland District Court to running a $6 million Ponzi scheme. He first appeared in court on Jan. 17 facing four charges of obtaining by deception, 23 charges of theft by a person in a special relationship, one charge of using a document with intent to defraud, and two charges of obtaining by false pretence, the Serious Fraud Office said in a statement. A trial date hasn't been set yet, and Scott has been remanded on bail. The white-collar crime investigator says Scott operated a Ponzi scheme, using funds from new investors to pay returns to existing ones, and that there was no evidence of any legitimate investments in the case. The long-term investors believed Scott was investing their money in brokering deals in Thailand and other assets, including the diamond trade, South African trade deals and a chicken farm in New Caledonia, the SFO said. "People who are thinking about investing need to do their own due diligence and get appropriate professional advice before committing any money," SFO director Julie Read said. "This simple step might just save an investor or multiple investors from being deceived by false promises of high returns." The law enforcement agency said some of the offending dated back more than a decade, and some investors had lost significant amounts of money. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update Housing New Zealand plans to build 4,900 state houses in Auckland over the next three years, although the number of new state houses will increase by just 722 in that time as it replaces its worn-out housing stock. The new Auckland Unitary Plan allows for an additional 30,000 homes to be built on Housing New Zealand land over the next 30 to 50 years, a tenfold increase from the previous plans, chief executive Andrew McKenzie told the select committee at the agency's annual review this morning. A large proportion of those won't be state housing but will be private or affordable supply, which HNZ will use to provide funding for its redevelopment program. Some of the 4,900 houses HNZ plans to build will replace existing stock and some will be sold, with a net gain of 722 houses expected, McKenzie said. "We're at a phase where we need to create capacity to utilise the land better - to move our tenants into the new homes, free up land. The numbers obviously accelerate after that - I think the following year the target is around 1,200 new homes net," McKenzie said. "Our stock has come to the end of its life, we're going to have to replace a large amount of it over the next twenty years." Phil Twyford, Labour's housing spokesperson, questioned whether that 4,900 goal was realistic as the agency hadn't met its building targets over the past couple of years. HNZ's chair Adrienne Young-Cooper said the agency had met its performance requirement for the year under review and had been undergoing a significant capacity build over the past 18 months along with the Hobsonville Land Company. Including the homes built for the private market the agency built 871 houses in the year, ahead of its target of 845, she said. At the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's annual review immediately following HNZ, the ministry said that as yet, no new affordable houses have been built on Crown land in Auckland. Overall, the government's building programme delivered 653 completed dwellings in the year, with about 50 percent of those likely to have been affordable housing, MBIE's acting deputy CEO of building, resources and markets Chris Bunny said. That was expected to ramp up in following years with over 1,000 properties in the pipeline, he said. Labour's Twyford asked MBIE CEO David Smol whether the ministry was doing any work on policy solutions to the high cost of building materials in New Zealand, saying locals pay between 20 and 30 percent more than Australian consumers for the same building materials and the Commerce Commission is of the view that it doesn't have the legal powers to intervene. In the building supplies market, practices like rebates, discounts and vertical integration have an anti-competitive effect overall, Twyford said. Smol said he had confidence in the commission as a regulator, and competition law in New Zealand is "fairly in line with good practice internationally", although an MBIE study of the building sector which proposed changes to anti-dumping and tariff legislation had proven contentious. The ministry has provided advice to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on the Commerce Act exploring the benefits of changing to an effects-based approach to competition, with Cabinet yet to make a decision on that, he said. "The challenge we face as a country - and we face this in many markets - is we're a small domestic market so the extent of competition, particularly where there are economies of scale, tends to be limited," Smol said. "We've got to promote competition wherever we can, but the fundamentals are challenging." The ministry has considered whether government procurement can be used as a lever to promote a more competitive sector, and attempted to do that in the plasterboard market following the Christchurch earthquakes, but wasn't successful. "To attract a new entrant of scale, the new entrant needs to see a viable forward programme of work that justifies the upfront investment of that initial market entry," Smol said. "Using government scale where we can, and without compromising other outcomes too much, that's the conceptual opportunity. As you've said, in practice it's not easy." BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKC - ADDITIONAL US PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUNDING SECURED Spark New Zealand Limited's Annual Meeting Results 2022 Fonterra Australia settles class action proceedings PFI - Q3 Dividend, Development and Divestment Update November 4th Morning Report FPH to announce half year results on 29 November 2022 ATM - FDA approval to supply infant milk formula to United States Steel & Tube - Adopts ESG World Platform BGP - 3rd Quarter Sales to 30 October 2022 GEO - Quarterly Operating Update Standing outside his new home, Karam Hamadeh is a happy man. His house is on the outskirts of Dubai in what is expected to become the citys first carbon-neutral development. It uses energy-efficient building techniques and thousands of solar panels generate most of its electricity. When I first visited I fell in love with it, says Hamadeh, a manager for a doors and windows manufacturing company, who lives with his wife Hiam and their two-year-old daughter. It really makes you think about energy use. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and across the region, rapid economic development has led to soaring electricity consumption and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. As a result, the UAEs carbon emissions per person are nearly three times the level of the UK, for example. The creation of Sustainable City in a region which has supplied much of the crude oil to fuel the global economy reflects growing local recognition of the need to tackle high emissions that contribute to climate change. It is also part of a global trend towards building small-scale developments aimed at making urban living more sustainable. NEW DELHI: Mutual fund industry's asset base rose to all-time high of 17.37 lakh crore at the end of January primarily on account of strong inflows in equity, income and money market segments. The industry, comprising 43 active players, had an average assets under management (AUM) of over 16.46 lakh crore at December-end, the latest data of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed. Industry experts attributed the monthly rise in asset base to inflows in income and equity categories. Besides, buoyant investor sentiment and phenomenal growth in systematic investment plans (SIPs) also helped in the growth of assets under management, they added. The industry AUM had crossed 10 lakh crore in May 2014, and it is expected to reach 20 lakh crore this year. "The asset under management of the mutual fund industry is quite likely to cross the 20 lakh crore mark in 2017," Quantum Mutual Fund Chief Executive Jimmy Patel said. Overall inflow in mutual fund schemes stood at 53,817 crore at the end of January compared with an inflow of 10,923 crore at December-end. Of this, income funds, which invest in a combination of government securities saw 28,588 crore coming in while liquid funds or money market category, invest in cash assets such as treasury bills, certificates of deposit and commercial paper for short investment horizon, witnessed an infusion of 10,541 crore. Further, equity and equity-linked saving schemes saw an infusion of 4,880 crore. However, gilt and gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a pull out of 212 crore and 35 crore, respectively during the period under review. Mutual funds are investment vehicles made up of a pool of funds collected from a large number of investors. The funds are invested in stocks, bonds and money market instruments, among others. Read Also: Micromax Sets Up $75 Mn Fund To Invest In Consumer Internet Companies 'Jet Airways' Q3 Standalone Net Profit Down 70 Pct NEW DELHI: With a view to promote digital transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working to reduce the Marginal Discount Charges (MDR) for debit card transactions above 2,000, Parliament was told on Tuesday. "The RBI is deciding on this... it is work in progress. I am sure as volumes (of digital transactions) are increasing, the charges will come down," the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour. Jaitley said that under the Payments and Settlements Act, the RBI has recently fixed the MDR rate at 0.25 pct for cash transactions upto 1,000, while for transactions upto 2,000 it has been fixed at 0.50 pct. These charges have been introduced for the period from January 1, 2017, and will be applicable till March 31, 2017. As per the RBI's rate structure announced in 2012, the MDR for transactions valued above 2,000 has been capped 1 pct. In response to another question, Jaitley described how the crucial decision on demonetisation of 1,000 and 500 notes was taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board at a day's notice. He said while the formal decision on demonetisation was taken by the RBI on November 8, this had been preceded by a series of discussions started in February 2016. Last month, RBI Governor Urjit Patel told a Parliamentary Committee that the apex bank had been "advised" by the government on November 7 to hold a board meeting on the issue. The demonetisation decision was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 following a meeting of the RBI board and also of the Union Cabinet. To a separate question on whether it was the RBI that took the decision on its own or whether the government advised it to do so, Jaitley replied: "The RBI board met and independently applied its mind and made a recommendation to the government." "A formal proposal to the RBI to consider this matter in the Board is sent by the Finance Ministry to the RBI Board and RBI independently considers it, applies its mind and accordingly makes its recommendation to the government." Read Also: Need To Simplify Ways For Online Safety: Google India Advanced Hawk To Debut At Aero India NEW DELHI: In what can be a big boost to India's chances of becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in the face of opposition from China, New Delhi is going to host the Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) from February 8 to 10, the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday. The meeting is in consonance with what Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington in April last year. "Pursuant to the announcement made by Prime Minister at the Nuclear Security Summit held in 2016, Ministry of External Affairs in coordination with the Department of Atomic Energy is hosting the Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism on February8-10, 2017, at the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, New Delhi," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. "Approximately 150 delegates from various GICNT partner countries and international organisations will be participating in this event. "This event highlights India's commitment to global nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It is a part of our overall engagement with the international community on nuclear security issues," it added. China opposed India's membership in the NSG plenary in Seoul in June last year on the ground that for a country to become a member of the 48-nation bloc, it has to be a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Since then the two Asian giants have held two rounds of talks on the issue in Beijing and New Delhi. Saturday's statement by the External Affairs Ministry said that India hosting this meeting would highlight the continued priority it "attached to nuclear security, our efforts to further strengthen the institutional frameworks, capacity building and enhance international cooperationa. "The possible use of weapons of mass destruction and related material by terrorists is no longer a theoretical concern," it said. "A breach of nuclear security may lead to unimaginable consequences. Such an event would have a global impact. It is imperative to strengthen international efforts to combat such threats. This meeting is therefore timely and important and would further enhance our vigil." According to the statement, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar will inaugurate the meeting. The meeting will conclude with an address by R.B. Grover, Member, Atomic Energy Commission of India. GICNT was launched in 2006 jointly by Russian and the US. In the past 10 years, it has grown to include 86 partner nations and five official observer organisations and has held several multilateral activities in support of its Statement of Principles. It comprises four working groups - Implementation and Assessment Group, Nuclear Detection Working Group, Nuclear Forensics Working Group and Response and Mitigation Working Group. India has been an active participant at GICNT events. Read Also: Need To Simplify Ways For Online Safety: Google India Advanced Hawk To Debut At Aero India STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While most college kids spend winter break binging the latest Netflix series, six students from the College of Staten Island gave up their vacation to fly across the globe and volunteer in Costa Rica. Pablo Llerena, Dea Aga, Blerim Cukovic, Xena Flowers, Shiqirije Salaj and Jorge Villatoro partnered with the volunteer organization UBelong to help with reconstruction projects in Pitahaya, Cartago, Costa Rica. "Realistically, I know there's not much impact I can make in Costa Rica," said Cukovic, a 21-year-old psychology major with a pre-med concentration. "I'm only a pair of helping hands, but that's enough for this experience to mean a lot to me." From Jan. 6 to Jan. 30, the CSI group reconstructed the Hogar de baik Costa Rica (Home of the Children Baik in Costa Rica) orphanage. Although the group originally signed up for manual labor -- they also cared for the children of the orphanage, ranging in age from toddlers to 7 years old. Cukovic said leaving the kids was tough -- but the lessons learned from them will stay with him forever. "The way they persevere through life is so inspiring," the Grasmere resident said. "It's like they were teaching me more than I was teaching them." LIVING LA PURA VIDA The students stayed with a host family in the developing country. They walked through the towns, worked full-time, seven-hour shifts during the week at the orphanage and "lived life as Costa Ricans" throughout their stay. The three-week trip marked the first time anyone in the group had been to Costa Rica. They say the experience opened their eyes to the world and humbled them on a personal level. "It made me realize that we are very lucky to live in New York where we have access to anything that money can buy," said Dea Aga, 23-year-old biology major from Grasmere. "The main lesson I learned from this trip was to be more humble and take advantage of all the opportunities that come my way." Their trip was not free of complication: On their first night, the town where the students lived experienced a black out. Shortly after, ongoing pipe construction left Costa Ricans with no water for a day. SOUL SEARCHING IN A NEW COUNTRY Sure, the idea of "giving back" via helping a community in need warms their hearts, but the group went to Costa Rica in hopes of doing some personal soul searching as well. "This has always been a bucket list thing for me, to take time and help people who need it," said Brooklynite Jorge Villatoro, a 23-year-old political science major. "I wanted to start the new year with a new perspective." Cukovic said it was simply an opportunity to turn "free time into useful time." -- Those interested in doing the same can visit UBelong.org for more information. Arthur Kill Correctional Facil A view of the entrance to the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility in February 2014. (Advance file photo) CITY HALL -- The sale of the old Arthur Kill prison site to Broadway Stages was rejected by the state comptroller's office because of the company's ties to investigations into Mayor Bill de Blasio's political fundraising. The office of State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli returned the sale contract to state agencies unapproved for "lingering vendor responsibility issues" and questions over the public's investment in the land deal. The $7 million sale price may be as much as $45 million below market value. Charlotte Davis, the comptroller's director of contracts, detailed reasons for rejecting the sale in a letter to Frank Pallante of the state Office of General Services on Dec. 21, 2016. "As discussed," Davis wrote, "Broadway Stages and its owner and president, Gina Argento, appear to be involved parties in State and Federal investigations into campaign contributions to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio." While the state can resubmit the contract, the rejection further stalls plans for a new production studio at the closed Arthur Kill Correctional Facility in Charleston. Three years after the state selected Broadway Stages to develop the land, concerns have been raised over political contributions, tax issues, business integrity and the property's value. Exactly when the new studio will open is still unclear. 'UNFORTUNATE PERIOD' Under the stalled deal, the Office of General Services would convey the 69-acre property to Empire State Development, a state agency known as ESD. Staten Island Stages, an assignee of Broadway Stages that's also run by Gina Argento, would then buy the land from ESD for $7 million. Broadway Stages would invest another $20 million to erect five sound stages there. The comptroller's office and the state attorney general must review and approve the transfer documents before any sale can be finalized. The attorney general's office reviewed the contract and sent it to the state comptroller's office last August. The Dec. 21 rejection letter from the comptroller's office was provided to the Advance in response to a Freedom of Information Law request about the sale. The comptroller's office declined to comment further. "ESD and OGS are continuing efforts to move this project forward, which will bring a world-class film and television studio and over 1,000 jobs to Staten Island," ESD spokeswoman Amy Varghese said. Broadway Stages spokesman Warren Cohn said the contract will be resubmitted for approval and the outlying issues will be addressed "so that we can move beyond this unfortunate period." "The Argentos have committed no wrongdoing, but have remained steadfast to their beliefs in giving back to their environment, their State and their City," Cohn said. ARE ISSUES 'CURABLE'? The state is eager to push the sale through. Thomas Pohl, deputy counsel in the Office of General Services, wrote to the comptroller's office last week to talk about "issues listed in the pre-Christmas letter." "There is a push by Empire State Development to have OGS submit the file again. OGS would like to get a read on the various items and whether items are 'curable,'" Pohl emailed on Jan. 30, records show. Davis responded on Jan. 31 to say that the comptroller's office couldn't make any determination unless the issues are addressed in writing. 'LINGERING' CONCERNS The state deliberately postponed the sale last fall. The Office of General Services asked for the contract back in October before the comptroller's office could finishing reviewing the transfer documents, including a "vendor responsibility" form filled out by Broadway Stages. Such forms are required before a state contract can be awarded so public dollars go to honest companies. They revealed Argento owns another company, Luna Lighting, that was recently faulted by the Business Integrity Commission for "lack of good character, honesty and integrity." The state had also acknowledged "some minor tax issues." Broadway Stages provided the state additional tax records and information about Luna Lighting in November. The sale documents were then resubmitted to the comptroller's office on Nov. 29. The contract was rejected less than a month later because of "lingering vendor responsibility issues" related to the federal investigations that have entwined Broadway Stages and de Blasio. DE BLASIO PROBES HINDER SALE Donations from Broadway Stages are being eyed as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the political nonprofit de Blasio created in 2014, called the Campaign for One New York. Broadway Stages and Argento were among the first to donate to the nonprofit, contributing $25,000 each in January 2014. She also bundled some $100,000 to de Blasio's 2013 run for mayor. The de Blasio administration has faced numerous federal and state investigations over the last year, though the mayor and his inner circle have not been accused of any wrongdoing. A de Blasio campaign spokesman declined to comment. Records of political campaign contributions made by Argento were among the documents reviewed by the comptroller's office. Cohn said the remaining issues with the contract don't have anything to do with Broadway Stages or political donations made by the Argento family. "This issue is not about them, but it is about distinct matters that are beyond anything the Argentos have any sway with," Cohn said. CONTRADICTIONS The first "vendor responsibility" form completed by Broadway Stages and Argento in February 2016 didn't mention their involvement in the investigations or the company's ties to Luna Lighting, records show. Follow-up "responsibility" forms submitted to the comptroller's office in November and provided to the Advance were partially redacted to protect attorney-client privilege and private tax information. Roughly 50 pages were blacked out. The other 20 pages show the Office of General Services deemed Staten Island Stages and Broadway Stages "responsible" on Nov. 29 before resubmitting the forms to the comptroller's office for review. According to the comptroller's office, the follow-up forms addressed tax issues and Luna Lighting. But they didn't include an assessment of Argento's role in the de Blasio investigations from the Office of General Services. Davis wrote in the rejection that the comptroller's office instead got "somewhat contradictory documentation" from Broadway Stages. The revised forms included "yes" responses to questions about government investigations and fines, but noted those answers weren't related to the probes into campaign contributions. The most recent questionnaires, filed out on Nov. 2, 2016, also stated that Broadway Stages and Argento haven't been contacted by the U.S. attorney or any other government agency. But in a Nov. 21 letter, Argento stated that she was asked to provide copies of donation checks to the U.S. Attorney's office, according to Davis' letter. Argento also claimed she was contacted by the state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics and told neither she nor Broadway Stages were under investigation. "The submission of the two vendor responsibility questionnaires with errors and omissions could possibly be viewed as an attempt to deceive State officials responsible for contract oversight," Davis wrote in the rejection letter. 'A LACK OF SAFEGUARDS' The comptroller's office was also concerned about whether the sale is a good deal for taxpayers. "The State's two appraisals value the site at $20 million to $52 million and $40 million to $48 million yet the sale price ESD has agreed to accept from Broadway Stages is $7 million based on the appraisals provided by ESD," Davis wrote, noting the disparity in appraisal values was not addressed by the state. ESD would sell the land on the condition that Broadway Stages makes certain investments there. But the state would have to seek judicial relief in order to regain the property if those conditions aren't met. Davis wrote, "there is a lack of safeguards that the promised redevelopment will take place." The new studio is expected to generate 1,311 permanent jobs and $4.3 million in state and city tax revenue during construction, plus $115 million more the seven years after opening. Borough President James Oddo said he strongly supports the project because it can help turn the West Shore into a "jobs coast." "These are important jobs for Staten Islanders, and there is a multiplier effect that takes place in areas surrounding such studios," Oddo said in a statement. "Our focus will continue to be on the land use issues as we try to make this potential economic engine a reality." If the contract were resubmitted, Davis wrote that the comptroller's office would require the state to address the integrity issues raised and provide an update on the investigations. Davis wrote the comptroller's office wants "clarification as to how Broadway Stages and their president have the integrity to warrant the award of taxpayer dollars and evidence of Broadway Stages financial capacity to ensure that the facility promised will be built as intended." Cohn said Broadway Stages is trying to invest in Staten Island communities. "This setback has not jaded them, and it will not," he said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Advocates for the intellectual and developmentally disabled (I/DD) community gained bipartisan support in the Legislature as they continue to fight for wage increases for Direct Service Professionals (DSPs). The I/DD community has been rallying across the state as a part of the #bFair2DirectCare campaign, asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allocate money to Medicaid so the non-profit organizations that employ DSPs can pay a livable wage. The minimum wage increase set by Gov. Cuomo, which will increase to $15 by 2021, does not affect DSPs because their salaries are set by the state. While your local fast food joint can raise the price of a burger to offset the cost of the minimum wage increase, non-profits do not have the ability to raise the cost of service to make up the difference. "There's something really wrong when we're saying somebody who works part-time at McDonalds will be earning more than somebody who is highly trained and skilled and providing direct care," said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis , who has been an advocate for the I/DD community. She also objected to the fact that a wage board was set up to fight for people who are flipping burgers instead of direct care workers. DSPs are critical to individuals living with disabilities. They're highly trained workers who help individuals with essential life skills like bathing, eating, taking medication, getting dressed and other day-to-day activities. Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) said that increasing Medicaid funding and raising wages for direct care workers has been a "major part of the budget discussion," as it gets closer to the deadline for Cuomo's amended 2017-2018 budget proposal. "There's a broad spectrum of support; labor leaders, non-profits, senate and the assembly. A very large group of people are advocating for this," she said. "(State Sen. Diane) Savino and I and every conference in the legislature was represented and that's significant; it's not every day that we all agree." "In addition to 68 Assembly Democrats part of a 100-plus member majority and 17 Assembly Republicans, advocates say they also have 23 Senate Republican Majority supporters, a majority of their 32 members, and five members of the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference on heir side. Four Senate Democrats also have signed up to back direct support providers," the Albany Times Union reported. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) said that New York cannot consider itself a progressive state if "we fail to value the work of human service professionals." "I have stated repeatedly that it is unconscionable that we equate this work as minimum wage work," Savino said. Savino and Malliotakis attended a #bFair2DirectCare rally in Brooklyn last week to show their support. @dianesavino: @NYGovCuomo cannot claim to be a progressive if he is not willing to give DSPs a living wage. #bFair2DirectCare pic.twitter.com/8uPKxxuVct #bFair2DirectCare (@Fair2DirectCare) February 3, 2017 "Not only is it necessary, it's critical," Savino said about allocating monies to Medicaid so direct care workers can "earn the living wage they deserve." Savino was one of dozens of senators to write to Cuomo, pressuring him to make the amendment to the state budget. The Daily News reported that a bipartisan group of more than 80 Assembly members also wrote to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie asking the chamber to include $45 million in their budget proposal for DSPs. Dignity in Danger is the Advance's depth report on the crisis of care facing Staten Island's developmentally disabled. View the full package. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police are investigating after a man was stabbed at a Port Richmond deli Wednesday. At around 12:20 p.m., the male was attacked at the business located at 200 Port Richmond Ave. and an unknown number of suspects fled the scene in a gray vehicle, an NYPD spokesman said. The patient was transported in serious but stable condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, said a spokesman for the FDNY/EMS. The initial report was that some teens attacked the man before fleeing, a police spokesman said. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A city public school teacher was nabbed for alleged nonpayment of tolls at the Outerbridge Crossing on Wednesday morning, according to sources. Mark Maliaros, 56, who lives in Manalapan, N.J., was apprehended at about 6:30 a.m. at the Outerbridge Crossing toll plaza, according to Joseph Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Port Authority Police saw Maliaros driving a 2016 Nissan pickup truck through the toll without paying, Pentangelo said. Officers pulled the suspect over and he could not produce an E-ZPass, despite having passed through an "E-ZPass only" lane, police allege. A records check of the suspect reflected the Maliaros allegedly owes over $28,250, including $6,132 in tolls and $22,119 in fees as the result of 513 violations, Pentangelo said. Police charged the suspect with petit larceny, and obstructing governmental administration. Maliaros is a special education teacher, according to See Through New York records from 2016. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested Montrose County "I enjoyed these poems immensely." - William Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist Ages 7 and up, ideal for adults and kids to read together! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Historical Evidence Concerning Climate Change Social Conservativism In an age of Revolution Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights Subcontractors fear they could be out of pocket by tens of thousands of dollars after ACT-based construction company SMI went into administration on Tuesday. The company, whose financial strife leaves several government projects unfinished, went into receivership by accounting firm RSM Australia Partners and left subcontractors uncertain they would be paid for their work and materials. Subcontractors fear they could be left out of pocket after ACT construction firm SMI went into administration on Tuesday. One subcontractor, who did not want to be identified, said sums between $10,000 and $80,000 were owed. The ACT government confirmed on Wednesday it had five contracts with SMI, including two Canberra Institute of Technology upgrade programs, two projects with the Education Directorate, and a fifth with the Canberra Hospital involving LED replacements. WIN Television has claimed victory on the first night of its head-to-head Canberra news ratings battle with former feeder network Nine. Actually, "dominated" and "trounced" was how billionaire Bruce Gordon's Wollongong-based broadcaster preferred to emphatically portray its win in a triumphant press release. Nine News Canberra, presented from Nine's Sydney studios by Vanessa O'Hanlon, began on Monday February 6. WIN's half-hour 6pm local news bulletin averaged 22,190 ACT viewers on Monday while the debut of Nine's new hour-long local, national and international news bulletin averaged just 11,355 viewers in its first 30 minutes. Prime7's relay of Seven News from Sydney averaged 16,601 viewers in the same timeslot. Suncorp, Australia's second-largest general insurer by market share, said on Thursday it was considering "strategic alternatives" for its life insurance division after reporting a 1.3 per cent rise in half-yearly net profit. The options for the life insurance division could include a sale or partnership arrangement, but no process has been started, a Suncorp spokeswoman said. Suncorp Group CEO Michael Cameron. Credit:Nick Moir Suncorp reported a net profit after tax of $537 million for the six months ended December 31, up from $530 million a year earlier, after top-line growth of 4.3 per cent. It forecast margins would grow in the second half and raised its fully-franked interim dividend by 10 per cent to $0.33 a share. The Brisbane-based company said earnings from its life insurance division, which has around a 5 per cent share of the Australian market, fell 52 per cent to $11 million in the first half. That infamous phone call between Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull notwithstanding, shareholders in Australian banks should be grateful for the US president's appreciation of their dividend checks. Even before Trump signed the executive order to review the Dodd-Frank banking regulations that were put into effect after the GFC, expectations that big financial institutions worldwide would be given a longer regulatory leash were gaining ground. "A diluted, deferred" Basel IV regulatory regime is on the cards, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tomasz Noetzel noted in early January, after the world's top regulators postponed a meeting to finalise the next set of rules on minimum capital requirements for banks. The powwow is superfluous now. With the president seeking more relaxed norms for US banks, it's doubtful that struggling European institutions and their harried supervisors will be in any mood to adopt harsher standards for themselves. Holden has identified dangerous faults in counterfeit Commodore bonnets that are being fitted to Australian cars and has warned consumers over non-genuine parts used by repairers. The car company's Australian engineering team tested counterfeit aluminium and steel bonnets for its VF Commodore and found they failed to meet minimum standards for strength, durability and quality. GM-Holden's engineering group manager, Rowan Lal, said the most concerning failure was the "hood striker wire" on the counterfeit bonnets, which helps to keep it latched. Failure of that part at speed could lead to a bonnet flying open, obstructing the driver's view of the road ahead and smashing the windscreen. "We know that in a striker wire failure, hoods fly up," Mr Lal said. "The non-genuine hoods tested are demonstrably inferior. In a thinly veiled reference to the fall-out from Brexit and the US elections, Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has warned of rising macro geo-political risk while also stating it expects China to continue to provide economic stimulus for much of the year ahead. In a thinly reference to the new US president, Rio's chief executive, Jean-Sebastien Jacques warned over global uncertainty while highlighting the importance of free trade to the miner's fortunes. "The level of uncertainty has increased in a material way," he told analysts. "These uncertainties could have an impact on growth, trade, currencies and, subsequently, our industry fundamentals. One of the world's largest private equity groups, a wealthy investor and an ASX listed property fund have sold the World Trade Centre in Melbourne for $267.5 million, gaining a $99.5 million capital increase in just over two years. Abacus Property Group, global private equity firm KKR and privately-owned Riverlee Group have sold the three-tower complex on the north bank of Yarra River in Melbourne. The World Trade Centre has changed hands for $267.5 million. Credit:Nick Lenaghan The buildings are occupied by Victoria Police who are slated to move to a new home being built by industry super fund developer Cbus at the north end of Spencer Street. The World Trade Centre sold on a yield around 6.5 per cent. It was purchased by private interests with connections to Malaysia. Popular shopping centre chains Katies, Millers and Rivers are poised to fall to foreign ownership as weak trading conditions and competition from global players drive corporate activity in Australia's vulnerable apparel sector. Specialty Fashion Group, which is the largest women's apparel retailer in Australia and New Zealand, has received a $135 million takeover offer or a bid at 70 a share for its stable of retail brands from a "Middle Eastern investment company". Marcs and David Lawrence collased last week. Credit:Tamara Dean One experienced retail investor said he had run the ruler over the Specialty Fashion Group brands some time ago but the price tag for the brand stable was "too big". Specialty Fashion Group said it had been in discussions with the counter-party for some time in relation to a deal but it said the current proposal remained subject to a number of conditions. Myer's high profile fashion buyer Teneille Ferguson has defected to rival department store David Jones just days out from Myer's lavish autumn-winter fashion launch and with Australian apparel retailers grappling to balance falling sales and rising costs. Myer was tight-lipped about Ms Ferguson's resignation however the department store chain confirmed its group general manager for womens, mens and childrens fashion, Karen Brewster had taken on Ferguson's responsibilities in the short term. Myer said Ms Ferguson had quit Myer to "pursue other interests" and it was currently recruiting to fill the role. "We continue to have a strong management team in our womens business and great relationships with our designers," a Myer spokesperson said. A cafe in regional NSW has forced two Indian cooks to repay part of their wages and threatened to cancel their visas and even "kill" one if they complained. Record penalties of $532,000 have been ordered against the Canteen Cuisine cafe in Albury for the exploitation of five workers including the two cooks. Fares Ghazale, the former owner-operator of the Canteen Cuisine cafe, was fined $88,810 and his company Rubee Enterprises Pty Ltd was penalised a further $444,100 in the Federal Circuit Court. The court heard Ghazale told the workers they could keep a fraction of their wages each week, leaving them with as little as $6 an hour. Thousands of contractors risk being immediately barred from all new Commonwealth-funded construction work if the Turnbull government brings forward the deadline for compliance with its national building code. The government on Wednesday introduced a bill to drastically shorten the two-year phase-in period for the strict new building code attached to its revived Australian Building and Construction Commission. Hundreds of contractors with union-friendly deals risk missing out on government jobs. Credit:Glenn Hunt Most notably, the code outlaws a litany of union-friendly clauses such as union consultation provisions, restrictions on the use of labour hire and requirements for non-working site delegates in order for companies to be eligible for lucrative federal building jobs. The new amendment, which is now likely to pass the Senate after a surprising backflip by cross-bench senator Derryn Hinch, will cut the so-called "transition period" to just nine months. Model Christina Fern. "I paid for my own return flight from Brisbane to Sydney including all of my own expenses for accommodation and travel to and from the venue. "I did not receive payment for the photo shoot from the client. The client did not tell me where the photos will go, how long they will be used for or when they will be used." A photo posted to the ''Say NO to Sanija Fashion'' page. Credit:Facebook A University of NSW conference on industrial relations issues will on Thursday hear that fashion models are increasingly at risk of exploitation in the gig economy with little legal protection against being underpaid or unpaid or sexually harassed. Many fashion and photographic models do not formally have an employer or a fixed place of work to qualify for protection under the Fair Work Act. If this trend continues into the future it will mean the total collapse of modelling as a form of employment. Michael Walker Michael Walker, a PhD student at the University of Technology Sydney and communications officer at the modelling union the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association will present a paper to the conference raising concerns about an increasing proportion of models engaged in informal employment. "If this trend continues into the future it will mean the total collapse of modelling as a form of employment and a degeneration into informal employment," he said. "The protections of the Fair Work Act, with respect to pay, simply do not apply in an industry where almost no one works a 40-hour week and the small number who do are paid well above the award." After flying back early from a family holiday in Canada for the photo shoot in August last year, Ms Fern asked for a contract and more details about where the photos would be used. "I felt that I had done everything I could to make an informed, business savvy decision that aligned with my morals and would not impede on my career as an actress," she said. "I was told during the shoot that some poses were needed for lighting and reference and that at the poses I wanted would be done after. Three hours were spent on these "reference" photos and 15 minutes on the shots that I had asked for." After receiving a copy of some of the photos Ms Fern was "horrified at the results". "None of the lighting or poses I had expressed in my wishes were delivered in the photos and instead the ones the client used were the "reference" shots," she said. "I was extremely unhappy with the photos and they made me feel exploited, used and I doubted I would ever have a career in the modelling industry, given the unethical way this "job" was conducted." Mr Walker said traditional modelling agencies are now often bypassed by models who accept jobs through social media, which provides little protection against exploitation. He said modelling, like acting and performing, is a form of "gig" employment. "Having a lot of Instagram followers means that a person can become a recognised face without having to go through the traditional gatekeepers, the agencies," he said. "People can put themselves directly out there on Facebook and Instagram and get work directly from that. "It gives people more control over their personal brand, which is a good thing, but the down side of it is, it is just a payment for service." Because modelling was such a competitive career without barriers to entry, many models were underpaid or not paid at all. Some were paid in the form of product samples. Guard dogs and Xbox consoles are among the items that more than 154,000 small businesses have claimed as tax breaks for equipment used in the workplace. The deductions totalling nearly $1.25 billion towards the end of January, were claimed as part of measures unveiled in the 2015 federal budget that allow small businesses to claim an unlimited number of deductions for equipment and other items valued at less than $20,000. The deductions for businesses turning over less than $2 million come to an end on June 30, the final day of the current financial year. The Australian Taxation Office told Fairfax Media that the average claim in 2015-16 for items was $8,097. This was an increase on previous years. For the 2013-14 income year, the average claim was $3,690 and for 2014-15 the average claim was $4,914. Would it not be better for that candidate to be elected as an independent? Where he can stand up in parliament, without party influence, and debate any issue. We need to have more candidates stand as independents and for the electorate to seriously consider them when we vote. The quality of our politicians would improve exponentially. Max Jensen, Chifley Book a room Malcolm Turnbull could achieve two of his aims namely, creating jobs and reviewing MPs' entitlements by stipulating that all living away from home allowances, paid for being in Canberra during parliamentary sittings, be only used for hotel or serviced-apartment accommodation. This would create/secure jobs in Canberra as well as ensuring that MPs do not rort the living allowance scheme. Canberrans are frequently disadvantaged by being the location of the federal government for example, escalating air fares when Parliament is sitting. It is about time there was some benefit. Gay von Ess, Aranda Party lost its way The hypocrisy of the Abbott assassins is breathtaking. It is not Bernardi that has betrayed the party, rather a party that has betrayed its conservative base. A party led by someone without conviction or principle, and devoid of any political nous. A party that is no longer a "broad church", and has completely failed to comprehend the Brexit, Trump, Hanson phenomenon. Congratulations, Cory Bernardi. Owen Reid, Dunlop I emailed Cory Bernardi through a comment section in his web page (www.corybernardi.com/contact) to suggest he should resign his Senate seat and recontest it in the subsequent byelection. I was surprised and upset when the receipt for my comment thanked me for my support. This is a trick to inflate his support statistics, as I do not support Cory Bernardi's current Senate activity and the dishonest way he has interpreted my comment. Roland Torrens, Hughes Please explain, Cory. You claimed to be guided by God, but precisely which god advised you to betray your parent party after securing a Senate seat for six years? You claimed to have sanctity for human life, but have you not ridiculed the dangers of life to the immigrants running for their lives from war zones? Cory, you have lot to explain. Dr Munawar Rana, Walkerville, SA Now that Cory Bernardi has returned from New York, I await with anticipation his speech about what he has learnt from being at the United Nations as a parliamentary representative from Australia, and what ideas he has about how we can improve our contribution to its work. I would like to know that the taxpayers' dollars have been well spent. David Purnell, Florey I found it intriguing to hear Bernardi paraphrasing, if not actually quoting, his new hero Mao Zedong in his defection speech: "The longest journey begins with a first step." Perhaps the senator should also take note of another of the chairman's quotes: "All reactionaries are paper tigers." James Gralton, Garran Malcolm Turnbull could come up with a win-win for himself, Donald Trump and Australia if, instead of sending the refugees to the US permanently, he sent Cory Bernardi. Malcolm and Australia would be rid of a persistent troublemaker and Donald would have another un-critical follower. Allan Mikkelsen, Hawker Bernardi's departure from the Coalition means that the PM has one less dinosaur to deal with. Still a few to go though Abbottosaurus, Abetzosaurus, Christensenosaurus and so on, so (he) needs a political asteroid impact to get things done. David Williams, Watson Could letter writers leave Bernardi alone? If, as federal Liberal Party members keep repeating, the Liberal Party is a broad church, then Cory is exercising his right to come and go through that wide-open church door as he pleases. Graeme Rankin, Holder So Cory Bernardi is going to start another Nutters Party. Don't we have enough of those already? Richard Keys, Ainslie 'Magic pudding' leadership Professor Jenny Stewart ("Labor rode the rails to election victory", February 6, p.15) was spot on when she said "Labor and the Greens adopt an essentially magic pudding approach to budgetary policy. You can cut as many slices as you want, and there will always be plenty left." In addition to maintaining essential services, some of the pudding is used to keep the ALP in power. For example, supporting vanity projects like the tram so as to ensure Greens support in the assembly. The pudding is provided mainly by the Commonwealth government in the form of salaries to its staff, which in turn supports the rest of the ACT economy. The ACT economy relies solely on us, the ratepayers for its income. We're in a Ponzi scheme where the government makes money from new capital derived from investors (ratepayers and building developers), rather than from profit earned through legitimate sources. The territory needs private investment. The government should be looking to attract high tech industry to Canberra by offering low set up and low running costs for the first few years of operation. They should also be looking at establishing partnerships between industry, government, CSIRO and universities. This is how Silicon Valley began in California. But it is all a dream, I know that. At the end of the day, we don't have a government, not a proper one. We have a town council. And, as everyone knows, town councils have small minds, but large appetites especially for puddings. Lee Welling, Nicholls No more 'Labor mates' Canberrans should consider if the Barr government's intention to reportedly make "five new senior appointments" in planning related areas in the next few months ("House quits directorate", February 7, p.1) represents value for our money. We don't need highly remunerated bureaucrats ($300k-$700k pa seems to have been set, simply by precedent, as the going rate) to facilitate filling in open spaces and constructing over the top multi-storey buildings, while ensuring the true cost to the budget and reduced amenity remain hidden. Our assembly should conduct a transparent and genuinely open inquiry into key planning matters, such as the "City to the Lake" project, construction of which has essentially commenced on the Black Mountain side of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. There is definitely nothing cool or little about the current or proposed works. The inquiry should consider the need to preserve open space particularly near built up areas and the appropriate scale of development generally. It should be informed by impartial expert advice, remunerated if necessary that is much more likely to add value from a community perspective than the "Labor mates" who often seem to be appointed to senior positions in the ACT public service. Bruce Paine, Red Hill Monthly targets One has to wonder whether our government-driven police ever target anything else? ("Speeding drivers in sights of ACT police this February", canberratimes.com.au, February 7). (We were told) "Gungahlin Drive, Majura Parkway, Monaro Highway, William Hovell Drive and Belconnen Way would likely be of particular interest to police as the top five speeding hot spots in Canberra". Are they also the top five accident hot spots, or merely statistically advantageous revenue potential hot spots? I have noticed an increasing trend in Canberra of red-light running. It attracts so few resources people know they can do it with virtual impunity. The lack of sequencing of lights, and increase in bizarre intersections probably doesn't help. If February's going to be target speeding month, let's make March target red-light month, April target graffiti month and June target ice month. J. Coleman, Chisholm Reform belittled The wording of the headline "Criminals serving sentences out of jails" (February 7, p. 4) was most unfortunate. It seems to suggest the only place for criminals is jail, but more importantly it disparages one of the most important reforms to the ACT criminal justice system for many years. The intensive corrections order which was introduced just a year ago can be seen from the data contained in the article to be highly successful with 30 convicted offenders now serving sentences in the community. There have been some failures, but one of the unique features of this scheme is that both the offender and the supervising authorities know exactly what the consequences will be. It is no longer a matter of chance or luck. The ACT government and the ACT community should be proud of this scheme as it is already going a long way to keeping the number of offenders in jail to the lowest number possible, and that has positive economic and social consequences. David Biles, Curtin The dumping ground In reference to D. Erikson's claim refugees cease to be refugees once they arrive in Indonesia (letters, February 8, p.15). Indonesia is not a signatory to the refugee convention, they have never wanted to protect any refugees and Australia only uses them as a dumping ground, prisons which we pay for. Just in case there is any doubt that I am correct, up until the time Gillard started turning them away 97per cent of those who passed through Indonesia are still here as refugees. Marilyn Shepherd, Angaston, SA TO THE POINT PRAISE FOR POPE Your cartoonist (David Pope) was handed a rich palette of material to work with this week, but his latest "Coming to terms with political climate change" (February 7, p.15) is probably his most inspired, satirical, and apt work to date, depicting our curious political land/seascape. He deserves a raise! Jonathan Mobbs, Malua Bay, NSW PO PIGGY BANK Perhaps Scott Morrison should consider finding funds for his deficits at the Australia Post Office. I am sure the King of the Post office will oblige! Ditto Centrelink. Vanessa Lauf, Bungendore, NSW ALTERNATIVE FACTS Alan Parkinson (letters, February 2) congratulates John McKerral (letters, January 30) for his comments about the "real" cost of solar electricity. It seems "alternative facts" are now de rigueur! James Allan, Narrabundah NO TRUMP APOLOGIST Steve Ellis (Letters, February 6) criticised me for "accepting" Donald Trump, even "applauding" him for keeping his promises. I made no such comments. Don Sephton, Greenway BEGONE, BERNARDI For all it's worth, let me, on behalf of the true liberals within the Liberal Party, say this to Cory Bernardi: "vattene" (begone), as my wife's grandmother would have said. John Rodriguez, Florey Slogan for the next election: Cory Bernardi for Cory Bernardi. Robyn Waddington, Greenway WRONG BOHEMIA Sorry, Michael McCarthy and Jack Monaghan (letters, February 7), but you are both off course. Bohemia is a region in the Czech Republic that is famous for its crystal wares; it is not a country in its own right, at least in modern times. The term "bohemian" referred to by Gerry Murphy in his February 5 letter, has nothing to do with Bohemia, but describes a lifestyle that is "unconventional". G. Bell, Franklin OLD POPULISM Populism is nothing new. Only the media make it so. Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor It wasn't the expert skewering of President Donald Trump's bizarre obsession with crowd sizes and public adoration that reportedly most bothered the President about Melissa McCarthy's impression of Sean Spicer on Saturday. McCarthy, one of the biggest movie stars around, dropped into the weekly sketch show Saturday Night Live to do a full-bodied, merciless impression of the President's press secretary. She barked from the podium at a gaggle of reporters about a recent Trump audience: "Everyone was smiling, everyone was happy, the men all had erections and every single one of the women was ovulating left and right! "Those are the facts forever!" Jane Robinson Nicholls As your editorial suggests, 7 per cent of priests sexually abusing kids is a very large number indeed. And, given no one likes to give up power, particularly when that power lies between a human being and their God, the Catholic hierarchy will need to be dragged into permanent change if this is to stop. Using Ireland as a reference, lip service will be paid unless the imposed change is regulated and policed. Failure to adhere to a serious level of control will see us back where we started in no time flat. Let's get it right this time. Ted Keating Tallai Bigger population not good for society Manbir Singh Kohli (Letters, February 8) criticises Dick Smith's calls for population sustainability based on several myths. The first myth is that an economy necessarily grows through access to a larger domestic market. Tell that to our car industry, which thrived with a smaller population. In the age of increasing automation, the real drivers of per capita wealth are investment in education, skills, innovation and productivity, not rapid population growth. The second myth was that immigration reduces ageing and provides a wider tax base. Immigrants age too. Research from across the OECD also shows that as societies age they naturally adjust by many people choosing to work longer. This maintains the workforce participation ratio and tax revenue. Rapid population growth benefits the few (mainly property developers), and costs the many. We need a proper public debate, which can only come through a national population plebiscite that includes the option to cap annual permanent immigration at the twentieth century average of 70,000 per year. William Bourke, Wollstonecraft Manbir Singh Kohli makes some compelling points about how population growth benefits our economy. Unfortunately we don't live in an economy. We live in a society on a planet that is increasingly suffering from the effects of climate change, politicians working for mates and lobbyists instead of the people and refugees who are being blamed for the world's ills instead of supported. What good is an economy if we can't all live in tolerable conditions? Margaret Grove Abbotsford Toll burden unjustified Road toll collectors are making huge profits with more to come ("Toll collector's surging profits", February 8). Did anyone really expect it would be otherwise? That is what happens when you let the private sector into the provision of essential public services.As reports from the Auditor General have shown, more traditional methods of financing and construction would have given the taxpayer the necessary facilities more cheaply, with only occasional exceptions. Moreover, charges and profit levels would have remained firmly under the control of an elected government. Greg McCarry Epping Welfare changes are just ideology dressed up as fact Christian Porter, Minister for Social Services, has introduced an omnibus bill of welfare changes and savings into Parliament ("Government announces major compromises to secure Senate support for childcare package", smh.com.au February 8). Minister Porter has been spruiking the bill on the basis that the government can't afford to live beyond its means and spend money it doesn't earn in a tax year. This is the exact opposite of government policies on negative gearing and big business tax reform, where individuals and organisations are urged to borrow to invest more than they earn with financial returns expected in the long run. The Coalition is prepared to use taxpayer funds to underwrite part of that growth in private wealth. Investing in wealth creation is either good or bad it can't be good when it applies to the haves in society and bad when it applies to the have-nots. Yet this is precisely the line the Coalition government is pushing. Those who argue that investing in welfare services is a public good with excellent returns on investment over time are demonised, as are those on welfare services witness the recent Centrelink debt recovery debacle. Whereas those who negatively gear are described as "ordinary Australians", despite considerable evidence to the contrary, and big business profits go offshore. We're being sold a pup or at the very least political ideology dressed up as fact. Jennifer Raines Newtown Fahour and rich get richer, poor get poorer If the PM thinks Ahmed Fahour's pay is too high at a mere $5.6 million what does he make of a top banker like the Commonwealth's Ian Narev taking home $12.3 million last financial year? ("Malcolm Turnbull says $5.6 million salary of Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour is too high", smh.com.au February 8). Obviously banking is seen as a far more complicated business than the top postie's, as a succession of investigations by Fairfax and Four Corners has revealed. Meanwhile, at the bottom end of town some of the lowest paid workers waiters, cleaners and the like are bracing themselves for a big pay cut, if the expected reduction in weekend penalties goes through. Maybe it's as simple as this (with apologies to HG Nelson): at the top too much money is never enough, while those at the bottom of the pile are always getting too much. Nick Franklin Katoomba The $5.6 million paid to Australia Post's Ahmed Fahour is a disgrace and such extravagant remuneration should be stopped immediately. Under Fahour's stewardship the service offered by Post has plummeted while its charges have escalated to almost luxury item status. Our business regularly receives priority paid mail, and judging by the postmark dates it is a considerably slower service than regular mail. Australia Post is basically a logistics business and should be run by a senior logistics executive who understands the business, not an ex-banker. Victor Marshall Erskineville It is obscene to pay the head of Australia Post 10 times as much as the Prime Minister, when the service is abysmal, and getting even worse. I posted a calendar via Australia Post ($20) to my grandson in London on December 29 correctly addressed and duly stamped at the post office. It arrived yesterday. That is six weeks, for a service that used to take about a week. Carolyn Richard Enmore Let's see report behind mergers decision At a time when trust in government is falling there is one simple thing that Gladys Berejiklian can do that would go a long way to steer the council amalgamation debate into rational territory ("Merger policy still has strong Liberal support", February 8). She should unconditionally release the report on which the decision to compulsorily amalgamate councils was based. As long as the report remains hidden the wider community will be justifiably distrustful of the political motivation behind the policy. Greg Loder Springwood Some Liberals are prepared to stick stubbornly to a policy that has already lost them one Coalition seat in Orange and threatens to lose them more. Coogee MP Bruce Notley-Smith says "Turkeys don't vote for Christmas". He must think we are all turkeys. Ordinary besieged residents think he's a turkey and a seriously flawed politician. Likewise those other Liberal MPs who don't foresee what this means for their party and their seats Note that an Electoral Commission report showed that Mosman voted 81.3 per cent against forced mergers, and Orange showed that a 22 per cent swing is easily attainable. Wake up, Notley-Smith and other disloyal Liberals. Support your Premier Berejiklian as she tries to find a solution. William Tuck Mosman Improving democracy History shows that in times of economic uncertainty democracy comes under stress. Interesting to read that "elites" are looking for alternatives once again, including the model of Athenian democracy ("Not just working class disillusioned", February 8). However, not all citizens were entitled to vote in ancient Athens. Ideally for the random selection of voters and the introduction of people's councils, there must be equity in education something that Australia is lacking, due to the influence of its elitist and segregated school system. A step in the right direction would be the elimination of shock jock propaganda, the end to political party donations, to the influence of corruption at all levels of government, to the increased selection of party hacks, staffers and media advisers for political office and to media monopoly. It's not so much the system itself that is the problem, it's the corruption of the system that needs to checked. Vanessa Tennent Oatley Sadly for PM, right-wingers staying put I remember the last party started by a Corey ("Liberals in turmoil: Bernardi sets up own party", February 8). That was Corey Worthington, the Melbourne lad whose party became swamped by gatecrashers when he failed to mark it a private event on Facebook. Hopefully, Cory Bernardi's new party can do much the same, but be swamped by dissatisfied Liberal right-wingers. If he can take George Brandis, Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz, George Christensen and co with him, maybe Malcolm Turnbull will run the country the way he wants to run things. But I doubt it. Alexander Gregory Elliott Bilgola Plateau So Cory Bernardi's strategy to restore the faith of voters in politicians starts with him betraying those who voted for him. Sounds like a plan. Michael Maguire Emu Plains It's notable that Cory Bernardi phoned the Prime Minister but didn't make a further 300,000-plus calls to the South Australian constituents who voted for the Liberal Party ticket instead of Bernardi specifically. Just over 2000 people voted for him personally. "Unrepresentative swill" seems most appropriate. Rod Andrewartha Clovelly Foreign aid saves thousands from leprosy Tim Costello makes a very good case for increasing our overseas aid ("These are interesting times, but Australia must take on the world, not retreat", February 8). As a former aid overseas worker, I saw many examples of lives transformed by well-targeted aid. Just one example is a leprosy program in Chad, based on the training of health workers, which is saving thousands from the horrors of leprosy through early detection and treatment. Andrew Macintosh Cromer Trump's bouffants I'm not sure about Hugo Zweep's favoured (Dutch) "onnozel" for Trump supporters (Letters, February 8) but the full-face picture of D.T.'s coiffure, above that, suggests "Bouffant(e)s" as a collective; at one with his output of puff and nonsense and descriptive of the reckless tweet-bleating of views and intentions (which would be less threatening if the multi puff-pastry layers did not cover such potentially explosive pie filling.) Colin Booth Narrabeen $40 million outrage What we have learnt is that it was almost inescapable. The revelations at the royal commission of how widespread the child sex abuse was in the Catholic Church has shocked everyone. It really is the first time the community have truly understood how pervasive and extensive this abuse was over the decades in Australia. But believe it or not there will be some good that will come from hearing this horror. For far too long victims of child abuse have lived with the shame and the fear and the worry that no one would believe them. But this was happening on a bigger scale than anyone had thought. We also know the courage and bravery it takes to come forward to authorities and report it. My team has helped hundreds of people seek justice in crimes against them, including helping them give evidence to the royal commission. Can you make sense of the moment? The whiplash character of politics, watching Donald Trump tweet and twerp, is simply bewildering. But we have to be honest; politics has been stuck in a type of hyperdrive for years now and this phenomenon is hardly confined to the United States. How many Australian prime ministers in how many years, and could another one be jettisoned soon? Pauline Hanson resurrected. Now Cory Bernardi has quit the Liberals, just a few months after being re-elected to the Senate. No wonder people are feeling confused and disenchanted. Senator Cory Bernardi departs the Senate after resigning from the Liberal Party. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Confusion stems from complexity, and there is no disputing that the layers of connection in the modern world advanced by technology, migration and commerce can be confronting and difficult to comprehend. Democracy, as a political system, has struggled to adapt to the speed of change. The traditional means of control to reflect the will of the people, by the imposition of sovereign borders, behind which authorities command exclusive power free of external interference, have eroded. This is evident in controversies as seemingly diverse as resentment about tax avoidance by multinational companies to the arrival of asylum seekers on boats. The common thread is a perceived loss of control. There are enormous opportunities in the modern world, not only to raise living standards but also for enhanced political participation. But confusion about the pace of change can be exploited and turned to fear by cynical leaders. The promise of simple answers to complex problems has delivered Mr Trump an election victory. He has already found governing infinitely more difficult. Senator Bernardi claims to be inspired by Mr Trump's success, but his break with the Liberal Party reflects a far more enduring feature of politics: the quality of ego. Challenged to explain the philosophical or specific policy differences that he has with Malcolm Turnbull, Senator Bernardi has offered none. Instead, he has relied on glib assurances that people deserve a choice, that "it's not about me, it's about the country", even claiming his action will strengthen the Liberals. On that, at least, Senator Bernardi might be correct, but not for the reason he believes. His decision to move to the crossbench leaves the immediate impression of a government in chaos, but in the long term, his absence will rid Mr Turnbull of an unhelpful distraction within his ranks, while exposing Senator Bernardi to the eventual judgment of the people he purports to serve. Mr Turnbull has called for Senator Bernardi to resign, yet it was the Liberal Party that last year chose to endorse the senator as a candidate, knowing full well his mutterings about the need for a new conservative movement. The dominance of the two major parties is also being challenged by the pace of change, and party discipline can indeed have a stultifying effect on the expression of ideas. The public can judge for themselves Senator Bernardi's decision to leave the Liberals so soon after the election. The odds of a joint action against the federal government's Centrelink debt recovery program have narrowed, with lawyers saying it's considered highly unlikely such an action would succeed. However, Slater and Gordon and perhaps some of Australia's other leading class action law firms are investigating Centrelink's handling of the scheme, and have not ruled out challenging the legality of its conduct under Commonwealth laws. Slater and Gordon practice group leader Tim Finney told Fairfax Media that individuals could have grounds to appeal the validity and legality of debt notices sent by Centrelink. "Slater and Gordon is currently reviewing Centrelink's conduct for the purpose of confirming whether it has engaged in any contraventions of applicable laws," Mr Finney said. A controversial parliamentary perk that lets politicians charge the taxpayer to fly their spouses and children around the country in business class could be next on the Turnbull government's chopping block. While the change is not part of the government's first tranche of entitlement reforms, Fairfax Media understands cabinet has discussed whether the interstate family reunion allowance should be axed like the Life Gold Pass. It is understood Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has questioned the need for the allowance - which gives MPs three business-class return fares for their family a year - even though a major review of the expenses system recommended keeping it. While the government has no intention of scrapping family travel entitlements to and from Canberra, there is a view among a number of senior Coalition figures the interstate allowance is out of step with community expectations - and leaves the government exposed to more potentially damaging scandals. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is seeking what the Labor opposition calls "Trump-like" powers to target foreign nationals and require them to revalidate their visas. The proposed Migration Act amendments would allow Mr Dutton to compel entire groups of visa-holders to pass a revalidation check, based on their nationality, place of residence or travel history. Elements of the bill have been criticised by numerous legal experts for being "too broad" and handing "excessive discretion" to Mr Dutton without parliamentary checks. Labor had originally signalled its intent to support the bill - to be debated on Wednesday - but has now decided to oppose it unless the offending elements are removed. The thing is, America, and the world, are still feeling the effects of the bone-shudderingly divisive election of Trump to president and the swiftness with which he set about writing controversial executive orders. Those who oppose him are rallying in the streets and airports. It's not a normal election and it likely doesn't make for lively yet mostly polite "agree to disagree" dinner party conversation. As Jill Filipovic wrote in Time, "This is not just a political disagreement, as if one of you supports free trade agreements because you think they bolster the economy and the other believes they've wreaked havoc on the American working class. It's not a difference of political opinion, where you both want to see low-income Americans thrive, but you disagree on how to get there. This is about fundamental values: How should we treat other human beings? Is blatant, aggressive racism acceptable? Are women human?" According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 6426 people between December 27 and January 18, people are arguing more with their family friends over politics by 6 percentage points. Meanwhile 16 per cent say that they have stopped talking to a family member or friend because of the election (up a tiny bit from 15 per cent) and 13 per cent of respondents said that they had nixed a relationship over the election, up a point from October. There has been a push for people to get outside of their bubble and talk to people with different views than you (please take note President Trump, that just because something is different to your own views it doesn't necessarily mean that it's "fake news"). And there's plenty of advice on how a couple with different view points can make their relationship work (hint it involves a lot of respect). But it's also worth considering the idea that just as you should believe someone when they show you who they really are, you should also believe them when they cast their vote. Cardinal George Pell has dismissed a Greens motion in the Senate calling on him to return to Australia to aid a police investigation into misconduct as a "political stunt". Cardinal Pell, who was interviewed by detectives from the Sano Taskforce in Rome in October, also said he believed that "fair minded Australians" would see Wednesday's motion calling on him to return to Australia as "point-scoring". The statement, released to News Corp overnight, reportedly said the Greens were well aware "of the cardinal's decisive actions to address the evils of abuse and the changes he has implemented in the church over 20 years ago". "Their anti-religion agenda is notorious and most fair minded Australians would see this motion as pathetic point-scoring." Sydney University's controversial decision to shut down its art school at Callan Park will not happen for at least two years, with students set to continue studying at the historic Kirkbride campus until 2018. Sydney University revealed plans to close its Sydney College of the Arts in 2015, and later tried and failed to merge the art school with the University of NSW. The university's latest proposal is to move the art school to the Old Teacher's College, located on its Camperdown campus, and utilise nearby buildings if required. The relocation would not be complete until early 2019. No art students will be taught at Sydney University's main campus this year. And no students were accepted to commence the bachelor of visual arts course in 2017. The University of Sydney is standing by a new $27,000 vet science scholarship that favours men after students protested that it constitutes unacceptable sexism. Some vet science students were infuriated when they received notification last week of the Professor Marsh Edwards AO Scholarship, offered to postgraduate veterinary medicine students for the first time in 2017. The scholarship information says that "preference will be given to applicants who are: from rural or regional areas, male, interested in large animal practice ... [and] an Australian citizen". The women's officer on the Students' Representative Council at the university, Imogen Grant, said female vet students were "horrified". "This latest case highlights the importance of getting vaccinated to protect against the disease. A highly effective measles vaccine has been freely available for many years and it is vital for everyone, including adults and children, to have two doses of the measles vaccine during their life time. The measles virus seen under a microscope. "Those people who have not received two doses of measles vaccine are at particular risk of contracting the disease and should be alert to symptoms in the coming days and weeks." Symptoms of measles include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body. Measles can have serious complications, particularly for young children. People with measles symptoms should seek medical advice as soon as possible, stay home from work or school, and limit other activities to avoid exposing other vulnerable people, such as infants, to the infection, Dr Sheppeard said. Maureen McIlquham holds a photo of herself and her daughter, Michelle, who died of meningitis in 2009. Credit:Wolter Peeters "I told the doctor she wasn't always like this [non-communicative], but I don't think they believed me." Her doctor conceded during a coronial inquest that she had suspected meningitis, but failed to test for the deadly infection. She told a coronial hearing her previous experience with people with intellectual disability had clouded her judgment. Michelle Mcilquham. Credit:Wolter Peeters "My daughter was very sick and this doctor judged her because of her disability," Mrs McIlquham said. Michelle was given paracetamol and ibuprofen, and her mother was told to take her home. When Mrs McIlquham refused to leave without her daughter being appropriately assessed and treated, hospital security was called. Mrs McIlquham still refused to leave but Michelle was removed from her hospital bed, deposited into a wheelchair and pushed out to the kerb and into a taxi at 4am. Mrs McIlquham made a nest of blankets and quilts on the floor of Michelle's room, in case she had another seizure and rolled out of bed. Michelle's brother found her a few hours later. Her lips were blue. She had suffered cardiac arrest. She died in hospital. Had Michelle been given a blood test and a CT brain scan her a serious bacterial infection could have been detected and treated with antibiotics and she may have survived, the inquest heard. The deputy state coroner Hugh Dillon concluded the diagnosis of "tantrum" was "completely inappropriate both because it was offensive and because it does not designate a medical condition". "It is clear medical staff gave insufficient attention and weight to Mrs McIlquham's concerns it was even more concerning that she was threatened with security," the deputy coroner Dillon concluded. In his view, hospital staff did not discriminate against Michelle, but "some did treat her differently from the way they might have assess[ed] and treated other patients" and attributed her illness to the behaviour of an intellectually disabled person reacting to a common ear infection. "I just fell apart. I couldn't stop crying," Mrs McIlquham said. "Grief counsellors tell me that Michelle would want me to move on. I can't. I'll never get over it," she said. The alarming statistic Australians with intellectual disabilities and war torn South Sudan have in common Australians with intellectual disabilities are significantly more likely to have their lives cut short. A flawed classification system too often attributes the cause of death to their disability, whether they die of pneumonia or an ear infection. People with intellectual disabilities were twice as likely to die a potentially avoidable death than the general public, found the largest Australian study of its kind. The research published in the BMJ Open on Wednesday also found adults in this group died on average 27 years earlier than other Australians (54 versus 81 years old). It's a jarring disparity in life expectancy comparable to the life expectancy gap between Australia and South Sudan. "These are profound discrepancies in mortality rates," said lead researcher Professor Julian Trollor, Chair in Intellectual Disability Mental Health at the University of NSW. "This is a group without a voice. Most people with intellectual disability struggle to speak out and most carers are so overburdened by their caring role they struggle to be mobilised as a force in advocacy," Professor Trollor said. Some 17 per cent of the general population died of potentially avoidable causes over the study period, compared to 31 per cent of people with an intellectual disability, found the study that analysed the 732 deaths among adults who received disability services in NSW between 2005 and 2011 and compared it to ABS deaths data. The proportion rose to 38 per cent when the researchers from UNSW dove deeper into the data, uncovering a flawed classification system that often listed the underlying cause of death as the intellectually disability itself, rather than the illness or disease that killed them. Many of the conditions could have been ameliorated through appropriate healthcare monitoring and treatment, the authors said. People with intellectual disabilities were four times as likely to die between the ages of 24 and 44 compared to the general population, and twice as likely to die in middle age. About 76 per cent of all deaths among this group were before the age of 65. The reverse was true of the general population, with roughly 20 per cent of deaths occurring in people younger than 65. Flaws in classification list cause of death as intellectual disabilities Professor Julian Trollor first noticed something was amiss when he was trawling through death certificate data for people with intellectual disabilities. Over and over again the underlying cause of death was listed as the disability itself, regardless of whether the patient had died of an infection, cancer or a heart attack. "I thought, this just doesn't seem right," Professor Trollor said. Professor Julian Trollor says KPIs need to be introduced. Credit:APAC A person with Down Syndrome who died of respiratory failure caused by pneumonia would likely have their underlying cause of death coded as Down Syndrome in population records. "Down Syndrome itself doesn't cause the death. Anyone else in that scenario would have their underlying cause of death coded as pneumonia. "It's terribly illogical," he said. When the researchers recorded the deaths to eliminate this flaw they not only found avoidable deaths were more common than first thought, but the proportion of specific causes of death had changed. Respiratory conditions, largely infections like pneumonia was the biggest overall killer, accounting for roughly 20 per cent of all deaths. Among potentially avoidable deaths, circulatory conditions, followed by infections (including pneumonia and middle ear infections that spread to the brain), and cancer were the most likely causes. "If we are going to plan effective individual and public health strategies to reduce deaths in this group we need to know where the avoidable deaths really lie," he said. 'It's not OK' Michael Sullivan, chairman for the CID, who has Down Syndrome, said the research is a reality check as it is people's lives at stake. "It is not OK that people with intellectual disability die young, it's definitely not OK," Mr Sullivan said. Australia has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of a Person with Disabilities, that affords them the highest attainable standard of health. Council of Intellectual Disability chairman Michael Sullivan. Credit:Christopher Pearce At a basic level, Professor Trollor said, Australia had fundamentally failed to meet this obligation. "We have a real gap and a real problem and we need to address this urgently and systematically," he said. A demedicalisation of intellectual disabilities in recent years meant the health system was not properly equipped to meet their needs, Professor Trollor said. "People with intellectual disabilities are often sidelined as soon as they walk into an emergency department or a GP. They are often not asked what their wishes are and sometimes even carers struggle to be heard," he said. A whole government strategy was needed, including coordinated care primary care networks, local health districts and NGOs with NDIS, educating healthcare professionals with the appropriate skills, Professor Trollor said. He recommended introducing the UK system that set KPIs for health networks, which had to demonstrate that every aspect of their health services were accessible to people with intellectual disability to receive funding. Senior advocate for the Council of Intellectual Disability (CID) Jim Simpson said the results were a stark confirmation of the evidence that people with intellectual disability are very poorly serviced by the health system. Jim Simpson, senior advocate for CID said the state government needed to commit $50 million to closing the life expectancy gap. Credit:CID "Time and again, people with intellectual disability and their families report to us that health professionals do not understand their needs and in some cases are flagrantly discriminatory." Policy makers have been well aware of the problem, but have not moved past small pilot programs to enacting meaningful change, Mr Simpson said. "Their responses to date have been small and incremental," Mr Simpson said. The state government needed to invest $50 million a year to fund a statewide network to support this group and save the lives of people with intellectual disability who die preventable deaths, Mr Simpson said. "The NSW Government can and must act now," he said. New NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said the state government wanted to ensure that all citizens, including those with disabilities, get the best possible healthcare. "I am looking forward to meeting with the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability to discuss health issues for people with disabilities, and I'm aware that there is concern they may often not get the medical attention they need," Mr Hazzard said. Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The Federal Government is an integral part of the equation, with the roll out of the NDIS, as well as state agencies, he said. "We've got the coolest building in town, it's fully air-conditioned, a stone building," he explained. "All we can hope is that the air-conditioners and refrigerators don't pack it in, because they can only take so much." On Sunday, however, a new weather front will start to move through Australia, dropping the mercury in most of Victoria and South Australia. By Monday, New South Wales should begin to feel the cool change, followed by Queensland. VICTORIA Northern parts of the state are in for the hottest conditions, with Mildura expected to get two days of 44 degrees on Thursday and Friday, dropping to 42 degrees on Saturday. Echuca, on the border of NSW, is expected to cop 41 degrees on Thursday, 43 degrees Friday and 40 degrees on Saturday. "In Victoria the winds have turned northerly, so some of that very hot air is going to move across Victoria, especially in the north of the state," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Chris Godfred said. "We're going to see temperatures rise well above 40, and then that heat will continue across until the weekend, and we'll get a cool change on Sunday." The hot air will move to Albury on Friday, where temperatures will reach 43 degrees, and then 41 degrees on Saturday. Melbourne will be cooler, with a top of 37 degrees on Thursday, dropping to 26 degrees on Friday. Melburnians might survive summer without recording a single 40-degree day. NEW SOUTH WALES Wet weather in Sydney has made way for warmer conditions as the interior heat leaks eastwards. Bourke, a small town 800 kilometres north-west of Sydney, is expected to record Australia's hottest temperature for the week, peaking at 47 degrees on Sunday. In Penrith, Thursday's forecast top of 36 degrees will seem almost cool given what's expected after that. Friday to Sunday, the mercury is expected to climb to 44-45 degrees. A top of 29 degrees is predicted for Sydney on Thursday before a trio of scorching days, with 36, 39, and 38 degrees forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology for Friday through to Sunday. Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain said it could be the hottest three-day spell on record for Sydneysiders. The hottest towns in Australia this week. Credit:Bureau of Meteorology QUEENSLAND Birdsville, a town of only 120, has sweltered through temperatures above 43 degrees since Australia Day. "We've had hotter days, it's just difficult at the moment because it's day after day normally we get a break, but not this year," Birdsville Hotel manager Ben Fullagar said. "But life will just continue on the same track here in Birdsville." Inland centres such as Ipswich and Gatton are also forecast to reach some of the hottest temperatures recorded for the region, particularly over the weekend. "We're expecting temperatures to reach the high 30s for Saturday and reach over 40 degrees on Sunday, with Gatton expecting 42 and Ipswich 41," Bureau senior forecaster Brett Harrison said. Brisbane temperatures will be in the low 30s over the next few days, but the city is forecast to hit 35 on Saturday and 37 degrees on Sunday. SOUTH AUSTRALIA In Moomba, an outback town 770 kilometres north of Adelaide, a new record could be set for the most days about 45 degrees. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the town is in for a six-day stretch above 45 degrees, dropping to a "mild" 39 on Sunday. An extreme heat warning was issued by the Bureau for the state on Wednesday. Adelaide reached 42.4 degrees on Wednesday, and will get to 41 degrees Thursday. Friday and Saturday temperatures will remain high, above 37 degrees. South Australia was hit by a short power outage late on Wednesday as searing heat led to a spike in electricity use, just months after a major blackout hit industry and forced a review of energy security in the renewables-dependent state. A trainee Australian soldier was driving an army truck at double the speed limit, deliberately aiming for pot holes and drifting around bends shortly before a fatal crash, a court has heard. Alexander Gall is on trial in the Downing Centre District Court. Credit:Anna Kucera Alexander Gall, 24, is on trial in the NSW District Court over the crash that killed Sapper Jordan Penpraze, 22, and left six other soldiers seriously injured at the Holsworthy military base in 2012. Giving evidence on Wednesday, one of the soldiers badly injured in the crash said he saw the truck's speedometer hit 80km/h as they travelled along a gravel road, which had a speed limit of 40km/h. An image of a turtle next to a lump of coal on a beach in Mackay was released by WWF-Austalia on Wednesday as the Queensland government confirmed coal spillages at two nearby coal terminals. The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection had been investigating reports of coal and coal dust washing up on beaches near Mackay since late last year and in January, officers inspected Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay coal terminals. WWF-Australia were sent images from a concerned citizen of a turtle near a lump of coal off a Mackay beach. "As a result of this inspection officers noticed a spillage at both coal terminals," a spokesperson said. The Port of Hay Point sits alongside the Great Barrier Reef and is made up of two export terminals, Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay. The $30 million first-stage of an eventual $115 million new route between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra was opened on Wednesday morning by Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey. It was one of three major roads and electricity upgrades announced on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday triggered by progress at a master-planned $5 billion Sunshine Coast community which will be home to 50,000 people and the opening of the new hospital at Kawana next month. Amy and James Lewis; Aura's first residents in their new suburb of Baringa. The new road improves access to residents living in the newer suburbs of Caloundra South to the new $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast Hospital which opens at Kawana next month. Mr Bailey opened the first 2.8km stage of a section of road called the Bells Creek Arterial Road in the northern section of the new Caloundra South development, which is called Aura. Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the operation was a blow against businesses which flouted the law and employed illegal foreign workers. The raid came after police pulled over a car carrying four of the farm's workers last month. Officers from the ABF and Queensland Police raided the strawberry farm near Stanthorpe early on Tuesday. Officers from the ABF and Queensland Police raided the property near Stanthorpe early on Tuesday. Australian Border Force officers say they have apprehended 27 foreign nationals working illegally at a strawberry farm south west of Brisbane. "Employers have a responsibility for ensuring that their workers, whether domestic or foreign, are employed legally and that they receive all of their respective entitlements," Mr Dutton said in a statement. "Likewise, foreign nationals who enter Australia are expected to abide by the conditions of their visa." Of the 27 arrested, 13 had overstayed their visas, while 12 had breached their visa conditions. Officers sent 21 to Brisbane to be deported or apply for bridging visas, while two were granted bridging visas and the final four will face more interviews. Information gathered in the raids has been passed on the the multi-agency Taskforce Cadena, which was set up to disrupt organisations which arrange for large numbers of foreign workers to work in Australia illegally. Australia's senior engineering body Engineers Australia - says the Queensland Government must release the complete findings from a second inquiry into the controversy-ridden $1.1 billion Petrie to Kippa Ring rail line. The second inquiry reporting into May 2016's "potentially disastrous" train signalling errors is still "confidential" four months after the rail line opened in October 2016. The signalling flaw between the signalling system on the new Moreton Bay Rail Link and the rest of the Citytrain network meant trains on the new Moreton Bay Rail Link could have collided with other Citytrain services when it opened in August 2016. The rail signalling technology was chosen against Queensland Rail's 2014 advice. Two Taiwanese men who ran a Brisbane "slave house" where occupants were forced to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, will be deported after serving jail terms. "Police and post office scam" perpetrators Yu-Hao Huang, 28, and Bo-Syun Chen, 29, were sentenced to jail after pleading guilty on Wednesday. But District Court Judge Tony Moynihan elected to release both men on Wednesday after about 18 months already served in prison, to be immediately deported. The court heard they were the first to be charged under the newly created offence of causing a person to enter into servitude. His name has been used to classify a beautiful dragonfly, an extinct marsupial lion, a ghost shrimp from Madagascar and a carnivorous pitcher plant. Now a Tasmanian snail has the honour of being named after the world's most famous naturalist, David Attenborough. To mark the beginning of its 190th anniversary year, the Australian Museum has named Attenborough as a lifetime patron - and a little Tasmanian snail shall for evermore be known as Attenborougharion rubicundus. Attenborough was at the museum on Wednesday for a lunch in his honour. The older brother of a man who died after being viciously attacked at Melbourne's Doncaster Westfield shopping centre has emerged as a key person of interest in the killing. Detective Inspector Mick Hughes of the Homicide Squad said investigators had received a significant amount of information that led them to believe David Dick's older brother Jonathan was the man captured on CCTV in a lift lobby at the centre the day before the attack. Not even his own family, who made a heart-wrenching plea for help to solve the crime on Tuesday, had recognised the man in the vision as Jonathan. "You saw Carol [David and Jonathan's mother], John [their uncle] and Simon [their younger brother] in here yesterday," Detective Inspector Hughes said on Wednesday. Pop-up bars and food vans are all over the Perth culinary landscape these days, but there is one dining experience heading west that will leave foodies gasping for air. Dinner in the Sky is a unique offering for foodies, who are lifted 60 metres off the ground on a crane to guzzle food from some of the top chefs from around the world. Dangling, death-defying diners are strapped into seats and slowly winced up to the heavens to enjoy their meal with one of the best views in the world. Dining in the Sky's Matthew Anderson was still locking in dates for the floating noshery's Perth debut but said the hovering restaurant would be appearing among the clouds off the South Perth foreshore in March. Jamalida, 16, says Myanmar military moved into her village in early December, occupying the mosque and beating or killing whoever came in. Credit:Getty Images But the 43-page UN report headlined "devastating cruelty" provided the first official confirmation that Myanmar authorities were using violence and terror against Rohingya, which the UN concluded raised serious concern that "ethnic cleansing" was underway to force almost one million Rohingya from Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma. Here were meticulously recorded interviews with 204 victims and witnesses who reported seeing murders (65 per cent) people being seen to be taken away by security forces and never seen again (56 per cent) , see rapes (43 per cent) sexual violence (31 per cent) and destruction of property and looting (40 per cent). Nearly a dozen fellow Nobel peace laureates criticised Myanmar leader Aunt Sun Suu Kyi in December, saying she failed to ensure equal rights for the minority Rohingya people. Credit:AP UN officials took images of wounds, burns and broken bones from deeply traumatised survivors. But inside Myanmar the findings have been suppressed by state-run media and largely buried in most other media outlets. Women and children in a makeshift house they share with six others in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, after fleeing from Myanmar's Rakhine state. Credit:Getty Images The government promised to investigate and referred the report to an already established investigation commission headed by a former general which is widely expected to be a whitewash. Government officials remain in denial. Rohingya fishermen carry a fishing raft, constructed with empty plastic containers, up the beach in Maungdaw, western Rakhine state, Myanmar. Their usual, sturdy fishing boats were outlawed three months ago. Credit:AP Nobody knows what Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's State Counsellor and de facto leader thinks of the report because she rarely gives interviews to journalists, and has not held a proper press conference since before taking office. It has become clear, though, that the Nobel Peace laureate doesn't control the troops and the generals are determined to hang on to much of their power through control of key security ministries. A police officer rides away with a bag of fish from Rohingya fishermen in Maungdaw. Credit:AP The military has also intensified attacks on Kachin and other minorities in northern Shan State, as Myanmar's future hangs in the balance. The strongest response to the UN report was from the United States, whose State Department spokeswoman described the findings as "deeply troubling". Protesters hold a defaced poster of Aung San Suu Kyi during a rally demanding justice for Rohingyas outside Myanmar's embassy in Jakarta in November. Credit:AP Australia's diplomatic and political clout in the region and $42 million of taxpayer's money sent to Myanmar each year for aid projects, including some in Rakhine, gives Canberra significant leverage with the country. But Australia's response to the findings was typically the same as it has been for years when other human rights abuses have emerged in neighbourhood countries, which was to avoid "megaphone diplomacy", a code for falling over backwards not to give offence. Mohsena Begum, a Rohingya who escaped to Bangladesh from Myanmar, holds her child at an unregistered refugee camp in Teknaf, near Cox's Bazar, in Bangladesh. Credit:AP When I wrote the news story on the UN report a reader sent me a message saying how she had been worrying about the cost of her son's wedding, the little things like flowers and place cards. But she said after reading about the abuses she realised "how selfish we have all become and narrow minded in how we view the rest of the world". "I am so ashamed that I thought the world should take care of itself. You have opened my eyes to sorrow beyond belief," she wrote. As US President Donald Trump implements an "America first" policy, the US is expected to be much weaker on human rights issues in other countries than was the previous Obama administration. Loading Australia should now cast aside its reluctance to speak up openly and honestly when serious human rights abuses occur in the region. Boris Johnson, a long-running and high-profile figure in London's media and political circles who is serving as foreign minister, has always seemed like the most British of British politicians. However, the former London mayor has a more international pedigree than you might expect: The pro-Brexit campaigner was educated in Brussels, and his ancestry ties him to Turkey and Russia. In fact, Britain's foreign minister has long been a dual national. Johnson was not only a British citizen, but also, thanks to being born in New York City, a natural-born US citizen, too. Until recently, at least. As the Wall Street Journal first reported, Johnson's name was included on a list of 5,411 people who renounced their US citizenship during 2016. The British foreign minister is included on the document, put out by the US Treasury Department on Wednesday, under the name "Alexander Boris Johnson," an abbreviated form of his full birth name, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. Thomas Keating, the boyfriend of a Victorian woman who was killed in a tragic jet-ski crash in Thailand, is expected to be formally interviewed and charged on Thursday. Kyabram woman Emily Collie, 20, was killed when the holidaying couple's jet-skis crashed at high speed in waters off Phuket on Sunday. Emily Jayne Collie and her partner Tom Keating were on holiday in Phuket together. Credit:Facebook/@tommy.keating.5 Mr Keating, 22, told police that strong sunlight reflecting from the sea made it impossible for him to see the jet-ski being ridden by his girlfriend. Thai police have said Mr Keating will be charged with reckless driving causing death. Those people who believe in the superiority of Western or European or Anglo-Saxon or "white" civilisation often list as one of its signal achievements the establishment of the rule of law. It was to that compelling argument that Washington state's attorney-general, Bob Ferguson, referred when a Seattle judge suspended US President Donald Trump's immigration ban: "We are a nation of laws. Not even the President can violate the Constitution." Today that declaration is being put to the test. Ultimately, we can expect this case - to establish whether a man elected democratically but with less of the popular vote than his opponent can override the law simply because he was elected - to end up in the nation's highest court, where it may set many precedents, not all of them legal. An edifice built over generations: the US Supreme Court on the morning of February 1. Credit:AP The justices of the US Supreme Court are surely aware that institutions in general - and the institution of the judiciary in particular - are under scrutiny in a way that they have not been for long decades. As increasingly public figures, they should also be aware of the backlash which greeted the court decision that British Prime Minister Theresa May had to consult parliament before she could begin removing the United Kingdom from the European Union. The judges of that nation's highest court were labelled "enemies of the people" - a term that recalls communist show trials and the work of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. The question is, can judges afford to bend with the political wind? And if they do not, will they face further and more profound challenges that deal with them in terms of enmity, citing their aloofness and lack of electoral accountability? And if that should happen, what becomes of a central plank of the very civilisation which those supremacists mentioned at the outset champion so loudly? Indonesia's Chief Security Minister Wiranto has said that President Joko Widodo will visit Australia on February 26, which he said showed the relationship between Australia and Indonesia "was not shaky". The confirmation of the presidential visit came as Australian Army chief Angus Campbell met with Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmantyo after a furore earlier this year when material considered offensive by Indonesia was discovered at a Perth army base. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo will make a flying visit to Australia this weekend. Credit:AP Lieutenant-General Campbell flew to Jakarta to brief Indonesian military leaders on the findings of an internal investigation into the allegedly offensive material, which triggered a suspension of a language training program at Campbell Barracks last month. General Gatot has voiced suspicions in the past about Australia trying to recruit Indonesian officers as spies and concerns about the US Marines who rotate through Darwin, pointing out the close proximity to West Papua and Indonesia's giant Masela gas block. Paris: A man who attacked soldiers with machetes at the Louvre museum in Paris has told police he identifies with the beliefs of Islamic State but says he didn't carry out the attack on orders from the militant group, a judicial source says. Egyptian Abdullah Reda al-Hamahmy, 29, was shot and seriously wounded when he launched himself at a group of soldiers last week, crying out "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) in what French President Francois Hollande described as a terrorist attack. Abdullah Reda al-Hamamy, the man identified as the Louvre attacker. Hamahmy, who was carrying spray paints in his backpack, has told police he wanted to damage paintings at the museum to "avenge the Syrian people", a source said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the conflict in Syria. Suspected Islamic State gunmen have killed at least six Afghan employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday as they carried supplies in the north of the country to areas hit by deadly snow storms, government officials said. Another two employees were unaccounted for after the attack in Jowzjan province, ICRC spokesman Thomas Glass said, but the aid group said it did not know who was responsible. An International Committee for Red Cross convoy in Afghanistan in 1996. Credit:AP On its Twitter, the ICRC's Afghanistan branch said it was "shocked and devastated" by the news. Washington: Donald Trump might have given Malcolm Turnbull the rounds of the kitchen, but the US Congress has been asked to declare its love for Australia. As diplomats on both sides go about restoring a bit of civility in the relationship, four senators - two Republican, two Democrat - have introduced a bipartisan motion to reaffirm all that is great between Canberra and Washington - committing to an enduring alliance and support for continued diplomatic, military and economic co-operation; and reaffirming the importance of mutual respect to preserve shared national interests in the "Indo-Asia Pacific and around the world". Backed by Republicans Marco Rubio and Lamar Alexander and Democrats Ben Cardin and Edward Markey, the tabling of the Senate motion coincided with a make-up phone conversation between Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and newly confirmed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Explaining what Trump didn't seem to get in the exchange with Turnbull, which he cut short after telling the Australian leader that it was the "worst" of a series of phone calls he made in the weekend, an apologetic Cardin said: "The US-Australia alliance is an anchor for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser PHILIPSBURG:--- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School (MLK) and the Leonard Connor Primary School (LCS) hosted a joint social event for teachers and school staff. The event initiated by Teacher Charles Rollan of LCS in collaboration with Janaira Samuel educational assistant of MLK. The joint social was held on Tuesday afternoon from 1:30 pm to 4:00 p.m. at Carl and Sons lounge on Pond fill. I would like to applaud Mr. Rollan the coordinator and Ms. Samuel for having taken this initiative for the benefit of the two schools, said Stuart Johnson School Manager of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School. "It was an enlightening moment. It was fun and something we will do again. With both schools it was well received by all," said Alice Samuel School Manager of LCS. "Mission accomplished. It has always been my desire have to a moment like this where schools can come together and have fun. Thank you School Managers Mr. Johnson and Ms. Samuel for allowing me to carry out this project," said Teacher Rollan. The staff members of the two public education schools hosted a special Karaoke social. The afternoon was filled with lunch, karaoke and other team building activities. This is the first time the two public education schools hosted such a joint event and I deeply appreciate the cooperation of all,said Mr Rollan. "More joint activities of this social nature among public education schools will continue to have my unwavering support and cooperation." Johnson concluded. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School is a public education school in the District of Dutch Quarter and the Leonard Connor Primary is temporarily being housed at several locations including at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School campus. Willemstad/ PHILIPSBURG:--- The Inspectorate in Curacao intends to inform Dr. Patrick Fa Si Oen that he can no longer practice as a surgeon in Curacao until he is registered as surgeon. Information received from well-placed sources said that Fa Si Oen will get the official letter on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, the management of SEHOS intends to meet with their Supervisory Board. It is expected that the Inspectorate will deliver its decision before SEHOS makes their decision known to the general public. The managing board of SEHOS already took a unilateral decision to terminate Fa Si Oen working agreement with SEHOS since he was not able to produce a registration from Belgium. One of the things SEHOS had to take into consideration is the advice they obtained from Medirisk --- their insurance company. The unions and surgical board of SEHOS will also be meeting at 6 pm on Tuesday where all other specialists others will be informed of the decisions taken against Dr. Patrick Fa Si Oen. It is expected that FA Si Oen will not only continue to broadcast what he believes is right in the Curacao media but he will also head to court to fight an un-winnable battle. Dr. Patrick Fa Si Oen will be allowed to practice as a General Practitioner (GP) since he is registered in the Netherlands as a GP. It should be noted that Dr. Patrick Fa Si Oen has been practicing as a surgeon at SEHOS for the past 14 years and his registration issues only came to light when he himself tried to register in 2014 but was denied. Just recently Fa Si Oen and SEHOS were informed that Fa Si Oen could not practice as a surgeon. The moment that was communicated to SEHOS they immediately sent Fa Si Oen on a two-week mandatory vacation. To date, Fa Si Oen is not working at SEHOS. Several phone calls to the office of the Inspectorate went unanswered on Tuesday as SMN News tried to obtain an official comment on the outcome of the Fa Si Oen investigation. As soon as SMN News receives a confirmation and more information on the case this article will be updated. It will be interesting to see if the Board of Directors of SMMC or it general director Kees Klarenbeek would put the safety of patients first and conduct an investigation as well as taking the same measures as SEHOS and the Inspectorate in Curacao. Presently, SMMC has started a war with the Inspector General in St. Maarten after it came to light that SMMC has failed to report calamities and they have in function a number of unregistered specialists working at SMMC. SMN News will also monitor what the Minister Health Emil Lee would do other than focusing on constructing a New Hospital. GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that finalization works will commence on Wednesday, February 8 regarding Link One, Phase 2 which is the road behind the Hospital. The works will be carried out only on weekdays up to and including February 15. These works will take place from 8.30am to 12.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm. The works entail the removal of cement and the placement of new colored concrete on the sidewalk. There will be a partial road closure. There will be no thru traffic coming from Belair going up Link One. Only traffic coming from A.J.C. Brouwers road coming down the hill will be allowed. Heavy equipment will be in use. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed to make use of Link One. The works will be carried out by Windward Roads. Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause. PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 a report of Missing personMissing girl reports to the police departmentMissing girl reports to the police department The Missing 17 year old girl Junette Pierre Louis Theodule, for whom a Missing Person Report was filed with the Police Department, has returned home. She and her Guardian Lilly Harrison reported to the Juvenile Department to give a statement as to why left home and did not return. Junette is in good health and the search to find has officially ended. The Missing 17-year-old girl Junette Pierre-Louis Theodule, for whom a Missing Person Report was filed with the Police Department, has returned home. She and her Guardian Lilly Harrison reported to the Juvenile Department to give a statement as to why left home and did not return. Junette is in good health and the search to find has officially ended. was filed at the Philipsburg Police Station by the sister and guardian of Junette Pierre-Louis Theodule, born on Saint Martin F.W.I. August 29th, 1999. Junette lives at home with her guardian Lily Harrison at Plough drive 1 in Cul de Sac. Junette was last seen by her guardian on Friday morning February 3rd, 2017 before she left home for job training. Junette has since not returned home, nor contacted her guardian or any other family member. Junette also was known as Jiji is approximately 5.5 feet tall, thick and strong posture, light brown complexion, black eyes and black hair. She is a student at the Sint Maarten Vocational School. Junette has stayed away home from home in the past but has always returned. She has never stayed away this long. The police department is seeking the assistance from the community to help locate Junette Pierre-Louis Theodule. Contact persons are: Edline Pierre-Louis Cel: 55638544 Lilly Harrison Cel: 556-8198 Police Department 54-22222 ext 213-214 or 911. Missing girl reports to the police department The Missing 17-year-old girl Junette Pierre-Louis Theodule, for whom a Missing Person Report was filed with the Police Department, has returned home. She and her Guardian Lilly Harrison reported to the Juvenile Department to give a statement as to why left home and did not return. Junette is in good health and the search to find has officially ended. PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr announced on Wednesday that he received the official letter from the CFT informing him that the 2017 budget has their approval and as such they will inform the Kingdom that St. Maartens budget for the year 2017 is in order. Gibson said the CFT also indicated that St. Maarten budgeted a large amount NAF47M as incidental income. He said they further advised the government of St. Maarten to put in place a policy whereby government owned company must pay their share of dividends to government. Minister Gibson said that the entire Council of Minister's is on the same page with having a policy in place for the dividends policy. Besides that government is working on collecting departure taxes from PJIAE, Harbor, as well as ferries. The Minister said one of the things government wants to ensure is that the government owned companies pay the departure taxes and not the traveler. The Minister of Finance also said that he has been meeting with the government-owned companies and as usual getting some resistance. KPSM has plans of action that will soon be unleashed. PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Justice Raphael Boasman announced on Wednesday that he met with the management of KPSM after several armed robberies were committed last week. The Minister said that when he met with the management of KPSM the informed him that they have a plan of approach in place which was discussed in-depth, he said police labeled the current crimes as high impact crimes due to the modus operandi used by the criminals committing these crimes. The Minister said that he also met with the progress committee and he also intends to meet with the merchant's associations to discuss the crime rate on St. Maarten and how police intend to tackle those crimes. He also mentioned that he met with the management of the Police Academy simply because the police are undermanned and as such, they need more men in blue. As for the prison, the Minister said some equipment arrived on the island that was promised by Holland. That equipment that arrived on St. Maarten includes two walks through the scanner, a bed for doctors to use to examine patients and some other needed material for the house of detention. The Minister said that the police have been very active these past days in order to combat crimes, besides conducting raids at the prison. As for Insel Air and its current predicament, SMN News asked the Minister if St. Maarten will be taking any actions to safeguard passengers since the Dutch and USA already warned their citizens and civil servants in the Caribbean not to use Insel Air. Boasman said after meeting with St. Maarten Aviation authorities, they see no reason to panic or take other measures since the aircraft's Insel Air is using for the islands are aircraft's they leased and are in good working conditions. PHILIPSBURG:--- One of the things we must give our Members of Parliament credit for is a large number of motions presented to and passed by Parliament. Since 2010, seventy-five motions were submitted, 22 were rejected and 53 were passed, according to the 2015/2016 Annual Report of Parliament. All in all, not bad for a young legislative body! Does the activity of presenting, discussing, rejecting or passing motions tell us something about the work of parliament? Yes, it does. It tells us that a lot of energy is put into writing, discussing and passing motions in vain. In other words, if no action ensues from all this activity, then our parliamentarians are engaging in an exercise of futility and in the process, they are wasting precious tax-payers money. What is a motion? It is merely a petition, asking government to take action on a matter of concern to the parliament. However, if that petition is not a matter of concern for government at that time, then the motion is shelved and never executed. It seems to me that motions, submitted and passed in our parliament, only give the impression that our parliamentarians are working. But, if we follow the motion trail, we will see that the majority of those motions go no further than the hall of parliament. Unfortunately, this has been the fate of most of the 53 motions that our parliament has passed. What happened to the motion that was passed, three years ago, (January 16th 2014) that requested government to explore the possibility of acquiring land in Middle Region, to build a Community Center? And what happened to the motion passed on December 3rd 2013, requesting the Minister of Health Care, Social Development and Labor to carry out a survey to determine the level of a living wage for Sint Maarten and to report back to Parliament within sixty days? Unfortunately, sixty days have turned into more than 3 years and the living wage has not yet been determined. What happened to the motion, passed on March 17th 2016, requesting the Minister of General Affairs to prepare and submit a plan regarding mandatory services for youngster ages 18 through 25? This motioned was to go into effect as of January, 2017. We are now in February 2017 and to this day no plan has been submitted to Parliament. What about the motion banning the use of plastic bags? What about the motions passed in 2013, concerning the protection and preservation of our national/cultural heritage such as Fort Amsterdam and Mullet Pond? On October 22nd 2014, parliament passed a motion, instructing government to set up a Committee to study, evaluate, and recommend an action plan, based on findings and recommendations of the various integrity reports. Unfortunately, no time frame was given. We are now almost 1000 days further and Parliament has not yet received the Plan of Action. Had Parliament followed-up on this motion, we would not have had the recent integrity chamber and quartermaster dispute between Sint Maarten and the Dutch Minister of Home and Interior Affairs. The deadlines for action on all these motions have quietly passed and there has been no action by Government and no follow-up by parliament. These are just a few examples, of how parliament passes motions that yield no results whatsoever. Regrettably, members of parliament never follow up or call out a minister or the government, on their blatant refusal to execute parliaments motions. So far, the only motions that parliament follows up on, are motions of non-confidence. It is amazing how quickly parliament ensures that these motions are expedited yet take on a nonchalant and laissez-faire approach towards all the other motions. Our parliamentarians really need to reconsider the issue of passing motions. They should make sure that the motions that they pass yield results. They should ensure that each motion answers the basic questions of who, what, why, when, where and how? Most of the time the answer to one of these questions is missing, especially the answer to when. Most motions do not have a timeline or a target date, which is crucial if parliamentarians intend to follow-up on their motions. If the date passes and a minister or government has not complied with the motion, then parliament should send reminders. If this does not work, then the minister or the government should be called to parliament to give an account. Failure to do so can lead up to a motion of non-confidence in the minister or the government. This is how parliament and individual parliamentarians should carry out their supervisory or controlling function over government. It is the time that parliamentarians become proactive and make demands on government. What about all the motions passed in parliament? Well, they are worthless if parliament does not follow up to ensure that they are executed. We trust that parliament will start doing its job! Wycliffe Smith Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party Roskam was first met at his office with angry protesters, then at a Republican township meeting in Palatine last Saturday. WASHINGTON - Republican members of Congress that represent districts where Hillary Clinton won in 2016 now are being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In Illinois, the DCCC has honed in on Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) and downstate Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13), who have both suddenly been besieged by a growing number of angry protesters. Tuesday, Crain's political writer Greg Hinz fueled the fracas, demanding Roskam meet with protesters to the DCCC's delight. Hinz wrote that he'd been given a heads up about Roskam avoiding 400 protesters outside the Palatine GOP office by - guess who - Leftist activist Bob Creamer: Such protests are not exactly spontaneous rallies. After this weekend's meetingthe one Roskam slipped out ofI heard from Citizen Action Illinois, a left-of-center lobbying and organizing group, and Bob Creamer, a top Democratic National Committee operative and the husband of Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, whose district is a few miles northeast of Roskam's. Both wanted to make sure I'd heard about the congressman running away. Beyond that, national Democrats have already targeted the race for 2018, realizing that, while Roskam has won solidly there, Trump lost the district in November to Hillary Clinton. All that, however, is one more reason for Roskam to suck it up and show up. Yes, THE Bob Creamer... the one that admitted on video tape to Project Veritas that he was involved in setting up the protests that shut down Donald Trump's visit to Chicago. THAT Bob Creamer that was forced to "step back" from his campaign shenanigans after Project Veritas' video went viral. Roskam's office says the effort isn't the first time they've been targeted by the DCCC. "Peter is no stranger to the DCCC," Spokesman David Pasch told Illinois Review. "He's focused on representing the people of the western and northwestern suburbs in Washington, not the other way around." The DCCC announced earlier this week that more of these protests will be going on under the campaign they're calling "March into '18." The launch of our March into 18 accountability project comes at a time of excitement and opportunity for Democrats. The organic strength of the womens marches, Affordable Care Act rallies, and protests can already be felt in Illinois 6th District, and this unprecedented DCCC investment will help capture that energy, engage voters and help make their voices heard," the press release said. "In order to harness the existing grassroots energy in Illinois 6th District, the DCCC will hire a full-time, local organizing staffer and launch digital ads in in order to help constituents organize and promote local accountability events." And the same consternation is expected to happen in Davis' downstate district. Wednesday, the DCCC pointed out media cooperation in Illinois' 6th and 13th Districts, along with other stories about Republican Congress members they're challenging in the "March into 18" effort from Arizona to New York. "The backlash is growing stronger and the protests are getting louder," the DCCC wrote. "Upset with Republican plans to gut the Affordable Care Act and implement President Trumps dangerous agenda, constituents from across the country are demanding in-person town halls to express their concerns. Instead of answering their constituents questions, House Republicans are ducking and hiding. Its February 8, 2017: Do you know where your Republican member of Congress is?" More to come ... POINTE BLANCHE:--- Described as a small classic cruise ship, MS Berlin made its inaugural call to Port St. Maarten on Wednesday on its way to the Mediterranean Sea after spending two months home porting out of Havana, Cuba. Captain Alberto Tarozzi was welcomed to the destination by Port St. Maarten representative Ichel Moeslikan on behalf of the Government and the Port. Representatives from the ship's agent S.E.L. Maduro & Sons were also present for the traditional plaque exchange which was then followed by a tour of the vessel. The Berlin was the first ship ordered by Peter Deilmann and entered service in 1980. In 1982 she operated under charter to Blue Funnel Line who operated her in the Far East under the name Princess Mahsuri. The vessel also starred in the German TV series "Das Traumschiff" which was a German version of the Love Boat. The MS Berlin carries a maximum of 412 passengers and falls under FTI Cruises; 180 crew; 185 cabins; 139 meters long; and weighs 9,570 tons. The vessel features two restaurants as well as several bars and lounges, a small indoor pool, a larger outdoor pool, a small gymnasium, and library. MS Berlin last port of call prior to Sint Maarten was Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. The vessel offered one-week cruises out of Cuba and the majority of the year it sails throughout Europe. The majority of passengers are European mainly from Germany and surrounding countries. Port St. Maarten Management continues to be proactive by attracting new vessels to the destination and at the same time diversifying the countrys tourism market between American and European cruise passengers. Claim: The 'middle finger salute' is derived from the defiant gestures of English archers whose fingers had been severed by the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Rating: About this rating False Advertisment: Origin An account purporting to offer the historical origins of the obscene middle-finger extended hand gesture (varously known as "flipping the bird," "flipping someone off," or the "one-finger salute") is silly, and so obviously a joke that shouldn't need any debunking. Nonetheless, so many readers have forwarded it to us accompanied by an "Is this true?" query that we are duty bound to provide a bit of historical and linguistic information demonstrating why this anecdote couldn't possibly be accurate: The 'Car Talk' show (on NPR) with Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers have a feature called the 'Puzzler', and their most recent 'Puzzler' was about the Battle of Agincourt. The French, who were overwhelmingly favored to win the battle, threatened to cut a certain body part off of all captured English soldiers so that they could never fight again. The English won in a major upset and waved the body part in question at the French in defiance. The puzzler was: What was this body part? This is the answer submitted by a listener: Dear Click and Clack, Thank you for the Agincourt 'Puzzler', which clears up some profound questions of etymology, folklore and emotional symbolism. The body part which the French proposed to cut off of the English after defeating them was, of course, the middle finger, without which it is impossible to draw the renowned English longbow. This famous weapon was made of the native English yew tree, and so the act of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking yew". Thus, when the victorious English waved their middle fingers at the defeated French, they said, "See, we can still pluck yew! PLUCK YEW!" Over the years some 'folk etymologies' have grown up around this symbolic gesture. Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say (like "pleasant mother pheasant plucker", which is who you had to go to for the feathers used on the arrows), the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'f', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute are mistakenly thought to have something to do with an intimate encounter. It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird". And yew all thought yew knew everything! The basic premise that the origins of the one-finger gesture and its association with the profane word "fuck" were an outgrowth of the 1415 battle between French and English forces at Agincourt is simple enough to debunk. The insulting gesture of extending one's middle finger (referred to as digitus impudicus in Latin) originated long before the Battle of Agincourt. And although the precise etymology of the English word fuck is still a matter of debate, it is linguistically nonsensical to maintain that that word entered the language because the "difficult consonant cluster at the beginning" of the phase 'pluck yew' has "gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'f.'" A labiodental fricative was no less "difficult" for Middle English speakers to pronounce than the aspirated bilabial stop/voiceless lateral combination of 'pl' that the fricative supposedly changed into, nor are there any other examples of such a pronunciation shift occurring in English. The military aspects of this account are similarly specious. Despite the lack of motion pictures and television way back in the 15th century, the details of medieval battles such as the one at Agincourt in 1415 did not go unrecorded. Battles were observed and chronicled by heralds who were present at the scene and recorded what they saw, judged who won, and fixed names for the battles. These heralds were not part of the participating armies, but were, as military expert John Keegan describes, members of an "international corporation of experts who regulated civilized warfare." Several heralds, both French and English, were present at the battle of Agincourt, and not one of them (or any later chroniclers of Agincourt) mentioned anything about the French having cut off the fingers of captured English bowman. And for a variety of reasons, it made no military sense whatsoever for the French to capture English archers, then mutilate them by cutting off their fingers. Medieval warriors didn't take prisoners because by doing so they were observing a moral code that dictated opponents who had laid down their arms and ceased fighting must be treated humanely, but because they knew high-ranking captives were valuable property that could be ransomed for money. The ransoming of prisoners was the only way for medieval soldiers to make a quick fortune, and so they seized every available opportunity to capture opponents who could be exchanged for handsome prices. Bowman were not valuable prisoners, though: they stood outside the chivalric system and were considered the social inferiors of men-at-arms. There was no monetary reward to be obtained by capturing them, nor was there any glory to be won by defeating them in battle. As John Keegan wrote in his history of warfare: "To meet a similarly equipped opponent was the occasion for which the armoured soldier trained perhaps every day of his life from the onset of manhood. To meet and beat him was a triumph, the highest form which self-expression could take in the medieval nobleman's way of life." Archers were not the "similarly equipped" opponents that armored soldiers triumphed in defeating -- if the two clashed in combat, the armored soldier would either kill an archer outright or leave him to bleed to death rather than go to the wasteful effort of taking him prisoner. Moreover, if archers could be ransomed, then cutting off their middle fingers would be a senseless move. Your opponent is not going to pay you (or pay you much) for the return of mutilated soldiers, so now what do you do with them? Take on the burden and expense of caring for them? Kill them outright and violate the medieval moral code of civilized warfare? (Indeed, Henry V was heavily criticized for supposedly having ordered the execution of French prisoners at Agincourt.) And even if killing prisoners of war did not violate the moral code of the times, what would be the purpose of taking archers captive, cutting off their fingers, and then executing them? Why not simply kill them outright in the first place? Do you return these prisoners to your opponents in exchange for nothing, thereby providing them with trained soldiers who can fight against you another day? (Even if archers whose middle fingers had been amputated could no longer effectively use their bows, they were still capable of wielding mallets, battleaxes, swords, lances, daggers, maces, and other weapons, as archers typically did when the opponents closed ranks with them and the fighting became hand-to-hand.) Last, but certainly not least, wouldn't these insolent archers have been bragging about plucking a bow's string, and not the wood of the bow itself? So much for "history." Sources Axtell, Roger E. Gestures: The Dos and Taboos of Body Language Around the World. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1991 ISBN 0-471-53672-5 (pp. 33-35). Keegan, John. The Face of Battle. New York: Penguin Books, 1978 ISBN 0-140-04897-9 (pp. 78-116). Opie, Iona and Moira Tatem. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992 ISBN 0-19-282916-5 (p. 454). Homebell accelerates expansion with cloud technology from NewVoiceMedia SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Marketwired) 02/08/17 , a leading global provider of inside sales and contact center technology that helps businesses sell more, serve better and grow faster, today announced that Homebell has accelerated its growth, improved its customer experience and doubled its contact center agents efficiency in less than six months with NewVoiceMedias ContactWorld for Service platform. An ambitious start-up with a vision of becoming the most recognized global brand for home improvement projects, Homebell is based in Germany, with operations in a further 11 countries including the USA. Its services ensure reliable quality work and fair pricing for the home owner. The company selected NewVoiceMedias ContactWorld solution to replace its unreliable and restrictive telephony. The cloud contact center platform integrates seamlessly with Salesforce and is designed to scale as rapidly as the business and deliver sales and service excellence. Core contact center functionality such as omni-channel contact routing, self-service IVR, automated outbound dialing, screen pops and instantaneous CRM updates are provided, along with proven 99.999% platform availability. Since implementation, Homebell has experienced a range of benefits: Real-time data has doubled agents efficiency in less than six months Agent satisfaction has improved as individuals can see their contribution to the growth of the business and compare their performance with others Customer service improvements made for inbound callers Maximilian Deuber, Head of Product Management at Homebell, comments, Our previous telephony was so restrictive, we couldnt even offer customer service after 6pm, when we shouldve been at our busiest making outbound calls to suppliers and home owners. We wanted a much better way of communicating with our customers and partners with the flexibility and scalability that cloud systems provide. ContactWorld is super reliable and the great data and reporting means we can now prove were an excellent company! Were very happy with the service from NewVoiceMedia and all the benefits weve experienced from the platform, and we can now add new licences and open operations quickly in new markets essential for a rapidly growing business like Homebell. Jonathan Gale, CEO of NewVoiceMedia, adds, We are incredibly proud to have helped the company accelerate its international expansion. Our technology is attracting high-growth businesses like Homebell as were relentlessly committed to driving innovation that is revolutionizing the way they connect with their customers and prospects. And as a cloud solution, ContactWorld will continue to support Homebell throughout its rapid future growth. For more information about NewVoiceMedia and to download the Homebell case study, visit s cloud contact center and inside sales platform delivers more successful conversations. The leading vendors award-winning customer contact platform helps organizations worldwide build a more personal relationship with every customer or prospect. It joins up all communications channels without expensive, disruptive hardware changes and plugs straight into your CRM for full access to hard-won data. With a true cloud environment and proven 99.999% platform availability, NewVoiceMedia ensures complete flexibility, scalability and reliability. NewVoiceMedias 650+ customers include PhotoBox, MobileIron, Lumesse, Vax, JustGiving and Canadian Cancer Society. For more information, visit or follow NewVoiceMedia on Twitter Nicola Brookes Tel: +44 (0)7500 006 458 Email: Privilege Management of Insider Risk and Channel Momentum Drive Significant Growth for BeyondTrust in Fiscal Year 2016 PHOENIX, AZ (Marketwired) 02/08/17 the leading cyber security company dedicated to preventing privilege misuse and stopping unauthorized access, today announced extremely strong 2016 results, with a significant revenue increase, hundreds of new customers, strong profit margins and a growing channel. 2016 highlights include: Significant overall growth driven by 100% growth in PowerBroker Password Safe Over 100% growth in channel-generated business in the US Over 95% growth in multi-product sales, demonstrating that customers value the breadth and depth of the solution set Over 90% renewal rates for privileged access management solutions, proving that customers continue to receive value from our solutions Continued double-digit profit margins With these results, the company extended its leadership position with the most comprehensive privileged access management (PAM) solution available today. In 2016, BeyondTrust helped nearly 500 new customers reduce insider risks and close external security gaps. In addition to adding hundreds of new customers, organizations are leveraging the value of the integrated platform to satisfy maturing privilege requirements, enabling BeyondTrust to expand relationships with existing customers. Today, thousands of customers, including over half of the Fortune 100, rely on BeyondTrust to eliminate data breaches from insider privilege abuse and external hacking attacks, said Kevin Hickey, President and CEO, BeyondTrust. As a $100M+ global software company, we provide all the necessary privileged access management solutions that security and IT teams demand in the efficiency of a single platform. BeyondTrust customers benefitted from the following significant advancements over the past year: BeyondTrust launched the first and only fully enabling managed services providers to extend their offerings using a proven, turn-key service catalogue across both vulnerability and privilege management. Made the PowerBroker Privileged Access Management Platform available in the , providing customers with even more choices to deliver their solutions on-prem appliance, virtual, as software, and now in the cloud. (DART) is a free tool that scans the IT infrastructure to find, profile and report on user credentials and SSH keys to help security teams quickly identify and take control of privileged account risks. The PowerBroker platform for Unix and Linux systems received which helps to assure that government agencies and global enterprises can confidently procure PowerBroker to secure their environments against the threat of privileged account compromised without added costs or complexity of product testing. is the first solution of its kind to offer file integrity monitoring as part of the least privilege agent. File integrity monitoring (FIM) monitors and protects system files and binaries which many organizations are embracing to support compliance mandates and reduce risks of malware. Released 17 product updates including for , , , , and BeyondInsight. New and enhanced connectors into these platforms close security gaps, improve visibility of hidden and emerging threats, and cover the widest range of assets and vulnerabilities. The is a free enterprise IoT vulnerability scanner that enables organizations to pinpoint the make and model of a particular IoT device and identify high-risk IoT machines. The cloud-based service also generates clear IoT vulnerability reports and remediation guidance. BeyondTrust greatly expanded its partner engagement in 2016: A with Westcon-Comstor has enabled the company to expand its footprint globally and develop a global channel program capable of recruiting and onboarding new solution provider partners around the world. BeyondTrust joined the certifying PowerBroker for Windows with McAfees ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO). The certified integration links the patented industry leader for least privilege management on Windows with McAfees ePO and provides a unified approach to least privilege and endpoint security. New launched to help organizations develop best-of-breed PAM solutions. Key including Net Connection of Brazil, NEC Colombia, and ISecurity QA of Chile expand BeyondTrusts Partner Group in the region and work closely with Westcon-Comstor to gain access to the support and go-to-market strategies available through the new alliance. BeyondTrust joined the designed to enhance the abilities of joint customers to more quickly detect and respond to cyber threats. with companies like Simeio bring flexible managed identity service and technical expertise to help organizations accelerate PAM projects by offering BeyondTrust solutions as a service. Partnerships with respected such as KeyData, Novacoast, Sila Solutions Group and SDG Corporation. BeyondTrust is proud to be recognized as the Privileged Access Management leader: BeyondTrust named a Leader report. For the third straight year, Gartner included BeyondTrust as a Representative Vendor in the report. In SC Magazines annual , PowerBroker earned a 5-star rating the highest achievable rating a reviewed solution can receive, and received the overall Recommended rating vs. all PAM tools reviewed. BeyondTrusts PowerBroker for Unix and Linux was awarded the Gold Award in the as Best Access Control & Authentication System. For the third consecutive year, PowerBroker was named the overall winner in the as the Best Privileged Access Management Solution by Government Security News. The company was named to the recognizing the coolest security vendors across five categories. According to CRN, vendors named have demonstrated creativity and innovation in IT security product development, as well as a strong commitment to delivering those offerings through solution providers. PowerBroker and Retina portfolios were awarded for excellence in the . was selected as the gold winner in the Identity Management category, as was in the Vulnerability Assessment, Remediation and Management category. was recognized as a bronze winner in the Best Products and Solutions for Finance and Banking category. BeyondTrust was named by Progress Magazine and Best Companies Group in Canada. CRN named BeyondTrusts Natalie Padula to its prestigious for her outstanding leadership, vision, and unique role in driving channel growth and innovation. CEO Kevin Hickey was named a finalist in the - that recognizes excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment. Mr. Hickey was also named a . Named Market Leader by analyst firm Technavio in their . Analyst Group Quadrant Research identifies BeyondTrust as the Technology Leader in the . BeyondTrust is a global information security software company that helps organizations prevent cyber attacks and unauthorized data access due to privilege abuse. Our solutions give you the visibility to confidently reduce risks and the control to take proactive, informed action against data breach threats. And because threats can come from anywhere, we built a platform that unifies the most effective technologies for addressing both internal and external risk: and . Our solutions grow with your needs, making sure you maintain control no matter where your company goes. BeyondTrusts security solutions are trusted by over 4,000 customers worldwide, including half of the Fortune 100. To learn more about BeyondTrust, please visit Twitter: Blog: LinkedIn: Facebook: Mike Bradshaw Connect Marketing for BeyondTrust P: (801) 373-7888 E: Phoenix Spray Foam Insulation Contractors Roofing Experts Company Site Launched The renowned spray foam insulation experts HPI Spray Foam announced the launch of a new website with extensive information on its modern, efficient and highly affordable spray foam installation and roofing services available for homes and businesses across Phoenix, Arizona. More information is available at [http://hpisprayfoam.com](http://hpisprayfoam.com/). The HPI Spray Foam is a highly popular and certified business with extensive experience providing the most reliable, affordable and eco-friendly spray foam installation and roofing services for any commercial, residential or even industrial insulation needs throughout the Phoenix, Arizona area. The company has announced the launch of a new website detailing its specialist and experienced spray foam insulation and roofing services delivered by a team of highly trained and certified contractors equipped with most advanced, safe and eco-friendly products to install or retrofit the spray foam on any surface with minimum hassle, risk and downtime. The new website also provides extensive information on the benefits of spray foam insulation for any residential or commercial properties and even refrigeration units, warehouses or wine storage rooms and any other settings which need the most effective, reliable, long lasting and energy efficient insulation to protect the occupants or goods from the outside elements while saving money on energy consumption. Free estimates and consultations on the HPI Spray Foam insulation and roofing services can be requested at 602 428 7700 or through the companys newly launched website along with details on its full service area, the additional roofing and insulation solutions it provides or the unique customer service philosophy which has earned the company its leading reputation in Arizona. The HPI Spray Foam team explains that foam roofing has been around for some time now and it has grown and improved with time. Right now, this type of installation is the most dependable, durable and affordable out there. We pride ourselves on offering the best quality of spray foam installation work in Phoenix. We have dedicated years of experience to this type of installation, because we believe that it is the best insulation to help get protection from the elements, while protecting the environment and reducing energy costs. While Illinois will not be involved in the upcoming 2018 Senate campaign, a majority in North Dakota, Montana, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Florida said they would be less likely to vote for Senators who vote to keep sending tax dollars to the abortion giant. WASHINGTON - A majority of voters in 2018 Senate battleground states oppose giving tax dollars to Planned Parenthood, Americas largest abortion provider, instead of comprehensive healthcare providers, a poll released in January by Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) found. President Trump has committed to reallocating Planned Parenthoods taxpayer funding to comprehensive, whole-woman health care centers. These health care clinics outnumber Planned Parenthood 20 to 1 nationwide and provide the same preventative services Planned Parenthood claims to offer, but do not do abortions. These community health centers also offer services Planned Parenthood does not, such as mammograms, treatment for diabetes, hypertension and arthritis. the polling company, inc./WomanTrend found that: 56% of voters in select Senate battleground states oppose taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, Americas largest abortion provider (47% strongly oppose) 60% would be less likely to vote for their U.S. Senator if he or she voted to give money to Planned Parenthood instead of community health centers that provide comprehensive womens healthcare (44% much less likely) Opposition to Planned Parenthood tax funding is high among voters in states with incumbent Democrat Senators facing re-election, but that voted for Mr. Trump in the presidential election: N. Dakota 70% oppose, 77% less likely to support Senator who votes in support of Planned Parenthood Montana 61% oppose, 64% less likely to support Senator who votes in support of Planned Parenthood Ohio 57% oppose, 60% less likely to support Senator who votes in support of Planned Parenthood Missouri 54% oppose, 57% less likely to support Senator who votes in support of Planned Parenthood Wisconsin 51% oppose, 58% less likely to support Senator who votes in support of Planned Parenthood Florida 48% oppose, 53% less likely to support Senator who votes in support of Planned Parenthood Voters agree: taxpayer dollars would be better spent on community and rural health centers that provide comprehensive, whole-woman care, not abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood, said SBA Lists President Marjorie Dannenfelser. Pro-life voters who were key to victory on election night are eager to see a pro-life White House and Congress address the injustice of taxpayer funding for the abortion industry. Abortion giants like Planned Parenthood do not need or deserve taxpayer dollars. We urge Congress and especially Democrats to listen to their constituents and send President Trump a reconciliation bill that funds real womens health programs, not Planned Parenthood. A nationwide protest against taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood is scheduled for February 11. Eric Schiedler of Pro-Life Action League outside Aurora IL Planned Parenthood in August 2015 CHICAGO - America is divided over whether tax dollars should be used to fund Planned Parenthoods throughout the nation. It's become one of many heated topics as the Republican majority in Congress moves to reallocate Planned Parenthood's funding to comprehensive health care centers. Saturday, February 11, protests are planned outside of 200 Planned Parenthood facilities in 44 states and D.C. The federal government has been subsidizing Planned Parenthood to the tune of more than $430 million annually, explained Eric Scheidler, national organizer of #ProtestPP. This, at the same time that the nations largest abortion provider holds $500 ticket fundraisers and charges a woman about $500 to abort her baby, he said. On top of that, Planned Parenthood is trafficking baby body parts. Taxpayers are sickened to see their money spent in support of these atrocities. When photography was invented in France in the 1820s, some artists predicted even feared that it would in time take the place of painting. That didnt happen, but photographers around the world consistently have recorded images that reveal... Everything you need to know about the Irish vs. No. 5 Clemson at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night football Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Guy Bluford became the first African American in space on Aug. 30, 1983, aboard the Challenger on NASA's eight space shuttle mission (STS-8). Guion "Guy" Bluford is a former NASA astronaut who was the first African-American to fly into space. He flew four shuttle missions. Bluford's class of astronauts from 1978 included two other African-Americans: Ron McNair (who later died on the space shuttle Challenger in 1986) and Fred Gregory (who after flying in space, went on to become a NASA deputy administrator.) "All of us knew that one of us would eventually step into that role," Bluford later told NASA about being the first. "I probably told people that I would probably prefer not being in that role ... because I figured being the No. 2 guy would probably be a lot more fun." 'I laughed and giggled all the way up' Bluford's first flight STS-8 aboard Challenger soared into space on a rainy August morning in 1983. Thirty years later, Bluford joked he was surprised anyone bothered to show up given the terrible weather. "People came from all over to watch this launch because I was flying," Bluford said in a 2013 interview with NASA. "I imagined them, all standing out there at 1:00 in the morning with their umbrellas, all asking the same question, 'Why am I standing here?' " Launch, however, was a memorable moment. The crew listened to audio of the ascent after they returned to Earth and discovered that somebody was laughing as they went into space. "We listened to it for quite a while to try and figure out who that was, only to come to the conclusion that it was me. I mean, I laughed and giggled all the way up. It was such a fun ride," Bluford added. Bluford deployed the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1B) while in orbit. Other activities of the STS-8 crew included putting the Canadarm robotic arm through its paces and several experiments to see how space affects the human body, among other milestones. The shuttle landed safely Sept. 5, 1983. Bluford, however, was just getting started. Astronaut Guion S. Bluford and Aviation Safety Officer Charles F. Hayes get a unique perspective of the environment during a 1979 zero gravity flight. (Image credit: NASA.) German first In the next decade, Bluford would fly three more times as a mission specialist aboard NASA space shuttles. His next mission STS-61A, also aboard Challenger, in late 1985 was so packed with things to do that Bluford's shift often needed help from other crew members to fix meals. The eight crewmembers were doing the first Spacelab mission, which was partially run under the German Space Operations Center another first for NASA. "After the mission, [the Germans] invited us and our wives to Germany to attend a technical conference highlighting the results of our mission," Bluford recalled in a 2004 oral interview. "It was a proud moment for all of us as we learned the results of some of the experiments that we performed during flight. The trip also gave me an opportunity to tour Europe with the wife and show her some of the sights that I had seen while training there." Discs, defense and retirement Flights were interrupted after the Challenger explosion of 1986, and resumed in 1988. Bluford was next assigned to STS-39, aboard Discovery, in 1991, but a herniated disc just four months before the original March launch date (later pushed to April) threatened his status on board. "The NASA flight surgeons grounded me and indicated that I would need an operation to correct the problem," Bluford recalled. "There was some concern from the training folks that I might not be able to complete the training syllabus in time for the flight. [Commander] Mike Coats altered some of the responsibilities on the crew, so that I could be operated on and still make the flight." Bluford indeed made it, taking part in a mission that "gathered aurora, Earth-limb, celestial, and shuttle environment data with the AFP-675 payload," among other tasks, NASA stated in his biography. Bluford's last flight in December 1992 was primarily to release a classified payload for the Department of Defense. The U.S. government initially directed DOD to put more of its satellites on the space shuttle, but that changed after the Challenger explosion. DOD, however, still had a few flights left on the manifest with STS-53, aboard Discovery representing the last one. After landing, Bluford said he "had to seriously decide" what to do next, and felt it was time to leave the astronaut corps. He accepted a job offer in the private sector, but maintained some ties to the space program. Notably, he worked with the Columbia Accident Investigation Board that examined the fatal breakup of space shuttle Columbia in 2003. Since 2002, Bluford has been president and founder of The Aerospace Technology Group. On his LinkedIn profile, Bluford says the consulting firm "provides engineering support, business development, risk assessment, and engineering analysis in the development and application of innovative aerospace technologies to support government and industry needs." He also periodically gives public talks, such as one he gave at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2016 on flying in space, as part of a speakers' series on "how contributions from diverse scientists and thinkers can solve complex problems," according to the university. An artist's impression of a stray black hole that was detected at the edge of the W44 supernova remnant, located 10,000 light-years from Earth. A stray black hole may be responsible for turning a gas cloud into a speeding cosmic bullet trillions of miles long. The wandering black hole was discovered lurking just outside a supernova remnant, a shell of expelled material left behind after a massive star explodes. Using the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) in Chile and the 45-meter (148 feet) Radio Telescope at Nobeyama Radio Observatory, astronomers found that the black hole had been previously hidden by a compact gas cloud emerging from the remnant. The cloud itself has now been named "the Bullet," because of its long, cone shape and its incredible speed part of the cloud is moving away from the supernova remnant at more than 60 miles per second [100 kilometers per second], "which exceeds the speed of sound in interstellar space by more than two orders of magnitude," Nobeyama Radio Observatory scientists said in the statement. The researchers now suspect that the black hole might have played a role in forming the gaseous "bullet." [The Strangest Black Holes in the Universe] The supernova remnant, called W44, is located 10,000 light-years from Earth. The Bullet, which is about 2 light-years long [11.76 trillion miles, or 18.9 trillion km], is so energetic that it moves backward against the rotation of the Milky Way galaxy, according to the Nobeyama Radio Observatory statement. "Most of the Bullet has an expanding motion with a speed of 50 km/s [31 miles per second], but the tip of the Bullet has a speed of 120 km/s [75 miles per second]," Masaya Yamada, lead author of the new study and a graduate student at Keio University in Japan, said in the statement. "Its kinetic energy is a few tens of times larger than that injected by the W44 supernova. It seems impossible to generate such an energetic cloud under ordinary environments." So what could possibly send such a huge amount of molecular gas streaming out of the supernova remnant at such high speeds? The discovery of the hidden black hole may offer an explanation. The researchers developed two possible scenarios for how the Bullet might have formed. The first, called the explosion model, suggests that the cloud passed by a static black hole and was pulled in by the black hole's strong gravitational forces. This could have created a powerful explosion of gas that was spit back out into space, Nobeyama scientists said. Another theory, called the irruption model, proposes that a high-speed black hole tore through the dense molecular cloud, and the black hole's powerful gravitational pull left a stream of gas in its wake. Further research is required to determine which model best explains the origin of the Bullet, according to the study, published Dec. 29, 2016, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Although millions of black holes are thought to exist in the Milky Way, it is often difficult to locate them because they are completely black. However, this study has revealed a new way for astronomers to detect these types of elusive, stray black holes by their influence on molecular gas clouds that would otherwise float alone in space and remain unnoticed with no observable emissions, the scientists said in the statement. Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom,Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. NOAA's GOES East satellite captured this visible image of a weather system that produced severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in Louisiana on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Severe thunderstorms and several tornadoes struck the state of Louisiana on Tuesday (Feb. 7). A weather satellite operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured this overhead view of the weather system responsible for the storms. NOAA's GOES East weather satellite, which provides a constant view of the U.S. East Coast, captured this image of the storms from the satellite's geostationary orbit 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) above the Earth. Thunderstorms that rolled into the southeast on Tuesday morning soon spawned at least seven tornadoes in Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a news conference. One of those tornadoes hit NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans at 11:25 a.m. local time (12:25 p.m. EST/1725 GMT). Five NASA employees were injured, and officials are still assessing the damage. [In Photos: Tornado Damage at Michoud] No storm-related deaths have been reported in Louisiana, though 31 people reported sustaining injuries, according to a report from Reuters. Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebookand Google+. Original article on Space.com. The full moon of February, called the Snow Moon, will arrive Wednesday (Feb. 16) at 11:57 a.m. EST (0457 GMT). That same day, Mercury reaches its greatest distance west of the sun, making it a bright but challenging to observe "morning star" in mid-northern latitudes. In New York City the full moon will rise at 5:32 p.m. local time, according to Time and Date exactly the time of sunset, so from an area with a flat horizon (open fields or water are good candidates) one can watch the sunset and moonrise at the same time. The moon will be in the constellation Leo, the lion, and by midnight it will reach a maximum elevation of 67.9 degrees in New York; the moon's altitude will be similar in mid-northern latitudes. The farther south you are, the higher the moon's elevation will be. In Miami, for example, the moon's altitude at midnight will be about 83 degrees. Related: Full moon names for 2022 The full moon happens when the moon is exactly on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. The timing of lunar phases depends on the position of the moon, rather than the position of the observer, which means that the time when the moon is full depends on one's time zone. While in New York City the moon is full at 11:57 a.m., if you live in Madrid (six hours ahead) the full moon occurs at 5:57 p.m., which happens to be just before moonrise at 6:38 p.m. local time, according to Time and Date. In Melbourne, Australia, the full moon occurs at 3:57 a.m. on Feb. 17. Full moons are an easy target for binoculars or small telescopes, but they can be a bit disappointing because the moon is so bright that the surface loses contrast. That is because there are no shadows to outline the moon's features. That said, moon filters are available that can make some features stand out in telescopes. If you observe the moon a few days before or after the full moon, shadows bring out more detail. Visible planets The full moon happens the same day Mercury reaches its greatest distance, or elongation, west of the sun. On Feb. 16 the planet rises at 5:35 a.m. local time, according to Heavens-Above.com calculations. Since sunrise is at 6:48 a.m. that gives about an hour to see it but in mid-northern latitudes that will be a challenge. At 6:30 a.m. in New York the planet will only be 9 degrees above the horizon. Observers farther south will have a slightly easier time in Galveston, Texas, for example, Mercury will be almost 11 degrees high by about 6:30 a.m., and the sun rises at 6:57 a.m. local time. Closer to the equator, in Honolulu, Hawaii (where the full moon occurs at 6:57 a.m. local time on Feb. 16), the sun rises at 7:01 a.m., while Mercury rises at 5:31 a.m. local time. By 6:30 a.m. the planet is a full 12 degrees high. In the Southern Hemisphere, Mercury is still higher in the sky on Feb. 17 (when the full moon occurs there) the planet rises at 4:44 a.m. local time in Melbourne, Australia. Sunrise is at 6:51 a.m., and Mercury is about 18 degrees high by 6:20 a.m. This sky map shows where Mercury, Venus and Mars will be visible in the morning sky on the day of the full moon. (Image credit: SkySafari app) Venus will also be a "morning star," and it will be much easier to see for people in the Northern Hemisphere than Mercury in New York City our sister planet rises at 4:20 a.m. on Feb. 16, and by sunrise it has risen to 22 degrees, according to Heavens-Above. As a challenge you can try to see how close to sunrise you can spot Venus in the sky the planet is bright, and in the evenings is one of the first "stars" most people see as the sky darkens. Mars is also visible in the predawn sky, rising at 4:48 a.m. in New York and reaching an altitude of 17 degrees by sunrise. Both Venus and Mars are in the constellation Sagittarius, and the latter is recognizable by its reddish hue. Mars will be below Venus and will form a rough triangle with Mercury to the left. Jupiter is visible in the evenings, but not for very long, as the planet sets shortly after sunset. In New York it will only be about 10 degrees above the horizon at sunset, in the constellation Aquarius, so picking it out against the sun's glare will be challenging. Over the next month Jupiter will also move to the predawn sky, becoming prominent in late March. Constellations The full moon shares the sky with a number of bright winter constellations. During February the constellation Orion, the hunter is visible almost all night, starting the evening high in the east-southeast. Near Orion are Taurus, the bull and Gemini, the twins. Just to the southeast of Orion is Canis Major, the Big Dog, which is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. All three constellations are bright enough that they don't get overwhelmed by the full moon, even in urban areas. The February full moon will be in the constellation Leo, the lion. (Image credit: SkySafari app) How the "Snow Moon" got its name According to the Ontario Native Literacy Project, the Ojibwe (or Anishinaabe) peoples called the full moon of February Mikwa Giizis, the Bear Moon. The Cree called it the Kisipisim, or the Great Moon, because during this time of year "animals do not move around much, and trappers have little chance of catching them." The Tlingit of the Pacific Northwest call the February full moon S'eek Dis, or Black Bear Moon, while the Haida called it Hlgit'un Kungaay, or "Goose moon," according to the Tlingit Moon and Tide Teaching Resource published by the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. In the Southern Hemisphere, where February is during the summer, the Maori of New Zealand described the lunar month in February to March (as measured between the successive new moons, with the full moon halfway between) as Poutu-te-rangi or "the crops are now harvested," according to the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. In China, the traditional lunar calendar calls the February lunation the first month, Zhengyue, and it is when the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated. In 2022 the night of the full moon (as seen in Beijing) falls on Feb. 17 at 12:57 a.m, two days after the Lantern Festival, which marks the high point of the traditional Chinese New Year festivities many Chinese diaspora communities celebrate it as well. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. Curiosity's younger sibling is moving one step closer to knowing where to land on Mars. This week, three days of workshops will be held in Monrovia, Calif., to narrow down the landing sites from eight candidate locations. You can watch the action on this livestream between Wednesday and Friday. Mars 2020 is the next step to NASA's search for ancient habitable environments on Mars. The rover can also deposit sample "caches" for a possible sample return mission sometime to pick up the materials and bring them back to Earth. "The Mars 2020 mission would explore a site likely to have been habitable, seek signs of past life, fill a returnable cache with the most compelling samples, take the first steps towards in situ resource utilization on Mars, and demonstrate technology needed for the future human and robotic exploration of Mars," the workshop's website reads. "Undoubtedly the most consequential remaining decision for the Mars 2020 mission is the choice of landing site," it adds. "In this workshop we seek the critical insight of community members to identify and evaluate the virtues, uncertainties, strengths, and weaknesses of candidate landing sites as input to the process by which three or four sites will be prioritized for further consideration." RELATED: NASA Watchdog Warns Mars 2020 Rover Could Miss Its Launch Date Attendees are urged to "take the long view" when making their decisions, as the science of the site will be valuable not only for Mars 2020, but potentially for a sample mission. As such, the committee has come up with several criteria to figure out what kind of site is most suitable. The landing of Mars 2020 will be similar to that of Curiosity. (Image credit: NASA) The criteria are: An astrobiologically-relevant ancient environment. A returnable cache of rock and regolith samples to yield fundamental scientific discoveries if returned to Earth. High confidence that the site fulfills criteria 1 and 2. High confidence that the highest-value sites can be investigated. The site could have water resources of use in future exploration. "At the end of the workshop, attendees will be surveyed using a five-point scale on each of the criteria listed for each of the landing sites. The survey data will be tallied to generate a red-yellow-green, qualitative "stoplight" chart for each of the criteria at each site," the website reads. RELATED: Here's What NASA's Next Generation Mars Rover Will Do The aim is to prioritize three or four of these sites for future studies, including scientific and engineering consideration. The eight sites under consideration are Columbian Hills, Eberswalde, Holden Crater, Jezero Crater, Mawrth Valles, Southwest Melas, Northeast Syrtis and Nili Fossae. Full information about each location is on the background page. Originally published on Seeker. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. SPIEGEL: Once again: Are you grateful to Ms. Merkel for her humanitarian stance? Schulz: I am grateful to the Germans in general, particularly those who displayed unending dedication to the refugees and who continue to do so. SPIEGEL: On the refugee issue, Merkel pursued a humanitarian approach that the Social Democrats supported. How do you intend to draw a distinction between yourself and the chancellor during the campaign? Schulz: Your view of politics, gentlemen, is too tactical. That's not how I think. We have to convince people that we don't merely act out of tactical considerations, but as a consequence of the deep convictions we hold. I, at least, find it good that Germany fulfilled its humanitarian commitments in the refugee issue. SPIEGEL: No challenger can win an election if he represents the same positions as the incumbent. Schulz: There are, of course, large differences between us. But I would never attack somebody only because they belong to a different party. Ms. Merkel's attempt to present herself as a Social Democrat was a clever move. But it's not working anymore. The divisions between the CDU and CSU have simply become too great for that. The differences between the head of the CDU and her own party are too great for that. Merkel's false advertising, with which we have lived for some time, must be revealed for what it is. SPIEGEL: How can you be so sure? Schulz: Ms. Merkel has long pursued the tactic of asymmetrical demobilization. She wanted to keep potential SPD voters from casting their votes. What we have seen in recent days is the remobilization of those who had been asymmetrically demobilized, as one might say in lovely sociologist language. SPIEGEL: In the refugee crisis, Sigmar Gabriel was fond of adopting terms with a right-wing connotation, like "upper limit" and others, in an attempt to profit from the widespread disgust with Merkel's policies. Can you rule out the possibility that you might fall victim to a similar temptation? Schulz: I won't allow myself to be tempted. And you can be sure that I won't experiment with right-wing terms. SPIEGEL: Hardly any of your statements have been quoted by your adversaries as often as your statement from June 2016 when you said: "What the refugees bring to us is more valuable than gold. It is something that we have lost somewhere along the way in the last few years. It is the unflinching faith in the dream of Europe." Do you still hold true to that statement? Schulz: Of course I do. I can even inject more pathos. SPIEGEL: Go for it. Schulz: The dream of Europe is a region of freedom and peace, of security, law, democracy, tolerance and mutual respect. If you look into the faces of the refugees you will see this dream. These are people who are fleeing from war, hate, violence and unjust systems. SPIEGEL: In your speech at SPD headquarters in Berlin a week ago Sunday, you criticized right-wing parties as being "rat catchers." Do you really think that you can bring people back to the SPD from the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party by calling them rats? Schulz: I accept this criticism That is not the impression I wanted to create. I was referring to the image of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who led people to their doom with his seductive siren song. What I wanted to say is this: The dangerous glorification of the nation state, and the baiting of minorities that goes along with it, releases an anti-democratic energy. But you are right, the formulation wasn't a good one. SPIEGEL: Are you hopeful of convincing voters who have drifted to the AfD to return to the SPD or have you written them off? Schulz: Many who have voted for the AfD, or who intend to do so, aren't doing so because they are dyed-in-the-wool enemies of democracy. Rather, they are desperate. Of course I want to win them back. But I don't want to speak with dangerous people like (right-wing agitator Bjorn) Hocke or (party head Frauke) Petry. A person who calls the Holocaust memorial a monument to shame and who calls for a reversal in Germany's culture of memory does not belong in a German parliament. (Eds. note: In a controversial speech in January, Bjorn Hocke, an AfD member of state parliament in Thuringia, spoke extensively of his desire for Germany to cease focusing so much on its historical guilt for the Holocaust.) SPIEGEL: On the popular television talk show "Anne Will," you spoke of people who "attack our women" on public squares, a clear reference to the widespread sexual assaults perpetrated by foreigners of North African descent in Cologne on New Year's Eve 2015. That is dangerously close to adopting the populist jargon used by the right wing. Schulz: No. But we have to face up to such things. When a well-organized group of young men attacks women, we have to speak about it clearly. SPIEGEL: Are you a populist? Schulz: I'm not a populist. But I try to present complicated issues in such a way that people know where I stand. In all of my encounters with voters, I have repeatedly been confronted with two points of critique. First: You politicians are all the same! Second: You politicians may be speaking German, but we still don't understand you! My favorite example is the famous "fine ounce" of gold. It is constantly mentioned in the news, but nobody knows what a fine ounce is. I had to look it up too. That is why I try to speak in a manner that allows people to tell me apart from my political adversaries. And I speak in a manner that the people can understand. For me, that isn't populism. SPIEGEL: You intend to make "greater fairness" a central issue of your campaign. Linguistically, at least, that is a rather worn-out phrase. Schulz: I don't think it is worn out at all. The question of societal fairness is always pertinent. SPIEGEL: Is Germany a fair country? Schulz: No. Germany is not a fair country. Millions of people believe that things aren't fair in this country. Company profits and bonus payments have increased at the same rate as precarious employment situations. SPIEGEL: How could such a development take place? The SPD has always stood for more fairness and it has been part of the government for 14 of the last 18 years. Schulz: If we had always been in the majority during those years, we would be further along. In the Grand Coalition (eds. note: the SPD is currently the junior coalition partner to Merkel's conservatives in a pairing called the "Grand Coalition") we unfortunately haven't always been able to implement our platforms one-to-one. SPIEGEL: In the early 2000s, SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schroder introduced tough and controversial cuts to Germany's welfare and unemployment aid programs, a reform package known as Agenda 2010. Was that a mistake in hindsight? Schulz: In the Old Testament, Solomon preaches that "to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven." In 2003, 14 years ago, the Agenda was the correct response to a phase of stagnation. On that issue, I always supported Gerhard Schroder. The fact that today we have record employment is also thanks to Gerhard Schroder. But we have also made mistakes. We should have introduced the minimum wage at the same time and taxed the super-rich at a higher rate. Because we didn't do that, many got the impression that the reforms were unfair. The Agenda was advantageous for the country, but the SPD suffered significant collateral damage as a result. It is now time to focus on fairness. SPIEGEL: In times of globalization and digitalization, where politics can no longer exert influence in many areas, how can you promise greater fairness? Schulz: I cannot guarantee people absolute fairness. I can only promise that I will do everything in my power to secure fairness or create a greater degree of fairness. The old fundamental principles must continue to apply, even in our changing society: Democracy knows neither master nor slave. Equal education opportunities for all, no matter where they come from and no matter who their parents are. Equal access as well when it comes to digitalization. SPIEGEL: That sounds nice enough, but it's also rather ambiguous. Let's be a bit more concrete. How do you intend to limit the number of temporary jobs and limited contracts? Schulz: Labor Minister Andrea Nahles (SPD) has already achieved a lot in that regard. We could limit the admissibility of temporary and limited work to a much greater degree if we had the necessary parliamentary majorities to do so. SPIEGEL: How do you intend to limit the number? Schulz: We need to roll back precarious employment models. Temporary and limited contracts were initially seen as a way of introducing more flexibility so as to bridge periods of need in certain phases of production. Some employers have taken advantage of the model to push down wages. In general, we must strive for equal pay for equal work. SPIEGEL: How high do you think the minimum wage must be to guarantee a dignified living? Schulz: At least we now have a minimum wage. I am more worried about the fact that it is still regularly ignored, sometimes with criminal intent. We have to implement more controls; the agency responsible must become more active. SPIEGEL: Is the current maximum tax rate of 42 percent fair? Back when Helmut Kohl was chancellor, it was as high as 53 percent. Schulz: We absolutely have to increase the taxation of significant wealth. But I'm not interested in using controversial terms like wealth tax or inheritance tax. It's the principle that's important to me. And that is: People who work hard for their money cannot be placed in a worse position that those who allow their money to work for them. SPIEGEL: Could you be a bit more specific? Schulz: The share of wealth held by the minority is much greater than the share held by the majority. We have to draw our own conclusions from that and it has to change. Regarding concrete proposals for confronting the issue, we have a working group in our party addressing the issue. I don't intend to get ahead of them in this interview. SPIEGEL: Does Germany need a wealth tax? Schulz: Please understand that I first want to talk with people in the SPD who are developing the framework of a tax concept. SPIEGEL: Among leftists, there is a great deal of sympathy for the concept of an unconditional basic income. Is that an idea that you find attractive? Schulz: I believe that dignified work is a value in itself. As a party of labor, the SPD must work together with the unions to ensure that people can make a living with their work. That is why I am not a proponent of the concept of unconditional basic income. I am, however, very much in favor of decent wage agreements, secure and lasting jobs, employee participation in decision-making and the examination of the social justification for claims and payments. SPIEGEL: The Agenda 2010 reforms included the introduction of reduced state aid to the long-term unemployed, a payment program now known colloquially as Hartz IV. The Hartz IV system includes a number of levers intended to pressure recipients into looking for a job, with many of those levers leaving Hartz IV recipients even less well-off. Leftist parties like the Greens and the Left Party, two groups with which the SPD could ultimately form a governing coalition following the September election, have demanded that those levers be eliminated. Do you agree with the demand? Schulz: No, not completely. If there is unfairness within the Hartz IV system, then we must have the possibility to check it on a case-by-case basis. SPIEGEL: What do you intend to do to slow down the rapid rise of rents in Germany's large cities? Schulz: To promote the construction of social housing. I think the law passed to slow down the rise of rents is a good idea, but it doesn't work to a sufficient degree, in part because the CDU and the CSU have blocked necessary improvements. For a long, long time, we have ceded the entire real estate branch to speculators. That was wrong. It was also unfortunate that state subsidies for residential construction were long frowned upon as government charity. SPIEGEL: Still, we have to point out that almost everything that you are now criticizing was passed with the help of the SPD, including the demise of social housing construction. Schulz: Construction Minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD) has long since begun revitalizing the social housing construction program. Having a place to live is a fundamental right and the state must establish a framework that ensures that apartments are affordable. But it is correct that we need more courage than we have shown in recent years. SPIEGEL: Courage? Schulz: The construction of social housing and the attempt to support families seeking to buy their own homes are all projects from the 1960s and '70s. It all sounds old-fashioned, but it is actually completely modern. SPIEGEL: What characteristics must a courageous chancellor candidate have? Schulz: To not think tactically. To not constantly think: If you say this, then you'll be in trouble. And if you say that, the others will be unhappy. People are tired of that kind of thing. I want to liberate myself from that kind of thinking. It is also courageous to occasionally admit that there are certain things one can't do. Or to say: I don't yet have a comprehensive tax plan. But I'm working on it. SPIEGEL: What is the maximum percentage of votes that the SPD can hope to receive in the upcoming election? Schulz: An absolute majority. SPIEGEL: And now, what is your serious answer? Schulz: No idea. I hope that we will be able to convince a lot of people that we are the best party in this period of upheaval. We will do better than current surveys show. And those surveys are, in fact, trending in a positive direction. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dressers recalled for tipping Bolton Furniture has recalled its Two Over Two four-drawer dressers due to serious tipping and entrapment hazards. The furniture could be particularly dangerous for families with small children, who may be seriously hurt or even killed if the dresser falls. Consumers may call Bolton Furniture at 800-545-8982 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for a free retrofit kit that will allow the consumer to secure the dresser safely to the wall. Nightlight carries fire risk Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. is recalling Happy Holidays! Mickey Mouse Nightlights because of concerns that it could cause fires. According to an alert from U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, liquid from the nightlight can leak onto the electrical outlet, posing a fire hazard. The nightlights have a Mickey Mouse face and contain a red and white Santa hat filled with liquid and glitter. The UPC code, 400009489637, is printed on a sticker on the bottom of the product packaging. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts have received two reports of incidents, including one electrical fire. No injuries have been reported. For a refund, call Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US, Inc. toll-free at 844-722-1444 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit www.disneyparks.com and click on Safety Recall at the bottom of the page. Swivel chairs pose falling hazard Casual Living Worldwide is recalling swivel chairs sold at Home Depot. According to an alert from the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, the base of the chairs can break during normal use, posing a fall hazard to the user. This recall involves Hampton Bay Anselmo, Calabria, and Dana Point chairs as well as Martha Stewart Living branded Cardona, Grand Bank and Wellington swivel patio chairs. The chairs are made of aluminum and steel with a round swivel base and arm rests. The chairs were sold as a pair and as part of a seven-piece patio set with accompanying tables. The company has received 25 reports of the chairs breaking, resulting in bruising and scrapes from falls. The company recommends that those who purchased the chairs contact Casual Living Worldwide for a free repair kit. The company can be reached at 855-899-2127 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday or online at www.casuallivingoutdoors.com. Click on Recall Information for more information. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BROOKFIELD Come spring, residents will begin to see downtown reborn. Residents on Tuesday authorized the town to borrow up to $1.7 million for the first phase of the streetscape project at the Four Corners. Grants will cover the rest of the estimated $3.5 million cost. The unofficial vote was 929 to 489. With this approval, officials said, the long-desired, pedestrian-friendly downtown will finally take shape. For decades, the town has been developing a plan to turn the area into a New England-style downtown where the public can live, park, stroll and shop. First Selectman Steve Dunn said the streetscape is the first building block in the development plan. People in town have been talking about the Four Corners since I moved here in 1983, and its very gratifying that the townspeople have the same vision and they want to have a real downtown, he said. This spring, crews will install the first sidewalks, along with streetlights, planters, benches and additional parking in the area from the Federal and Station Road intersection south to Brookfield Funeral Home, north to Alexanders Restaurant, west to the edge of a gas station at the intersection and east to the Brookfield Craft Center. The project is tied to the opening of Brookfield Village, a 72-unit complex at the heart the development area. The complex is under construction, but cannot receive its certificate of occupancy until the streetscape is done. The goal is to finish the streetscape by the fall, in time for Brookfield Villages completion. Officials hope to do a second phase, and possibly a third, to extend the streetscape. Dunn said the town will start planning phase two immediately and hope to bring the cost of the project to the town within the next couple months. Its critical to finish the sidewalks all the way down and all the way north on Federal Road because that will help development, Dunn said. Dunn said the second phase is No. 1 on the Western Connecticut Council of Governments recommended list to receive a $1 million matching grant. he said the town will continue to pursue other grants for the project. The town is waiting for an estimate for the cost of putting utilities underground, an idea Dunn said he supports as long as the price is not too high. The first phase received unanimous support from the Board of Selectmen and near universal support from the Economic Development Commission. But critics had worried the streetscape would cost too much, saying the town needed to prioritize its projects before asking for money for the first phase. Yet, Dunn said the increased tax revenue the town will receive from new retail downtown will pay for the project. In addition to Brookfield Village, the town has approved the 120-unit Renaissance Housing project and the 181-unit Enclave project. Dunn estimates Brookfield Village will bring in $350,000 to $400,000 a year in new revenue, but all the approved and potential developments could generate $1.5 million to $2 million a year. Evanger's, a pet food company whose products are sold in New York, Massachusetts and online, has voluntarily recalled five lots of its Hunk of Beef dog food, the dog and cat food brand said in a statement on its website. The dog food is reportedly contaminated with pentobarbital, a barbiturate often used to treat tension and anxiety in humans. According to the FDA, the drug can cause "drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, or nausea, or in extreme cases, possibly death" when consumed by animals. When Republicans voted against the recently approved pension refinancing deal made between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state union leaders, we asked ourselves two very important questions: Is this agreement fair to taxpayers? Is it fair to state employees? The answer to both was no. Heres why. To smooth out payments and avoid a projected $6 billion payment in 2032, the agreement defers our obligations, which adds $11 billion in new costs onto future generations. Our children, and their children, will be stuck with that bill. The agreement hurts state employees by removing more than $1 billion owed to stabilize their retirement funds over the next two years, and $11 billion owed to state employees over the next 15 years. Instead it uses those funds to balance a budget that has been decimated by Democrats to help fix their self-inflicted wounds. It still leaves our state pension system underfunded. In addition to new costs, this deal alone does not create retirement security, stability or predictability by any means. Reducing the assumed rate of return on pension funds to 6.9 percent is a good change. But without changes to benefits, achieving the solvency projected in this plan is just not realistic. Over the last five years, the average return rate weve seen in Connecticut is 2.2 percent. Even going out 16 years the average return rate climbs up to only 4.7 percent significantly lower than what this deal is based on. So what happens if we again dont reach 6.9 percent? Our unfunded liabilities will continue to grow even with the adoption of this agreement. It will cost the state and taxpayers even more than what is projected. And without moderate changes to benefits, the pension system will remain underfunded and unstable. All legislators have a responsibility to do what is right not only for this generation but for future generations. Pushing the states financial problems onto those future generations is abandoning that responsibility. Yet that is exactly what the governors deal would do all at the expense of taxpayers and state employee retirement security. While Republicans voted against this deal, we do agree that something must to be done to address future unaffordable balloon pension payments. And we must all work together to achieve that goal. However, simply refinancing a debt to saddle Connecticuts future with unnecessary new burdens is irresponsible. This deal does not create predictability in our budget nor does it create stability in our state. It is a deal that allows the governor and the Democrats who supported it to once again ignore the states fiscal problems. There are other ways that lawmakers could have addressed this pension issue, which is what motivated me to ask the governor to hold off on this deal until lawmakers explored all options. But instead the governor made this the only option. While it may eliminate a massive payment, it adds even greater new costs and masks the bigger problems Connecticut must fix to put an end to our crushing pension problems. That is why we cannot let the approval of this deal be the end of the conversation. Its too easy for this deal to overshadow the need for other changes. We need to keep up the pressure on the state to tackle real pension reform. By not bringing forth alternative options for the legislature to examine to determine if there was a better solution, those who supported this deal failed our state employees, our current taxpayers and even those taxpayers not yet born. Further, what will make this deal even more damaging is if the governor decides to reopen the states collective bargaining agreement and fails to address these pension issues. There are significant and meaningful changes to the state pension system that can be made to place Connecticut on the right track. For example, the state needs to consider requiring all state employees to pay a percentage into their pensions and eliminate overtime pay from pension calculations. These savings should then go back to state employees by funding pension obligations. However, those who supported this deal threw away the opportunity to secure these changes simultaneously. Their error will be compounded if the collective bargaining agreement is reopened for other purposes and these pension issues are not addressed. If legislators hope to meet our responsibilities to state employees without overburdening taxpayers, theres a lot of work ahead. The governors deal is an $11 billion plus solution to fix a $6 billion problem and people wonder why our state is in a financial mess. Republicans will continue to advocate for the changes we need. Sen. Len Fasano is the Republican Senate President Pro Tempore. He serves the 34th Senatorial District communities of Durham, East Haven, North Haven and Wallingford. STAMFORD A Westchester County man was charged with selling cocaine outside a popular downtown bar Friday night. Capt. Richard Conklin said officers in the Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad received a tip that a man from New York known as JT was selling cocaine out of a black Mercedes-Benz next to Hudson Grille on Bedford Street. Police coordinated with law enforcement officers in Westchester County and determined the man was Jason Tillis, 36, of Yonkers, N.Y. Conklin said Stamford police were also informed that Tillis has two prior narcotics convictions in Westchester. NOC officers conducted surveillance of the parking lot and spotted the black Mercedes about 11 p.m., Conklin said. As officers tried to block him in, Tillis tried to reverse out of space and struck the building, Conklin said. Tillis was holding a bag containing 0.7 grams of cocaine, Conklin said. In a coat pocket, police found another bag containing 1.1 grams of cocaine along with $335 in cash, Conklin said. Cronin, a narcotics-sniffing dog, indicated the presence of drugs in the center console of the car, Conklin said. Police found another bag with 41 grams of cocaine, $289 in cash along with baggies used for street sales and a digital scale inside the center console, Conklin said. Tillis was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of more than an ounce of cocaine with intent to sell and operating a drug factory. He was held in lieu of a $25,000 court appearance bond. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com S o, little old Moelis, the boutique investment bank, has pipped Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan for the gig to advise on the biggest flotation ever Saudi Aramco. What a kick in the teeth for Wall Street and City giants, right? Perhaps not. While its clearly a major coup for Ken Moelis, the dealmaker who started off at junk bonder Drexel Lambert back in the day, his victory is primarily over boutiques like Rothschild, Lazard and Evercore, not the Wall Street and City global banks. The megabanks will still be coining it from this $2 trillion share sale, distributing the stock to investors around the world. Moeliss role will be as the Saudis trusted consiglieri. Its been chosen precisely because it is not conflicted like the bulge bracket banks by having securities trading arms elsewhere. As such, you can bet Lazard and Rothschild will be smarting if they dont end up getting any of the action. They have for centuries been the advisers of choice to governments and sovereigns. Ken Moelis, though, has crept into the Middle East in style. He and his London team have worked on restructuring some of Dubais biggest businesses since its financial crisis of 2009. They now sit at the very head of the top table in Saudi. And what a banquet western bankers and investors are set to enjoy there. Deputy crown prince Muhammad Bin Salmans so-called Vision 2030 programme will see trillions of dollars spent on rebuilding the nation and its economy away from oil. That means multi-billion dollar contracts going up for grabs across the country. British firms are already waking up to the prospect of dollars from the desert; Saudi was our third fastest growing export market in 2011-2015, with top five sectors being nuclear energy, aircraft, weapons, industrial vehicles and luxury cars in that order. But theres far more to shoot for beyond the obvious likes of Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, JCB and Bentley. The country is still only our 14th biggest export market below Hong Kong and even South Korea. Other big UK specialisms like fashion, food and pharmaceuticals still look under-represented, not to mention financial services. With Brexit forcing British firms to seek trade beyond Europe, its time for more chief executives to follow Moelis and hop on a plane to Saudi. Time for margin call? An alarming stat in Hargreaves Lansdowns numbers today. Profit margins last year at the investment fund market jumped from 67% to 71%. Tesco, at its optimistic best, is hoping it will reach 4% by 2020. In any other industry but finance, Hargreaves figures might raise an eyebrow from a consumer-championing regulator. As that old question asked of wealthy wealth managers goes: where are the customers yachts? H ong Kong billionaire Sammy Tak Lee was a loser today in his game of monopoly as concerns about the looming business rates hike toppled shares in West End landlord Shaftesbury. Property investor Lee is the biggest shareholder in the Carnaby Street and Chinatown owner and has been quietly building his stake in recent weeks to above 16%. But Shaftesbury shares sank 31p, or 3.4%, to 870p as analysts at Barclays cut their rating from equalweight to underweight and their target price to 820p. They argued that the business rates review, which is expected to see a 25% increase for tenants, will increase occupancy cost ratios by 10%. Whilst existing ratios are not challenging and Shaftesbury will continue to grow tenant sales ahead of others, increased occupancy costs will see growth slow from historic levels in our view, said Barclays analyst David Prescott. Shaftesbury was among the biggest fallers on the FTSE 250, although the mid-cap index continued its winning streak, climbing 12.70 points to 18,572.40, a record high. A weaker oil price Brent fell 40 cents to $54.65 a barrel held the top-tier FTSE 100 index back as it slipped 11.68 points to 7174.54. This came even after a rise from the mining sector on the back of strong annual results from Anglo-Aussie giant Rio Tinto, which advanced 76.5p to 3511.5p. Tullow Oil, off 15.22p at 280.08p, disappointed oil and gas fans as it reined in its spending plans for this year. It said it would be spending $500 million on drilling in 2017, down from $900 million last year, as it posted a pre-tax loss for 2016 of $600 million after heavy writedowns. Founder and chief executive Aidan Heavey, who is to become the groups chairman in April, said the companys capital discipline remains critical as it tries to reduce its huge debt pile, which stood at $4.8 billion at the end of last year. TalkTalks woes continued as broker Haitong said the phones and broadband firms troubles would not be solved by replacing boss Dido Harding with Sir Charles Dunstone. We struggle to believe that because Mr Dunstone is now in charge TalkTalk is much more likely to prevail over the big challenges facing it, it said. One of the problems it anticipates is regulator Ofcom urging BT Openreach to hike prices to force operators such as TalkTalk to invest in their own infrastructure instead of buying access to BTs network. TalkTalk slipped 2.73p to 165.57p. There was better news for the veteran Mears chairman Bob Holt after a dire profit warning yesterday from DX Group, another company he chairs. Totally, an AIM-listed NHS outsourcer, improved 0.6p to 57.1p after it said its annual results would be marginally ahead of forecasts. Small-cap punters gobbled up DP Poland, which has the rights to the Dominos Pizza name in Poland. The shares rose 2.2p to 58.95p after a strong trading update. R io Tinto roared back into the black thanks to surging commodity prices, promising goodies to shareholders in the future. The mining giant led the FTSE 100 today as traders dug into the shares following full-year profits of $4.6 billion (3.7 billion). That compares with a loss of $866 million last year, when Rio was battling corruption allegations and the bottom of the commodities cycle. Rio will pay a bigger-than-expected divi of $1.70 a share with the hope of more to come. A small share buyback took returns to investors to $3 billion. That payout is still lower than achieved in 2015, however. The $500 million buyback is lower than some analysts were hoping for, or believe the company could easily afford. Chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said in a statement: We enter 2017 in good shape. Our team will deliver $5 billion of extra free cashflow over the next five years from our productivity programme. Jacques has had to deal with a payments scandal in Africa that saw executives sacked over bribery allegations linked to a mine in Guinea. It warned today that regulatory investigations are creating significant uncertainties. Rio shares were the top risers in the main market, up 76.5p at 3511.5p. Glencore and Anglo American were also strongly up. C yber-security firm Sophos has made a $120 million (96 million) bet on artificial intelligence, buying a US machine-learning company that can block new types of attacks on businesses. The FTSE 250 company has bought Virginia-based Invincea for $100 million in cash and up to $20 million on top in earn-out payments, giving the firm its first machine-learning cyber-defence product. The technology in itself is clever enough to understand how a [malware] file behaves even if weve never seen it before. It really is very clever tech. It just consolidates and strengthens our leadership position, said chief financial officer Nick Bray, who added that the threat of cyber attacks on companies is only increasing. Invincea made a $12 million loss in the year ended March 2016 on revenue of $10 million. Ben McSkelly, an analyst at Shore Capital, said the deal did not look cheap based on Invinceas billings, which were $13.4 million last year, but added: However, we must note that sophisticated assets in machine learning should attract high evaluations. Sophos shares rose 20.6p, or 8%, to 290.3p. The deal was unveiled as Sophoss third-quarter update showed revenues up 11% to $135 million, helping Sophos swing to an operating profit of 1.7 million. High-profile cyber attacks on companies have included TalkTalk and Tesco Bank. T he Labour Party is profoundly divided on Brexit, as we shall see again in the Commons tonight, but one Labour politician at least is taking the debate to the Continent. The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, will visit Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Madrid and Warsaw after the Prime Minister triggers Article 50 and before official negotiations start. It is a charm offensive, as he says, to take the message directly to Europe that London will always remain open to engaging, trading and doing business with our friends across Europe. We wish him luck. Meanwhile, Labour will find tonights Commons debate difficult going, after the shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, welcomed the announcement yesterday that the Government would submit its final Brexit deal to the Commons only to find theres a catch. The only alternative to Mrs Mays deal would be no deal at all: viz, World Trade Organisation terms for future commercial relations with the EU. That, as Tory Eurosceptic Ken Clarke observed, would be the worst possible outcome. The broader problem is that Labour is torn on this, the most important issue in contemporary politics. Jeremy Corbyn was right to insist on a three-line whip to try to enforce party unity behind triggering Brexit it cannot be seen to thwart the will of the people but the number and recklessness of the rebels means the vote is about his leadership as well as the issue itself. Still, Mr Corbyn can comfort himself with the reflection that this is just the start. Triggering the mechanism for leaving the EU is the simple bit: conducting the negotiations and securing a deal is the hard part. As Matthew dAncona points out on this page, there will be ample opportunity for MPs to scrutinise the PMs progress and make their views count. Its a prospect with large implications for the future of the Labour Party. A shortage of midwives The tragic case of Philippa and Jonty Stewart, whose son was stillborn at St Georges Hospital, Tooting, highlights some of the pressures facing the NHS. An internal investigation found staff shortages meant a junior midwife was left to care for Mrs Stewart and three other women in labour at the same time; then a locum doctor walked out because he discovered he was being paid less than expected. Opportunities for intervention were missed on several occasions and critically a scan was incorrectly classified. The locums disgruntled disappearance is indicative of the need for effective staff management. The lack of trained midwifery staff, meanwhile, is not confined to St Georges England is said to be short of 3,500 midwives; there are shortages in other areas too. Last years decision by the Government to scrap bursaries for nurses and midwives, and replace them with loans, was a retrograde step. While we shouldnt assume that money alone can solve all the NHSs problems, incentivising young people to embark on these vital careers is a no-brainer. Plays and politics Jez Butterworths new play, The Ferryman, directed by Sam Mendes, is to transfer from the Royal Court, where it was a sellout, to the Gielgud Theatre. Its about a family of farmers in Northern Ireland, but also about the Troubles, an issue that is very far from over, given recent developments. But febrile politics makes excellent theatre. Brexit and Donald Trump may not make for an easy life but they do give ample scope for dramatists. Peaceful, consensual political debate may be good for the markets, but playwrights thrive on controversy. V anessa Bells life has been the subject of television dramas, biographies and plenty of chatter over the years. A constant fascination with the lives of the Bloomsbury Group, of which she was an integral part, has taken attention away from her art. Nearly sixty years after her death, Dulwich Picture Gallery are redressing the balance. The first major solo retrospective of her work opens this week, offering visitors the chance to see almost 100 of her works in their full glory. Curators at the Gallery say its important that Bells work is finally seen on its own terms. Heres why her legacy as an artist matters. Her art really does speak for itself Bell wrote little about her art, nor is there much writing about it from other people who knew her at the time. Without such commentary, we can enjoy her art entirely on its own terms. Her art was irrepressible she even covered her furniture with it Bells urge to paint is clear if you visit Charleston house in Sussex, the farmhouse where she lived and played host to many members of the Bloomsbury Group. She covered cupboards, tables, walls and curtains in her artworks - visiting the house makes it clear what a place of colour and creativity it was whilst she lived there. Her portraits of her sister are intimate and unknowable Bells portraits of her sister Virginia Woolf are some of the best known. They show her in private domestic scenes, sitting in a deckchair or crocheting, but whats intriguing is the faces in the portraits. The more she painted her sister, the less detail she gave her face, until she didnt have a face at all. The refusal of information is at odds with the intimate domesticity of the scene. She was often ahead of the game Bells understanding of Matisse, as well as her interest in abstract artists, was profound. These influences on her work put her ahead of the curve when it came to many of her counterparts. She was an artist when women werent Bell made a life for herself as an artist in a world dominated by men. Her gender didnt define her work, but the presence she had as a woman was important in its own right - it made her a pioneer. Her painting of Duncan Grant looking in a mirror was an example of her challenging the traditional male gaze. Being a mother didnt stop her Tracey Emin and Marina Abramovic have both said motherhood was not compatible with being an artist, but many said Bells creativity was at its best after she had her children. She was also inspired by them, and often used them as subjects in her paintings. She refused conventional beauty Evening Standard art critic Matthew Collings previously described her work as having a dusky, scruffy loveliness. Bell had her own aesthetic, was fearless with colour, and painted the female form in ways that refused to conform to beauty standards, with her 1922-3 painting Nude a perfect example of this. Visit standard.co.uk/arts for the latest news and reviews from Londons arts scene Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout The dish Marinara pizza made according to a Neapolitan recipe honed over many decades. It arrived in Stoke Newington this month at Naples favourite LAntica Pizzeria da Micheles first UK outpost and there are queues all the way along Church Street for a slice of the action. The menu is limited margherita, marinara and two rotating specials, which is a balm if youre suffering from work-induced decision fatigue. Prices start at 6.50. The USP Its all about that base. The restaurants pizzaioli are from Naples and they know how to make it thin yet satisfyingly doughy, with crunchy bubbles on top. Theyve installed a 2,300kg pizza oven and only use the freshest tomatoes. LAntica Pizzeria da Michele has been in Naples since 1870 and Italians call it the sacred temple of pizza. If thats not enough, it features in Eat Pray Love, as the restaurant where Julia Robertss character, Elizabeth Gilbert, fell in love with pizza. Franco Manca, on Stoke Newington High Street, has a rival. The restaurant LAntica Pizzeria da Michele, 125 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16. Reservations are only taken for tables of six or more. Queues are two hours long at the moment but you can beat them with a takeaway, which takes around 20 minutes. Follow them on Twitter @damichelelondon. The best pizza in London 1 /18 The best pizza in London 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Don't be fooled by the red and black Dennis the Menace-style decor this place does seriously good pizza. Ingredients are rich and authentic (the mozzarella is flown in from Campania) and the pizzas come with generous helpings of lip-smacking tomato sauce (that you be mopping up with leftover crust afterwards). Luciano Furia Sodo Pizza Cafe In case you were wondering about the name, Sodo stands for sourdough. And thats something they take pretty seriously here. All the pizza dough is fermented for 48 hours and then baked at over 450 so that its light and airy with plenty of that sourdough tang. With such great bases it makes sense to keep toppings simple, but special kudos must go to the brilliantly named Jon Bon Chovy topped with anchovies, olives, capers, chilli and fresh parsley. Pizza Pilgrims With restaurants in different corners of London, brothers James and Thom Eliot have come a long way since their days as street food traders. The Neapolitan-style pizzas here are soft and doughy with a plumped-up crust and a rich tomato base try the nudja variety if youre feeling spicy. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele Flying in to Baker Street from Naples, this pizzeria which incidentally was featured in Eat, Pray, Love has been described as the best in the world, never mind London. The London branch is less scruffy (and a little more expensive) than the Naples original, and the pizzas are slightly different, too the bases are thicker for a start. That said, the full-flavoured tomato base which is a signature is present and correct and theres no doubting this is among the finest pizza in the capital. Be prepared to queue. Santore A hefty proportion of the clientele always seems to be Italian at this old-school Clerkenwell local, and thats got to be a good sign. The signature order is pizza by the metre, made with varying toppings along the stretch you might want to bring a couple of friends to help polish it off though. For something different try the i panuozzi, a pizza sandwich that has the same toppings but double the dough. Crate Brewery No two items could be more perfectly suited to each other than beer and pizza and few places are as geared up for the pair of them as Crate is. As well as making its own beer on-site it serves crispy, thin-base pizzas that are worthy of much more than just soaking up your drinks. Try the Middle Eastern lamb variety, topped with spicy mince, alongside more traditional numbers. Franco Manca There's a staggering number of Franco Manca branches throughout the capital, from Soho to Southfields and Covent Garden to Chiswick. Despite its size, the slightly sour, salty chewy Neapolitan base which made such an impression at the original Brixton Market branch remains, as do the simple but well-sourced toppings. The original Brixton branch is still the best. Homeslice There are now six buzzy Homeslice sites across London serving up impressive 20-inch pizzas. Some off-the-wall toppings may put off purists, but clever combos and a blistering hot oven ensure the end results really do work even a goat shoulder and savoy cabbage number. Devour them whole or by the slice. Pizza Union This casual pizzeria with sites in Spitalfields and Kings Cross is buzzy, fast and impressively cheap plus the pizzas are the real deal. Theyre made in the Roman style, with bases that are thin and crispy rather than chewy, and come in an abundance of varieties. Good news for coeliacs just ask for gluten free bases. Yard Sale Pizza Yard Sale Pizza started out how you might expect in a yard. Founder Johnnie Tate began his dough spinning journey cooking pies in a pizza oven in his Hackney back garden, but now the brand boasts five sites across London and has collaborated with the likes of foodie rapper Loyle Carner and, err, Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin. The proof of their success is in the pie its Holy Pepperoni is topped with two types of pepperoni and nduja sausage, while more contemporary options include the TSB, topped with tenderstem broccoli, manchego and pine nuts. Voodoo Rays Crust-leavers, get yourself to Voodoo Rays. This Dalston-originating pizza joint serves its pizza by-the-slice from massive 22-inch New York-style pies do the maths and that means less crust, more topping. And what toppings they are: fior di latte mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes are used across the board and varieties include both Italian classic and the likes of the very English Porkys, made with Cumberland sausage, Stilton, red onion and parsley. Zia Lucia Zia Lucia really knows its dough. The growing pizza group has four different doughs on its menu a traditional, a wholemeal, a vegetable charcoal and one made with gluten-free flour. Toppings are Italian in essence, with a few tantalisingly unusual variations along the way: the Andrea Pirlo is topped with gorgonzola, apple, truffle and olive sauce, while the Green Vegana is spread with spicy broccoli cream and sundried tomatoes. Circolo Popolare The pizzas here are as luxurious as the restaurants famously flamboyant surroundings. Delicious metre-long 'zas arrive from the open kitchens twin rotary oven, placed on tables under floral ceilings and surrounded by walls stacked with 20,000 bottles. The crusts are chewy and light, the toppings are liberally applied and the sauces are perfect. ES Magazines critic Jimi Famurewa was full of praise for the doughy dishes, calling the peach-topped Orlando Blue pie a balanced blast of sunshine. The pizzas at Gloria, Circolos sister restaurant, are just as good too. Lateef Okunnu @lateef.photography Made of Dough At Made of Dough, its all about that crust generously charred and tangy as heck, its arguably the star of the show. Heading into the centre, be sure that the Truffle is somewhere on your order a white pizza, both mozzarella and parmesan are topped with white alba truffle oil and portobello mushrooms, with the option to add a mind-boggling portion of burratina on top. Starting life as a residency at Pop Brixton, the Made of Dough team now have a permanent spot in Peckham, as well as popular stalls in Market Hall Fulham and the West End location of crazy golf bar Swingers. The drink Theres wine from Mastroberardino in Italys Campania region and Peroni beer. If you want a post-prandial nightcap, The Jolly Butchers, down the road at 204 Stoke Newington High Street, has a strong range of craft ales and warming red wines. Or theres The Rose and Crown, 199 Stoke Newington Church Street comedian couple Stewart Lee and Bridget Christies local which makes a mean post-pizza gin and tonic. The dessert If youre still hungry after your feast, beat a path to The Good Egg, 93 Stoke Newington Church Street, for a generous slab of Middle Eastern babka cake, a bun or syrupy baklava. Visit standard.co.uk/restaurants for the latest news and reviews from Londons food scene. Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESGoingOut C harites today called for volunteers to help staff the UKs first helpline for homeless young people. Thanks to more than 3 million raised by the Standards Young and Homeless Helpline charity appeal, the Centrepoint Helpline will launch on Monday. Experts from Centrepoint will give vital early intervention housing and homelessness advice on the Free-phone line to people aged 16 to 25 facing life on the streets. Working alongside staff and volunteers from charity The Mix, callers will also get support on the complex issues that often lie behind homelessness, such as mental health or family breakdown. Homeless helpline: The Freephone will support young homeless people / Matt Writtle The two charities have hailed the partnership as groundbreaking in the level of support for callers. They will share a call centre space in central London and work together to answer phones. Callers will be passed between the services depending on what support they need. Centrepoint poem about homelessness Both charities are now looking for volunteers, working remotely and in their call centre, to staff their help-lines and web services. Centrepoint is initially looking for 50 volunteers to speak to callers and online users when its helpline expands this summer to include SMS, live web chat, and other forms of digital communication. Centrepoint helpline pkg It has the staff and volunteers to operate the helpline, but wants more volunteers as numbers accessing the service increase in coming months. The Mix, the UKs leading youth advisory charity, is also looking to recruit 150 volunteers to sustain an expected boom in demand. It offers advice and counselling on topics including bullying, debt, drink, drugs and mental and sexual health that can be the trigger for people ending up homeless. Could you do it? Minimum time required: At least 2-3 hours a week. Helpful attributes: Good communication and listening skills, IT skills, calmness under pressure, empathy. Roles: Offering emotional support and directing young people to services through phone calls, emails, and webchat. Moderating web forums and managing live chat groups. Location: From home or at the call centre. Training: Full training on how to give support, and use equipment and systems. Chris Martin, chief executive of The Mix, said: Many volunteers find the experience personally rewarding and empowering. It can be a great way to meet new people, share your own experiences, earn an accreditation and to make a big impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of young people in crisis. The Mixs website services are visited by two million young people a year, 1.1 million of them from London, including 520,960 aged under 25. Some 20,000 people have contacted its helpline, including 2,000 calls about housing support. Callers are given immediate support and signposted to other services which can give them longer-term help. Heather Devine, 35, The Mixs office manager, who started off as a volunteer in October 2015, said: Id recommend volunteering. The hours are very flexible, and the difference you can make to young peoples lives is incredibly rewarding. For more details in volunteering visit themix.org or centrepoint.org or email helplinevolunteering@centrepoint.org. To give to the appeal, call 0300 330 2731, text HOME66 5 to 70070 or click here. A n axe-wielding "killer clown" prankster who chased a pregnant woman down a street has been jailed for six months. Michael March, 18, is thought to be the first person imprisoned following the craze that swept across the UK. Newcastle Crown Court heard how March terrified a couple walking past him after banging the foot long axe on the floor in South Shields just after 9pm on the night before Halloween. The woman, who was 22 weeks pregnant, threw a brick at him in an attempt to defend herself before he ran off. Jailing him for six months, Judge Jamie Hill QC said: "Brandishing an axe and threatening people in the street is serious whatever the context." Nicholas Rooke, prosecuting, told the court that after the police were called they traced March via CCTV and found him with the axe and a clown mask in his backpack. "He claimed it was a prank saying he had himself been chased by killer clowns in Gateshead and he thought he would scare people as part of a prank," he said. Mr Rooke said the pregnant woman, who had been walking with her partner on October 30, had not given a statement as "she did not want the stress of court to affect her any further". Sentencing him, Judge Hill said it was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. "The fact you were wearing a clown mask is an aggravating factor because it increased the fear they would have experienced and secondly it was a way of disguising who you were," he said. March had previously admitted possession of a bladed article. The craze that swept the UK led to a deluge of calls to Childline from youngsters left terrified by the sinister phenomenon as well as dozens of reports to police. A 10-year-old boy in Plymouth was threatened by a clown who jumped out of a bush carrying a hammer, while in Workington, Cumbria, a clown brandishing an axe chased an 11-year-old girl. Kent Police saw 59 clown-related incidents between October 7 and 10, Thames Valley Police had 14 reports in 24 hours, and South Yorkshire Police said it had received 61 reports. Vic Laffey, defending, said March had no previous convictions and that he lived with his grandparents and helped care for his grandfather. He said he accepted his actions had been "foolish and reckless" and that it must have been a frightening incident. "When he was apprehended his first words were 'I was not going to hurt anyone'," he said. "This was a Halloween prank gone horribly wrong." He had tried to convince the judge that he should have avoided jail, as at the time of the offence he was 17 years old. A jealous killer shouted youre dying as he stabbed his girlfriend to death while she was on the phone to a 999 operator. South east Londoner Kevin ORegan, 37, has been jailed for life after a jury found him guilty of murdering girlfriend Donna Williamson in an alcohol and jealousy-fuelled attack. Ms Williamson rang the police saying ORegan, her boyfriend of five years, was beating her and had grabbed a knife. She was on the phone screaming as ORegan threatened her with the blade, telling her she deserved the attack and adding: Youre dying youre dying mate. He then stabbed her twice in the heart and lungs while she was still on the phone to the 999 operator. Guilty: Kevin O'Regan, 37, has been jailed for life for murdering Donna Williamson. / Met Police When police arrived at the flat, in Somertrees Avenue, Grove Park, they found Ms Williamsons dead body in the communal hallway. ORegan told police he had killed her with a kitchen knife, which was found in the sink. He had accused Ms Williamson of seeing other men and neighbours said they could hear noises coming from the flat. The Old Bailey, where ORegan faced trial, heard the pair had a turbulent relationship. Detective Inspector John McQuade said: "In court O'Regan claimed that Donna had reached for a knife and she had been stabbed accidentally as they struggled. The jury chose to believe the prosecution's account that, fuelled by alcohol and jealousy, O'Regan attacked Donna that night. "I am pleased at O'Regan's conviction and sentence for the sake of Donna's grieving family." ORegan, of Birdbrook Road, will serve a minimum of 20 years after his sentencing at the Old Bailey for the attack A retired English teacher exposed as one of Britains worst paedophiles who abused young boys in the UK and abroad across four decades has been jailed for life. Mark Frost, 70, was a signed-up member of the notorious Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) as he preyed on youngsters he taught and rose to a senior rank in the Scouts. After being convicted twice of sex offences, Frost also known as Andrew Tracey fled the UK but continued his campaign of abuse, luring young boys to his home in Thailand with the offer of sweets and video games. Frost was allowed to adopt a son in the UK in 1988 despite Croydon Council knowing of his links to PIE, after he claimed he had only signed up while researching for a degree in young people and crime. When his crimes finally caught up with him in 2013, Frost managed to give Thai authorities the slip and stayed free for another three years before he was finally captured in Alicante, Spain. At the Old Bailey, the prolific paedophile admitted a catalogue of 45 sex crimes against young boys stretching from the late 80s to his arrest in 2013. Judge Mark Lucraft QC today sentenced Frost to 13 life sentences with a minimum of 16 years behind bars, meaning Frost will be 86 before he will be considered for release. "Your conduct towards each and every one of these victims was horrific", said the judge. "Clearly you have an ongoing obsession with sexually abusing young boys." He told Frost: "This is the most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse by you and in some cases you with others. "At least 11 boys, aged between 11 and 15, have been the victims of your offending. "It's clear you groomed young boys and then abused them to give yourself and others sexual gratification." Frost shook his head occasionally as Judge Lucraft recounted the abuse of each victim. He took a sip of water before being led away to the cells. The National Crime Agency and children's charity NSPCC have set up a dedicated hotline - 0800 3280904 - for Frost's victims to get in touch, fearing they have only scratched the surface of his decades of abuse. He worked as an English teacher at schools in Worcestershire, Hertfordshire and Leyton, east London before his career ending in disgrace with two convictions for child sex offences. He was fined 200 for having a stash of pictures of naked boys in 1992, and a year later Frost was jailed for 12 months for allowing his home to be used by his pupils for boozy sex parties. Despite being suspended from two schools because of his conviction and under investigation at a third, it was not until 1996 that he was barred from teaching for good. Frost was jailed for a year in 1998 for an indecent assault on a teenage boy and was put on the Sex Offenders register for ten years. He moved to Guernsey and, once the ten year period of monitoring by authorities had lapsed, he quit the UK for Thailand. Frost has now admitted that he repeatedly raped a 12-year-old pupil in a stockroom at a Worcestershire school in the late 1980s, and invited him back to his home for more abuse. Another boy was assaulted on a camping trip to Wales, and was given cigarettes and money if he did not talk to police. Frost came under suspicion in Guernsey in 2003 when his computer was seized as part of a large police investigation into online child abuse images being shared. Police say he managed to stay under the radar for many years, skipping between countries including Spain, France, and Sweden, to avoid falling foul of authorities looking at his suspicious activities. In Thailand, Frost had changed his name, and lured young boys aged ten to 14 to his bungalow so they could swim or play computer games. He forced them into performing sex acts on camera, to be watched by another paedophile in Holland, raped the boys as they slept, and offering them cash for their silence. Frost was arrested by Thai police but freed on bail and allowed to flee the country. Blundering Thai authorities then did not issue an arrest warrant so UK police were powerless when Frost then returned to Britain. CPS lawyer Ruona Iguyovwe said: "There is harrowing evidence that Frost systematically abused vulnerable young boys, exploited them and exploited their situation. "This case ranks as one of the most serious I've dealt with as a prosecutor." The NCA said Frosts adopted son has been estranged from him for many years and has not alleged any abuse by his father. Frost, of Callie Canaria, Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain, pleaded guilty to . Frost admitted a raft of charges including multiple rapes, sex assaults, inciting children to engage in sexual activity and making indecent pictures. A man was stabbed in front of terrified Tube passengers as a fight broke out on a station platform. Police placed Queensbury Station in north-west London "on lockdown" after the attack at about 1pm on Wednesday. A man, whose age is currently unknown, was rushed to hospital with stab wounds. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said. Police investigation: A man has been stabbed on a Jubilee Line platform / Dipz Patel/Facebook Shocked bystanders said police swarmed to the scene after the attack. Dipz Patel wrote on Facebook: Queensbury on lockdown. Armed police and helicopters are out. Someone has been stabbed. Station stabbing: A fight broke out on a Jubilee line platform / Dipz Patel/Facebook Raks Kehtani told the Standard that he had walked past the station to find it closed and surrounded by around six police cars. Others described crowds standing around outside the station after it was closed. Dramatic images showed numerous police officers surrounding the station which has been closed while detectives investigate. A BTP spokesman said: There have been no arrests and we are appealing for anyone with any information to get in touch by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 261 of 08/02. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The station is currently closed whilst officers make enquiries, please check with Transport for London for travel updates. T he Met police spent more than 5million on tip-offs from informants over the last five years, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Police forces across the UK paid out a combined total of over 20million from 2011-16, statistics published by the BBC showed. The Met, the UKs largest police force, spent the most on informants at 5.3million, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland second on 2million and Kent Police third on 1million. Informants can be paid small sums for simple information or thousands for helping police officers break up organised crime. They can be used to recover valuable stolen items or solve serious crimes including murder, sexual offences and terror offences. Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister, the national police chiefs council lead on informers, told the BBC: The intelligence provided helps to prevent and solve the most serious of crimes and is vital in bringing offenders to justice through the courts. This is a well-established and highly regulated, worthwhile and cost-effective tactic, with the money paid to informants being very closely scrutinised. Only 39 of the UK's 41 forces provided figures, while Scottish police only released partial data covering 2013-16. The Standard has approached the Met for comment. T eachers are wearing body cameras in a bid to crackdown on unruly pupils in the classroom. A new trial will see all classroom teachers in two state secondary schools trial the body-worn devices for a three-month pilot. University researcher Tom Ellis said: Most schools now have some level of problems with low-level background disorder in classrooms and the teachers have become quite fed up with not being able to teach. Mr Ellis, a criminal justice lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, said the cameras will not constantly record but only when they are switched on during an incident. Body-worn cameras were rolled out to London's police force. / Metropolitan Police Londons Met Police rolled out body cameras for thousands of frontline officers last October and other forces may follow suit. But Daniel Nesbitt, from group Big Brother Watch, criticised the scheme and said: "This sounds like an over the top response to an age old problem. "These schools have to be very careful about how they use this intrusive technology as it risks turning teachers into snoopers. "Parents and pupils must be kept fully informed about the trial and be given every opportunity to raise any concerns they may have." The two schools have not been named in case it interfered with the scheme. A Department of Education spokeswoman said the trial "is a matter for the schools. A childrens ward at a London hospital was evacuated after a fire broke out on Wednesday morning. Patients were escorted out of the ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich after staff were alerted to a small fire at around 7.30am. No patients were hurt in the fire but a contractor was injured. The extent of his injuries is not yet known. The blaze started in an office where work was being carried out, close to the childrens inpatient ward safari. The alarm was raised after smoke seeped out of the office and into the nearby ward. The ward has been forced to closed for several days and inpatients will be moved University Hospital Lewisham. Ambulances containing children needing A&E care will also be diverted to the Lewisham hospital. Claire Champion, deputy chief executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, said: We are very sad that the contractor who was working in the office was injured as a result of the incident and our thoughts are with him and his family. I would like to say a big thank you to the parents and children for their help and understanding this morning in evacuating the ward as quickly as they did. I am very proud of how our staff managed the incident ensuring that all children were safely evacuated, and continued to receive the care they needed during this time. We hope that Safari ward will be re-opened shortly. U sing e-cigarettes makes teenagers more likely to take up smoking cigarettes, a study has suggested. A team of researchers from the US examined whether vaping was a predictor of future cigarette smoking among 17 and 18-year-olds. The study examined American pupils who had never smoked a cigarette by their final year of secondary school and interviewed them again a year later. It found that those who had vaped in the previous 30 days were more than four times more likely to have smoked a cigarette by the time of the follow-up interview. The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, also found those who had vaped in the past month less likely to consider cigarettes as posing a "great risk" of harm. Vaping: The teens were more likely to have smokes a cigarette if they had been vaping (Anthony Devlin/PA ) / Anthony Devlin/PA Scientists said this finding was "consistent with a desensitisation process". "These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting vaping as a one-way bridge to cigarette smoking among youth," authors said. "Vaping as a risk factor for future smoking is a strong, scientifically-based rationale for restricting youth access to e-cigarettes." But Professor Peter Hajek, director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London, dismissed the findings as trivial. He said: "This paper just shows that teenagers who try cigarettes are more likely to also try e-cigarettes (and the other way round) compared to teenagers who do not do such things. This is trivial." Linda Bauld, professor of health policy at the University of Stirling, added: "We know e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking and we also know that teenagers are experimenting with these products. "While we don't want to encourage that, the key public health priority is to prevent young people from starting to smoke, a habit that eventually kills one in two regular smokers." The study comes after health experts gave vaping an emphatic thumbs after the first long-term study of its effects in ex-smokers. After six months, people who switched from real to e-cigarettes had far fewer toxins and cancer-causing substances in their bodies than continual smokers, scientists found. A billionaire has sparked fresh fury with plans for a giant basement in Knightsbridge which residents say will create absolute hell. High-profile neighbours of the property have protested, including award-winning novelist Edna OBrien, who fears construction noise would make it impossible for her to write. The Duchess of St Albans Gillian Beauclerk, Lady Palumbo and fashion designer Bruce Oldfield have also complained. Residents fear the plans, submitted by Canadian former TV mogul David Graham, 79, will lead to more pollution, noise and traffic, and the length of the work could cause the ruin of shops and restaurants. The plans involve creating a single-storey basement with a pool, gym, plant rooms, an office, laundry and store rooms beneath the seven-bedroom mansion. Mr Graham, who was the first husband of Barbara Amiel, the wife of disgraced former newspaper tycoon Lord Black, sparked anger in 2012 after submitting plans for a three-storey basement with a ballroom, wine store, playroom, 45ft pool, hot tub, sauna, gym and massage room. It was withdrawn following local opposition. Plans: The property in Knightsbridge / Google StreetView Residents and businesses say they endured years of disturbances after Mr Graham was given permission to convert the property from a former magistrates court to a four-storey home. The new proposed expansion is smaller at 5,945sq ft than the 18,000sq ft plan in 2012. It means digging down by up to 25ft and expanding by up to nearly 50 per cent. Ms OBrien, whose home for 30 years backs on to the property, said: This is an ongoing wound. Why would a man persist in making the lives of so many absolute hell? I would like to write in my house without hearing cranes and lorries. It would be impossible. The council must hearken to the concerns of those who live here and who have businesses here, all of which will be ruined. Local businesses include the shop of interior designer Nina Campbell, who also objected, needlework and tapestry business Tapisserie, owned by Lady Palumbo, and restaurants Scalini and Totos, which have raised concerns. The application is due to be decided on by March, with the public consultation ending this Friday. Lady Palumbo said: Its a huge house, they dont need more. We suffered in the last development. The Duchess of St Albans said: Im not prepared to live permanently on a building site. Stephanie Hoppen, the mother of Dragons Den star Kelly Hoppen, said: With the extra traffic, a cloak of pollution will hit. Its horrendous. Nina Campbell submitted a written complaint, saying: The small residential streets here cant deal with this volume of traffic disruption. Documents submitted to Kensington and Chelsea council say Mr Graham consulted residents and businesses by being transparent and keeping them updated, even holding an exhibition for them. A spokesman for Mr Graham said: We proposed a traffic route that does not use local residential streets. The proposed construction is designed to minimise noise or vibrations. The levels will be managed. The house does not have an existing basement and this has been confirmed. There is no evidence that it will have a detrimental impact on local businesses. A motorcyclist was left seriously injured after being trapped under the wheels of a van in the City. The biker was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, in east London, following the smash in Bishopsgate just before 8am on Wednesday. City of London Police said the patient, whose age and gender are not yet known, was seriously injured. Bystanders described chaotic scenes as emergency services taped off the road at the junction with Primrose Street. Serious crash: Emergency services descended on the City / London Live Shocked onlookers said on social media the motorcyclist had been trapped under the front wheel of the van. Another added: Just seen a motorcyclist get hit by a van in Bishopsgate I really hope he survives. Jennifer Siegrist wrote on Twitter: Carnage at Bishopsgate this morning. "Motorbike hit by white van and driver under front wheel. A spokesman for City of London Police said the motorcyclist had sustained serious injuries in the crash but added that they were not believed to be life-threatening. The driver of the van stopped at the scene and no arrests have been made. P assengers told of their sheer terror as bleeding commuters were trampled on amid pandemonium after smoke filled a train carriage. There were chaotic scenes at Dalston Kingsland station as travellers on the packed London Overground service smelled smoke from the drills faulty battery pack and feared an explosion. Pictures showed many travellers fleeing the westbound train from Stratford to Richmond. Some jumped down onto the tracks while others scrambled up the sidings to escape the crush. 'Panic': the aftermath of the incident in Dalston / PA The incident began shortly after 7am, bringing the line to a standstill in both directions and forcing the evacuation of the station. The workman was on board the train with his tools. Hackney council issued an alert of several walking wounded and appealed for people to avoid the area. Seven passengers were treated by London Ambulance medics, with four requiring hospital treatment. The injuries are understood to have been caused during the evacuation rather than from the smoking battery pack. Ogechikanma Oguazu, 31, an NHS worker who was travelling from Manor Park, said: I closed my eyes listening to my music, then I heard someone shouting get down. Emergency services at the scene of the incident in Dalston / Rita Alvarez At first I thought it was a gun. Everyone started coming through to my carriage. Everyone was panicking, we didnt know what we were running from. As I was getting off the train I fell between the train and the platform. I saw the fire as I was getting off the train. The scene of the incident in Dalston / PA It was only after I had got out of the station that I realised my fingers and knees were bleeding. People were crying. It was very shocking, it was one of those moments where youre like oh my god. Joan Sanyaolu, 52, a catering manager from Romford, said: I was on the train just checking my texts on my phone and I heard screaming and shouting and everyone started pushing and rushing off the train. The drama unfolded at Dalston Kingsland station / Jonathan Brady/PA There was screaming and shouting, people were saying it is a bomb, it is a fire. I could smell burning. There were so many people. We didnt know where we were going, we didnt know what was happening. I just tried to get out on the platform. One woman fell over and people were trampling on her, people tried to drag her out. There was a girl crying. Ive never seen anything like it before. I am experiencing pains in my chest. Dalston Kingsland was on lockdown during the incident / Rita Alvarez We didnt what was happening. Another passenger, Aaron Webb, praised the rapid response from emergency services and tweeted: Sheer terror & panic on board. I scrambled up the bank. People were getting crushed. It was a terrifying experience. Student Mohammad Iqbal, 22, from Stoke Newington, said: Everyone was freaked out. We didnt know if it was something bigger and more serious and just felt the need to get out. It was so busy at the station and people were just turned back. I was preparing for the worst. Another passenger, Michael Richmond, added: People started smelling smoke on a train and it evacuated in about three seconds of pandemonium. Chris Ogden said passengers stampeded off the train screaming. Adam Gnych, a photographer & video journalist, posted pictures of the scene, including a passenger apparently with a head wound. He tweeted: Fire on the Overground train at Dalston Kingland this morning resulted in a stampede of people off the train. Many people fell and were trampled by the crowd. Fire crews from Stoke Newington were called at 7.11am and had it under control by 7.44am. The brigade described it as a small incident and said dry powder extinguisher was used on the faulty battery pack. It said in a statement: A workmans drill had overheated and started smoking. Firefighters extinguished the battery and placed it in a bucket of sand. A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said four ambulance crews, a single responder in a car, an incident response officer and the Hazardous Area Response Team were dispatched at 7.36am. Trains were disrupted during the incident at Dalston (Jonathan Brady/PA ) / Jonathan Brady/PA We treated four patients for minor injuries, including head, leg and arm injuries, and took them to a hospital in east London, she said. We also checked over three patients at the scene but they did not need hospital treatment. British Transport Police said: Several passengers left the train as a result of the smoke. This incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time. The station reopened at about 8.20am. Duncan Cross, deputy director of London Overground, said: At around 7.14am today there was an incident involving a faulty drill that was being carried to work by a customer at Dalston Kingsland. The train was evacuated and the emergency services attended. We would like to apologise to customers who were on board and to our customers whose journeys have been disrupted. S everal people were injured after a fire broke out on board a rush hour train in east London. Witnesses described scenes of "sheer terror and panic" and said people were forced to "jump on the tracks" after smoke started filling an Overground train at Dalston Kingsland station. The London Fire Brigade said the blaze was caused by the battery of a drill, which was being carried by a passenger, overheating. Seven people were hurt in the fire on a train as it waited at a platform, the London Ambulance Service confirmed. Pictures emerged on social media of crowds of people on the platform and outside the station after it was evacuated. The scene of the incident in Dalston / PA Police and paramedics were also called to the scene shortly after 7am on Wednesday. 'Panic': the aftermath of the incident in Dalston / PA Hackney Council tweeted: "Train incident at Dalston Kingsland overground station. Several walking wounded. Police & LAS on scene. Plz avoid station & area." Emergency services at the scene of the incident in Dalston / Rita Alvarez Witness Aaron Webb said: "Highest praise to @metpoliceuk & @LondonFire this morning for rapid response to incident at Dalston Kingsland. Sheer terror & panic onboard". Jade Dymock added: "I was on the train and everyone jumped onto the tracks it was horrific." Chris Ogden tweeted that passengers were "stampeded off the train screaming", while Michael Richmond said: "People started smelling smoke on a train and it evacuated in about 3 seconds of pandemonium." Adam Gynch said: "Fire on the overground train at Dalston Kingland this morning resulted in a stampede of people off the train." A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "We were called at 7.10am to Dalston Kingsland to reports of smoke on a train. "Fire service also attended and established that a workman's drill had overheated and was smoking. "The incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time." A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade added that the fire broke out on platform one. Dalston Kingsland was on lockdown during the incident / Rita Alvarez An LAS spokeswoman said: "We treated four patients for minor injuries, including head, leg and arm injuries, and took them to a hospital in east London. "We also checked over three patients at the scene but they did not need hospital treatment." She added four ambulances were sent to the scene. A macho culture at Scotland Yard has been blamed for a rise in the number of sick days lost to depression and stress. New figures show a 15.3 per cent rise in time off work because of mental health problems, with 127,519 missed work days since 2014. Lord Paddick, a former deputy assistant Met commissioner, said some in the force viewed mental health as a weakness and were afraid to come forward. The former London mayoral candidate said: There is a stigma that is deeply embedded in the macho can-do culture of the police service, where work-related distress is wrongly equated with not being able to cope and is seen as a weakness. It is high time we broke that stigma by acknowledging that the pressures many police officers face are beyond what anyone can reasonably be expected to cope with without appropriate care and support. He called on the Government to do more to help officers who faced relentless trauma at work and for mental ill-health to be treated as seriously as physical injury. Many officers, both serving and retired, who deal with mental ill-health want to be diagnosed and treated more quickly, said the Liberal Democrat peer, who served with the Met for 30 years. As well as parity between the way mental and physical health are dealt with in the NHS, the unique pressures police officers face must be recognised. The emotional scars can be just as devastating as physical disability. Figures received by the Lib-Dems show that mental ill-health cases in the Met are split 65 to 35 between officer and civilian roles. Over the financial year 2014/15, the force lost 59,204 working days through mental health absences among 44,000 members of staff. In 2015/16, this rose to 68,315 days, a rise of 15 per cent. Data collected so far for the financial year 2016/17 indicate a further rise in days lost to mental health problems. It was given as a reason for time off work for 15 per cent of all absences in 2014/15 and 19 per cent in 2015/16. A Met spokeswoman said the reasons for psychological ill-health varied, but said she appreciated that many staff worked at an elevated level of psychological risk. She said counselling and telephone support were available and added: The MPS remains committed to managing ill health in the workplace, whether it is of a physical or psychological origin. A Home Office spokesman said: We take the issue of police welfare very seriously. A nurse who burned himself to death outside Kensington Palace after being sacked by his NHS employers was kept waiting 93 days for a disciplinary hearing, an inquest has heard. Amin Abdullah, 41, set himself on fire just yards from the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on February 9 last year after being sacked from Charing Cross hospital in Hammersmith, west London. The inquest into his death heard that he had written a letter for another colleague caught up in a complaint made by a patient to "show how she could respond" - resulting in him becoming embroiled in the issue. His partner, Terry Skitmore, giving evidence on Monday, said Mr Abdullah slipped into a depressive state during a disciplinary investigation which began in September 2015 and after he subsequently lost his job at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Lesley Powls, head of nursing at the trust, said in her evidence at Westminster Coroner's Court on Wednesday that they have "apologised publicly and privately about the delays in his disciplinary case". The inquest heard that from September 15 until his disciplinary hearing meeting on December 16, Mr Abdullah was kept waiting and was "unaware of the outcome" - a period of 93 days. Ms Powls said the delays were due to a number of reasons. These included the workload of the investigating senior nurse, as well as this staff member also being involved in the roll-out of a new electronic system, on top of a shortage of staff. Ms Powls said these were "not excuses" and revealed the average length of time for the disciplinary process has fallen from 72 days as of March last year, to 64 days since. Amin Abdullah photographed on a beach seven months before his death When questioned by Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe on whether the delays were of some significance in the mental health and state of Mr Abdullah, Ms Powls said it was "difficult" for her to determine because she is not a psychiatrist. But she added: "A lengthy and protracted period where someone is unsure about the outcome ... would be distressing." The written case against Mr Abdullah was completed by October 22. The investigation into his colleague was then carried out and concluded on November 17. Both their disciplinary hearings were held on the same day. The inquest heard that Mr Abdullah had addressed his mental health with his GP, who had signed him off sick - but that he had chosen to remain at work. Caroline Cross, representing Mr Skitmore, also highlighted how different emails were sent to "at least three" staff at the trust, indicating Mr Abdullah's mental health issues. She said one of these included a Royal College of Nursing representative who contacted the trust over the "unreasonable delay" in Mr Abdullah's case. The email sent on December 10 highlighted his "anxiety and stress" and stated that this was affecting his mental and physical health. On December 21 2015 Mr Abdullah was handed an instant dismissal on the grounds that the letter he had written to support his colleague was "untrue". The inquest has previously heard that on January 27 last year Mr Abdullah was voluntarily admitted to St Charles Mental Health Unit after he had tried to commit suicide. Malaysian-born Mr Abdullah had lodged an appeal against his dismissal in January 2016 and a hearing date had been set for February 11. Just days earlier, he was allowed out of the unit to collect a suit for the meeting but never returned as agreed. He was later discovered alight and died on February 9. The inquest continues, with the coroner expected to deliver the verdict later on Wednesday afternoon. B oris Johnson today moved to increase the pay of Foreign Office cleaners after the Evening Standard revealed his department is one of the lowest payers in Whitehall. Figures given to Parliament reveal the Foreign Office pays 7.20 an hour to the cleaners. Other departments pay far more, with International Development Secretary Priti Patel topping the league table by paying 9.40 an hour. After being contacted by the Evening Standard to comment, a source close to Mr Johnson said: Boris is shocked by these figures and has asked why we are not paying the London Living Wage at the Foreign Office. He has asked for an immediate review by officials. The Foreign Secretary, who backed the London Living Wage as Mayor, came under fire after the revelation. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: Boris spent years telling businesses to sign up to the London Living Wage. The Government should lead by example. Foreign Office minister Alok Sharma told the Commons that private company Interserve provided cleaning services for the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices UK estate. They are responsible for setting rates of pay for their staff and told the FCO that they pay 7.20 per hour for [this]. This will rise to 7.50 per hour on 1 April 2017, he said. This is in line with the National Minimum Wage, but short of the London Living Wage of 9.45. Some departments, including the Treasury, did not reveal what they pay. A Foreign Office spokesman said that the FCO cleaner contract was signed before [Mr Johnson] took office. An ally of Mr Johnson said the contractors were engaged by former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband. L abour frontbencher Diane Abbott backed the Governments Brexit Bill giving Theresa May the power to formally trigger the UKs departure from the EU. Shadow Home Secretary and Corbyn ally Ms Abbott, who had last week blamed a migraine for a failure to attend a key vote on the Bill, backed the triggering of Article 50 on Wednesday night. But speaking shortly after casting her vote, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said that she believed Brexit would be quite disastrous Ms Abbott told Sky News: The Shadow Cabinet agreed this week that we would vote for the third reading of Article 50, and I did that. MPs hear the result of the vote in the House of Commons / AFP/Getty Images "I think that a Tory Brexit is going to be quite disastrous. I dont believe weve given a blank cheque no, were going to be holding them to account on the floor of the House." The House voted in favour of the bill by 494 to 122 - a majority of 372. Loading.... It will now have to pass through the House of Lords before Mrs May can invoke Article 50, which she has promised to do by April. The key vote caused more problems for Labour than the Prime Minister as Jeremy Corbyn faced another revolt in his own ranks. Prime Minister Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis shout 'aye' / AFP/Getty Images Senior frontbencher Clive Lewis sensationally resigned as shadow business secretary ahead of the vote. The Norwich South MP said he handed his resignation with a heavy heart as he planned to vote against the Article 50 bill. In a renewed wave of defiance against Mr Corbyn 52 Labour MPs voted against the bill at final reading, five more than voted against it as second reading last week. A total of 11 Labour junior shadow ministers and three whips, who are meant to enforce party discipline, voted against triggering Article 50. The frontbenchers were Rosena Allin-Khan, Kevin Brennan, Lyn Brown, Ruth Cadbury, Rupa Huq, Chi Onwurah, Stephen Pound, Andy Slaughter, Catherine West, Alan Whitehead and Daniel Zeichner. The whips were Thangam Debbonaire, Vicky Foxcroft and Jeff Smith. M Ps have voted overwhelmingly to give Theresa May the power to trigger the start of Britains divorce talks from the European Union. The House of Commons approved the Brexit bill at third reading, which allows the Prime Minister to begin withdrawal talks under Article 50 of the EU treaties. After two days of debate, The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill entered its final stages in the Commons on Wednesday. The House voted in favour of the bill by 494 to 122 - a majority of 372. Key vote: MPs backed the Brexit bill at third reading by 494 votes to 122 / PA MPs voted on amendments before the final vote was held shortly after 8pm. It will now have to pass through the House of Lords before Mrs May can invoke Article 50, which she has promised to do by April. The key vote caused more problems for Labour than the Prime Minister as Jeremy Corbyn faced another revolt in his own ranks. A senior Labour source had earlier said that Mr Corbyn was "confident" of the support of his shadow cabinet in voting for the bill. But senior frontbencher Clive Lewis sensationally resigned as shadow business secretary ahead of the vote. Prime Minister Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis shout 'aye' as they hear the result / AFP/Getty Images The Norwich South MP said he handed his resignation with a heavy heart as planned to vote against the Article 50 bill and defy leader Mr Corbyn. He said: "I cannot vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home." Mr Corbyn faced a renewed wave of defiance as 52 Labour MPs voted against the bill at final reading, five more than voted against it as second reading last week. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who last week blamed a migraine for a failure to attend a key vote on the Bill, backed the triggering of Article 50. As Mr Lewis announced his resignation, Mr Corbyn appeared to leave the door open for his return to the shadow cabinet, remarking: "I wish Clive well and look forward to working with him in the future." Asked if the comment meant Mr Lewis could return to the shadow cabinet at some point, a Labour source said they "wouldn't rule anything out". After the vote, Mr Corbyn tweeted: "Real fight starts now. Over next two years Labour will use every opportunity to ensure Brexit protects jobs, living standards & the economy." A total of 11 Labour junior shadow ministers and three whips, who are meant to enforce party discipline, voted against triggering Article 50. The frontbenchers were Rosena Allin-Khan, Kevin Brennan, Lyn Brown, Ruth Cadbury, Rupa Huq, Chi Onwurah, Stephen Pound, Andy Slaughter, Catherine West, Alan Whitehead and Daniel Zeichner. The whips were Thangam Debbonaire, Vicky Foxcroft and Jeff Smith. Some 47 pro-Remain Labour MPs defied the leadership to oppose the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at second reading and Mr Corbyn was expected to face a renewed wave of defiance. Former Chancellor Ken Clarke was the only Conservative to vote against the bill on Wednesday. Loading.... Last week, the Article 50 people passed its second reading by 498 votes to 114. Brexit secretary David Davis said the result was a big majority for getting on with negotiating Britains exit from the EU and that he respected the strong views on all sides. In a statement released after the vote, he said: Weve seen a historic vote tonight - a big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states. It has been a serious debate, a healthy debate, with contributions from MPs representing all parts of the UK, and I respect the strong views on all sides. The decision on EU membership has been made by the people we serve. It is now time for everyone, whichever way they voted in the Referendum, to unite to make a success of the important task at hand for our country. As Lindsay Hoyle, the deputy speaker, called the third reading in the Commons vote former SNP leader and former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond raised a point of order. Deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle announces the results of the main vote on the bill / AFP/Getty Images He said that the last time the Commons passed a bill with no report stage, as no amendments were passed in committee, and no debate at third reading was when the Defence of Realm Act was passed in 1914. The Commons did not stay age a third reading debate because MPs ran out of time. A Government source warned peers not to delay the Bill's progress through the Lords. "The Lords will face an overwhelming public call to be abolished if they now try and frustrate this Bill - they must get on and deliver the will of the British people," the source said. J eremy Corbyn faces a shadow cabinet walkout tonight from potential leadership rival Clive Lewis, as the crunch Brexit vote dealt another blow to Labour unity. Shadow business secretary Mr Lewis admitted he might quit to rebel against Mr Corbyns three-line whip. Ive got to make a decision on how I vote, he told the BBC. Im going to make my mind up. Asked how he will vote he said: I dont know a lot on my plate, a lot on everybodys plate. In a day of Labour tensions Mr Corbyns office was forced to deny rumours he is thinking about stepping down and anointing a successor from the Left. A source said there was no truth at all to the claims. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was expected to fall into line after being mocked by colleagues for missing last weeks vote with a migraine. A source said: We think Diane has bought a packet of ibuprofen. A rebellion by London Labour MPs who are opposed to Brexit looked likely to grow. Two more, Seema Malhotra and Jim Fitzpatrick, were considering defying the whips. MP shouts suicide as the Brexit bill is passed in parliament Theresa May was confident that the Government would cruise to victory in the third reading of the Bill, empowering her to trigger Article 50 and begin Brexit. Mr Lewis was called to a private one-to-one meeting in Mr Corbyns Commons office last night, the Standard learned, after he gave a clear signal in an earlier shadow cabinet meeting that he was prepared to rebel. But it was clear today that Mr Lewis had not made up his mind. A terse Mr Corbyn refused to give interviews to reporters outside his north London home this morning. In comments that will make it hard for Mr Lewis to avoid rebelling and resigning, the MP said: Its my intention to do whats right by my constituents and my conscience. Its a really tough call. A fellow shadow cabinet member told the Standard that Mr Lewis was very unpredictable and seemed to be struggling with the competing pressures. Among those was a clear sense that he would not receive Mr Corbyns support in any future leadership contest if he rebelled tonight. Mr Lewis is believed to be assessing his own chances as a future leader from the Left. His departure would be the fourth shadow cabinet resignation in a week, but by far the most senior. A Labour MP said: Clives position may become untenable today. From what I understand he is quietly gathering opinion on whether he should launch a bid when the opportunity arises. Another added: He is on manoeuvres and I think he will vote against [at the] third reading and will resign because he recognises if he wants to run for leader he has to have been in a position thats against Article 50. "Its a bit like the Iraq war, you have to be on the right side of the debate. Ms Abbott walked away without speaking when the Standard asked her how she would vote today. Sources said she sat in complete silence at yesterdays shadow cabinet meeting which discussed the vote. Loading.... Mr Corbyns office was forced to deny that he had set a departure date for a leadership handover, perhaps next year. But one Labour source said it was believed that Mr Corbyns wife, Laura Alvarez, was pushing him to retire, adding: Jeremys wife is definitely concerned about him, upset, and shes had enough. More than half of all London Labour MPs are expected to rebel against Mr Corbyn tonight when they are asked to vote for the final time to trigger Britains departure from the EU. N o greater risk faces almost all workers in London and the UK than the Governments headlong rush for Brexit. Last year Theresa May supported the EU. Now she speeds to trigger Article 50 and limit Parliamentary debate, curtailing scrutiny of the largest assault on our capital and countrys current and future economic opportunities. Parliament should not be dancing to Mays tune. MPs should be highlighting every job lost as a result of the EU referendum already and all those to come. They include at least 7,000 finance sector workers moving to Paris or Frankfurt and the cleaners and security guards who lose out alongside them. They include lost investment now heading to Amsterdam from London firms in my constituency and beyond. MPs should be emphasising the higher costs food importers already pass to restaurant customers in London as a result of the drop in the pound and that this will get worse. That manufacturers face higher export costs. That British students could pay more if universities lose EU research funding and international student numbers. MPs know the struggling NHS needs its current 54,000 non-UK EU employees if waiting times are to stop rising in London and beyond. But Parliament is committing a fraud against Londoners: lining up behind the Prime Minister to back a deal that MPs know will make the UK worse off socially and economically. May has stated she cannot secure a deal with the EU that is as good as what exists today; it must be worse. After years of pending negotiations, we could even pay into the EU with no say over rules. MPs should be queuing to condemn Mays inchoate plans. Ive spoken to MPs from all parties who recognise the inherent harm the Government will cause. Only the most buccaneer of Brexiteers doubts damage will come. Many London MPs also acknowledge that, in time, we will be campaigning together again to re-join the EU albeit on worse terms than now. Labour MPs from across London overwhelmingly oppose the Governments plans that will fail London and the UK. Too much is at stake. I made a promise in 2015: I cannot vote for anything in Parliament that will damage my community in Bermondsey and OId Southwark. Voting with the Government today would be worse; it risks undermining the entire economy. Labour must oppose or let down Londoners. Migraines are no excuse; this is a headache for our capital and whole country. B rexit supporters called on Nigel Farage to be knighted after MPs voted overwhelmingly to give the Government power to trigger Britains split from the European Union. Mr Farage was quickly inundated with congratulatory tweets after he posted a message shortly after the Commons backed the historic European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The former Ukip leader, who strongly campaigned for Britain to leave the EU, tweeted: I never thought I'd see the day where the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted for Britain to Leave the European Union. And he was soon hit with calls to be honoured in recognition for his part in the vote with one enthusiastic supporter hailing him Lord Farage of Brexit. Purple Patriot tweeted: All down to you Sir Nigel! Liam Edwards wrote: History made Nigel, all thanks to you! Another said: Miracles do happen when people are tired of incompetence (EU). Well done, sir! One posted: @Nigel_Farage the face on #ginamiller must be an absolute picture. Still, she got her 15 minutes of fame. Nigel, you should be KNIGHTED. And Tim Newling wrote: @Nigel_Farage Take a bow Sir Nigel, it's all down to you. MPs voted in favour of the bill at its third reading on Wednesday by 494 to 122 - a majority of 372. S adiq Khan has launched a blistering attack on the Government after it emerged just 350 lone child refugees will be welcomed into Britain under the so-called Dubs Amendment. The Mayor said ministers should collectively hang their heads in shame to end the agreement which campaigners hoped would see 3,000 unaccompanied children enter the UK. In a low-key announcement, immigration minister Robert Goodwill said the scheme is set to close after another 150 refugees have been brought to Britain after it was revealed 200 have arrived so far through the route. Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs spearheaded the measure last year which requires the Government to relocate unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe. But in a written statement, Mr Goodwill revealed only 350 children would be relocated through the amendment before it ends which provoked a furious backlash from politicians, bishops and charities. The agreement paved the way for child migrants to enter Britain from Europe / Mary Turner/Getty Images Mr Khan said the Government was shunning its responsibility to help the worlds most vulnerable children. He said: Ministers should collectively hang their heads in shame for their decision to end the Dubs Amendment, which was helping to transform the lives of children caught up in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. In London, we have a proud history of welcoming and supporting refugees seeking sanctuary and helping them to rebuild their lives. Thats why as an MP I voted in favour of the Dubs Amendment, and its why as Mayor I am proud to have worked with London councils who have provided support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children, including those that have arrived via the Dubs route. As a country, we cannot shun our responsibility to do our part in helping some of the most vulnerable children in the world. This is bigger than party politics and I strongly urge the Government to reverse its decision and to work with London councils to support our ongoing efforts to help vulnerable children who are in desperate need. Tom Viita, head of advocacy at Christian Aid, said: "After Trump's refugee ban in recent weeks, it is shocking to see the UK sending out another deeply worrying message to the rest of the world. "Theresa May and her government need to be pulling Trump up, rather than following him downwards." The Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Rev Jonathan Clark, added: By refusing to help those children you are in effect helping the trafficking industry." A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are not giving up on vulnerable children who are fleeing conflict and danger. "Thanks to the goodwill of the British public and local authorities, in the last year alone we have provided refuge or other forms of leave to more than 8,000 children. "Our commitment to resettle 350 unaccompanied children from Europe is just one way we are helping." S adiq Khan is to embark on a Brexit grand tour of five European capitals just days after Theresa May triggers Britains departure from the EU. The Mayor will visit Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Madrid and Warsaw this spring to make the case for London before the official Brexit negotiations start. His six-day tour includes meetings with senior politicians, city leaders and business chiefs. City Hall hope it will boost economic and cultural ties. He will go with the message that Londons links with the rest of the EU will be more important than ever before after the UK finally leaves the bloc. Mr Khan will use his tour to hammer home his mantra London is open and continues to welcome people from all over the world to work, study or visit. He will meet senior EU representatives in Brussels and deliver a major speech setting out Londons requirements from the Brexit negotiations. Talks with mayors will cover key topics the capitals have in common, including air quality, finance and the need for greater social integration. There will also be discussions on security co-operation after leaving the EU to help keep London and Europe safe from further terrorist attacks. Mr Khan will tell business leaders on the trip that despite Brexit London will remain the best city in the world for business. He said: I want to take the message directly to Europe that London will always remain open to engaging, trading and doing business with our friends across the Continent. Our connections on the Continent are more important than ever before and, regardless of Brexit, we will continue to work closely together for our mutual benefit. I vowed to be the most pro-business mayor this city has ever seen and it is vital that we demonstrate to our partners overseas that despite Brexit we remain open to business, investment, talent and ideas. "London will remain the best place in the world to do business and our collaboration with other major European cities wont cease. Mr Khan travelled to North America last September in an attempt to boost business and political links. But he was criticised after he returned from the 8,000-mile, 39,000 trip with seven aides with no binding deals signed. A spokesman for the Mayor said: As a direct consequence of the visit several of the companies on the trip are now negotiating deals with major US clients and one London business has already doubled its US revenue. More than 200 companies have enrolled on the Mayors International Business Programme since May, receiving 57.25 million worth of investment and creating 400 additional jobs for Londons economy. A five-year-old boy has been found dead near a canal in France after allegedly being stripped to his underwear as punishment for wetting the bed. The child, named locally Yanis, was found with a broken nose and skull injuries in the northern French village of Aire-sur-la-Lys. He had suffered a cardiac arrest and was wearing wet underpants, French media reported. Yanis body was discovered by fire and rescue crews around 2.30am on Monday morning after his stepfather, 30, raised the alarm. Tragic scene: A five-year-old boy has been found dead by a canal in northern France / AFP/Getty Images He was found 200 metres away from a dwelling owned by the man, close to a canal in an isolated forest, according to local media. His mother, 22, is believed to have spent the night at the cabin. The couple, who are both unemployed and have no other children, were arrested shortly after the boys body was found on suspicion of assault causing death without intention to kill. Patrick Leleu, the prosecutor for the local Saint-Omer area, told La Voix Du Nord: "There is sufficient evidence to place [the couple] in custody, in relation to their initial explanations and their arrival on the scene." An autopsy found the boy had died of "a variety of skull injuries, some compatible with falls, others incompatible." A Canadian man feared dead after he vanished from his home five years ago has been found alive wandering on a road in the Amazon. Anton Pilipa, 39, was picked up by Brazilian state police in December and admitted to hospital but has now returned to Toronto after he was last seen in Scarborough in 2012. His brother Stefan made plans to bring Anton home after he learned of his appearance and launched a fundraising page to finance flights, hospital bills and consular fees. He said he believed Anton, who he described as anti-poverty activist, was suffering from mental health problems at the time he vanished but was now doing remarkably well. He added suspicions Anton made part of his journey to Brazil by foot, hitchhiking and hiding in the back of trucks. He told CBC Toronto: "I feel amazed that he's alive and had made it that far. "I was really shocked. I didn't want to get my hopes up. His health was starting to deteriorate. We got him just in time. I found myself being really frustrated all the time [during those years], always having that aching question: 'Where is he? What happened to him?' Anton was reunited with his family after he was found walking in Manaus with no passport or ID by Brazilian-Canadian police officer Helenice Vidigal who acted after she noticed his accent. She told CBC: I knew he didn't belong to that road. Anton is a different type from us Brazilians, he stands out. I thought, if he says he's Canadian, I'm sure I can find his family." She made the connection through Twitter after an online search. A teenage couple who called themselves the Islamic Bonnie and Clyde have been charged with plotting a terror attack in Sydney. Sameh Bayda and Alo-Bridget Namoa, both 19, are alleged to have conspired to use knives to carry out a stabbing. The married couple were already in custody on other terror-related allegations when the charges were upgraded to conspiracy to prepare or plan a terrorist act during a hearing at Sydneys central local court today. Bayda, from Sydney, has been accused of collecting documents in Arabic, with instructions on how to make an improvised explosive device and how to carry out a stabbing attack. Namoa, who comes from a Catholic Tongan background and converted to Islam before marrying Bayda, was originally accused of illegally possessing a hunting knife and Islamic flag as well as instructions on how to make a detonator for a bomb. A previous court hearing was told Namoa referred to her desire to become pregnant and sent a message to Bayda which read I want to do an Islamic Bonnie and Clyde on the Kaffir (non-believer). Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow carried out a series of robberies and murders in the US in the Thirties. Bayda and Namoa have been in custody since the beginning of last year. Namoa was previously convicted for refusing to answer questions about her husbands alleged actions. Their charges were upgraded following an investigation by New South Wales counter-terrorism police. The pair did not appear at the preliminary hearing today. Magistrate Alexander Mijovich said the case should proceed because the new charges were not based on additional material. He added: It cant just keep on meandering along now that theyve sorted out the charges and the brief. The case will return to court on March 15. The charge carries a penalty of life imprisonment. S ix Red Cross workers have been killed by suspected Islamic State gunmen in Afghanistan. The aid workers were taking supplies to the north of the country when they were shot dead. Two other employees, also of the International Committee of the Red Cross, are still missing following the attack in the countrys Jowxjan province. Harming aid workers breaches the international Geneva Convention, which states humanitarian personnel should be respected, protected and given unimpeded passage. David Peppiatt, executive director of international at the British Red Cross, said: We are shocked to hear of the tragic deaths of our ICRC colleagues in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and our ICRC colleagues at this awful time. This tragic loss of life reminds us of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers worldwide. We call again for all parties in any conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure that humanitarian workers and civilians are not affected by hostilities. The humanitarian workers were carrying supplies to areas hit by avalanches when they were attacked by gunmen, the Jowzjan provincial governor Lotfullah Azizi said. Jawzjan police chief Rahmatullah Turkistani said the workers' bodies had been brought to the provincial capital and a search operation launched to find the two missing ICRC employees, Reuters news agency reported. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. In a report on its work in Afghanistan last year, the ICRC said high levels of insecurity in the country had made it difficult to provide aid. A student was swept away to her death by fast-flowing dam water moments after posing for selfies in a New Zealand river. Rachael Louise De Jong was left stranded on a rock with three friends as water rose around them on the Waikato River. The four women had reportedly been taking selfies as the warning siren went off, signalling the dam would be opened. The group attempted to jump to safety from the small rock as fast-flowing water began to rise around them. But 21-year-old student Miss De Jong was swept away in the rapids and drowned. Waikato River: The dam is opened several times each day German tourists Katrin Taylor and Kevin Kiau were forced to watch helplessly as the ferocious water rose around the women. They told news site stuff.nz that they were on a viewing platform when the siren went off and the water began to rise. Ms Taylor said the water became quite high when they noticed four people holding selfie sticks on the other side of the river. We could see the water was rising further and that they were in danger of getting washed away, she said. Ms Tayor said the women tried to jump to a bigger rock where a man was waiting whilst the water rose above their feet. "We saw the first girl made it. The guy pulled her in. The second girl jumped and made it safe as well. "The third girl, she jumped but the water was washing her away so the guy grabbed her." She said that they then saw the man and two of the girls being washed away one of whom was Miss Louise De Jong whose body was recovered by police later in a rockpool. "There was nothing we could have done. We could just stand there and watch helplessly and it was horrible, Ms Taylor added. Ms De Jong's, an Aukland University student, was described as the "most perfect sister" in a tribute posted online by her brother, Daniel. Student: Rachael was swept to her death "Yesterday I lost one of the most important people in my life, my wonderful sister," he wrote. "Not only was she an inspiration to us all, she was my best friend, and the most perfect sister I could ever have asked for. "You never spoke a bad word of anyone, and you had such an infectious smile that could cheer anyone up. I love you so much Rachael, rest easy." The Aratiatia Dam is opened by energy company Mercury Energy at multiple times each day. As well as the warning siren, there are signs around the river telling people not to swim. CEO of Mercury Energy Fraser Whineray said that safety processes would be reviewed in light of the drowning. "We are always looking for ways to improve safety to minimise the risks of it ever happening again," he said. "The challenge is to keep people out of that area at those times [when the water is released]. Our sincere thoughts go out to the family and friends of the person who has passed and to those who are recovering at the local hospital and who will be traumatised. Ms De Jong's death has been referred to the coroner. A Democratic US senator was silenced by Senate Republicans after she read out a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren read the 30-year-old correspondence from Coretta Scott King during a debate over Senator Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump's nomination for attorney general. The letter was from the date of Mr Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. King wrote in 1986 that Mr Sessions, when acting as federal prosecutor, used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Jeff Sessions has come under fire since being nominated for attorney general / Andrew Harnik/AP Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Ms Warren had broken senate rules by impugning the motives and conduct of Mr Sessions. Senators then voted 49-43 to uphold a ruling in his favour. Ms Warren posted to her 1.74 million followers on Twitter: Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs Kings voice on the Sen floor - & millions who are afraid & appalled by whats happening in our country. On Tuesday night, she read the letter on Facebook Live, and wrote: During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate. The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship. The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor - so Im right outside, reading it now. Elizabeth Warren is forbidden from speaking from the remainder of the debate over Sessions / Carolyn Kaster/AP Since his nomination Mr Sessions, senator for Alabama, had been dogged by allegations that he attempted to suppress black votes in Alabama. The Democratic National Committee said in a statement it was a "sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr's widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate". Ms Warren is now forbidden from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate. A vote on Mr Sessions is expected on Wednesday. U S visa applicants could be forced to hand over their social media passwords before being allowed in to the country. People from the seven Muslim-majority nations targeted in Donald Trumps travel ban may have to give their Facebook details to US embassies, under proposals being considered by authorities. John Kelly, the US Homeland Security chief appointed by President Trump, said the move was one of several steps which could be introduced in a bid to vet immigrants coming to the US. He said the aim would be to check out the web use of US visa applicants to see what they do on the internet. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. / Getty Images Donald Trumps controversial immigration crackdown has since been suspended by a US judge, a decision which was backed by the Court of Appeals. Retired Marine Corps general Mr Kelly told a hearing of the Homeland Security Committee: "We're looking at some enhanced or some additional screening. "We may want to get on their social media, with passwords. "It's very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries. "But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet." John Bercow 'strongly opposed' to Donald Trump address to Parliament Mr Kelly said anyone who did not comply could be barred from entering the US, Sky News reported. He added: These are the things we are thinking about. But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line." B aking the perfect Victoria sponge might seem like a piece of cake when youre watching Mary Berry, but some of us need a helping hand when it comes to baking. Whether youre a beginner who wants to master the basics or an advanced pastry maker looking for some adventurous recipes, there's a cookbook for every skill level. We select 10 of the best in time for the eighth series of the Great British Bake Off. 1. Raw Cake: 100 Beautiful, Nutritious and Indulgent Raw Sweets, Treats and Elixirs by The Hardihood Guilt-free baking is made easy with the Hardihood girls, Daisy and Leah. Well known to Londons raw baking scene, the confectionary makers present a whopping 100 recipes free from refined sugar, dairy and gluten. From pistachio donuts to toffee cacao cheesecake, each treat is packed with natural ingredients that not only taste delightful, but will also make you feel good on the inside. If youve always been intimidated by vegan cooking, then this is a good place to start. 11.89, Amazon, Buy it now 2. Lola's: A Cake Journey around the World by Julia Head With multiple stores and kiosks across the capital, Lolas is popular among Londoners for its fashionable cupcakes. The master bakers behind the delectable treats have dished up more than 80 recipes for showstopping cakes from across the globe. Featuring bakes to tickle every fancy, the recipes are categorised by continent and include European classics like the Victoria Sponge, a dreamy Middle Eastern-inspired Turkish Delight Cake and an exotic Burmese Mango Cake from Asia. 18.99, WHSmith, Buy it now 3. Healthy Baking: Nourishing Breads, Wholesome Cakes, Ancient Grains and Bubbling Ferments by Jordan Bourke London-based chef and food writer, Jordan Bourke, presents this colourful read packed with simple clean eating recipes. Its chapters cover a range of bakes and methods including how to cook with ferments and ancient grains, a guide to making whole baked vegetables and how to turn your bakes into a meal. From sourdough bread to a fruity buckwheat crumble, the recipes utilise natural ingredients and include options for gluten and dairy-free bakers. 16.59, Amazon, Pre-order now 4. Bake: 125 Show-Stopping Recipes, Made Simple by Lorraine Pascale With four bestselling cookbooks under her belt, baker and TV chef Lorraine Pascale has a knack for sweet and savoury baking. In her latest offering, she shows how to take your skills to new heights with 125 tempting recipes that the whole family can enjoy. Expect interesting ways to bring new life to teatime favourites, such as Eclairs with Espresso and Hazelnut Cream and Lemon and Pistachio Drizzle Loaf. 8, Amazon, Pre-order now 5. Maggie Austin Cake: Artistry and Technique If intricate cake designs are your thing, then Maggie Austins stunning debut is for you. The couture cake designer, who has served the likes of the Obamas and royalty across the globe, reveals simplified methods for achieving her picture-perfect bakes, including a guide to delicate floral embroidery and decorating with pearls. Gorgeous images show each technique step-by-step, while tips and useful information is strewed throughout so its a safe bet for amateur bakers. 22.19, Amazon, Buy it now 6. Tanya Bakes by Tanya Burr Tanya Burr might be known her incredible beauty skills and popular cosmetics line, but she also knows a thing or two about baking. From her nannys apple pie to the ultimate celebration cake, the makeup artists debut cookbook is packed with the perfect fixes for sweet cravings. 12.78, Wordery, Buy it now 7. Paul Hollywood The Weekend Baker Cultural cakes, anyone? The latest offering from celebrity chef and dead-pan style Bake Off judge, Paul Hollywood, features sweet and savoury recipes which range from easy to tricky discovered during his trips to 10 different cities including New York, Paris and Copenhagen. Think Polish cheesecake and cherry and cheese scones. 10, Amazon, Buy it now 8. The Cardamom Trail: Chetna Bakes with Flavours of the East by Chetna Makan Want to spice up your baking? The first cookbook from Chetna Makan, semi-finalist of Great British Bake Off 2014 and presenter of Chetna Bakes, shows you how to put an Indian twist on traditional recipes, with scrummy desserts like Strawberry Pudding flavoured with cinnamon and mango. Ideal for experienced bakers. 5.99, Amazon, Buy it now 9. Bread, Cake, Doughnut, Pudding by Justin Gellatly For those choosing their very first baking book, this one is a safe bet. In his wonderfully designed cookbook, Justin Gellatly, owner of Bread Ahead bakery, puts a tasty twist on traditional sweet and savoury snacks and also includes his famous cream-filled doughnuts. 19.99, Amazon, Buy it now 10. Twist: Creative Ideas to Reinvent Your Baking by Martha Collison If youve mastered the basics and are ready to be adventurous with your baking, then look no further than Martha Collinsons Twist. The youngest ever Bake Off contender from the shows 2014 series brings a helpful guide to transforming simple bakes into wild and wonderful treats. The Pink Grapefruit Drizzle Cake is just the ticket for impressing guests. 5.99, Amazon, Buy it now VERDICT: If youre a beginner looking for something to kick-start your baking, then you cant go wrong with the easy-to-follow recipes in Tanya Burrs Tanya Bakes. Skilled bakers looking to switch up their game can delve into the different baking cultures featured in Paul Hollywoods The Weekend Baker. S criptwriter Alan Simpson, who was behind Hancocks Half Hour and Steptoe and Son, has died at the age of 87. The acclaimed British writer was one half of duo Galton and Simpson, alongside Ray Galton, and co-wrote a number of the UKs most iconic comedies. Simpsons manager Tessa Le Bars confirmed on Wednesday that the writer had undergone a long battle with lung disease. He is best known for his work with comedian Tony Hancock on both radio and television between 1954 and 1961. Ray Galton and Alan Simpson in 1963 / Brian Wharton/Express/Getty Images The writing duo then penned the much-loved situation comedy Steptoe and Son, which ran for eight series from 1962-1974. After the show ended, Simpson went on to work on projects with Frankie Howerd before retiring from screenwriting in 1978. Both Simpson and Glaton were awarded OBEs in the 2000 honours list, while the British Comedy Society unveiled a blue plaque dedicated to them at Milford Hospital in 2013. Just last year the duo were given a BAFTA fellowship for their contribution to comedy writing. H ermione Corfield, the 23-year-old star of hit ITV drama The Halcyon, has more than 28,000 followers on Instagram. Shes acted in films opposite Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel and Ian McKellen, and yet she says she finds it easy to go out in London incognito. No ones ever recognised me, she laughs. Which is how I like it. Today, dressed in a black jumper, skirt and black-rimmed specs, she looks like a typical student. Im normally quite tomboyish, she acknowledges, adding that her round face means she can play 14 when shes not wearing make-up. The Halcyon, a drama about the inner workings of a top London hotel during the Second World War, has won rave reviews as ITVs new Downton Abbey. Red carpet: Corfrield at the Hollywood premiere of xXx: Return of Xander Cage / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Written by playwright Charlotte Jones and produced by the people behind The Crown, it looks gorgeous. Theres political intrigue as well as storylines focusing on betrayal, infidelity, interracial relationships and homosexuality. And Corfield is the heart and conscience of the drama. She plays Emma Garland, daughter of the manager of the hotel, who is caught in a love triangle with Lord Freddie Hamilton (Jamie Blackley) and American reporter Joe (Matt Ryan). In many ways Emma represents the new woman liberated by war. Its such a brilliant arc to play, says Corfield. She really moves up a ladder in her professional career. Later in the series well see her move out of the hotel and get involved in the real world. We see Emma blossom from a shy young thing to a woman in love. When I first put the red lipstick on I remember somebody said: You look nicer in colour! because Id been so plain with no make-up. "I spent three-and-a-half months in the same grey dress and Olivia [Williams, playing Lady Hamilton] would come down in these unbelievable satin dresses. Theres an irony that weve fallen for Corfield playing such a demure character because on the big screen shes usually wearing a bikini or firing a gun or both. She was an undercover agent in 2015s Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, alongside Tom Cruise, and in the new Vin Diesel film xXx: Return of Xander Cage she plays an ex-MI5 agent. These Hollywood turns have led to Corfield fast becoming a red-carpet professional. For xXxs premiere in LA she wore a catsuit by female art-fashion collective Galvan, based in Ladbroke Grove. I worked with Neil Rodgers, a British stylist in LA, who designed my shoes as well. As for the cameras: You learn to put on a persona. You have to block out the noise because everyones shouting at you: Look this way! Chin down. Smile from behind. Corfield grew up in London and Gloucestershire. Her mother is the shirtmaker Emma Willis, whose clients include Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Craig. Corfield attended boarding school at Downe House, near Newbury. She joined the National Youth Theatre at 15 and was hooked. During the holidays she worked in her mothers shop and modelled to earn the money to spend three months training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York. At 19, Corfield was snapped up by an agent in LA, then returned to study English literature at UCL (she has deferred the final year of her degree). She secured a role in Mr Holmes, opposite Sir Ian McKellen, and then the blockbusters came calling. She is heartened to work with so many women. My last three auditions were all with female film directors. Theres a different chemistry with an all-female production, she says. Eight months ago Corfield moved into a house in Brixton with two female friends. She skilfully dodges questions about any romantic relationships, but enthuses about Brockwell Park, pizza at Mama Dough and the local pubs. With two episodes left to go, shes tight-lipped about how The Halcyons love triangle will end. Its going to be a long drawn-out one, she says. Secrecy was so tight, she explains, that the cast only got scripts a week before filming. The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 1 /13 The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 Doctor Who The classic sci-fi show got a new lease of life with new companion Bill Potts BBC Line of Duty The BBC's acclaimed crime drama moved up to BBC One with more twists than ever before World Productions / BBC / Aidan Monaghan Broadchurch Chris Chibnall's mystery drama came to a close with a compelling final series ITV The Moorside Sheridan Smith puts in a stellar performance as she returns to TV in the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama Stuart Wood/ITV/BBC Apple Tree Yard Emily Watson starred in the BBC's gripping psychological thriller BBC/Kudos/Nick Briggs Fortitude, Series 2 Sky Atlantic's original Nordic noir-inspired chiller is back for more bloody mysteries Sky Atlantic Sherlock, Series 4 Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Holmes and Watson in the BBC's mega hit PA Taboo Tom Hardy's dark thriller is unlike any period drama you've seen before FX Networks No Offence, Series 2 Paul Abbott's comedy-drama continues to walk a tonal tightrope with total ease Channel 4/Ian Derry The Voice A move to ITV has given singing contest The Voice a new lease of life ITV For all the cocktails and Art Deco furnishings, she relishes the way the series mirrors world events now. There are horrible things happening in Syria. "In the same way, during the Second World War it was easy for people to go: Oh well, its not happening here, I can close my eyes. The director told the actors to take the fear of the big threats of our time, such as terrorism, and to put it into their roles. Every generation has a threat, so its tapping into that fear that drives the characters, she says. The show starts off with everyone thinking theres no way the war will make its way to Britain, but as time progresses they realise its becoming more and more of a reality. Corfield knows how brutal war can be. Her mother started the charity Style For Soldiers, which makes bespoke shirts for injured servicemen and women to help them enter the workplace. Mum goes to Headley Court, the Help for Heroes rehabilitation centre, to measure them up. The aim is to help soldiers feel that they can step back into the world looking and feeling great, she says. Shes keen to act on the London stage but in the meantime well see her next in Guy Ritchies latest film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (out March 24). She plays Syren, a character she describes as a villainous creature, sort of like one of the three Macbeth witches. Most of her scenes were filmed in water. It was a very physical role so I did a scuba diving course. In the meantime shes auditioning again. It teaches you to be more relaxed, she insists. Because everything can change in a split second. You might have to be on a plane tomorrow. You might have to cut your hair off. Youre constantly in a state of: Whats next? The Halcyon is on ITV on Mondays at 9pm J amie Lynn Spears daughter Maddie is now conscious after a car accident left her hospitalised. The eight-year-old niece of pop star Britney Spears is aware of her surroundings and recognises family members after being airlifted to hospital on Sunday when her off-road vehicle crashed into a pond. Maddies stepfather, Jamie Watson, wrote on Instagram: Thank you to everyone for the prayers. Maddie is doing better and better. Thank y'all so much. A spokesperson for the family told People that Maddie has regained consciousness during the day on Tuesday. With her father, mother and stepfather by her side, Maddie regained consciousness mid-day Tuesday, February 7, it read. The 8-year-old daughter of entertainer Jamie Lynn Spears was involved in an ATV accident at a family home Sunday in Kentwood, La. Paramedics resuscitated her and she was airlifted to a local hospital. "She is aware of her surroundings and recognises those family members who have kept a round-the-clock vigil since the accident. It continued: Doctors were able to remove the ventilator today and she is awake and talking. Maddie continues to receive oxygen and is being monitored closely but it appears that she has not suffered any neurological consequences from the accident. Maddie was at the family home in Louisiana with her mother and stepfather on Sunday when her ATV crashed into a pond, leaving her submerged in water for two minutes. Satellite TV Network to Launch Educational Channel for Displaced and Impoverished Refugee Children in Middle East and North Africa Contact: Palmer Holt , 704-663-3303NICOSIA, Cyprus, Feb. 8, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- A new 24/7 educational channel that will teach displaced and impoverished children from Syria and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will start broadcasting this summer. The SAT-7 ACADEMY ( www.sat7education.org ) will help children learn internationally recognized values and address the problem of lack of education in the region, which is creating a "lost generation."Photo: Children in this Middle East refugee community will soon be able to obtain an education via satellite TV through the SAT-7 ACADEMY channel, which will make its debut this summer. The new, 24/7 educational channel is being launched by SAT-7 Education and Development, organized in 2016 to leverage SAT-7's broadcast experience and audience acceptance to further educational and developmental initiatives.The new service is being launched by SAT-7 Education and Development, organized in 2016 as a part of SAT-7 International to leverage decades of broadcast experience and audience acceptance to advance educational and developmental initiatives. It will provide education for millions of children displaced by conflict in Syria and other nations.Even in areas not directly affected by unrest, many children aren't in school because of poverty or because they are female. The United Nations Development Program lists inadequate education as a key factor holding back the Arab World. More than 21 million Arabic-speaking children (one in five) are at risk of missing out on an education, while 13 million are out of school altogether."We are talking about audience sizes in the millions," SAT-7 Chief Executive Officer Dr. Terence Ascott says of the new channel. "But even if we were only able to impact the lives of a few thousand children, it would be worth it. One viewer can grow up to be a real instrument of change in their society. One of these children could even be the future president of his or her country."SAT-7 ACADEMY aims to transform young lives: to bring children hope for their future; opportunities for work and further study; and the chance to participate, along with their teachers and parents, in positively transforming the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, educating children in modern viewpoints and perspectives can diffuse the appeal radical organizations hold for children from impoverished backgrounds.Large number of viewersLaunched in 1996, the satellite broadcasting organization has brought quality programming in the Arabic, Farsi and Turkish languages to more than 15 million viewers in the Middle East and North Africa. Research in 15 MENA countries shows that television -- especially satellite TV -- is the most used and trusted source of information.Research by a French-based communications company in 2014 revealed that nine in 10 residents prefer satellite reception for both pay-TV and free-to-air viewing. Television viewing is almost dominant among Syrians in the country and those who have fled to other countries.Many Syrian refugees are already watching SAT-7's educational program, My School, which is broadcast on the SAT-7 KIDS channel five days a week. According to audience research carried out by the well-known research company, IPSOS, last year in 10 Arab countries more than 1.3 million children watched My School daily, or at least weekly. Since millions cannot attend school in their host countries, the SAT-7 ACADEMY will provide a life-changing opportunity for many children, parents and teachers."If we do not invest in education that teaches not only knowledge but tolerance, based on internationally recognized values, others will invest in teaching conflicting values," says Rita Elmounayer, SAT-7's deputy chief executive officer. "We have seen the result of that -- radicalism, extremism and insurgency. We need to act now to prevent this generation from becoming truly 'lost.'"For more information about SAT-7 ACADEMY go to www.sat7education.org Since 1996, SAT-7 has brought quality Christian television programming via satellite to more than 15 million viewers throughout the Middle East and North Africa. With international headquarters in Cyprus and six channels, SAT-7 broadcasts in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish, enabling viewers to watch within the privacy of their own homes. For more information, visit www.sat7usa.org To schedule an interview with an official from SAT-7, contact Palmer Holt at (704) 663-3303 or pholt@paragoncommunications.net This page is archived. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website. Go to the new statistics page Published: 8 February 2017 Leisure trips to the Canary Islands and cruises to Sweden increased in September to December 2016 According to Statistics Finlands preliminary data, nearly as many leisure trips abroad were made in September to December 2016 as in the previous year. Finnish residents went on cruises to Sweden more often in the autumn season than in the corresponding period of the previous year and trips to Spain's Canary Islands also increased from the year before. The number of domestic leisure trips was equal to one year earlier. Finns' leisure trips by type of trip in September to December 2012 to 2016* (excl. domestic trips with free accommodation) In the last four months of 2016, Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 made 13.0 million trips when all domestic and foreign leisure trips, as well as business and professional trips are included. In addition to trips with overnight stay, the number also includes same-day trips abroad. Altogether, 7.8 million domestic leisure trips with overnight stay were made in the September to December period. Of these, 6.0 million were trips with free accommodation. Leisure trips with overnight stay at paid accommodation numbered 1.8 million and their most popular destinations were Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, North Ostrobothnia and Lapland. Uusimaa kept its top position as the region of travel. The numbers of trips to Pirkanmaa and North Ostrobothnia increased from the corresponding period of the previous year. Inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips, leisure trips abroad numbered 2.5 million in the September to December period. The number of leisure trips abroad remained almost on level with the previous year's autumn. November was the most popular month for overnight cruises. Leisure trips to Estonia decreased somewhat from autumn 2015. December was the most popular month of the period to visit Estonia. In turn, leisure trips to Sweden increased from the previous years autumn. The most favoured month for travelling to Sweden in late 2016 was November. Spain is a long-standing favourite for Finns during the autumn months as well, and 10 per cent more trips were made to Spain than in the corresponding period in 2015. In all, 140,000 of these trips were headed to the Canary Islands. Continental Spain has also established its place as a destination for Finnish travel in the last four months of the year, and 130,000 trips were made to Continental Spain and the Balearic Islands in September to December. December was the most popular of the four months to travel to the Canary Islands and October to Continental Spain. The number of trips to northern Mediterranean countries remained at the same level as one year earlier, but the focus of trips moved to Western Mediterranean countries. The number of trips to Central Europe increased slightly compared with the previous year's autumn. In Central Europe, Germany increased its popularity. If we examine only leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country, slightly fewer trips, or 1.8 million, were made than in September to December 2015. October was the most popular month for these, as then the number of trips abroad with overnight stay in the destination country was 0.5 million. One-quarter of the trips with overnight stay in the destination country were headed to Estonia and one-fifth to the northern coast of the Mediterranean. In addition to leisure trips, 1.6 million domestic business or professional trips were made. Business or professional trips abroad (inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips) numbered 0.9 million. The number of business trips both in Finland and abroad increased from the year before. These data derive from Statistics Finland's Finnish Travel survey, for which altogether 4,879 Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 were interviewed in October, November and December 2016 and in January 2017. Until 2011, data were collected from those aged 15 to 74. Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Taru Tamminen 029 551 2243, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko Publication in pdf-format (277.7 kB) Updated 8.2.2017 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Finnish Travel [e-publication]. ISSN=1798-9027. Autumn (1.9.-31.12) 2016. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 6.11.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/smat/2016/15/smat_2016_15_2017-02-08_tie_001_en.html With one hand holding a bottle of champagne and the other an oversized certificate declaring him the winner of $1 million from Publishers Clearing House, Bruce Saunders stood on the front porch of his western Davie County Monday and rattled off a list of things he plans spend his spend money on medical bills, fixing his lawnmower and helping family members. President Klaus Iohannis went to discuss with the protesters in front of the Cotroceni Presidential palace, after in the previous evening the demonstrators maintained that the head of state should talk to them, same as he talked to the protesters in the University Square. About 100 persons have gathered again on Wednesday in front of the Cotroceni Palace to ask for President Klaus Iohannis' resignation. The placards carried by protesters have messages reading "Down with the covert officers in Justice," Resignation for treason, no to division," "Mediator, no to division," "Respect me if you want respect." This is the fourth day in a row of protests in front of the Cotroceni Palace. Agerpres Senate Chairman Calin Popescu-Tariceanu came out to make it clear that his statements during a televised show have been ''twisted and used as propaganda'', rejecting the "manipulation" circulated in certain media sources according to which he would support a Romexit. ''I learned with regret that my statements for a televised show have been twisted and used for propaganda aimed only at creating instability and tension. (...) I've been the head of the government that succeeded in taking Romania to the European Union. (...) I'm a convinced pro-European. Romania is in the club of the most advanced liberal democracies and the Romanians are in the position of taking advantage of a space of freedom and prosperity that is truly unique on the globe. Ten years from that moment, Romania must be a strong member of the EU," Tariceanu wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. ''I'll tell you what I stand for: for us to be a respected member, with no more CVM monitoring with ever changeable goals, I want the same rules that apply to European citizens on the labor market to apply to Romanian citizens too, for us to be able to assign our development resources according to our own interests, to no longer be considered an outlet market and a source of cheap workforce, for foreign companies to have a fair tax behavior a.s.o. Is this too much? I let you judge. I cannot accept that we be treated as a second-hand country," the Senate Chairman said, explaining that all he wants is for the other European states to respect Romania, which has its own national interests and sovereignty to champion. "I want the other EU members to respect us because we respect them too," he underscored. agerpres. This story was updated at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday with details of the Department of Revenue's budget proposal. JEFFERSON CITY The cost of implementing Missouri's new voter ID law remained in question after two days of budget hearings, despite Republican assurances that officials would get the money they need for a proper rollout. The law, pushed by Republican legislators and approved by voters last year, requires Missourians to show a photo ID before voting or sign a legal document swearing they are who they say they are. In response to heavy Democratic criticism that it would prevent the elderly, disabled and poor from voting, Republicans also required the state to pay for IDs for those who can't afford them. Gov. Eric Greitens offered $300,000 for implementation in his budget plan released last week: $100,000 each for advertising the changes, paying for free IDs and covering the cost of getting personal records for those IDs. But Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is tasked with letting voters know about the law, estimated Tuesday it would take between $1.1 million and $1.5 million to do so before August elections. That's a far cry from the roughly $5.2 million former secretary Jason Kander, a Democrat, requested over two years. Ashcroft said he could trim millions from Kander's proposal by cutting TV ads and mailers about the changes to every registered voter in the state, instead relying on partnerships with community organizations and face-to-face interactions with potential voters. But he doubted he could slash enough to reach the governor's target. "We would suggest that we would need more to do the best job we can," Ashcroft said. The Department of Revenue would bear the cost of producing the free photo identification cards. An agency representative didnt venture a guess at how much giving out the free IDs would cost them Wednesday. The department will wait and see how many requests it gets for free licenses before asking for money later this year. An analysis of the law last year estimated it would cost the department $457,303 to make and mail non-driver licenses for more than 200,000 potential applicants for free IDs next year. If the state doesn't shell out enough to cover the cost of the IDs, the photo ID requirements won't go into effect. Republican leaders have been quick to shrug off concerns, saying they'll work with Ashcroft and the Department of Revenue to find an affordable solution. "Its my feeling that voting is important enough that we fund whatever the requirements are to make sure people are able to get to the polls, Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, a Shell Knob Republican who chairs the House budget committee, said Friday. But Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, decried the estimates, calling them the handiwork of a hostile former Secretary of State hellbent on killing the law. Kander spoke out against voter ID in a final speech to the House last month and on Tuesday announced the launch of an organization fighting such measures across the country. I cried up and down last year to the previous secretary that the entire fiscal note was using old data," Alferman said. "These numbers are a farce at best." Kander's report said nearly 225,000 registered voters didn't have photo IDs on file with the Department of Revenue as of 2014, but Alferman was skeptical. "I'm still yet to find all these individuals that don't IDs in two years of hearing testimony on this bill," he said. "And those that do, I hope they're are screaming about it so we can help them get one." Critics, on the other hand, found plenty to worry about with the governor's recommendations and Ashcroft's cuts to voter education. Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said they showed Republicans weren't trying to prevent voter fraud as they claimed. "They just wanted to scare people away from voting," he said. Kathleen Farrell, co-president of the League of Women Voters of St. Louis, said she couldn't understand spending on voter ID when the state faces difficult choices elsewhere to close a $500 million budget hole. "This is a totally unnecessary thing in a state thats strapped," she said. "When were cutting poor people off Medicaid, not funding our schools and our roads crumbling, why are we spending money on this?" COUNTRY CLUB HILLS The mayor here is trying to stop a business owner from opening a laundromat because of his religion, a lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges. Mohammed Almuttan says Bender McKinney, the mayor of Country Club Hills, has repeatedly denied him a license because his family is from Palestine and are practicing Muslims, the lawsuit says. The suit also names three members of the Board of Aldermen. City officials have engaged in an ongoing pattern and practice of discrimination based upon the nationality and religion of the Mutan Family in violation of the Missouri and United States Constitutions, the lawsuit says. The mayor couldnt be reached for a response. The suit was filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Mutan is a shortened version of Almuttan used by some members of the extended family. The family has owned and operated Mallys Supermarket in the city for more than five years. Almuttan is building a gas station and convenience store and has been ready to open a 24-hour laundromat since November, when the building was approved by St. Louis County inspectors, the lawsuit says. City ordinances allegedly list only two requirements for a business license: paying a license fee and paying the deposit of a bond to cover potential inventory and sales taxes. McKinney refuses to give Almuttan the license until he agrees to restrict the business hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and promises to sell additional goods and services, the lawsuit says. McKinney complained that the laundromat wouldnt generate enough tax revenue for the city because sales tax isnt charged on revenue from washing machines and dryers. Almuttan has been paying rent on the laundromat building for more than a year, and he has spent more than $400,000 to open the business, the suit says. The gas station he is building is on a lot he bought from the city two years ago for about $125,000. The family has invested nearly $2 million into their businesses at a time when no one else wanted to be in the city of Country Club Hills, the suit says. When a reporter attempted to reach the mayor for comment Tuesday night, his wife, Deborah McKinney, said to come to City Hall for a response. Almuttan said he had completed nearly all of McKinneys requirements in good faith even though hes not legally required to. The mayor and his board members, theyve been dragging me for almost a year, he said. I tried to talk to him several times its like talking to a stone wall. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market opened its third Missouri store Wednesday in Kirkwood, and the organic grocer is scouting for additional store locations in the St. Louis area. The produce-centric grocers newest store, at 1018 North Kirkwood Road, has 95 employees. In 2015, Kirkwood officials approved a 0.5 percent sales tax for a Community Improvement District to fund improvements on the property. The Kirkwood Fresh Thyme store has 28,821 square feet, making it about half the size of most supermarkets. Backed financially by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based grocer Meijer, Fresh Thymes first St. Louis area store opened in Fairview Heights in 2014. Since its founding in 2012, Chicago-based Fresh Thyme has grown to 53 locations, including Missouri stores in OFallon and Town and Country. CEO Chris Sherrell said more Fresh Thyme stores are planned for the St. Louis area and throughout Missouri. One of the new stores will be on the site of the former Tesson Ferry Branch of the St. Louis County Library in south St. Louis County, at 9920 Lin Ferry Drive in Green Park. Another store will open in St. Peters, in the Jungermann Road and Highway 94 area. Both stores will open in early 2018. The company plans to ultimately have between 100 and 150 stores in the Midwest. We have several more stores coming in the St. Louis area over the next year or so, Sherrell told the Post-Dispatch. Were looking all over the state too, not just in St. Louis. The company is expanding its private label, or store brand, merchandise. Private label has grown to more than 1,000 items, and that will triple or quadruple over the next few years, Sherrell said. Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has launched audits of two special taxing districts in the St. Louis region. The review will focus on the Community Improvement Districts, known as CIDs, encompassing a north St. Louis County shopping center and a St. Charles County subdivision. CIDs can levy property and sales taxes and use the funds for a wide range of activities. Property owners can agree to establish them across commercial districts downtown and South Grand Boulevard are two examples and use the money for marketing and events, public safety and beautification. But individual property owners can also create them on their own real estate and use tax money to help finance the development. The districts have proliferated in Missouri, jumping from about 20 on record with the state auditor a decade ago to an estimated 300 today. About a third of them are in the St. Louis area. A state law took effect last summer that gave the auditors office the power to initiate CID audits. Prior to that, only residents who lived within the district could petition for a state audit. Because some CIDs did not include any residents, people couldnt request audits there even if they paid taxes to the district. Government at all levels must be accountable for every dollar collected and spent, and I have serious concerns with the lack of transparency of some special taxing districts across Missouri, Galloway said in a statement. The two CIDs Galloways office will examine are the North Oaks Plaza Shopping Center CID and the BaratHaven CID. A spokeswoman for the auditor said the two districts were chosen because they are fairly representative of CIDs statewide, collecting revenue thats close to average of what a typical CID generates. They also represent two distinct types of CIDs: One is a residential district funded by property taxes while the other is a commercial district funded by sales taxes. In choosing the two CIDs, Galloways spokeswoman also said the office took into account citizen-submitted concerns about the two districts. The North Oaks shopping center CID, at Natural Bridge and Lucas and Hunt roads, was established in 2007 to fund improvements to the shopping center and parking lot, according to the auditors office. It includes about 30 businesses and collected about $110,000 in sales taxes in 2015. The BaratHaven CID was established in Dardenne Prairie in 2006 to help finance a mixed-use development, but only the residential portion has been built, Galloways office said. CID property taxes on the 245 homes in the subdivision raised about $150,000 in 2015. Consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser is relocating its logistics center and custom manufacturing operations in Springfield, Mo., to St. Peters. The operations that are moving support the company's household and retail food businesses. Reckitt Benckiser's Frenchs Food Co. plant in Springfield will remain in Springfield, company spokeswoman Suzanne Grogan said in an email to the Post-Dispatch. Reckitt Benckiser, which operates as RB, is based in the United Kingdom and its brands include Woolite, Lysol and Calgon. "RB has around 260 employees at its existing St. Peters manufacturing plant (at Arrowhead Industrial Park) and is actively looking to hire another 50 plus employees there," Grogan said, adding there are about 350 contract workers at that St. Peters site. At its new new facility at Premier 370, RB will have about 10 full-time employees, Grogan said, and about 350 employees who are either contract workers or employed by a third party logistics company. The relocation will result in the permanent layoff of about 140 employees in Springfield by July 1. The affected employees are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers District Union Local 2. "This change to our logistics network is required in order for us to remain competitive in the value we offer to our customers," Grogan said. "The move will help accommodate ... our rapid growth, provide us with better access to more well-traveled and competitive shipping lanes, and also provide some business efficiencies." CHICAGO A U.S. federal appeals court dismissed an emergency appeal by opponents of Peabody Energy Corp.'s reorganization plan on Wednesday, saying any complaints should be lodged after the plan is confirmed by the bankruptcy court. An ad hoc committee of dissenting creditors had said that a key piece of Peabody's proposal to exit Chapter 11 protection violates U.S. bankruptcy law by prematurely requiring creditors to promise to support it. A bankruptcy panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not address the merits of the motion. Peabody hopes to emerge from bankruptcy in April, a year after its Chapter 11 filing with over $8 billion of debt. Its bankruptcy confirmation trial is scheduled for March 16. EAST ST. LOUIS A former East St. Louis police chief has pleaded guilty of theft and agreed to help police and prosecutors in an ongoing corruption investigation. The plea deal with Michael Floore, 53, was finalized Jan. 26 when Floore was sentenced for theft by deception, a misdemeanor. The case stemmed from a week last year when Floore, who worked as a MetroLink security guard, knowingly sought pay for hours he didnt work, according to authorities. As part of the plea deal, seven felonies were dismissed. The five-page cooperation agreement goes beyond a standard plea deal, however. In it, Floore agrees to cooperate with investigators about any criminal activity he is aware of, and give an audio-video recording to an Illinois State Police agent to memorialize information Floore has already given investigators. His cooperation is expected in any other public corruption cases, St. Clair County States Attorney Brendan Kelly told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday. Kelly declined to say any more about the corruption because of the ongoing investigation. Floore and his attorney, James Gomric, declined to comment. If Floore refuses to give what the court records call complete and truthful statements about the alleged corruption, the plea deal could be tossed out and prosecutors could reinstate the original felony charges, Kelly said. Floores legal troubles began last year as he was working as a security guard for the Bi-State Development Agency. He was paid for work he didnt perform for MetroLink between Feb. 22 and Feb. 28, authorities say. Court documents say Floore was put on 18 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay $540 in restitution. He had to resign from the East St. Louis police department within 24 hours and agreed not to work in law enforcement during the 18 months. Floore, of Swansea, was police chief from 2012 through July 2015. He then became a patrolman working nights. After that, he was moved to the position of school resource officer. In April 2016, the city put him on paid administrative leave when the MetroLink investigation came to light. He was arrested last May. ST. LOUIS COUNTY Police are searching for the gunman and his accomplice who robbed a Subway restaurant Tuesday night. The restaurant is at 11101 Larimore Road in north St. Louis County. After 8 p.m. Tuesday, two men walked into the restaurant and approached the counter. One of the men pulled a gun, demanding cash. He got an undisclosed amount of cash and they both left. Police were called at 8:20 p.m. No one was injured. Police provided no description of the robbers and have not released any surveillance images of them. Anyone with information is asked to call St. Louis County police at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477. ST. LOUIS Early on the morning of July 16, 2015, a frantic, barefoot woman hid behind a Dumpster in downtown St. Louis and sobbed to a 911 operator. She said that her pimp had been following her and that his gold Mercedes was now circling the block. Police and the FBI would later learn that the woman was a sex trafficking victim who had been brought to St. Louis from Houston via Chicago and Wisconsin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Winfield said in federal court here Wednesday. Police found her that day, and then arrested the couple who were prostituting her online, Winfield said. Opening statements in the couples trial were set to begin Wednesday morning, but one paused the proceedings to plead guilty. Keisha Edwards, 30, pleaded guilty to two prostitution-related charges, and admitted using social media and websites, including her own, to advertise the woman for sex. In return for her plea to the charges, which carry a prison sentence of no more than five years, prosecutors agreed to drop five other charges that could have meant at least 15 years in prison. Edwards used the name Stacey Monroe online. Edwards co-defendant, Thomas Thadeus Enzo Szczerba, then proceeded to trial on seven prostitution-related charges, including sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Prosecutors say that Szczerba and Edwards befriended the woman in 2015 in Houston. The three began living together, and Szczerba and Edwards began grooming the woman to work as a prostitute, they say. The woman turned over all her money to them, prosecutors say, and the couple also recruited other women. Szczerba restricted the womans food intake, made threats and mentally abused the woman, prosecutors claim. He required that she earn a certain amount of money each day, and gave her a cellphone that he erased every day to purge records of the sex trade, they say. In June 2015, Szczerba and the woman met Edwards in Illinois. They arrived in St. Louis in mid-July. The woman escaped while Szczerba, Edwards and a john argued about the customers claims that someone took his cellphone from his apartment, prosecutors say. Szczerbas attorney, Justin K. Gelfand, told jurors in opening statements Wednesday that his client traveled the country to play poker in casinos, and also earned money as a landlord and driver. Thomas Szczerba was not a pimp, he insisted. Gelfand said that the alleged victim in the case was not forced into prostitution and could have left at any time. He also faulted the investigation. WATERLOO Police here have seized multiple firearms in an investigation that began after a student posted an image of the guns to social media on Saturday. Waterloo Community Unit School District officials contacted police after concerned parents sent the superintendent electronic images of the weapons, police said. The images showed what appeared to be multiple firearms posted to Instagram by a student. An investigation led to the seizure of eight firearms from a home on the 200 block of Osterhage Drive, police said. Officers also seized a small amount of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Investigators determined a convicted felon had access to the guns in the home. Police say they expect to file charges. ST. CHARLES COUNTY A man from St. Charles shot and killed his uncle during a fight Saturday at the mans farm, then burned his body in a nearby field, police say. Nicholas G. Preli, 25, was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder in the death of Paul B. Fischer, 59, on Fischers property at 4195 North Highway 94. Preli is Fischers nephew, according to Fischers obituary. Fischers remains were found in a burning pile of wood and brush Monday afternoon in the field, which is off Highway 94 between Blase Station Road and Highway H. Preli, of the 3300 block of Principia Avenue, also faces charges of armed criminal action and evidence tampering. He was in the St. Charles County Jail with cash bail set at $500,000. According to a court record, Preli has admitted to the crime. The court record said Preli shot Fischer with a pistol that Preli carries while on the farm. The court record said the chain of events began late Saturday afternoon when Preli arrived at Fischers residence and Fischer complained that Preli had made ruts in the gravel driveway with his ATV. What began as an argument then escalated with the two taking hold of each others arms, the court record said. Preli told authorities that Fischer had a hammer in his hand but was unable to strike Preli because Preli was holding his arms. Preli said he believed Fischer lost his grip on the hammer and dropped it, then turned away to either pick up the hammer or a screwdriver behind him. Preli told police he began shooting Fischer as Fischer turned back toward him. Police said Preli shot Fischer two or three times before the older man fell to the ground. Preli told police he then fired the remaining rounds in order to be humane, like putting down an animal, according to the court record. Authorities said Preli then concealed the body between two farm implements and left the scene. The court record said he returned about 4 a.m. Sunday and put Fischers body in his pickup, concealing the blood stains on the ground by covering them with gravel. He then took the body to an area used to burn debris just across Highway 94 from the farm. Preli described dousing Fischers remains with gasoline, then igniting a fire and fleeing the scene again, the court record said. Preli told detectives he hid the murder weapon at his familys camper in Callaway County in central Missouri. Police found the weapon there. Fischer was retired from more than 30 years working for the St. Charles Street Department and was the fifth-generation caretaker of the Fischer Family Farm. Fischer was a hard worker who was always there to help others, his friend Alma Gayle said. Gayle attended Orchard Farm High School with Fischer and was close friends with his girlfriend, Cindy Risney. Fischer would work for the city during the day and then work all night tending to the farm and taking care of his elderly parents, she said. His parents died a few years ago. He pretty much ran the farm all by himself, she said. He was very proud of it. Fischer and Risney recently help Gayle and her son move into a new house. Gayle said Preli would come to the farm to shoot guns, hunt or drive a four-wheeler. Its just tragic, she said. Tragic that this happened, and then tragic that it was a family member who did it. Nassim Benchaabane of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. ST. LOUIS COUNTY The South County man charged with fatally shooting Officer Blake Snyder in October was granted a change of judge Tuesday in his murder trial. Last week, Trenton Forster, 18, of south St. Louis County, was formally indicted by a grand jury, which added a second-degree assault charge and and a second count of armed criminal action to previously filed charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Forster is accused of murdering Snyder in the 10700 block of Arno Drive in Green Park on Oct. 6. Snyder, 33, of Edwardsville, died from a gunshot to the face while responding to a home for a disturbance. The new charges stem from Forster allegedly pointing a gun at Snyder's partner, St. Louis County Officer John Becker. On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Joseph L. Walsh granted Forster's request for a new judge; Forster's case is now assigned to St. Louis County Circuit Judge Kristine Kerr. Forster's public defender, Stephen Reynolds, would not explain the request for a new judge. Forster remains at the St. Louis County Jail on a $1 million bail. A status hearing is set for March 22. JEFFERSON CITY Gov. Eric Greitens challenged Missouris colleges and universities last week in cutting $90 million from higher education in his budget plan. Instead of raising tuition, Greitens suggested following the example of Purdue University by culling administrative bureaucracy and costly contracts to rein in spending outside the classroom. The governor had a point: Purdue has kept tuition flat for the past five years, and school president Mitch Daniels a former governor himself has made a point of cutting unnecessary spending. A more cautious approach to new building construction has helped hold project costs down, said Robert Wynkoop, managing director of Purdues office of the treasurer. A new health plan saves the school $6.5 million a year. Yanking out rarely used landlines in dormitories saved another $800,000. But Daniels has also cited another trend helping his school: a stark increase in out-of-state and international students who pay more than native Hoosiers. As Greitens noted, its not a new strategy. Many colleges, including Missouri schools, have pursued transplants to supplement their budgets and enrollments. Purdues model could be extremely difficult to reproduce without making changes to several long-standing policies friendly to out-of-state students and potentially prioritizing nonresidents over Missourians. Since 2008, Purdue has added 3,057 nonresident undergraduates to its student body, a 22 percent jump driven mostly by international enrollment, according to university data. In the same period, resident population has shrunk by 4,775 students, a 30 percent decline. That led to last fall, when nearly 47 percent of undergraduates on campus were from out of state compared to about a third in 2008. The exchange rate on that shift is high: Nonresident students pay $18,000 to $20,000 more a year in tuition than their resident counterparts. Purdues international students are especially lucrative because theyre not eligible for public financial aid. Their results are not unique. The University of Missouri-Columbia has also seen the number of out-of-state students who pay an annual $15,000 premium over the in-state tuition rate double in the last decade. It has especially targeted Illinois high school graduates, claiming nearly a fifth of its freshmen from the state in recent years. But 70 percent of MU undergraduates are still residents paying the lower rate, due in part to generous state policy that makes it easy to for transplants to obtain a discount. Many state schools, including Purdue and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, require students to live in their state for a year or more before they offer to cut rates. But in Missouri, students can get the deal by spending the summer after their first year here, getting a drivers license, registering to vote and making $2,000 at a summer job. Parent can no longer claim those students on their taxes, but many save tens of thousands in tuition. Its an especially popular option at Missouri University of Science & Technology, which, like Purdue, prides itself on its engineering programs, enrollment officials said. More than a third of students who come from outside Missouri eventually get residency and pay less. They dont make it difficult to do, and it makes plenty of sense for a lot of students and their parents trying to save money, said Tim Albers, S&Ts interim vice provost for enrollment management. Something off Missouri schools might also want to exclude themselves from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact in which they agree to charge out-of-state students no more than 150 percent of their in-state rates to get the most out of potential transplants. Purdue, Illinois, the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have all opted out. And even if Missouri schools could attract more out-of-state students, it wouldnt necessarily benefit Missourians. Stephen Burd, an education policy researcher at the New America Foundation, reviewed enrollment records from 424 public institutions and found many flagship state universities are aggressively reaching outside their borders. He found those colleges were competing among each other for wealthy out-of-state students by offering them more and more merit-based aid, cutting into need-based aid for their local, low-income applicants. Stung by sharp state budget cuts at the same time they are seeking greater prestige, these universities are increasingly pitted against one another, fiercely competing for students that they most desire: the best and brightest, and those wealthy enough to pay full freight, Burd wrote. MU is already one of those universities to a degree, offering one-fifth of incoming freshmen without financial need some sort of scholarship package in 2013. Its also playing defense. In 2014, Missouri raised the cap on its Mark Twain scholarship for out-of-state students to $10,000 a year to counter offers from the likes of Kentucky, Alabama and South Carolina. Steven Chaffin, executive director of the lobbying group Associated Students of the University of Missouri, understands the financial gains that can accompany aggressive out-of-state recruitment, but worries it could eventually go against the universitys mission. There would be something off about Missouri taxpayers funding a university that focuses more on out-of-state students than in-state students, Chaffin said. We dont want to have a system where were playing favorites because someone is paying more. Paul Wagner, executive director of the Council on Public Higher Education an association of Missouris 13 public colleges agreed. Were first and foremost a public institution, Wagner said. Were not going to jeopardize that by having majority-out-of-state schools that arent serving Missourians well. And neither Wagner nor Chaffin think Greitens suggestions of cutting administration and recruiting higher spenders could solve higher educations budget woes on their own. Pressure is building Missouri has led the nation in keeping the cost of college down since Gov. Matt Blunt signed a law capping in-state tuition at four-year universities a decade ago. But Wagner doesnt see it surviving the proposed 10 percent cut to higher education. Weve been in this budget-cutting efficiency mode for a while, Wagner said. But were at a point where there arent a lot of tools we havent used. With a budget cut of this magnitude, I dont think were going to be able to hold tuition flat this year. The University of Missouri Review Commission, formed by the Legislature last year to audit the UM Systems operations, came to a similar conclusion in December. Its also where St. Louis Community College Chancellor Jeff Pittman came down. He said he plans to review his systems programs to find out which are best preparing students for local jobs, but said tuition increases, changes to health insurance benefits and buyouts for professors were already under consideration. An influx of wealthy international students isnt in the cards for his schools. We have a small group of out-of-state students, but thats not normally a big part of being a community college, Pittman said. Were here to serve the local community, and weve got to keep things affordable for them. ST. LOUIS Thanks to a large anonymous donation, and after months of fundraising efforts by school parents and Dogtown residents, St. James the Greater Catholic school will stay open another year. Were beyond thrilled, said Liz Barnett, a St. James parent who has been active in fundraising for the school. We put in so much work and a lot of time and prayers and tears, and we couldnt be happier right now. The Archdiocese of St. Louis had decided in December to close the school because of low enrollment. Parents with the school and community members ended up raising more than $250,000 to save the school despite that decision, Barnett said. The archdiocese had previously said that one-time fundraising efforts would not be enough to sustain the schools operations for the long term. Under a new agreement with the archdiocese, St. James will stay open for the 2017-18 school year as a parish-run school. But it will not receive any operating grants from the archdiocese after this current school year. This year, the school received $250,000 from the archdiocese, which makes up roughly 23 percent of its total revenue. The school will have to have significant ongoing development efforts in order to balance its budget every year, the archdiocese said in a statement Wednesday. The school community now has the hefty task of revamping recruitment, retention and development efforts so that the schools future revenue will be enough to keep it open beyond next year. Our Hail Mary wasnt just for this year. We knew that we had to have a plan that carried us further, Barnett said. St. James enrolls about 100 students. In 2008, it had 128 students, and two decades ago, it had about 200 students. The archdiocese had planned to consolidate St. James with St. Joan of Arc and Our Lady of Sorrows schools. Now that St. James will stay open, St. Joan of Arc will combine with only Our Lady of Sorrows to form a new, archdiocese-run South City Catholic Academy at St. Joan of Arcs current location. Catholic schools in the city have faced significant competition from tuition-free, public charter schools, such as Gateway Science Academy, which is near St. James and has lured some of its students. Catholic school enrollment has also fallen as Catholic family sizes have shrunk and the number of Catholics has dropped in the city. To combat chronically declining enrollment, the archdiocese has been ramping up its scholarship programs and developing restructuring plans for some schools. WASHINGTON Sen. Roy Blunt joined other Republicans Tuesday night and voted to formally silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren mid-speech for bad-mouthing Jeff Sessions, an Alabama senator nominated for attorney general. But in 2009, Blunt, R-Mo., struck a different posture towards Congressional decorum. Back then Washington was debating President Barack Obama's health care proposal when, in September of that year, the president touted his plan in a primetime speech to a joint session of Congress. Obama was saying the legislation would not cover illegal immigrants when a shout cut across the chamber: "You lie!" It was Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, a fourth-term congressman from South Carolina. He pointed at Obama and yelled a second time that Obama was lying. (In fact, the Affordable Care Act does not allow undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance, though some conservatives have pointed to loopholes.) Obama paused as lawmakers booed the outburst, then continued with his speech. Wilson later apologized. The House voted 240-179 the following week to censure Wilson, saying his conduct "degraded" the chamber. Blunt, then a congressman from Springfield who had stepped down from House Republican leadership to run for Senate, voted against censuring Wilson. Six years earlier Blunt had named Wilson to his whip team. Tuesday night in the Senate, Democrats were speaking against Sessions' record as a federal prosecutor in Alabama during the 1970s and 1980s. Allegations of racial insensitivity and prejudice, including his unsuccessful prosecution of black civil rights activists on allegations of voting fraud, sank his 1986 nomination as a federal judge. Sessions has repudiated those charges by pointing to his work prosecuting klansmen and integrating schools: "This caricature of me from 1986 was not correct." Warren, an outspoken liberal from Massachusetts, took to the Senate floor to read a letter from the late Sen. Ted Kennedy calling him a disgrace to the Justice Department and a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King opposing Session's nomination to the federal bench. Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow wrote it was "reprehensible" for Session to use his office "in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell interrupted Warren's speech to invoke the chamber's rule forbidding Senators from impugning the conduct or motive of a fellow senator. Blunt joined other Republicans in a 49-43 party-line vote to sustain the rebuke, which forbids Warren from further debate on Sessions' nomination. A spokesman for Blunt said the senator thought the remarks were inappropriate and clearly violated the chamber's rules, which have been in place for more than a century. "Senate rules have no bearing on the House of Representatives and vice versa," Brian Hart, Blunt's communication director, said. Other Senate Republicans who served in the House in 2009 including Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia and Jerry Moran of Kansas also voted against censuring Wilson but supported silencing Warren. Jeff Flake, now one of Arizona's senators, was one of seven Republican House members to support reprimanding Wilson. He also voted Tuesday to rebuke Warren. Vice President Mike Pence, who was an Indiana congressman in 2009, voted against admonishing Wilson. Senate Republicans have shown leniency around their chamber's rule at other times. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called McConnell a liar in 2015 without facing censure. Editor's note: This story was updated Friday with more detail about the Senate action involving Sen. Elizabeth Warren. JEFFERSON CITY In a parting letter issued on his last day in office, former Gov. Jay Nixon said he was optimistic about the future of Missouri because of the strides made on state budget issues in the aftermath of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. In particular, the two-term Democratic chief executive pointed to Missouri's AAA credit rating as a source of pride, as well as the states commitment to holding down college tuition increases. Flash forward to last week: Nixons replacement, Republican Eric Greitens, sounded a warning that things are not as rosy. The fact is, Missouris budget is broken, Greitens said as he unveiled a $27.6 billion spending blueprint for the year beginning July 1. For decades, insiders, special interests, lobbyists and prior politicians have made a mess of our budget. Greitens, a political newcomer who was elected as an outsider, leveled more accusations against the people he now must rub shoulders with in the Capitol. The lobbyists and special interests at the capital are robbing people blind, he said. Some career politicians in Jefferson City have simply forgotten whose interests they are there to protect. The governor, a former Navy SEAL whose campaign ads featured him blowing things up, has been in office for less than a month. But his flame-throwing is drawing some negative reviews from within his own party. In an interview on KJFF radio in Farmington, Republican Sen. Gary Romine said the governors use of career politicians as a foil is over-the-top. I was insulted by some of those comments. Ive been there five years. We have term limits in the legislative body, so there are not career politicians in the legislative body. To continue to use that terminology from the campaign trail Were a team, Romine said. We should be working at a team. We need to make sure we have respect for each chamber, Romine said. Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, also defended his handling of the state budget as a former speaker of the House and, now, as head of the Senate. I believe over the 12 or 15 years Ive had a number of great budget chairmen. Theyve all been very conservative, miserly on spending, Richard told reporters. Ill stand by our budgets in my 15 years with anybody. Weve spent the taxpayers money very well and did the best with what weve had. I believe weve done a very great job, a very good job of handling finances in the state of Missouri, Richard said. Like Nixon, Richard said he was particularly proud of the way lawmakers handled the state budget during the national economic meltdown from 2008 to 2010. I would suggest you check the facts and you will understand that Republican majorities as well as the Democrats have done a pretty good job of reining in spending. And Im proud of both sides of the aisle on budget issues, Richard said. As for Greitens' comments about career politicians, Richard said hes not dwelling on the potentially divisive tactics of his fellow Republican at this early stage of his administration. Lets look forward," Richard said. "I dont want to look back." WASHINGTON Sen. Claire McCaskill met Wednesday with President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, hoping to press him on the difference between originalist and activist judges. I have got a series of cases that I have got and will ask him to define which they are, McCaskill, D-Mo., said before Gorsuch arrived for the private, late-afternoon meeting. Afterwards, she released a short statement saying only that she looked forward to seeing his confirmation hearing. Hers will be a key vote in the Senates deliberations on whether to confirm Trumps nominee, who is now a judge on the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Her meeting with the nominee, along with the nominees meetings with other potential Democratic swing votes, were being closely followed. The Republican National Committee issued a statement noting Trumps landslide victory in Missouri in November and complimenting McCaskill for hopefully showing that she is listening to the people she represents, rather than liberal special interests. McCaskill also is scheduled to have a private conversation with Trump on Thursday, either by phone or in a delegation of Democratic senators, many of them from states that voted for Trump in November. In Missouris case, that margin of victory was a landslide 18.5-percentage points. Gorsuchs meeting with McCaskill was his 23rd with senators, and he has gotten high praise from Republicans. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who has not yet met with the nominee, has called him the right choice. But some Democrats have complained that Gorsuch has not answered their questions. McCaskill said she hoped to get more of a sense of Gorsuchs judicial philosophy by asking about specific cases. The debate between originalism and activism perpetually comes up in judicial nominees. The former denotes a view that strictly interprets the Constitution, while the latter describes a philosophy where judges more liberally apply the law for judicial remedy. McCaskill also said she would ask Gorsuch for his take on Trumps rhetorical attacks on members of the judiciary who have temporarily stayed enforcement of his executive actions to temporarily ban immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Trump called one a so-called judge. Foundational to our government is checks and balances, and it would be helpful if all three branches respected that and understood it, McCaskill said. So far, I am not sure that the president is really keen on that part. I think business people forget that the reason that our democracy has worked is because it isnt just one group that can kind of rule the roost. So we will see. In a meeting with a different senator, Gorsuch reportedly called Trumps comments demoralizing and disheartening. McCaskill is among a handful of Democrats who will be key to whether Gorsuch can get through a divided Senate. Sixty votes are still necessary under Senate rules for a Supreme Court nominee to advance to a final vote, where a simple majority would be required for Gorsuch to be named to the court. Republicans have 52 of the 100 Senate seats. Assuming all 52 vote for Gorsuch, Republicans would need eight Democrats to join them under current Senate rules. McCaskill is among 10 Democrats who face re-election next year in states that Trump won. McCaskill would risk upsetting that Trump base with a vote against the nominee. But she would face a potential backlash on her left if she voted for a jurist that most of her fellow Democrats opposed. However, Republicans including Trump have suggested they could change Senate rules and require a simple majority to push Gorsuch through. In the past, senators have voted against filibusters as well as against nominees, under an unwritten agreement that presidents deserve up-or-down votes on all but the most controversial nominees. That could also be one option open to McCaskill and colleagues potentially on the fence on Gorsuch. Two of the last three Republican appointments to the court Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas received fewer than 60 votes on final confirmation, but benefited when some of those who voted against them also refused to go along with a filibuster. But the current Senate is so bitterly divided that the filibuster has increasingly been used as a legislative weapon. Currently, the Senate has 11 Democrats who voted against Alito in 2006, including Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Three of them Maria Cantwell of Washington, Tom Carper of Delaware and Bill Nelson of Florida also voted against filibustering that nomination, rejecting an effort to block the final vote by then-Sens. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. As journalists were being escorted out of the room Wednesday, McCaskill, a former prosecutor in Kansas City, and Gorsuch exchanged stories about serving on jury duty. McCaskill served on a jury hearing a civil case in St. Louis last year. Gorsuch told her that he, too, had served on a jury. I couldnt believe I got picked, McCaskill said. Responded Gorsuch: Me neither. And I went to the bathroom and I came back and I was the foreperson. JEFFERSON CITY A newly revised policy allowing people to bring firearms into Missouris Capitol is drawing scrutiny from state lawmakers and members of a group opposed to further loosening the states gun laws. Two days after Gov. Eric Greitens administration lifted a month-old prohibition on letting statehouse visitors with concealed-weapon permits carry their guns in the building, members of a Senate panel suggested there may need to be changes to rules governing what happens with firearms inside the facility. Although visitors can now carry weapons inside the Capitol, they are not allowed to carry their weapons into the House or Senate chambers or into committee hearing rooms. But no one is posted outside of those areas to check whether people are complying with that provision. There is no enforcement, said Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City. I am concerned about that, Sen. Shalonn Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, added. The red flags were raised during a Senate hearing Wednesday in which a top Greitens aide outlined spending on Capitol security measures in the governors proposed budget. The issue is in the cross hairs because former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, signed off on the purchase and installation of metal detectors at Capitol entrances before leaving office. Those began functioning when Greitens, a Republican, took office on Jan. 9. Sarah Steelman, acting commissioner of administration, said a decision on whether to place guards or metal detectors outside of House and Senate rooms would have to come from members of the Legislature, not the executive branch. Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, questioned having security checkpoints at the entrances to the Capitol if guns can be brought in the building. He also said people were angry about long lines at the security gates during busy times. I have a lot of people who are very upset, Schaaf said. The debate comes after lawmakers approved last year wide-ranging changes to the states firearms laws allowing most gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Legislation filed by lawmakers this year would allow people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in schools, college and university facilities and bars. An estimated 200 members of the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America spent the day calling on members of the House and Senate to reject the changes, volunteer chapter leader Becky Morgan said. She said the new security procedures for entering the Capitol were puzzling given that practically anyone can bring a gun inside. It just doesnt seem to make much sense to screen people for weapons and then let them carry those weapons anyway, Morgan said. Gun detectors were installed in the Capitol in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, but they were taken down in 2003. A caution to readers: This editorial contains extremely offensive quoted material attributable only to the speaker and not this newspaper. Belleville radio personality Bob Romanik is at it again. He uses a group of low-powered AM radio stations to broadcast messages riddled with obscenities and hate speech. Ahead of the Nov. 8 election, he also regularly used his program to promote his own candidacy for the Illinois House without reporting it on campaign finance reports. Luckily, voters soundly rejected him and avoided the train wreck of installing Romanik in an already dysfunctional Legislature. But the Federal Communications Commission and Illinois electoral authorities need to give Romanik a serious second look for his abuse of the airwaves. Hes a two-time felon who has done nothing since his convictions for obstruction of justice and bank fraud to deserve any investigatory benefit of the doubt. When we last wrote about Romanik in November, he was using his weekday broadcasts to denigrate a political opponent as a cross-dressing faggot. Romanik exploded in anger at our editorial criticism, then went to extremes to repeat his previous hate speech on air as if to suggest he can say whatever he wants. On Jan. 19, Romanik went on another tirade, this time against rapper Waka Flocka Flame after viewing a video of the performer pulling down his pants on stage and using a fans Donald Trump T-shirt as toilet paper. The video was unquestionably disgusting. But Romaniks response was even worse. For a full 50 minutes on air, on Jan. 19, he repeatedly called the rapper a no good, no count, greasy nigger. He repeatedly mocked African-American speech patterns, then invited listeners to call if they disagreed. I know what a black, greasy son of a bitchs take will be, Well, hes got every right to do that, he said. Romanik then referred to his detractors as ignorant son of a bitches. Toward the end of his program, he suggested that the rappers mother mated with a sheep or a goat to produce him. The FCC was reluctant to intervene previously, citing First Amendment free speech protections. What the FCC overlooks is that Romanik abuses public airwaves far in excess of any known tolerance level. Romaniks commentary meets two of the Supreme Courts three criteria for intervention: He explicitly described Waka Flockas excretory functions to the point of indecency, along with his own embellishments; and his profane language clearly qualifies as grossly offensive. While authorities are at it, they might look into his repeated use of his radio program to promote his own state House candidacy before Nov. 8. Under Illinois election law, donated time on public airwaves for a candidates promotion constitutes an in-kind campaign donation and must be reported on required campaign finance reports. Romanik made no such declaration. A new report by the human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Syrias government has summarily executed 13,000 prisoners since the start of the civil war in 2011, which would constitute war crimes on a shocking scale. Not even Saddam Hussein at his worst as Iraqs dictator inflicted such a stunning toll of carnage against his own people, yet his abysmal human rights record helped justify the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Americans from all political perspectives should be alert to President Donald Trumps response, given his campaign position of downplaying the significance of civilian casualties if it meant advancing the war on terrorist groups such as the Islamic State. As shocking as the Islamic States record is, Syrian dictator Bashar Assads record appears far worse. Trump has suggested a new calculus in which concerns over so-called collateral damage the death and injury of civilians caught in the fire are downplayed if it means defeating the enemy. The government of Yemen announced Tuesday it was revoking permission for U.S. Special Operations forces to conduct missions in that country after a Jan. 29 raid caused heavy civilian casualties. Amnesty interviewed 84 witnesses, including former detainees, judges, lawyers, former guards and officials at Syrias Saydnaya military prison. The witnesses consistently described torture and systematic starvation. Every week, and often twice a week, groups of 50 people were taken out of their prison cells and hanged to death, the report stated. An additional 17,000 people have died in other prisons across Syria since 2011, the report added. Amnesty described the conditions at Saydnaya as deliberately inflicted to maximize suffering as part of a policy of extermination. Assad faced massive civil resistance starting in 2011 as the Arab Spring revolts inspired thousands of Syrians to protest against five decades of Baath Party dictatorship. Assad responded with mass arrests of non-combatants and harsh military force. The resulting civil war has cost more than 400,000 lives, according to U.N. estimates. Amnestys report, if confirmed, places the Trump administration in a quandary. It is seeking improved relations with Russia in hopes of forming an alliance to defeat the Islamic State, whose fighters swarmed into Syria to take advantage of the security vacuum when rebels forced the Assad government into retreat. Without Russian military intervention, combined with a government campaign of slaughter and indiscriminate bombings of civilians, the Assad government would be history by now. President Vladimir Putin stalled sanctions after Syrian forces repeatedly unleashed chemical weapons. Trumps obsession with defeating the Islamic State is not misguided. The group absolutely poses a severe threat to international stability. Its a question of proportionality. Assads record for inflicting terror and supporting it in other countries certainly deserves Trumps equal condemnation. The op-ed The ever-darkening shadow of Monsanto-fueled superweeds (Jan. 25) presented a critical view of the herbicide dicamba and Monsantos release of Xtend soybean and cotton seeds, which were developed with Monsantos best germplasm designed to increase crop yields and provide resistance to dicamba and other herbicides. Dicamba, registered in 1967, has a 50-year documented history of safe use when applied according to label directions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extensively reviewed dicamba, and continues to approve products containing dicamba, something it cannot do unless it determines those products to be safe when used according to label directions. Dicamba is just one herbicide farmers use in their ongoing battle against weeds. A critical key to success in agriculture is managing weeds that compete with crops for water, sunlight and nutrients, essential components of growth. Today, as much as 40 percent of the worlds potential harvests are lost to damaging pests, including weeds. Without modern crop protection tools, including herbicides, these losses could double. That is why a weed killer like dicamba is so important in todays agricultural landscape. Most farmers, including those who use both organic and conventional methods, use responsibly some type of EPA-regulated pesticide to keep weeds, insects and plant diseases from hurting their crops. But it doesnt stop at one method. Overusing any one tool, no matter how well that tool works, can lead to resistant weeds. For that reason, farmers need to utilize multiple tools. As farmers continued to battle weeds, we heard from customers that they needed new resources to help in that fight. That was the focus of our work: delivering farmers new tools to aid in their efforts, including the recently approved dicamba herbicide XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology. For the first time this growing season, farmers in several states will have access to this new herbicide for in-crop use with dicamba-tolerant Xtend cotton and soybean products. Building on existing technology, we spent years developing XtendiMax. As we do with any new tool, we tested, trialed, evaluated and consulted on this product, generating extensive sets of data under real field conditions to understand how it could perform. The EPA then extensively evaluated the safety of XtendiMax. Contrary to the op-eds claim, the EPA did not fast track XtendiMax for approval. The agency spent nearly seven years reviewing and analyzing data and research conducted on the product, and it was only following that stringent review that the EPA issued a label for the herbicide. This is the same process the EPA takes with any pesticide. They conduct an extensive, science-based evaluation before approving any pesticide, assessing factors like risk, safety and effects to human health and the environment. The EPA considers new information on an ongoing basis and periodically reviews prior registrations. EPA can neither approve nor re-register a pesticide unless it determines it is safe to use according to label directions. The op-ed claims that some farmers made illegal applications of dicamba to their Xtend crops prior to EPA issuing a label for XtendiMax, and that those illegal applications then drifted off-site and caused harm to other farmers crops. As the op-ed noted, those applications were illegal, and Monsanto specifically warned farmers purchasing Xtend seeds prior to approval of XtendiMax not to spray dicamba over those crops. The op-ed also references unproven allegations made in a lawsuit. It does not serve the agriculture industry, farmers or consumers to base discussions regarding new agricultural tools on unfounded allegations. As agriculture and pests have evolved, weve continued our commitment to providing new crop protection tools that aid farmers to have more successful harvests. Farmers are, after all, the lifeblood of our company, and for many of us, they are also our family members, friends and neighbors. Each innovation and new technology we develop is designed to provide the tools that offer farmers the best chance for success. Ty Witten is the crop protection lead at Monsanto. The world has lost a great academic, whole hearted humanist, and creative artist. International health professor Hans Rosling, our global teacher on wealth, people and development, has passed away. This is a large loss. Nobody, in this world, filled the knowledge gap on the advancements in human wealth among the poorest nations, as he did. Nobody, communicated so powerfully and eloquently, with such sharpness and artistic bravado, the facts of the demographic transition, the positive tipping point of drastic decline in fertility rates among women in Africa, as he did. Nobody, could combine statistics with razor sharp critique and unforgettable jokes and farce, as Hans. Nobody argued so convincingly against the population explosion and irreversible poverty, as he did. Nobody, in fact, could convey so much hope, for human wealth and dignity among the world's poor nations, as he could. He translated statistics into facts. Facts into insights, and insights into emotion and values. No wonder he was received, almost as an enlightened academic Messiah, in a world that is so dominated by darkness. Hans was a respected scholar on the big global stages. He had his feet deeply rooted in the African reality, after years in Mozambique and more recently active engagement in the fight against Ebola. He was Sweden's most frequent TED global speaker, a World Economic Forum plenary actor, advisor to heads of state and global philanthropists, like Bill Gates. Media often portrayed him as an icon and popstar. But that just shows how little they knew him. Hans had only one goal - to contribute to a better world. To enlighten our minds on the potential of young girls in Nigeria, and ensure that we are not stuck in an erroneous world view dated 1960. He saw media as his tool, a trampoline for knowledge sharing and deep insights. Never, as a way to make himself known. Ask any cigar smoker what are the ingredients in a handmade cigar, and the answer will probably be something along the lines of this: 100% tobacco leaves (maybe theyll also note vegetable glue, a small amount of which is used to attach the wrapper). This is without a doubt true, and lets hope the FDA agrees, but when it comes to making cigars arguably the most critical ingredient is water, or more specifically moisture. You dont have to be an expert in cigars to know humidity matters. A cigar that is too dry loses flavor and burns too hot, while a cigar kept in too much humidity may be bitter, burn poorly, and risks mold in storage. But the importance of water and moisture starts long before the cigar is rolled or ready to be smoked. Last week, I spent a few days visiting General Cigars facilities in the Dominican Republic. (Each of the photographs comes from the visit.) Ive visited cigar factories many times but, by starting this tour on the farm before going to the leaf processing facility and then finally the factory, it drove home the importance of controlling moisture to make an enjoyable final product. From seedling until harvest, of course, a tobacco plant needs water. After leaves are primed (removed one leaf at a time, first from the bottom of the plant then, over time, upwards to the top) the work of preparing the tobacco begins. After harvest, green tobacco leaves go into curing barns where the the goal is removing the moisture, as well as the chlorophyll that makes leaves green. (Candela wrappers use a different curing process that locks in the green color.) When tobacco enters the curing barn, its moisture content is around 85%. After hanging upside down for four to six weeks (either sewn onto a rope or fastened to a wooden pole), the moisture level drops to around 30%. Some producers will use small fires in the barn to bring down humidity levels in what are generally high humidity tropical climates. At this point, the leaves are ready to be sorted and prepared for fermentation. After curing, the tobacco leaves begin to look like the tobacco youll find in the cigars in your humidor. It isnt ready to made into handmade cigars yet, though. The critical next step is fermentation, sometimes referred to as sweating the tobacco. In fermentation, tobacco cooks by being stacked in a way that pressure, along with natural microbes, break down the tobacco and generate heat. Hands (a bunch of four to six leaves) of tobacco leaves are stacked in piles, often as high as six feet, where the middle particularly begins to rise in temperature. Temperature is closely monitored. If the tobacco gets too hot (140 F, perhaps lower depending on the type of leaf) it will overcook. Over time, the tobacco is rotated to ensure even fermentation. By the time fermentation is completed, taste, aroma, and combustion are improved, while the harshness of nicotine, sugar, and ammonia are reduced as proteins breakdown. True maduro wrappers, as opposed to those that rely on artificial coloring, come from a longer, more intense fermentation process that creates a darker, richer color. At this point, the tobaccos are ready to be rolled into cigars. That said, some companies will age their tobaccos further (one to three years is not abnormal), the especially wrappers. This can be described as low level fermentation. For select tobaccos, aging in barrels (especially rum barrels) is another common technique to add even more complex and rich flavors. Even as cigars are being rolled, proper moisture is key. Wrappers, in particular, are frequently moistened to make them more pliable and durable. Later, after the cigars are bunched and rolled, they go into aging rooms where moisture is again key. In the aging room, cigars release excess ammonia and equalize moisture levels between the filler, binder, and wrapper tobaccos. After at least a few weeks in the aging room, cigars are ready to smoke. But, in order to remain ready to smoke weeks later, moisture content must remain stable between 65% and 70% relative humidity throughout shipping to your cigar shop and, eventually, to your home humidor, where Boveda packs or your humidification device of choice keeps humidity stable. As you can see, controlling moisture from start to finish may be the single most important aspect to cigar production. The best tobacco without proper curing and fermentation will produce bad cigars. Only time, tobacco, and proper moisture control can produce a fine cigar. Patrick S photo credits: Stogie Guys Atlantic Endeavour's crew cross the finish line in Antigua having rowed the Atlantic THE all-female team of four, Atlantic Endeavour, have crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, known as the worlds toughest row. United by a passion for adventure, the girls finished the epic crossing in 55 days, 13 hours and 29 minutes. Sarah Hornby, aged 31, Kate Hallam, 33, Becky Charlton, 28, and Charlotte Best, from Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club, aged 30, arrived in English Harbour, Antigua on Tuesday evening, greeted by their family and friends. From colliding with a shark to enduring tropical storms, Atlantic Endeavour overcame their worries and the waves to complete this elemental challenge. Atlantic Endeavour burnt around 8,000 calories a day and lost approximately 20 per cent of their body weight over the duration of the race, which started on 14th December 2016, from La Gomera in the Canary Islands. They endured sleep deprivation, sweltering heat and the psychological stresses of living and working in such an unpredictable environment. They were raising money for Mind UK and Women for Women International. Stratford Boat Club's Charlotte Best, front centre, with the Atlantic Endeavour team. Philosopher and writer, A C Grayling, will officially launch Stratford4Europe next month. A PRO-EU group is to be launched in Stratford-upon-Avon. Stratford4Europe claims it has surveyed local people and that many who voted to leave back in June now wanted to remain in the EU. The district voted by 51.6 per cent to 48.6 per cent in favour of leaving the EU in last year's referendum. Stratford-on-Avon MP Nadhim Zahawi was also pro-leave. Philosopher and writer, A C Grayling, will officially launch Stratford4Europe at a public meeting at the Stratford School on Wednesday, 1st March, at 7pm. Leaders will meet with Mr Zahawi two days after the launch. Jonathan Baker, chairman of its Steering Group, said: "There is growing evidence, nationally and locally, of a swing in public opinion towards remaining in the EU. "There is every likelihood that more and more people will change their views when it becomes clearer exactly what Brexit means in terms of its impact on both this countrys economy and its future security." Entry to the launch meeting is free, but tickets must be booked at HERE Read what Mr Zahawi thinks would be a good Brexit in part two of our interview with him in Thursday's Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. Download an e-edition on Thursday morning HERE A sign is displayed in the reception of Goldman Sachs in Sydney, Australia, May 18, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo By Maiya Keidan and Olivia Oran NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), which opened in 2008 with one of the biggest launches in hedge fund history, is folding its London operations into the United States and shifting staff members to New York, four sources told Reuters. About eight staff members who made up the London team were recently told to move to the Battery Park City headquarters of Goldman Sach Group Inc (NYSE: GS) in lower Manhattan or find a new job internally, the sources said. A Goldman spokesman confirmed the move but not the details, adding that the reasons for the staff shift were not related to Brexit. "This is a discrete decision for reasons specific to GSIP, one investment team within Goldman Sachs, and shouldnt be construed as anything but that," he said. The move was triggered by managing director Nick Advani, who led the hedge fund's London operations, the sources said. He said in June he would be stepping down from his role, they said, requesting anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media. Advani, now an advisory director at Goldman, did not respond to requests for comment. Advani is expected to leave the firm later this year, the sources said. Managing director Raluca Ragab, who had been formally leading the London-based team since Advani's departure, will also leave Goldman once the move is complete, one of the sources said. Ragab's departure is for personal reasons, one of the sources added. Multi-strategy hedge fund GSIP launched in November 2008 with $7 billion in assets, one of the largest hedge fund launches at the time. GSIP, run globally by co-heads Raanan Agus and Kenneth Eberts, sits within Goldman's asset management division. But a focus on value investing with around 20 positions mainly in equities became more challenging in recent years, a former employee told Reuters. GSIP's Global Long Short Partners Offshore fund posted losses of 8.2 percent in the year to end-September in 2016 after small gains of 1.5 percent in 2015, according to an investor letter reviewed by Reuters. Last September, three of the fund's top five credit positions were in the Europe Middle East and Africa region, according to the letter. GSIP's assets fell in 2014 after Goldman pulled out $2.8 billion in response to the U.S. Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the Volcker rule, which restricted banks' proprietary trading. The fund now manages around $3.5 billion. Separately, Goldman may move up to 1,000 staff out of London in response to Britain's vote to leave the European Union, it was reported last month. (Reporting by Maiya Keidan in London and Olivia Oran ia New York, additional reporting by Carolyn Cohn and Simon Jessop; Editing by Tom Brown and David Gregorio) WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced the arrest this week of Dr. Eugene Sickle, a South African citizen, for money laundering. OIG Special Agents apprehended Dr. Sickle in Washington, D.C. for offenses committed in relation to USAID-supported HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa. Dr. Sickle, who had served as Deputy Executive Director for the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI) program, resigned from his position last year following the discovery of his potential involvement in the submission of fraudulent documents to WRHI by a third party. USAID staff reported Dr. Sickle's resignation and evidence of questionable costs charged to USAID awards to the USAID OIG. OIG opened an investigation, which remains ongoing. "I commend the work of our Special Agents in making today's arrest and thank our federal law enforcement partners for their assistance and support," said Ann Calvaresi Barr, USAID Inspector General. "Any fraud in U.S. foreign assistance programs is unacceptable, but fraud in global health programs is all the more troubling. Programs to help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS offer critical support to people around the world and OIG will continue to aggressively protect their integrity." In 2012, USAID awarded WRHI three cooperative agreements worth nearly $77 million to help strengthen treatment programs for HIV/AIDS patients and support the South African Government to develop, implement, and evaluate plans to treat at-risk populations. USAID OIG is conducting the investigation and effected this week's arrest in concert with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. OIG conducts independent oversight of U.S. foreign assistance programs that fall under USAID, as well as the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the U.S. African Development Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. As part of its mandate, OIG investigates allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse and operates a complaint hotline. Anyone with information about violations of law, rules, or regulations or mismanagement of agency programs or funds is urged to contact OIG. Telephone+1 (800) 230-6539 or +1 (202) 712-1023 Email[email protected] Online, via OIG's public web sitehttp://oig.usaid.gov Information reported to OIG is treated in confidence and OIG protects the identity of each person providing information to the maximum extent provided by law. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/south-african-man-arrested-for-laundering-hivaids-program-funds-300404333.html SOURCE USAID/OIG The Austrian parliament is seen in Vienna, Austria, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's parliament said on Tuesday that a Turkish hackers' group had claimed responsibility for a cyber attack that brought down its website for 20 minutes this weekend. Aslan Neferler Tim (ANT), or Lion Soldiers Team, whose website says it defends the homeland, Islam, the nation and flag, without any party political links, claimed the attack, a parliamentary spokeswoman said. Relations between Turkey and Austria soured last year after President Tayyip Erdogan cracked down on dissent following a failed coup, and Vienna has since made a solo charge within the European Union for accession talks to be dropped. On its Facebook page on Sunday afternoon, above a screenshot indicating the website was not loading, ANT said in Turkish: "Our reaction will be harsh in response to this racism of Austria against Muslims!!! (Parliament down)." ANT says it has carried out "operations" against the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Austrian central bank and an Austrian airport. An Interior Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that an investigation had begun into the cyber attack and, declining to elaborate further, noted that no data had been lost. A parliamentary spokeswoman said: "ANT has claimed responsibility." When asked if ANT was responsible, she said: "We assume so." The website was brought down after the server was flooded with service requests, a so-called DDoS-attack, similar to an attack last November that targeted the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries' websites, a statement from parliament said. DDoS attacks are among the most common cyber threats. One such attack targeted the European Commission's computers in November. The Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was also recently the target of a cyber attack. (The story was refiled to remove references to the group being Islamist) (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla, Francois Murphy in VIENNA and Daren Butler in ISTANBUL; Editing by Louise Ireland) Argentine President Mauricio Macri (L) and his Brazilian counterpart Michel Temer exchange documents after a meeting at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil February 7, 2017. REUTERS/Adriano Machado By Alonso Soto BRASILIA (Reuters) - The leaders of Brazil and Argentina said on Tuesday they would pursue closer ties with Mexico and other Latin American nations alarmed by U.S. President Donald Trump's promises to tear apart trade deals and build a wall to protect American jobs. In a state visit to Brasilia, Argentina President Mauricio Macri said that South American regional trade bloc Mercosur would focus on strengthening its relationship with Mexico, Latin America's second-largest economy after Brazil. Trump has abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal that aimed to bolster trade between 12 Pacific Rim nations, including Mexico, Chile and Peru. In his campaign to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States, Trump has also threatened to slap higher taxes on U.S. companies opening new plants abroad and promised to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Tensions are running particularly high with Mexico after Trump ordered the construction of a wall along its 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border with the United States to stop illegal immigration. Those moves were hailed by Macri, who came to power in 2015 on a business-friendly program, and his Brazilian counterpart Michel Temer as an opportunity to deepen trade ties within Latin America, long overshadowed by Washington's economic might. "This change in scenario will make Mexico turn to the South with more conviction," Macri said in a statement, after inking a series of small deals with Temer, a centrist who assumed the presidency last year after the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff. Macri said he spoke with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Monday to discuss deepening cooperation between Mexico and Mercosur and wished him good luck in his dealings with the United States. DITCHING PROTECTIONISM? Both Macri and Temer are seeking to open their countries - for decades considered among the most closed economies in the Western Hemisphere - in an effort to revive activity after years of recession. Some local trade experts say a potential rift between the United States and Mexico could open up space for Latin American nations. "Mexico represents a great opportunity for Brazil and the region," said Welber Barral, the former international trade secretary for Brazil from 2007 to 2011. "Mexico is a huge importer of agricultural products and its car industry could complement that of Brazil." Since 2015, Brazil, a major exporter of corn and soy, has been in bilateral negotiations with Mexico to increase commercial ties under a regional trade agreement. The trade flow between Latin America's biggest economies has dropped nearly 10 percent between 2012 and 2016 to $7.3 billion, roughly the size of commerce between Brazil and the much-smaller Chile. Both Macri and Temer also hope that the Mercosur can take advantage of the apparent change in the U.S. trade posture to close a free trade deal with the European Union in talks that have dragged on for more than a decade. After suspending socialist-led Venezuela from Mercosur last year following Caracas' persistent failure to meet entry requirements, Argentina and Brazil are gearing up to extend trade ties. Smaller neighbors Paraguay and Uruguay are also members of Mercosur. Tensions over market access, however, continue to dog the regional trade bloc. Although Buenos Aires is willing to discuss the entry of Brazilian sugar into its market, its move to increase tax benefits to local auto parts manufacturers has infuriated Brazilian rivals. In an interview with Brazilian newspapers published on Tuesday, Macri complained about his country's $4.3 billion trade deficit with Brazil. (Reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by Paul Simao and Dan Grebler) FILE PHOTO -- Shareholders line up to view Bombardier's CS300 aircraft following their annual general meeting in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo By Allison Lampert MONTREAL (Reuters) - The Canadian government on Tuesday announced C$372.5 million ($283 million) in repayable loans for two of Bombardier Inc's jet programs, promising to defend the deal against a potential trade challenge by Brazil. While the aid was far less than the $1 billion originally sought by the Canadian plane and train maker, Chief Executive Officer Alain Bellemare called it the right level of support, saying the company's financial situation had improved. The interest-free loans, which come from a Canadian aerospace and defense fund targeting research and development projects, will be used for Bombardier's new CSeries jet and the Global 7000 business jet. The contributions will be provided over four years with the majority allocated to the Global 7000 program and will not be repaid on a scheduled basis. The move risks exacerbating trade wounds with rival jetmaking nation Brazil, which has already threatened to take Canada to the World Trade Organization over a $1 billion injection by Quebec for the CSeries. Asked about the potential ramifications of the new aid, Canada Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said: "We'll fight that wherever we need to fight that." "I'm very much prepared to defend what we're doing," Champagne added, noting other countries supported their aerospace sectors. Bellemare said both the earlier funding from Quebec and the new federal money complied with WTO rules. Bombardier initially asked Canada to match Quebec's investment in the CSeries, but negotiations dragged on for more than a year as the Liberal government made requests of the company, such as changes to its dual-class governing structure. Quebec's spending on the CSeries, along with a separate $1.5 billion investment by the province's largest pension fund in Bombardier's rail division, already risks triggering a trade feud between the company and Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA . Brazil on Wednesday will request the WTO start consultations on a dispute involving the two companies around Quebec's funding, Brazil's Foreign Ministry said. Bombardier's CSeries competes with some Embraer jets and the smallest products of Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) and Airbus Group SE (NYSE: AIR). Reimbursable loans are a pillar of the world's largest trade dispute, involving mutual transatlantic claims of unfair support for aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing. The WTO found government loans used by European Union member states to support Airbus airplane developments constituted unfair subsidies, prompting the threat of U.S. sanctions. The case has yet to complete lengthy WTO legal and compliance processes. (Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris, Sweta Singh in Bangalore, David Ljunggren and Leah Schnurr in Ottawa; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Peter Cooney) By Saif Hameed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Japan has approved a loan of about $100 million to support humanitarian, counter-terrorism and infrastructure projects in Iraq, a Japanese embassy statement said on Tuesday. Japan last month agreed to lend Iraq up to 27.2 billion yen ($240 million) to rebuild damaged electricity infrastructure in areas recaptured from Islamic State. Iraq's government income, which comes almost exclusively from oil exports, fell sharply when crude prices tumbled three years ago. (Reporting by Saif Hameed) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Tuesday that materials found by two American hikers in Bolivia do not contain any data from missing data recorders from a plane that crashed in 1985 killing 29 people. Two U.S. hikers recovered several metal fragments in May, one damaged spool of magnetic tape and two additional off-spool sections of magnetic tape from Eastern Airlines Flight 980, NTSB said. The Boeing 727 jetliner crashed on Jan. 1, 1985 on approach to the airport in La Paz, Bolivia. The hikers recovered the material at the crash site on Mount Illimani, Bolivia about 25 miles from the airport. NTSB said its examination revealed no identifiable serial numbers, while one metal piece was identified as a cockpit voice recorder rack. Other metal pieces were consistent with parts from the flight data recorder pressurized container assembly. The magnetic tape on the spool was 3/4-inch U-Matic videotape. NTSB identified it as an 18-minute recording of an episode of the 1960s television series "I Spy," dubbed in Spanish. The plane, which was traveling at night from Asuncion, Paraguay to La Paz, veered off course and crashed at about 19,600 feet on Mt. Illimani, a 21,000-ft. Andean peak. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a 1999 report that "investigators speculate the flight crew were maneuvering to avoid weather in the vicinity, and that impact occurred with the aircraft in cruise configuration, in a shallow descent." A climbing expedition in the summer of 1985 was unable to retrieve the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. The climbers said in a blog post on Tuesday they were disappointed in the NTSB findings. "Whos next to go up Illimani to recover these boxes? Let us know in the comments if youre going and wed be more than willing to help with planning. Turns out this mystery is still very much from solved," they wrote. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (L) and Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite attend a ceremony to welcome the German battalion being deployed to Lithuania as part of NATO deterrence measures against Russia in Rukla, Lithuania February 7, By Andrius Sytas and Andrea Shalal RUKLA, Lithuania (Reuters) - Germany and NATO on Tuesday underscored their commitment to beefing up the defense of eastern Europe's border with Russia as the first of four new batallions under the North Atlantic alliance's banner arrived in Lithuania. In moves agreed last year under former U.S. President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels unprecedented since the Cold War, prompted by Russia's annexation of Crimea and accusations - denied by Moscow - that it is supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. The German-led battle group of 1,000 troops in Lithuania will be joined this year by a U.S-led deployment in Poland, British-led troops in Estonia and Canadian-led troops in Latvia. They will add to smaller rotating contingents of U.S troops. Doubts about the U.S. commitment to NATO have surfaced since the election of President Donald Trump, who has described NATO allies as "very unfair" for not contributing more financially to the alliance. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Europe realized it needed to strengthen defense cooperation and was doing more to solve its own problems. She also said U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis reassured her about Washington's commitment to NATO in a recent telephone call. "After what we discussed, I have no doubt about his deep conviction in the importance of NATO and the commitment of the Americans within NATO to what we have agreed," she said at a welcoming ceremony at Lithuania's Rukla military base, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Russian border.Von der Leyen is due to hold her first meeting with Mattis in Washington on Friday. In a phone call on Sunday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump agreed to meet alliance leaders in Europe in May. Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite said the German battalion was arriving "(at) the right place and at the right time," adding she hoped the troops' stay would be peaceful. A NATO official said the NATO forces would participate in a major exercise in eastern Europe in June. A second official said it would include a simulated nuclear attack. There are no end dates for stay of the new contingents, which will rotate every six months partly to comply with NATO's 1997 promise to Russia to avoid "permanent stationing of substantial combat forces" in Central and Eastern Europe. German officials said the battalion in Lithuania, which includes over 200 tanks and other ground vehicles, will be fully formed by June 2017, including troops from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Luxembourg. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Andrius Sytas; editing by John Stonestreet) BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian government and rebel groups swapped dozens of women prisoners and hostages, some of them with their children, in Hama province on Tuesday evening, a monitor and a rebel official said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, said government representatives and rebels exchanged 112 people, including 24 children, in the rebel-held Qalaat al-Madiq town in rural Hama. Many had been detained for years. About half the women were released from government prisons and then taken to opposition-held areas, the Observatory said. In return, the others, along with three unidentified men, were set free by various rebel groups and shuttled to government-controlled areas along the coast. This kind of exchange was rare in the nearly six-year-old war, but had been occurring more often in recent months, the Observatory said. The war pits President Bashar al-Assad's government, backed by Russia and Iran, against an array of mostly Sunni rebel groups, including some backed by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies. Mohamad Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaysh al-Nasr rebel group based in Hama, said a civilian committee that negotiates such exchanges with the government oversaw the swap on Tuesday. The prisoners on both sides included children, he said, and "some of the women had given birth while detained". Most of the hostages released by rebels were from the coastal Latakia province, the heartland of Assad's minority Alawite sect, and had been held since 2013, Rasheed said. Some of the prisoners set free by the government had been detained since the start of the uprising in 2011, he added. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people, made more than half of Syrians homeless and created the world's worst refugee crisis. (Reporting by Ellen Francis; Editing by Ralph Boulton) Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with Venezuelan state television TeleSUR in Damascus, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA on September 26, 2013. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said U.S. President Donald Trump prioritizing the fight against jihadists led by Islamic State was promising although it was too early to expect any practical steps, state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday. The Kremlin, Assad's most powerful ally, said Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed setting up "genuine coordination" in the fight against Islamic State and "other terrorist groups" in Syria during a phone call last month. Assad was quoted by SANA as telling a group of Belgian reporters that Trump's position was promising. "I believe this is promising but we have to wait and it's too early to expect anything practical," he said. Assad was also quoted as saying that U.S-Russian cooperation in stepping up the fight against the militants would have positive repercussions. Trump has previously indicated he might cut U.S. support for Syrian rebels that have been fighting Assad, and that he could cooperate with Russia in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Trump has made defeating Islamic State a core goal of his presidency and signed an executive order asking the Pentagon, the joint chiefs of staff and other agencies to submit a preliminary plan on how to proceed within 30 days. (This story has been refiled to remove reference to Trump indicating he might cooperate with Syria, replaces with reference to Trump indicating he could cooperate with Russia in Syria.) (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo; Editing by Louise Ireland) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during an opening ceremony in Mersin, Turkey, February 3, 2017. Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks on Tuesday to vote in favor of strengthening the presidency in a referendum, saying failure to do so would encourage militant groups trying to divide the nation. Erdogan said he was still evaluating a parliamentary bill on constitutional changes to create an executive presidential system in Turkey and would give a response this week. Once Erdogan approves the bill, a referendum will be held most likely in April, which, if passed, could lead to him holding office until 2029. "I believe my people will never give a positive sign to Qandil, Imarali, and those terrorizing out country," he told a news conference. He was referring to the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq, where the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group has bases, and to the island prison of Imrali, where its leader has been jailed since 1999. Erdogan accuses members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which opposes the executive presidency, of links to the PKK, deemed a terrorist organization by the European Union and United States. Erdogan has cast the stronger presidency as needed by Turkey at a time when it is fighting Islamic State, the PKK, and after a failed coup. Turkey blames the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, which it calls the Gulenist Terrorist Organization (FETO), for the coup attempt and has sought to shut it down at home and abroad. Visiting Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome Wirtu said he would shut down Gulen's schools and hand them over to Turkey's Maarif (Education) Foundation. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Angus MacSwan) FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of February HSBC Holdings plc 42nd Floor, 8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ, England (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F). Form 20-F X Form 40-F ...... (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes....... No X (If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ...............). 8 February 2017 HSBC HOLDINGS PLC FINAL RESULTS AND FOURTH INTERIM DIVIDEND FOR 2016 Pursuant to Rule 13.43 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, notice is given that a meeting of Directors of HSBC Holdings plc will be held on 21 February 2017 (the 'Board Meeting') to consider the announcement of the final results for the year ended 31 December 2016 and the declaration of a fourth interim dividend for 2016 on the ordinary shares. Subject to the approval and confirmation at the Board Meeting, the fourth interim dividend for 2016 will be payable on 6 April 2017 to holders of record on 24 February 2017 on the Principal register in the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Overseas Branch register or the Bermuda Overseas Branch register. The ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend in London, Hong Kong, Paris and Bermuda on 23 February 2017. The American Depositary Shares will be quoted ex-dividend in New York on 22 February 2017. Any person who has acquired ordinary shares registered on the Principal register in the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Overseas Branch register or the Bermuda Overseas Branch register but who has not lodged the share transfer with the Principal registrar, Hong Kong or Bermuda Overseas Branch registrar should do so before 4.00pm local time on 24 February 2017 in order to receive the dividend. DIVIDEND ON 6.20% NON-CUMULATIVE US DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES, SERIES A ('SERIES A DOLLAR PREFERENCE SHARES') In 2005, 1,450,000 Series A Dollar Preference Shares were issued for a consideration of US$1,000 each, and Series A American Depositary Shares, each of which represents one-fortieth of a Series A Dollar Preference Share, were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. A non-cumulative fixed-rate dividend of 6.20% per annum is payable on the Series A Dollar Preference Shares on 15 March, 15 June, 15 September and 15 December 2017 for the quarter then ended at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of HSBC Holdings plc. Accordingly, the Board of HSBC Holdings plc has declared a dividend of US$0.3875 per Series A American Depositary Share for the quarter ending 15 March 2017. The dividend will be payable on 15 March 2017 to holders of record on 28 February 2017. Any person who has acquired Series A American Depositary Shares but who has not lodged the transfer documentation with the depositary should do so before 12 noon on 28 February 2017 in order to receive the dividend. For and on behalf of HSBC Holdings plc Ben J S Mathews Group Company Secretary The Board of Directors of HSBC Holdings plc as at the date of this announcement are: Douglas Flint, Stuart Gulliver, Phillip Ameen , Kathleen Casey , Laura Cha , Henri de Castries , Lord Evans of Weardale , Joachim Faber , Sam Laidlaw , Irene Lee , John Lipsky , Rachel Lomax , Iain Mackay, Heidi Miller , Marc Moses, David Nish , Jonathan Symonds , Jackson Tai , Pauline van der Meer Mohr and Paul Walsh . Independent non-executive Director Note to editors: HSBC Holdings plc HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 4,400 offices in 71 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,557bn at 30 September 2016, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. ends/all SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Uranium Energy Corp Issues Shareholder Letter and CEO Presentation Corpus Christi, TX, February 7, 2017 - Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE MKT: UEC, the "Company") is pleased to provide the following letter to its shareholders from President and CEO, Amir Adnani. Dear Shareholder, On behalf of management and the board of directors, I am pleased to report our 2017 outlook for the Company. Before all else, I want you to know how much I appreciate your support as a shareholder and your confidence in management. Thank you! A corner is turning in the uranium market. You can see this in the improving price for spot uranium which is up over 40 % in just two months. Several factors are contributing to major change: I believe the best place to start is a video link, provided below, to a short presentation I recently delivered, addressing the latest positive developments in the uranium market as well as UEC's strategy, current activities and milestones. http://www.uraniumenergy.com/featured-video/ On the supply side of the uranium market , in late 2016 the uranium price dropped to a 12-year low and made many industry analysts question when we would see more production cuts by major producers. It didn't take long, and in early January 2017 the world's largest uranium miner, Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan's national uranium company that produces 40% of the world's annual supply , announced a 10% reduction in uranium production. This single action will reduce global output by approximately 4%, and comes on the heels of previous production cutbacks announced by other uranium producers in 2016. On the demand side , the global growth in nuclear power capacity is clear with 60 reactors under construction worldwide. Over 20 mega-cities in Asia are facing serious air pollution crises which cannot be resolved without emission-free baseload electricity generation that only nuclear power provides. Additionally, US utilities are expected to significantly increase their spot market and long term contracting in 2017 to fill their near-term and long-term uranium requirements. The last major contracting cycle occurred in the 2005-2010 period, with many of those contracted commitments rolling off today. That period saw the uranium price react strongly and reach all-time highs. The new US Administration takes energy independence seriously. Far and away, the most foreign-dependent US energy sector is imported uranium for nuclear power. US nuclear power accounts for 64% of the country's clean air electricity. The US imports 95% of its uranium, much of it from countries with elevated geopolitical risk. Domestically mined US uranium is taking on an entirely new and urgent strategic significance to American interests and energy security. The recent appointment of Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, as US Secretary of Energy, demonstrates the new administration's interests in developing clear pro-active measures to transform US energy policy. UEC's 12-year history coincided with Governor Perry's policies to expand energy industries in Texas. During his tenure as Governor we made significant progress, permitting two ISR uranium mines, achieving uranium production in late 2010, and making a new discovery at our Burke Hollow Project in Bee County, Texas. UEC is fortunate to have a senior management team possessing a wealth of experience in both US and international uranium mining and government policy. Spencer Abraham, our executive chairman, served as the tenth US Energy Secretary in the George W. Bush Administration, devising and successfully implementing the first national energy policy in the US since the 1980's. Our Executive VP, Scott Melbye and Senior Advisor, Harry Anthony are past and current Presidents of the Uranium Producers of America, respectively. Mr. Melbye is a 30-year veteran of the uranium industry and in recent years has provided expert testimony to the House Oversight Committee on domestic uranium issues. Ideally Positioned As market forces unfold, UEC is strategically positioned to help fill the growing demand for uranium with licensed, low-cost operations in stable jurisdictions and a strong balance sheet. The Company has the infrastructure advantage with our fully licensed, state-of-the-art Hobson Processing Plant and a focus on a low-cost, environmentally friendly method of uranium extraction (ISR or In-Situ Recovery). To learn more about the ISR mining method, please visit this video on our website: http://www.uraniumenergy.com/projects/isr-mining. Utilizing the ISR method, we are positioned to be among the lowest cost producers in the industry. UEC is unique in being a 100% unhedged producer, as we have purposefully avoided restrictive contracting and price ceilings with utilities during the bottom of the price cycle. This will give our investors maximum leverage and reward as uranium prices move higher. To fulfill this strategy and due to the weakness in uranium prices over the last few years, we undertook a strategic decision to place uranium extraction on stand-by to preserve our resources, while capitalizing on this period to grow our asset base and advance our key projects through permitting. As the market improves, we are ready to re-start our operations quickly when pricing is favorable. Lastly, we have a solid balance sheet as required to be a leading player in the coming uranium bull market. Last month, we completed an over-subscribed $26 million financing with strong interest from existing and new shareholders. South Texas Hub-and-Spoke Operations UEC is executing a 'hub-and-spoke strategy' in South Texas where the Company controls five wholly-owned, ISR projects surrounding our Hobson processing plant with its two-million-pound-per-year capacity. Of the five projects, Palangana is permitted, built and production-ready. Goliad is fully permitted for extraction within its first production area. Burke Hollow is expanding in scale while progressing towards final permitting for initial production. Of note, Burke Hollow is a new discovery made by our exploration team in 2012 and, since that time, we have drilled over 500 holes to define the current resource*. We have near-term plans to initiate a new drilling program at Burke Hollow of up to 100 delineation and resource* expansion holes. This drilling program will use our proprietary PFN drilling probes -- an innovative low-cost technology for drilling in the South Texas uranium belt. A study by the US Geological Survey ranks the South Texas Uranium Belt amongst the least explored and most prospective regions in the world for additional uranium discoveries. A Pipeline of Projects for Additional Expansion The Company controls an additional 6 projects in the southwestern US with assets such as the large Anderson Project in central Arizona and our Slick Rock Project in southwestern Colorado. In Paraguay, we maintain a district-scale potential with one of the largest in-situ recoverable property positions in the world with over 750,000 acres in exploitation and exploration licenses at our Yuty and Oviedo Projects. Total historic exploration expenditures are over $50 million and include ~100,000 meters of drilling. Additionally, UEC announced in March 2016, that the Company had entered into an agreement to acquire new non-uranium properties in Paraguay from CIC Resources. We are currently assessing several possible options to maximize shareholder value from this accretive acquisition, which is expected to be finalized in the coming months. These and other pipeline projects demonstrate that UEC is prepared, well positioned and highly leveraged to a higher price of uranium. For details of UEC's Project Portfolio including 43-101 Resource Reports * **, see the following section of our website: http://www.uraniumenergy.com/projects UEC Leadership in Our Industry Senior management is active and plays a leading role in shaping uranium policy in the US and other key international markets. Various members of our team act as advisors, speakers and board members for domestic and global uranium industry organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Nuclear Fuel Market, Nuclear Energy Institute, and the Uranium Producers of America. Thank you again for your confidence in management's strategy. We encourage and appreciate your ongoing support. Call me directly, or our Investor Relations department, with any questions or comments that you might have as the year ensues. Please call 1-866-748-1030 any time or email [email protected] . Visit our website at www.uraniumenergy.com to keep current on all our activities and be sure that you register your email there to receive the latest news. Yours truly, "Amir Adnani" President & CEO About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company. The Company's fully-licensed Hobson processing facility is central to all of its projects in South Texas, including the Palangana ISR mine, the permitted Goliad ISR project and the development-stage Burke Hollow ISR project. Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of advanced-stage projects in Arizona, Colorado and Paraguay. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. Contact Uranium Energy Corp Investor Relations at: Toll Free: (866) 748-1030 Fax: (361) 888-5041 E-mail: [email protected] Stock Exchange Information: NYSE MKT: UEC Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol: U6Z WKN: AJDRR ISN: US916896103 Safe Harbor Statement * The mineral resources referred to herein have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101 and are not compliant with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Industry Guide 7 guidelines. In addition, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to herein are economically or legally mineable. ** It must be stressed that the exploration targets referred to herein and their related projections of potential quantity and grade are extremely conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the ability to estimate uranium mineral resources. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this letter constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. 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 other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this letter. Israel faced international criticism on Tuesday over a new law allowing the appropriation of private Palestinian land for Jewish settler outposts, although the United States remained notably silent. Britain, France, the United Nations and Israels neighbour Jordan were among those coming out against the legislation passed late on Monday. The law legalises dozens of wildcat outposts and thousands of settler homes in the occupied West Bank and prompted a call by the Palestinians for the international community to punish Israel. Pro-Palestinian Israeli NGOs said they would ask the Supreme Court to strike down the law, while Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog warned the legislation could result in Israeli officials facing the International Criminal Court. France called the bill a new attack on the two-state solution, while Britain said it damages Israels standing with its international partners. Turkey strongly condemned the law and Israels unacceptable settlement policy and the Arab League accused Israel of stealing the land and appropriating the property of Palestinians. UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Nickolay Mladenov said the bill crossed a thick red line towards annexation of the West Bank the largest part of the Palestinian territories. [The law] opens the potential for the full annexation of the West Bank and therefore undermines substantially the two-state solution, he said. The United States, however, refused to comment, in stark contrast to the settlement criticism repeatedly voiced under Barack Obama. The State Department said President Donald Trumps new administration needs to have the chance to fully consult with all parties on the way forward. Separately to the new law, Israel has approved more than 6,000 settler homes since Trump took office on Jan 20 having signalled a softer stance on the issue than Obama. The law, which passed 60 to 52 in its final reading, will allow Israel to legally seize Palestinian private land on which Israelis built outposts without knowing it was private property or because the state allowed them to do so. Palestinian owners will be compensated financially or with other land. It would apply to around 53 outposts as well as some houses within existing settlements, potentially legalising more than 3,800 homes, according to anti-settlement NGO Peace Now, which called the law another step towards annexation and away from a two-state solution. The law could still be challenged, with Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman saying last week it was likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court. International law considers all settlements illegal, but Israel distinguishes between those it sanctions and those it does not, which are known as outposts. The new law would protect settlers against eviction from outposts discovered to have been built on private Palestinian lands such as in the case of Amona, where 42 families were evicted and their homes demolished in recent days at the order of the Israeli Supreme Court. Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi called for the international community to assume its moral, human and legal responsibilities and put an end to Israels lawlessness. The act marked the first time Israel applied its civil law to land in the West Bank recognised as Palestinian, said law professor Amichai Cohen. UN envoy Mladenov also raised the possibility of potential court cases in the International Criminal Court against Israeli officials. Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has also warned the government that the law may be unconstitutional and risks exposing Israel to international prosecution for war crimes. Human Rights Watch said the legislation reflects Israels manifest disregard of international law. Bezalel Smotrich of the far-right Jewish Home party, who was one of the forces behind the legislation, thanked the American people for electing Trump as president, without whom the law would have probably not passed. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said six of its staff have been killed and two are missing in northern Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan has significantly deteriorated in recent months. the country is suffering from the activity of the Taliban, a militant group formed in the 1990s, seeking to establish Sharia law in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and from other terrorist groups including the Daesh, banned in Russia and many other countries. Shocked and devastated. We confirm that 6 ICRC staff were killed and 2 are missing in Jawzjan province, #Afghanistan. Statement to follow. ICRC Afghanistan (@ICRC_af) February 8, 2017 "We confirm that six ICRC staff were killed and two are missing in Jawzjan province," the Red Cross said in a Twitter post, saying that it planned to issue a statement later. UPDATED 11.05AM: A Whakatane man has been arrested in connection to the shooting at an Eastern Bay of Plenty berry farm and cafe. The 26-year-old man is now assisting police with their inquiries into two robberies, including the attempted armed robbery of Julians Berry Farm in Whakatane, which both occurred on Tuesday. Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen says polices inquiries into the matter are continuing and there are still several people who officers yet to be spoken to. I would like to thank the members of the public who provided assistance in this matter, especially the witnesses at Julians Berry Farm and the owners of the business for their time and co-operation with police yesterday afternoon. Police can reassure the community that no one else is being sought in connection to yesterdays events. While no one was seriously injured, the attempted armed hold-up was a traumatising event for everyone involved and their willingness to help police is greatly assisting their investigation, says Greg. EARLIER: Police are still hunting an offender who wounded two people during an attempted armed robbery of an Eastern Bay of Plenty berry farm and cafe. A police spokesperson confirms no arrests have been made following the incident at Julians Berry Farm on Huna Road, Whakatane, on Tuesday. Police received several calls reporting a firearm had been discharged towards the floor during the armed incident shortly before 1.30pm. Two people were hit by pellets and were treated by ambulance at the scene for minor injuries. A concerned member of the public who spoke to SunLive yesterday believed his granddaughter, who worked at the berry farm and cafe, had been shot in the back by the offender. Anyone with information or who witnessed the attempted armed robbery of Julians Berry Farm on Huna Road, Whakatane, on Tuesday is being asked to contact their local police station. Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111. Associate Health Minister Peter Dunnes decision to delegate responsibility for all cannabis-based product prescriptions to the Ministry of Health represents a win for medicinal marijuana campaigners. However, local cannabis law reform advocate Glenn Grayston believes more can be done to relax the laws. Its a tentative step in the right direction. Of course it doesnt go nearly far enough. He believes an extract sold by a pharmaceutical company, such as Sativex, does not have the same therapeutic benefits as the whole plant. In a lot of cases, Sativex is effective and suitable, but there are many cases where the maximum benefit is from the whole plant. My view is probably a lot more radical than the mainstream, but I think people should be able to grow a couple plants for their own personal use. Thats where I see it heading. Glenn isnt a medicinal cannabis user himself. But when his father was suffering from extreme arthritis pain, he imported an expensive cannabis-based product from overseas to help. He also grew some plants himself. He had some fused vertebrae in his neck, which caused him a lot of pain. I grew a couple plants and made a whole-plant extract mixed with coconut oil and gave him that to manage his arthritis pain. It worked just as well as the expensive stuff I imported from overseas. He says theres a great deal of misinformation around cannabis, and doesnt think it deserves to be lumped in with other harder, synthetic drugs. People talk about methamphetamine and cannabis in the same breath, and theyre not the same. I believe meth is the most dangerous substance on the planet it comes from a laboratory. Im not religious person, but cannabis is a God-given herb and it does have healing benefits. Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has also declared his support for changes to the governments medicinal cannabis policy. I am fully supportive of moving the decision making away from politicians to the Ministry of Health, he says. Guidelines have been developed, consulted on, and simplified to allow specialists who are interested in accessing such products for their patients a clear, common-sense and unobstructed way to do so. He says his position comes from seeing people in his electorate who are suffering from chronic pain. They are not seeking these products for a recreational purpose. They are suffering, and deserve an opportunity for compassion and relief. A trial aimed at preventing tourists from leaving New Zealand with unpaid freedom camping fines appears to be making headway on the Coromandel. Since September 2016, Thames-Coromandel District Council have run the trial in partnership with Jucy Rentals and Tourism Holding Ltd, which operates the Maui, Britz and Mighty Campers brands. Under the trial, when an infringement is issued to a Tourism Holding Ltd or Jucy Rentals van the infringement is photocopied and invoiced to the hire company within 24 hours. When the hirer returns the van to either one of those companies, they are then asked to pay their fine, says a TCDC spokesperson. Since the trial began in late September last year, 16 infringements have been issued to people hiring Jucy Rental camping vehicles, with 12 of those infringements have been paid, two remain unpaid and another two are under appeal, Meanwhile, two infringements were issued to people hiring Tourism Holding Ltd camping vehicles over this same period. One infringement is under appeal while the other is still outstanding. TCDC will provide more information on the trial once it is completed at the end of the summer, adds the spokesperson. Queenstown Lakes District Council is also trialling the partnership model. UPDATED 10.53AM: The litle piggy who wondered off from a Welcome Bay school is now home. The Tauranga Waldorf School contacted SunLive earlier this week after the after the piglet went missing. Tauranga Waldorf School administrator Cathy Donnelly says the children were disappointed when they heard the news of the missing piglet. However, the piglet returned to the school overnight, returning a smile to the children of the school in the process. EARLIER: The children of Tauranga Waldorf School need your help to track down their wee little piglet, whos done a runner. The male saddleback piglet had only just arrived at the Welcome Bay school over the Waitangi long weekend, but had somehow managed to escape his enclosure on Monday afternoon. Weve got lots of disappointed children who are anxious to get this wee fella back home, says Tauranga Waldorf School administrator Cathy Donnelly. Were getting lots of spottings of the piglet around Welcome Bay, hes been seen in Ballintoy Park and Utopia Heights, and on Wednesday we had someone call saying theyd seen him on Estates Terrace. The small rural school with a roll of 200 pupils and 17 kindergarten children runs a little farm on its grounds which has cows, chickens, and usually, two pigs. Cathy says the older generation of pigs on their farm recently produced a piglet, so the school brought in another the wee little fella whos done a runner so they could breed the two. I dont know exactly how old he is, but it looks like hes not used to human contact. Our other piglet loves the children and will roll over and happily be scratched. But this one hasnt had time to build that relationship with us yet. Cathy says the small piglet is pretty fast so if you do manage to catch him then thats brilliant. But if you cant, could you please report any sightings of the piglet to the school. Hes obviously doing a little tiki-tour of the area, but we just cant seem to nab him. For his great escape efforts weve taken to calling him the Great Hamdini. If you spot Tauranga Waldorf Schools saddleback piglet please call 544-2452 or 027-513-3304. A simple suggestion on Facebook for a new feature at the Mount has locals buzzing on social media. Mount resident Stephanie-Jo Bevington was running around Mauao when she thought how great it would be to have an ocean pool somewhere at the base, or at Leisure Island. Ocean pools are popular in Australia, and involve walling off a section of the sea near the shoreline with concrete or rocks, to create a calm saltwater pool. Stephanie-Jo shared her idea on the Mount Maunganui Noticeboard page, and within a few hours had received more than 500 reactions and over 100 comments. She says the feedback has been mostly positive. There are obviously a few people concerned with the impact on the natural environment. But its just an idea I had. I thought it would be so nice to have a little pool to jump into, like they have in Australia. I think it would great for families with young children worried about swimming in the open sea. In Sydney theyre so popular, everyone hangs out by the pools. She says she was simply putting the idea out there to see what other people think. Itll be interesting to see what happens. Shes started a petition on toko.org.nz to get the council to look into it. However, Mayor Greg Brownless doubts it will get off the ground. Council receives all kind of ideas, usually from people wanting to spend other peoples money, which is what this is. We consider whatever comes up, although personally it wouldnt be a priority. He says with the different authorities involved, including iwi and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, gaining resource consent would also be a nightmare. He believes past experiences with these sorts of projects have not been successful. We had an artificial surf reef a few years ago. Think of what that cost the community, and what it achieved absolutely nothing. Where are the promoters of that now? Those responsible for it are nowhere to be found. He says the council would have to look at both the true support for an ocean pool, as well as the feasibility of such a project. But hes not much of a fan. I also prefer to leave things natural Im anti-concrete. A previous petition to Tauranga City Council, seeking to make Leisure Island a water fun park once more, was unanimously rejected by councillors in 2015. Now BMW have added a brand new flagship model to the 7 Series, featuring the companys much lauded M Performance package, and is billed as offering exceptional refinement and supreme power. Boasting a 12-cylinder 6.6-litre V12 petrol engine with M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology under the bonnet, the BMW M760Li xDrive can achieve 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. As for exterior appearance, elegant and sporty seems a fair description characteristics most evident in the cars 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke 760M design with matt Cerium Grey finish. The galvanised Cerium Grey finish for the kidney grille frame and the fronts of the grille bars, along with the front apron strip, are also a distinctive touch, while Air Breathers, side door trim elements and boot lid handle, all add colour accents. Other notable exterior features include the mirror caps, likewise in Cerium Grey, V12 badges on the C-pillars, the M logos on the sides of the car and the xDrive lettering and model badge at the rear. The now familiar BMW M Performance character is also present and correct inside the car. The exclusive M leather steering wheel carries the M logo, has Pearl Gloss Chrome multifunction buttons on its spokes and shift paddles for manual gear changes on the reverse. Last year, BMW unveiled an advanced new self-driving concept car at a gala ceremony held to mark its 100th anniversary at the companys first ever factory, now home to its Classic department, in Munich, Germany. A leading member of the Camorra mafia-style organisation was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning in Alhaurin de la Torre by National Police. The international fugitive , who is thought to be the right-hand man of the leader of the Camorra, is believed to be a prominent figure in the group's international drugs ring, trafficking cocaine and cannabis. He had apparently been leading illegal operations from Spain, acting as the direct contact for the organisations here being supplied with the drugs. For a desperate person who crosses the sea from Morocco in search of a better life, there is only the hope that the movement of the waves will stop on the other side of the Mediterranean. This is like Russian roulette, in which the bullets are the small rubber boats and the barrel of the revolver turns with the marine currents. They take this risk with about 50 other people, crammed together as they await the consolation of solid ground. Their relief is almost audible above the engine of the Maritime Rescue boat. Its occupants are the first to extend a hand to the immigrants who risk their lives at sea. They are the first link in the chain of urgent attention which these people receive in Spain, and as soon as they reach port Cruz Roja volunteers and lawyers from the Immigrant Representation Department take over. Maritime rescue is a difficult job and a busy one, because these boats are constantly being spotted close to the Malaga coast. In the first six days of January alone, 178 immigrants arrived in Malaga on board four small boats, when in the whole of 2014 the total only amounted to 89. This is a change which began last year, in 2016, when 750 people were rescued, an unprecedented figure in the past decade. Alejandro Rubio has been working in Maritime Rescue for 25 years and he knows well how the situation has been changing. "At first all the boats were made of wood and about 17 North Africans would travel in them, hoping we wouldn't spot them so they could reach the shore. Now they are rubber boats which are designed to take eight people at most. More than 50 travel in them, nearly all from the sub-Sahara." I was only afraid of having to go back, not of dying in the boat Ayoui grew up watching films on television which frequently showed what life in Europe was like. He spent his childhood in the company of his best friend, whose family is better off than his own, and who has now gone to live and study in Paris. Brother, you just have to see this, the young man from Ivory Coast told him after he arrived in the French capital. Ayouis dream is to meet up with his best friend again, to get away from the misery in which he lives in his own country, and to be able to study. Thats why he risked his life at sea, crowded on board a small boat. Protected by this fictitious name, Ayoui shares his story together with Pompidou (the name another young man has decided to use as a pseudonym). They were both in the last boat to have arrived in Malaga. It was the end of a long journey which will forever remain etched in their memories and also in their skin, after the burns they suffered when petrol from the boats motor came into contact with the salt water. Pompidou cant remember anything about the journey. Just after leaving Morocco he lost consciousness from hypothermia. What he does remember, though, is his family. The 14 brothers and sisters who lived in a small house in the capital of his country Yaunde, where he used to sell ballpoint pens every day to earn some money and buy food. With the small amount he managed to save, he embarked upon his dream of going to Europe. His long journey through African countries began nearly two years ago, but some of the hardest moments were in Morocco. There, he had to beg in order to eat. Ayouis trip to Morocco was quicker. His friend, who had been in Paris for a while, urged him to join him. He paid his air fare to the North African country and said that he would send the 1,000 euros he would need to get on the boat and try to reach Spain. However, months passed before he was able to find a way to do that. I used to sweep the entrances of houses and run errands so they would give me something to eat. I have been beaten up so badly I didnt think I would be able to go on, he explains. The two companions insist that they have never lost hope. They say that is what has guided them in their journey and what has kept them alive at every moment of their ordeal. I was only afraid I would have to go back, not of dying in the boat, says Ayoui. Now, they have fulfilled part of their dream. Ayoui wants to meet up with his friend again. Its difficult, because on the boat I lost everything I had. Clothes, mobile phone... But his face lights up with a huge smile when he thinks of the fact that now, at last, he will be able to study IT and electronics. Since he was young, Pompidou has dreamed of owning his own mechanical workshop. Maybe now Ill be able to earn the money to do that one day. Somewhere close to home, so I can see my family again, he says. Alejandro works on the Salvamar Alnitak, the Maritime Rescue boat which is based in Malaga port. He was a captain in the merchant navy and salt water runs through his veins in conjunction with the adrenaline from every rescue. Alejandro explains that they are on duty 24 hours a day, waiting for a phone call which makes them swing into action. They then go out to look for the boat and, once they have located it, try to save its occupants. That is the most dangerous moment. "They have been lost at sea for hours so they are pleased to see us. They stand up, and when we approach them they try to board our boat straight away," says Alejandro. The rescuers try to calm everyone down so that, when they are able to clamber on board, there is no danger. Then it is time to return to port, and the immigrants' joy at being rescued begins to mingle with other thoughts. "They are happy because they have survived, but sad because of the misery that led them to risk their lives at sea," says Alejandro. When they arrive in the city a Cruz Roja first aid post has always been set up. Laura Corral is one of the volunteers. She has spent just over a year helping people who have risked their lives in a small boat, treating the minor injuries they have sustained, such as small burns or bruises, and giving them assistance kits. If their injuries are more serious, they are taken to a hospital. Laura says the gratitude of these people makes her feel emotional: "It is very satisfying to give them a hand, even though deep down you know you haven't solved their problems." Elena Crespo feels the same. She is one of the team of lawyers from the Immigrant Representation Department who, every time one of these boats arrives in Malaga, set off to try to help the people on board in the best way they know: ensuring that their rights are respected. "It is a privilege and a great responsibility to attend to these people from the first moment. You have to welcome them in the way they deserve, because they have been through a great deal," she says. Elena knows that the vast majority of the immigrants she helps will spend some time in the Foreigners Internment Centres. "After all they have been through, they end up there... things should be organised differently," she says. Mug 2 James Pugliese Jr. (Provided photo) ILION, NY -A Utica man has been charged in connection with a December 2016 home invasion incident in which the homeowner shot and killed an armed intruder in Ilion in Herkimer county, llion police said. James N. Pugliese Jr., 42, of 7 Lin Road, Utica was charged Tuesday with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, both felonies, in connection with the home invasion incident, police said. Ilion Police Chief Tim Parisi said Pugliese is connected to the incident but was not physically present during the home invasion, which occurred on Richland Street in Ilion. Police previously said homeowner James M. Richards shot and killed Dasean E. Chastine of Utica as he attempted to rob his house. Chastine was armed, police said. The chief said he could not release any more details at this time. Pugliese was arraigned and remanded to the Herkimer County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. New York state police, Oneida County sheriffs office and Utica police assisted in the investigation. OSWEGO, N.Y. -- A beating inside an Oswego County bar left a former bartender bloodied, bruised and scarred. Surveillance footage shows the bartender, Jennie Fullington, getting kicked in the head, pushed and punched. Fullington suffered a broken nose and a cut-up, bruised face when she was beaten last summer by angry patrons inside Malone's Irish Hideaway in Oswego County. Three people - Daniel J. Kidd, Roberta F. Kidd and Dustyn R. Kidd - were charged with second-degree gang assault, a felony. They faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Oswego County District Attorney Greg Oakes reduced the charges to misdemeanors or a violation, depending on the defendants involvement. To Fullington, that's an injustice. "This is not right," she said. "This is not right whatsoever." The case raises a question: When is an assault a felony? Oakes said he reduced the charges after determining Fullington's injuries from the beating were not serious enough to fit the state's definition of a serious physical injury. He said prosecutors also could not prove the three defendants worked together to commit the assault. Jennie Fullington suffered a broken nose, cuts and brusies after she was assaulted on July 2, 2016, while bartending at Malone's Irish Hideaway, 271 Barker Road, Oswego. Here's what happened: Fullington was working as a bartender at Malone's Irish Hideaway on July 2, 2016, when she was beaten. The bar is at 271 Barker Road in Oswego. Daniel Kidd, Roberta Kidd and Dustyn Kidd became angry when Fullington told them she could no longer serve them alcohol, Fullington and the Oswego County Sheriff's Office said. When the unhappy patrons started to yell at her, Fullington said her boyfriend, Rudy Rodriguez, asked them to be respectful. One patron hit Fullington's boyfriend. When she tried to intervene, Fullington was also assaulted. Video surveillance from inside the bar captured the encounter. Footage shows Fullington running out from behind the bar and toward three grappling men. Fullington said "no serious swings" had been taken yet, and she wanted to get between her boyfriend, Dustyn Kidd and Daniel Kidd. "When you see people fighting, that's your natural instinct to try and stop them, she said. Fullington said she tried to put an arm between the men. That's when she encountered Roberta Kidd. Video surveillance shows Roberta Kidd grabbing Fullington's shirt and pushing her against the bar. Fullington then pushed Roberta Kidd onto the floor, the video shows. At that point, Dustyn Kidd stopped hitting Rodriguez and ran for Fullington - pushing her against the bar before pulling her across the floor, the video shows. Fullington was still holding onto Roberta Kidd when she hit the ground. Video surveillance then shows Daniel Kidd walking toward Fullington and kicking the bartender in the head. Dustyn Kidd ended the assault by grabbing Fullington by the hair, dragging her across the floor and throwing her into a wall. Fullington cradled her head in her hands before standing up and walking away. Dustyn, Daniel and Roberta Kidd then walked out of the bar. At the time of the incident, Dustyn Kidd was 24 and lived at 58 County Route 36 in Hannibal. Daniel Kidd, then 47, and Roberta Kidd, then 48, lived at 16326 Ontario Shores Drive in Sterling. Oakes said he believes Roberta Kidd is Dustyn Kidd's mother. The relationship between Daniel Kidd and Dustyn Kidd is unclear, he said. The defendants were originally charged with second-degree gang assault and two counts of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Oakes said he reduced the charges against the men from a felony to a misdemeanor because the victims were not seriously injured and prosecutors could not prove three people worked together to commit the assault. New York's Penal Law defines a serious physical injury as an injury that puts a patient at risk of death; causes "serious or protracted" disfiguration; or creates long-term health impairments. Daniel Kidd and Dustyn Kidd pleaded guilty late last month to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. The men will serve one year in the Oswego County Jail for attacking both victims and must pay $8,210 restitution, Oakes said. Oakes reduced the charges filed against Roberta Kidd to a violation because prosecutors could not prove she was involved in the attack that injured Fullington. Roberta Kidd will be allowed to plead guilty to second-degree harassment, a violation, he said. If she pleads guilty to harassment, Kidd could face spending up to 15 days in jail. Dustyn Kidd, left; Roberta Kidd, center; and Daniel Kidd, right. The relatives were charged in connection with the July 2016 assault of a bartender and her boyfriend at Malone's Irish Hideaway in Oswego. Fullington believes the charges against the Kidd family should not have been reduced. She said she feels like the DA's office downplayed her injuries and disregarded her opinion. Fullington said she must have reconstructive surgery to fix her nose. After having her epilepsy under control, she said she has started to have seizures again. "I absolutely think they should've done prison time," Fullington said of the defendants. "They're getting away with nothing." Oakes said he sympathizes with the victims and understands why Fullington wants felony convictions. "Unfortunately, the present law does not provide a basis for my office to pursue a felony conviction under the circumstances," he said. "I can only prosecute the laws that are on the books and must follow the decisions of courts in interpreting the statutes." To Oakes, the case highlighted a "shortcoming" in the law that he hopes to help fix. Oakes said he wrote to state legislators and proposed the creation of a new felony law: third-degree aggravated assault. Under the proposed law, he said defendants who were aided by another person while committing third-degree assault would be charged with a felony. Oakes said state Assemblyman Bob Oaks had drafted a bill to create the new crime. "My proposed legislation would have permitted a felony prosecution in this case, and I believe this change needs to be made so that we can obtain justice for future victims," he said. The new law would come too late for Fullington and her boyfriend. Fullington quit working at Malone's after the assault, giving up a job she had held for about six years. Although she tried to go back to work at her other job at a sheet metal union in Syracuse, Fullington said she can no longer work. Fullington has to have surgery this year to fix her nose. Until restitution is paid, her boyfriend is dealing with outstanding medical bills from his broken tooth. Fullington expects she will deal with the aftermath of the assault long after a year has passed. She said she believes the defendants' punishment should last just as long. "What is a year for what they did?" she asked. Young Thug Young Thug performs during Winterfest 2016 at Philips Arena on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Atlanta. (Robb Cohen | Invision | AP) MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- An upstate New York event organizer says he lost $360,000 when the Atlanta rapper Young Thug did not show up at a concert he was supposed to headline. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that organizer Nicholas Fitts filed a lawsuit last month in a Cobb County, Georgia court against the rapper and his Smyrna-based company YSL Enterprises. The lawsuit says Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, had signed a $55,000 contract to play an August concert at Sahlens Stadium in Rochester, New York and "did not have a valid legal reason" for skipping the show. Fitts says he lost more than $200,000 in lost tickets sales, in addition to about $57,000 in promotional costs. Young Thug's record label didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. East Syracuse, N.Y. -- It was an unusual thing at an unusual time in our nation: 61 people taking the oath of citizenship in a high school gymnasium. It was part of Diversity Day at Bishop Grimes High School. It was also a window into what average people and kids have to say about immigration as the size of our country's welcome mat is being hashed out in federal court. "Look out on the brave and determined individuals here and see America, herself," said Zach Jones, a senior and president of the private Catholic school's student council. The seats of the new citizens were filled with people of all sorts from 29 countries. There were fathers and mothers of small children. There was a grandmother. An engineer. A lawyer. Many had waited more than a decade for that moment in front of a judge. "Our one nation, under God, is in no way perfect," Jones continued. "At times, we have let fear guide our moral compass." Immigrants, just like those in front of him, built the country, he said. "Even the White House," Jones added. At this event, the immigration workers are part of the welcome party. In front of silver balloons that spelled out "America," Richard Bessette, an immigration services officer, urged families not to miss their photos ops. Come up close if you want to get a good picture, he told then. Clap, move around if you need to. Most of the local politicians on the program sent people from their offices on their behalf. Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney sent Rustan Petrela. He is an analyst for the county. But he was also, himself, a member of a very similar audience three years ago. Petrela is originally Albanian. This is part of what is great about America, he said. "Yesterday I was a guest. Today I am a host," Petrela said. Maria Rozo is 76. She and her family came to the U.S. 17 years ago. It had always been her dream to be a U.S. citizen, her daughter said. "This is a big accomplishment for me," Rozo said. Now she joins her six children and their children as a citizen. Nithya Mandala, an engineer, came to the U.S. 13 years ago for school. Her daughter, Dhanya, is a citizen. "This has been a long journey," Mandala said. Citizenship means it will be easier for her to travel for work and easier to get the security clearance she sometimes needs to work projects. Upnit Kaur Bhatti, a Canadian citizen, wanted to become a U.S. citizen even though she and her family were forced, by fear, to leave their Central Square home and return to Canada for a time. The family is Sikh and are members of the Gobind Sadan temple, which was burned following the 9/11 attacks. Bhatti's family eventually returned. She graduated from law school at Syracuse University. The judge at today's ceremony, U.S. Magistrate Therese Wiley Dancks, had been a mentor of Bhatti's. "I was brought up here; I felt like it was home," Bhatti said. "Despite what happened; despite what is happening." Petrela, who took his oath of citizenship just three years ago, told the new citizens to remember that it is their neighbors, their friends, the everyday people who are the real America. And that America, he said, still has open arms. "No matter what happens up there," Petrela said, "the spirit of America lives with the common person. It is a place with a golden welcome sign and it will stay that way." Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246 Blog_2015-10-09-ll-edboard10.JPG Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud is being called upon to condemn a ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries imposed by the Trump administration. (Lauren Long | llong@syracuse.com) Christen Brandt is a 2010 graduate of Syracuse University and the co-founder of She's the First, an international nonprofit that supports quality girls' education worldwide. John Giammatteo is a graduate of Syracuse University and a 2011 Marshall Scholar. He is a third-year law student at Yale Law School, where he served as co-director of the law school's chapter of the International Refugee Assistance Project from 2015-2016. By Christen Brandt and John Giammatteo Last week, Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud expressed support for those in the Syracuse community affected by the draconian executive order halting the refugee program and revoking visas for nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries. He is right to be concerned: Thousands of visas were purportedly revoked. Refugees abroad are under increased threat, and university students have been prevented from returning to campus. Nearly every court that has examined the order has preliminarily blocked portions of it, with the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit holding an hearing Tuesday on a temporary restraining order. Concern is no longer enough. If the university wishes to truly prepare engaged citizens, scholars and leaders, it must model what citizenship looks like. It must quickly move to condemn the Trump administration's ban on immigrants and refugees. The ban is morally reprehensible, unconstitutional, and a threat to our security and standing in the world. We know this because we learned it at SU. Our education was world-class because of the exposure to the world we received. SU encouraged us to travel widely and it broadened our education on campus, as well. The university's strong role in the community meant that we witnessed firsthand the vitality that Syracuse's refugee community brings to city life -- something to celebrate, not fear. Campus life reflected the richness that comes from having a diverse group of international students and researchers. Abroad, students could experience several months living with others from all over the world -- including populations of refugees, with whom they could conduct research about the life histories of those who had fled persecution. The university supported its students as we listened to refugees tell of their nightmares, of torture, of flight and the gut-wrenching fear of being returned. As engaged and proud alumni, our question is this: Will you support your students now? Any engaged institution of higher education should know that condemning the ban is not about politics but morality. The ban effaces voices from our community and amplifies the very xenophobia that motivated Chinese Exclusion and Japanese Internment, and turned away Jewish refugees before World War II. The Columbia University president wrote he must object when government policies "conflict with its fundamental values." Columbia was joined by 47 schools, including the University of Pittsburgh, Cornell and the University at Buffalo, who wrote that the order "threatens both American higher education and the defining principles of our country." Harvard, Boston University, Northeastern, Tufts and Worcester Polytechnic all signed an amicus brief opposing the ban. Syracuse University considers itself an anchor institution for the city. If it takes its role seriously, SU must condemn the ban to send a clear message of support for the city's refugee and immigrant communities. And, as an institution that prides itself on training the next generation of diplomats and communicators, SU cannot afford the silencing of Iranian, Iraqi, Libyan, Somali, Sudanese, Syrian and Yemeni voices from its halls. When faced with an assault on our current students and our community, we expect Syracuse University to lead. We expect Syracuse to strongly condemn attacks on our community's fundamental values. Chancellor Syverud, who sits on the Department of Homeland Security's Academic Advisory Council, has released a statement of support for students, one that we alumni were proud to read. But our students need more than a list of resources. They need to know that their university stands behind them and will stand up for them. They need the university to firmly condemn this ban. We ask the university only meet the standard it set for us: to speak up and speak out in defense of the truths we all hold self-evident. JSF rollout The first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft delivered to the 33rd Fighter Wing sits on display during an official rollout ceremony Aug. 26, 2011, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The F-35 program has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King) Tobin Harshaw writes editorials on national security, education and food for Bloomberg View. He was an editor with the op-ed page of the New York Times and the paper's letters editor. By Tobin Harshaw | Bloomberg View Here is Donald Trump tweeting on Dec. 22: "Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Here is Trump at a Monday meeting with small business leaders at the White House: "The F-35 fighter jet -- a great plane by the way, I have to tell you, and Lockheed is doing a very good job as of now. There were great delays, about seven years of delays, tremendous cost overruns. We've ended all of that and we've got that program really, really now in good shape, so I'm very proud of that," CNN reported. How did we get so far in 1 1/2 months? Trump has a solid, if factually challenged, answer. "We cut approximately $600 million off the F-35, and that only amounts to 90 planes, out of close to 3,000 planes," he told the media on Jan. 30. He was referring to the new contract for the next "tranche" purchase of the fifth-generation fighter, of which 76 are intended for the U.S. Air Force and foreign clients, while 14 are designed for carrier deck or vertical takeoff and landing for the Navy and Marines. But as many Pentagon reporters have pointed out, this cost savings was long expected: The Air Force general in charge of the contract predicted last year that the price of the plane would drop by 6 percent to 7 percent in this round of purchases, known as Low Rate Initial Production Lot 10. Since the tranche will total nearly $10 billion, that's just about what Trump was bragging he had bargained out of Lockheed Martin. (In what seems a bit of overzealous obsequiousness, the company credited "Trump's personal involvement" for sharpening a newfound "focus on driving down the price.") Trump's bogus claim aside, we can at least hope he learned a little bit about the complexities of Pentagon acquisitions and the plans for the fighter fleet. First, his tweet that building more F/A-18's was a possible alternative to the F-35 was truly ignorant. The Super Hornet is a fine and fast plane, but one conceived in the 1970s. Because it lacks stealth technology, it is simply not capable of the wide range of missions in contested air space for which the F-35 has been designed. Yes, the F-35 has a troubled past, coming in years behind schedule and way over budget. But all that is, unfortunately, pretty much expected in military contracts. The bottom line was in essence doomed from the start: Unusually, the plan was to put the aircraft into production long before all the research and development was completed, and then retrofit existing planes with new technology. This strategy, called "concurrency," was supposed to save time and money but ended up gobbling both, and the government was stuck with most of the bill for Lockheed's cost overruns. Critics point to the new plane's limited speed, turning ability and range as drawbacks, but it is a multi-mission wonder whose cutting-edge software allows it to work collaboratively with the pilot to make up for any performance shortcomings. (There were also rumors Team Trump would look at the F-22 Raptor, a stealthy fighter, as a potential F-35 alternative, but given that the plane has been out of production for years, simply re-starting the lines would have been cost-prohibitive. Its average cost per flight hour is $68,000, more than double the rate of the F-35.) All this said, there is a silver lining to Trump's ill-informed tweeting: It does put the military and prime contractors on notice that the new president isn't taking anything for granted in terms of what has been a far-too-cozy producer-customer relationship for decades. This out-of-the-box mindset will be valuable as the Pentagon takes bids on its next two major aeronautical contracts: the B-21 Raider long-range strategic bomber and the T-X training plane, which are expected to total around $35 billion. At the very least, the new administration should be able to put the onus on Lockheed and the rest of the "defense-industrial base" to take responsibility for cost increases during the production phases, and perhaps during earlier research and development as well. It is also getting to be decision time in several projects outside the air-superiority realm: the ballistic-missile submarine that will replace the Ohio class, whether the Navy needs to drop the troubled Littoral Combat Ship and develop a new frigate, the necessity of building eight more lumbering Ford-Class supercarriers, the wisdom of developing a new nuclear-tipped cruise missile and intercontinental ballistic missile to replace the aging Minuteman III, and a host of other potential contracts. And we're never going to get to serious cost savings looking at acquisitions alone: Nearly 70 percent of the Defense Department budget goes to personnel, operations and maintenance. With Trump insisting he wants to cancel planned troop cutbacks, this means looking hard at cutting back or charging more for the military's Cadillac-level health care plan, TriCare, and closing domestic bases. The F-35 looks increasingly like a sad tale that's going to have a happy ending. Yet even before it goes into service, the military is starting to think about the sixth generation of fighters: remotely piloted, artificially intelligent, hypersonic, radar-invisible planes with laser-beam weapons. Wrangling cost savings on the future of war looks like a job for the world's greatest negotiator. Blog_jim-moore-prison-mugshot-cropped-2jpg-02a6a03e4f57c01c.JPG James Moore, who's been in state prison since 1963, longer than any other prisoner in the state. (NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) (NYS Department of Corrections) To the Editor: Regarding the article "NY's longest-serving inmate rates best, worst prisons after 54 years," Jan. 30, 2017: Our father, John J. Conway Jr., was Monroe County District Attorney at the time of Pamela Moss' horrific murder. New York then had the death penalty and in lieu of the prosecutor seeking the death penalty and at the behest of Pamela's parents, James Moore agreed to a sentence of life in prison without parole. Pamela Moss was killed in the month I started college. She never got to go to a prom, go to college, be married, have children. Her parents missed out on grandchildren and watching their daughter mature from the delightful young lady she was all because of this evil man. He led the police and DA to a tree in Durand Eastman Park where he had hidden her underwear in a knot hole. Durand Eastman is about 8 to 10 miles from the area in Penfield where the crime took place. If James Moore were to spend another 54 years in prison, it still wouldn't be long enough. Mary Conway Calabrese Geneseo On behalf of her siblings Kathryn Conway Mulcahy, John J. Conway III and William M. Conway Donald Trump, Trump Tower President-elect Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. (Evan Vucci | AP) The Department of Defense is looking to rent some space in Trump Tower, but what will it cost? And who will foot the bill? Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. J.B. Brindle tells The Washington Post that the department wants "to acquire a limited amount of leased space" in President Donald Trump's New York City skyscraper. Since inauguration, Trump has spent most of his time in the White House, but First Lady Melania Trump and 10-year-old son Barron still live in Trump Tower. Time reports the Pentagon's space in the building would be separate from Secret Service detail already there for protecting the president and his family. In December, New York City asked the federal government to reimburse it for $35 million in security costs -- roughly $500,000 a day. It's unclear how much space the DOD is seeking, but CNN estimates leasing one floor would cost approximately $1.5 million a year. "I have never heard of a president charging rent to the DOD or any other part of the government so they can be near him on his travels," Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics counsel under President George W. Bush, told the Post. "He should give them for free a very limited amount of space and they can rent nearby if needed." Fox News reports President Barack Obama made similar arrangements at his Chicago home while in office. But Trump's business ties have raised questions about costs being passed on to taxpayers while his brand benefits. In September, Federal Election Commission records show that the U.S. Secret Service paid the Trump campaign about $1.6 million to cover the cost of flying its agents with the candidate on a plane owned by Trump. Hillary Clinton's campaign was reimbursed $2.6 million, but she didn't have any ownership interest in her travel arrangements. "The difference with Trump is that one of his companies, TAG Air, Inc., owns the plane, so the government is effectively paying him," Politico wrote. Kellyanne Conway This Dec. 1, 2016 file photo shows Kellyanne Conway prior to a forum at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Mass. (Charles Krupa | AP) NEW YORK (AP) -- These days of alternative facts, phantom terrorist attacks and fake news are changing the way news organizations do their jobs. Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements -- a function often pushed into the background when campaigns end -- finding innovative new formats and seeing keen interest among consumers. An administration that views that the press as the opposition is reinvigorating it. Someday, presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway's invocation of "alternative facts" on NBC's "Meet the Press" may be cited as a galvanizing moment for journalism. "We're writing about a president who makes quite a number of misstatements," said Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post reporter whose regular fact checks award "Pinocchios" based on the magnitude and brazenness of false claims. "This has increased our workload and increased the level of interest in fact-checking." The number of unique visitors to Kessler's web page in January was 50 percent higher than in October, its previous busiest month, and 15 times greater than in January 2013, he said. The Associated Press routinely publishes AP Fact Checks on political discourse. Last week, the AP premiered an aggregation of disputed political statements under the headline, "A week's supply of baloney." A separate fact check on Conway's false claim of a Bowling Green "massacre" on Thursday was the most-read story on the APNews.com website Friday. Similarly, on Monday, readers spent more time with a story examining President Donald Trump's claim about the media underplaying incidents of terrorism than they did with any other news item that day. "People are really paying close attention to the news and they want a tough-minded journalist to ... give them an impartial report about whether a story is true, false or somewhere in between," said John Daniszewski, the AP's vice president for standards. The New York Times also does regular fact-checking: It took a microscope Tuesday to Trump's claims about his immigration order and titled an earlier story: "White House pushes 'alternative facts.' Here are the real ones." An NPR team annotates claims made during speeches or debates. CNN succinctly corrects political misstatements through onscreen graphics. After reporting President Donald Trump's claim about underreported terror attacks, anchor Scott Pelley said on the "CBS Evening News" on Monday that "it has been a busy day for presidential statements divorced from reality." Trump also came under fire Tuesday when he falsely told the National Sheriffs Association that "the murder rate in our country is the highest it's been in 47 years." According to the FBI, the rate is almost at its lowest -- half of what it was in 1980 and down from 19,645 homicides in 1996 to 15,696 in 2015, while the U.S. population grew from 265 million to 321 million over those two decades. It remains to be seen how much impact these efforts have on public opinion. If you don't believe stories in mainstream media anyway, are fact checks believable? Duke University professor Bill Adair, who helped start the PolitiFact.com website, noted the growth of fact-checking during the fall campaign and, in a column printed on Election Day, challenged journalists to keep it up. Since then, "we've seen tremendous fact-checking by national news organizations in a period when they would not typically do it," he said. Examining the truth of political statements is relatively new, first applied nationally to campaign ads in 1992, said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the American Press Institute. FactCheck.org, Snopes.com and PolitiFact, with its "pants on fire" designation for egregious lies, do it regularly. "Given the traction this is getting, I do not see this abating," Rosenstiel said. "To the contrary, I see people who do this work saying, 'How do we do this in a more complete way?'" None of the ideas NPR tried clicked like its annotation feature, rolled out during last year's campaign. Up to two dozen journalists and producers worked on debate nights, for example, adding links to transcripts and allowing website visitors to judge the accuracy of statements. The process is constantly being refined, said Beth Donovan, senior Washington editor. Others are following: Adair said Duke is experimenting with a "pop-up" feature that allows real-time fact-checking. "This was always a key part of our job, but it's more central now," said Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president for news and editorial director. "In the old days, we'd write a story and somewhere in the story we might say, 'Oh, by the way, he said this but it isn't true.' Now ... it is in a sense the story itself." Kessler said the Washington Post is looking to add video to its fact-checking unit. The Times is looking into creating its own fact-checking unit, said Matt Purdy, deputy managing editor for news and investigations. Times ads for online subscriptions urge people to "give the truth." The AP is involved in another aspect of fact-checking, working with Facebook to flag dubious stories shared on the popular social media platform. Fact-checking isn't immune to persistent political efforts to undermine the authority of mainstream journalists, however. Knocking down Trump administration claims may even make his supporters more determined. "What we think is debunking Donald Trump turns out to be supporting Donald Trump," media critic Michael Wolff said on CNN last weekend. Don't forget: the presidential candidate judged to have the biggest problem with the truth won. "Are we in a post fact-check world?" Rosenstiel wondered. "There's a difference between facts and knowledge. I can tell you your facts are wrong but not change your belief." The very phrase "fact-checking" was considered too toxic when Dallas' WFAA-TV named its clever new "Verify" segment. In the periodic stories, reporter David Schechter takes viewers on fact-finding missions. For instance, a viewer who supported Trump's plan to build a wall along the Mexican border was taken to the border to see what it was like. Schechter discovered that challenging assumptions doesn't necessarily change views. The polarization just makes the effort more important, journalists say. "We don't tell you how to vote," Oreskes said. "We give you the material to think about who to vote for." By Press Trust of India: Siliguri (WB), Feb 8 (PTI) Three persons were today arrested at Naaxalbari near here on charge of trying to smuggle Gecko to Nepal. A senior police officer said Bijoy Singh and Bijoy Tanti - both residents of Assams Cachar district - were arrested from Naxalbari while they were on way to Nepal. Their local guide Tahidul Pramanik, a resident of Haldibari, was also arrested by the team of police, the officer said. advertisement The lizard, locally known as Takshak, was hidden in the jacket of one of the three arrested and later taken to Tukuria range, the officer said. The lizard, which was suspected to be smuggled into Nepal as confessed by the arrested persons, would have been sold in China market from Nepal for medicinal purpose. PTI COR SUS SUS --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Love may be blind, but the relationship with smartphones is reaching eye-popping proportions, with a report saying majority of people pay more attention to their devices than their partners on a date. According to a study by chipmaker Intel, 57 per cent respondents in India said they have had to compete with their partners device for attention on their first date. advertisement In fact, 60 per cent felt their significant other paid more attention to their device when they were together one-on-one. The global study titled Threes Company: Lovers, Friends and Devices aims to understand the online behaviour of people and how it affects their relationships with friends and significant others. The study involved 1,400 Indian adults who use an internet-connected device on a daily basis. The study also gains significance because India is the worlds second largest Internet market after China. The study found that on an average, adults in India spend more time online when they are home (43 per cent) than they do interacting with others face-to-face (40 per cent). About 75 per cent of the adults reported getting into an argument with a friend, significant other, or family member over being on a device while together. However, despite being displeased with their partners device usage, 24 per cent respondents said they do not set rules about device usage when together. Only about 33 per cent claimed that they sometimes set device rules. The report also found 46 per cent couples shared passwords to social media accounts, 38 per cent shared passwords to personal email accounts, and nearly 35 per cent adults said they shared their work specific devices and accounts with their significant other. Intel suggested that people should ensure using long passwords including numbers, and lowercase and uppercase letters, as well as symbols to protect their devices from attacks. "Also, we love our devices but its important to disconnect every now and then to spend time with the important people in our lives like friends and family. Your social networks and mobile games will be right there waiting for you when you get back," it added. PTI SR ABM --- ENDS --- Welcome, DISH customer! Please note that we cannot save your viewing history due to an arrangement with DISH. Watchlist and resume progress features have been disabled. ACCEPT Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Feb 8 (PTI) Air India Express has deferred plan to launch direct flight to Tehran amid uncertainties over the current US administrations stance towards Iran as fresh sanctions could hurt the airlines operations. The carrier -- the low cost arm of national carrier Air India -- was preparing to start Tehran flight this year as part of international expansion plans. advertisement "We dont know what is going to be the policy of the Trump administration towards Iran. If sanctions are re-imposed, there could be an issue in getting permission from the US banks for operating the aircraft in that territory," a highly placed source told PTI. As of now, the plan to launch flight to Iran stands deferred, the source said. Since some Air India planes are financed through a loan from Exim Bank of the US, the latters approval would be required before operating flights to Iran. In case there are sanctions, clearance would be a difficult proposition. The plan to launch Tehran flight was decided after the US, under the then President Barack Obama, had eased the sanctions imposed on Iran after striking a nuclear deal. However, there are concerns that the current American regime led by President Donald Trump could impose fresh sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Earlier this week, Trump described the nuclear deal with Iran as "the worst" agreement ever negotiated, calling the Islamic Republic the number one terrorist state in the world. Air India Express was expecting the thrice-a-week Tehran flight to commence from March-April this year. Currently, the airline flies to 15 international destinations including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha and Singapore. It also has domestic flights. The carrier has a fleet of 23 Boeing 737 planes. GoAir has also got approval to start flights to Iran and other overseas destinations. PTI IAS RAM JM --- ENDS --- Facebook expands Safety Check to help people offer community aid like food and shelter, now live in US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Saudi Arabia SpaceX is looking to move forward with launches at an almost unheard of pace this year. After a new launch pad is installed in Florida next week, all systems will be go and the company plans to launch a new rocket every two to three weeks. This is quite an ambitious goal considering their launchpad was damaged following an explosion last September. NASA and the US Air Force, two of SpaceX's largest customers, have voiced concerns about the explosion and non standard fueling procedures that SpaceX has used. The fast paced schedule was planned for last year as well, but was scrapped following the Falcon 9 explosion. There is a growing demand for an economic launch vehicle following the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle. Current launches cost around $60 million, a figure SpaceX is hoping will drop as the company gains experience. They believe their reusable technology can reduce the cost of space travel a hundredfold. SpaceX has a reported waiting list of more than 70 missions, valued at over $10 billion. NASA and the US Air Force plan to use SpaceX to bring astronauts to and from the Space Station starting in the latter half of 2018. The new launches will incorporate design changes learned from the September explosion, as well as a pump redesign following a report which stated that cracks could form around the propulsion system. The two issues aren't related, but both US customers have asked for the redesign. The first launch of the new program is scheduled for March and will contain a communications satellite. After years of being on the brink of extinction, the elephant population in Zakouma National Park in Chad, Central Africa is finally thriving. Aside From Poaching, Zakouma Elephants Too Stressed To Reproduce Zakouma is blessed with an exceptional landscape and ecosystem. It was declared a national park by the Chadian government in 1963. Situated north of the Sahara Desert and above the rich tropical rainforest regions of the oil-rich nation, Zakouma provides an ideal shelter for all kinds of wildlife. But the African elephants of Zakouma stand no chance against ruthless poachers who slaughter them for their tusks. The relentless poaching in the area, with hunters butchering the poor animals by the thousands, has led the potentially traumatized elephants to stop reproducing as well. Through the years, the elephant population suffered a massive decline of up to 90 percent, from 4,000 elephants in 2002 to a mere 450 in 2010. Experts have projected that Zakouma's elephant population would cease to exist in a couple of years. An Extraordinary Recovery Concerned about the dire situation of the elephants in Zakouma, the government sought the help of African Parks (AP), a non-profit conservation organization based in South Africa. AP installed new park directors: husband and wife Rian and Lorna Labuschagne, who have more than three decades of experience working in African reserves, such as those in Malawi and Kenya. The Labuschagnes implemented stringent anti-poaching strategies, which included equipping rangers and community headmen with a 24-hour radio communication system and providing them with advanced combat training against Sudanese raiders, which local rumor has it are undefeated because of supernatural powers. "Previously the park would close down for four months every year, and when it opened again, they would find 700 to 800 elephants missing. We operate in the park for 12 months of the year. We came in with a completely different strategy and put in place things like communication, proper training and satellite collars for the elephants. Immediately we began to track them," Rian explained. Since last year, there has not been a known case of poaching inside the 19,000-square-mile African reserve. Zakouma National Park is now home to more than 500 elephants and counting. The elephants have also started to breed again, counting 70 newborns in 2016. "Zakouma's recovery is extraordinary. The elephant population was definitely on the way out, and African Parks has saved it," Chris Thouless of Save the Elephants, a Kenya-based nonprofit organization, told the National Geographic. China Will Ban Ivory Trade By 2017 A significant milestone for elephant conservation, China announced that it will end ivory trade by 2017. China holds the top spot for the world's biggest consumer market for wildlife products, including elephant ivory. "I applaud China's leadership to put a clear end to its domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017. I am hopeful that the comprehensive data provided by the Great Elephant Census (GEC), along with actions taken during the recent IUCN and CITES convenings, contributed to China's decision to accelerate the deadline for the ivory ban," GEC founder Paul G. Allen said in an official statement. Back in September 2016, the Great Elephant Census released the results of a massive two-year project. After tracking savanna elephants in 18 African countries, the GEC report revealed a disturbing 30 percent decline since 2007. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to an earlier report by prolific leaker Evan Blass, Google will soon be revealing the first two smartwatches that will be powered by Android Wear 2.0, the latest version of the company's operating system for wearable devices. China-based smartphone manufacturer is apparently also getting into the Android Wear 2.0 game, as a report claims that it is preparing to launch the ZTE Quartz. ZTE Quartz The Company's First Android Wear Smartwatch. The ZTE Quartz, which was also reported by Blass after marketing material on the device was shared with VentureBeat, will be the company's first Android Wear-powered smartwatch. It is also likely that the ZTE Quartz will be on Android Wear 2.0 upon its release. The device was recently spotted as it received Bluetooth certification under the model number ZW10. However, the promotional materials that were sent to VentureBeat were still in development and did not reveal much detail on the smartwatch. The specifications of the ZTE Quartz are largely unknown, but according to Bluetooth SIG, the smartwatch will offer UMTS 3G cellular connectivity to support its Wi-Fi radio, and could possibly allow users to make and receive calls through the device. There have also been previous reports that ZTE is working on an Android Wear smartwatch that will feature LTE connectivity, with the device possibly being the ZTE Quartz. Interestingly, ZTE has already previously launched a device bearing the Quartz name, in the form of a 5.5-inch smartphone powered by the now-outdated Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The upcoming smartwatch, however, can be paired with devices on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or later and iOS 8.2 or later, which opens up the quirky possibility of owning and connecting the smartphone and smartwatch version of the ZTE Quartz. When Will The ZTE Quartz Be Officially Unveiled? Speculation on when the ZTE Quartz will be officially unveiled is that the smartwatch will make a showing at the Mobile World Congress, which will be held in Barcelona from Feb. 27 to March 2. However, given the fact that the marketing materials received by VentureBeat are still in development and come with limited details, there is the chance that it will take months before the ZTE Quartz is released into the market. The date shown on the face of the ZTE Quartz in the rather blurry image that was uploaded by Blass on his Twitter account is May 31. This might mean nothing and could just be a random date, but it could also be hinting on when the smartwatch will be launched. Android Wear 2.0 Incoming Google is all set to unveil Android Wear 2.0 on Feb. 8, along with the LG Watch Sport and the LG Watch Style. The LG Watch Sport, touted as the flagship device over the LG Watch Style, has recently been spotted on Geekbench. The benchmark revealed that the smartwatch will pack a quad-core 1.4 GHz Qualcomm processor with 768 MB of RAM. The LG Watch Style, meanwhile, was recently leaked by Blass to have silver and rose gold color options. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Facebook employees will soon be able to take some more time off to grieve and recover thanks to the company increasing the bereavement leave offered. Employees of Facebook will have 20 days of paid bereavement leave going forward, as opposed to the previous 10 days. The new policy was announced by the company's COO Sheryl Sandberg via a Facebook post. "We're extending bereavement leave to give our employees more time to grieve and recover and will now provide paid family leave so they can care for sick family members as well. Only 60 percent of private sector workers in the United States get paid time off after the death of a loved one and usually just a few days," noted Sandberg on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The Facebook policy comes into effect immediately. Facebook Bereavement Policy The new policy not only doubles the paid leaves for a bereavement of an immediate family member, but also offers 10 days for an extended member. Moreover, Facebook will be offering nearly six weeks of paid leave so that the employee can care for a relative who is unwell. The company has not only altered its bereavement leave policy, but is also introducing paid family sick time. This will give Facebook employees three days so that the can attend to a family member who has a short-term ailments, for example a child suffering from flu. What Helped The Policy Change Sandberg shared that her own experience assisted in the framing of the employee benefit. She had to balance both the professional and personal sphere after the demise of her husband David in 2015. The Facebook COO was able to manage raising two young children thanks to Facebook's flexible policies. "Amid the nightmare of Dave's death when my kids needed me more than ever, I was grateful everyday to work for a company that provides me with both bereavement leave and flexibility I needed both to start my recovery," Sandberg wrote. She added that she knew how rare such flexibility was in the corporate world, but it should not be so. Everyone needed sufficient time to recoup from the emotional setback the bereavement of a loved one brings. Sandberg also called for more public policies that would simplify things for people, so that they can tend to their family better, as well as heal after a loss. Such a move would go a long way in making the American economy stronger. The Facebook COO is hopeful that more companies would follow suit and create similar policies that were employee oriented. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Assam government recently wrote to the Home Ministry seeking repatriation of six IPS officers who are posted with the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other central agencies. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Sarbananda Sonowal, the chief minister of Assam, has stepped up pressure on the Centre to repatriate six IPS officers of the state cadre. A request on the same was received by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) a few days ago. According to sources in the ministry, the Centre has given into the state government's demand. advertisement HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Assam government recently wrote to the Home Ministry seeking repatriation of six IPS officers who are posted with the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other central agencies. The MHA is the nodal cadre controlling authority for the Indian Police Service. "There is a shortage of IG-level officers in Assam. We received a formal communication from the state government," a top official told India Today. The officers being repatriated with immediate effect include Anurag Tankha who is IG, National Investigation Agency, Harmeet Singh who is Joint Director, IB Srinagar, and Deepak Kumar who is IG Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Deepak Kedia, Additional Director in Enforcement Directorate, may also be relieved once Finance Ministry's clearance is obtained. "It is a normal practice for the state government to recall officers from central deputation for state administration. Centre usually does not say no to state's request," an official said. Repatriation of two officers will take time as one of them is undergoing training at the NDCC while another is with an agency which does not report to the MHA. The repatriation of these officers will create vacancies in central agencies. The Italian marines case was being handled by Anurag Tankha, while intelligence gathering in Jammu and Kashmir was handled by Harmeet Singh. ALSO READ: This Assamese hamlet has been making cashless transactions for over five centuries Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal: Congress govt used terrorism problem as excuse to cover up for bad governance --- ENDS --- Facebook is making Safety Check more useful in times of crisis, allowing users to seek and offer help in cases of emergency. Times of crisis are tough to handle and Safety Check is designed to offer some level of reassurance that loved ones are unharmed. When an emergency occurs, Facebook activates Safety Check so that people in that area can check in and let others know that they're okay. Thanks to a new tool called Community Help, Safety Check now takes things to the next level and users will be able to offer food, shelter and transportation to help victims affected by a disaster. Likewise, those affected will be able to seek help and shelter through this tool. Facebook Safety Check Adds Community Help Tool The new feature comes as a new page to Safety Check, allowing locals to offer their help such as supplies, water or shelter to victims nearby. Victims can search through categorized posts and contact providers via Facebook Messenger. The new Community Help tool is launching first in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and India, designed to offer aid in natural and accidental disasters. After testing the feature in these markets, Facebook hopes to widen its availability to all countries worldwide and include other types of crisis situations such as terrorist attacks and intentional, man-made disasters. Safety Check first launched in 2014 to make it easier for Facebook users to tell family and friends that they're safe if a disaster occurred in their area. Facebook activates Safety Check in times of crisis, such as the Orlando massacre, the Paris shooting and explosions, the bombing attacks in Belgium and Nigeria, and more. If numerous people post about a crisis situation nearby, Facebook's Safety Check is automatically triggered and prompts users in the area to mark themselves as safe. "Safety Check has been activated hundreds of times, but we know we can do more to empower the community to help one another," says Facebook. The moments in the aftermath of a crisis can be crucial and it's imperative for victims to get help as soon as possible. Facebook aims to connect people in those times of need. "With Community Help people can find and give help, and message others directly to connect after a crisis. Posts can be viewed by category and location, making it easier for people to find the help they need." Facebook Community Help: How It Works After users mark themselves as safe with Facebook Safety Check, they will see a special page and feed about the crisis. Victims will be able to post and ask for help in one of roughly 10 categories such as shelter, food, water, transportation, and pet supplies, among others. Those who can help can search this feed and offer their help, or post what they have to offer. When victims connect with helpers via Facebook Messenger, they can mark their requests as completed. This type of assistance has already been occurring through Facebook Groups and News Feeds, but Community Help aims to make it easier and more seamless by organizing things more clearly. To prevent potentially dangerous or fraudulent situations, Community Help doesn't allow brand-new accounts or suspicious accounts to participate. Community Help is just getting started and it remains to be seen how it will pan out, but it has great potential to make a real difference for victims in times of crisis. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cash withdrawal limit to be removed completely from March 13, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. By India Today Web Desk: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today said that the weekly withdrawal limit for savings account will be raised to Rs 50,000 from February. The top bank added that limitations on cash withdrawal, which was put in place after November 8, 2016 notes ban, would be removed completely from March 13. At present, the weekly withdrawal limit for savings account is Rs 24,000. On January 30, the RBI had ended all curbs on withdrawals from Current Accounts, Cash Credit Accounts and Overdraft Accounts. advertisement Following demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes on November 8, limits had been imposed on withdrawal of cash from banks as well as ATMs. The Reserve Bank cash withdrawal limit from ATMs was increased to Rs 4,500 per day from Rs 2,500 from January 1. WATCH: RBI's 10 big revelations to Parliament panel on demonetisation ALSO READ: RBI increases ATM withdrawal limit to Rs 4,500 w.e.f January 1 RBI changing demonetisation rules like PM changing his clothes: Rahul Gandhi --- ENDS --- Arce stressed that "this table has a vital importance to continue giving certainties and solutions, above the whims, subway agreements and political calculations". | Read More By Press Trust of India: Betul (MP), Feb 8 (PTI) RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today visited Betul district jail and paid tributes to Sanghs ideologue late Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar alias Guruji. Bhagwat visited barrack no. 1 of the district jail where Golwalkar was detained for about three months in 1949, after the organisation was banned following Mahatma Gandhis assassination. advertisement However, the state Congress objected to Bhagwats visit while terming it as violation of jail manual and an effort to glorify the member of the then banned organisation. Earlier, Bhagwat along with other Sangh functionaries and BJP leaders visited barrack no.1 of the district jail in Betul, located about 180 kms from Bhopal, at around 11 AM. The RSS chief was in the barrack for about 20 minutes and paid tributes to Golwalkar. A portrait of Golwalkar with a garland on it was put up in the barrack. Pictures of some Hindu deities were also there along with Golwalkars portrait. A lamp was also lighted in front of the portrait. A shloka Rashtraya swaha, Rashtraya idam na mam (I offer everything of mine to this nation. Now everything is the nations, not mine) was also written above the portrait. RSS sah-sarkaryawah Suresh Soni, local MLA Hemant Khandelwal and other Sangh leaders accompanied Bhagwat. The RSS chief had reached here last evening to address a Hindu sammelan in this tribal-dominated area. The Congress, however, was agitated over Bhagwats jail visit. "BJP is trying to glorify Golwalkar, who was detained as a member of a banned organisation then. This is also a violation of jail manual. Only the family members, friends of a prisoner can visit the jail premises with prior permission of jail management," Congress spokesman K K Mishra said. "The state government should clarify in what capacity Bhagwat visited the jail," Mishra said. On the other hand, a BJP leader said that MLA Hemant Khandelwal had sought permission from jail authorities. "Khandelwal had sought the permission for 14 people to visit barrack number one. The jail authorities, however, had accorded permission for seven persons," a local BJP leader said. PTI COR ADU MAS GK GK JMF --- ENDS --- Animation director Andy Baker has joined the roster of Friends Electric for UK and European representation. ANDY BAKER : Microsoft from Friends Electric on Vimeo. Pictured is Bakers work for Microsoft and he has also worked with brands including Vice, Adidas, Vans, Warner Bros and Marmite. Through Friends Electric, he will be adopting new technologies to make and originate work for a range of platforms and long form narrative, whilst continuing in 2D design and character driven, narrative based commercial animation. Currently in the works is a VR music promo. Share this story Six cosmic catastrophes that could wipe out life on Earth Nottingham, UK (SPX) Feb 03, 2017 If you ask yourself what the biggest threat to human existence is you'd probably think of nuclear war, global warming or a large-scale pandemic disease. But assuming we can overcome such challenges, are we really safe? Living on our blue little planet seems safe until you are aware of what lurks in space. The following cosmic disasters are just a few ways humanity could be severely endangered or even wiped out. Happy reading! b>1. High energy solar flare br> /b> Our sun is not as peaceful a star ... read more BB 10 second runner-up Lopamudra Raut spent some quality time with her 'favourite' Rahul Dev and his girlfriend Mugdha Godse. By India Today Web Desk: Looks like BB 10 finalist Lopamudra Raut has made some real friends in the Bigg Boss 10 house. While Rohan and her friendship was most talked about, she looked up to Rahul Dev as a mentor and respected him a lot. The beauty queen and the Bollywood actor caught up recently over dinner, and surprisingly Lopa and Rahul's girlfriend (and Bollywood actress) Mugdha Godse got along like house on fire. So involved were the two Maharashtrian ladies in their conversation that Rahul felt left out. advertisement Also read: Watch: Lopamudra, Manveer and Nitibha chill together Now that Lopa is friends with both Rahul and his girlfriend, we are sure she will catch up with the couple more often. After Bigg Boss 10, Lopa has also expressed her desire to work in Bollywood movies next. She has also been connecting with fans over social media and thanking them for their support. Also read: BB10 contestant Lopamudra Raut tweeted THIS about the show She was not on good terms with Bani on the show; the two have, however, buried the hatchet now, and apologised to each other. --- ENDS --- While addressing a public rally in Mulund, CM Fadnavis attacked the Sena over its claims of being the top most municipal corporation on the lines of transparency. By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: A war of words between the Shiv Sena and BJP has been escalating with every passing day, ahead of the BMC polls. Launching a campaign for his party, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attacked the Shiv Sena while comparing the municipal corporation with Patna. The comparison made by the chief minister on transparency irked the Shiv Sena president who hit back challenging him to prove the comparison or quit politics. advertisement While addressing a public rally in Mulund, the CM attacked the Sena over its claims of being the top most municipal corporation on the lines of transparency. Shiv Sena has been claiming that the recent report on municipal corporations by the Economic Survey done by the Centre has put the BMC on top of other cities. The CM rubbished the claims saying that in all the parameters pertaining to transparency, the BMC has scored a big zero. "Where ever they have scored good points is only because of the work done by state government," claimed Fadnavis. Fadnavis pointed out that Mumbai shared its position with Patna. "They may be making tall claims but they are sharing position with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Bihar. That is where they have taken Mumbai to," alleged Fadnavis. Also read: Mumbai: After nomination issues for BMC polls, candidates fight it out in court Reacting to the comparison, Uddhav Thackeray while addressing a rally in Kandivali called the chief minister a "half baked person". "The CM has insulted both Patna and Mumbai. If CM's comparison of Mumbai and Patna is proved right, I will quit politics, otherwise he should..." Uddhav challenged Fadnavis. Uddhav also questioned the CM for refusing to acknowledge Centre's report crediting the BMC as a transparent body. "We have not prepared the report...it is from your Central government...If the report on transparency crediting BMC as No. 1 is wrong, then are your people sitting in Delhi who made this report donkeys?" questioned Uddhav. Also read: Mumbai civic polls: Shiv Sena targets BJP on transparency --- ENDS --- Reshma had filed her nomination as an NCP candidate from the ward. However, on the same day she also filed an affidavit saying that she should be considered a BJP candidate. By Vidya : There will be no BJP candidate from ward 7D in Pune as the Bombay High Court today stayed the order of the returning officer, who had granted the symbol of lotus to Reshma Bhosle, wife of political leader Anil Bhosle from the area. Reshma had filed her nomination as an NCP candidate from the ward. However, on the same day she also filed an affidavit saying that she should be considered a BJP candidate. advertisement Another candidate Satish Bahirat had also filed his nomination as a BJP candidate but he later withdrew his nomination for Reshma. Datta Bahirat, a Congress candidate from the same ward had knocked the doors of Bombay High Court asking how can one party have two candidates on the date of filing the AB form. Datta's lawyer Anil Anturkar told the division bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil that on February 4, the scrutiny of forms was done and in doing so since there were two candidates from the BJP, both were declared as independent. "After this the election officer sent a letter to municipal commissioner who immediately replied back to the election officer that Reshma should be considered a BJP candidate," said Anturkar. EC FAVOURING BJP Anturkar argued that when the election officer has decided that a candidate is independent, then he has no business asking the municipal commissioner about such things. He alleged, "If I can just put it bluntly, the election commission of Maharashtra is favouring the BJP." Also read: BMC polls: BJP confident of winning election, securing Mayor's post Advocate SB Shete, representing the state election commission, was asked by the court as to what he had to say in the light of such allegations. Shete said, "I will have to take instructions as to why and how it has been done." Shete told the court that nothing can be done on the issue now as the election schedule cannot be disturbed. Reshma's lawyers too argued in the court but the went ahead with an interim stay on the second order of returning officer, that had declared Reshma a BJP candidate. The petition has not been disposed off and will be heard at length later. However, Reshma will now have to be treated as an independent candidate. Meanwhile, many more candidates had approached the Bombay High Court to seek some immediate relief after their forms were rejected by the election officer, so that they could fight the election. However, the court refused to grant them any relief. One such case was that of Kurla Barve who wanted to contest elections from 167 ward in Kurla (west) Mumbai on an NCP ticket. Proposer was her husband Rajendra Barve, a rickshaw driver. Barve said, "I was filing for the first time, so had told the election officer to let me know what all has to be done. He did not tell me that my husband's signature was needed due to which my form was rejected on the same day. I think there is someone conspiring against me so that I don't contest this election." advertisement Also read: Bombay High Court to hear petition seeking ban on Sanatan Sanstha on March 7 --- ENDS --- Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission The Ascension Parish School Board on Tuesday extended the lease on a warehouse it's used since the August flood, as well as extended a purchase agreement on that same building, which might prove to be the best option for a new warehouse operation. The school district's warehouse-distribution center in Sorrento, which housed the departments of planning and construction, maintenance, child nutrition and transportation, was badly damaged in the flood, with the three buildings on the site taking on water. +10 Ascension Parish school district flood cleanup includes transportation, distribution center On the night of Aug. 15, a determined crew working in knee-deep water managed to drive 40 sc Since Aug. 29, the district has leased a warehouse on West Orice Roth Road in Gonzales for $11,000 a month. The lease, with Sherwood Pointe, LLC, was due to expire at the end of this month, but has been extended until Aug. 31. On Tuesday, the School Board also extended a purchase agreement with Sherwood Pointe, set to expire in March, until May 31. "Obviously, we want to be sure we thoroughly assess the damage to our warehouse and also thoroughly assess all the details of moving our distribution center," Superintendent David Alexander said after Tuesday's meeting. Chad Lynch, director of planning and construction for the school district, has said that the price of the warehouse in Gonzales would be $1.6 million. A selling point of the building is that it didn't flood in August. In a previous meeting, Lynch said the cost of flood damage to the warehouse site in Sorrento was assessed by the School Board's consultant, CSRS, at $1.2 million, with up to 90 percent of that cost potentially to be paid by FEMA. The reimbursement rate might not be as high, if the School Board, instead, uses FEMA funds to purchase a new distribution center, but FEMA encourages agencies to consider using federal funding "to do something with that money to put you in a better situation," Lynch said at a board meeting late last year. "We submitted to FEMA a proposed alternate plan" of purchasing the Gonzales warehouse, Lynch said Tuesday night. "It's on higher ground, at higher elevation. "We're trying to stretch our lease out until we get our answer," Lynch said. Tuesday's meeting was held at Central Middle School near Gonzales, after the board's offices in Donaldsonville lost power in Tuesday's tornado, as did Donaldsonville Primary, Donaldsonville High and the Ascension Head Start building. Power was expected to be restored Tuesday night and the district's schools and Central Office are scheduled to reopen Wednesday. If that changes, the school district will notify the public before 6 a.m. Resident also can check the district's website, www.apsb.org. Advocate staff file photo by LESLIE WESTBROOK --Pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution are laid out on a table as UL-Lafayette students and faculty participate in a public reading of the U.S. Constitution Thursday, September 18, 2015, on the UL-L campus. Tawfik Assali, 21, center, of Allentown, Pa., embraces his sister Sarah Assali, 19, upon her and other family members' arrival from Syria at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. Right is Mathew Assali, 17, who arrived today. Attorneys said Dr. Assali's brothers, their wives and their two teenage children returned to Syria after they were denied entrance to the United States on Jan. 28 although they had visas in hand after a 13-year effort. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) The most destructive tornado to strike the New Orleans area in recent memory touched down in New Orleans East on Tuesday, tossing vehicles, sh Although were accustomed to angry weather in Louisiana, nothing can quite prepare us for the terror of a tornado. Shiv Sena in the state has been demanding waving of farmer loans but the demand was shot down by the chief minister saying this move only benefited the lenders (financial institutions) and not the farmers. By Sahil Joshi, Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: After the BJP released its manifesto for the upcoming UP Assembly election, it has given another chance to Shiv Sena to corner Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the party. The BJP called its manifesto farmer-friendly while it promised waiver on crop loans and interest free loans for farmers. The Shiv Sena has has picked these promises as issues in Maharashtra against the BJP. advertisement In this regard, Shiv Sena ministers Eknath Shinde, Diwakar Raote, Deepak Kesarkar met CM Devendra Fadnavis at 10.30 pm at his official residence Varsha on Wednesday. The ministers demanded that if the BJP can make promises in UP, why can't they implement the same in the state. Maharashtra, especially marathawada region in the state, faced drought this year and then even during demonetisation the farmers faced a hard time getting proper price for their crops. Also read: Mumbai civic polls: Shiv Sena targets BJP on transparency Shiv Sena in the state has been demanding waving of farmer loans but the demand was shot down by the chief minister saying this move only benefited the lenders (financial institutions) and not the farmers. Now after the promises made my the BJP in poll-bound UP, Sena is demanding the same for Maharashtra. Shiv Sena is using every opportunity to corner the ruling BJP in Maharashtra as it faces a head-on battle in the state with the party in 10 municipal corporation and district corporation elections for the BMC polls. Also read: Shiv Sena sounds BMC poll bugle from Mumbai's Girgaon, attacks Fadnavis and Centre --- ENDS --- "As each building comes online we'll move our existing residents into new accommodation." An objector to the development, Eric Glass, said he was disappointed with the tribunal's 2016 decision, which only required minor changes to height and scale. "We're looking at a high-density residential development here in the heart of a low-level suburb," he said. "We put the argument to the tribunal this was contrary to the Territory Plan in terms of concentrating high-density developments close to major thoroughfares." Mr Glass said objectors would make a final throw of the dice on Friday when the Supreme Court hears an appeal regarding the removal of trees. "Our argument is it hasn't been properly approved," he said. "If the court rules in our favour, that would mean they won't be able to start the development because they have to remove the trees to start with the building." The recently released Productivity Commission report on aged care services showed Canberra had the longest delay for people entering residential care after receiving approval from an aged care assessment team. Only 36.6 per cent of those assessed in 2014-15 entered residential aged care within three months compared with 52 per cent nationally. Canberra also had the most hospital patient days used by aged care-type patients, at 22.9 compared with a national average of 10. Ms Levy said aged care providers were expanding services across the ACT and this would need to continue. "Further investment will be needed. Canberra has the highest demand and will have the highest demand for aged care services in Australia," she said. "Canberra is growing and a lot of older people are coming back into the ACT to be closer to health-care facilities and hospitals. "Goodwin is not the only one redeveloping. There are quite a few major providers in the ACT that are redeveloping in order to cope with the demand." Ms Levy said Goodwin was adapting its services to meet consumer demand and changing demographics. Government data released on Tuesday shows Australia has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, at 84.4 years for women and 80.3 years for men. "What will continue to happen is that people coming into residential aged care will be older and frailer so the high-care clinical needs will be more prevalent than what they are now," Ms Levy said. "We will almost be operating what's called a sub-acute health care facility that will involve high clinical needs as well as palliative care. "Dementia is prevalent and we will also have a purpose-built memory-support unit at Farrer to be able to manage those who have high clinical needs with their dementia." Council on the Ageing ACT executive director Jenny Mobbs said COTA welcomed expansion of services, but more was needed to meet demand. Good morning Canberrans. Those of you on Monday to Friday shifts are over the hump day. The weekend is drawing nearer. If you were enjoying the brief reprieve of cool weather, some bad news. Temperatures are still expected to reach 40 degrees tomorrow, and 41 degrees on Saturday. Summer is far from over. For the latest news this morning, read on. The boys club? The macho culture is alive and well, and affecting women in the federal public service. That's according to a study by University of NSW workplace academic Sue Williamson. The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is set to oppose the construction of the Jupiter wind farm at Tarago saying the green energy site would be an eye-sore on the region. The NSW department of planning will likely have the final say on the project, but the council's opposition is another hurdle for EPYC who have been trying to get it off the ground since 2014. The proposed Jupiter wind farm would be close to two other wind farms, including the one at Lake George, and a solar farm. Credit:Tom Messer QPRC's planning and strategy committee will meet Wednesday night and is expected to conclude the energy farm proposed is too intrusive, would increase traffic and interfere with fire-fighting operations. In the committee's meeting agenda, the council's town planning staff say the 88 wind turbines, each 173 metres in height, would have an unacceptable visual impact. Canberra business leader David Marshall has called on Chief Minister Andrew Barr to reinstate funding for business case work on a new convention centre, which he said would be a game changer for the city. Mr Marshall, who is chairman of the tourism industry advisory council of the Canberra Business Chamber, said he was very disappointed to learn on Wednesday that the $8 million set aside to get the project to investment-ready stage had been removed from the coming budget. A 2015 artist's impression of the proposed convention centre, the Australia Forum, designed by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. He dismissed Mr Barr's suggestion that the project had been shelved because of lack of interest from the Commonwealth, saying the federal government wanted a business case and detailed proposal before it could make a financial commitment. "There has been meetings with commonwealth government bureaucrats and some members of parliament and there is definitely an interest, but they are saying they would need to have substantial documentation in order to make an assessment. It's certainly in the Commonwealth's benefit that we have a centre of international significance here. An Australian brain surgeon whose pinky finger was jammed in a plane's fold-out tray table is suing over his resulting physical and psychological injuries. Dr David Walker says he was flying with Austrian Airlines from Brisbane to Manchester, England, via Bangkok and Vienna on July 5, 2016, when his finger was snared by a collapsing tray table. David Walker says he was flying from Bangkok to Vienna on Austrian Airlines when the accident occurred. In a statement of claim filed in the Queensland Federal Court, the Brisbane-based neurosurgeon says the cabin crew had folded out the horizontal table tray from his armrest before serving an in-flight meal during the Bangkok to Vienna leg of his trip. But the cabin crew did not return to retract his table tray after the meal, which stopped Dr Walker from reclining his business class seat. The Special Investigation Team set up to probe the case also submitted its report to the Chief Secretary and DGP after which the Secretary of BSSC, Parmeshwar Ram and a computer operator at BSSC, Avinash were arrested. By Rohit Kumar Singh: The government today cancelled the examination held by Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) which ran into deep controversy following the question paper being leaked and available on social media even before the exam began. The Special Investigation Team set up to probe the case also submitted its report to the Chief Secretary and DGP after which the Secretary of BSSC, Parmeshwar Ram and a computer operator at BSSC, Avinash were arrested. 27 persons have already being arrested in this case for aiding examinees to procure the question papers. advertisement The Bihar government today convened a special cabinet meet to discuss the issue and later decided to cancel the examination held. Fresh dates for the exams will be announced later. The exams which was held last Sunday, the papers of which was leaked was for the post of clerks in the state govt. The exams was to be conducted in four phases. On Sunday it was the second phase of the exams questions papers of which got leaked. The third and fourth phase exams was to be conducted on 12th and 19th Feb which have also been cancelled. Parmeshwar Ram was arrested after the special investigation team found enough evidence against him for playing a key role in the paper leak controversy. Police had raided Ram's house on Tuesday and he was grilled by the investigators throughout on Wednesday. By late evening he was arrested. Investigation in this job scam is going on and there is a possibility of more officials at BSSC being involved in the case. "We have arrested Parmeshwar Ram and Avinash in connection with the BSSC paper leak. We have submitted a report to senior officials and it has been confirmed that paper was indeed leak. Parmeshwar Ram has been arrested after we found evidence against him", said Manu Maharaj, Patna SSP. --- ENDS --- As a doctor, I lie to my patients every day. I'll say "this won't hurt a bit" before giving injections when, in fact, it does hurt (a bit). I'll promise kids that if they stop crying and let me examine their ears, their mother will buy them a pony. These small lies are well intentioned, sometimes comical and instantly forgiven. But there are some lies I won't tell. I won't, for instance, substitute the vaccine in a syringe with water, and tell parents their baby will now be protected against measles. That would be a vile and unconscionable betrayal of the truth. Can we at least agree on that? Apparently not. Homeopathy: no scientific effect. There is an epidemic of false cures being sold to sick Australians. But it's not an underground black-market trade. It's a certified, rubber-stamped official practice. It is enshrined in government policies, codified in professional code of conducts, funded with our taxes and sold by pharmacists. An intricate web of lies protects the pernicious practice of homeopathy in Australia. Homeopathy is one of the most widespread disciplines of alternative medicines, with an estimated one million Australian consumers. It's very popular. It also doesn't work. At all. No better than a sugar pill, anyway. Turns out, vials of homeopathic remedies are chemically indistinguishable from water. Students are expected to be among the hardest-hit by proposed federal government changes to welfare which would make jobseekers under the age of 25 ineligible for the Newstart unemployment benefit. The changes, part of an omnibus budget savings bill introduced on Wednesday, would see under-25s instead placed on Youth Allowance. If the bill is passed, it would see young jobseekers lose $45 a week. Youth Allowance is worth $438 a fortnight, while Newstart Allowance is $528. Jobseekers under 25 will also have to wait four weeks before accessing income support. Chloe and Grace Murdoch were flower girls at their father Rupert's wedding to Jerry Hall. Credit:Snapper Media Britain's Financial Times reveals Ivanka was a trustee of a bloc of shares for two of Rupert Murdoch's daughters during the election campaign and until December 28, well after her father was elected President. [Matthew Garrahan] President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump dance after the inaguration. Credit:New York Times It follows the First Lady, Melania Trump's lawsuit against the Daily Mail alleging defamation over an article which wrongly claimed she was once an escort. In that suit, Melania said the article damaged her ability to build "multimillion dollar business relationships". Today she denies she intends to profit from her role as First Lady. [Tom Hamburger/The Washington Post] Should we really be surprised that a country which gave us the Kardashians gives us a political equivalent in the Trumps? 2. Putin rival silenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Credit:AP Yesterday Putin's Russia was decriminalising domestic violence, today it's silencing President Vladimir Putin's only viable rival. A Russian judge has convicted Aleksei A. Navalny of fraud - barring him of running in next year's presidential "elections." [Ivan Nechepurenko/The New York Times] Why the juvenile parts of the right, like George Christensen and Pauline Hanson, have developed a sudden love-affair with Putin is quite honestly, unfathomable, and when you consider an issue like domestic violence, (let alone MH17) quite at odds with those they claim to represent. 3. "What's Cristal?" I absolutely love this. Watch at 1.09. As Malcolm Turnbull let rip on "simpering, sycophant, social-climbing," Bill Shorten in parliament yesterday, Chris Bowen, Labor's treasury spokesman, turned to Tanya Plibersek and asked "What's Cristal?" Cristal, often sung about by bragging hip-hop and pop stars, is an expensive champagne made by Louis Roderer. Labor's Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Member for Sydney informed the western Sydney Member for McMahon that it was a type of very expensive champagne. Bless Bowen's cotton socks. Now to Turnbull's speech. An absolute ripper. Keating it was not. For that the PM would need to have matched the insults with some policy points. No - this was personal. [Tony Wright/The Age] Labor's view is that politicians screeching at each other is a major no-no and a huge turn off. [David Crowe/The Australian] (Oddly that wasn't the argument they made when Julia Gillard ripped Tony Abbott a new one and called him a misogynist.) But this is different. If you watch anything, witness Barnaby Joyce's face as he listens to Turnbull's speech. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce laughs as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attacks Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Credit:Andrew Meares Turnbull needed to rally the troops and he did. He has finally woken. And he needed to land a blow on Shorten, who has many unlikeable qualities. Nobly, although misguided, Turnbull didn't want to embrace the personal attack tactic during the campaign and copped taunt after taunt about his wealth. Now he's had enough and gave it back. And boy did he. Shorten's face said it all. He knew it hurt him even if the PM's critics can accuse him of snobbery. Insiders loved Keating's blows, reminds Michelle Grattan, "but the voters came to hate them," she warns. [The Conversation] "It was a speech of a politician who knows everything is ranged against him, that adversity sits in front of him, and poison and dysfunction behind," observes Katharine Murphy in a beautifully written piece. [The Guardian] It was a "stunning political blow," says Dennis Shannahan. [The Australian] It "electrified his colleagues," says Laura Tingle. [Financial Review] Labor began this personal class war, they may regret it. In other political news: Indonesia has accepted Australia's apology over material at an army base in Perth that mocked its state ideology Pancasila. [Jewel Topsfield/Fairfax] Paul Maley reports the US Government wanted Australia to take in exchange for refugees from Nauru. [The Australian] South Australia suffered another blackout. Last night the state suffered a deliberate cut to power during a heatwave. [Ben Harvy,Tory Shepherd/The Advertiser] The Parliamentary Budget Office warns against raiding the Future Fund when its kitty is opened up in 2020. [Jacob Greber] The pension age is no longer going to rise to 70 and Treasurer Scott Morrison is willing to kiss goodbye $2 billion of savings to pass $4 billion in welfare cuts. [Philip Coorey/Financial Review] George Christensen claims he will cross the floor to establish a banking inquiry. [Amy Remeikis/Fairfax] On leadership: Nikki Savva writes, "Abbott has grown nakedly defiant and increasingly confident that he will reclaim the leadership." Although Savva says there's no chance of Abbott coming back. [The Australian] Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen This is consistent what I have heard, should there be any change it would be to a new leader, possibly someone like Peter Dutton, whose gym sessions are being noticed by colleagues. 4. British politics So Malcolm Turnbull gives a ripper speech and Jeremy Corbyn ambushes Theresa May and totally owns Prime Minister's Questions! [BBC] The world really is upside down in 2017! House of Commons Speaker John Bercow says he is "strongly opposed" to Donald Trump addressing parliament. Credit:Screenshot/BBC Now the knives are out for Bercow with his critics, mainly fellow Tory MPs, claiming he has compromised the neutrality of the speaker. Bercow says he was commenting on an issue within his remit - ie. determining who should address the parliament. But ITV's political editor Robert Peston says the Speaker may be about to face a vote of no-confidence. [Facebook] 5. Rolf Harris not guilty... Rolf Harris in London. Credit:Mike Bowers ...Of groping two women and a teenage girl. He could walk free this year. But he could still face a retrial on four other counts of groping four different teenagers, our Europe Correspondent Nick Miller reports. [Fairfax] 6. Merkel to increase deportations German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Credit:Stefan Sauer Angela Merkel's tougher stance on immigration continues ahead of this year's elections. The German Chancellor is set to unveil plans to increase the number of failed asylum-seekers it forcibly deports. Tunisian Ani Amri, who drove a truck into Christmas night markets in December last year, was a failed asylum seeker. [The Times] And that's it from me today, you can follow me on Facebook for more. When Jan Gehl was hired by the City of Sydney in 2007 to help make the city a more attractive place to live and work, the renowned architect and urbanist focused on the fact that so much of Sydney's space was given over to cars. "There was no room for people and there was lots of room for cars," said Mr Gehl on Wednesday. "Part of it is still in that situation but other parts are now being turned around, which is a great joy to see." Mr Gehl, whose study a decade ago Public Spaces Public Life has helped form the basis of Lord Mayor Clover Moore's vision for Sydney's core, has been in town this week to receive the keys to the city. In his work for Sydney, Mr Gehl, who has travelled the world evangalising for the "Copenhagenisation" of urban spaces, advocated wider footpaths, a light rail line down George Street and the progressive greening of the city. A Sydney real estate agent has been accused of giving police false information about the lease of an inner-west unit to Rebels bikie gang associates, who allegedly turned it into a guns and drugs safe house. One of those associates was Abuzar Sultani, an MBA student who allegedly murdered underworld crime figure Pasquale Barbaro last November. Charged: Real estate agent Chris Polley. Afghan-born Sultani, 27, emerged on the police radar as an influential member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang Burwood chapter in 2013. It is alleged he split from the chapter, with a number of loyal associates in tow, in a bid to fly under the law-enforcement radar. The Sunshine Coast bushfire that devastated more than 900 hectares of national park in January was a "warning shot" for south-east Queenslanders to brace for more extreme bushfires, a fire ecologist warns. An international research project led by Tasmanian Professor of Environmental Change Biology David Bowman has predicted up to a 50 per cent increase in the chances of extreme wildfire events in areas across the globe, including south-east Queensland. Using a database that compiled 23 million worldwide landscape fires between 2002 and 2013, researchers focused on 478 of the most extreme wildfire events and found, with the exception of land clearance, that intense fires were associated with anomalous weather, including drought, wind and heatwaves. The team then used climate change model projections to investigate future consequences and found evidence to suggest an increase in days conducive to extreme wildfire events by 20 to 50 percent in disaster-prone areas, including Australia's east coast, Professor Bowman said. A Brooklyn meat processing company has had its fines doubled after it again allowed manure and urine smells to emit from its cattle yards. The Environment Protection Authority Victoria fined JBS Australia $7773 on Tuesday for allowing offensive odours to seep into the local community in August last year. Manure Couture makes fabric out of cow dung, which is rich in raw materials such as cellulose and water. Credit:Louie Douvis It was the company's second fine in four months after it copped a $7000 fine in April. Yarraville residents complained to the EPA about the smells on both occasions. As Melbourne's weather reaches a balmy 32 degrees, most beaches around the city have been upgraded to "fair" by the Environmental Protection Authority. But beachgoers still enter the water at their own risk as a fair rating indicates that gastroenteritis-causing bugs are still in the bay. Three beaches, Mordialloc, Sandridge (Port Melbourne) and Frankston remain a no-go zone and are rated poor. All of Port Phillip Bay's 36 beaches had been off-limits since Sunday after heavy storms sluiced stormwater and faecal matter into the bay. The year 11 student claimed that a teacher at the school made unwelcome comments towards her which had a "perceived sexual innuendo" throughout the year. The comments created angst for the young woman. The Victorian Institute of Teaching alleged that the Catholic school's former principal Anthony O'Byrne "failed to maintain a professional relationship" with a student's parents. The teacher's regulator has taken its fight to the Court of Appeal after a misconduct finding against the former principal of Ringwood's Aquinas College was overturned. Mr O'Byrne stood down the same teacher after a separate incident in which he singled out a couple in his class in 2012 and said to them: "I know she would love you to be stroking her leg". The VIT said that Mr O'Byrne did not communicate and consult with the year 11 student's parents "in a timely, understandable and sensitive manner". It said he did not notify the parents about the allegations raised by the student, did not adequately investigate the allegations, did not adequately respond to emails from the student's father and did not advise the father of the outcome of his investigation. Lawyers for the VIT said that the principal's failure to interview the students was a "grave dereliction of his duty of care to all students". Mr O'Byrne said that the student's father told him not to interview his daughter but the father said he only told him to wait until after his daughter had finished her exams. By Press Trust of India: sector New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) The government today approved signing of an agreement between India and Senegal in the field of health and medicine which includes cooperation in AIDS control, integrated disease surveillance and emergency relief. A working group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of this pact, as per the decision of the Union Cabinet taken this evening. advertisement The areas of cooperation include medical research, hospital management, drugs and pharmaceutical products and hospital equipments, traditional medicine and other areas of mutual interest. The Cabinet was also apprised of the Framework Agreement between India and Vietnam on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes. The Framework Agreement was signed on September 3, 2016. The agreement will enable pursuing the potential interest areas of cooperation such as space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology. The Cabinet was also apprised of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of cooperation between Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science and Technology and Bpifrance, a public investment bank of France. The agreement will ensure exchange of best practices and setting up of coordinated measures to foster technological exchanges in the field of science, technology and innovation through collaboration between companies, organisations and institutions of France and India. PTI TDS NAB SMJ --- ENDS --- Perth's famous quintuplets have celebrated their collective first birthday in style including a rainbow balloon arch, a three tier cake and personalised outfits. Mum Kim Tucci gave birth to the five babies at King Edward Memorial Hospital early last year and arranged the lavish birthday party with help from WA creatives including Jessikat Kakes, Rosie O, Inflated and Nora & Elle. The quintuplets personalised teddy bears. Credit:Kim Tucci Loading Baby Keith and his four sisters Tiffany, Penelope, Allie and Beatrix were all dressed to the nines and posed for a special fold-out spread in New Idea. The West Australian coast continues to be lashed by wet weather, with the Perth metropolitan area issued a flood warning on Wednesday - joining much of the northern parts of state already experiencing dangerous conditions. The Swan River and Avon River catchments are expected to flood from Thursday with drivers urged to be careful at crossings and floodways as river levels may rise rapidly. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has advised people to stay out of the rivers and not swim, play or kayak near floodwaters. "Watch for changes in water levels so you are ready if you need to evacuate," it warned. Labor heavy-hitter Alannah MacTiernan has moved to block a federal government attempt to defer a tribunal hearing over secret Perth Freight Link planning documents. The North Metropolitan candidate, suspicious about the previously unannounced project appearing in the 2014 Budget and then surprising bodies such as Infrastructure Australia and the RAC, has since been locked in a battle to have the business case released under Freedom of Information legislation. The 13 outstanding documents include emails regarding negotiations that went on between government ministers and agencies about the project, and the cost-benefit assessments and traffic modelling the government is referring to when it claims the controversial project is the best way to bust congestion in Perth's south. The Australian Administrative Tribunal ordered the federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development to release the documents in 2015 and again in 2016, but the government appealed to the Federal Court, which has referred the matter back to the tribunal. A day after Melania Trump filed a lawsuit accusing a British news company of hurting her ability to build a profitable brand, her representatives issued a statement saying that the first lady "has no intention" of using her public position for personal gain. "It is not a possibility," said a statement issued simultaneously on Tuesday by a spokeswoman for Melania Trump and a law firm representing her. "Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted." The lawsuit filed Monday in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan says that the first lady's ability to sell "Melania" brand jewellery and other goods had been damaged at a critical time by a defamatory news story. The suit alleges that an article published in August falsely claimed that she once worked for an escort service and that the assertion hurt her ability to build "multimillion dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world." The truck was filled with 15 live camels in Rajasthan, who were slaughtered in a remote area en route Delhi. By Shivan Chanana: A truck loaded with camel meat was seized in Vasant Kunj last night. The truck, which had a Haryana number place, is said to have been first loaded with 15 live camels from the Nagaur mela in Rajasthan. The camels were then taken to Taudu and slaughtered in a remote area. Once slaughtered, the buchered camels were loaded back into the same truck and brought to New Delhi. advertisement People For Animals and Gau Gyan Foundation activists informed the police about the Delhi-bound truck, which helped trace it and catch the driver. An FIR has been lodged in the Vasant Kunj (South) Police Station. "This particular truck was booked in a similar case last month as well in Taudu Police Station," said Gaurav Gupta of People For Animals. "Sources said this consignment was being taken to a cold storage at Lawrence Road to be sold to foreign countries later." A member of the Gau Gyan Foundation claimed that recently, some Mewat-based cattle-smugglers opened fire at NSG commandos in Manesar. "It is clear that their actions are not just a threat to the lives of animals, but to the nation," he said. "Who do you think they are going to target after they have no more cattle and camels to smuggle? It will be our women and children. It's high time we wake up and crack down the illegal animal trade in this country." --- ENDS --- if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... All associations representing Central Customs and Excise have united together and will soon meet Arun Jaitley over the opposition to the GST Council's decision. By Atir Khan: Miffed by the GST Council decision, Central Customs and Excise officers have banded together and will decide on their next phase of protests after meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a couple of days. All associations that represent officers of the central customs and excise have united together and have vowed to fight for any officer, regardless of his/her association, who may be targeted. advertisement The officers believe the council's decision will heavily favour the states, weaken the central government's ability to ensure an inflow of revenue and will adversely affect their careers. Demanding that the GST council revisit its decision, the officers have sought an appointment with the finance minister. OFFICERS UNITE Following the GST Council meeting on January 16, all associations representing central customs and excise officers, who are from the IRS cadre, held a joint meeting in New Delhi. During the meeting, all the associations agreed to work together under an atmosphere of mutual trust. It was also decided that two representatives from each association will participate in all the meetings with the administration, including the finance ainister. The associations agreed to support each other's cause and to take all decisions unanimously. Also read: 70,000 taxmen protested wearing black bands against GST Council WILL FIGHT FOR EACH OFFICER The united officers' entity has vowed to fight for any officer who may be victimised regardless of the officer's cadre. The group also prepared a charter of demands, which raises issues such as ensuring at least five functional promotions, parity in pay matters with counterparts in states, and immediate fictionalisation of seniority list of all the cadres under consultation with the concerned association. Also read: GST tableau features at Republic Day parade Also watch: How GST impact you? --- ENDS --- Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the "relevant parties" to reach a consensus. By Press Trust of India: China today defended its decision to block the US proposal in the UN for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the "conditions" have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the "relevant parties" to reach a consensus. advertisement "Last year 1,267 Committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached," Lu said. "As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the Committee to reach a decision," he said. "China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the Committee," he said. Also read: China defends latest hold on Masood Azhar listing About the significance of US pushing for the ban against the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief this time unlike the last year when India pressed for his listing as terrorist, Lu said, "I would like to point out that the Committee has its own set of discussion rules." "So, whoever submitted the request we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations," he said. To a question whether it will have an impact on China-India relations, he said Beijing and New Delhi "have exchanged views" on the issue. "We don' t hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship," he said. On criticism that China is continuously blocking the move at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said, "Chinas action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures." "We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the Committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community," he said. China has put a "hold" on the US-initiated proposal, which comes barely weeks after Indias bid to get Azhar banned by the UN were scuttled by Beijing last December. This has prompted India to take up the matter with the Chinese government. --- ENDS --- Rep. Tulsi Gabbards visit with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has already raised controversy. Now shes in hot water yet again for failing to comply with House ethics rules. Gabbard hasnt yet submitted the required disclosure forms which detail who paid for her trip, and who else she met while she was in Syria. Gabbard received international attention for urging a political solution in Syria through outreach to Assad, whose government has engaged in mass violence against its own people and a documented regime of torture. The Hawaii Democrat is required to show, in detail, where the money came from to pay for her trip, but her travel disclosures are missing the document which describes this. Gabbard lists as her sponsor a little-known group called AACCESS-Ohio, which has been in and out of existence since 1991 and does not have a functional webpage; its resources are unclear, at best. If AACCESS-Ohio received money from other sources to pay for her trip to Syria, these documents are supposed to show it. In the face of criticism for taking the trip to Syria and meeting Assad, Gabbard said that she would be reimbursing AACCESS-Ohio for her trip to Syria last month. But the required forms would indicate if the original plan was to take funds from outside entities. Her disclosures are also missing the required agenda that would show her schedule during the trip, which would list the various individuals she met while in Syria. Both of these documents were due in December, although Monday was the deadline for publicizing them. Gabbards signature is visible in a section of the forms attesting that all her required forms are filled out, but this is not the case. During her trip to Syria, Gabbard brought along two men, Elie and Bassam Khawam, affiliated with an anti-Semitic political party that has a history rooted in fascism. The two are officials in the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which is currently actively engaged in the Syrian civil war on the side of the Assad regime. Until recently, Elie was listed on the SSNPs website as the Chief of Cross-Border Affairs. The two also appear to be part of AACCESS-Ohio; The Guardian previously reported that Bassam Khawam was the executive director of the organization. Given that the known sponsor of her trip maintains relationship with the Syrian government and parties involved with the civil war, the taxpayer need assurance that these groups were not involved in financing the trip, said Evan Barrett, a political adviser to the Coalition for a Democratic Syria, a Syrian-American opposition umbrella group. She also did not disclose who she met with, which shes obligated to do. But given that shes already acknowledged meeting with a war criminal, its hard to imagine it getting worse. The Assad regimes military actions have been the primary cause of death during a brutal conflict that will soon enter its seventh year. Assads regime has also been involved in bombing civilian populations and the use of chemical weapons. The number of deaths attributed to the war is approaching 500,000not including the millions of individuals displaced by the conflict. The human rights group Amnesty International reported Tuesday that the Assad regime has executed up to 13,000 prisoners in mass hangings and carried out systematic torture at a military jail near Damascussomething the Syrian government denies. The House Ethics Committee has the authority to enforce the House of Representatives rules on travel disclosures, and has a variety of tools to press lawmakers to follow them, which include fines, censures or even, in extreme cases, expulsion from the House of Representatives. However, it would highly unusual for a lawmaker to be punished for not filling out required disclosure formssince the threat of punishment is usually effective enough to force compliance. Neither Gabbards office nor the ethics committee had any comment Tuesday evening. Gabbard, once an outspoken supporter of Bernie Sanders, became the first congressional Democrat to meet with Trump after the election. They met at Trump Tower in November to urge that the Assad regimes should remain in place, and argue that any efforts to confront Russias military action in Syria could lead to conflict. I felt it important to take the opportunity to meet with the President-elect now before the drumbeats of war that neocons have been beating drag us into an escalation of the war to overthrow the Syrian government, Gabbard said at the timeurging the Trump administration to support the Assad regimes continuation of power, while saying nothing of the thousands upon thousands that have died from its actions. MOSCOWAn icy wind blew over the pails filled with flowers and into the faces of sleepy volunteers guarding the improvised memorial to murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. The hands on the giant clock on the Kremlins tower crept to 23:31 (11:31 p.m.), precisely the hour and the minute that Nemtsovs assassins shot him in the back at this exact spot on Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. As the minutes and the hours passed in the dark long before dawn, it felt like the very memory of Nemtsov was being hunted: First a police car drove by to look at the memorials guards, then a shiny black car with tinted windows slowly drifted by the sad spot where a big portrait of the victim stood with a reminder emblazoned beneath: Nemtsov was murdered here. Rumor has it that Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of presidential administration, ordered his minions to put an end to the day-and-night shifts by the opposition near the Kremlins wall. They have been here since the day of the assassination, Feb. 27, 2015, which is even longer than the Maidan revolutionaries camped out in Kiev. Ironically, in the late 1990s then-Vice Prime Minister Nemtsov was friends with Kiriyenko. Back then, the two were considered Russias leading reformists. * * * Viktor Kogan sipped his hot tea from a thermos and spoke with resignation but determination: They will cleanse our memorial again tonight, he said. Sure enough, Kogan was right: At 4:15 am several vehicles with at least 10 officials arrived to demolish the Nemtsov memorial for the fifth time in the past 10 days. Men in uniforms rushed to grab the flowers, ignoring the protests of the volunteers. The same day, answering a question in which Putin was described as a killer on Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump said: There are a lot of killers. Weve got a lot of killers, suggesting that the United States was little more innocent than Russia on that score. (A few days later ,Trump insisted in a tweet: I do not know Putin, although in 2014 he said he did.) At the time of Nemtsovs murder, President Vladimir Putin referred to the assassination as a provocation and personally instructed the Investigative Committee, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Federal Security Service to investigate the shooting. Russians have been waiting ever since to hear who ordered the hit on Nemtsov. In the United States, police do not hunt down opposition leaders, at least not yet. But in Russia the word opposition is associated with arrests, or worse. A few days before the opposition march commemorating the second anniversary of Nemtsovs murder, the Kremlin began systematically throttling the already very weak anti-Putin movement. On Tuesday morning, police grabbed Mark Galperin, the leader of a revolutionary New Opposition movement calling for a change of power in Russia. When Galperin heard his door being broken down, reports said, he tried to escape by jumping from the second floor of his building. But he was arrested on the ground outside. * * * For the past year it has been close to impossible to get a permit for a street protest, activist Nadezhda Mityushkina told The Daily Beast. In November, Moscow city banned us from having a street protest against the war in Syria; every time we ask for a permit we hear nyet, Mityushkina from the Solidarity opposition movement told The Daily Beast. As protests were forbidden, Galperin and The New Opposition supporters in 16 Russian towns organized walks around the streets calling for a peaceful revolution. Russian opposition leaders described their life as a constant fight for survival. Putin has over 100 political prisoners. Our friend Vladimir Kara-Murza might have been poisoned; every time we call for a demonstration against Putins power, we receive threats or get arrested, said Nemtsovs friend Ilya Yashin, who is one of the key leaders of Russian opposition. Yashin received death threats in December after he spoke as a witness at one of the Nemtsov murder hearings in Moscow district military court. He remembers Nemtsov saying, Expect the main threat to come from [Ramzan] Kadyrov. Yashin recalled his conversation with Nemtsov in September 2014. That was after Boris released a video where the Chechen security forces crossed the Ukrainian border, Yashin added. Nemtsovs friends and family wanted the court to question Chechen leader Kadyrov on the murder case but so far that has not happened. Nobody in the opposition movement believed that former Chechen policemen suspected of murdering Nemtsov could commit the crime without orders from higher officials. After Nemtsovs murder, anti-Putin street protests grew weak. But the civil society that had emerged during mass protests of 2011-2012 continued to be active. Most participants joined civic groups helping orphans, the sick, old, or homeless people. Intellectual circles organized lectures, roundtables, festivals and conferences to discuss the most acute issues. This is not the right time for street resistance but a great time for education, Mikhail Zygar, a historian and founder of independent Rain TV told The Daily Beast on Tuesday. Zygar believes that the February and October revolutions that took place in Russia 100 years ago have never ended, and everything thats happening to Russia now was the consequence of 1916-17. Zygars popular Free History project shed light on the archives, published letters by Lenin, Nicolas the Second, Stanislavsky, and Tolstoys contemporaries. Whoever tries to understand Russia should know that this country is changing, every little town has volunteer movements, human-rights defenders and street journalists investigating the true story, Zygar, the author of the international best seller All the Kremlins Men, told The Daily Beast. But the opposition leaders still believe that only persistent street protests can change the power and politics in Russia. We plan to revive the Solidarity movements that were originally founded by Nemtsov and hit the streets again this spring, one year before presidential electionsa good time to start, Yashin told The Daily Beast. On Monday morning, the volunteers guarding Nemtsovs memorial and other opposition activists brought more flowers and installed more portraits. The sign Nemtsov was killed here was back in its place. This small island of freedom on the bridge by the Kremlin wall is a unique place in Russia, Nadezhda Mityushkina, one of the day-and-night guards told The Daily Beast. By watching it I personally demonstrate my right for freedom of expression, for devotion, and for the memory of somebody we all respected. UPDATE, 4:00 pm EST, February 8, 2017: On Wednesday a Russian court convicted prominent opposition leader Aleksey Navalny of embezzling timber. Navalny, who was planning to run in the 2018 presidential elections was given a five year suspended sentence, which would disqualify him. Navalny and his supporters are planning to appeal the court decision and prove that he can still participate in the election campaign. In 1939, Spanish nationalists, with the help of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, defeated their democratic-socialist enemies, thus ending the Spanish Civil War after three years of slaughter. Spain would remain under the fascist rule of General Francisco Franco until his death in 1975. Freed from that numbing horribleness, over the last 40 years the country has developed a thriving, modern bar and restaurant scene, and theres no place better to appreciate that than Barcelona. Leaving the restaurants for a more qualified observer, I can affirm that the city has a number of excellent modern cocktail bars, including such bright lights as Paradiso, Giacomo Gianottis cutting-edge speakeasy (Carrer de Rera Palau 4, behind the pastrami store), and the lovely Solange (Carrer dAribau 143). But I dont want to talk about modern bars. Instead, I want to talk about the old ones. The ones that were around during Francos reign and the years of reconstruction that came in his wake, and are still, amazingly, here today. Not only are they great bars, but, after an evening spent visiting perhaps (OK, definitely) too many of them, I think they also have a message for us. You can begin to see the outline of that message at the legendary Bar Boadas (Carrer dels Tallers 1), just off La Ramblathe Barcelona equivalent of Broadwayin the Raval neighborhood. In 1926, Miguel Boadas, born in Cuba of Catalan parents, was working at Havanas legendary Floridita when he took a trip to Barcelona. There, he met a local girl and decided to stay. In 1933, he opened this bar. Now his daughter Maria Dolores, retired after many years behind the bar herself, owns it. Sure, the worn, dark, paneled room is odd-shaped and small and the bar lacks running water, but, with 80 years worth of memorabilia looking down from the walls, the tuxedoed bartenders make their drinks the same way the bars founder learned to do it at the Floridita. The cocktails are thrown in long arcs between beakers or by covering the glasses theyre going to be served in with mixing tins and shaking them right in the glass. (Both techniques are American ones of the 1800s that went to Cuba with the Yankees after the Spanish-American war and are preserved here.) The drinks are small and the bartendersall who have been there for decadesdont rush you through them. Its hard to get drunk and easy to have a quiet conversationthe bar is bustling, but it isnt rowdy and it isnt loud. Try a Boadas Cocktail, equal parts Dubonnet, curacao and white rum, invented by Boadas himself for the bars opening more than ninety years ago. Walk down a narrow, crooked street around the corner from Boadas and, if you keep your eyes peeled, youll find one of its offshoots tucked away in a 12th-century building. The tiny Caribbean Club (Carrer de les Sitges 5), opened in the fateful year of 1975, is now owned by one of the citys best bartenders, Juan Jose Juanjo Gonzalez Rubiera, who holds forth pleasantly and knowledgeably from behind the tiny bar. By tiny, I mean tiny: The bar only has about 15 seats. The decor is nautical, with brass portholes and such everywhereor at least everywhere that isnt occupied by bottles of rum. The drinks, with a strong Cuban bias, are impeccable, the crowd, if you can call it that, friendly and sophisticated. The whole effect is like having drinks in your slightly eccentric friends home bar. It is very painful to leave. A mile from Boadas in the elegant, broad-avenued Eixample neighborhood is another cluster of old bars. Indeed, Ideal Cocktail Bar (Carrer dAribau 89) is even older than Boadas, dating back to 1931, although it has had undertaken a couple of renovations since. Ideal is another intimate, even clubby space, with a horsy English decor from the 1950s, a lot of Scotch whisky and well-executed, simple cocktails. If youre lucky, Jose Maria Gotardo, the bars genial, skilled owner and grandson of its founder, will make your drink or recommend a whisky to sip. Three blocks up Carrer dAribau at 162-166 is the elegant, but not bland or stuffy, Dry Martini, a perennial contender for best bar in the world. Founded in 1979, for a number of years the only drink it served was its namesake, always made with equal parts gin and dry vermouth and garnished with a dash of orange bitters, an olive and a spritz of lemon oil and thrown in the Boadas style. Indeed, when you order one now its always made by the senior bartender on duty and when hes done he uses a clicker to add it to a running tally of the number of Martinis the bar has made since opening. I can assure you that number is very high, although I cant say how high (I was more interested in drinking Martinis and talking to new friends than taking notes). Dry Martini, which now makes plenty of other drinks as well (all impeccably) is bigger and more formal than the other bars, but there are plenty of wood-paneled alcoves where you and your friends can make the world go away. (And if youre at Dry Martini and want one more drink, know that its kitty-corner from Solange, where the drinks are no joke.) These bars are all different; they each have their specialties and their peculiar atmospherics. But they also have a few things in common. One is intimacy: When the government is a malignant presence, you want to know whom youre drinking with. Regulars are good, the more regular the better. You also want to know your bartenders. Its notable that all these bars are closely held and have bartenders of long standing (the ones at Boadas have mostly been there since the 1970s; at Dry Martini almost as long). With the exception of Dry Martini, theyre not flashy (and even there, the flash is tempered). Discretion allows you to hide in plain sight. Do I think well need these kinds of survival strategies? No, probably not. But the fact that I cant be sure is worrying, to say the least. But these bars are also heartening: they show the endurance of community and the beauty of it, and the stubborn power of hospitality. To see something beautiful that has survived autocracy at its worst is heartening. During Prohibition, the last time Americas nativist minority attempted to dictate to its pragmatic majority, Americans went to Paris to drink. This time around, if youre looking to escape the idiocy, go to Barcelona. A short, bloody raid by U.S. Special Operations Forces on an al Qaeda base in Yemen in the second week of Donald Trumps presidency was a fleeting reminder to the world that Americans are engaged in secret and not-so-secret wars around the globe. But most of the action is not as dramatic as the Yemen attack in which a U.S. Navy SEAL was killed, an 8-year-old girl died, and a $70 million aircraft crash landed and had to be destroyed. All that took place in the space of a couple of hours. But most of these wars are long grinds fought far from prying eyes in close cooperation with local forces that often are notorious for torture and other human rights abuses. And nowhere have those fights gone on so long, or in such obscurity, as in Africa. This is the first of an occasional series that will shine some light into those shadows. LAMU, KenyaTucked into the northeast end of the countrys coast, the Boni National Reserve is a fairy-tale paradise, a resplendent ecosystem packed with elephantine baobab trees and hydra-headed doum palms. This mix of riverine forest and swampy grassland is home to some of the countrys largest herds of game, and to rare species like the wild dog, Somali lion, and reticulated giraffe. There are no rhinoceros left here, but Doza Diza, 66, talks about seeing kifaru often. The safari word for rhino has been re-purposed by the locals as a name for the armor-plated Humvees whose machine-gun mounts recall the animals distinctive horn. Tall, gaunt, and with a bad eye, Doza Diza wears a traditional Somali sarong and a Muslim skullcap. He describes himself as a former county councilor and crab fisherman. These motorized rhino can be distinguished by color, he says. The dark green ones are vehicles operated by the Kenya Defense Forces, KDF, he tells me. Those painted the color of sand belong to the Americans. Doza is an elder of his tribe, the Awer (also spelled Aweer). They are hunter-gatherers who seek out honey by following birds, talk to crocodiles and hippos in tongues the beasts are said to understand, and generally stick to their ancient way of life. The Awer are also Muslims, which is highly unusual among the worlds few remaining stone-age peoples. Theyve long inhabited the Boni forest region, but slowly and surely their way of life is being stripped from them. Subsistence hunting was banned in Kenya in the 1970s, so any meat the Awer procure is illegal. Poverty further marginalizes them. And now the tribe is caught in the crossfire of the global war on terror. *** How will the new administration in Washington deal with this and other semi-clandestine wars being waged by the United States around the world? Donald Trump has a penchant for former generals, with Michael Flynn, a longtime U.S. Army intelligence officer as his national security adviser, and retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, a veteran of counterinsurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq, who is now secretary of defense. Trumps close advisor Steve Bannon also fancies himself a brilliant armchair general. But Washington is a long way from the Boni forest and the very special sort of battlefield it represents. As The New York Times reported in October and November the United States has been escalating the shadow war inside Somalia with the potential for the United States to be drawn ever more deeply into a trouble country that so far has stymied all efforts to fix it. The Times, quoting unnamed senior American military officials, estimated that about 200 to 300 American Special Operations troops work with soldiers from Somalia and other African nations like Kenya and Uganda to carry out more than a half-dozen raids per month. And it outlined a program in which private contractors employed by the U.S. also play a significant role. But the shadow war inside the failed-state borders of Somalia is almost transparent compared to the activities here on the ill-defined edge of that war. There is a long history of countries on the fringes of conflict being sucked into war themselves, the most notable example being Cambodia during the Vietnam debacle. Whether Washington will help prevent such an outcomeor provoke itis an open question. *** The area in and around the Boni National Reserve is one of many places in Africa where American personnel are deployed with little fanfare and, indeed, as secretly as Washingtons representatives and proxies can manage. Repeated and detailed queries to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) for clarification of the American role here on the frontier between Kenya and Somalia were answered this month with a brief response explaining why not even a background briefing was possible: As these operations are currently ongoing, and have elements of U.S. special forces assisting, we cannot comment at this time due to operational security reasons. A major part of the mission those U.S. special forces are assisting in this part of the continent is, in fact, to hunt down and kill members of the Somali group known as al-Shabaab who threaten Kenyas security and, through the groups close relationship with al Qaeda, are believed to threaten Americas as well. The counterterror and counterinsurgency forces operating in the region would like the Awer to help them track the Somali guerrillas and terrorists. But that project is not going well in an operation reminiscent of many sorry histories around the world where local tribes and minorities have been instrumentalized, abused, and very often abandoned. U.S. Special Forces (Green Berets), other Special Operations Forces of various stripes, State Department officials, the inevitable slews of American contractors, and spooks and commandos from countries with close ties to the United States, including the Brits, Israelis, and Jordanians, have all deployed here in an undeclared if not unmentioned U.S.-backed war. Kenyas government and its international partnersthe heavyweights being the U.S. and the U.K.are desperate to make this region safe for engineers, imported skilled workers, and, yes, tourists. But the current intense counterterror focus has been a slow build, and not hugely effective. For the moment, anyone who ventures into the Boni forest risks getting blown up by an IED. Indeed, as if mocking attempts by the Kenyan government to establish the forest and its coast as a destination resort, al-Shabaab released a recruitment video in 2015 boasting about the bountiful game in the forest provided by Allah to sustain jihadi fighters. One ranch with a tourist concession that had been a haunt of jet-setters and celebrities (Kristin Davis, one of the stars of Sex in the City, had been a guest) found itself converted into a haven for al-Shabaab sympathizers in 2014. They stole food and medicine then torched the facilitys guest huts. There is a long and bloody history behind such incidents, which well look at in a subsequent installment of this series. But the short history has been the stuff of fleeting headlines for more than five years. In October 2011, Kenya sent troops into Somalia. Since then al-Shabaab has carried out massive retaliatory hits on targets in Kenya resulting in more than 300 deaths. Kenyan officials believe that after the spectacular 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi that killed at least 70 people, al-Shabaab retreated from Kenyas urban areas and melted into the dense Boni forestwhich sits on the coast, right on the countrys north-south border with Somalia and adjacent to what was once a Somali national park. Officials say another massacre, the 2014 Mpeketoni attack, which left 48 dead, was staged from within the forest, and that the Garissa University attack of 2015, which left at least 148 dead, was organized within the enormous Dadaab refugee camp nearby (which the Kenyan government plans to shut down, further displacing more than 300,000 people). Jaysh Aman, the al-Shabaab cell in the forest, reportedly was comprised of some 300 fighters in 2015, but its numbers certainly vary. Following the Westgate attack (which was later the subject of an extraordinary HBO documentary) national and Western forces were in an all-out scramble to protect Kenya from further cross-border terrorism. After the Garissa attack, Kenya asked the U.S. and other Western nations for more and better assistance. According to human rights groups, the counterinsurgency tactics that accompanied the build-up of U.S. assistance have featured mass police sweeps, arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and summary executions targeting not only al-Shabaab suspects, but alleged sympathizers and Muslim communities generally. In October 2015 the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR) released a report documenting disappearances and killings of residents and suspects along the Somalia border and the Kenya coast. Worshippers were grabbed as they left mosques and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers allegedly shot dead cattle herders, most of whom are Muslim, in east Kenya (PDF). During President Barack Obamas visit to Kenya in July of 2015, he stepped into the fray, allocating $100 million for the Kenya Defense Forces for weapons, materiel, and vehicles. The allowance was a 163 percent increase in counterterrorism assistance over the previous year. Among Kenyas purchases: a Boeing Unmanned Aerial Vehiclea droneat a price of $9.8 million. Each year since 2012 the Kenyan government has asked for security assistance from the West. The most recent installmentapproved by the State Department days after Trumps inauguration, but still not through Congressis a $418 million package that includes crop dusters converted for low, slow, high impact attacks targeting people on the ground. The extent to which the Trump administration will continue or cut back economic assistance in Africa is unclear, with some reports suggesting those funds will be reduced. In one of several pointed queries the Trump White House sent to the State Department it said bluntly, Weve been fighting al-Shabaab for a decade, why havent we won? But such questions offer little hint of a new strategy, apart from efforts to shore up Fortress America at its frontiers. Somalia was one of the seven Muslim majority countries whose citizens were banned temporarily by Trumps controversial executive order. Obamas theme was known as the 3-D approach to the regions conflictsdefense, diplomacy, and development. And in the two months following his historic visit to the land of his father, Kenyas government announced that a multi-agency security force had been assembled to carry out counterterror measures against al-Shabaab. The force consisted of paramilitary units within Kenyas police, Kenya Defense Forces special forces, and various state agencies, including the National Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence, the Kenya Wildlife Service and Forest Serviceall trained by Western police units and special forces. *** On Sept. 11 of 2015, Kenya formally launched Operation Linda Boni (Linda Boni being Swahili for protect the Boni). The goal set a two-month timetable to drive the insurgents from the forest. It is still going on. The first stage of this effort was cordoning off the Boni forest as a collection of no-go zones, and evacuation of all residents. Those who remained would be regarded as al-Shabaab sympathizers. This branded the Awer, Kenyan citizens, as the enemy. Security officials contend that Somali fighters have taken up residence, with their wives and children, deep inside the Boni forest. Doza Diza and other Awer leaders say that is true. They say al-Shabaab has coerced them into providing shelter in mosques and schools, logistical support, chiefly in the form of food and medicine, and have forced tribespeople to track game for them. But the Awer also are quick to say that violence and threats against them come from both sides in this conflict. Kenyan officials claim that Somali attackers burned the huts of the Awer, while the Awer say that Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) burned those shelters in an effort to force them to comply with the evacuation. Doza reports that guerrillas took his peoples food and issued warnings not to reveal their whereabouts to Kenya security, Otherwise, well deal with you. Aside from this, he notes, the insurgents are polite. Al-Shabaab rob from us, but they dont beat us or grab our landthe way Kenya forces do. Linda Boni has not only run long beyond its planned two-month timetable, it has extended far beyond the forest and its region into much of northeast Kenya. In the process it has become apparent that the KDFs counterterror tactics involve more than eradicating the al-Shabaab presence in the forest. By the end of 2015, the KDF announced it was expanding its area of deployment into neighboring counties along the Somali border and south some 200 miles, to the Tana River, constructing additional police stations and military camps. The Baragoni camp on the southern fringe of the Boni-Dodori National Reserve expanded its area to 800 acres of ostensibly public land. Kenya is building a 435-mile Western-funded security wall at the nations eastern border. On a visit to Kenya last year, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a big fan of walls in the Holy Land and in the U.S. as well, committed funds to the project. Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly has suggested building a terrorist-only prison facility within the Boni forest. Land grabs in northeastern Kenya are nothing new. In the 80s the Kenyan government seized land during a counterinsurgency operations against ethnic Somalis inhabiting the area. Now localsethnic Somalis and Muslim communities generallysuspect that military expansion is an excuse to take more land in and around an area where the Kenya government, the Chinese, and several multinational companies have plans for an oil-related infrastructure mega-development. The KDF concedes that the forest is a national reserve but insists it is gazetted as government land, not communal land. Doza suggests that the only power able to help his people stop the abuses is the U.S. governmentthe people behind the people in the rhinoceros Hummers. Since the Westgate attack, the KDF base at Baragoni has grown from a temporary camp to a permanent one, and by 2015 Kenya had deployed enough of its troops there with sufficient transport to foil a Shabaab attack aimed at destroying the Baure camp, which is 36 miles north of the Baragoni base. (In that action a year and a half ago the KDF killed 11 militants, including an British man named Thomas Evans whod been dubbed the White Beast in U.K. tabloids. The KDF paraded his corpsealong with othersin nearby Mpeketoni, where counterterror operations are headquartered. The British press subsequently posted video that appears to show the nighttime engagement filmed the day he died.) But the reach of the Baragoni base stretches far beyond a few satellite camps. *** Swaleh Msellem, a Swahili resident of Lamu Island, manages a petrol station at the Mokowe jetty a few kilometers across a channel on the mainland. Msellem, now 30, told me how one morning hed docked his boat at the jetty where at least a dozen non-uniformed men, whom he claims were with the paramilitary wing of Kenyas National Police Service, had been waiting for him. Someone pulled a hood over his head and tossed him into a vehicle. Familiar with the area and its roads, he said he could tell he was driven some 40 kilometers away to the Baragoni military base, where he was detained in a shipping container and tortured. Some of the techniques used on him were repeated mock drownings (a variation on waterboarding) and crushing of testicles. These were done, he said, to extract a confession that he planned a deadly attack in the nearby village of Hindi, soon after the Mpekatoni massacre. He denied this. The interrogators asked where the weapons were that were used for the attacks. Which weapons? he answered. The KDF continued to grill him, insisting he had information. He told me that during that detention he was driven from Baragoni to an area nearby where he witnessed the execution of two al-Shabaab fighters by a firing squad. One afternoon he complained of feeling ill. Guards took him outside to a pond where he vomited. Through his loosened blindfold he was able to glimpse crocodiles on the berm of the pond. Why were crocodiles being kept inside a military base, he wondered. Msellem said soldiers later threatened that hed be fed to the crocodiles like others had been if he didnt cooperate. After two weeks he was transferred to the port town of Mombasa, to the south, and held several months at the infamous Shimo La Tewa prison in a wing reserved for terrorists. Msellem eventually was taken into court, where he was acquitted of all murder and terror-related charges for lack of evidence. When I interviewed Msellem, he was grimly philosophical. Although he did not see or talk to any U.S. personnel, as far as he knew, he had no doubt they played some role behind the scenes. The Americans are very complicated, aren't they? On the one hand they are helping us by building roads, dispensaries, schools, but they also seem to want to kill us. In that one observation Msellem summed up the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the 3-D approach to U.S. Foreign Policy: defense, diplomacy, and development. A human rights report from the government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights documents the abuse of Msellem (PDF), but does not cite it as having taken place in part (or at all) at Baragoni. I spoke with Otsieno Namwaya, Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch, about the possibility of suspects being thrown to the crocodiles. He said he'd interviewed a local who was one survivor among four al-Shabaab suspects thrown in the Tana River behind a military camp. But as it was a single source he couldn't report it. This is Kenyaanything can happen, he said. For information from inside the Baragoni base, I spoke with a man who identified himself as a Western-trained Kenyan Special Forces soldier serving with one of the SF battalions. (Photos of him clad in fatigues and standing with fellow soldiers in a garrison in Somalia would seem to confirm his identity.) This soldier described to me the process of enhanced interrogationtortureused at Baragoni military base. He confirmed that people were detained in shipping containers, but said he hadnt heard anything about suspects being thrown to the crocodiles. He said that sometimes the National Intelligence Service detains and interrogates suspects at the nearby Manda Bay navy base. But they [NIS] dont force you to say anything, he told me. When you're brought to Baragoni you're forced to talk. According to a map I was shown and was able to examine at length, the Baragoni base is operated by Kenyas Directorate of Military Intelligence. It would seem prisoners taken in action have little hope of survival. If theres been direct engagement [with al-Shabaab] we capture them and they're taken to Baragoni, said the same soldier. If they don't have any useful information then they are being killed. Those that give information or say where the weapons will be are shot dead. By the time the soldiers deployment ended, he said, several dozen detainees remained in the shipping containers with partitions. Former detainees and a law enforcement official said that as recently as July 2016 there were as many as 16 containers, each housing at least six prisoners. The soldiers said some suspects were ferried by helicopter to an especially inaccessible area inside the Boni forest, where they were shot dead. Hunters from the Awer report finding human remains where they collect honey. *** In November 2015, a Lamu resident I see often told me that Lamu Countys government was organizing a barazaa meetingbetween Awer elders and government representatives from Nairobi, to enable the tribespeople to voice complaints about the KDFs actions. The baraza was to take place at a restaurant on the mainland. I decided to crash the event. When I arrived near the entrance of the restaurant there was quite a crowd milling around. At least three dozen Kenyan soldiers and police stood guard, blocking the road to the venue. At the cordon, I observed uniformed military personnel, mostly white, driving sand-colored armor-plated Humvees, those that Doza Diza had called kifaru. Officers on the ground were armed with what KDF personnel identified as U.S.-manufactured FN SCAR automatic assault rifles, a very high-tech killing machine capable of firing 625 rounds a minute. Indeed, they are the U.S. Special Operations Commands newest service rifle. German, Belgian, and Japanese special forces also reportedly used this gun. Kenya reportedly is the only African nation where the U.S. has issued this type of weapon. In addition, representatives of the Red Cross and Safari Doctors were on hand for the Mokowe meeting but had until recently been barred from the Boni forest altogether. Also on hand were personnel with U.S. Civil Military Affairs, the guys who handle the hearts-and-minds component of counterinsurgency, building on experiences in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Central America. CMA is a key part of the Linda Boni effort focusing on wildlife and indigenous peoples. It sees to the building of the latrines, the roads, the schools, and medical dispensaries while denying sanctuary to insurgents. Through USAID Civil Military Affairs has partnered with the Kenya Wildlife Service and rangers with wildlife conservation NGOs. KWS training is funded by USAID, and, after the 2013 Westgate attack, its rangers have been trained by Maisha Consult. The only people present at the meeting who were up front about their identities were KDF officers, whom I spoke to on arrival. One guarding the perimeter identified himself as a GSU officer, referring to the paramilitary wing in the Kenya National Police Service. I asked him whether I could attend the meeting, shortly after which a blonde-haired blue-eyed uniformed soldier returned. I explained I was a writer researching the Awers predicament. Are you an American? he asked. I handed him my tattered U.S. passport. Thank you, maam, he said with an engaging smile, and left promising to return to let me know whether I could attend the baraza. Others present, also heavily armed, wore civilian clothingDockers, polo shirts, and wraparound sunglasses. The locals refer to such armed Western personnel in casual wear as "sport sports. One source, within the U.S. government, preferring to remain anonymous, identified these figures as a U.S. Diplomatic Security Service contingent protecting American diplomats at the baraza. I never did gain access. (Media outlets associated with the Kenyan government had been invited; international press had not.) Awer leaders who spoke at the meeting, including Doza Diza, said they were eager to tell the U.S. representatives they no longer wanted to deal directly with the KDF or Kenya government because those entities had failed to make good on promises of land compensation. Locals told me that the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, had given each tribal elder 4,000 Kenyan shillings (about $40) to attend, and provided meals and transport. As part of counterinsurgency strategy, such meetings are supposed to help build local security forces, legitimize local government, and ultimately delegitimize the insurgents. But as long as the locals believe the government is stealing their land, meetings are unlikely to have much of a legitimizing effect. And meanwhile the fighting continues. A former U.S. Army colonel with long experience in civil affairs, who did not want to be named, added another layer. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is a relatively lean organization and continues to rely on contracted support for administration, logistics, operations, intelligence, and physical security, he told The Daily Beast. Think the old Blackwater and Executive Outcomes. Its not uncommon to hear about U.S. Special Forces on the ground in fragile states like Somalia and Iraq, but seeing them in a sovereign democratic stateKenyaseemed unusual. U.S. military presence in Kenya had been sparse until the 9/11 attacks. Boots on the ground in Kenya was practically unheard of. In Somalia it also was virtually nonexistent for more than 20 years after the infamous Black Hawk Down incident in 1993. But clearly all that has changed. with additional reporting by Christopher Dickey follow the author on Twitter @margotkiser1 NEXT: HOW DID WE GET HERE? On the same day CNNs Jake Tapper took Kellyanne Conway to task for conveniently ignoring terrorist attacks committed by white extremists, The Daily Shows Trevor Noah went after President Donald Trump directly for doing the exact same thing. Noah began by playing the recent clip of Trump telling military personnel that the dishonest media is actively refusing to report on terror attacks. Youve got to feel bad for the troops, the comedian said. Because theyve seen a lot of shit, but nothing in their training prepared them for a Donald Trump speech. If anything, Noah said he thinks the media reports on terrorism too much, arguing that if the press covered car crashes the way they covered terrorism, hed never drive again. He went on to say that Trump should be thanking the media, because if they didnt freak people out and hyper-report about terrorism, theres a good chance he would still be fake-firing celebrities on NBC. As for the list of underreported terror attacks provided by the White House, it contained high-profile incidents like the ones in San Bernardino, Paris, Nice, and Orlando. But like an Ashy Knees Anonymous meeting, there were no white people in it, Noah joked. Left off the list were Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof, Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Dear, and any other attacks committed by white Christians. Its not like the Trump people didnt see these attacks, they just dont like to talk about them, Noah said, pointing to last weeks attack on a Quebec mosque as a prime example. Press secretary Sean Spicer was happy to talk about the Quebec shooting when it was believed to be committed by a Moroccan Muslim shooter, but once it turned out to be a white extremist, he had nothing to say. Trump himself never said one word about it in public. Summing up the Trump administrations perspective, Noah said, When a Muslim person commits terror, its part of a deadly conspiracy, but when white extremists commit acts of terror over and over again, thats merely a continuing series of isolated events. Noah then called a report stating Trump plans to focus the countrys counterterrorism campaign solely on Islamic terrorism the most disgusting part of all of this. After declaring America first, he said Trump is ignoring all the hard-working white American terrorists out there. The new Hillary was created last night but instead of the chant to lock her up, it was an invocation of Senate Rule 19 to lock her out. The her is Elizabeth Warren, sent to her roomthe cloakroom in this caseby Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for impugning fellow Senator Jeff Sessions, whose vote to become attorney general is today. Her sin was to quote Coretta Scott King. Until that moment, there was no leader of the wounded Democratic Party, which, Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer aside, will be whomever emerges as the strongest presidential candidate. President Donald Trump has made no secret that he prefers Warren in 2020. He beat one woman, send on another, especially one who cant claw her way back to the middle like Clinton did and one he knows the Manhattan donor class doesnt like for taking on the banks. Say Warrens name in Manhattan and you get a guttural sound of disgust. Ive heard it. This affront could change that. Im looking for a Republican who wants to send McConnell to his room instead, but its hard. Warrens banishment until the debate ends was upheld by a party-line vote. Senators rose on the floor to defend McConnell. Marco Rubio warned that if Warren were to be allowed to impugn Sessions suitability to be attorney general with the words of the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, they would be flirting with the lack of decorum in other parliaments where they throw chairs at each other. Sen. Orrin Hatch said we would devolve into a jungle. Sen. John Thune varied ever so slightly on MSNBC, conceding it was a judgment call to invoke the rarely used rule and that the night was about 2020 politics. It was about that and it was a night when a martyr was born, catapulting Warren into a status way beyond Occupy Wall Street that she couldnt have achieved on her own, with 5 million friends on Facebook, a Twitter hashtag #LetLizSpeak, and T-shirts selling out online. Eat your heart out, Cory Booker, left to speak to an empty chamber and a C-SPAN camera. Even though McConnell is married to a smart woman chosen to be in Trumps Cabinet (Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, whos been known to commune with the enemy in the Hamptons), he shushed Warren like a 6-year-old sent to bed without dessert. She was warned, he said, she was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Cue the bumper stickers. For a much bigger breach of decorum when Sen. Ted Cruz called him a liar on the Senate floor, McConnell felt no need to invoke Rule 19. And Democratic Senators Tom Udall and Chris Coons were not silenced when they later read the words of the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King. What do they have that Warren doesnt? She wasn't silenced out of pique. McConnell is not a spontaneous man and he's been itching to flex his muscle. From the looks of it, McConnell and company are brushing off the womens march which, no matter who is counting, swamped the crowds who showed up for the inauguration. Nevermind. For now, the party is throwing its lot in with Trump and, like him, playing only to its base. Their message to women: Go ahead, unite. Well lock you out and lock in our base. Well see if the momentary high of silencing Warren and setting her up as the face of the opposition is greater than the energizing effect it has on women and the Democratic Party. Sabrina Limon said that leaving her husband wasnt an option, her younger lover told police. Divorce would ruin her image in the small San Bernardino County town where she and her family lived. Shed lose their mutual friends and face a custody battle for her children. And her hubby, she claimed, would rather die than split up. So the California mother-of-two and her beau allegedly hatched a plot to kill her spouse instead. They planned to serve her other half, Robert, arsenic-laced banana pudding, and even practiced the poison on a noisy neighborhood dog. Thats what Jonathan Michael Hearn, a 27-year-old former firefighter now facing prison time, told investigators last month. Hearn repeated these claims Tuesday, as he testified against Limon in a Kern County ourt. His description of the couples alleged scheme drew gasps from the gallery, according to the Bakersfield Californian, especially when he spoke of the poisoned pooch. The alleged killer testified that he slipped the pretty obnoxious pet a piece of arsenic-spiked salmon and that about three days later, I didnt notice the neighbor dog being obnoxious anymore, the Californian revealed. While the canines fate is unclear, Hearns comments suggest he believed the animal died. Earlier Tuesday, an investigator revealed a possible motive that went beyond Limons and Hearns budding romance: a $300,000 life-insurance policy. The Kern County cop testified that he found New York Life insurance paperwork in Limons house, according to the Desert Dispatch. The hearing, scheduled to continue today, will determine whether theres enough evidence for the 37-year-old Limon to face trial for Roberts murder. Her husbands body was found with two bullets to the head in 2014. Last month, authorities cuffed Limon on a slew of charges, including murder, conspiracy, and solicitation to commit murder. Her arrest came days before Hearns trial was scheduled to begin, and she was held on $3 million bail. Now shes facing life behind bars. Limon pleaded not guilty one day after her paramedic paramour accepted a plea deal that landed him a 25-year sentence in exchange for testifying about their lethal love triangle, which began after they met at a Costco. According to Hearns testimony, he met Limon in 2012 when she worked at the retail outlet. Their friendship blossomed into a sexual relationship, and two years later, they were discussing their future together, the Californian reported. But first they allegedly needed to get Robert out of the picture. She said he would probably rather be dead than divorced, Hearn testified, later adding that he had the arsenic delivered to his grandparents art studio. Limon didnt look at Hearn during his testimony, and instead sat hunched over and with her head down throughout Tuesdays hearing, the Californian reported. Prosecutors dropped the first-degree murder charge against Hearn, who instead pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the cuckolded husbands death. After the plea was announced, Hearns attorney said it wasnt an easy decision for his client, the Victorville Daily Press reported. The ex-firefighter isnt a cold-hearted, callous, evil man who has no conscience, Clayton Campbell told reporters at the time. His conscience has compelled him to make this plea bargain, Campbell added. Its a very difficult decision for anyone to make, to accept that kind of time. But there are several factors that go into it, one of them being his conscience, which I believe is the driving force for him. The firemans plea revealed more about the twisted scheme, which left Roberts then-11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter without a dad. Hearn allegedly copped to the arsenic plot and to purchasing the poison online months before Roberts death for $136.41 using an alias and a prepaid credit card. Police found the arsenic in a garage during their investigation, court papers state. As part of their alleged plot, Limon gave Hearn details of Roberts medical history, which included a rare condition that resulted in stomach issues and vomiting. The Tehachapi hospital, near Roberts job at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway complex, would be too disorganized to detect arsenic trioxide in his system, Limon allegedly told Hearn. Still, Limon and Hearn feared authorities would unearth the poison in Roberts bloodstream and backed out, Hearn said. Before Robert could eat his tainted dessert, which contained his favorite Nilla wafers, Limon called him at work and told him to toss the pudding because it tasted strange, according to the Californian. Hearn also testified that the lovers also considered rubbing out Robert in a car accident or fire. They allegedly settled on targeting the hubby at his workplace in an industrial complex, and Limon gave Hearn specifics on her husbands schedule. In August 2014, Robert Limon was found shot to death at worktwo days before his 14th wedding anniversary. At first, police suspected the 38-year-old railroad employee was the victim of a burglary gone wrong. Coworkers said theyd last seen Robert that fateful Sunday at 5 p.m., when he was working in the field. His body was discovered at 6:45 p.m. in a maintenance shop with two gunshots to the head. Roberts employer, BNSF Railway, quickly offered a $100,000 reward for information on his death, while railroad workers distributed fliers seeking tips. Roberts slaying devastated those close to him, and colleagues working in the industrial complex feared theyd be targets, too. As police looked for Roberts killer, well-wishers showered Limon and her children with gifts. She thanked friends and family on social media for supporting her and the couples children following her husbands death. Through this pain and unbelievable tragedy, Robs [sic] love continues on. The love and kindness given back to me and OUR kids has been overwhelming, she wrote in a September Facebook post. We THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for acts of random kindness that has been shown to us. Flowers. Gifts. Hugs. Food. All of the love love [sic] that has come to us has been such a BEAUTIFUL tribute to the AMAZING man Robert was and will never be forgotten. In the coming months, investigators would solidify their theory that Roberts case was no fatal robbery or random act in the railyard. They eyed the then-24-year-old fireman, whom they believed was having an affair with Roberts wife, and said surveillance footage showed Hearn fleeing the scene minutes after Robert was gunned down. (When asked about the video, Hearns attorney told Good Morning America, Its not clear enough to really make out who the person is, you cant even tell what race or whether its a male or female. Its a person with a limp crossing the yard.) Police also pointed to cellphone records: Hearn and Limon talked for 80 minutes on the day of the murder, right after Robert left for work. According to Tuesdays hearing, detectives created a ruse so that Limon and Hearn would incriminate themselves, the Californian reported. One investigator testified that he called Limon on Nov. 17, 2014, with false information about leads he was pursuing to catch her husbands killer. Ten minutes later, Limon called Hearn concerned that cops were onto them. During the wiretapped call, which was played for the court, the couple described hearing a clicking noise and pondered whether they were being recorded. They might have nothing, Hearn said in the call. They might have everything. The next day, police arrested the couple on suspicion of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. But prosecutors did not file charges against Limon and released her, citing insufficient evidence. Detectives believed Hearn was the triggerman, but needed more proof that Limon helped orchestrate her husbands demise. Ellie Chandler, a family friend, told the Daily Press that the Limons were an all-American family with two kids in elementary school. They were what everybody wanted to be; just a happy family that had everything, she said after Limons and Hearns arrests that November. Thats why I dont understand it. As far as I know, they had a great marriage. I did not suspect anything at all. Everybody loved to be around [Sabrina], Chandler added. She was the life of the party. She had her group of friends that stayed with her every night to get her through this when Rob died. Im just in shock. Months after Roberts death, Limon told detectives that she and her husband had a semi-open relationship and agreed that it was OK to have casual sex with other people, according to the Californian. But the wife and mother said she ended up falling for Hearn. We got in deep, she told investigators. Limon walked free for years as Hearn sat in jail awaiting trial. It was only last month that she was finally charged, following a 2.5-year investigation and Hearns decision to testify against her. Cops say that Robert was unaware of his wifes affair, but his close friends suspected something was amiss, the San Bernardino County Sentinel reported. Roberts best friend provided investigators with a letter he received from Hearn, who allegedly apologized for using him to get close to Limon. I showed such pride in not seeing my mistakes as having such horrible and dangerous consequences, Hearn wrote in the missive, according to the Daily Press. The friend and his wifewho were close to Robert and Sabrinatold police they felt creepy about Hearns presence. Hearn was 14 years younger than Robert and 11 years younger than Sabrina, the pal noted, according to the Sentinel. Roberts friend said that he confronted Hearn twice about his relationship with Limon and that Hearn became angry at his questions. The firefighter allegedly admitted only to kissing Limon once, the Sentinel reported. Authorities said Hearn and Limon exchanged thousands of text messages prior to Roberts murder. One from Hearn suggested that if the railroad worker was gone, they could live their lives together, the Californian reported. At a July 2015 preliminary hearing, Kern County prosecutors presented evidence that included photos, interviews, security footage, and recorded phone conversations between the philandering lovebirds. In the next 100 years you and I will be in eternity together and all this will seem like nothing, Hearn told Limon during one call. And hopefully in two or three years all of this will be done and over with. Roberts sister, Lydia Marrero, attended that court appearance and said Limon was nowhere to be found. Im really upset that I was lied to by Sabrina, Marrero told the Daily Press. I feel like she misled usher family, her friends. I feel that shes being very spineless that she didnt show up here and just sent her attorney. Shes ashamed and thats her own fault. Hillary Clinton didnt attend any fashion shows last season, several months before the election, but hers was the biggest name at New York Fashion Week. On the eve of the first presentations, Vogues Anna Wintour co-hosted a fundraiser for Clinton with her first aid Huma Abedin and daughter Chelsea. Guests wore Made for History T-shirts, which were created by 15 designersMarc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Joseph Altuzarra, and othersand sold on Clintons campaign website. Needless to say, the fashion industry was decidedly #WithHerhardly surprising, given that the industry has always been socially and politically progressive. (Think Raf Simonss spring 2002 collection, Woe Unto Those Who Spit on the Fear Generation the Wind Will Blow It Back, which riffed on our post-9/11 culture.) Now that Trumps in the White House, the fashion world has aligned itself with the resistance movement. And if the political messaging on display at New York Fashion Week: Mens is any indicationfrom the #RefugeesWelcome signs at designer Robert Jamess protest-as-presentation to newcomer Willy Chavarias casting call for Mexican, sexy wet back, fearless immigrant models with an intolerance for hatewomenswear designers will use the runway to make political statements, too. On Monday, the CFDAwhich organizes New York Fashion Weekannounced a partnership with Planned Parenthood, which will lose federal funding under the Trump administration if Republicans attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act is successful. Thousands of pink Fashion Stands With Planned Parenthood pins will be worn by more than 40 womenswear designers and gifted to their front row guests this week. By creating a visually engaging and fashionable pin, we hope to create an organic social media movement promoting awareness and education, designer Tracy Reese said in a CFDA statement. The Business of Fashion has also launched a #TiedTogether campaign calling on the fashion community to wear a white bandana signaling solidarity with the resistance movementa symbol of unity and inclusiveness amidst growing uncertainty and a dangerous political narrative peddling division on both sides of the Atlantic, according to a statement announcing the initiative. Tommy Hilfiger, Thakoon, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Diane von Furstenberg are among the designers who will be sporting white bandanas next week. Likewise Prabal Gurung, who was seen having dinner with Huma Abedin in New York City earlier this week. Not all designers are anti-Trump: fur designer Dennis Basso has signaled his openness to dressing Melania as first lady (having also designed for Ivana and Ivanka), while Ralph Lauren designed Melanias inauguration outfit. Tommy Hilfiger has spoken out in support of her too. Beyond the anti-Trump slogan tees and other visual displays of solidarity (look out for safety pins, a popular postelection accessory signaling support for minorities targeted by the Trump administration), other designers will likely contribute to the political dialogue with less on-the-nose references. For instance, Balenciagas menswear show featured Balenciaga and 2017-printed tees, bomber jackets, and blanket scarves in the style of Bernie Sanderss campaign logo. The message was loud but also open to interpretation. We can expect to see #resist messages from designers like Rachel Comey, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Opening Ceremony, and Maria Cornejo, all of whom participated in the Womens March. (Bonus points to whoever comes up with the most stylish interpretation of the ubiquitous pink pussy hat.) Indeed, in a statement to the Daily Beast, Cornejo said: When one groups basic human rights are threatened, it affects us all. Planned Parenthood provides health care, family planning and medical education for women and men who might not otherwise have access to this coverage. As an industry that celebrates and embraces so many types of people, its important that we voice our opinions and visually show our support right now. Silence is not an option. A top government watchdog said today that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials may have violated a court order at Dulles Airport in the wake of President Donald Trumps travel ban. The issue came up when Sen. Cory Booker asked John Roth, the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security, whether deliberately ignoring a court order would mean CBP officials had violated it. Thats my understanding as a lawyer, Roth replied, in testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee. Obviously it would have to be intentional, that is, knowing that fact, that a court order existed, and choosing not to follow that court order, I think thats correct. Booker and other members of Congressas well as Virginias attorney generalhave said CBP officials may have violated a federal judges order when they refused to let volunteer lawyers meet with travelers detained at Dulles Airport on Jan. 28 and 29. Booker went to Dulles on Jan. 28 when he heard that CBP officials werent letting detainees there see lawyers. On Wednesday, he told Roth that though CBP officials refused to meet with him in person, the senator had a copy of the court order shuttled back to their office at the airport. If the facts Im relaying to you are correct, that they saw the court order and then still refused to allow lawyers back to meet with the people they were detainingmany of them for hoursthat that fact pattern, that is a violation. Correct? Yes, Roth replied. Certainly, knowingly violating a court order would be, in my view, misconduct, the inspector general added. So we are going to be looking at those things. As chaos broke out at airports around the country over the weekend of Jan. 28including at DullesJudge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia ordered CBP officials at that airport to give volunteer lawyers access to lawful permanent residents who were detained. But those lawyers told The Daily Beast that CBP officials at the airport never let them meet with the travelers who were detained. That night at Dulles, Booker told reporters and protesters that he believed those officials were violating the court order. They told me nothing, and it was unacceptable, Booker said that night. I believe its a Constitutional crisis, where the executive branch is not abiding by the law. By Ananth Krishnan: China on Wednesday strongly defended its latest technical hold placed last month on an application by the United States to sanction Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar, saying "conditions were not yet met" for the UN Security Council sanctions committee "to reach consensus". China's move came almost a year after India first sought to sanction Azhar at the UNSC 1267 sanctions committee. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday that "conditions were not yet met", reiterating China's position from last year that there were "different views" among the 15 members of the UNSC 1267 committee which approves sanctions on terrorists. "Last year, the UNSC 1267 committee discussed the issue regarding the listing of Masood. There were different views with no consensus on the issue. As for submission by relevant countries to list him in sanctions list, I would say conditions are not yet met to reach a decision," Lu said at a briefing. advertisement He said "China put the request on technical hold to allow more time for relevant parties to consult with each other." India first submitted the application in March last year, when China placed a six-month technical hold and a further three-month hold, as allowed by the committee. The resolution was finally blocked in December, after nine months had passed. Also read: China blocks India's UN proposal to declare Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar a terrorist The US placed a new application in January, which has once again faced a six-month hold. Asked if an agreement would be possible by July, when the current hold expires, Lu of the Foreign Ministry said, "It is not a matter of length of time," he said. "It is a matter of whether consensus can be reached on the basis of full consultation." By then, the committee would have had more than 15 months to decide on the issue. The committee has already proscribed Azhar's organisation, the Jaish-e-Mohammad. Lu did not comment on China's specific objections, citing the committee's rules of procedure that do not "disclose details to the outside". Also read: US move for a UN ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar blocked again by China The issue has strained India's ties with China, and the new application suggests it will continue to remain a thorny issue in the relationship in the coming year. Lu, however, said China "hopes it will not have a negative impact on the relationship" and added that both sides "have exchanged views" on the issue. Also read: France wants UN to name JeM chief Masood Azhar international terrorist Watch the video --- ENDS --- On Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco, a Justice Department lawyer argued hard that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals should reinstate President Trumps travel banor, barring that, just reinstate most of it. It was the latest court skirmish over Trumps most controversial move yet: an executive order banning travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States. And if the oral arguments that took place before the appeals court Tuesday are any indicator, its a legal battle thats far from over, with stakes that are sky-high and an outcome thats far from predetermined. This all started late in the day on Friday, Jan. 27, when the president signed the executive order and kicked off a weekend of chaos at international airports around the country. Refugees and other travelers who had been in the air when Trump signed the order found themselves locked out of the country, and panicking lawyers rushed to major U.S. airports in hopes of helping those travelers get into the U.S.and keeping them from signing away their rights in the process. Immigrant and civil-rights groups went straight to court, and by the evening of Jan. 28, multiple federal judges around the country had sent down orders limiting the reach of the executive order (and, in one case, requiring that lawyers be allowed access to travelers detained at Dulles Airportaccess volunteer lawyers told The Daily Beast they never got). Next, on Feb. 3, a federal judge in Seattle put the entire executive order on ice, issuing a temporary restraining order that barred the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing it. And things in airports went back to normalsort of, at least for a little bit. Then came the latest legal showdown: On Feb. 7, the Justice Department, arguing for the federal government, squared off against lawyers for the states of Washington and Minnesota before a three-judge panel at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The proceedings pitted Washington State Solicitor General Noah Purcell against Justice Department lawyer August Flentje. At issue was whether the appeals court should reinstate Trumps travel bana ban the White House says is necessary for national security. The bans many critics, including a host of former top national-security officials, say it would undermine Americas security while violating the constitutional rights of people living here. The three judges refereed an hour of oral arguments, held over the phone and streamed live on the 9th Circuits website for listeners around the world. Those arguments focused on three main issues. First there were procedural questions: whether the states of Washington and Minnesota had standing to bring the federal government to court, and whether the temporary restraining order was appealable. The arguments got a bit juicier when the focus shifted to two other questions: whether federal law bars Trump from issuing an executive order that discriminates against people based on their nationality, and whether the federal government violated anyones constitutional rights with the executive order. And then there was that fallback argument the Justice Department made: that the judges should let the Department of Homeland Security enforce part of the executive order, at least for the time being. In one particularly pointed exchange, Judge Richard Clifton grilled Flentje over just how much danger the pre-executive order immigration policies were causing. Is there any reason for us to think that theres a real risk or that circumstances have changed so that there would be a real risk if existing procedures werent allowed to stay in place while the administration, the new administration, conducts its review? Well, Flentje answered, the president determined that there was a real risk. Thats why the president determined that the best course was a temporaryits a short halt in entry for 90 days, while these procedures are looked at. And thats understandable. It wasnt immediately clear if the judges understood. And White House spokespeople havent helped much to generate the perception of a real risk. On the Monday after the president signed the executive order, Sean Spicer said during the White House press briefing that the ban was not put in place in response to any intelligence indicating an immediate threat. A few minutes after the real risk exchange Tuesday, Judge William Canby pressed Flentje again on the danger posed by visitors from the seven banned countries. In the transcript of the hearing in the district court, the district court asks the representative of the Department of Justice, Youre in the Department of Justice. How many federal offenses have we had being committed by people who came in with visas from these countries? Canby said. The answer, the judge continued, was there havent been any. Flentjes response sounded a touch apologetic. These proceedings have been moving quite fast, he said, and were doing the best we can. He then said some Somalis in the U.S. have been convicted of aiding the terror group al-Shabab. Is that in the record? asked Judge Michelle Friedland, referring to the exhibits and documents that attorneys file when they first make their cases in district court. It is not in the record, Flentje conceded. Youre right, its not in the record. Purcell, arguing against the federal government and for Washington and Minnesota, also had his share of tough moments. One standout came when Judge Clifton pressed him on his claim that a federal statute rendered Trumps executive order illegal. Purcell argued that the executive order violated a statute barring the federal government from discriminating based on peoples nationalities when making decisions about issuing visas. Clifton asked if that statute only applied to people seeking immigration visaswhich would exclude many of the people Trumps executive order affected, including people on student visas. Purcell said Cliftons point was basically correct. Clifton pointed out that foreign-policy decisions discriminate based on nationality all the time. The U.S. government doesnt treat people from France the same way it treats people from North Korea, he said. Purcell also took heat from Clifton over whether the executive order was the realization of the Muslim ban Trump promised on the campaign trail. Here weve alleged, very plausibly and with great detail, that this was done to favor one religious group over another, Purcell said. Its not just your allegation at this stage, Clifton replied. So what should lead us to conclude youve got a likelihood of success at being able to prove the religious animus you allege? For starters, that the president called for a complete ban on the entry of Muslims, he replied. And is this that ban? Clifton replied. No, Purcell replied. Were not saying this is a complete ban on Muslims entering the country. Obviously, I mean they realizethis is, this is, well, what his adviser said on television was that he was asked for a way to, uh, implement a narrower thing that would be legal. And, uh, but, but the point is that was clearly a motivatingwhat, what we have alleged, and again, yes it is, we do have to show likelihood of success, but at this stage, the case file is clear, our plausible allegations are taken as true, uh, for assessing that likelihood of success. Wait! Clifton replied, his voice rising. That cannot possibly be true. We are supposed to take your word for it, the fact that you make an allegation of the complaint, and that equals likelihood of success? You dont really mean that, do you? Purcell paused. What I mean is that, wewe have assessedwe have alleged You can allege anything! Clifton said. Do I have to believe everything you allege, and say, well, that must be right? Thats not the standard. Then Judge Friedland jumped in, throwing Purcell a lifeline. Youve actually supported these allegations with exhibits, havent you? she asked. We have supported many of our allegations with exhibits, he replied. Yes, Judge Friedland, we have. And, and, I do think thats important. After Purcells grilling concluded, Flentje made a short rebuttal. Then he urged the judges that if they wanted to keep the temporary restraining order in place, they should at least narrow it so it only applies to people who have lived in the U.S. and have connections to the country. If the judges take Flentje up on his fallback plan, then we can expect more airport madness, as people from the banned countries making last-ditch efforts to get to the U.S. would likely get stranded in airport screening zones. Appellate lawyers who listened to the oral arguments told The Daily Beast afterward that the fight will likely go to the Supreme Court. Ed Grass, a retired litigation and appellate attorney who has argued cases before the 4th and 11th Circuit courts, told The Daily Beast that it was tough to game out the judges sympathies. Sometimes these judges ask particularly tough questions to lawyers whose cases they sympathize with, he noted, since they want to be sure they arent making the wrong call. Grass went to Dulles Airport to try to help detained travelers the day after Trump signed the executive order, and he said he expected the appellate panel to send the ruling back to the district court so both parties could flesh out their arguments better. Theyre going to say, we dont have enough of a record to do anything right now, play some more and then come back once you have more, Grass said. Thats my best guess. If thats what the 9th Circuit doesin a ruling expected sometime this weekthen the federal government could appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court. DOJ lawyers would then argue to Justice Anthony Kennedy that he should let the federal government enforce the executive order. Should Kennedy deny them, the government lawyers could ask another Supreme Court justice to hear them outlikely Justice Clarence Thomas, viewed as most sympathetic to their case. In the meantime, the oral arguments showed that debates about the nature of religious liberty and executive power are very much alive and well. It has been a long three months since John Oliver aired his post-election season finale of HBOs Last Week Tonight. When we last saw Oliver, just five days after Donald Trump won the White House, he urged his liberal viewers not to run for the hills but instead stay here and fight the threats posed by the new administration. He had no idea how fast it would get so bad. Ahead of his 2017 season premiere this coming Sunday, Oliver sat down with his fellow Daily Show alum Stephen Colbert to talk about what he missed over these past few months. When Colbert began by joking that not a lot has happened since his guest was last on the air, Oliver joked that its mostly been cosmetic differences, meaning flames and the fact America is in it. Until Inauguration Day, Oliver described his general feeling as one of being tied to a train track, watching the train coming. And then, Trump getting sworn in was the train hitting you and youre thinking, Yup, that felt pretty much how I thought it was going to feel. On Steve Bannon, the real president of the United States, Oliver said, hes a terrifying individual. As for Betsy DeVos, who was confirmed as education secretary earlier in the day, he joked, I actually think she might and should serve as an inspiration to school kids in America, because she shows that they could be secretary of education one day. In fact, not just one day, now. They could do it now. Theyre about as well qualified now as she is. Theyve spent arguably longer in a public school. During his final show of last year, Oliver called on Americans not to accept Trump as the new normal. Three months later, he said he thinks people are still feeling viscerally repelled by the presidents actions. But at the same time, he added, Its exhausting. It feels like his Inauguration Day was 114 years ago. When Colbert reminded him that its been just over two weeks, Oliver said, We have a long way to go. When the host said we have at least four years to look forward to, he asked, Why not 12? Words dont mean anything anymore, why would numbers? Finally, Colbert asked Oliver to share his thoughts on Trumps travel ban, given that he himself is a green-card holder and his wife served as a U.S. Army medic in Iraq. I am slightly concerned. I have an American wife and an American son now, but who knows whats enough? Oliver asked. Having a green card used to be enough, and yet what we saw with that executive order on immigration, that debacle, things are not what they were supposed to be. We held up translators, Afghan and Iraqi translators at the border who have bled for a country theyve never visited, have sacrificed family members for this country, he continued. This president has done neither of those things, so its a little hard to swallow him telling people whether they should be a benefit to America or not. Less than a month into Donald J. Trumps presidency, relations between the United States and many other countries have gone sour. One nation nervously watching events in Washington, D.C., and clearly dismayed at much of what the new president is doing is my other country, the United Kingdom. Historically, the U.S. and the U.K. have been strong allies, partners in the so-called special relationship. There are many different facets to this international friendship, ranging from the strategic (say, fighting World Wars or staring down commies together) to the personal (Trumps mother was Scottish; U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has dual citizenship; Winston Churchills mother was American; and lots of people have mixed U.S.-U.K. families, just like all all three of the aforementionedand me). But now, there is trouble. The new presidents invitation to British Prime Minister Theresa May to let him know if shes in D.C. left British civil servants amused and befuddled, which is a nicer way of saying it meant them muttering wtf while walking around government offices. There have been rumblings that Trump choosing to speak to May only after talking to 10 other world leaders was weird and insulting, and indicative of a diplomatic downgrade. Trumps apparent treatment of longtime U.S. allies as starting out on a par with longtime adversaries like Russia has been of concern in London also. May has voiced her disapproval of Trumps immigration executive order, which applies to dual citizens of the U.K. and affected countries. The outcry over a planned Trump state visit to the U.K., during which he would meet the queen, has beento use a favorite Trump termhuge. And now, the speaker of the House of Commons has said he is opposed to allowing Trump to address Parliament in Westminster Hallsomething over which the speaker actually has some power. As someone who opposed Trumps bid to become our 45th president, who deeply dislikes his Middle East executive order, and who thinks him dangerously naive regarding Russia and insufficiently supportive of some of our allies, I find it tempting to pump my fist and yell right on! when efforts are made to punish him for what I see as baddangerous, even behavior. But the truth is, the U.K. under Mays leadership should stay engaged with the U.S. under Trumpeven if the special relationship currently seems more like a rocky, empty-nester marriage in which one party occasionally looks like theyre interested in playing the field again. Obviously, on a personal level, this matters to me. Its nice to have dual citizenship of two countries that pretty much always see eye-to-eye and generally like each other. Being a dual citizen of, say, the U.S. and Turkey might not be so straightforward and immune to my own internal conflicts. But the special relationship also matters for both countries broader populations, and the world at large, especially in the era of Brexit and at a time when the U.S. seems to be turning inward, and rejecting our historical role as a superpower keen to engage on the world stage. Lets acknowledge that for as straightforward and logical as Brexit proponents make cutting a good free trade or common market deal between the U.K. and the EU sound, the reality is that this is going to be tricky. There is the issue of financial services passporting rights, and the interest that other European countries have shown in wanting to oust the city of London from its top-dog role in the world of international finance and their use of the EU in trying to accomplish that. In some quarters, there is also just plain spite. In this context, the U.K. could surely benefit from a getting a free trade deal in place with the U.S., and quick. For the U.S. part, roughly every fifth tweet from the new commander in chief looks like the opening salvo in a trade war. If Trump is going to try to kill NAFTA, or renegotiate it to death, and incentivize China to cut sweet trade deals with all and sundry, leaving the U.S. out of the loop, wed better have at least one good trading partner. The U.K. could be it. And British engagement with Trumps team to accomplish just that seems to be yielding better-than-expected results so far. Earlier this year, Foreign Secretary Johnson met with Trumps nationalist adviser, Steve Bannon, typically seen as an architect of Trumps isolationist until we decide to bomb the hell out of you stump-speech-foreign-policy, and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Based on Johnsons comments after the fact, a free trade pact looked tentatively feasible. If you buy the theory that more trade between nations tends to cement friendships, help avert war, and benefit average consumers, a somewhat rosier outlook for U.S.-U.K. free tradethanks to the U.K.s willingness to engage with Trump, despite protests and petitions at homelooks like the smart move. The same is true when looking at international security. Yes, there are Britons who feel spurned and worried by Trump given his apparent bromance with Putin. Ill even admit to being one of them. But its hard to believe you hold together NATO and other traditional security alliances by discarding the shreds in a grandiose exercise in catharsis, outrage, or even self-pity. The smarter thing to do, for now at least, is what the U.K. appears to be doing: Hold onto the remnants, and look for opportunities to weave fresh strands into them and strengthen things anew. This wont be easy with Trump. His personality and temperament, and therefore his predictability, areto put it nicelya tad different from what one typically gets with a president. That said, whether its attributable to Trump being an Anglophile as Nigel Farage has asserted, whether its to do with his mothers Scottish roots and a typical Scottish-American reverence for the old country (or indeed the union of which it remains a part), or whether its to do with Trump just liking Anglo-Saxon countries more than all the others, maintaining a decent working relationship with the U.S. looks eminently more doable for the U.K. than it does for Mexico, China, or Japan, to pick three obvious examples of Trump-designated foes. With the U.S. and the U.K. standing together, the West has managed to win two World Wars, and banish communism to the furthest, and least powerful, corners of the earth. Collectively, weve stood up for human rights and free markets in many parts of the world, even if less consistently than some might like. We share a common history, a common language, and a great deal else culturallynow, still, just as we did 100 years ago, 200 years ago, and even 400 years ago. Im skeptical that Trump is sufficiently committed to the cause, let alone as committed as May, Johnson, or other leaders in the U.K. government. But Im also cognizant that President Obama made numerous early missteps with regard to the U.K.never forget his being too tired to greet then-PM Gordon Brown, or his gifting Brown a set of DVDs or the queen an iPod (she already owned one), or an Obama State Department official allegedly saying there was nothing special about the U.K., or Obama talking up France (with which England, at least, has something of a historical rivalry) as the U.S. strongest ally. And even the administration of President Reagan, who as a Republican, I am bound to resist criticizing, was, from a pure British standpoint, insufficiently U.K.-friendly with regard to the matter of the affiliation of the Falklands Islands. Trump presents greater and different worries still, but the point is the special relationship seems to be a pretty strong one that can survive some damage. Lets hope it stays that way, and that common ground can be found, maintained, and expanded uponnationalist-isolationist instincts in the US, and protesters and petition-signers in the UK be damned. If Donald Trump has his way, federal judges will be treated like Senator Elizabeth Warren: forced to sit down and shut up. In a series of comments since a Seattle judge placed a temporary hold on his travel ban, Trump has escalated his attack on the institutions of democracy: last week, the free press; this week, the independent judiciary. The courts seem to be so political, Trump said to a gathering of law enforcement officers Tuesday, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do whats right. Trump also complained Its really incredible to me that we have a court case that is going on so long (actually, the first cases were filed two weeks ago). And, echoing his Second Amendment People campaign rhetoric, Trump accused judges of taking away our weapons, one by one. Its no coincidence that Trumps comments come as the confirmation process for attorney general nominee Senator Jeff Sessions winds down: its Sessions, after all, who co-authored the ban itself. That fact seems to have been conveniently forgotten by Republicans who have opposed the ban but still plan to vote for Sessions.And, of course, Trumps comments Tuesday were but the latest in a week of court-bashing. These are truly unprecedented statements. Even the court-packing scheme of FDR and Andrew Jacksons alleged pronouncement John Marshall made his decision; now let him enforce it! do not approach this level of contempt for the rule of law. Of course, presidents have often vociferously disagreed with judicial rulings, but even Richard Nixon reserved his most acerbic comments for private (albeit taped) conversations, not public statements like these. Even Judge Neil Gorsuch, Trump's nominee to sit on the Supreme Court, called his remarks "disheartening" and "demoralizing" in a conversation with Senator Richard Blumenthal. In public, presidents have generally deferred to courts, as the guardians of the rule of law, while expressing confidence that their views would prevail in the endnot calling a judge a so-called judge or an opinion ridiculous. Now, some of this is just Trump being Trump. Its probably best to take his from-the-hip comments with a grain of salt. But lets remember the substance of the debate, and the power that Trump and Sessions wield. In fact, contrary to Trumps assertion that this is all political, the legal, constitutional problems with the ban are legion. First, it is wildly overbroad. Trump and Sessions (with input, according to reports, from White House senior advisor, Stephen Miller) imposed a seven-nation travel ban that included people who had already cleared exhaustive vetting procedures, people with approved visas, and people with green cards. (It may also be under-inclusive, omitting countries like Saudi Arabia, but that is a separate matter.) Second, it arguably discriminates on the basis of religion. While the ban is explicitly based on nationality, not religion, it banned people from Muslim-majority countries after a heated campaign in which Trump had called for a ban on Muslims. Third, it was rolled out hurriedly, with a minimum of consultation, leading to immediate and widespread chaos, imposing harms on hundreds of thousands of people. There have been reports that government officials have even defied court orders, which, if true, would be extremely serious violations. These are not political questions; they are legal ones. Trump was right to read, at his Tuesday remarks, from the Immigration and Naturalization Act, which indeed grants him broad latitude in matters of immigration and national security. But broad latitude doesnt mean unchecked latitude. For example, in Trumps reading of the law, he could order that only white people be let into the country. Would that be constitutional? In other words, the judges hearing these caseswhether they have upheld, partially upheld, or rejected the banare doing their jobs. The ban brings up serious First Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and statutory questions. To strongly disagree with a judges interpretations of those questions is any politicians prerogative. To accuse them of illegitimacy is authoritarian. And however the Ninth Circuit rules on the temporary stay, it seems clear that this issue, in one form or another, is headed for the Supreme Court. Will Trump delegitimize the Court, too, if it does not rule as he likes? Is there no limit to his contempt? Its also best not to minimize Trumps remarks because of the power that he wields. First, the Trump-Sessions Justice Department has extremely wide discretion to pursue or ignore legal claims. Already, there are reports that the department intends to set aside the consent decree regarding pervasive racism in the Baltimore Police Department. That has an immediate effect on the ground, on real people. Now multiply that by a thousand, with a DoJ siding with police reflexively, as Trump promised today. Second, the Trump administration has the power to shape the federal judiciarybeginning, of course, with the Supreme Court, but perhaps more importantly with district judges, appellate judges, immigration court judges, and administrative judges. To be sure, Judge Neil Gorsuch, Trumps pick for the Supreme Court, is an outstanding, if arch-conservative, jurist. But down the line, the clear signal is that lower court judges will be picked on the basis of ideology rather than independence (or competence). Were going to have immigration courts presided over by the likes of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Third, as the Washington Posts Aaron Blake noted, its entirely foreseeable that the Trump administration will simply not comply with judicial orders it doesnt like. It hasnt disobeyed the current stay on the travel ban; people from the affected countries are again being admitted, as long as their papers are in order. But at the very least, Trumps rhetoric puts courts on notice that their orders might not be obeyed in the future. That would be, by definition, illegal. As Blake gamed out in his piece, its not clear what would happen next. Contempt of court is an impeachable offense, but would the GOP-led House of Representatives ever impeach Trump? Or would they, as seems far more likely, adopt his rhetoric that the court orders in question were political, and thus not legitimate? Trumps comments over the last week bring us one step away from a constitutional crisis. And surely he knows this. His base loves attacks on the courts or the media. They dont know and dont care about the legal niceties of the Immigration and Naturalization Act. Trump is scaring and warning them into acceptance of his own unlimited authorityand its a very easy sell. Again, if Trumps remarks were just the childish ravings of a blogger somewhere, they would be nothing to get upset about. But this is the president of the United States were talking aboutand, if Republican senators dont stand up to creeping authoritarianism, the attorney general as well. The real threat to democracy isnt the tweets. Its the power Trump has to fulfill them. Republican senators are openly defying their party's president, proposing legislation that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to lift sanctions on Russia without their approval. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham is leading the latest charge, authoring a bipartisan proposal Wednesday that is modeled after the controls that Congress passed after the Iranian nuclear deal. If passed, The Russia Sanctions Review Act would essentially give Congress a veto over any effort by the Trump White House to relieve economic sanctions imposed on Russia. "Most people see Russia as deserving to be punished for interfering in our election. And to not punish Russia for interfering in our election would be the worst possible signal to send the Russiansand they're headed to France and Germany next. If they don't pay a price, they're not going to stop this," Graham told The Daily Beast. Graham is joined in the proposal by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain and Sen. Marco Rubio, both fellow Republican hawks, and Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin, Sherrod Brown and Claire McCaskill. Under Grahams proposal, the Trump administration would have to notify Congress, certify that Russia respected the sovereignty of Ukraine, and conclude that Russia had stopped cyber-attacks against America before any sanctions relief would be granted. Congress would also have 120 days to review any sanctions relief proposed by the administration. There remains serious concern in Republican circles that Trump has been too open to friendlier relations with Russiahis suggestion of moral equivalence between Russian killings and American military actions this weekend raised eyebrows even among his supporters. After a Fox News host pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin has had people killed, Trump replied, What do you think? Our countrys so innocent? Sen. Tom Cotton, a reliable Trump supporter, voiced his disagreement later on: "I wouldn't have characterized President Putin in the way that President Trump did over the weekend. While some Republicans might be wary of crossing the Trump White House so early in the presidents term, Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Republicans should keep in mind that presidents always push back against attempts to rein in their powersand that this legislation merely allows Congress to have a say in sanctions policy. The Obama administration, the Bush administration, the Clinton administration none of them wanted Congress to do anything in regards to executive prerogatives, Cardin said. Ive never met an administration that didnt want to get rid of the legislative branch of government. But I think Democrats and Republicans will come together. Grahams proposal comes in addition to other, previously-introduced bipartisan legislation that would impose additional sanctions on Russia. These sanctions would make it harder for financial institutions to conduct transactions with Russian military and intelligence agencies. But backers like Rubio told The Daily Beast that, just knowing the number of members who are supportive" of sanctions, he thinks there is enough bipartisan support in the Senate for a supermajority that would override any potential Trump veto of new sanctions legislation. But he has not done a formal head count of votes. 67 senators must support a bill in order to override a presidential veto. The success of the legislation depends on what ongoing probes into Russian interference conclude, and whether it raises public ire. A number of other committees are continuing to investigate Russias conduct: the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is continuing with open hearings on the issue Thursday, while the Senate Intelligence Committee is engaged in a more thorough, private investigation. American intelligence agencies have already concluded after the election that Russia had tried to interfere with the U.S. presidential electionand many lawmakers are dumbfounded that, before these investigations have even concluded, the Trump White House is open to warmer relations with Putin. Vladimir Putin is a thug bent on tearing down democracyand Russias meddling in U.S. institutions is a threat to our national security, McCaskill said on Wednesday. Any decision to roll over on sanctions needs to meet a high bar in Congress. By Press Trust of India: Lahore, Feb 8 (PTI) Pakistans Punjab province Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has imposed a "complete ban" on Basant, a seasonal festival celebrated by Punjabis of all faiths to mark the commencement of the spring season. In a message posted on his official Twitter account last night, he said that none would be allowed to play with the lives of people and concerned District Police Officer would be held responsible in case a violation is reported. advertisement "Complete BAN on Basant...No one can be allowed to play with the lives of ppl...concerned DPO will be responsible for any violation of ban," Sharif tweeted. Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had said that the provincial government could not permit a "throat-cutting kite flying festival". There is a long established tradition of flying kites and holding fairs on the occasion. The festival was banned in Punjab in 2007 owing to deaths caused by sharply polished threads used to fly kites. However, many analysts say the festival was banned due to pressure from hardline religious and extremist groups like the Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud Dawah, which claimed the festival had "Hindu origins" and was "un-Islamic". PTI ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- Dawn Harper-Nelson has been banned for three months after she tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. By Reuters: Beijing Olympics 100 metres hurdles champion Dawn Harper-Nelson has been banned for three months after she tested positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Tuesday. The ban is effective from December 1, 2016. USADA said it had accepted Harper-Nelson's explanation that her positive test was caused by medication she was prescribed by a physician to treat hypertension. advertisement "Harper-Nelson further explained that she made efforts to determine if the medication contained prohibited substances; however, due to using partial search terms, those efforts were unsuccessful," USADA said in a statement. Harper-Nelson, who also clinched silver in the 100 metres hurdles at the 2012 London Games, said the medication had been prescribed after she was taken to hospital suffering from high blood pressure. "As a result my physician prescribed a non-performance enhancing medication for high blood pressure that contained hydrochlorothiazide, water pill," she wrote on her Twitter page. "I never hid my use of this required medication, but did fail to fully understand how its administration was governed by current doping protocols. "I take full responsibility of my mistake and have fully cooperated with IAAF and USADA in the handling of the matter. "I have learned a valuable lesson and hope my mistake will serve as a reminder to all athletes to be diligent in thoroughly checking any and all prescribed medications." --- ENDS --- Bowmore updates look of core range Beam Suntory brand Bowmore has revealed a new look across its core range, from Bowmore 12 Years Old to Bowmore 25 Years Old and its newly released Bowmore No.1. Bowmore claims the design is inspired by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Bowmores ancient sea walls have protected the rare casks and liquids concealed within for more than 230 years. It is the conditions of the No. 1 Vaults, claimed to be the worlds oldest scotch maturation warehouse, that creates Bowmores balanced whiskies. The packaging communicates Bowmores history and heritage as part of a global campaign, 'Unlock Hidden Depths', which also sees the brand offer a virtual reality experience to bring the legendary No.1 Vaults to life. Each expression is presented in a carton that portrays the wooden doors of the vaults and highlights the establishment with a signature from David Simpson, Bowmores original founder. Inspired by the natural colours of the vaults and the white exterior walls of the distillery, the packaging features muted tones while championing the age statement. Subtly embossed on each label is the Bowmore icon of a padlock, an illustration of the lock still used today on the No. 1 Vaults. Perched on Islays edge, Bowmores No. 1 Vaults have remained unchanged since they were established in 1779. Hannah Fisher, international marketing manager of malts, Beam Suntory, says: Bowmore is a brand with rich heritage and having the worlds oldest Scotch maturation warehouse that houses so many treasures in each and every cask we wanted consumers to be able to see and feel this unique environment and unlock the hidden depths of the brand for themselves." Filmed using a drone and using educational and interactive touchpoints, Bowmore's new virtual reality tour, Unlock Hidden Depths, invites audiences to discover the story of how Bowmore whiskies are finished and balanced to create a character with complex flavours. Wherever they are in the world, viewers will be transported to Scotlands famous whisky island, Islay, where they will be taken on a virtual tour of Bowmores distillery. The virtual reality tour can be streamed on home devices and viewed with or without Bowmore branded Google Cardboard glasses via Bowmores new website www.bowmore.com. 8 February 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editorial assistant Mamata Banerjee reiterated her party's opposition to the demonetisation move asking how long will the people be made to suffer. By Indrajit Kundu: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has once again hit out at the Narendra Modi-led central government over the issue of demonetisation. On Wednesday, exactly three months since Prime Minster Modi made the landmark announcement on November 8, Banerjee reiterated her party's opposition to the demonetisation move asking how long will the people be made to suffer. advertisement "DeMo-ReMo derailed the nation. Visionless, missionless, directionless. Today three months. The economy has slowed down tremendously. The nation is facing an acute economic crisis. How much longer?" Banerjee wrote on Twitter. DeMo-ReMo derailed the nation. Visionless, missionless, directionless. Today three months #DeMonetisation 5/5 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 8, 2017 Trinamool Congress MPs who have been vociferously critical of the government's move over the past three months, once again protested in Parliament on Wednesday. Party MPs held a dharna at the Gandhi statue in Parliament with posters and placards slamming the Modi government. TMC protest at Parliament. Photo: AITC Also read: Mamata Banerjee tears into Arun Jaitley's budget, call it clueless, useless "Restrictions and sufferings not over. Citizens have lost economic freedom. When economic freedom is lost, the main freedom is lost," she wrote. Today, three months over. Restrictions and sufferings not over. #DeMonetisation 1/5 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 8, 2017 Slamming the Centre for working at the behest of a few big industrialists, Mamata wrote, "Only few rich capitalists are not suffering. Commoners, middle class, downtrodden, poor continue to suffer." Only few rich capitalists are not suffering. Commoners, middle class, downtrodden, poorest continue to suffer. #DeMonetisation 3/5 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 8, 2017 Also read: Mamata Banerjee asks TMC leaders to refrain from launching personal attacks on PM Modi Watch the video --- ENDS --- June 6, 1949 - February 3, 2017 Rocky Ware, 67, of Brazos County, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2017, in Bryan. Rocky's family will receive guests at the funeral home beginning at 11 am until the time of the memorial service at 1 pm, on Friday, February 10, 2017. Cremation services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers-Bryan/College Station. Mr. Ware was born on June 6, 1949, in San Antonio, Texas and passed away on Feb 3, 2017, in Bryan, Texas after a short but courageous battle with cancer. He was the third child born to Babe and Euna Ware. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, Calif. He then boarded the U.S.S Constellation. With his service he was able to travel to various parts of the world. His travels abroad were no match for the beauty he found in Bryan, Texas when he met and married Beverly Utecht on Dec 31,1973. They would spend forty-three years together and have twin sons, Jason and Justin. Rocky worked for Texas A&M University from which he would retire. Rocky also was active in Brazos County Precinct 3 Volunteer Fire Department where he served as Chief for a number of years. Rocky was well known for his sense of humor and making people laugh, it was part of his spirit. From cracking a joke or picking on his family, he certainly could make a bad situation a little easier. In his retirement he enjoyed fishing with his son Jason, and his brother Cecil, going to have coffee with his good friend Travis, or sitting for hours with Sudoku or Facebook...or a combination of both. Rocky's parents, Babe and Euna Ware; his sister, Judith Ware; his father and mother in law, Edward and Doris Utecht and a grandson, Michael Lynn Ware; all pre-deceased him. Rocky is survived by his wife, Beverly Ware; his twin sons, Jason and wife Loren, Justin and partner, Patrick; his brother, Cecil and wife Juanita; his brother-in-law, Doug Utecht and wife Beke; his brother-in-law, Mike Utecht and wife Karen; his adored grandchildren, Skyler and Grey; as well as his good friend, Travis Gray...and a host of nieces, nephews and close friends. "I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing" Express condolences at CallawayJones.com A three-judge panel pressed a government lawyer whether the Trump administration's national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. By Reuters: President Donald Trump's order temporarily banning US entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday from a federal appeals court that questioned whether the ban unfairly targeted people over their religion. During a more than hour-long oral argument, a three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals pressed a government lawyer whether the Trump administration's national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. advertisement Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush appointee, posed equally tough questions for an attorney representing Minnesota and Washington states, which are challenging the ban. Clifton asked if a Seattle judge's suspension of Trump's policy was "overbroad." The 9th Circuit said at the end of the session it would issue a ruling as soon as possible. Earlier on Tuesday, the court said it would likely rule this week but would not issue a same-day ruling. The matter will ultimately likely go to the US Supreme Court. Trump's January 27 order barred travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. Trump, who took office on January 20, has defended the measure, the most divisive act of his young presidency, as necessary for national security. Also read: Donald Trump's travel ban to face legal test The order sparked protests and chaos at US and overseas airports. Opponents also assailed it as discriminatory against Muslims in violation of the US Constitution and applicable laws. A federal judge in Seattle suspended the order last Friday and many travelers who had been waylaid by the ban quickly moved to travel to the United States while it was in limbo. August Flentje, representing the Trump administration as special counsel for the US Justice Department, told the appellate panel that "Congress has expressly authorized the president to suspend entry of categories of aliens" for national security reasons. "That's what the president did here," Flentje said at the start of the oral argument conducted by telephone and live-streamed on the internet. TOUGH QUESTIONING When the 9th Circuit asked Flentje what evidence the executive order had used to connect the seven countries affected by the order with terrorism in the United States, Flentje said the "proceedings have been moving very fast," without giving specific examples. He said both Congress and the previous administration of Democrat Barack Obama had determined that those seven countries posed the greatest risk of terrorism and had in the past put stricter visa requirements on them. advertisement "I'm not sure I'm convincing the court," Flentje said at one point. Also read: Donald Trump vows to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, says ISIS on a genocide campaign Noah Purcell, solicitor general for the state of Washington, began his argument urging the court to serve "as a check on executive abuses." "The president is asking this court to abdicate that role here," Purcell said. "The court should decline that invitation." The judges pummeled both sides with questions. Clifton pushed both attorneys about whether there was evidence the ban was intended to discriminate against Muslims. "I don't think allegations cut it at this stage," Clifton told Purcell. Clifton later questioned Flentje after the attorney argued the Seattle judge had second-guessed Trump's order "based on some newspaper articles." The judge referred to recent televised statements by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who advised Trump during his campaign and transition, that the president had asked him for advice about implementing a legal Muslim ban. "Do you deny that in fact the statements attributed to then candidate Trump and to his political advisers and most recently Mr. Giuliani," Clifton asked. "Do you deny that those statements were made?" advertisement CAMPAIGN PROMISE Trump frequently promised during his 2016 election campaign to curb illegal immigration, especially from Mexico, and to crack down on Islamist violence. National security veterans, major US technology companies and law enforcement officials from more than a dozen states have backed a legal effort against the ban. "I actually can't believe that we're having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation," Trump said at an event with sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday. The legal fight over Trump's ban ultimately centers on how much power a president has to decide who cannot enter the United States and whether the order violates a provision of the US Constitution that prohibits laws favoring one religion over another, along with relevant discrimination laws. Also read: Facebook, Google, Apple join legal challenge against Trump travel ban The appeals court is only looking, however, at whether the Seattle court had the grounds to halt Trump's order while the case challenging the underlying order proceeds. "To be clear, all that's at issue tonight in the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not, until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. advertisement Watch the video --- ENDS --- Canada is a facing a nursing crisis and a brewing labor shortage and more Filipino nurses are encouraged to move and work in its health care industry, an educator said. Tony Burke, vice president of the OMNI College of Nursing, said each Canadian province projects to open 2,000 to 4,000 nursing jobs in the next couple of years to address this shortage, according to a report in Cebu Today. The Canadian government has called the nursing shortage a crisis, he said at the sidelines of the first Canada Nursing Expo in Cebu City. With the average age of 55 for Canadian nurses, which is also the countrys retirable age, Canada is most likely going to lose half of its nursing workforce to retirement in one to two years. Burke said Canadas aging population requires more nurses to take care of the elderly, but Canadian universities just cant produce Canadian-trained nurses fast enough. The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) earlier predicted that Canada would be in need of at least 60,000 nurses by 2020 to fill the labor shortage. He said the best and most effective way to address this gap is to hire internationally educated nurses such as those from the Philippines. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippines produces 200,000 nursing graduates annually, while there are only 2,500 available nursing jobs that await them. Because of this surplus, many are forced to work abroad or stay in the Philippines but work in unrelated fields while waiting for a job vacancy. However, other countries such as Canada do not recognize nursing education in the Philippines and, therefore, would imply that Filipino nurses in Canada are technically not nurses unless they acquire a Canadian nursing license. Vancouver-based OMNI College of Nursing specializes in training internationally educated nurses in getting skills required to meet Canadian standards as well as language in preparation for the Canadian Nursing Licensure Exam. Burke said the Philippines is OMNIs second top market, neck and neck in terms of number with India; but what sets Filipino nurses apart from their Indian counterparts is the formers ability to adjust wherever they go. Filipinos, anywhere they go, they make it and theyre successful. Filipino nurses and Indian nurses both have really good training and experience, but adapting is the biggest difference, said Burke. Vancouver Island man, Kyle Jennermann Filipinos journey has made him a celebrity in the Southeast Asian nation. But dont call him a celebrity, says the 28-year-old from Comox Valley, who has made its mission to promote the Philippines by documenting his encounters. I love the Philippines and would be honored to be able to call myself part Filipino,, writes Jennermann on Facebook page, which has over 400,000 fans. Simply put, I am not Filipino. I dont have a Filipino passport and it would be almost impossible for me to get one. Truth is I will never be able to say I am Filipino. But there are so many simple beautiful things that I have experienced and witnessed that make up Filipino culture Things that I would be honoured to learn from, and be honoured to share with the world around me. Jennermann landed in the Philippines four years ago after travelling the globe. "You go to a fiesta and people just open up their houses to random strangers and they give, and give and give lots of food and drinks sharing a lot of happiness," he told CBC during an interview from Manila. "In return, they don't want anything." "I have never had a day in the past two years where I'm not stopped for selfies or maybe people run up to me and give me high-fives," Jennermann, said about his life on the southern island of Mindanao. He started his blog, #BecomingFilipino in 2014 after becoming "inspired by the simple things" he came across in Filipino culture, like the generosity in traditional fiestas. A self-professed optimist with a penchant for storytelling, Jennermann says he shared that positivity online and it didn't take long to amass a following. His blog led to a national television show, with a second season in the works. None of it was planned, he said. Before moving to the Phillippines, he travelled to 29 countries from Europe to Asia, but there was something special about the island country in Southeast Asia. In his blog, #BecomingFilipino, Kyle Jennermann explores areas he says some would consider 'risky' or unsafe but he finds treasures like this blue lagoon in the southern province of Maguindanao. "The way Filipinos love being happy, love finding excuses to be happy and love sharing that in an over-the-top way and it's not an awkward thing to do." He said grand gestures of joy like singing in the streets, would be considered "crazy" in some countries but not in the Philippines. His appreciation for that optimism registered even deeper after witnessing the challenges of life in the developing nation. Poverty aside, he said the competition to succeed in a country with nearly 100 million people might be enough to bring some people down, but instead, he said his friends choose to see the brighter side of life. He thinks the positive message in his blog is what has resonated so deeply with its citizens. On Facebook, his fans affectionately refer to him by his Filipino name, Kulas. "Every time I watch your videos, it bring tears to my eyes," Lily Dissonance wrote from Thailand. "I really admire your determination and love for my country. I keep on telling my foreign colleagues here that the Philippines is far better than what you can read on the news." Others call him the "perfect visitor" because of his willingness to immerse himself in their culture, according to a CBC report. Gamila Tarek comments that she's envious of him, "I've [sic] born in Cotabato City, but no chance in my life to explore my native place .... your avid fan!" Jennermann says he no longer calls B.C. home and doesn't plan to move back to Canada but that B.C. still has a special place in his heart. I am truly blessed to be here in the Philippines and right now I am on a journey. It is a journey all about sharing happiness, inspiration, love and adventure here in the Philippines, stated Jennermann. For more on Kyle's journey, go to his website: www.becomingfilipino.com. By India Today Web Desk: AIADMK crisis: 10 things to know as Panneerselvam, Sasikala fight to control Tamil Nadu Both camps claim majority support among the AIADMK's 134 MLAs in Tamil Nadu. In the latest drama, nearly 130 of those legislators have been bussed to a hotel near the Chennai airport by Sasikala to make sure they don't switch camps. advertisement Cash withdrawal limit to be Rs 50,000 from Feb 20, no limit from March 13 Cash withdrawal limit to be removed completely from March 13, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. SEE: Shahid-Mira's daughter Misha makes her Instagram debut Shahid Kapoor shared an adorable picture of Misha with Mira Rajput. Virat Kohli wants Team India on high alert vs Bangladesh: "No team is invincible" Virat Kohli has asked for a complete team performance as India gear up to face Bangladesh in a one-off Test in Hyderabad from Thursday. --- ENDS --- WEDNESDAYS BINGO NUMBERS N33 N43 For information about the Bingo rules or how to play Bingo, visit TheFranklinNewsPost.com and click on the Blazing Hot Bingo announcement at right. Valentines Its the time of year for doilies and glitter Valentines Day is coming. Homemade Valentines are the best. There are all kinds you can make, but we have the most fun with the delicate heart-shaped doilies. They are easy to find in area stores these days. Children have fun gluing together different sized heart shapes whether from construction paper or doilies, or a combination of both. They can be decorated with designs made by glitter sprinkled over letters or shapes made by laying glue, or stickers, drawings, sequins and other delights. Theres a lot going on during other holidays that makes time tight costumes to prepare, presents to wrap, programs to attend (and rehearse for), etc. Valentines Day has a low time commitment, making it easy to devote a spell to crafts. Why not give it a go and make the holiday extra special with homemade greetings that will be treasured. Brag about Virginia A fifth-grader from Iowa sent us a letter asking Franklin News-Post readers for information about Virginia. We wonder if she realized she was sending her request to the Moonshine Capital of the World? Shes bound to get the most interesting responses of anyone in her class! Her letter says this: Hello! My name is MacKenzie B. I am a fifth grade student at Harlan Intermediate School in Harlan, Iowa. My class is studying the geography and history of the United States. I am excited to learn more about your state of Virginia. I would really appreciate it if you would send me pictures, postcards, or information on your state. My wonderful teacher, Mrs. Newlin, would like a car license plate, if possible, for a teacher project. I really appreciate your time and look forward to learning more about the beautiful state of Virginia. She asks that you, the FNP readers, mail her some information to Mackenzie B., Mrs. Newlins S.S. Class, Harlan Intermediate School, 1401 19th St., Harlan, Iowa, 51537. Mrs. Newlin sent a note which added, nothing can equal the encouraging letters, beautiful picture postcards and exciting historical information your subscribers send to them. All is very much appreciated. Harlan, Iowa Since MacKenzie is asking about our home, we thought wed get some information about hers, too. The town website, www.cityofharlan.com, says that Harlan is located in southwest Iowa, between DesMoines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. Its population is 5,400, and Harlan is the county seat of Shelby County. It boasts one of the states finest volunteer fire departments and one of the lowest crime rates in Iowa for a city that size. It has 17 area churches. A look at the states website, www.iowa.gov, shows statistics that Iowa consistently has an unemployment rate lower than that of the United States (3.1 percent in December), and its median household income skyrockets past that of the United States, at $61,140 in 2013 (the latest date given) versus $54,462. It also has a higher high school graduation rate. The U.S. Census Bureau gives its population as 3.107 million as of 2014. It was admitted to the union as the 29th state in 1846. As a Midwestern state, Iowa forms a bridge between the forests of the east and the grasslands of the high prairie plains to the west, History.com states. Its gently rolling landscape rises slowly as it extends westward from the Mississippi River, which forms its entire eastern border. Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ... Dr Shankar said he learned that Jayalalithaa had been admitted in Apollo Hospital after returning from a trip abroad, but that he wasn't called to the hospital. He said that when he called several times, his call wasn't picked up. By India Today Web Desk: Dr MN Shankar, an acupuncture specialist who treated former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, spoke to India Today. Shankar said she was suffering from multiple medical issues, but improved 'dramatically' after he treated her. He added she was supporting him by reducing her steroid intake. Shankar said he learned that Jayalalithaa had been admitted in Apollo Hospital after returning from a trip abroad, but that he wasn't called to the hospital. He said that when he called several times, his call wasn't picked up. advertisement When asked whether there has been an effort to keep him away, he said "I don't know." Here is his interview with India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai Q: Dr Shankar, you claim that you were moved away from Jayalalithaa's treatment even though you were helping her recover in August last year. Why are you coming out with allegations only now when there is political war? A: I am not supporting anyone, either Panneerselvam or Sasikala. It was now only that it has come to limelight and I am in front of camera. I am here for the goodness of Tamil Nadu. I did my job.She improved very well from arthritis, water retention from body, thyroid, sugar and vertigo. After my treatment, she went to RK Nagar constituency. She was fast, and the camera was unable to follow her. In August, on Independence Day she stood for 45 minutes. She got well. After that, the family doctors did not call me for further treatment. Q: Who did not call you further, Sasikala and her family? A: No, the family doctor. I was not allowed inside Appollo Hospital. Of course, there should be an inquiry into her death. It should be clear for the people, no? Everyone is saying something had happened. But the drugs that were given to her, steroids, are very dangerous. +++ Shankar's comments came on a day when acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission headed by a Supreme Court judge would be formed to probe Jayalalithaa's demise. Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5. Here is an excerpt from his interview with India Today's Rohini Swamy Q: What was Jayalalithaa's situation when you started to treat her? What were you treating her for? A: She had lot of problems such as thyroid, blood pressure, sugar..He sugar was uncontrolled because she used to take ice cream and chocolates too. She used to take her insulin also. There was dramatic improvement after my treatment. She had vertigo also because of which she could not go outside. She tried to go outside, but cancelled her programmes. Long term steroid intake may have caused her problems. Q: You say she was taking steroids for a very long time and that could have cause deterioration of health, but during your treatment she was almost getting better and 100 percent? advertisement A: Yes, she was supporting me by reducing steroids. She would say "Touch wood" at the end of the day. She was sleeping well after the treatment, without any drugs. Q: How did she end up at Apollo Hospital? A: She was getting well after my treatment. In the break, I had to go abroad. When I came back she had been admitted to Apollo. That time too I was not called. They never called me for a review. How can I go there myself? Q: Who was taking the decisions? A: I don't know, may be the entire team inside the home was taking the decisions.WATCH ALSO READ:Jayalalithaa was pushed, death unnatural, probe Sasikala: Former AIADMK leader's explosive charg --- ENDS --- What to know about daylight saving time 2022 in Iowa By Press Trust of India: From H S Rao London, Feb 8 (PTI) A new technology which could offer the oil and gas industry a cheaper way to visualise methane gas is taking one step closer to becoming commercially available, researchers at a top UK University said today. In a paper published in the journal Optics Express, researchers from the University of Glasgows School of Physics and Astronomy and Scottish photonics company M Squared Lasers describe how they have used a technique called single-pixel imaging to create real-time video images of methane gas in a typical atmospheric setting. advertisement While gas imaging technology has been commercially available for some time, current systems are expensive, bulky and power-hungry. Single-pixel imaging uses just one light-sensitive pixel to build digital images instead of using conventional multi- pixel sensor arrays, which can be prohibitively expensive for infrared imaging. This allows the researchers to build a much smaller, cheaper gas detection system. According to a release by the Glasgow University, the scene in front of the sensor is illuminated using a sequence of infrared patterns created using a laser tuned to 1.65m, the absorption wavelength of methane, and display technology commonly found in digital data projectors. Using sophisticated sampling techniques to correlate the projected patterns and the gas, the researchers can create a real-time, coloured coded, image of the gas overlaid on an image of the scene using a conventional colour camera. The collaboration between the University of Glasgow and M Squared Lasers was facilitated by QuantIC, the UKs quantum imaging technology hub, which is based at the University. QuantIC aims to bring a range of new sensing technologies into the market. The global gas sensing market was estimated at USD 1.78 billion in 2013 and is expected to be worth USD 2.32 billion by 2018, offering an attractive opportunity for new technology. Graham Gibson, lead author of the paper, said: "Our detector allows us to produce images which refresh 25 times a second, equivalent to the standard frame rate of video, which provides a highly accurate real-time picture of the scene in front of the detector. Nils Hempler, head of M Squared Lasers innovation business unit, said: "Close collaboration with QuantIC has helped M Squared to identify and create lower cost, compact, greatly improved imaging solutions that are suitable for a range of industries. "Were keen to continue our collaboration to bring this project to market and to build on this foundation to create single-pixel sensors capable of detecting a wide range of other sources." PTI HSR SUA AKJ SUA --- ENDS --- Rajan assumed office in September, 2013 and stepped down September 4 last year, after completing just one three-year-term. By Press Trust of India: After returning to academia following a controversial stint as the RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan has said it felt 'great to be back' riding his bike in Chicago. He added that he hopes to do it as long as he can. Rajan was governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to September 2016. His tenure was marked by both bouquets and brickbats but saw severe criticism from some political quarters towards the end, including personal attacks. advertisement In a letter to the RBI staff, he had said he plans to return to academia but said "I will, of course, always be available to serve my country when needed." HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW "Taking my bike out and riding the bike path along Lake Shore Drive, thats one of the great experiences in my life. And I hope to do it as long as I can. It's great to be back," Rajan said in an interview with the media team of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Lake Shore Drive is an expressway running along the shoreline of Lake Michigan through Chicago, Illinois. "This (Booth School of Business) has been my home for 25 years. It's a great city. I have great colleagues. And it's a wonderful school. "It's different every time you come back. If it wasn't different, it wouldn't be doing its job," Rajan said. He was accused of refusing to lower rates to boost growth, though Rajan often cited data to the contrary. Previously, he served as the chief economist and director of research at the International Monetary Fund (from 2003 to 2006). He is currently Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which he joined in 1991. Asked what he is looking forward to most after returning to academic life, the former RBI Governor noted that one of the difficulties of a job in the "real world" is that one does not really get time to shut oneself off in a room and think. "Now in academia,...if you are careful, you can spend four days in a room, sit looking at a piece of paper and struggling with a thought that refuses to come out. "At the end of those four days, sometimes, you say, Oh my God, how did I miss this? and it dawns on you. And that's as close to bliss as you can get," Rajan said. Talking about focus of his research, he said, "Research never really leaves you... While I was at the Reserve Bank, I published some papers, but you don't get time to really reflect." Referring to the global financial crisis, Rajan pointed out that the crisis essentially gave us research topics for the next 30 years. "If you look at what happened, there are about 15 to 20 different stories now emerging," he observed. He also argued that more liquidity means more leverage, which in turn means more financial fragility. Also read: Carry on Governor EXCLUSIVE: RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan counters 'shortsighted' critics in last interview before exit Raghuram Rajan wishes RBI Governor had a 4-year term --- ENDS --- NORWALK The cost for the window and door replacement project at West Rocks Middle School has more than doubled since it was approved and included in the Board of Educations 2016-17 capital budget. The discovery of PCBs, an existing steel window wall system and the need to include a vestibule at the main entry due to new regulatory safety and environmental standards are all unexpected factors that drove up the cost from an estimated $1.38 million to $3.12 million, according to a memo sent to school officials by John Ireland, the project manager from architectural firm Silver/Petrucelli and Associates. The scope of work can be a long wish list paired with a guestimate, Ireland said in the memo. While I believe this project is better defined than that, it remains a blind process. No testing, no uncovering of existing conditions, no as built drawings at the start ... and no analysis followed by no design. In short, the scope of work and grant estimate was underestimated. Though the original plans were already approved, under the states school construction grant procedures the Board of Education must approve the final plans and cost estimates prior to submitting the plans to the State Department of Administrative Services Office of School Construction Grants. Several concerns were brought up by Board of Education members over the magnitude of the cost increase as the plans were discussed at the boards Tuesday evening meeting. Board member Erik Anderson questioned when the original cost estimates for the project were made and expressed concerns as to why the architecture firm couldnt have known about the cost-driving issues earlier on in the process. More Information Hed to go here Original Estimated Project Cost $1,375,000 Phase 1 Phase 2 Total Original Estimated Project Cost: $1,375,000 Revised Estimated Project Cost: $1,338,254 $1,785,773 $3,124,027 Projected State Reimbursement (24%): $321,181 $428,586 $749,766 Local Cost: $1,017,073 $1,357,187 $2,374,261 See More Collapse Tom Hamilton, chief financial officer for the school district, said original estimations were made in late 2015 and that the issue of not identifying the unforeseen obstacles comes down to how much should be invested early on in the project planning process. The cost-driving issues came to light over the past several months as the plans for the project moved forward. PCBs organic chlorine compounds used as insulators until the 1970s when they were found to have harmful health effects on humans were discovered in the window material at West Rocks Middle School leading to the largest increase in costs. Testing for PCBs and remediation increased the project cost by roughly $370,000 for abatement and $76,000 for additional testing and monitoring during construction. The second largest increase in project costs stems from the discovery of an existing steel window wall system. Ireland called that a surprising and unusual unforeseen condition. The discovery of that system requires the addition of steel plates, new supports and other details. Those changes added approximately $350,000 to the total costs. The third largest increase centers on a secure and energy efficient main entry. The Connecticut building code now includes the requirement for a vestibule at the schools main entry, Ireland said. That change has increased the project cost by $200,000. The additional scope of work and details, for items such as counters, window surrounds, blinds and AC panels added roughly $150,000, Ireland said. Because of the new discoveries, the project has been separated into two phases, Hamilton said. Half of the project will be undertaken during the summer of 2017 and the second half will be undertaken during the following summer. The architects determined that the now larger scope of the window replacement would run the risk of not completing the entire project during summer break. They said it would be advisable to divide the work into two phases as to ensure no interference with the opening of school in August. The architecture firms fees increased by $15,000 to administer two bid packages and two separate summer construction periods. Officials said the districts current appropriation of $1.1 million for the project is sufficient to cover Phase 1 of the project. School officials said they are currently working with city officials to identify potential ways to finance the remaining balance of Phase 2, and will bring forward a formal recommendation at a later date. The board approved an updated Phase 1 of the plans Tuesday in a 5-2 vote. Hamilton said a meeting is scheduled with the state Feb. 14 to review the final plans for the project. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz NORWALK Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff has joined forces with special education advocates and parents in the fight against several proposed bills that they say will make it more difficult for special needs students to receive appropriate educational services. Duff, D-Norwalk, publicly denounced the bills as he stood alongside three parents of special education students, including Gloria Niederer of Norwalk during a press conference held in Hartford on Monday. There are a number of bills that have been proposed in the Legislature by some of my colleagues that I think is putting a lot of stress on parents throughout the state, Duff said. A handful of bills targeting special education have been proposed to the General Assemblys Education Committee by Republicans across the state, including House Bill 5787 put forth by state Rep. Tom ODea, R-Wilton, and Senate Bill 408 put forth by state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton. Parents of special education students say the bills would give school districts the upper hand in disputes with parents over special education services, in what Duff called an already confusing, intimidating, time consuming and expensive process. It changes really the dynamic of how families seek services from local school boards, Duff said. It puts parents at a clear disadvantage. Special education hearings are formal meetings set up to resolve disputes between school districts and parents who feel their children arent receiving the special educational services they need. Connecticut is currently one of roughly a handful of states where the burden of proof is on the school district. The passing of such a bill would mean parents would need to prove their school district's special education decisions are insufficient for their child, rather than the school district proving theyre appropriate. Duff said parents of special needs students often times lack the funds needed to hire an attorney or other experts to represent them, unlike school districts, which he said tend to have attorneys and other experts needed to prove their case, such as psychologists and therapists. Changing the burden of proof in the laws of Connecticut would really be a huge difficulty for parents, especially poor parents, but really any parent throughout the state, Duff said. ODea has said the idea to shift the burden of proof is being raised now as school districts struggle to meet state mandates as state funding is slashed. Supporters of the move say placing the burden of proof on parents would rid the need for districts to pay out reimbursement for legal fees and other expenses if the hearings were to make it through court. That would also allow them to take more of the disputes to arbitration, alleviate the financial strain of lawyer negotiations costs and take the educational decisions out of the hands of lawyers. The Southern Fairfield County Superintendents Association, including Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent Steven Adamowski, have shown expressed support for the bill. On Monday ODea announced he would host a Town Hall meeting on his proposed special education legislation to take place in New Canaan Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. During his press conference, Duff also mentioned Senate bill 409 and House Bill 5710, which aim to limit special education due process hearings to three days. These four bills, Duff said, Im sure were submitted and introduced to further debate in the Legislature, which is exactly what needs to happen, but from a standpoint of whether they should move forward longterm outside of the Education committee is something that I am opposed to. Thurston Bell, a parent of a special education student in Stamford, spoke alongside Duff in strong opposition of the bills. Bells wife, he said, had to quit her job to help get their child services and they were forced to hire an advocate for the child to get him the services needed. Many of these proposed bills seem as though very little research went into their authoring, Bell said. These proposed bills already take an expensive, demoralizing process and make it harder on families desperate to provide a future of opportunity for their children. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK The White Barn Theatre Foundation may be one step closer to purchasing the historic theater thanks to a community member who has offered a quarter of a million dollars if the theater can raise the funds to match it. The individual, who asked to remain anonymous, pledged to match every dollar raised up to $250,000, which would put the foundation $500,000 closer to purchasing the $5.2 million property. Nearly a year ago, the foundation reached an agreement with developer James A Fieber, which gave the foundation until the end of 2016 to raise the money to purchase the property. While the deadline has passed and the total has yet to be reached, Steve Nevas, the Westport attorney representing the White Barn Theatre Foundation, said they are working closely with Fieber to conclude a sale of the property. He would not say if there was a new deadline, but indicated the property will eventually be sold to the foundation if everything goes as planned. We hope that by late spring this can be concluded, Nevas said. The goal is to get it done by late spring, but we need the publics help. This is part of the reason we received this challenge grant. Nevas would not disclose the remaining amount needed to reach the asking price, but said more than $500,000 is needed. The foundation received a $3.4 million loan from The Conservation Fund last year, and has applied for a grant through Norwalks Open Spaces fund to cover another portion of the total $5.2 million purchase price. The foundation intends to revive the White Barns role as a nationally-recognized center for innovative plays and set design, musicals, dance and digital media, and provide opportunities for Norwalks school children and theater lovers in surrounding communities . The city and state have already invested in this property, but in order to save the property from further development, we need to be able to buy it, Nevas said. More than five acres of the 15-acre property is already protected by the Norwalk Land Trust, and if the White Barn Foundation is able to purchase the property it will more than double the amount of space at the site from development . Until 2002, the barn-turned-theater and house at 78 Cranbury Road were the home of Lucille Lortel, proclaimed the Queen of Broadway by the Museum of the City of New York, and a summer theater for 50 years. The foundation, led by Lortels great-grandnephew, Waldo Mayo, hopes to purchase the property and create spaces and facilities for the development and performance of new work in the fields of drama, dance, music and film. Mayo said many do not realize Lortel, in her role as one of the first woman producers, cracked the theater worlds glass ceiling and, among other things, funded and nurtured the original creation and production of the play Fences starring James Earl Jones after she established the Lucille Lortel Fund for New Drama at the Yale Repertory Theatre. Fences is now nominated for multiple awards as a movie starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. My great aunt Lucille Lortel created the White Barn in 1947 and ran it for more than 50 years as an experimental theater for emerging actors, directors and playwright Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Kevin Spacey and many other theatre luminaries graced its stage or premiered their work there, Mayo said. Our goal is to give todays artists a chance to do the same. kkrasselt@scni.com; 203-354- 1021; @kaitlynkrasselt Every few months, business leaders cross their fingers and wish for good news when they see the latest-to-be-released report on employee engagement. Earlier this month, the most recent Gallup poll of 1,500 employees dashed any of those leaders' hopes once again. According to the report, as of January 24, only 36 percent of employees surveyed described themselves as engaged. Related: 5 Companies Getting Employee Engagement Right Reading that stat, executives may feel a slight twinge in their stomachs. And, for the umpteenth time, theyll feel the need to revisit their big-picture engagement strategy. But maybe its time for a different approach. The reason is that employee engagement is a multi-faceted issue. By trying to fix every cause of disengagement at once, business leaders are spreading themselves thin and diluting their strategies' effect on the employee experience. Instead, they should be starting with just one piece of the puzzle. Take employee development, for example. Without hope or excitement about their future with a company, employees will have a difficult time connecting with their jobs. Lets take a look at the three ways traditional employee-development programs are hurting employee engagement: Lack of direction In September 2015, Achievers released The Greatness Gap: The State of Employee Disengagement. It found that a large majority -- more than 60 percent of the 397 North American employees surveyed -- said they didnt know their companys mission, vision or values. Just as those core tenets serve to guide an organization, they should also be used to help steer employee development. Unfortunately, many companies forget to align the direction of their employee-development programs with their organizations' overall direction and goals. Without that connection, employees find it difficult to see how the skills they've learned will impact their career in the present and the future. Their training may seem like something theyve been forced to do, rather than something that is preparing them for their next step with the organization. The solution: At the beginning of any training session, take the time to explain to employees the overall learning objectives as well as ways in which the skills they're learning will specifically help them contribute to the success of the organization. If possible, customize the learning materials so that the wording and examples used reflect your companys missions and goals. For instance, during customer service training, use examples drawn from real experiences from the companys past as ways customer issues were not properly addressed. Then ask employees how they might approach the situation differently, using the skills theyve learned. Ask how their particular strategy would better reflect the companys values. Related: Employee Engagement and the Pursuit of Happiness Isolated development Many organizations use a two-pronged approach to support employee development. First, they look at ways employees can push themselves to be better -- encouraging employees to use their individual career goals as their motivation to learn. Second, these companies strive to inspire employees in their growth so the organization can have the skilled workforce it needs to succeed. But theres a third source of motivation thats ignored: peer influence. The relationships that co-workers have is often underestimated. However, a 2015 Virgin Pulse survey of more than 1,000 American and Canadian workers found that 66 percent of respondents said their relationships with colleagues improved their focus at work. If employees arent encouraged to work together and share their personal development goals with their peers, its less likely that their training will be productive. Not to mention that for many employees, learning alone is markedly less engaging. The solution: Build accountability into employee development. Have workers pair up so they can hold each other responsible to their individual goals. Its not necessary for employees to be learning the same skills, but it is important for them to create a connection where they can discuss their progress and support one other when things get difficult. Most importantly, encourage employees to praise each other for their successes. A faltering priority There are few worthwhile skills that can be mastered in a one-day course. True employee development is something that takes time. Employees need time to revisit material and apply their skills in a practical situation. They need continuous feedback on their progress. However, in many cases, once the initial training is over, leaders and managers stop focusing on that aspect of an individuals development. That can make employees question if anything they learned is of real value to the company -- or, worse, believe that they havent improved at all. In fact, a January 2017 Officevibe survey of employees from more than 1,000 different companies worldwide found that 53 percent of participating employees said they felt they hadnt significantly developed their skills in the last year. The solution: Provide employees with constant feedback about their development. Schedule regular check-ins so their progress can be acknowledged. This gives employees a chance to see how their success is valued. Be sure to discuss ways theyve been able to use their training in the current position. This reinforces the connection between their efforts to improve and their role in the company. Also, open up a conversation about what the next steps will be. Ask them how they feel they can build upon their skill set and ways they can apply those skills in the future. They should be shown that their development is always a priority. Related: Is Better Employee Engagement the Solution to Hiring Woes? Employee development is a small part of overall engagement. However, its one that cant be ignored. When approached the right way, training programs become a powerful tool to inspire employees and connect them with their work. Related: Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK A Superior Court judge recently ruled in favor of the Norwalk Police Department in a 2015 lawsuit filed by a city man who alleged that he was wrongfully arrested and imprisoned. The self-represented plaintiff, Harry Francois, claimed in his suit that police wrongfully arrested him following an Oct., 2012 domestic dispute with his mother. He sought monetary relief for his claims of false imprisonment, false arrest, and civil rights violations. In his complaint, Francois sought compensatory and punitive damages against Norwalk police in the amount of $2.5 million. Stamford Superior Court Judge Kenneth Povodator ruled in favor of the Norwalk Police Department on Jan. 27. I believe that the judge understood that the officer was telling the truth and that there was probable cause for the arrest, said Norwalk Deputy Corporation Council M. Jeffry Spahr. This was after a two-day trial. In Francoiss complaint, which was filed on April 14, 2015, he claimed that on Oct. 11, 2012 he had conducted morning prayer with his elderly mother. On a complaint to police from family members, it was alleged that during the course of that interaction, Francois spun his mother around and nearly choked her. Family members reported an assault, Spahr said. The officer had submitted an arrest warrant affidavit to the States Attorneys Office and it was reviewed and signed. It was submitted to a judge and was reviewed and signed. The warrant for Francois arrest was returned and he was charged by Norwalk police with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. According to Francois arrest warrant, police met with the mans elderly mother and her granddaughter. The granddaughter (Francois niece) told police that Francois had grabbed the older woman by her sweater and spun her around the room, causing the woman to lose her breath. The woman told police that she was concerned for her safety if Francois were to return. It was complicated by a number of factors, Spahr said. The victim the mother spoke Creole and had a limited ability to speak English. Her daughter the plaintiffs sister is deaf and understands Creole so was able to communicate with her mother by reading her lips. The daughter then used sign language to communicate with her daughter the womans granddaughter and she communicated with police. The police officer testified that the mother pantomimed Francois grabbing and yanking on her sweater. According to court records, the criminal case against Francois was nolled. llake@hearstmediact.com NORWALK The Norwalk High School Class of 1966 held its 50th reunion October 2016 at Station House and Harbor Lights, with about 100 in attendance. A Chinese Auction Fundraiser was held, and netted about $1,000. Normally these funds would be used to help offset some of the costs of future reunions. However, the Vietnam War was a significant factor in the lives of this class, and has continued to influence the lives of the many classmates who served, as well as their loved ones. A suggestion was made that we donate the proceeds of our fundraiser to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, said Penny Palmer, committee member, and the committee immediately, unanimously and heartily agreed. Since the decision was made the entire class was notified, and the amount were able to contribute has now grown to $4,000. Westport Police / Contributed Photo WESTPORT A town resident allegedly attempted to stab a man with scissors during an argument, ending in her arrest. Officers were called to a Sipperleys Hill Road home on the afternoon of Feb. 3, where they found broken furniture, items strewn about and other objects thrown around the home, according to police. A man at the home told officers Patricia Medina had thrown things while yelling and screaming at him during an argument. A young man, his brother, and a few friends start a cutting-edge company in his home. Within a few years, the company grows exponentially and dominates the American economy. Within a few more years, the government takes notice and begins to regulate the company and to limit its power. No, were not talking about a 21st century technology company; were describing Standard Oil over 100 years ago. The more things change, the more they stay the same. As yesterdays tiny tech startups grow into todays economic behemoths Amazon, Google, Apple, and others they are facing greater government scrutiny. Whether over encryption, access to users stored data, or notice to users of government data requests, the examples are multiplying daily, and in some sense, they echo the Standard Oils of the past. In addition to their skyrocketing growth, these companies have begun to expand into more conventional industries Ubers entry into the transportation industry and Airbnbs into the hotel industry are but two examples. The public is welcoming this expansion. A recent poll showed that 1/3 of global banking and insurance customers would consider switching their accounts to Silicon Valley giants if they offered such services. As this tech creep accelerates, governments interest is growing. Large tech companies have known this is coming for some time, and have prepared. Last year alone, tech firms spent close to $50 million on lobbyists. Generally a liberal industry, tech companies enjoyed an amicable relationship with the Obama Administration, but many are wondering what to expect now that the 45th President has taken office. A Different Kind of Republican On the campaign trail, President Trump became known as a different kind of Republican, staking out a more protectionist stand on trade, and a more interventionist stance on antitrust policy than the typical Republican candidate. At times, however, he articulated a more traditionally Republican, small government, laissez-faire approach to regulation, promising to no longer regulate our companies and our jobs out of existence Related: 97 Tech Companies Including Apple and Google File Brief Against Trump Travel Ban A stormy relationship with tech. The relationship between President Trump and the tech sector has been rocky. Technology companies largely supported Secretary Clinton in 2016 (along with Obama in 2008 and 2012). President Trump fueled this divide by repeatedly siding against the tech industry in the campaign -- from supporting the FBI in the encryption debate to opposing one of the industrys most significant proposed mergers. Apple, in turn, declined to help fund the 2016 Republican National Convention, even though it had done so in the past. President Trump attempted to mend fences in a December meeting with tech executives but any detente that created has quickly faded. This week, a large number of tech companies filed papers supporting the challenge to the Presidents executive order limiting immigration. Googles CEO recently referreding to the Presidents actions as evil things." Beyond the already-storming immigration debate, here are six other areas where techs entanglement with government will be noteworthy during the Trump Administration: By Press Trust of India: Ahmedabad, Feb 8 (PTI) Gujarat government today hailed the Supreme Courts ruling on Narmada dam project and assured that it would pay Rs 400 crore to Madhya Pradesh for the disbursement to the project affected families at the earliest. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the apex courts judgement on Sardar Sarovar Project was "historic", delivered keeping in mind the larger interests of the people of his state, an official statement said here. advertisement Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the state government will give Rs 400 crore to Madhya Pradesh for distribution to around 600 affected families as compensation for loss of land. The Supreme Court today cleared the decks for monetary compensation for those affected by SSP on river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, ordering Rs 60 lakh for each of the 681 families which are likely to be displaced. It ordered compensation of Rs 60 lakh per family for two hectares of land with an undertaking that the families would vacate the land within one month. The court asked Gujarat government to give the money to Madhya Pradesh for further distribution. "With this verdict, all the disputes pertaining to rehabilitation of project oustees will come to an end. This judgement has paved the way to expedite the work on the dam. Once filled to the brim, this dam will provide water to lakhs of farmers and citizens of Gujarat," said Nitin Patel. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave permission to install gates on the dam within 17 days of coming to power in 2014, it was not possible to fill the dam to the brim due to the rehabilitation issues, Patel said. "MP government is required to pay compensation to around 600 affected families. It comes to around Rs 400 crore, which will be borne by Gujarat government. With this, all the oustees are now required to shift elsewhere by August," said the deputy CM, adding the money will paid to MP at the earliest. PTI PJT PD KRK KIS --- ENDS --- My name is Emma, I am student at Weston Middle School. My grade has been doing a project for social studies and science called Guardians of the Water Galaxy. Our task was to research a place with a water issue such as pollution, water scarcity, contamination, etc. My issue was water scarcity in Gwadar, Pakistan. People are suffering greatly there because of lack of drinking water. Gwadar is in the arid climate zone and their main supply of water is a ditch to drink out of, unfortunately with a recent drought there is no water to fill the ditch. People are having to hire private truckers to bring them water which costs approximately $220 for one weeks supply of water for an average family. My proposal to alleviate the issue would be to include a small article urging readers to donate to Gwadar. They desperately need water for drinking and sanitary reasons, such as bathing and general cleanliness. Many of the families are very low on money and would benefit greatly from even just one week of water supply. I believe water is a right, and everyone should have access to a clean water supply. Without water people are struggling every day, and if this issue is not solved soon than many people could die of dehydration. If you publish just one article and even just 200 people donate $1 that could allow one family to have a sanitary source of drinking water for a week. Nearly 5,000 kids die every day from water-related issues. Be a part of the change! Some of the reasons that people are lacking water is that Gwadar is in the arid zone and according to ACS Supplying the worlds growing population with clean water has long been a challenge. Many places simply dont have abundant freshwater, or they lack the infrastructure needed to deliver drinkable water to residents. People have suggested distillation plants, but really the Pakistan government believes this would be an unreasonable and costly solution. According to Scientific American, Due to its high cost, energy intensiveness and overall ecological footprint, most environmental advocates view desalinization (or desalination) the conversion of salty ocean water into fresh water as a last resort for providing fresh water to needy populations. Another solution that has been proposed would be supplying water from the nearby Mirani dam. But people have figured out that this would not exactly work, as it does not have the correct amount of water needed to supply water and money has also come into consideration, as building a pipeline would cost lots of money, however some still think a pipeline would be the best economic option for water. According to The Nation in a 2015 article, Moreover, the best way to solve the water scarcity crisis of Gwadar is to use water from Mirani Dam. The Mirani dam is located at Dasht River south of the Central Makran Range in Kech District in Balochistan province of Pakistan. I chose to send my proposal to you, because I feel that if you send a small paragraph out to your supporters they could make an impact on this. Even if just to supply one week of water to one family it would make a greater impact on their life, even if just in the smallest way. So even if all of your readers donate a small amount of money, such as $5 or $10, they could save someones life. My way to alleviate the problem would be raising funds to provide water to Gwadar. It costs $221.08 every week for one family to drink and hire a private tanker for water. The other option is that they could drive five hours to the Mirani dam. The money could benefit families living in Gwadar by allowing them to get water, as lots of families cant afford to pay $221 for one weeks supply of water. So next time you drink a glass of water, think about being deprived of water as a kid for up to days at a time. Although there was no available web site to donate directly to Gwadar, you can donate to water4.org, which donates to places deprived of water such as Gwadar, and helps people live every day. I appreciate the time and effort you put into reading this, and hope you consider my idea. And remember how many kids are dying from water deprivation every day. Be part of the change. Emma McCarthy is a sixth-grade student at Weston Middle School. AURORA Hamilton Telecommunications in Aurora had a few more people in its offices last month. This month, the offices might feel a little more lonely. Hamilton Relay, a division of the Aurora telecommunications company, helps with deaf or hard of hearing people who might have trouble communicating via phone. The call and internet service helps those individuals communicate. A group of people who handle those phone calls were put out of their offices in Albany, Ga., after severe storms destroyed the Hamilton Relay center there. We did have approximately 50 employees working at the time, and we are thankful that they all escaped the storm with only a few minor injuries reported, said Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay. About 26 of those employees voluntarily relocated to Aurora and the other half to Louisiana so they could continue working. After about three weeks adjusting to Nebraska life, the Georgians have gone back to temporary locations until a new building is finished in the spring. The building, Ziegler said, was destroyed. Our landlord was able to make use of the very steel portions of the building, she said. It was completely torn down to that infrastructure. It has been rebuilt from the ground up. Luckily, during a second wave of storms and a tornado that hit Albany, Ziegler said, no Hamilton Relay structures were further damaged. This was the first time that any of the buildings used by the company had this much destruction. Theyve dealt with storms and hurricanes but nothing with physical destruction. Were grateful for the community and heartbroken for those whove had to suffer in that part of the country, but were glad that were able to rebuild and continue to operate in Albany, Ga., Ziegler said. The Albany center is one of six Hamilton Relay centers in the country, with others in Pittsfield, Mass.; Frostburg, Md.; Baton Rouge, La.; Wichita, Kan.; and Aurora. The Albany center opened in 2006. Hamilton Relay started in 1991 and provides contracted traditional relay and captioned phone services to 19 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the island of Saipan. It also provides internet-based captioned telephone services worldwide. Ziegler said having the 26 Albany employees in Aurora was a good experience. The company flew the employees to town and offered them rental cars to travel. She said coming from Georgia to Nebraska was a big difference for the employees, who were warned to bring warm clothes. The office provided a general training, which included how to drive in snowy and icy conditions. Fortunately, folks were safe, and it all worked out very well while they were here, Ziegler said. The training helped the employees assimilate into their temporary workplace and the area. Employees stayed at the Leadership Center in Aurora. Half of the 26 came on Jan. 13, and the others came on Jan. 17. These individuals were a tremendous help as we underwent recovery efforts, Ziegler said. To accommodate the employees, the Aurora center extended its hours. The Albany employees werent available for contact due to privacy and their jobs, but Ziegler said the weather did seem to be the hardest thing about the transition. She also said she has heard the Georgia employees say that the food is different than in the South, and that was an adjustment. The Aurora center held a potluck/food day so that the Georgia employees could have some home-cooked food, Ziegler said. Hamilton Relay issued a press release last week stating that the Albany building would be finished in the spring, as plans were immediately established following the destruction. The employees who came from Albany to Aurora returned late last week to temporary buildings in Georgia. Weve received tremendous support from our employees and from the Albany community, Ziegler said in the press release. Our thoughts continue to be with all of southwest Georgia and those who have been affected by the severe weather this winter. During the hearing, Saeed's counsel AK Dogar requested the judge to not give any 'adverse judgement'. By India Today Web Desk: A petition challenging the detention of Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has been dismissed by a Pakistan court. The petition was dismissed on 'technical' ground after the arguments. While dismissing the petition, the court observed that the petitioner, a senior lawyer, had not furnished the impugned notification of Saeed's detention. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED During the hearing, Saeed's counsel AK Dogar requested the judge to not give any 'adverse judgement'. Dogar said that he is filing a separate petition this week to challenge Saeed's "illegal" detention. In his petition, senior lawyer Sarfraz Hussain stated that Saeed has been put under 'illegal' detention via the anti-terrorism law. "The government has detained Saeed citing a resolution of the United Nations Security Council. But the UNSC's resolution for plebiscite in the Indian-held Kashmir has not yet been implemented. The government has detained him at the behest of the foreign masters," he said. Hussain said there was no nexus with the anti-terrorism laws manoeuvred by the respondent to curtail the liberty of a Pakistani citizen (Saeed) at the behest of the foreign mission and UNSC resolution. Saying that Saeed has made the Kashmir issue alive, Hussain asked the court to accept the petition instantly and "set Saeed at liberty in the larger interest of justice, equity and fair play to meet the ends of justice". advertisement Saeed and four others JuD members had been put under house arrest on January 30 for a period of three months invoking Section 11EEE of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. The names of Saeed and 37 other JuD and FIF leaders have also been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) barring them from leaving the country. With inputs from PTI Also read: With Hafiz Saeed under house arrest, Jamaat-ud-Dawa rebrands itself Watch the video --- ENDS --- There are some basics to understand before I directly address LB630, the corporate school bill that is masquerading as an independent public school bill. These basics are important, since corporate school proponents prey primarily on high-poverty schools and districts. Basics poverty vs. student achievement First of all, poverty drives education. That means that as poverty rates increase for a school, the average test scores decrease. This is clear based upon NeSA test results across Nebraska, NAEP test results across the nation and PISA test results international tests. There is no question that poverty drives a schools performance on average. But for the individual student, it is the baggage that the child brings to school that drives his/her performance. The child from a poor family who has strong support at home can and does perform well. Poverty drives educational achievement on average because there are many more children living in poverty who bring negative baggage to school than do more affluent children. Poverty is not a condemnation of failure. Even in the lowest achieving schools 63 percent of the elementary school students living in poverty are proficient in reading (50 percent in math). Basics corporate schools Herein lies the method that corporate schools use to make themselves look good. They go after the 63 percent (and 50 percent) of high-poverty students who are proficient. They attract students from this 63 percent (and 50 percent) by: First, they whisper to the families of English language learners and special education students that the public schools have better facilities for them. As a result, few enroll. They advertise a high-expectation, no-excuse policy, with required homework. This attracts good students, discourages students with negative baggage and quickly forces poor-performing students who do enroll to leave. There are examples where this worked to the benefit of a school and the detriment of other schools in Nebraska. Long, involved and detailed applications also discourage many parents with low education or language issues from enrolling their children. Requiring parental participation (three hours per week) also discourages many parents who work long hours or are not comfortable in schools. Finally, these schools expel quickly (all within the law). This results in corporate schools attracting better students. But in spite of all these shenanigans, on average corporate schools do no better or slightly worse than their public school counterparts. For-profit corporate schools have been a disaster across the country, since their obligation is to shareholders, not students or parents. Transparency also has led to much embezzlement, since no outsiders see their day-to-day operation. LB 630 The Independent Public Schools Act Introduced by Sens. Tyson Larsen and Lou Ann Linehan, this bill has many flaws and misrepresentations. First and very important, it is not a public school bill, except it uses taxpayer money. Other than that, no elected public entity has any power over any school not the local school board and not the state school board. Most of the claims in the first paragraph of the bill are also false. The entity that oversees these corporate schools is called the Independent Public School Authorizing and Accountability Commission. It is made up of six members appointed by the governor (and his Platte Institute advisers) and only two from the State Board of Education. So decisions will follow the Platte Institute guidelines. The board that actually sits in supervision of the corporate school has no requirement of parental or even local control. This board could be sitting in New York and be made up of corporate executives reading financial results for a corporate school in Grand Island. For-profit corporate schools are not excluded in this bill and the only transparency is an annual report, both of which are invitations to steal from the taxpayer, for shareholder or for private gain. Note that if a school isnt sufficiently profitable, it will be closed by the for-profit owners and the children can go scratch. At the first sign of a downturn, the reaction of the for-profit schools is to cut staff and increase class size. This is the fundamental difference between public and corporate schools (even not-for-profit corporate schools benefit suppliers and operators). Public schools only obligation is to students and they answer to locally elected school boards. There is no requirement that the number of poverty students, English language learners or special education students be comparable to the school or district it draws from. Previous corporate school bills have concentrated on the Omaha Public Schools district and have used their higher per student rate in the funding calculations. This bill moves to a statewide average, which many would think is lower than Omaha Public Schools but, in fact, they are almost identical because of the large number of smaller, less efficient schools in Nebraska. For funding, these corporate schools should receive a basic per student cost for each student they enroll and then get a fair amount for each child from a poverty family who they enroll, each special education student or English language learner they enroll and finally an allowance for transportation if they provide it. These additions can be as much as $2,000 per student. As the bill stands, they get the additional money regardless. The bill calls for a corporate school in each district that contains a low-achieving school. That would immediately require corporate schools in Nebraska in at least six separate districts, most of which are high-poverty, high-English-language-learner districts that can ill afford to have their better students attracted away from them and certainly cant afford the loss of resources that these schools would cause. Nebraska already has school choice within its districts. We have one of the best public education systems in the country one of the few remaining, after corporate schools and school choice have devastated public education in so many other states. Prior Legislatures have protected Nebraskas public education system from these corporate interests. I pray this continues. Our Constitution gives U.S. senators the power of advice and consent on nominees to the Supreme Court. This is a great power, and the responsibility attached is no less so. The decisions of a Supreme Court justice affect the rights and freedoms of millions. Assessing a nominees fitness is no easy task. Nor should it be. There are certain qualities I seek in a judge, but first, let me identify the nonstarters: A judge cannot be a lawmaker. In America, Congress, the representatives of the people, author our laws. A judge cannot be a social advocate. That is not the function of an impartial judge, nor can it ever be. Lastly, a judge cannot be a trailblazer, quick to be creative with the foundational concepts and structures of our republic. Our Constitution and our nations laws must be respected. So what do I look for in a nominee to our nations highest court? First, the person must be a follower of the Constitution. A judge must follow the laws, as written. He or she must neutrally apply the laws of Congress and uphold the Constitution as envisioned by our founders. Under no circumstances should he or she impose a personal preference. Second, the nominee must possess the sharpest intellect and the highest academic qualifications. There must be no aspect of the law beyond a nominees mental reach. Third, the nominee must be a known quantity. There must be a reliable record for senators to carefully assess. In the Senate, this investigation is carried out through the hearing process. By it, my colleagues and I will determine if President Trumps nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch of Colorado, is fit to serve on the Supreme Court. His education, experience, and record certainly make a compelling case. Judge Gorsuch attended Columbia as an undergraduate before earning a law degree from Harvard and a doctorate from Oxford University. He clerked for two Supreme Court justices, worked ten years at a firm in Washington, D.C., and has served in a senior post in the Justice Department. Judge Gorsuch currently serves as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. He has held this position for ten years. As a result, we have ten years of his legal opinions available to review. They suggest an incredibly strong commitment to the rule of law. It is critical to note: Judge Gorsuch required Senate approval before he could take a seat on the circuit court. That approval was granted unanimously in 2006. Some very notable Democrats supported him, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, both members of the Senate at the time. I am looking forward to a vigorous confirmation process in the weeks and months ahead. I hope my colleagues in the Senate demonstrate the statesmanship of which they are capable and consent to give the American people that process. Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete is again proposing in the Legislature that Nebraska join the call for a convention of the states. Under her resolution, LR6, the convention would discuss amending the U.S. Constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and place term limits on members of Congress. Ebke said she is concerned with the national debt, which is close to $20 trillion, and she doesnt want future generations burdened with it. She is certainly right that the burgeoning federal debt is an issue that is too often ignored in Washington. One day the country will come to regret that. However, a constitutional convention is the wrong way to approach it. What would likely come out of such a convention is a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. The government should strive to not spend more than it takes in, but it shouldnt be a constitutional requirement. There are times when deficit spending is in the best interests of the country, such as during wars or recessions. The government needs to have the ability to respond to emergencies. A much better approach is to elect senators and representatives who take the debt seriously and will look for ways to reduce government spending and adopt policies that spur the economy. In the same way, the ballot box is the appropriate way to remove a senator or representative from Congress. Its best to leave it up to the voters to determine whether someone has been in office too long, rather than to enact term limits that remove good representatives as well as the bad. It really should be up to the voters to decide if someone has become so entrenched in Washington that it would be better to have a new person serve. In addition, there is the concern that a convention of states wouldnt be bound by the topics listed and could veer off into other areas. Americas Constitution has rarely been amended in the past 240 years. That is because issues are better addressed through legislation that can more easily be revised if needed, rather than by a constitutional amendment. Any amendment to the Constitution would have to be ratified by 38 states, which is three-fourths of the 50 states. At least 34 states must call for a convention of the states before one can be held, according to the Constitution. With the division seen in the country right now, this is not the time for such a convention. It is better to have one in a time of unity when there is a clear consensus on what should be added to the Constitution. That doesnt exist now, and Nebraska shouldnt join the call for a convention of states. HS Football: North Penn upsets Pennsbury in instant playoff classic With the game on the line, North Penn coach Dick Beck opted to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt against Pennsbury. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Consumer electrical firm Havells India today forayed into personal grooming category to tap into young population and is eyeing 25 per cent market share in the next 3 years. "Personal grooming is one of the fastest growing product categories driven by our young population and growing middle class. We are looking at becoming number one or number 2 in 3 years time and eyeing 25 per cent market share by that time," Havells Executive Vice President Saurabh Goel told PTI. advertisement Personal grooming products market in India is estimated at Rs 1,500 crore and growing at the rate of 25-30 per cent per annum. The company, which entered the category with the launch of 16 products, will expand its offering in the segment going forward. "We plan to leverage our existing sales channels and Havells Galaxies, our exclusive stores, to sell these personal grooming products," he added. At present, there are 400 Havells Galaxies operating in the country. The personal grooming product range for men, women and babies is priced between Rs 1,000 to Rs 7,200. The company has launched baby hair clippers. PTI SVK SBT BAL --- ENDS --- NITI Aayog's dual incentive schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana - is turning out to be a major success about a month and half since its launch. By Arindam De: The Niti Ayog's scheme have seen 7.6 lakh citizens receive reward money worth Rs 117 crore in 45 days for using digital modes of payment. NITI Aayog's dual incentive schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana - is turning out to be a major success about a month and half since its launch. Numbers from National Payments Corporation of India, the executing agency shows that till date Rs 117.4 crore has been disbursed as reward to more than 7.5 lakh consumers and merchants. Besides the daily cash backs to 15,000 consumers, 90 additional consumers and 3,000 merchants have won Rs1 lakh and Rs 50,000 each as weekly prize money for adopting this scheme. advertisement Latest data shows that Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka have emerged as the top five states with the maximum number of winners. The diversity in the age group of the winners range from 15 to 66 years of age. The involvement of elder people in the movement refutes the notion that they find it challenging to embrace emerging technologies. The winners vary from farmers, merchants, small entrepreneurs, professionals, housewives to retired people. The winners come from a wide swath of geographical area and include both rural and urban populace. The benefits of using digital payments seems to have reached most parts of India. Both of NITI Aayog's schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojna and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojna were launched on December 25, 2016 and are open till April 14, 2017. These are aimed at providing incentives for the buyer and teh seller in order to promote digital payments. There are 15,000 daily winners for total prize money of Rs 1.5 crore. Additional there are over 14,000 weekly winners who qualify for a weekly prize money of over Rs 8.3 crore. Customers and merchants can use any of these payment methods - RuPay Card, BHIM/UPI, USSD based *99# service and Aadhaar Enabled Payment Service and they will be eligible for wining lucky draw prizes. NPCI is also working in tandem with the government to organise Digi Dhan Melas. By April 14, 2017 there will be some 110 Digi Dhan Melas. Till date 45 Digi Dhan Melas have been organised. This move will hopefully help to the habit of digital payment amongst peoples. --- ENDS --- For Drs. Pat Murphy, Patrick Huelsmann, and Mike Murphy, who opened Dental Wellness Center of Maryville, at 2933 Maryville Road (Rte. 159), in Maryville, it seems fate may have had a hand in their coming together. Pat Murphy and Pat Huelsmann, friends at SIUE, had no idea that they would be practicing dentistry together in the future. Pat Murphy, decided early-on to follow in his father's footsteps and become a dentist. He directed his focus on science, choosing advanced biology and chemistry classes at Metro Lutheran High school to prepare him for his career choice. Pat was on the Dean's List, received the Outstanding Student Award for Biology, and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. During his undergrad study, he and his friend, Patrick Huelsmann, went with a group of dentists to the Dominican Republic to assist dentists in providing dental care at an orphanage. After graduating from Southern Illinois Dental School in Alton, his father's Alma mater, Dr. Pat Murphy worked as an associate in two Metro-east dental offices. He loves helping patients that are having pain or problems with their mouth, by getting them out of pain and helping them have a pain free, healthy beautiful smile. He enjoys doing braces and clear tray straightening as well as cosmetic all porcelain crowns and bridges. He also enjoys helping patients replace missing teeth with implants and stabilizing dentures with implants. Next month he will attend a hands-on course about helping patients that have headaches, migraines and severe wear on their teeth from grinding and clenching by using Botox injections. Dr. Pat Murphy and his wife, Kimberly, reside in Maryville with their two cats, Dave and Mollie, and their dog, Baylie. Patrick Huelsmann grew up in Highland Illinois and attended Triad School District, then attended Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he was in an accelerated program to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree, where he also was on the Dean's List. After graduating from Southern Illinois Dental School in Alton, he worked as an associate in two Metro-east dental offices. Dr. Huelsmann enjoys helping patients have healthy, pain free mouths. He enjoys making beautiful smiles with Invisalign, natural all porcelain crowns and bridges and by treating gum disease helps prevent the loss of teeth. Dr. Huelsmann resides in Maryville with his wife, Brie, son, Lane, and their dog, Kenji. After attending Collinsville High School, Mike Murphy completed his undergrad work at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a minor in Biology. In 1980 Dr. Murphy graduated from Southern Illinois Dental School at Alton. He attended further training with braces and began helping patients with braces in 1981. In 2006, he began treating patients with Invisalign. Dr. Murphy began placing implants after further training in 1985. His first implant patient from 1985, still comes to him, and her original two implants are serving her well. Dr. Murphy lives in Maryville with his wife, Audrey, son, Jason, and their cat, Hallie. The three dentists could not be any happier with their new dental office. The office has the very latest technology, including a 3-D Cat Scan to help with implant placement and detect fractures in roots that would not show up on regular 2-D xrays. Patient comfort is built into this office, including air massaging dental chairs, Netflix and cable TV, and very friendly and caring staff and dentists. Edwardsville High School seniors Ben Musec and Samantha Leapley were selected to be a part of the cast and crew for the all-state production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The production took place in January during the 2017 Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF), the largest and oldest non-competitive high school theatre festival in the nation. The all-state cast, crew, and pit orchestra are comprised of top student performers, musicians, and technicians from Illinois. This year 376 students from 73 high schools auditioned/interviewed for this years production, and 109 students were selected for the final production company. Students selected for the All-state production traveled to Glenbrook North High School in the Chicago area during several weekends last fall for rehearsals. Then the students all convened at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for final rehearsals before performing at the 42nd Annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival, which took place Jan. 5 through Jan. 7. Leapley, the daughter of Steven and Christina Leapley of Holiday Shores, was chosen to be part of the All-state crew. Leapley has been involved with every theater production at Edwardsville High School since moving to Edwardsville between her freshman and sophomore years. She explained how working on the All-state crew was different from working on a set for EHS drama productions. Here we work everyday after school. There we would meet one weekend every month, and we would work like 12-hour days working on the show, Leapley noted. She also pointed out that building a set for the All-state production required a different kind of building method because the set was built at a temporary site. Here we build stuff that's meant to be put together and left there until the show. For the All-state show you have to take it down and put it back up every weekend you're working on it, Leapley explained. We would get there on Friday and we'd have to unload the entire set, put it back together and then at the end of the weekend, we'd have to tear it all down again and put it back into the storage space. We used a lot more bolts instead of screws because it had to come apart and go back together and come apart. As a student interested in continuing with theater production as a career, Leapley felt the All-state experience was extremely valuable because it provided her with the unique experience of building a set in one location, transporting it to University of Illinois' Krannert Center and working with the Krannert Center's staff to re-construct it. A professional space like the U of I Krannert Center is very different from a high school space, Leapley emphasized. You have to pay attention to union laws and how you put the set together. You have to go by their rules. So it's really good experience learning how it works at other places and doing a show that essentially could have been a touring show the way that we did it. Leapley plans to study technical theater as a major in college and specialize in technical directing. She's interviewed at both California Institute for the Arts, her top choice, and DePaul University in Chicago to continue her theater education. Musec, the son of Stacey and Jeff Musec of Edwardsville, was also chosen to be part of the All-state ensemble for the 2017 production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Musec has been very involved with the EHS Drama Club and its productions as well. All four years since 'Shakespeare' (2013) up until 'Almost, Maine' (2016), Musec noted. He pointed out that he had been a part of a lot of little ensemble roles getting started in the drama club, but also played George in the high school's production of Theophilus North (2015) and the role of Lendall in last fall's production of Almost, Maine. I will be playing Bobby Child in the upcoming musical 'Crazy for You,' Musec said. As part of the ensemble for the state production, Musec was thrilled to have also had two solos and was a part of a trio. Of course I would have loved to have had a lead role in such an amazing show, Musec added. But I'd say this was one of my most enjoyable ensemble roles mostly because the ensemble had such an element of storytelling to it. Throughout the show we had these things called like Sweeney Todd ballads - only the ensemble members had these numbers. And after something happened in the show, the show would stop basically, and it would go to an audience member singing a solo about what just happened. It added some eeriness and some great storytelling elements to the show, and I loved being able to tell that story. Musec said that overall his favorite part of his All-state experience was the reaction from the audience during the performances at the state festival. When you're at a festival such as IHSTF, everyone there is so supportive and so unbelievably appreciative of the work you've done because they've all done the same process as us and they understand the things we go through to put on this show just for them, he said. I'd say Illinois theater high school audiences are by far the best audiences I've ever witnessed. Just like Leapley, Musec intends to continue his studies in theater after graduating from EHS in May. He has a few college auditions planned at colleges where he intends to obtain a BFA in musical theater. His top school choice right now is Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. He felt the All-state experience would be especially beneficial as he moves forward in his education. With this show, we had rehearsals about once a month and they were very intense - about 12 hours of rehearsals in one day. I think those small bursts of rehearsals gave me kind of a feel what I expect from a college level rehearsal. Where if I make a BFA, I'll be practically living theater for the next four years, Musec added. Over 4,500 students, teachers, university representatives, exhibitors, and volunteers came together for the IHSTF in January to put on theatrical workshops and various high school productions. The IHSTF organizes over 150 workshops, whose topics range from acting, musical theater, auditions, improvisation, technical theater, directing, stage management, make-up and costumes, lighting and special effects, to name a few. In addition, more than 25 high school productions, both showcases and full-length, from around the state are selected to perform at the IHSTF each year. Edwardsville High School's Drama Club performed Celebration at the IHSTF in 2014 and Starmites in 2010. Prince Charming promised them true love. Instead, what the dozens of women who trusted Olayinka Ilumsa Sunmola got was heartache, depression and financial ruin. But last week, five years after authorities began derailing the international romance scam, a federal judge has sentenced Sunmola, the organizations 33-year-old Nigerian ringleader, to 27 years in prison. Evidence presented recently in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis showed that Sunmola and his group, operating out of South Africa, targeted hundreds of women across the U.S., making off with millions of dollars in wire transfers and various electronics by offering the simple promise of true, enduring love. The legal terms used in the 2013 indictment of Sunmola are somewhat bland: mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy and interstate extortion. They dont convey the broken lives, fractured families, devastation, desire to die, humiliation so extreme, according to U.S. District Judge David Herndon. But then, his charm turned to bullying, name calling, extortion, unthinkable demands and threats, Herndon said at the sentencing. Thoughts of paradise turned into thoughts of hell and, for some, thoughts of suicide. In a news release from the U.S. Attorneys office, Herndon called it the most devastating crime one could ever imagine without laying hands or even eyes on another human being. Sunmolas four properties in South Africa have already been sold off and turned over to the court; the $200,000 in proceeds will be proportionately disbursed to the victims at a later date. Herndon said he hopes the 27-year sentence sends a message to his underlings. When they hear of what sentence the boss has received, they will hopefully be incentivized to stop their illegal activity immediately, he said. The scam began to unravel four years ago when a southern Illinois woman complained of being conned by a man posing online as Elias Dyess. Investigators soon learned that was one of dozens of fictitious names Sunmola and his colleagues appropriated for online dating websites such as Match.com to lure unsuspecting women. They discovered that Sunmola had cultivated romances with dozens of women across the country, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. They found photographs he used of real men from hacked online accounts and information on American cities he pretended to be from. The women were also showered with poetry, cards, flowers, stuffed animals and chocolates. Sunmolas purpose was to lead the women to believe that he was her Prince Charming, her one true love, and the man with whom she was destined to spend the rest of his life, according to the U.S. Attorneys press release. Sunmola concocted phony emergencies, each of which required victims to send ever larger sums of money. The women were also manipulated into sending him money or shipping him laptops, tablets and cell phones. When the money inevitably ran out or the women refused to send more Sunmola cut the relationship off. Exactly how much money was stolen is not known. Victims who responded to the governments request put the total loss at more than $1.7 million. Thats how much Sunmola was ordered to pay in restitution. But those who testified at the hearing said the loss was much greater. Several lost their jobs. Others lost homes. Retirement should be a happy time, wrote one woman who lost $90,000 to Sunmola. Instead, I am stressed and broke and working part time jobs at $10 an hour to supplement my income. Other victims spoke of the emotional and psychological damage he inflicted. They believed that had found true love. Some bought wedding dresses. When the lie was exposed, their world collapsed. Some fell into depression. For two women in southern Illinois, the abuse was also sexual. Sunmola stole images of their naked bodies, used the images to extort money from them, and then distributed their explicit images on the Internet for anyone to see, according to the release. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. They partnered with the U.S. Attorneys Office and other law enforcement groups. Nothing is as painful as a broken heart, and this defendant caused extreme hardship to many of his victims, said EC Woodson, the Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. In August of 2014, Sunmola was arrested as he tried to board a plane from London to Johannesburg, South Africa. After two full days of trial, Sunmola pleaded guilty to each of the eight counts in the indictment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Chaula Rininta Anindya (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Wed, February 8, 2017 The rising trend of womens involvement in terrorist networks demonstrates their vital role in increasing the strategic, operational, and tactical effectiveness in supporting terrorism. Besides the role of women in logistics, fundraising and as combatants, we must also recognize the importance of women in recruitment which is significant in ensuring their survival and continuity. All terrorist networks need to establish overarching mechanisms to recruit new members, and that includes women. The recent arrest of Titin Sugiarti shows women play an important role in the recruitment process. Sugiarti recruited Dian Yuli Novi a perpetrator of a foiled suicide bombing attempt at the State Palace in December. Novi is the wife of Nur Solihin, the leader of a Surakarta-based terror cell who also plotted the attack at the palace. Yet, Novi was not radicalized by her husband but rather by Sugiarti whom she had met long before. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Evan A. Laksmana (The Jakarta Post) Seattle Wed, February 8, 2017 There is no single problem with United States President Donald Trumps two week-old presidency. There are plenty. Not least of which has been how his advisors ideologically distorted worldviews drive United States foreign policy. Think of the recent chaotic immigration policies or the cavalier alliance management moves. The melee notwithstanding, both the Republican-controlled House and Senate as well as the White House seem to agree that former president Barack Obamas rebalance to Asia has emboldened China and damaged American interests. In response, they believe, the US should beef up its military presence and re-arm its partners and allies to push back against China. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 09:33 2096 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bed7ce6 1 Health China,medicine,#medicine,traditional-medicine,HIV-AIDS,HIV,disease,#China,health,#health Free Chinese officials have announced their five-year plan for HIV prevention and treatment, which will involve doubling the number of AIDS patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as part of the governments push to increase the use of traditional practices in the country's medical system. "The number of people living with AIDS who are treated with traditional Chinese medicine should be twice what it was in 2015," the State Council said in a statement on its website as quoted by AFP. They continued on, explaining that the idea was to "find a therapeutic regimen that combines traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicines. Read also: A peek into Guangzhou's traditional Chinese medicine museum While TCM goes back thousands of years, its actual properties are questioned by scientists and doctors around the world. Earlier this year, researchers disproved a study that claimed that acupuncture could cure babies of colic. Nevertheless, China recently passed its first law related to traditional medicine, which will allow TCM practitioners to be licensed and open clinics. The plan itself aims to reduce mother-to-baby HIV transmission rates to less than 4 percent and to reduce male-to-male transition rates by 10 percent. During Chinas 12th five-year plan (2010-2015), the HIV detection rate increased 68 percent, and the mortality of those with AIDS dropped 57 percent, as reported by Xinhua. In the 2015 report, the country told the United Nations that it had 501,000 cases of HIV/AIDS as of the end of 2014. (sul/kes) By Press Trust of India: Islamabad, Feb 8 (PTI) Pakistan Army today termed "continued ceasefire violations" from the Indian side a "potential threat" to regional stability. The assertion was made as army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa chaired the 199th Corps Commanders conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi. "The forum viewed continued unprovoked ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control and Working Boundary as potential threat to regional stability," a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations said. advertisement Pakistan today also summoned Indias Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control. It claimed that the Indian firing resulted in the death of a 25-year-old civilian who was working as a labourer for the construction of a house. The Corps Commander conference also reviewed the overall security situation and expressed satisfaction over the progress of counter terrorism operations. PTI ASK AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- A middle-aged man was screaming his heart out. "Come on Won. Whack it. Give it a KO! he exclaimed on the sidelines of a cockfighting arena at Prambanan Market in Yogyakarta. The rooster, named Kliwon, responded by dealing a kung fu blow to the head of his opponent, Blirik. Soon, Blirik was wobbling toward the edge of the ring. Blirik lost the fight. It was a regular kind of atmosphere on a corner of Prambanans chicken market, which opens twice a week on the Legi and Pon days of the Javanese calendar. The market, located some 500 meters from Prambanan Temple, is a busy place, not just with sellers of roosters and broilers, but also masseurs, food stalls and cockfighting rings. Read also: Restaurant presents live penguins as part of conservation program Cockfighting is a favorite pastime for people around the market, with three open arenas always packed by spectators expressing joy, satisfaction, disappointment and suspense. Yet an air of sportsmanship prevails. Theres no gambling here. They do it just as a hobby, said Gatot Tripintoko, a Prambanan cockfighting fan. The year 2017 ushered in the Year of the Fire Rooster according to the Chinese calendar, and at the same time, the upcoming simultaneous regional elections will take place all over Indonesia, where roosters from different regions will fight for regional leadership. Like in the cockfighting arena, the winners and losers come and go, but in the spirit of sportsmanship, the roosters in the upcoming regional elections must prepare well lest they get beaten by the kung fu strike that defeated Blirik in Prambanan. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 15:02 2096 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0beeb356 4 Art & Culture Indonesia-Fashion-Week,batik,Indonesian-culture,local-designer,local-brands Free Themed Celebrations of Culture, for the first time in six years the annual event integrated fashion and tourism as the drive for the creative economy. As the flagship event of the Indonesian Fashion Designer and Fashion Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI), it showcased not only the members creativity in the exposure of traditional fabrics but empowered local artisans as well. Our focus is on traditional woven fabric this year, said designer Ivan Gunawan, the creative director of the event held at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, Central Jakarta, from Feb 1 to 5. We are setting a trend that is inspired from the eastern part of Indonesia. On the second day of the event, local bag producer Warnatasku, which combined leather with traditional fabric, sponsored a show titled Pesona Mutiara Maumere (The Enchanting Pearl of Maumere). Six designers Irwansyah Mecs, Kunce Manduapessy, Verlita Evelyn, Dana Duryatna, Nita Seno Adji and Yoyo Prasetyo presented their creations using the Maumere woven cloth of Papua as the main material and inspiration. Read also: Maumere pearl meets Gorontalo 'karawo' at Indonesia Fashion Week Yoyo Prasetyo(JP/Jerry Adiguna) Irwansyah Mecs(JP/Jerry Adiguna) North Sumatras woven cloth, ulos, was the highlight of Tenoen Etnik (Ethnic Woven Cloth), a show sponsored by the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf ) for six designers: Ida Royani, Jenahara, Torang Sitorus, Jeny Tjahyawati, Anne Rufaidah and Nieta Handayani. Designers Henny Hananto and Lenny Agustin showed their creations using the woven cloth of Kediri in East Java, while the team behind Muslim wear label Si.Se.Sa, designers Lia Qonita Gholib, Yuyuk Nurmaisyah, Ade Listyani, Savitri, Iva Lativah, Erin Ugaru, Rya Baraba and Lia Soraya showed their ability to create luxurious looks out of batik. Muslim wear label Shafira took the inspiration for its Bungo Nagari collection from the varied embroidery techniques of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. The ready-to-wear collection showcased the delicate sulam bayang (shadow embroidery) and sulam suji, which can be recognized from the color gradation of motifs influenced by Chinese embroidery. Read also: Peranakan culture: Major influence on batik, fashion In collaboration with the Kudus city administration, designers Ivan Gunawan, Rudy Chandra, Ariy Arka and Defrico Audy lent their hands in developing the traditional embroidery kerancang gunting craft by modifying the motifs and the techniques. Ariy Arka(JP/Jerry Adiguna) Ariy Arka designed unique landscape motifs with red-crested rooster as its centerpiece. His male fashion design that took the runway titled Muria Savannah the tourist destination of Kudus led him to win the Best Designer award at the closing day of IFW. Lively shows came from artists that had ventured into the fashion business over the past few years. Actor and TV personality Raffi Ahmad presented his denim label RA Jeans, bringing topless male models, Parkour practitioners and body builders to the runway. Meanwhile, radio announcer and actress Asri Welas brought the hip-hop street scene, comedians, actors and rappers to present her 1980s style of batik wear. The closing show, sponsored by Mandiri Art a program from the state bank to develop the creative industry showcased the latest collection of Indonesian top designers and guest designers from India and Malaysia. Poppy Dharsono, Musa Wdyatmodjo and Malaysian Rezza Shah designed menswear, while the remaining eight designers added more interesting selections to womens wear. Itang Yunasz came up with simple and minimalist silhouette designed for modest wear but also fit for non-hijab fashion, while Ayu Dyah Andari created Muslim wear embellished with embroidery. Indian designers Mrinalini and Gaurav Jai Gupta came up with their ideas of sustainable fashion, developing light and airy fabric into sophisticated wear, while Malaysian Jovian Mandagie brought the allwhite bridal look of his latest collection. APPMI co-founder Poppy Dharsono, who chaired Indonesia Fashion Week, told the closing ceremony attended by government officials and foreign ambassadors that the five-day event had seen 121,000 visitors and booked Rp 82.4 billion (US$6.18 million) in transactions at over 250 exhibitor booths. The success of the event shows that cultures and the fashion industry are inseparable, just like two sides of a coin. We at APPMI believe that the Indonesia fashion industry can reach the international market as long as we develop our own cultures, she said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 About 250 victims of a fire on Jl. Kramat 3, Kwitang, Senen, Central Jakarta have received instant food, blankets and mattresses from the Jakarta Social Agency, an official said in a release on Wednesday. We have built shelters and distributed food to the victims. There will be more assistance to come, the agency head, Susana Budi Susilowati, said. The fire broke out early on Wednesday morning destroying as many as 40 houses occupied by about 250 residents. The fire, reportedly caused by a short circuit, also left four people injured. Susana added that the agency had also deployed counselors to assist the victims. We are coordinating with local officials to provide more supplies to the victims." (dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang Wed, February 8, 2017 Four hundred Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members from Central Java have left the provinces capital of Semarang for Jakarta to help secure the capitals gubernatorial election on Feb. 15. During their posting in Jakarta, the 400 officers will be under the control of the Jakarta Police, Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono said in Semarang on Wednesday. (Read also: Police on alert for fake money ahead of elections) He said the deployment was at the request of the National Police, which had asked that Brimob officers from other provinces be sent to Jakarta. Police personnel will also secure the city should the reportedly planned rallies on Feb. 11, 12, and 15 materialize, he added. The planned rallies could be political and hence prone [to conflict], Condro said. (Read also: No election-related rallies allowed in cooling-off period) He urged Jakartans not to join the rallies. Seven regencies and cities in Central Java will also hold elections on Feb. 15. Among the seven, two regencies, namely Brebes and Pati, are also considered prone to violations and conflict. (bbs) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suzan Fraser (Associated Press) Ankara, Turkey Wed, February 8, 2017 CIA Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Turkey's fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating a failed military coup, Turkish officials said, in a sign of improving relations between the allies. Pompeo's visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Tuesday, according to officials from Erdogan's office. They briefed a group of journalists Wednesday on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations. The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, who the Turkish government considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, extradited from the U.S. It is also demanding that Washington stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. Ties between Turkey and the U.S., which are NATO allies, were troubled under the Obama administration. Turkey expressed frustrations over what it perceives as U.S. reluctance to extradite Gulen, and the support provided to the Syrian Kurdish fighters. The Obama administration regarded the fighters as the most effective group in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. The Turkish government has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency and the call was being closely watched in Turkey. The officials said the telephone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere" and both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation. Both leaders agreed to meet "at the shortest time" possible, they said. (Read also: Coup in Turkey has US fingerprints on it) Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against extremist groups, the officials said, without elaborating. The U.S. president reportedly told Erdogan Washington wished to develop ties with Turkey and to engage in close cooperation with the country on regional issues. Erdogan for his part requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and not to support Syrian Kurdish fighters. According to the officials, Trump and Erdogan agreed to "move together" in operations to capture Islamic State group-held strongholds of al-Bab and Raqqa in northern Syria. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking at a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart in Ankara, sounded optimistic about the Trump administration's future cooperation. "On the issue of fighting Daesh, we that is Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be cooperating with the United States," Cavusoglu said. "We believe that the fight from now on will be more effective and that we will be able to clear both Syria and Iraq of Daesh." He was using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. "We told the previous administration not to rely on or trust a terror organization to fight an organization like Daesh. We said it would be a mistake but we were not able to get them to listen," Cavusoglu said. Cavusoglu said members of the U.S.-led coalition against IS could send special operation teams to seize Raqqa from the extremists, without relying on the Syrian Kurdish fighters. "The operation in Raqqa should be conducted with the right (groups) not with terror organizations," he said. The officials from Erdogan's office didn't say whether Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations was raised during their talk. Last year, Erdogan criticized Trump then a Republican presidential candidate over his comments about barring Muslims from entering the United States and called for his name to be removed from the Trump Towers in Istanbul. However, the normally outspoken Erdogan has not yet commented in public on the travel ban which is being reviewed by a federal appeals court.(dan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 The Tangerang District Court sentenced Rahmat Arifin, 24, and Imam Hapriadi, 24, to death on Wednesday for the rape and murder of EF, 19, in Kosambi, Tangerang regency last year. The court sentences the defendants, Rahmat Arifin and Imam Hapriadi, to death as demanded by the prosecutors, presiding judge Irfan Siregar read out the verdict as reported by kompas.com. Arifin was charged under Article 340 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on premeditated murder and Article 285 on rape, while Imam was charged only under Article 340, which carries the death penalty. Irfan said the defendants had been proven guilty of premeditated murder without any mitigating factors that would have warranted a lesser sentence. According to facts revealed during the trial, the events of the murder started when another convict, RA, who was 16-year-old when the case occurred, went to a factory worker dormitory where the victim lived. RA, who had been acquainted with EP for one month, reportedly asked EP to have sex with him, but she refused. Angered, RA left the room and met two other males, Rahmat and Imam. The three forced their way into the room, gang raped EF and then used a hoe to kill her in a particularly gruesome manner. RA was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in June last year. His sentence was lighter because he was a juvenile. (fac/dmr) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Chaula Rininta Anindya (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Wed, February 8 2017 The rising trend of womens involvement in terrorist networks demonstrates their vital role in increasing the strategic, operational, and tactical effectiveness in supporting terrorism. Besides the role of women in logistics, fundraising and as combatants, we must also recognize the importance of women in recruitment which is significant in ensuring their survival and continuity. All terrorist networks need to establish overarching mechanisms to recruit new members, and that includes women. The recent arrest of Titin Sugiarti shows women play an important role in the recruitment process. Sugiarti recruited Dian Yuli Novi a perpetrator of a foiled suicide bombing attempt at the State Palace in December. Novi is the wife of Nur Solihin, the leader of a Surakarta-based terror cell who also plotted the attack at the palace. Yet, Novi was not radicalized by her husband but rather by Sugiarti whom she had met long before. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 The Jakarta administration is launching electronic attendance monitoring systems at low-cost apartments in order to verify the identity of tenants to prevent people from subletting units. The Jakarta Public Housing and Settlement Agency head Arifin said on Monday that all tenants of the city administrations low-cost apartments (rusun) would be obligated to verify their identities through scanning machines once or twice a month. City-owned Bank DKI will help provide the machines for each rusun, he said during the launching ceremony at the Pesakih apartment in West Jakarta. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 Indonesian producers hope to reduce a wide deficit in the food and beverage sector this year, which was a result of larger imports than exports last year. Exports of processed food and beverages totaled US$5.6 billion from January to November last year, but imports surged to $6.3 billion in the same period, causing a gap of $767.84 million, according to the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI). to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Four polling station officers have resigned after being found to have supported a candidate pair in Jakartas upcoming gubernatorial election. The move follows letters from the Jakarta Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) sent to the West Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU), in which the former recommended the dismissal of the four Polling Station Working Committee (KPPS) members. Bawaslu head Mimah Susanti said the four officers were found to have joined a campaign event of Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who is running for reelection alongside Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. The event took place in Jatipulo, West Jakarta, on Jan. 31. Our supervisors caught their alleged involvement in the campaign event, which they joined wearing campaign attributes. Their bias is clear, Mimah said on Wednesday. She added that the officers had resigned from their position after Bawaslu confronted them about their involvement in the campaign. KPU had appointed new officers to replace them, she went on. Mimah said Bawaslu wanted all Jakarta residents to participate in monitoring the neutrality of all polling station officers. We hope [the public] can report officers suspected of committing violations to us with sufficient evidence, she said. (ebf) By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) In a referendum held by the JNU students union, the student community has voted massively against the change in admission norms carried out by the varsity following directions from the UGC. A referendum was held yesterday on the unilateral imposition of a UGC gazette issued in May last year by the administration, violating all norms of statutory bodies. 3,455 students participated in it and 98.35 per cent of them voted against the gazette, a JNUSU statement said. advertisement The popular vote was meant to gauge students views on the UGC notification that makes viva the major criteria for admission to M.Phil and Ph.D, and cuts down seats for admission to these courses. Following protests from students, JNU had last week decided that the admission policy for MPhil and PhD programmes will continue to have a weightage of 80 per cent for entrance exam and 20 per cent for viva voce but the students are continuing with the protests. PTI GJS GVS --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram Wed, February 8, 2017 The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) West Nusa Tenggara has called on the government to avoid biases in handling a blasphemy case currently implicating non-active Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama. We asked the government not to take sides in settling the blasphemy allegedly committed by Pak Ahok, MUI West Nusa Tenggara chairman Saiful Muslim said after the councils coordination meeting with Islamic mass organizations from across the province in Mataram on Monday. (Read also: Jakarta voters caught up in issue of Ahok's alleged blasphemy: Activists) Officials from the West Nusa Tenggara chapter of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and its womens wing, Muslimat NU, as well as representatives of the provinces Muhammadiyah central executive board and its youth wing, Pemuda Muhammadiyah, attended the meeting. Officials of Nahdlatul Wathan, the biggest Islamic mass organization in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, were also present. In the meeting, they criticized Ahok whom they considered had insulted ulemas in his eighth blasphemy hearing on Jan. 31, in which MUI chairman Maruf Amin was present as a witness. They asked authorities to arrest Ahok and dismiss him from his position as Jakarta governor. They also called on authorities to take measures to stop all forms of criminalization against ulemas in Indonesia. We will send these recommendations to the MUI in Jakarta as soon as possible, said Saiful. He said the coordination meeting between MUI and Islamic mass organizations in West Nusa Tenggara was conducted to prevent people, especially Muslims, in the province from engaging in reckless deeds in response to the developments of Ahoks legal process. The MUI also called on all people in the province to not be easily agitated by hoax news reports in social media and not to carry out any acts that could worsen the image of Islam. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 The government has decided to seek unlikely allies in its struggle to end child marriage: religious leaders, the group of people who have long been accused of stymieing such efforts. For years, religious leaders have perpetuated the practice of child marriage as they tend to have a narrow view of sexuality and marriage, according to the Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry. The ministry said it was now time to turn them into allies. Some Muslim clerics in Central Java and West Nusa Tenggara have already agreed to promote the campaign against child marriage, the ministrys assistant deputy on childrens rights, Rohika Kurniadi Sari, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. They said why dont we deliver the message through Friday prayer sermons? Because men are also agents of change who could reduce the number of child marriages, she said. (Read also: It's time to break the silence on child marriage) Rohika said her ministry would coordinate with the Religious Affairs Ministry, which reportedly has plans to issue guidelines on standardized Friday sermons, to discuss the possibility of delivering the anti-child marriage message through the sermons. We are pushing the Religious Affairs Ministry to review the standardization and if there is already one, we will request the addition of this message because its important, she said. The ministrys assistant deputy on child protection from violence and exploitation, Rini Handayani, claimed that United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) had actually produced a guidebook on how to campaign for child protection in Friday sermons. Right now we are working on [making a Christian version of the book]. About how sermons at churches could talk about child protection, she said. Rohika said the problem with some Muslim preachers was that they tended to measure preparedness to get married, or adulthood, merely based on the onset of puberty. This narrow view, she said, presented a considerable barrier to ending child marriage in the country as the practice is accepted by communities as part of their social fabric, making it seem to be a non-issue. This has resulted in child marriage rates flat-lining in the country. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of child marriages (below 18 years old) stood at 22.8 percent in 2015, down only slightly from 24.5 percent in 2010. Child marriages are closely linked to a severe drop in life quality for girls. According to UNICEF, girls who are married as children tend to drop out of school, thus limiting their employment opportunities. Child marriage severely affects girls education as those who get married before the age of 18 are six times more likely to drop out of school, UNICEF Indonesia child protection officer Fadilla Putri said. They are also prone to complications during pregnancy and labor, which hampers the countrys efforts to produce quality human resources. Rohika said that the ministry would try to deliver the campaign within a more universal message on how to raise a child properly. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty and Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 The government indicated on Tuesday that it might offer state construction firm Adhi Karya the opportunity to become an investor in the light rapid transit (LRT) project in Greater Jakarta amid financial uncertainty due a limited state budget. The government previously appointed Adhi Karya to build the LRT project, a part of the national strategic project under Presidential Regulation No. 65/2016. It initially planned to use the state budget to finance the project, but further cuts to the state budget meant that the government was unable to allocate funds for the project. Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the government was looking for a flexible way to fund the LRT. So Adhi Karya doesnt just have to be the one that drives it forward. It can also be an investor, he said on Tuesday. Luhut reiterated that the project should still finish by 2019, despite the current financing problems. (Read also: Government considers asking Adhi Karya to invest in LRT) The government estimates that the LRT project will cost at least Rp 22.5 trillion (US$1.6 billion) just for the first phase, a little lower than Adhi Karyas estimate of Rp 23.7 trillion. At the same time, the government has to allocate funds for another LRT project in Palembang, South Sumatra, which might cost Rp 12 trillion. Transportation Ministry director general for railways Prasetyo Boeditjahjono previously highlighted that building the two LRTs at the same time would be too costly. In reality, the presidential regulation stipulates that it has to be financed by the state budget. But because the cost is too high for the state budget, there is a possibility that the project might be funded by other sources, he said. Previously, the government floated the idea of inviting companies, such as state infrastructure financing firm Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) or state project firm Indonesia Infrastructure Finance (IIF), to first cover the costs to the contractor. The government would then pay back the loan in a 10-year installment scheme. (Read also: LRT to set example for future projects, technology transfer) The LRT construction in Greater Jakarta is divided into two phases. The first phase will span Bogor in West Java to Jakarta in a 42.1 kilometer-long track across Cibubur-Cawang, Bekasi Timur-Cawang and Cawang-Dukuh Atas. Meanwhile, the second phase will construct a 41.5 km-long track from Cibubur-Bogor, Dukuh Atas-Palmerah-Senayan and Palmerah-Grogol. The whole project is scheduled for completion by 2019. The regulation stipulates that all processes until contract signing, including the making of project criteria and the approval of technical and financial documents, must be completed within 120 days since the regulation was passed in July 2016. However, it turns out that the government has not even signed a contract with Adhi Karya as a legal basis for the budget disbursement up until now, leaving Adhi to rely on its internal cash to go on with the project. Prasetyo also warned earlier that the overall cost for the project might be 20 percent higher than the original estimate as the project currently adopts the design and build scheme, where contractors only work on a partial basis using a partial design. In response to the plan, Adhi Karya president director Budi Harto stated that he would wait for the governments final decision on the matter. The company, as of last month, has spent Rp 3 trillion on the project. This year, we will need Rp 7 trillion for the project, he said via text message. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Indonesias foreign exchange (forex) reserves increased by US$500 million to $116.9 billion in January. Bank Indonesia (BI) spokesman Tirta Segara said that revenues from tax, oil export dividends and the recent auction of government debt papers were higher than the sum needed to repay outstanding foreign currency-denominated government debt. The reserves are enough to cover 8.7 months worth of imports or 8.4 months worth of imports and foreign debt repayments, Tirta said in a statement on Tuesday. (Read also: Indonesias forex reserve increase in December fuels optimism) The level exceeds the international standard for foreign reserves, which should cover at least three months' worth of imports Bank Indonesia believes that exports can support Indonesia's resilience to external pressure as well as supporting economic growth, Tirta said. The central bank earlier reported that Indonesia recorded a $10.5 billion year-on-year increase in its forex reserves in December, paving the way for optimism that bigger reserves will follow in the first quarter of this year on the back of the governments tax amnesty. BI said that the countrys forex reserves stood at $116.4 billion in December, growing by 10 percent compared to the December 2015 figure of $105.9 billion. (hwa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Indonesia and South Africa are strengthening their economic cooperation, Indonesias top diplomat has revealed, as a delegation of state officials and businesses seeks to bolster the countrys presence on the African continent. Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi was in Cape Town on Monday for bilateral talks with her South African counterpart. She encouraged state-owned firms in her entourage to seize the available trade and investment opportunities in South Africa. Indonesias historical affinity with South Africa can be a strong foundation for developing mutually beneficial economic cooperation, Retno said. She said an agreement was struck with South Africas International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to finalize a plan of action for both countries 20172021 Strategic Partnership, which would act as the basis of future economic cooperation. Afterwards, Retno spoke to a South African-Indonesian business forum, inviting local businesses from the energy, shipping, and strategic industry sectors, as well as travel agents and importers of furniture and foodstuffs, to trade, invest in and tour Indonesia. Indonesian and South African businesses must take advantage of [our] very good political relations to realize mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities, she told participants. The forum was also attended by representatives of state-owned strategic industry firms including aerospace firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia, weapons maker PT Pindad and shipbuilder PT PAL. Daniel Tumpal Simandjuntak, the Foreign Ministrys director for African affairs, revealed that PT Pindad had offered to South African businessmen its signature Anoa 6x6 armored personnel vehicle, while PT PAL advertised its KCR-60 fast missile ships. Members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and state export financier Indonesia Eximbank were also present, completing the promotion-heavy entourage. One of the results of the forum includes a plan to import 18 containers worth of consumer goods from Indonesia, as well as an assessment of plans to build an instant noodle production facility in South Africa. Between January and October last year, two-way trade reached US$860 million in favor of Indonesia, a far cry from the 2012 figure of $2.35 billion. Indonesia mostly exports motorized vehicles, rubber, footwear, tires and paper, while South Africas major exports include chemical wood pulp, ferrous waste, iron ore, aluminum, fruit and mechanical appliances. The meeting with Nkoana-Mashabane also produced a number of new initiatives, including a free-visa agreement for service and diplomatic passport holders, an agreement on diplomat training and other engagements in the marine and fisheries sector. A state visit by South African President Jacob Zuma to Indonesia and a reciprocal visit by President Joko Jokowi Widodo was also proposed for 2017, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed. Whilst in Cape Town, Retno also paid a courtesy call to President Zuma to personally convey an invitation to participate in the upcoming Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders Summit in Jakarta next month. South Africa and Indonesia are both founding members of IORA, which comprises 21 coastal states that border the Indian Ocean. Indonesia served as vice chair of IORA from 2013 to 2015 and is now the current chair. The chairmanship will be handed over to South Africa this year, after it served as vice chair from 2015 to early 2017. In this regard, Nkoana-Mashabane also indicated that South Africa would host the next IORA Council of Ministers Meeting in Durban later this year.(jun) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan has warned that his personnel will prohibit protesters from holding a rally on Saturday in protest against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is currently on trial for blasphemy. The rally was set to be a repeat of the massive rally on Dec. 2 last year. Iriawan said police would arrest any protesters should they refuse to disperse. "Those who are found to be responsible for the rally will face criminal charges, he said as quoted by tribunnews.com. The Feb. 12 rally, called the March to enforce Quranic verse Al Maidah 51, would have been held during the gubernatorial elections cooling off period. The rally was to have involved a march along Central Jakartas thoroughfares from Istiqlal Grand Mosque to Jl. Sudirman. (dea) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 President Joko Jokowi Widodo has called on the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to provide equal scholarship opportunities to study masters and doctoral degrees abroad and in Indonesia for all Indonesians especially for those living in least-developed provinces. Jokowi said Indonesia would enjoy a demographic bonus for the next 13 years in which the country would see a major part of the population in the productive age bracket. The President said providing equal opportunities for all would make them ready to become professional members of the workforce. Investment in human resources should also be in line with development priorities. The LPDP program should focus on creating qualified human resources in priority sectors such as maritime and energy as well as manufacturing and the creative economy, the President said in his opening speech during a Cabinet meeting on the education fund management. The LPDP has given scholarships to a total of 16,295 students of masters and doctoral degrees, 8,406 of whom studied in universities in Indonesia while 7,889 took programs abroad. (Read also: Scholarship deemed discriminatory for Indonesians living in eastern regions) Jokowi also highlighted the low proportion of engineers in Indonesia with only 2,672 for every 1 million people. The figure is lower than Malaysias 3,333, Vietnams 9,037 and South Koreas 25,309, he said. (wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Flores Wed, February 8 2017 Famous for its exotic and raw natural beauty, Komodo Island in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, has seen an increasing number of cruise ships from various parts of the world, with thousands of tourists flocking to Komodo National Park, home to the giant Komodo dragon. Local authorities recorded that since the beginning of February, the island had welcomed five cruise ships from Europe and Japan. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 The governments plan to introduce the oil palm replanting program is likely to face administrative hurdles with many local farmers reporting that they have no valid documents to prove their land ownership. The replanting program, to be carried out by the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDP), is aimed at helping small oil palm farmers to replant their land if they lack funds to do it by themselves. The government has allocated Rp 320 billion (US$24 million) to replant 12,500 hectares of oil palm plantations this year. To receive the funding, small farmers must first join a village unit cooperative (KUD). The money will then be distributed as a lump sump through partner banks, including state lenders Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and regional banks. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 The leader of a conservative Muslim group that has organized two rallies demanding the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has ignored a police summons scheduled for Wednesday to probe the rallys funding. Police had summoned Bachtiar Nasir, who leads the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Councils Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), as a witness in their investigation of fund-raising activities ahead of a rally on Dec. 2, suspected to be connected to money-laundering. Bachtiars lawyer, Kapitra Ampera, said his client was ready for the questioning but added that he had found irregularities in the summons, as it was received less than three days before the scheduled questioning. The lawyer said that according to Article 227 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP), a summons has to be sent no later than three days before the questioning. "We received the letter on Monday, Feb. 6, at 11:34 p.m. and were asked to come today," Kapitra said at police headquarters after asking for clarification on the letter. (Read also: Rally ends on cautious note) The GNPF-MUI, which includes the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), organized two large rallies late last year to demand the prosecution of Ahok in a blasphemy case. The first rally, held on Nov. 4, turned violent in the evening after President Joko Jokowi Widodo refused to meet protesters. Police detained 11 people in the early morning of Dec. 2, ostensibly to prevent new violence, immediately charging them with treason. Protests that day in Jakarta and other regions remained peaceful. (wit) By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Feb 8 (PTI) Over a month after the end of 50-day demonetisation period, the RBI today said it is reconciling data on junked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes with physical cash and the "final numbers" will be divulged after June 30, the day when all windows for depositing old notes will be closed. Following the shock demonetisation announcement on November 8, the government had asked people to deposit old notes in banks by December 30. Indians who were abroad during November 9 to December 30 have been given a 3-month grace period till March 31 to deposit the junked notes, while for the NRIs, it is 6 months till June 30. advertisement RBI Deputy Governor S S Mundra said the final numbers can only be revealed after counting the notes deposited in cooperative banks, receipt of information from Nepal and Bhutan and close of the window for deposit of notes by NRIs. "After adding all these, we will give out the number (of notes deposited). But the final numbers and piece to piece verification of the huge volume of currency that has come in will take time. That we will come out in due course," he told reporters here. "The window (for NRIs) is open till June 30 in which people can deposit cash. And after adding all these, we will give out the number," Mundra said. Indian currency is accepted for transactions in Nepal and Bhutan. Post demonetisation, both Nepal Rashtra Bank and Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan were in touch with the RBI regarding facilitation of collection and deposit of old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 that are already in stock of the Central Banks. "The work is on regarding number. There are 4,000 currency chests in the country. RBI keeps currency in 19 places. After December 30 when we had asked all banks to calculate, then RBI team also did central checking. That procedure is over. Reconciliation is going on with regard to physical cash. We hope this this will get over in sometime," Mundra said. RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi said post demonetisation RBI has pumped in Rs 9.92 lakh crore worth currency notes into circulation. It was estimated that Rs 15.45 lakh crore worth old notes accounting for 86 per cent of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes was in circulation before demonetisation. PTI JD CS MKJ --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 WhatsApp is used not only by people to have personal chats but also by policymakers to discuss inter-ministerial matters. Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas Lembong, for example, has a WhatsApp group with Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly along with their respective deputies. The officials in the group handle issues pertaining to foreign workers. "We also invited our deputies to the WhatsApp group so that we can handle problems quicker," he said during a Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)-Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) seminar in Jakarta on Wednesday. (Read also: Too many social media platforms may lead to depression, anxiety: Study) Lembong added that this kind of inter-institution communication had never happened before the second Cabinet reshuffle in June last year. Even 18 months ago the ministries deputies did not communicate in regards to their jobs. "After the second reshuffle, the Cabinet is calmer and there is no friction between ministers," he said. (bbn) Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan has warned that the police will disperse rallies with election-related messages held after the Jakarta gubernatorial election campaign period ends on Feb. 11. Iriawan also confirmed that major rallies were slated to be held in Jakarta on Feb. 11, 12 and 15. He called on Jakartans to remain alert on those days. The General Elections Commission (KPU) has declared Feb. 12 to 14 as the cooling-off period before voting day on Feb. 15. After the end of campaigning, no party will be allowed to hold rallies carrying messages related to the election. Any violators will be charged under the Elections Law, which carries a maximum sanction of three months in jail, Iriawan said on Tuesday. A number of conservative Islamic groups, such as the hardliners Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Muslim Peoples Forum (FUI) and the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Councils Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) have claimed they will hold rallies between Feb. 11 and 15. The groups were also among the initiators that mobilized the masses during large-scale rallies in November and December last year, which demanded incumbent gubernatorial candidate Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama be prosecuted for blasphemy. Ahok is now standing trial for blasphemy. The police said they had received a letter from the FUI informing them that around 10,000 people would hit Jakartas streets on Feb. 11. On Feb. 11, protesters will gather at Istiqlal Mosque [in Central Jakarta] for morning prayers. After that, they will march to Monas [National Monument] square via Jl. MH Thamrin, where they will disperse, Iriawan said. Acting Jakarta Governor Sumarsono (center), Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan (second right), Jayakarta Command Commander Maj. Gen. Teddy Lhaksmana (second left), General Elections Commission (KPU) Jakarta head Sumarno (left) and Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Jakarta Mimah Susanti (right ) join hands after a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.(JP/Seto Wardhana) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 One week ahead of the simultaneous regional elections on Feb.15, Central Java Police have asked all personnel in police precincts to safeguard against the distribution of counterfeit money. The police made the call following the arrest of a suspected distributor of fake money by the Semarang Police recently, although the arrest could not yet be connected with the regional elections. The police have not yet received any report about it. However, we should stay vigilant against the distribution of fake money for election-related purposes. Dont let any party take advantage of these regional elections to commit crimes, Central Java Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Agung Aris Adhi Setiawan said as quoted by kompas.com in Semarang on Wednesday. He said the Central Java Police had asked all police offices in regencies and municipalities set to hold simultaneous elections to conduct early detection of possible fake money distribution and monitor developments in their respective areas. Semarang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. V.Thirdy Hadmiarso said separately the man named a suspect in the counterfeit money case was a resident of Salatiga, which will hold its mayoral election on Feb.15. We are still investigating but so far it has nothing to do with the election, he said. As reported earlier, Semarang Police personnel arrested Parijo Widodo, 72, and confiscated 362 counterfeit banknotes in Rp 100,000 denominations. The suspected fake money distributor was arrested in the Banaran Cafe, Bawen, on Jan.13, after he agreed to meet a police officer who was posing as a buyer. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Former Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker Irman Gusman could not hide his dismay on Wednesday over the sentence sought by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors in a bribery case. I have to say I was shocked and saddened because of the seven-year prison term demanded by the prosecutors, said Irman, as quoted by kompas.com. Prosecutors have demanded a sentence of seven years imprisonment as well as Rp 200 million (US$15,008) in fines or an additional five months in jail. They have also sought to strip Irman of his right to be elected for public office for three years after serving time. Irman has been accused of accepting Rp 100 million in bribes from sugar importer CV Semesta Berjayas co-owners, Xaveriandy Sutanto and Memi, to help the company secure a larger import quota. Xaveriandy and Memi were convicted last month and sentenced to three years and two-and-a-half years in prison, respectively. During the hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors played a recorded conversation between Irman and State Logistics Agency (Bulog) chief Djarot Kusumayakti. In the recording, Irman asked Djarot to endorse Xaveriandy and Memi as the agencys sugar distributor in West Sumatra. Irman was arrested in a raid carried out by the KPK on Sep. 17 last year at his official residence in Jakarta. (mrc/wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Vice President Jusuf Kalla told lawmakers on Wednesday that the internationally recognized logo of the international Red Cross was not a Christian symbol and dismissed concerns that using the logo for the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) promoted Christianity. I know that there have been questions regarding the logo. The Red Cross logo is like the mathematical plus sign because it is symmetrical, unlike the Christian cross, Kalla, in his capacity as PMI chairman, said during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission IX on health and social affairs. You must know that the plus sign was formulated by Muslim mathematician Ibn Musa Al Khawarizmi and there is therefore no need to worry, Kalla assured. Wednesdays hearing was held to discuss a PMI bill, including to determine if the PMI should change its logo. The deliberation has been halted for 10 years due to several issues, one of them being the humanitarian organization's cross logo. Saleh Daulay from the National Mandate Party (PAN) asked Kalla to elaborate on the reasons for maintaining the logo. Because a logo comes with values, he said. (wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 The Religious Affairs Ministrys Director General of Islamic Education Kamaruddin Amin told Commission VIII of House of Representatives on Tuesday that the ministry will create a new sub-directorate to focus on teacher issues. The new directorate will be mandated to address several issues such as qualifications and the certification of teachers, as well as certification allowances to ease the financial burden on teachers. The directorate will also address the lack of qualified teachers in Indonesias Islamic education system. Indonesia lacks teachers with degrees in religion, Kamaruddin explained, and there are also many religion teachers who do not have religious education backgrounds. In his opinion, this lack of proper credentials among religion teachers has led to intolerance among Indonesian youth. Teachers who educate children on religion should have Islamic education backgrounds. Religion cannot be taught by teachers with just a general education background. Those teachers who do not have Islamic education backgrounds could mislead their students and create intolerance. Kamaruddin added that the ministry was in the process of selecting the head of the new sub-directorate. Eventually, regional heads of division will also be selected. (rdi/wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 09:03 2096 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bed6356 4 Business Gas,gas-consumption,power-shortage,LNG,pertamina,energy,oil-and-gas,oil-and-gas-industry,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry Free The risk of a gas shortage is haunting Indonesia as demand continues to soar on the back of lower supply and poor infrastructure, with 2019 predicted to be the starting point of potential shortages. State-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina estimates that demand for gas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will increase by 4 percent to 5 percent every year, mostly boosted by the power and industrial sectors. Pertamina senior vice president for gas and power Djohardi Angga Kusumah said that in line with the drastic increase in demand, domestic supply would continue to drop due to aging fields and a lack of new discoveries. As a result, the country could begin seeing a gas shortage of 500 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in 2019. The demand will continue to climb until 2030, when it is likely to reach around 10,000 mmscfd. Our supply is very limited and it is expected to continue dropping to around 6,000 mmscfd in 2030. This means that there will be a shortage of 4,000 mmscfd, or 32 tons of LNG, he said on Tuesday. By 2030, most of the shortage will be centered in West Java, with more than 60 percent. A gas shortage poses a problem since the government has continued to emphasize the need to develop downstream sectors, including the local manufacturing industry and the power sector, to boost productivity and create added value to exports. However, at around US$9 per million British thermal units (mmbtu), Indonesias gas price is considered much higher than of its regional peers. Gas in Malaysia and Singapore hovers at around $4 per mmbtu. (Read also: Indonesian gas prices still competitive: Deputy minister) Pertamina estimates that around $70 billion to $80 billion in funds is needed to develop gas infrastructure until 2030. Djohardi said it had come to the conclusion that with poor infrastructure suspending gas prices at such a high rate, importing LNG was the answer. Pertamina acting president director Yenni Andayani said Indonesia needed to secure long-term LNG contracts before it was too late as global LNG demand was expected to increase significantly over the next decade. It may be too late for us if we wait until 2020 to start talking to suppliers, she said. Competition to secure contracts will be fierce among neighboring countries as Southeast Asias import demand is forecast to reach around 60 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in 2030 from zero in 2013. The government has begun importing LNG for the electricity sector and is considering doing the same for other industrial sectors. A recent ministerial decree issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry allows power producers to import LNG if the price of gas distributed by local pipes is over 11.5 percent of the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP). (Read also: Residents can now enjoy cheap gas from nearby refineries) Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry deputy minister Arcandra Tahar said that it was unlikely that it would allow LNG imports this year for the industrial sectors due to a lack of supporting infrastructure and its priority toward domestic supply. Data from the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) shows that only 39 of 64 LNG cargoes allocated for the domestic market were absorbed in 2015. Furthermore, official data shows that there are 63 uncommitted LNG cargoes this year and 60 next year, meaning that they dont have certain buyers yet. We are prioritizing domestic [supply] first. If it does not fulfill demand, we will consider allowing imports. We need to construct the infrastructure first and this may take years, he said. At present, there are only two floating storage facilities in West Java and Lampung and only one land-based re-gasification terminal, which is the converted Arun LNG plant in Aceh. The ministry is planning to construct 11 floating storage facilities and 66 land-based facilities by 2025. Oil and gas consultancy group FGE president Jeff Brown said Pertaminas reputation as a seasoned player in the LNG sector should help the country secure contracts. Indonesia has a very strong brand identity. I emphasize this because there are new buyers coming in and they will say some crazy things. Sellers like the fact that Pertamina is already in the market and is an established player, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moses Ompusunggu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed disappointment over what he says is a lack of response to a complaint he made over the alleged wiretapping of a phone conversation he recently had with Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) leader Ma'ruf Amin. "Law enforcers have not responded properly to the allegedly politically motivated wiretapping," Yudhoyono, the Democratic Party chairman, told a gathering of party executives at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in South Jakarta on Tuesday evening. The legal team of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama claimed during a hearing of his blasphemy trial that they had evidence that Yudhoyono and Ma'ruf were involved in a telephone conversation in which the former reportedly urged the cleric to issue an edict declaring that Ahok had committed blasphemy. (Read Also: BIN denies giving intelligence data to Ahok) Ahok will compete against Yudhoyono's eldest son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono in the Feb. 15 Jakarta gubernatorial election. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has denied that the force had wiretapped Yudhoyonos phone. Jakarta governor candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono holds his book "I Have Chosen My New Way of Life" during the book's launch in Jakarta on Tuesday.(Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay) Agus also previously echoed his father's complaint, saying illegal wiretapping could undermine democracy. "We are seeking justice. All Indonesians could experience such a thing, couldnt they?" he said during a campaign event on Friday. One of Ahok's defense lawyers, Humphrey Djemat, however, said that evidence of two people having a telephone conversation was not necessarily in the form of a wiretapped recording. (bbs) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moses Ompusunggu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Democratic Party chair and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono gathered party executives from all provinces in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, conveying a message to the government that it had to give serious attention to justice, diversity and freedom. "These three issues have become widely scrutinized by the public. It does not mean, however, that the government has become negligent [in responding to problems related to justice, diversity and freedom]. Let's say this serves as a wake up call for the government and all of us," Yudhoyono told the gathering at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) building in South Jakarta. Yudhoyono, who has been actively complaining to the government through his Twitter account of late, underscored the need for the President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration to provide social, economic and legal justice "for all". While speaking on legal justice, Yudhoyono claimed the public had become aware of "intervention by some parties" in legal enforcement in the country. "Legal processes are stagnating in a number of cases that the public thought could be easily resolved, while there is no significant progress in big cases that need to be prioritized," Yudhoyono said, without giving any details. Yudhoyono said citizens had to remain "cautious" if the "state chose to prioritize political stability" above the need to provide freedom to "exercise their rights. The Democratic Party chief patron has been criticizing the government more frequently lately after his son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, joined the Jakarta gubernatorial race. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 For the people who live in the eastern regions of Indonesia, the policy that only they should be required to have an HIV test before applying for a government scholarship is just plain unfair. Why only eastern Indonesia? Is it because of the image of eastern Indonesia, which is very poor with substandard education? said a 23-year-old student from Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara, who was recently awarded a scholarship managed by the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), to the The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The student, who has asked to remain anonymous, was referring to a requirement for the Eastern Indonesia Timur scholarship, managed by LPDP, which says that applicants must be free of HIV, tuberculosis and drug use in order to be considered eligible. Why dont they apply the same requirement to all Indonesians? No matter where they come from. Because HIV doesnt discriminate against people based on where they come from, she said. Another LPDP recipient from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, who plans to start studying for his Masters degree in coastal fisheries at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) this September, was shocked when he heard about the new requirement. Whats wrong with us? I want to know the reasoning behind it. Why doesnt it apply to the western parts of Indonesia? he told the Post. A wave of condemnation against the policy has arisen and President Joko Jokowi Widodo held a Cabinet meeting about the scholarship at the State Palace on Tuesday. The President said he would improve the quality of the scholarship program by ensuring that students from disadvantaged regions in Indonesia could get the same opportunities as students from other parts of Indonesia. After the meeting, LPDP president director Eko Prasetyo said his organization might revoke the requirement. Thats a possibility. However, we have to report it first to the Finance Ministry. [We will do this] as quickly as possible because the President wants to give out the scholarships soon, he said, adding that the requirement was only a tentative policy and thus apologized if it was deemed by some to be discriminatory. (Read also: Papuan students receive US scholarships) Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she would check the requirement first before making any decision. I havent studied the problem so I cant give any comment, she said when asked whether or not the requirement would be revoked. The Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat) has condemned the policy, calling it a form of direct discrimination against eastern Indonesians as it applies only to applicants from the eastern parts of the archipelago. LBH Masyarakat public defender Naila Rizqi Zakiah also said the requirement discriminated against people living with HIV/AIDS. It violates the right to education to people living with HIV/AIDS and the right to education, regardless of circumstance, is guaranteed by the Constitution, she added. She pointed out that Article 28 C Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, Article 12 of Law No. 39/1999 on human rights and Article 4 Paragraph 1 of Law No. 20/2003 on national education guaranteed that education in Indonesia must be carried out in a democratic and non-discriminatory manner and furthermore, must respect human rights, religious and cultural values, as well as the nations diversity. The scholarship program, as part of the implementation of education system, should be implemented in accordance with these principles. Further, it should not limit or hinder access or opportunities for anyone, including those living with HIV/AIDS, Naila said. The government has allocated Rp 2.5 trillion for about 5,000 LPDP scholarship recipients this year. The actor urged people to stop gambling their franchise on "wrong and corrupt politicians". By India Today Web Desk: Actor Kamal Haasan has once again spoken out, and this time on the ongoing political turmoil in the state. In a cryptic Twitter post, the actor said "don't break Tamil Nadu into a country". He tweeted: "All India will fight for Tamil Nadu in a civil war of Ahimsa". The actor urged people to stop gambling their franchise on "wrong and corrupt politicians". Don't breakTN in2 a country. I promise, All India will fight 4TN in a civil war of Ahinsa.None might die but the ignorant will come alive Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 advertisement The actor, who is known to be vocal about issues, has been keeping a close tab on the political events unfolding in the state vis-a-vis the tussle between AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan and O Panneerselvam. Haasan also asked fellow actors to "talk on the crisis in Tamil Nadu". "You can also disagree but do it loud please," the actor tweeted, nudging actor R Madhavan to speak up. @ActorMadhavanplsTalk on crisis inTN.We have a voice with decible levels not conducive 2 bad politics U can also diagree.but do it loud pls Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 We've wasted our freedom years gambling our fanchise on wrong& corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them Lets become incorruptable. Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: On Tuesday night, the actor tweeted: "Go to sleep TN. They will wake up before us". The tweet came close on the heels of Panneerselvam's address to media in which he said he was forced to resign from the chief minister's post. Earlier Kamal Haasan's comment on the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu created a storm. "If you want to ban Jallikattu, ban biryani too," the actor had said on the sidelines of the India Today Conclave South. Panneerselvam and Sasikala have been caught in a war of words since Tuesday night, which shows no signs of ending anytime soon. "I have performed my duty without any shortcomings and carried forward the path shown by Amma. Sasikala's team has been pressurising me," Panneerselvam said at Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach. Both the leaders have claimed support of their party and cadre. While Panneerselvam dared Sasikala and said "I will prove my strength in the Assembly", Sasikala said the party is united and Pannerselvam is a traitor. In the latest turn of events, all 130 MLAs supporting Sasikala have been taken to a hotel to ensure they don't switch sides at the last minute. Meanwhile, in a jolt to Sasikala, the Election Commission said that rules were flouted by the AIADMK in selecting it's temporary General Secretary. ALSO READ: Panneerselvam vs Sasikala: How it's deja vu moment in Tamil Nadu politics How Sasikala slammed 'traitor' Panneerselvam: All you need to know in 7 points advertisement ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 For the people who live in the eastern regions of Indonesia, the policy that only they should be required to have an HIV test before applying for a government scholarship is just plain unfair. Why only eastern Indonesia? Is it because of the image of eastern Indonesia, which is very poor with substandard education? said a 23-year-old student from Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara, who was recently awarded a scholarship managed by the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), to the The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The student, who has asked to remain anonymous, was referring to a requirement for the Eastern Indonesia Timur scholarship, managed by LPDP, which says that applicants must be free of HIV, tuberculosis and drug use in order to be considered eligible. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 Remon Yohanes, 26, has one name in mind for his vote in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, but he says he is not sure about the candidate and may reconsider his choice. Many people on social media say that he is not a pro-poor candidate, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 Sharia lender Bank Syariah Bukopin, a subsidiary of publicly listed Bank Bukopin, has set an ambitious growth target for its financing disbursement this year in line with the banks program to further expand its networks in the countrys major cities. Syariah Bukopin business director Aris Wahyudi said financing was expected to increase by 23 percent this year to Rp 5.9 trillion (US$442.5 million), up from Rp 4.79 trillion last year. Most of the financing would be channeled to micro, small and medium enterprises. The growth target doubles last years financing growth achievement of 11.43 percent. (Read also: Bukopin boosts cheaper funds amid tight competition) Aris said the bank, which at present has about 12 branches, would open more branches this year in the Riau provincial capital of Pekanbaru and in Denpasar, Bali, to support its financing target. In addition, the bank would open 30 more counters in Bank Bukopins branches. We actually planned to open three branches last year. But the Financial Services Authority [OJK] allowed us to open only one. We hope the OJK will permit us to open two this year, Aris said. (dra/hwa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 The government has chosen Toraja in South Sulawesi as the latest emerging tourism location to be developed. It has established a tourist destination development acceleration team to set up plans for Toraja. "The special team in this initial phase will focus on the identification of infrastructure development, especially construction of the airport in Toraja to provide accessibility," the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministrys Safri Burhanuddin said in an official statement. The projects include the renovation of the existing Pongtiku Airport in Toraja and the construction of the new Buntu Kuni Airport. The airport is seen as important as the trip from Makassar to Toraja can take around nine hours. (Read also: Locals, runners to promote Toraja through marathon) The decision was reached after the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry held a meeting with the South Sulawesi and Toraja administrations to follow up on Vice President Jusuf Kallas instruction to develop the tourist destination. Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry expert on tourism Maesita said the master plan for Torajas development would also be drafted with the World Bank. The government is currently drafting master plans for three emerging destinations, Borobudur in Central Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra and Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, funded by the World Bank. The World Bank is expected to disburse around US$300 million for infrastructure development in the tourist destinations. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 A recent survey found that the majority of its nationwide respondents were willing to accept payment in exchange for votes, arguing that it was inappropriate to refuse such a blessing. According to the study by Founding Father Housing (FFH), which saw the participation of 1,070 respondents in 34 provinces from Nov. 15 to Dec. 23, 61.8 percent of respondents said they would accept money in relation to the Feb. 15 simultaneous regional elections. Forty percent of respondents said they would not mind switching candidates for money. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8 2017 United States Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan has reassured students of the nation with the worlds largest Muslim population that the Muslim ban on review in the US will not affect the American value of religious tolerance. Donovan conveyed this message following a meeting with Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin in Jakarta on Tuesday. Donovan assured Lukman that the travel ban policy would not halt cooperation between the US and the Indonesian government, especially in relation to student scholarship grants. Indeed, Donovan said one of his ambitions was to increase the number of Indonesian students studying in the US to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, February 9, 2017 Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnimas forced leave to campaign for the election ends on Saturday and on Sunday he will inaugurate a park in Kalijodo, North Jakarta. Ahok, however, is expected to be suspended due to his status as a blasphemy defendant, but it is unclear as to when the Home Ministry will issue the suspension letter. Ill be back at City Hall on Sunday. Stakeholders involved in the development of the Kalijodo park want me to inaugurate it in person, Ahok said during a blusukan (impromptu visit) to Tegal Alur, West Jakarta, on Wednesday. Children play skateboards at the Kalijodo RPTRA in North Jakarta on Jan. 31.(JP/PJ Leo) Kalijodo used to be Jakarta's oldest and biggest red-light district. Ahok's administration forcefully cleared the area and allowed partnering private developer Sinar Mas Land to develop a semi-natural green park, playground, futsal court, hall and international-standard skate park. Human rights groups deplored the eviction, which was aimed at opening up 1.6 hectares of new green space, saying it violated the principles of involuntary resettlement according to the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that Indonesia ratified in 2005. (Read also: Ahoks wife wants better mother-child centers in Jakarta) The construction of the Kalijodo park was completed in late 2016. The election campaign cooling-off period runs from Feb. 12 to. 14. Jakartans will vote in the gubernatorial election on Feb. 15. (bbs) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba, Ruslan Sangadji and Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura/Palu/Semarang Thu, February 9 2017 Authorities have beefed up security in Papua one week before voters go to the polls to elect new leaders, with armed civilian groups expected to top the security agenda. Security authorities in Papua are on alert in four out of 11 regencies and municipalities set to hold elections on Feb. 15. They comprise Lanny Jaya, Nduga, Puncak Jaya and Tolikara. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, February 9 2017 Representatives from state-owned energy giant Pertamina will fly to Iran this week to finalize a proposal on the acquisition of shares of two major oil and gas fields in the energy-rich nation. Pertamina upstream director Syamsu Alam said the firm was hoping to submit its technical and financial proposal for the share acqusition of the Ab-Teymour and Mansouri fields before the deadline at the end of February in order to gain a head start against its competitors. A team from Pertamina is scheduled to meet with representatives of the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday. Although the meeting is only supposed to consist of a proposal finalization workshop, Syamsu said Pertamina was basically ready to submit its proposal. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, February 9 2017 Some tourist destinations have made a name for themselves long before the authorities granted them the special attention they deserve. For many foreigners, Tana Toraja rings a bell because of its widely distributed coffee as well as its cultural heritage sites exposed in international publications and at global tourism trade fairs. However, it was only recently that the government decided to designate Tana Toraja, the pride of South Sulawesi, as one of its emerging tourist destinations to be developed as a matter of priority, along with 10 others appointed earlier. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login By India Today Web Desk: Actor Kamal Haasan has been tweeting in mysterious language as to what's unravelling in Tamil Nadu, especially the battle between VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam. In an exclusive interview to India Today, Haasan explained the mystery behind his tweets and his real message. Don't breakTN in2 a country. I promise, All India will fight 4TN in a civil war of Ahinsa.None might die but the ignorant will come alive Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 We've wasted our freedom years gambling our fanchise on wrong& corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them Lets become incorruptable.Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 advertisement He spoke about the anger of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially the sense of betrayal and how they must come to the streets if their politicians don't get their act together. The actor said that O Panneerselvam is competent enough to lead Tamil Nadu and Sasikala, in a sense, should back off from confrontation. In his interview, Haasan agreed that Sasikala's proximity to Jayalalithaa is no reason for her to become the chief minister and she should back off and let the people decide. "Time of dice playing was done with in Mahabharat. We can't be playing dice and hawking our family wives and lives, in favour of some numbers [Sasikala's MLA support]. We don't trade. We are the people," said Haasan. On Sasikala imposing her will - "Even I cannot impose my will. I can speak what I think, but can't impose. I may be proven wrong, but I must speak. Tamil Nadu has not had the best of service from politicians for more than 60 years. The first 10 years were glorious, but Congress..Kamraj-ji, Raja-ji.. they all became complacent. Then came Dravidian parties. Those promises were also not kept," said Haasan. 10 statements from his interview 1. "I am being careful in what I am going to say so that it does not get embroiled with the violent forces that have now been in politics for quite some time. I am trying to be equi-poised and I am not going to show any of my anger which may lead to violence. That's why the mystery." 2. "My anger has to come to a point of exasperation after years. I remember these broken promises for more than 40 years now. I am not blaming one party. It's high time people (of Tamil Nadu) realise their responsibilities and come forward and say - 'You told us what democracy means, but we get to call the shots. We are not getting it. We don't need leaders. We are not sheep. We don't need to be led. We want people who work for the nation just like who we are'." 3. "I am not going to jump into the so-called bandwagon of Panneerselvam. The last conversation I had with him was during the jallikattu [row], where I told him he should go to the people. We'll have to realise how the state can be run." advertisement 4. On his political aspirations - "I stain my finger with a dot when I vote. That's how far am willing for the stain to spread, not anymore. I am political. I make my statement. I have political ideologies. I settle for what could be good for the people because they have the mandate to choose their leader. I am one of them. I don't want my way all the way." 5. On Sasikala being an interloper in corruption case: "They are all there...It's a conglomeration of corruption. Let's not pinppoint a lady." 6. "Right now, we have a choice. A CM has been sworn in and he has not shown any signs of damage or incompetency. He has been good so far. We don't know what's coming to us. And you (political leaders) can't keep dumping us with your indecisions.This is party's indecision." 7. "Mr Panneerselvam is not a friend or a foe. He's a tool to execute my democratic will. It doesn't matter, we'll find another tool much sharper than him, if need be. That's the direction we should take. In the name of equipoise, we can't get blunter and blunter tools so that we go back to Stone Age." advertisement 8. "I have reservations about both of them [Panneerselvam and Sasikala]. But right now this guy has proven his mettle and is OK, and we'll throw him out of his office if we feel he is incompetent again. That's the will of people." 9. On Sasikala imposing her will - "Even I cannot impose my will. I can speak what I think, but can't impose. I may be proven wrong, but I must speak. Tamil Nadu has not had the best of service from politicians for more than 60 years. The first 10 years were glorious, but Congress..Kamraj-ji, Raja-ji.. they all became complacent. Then came Dravidian parties. Those promises were also not kept." 10. Let's not get topical. O Panneerselvam or VK Sasikala. There's no throne. We have stomped on a crown before. They are making demigods of themselves. WATCH --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 8, 2017 13:38 2096 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bee529a 4 News raja-ampat,Thousand-Islands-regency,coral-reefs,tourism,tourists,diving,snorkeling,#tourism Free Diving and snorkeling contribute to coral reef damage according to research by the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB). The study, conducted at Panggang Island in the Thousand Islands regency between April and June 2013, found that diving and snorkeling in the area had destroyed 7.57 percent and 8.2 percent of coral reefs per year, respectively due to divers or snorkelers who kicked, stepped on, touched or took the coral. WWF Indonesia marine and fisheries campaign coordinator Dwi Aryo Tjiptohandono said that the main cause of damage to the reefs was the amateur divers' inability to float and irresponsible divers who took coral for souvenirs. (Read also: Guide to visiting Raja Ampat for first-timers) According to a recent report by kompas.com, vandalized coral reefs were also found in Raja Ampat in West Papua. An Australian who lives in the area, Doug Meikle, uploaded three photographs on Stay Raja Ampats Facebook account, which showed three areas of damage. Meikle said that this vandalism was not the only thing that was destroying Raja Ampats coral reefs. Live-aboard anchors were said to be responsible as well. [The live-aboard anchors] are even worse than the vandalism, he said. The head of the underwater tourism acceleration program, Cipto Aji Gunawan, said that the Tourism Ministry would revoke the license of dive operators who were involved in damaging the reefs. (jes/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Beth J. Harpaz (Associated Press) New York, United States Wed, February 8, 2017 In recent months Iran has been heating up as a popular off-the-beaten path destination for globe-trotting Americans. Now several tour companies have had to cancel trips there because of visa complications related to President Donald Trump's travel ban. After Trump ordered a ban on travelers from Iran and six other Muslim countries, Iran retaliated by saying it would no longer issue visas for Americans, though the country's foreign minister suggested there might be exceptions. Trump's travel ban is being challenged in U.S. courts, but uncertainty persists over travel in both directions. (Read also: College responds to Trump's order with refugee scholarship) Wilderness Travel canceled April and May trips to Iran "with great regret," said spokeswoman Barbara Banks. "The increase of interest in travel to Iran had been a wonderful development; cultural exchange and understanding is the foundation for a peaceful world." The company had recently added three Iran itineraries, including one by train, after a successful 2016 trip. Just two weeks ago, smarTours' co-CEO Greg Geronemus announced that several Iran trips sold out within 48 hours. "We believe Iran is the new Cuba," he said at the time. But last week, smarTours canceled a July trip to Iran because of visa uncertainties. SmarTours asked travelers to rebook on Iran departures later this year. "It will take a few months for this back and forth to resolve itself, but we are encouraged by the legal challenges and the political opposition within the United States to the travel ban," Geronemus said. Iran says it gets 5 million tourists annually, mostly from neighboring countries like Iraq. Americans represent far less than 1 percent of Iran's tourists. But it's striking that Americans want to visit Iran at all given the fraught history of U.S.-Iran relations, which include CIA support for a coup in Iran in 1953, the taking of 52 American hostages in Iran in 1979 and President George W. Bush calling Iran part of an "axis of evil." (Read also: Google said to fund legal brief against Trump immigration order) The U.S. Tour Operators Association listed Iran among 2017's top 10 emerging destinations along with Myanmar and Cuba. Iran itineraries often include luxury train travel, the Caspian Sea, bazaars, castles, museums, mosques and other religious sites ranging from Zoroastrian to Sufi. Janet Moore, spokeswoman for tour company Distant Horizons, said interest in Iran is so strong that people are signing up "even though we are saying we can't guarantee that we can get visas." She believes Americans who do go will be welcomed because she is "not hearing anti-American rhetoric on the streets ... the (Iranians) are seeing all the messages of support which they can easily access and hear on TV and online." Several companies, including Explore and Cox & King, are proceeding with trips because clients include travelers from around the world, but they're recommending U.S. passport holders rebook on other trips. Intrepid Travel, which also serves travelers from around the world, ran 30 departures to Iran last year, has 40 scheduled this year and may add 20 more because of demand. "We have yet to confirm from our ground operators in Iran whether the visa ban is actually in place for U.S. travelers, but our team has been preparing for this potential result," Intrepid director Leigh Barnes said. Some companies are in a wait-and-see mode, like Mountain Travel Sobek, which has been offering trips to Iran for four years. Others are hoping for the best. Steve Kutay of Iran Luxury Travel thinks Iran will accept new visa requests and honor applications in the pipeline for his company's April and May trips. "I have never been in any country, and I have been to over 80, where Americans are more popular or welcome than in Iran," he said. (Read also: US envoy reaffirms religious tolerance amid Trump ban) Journeys International is also going forward with trips, said spokeswoman Sally Grimes-Chesak. The company started an Iran program in 2016 that proved so popular a women-only trip was added for 2017. That filled up so fast they added a second women's trip. This is not the first time Iran has stopped authorizing visas, so the disruptions are not unprecedented. Depending on the tour company, Americans who can't get visas will get refunds or credit for other trips. G Adventures has eight Americans booked on Iran departures in March and April but spokeswoman Kim McCabe said future visa approval "remains highly uncertain" despite increased interest. "We see Iran as becoming an 'it' destination for trend-setting travelers, thanks in part to British Airways launching direct flights to Tehran late last year," she said. "Increased investment in tourism infrastructure is also making it easier to plan and sell travel to Iran, while European hospitality brands are making plans to open new hotels." Americans contemplating travel to Iran should also consider the U.S. State Department warning, which notes that Iranian authorities have sometimes detained and imprisoned U.S. citizens, particularly Iranian-Americans. Students in the Law Academy had gone on strike against the misbehavior of Principal Lekshmi Nair, demanding her removal from the post. By Jeemon Jacob: The 29-day long student strike in Kerala Law Academy was called off after Education Minister C Raveendranath assured the student leaders that Principal Dr Lekshmi Nair would be removed from the post and faculty for five years. Representatives of ABVP, KSU and AISF attended the discussions on Wednesday after which the decision was taken. Earlier, the SFI backed out from the strike with a secret agreement with the management. advertisement Developments so far: 1. Students in the Law Academy had gone on strike against the misbehavior of the principal demanding her removal from the post. Nair, who is also a celebrity chef took an adamant stand that she would not step down from the post. 2. BJP's former state president V Muralidharan and local Congress legislator K Muraleedharan also joined the hunger strike giving a political twist to the student protest. 3. Later, the CPI also joined the protest and criticised the ruling CPI(M) for supporting the management and the principal closely linked to the party. 4. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came under pressure after the protest turned violent and students threatened to commit suicide. 5. Meanwhile, 66-year-old Abdul Jabbar, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, who visited the protest venue on Tuesday died of a cardiac arrest after which tension rose further in the campus. Also read: BJP scores over CPI(M) in Law academy student strike in Kerala 6. Governor P Sathasivam also interfered and directed the government to go for an early settlement with the students. 7. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala criticised the government for letting the strike go on for almost a month and not coming out with any solution. 8. "Both the chief minister and the education minister behaved in the most irresponsible way in dealing with the student strike. They were not ready to negotiate with students. This is a warning to the government," Chennithala told India Today. 9. The student strike has damaged the image of Pinarayi government and the CPI(M) in the state, which helped the BJP to get extra political mileage. Also read: Vigilance court rejects plea against Kerala chief secretary S M Vijayanand --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Chandigarh, Feb 8 (PTI) As the ongoing Jat stir entered its 11th day today, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed hope that it will be over soon. He also mentioned that besides the committee comprising senior bureaucrats, constituted by his government to engage in talks with Jats, they (the chief minister or any other minister) too can take part in talks with the agitators. advertisement Asked if he was hopeful that the ongoing stir would end in another 3-4 days, Khattar replied, "I am hopeful." He mentioned that the Haryana government yesterday formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary DS Dhesi, to consider the demands and resolve the problems of those agitating for reservation, among other issues, in the state. Asked why the committee only had bureaucrats and no senior minister was coming forward for talks with Jats, Khattar said, "It is not like that. Many a times, they (bureaucrats) are part of such talks. After they meet, we too will not hesitate to meet them (the protesters)." He added that his government was in favour of resolving peoples problems "as per the provisions of the Constitution". Replying to a query, Khattar, without naming anyone, hit out at those who were "trying to politicise the fresh round of the Jat protest". "The political atmosphere right now is heated up. That is why all of this is going on. Political parties should not take part in this (the Jat stir) the way they are doing it," he said. The main opposition party in Haryana, the INLD, has openly come out in support of the agitating Jats and asked the government to meet their demands. Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala has thrown his weight behind the protesters and has even addressed their gatherings. During the fresh round of the agitation, the protesters have been staging dharnas at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements. The call for the fresh stir was given by certain Jat outfits, especially those owing allegiance to the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti headed by Yashpal Malik. At some places, the khap panchayats or caste councils are also backing the dharnas. Today, certain students groups came out in support of the stir and took out a motorcycle rally in Rohtak to show solidarity with the agitators. DGP KP Singh said the stir was going on peacefully. "The situation is peaceful," he told PTI here. Malik has maintained that Jats were willing to wait for reservation since the matter was sub-judice, but they wanted all other demands to be accepted immediately. (MORE) PTI SUN RC --- ENDS --- advertisement A revolutionary mood has taken hold of the world in the last few months and its not all about US President Donald Trump. From the price of chicken to human rights, people have been making their voices heard at demonstrations across the globe. Heres what you need to know. 1. Romania Citizens against the decriminalisation of official misconduct (Vadim Ghirda/AP) Romanians have taken to the streets in cities and towns across the country in the biggest protest since dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was deposed in 1989. Citizens of the EU state were protesting against an emergency decree passed by the new government which, among other things, decriminalised forms of official corruption if the funds involved were less than 38,000. Critics of the decree say it would have protected a number of public figures and politicians from being prosecuted. On Sunday, following five days of protests, the government repealed the decree but protesters are still in the streets demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu and members of his PSD party. 2. France Justice for Theo ( Milos Krivokapic/AP) A black youth worker was allegedly raped with a baton and treated violently by four police officers during an arrest in Paris, which required the 22-year-old to have emergency surgery. One officer was charged with rape and the other three with assault. All four have been suspended from their roles. Yesterday, protesters gathered in Aulnay-sou-Bois with signs reading Justice pour Theo. This isnt the first time French police have been accused of being overly violent when dealing with minority communities, so the demonstration has gained traction. 3. Indonesia Refugees against detention (Tatan Syuflana/AP) Refugees living in Indonesia from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia gathered outside the UN High Commission for Refugees yesterday in protest against the slow pace of the UN resettlement programme. Protesters claimed they were living in limbo, neither able to work or settle, instead waiting years for resettlement to a third country. According to the UNHCR, just under 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers now live in Indonesia, with 4,273 currently in detention. 4. Greece Refugees against camp conditions (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) This protest is an ongoing one. Five migrants have died in Greek refugee camps this winter in cramped, cold conditions. Reports say three died last week after inhaling fumes from a heater. Migrants and their Greek supporters met outside the Migration Ministry in Athens to demand the government reopen borders to let those in need into the country. The protest came as EU leaders at a summit in Malta agreed a plan to stop migrants making the dangerous crossing from Libya. 5. Mexico Farmers against gas price hikes (Eduardo Verdugo/AP) Mexican agricultural workers descended on Mexico City last week in protest at the rising price of petrol after the government announced it would no longer control the cost of fuel. The changes to pricing are likely to hit farmers and the rural community hardest. Since last week demonstrations have spread to other states in the country, with people blocking access to petrol stations and government buildings. 6. Greece Farmers against income cuts (Giannis Papanikos/AP) Its not just Mexico where farmers are unhappy. Greek farmers blocked roads with tractors near the border with Macedonia last week for four days in rejection of the income cuts implemented to keep the countrys bailout creditors happy. 7. South Africa poultry workers against EU chicken (Themba Hadebe/AP) South African chicken producers are slashing thousands of jobs, saying cheap imports of chicken from the EU are hurting their industry. Last week protesters from the sector demonstrated outside the EU headquarters in Pretoria, asking the government to tax chicken imports from the EU. Following the successful launch of his debut album Yesterday's Gone last month, Loyle Carner kicks off his first tour of the UK and Europe with a bang. I can't say I could name another act with Loyle Carner's stage presence. He's animated and charismatic as a performer, engaging with the audience, while still managing to be humble and genuinely grateful. He carries the hour long set almost singlehandedly, performing with just a backing track controlled by his best friend and producer Rebel Kleff, who sits at the side throughout. Playing on a bare stage with just the cover of Yesterdays Gone projected behind him, he moves about the stage with so much energy its impossible not to be captivated. In between songs Carner is funny and noticeably cheeky, bantering with the audience. At one point he asks us if it's okay if he takes a break to tie his shoelace. In the middle of the set Carner does 'BFG' and 'Tierney Terrace' back to back without a break in between. Neither track is on his debut album, but not because they are of a lesser standard. They're two of his earliest singles, and are two really powerful pieces about the tragic loss of his dad. At the end of 'No CD', an undeniable banger, Carner stops and asks the audience do you mind if I tell you a story now? He speaks frankly about the sudden death of his dad in 2014, explaining what some fans already know that the Cantona Manchester United shirt he's wearing was his. Despite being a life-long Liverpool fan, Carner takes the shirt everywhere he goes and on stage at every performance in his dad's memory. His dad was a talented musician and after his death, Carner says, his mum found an old album he had recorded, and asked if he wanted to listen to it. Although at first it was too difficult, after a few months he returned to it, and sampled two of its stand-out tracks on his own album's penultimate track, 'Sun of Jean'. At this point the crowd is hanging on Carner's every word, eagerly waiting for him to launch into his emotional closing track, but one look at Rebel Kleff informs him that there are technical difficulties. After all that, he laughs. Will I do a poem then, while we wait? And just like that he goes into a spoken word piece, completely off the cuff, but he makes it seem like it was always part of the set list. It's not anything off Yesterday's Gone, but new to the audience, and its yet another chance for Carner to display how naturally he performs. At last he makes it to his final song, and at the end leaves the stage, leaving a recording of his mum reading a poem about him playing as the lights come up. True to form for any Scottish gig the crowd, who expect an encore, begin chanting one more, one more, one more fucking tune. A cheer begins at the front and for a second it seems like he might be coming back. But it's not him the cheer is for his mum, who has just appeared on the balcony. She looks overwhelmed, and it's easy to understand why. This touching tribute is the most fitting ending for a gig based on such sentimentality, and seems to please even the disappointed fans who had been hoping for a reappearance from the star himself. Editor of right wing publication Breitbart Milo Yiannopoulos has opened up a college scholarship exclusively for white men. The Privilege Grant Known as, the scholarship's website states that this funding is for those who fall into that group and want to pursue higher education in the USA. The website explains: American college campuses have changed. Research now suggests that low-income Caucasian males are the most in need of help. Womens advantage in college graduation is evident at all socioeconomic levels and for most racial and ethnic groups. Milo is a white man. Therefore, the concept of him extending a helping hand to his own ethnic group is understandable enough. Heres the thing though; the matter at hand is more complicated and dark. Yiannopoulos has twisted the facts to suit his own agenda of perpetuating the white privilege that he's benefited from his entire life. How do we know that, with this scholarship, the 33-year-old doesn't mean to reinforce the far right ideologies upon which his career is founded - racism and ultraconservatism? Low-income Caucasian males are here being declared the most in need of help - something that is highly questionable. They might genuinely be in need, somewhere along the line, but many would argue that declaring them the most in need negates the very real struggles of ethnic minorities in the USA. It is neither fair or progressive to simply ignore the longstanding racial disparities across educational attainment in the USA, as if they dont exist. On the Privilege Grants website, the grant is further justified with the necessity to help white men to be "on equal footing with their female, queer and ethnic minority classmates. As such, it is implied that white men arent the most enabled group in American society: this can only be described as delusional. more likely to be unemployed twice as likely to be unemployed On the whole, white men fare quite well within the US educational system, which is built upon lack of equal opportunity - in that groups favour, rather than against. After university, black & Hispanic graduates arethan their white counterparts, and they earn less money on average. This is rather similar to the situation in the UK, where ethnic minority graduates arethan their white counterparts. According to the last US census, more than one-third of white students had a bachelors degree or higher (36%). Thats almost almost double the amount of black students (22%) and more than twice the amount of Hispanics (15%). However there is indeed a marginal disparity between white female and male students a meagre 0.4%. True; white students are not the highest academically attaining group in America - Asian students are. However white students come a close second and their lack of attainment is generally not for a lack of opportunity and access. Pull the other one. Black women become most educated group in US That said, there are many, like Milo, who deflect from reality with this self-absorbed woe is me stance. We also have governmental bodies attempting to sweep the matter under the carpet and trusted publications running with inaccurate headlines such as . Again - dont believe the hype. It's a hype that only serves to lull the white masses into the misconception that racial inequality isnt alive and well in all corners of society, not least of all, within the educational system. And so, the phrase white tears was born of this facade; defined as the result of bigoted Caucasians complaint against a non-existential racial injustice that they supposedly bear the brunt of. It encompasses the performative struggle to acknowledge white privilege. White tears are dangerous though, and Milos spouting of false information is just as hazardous, for it threatens the erasure of racial awareness, justice and socioeconomic liberation for all. online abuse of actress Leslie Jones Still - can we expect better from Yiannopoulos, the chap who was banned from twitter for life for his cold, relentless and unremorseful participation in the? You know, that time he likened her to a black minstrel. Did we anticipate more from the fellow who canned the Black Lives Matters movement as fact-free musings about police officers and suggested that they instead organise aerobics classes to tackle the black communitys obesity pandemic? anti-semitic Are we surprised about the Privilege Fund, coming from a self-professed internet troll? Anhalf Jewish man? anti-gay rights person Despite the fact that Yiannopolou is gay, youd be far pushed to find a more My point is that this geezer is a living, breathing oxymoron. One who aligns himself with populist, divisive ideologies; calls Donald Trump Daddy for kicks and suffers with a generally reactionary disposition. Unstable to say the least, dear. As Milo squawks the blues about the plight of white men in America, I'll be putting my headphones on. More and more I am reminded of why we, as a collective society, have made very little racial progress over the last half a century. We need to get real and translate our ongoing, superficial conversations about the racism into real action and implementation of equal opportunity policies. One of the reasons less black and Hispanic students go to university is lack of financial means. Perhaps a Privilege Fund for black students to get them on an equal footing with their white counterparts. In the meantime, I propose that you join me in tuning out the bollocks from the likes of Milo. Yeah. Just as he casually overlooks what he sees fit, let's ignore the hell out of him until he either comes to his senses or disappears into deserved irrelevance. A pet owner has been jailed after feeding their pet hamster marijuana leaves and Tizer laced with LSD. Pictured: not actual hamster Footage released by the RSPCA shows Nchinumya Ntembe, 22, feeding the hamster (called Mr Chow) the drugs whilst others laugh and debate whether this could be the end for Mr Chow. Police found the footage after visiting the property, in Heysham, Lancashire, with a warrant. Ntembe, from Lancaster, was sentenced to four months in jail at the citys magistrates court on Monday after admitting to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act. He was also barred from keeping animals for eight years after three dogs were found suffering at the property. Mr Chow has now been re-homed. 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South Africa, which confronted its own apartheid-era crimes through such a body, had set up a The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which is a court-like restorative justice body assembled after the abolition of apartheid in 1994. advertisement In 2015, Samaraweera had said that the government will set up a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission to look into atrocities during its civil war. However, yesterday, while talking about a possible mechanism to deliver justice to victims of the conflict, Samaraweera said the mechanism would not be a Truth Commission modeled after South African example. "We owe it to our people to come up with a credible mechanism," Samaraweera said while speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association. Samaraweera also said that the government will seek more time at the next UN Human Rights Commission, starting February 27 in Geneva. According to the UN figures, up to 40,000 civilians were killed by the security forces during Rajapaksas regime that brought an end to nearly three-decades long civil war in Sri Lanka with the defeat of LTTE in 2009. Talking about the new constitution, Samaraweera said the process is moving forward despite its seemingly stalled state currently. A parliamentary debate on the six sub-committee report which should have happened last month did not take place apparently due to differences within the ruling coalition. "We are confident we can obtain two thirds majority required in parliament (to adopt the draft constitution). With the right sort of campaign we are confident that we will win the referendum also," Samaraweera said. The government seems to face stiff resistance from the former President Mahinda Rajapaksas Sinhala nationalist majority backers who have vowed to oppose the new constitution. They claim the new constitution would be a betrayal of the government forces victory over the LTTE when they ended their three-decade-long separatist campaign in 2009. Samaraweera said Sri Lanka needs to come to terms with its tragic past of ethnic conflicts. PTI CORR UZM ASK AKJ UZM --- ENDS --- The man Identified as Suraj Kanse last month announced that he had cracked UPSC and was posted with the Intelligence Bureau as Collector. By Divyesh Singh: The Ghatkopar police in Mumbai on Wednesday arrested a twenty four year old man who had cheated and duped several people claiming that he was an IAS officer presently posted as Collector with the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Other than the common man and local leaders, the accused was also felicitated by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP MP Poonam Mahajan on being selected for civil services. advertisement The man Identified as Suraj Kanse last month announced that he had cracked UPSC and was posted with the Intelligence Bureau as Collector. Kanse had clicked pictures with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP MP Poonam Mahajan which he had put up on his facebook page claiming that as part of his job he met several top leaders. Some local leaders had taken Kanse to Thackeray and Mahajan and introduced him as an officer from the Intelligence Bureau who had recently cleared UPSC. As people started believing him, Kanse started borrowing large amounts of money from few of his aquaintances and threw lavish parties for his friends. This led to suspicion and the Ghatkopar police started probing Kanse's claims. There were a large number of local leaders and aspirants for BMC elections who were queing at his residence to felicitate him for his feat. "Acting on a tip off that a man residing in our locality had been selected in UPSC and he claimed to be attached with the IB. He had been felicitated by senior political leaders also for being selected in UPSC" said Kantilal Kothimbire, Sr PI from Ghatkopar police. He added "We picked up Kanse and during initial questioning he revealed about how he had made false claims about being an IAS officer. He also revealed that he had recently borrowed Rs 11 lakhs from his gymnasium owner to throw a party where he invited over 200 guests". Kanse was placed under arrest on charges of cheating and impersonating a public servant will be produced in court on Thursday. During interrogation, Kanse also revealed that he had cheated a cab driver claiming that he would repay him if he invested money in his studies and preparations for the civil services. Police suspect that Kanse would have cheated several others claiming to be an IAS officer. --- ENDS --- A statement issued by UNC after an emergency meeting of its presidential council stated that the "code of conduct cannot limit the Union of India nor the Governor of the State of Manipur from intervening and fulfilling their constitutional obligation to safeguard and protect land of the tribal as enshrined in the constitution." By Indrajit Kundu: There are no signs of an end to the impasse in Manipur with the United Naga Council (UNC) categorically refusing to lift the three month long economic blockade of Imphal valley. With the state scheduled to go for polls in the first week of March, the centre has been trying to broker a peace deal between the UNC and the Congress government in the state. However, on Tuesday the UNC unilaterally announced that it will not lift the blockade and continue its agitation against the Manipur government. advertisement A statement issued by UNC after an emergency meeting of its presidential council stated that the "code of conduct cannot limit the Union of India nor the Governor of the State of Manipur from intervening and fulfilling their constitutional obligation to safeguard and protect land of the tribal as enshrined in the constitution." Reiterating its rejection of the Manipur government's decision to create seven new districts in the Naga dominated hill areas, the UNC said it will continue to fight against the "insidious design" to "grab tribal land on the pretext of administrative convenience" till the state government withdrew its decision. Remember the Nagas have been opposed to the Ibobi Singh led Congress government's decision to form seven new districts in the state. Eversince the decision on December 8, Manipur has been simmering for months over a tussle between the Naga-dominated hill districts and the Imphal valley, mostly comprising Meiteis - the two distinct geographical and ethnic divisions in the state. The UNC has accused the state government of covertly adding portions of tribal land traditionally held by the Nagas to carve out the new districts. Reaffirming their position, the UNC statement on Tuesday stated that the "Nagas would reject and fight against any other moves that would affect our land and identity". Meanwhile, the Manipur government has accuse dthe UNC of not respecting the agreement signed by both parties during the first tripartie meeting held on February 3. Responding to the UNC decision, the Manipur government once again made a fresh appeal to the UNC to "reconsider their decision and withdraw the economic blockade immediately" keeping in view the sufferings of the people living in both valley and hills. The next tripartite talk for taking up the core issue was then scheduled for the March 25, 2017. ALSO READ:Ahead of polls, Centre close to cracking deal between Nagas, Manipur govt to end economic blockade --- ENDS --- Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address, Modi said in Hindi, "So many scams and yet his career is spotless. Only Doctor sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of taking a shower with a raincoat on." By India Today Web Desk: Amid uproar and protests, Rajya Sabha MPs from the Congress walked out of the House after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a direct attack on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the latter's remarks on demonetisation in Parliament's last session. Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address, Modi said in Hindi, "So many scams and yet his career is spotless. Only Doctor sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of taking a shower with a raincoat on." advertisement Modi's remarks came in the context of major corruption headlines that marked the last few years of Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. Modi was also responding to Singh's "monumental mismanagement" speech on demonetisation in the Winter session of Parliament, the speech that initiated the Opposition's arguments in Parliament. "For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singh ji had a lot of influence on country's economic policies. No other economist in the country had such a powerful hold over India's economy for almost half of India's post-independence years," he said. As Modi continued with his tirade, an angry Congress walked out of Rajya Sabha. "If they breach decorum, they should have the courage to listen to the response as well," Modi said. "I do not want to speak," Manmohan Singh said when reporters asked him about Modi's remarks on him in Rajya Sabha. CONGRESS FURIOUS Outside Parliament, the Congress MPs were furious. "We walked out in protest. Such harsh and ugly comments are not acceptable. No Prime Minister in past has made such comments about a former PM. It is unbecoming of a PM to use such language for a former PM," former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. "Look at his arrogance. He chooses to speak when everyone else is done and then makes unsubstantiated allegations," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said. "I don't have words to express my criticism of those remarks ," Sonia Gandhi's political advisor Ahmed Patel said. ALSO READ:Demonetisation exposed horizontal divide between politicians, people: PM Modi in Parliament WATCH --- ENDS --- A faction of the protesting Jat community has agreed to dialogue as long as talks are not held in Chandigarh or New Delhi. By Manjeet Sehgal: The Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday warned protesters of strict action in case they were found guilty of violence. Speaking to media in Chandigarh, Khattar said the government has allowed the community to hold peaceful protests as it was their democratic right. "We have no objection till the protests are peaceful. Strict action will be taken if they cross the limit and try to disturb peace in terms of law," Khattar said. advertisement Khattar parried question on Jat leader Yashpal Malik who is organising Jat protests in 19 districts. He is facing a sedition case for delivering a provocative speech in May 2016. Accused of going slow against the rioters last year, the Khattar government also attracted criticism this year as it allowed the Jat leader, who is already facing serious cases, to organise and lead the protests in the state.'OPPOSITION POLITICISING ISSUE'Accusing opposition parties of politicising the Jat protests, Khattar said it may have been in the interest of the state had the opposition parties risen above the petty politics. "The political scenario has become critical as the opposition parties are trying to politicise the issue. They are responsible for this and should have avoided participating in the protests," Manohar Lal Khattar said. Also read: Jat quota protests: Haryana on high alert, Section 144 imposed in sensitive districts COMMITTEE FORMED TO LISTEN TO DEMANDS The Chief Minister said that the state government has formed a five member committee to listen to the protesters and their leaders. He hoped that the Jat leaders will come forward to solve the issues peacefully. Meanwhile, Yashpal Malik, the president of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS), on Wednesday offered to hold a conditional dialogue and refused state government officials in Chandigarh. "We are ready for the talks but the dialogue will not take place in Chandigarh or Delhi. The venue should be a place in and around Rohtak. We will announce our decision at the protesting venue (Jasia) if the talk is fruitful," Malik said. Also read: Haryana government gears up as Jats threaten to intensify stir --- ENDS --- Phuket police set to formally charge Aussie jet-ski driver PHUKET: Thomas Keating, the 22-year-old Australian whose rented jet-ski fatally crashed into that of his girlfriend Emily Collie, 20, will be called to Karon Police Station tomorrow (Feb 9) to be formally charged with reckless driving causing death. accidentsdeathpolicemarinetransport By Yutthawat Lekmak Wednesday 8 February 2017, 04:28PM The two jet-skis involved in Sunday's incident. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Mr Keating will be required to present himself at Karon Police Station at 10am tomorrow (Feb 9) to be formally charged, Karon Police Chief Col Sanya Thongsawad told The Phuket News this morning (Feb 8). Mr Keating and Ms Collie were riding jet-skis near Kata Beach at 4:45pm on Sunday when they collided in the water at high speed, leaving Ms Collie with severe injuries to her neck and shoulders. (See story here.) Mr Keating said strong sunlight reflected off the sea and made it impossible to see the jet-ski of Ms Collie, leading to the crash. (See story here.) We expect the case to take about a month to be heard in court, Col Sanya said. Mr Keating will not be permitted go home in that time, he added. He will not be allowed to leave Thailand while the case is being heard as is standard procedure, his name will be added to the Immigration list to prevent him from leaving the country while the case is in court, Col Sanya said. However, Col Sanya added that he expected Mr Keating to be handed down no more than a two-year suspended sentence. The Phuket News contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) in Australia to confirm whether the Australian Government was aware that Mr Keating is to be prevented from leaving Thailand while the case is heard in court. The Phuket News has yet to receive confirmation that is so. Col Sanya said the Keating and Collie families had met in Phuket in the aftermath of Ms Collies death. The two families know each other very well. The Keating family said they were so sorry for what happened, and Ms Collies family said they know Mr Keating well and that no one wanted this to happen, Col Sanya said. Ms Collies family said they understood that it was just an accident. They do not believe there was any intent on causing harm, or the death, of Ms Collie, and they also expressed their sympathies to Mr Keating for how he must feel, he added. Col Sanya explained police had no choice in pressing the reckless driving charge. By law in Thailand, when an incident results in the death of a person, police are required to formally press a charge, he said. Ms Collies family is expected to take her body back home to Australia this weekend, Col Sanya added. We are not exactly sure when as this depends on staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital completing procedural requirements, he said. Tigerair Australia axes Bali flights BALI: Tigerair Australia has scrapped all flights to the resort island of Bali, the airline announced last Friday (Jan 3), after failing to obtain regulatory approval from Indonesian authorities. tourism By AFP Wednesday 8 February 2017, 10:27AM Tigerair Australia has scrapped all flights to the resort island of Bali. Photo: AFP Hundreds of tourists were stranded in Bali last month when the carriers flights were grounded temporarily after the airline allegedly broke Indonesian regulations. We have been advised by Indonesian authorities that in order to continue operating our flights to Bali, we would have to transfer to a new operating model that would take at least six months to implement, Tigerair chief executive Rob Sharp said. That would compromise our ability to offer low-cost airfares to Australians, the statement said. Providing a reliable, low-cost service is critical for Tigerair Australia and our customers, and therefore our only option is to withdraw from flying to Bali altogether. The Indonesian transport ministry said the airline lacked the correct permit to sell tickets for commercial flights to Indonesia. The airline was asked last month to meet requirements outlined in an aviation agreement between Indonesia and Australia, but was unable to do so, Agoes Soebagio, the ministrys director general of civil aviation, told AFP. Our policy is to follow the regulations, he said, adding that passengers should not be worried as many other low-cost airlines fly between Bali and Australia. Sharp said it was working with Virgin Australia, Tigerairs parent company, to help passengers in Bali return to Australia. Customers booked to travel to the island would be offered refunds. Six flights were affected by the cancellations last Friday, the budget airline added. Bali, a pocket of Hindu culture in Muslim-majority Indonesia, attracts millions of foreign tourists every year to its palm-fringed beaches. However travel disruptions are common. Bali airport was forced to close several times last year when clouds of ash billowed from erupting volcanoes. On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO By Press Trust of India: Islamabad, Feb 8 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs daughter Maryam Nawaz today dismissed as "ridiculous" reports that her week-long UK visit was linked to Panama Papers leaks case, a major legal battle that could alter the premier and his familys political future. Maryams sudden departure from the country has fuelled speculation that the visit may be related to the Panama Papers leaks case being heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, the Dawn reported. advertisement However, Maryam, who arrived in London today, clarified on Twitter that she came to the UK to meet her son. "In UK to see my son. Will InshaAllah be back in a week or so. The spin being given to my benign visit by a section of media is ridiculous," she tweeted. Last month, the German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung ? the original source of the Panama Papers leaks ? released documents supposedly linking Maryam to Minerva Financial Services Ltd, the company that owns the Park Lane flats in London. The family of Prime Minister Sharif has been named in the Panama Papers, one of the biggest leaks in history. The leak, comprising 11.5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, shows how some of the worlds most powerful people have secreted away their money in offshore jurisdictions. Among those named are three of Sharifs four children ? Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor; Hasan and Hussain, with the records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies administrated by the firm. Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing. The hearing in the case is expected to resume on February 13 after it was postponed due to the ill-health of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed. PTI SUA AKJ SUA --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Congress was today livid at Prime Minister Narendra Modis stinging attack on his predecessor Manmohan Singh that despite so many incidents of corruption no taint had stuck to him. Hitting back at Singh, who had called demonetisation an "organised loot" and "legalised plunder", Modi said," He (Manmohan) had perfected the art of bathing under a shower with raincoat on" and so there was no blot on him despite all the scams that occurred during his tenure. advertisement This provoked an angry reaction from Congress members who staged a walkout in the midst of the reply by the Prime Minister to a debate on Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address in the Rajya Sabha. Members of Left, Trinamool Congress and JD(U) also staged a walkout after the reply, complaining that they were unhappy with Modis statement and wanted to ask questions which were disallowed. Mounting a scathing attack on Modi for his comments, Congress said those were in "extremely poor" taste and "unbecoming of a Prime Minister". The party also demanded an apology from the Prime Minister in the House. The Congress also dubbed Modi as "arrogant" and charged him with bringing the debate to "the lowest level". "Within minutes of his speech, he attacked the former Prime Minister in the most unacceptable manner. He said Manmohan Singh occupied various positions and one must learn from him how to take a shower wearing a rain coat. "It was in extremely poor taste. It is unbecoming of a Prime Minister to use such language against a former PM. We are very very disappointed and angry (with) what the Prime Minister said. We expressed our protest by walking out (from the House)," senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said. "This is an insult of the House...we have never seen such arrogance. The Prime Minister should think that there is a stature to the post he holds and he does not know what words should be used...We will not tolerate this. We condemn the Prime Ministers remarks. He should apologise to the House for this," he said. Eearlier, targeting Manmohan Singh, Modi said,"in this country, perhaps there will be hardly anyone from the economic field who has had dominance on the countrys financial affairs for half of the countrys 70 years of independence. Out of 70 years, for 30-35 years, he has been directly associated with financial decisions. "So many scams occurred... We politicians have a lot to learn from Dr Sahab. So much happened, there is not a single blot on him. Dr Sahab is the only person who knows the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on." As Congress members created uproar and staged a walkout, an angry Modi said, "If you cross the limits of decorum, then you should have courage to listen to the response. We have the capacity to pay in the same coin. We do so within the limits of decorum and boundaries of the Constitution. They (Congress) dont want to accept the defeat in any form. How long will it continue?? He went on to add, "If the person who held such a high post, used the words "loot" and "plunder" in the House, they (Congress) also should have thought 50 times (before using those words)." advertisement Modi also came in for sharp criticism from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who said," When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor-years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament &the nation. "He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Todays events were saddening and frankly, they were shameful," Gandhi tweeted. PTI LUX RSN MJH NKS SKC ADS TDS SMN SK SK --- ENDS --- How many people have already voted absentee in South Dakota ahead of Election Day? elections A perturbed Rio reiterated, "I had warned the government on November 19, 2016 and had told them not to go ahead. I had told them to have dialogue with women and civil society and had cautioned them. The special provisions should not be compromised but the government of the day want to implement the Article 243 T which is a general law for the whole country which talks about the reservation of ST and SC along with women reservation." "I feel that to protect the special provision should be priority of the government and not the general law of the country. So when they took a wrong step, they stubbornly went against the wishes of the people and are now facing a mass movement.." The government machinery is not being allowed to operate with office locked up by protestors. Educational institutions have been exempted due to examinations next month. Rio's role in Parliament was questioned by Zeliang who had said that Rio should clarify his stand on the issue and speak up for people of Nagaland in Parliament. Neiphiu Rio who is also the former Chief Minister of Nagaland, serving the state for more than a decade said, "This is not a parliament issue and the parliament will resume again this week. So the question of not presenting the case does not arise. This is not a new issue and was there when I was the Chief Minister and the High Court gave us direction to implement women reservation in the municipal elections process." "We tried to follow it because we did not want to face the contempt of court but the civil society went against it. We did try in Mokokchung but there was unrest and we had to opt out." Rio had moved on from state politics to Centre as an MP in 2014 general elections has been on loggerheads with the state leadership including TR Zeliang since he became an MP. Highlighting his handling of the issue Rio explained that he was not in favour of compromising of the provisions of Article 371 A which gives powers to Nagaland Assembly to enact laws for the state and not follow the Central or rules laid by any other government. He said, "I am not proposing women reservation,even the civil society is not against women but they are going against the reservation through the Act of Parliament. The civil society is trying to defend the customs of the Nagas and the government has to listen that is why we passed a resolution according to the recommendation of the select committee in 2008 but the present government revoked that resolution and passed another one against the wishes and warning of the civil society on November 24, 2016 that is why it was boomerang." Four suspected cow smugglers entered the National Security Guard camp at Manesar, fired several rounds at security personnel and also broke through two police checkpoints at Tauru and Kherki Daula. By Ajay Kumar: Four suspected cow smugglers entered the National Security Guard (NSG) camp at Manesar on Monday night and fired several rounds at security personnel on the premises. They also broke through two police checkpoints at Tauru and Kherki Daula before entering the camp through the main gate. "As soon as the smugglers broke through the barricades, we alerted NSG. They fired more than three rounds at NSG commandos deployed at the gate. The commandos also fired in retaliation and the attackers escaped into the Aravallis by jumping over the wall," said a police officer. advertisement The incident took place on Monday night around 8 pm when the four smugglers, who are yet to be identified, hit a police barricade on Tauru-Navrangpur road under Kherki Daula police station. They were driving a Tata 407. ALSO READ | NSG jawan shoots at cattle smugglers in Manesar campus Police tried to stop them, but they did not stop, following which cops gave a chase. When they reached Manesar around 9 pm, they left the vehicle in a nearby field and scaled the wall of the NSG compound. The smugglers, realising that they had entered a prohibited zone, started firing after NSG commandos raised an alarm. With more NSG commandos joining the gunfight, they sensed trouble and escaped in the dense Aravalli forests. Police suspect that they belong to the infamous cattle smuggling ring of Mewat. They have seized one cow in the Tata 407. Police registered two cases at Kherki Daula and Manesar police stations. They were booked for wrongful entry and attack on NSG commandos. "We have filed two separate FIRs in the case - one in Kherki Daula police station and the other in Manesar police station under relevant sections of IPC including Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardan (HGSG) act," said DCP (south) Ashok Bakshi. ALSO READ | Cows being smuggled using cranes across India-Bangladesh border --- ENDS --- "We are thinking of enhancing capacity of jails to house more inmates arrested under new liquor law," Excise and Prohibition minister Abdul Jalil Mastan said. By Press Trust of India: Facing a crisis of space to house nearly 35,000 people arrested under new liquor law, the Bihar government is mulling capacity expansion of prisons to accommodate overflow of tipplers. "We are thinking of enhancing capacity of jails to house more inmates arrested under new liquor law," Excise and Prohibition minister Abdul Jalil Mastan said. He, however, did not give details. advertisement A proposal for enhancing capacity for inmates would be brought in the cabinet, Mastan said. The minister's concern is not out of place as 58 jails existing in Bihar at present are overflowing with inmates arrested under liquor law in the state since April last year. Director Jails Rajiv Verma said today that Bihar at present has 58 prisons with a capacity to accommodate about 32,000 inmates. He said there are eight central, 32 districts and 18 sub-jails in Bihar. Assistant Excise Commissioner Om Prakash Mandal said that 34,388 people have been forwarded to jails under new Excise Law since April 2016 to February 6, 2017. This burgeoning number of people brought to jails caught under liquor law is posing a serious challenge to prisons to house them. The new Excise Law, 2016 brought in pursuance of total prohibition imposed by Nitish Kumar government has a provision for jail term of 5-10 years for people caught with alcohol. ALSO READ:Bihar liquor ban illegal, says Patna High Court --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Pak refugees: Govt New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) The government today said no "specific proposal" of providing "nativity and identity certificate" to West Pakistan refugees was under consideration of Jammu and Kashmir government. In written replies to questions by Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party and Majeed Memon of NCP in Rajya Sabha, junior Ministers of Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Kiren Rijiju said that Jammu and Kashmir has reported that there is "no such proposal at present to grant domicile certificate". advertisement While maintaining West Pakistan refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are Indian citizens, Ahir also said the state government has reported that "there is no such proposal at present under consideration of the state government for the West Pakistan refugees". He was replying to a question whether the Centre is aware that the state government had recently decided to issue "nativity and identity certificates to about 1.5 lakh refugees for erstwhile Pakistan". Ahir said unlike Displaced Persons (DPs) of Chhamb of 1947, West Pakistan refugees have not been granted state subject status. "As such, they do not participate in the state Assembly elections and are not entitled to any employment under the state government." However, in Jammu, Laba Rama Gandhi, who heads an organisation of West Pakistan refugees, said that they had been issued identity cards for purpose of employment in paramilitary forces and defence forces. "We have become unfortunate victims of politics. BJP also promises one thing and does a different thing. We are campaigning for state subject and after a month, we will march to Delhi," he said. There are nearly 20,000 families which had settled from West Pakistan after Partition. PTI SKL ZMN --- ENDS --- In a video, Bigg Boss 10 contestant Swami has said that people should stop criticising him if they want to prevent another earthquake. By India Today Web Desk: Swami is at it again. Believe it or not, but in a recent video, the controversial Bigg Boss contestant and self-styled godman has claimed that the recent Uttarakhand earthquake, that shook almost the entire northern India, happened because he was mistreated on Bigg Boss. He further said that it occurred on Monday and since he was Shiv Bhakt, Lord Shiva punished people for insulting him on Bigg Boss 10. He also went on to add that he prevented people from what could be a bigger tragedy, and that if people continued to criticise him, another massive earthquake would occur. advertisement Also read: Thank you Bigg Boss, for finally throwing Om Swami out of the house! "Lord Shiva has warned; stop criticising me, otherwise you will face the consequences," said Swami Om. Swami continues to hog limelight even after the grand finale of Bigg Boss 10, thanks to his antics. Recently, a video of Swami changing clothes at a platform of Delhi railway station became viral. Also read: BB10: Former contestant Om Swami thinks host Salman Khan is an ISI agent! The controversial baba was outsted from the Bigg Boss house after he threw his pee on contestants Bani and Rohan. Post that he also threatened to break host Salman Khan's bones and put Bigg Boss house on fire. --- ENDS --- In a yet another pro-active move, Himachal Pradesh Governor, Acharya Devvrat is all set to launch literacy campaign for water conservation in the hill state with technical advice from the water man of Rajasthan, Rajinder Singh on March 9. Magsaysay award winner for reviving water resources in arid eastern regions, Rajinder Singh will interact with the officials and experts of agriculture and horticulture, farmers and NGOs at Raj Bhawan to give them insight on water conservation in continuity in a one day workshop, Himachal Governor told The Statesman here on Wednesday. Unlike his predecessors, Devvrat is known for his active participation in the development process in his own ways. He is in the midst of promoting organic farming on the lines of Sikkim and is propagating indigenous breed of cows in the hill state by even educating the experts in the field. The water availability is going to be a big issue for coming generations. We need to save and conserved water on priority, he said. He said Himachal Pradesh had abundant water flowing in rivers, rivulets and nullahs, but the scientific intervention to conserve it is lacking. The rain water too is not harvested in the hill state in the manner it should be. The campaign is aimed at creating awareness among people on the issue and then go in for construction of check dams on rivulets and nullahs and revive village ponds and other water bodies across the state to re-charge ground water, Devvrat said. Our slogan is daudtey paani ko chalna sikhana haichaltey paani ko rokna hai. The check dams are important to break the flow of water in monsoons they allow the water to seep into soil for recharging,the Governor added. He said villagers would be involved in the process and schemes like Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) could also be used to engage people in the construction of check dams and ponds. In the last decade, the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh had done major work on water conservation, which had led to the rise in the water table in the area. We will replicate the work done in Hamirpur in other districts also, the Governor said. He said in the cities like Shimla, the state government needs to make water harvesting mandatory in every building so that the water scarcity is not felt in routine. The water conservation expert, Rajinder Singh, it is pertinent to mention, was recently invited by the Governor for ideas, wherein he (Singh) had expressed concern over continuous soil erosion in the state and depletion of ground water level. He had said that that Himachal Pradesh was discharging more water than recharging the timeless water sources like lakes, dams and rivers. The revolt by Tamil Nadu former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam against AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala is being opportunistic and fuelled by other forces, said a spokesperson of the ruling party on Wednesday. "Only when his Chief Minister post was taken away he is raising his voice. But that, too after he had submitted his resignation and sending a 'thank you for your cooperation letter' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao," Avadi Kumar, spokesperson for AIADMK said. On Tuesday night Panneerselvam dropped the "Paneer Bomb" with his dramatic statement that he was forced to resign as the Chief Minister after meditating for 40 minutes at late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial. Kumar said Panneerselvam wrote a letter to Modi after resigning his post on his own choice and there was no compulsion on him not to write such a letter. "He was acting alone, pursuing his own interests. The party did not gain any goodwill by his acts but on the other hand the party had to face the brunt of the government actions like the police action against the Jallikattu-bull taming sport protestors," Kumar said. Pointing out Panneerselvam's own statement that he was asked to propose the name of Sasikala for the post of General Secretary and later for Chief Minister position, Kumar said: "What prevented him from opposing the move at the first instance itself." Kumar also wondered as to the reason for the continued absence of the Governor at a time when there is only a caretaker government in the state. "We did not know where to reach him and give him the letter of support of legislators for Sasikala, who can stake her claim to form the next government," Kumar said. At a time when a political change is happening in the state, the Governor goes from Coimbatore to Delhi and then to Mumbai. He said this shows that the BJP and the Centre are fishing in the troubled waters. The elite commando force inaugurated a new auditorium that is named after Lt. Col. EK NIranjan who lost his life during last year's Pathankot terror attack. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Almost a year after the National Security Guard (NSG) lost Lt. Col. EK Niranjan in the Pathankot terror attack, the force inaugurated an auditorium in his memory at its Manesar headquarters. The brave officer was a member of the NSG's bomb disposal squad, and was killed while defusing a grenade at the scene of the January 2, 2016 terror attack. advertisement Lt. Col. Niranjan was taking part in combing operations after six Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist launched a ghastly attack on the Pathankot Air Base in Punjab. EMOTIONAL MOMENT In an emotional moment, the auditorium was inaugurated by Minister of State (Information and Broadcasting) Rajyavardhan Rathore in the presence of Niranjan's parents Shivarajan and Radha Shivarajan and brother, Wing Commander Sharad EK, who is an Air Force officer. Commenting after the inauguration, which happened during the 17th International Counter Terrorism Seminar, Rathore said, "Brand new auditorium in name of the great martyr will bring in camaraderie, friendship and remind soldiers of supreme sacrifice made by Col Niranjan." The auditorium has seating capacity of 390 and cost Rs 21 crores to build. Plans for the auditorium were approved in December 2012. According to sources the elite commando force has lost 19 personnel since its formation in 1984. The force plans to honour its martyred soldiers by dedicating building and structures in their name. Also read: Pathankot attack: How Facebook, mobile phones helped NIA nail Masood Azhar gang Also watch: Pathankot Attack: How it unfolded --- ENDS --- After members of the Rajput Karni Sena stalled filming of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati for allegedly presenting "distorted facts" in the movie, one of its leading casts Shahid Kapoor has said that the film's shooting will resume soon. The group even roughed up Bhansali and the "Padmavati" team when the director along with his crew was shooting at Jaigarh Fort. Without giving much details, Shahid told reporters here, "I don't want to talk much about it. We just want to complete the shooting. People should see the film and judge it after watching. They will resume shooting soon and we will continue shooting. "I don't know the details as I am promoting Rangoon right now." Shahid, 35, is essaying the role of Raja Ratan Singh in the Indian period drama, which also stars Deepika Padukone as queen Padmavati and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji. Talking about his look in the movie, Shahid said, "When you play a king you need to have a certain personality. That time people were not very skinny so I need to have manly personality. So to carry the outfits and all Sanjay sir wants me to be muscular, fuller." "Gaining weight in terms of muscles and not in terms of fats. I am playing the character of a warrior The Rajput kings had a very strong personality." Actor Scarlett Johansson says that she may be "Hollywood's top-grossing actress of all time", but that does not imply she's paid the highest. The 32-year-old star said that she has had to battle it out with the industry to achieve what she has today. "Just because I'm the top-grossing actress of all time does not mean I'm the highest paid. I've had to fight for everything that I have. It's such a fickle and political industry," Johansson told Marie Claire in an interview. The Avengers actors explained that she was initially uncomfortable in discussing her personal struggles in public. She added, "Maybe I'm being presumptuous, but I assumed it was obvious that women in all positions struggle for equality. It's always an uphill battle and fight." Underscoring the fact that "sexism is real", Johansson said that according to her every female she knows has been affected by it. "My experience with my close female friends and family is that the struggle is real for everybody. Everyone has been discriminated against or harassed," the actress said. In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked sitting Calcutta High Court judge Justice C S Karnan to appear in person before it and explain as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him and forthwith restrained him from undertaking judicial and administrative work. "Issue notice to Justice C S Karnan. Returnable on February 13. Shree Justice C S Karnan shall forthwith refrain from handling any judicial or administrative work as may have been assigned to him," a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said. "He is also directed to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to the Registrar General of the High Court immediately," the bench also comprising Justices Dipak Misra, J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and Kurian Joseph said. It said, "Shree Justice C S Karnan shall remain present in person on next date to show cause." The bench, meanwhile, directed the apex court registry to ensure that the copy of its order be served on Justice Karnan during the course of the day and listed the suo motu contempt petition against him for further hearing on February 13. At the outset, Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi referred to the nature of public communications allegedly undertaken by Justice Karnan and said they are "slanderous" and "disparaging" to the system of administration of justice. He urged the bench that it can direct Chief Justice of the High Court to restrain the judge concerned from taking up judicial and administrative work. The AG referred to constitutional provisions and said that the apex court can take judicial note of the matter and is empowered to pass such an order. "This court has to set an example when it comes to administration of justice," he said, adding, "In exercise of the contempt jurisdiction, the Supreme Court can ask the Chief Justice of High Court not to assign administrative and judicial work to Justice Karnan. The court took note of his submissions and said that it has to be established whether Justice Karnan has undertaken the communications. "We must be as careful as we can," the court said. "It is the first time we will act against a sitting High Court judge and have to be very careful with what we settle as a precedent for times to come," it said. The apex court has turned the alleged contemptuous letters written by Justice Karnan against the Madras HC Chief Justice which were addressed to the CJI, Prime Minister and others, into contempt proceedings against him. He was transferred from the Madras HC to the Calcutta HC for his alleged contemptuous conduct. Tamil Nadus political crisis continued to deepen on Wednesday as 130 legislators supporting party General Secretary VK Sasikala were allegedly shifted to different hotels to avoid horse-trading while the Centre said that Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao was studying the situation in the state. According to reports, the ruling AIADMKs 130 MLAs were packed off to five different luxury hotels in the afternoon to prevent them from joining acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who too has claimed the majority support among the AIADMK's 134 legislators in Tamil Nadu. Earlier in the day, Sasikala had called Panneerselvam a traitor, a day after he revolted against the AIADMK legislature wing leader and the long-time confidante of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Sasikala had also accused Panneerselvam of "betrayal" after he refused to back her plans to head the government. On his part, Panneerselvam announced that a Supreme Court judge will head a Commission of Inquiry to probe the December 5 demise of Jayalalithaa. He said there were many questions over the death. Asked if he would stake claim to form the government as Chief Minister again, he told the media: "Wait and see." The fissures within the AIADMK has provided an opportunity to opposition parties to gain ground in the state. While, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu clarified earlier in the day that the Centre or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not get involved in the :internal matters of the AIADMK, by evening, Naidu said that Tamil Nadu acting Governor Vidyasagar Rao was studying the situation in the state. "The Governor is studying the situation," Naidu told media persons here reiterating that the Centre has no role to play in the internal developments of AIADMK and he did not want to make comments on it. Official sources said in Mumbai that Vidyasagar Rao, the Maharashtra Governor who has additional charge of Tamil Nadu, has not finalised plans to go to Chennai. They said Rao would be busy with official commitments till late on Wednesday evening and there is no word when he is likely to proceed to Chennai. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Wednesday lambasted both the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and the opposition Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh saying that the 15 years of alternate rules by the two has ruined the state. The alternate rules of the SP and the BSP has ruined UP. Time has come that the corrupt regime of these parties comes to an end, Shah said at a public rally in Hathras. If you want change, you will have to vote for the BJP, he added. Uttar Pradesh goes to the hustings in seven phases from February 11 to March 8. A widely known Indian author and a prominent public figure has severely criticized British rule in India as an era of darkness. He has held the British responsible for widespread rural poverty, dismantling of trade and commerce, introducing bureaucratic despotism and a calculated indifference to the well-being of Indians. He has derided Lord Macaulay as framing laws that had no relevance to earlier Indian laws. He has gone to the extent of demanding reparations from the British for the alleged misrule in India. Mahatma Gandhi was the Father of the Nation, a universally acknowledged truth. But, arguably, Lord Macaulay was the Father of Indian democracy. Throughout the recorded history of India, spanning more than 2000 years, there is no evidence of any democratic rule as we know today. There were dozens of dynasties and hundreds of kings and absolute rulers, foreign military adventurers and alien raiders who ruled through whims and fancies. Despotism and unrelenting tyranny were the order of the day, occasionally punctuated by an enlightened despot who would, on paper, proclaim peoples welfare as the goal of royal governance. There is no mistaking that the essentially maximum ruler was the final dispenser of justice, the absolute law-giver guided by his own whims and a one-man legislature. Sir Thomas Roe was one of the first British ambassadors from the court of King James to the court of Jehangir at the beginning of the 17th century. He has recorded that the Mughal monarchs word was absolute law, his momentary fancies that could change from minute to minute. The British had arrived first at Surat not as invaders but as traders. With apologies to Newton, Bharat and its age-old inequities hid in the dark night of the sub-continent. The Lord said, quite literally, that let Macaulay be and there was light. It is the beginning of the 19th century and there is no rule of law, save some Regulations and that too promulgated by Macaulays enlightened predecessors like Warren Hastings. Enter Lord Macaulay, member of the British Governing Council. He was shocked to discover that Bharat had no written law or even a Code of Governance. The East India Company was the only organized entity with a pan-Indian outlook. Bharat had no Central authority, the Mughal empire was disintegrating, and nominal rulers were occupying the seat of the once mighty Empire Delhi. Provincial satraps were a law unto themselves. Thuggery, highway robberies, internecine warfare among petty rulers and tribal conflicts were the order of the day. The inhuman practice of sati was prevalent in large parts of the country. As Tagore had said famously: The fragments that pass for our country not only lack cohesion but comprise parts at odds with one another. People simply dont change their behaviour just because someone has signed a paper hundreds of miles away, noted an eminent historian. From Bengal in the east to Rajasthan in the west, young widows used to be dragged to the funeral pyres of their husbands and burnt alive. The men folk would keep guard with sticks lest an unwilling widow, in 9 out of 10 cases ,tried to escape. To cite an example, when the King of Bundi died, 84 widows were burnt alive; with the king of Jodhpur, the number was 64. Life in fabled Bharat was truly Hobbesian nasty, brutish and short. The average life expectancy was just 30-plus. The populace had no rights worth the name, and the peasantry was at the mercy of rapacious revenue collectors who were under no check or control. Revenue was collected through whips and pincers. Famines were a recurring occurrence. The situation during Macaulays time i.e. early 19th century had hardly improved much since the 17thcentury when the first British traders arrived, and started recording history, so to speak. It is a remarkable British habit. A glimpse of the rural prosperity that the author somewhat nostalgically talks about will be evident from the accounts of some of the early British traders. Peter Mundy had travelled from Surat to Agra in 1631. From Surat to Agra, all the highway was strowed with dead people. Women were seen to roast their dead children. A man no sooner dead than to be cut into pieces to be eaten. Right through the 19th century, there were hardly five consecutive years when the countryside was free from the scourge of famines. The Famine Code is a wholly British invention. The rural scene was in shocking contrast to the splendour and affluence of the royal courts. It is true that the revenue earned by Akbars court was many times that of the contemporary court of Queen Elizabeth, but this is a very superficial comparison. The fabled wealth of India was showcased in the exclusive royal courts and households, at the expense of the back-breaking perpetual poverty of the rural populace which was at the receiving end throughout history. It had no voicein governance or any representation. In 1833, Lord Macaulay was appointed as the first Chairman of the Law Commission of India, again a purely British invention, to frame laws for the entire country. He worked out a miracle. Almost overnight, Bharat transformed itself into India. All the countless divisive religious, caste, community and tribal groups Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc. became one-citizens. He single-handedly crafted the Criminal Procedure Code,1860, the first pan-Indian law that laid the foundations of civilian democracy and the rule of law. The Code is a work of exquisite craftsmanship, without parallel in the history of Law either prior to or since, anywhere in the world. Not since Cicero, the great law giver of the Roman Empire, did an individual influence the course of a civilization as Macaulay did for the Great Indian Civilization. In a flawless masterpiece, he committed just one mistake he added the prefix criminal to the Code, perhaps to decriminalize traditional governance and to sensitize the populace about its rights and safeguards in the face of the omnipotent state. The Code enshrined the basic principles of Constitutional law of the first modern democratic state in the history of the world the USA. For the first time in the history of Bharat, the implementation of law was separated from its enforcement. The implementation was entrusted to civilian magistrates whereas enforcement was entrusted to the coercive arm of the state the police. Macaulay was a scholar of Roman jurisprudence who defined law as a speaking magistrate. (To be concluded) A major disturbing trend in Indian healthcare is that the room conveniently left unoccupied by the state has been filled by the nasty private sector whose expenditure in the health sector was 2.71 per cent of GDP in 2012. The sheer supremacy and dominance of the private sector gets clearly reflected in the share of inpatient and outpatient cases handled by it. Its share in hospitalisation cases increased from 40 per cent in 1986 to 62 per cent in 2004 for the urban region and from 40 to 58 per cent for rural areas. In 2012, hospitals accounted for 71 per cent of the total healthcare revenues in the country. Private sector hospitals accounted for 74 per cent of the hospitals, with a 40 per cent share of hospital beds. According to a recent statistical estimate, government hospitals have a share of only 19 per cent in healthcare spending as compared to private hospitals who have a whopping share of 81 per cent. By the end of 2014, the private hospital market in India was estimated to be worth $54 billion. While it cannot be denied that India as a developing country has walked miles in healthcare since independence, the role of our state as a provider of healthcare hasnt been satisfactory. In the past 15 years, elephantine private hospitals have come up in almost all metropolitan cities of India. With private sector hospitals showing mammoth increases in growth rates, it becomes imperative to see how they work, particularly when there have been worrying concerns about the methods they adopt to draw patients and the way treatment is administered to them. Its like opening the Pandoras box. Its an open secret that many private hospitals have tie-ups with small-time private practitioners, which zero morals or ethics, running small, unequipped clinics to refer their patients to them. How sick patients are handled is another sad story that must be told. For luring patients to these hospitals, filthy marketing strategies are employed. Apart from vociferously advertising on various platforms like print, electronic and social media, they also market themselves to doctors running outpatient clinics and to those who practise in smaller hospitals, public or private, which do not have all the requisite facilities, begging them to refer their patients to these big hospitals. Now, for these referrals, the malicious and hungry-for-money physicians are offered incentives and kickbacks, a system commonly known as cut practice. The system of cut practice has come under the scanner in the past few years. Its painful to watch super-specialized doctors referring patients to private hospitals; the trusted god-like doctor instead of acting as a dedicated, honest, health professional, treating the patient on the basis of his/her rich experience, consistency and education, becomes an agent for the hospital. The agents commission is fixed on the basis of patients referred. In a noble profession like healthcare, the profit motive is becoming increasingly dominant. This motive is turning private hospitals into dirty businesses, which need to take care of their investments for the bottom line. Sick patients visit hospitals to seek medical help. Its not that they are there for a vacation. Public sector specialized hospitals are often over-burdened. In such a situation, it is expected that the private sector will help ease the pressure by providing life-saving medicines and procedures and other healthcare services to patients. Unfortunately, they see this as a period of boom in the business cycle where they can cash in on poor, sick patients, burdened by misery and pain, to harass them unnecessarily just to augment their earnings. Basic health services like consultation and operative procedures are theoretically supposed to be based only on scientific evidence like lab reports, patient history, etc, added to the logic and professional experience of the doctor, which moulds the perception of scientific facts. In order to exist or break even, these private hospitals have to ensure that they are commercially viable profit making units. It is understandable that a rational human being is driven by profit, which is in fact the basis of economic theory. So the twin goals to remain cost-effective and yet at the same time deliver the right kind of healthcare to patients should ideally coexist in harmony. Regrettably, in the recent past, respectable medicos and academicians have legitimately raised fundamental questions about the paramount emphasis on profit maximisation at the cost of the precious health of the patients. Its a notorious scandal where business concerns seem to rule and preside over all medical treatments and procedures administered to the patients. Forget medicine being a noble profession, the very fundamentals of medicine, that is logical proof and the doctors experience, have taken a back seat. So many unethical practices just leave one sick to the stomach. Apparently, targets are handed over to doctors for mandatorily conducting a given number of operative procedures or minor/major surgeries in the hospital or to keep patients longer than required only to raise hospital revenues. For example, worthy gynaecologists who bring to this world new life, perform C-section surgeries where a normal delivery will do, as a profligate, revenue earning procedure. Perverse, isnt it? I carry no hesitation in establishing an analogy which goes like this. Private hospitals, especially the ones mushrooming in small towns, are running like industrial units, where a bare minimum amount of healthcare services in the form of surgeries, x-rays and laboratory tests have to be produced, irrespective of whether it is required or not. In this industrial plant, doctors, nurses and other operating staff form the labour; factors of production like the building, machines, etc, are the capital and infrastructure and medicines and procedures are the inputs and the costs associated with this apparatus put together become input costs. The patients on the assembly line are the guinea pigs, the chosen ones who have to cover these costs and pay in addition to increase the profit margin of the hospital. It is like an optimisation or linear programming problem in managerial economics, whereby the objective function of the firm is to minimise the cost or augment the profit and the constraints are the aforementioned components. The corrupt and shady practices adopted by some hospitals to increase revenue, turning doctors into demon like agents and treating the patients as mere customers overlooking their health needs and safety is a distressing trend. There are two fragments within the medical fraternity, one which is comfortable and content with the commercialisation of the healthcare system and forms an integral part of this blooming racket and the other which is honest, devoted and professional. This borderline fanatical group vehemently and bravely opposes the unwarranted commercialisation. This second section has broken free from the shackles of oblivion and fear and is increasingly becoming verbal. However, this section is pretty helpless and cannot do much if it does not get support from state agencies and law makers. Wake up and smell the coffee, before its too late! The writer is a Chandigarh-based economist and freelance journalist. China on Wednesday said it blocked the US' move at the UN to have Pakistani militant Masood Azhar declared as international terrorist as conditions were yet to be fulfilled for Beijing to support the proposal. Beijing vetoed the US proposal "to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community". "The 1267 Committee of the Security Council discussed the listing issue last year with no consensus reached, as members of the Security Council held different views on this issue. As for the renewed application filed by the relevant country, conditions are not yet met for the committee to reach an agreement and make a decision," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. Lu said the decision was in line with the Security Council resolution and the committee's rules of procedure. Asked if China's move would impact Sino-India ties, Lu said: "The Security Council and its subsidiary organs have their own rules of procedure. I hope and believe that all members of the committee will act in accordance with these rules in handling applications, whoever the applicant is. China and India have also exchanged views on this issue. I do not want to see it impact China-India relations." On the question of China blocking the proposal at the behest of its all-weather ally Pakistan, Lu said: "We have, more than once, exchanged views with relevant parties, including India, on this issue." "The purpose for China to place the technical hold is to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community." "What matters is not how long it takes, but whether consensus can be reached based on thorough consultation," Lu said. Last year, China rejected thrice India's resolution to add Azhar Masood to the UN list of international terrorists. Azhar, the chief of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, is said to be the mastermind of the Pathankot airbase attack and Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir last year. China said on Wednesday that Beijing will frame policies to support and attract Taiwanese to work and live on the mainland. The policies are currently being drawn up, An Fengshan, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was quoted by Xinhua news agency. An said the policies cover employment, social insurance and living needs, and added that the policies will not only facilitate Taiwanese to live and work on the mainland, but aim to boost the social and economic integration of the two sides. Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing since 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek fled China after being overthrown by Communists. Taiwan and China are separated by a strait known as 'Taiwan Strait.' The tensions between the two have risen after the island elected Tsai Ing-Wen as its President in 2016. Tsai belongs to Democratic Progressive Party which has traditionally supported Taiwan's independence. In response to a question concerning remarks by the Taiwan administration about Taiwanese enterprises that operate on the mainland, An said the Chinese mainland had always encouraged and supported Taiwanese enterprises and set great store by safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. "We used to do in this way and we will continue to do it in the future," said An. "Who on earth is disturbing and hindering cross-Strait economic cooperation and Taiwan investment in the mainland? We must see it clearly." An asked. An said huge business opportunities have been created by the reform and opening up of the mainland. The Chinese mainland will continue to encourage Taiwan businessmen to develop on the mainland, and provide more convenience and opportunities for them. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at the appeals court judges weighing his travel ban and told crowd of law enforcement officials that some of the deliberations he had heard were "disgraceful". He said that the executive order couldn't "be written any plainer or better" and even "a bad high school student would understand this", The Guardian reported. The president insisted that his order banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations, which is currently blocked, was "done for the security of our nation" and should be respected. The order has barred all visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days and suspended Syrian refugees' entry indefinitely and all other refugees' entry for 120 days. "It's really incredible to me that we have a court case that's going on so long. They're interpreting things differently than probably 100 per cent of the people in this room," Trump was quoted as saying. "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased, and we haven't had a decision yet, but courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right, and that has to do with the security of our country, which is so important," Trump added. In a hearing on Tuesday, a government lawyer faced tough questions over Trump's campaign promise to close US borders to Muslims. The court is made up of three judges: one appointed by former Democratic president Jimmy Carter, one by Republican George W Bush and one by Democrat Barack Obama. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Maintaining that terrorism, especially nuclear terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy, India today pitched for a global response in this regard, saying negative consequences of atomic power cannot be overlooked. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, who inaugurated the 2017 edition of the Implementation and Assessment Group (IAG) Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), also advocated a two-pronged strategy -- one to clamp down on terrorism in general and the other to restrict unauthorised access to nuclear technology and material. advertisement Hoping that the horrors of atomic power destruction would never be repeated, he said, "Events that have unfolded around us, more so in the past couple of decades, have highlighted that terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security. If access to nuclear technology changes State behaviour, it is only to be expected that it would also impact on non-state calculations. "Nuclear security, therefore, will be a continuing concern, especially as terrorist groups and non-state actors strike deeper roots and explore different avenues to spread terror. Developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority," he said. Noting that nuclear energy will continue to play an important role in tackling challenges of inclusive growth and climate change, he said, "On the other hand, the negative consequences of atomic power also cannot be ignored. The world has witnessed the immense destructive power of the atom. "We hope that such horrors will never be repeated and cannot overstate the importance of countries with nuclear weapons to be responsible." Jaishankar also warned of the dangers of discriminating among terrorists -? good or bad or even yours and mine -- are increasingly recognised. "Terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy. Nuclear terrorism even more so," he said. During the meeting, which is being attended by around 150 delegates from 45 GICNT partner countries and 4 international organisations -- IAEA, Interpol, European Union, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, he also referred to the strong credentials of India, which is looking for a membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He also said, "Responsible States provide political commitments to assure each other that they will protect nuclear material under their control from falling into the wrong hands... "However, political commitments alone cannot ensure the safety and security of nuclear material," and referred to treaty instruments which provide a firm basis for translating broader political commitments into legally binding measures. Later, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said GICNT co-chairs, Russia and the US, reviewed the activities undertaken by the various working groups of the global initiative and complimented Indias contribution to strengthening global nuclear security. advertisement The Netherlands as IAG Coordinator provided an update on the inter-sessional activities and outlined the plan for the coming period, he said, adding the three working groups on Nuclear Forensics, Nuclear Detection, and Response and Mitigation are having concurrent sessions to discuss relevant issues during the three-day meeting. Japan will be hosting the annual plenary of the GICNT in June this year. PTI PYK SC --- ENDS --- Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has dismissed reports that she is visiting Britain in connection with the Panama Papers leaks case. "In UK to see my son. Will Insha'Allah be back in a week or so," Maryam Nawaz, who is in the UK on a week-long visit, tweeted. Her sudden visit to the UK has fuelled speculation that the visit may be related to the Panama Papers leaks case being heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Pakistan Today reported. However, Maryam Nawaz ridiculed the report saying: "The spin being given to my benign visit by a section of media is ridiculous." The Panama Leaks case hearing is expected to resume on February 13 after it was postponed due to the ill-health of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, one of the judges on the bench. Last month, German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung daily tweeted documents purportedly linking Maryam Nawaz to Minerva Financial Services, an offshore firm. Minerva is the holding company for Nescoll and Nielson Enterprises, two offshore firms at the centre of the scandal. Nescoll and Nielson own four flats in central London that a recent BBC report said belonged to the Sharif family. Among those named in the Panama Papers are Sharif's children Maryam, and sons Hasan and Hussain, with records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies. A mutually beneficial relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is "critical" to promote peace and stability in South Asia and the broader region, Pakistan's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday. "Despite various challenges, the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has continued to grow through people to people contacts and trade for decades. A partnership cultivated on the basis of socio economic development is the way forward," he said, addressing a ceremony here, organised to award scholarships to Afghan students. He said Islamabad is fully committed to take necessary steps to ensure that Afghanistan comes out of the challenges and emerge on international stage as a progressive and peaceful nation. "That is why we are looking forward to an all-encompassing relationship, from people-to-people contacts to government-to -government relations," he said. He said the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the field of education date back to late 1970s when Pakistan whole heartedly welcomed millions of Afghan refugees. He said in the past four decades, hundreds of thousands of these refugee students have been receiving their education in Pakistani schools and Universities. Aziz said that Pakistan hosts the largest number of Afghan students studying abroad and more than 48,000 Afghan graduates from Pakistani educational institutions are serving in various Afghan institutions in the public and private sectors. "We are proud of this contribution to Afghanistan's progress. These Afghans are an asset for Pakistan and our ambassadors in their home country," he said. The Philippines is seeking US and Chinese help to guard a major sea lane as Islamic militants shift attacks to international shipping, officials said on Wednesday. Manila does not want the Sibutu Passage between Malaysia's Sabah state and the southern Philippines to turn into a Somalia-style pirate haven, coast guard officials said. The deep-water channel, used by 13,000 vessels each year, offers the fastest route between Australia and the manufacturing powerhouses China, Japan and South Korea, they added. In the past year Abu Sayyaf gunmen from the southern Philippines have boarded ships and kidnapped dozens of crewmen for ransom in waters between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, raising regional alarm. Indonesia has warned the region could become the "next Somalia" and the International Maritime Bureau says waters off the southern Philippines are becoming increasingly dangerous. "If shipowners will skirt that area just to avoid kidnap at sea activities by these terrorists, for sure, it will have an additional cost," Philippine Coast Guard chief Commodore Joel Garcia told AFP. "It's not just the concern of the Philippines or Indonesia and Malaysia, but of the international shipping community." Manila plans to ask its longstanding defence ally the United States to hold joint exercises in waters off the southern Philippines to address the problem, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told AFP on Tuesday. And Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last week urged China to launch patrols off the piracy-plagued waters, citing Beijing's dispatch of a naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden in 2009 to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates. Duterte made the comments a day after meeting a special envoy from Indonesia who wanted to know what Manila, which has one of the weakest naval forces in the region, plans to do to address the threat. Garcia said details of the possible sea patrol cooperation with China would likely be discussed at a meeting between the two countries' coast guards in Manila next week. Lorenzana said Manila plans to "talk to the ministry of defence of China on how to operationalise this joint patrol" off the southern Philippines. Garcia said rising incidents of piracy around the 29-kilometre-wide (18-mile) Sibutu Passage threaten to push up overall shipping costs, including insurance for vessels, cargo and crew. Diverting ships to Indonesia's Lombok Strait would be more expensive and voyages would take longer, said Filipino coast guard spokesman Commander Armando Balilo. The Filipino coast guard recorded 12 piracy or kidnapping incidents in the passage in the last six months alone, on top of four unsuccessful attempts by gunmen to board vessels. US President Donald Trump has expressed his commitment to NATO and bilateral cooperation with Spain during a telephone call with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a media report said on Wednesday. They also discussed the fight against the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), Efe news reported. Trump and Rajoy spoke on Tuesday for about 15 minutes to reaffirm their strong bilateral alliance regarding a series of mutual interests, according to a White House statement. The statement said both leaders discussed shared priorities on security, economics; with Trump emphasising on the importance of all NATO allies sharing the burden of defence spending. The Spanish government previously reported the content of the call, which began around 3.45 p.m. in Washington DC. According to Rajoy's office, the Prime Minister told Trump that Spain was in the best situation to be an interlocutor for the US in Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. When Trump brought up the future of the European Union in light of Brexit, Rajoy said he was confident of a strong EU integration in the coming months and assured Trump that Spain would work towards that end. Rajoy and Trump also discussed the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in May in Brussels, which will be their first personal encounter. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy skies with periods of light rain late. Low around 65F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of light rain late. Low around 65F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. After O Panneerselvam's surprising statement against the AIADMK's General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan, a political uncertainty prevails over Tamil Nadu. On a lighter note, here are the films that reflect the current scenario in Dravidian politics. By Srivatsan: Much to everyone's expectations, the AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan has been elected the legislature party leader. Though the move was much anticipated since the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death, Sasikala's appointment has left the party divided. Especially after the caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam's speech last night. Among the Tamils, the resentment against Sasikala is quite evident on social media, where Chinnamma was greeted with absolute derision. Minutes after the announcement, Twitteratis started trending various hashtags including #TNSaysNo2Sasi, #Sasikala and #SasikalaNatarajan. advertisement ALSO READ: O Panneerselvam, Sasikala fight it out- 5 most important developments from last night you should know ALSO READ: Panneerselvam working at DMK's behest, no rift within AIADMK: Sasikala after emergency meet LIVE COVERAGE: O Panneerselvam digs in, Sasikala slams him, Tamil Nadu in suspense With back-to-back catastrophic events, it's safe to say that Tamil Nadu is witnessing the worst constitutional crisis, probably after the hospitalisation of then chief minister MG Ramachandran back in 1984. Right from Karunanidhi's family politics to Jayalalithaa's autocratic government, the Tamil people have suffered enough. Unlike rest of the states, the Dravidian politics is embroiled with several unwarranted twists and melodrama. On a lighter note, we imagine the present state of TN politics with our very own Tamil films. As Tamil Nadu awaits the Supreme Court's judgement over the disproportionate case, we hypothetically look at Chinnamma's character in Tamil films. Sasikala as Amavasai from Amaidhi Padai: Much has been said about Sasikala's political aspirations and how Jayalalithaa herself was wary about nurturing the former as her heir. Considering the recent turn of events, Sasikala's legacy goes synonymous with Amavasai's (Sathyaraj) character from Amaidhi Padai; a typical rags-to-riches story. Another common streak is that Amavasai too gets acquainted with a powerful politician. Of course, how can we miss the famous scene where Amavasai dethrones his leader Manimaran (Manivanan) to become the MLA? Sasikala as Ganga from Chandramukhi: Despite being an out-and-out money spinner at the box office, Chandramukhi will be more remembered for Jyothika's stellar performance as the eponymous character. If you'd noticed the change in Sasikala's attire or her mannerisms after Jayalalithaa's death, it has more of Amma than Chinnamma. In the film, its lead character Ganga imagines herself as Chandramukhi. Going by the famous dialogue cited by superstar Rajinikanth, "Ganga posed like Chandramukhi; she emulated Chandramukhi and eventually, she became Chandramukhi." No better dialogue could've summarised the bond between Amma and Chinnamma. Sasikala as Kokki Kumar from Pudhupettai: This neo-noir gangster film directed by Selvaraghavan is one of the finest films ever made in Tamil cinema. Set against North Chennai, the tells the rise and fall of a gangster Kokki Kumar (Dhanush). You may be wondering what Pudhupettai has to do with Sasikala, but there's a terrific portion in the film which reflects the current mind space of the AIADMK's party cadres. The decision to name Sasikala as chief minister wasn't overnight. Similarly, in the film, a henchman says to Dhanush, "Fu**! We had to tolerate all this sh** just for our thalaivar"One can also draw parallels between Chinnamma and Kokki Kumar in several ways. But let's not go into that. advertisement Sasikala as Gandhi Babu from Sathuranga Vettai: Chinnamma and her clan are popularly known by the term 'Mannargudi mafia'. From Natarajan to Dhivaharan, Sasikala's relatives are believed to hold prominent positions in AIADMK. Hailing from a small town Mannargudi, her family made headlines for the disproportionate assets. If reports are anything to go by, Gandhi Babu, a skilled conman from Sathuranga Vettai sums up the Mannargudi mafia. Sasikala as Katappa from Baahubali: Of several conspiracies levelled against Chinnamma, one theory that has constantly spawned heated debates is that she had a hand in Jayalalithaa's death. Now, an important question to prod here is: Did Sasikala kill Jayalalithaa? If so, why? Just like the slave loyalist Katappa (Sathyaraj) from SS Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Beginning. advertisement Disclaimer: This article is a work of fiction. Take it with a pinch of salt! ALSO WATCH: Mystery over Sasikala's swearing-in --- ENDS --- remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Feb 8 (PTI) Pakistan today said it has briefed the envoys of foreign missions on alleged "human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Additional Secretary (UN & EC) Tasnim Aslam briefed ambassadors of foreign missions in the Foreign Office here. advertisement The briefing focused on the "continuously aggravating human rights situation" in Jammu and Kashmir in the backdrop of Kashmir Solidarity Day, which was observed in Pakistan on February 5, the statement said. Zakaria said the Additional Secretary highlighted that the Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed every year on February 5 to express Pakistans "unwavering diplomatic, moral and political support" to the Kashmiris in their "legitimate struggle for the realisation of the right to self- determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions." Aslam stressed that the Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council. "The Additional Secretary urged the international community to take up with India its gross human rights violations perpetrated at all levels to ensure the misery and suffering of the innocent people" of Kashmir is alleviated and to play its role in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions, the spokesperson said. It was the second briefing after a similar one was held for the envoys of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries this week. PTI SH ASK AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- Organization: Ministry of Health (MoH) Funding Source: United States of America Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Program Manager ACP About US: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has received funds to support a five year Cooperative Agreement (CoAg) with the United States of America Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Cooperative Agreement will support HIV prevention, care and treatment policy development, strategic information and the current National Laboratory Strategic Plan. The MOH intends to use some of the resources under this assistance to support several technical positions in the AIDS Control Program (ACP), Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Resource Center, and National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP) to execute the function of policy formulation and monitoring implementation. The staff to be recruited under this support will be contracted by the MOH under the support received from CDC through the CoAg. The contracts are initially for one year with a provision for annual renewal up to four years subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance of the staff. Job Summary: The Senior Programme Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (ACP) will develop and implement the overall program M&E system focused providing timely and relevant information to MoH and other stakeholders Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities: In charge of developing the monitoring and evaluation system of the program and ensuring its effective implementation Guiding the process of identifying key indicators, monitoring mechanisms and reporting tools Tasked with developing the overall framework and procedures for the evaluation of program activities e.g. annual project reviews, impact assessment, process monitoring Organizing regular sharing of M&E findings with program staff, implementing partners and other stakeholders and lessons leamt meeting Building capacity of stakeholders to undertake M&E activities including data collection, reporting and use on programme performance Coordinating the routine and periodic compilation and dissemination of progress reports Coordinating the design and implementation of baseline and end-line surveys Establishing a robust management information system to provide data for planning, reporting and decision making Supporting staff and implementing partners to effectively use the Management Information system in reporting progress Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the CDC Senior Programme Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (ACP) job placement must hold an MBChB or equivalent from a from a recognized University Hold a Masters Degree in Medicine, Public Health or Epidemiology from a recognized university Possession of a post graduate qualification in monitoring and Evaluation or project planning and management or the equivalent would be of added advantage A minimum of six (6) years relevant working experience in implementing public health HIV&AIDS activities at national or regional level Broad knowledge and understanding of the national HIV and AIDS programme A team player with excellent communication & writing skills Broad knowledge and understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation techniques Familiarity with statistical data analysis packages such EPinto, STATA Understanding of qualitative data collection and analysis techniques Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning and understanding of the strategic direction of MoH and of PEPFAR programmes etc How to Apply: filled Application Form/ Public Service Form 3 (2008), download here, in triplicate and attach the following; recent certified passport-size photograph, detailed curriculum vitae, photocopies of certified academic certificates and transcripts, photocopies of professional registration certificates and valid practicing licenses where applicable, two recommendation letters from two of the most recent supervisors/employers, a photocopy of your appointment letter for your most recent position and copy of national identity card. All applications should bear the title and the number of the post being applied for. Applicants should apply for only one post. Applicants should include their telephone and email contacts on their applications. The complete application should be submitted by hand to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7272, Plot 6, Lourdel Road, Wandegeya, Kampala, (Room No. HRM Office B012 MoH Headquarters between 8.00 am 5.00 pm working days). Hand written applications are also acceptable. All suitably qualified and interested Ugandans are encouraged to send afilled Application Form/ Public Service Form 3 (2008),, in triplicate and attach the following; recent certifiedpassport-size photograph, detailed curriculum vitae, photocopies of certifiedacademic certificates and transcripts, photocopies of professional registrationcertificates and valid practicing licenses where applicable, two recommendationletters from two of the most recent supervisors/employers, a photocopy of yourappointment letter for your most recent position and copy of national identitycard. All applications should bear thetitle and the number of the post being applied for. Applicants should apply foronly one post. Applicants should include their telephone and email contacts ontheir applications. The complete application should be submitted by hand to thePermanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7272, Plot 6, Lourdel Road,Wandegeya, Kampala, (Room No. HRM Office B012 MoH Headquarters between 8.00 am 5.00 pm working days). Hand written applications are also acceptable. th February, 2017 Deadline: 17February, 2017 Organisation: United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Vacancy Code: 17-Human Resources-DPKO-73757-J-Entebbe (R) Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda Reports to: Field Training Support Team leader About US: The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is dedicated to assisting the Member States and the Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain international peace and security. DPKO provides political and executive direction to UN Peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations. DPKO also provides guidance and support on military, police, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the Training Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Manages the design, development, delivery and evaluation of training, learning and development programmes for field mission personnel, to support mandate implementation. Coordinate the preparation of an annual Mission Training Plan that addresses special to-mission training needs and the priority strategic and job-specific and technical training priorities transmitted from headquarters, while minimizing duplication. The jobholder will assess and determine organizational and programme needs for new or modified training policies or practices; conceiving, formulating and testing new approaches, processes or techniques, advocating the learning strategy and policies; and planning and monitoring the introduction of changes to training and practices. Coordinates the preparation and implementation of the mission training budget in accordance with the Mission Training Plan and other planning documents including the Result-Based Budget, provides and ensures that resources are allocated appropriately so that training is cost-effective and has the maximum operational impact. Regularly monitors the implementation of the Mission Training Plan and regularly updating the mission Senior Management and ITS/DPET on implementation and constraints, including in relation to resourcing. Ensures the periodic evaluation of mission-conducted training. Manages and coordinates the work of all Training Officers and Training Focal points in the mission to ensure that training and development activities are implemented in accordance with the Mission Training Plan and established standards. Depending upon the composition of the field mission, the Integrate Mission Training Centre (IMTC) may carry civilian, military and United Nations Police personnel training functions. Performs other duties as required. Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations DPKO Training Officer job placement should hold an Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent degree) in training or learning, management, or related field such as education or social science is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with extensive professional experience in training and development may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in learning and development, adult learning, training, or related field is required. Previous experience in the management of a training section/unit within a field mission is required. At least five years experience, within a training function, in the design, management, evaluation, and practical delivery of formal peacekeeping training sessions and programmes is required. A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience is required. Previous experience working in a multicultural and/or international work environment and a field mission or post-conflict environment outside of your home country is also required. Participation in a formal training certification programme is desirable. Languages:, English is required. Knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage Personal Competencies: Core Competencies: Professionalism: Demonstrates knowledge of course design, development, and delivery to include classroom, distance learning, and practical training techniques Has ability to manage and lead training teams Demonstrates proven research, liaison, analytical and coordination skills to include the identification and promotion of training requirements Able to conduct training evaluation Has ability to prepare and implement budgets Committed to gender equality by encouraging equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of peace operations Shows pride in work and in achievements Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges Remains calm in stressful situations Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary Uses time efficiently Managing Performance: Delegated the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff Appraises performance fairly How to Apply: If interested in joining the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in the aforementioned capacity, please click on link below to visit website and create profile or express interest if you already have a profile on the UN system th February 2017 Deadline: 10February 2017 find us on our facebook page For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com orfind us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Feb 8 (PTI) Pakistan today said it airlifted 25 metric tonnes of rice for the people hit by a severe drought in Sri Lanka. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed authorities to provide all necessary assistance to the government and the people affected by severe drought in Sri Lanka. advertisement "Consequently, an aircraft carrying 25 MT rice has left for Colombo today," the statement said. The Foreign Office said the government and the people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need. It said Pakistan will continue to provide all possible support to the drought hit people of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst drought in four decades, according to officials, with more than a million people experiencing acute water shortages. The lack of rain last year has lowered water levels in rivers in parts of the country. PTI SH UZM --- ENDS --- It is an ugly reminder of the times of religious intolerance we are living in now. At a time when the country should be applauding filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, he is being bombarded with threats from right-wing groups. His film Sexy Durga recently won the prestigious Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2017. The title of the film had attracted criticism in the nascent stages, but things took an ugly turn after the film hit the headlines, thanks to the award. The film, which has Kannan Nayar and Rajshri Deshpande in the lead roles, is a thriller about a couple who elope in the middle of the night and hitch a truck-ride with four men. The hate-mongersthe most 'threatening' has been one Rahul Shrivastava of Hindu Swabhiman Sanghclaim that Sanal had hurt their religious sentiments by using 'Sexy' along with 'Durga', the goddess. The filmmaker, who hails from Kerala, posted screenshots of the threats on Facebook, and wrote: When I said my film has nothing to do with Goddess Durga" he is asking why I am not putting the name "Sexy Sreeja" to the film. When I said "Sreeja" is also a goddess name, he is telling me that Shreeja is my wife's name too. Arrey bhai.. Use the same logic here please.. Durga is name of so many poor girls too. Unfortunately, the title row has overshadowed the recognition the film has received. Still in Amsterdam after attending the film festival, Sanal shared his views on the controversy without merit, his film and his style of filmmaking, and much more, in a telephonic conversation with THE WEEK. Excerpts: How important is the title of the filmSexy Durga? It had invited criticism earlier, too. The title has a strong connection with the film. The film without that title would have been like a weapon without a warhead. They [those who issued threats] are creating controversies without merit. It is true that Durga is the name of a goddess. But, aren't there several Durgas on the streets, in the red-light areas, in the courtrooms fighting for justice? Durga the goddess is worshipped, but Durga the girl may be raped or molested. They may not utter a word then, but they threaten me when I use the name for my film. A still from 'Sexy Durga' All said, I don't have any hostility towards them. I don't want to get into a tit-for-tat confrontation. I want them to understand my film, which might be depicting the same concerns that they have. Let it be a conversation rather than a confrontation. However, if the situation goes out of hand, I would not hesitate to approach the police. How did you come up with the story? What were the major obstacles you faced while filming it? The story first took shape in my mind after the Delhi gang-rape in 2012. It was there in my mind even when I was doing Oraalpokkam (2014) and Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015). I did not have a script or a storyboard when I went to the location [Thiruvananthapuram] with my artistes. We had a shoestring budget but managed to complete the shoot in 20 days. We did not have high-end equipment and we used to tie the cameraman [Prathap Joseph] to the vehicle. We had to shoot between 12am and 3pm to get the ambience we wanted. It was, in a way, a guerrilla approach to filmmaking! The interesting part was how the real world met the reel world while we were shooting. There were times when the lead actors would be alone by the highway while the crew and the camera were far away from them. There were quite a few instances when they were harassed and lewd comments were passed at them by passers-by. The male hypocrisy was there for all to see. Your satiric comment on P.V. Sindhu after she won the silver medal at Rio Olympics, and on Ottal winning the best film award at the IFFK 2015 created a storm. Has it made you wary of commenting on similar issues? No, not at all. I do analyse my work and my wordsa kind of self-analysisbut I never regretted making any statement. I comment only when I feel strongly about it and I stick to my stand. Is your next film, which is, reportedly, about the life of a filmmaker and the freedom of speech and expression, an answer to all the trolls? I might do that film later. I have other stories in mind, too. But yes, the issue is relevant in today's times. The film, however, won't be my response to the trolls... or a retaliation to the online abuse I faced. Your films delve deep into the contemporary milieu of Kerala. How would you describe the mindset of the Malayali men? Honestly, the Malayali men, including me, are good human beings with hypocrisy written all over us. There are no individuals here; they think and act in a group. Mob mentality is rampant in our society. For instance, a person in a group might crack a lewd joke about women and everybody will laugh and enjoy it. Another person in the group might know that the joke is in bad taste but he will laugh along, rather than taking a stand that is different from those of others around him. We are used to going with the flow. You usually don't work with a hardcore script and storyboard and rely a lot on improvisations. Do you think it will work if you pick up a bigger project in future? I do films that I understand. I would never do a film about a life that I don't understand. For me, every film is big. For Oraalpokkam, which was a crowd-funded film, we travelled all over India. So, it was a big film for me. Yes, in terms of money or star power, my films may not be big but that's not how I would like to look at it. For Sexy Durga, I approached the producer [Aruna Mathew and Shaji Mathew] without a proper script; only the idea. However, they trusted me and agreed to finance the project. Trust matters a lot to me. You are yet to work with big stars of film industry. Is it a conscious decision? I can only do films with friends. There's a comfort level when you work with people you know well and are close to. I find it difficult to work with people who are not my friends. I have been in the film industry for a few years now and I have made quite a few friends among the noted actors. Scriptwriter and actor Murali Gopy is one such close friend, with whom I will be working soon. In spite of all the accolades parallel Malayalam cinema has got, there is no guarantee that such a film will hit the screens. Any solutions you have in mind? Kazhcha Film Forum had come up with an innovative concept of 'CinemaVandi' (cinema vehicle), where the vehicle would tour all over Kerala and screen independent films [Oraalpokkam was screened at over 100 locations using high-quality projection equipment] at select locations. Now, Kazhcha Film Forum, along with NIV Art Movies, is planning to screen Ozhivudivasathe Kali all over India through CinemaVandi. It will start its journey from Thiruvananthapuram by the end of February. But, we need permanent screens to showcase independent films, in the long run. A lawyer by profession, but a filmmaker by choice. Has your family accepted your career choice now? I come from a middle-class family; my father was a government employee. Nobody in my family approved of my decision. Every parent wants his or her child to become a successful doctor, or an engineer or a lawyer. Nobody raises his or her child to be a good farmer, musician or an actor. But things have changed now, since I have made a name for myself in the film industry. Acceptance is more forthcoming now. My family tolerates me now (laughs), especially my wife [Sreeja], who is an advocate. She understands my passion and supports me wholeheartedly. My friends have always stood by me. They are my biggest strength. Even the faceless well-wishers who have contributed to my projects. I will always be grateful to each one of them for trusting me and my abilities. Continuing his attack on AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam dared Sasikala to prove majority on the floor of the house. Flanked by cheering supporters, Panneerselvam addressed reporters on Wednesday morning. He said he will prove majority in the assembly although at present Sasikala seems to have the support of over 100 party MLAs. He said an inquiry commission will be formed to probe 'doubts' regarding Jayalalithaa's health. Further, he sought the support of Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar who had opposed Sasikala becoming the chief minister of the state, saying if offered, he would accept her support. As the political tug of war continues in the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, party MP in Rajya Sabha V. Maitreyan said that caretaker chief minister O. Panneerselvam had the mass support. He also criticised party General Secretary V.K. Sasikala for taking the MLAs to an undisclosed location, just to keep them together ahead of a possible floor test in the Assembly. Said Maitreyan to THE WEEK, That shows Sasikala is not confident about her own MLAs. She does not have trust in them. She fears that they may act against her. Sasikala is highly insecure at the moment. When asked if Panneerselvam and he would form a new party, Maitreyan said, We are the AIADMK. Wait for some time, the support for Panneerselvam will grow. Some AIADMK leaders, close to Sasikala, are now planning to meet President Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi to complain about Tamil Nadu Governors absence in the state, as they believe it could help Panneerselvam. Panneerselvam, a staunch loyalist of late Jayalalithaa, had launched an open revolt against Sasikala on Tuesday saying that he was forced by the party chief to resign from the chief minister's post. He had also said that he would withdraw his resignation if party cadres wanted him to. He dropped the bombshell at a time when vast arrangements were being made for the swearing-in of Sasikala as the chief minister. The coast of Visakhapatnam is all set to witness another massive protest to demand the special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Students from 11 universities across the state will participate in the protest to be led by the Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status Sadhana Committee. Representative image | PTI SCSSC convenor Chalasani Srinivas has managed to rope in Satyanarayana Raju, nephew of legendary freedom fighter Alluri Seetarama Raju, to lead the movement. Students will sit on a fast for three days from February 9 to February 12 near the RTC Complex. Srinivas has requested all the political parties including the Congress, the YSR Congress and the Jana Sena to join hands to make the protest a big success. He said that his idea was to get the state its special status and a railway zone. Earlier Andhra police had foiled a protest at the Rama Krishna beach in Visakhapatnam in January with several youths detained. Both the YSRC and the Jana Sena had thrown their weight behind the protest. With the pressure mounting on the government and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, several MPs of the ruling TDP are not happy with the Centre delaying legal sanction to the special package. Tamil Nadu politics has witnessed dramatic scenes in the last 24 hours and there's more in store. The current situation has brought back memories of 1987 turmoil. By India Today Web Desk: The fight for Jayalalithaa's legacy in Tamil Nadu is out in the open with two of her most trusted aides slugging it out. Jayalalithaa's Man Friday O Panneerselvam shocked everyone with his sudden revolt against VK Sasikala, who stayed with Amma for nearly 30 years. Tamil Nadu politics has witnessed dramatic scenes in the last 24 hours and there's more in store. However, this is not for the first time that the southern state is witnessing a crisis involving the AIADMK. The current situation has certainly brought back memories of 1987 turmoil. advertisement WHAT HAPPENED IN 1987 Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran or MGR, the actor-turned-politician who founded Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), passed away on December 24, 1987. ADMK was divided over who would head the party after MGR's death. While one faction wanted Janaki Ramachandran, MGR's widow to lead, other wanted Jayalalithaa, who was considered close to the leader, to take over the command. FROM INDIA TODAY MAGAZINE: A novice takes charge: Janaki is chief minister but can she survive? However, Janaki was sworn-in as the CM in January 1988, but she lasted just 24 days. Despite her party winning the floor test in Tamil Nadu Assembly, the Rajiv Gandhi government at the Centre dismissed her government. ADMK's suffered a huge defeat in the 1989 state election. On the other hand, Jayalalithaa gathered huge public support after being 'humiliated' by ADMK's top brass. She went to take party's command after Janaki quit politics following the 1989 election defeat. PANNEERSELVAM'S REVOLT On February 5, Panneerselvam resigned as Tamil Nadu CM paving the way for Sasikala to take charge. However, things changed dramatically in a couple of days. He arrived unannounced at Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai. With Jayalalithaa's photo in his shirt pocket, a teary-eyed Panneerselvam was watched by a large number of his supporters and AIADMK activists. After a parikrama of Jayalalithaa's memorial, Panneerselvam broke his silence. Addressing the media after his meditation, Paneerselvam said, "Jayalalithaa's soul called out to me, so i came hereto search my conscious. Also, I want to tell some truth to the people of this country and party cadre." He said, "I have performed my duty without any shortcomings and carried forward path shown by Ammaa. Sasikala's team is pressurising me." "I am the conscience keeper of Amma. But I resolved to myself that I will continue to work in Amma's name and that's when Cyclone Vardah also happened. I worked not for myself but for Amma's spirit. I did everything possible to ensure Vardah wasn't an issue and that irritated Sasikala." As the high voltage drama continues, it will be interesting to see who among the two 'fighters' emerge victorious. WATCH: No one in Tamil Nadu has the right to take away my treasurer post: O Panneerselvam on his expulsion advertisement ALSO READ: Panneerselvam: Will probe Jayalalithaa's death, wasn't allowed to meet her in hospital Constitutionally, Sasikala has all rights to be Tamil Nadu CM, says BJP's Subramanian Swamy Sasikala vs Panneerselvam as CM: 5 film roles Chinnamma will fit perfectly in --- ENDS --- NCP had conducted a survey in Mumbai to understand the demographic changes in order to prepare for the BMC elections. According to the survey, two-third of the total voters in Mumbai live in the slums and chawls. The state government changed the geographic plans of the 227 BMC wards last year. The survey shows that the percentage of Marathi voters has gone down to just 36%, while the north Indian voters have gone up to 38%. Many Marathi voters have migrated to towns like Kalyan, Badlapur, Vasai and Virar looking for the cheaper housing options. Most of the remaining voters are scattered and do not decisively dominate BMC wards, said Sachin Ahir, president of Mumbai NCP. Gujarati voters amount for 12% of the total voters. Rajesh Verma, former deputy Mayor and a Congress leader said, Gujarati voters are consolidated. The BMC wards in Kandivali, Borivali, Ghatkopar, Mulund suburbs are decisively dominated by these voters. This is precisely the reason that Shiv Sena roped in Hardik Patel to woo Gujarati voters. Harshal Pradhan, Shiv Sena's media coordinator said, Shiv Sena will contest Gujarat assembly elections along with Hardik Patel. The meeting between Uddhav Thackeray and Hardik was not merely for BMC. Similarly, Muslims voters account for 16% of the total voters and they dominate constituencies in Byculla, Kurla, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Dharavi and South Mumbai. AIMIM, Congress, Samajwadi Party will be doing everything possible to woo these voters. Sachin Sawant, Congress spokesperson said, We are sure that Shiv Sena-BJP are not going to win even a single seat in these 59 constituencies dominated by minority & Dalit voters. Shiv Sena is trying to contest the elections only on emotional issues. Sachin Ahir said, We have worked for the issues concerning voters from slum areas. Even the educated voters will like our candidates and our campaign & agenda will be to cater to both these classes. Congress too has identified 42 essential services, such as auto, taxi, security, laundry, milkman, vegetable vendors, domestic helps and Sanjay Nirupam, Congress president for Mumbai, plans to address these voters. Essentially, the 60% voters from slum areas will decide the fortune for these political parties in the nail biting contests of BMC elections scheduled on 21 February. The death of a leader, infighting, and finally, a split in the party. The war waging between O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala after Jayalalithaa's death is an uncanny reminder of the infighting that AIADMK saw after MGR died in 1987. By Shreya Biswas: Last night, Tamil Nadu saw a very different side of O Panneerselvam as he walked out of Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach and declared war against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala. Speaking to reporters, Panneerselvam said he was "forced" to resign as chief minister, and is ready to withdraw his resignation if people are with him. advertisement "Party leaders said I have to take initiative towards making Sasikala the CM and that's how I was forced to tender resignation. I will take back my resignation as the chief minister if party workers, people are with me," Panneerselvam said. Invoking Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam made it clear that Sasikala is not getting the CM's chair easy, and that he is not going down without a fight. With some members pitching for Sasikala and others standing by Panneerselvam, the infighting brewing in AIADMK is pointing towards the unhappy ending of a split. While it won't be the first time that the party has split, strangely enough, it won't be the first split to crack through AIADMK after the death of a leader. Also read: AIADMK Crisis LIVE: Sasikala, in meeting with MLAs, calls OPS a traitor, says won't be cowed down MGR'S DEATH AND THE AIADMK SPLIT THAT FOLLOWED In 1987, as Jayalalithaa was assaulted and thrown off a car during MGR's funeral procession, a split cracked through AIADMK. Soon, a group of members went with MGR's widow Janaki Ramachandran. On the other side were MGR's protege Jayalalithaa and her trusted allies. Janaki Ramachandran took over as Tamil Nadu CM on January 7, 1988, becoming the state's first-ever female chief minister. But then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi dismissed Ramachandran's government using Article 356, making her tenure end in just 24 days. President's rule was imposed in Tamil Nadu. Infighting continued, and AIADMK broke into two. In the 1989 assembly elections, the two halves of AIADMK fared poorly, and opposition DMK edged towards power. Slapped by the crisis, the two factions of AIADMK joined forces. Having won 27 seats, Jayalalithaa was now the new leader of a reunited AIADMK. Also read: OPS vs Sasikala: 7 most important developments since last night you should know WILL A SPLIT FOLLOW JAYALALITHAA'S DEATH TOO? Since last night, the Panneerselvam vs Sasikala war has been at its peek. Names have been called, promises have been made, even Jayalalithaa's spirit has been spoken about. advertisement Soon after Panneerselvam spoke last night, Sasikala expelled him from his post of AIADMK Treasurer. Since then, she has accused him of being a traitor and of conspiring against her and the party taking opposition DMK's help. Panneerselvam hit back saying "no one can take away" the position Jayalalithaa entrusted him with. And hinting at the possibility of a split, he extended an olive branch to Jayalalithaa's niece, Deepa Jayakumar. Sasikala, however, has assured that AIADMK is not heading for a split, trashing Panneerselvam's claims of having 50-odd MLAs on his side. Split or no split, history tells us that infighting is a pest that brings down even the biggest empires, especially the ones which have strong oppositions watching. Also read: OPS vs Sasikala: 7 most important developments since last night you should know --- ENDS --- A Jerusalem Administrative Court has rejected a petition seeking to block the construction of the Blue Line of the Jerusalem light rail, which will be servicing the Emek Refaim area of the city. In addition, the court ordered the petitioners to pay all legal costs incurred by the city in defending itself against the petition, amounting to NIS 30,000. The court rejected the petition on Monday, 10 Shevat, explaining there can be no doubt there have been adequate time and forums for anyone and everyone to voice their objection, adding the court does not accept the contention that City Hall has not heard the voice of the people. The court was also not persuaded by the arguments seeking to show the negative aspects of advancing the line through Emek Refaim. The court is aware the decision to expand with the Blue Line followed a long tedious process that including public hearings and the experts weighing the interests of many population sectors as well as merchants and store owners in the affected area. Ultimately, the court feels the light rail is a quieter, cleaner and an environmentally friendly option that the buses providing service today. Using the main line as an example, the court was also told that as the rail is developed, the area will receive a facelift and pedestrian malls will open and there will be an overall improvement in quality of life as one sees today along Jaffa Street. The Blue Line was overwhelmingly accepted by residents of Emek Refaim along with neighboring residents of the German Colony and others, who view the light rail as a welcome transportation alternative as well as being environmentally friendly and easily accessible. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Housing Minister (Kulanu) Yoav Galant addressed the nationwide housing shortage in statements made on Tuesday, 11 Shevat during an interview with Mordechai Lavi of Kol Chai Radio. He explained that in 2016, 40,000 apartments were marketed adding that in another 25 years, Israel will need one million apartments of which 18% will be required for the chareidi tzibur. He went on to explain that yes, the fears are founded as there are mayors who are afraid of permitting chareidim into their cities. He stated that the number of permits in 2017 will double the number given in 2014 but it takes time for them to actualize since it is a process from planning to construction. According to Galant, to build and sell a 100-square meter apartment including taxes and profit costs NIS 600,000. Anything above this amount goes to other expenses. Efforts are ongoing to reduce the costs and the remuneration given the state for the land to a minimum. Galant explains mayors fear that if many chareidim move to an area, the character of that area will change and they are opposed to this. He feels in the larger cities it is batul bshishim but mayors of smaller cities are unwilling to gamble as they do not wish to see the character of their homes to be changed by an influx of chareidim. Galant added, Many ask why dont they just take an empty mountain near Jerusalem and build? The state works in line with certain laws and processes, and this includes permitting persons to object to construction. This is the balance in a democratic country. There is land that is designated for construction, the material which we work with, and while there is a lot of land, there is a shortage of land allocated for building. Galant, a retired IDF major-general, addressed rumors that he is moving to Likud from Kulanu. He explained that he is a member of most government security forums and it is entirely likely that he will run under the Likud banner in the next election. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The fight against corruption and black money is not a political fight. It is not to single out any particular party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Rajya Sabha. By India Today Web Desk: Note ban was not targeted against any party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while speaking in Rajya Sabha today in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's joint address to Parliament. Rajya Sabha MPs from the Congress walked out of the House after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a direct attack on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the latter's remarks on demonetisation in Parliament's last session. advertisement Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address, Modi said, "So many scams and yet his career is spotless. Only Doctor sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of taking a shower with a raincoat on." HIGHLIGHTS OF PM MODI'S SPEECH IN RAJYA SABHA: Medical facilities have been provided in backward areas. For cleaner India, people's mindset need to change. Swachh Bharat will soon become people's mission. Media gave its support to our Swachh Bharat Mission. Our target is to give gas connections to 5 crore families. Our government has worked a lot to improve governance. Our has empowered the RBI. Our government has started the Banks Board Bureau. We have to stay positive and only then change can come. Initial hardships will lead us to a better tomorrow. We need to slowly take India towards a cashless economy. On September 4, 1972 Jyoti Basu said in Lok Sabha that Indira Gandhi government is based on black money and for the black money. Congress walks out of Rajya Sabha in protest against PM Modi's jibe at Manmohan Singh. Bathroom mein raincoat pahan ke nahana to Dr Sahab (Dr Manmohan Singh) hi jaante hain ( We must learn the art of taking a shower wearing a raincoat from Dr Manmohan Singh.) We must learn the art of taking a shower wearing a raincoat from Dr Manmohan Singh.) For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singhji had a lot of influence on country's economic policies. Dr Manmohan Singh was spotless and unblemished throughout his tenure. Ek bhi daag nahi laga un par. Today , India is working to correct the wrongs that entered our society. There is a horizontal divide-on one side are the people of India and Government and on the other side are a group of political leaders. About 700 Maoists surrendered after demonetisation and this number is increasing. Shouldn't this make us happy. We will have to be tough on those who are cheating the system. When we do that, the hands of the poor will be strengthened. Corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class. Terrorists have been hit hard by notes ban. Corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class. Demonetisation is not a fight against any political party or thought. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm. The Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi attended the Lok Sabha proceedings today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/Sm1Sz3A2mc ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Congress President Sonia Gandhi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/brMclRsUNt ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 On Tuesday, the Prime Minister launched an offensive against the Opposition in Lok Sabha, especially the Congress, for disrupting the Winter session over the issue of demonetisation. Narendra Modi said he and his government were ready for a debate on the issue but it was the Opposition which did not allow the House to function, fearing the Prime Minister would gain from it. Not sparing Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his "If I speak, there will be an earthquake" remark, the Prime Minister said the earthquake in Uttarakhand was a result of that. "When you see scam in sewa, quakes occur," he said. Replying to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge's "not a dog came from your family" jibe, the Prime Minister said India's freedom is not a gift from just one family. "When the Congress was not born, Indians fought for Independence. We do not belong to the dog culture. Lotus has bloomed then and it blooms even today," the Prime Minister said amid applause from his party. Defending the government's decision to demonetise high-value currency, Narendra Modi said "note ban is a movement to clean India of corruption". Accusing the Opposition of trying to gain mileage over the issue, the Prime Minister said he will continue to fight for the poor in the country. advertisement He said the Congress did not implement the note ban for political reasons. "They looted, we recovered," the Prime Minister said. ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi in Parliament: They don't want demonetisation debate because I gain from it PM Modi knows why Uttarakhand earthquake happened. And it has a Rahul Gandhi connection They looted, we recovered: PM Modi's 10 taunts at Rahul Gandhi, Congress in Parliament WATCH PM's FULL SPEECH IN LOK SABHA --- ENDS --- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that Israeli legislation to retroactively legalize thousands of settlement homes is an aggression against the Palestinian people. That bill is contrary to international law, Abbas said following a meeting with French President Francois Hollande in Paris. This is an aggression against our people that we will be opposing in international organizations. What we want is peace but what Israel does is to work toward one state based on apartheid, Abbas said. Hollande called on the Israeli government to go back on the bill approved by lawmakers late Monday, saying it would pave the way for an annexation, de facto, of the occupied territories, which would be contrary to the two-state solution. Hours before Abbas meeting with Hollande, Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, told The Associated Press that the bill is putting the last nail in the coffin of the two-state solution. The measure is the latest in a series of pro-settler steps taken by Israels hard-line government since the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Calling the move theft, Erekat said it was the Israeli government trying to legalize looting Palestinian land. In his joint statement with Hollande, Abbas also warned against moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, one of Trumps campaign promises. Any move in that direction is an error and shouldnt be done prior to an agreement on a political solution, he said. (AP) President Donald Trumps immigration and travel ban made an awful lot of sense but probably should have been delayed at least long enough to brief Congress about it, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told lawmakers Tuesday. Kellys comment to the House Homeland Security Committee was the most direct acknowledgment by a high-level administration official that the rollout of Trumps executive order had been mishandled. In retrospect, I should have this is all on me, by the way I should have delayed it just a bit so that I could talk to members of Congress, particularly to the leadership of committees like this, to prepare them for what was coming, Kelly said in his first public meeting with lawmakers since being confirmed by the Senate last month. Trumps executive order temporarily stopped citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. and also temporarily barred the admission of refugees. A court has blocked the order, but the administration is appealing. Kelly defended the order, saying it will enhance public safety for all our citizens, but said in hindsight he would have delayed its launch by a day or two. Kelly was put on the defensive by Democratic lawmakers who have argued that the travel ban is inhumane, counterproductive and essentially a Muslim ban an allegation Kelly repeatedly denied. Kelly referred to the order as a pause that would give the U.S. government time to fully evaluate how would-be visitors and refugees are being vetted before they are allowed into the country. The Trump administration, including Justice Department lawyers defending the order in a federal appeals court, has said the travel ban was necessary to keep would-be terrorists out of the country. Trump has repeatedly tweeted that a court order temporarily blocking the ban is leading to people pouring in. In a tweet this week, Trump said many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. Pressed by Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committees ranking Democrat, to address the presidents claim, Kelly said only that the government wont know for sure if someone with bad intentions entered the U.S. until the boom. We wont know until then, Kelly said, referring to a possible attack. Kelly also addressed questions about the Trump administrations plans for a wall along the border with Mexico and his efforts to bolster the ranks of the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the DHS agency responsible for finding and arresting immigrants living in the county illegally. On Trumps wall, Kelly said he is relying on recommendations from border agents along the southern border. He said he asked agents in Texas Rio Grande Valley about the issue in a visit last week. Part of the reason I went down there, first and foremost, was to ask the people that know more about this than anyone else on the planet, Kelly said. There are walls there, parts of walls in strategic places in McAllen on the border. But do we need more wall? And they said, well, you know, secretary, we need to extend some walls; we need to fill in some places with physical barriers. He did not address how any new walls or fencing would be paid for but wouldnt rule out barriers in places including the rugged Big Bend area of Texas, parts of which are marked by towering jagged cliffs on either side of the Rio Grande. Kelly also told lawmakers that while he will follow the presidents directive to hire 5,000 Border Patrol agents and 10,000 ICE agents, his department wont be able to add staff overnight and wont lower hiring or training standards. He said he doesnt believe were going to get 10,000 and 5,000 on board within the next couple of years. Hiring at the Border Patrol, which is overseen by Customs and Border Protection, has already been slow in recent years. About two out of three applicants fail the agencys polygraph exam. (AP) Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday he has serious, serious concerns about President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee after their meeting, complaining that the federal judge avoided answers like the plague. Schumer, who met with Judge Neil Gorsuch Tuesday, stopped short of saying he would oppose the nomination. The New York Democrat said after the meeting that he asked Gorsuch about whether a Muslim ban could in concept be constitutional, alluding to Trumps executive order banning entries to the U.S. from seven majority-Muslim countries; about Trumps unsubstantiated comments that there may have been millions of illegal votes in the 2016 election; and about the reach of executive power. Schumer said Gorsuch deflected the questions. Pointing to Trumps criticism of a federal judge who halted the executive order over the weekend, Schumer said the bar for a Supreme Court nominee to prove they can be independent has never, never been higher. Schumer is under pressure from many in his party to oppose the nomination. But other Democrats may support it. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that she was impressed with Gorsuch after her own meeting with him Monday. Feinstein said Gorsuch is a very caring person and hes obviously legally very smart. She has not yet said whether she will support him, though. She stressed that its a lifetime appointment and Gorsuch is only 49. Because of expected Democratic procedural maneuvers, Republicans will likely need the support of 60 out of the Senates 100 members to move to a confirmation vote on Gorsuch. Republicans have a 52-48 majority, so at least eight Democrats will have to vote with Republicans. Republicans and conservative groups are pressuring Democrats up for re-election next year in states that Trump won to vote for the nomination. Schumer has tried to rebut those efforts by indicating the decision is at least in part a referendum on Trumps presidency. While Schumer said Gorsuch is clearly a very smart, bright and capable man who loves being a judge, he said the Senate must give this nominee the scrutiny that this unusual moment demands. Gorsuch sits on the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (AP) The following is via TLS: Authorities in Lakewood are investigating after a Jewish man was assaulted during an attempted robbery on Tuesday night. According to a report by TLS, the Yungerman was getting out of his vehicle at around 1:00AM on East 4th Street when he was approached by two men who demanded his keys. The victim reportedly refused, and one of the men threw a brick at his face, injuring him, before fleeing the area. Lakewood Hatzolah responded to the scene and treated the victim. A K-9 unit was summoned to assist in the search of the suspects, who are being described as Hispanic men. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 732-363-0200. (Source: TLS) The following is via CHI: An 11-year-old African-American boy randomly accosted three Jewish teenagers and assaulted two of them this afternoon in Crown Heights. The first incident occurred at around 2:00pm in the vicinity of President Street and New York Ave., where the suspect ran up to a teenaged Jewish boy and verbally accosted him, threatening to shoot him. Shortly thereafter and in the same area, the suspect ran up to a second teenaged boy and asked him if he wanted to fight him. The boy responded in the negative and tried to continue on his way, at which point the assailant punched him in the face. The victim suffered bruising and a split lip. The third incident occurred a short while later on Crown Street between New York and Brooklyn Aves., where the suspect approached a teenaged Jewish girl and punched her in the face without saying a word. The victim suffered bruising and swelling as a result of the assault. The victim cried for help and within seconds Shomrim were called and were on the scene. They called the police who arrived shortly thereafter, and began searching for the suspect. Officers from the 71st Precincts Anti-Crime unit identified the suspect nearby and stopped him for questioning. The teen girl victim was brought to the scene and she positively identified him as the assailant. The suspect was arrested and taken down to the 71st Precinct. Shomrim volunteers found the suspects other victim and brought him down to the precinct to give his statement. which was added to the criminal report. After being interviewed by detectives from the NYPDs Hate Crimes Task Force they have decided to upgrade the charges to a hate crime. (Source: CHI) [VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] At least 50 bochrim were arrested in nationwide protests on behalf of talmidei yeshiva arrested by military police. The protests were organized by the Yerushalmi branch of the litvish community headed by HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita. According to a Jerusalem police spokesman on Wednesday morning 12 Shevat, the protests continued throughout the night in the capital with a total of 18 arrests made in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. Protests were held at Kikar Shabbos, Bar Ilan Street, Shmuel HaNavi, and Chaim Bar-Lev Blvd. Police were targeted with stones at some of the areas and garbage receptacles were set ablaze. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Mr. Yosef Tzvi Barkan, a Jerusalem exterminator, was sentenced to a three-year prison term by the Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday, 11 Shevat for causing the deaths of Avigail and Yael Gross AH of Givat Mordechai. In addition, Barkan is required to pay the parents NIS 200,000 in compensation. The money has already been collected by the court. While Barkan agreed to the plea bargain agreement weeks ago, the court proceeding took place this week and he was officially found guilty of causing the deaths of the girls by negligence. Barkan exterminated the familys Givat Mordechai home and he used unauthorized substances, which led to the deaths and sever illness of brothers, who Baruch Hashem recovered. The court accepted the plea bargain after hearing expert witness testimony that following an accident, Barkan suffered diminished cognitive function including his lack of ability to properly evaluate the risks posed by the substances he used. Justice Rivka Feldman in her ruling wrote she is accepting the agreement after it was found acceptable to the family. She stated from her perspective the defendant is a normative person, and good and honest person who will not likely every find a way to forgive himself for the death of the girls by his actions. The court added that after consulting with the family, it is of the opinion that the sentence is fair and therefore, the agreement was accepted. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) reported on Wednesday 12 Shevat that the delays in construction in areas of the capital are caused by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and no one else. According to the report, members of the local planning board explain there is 1,500 dunams of land near Givat HaMatos in the southern capital that awaits final permits for three years. Following bold announcements of renewed construction coinciding with the election of US President Donald Trump, many believed thousands of apartments are going to be built, but the anonymous city officials quoted by Army Radio insist the Prime Minister is still holding up the process. The report adds that all the permits necessary were given three years ago for 600 apartments in Beit Tzefafa, but this project was held up due to the lack of progress on infrastructure which is under the jurisdiction of Housing Minister Yoav Galant. Just two weeks ago, PM Netanyahu told his cabinet members that he have removed all restrictions surrounding construction in eastern and southern Jerusalem. Officials responding for Galant confirm the delay is the result of instructions from the Prime Minister. The Prime Ministers Office did not wish to comment on the Galei Tzahal report. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Left-wing organizations are working to finalize their petitions as they prepare to challenge the Regulation Law, which was passed in Knesset earlier this week in a 60-to-52 vote without abstentions. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who opposed the bill, explained he will oppose the bill when he represents the state in response to the petitions which are expected to be filed. Mandelblit told the cabinet ahead of the vote that passing the legislation that will retroactively legalize over 4,000 buildings throughout Yehuda and Shomron is on shaky legal ground. He added that passing the bill into law will also lead to condemnations against Israel in the international arena. To date, Britain, France, Germany, Jordan and Turkey have come out harshly against Israel for passing a land-grab bill into law. In all likelihood, the petitions to the High Court will be filed in the coming day and it is no less likely that the nations Highest Court will invalidate the law based on current realities. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, where the company announced it will invest $7 billion in a factory employing up to 3,000 people. The factory will be in Chandler, Arizona, the company said, and over 10,000 people in the Arizona area will support the factory. Krzanich confirmed to CNBC that the investment over the next three to four years would be to complete a previous plant, Fab 42, that was started and then left vacant. The 7 nanometer chips will be produced there will be the most powerful computer chips on the planet, Krzanich said in the Oval Office with the Trump administration. Most Intel manufacturing happens in the U.S., Krzanich said. DEVELOPING STORY The committee expressed it displeasure saying that the investigation by the NIA remains incomplete even after one year of the Pathankot attack. By Manjeet Negi: Parliament Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Wednesday raised questions over Pathankot attack and series of events since then. The committee expressed it displeasure saying that the investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) remains incomplete even after one year. According to recent report tabled in Parliament today, the panel commented that unless the investigation is complete at an early date, it will not be possible to answer the grave questions that were raised following the terror attack. Few questions raised by the committee: Why was no preventive action taken despite credible intelligence input that was received? Why was no action taken despite interception of communication between terrorists and their handlers? The committe also raised questions about the use of special forces (SF)? While the action taken indicates the use of special force (1Para), it is not clear whether the SF were actually deployed to neutralise the terrorist. The panel also raised questions about Pakistan's joint investigation team's visit. The committee also wanted to know if it it was insisted that Pakistan should allow an investigation team from India to visit the country to gather evidence and whether Pakistan agreed to the demand. It also asked if Pakistan did not agree to India's demand, then why was the Pakistan team allowed to visit? advertisement Also read: US move for a UN ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar blocked again by China Also read: Pakistani intruder gunned down by BSF in Pathankot's Bamiyal sector --- ENDS --- By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times It happens occasionally that something that normally just requires spot checking becomes heavily infested. In the past two weeks, as a number of the more rigorously trained mashgichim have reported, basil leafs from Florida have become extraordinarily more infested with something called leaf miners. Basil is an herb that is most commonly used fresh in cooked recipes. When it is dried it taste very very different. It is one of the main ingredients in pesto that green Italian oil and herb sauce. In general, it is added at the last moment, because cooking quickly destroys the flavor. Essentially, small worms tunnel inside the leaf and often leaves a wiggly trail on the leaf. The leaf-miners other name is Liriomyza sativae Blanchard. It is found commonly in the southern United States from Florida to California and also Hawaii. It is also found in most of Central and South America. It cannot survive cold areas except in greenhouses. Vegetable leafminer attacks a large number of plants, but seems to favor those in the plant families Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, and Solanaceae. The infestation is appearing in basil leafs for sale across the country. One mashgiach reported, We are getting calls from California through New York. One Mashgiach remarked, Even the highly regarded Pontano brand contains the leaf-miners. Either one must really know how to check them or one should only buy the pre-checked from a reliable place. How long will the infestation last? No one really knows. The author can be reached at [email protected] [VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Multiple rockets were fired from the Sinai into Eilat, Wednesday night. The IDF released a statement that two rockets were successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome. There were no injuries or damage reported. Army and police forces began searching the area for signs of debris, police said. Meanwhile, a short time earlier, a mortar was fired from Syria into the Golan. It appears to have been from the fighting inside Syria. The IDF responded by firing at a Syrian Military position, and reportedly was a successful hit. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Be it demonetisation, Swachh Bharat, crusade against black money and corruption, Modi is seen in the forefront. All these issues are recognised as his pet projects. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unusually aggressive while replying in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday to the debate over Motion of Thanks on the President's address. However, behind the aggression was also the Prime Minister's defence of several issues with which he is identified. Be it demonetisation, Swachh Bharat, crusade against black money and corruption, Modi is seen in the forefront. All these issues are recognised as his pet projects. But these have apparently failed to make a mark with the people. Hence, the Prime Minister seemed to defend himself in the garb of his aggressive posture in Parliament on these issues. advertisement 1. DEMONETISATION Modi spoke at length on the demonetisation initiative and said it was not a fight against any political party or thought. He appeared defensive by saying there was a horizontal divide. "On one side are the people of India and government and on the other side are a group of political leaders. Today, India is working to correct the wrongs that entered our society," he said. Recounting the positive outcome of the note ban move, Modi said 700 Maoists had surrendered after its launch and this number was increasing. Besides, the terrorists have been hit hard by notes ban, he added. However, the Prime Minister chose to remain silent on the prime objective of demonetisation. While announcing the move on November 8, Modi had said it was aimed at flushing out black money from the economic system. However, this most important objective does not seem to have yielded the desired result as most of the cash, black or white, has found its way bank in the banks. Further, though Modi had demanded 50 days' time from the people for banking system to normalise post-demonetisation, the people are still facing immense hardships in withdrawing money. The impact is likely to be seen in the ongoing Assembly elections in five states as the rural people have been worst hit by demonetisation and there is anger against the BJP in all these states, particularly the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister seems to be wary of the mood of the people and was seen offering explanation to them through Parliament debate. He had made the same pitch on Tuesday during his reply to the motion in the Lok Sabha. 2. SWACHH BHARAT Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Swachh Bharat Mission with much fanfare, its results are still not clear. Despite discussing the issue on various forums - from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, in and outside Parliament and also his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat - not much is visible on the streets and other public places even though the project was launched more than two years ago. Speaking in Parliament, Modi said, "Swachh Bharat will soon become people's mission and acknowledged media for lending its support to the Mission." advertisement The Prime Minister is perhaps aware of the questions which are being raised over the cess imposed in the name of Swachh Bharat without an account of the money spent. 3. BLACK MONEY Broaching the issue of black money, Modi attacked Congress and former prime minister Indira Gandhi. He said on September 4, 1972 former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu had said in Lok Sabha that Indira Gandhi government was based of black money, by black money and for black money. The record of the Modi government in checking black money is not unquestionable. Despite BJP making tall promises before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections of bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks within 100 days of coming to power, it has failed to fulfil them. The BJP-led NDA government is regularly targeted by the Opposition on this issue and has tried to build public opinion too. 4. CASHLESS ECONOMY Talking in the Rajya Sabha, the PM raised the issue of cashless economy. He said there was the need to slowly take India towards a cashless economy. "We have to stay positive and only then change can come. Initial hardships will lead us to a better tomorrow," he said. advertisement However, talking about cashless economy in itself indicates PM's defensive attitude. While launching demonetisation, loving towards cashless economy was not a prime objective. The Modi government started talking about it when demonetisation appeared to have failed to yield the desired result - of ensuring that black money and counterfeit currency were rejected by the system. But most of the currency has been deposited in the banks, thus, defeating the very purpose of the demonetisation move. 5. CHECKING CORRUPTION In the Rajya Sabha, Modi said, "We will have to be tough on those who are cheating the system. When we do that, the hands of the poor will be strengthened. Corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class. Corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class." A clean and efficient government was the USP on which the Modi government came to power. When in Opposition, Modi and other senior BJP leaders had consistently raised corruption cases such as 2G spectrum, coal block allocation, Adarsh Housing Society, Commonwealth Games scams against the Manmohan Singh government. After Modi came to power, the people expected him and his government to take action on these scams. However, despite the lapse of more than two-and-a-half years, the Centre does not seem to have taken any concrete action against those who were accused of indulging in these corruption cases. advertisement While it is the job of the Opposition to raise allegations of corruption against the ruling party, the reverse is taking place under the Modi government. The Centre has still been raising the old scams without having taken a tangible action against them. ALSO READ:PM Narendra Modi in Parliament: They don't want demonetisation debate because I gain from it WATCH VIDEO:PM Modi in Rajya Sabha: Dr Manmohan Singh knows art of bathing while wearing a raincoat --- ENDS --- Cast your mind back to November and you may recall reading in Money Mail that power suppliers were planning to announce electricity price rises of 10 per cent in January. Well, we didn't miss the mark by much. Npower is raising bills by an even bigger 15 per cent, while putting gas up 4.8 per cent for good measure. And the increases were made public on February 3 a few days later than expected. The power giants will grab any excuse to squeeze more from us, so you can expect rival suppliers to follow suit. Shameless: Npower is raising bills by an even bigger 15 per cent, while putting gas up 4.8 per cent for good measure If this all feels like groundhog day then you will be pleased to hear of a twist in the tale this time. Unlike previous years, everyone from Npower's former chief executive Paul Massara and the Prime Minister to the energy regulator Ofgem and comparison sites that earn a fortune by flogging cheap tariffs agrees these latest hikes are completely unjustified. Npower is mostly blaming the higher cost of buying fuel on the wholesale markets. Even after recent rises, however, wholesale prices are 18 per cent lower than they were three years ago, while Npower's average bill is 4 per cent higher (1,187 compared to 1,142 in January 2014). On that basis, it should be cutting its energy prices, rather than increasing them again. Npower also says it is grappling with costly Government energy policies, green taxes and smart meters. Yet experts say the cost to suppliers of keeping the lights on next winter will be a fraction of what it was this year. Meanwhile, the Government is actually cutting subsidies for solar power and wind farms, not increasing them. I would hate to think that the 12 billion installation of smart meters in every home is what is really driving up bills. As we explain today, in future these meters will let you pay less when it rains and buy energy in advance. However, while they might reduce errors and help us to save energy, the wacky new tariffs will also make it more likely that we will end up on the wrong deal and paying over the odds for gas and electricity. It might be better if the likes of Npower were instead made to focus on improving customer service and offering fairer prices, but ministers seem set on everyone having a smart meter by 2020. So if we don't get a U-turn on that, the Government must ensure the burden of rolling out these devices is shared more evenly. At the moment, energy suppliers try to shift any extra costs to their loyal customers on standard variable tariffs. That allows firms to lure customers from rivals with cheap offers and quirky new tariffs and still make a tidy profit. We are all being exploited, plain and simple, and Prime Minister Theresa May must step in and put a stop to it. Brave move What super stuff from Coventry Building Society. It takes a lot of guts for a company to stick its head above the parapet and make a bold change that actually benefits the customer when your rivals are not doing the same. Now when you log on to your Coventry savings account, you will see in pounds and pence how the interest compares to the best deals available elsewhere. Wholesale energy prices are lower than they were three years ago, so why are prices rising? This honesty policy was dreamt up by the Financial Conduct Authority, but the toothless watchdog stopped short of making it obligatory because the banks' lobbyists said it could not work. Well, Coventry has shown they were talking rubbish. This leads to only one conclusion: the real reason banks won't come clean is the fear that savers will suddenly realise just how little the company cares about them. Badmiral A few weeks ago, Money Mail deputy editor Victoria Bischoff got her car insurance renewal quote. It was 84 cheaper than last year's; the first time that had happened. Had her insurer, Admiral, drawn a line under the nasty trend for insurers (all of them) to jack up prices each year for no other reason than to coin in more money? Apparently not. Victoria tapped her details into a price comparison website and found the policy she wanted for a whopping 165 less. The worst bit was the firm that was offering this bargain price was Admiral! When she rang to complain, it took just eight minutes for Admiral's call centre to match its online price. The insurer did not even argue or try to defend its clearly inflated original quote. These insurance companies really do try it on, so please don't let them. Great gall Carrying on my long-running theme of exposing how shops wheedle us out of every penny, beware vastly different prices from a retailer's stores and website. Denis Smith emailed after visiting his local WHSmith to buy a Lonely Planet travel guide for China (I'm told it's well worth going if you have the chance). He says: 'A copy was available, but at 20.99 I decided not to buy it then, but to see what was available online. The identical book was available on the WHSmith website at 14.27.' If that wasn't enough, he ordered the book and picked it up at the same shop within a couple of days. And there was no delivery charge. 'Not in my lifetime, I'm in my late 70s, but the High Street will probably eventually consist of a few click and collect stores,' says Denis. While I don't doubt that he is right, it concerns me how quickly daily life seems to be disappearing into the digital ether. At this rate, our High Streets will turn into wastelands without bank branches or shops and populated by a few drifters wandering in and out of the bookies and pubs. Apologies for that depressing image, but it is exactly why the tax hikes being imposed on small shops, B&Bs and other family-run firms must be called off. d.hyde@dailymail.co.uk Troubles: First Group runs the Great Western Railway (pictured) Engineering works on train lines and falling demand for buses caused a slowdown in First Group's UK business. The transport firm said that while the fall in sterling had helped, business had failed to perform as strongly in Britain as it had in the US. First Group runs the Great Western Railway and TransPennine Express franchises under its UK First Rail business, and some 6,400 buses outside of London under its First Bus service. But, like most public transport operators, it has been hit by political and economic uncertainty and a fall in the cost of motoring, which has led to more people using cars and increased congestion for buses. Bus passenger revenues fell 1.1 per cent in the last nine months of 2016 as a result, while rail passenger revenues grew by just 0.8 per cent. Overall revenues rose 12.8 per cent in the three months to the end of December, helped by favourable currency translation and booming performance in the US where it posted a 4 per cent rise in sales at its First Transit subsidiary. Heineken will try to fill bars with its own beer when it snaps up Britain's second biggest pub chain for 1.8billion. The Dutch-brewer is closing in on a deal to buy 1,900 Punch Taverns pubs with the other 1,329 being sold to a private equity group. But Punch tenants claim Heineken plans to force pubs to stock 85 per cent of its own brands, which include Amstel, Foster's and Birra Moretti. Stocking up: Heineken is closing in on a deal to buy 1,900 Punch Taverns pubs with the other 1,329 being sold to a private equity group They are calling on the UK's pubs code adjudicator to step in ahead of a crunch meeting of Punch shareholders on Friday. Chris Lindesay, coordinator of the Punch Tenant Network, said Heineken 'says it is going to do something it simply can't do and we need the adjudicator to clarify this. If he doesn't, it is a car crash waiting to happen'. Punch Taverns has an agreement with its tenants that they can choose which beers and ales they stock. If Punch or the new owner decided to change the agreement, publicans could apply for a market-rent only agreement when they rent the pub and have greater independence over which beer they stock. But Lindesay fears Heineken will insist bars are stocked with its own beers, which he said would breach pub regulations. Heineken has justified the deal to investors by insisting it will use it to improve sales of its brands. Deutsche Boerse boss Carsten Kengeter is being investigated by Frankfurt prosecutors An insider trading probe into the foreign takeover of the London Stock Exchange may have been triggered by a dirty tricks campaign orchestrated by German critics of the deal. Deutsche Boerse chief executive Carsten Kengeter is being investigated by Frankfurt prosecutors over 3.8million of shares he bought days before his company launched formal tie-up talks with the LSE. The probe threatens to derail the 21billion deal and Kengeter, 49, could face jail if convicted. Now there is growing speculation in Germany that the investigation has been launched following a dirty tricks campaign trying to scupper the takeover. A number of leading political figures in Frankfurt, where Deutsche Boerse is based, have attacked the merger. They are concerned the corporate headquarters will be in London and this would weaken Frankfurt as a banking base. Senior figures have claimed an opportunity to damage the City has been missed. Meanwhile, politicians in Germany are under growing pressure to act tough on financial services as elections draw near. Regional finance minister Thomas Schaefer said: 'The reasons for the headquarters being in Frankfurt are crystal clear. Those involved in London must recognise, also in their own interests, that it would not be a good idea to keep the plans as they are now.' Resistance: A number of leading political figures in Frankfurt, where Deutsche Boerse is based, have attacked the merger German watchdog BaFin is another opponent of the headquarters plan particularly since the Brexit vote. Boss Felix Hufeld said: 'It is hard to imagine that the most important exchange venue in the eurozone would be steered from a headquarters outside the EU.' Crucially BaFin has played a role in the investigation of Kengeter and passed its information to prosecutors. Questions had been asked about why the authorities should suddenly investigate him when the details of his share deal had been known for months. ...but the bankers keep getting richer Lawyers, bankers and spin doctors will pocket millions more than expected from the takeover of the London Stock Exchange because of delays. The consultants working on the deal were already expected to trouser 234million between them. But they are set for 71million more after having to resolve concerns raised by European Union competition chiefs. There has been a 60 per cent rise in predicted legal costs, with bank fees up 12 per cent. 'There have been issues with [BaFin] and some of Deutsche's shareholders, who've not been comfortable with this deal,' one insider said. 'It doesn't surprise me that Carsten is being thrown to the wolves.' The allegations relate to 60,000 Deutsche Boerse shares worth 3.8million which Kengeter, who lives in a 9million seven-bedroom house in Wimbledon, bought on December 14, 2015. Official talks had not started with the LSE but Frankfurt prosecutors claim Kengeter first became aware of a possible takeover between July and August that year. It means he would have been aware of the possible deal when he bought the shares, which have since risen by around 10 per cent. On the Continent, the timing of the investigation has raised eyebrows. Kengeter declared his purchase at the time, and it was vetted by his firm's compliance team, but the probe was made public only when his office and apartment were raided last month. Deutsche claims he was required to buy the shares by the board as part of a remuneration scheme. It is rumoured an enemy of Kengeter's noticed the share sale and was biding their time to cause maximum damage. Yesterday, Deutsche said it had 'full confidence' in Kengeter. British opponents of the deal have seized on the opportunity to investigate more thoroughly. Tory MP Sir Bill Cash yesterday tabled a parliamentary debate for February 21 at which he hopes detailed discussions can take place. Cyber security firm Sophos soared as it reported an 11 per cent revenue rise in the three months to December 31 and turned a 10.6million loss a year ago into a 1.4million profit. Spending on computer security is an increasingly important area for businesses, with estimates that this year they will spend about 78billion fighting off attacks by hackers. Last year Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed a 1.9billion spending package designed to boost the UK's defences against online threats, while the Fed pledged to raise its spending on cyber security to around 14billion. That trend is a great boost for companies such as Sophos, which provides firewalls and email security for businesses. Growing market: This year businesses will spend an estimated 78bn fighting off attacks by hackers Sophos, which now expects its free cash flow to more than double for the full year, said that software subscriptions were a key driver for the business. The firm also announced it had bought US malware protection firm Invincea for 80million. Stockbroker Numis said the company was 'successfully innovating and acquiring to deliver new products to new and existing customers'. Sophos shares surged 3.8 per cent, or 10.2p, to 279.9p. The FTSE 100 edged up 0.04 per cent, or 2.6 points, to 7188.82. BHP Billiton was the greatest faller of the day, down 3.4 per cent, or 47p, at 1341.5p after operations were stopped at two copper mines in Chile. Metal miner Glencore was down 1.8 per cent, or 5.8p, at 312.1p. Tullow Oil revealed that revenue plunged 21 per cent to 1billion for the year. Profit at the oil and gas firm fell 8 per cent to 436.5million and it posted a loss after tax of 480,000. STOCK WATCH - FLOWGROUP Flowgroup floundered as it warned its margins were under pressure as it competes with new rivals. The firm, which is involved in energy supply and services, said it was investigating ways of reducing its reliance on price comparison websites to win business. New suppliers are offering cheaper tariffs to attract customers, which could make the outlook for 2017 more challenging if it continues. But the AIM-listed company said results for 2016 should be in line with expectations. Shares plunged 16.3 per cent, or 1p, to 5.1p. Nicholas Hyett, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: '2016 was an important year for Tullow. The completion and ramp-up of production at its oil field in Ghana means the group now has the tools to start paying down the huge debt mountain it has built up.' But how effectively the firm can reduce that debt depends on the oil price. While the black stuff rallied to 18-month highs at the end of last year, it has remained relatively flat since at around $55 a barrel. Tullow has about 3.8billion of debt on its balance sheet. Shares tumbled 5.4 per cent, or 16p, to 279.3p. Consultancy firm WS Atkins climbed as a currency boost kept it trading in line with expectations in the third quarter of the year. The firm, which is focused on design, engineering and project management, said trading in the UK and Europe which accounts for more than half of revenue had been strong, with the outlook positive as the Government looks to invest in energy, high-speed rail, roads and airport projects. Peel Hunt said the company was set to benefit from the UK and US governments' focus on infrastructure spending. Shares rose 1.1 per cent, or 16p, to 1495p. Dillistone dipped as a weaker pound affected revenue and costs at the business. The firm, which provides software and technology to the recruitment industry, said it had seen lower sales to new clients because of economic uncertainty. But its database system improved after a 'challenging' 2015, with an increase in the number and value of new contract wins in the year. It was a cautious outlook for the year ahead from Dillistone but the business said pre-tax profits were on track to meet expectations. Shares slipped 3.6 per cent, or 3.5p, to 94.5p. Engineering solutions outfit Versarien soared as it launched its new graphene brand, Nanene. Graphene is a type of carbon made up of sheets which are just one atom thick. Around 200 per cent tougher than steel, it is believed to be the strongest material in the world. Versarien said it had already secured its first sizeable order for Nanene, which it said could be produced at market-leading prices. The brand was developed at the University of Manchester. Versarien's shares rocketed by 34 per cent, or 4p, to 15.75p. L'Oreal could finally be set to sell The Body Shop after spurning numerous offers over the years, it was reported today. The French make-up giant purchased the ethical skincare brand in 2006 for 652.3million and it is now valuing the business at 852million, the Financial Times says. The Body Shop has 3,000 stores in 66 countries, but it has seen sales slide in recent years making it one of L'Oreal's worst-performing businesses. On the market? After receiving numerous offers over the years, L'Oreal might finally sell The Body Shop it has been reported. It was revealed last year that like-for-like sales at The Body Shop fell by a further 0.6 per cent in the half year to the end of June, triggered by an economic slowdown in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. L'Oreal is set to report its annual results on Thursday and it's anticipated that it could also confirm a review of the chain's ownership. A spokesperson for the company refused to respond to This Is Money's request for comment. LOreal is said to be working on options with financial advisers at Lazard around the potential deal. Its believed that the discussions will result in an outright sale. Despite The Body Shop's rocky performance, John Colley, professor of practice at Warwick Business School, told the Press Association there will be no shortage of suitors. Current owner: The original acquisition of The Body Shop was seen as controversial, as the chains green credentials were not regarded as an obvious fit with LOreal. He mused: 'This would be an interesting sale as consumer interest has cooled in ethically sourced products in recent years. 'The Body Shop also finds itself somewhere between the discounters and the more upmarket brands which are supported by major advertising revenue. 'The Body Shop's support for charities and ethical sources was intended to offset much-reduced advertising. The model may have run out of steam. 'However, there will be no shortage of private equity funds looking to acquire it.' The original acquisition of The Body Shop was seen as controversial, as the chains green credentials were not regarded as an obvious fit with LOreal. The Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick and her husband banked around 117million from their 18 per cent stake in the business. The couple originally started The Body Shop in 1976 to help support their two young daughters, Justine and Samantha. LOreal chief executive Jean-Paul Agon previously revealed that he often received 'very strong offers' to buy The Body Shop. He added: '[This] means that its a kind of treasure. Anubhav Mittal, the alleged scamster, was on the verge of launching a merchandising business to open a legal front for the multi-level marketing company, but delayed the launch after his astrologer advised him. By Shashank Shekhar: Blind faith in astrology may have exposed the Rs3,700 crore online ponzi scheme being run out of Noida that duped over 6.5 lakh customers. Anubhav Mittal, the alleged scamster behind the 'like' scam, was on the verge of launching a merchandising business to open a legal front for the multi-level marketing company, but he delayed the launch as his astrologer told him it was not a good time. advertisement And before he could finally float his new venture, Int-Maart, a team of the Uttar Pradesh special task force (UP-STF) blew the lid off his illegal business. According to the investigators, a container with goods worth several crore has been seized. It had products like shoes, T-shirts and umbrellas. Mittal through his new venture was planning to offer these goodies in exchange of entry fee as an incentive to lure more customers. ALSO READ | Noida ponzi scam: Authorities ignored complaints for two years "So far he was not offering any service nor did he have any company as customers. His companies were involved in multi-level-marketing but he was propagating that the company was no more a multi-levelmarketing firm," a senior STF officer told Mail Today. "So through his new company he was going to give a legal shape as then he could show that he was selling products in exchange of money. But, before this could happen and he could mint more money by selling his merchandise he was arrested," the officer added. IntMaart was announced with much fanfare at Crown Plaza hotel in Greater Noida. The function was was also attended by Bollywood celebrities Sunny Leone and Amisha Patel. "We were informed that Int-Maart will be functional this month. I have three accounts with him and have made good money and was looking forward to invest in the new scheme," said a customer on the condition of anonymity. ALSO READ | Facebook Like scam: Noida cops probe bankers' role in Rs 3700 crore ponzi scam Mittal had also made the payment to several firms to make the merchandise and everything was ready but now the first consignment has been seized by the Enforcement Directorate. The online fraud, is not only big in terms of the number of people cheated, but also the amount of data under scanner by security agencies. Officials said that four agencies - STF, ED, Income Tax and Serious Fraud Investigation Office - are combing through over 60 terabyte (TB) of data recovered from the company's offices. "The biggest challenge in this case is amount of data we have got through his three companies and from several bank accounts. The data goes beyond 60 TB and several teams are put in place including field experts to crack this data," the officer said. advertisement ALSO READ | Enforcement Directorate registers case in Noida's Rs 3,700 crores 'like' scam Apart from the government private cyber, legal and forensic experts are working 24/7 to check the data. "All those involved in the case are government empanelled experts as there is immense pressure coming from the company side. Copies of all the data has been made and shared with all the agencies so that all the information is cross checking and investigated. Till now cops have received over 8,000 complaints and more complaints are coming from countries like Nigeria, Oman and Kenya. Police claims that during scanning of his finances it was found that Mittal's company has made huge payments to dozen of firms but none of them exist on ground raising suspicion about who was the beneficiary. ALSO READ | Govt to introduce new law soon against ponzi menace --- ENDS --- Addressing fire safety Living in San Diego County, the threat of fires is constant, that is why I have made fire safety one... Supporting animals As a trained Project Wildlife Native Songbird Rehabilitator, my experience raising orphaned and injured songbirds and returning them to the... Pakistani actor Mahira Khan is a single mother. She was married to Ali Askari for eight years, from 2007 to 2015. By India Today Web Desk: Pakistani actor Mahira Khan just made her big Bollywood debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Rahul Dholakia's Raees. While the film is busy breaking box-office records one after the other, its makers have made sure Mahira is not in India for the promotions either before or after the films. Mahira, however, addressed the media in Mumbai during the success bash of Raees a few days ago via video conference. advertisement Mahira said at the interaction, "You don't understand how much we wanted this (lifting of the ban on Indian films) to happen. Raees is a big film and everyone was asking me about it (release). Everyone was waiting." However, people in Pakistan will not be able to watch Raees thanks to the film being banned for 'undermining Islam' and 'portraying Muslims in a bad light'. MOVIE REVIEW: RAEES While the team of Raees deals with that, we take a look at Mahira Khan. Who is this actor whose Bollywood debut made so much noise in India? Here are 10 things you probably did not know about Mahira Khan. 1. Mahira Khan tied the knot with Ali Askari in 2007. Mahira Khan and Ali Askari 2. The two were divorced in 2015. 3. Mahira has a son, Azlaan, from her marriage with Ali Askari. The child was born in 2014. Mahira Khan with son Azlaan 4. Mahira considers her son her first priority. In a recent interview, Khan said, "I do only one film at a time. My first priority is my child. So it's a lot of hard work . But it can be done. It's all about choices. Many times I have to let go of good work. Fortunately the work I've done has worked for me." 5. Mahira's favourite Indian actor is Guru Dutt. She has a 'deep admiration for Guru Dutt', said Khan. "I discovered him when I was 16. I saw Pyasa and it changed my life. I can't explain what it meant to me. It opened a whole new kind of Indian cinema to me. Prior to that I was into the song-and-dance films, the Anil Kapoor films and so on. After watching Guru Dutt's films I became a huge fan of Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry and the songs of Guru Dutt's films." 6. Mahira Khan admits to being an anomaly in Pakistan given the kind of work she has done in both television and films. "I am an anomaly in my country. I hope in the coming years, there will be more women like me," she said. advertisement 7. In an interview back in 2011, Mahira Khan said that they (Pakistanis) 'should not be inspired by Bollywood at all'. 8. Mahira Khan has her roots in India. Hafeez Khan, her father, was born in Delhi before the Independence. Khan migrated to Pakistan after the Partition. In an interview, Mahira said, "My grandmother would talk about Meerut, but now there is no family this side of the border (in India). When I was leaving for Mumbai, I was told to meet someone's aunt's cousin uncle.... you get the drift." Mahira Khan and Ali Askari parted ways in 2015 9. There's only one man in the world who Mahira can go to any ends of the earth for: her son Azlaan. 10. Mahira has grown up watching Bollywood films. ALSO WATCH: RAEES Movie Review --- ENDS --- MBABANE A married woman, Aalong woth her three children have gone missing for over a week after having marital problems with her husband. Gcebile Dlamini (28) left for her parental home at Eluvinjelweni after she started having marital problems with her husband. The two families later addressed the issue which was causing problems in the marriage and Gcebile was told to return to her marital home at Sigangeni with her three children, who are all girls. On February 1, 2017, she called her husband and informed him to come and fetch them at the Mbabane Bus Rank. However, when he arrived there, he did not find her or the children at the spot she had initially said they would wait for him. He tried to call her on her mobile phone and found that it had been switched off. He went back home thinking that they had miscommunicated but he was met by an empty house as his family was not there. Police were then informed and a case of missing persons for all four was opened. Gcebile, the wife, Vuyiswa (7), Telamene (5) and Ziyanda (3) are all missing. Her family members informed Gcebiles husband that she was not with them and other relatives have denied knowledge of her whereabouts with the children. Superintendent Khulani Mamba, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, confirmed the missing persons file which has been opened for four females. A mother and her three children have been reported missing by the father and we ask the public to help us locate them because the father is worried. The mother should also come back home if she is safe wherever she is, Mamba said. MBABANE It was a horrific experience for a female teacher of Evangelical Primary School, who was punched and later dragged inside a classroom by her male colleague. Estela Banda, who is originally from Zimbabwe but currently resides in Manzini assaulted Benele Dlamini with fists and further dragged her on the floor inside the classroom in the school. As a result, Banda was arrested and charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). Appearing before Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi Banda pleaded guilty to the charge. Asked why he behaved in such an unprofessional manner, Banda informed the court that Dlamini came to his classroom and accused him of reporting her criticism to the administration. She said I told the administration that I heard her complaining that there were a lot of free periods in the school. A free period is the time when pupils spend some time without a lesson. As she talked to me, she would push me, claimed Banda. He said it was when he pushed Dlamini back that the fight ensued. A medical report that was presented as part of evidence confirmed that Dlamini sustained injuries during the heat of the assault. Nhlabatsi found Banda guilty of the offence and as a result, he was convicted. In mitigation of the sentence, Banda informed the court that he had realised that he was wrong. He said as a result of his wrongdoing, he apologised to Dlamini and the school administration. In view of the circumstances, Nhlabatsi warned Banda against taking the law into his own hands. She advised him to engage the relevant authorities whenever he had differences with his colleagues. Banda was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option to pay a E2 000 fine. MBABANE The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said the E50 million Capacity Building exercise convicts have let down His Majesty the king. As a result, Principal Crown Counsel Macebo Nxumalo yesterday pleaded with the court to order Phindile Gwebu, Sebenzile Thango, Ethel Matsebula and their companies, Inhlava Consultancy (Pty) Ltd and Masima Consultancy (Pty) Ltd, to compensate government. Nxumalo said the exercise was the Kings brainchild and his effort was let down by the convicted trio. He said the exercise was cut short after government discovered that the money that had been set aside for capacity building was looted in a short space of time. The principal crown counsel said the issue of compensation was supported by Section 321 (1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938. Thango and Matsebula, in their mitigation, told Judge Nkululeko Hlophe that they did not have money and that the court should look into their personal circumstances. Nxumalo submitted that the issue of compensation did not refer to the ability of an accused person to pay the injured party. He said if the court saw it suitable, then it can order the accused person to compensate the affected party. The crown counsel mentioned that the king, during the official opening of parliament, said corruption and fraud could not be tolerated and that the guilty party should be made to compensate the injured party. MANKAYANE Former Prime Minister Sotsha Dlamini has died. He was aged 77. The former PMs death could not have come at a worse time for the country since the kingdom is fresh from mourning the death of Obed Dlamini, who succeeded Sotja as PM in 1989. Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane acknowledged receiving a report on the death of the former PM. He said government officials were yet to discuss funeral arrangements with the bereaved family. Information gathered was that the former head of government had been taken to the Mankayane Government Hospital, where he passed away yesterday morning while receiving treatment. He was admitted to the facility on the previous evening, according to a family member. The relative said Dlamini had complained of stomach ache on Monday evening, and had to be rushed to the health facility where medical personnel suggested he be hospitalised so that they could monitor his situation. One of the former prime ministers sons, who was interviewed yesterday morning, disclosed that he had been informed about his fathers illness on Monday evening, and the next thing he received a call the following morning notifying him that he had died. I am still to go home after receiving the call in the morning (yesterday). There is nothing much I can say for now until I get official word from the elders in the family, said the grieving son. This publication further spoke to one of the deceaseds daughters, who said the family was devastated by the loss. I just got off the phone and someone was sharing the sad news. Even though we were aware of his deteriorating health, we never expected something like this to happen. But its better you talk to my elder sister who may be in a position to say something, said the former PMs younger daughter. The Minister unveiled the NSG annual magazine 'The Bombshell', which contains details of various IED explosions that occurred in various parts of the world in 2016. By Jitendra Bahadur Singh: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore inaugurated the 17th International Seminar on Counter Terrorism, being organised by National Security Guard, in Manesar, Haryana today. The Minister unveiled the NSG annual magazine 'The Bombshell', which contains details of various IED explosions that occurred in various parts of the world in 2016. Earlier, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also inaugurated the Niranjan Auditorium, in memory of Lt Col. Niranjan Kumar, who laid down his life during the Pathankot attack in 2016. advertisement WHAT HE SAID: Terrorism is a global threat and the footprint of terrorism does not restrict to any border. There should be proper coordination between the agencies within the country, as well as between the countries, because terrorists take advantage of element of surprise if we live in isolation The Minister said that now the focus should be more on Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). Tthe outcome of the seminar should be shared among the different agencies, to develop intelligence and also use the knowledge for safety and security. There should be collaboration in intelligence, strategy and technology. He appreciated the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence for keeping pace with other countries in terms of modernising the forces. During the day, two sessions were held to discuss on the manifestation of IED threats in the last decade and the global cooperation to mitigate IED menace. --- ENDS --- Tom and Thordis met when they were teenagers, but one haunting night changed everything for both of them. 20 years later, they shared a stage to give out a message. By India Today Web Desk: "Ever since that night, I've known that there are 7,200 seconds in two hours." In 1996, 16-year-old Thordis Elva from Iceland met 18-year-old Tom Stranger from Australia during a student exchange trip. Neither of them knew their lives were about to change. They started dating and a month down the line, Elva was raped. She was raped in her own house by her then boyfriend Tom. Tom had come to visit her after the school's Christmas ball. advertisement Elva, as she remembers, had tried rum for the first time and was feeling safe with Tom as he headed over to her house to drop her safely. "It was like a fairy tale, his strong arms around me, laying me in the safety of my bed," she remembered. But all her trust was broken when she realised that Tom was doing something he's not supposed to do. She explained her ordeal and said, "My head had cleared up, but my body was still too weak to fight back, and the pain was blinding. I thought I'd been severed in two." "In order to stay sane, I silently counted the seconds on my alarm clock. And ever since that night, I've known that there are 7,200 seconds in two hours," she said. Tom, one the other hand, didn't consider his act to be rape at that time. "I have vague memories of the next day," he said. "The after effects of drinking, a certain hollowness that I tried to stifle. Nothing more. But I didn't show up at Thordis's door. It is important to now state that I didn't see my deed for what it was." "I felt deserving of Thordis's body," Tom talked about how some men have a natural instinct to have an unspoken claim over a woman's body. "To be honest, I repudiated the entire act in the days afterwards and when I was committing it. I disavowed the truth by convincing myself it was sex and not rape. And this is a lie I've felt spine-bending guilt for." Feeling perplexed about the situation and to whether she could even call it rape, Elva and Stranger parted ways as Tom returned to his home in Australia. "I was raised in a world where girls are told they get raped for a reason. Their skirt was too short, their smile was too wide, and their breath smelled of alcohol. And I was guilty of all of those things, so the shame had to be mine," Elva said. advertisement But Elva couldn't make peace with that night and decided to write to him, nine years later, after having a nervous breakdown. She wrote to him in hope of peace and to end her suffering. Tom and Elva started writing to each other and agreed to meet 16 years after the rape. They met in Cape Town and shared their life stories. "All I wanted to do for years is hurt Tom back as deeply as he had hurt me," Elva said. Elva said speaking about what happened and sharing their side of the story was cathartic. "Light had triumphed over darkness... There is hope after rape." The pair also co-authored a book, South of Forgiveness, to give out a simple message, that the power of words triumphs all and that it's high time that we stop treating sexual violence as a women's issue. Take a look at the journey of a rape survivor and her rapist and how they found peace: --- ENDS --- AIADMK General Secretary slammed Panneerselvam, calling him a traitor who has colluded with the party that Jayalalithaa fought against. By India Today Web Desk: AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan launched a scathing attack on O Panneerselvam, calling him a "traitor" who has joined forces with the party that Jayalalithaa had fought against in her lifetime. Panneerselvam had earlier alleged that he was forced to quit the chief minister's post and said a probe into former chief minister Jayalalithaa's death will be ordered. advertisement Sasikala today held a meeting at the party headquarters in Chennai which was attended by 129 MLAs. WATCH: Election Commission says rules were flouted for Sasikala's elevation SASIKALA's ATTACK ON PANNEERSELVAM: After Amma's demise, the supporters asked me to take the responsibility; I couldn't as I was very sad. For 33 years, I have been by Jayalalithaa's side. When she died, I was in no state to take over the reins. Many MLAs, including O Panneerselvam, wanted me to be the chief minister after Jayalalithaa's death. Nobody can shake foundations of AIADMK which was built and nurtured by Amma. Each one of us has the duty to take forward the legacy and good work of Amma. There are forces who want to divide the party. I could sense the acts of the chief minister who connived with the opposition. Our opponents are after us and spearheading the revolt, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path. As the General Secretary of the party, it became my responsibility to put an end to the wrongdoings committed by O Panneerselvam. O Panneerselvam is a traitor. He has betrayed Amma and the AIADMK. His act of betrayal and disloyalty will be punished. Panneerselvam has colluded with the party which Amma fought against in her lifetime. ALSO READ: O Panneerselvam vs Sasikala: 6 most important developments since last night you should know Sasikala vs Panneerselvam as CM: 5 film roles Chinnamma will fit perfectly in Panneerselvam finds voice: Jayalalithaa asked me to be CM. Sasikala's team pressurising me ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Gina Martinez Veterans at Queens College now have a new space to lounge on campus. Queens College announced the newly renovated Veterans Club Monday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In attendance were City Councilmen Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) and Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and a representative from state Assemblywoman Nily Rozics (D-Flushing) office. The club was made possible by an $8,000 grant from Student Veterans of America and The Home Depot Foundation. The club is located on the second floor of the Student Union. The revamped space includes new lounge and kitchen furniture, a computer, appliances, and renovation supplies. Lancman, who served as a commissioned officer and infantry platoon leader in the New York Army National Guards 42nd Infantry Division, praised the refurbished club on campus. Queens College honored our veterans the right way by opening a Veterans Lounge with the motto: We learn so that we may serve, he said. Too often, veterans are only shown appreciation on Veterans Day, but this new lounge is a way to recognize our local veterans all year long. Veterans Outreach Specialist Dennis Torres talked about the improvements, which included fixing the walls and ceiling, new tiling, a flat screen TV, a full fridge and a microwave. According to Torres, the lounge is used to host events for veterans, including a yearly disabled veterans awareness celebration. Here at St. Johns we have roughly around 250 military students, he said. This club is an organization on campus that helps build bridges with veterans and the rest of the community. Around 60 students showed up to the ribbon cutting/ They were excited, there was a great reception to the lounge. Everyone was so happy. It all came out greater than anyone had expected. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Kourtney Webb The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its first Lunar New Year Celebration Wednesday at the historic Flushing Town Hall. The Lunar New Year is one of the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Originally associated with the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a celebration to honor household and heavenly gods and goddesses and bring families together. After the adoption of the Western calendar in 1912, China joined in celebrating New Years on Jan. 1. But China continues to celebrate the Lunar New Year as well. The event will feature the best of Flushings diverse multicultural neighborhood. Chef and owner of Flushings Dumpling Galaxy, Helen You, will be making special Chinese cuisine eaten for the celebration, including a prosperity toss or Yusheng (a colorful platter of shredded vegetables, pickled ginger and salmon), roasted suckling pig, golden dumplings, longevity noodles, sushi and more. The celebration will also feature a colorful lion show. Performers adorn themselves in huge papier-mache lion heads and brightly colored tails, dancing and spinning. The dance will be performed by the Mui Fa Lion and Unicorn Dance Team, Korea Taekwondo Martial Arts Studio and the Chinese Cheongsam Association in New York to usher in good fortune, for the year of the rooster. The event begins at 6:15 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, which is at 137-35 Northern Blvd. Tickets are $28 at the door. Since last night, the entire narrative of Tamil Nadu politics have turned upside down. It escalated soon puking out support, emotions, drama, and of course, memes and jokes. By Mohak Gupta: O Panneerselvam's rebellion did not go down well with the AIADMK, and its general secretary VK Sasikala, who soon called a meeting that led to OPS' expulsion from the post of treasurer. The last two days have been full of commotion. Sasikala accused OPS of colluding with DMK. "In recent assembly session, opposition leader (Stalin) and Panneerselvam exchanged warmth, they were smiling at each other," she told ANI. advertisement After the meeting and comments, however, Sasikala went on to clear that she never put pressure on OPS to quit. After the expulsion, OPS smashed Sasikala saying, "I was appointed treasurer by Amma and no-one can take away my post. I don't fear anybody and DMK is no way involved in it." Responding to Sasikala's comment on him being pally with DMK leaders, OPS said, "Looking at opposition leader and smiling at them isn't a crime. I think smiling is not a crime." "To Sasikala, the biggest difference between human beings and animals is that only humans can smile - CM with a smile," said a tweet on his page @CMOTamilNadu. And after this, soon started pouring in countless memes and jokes on Twitter. Here is the Sasigala time people are having with PaMemeSelvam: DAYS HAVE CHANGED Twitter: Cinema Calendar (@CinemaCalendar) HISTORY LESSON Twitter: Raj Kumar (@RajDhonipk) ANIMAL FARM (COURTESY SHILPA SHETTY) Twitter: Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) "AN AMAZING WAY TO DEAL WITH CHANGE" Twitter: umang misra (@umangmisra) PANEER PE CHARCHA Twitter: Ashok Shrivastav (@ashokshrivasta6) "LIFE IS ONE BIG TRANSITION" Twitter: AurNab ComeSwami (@KhaaliYuga) TAM-IL JERRY Twitter: Dinakaran (@dinakaran) STUMPED TO STUNNED Twitter: Troll Cinema (TC) (@TC_Offl) And now, it's time for the humour to have some motion: TOPPLED WHEN OPS ENTERS OUCH Also Read: || Panneerselvam, Sasikala lock horns: 7 most important developments since last night you should know || --- ENDS --- Strong defense, pair of goals from Shaye Bailey hands Freedom WPIAL Class 1A championship A shutdown defense and a pair of second-half goals from junior Shaye Bailey led the Freedom Bulldogs to a convincing 3-0 win over Springdale Friday. Saudi Arabia walks the same path as USA, deports 39,000 Pakistani people and has decided to investigate thoroughly before letting anyone from Pakistan enter the country. By India Today Web Desk: With President Donald Trump barring the entry of Muslims in USA, seemingly other countries are also taking the advantage of sitting under the tree that POTUS planted recently. After USA, Saudi Arabia has decided that an investigation procedure is needed to let in people from Pakistan as well. After deporting 39,000 Pakistanis within four months, Saudi Arabia aims to filter the people who are entering in their kingdom. advertisement Saudi Arabia's reason behind this behavior towards Pakistan is due to the violation of rules and increase in acts of terrorism. And according to Saudi Arabia, most of the convicts are from Pakistan. The kingdom of Islamic states feels threatened from the country and decided to take some precautions to avoid the increase in terrorist activities. According to the Saudi Gazette, the kingdom has decided to scrutinize every individual who wishes to enter their land and will be seeking intelligence and all the required data about specific individuals. Abdullah Al-Sadoun, chairman of the security committee of the Shoura Council said that the political and religious inclinations of the Pakistanis coming to work in the Kingdom should be known to both sides before they are recruited for work in the Kingdom. "Pakistan itself is plagued with terrorism due to its close proximity with Afghanistan. The Taliban extremist movement was itself born in Pakistan," he told Saudi Gazette. According to Nafithat Tawasul of the Interior Ministry, there are 82 Pakistani suspects of terror and security issues who are currently held in intelligence prisons. The attackers who were planning to blow up the Al-Jawhara stadium in Jeddah were also from Pakistan along with the man who blew himself up in front of the US consulate in Jeddah. Pakistan has also been warned by the USA to share correct data and backgrounds of people or Pakistan will be likely to experience a travel ban. Read FYI ||Bird flew: Saudi prince buys flight tickets for his 80 hawks|| --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Schenectady Sirin Hamsho, the General Electric engineer from Niskayuna who was stranded in Qatar following President Donald Trump's Jan. 27 travel ban, has been a quiet force inspiring not only women who work in the tech sector but also for giving Arab immigrants a voice. Hamsho had participated the day before the ban took effect, in a live interview with Palestinian film director Nawras Abu Saleh that was broadcast from Al Jazeera's studios in Doha, Qatar. Hamsho is a native of Syria, one of the seven Muslim-majority countries covered by Trump's travel ban, which was put on hold last Friday by a federal judge. GE lawyers and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko have assisted Hamsho in her efforts to get out of Qatar since last week since the ban stranded her and her two young children there. Although Hamsho is a French citizen as well, the U.S. State Department originally said such dual citizens would not be allowed into the United States. Officials later clarified that they would only assess visas based on the passport that travelers present to U.S. customs officials. On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge in Washington state lifted the ban, which has allowed Hamsho and others like her to make it back to the U.S. without worrying that they will be detained or have their visa canceled. "It's been quite a week and I hope it is over now with the federal judge order to halt the unjust (executive order)," Hamsho wrote Sunday on her Facebook page. "She is planning on returning soon," Hamsho's husband, Omar Al Assad, also an engineer for GE, said on Tuesday. Hamsho, who designs wind turbines for GE in Schenectady, appeared on Al Jazeera, the TV and media network, Jan. 26, the day before Trump signed the executive order. She made the appearance along with Abu Saleh, a well-known screenwriter and filmmaker, whose 2013 movie "Oversized Coat" won critical acclaim for its view into life in the West Bank. The talk, which was broadcast on one of Al Jazeera's streaming video channels, covered "Arab women in the diaspora and the challenges of integration" into the western world, according to a translation. Hamsho is a filmmaker, who made the short movie "Hajar," about migration. It has gotten nearly 400,000 views on YouTube. She got the inspiration for the film from watching Syrian refugees trying to assimilate into American culture and life. Hamsho, whose father is an engineer and mother is an Islamic scholar, has also worked to help Syrian war refugees in the Capital Region. lrulison@timesunion.com 518-454-5504 @larryrulison A woman dries her hair with a towel. Who emerges from underneath that towel is the same woman, but many years later and now played by a different actress. That elegant act of transformation, an evocative vision of the ways in which we change over time but also in many ways stay the same, is the centerpiece of Pedro Almodovar's "Julieta." The film marks something new from the veteran Spanish filmmaker, a two-time Oscar winner who has been a pillar of the international festival and art-house scene since he emerged in the 1980s with provocative films such as "Dark Habits" and "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." Although Almodovar is known largely for his riotously overheated melodramas and recent excursions into genre deconstruction, "Julieta" is an adaptation of three short stories by the Canadian author Alice Munro and a sincere, straightforward drama, minus the air of self-conscious referentiality that comes with the "melo" prefix. "For a baroque director such as myself, I have actually deprived myself of many of the gestures I would have deployed in some of my other films," Almodovar, 67, said during a recent interview in Los Angeles. "And this restraint is how I have made 'Julieta' an austere drama. Now it doesn't matter if other people don't experience it as an austere drama, what matters for me is that's what it is. More Information At a glance "Julieta" Stars: Emma Suarez, Adriana Ugarte, Daniel Grao Director: Pedro Almodovar Opens: Friday See More Collapse "It's much easier for me to make a melodrama. I feel much more comfortable. But it was a very good experience to be dry," he added. "You can make something different for yourself, and it is really welcome. I would like to make always things I have never done in the past." In the film, actresses Emma Suarez and Adriana Ugarte both play the title character. As the movie begins, Suarez plays Julieta as a woman estranged from her adult daughter Antia, but desperate to reconnect. Then in flashback, Ugarte plays Julieta when she was younger, as the story explains the complicated past that led to their estrangement, and then leaps forward to find her still struggling to reconcile with Antia. The film was submitted as Spain's official entry for the foreign-language Academy Award but surprisingly failed to make the shortlist of nine titles competing for the final five nominations. It was likewise not nominated for the foreign-language Golden Globe, a prize Almodovar has won twice before. Although the changes in "Julieta" could be read as ongoing signs of maturity on the part of Almodovar and his skillfully assured sense of storytelling, the film feels fresh, not autumnal or like a more typical artist's later work. "I was very surprised when I read 'Julieta,' because I saw that it was really a drama and not a melodrama," said actress Rossy de Palma, who first worked with Almodovar on his 1987 film "Law of Desire" and returns with a supporting role in the new film. "I'm surprised that Pedro held on to all his preoccupations, held on to his universe and made it much more minimalist. And I love that: the restraint of including only the essential things." In conversation, Almodovar is exuberant and charming, switching between English and Spanish. He retains a film lover's hunger for new movies, asking where a few recent releases he wanted to catch up on might be playing. He noted that the central image of one woman going under a towel and emerging as an older version of herself had been with him from the screenplay's very first draft. "When I speak of simplicity, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about, trying to avoid any complex visual rhetoric," he said. "It's a moment that on the one hand is very human, just two people drying a feminine body, but there's also something of an element of religiosity in that moment." As references of overall tone and performance for his actresses, he referred them to Joan Didion's book "The Year of Magical Thinking" as an examination of loss and grief, the iconic actress Jeanne Moreau for her walk and the way she held the screen, as well as the recent German film "Phoenix" starring Nina Hoss. Almodovar noted that he wrote the film listening to the abstract music of composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass, but was at first reluctant to share it with the actresses. For Ugarte, a television star in Spain, the chance to work with Almodovar was genuinely a childhood dream come true. During an interview in Los Angeles alongside De Palma, Ugarte recalled how she once saw Almodovar out at the movies in Madrid when she was a young girl who then only harbored fantasies of being an actress. Almodovar purposefully did not want Ugarte and Suarez to see each other performing, as he worked with them separately; they only overlapped on set for one day. For Ugarte, finally seeing how her co-star approached the same role was a shock for all the subtle shadings of continuity. "When I saw all the film, I realized we were just one," Ugarte said. "I didn't miss myself when it was Emma, and she said the same thing. It felt like one part. It was like magic. Maybe Pedro brought us to the same way to understand how Julieta suffers." Almodovar has long had an interest in not only Munro's work a copy of the short-story collection "Runaway" can be seen on a bookshelf in his 2011 film "The Skin I Live In" but also the possibility of finally making an English-language film. "There is one moment in every decade where I decide to try, 'Let's make my first movie in English,' " Almodovar said. At one point it was reported that Almodovar was going to adapt the Munro stories in English, set in New York with a cast that would include Meryl Streep. But as has happened before, Almodovar got cold feet and temporarily shelved the project before refashioning it to take place in Spain. Even with the somber, reflective tone of "Julieta" already staking out new territory for him, Almodovar wondered aloud what would be gained, or lost, if he were to work in English, his own creative curiosity taking hold. "The difference would be in the way I behave during the shooting," said Almodovar. "I usually change many things at the last minute. I'm also the writer of the movie, and I don't have to ask anybody. I invent new lines when we are rehearsing and at the last minute in front of the camera. And this is something I'm afraid I will miss that ultimate touch is very important in my movies. "I'd be curious to see if I could do it in English and have that chance to intervene in the last moment as I always do," he added. "I'd be curious to see what kind of movie I would make. Because surely it would be a different kind of movie, but I'd also to be interested to see what it might be." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Averill Park Photographer Phil Caruso of Averill Park has spent 35 years working on movie sets. It's Caruso's work you see on giant movie posters at the cineplex and in promotional images that run in newspapers and magazines. He's worked on dozens of feature films with a stellar list of directors, including Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis and Terry Gilliam. For the past three years, he's gravitated to television series that film in New York City. On Saturday, Caruso, 60, will receive a still photographer lifetime achievement award from the Society of Camera Operators at a black-tie affair in the Loews Hollywood Hotel. Michael Keaton will receive the Governor's Award. The full story of is available here to timesunionPLUS subscribers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany The state Court of Appeals heard legal arguments Tuesday in the case of a Washington County man found guilty of killing his mother, stepfather and stepbrother in 2011. A special prosecutor is seeking to reverse a mid-level appeals court decision that reversed the conviction of Matthew Slocum because the trial judge allowed jurors to hear a statement Slocum gave to investigators after a public defender representing him in a different case asked police not to question him. The two sides also argued over a confession obtained after an officer asked Slocum if he should have a lawyer present or wanted the public defender and he replied "Yeah, probably." Judge Eugene Fahey noted a prior case involved a defendant saying "I think I want to talk to a lawyer," and that was deemed legally sufficient to stop questioning. " 'I think I want a lawyer' is more equivocal than 'Yeah, probably,' " Fahey said. "The test is whether objectively a reasonable person would consider that a request." Washington County Public Defender Michael Mercure replied that Slocum clearly meant he wanted counsel. Special District Attorney Jason Weinstein said the officers properly decided that Slocum saying "Yeah, probably" was not a clear request for an attorney. The two sides also argued over whether police should have questioned him without Mercure present. Learning Slocum was being sought in the murder case, Mercure sent a letter telling police not to question Slocum. Weinstein said Mercure had no legal standing to claim he was Slocum's counsel in the murder case. "You didn't say you represented him. You said he was eligible for your representation," Judge Leslie Stein told Mercure. "I was attempting to enter (the case)," he replied. "He was an existing client. The charges were fairly recent. We weren't certain he was the person responsible. We just knew we had a present client who was the subject of a multistate Amber alert." Slocum, 30, formerly of White Creek, was sentenced to 88 years to life at Clinton Correctional Facility after being convicted in 2012. He was moved back to Washington County Jail after winning the lower court decision in 2015 that the case should be retried, but without a second jury hearing Slocum's statement, "I just shotgunned my mother, dude," taken by two detectives interviewing him in New Hampshire. Prosecutors claimed Slocum killed his mother, Lisa Coon Harrington, 44; her husband, Dan Harrington, 41; and Harrington's son, Joshua O'Brien, 24, inside the home at 118 Turnpike Road July 13, 2011. He then allegedly set the house ablaze. After the killings, prosecutors said Slocum and his girlfriend, Loretta Colegrove, fled to New Hampshire where Slocum was arrested. tobrien@timesunion.com 518-454-5092 @timobrientu By Press Trust of India: From K J M Varma Beijing, Feb 8 (PTI) Dozens of scientists from different countries, including China and the US, are set to start an expedition to the South China Sea to explore its formation as part of the International Ocean Discovery Programme. In the first of two expeditions, 33 scientists from China, the US, France and other countries boarded the US drilling ship JOIDES Resolution today, which was docked at a Hong Kong port. advertisement The scientists will explore the lithosphere extension during the continental breakup, by drilling four sites to a depth of 3,000 to 4,000 metres in the northern area of the South China Sea. The study will contribute to understanding how marginal basins grow, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. A total of 66 scientists from 13 countries will participate in the expeditions lasting four months, it said. China has 26 scientists from top Chinese universities and research institutions on the expeditions, the most of any participating country. In the last few years, South China Sea dispute has come to the fore with Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan contesting Chinas claims on almost of all of the area. PTI KJV ASK AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Former White House photographer Pete Souza spent eight years documenting Barack Obama's presidency, and it seems he's not done portraying Obama in a favorable light. Souza, who has a new, non-White House-branded Instagram account, has been using it to subtly mock the Trump administration since Inauguration Day. Almost every major controversy involving Donald Trump is referenced in some way in Souza's photos. When the Washington Post reported Trump's tense phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Souza posted a cheery photo of Obama laughing with Turnbull. As Trump feuded with Mexico over the payment for his border wall, Souza offered up an image of Obama drinking with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. And, most recently, Souza posted an image of Obama in a well-lit meeting with the caption, "Those damn lights ;)" a reference to a New York Times story that indicated Trump staffers were holding meetings in the dark due to their inability to figure out how to use the light switches. Souza, who formerly worked at the Chicago Tribune, met Obama when Obama was a junior senator. Souza was asked to join the administration as the official White House photographer after Obama's election. Souza also served as the official photographer for President Ronald Reagan. He was succeeded by Shealah Craighead, the former White House photographer during the George W. Bush administration. To see some of Souza's teasing Instagrams, check out the gallery above. A planned march to protest at the status of Roscrea Garda Station has been postponed indefinitely, after local Gardai moved to reassure townspeople that the Station will now be fully manned, 24-hours per day. At a security briefing in the Station on Monday evening, newly appointed Inspector Seamus Maher introduced two new Sergeants who have been appointed full time to Roscrea, Sergeants Ger Harrington, and Bill O'Dwyer. Combined with extra manpower across the Division, and a change in rostering, this means the situation where one Garda is left alone in the Station can no longer arise, and Roscrea Gardai will be quickly able to respond to all local crises. Inspector Maher came to Roscrea Sub District in October 2016, and has previous experience in the area of crime and drugs investigations having served in Clonmel for the past seven years as Detective Sergeant, and prior to that he was Drugs Sergeant for the County of Tipperary. Insp. Maher has 21 years service in An Garda Siochana with 12 years as Sergeant in Tipperary Division. Sergeant Ger Harrington joined the force in 1999. On leaving Templemore, he spent three a half years in Rathfarnham, Dublin, working mainly in traffic enforcement and crime. He transferred to Thurles in 2004 and spent 11 years in the Divisional Traffic Corps before being promoted to Roscrea. Sgt. Harrington worked in road traffic managment and is skilled in Roads Policing. Sgt. Bill O'Dwyer is a native of Thurles and joined An Garda Siochana in 1993 and went to Pearse St. Garda Station on appointment. Sgt. O'Dwyer carried out a number of functions outside frontline policing including Community Policing, Warrants Management, and event organisation. He has 24 years' service with the majority of this service spent in Dublin's inner city. Sgt. O'Dwyer transferred to Roscrea from Mountjoy Garda Station. Cllr Michael Smith welcomed what he termed over 40 years of policing experience coming to the town. Local Gardai have seen many changes, but I know that the commitment to the town is still there. The numbers stationed in Roscrea are now close to what they were in 2008, he said. Cllr Eddie Moran said he was glad that the proposed march, scheduled for next Saturday, has been called off. The rumour got out that you were closed by night. But that's not happening. It's very important to have your doors open, and that's great news for Roscrea. Local activist Shane Lee said he has assurances that the door will be left open to the public, 24 hours, for the people of Roscrea. I'm glad to leave it at that. Insp. Maher said any members of the public can come to them in confidence on matter, and they are there to assist as public servants. Cllr Smith said Mr Lee had taken the responsible step by calling off the protest. It should never be a protest against the Gardai. We all need to be united on one thing: that is to join forces and to make sure this premises is both maintained and heightened. Insp Maher said he wanted the message to go out to the people of Roscrea: We are committed to this town. We're not going anywhere. We're very well aware of the issues facing the town. Derek Russell of 'Roscrea Stands Up', Tony Foyle, of Roscrea Scouts, and Michael Madden of the Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the new Gardai, and pledged their support. Mr Madden urged all stakeholders to fast-track a new CCTV system for Roscrea. That would really make a huge difference. It's something that should really be prioritised. We support all the voluntary and governmental organisation who are working so tirelessly, continued Insp. Maher, who stressed the imporantance of different groups in the town working together. The Gardai do have the investigative ability to address complaints, and there is a responsibility and onus on us to make sure the people of Roscrea get the service they deserve. Insp Maher assured PJ Wright that the preivous situation where one Garda might be left alone in the Station, unable to responed to a robbery, would not continue. Six new Gardai have come to the Tipperary Division, and this manpower will give Roscrea back-up to deal with emergencies. In relation to drugs and heroin, Insp Maher said he is satisfied that the situation is under control. Members of the public who feel they are being intimidated by drug dealers can approach Gardai on a confidential basis. Gardai are also liaising closely with the Mid-Western Drugs Task Force, and local community groups and residents associations. The wife of the late Anthony Foley has described the 10,000 signatures on Limerick City and County Councils Book of Condolences presented to her this week as another reminder of the amazing goodness of people. The Munster and Ireland legend died suddenly in Paris last October before the provinvce's opening European Cup game with Racing. Speaking after she was presented with the Book of Condolences by the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Kieran O'Hanlon, at City Hall, Olive Foley said that as overwhelming as her husbands passing had been, the generosity of the public had still shone through at all times. As dreadful as this has been, I cannot help, even at the most difficult of times, but see the amazing goodness of people. Youre dealing with something that is almost too much at times but theres always someone at your side, some message coming through. The greatness of this is really that its there for everyone, every time theres a tragedy, people respond in amazing ways. Ireland is a special place in that regard and Limerick too. We had incredible support in Killaloe but it was like there was a small bridge between Killaloe and Limerick at that time, and very much since. To have 10,000 people sign a book of condolences says it all about Limerick. It has a huge place in our hearts and even the journey home with Anthony, passing Thomond Park and seeing so many people there, is something we will never forget. We thank everyone across the city and county for their support and for all these signatures. We will never forget it. Mayor O'Hanlon said: The online initiative by the family to have others remembered in Masses alongside Anthony in the run up to Christmas was also remarkable. It brought thousands of people together who are grieving. That solidarity has given so many people strength and it was an incredibly selfless thing for the family to do. Theres not much we can do at times like this except let people know we are there for them and Limerick certainly did that for the Foley family. The pupils of Scoil Naomh Cualan made the trip to L.I.T. Limerick, on the 24th of January for a once in a life time experience. Pupils from fifth and sixth class participated in an in-flight call with French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who is currently onboard the International Space Station, orbiting the earth at an altitude of 400km. The girls and boys were extremely lucky to be chosen, as one of only six schools in Ireland to take part in this unforgettable event. Schools from Portugal and Romania also took part, with each location connected to each other and the I.S.S. by video link. To prepare for the in-flight call the children with the help of Ms. Mary Gorey from St. Josephs College Borrisoleigh, learned all about the European Space Agency, space technology used in our everyday lives and the science experiments being carried out onboard the I.S.S. The students were very interested to learn, as part of the mission to Mars, scientists from L.I.T. Limerick are developing technology to grow fresh vegetables in a zero gravity environment and they currently have the astronauts onboard the I.S.S. carrying out experiments on their behalf. The pupils compiled everything they learned, into a beautiful poster that was shown to astronaut Thomas via video link. He was very impressed! Thomas then was asked some very interesting questions. For example Ms. Gorey asked him, How long does it take for the research, experiments and new findings done on the I.S.S. to be used in technologies and medicine here on earth? His answer to this and other questions were very educational and the children learned a lot about space technology and how it impacts our lives on earth. To take part in such an historic event was wonderful and it has no doubt inspired the young boys and girls to develop their skills and enhance their knowledge in the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects. Perhaps one day students from around the world will be talking to our very own astronaut from Tipperary! In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court has asked a sitting Calcutta High Court to appear before it in person. By Press Trust of India: In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked sitting Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan to appear before it in person and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The court also stripped him of all his duties, restrained him from undertaking judicial and administrative work. "Issue notice to Justice C S Karnan. Returnable on February 13. Shree Justice CS Karnan shall forthwith refrain from handling any judicial or administrative work as may have been assigned to him," a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar said. advertisement "He is also directed to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to the Registrar General of the High Court immediately," the bench said. "Justice CS Karnan shall remain present in person on next date to show cause," it said. The bench directed the SC registry to ensure that a copy of its order be served to Justice Karnan during the course of the day and listed the suo motu contempt petition against him for further hearing on February 13. "SLANDEROUS PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS" Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi said that the nature of public communications allegedly undertaken by Justice Karnan were "slanderous" and "disparaging" to the system of administration of justice. He urged the bench that it can direct the Chief Justice of the High Court to restrain Justice Karnan from taking up judicial and administrative work. He referred to constitutional provisions and said that SC can take judicial note of the matter and is empowered to pass such an order. "This court has to set an example when it comes to administration of justice," he said. The court took note of his submissions and said that it has to be established whether Justice Karnan has undertaken the communications. "We must be as careful as we can," the court said. "It is the first time we will act against a sitting High Court judge and have to be very careful with what we settle as a precedent for times to come," it said. HISTORY TO THE CASE Justice Karnan had allegedly written contemptuous letters to the CJI, Prime Minister and others against the Madras HC Chief Justice. He was transferred from the Madras HC to the Calcutta HC for his alleged conduct. Justice Karnan, meanwhile, has the permission to argue in the matter of his transfer in person later this month, after a bench accepting his request to discharge his advocate S Gowthaman last month. Earlier, the Registrar General of the Madras High Court had stated that 12 files of the high court were still with Justice Karnan and these were required to be returned. It was also submitted that the government accommodation which had been allotted to Justice Karnan at Chennai, had not been vacated, adding that it was needed as 14 new judges have been appointed and a judge cannot keep it for more than a month after he ceases to be a judge of Tamil Nadu High Court. advertisement Justice Karnan had on February 15, 2016 stayed his transfer order after the apex court asked the Chief Justice of Madras High Court not to assign any judicial work to him. The same day the apex court suspended Justice Karnan's order and made it clear that all administrative and judicial orders passed by him after the issuance of the proposal of his transfer from the Madras High Court to the Calcutta High Court shall remain stayed till further orders. However, a week later, Justice Karnan said he had issued an "erroneous" order due to his "mental frustration resulting in the loss of his mental balance." --- ENDS --- A unique gift idea has grown into an international business for Upperchurch based Edel Grace whose custom made teddy bears are set to take New York by storm, writes Niamh Dillon. While scanning through old family photographs, a much loved teddy bear belonging to Edel Grace's mother caught her eye. Unfortunately the cuddly toy in question had long been misplaced following a house move and eleven children later however a determined Edel decided to drag out her sewing machine to recreate the childhood bear in the run up to her mam's birthday. "It was my mother's favourite toy but it got lost somewhere over the years and I decided to make another version of it for her birthday. She absolutely loved it and the reaction from family and friends was so positive I felt I was onto something good," explains Edel from her studio in Upperchurch. But while Edel, who grew up in Tipperary town where her father worked as a shoemaker for 20 years, proclaims she couldn't draw a straight line with a ruler in school, she feels she was always drawn to do something creative. After studying English , German and Anthropology in Maynooth, Edel went on to pursue a career in Hotel Management for a few years before taking up a job in administration with a medical devices company until 2010. I suppose I was always creatively inclined but in the 1980's it never realistically seemed an option so I went off to college but I always felt I wanted to start something of my own, she explains. And so in 2013 Edel sat down behind her sewing machine and attempted her first ever Tipperary Bear for her business Pieces of Great. Soon after requests for specially commissioned bears and teddies started flying in and a chance encounter with Dervla O'Connor from Galway shop My Shop Granny Likes It resulted in Edel's first stockist. And as the Tipperary Bear grew in popularity, so too came the more elaborate requests. "I was commissioned to create a bear for a former tour guide and let's just say there was a lot of trial and errors before I got it right. Finding a suitable fabric to act as hair was quite the challenge," she hoots. Good base materials have been central to the success of Pieces of Great bears with all fabric sourced from John Hanly & Co Ltd in Nenagh while buttons, wool and fastenings are purchased from Crafty Sew & Sew in Templemore and Tangled Yarns in Clonmel. Last month Pieces of Great received a Highly Commended award for emerging Irish Design businesses at the annual Showcase exhibition in the RDS as well as attracting 20 new stockists including a store in New York. "It's great, I'm like Shaws- almost nationwide. I think I'll need a bigger white board to keep track of my orders though," says Edel who hand cuts, sews and stuffs each bear at Teddy HQ at her Upperchurch home. "I'm sure some people were thinking 'what do you mean your going to make teddies for a living' but my parents and husband were great. In fact my mothers first reaction was 'great I'll knit them some jumpers', she says of the cute multicoloured cardigans modeled by each bear which are entirely hand knit by her mother. A friends son referred to me lately as the 'teddy bear lady' and I thought well now that's quite an acceptable profession. I'm quite happy with that title, she says. Improving Productivity and Efficiency in the Contact Center A well run contact center has a lot of attributes, but at its core, its supposed to provide an excellent customer experience without wasting resources on overstaffing, duplicate work or onerous administrative processes. If the contact center has a good infrastructure at its heart but its poorly staffed, it wont result in good customer support. Likewise, if it has obsolete technology and a great, hardworking staff, it still wont achieve its objectives. Efficiency and productivity are, therefore, the two most important elements of successful call center management. Neither will be easy to maintain: no red light flashes on when the quality of the customer experience begins taking a nosedive. The challenge with maintaining these attributes is that they dont stop working all of a sudden, wrote Monet Software (News - Alert) CEO Chuck Ciarlo in a recent blog post. Productivity rarely drops suddenly instead it slides, gradually, over a period of weeks and months until, left unchecked, a lower standard becomes the new normal. If the organizations efficiency and productivity arent what they could be (or what they used to be), there are some steps call center management can take to put it back on track. Training. Are agents struggling to complete calls? Is first-call resolution on the wane? Your agents may simply not have the knowledge or the tools they need to do the job, and this will show up in the form of agent attrition, which can get very expensive. Agent attrition is an ongoing concern at most call centers, and one of its most important components is the training of new agents to replace those that depart, wrote Ciarlo. If that training effort falters, a business will exchange qualified agents with less-qualified substitutes, and productivity is certain to suffer. Agent desktops. Are your agents computer desktops cluttered with old or poorly integrated software? Many agents use six or more applications on the average call. If theyre having to toggle back and forth between them, comparing information that may (or may not) match, theyre wasting time and not serving customers well. Ensure your agent desktop solutions are integrated, coordinated and, if possible, all on one screen. Meetings. Businesses just have meetings on a daily basis. Thats just the way it is. Or is it? If your organization seems to spend interminable hours in meetings without anything ever really witnessing improvement, its time to see what you can cut. Can you replace some team meetings with collaborative messaging? After-call work. Most agents spend a great deal of time just finishing the last call before they can take the next. This may limit how many calls or contacts they can successfully handle each day. Finding a way to streamline after-call work can help improve efficiency and productivity, and technology is at the core of it. Among other benefits, speech analytics can expedite how customer information is updated, reducing wrap-up time on every call, wrote Ciarlo. Your agents want to do well: nobody wants to spend their working day in frustration, missing performance goals. Ensure they have the time and the technology to do a good job, and put all else to the back of the queue. Edited by Stefania Viscusi [February 08, 2017] Blank Rome Welcomes Three-Partner Employee Benefits Team in Philadelphia Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Jonathan A. Clark, Andrew J. Rudolph, and Michael A. Kadlec have joined the Firm as partners in the Tax, Benefits, and Private Client practice group. The employee benefits team joins Blank Rome's Philadelphia office from Pepper Hamilton LLP where Mr. Clark served as co-chair of the firm's Employee Benefits practice group. With the addition of these three partners, Blank Rome significantly expands its Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice, of which Mr. Clark has been named chair. "We couldn't be more excited to have such an outstanding employee benefits team come on board. As a nationally recognized team, Jonathan, Andy, and Michael have nearly 70 years of combined experience counseling employers on their welfare, fringe benefit, and retirement plans, among other compensation matters," said Alan J. Hoffman, the Firm's Chairman and Managing Partner. "Between their vast experience in the benefits plan industry and their deep knowledge of the private and public sectors, this team will greatly enhance our existing employee benefits capabilities, as well as our labor and employment, corporate securities, private equity, and finance offerings, among others." Mr. Clark has extensive experience counseling clients across a wide range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, including issues stemming from transactions such as plan asset transfers, management investment in leveraged buyouts, employee stock ownership plans ("ESOPs"), and other employee-ownership vehicles. With regard to his work on behalf of boards of directors and executives, he's provided counsel on change of control, equty-based compensation arrangements-including stock option, restricted stock, and phantom stock programs-stay bonuses, severance and transaction bonus programs, and related analyses of the application of securities law rules, listing requirements, golden parachutes, and million dollar cap rules. Mr. Clark also provides advice on the design, implementation, operation, and termination of qualified retirement plans. Additionally, he counsels private equity funds, as well as nonprofit organizations, including educational institutions and large hospital organizations, on benefits and compensation matters. "We're thrilled to be joining Blank Rome as a group, as Andy, Mike, and I have spent the majority of our careers working together," said Mr. Clark. "Blank Rome is a well-established firm that has undergone significant and strategic expansion over the past several years. With its recent growth, particularly in New York and Washington, D.C., the Firm identified a need for additional support in the employee benefits and compensation arena, and I am excited to join at this time and have the opportunity to help expand the practice at Blank Rome. The Firm is known for its strength in management and collegiality, and we're excited to be a part of this collaborative culture." For more than 30 years, Mr. Rudolph has advised large employers on employee benefits, executive compensation, and related tax and corporate law issues. For the last 10 years, his focus has been on using benefits and compensation as a strategic tool for larger employers to manage recruitment, retention, and rewards. Mr. Rudolph has counseled clients through several business cycles as well as in restructurings, acquisitions, and dispositions that have allowed his clients to become market leaders within their industries. This includes counsel during the acquisition process on benefits and compensation issues, as well as integrating the acquired business onto the buyer's benefit platform after the closing. Additionally, Mr. Rudolph has helped clients plan for and integrate qualified and nonqualified retirement, health and welfare, and incentive compensation programs in connection with numerous public company transactions. He's helped clients design, implement, and terminate ESOPs, and has represented employers and executives in connection with change-in-control, severance, and golden parachute agreements. Mr. Kadlec focuses his practice on the design and drafting of qualified and non-qualified retirement and welfare benefit plans; employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions; public corporation executive compensation disclosures; design and drafting of equity compensation arrangements; and the negotiation and drafting of employment and separation agreements. He has experience representing a variety of clients, including international publicly traded corporations, private equity funds, privately held entities, large tax-exempt organizations, and executives. "Employers, whether public or private, will need guidance as they navigate the likely changes to existing labor and employment laws under a new U.S. administration and new labor secretary. This highly regarded team, along with our existing benefits attorneys, including Dan Morgan and Art Bachman, has the experience and know-how our clients will need to manage these expected changes," said Cory G. Jacobs, Chair of Blank Rome's Tax, Benefits, and Private Client practice group. Mr. Clark received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago Law School. He received a B.A. in Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as co-chair of the Pension Committee for the Philadelphia Bar Association. Mr. Rudolph received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he was an editor for the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. He received a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rudolph previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Temple University Beasley School of Law. He is also a member of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. Furthermore, Mr. Rudolph worked on the development committee for one of the summer camps supported by the Union for Reform Judaism, and has worked with Chapel Haven, an organization that supports young adults with developmental disabilities, and their families. Mr. Kadlec received his J.D. from Temple University School of Law. He received a B.S. in Finance from the University of Delaware. Mr. Kadlec is also a member of the Pension Committee for the Philadelphia Bar Association. About Blank Rome LLP Founded in 1946, Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 13 offices and over 600 attorneys throughout the United States and in Shanghai who represent businesses and organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-up entities around the globe. With a strong focus on the key industry sectors of energy, maritime and transportation, real estate, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, chemical, gaming, technology, and manufacturing, Blank Rome advises its clients on a full spectrum of legal matters involving litigation; M&A and securities; finance, business restructuring, and bankruptcy; cybersecurity and data privacy; environment and mass torts; government contracts; insurance coverage; intellectual property; labor and employment; international trade; matrimonial and family law; policy and political law; tax and benefits; and white collar defense and investigations. The Firm also represents pro bono clients in a wide variety of cases and matters. Blank Rome is annually ranked and recognized for its leading middle-market corporate, M&A, real estate, and finance practices, to name a few, and is internationally acclaimed for its global maritime practice and capabilities. For more information, please visit www.blankrome.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005911/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Names First Cohort of Engineers, Scientists and Technologists Assembled to Combat All Human Disease The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub) today announced its first cohort of 47 CZ Biohub Investigators from the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco. This group includes both highly accomplished senior professors as well as up-and-coming young faculty. Each of the CZ Biohub Investigators will receive a five-year appointment and up to $1.5 million in funding to conduct life science research in their respective areas of expertise. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006649/en/ Researchers collaborating at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub in San Francisco (Photo: Business Wire) CZ Biohub Investigators were selected from numerous academic departments at the three universities, including biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics and physics. An international panel of 60 distinguished scientists and engineers evaluated more than 700 applications. A full list of the selected CZ Biohub Investigators can be found at https://czbiohub.org. Bold Vision to Rid World of Disease "CZ Biohub Investigators share our vision of a planet without disease," said Joseph DeRisi, co-president of CZ Biohub and professor of biochemistry and biophysics at UC San Francisco. "To realize this vision, we are giving some of the world's most creative and brilliant researchers access to groundbreaking technology and the freedom to pursue high-risk research. CZ Biohub Investgators will challenge traditional thinking in pursuit of radical discoveries that will make even the most stubborn and deadly diseases treatable." "The 47 CZ Biohub Investigators we're introducing today are quite literally inventing the future of life science research," said Stephen Quake, co-president of CZ Biohub and professor of bioengineering and applied physics at Stanford. "The CZ Biohub is distinguished by our emphasis on technology and engineering, and our researchers are inventing tools to accelerate science for the good of humanity." Commitment to Collaborative, Open Science As a non-profit medical research organization, the CZ Biohub is establishing policies to ensure the rapid dissemination of its research results. CZ Biohub Investigators have agreed to make their draft publications widely available through pre-print servers so their findings can inform the work of other researchers and accelerate scientific discovery. By making a collective commitment to sharing their unpublished work, CZ Biohub Investigators are setting a new standard for open science and rapid dissemination of discoveries. This open approach is an essential component of the CZ Biohub's collaborative culture, which brings together researchers to solve the world's biggest health problems. And in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, the CZ Biohub plans to establish shared technology platforms available to Bay Area scientists to further their research and build momentum for the worldwide fight against disease. Major Initiatives In addition to its Investigator program, the CZ Biohub is pursuing large-scale collaborative projects, including the Infectious Disease Initiative and the Cell Atlas. Infectious disease outbreaks worldwide have revealed significant weaknesses in how the world fights the spread of disease. Zika virus, SARS, dengue and other emerging pathogens have proven to be extremely difficult problems to solve. And drug-resistant strains of bacteria are making existing treatments less effective. CZ Biohub scientists and engineers will apply the most advanced technologies to support the global fight against infectious diseases. The CZ Biohub's work will be clustered around four key areas: new detection technologies, new treatments, new ways to prevent infection, and new approaches to rapid response when new threats emerge. The Cell Atlas project is helping to build an international collaboration that will map the cell types of the human body. The map will be available to researchers around the world. The Cell Atlas project will help unlock many mysteries of cell biology related to the causes of human disease, potentially leading to new therapies. The technologies that make the Cell Atlas possible are new, and many of them were developed by scientists now leading the CZ Biohub. Several CZ Biohub Investigators are conducting research aimed at developing additional technologies to further accelerate the creation of the Cell Atlas. Throughout the course of this project, the CZ Biohub will work closely with other institutions around the world. About the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub The CZ Biohub is an independent non-profit medical research organization collaborating with the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco to harness the power of science, technology and human capacity to cure, prevent or manage all disease during our children's lifetime. For more information about the CZ Biohub, visit https://czbiohub.org. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006649/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 07, 2017] CNC Technologies Selected by Florida Department of Law Enforcement to Equip King Air 350 with Streaming Video/Data Mission Suite LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CNC Technologies, an aviation technology and wireless communications company serving the law enforcement, military and government markets, announced today its selection by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to deploy an aerial video and data streaming video mission suite on the FDLE's King Air 350 multi-engine aircraft. The FDLE King Air 350 allows this agency to provide statewide aerial support to federal, state, and local agencies during natural disasters, counter-terrorism efforts, and criminal investigations. "We will be equipping the FDLE's King Air 350 with everything it needs to have reliable HD video and meta-data communications while airborne," said Ron Magocsi, one of CNC Technologies' founders, a managing partner and CTO. "This will provide first responders from all levels of government with access to the unparalleled 'eyes above' situational awareness that only a camera-equipped aircraft like the King Air 350 can provide during man made and natural emergencies." Established in 1967, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was created by combining the resources of the Florida Sheriffs Bureau, the State Narcotics Bureau, and the law enforcement activities of the Anti-Bookie Squad of the Attorney General's Office. The FDLE's mission is "to promote public safety and strengthen domestic security by providing services in partnership with local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies to prevent, investigate, and solve crimes while protecting Florida's/span> citizens and visitors." The agency's approximately 1,700 members achieve this goal through the FDLE's agency headquarters in Tallahassee, plus seven regional operations centers located in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Fort Myers and Miami. The FDLE's annual budget is over $300 million. CNC Technologies is an aviation technology and wireless communications company whose advanced products are used by government, law enforcement, and military markets. Specializing in the design, manufacture, and installation/servicing of custom aerial surveillance, data transmission and counter-terrorism wireless solutions, CNC's dedicated engineers have decades of experience deploying local, national and global communications network solutions for the world's most demanding operators. "Whether it be for the FDLE or any other client, CNC approaches each new assignment from a bespoke perspective, deploying tailored communications solutions that deliver uncompromising performance and reliability," said Alex Giuffrida, another one of CNC Technologies' founders and managing partners. "Because value is always a concern for our budget-minded clients, CNC is happy to develop individual solutions that use entirely new technology, or integrate the new with a customer's existing equipment to maximize their investments." "We are particularly honored to provide mission-critical equipment for the FDLE," he concluded. "Their police work keeps Floridians safe and, by protecting the millions who visit this state annually, safeguards Florida's vital tourism economy as well." About CNC Technologies CNC Technologies is an aviation technology and wireless communications company serving the law enforcement, government and military markets. Providing custom aerial surveillance, data transmission and counterterrorism solutions, the CNC team brings decades of experience deploying local, national and global communications networks for the world's most demanding operators. CNC works with clients around the globe, delivering bespoke solutions tailored to match each organization's specific mission requirements and backed by unparalleled 24/7 service and support. The company is online at www.cnctechnologies.com Alex Giuffrida CNC Technologies [email protected] 805-275-3738 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cnc-technologies-selected-by-florida-department-of-law-enforcement-to-equip-king-air-350-with-streaming-videodata-mission-suite-300403688.html SOURCE CNC Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] CX North America Releases Next-Generation Mobile App for Drivers Real-Time Location, Communication and Control Makes Freight Transport More Efficient and Effective for Fleet Managers, Brokers, Drivers and Customers TECUMSEH, Ontario, Feb. 8, 2017 /CNW/ -- CX North America Information Services Inc. (CX North America), a leader in freight collaboration solutions for the transportation industry, announced today the launch of its next-generation mobile app for drivers. The CX North America Mobile App provides real-time information exchange and tracking within the context of specific freight shipments, offering drivers, fleet managers, brokers and customers the most up-to-date information possible. Beyond delivering unparalleled location, communication and control functionality at the tap of a finger, the app offers a ready means for enhanced vehicle utilization, better load and capacity management, lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions. The CX North America Mobile App was created by transport professionals for transport professionals. As an outgrowth of a proven application in use for over 16 years, the app comes to market with optimizations derived from practical experience conveying hundreds of millions of dollars of freight shipments by some 4,500 companies. The app integrates seamlessly with CX North America, the firm's advanced online platform, and with most telematics and transportation management systems. The CX North America Mobile App is perfect for carriers, drivers, brokers, freight forwarders and third-party logistics providers. Key benefits of the app include: Delivers visibility and control functionality that increases vehicle utilization, load management and use of excess capacity. Sends real-time job alerts directly to drivers in the field, matching vehicle location, capacity and capabilities with businesses in need of freight services. Allows drivers to send alerts showing both current satus and future availability. Provides live tracking links that allow customers and partners to see job status in real time from acceptance of the job until after proof of delivery (POD). Conveys all shipment details at a glance, including full load information and pick-up/delivery notes and instructions. Has a built-in CX Messenger feature that allows real-time, secure, two-way communications with drivers, controllers and partners and links all conversation records to specific jobs, creating a fully auditable trail. Allows capture of electronic PODs in real time and stamps date and time on PODs. Puts the app user in full control over the information visible to others. If users want to limit visibility to their own company, they can do so. If they want to be invisible and turn off tracking while on break or off duty, for example, then they can do so. Control rests exclusively with the app user. There are no hidden settings. Sharon Coburn , CX North America's vice president of business development for North America , says, "Location, communication and control are paramount to efficient and effective freight movement. They are even more important requirements when our subscribers are partnering with other transportation providers to move shipments. CX North America has developed an easy-to-use, secure app that concurrently places all the tools drivers, managers, partners and customers need in a single place. Our app allows jobs to be assigned and tracked from acceptance to after POD and transmits and files all related communications and documentation electronically. And, because everything occurs in real time, potential issues can be anticipated and quickly solved and resources can be aligned perfectly with new or changing requirements." The CX North America Mobile App is available for Google Android operating systems now, with the Apple version coming soon. It is free of charge for CX North America subscribers and firms doing business with subscribers. Notably, the app is optimized for display on a full range of screens. CX North America will be exhibiting its mobile app at the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) 2017 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition, April 58, 2017, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada. About CX North America CX North America Information Services Inc. (CX North America), headquartered in Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Transport Exchange Group, a leading provider of technology for the transportation industry and operator of two of the United Kingdom's largest and fastest-growing independent freight exchanges. CX North America brings Transport Exchange Group's proven technology and business model to the North American marketplace to enhance visibility, increase agility, optimize efficiency and improve communication and collaboration for carriers, brokers and 3PLs. We offer users a number of ways to engage with our products and services, depending on the technology they already have in place. For more information, please visit our website at http://cxnamerica.com, call 1-888-270-0482 or email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cx-north-america-releases-next-generation-mobile-app-for-drivers-300403739.html SOURCE CX North America Information Services Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] L3 Appoints Retired Rear Admiral Gary W. Rosholt as Vice President of Middle East Operations L3 Technologies (NYSE:LLL) announced today that it has appointed Rear Admiral Gary W. Rosholt (U.S. Navy - Ret.) as Vice President of Middle East Operations. Mr. Rosholt will lead the company's corporate offices in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, where he will be responsible for managing L3's operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East region, while assisting L3's business development teams in identifying new business prospects. He will report to David M. Van Buren, L3's Senior Vice President of Program Development. "The Middle East is an important region for L3, and we are pleased to have someone with the professional and military experience, understanding of defense and security requirements, local partnership opportunities and policy knowledge that Gary brings to the position," said Michael T. Strianese, L3's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are confident that Gary will provide the leadership needed to develop and capitalize on growth opportunities in avionics, airport security, ISR, communications and sensor systems. Our recent appointments are important steps in our 'key people in key locations' strategy for L3's international work." Mr. Rosholt joins L3 following a 35-year decorated career as a U.S. Navy SEAL with numerous operational deployments to the Wester Pacific and Middle East regions. As a Flag Officer, he was the Deputy Commanding General for Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, and he served as Senior Defense Official/Defense Attache with the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Headquartered in New York City, L3 Technologies employs approximately 38,000 people worldwide and is a leading provider of a broad range of communication and electronic systems and products used on military, homeland security and commercial platforms. L3 is also a prime contractor in aerospace systems, security and detection systems, and pilot training. The company reported 2016 sales of $10.5 billion. To learn more about L3, please visit the company's website at www.L3T.com. L3 uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding L3 is routinely posted on the company's website and is readily accessible. Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to events or conditions or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "will," "could" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking Statements included in the company's recent filings, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006270/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] MDxHealth Awarded US Department of Veterans Affairs Contract for ConfirmMDx Testing NEWS RELEASE REGULATED INFORMATION INSIDE INFORMATION IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - February 8, 2017 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) today announced that it has been awarded a US Government Services Administration (GSA) supply contract to use ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The five-year contract, effective February 1, 2017, provides coverage of ConfirmMDx testing at the Medicare rate for veterans within the VA Health System. (V7970-70066 for Federal Supply Schedule 621 II Medical Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services) According to the VA, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among veterans with roughly 12,000 new cases annually. Over 600 urologists serve the 152 VA hospitals across the US and it is estimated that more than 200,000 prostate biopsies are performed within the VA healthcare system each year. "MDxHealth is proud to support the Department of Veterans Affairs with ConfirmMDx testing to help improve patient management and decision-making on the need for prostate biopsies," stated Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "This contract further underscores ConfirmMDx's clinical value for prostate cancer risk assessment and will be a significant new driver of test volume." About GSA The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) leverages the buying power of the federal government to acquire best value for taxpayers and its federal customers. GSA exercises responsible asset management, and delivers superior workplaces, quality acquisition services, and expert business solutions. GSA's strategic goals are to establish and facilitate stewardship, superior workplaces, best value and innovation. More information about GSA is available at www.gsa.gov. About ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer is the first epigeetic, and only tissue-based test in the 2016 NCCN Guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer which addresses false negative biopsy concerns. It is the only molecular diagnostic test that provides a very high negative predictive value (NPV) of 96% for clinically significant prostate cancers, and 90% NPV for all prostate cancers, as well as prostate mapping of the test results to help guide repeat biopsies. Each year, more than 1 million American men undergo an invasive prostate biopsy with a negative result, however approximately 30% of those men actually have prostate cancer. The current standard of care for prostate biopsy procedures samples less than 1% of the prostate, leaving men at risk for undetected cancer and leading to a high rate of repeat biopsies, even on cancer-free men. ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer helps urologists identify low-risk men who may forego an unnecessary repeat biopsy and high-risk men who may benefit from intervention. ConfirmMDx has qualified for Medicare reimbursement and covered by numerous private health insurance plans. About MDxHealth MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company's European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth. For more information: Dr. Jan Groen, CEO Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR) MDxHealth Consilium Strategic Communications US: +1 949 812 6979 UK: +44 20 3709 5701 BE: +32 4 364 20 70 US: +1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC) [email protected] [email protected] This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws. NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Attachments: //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5acbea2-9cec-48a5-8c98-ebef24bae90a [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] UAE Law Firm, Afridi & Angell, Selects Lexis InterAction for Relationship Intelligence LONDON, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Afridi & Angell , a United Arab Emirates full service business law firm, has selected Lexis InterAction from LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions as the firm's client relationship management solution of choice. The solution will provide lawyers and partners with relationship insight and the most current information on client-related marketing and business development activities. They will be able to leverage the intelligence to deliver against clients' business needs and further strengthen client relationships. Nearly 60 users will have access to the solution, once deployed. On a tactical level, InterAction will serve as a central resource for all client-related information at the firm. Afridi & Angell is also linking its financial system with InterAction. Similarly, by integrating InterAction with the Tikit e-marketing platform, the solution will streamline, automate and support the marketing team in efficiently executing campaigns and delivering events. The business development team will utilise the relationship intelligence from InterAction to better manage the firm's key client initiatives. "Understanding our clients is essential to enabling us to proactively deliver against their business requirements. InterAction will provide easy access to client information that the firm can utilise to this end," explained Samera Marei, Director, Business Development & Marketing, at Afridi & ngell. "InterAction will also take away a lot of our manual and administrative processes, enabling lawyers and the marketing and business development teams alike to focus on the more strategic and high-level aspects of their respective functions." Afridi & Angell chose InterAction because of its intuitive interface, ease of use and level of in-depth relationship intelligence on clients automatically highlighting who knows whom across the firm's network and client organisations. "We are seeing a lot of interest for InterAction in the Middle East, which we are delighted about," commented Andy Sparkes, General Manager, LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions. "With growing competition in the region, accurate relationship intelligence is essential to nurturing and fortifying connections, with individual contacts, customer organisations and partner affiliations. We look forward to working with Afridi & Angell." LexisNexis InterAction is the leading CRM solution for legal and professional services firms. InterAction enables these relationship-based organisations to create the relationship intelligence they need to uncover new business opportunities. By including functionality for signature capture, engagement strength scoring and business development tracking and reporting, InterAction provides firms with a complete marketing and business development solution. About LexisNexis Legal & Professional LexisNexis Legal & Professional is a leading global provider of content and technology solutions that enable professionals in legal, corporate, tax, government, academic and non-profit organisations to make informed decisions and achieve better business outcomes. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. Today, LexisNexis Legal & Professional harnesses leading-edge technology and world-class content to help professionals work in faster, easier and more effective ways. Through close collaboration with its customers, the company ensures organisations can leverage its solutions to reduce risk, improve productivity, increase profitability and grow their business. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 175 countries with 10,000 employees worldwide, is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. As a leading provider of software platforms, LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions (www.lexisnexis-es.co.uk) works with customers to drive productive, efficient and reliable business decisions. Its solutions include Lexis Visualfiles, for case management and workflow; Lexis InterAction, a customer relationship management tool; and LexisOne, an enterprise resource planning solution powered by Microsoft Dynamics. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Press Trust of India: Hyderabad, Feb 8 (PTI) A septuagenarian man allegedly raped an 11-year-old school girl after showing her "porn" videos in Injapur area here, police said today. Krishna, aged 70, a carpenter, was known to the family of the victim, Vanasthalipuram Police Station Inspector S Murali Krishna told PTI. According to a complaint lodged by the minor girls parents, the accused allegedly raped her on December 28. advertisement The accused allegedly showed the girl "porn" videos and later "sexually assaulted" her in his house, the Inspector said, adding, they registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). Asked if the accused was taken into custody, the police officer refused to comment and said further investigations are on. PTI VVK RMT TIR --- ENDS --- [February 08, 2017] Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market Worth 5.03 Billion USD by 2022 PUNE, India, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new report "Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market by Equipment Type (Single-Wafer Spray Systems, Single-Wafer Cryogenic Systems, Batch Immersion Cleaning Systems, Batch Spray Cleaning Systems, and Scrubbers), Application, Wafer Size, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets. the global market is expected to be valued at USD 5.03 Billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.2 % between 2016 and 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 64 market data Tables and 53 Figures spread through 164 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Wafer Cleaning Equipment Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/microelectronics-cleaning-equipment-market-772.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Factors such as rise in conventional applications of MEMS and expansion in the number of cleaning steps in the wafer manufacturing industry are the key drivers for wafer cleaning equipment market. The market for single-wafer spray systems is expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022 Single-wafer spray systems are also a major contributor of this market. The market for single-wafer spray systems is increasing at good pace, owing to the growth of the semiconductor industry in APAC. Moreover, the single-wafer spray cleaning system is a promising cleaning system to remove impurities with minimal damages. Its applications vary from MEMS and memory to LED and other uses. Download PDF Brochure @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=772 The market for LED application expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period LED application is rising due to increasing demand for LED lightings across the globe. The growing demand for LEDs would directly increase the demand for silicon wafers and indirectly increased the market for wafer cleaning equipment market. The market for 300mm wafers is expected to unveil the highest growth rate between 2016 and 2022 The market for 300mm wafers is expected to exhibit the highest growth. These wafers offer manufacturers he ability to produce a large number of devices in a single batch. This is one of the reasons companies are developing their semiconductor devices based on 300mm wafers. Infineon Technologies (Germany) started developing its power semiconductor devices based on 300mm wafers in 2011. The market for cleaning equipment for this size of wafers is expected grow at a significant rate due to its increasing usage in several applications LED, MEMS, and ICs. APAC held the largest share of the wafer cleaning equipment market The major tech companies such as SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), Tokyo Electron Limited (Japan), and Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation (Japan), among others, have been responsible for the dynamic growth of the wafer cleaning equipment market in APAC. Taiwan held the largest market share in APAC, in 2015. Additionally, its application in the memory and logic segment has fueled the market growth. The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. The increasing number of fabrication plants in APAC has increased the demand for wafer cleaning equipment. Inquiry Before Buy @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=772 Major players operating in the wafer cleaning equipment market include SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), Tokyo Electron Limited (Japan), Lam Research Corporation (U.S.), Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation (Japan), Applied Materials, Inc. (U.S.), SEMES Co. Ltd. (Korea), Modutek Corporation (U.S.), PVA TePla AG (Germany), Entegris, Inc. (U.S.), and Veeco Instruments Inc. (U.S.). Browse Related Reports Thin Wafer Market by Wafer Size (125mm, 200mm, 300mm), Process (Temporary Bonding & Debonding, Carrier-less/Taiko Process), Application (MEMS, CMOS Image Sensor, Memory, RF Devices, LED, Interposer, Logic), and Region - Global Trend and Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/thin-wafer-market-255706993.html Photolithography (Equipment) Market by Type (i-line, KrF, ArF Dry, ArFi, and EUV), Light Source (Mercury Lamp, Excimer Laser, Fluorine Laser, and Laser Produced Plasma), Wavelength, and Region - Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/photolithography-equipment-market-145860852.html Subscribe Reports from Semiconductor Domain @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets 701 Pike Street Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States Tel : 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets [email protected] http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Wells Fargo's 50th LIFT Program to Boost Las Vegas Valley Homeownership Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks America and its network member Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT program is expanding to Las Vegas Valley with a $5.55 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost homeownership. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005135/en/ Five years after launching the innovative effort that has created more than 13,000 homeowners in 49 communities, Wells Fargo's 50th LIFT program will offer homebuyer education plus down payment assistance intended to boost Las Vegas Valley homeownership. A launch event is set for March 3-4 and interested homebuyers can register for an appointment at www.NeighborhoodLIFT.com or call (866) 858-2151. (Graphic: Business Wire) "I want to extend my appreciation to Wells Fargo for returning to Las Vegas with this innovative homeownership initiative," said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman. "Working together, we are committed to strengthening neighborhoods and helping our residents put homeownership within reach." Interested homebuyers can attend the free event on March 3-4 when eligibility will be determined for an opportunity to reserve a matching down payment assistance grant ranging from $2,500 up to $7,500 based on the homebuyer's contribution. "The NeighborhoodLIFT program is another example of our commitment to the Las Vegas Valley and efforts to create affordable homeownership in our local communities," said Kirk Clausen, regional president for Wells Fargo. "This will be Wells Fargo's 50th LIFT program event and follows the successful 2012 NeighborhoodLIFT program for Las Vegas and North Las Vegas that created 422 homeowners." Registration for the NeighborhoodLIFT event on March 3-4 The Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT program will begin with a free event March 3-4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Flamingo Hotel, located at 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and to register, visit www.NeighborhoodLIFT.com or call or (866) 858-2151. Pre-registration is strongly recommended for an opportunity to reserve a matching down payment assistance grant. The event also includes a Wells Fargo Virtual Affordable Home Tour viewing center where attendees can preview local homes available for purchase. To be eligible, annual incomes must not exceed 80 percent of the local area median income, which is about $48,150 for an individual homebuyer up to a family of four, and $52,050 for a family of five in Las Vegas Valley with income maximums varying depending on family size and type of loan. Eligibility for Military servicemembers and veterans may earn up to 100 percent of the area median income, which is about $60,200 for a family of four. Approved homebuyers will have up to 60 days to finalize a contract to purchase a home in Las Vegas Valley participating communities including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and the towns of Enterprise, Paradise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, or Winchester. To reserve the full grant amount, participants buying homes with the NeighborhoodLIFT program must commit to live in the home for three years. "This innovative collaboration between NeighborWorks America, our network member Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada, Wells Fargo and Las Vegas will create about 560 homeowners," said Steve Barbier, regional executive, NeighborWorks America. "The required homebuyer education classes provided by certified professionals help people achieve their goal of sustainable homeownership." To be eligible, down payment recipients must complete an eight-hour homebuyer education session with Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada or another HUD-approved housing counseling agency. NeighborhoodLIFT program grants may be combined with other down payment assistance programs to provide additional financial benefits, and homebuyers can obtain mortgage financing from any qualified lender. "We are ready to help families qualify for the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT down payment assistance grants," said Michelle Merced, President of Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada. "Wells Fargo's investment will help make the Las Vegas Valley stronger." First launched in February 2012 in Los Angeles and Atlanta, LIFT programs have helped create more than 13,000 homeowners in 49 communities, including 422 homeowners as a result of a NeighborhoodLIFT in 2012, which was launched in Las Vegas and expanded to North Las Vegas. A video about the NeighborhoodLIFT program is posted on Wells Fargo Stories. About Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada and NeighborWorks America Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 240 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.neighborworks.org, or www.nwsn.org to learn more. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune's 2016 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005135/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 07, 2017] Mediagrif reports results for its third quarter of fiscal 2017 TSX: MDF www.mediagrif.com Second quarter highlights: Revenues up 4% to reach $19.3 million . . Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $7.1 million or 37% of revenues. of or 37% of revenues. Profit of $4.0 million ( $0.27 per share). ( per share). Cash flow from operating activities totalled $5.1 million . Quarterly dividend: Declaration of a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share payable on April 17, 2017 to shareholders of record on April 3, 2017 . LONGUEUIL, QC, Feb. 7, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc. (TSX: MDF), a Canadian leader in information technology, today announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Unless indicated otherwise, all amounts are in Canadian dollars. SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS Three months ended December 31, Nine months ended December 31, In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts Unaudited and not reviewed by independent auditors 2016 $ 2015 $ 2016 $ 2015 $ Revenues 19,267 18,541 57,742 54,203 Adjusted EBITDA1 7,090 8,003 22,170 22,020 Operating profit 5,178 6,619 16,868 17,853 Profit for the period 3,985 4,851 12,263 13,360 Earnings per share (basic and diluted) 0.27 0.32 0.82 0.88 Weighted average number of shares outstanding in thousands 14,999 15,011 14,999 15,187 1 See reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and profit and "About Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc." CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT TEAM Richard Lampron has stepped down from his position as Chief Operating Officer as of February 6, 2017. Mr. Lampron has put his high level expertise and dedication to the service of Mediagrif over the past years. We thank him for his contribution and wish him great success in his future endeavors. Claude Roy, Chief Executive Officer, will take over some of the responsibilities of Richard Lampron while Jean-Michel Stam, currently Vice-President, electronic networks, will assume a greater role in the management of Mediagrif's operations, as Vice-President, Canadian Operations. THIRD QUARTER OF FISCAL 2017 For the third quarter of fiscal 2017, revenues increased by 4% or $0.7 million to reach $19.3 million when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2016. The increase in revenues this quarter is mainly driven by continued organic growth in Mediagrif's InterTrade, MERX and BidNet platforms. The newly acquired ASC Networks Inc. also contributed positively to this quarter's revenues but only to the extent of $1.2 million out of the total $1.4 million generated this quarter, due to the adjustment made to recognize the fair value of deferred revenues at the acquisition date of ASC on May 31, 2016. The revenues of Jobboom and LesPAC decreased during the quarter, mainly due to lower advertising revenues and adjustments in the prices of our services to meet market conditions. During the third quarter, the Company continued to invest in its technology, infrastructure, and also in sales and marketing in order to seize market opportunities, respond to competitive environments and to strengthen its position in its growing businesses areas. Adjusted EBITDA totalled $7.1 million or 37% of revenues compared to $8.0 million or also 43% of revenues during the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Profit reached $4.0 million ($0.27 per share) compared to $4.9 million ($0.32 per share) during the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 includes a foreign exchange gain on assets denominated in U.S. dollars of $0.2 million compared to a $0.5 million gain recorded in the corresponding quarter of fiscal 2016. FIRST NINE MONTHS OF FISCAL 2017 Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2017 reached $57.7 million compared to revenues of $54.2 million recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2016. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $22.2 million or 38% of revenues, compared to $ 22.0 million or 41% of revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2016. Profit reached $12.3 million ($0.82 per share), compared to $13.4 million ($0.88 per share) during the first nine months of fiscal 2016. Profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2017 includes a foreign exchange gain on assets denominated in U.S. dollars of $0.5 million compared to a $1.1 million gain recorded in the corresponding period of fiscal 2016. FINANCIAL POSITION AND FINANCING During the first nine months of fiscal 2017, cash flows generated by operating activities reached $15.5 million, compared to $16.3 million for the nine months of fiscal 2016. The Company used a portion of these funds and funds available on its credit facility to proceed with the acquisition of ASC and also to cover for the acquisitions of capital assets. The Company also paid out $4.5 million in dividends during the first nine months of fiscal 2017. As at December 31, 2016, the Company had $11.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $44.8 million available on its revolving credit facility of $80.0 million. QUARTERLY DIVIDEND The Board of Directors of Mediagrif declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share payable on April 17, 2017, to shareholders on record on April 3, 2017. RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA AND PROFIT Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, foreign exchange gain (loss) and other revenues (expenses) as historically calculated by the Company. Three months ended December 31, Nine months ended December 31, In thousands of Canadian dollars Unaudited and not reviewed by independent auditors 2016 $ 2015 $ 2016 $ 2015 $ Profit 3,985 4,851 12,263 13,360 Income tax expense 1,168 1,966 4,284 5,025 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets 644 517 1,891 1,489 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 1,268 875 3,573 2,650 Amortization of deferred financing costs 10 - 30 - Amortization of deferred lease inducement (32) (37) (252) (113) Foreign exchange gain (236) (453) (519) (1,065) Interest on long-term debt 283 223 729 617 Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment - - 171 (4) Loss on disposal of intangible assets - 61 - 61 Adjusted EBITDA 7,090 8,003 22,170 22,020 ABOUT MEDIAGRIF INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES INC. Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc. (TSX: MDF) is a Canadian leader in information technology, owner of several recognized web and mobile platforms including Jobboom, LesPAC, Reseau Contact, MERX, ASC, InterTrade, Carrus and BidNet. Mediagrif's e-commerce solutions are used by millions of consumers and businesses in North America and around the world. The Company has offices in Canada, the United States and China. For more information, please visit us at www.mediagrif.com or call 1 877 677-9088. In addition to providing profit measures in accordance with IFRS, the Company shows operating profit and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, foreign exchange gain (loss) and other revenues (expenses) ("Adjusted EBITDA") as supplementary earnings measures. Operating profit and adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be measures that should be regarded as an alternative to other financial operating performance measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Those measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to assist investors in determining the Company's ability to generate profitability from its operations and to evaluate its financial performance. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Company. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected by these forward-looking statements. We consider the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable, but caution the reader that these assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond our control, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect us. We disclaim 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 required by applicable securities legislation. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are in Canadian dollars. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements, accompanying notes and MD&A are available on www.mediagrif.com and have been filed with SEDAR at the following address: www.sedar.com. SOURCE Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 07, 2017] Glancy Prongay & Murray Welcomes Former Federal Court Law Clerk, Jonathan Rotter, to Lead the Firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Plaintiffs' class action litigation firm Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") is proud to announce the addition of Jonathan M. Rotter as a partner in the firm's growing intellectual property litigation practice. Mr. Rotter recently completed three years of service as the first Patent Pilot Program Law Clerk at the United States District Court for the Central District of California. There, he assisted the Honorable S. James Otero, Andrew J. Guilford, George H. Wu, John A. Kronstadt, and Beverly Reid O'Connell with hundreds of patent cases in every major field of technology, from complaint to post-trial motions. He also served for a year as a law clerk to the Honorable Milan D. Smith, Jr., on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Before his service to the court, Mr. Rotter practiced a Kaye Scholer, where he argued appeals at the Federal Circuit, Ninth Circuit, and California Court of Appeal, as well as tried cases, argued motions, and managed all aspects of complex litigation. Mr. Rotter graduated with honors from Harvard Law School in 2004. He served as an editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, and was selected to be a Fellow in Law and Economics at the John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics, and Business, and a Fellow in Justice, Welfare, and Economics at the Weatherhead Center For International Affairs. He graduated with honors from the University of California, San Diego in 2000 with a B.S. in molecular biology and a B.A. in music. About GPM: Founded over 25 years ago by senior partner Lionel Z. Glancy, GPM is based in Los Angeles with offices in New York City and Berkeley. Recognized as one of the premier plaintiffs' law firms in the country, GPM has recovered billions of dollars for parties wronged by corporate fraud, malfeasance, unfair business practices, and antitrust violations. Mr. Rotter's wealth of knowledge and experience adds considerable value to the firm's advocacy efforts on behalf of investors, consumers, and rights-holders. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006561/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006576/en/ [February 07, 2017] Trend Micro TippingPoint, Powered by XGen Security, First to Infuse Machine Learning Capabilities into its Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention System SINGAPORE, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, today announced the latest enhancements to its network defense solutions, leveraging the company's powerful XGen security. Continuing its smart, optimized and connected security strategy, Trend Micro has infused patent-pending machine learning capabilities into its Trend Micro TippingPoint next-generation intrusion prevention system (NGIPS) solutions. This makes Trend Micro the first standalone NGIPS vendor to detect and block attacks in-line in real-time using machine learning. TippingPoint NGIPS is part of the Trend Micro Network Defense solution which, in combination with advanced threat protection, is optimized to prevent targeted attacks, advanced threats and malware from embedding or spreading within a data center or network. Network Defense is powered by XGen security, a blend of cross-generational threat defense techniques specifically designed for leading customer platforms and applications and fueled by market-leading threat intelligence. "Protecting an enterprise network is a vital part of a connected threat defense that should also include servers and endpoints," said David Siah, Country Manager, Trend Micro Singapore. "As businesses grow, the need is greater to have a solution that can provide visibility and control within any customer environment while sharing threat intelligence across security layers." Trend Micro TippingPoint NGIPS applies machine learning statistical models to feature vectors extracted from network data on the wire to make a real-time decision on whether network traffic is malicious or benign. This evolution helps to better detect advanced malware behavior and communications invisible to standard defenses. TippingPoint NGIPS also applies machine learning techniques to detect and block known and unknown malware families that use domain generation algorithms (DGAs) to generate domain names for infected hosts attempting to contact their command and control servers. "Our enterprise clients inquire regularly about the need to protect their networks from existing and emergig threats," said Andrew Braunberg, managing director of research for NSS Labs. "Enterprises are continuing to deploy NGIPS devices, particularly to protect high value assets, such as data centers. Advanced analytics, such as machine learning, and fully integrated global threat intelligence feeds are particularly important features for today's leading NGIPS products." "With the addition of machine learning capabilities into the TippingPoint solution, we have been able to improve the accuracy of detecting malicious activity, which speeds up protection of our network across our business," said Erwin Jud, senior security engineer for Swiss Railways Ltd. "When you blend that with exclusive vulnerability data, not only is my administrative security management reduced, but I feel confident that I have the most advanced threat techniques that continue to adapt now and in the future to keep my company's data secure." One of the distinguishing features of Network Defense is preemptive threat prevention between discovery and patch availability for many known and undisclosed vulnerabilities. The Zero Day Initiative brings exclusive insight into undisclosed vulnerability data, which results in protection for customers 57 days on average before a vendor can provide a patch. When combined with the security intelligence from TippingPoint Digital Vaccine Labs (DVLabs) and data collected from the Smart Protection Network for threat correlation, each delivers unparalleled, real-time, accurate network threat insights. Information is seamlessly shared with security information and event management (SIEM), gateways, as well as both Trend Micro and third-party security investments. TippingPoint NGIPS offers in-line comprehensive threat protection against advanced and evasive malware across data centers and distributed enterprise networks. It offers in-depth analysis of network traffic for comprehensive contextual awareness, visibility and agility necessary to keep pace with today's dynamic threat landscape. In October 2016, Trend Micro TippingPoint NGIPS received a "recommended" rating in NGIPS testing from NSS Labs. For more information about TippingPoint solutions, please visit http://www.trendmicro.com/tippingpoint. About Trend Micro Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud environments, networks and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 5,000 employees in over 50 countries and the world's most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro enables organizations to secure their journey to the cloud. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com. Media Contact: Chiew Li Ming/ Kally Chua [email protected] +65 6603 9000 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Avnet to Present at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference 2017 and the Raymond James & Associates' 38th Annual Institutional Investors Conference Avnet (NYSE:AVT) today announced that the Company is scheduled to present at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference 2017 in February, and the Raymond James & Associates' 38th Annual Institutional Investors Conference in March. William Amelio, Avnet's chief executive officer, will be presenting at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference 2017 to be held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA (News - Alert), on February 14, 2017, at 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time. In addition, William Amelio will also be presenting at the Raymond James & Associates' 38th Annual Institutional Investors Conference to be held at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL, on March 7, 2017, at 3:25 p.m. Eastern Time. These Avnet presentations will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.ir.avnet.com. Interested parties should log on to the website 15 minutes prior to the presentation time to register for the event and download any necessary software. Also available at www.ir.avnet.com are other recent webcasts, a calendar of events, downloadable slide presentations and other investor information. About Avnet From components to cloud and design to disposal, Avnet (NYSE:AVT) accelerates the success of customers who build, sell and use technology globally by providing them with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products, services and solutions. For more information, visit www.avnet.com. (AVT_IR) View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006601/en/ [February 08, 2017] Dell EMC Launches Historic New Integrated Partner Program AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- News Summary: Unified Dell EMC Partner Program goes live today Developed in tandem with partners to address their biggest requests: Simple, Predictable and Profitable Preserves best of legacy Dell and EMC programs to reward partners who sell the full portfolio, including services, grow their business and win net new customers Program tiers and new special Titanium status architected to provide opportunity and enable profitability One deal registration program and a Zero Tolerance policy for deal conflicts Full Story: Dell EMC today announced the official launch of the integrated Dell EMC Partner Program, built from the ground up while preserving the best of two world-class legacy programs. The program establishes one extraordinary new program that addresses the needs of partners today and into the future. Developed in collaboration with partners globally, the program's primary tenets are to be simple, predictable and profitable. "Global business is rapidly changing as more and more customers prioritize investment in digital transformation. Dell EMC and its partners are uniquely positioned to help customers through this evolution," said John Byrne, President, Global Channel, Dell EMC. "Dell EMC provides vast opportunities to our partners through an industry leading portfolio of innovative products, services and solutions, and now with the Dell EMC Partner Program, provides the support and programs for partners to excel." Byrne explained, "We've diligently designed the Dell EMC Partner Program to be the most desirable program in the industry. We are truly providing the means and the opportunity along with the recognition and profitability that our partners want and deserve. We're 'all in' with our partners and invested in their success." Program Tiers and Special Status The new program tiers, developed to elevate Dell EMC Partners over competitors and establish a clear path to level-up, include Titanium, Platinum and Gold, as well as a new status level within the Titanium Tier, Titanium Black. Benefits to solution provider partners include generous rebates focused on profitable behaviors such as driving new business, service sales (inclusive of consulting, deployment, support and education services), training participation and selling the full portfolio. As a partner progresses their tier, their benefits increase. The Titanium Black Status is an invitation only, special designation created to strengthen the relationship with partners who are extremely aligned with Dell EMC. The unified program embraces the entire Dell EMC partner ecosystem, inclusive of solution providers, cloud service providers, strategic outsourcers, OEM partners, systems integrators and distribution partners. The program includes unique tracks with specific advantages and incentives that align to a particular partner type and attained tier designation. As part of this full ecosystem strategy, included as well is the "Powered by Dell EMC" brand program for those businesses that embed Dell EMC technologies into the marketplace. Distribution Partners Distribution is a key component to help our partners deliver for their customers and Dell EMC is investing to grow this business. The distribution program offers a comprehensive set of benefits, which include base rebates paid back to dollar one of sales, growth accelerators based on targeted partners and lines of business and services rebates. In addition, earned quarterly market development funds (MDF) can be spent on activities such as enablement, demand generation and headcount. All distribution partners that are authorized by Dell EMC will be granted status as an Authorized Distributor, which each will maintain by meeting annual minimum revenue, services penetration rates and training competencies requirements. Dell EMC plans to consolidate the list of distribution partners in the new program, and partner more closely with key global distribution partners who are placing bets on the company. Dell EMC? will maintain a smaller set of local distribution partners by country. Predictable: Rules of Engagement Dell EMC is committed to rewarding partners for driving new business. Through a fully integrated and streamlined process, as well as a globally enforced Partner Code of Conduct, the Deal Registration program helps protect those partners who actively promote Dell EMC's poducts and solutions to their customers. Partners with registered and approved opportunities receive both advantaged pricing as well as protection from direct sales conflict. Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) Incumbency for Commercial Accounts Dell EMC's vision is for partners to extend their reach into new and existing markets as a true extension of our entire salesforce. As such, Dell EMC is evolving its current Line of Business (LOB) Incumbency for Storage program to ISG Incumbency in its Commercial Sales segment, which provides incumbency across all ISG lines of business including Server, Networking, Storage, Backup, Converged/Hyperconverged and Solutions on qualifying accounts. ISG Incumbency will provide more predictability than ever before to enable partners to aggressively grow their business with Dell EMC. ISG Incumbency allows us to mutually play to win with our partners. To help partners plan their growth and protect their investments, Dell EMC launched the LOB Incumbency for Storage program in October 2016. This program recognizes the relationships partners have established with customers based on historical business performance with the goal to minimize direct conflict and ensure alignment between the Dell EMC sales team and the incumbent partners. Now evolving to a more comprehensive ISG Incumbency model where rather than providing incumbency for a specific line of business in an account, qualifying Commercial accounts will receive incumbency across all ISG lines of business including Server, Networking, Storage, Backup, Converged/Hyperconverged and Solutions. ISG Incumbency will protect the entire datacenter solution and enable cross-selling of the full ISG portfolio. In addition, partners are provided the opportunity to earn incumbency on new customers or new lines of business on existing customers across the ISG portfolio. Operationalizing the ISG Incumbency program is actively being worked with details to follow. Services Partners can build deeper relationships, provide greater customer value and increase profitability when they supplement their own capabilities with Dell EMC Services. The new program gives partners a choice on how to tap into the growth opportunities with services. Partners can resell Dell EMC Services to earn lucrative rebates and contributions to tier level requirements or those who obtain Service Competencies in consulting, support and deployment can co-deliver or deliver Dell EMC Services themselves. Simple: Resources and Technology Enablement -- Unified Partner Portal To enhance the partner experience, there will be one portal for the Dell EMC Partner Program, streamlined with distinctive views for each partner type and partner track providing a wealth of necessary enabling information. The single point of entry portal for all partners is scheduled to go live the week of February 20, 2017. Through the portal, Dell EMC partners will have access to needed tools and resources including: Rebate and MDF Tracking Sales & Marketing Tools Program Guides & Event Kits Country Specific Benefits & Requirements FAQs Training & Competencies Deal Registration Services & Support Resources Quoting & Purchasing Tools Profitable: Rich Rebates & MDF The opportunity for profitability is a cornerstone of the program awarding eligible partners with lucrative rebates. Base rebates are paid back to dollar one and growth rebates reward partners who successfully grow their respective Dell EMC lines of business over time. And partners who attach services to expand into new lines of business can earn additional rebates on top of the base and growth rebates. In addition, there is an infusion of $150 million of incremental investment opportunities to boost back-end rebates and MDF, both earned and proposal based. Service Provider Partner Investments As enterprises accelerate their shift toward all-digital businesses and cloud delivery models, Dell EMC is increasing its commitment through additional investments in the Cloud Service Provider track of the new partner program. These investments start with increased go-to-market resources, the instantiation of a service provider solutions engineering team all backed up by new revenue-based rebates and access to both earned- and proposal-based business development funds. Cloud Partner Connect Initiative Dell EMC's Cloud Partner Connect initiative facilitates building resale relationships between Solution Provider and Cloud Service Providers. It allows Solution Providers to expand their offerings to include leading cloud services for their customers, with minimal investment and powered by Dell EMC. OEM Partner Commitment Every OEM customer is unique with different go-to-market requirements. The OEM Partner track was created to better serve the needs of Dell EMC OEMs and their customers. Dell EMC OEM partners are hand selected based on their resources and capabilities and are dedicated to helping OEM customers bring products to market efficiently. These partners complement Dell EMC's offerings by providing value-added services such as custom hardware and software integration, final assembly and test, financing options, inventory management, consolidation and shipping, custom support engagements and supply-chain solutions. Dell EMC Working Capital Solutions In partnership with leading financial institutions, Dell EMC offers extended payment terms and increased credit capacity to enable our partners to grow their business faster. Analyst Quote: "The new Dell EMC Partner Program is architected for partner growth and profitability," said Kevin Rhone, Director, Channel Acceleration, Enterprise Strategy Group. "This new integrated program brings forward the best aspects of both programs and truly goes above and beyond what we've seen previously in the industry in terms of partner support and recognition. No doubt this will be highly lucrative to partners and Dell EMC, and will enable further growth throughout the industry." Partner Quotes: "Dell's new integrated program will provide Arrow's global reseller and system-integrator ecosystem with opportunities to deliver greater customer value and increase profitability," said Benjamin Klay, Vice President, Infrastructure Systems Group for Enterprise Computing Solutions, Arrow Electronics. "Dell EMC is helping to differentiate itself with an expansive portfolio of value-added solutions and a demonstrated commitment to listening to the needs of its partner community." "The Dell EMC partner program is a win-win for partners and allows us to continue to focus on growing our business" said Sonia St. Charles, CEO, Davenport Group. "The transparency and accessibility to a host of products and services focused all around the data center allows us to address multiple customer challenges and increases our earning potential with multiple paths to achieve tier status." "Digital transformation is driving our business and with the breadth of the Dell EMC portfolio we can address complex customer requirements," said Bob Murphy, President, Presidio North. "The new Dell EMC Partner Program enables us to provide solutions with more agility while maintaining the predictability that's so important to our business. Combined with the support and enablement in the program, I think our future is bright." "The new (Titanium Black) partner status is going to create new opportunities for us. I think there are a lot of things we can do collectively from an innovation perspective." said Jim Kavanaugh, CEO, World Wide Technology, Inc., "Driving accelerated growth around the world that's exciting." Additional Resources: Connect with Dell EMC via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and ECN. For the latest news from Dell EMC, follow @DellEMCPartners, @DellEMCNews on Twitter Read the ESG White Paper, The New Dell EMC Partner Program, Simple, Predictable, Profitable here. ? Benefits and requirements will vary by region/country to ensure accommodation to local markets Dell EMC Dell EMC, a part of Dell Technologies, enables organizations to modernize, automate and transform their data center using industry-leading converged infrastructure, servers, storage and data protection technologies. This provides a trusted foundation for businesses to transform IT, through the creation of a hybrid cloud, and transform their business through the creation of cloud-native applications and big data solutions. Dell EMC services customers across 180 countries including 98 percent of the Fortune 500 with the industry's most comprehensive and innovative portfolio from edge to core to cloud. Copyright 2016 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell, EMC and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dell-emc-launches-historic-new-integrated-partner-program-300404006.html SOURCE Dell EMC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina is Named CollegeNET's Third Social Mobility Innovator for 2017 CollegeNET, Inc., a leading provider of web-based on-demand technologies for higher education, and the creator of the Social Mobility Index (SMI), a data-driven system that ranks 4-year US colleges and universities according to how effectively they enroll students from low-income backgrounds and graduate them into promising careers, today announced that Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina has been selected as the third of 10 Social Mobility Innovators for 2017. The goal of the SMI -- now in its third year -- is to help redirect the attribution of "prestige" in our higher education system toward colleges and universities that are advancing economic opportunity, the most pressing issue of our time. A 125-year-old historically Black public research university with nearly 5,000 undergraduate students, Winston-Salem State has been ranked among the top 20 schools on CollegeNET's Social Mobility Index (SMI) for three consecutive years (2014-2016). "Most of the higher education rankings try to help students choose a college or university," says Jim Wolfston, CEO of CollegeNET. "The SMI, on the other hand, tries to help policymakers see which colleges and universities are addressing the national problem of economic mobility. Administrators in higher education can be more effective in strengthening US economic mobility and restoring the promise of the American Dream in the 21st century if they can identify and learn from committed colleges and universities like Winston-Salem State that are already skilled at doing this." Establishing a Strong Culture of Engagement Winston-Salem State was selected as CollegeNET's third Social Mobility Innovator for 2017 because it has established a strong culture of engagement for studens. In addition to a substantive one-week orientation for first-year students, which includes enriched mentoring, advising and social and cultural activities, the university requires freshmen and sophomores to live on campus. Winston-Salem State also creates a campus-wide learning environment. In the heart of campus is a state-of-the-art Student Success Center, which offers advising, tutoring and career placement under one roof. "Our educational experience is based on student engagement," says Elwood L. Robinson, Chancellor at Winston-Salem State, "and our school motto is 'Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve.' That's our guiding principle, and it's deeply engrained in all that we do. We have to ensure that our students get all the skills required for the 21st century workplace." Another key part of Winston-Salem State's approach to student engagement revolves around providing students the financial support to stay on track and graduate. The school has found that unforeseen personal and financial circumstances can often hinder students' ability to complete their education. That's why Robinson and his team have set up gap-funding scholarships, which provide high-achieving under-resourced students with the means to complete their degree. The scholarships range from $1,000 to $1,500. "I come from a rural small town and a family that never had a whole lot, so I understand this situation quite well," explains Robinson. "But I also know that equity means making sure that all students get the opportunity to be successful, regardless of their families' income. As an educator, I believe you have to do everything possible to help students leave their mark in the world." Winston-Salem State's track record in this area is impressive. It currently ranks first among all 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system with 79 percent of its students employed six months after graduation. Attacking Higher Education's Harmful "Tri-Imperfecta" "It's inspiring that Winston-Salem State is providing educational opportunity to promising students regardless of their economic background," says CollegeNET's Wolfston. "Winston-Salem State's civic contribution is key given that higher education's role in advancing economic mobility and the American Dream is rapidly deteriorating. Indeed, our nation is now caught in a damaging 'tri-imperfecta.' Tuitions are increasing, economic inclusion is declining on campuses and Pell Grants -- intended for disadvantaged students with financial need -- are being awarded more generously to richer families. Winston-Salem State's innovation provides a strong example for how we can reverse these trends." Mona Zahir, a senior at Winston-Salem State who is a Political Science major and the Student Government Association president, embodies this view. Says Zahir, whose parents moved to the US from Africa: "I'm just a first-generation American who comes from little money but came to a university on the work ethic of wanting to make something of myself for my parents' sacrifices. Now, I literally feel like I can be anything or do anything because of [Winston-Salem State]." See the complete SMI rankings. About CollegeNET, Inc. CollegeNET, Inc. builds on-demand SaaS (News - Alert) technologies that help institutions improve operational efficiency, enhance communication with constituents, and save money. The company's systems are used by 1,300 institutions worldwide for event and academic scheduling, recruitment and admissions management, web-based tuition processing, instructor and course evaluation, and web-based career services for students. Additionally, the company operates CollegeNET.com, a social network through which students create topics, write about them, and vote to determine who will win scholarships. CollegeNET.com has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to date. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005039/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] HackerOne Raises $40 Million to Make the Internet Safer for Everyone HackerOne, the leading bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure platform, today announced $40 million in Series C financing. With unprecedented business growth in 2016 creating intense investor interest, the round was led by Dragoneer Investment Group, a long-term oriented investment firm that is focused on backing exceptional businesses including: Airbnb, Atlassian, New Relic and Uber. The company will use the new funds to invest further in technology development, expand market reach, and continue to strengthen the world's largest and most diverse hacker community. HackerOne is the most widely adopted bug bounty platform in the world with more than 100,000 hackers. Bug bounty programs allow software-powered organizations to identify severe vulnerabilities in live systems fast, and at a fraction of the traditional cost. As the average cost of a breach in the U.S. has grown to $7 million, more than 38,000 security vulnerabilities have been resolved across more than 700 HackerOne customers. As a result, hackers earn more on HackerOne than anywhere else with over $14 million in bug bounties awarded -- $7 million of which was awarded in 2016. In 2016, HackerOne was hand-picked by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to run the U.S. federal government's first bug bounty challenge, Hack the Pentagon, which vastly exceeded expectations and resolved more than 138 vulnerabilities discovered by 1,400 hackers, saving the DoD over $1 million compared to previous methods. As a result of the success, HackerOne was awarded a $3 million contract from the DoD to Hack the U.S. Army, a program which saw the first hacker report filed within 5 minutes of launching. Industry leaders across government, healthcare, technology, retail, automotive, gaming and travel trust HackerOne. Customers include Airbnb, CloudFlare, General Motors (News - Alert), GitHub, New Relic, Nintendo, Qualcomm, Starbucks and Uber; all of which rely on HackerOne for the creativity and intelligence of the world's largest hacker community, and its ease of use, from self-service to best-in-class managed services. With zero commitment offerings for startups and open source projects, HackerOne makes it easy for every organization connected to the internet to improve their security with help from hackers. "HackerOne is at the forefront of the burgeoning bug bounty movement. Through its impressive and growing customer list, it has proven to be the most sophisticated platform on the market with tremendous potential ahead," said Marc Stad, Founder and Managing Partner of Dragoneer Investment Group. "Hackers love it because companies on HackerOne pay the highest bounties in the industry, and businesses love it because it provides access to the most diverse hacker community in the world. It is borderline silly for a company not to utilize a bug bounty platform given the immediate reduction in security vulnerabilities and the relatively low price point compared to other security options." "Together we hit harder and the results speak for themselves. Our customers typically receive their first valid security vulnerability report the same day they challenge our diverse community of hackers to examine their code," said Marten Mickos, CEO of HackerOne. "There's no such thing as perfect software and bug bounty programs are the most efficient and cost-effective solution for finding security vulnerabilities in live software. With support from Dragoneer we are in the best position to rapidly scale and empower the world to build a safer internet." About HackerOne HackerOne is the no. 1 bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure platform, connecting organizations with the world's largest community of trusted hackers. More than 700 organizations, including The U.S. Department of Defense, General Motors, Uber, Twitter (News - Alert), GitHub, Nintendo, Kaspersky Lab, Panasonic Avionics, Qualcomm, Square, Starbucks, Dropbox and the CERT Coordination Center trust HackerOne to find critical software vulnerabilities before criminals can exploit them. HackerOne customers have resolved more than 38,000 vulnerabilities and awarded more than $14 million in bug bounties. HackerOne is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Seattle, Los Angeles, North Carolina and the Netherlands. About Dragoneer Investment Group Dragoneer Investment Group, based in San Francisco, CA (News - Alert), is a growth-oriented investor in both public and private companies. In addition to its public market portfolio, Dragoneer has invested in private companies such as Airbnb, AmWINS, AppFolio, Atlassian, Dollar Shave Club, PointClickCare, and Spotify (News - Alert). Dragoneer seeks businesses with sustainable competitive advantages, attractive financial models, and world class management teams. Dragoneer's global track record includes investments across several industries with a particular focus on technology-enabled businesses. Dragoneer employs a long-term fund structure supported by leading endowments, foundations and institutional family offices. For more information, please contact [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005334/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Tamil Rockers, a piracy website has announced an open challenge to the makers of Suriya's Singam 3, claiming that it would live stream the film online. By India Today Web Desk: After much delay of the project, Singam 3, which is the instalment from the Singam franchise is finally hitting the screens on February 9. While the makers are gearing up for a grand release, Tamil Rockers, a torrent website has announced that it would live-stream Singam 3 on its opening day. ALSO READ: Pawan's Katamarayudu teaser sets YouTube on fire, clocks 3 million views in 24 hours advertisement ALSO READ: Hollywood technician roped in for Jr NTR's next It must be noted that producer Gnanavel Raja lashed out at Tamil Rockers for releasing pirated versions of films online. Speaking at the audio launch of Yaman, Gnanavel Raja said, "Singam 3 is releasing on February 9. A piracy website called Tamil Rockers run by a son of **** , pardon my language, has announced that he will live stream the movie at 11 am on the release date. We are still unsure if we can clear all the financial hurdles and ensure the film releases as per the schedule, but that 'dog' is very confident that he will live stream the film at the said time. And the industry is quiet and doing nothing about it, that includes me as well." Responding to Gnanavel Raja, Tamil Rockers took to Facebook and said, "#Gnanavel Raja Nice speech sir #MarkYourCalender February 9th is not your day our day.. #TamilRockers." Directed by Hari, Singam 3 is Suriya's fifth successful collaboration with the director. The film will see Suriya as a fierce police officer Duraisingam. Also starring Anushka Shetty, Shruti Haasan and Thakur Anoop Singh, the film has music by Harris Jayaraj. --- ENDS --- [February 08, 2017] Telit Asset Gateway software deployed on Cisco IoT Gateways enables rapid access to broad range of industrial machinery data with security and scale Telit, (AIM: TCM) a global enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT), announced today that its deviceWISE Asset Gateway (News - Alert) Software has been validated on Cisco's IOx-enabled edge computing gateways, namely, Cisco ISR809/829 Industrial Integrated Services Routers and Cisco IE4000 Industrial Ethernet Switches and the software is now available as an integrated Cloud-ready industrial IoT solution. These highly-secure and ruggedized Industry 4.0 appliances provide edge intelligence for industrial asset management, condition-based monitoring, predictive maintenance and other mission-critical IoT applications across industrial markets around the world. Telit and Cisco (News - Alert) have partnered in a multi-faceted go-to-market collaboration that expands their market reach and readiness for their respective products and services. The deviceWISE Asset Gateway software is a smart agent with an extensive industrial protocol library based on decades of development and experience in the industrial automation space. "Telit edge software on Cisco IoT Gateways enables customers and partners to access machine data with a broad range connectors for manufacturing and industrial deployments. Cisco has a rich portfolio of industry specific IoT gateways with security, scale, compliance, that offer 4G LTE, Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity options and management to enable customer success for operational deployments. Now, customers have the flexibility to choose the most optimal IoT gateways, with Telit edge software, management and SI partners to deploy Connected Machine use-cases with confidence," said Vikas Butaney, General Manager, Cisco IoT Connectivity Cisco IoT Gateways with deviceWISE give enterprises highly flexible and scalable deployment options. Companies can opt to install the Cisco hardware with deviceWISE as a secure and rugged industrial automation solution within the four walls of a factory. In addition, deviceWISE gateways can seamlessly connect to the Telit IoT Portal, an enterprise-grade Cloud service (powered by the deviceWISE IoT Platform) for Industry 4.0 applications, such as real-time remote monitoring and control and predictive maintenance. This Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) features a low cost pay-as-you-go service plan and lets you get started without any upfront investment, which lowers barrier to entry for complex solutions. deviceWISE eliminates any custom development with intuitive click-to-configure tools that significantly reduce deployment time, risk, cost and complexity for companies large and small. The Cisco/Telit combined offering also seamlessly integrates with deviceWISE-powered IoT services from leading Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), as well as our on-premise installations offered by SAP (News - Alert) to large enterprise customers. "We are very pleased to collaborate with Cisco on their Internet of Things initiatives and to work together on expanding the market reach for both companies in the high-growth industrial IoT market," said Charlie McNiff, VP deviceWISE Business Development, Telit IoT Platforms. "Adding Cisco to our expanding ecosystem of Telit IoT partners is an advantage for the industry and our common customers." About deviceWISE The deviceWISE Asset Gateway Software and cloud-based Application Enablement Platform (AEP) from Telit turns Cisco industrial network infrastructure into an intelligent Industry 4.0 onramp to the Industrial Internet of Things. deviceWISE provides a logic engine with an extensive library of machine and industrial protocols and drivers that provide best-in-class edge intelligence, which is often referred to as "Fog Computing." The large library of Industry 4.0 device drivers and protocols interface to PLCs and automation devices from manufacturers such as Siemens (News - Alert), Mitsubishi and Rockwell and virtually all other automation equipment commonly found in complex machines in buildings, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, alternative energy, mining, or oil & gas. The deviceWISE drag-n-drop edge-logic engine communicates with external devices or sensors via LAN, USB or serial interface and can monitor digital and analog I/Os. This configuration tool can run triggers, do conditional monitoring, make decisions and take actions. The Cloud-based AEP also provides a robust set of horizontal application-creation and device management tools to simplify remote operations and updates for any vertical industry application. Fundamental to the Cisco IoE architecture, Cisco industrial routers and switches with the deviceWISE software installed become secure FOG access points through Cisco's Analytics platform. Data scientists and consultants can then enable new service opportunities by quickly creating tailored applications for remote monitoring and control, production diagnostics, predictive maintenance, process improvements, supply chain logistics, real-time decision making and improved levels of quality. About Telit Telit (AIM: TCM), is a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) enablement. The company offers the industry's broadest portfolio of integrated products and services for end-to-end IoT deployments - including cellular communication modules in all technologies, GNSS, short-to-long range wireless modules, IoT connectivity plans and IoT platform services. Through the IoT Portal, Telit makes IoT onboarding easy, reduces risk, time to market, complexity and costs for asset tracking, remote monitoring and control, telematics, industrial automation and others, across many industries and vertical markets worldwide. Copyright 2017 Telit Communications (News - Alert) PLC. All rights reserved. Telit and all associated logos are trademarks of Telit Communications PLC in the United States and other countries. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005643/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] NexDefense Appoints Jeff Spence as CEO NexDefense (www.nexdefense.com), a leading industrial cyber security software provider headquartered in Atlanta, today announces Jeff Spence as CEO. Spence brings to the helm extensive senior leadership experience in software, telecommunications, energy and finance, and a proven track record for leading rapid company growth and successful venture financing. Spence will lead all of NexDefense's day-to-day activities as well as serve on the company's board of directors. "Jeff brings a unique skill-set and perspective. It's rare to find someone with his grasp of technology, entrepreneurialism and finance, who also can cast a vision for others to follow," notes Tom McNeight, NexDefense's non-executive chairman of the board, who headed the search for the CEO position. "Jeff immediately brought an elevated level of leadership and direction to the company, attracting world-class talent, new sales activity and heightened financing interest." Spence's experience across a variety of verticals and company sizes brings a broader and more aggressive positioning to the Industrial cyber software company. In qualiying the effect Spence has had on the company to date, Derek Harp, founder of NexDefense and board member, explains, "Jeff has a very positive and direct approach that encourages confidence and entrepreneurialism. From the day he arrived, he hit the ground running and had a laser focus on the most important elements for this startup. I am confident that with his leadership this company will reach new levels of success and help more customers than ever before." Importance of OT-IT Convergence (News - Alert) to Industrial IoT (IIoT) Spence, who has built technology businesses and investment teams globally, sees a unique market opportunity in NexDefense. "The convergence of IT and industrial/physical technologies is creating what might be the largest market need in my lifetime. This industry has unique and demanding requirements, and the companies that can demonstrate the most tangible value in this segment are going to do well. I'm certain NexDefense is one of those companies," Spence explains. Recognizing the challenges of targeting such a large and expanding market, Spence adds, "These aren't email servers at risk. We're dealing with human lives, brand protection and billions of dollars in industrial production. We will win because we'll continue to build a world-class team and deliver solutions our customers trust." Prior to joining NexDefense, Spence was the Managing Director of DraftServ Pty Ltd of Singapore and was the investment director of a Zurich-based holding and investment group. Spence is a graduate of California State University, Chico, where he earned degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics. About NexDefense NexDefense (www.nexdefense.com) is a leading Industrial IoT and Cyber Security provider. The company's flagship software improves production, safety and security for customers across energy, manufacturing, data center and other automation industries. Founded in 2012, NexDefense was born from technology developed by Idaho National Labs in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005678/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] New IDTechEx Report Reveals Much Larger Drone Opportunity BOSTON, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Just when many investors are running for the exit, having burnt their fingers with toy drones and the like, IDTechEx reveals a much bigger picture with considerable potential for the level-headed. The new IDTechEx report, Electric UAV Drones: Autonomous, Energy Independent 2017-2027 invites us to consider the trends to larger drones increasingly with autonomy of navigation, task and energy. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140310/673848) Drones are overcoming problems of direct human involvement in dirty, dangerous, boring, slow and imprecise operations that need to be done better and they will even be used for currently impossible tasks. IDTechEx forecasted the price collapse of toy versions but we reveal the huge opportunities in specialist hardware and most software and services elsewhere. Electric UAV Drones: Autonomous, Energy Independent 2017-2027 is an excitin read because it contains so much that is rarely or never reported elsewhere. The report presents forecasts and roadmaps involving over 400 players with the most significant work identified using a profusion of images. There is an executive summary with the technology and evolving uses crisply explained followed by comparison of players, market forecasts and roadmaps. The market forecasts are for six drone categories and encompass numbers, prices and market values. Forecasts by others are presented for comparison. Because IDTechEx has carried out deep research on allied subjects such as autonomous, energy independent and electric vehicles in general and new sensor technology, this report benchmarks relevant things going on outside the drone business. It avoids the tunnel vision of other commentators. Learn where there are better alternatives for some drone applications but huge opportunities for others soon to be trialled. How will we get the necessary ultra-efficient powertrains? What is the route to new regeneration creating on-board electricity instead of wasted heat and movement? How do we make viable the new forms of energy harvesting of ambient energy such as sun and wind? It is all here. The report ends with examples of insightful interviews recently carried out across the world. Read more about this new report at http://www.IDTechEx.com/drones and learn more about IDTechEx here. IDTechEx provides companies with tools that can assist them in making essential strategic decisions in emerging technologies. IDTechEx offers research reports, subscriptions, consultancy, introductory services and events. Contact: Alison Lewis Marketing Manager, Reports [email protected] http://www.IDTechEx.com twitter.com/IDTechEx UK: +44-(0)1223-810290 SOURCE IDTechEx [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Jesse Dowdle Named To Utah Business' Forty Under 40 SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RizePoint, the global leader in quality and safety management solutions, today announced that Jesse Dowdle, vice president of technology at RizePoint, has been named as one of Utah Business' Forty Under 40, an honor recognizing Utah's exceptional talent. "Jesse is known for process improvement with a record of reducing bugs and increasing critical functionality," said Frank Maylett, president and CEO of RizePoint. "Jesse has been able to rally the team behind his vision and improve both morale and productivity." Dowdle joined RizePoint in September 2016. In his first six months, he built a commitment to quality for the entire engineering team, from meetings and training to research and product launches. "I've been fortunate to be given so many opportunities to grow in my career, first at Workfront and now at RizePoint. I enjoy being a mentor and getting others involved in Utah's tech community," Dowdle said. "It's an honor to be recognized for the work I love, both at RizePoint and with AngularJS Utah, Utah Valley University's Computer Science Department, and Neumont University." Before launching his career at Workfront (formerly AtTask), Dowdle worked as a designer and writer for indie video games. He excelled inmany roles at Workfront, from senior director of product development to his most recent position, vice president of technology. Dowdle holds dual degrees in history and broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University. Dowdle will be recognized with all of this year's Forty Under 40 honorees at an awards ceremony and luncheon held at The Grand America Hotel on February 23. RizePoint At-a-Glance RizePoint mobile and cloud-based software helps organizations improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of their products, services, and facilities. RizePoint's software is used by 5 of the top 8 hospitality brands and 5 of the top 8 food service brands. RizePoint serves more than 387,000 users in 120 countries and territories, speaking 40 languages: 105,000 food service restaurants 27,000 hotels and resort properties 13,000 grocery and retail stores About RizePoint RizePoint formerly Steton Technology Group is the global leader in software solutions that proactively safeguard enterprise compliancefor both internally imposed standards and externally imposed regulations. RizePoint software builds and protects brand equity by enabling a consistent customer experience. Our customers gather better data, see necessary actions earlier, and act faster to correct issues before they become costly liabilities. Considered the industry standard for food service, hospitality, and retail, RizePoint mobile and cloud-based solutions serve nearly 2 million audits with 200 million questions answered annually. RizePoint is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit RizePoint.com. About Forty Under 40 Awards This program recognizes business professionals under the age of 40 who have climbed the corporate ladder quickly, who have become standouts in their field, demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, created a disruptive technology that has had a major impact in their industry or an entrepreneur who has created a market or industry for a new product and had a high level of success. For more information, visit http://www.utahbusiness.com Press Inquiries: Whitney McCarthy 801.285.9827 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jesse-dowdle-named-to-utah-business-forty-under-40-300404099.html SOURCE RizePoint [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Leonardo to compete for U.S. Air Force Advanced Pilot Training System program through its U.S. company Leonardo DRS WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leonardo is proud to confirm its participation in the U.S. Air Force T-X competition with its T-100 integrated training system. Leonardo will leverage its U.S. company, Leonardo DRS, as the prime contractor, bringing to bear Leonardo's leading aeronautical and simulation expertise to deliver a fully integrated solution in the best interests of the Air Force. The T-100 will be a U.S.-based program that will bring significant economic benefits to the country through a newly established and skilled U.S. work force, in addition to the technological and industrial capabilities embedded in newly built U.S.-based manufacturing facilities. "Leonardo's commitment to pursue the T-X builds on our deep experience in military pilots' training and on the competitiveness of our T-100 integrated Training Systems that can meet the U.S. Air Force's current and future needs," said Mauro Moretti, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo. Bill Lynn, CEO of Leonardo DRS, added that his company "is proud to bring to this highly competitive tender Leonardo's mature, readily available and technologically advanced solution that will also have a significant economic impact in the U.S." The T-100 is a latest generation jet trainer based on the M-346 aircraft that prevailed over rivals in the most challenging, open competitive bids during the last ten years. The aircraft is already operational to train pilots around the world to fly in next-generation fighter aircraft. The T-100 also features an embedded tactical training system that immerses pilots in realistic mission scenarios. The T-100's twin F124 turbofan propulsion engines, provided by Honeywell Aerospace's International Turbine Company joint venture, deliver best-in-class thrust-to-weight ratio, proven reliability and enhanced efficiency and safety. The engines meet the most rigorous requirements for modern light aircraft and advanced military trainer aircraft. Leonardo DRS will be supported by CAE USA in the design and development of the T-100 ground-based training system (GBTS). CAE has developed some of the most sophisticated simulation-based training systems in the world for lead-in fighter trainer aircraft, and has been Leonardo's training partner on the ground-based training systems delivered for the proven M-346 aircraft. The T-100 is a proven, low-risk, integrated system to train U.S. Air Force next-generation jet fighter pilots. Leonardo is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defence and Security and Italy's main industrial company. As a single entity from January 2016, organized into seven business divisions (Helicopters; Aircraft; Aero-structures; Airborne & Space Systems; Land & Naval Defence Electronics; Defence Systems; Security & Information Systems), Leonardo operates in the most competitive international markets by leveraging its areas of technology and product leadership. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), at 31 December 2015 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of 13 billion Euros and has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the UK and the U.S. Press Office Investor Relations & SRI Ph. +39 06 32473313 Ph. +39 06 32473066 Fax +39 06 32657170 [email protected] leonardocompany.com [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leonardo-to-compete-for-us-air-force-advanced-pilot-training-system-program-through-its-us-company-leonardo-drs-300404348.html SOURCE Leonardo [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] DC Finance is Proud to Present the 2nd Family Office Innovation and Technology Family Office Conference, March 28th, 2017 NEW YORK, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Speakers include Tim Draper, Morton Davis, Slava Rubin, Heads of Artificial Intelligence at Samsung, IBM, UBER & Facebook, Investors Pritzker and Low Families DC Finance, a leading financial conference organizer and manager of one of the world's largest family office conferences, will be hosting the Life Science Investments conference for Family Office & High Net Worth Individuals at the Pepper Hamilton LLC Offices, NYC on March 2017 (http://www.tech-wealth.com). Participating Speakers Include: Mr. Tim Draper, Founder, Draper Associates, One of the leading tech hedge fund investors with investments at Skype, Hotmail, Tesla, Baidu, Theranos, Athenahealth, Solar City, Box, TwitchTV and SpaceX. Dr. Yossi Vardi, Godfather of Israel's High Tech scene, Founding Investor of Mirabilis (ICQ) Mr. Morton Davis, Owner and Chairman, D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp. Mr. Sanjit Singh Dang, Investment Director, Intel Capital Mr. Dov Moran, Founder of M-Systems that invented the USB Memory Stick, later bought by Sandisk for $1.6B Mr. Adam Singolda, Founder & CEO of Taboola, the largest online discovery platform. Mr. Slava Rubin, Co-Founder of Indiegogo - the world's largest global crowdfunding platform. Mr. John Brothwick, CEO and Co-Founder of Betaworks - an internet studio that builds and invests in companies across the social, data-driven media internet Mr. Guruduth S. Banavar, Chief Science Officer, Cognitive Computing Vice President, IBM Research Mr. Danny Lange, Head of Machine Learning, UBER Mr. Michael Wei, Director, AI Research Center Samsung America Research Mr. Yann Lecun, Director, Facebook AI Research Ms. Alyssa Jaffee, Senior Associate, Pritzker Group Why Private Wealth? The investment opportunities in the innovative technology world are being recognized more and more by next generations of wealthy families and their single family office representatives. They are more willing to explore innovative investment opportunities that are far from the family's core business than former generations. They understand the exciting opportunities that lie within the technology sectors and the wealth that is created there and are constantly seeking to diversify their portfolios. Unlike traditional institutional investors, private wealth and single family offices are uniquely positioned to invest in life science. In part due to their freedom of cross-sector investments, company stages, growth perspective and market cap as well as not being restricted like institutions to specific holding periods due to a fund's timeline or sructure. They are more open to taking risks than are funds. Some family offices see this as an exciting adventure, which we can even put under the term - Passion Investing. With flexibility, patience and resources, private wealth comprises the ideal long-term investor base. About DC Finance: DC Finance (http://www.dc-finance.com) builds an international network of high net worth individuals, family offices, and investors for mutual growth and support through first tier events worldwide. We hold prominent financial events for Family Offices and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals in the US, UK and Israel. We reach over 200 Billion USD a year in the US alone, of around 400 families and Single Family Offices at our East Coast Family Office Conference (http://www.nyc-wealth.com) and Florida (http://www.florida-wealth.com) conferences - October 24th and December 6th respectively. Our more niche events include our October 19th real estate for High Net Worth Individuals event (http://www.wealth-realestate.com) with speakers such as Sam Zell, Silverstein, Trump, Ofer Yardeni (Stonehenge) and Jack Rosen of Rosen and Partners and our Technology and Innovation conference for family offices (http://www.thenycmeetings.com), March 28th which last year included names like Gaby Meron the founder of over 1 Billion USD Given Imaging and the Russo Brothers, Directors of the Avengers and Cap America who spoke on VR Investments. With a special reach to some communities like the UHNW Jewish and LATAM communities and a thorough due diligence process of our attendees, we run some of the top family office events in our field (with never more than 10% sell side presence). Our speakers this past quarter have included members of the Silverstein family, Firestone, Spielberg, Bronfman, Arison, Bush, Mars, Rockefeller and high tech billionaires like Founder of Hotels.com Bob Diener. Dov Moran, Invenror of the USB memory sticks and Uri Levine, Founder of Waze. Other events by DC Finance - The London FO Conference (http://www.london-wealth.com) with over 100 families and in Israel the Tel Aviv Institutional Investment Conference - Israel's largest event in this field representing over 400 Billion USD under management, http://www.tlvii.com and one of the world's largest family office events, with over 500 families attending - The Tel Aviv Wealth Management Conference http://www.israelwealth.com. Finally DC Finance does private dinners and lunches in Miami and NYC for up to 20 ultra high net worth investors with one to two presenting companies. Known for their strict registration policy, special covered topics and world first tier speakers, DCF have managed to build a brand that is considered one of the best in its field. The firm is also the publisher of Family Wealth magazine and advisors sourcebook which is distributed to 18000 of Israel's high net worth families. DC Finance's target audiences are high net worth individuals, institutional investors, and other senior executives in the eminent business community. In the US the company manages The New York Family Office Meetings (http://www.thenycmeetings.com), The East Coast Family Office & Wealth Management Conference (http://www.nycwealth.com) and The Florida Family Office Conference (http://www.florida-wealth.com ). In the UK DC manages the London Family Office Conference, the Annual Family Office & Wealth Management Conference taking place on June 6th 2017 at the Four Seasons Hotel in London (http://www.london-wealth.com ). In Israel DC Finance has established 11 of Israel's top branded financial conferences - The Annual Family Office & Wealth Management Conference that is considered one of the world's largest event in its field (http://www.israelwealth.com), The Semi-Annual Economic Conference, The Going Public Abroad Annual Conference, The Annual Securities Offering Convention, The Kibbutz Industries Annual Economic Conference, The Annual Corporate Finance Conference (http://www.israel-finance.com) and Israel's largest institutional conference The Tel Aviv Annual Institutional Investors Conference (http://www.tlvii.com ). We also manage six other family office events for HNWI and family offices in which no tickets are sold to outsiders. Those events are held in Tel Aviv, Savion, Caesarea, Jerusalem and Haifa. Contact Person: Ms. Natalie Gruper Tel: + 972-3-6777701 Ext. 9 Email: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Registration Now Open for the 14th Annual BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology Today the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced registration and housing are now open for the 2017 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology. The conference will be held July 23-26, 2017 at the Palais des congres de Montreal in Montreal, Canada. "Now in its 14th year, BIO continues to bring new and exciting features to its annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology," stated Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, Industrial and Environmental at BIO. "Two new tracks-Flavors, Fragrances and Food Ingredients and Agricultural Crop Technologies and Biomass Supply-have been added to this year's programming to represent the extended value chain of industrial biotechnology. Additionally, BIO brought The World Congress back to Montreal so attendees from all over the world can gather and meet in one international location to make those important industry connections." BIO's World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology is the world's largest industrial biotechnology conference that brings together from across the globe business leaders, investors, academics and policymakers in the biofuels, biobased products, renewable chemicals, synthetic biology, food ingredients and biomass sectors. Industrial and environmental biotechnology is at the forefront of the biobased economy, generating good-paying jobs and making cleaner products and processes. In 2016, the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology drew around 907 industry leaders from 529 companies, 32 countries and 31 states, as well as the District of Columbia and hosted a record 1,961 partnering meetings. All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working full time for print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.bio.org/events/conferences/world-congress-media For more information on the conference please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress. For assistance, please contact [email protected]. About BIO BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling "innovations transforming our world" and the BIO Newsletter is the organization's bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter. Upcoming BIO Events BIO CEO & Investor Conference February 13-14, 2017 New York, NY BIO Asia International Conference March 14-15, 2017 Tokyo, Japan BIO-Europe Spring Conference March 20-22, 2017 Barcelona, Spain View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006076/en/ [February 08, 2017] European Infrastructure-as-a-Service Market, Forecast to 2021 LONDON, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprises' Hybrid Infrastructure Drives Focus Towards Managed Services This study aims to forecast and analyse the European Infrastructure-as-a-Service market outlook from 2016 to 2021. Technological and economic benefits of using Infastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) continue to be the main factors driving enterprise migration to the cloud. The increased awareness of different types of cloud services (public, private, hybrid, managed) has led IT decision-makers to evaluate a hybrid IT strategy that helps them adopt the cloud configurations that best suit different application requirements. As a result, cloud service providers are aligning themselves to cater to the hybrid cloud/IT requirements of customers. Over the next 6 years, the European IaaS market is expected to grow rapidly at a CAGR (20162021) of 27.2% to reach 14.57 billion in 2021. Research Methodology & Scope Frost & Sullivan conducted detailed primary interviews with leading cloud service providers, analyzed their quarterly and annual reports, and utilized internal databases to perform a detailed revenue analysis of the IaaS market. The resulting revenue market size reflects a sum total of our estimates for individual companies. The study highlights growth drivers and restraints for 2016-2021 as well as analyses the market from a geographic perspective. We will also analyse the strategic approaches of different providers, delving into the competitive parameters in the market. Key forecasts and analyses covered in the report include: - Total market (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) and segment (Computing-as--Service and Storage-as-a-Service) forecasts - Regional Analyses (the United Kingdom , Germany , France , Benelux, Spain , Italy , Nordics, Rest of Europe ) - Main opportunities for growth in the market and strategic imperatives for growth and success Key Questions This Study Will Answer - What is the total size of the IaaS market in Europe and how is it expected to grow from 2017 to 2021? - How is the distribution channel structured in the IaaS market? What indirect channel strategy do providers adopt? - What are the main growth drivers for IaaS? What challenges should providers overcome to gain market share? - Are the two main segments, Computing-as-a-Service and Storage-as-a-Service, growing? - What is the rate of IaaS adoption across European countries and how is this expected to change over the forecast period (20172021)? - Which are the main providers in the IaaS market in Europe ? What are the competitive strategies adopted by providers to increase their market presence? Why partner with Frost & Sullivan? - Robust and proven research methodology resulting in high-quality findings: Frost & Sullivan has established relationships with the leading participants in the IT services industry with which it performs primary research for the purpose of its research services - Breadth and depth of market coverage: Frost & Sullivan analyst team has performed market and strategic analysis of the cloud and data centre services market, publishing periodic reports on different aspects of these markets. - Geography: Global and regional coverage including North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , Latin America , the Middle East and Africa Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4683689/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-infrastructure-as-a-service-market-forecast-to-2021-300404491.html SOURCE ReportBuyer [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin Opens Enrollment for Second Year of Operations February is Career Technical Education (CTE) Awareness Month, and enrollment is now open for the 2017-18 school year for Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin (DCAWI), a career and technical education-focused online high school. The tuition-free online public charter school, which opened last year, is available to students in grades 9-12 who reside in the state of Wisconsin. DCAWI serves full-time students in addition to offering individual courses to students in schools that do not have access to CTE programs. Interested families can submit an open enrollment application through April 28, 2017. "Graduates from Destinations Career Academy are able to move on from high school with more than a diploma," said Nicholas Sutherland, Head of School at Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin. "Each student receives regular interaction with Wisconsin-licensed teachers who are trained in their specific subject area and available via email, telephone, and online meetings. With access to internship experience and preparatory work for industry certification tests, students have the opportunity to hit the ground running on their careers." DCAWI utilizes online and college readiness curriculum designed to prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue other post-secondary options. Students are ble to access multiple versions of core online high school courses and CTE courses in one of four career clusters: architecture and construction; business management and administration, health science, or information technology. Each cluster is designed to give students a head start on their career goals by earning technical and specialty trade credentials, college career credits and workplace experiences. Obtaining industry certifications opens the door to increased job opportunities in the high-demand, high-paying jobs which are often tough to fill and have resulted in a skills gap in Wisconsin. State-licensed teachers provide DCAWI students with instruction and support. Graduates receive a McFarland School District diploma. Students receive preparation for the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate(TM) (NCRC) and the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) exams, as well as a membership in a SkillsUSA career and technical student organization (CTSO) chapter for networking purposes. Families can apply to DCAWI during the state open enrollment window for the upcoming 2017-18 school year. For more information visit http://widca.k12.com/how-enroll.html and follow on Facebook. About Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin, a charter school authorized by the McFarland School District, is the first-ever career and technical education-focused online high school in Wisconsin using the curriculum and academic programs by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN). It is also the first career readiness program to offer a construction apprenticeship program in partnership with industry leaders. As part of the Wisconsin public school system, Destinations Career Academy is tuition-free and serves students statewide in grades 9-12. For more information about Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin, visit http://www.widca.k12.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006112/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Regal Beloit Corporation To Host Investor Day BELOIT, Wis., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC) will host an Investor Day on March 10th, 2017 in New York City beginning at 8:30 a.m. EST. The executive management presentations will be webcast live and all presentation materials will be accessible on the company's website at www.regalbeloit.com. An archive of the webcast will be available until May 9th, 2017 at the link referenced above. Rega Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC) is a leading manufacturer of electric motors, electrical motion controls, power generation and power transmission products serving markets throughout the world. The company is comprised of three business segments: Commercial and Industrial Systems, Climate Solutions and Power Transmission Solutions. Regal is headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit RegalBeloit.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regal-beloit-corporation-to-host-investor-day-300403341.html SOURCE Regal Beloit Corporation In a first in judicial history, the Supreme Court has issued a showcause notice to a sitting High Court judge--Justice CS Karnan. By Anusha Soni: In a first in judicial history, the Supreme Court has issued a contempt notice to a sitting High Court judge, initiating suo moto criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court has directed Calcutta High Court sitting judge CS Karnan to refrain from undertaking any judicial work. Justice Karnan has been accused of circulation of disparaging letters against sitting high court judges of the Madras High Court. advertisement Justice Karnan allegedly wrote about Supreme Court judges too in his letters to the Prime Minister's Office. In his letters, Justice Karnan accused several sitting and retired judges of high courts and Supreme Court of corruption. The apex court has asked Justice CS Karnan to appear before it on February 13. The court has also directed Justice Karnan to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to the Registrar General of Calcutta High Court. The apex court has asked its Registry to furnish a copy of the order to Justice Karnan during the course of the day. INSIDE THE COURTROOM Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi called the public communications of Justice Karnan "slanderous" and "disparaging" to the system of administration of justice. The Attorney General told a special bench of seven judges, comprising Chief Justice of India JS Khekar, that "time has come to take action and set an example". He said "people of the country must not think that the judiciary cannot take an action against its own". To this, CJI Khekar said "we must be very careful as we are setting an example", and said the bench "must seek assistance from the bar. "We must look into the issue of what we can do and if found guilty what will be the punishment," said Chief Justice Khekar. Justice Karnan must come before the court and clarify, the special bench said and posted the matter for hearing on February 13. ALSO READ: SC allows Justice Karnan's plea to argue his transfer case Justice Karnan given charge of single bench after spat Justice Karnan threatens to file cases against SC judges ALSO WATCH --- ENDS --- [February 08, 2017] Infiniti Research to Host a Webinar on Navigating Through the Future of Medical Devices Infiniti Research, a leading market intelligence company, is set to host a webinar titled 'Navigating Through the Future of Medical Devices,' on February 22nd and 23rd. The 45-minute webinar will showcase expert advice from Vivek Sikaria, who is currently AVP for Market Intelligence Practices at Infiniti Research. Vivek has more than 10 years of experience in setting up and managing market intelligence projects for 25+ Fortune 500 companies and for 20+ medical device manufacturers across the globe. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006262/en/ Infiniti Research webinar to be hosted on Feb 22-23. (Graphic: Business Wire) Why do we recommend this webinar for you? The emergence of a variety of micro and macro trends such as enhanced buying power of consumers and suppliers, complex regulatory scrutiny, the advent of new healthcare delivery models, decrease in R&D spend, and need to serve growing lower socio-economic classes in emerging market causes a groundbreaking shift in the medical devices industry. Almost every manufacturer of medical devices across the globe faces unprecedented challenges as market revenues come under excessive pressure. This webinar focuses on how strategic interoperability can help markets identify which regulatory processes are becoming tougher and how to adapt to value-based medical reimbursement models for improved decision-making. Accordingly, manufacturers must embrace innovative technologies to grow and at the same time comply with the constantly-evolving mandates and guidelines. Considering the uncertainties associated with future landscape, market intelligence experts at Infiniti Research decided to review it closely and provide guidance on the ways to deal with market realities. What are the key takeaways? Which parameters should be considered while assessing demand across new markets How to accurately predict demand for your new medical device product or technology Traditional models of market estimation versus the best practices that are currently used How to track the market performance of emerging medical devices/technologies Please follow the links given below to register. For NA Audience (News - Alert): Register Here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1407311492261396737 Webinar ID 486-309-939 Date Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 Time 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM CST For EMEA Audience: Register Here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3365277818539668481 Webinar ID 210-771-091 Date Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017 Time 11: 00 AM - 11:45 AM GMT About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company with a global presence. We study markets in more than 100 countries to help you analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. With over a decade of experience and offices across three continents, we have been instrumental in providing the complete range of competitive intelligence, strategy, and research services for over 500 companies across the globe. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006262/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] International Arbitration Tribunal Orders Ecuador to Pay ConocoPhillips $380 Million for Unlawfully Expropriating the Company's Oil Investments ConocoPhillips' (NYSE: COP) wholly owned subsidiary, Burlington Resources Inc., received an arbitration award of $380 million from an international arbitration tribunal, constituted under the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), for Ecuador's unlawful expropriation of Burlington's significant investment in breach of the U.S.-Ecuador bilateral investment treaty. "The Tribunal's decision on damages sends a clear message that governments cannot expropriate investments without fair compensation," said Janet Carrig, senior vice president, Legal and General Counsel. "ConocoPhillips sought to protect its interests to the fullest degree and the Tribunal acknowledged our legal rights and the unlawful nature of Ecuador's actions." The decision is subject to potential annulment proceedings, but the company believes any application seeking to annul the award would be meritless and ConocoPhillips would strongly defend against it. The timing and manner of collection remain to be determined. The Tribunal also issued a separate decision finding that Ecuador was entitled to $42 million for limited environmental and infrastructure impacts associated with the operations of the Consortium (comprising Burlington and Perenco). The Tribunal noted that "while Ecuador also prevailed on part of its counterclaims, the amount awarded to Ecuador is an extremely small percentage of the amount claimed." --- # # # --- About ConocoPhillips ConocoPhillips is the world's largest independent E&P company based on production and proved reserves. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConocoPhillips had operations and activities in 7 countries, $90 billion of total assets, and approximately 13,300 employees as of Dec. 31, 2016. Production excluding Libya averaged 1,567 MBOED in 2016, and preliminary proved reserves were 6.4 billion BOE as of Dec. 31, 2016. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, and other aspects of our operations or operating results. In many cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "could," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should," "will," "expect," "objective," "projection," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "outlook," "effort," "target" and other similar words. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, there can be no assurance that such expectation or belief will result or be achieved. The actual results of operations can and will be affected by a variety of risks and other matters including, but not limited to, changes in commodity prices; changes in expected levels of oil and gas reserves or production; operating hazards, drilling risks, unsuccessful exploratory activities; difficulties in developing new products and manufacturing processes; unexpected cost increases; international monetary conditions; potential liability for remedial actions under existing or future environmental regulations; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets; and general domestic and international economic and political conditions; as well as changes in tax, environmental and other laws applicable to our business. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting our business generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless legally required, ConocoPhillips undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006282/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017 crime The SC on Tuesday assured Sikh bodies that it will explore issuance of an order to block Sardar jokes on the internet, which portrays the community to be of 'low intellect, stupid and foolish'. By Shashank Shekhar, Harish V Nair: Will this ring the death knell for Santa Banta jokes? The Supreme Court on Tuesday assured Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, that it will explore issuance of an order to block Sardar jokes on the internet, which portrays the community to be of 'low intellect, stupid and foolish'. advertisement Experts, however, say it is impracticable. They opine such a move will fail and only act as a catalyst for a surge in viewing such sites. A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra, while hearing a PIL seeking ban on sardar jokes, asked lawyers representing Sikh bodies to discuss with solicitor general Ranjit Kumar if any order on the lines of the one issued to Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to delete all pre-natal sex determination advertisements and the direction to the Centre to remove all child pornography from the internet can be issued. ALSO READ | Suggest ways to ban Santa-Banta jokes in 6 weeks, SC tells Sikh bodies "Please hold discussions with the solicitor general who was part of the case wherein we issued orders to search engines to delete all pre-natal sex determination advertisements. In another case, we issued direction to the Centre to remove all child pornography from the internet," Justice Misra told advocate RS Suri, adding the bench will pass detailed orders on March 27. Cyber experts, however, claim it is practically impossible to completely remove the content once it becomes available on the internet. "If there is demand, it will keep resurfacing in the virtual world. Despite pornography being banned, it is easily accessible. Similarly, all banned videos and new movie releases are available on the web easily. It would be impossible to implement any such ban on the virtual world," cyber expert Kislay Choudhary told Mail Today. He added that nowhere in the world can a 100 per cent ban be executed. "If someone is serious about banning content on the internet and social media, then a massive content monitoring and surveillance programme needs to be launched. But the contents will be uploaded again and again on new platforms as soon as they are deleted. India is facing an acute problem of cyber terrorism and internet crime, but security agencies cannot even carry out keyword-based monitoring," he explained. ALSO READ | Sardar jokes are no laughing matter Other experts claim that at a time WhatsApp content monitoring is a challenge, it would be impractical to call for complete ban on controversial or community-specific jokes on the internet. A classic example is Anurag Kashyap's movies Paanch and Black Friday that faced bans before release, but were freely available on the internet. advertisement Despite a ban on the controversial BBC documentary India's Daughter based on the 2012 fatal gang-rape of a woman in the Capital, as well as a show by stand-up comedy group AIB, these videos are available on YouTube. The court, however, said categorically that it cannot issue any guideline to impose a general ban on sardar jokes. It said, "Anyone can take recourse to section 67A of the IT Act(punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) or sections 499 and 500 of IPC(defamation). How can we lay down guidelines? What kind of guidelines can we issue pertaining to a particular community?" SGPC had demanded that such jokes amounting to 'racial slur' and 'racial profiling' be included within the definition of 'ragging' in educational institutions. ALSO READ | Supreme Court seeks Sikhs' views on Sardar jokes ban --- ENDS --- DMK leader MK Stalin has asked the Tamil Nadu Governor to work towards a stable government in the state. By Pramod Madhav: MK Stalin, the working President of DMK has asked Acting Governor of Tamil Nadu, Vidyasagar Rao to take necessary action for facilitating a stable government in Tamil Nadu. "Earlier Chief Minister O Panneerselvam alleged that Sasikala Natrajan does not allow him to govern. This is what DMK has been saying so long," Stalin claimed through a statement. advertisement He went on to say that not just O Panneerselvam or DMK but even the cadres of AIADMK and loyalists have the same opinion. "Everything remains a mystery in this rule. Even the chief minister claims that he was threatened to resign," he expressed his shock. Stalin requested the Governor to take action against those who forced him to resign and take action within the constitution to see to that a stable government prevails in Tamil Nadu. "Don't blame DMK, prove your guts by answering Panneerselvam's questions", Stalin lashed out through a statement. Stalin informed Sasikala that she should learn about Tamil Nadu politics if she wants to understand the comedy circus that is occurring within AIADMK and told her to quit blaming DMK for everything. Also read: Panneerselvam working at DMK's behest, no rift within AIADMK: Sasikala after emergency meet Panneerselvam: Jayalalithaa asked me to be CM. Sasikala's team pressurising me Panneerselvam speaks up, Sasikala calls emergency meeting: Latest developments --- ENDS --- T-Mobile and Verizon are neck and neck when it comes to 4G speed, but Verizon still has a (slight) edge in coverage, according to a new report from a wireless testing company. In its latest evaluation of U.S. mobile networks released today (Feb. 8), OpenSignal says that Verizon has closed the speed gap with T-Mobile, with the two carriers finishing tied for both the fastest 4G network and fastest overall network. But Verizon, which points to the reach of its network as a major advantage, now has T-Mobile nipping at its heels for 4G availability in OpenSignal's calculations. T-Mobile and Verizon offer great performance, but Sprint is struggling. Source: OpenSignal OpenSignal's report covers the last three months of 2016. In collecting numbers on network performance, the test firm says it uses consumer smartphones gathering data under normal conditions to simulate the experience of a typical wireless customer. All told, OpenSignal says it based its latest figures on 4.6 billion measurements from 169,683 smartphone users. MORE: Why I'm Dumping AT&T for T-Mobile In OpenSignal's last quarterly report published in August 2016, T-Mobile boasted the fastest LTE speeds. That's changed in today's report, however, with Verizon essentially pulling even with the Uncarrier. OpenSignal measured Verizon's 4G download speed at 16.89 Mbps to 16.65 Mbps for T-Mobile close enough for a statistical tie in OpenSignal's rankings. AT&T tallied a download speed of 13.86 Mbps in OpenSignal's testing while Sprint brought up the rear with an 8.99 Mbps average. That's actually a decline from OpenSignal's last report, when Sprint logged speeds of 9.4 Mbps. In terms of overall speed, which measures both 3G and LTE speeds, T-Mobile edged out Verizon by 14.7 Mbps to 14.63 Mbps again, close enough for OpenSignal to declare the results a tie. Verizon's gains in speed over the last three months of 2016 look to be the result of the carrier's upgrade to LTE Advanced, which is now available in 450 cities and can boost peak speeds by up to 50 percent. OpenSignal says it recorded big gains for Verizon in several U.S. cities where it tests. Still, OpenSignal also found that T-Mobile gained ground on Verizon in terms of 4G availability. While Verizon finished tops in that metric, providing an LTE signal to subscribers 88.2 percent of the time, T-Mobile was right behind with a tally of 86.6 percent. That's the smallest gap OpenSignal has recorded between the carriers. MORE: Galaxy S8 Could Cost Nearly $1,000 In fact, all four major carriers improved their 4G availability performance. Even Sprint, which finished fourth with a tally of 76.8 percent, was up by nearly 7 percentage points, according to OpenSignal. In the 36 cities that OpenSignal analyzes as part of its testing, Verizon had the highest speed rankings in 14; T-Mobile was tops in four cities while AT&T led in one. T-Mobile and Verizon tied in seven of those cities. Verizon had the best 4G availability in 20 of the 36 cities, and drew with at least one carrier in the remaining 16 markets. When Tom's Guide measures for network performance, we focus on download speed. Our most recent round of testing found that Verizon had the fastest network with T-Mobile right behind. But we've recently completed a new round of testing in six cities and will soon publish our updated results. A Social Security number (SSN) is the single most important piece of government-issued identification that a United States citizen has. In fact, your Social Security number and card are issued at birth unlike with other forms of identification. Your SSN is the most valuable piece of personal data that identity thieves can get their hands on - especially when they have the number along with your full name and address. Even just by itself, a valid SSN can be illegally sold online or in person to others who are unable to get one on their own. For this reason, you should know how to protect your Social Security number to prevent it from getting stolen in the first place. However, your SSN could still be stolen or leaked online as the result of a data breach . With a stolen SSN, your full name and an address, an identity thief can steal property, money or even take out loans in your name. To make matters worse, the police will come looking for you instead of the actual crooks if they commit any crimes using your identity. As senior manager of Alkami Technology Adam Dolby points out You can close a credit card if it is compromised but the problem is, you cant close your SSN. If you discover your SSN has been stolen or misused by someone else, there are several steps you will need to take right away to minimize the damage. What to do if your Social Security number is stolen To speak to Equifax, call its customer care number at 1-888-766-0008 or visit this web page (opens in new tab) to place a fraud alert. To start an Equifax credit freeze online, you'll have to create an Equifax account, but you can do so without creating an account by calling 1-800-349-9960. To contact Experian, call 1-888-397-3742 or go here (opens in new tab) for a fraud alert or here (opens in new tab) for a credit freeze. For TransUnion, the phone number is 1-800-680-7289; the fraud-alert link is here (opens in new tab) and the credit-freeze link is here (opens in new tab). A credit freeze can be inconvenient, but it's the better option. With a freeze, no potential lender can access your credit file without your approval. That can be a bother if you plan to move, open a new bank account, buy a car or switch phone carriers, but you can easily "unfreeze" your credit and then freeze it again. The freeze lasts indefinitely. Thanks to a 2018 law, credit freezes are now free to implement, but you must contact each of the Big Three credit-reporting agencies separately to set them up. Fraud alerts are easier to place the agency you place one with will contact the other two but they aren't as useful. A fraud alert just requests that anyone pulling your credit file contact you first, but they don't actually have to. (Here's more about the difference between a fraud alert and a credit freeze.) You can renew a fraud alert every year (it's free to do so). Contact the Social Security Administration only to get a replacement card or replacement number (see below). Tell each of the three agencies that your SSN has been stolen They'll give you free copies of your current credit reports. Review those reports for unfamiliar accounts and unknown inquiries from companies. Report the theft of the Social Security number to the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central (opens in new tab) You can also call 1-800-908-4490. That will prevent tax-fraud thieves from filing tax returns in your name and collecting your tax refund. Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.identitytheft.gov (opens in new tab) You can also call 1-877-IDTHEFT. File an identity-theft report with your local police (Image credit: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock) The police report will help clear your records and your name. The report is necessary to have if you want to apply for a new Social Security number. This will keep your credit as clean as possible. The only way to get a new SSN from the government is to prove without a doubt that someone has used the old number. Records of fraudulent accounts can provide that evidence. Report the theft of your Social Security number to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov/ The report will be distributed to the relevant federal, state and local authorities. The Federal Trade Commission offers a good resource on what to do in case of identity theft at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft (opens in new tab). How to get a new Social Security number Many stolen Social Security numbers are used simply to gain employment, with no detrimental effect to the legitimate holders of the SSN. But others are used to defraud banks, retailers, the IRS and other government agencies, which could trash your credit. If several years pass after the theft of your Social Security number, and the problems arising from the theft have not gotten any better, then you may want to apply for a new SSN. But before you take that step, there are several things to consider. Getting a new Social Security number is not easy You have to prove that the theft of your SSN has caused you serious hardship in the form of denied home mortgages, problems with law enforcement or the IRS, or bad credit that can't be cleaned up. A new Social Security number doesn't mean the identity-theft problem will go away The old number will remain valid; you will have to keep monitoring it for future incidents, and government agencies or businesses will still link you to it. A new Social Security number will have a completely blank credit history (Image credit: Shutterstock) Getting credit will be difficult for a few years unless you link the new Social Security number to your old, tainted number. It's entirely up to the Social Security Administration to decide whether you can get a new number If the agency doesn't think you need a new one, you won't get one. If you do decide to get a new Social Security number, the first step is as easy as filling out a standard SSN application form (opens in new tab). You'll enter the old number on it. But be prepared to plead your case, and to have ample documentation to prove it. Don't forget that the old Social Security number never completely goes away, even if it goes dormant. The Social Security Administration never invalidates an SSN once it's been issued. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced at the White House that the company is investing $7 billion to complete its Fab 42 in Chandler, Arizona. The investment will prepare the fab for 7nm production. Krzanich proclaimed that "we support the Administrations policies to level the global playing field and make U.S. manufacturing competitive worldwide through new regulatory standards and investment policies." The statement comes amidst Intel's disagreement with the current administration's immigration policies. Intel's stance made news this week as the company became a vocal opponent of President Trump's policy. Intel predicts the new investment will create 3,000 full-time jobs at Intel and an additional 10,000 jobs in Arizona for operational support. Intel stated that the investment is yet another commitment to its American interests, where it produces the majority of its wafers and R&D. Krzanich also took a moment to note that the company sells more than 80% of its products outside of the U.S., making it one of the top five exporters. Intel spent $12.1 billion on R&D in 2015, making it the third largest R&D investor in the U.S. The company also invested $5.1 billion in capital expenditures in 2015, making it the U.S.'s largest technology investor. Intel has 50,000 employees and supports nearly half a million ancillary jobs in the U.S. As part of the announcement, Krzanich penned an email to employees covering the company's stance on both the new investment and the ongoing immigration dispute, which read in part: Government policies play a critical role in enabling and sustaining American-driven innovation. At Intel we meet with governments from around the world, discussing and debating issues and policies important to our business, employees and shareholders. When we disagree, we dont walk away. We believe that we must be part of the conversation to voice our views on key issues such as immigration, H1B visas and other policies that are essential to innovation. Intel's Chandler, Arizona investments began in 1996. The company already has Fabs 12 and 32 in Arizona that focus on 22/14/65nm chips. Intel originally began construction on Fab 42 in 2013 but shuttered the fab before wafer production began. Intel will complete Fab 42 (again) in 3-4 years, which should give us a rough indication of Intel's planned timeline for its 7nm CPUs. Intel flashed its 10nm CPU at CES 2017, but we don't expect the leading mobility-focused products to hit shelves until the end of the year. Desktop 10nm Cannonlake products will probably arrive in 2018. Not everyone is sold on the prospects for 10nm. GlobalFoundries, and AMD as an extension of that, are skipping 10nm entirely in favor of 7nm chips. Community radio music directors often have an encyclopedic knowledge of local music and an insatiable thirst to keep their ears ahead of the curve. So, in this Tone Deaf series, the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) invites music directors to highlight new Aussie tunes that you might have missed. In this edition, Simon Winkler from Triple R in Melbourne contributes with a selection of tracks currently making their way to community radio through Amraps music distribution service AirIt. Check out Simons selections below and if youre a musician you can apply here to have your music distributed for free to community radio on Amraps AirIt. Tornado Wallace Today (featuring Sui Zhen) If youve followed the maelstrom of Tornado Wallaces dance floor destruction over the years, his long-awaited album Lonely Planet might catch you by surprise. The Australian producer also known as Lewie Day is well known for DJ sets, Animals Dancing parties, and studio productions, but his debut LP finds a meditative space in the eye of the storm. We learn more of Lewies love for new wave and new age, ambient tones and subtle synth sounds. Today, featuring fellow Melbourne music ambassador Sui Zhen, is an instant classic from the record, filled with restrained rhythms, ringing guitars and compelling vocals. Biscotti Instamatic Biscotti promises and delivers sonic bliss with her debut album Like Heaven in the Movies. The project of Melbourne-based Carla Ori, Biscottis inventive multi-instrumental arrangements offer escape from the everyday and access to new realms of imagination. Instamatic is one of the most dancefloor driven songs of the set, propelled by disco breaks and punk funk energy. Elsewhere on the record are explorations of synth wave. hip hop and film scores. Still Works Me Or You Or Both Melbourne trio Still Works was formed by Chris Crisafi of Teaser Pony, Tori Holleman of Retiree and Matthew Hadley from Total Giovanni. Their music feels elemental: heat hazed beats, floating melodies and a confessed obsession with the 80s dark art of bass flange. In Me or You or Both Tori sings of natural forces, of dams, wiers, creeks, rivers, and skies, describing cycles in nature, human or otherwise. Refusing this groove seems as futile as resisting the urge to dance in the rain. Sweet Whirl Work Again On Sweet Whirls Bandcamp page it says the album O.K. Permanent Wave is recommended for fans of Grouper, Chris Isaak. Its not a sentence you read every day. The comparisons resonate music like this is rare. You can hear echoes of Groupers hypnotic layered approach, with guitars, and vocals, and tape loops and effects. You can feel the reverb-rich heartbroken rocknroll of Chris Isaak, the artist famously associated with director David Lynch. Songs are drawn from a very restrained palette of sounds, recorded in what feels like vast space. Work Again finds form in fragments of folk, blues, rock and drone. Scraps Touch Blue TTNIK is an EP released in the second half of last year that I return to often. When reading about the release I found a range of descriptions from artist and label that I enjoyed almost as much as the music. The EP is captioned alienated karaoke and dehydrated disco that draws from a persuasive mood-board of 80s hairdresser magazines bleaching in the desert, cubist synth-pop, and disaster fascination.Driving, house influenced sun soaked synth pop. It doesnt leave too much to add, but Touch Blue is a particular standout, coloured by a vague but pervasive melancholy amidst the disco tempo. Jade Imagine Walkin Around For years Jade McNally has been an active and integral member of Australias music community. Previously releasing music under her band name TANTRUMS, Jade has also performed as a touring member of Teeth & Tongue and plays bass in Jess Ribeiros band. Her anticipated solo debut EP as Jade Imagine arrives this April on Milk! Records. The title What The Fuck Was I Thinking is easily one of the most relatable Ive ever heard. In contrast to the name though, every song is brilliantly conceived and executed. Walking Around is the latest single, revealing again the mastery and control of the songwriter who paces in carefully-measured steps. Methyl Ethel Ubu Everything is Forgotten follows the acclaimed debut album Oh Inhuman Spectacle by Perth based Methyl Ethel. Anyone who heard the first full-length record would know founder Jake Webbs skill for reshaping pop music into original forms. There were traces of past avant-garde traditions, and sounds from newer psych-rock styles. The nocturnal haze of the melodies led some to describe the sounds as dreamlike, but latest single Ubu feels very much awake and aware of its surroundings. Inspired by a revolutionary play Ubu Roi, which some say paved the way for modernism, Dada, and Surrealism, the effect of the new song is immediate and undeniable. Melodic hooks and lyrical refrains that will stay with you through the day, and many after. Have a think back to your first gig were not talking that Hooley Dooleys show your folks took you to when you were four, or catching Anthony Callea at Carols By Candlelight we mean the first proper gig you ever saw. For some people its just a hazy memory, but for the radio presenters of PBS, those gigs grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and helped to turn them into the music-loving die-hards they are today. With the annual PBS 106.7FM Drive Live kicking off right now, weve chatted with the voices behind Zen Arcade, Mixing up the Medicine, The Afterglow, and Stone Love to let us in on the first live gigs they ever went along to and there are some brilliant ones here. If you love music as much as they do, theyre calling on you to sign up to the station, as its only through the support of dedicated music fans and appreciative radio listeners that the incredibly non-profit community radio stations can continue to champion local talent and underrepresented genres. The Drive Live event is running as we speak, with free in-studio shows from the likes of The Peep Tempel still to come over the next few days, so if youre a Melbourne music devotee, check it out right now. Last-minute MJ Erica Dunn, host of Mixing Up The Medicine Tuesdays 5-7pm At 10 years of age, I was lucky enough to have my sister come down with the flu and forgo her ticket to Michael Jackson at the MCG. I tagged along on the train from the suburbs with her intimidating friends five years my senior trying to get a handle on looking cool. I had no idea of what was coming my way. He arrived in the stadium in a space ship and blew minds. I can remember climbing up onto some concrete pylons, where adults may not have dared to climb, just to catch the full glory of the show which was, of course, magic performance excellence in top gear. It was a high goddamn benchmark for all other gigs to follow, but started an addiction for live music that has never left me. Running away from U2 Clare Presser, host of Zen Arcade Mondays 5 7pm My older siblings have a myriad of cool gigs that they were taken off to as toddlers (Pink Floyd in its heyday isnt too shabby) but, by the time interacting with live music reached me, I had to fend for myself and I have taken some interesting, and possibly ill advised, steps along the way. The first gig I went to was (and I grit my teeth at how achingly uncool it is) U2s ZOO TV tour at the MCG which I think was the tour when they were about halfway through jumping the stadium shark. To the 13 year old me, however, it had everything. Costume changes, stage make up, giant TVs commenting on the mass-consumption of media, devils, angels, leather, suspended cars, heaving humanity, and myself on screen during intermission. Epic. I wanted to drop out of school immediately, run away and become a sound engineer for some touring band. My parents did some serious fast talking and I took up playing bass guitar instead. Music has been my thrill, solace, companion, escape and home ever since. No dancing allowed Lyndelle Wilkinson, host of The Afterglow Wednesdays 5-7pm My first ever gig was in 1987 Tina Turner, aged 13. I went with my best friend from high school and her mum. We watched her dance in red stiletto high heels and a little black dress her signature look for that era. She looked amazing! She seemed larger than life, so strong and confident. At the time I really didnt know much of her music other than her hits from the 80s, but she was so graceful and full of energy. I remember the lighting being really simple with mostly a spotlight just following her around on stage. The show was very tame; we were not allowed to get up and dance as was the era of concerts in the 80s in Singapore. Sit. Watch. Clap. Leave. But I had a sleepover at my friends house that night and we danced and talked about her all night. Still today I hate it when you are told to sit down at a concert. I find it so disrespectful to the artist to not be able to show them how their music makes you feel. Dancing is one of my favourite freedoms. The compulsion to move your body to music is the most natural thing in the world. When I see it in large crowds, I see how all humans are the same, connected. A dancing crowd is a thing of wonder. The hottest gig on the beach Richie 1250, host of Stone Love Fridays 5-7pm I cant remember my first gig, but I do remember the first gig I saw on my return to birthplace in Hilo, Hawaii, about 10 years ago. As we rode our bikes into town at 11am on Tuesday morning, we could hear some heavy metal-type music that sounded loud enough to be a band, but so slick we thought it must be a CD. As we approached we saw this band set up in the rotunda by the beach, with fancy amps and a full electronic drum kit, and an engineer mixing them on a full 16-track board, playing to absolutely nobody. As we stood and watched, we saw some familiar symbols on the kickdrum and caught a few lyrics about the saviour, and realised that, yes, this was a Christian metal band playing to nobody in the beachside rotunda at 11 on a Tuesday morning. Weve had a great run of Aussie triple j feature albums so far this year with the likes of Dune Rats, Ocean Grove and Thundamentals all getting a run, but this week triple j are letting an overseas talent hold the spot for a week. Syd, frontwoman of the brilliant RnB champs The Internet, has just released her debut solo album, and youll be hearing a lot of it on the jays next week if you havent already. Shell be joined by some other internationals in Mac DeMarco, London Grammar, Stormzy, and honorary-Aussie Vince Staples not to mention Sydneys Gang of Youths, who are about to leave us for London. Plenty of Aussie choons to be enjoyed, though, with The Jungle Giants getting bumped up to full rotation, while Ali Barter gives us a glimpse of her debut album and Milky Chance follow up their Hottest 100 success with new track Ego. Heres everything youll be hearing on your triple j radio next week. Feature album Syd Fin [Sony] Full rotation Ali Barter Cigarettes [Ronnie Records/Inertia] Airling Not A Fighter [Pieater/Inertia] Gang Of Youths What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? [Mosy Recordings/Sony] The Jungle Giants Feel The Way I Do [Amplifire Music] London Grammar Big Picture [Dew Process] Milky Chance Ego [Neon Records] Stormzy Big For Your Boots [ADA/Warner] Vince Staples BagBak [Universal] Spot rotation The Cactus Channel & Sam Cromack Sorry Hills [Hope Street Recordings] Elk Road Come Down [Sony] Kingswood Golden [Dew Process] K.Flay Black Wave [Night Street/Interscope] Mac DeMarco My Old Man [Captured Tracks/Remote Control] "The very people who claim to be more tolerant than us evil conservatives are the ones burning the flag and destroying public property in response to a gay immigrant speaking at a public university. Tell me again how Conservatives are the Fascists? Which brings us to this lovely example of liberal tolerance painted on a building in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood . . . The building is owned by a Middle Eastern immigrant and the businesses housed therein are immigrant-owned, as well. The tag went up last week and was painted over by the weekend. Then, almost by magic the tag reappeared and the vandalism was actually celebrated on social media. Some are even predicting tags like this will become the norm as a public statement of resistance against the current administration." Check thefeaturing tragic irony of the local protest movement that doesn't both to do any research on their targets.Checkit:Money line . . .You decide . . . Terming the revolt by Panneerselvam and his supporters pointless, Swamy said the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly must decide who has the numbers to be the chief minister. By Ilma Hasan: Weighing in on the political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu in the wake of the tussle for power between O Panneerselvam and Sasikala Natarajan, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has said Sasikala has all the rights to be the chief minister according to the constitution. Terming the revolt by Panneerselvam and his supporters pointless, Swamy said the floor test in the Assembly must decide who has the numbers to be the chief minister #SasikalaNatarajan should be sworn-in as CM;If delayed itll be violence against Constitution;President must intervene-Subramanian Swamy,BJP pic.twitter.com/gbOlDA84y3 ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 advertisement Also read | LIVE: O Panneerselvam digs in, Sasikala slams him, Tamil Nadu in suspense SWAMY SPEAK Swamy threw his weight behind Sasikala, saying he was backing her de facto because of the constitutional position. "Jayalalithaa is not here today. Sasikala lived with her and has all the rights according to the constitution." While backing Sasikala's election constitutionally, Swamy said in the same vein that he was the petitioner who has found evidence against Sasikala. "Hope she is find guilty but can't comment on who might win floor test." He denied that the BJP was actively involved in this revolt by Panneerselvam, while adding that the party was democratic and that BJP leaders could be on both sides. Some leaders from BJP have been going to Tamil Nadu, the politics there could be of interest to them, Swamy said. WATCH VIDEO --- ENDS --- #HEARTOFKC HOUSING HYPE IS NOTHING BUT A TEASE!!! LAND BANK TINKERING WITH THE KANSAS CITY HOUSING MARKET WILL COST BUYERS BIG BUCKS ON THE BACK END FOR LOUSY LOTS!!! Ted Anderson, Executive Director, Land Bank of Kansas City assuming that people who purchase the houses are doing the work themselves: "It'll probably be $20-30,000 dollars to put one of these houses in livable shape. For our application, they're going to need to show they have $8500 in the bank so they can at least get started on a rehab. They're going to need to finish the code violations on the outside in at least 4 months. They'll have an additional 8 months to put the property in habitable condition." Recently Kansas City headlines touted affordable homes for sale by a local institution for a shocking low price of $999.The extent of repairs required to the renovate the vacant and repossessed homes was buried by local news outlets and often unreported.To wit . . .TKC reality check:Here's the most important quote on the topic . . .The newsthe local cycle of hype and should be reported first and foremost in the interest of public safety . . . Credit due to thisfor the whole story:Is it worth it??? You decide . . . Up to 1.5 million taxpayers in Greece, mostly low wage-earners and lower-income pensioners, would be affected if the government relents and lowers the annual tax-free threshold Up to 1.5 million taxpayers in Greece, mostly low wage-earners and lower-income pensioners, would be affected if the government relents and lowers the annual tax-free threshold, a standing demand by the IMF in order for the Fund to remain active in the Greek bailout program. The current tax-free threshold is at 8,636 euros in yearly income, although the IMF has proposed it be lowered to anywhere between 6,000 and 7,500 euros a year. The Fund has repeatedly pointed out that Greece has one of the narrowest tax bases in the Euro zone, primarily due to the high tax-free threshold. Additionally, tax evasion for various castes of self-employed professionals and craftsmen has often been cited as one main reason for meager tax revenues in Greece, compared to its European partners. Certain tax-free levels for certain categories of taxpayers reach 9,545 euros a year. Any changes would come into effect after 2018, although nothing has been announced yet, given that face-to-face negotiations between creditors and the Greek side have not recommenced. Nevertheless, the leftist Greek government has consistently refused to increase the tax base, and even more reluctant to legislate such measures via its razor-thin majority in Parliament. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The Greek programme review will soon be concluded as there are not many open issues, Economy and Development Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou said The Greek programme review will soon be concluded as there are not many open issues, Economy and Development Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou on Wednesday said in an interview with Naftemporiki newspaper. Asked on the dangers of the delay, he said "I have founded reasons to believe that the programme review will be concluded without repercussions on the country." He estimated that the unstable political climate will positively affect Greece since it puts pressure on EU to ensure the internal consistency of operation and existence. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Ozdil Nami will present the pending issues on the Cyprus problem to President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Ozdil Nami will present the pending issues on the Cyprus problem to President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on Thursday. After a meeting on Tuesday, both negotiators took stock of all the pending issues to be presented on Thursday, CNA learnt. According to CNAs information, the aim of presenting the differences is to minimise the issues between the two sides and achieve further common understanding. As regards the discussion of the issue of security and guarantees, CNAs sources noted that a brainstorming session is expected to take place between the leaders during their talks in Nicosia and in view of the continuation of the Conference on Cyprus at the political level, expected to take place in March. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Monday that we will probably have in the second half of March a meeting of the guarantor powers Foreign Ministers, the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community." Anastasiades and Akinci, who had a meeting on February 1, in the framework of UN-led talks on the Cyprus problem, requested the United Nations to prepare, in consultation with the guarantor powers, for the continuation of the Conference on Cyprus at political level in early March. Source: CNA RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia has expressed its outrage to the US State Department after Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher suggested it was not a country, and should be partitioned by neighbors such as Kosovo and Bulgaria. According to Rohrabacher, the creation of Macedonia itself was a failed project, and the atmosphere is ripe for a fresh redrawing of the borders. My inclination is Macedonia is not a country. Im sorry its not a country, the California congressman told Albanian TV channel Vizion Plus. There is such a division in their country they will never be able to live together in the future. For this reason, Kosovars and Albanians from Macedonia should be part of Kosovo and the rest of Macedonia should be part of Bulgaria or any other country to which they believe they are related, he was cited as saying by Bulgarian news wire BGNES in a translation from Albanian. The idea is to keep Macedonia alive because someone 30 years ago decided it is a configuration that should come out of the dismantling of Yugoslavia, Rohrabacher continued. But the congressman did not stop there. Asked if US President Donald Trump would be in favor of a partition, Rohrabacher said he has influence on US policy makers now, given his position on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. We will have hearings in the coming months, he was cited by Albanian English news source Ocnal as saying. Border redrawing On the issue of border redrawing, Rohrabacher said this would ideally be carried out with peace for the Balkans in mind. The congressman also added that he is not afraid of Russian influence in the Balkan region. These words led to a swift response from Skopje, whose foreign ministry took the issue up with Washington. His expressed views, the statement reads, generated immense anxiety regarding Macedonia and the region. They inflame nationalist rhetoric in the neighboring regions, taking us back into the past. We believe that the US State Department will adequately remove any doubt about the stated positions and will affirm its policy towards Macedonia and the Balkans. Rohrabacher currently chairs the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, and has served in the House of Representatives since 1989. During this time, he has had similar ideas. In 2012, he pitched a resolution for the self-determination of the Aziri people living inside Iran, suggesting to VOA Azerbaijani in an interview that the ethnic grouping should have the right not to be part of a state governed by monstrous religious fanatics. Rohrabacher suggested in January to the Washington Post he would be visiting Moscow with a delegation within a month of Donald Trumps inauguration as president. The plans are not yet confirmed and would first have to be approved by Representative Ed Royce (R-California), the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, who takes a hardline approach to Russia. Rohrabacher, who has been called a part of the GOPs lunatic fringe by Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), has been vocal on constructive dialogue with Russia, earning him much ire with his Republican cohorts. Source: rt.com Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is visiting Ukraine on Wednesday to meet with political leaders and representatives of the Greek local society Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is visiting Ukraine on Wednesday to meet with political leaders and representatives of the Greek local society. The Greek Prime Minister is paying a visit to Ukraine in a very dangerous period of time due to renewed hostilities, however, there are a number of reasons for this visit, diplomatic sources said to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA). First of all, the fact that Athens adheres to the doctrine of the multidimensional foreign policy. The developments in Ukraine determine to a large extent the Euro-Russian relations and this is considered rather important for the government. Moreover, the US-Russian relations have entered a new phase, following the election of the new US President, Donald Trump. In addition, the Greek government has a great interest in security in the region, part of which is certainly the Black Sea neighborhood. More particularly because many thousands of Greek origin Ukrainians live in Ukraine, some of them in very dangerous areas. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report A meeting is taking place to discuss Turkeys demands that the four basic freedoms of the EU and the EU-Turkey customs union be connected to a potential Cyprus solution A meeting is taking place at the Presidential Palace to discuss Turkeys demands that the four basic freedoms of the EU and the EU-Turkey customs union be connected to a potential Cyprus solution, CNA reported on Wednesday. Specialists are attending the meeting in Nicosia, including government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis, and officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Trade, and Agriculture, as well as the islands Legal Service. Earlier on Wednesday, Christodoulides said that a second round of the Conference on Cyprus at a political level would be held in the second half of March. He added that more meetings between President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci would take place. NEGOTIATORS MEETING ON TUESDAY On Tuesday, Mavroyiannis met with Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami, where they prepared the agenda for the leaders meeting on Thursday. In relation to the negotiators meeting, Christodoulides said that there was no specific result, as decisions would be made at the Anastasiades and Akinci meeting tomorrow. The government spokesperson also refuted claims that the negotiators meeting was not good, saying that Mavroyiannis and Nami exchanged opinions on all chapters of the Cyprus problem. He added that at tomorrows meeting Anastasiades and Akinci will decide on the agenda of the talks, based on the differences presented to them by the negotiators. TURKISH SIDE SHOULD LIMIT STATEMENTS The government spokesperson said that public statements on the Cyprus issue should be limited, especially on the Turkish side, as they harm the process at the negotiating table. He added that there are sensitive issues to be discussed on all the chapters, and that the Greek Cypriot side is continuing its efforts. We will do whatever possible, so that there results can exist, he said. Christodoulides added that the process will not fall apart due to the President. If Turkey wants them [the talks] to fall apart, we cannot do something to stop them, he added. PARTIES CAN SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding a National Council meeting to be held on Monday, the government spokesperson said that political party leaders, who disagree with the way the process is being handled, will be invited to submit their recommendations in writing. MEETING WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR On Wednesday, President Anastasiades also received Russian Ambassador Stanislav Osadchiy at the Presidential Palace. According to an announcement from the Presidential Palace, the President informed Osadchiy on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem. President Anastasiades expressed his gratitude for the principled position of the Russian Federation through the years on the Cyprus problem, as well as for its readiness to contribute positively to the efforts to achieve a solution without the presence of any anachronistic guarantees. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report MSD Greece, Cyprus and Malta, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, announced that Agata Jakoncic took over as Chief Executive of the company from January 1, 2017 MSD Greece, Cyprus and Malta, a subsidiary of Merck & Co, announced that Agata Jakoncic took over as Chief Executive of the company from January 1, 2017, replacing Haseeb Ahmad who returned to the UK after a very successful term in MSD Greece. Agata Jakoncic has a long experience and she is one of the most distinguished executives of MSD globally. She started her career in MSD in 1997 as Sales Manager in Slovenia and was in a leading position in MSDs coordination and logistics activities for Europe and Canada. Agatas rich professional experience, her focus on achieving high goals, her ability to manage complex issues, are guarantee for the success of MSD to lead in effort to improve the life quality of patients in Greece, Joseph Ben Amram, Senior Vice President in MSD, head of Mid-European Region. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Pew research showed that Greeks were the people that considered their religious faith an integral part of their national identity. To the question Being a Christian is very important for being truly a (country/nationality), 54% Greeks responded that their religion was tied to their country/nationality, with the Poles coming a distant second with 34%. Americans (32%), Italians (30%) and Hungarians (29%) made up the top 5 countries. Across the 13 countries where the question was asked, a median of just 15% say it is very important to be Christian in order to be a true national. Only in Greece do more than half (54%) hold this view, while in Sweden fewer than one-in-ten (7%) make a strong connection between nationality and Christianity. Generations are divided on this question, with those 50 and older placing far greater importance on being a Christian (44% say it is very important) than Americans under 35 (18%). Men and women slightly differ on religions importance in American identity. More than a third (36%) of women say it is very important for a person to be a Christian; roughly a quarter (27%) of men concur. Views on Christianity and nationality also differ along educational lines. People with a high school education or less (44%) are more than twice as likely as people with at least a college degree (19%) to voice the view that it is very important that one is Christian in order to be American. Views of the importance of religion to nationality often divide along generational lines. People ages 50 and older are significantly more likely than those ages 18 to 34 to say that being Christian is very important to national identity. This generation gap is largest in Greece: 65% of older Greeks say it is very important but only 39% of younger Greeks agree. The differential is 18 percentage points in the UK, 16 points in Germany and 15 points in Hungary. People on the right of the ideological spectrum are more likely to view religion as very important to nationality. This right-left divide is particularly prominent in Greece (26 points) and Poland (21 points). The ideological left is quite secular in Germany (just 5% say religion is very important to nationality) and Spain (6%). By comparison, a greater share of people on the left in Greece (40%), Hungary (26%), Italy (24%) and Poland (21%) say being Christian is very important to be truly Greek, Hungarian, Italian or Polish. Source: Pew Research RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Prediction was based on reports about the activities of a known Turkish smuggler Up to 700 migrants could arrive on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus next week on smuggling trips from Turkey, a top Cypriot official said Saturday, hours after 93 migrants landed in the dark on the islands northwestern shore. Cyprus Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos, who made the comment to state broadcaster RIK, said authorities could handle any new arrivals as long as their numbers remained low. His prediction was based on reports about the activities of a known Turkish smuggler, he said. Officials on the eastern Mediterranean island said they believe Saturdays smuggling trip began in Mersin, Turkey. Bashir Khashan said he had to sell his home in the Syrian village of Edlib to raise $12,000 to pay Turkish smugglers to get his wife, four children and a son-in-law aboard the overcrowded boat that landed just after midnight. Officials said those on the boat included 42 children and 17 women. Khashan, 49, was among several Syrians waiting outside a migrants reception center near the Cypriot capital of Nicosia to greet his family after the perilous, 30-hour boat trip. There was no other way to get them here, Khashan told The Associated Press. What else can you do? You either die at sea or you die in the village. Harsh treatment Khashan said the Syrian government had reserved particularly harsh treatment for the residents of Edlib, leaving him little choice but to flee. His arrived in Cyprus by boat six months ago, got a temporary residence permit, but is having a hard time finding work after suffering a back wound from an airstrike in Syria. Hes still trying to figure out how to get his eldest daughter from Turkey to Cyprus. Hamid Idris didnt find out that his wife Majeda and three children three-year-old Razan, six-year-old Rafi and nine-year-old Reem were going to be on the boat until his father-in-law told him Thursday evening. I havent slept a moment in 48 hours, Idris, 33, told the AP. I didnt want my children on that boat. Its like youre throwing the dice with their lives. Idris, who has been in Cyprus since 2011 and works at an animal shelter, last saw his family two years ago in Istanbul. Both men said authorities told them their families could join them in the next few days. Police said the boat early Saturday was spotted 15 kilometers (9 miles) off the coast before landing near the village of Kato Pyrgos. Cyprus Civil Defense acting commander Loukas Hadjimichael said it was the first migrant boat to arrive this year and the 11th to land bringing a total 948 migrants since September 2014. Cyprus lies 100 miles (160 kilometers) off Syrias Mediterranean coast, but has not had the massive inflow of refugees and migrants that Turkey and Greece have experienced. Source: uk.news.yahoo.com Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report By Press Trust of India: Hyderabad, Feb 8 (PTI) Telangana government is planning to set up solar power generation system on water bodies, special chief secretary of the state energy department, Ajay Mishra said today. "A proposal has come to the department regarding producing solar energy atop water bodies. One French company is in negotiations with irrigation department...we had a coordination meeting," Mishra said addressing the ASSOCHAM Conference on Solar Invest?2017 here. advertisement He said the company is setting up a pilot project for Solar Power Plants on water bodies. "They should be setting up a pilot project on whichever water body mutually acceptable to this company and to the irrigation department," he said. "This will be a pilot project for demonstration and then based on experience we will see how to it can be implemented on other water bodies," Mishra added. He further said to encourage use of solar energy "We are talking to bankers and will be coming up with the concept of free solar power for rooftops next month. Already rooftop solar power generation for 48 MW has been set up in the state." For popularising this concept, he said the energy department will educate people and tie up with bankers. Approximately 1,070 MW solar power has been commissioned in the grid and by the end of this year another 2,000 MW too will be in the grid, Mishra said. "On non-solar side, in next two-three years we will be adding minimum 5,000 MW mainly through coal based. By the end of this year we would be power sufficient to have capacity for 24X7 power supply and this includes purchase agreements we have done in last few years," said Mishra. He said if the industry association comes up with a concrete proposal the government will try to have one zone for solar equipment manufacturing units. He focussed on easing on various other approval processes. Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commisson Chairman Ismail Ali Khan said energy planning/policy should be based on availability of adequate resources and stressed on the need for a right mix of conventional and renewable energy sources. "This is required not only for good stability but also for maintaining health of Discoms," Khan added. PTI VVK RMT SDM --- ENDS --- Iran will receive the last 149-tons of the uranium deal with Russia as part of its nuclear deal with world powers. The first shipment arrived on January 26 by plane and the last will arrive tomorrow, Tuesday, according to the head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization. Under the nuclear deal signed with world powers in July 2015, Iran has the right to enrich uranium to a level of 3.5 percent and sell it abroad, as part of efforts to develop its civilian nuclear program. It should be noted that nuclear weapons require uranium enriched to around 80 percent. With the latest shipment, which was authorized by the United States as well as the other five signatories to the deal, the imported uranium in Iran reaches a total of 359 tons since January 2016. Under the deal, Iran is allowed to run around 5,000 IR-1 centrifuges and has been testing more advanced models that can produce greater quantities of enriched uranium all under the strict supervision of the UN atomic agency. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: TUBS License: CC-BY-SA The British Ministry of Defence said it was a situation it would rather not have taken place In 2002, a unit of 30 British Marines in a landing craft from the Royal Navys amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean, armed to the teeth, stormed onto a beach belonging to the Spanish town of La Linea, instead of Gibraltar. Oops! Situated on a peninsula on the Southern coast of Spain, Gibraltar is a 6.5 square kilometre British overseas territory and dependency with a population of 29,000 people. It borders the Spanish municipality of la Linea, and a crossing point controls movements of people and vehicles to and from Spain. Gibraltar is of significant strategic importance, situated as it is on the eight-mile-wide Straits of Gibraltar, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, Britain maintains a light infantry battalion, a Royal Naval squadron, and a military airfield in Gibraltar. There is also a civilian police force, responsible for maintaining law and order. Gibraltar originally came under British control in 1704, following an Anglo-Dutch invasion. Subsequently, the 1716 Treaty of Utrecht gave Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity. Sixty-three years later, a Spanish attempt to reclaim the territory by siege failed and Gibraltar was finally declared a British colony in 1830. General Franco, the Spanish Dictator, made a further attempt to claim Gibraltar during the 1950s. A referendum was held in 1967, the result of which was an overwhelming vote by the citizens for Gibraltar to remain a British dependency. All citizens were granted British citizenship in 1981. In 2002, a Spanish proposal for shared sovereignty between Britain and Spain was overwhelmingly rejected in a referendum. Underlying tension Relationships between Gibraltar and Spain are mainly cordial, but there is an underlying tension, borne of the history surrounding Gibraltar. For that reason, the governments of both countries are at pains to avoid direct confrontation on trivial issues, something that a 2002 incident brought sharply into focus. On 16th February, armed with 60mm mortars and assault rifles, the royal marines charged up the Spanish beach and proceeded to take up defensive situations in the sand, much to the consternation of local fishermen. When the local police turned up, the awful truth dawned. The Marines were taking part in an exercise, and they had landed on the wrong beach they thought they were in Gibraltar, but they missed their target beach by a few hundred yards. It was all very embarrassing, but no harm was done, and the Spanish authorities accepted that a map-reading mistake had occurred. According to the BBC, instead of making an official complaint to the British Foreign Office they decided to take no action. The British Ministry of Defence said it was a situation it would rather not have taken place. Two landing craft from HMS Ocean accidentally entered Spanish territorial waters and in bad weather one landing craft landed on the beach a few yards over the Spanish side of the border, a spokesman explained. About 20 Royal Marines disembarked for about five minutes and then the error was recognised and they all withdrew. Source: warhistoryonline.com Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Congrats future pharmacists! Touro College of Pharmacy held its White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2026 last Thursday evening at the Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem! Friends and family were in attendance to witness the important milestone on the students journeys towards becoming pharmacists. Keynote speaker Dr. Daryl Schiller, Senior Director of Pharmacy Services at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, provided inspirational remarks in advance of the cloaking. "The White Coat ceremony was better than I could have ever imagined, said Nadia Malik. When the video played, it truly showed just how much we have grown together and have come to appreciate one another within such a short span of time. If this is any indicator of how the rest of our time here will go, then I cannot wait. Next stop, graduation!" Added Victoria Kostantakis, During this White Coat ceremony I took a moment to reflect on how fortunate I am that I get to spend the next four years with these great minds, who were strangers just two months ago. Im so proud of all of my classmates already and cant wait to see the big things they accomplish. Muriya Tourism Development Company, a leading integrated tourism project developer in Oman, continues to boost capacity at its Salalah Beach destination, with the addition of 84 keys to the Fanar Hotel & Residences, said a report. The hotel room expansion at Al Fanar takes the total number of rooms at the development close to 800, said a report in Oman Observer. Ahmed Dabbous, CEO of Muriya, said: The new additions to Salalah Beach represent another milestone in our strategic partnership, one that will provide even more travellers with the opportunity to enjoy Salalah as a year-round destination. Industrial investments play a crucial role in supporting Bahrains economic development and spurring growth and the government is committed to supporting the sector, said His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. He underlined the importance of the GCCs complementary economies in generating more investment opportunities to set up mega industrial projects. The Government relies on industrial investment, which represents one of the viable tools to diversify the sources of revenues and generate jobs, he said after opening the 2017 Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) this morning. Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE) is organising the three-day event, which is being held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC). The Premier reiterated the governments keenness on providing the necessary environment and facilities to ensure the development and growth of local industries. The government supports all initiatives that contribute to consolidating complementary GCC industries, the Premier said. The GCC states have all the capabilities to expand the scope of their industrial products in the regional and international arenas, he added, underscoring the importance of private-sector exhibitions in promoting national products and the Gulfs industries. He said that the government has adopted policies which support the industrial sector, which plays a crucial role in fast-tracking trade and economic development and attracting domestic and foreign investment. After cutting the ribbon, the Premier toured the various pavilions showcasing the latest industrial products and equipment. He stressed the importance of the GCCs efforts in developing strategic industries and manufacturing capabilities, which represent a key pillar of their economies. The current economic challenges require more industrial investments, as a strategic alternative to achieve sustainable development for the GCC nations, he said. He revealed that Bahrain had long ago started legislating modern business laws and taking the necessary steps to create a business-friendly environment and encourage investors who choose Bahrain as their first option to set up projects. He acknowledged the importance of the fair which, he said, represents annual platform for large companies to display their products and benefit from Bahrains strategic location as a pioneering investment hub in the region. Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani thanked the Premier for patronising the pivotal exhibition which, he said, puts Bahrain on the international map of specialised exhibitions. He reiterated the governments drive to attract investments from all over the world and embrace cutting-edge technologies through such high-profile exhibitions, stressing that no effort would be spared towards developing the industrial sector and boosting its contribution to economic growth. He underlined Bahrains Economic Vision 2030 and other national strategies which focus on the private sector as the engine for economic development and growth. HCE chairman Anwar Abdulrahman thanked the Premier for patronising the exhibition, which he said contributed towards attracting more exhibitors to the event. He paid tribute to the Premier for supporting all efforts to promote the national economy, hailing his farsighted vision. HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman also thanked the Premier for his patronage, and for providing a favourable environment to facilitate investment and boost the economy. - TradeArabia News Service Japan is ready to allocate $6.9 billion to fund five projects in Iran in a bid to continue to expand bilateral relations between the two countries as well as humanitarian issues, a report said. Tokyo is going to continue its assistance of up to 40 billion Japanese yen ($357 million) annually for the next four years starting in 2017, reported Irna, citing a press release from Japan Information and Culture Center at the Japanese Embassy in Tehran. The aid, confirmed in the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October 2016, will be extended through the international organizations and United Nations bodies. The projects include a contribution of $1 million through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to restore Lake Uroumiyeh and approximately $2 million in humanitarian aid assistance for the Afghan refugees through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) programme. It will also include around $1.9 million funnelled through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to be used on border controls, fighting drugs, customs cooperation and money laundering, $0.5 million to promote integration of industries in Chabahar port city in the Persian Gulf through a program to be implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and finally, $1.5 million in donated funds funnelled through the International Committee of the Red Cross for emergency activities in Iran. Bahrain's Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry has set up a new department to develop general strategy to tackle the issue of surface water drainage in the kingdom. The department is part of the organisational chart for the office of the Works Affairs Undersecretary, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry is also co-ordinating with the Civil Service Bureau regarding establishing a special organisational chart for the Surface Water Drainage & Management Department, stated a senior official. The ministry faces many obstacles while designing, constructing and operating stormwater and surfacewater drainage networks, said Works Affairs Undersecretary Ahmed Al Khayyat, while giving a presentation to MP Jamal Ali Bu Hassan. These include geographical, technical, financial and climate obstacles, in addition to human obstacles such as the absence of a specialised directorate, he added. At the presentation, Al Khayyat highlighted the ministrys efforts towards handling the issue of surface water drainage. Earlier, Bu Hassan met Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf to discuss this issue. The ministry has started implementation of 966 projects to address water collection points, which are distributed in Muharraq Governorate (71 projects), the Capital Governorate (303 projects), the Northern Governorate (296 projects) and the Southern Governorate with 296 projects, said Al Khayyat. He also referred to the contracting projects related to the surface water drainage solutions (package projects) and the time contract projects at the Capital Governorate, which have been fully completed. "These include the Road 4211 project in Block 742 in AAli, the Palace Avenue project in front of Ashraf Stores in Hoora, Avenue 85 project opposite to Maatam Al Basri in Block 361, implementing absorption tanks in Block 308, opposite Al Marjan Building in Block 356 and opposite to Bait Al Tijar in Block 410," said Al Khayyat.-TradeArabia News Service Funds worth $5.2 billion of cash from the Middle East has found its way into hotel developments in the UK and mainland Europe, according to the property broker CBRE. When it comes to balancing risk and reward in real estate, cities in Europe, South East Asia and Mediterranean fit into the sweet spot, stated CBRE in a report released ahead of the International Property Show (IPS) in Dubai. In terms of house price, local rents and prospective growth, Portugal, Cyprus, India and Pakistan have been crowned as the top markets for buyers hoping to invest in property, said the report. The 13th edition of the IPS, which will be held from April 2 to 4 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, aims to offer investors the best in real estate and properties from these markets. It has been noted that despite the tumbling prices of oil, investors from the Middle East and GCC have continued their steady stream of investments on international soil. Investors from the small, oil-rich nation are focused mainly on hospitality assets in key markets, it stated. The property expo will offer the best portfolio of hospitality properties from Europe including Spain, Czech Republic, Greece and Turkey, said the organiser Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. The Portugal and Cyprus pavilion will see participation from real estate companies featuring the latest developments and residency by investment program. Pakistan pavilion will showcase the finest projects and investments offers to local and international real estate investors and buyers. In addition, India pavilion will be promoting property investment for NRIs. If you are planning on making an investment, either for your own home, hospitality or a rental property, these are really good markets, said Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO of Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. These areas have seen an increase in returns in 2016 and it is expected that they will continue the positive momentum in 2017. In addition, these markets not only ensure lucrative returns, but also have very little risk of investment, added Al Shezawi. It has been noted that the Brexit referendum and the increased stamp duty have not been able to curb the Arab investor spirit. A recent Savills report stated that London remains the worlds most popular destination for cross-border investment into real estate, surpassing its closest competitor, Manhattan, by $12.53 million in the previous year alone. Furthermore, it has been revealed that London is the third-biggest residential property market for Middle Eastern wealth after Abu Dhabi and Dubai, according to Savills research. With new real estate projects springing up everywhere in these international markets, the return on investment is certainly high. In addition, these areas are well equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities. Along with recent developments, the shopping is great, the attractions are beautiful and the lifestyle is well-balanced, said the report. Savvy investors should consider taking advantage of these buoyant markets. These areas are only going to boost demand for property in the coming months, whether for purchase or rent, noted Al Shezawi. The upcoming property show is expected to be the biggest since its return, with over 200 exhibitors from 50 countries set to take part. The expo space has been 80 per cent sold out so far, with both local and international exhibitors accounting similar share of space so far, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) is optimistic about attracting an array of investors, following the announcement of its expansion to include the east region of the Salman Industrial City in Hidd area, a BIIP official at the Gulf Industry Fair said. The addition of 0.5 million sq m of land will expand the existing 2.5-million-sq-m business park into a 3-million-sq-m development positioned as a location for foreign direct investment (FDI) and export-oriented projects. The business park, which currently employs 4,500 people, is also poised to be the fastest generator of jobs in the kingdom, the official said and added that the park would create job opportunities for about 7,000 people by the end of 2018. According to him, investments at the park from projects in various stages of development have reached BD722 million ($1.9 billion) since its establishment in 2005. About 79 per cent of the BIIP land has been allocated to projects and the park authorities are engaged in marketing the remainder. We are talking to a lot of companies who are upbeat about the potential investments in the park, he said. As many as 116 projects have been approved by the park with companies from Germany, Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain coming on board. Of these, 72 projects are operational, 30 are under construction and the rest are under lease agreement. Nearly 72 per cent of all approved projects are in manufacturing with the remaining 28 per cent in international services operations, the park official said. Meanwhile, the official said BIIP is enthused about the opening of the $90-million biscuit plant for Mondelez International in the second quarter of the current year. The official opening of Mondelez Internationals second plant at BIIP will be in September, he said. Launched in January 2015, it is being built over a 250,000-sq-m area by Mondelez International, the worlds leading maker of chocolate, biscuits, candy and powdered beverages under the companys iconic brands such as Oreo, Ritz, BelVita, TUC biscuits and Tang. Formerly known as Kraft Foods, it has already invested more than $75 million in a cheese and powdered-beverage plant, which has been operating at the BIIP since 2008. Some of the incentives offered by BIIP include: no corporate tax with a 10-year guarantee; duty-free access to GCC markets; free trade agreement with the US; 100 per cent foreign ownership; renewable 25-year leases; no recruitment restrictions for the first five years; and duty-free imports of raw materials and equipment. BIIP is exhibiting at Stand D5a at the GIF, which opened today (February 7) at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, and will run till February 9. TradeArabia News Service By Press Trust of India: From Aditi Khanna London, Feb 9 (PTI) British Prime Minister Theresa May has won a crucial vote in the UK Parliament,which will give her the authority to officially trigger Brexit and start negotiations for leaving the 28-member European Union. The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill had its final debate and vote last night to allow theBritish Prime Minister to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin a two-year period of negotiations for the UKs new deal as a non-member of the European Union (EU) by 2019. advertisement The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to 122, and now moves to the House of Lords. Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis was one of 52 Labour MPs to defy party orders to back the bill and he resigned from the front bench. The Commons debated the last set of amendments to the Bill, including on key principles for the negotiation process, before the bill went on to its third and final reading for the vote. So far the billhad passed two days of debate in the Lower House of the UK Parliament without being altered. The Opposition Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had instructed his MPs to vote in favour of the bill whether any amendments are made or not. However, he faced a second round of party rebellion after over 49 MPs had defied the whip at the last vote earlier this month. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who missed last weeks initial vote on the bill, backed it this time. Mayherself faced a rebellion of up to a dozen of her Conservative MPs, who are expected to defy the partys whip and vote for the rights of EU citizens living in the UK to be guaranteed before Brexit negotiations begin. She managed to minimise the Tory rebellion on Tuesday by promising a Commons vote on the Brexit agreement before it is finalised. Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, welcomed this as an important concession but others have dismissed it as a "take it or leave it" offer. Now that the bill had passed the Commons, it will be debated in the House of Lords after it returns from recess on February 20, where it is expected to be given the final nod. The bill was tabled last month after the Supreme Court ruled that MPs and peers must have a say before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty could be triggered. It rejected the UK governments argument that May had sufficient executive powers to triggerBrexitwithout consulting Parliament. David Davis,UK minister for exiting the European Union, had opened the debate in the House of Commons with a clear message to MPs that they mustimplement a decision made by the people in the June 2016 referendum ? with 51.9 per cent wanting to leave the EU and 48.1 per cent wanting to remain within the 28-nation economic bloc. PTI AK ARK --- ENDS --- advertisement Bahrain-based Majaal Warehouse Company is leading the Industrial Facilities Sector at the Gulf Industry Fair 2017, which is currently under way at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. Amin Al Arrayed, managing director of Majaal, said: Gulf Industry Fairs platform promotes the GCCs strategic goals for industrial and manufacturing growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Our commitment to GIF 2017 is not just in support of these goals but the ability of the fair to deliver on our business objectives. A subsidiary of First Bahrain Real Estate Development Company, Majaal is located within the Bahrain Investment Wharf in Hidd, which is strategically linked to major air, sea and land transport routes and facilitates the import and export of goods in order to reduce the logistic requirements and business costs for its tenants. In 2016, Majaal focused its energies on expansion by actively seeking opportunities to engage with third parties in the GCC. In addition, it has been working with the Economic Development Boards Transport and Logistics Committee towards promoting Bahrain as a hub in the GCC. Majaal is at Stand D3a at the exhibition, which runs till tomorrow (February 9). -TradeArabia News Service Second-time exhibitor at the Gulf Industry Fair, which opened in Bahrain yesterday, HydraPro sees a lot of potential in Bahrain and is looking forward to a very good 2017. The company, which has offices in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Holland, is looking to expand in the region. We bring technology and solutions along with some expertise from Holland to Bahrain and serve the oil and gas and petrochemical companies, said Alban Lawrence Quadros, HydraPros general manager. Showcased at GIF are overhead cranes from Abus GM from Germany which are made to the most stringent quality standards. The electric wire rope hoists are produced using the most advanced technology available and continue to bear witness to their reliability, safety and durability year after year, from motor to rope, gearbox, brakes and electrical and electronic systems, he said. Abus electric wire rope hoists are the core element of our crane systems and are produced at production plants at Gummersbach, using the most advanced technology available, he said. The SWL range of Abus electric wire rope hoists extends from one tonne to 120 tonnes. Customers can choose from a wide range of models depending on application and requirements starting with the standard wire rope hoist in the lower SWL range up to special crab unit designs incorporating additional features at the higher SWL range. However, all wire rope hoists have these characteristics in common the highest levels of uptime availability and safety within materials handling operations, he added. HydraPro is at Stand P1 at the expo, which runs till February 9 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. - TradeArabia News Service Batelco, Bahrains leading telecommunications provider, is developing new services and solutions in line with the new digital age and customer demand, said Batelco Bahrain CEO Engineer Muna Al Hashemi. Al Hashemi was attended the opening ceremony of the MEET ICT and Bitex 2017 which is taking place at the Gulf Convention Centre, Gulf Hotel, Manama. MEET ICT is an annual event that attracts all IT and ICT companies to share the latest trends and technologies. It is held under the patronage of Minister of Transport and Communications Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed and organised by BTECH (Bahrain Technology Companies Society) and Worksmart. The three-day show will run till February 9. Eng. Al Hashemi said: Being a leading player in the ICT market we will remain focussed on meeting our pledge to provide our business customers with the best-in-class relevant solutions in order to help them grow and optimise their businesses. Engineer Al Hashemi outlined a number of Batelcos recent solutions highlighting its Mobile Payment Solution, Connected Vehicles and Cloud Solutions. Batelco recently launched EasyPay, the first of its kind mobile payment solution. The new service allows customers to shop simply by tapping their mobile phones at the checkout counters of participating merchants. The launch is a key milestone for the Bahrain retail market, potentially revolutionising customer shopping experiences with secure, real-time payments now possible directly from their mobile phone, she said. The companys Connected Vehicle Solution, a complete transportation security solution designed particularly with the requirements of the education and transportation sectors in mind, has been widely taken up by establishments in Bahrain since its launch in the middle of 2016, she said. The solution is aimed at equipping vehicles, such as school busses, with cameras, sensors, GPS tracker, sound level detector and object count and furthermore the solution is self-powered through the use of solar panels. As the innovation driver in Bahrain, Batelco was the first in the kingdom to launch a series of locally hosted cloud-based services and in addition, Batelco collaborated with industry leaders to offer customers a wider portfolio of Cloud services. All are solidified by Batelcos widely acclaimed ICT services. To suit the organisations diverse needs, Batelco offers enterprises the ability to fully customise the specifications for these services, Al Hashemi said. The event hosts several activities such as exhibits, workshops, business matching sessions and meetings that aim to enhance the experience of the participants and enable them to exchange knowledge and ideas on different platforms. - TradeArabia News Service Gulf Industry Fair 2017 was officially opened today by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC). Industrial heavyweights from the region are geared up to welcome visitors, leading a strong line-up of 90 local international exhibitors showcasing their products and services at the Fair. Following the inauguration, HRH the Premier toured the exhibition and appreciated the quality of the expo. Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of show organisers Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE), said: We would like to express our sincere gratitude to His Royal Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, for providing his endless support to Gulf Industry Fair and its aims. Companies at the exhibition represent the Aluminium, Energy & Environment, Industrial Metals, Industrial Processes & Manufacturing, Ports & Maritime, Industrial Facilities & Logistics, Training for industry and Fire & Safety Sectors. We are proud of the quality of this years line-up. GIF 2017 events highlights Bahrains development and all aspects of infrastructure in the industrial sector. From Made in Bahrain manufacturers who promote the countrys capabilities to international investors are a major contributors to the regions economic development, added Abdulrahman. As the Northern Gulfs undisputed trade and logistics hub and a strategically located manufacturing base for companies looking to access major regional markets like Saudi Arabias Eastern Province Bahrain has for the past 10 years proven to be the ideal venue for the fair, attracting company owners, procurement officers, traders and businessmen from the kingdom and further afield. Gulf Industry Fair is dedicated to promoting the economic opportunities arising from the march to diversify the economies of the GCC, and the 2017 event showcases the wide variety of products manufactured in the GCC, said Abdulrahman. The Gulf Industry Fair 2017 builds on the legacy left by previous editions of the show, Abdulrahman said. Despite a regional slowdown caused by low oil prices, ongoing investment in the GCCs industrial infrastructure remains strong. Notably, Saudi Arabias 2030 Vision blueprint is likely to be a key driver of the Gulfs industrial ambitions in the coming years as the regions biggest economy accelerates diversification efforts, he said. Gulf Industry Fair is dedicated to promoting the economic opportunities arising from the march to diversify the economies of the GCC, and the 2017 event showcases the wide variety of products manufactured in the GCC. The Fair will host two forums: "The India Business Partnership Summit" on February 7 and the "GIF Dialogue: Future of Industry in the GCC" on February 8. There will also be seminars on Solar Energy and Gulf Projects on February 9. As in previous years, GIF 2017 is supported by some of Bahrains industrial icons. Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) is the shows Aluminium sponsor. Currently in the midst of an expansion, Alba plays a crucial role in creating a vibrant community of downstream aluminium industries including the likes of fellow exhibitors Balexco, Midal Cables and Ameeri Industries. National oil company Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) with the National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga), will front the Energy & Environment segment of the show, where it will outline to visitors its current and future investment programmes. Majaal, a developer and operator of industrial facilities primarily for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), will again be the principal sponsor of the Logistics & Industrial Facilities sector, where it will not only showcase the successes of its business model but also demonstrate Bahrains credentials as an investment destination. Naffco, a leading supplier and producer for fire protection products, is a first-time sponsor of the Fire & Safety segment. Supporting organisations include AHK Saudi Arabia, Indias PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the German Saudi Arabian Liaison for Economic Affairs, the Saudi British Economic Offset Programme and the Bahrain Industrial Association (BIA). We are grateful for the unwavering support of the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, in helping us establish Gulf Industry Fair as the go to exhibition for companies operating in the Northern Gulfs expanding industrial markets. We look forward to providing the ultimate networking, knowledge sharing and deal making platform for all companies involved in the industrial sectors, Abdulrahman added. GIF 2017, which runs from February 7 to 9, is open from 9 am to 7 pm daily. For more the latest information visit www.gulfindustryfair.com - TradeArabia News Service Iran and Oman have renewed the general framework of an agreement signed in 2013 to export natural gas to Oman through a pipeline from under the Arabian Gulf seabed. The agreement was signed in the presence of Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh and Omani Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammad bin Hamad Al Rumhi, reported Irna. Representatives from companies like French Total, Shell (Dutch-British), South Korean Cogs, German Uniper and Japanese Mitsui were present and offered their proposals for possible participation in the project. A part of the gas will be consumed in Oman and the rest of it turned to liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export to target markets. The pipeline should pass deep waters of the Oman Sea, so it will increase both cost and execution time, the report said. Iranian companies have construction and installation technology to build pipeline in shallow waters of the sea, but they do not have experience in installing pipeline under deep waters, according to the report. Major players in the North African oil and gas industry will take part in the 7th North Africa Petroleum Exhibition & Conferences (Napec) to be held in March in Oran, Algeria. The event, from March 21 to 24, is set to focus on strengthening operational excellence and increasing productivity as the market in North Africa shows signs of stability, despite the production cut to comply with Opecs decision, a statement said. Building on the extraordinary success of last years edition, which attracted more than 25,000 visitors, and the signature of thousands of deals, attendees and exhibitors at Napec expect to generate more business this year as oil prices stabilised around $50/bbl over the last few months. Major oil field service providers such as GE, Baker Hughes, Siemens, are expected to attend and exhibit during the three-day event, in addition to the European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers (EAGE). As oil prices stabilise, activity will stabilise and improve. The industry focus will move from cost cutting to value/efficiency so technology will become more important as will productivity improvement, said Dr Chris Ward, president of the European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers (EAGE). While oil price changes are cyclical, the recent trends have underlined the need for all operators across the value chain to strengthen their operational efficiency and maximize productivity. That is the biggest opportunity that digital industrial solutions will bring to the oil and gas sector and which will be the big strategic trend for 2017, said Smail Bouderba, CEO, GE Oil & Gas Algeria. Simplifying in many critical areas of the oil and gas industry is happening and our industry is now primed for the next industrial era, which is in digital. We believe opportunity like this can be answered with technology, so we are focused passionately on how we can help solve these difficult challenges, Bouderba said. In addition to the presence of major service companies, the 2017 edition of Napec is an ideal platform to explore partnerships and meet with major national oil companies (NOCs) such as Algerias Sonatrach, Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC), Egypts EGAS and Tunisias ETAP, apart from international oil companies (IOCs) such as Repsol, and major service companies. The event will also feature representatives of North Africa energy ministries and regulatory organisations such as Algerias Alnaft. The trade exhibition at Napec will showcase products, services and technologies in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, and will be held at the Le Meridien Oran Hotel and Convention Centre from March 21 to 24. TradeArabia News Service Qatar Duty Free continues to deliver exclusive experiences for passengers at Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, with the unveiling of the latest luxury brand podium launching a number of new fragrance collections. Passengers departing, arriving or transiting Hamad International Airport, the Middle Easts only five-star airport, will discover one of the most prestigious Parisian squares, Place Vendome, recreated in HIA to house a number of fragrances including Lancomes new collection Les Parfums Grands Crus, Giorgio Armani Prive Collection, YSLs new, Le Vestiaire Des Parfums, Viktor & Rolf and Ralph Lauren. The 180-sq-m pavilion will be located in the centre of HIAs departures terminal, behind the Lamp Bear and nestled among the duty free retailers shopping avenue alongside major international brands and restaurants. Qatar Duty Free is proud to offer this unique pavilion, adding an element of flair and elegance to the shopping experience for its international travellers. The concept of combining fashion and retail experiences in an airport environment is an emerging trend, which Qatar Duty Free is expanding upon as part of its lifestyle brand offering. The award-winning Qatar Duty Free is dedicated to providing passengers with the latest products and experiences that add value to the travel experience. The architectural spaces and accents at Hamad International Airport create memorable and enjoyable shopping moments throughout passengers journeys in HIA, voted the Middle Easts only five-star airport and one of the worlds top five airports for shopping. More than 30 million passengers travel through HIA annually, and it is ranked in the top 10 airports worldwide. Senior vice president Qatar Duty Free, Luis Gasset, said: Qatar Duty Free is inspired to create experiences for our customers that add richness and value to their overall travel experience, and creating this unique opportunity to bring the LOreal Luxe collection launch to Doha is yet another way we can help our customers make lifelong memories. At Qatar Duty Free, we curate our offerings to tailor to our customers taste, by offering the latest collections from the finest fragrance houses. Our collection has made Hamad International Airport as much a destination as it is a world-class airport, and we will continue to innovate and surprise travellers. The LOreal Luxe pavilion exclusively features the Le Vestiaire Des Parfums collection, which includes scents inspired by the iconic designs of Yves Saint Laurent, including Tuxedo, with its hint of impertinence; Caban, borrowing the scent of refinement with a spark of pink pepper; Saharienne, combining the adventure of summer with the crispness of cotton; Trench, taking the classic cut of the sophisticated outerwear paired with the refreshing scent of citrus; and Caftan, a warm and exotic mystery evoking Eastern traditions in a contemporary manner. - TradeArabia News Service The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, a luxurious property in the kingdom, has welcomed Jean-Paul Dantil as its new general manager. The appointment comes as the hotel's current general manager Christian Zandonella has been transferred to The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. A farewell reception was held to honour the abundant milestones and achievements of Zandonella, who, over the course of two years, has inspired an exceptional level of visitor engagement and embraced the brand values in creating loyal customers. Some of his major achievements include the re-launch of the Italian restaurant, Primavera in 2014 in partnership with Michelin-Star chef Oliver Glowig; the execution of The Ritz-Carltons new brand voice; and recently the successful launch of Cantina Kahlo and Kahlo Club in October 2016. Dantil joins The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain from The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, where he served as the general manager for two and half years. A German national, Dantil graduated from the Centre International de Glion and enjoyed a solid career in top luxury brands in Europe, Asia, the Caribbeans and the Middle East. Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, he opened the famous DAS Stue hotel in Germany; now known as one of the best luxury hotels in the country. Dantil commented on the occasion, saying: I am thrilled to join The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain and humbled by the warm welcome received from our valuable partners, guests and Ladies and Gentlemen. The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain is a remarkable property that I grew to admire and love during my previous stays as a guest, for its business and leisure travel offerings, beautiful outdoor landscape, fine art and culinary offerings. I look forward to working closely with the international Hotel Company in driving it to the top of the kingdoms hospitality scene. - TradeArabia News Service By Press Trust of India: ally From Lalit K Jha Washington, Feb 8 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has spoken to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and has discussed the close, long-standing relationship between the two countries and their shared commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms, the White House said. "Trump reiterated US support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally, and welcomed Turkeys contributions to the counter-ISIS campaign," the White House said in a readout of the call that took place yesterday. advertisement Trump also spoke with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain to reaffirm the strong bilateral partnership across a range of mutual interests, the White House said. During the call, the leaders discussed shared priorities, including efforts to eliminate ISIS. President Trump reiterated the US commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and emphasised the importance of all NATO allies sharing the burden of defense spending. They agreed to continue close security, economic, and counter terrorism cooperation, the White House said. PTI LKJ ARK --- ENDS --- In 2016 a video of a massive disc-shaped object was seen flying around the skies of Malaysia. Many were left in shock at what appeared to be a rare UFO sighting in the Southeast Asian country, but some recent investigations have now uncovered the truth behind the video. The video was originally posted on YouTube in September 2016 and has more than 590,000 views as of this writing. In the video - which can be seen below - an object can be seen gliding in the sky before it zips away. It then returns a few seconds later turning on its axis to the amazement of onlookers. Judging from the video, it is easy to see why they are all in awe of what they are witnessing as a stream of white light can be seen coming from the flying saucer. It was then shared all across Malaysia and caused quite a stir among the residents of the town of Kuala Krai, the place where the flying saucer was spotted. However, the video seems to have been created using CGI (computer generated imagery). To be more precise the CGI creation was based off on one that was created in 2007. According to the Malaysian news agency Bernama, the police had reported no such sightings in the area. The video titled "UFO CGI Unveiled" was uploaded by a YouTube user named Damien White in 2007. In the video he explains how the alien ship is created using computer graphics. The Malaysian UFO video looked so realistic that it even newspapers such as The Sun began to report it. UFO sightings in Malaysia aren't uncommon as there have been many of them over the years. As a matter of fact, news of one that was spotted in Georgetown, Penang was recently reported by The Star. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 The island of Phuket, Thailand is a famous getaway destination which has evolved into a paradise of art and culture. It is filled with activities from the busiest beach of Patong to the laid-back city of Rawai. Here are the reasons why everyone wants to travel to Phuket, Thailand. Beaches. Nothing says vacation like fresh sea water and warm of sand beneath your feet. Phuket is blessed with beaches and if you're looking for a less crowded one, Kata beach is for you. Activities can range from watersports adventure to food trips in their local restaurants. You may opt to stay in the Boathouse which offers a room with a private sea-view terrace but if you want to experience having a private beach, a must try is the Anantara Layan Resort with a secluded beach that offers a 24-hour fitness area and pool. Morning Activities on the beach. According to Metro, Nai Yang Beach offers free beginner's yoga classes if you stay in Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa. Aside from that, they also have a variety of exercises classes including paddle-boarding and volleyball. If those aren't your fancy, try Thai cooking classes which includes making Pad Mee Sapam and receive a collection of Thai recipes. Island Hopping. Phuket provides easy access in visiting neighboring island like Phi Phi Islands. Boat rides can take only up to two hours giving tourists enough time to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and even sun bathing to achieve the perfect natural tan. Food. This multicultural island offers a wide and diverse array of cuisine. According to Lonely Planet, a must is the Phuketian favorites like mee sua (sauteed noodles with egg, squid and shrimp), moo hong (braised pepper-and-garlic pork) and Phuket's signature cookies. Also, Blue Elephant serves classic Royal Thai delights. Beachfront bars. If you like watching the sunsets or the rolling waves, try the Big Fish restaurant on the beach. It offers Western food and drinks you would surely enjoy. Phuket is a culturally rich island that makes your trip not just for enjoyment, but also learning. There is more this island can offer and it is yet to be discovered. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Victoria's Secret model Gigi Hadid draws backlash from netizens due to her actions on a now-deleted video posted by her sister Bella. In the clip, Hadid was seen squinting her eyes to imitate a Buddha cookie. Fans then reacted to the said video, accusing the model of being a racist. Here are some of what the commenters wrote: "Bella Hadid: dated the weeknd (a black man) but said hella racist shit about black men. Gigi Hadid: mocks Asians but ain't her man Asian?" "Gigi Hadid made fun of asians...her man...is asian. Gigi Hadid marched against her president...& then took part in cultural appropriation." "How is Gigi hadid dating an Asian man and making racist jokes about Asians tho........????" Meanwhile, Hadid's beau, Zayn Malik, was quick to defend the model, emphasizing that she "likes Asians." He added in a tweet, "People's nerve to call me ignorant, when any chance they get I'm a terrorist!! to be a racist goes against my very existence.." He also stressed, "So please don't try to educate me." This was not the first time that Hadid came under fire for exhibiting actions that are considered to be racist. According to a report from MailOnline, her fans were upset when she donned an aquamarine Afro on the cover of Vogue Italia. She also drew controversy when she walked for Marc Jacobs last year, along with Bella and Kendall Jenner, wearing pastel dreadlocks. At the 2016 American Music Awards, she spoofed Melanie Trump in her opening monologue, which did not go well with Trump supporters. She explained her side through a written statement: "I was honored to host the AMAs last night and to work with some of the most respected writers in the business. I removed or changed anything in the script that I felt took the joke too far, and whether or not you choose to see it, what remained was done in good humor and with no bad intent." She further noted, "I too have been the center of a nationally televised comedy skit that poked fun at my actions, and was able to find the humor in it. I believe Melania understands show business and the way shows are written and run. I apologize to anyone that I offended, and have only the best wishes for our country. Respectfully, G." As of this writing, Hadid has yet to release a statement regarding the issue. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 The Environmental Protection Victoria Australia has warned residents of swimming in 36 beaches in Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne as the waters and shores are contaminated with human poop. The said fecal matters have residents worrying since last month as heavy storms brought human dirt along in their favorite beach spots. EPA Victoria took to Twitter to say all 36 beaches are down and rated poor due to stormwater pollution. In an interview with The Age, EPA group manager Dr. Anthony Boxshall said the situation could last up to two months after rained poured heavily on Sunday. "The bay is like a shallow tub, and all the catchments drain into it," Boxshall said. "The water stays in the bay for quite some time just because it's got that little entrance, so there's not much exchange." Moreover, he said that guests at the beach are at risk in being inflicted with gastro issues and infections. "It's gastro that we're worried about and infections. If someone had an open wound on their hand, you can get pathogens," he said. "For people who are fit and healthy, it's not such a big thing, but for some people like kids, older people who are more frail, pregnant women, people who for whatever reason their immune system might be more sensitive, gastro can be more serious, so we issue these alerts." The weather will be monitored closely and as to whether the beach will be safe to swim again by the public. Boxshall added that he wouldn't be too surprised if the instances could last up for days; however, these issues usually are cleared after 24 to 48 hours. On Jan.2, only 21 beaches were contaminated, unlike the recent washed up of human poo. "We have indicators we look for (in water tests), which is an indicator of fecal contamination, which is a really nice way of saying poo," News.com.au reports. "It's bird poo, it's horse poo, it's cow poo, and it's people poo." See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 In the last few days of January 2017, US President Donald Trump publicly issued an executive order that effectively isolated seven predominantly Muslim countries, namely: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan. This decision has incurred the disfavor of half the population of the United States as well as criticism from concerned world leaders outside the country. The current assertion among the many anti-Trump critics is that the president is blatantly encouraging discrimination against all Muslims. Contrary to most theories that explain how Saudi Arabia was spared from the heinous so-called 'Muslim ban', a report by published by Express Co. explains the objective military strategy that predicates the travel ban on the aforementioned Muslim countries other than Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia serves as a shining example of 'a huge wrench thrown in the Muslim discrimination narrative' perpetuated by the mass media in light of the recent events slowly unfolding from Donald Trump's executive order. Within its own territory, several socio-economic changes are also unfolding and preparing the nation to become a tourism powerhouse in the Middle East. Contrary to Popular Media According to the article published by Trade Arabia, the second greatest contributor to Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product (GDP) is tourism. As of 2015, it has generated a total of over US $50 billion in tourism-based income alone. In the same year, Saudi Arabia's tourism and travel have also drawn a total capital investment worth US $6.96 billion. Economists have predicted that as of 2026, Saudi Arabia's tourism investment will have increased a total of 14.3 percent. Inclusive of this prediction are near future initiatives that are geared towards further improving the positive change of the tourism landscape of the country. Gift To The Next Generation As of 2018, religious tourists visiting Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage to the Holy City would expect the completion of the Haramain High-Speed Railway in 2018. This infrastructure is aimed at providing a high-tech streamlined direct route between Mecca and Medina. Another airport in Jedda will also be added in the same year. Among the main reasons why experts foresee more people visiting Saudi Arabia has a lot to do with the glaring demographic reality. 57 percent of Saudi nationals are young adults. This generation is even more determined to transform the controversial image of the country. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Feb 8 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida over the weekend, the White House said today. Trump and Abe would travel to Mar-a-Lago on Friday after their meeting at the White House. After the British Prime Minister, this would be Trumps second meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office. advertisement "As previously announced, he will visit the White House for meetings on the February 10th. The president has also invited him down to Mar-a-Lago and the two leaders will travel there for the weekend," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. "This is a testament to the importance the United States places on the bilateral relationship and the strength of our alliance and the deep economic ties between the United States and Japan," Spicer said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also be travelling to Washington DC for a meeting with Trump on February 15, Spicer said. PTI LKJ KJ PMS KJ --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Feb 8 (PTI) A defiant US President Donald Trump today took another swipe at the judiciary, saying that the courts blocking his controversial travel ban on refugees and nationals from seven Muslim-majority nations "seem to be so political." "If the US does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics!" Trump told his more than 24 million followers on Twitter. advertisement Later, Trump defended his decision and said, "I have to be honest that, if these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they do what they should be doing." "When you read something so perfectly written and so clear to anybody and then you have lawyers and -- I watched last night, in amazement, and I heard things that I couldnt believe, things that really had nothing to do with what I just read. I dont ever want to call a court biased, so I wont call it biased. We havent had a decision yet," he said. "But courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do whats right. That has to do with the security of our country, which is so important. Right now, we are at risk because of what happened," Trump said. Days after he signed the executive order over immigration, a federal court in Seattle halted its implementation. The Department of Justice has reached to the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals to remove the stay on the executive orders. The three-judge bench had an oral hearing of the case on Tuesday. Expressing dissatisfaction over the stay on his executive order, Trump said it is a sad day. "I think our security is at risk today and it will be at risk until such time as we are entitled and get what we are entitled to as citizens of this country, as chiefs, as sheriffs of this country. We want security. One of the reasons I was elected was because of law and order and security. Its one of the reasons I was elected. Also, jobs and lots of other things, but I think one of the strongest reasons is security," he said. The court is yet to come out with its verdict. Trump said he listened to the court proceedings. Referring to "Suspension Of Entry Or Imposition Of Restrictions By The President," he said he has the right to prevent any alien from entering the country. advertisement "This isnt just me, this is for Obama, for Ronald Reagan, for the president. This was done very importantly for security, something you people know more about than all of us. It was done for the security of our nation, the security of our citizens, so that people come in who arent going to do us harm and thats why it was done," he said. Trump was angry that his emergency appeal to overturn Judge James Robarts ruling was denied. He has now threatened to take the case to the Supreme Court. He had tweeted over the weekend that the "so-called judge" from Seattle who?d suspended the ban put America at risk with the move. "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" Trump had tweeted. PTI LKJ NSA --- ENDS --- Azores Airlines has new air service to the Cape Verde Islands from Boston. Flights start on June 1st and tickets are on sale now by calling 800-762-9995. Service is a one-stop, via the Azores, to Santiago Island and the capital city of Praia. (TRAVPR.COM) USA - February 8th, 2017 - Boston, MA -- Azores Airlines has new air service to the Cape Verde Islands from Boston. Flights start on June 1st and tickets are on sale now by calling 800-762-9995. Service is a one-stop, via the Azores, to Santiago Island and the capital city of Praia. To launch the route, Azores Airlines has a special fare of $704 round trip including all taxes and fees, on sale now until February 28th, 2017. Promotion is valid for travel between June 1 to 30, 2017 and September 1 to December 8th 2017. Subject to availability. With this new option customers who want to fly between Boston and Cape Verde, may travel with ease. Flights are twice a week: Sundays and Thursdays - Boston/Ponta Delgada/Praia. Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is volcanic archipelago off the Northwest coast of Africa. It is known for its endless sandy beaches, Creole Portuguese/African culture, soulful morna music and sunny weather year-round. Its largest island, Santiago, is home to the capital, Praia. Formally, Praia de Santa Maria, the city is perched on cliffs overlooking the sea, with several beachfront hotels. The airline has also announced a major aircraft lease of six new Airbus aircraft. With a transatlantic network, these aircraft will connect Portugal to Boston, Oakland, Providence, Toronto and Montreal, in addition to major European hubs. Azores Airlines, part of the SATA Group, has connected New England with the Azores and mainland Portugal for more than 35 years. For more information about booking flights visit http://www.azoresairlines.pt or call 800-762-9995 Azores Airlines to offer new service from Boston to sunny Cape Verde Boston, MA -- Azores Airlines has new air service to the Cape Verde Islands from Boston. Flights start on June 1st and tickets are on sale now by calling 800-762-9995. Service is a one-stop, via the Azores, to Santiago Island and the capital city of Praia. To launch the route, Azores Airlines has a special fare of $704 round trip including all taxes and fees, on sale now until February 28th, 2017. Promotion is valid for travel between June 1 to 30, 2017 and September 1 to December 8th 2017. Subject to availability. With this new option customers who want to fly between Boston and Cape Verde, may travel with ease. Flights are twice a week: Sundays and Thursdays - Boston/Ponta Delgada/Praia. Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is volcanic archipelago off the Northwest coast of Africa. It is known for its endless sandy beaches, Creole Portuguese/African culture, soulful morna music and sunny weather year-round. Its largest island, Santiago, is home to the capital, Praia. Formally, Praia de Santa Maria, the city is perched on cliffs overlooking the sea, with several beachfront hotels. The airline has also announced a major aircraft lease of six new Airbus aircraft. With a transatlantic network, these aircraft will connect Portugal to Boston, Oakland, Providence, Toronto and Montreal, in addition to major European hubs. Azores Airlines, part of the SATA Group, has connected New England with the Azores and mainland Portugal for more than 35 years. For more information about booking flights visit http://www.azoresairlines.pt or call 800-762-9995 ### Experience the ultimate presentation of dance, culture, music and ancient traditions at the Khajuraho Dance Festival 2017. The week-long event celebrates the rich heritage of India at the majestic backdrop of the mystical Khajuraho Temples. (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - February 8th, 2017 - Reliving the classical dance forms of India, Madhya Pradesh Department of Culture celebrates the Khajuraho Dance Festival every year. From the 20th February to 26th February, 2017, the traditional Dance forms of India will be celebrated at Khajuraho Dance Festival 2017. The festival features a number of performances at the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho Temples. Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad organizes one of the most famous dance festivals in India, Khajuraho Festival is a week-long event in celebration of all the traditional classical forms of dance in India. The aim of the festival is to keep the traditions of the classical dances alive. Performances by legendary dancers aims to keep the ancient knowledge alive. All the classical dances have their roots in the ancient text, Natya Shastra. Said to be penned down by Bharata Muni, the classical Indian dances have elaborate expressions, intricate hand gestures called mudras, and depict everyday life stories or extracts from ancient mythological texts. The Khajuraho Dance Festival 2017 is all set to treat eyes and all your senses to a weeklong extravaganza here. All the classical dance forms such as Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Mohiniyattam and Kathakali (Kerala), Odissi (Orissa) etc., are performed by renowned dance personalities and groups. The dance performances take place in an open-air auditorium outside the exquisite temples of Khajuraho. Most of the dances are showcased in front of the charming Vishwanatha or the Chitragupt Temples. Khajuraho Dance Festivals wonderful presentations keeps the audience watch enraptured. Dancers perform to traditional music in front of the lamp lit backdrop. The melodies, the beats of dance and mesmerising structures create a unique experience. Be a part of celebrations of the richness of Indian culture and artistry. For more informations visit: https://www.indianholiday.com/tours-of-india/khajuraho-dance-festival-with-wildlife-tour.html ### A court of appeals grilled the Trump administration on whether the travel ban discriminated against Muslims and questioned the arguments that the curbs were motivated by national security concerns. By Press Trust of India: President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order today faced intense scrutiny as a court of appeals grilled the Trump Administration whether the travel ban unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims and questioned the arguments that curbs were motivated by national security concerns. Asserting that President Trump was within his constitutional rights and obligations to sign the executive order that temporarily bans immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, the Justice Department urged court of appeals to reinstate the travel ban -- put on hold by the courts last week. advertisement During the hour-long hearing, conducted by phone, before a three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals here, the Justice Department lawyer August Flentje said in signing the executive order Trump struck the balance between national security and the practice of allowing people from entering the country. "The President struck that balance, and the district courts order has upset that balance. This is a traditional national security judgement that is assigned to the political branches and the president and the court?s order immediately altered that," Flentje said in his hearing which was telecast live by a number of television news channels. The lawyer urged the San Francisco court to remove the halt on the executive order by a court in Seattle. "The district court's decision overrides the President's national security judgment about the level of risk and weve been talking about the level of risk thats acceptable," he said. Flentjes assertion led to a series of rapid fire exchanges with all three judges pressing him to explain the limits of his position. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism," asked Judge Michelle Friedland. The Court of Appeals is expected to give its verdict soon. The case is likely to hit the Supreme Court in coming days. The three-judge panel asked the government lawyer whether the Trump administrations national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism," asked Judge Friedland. "Are you arguing then that the President's decision in that regard is unreviewable (by a court)?" he asked another time. Another judge Willian Canby asked if the President could simply say the US will not admit Muslims into the countries. "Could he do that? Would anyone be able to challenge that?" he asked. "Thats not the order. This is a far cry from that situation," Flentje replied. But said that a US citizen with a connection to someone seeking entry might be able to challenge the executive order if that were the case. advertisement President Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, Feb 8 (PTI) State-run Union Bank of India today reported a 34 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 104 crore in the third quarter ended December, helped by higher treasury gains and lower cost of deposits. The lender had reported a profit after tax of Rs 78 crore in the same quarter last year. advertisement Treasury income rose 95 per cent to Rs 822 crore from Rs 421 crore in the quarter. Flushed with low cost deposits following the Centres move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, the banks cost of deposits fell to 6.35 per cent from 7.03 per cent. Domestic net interest margins stood at 2.04 per cent as against 2.31 per cent a year ago. Global NIM was at 2.01 per cent from 2.22 per cent. "We had given a NIM guidance of 2.22-2.25 per cent for this year. In the third quarter, 23 per cent of term loans have been repaid which were high cost and this will help us in meeting our NIM target," Chairman and Managing Director Arun Tiwari told reporters here. Gross non-performing assets rose to 11.70 per cent from 7.05 per cent, while net NPA stood at 6.95 per cent from 4.07 per cent. Provision coverage ratio stood at 50.62 per cent. Fresh slippages in the quarter stood at Rs 3294 crore. Recoveries was at Rs 254 crore and the bank upgraded Rs 101 crore of loans in the quarter. The Government lender sold two accounts worth Rs 45 crore to the asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) during the October-December period. "We have been very conservative in selling our assets to ARCs. We have sold two accounts worth Rs 45 crore in the quarter to ARCs," Tiwari said. Global business grew by 11.4 per cent to Rs 6,56,819 crore from Rs 5,89,889 crore. Global advances were up by 5.5 per cent to Rs 2,77,012 crore from Rs 2,62,477 crore. Due to strong growth of 13.5 per cent in retail, agriculture and MSME sectors, the banks domestic advances increased by 5.9 per cent to Rs 2,49,930 crore. Tiwari said the bank is looking at deposit growth of 9-10 per cent and advances growth of 7-8 per cent in the financial year 2016-17. PTI HV RSY BAS --- ENDS --- The book "Chasing the Brigand" by Kumar has revealed information about the Operation Cocoon, including killings and high-profile kidnappings that made Veerappan legendary, including the 108-day ordeal involving Kannada superstar Rajkumar. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Veerappan, who has inspired many books and movies in the past, is again in news after K Vijay Kumar released his book which is different from the previous ones because it is a first person account by a man who spearheaded the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force (STF) that planned and executed Veerappan. The book "Chasing the Brigand" by Kumar has revealed information about the Operation Cocoon, including killings and high-profile kidnappings that made Veerappan legendary, including the 108-day ordeal involving Kannada superstar Rajkumar. advertisement The book entails J Jayalalithaa, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu's role in operations against the villain. The brigand made unreasonable demands which included Rs 1000 crore ransom. The "most wanted" wanted to be protected by the same commandos that guarded the Tamil Nadu CM. Kumar while releasing the book also joked how the demand of Veerappan meant that the man who was in-charge of chasing him would, ironically, supervise his security too if his demands were met. In pursuit of Veerappan, the author reveals how many officers got in the line of fire. The book makes an interesting mention of 'Rambo' Gopalakrishnan, a man who headed a 42 -member team, and was a legend in his own way. Kumar said that after Rambo was severely injured in a blast, then CM Jayalalithaa was went to visit him and sat by his bedside saying, "Doctors told me you've taken it well. You should be okay," she said. Also read: Book on Veerappan to portray him for the villain and Robin Hood he's said to be In the book, he says, "I had been standing right behind the CM when she met Rambo, as I was in-charge of the CM's security at that time. After my stint with the SPG, I had returned to my home cadre Tamil Nadu. Due to her tough stance against the LTTE, there was a threat to the CM's life, especially after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. I was tasked to set up an elite protection group for the CM, called the Special Security Group, which I created as a hybrid of the SPG and NSG. At that moment in the hospital, I bristled at the thought of how much damage one man with so much negative energy could cause. Jayalalithaa had been grim-faced when she emerged from her meeting with Gopalakrishnan. 'This cannot go on,' she declared, and followed it up with a series of meetings with her counterpart in Karnataka, M Veerappa Moily. The two states immediately agreed to cooperate to bring Veerappan to justice, once and for all." Kumar headed the CRPF from 2010-2012 and is currently serving as Senior Security Adviser in the home ministry. advertisement Veerappan, who ruled over forest areas in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala for more than two decades, poached over 200 elephants, smuggled ivory worth hundreds of crore and killed more than 180 people, mostly police and forest officials. Veerappan was killed on October 18, 2004. Also read: Panneerselvam, Sasikala lock horns: 7 most important developments since last night you should know --- ENDS --- Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 8 The anti-snatching, robbery and dacoity-detection cell of the crime branch of the Chandigarh Police claims to have solved three cases of snatching, two cases each of auto theft and house theft and a case of burglary with the arrest of three youths. According to the police, the accused have been identified as Budh Ram, Lakhan and Rakesh Kumar, alias Chatur, all residents of Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26. The police said they had information that the three youths were involved in burglaries and snatchings following which the accused were apprehended from Sector 26. The police said during interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in several cases. Eight cases had been solved, the police said, adding that the accused first used to steal two-wheelers and then use these to snatch valuables from people. The accused were also involved in house thefts. The police have recovered four mobile phones, two pairs of gold earrings, some other gold ornaments, besides a scooter and a motorcycle. G Parthasarathy VIEWING Western television news channels like the CNN and the BBC in the early morning hours is fascinating; listening to scathing comments about President Trump and his seeming eccentricities, prejudices and his stereotyping of countries and peoples. President Trump is, however, merely reflecting the concerns and anger that whites across the US, whose lifestyles have been shaken by losing employment, feel about globalisation, as industrial facilities migrate to distant shores. Moreover, such people also feel under siege from perceived threats from radical Islamic terrorism. What is missed out, however, is that he has already won support from oil-rich Sunni Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, by backing them against Iran and by asking Israel to go slow on settlements in occupied Palestinian lands. What remains is for Trump to show the same foresight in dealing with Iran. In these circumstances, India needs to pay greater attention to seeing what it needs to do in its eastern neighbourhood, extending across the Bay of Bengal, the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Our Look East policies need careful review, as they were crafted in an era when the Asia-Pacific was the fastest growing region in the world. We were then able to conclude free trade and comprehensive economic cooperation agreements with ASEAN members, who were united in their approach, apart from strengthening economic ties with Japan and South Korea. The US, under President Obama, followed suit, participating actively in ASEAN Summits together with India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Things, however, started changing as an increasingly assertive and chauvinistic China started defining its maritime frontiers in an outrageous manner, provoking tensions with all its maritime neighbours Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. China simultaneously used its economic muscle to entice countries like Cambodia and Laos and drive a wedge between ASEAN members, on how to deal with Beijings territorial ambitions. Military force was used to reinforce its claims on Vietnam and the Philippines. More importantly, even as ASEAN countries were trying to fashion a united strategy to deal with Chinese assertiveness, China used its military clout and economic muscle to coerce and sow divisions between ASEAN members, and prevent any united challenge to its quest for hegemony across its shores. Given Chinese assertiveness, the Obama Administration responded by its pivot to Asia, strengthening military ties and its naval presence across the Asia-Pacific. Most crucially, the US challenged Chinas economic prowess by fashioning a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for facilitating trade and investment ties across the entire Asia-Pacific. The TPP included the US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, together with ASEAN members Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. There were clear indications that the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia would join the TPP in due course. Given the vast size of the US market and opacity in Chinese trade and economic policies, the US was set to lure these countries away from excessive dependence on China. One of Trumps first actions after assuming office was to annul the TPP, manifesting his aversion to further trade liberalisation. This action is going to have serious implications across and beyond our eastern shores. There have already been growing concerns in East and Southeast Asia over growing Chinese economic and military power, amidst increasing manifestations of emerging American isolationism. While Beijing was excluded from the TPP, it has been working to promote a regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with ASEAN and its dialogue partners, including India. This would involve the entire Indo-Pacific Region becoming a free trade area, which China would inevitably seek to dominate. More importantly, a number of ASEAN members, including long-term American military allies, are showing increasing signs of nervousness about getting drawn into the vortex of American-Chinese rivalries. Despite Chinese maritime boundary claims and occupation of its Scarborough Shoal, a nervous Philippines leadership has sought to befriend China and appear neutral, with its Defence Minister Lorenzana proclaiming: We have to remind our friends, firmly if necessary, not to use ASEAN as a proxy for their rivalries. Malaysia has expressed similar sentiments. Cambodia recently cancelled scheduled military exercises with the US. Most importantly, Thailand, a long-term American military ally, is now set on purchasing Chinese submarines and other defence equipment. Myanmar is similarly being coerced to toe the Chinese line by Chinese pressures through trans-border insurgencies on Beijings borders with Myanmars Shan and Kachin states. Moreover, ASEAN is itself, for the first time, internally coming under strain, with countries like Indonesia and Malaysia taking exception to alleged killings of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Beijing has, meanwhile, rolled out the red carpet recently for Vietnams Communist party chief Nguyen Phu Trong. The collapse of the TPP is welcome in New Delhi, whose competitive edge in the US market would have been eroded. There is no way that India could have, anytime in the near future, accepted the American imposed conditionalities on issues like labour standards, intellectual property rights and arbitration. In these circumstances, New Delhi has now to see how best it can influence the direction of negotiations on the CEPA, so that its concerns on inclusion of the service sector and lack of transparency in Chinese policies on the exports of Indias goods and services are met. We should not remain isolated from the emerging security and economic architecture to our east. Secretary of State Tillerson, Defence Secretary Mattis and President Trump have reasons to be seriously concerned over Chinas policies across its maritime frontiers. While Mattis has already affirmed US commitment to Japans security in the face of challenges from Beijing, Tillerson is concerned about Chinas maritime claims on Vietnam, where ExxonMobil has interests in offshore drilling and exploration. The US establishment knows that balancing Chinese power and irredentist maritime boundary claims will need partners like Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India. A dialogue with the US and others in future should also pay greater attention to security across the Western sea lanes of the Indian Ocean through which over 80 per cent of the worlds seaborne oil exports traverse. Moreover, with differences and bickering arising within ASEAN and President Trump unlikely to show much personal interest, the dynamics of such summits could well undergo changes. Geetanjali Gayatri & Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Jassia (Rohtak), February 8 Making a case for conditional talks with the Chief Secretary-headed committee constituted by the government to resolve the impasse created by the ongoing statewide agitation by Jats, the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) today insisted on holding talks in or around Rohtak. We are ready to hold talks, but will not go to Delhi or Chandigarh to meet government functionaries. The talks should be held in or around Rohtak. Our representatives will convey the outcome of talks to dharna committees across the state and their decision will be final, AIJASS leader Yashpal Malik told The Tribune after addressing the agitators. The AIJASS leader welcomed the constitution of a committee to hold talks, but stated that they had not got any formal invitation for talks from the state authorities. This formal meeting with the committee will at least give us a peek into the mindset of Manohar Lal Khattar-led government, though the committee may not be empowered to take any decision(s) and will merely convey our demands to the state government, said AIJASS general secretary Ashok Balhara. Asked about their U-turn as they had earlier declined to hold any talks with the government, AIJASS leaders maintained that the state government had acceded to their demands of permission to hold dharna at certain places, no more flag marches in villages and no hounding of sarpanches, following which they had agreed to the offer for talks. Earlier, addressing the protesters, Malik reiterated that their main demands were reservation at Central and state levels, release of youths arrested in connection with last years agitation, withdrawal of cases against them, regular government jobs to family members of youths killed during the agitation, adequate financial compensation for the injured, thorough investigation into cases and action against police officials responsible for triggering violence during last years stir. He added that the agitation would continue till all demands were met. He pointed out that if the government could not ensure provision of reservation as the matter was sub judice, the demand for quota could be met at the Central level as there were no legal hassles there. The Centre had formed a high-level committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu last year to look into the demand for reservation at the Central level, but there was no progress. Such an evasive and irresponsible stance on part of the government is unacceptable and has forced the community to stage dharnas, he asserted. By Indrajit Kundu: Police is West Bengal's have arrested a youth with 40 fake new Rs 2,000 currency notes from Murshidabad district on Wednesday in what could by far be termed as the the biggest such FICN haul from the porous Indo-Bangla border region post demonetisation. A special team of the Murshidabad police from Islampur police station arrested Azizur Rahman (26) from the Chapraghat area. Police have been looking for Azizur for quite sometime and eventually got a tip-off about his presence in the district on Wednesday. advertisement Police have seized the new Rs 2000 denomination counterfeit notes introduced by the Reserve Bank of India after the centre's demonetisation policy announced in November last year. According to police, Rahman hails from neighbouring Malda district. He is a resident of Pardewnapur in Baishnabnagar area which known as the hub of FICN racket in the region. Rahman was possibly visiting Murshidabad to handover the fake notes to someone at the border. Confirming that the notes seized as fake, Murshidabad police superintendent Mukesh said that the police was investigating the source of so many counterfeit new notes. Ever since the government demonetized old high value currency notes, security agencies have been put on alert at the Indo-Bangla border amid concerns that fake copies of the newly introduced currency notes will soon by pushed into India through the porous border via Bangladesh. With inputs from Bhaskar Roy in Malda --- ENDS --- Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 7 In a bid to open communication channels with leaders of the protesting Jat community, the Haryana Government today constituted a five-member committee headed by Chief Secretary DS Dhesi to consider their demands even as the agitators rejected talks with the committee. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) While the All-India Jat Aarakshan Samiti led by UP Jat leader Yashpal Malik, spearheading the agitation, has given a thumbs-down to talks till their conditions are met, Khap leader Sube Singh Samain said the panel was a meaningless exercise. The government has to stop usurping our rights before we get into any talks. The Kaithal administration has not given us permission for the dharna so far even though it is on since January 29. The Panipat administration refused it at the site we wanted to hold our protests. The police are hounding sarpanches and youngsters to deter them from joining our dharnas. In such circumstances, no talks are possible, said Malik, adding they were ready for talks once this stalking ended. Samain, meanwhile, said their delegation held a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who assured that their demands would be met. We want regular jobs for those martyred during last years agitation and dropping of all cases against members of our community. The CM assured us on this. The committee is not higher than the CM. So, we wont meet the panel, he insisted. Sources said the government, realising the situation was deadlocked, decided to form the panel to engage the protesters. Their numbers at the protest venues were growing since parties, including the INLD and the Congress, had extended their support. The other members of the committee include Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas, Principal Secretary (Industry) Devender Singh, Secretary (General Administration) Vijayendra Kumar and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mohammad Akil. Tribune News Service Shimla, February 8 The BJP-backed group today swept the non-teaching employees elections of Himachal Pradesh University by winning five out of the seven seats. The group won the posts of president, joint secretary, finance secretary, organising secretary and press secretary, while the remaining two posts of vice-president and joint secretary were bagged by Congress-backed candidates. The BJP-backed Vipin Kumar reelected president for the second time by defeating his nearest rival PP Negi by 13 votes. Kumar polled 189 votes while Negi got 176 and CPM-backed Naresh got 70. Congress-supported Raj Kumar Thakur was elected vice-president. He defeated his nearest rival Dinesh Kumar by 67 votes. Thakur polled 244 votes while Kumar and CPM-backed Subash Chand secured 167 and 24 votes. For the post of general secretary, BJP-supported Geeta Ram defeated Mahesh (Congress-backed) by 45 votes. Geeta Ram secured 190 votes while Mahesh got 145 and CPM-backed Mohan Lal got 104 votes. There are a total of 538 non-teaching employees in the university out of which 441 voted while three votes were invalid. The newly elected president Vipin Kumar said no post of non-teaching employee had been created since 1975 while the courses had multiplied. A number of colleges had been opened and the non-teaching employees were working under immense pressure and therefore creation of more jobs would be the top priority. About 300 posts were vacant and filling of these posts would be another priority, besides providing residential accommodation to non-teaching staff, he said, adding that the state government gave Rs 1 crore for the construction of residences in 2008 but nothing had been done. In his previous term, maps were prepared and he got them approved from the Town and Country Planning Department and now the focus would be on the construction. Tribune News Service Dharamsala, February 8 Infighting in the Congress came to the fore during the visit of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to Jawalamukhi today. The state level program for freedom fighters today was not attended by the District Congress Committee (DCC) president Nardev Kanwar and other members of the team. Former Congress MLA Nikhil Rajour, brother of Rajya Sabha member Viplove Thakur, also stayed away from the function. Nardev Kanwar was present in Jawalamukhi but did not attend the function. When contacted, he said he was neither informed nor invited for the function. Nikhil Rajour also said that he had come to know about the function only from newspapers. Absence of Nikhil Rajour from the program was more surprising as his mother Sarla Sharma was among the prominent freedom fighters of the state. Sources here said that infighting in Dehra Congress is likely to intensify in the coming days. Viplove Thakur is also likely to open a front in the area. She has planned rallies in the areas from February 13 to counter the political opponents in the Congress who are close to the Chief Minister. The sources here said that last week during the visit of the Chief Minister to Dehra Assembly constituency Nikhil Rajour was hackled and pushed by some Congress leaders vying for closeness to the Chief Minister. Tribune News Service Jammu, February 8 Minister for Education Naeem Akhter today said the state government was pursuing for increase in seats under the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) to benefit maximum number of students from Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at an awareness workshop about the scheme at Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar the minister said with the sustained efforts of the state government, the flagship scholarship scheme, which was earlier marred by various hiccups, was now attracting more students. Last year, around 3,500 students got admission in various colleges, including some of the prestigious institutions, outside the state under the scheme, he added. Fortunately, lesser complaints have been received this year regarding the implementation of the scheme, he said. Pitching for increase in seats under the PMs scheme, he said this year, more seats would be allocated for technical courses to help students pursue various job-oriented courses. The minister said taking serious note of the complaints of the students about the problems in getting the due benefits after their admission, the state government took up the issue with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other agencies and streamlined the implementation by isolating certain elements in the process. The minister also listed various initiatives taken by the state government to give a turn around to educational activities in the state, particularly in the backdrop of the unrest in Kashmir. He added it was for the first time that full-fledged winter academic activity was going on in Kashmir schools to revive the educational spirit among the students and compensate the loss due to the unrest. The minister further said all the schools across the Kashmir valley were open where classes were going on regularly. The workshop was jointly organised by the state Education Department and AICTE. Earlier in his welcome address, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon explained the main objective of the scheme which aimed at building capacities of the state youth. Samaan Lateef Tribune News Service Srinagar, February 8 In an unprecedented move, the J&K Government has suspended over a dozen officials in the dead of night for negligence of their legitimate duties. The officials were suspended for switching off their phones during night when the rural development department wanted them to complete the paper work of delimitation of panchayat wards for the upcoming elections. As recommended by the District Panchayat Officer, Kupwara, the three Block Development Officers (BDOs) Farooq Najar, Muhammad Sultan and Muhammad Amin have been attached to this directorate for negligence of their legitimate duties till further order, reads an order issued on February 6 at 1 am by the Director, Rural Development Department, Kashmir, Gazanfar Ali. Similarly, the department on the same date issued another order at 1:10 am and suspended three Secretaries, Panchayats, for negligence of their legitimate duties and keeping their cell phones switched off. These secretaries have been accused of failing to keep a liaison with the officials concerned. The department also put under suspension a junior assistant, Abdul Rashid Parray, from south Kashmirs Pampore after he sent an SMS to his Director and expressed displeasure over the series of suspension orders against the officials. Pending inquiry into the matter, you are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect for using foolish language with Director, Rural Development, Kashmirs cell number 9419000189, reads the order issued by Ali. Ali described the action as the need of the hour as the government had asked the department to work on a war-footing to complete the delimitation of panchayat wards. Officials cant sit at home when the government needs them in emergencies. I was in the office till 3 am and as per orders the other officials had to complete the work on time. The suspended officials broke the communication with us and also failed to complete their work on time, he said. Annoyed by the officials for not responding to phone calls when their response was needed on urgent official matters, the state government on January 6 issued a circular asking its administrative secretaries to impress upon all the officers to respond to phone calls, even during late hours. In the absence of state Election Commission, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to hold panchayat polls in March-April this year. However, the government was keen to complete the delimitation of the panchayat wards before the polls a process opposed by the Opposition parties, including the National Conference and Congress. Officials say they were given only three days to complete the entire process of delimitation of wards. We could not get public suggestions before carving out new panchayats wards, a senior panchayat official said. He said the meetings by the rural development authorities were held on February 2 for delimitation of panchayat wards and the process, described by officials as cumbersome, was to be completed on February 5. The term of 4,098 panchayats, having 4,098 sarpanch constituencies (panchayats) and 29,402 panch constituencies, ended in July last. Karachi, February 8 Pakistani cinema fans, critics and the industrys other stakeholders have given a mixed reaction to the ban on the screening of the Shahrukh Khan-Mahira Khan starrer, Raees in the country, after the government this month gave the go ahead to screening of Indian films. Some cinema fans and critics lashed out at the ban imposed by the Central Film Censor Board but others supported the ban which comes at a time when Pakistani cine-goers were treated to the release of latest Indian films, Kaabil and Ae Dil Yeh Mushkil after the government nod. Noted film critic, Omair Alavi said the ban had come as a disappointment to Shahrukh Khan and Mahira Khan fans and also to cinema owners. It is disappointing and many cinema owners were looking forward to recoup their losses they incurred since the ban on Indian films last September, he said. Fans were also active on social media and slammed the ban decision especially diehard fans of Shahrukh Khan and Mahira Khan. The chairman of the Central Film Censor Board, Mobashar Hassan when contacted by PTI said the decision to ban Raees was taken after proper discussions. The consensus was that the film has an anti-Islam and anti-Muslim theme and portrays Muslims negatively. Plus its portrayal of a particular sect could also lead to reactions, he said. Hassan said the ban on Raees didnt mean it would affect the release of other Indian films. We decide to give certification on basis of the content and theme of the film, he added. A report in the Dawn newspaper claimed that the provincial censor boards in Punjab and Sindh were at odds with the countrys central censor board over the ban on Raees. It quoted a source who said the Punjab and Sindh censor boards had passed the film without any cuts but said that they would issue a certificate after consulting the Central Board of Film Censors in Islamabad. After a full-board meeting which is usually reserved for appeals, however, the central board decided not to issue Raees a certificate on Monday for inappropriate content. The general manager marketing of the Cinepax chain of cinemas said he had no problems with the decision of the Central Censor board. They have explained to us what prompted them to ban Raees and we see their point because they have to take into consideration many things while clearing a film. They must have thought the issue through, Mohsin Yaseen said. He said they were looking forward to make good money with other releases like Pakistani film, Balu Mahi, Akhshay Kumars Jolly LLB and Hollywood thriller, John Wick this month. Nadeem Mandviwalla a well-known producer, cinema owner and distributor said if the government had found Raees unfit for exhibition they were okay with the decision. The members of the Censor Board debated the subject therefore automatically we have to rely on that. As far as business is concerned, there are other films which are going to be released soon. He also said that Kaabil and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil were already doing good business in Pakistan. PTI Chennai, February 8 As political turmoil continues in Tamil Nadu with both All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham general secretary VK Sasikala and rebel leader interim chief minister O Panneerselvam clamouring for the top job in the state government, some 130 lawmakers who support the former have been taken to an undisclosed hotel, sources said. The development comes after Sasikalas meeting with party lawmakers. The AIADMK elected her the leader of the Legislature Party on Sunday and announced she would take over as chief minister from Pannerselvam, who was appointed to the role after Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016. Although the party, and Sasikila, said earlier that Panneerselvam endorsed her name for the chief ministers position, the latter claimed on Tuesday that he was threatened and forced into resigning and that he would continue if the party workers and the people of the state so wished. The two leaders have held frantic meetings since. Sasikalas faction has claimed the leader has the support of more than 130 lawmakers. The AIADMK has 136 of 235 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Agencies Jitendra K Shrivastava Tribune News Service Patna, February 8 A special investigation team (SIT) led by Patna Senior Superintendent of Police on Wednesday arrested secretary of Bihar Staff Service Commission (BSSC) Parmeshwar Ram along with one another staff member in connection with the alleged question paper leak. The SIT was set up on the directive of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the question paper of a BSSC exam was leaked. The SIT raided Rams house in Patna on Tuesday night and recovered several documents. It, however, detained five other staff who are being quizzed. The SIT is said to have gathered ample evidence against the BSSC secretary before it arrested him. Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said: We have arrested BSSC secretary Parmeshwar Ram as we have adequate evidence against him. Further investigation is on to expose how and where the question paper of BSSC exam was leaked. One more staff member of BSSC was also arrested with Ram. The BSSC secretary will also land in fresh trouble as the economic offence unit (EOU) has prepared to institute a case in connection with disproportionate assets case. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today cancelled the exam as its question paper was leaked. Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 8 China today defended its decision to block the US proposal in the UN to get Jaish chief Masood Azhar designated as global terrorist. China said the conditions required for backing the ban on Azhar had not been met. In a way, the Chinese position is a reiteration of its now oft-stated posture on Azhar. This is the third time that China has put a technical hold on banning Azhar. On the significance that the proposal this time was moved by the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang today said, Whoever submitted the request we believe all members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations. He was dismissive on whether China was protecting Azhar at Pakistans behest. Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 8 Launching an oblique attack on his predecessor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said only Manmohan Singh knows the art of taking a bath while wearing a raincoat. Bathroom main raincoat pehan ke nahane ki kala sirf wohi jante hain, Modi said amid vociferous protests from the Congress members who staged a walkout. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address in Rajya Sabha, Modi said "there was no blame against Manmohan Singh despite scams in the UPA". "How to take bath with a raincoat on could only be learnt from Manmohan Singh ji," he said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) PM Modi said, We will have to be tough on those who are cheating the system. When we do that, the hands of the poor will be strengthened. On note ban, Modi said former bureaucrat Madhav Godbole in a book he wrote said in 1971 Indira Gandhi was advised by then finance minister to demonetise, but she rejected the idea. You are showing so much zeal, why were you quiet till now? Why did you not sue Madhav Godbole, PM Modi asked Congress leader Anand Sharma. India's demonetisation move can become a case study for world economies and business schools, Modi said. #WATCH: PM Narendra Modi says in Rajya Sabha 'Bathroom mein raincoat pehen kar nahaane ki kala sirf Dr. sahab(MMS) hi jaante hain' pic.twitter.com/UUhXum333Y ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 The note ban demonstrated a horizontal divide in the country with people on one side and politicians on the other. People are ready to brave difficulties to purge the country of ills of corruption, he added. After the Congress members, including ex-PM Manmohan Singh, walked out, PM Modi said the Opposition should also be ready to listen to the truth. "Despite attempts made to incite people, no untoward incident was reported, which portrays the commitment of the people to fight corruption," he said. Listening to the Opposition leaders it seems they are presenting a report of the work done in the country in past 60 years. Please do not undermine the strengths of our country. There may be problems but we have to keep trying and move forward, he said in response to Opposition parties criticism on less cash economy. If there is a problem in technology we can rectify it but to move forward on the premise that it is wrong would be incorrect. Prime minister proposed competition on cleanliness in the states ruled by different parties. "Let there be competition on swachchta amongst nagarpalikas of states ruled by different parties to enhance performance," he said. He also advised people to learn languages of other states to increase cohesiveness. Telengana should hold a festival in Haryana and vice-versa, he said asking different regions to draw strength from each other to build a "shreshtha Bharat". Leaders of opposition parties like Sharad Yadav, Sitaram Yechury and Derek O Brien demand clarifications from the PM as Chairman Hamid Ansari started moving amendments. Ansari also expresses "distress" over what happened in the house today. All members have to share blame, he says as Opposition members protest against remarks made by the PM. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said the Prime Minister should at least express regret over the people who have died following the demonetisation move. The CPM also walked out of the House, followed by CPI. Yechury did not seek a division over an amendment on the issue and walked out. TMC leader Derek O Brien asks the government to observe one-minute silence in the memory of those who lost their lives due to demonetisation. All amendments were either negated or withdrawn and the motion was adopted in present form. By Press Trust of India: Hindu: Bhagwat Betul (MP), Feb 8 (PTI) Asserting that all the people who live in Hindustan and who have respect for its traditions are Hindus, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said that although Muslims have a different way of performing prayers, they are Hindus by nationality. "Whoever lives in Hindustan and has respect for its traditions, are all Hindus. Muslims may have different way of performing prayers, but their nationality is Hindu. All Hindus are accountable for Hindustan," Bhagwat said while addressing Hindu Sammelan here. advertisement "Across the world Indian society is known as Hindu. All Bharatiya (Indians) are Hindus and we all are one entity," he said. Hindus should remain alert for the honour of the country, Bhagwat said adding, "Across the globe it has been said that Bharat will become the world guru. In such a situation we are accountable for the country. It is necessary for Hindus to remain united and bury their differences." "Our caste, sub-caste, rituals and language may be different, but the language of our hearts is one. Diversity in life is beautiful, but it should also have unity," he said. Urging people to take pledge to remain united, the RSS chief also asked them to conserve nature and perform such acts that will enhance the pride of the nation. Stressing on social harmony, he said that if the differences among Hindus persist, then society will suffer, instead of becoming strong. "The outside world is uniting, but it is not happening here in the country," Bhagwat remarked. He called upon people to embrace all sections saying that it enhances the beauty of the society. The function was also addressed by former Union Minister Satpal Maharaj, who laid emphasis on womens empowerment . Earlier in the day, Bhagwat visited Betul district jail and paid tributes to second Sarsanghchalak of RSS late Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar alias Guruji. Bhagwat visited barrack no. 1 of the district jail, where Golwalkar was detained for about three months in 1949, after the organisation was banned following Mahatma Gandhis assassination. RSS sah-sarkaryawah Suresh Soni, local MLA Hemant Khandelwal and other Sangh leaders accompanied Bhagwat. However, the state Congress objected to Bhagwats visit while terming it as violation of jail manual and an effort to glorify the member of the then banned organisation. "BJP is trying to glorify Golwalkar, who was detained as a member of a banned organisation then. This is also a violation of jail manual. Only the family members, friends of a prisoner can visit the jail premises with prior permission of jail management," Congress spokesman K K Mishra said. PTI COR MAS ADU GK NP --- ENDS --- advertisement Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 8 In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court today issued contempt notice to Justice CS Karnan, a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, and ordered him to forthwith refrain from discharging any judicial or administrative functions. A seven-Judge Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar asked him to forthwith return all judicial and administrative files to the HC registrar general. The Bench ordered him to remain present before it on February 13 to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The court had taken suo motu cognisance of letters written by Justice Karnan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other constitutional authorities, levelling allegations of corruption against sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts. During the hearing, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the communications sent by Justice Karnan were scurrilous and calculated to bring the judiciary into disrepute. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He said the top court must set an example so that citizens get a message that the court would not hesitate in taking action against even its own. The CJI said he had been receiving many letters from Justice Karnan and he recognised his signature. However, Justice Khehar said, If he denies it, then it changes the whole scenario. The CJI said it was an unprecedented situation and the court had to be careful. He said the court would seek assistance of the AG and the Bar as it would also have to consider if the judge in question could be allowed to continue to hold office in case found guilty of contempt. Justice Karnan, who claimed to have been victimised for being a Dalit, was transferred from the Madras High Court last year after he accused the Chief Justice of harassing him. He himself stayed his transfer, but later accepted it. Finally, he questioned the collegiums decision to transfer him and was due to appear in the SC on February 13 to argue his case. New Delhi, February 8 A Parliamentary committee has criticised the central governments measures of securing the countrys military installations against terrorist attacks. In its report tabled in Rajya Sabha, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home which was reviewing the performance of Ministry of Home Affairs was critical of Indias counterterrorism preparedness. "The Committee observes that the government has not learnt any lesson from the Pathankot attack," the panel said, referring to a terrorist strike at a military installation in Pathankot last year. The report said the state had comprehensively failed to prevent attacks in military camps in Jammu and Kashmir's Pampore, Uri, Baramula, Handwara and Nagrota all of which happened after the Pathankot strike. The committee headed by former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram also said holes in security establishment and intelligence gathering had to be filled on priority. Referring to the Pathankot attack, the committee wondered how, "in spite of terror alert sounded well in advance, the terrorists managed to breach the high-security air base and subsequently attack" and how security agencies were "so ill-prepared to anticipate threats in time and counter them swiftly and decisively". "The panel feels that something is seriously wrong with counter-terror security establishment as despite the fencing, floodlighting and patrolling by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, Pakistani terrorists managed to sneak into India from across the border," it said. It also questioned the role of Punjab Police in the Pathankot air base attack and criticised it for the time it took to understand that the abduction of its officer, a senior superintendent of police, and his friends was not merely a case of robbery but a serious national security threat. "The Committee is unable to understand why the terrorists let the SP and his friend off, which should be thoroughly examined by National Investigation Agency (NIA)," the report said. The committee also said that security agencies must investigate if the narco-syndicate active in border areas of Punjab helped the terrorists infiltrate the border and carry out the attack. It also criticised the National Investigation Agency the authority inquiring into the terrorist strike for not having completed investigations a year after the attack. PTI Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 8 Deepening its strategic reach in Chinas backyard, India has offered training facility to the Indonesian Navy, including submarine operations. Finer details of the growing closeness emerged as a post-script to the December 2016 visit to India by Joko Widodo, Indonesian President. The widening scope of relations with Indonesia shall now comprise naval training facilities, including training on use of submarines, a senior functionary said. Air force exercises have been added to the existing army-to-army contact between the two countries. Indonesia has ordered three types of diesel attack submarines from Korean company Daewoo and it operates two German-made submarines. Jakarta is also Indias largest trading partner in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with bilateral trade of US$15.9 billion in 2015-16. New Delhi is also looking to supply some home-grown sub-parts and assemblies to defence manufacturing units in Indonesia. The two countries have decided to ramp up maritime cooperation which mandates both sides to draw up an MoU for cooperation in this area. Indian and Indonesia strategic interests match each other as they are separated by the straits of Mallaca, the busiest sea trading route lying just south of the Andaman Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal. The two countries have shared a draft of sharing white shipping information on merchant ships. India has such agreements with 24 other countries. The two sides will be commencing a strategic dialogue, a security dialogue and will negotiate a new Comprehensive Defence Cooperation Agreement. A defence ministers dialogue and joint defence cooperation committee meetings are also slated this year. Chennai, February 8 Caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said on Wednesday a commission of inquiry will be appointed to probe into the death of his predecessor and AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalithaa. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Speaking to reporters at his residence here Panneerselvam said: "A Supreme Court judge will head the probe into the death of Jayalalithaa." He said there were a lot of questions about the death of the leader who passed away on December 5, 2016, after being admitted at the Apollo Hospital for 75 days. On Tuesday, PH Pandian along with his son Manoj Pandian, a former Rajya Sabha member, charged that Jayalalithaa's death was unnatural. The senior Pandian, was the Speaker when the iconic AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran was the Chief Minister. Manoj Pandian also claimed that Jayalalithaa had once told him that she may be poisoned to death. "When 'Thuglaq' Editor Cho Ramaswamy and I were Directors of Jaya TV, she (Jayalalithaa) told us that she fears this group would poison her to death," Manoj Pandian said. Ramaswamy died on December 6, 2016. Panneerselvam said the Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao is functioning within the frame of the Constitution. He added that he had never breached the party's principles. Panneerselvam said the number of legislators who are supporting him will be revealed later. He also extended his welcome to Deepa Jayakumar, neice of Jayalalithaa, to work with him. AIADMK MP V. Maitreyan was beside Panneerselvam during the media interaction. On Tuesday night, Panneerselvam made a dramatic statement that he was forced to resign as the Chief Minister. IANS Ghaziabad, February 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tore into Akhilesh Yadav government, alleging it was sheltering and nursing crime and corruption and asserted that this UP election was about ending the 14-year exile of growth in the state. Addressing Parivartan Sankalp Rally here on the penultimate day of campaigning for the first phase of polls, Modi said Akhilesh has disappointed those who had high hopes of him and has destroyed the state in last five years. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He also took a dig at SP-Congress alliance, saying, Samajwadi Party had stepped in a sinking boat. Is this poll about choosing a new government, or about electing a new CM? This election is about ending 14 years of exile of growth (vikas ka vanvas) in UP and replacing it with growth and prosperity, he said alluding to Ramayana. In his nearly 45-minute address, Modi, who represents Varanasi in Lok Sabha, attacked the Akhilesh-led government on several fronts, including law and order, even as he made promises of rectifying the wrongs committed by the state government. When Akhilesh came, we felt he is young and educated and will try to do some good. Par nirash kar dia, paanch saalo ke andar UP ka vinash kar diya (But he has disappointed us, destroyed UP in five years. They keep attacking me, and accuse that I have not kept promises. I tell you, I will give answer to the public in 2019, but Akhilesh government must answer to the people as it had ruled it for the last five years. If you do no answer in Uttar Pradesh, how will you make it Uttam Pradesh, Modi said. The Prime Minister also accused the SP government of sheltering crime and nursing goondas and sitting blindfold over corruption in the state. Today, women fear to venture out after dark in the state. Young girls are scared of going to schools. This evil has been sheltered by the ruling party leaders in the state. It is nursing the criminals. The law and order has failed as powerful people with protection of the ruling party are controlling police in their areas, Modi alleged. There is corruption in jobs, poor farmers and middle-class peoples lands have been snatched away. There are 40,000 complaints registered under the Arms Act, he said. If BJP forms government in UP, Modi said, I promise you we will form a special task force to ensure that lands looted from farmers and middle-class people would be restored. We have also been asking for CAG audit of irregularities in GDA but the UP government has not agreed. Once we form a government in UP, we will ensure that GDA and other development authorities are audited, he said. PTI Chennai, February 8 After raising a banner of revolt against AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday said he would withdraw his resignation, if required, and said his strength would come to be known in the state Assembly. Panneerselvam, sacked as AIADMK Treasurer by Sasikala last night following his outburst against her, insisted she was made General Secretary of the party under extraordinary circumstances following Jayalalithaas death. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Also read: Jayalalithaa's death to be probed: Panneerselvam Election will be held soon to elect the permanent General Secretary, he added. Striking an aggressive stance, Panneerselvam said his strength will come to be known in the state Assembly. If required, I will withdraw my resignation, said Panneerselvam, who was flanked by Pandian, partys Rajya Sabha MP Maithreyan and others, including V.C. Aarukutty. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also made it know that he could not meet Jayalalithaa even once during her 75 days of hospitalisation and said he would recommend an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge to probe the doubts surrounding the health condition and demise of the late leader. He said he will reach out to the people by going from street to street and welcomed the idea of working together with Jayalalithaas niece Deepa Jayakumar, who is also opposed to Sasikalas elevation. Panneerselvam also dismissed Sasikalas charge that DMK was behind his revolt against the party leadership and said she has no powers to sack him as Treasurer. She should be asked to explain the basis of her charge. I was never cordial with DMK. A look back into the history will make it clear, he said. There is no relationship at all between me and the DMK. Its only the human approach to reciprocate when someone smiles at you. That is the difference between animals and humans, he said. He was apparently referring to Sasikala last night pointing to the exchange of pleasantries between him and DMK Working President M.K. Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, during the recent session. Panneerselvam revolted only after losing CM post: AIADMK An AIADMK spokesperson said on Wednesday the revolt by Panneerselvam against Sasikala is being opportunistic and fuelled by other forces. "Only when his Chief Minister post was taken away he is raising his voice. But that, too after he had submitted his resignation and sending a 'thank you for your cooperation letter' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao," Avadi Kumar, AIADMK spokesperson, said. Kumar said Panneerselvam wrote a letter to Modi after resigning his post on his own choice and there was no compulsion on him not to write such a letter. "He was acting alone, pursuing his own interests. The party did not gain any goodwill by his acts but on the other hand the party had to face the brunt of the government actions -- like the police action against the Jallikattu-bull taming sport protestors," Kumar said. Pointing out Panneerselvam's own statement that he was asked to propose the name of Sasikala for the post of General Secretary and later for Chief Minister position, Kumar said: "What prevented him from opposing the move at the first instance itself." Kumar also wondered as to the reason for the continued absence of the Governor at a time when there is only a caretaker government in the state. "We did not know where to reach him and give him the letter of support of legislators for Sasikala, who can stake her claim to form the next government," Kumar said. At a time when a political change is happening in the state, the Governor goes from Coimbatore to Delhi and then to Mumbai. He said this shows that the BJP and the Centre are fishing in the troubled waters. Governor stays put in Mumbai Amid political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who also holds charge for the southern state, on Wednesday continued to stay put in Mumbai with no indication of when he will travel to Chennai. So far, we have no information on whether the Governor has any travel plans today for Chennai or Delhi, a Raj Bhawan official said. Yesterday, Raj Bhawan sources had said Rao may leave for Chennai in a day or two. Agencies Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 8 Continuing from where he left yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today remained his ballistic best and specifically targeted his predecessor Manmohan Singh paying him back in his own coin for describing the demonetisation move as an organised loot and legalised plunder. Replying to the debate on the Presidents Address in the Rajya Sabha, the PM launched what would probably be his sharpest political attack on Manmohan Singh till date. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) A day after his earthquake jibe against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, Modi remarked today that Dr Saheb (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on. This drew sharp reactions from Congress members who walked out in protest. Chairman Hamid Ansari also expressed distress over the happenings in the House. All members have to share the blame, he said. But Treasury Benches responded by saying that if Opposition can use words like Hitler to describe Modi, they should also show some tolerance and should be ready for an equal and opposite reaction. Modi started his reply quite innocuously, but then he set out to target Singh. In this country, perhaps there will be hardly anyone from the economic field who has had dominance on the countrys financial affairs for half of the countrys 70 years of Independence. Out of 70 years, for 30-35 years, he has been directly associated with financial decisions, he said And then came the punchSo many scams occurred... We politicians have a lot to learn from Dr Sahab. So much happened, there is not a single blot on him. Dr Saheb is the only person who knows the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on which provoked an angry reaction from Congress members who staged a walkout in the midst of the reply by the PM to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address, which was later adopted by the House after negating all 651 amendments. Notably, Singh, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha in the last Winter Session, had castigated the PM over demonetisation, saying its implementation was a monumental management failure and a case of organised loot and legalised plunder. As angry Congress members created uproar, the PM retaliated by saying: If you cross the limits of decorum, you should have the courage to listen to the response. We have the capacity to pay in the same coin. We do so within the limits of decorum and boundaries of the Constitution. They (Congress) dont want to accept defeat in any form. How long will it continue? He went on to add that the person who held such a high post used the words loot and plunder in the House, they (Congress) also should have thought 50 times (before using those words). Even as he asserted that the fight against black money was not a political one or against any party, one by one he took on leaders of the Left and the Congress. Leaders of the Left, Trinamool Congress and JD-U also staged a walkout after the reply, complaining that they were unhappy with the PM over one-hour speech where he sharpened attack on Opposition parties for criticising the demonetisation decision and his push for cash-less economy. He also slammed the Congress for finding faults with lack of proper infrastructure in the country. By doing so, they were only presenting their report card of 70-year rule, he said. Modi also proposed competition on cleanliness in the states ruled by different parties. Let there be a competition on swachchta amongst nagarpalikas of states ruled by different parties to enhance performance, he said. He also advised people to learn languages of other states to increase cohesiveness. No data on job loss post note ban During the Question Hour, Trinamool Congress member Ahmed Hassan said following demonetisation people were learnt to have lost jobs and sought to know what steps would be taken to rehabilitate them. Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there were no reports about people having lost jobs. She said, I am unable to respond to a question as I am not sure what kind of data. 81,000 Muslims lodged in jails Over 81,000 Muslims were lodged in jails across the country, as per the latest data presented by the government in Rajya Sabha. Responding to a question about details of innocent Muslims languishing in various jails, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said, Only convicts, undertrials and detenues are lodged in jails. The National Crime Records Bureau data shows that there were 81,306 Muslim inmates. Will there be advisory on trolls, asks MP Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien said the in Rajya Sabha that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is following on Twitter certain trolls who write venemous, misogynist stuff besides issuing "murdereous threats and wanted to know if government sends advisory to such people occupying high offices. MoS (Home) Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, however, said no curbs could be imposed on anyone in a free country like India. Some Pak Hindus, Sikhs didn't return Some Pakistani nationals belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities, who came on pilgrim visa, have not returned to their country fearing religious persecution, the Rajya Sabha was informed. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government in 2015 had issued stringent conditions for grant of group pilgrim visa with groups being limited to 50. The group leader was made responsible for reporting to police. India in touch with Pak diplomatically Asserting that it wished to have good neighbourly relations with Pakistan, the government said it remained in touch with it through bilateral diplomatic channels, including addressing all urgent humanitarian even after cancellation of Foreign Secretary-level talks as agreed in December 2015. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the government's diplomatic efforts in the wake of Pathankot and Uri attacks led to widespread recognition internationally that Pakistan's policy to sponsor and support terrorism against its neighbours posed the biggest challenge to peace and stability in the region and beyond. "The government was also able to effectively neutralise Pakistan's efforts to internationalise Kashmir issue," Swaraj said. PTI Chennai, February 8 Injecting a new twist to the ongoing political drama in Tamil Nadu, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao would be reaching here tomorrow as AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala today mustered an overwhelming majority of party MLAs against a rebellious O Panneerselvam, who claimed he had their backing. Rao, who had kept away from Chennai for the last three days triggering speculation whether he had reservations on swearing in Sasikala, will reach here tomorrow afternoon but there was no word on what he planned to do. Jurists were divided on whether Sasikala, against whose acquittal in a disproportionate assets case the Supreme Court is likely to deliver its verdict next week, could be sworn in. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) After Panneerselvams midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters in a show of strength this morning and later herded them in buses to an undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together. There were unconfirmed reports that AIADMK would even parade the MLAs before the President if the Governor delays the swearing-in. In an act of defiance, Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge will be set up to probe the doubts surrounding the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa. Sasikala, who had sacked Panneerselvam as treasurer last night, launched a no-holds-barred attack on him, saying he had betrayed the party and fully merged with DMK which Jayalalithaa had fought all her life. Panneerselvam, chosen by Jayalalithaa as stop-gap CM when she had to quit twice, today maintained that he enjoyed support of majority of MLAs. However, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai rejected the claims and said that the party had all the 134 MLAs with it. PTI By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI) Paving way for a functional Bar body in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre today told the Supreme Court that it will notify and publish the state Bar council rules in the gazette within four weeks. A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice N V Ramana recorded the statement and disposed of a four-year- old PIL filed by senior advocate Bhim Singh on the issue. advertisement "Publish the rules positively within four weeks," it told the Centre. Earlier, the Bar Council of India (BCI) had submitted in the court that it had approved the Jammu and Kashmir State Bar Council Draft Rules and that these draft rules would be forwarded to the central government for publication in the gazette. Singh, in his PIL, had prayed for setting up of a state Bar council in Jammu and Kashmir. The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has been functioning as the Bar council in accordance with a transitory arrangement provided under Section 58 of the Advocates Act, 1961. He had alleged that denying the lawyers fraternity of the state to have a democratically elected Bar council amounted to a violation of fundamental rights under the Constitution as well as the provisions of the Act. PTI SJK MNL RKS SC --- ENDS --- Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 8 In an unprecedented order, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued contempt notice to Justice CS Karnan--a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court and ordered him to forthwith refrain from discharging any judicial or administrative functions. In a jampacked court, a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar asked him to forthwith return all judicial and administrative files to the high court registrar general. The bench ordered him to remain present before it on February 13 to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. During the hearing that lasted about half an hour, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the communications sent by Justice Karnan were scurrilous and calculated to bring the judiciary into disrepute. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He said the top court must set an example so that citizens get a message that the court would not hesitate in taking action against even its own. The CJI said he had been receiving many letters from Justice Karnan and he recognised his signature. However, Justice Khehar said, If he denies it, then it changes the whole scenario. Besides the CJI, other judges on the bench were the senior-most judges of the top court. The judges on the bench are CJI JS Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra, Justice J Chelameswar, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madam B Lokur, Justice PC Ghosh and Justice Kurian Joseph. Justice Karnan, who has been courting controversy for quite some time, sent a letter to the PM on January 23 stating that high corruption in the judiciary is still being perpetrated in an arbitrary fashion and without fear. The letter mentioned the name of a High Court Chief Justice who was due for elevation to the top court. He claimed his allegations could be proved through a probe by some competent agency. The development comes close on the heels of the top courts decision to initiate contempt proceedings against former SC Judge Justice Markandey Katju for openly questioning its decision to acquit an accused in a rape-cum-murder case. Justice Katju was let off after he tendered an unconditional apology. New Delhi, February 8 The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Thursday its verdict on pleas seeking review of the 2015 order in the Uphaar fire tragedy case asking real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal to serve a two-year jail term if they fail to pay Rs 30 crore each as fine. The CBI and Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) have sought review of the apex court verdict, delivered on August 19, 2015, sending Ansal brothers to two years rigorous jail term if they fail to pay Rs 30 crore each within three months. The convicts have already paid the fine. A three-judge bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi, Kurian Joseph and Adarsh Kumar Goel which had reserved the judgement on the review pleas after hearing lengthy arguments, advanced by counsel for CBI, AVUT and Ansal brothers is likely to pronounce its verdict. Fifty-nine people had died of asphyxia when a fire broke out during the screening of Bollywood movie "Border" in Uphaar theatre in Green Park area of South Delhi on June 13, 1997. Over 100 were also injured in the subsequent stampede. The apex court had on December 5 asked the Ansal brothers not to leave India till it disposes of the review pleas after AVUT cited a media report about their possibility of leaving the country in the absence of a restraint order from it. AVUT, through its president Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who had lost her two teenaged children in the blaze, had cited a media report that the convicts were "on the verge of fleeing the country". The victims' body had also mentioned the review plea for urgent hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur who said a new bench would be constituted to hear the review petitions filed by CBI and the association. Prior to that, a bench headed by Justice A R Dave, now retired, had decided to hear in open court the petitions filed by CBI and AVUT seeking review of the 2015 verdict. Following the judgement, Sushil and Gopal Ansal had deposited Rs 30 crore each to avoid the jail term. In its review plea, AVUT had said the apex court judgement "bestows an unwarranted leniency on convicts whose conviction in the most heinous of offences has been upheld by all courts, including this court and sentences imposed on them have been substituted with fine without assigning any reason". The plea of AVUT further said, "The sentences of the convicts have been reduced to the period undergone without taking into account the gravity of their offence." CBI, in its review plea, had said the apex court did not give it time to put its views forth which resulted in "miscarriage of justice". The agency has said, "Due to the paucity of time on the day on which this case was heard, the prosecution could not adequately put across the reasons why this court should not substitute jail sentence with a monetary fine. "This petition also seeks to raise issue of an apparent error of law in the judgement and order of this court which has occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice," it said. CBI had also claimed that "callousness" of the Ansal brothers led to 59 people being trapped and suffocated to death in the theatre. The apex court had on August 19, 2015 sent the Ansal brothers to two years rigorous jail term if they failed to pay Rs 30 crore each within three months. In a judgement on September 23, 2015, the bench had said the "magnitude" of the case "calls for a higher sentence" but the court has to limit itself to the choice available under the law. PTI Betul (MP), February 8 Asserting that all the people who live in Hindustan and who have respect for its traditions are Hindus, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said although Muslims have a different way of performing prayers, they are Hindus by nationality. "Whoever lives in Hindustan and has respect for its traditions, are all Hindus. Muslims may have different way of performing prayers, but their nationality is Hindu. All Hindus are accountable for Hindustan," Bhagwat said while addressing 'Hindu Sammelan' here. "Across the world Indian society is known as Hindu. All Bharatiya (Indians) are Hindus and we all are one entity," he said. Hindus should remain alert for the honour of the country, Bhagwat said adding, "Across the globe it has been said that Bharat will become the world guru. In such a situation we are accountable for the country. It is necessary for Hindus to remain united and bury their differences." "Our caste, sub-caste, rituals and language may be different, but the language of our hearts is one. Diversity in life is beautiful, but it should also have unity," he said. Urging people to take pledge to remain united, the RSS chief also asked them to conserve nature and perform such acts that will enhance the pride of the nation. Stressing on social harmony, he said if the differences among Hindus persist, then society will suffer, instead of becoming strong. "The outside world is uniting, but it is not happening here in the country," Bhagwat remarked. He called upon people to embrace all sections saying that it enhances the beauty of the society. The function was also addressed by former Union Minister Satpal Maharaj, who laid emphasis on women's empowerment. Earlier in the day, Bhagwat visited Betul district jail and paid tributes to second Sarsanghchalak of RSS late Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar alias 'Guruji'. Bhagwat visited barrack no. 1 of the district jail, where Golwalkar was detained for about three months in 1949, after the organisation was banned following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. RSS sah-sarkaryawah Suresh Soni, local MLA Hemant Khandelwal and other Sangh leaders accompanied Bhagwat. However, the state Congress objected to Bhagwat's visit while terming it as violation of jail manual and an effort to glorify the member of the then banned organisation. "BJP is trying to glorify Golwalkar, who was detained as a member of a banned organisation then. This is also a violation of jail manual. Only the family members, friends of a prisoner can visit the jail premises with prior permission of jail management," Congress spokesman K K Mishra said. PTI GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 8 On the eve of repolling at 28 booths of the Majitha constituency, three persons were nabbed by a poll observer on the charges of influencing voters with money or liquor in favour of Congress candidate Sukhjinder Lali Majithia. In a raid at the house of Balwinder Singh Bamb, senior vice-president of District Congress Committee, two cases of liquor were seized. He has been sent to judicial custody. In another case, Mohan Singh Nibberwind alias Mohni was caught by residents at Pannuan village after he tried to bribe them to vote in favour of the Congress candidate. He was handed over to the police. Another senior Congress worker Om Parkash Gabbar, too, was caught under the same charges. Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, the SAD candidate, has approached CEO VK Singh to disqualify Lali Majithia as he violated the sanctity of the oath. I brought the matter to the notice of the CEO. These Congress workers were caught by EC officials themselves, he said. On the other hand, Lali Majithia claimed that three persons hailing from Jalandhar were caught by his supporters who were distributing money to voters in favour of SAD candidate. Ranjit Singh, Karandeep and Arjan Sharma were caught with Rs52,000. The SAD is upset over Congress bright poll prospects and thus resorting to baseless allegations, he said. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEO), Punjab, VK Singh and Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena today arrived in Amritsar to take stock of the arrangements for repolling in 28 booths of the Majitha constituency. VK Singh said: Stern action will be taken against those who violated the EC guidelines. We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth repolling. The need was felt after a number of EVMs had developed snag on February 4 and due to insufficient EVMs in reserve, people here could not exercise their franchise in a proper manner, he said. Liquor shops stay open despite order Muktsar: Defying the prohibitory orders of the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), a number of liquor vends remained open on Thursday in the district. The sale liquor is prohibited from the evening of February 7 to 9 due to repolling at nine booths on Thursday. Not just in Muktsar town, liquor vends were open in other parts of the district, including Gidderbaha town. Madhur Bhatia, ETO, Muktsar, said, I will speak to the seniors regarding the prohibitory orders issued for the entire district. Archit Watts 10 boxes of liquor seized from car Sangrur: The police seized 10 boxes of liquor from Swift Dzire in the districts Santokhpura village on Wednesday night. AAP volunteers from Sangrur and Dhuri intercepted the car. After locking the vehicle, the driver fled. The volunteers alleged the liquor was to be distributed among people of the area. TNS Rozy cries foul over video clip Muktsar: A video clip purportedly showing Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi, SAD candidate from Muktsar, threatening people who didnt vote for the Akalis has gone viral on social media. However, Rozy claimed, The clip is doctored. I will file a complaint and seek an investigation. TNS Jalandhar, February 8 All security measures are put in place to guard EVMs in nine assembly constituencies here, the Election Commission said on Wednesday, as it dismissed the AAP's allegations that standard procedure was neglected while guarding the strong rooms where the polling machines are kept. There is no negligence in the security of EVMs. I am more concerned about their safety and security as compared to anyone else. Foolproof security is being provided to EVMs," district Election Officer K K Yadav said. The polling machines are being guarded in accordance with the laid down procedures of the Election Commission. There is no scope for negligence or dereliction of duty. Entry has been restricted in 500-metre area surrounding the strong rooms where the polling machines are kept, he said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had demanded that the security of EVMs be enhanced, alleging that the standard procedure was being neglected while guarding the strong rooms. Senior AAP leader and Advocate H S Phoolka had said, "The surveillance of EVMs in nine assembly constituencies here should be increased as the arrangements were inadequate. The officer said, "The apprehensions raised by some political leaders have been resolved and, they have expressed satisfaction". PTI Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 7 The Election Commission today ordered re-polling at 48 polling stations in Punjab on Thursday. Apart from 16 polling stations in the Amritsar parliamentary constituency, re-polling will be held at 12 polling stations in the Majitha Assembly segment, nine each for Muktsar and Sangrur seats and one each in Moga and Sardulgarh Assembly segments. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The EC did not cite any reason for its decision. Sources, however, said barring two, all other booths going to the re-polls faced massive interruptions during polling due to snags in the newly-introduced voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) EVMs installed in 33 Assembly segments. Re-polling has been ordered without there being any such demand by any major political party. In fact, the Aam Aadmi Party whose leader Sanjay Singh visited Chief Electoral Officer VK Singhs office on February 4 demanding one-hour relaxation in polling for 33 seats had submitted to the EC that the party didnt want re-polling at these seats. A senior electoral officer said, At some polling stations, votes could not be cast for the first two hours. At some other places, voters remained stuck in queues for long due to repeated interruptions in VVPAT machines. The EC has taken this decision to avoid legal implications due to this reason after the announcement of results. Re-polling would also be held at polling stations 145 and 86 of Moga and Sardulgarh, respectively, as conventional EVMs had developed snags there. Interestingly, the candidates will get only around six hours to do canvassing for the re-poll. Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi Hoshiarpur, February 8 The family of a deceased Pakistani, Mohammed Ezaz, has agreed to give a letter of pardon to 10 Punjabi youths, sentenced to death by a Dubai court. Convicted of Ezazs murder, they have been lodged in a Dubai jail since October last year. The amount of blood money to secure the release of the youths is yet to be decided. The Sarbat Da Bhala Trust has made an offer of Rs60 lakh, as per Dubai law, but the family seeks blood money in crores of rupees. A team of the Trust is at the deceaseds home in Peshawar. It is hopeful of striking a compromise in a couple of days, SPS Oberoi, managing trustee of the Trust, told The Tribune from Dubai over phone. Earlier, he said, the family did not agree to give a letter of pardon to the convicts. After the Trusts team visited them twice in Peshawar, they agreed. But the compromise is yet not final. Ezaz is survived by his parents and two brothers. The team will submit the power of attorney from the four members of the deceaseds family in court on February 27, the next date of hearing. The father of the deceased will have to appear in court. After a settlement of blood money amount, the compromise will be final, Dubai-based hotelier Oberoi added. In all, 11 men in their twenties were booked for the murder of Ezaz following a brawl over bootlegging on July 12, 2015. One of them was spared death sentence, but slapped with a fine of Rs2 lakh. The convicts are Satminder Singh of Barnala; Chander Shekhar of Hoshiarpur; Chamkaur Singh of Malerkotla; Kulwinder Singh, Balwinder Kumar and Dharamvir Singh, all from Ludhiana; Harjinder Singh of Mohali; Tarsem Singh of Amritsar; Gurpreet Singh of Patiala; and Jagjit Singh of Gurdaspur. Lahore: In a relief to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and several others, an anti-terrorism court has rejected a plea seeking their trial in a case involving killing of 14 supporters of Canada-based cleric Tahirul Qadri. Nawaz, Shahbaz, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif were among 12 government functionaries booked by the Lahore police in the murder of 14 supporters of Qadri in June, 2014. The court rejected the plea, observing the it cannot summon a person in a complaint unless direct documentary evidence is furnished by plaintiff. PTI Sydney: The highest paid Australian official earned $4.3 million in the last fiscal, 10 times more than the Prime Minister, a Senate committee revealed. Ahmed Fahour, Managing Director of Australia Post, received a salary of $3.1 million between July 2015 and June 2016, plus a bonus of $914,640. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earns about $386,510 a year. IANS $2.5 million for Mugabes birthday bash Harare: The ruling party of Zimbabwe is looking to spend $2.5 million on President Robert Mugabe's 93rd birthday celebration on February 21, a media report said. Opposition parties have attacked Mugabe for wasting money while 93 per cent of Zimbabweans are wallowing in poverty caused by his incompetence and misrule. IANS Lahore, February 8 In a relief to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and several others, an anti-terrorism court has rejected a plea seeking their trial in a case involving killing of 14 supporters of Canada-based cleric Tahirul Qadri. Nawaz, Shahbaz, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif were among 12 top government functionaries booked by Lahore police in the murder of 14 supporters of Qadri in June, 2014. During an anti-encroachment operation by police outside the residence of Qadri, 14 people, including two women, were killed and over 100 suffered bullet injuries. Lahores Anti-Terrorism Court rejected the plea to try the premier, chief minister and 10 ministers, observing the court cannot summon a person in a complaint unless direct documentary evidence is furnished by plaintiff. The court, however, summoned 125 officials, including Inspector General of Police Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera. The plaintiff presented 56 witnesses in support of the allegations. Qadri who is also the head of Pakistan Awami Tahreek criticised the ATC decision saying: The main plea to try the rulers in the murder case is not accepted by the ATC and lower level officials have been made scapegoat. The court has summoned those who implemented the orders but ignored the authorities who issued the orders to kill innocent workers. We will not accept sacrifice of goats. He said his party will challenge the ATC decision in the Lahore High Court. PTI San Francisco, February 8 President Donald Trump today stepped up his criticism of the US judiciary, saying courts (federal judges) seem to be so political, a day after his travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries faced close scrutiny from an appeals court. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard arguments on the Trump administrations challenge to a lower court order putting his temporary travel ban on hold. It grilled the Trump Administration whether the travel ban unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims and questioned the arguments that curbs were motivated by national security concerns. Trump on Saturday accused the judge who issued the order of opening the US to potential terrorists. I dont ever want to call a court biased, Trump told hundreds of police chiefs and sheriffs from major cities at a meeting in a Washington hotel. So I wont call it biased. And we haven't had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political. And it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read the statement and do what's right. I think it's a sad day. I think our security's at risk today. The appeals court must decide whether Trump acted within his authority or violated the US Constitutions prohibition on laws favouring one religion over another, as well as anti-discrimination laws, and was tantamount to a discriminatory ban targeting Muslims. The 9th Circuit is expected to decide the narrow question of whether a lower court judge acted properly in temporarily halting enforcement of the Presidents order. While the court could take into account the strength of the arguments on both sides, this is just a first step in a fast-moving case. During the hour-long hearing, conducted by phone, Justice Department lawyer August Flentje said in signing the executive order, Trump struck the balance between national security and the practice of allowing people from entering the country. Flentjes assertion led to a series of rapid fire exchanges with all three judges pressing him to explain the limits of his position. The judges questioned whether the directive improperly targeted people because of their religion. Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism, asked Judge Michelle Friedland. Are you arguing then that the President's decision in that regard is unreviewable (by a court)? he asked another time. Trumps order barred travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except those from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. Agencies Correction: This story omitted the first name of El Tequila attorney Bill Wilkinson. The story has been corrected. The federal appeals court in Denver has affirmed a ruling that found a Tulsa-area Mexican restaurant and its owner willfully violated labor laws and should pay $2.1 million in back wages and damages. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld a ruling from U.S. District Judge John Dowdell of Tulsa, who in December 2015 overturned a jury verdict that had cleared El Tequila LLC and Carlos Aguirre of willful violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. After the jury issued its verdict in favor of Aguirre, Dowdell, acting on a request from federal officials, set aside the decision, stating that the jury reached a verdict wholly unsupported by the evidence before it. The Department of Labor, specifically the Office of the Solicitor and the Wage Hour Division, is extremely happy with the Tenth Circuits ruling yesterday, said Matthew P. Sallusti, senior trial attorney for the agency. The Tenth Circuits affirmation of Judge Dowdells orders and opinions ensures that these low-waged employees will receive the income they earned. The Tenth Circuits decision also reinforces established law for Americas most vulnerable workers. Before the jury trial, Dowdell ruled that El Tequila and Aguirre had violated the Fair Labor Standards Act in the handling of employee wages. But Dowdell left it up to the jury to determine whether the violations were willful. The pretrial ruling meant El Tequila owed at least $1.7 million in back wages and damages to more than 300 workers. A verdict that the violations were intentional increased the award to $2.1 million because the statute of limitations to recover unpaid minimum wages, overtime compensation and liquidated damages could be extended from two to three years. El Tequila appealed Dowdells decision to overturn the jury verdict, as well as other pretrial decisions. The appellate court found that a reasonable jury could not conclude that El Tequilas violations were negligent. Although Mr. Aguirre testified that he didnt know how to (comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act), the evidence indicates that Mr. Aguirre took affirmative steps to create the appearance that El Tequila complied with the FLSA, including adjusting records to suggest that workers were properly paid, withholding documents, misrepresenting how employees were paid and instructing employees to do the same, the appellate court said in its decision. During the trial, the U.S. Department of Labor presented evidence showing that El Tequila and Aguirre willfully underpaid employees and lied to a federal investigator. El Tequila attorney Bill Wilkinson said the company is still considering whether to appeal the ruling. El Tequila has two locations in Tulsa, one in Owasso and one in Broken Arrow. The truth is El Tequila and Aguirre are in fact some of the best employers in the state of Oklahoma, and they stand by their employees and care for them greatly, Wilkinson said. In 2015, El Tequila employees and supporters demonstrated their support for the business and its owner outside the federal courthouse in Tulsa. The Labor Department sued El Tequila and Aguirre on Oct. 22, 2012, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma based on its investigation of business records between Oct. 22, 2009, and June 30, 2014. The Labor Department had begun investigating El Tequila in December 2010 after receiving a complaint from an employee who worked at the restaurant at 5001 S. Harvard Ave., court records show. As a part of the initial probe, Aguirre provided investigators with payroll summary sheets that he later admitted did not accurately reflect payments made to employees, according to court records. Federal investigators closed the case after determining that only record-keeping violations had occurred. The Labor Department opened another investigation into El Tequila three months later after receiving another complaint. This time, federal Labor Department investigators determined that El Tequila and Aguirre violated minimum-wage and overtime provisions of federal labor laws. As part of another settlement, Aguirre paid his employees at the Harvard Avenue restaurant for wages owed; however, he later admitted that a number of his employees cashed the checks and returned the money to him, a violation of the agreement. Aguirre then agreed to install an electronic timekeeping system for his employees. Dowdell, in a pretrial ruling, determined that reports from the electronic time system were altered to reduce the number of work hours recorded. Aguirre testified during the trial and denied any wrongdoing regarding manipulating the electronic time sheets. During the trial, the government highlighted several instances of employees being underpaid, including a cook who worked 72 hours in one week and was paid $450, which would amount to $6.25 per hour, not counting overtime the employee would have been entitled to receive. 60 Minutes first episode for the 2017 ratings year is a special as Liz Hayes interview Joanne Lees about that fateful night in 2001 when Bradley Murdoch murdered her boyfriend, Peter Falconio in the outback. It was a crime so shocking it will be remembered forever. In the middle of the night on July 14, 2001, an attractive young English tourist hails down a huge road train on a remote part of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory. The woman is in great distress and pleads with the truck driver for urgent help. She tells him a deranged gunman has taken her boyfriend and tried to kidnap her. Somehow, through a haze of sheer panic and incredible good luck, shed managed to escape. From that horrific moment, Joanne Lees and her murdered boyfriend, Peter Falconio, became household names in Australia and around the world the backpacking couple on the adventure of a lifetime, who fatefully crossed paths with the violent and evil Bradley John Murdoch. Now, in a 60 Minutes exclusive, Liz Hayes accompanies Joanne as she returns to the Northern Territory on a courageous journey tackling unfinished business. Peter Falconio has never been found and she wants to search for him and take him home to England. It might sound like mission impossible in the vast Australian outback, but as Hayes discovers, Joanne Lees has an extraordinary will and is determined to honour her partners memory by confronting the awful past. What Joanne has endured over the last 15 years has tested and tormented her to breaking point. She tells Hayes she sometimes felt her treatment was so unfair, it would have been better if she didnt survive that terrible night in 2001. The cruel harassment of Joanne Lees began in the immediate aftermath of the highway attack. The NT police conducted a major investigation and manhunt, but there was no trace of her attacker or Peters body. In the absence of substantial clues, and with the worlds media desperate for stories, attention shifted to Joanne Lees. In her shock and grief she was reluctant to play the part expected of her by the police and media. Her demeanour was perceived as suspicious. Even 15 months after the attack, when Bradley Murdoch was identified as the main suspect, the public remained sceptical about Joanne Lees. She bravely faced Murdoch in the Darwin Supreme Court and her evidence in the trial helped to convict him of multiple crimes including the murder of Peter Falconio. After the case, Joanne tried to get on with her life back in England, but unresolved questions continued to haunt her what had Murdoch done to Peter, and where was his body? Joanne Lees knew she would one day have to return to where it all began. But theres one more surprising twist to this intriguing story 8:30pm Sunday on Nine. Amazon Prime has announced new titles screening in February. Fleabag On February 10, the half hour series Fleabag will premiere on Amazon Prime Video. Written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Crashing, Broadchurch), Fleabag is a hilarious and poignant window into the mind of a dry-witted, sexual, angry, grief-riddled woman (Waller-Bridge), as she hurls herself at modern living in London. The show is based on Waller-Bridges play Fleabag, which won an Edinburgh Fringe First Award, the Critics Circle and Off-West End Awards for Most Promising Playwright and a Special Commendation from the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Fleabag also stars Brett Gelman (Twin Peaks), Olivia Colman (Peep Show), Bill Paterson (Outlander), Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered), Hugh Skinner (Poldark), Jamie Demetriou (People Time), Jenny Rainsford (The Smoke), and Sian Clifford (Paddy). The series is directed by Harry Bradbeer (Dickensian), and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Harry Williams and Jack Williams (The Missing). Goliath On February 17, Prime Video members can watch the debut season of Goliath, one of the most-binged Amazon Original Series. Goliath stars Golden Globe and Oscar Winner Billy Bob Thornton (Fargo) and Oscar Winner William Hurt (Broadcast News) in the ultimate David vs. Goliath battle fought in the 21st century American legal system. The series follows a down-and-out lawyer (Thornton) as he seeks redemption. His one shot depends on getting justice in a legal system where truth has become a commodity, and the scales of justice have never been more heavily weighed toward the rich and powerful. Written by David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal) and Jonathan Shapiro (The Practice), Goliath also stars Olivia Thirlby (Juno), Maria Bello (Prisoners), Molly Parker (House of Cards), Nina Arianda (Florence Foster Jenkins) and Tania Raymonde (Lost), Britain Dalton (Criminal Minds) and Australian actress Sarah Wynter (24). The series is executive produced by Kelley, Shapiro, Ross Fineman (Lights Out), David Semel and Larry Trilling (Parenthood). Transparent Season 3 On February 17, the latest season of Transparent will premiere on Prime Video. Transparent stars Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), Gaby Hoffmann (Girls), Amy Landecker (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Judith Light (The Assembled Parties) and Jay Duplass. The series follows a nuclear family splintering into disparate journeys on their continued path of self-discovery. After a jarring reality check, Maura, having found romantic partnership with Vicki and acceptance from her family, seeks to become the woman she envisions through gender confirmation surgery. Meanwhile, Sarah and Ali embark on two different approaches to connecting to their spirituality. And Josh, disengaged from work and love, suffers from a harrowing loss that forces him to reconcile with his past once and for all. All paths converge on a family cruise to Mexico, affirming that though their family history is murky, each Pfefferman is their truest self when they come together. Z: The Beginning of Everything On February 24, Z: The Beginning of Everything a fictionalised bio series of the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the brilliant, beautiful and talented Southern Belle who becomes the original flapper and icon of the wild, flamboyant, Jazz Age in the 20s will debut globally on Amazon Prime Video. Starring Christina Ricci (Pan Am) and David Hoflin (One Upon a Time), the series begins the moment Zelda meets the unpublished writer F. Scott Fitzgerald in Montgomery, Alabama in 1918 and moves through their passionate, turbulent love affair and their marriage made in heaven, lived out in hell as the celebrity couple of their time. It will show the alcoholism, adultery and struggle with dashed dreams and mental illness that leads to Zeldas tragic, untimely end. Z: The Beginning of Everything dives into the fascinating life of a woman ahead of her time, an artist determined to establish her own identity in the tempestuous wake of a world-famous husband. It is a modern take on one of the most notorious love stories of all time, played out in salons and speak-easies from Montgomery, Alabama to the Cote dAzur. Rumours are swirling in the UK that the BBC is set to pull the pin on The Great British Sewing Bee. According to reports senior BBC executives are keen to make a clean break from the Great British franchise, following Love Productions selling The Great British Bake Off. Question marks also remain over The Great Pottery Throwdown and Bake Off spin-off Creme de la Creme which features professional pastry chefs. Neither Love nor the BBC would comment on the claims, but the BBC was unable to confirm that a new series of the Great British Sewing Bee has been commissioned. A spokesman for Love Productions said: No decision has yet been made regarding the future of The Great British Sewing Bee but declined to comment further. Asked whether auditions for The Great British Sewing Bee had taken place, the BBC declined to comment. The Great British Sewing Bee screens in Australia on the LifeStyle channel. Source: Radio Times Iconic naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, 90, was in Sydney today where he became a life patron of the Australian Museum. The Australian Museum, when it was founded 190 years ago, had the extraordinary and unique responsibility of starting the first systematic collection of the animals and plants of an entire continent, he said. Today it is a scientific centre of world importance and it is a great honour to be made one of its lifetime patrons. Australian Museum Trust president, Catherine Livingstone, said There is no one else you have no peer. A l35 to 45 millimetre snail Tasmanian snail will now be known as Attenborougharion rubicundus. The creature is part snail, part slug, having a shell into which it can no longer retract. It was first described in 1978 and classified in the genus Helicarion. Attenborough has had 12 species named after him, but the Tassie snail is the first genus named after the British broadcaster. Source: Fairfax | By Mary T. Phelan Christopher Streeter is passionate about his West Baltimore high school, Renaissance Academy. He is eager to share his experience with anyone who will listen. Ive been going to Renaissance since the ninth grade and can I tell you, its been a roller coaster ride, Streeter, now a senior, told a group of 13 educators who had traveled from Canada to learn about Renaissance Academy and other efforts helping young people through the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) Promise Heights initiative, which is led by the School of Social Work at UMB. Weve been through downfalls and we are still trying to climb, he said. Sad to say, I lost five students that I know, one that happened to be my best friend, since I was in the ninth grade. Thats sad to say. I cant see those kids faces no more. The Promise Heights initiative seeks to improve the lives of children and families in the impoverished neighborhood of Upton/Druid Heights. Members of the Toronto-based nonprofit Wellesley Institute; the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services; the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development; and the Region of Peel (a regional municipality in southern Ontario) spent two days visiting with leaders from the School of Social Work (SSW) to learn about Promise Heights and some of its programs, such as BMore for Healthy Babies, Parent University, and Community Schools. (View a photo gallery.) Back row, from left: Renaissance Academy (RA) student Jenelda Artis; Rudayna Bahubeshi and Sam Kloestra, both Wellesley Institute Youth Advisory Group members; and RA students Kennard Rice, Christopher Streeter, and Uthman Al-Ahmary. Bottom row, from left: RA student Bernard Young; Souleik Kheyre, Wellesley Institute Youth Advisory Group member; and RA students Tori Baker and Khalil Bridges. We are at the beginning of trying to do some of the work that you all have done and a number of elements are unknown to us, said Camille Orridge, a senior fellow at the Wellesley Institute, which works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the greater Toronto area. We are interested in learning about things such as successful community partnerships, people working together, so that we dont start from scratch. On their first day in Baltimore, Feb. 1, the Canadians were greeted by SSW Dean Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, who provided an overview of education and poverty, and learned about Promise Heights: A Promise Neighborhood, from Promise Heights Executive Director Bronwyn Mayden, MSW, and Assistant Director Rachel Donegan, JD. The second day of their visit included a Promise Heights community walking tour, and a gathering with Streeter and several other Renaissance Academy students, along with Hallie Atwater, LCSW-C, of the SSW, community coordinator at Renaissance Academy, in the former Crispus Attucks Recreation Center at Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School. Three Renaissance Academy students were killed in the 2015-16 school year. This year, the school is on a list of recommended school closings. A proposal to move students to Baltimore City Community College is under consideration and will be decided upon at a school board meeting Feb. 28. I seen my best friend die in front of my face. He was gone, Streeter said. You dont think thats traumatizing? I have to go in that same building every day and past the spot where I last seen him at. I got a monkey on my back. But I dont show people all this pain. I try to help people out because I know that I was once that person that didnt want to ask for help. I cant be like that because when you live in that reality, its not good. Several students joined Streeter in sharing stories about the impact of the school, and its Seeds of Promise mentoring program. Streeter and another student, Khalil Bridges, recounted how they had testified at school board meetings to keep the school open. Renaissance was kind of like a crazy school before, said Bridges, who graduated from the school last spring and now attends the Community College of Baltimore County. His story has been featured in several media outlets. When I first went there it was wild. But over time, he found there were people willing to pay attention to him and take an interest in the hardship he carried caring for his mother who had a severe illness. All of that took me away from the streets. It put me in the right direction, he said. Theres a lot of amazing things going on here, said Souleik Kheyre, from the Wellesley Institutes Supports for Success Youth Advisory Group. It is giving us a lot of ideas to take back with us. The Holocaust (Shoah) was one of the most heinous genocides in worlds political history. Six million Jews were killed by Adolf Hitlers ruthless Nazi Army between 1941 and 1945. This included 1.5 million innocent children, and it demonstrated one of the grossest human rights abuses ever. Nevertheless, if a man is capable of such barbaric acts, so is he of a heroic one. We bring you a touching video about Kindertransport hero, Nicholas Winton, coming face to face with the Jewish children rescued by him on Live TV. But before that, lets get into the full background of the story. This story will re-establish your faith in humanity and may make you tear up. (Keep tissues handy!) Nicholas Winton, a politically inclined British stockbroker, visited Prague in 1938. He witnessed the Nazi invasion and absence of any kind of help for Czechoslovakian people. Winton was a 29-year-old British. His parents were Jews, but he was baptized into Christianity. He was a stockbroker who was aware of political happenings with a Socialist mindset in London. He changed his holiday plans to visit Swiss Alps, yet instead, he decided to visit Prague on the insistence of Martin Blake in December 1938. Martin Blake was a socialist involved with Jewish Welfare work. Nazism was firmly taking hold of Central and Eastern Europe at the time. The Jews were fearing for their lives in Prague as Nazis had invaded Sudetenland two months earlier. Although relief agencies were organizing a mass evacuation of Children in Germany and Austria, Czechoslovakia was largely ignored. Nicholas started meeting these frightened parents who were desperate to send their children to somewhere safe. Then, he began compiling a list of their names. He organized an operation, later known as Czech Kindertransport. This operation rescued 669 children (mostly under 17) from ending up in Nazi concentration camps. The children were rescued by eight trains, and they crossed four borders including Netherlands. The first train departed on 14th March. They were given to foster families after arriving in the UK. Nicholas Winton himself remained in Prague for mere three weeks. He established his office in his hotel room in Wenceslas Square. After that, he organized the operation of rescuing Czechoslovakian children and planning their transport from Prague to Liverpool street station, London. Advertisements He returned to Britain and did everything to ensure that Kindertransport was successful. He dealt with bureaucratic hurdles like ensuring entry and exit permits. Also, he ensured that each arriving child had the 50 guarantee for their eventual return. He and his mother used to receive these bewildered children with name tags at the station. They did everything possible to put them in foster homes, furthermore, they sometimes even forged documents. Winton, however, believed that his associate Trevor Chadwick and others did a much braver act in a dangerous situation at the other end in Prague dealing with Gestapo and arranging trains. Eight trains carried 669 children in a period of 9 months in 1939. The last train was set to leave on September 3 with 250 children, but it didnt. Nicholas Wintons heroic act was brought to light by his wife, Grete, who discovered the files of Czech Kindertransport. She showed it around and the story ended up on Esthers Thats Life! in 1988 gaining Winton a worldwide reputation and a knighthood. Sir Winton took his last breath at the age of 106. Winston put those nine months behind him, and after World war II, he worked for the International Refugee Organization. Also, he never mentioned much about Kindertransport in his daily life. The Czech Kindertransport and Nicholas Winton became famous by chance. His wife, Grete, discovered documents relating to Czech Kindertransport in the attic. Then, she started showing them to friends. The story eventually ended up with Esther Rantzen of Thats Life!. In a touching broadcast in February 1988s Thats Life! episode, Nicholas Winton came face to face with a room full of children saved by him during Holocaust. Advertisements The broadcast got him international fame. In 2003, he was knighted for his humanitarian efforts of Czech Kindertransport. Hence, Sir Winston became a celebrity and a hero in Czechoslovakia. Sir Nicholas Winton took his last breath on July 1, 2015, in his sleep at Wexham Park Hospital at the age of 106. Then, his death was mourned by prominent personalities including British Prime Minister David Cameron. Czech Kindertransport was a combined humanitarian effort by British Cabinet, people like Nicholas Winton, Trevor Chadwick, Doreen Warriner, Beatrice Wellington, and the other many including the Foster parents who decided to take these children in. The UK passed the 1938 Act of Parliament that allowed entry of refugee children (under 17) in Britain. The condition was that the stipulated money must be deposited beforehand for their eventual return. Thus, Relief Agencies sponsored the transport of these Czech Jewish children. Moreover, Sir Nicholas even tried to communicate with Roosevelt so that even the US could give refuge to these children. However, it was not fruitful. Of the 669 children rescued by Czech Kindertransport, 370 could not be traced. Among the children rescued, there was the Filmmaker Karel Reisz and British labor party politician Alf Dubs. These children are lovingly known as Nickys children. [source: telegraph.co.uk,Express,Wikipedia] Many Thanks to our Advertisers When choosing between competing products and services, please consider our advertisers, who help support Brand New. Refugee journalists work with practising journalists from major UK media outlets during a workshop at London College of Communication. Sara Furlanetto The press is full of stories about refugees, now it is time for stories by refugees. The Refugee Journalism Project a partnership between London College of Communication and the Migrants Resource Centre supports refugee journalists to get their voices into the mainstream media, through mentoring, journalism workshops and internships. Refugee participants from Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, amongst others, work with practising journalists to re-establish their careers in the UK. The mentors have worked for the BBC, Channel 4 News, The Telegraph, New Statesman, The Times, The Economist and other major UK outlets. We wanted to address the negative stereotypes and bias in the media. What better way to do this than to have refugee journalists telling the refugee story? The year-long project was established in 2016 in a collaboration between Tessa Hughes at the Migrants Resource Centre and Vivienne Francis from London College of Communication. We wanted to address the negative stereotypes and bias in the media," says Tessa. "What better way to do this than to have refugee journalists telling the refugee story? Refugee voices are desperately needed in the media. Refugee journalists pitch their ideas for a documentary in a workshop at London College of Communication. Sara Furlanetto At the end of 2015, UNHCR released a report into press coverage of the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, which compared media coverage in five European countries. The report found that compared to Italy, Spain, Sweden and Germany, coverage in the United Kingdom was the most negative, and the most polarised in its coverage of refugees. The Refugee Journalism Project is important because it offers first-hand experience reporting on the issue this adds real value to the story," explains Tessa. "Refugee journalists bring a range of experiences that UK journalists simply cannot. Having refugees participate in editorial meetings changes perceptions and shapes content. The Refugee Journalism Project encourages people to go out there and grab hold of their career again The project also has personal value for the participants. The asylum system can be very tough. The Refugee Journalism Project encourages people to go out there and grab hold of their career again, Tessa explains. Participants of the Refugee Journalism Project and UK journalists discuss themes such as media ethics, UK media law, editing and pitching during a workshop at London College of Communication. Sara Furlanetto But there are challenges. Some of the participants do not know where they will sleep each night. Others are coping with severe trauma. Many others are managing paid work alongside the project. They all work so hard and are so committed in spite of everything else they are dealing with, Tessa explains. Abdul is one of the refugee journalists involved in the project. I was an English teacher in Aleppo, Syria. When the war started I felt strongly that people around the world needed to know what was happening in my country I never intended to be a journalist, Abdul explains. I was an English teacher in Aleppo, Syria. When the war started I felt strongly that people around the world needed to know what was happening in my country. I started working with a team translating news from Arabic to English, and wrote about what was happening, says Abdul. Many of my friends were arrested, tortured and killed for participating in protests. So I was forced to flee. Abdul came to the UK in 2013, and, after completing his Masters degree, he got involved in the Refugee Journalism Project. I was so excited when I heard about the project. Its been great, says Abdul. The opportunities to learn and to network have been really important. I am now working as a researcher for a transparency organisation who monitor and assess reports of civilian casualties in Syria and Iraq. I am glad to be part of the conversation. We give a voice to the voiceless and advocate on their behalf I am glad to be part of the conversation. We give a voice to the voiceless and advocate on their behalf," he explains. In the future, Tessa holds high hopes that the Refugee Journalists Project will expand across the UK, and make connections with similar projects across Europe to build a strong network of refugee journalists. There has been a lot of media interest and a lot of people reaching out to help us," she says. "Our participants are very ambitious. They want to see their work on the BBC and in the Guardian. And I have every confidence that they will. Join the Refugee Journalism Project in London on Tuesday 7th March for the Beyond Borders panel debate. This story is part of a series exploring the incredible ways people across the UK are showing refugees and asylum seekers a #GreatBritishWelcome. Read other amazing stories of innovation and welcome in the UK. Shergo and daughter Avin at the door to their temporary accommodation. UNHCR/Ljubinka Brashnarska SKOPJE, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Syrian refugee couple Shergo Musa and Nazli Abdou each discovered a love of drawing when they were children. Now, after living for months in temporary accommodation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, they have been given an opportunity to tell their story through their art. Last month, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, helped organize the first exhibition of the artists work in the countrys capital, Skopje. Shergo, 49, and Nazli, 43, fled the besieged city of Aleppo in 2015 with three of their five children. Two older siblings are grown up a married daughter lives in the north-eastern Syrian city of Qamishli and a son moved to Austria a year ago. The professionally curated exhibition in the national cinematheque in Skopje, entitled Escape to a Better Tomorrow, was organized by UNHCR staff jointly with the countrys Crisis Management Centre. Its goal was to send out a message about the need for refugees to continue with their lives and to help them reach a wider audience for their story. The pencil drawings depict the refugees experiences, hopes and fears. For the artists and their children daughter Avin, 20, and sons Faris, 18, and Lavent, 10 the opening ceremony on 12 January provided a rare opportunity to leave the transit centre where they spend their days. Once refugees survive war and they are somewhere safe, they must not continue to survive, but live a full life. The refugees in the centre do not enjoy full freedom of movement, which places additional psychological pressure on them. The UNHCR representative in Skopje, Mohammad Arif, said the idea of the exhibition was to present just a fraction of the skills that refugees bring to their host countries. Apart from the basic humanitarian assistance and shelter, refugees crave the possibility to create, to develop, to live fully and countries need to make all the efforts to enable that, he said. Once refugees survive war and they are somewhere safe, they must not continue to survive, but live a full life. Shergo, 49, and Nazli, 43, fled the besieged city of Aleppo in 2015 with three of their five children. UNHCR/Ljubinka Brashnarska The family have lived for months in temporary accommodation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. UNHCR/Ljubinka Brashnarska Shergo and Nazli's work depicts their experiences, hopes and fears. UNHCR/Ljubinka Brashnarska Lavent, 10, also loves to draw, just like his mother and father. UNHCR/Ljubinka Brashnarska Shergo admires his drawings with Crisis Management Centre director Agron Buxhaku and UNHCR's Mohammad Arif. UNHCR/Ljubinka Brashnarska Shergo and his family at the professionally curated exhibition in the national cinematheque in Skopje. UNHCR/Ivo Kunovski In Syria, Shergo worked in a textile factory drawing patterns for clothes, while Nazli looked after their home. Fearing for their lives if they stayed in Aleppo, the family reached the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia via Turkey and Greece, where they have spent almost a year in the Vinojug Reception and Transit Centre, near the Greek border. In March 2016, the borders of the countries in the Balkans were closed to refugees and migrants, stranding several thousand along the route in conditions suitable for short term stay only. Of them, more than 130 are still accommodated in two transit centres in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that are unfit for long-term stay. Interviewed a week after the opening, Shergo told UNHCR: If I should choose one word to explain what the most difficult thing for me is now, I would say our limited freedom. One word to explain what the most difficult thing for me is now I would say our limited freedom. Nazli added: Our children are aware of the situation and understand it, so despite all the difficulties, we are succeeding in maintaining the harmony in our family. The couple said their greatest wish since they left Syria was that their children should be able to continue their education and live a normal life. Speaking about their drawings, Shergo said: During the past period, we have gone through a lot of suffering, losses and pain. All of it is represented in these drawings since we left home, then situations from the trip, up to our arrival here. I am happy that we have an opportunity to share all that suffering with the public, to whom we are very grateful for their understanding and compassion." Xiaomi is set to officially launch the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X on Wednesday, February 8 in China according to the tech manufacturer's Weibo post. In its report GSMArena posted the translation of the said post from China's social media network. The rough translation goes as, "Not Wu Xiubo, not Liu Shi, not Liu Haoran, (but) a(n) absolutely unexpected idol will be (here on) February 14 to bring a special Valentine's Day gift: (the) Red Note4X! (Can you guess who it is?)" GSMArena reported also that the Redmi Note 4X is powered by either a Mediatek Helio X20 chipset or a Snapdragon 653 processor. RAM variants include 2GB, 3GB, and 4GB. Storage options are 32GB and 64GB, which is expandable via microSD up to 128GB. The device will feature a 13MP main camera and a 5MP secondary or front camera. It has a 5.5-inch full HD LCD, a 4100MAH battery and a fingerprint sensor. It is also expected to support dual-SIM. Gadgets360 provided additional information on the unit's exact specifications. Physical dimensions are listed at 151x76.3x8.54mm, "making it slightly wider and thicker than the Redmi Note 4," it noted. It weighs 176.54 grams, which also makes it lighter than its previous iteration. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, it added. The Chinese phone company is set to officially provide other details such as exact pricing and product availability on Wednesday. The Xiaomi Red Note 4X will then hit the stores on February 14 - Valentine's Day. Information about this latest phone model from Xiaomi came out after the Redmi Note 4X received the Chinese certification website TENAA's nod recently. There is no available information as to when the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X will hit the stores in territories outside China, but it's reasonable to expect it between the end of February and March. The travelers from the seven predominantly Muslim countries affected by President Donald Trump's immigration ban have begun arriving in the country after the US Department of State has restored the validity of their visas. This step by the State Department was taken after a federal judge released the decision to temporarily block the enforcement of the executive order nationwide, Times Higher Education reported. Judge James L. Robart, of the federal district court for the Western District of Washington, made the ruling that bars the government from enforcing the 90 day immigration ban for the citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also orders the government to lift the 120 day ban on the entry of refugees and the indefinite suspension of the admission of refugees from Syria. There were 60,000 foreigners whose visas were cancelled but this executive order by Trump has triggered protests and a lot of legal challenges from around the US, according to Time. A multitude of college students, teachers and researchers were affected and were not allowed to enter the country. Trump said that the goal was to protect the country from the terrorists and he criticized Robart's ruling and called it "ridiculous". Meanwhile, the students who have been barred from entering the country began travelling back to their colleges. Trump's immigration ban has been widely criticized and condemned by certain civil rights groups and even university leaders and education groups expressed their protest against the executive order. 48 university presidents signed an open letter, including the leaders o f the Ivy League schools to express their condemning of the entry ban, and labeling it "dimming the lamp of liberty and staining the country's reputation". They said that it undermines values of inclusion and internationalism for preventing the entry of scholars and talented students to their respective schools. Xiaomi Mi Mix White next sale has been announced. The next phone supplies will be limited again. Here is what we know so far. Xiaomi Mi Mix phone has been gaining a lot of attention since its release last year. The black unit is still available in the market but the model's white unit went out of sale in just a few seconds. According to reports, "flash sale" is usual for Xiaomi phones. One of the phones went on sale is the Xiaomi Mi Mix white model. The device went on its very first flash sale in China and due to its popularity, the phones unsurprisingly were sold out just a few seconds after its release. Xiaomi Mi Mix White Next Sale Announced For those consumers who misses the "flash sale" of Xiaomi Mi Mix phone white model, no need to worry as the device will have its next sale this month! According to GSM Arena, Xiaomi Mi Mix white phone model will be available next week. Its official next launch is on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Consumers should take note of this as the unit will be shown in Mi.com's virtual shelves. The sale will be limited again and might just be available for a few minutes or even seconds as there are many buyers who are waiting for this phone model. Xiaomi Mi Mix White Design and Specs Based on Xiaomi's official website, Xiaomi Mi Mix phone has a 6.4" immersive full display design. Adding on, the site also describe it as "once the display lights up, it feels almost like you're opening the door to the world, with over 2 million pixels jumping to life." Moreover, Xiaomi Mi Mix ceramic design also adds to its elegant style which charms a lot of consumers. The brand picked the micro-crystalline zirconia ceramic. The phone's "hardness is similar to sapphire" with 8.5 on MoHs scale and 1500 high-temperature calcination. In addition, as for its specifications, Xiaomi Mi Mix has 16 megapixels back camera that includes HDR adjustments, low light enhancement, auto HDR, two-tone flash, f/2.0 aperture, panorama, PDAF autofocus, and burst mode. Its front camera has 5 megapixels with beautify features, face recognition, mirror, 1080p video call with real-time Beautify, and group shots. As for Xiaomi Mi Mix other specs, it features a 4G dual SIM (2x nano SIM slots), WiFi DisplayWiFi Direct, snapdragon 821 max 2.35GHz, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, 128GB UFS2.0 ROM, supports read/write, card emulation and P2P and full-feature NFC, Adreno 530 graphics card. Check out Xiaomi's official site for full specs details. The remains of 22-year-old Sul Ross State University student Zuzu Verk has been found and confirmed. The Texas College student went missing last October, leading to an unsolved case that would go on for months. ABC News reported that human remains discovered in a shallow grave in West Texas last week were identified as being that of Zuzu Verk. Investigators confirmed on Monday that dental records helped identify the remains. Verk was a 22-year-old Sul Ross State University student from Keller, a Fort Worth suburb. She has been reported missing since Oct. 12. According to WFAA, over the weekend of her disappearance, over 100 people helped with the search in the small town in southwest Texas. She was last seen alive the night of Oct. 11 with her boyfriend Robert Fabian as they went to the movies together. Neighbors claimed that they heard the couple arguing that night. The student's remains were found on Friday scattered near a shallow grave. It was discovered near the remote West Texas town of Alpine, which is approximately 200 miles southeast of El Paso. Verk's boyfriend, Fabian, 26, was jailed for tampering with evidence by concealing a human corpse. Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said that there may be other charges for him as well. Bond was set at $500,000. Fabian's friend, Chris Estrada, 28, was also jailed on Monday in Phoenix on a corpse concealment warrant from Texas. Investigators confirmed that Fabian called Estrada on the night of Verk's disappearance. NBC News noted that Dodson described the grave site as "well-concealed." Other pieces of "critical evidence" were also found in the area. Dallas News added that witnesses saw Fabian buying three painters' drop cloths on the night of his girlfriend's disappearance four months ago. The arrest warrant affidavit confirmed that those drop cloths matched the thin plastic sheets wrapped around Verk's body when it was found. Fabian was said to have used Estrada's credit card to buy the cloths at Dollar General. Estrada also drove Fabian to the store and visited several commercial dumpsters in the same night. A team of scientists led by University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Drew Weissman were able to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus. This is a virus spread by infected Aedes species mosquitoes. Its most scary effect is that it can be passed by a pregnant woman to her fetus, causing the baby to have birth defects such as microcephaly. In the official website of Penn Medicine News, it was reported that a new Zika vaccine candidate has been developed by a research team led by scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. It has the potential to protect against the virus with just one dose. The study was published in the journal "Nature." The scientists conducted preclinical tests which showed favorable immune responses in mice and monkeys. Dr. Weissman, a professor of Infectious Disease at UPenn, said that they were able to observe rapid and durable protective immunity without adverse events. They believe that the candidate vaccine they developed can be a promising strategy to fight the Zika virus globally. He confirmed that they will be starting clinical trials in a year or so. According to Philly Voice, the research was done in collaboration with laboratories at Duke University as well as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Scientists at UPenn's Perelman School of Medicine led the study. New Scientist noted that other candidate vaccines require two immunization shots, which is not very practical. Plus, it reduces the level of protection if the patient misses the second shot. Dr. Weissman and his team's vaccine is more potent, providing monkeys, specifically rhesus macaques, immunity to the virus at one-twentieth of the dose required for other vaccines. The team discovered that mice that received the vaccine became immune to the virus at two weeks and at five months after the dose. Five rhesus macaques were also given a single injection and it protected four of them for at least five weeks after. The fifth monkey was infected with a small amount of the virus, which may be because it received a higher dose of the vaccine. After President Trump signed his executive order that banned citizens from nine Muslim-majority countries to enter America, Wheaton College has been one of the universities that expressed their dismay over the rule. Now the college is backing up their words with action by setting up a refugee scholarship for the affected students. Wheaton College, a liberal arts college located in Norton, Massachusetts, will give preference to incoming students who are citizens of the countries affected by the president's executive order. Moreover, they also created a refugee scholarship for one incoming student who will be accepted in the process. When asked about the college's decision, Grant Gosselin, dean of admission, said that their move was not in defiance against President Trump's decision but that catering to international students has always been part of the school's mission. Gosselin, however, added that the students who will be considered in the application process are those who are eligible or already have an eligible visa. He also emphasized that they would not cater to undocumented students. After the announcement, Wheaton said that it has already received 10 applications and are expecting more in the next few weeks. Wheaton's tuition is reportedly around $61,000 a year and it has already been giving financial aid to its student every year which amounts to $41 million. Wheaton College isn't the only higher ed institution that expressed their opposition against Trump's order. Some of the top universities across the country, including Harvard University and Boston University, have been very vocal about their criticisms. They even backed Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Heady's move to file a suit against the executive order. The leaders of these academic institutions have each expressed their dismay with Martin Meehan, the University of Massachusetts president, encouraging all university presidents in the United States to speak up. Another academe who was very vocal about his criticisms is Subra Suresh, who served as former president Barack Obama's director of the National Science Foundation. In an open letter he wrote, he said that the freedom and prosperity of America 'depend in part on the people who come to this country' from other nations. It has been no secret among physicists that the sun is spinning. Then they discovered that it is spinning slowly than what they first thought of. This led to further questions what causes the slowdown. Recently, however, a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii had a crazy hypothesis why the sun is spinning too slowly. Scientists have known for a long time that the sun is spinning but in a surprising way. Its interior surrounded by an ultra-hot, bubbling mess, spins in the same way. The 500-kilometer outermost region which radiates the light spins more smoothly. However, the tiny 70-kilometer outer region spins slower than the interior. This phenomenon is what surprises the scientists because they've believed that the atmosphere in that region should be the most stable. Thus, they wonder why a stable region would slow down. This led them to develop a hypothesis which is similar to how a water sprinkler works. They theorized that if the sun is spinning, then it could be emitting light particles at a certain angle. Those light particles then produce a rotational force called torque which explains why the sun is spinning too slowly. In order to give weight to their hypothesis, the scientists made detailed measurements of the slowdown using NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory satellite. They observed the edges of the solar images to calculate the rotation speed of the sun. They also observed the how the acoustic waves produced by the sun bounce from the core to the surface. Jeff Kuhn, one of the astronomers behind the hypothesis, said that their theory might be considered quite controversial and he was right as other scientists expressed their opinions about the hypothesis. Michael Hahn, associate research scientist in astronomy from Columbia University said the theory has a speculative nature and the observations are strong. He also expressed his doubts about the explanation of the slowdown saying that the viscosity of the gases needs to be considered. The study was published in the journal Physical Review Letters. Title Third Meeting of the Expert Group on Space and Global Health, held on 2 and 3 February 2017, and initial considerations in preparation towards UNISPACE+50 February 12 2016 Pollokshields Community Council (PCC) is to hold a design and planning charrette to inform a local plan for East Pollokshields and Port Eglinton, one of 17 such consultations currently being supported by the Scottish government.Make Your Mark will encourage locals to speak up about their own desires and priorities for the area as part of an intensive consultation staged over one week from 21-27 February at 553 Shields Road.This will seek to identify the particular social and physical needs of the area whilst outlining potential solutions and improvements with the endorsement of Glasgow City Council for future inclusion following presentation of a draft report to councillors in mid-March.Bill Fraser, chair of PCC, said: We are determined to consult widely amongst the diverse groups who live here. We have appointed ten Charrette Champions chosen by age, gender and ethnic & religious origins to ensure we give everyone the chance to contribute.Collective Architecture is to lead the charrette, partnering with Dress for the Weather and with the support of AECOM, Ryden, LUC and Community Links Scotland. Tendore Receives UWs Stanford Commitment to Diversity Award Reinette Tendore, a UW masters degree student from Ethete, received the Willena Stanford Commitment to Diversity Award. Stanfords photograph was displayed during the ceremony. (Sara Ott Photo) Reinette Tendore, of Ethete, was named the recipient of the University of Wyomings 2017 Willena Stanford Commitment to Diversity Award. A second-year social work program masters degree student who will graduate in May, she is the wife of Lee Tendore, also a UW student. The couple has two boys. She is the daughter of Velina Sage and Ralph Curry, from Ethete. She received the diversity award at the annual Willena Stanford Community Supper in the Wyoming Union following the recent Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Dialogue (MLK DOD) week of events. Nearly 200 UW and community guests commemorated the memory of King at the dinner and honored Stanford, an inspirational former UW instructor in African American and Diaspora Studies. She also was a past member of the MLK DOD steering committee. An enrolled Northern Arapaho tribal member on the Wind River Indian Reservation, Tendore is interning with UWs American Indian Studies Program to provide support for the Native American students and Native American community on the UW campus. She graduated from Wyoming Indian High School in 2000 and received her B.A. degree (2009) in elementary education from UW. According to one of her nominators, Reinette is an amazing role model to our young women at the university and, by far, a stellar example of the legacy of Willena Stanford Commitment to Diversity Award. Tendore is noted for: -- Her commitment to gathering Native American students to actively take part in Keepers of the Fire activities on campus. She has been on the student-led organization for nearly eight years, helping with fundraisers and social events. -- Being a founding member of the Sigma Lambda Gamma multicultural sorority on campus, the first multicultural sorority at UW. -- Her work organizing donations and helping to deliver items at the Standing Rock camp in South Dakota to those protesting construction of a pipeline through Native American land. -- Her volunteer work on the Wind River Indian Reservation to help promote a healthy life and a strong soul to the reservations youth. She also worked for the tobacco prevention and women restored programs on the reservation. Her commitment to diversity does not end on campus, a nominator writes. She is adamant that her children know and are raised close to their culture. Tendore said she was honored to receive the award. Receiving this award has made me feel very special and appreciated for all the work that I truly enjoy doing on campus with diversity and cultural awareness, she says. I also would like to congratulate the other nominees and let them know I appreciate all the work they do promoting diversity on campus. Other nominees for this years Stanford Award were Taylor Albert, from Cheyenne; Jasper Hunt, Laramie; Wendy Martinez, Jackson; Denise Muro, Denver, Colo.; Mikalah Skates, Casper; and Kristine Sloan, Baltimore, Md. For more information about the Stanford Award, email mlkdod@uwyo.edu or visit www.uwyo.edu/mlkdod. UW Students Exhibition at Coe Library Celebrates Black History Month A traveling exhibition, titled Empire: A Community of African Americans on the Wyoming Plains, is on display at the University of Wyomings Coe Library through Friday, March 3, in honor of Black History Month. UW graduate student Robert Galbreath created the display during his summer internship with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. Galbreath currently is completing his masters degree in American Studies at UW. The exhibition focuses on a group of African-Americans who settled in the Cowboy State in 1908 and built a homesteading community named Empire, in eastern Wyoming near the Nebraska border. Empire was a haven from the racism and racial violence that was part of American life in the early 20th century. The movement of this group paralleled that of other African-American groups leaving the south to seek new opportunities. For nearly a decade, Empire flourished until it disappeared from Wyoming culture in the early 1920s. Empire displays the few photographs of settlers, advertisements from local newspapers and historic articles that remain from the town. The exhibition is on display on the main floor of Coe Library throughout February. The exhibition is sponsored by UW Libraries, the American Studies Program and the African American and Diaspora Studies Program. Also in conjunction with Black History Month, Academy Award-nominated films will be shown. All films will be presented in the Wyoming Union Family Room at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Scheduled are Birth of a Nation Monday, Feb. 13, and Moonlight Friday, March 3. For more information, call Tracey Patton, African American and Diaspora Studies director, at (307) 766-3857 or email topatton@uwyo.edu. Hosted by Bloomberg Television anchor Haidi Lun in Sydney and Betty Liu in New York, the show delivers the latest stories from the Australia market and global news developments that matter most to influential decision makers in business and finance, says Bloomberg. Lun was previously a reporter for Bloomberg Television in Hong Kong where she covered the financial markets and general business news and trends across Asia-Pacific. From Sydney, Lun will also contribute live interviews and reports on the latest news from Australia into Bloomberg Television's global programming. "We are stepping up our focus on critical market-moving news in Australia as it is a key part of the global market and kicks off the Asia-Pacific trading day," said Al Mayers, Global Head of Bloomberg Television and Radio. "By launching Daybreak in Australia, we are not only providing our audience with timely, compelling content, but we are further leveraging our unparalleled journalistic resources in the country. Our anchors are working seamlessly around the world to provide live Daybreak programming across our media hubs in New York, London, Dubai, Hong Kong and now Sydney." 'Daybreak Australia' will broadcast live each weekday morning at 9am AEDT, leading into two hours of Daybreak Asia. Bloomberg has thirty journalists based in its Sydney bureau, which opened in March 1989, as well as a team based in Melbourne. Their reporting will be magnified with the launch of the new show. Bloomberg also plans to expand Daybreak, its mobile morning briefing for terminal subscribers, to include an Australia edition, say the publishers. Amnesty International released a report that covered the uprising from its start, and up until 2015. During that time period, Amnesty says that groups of 20 to 50 people were hanged once or twice a week in the middle of the night at Saydnaya Prison. Allegedly, these killings were authorized by senior officials, including deputies of President Bashar Assad. The horrors depicted in this report reveal a hidden, monstrous campaign, authorized at the highest levels of the Syrian government, aimed at crushing any form of dissent within the Syrian population, said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnestys regional office in Beirut. She told The Associated Press the detainees were only told they were sentenced to death a few minutes before the noose is tied around their neck. She added, These executions take place after a sham trial that lasts over a minute or two minutes, but they are authorized by the highest levels of authority. She said these included the Grand Mufti, a top religious authority, and the defense minister. Amnesty based its findings on interviews with 31 former detainees and more than 50 officials, including prison guards and judges. According to Amnesty, torture and abuse wast limited to Saydnaya, a prison run by the military police. The group documented over 17,000 deaths from torture and abuse in detention facilities across Syria, in a report they released last year. The Syrian security forces severe crackdown on protests in 2011 led many opponents of the government to take up arms. The resulting civil war killed an estimated 400,000 people. Syrian officials rarely comment on allegations of torture in the countrys prisons, but they do deny the accusations of mass killings. Amnesty has called upon the Syrian government, demanding an end to extrajudicial killings and torture in Saydnaya, which is one of the countrys largest prisons. It also called on the Syrian governments closest allies, Russia and Iran, to pressure it to end its calculated campaign against dissent. After the Iran nuclear deal was announced in July of 2015, rumors began about secret side agreements made between the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Many of those secret agreements have been released, but with the tension between Iran and US President Trump, who criticized the deal, the White House may reveal more details. Trump tweeted last week, Iran has been formally PUT ON NOTICE for firing a ballistic missile. Should have been thankful for the terrible deal the U.S. made with them! In a later Tweet, he said, Iran was on its last legs and ready to collapse until the U.S. came along and gave it a life-line in the form of the Iran Deal: $150 billion. Almost as soon as the deal was reached, speculation about secret side agreements that involved Irans past testing and inspection methods began. Susan Rice, President Obamas National Security Adviser acknowledged that the documents between Iran and the IAEA were not public. She reiterated that Obama administration was informed of their contents and would share the details with Congress in a classified briefing. Still, a number of alleged side deals have been revealed, and many Republicans in Congress, including former Kansas congressman and current CIA director Mike Pompeo, are demanding that the full context of the deal with Iran is brought to light, especially following the Irans recent failed ballistic missile test. Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News, The fact that there are side deals to begin with is a problem. The deal was sold to us as transparent and that hasnt been the case. Roger Simon, PJMedia columnist, called for a full airing of the nuclear deal in an article that was picked up by several conservative blogs. Online shopping to witness a surge Vietnams rising internet population is predicted to boost online shopping in the near future, according to a new KPMG report. Currently 18 percent of consumers purchase goods from online retailers such as Amazon, Lazada, and Nhommua, with 10 percent preferring to buy from a retail shops website. Only three percent of buyers prefer a manufacturer or brands website. As per the report, the top reason for consumers to shop online is the convenience of shopping, followed closely by the ability to compare prices and availability of better deals. While considering a purchase, 9.9 percent of buyers refer to online reviews and feedback. The report also highlights the significance of offline channels, with 11.5 percent of buyers seeking recommendations from friends and family before making a purchase, while online channels such as social media, online shops, and online reviews were preferred by 8.3 percent, 8.2 percent, and eight percent of buyers, respectively. In light of this, the report stresses the importance of companies providing privacy protection and better online security to gain consumers trust. In fact, one of the reports findings indicates that 26.5 percent of buyers regard consumer information protection of utmost importance. To increase product awareness, sellers are also recommended to focus on social media channels and providing online reviews for their products. The research sample consisted of buyers aged 15 to 70 years, having made at least one purchase in the last 12 months, and within the top 65 percent of income earners in the country. Supporting industry to provide 65 percent of domestic demand by 2025 A comprehensive program to develop Vietnams supporting industries was approved by the government recently, which will allow supporting industries to contribute to 45 percent of domestic production by 2020 and 65 percent by 2025. Supporting industries refer to those that produce materials, parts and components, accessories, and semi-products to supply to manufacturing or assembling industries producing final goods. The manufacturing industry is vital for Vietnams industrialization by 2020. Industries in focus are the textile-garment and footwear industry, hi-tech industry, and suppliers of components and spare parts. RELATED: Dezan Shira & Associates Corporate Establishment Services The proposed program primarily focuses on the production of metal, plastic, and rubber components along with electronic and electrical spare parts in an attempt to meet 55 percent of the domestic demand. Emphasis will also be placed on the production of materials for the garment-textile and footwear industry and the high-tech manufacturing sector responsible for specialized equipment, software, and services. Ultimately, the supporting industry program aims to promote domestic and foreign investments, increase exports, assist startups, and promote technology transfers. Exports predicted to continue to rise in 2017 The Mekong Delta region aims to generate US$15 billion (VND 336 trillion) from 2017 exports, an increase of 9.4 percent over the previous years exports of US$13.7 billion (VND 307.5 trillion). Major commodities exported last year include seafood, rice, processed food, garment and textile, footwear, and handicraft. The region is responsible for 60 percent of Vietnams seafood exports and more than 90 percent of its rice shipments. The Mekong Delta province aims to foster technical innovations to improve its production capacities and will focus on exports of high-value goods rather than low-value farm products. Seafood exports in 2017 are expected to rise by five percent to US$7.5 billion (VND 168 trillion) from US$7.05 billion (VND 152.8 trillion) in 2016, in spite of difficulties such as reduced output owing to climate change, increase in minimum wage, labor shortage, and competition from other exporters such as India, Thailand, and Indonesia. In the manufacturing sector, Vietnams smartphone exports in 2016 were fueled by foreign investments and accounted for 27.1 percent of Vietnams total exports at a value of US$34.32 billion (VND 744 trillion). Smartphone exports are predicted to rise by 13.6 percent to US$39 billion (VND 845.4 trillion) in 2017. Samsung is a major manufacturer in the country, with investments totaling over US$15 billion (VND 336 trillion). Vietnam accounts for 35 percent of all Samsung phones assembled globally and the country is rapidly becoming a smartphone manufacturing hub. Vietnams overall exports in 2016 rose by nine percent to US$176.6 billion (VND 3,955.84 trillion), while imports increased by 5.2 percent to US$174.11 billion (VND 3,774.25 trillion). About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email vietnam@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country. Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts. Currently, there are 69 FDI projects in Binh inh with a total registration capital of US$783million. The US$1.2 million project will be funded by an investor from Canada. The factory, to be built in Nhon Khanh Communes An Hoa Hamlet, will have five garment lines and a design capacity of two million products a year, most of which will be exported to the US. The plant will be constructed on a 2,440sq.m site and is expected to become operational in the second quarter of this year. This is the first licence that has been given to a foreign direct investment (FDI) project in the central province this year. Currently, there are 69 FDI projects in Binh Dinh with a total registration capital of $783million. Investors are from countries such as the US, China, Japan, France, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Last year, the province implemented reforms and simplified administrative procedures to create an attractive investment environment. Binh Dinh will continue its work on conducting dialogues with firms in the province to understand their problems and propose solutions so as to improve its business environment and boost its socio-economic development. Dau tu (Vietnam Investment Review) quoted Nguyen Bay, director of the provincial investment promotion centre, as saying that the provinces goal is to continue building the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone as well as other industrial parks and become a hub for industry and tourism. Trade surplus with Canada Viat Nam enjoyed a trade surplus of around $3.089 billion with Canada at the end of November 2016, an increase of 24.6 per cent against the same period in 2015, according to Statistics Canada. In that period, the two-way trade value touched $3.826 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 per cent, which includes Viet Nams exports worth $3.457 billion, up 16.4 per cent, and an import value of $368 million, a drop of 25 per cent. Hoang Anh Dung, Viet Nams commercial counsellor in Canada, said the country leads among ASEAN nations in terms of export value to Canada. Viet Nam is followed by Thailand with $2.17 billion, a drop of 3.2 per cent; Malaysia with $1.789 billion, down 7 per cent; Indonesia with $1.134 billion, down 7.6 per cent; the Philippines with $934 million, down 9.8 per cent; and Singapore with $666 million, down 3.5 per cent. Canada spent $1.174 billion on Viet Nams electronic products and accessories, up 56.5 per cent; $355 million on footwear, up 15.5 per cent; $108 million on sportswear, up 25 per cent; and $54 million on toys, up 24 per cent. Among Viet Nams export goods, mobile phones recorded the highest jump of 67.9 per cent, touching $827 million. A KitKat bar. (Photo: AFP/Fabrice Coffrini) The reduction is part of the Public Health Education's (PHE) action plan released in August this year for combating childhood obesity in the UK. Among the plans was to cut 20 per cent of sugar from a wide range of food and drink products by 2020. According to the Times on Sunday (Feb 5), the new sugar targets set by PHE come on top of reductions already made by manufacturers. These targets will be laid out in the first of a series of reports on child obesity coming out next month. The newspaper said that progress would be measured in average sugar content per 100 grams of product or by reduction in portion sizes. Manufacturers who do not meet the targets may expect to be named and shamed in these reports. According to the Times, Mars, KitKat maker Nestle and Cadbury's Mondelez have been in meetings with PHE officials and suggested reducing the size of their products by 20 per cent. The Daily Mail quoted a Nestle spokesperson as saying that "while resizing is an effective way to reduce sugar, calories and fat from confectionery, it is certainly not the only choice". Some companies have reformulated their high-sugar products with artificial sweeteners, but chocolate makers are concerned that there would be challenges with this method, said the same report. Chocolate bars have been shrinking in the UK for years for reasons including the rising costs of material. Among them are Mars, Snickers, Toblerone, Terry's Chocolate Orange and Twix. An apology for the banks misbehaviours signed by the CEO of Deutsche Bank John Cryan is published as a newspaper ad in a big German paper in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. (photo source: Michael Probst/Associated Press) The ad, signed by CEO John Cryan on behalf of the banks top management, ran Saturday in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Munich-based Sueddeutsche Zeitung. The bank said its past conduct not only cost us money, but also our reputation and trust. In December, Deutsche Bank agreed to a $7.2 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over its dealings in opaque bonds based on home loans in 2005-2007. Losses on such bonds packaged and sold by major banks helped start the global financial crisis. Other misconduct cases have included rigging widely-used interest benchmarks along with other big banks and money-laundering violations involving security trades Russia. The ad said we in the management committee and bank leadership as a whole will do everything in our power to keep such cases from happening again. Cryan, who became co-CEO with Anshu Jain in 2015 and sole CEO in 2016, had to present a 1.4 billion euro ($1.5 billion) loss for the full year 2016 at the companys annual news conference on Thursday. Costs for legal settlements have played a role in weak earnings that have undermined the banks share price. Cryan also delivered an extensive apology at the news conference. Deutsche Bank is in the midst of a wrenching restructuring, cutting costs and shedding riskier assets to meet tougher regulation aimed at preventing another financial crisis. A news report that the mortgage-bond settlement might be as high as $14 million led to sharp falls in the banks share price in September and October and fed speculation the bank might need to raise more capital or seek a government bailout. It did neither. India has long said there is evidence that 'official agencies' in Pakistan were involved in plotting the 2008 Mumbai attack, but Islamabad denies the charge AFP/INDRANIL MUKHERJEE The ruling in the civil court in the western state of Gujarat means the men's families can finally be granted death certificates for their loved ones, whose bodies were never found. "The court accepted applications from the kin of the deceased fishermen and ordered the state government to issue death certificates for the men," government lawyer T C Sule told AFP on Tuesday (Feb 7). Five fishermen were aboard a trawler off the coast of Gujarat in November 2008 when it was hijacked by gunmen later identified as the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. The captain was found dead inside the trawler, but the bodies of the four others were never located. Sule said the missing crewmen were presumed murdered by the extremists, but under Indian law one cannot be declared dead unless a body is identified or more than seven years has passed without any proof of life. The families of three of the men approached the civil court in January last year, demanding death certificates be issued. Without legal proof, they had been denied the financial compensation given to the families of those killed in the gun and bomb assault, Sule said. "Their families can now seek benefits declared by the Indian government for the victims of the attack," he said. The family of the fourth fisherman did not approach the court. The Mumbai attackers, having killed the crew at sea, sailed the hijacked "Kuber" to India's financial capital where on Nov 26, 2008 they unleashed a wave of violence. The carnage played out on live television around the world as commandos battled the heavily armed gunmen, who over three days detonated explosives and gunned down civilians across the city. India has long said there is evidence that "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved in plotting the attack, but Islamabad denies the charge. Heineken Vietnam Brewery Vung Tau Joint Stock Company will spend $185 million to expand the factory and increase its capacity to over 610 million litres of beer per year. In July 2016, Heineken Vietnam took over the brewery in question from Carlsberg. At that point, the factory had a capacity of 50 million litres per year. Heineken Vietnam Brewerys portfolio of brands includes Heineken, Tiger, Tiger Crystal, Desperados, Biere Larue, Biere Larue Export, BGI, and Bivina in Vietnam. According to Euromonitor, over 80 per cent of the Vietnamese market share belongs to Sabeco, Heineken, and Habeco. In 2016, domestic production was nearly four billion litres of beer. In terms of output, of all beer brands in Vietnam, Heineken ranked second with the total amount of 1.1 billion litres, right after Sebecos 1.6 billion litres of beer. Beer accounts for 94 per cent of alcoholic beverage consumption in Vietnam. According to Canadean, a research company on international soft drink and alcoholic beverage industries, the Vietnamese alcoholic beverage market has experienced a rapid growth of 6.4 per cent per year for the past 10 years. Vietnamese beverage producers plan to produce about four billion litres of beer in 2017, up 10 per cent on-year, according to the Vietnam Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Association (VBA). The decree will make sure less buyers get their fingers burnt Among the big projects to be launched is An Khanh New City Developments sale of its first phase this quarter. The mega $2 billion project is developed by South Koreas Posco E&C and Vietnams Vinaconex, located in Hanois Hoai Duc district, along the Thang Long Boulevard. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the city is expected to supply 6,440 apartments, equivalent to 392,319 square metres of accommodation, enough for 30,000 people. Even though Hoa Phat Group, the investor in a more than 1,000 apartment Mandarin Garden in Cau Giay districts Tran Duy Hung road, refused to release its launching time, real estate experts predicted the project would be soon launched. At the beginning of this month the CT7D, located in Le Van Luong street and invested by Nam Cuong Group and the FLC Landmark Tower of FLC Group will also be launched, with a total of 200 units and prices ranging from VND23 million ($1,200) to VND28 million ($1,470) per square metre. In Gia Lam district, over the Red River, the second lot of Rung Co Residentials belonging to the Eco Park is also being launched, with around 1,500 apartment units. In addition, Victoria Van Phu, Star City, Diamond Tower and Song Da City View will also add apartments to the mix. Real estate consultant CBRE Vietnam expected that there would be 3,000 units in Hanoi launched this quarter, compared to 1,950 units in the third quarter. There were more than 4,600 units launched in the second quarter. This decline, according to CBRE Vietnam, could be due to the Decree 71, effective on August 8, 2010 providing guidance on the Housing Law, which caps the proportion of units sold via capital contribution contracts at 20 per cent with the remaining 80 per cent sold on transaction floors. This decree, CBRE Vietnam said, had put a pressure on developers with low financial capabilities and enhanced market transparency. However, CBRE Vietnam executive director Richard Leech said new project launches would continue trending towards more affordable options. With the opening and improvement of major infrastructure routes, the capitals western and southern districts are attracting new residents with easier access for commuting into the core urban districts, Leech said. He said that the Decree 71 was expected to benefit the market by enhancing transparency, placing pressures on developers with low financial capabilities, lessening the threat of price bubbles and limiting speculative forces. Tran Nhu Trung, Savills Vietnam associate director, said the Decree 71 had showed off its advantages to clearly regulate five types of mobilising capital investment. However, Trung said the procedures to implement Decree 71 were still complicated and wasted customers time and energy. The more simple it [decree] regulates, the more it is practical in the real life, Trung said. The Korea Western Power Co. (KOWEPO) plans to construct a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant in the province in 2018. Quang Tri Portal Provincial officials said the plant was expected to become operational in 2021. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project signed last month says KOWEPO will invest US$1.85 billion in building the Quang Tri Power Plant No 2, which will be located in the provinces Southeast Economic Zone. KOWEPO will own and operate the power plant for 25 years. It will also carry out construction management and operations and maintenance (O&M) services. We will establish a growth base in Viet Nam and make a full-scale entry into the Indochina power generation market by successfully completing this project, Jung Young-chul, general manager of the Planning and Management Division of KOWEPO, said in a statement on the companys website. The Korean firm is also preparing a basic investment prospectus for the project for completing the plant by the end of 2024. According to KOWEPO, the power plant will supply power to Quang Tri Industrial Park and Economic Zone, as well as main development projects of the province. Last year, the province granted investment licences to 15 projects worth VND10 trillion ($444 million). The province, situated on the East-West Economic Corridor and Trans-Asia road link with Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, has called for foreign investment in organic and hi-tech farming and the processing industry. In the 2011-15 period, Quang Tri attracted 262 domestic and foreign projects with a combined investment capital of about VND50.3 trillion (more than $2.23 billion). The province also plans a 14,000ha farm as a high-tech zone that will produce lotus milk and host a freshwater fish aquaculture centre. In 2015, Thai company One Asian signed a MoU with the province to invest approximately $2.4 billion in a 1,200 MW thermal power plant starting in 2017 and finishing in 2019. The Thai investor also agreed to study the development of an energy complex in the southeast economic zone that would combine power plants with the My Thuy deep water port project, and natural gas-fired power plants to take advantage of the 30 billion cubic metre gas reserves off the central coast of Viet Nam. Also in 2015, another Thai investor, EGATI, said it was planning to invest $2.26 billion in the 1,200-MW Quang Tri thermal power plant project on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The plant is expected to commence commercial operations in 2021. Margin trading allows investors to buy more stock than they would be able to normally.-Photo zing.vn Margin trading allows investors to buy more stock than they would be able to normally. Under the new rules, shares on the UPCoM (under the UPCoM Premium list) will be eligible for margin trading purchases. The old regulations defined securities on the UPCoM as unapproved for margin trading. It means about 80 shares registered for trading under the UPCoM Premium list which meet the conditions for margin trading will be eligible for margin purchases. However, this regulation needs approval from the Ha Noi Stock Exchange which operates and manages the UPCoM. The new decision defines securities eligible for margin trading as those which comprise shares and investment fund certificates listed for trading for at least six months up to the time of announcement of the list of approved securities. According to the draft decision in September last year, securities with total listing time of three months are qualified for margin trading transactions. This period was said to be suitable as the number of new listings on the two exchanges is rising rapidly. Under the new rules, shares of companies which violate information disclosure and tax regulations and have financial reports not fully accepted by auditors are not eligible for margin trading. The SSC also added time limits for companies to publish their financial statements to be eligible for securities margin trading. Margin ratio is the ratio of equity over total assets in a margin trading account at market value. The initial margin ratio - a portion of the purchase price that investors have to deposit - is regulated by securities companies but must be at least 50 per cent of the purchase price. The maintenance margin ration which is the minimum account balance that investors must maintain must be 30 per cent at the minimum. Other regulations on limits on financing margin trading applied for broker companies were kept unchanged. The new decision will take effect on April 1, 2017. Amata industrial zone in Dong Nai Province, where Thailand has invested in infrastructure. Foreign investment in Viet Nam grew in January. - Photo vneconomy.vn So far, Viet Nam has attracted foreign direct investment from 112 countries and territories, the agency says. Thai businesses began investing right after Viet Nam introduced policies to attract foreign investment, it says. From 2006 to 2008, Viet Nam wooed the largest investment capital from Thailand amounting to $5 billion, accounting for 21.4 per cent of the total investment from ASEAN to Viet Nam worth $23.3 billion. Investments from Thailand have focussed on processing and manufacturing industries. At present, Thai investors have assured investments of $7.04 billion in 205 projects in the processing and manufacturing industries, accounting for 87.2 per cent of total registered invested capital. The largest project in those industries is the Southern petrochemical complex with a total investment of $3.77 billion. The agency says Thai investors are now turning their attention to industrial infrastructure and retail sectors. These include a joint venture project between Amata VNPCL of Thailand and Sonadezi Bien Hoa in the infrastructure sector and a project of MM Mega Market Co, Ltd in HCM City, with a capital of $36 million, reports vneconomy.vn. Viet Nam is considered an important investment destination in the region in line with Thailands policies on promoting investment in foreign countries. This is big opportunity for Viet Nam to attract investment capital from this country, FIA says. Thailand is near Viet Nam on the map and the two countries have cultural similarities. They signed an agreement on encouraging and protecting investments in 1992 and to create favourable conditions for investment co-operation. Therefore, Thai investors have not faced many difficulties while investing in Viet Nam. Meanwhile, the Thailand government has also encouraged and supported Thai investors already in Viet Nam. Tien Giang focuses on luring investment in infrastructure facility in IPs and ICs, and developing multi-sector IPs with a wider range of products to meet domestic and export demand. Efforts will be made in simplifying administrative procedures and facilitating operation of the investors in the IPs, such as Tan Phuoc 1, Soai Rap Petroleum Service Zone, Gia Thuan 1, 2 Clusters. According to Cao Minh Tam, head of the Industrial Zones Management Board, the Government has approved planning for seven IPs on a combined area of over 2,083 hectares. Currently, Tien Giang has established and put into operation four IPs on 1,101.47 hectares, with a total investment of 100 million USD and over 2.93 trillion VND (129 million USD). Besides, the province put into operation four ICs, namely An Thanh, Trung An, Tan My Chanh, and Song Thuan. So far, the IPs and ICs in the province have created jobs for 92,561 labourers, 84 percent of them work in IPs. In 2017, enterprises in the IPs target to reach 58.5 trillion VND (2.57 billion USD) in industrial production value. US President Donald Trump speaks alongside Sheriff Carolyn Bunny Welsh (R) of Chester County, Pennsylvania, during a meeting with county sheriffs in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (SAUL LOEB/AFP) Hosting a group of American sheriffs at the White House, Trump hammered home the rationale for his executive order closing US borders to refugees and travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations as "common sense." The legal showdown touched off on Friday, when a federal judge suspended Trump's decree nationwide, now rests with a federal court of appeals in San Francisco that has set a hearing for 3.00pm (7.00am Singapore time Wednesday). No ruling is expected on Tuesday, a court spokesman said, adding that it would likely come later this week. Appearing to lay the groundwork for a setback, the White House sought to play down the significance of the upcoming ruling. "All that's at issue tonight is the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. "That's why I think we feel confident." Is the Republican president - who has lashed out at the federal judge who halted his measure, letting banned travelers trickle back in - prepared to receive an adverse ruling? "Of course the president respects the (judiciary) branch, but the president has the discretion to do what is necessary to keep the country safe," Spicer said. Trump has dismissed James Robart as a "so-called" judge - a slur that drew criticism from his own Republican camp - and sought to pin blame on him, and the courts in general, for potential future attacks on US soil. "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" he tweeted on Sunday. 'DISHONEST' MEDIA Trump's January 27 decree had barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. The president has acknowledged that the high-stakes legal battle may well end up before the Supreme Court - while voicing hope it would not come to that. The top court would need to weigh in by a majority of five on the eight-seat bench to overturn an appeal court ruling - a scenario far from guaranteed with a short-handed bench currently evenly split between four conservatives and four liberals. That could change if Trump's conservative nominee to fill in the vacant seat, Neil Gorsuch, is confirmed by the Senate. With his most emblematic measure to date facing a wall of judicial opposition - challenged in a lawsuit backed by more than 120 tech giants, leading rights group and 16 US states - Trump reverted to his now-familiar strategy of lashing out at the media. "I understand the total dishonesty of the media, better than anybody and I let people know it," Trump declared. On Monday, he accused "dishonest" news outfits of deliberately downplaying the terror threat that his administration cites to justify its ban, saying they purposefully failed to report on past jihadist atrocities. The White House later distributed a list of 78 attacks it said "have not received the media attention they deserved." The list includes numerous atrocities that dominated global headlines for days - from the Paris attacks of Nov 13, 2015 to the Nice truck-attack of Jun 14, 2016 or the San Bernardino mass shooting in California in December 2015. Trump's immigration order - which initially appeared to enjoy widespread support - is now opposed by a majority of Americans: The split is 53-47 per cent according to a CNN poll, 51-45 per cent according to a CBS poll. The Republican president has dismissed the polls as lies. "Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election," he tweeted on Monday. "Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting." Prominent human rights worker Am Sam Ath has been summoned to appear in court over allegations of violence against security forces at a World Habitat Day march in Phnom Penh late last year. The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (Licadho) said in a statement on Tuesday that Sam Ath was called to the Municipal Court along with Boeung Kak Lake activist Chan Puthisak. They were due to appear in front of prosecutor Ngin Pich on Wednesday after complaints were filed by Som Sotheara and Tet Chantho, two district security guards. Licadho director Thav Kimsan said there were serious doubts about the veracity of the allegations. We are concerned. But at the same time that we feel concerned, we are skeptical and we feel its ridiculous and upside down. Black turned to white and white turned to black, he said. Ly Sophanna, a court spokesman, did not answer questions about the summons, saying only that the court was reviewing evidence. Sam Ath was beaten at the Habitat Day march by security forces in front of numerous witnesses, including media. Its very shameful for them [police] because other people got all the evidence, and they didnt conduct a good investigation to search for the truth, he said. Licadho said that the para-police force had blocked the march and confiscated musical instruments and banners from the marchers before launching an unprovoked, violent and targeted attack on Chan Puthisak, who was filming the march. Am Sam Ath then attempted to peacefully de-escalate the situation and end the violence under his mandate as a human rights monitor. Para-police immediately launched a similarly unprovoked and targeted attack, surrounding Am Sam Ath and punching him in the face and neck repeatedly, the Licadho statement added. Puthisak said he doubted the police investigation was carried out with a view to finding the truth. This is not acceptable because we are the victims but we were turned into suspects. We dont know how the authorities worked on the reports and sent them to the court, he said. Huot Chan Yurann, chief of Daun Penh district police, declined to comment. The Cambodian government has agreed to receive some 36 Cambodians who will be deported from the United States. Since 2002, more than 500 Cambodians have been repatriated from the US. General Khieu Sopheak Ministry of Interior spokesman, on Friday said interviews were conducted with 46 potential deportees several months ago and 36 were approved. The deportations came as President Donald Trump tightened restrictions on immigration. Am Sam Ath, monitoring manager at local rights group Licadho, said Cambodians deported from the United States would find it hard to adapt to their new surroundings and would require support. This is very necessary this is what the governments have to discuss and the U.S. is a country that implements democracy. Thus, they must understand rights and freedom of the people, he said. Gen. Sopheak said the government was reviewing a draft agreement with the United States on deportation conditions. The opposition has said freedom of expression among its youth wing is limited compared to more seasoned activists. Speaking at a forum on youth participation in politics in Phnom Penh, Chum Chan Darin, an opposition representative, said young activists faced pressure and legal threats when they engaged in politics. For instance, If we express an idea, we will be in trouble whereas the others shouted and swore in the media, and they are still fine, he said. Ruling party representative Taing Samoung rejected the suggestion, claiming both sides enjoyed equal rights. However, he added that there were limits to freedom of expression. The anarchic expression and demonstrations are different from democratic demonstrations. I think freedom was offered to all young adults but its the youth itself that does not know how to express their ideas in a democratic and acceptable way, he said. Bong Chan Sambath, a member of the political discussion group that hosted the forum, Politikoffee, called for greater youth participation in politics. The youth can serve as a reminder to the government that they cannot do what they want since people are watching, he said. Chak Sopheap, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said it was encouraging to see so many young people becoming engaged with politics. The engagement on social media, there are good and bad effects. Some opinions are accusatory or defensive, so the media is not purely good. But we should be joining together to encourage and guarantee that youth can participate in politics, actively and meaningfully, rather than accusing or detaining them, she said. Numerous young people were detained last year for making social media posts deemed to be inciting violence. In Kenya, confusion reigns over the status of the temporary U.S. travel ban. Though a U.S. federal judge put the ban on hold, Somali and Sudanese refugees ready to fly to the U.S. have been sent back to the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps. Other refugees farther along in the U.S. immigration process are worried, but have not lost hope of the ban being lifted. From Kakuma, VOAs Jill Craig has more. Human rights and abductee advocacy groups say time is running out for many desperate and frustrated South Korean families seeking to resolve the fate of loved ones abducted by North Korea. These abduction cases remain unresolved, as escalating inter-Korean tensions over the North's nuclear program have blocked any cooperation on humanitarian issues. South Korean groups representing the abductee families appealed this week to the media in Seoul to keep the issue alive. They complain that their own government has forsaken them to prioritize either engaging or pressuring the North to halt its nuclear program. "It hurts my heart that there is nothing we can do," said Lee Mi-il. Lee's father, a factory owner in Seoul, was taken by the North during the 1950-53 Korean War. She was 18 months old at the time and is now in her late sixties. Lee has spent her life trying to bring her father and other abductees home as president of the Korean War Abductees' Family Union. Cold war casualties After the end of fighting, North Korea returned most prisoners-of-war, but reportedly forced thousands of South Korean citizens to remain, to help rebuild national industries, schools and other basic state functions. And in the decades after, thousands more were believed to abducted by North Korea. Most of them were fishermen, who were purportedly taken to gain intelligence or serve some propaganda purpose in the ongoing inter-Korean cold war. Some were detained for political reasons or because their backgrounds were suspect. During the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s, approximately 30 South Korea soldiers fighting with U.S. troops were captured by North Vietnamese forces, and later sent to North Korea, according to the group The Family Union of the Vietnam War POW and Abductee. In 1969, Hwang In-cheol's father was among the 47 passengers and crew aboard a Korea Air (KAL) airliner that was hijacked into North Korea. Most were released under intense international pressure, but 11 of them, including Hwang's father, who was a journalist and outspoken critic of the then Kim Il Sung regime, were not allowed to return nor permitted to communicate with their families. "If your family member was abducted and you could not find out the status of the family member, and could not find a solution to resolve the problem, or didn't know about the pain your family member was having, can you imagine how painful this situation would be?" asked Hwang. For almost two decades, Hwang has advocated for the return of his father and other abductees as a representative of the KAL Abductees' Repatriation Committee. Today over 500 Korean victims are still being held in the North, and of that number 300 are more than 70 years old, according to the Citizen's Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR), an advocacy group that has worked closely on this issue with victims' families and the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID.) Families of abductees forsaken In the wake of North Korea's fourth nuclear test last year, the Seoul government suspended all remaining cooperative programs, including inter-Korean family reunions, and cut all lines of communication with Pyongyang. The abductee families say South Korea is treating them as inconvenient casualties of the division of Korea, and is unwilling to negotiate for their release. But their anguish propels them forward, and they refuse to stop trying to find out what happened to their loved ones, to bring them home alive or have their remains sent to family burial sites. Choi Sung-yong presumes his father, who was abducted in the 1950s, is now dead. He leads the Representative of the Abductee's Family Union. While Choi understands South Korea's national security concerns, he said the government could at least privately share with families whatever information it has on the abductees. "The National Intelligence Service should find out how the abductee is doing and for example, who the abductee got married to, and when he or she died," said Choi. Letter to President Trump Lee Jae-ho has been waiting for 60 years to find out what happened to his father, who he said was abducted during the Korean War. He even wrote a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump to intercede on his behalf, as his father was a patriot that helped the Americans during the war. "I would like to ask if the U.S. can try to confirm the status of abductees and the repatriation of corpses. There is no way to find this out in South Korea. I have seen in reports in the U.S. media that corpses of U.S. soldiers were repatriated from North Korea," he said. It is unlikely President Trump will take up the issue. But Lee said he is so frustrated with South Korea's unwillingness or inability to help, he does not know where else to turn. When contacted through the United Nations, North Korea has been uncooperative and has denied charges of forced disappearances and abductions, saying people are not being forced to stay in the country against their will. North Korea also stands accused of abducting a number of foreign nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, and admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens who were reportedly used to train spies. An agreement between Japan and North Korea to ease some sanctions in exchange for an investigation into the status of abduction victims fell apart in the last year over Pyongyang's lack of cooperation and its continued testing of nuclear weapons. Youmi Kim contributed to this report. Multilateral banks based in China have defied critics over the past year with strong performances that include financing projects across a dozen countries. The new banks, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank (NDB), have given added political legitimacy to China, and helped to push forward Beijings geopolitical interests by extending $3 billion for projects under its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) program, analysts said. But questions are being asked about whether these banks can help China in its battle against adverse actions threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. AIIB's head Jin Liqun recently reminded Washington that that door remains open for it to join the bank. The Obama administration had decided against joining the AIIB even after 56 countries, including U.S. allies like Canada, Britain and Australia, became members. "AIIB is an institution that will help China get support from other countries in any direct confrontation with Trump," Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics told VOA. "Setting up AIIB and showing that Beijing intends to play by the established rules has helped China, when Trump increasingly seems to be going rogue on not just Americas traditional role, but also many of the international rules it help set up. But the advantage will mostly be in diplomatic and political terms, he said, adding the AIIB will not provide China any particular economic advantage in a bilateral confrontation with Trump. "China has gained in terms of soft power because it could bring several European powers on the table through AIIB. At present, alot of European countries are concerned about what they see in the U.S. This might increase potential cooperation between China and the European countries," said Julian Evans-Pritchard, China economist for Capital Economics. AIIB's latest decision to lend $600 million for the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), which will connect Azerbaijan to Europe fits snuggly into China's plans to connect with Europe through Central Asia. Most of the other projects funded by the Beijing based bank support OBOR projects. They include the Dushanbe-Uzbekistan Border Road in Tajikistan, $100 million for National Motorway M-4 in Pakistan, $300 million for a hydropower project in Pakistan, and $301 million for Duqm Port in Oman. US membership In a recent interview, AIIB chief Jin predicted that the U.S. under Trump would reject the decision of the Obama administration and choose to join the bank. "I was told that many in his (Trump's) team have an opinion that Obama was not right not to join the AIIB, especially after Canada joined, which was a very loud endorsement of the bank. So we can't rule out the new government in the U.S. endorsing the AIIB or indicating interest to join as member," he told the Chinese media. He also complained that AIIB faced initiatial resistance from the U.S. "At the formation of the AIIB, the U.S., the base of the Bretton Wood Institutes that manage the world economy including the World Bank and the IMF, saw the new body as a threat to its dominance and importance in the world economic order," he said. The Trump administration has not yet commented on the AIIB and analysts are skeptical that Trump will let the U.S. join and give the Beijing-based institution some added credibility. "Under no circumstances will Trump agree to join AIIB. Jin obviously knows that and cleverly created a headline again highlighting how it is now the U.S. that is isolating itself from the rest of the world," Kirkegaard said. Lourdes S. Casanova, academic director of the Emerging Markets Institute at Cornell University, also thinks the U.S. will stay out of it. "I dont believe the new administration one will join because, so far, they want to retreat back home and focus on investments in infrastructure at home.You also need the political will and on that front, President Trump has been more confrontational with Mexico and also with China, as well as critical of multilateral organizations, which makes us believe that he has no intention to join AIIB," she said. What next? AIIB may seem to have turned up a stellar performance lending $1.7 billion to nine different projects in just more than one year. But it has been taking advantage of projects that had been carefully studied and vetted by entrenched players like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The real challenge comes now, when many of the bankable projects have been covered, and the AIIB will have to start doing its own due diligence, analysts said. "The AIIB will find it very difficult to scale up its operations. There are significant political risks in many of the infrastructure projects," Evans-Pritchard said. "A lot of projects don't make commercial sense. There is the risk of running protests in several countries where projects have been planned. There is a protest against an industrial zone in Sri Lanka, which is part of OBOR program," he said. Several members in AIIB, particularly those from Europe, do not share China's geopolitical ambitions, which may come in the way of approving projects along the OBOR route, he said. Besides, there is the risk of the next round of elections installing protectionist governments in Europe, which may be less enthusiastic about funding projects in Asia and elsewhere, Evans-Pritchard said. One of the most valuable weapons in the fight to protect endangered species in the wild is the drone, which allows conservationists to monitor the distribution and density of herds, especially in areas hard to reach by car or foot. But these airborne cameras are useful only during daylight hours, so can't document animals that are active at night... or poachers trying to avoid detection. Now, technology used to analyze astronomical images -- infrared imaging -- is being redirected to focus on the earth. Astrophysicist Steven Longmore notes that space scientists have been using thermal cameras for many decades. "Crucially, it turns out the techniques we've developed to find and characterize the faintest objects in the universe are exactly those needed to find and identify objects in thermal images taken with drones," he said. In this video demonstration of drone and thermal camera research from LJMU, the software has identified humans in the field from their heat signatures. Longmore led a team from Liverpool John Moores University to refine that process, which until now required researchers to review the videos carefully. The team used free software of astronomical source detection and applied it to the detection of humans and different species of animals in infrared images from drones. Each species has a different heat profile that acts as what Longmore calls a 'thermal fingerprint'. He hopes to build a library of those fingerprints to help future conservation efforts. The study, done in cooperation with the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, is published in the International Journal of Remote Sensing. [February 08, 2017] Cohere Forms 5G Technical Advisory Board with Top Wireless Technology Academics Cohere Technologies (cohere-technologies.com) has formed a technical advisory board to assist the company in bringing its groundbreaking OTFS wireless waveform technology to market. The board members are major figures in academia and business who are responsible for many of the technology breakthroughs that enable today's high-speed wireless and mobile services. "We formed our technical advisory board in response to the considerable industry interest in our OTFS technology, which has grown substantially over the past two years as we conducted successful technical trials and simulations with our operator partners," said Dr. Ronny Hadani, chief technology officer at Cohere Technologies. "In addition to encouraging further technical investigation of OTFS, the board will also help us identify new applications beyond our current market focus. Complementing their technical expertise, the advisory board members also have proven track records on the business side of wireless that Cohere will leverage to develop new technology partner relationships and expand our approach to new markets." The board's efforts will complement the public support Cohere has already received from several of the world's top wireless carriers calling for an investigation into OTFS and its potential to play a role in 5G. "Cohere's OTFS is the first major breakthrough in waveform design in many decades, and is uniquely poised to meet the requirements of 5G," said technical advisory board chair Dr. Andrea Goldsmith of Stanford University. "Every new generation of cellular system has promised a range of compelling new applications, and adopted a new waveform to meet the associated requirements." Dr. Robert Calderbank of Duke University added: "It is difficult to predict which applications will dominate, and which disruptive technologies will succeed, but growth in demand for wireless services will surely increase the cost and complexity of configuring and operating wireless systems. OTFS is a breakthrough in waveform design, with deep mathematical roots in the theory and practice of radar, that offers a path to future-proofing 5G." "Support for mobility has been a key feature of cellular systems since their inception. Yet the waveform designs for cellular are based on traditional wireless principles where the channel is treated as being static," said Dr. Robert Heath of the University of Texas at Austin. "Cohere Technologies is pioneering a new waveform with ground-up support for high doppler and wideband channels. Cohere's OTFS waveform scheme is a major departure from the way the industry has approached wireless, and shows promise for the major 5G use cases. It is an honor and privilege to sit on a technical advisory board with many intellectual leaders in wireless communication." Board member Dr. Arogyaswami Paulraj, a principal figure responsible for the MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) concept that is key in today's 4G cellular and Wi-Fi networks, added "the Emerging 5G standard promises dramatic performance gains oer 4G in terms of capacity, coverage and reliability, but for 5G to achieve this it will be necessary to overcome increasing new challenges, such as the problems of pilot overhead which will be significantly worse. Fortunately, Cohere's OTFS shows significant promise to mitigate these pilot challenges." The technical advisory board will be led by Dr. Hadani and Dr. Anton Monk, Cohere's vice president of strategic alliances and standards. The initial board members are: Professor Andrea Goldsmith Andrea Goldsmith is the Stephen Harris professor in the School of Engineering and a professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. She also founded and served as CTO of Quantenna Communications, which developed the first 4x4 802.11n chipsets. Dr. Goldsmith is a Fellow of the IEEE (News - Alert) and of Stanford, and has received several awards, including the IEEE ComSoc Edwin H. Armstrong Achievement Award, the National Academy of Engineering Gilbreth Lecture Award and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal's Women of Influence Award. She authored "Wireless Communications" and co-authored "MIMO Wireless Communications" and "Principles of Cognitive Radio," both published by Cambridge University Press. She is also an inventor on 29 patents. Professor Robert Calderbank Dr. Robert Calderbank is director of the Information Initiative at Duke University, where he is Professor of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics. Before joining Duke he was Professor of Electrical Engineering and Mathematics at Princeton University where he also directed the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics. Before joining Princeton University Dr. Calderbank was vice president for research at AT&T where he managed AT&T intellectual property, and was responsible for licensing revenue. Professor Robert Heath Dr. Robert W. Heath Jr. is a professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, and holds the Cullen Trust for Higher Education Professorship in Engineering. He played a central role in designing and implementation of the physical and link layers of the first commercial MIMO-OFDM communication system while at Iospan Wireless from 1998 to 2001. Professor Heath's research interests include several aspects of wireless communication and signal processing: limited feedback techniques, multihop networking, multiuser and multicell MIMO, interference alignment, adaptive video transmission, manifold signal processing, and millimeter wave communication techniques. Professor Emeritus Arogyaswami Paulraj Dr. Arogyaswami Paulraj is Professor Emeritus (research) of engineering and a Marconi Society Fellow in the department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He proposed the MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) concept which is the key to 4G cellular and Wi-Fi wireless networks in 1992. He is a co-inventor of 66 U.S. patents and the author of over 350 research papers and two text books. He is an ISI (News - Alert) Thompson Highly Cited Researcher. Professor Paulraj has won over a dozen awards in the US, notably the 2011 IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal and the 2014 Marconi Prize and Fellowship, both top awards for telecommunications technology pioneers. He is a fellow of eight national engineering/science academies including those in the US, China, India and Sweden. He is a fellow of IEEE and AAAS. In 1999, Paulraj founded and served as CTO of Iospan Wireless, which developed and established MIMO-OFDMA wireless as the core 4G technology. About Cohere Technologies Cohere Technologies is solving the most pressing challenges in wireless communications with its groundbreaking Orthogonal Time Frequency and Space (OTFS) technology. This new 3D modulation scheme will revolutionize the industry as it prepares to deliver the promise of 5G with 100 percent coverage, 10x spectral efficiency and a 50 percent cost savings over existing solutions by perfectly capturing the wireless channel. OTFS can also enhance traditional modulation schemes with its greater capacity and coverage to make 5G mobility a reality. Top carriers are testing OTFS and the company is developing OTFS-based solutions for backhaul, fixed wireless access and 5G applications. Follow Cohere on social media: Twitter (News - Alert): @CohereOTFS Facebook (News - Alert): Cohere Technologies Google (News - Alert)+: Cohere Technologies LinkedIn: Cohere Company Page More information about Cohere is available at www.cohere-technologies.com. OTFS is a trademark of Cohere Technologies. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005292/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] China has emerged as the top single-country source of tourism for Vietnam over the past year, a status that could help broader relations hurt by a maritime dispute and historical distrust. The number of Chinese tourists to the neighboring Southeast Asian country reached 250,000 in January, leading other countries with about a quarter of the months total. The headcount from China marks a 68 percent increase over January 2016, according to Vietnamese government figures cited by the state media. Chinese tourists have reshaped the economies of Hong Kong and Taiwan over the past decade, bringing those places closer to Beijing after periods of troubled relations. There are some underlying tensions over the East Sea or the South China Sea, but nevertheless Vietnam is a place the Chinese feel comfortable going, said Frederick Burke, partner in the multinational law firm Baker & McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City. Its accessible. Its nearby. Its culturally similar but its different so its interesting. Its not expensive and they do cater to the Chinese. Overcoming tensions The upswing in Chinese arrivals caught Vietnams attention last year as about 2.2 million reached the country from January through October. Their numbers fell in 2014 after Beijing let a state oil firm position a rig in the disputed South China Sea, touching off deadly anti-Chinese riots in Vietnam. Beijing and Hanoi bitterly dispute sovereignty over much of the sea, including two chains of tiny islets. But a sustained influx of tourism could ease people-to-people relations affected by centuries of political rivalry and a border war in 1979 as well as the maritime dispute, analysts say. The rise in tourism was a bright spot in Sino-Vietnamese business ties toward the end of 2016, said Hoang Viet Phuong, head of institutional research and an investment advisor at SSI Securities Services in Hanoi. There is a desire to move away from being a manufacturing hub, said Louie Nguyen, editor and founder of the news website VietnamAdvisors. You can see that in the increase in the startup initiatives in terms of tech startups. Even in the film business, the latest King Kong was made in Vietnam. So there (are) various initiatives to move away from manufacturing. Tourism is one of them. China is now Vietnams top source of tourism, according to the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency. Although the Southeast Asian country depends largely on export manufacturing, one in eight jobs is in hospitality, Burke said. Tourism accounted for 6.6 percent of the GDP last year. Initial boost A land border crossing and short flights from southern Chinese cities gave tourism an initial boost. The Vietnamese border province of Quang Ninh, a popular holiday-making spot, was set in January to let Chinese group tourists stay three days visa free. Chinese are partial to coastal scenery, shopping and buffet meals, according to local media. Weve gone to Thailand and Maldives over the past two years, and then we saw some introductory material and thought (Vietnam) would be a bit better, more elemental, said Ma Wensheng, 48, a Beijing tourist who just spent three days in South Vietnam with family. He said that while he encountered no anti-Chinese sentiment, not all was perfect. The disadvantage is perhaps that tourist development lacks that of Thailand and the Maldives, Ma said. Some of the tourist infrastructure isnt quite as friendly and in some places its incomplete. Its advantage is that prices are lower there compared to in the Maldives and so on. The number of Chinese tour groups to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have largely held steady since those three countries became the first overseas markets in 2003. But the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 in March 2014 hurt arrivals to Malaysia and Singapore had reported a drop of 24 percent between 2013 and 2014 before it sought to make permits easier for family travel. Thailand has not seen any long-term decline in arrivals from China, where the number of outbound tourists grew by 20 percent in 2015. Hong Kong and Taiwan Large numbers of Chinese travelers have shaped other parts of Asia, as well. For example, arrivals from China brought a boom to the service sector in Hong Kong after a relaxation of rules in 2003. Hong Kong received 45.8 million mainland Chinese visitors in 2015. Since 2008, Chinese travelers have lifted the service sector in parts of Taiwan near tourist attractions. Their headcount peaked at nearly 3.5 million in 2015. China does not appear to be pushing tourism in Vietnam for strategic gain, Burke said, but eventually it could ask Chinese travel agencies to scale back if relations sour. Taiwanese officials have reported declines of 30 to 40 percent in group travel from China since the May inauguration of a president who opposes Beijings goal of unifying the two sides politically. The decline has hurt hotels and tour bus operators. Visits from mainland China to Hong Kong dropped 3 percent in 2015, the year after the anti-Beijing Umbrella Movement protests. Vietnam understands the risk of a pullback, said Jonathan Spangler, director of the Taipei-based South China Sea Think Tank. Beijing has been known to limit outbound tourism as a political tool, but the Vietnamese government understands that such risks are only a small part of its economic relations with China and broader diplomatic and political interests, he said. A Brazilian governor Wednesday said he needs more army troops to help cope with a police crisis that has led to a wave of violence and at least 80 deaths in his southeastern state. Cesar Colnago, acting governor of the state of Espirito Santo told reporters he would ask the federal government for more troops, saying the 1,000 already sent were not enough to stem the tide of violence. The killings in the state capital of Vitoria and other cities erupted as friends and family of military police officers blocked their barracks over the weekend to demand higher pay for the officers, preventing patrols from cruising the streets. Brazil's Military Police force patrols the nation's cities and is barred by law from going on strike. Andre Garcia, head of Espirito Santo's Public Safety Department, told reporters on Wednesday that the violence has diminished since the arrival of the first troops this week, but that he would still like to see an additional 1,000 troops sent to the state. The union representing civil police officers has said that 87 people have been murdered since police stopped patrolling the streets Friday night. The state government has not released an official death toll. At least two buses have been torched over the past five days in Vitoria and several stores have been looted, leading six shopping malls to close their doors. Buses that had resumed circulating on Tuesday were again off the streets on Wednesday. Schools were shut and medical services at public hospitals were interrupted. Officials in northern Cameroon say Boko Haram is hitting back against regional military pressure with suicide attacks. Rarely a week goes by without reports of a bombing. To protect border communities, Cameroon is reinforcing the capabilities of local self-defense groups who help the military. Music is played to welcome 200 recruits of the self-defense group in Mora on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria. Among the thousands witnessing the exercise is Far North region Governor Midjiyawa Bakari. The governor told the recruits President Paul Biya has instructed him to visit all border localities to congratulate and encourage self-defense groups and traditional rulers that have been courageously defending people from Boko Haram. Regional troops said they have pushed the terrorists from much of the territory they once occupied. But Boko Haram has resorted to a campaign of suicide attacks, often targeting civilians. The governor gave the vigilantes in Mora motorcycles, bicycles, metal detectors and cash to help with their efforts. Dale Paul leads the self-defense group in Mora. He said they are more than ever before determined to eradicate suicide bombings in their locality. There have been concerns about relying on vigilantes, including about the possibility of human rights violations. Last year, some members of self-defense groups were arrested and dismissed on suspicion Boko Haram had infiltrated their ranks. But officials said the self-defense groups are doing much needed work that saves lives. This is their home, they know their way around, and they share intelligence with the military. VOA joined members of the Mora self-defense group in the field. Strong winds blow over the village late Tuesday. Eighty vigilantes armed with machetes, bow and arrows, knives, metal detectors and spears gathered to take over from those who worked the afternoon. While the military is tasked with protecting the nations border, the self-defense group makes sure no stranger enters their village. Group leader Kaadil Ousmanou said they have been given cell phones to call the military when they see suspects. He said they are sacrificing for the well-being of their village. VOA could not join them on their patrol near the border. The military said it was not safe. Mora village chief Joseph Manaouda said thanks to the vigilantes, the population can sleep at night. He said self-defense groups may not have guns, but they have succeeded in stopping so many attacks. Manaouda said when the vigilantes stop suspicious people from crossing into Cameroon, they also inform Nigerian traditional rulers across the border. The vigilantes also communicate with Nigerian self-defense groups about suspects crossing the border, he said. Several dozen self-defense group members have been killed in northern Cameroon. Sali Ali Mahamat said he narrowly escaped death. The 44-year-old had been assigned to the islands of Lake Chad with his two brothers, who are boatmen. He said two armed Boko Haram fighters forced them at gun point to sail through Lake Chad to a village in Cameroon. He said he knew that they would be killed after rendering the service so he attacked one of the terrorists and they fell into the lake. Mahamat said his two brothers attacked the other terrorist while other boatmen called the military, which came to their rescue. He walked away with a bullet in his right hand and was treated at a government hospital for free. China's willingness to implement existing sanctions is vital to financial pressure on the development of nuclear arms by North Korea, a former senior U.S. official said Tuesday. Since early 2015, Washington has been applying incremental pressure on Pyongyang as it appears to be making strides in its nuclear and missile development, prompting Congress to pass new laws to help implement the executive orders signed by former President Barack Obama. The orders enabled the U.S. to impose sanctions on North Korean individuals and entities, as well as on a third party linked to the country's nuclear program. In September, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned for the first time a Chinese firm Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development that had allegedly been serving as a front company through which a blacklisted North Korean bank moved money for conversion into U.S. dollars. China's cooperation Daniel Glaser, who until recently served as assistant secretary for terrorist financing at the U.S. Treasury Department in the Obama administration, said although the U.S. effort against North Korea has placed "stress on the North's access to the international financial system," China, Pyongyang's longstanding ally, should cooperate fully with enforcing sanctions to make them effective. "The key to North Korea financial pressure has always been [and] remains the willingness and the ability of the Chinese to crack down on North Korean access within the Chinese financial system," said Glaser in an interview with VOA. Cash-strapped North Korea is known to be involved in various illicit activities such as counterfeiting U.S. dollars, drug trafficking and money laundering to obtain hard currency. A decade ago, the George W. Bush administration launched an intensive campaign to crack down on the activities. Glaser believes the reclusive regime is still engaged in such practices to raise funds. Kim Jung Un's slush fund Some experts suggest the U.S. should actively pursue North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's overseas slush fund. In an op-ed piece for CNN, Sung-Yoon Lee, an assistant professor at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Joshua Stanton, a private attorney who follows international sanctions on North Korea as an analyst with One Free Korea, suggested the U.S. should block Kim's offshore hard currency reserves and income. Glaser said that the U.S. is "constantly on the lookout for North Korean financial activities," including Kim's. "I believe Kim Jong Un has sanctions levied against him to such an extent that a transaction [that involved] him and would touch the United States financial system, that transaction would be impacted," he added. Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January 2016 soon followed by a long-range rocket launch drew strong protests from Washington and neighboring countries. Shortly after the launch, Seoul shut down the Kaesong Industrial Complex, an inter-Korean economic project that provided a revenue stream for North Korea. Recently, South Korean businessmen who ran factories in the complex called for the resumption of the project. Glaser, however, warned the reopening could undermine international efforts to pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear development. "If the goal is to apply financial, economic pressure, then reopening the industrial complex is not going to be helpful," the former Treasury official said. Crackdown on diplomats The United Nations also imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea last year. The latest resolution adopted in November calls for members to prohibit the communist country from using its diplomats and overseas missions for money-making activities. Poland's Foreign Ministry told VOA on Monday that the Polish authorities "have not issued permission for the commercial rent" by the North Korean embassy in Warsaw of premises for diplomatic and consular purposes. The ministry said it will take additional actions to end the "unlawful procedure." Other European nations, including Germany, Romania and Bulgaria, also said they are closely monitoring North Korean diplomats' activities in their territories. There would be no winner from conflict between China and the United States, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Tuesday, seeking to dampen tension between the two nations that flared after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump. Relations between China and the United States have soured after Trump upset Beijing in December by taking a telephone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and threatening to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. China considers Taiwan a wayward province, with no right to formal diplomatic relations with any other country. But China is committed to peace, Wang said, after meeting Australia's Foreign Minister Julia Bishop. "There cannot be conflict between China and the United States, as both sides will lose and both sides cannot afford that," he told reporters in the Australian capital of Canberra. While seeking to reduce tension, Wang called on global leaders to reject protectionism, which Trump has backed with his "America first" economic plans. "It is important to firmly commit to an open world economy," Wang added. "It is important to steer economic globalization toward greater inclusiveness, broader shared benefit in a more sustainable way." Just days ahead of Trump taking office, Chinese President Xi Jinping was in Switzerland as the keynote speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, offering a vigorous defense of globalization and signaling Beijing's desire to play a bigger role on the world stage. Wang said that China does not want to lead or replace anyone, and that as its national strength is still limited it must focus on its own development, according to comments carried on the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website. "We must remain clear-headed about the various comments demanding China play a 'leadership role'," Wang said. While Trump's trade policies have spurred concern the United States is entering a period of economic protectionism, China has previously accused Australia of adopting a similar practice by blocking the sale of major assets to Chinese interests. Bishop urged China to consider joining a pan-Pacific trade pact abandoned last month by Trump, who has said he prefers bilateral deals. "I want to encourage China to consider the agreement," Bishop said, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. As China called on nations to be open to offshore investment, Wang said Beijing would link its "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) policy with Australia's plan to develop its remote northern region. The program announced by Xi in 2013 envisages investments by China in infrastructure projects, including railways and power grids in central, west and southern Asia, as well as Africa and Europe. Australia has ambitious plans to develop its Northern Territory, a frontier region with little infrastructure, but efforts have largely stalled for lack of investment. Madam C.J. Walker embodies the quintessential American success story, as someone who fought seemingly insurmountable odds to become one of the 20th century's most successful self-made woman entrepreneurs. The daughter of former slaves, Walker built a cosmetics empire selling hair care and beauty products for African-American women. By the time she died at age 51, she was among the first African-American millionaires in the United States. It was just over 50 years after the end of slavery. "She was a woman who provided employment for thousands of women and she used her money and her influence as a philanthropist and a political activist," said A'Lelia Bundles, who speaks glowingly of her famous great-great grandmother. Bundles, a former television news executive and biographer, spent decades researching the life of her famous ancestor. "She really embodies the dream, the American dream, with opportunity for everyone, with the ability to take your God-given talents and to educate yourself and then to do something for others, said Bundles. Unfortunate upbringing Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana, in 1867, was orphaned at age 7 and married at 14, but her husband died a few years later, according to Bundles. "So, there were all of these blows, all of these things were stacked against her, but somehow she had such a survival instinct, soaking up everything she saw around her" she said. Self-made millionaire Following her experience as a sales agent for Annie Malones black hair care business, Poro, Walker decided to create her own line of hair care products. She saw the opportunity as a means of providing for her family, primarily her daughter ALelia. Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower, sold in homes and churches, helped catapult her business. Bundles says Walker traveled across the country, knowing that a black woman somewhere would be in need of her hair care line. "Walker's experiences enabled the self-made businesswoman to develop key marketing skills that would drive her future success," she said. As part of her marketing strategy, Walker utilized her own image as the before and after for her advertisements, while also being on the seal of the products. One would also find her advertisements in black-owned newspapers. Additionally, she printed business cards, fliers, and created various packaging to get her name out in black communities across America. Walker was known for giving her customers more than hair products, but offering them a lifestyle, according to Bundles. Her hard work paid off. In May 1918, Walker moved into her brand new estate outside New York City. This caused surprise and dismay among her white neighbors but did not deter Walker. Empowering African American women Walker used her fortune to hire women at all levels of her company. Bundles says Walker wanted them to know that their roles would be as leaders in their community. She held the first national convention of her sales agents in 1917. According to Bundles, in Walker's keynote speech, the businesswoman said, "I want you as Walker Agents to show the world that you care not just about yourself but about others." At the end of the convention, the women sent a telegram to President Woodrow Wilson urging him to support legislation to make lynching a federal crime. "She wanted them to speak up; she wanted them to use their power and their influence and their money to make a difference, Bundles said. Working for Walker provided the women a means to provide for their family and to be economically independent. Bundles notes a former worker once said, "'C.J. Walker made it possible for a black woman to make more money in a day than she could in a month working in somebodys kitchen.' So, this was really showing women, who would have been sharecroppers and maids and laundresses, how they could support their families and be their own bosses." Maintaining Walker's legacy When Madam C.J. Walker died in 1919, she left tens of thousands of dollars to charitable organizations and schools, leaving behind a legacy of political activism while establishing a pattern of corporate giving. Bundles is committed to maintaining Walker's legacy. "For all my life, Ive been trying to tell Madams story and really it's a labor of love just to make sure people know about her and the empowerment she gave to other women," Bundles said. "Madam Walkers legacy lives in her philanthropy as well as in an amazing line of hair care products. Colombia's Marxist ELN rebels began official peace talks with the government on Tuesday in a bid to end their part in a five-decade conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, damaged the economy and left millions displaced. The National Liberation Army (ELN), the nation's second-biggest rebel group, hopes to clinch an agreement similar to that negotiated last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which allows the rebels to form a political party in exchange for laying down their arms. The 2,000-strong ELN, considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, has extorted, bombed oil and electricity infrastructure and kidnapped hundreds of people over its 52 years to raise funds for the war and pressure the government. Negotiations, hosted by Ecuador, were delayed from November pending the release of a politician the group held hostage for nearly 10 months. "Fortunately today in Colombia we are trying to develop a political solution to the conflict," said ELN negotiator Pablo Beltran at the launch of talks outside Quito. While the talks are independent from those conducted with the FARC, the agenda will cover similar issues, like political participation, disarmament and compensation for victims. The government's chief negotiator Juan Camilo Restrepo said the two sides will remain "loyal" to the agenda and negotiate as quickly as possible. "Peace is for all Colombians; it's peace for the region and a ray of hope for humanity. New generations, the victims of the conflict and the whole world are waiting for us to be wise and big enough to overcome this futile war," Restrepo said. The government and the FARC signed a revised peace accord in late 2016 after four years of tricky negotiations and a failed referendum on the original deal. President Juan Manuel Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the FARC conflict, but has been criticized for making a deal the opposition says is too lenient on the rebels. The ELN, founded by radical Catholic priests and inspired by Cuba's 1959 revolution, has been in on-and-off preliminary talks with the government since 2014. More than 220,000 people have been killed in Colombia's conflict. Peace with the two rebel groups is unlikely to put a complete end to violence in a country also ravaged by drug trafficking, but could allow economic development in once off-limits areas and shift more resources to fight growing criminal gangs. Colombia's chief prosecutor said Wednesday that suspicions of illegal campaign contributions to President Juan Manuel Santos are based on testimony of a rancher connected to the leader's opponents. The allegations have drawn the winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize into a widening corruption scandal rocking politicians across Latin America due to admissions of bribery by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Chief prosecutor Nestor Martinez said that the accusation, which Santos denies, has not been corroborated and is based solely on the testimony of Otto Bula, who has been jailed for allegedly channeling bribes on behalf of the Brazilian firm. Martinez, formerly a top aide to Santos, said that he alerted electoral authorities so they could investigate whether almost $1 million ended up in Santos' 2014 re-election campaign. "Right now, Bula's sworn testimony is the only proof that $1 million entered Santos' campaign,'' Martinez said in a press conference in which he was hounded by journalists seeking more details about the accusation. "He's given information the way, place and time the money was delivered.'' Just being associated with Odebrecht, which has admitted to paying $800 million in bribes across Latin America, is a major blow for Santos. His biggest political asset has been an internationally hailed reputation for rectitude that contrasts with the shady dealings of many of his rivals. Santos had yet to comment, but his former campaign manager called any claim of a tie to Odebrecht unfounded and libelous. When Odebrecht agreed in December to pay a $3.5 billion fine in the U.S. as part of a plea agreement, authorities in Colombia were the first outside Brazil to arrest former officials accused of taking bribes. "So far no official from my government has been accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht, but if that should occur I want the entire weight of the law to fall on them,'' Santos said last month. Among those jailed was Bula, a little-known rancher who was a regional political ally of the senator cousin of former President Alvaro Uribe, Santos' chief opponent. According to the plea agreement, officials in Uribe's government received the bulk of $11 million that Odebrecht admitted to paying in bribes in Colombia between 2009 and 2014. According to Martinez, Bula lobbied on behalf of Odebrecht and helped channel $4.6 million to still unknown recipients after the company was awarded a major highway contract. Most of the money went through companies in Panama and China, but two transfers to Colombia of almost $1 million total purportedly ended up in the management of Santos' campaign, Martinez said. Santos' aides quickly repeat their assertion that Santos took no private contributions, from individuals or companies, during his 2014 campaign in which he narrowly defeated Uribe's former finance minister. Transparency Secretary Camilo Encisco said Santos welcomed an investigation to remove any doubt about his probity. "It's the word of a criminal, who is looking for legal benefits at any cost, against the word of a campaign manager,'' Enciso said. "We're certain that these investigations will reveal such affirmations to be false as has occurred on previous occasions.'' President Donald Trump's travel ban and its legal challenges have caused much anxiety and confusion in the Kenyan refugee camps of Kakuma and Dadaab, where those slated for resettlement in the United States are unsure of their futures. The president has argued the temporary measures are necessary to keep the country safe from terrorism. Refugee organizations respond that refugees are already vigorously vetted. Here in Kakuma, 48-year-old Michael Abukassim Kuku, a refugee from Nuba, Sudan, was scheduled to fly to the refugee-processing center in Nairobi on January 30. From there, he was to join his wife in Des Moines, Iowa. But the ban prevented his departure. "I really felt bad and it really affected me," Kuku said. "When I was told that I was leaving, I felt very happy. So when I was told the ban was there, and we weren't supposed to go, then that really gave me a hard time." Kuku received a phone call that he is to report to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office on February 17 for his flight to Nairobi. He is hopeful that this time, he will be successful. Another Sudanese refugee, 24-year-old Abdulaziz Yassir Yahya, from Darfur, was scheduled to fly to Nairobi on January 30 for processing, and then to his new home in Tucson, Arizona. But he remains in Kakuma for now. "I want to go to America because my homeland is still in war," Yahya said. "And we are just living with no hope. So when I go to America, I might be able to go to school." Ahmed Omar Bihi has lived in refugee camps since 1992, when he fled warfare in Somalia. He stayed in Dadaab until 2013, when he was transferred to Kakuma. Bihi was told to expect his U.S. resettlement before March. He is worried, but has not lost faith. "My hope is that Mr. Trump is changing his mind and law will prevail in order to release us from this harsh life," Bihi said. Though a U.S. federal judge put the ban on hold, refugees ready to fly to the United States have also been sent back to the Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps. Somali Qaali Abubakar Mohamed is one of them. She says she was scheduled to leave for her new home in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 1. Instead, she was sent back to Dadaab. "But we do not know the reason why the people are doing this, this discrimination," Mohamed said. "We are following very closely all the developments going on in the U.S. and the situation is obviously fluid, and things are changing constantly," said Yvonne Ndege, UNHCR Kenya spokesperson. "But UNHCR Kenya's understanding is that we are OK for the time being to continue resettling refugees in the United States while the legal issues in the United States are resolved." A request for response from the IOM was not immediately returned. A State Department spokesperson said the "processing of refugees is ongoing in Nairobi, including for travel to the United States." The ban suspended for 90 days entry into the United States by citizens from seven countries where terrorist groups are active, including Somalia and Sudan. All refugees needed to wait 120 days, with the exception of Syrians, who would be barred from entry indefinitely. But for these refugees in Kenya, they hope the legalities can be sorted out and they can soon begin their lives in the United States. President Donald Trump's now-suspended executive order on immigration is based on a widely disputed premise: Loose immigration rules are allowing thousands of terrorists to slip into the United States undetected. Shortly after a Muslim American gunman killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub last June, Trump told supporters, "You have thousands of shooters like this, with the same mentality, out there in this country, and we're bringing thousands and thousands of them back in to this country every year." The president echoed that claim after a federal judge halted his order Friday. "Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many bad people and dangerous people may be pouring into our country,'' he tweeted. But experts say there is little evidence to back up that contention. Indeed, most recent terrorist attacks in the United States have been carried out by homegrown Muslim extremists with few or no links to foreign countries, with recent immigrants and refugees accounting for a minority of mostly non-lethal plots. These same experts attribute that to stringent security procedures put in place after the attacks of 9/11 nearly 15 years ago. "The U.S. government has been extremely effective at preventing the infiltration of terrorists into the United States," said Charles Kurzman, a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina who tracks Muslim American involvement in terrorism. "This is one of the great success stories of the post-9/11 era." Plots on record Using open source records, Kurzman has identified 414 Muslim Americans who have been involved in extremist plots in the U.S. since 9/11. Among them were 217 natural-born citizens, 60 naturalized citizens, 39 legal permanent residents, 38 refugees and 15 undocumented immigrants. In total, attacks carried out by Muslim American extremists have killed 123 Americans in the U.S. since 9/11, according to Kurzman. The majority of cases documented by Kurzman were non-lethal, ranging from attending terrorist training abroad, to conspiring to join al-Qaida and Islamic State. According to Kurzman, more than 100 American Muslims have tried to join Islamic State, mostly during the terror group's "burst of mini popularity" in late 2014 and early 2015. A couple of dozen made it to Iraq and Syria, he said. No foreign fighter has returned to carry out an attack. In addition, no one with a family background from any of the seven countries affected by the immigration order has been involved in a deadly terrorist attack in the U.S., though nearly 100 have been "associated" with violent extremism. "The level of involvement by Muslim Americans in violent extremism is still quite low as compared with the overall level of murders and violence in the United States," he said, noting there have been some 240,000 homicides in the United States in the same period. Support for ban Nevertheless, supporters of Trump's order say it makes sense to restrict entry to the United States while the new administration reviews procedures to make sure they are adequate. "This is a temporary halt in order to allow the U.S. to implement the necessary security measures," said Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates reduced immigration levels. Current screening procedures are far from foolproof, he said, echoing concerns voiced by former director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, and other security officials in recent years. "That's what the pause is intended to find out, so that we do have systems in place to make sure that we're not admitting people who might pose a danger," Mehlman said. Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute in Washington, has examined data going back to the 1970s. Nowrasteh estimated that 3,024 Americans were killed by foreign-born terrorists on U.S. soil between 1975 and 2015. All but 41 of those deaths occurred in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The risk of dying in a terrorist attack remains infinitesimal: The chance of an American being killed in an attack carried out by a foreign-born terrorist is 1 in 3.6 million per year, according to Nowrasteh. The likelihood of being killed by a refugee? 1 in 3.64 billion per year. "In terms of the total threat that the U.S. faces on the homeland, it's a lot smaller than people realize," he said. Numbers called misleading In highlighting the terrorist threat, Trump has cited the more than 1,000 cases of Muslim American violent extremism under investigation by the FBI in all 50 states. And Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump's attorney general nominee, last year released data purporting that at least 380 of the 580 individuals convicted in terror cases since 9/11 were foreign-born. But Kurzman and Nowrasteh said these figures paint a misleading picture. Kurzman pointed out that only a few dozen indictments per year have resulted from the FBI cases. Many cases are closed without charges, while others end up in charges unrelated to terrorism. In one notable case, Hussein Abuali and Rabi Ahmed of New Jersey were arrested on charges of conspiring to buy rocket-propelled grenades; they were indicted for stealing two truckloads of cereal. Nowrasteh said that 241 out of 580 terror cases cited in the Sessions report were for offenses "related to terrorism," even though "there is no such thing as 'terrorism-related' in the U.S. law." [February 08, 2017] Mesosphere Caps Year of Exceptional Growth with Major Team Additions SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesosphere, creators of DC/OS, the premier platform for building, deploying, and scaling microservices and big data applications, is capping a year of dramatic growth with the announcement today of the addition of two new executives to help fuel the company's growth. Peter Guagenti has joined the company as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Yrieix Garnier has assumed the role of Vice President of Products. Mesosphere has more than doubled revenue in the last year, and now has over 200 employees and over 100 enterprise customers. The rapid growth is driven by the continued explosion of cloud computing, big data, microservices and containerization. Verizon, Autodesk, Bloomberg and many other leading companies now use Mesosphere DC/OS to bring cloud capabilities to their datacenters and to help accelerate their digital transformation. Similarly, four of the top 10 banks in North America, three of the top five cable providers, and three of the 10 largest telcos all now use Mesosphere enterprise software. Investors have been similarly impressed, leading to a $73.5 million Series C funding round last March. Earlier this week, the company announced a global reseller agreement with HPE to help customers transform and modernize their data centers with hybrid IT solutions that span traditional infrastructure, private, public, and managed cloud services. To help expand awareness of the powerful capabilities of Mesosphere DC/OS, the company brought Guagenti on board as CMO. A 20+ year technology and marketing veteran, he recently helped cale two other successful open source companies: Acquia, which provides commercial support, services and cloud infrastructure for the popular open source web experience development tool Drupal; and NGINX, which powers more than half of the world's most popular web applications. Guagenti has also worked for a host of other well-known brands during his time as an agency and consulting leader, including work for Google, Microsoft, Apple, SAP and eBay. "Peter is a strong leader who has a track-record of building strong, successful businesses. He brings a passion for marketing and a unique understanding of what it takes to win as an open source company," said Florian Leibert, co-founder and CEO at Mesosphere. "With a proven history leading global and cross-functional marketing organizations, Peter will energize our teams and help us better share our story of helping the world's best technology professionals succeed with containerization, big data, artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud infrastructure." "I'm excited to join Mesosphere as I believe the company has transformative technology and a dedication to dramatically evolving how we create and operate modern applications," said Guagenti. "In my career, I've worked with industry leaders, many of whom began where Mesosphere is today. I look forward to working with this amazing team, and with our community, to help develop the brand, bring new customers and partners into the fold, and do my part to help make it easier to build and scale the kind of applications that are changing our world." In addition, Yrieix Garnier is joining Mesosphere as VP Products. Yrieix has nearly 20 years of industry experience. He most recently comes from Tintri, a provider of virtualized and cloud solutions. Previously, while at Hewlett Packard Software, he led projects to transform and modernize the product line to support HP Cloud solutions. Garnier also held multiple product leadership roles at Mercury Interactive both in EMEA and US headquarters. "We're focused on building an organization with world-class products and the addition of Yrieix is a large step in our evolution," said Tobi Knaup, co-founder and CTO at Mesosphere. "His ability to bring the customer's perspective to product definition, and to successfully guide our products to market are major assets for the company." About Mesosphere Mesosphere is leading the enterprise transformation toward distributed computing and hybrid cloud. We combine the rich capability you get from public cloud providers with the freedom and control of choosing your own infrastructure. Mesosphere DC/OS is the premier platform for building, deploying, and elastically scaling modern applications and big data. DC/OS makes running containers, data services, and microservices easy across your own hardware and cloud instances. Mesosphere was founded in 2013 by the architects of hyperscale infrastructures at Airbnb and Twitter and the co-creator of Apache Mesos. Mesosphere is headquartered in San Francisco with additional offices in New York and Hamburg, Germany. Mesosphere's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Microsoft. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mesosphere-caps-year-of-exceptional-growth-with-major-team-additions-300404248.html SOURCE Mesosphere [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A fistfight on the Senate floor involving two Southern gentlemen gave rise to Rule 19, the arcane Senate directive that Republicans used more than a century later to silence Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. GOP lawmakers rebuked Warren Tuesday night for speaking against colleague and Attorney General-nominee Jeff Sessions. She was silenced for reading the letter that Coretta Scott King wrote three decades ago criticizing the Alabama senator's record on race. Senators barred Warren from speaking on the Senate floor until Sessions' confirmation vote. Conduct unbecoming Rule 19 states that senators may not directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator. It states that when, in the opinion of the presiding officer, a senator violates that decorum, the presiding officer shall call him to order and ... he shall take his seat. Raucous history In the Senate, where men are referred to as gentleman and women are called gentle lady, the rule stems from a notorious 1902 incident in which two South Carolina lawmakers got into a fistfight on the Senate floor. According to the Senate historian's office, Sen. John McLaurin raced into the Senate chamber and said fellow Democrat Ben Tillman was guilty of a willful, malicious, and deliberate lie. Tillman - a fiery populist who had earned the nickname Pitchfork Ben for threatening to bring a pitchfork to prod then-President Grover Cleveland to act on the economy - spun around and punched McLaurin squarely in the jaw. The Senate exploded in pandemonium as members struggled to separate both members. The fracas ended, but not without stinging bruises both to bystanders and to the Senate's sense of decorum, according to an account on the historian's office website. The Senate censured both men and added to its rules the provision that survives today as part of Rule 19. Selective enforcement Enforcement of Rule 19 has been rare, and the historian's office wasn't sure when it was last enforced. Some longtime Capitol observers recalled a 1988 dispute between Sen. John Heinz, R-Pa., and Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas. Heinz said Gramm broached Senate protocol with caustic remarks. Gramm withdrew the language in question. There was no official rebuke. Heinz was also involved in a 1979 dispute with fellow Republican Sen. Lowell Weicker of Connecticut. After heated words, the two men shook hands and no further action was taken. Democrats cited more recent statements that appeared to violate Rule 19, but in which no action was taken: In 2015, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said McConnell looked me in the eye and told every Republican senator ... a simple lie. In 2016, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., lambasted the cancerous leadership of then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Fight continues Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. had engaged in a tear-jerking performance that belongs at the Screen Actors Guild awards as he opposed President Donald Trump's travel ban on some Muslim countries. No rebuke followed. Other Democratic senators read from King's letter in the Senate chamber Wednesday after Warren was told to sit down. None was punished. Nearly half of Turkish residents have a negative view of the United States, according to a Gallup Poll commissioned by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, parent organization of VOA. Turks also gave the United States considerably higher marks for schools and business opportunities than interracial harmony, protection of human rights or efforts to fight international crime. Only 12.4 percent of the respondents said they felt very favorably about America, with 29.8 percent saying they felt somewhat favorably. Another 33 percent viewed the United States very unfavorably and 14 percent ranked it somewhat unfavorably. Just under 12 percent said they didn't know or refused to answer. The survey was conducted last year but publicly released only Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump held his first telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish presidential sources said the two leaders agreed to cooperate in the fight against Islamic State extremists in Syria, and that CIA Director Mike Pompeo would soon visit Turkey. In the Gallup survey, Russia ranked even worse than the United States, with 44.1 seeing it very unfavorably up from 33 percent three years earlier and 18 percent viewing it "somewhat unfavorably" amid tensions over Moscow's involvement in Syria and Turkey's downing of a Russian fighter jet that violated its airspace in November 2015. The poll of 1,700 Turkish adults and 500 Kurdish speakers was conducted May 12-June 19, before an attempted coup by Turkey's army on July 15. While the country's relations with the U.S. have become more strained since then, cooperation has improved with Russia. The survey also asked respondents to evaluate the importance of seven qualities for any country on a scale of 1 to 9. Protecting human rights got the highest average rating, with 71.6 percent of Turks giving it a 9; only 17.6 percent said the United States does that very well. Having democracy with political freedoms got the lowest priority among Turks, with 57.3 percent of the respondents giving it a 9. Other top priorities were having good schools and universities (70.2 percent) and being a place where people of different races live together peacefully (68.2 percent). The respondents were asked how well the United States performs on each of the seven categories. Having good schools was first, given a 9 by 43.5 percent of the respondents, followed by 32.1 percent for economic and business opportunities. But only 20.1 percent gave the United States a 9 for different races living together peacefully, followed by 17.6 percent for protecting human rights and 15.1 percent for fighting international crime. Militant group Islamic State has threatened to target Shiites living in certain northern areas of Pakistan. Hundreds of pamphlets containing threats have allegedly been distributed by IS in the Kurram agency on the Pakistani side of the Durand Line with Afghanistan, threatening attacks in specific tribal areas. "We have achieved our goals in Afghanistan and are now ready to confront Shia renouncers in Pakistani's tribal areas," the IS pamphlet said in the local language, Pashto. Although distributed in Sunni majority areas too, the pamphlet threatens to target Shiites in the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), as well as in Dera Ismail Khan and Hangu cities in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The areas mentioned in the pamphlet are home to a considerable Shiite population. VOA could not independently confirm the authenticity of the pamphlet. A local government official acknowledged, on the condition of anonymity, that pamphlets were distributed, but said the government is investigating whether these came from IS or others. He said the areas mentioned in the pamphlets are under government control. "We are on the front line of the war against militancy and, therefore, our security is tight," the official added. Pakistan's military has been carrying out an operation to clear out militants in the region since 2014. The government is demanding local tribes in the region surrender their weapons to decrease militancy. The weapons surrender is part of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Faqir Hussain, an elder of a Shiite tribe called Tori, expressed concern that the government is demanding Shiites in the region surrender their weapons while facing such threats. "We would not have bought these weapons if we had no threat," Hussain told VOA's Deewa service. "I have told my tribe living on the border that they have to defend themselves." The Tori tribe recently faced a suicide attack claimed by a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban, which reportedly is supporting IS. Islamic State reportedly is attempting to establish a footprint in the Kurram agency and has been recruiting local men into its ranks. Government action The Pakistani government says it will take action against those involved in distributing the pamphlets. "The government is going to take strict measures if IS has distributed pamphlets in Kurram agency and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," lawmaker Tahir Iqbal, who is a member of the ruling Muslim League party, told VOA. "The government will not spare anyone involved in printing or spreading hate material or pamphlets." The terror group has also been active in parts of neighboring Afghanistan for the past two years. Kabul has said many of the IS fighters in Afghanistan belong to the Orokzai tribe in Pakistan. Analysts say the military operation in the tribal areas of Pakistan has cleared out the top layer of militancy, but the sleeper cells and sympathizers still exist and have the capacity to plan and attack. "It is almost impossible to fully prevent the spread of the group in the current circumstances," security analyst Said Nazir Mohmand, who is associated with the Islamabad-based Institute of Policy Studies, told VOA. "Such groups can easily be eliminated if there is peace in Afghanistan." Top foreign ministry officials from Russia, China and Pakistan met in Moscow in December to discuss what they said was a "gradually growing" threat to their frontiers posed by Islamic State extremists in Afghanistan. Authorities in northern Afghanistan say Islamic State terrorists have killed at least six local employees of theInternational Committee of the Red Cross. Jowzjan province government spokesman Reza Ghafoori told VOA Wednesdays attack occurred in the Qushtipa district and the assailants also took away two ICRC workers. The ICRC said that the team, composed of three drivers and five field officers, was on its way to deliver much-needed livestock materials in an area south of the town of Shibergan when they were ambushed. "This is a despicable act. Nothing can justify the murder of our colleagues and dear friends, said the head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli. She added that it would be premature to for the charity to determine the impact of the "appalling incident" on its operations in Afghanistan "We condemn in the strongest possible terms what appears to be a deliberate attack on our staff. This is a huge tragedy. We're in shock," said the president of the ICRC, Peter Maurer. Amnesty International called the attack "a horrific crime" The Taliban has denied involvement in the incident, saying attacking ICRC is a crime. We will find and punish the offenders, a spokesman added. IS has also claimed responsibly for Tuesday's suicide bombing in Kabul and identified the bomber as Tajik. The attack killed at least 22 people and wounded 40 others in Kabul. Most of the victims Tuesday were employees of the Afghan Supreme Court. Female judges and prosecutors were among those killed and wounded. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, Wednesday condemned the suicide attack outside the court building as nothing short of an atrocity and called for those responsible must be brought to justice. Since the beginning of 2015 alone, UNAMA has documented 74 attacks targeting judges, prosecutors and judicial staff, which have resulted in 89 dead and 214 injured, according the mission's statement issued in Kabul. IS has been trying to establish a foothold in Afghanistan and has stepped attacks around the country, mainly targeting the Shi'ite Muslim minority community. The number of civilian casualties caused by IS terrorists in Afghanistan increased nearly 10 times in 2016 compared to the previous year, according to a UNAMA report released earlier this week. It said that more than 200 people were killed and 700 wounded in comparison to 39 deaths and 43 injured in 2015. Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Puzder acknowledged Tuesday that he had employed a housekeeper who wasn't authorized to work in the U.S., as the Senate's top Republican came to his defense and dismissed the issue as a mistake that had been fixed. Number one, the administration strongly supports Andy Puzder and wants to stick with him, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters. He's qualified for the job, and for myself, I'm enthusiastically in his camp. It wasn't clear all Republicans were following McConnell's lead on Puzder, whose confirmation process was already complicated by his delay in filing ethics documents and Democrats' questions about how a fast food CEO could be an effective advocate for American workers. Family was unaware Puzder said in a statement that he and his wife were unaware the housekeeper was not legally permitted to work in the U.S. during the years they employed her. When I learned of her status, we immediately ended her employment and offered her assistance in getting legal status, Puzder said. We have fully paid back taxes to the IRS and the State of California. Details about the housekeeper's immigration status were not known. Nor was it clear when and for how long Puzder employed the worker. Puzder spokesman George Thompson said Tuesday that the fast food CEO remains committed to becoming labor secretary and is working on divesting from his financial holdings. Asked if the housekeeper matter is disqualifying, Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina replied, I don't think it should be. It seems to have been cleared up. Some want to hear more But some Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Welfare and Pensions Committee, which will consider the nomination, said they would look into the matter. It deserves our attention,'' Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia said Tuesday. I am researching it because it's important. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of two Republicans to buck the Trump administration and vote against Betsy DeVos' confirmation as education secretary, said she wants to hear more from Puzder at his hearing. Puzder's confirmation hearing has been delayed at least three times, and Chairman Lamar Alexander has said he won't schedule it until Puzder has submitted required disclosures on such matters as how he would avoid conflicts of interest as CEO of CKE Restaurants. First, Puzder must get approval of the plan from the Office of Government Ethics, which had not happened as of Tuesday. Support for Puzder Alexander, in a statement, defended Puzder. Since Mr. Puzder reported his mistake and voluntarily corrected it, I do not believe that this should disqualify him from being a cabinet secretary, he said. Puzder's acknowledgement about the housekeeper is the second that goes against Trump's vow to keep jobs in American hands. He also has acknowledged outsourcing CKE Restaurants' technology help desk, the type of practice Trump derides as being anti-American worker. Democrats and their allies have piled on with unflattering stories from workers at Puzder's restaurants, and they question how well he can advocate for American workers given that he opposes a big hike in the minimum wage and other labor priorities. Much to explain What we have heard is story after story about how he spent his career squeezing workers for profit, leaving many with lost wages, no financial security and no retirement, said Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Senate HELP committee. If Mr. Puzder ever does come before our committee, he's going to have a lot of explaining to do. Puzder is the second Trump pick who has faced questions over hiring of household workers. Mick Mulvaney, Trump's pick to run the Cabinet-level White House budget office, had acknowledged that he failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household worker more than a decade ago. He has repaid the government, and those developments do not seem to be impeding his prospects for confirmation. The Huffington Post first reported Puzder's disclosure about the housekeeper. Efforts to pay employees staying home to care for family in the United States got a boost on Tuesday with a legislative proposal that would benefit workers, especially women tending to children and aging parents. The United States stands alone among developed nations with its lack of paid family leave, and the proposed Family Act would bring policy in line with other countries, supporters say. The proposal would establish a national insurance program to provide workers with up to 12 weeks paid leave per year for the birth of a child, adoption or care for a seriously ill family member. The United States is the only country among 41 nations that does not mandate any paid leave for new parents, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Other nations have paid leave ranging from about two months to more than a year, OECD data shows. The lack of paid leave in the United States hits women particularly hard. Nearly a quarter of new U.S. mothers go back to work within two weeks of giving birth, according to Debra Ness, head of the National Partnership for Women & Families. Women who take time off to care for children or elderly relatives lose an average of $300,000 from their lifetime earnings and retirement savings, Ness said. The proposal introduced in the U.S. Congress has scores of co-sponsors among Democrats but none yet among the more conservative Republican party that controls both legislative houses, said lawmakers introducing the bill. President Donald Trump, a Republican, has voiced support for six weeks paid maternity leave for biological mothers. His proposal did not apply to men nor did it include paid leave to care for a seriously ill family member. The Family Act would be gender-neutral and apply to adoptive parents and same-sex couples. Funding would come from employer and employee contributions, and the average worker would pay $1.50 per week, supporters say. "Too many American workers are not paid enough to make ends meet, and losing weeks worth of wages in order to care for and deal with the challenge of this magnitude when a loved one is ill would push families over the edge and some passed the point of no return," said Representative Rosa DeLauro, one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill. Tuesday marked the third time the Family Act has been proposed in Congress since 2013, according to DeLauro's office. Previous versions failed to gain support among Republicans, the office said. Opponents say the proposal would hurt businesses, especially small ones. A month after Islamic State took over her neighborhood, militants stormed 20-year-old Safaa's family salon, shutting it down and declaring the beauty parlor sinful. But under the guise of a tailor shop operating from a room in her home, Safaa continued to cut hair and apply makeup to women for two-and-a-half years, operating illegally, though not entirely in secret. From a rented home in Iraqi-forces-controlled Mosul, Safaa tells VOA her story in Arabic, edited for clarity. They didn't want to close our shop altogether, because someone needed to make up IS wives. But after IS took over our area, three militants with bushy beards and carrying pistols came to our shop. "This salon is a sin," they announced. "Give us all of your things and shut it down. If we come here again and this salon is open, you will pay the consequences." They took almost all of our makeup and hair equipment, but there was a little left that they missed. We closed the shop and took what we had to our house. We had a small room that was officially "my tailor shop." Women would come to me with clothes, pretending they needed them mended if anyone asked. But then we would cut their hair or beautify them before their weddings. It was dangerous and I was scared. My hand was always on my heart. But we didn't have any other way to make money. And it wasn't just the money. Under IS, women didn't have any other place to go to talk to each other freely. If you went anywhere outside, you had to have your father, brother or husband with you and if your veils were not just right, you could get into trouble. One of my friends went to the market with a veil on her face, but her eyes were exposed. A militant saw her and grabbed the back of her neck and pushed her face toward the sewer water on the side of the road. They say it is sinful to touch any woman who is not your wife. And then they do that? Most of the customers were not involved with IS. In fact, mostly what they talked about was the militants, and their dreams of being liberated. A month after IS took over, my brother was chatting with 17 other men in his grocery store. They were talking about the militants, saying IS is not with Islam, their behaviors are not Muslim. One of my brother's acquaintances was spying for IS. All of the men were arrested, and we never saw my brother again. So, when the girls wanted to talk about liberation, or IS beliefs, I shut down the conversation. But you know how women talk. We have a lot to talk about. Islamic State brides We had many of the militants' brides come to us before their weddings. They did their hair and makeup like anyone else, except they didn't trim their eyebrows. They said it was sinful, but I don't know why. I didn't think it was attractive. One day a woman brought her daughter to prepare for her wedding. The mother saw me and said, "I have four sons who all work for the Islamic State punishment office. I would like you to marry one of them." My mother stepped in and said, "Sorry, but she is already promised to another man." The woman was offended and said, "Is it because we are with Islamic State? Is it because we are with Daesh?" Daesh is an insulting name for the militant group. She wanted to know if we were against them. My mother said, "No, you are most welcome here. She simply already has an engagement contract." Other militant brides came in, and it was as if they didn't have to follow any of the same rules. One girl wore a dress that showed cleavage and she said she met her future husband because he was a new friend of her brother's. "Isn't it a sin to fall in love with a stranger?" I asked. "Doesn't IS say your marriage must be arranged?" When she was ready, she started to leave in her dress, with no veil on her face and her hands were exposed. She and her friends were trilling in celebration. It is our tradition at weddings, but IS forbade it. "Isn't it a sin to go out like this?" I said. She laughed and said, "I am with Islamic State. We can go out however we want." President Donald Trump's legal battle over his executive order on immigration looms as the first major constitutional challenge to his authority as president. The fate of Trump's controversial executive order on immigration is in the hands of the U.S. federal court system and may eventually be headed to the Supreme Court. Trump's order suspended refugee admissions and temporarily banned entry of people from seven Muslim-majority nations, but it was put on hold by a federal judge last week. Both Trump critics and defenders see the legal battle now playing out as a key test of the president's executive authority under the Constitution and the rights of the judiciary branch to hold him accountable to the rule of law. Trump: It's about security Trump again defended his executive order Wednesday in Washington during a speech to law enforcement officials from around the country. "It was done for the security of our nation, the security of our citizens, so that people come in who aren't going to do us harm," he said. "And that's why it was done." Trump got backup this week from his homeland security secretary, John Kelly, who explained the rationale behind the travel ban during an appearance before the House Homeland Security Committee. "Americans must feel safe to walk down the street, to go to the mall or to a nightclub, anywhere or anytime," Kelly told lawmakers, including Democrats who have spoken out against the order. "Fear must not become the status quo as it has in so many parts of the world." Fierce opposition continues Trump's order sparked demonstrations across the country in the days following its implementation, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and fellow Democrats seized on the issue to complain that the president was exceeding his power. Schumer urged congressional Republicans to rethink their support for Trump. "We need Republicans to set aside partisan considerations in favor of doing what's best for the country," he said. "Otherwise, our institutions of government, our Constitution and core American ideals may be eroded." Opponents of the travel ban charge the executive order is discriminatory and unconstitutional. Trump, however, may have history on his side regarding presidential action to regulate immigration, legal expert Dan McLaughlin said. Delegated authority McLaughlin, a columnist for the conservative news site National Review, told VOA's Persian service the president was relying on authority "delegated to him by Congress," and that traditionally federal courts have given presidents wide latitude in regulating immigration. "This is not a radical departure from U.S. policy," he said, adding that in his view the demonstrations sparked by the immigration order "have been very extreme and hysterical and worried the U.S. was slipping into some sort of fascist country." The federal courts will now decide whether Trump has gone beyond his presidential authority in issuing his executive orders. "Certainly both Republican and Democratic presidents have used executive orders at various times," said George Washington University Law School professor Paul Schiff Berman. "The issue, I think, is whether these executive orders go farther, and I think that they do both in their scope and in the incredibly ill-considered way in which they have been issued." From CEO to commander in chief Before turning to politics, Trump built a reputation as a dynamic leader with an international brand in the business world. Now as president, dealing with the limits of executive authority and the checks applied by Congress and the court system could prove to be a challenge for him, said American University's James Thurber, a professor of government and founder of the university's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies. "He's impatient," Thurber said of Trump. "We have separation of powers in our democracy. It is slow, it's deliberative and it's transparent. As a businessman, he likes to say, 'You're fired!' or 'Let's get this done; let's move ahead.' Well, in a democracy you can't do that, and that is going to frustrate him." While Democrats are critical, many Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, continue to back the president and resist the notion that he is dismissive of the courts. "They're respecting the separation of powers and the process," Ryan told reporters at the Capitol this week. "Look, I know he is an unconventional president. He gets frustrated with judges. We get frustrated with judges. But he is respecting the process, and I think that is what counts at the end of the day." A divided public Recent polling suggests the public remains divided on Trump's immigration move. A new Morning Consult/Politico poll found 55 percent of the people surveyed supported Trump's temporary travel ban from the seven majority-Muslim countries, while 38 percent opposed it. The numbers were different in a recent Quinnipiac poll, which found 51 percent of those polled opposed the immigration order, while 46 percent supported it. It's likely the Supreme Court will have the last word on Trump's travel ban and on the issue of presidential authority in this case. German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared on Tuesday to win promises of closer cooperation from Poland's eurosceptic rulers, during a visit to Warsaw to discuss reforms essential for the European Union to tackle mounting divisions over its future. Europe's most powerful leader needs the backing of Poland, wary of any increased powers for Brussels, to agree reforms in March, on the 60th anniversary of the founding Rome Treaty. In the same month, Britain plans to give notice of leaving. Governed by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, Poland is lobbying for an overhaul of the EU's fundamental rulebook, its treaty, to return some power to member states. But diplomats say the PiS, feeling increasingly isolated in Europe since Britain a strategic ally decided to leave, may be seeking to improve its once-frosty ties with Berlin. A rare meeting Merkel held a rare meeting with PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a politician deeply distrustful of Germany, who once said the chancellor's goal was to make Poland subordinate to its western neighbor. There was a good atmosphere, Kaczynski told reporters after the 60-minute talk with Merkel in a five-star hotel in central Warsaw. My sense is that today's visit will bring good results, he said, in comments contrasting with his previous accusations that Germany sought to wield too much influence in Poland. Relations between Poland, the EU's sixth biggest nation, and Germany, Poland's main trade partner, cooled when the PiS was last in power in 2005-07. Kaczynski, then prime minister, had once invoked the number of Poles killed by the Nazis in World War II to justify demands for greater voting power within the EU in 2007. He wields no government posts now but is seen as the main powerbroker in Poland. Changing mood German diplomats described Merkel's meeting with Kaczynski as friendly and open, although Merkel herself warned Warsaw that its ambitions to curb the power of Brussels institutions were unrealistic. There may ... be some ideas that go in the direction of treaty change. I will put forward the argument that we should proceed very cautiously, she told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. Szydlo said Poland was determined to deepen cooperation with Germany. Poland and Germany ... have a huge role to play in the changes that are taking place in the Union, she said. Merkel also issued veiled criticism of the Polish government's democratic record, which critics say represent a tilt towards authoritarianism and which is the subject of a row between Warsaw and the European Commission. EU has questions for Law and Justice party Merkel who grew up in communist East Germany said she was pleased her government planned to address EU questions on the issue later this month. As a young person, I always looked closely at what was happening in Poland... Without Solidarity, European unification, the end of the Cold War would not have come so quickly, she said, referring to the Polish trade union movement that contributed to the overthrow of communist rule in 1989. Since then we know how important plurality in a society is, how important an independent judicial system is, independent media. The European Commission has questioned the ruling Law and Justice (PIS) party's efforts to gain more control over state institutions, including public media and the constitutional court. Britain's decision to quit the EU means Poland is losing a strategic ally in defense policy and in its push for a tough EU line on Russia, at a time when the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president is raising questions over the West's approach to Moscow. Yoga could help ease lower back pain, a new study suggests. Writing in the journal Cohcrane Library, researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine say the ancient form of exercise could help the millions of Americans who suffer from lower back pain. "We found that the practice of yoga was linked to pain relief and improvement in function," said the study's lead author, Dr. L. Susan Wieland, Assistant Professor of Family & Community Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "For some patients suffering from chronic non-specific low back pain, yoga may be worth considering as a form of treatment." According to the researchers, 80 percent of Americans will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives. Furthermore, one third of adults report that lower back pain has interfered with their ability to perform daily tasks. To reach their conclusions, researchers looked at 12 different studies that included more than 1,000 subjects, that examined the link between yoga and alleviating lower back pain. The studies examined the differences between those who practiced yoga and those who received non-exercise intervention such as educational material given to a patient, or to an exercise intervention such as physical therapy. They found after three and six months, those who did yoga had small to moderate improvements in back-related function, as well as small improvements in pain. Researchers did add that yoga was about as effective as non-yoga exercise in helping back pain, but because there were only a few studies that compared the two, more research needs to be done. Yoga is both physical and meditative and dates back thousands of years to India. It has seen a surge in popularity in the United States in recent years. The participants in the studies analyzed by the researchers usually practiced Iyengar, Hatha, or Viniyoga yoga. Researchers did say that since the participants in the various studies all knew they were practicing yoga, there would have been some bias in their reporting. Furthermore, there were reports of adverse effect among those who practiced yoga over those who did not exercise, but those effects were about the same as those who tried non-yoga exercise. Compliance is a critical measure in the industry today. Across the globe, strict regulations are growing in prevalence, as security is mission critical in todays digital world, and without question data is every businesses most important asset. In the realm of call recording, compliant solutions are a prerequisite, and reaping the reward is Boca Raton, Fla.-based Call Cabinet. An ITEXPO veteran, Call Cabinets Ryan Kahan, came to Fort Lauderdale this week to make a splash pretty standard for the call recording firm. Last year at ITEXPO, CallCabinet unveiled Atmos 2.0, its second iteration of the cloud-based call recording solution. Kahan noted, This has been a crazy year...the growth has been phenomenal, which brings us to todays announcement Atmos Plus. With Atmos Plus, CallCabinet is bringing the power of on-premises to the cloud. The a la carte type offering allows Telecoms and Internet service providers (ITSPs) to cater to need by selecting features like agent screen capture, employee evaluation and training, employee and supervisor notes as well as compliance support. The low cost, pay as you grow model, allows telecoms and ITSPs to cut cost exponentially, while gaining a solution compliant with PCI, MiFID (II) /MIFR, HIPAA standards. CallCabinets debut call recording solution, Carbon, is the foundation for this Atmos Plus in that the team wanted to take premises-based performance to the cloud. Working with several current customers to hone the solution, there are no superfluous components customers can take what they want and leave the rest. Kahan explained, At the end of the day a customer has a budget, and the product has allowed us to make our customers far more competitive in individual markets. Telcos and ITSPs can offer a robust solution, at a fraction of the cost. Historically, CallCabinet started with an on-premises approach in Carbon, but Kahan reports that since the launch of Atmos, the growth has been explosive to say the least. And, he credits compliance as the impetus for the firms burgeoning success. According to Kahan, CallCabinet has the only solution with desktop client to record Skype for Business as far as he knows. The cloud-based, software-as-a-service company started with a container, but today is expanding integrations and capabilities to meet the growing demands of an omnichannel world with long term goals of document management, speech analytics, message recording and more. Share this Page Edited by Stefania Viscusi The government of Myanmar says it needs "firm evidence" rather than allegations before it investigates U.N. reports of abuses against the Rohingya community by its security forces. The United Nations special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, has said Myanmar's Rohingya have suffered abuses that could be considered "crimes against humanity." "Our position is clear: These allegations are very serious," the permanent secretary of Myanmar's foreign ministry, U Kyaw Zaya, said Tuesday. "However, allegations alone are not enough. If they give us firm evidence, we will investigate these allegations." U.N. adviser Dieng said Monday: "If people are being persecuted based on their identity and killed, tortured, raped and forcibly transferred in a widespread or systematic manner, this could amount to crimes against humanity, and in fact be the precursor of other egregious international crimes." A "flash report" last week by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) gave weight to allegations that Myanmar's security forces have committed serious human-rights violations against civilians in northern Rakhine state since a recent escalation of violence there, according to Dieng. Human Rights Watch issued a report Monday alleging government forces committed rape and other sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls as young as 13 during security operations in northern Rakhine state in late 2016. Dieng has called for an investigation "by a truly independent and impartial body that includes international observers." A U.N. statement Monday said he has expressed concern that the commission previously appointed by Myanmar to investigate abuse allegations had found no evidence, or insufficient evidence, of any wrongdoing by government forces. Attacks against the Rohingya population, most of whom live in Myanmar's Rakhine state, appear to have been widespread and systematic during the recent outburst of violence, which began last October 9 when nine border guards were killed by suspected insurgents. A Muslim ethnic group, the Rohingya have been denied citizenship despite having lived in Myanmar for generations. The United Nations has referred to them as one of the world's most persecuted minorities. OHCHR's 43-page "flash report" resulted from interviews conducted during two weeks in January by U.N. investigators in the Bangladeshi city of Cox's Bazar, near the border with Myanmar. Many Rohingya there had fled across the border in response to a security sweep in Myanmar's Rakhine state. An estimated 66,000 Rohingya fled into Bangladesh from Rakhine, while another 22,000 have been internally displaced since October, OHCHR reported. All witnesses interviewed by the U.N. said the abuses were committed by members of the Myanmar army, border guards and part of the regular police forces. A spokesman for the Myanmar government, which was provided an advance copy of the report, told VOA last week it will conduct its own investigation into the charges. "We found out that what they have written in the report is quite harsh," said Zaw Htay, spokesman for President Htin Kyaw. "We are deeply concerned about it. Vice President U Myint Swe will lead a commission investigating these allegations as soon as possible. If the investigation finds and receives firm evidence on the allegations, we will take necessary actions." The decision by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his stay in London, where he went for medical treatment nearly three weeks ago, is fueling rumors and concern back in his home country. The 74-year-old president left Nigeria on January 19 to get treatment for an undisclosed issue. Officials insist that it is much ado about nothing, but have not offered specifics. Lai Mohammed, Nigerias information minister, said Wednesday that the president is not in the hospital. "I can assure that Mr. President is well and he is absolutely in no danger, he told reporters in Abuja. The remarks echoed those on Monday from vice president and acting president Yemi Osinbajo, who told reporters he had just spoken to the president and described him as "hale and hearty." But the statement have not quashed worry among Nigerians. This is the second time during Buharis tenure as president that he has sought medical treatment abroad. Osahon Enabulele, former president of the Nigerian Medical Association and vice president of the Commonwealth Medical Association, said that the mystery surrounding the president's illness creates uncertainty that Nigerians do not need at this moment. It begins to create some level of suspicion, some doubt in the minds of the people, he told VOA. In 2009, President Umaru Yar'Adua, went to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment without disclosing his grave health condition and without transferring power to his then vice president, Goodluck Jonathan. During his extended absence, Nigerians went months without hearing the voice or seeing a picture of Yar'Adua. Nigerias senate eventually voted to make Jonathan acting president and he assumed the role permanently when YarAdua died. We dont have to repeat that kind of historical experience, Enabulele said of the confusion before and after Yar'Aduas death. Dont forget that Nigerians are going through extreme hardship on our current unfortunate economic [situation] which has plunged the generality of the people into a miasma of hopelessness. Nigerians took to the streets on Monday demanding transparency and calling for better economic conditions. The oil-dependent country has been hit hard by lower crude oil prices, according to the International Monetary Fund. It is also facing a persistent and deadly insurgency from Islamist radical group Boko Haram. After Buhari's departure, the Nigerian presidency released photos of the president on January 22 and January 28, both showing him sitting on a couch. There have also been a few statements from Buhari's Twitter account, the most recent coming on January 31. So far this month, there have been no photos, audio or tweets, leaving Nigerians wondering when their president will return. Germany and NATO on Tuesday underscored their commitment to beefing up the defense of eastern Europe's border with Russia as the first of four new battalions under the North Atlantic alliance's banner arrived in Lithuania. In moves agreed last year under former U.S. President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels unprecedented since the Cold War, prompted by Russia's annexation of Crimea and accusations denied by Moscow that it is supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. The German-led battle group in Lithuania will be joined this year by a U.S-led deployment in Poland, British-led troops in Estonia and Canadian-led troops in Latvia. They will add to smaller rotating contingents of U.S troops. German defense minister reassured Doubts about the U.S. commitment to NATO have surfaced since the election of President Donald Trump, who has described NATO allies as very unfair for not contributing more financially to the alliance. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said she felt reassured following a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis. After what we discussed, I have no doubt about his deep conviction in the importance of NATO and the commitment of the Americans within NATO to what we have agreed, she said at a welcoming ceremony at Lithuania's Rukla military base, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Russian border. Von der Leyen is due to hold her first meeting with Mattis in Washington on Friday. NATO leaders, Trump to meet in May In a phone call on Sunday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump agreed to meet alliance leaders in Europe in May. Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite said the German battalion was arriving [at] the right place and at the right time, adding he hoped the troops stay would be peaceful. A NATO official said all the NATO forces would participate in a major exercise in eastern Europe in June. A second official said it would include a simulated nuclear attack. There are no end dates for stay of the new contingents, which will rotate every six months partly to comply with NATO's 1997 promise to Russia to avoid permanent stationing of substantial combat forces in Central and Eastern Europe. Reforms to Pakistan's electoral laws making it mandatory for political parties to allot five percent of their tickets to women candidates were approved on Tuesday by the federal cabinet, the country's highest decision-making body. Under Pakistan's constitution, women are guaranteed seats through a quota system in the national parliament and regional assemblies in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. At present, 60 out of 342 seats in the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, are reserved for women with a further 137 seats reserved for women in the four provincial assemblies. However the reforms will pave the way for more women politicians. Women's rights campaigners welcomed the move by the cabinet of ministers, headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but said the quota should be increased. Various studies have shown that women elected on reserved seats have done a good job in the legislatures. They have put up good human rights legislations, said Nasreen Azhar, a founder member of Women Action Forum, a women's rights organization. But they are considered weak because they don't have the backing of voters. Now things will improve but the quota should at least be 10 percent, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on phone from Islamabad, where her organization is based. Briefing media on the decisions taken by the cabinet, Law Minister Zahid Hamid said the electoral reforms were due to be presented before the National Assembly next month where they are expected to be passed. Last month, the Senate passed a law seeking a re-election in constituencies where women's turnout is less than 10 percent in an effort to address disparities in the number of women who go out to vote in the socially conservative country. Two Republican senators say they are sponsoring legislation that would make major changes in the U.S. immigration system, slashing the number of foreign nationals admitted into the country each year by up to 50 percent. The proposal, which by some estimates would reduce immigration from 1 million to 500,000 people per year, would align the federal government with policies that conservative "restrictionist" groups have advocated for years, if not decades. The bill being proposed by Senators David Perdue and Tom Cotton would reduce immigration by limiting admission for migrants' family members, ending the diversity visa lottery program and making the process of obtaining "green card" work permits much more difficult. Perdue and Cotton, who represent the states of Georgia and Arkansas, respectively, said Tuesday they hope to see their proposal reach the Senate floor this year, but that they do not expect quick action on the bill. Both men said they spoke to President Donald Trump before announcing their plans. Reaction America's Voice, a group which lobbies for political rights for immigrants, criticized the bill, calling it part of a broader campaign to restrict immigration to the United States. Lynn Tramonte, the deputy director of America's Voice, told NBC News her pro-immigration group is "very concerned about additional restrictions on legal immigration, as it's all of a piece, coming from the same dark place." Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland told VOA in a statement that attacks on immigrants hurt the economy and go against Americas values as a nation. First, President Trump rolled out an unlawful and un-American ban on refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. Now, Republican Senators are introducing legislation to take an axe to legal immigration -- without doing anything to actually enact comprehensive immigration reform, he said. We are a nation of immigrants - new and old - and they are an integral part of our economy," Van Hollen said. "They are entrepreneurs, job creators, and hardworking members of our society. These attacks on immigrants hurt our economy and go against our values as a nation, and we will fight them tooth and nail. The proposed Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act, or RAISE, would allow only spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to enter the U.S. as immigrants. It would exclude preferential treatment for extended family members and adult relatives of U.S. residents, such as parents, siblings and adult children. Cotton told reporters that a waiver could be granted to the parents of a legal permanent U.S. resident in case of illness - as long as the family guaranteed the new arrivals would not rely on public benefits for support or health care. He and Perdue said in a statement they would eliminate the "outdated" diversity visa lottery, which they say "is plagued with fraud [and] advances no economic or humanitarian interest." The lottery program currently provides 50,000 visas per year. A summary of the RAISE proposal said "green cards," the documents that denote permanent resident status and permit foreign nationals to work legally in the United States, would be restricted to a maximum of 50,000 per year. The summary estimated the average waiting time for such permits would rise to 13 years. Immigrants with special skills who come and help our economy would still be allowed in, the senators said, and there would be no restriction on foreign nationals who have visas connected to their employment in the U.S. Analysts familiar with the proposal said the bill is intended to prevent foreign nationals willing to work for low wages from competing with less-educated American workers, whose incomes have been declining in recent years. "Unless we reverse this trend, we are going to create a near-permanent underclass for whom the American dream is always just out of reach," Cotton told reporters. His aides estimated the RAISE legislation would cut immigration to the U.S. by 40 percent in its first year, and 50 percent over the next 10 years. A group of Republican senior statesmen are pushing for a carbon tax to combat the effects of climate change and hoping to sell their plan to the White House. Former Secretary of State Jim Baker is leading the effort, which also includes former Secretary of State George Shultz. In an opinion piece published Tuesday night in The Wall Street Journal, they argued "there is mounting evidence of problems with the atmosphere that are growing too compelling to ignore." The group will meet Wednesday with White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, senior adviser Jared Kushner and Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council. Ivanka Trump is also expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the plans. The person was not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly and insisted on anonymity. Carbon taxes are designed to raise the cost of fossil fuels to bring down consumption. Baker and Shultz detailed in the opinion piece their plan for a gradually increasing carbon tax, with dividends being returned to people, as well as border adjustments for the carbon content of exports and imports and the rollback of regulations. Steadily increasing tax According to an outline of the plan, the group will call for a gradually increasing carbon tax that "might begin at $40 a ton and increase steadily over time." It would raise $200 billion to $300 billion annually. They would then redistribute tax proceeds back to consumers on a quarterly basis in what they call "carbon dividends" that could be approximately $2,000 annually for a family of four. Their plan would also set "border adjustments" based on carbon, which would result in fees for products from countries without similar carbon pricing systems. And they would seek to roll back regulations enacted under President Barack Obama, including the Clean Power Plan. So far, Trump has sent mixed signals on whether or how he will try to slow Earth's warming temperatures and rising sea levels. During the transition, Trump met with prominent climate activists Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ivanka Trump, a close adviser to her father, has indicated interest in working on the issue. But the president has also hired oil industry champions who want to reverse Obama's efforts to rein in emissions. The White House press office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Also supporting Baker's effort are Hank Paulson, treasury secretary for former President George W. Bush; Greg Mankiw, who chaired Bush's Council of Economic Advisers; and Marty Feldstein, chairman of President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers, according to the person familiar with the plans. Also on the list are former Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton; Thomas Stephenson, a partner at the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital; and Ted Halstead, founder of New America and the Climate Leadership Council. The vast majority of peer-reviewed studies and climate scientists agree the planet is warming, mostly because of man-made sources. Under Obama, the U.S. has dramatically ramped up production of renewable energy from sources like solar, in part through Energy Department grants. Sanders backed tax Some environmental activists support a tax on emissions to help transition off fossil fuels. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders advocated for a carbon tax as part of his bid for the Democratic nomination last year. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, never supported a tax, though she offered a slew of proposals to deal with climate change. Trump's secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, was the longtime chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil. Exxon was long considered a leading opponent of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. But under Tillerson's leadership, Exxon has started planning for climate change and even voiced support for a carbon tax. Trump's choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency is Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who denies climate change science. And Trump's nominee to run the Energy Department, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, also has questioned climate science while working to promote coal-fired power in Texas. He did, however, oversee the growth of renewable power in Texas, which became a leading wind-energy producer while he was governor. Carbon tax legislation is unlikely to receive a warm welcome in the GOP-controlled Congress, where Republicans were staunchly opposed to Obama's climate agenda. Last year, Republicans in the House approved symbolic measures opposing a fee on crude oil and a carbon tax on emissions. Corruption can't be stopped, but it must be controlled, even in a country where the abuse of power is a legacy of communist days. That's the message of the Romanian president after a tumultuous eight days of protests derailed a government plan to weaken corruption laws by decree. Klaus Iohannis told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the fight to contain corruption in his country showed the "ugly face of society," and he praised protesters for standing up to block a government measure that would have eased up on public officials who abuse their power. The massive street protests have for the moment halted the emergency decree, which would have removed penalties for some graft if the amount involved was less than about $48,500. Iohannis, 57, said he was pleased that protesters made their opposition known in peaceful demonstrations that spread from the capital, Bucharest, to other parts of the country. Big crowd "I was surprised by the size of the crowd," he said. "Having over 200,000 people in Piata Victoriei [Victory Square] is something extraordinary." Iohannis, who was elected in 2014 by direct vote, was chairman of the opposition Liberal Party until he quit to stand as president, a post with limited powers. He has been critical of the government headed by Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, which came into being after the December parliamentary elections. Iohannis said widespread corruption was a stubborn remnant of the country's communist past, which ended with the 1989 popular uprising that toppled dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. "It's certainly not going to finish in a year or two or four," Iohannis said at the ornate 17th-century presidential palace. "Intense anti-corruption fighting is not something nice. It brings up the ugly face of society we want to eradicate. But it takes time." He said corruption would never stop but it could be greatly slowed, with fewer politicians and public employees tempted to exploit their positions in the face of increased prosecution and public resistance. Iohannis seems to have emerged from the crisis in a stronger position. The center-left government of Grindeanu appears to have miscalculated the public's response to its late-night emergency decree last week. It did survive a vote of no-confidence Wednesday, reflecting its continued support in parliament. Parliamentary majority The win had been expected because the Social Democratic Party and its junior partner, the Alliance of Democratic Liberals, enjoy a solid majority in parliament, even though analysts say their standing with the public has dropped in the past week. The massive protests were the largest seen since communism collapsed in Romania in 1989. In Brussels, European Union officials said they backed Romania's anti-corruption effort, which has gained pace in recent years, threatening many entrenched interests and leading to the failed attempt to impose the emergency decree. Frans Timmermans, EU rule-of-law chief, said Romania should maintain its pursuit of wrongdoers, "which has been successful so far, so it can reach the point of no return." Somali lawmakers elected a new president Wednesday, choosing a former prime minister who is a dual U.S.-Somali citizen. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as "Farmajo," was declared the winner after two rounds of voting by the Somali parliament in Mogadishu. Farmajo won the largest share of votes in the second round, far outdistancing incumbent leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and former president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Mohamud conceded defeat after the vote count, and the crowd inside a venue at Mogadishu's international airport erupted into cheers. Witnesses tell VOA's Somali service that celebrations -- and celebratory gunfire -- have broken out in the streets of the Somali capital. The new president was quickly sworn in and pledged to improve security, fight corruption and assist the poor. Planted roots in Buffalo, NY Farmajo, 54, has spent much of his adult life in the city of Buffalo, New York, where he raised a family and held various jobs in the the New York state government. But he maintained contact with Somali politics and served eight months as Somali prime minister during 2010 and 2011, at the height of the insurgency by Islamist militant group al-Shabab. Al-Shabab threatened to disrupt the voting Wednesday but the election went off peacefully. African Union peacekeepers and government forces imposed tight security, sealing off all roads to the airport. All flights to and from the airport were canceled. Alleged corruption Ahead of the vote, candidates allegedly paid lawmakers millions of dollars in cash and gifts in an effort to win support. Election organizers had lawmakers drop their ballots in a transparent box, then counted the votes in front of the crowd to head off any charges of trickery. Farmajo faces the task of eliminating al-Shabab and stabilizing a country that has seen almost continuous conflict since the early 1990s. Al-Shabab has repeatedly sent suicide bombers into Mogadishu hotels where lawmakers, diplomats and businessmen gather, in an effort to destabilize the fragile government. In addition, aid agencies have warned of a possible famine affecting hundreds of thousands of Somalis due to violence and renewed drought. President Donald Trump is planning to issue an executive order targeting a controversial Dodd-Frank rule that requires companies to disclose whether their products contain "conflict minerals" from a war-torn part of Africa, according to sources familiar with the administration's thinking. Reuters could not learn the precise timing of when the order will be issued, or exactly what it will say. However, the 2010 Dodd-Frank law explicitly gives the president authority to order the Securities and Exchange Commission to temporarily suspend or revise the rule for two years if it is in the national security interest of the United States. The sources spoke anonymously because it is not public and they were not authorized to speak on the record. The plan for the executive order come on the heels of another order issued by the White House last week that takes aim more broadly at the Dodd-Frank rules put into place after the 2007-2009 financial crisis. That order did not single out any one particular rule, but it called on the Treasury Secretary to consult with other regulators, including the SEC, and to come back with a report outlining possible regulatory changes and legislation. The conflict minerals rule is one of several disclosure regulations that was tucked into Dodd-Frank that are unrelated to the financial crisis itself. A second Dodd-Frank SEC disclosure rule that required oil, gas and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments, meanwhile, was repealed by the Republican-controlled Congress last week. The conflict minerals rule was pushed by human rights groups who want companies to tell investors if their products contain tantalum, tin, gold or tungsten mined from the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the hopes it will help curb the funding of armed groups. But business groups have staunchly opposed the measure, saying it forces companies to furnish politically-charged information that is irrelevant to making investment decisions. They have also complained it costs too much money for companies to trace the source of the minerals through the supply chain. In 2014, a U.S. appeals court struck down a part of the conflict minerals law after the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers sued the SEC over the rule. The court found part of it violated the free speech rights of companies by forcing them to publicly state that their products are not conflict free. The rest of the rule, however, remained intact and companies are still required to carry out due diligence and report the details of those inquiries in public reports filed with the SEC. The SEC cannot permanently repeal the rule without a law passed by Congress. However, it can use its broad exemptive powers to scale back some of the requirements or stop enforcing the rule entirely. Last week, Acting SEC Chair Michael Piwowar took steps toward doing just that, by announcing he has asked SEC staff to reconsider how companies should comply with it and whether "additional relief" is warranted. Piwowar did not explicitly ask Trump to utilize his powers under Dodd-Frank to temporality suspend the rule; however, in his statement, he spoke about how he had traveled to Africa to study the rule's impact and raised concerns about its effect on national security. A U.S. federal appeals court expects to issue a ruling sometime this week on the government's request to end a temporary pause of President Donald Trump's travel ban. A lower federal court issued the temporary restraining order last week, saying the government could not enforce the 90-day entry ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries or the 120-day suspension on accepting refugees. Now the three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is deciding whether to uphold that order, strike it down, or potentially send the case back to the lower court for further consideration. No matter their ruling this week, the case is likely to end up at the Supreme Court. The judges heard arguments by telephone Tuesday from an attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota, which say the travel ban is unconstitutional and should be invalidated, and from a Department of Justice lawyer who said the president has the authority to issue such an executive order and protect national security. During his argument, DOJ attorney August Flentje presented the judges with a potential option of deciding to keep the ban in place for people who are not yet in the United States, but exempt those who have already arrived. Rory Little, a law professor at UC Hastings, said he does not think the judges were persuaded by the government's overall argument and are unlikely to lift the ban on enforcing Trump's order. "On balance it doesn't sound like the court is going to grant the motion to vacate the stay. They might try to narrow that or they might deny the motion and send it back to the trial court to narrow it, which strikes me as probably the more strategic decision. But I think either way, the Trump administration is going to take it up to the Supreme Court." Asked about the prospect of the case going to the Supreme Court, Trump himself said Tuesday, "Hopefully it doesn't have to." "Oh we're gonna take it through the system," Trump said. It's very important. It's very important for the country, regardless of me or whoever succeeds at a later date." If the ban is restored, opponents say the decision might lead to renewed confusion and chaos at many of the nation's airports, just as it did when the executive order was signed by President Trump on January 27. Hundreds of people were later detained by customs officers at airports, and some of them were deported. That action sparked nationwide protests and prompted legal action on many fronts. If the 9th Circuit does rule on the case, rather than ordering it back to the lower court, that decision will have big implications for possible action by the Supreme Court. The nation's highest court has been shorthanded since the death last year of Justice Antonin Scalia, and it is now evenly divided between four liberal-leaning justices and four conservative-leaning ones. It would take the votes of five Supreme Court justices to overturn the appellate court's ruling, meaning a 4-4 tie would let stand whatever the 9th Circuit decides. The Supreme Court could also decline to hear the case. For now, enforcement of the order is entirely suspended, and immigration advocates have been encouraging people who have obtained U.S. visas to board airplanes as soon as they can. Each day since the suspension, would-be immigrants have been doing just that. This Account has been suspended. Six tornadoes tore through New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana on Tuesday, injuring at least 20 people as the storm roared across highways and streets, leveling trees, power lines and homes. Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency throughout Louisiana, while search and rescue teams scoured the landscape for survivors. "The width of the devastation was unlike any that I have seen before," Edwards told a news conference. "When you see it from the air you're even more impressed that so few people were injured and that nobody's life was lost." The Louisiana National Guard said it was conducting search-and-rescue operations, looking for injured people who may be stranded, and assessing damage. The storm system battered New Orleans and suburban Baton Rouge, marking the fourth time in a year the state has been jolted by natural disasters. A string of tornadoes struck in February 2016 and four people died in widespread floods in March. Louisiana was then devastated by major flooding in August, when more than 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in 20 parishes, or territorial districts, marking the state's worst disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu told reporters that one twister carved out a swath of destruction about two miles (3 km) long and about half a mile (1 km) wide, affecting an area that holds 5,000 properties. "It's devastating and a lot of families have lost everything that they have," Landrieu said. Edwards estimated the number of injured at 20, some of them he termed "not life-threatening, but very serious." Storm reports on the National Weather Service website said some 29 people suffered injuries. One person was injured and about 200 cars damaged at a National Aeronautics and Space Administration assembly building in New Orleans, but flight hardware for NASA's new heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule appear to have escaped damage, associate administrator Bill Gerstenmaier said. Nearly 7,800 customers were without power in the New Orleans area by early Wednesday, according to Entergy New Orleans Inc. Nancy Malone, communications director for the Red Cross of Louisiana, said damage was reported in about six parishes, where the Red Cross was assisting first responders. "While this was not expected, communities in southeast Louisiana have been affected numerous times in the last 12 months," Malone said. "Here we are again." The Trump administration is considering whether to designate as a terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Mideast Islamist movement that traces its origins back to 1928 Egypt and has millions of followers. The move, some analysts say, carries the risk of roiling already tense relations with some regional allies and could add further to a perception in the Middle East that the new administration is anti-Islam, and views political Islamists and jihadists as one and the same thing. The Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in the Egyptian city of Ismailia when Egypt was under British occupation 89 years ago, calls for countries to be governed by Islamic law. The group's affiliates compromised, however, when it came to the introduction of Sharia Law in Tunisia and Libya, following Arab spring uprisings. The proposal being considered has been paired with a plan to also designate Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, The New York Times and Reuters reported Wednesday. The newspaper said it based its report on information shared by current and former officials briefed on the matter. Some key advisers to President Donald Trump have long called for the Muslim Brotherhood to be designated a terrorist organization. Stephen Bannon, the former head of the Breitbart News website and now a chief strategist in the White House, has in the past described the Brotherhood as the foundation of modern terrorism. When asked at a news conference Wednesday about the prospect of designating the Muslim Brotherhood, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would neither confirm nor deny the reports. Author Sebastian Gorka, the director of strategic initiatives at the National Security Council, and Frank Gaffney, the president of the Center for Security Policy, a conservative advocacy group that focuses on jihadist threats to the United States, also have called for the Brotherhood to be added to the terrorist list. Gaffneys group has issued warnings frequently alleging the Muslim Brotherhood has been infiltrating the U.S. government. The idea of designating the Brotherhood has been kicking around a long time, according to analysts William McCants and Benjamin Wittes, both of the Brookings Institution, a Washington D.C.-based research group. They argue there are major legal hurdles in designating the movement as a terrorist organization. The Brotherhood as a whole, in several different respects, does not meet the criteria for designation under the statute, the analysts say in an article posted on the Brookings website. They add, The Brotherhood is not in a meaningful sense a single organization at all; elements of it can be designated and have been designated, and other elements certainly cannot be. As a whole, it is simply too diffuse and diverse to characterize. And it certainly cannot be said as a whole to engage in terrorism that threatens the United States. At his confirmation hearing as secretary of state last month, Rex Tillerson signaled the Trump administration likely would target the Brotherhood, stating that the defeat of the so-called Islamic State terror group would also allow us to increase our attention on other agents of radical Islam, like al-Qaida, the Muslim Brotherhood, and certain elements within Iran. The Muslim Brotherhood, a broad Islamic political and social movement, officially renounced violence in the 1970s in favor of pursuing non-violent reform. Regional offshoots have won power in elections in Egypt after the Arab spring ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, and in Tunisia. Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party has been influenced by the Brotherhoods thinking, and maintains informal relations with the movements leaders. A Muslim Brotherhood affiliate contested elections in Libya after the ouster of Col. Moammar Gadhafi. But the movements offshoot Hamas, the Palestinian group, has pursued terrorism. And U.S. critics claim the movements members are involved in violence in Egypt. In 2015, Republican Senator Ted Cruz introduced legislation that would have designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. The Obama administration resisted pressure from Republican lawmakers, as well as the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, to do so. Cruz has re-introduced legislation. Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a terror organization also would pull against European allies. Two years ago, a British government policy review concluded the movement has a problematic relationship with violence, but it did not recommend designating the Muslim Brotherhood. Not all Mideast countries would be opposed to the designation, including Egypts leader Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the former general who led the army overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected civilian President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. U.S. officials claim Saudi Arabia also would have no problem with the designation, arguing that since 2014 the kingdom, which for half-a-century helped fund the movement, has banned the Muslim Brotherhood. But in recent months Saudi officials, who have held discussions with the movements leaders, have hinted Riyadh has been considering lifting its own ban on the movement. Designating the Brotherhood would complicate U.S. relations with Qatar and Turkey, as well as Tunisia, say analysts. U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday the design of a wall to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico is underway. The wall is getting designed right now. We will have a wall. It will be a great wall and it will do a lot of will be a big help, Trump said without offering specifics during a speech in Washington before the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association. Trump repeated his vow to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico as a way to stop the drugs from pouring into our country and cited Israel as a country that has successfully erected walls along its borders. WATCH: Trump discusses U.S.-Mexico wall Do walls work? Just ask Israel. They work if it's properly done, Trump said. Israel began building a system of barriers in 2002, during the peak of the second Palestinian uprising that saw suicide bombers detonating explosives in public places in Israeli cities. After a series of terrorist attacks, Israel built a barrier along and inside the West Bank that was designed to regulate the entrance of Palestinians into Israel. Israel has also erected fences along the borders it shares with Egypt and Lebanon, and along its boundary with the Gaza Strip. There has been a significant drop in terrorist attacks by West Bank Palestinians since March 2002. And while Israeli security officials credit the barriers for the decline, attacks continued to drop when the second Palestinian uprising weakened in 2004 and the militant group Hamas imposed a moratorium on suicide bombings. The Israeli military also regularly arrests suspected militants on the other side of the West Bank barrier and the country continues to benefit from security support from the Western-supported Palestinian Authority. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted in support of Trump's proposed wall. President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea, Netanyahu wrote. An Israeli company that helped construct Israel's West Bank barrier is reportedly seeking to build the wall along the U.S.-Mexican border for the Trump administration. Magal Security Systems described its high-tech border fence at a January 31 border security conference in Northern Virginia that was attended by officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to Bloomberg News. Pope John Francis, meanwhile, reiterated his opposition Wednesday to Trump's proposed wall. During his weekly address at the Vatican, the pope said the world should "build bridges" and not create walls. During last weeks National Prayer Breakfast, President Donald Trump vowed to totally destroy the Johnson Amendment, a 62-year-old provision in the U.S. tax code that prevents certain tax-exempt organizations, secular and religious, from political campaigning. His remarks have sparked debate over the line between Church and State in America. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) grants tax-exempt status to religious, charitable, scientific and other giving non-profit organizations. The theory of tax exemption for a broad range of organizations in the U.S. is that they have a public function, that they serve the good of the community at large, said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based religious liberty watchdog group. And religious institutions have been included within that range of good, non-governmental agencies that are deserving of a tax exemption. Many of these groups rely heavily on donations from private individuals and foundations. Being designated tax-exempt by the IRS lends them legitimacy, increasing the confidence of would-be donors, who are allowed to deduct contributions to tax-exempt groups from their annual tax returns. Amendment history The Johnson Amendment was a change to the tax code introduced by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson in 1954 in an effort to disempower two secular, tax-exempt nonprofit groups that were spending big money to block his re-election. The amended tax law prohibits tax-exempt nonprofit organizations from participating in political campaigning. That means they cannot collect money for political campaigns or tell members who to support or oppose in elections. They may, however, speak freely about political matters outside of their organizations. The amendment was based on the flagrant violation of the principle that charities and foundations ought to serve the public good and not be indistinguishable from a political committee or a partisan party apparatus, said Lynn. The Johnson Amendment does not specifically target churches or religious organizations, but they are among the amendments most vocal opponents. What weve seen in the last 35 or so years, basically since the 1980 election, is that the traditional attitude of evangelical churches, something known as quietism, that is, staying out of politics, changed, said Michael Dorf, an expert in constitutional law and professor at Cornell Law School. And the emergence of the Religious Right has meant that people on the conservative side of the American ideological spectrum now perceive the Johnson Amendment to be an impediment to political activity by people that are most likely to support their causes. Conservative Christian groups argue the Johnson Amendment violates the Constitution. The First Amendment of our Bill of Rights, the first right granted expressively and clearly by our founding fathers was the right to the free exercise of religion, and I think its important to note that its not just somewhere in the Bill of Rights, its at the beginning, the first right to be protected, said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law & Justice, a conservative, Christian-based social activist organization that opposes the Johnson Amendment. He argues that the Constitution does not specifically call for separation of church and state, and the two entities have been intertwined since the time of the nations founding. Really, at the heart of it, its a restriction of free speech. What it means is that from the pulpit, your pastor cannot tell you who to vote for, even if everybody in the church is asking the pastor who to vote for, said Sekulow. Repealing the Johnson Amendment, he argues, would not suddenly turn all churches into political action groups, but it would allow clergy to speak openly about political and social issues that affect people of faith. Dollars and cents But some analysts say the debate is, at its heart, more about money than anything else, as repealing the Johnson Amendment would allow religious groups to step into the political arena. As the law stands now, individuals may not deduct from their tax returns any donations to politicians or political campaign groups. If the Johnson Amendment were repealed, though, it would open a new loophole in the law, encouraging individuals to make political contributions through religious groups and realizing tax benefits for doing so. And that brings up another issue, says Lynn, financial transparency. Churches, he explains, are the only tax-exempt nonprofits that are not required to disclose their finances to the IRS, the public or even their donors. So if the Johnson Amendment goes, I would argue that dark, hidden money will come into the political system through the churches, Lynn said. Theyd become, essentially, money-laundering operations and would never have to disclose the sources or amounts. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by telephone Tuesday with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the White House described the 45-minute conversation as productive. The call came amid controversy over Trump's order of a temporary travel ban on seven Muslim majority countries in which terrorist groups operate. Erdogan is usually among the first to speak out against perceived injustices against Muslims and Islamophobia. Analysts say this time he was uncharacteristically quiet about the travel ban controversy. "This deafening silence about Trump. If I were a fan of his, I would have said disappointing, heart breaking, observed International relations expert Soli Ozel of Istanbul Kadir Has University. But it is pretty obvious they don't want to be cross with Trump, there are expectations from Trump. And with Trump you know he would reciprocate. That's why the silence." One of Erdogan's key expectations is the end of U.S. military support to the Syrian Kurdish group the PYD. Its militia, the YPG, is currently leading the fight to capture the Syrian city of Raqqa, the self-declared capital of the Islamic State group. Last month the Pentagon supplied military vehicles to a coalition including the YPG. The move caused alarm in Ankara, as it accuses the Syrian Kurdish group of being affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is fighting the Turkish government for greater minority rights. "If this U.S. administration in its early days decides to supply these weapons to the PYD, that will surely be seen as a non-friendly message to Ankara, warned analyst Sinan Ulgen of the Carnegie Institute in Brussels. And also be important to understand how the bilateral relation will evolve." Turkish presidential sources quoted in local media claim both leaders agreed to cooperate in the battle to capture Raqqa and the Syrian town of al-Bab, which Turkish forces are engaged in fighting to recapture from Islamic State. The same sources also claim CIA Director Mike Pompeo will soon visit Turkey. Analysts predict any final decision by Washington on the PYD will likely depend, at least in part, on a review of the fight against Islamic State being carried out by the Pentagon, which is still several weeks away from completion. Reportedly also on the agenda of the CIA director's visit is U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Ankara is demanding Gulens extradition, accusing him of using his followers to carry out a failed coup last July, a charge he denies. Experts warn any extradition is ultimately a matter for the courts and will likely take months, if not years, with an uncertain outcome. Ankara is also pressing for Gulens detention, as well as cooperation in curtailing or monitoring the activities of his followers and vast business network. With U.S. military planes using Turkish airbases, including Incirlik, in the war against Islamic State, analysts suggest Ankara does have some leverage with Washington, albeit limited. What you can do, is you can close Incirlik. There are some loose mouths within the government that say we can consider this, noted international relations expert Ozel. Well let's say you become the eighth county on the (travel ban) list. Can you really risk that happening. Which means you have to really remain within reason and really not bluff, and Turkey and United States do have common interests, he said. Iran is one of those shared interests, given Erdogan has expressed Trumps concern over Tehrans rising hegemony, albeit in less colorful language. Turkey will be happy with anything that counterbalances Iran, predicts political columnist Semih Idiz of Al Monitor website. But it would not actively engage or be seen to be engaging in those activities, as the two countries try hard to maintain a relationship. Given Turkey has strained relations not only with Iran, but also with its other southern neighbors Syria and Iraq, coupled with growing concerns over Russias intentions, analyst Ulgen argues Ankara is banking on a resetting of relations with Washington to reverse its growing isolation. That would certainly help Turkey to reacquire more influence in the region. That is the big uncertainly now. Because if the relationship with the U.S. does not improve as deeply as Ankara initially expected that would also weaken Turkeys position within the region, he said. Turkey's military said Wednesday that Syrian rebel forces with Turkish support have taken control of strategic hills surrounding the Islamic State-held town of al-Bab. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria, said Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels launched an operation late Tuesday and seized territory on the western outskirts of al-Bab. The town is a key area in northern Syria that increasingly is becoming a focal point of the multi-party conflict. Syrian forces have advanced from the south to within about 3.5 kilometers of al-Bab, the Observatory says. Turkish and rebel fighters are coming from the north, while Syrian Kurds hold territory to the east and west. All of those groups have fought to push out Islamic State fighters, but what happens if the militants are routed from al-Bab remains a looming issue. The Syrian government has long complained about Turkish activity in Syria, particularly since Turkey launched what it calls Operation Euphrates Shield in August. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the offensive was in response to a series of attacks in Turkey, and that he wanted to end threats from "terror" groups that included Islamic State and the Syrian Kurdish fighters. Turkey sees the Syrian Kurds as aligned with Kurdistan Worker's Party, or PKK, rebels who have carried out a decades-long insurgency based in southeastern Turkey. Syria last week sent letters to the United Nations again condemning Turkey's military actions, including the push toward al-Bab. The letters further accused Turkey of supporting terrorist organizations in Syria. Turkey supports rebels who opposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Assad's government routinely refers to any opposition fighters as terrorists. The many parties involved in the fighting have not made finding a resolution any easier. The United Nations is holding its next round of peace talks beginning February 20 in Geneva. A spokeswoman for U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said invitations for the talks were due to be sent on Wednesday. The U.N. has sponsored several rounds of talks in recent years, but none have produced much progress in ending the fighting. The process has worked off a framework that calls for a total cease-fire and a Syrian-led political transition that includes a new constitution and elections. Assad's future is not part of the outline, and disagreements about whether he should remain in power or leave have been one of the main sticking points in past negotiations. The United Nations has appealed for $2.1 billion to provide life-saving assistance this year to 12 million people in desperate need of help in conflict-ridden Yemen. This is the largest consolidated appeal for Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began bombing the country two years ago in support of the government in its battle against Houthi rebels. U.N. officials said the amount of money needed was a symptom of the humanitarian crisis facing the war-torn country. They said airstrikes have demolished bridges, key roads, entire neighborhoods and a port, leaving millions of people without electricity, safe water and food. Stephen O'Brien, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said 18.8 million people, or two-thirds of Yemen's population, needed humanitarian assistance. "Immense human suffering is unfolding in front of our eyes," O'Brien said. "Yemen is one of the most food-insecure countries in the world. A staggering 7.3 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from." O'Brien noted that malnutrition was rising at an alarming rate, with nearly 3.3 million people including 2.1 million children being acutely malnourished. O'Brien said he was shocked at the skeletal condition of many of the people he saw when he visited Yemen a few months ago. "Children and youth were stunted and severely malnourished, barely holding on to their lives, and that was five months ago," he said. "Since then, the situation in Yemen has just simply gotten worse. "It is particularly under-5s, mothers, lactating mothers, in particular, and women, the elderly, the chronically sick, who get particularly caught up with this," O'Brien told VOA. "In 2016, we were able to reach over 5.6 million people and this year, as is pretty clear from the numbers, we must reach even more." Life and death decisions Humanitarian chief O'Brien warned that without immediate action "and despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, famine is now a real possibility for 2017." Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator in Yemen since December 2015, has watched this situation unfold and says many Yemenis are forced to make difficult choices just to survive. "Fishermen cannot fish, farmers cannot farm, civil servants do not get paid," McGoldrick told VOA. "What you have now is a situation of a 23-month conflict, which has slowed down the ability of people to have a productive capacity" and to cope with this crisis. "What you have is people having to make life and death decisions," he said. "Do you feed your child or your children or do you pay for medical treatment for the sick child? "And, that is a daily call for many families," he said. Yemen traditionally has been one of the five poorest countries in the world. McGoldrick said the two-year-long civil war has increased the fragility of communities. He said people were so poor they were unable to afford travel to feeding centers or to hospitals where they could find help. "There are many people dying silent deaths," he said, noting their deaths go "unrecorded and unrecognized because 50 percent of health facilities do not function" and people do not have the money to send their children to these facilities. Humanitarian coordinator McGoldrick said that around 7,500 people have been killed and 40,000 injured since the war began; but, he added, these "officially arrived numbers" cannot be verified because people "die at home and are buried before they are ever recorded." The White House has dismissed a defiant message from Iran's supreme leader about Donald Trump, saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should realize "there is a new president in office." In his daily press briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump would not remain idle in response to Iran's "violations, or apparent violations," of its 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and five other world powers. He said Trump "will continue to take action as he sees fit. ... [H]e is not going to project what those actions will be, and he will not take anything off the table." Spicer was responding to a question about Khamenei, who earlier in the day made his first public remarks about Trump since the president took office January 20. According to Khamenei's website, he spoke to a gathering of military commanders in Tehran about Trump's recent warning that Iran was "on notice" for carrying out a January 29 missile test that Washington said undermined regional security and put American lives at risk. "[Trump] says, 'You should be afraid of me.' No! The Iranian people will respond to his words on February 10 and will show their stance against such threats," Khamenei said. Iran will mark the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on that date. A U.N. Security Council resolution underpinning the Iran nuclear deal urges Tehran to refrain from testing missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear warheads, but imposes no obligation. The White House has said the January 29 missile test was not a direct breach of Iran's nuclear pact with the world powers but violated what it called the "spirit" of that deal. Khamenei also used his speech to thank Trump for exposing what he called the "real face of America." He said Trump's anti-establishment rhetoric during and after the 2016 presidential election campaign "confirmed what we have been saying for more than 30 years about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the U.S. ruling system." He also said Trump's executive actions, such as a bid to pause immigration to the U.S. from Iran and six other Muslim-majority nations, showed the "reality of American human rights." Spicer suggested Khamenei's gratitude toward Trump was misplaced. "I think Iran is kidding itself if it does not realize there is a new president in town," he told reporters. Middle East security analyst Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council told VOA Persian's NewsHour program on Tuesday that the Trump administration's approach toward Iran was very different from that of its predecessor. "Under the Obama administration, Iran had enormous latitude politically and economically in terms of reaping benefits from the nuclear deal," said Berman, who serves as senior vice president of the Washington-based conservative research institute."Under the Trump White House, it is not known whether the nuclear deal is off the table completely, but it is very clear that the new administration is going to pursue a more confrontational approach [toward implementing it]." Berman based his assessment of the new U.S. policy on what he called the Trump national security team's "remarkable commonality of views" about Iran. "From Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to national security adviser Michael Flynn, there is very deep skepticism about Iranian intentions and whether or not it's a good idea to continue the nuclear deal, and there's very deep apprehension about the destabilizing role that Iran can play in the Persian Gulf region," Berman said. "So I think you see a much more realistic view of Iran beginning to take shape." Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has rejected accusations that his nation has acted in a destabilizing manner, posting a tweet last Friday saying: "We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense. Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement." VOA's Persian service contributed to this report. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested to law enforcement chiefs Wednesday that politics led the courts to suspend his executive order on immigration and warned that the nation's security is being compromised without the travel restrictions. "We are at risk because of what happened," Trump said at the winter conference of the Major Cities Chiefs Association in Washington. "I dont ever want to call a court biased so I wont call it biased," Trump said. Although the courts have yet to issue a final decision on the order, Trump said "the courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do whats right." WATCH: Trump on travel ban A U.S. appeals court in San Francisco says it will likely rule this week on whether a federal judge had the legal grounds to suspend Trump's ban last month on immigration from seven Muslim majority countries. A lawyer for the U.S. Justice Department and an attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota, which are suing to stop the ban, presented their arguments by telephone before a three-judge appellate panel Tuesday. U.S. attorney August Flentje said Trump's executive order was well within his power granted by Congress and the Constitution, letting him set "adequate standards" in screening would-be travelers to the United States who need visas. Flentje pointed out that Congress and the former Obama administration determined that the seven countries named in the order -- Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen -- were of concern to authorities because they pose a risk of terrorism or give terrorists a safe haven. He said a number of Somalis arrested in the United States have ties to al-Shabab terrorists. Fast-moving case The U.S. attorney acknowledged that the case has moved too fast to give the government enough time to provide all the evidence to support Trump's order. But he said the Washington state federal district judge's order last week putting it on hold was "over-broad" and overrode presidential authority. Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell told the appeals court the Trump administration wants to reinstate the travel ban without a full judicial review, throwing the country "back into chaos." When questioned what harm the travel ban has done to Washington state residents, Purcell said it separated families, stranded students overseas, and left people in doubt about whether they should travel because of the uncertainty of whether they could come back. When challenged about whether the travel ban discriminated against Muslims because the vast majority are unaffected, Purcell argued that not every Muslim has to be hurt for it to be unconstitutional. He told the judges the president's order was designed in part to harm Muslims, noting that Trump called for a total ban on Muslim immigration during his campaign. Attorneys general in 15 other states have filed briefs in support of Washington and Minnesota. The American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 100 corporations, and a group of Democrats that includes former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Madeleine Albright, also filed briefs. All sides expect the issue to wind up before the Supreme Court. U.S. District Court Judge James Robart's decision Friday suspending Trump's executive order has the president fuming. "I actually can't believe that we're having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation," Trump said Tuesday. He earlier tweeted that Robart is a "so-called judge" and that the American people should blame him and the court system if "something happens." Kelly defends ban Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly defended the ban. He took responsibility for its unwieldy rollout and mass confusion over who was covered by the ban and who should be allowed to enter the United States. He told the House Homeland Security Committee there was a lack of communication with Congress and that the travel ban should have been delayed "just a bit." But he defended it against Democratic critics who call it a ban on Muslims, saying the terror risk, not religion, was the key factor in the president's order. If the case eventually goes to the Supreme Court, the nation's highest judicial body, one analyst told VOA there are rulings from the past that could support Trump's policy. New York-based attorney Dan McLaughlin, told VOA Persians New Horizon show "The Supreme Court has held for a long time that Congress has nearly unlimited authority in deciding who can enter the country an authority that includes excluding people from particular countries, as it did with Chinese immigration in the 1880s. McLaughlin said, Because the president is relying on an authority delegated to him by Congress, he has a broad authority to act on immigration within the law, whether you think his policy is wise or not." But he added that Trumps prominent advocacy of a U.S. ban on all immigration by Muslims could come back to weaken his case before the Supreme Court. The top U.S. commander on the ground in Iraq says that he expects counter-Islamic State forces to retake the cities of Mosul and Raqqa from the terror group within the next six months. Speaking north of Baghdad Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said Islamic State fighters will still be around in the next few months but they can't lay claim that they have a physical caliphate. Iraqi forces have retaken control of Mosul east of the Tigris River and are expected to soon move into the western part of the city. Mosul is Iraq's second-largest city and the most populated city taken by Islamic State forces. Raqqa almost surrounded As for Raqqa, the U.S.-led coalition expects Islamic State's de facto capital to be isolated within the next few weeks, coalition spokesman Col. John Dorrian told reporters via teleconference from Baghdad Wednesday. Anti-IS fighters are pushing into Raqqa from the north, northeast and northwest. When pressed on whether the city could be isolated without anti-IS fighters pushing into the city from the south, Dorrian said that although Raqqa would not be completely encircled, it will be very difficult to get into or out of the city. China doesn't even have a separation of powers, but that didn't keep a prominent Chinese judge from weighing in when U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at a federal judge who temporarily blocked the president's executive order on immigration. Chinese Supreme Peoples Court Judge He Fan called Trump an enemy of the rule of law for criticizing Judge James Robart. Under the U.S. system of separation of powers, he wrote, a president should accept his loss silently and not attack the judge who ruled against him. What is the separation of powers? The U.S. Constitution set up three separate but equal branches of government: the legislative branch, or Congress, makes the law; the executive, led by the president, executes the law; and the judicial, or courts, interprets the law. The idea is to divide power so each branch of government has its own powers and limits. But fights over how to apply these divisions of power have been frequent, up to and including Trumps travel ban. On January 27, President Trump signed an executive order to temporarily stop travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim majority nations. After Judge Robart blocked his order, Trump went on Twitter to call Judge Robart a "so-called judge. He said Robarts decision was "ridiculous, and opened the United States to possible terror attack. On Tuesday, the federal appeals court in San Francisco heard arguments on whether Judge Robarts order against Trumps travel ban should be overturned. The court is expected to rule this week on the appeal from the Trump administration. Josh Chafetz, a professor of law at Cornell University in New York, said Trumps criticism was unusual, coming so early in his presidency. By calling Robart a so-called judge, Trump seems to be questioning his standing as a judge, Chafetz said. Randy Barnett, a law professor of Georgetown University, sees Trumps criticism of the judge as mildly disrespectful. But he said it does not compare to President Barack Obamas criticism of the Supreme Court during a 2010 speech before Congress. Obama was criticizing a Supreme Court decision that permitted unlimited donations to political campaigns. Barnett said that the judges were in the audience as Obama criticized them. The Democrats in the audience stood and cheered. Battles over separation of powers There have been many battles among the three branches of government over separation of powers in U.S. history. The Supreme Courts first decision about separation of powers came in 1803. The court ruled it had the power to reject a law passed by Congress if it found the law unconstitutional. In 1832, President Andrew Jackson did not like a decision by the Supreme Court, led by Justice John Marshall. The decision ended states law on land that belonged to Native American tribes. Jackson reportedly said, John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it. Nearly 100 years later, President Franklin Roosevelt proposed to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court from nine to 15. His critics accused him of trying to pack the court. They said he wanted to appoint justices supportive of his policies to get around opposition from the sitting justices. The proposal failed to pass in Congress. Among the courts other important rulings was a 1974 decision ordering President Richard Nixon to release tape recordings in what was known as the Watergate scandal. The scandal led to Nixons resignation. Some legal experts have questioned whether Trump will comply with court orders. Barnett, the Georgetown professor, said it is a good sign that the Trump administration stopped the travel ban after Judge Robarts ruling. But Trump has argued that he feels strongly his immigration ban is needed. This is what he tweeted Wednesday morning: If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! She tugged 13 envelopes from a cabinet above the stove, each one labeled with a different debt: the house payment, the student loans, the vacuum cleaner she bought on credit. Lydia Holt and her husband tuck money into these envelopes with each paycheck to whittle away at what they owe. They both earn about $10 an hour. She did the math; at this rate, they'll be paying these same bills for 87 years. In 2012, Holt voted for Barack Obama because he promised her change, but she feels that change hasn't reached her here. So last year she chose a presidential candidate unlike any she'd ever seen, the billionaire businessman who promised to help people like her win again. Many of her neighbors did, too - so many that for the first time in more than 30 years, Crawford County, Wisconsin, a sturdy brick in the once-mighty Big Blue Wall, abandoned the Democratic Party and that wall crumbled. Some 50 counties stretching 300 miles down the Mississippi River - through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois - transformed in one election season into Trump Country. They voted for Trump for an array of reasons, and the list of grievances they hope he now corrects is long and exacting: stagnant wages, the cost of health care, a hard-to-define feeling that things are not getting better, at least not for people like them. Here in Crawford County, residents often recite two facts about their hometown, the first one proudly: It is the second-oldest community in the state. The next is that it's also one of the poorest. There are no rusted-out factories to embody this discontent. The main street of Prairie du Chien butts up to the Mississippi River and bustles with tourists come summer. Pickup trucks crowd parking lots at the 3M plant and Cabela's distribution center where hundreds work. Just a few vacant storefronts hint at the seething resentment that life still seems harder here than it should. In this place that astonished America when it helped hand Trump the White House, many of those who chose him greeted the frenetic opening acts of his presidency with a shrug. Immigration is not their top concern, and so they watched with some trepidation as Trump signed orders to build a wall on the Mexican border and bar immigrants from seven Muslim countries, sowing chaos around the world. They are still watching and they are waiting, their hopes pinned on his promised economic renaissance. Jim Bowman, director of the county's Economic Development Corporation, says some of the economic anxiety here is based not on measurable decay, but rather a perception that life is decaying. There are plenty of jobs, but it's hard to find one that pays more than $12 an hour. Ambitious young people move away. Rural schools are dwindling, and with them a sense of pride and purpose. "If you ask anybody here, we'll all tell you the same thing: We're tired of living like this," said Mark Berns, leaning through the service window in the small-engine repair shop that he can barely keep open anymore. Berns watched Trump's first days in office half-hopeful, half-frightened. He bemoaned what he described as Trump's quantity-over-quality, "sign, sign, sign" approach to governing. "I just hope we get the jobs back and the economy on its feet, so everybody can get a decent job and make a decent living, and have that chance at the American dream that's gone away over the past eight or 10 years. I'm still optimistic," he said, sighing. "I hope I'm not wrong." Marlene Kramer is also optimistic Trump will make good on his promises. Her priority is health care. Kramer, who voted twice for Obama, used to watch Trump on "Celebrity Apprentice." ''I said to myself, 'Ugh, I can't stand him.'" When he announced his candidacy, she thought it was a joke. "Then my husband said to me, 'Just think, everything he touches seems to turn to money.'" And she changed her mind. She's 54, and she's worked since she was 14, all hard jobs: feeding cows, standing all day on factory floors. Now she works at a sewing shop, where she's happy, and gets to sit. But there's no health insurance. Kramer said she's glad the Affordable Care Act has helped millions get insurance, but it hasn't helped her. She and her husband were stunned to find premiums over $1,000 a month. They opted to pay the penalty of $2,000 until Trump, she hopes, keeps his promise to replace the law with something better. Across town, Robbo Coleman leaned over the bar he tends and described a similar political about-face. He held up an ink pen, wrapped in plastic stamped "Made in China." "I don't see why we can't make pens in Prairie du Chien or in Louisville, Kentucky, or in Alabama or wherever," said Coleman. Coleman doesn't love Trump's moves to build a wall or ban certain immigrants, but he's frustrated that other politicians stopped listening to working people like him. "We've got to give him some time," he said. "He's not Houdini." Farmer Bernard "Tinker" Moravits is also willing to wait and see. Change is what he looked to Obama for and now expects from Trump. The price of milk and agricultural goods has plummeted, and it's getting harder to keep things running. He wants the president to reduce red tape and renegotiate trade deals to benefit American farmers. He has several choice words for Trump's move to build "his stupid wall." Moravits employs Hispanic workers who have been with him 15 years. He trusts them to do a dirty, difficult job that he says white people aren't willing to do. But unlike many transfixed by Trump's presidency, Moravits doesn't stay up-to-the-minute on the news. "The play-by-play don't mean bullshit," he said. "It's like watching the Super Bowl. What counts is how it ends." Moravits isn't sure Trump is going to "Make America Great Again" for farmers. But he feels he had to take the gamble. He laughed, then shrugged and pantomimed rolling the dice. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote Wednesday evening to approve Senator Jeff Sessions as the nation's new attorney general. Republicans control the chamber and need only a simple majority in order to confirm President Donald Trump's appointee. Sessions has faced sharp opposition from Democrats who question his record on immigration and civil rights, and who have suggested he is too close to Trump to put the rule of law ahead of politics. Republicans however defend Sessions, saying his long Senate career has shown his integrity. Confirmation delayed The confirmation vote has been delayed as Democrats use Senate rules to stretch out the time they have to speak on the floor about Sessions. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats invoked a little-used rule to delay a vote there by a day. Republican lawmakers and Trump have complained that Democrats are unfairly delaying the confirmation process for the president's Cabinet. Democrats have countered that they need to fully examine the nominees, some of whom they say were slow to file information needed for ethics reviews. Warren rebuked The extended debate on Sessions that began Tuesday and stretched into Wednesday was highlighted by a rebuke of Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren by Republicans. She was reading a letter written by Coretta Scott King, the widow of assassinated civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The letter was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1986 when Sessions was nominated for a federal judge seat. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Warren violated Senate rules by "impugning" Sessions, and she was barred from speaking further. Warren responded by posting a Facebook video from outside the Senate floor that featured her reading the letter, which features King expressing "strong opposition" to having Sessions serve as a judge in Alabama. King said Sessions, then a federal prosecutor, worked against black citizens using their right to vote, and that "politically-motivated fraud prosecutions" and "indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws" showed he did not have the qualities to be a judge. During his confirmation hearing, Sessions responded to allegations of racism by saying they were "damnably false." The video had been viewed by 3.8 million people and shared 91,000 times in the first eight hours after it was posted. Civilian casualties in Afghanistan rose to a new high in 2016 amid the ongoing Taliban insurgency, with 3,500 killed and close to 8,000 wounded, the United Nations reported Monday. But a new analysis suggests the Taliban is deeply divided, presenting an opportunity for "insurgent peace-making." A study based on dozens of interviews with Taliban insiders suggests exploiting fractures within the groups rank and file. There were "senior commanders who were, in a sense, using suicide attacks to build up their reputation," said professor Theo Farrell of the Royal United Services Institute, a co-author of the report. "So there are large parts of the Taliban that are fully committed to the fight, but there is a potential here, nonetheless, to de-escalate the conflict." That potential, according to Farrell, lies in the weakness of the Taliban's leadership. The new leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, is widely seen as "weak and divisive leader," Farrell said. "Many of our interviewees referred to him simply as a symbolic leader. The real power in the Taliban lies elsewhere. And so, therefore, there is a view among the rank and file that, effectively, the movement has become leaderless." Informal peace talks have taken place between the government and the Taliban leadership. However, senior Taliban commanders have demanded that the 13,000 NATO-led foreign troops in Afghanistan withdraw before formal talks begin. Speaking in December, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani blamed the continuing bloodshed on Pakistans failure to take on militant groups in its territory; Islamabad denies the charge. "Some still provide sanctuary in support or tolerate these networks," Ghani said. "As [Mullah Rahmatullah] Kakazada, one of the key figures in the Taliban movement, recently said, 'If they did not have sanctuary in Pakistan, they would not last a month.'" Farrell argues the senior Taliban leadership should be circumvented, enabling dissenting commanders to meet and forge a common purpose of ending the conflict. The wife of Russian journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent opposition activist and Kremlin critic, says "acute poisoning" has left her husband gravely ill in a Moscow hospital. Yevgenia Kara-Murza said Tuesday that doctors told her "an unidentified substance" caused massive organ failure in her husband last week. The rapid and sudden deterioration in his health, which reportedly occurred just hours before he was to leave Moscow for a trip to the United States, prompted hospital staff to place the 35-year-old activist in a medically-induced coma. Since then, Kara-Murza is said to have been in critical but stable condition. However, there have been no official medical statements about his condition or illness. Kara-Murza's lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov, said in a Facebook post later Tuesday that police told him doctors confirmed the diagnosis of poisoning, but again there was no official statement to corroborate the attorney's account. Earlier near-fatal bout Yevgenia Kara-Murza said her husband's collapse last week resembled a near-fatal bout of kidney failure that he suffered two years ago. At the time, Vladimir Kara-Murza contended he had been poisoned, allegedly for political reasons. French scientists found elevated levels of heavy metals in his blood but were unable to identify any specific toxin. Samples of Kara-Murza's blood as well as other potential physical evidence of poisoning, such as hair samples and nail clippings, have been sent for analysis abroad, including at an independent laboratory in Israel, the victim's wife said. Before he fell ill, Kara-Murza had been traveling in Russia to promote an upcoming documentary film about Boris Nemtsov, a liberal opposition leader and fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin who was assassinated outside the Kremlin in February 2015 gunned down on a bridge spanning the Moscow River near the Kremlin. In Washington, U.S. Senator John McCain, a longtime critic of Putin, lamented Kara-Murza's medical crisis and hinted that the Kremlin was involved in the activist's sudden illness. Standing on the Senate floor near a large picture of Kara-Murza, McCain hailed him as "a great fighter for freedom and a Russian patriot." The Republican senator from Arizona told his colleagues Kara-Murza was the victim of "another shadowy strike against a brilliant voice who has defied the tyranny of Putin's Russia." Alleged link to Ukraine information Kara-Murza was aligned with Russian opposition groups that contend Nemtsov was killed by Kremlin operatives directed by Putin, in order to suppress evidence the activist was about to reveal showing Russia's direct military role in the conflict in Ukraine. Putin, who said Nemtsov's killing was a "disgrace" for Russia, has repeatedly denied he was involved in the case in any way. The Kremlin also has denied any role in Kara-Murza's medical crisis. Authorities in Moscow eventually named five Chechens as the suspected killers of Nemtsov. The suspected triggerman had been an officer in the security forces of the Kremlin-backed Chechen regional leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. The defendants have been on trial for their alleged role in the killing for several months. Kara-Murza's grave, mysterious illness has revived stories about several other Russian opposition figures who died unexpectedly in recent years, including former Russian Cold War spy Alexander Litvenenko, who died in London in 2006 of radiation poisoning. A formal British inquiry found that Litvinenko was assassinated in an operation that Putin "probably" approved. The Russian exile was fatally poisoned by polonium-210, a colorless, odorless and deadly radioactive substance that was slipped into his tea during a meeting at a London hotel. Two prime suspects in Litvenenko's death both Russians were named, but Moscow has refused to extradite the men to Britain. Zimbabwes highest court has dismissed a case filed by an activist who argued President Robert Mugabe violated the constitution and is therefore unfit for office. Robert Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, but the 92-year-old president has faced mounting calls to step down. Protests erupted last year over human rights abuses as the economy sank to new lows. Opposition activist Promise Mkwananzi filed a court petition alleging the president failed to uphold the constitution during the unrest. In his complaint, Mkwanazi cited cases where Mugabe threatened the judiciary and activists and said he personally owns the security forces. The Constitutional Court threw out the case Wednesday. The court said the president had not been served the papers. Mkwananzis lawyer, Kudzai Kadzere, told VOA the sheriff was paid but failed to do his duty. We feel that this is a very important case for our local jurisprudence, which must be heard on merit, which is why we are going to make a fresh application, said Kadzere. A ruling from the Constitutional Court could trigger impeachment proceedings in parliament, but on Wednesday, Mugabes lawyer, Terence Hussein, shrugged off the case. His tenure, his mandate has emanated from the people, from an election and I hardly think that the court would want to interfere with that, unless there are very, very good grounds. And I do not think that anyone has made those grounds sufficiently enough, he said. Mkwananzis organization, #Tajamuka, which means we are fed up, says it will not turn down the heat. It is not just Promise Mkwananzi versus President of Zimbabwe. When I read the case, I concurred with his submissions that the president has flouted the constitution and must be answerable'" said member Maureen Kadmaunga was in the courtroom Wednesday. "He will not be discouraged, Tajamuka will not be discouraged, and will file again and we'll be here in full support, said Kadmaunga. #Tajamuka is taking part in a current initiative known as 21 Days of Activism Zimbabwe, which is calling on Mugabe to forego expensive birthday celebrations later this month. An official from the ruling ZANU-PF told VOA the event will not be canceled as Mugabe is revered as Zimbabwes liberator. The party has backed Mugabe to run for another term in 2018. The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, has recently announced that his government will not allow Tibetan and Taiwanese flags to be raised in Cambodia. While describing Taiwan as a province of China, he has said that Cambodia will not do anything to harm the sovereignty of China. Hun Sen has ruled the country since 1985, and is known for being one of the region's most vocal supporters of China. Listen to Pasang Yangkyi's report Cambodian Prime Minister's decision to ban the flags to maintain China's investment in Cambodia's infrastructure, and the country's reliance on China for financial support and economic development. The High Court has granted Pastor Evan Mawarire of #ThisFlag movement a $300 bail with the judge saying the state had a weak case against the minister of religion. According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Mawarire was also ordered to report twice at Avondale Police Station, surrender his passport and not to interfere with witnesses. Justice Clement Phiri said there was no need to keep Mawarire, who was represented by Harrison Nkomo and Jeremiah Bhamu, in remand prison before trial. The independent NewsDay newspaper reported Wednesday evening that Mawarires lawyers had not yet received the High Court order by the end of the day for his liberty and were failing to pay his bail at the Magistrates Courts. The cleric was expected to be taken back to remand prison. There was no comment from the Prison Services. Mawarire faces charges of subverting a constitutionally elected government for organizing anti-government protests last year over the declining social and economic situation in Zimbabwe. Similar charges were dropped before he fled to America where he stayed for six months. Mawarire was arrested when he returned home last Wednesday. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Local Equality Rights Group (ERG) Against Medallion of Honour for US Congressman Reacting to news that Government will be tabling a motion before Parliament to approve the award of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour to US Congressman George Holding, Equality Rights Group have called for members of Parliament to think twice. "John Bercow, the Speaker to the House of Commons at Westminster, recently took the highly unusual but principled step of formally announcing his strong opposition to any idea that in the proposed State Visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK, the President should be conceded the honour of addressing Parliament. His comments left nothing to the imagination, telling MPs that "opposition to racism and sexism" were "hugely important considerations". Despite foreseeable criticism amid the political benefits that formal parliamentary recognition might be said to advance for the UK in allowing a Presidential address in the Commons, Speaker Bercows firm stance against the ideology that Trump represents is important to note, and is a prime example of the way a Parliament is able to presume and register democratic dissent and moral conviction over an Executive." "The Gibraltar Medallion of Honour, established by Sir Peter Caruana in 2008, has rightfully recognised the distinguished contribution of many worthy individuals," the Group stated. "Congressman George Holding is an unwavering Trump supporter. He has clearly and publicly stated as much, telling reputable US news agencies that "I want (Trump) to be successful and I'll do my part [to make sure] he's successful." Records indicate that Republican Mr. Holding has not only opposed advances on LGBT issues, most notably regretting the Supreme Courts reversal of an infamous part of the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA) in June 2013. It was that Supreme Court decision which made possible a historic end to discrimination in marriage for the LGBT community in the USA, and which Representative Holding so regrets. His record on women and other civil rights issues may also be questionable." We understand that Government is thankful to the Congressman for his role in securing favourable political positions for Gibraltar in the USA. Nonetheless, sponsoring and tabling a motion in Congress as a qualifying contribution is hardly proportionate to the weight and distinction of the Gibraltar Medallion, rendering little service to its honourable standing. Furthermore, ERG considers that for the Gibraltar Parliament to align itself in this manner, by thus honouring an unequivocal supporter of the Trump ideology and administration, goes against every single tenet of what our Constitution and People stand for. Sexism and racism have no place in this Society, nor should we be rewarding those who defend such values. We ask Members of Parliament to consider their positions seriously on this matter. For our part, ERG clearly disapproves and opposes this announced award, and applauds John Bercows stand in favour of conviction and values over expediency," the statement concluded. 2017 Annual Art Competition for Young Artists Gibraltar Cultural Services, on behalf of the Ministry for Culture, is inviting local artists to the annual Art Competition for Young Artists that will be held in March 2017. GCS wishes to remind local artists that entries may be handed in at the John Mackintosh Hall as from Wednesday 15th February 2017 from 3.30pm to 6pm. Closing date for receipt of entries is 6pm on Friday 17th February 2017. The competition is open to Gibraltarians and residents of Gibraltar attending school in years 9 to 13 (or College equivalent), as well as to young Gibraltarian artists aged up to 24 years old as at 1st March 2017. Works must be original and not previously entered competitively, with the exception of non-winning entries in the 2016 Spring Art Competition and 2016 International Art Competition. Entries will be exhibited at the John Mackintosh Hall from the 1st March to 10th March 2017. Prizes to be awarded are: 1st Prize - The Ministry of Culture Prize - 1,000 2nd Prize - The Aquagib Award - 500 Additionally, there will be two awards of 500 each, kindly donated by the Alwani Foundation, to the best entry in each of the following age groups: School Years 9 to 11 School Years 12 to 13 All the artworks above will become property of the Ministry of Culture. Entry forms and full conditions are available from; Bayside and Westside Comprehensive Schools Gibraltar College of Further Education The Fine Arts Gallery, Casemates Mario Finlayson National Art Gallery, City Hall The GEMA, Gibraltar Exhibitions of Modern Art, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road John Mackintosh Hall, 308 Main Street Or via email from: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on our website http://www.culture.gi Every week, Vulture highlights the best new music. If the song is worthy of your ears and attention, you will find it here. Read our picks below, share yours in the comments, and subscribe to the Vulture Playlist for a comprehensive guide to the years best music. Syd, Got Her Own Warning: Do not listen to Syds new album Fin while operating heavy machinery, walking in crowds, sitting at work, talking or really doing anything youre not prepared to start slow twerking in the middle of. Got Her Own is like Syd taking The-Dreams Fancy back for the ladies, and it, like the rest of her icy-cold new solo album, is too damn sexy. Dive in and prepare to never come out again. Jordan Crucchiola (@JorCru) Mac DeMarco, This Old Dog Like many of us, Ive been in more of a Run the Jewels headspace than a Mac DeMarco one lately, my mood aligning more with the formers Molotov cocktails than the latters Rolling Rock. I guess its unsurprising, then, that the newly released title track from DeMarcos upcoming album, This Old Dog, finds the hip indie hero feeling worn. Maybe sometimes my love may be put on hold, he sings over the late-night drip of guitar swells. The track carries a weariness similar to actual old man Bob Dylans latest release, which is maybe unsurprising given how tiring life has been lately. Still, DeMarco does offer some hope: This old dog aint about to forget / All weve had and all thats next. Sometimes dreams are put on hold, sure, but whether theyre remembered or forgotten is up to the dreamer. Gabe Cohn Rytmeklubben, Like That Dont pretend you can deny some fresh Scandinavian pop beats. Rytmeklubben is a four-piece group of club-music producers from Norway, which means when they come together as a live act they are basically algorithmically programmed to make your body sway and your feet happy. Do you even need to be told that they have a hypnotic female vocalist? Of course you dont, because you already knew it in your bones. JC Future Islands, Ran After nearly three years of silence since Future Islands broke into the mainstream with Seasons (Waiting on You), and its subsequent viral Letterman performance, Samuel T. Herring & Co. are back with a new single that delivers the type of wistful catharsis the band is so great at conjuring. Herrings gruff theatricality as he sings, I cant take it, I cant take it / This world without, this world without you, sounds both stubbornly determined and like hes mid-sob, making Ran a complex salve for any of your emotional wounds. Samantha Rollins (@SamanthaRollins) Dirty Projectors ft. DWN, Cool Your Heart There are a lot of things to be mad about of late; this new Dirty Projectors song isnt one of them. While the female voice is largely absent from the new Amber Coffman-less record, its all over Cool Your Heart. The song was written by Dave Longstreth and Solange on breaks from recording A Seat at the Table. It doesnt feature Solange because she instead recommended every R&B-adjacent artists go-to guest vocalist, the tremendously talented DWN, who sings the songs icy chorus and makes Longstreth sound cool (in every sense) by association. The song, like so much of the best Dirty Projectors work, takes Afro beats and warps them into something mesmerizingly unnatural. This is my favorite song of 2017 so far. Dee Lockett (@Dee_Lockett) Nick Hakim, Bet She Looks Like You Imagine yourself slow dancing at the end of a 1950s prom, or to the last song of a summertime wedding and Nick Hakim croons, If theres a God, I wonder what she looks like. I bet she looks like you. The high heels are off by now. Paper streamers are hanging haphazardly from the ceiling. Theres dessert and champagne spilled a little bit everywhere and all you want to do is dance in a slow little circle with someone. Thats Bet She Looks Like You. JC Toro Y Moi, Omaha The new track from Toro Y Moi, released as part of the Our First 100 Days project on Bandcamp, has a distinctly 80s vibe, with swelling synths and sparkly clean production. Equally chill is the narrators laid-back response to a lover leaving him, parts of which can be read like a conversation: Who said its forever? / Youve got to set your mind free / I dont have time for this weather / I let it pour over me. Two different perspectives that dont go together at least its an amicable separation. GC Goodman, Love Alone Even cads need love songs, and if youre going to sing about being left alone at the end of each night you might as well package it in a punchy pop-rock song. JC There was relief when my wife told me that I hadnt been nominated, says Aaron Taylor-Johnson on the day after the Academy Award nominations were announced. This, of course, is not normally the sentiment youd expect from a performer whos been passed over, especially one coming off a major awards win. But the English actor, whos married to Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson, already received a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his unsettling turn as a sadistic West Texas drifter in Tom Fords Nocturnal Animals, and you may remember his earnest reaction: Wide-eyed and shaking his head in disbelief as he walked to the stage, Taylor-Johnson looked as surprised as everyone else that hed won over the favorite, Moonlights Mahershala Ali. Now, after having been overlooked by the Academy which honored his co-star Michael Shannon with a Best Supporting Actor nomination he can relax and sit out this last stretch of the famously frenetic awards-season schedule. Coming home from the Globes with an award was brilliant, but Ive been promoting Nocturnal for six months, he says. As an actor, you prefer to put that kind of energy into something creative. It was good to finally step off the train. You do kind of go, Im losing my mind. Taylor-Johnson is still getting over the fact that hes being considered for award-worthy roles, let alone winning awards for them. Prior to Nocturnal Animals, he was best known for 2010s satirical superhero film Kick-Ass and 2014s Godzilla reboot. Whenever I read a script, he says sheepishly, I start recasting the role that I might play. Im like, God, this should be played by Domhnall Gleeson, not me. I was reading something recently and thought Mark Rylance should be in it instead of me. Then someone was like, The part is a bit younger than Mark Rylance. Photo: Amanda Demme He was just as uncertain about playing Nocturnal Animals Ray Marcus, a character darker and uglier in body and spirit than any hed tackled before. Indeed, upon hearing that Ford wanted to cast him as the films unhinged figure of evil, Taylor-Johnson remembers feeling slightly perplexed. At one point, he even approached his director and said, I dont think I can give you what you need; Im not good at it. Thankfully, he says now, Tom saw something in me. Over email, Ford shared that he was initially hesitant about casting TaylorJohnson out of fear of screwing with their friendship. Ive known his wife for over 20 years and I see them socially, he explained. But then, we were having dinner one night, and Aaron was acting out a story he just switched into something, and there was a moment, a glimmer, and I thought, You could totally be Ray. To help embody Marcus, Taylor-Johnson immersed himself in research about serial killers and consumed an ungodly amount of cigarettes and beer. I wanted to feel toxic from the inside out, he says. My wife is very loving and supportive but it was definitely great when I finished the shoot. In preparation for his next role, as an Iraq War sniper in Doug Limans The Wall, due out in March, Taylor-Johnson contacted American Sniper star Bradley Cooper, who put him in touch with former military sharpshooters. A big reason why hes been happy to jump off the awards-season promotional train is that Taylor-Johnson, at only 26, has experienced more than his share of difficulties with the press, mainly having to do with regularly being asked to explain the 23-year age gap between him and his wife. (A question that likely would never come up if their genders were reversed.) The couple met when she directed Taylor-Johnson they combined last names when they married in 2013 as a young John Lennon in 2009s Nowhere Boy. The attention was intrusive, he says. But having to deal with that early in my career probably got me to a place where I can more quickly just go, Oh, fuck it instead of wanting to rip someones head off for asking questions I dont like. Still, Ill never be Jennifer Lawrence or Tom Cruise, he admits, someone who can hold a movie and then be charming and charismatic doing promotion. I havent got what theyve got. But at least Im now comfortable just being myself. Photo: Amanda Demme Taylor-Johnson doesnt have a next project lined up yet he only does one film a year so that he can spend the rest of his time with his wife and their four daughters, two of whom are from her previous marriage. But hes already felt his stock rise post-Globes. The experience is all still very fresh, he says. But theres definitely a feeling of Strike when the irons hot. I know itll blow over eventually, but theres been more meeting people from studios. Its an interesting position to be in where youre suddenly getting considered for projects. And as for how he wants to spend the industry capital hes accrued? I want to work with great directors. Ive picked films based on the script or the character and seen them collapse because the directors were not strong visionaries. Surely, as a human being, let alone a Hollywood actor, Taylor-Johnson mustve felt a twinge of envy, too, seeing his castmate Shannon get an Oscar nomination. Or even felt a tiny sense of competition as they both made the awards-season-circuit rounds? Quite honestly, he says, and maybe this is because its the first time Ive been involved in this process and didnt know anything, I didnt have any of that. I didnt feel like, Oh, my PR team and his PR team are rivals. Who can get the best press? Who can get the best gossip about what the critics are really thinking? And Michaels been a gentleman. Hes only ever congratulated me on my success. Taylor-Johnson does cop to one reason why hes covetous of more trophy opportunities. An Academy Award is still something to work toward, he says. It wouldve felt a tad greedy to get a nom from them this time around. Then again, the award hes already got will have some lasting benefits. You know when you see trailers, he says, and itll say Golden Globe winner and then the actors name? Thats awesome. Its like a stamp that says THIS IS A FILM WITH A REAL ACTOR. *This article appears in the February 6, 2017, issue of New York Magazine. What nuggets of comedic gold will Alec Baldwins hosting stint on Saturday Night Live bring us this weekend? Who knows? Maybe he doesnt even know. (Nah. Of course he does. And maybe Melissa McCarthy and Rosie ODonnell know, too?) But as he puts it ever so dramatically in the cinematic teaser for the episode: The pull of fate is undeniable. Strap on your seat belts, everybody. We have a feeling this is going to be yuge. Does emptying a bag of drugstore popcorn into your mouth in lieu of a proper meal feed your soul? Supplement your plain chicken breast and little Chobani with the new trailer for season three of Netflixs Chefs Table, debuting February 17, which will satisfy your spiritual cravings with gorgeous food and philosophical chefs. If South Korean chef Jeong Kwan can marry her cooking skills and her calling as a Buddhist nun, the least you can do is eat those peanut M&Ms off a plate like a human being. Fresh Off the Boat is at its best when the focus is on the family. Well into its third season, the show has considered the inner workings of the Huang family quite a lot, but Sisters Without Subtext illustrates just how much territory has yet to be explored. This episode focuses on a relationship that hits particularly close to home: that of Jessica and her older sister Connie, locked in eternal competition in the way that only sisters can be. Jealousy rears its ugly head, but its clear from the way Jessica and Connies fight plays out that its always simmering below the surface. And although the neat and tidy resolution of Jessicas jealousy feels a little too tidy for me, the limitations of the form cant be ignored. A half-hour network sitcom cant pack a lifetimes worth of deeply felt resentment and complicated family strife into a single episode. Its a testament to this shows strength that despite the quick one-and-done nature of the ending, I was still moved. Sisterhood is a complicated union that forces people to become de facto emergency contacts, by dint of family and blood. Jessica and Connies relationship is my new favorite. Lets get into it. A series of postcards, sent to Jessica from Connie from a variety of exotic locales Ithaca, Indiana, and Athens, Georgia kicks off the action. Connie is finally getting her act together and going back to college. Here is the inception of the heady mixture of jealousy, resentment, and self-disappointment that powers the rest of the episode. At first, Jessicas proud of Connie, though it is very clearly a false pride. Yes, its great that Connie can go back to school. Of course Jessica wishes she could further her education, but kids, family, and becoming a real-estate tycoon in the greater Orlando area take up an awful lot of time. Good for Connie, getting her life together! Beauty school isnt real school, anyway. Maybe Connies trying to be more like Jessica! Connie is naturally very wary of her sisters sincerity, and she has every single right to be. But, as per the subtitles that underscore every conversation, Jessicas actually being sincere. Shes proud of her sister for going to college, so of course shell accompany her on some campus visits. I dont care if her sincerity is genuine, though. I know the way sisters work. Emotions run hot, triggered by the littlest things. The car ride, scored by their shared love of the music from The Color Purple goes well, but the careful truce Jessica has built with herself and her own best intentions collapses immediately upon arrival at the Orlando School of Art and Design. There are long-haired men in natural-fiber button-downs roaming in packs, carrying thin briefcases that are actually portfolios for their art. The dean of students uses devil sticks. Theres at least one white person with dreadlocks. Its every parents worst nightmare and Jessica is rightfully aghast. Connie isnt going to school to study business administration or marketing or to get her MBA. She wants to go to art school, a dream fueled by an afternoon spent sitting in front of The Girl With The Pearl Earring (the painting, not the movie) and eating a hot dog. She started painting, figured out she was good at it, and here we are, standing on the campus of a fictional art school, as Jessica practically vibrates with suppressed rage. Back at the house, Louis interprets his wifes silence as happiness, but anyone whos been watching the show for more than three minutes will understand the truth. Its actually a deep cup of judgment that is about to runneth over, a facade for what will be a huge showdown that will eventually make me cry. Jessica furiously works in an attempt to stave off whatever storm is brewing deep within. She cracks when Connie asks for scrap fabric for a collage, they get into a big fight, and Connie storms off. Louis carefully pokes the bear, not knowing what hes in for, but ready to handle it just the same. Art school is a waste of money! Its not a career. Jessica works hard because thats what youre supposed to do: work to make money to make something of yourself. The freak-out feels a bit outsize, even for her, and all is revealed when she takes Louis to the garage and reveals her secret a cache of hilariously awful figurative paintings, including one titled Timothy that looks at Rebecca, which will haunt my dreams for years to come. The final showdown happens when Connie gets back from her exploratory fabric-finding mission. She didnt know about Jessicas paintings or the fact that Jessica loved art way before Connie did. Like all younger sisters do, Connie rightfully clocks Jessica for being jealous, but thats where shes wrong. Jessica grew up and realized that adulthood is about more than just painting and art. Its about family, survival, and exceptionalism. Art is a luxury that Jessica would never allow herself to have. Who has time to pursue passions? Passions dont make money. The only person in this world who can bring Jessica to her senses is Louis. He does a pretty good job of it when he comes upon his wife melodramatically standing over her paintings, which are stuffed in a trash can, ready to set fire to her dreams. Aside from the fact that art isnt her strong suit, painting is a hobby. Hobbies are not something Jessica understands: She sees no reason why anyone would partake in an activity that doesnt make money or serve some other practical use. This is second-generation immigrant guilt feeling like you need to be more than enough, practical to a fault, and dogged in your conquest to succeed. Hobbies are useless because they dont serve a purpose other than to the self. Jessica and Louis dont have to work like their parents did, though. Theyre in a better place. Theyve sacrificed. Its okay to make time for self-care, though Im pretty sure if Jessica knew about self-care, shed hate it. And so the reconciliation occurs like we knew it would, with Jessica singing Miss Celies Blues to her sister, making amends through song, as the subtitles that are so necessary for their life together spell out their genuine apologies. A large part of me wishes that the children were not in this episode, but Im sure contractually, they have to be, so here goes: Marvin and Honey watch them for the day. They take them to a retirement home that Marvins checking out because hey, hes old! Honey learns to face her mortality earlier than she planned, and the boys spend a lot of time previewing what their twilight years could possibly hold: dinner at 4 p.m. and a pudding bar. I didnt need to see any of this and wouldve loved the extra screen time for the real story here, but once again, contracts, right? We end on a happy note (when has this show ever ended on a sad note?), as Jessica settles in to her studio in the garage. She gets an hour to paint while Louis handles the lunches, waters the plants, and yells at Eddie. Self-care is real, Jessica! Embrace it while you can. If the daily news fills you with an unending sense of dread, John Oliver suggests you flip the script and really embrace the end of America as a world power. It happened to Britain, and they turned out fine. You get blamed for everything when youre number one. Nobodys pointing at us anymore. Were irrelevant, the Last Week Tonight host points out. Yes, that hurts on the surface, but its actually a release if you really think about it. Nothing is our fault anymore, other than historically everything is still fundamentally our fault. Other than a newfound fear that maybe green card holders like John Oliver might suddenly be denied access to their lives in the U.S., its a legacy America can really look forward to embracing. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The New Yorker Larry Wilmore knows a thing or two about lending his comedic chops to the White House Correspondents Dinner serving as the featured comedian at the gala last year, he delivered a scathing 23-minute monologue that threw equal punches at all of the media outlets, journalists, and political figures in the room. (So scathing, in fact, that it even elicited many boos.) With President Donald Trumps first WHCD on the horizon, though, its currently uncertain whether the White House will book a comedian to do the honor of roasting the president and the press, as has become a staple of the gala over the past few decades. (Lets just say the president cant really take a joke well.) So far, comedians have had mixed feelings about taking the job if offered by the Trump administration John Oliver and Samantha Bee are decisive nos, while Stephen Colbert is totally onboard but Wilmore has a few thoughts on the matter too, and he wants comedians to know that they would be foolish not to take such a creative opportunity in our current political climate. You want to be respectful of the office but, my goodness, this would be the year to absolutely take that [invite] if you were asked, Wilmore told The Hollywood Reporter. If you really are against everything that comes out of Trumps mouth or his fingers, if hes tweeting what an opportunity to let that be known in a very funny and creative way. Wilmore added that the Correspondents Association neither censored nor asked to review his monologue before the gala, thus giving him total creative freedom. Nobody vetted my material. Nobody knew what Stephen [Colbert, in 2006] was going to do, he said. I see it as a huge opportunity for a comedian to do something interesting. Want to host it again then, Larry? The boy wonder. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images The youngest Oscar nominee this year, Lucas Hedges, hasnt been making the usual rounds on the awards circuit to promote his supporting role in Manchester by the Sea, and for good reason hes currently starring in the buzzy, ambitious production of the Off Broadway play Yen. So we had to ask when we ran into the 20-year-old actor on Yens opening night does his limited ability to celebrate his nomination with Hollywoods elite make him feel like hes missing out? He laughed. No FOMO! Its a bit challenging, but its also my dream, to be doing this play and be nominated for all these awards, he explained. And I get to work for a theater thats accommodating to me. I feel like Im fitting in everything, not like Im missing out on anything. Indeed, Hedges was able to fly out for the SAG Awards last weekend, and be back in time for opening night on Tuesday. (An understudy filled in for him). And he flew out again for the Oscar nominees lunch on Monday. Sure, he missed celebrating with his cast mates at the Golden Globes because the play was in rehearsals, but he wasnt nominated, so no big loss there. Any time he might feel a tinge of regret, he thinks about Andrew Garfield, who faces the same predicament, given that hes starring in a London revival of Angels in America this spring. I feel like Im in good company, with respect to missing out on some stuff, Hedges said. If Im missing out, hes missing out, too. Yen announced this week that it was extending its limited run to March 4. The new plan is to go dark Oscars weekend instead of using the understudy, as an acknowledgment that theatergoers might be bummed out if they were coming to see Hedges, who will be making pit stops at both the Independent Spirit Awards and the Oscars. This is my life! he laughed. Im not getting a lot of sleep, but I am getting a lot of frequent-flyer miles. or Already a subscriber? Sign In What is your email? This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. Enter your email: Please enter a valid email address. Submit Email or Connect with Google Sign In To Continue Reading Create Your Free Account edit email Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Google Choose a password to create an account: Enter your password or sign in with a different email Forgot Password? Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: Lower case letters (a-z) Upper case letters (A-Z) Numbers (0-9) Special Characters (!@#$%^&*) New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our This password will be used to sign into allsites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. Sign In Create Account One of the most embarrassing things that Ive ever seen on prime-time television is Lisa Rinna practicing her runway walk with her daughter Delilah. I cant quite figure out what it is about it that makes me so uncomfortable. Maybe its because its in the hallway of the hotel where, at any moment, someone could come out of their room or off the elevator to find these two women stomping up and down in a semi-private place and Lisar would just laugh her face off and say, Oh, sorry. My daughter is walking in her first fashion show tomorrow and we wanted to practice her walk. Oh my God, this is so embarrassing. Everyone, including that unwitting person, would know that Lisar wasnt really embarrassed at all. She would just be happy to have another reason to tell this person that her daughter was going to be a fashion model. Though she would be clutching this persons arm in an attempt to be relatable and disarming, this person would know he has to ask which show her daughter is walking in and have to pretend to be interested in this modest accomplishment that he has been needlessly thrust into. So he would ask and Lisar would respond, Termy Hurlfurger. (Credit for noticing the very odd way that Lisar says the designers name goes to Philip Bump, a serious journalist and the Real Housewives Institutes liaison to the SAPNQ Straight and Presumably Not Questioning community.) While the walking was embarrassing, it might have just been a way for Lisar to atone for alienating Yolanda Bananas Foster, the mother to Delilahs idol Gigi Hadid, who was both opening and closing this Timmy Himmelfarber show. As Delilah and The Other One point out, their mother has more drama than either of them do. These are teenage girls. Teenage girls are native to drama like fish are to water or salesmen are to strip clubs. Having a teenage girl tell you that you have too much drama is like a meth head telling you that you talk too fast. I love that St. Camille of Grammer has been around a lot this season, just dropping into the proceedings to offer a little bit of guidance and a well-trained side-eye, just like she popped in to have lunch with Lisar in New York. We get just enough Camille, because every time I see her on the screen I gasp and Im happy and I remember the springtime when the daffodils pop out of the soil and you want to grab the butt of every boy you see jogging in the park. Its also amazing because St. Camille always has the right advice. She tells the women how to behave like human beings, which is something they surely forgot when their souls were condensed down and pressurized into those giant diamonds they hold in the opening credits. While she gives Lisar good advice about what to do about Kim and Eden and Kyle she basically tells her to leave them all alone I could not handle the way they were talking about their daughters being in a fashion show. Is this her first walk? It is her first walk! Does she know how to walk? I dont know. What if she doesnt know how to walk? Im so nervous of her walk. Its like the two of them are talking about a couple of invalids or total idiots or something. Its just a fashion show. Its not like it takes tremendous skill. Knitting a scarf, baking a cake, or opening a plastic tub of Cheez Ballz you bought at Costco is harder than walking in a fashion show. Im sure these very bright young women will be fine. While Lisa and Camille are having lunch in New York, Dorit is having lunch in Beverly Hills with her husband, PK, a wet pair of socks you have to put back on. Their son, Jagger, who is absolutely adorable, is having a hard time learning how to speak. Theyre not so concerned about that, though. Theyre worried about the kind of accent hes going to have. Considering his mother sounds like Madonna doing an imitation of her Guatemalan maid and his father sounds like a Mary Poppins fart, his first word will probably sound like that of a Senegalese taxi driver. All of this is just prelude, however. Since we are watching an episode of The Agency Presents: House Hunters International, A Tyler Perry Film, theyre all going to Mexico to celebrate the opening of a new office of the Agency in Punta Mita. At the airport to leave for the trip, Erika Jayne is dressed like shes in the chorus of Running Man: The Musical, Dorit is inexplicably carrying a hat box, and PK, an overstuffed burrito covered in Steve Bannons rosacea, is wearing a sweatshirt the exact color of ball skin. Speaking of Erika Jayne, I havent mentioned her that much in the recaps this season because shes not really doing much of anything. And by not really doing much of anything, what I mean is that she is being absolutely perfect. I live for every single second of Erika Jayne. When I see her, I just go into my happy place like the Klonopin just dissolved and there are three episodes of the Great British Bake Off on the DVR. Every outfit, every syllable, every outsize on the verge of death? reaction just makes me fall a little bit more in love with her. My two favorite Erika moments this episode are both during the Jet Ski ride. The first is when the guys setting her up to ride ask if shes ready and she just sits in the saddle of that Jet Ski, confident and beautiful, and says, Im ready. Lets go, with this air thats both nonchalant and utterly privileged all at the same time. Its like she was saying, I am here for fun. I am here to have a good time. If you dont get me going right this second, I will open the heavens and giant mythological beast will fly down and devour you. The second moment is when she talks about how you cant be scared of a Jet Ski and makes this little wimpy whine of a silly girl holding onto the handles and screaming while going two miles an hour. Erika Jayne is not here for your silly, weak-ass, girly bullshit. She is here to go full throttle or not go at all, and that is why I love her. She has an unquenchable lust for life, coupled with a severe distaste for bullshit that just puts all the rest of the women in just the right place. Erika Jayne has her priorities in order, and none of them has anything to do with getting into a screaming match about some dumb nonsense. It is so odd when she talks to Kyle in this mansion in Mexico about how they have to savor every moment they get with their busy husbands, but also about how their own lives are blowing up. Ive been loving Kyle and Erika this season. I think that the meanest trick the devil ever played was making the two most relatable human beings on this show a self-centered fame whore who drives a car worth two college educations and a housewife who spends a majority of her time entertaining homosexuals in YouTube videos while she rolls around in designer thongs. How did this even happen? If you cant tell, Im really trying to avoid talking about Lisar and Eden and what she said about Kyle and all of that crazy nonsense. As soon as Eden blew into Villa Rosa, a giant duty-free shop with a house lodged in its throat, and kept talking about what was going on with her and the Sisters Richards I was already sick of it. I just want Eden to forget about it already because no matter who told her what about whom, she is still holding onto it tighter than me with my last box of Girl Scout cookies. Yes, Lisar got caught saying some stupid stuff about Kyle and Kim and she is talking out of both sides of her mouth. But dont we all know this is Lisars M.O. by now? Is anyone really surprised? Do we really have to care? No. What do we care about? Everything else. We care about Eileens weirdo son zipping himself up in a laundry bag. We care about Lisa Vanderpump roasting Maurice for opening an office in Mexico and never working again. We care about all of Lisas dogs, though they are like Tribbles at this point: nameless, multiplying, and probably up to no good. We care about Erika Jayne, in her sunglasses right out of a Whitesnake video as she goes out on the balcony of her room in Mexico with a sarong tied around her waist while the moist, salty wind chills her still-damp bathing suit and tickles the tassel of her ponytail. She stands there surveying this giant house, looking out over the ocean and into the sky with the clouds cartwheeling across the wide expanse. She thinks about how her whole life shes dreamed about this moment, this unremarkable moment between incidents. Those are the best moments of all, when shes alone with herself, the wind, and the slight sting of chill that reminds her that its a struggle to stay alive. Because its 2017 and some people never learn: There is never, under any circumstances, an appropriate time or place that makes blackface okay. There just isnt. Anyway, now that thats settled Just in time to push back against our white-splaining presidents alternative facts, the Netflix original Dear White People will arrive online April 28. The show has all the trappings of the original movie black college students at a predominantly white elite school surrounded by frat bros with bad taste in rap and even worse taste in R&B, white friends who wear pearls and ask to touch your 3C coils, and even a white dude in a Bob Marley wig. Dear everybody: Add this to your queue. Photo: MGM Last year, Harry Shearer filed a $125 million lawsuit against the French company Vivendi, accusing them of fraudulently withholding royalties from the classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. The complaint filed by Shearer claims that according to Vivendi, the four creators share of total worldwide merchandising income between 1984 and 2006 was $81 (eighty-one) dollars. Between 1989 and 2006 total income from music sales was $98 (ninety-eight) dollars. The original production deal apparently entitled Tap co-creators Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Rob Reiner to 40 percent of the movies net profits, which logically seems like it should add up to more than just under $200 over the past 30 years. Today, those co-creators joined Shearer in his suit, and the amended complaint is seeking $400 million, as well as certain rights permissions, such as trademarks for the bands name and the name of the character Derek Smalls (played by Shearer). What makes this case so egregious is the prolonged and deliberate concealment of profit and the purposeful manipulation of revenue allocation between various Vivendi subsidiaries, said Reiner. I am hoping this lawsuit goes to 11. Star Wars Land concept art Photo: Handout/Disney Enterprises, Inc./Lucasfilm Ltd. Though 2019 will mark the end of the Skywalker saga with Star Wars Episode IX, it will also mark the beginning of fans visiting its universe in theme-park form. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Star Wars Land is set to open in Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Anaheim in coordination with the much-anticipated sequel. Disney had previously announced its plans to build the park its biggest single-theme expansion ever in 2015, before the release of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. At the time, Vulture learned that there were plans to create a Millennium Falcon ride, which seems like a disrespectful way to treat a ship that has saved the rebellion umpteen times, but regardless will probably make you want to start planning your family vacation for two years from now. Look out, London: Theres a new man in charge. No, not James Keziah Delaney hes pretty much doing the same things he always does. I mean behind the camera. Here at the halfway mark of Taboos eight-episode run, director Anders Engstrom takes the reins from Kristoffer Nyholm, who helmed the shows first four installments. Its not exactly a whole new ballgame, but now its much more tempting to stay through the final few innings to see how Taboo ends. Although he retains cinematographer Mark Patten, who shot all eight episodes, Engstrom nevertheless brings a new crispness and clarity to the shows look. Nyholm relied on alternating muddy realism with nightmarish surrealism; the result was a murky mess that offered little in the way of arresting imagery no matter which side of the divide a given scene or shot landed. By contrast, Engstrom makes the muck a little brighter and more fantastical, and gives the dreamlike sequences more solidity, improving the power of both. Take the early scene in which Delaney returns home from his duel. He and Lorna Bow decide to take their egg breakfast outside, and eat it while sitting on heaps of driftwood, rock, and rotted dockworks covered in lush green moss. A few episodes ago, wed have seen nothing but mud out there; now everythings as emerald as a shot from John Boormans Excalibur. The color palette really makes Lornas red dress pop a scarlet slash across the screen that befits her wild-card spirit and status. A later shot of Delaney riding his white horse across a verdant green landscape takes a similarly striking approach. The scene between Delaney and Lorna has an echo toward the end of the episode, when James meets with the American spymaster Carlsbad at her palatial estate. As they walk through the grounds haggling over gunpowder, blue and purple flowers are visible in the background, shrouded with mist thats given a glow by the white-gray light of the cloudy afternoon. Its lovely to look at, yes. It also gives us a sense of place that isnt just impoverished hellhole nor island of extravagant excess, but someplace in between. Whether its Engstroms influence or not, the acting has also improved from Tom Hardy on down. The leading man is truly frightening for the first time in the series, his eyes alight with visible malice as he demands to know what the farm boy who now works in his gunpowder factory (and whos secretly his son) is staring at, or as he slices the thumb off a traitor and tells his companions, I am inside your heads, gentlemen always. Jamess partner in crime, the roguish chemist Cholmondeley, looks more promising this time around as well. A one-note, wild-and-crazy guy during his introduction in last weeks episode, he seems wittier in his cynicism and salaciousness here. Take the exchange he has with James about his romantic interest in Lorna: Not only is she among the large group of women Id sleep with, the chemist says with characteristically blunt bawdiness, shes among the much smaller group of women Id masturbate over. When Delaney fails to be duly shocked or repulsed, Cholmondeley just gives up on the conversation with a sarcastic, Well, this is fun, isnt it? Its an actual joke, instead of a jokelike product. The baddies are improving, too. Until now, East India Company honcho Sir Stuart Stranges dialogue has rarely made an impression beyond his lazily deployed F-bombs. Suddenly, hes issuing Young Popeesque pronouncements like, We are richer than God. I blaspheme with impunity because the entire Company is at my heel! Even Thorne, Zilphas odious husband, is given a brief respite from being the most awful man imaginable. During the beautifully shot, cleverly written duel (At the time of your choosing, there will be a polite exchange of bullets, says the official overseeing the gunfight), his traitorous assistant fails to load his gun so that the Company will have cause to prosecute Delaney for murder. But James kills the second and spares Thorne himself, congratulating him on an excellent shot. For once, Thorne refrains from sneering. When he returns home, he doesnt brutalize Zilpha that comes later, oh boy, does it ever. Instead, for now, he has a genuinely biting exchange about Zilphas obvious preference for her brother over him, and how each has to learn about the others life through gossip. It doesnt excuse his behavior, but at least you can feel that Thorne is a person in pain. The episodes strongest scene comes from an entirely unexpected direction. Searching for a way to get ahead of the East India Company in their quest for Nootka Sound, the Prince Regent and his adviser Coop decide to go after Sir Stuart directly. How? By opening an investigation into the sinking of the Influence, the illegal EIC slave ship on which Delaney worked (or was held prisoner himself). Enter George Chichester, head of a lobbying group called the Sons of Africa, which has tried for years to convince Coop that the sinking was a deliberate cover-up. Played by Lucian Msamati (Game of Thrones pirate leader Sallador Saan), Chichester goes through a dizzying range of emotions in just a few minutes. He insists on giving Coop a full tally of the slain: 280 souls: 120 men, 84 women, and here Coop interrupts, and Chichester continues, And, sir, 76 children. He laughs when Coop asks if he had relatives aboard, as if all black people are cousins. He dismisses the bureaucrats characterization of the drownings as a crime against your people: Against people, Chichester replies, correcting him. Finally, he reacts in silent, astonished joy when he reads the Prince Regents letter ordering the investigation. Msamati does beautiful work here, and Jason Watkins is a far cry from his earlier mustache-twirling as Coop. Theres even a sneakily cold-blooded message about social progress only advancing when its in the best interests of entrenched power for it to do so. But theres still an entrenched power up to no good, and its the entrenched power of sucking, misogynistically. Their initial, cutting conversation aside, Zilpha and Thorne are stuck doing the exact same thing weve seen them do over and over: Zilpha staring wide-eyed and being too into James, followed by Thorne discovering her, beating her, and sexually assaulting her. The wrinkle, I guess, is that he only beats her, leaving the sexual assault to the exorcist whom he hires to drive Jamess psychic visitations from her body. But Zilpha is such a non-entity as a character that theres just no additional point to make about this relationship, whether you just repeat the same interactions or add minor variations. Other than my husband is awful and my brother is intimidating but attractive, can you name a single thing Zilpha thinks? Thats a tremendous failure of writing, and not one that can be fixed by the supernatural rape-revenge narrative the final scene sets up. Its similar to a major flaw with Jamess writing: He is always two steps ahead of his enemies, yet he never actually does anything to get himself there. He just reacts to their moves in a way designed to demonstrate that hes outfoxed them. Theres no surprise, no uncertainty, nothing that makes heist or conspiracy thrillers interesting. Taboo has proven it can shake up its mundane visuals, find a sense of humor, and even develop genuine human emotion in that Chichester scene. For its final trick, lets see if it can turn its main characters into actual characters. Brace yourselves, Fosters fam. Dream a Little Dream takes us on a journey through one of the scariest places imaginable: the teenage subconscious. Take a deep breath. Well get through this together. As Jesus 2 fights to wake up from his medically induced coma, The Fosters gives us a glimpse inside his head. If youve been paying attention to the series for the past four seasons, the kids fears and insecurities are pretty obvious: Mainly, he feels guilty and pressured in regards to protecting Mariana and he worries that he isnt good enough for Emma. There are a few scary images tossed in, like Nick shooting Mariana while wearing a Santa Claus suit, and Emma hooking up with Brandon, neither of which will be easily scrubbed from my brain. For the most part, its your run-of-the-mill subconscious dream stuff, and though Im always in favor of a Jesus 2 story, it seems like the time couldve been used more productively, considering the Adams Foster family is basically burning to the ground at the moment. Obviously, Im referring to the latest debacle Callie has gotten herself mixed up in. Its a doozy. Last we saw Callie, she had gone to the police station by herself to give a statement about the hit-and-run accident she fled in order to escape from Troy. Little did she know that fleeing the scene of an accident is a felony, even if you were only a passenger. To make matters worse, shady Detective Gray is hovering over the interrogation room, attempting to ensure that Callies story about the Martha Johnson murder doesnt gain any traction. Detective Gray gets a little assist in the matter when Troy Johnson finally pops up with his lawyer, ready to give his own statement about the accident. Callie and Troy tell completely opposite versions of the same story. Callies is what we know to be the truth, while Troy paints Callie as a crazy person obsessed with getting a murderer out of prison. Its all very he-said, she-said. As Gray reminds the detective assigned to the case, the she said of it all has an extensive rap sheet, while Troy Johnson hasnt even had a parking ticket. One of the saddest things this story line examines and there is so much thats sad here is how Callie is immediately written off because of her past. The cards are always stacked against her. Some of that truly is her own fault, though. After hours of being questioned, why doesnt she let someone, anyone, know what shes doing? Its infuriating. HELP ME HELP YOU, CALLIE. Thankfully, Hot Dad Mike gets word that Callie is at the police station without Stef, and he attempts to alert his ex-wife to the situation. Of course, Stef is a little preoccupied what with there being a bolt inserted into her sons swelling brain. By the time she gets Mikes messages and arrives at the police station looking to crack some skulls, it is too late. Callie is tricked into signing her official statement one in which she takes the blame for getting into Troys car and its enough to arrest her for vehicular assault and a felony hit-and-run. And here I thought that detective was on our side! Stef is right, he is in fact Grays bitch. For shame, dude. Theres nothing Stef can do as Callie gets shipped off to a high-security juvenile-detention center. She holds her daughter close, tells her to keep her head down, and shell get her out. Mother and daughter are torn apart one more time. As much as I find Callies behavior frustrating, its heart-wrenching to watch this whole thing go down. For someone who always seems hesitant to admit she cant handle something on her own, Callie looks truly frightened as shes pulled away from Stef. Suddenly, shes back in juvie, where we first met her. Callie gets processed a situation shes very familiar with and hunkers down for a night in lock up. There is very obviously some shady stuff going down in juvie. That night, as Callie tries to make herself as invisible as possible, a guard wakes up Callies neighbor and takes her away. The very next morning, that prisoner invites Callie to the party that night. Callie stays away, but I have a sneaking suspicion that whatever is going down in this prison will eventually affect Callie. I am not at all here for that. Callies been through so much! If prison abuse gets tossed into the mix, Im going to have some issues. Unfortunately, when Callies detention hearing goes poorly, my suspicion seems all the more likely. The hearing is supposed to determine where Callie will stay until she has to appear in court. Stef hoped the judge would realize Callie didnt know leaving the scene of an accident was a crime and would release her into their custody. Stef forgot that nothing ever goes right for Callie. Since Callie has a record and has run away from her family before, the judge orders her back into juvie. Furthermore, Callie is ordered to have a fitness trial, where theyll decide whether or not she can be charged as an adult. This is real bad, you guys. Even for Callie. There has to be some good news for the Adams Fosters among this whole mess, right? There is sort of. After lots of worry about fevers and brain infections, our little Jesus 2 hears his mamas whispering for him to wake up, and does just that. Jesus is up and his brain swelling is down! There is a catch, of course: When he opens his mouth to speak, only gibberish comes out. Youd think having Teri Polo and Sherri Saum hold you and tell you that youre safe would solve all your problems, now and forever, but alas Jesus 2 has a long road to recovery ahead of him. Another day, another issue for the Adams Fosters to tackle together. In Other Family News The Jude tude is out of control. Hes giving a lot of lip service to Mariana and being generally rude to his siblings. Its tough to take Brandon seriously as he admonishes Jude, but the guy does have a Ph.D. in bad choices, so if nothing else, Brandon can act as a cautionary tale. And it works! By the end of the episode, Jude is washing dishes like the polite little nail-polish-loving boy he was before he fell for the pastors son. In all fairness, I do feel for B. Watching him erase that congratulatory chalkboard message was brutal. Now that he knows his spot is gone and Juilliard is over, heres hoping this kid gets some kind of redemption story line. Brandon needs a win. Same goes for Mariana, another Adams Foster who is having a time. She makes up with Mat, but even their first time sleeping together isnt drama-free: Mariana has Emma buy her a pregnancy test at the hospital. Brandon sees the whole thing, so you know hell have something to say about it. What in the hell is up with Lenas story line? She has a very nice scene with that old lady, who tries to comfort her as she breaks down under the weight of her childrens terrible choices and then the woman is a ghost? What? Follow-up: WHY? Speaking of the ghost lady, she has some great lessons to share. My favorites were her comparison of teenagers to toddlers: They have no impulse control. Its like the terrible twos, only now they can drive, and the always relevant gem, Kind kids make kind adults. Okay, Im convinced. Bring the ghost lady back! Randall is really having a rough go of things. This is distressing because I think weve all come to the agreement that Randall is the light of our lives and we would all very much like to be wrapped up in his strong arms, which I am 78 percent sure have magical powers. Or maybe thats just me? Whatever level your feelings are toward Randall, Id be willing to bet youre a fan. So when hes getting stressed or being short with his family or deciding to wear shirts that Beth perfectly describes as not cool on Sisqo in 2001, its cause for serious concern. And thats exactly what goes down in I Call Marriage. Maybe we should be the ones holding Randall instead? Randall is carrying a lot on his (very strong, very buff) shoulders. Hes dealing with his dying father and his familys grief over said dying father, and, on top of the craziness at home, hes in a constant battle to out-work Sanjay at the office. Doesnt Sanjay know this is Randalls house? As we know, Randall is a perfectionist so when things start to spiral, so does he. When he catches Tess up on a school night playing chess with William, hes angry. Tess needs lessons for a tournament that everyone was too busy to notice is happening, and she wanted to spend time with William. Randall snaps back that theres plenty of time. When he and Beth meet with a counselor to assist them as Williams health deteriorates, Randall doesnt want to talk about death or grieving; instead, he leaves early. He even gets snippy at Beth when he sees her showing Tess and Annie the memory box she made after her own father died. She reminds him that neither she nor Randall were prepared when their fathers died, and she doesnt want that kind of awful surprise for Tess and Annie with William. When Randall tells Beth that he has to miss the chess tournament to meet a client with Sanjay (ugh, Sanjay), Beth finally puts her foot down. Tonight, she calls marriage. He needs to be there for his kids. Also, he needs to take off that ugly shirt. Theres a version of this story where a husband feeling stressed about increasing pressure from both the office and home would decide that success at work is the priority. That husband would skip the chess tournament and go to meet his client. That husband is not Randall, and Im so glad that This Is Us doesnt go in that direction. Randall is a perfectionist, but his family always comes first. Thats why Randall changes his shirt and watches his daughter win her first chess tournament. Thats why, when he sees how much Tess and Annie are bonding with William, he asks Beth if Randall bringing a dying man into their house is going to break his daughters. She tells him its the opposite, of course, but she knows something is off with her man. BE CONCERNED, BETH. Be very concerned. Randall goes to work the next day and gets some semi-bad news. His boss is giving half of Randalls clients to Sanjay. He swears it isnt a demotion, but knowing Randall, thats the only way he sees it. The guy is trying his best to be at the top of his game in all aspects of his life, but some things are just out of his control. This isnt good. Not too long ago, Beth told William about the last time Randall got overzealous in his quest to solve all the problems and how it caused temporary blindness. Well, Randall comes home from work and cant hold a glass of water because his hand begins to shake. Is this another symptom of extreme stress or is there something else going on? DID YOU BREAK RANDALL, THIS IS US? Randall isnt the only Pearson striving to be perfect. Back in the past, Jack seems like hes in a race with himself to be the best husband and father on the planet. Hes continually trying to outdo himself. I love Jack, but this is exhausting. On the current Perfect Husband Checklist: Reminding Rebecca how they felt as newlyweds. You see, Rebecca and Jack (sporting his 90s goatee, for those of you keeping track of the timeline) discover that Miguel and Shelley are getting a divorce. By the look on Mandy Moores face, she may projectile vomit across the table. Girl is bugging out. Back at the homestead, Rebecca assures her husband that they arent Miguel and Shelley, and that sometimes people drift apart. Jack cant wrap his perfect husband brain around anyones relationship not following his formula: Find your soulmate, get married, stay together until you die. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. When Jack presses Miguel for more deets, he hears exactly what he needs to in order to take action. Miguel confirms Rebeccas theory: They simply drifted apart. He gives Jack a long speech about how he and Shelley stopped noticing each other, and how they stopped caring that they stopped noticing each other. Theres also some stuff in there about not getting Shelley coffee, but why anyone besides Jack and Randall try to give speeches, Ill never know. Regardless, Jack gets the gist: You fight for your marriage or your marriage dies. Jacks a fighter. Rebecca comes home from band practice, where she has just schooled her flirty bandmate Ben in how wonderful her husband is how dare you, Ben? and finds Jack ready to whisk her away to a surprise location. That surprise location is their first apartment. Its vacant, so Jack rented it for the night (is this a thing?) and its all done up with twinkle lights and candles and some bubbly. He is noticing her, you guys. And she is noticing him. And then they are noticing the shower where they used to have hot, passionate shower sex. In true Jack Pearson fashion, theres much more. He also brought along their wedding vows. They read them to one another there in the old apartment intercut with scenes from their actual wedding day and as you may have guessed, they are lovely. This is Jack and Rebecca were talking about here. We dont yet know how they ended up, but we do know that they started out very, very in love. The vows are all about building a life and sharing dreams and pledging themselves to one another. The biggest gut-punch of a line comes from Rebecca: You are my great love story and, Jack Pearson, our story is just getting started. But nothing is ever truly perfect for the Pearsons, and so Rebecca decides this is the moment to tell Jack that her band booked a five-state tour, and she wants to go. Way to pick your moment, Rebecca. This Is the Rest Anyone else had enough of Kates suitors? Toby shows up at fat camp and does exactly what he promises not to do, which is derail Kates progress. He goofs around in a class and makes her feel guilty for choosing herself; I get that hes recovering and lonely, but not the time and place, Toby. Duke is even worse, and makes sure Kate knows his offer for a hot hookup still stands. I wish she would just stay on that evil exercise machine, but the last we see of her, shes making a beeline for Cabin 13. I am so ready for some flashbacks to Kevin and Sophies romance. Their first meeting doesnt go as well as Kevin probably hoped, but ever the Pearson male, he chases her down and tells her that marrying her was the best thing to ever happen to him and it wins him a second meeting. Of course Kevin invented a fake Facebook profile to stalk his ex. OF COURSE. That was the least convincing New York City subway car on television, right? I can usually spot a dream sequence a mile away, but Randall coming home to find William dead at the piano honestly got me. Im just very attached to these two, okay? Sure, sure, Jack and Rebecca rereading their vows to one another was meant to get us all misty-eyed, but you know what really did the trick? Seeing how happy and proud William is when Tess wins her tournament. I TOLD YOU IM ATTACHED. It would be wrong not to dwell on those quick glimpses of Jack and Rebeccas wedding day. They are so in love and also Mandy Moore looks like a bohemian goddess in her dress and flower crown. The best part? No one loves Miguels jokes like Jack loves Miguels jokes. If he only knew. Central Texas Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association will have a Valentines Brunch fund-raiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Texas State Technical Colleges Greta Watson Culinary Arts Center, 109 Eighth St. The meal, prepared by some of Wacos top chefs, will include prime rib, poached shrimp, smoked salmon, charcuterie, a south-of-the-border take on eggs benedict, rosemary chicken and more. Desserts will include house-made profiteroles, eclairs, chocolate strawberries and more. The event is BYOB, with mimosa and bloody mary mixers and garnishes provided. Non- alcoholic beverages will be provided. Cost is $35 per person, $60 per couple and $15 for ages 12 and younger. Walk-ins will be accepted, but reservations are requested by 5 p.m. Friday to chef Gayle Van Sant at 867-4868. Science Thursdays Robert Doyle, chair of Baylor Universitys department of biology, will present Can the Wetlands Save the Lake? to kick off a Science Thursdays at the Mayborn Series at 7 p.m. Thursday at Baylors Mayborn Museum, 1300 S. University Parks Drive. A coffee and cookies reception will precede the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free but does not include museum admission. Writers Workshop Jamie Foley, author of the young adult adventure novel series Sentinel and Arbiter, will discuss writing, self-publishing and marketing with the Christian Writers Workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Woodway. For more information about the free workshop, email reitahawthorne2@gmail.com or call 339-3060. MCHC meeting The McLennan County Historical Commission will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday at Lorena United Methodist Church, 205 Borden St. in Lorena. Agenda items will include a county history program for public schools, a replacement marker for Eichelberger Crossing and discussion about an upcoming bus tour and Texas Independence lecture series. The meeting is open to anyone with an interest in county history. For more information, call Van Massirer at 486-2366 or email vmassirer@yahoo.com. The Waco Downtown Farmers Market is leaning toward the McLennan County Courthouse parking lot as a temporary location until construction finishes around the markets riverside home. McLennan County commissioners Tuesday heard a request from downtown officials to allow the nonprofit market to use the parking lot across Washington Avenue from the courthouse for a year. Commissioners appeared receptive and asked the representatives to draft a contract they could vote on later this month. The market will be displaced next month while environmental remediation starts for the Brazos Promenade public-private development, which will wrap around the tree-shaded site near Webster Avenue and University Parks Drive. The city of Waco, which owns the site and is overseeing the remediation, is allowing the market to use the space through March 11. Assistant City Manager Cynthia Garcia said she expects the market could return within 18 months, as the first phases of residential, retail and hotel construction wrap up. Farmers market officials also have considered the Texas Life Insurance Co. parking lot in the 1000 block of Austin Avenue as a temporary location for the market, which draws more than 2,000 visitors on a typical Saturday. Texas Life executives were willing to offer the space, but getting insurance to shield the firm from liability has turned out to be a slow and burdensome process, said Megan Henderson, executive director of City Center Waco, which is brokering the move. It hasnt been definitively ruled out, Henderson said of the Texas Life site. The Texas Life site has more space for vendors and parking than the countys site, she said. If the county site at Sixth and Austin is chosen, special attention will be given to keep the farmers market from interrupting business in the Austin Avenue area, she said. We want to make sure visitors to the farmers market dont go try to park at Cafe Cappuccino, Henderson said. The site also is used as remote parking for the McLane Stadium shuttle on Baylor gamedays, but morning games are rare and wouldnt be a major problem, Henderson said. She said the best place for die-hard fans of the market to park would be the underused city parking garage at Fifth Street and Austin Avenue, which has about 400 spots. Market manager Kristi Pereira said she still considers the Texas Life property an attractive option. But regardless of which site is chosen, she expects the farmers market faithful to follow. Strong support I feel that we have strong community support, Pereira said. We want to make sure we get across to everyone that were the market no matter where we are, that we offer the same great products and community gathering space. Henderson said downtown and the farmers market need each other, and she hopes downtown merchants will support the market even if it creates some temporary inconveniences. The farmers market has brought huge benefits to downtown, she said. In fact, there are people who like living in Waco because we have this. Its part of the lifestyle and culture of living here. It needs to be downtown, because thats what downtowns do. The May 2 ballot will include an option for McLennan County residents to vote on a proposed new tax on hotel stays and car rentals leaders hope will pay for a $34.4 million renovation of the Extraco Events Center. The proposition includes a 2 percent hotel occupancy tax and a 5 percent tax on short-term car rentals. The first project the tax would pay for would be renovations and new construction at the fairgrounds, including a new multipurpose arena. The Texas Comptrollers Office sent the go-ahead after commissioners approved a resolution supporting the proposed project, County Attorney Mike Dixon said. The county plans to issue bonds for the fairgrounds project and pay them back with projected income from the new tax, Dixon said. Commissioners unanimously approved putting the proposal on the May ballot. Any investor that buys the bonds will know its a true revenue bond tied to those specific revenues, Dixon said. County leaders have said the project is aimed at attracting larger tournaments, exhibits and other events to the Extraco Events Center, creating a self-sustaining model in funding all while boosting economic development. The project off Bosque Boulevard is estimated to cost $34.37 million and includes redevelopment of the entire 60-acre fairground site, with plans for an additional $6.88 million in work for future phases. Plans include building an 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art multipurpose center that would connect to the existing coliseum, adding about 300 livestock stalls to the campus, relocating Paul Tyson Field and improving security. A Baylor University study projects the fairgrounds economic impact could jump from $47 million to $60 million once the renovation is done, Extraco Events Center CEO Wes Allison said during a commissioners court meeting last month. Resident feedback Two residents spoke out during Tuesdays meeting before commissioners approved the ballot measure. Moody resident Randall Scott Gates said taxpayers were formally told the $50 million bond to build the Jack Harwell Detention Center would not cost them anything, and it turned out to not be true. Gates said the jail costs taxpayers $4 million a year. Gates said he predicts a similar outcome for plans for the fairgrounds. Who pays for this if tax revenue is not sufficient? he said. Hewitt resident Eric Scafer said he is concerned because the county has a history of starting major projects and letting the burden fall on taxpayers. If voters sign off on the tax, the county, city of Waco and Waco Independent School District will create a venue board tasked with determining funding mechanisms, determining the next course of action and detailing phases of work. Also at the commissioners court meeting, Human Resources Director Amanda Talbert told commissioners that elected officials and department heads have not been submitting disciplinary documentation to her office that is needed for a new merit-based pay plan. The incentive plan, which went into effect Oct. 1, allows for one-time payments to employees who meet a certain level on a performance review. Commissioners budgeted $900,000 countywide for the program. Talbert said the disciplinary documentation is part of the process, and she wants commissioners to ensure everyone is aware of the policy. Performance reviews start in March, she said. Commissioners also approved the retirement of a sheriffs office drug dog named Impulse. Lt. Chris Eubank wrote in a letter to the court that Impulse is almost 8 years old and suffers from back issues that prevent him from jumping and performing normal duties. Impulse will retire to live with his handler, Deputy Rebecca Mabry. Rarely is the question asked: Is our Cabinet secretaries learning? And if we is being honest with ourself, we says: No, they is not. Todays lesson: the education of Betsy DeVos. DeVos, a major Republican donor, Tuesday reached the end of her ordeal to be confirmed as education secretary, and it has been a grizzly tale. Republicans, apparently recognizing the billionaires lack of familiarity with the rudiments of education policy, tried to shield DeVos from public view. They scheduled her testimony in the evening and limited questions. But this did not save the heiress from getting schooled. DeVos was confused by questions about the Individuals With Disabilities and Education Act and befuddled when asked about the raging debate over measuring student proficiency vs. growth. DeVos solution to protect student aid from waste? Uh, leave it to the individuals with whom I work. But her finest moment was her argument for why we need guns in schools: to protect from potential grizzlies. It was too much to bear. Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, said they couldnt give DeVos a passing grade, ensuring she would be confirmed Tuesday on a 50-50 tie broken by Vice President Mike Pence the first time that a vice presidents tiebreaking vote was needed to confirm a Cabinet secretary, according to Daniel Holt, assistant historian in the Senate Historical Office. Hour after hour on the Senate floor Monday and into Tuesday morning, Democrats howled about the nominees woeful qualifications and few Republicans countered them. But Democrats in the long run may thank the majority Republicans for confirming DeVos. In the fight against President Trumps agenda, the new administrations incompetence is their friend. Trumps choice of DeVos signals a dangerous desire to dismantle public schools. It would be more dangerous if he chose somebody who was actually up to the task. In this sense, Trumps Cabinet generally may be a gift to opponents of his agenda. At Housing and Urban Development, there will be Ben Carson. Before Carsons nomination, his friend Armstrong Williams said the retired neurosurgeon feels he has no government experience, hes never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency. At the Energy Department is Rick Perry, mocked by Trump himself during the presidential primaries. He should be forced to take an IQ test before being allowed to enter the GOP debate, Trump said, suggesting that Perry wears glasses so people think hes smart. Heading the National Security Council is Mike Flynn, reportedly drummed out as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency for poor management. Nikki Haley, the United Nations ambassador, has no foreign policy experience. One can already see future Cabinet meetings shaping up in the White House, as Trump goes around the table asking for updates: Carson: Pass. DeVos: Could you come back to me, please? Flynn: Sorry, what? Perry: Oops. No doubt there is some value in nominating people outside the establishment. But the value is diminished if your outsiders cant do the job. Competence questions arise daily. After years of Republican promises to repeal Obamacare, a secret recording of a meeting of congressional Republicans makes clear that the administration and its allies on Capitol Hill have no such plan. Trumps travel ban has been hung up in court largely because its legal underpinning is sloppy. Then theres Trumps executive order putting political adviser Steve Bannon on the National Security Council; The New York Times reported that Trump signed that order without fully understanding it. Questions of competent management extend to the most important issues. During confirmation hearings, Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reported that they had only cursory conversations with Trump about Russia. Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly acknowledged that he hadnt discussed immigration policy with Trump. Nominees were at odds with Trump on the Iran nuclear deal, torture, entitlement programs, climate change and the border wall. Then theres DeVos. After her rickety performance at her confirmation hearing, she returned a written questionnaire to senators last week and it was soon apparent that some of her answers were cribbed from a magazine, the Education Department website and, of all sources, an Obama administration nominee. On the Senate floor Monday, Democrats spoke into the night denouncing DeVos abilities or lack of them. Uniquely unqualified, said Chuck Schumer of New York. Astonishing ignorance, said Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Embarrassingly unprepared, said Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. After three hours of unanswered charges, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell showed up and gave a lengthy endorsement of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. McConnell was followed by the No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, offering perfunctory support for DeVos. The president will get the Cabinet he nominated and deserves, Cornyn said. Yes, he will. Dana Milbank covers political theater for The Post. Breaking badly Since the election, Congressman Bill Flores has ignored and even blocked many of his constituents who have dared to ask hard-hitting questions on social media. It seems that he prefers to live in an echo chamber. Just this morning (Feb. 3), Flores used his verified Twitter account to brush aside a constituents open letter regarding the travel ban, saying: My decisions are based upon facts. Facts based upon briefings from Homeland Security, FBI, IC, classified briefings, etc. So you can imagine my surprise when I clicked a link he had posted a few days earlier labeled Fact Check: YES, Terrorists Have Come From Countries on President Trumps Travel Ban and found that the article our dear congressman cited was written by Walter White, crystal-meth kingpin from AMCs smash hit Breaking Bad. Flores might as well have cited an article by Harry Potter. The rest of the website in question (www.thepoliticalinsider.com) is littered with clickbait and propaganda that reads like castoffs from the National Enquirer. Had Flores dug a little deeper, he might have learned that Duck Dynastys Sadie Robertson Just Made a MAJOR Announcement . . . This Changes EVERYTHING and WikilLeaks CONFIRMS Hillary Sold Weapons to ISIS . . . Then Drops Another BOMBSHELL! My question is this: Should a man who cant discern real information from fake even be privy to classified briefings, let alone be allowed to weigh in on matters of national security? Bethany Grones, Waco To ask, to answer Is there no distance too far to go; no amount of your own or George Soros money too much to be squandered; no amount of time too precious to be wasted; no school day or class that cant be skipped by teacher and student; no family responsibility, career or job so vital that it cant be forsaken just to give the new president a sourpuss welcome into office by protesting, carrying disrespectful signs, wearing vulgar costumes or rioting, breaking and burning other peoples property and physically attacking his supporters? Is there no distortion, lie, absurdity, inanity, curse, threat, vulgarity, insult, taunt, no derogatory name or expletive that will not be uttered by his rabble-rousing opponents? No executive order, appointment, nomination, assignment or proposal that will not be opposed, protested, boycotted, litigated, abrogated, wept over or filibustered by the disloyal opposition in Congress or by disgruntled Democratic political appointees still in positions of authority in executive branch departments and agencies? Is there no sense of embarrassment or pettiness in a former president upon shattering tradition, just days after leaving office, by criticizing the lawful and constitutional actions of his successor? Rhetorical questions, yall. To ask is to answer them. Sammy McLarty, Waco 100 years ago, Feb. 9, 1917 MATTOON -- The divorce proceeding of Mrs. Esther Stoltzfus versus Amos Stoltzfus, which has been pending in Mattoon City Court for several weeks, was dismissed yesterday afternoon on the insistence of Mrs. Stoltzfus. An agreement of settlement was reached out of court. The terms of the agreement are that Mr. Stoltzfus will not be permitted to live at home until Mrs. Stoltzfus comes to the conclusion that he deserves an award or return of previous privileges. The wife is to be the sole judge in this matter. He is under promise to visit Mrs. Stoltzfus once a week but must not refer to their past trouble or ask when he is to be taken back. He must pay to Mrs. Stoltzfus $20 a month for support of her and their 2-year-old daughter. The experiment of Mr. and Mrs. Stoltzfus will be watched with interest... MATTOON -- Miss Blanche Gray of the Mattoon Public Library says the circulation of books during January was the largest in the history of the library, 4,966 books having been circulated during the month. On Feb. 3, 429 books were circulated, the largest number ever having been checked out in one day. Feb. 12 is Lincoln's birthday. The public library has 17 books on Lincoln. Among them are several books on Lincoln's boyhood plus "Lincoln, the Lawyer" by Hill, "He Knew Lincoln" by Tarbell and "Lincoln and Douglas Debates of 1858 in Illinois." 50 years ago, Feb. 9, 1967 MATTOON -- A proposed three-year contract for more than 300 employees of Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co. will be voted on tomorrow by the union members. No times or sites for the ratification vote have been announced. The strike, which has affected telephone service in more than 100 Central Illinois communities, is in its 12th week. Twice previously, tentative agreements have been reached by negotiators but not accepted by the union membership... MATTOON -- Three Mattoon men charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shotgun spraying of a Mattoon home Wednesday pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in Coles County Circuit Court. Arrested were Steven R. French, 20, Wayne (Skinny) Beavers, 39, and James L. Cross, 22... MATTOON -- A good-sized gathering congregated Wednesday evening at the Burgess-Osborne Auditorium to hear three officials outline the job of sponsoring the Babe Ruth World Series. The officials, as expected, gave no indication as to which of the three cities still in the running for hosting the 1968 Series would be selected. Cities being considered are Mattoon, Newark, Ohio, and Klamath Falls, Ore. 25 years ago, Feb. 9, 1992 Sunday. No paper 100 years ago, Feb. 10, 1917 MATTOON -- A pile of flooring in the new Big Four Railroad passenger station under construction was ignited yesterday from fire that dropped from a salamander. Mitchell & Son, the contractors, sustained a loss of about $60. The fire was extinguished by the contractors' employees who hastily formed a bucket brigade. The Mattoon Fire Department was not called. The passenger station is nearing completion. The second floor, to be used for offices, will be completed first. Officers and clerical staff may move into the building in early March. the building may not be ready for passenger service for at least two months... TOLEDO -- Cumberland County stands in the forefront in the matter of the preservation of the species. County Clerk McConnell recently compiled some interesting statistics showing there were 292 births and 192 deaths for the year 1916 in Cumberland County. 50 years ago, 1967 MATTOON -- The Mattoon National Guard Armory, located at Logan and Broadway, will house part of the Lake Land College classes beginning Sept. 6. The facility, made available through June 10, 1968, by National Guard officials, will be used for classes, physical education and sports activities. The Brown Shoe Co. plant in Mattoon will be available for junior college use on Jan. 1, 1968, after the firm moves into its new plant... CHARLESTON -- Eastern Illinois University opens the first indoor track season in the university's 68-year history Saturday when the Panthers host Southeast Missouri State College. The fieldhouse is in the new $3.4 million Lantz Building which opened last fall. The Lantz Building also includes a 6,800-seat gym, handball courts, swimming pool, classrooms, offices, practice gyms for gymnastics and wrestling and one of the best-equipped fitness gyms in the country. 25 years ago, Feb. 10, 1992 CHARLESTON -- After giving much of his life to the community, Dick Lynch was honored after his death. Lynch, who died Dec. 6, was named Charlestons Outstanding Citizen at the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerces annual dinner Saturday. Lynch, who served as Coles County coroner since 1972, was a lifelong Charleston resident who was active in many Charleston activities. He died at age 49 after a four-month battle with liver cancer. It is believed this is the first time the Outstanding Citizen Award was presented posthumously in the 28 years the award has been presented. Tom and Shirley Scism received the Spirit of Charleston award CHARLESTON To a juggler, fun can slip right through your fingers. And, according to Keith Wolcott, faculty adviser to Eastern Illinois Universitys juggling club, it usually does. To be successful, a juggler cant let mistakes get the drop on him. More than 50 juggling enthusiasts from Illinois and Indiana gathered for Extravaganza 92, a two-day juggling workshop in Charleston. The jugglers honed their skills and learned from each other. ASHLAND The Saunders Medical Center Board of Trustees met Monday night for a special meeting in Ashland to address the resignation of the doctor at Ashland Family Clinic. Dr. Greg Precht recently submitted his letter of resignation to the board. He will be leaving the clinic at the end of April. This comes on the heels of the departure of the clinics physicians assistant, Chelsea Schuster, who left last December. Both Precht and Schuster were hired in 2012 to staff the clinic, which Saunders Medical Center took over a year earlier. SMC Board Chairman Curt Bromm said the board called the meeting to see how the community feels about Prechts departure and the clinic in general. About 20 community members attended the meeting, sitting at a large table with board members Dean Curtis, Susan Thomas, George Robertson, Marsha Rogers, and Theresa Klein, along with SMC Chief Executive Officer Tyler Toline and SMC Chief Financial Officer Chase Manstedt. Board member Greg Hohl was absent. Carol Friesen, vice president of Health Systems Services with Bryant Health was on the phone during the meeting. Bryant Health has a management agreement with SMC. Curtis said he spoke to Precht after his resignation to gauge why the doctor is leaving the clinic. Precht told Curtis he will be working for Methodist Health System making more money while working four and a half days a week. When youve got two little kids, it becomes abundantly apparent why you wouldnt want to work for SMC, Curtis said. Bromm also touched on the fact that Precht was required to cover emergency room shifts at the SMC facility in Wahoo after hours on a rotation with doctors in Wahoo, something that was difficult for Precht and his young family. However, he said, the system requires all doctors to take turns being on call. We dont have enough doctors to give any of them the privilege of not taking ER calls, Bromm said. However, Precht later said his reasons for leaving were not solely about making more money. "I don't think there was anything that turned me away from the community," he added. Discussion centered on whether or not the Ashland clinic warranted both a doctor and a physicians assistant, also known as a mid-level health care provider. When SMC took over the clinic, the community requested a full-time physician. You as a community wanted a physician here, and not only a PA, Rogers said. Ashland Pharmacy owner Staci Hubert said that was in part because the former medical group that ran the clinic often did not have a physician there. So there was some excitement to have an MD, she said. Patient numbers since SMC took over the Ashland Family Clinic have not grown as planned, according to Toline. In 2013, Prechts first full year at the clinic, there were 2,466 clinic visits. In 2016, the number had increased by nearly 400, but officials had expected more growth in that time. Friesen said it takes generally about three years to build a practice. Were a couple of years short of hitting that stride and now, unfortunately, weve hit a back step, she added. Precht, who came to the meeting about 30 minutes after it started, spoke about the challenges of staffing a small clinic. He said having only a doctor would add a degree of difficulty to staffing, especially when it comes to vacation days. The doctor is scheduled to be at the clinic four days a week. The clinics fifth day is normally staffed by a physicians assistant. Is there the (patient) flow at this point to support two providers, no, but it would be tricky to staff with one, Precht said. Toline said statistically one physician could serve the number of patients that are currently visiting the Ashland clinic. Yes, one person could more than handle that, based on medical standards and guidelines, he said. Toline said a breakdown of clinic visits reveals a large percentage of patients were one-time customers to the Ashland clinic from 2013 to 2016, another factor that is inhibiting growth. Pretty much one-third of patients between those four years were only seen once in the clinic, he said. Precht said that is because patients view the Ashland clinic more like an urgent care facility than a primary care office. Because many Ashland area residents work in Lincoln or Omaha, they choose primary care physicians there, Friesen said, diluting the number of potential patients in the community. Given Ashlands location, theyre never going to be the only shop in town, she said. To combat this, SMC must rethink its marketing strategy for the Ashland Family Clinic, Bromm said. I wondered if our marketing has been what it should be for here, he said. A recent survey of 112 Ashland area residents showed that 32 percent did not know there was a medical clinic in Ashland. Toline said they have used direct mailing, placed billboards and, until recently, advertised in the local newspaper. They are slowly increasing SMCs digital footprint as well. Its not easy, Toline said. It costs a significant amount and you cant tell the direct return at all. Toline said the clinic lost $341,000 in 2016. However, all clinics under the SMC umbrella lose money, he added. The Wahoo clinics lost between $150,000 and $200,000. Clinics in general are not money makers, he said. Despite those losses, SMCs finances were $250,000 in the black last year. This year, 2016, is the first full year of profitability in the last four or five years, Toline said. Revenue from the laboratory and imaging make up for the losses elsewhere, Toline said. Thats the only way we can stay afloat, he said. Curtis reminded everyone there that SMCs purpose is to provide health care, not to make a profit. If we can do both, then thats the best of both worlds, he added. Manstedt said profit made by SMC is reinvested in the facilities, including the hospital in Wahoo that was built nearly a decade ago. Our income pays for those bonds, he said. Bromm said SMC made quite an investment when they took over the Ashland clinic in 2012 in the hopes that they were building something that would be an asset for the community and the county. I think actually weve been hopeful that it would be a good thing for the community as well as a good thing for medical care in Saunders County, said Bromm. Ashland residents agree that the community needs a medical clinic. Its an advantage to our community to have a medical professional here, said Shirley Niemeyer. Bromm said the board wants to replace Precht with someone of the same caliber, and they will use input from the community to bring the best doctor to the clinic. The doctor who comes to Ashland will want a lifestyle practice, Friesen said, that is primarily clinic-based. Friesen asked members of the audience to find volunteers to introduce potential doctors and their spouses to the community. We need two or three people to volunteer to take someone out to dinner or to lunch, she said. Its all a very big part of recruitment. The community also needs to help the board identify what would attract a doctor to Ashland. It would be helpful for us to understand the selling points of Ashland, Friesen said. SMC officials indicated they are looking at ways to fill the vacancies at the Ashland clinic. Well continue to try to find what will be a long term solution for Ashland, Friesen said. Who are Eva and Edith? AirCorps Aviation, the warbird restoration shop based in Bemidji, Minnesota, has found an interesting artifact within the wing of the 1944 Republic P-47D-23RA they currently have under restoration. This particular aircraft is known to have served in the 5th Air Force during WWII and was abandoned at Dobodura Airfield, in Papua New Guinea. A number of years ago, it was recovered after being found sitting in the yard of a house in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea. After unskinning a section of the wing, the restorers found, written in grease pencil, the names Eva + Edith. While this particular aircraft was assembled in Evansville, Indiana during WWII, the wing was believed to be manufactured in Buffalo, New York and shipped to Evansville for final assembly. The signers, Eva and Edith, probably stood next to each other on the assembly line. AirCorps Aviation is currently in the process of attempting to track down these original signers in the attempt to let them tell their side of the story. If you can help them visit www.aircorpsaviation.com WATERFORD has added a bright new museum to the range of Treasures in the Viking Triangle. Two weeks after the opening of the Museum of... WATERFORD is in the running for the Best Place to Live in Ireland. The county has had 31 nominations in a competition run by a... When you buy online, you have the right to the same protections under consumer law as buying in a shop. Online shopping is at an... IF you are one of those parents who bought your child a bicycle for the new year but are struggling to find somewhere to... With a vision to advance service quality, Lanith is a Centre of Excellence created to champion and lead education and training in the tourism and hospitality sector. To support its continuing development, Lanith with the support of Luxembourg Development Cooperation wishes to recruit two technical advisers: Bill Shorten is planning legislation to overrule a penalty rates cut from the workplace umpire. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "This sense of alienation isn't a local curiosity it's a global phenomenon. Strong enough to take Britain out of Europe and put Donald Trump in the White House. "And in these unusual times, politics-as-usual doesn't cut it any more. Illustration: Dionne Gain "Yes, we are an adversarial democracy, built on the clash of ideas I honour that. My job, as Leader of the Opposition, is to oppose what I believe is wrong. My job ... is to put positive ideas forward. "But this year I am going to remind myself as often as possible: people first, politics last. I can't guarantee I'll always get that right but I'm certainly going to try. "Because Australians are sick to their core of the petty schoolyard bickering, he-said she-said, the tit-for-tat. "They're not opposed to genuine debate about the future but they are over the smallness of so much of the national political conversation ... "Mind you, that counts for nothing if [scandals over politicians' expense claims make] people think we are acting in our own interests, instead of theirs." Wow. But this column is no free ad for Team Shorten. I wanted to record it because it was so true, but also to help the man stick to his New Year's resolution. Actually, it shouldn't surprise that Shorten "gets" all that. Our politicians aren't "out of touch" because that's why their parties (and sometimes, we taxpayers) spend thousands every year conducting focus groups with ordinary voters. I bet that some of the phrases Shorten used were lifted straight from Labor's market research. Someone in the group blurts out some pithy opinion, everyone else says "Yeah, that's right!" and the researcher writes it down for future use. As the "political class" knows, the punters love having their own opinions fed back to them. I'd also bet that both parties' rival researchers tell them much the same things about what voters like and dislike. But if the pollies know how much we hate the way they carry on, why do they keep doing it? Because some of the things they do still work, even though we hate them. Because they want to win the next election at all cost, and so are willing to do things that bring them immediate advantage, even though they add to the long-term fouling of the collective political nest. Because many of the unconvincing things they say are intended to shore up the faith of the party faithful, not persuade the rest of us. Because both sides are afraid that if they're the first to stop behaving badly, the other side will wipe the floor with them. Economists call this a "collective action problem", which can only be fixed by some outside authority imposing a solution on both sides. Back to Shorten's resolution. It would certainly be a big change to Labor's behaviour since its success at last year's election left Malcolm Turnbull with such a tiny majority. Labor has followed a sneaky strategy of giving the appearance of co-operation and positivity while quietly seizing opportunities to frustrate the government's program, making it look impotent and unstable. To keep same-sex marriage alive as an issue for the next election, it has blocked Turnbull's plebiscite, using the excuse that the gay community wanted to avoid the risk of an abusive debate. We all like to indulge our egos. There really is nothing as good as applause, people saying you're amazing or thanking you for doing something simple. It's what politicians are doing when they talk about spending money to create jobs with industries like manufacturing. Both major WA parties have made commitments to job creation through questionable policies. Credit:Rob Homer What sounds like a good idea is almost always doing us a disservice. Importing cars, buses and smaller goods like mobile phones to Western Australia is usually cheaper than if we made them here. The Turnbull Government has moved to transform its relationship with Indigenous Australia by announcing a new advisory group that includes Aboriginal educator Chris Sarra. In a bid to rebuild trust, the Prime Minister has opted for a two-stage process to "refresh" the Indigenous Advisory Council set up by former prime minister Tony Abbott. Dr Chris Sarra, chairman of the Stronger Smarter Institute. Credit:Jeffrey Chan He has given the new group a mandate to collaborate with Indigenous leaders across the country and more direct links to decision-makers across government. Dr Sarra said he was looking forward to offering fresh insights into how Indigenous policy should be executed. "Clearly there is a desperate need for change," he told Fairfax Media. The Prime Minister had had quite enough of his rotten start to the parliamentary year, and, as he unloaded on the nearest target Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who he portrayed as a social climber sucking up to billionaires Malcolm Turnbull's colleagues couldn't get enough of him. "We have just heard from that great sycophant of billionaires, the Leader of the Opposition," Mr Turnbull began, responding to accusations by Mr Shorten that he was cutting family payments to pay for a $50 billion hand-out to businesses and banks. "All the lectures," parried Turnbull. "Trying to run the politics of envy. When he was always a regular dinner guest at Raheen with Dick Pratt, did he knock back the Cristal [champagne]? I don't think so." Warming to what he clearly sensed was a killer picture of Shorten supping at Raheen, the great Melbourne mansion of the late billionaire and Shorten friend Richard Pratt, Turnbull declared: "There was never a union leader in Melbourne that tucked his knees under more billionaire's tables than the Leader of the Opposition. There are many reasons people put off seeing the doctor. From time constraints, to cost; the stereotypical Aussie outlook ("she'll be right"), to plain embarrassment. Not feeling well? It's probably not as bad as you think. Credit:iStock Now a new report from Britain has shown that a third of people who consciously put off seeing their doctor do so for fear of finding out bad news. Australians harbour the same worry, though it's not as common here, says Dr Bastian Seidel from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). It's long been said one shouldn't discuss religion or politics in polite company. But both pale in comparison to one fiercely contested topic, perhaps best avoided at your next barbecue: public versus private schools. The age-old education debate was the most divisive of 36 statements put to the public in Fairfax Media's interactive quiz "What Type of Aussie Are You?" It proved more contentious than attitudes to asylum seekers, climate change, free trade and speed cameras in a nationally representative Australian National University survey of 2600 Australians. Both the quiz and ANU survey are part of the Political Personas Project. Young Australians should be given a grant funded by an inheritance tax on wealthy estates to help them enter the housing market, pay university fees or start a business, a senior union figure says. Tim Ayres, NSW secretary of the left wing Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, raises the idea in a speech to the Fabian Society about inequality and connecting with voters amid the rise of populist politicians like Pauline Hanson and Donald Trump. NSW Secretary of the AMWU Tim Ayres said the therapies do "an awful lot of damage" to young people. Credit:Jonathan Carroll In the speech due to be given on Wednesday night, Mr Ayres a member of the ALP national executive offers support for French economist Thomas Pikkety's proposal for an inheritance tax "to fund a one-off capital grant for every citizen at the age of 25". He quotes Community Council for Australia figures that say if four per cent of the 25,000 families with assets of $10 million paid a 35 per cent duty it would raise $3.5 billion "while affecting only a fraction of the top 1 per cent of Australians". The parents of a Victorian woman who died in a jet-ski crash in Thailand say they place no blame on her boyfriend, who is expected to be charged over her death. Ian and Sally Collie said in a statement they did not believe Thomas Keating was at fault in the jet-ski crash. Emily Jayne Collie, 20, of Kyabram died on Sunday at Kata Beach, in Phuket. Lifesavers tried to save Victorian tourist Emily Jayne Collie on Phuket's Karen Beach. Credit:Facebook The couple say they are "heartbroken beyond words" about their daughter's death and asked to be left to grieve by media. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade circulated the statement for the family on Wednesday night. "We are in the midst of grieving through the sudden loss of our precious daughter Emily," the statement said. President Donald Trump used his Twitter account to criticise the major US department store Nordstrom for dropping daughter Ivanka's brand, drawing a new company into the president's ongoing skirmishes with corporate America. "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly," Mr Trump said on Wednesday. "She is a great person - always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Nordstrom said last week that it would stop selling Ivanka Trump's brand this season, citing poor sales. The retailer had come under fire from the "Grab Your Wallet" campaign, a critic of the administration that is asking shoppers to boycott retailers that carry Ivanka Trump or Donald Trump goods. Mr Trump's tweet renewed questions about whether he's using the presidential pulpit to sway business interests for himself or his family. In addition to starting a lifestyle brand, Ivanka Trump has worked for the Trump Organisation, and husband Jared Kushner serves as a presidential adviser. Ivanka Trump said last month that she was handing day-to-day operations of her brand to lieutenant Abigail Klem. ALLETE, Inc. operates as an energy company. The company operates through Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and Corporate and Other segments. It generates electricity from coal-fired, biomass co-fired / natural gas, hydroelectric, wind, and solar. The company provides regulated utility electric services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 145,000 retail customers and 15 non-affiliated municipal customers. It also owns and maintains electric transmission assets in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. In addition, the company focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating clean and renewable energy projects; and owns and operates approximately 1,000 megawatts of wind energy generation facility. Further, it is involved in the coal mining operations in North Dakota; and real estate investment activities in Florida. The company owns and operates 158 substations with a total capacity of 10,066 megavolt amperes. It serves taconite mining, paper, pulp and secondary wood products, pipeline, and other industries. The company was formerly known as Minnesota Power, Inc. and changed its name to ALLETE, Inc. in May 2001. ALLETE, Inc. was incorporated in 1906 and is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface. Read More WSU Professor to Offer Firsthand Knowledge of Syrian Crisis February 8, 2017 OGDEN, Utah International scholar and Syrian refugee Dr. Abdul Nasser Kaadan will discuss the causes, consequences and potential future of the crisis in Syria, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in Weber State Universitys Hurst Center Dumke Legacy Hall. During his lecture, Kaadan will explain the events that led up to the Syrian crisis. He will also contemplate what the nations future may hold. Before Kaadan began teaching as a visiting international history professor at WSU, he taught at the University of Aleppo in Syria and was a successful orthopedic surgeon running a prosperous clinic. He has both a medical degree and a Ph.D. in history of medicine. By 2015, life in Syria consisted of bombings, attacks and kidnappings every day. Kaadan and his wife fled their country to seek refuge in Turkey. Since then, the situation in Syria has exploded into the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. The long war has claimed the lives of an estimated 450,000 people, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. An additional 4.81 million people have been displaced. Kaadan and his wife arrived in Utah in December 2016. This semester, Kaadan is teaching courses on the history of science, the history of the Middle East and the Syrian crisis. He will continue to teach at WSU throughout summer and fall semesters. Weber State is very lucky to have Dr. Abdul Nasser Kaadan as a visiting scholar on our faculty, said Susan Matt, history department chair. He is an internationally known scholar and a pioneer in the field of the history of Islamic medicine. His research has been groundbreaking. Kaadan is president of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine and chief editor of the organizations journal. His work has added to research about the history of medicine, especially bringing to light contributions made by Arab or Muslim physicians. In addition to his outstanding record of scholarship, we are fortunate to have Kaadan at Weber State to lend a firsthand perspective on the origins and consequences of the ongoing crisis in Syria, Matt said. The public can come hear him offer insights and analysis to explain these important world events. Hell illuminate the very real human toll it has taken on the Syrian civilian population. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. For a high-resolution photo, visit the following link: photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2017-photos/February-2017/i-BL6CVg7/0/X2/%5B000251%5D-X2.jpg Indian Silk and Weaving centers Silk, the queen of textiles dominates the textile industry with its luster, sensuousness and glamour. The history of silk, goes back to 4,500 years. India is the second largest producer of silk, contributing to about 18 per cent of the world production. Today, silk weaving tradition in India revolves around the sari, the ethnic traditional wear that is worn in most parts of the country. The Indians dress themselves in elaborate and colorful silk sarees on festive occasions. The vibrant colours, light weight, resilience and excellent drape etc. have made silk sarees, the irresistible and unavoidable companion ofIndian women. Indian silk is popular all over the world with its variety of designs, weaves and patterns. Silk, one of the oldest known fibre is a protein fibre, produced by the silkworm for spinning around its cocoon. Five main variety of silks are available in India namely Mulberry silk, Tasar silk, Eri silk, Muga silk and Oak Tasar silk. These are obtained from different species of silkworms which in turn feed on a number of food plants. Mulberry silk, known as the commercial silk comes from the silk worm Bombyx mori which feeds on the mulberry plant. In India, the major mulberry silk producing states are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir. Eri Silk, also known as the Endi or Errandi silk is thick, warm, soft, rare and very long lasting. India is a major producer of Eri Silk. It is grown in Assam and eastern parts of India. It is also found in Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Eri silk is produced by Philosamia ricini that feeds mainly on castor leaves. Muga Silk, the pride of Assam is known for its natural shimmering golden yellow colour. It is obtained from semi-domesticated multivoltine silkworm, Antheraea assamensis. These silkworms feed on the aromatic leaves of Som and Soalu plants. The muga silk, an high value product is used in products like sarees, mekhalas, chaddars etc. Oak Tasar silk : Less lustrous than mulberry silk, Tassar silk is used mainly for furnishings and interiors. Tasar silk is generated by the silkworm, Antheraea mylitta which mainly thrive on the food plants Asan and Arjun. It is cultivated in the states of Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Orissa, besides Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. The silk sarees of India are among the living examples of the excellent craftsmanship of the weavers of the country. Their mastery lies in the creation of floral designs, beautiful textures, fine geometry, durability of such work and not the least, the vibrant colours they choose for making sarees. Many states in the country have their own variety of makes in silk as well as weaving centres with their traditional designs, weaving and quality. The silk varieties are renowned by the place where it has been woven. Banaras is one of the leading silk weaving centres in India. Amru silk, Jamvar, Navarangi, Jamdani etc. are the types of Banaras Saris, in which Amru Silk brocades with a heavy pallu of flowering bushes or the flowering mango pattern are very famous. Maharashtra is famous for its Paithani Silk saris, generally with gold dots design and Kosa silk of Bhandara district. Patola silk, known as the pride of Gujarat is noted for their bright colours and geometric designs with folk motifs. Madhya Pradesh is famous for Chanderi, Maheshwari and Tussar silk saris. Specialty of these saris are the contrasting colours and depiction of animal and human figures on the sarees. Silk Bomkai Sambalpuri saris from Orissa comes in single and double ikat weaves. Murshidabad in West Bengal is the home of the famous Baluchari sari in which untwisted silk thread are used for weaving brocades. In the south, heavy silk saris from Tanjore, Kumbakonam and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu are known for their broad decorative borders and contrasting colors. Kancheepuram silks has an enviable position among the best silk sarees in the country for their texture, luster, durability and finish. Kolegal and Molkalmoru in Karnataka are known for their simple ikat weave with parrot motif on the borders. A wide range of ladies and men's wear like dupattas, sarees, salwars, Sherwanis, caps, handkerchiefs, scarves, dhotis, turbans, shawls, ghagras or lehengas, and even quilts, bedcovers, cushions, table-cloths curtains are made of silk. In short, Silk has been mingled with the life and culture of Indians. I just love CATO Unbound, the mostly essay series from the CATO Institute. The debates are more often than not, quite fascinating. The present controversy about the Wall reminded about the following series on Mexicans in America, from August 2006. I hope you enjoy it. Mexicans in America by Richard Rodriguez August 14, 2006 "In the lead essay to this months Cato Unbound, celebrated essayist Richard Rodriguez offers a provocative meditation on the place of Mexicans in the U.S. economy and consciousness. I retain my belief in the necessity of a common American culture, Rodriguez writes, But I am lately appalled by voices raised in this country against Mexican migrant workers. Arguing that the question of Mexican immigration might better be asked of a theologian, than an economist, Rogriguez considers the religious and cultural character of Mexicans, and the role of Mexico as a repository of American sin, and American fear." Read it all here A report released this week indicates Nebraska would be less affected by a trade war with Mexico than many other Midwestern states, but two of the state's top economists don't agree. President Donald Trump has said he plans to renegotiate terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He also has floated the idea of a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports to help pay for his proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Experts have said either one or both of those proposals could lead to a trade war with Mexico, which is the U.S.'s third-largest trading partner. The report from personal finance website WalletHub ranked Nebraska 22nd, barely in the top half of states that might be affected by trade issues between the U.S. and Mexico. Among the state's ranking higher than Nebraska were Missouri (Eighth), Iowa (10th), Illinois (13th), Kansas (18th) and South Dakota (19th). WalletHub said it looked at five factors to come up with the ranking: exports to Mexico as a share of total state exports, exports to Mexico as a share of state GDP, imports from Mexico as a share of total state imports, imports from Mexico as a share of state GDP and share of jobs supported by trade with Mexico. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said he did not agree with the ranking, noting that nearly 20 percent of Nebraska's exports go to Mexico, considerably more than Kansas, Iowa or Illinois. University of Nebraska-Lincoln economist Eric Thompson, who heads up the Bureau of Business Research, said the fact that the report does not consider the potential effects on the transportation industry means it "may be underestimating the impact on Nebraska." Thompson said any regulatory changes limiting trade with Mexico or any other country will reduce economic growth in at least two ways: increasing the price and lowering the quality of goods available to purchase in the U.S. and reducing the productivity and competitiveness of American industry by disrupting global supply chains. A third possible impact would be reduced overseas demand for exports if countries retaliate against U.S. trade regulations with regulations of their own. To see the full WalletHub report, go to: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-most-affected-by-trade-war-with-mexico/31888/. EDITOR, Open letter to Mr Simon Townend and Dr Mark Britnell re NHI Impact Study I have read your National Health Insurance (NHI) Impact Study and also your defence of same recently published in The Tribune. I have no doubt that you exercised your full professional expertise in writing the study, and I reject any suggestion that you were influenced by any conflict of interest arising from your role as consultants to Government. However, it cannot be denied that your conclusions are no better than long-term projections, no matter how carefully and independently drafted, and projections are subject to myriad unpredictable uncertainties - a point that you as auditors always emphasise in qualifying corporate projections of earnings. To ordinary Bahamians, the greatest uncertainty is the questionable ability of our health authorities to execute the precise and far-reaching plans embodied in NHI. Our scepticism is based on evidence before our eyes or reliably reported to us. How many accounts have we read, or heard from actual witnesses, about the deficiencies of the grandiose Critical Care Block at Princess Margaret Hospital? - lack of air conditioning, operating rooms unavailable for use, unacceptable delays in patient treatment, continuing cost over-runs. Perhaps they are overstated, but the Public Hospitals Authority has never taken the trouble to refute them point-by-point. I myself have for over two years observed the substantial Exuma Clinic sitting virtually unused because the essential staff have never been found to run it. The contractor informed me that he was paid some $14m of public funds to construct the handsome building, to date a wasted expenditure. I have been reliably told that a similar clinic has been built in Abaco and also sits unutilised. Bahamians put more credence in present-day reality than in long-term possibilities. While your Impact Study is valuable as a guideline for objectives, you could do better service to citizens by producing a detailed forensic analysis of the foregoing health-care issues. Open and frank recognition of existing problems would eventually lead to wider acceptance of NHI by a still dubious public. Richard Coulson Nassau February 5, 2017 Mr. Coulson has had a long career in law, investment banking and private banking in New York, London, and Nassau, and now serves as director of several financial concerns and as a corporate financial consultant. He has recently released his autobiography, A Corkscrew Life: Adventures of a Travelling Financier. BATON ROUGE -- Gov. John Bel Edwards on Wednesday will travel to Washington, D.C. to lobby for additional flood relief for Louisiana. The state remains $2 billion short of the additional request to provide flood relief to more citizens impacted by the floods in March and August of 2016. To date, Congress has appropriated $1.6 billion in flood relief. Edwards travel expenses are not being paid for by taxpayers. "Once again our state has faced another round of severe weather that has destroyed homes and communities, but we will rebuild, said Edwards. The recent tornadoes throughout South Louisiana have only added to the ongoing hardships our people are suffering from following the March and August floods. Now more than ever we need Congress to make the relief dollars available to help Louisiana so that the rebuilding process can continue. I will make this case to our congressional leaders this week, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to rebuild and help the people of Louisiana." On Wednesday morning, Edwards participated in a briefing with the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the severe weather that struck Louisiana on Tuesday. As of Wednesday, FEMA teams are on the ground in Louisiana and will begin their preliminary assessments of the storm damage. Edwards also spoke with the White House to discuss the destruction caused by the seven tornadoes that touched down in South Louisiana. On Wednesday afternoon, Edwards will meet with the entire Louisiana Congressional Delegation to discuss the states outstanding request for $2 billion in flood recovery. Last week, he sent a letter to the delegation and President Donald Trump outlining how the additional funds would be spent. Edwards also asked the delegation for assistance in making changes to federal disaster recovery laws and regulations that currently delay the process for getting help to the people who need it most. On Thursday, Edwards will speak to the Committee of 100 to outline tax reform proposals for the upcoming regular session of the Louisiana legislature. The Committee of 100 is a private non-profit organization serving as Louisiana's Business Roundtable made up of the top CEOs of leading private and public companies in Louisiana and University presidents of Louisianas institutions of higher learning. Last month, the Task Force on Structural Changes in Budget and Tax Policy released their recommendations to the governor. Those recommendations are available here. Later in the morning, Edwards will meet staff with House Democratic leadership to discuss the states outstanding flood recovery request. He will also meet with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies to discuss the states request for additional assistance. In the afternoon, Edwards will meet with incoming senior staff of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to update the agency on our flood recovery. Edwards will also meet with U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee staff. Meetings with various other cabinet-level officials are pending, including a meeting with the Department of Transportation Secretary Elana Chao. On Friday, Edwards will deliver remarks at the Washington Mardi Gras Louisiana Economic Development Luncheon to discuss flood recovery and the states efforts to bring business to Louisiana. In Fall 2016, Edwards made five trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for flood relief with the Louisiana Congressional Delegation. Those meetings resulted in two separate appropriations for disaster funding. DERIDDER -- An explosion killed three people Wednesday and injured at least seven others at Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) on U.S. 190 West, between DeRidder and Merryville. Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Joe Toler told the West Central News Center that the call came in at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday. Victims, injuries The Sheriff's Office on Thursday morning released the names of the deceased: 32-year-old William Rolls Jr.; 42-year-old Sedrick Stallworth; and 40-year-old Jody L. Gooch. PCA, in a statement late Wednesday, confirmed they were contractors. Randall Mann, public relations for Acadian Ambulance, told the News Center that two helicopters, six ground ambulances and a supervisor vehicle responded. Seven patients were transported in all, Mann said, two by air and the other five by ground. The injured were taken to various hospitals in the region. Six injuries were described as "minor" and the other as "moderate." Beauregard Memorial Hospital, in DeRidder, received three patients, all of whom were treated and released. Kelli C. Broocks, Director of Public Relations, Human Resources, Physician Recruitment for BMH, told the News Center that the hospital was notified of the incident by LERN (Louisiana Emergency Response Network). Broocks said the Emergency Department Director immediately notified administration and the hospital emergency disaster plan was put into action. "The hospital staff was very well prepared and ready to serve the emergency needs of the community," she said. One person had been unaccounted for Wednesday morning, yet by late the afternoon hours, that person had been accounted for with his condition unknown, Toler reported. Investigation Sgt. James Anderson, Louisiana State Police, Troop D, told media Wednesday afternoon that one tank exploded, a 25-foot tall tank in the pulp mill section of the plant. State Police, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials and the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office are investigating. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board on Thursday morning indicated on social media that representatives have deployed to PCA in DeRidder. The CSB is "an independent federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical accidents," according to the agency's page. More HERE. .@chemsafetyboard deploying to site of fatal hot work incident at PCA DeRidder, Louisiana, paper mill CSB (@chemsafetyboard) February 9, 2017 PCA Statement The DeRidder plant is a containerboard mill. Late Wednesday evening, PCA released the following statement: "At approximately 11:10 am CST, Wednesday, February 8th, there was an explosion at our DeRidder, LA paper mill. The incident involved annual repair work being performed on piping in the pulp mill area and resulted in three contractor fatalities. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the people working on our site. The top priorities at this time are the notification of families of the deceased contractors and investigation of the incident with authorities. At the time of the incident, the D1 machine was down for its annual outage and the D3 machine was running and continues to operate. The current assessment indicates that the annual outage work is expected to be delayed by up to one week and the mill will then resume full operation. Further information will be provided, as appropriate, when it becomes available." Community, state response There has been an outpouring of care and concern for DeRidder and PCA employees by local, state officials, groups and individuals on social media. Below are some of those statements and posts: From the Southern Loggers Cooperative: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that lost loved ones and the injured in the accident at the PCA Paper Mill in Deridder, Louisiana. Our Deridder Station is at the entrance of this mill. From the information that we have been given, there will be no wood flow in to the mill until further notice. Please keep these families, the City of Deridder, and the PCA family in your prayers." Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry: "Please join Sharon and me in prayer for the lives lost and those injured in Beauregard Parish during today's devastating plant explosion." Congressman Mike Johnson: "I am deeply saddened to receive the briefing on the explosion in DeRidder this afternoon at the Beauregard Packing Corporation of America. My sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, the first responders and the community as a whole. I will continue to closely monitor the situation and send updates as they come." Senator John Kennedy: "Tragic news from DeRidder today. My thoughts and prayers are with the workers and their families." My Heart Bleeds for the employees of Deridder paper mill#Deridder #wenttoworknevercamehome Scott Crosby (@ScottCrosby1) February 8, 2017 Out thoughts r w/all re #deridder explosion C.P.P.L. (@cppllibrary) February 8, 2017 So worried for all of my friends in deridder who have family members employed at PCA. Praying they all remained safe in the explosion Ashley Snapp (@ashdsnapp_) February 8, 2017 Hold your loved ones close tonight & pray for the families affected by the explosion that happened in Deridder today. Can't believe this. Malorie (@MalorieDawn) February 8, 2017 Everyone say a prayer for PCA company out of Deridder. There was an explosion this morning. I'm so glad daddy was home. Sarah Elizabeth. (@_sarah_gordon_) February 8, 2017 Sending prayers to the PCA plant in DeRidder KJohnson (@keenajj) February 8, 2017 DeRidder Praying for everyone in DeRidder. L. Walker Browning (@LaloLafleur) February 8, 2017 prayers going out to the families of the people killed today at PCA plant in DeRidder, Louisiana.. Connor Eston (@StayDvpper) February 8, 2017 Via my mom my dad is okay and accounted for. Continue to pray for everyone at PCA in DeRidder today. Alayna Thibodeaux (@alaynakate) February 8, 2017 Please pray for everyone at PCA in DeRidder Alyson Kaye (@alykayethib) February 8, 2017 Sending prayers for all involved in the PCA explosion this morning in my hometown #DeRidder Valerie Kattz (@ValerieKattz) February 8, 2017 By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 08, 2017 | 05:30 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY A two-vehicle crash in McCracken County Tuesday sent five people to area hospitals, and one of those people has now died.According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, the collision happened at approximately 5 p.m. at the intersection of US Highway 60 and Metropolis Lake Road.Deputies said a vehicle driven by 90-year-old Ralph Stewart, of Barlow was westbound on Highway 60 when he disregarded a traffic signal due to the glare of the sun obstructing his view. Deputies say Stewart turned into the path of another vehicle driven by 51-year-old Lance Fleming, of Paducah.Stewart was taken to Lourdes Hospital by Mercy Regional. Fleming and his three passengers, 16-year-old Adisyn Fleming, 12-year-old Cade Fleming, and 10-year-old Claire Fleming, were taken to Baptist Health Paducah for treatment of their injuries.Sheriff's officials issued a statement Wednesday morning saying Stewart had died as a result of the injuries he received.The intersection was closed to traffic for approximately 45 minutes. Advertisement By Adam Morton Feb. 07, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY By Adam Morton Feb. 07, 2017 | 07:27 PM | PADUCAH, KY A group of about a hundred concerned citizens gathered Tuesday at Dolly McNutt Plaza for a peaceful protest. Eliza Purcell put together the protest via her Facebook page. Purcell said she wanted to gather the group so concerned citizens of Paducah don't feel left out or alone in the wake of President Donald Trump's recent executive orders. Purcell said the protest is not against the current president personally, but against his actions and the way he has made people feel. "I am more against what he is doing. I understand that he's our president. Nothing's gonna change that. It's been done," Purcell said. Some of the concerns that were addressed as a few protesters spoke were the Affordable Care Act, women's rights, education, and the LBGT community. The group was vocal in encouraging each other to stand up for what they believe. There were words of encouragement for some to run for office. At this time, it is unknown if any other protests are planned in Paducah. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. A push to force Lincoln and Omaha to make significant changes to their pension plans for new police and fire employees met firm opposition from union leaders and some city officials during a legislative hearing Tuesday. But the proposal's backers called it essential to ensuring the state's two largest cities meet their obligations to cops and firefighters going forward. "It is not my intent to take any retirement benefits away from current plan members," said state Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, the measure's sponsor. "In fact, my motive for introducing this bill in to ensure that the current plan members receive what they've been promised." Kolterman's bill (LB30) would require the cities to swap their traditional defined-benefit pension plans for cash-balance plans, which include features of a 401(k), for future police and fire employees. Both Lincoln and Omaha's pensions took significant hits during the Great Recession, and the cities have struggled to keep their plans fully funded. But both have made some recent progress. In Lincoln's case, changes made last year improved its plan from being just 63 percent funded to nearly 80 percent funded. Ron Trouba, president of the Lincoln Firefighters Association, said Kolterman's bill "would not only be a solution in search of a problem, but it would actually create many new and additional problems." Lincoln would still need to take steps to protect pensions under its legacy defined-benefit plan, and the new plan would damage recruiting efforts and force members to make significantly higher contributions. Omaha's police and fire chiefs opposed the bill, as did union officials from both cities. Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler submitted a letter in a neutral capacity because the bill doesn't specify the exact details of the cash-balance plan or how it would impact the city. Supporters of Kolterman's bill, who have pushed for similar changes in other states, said Lincoln and Omaha's efforts to prop up their plans amount to "triage" and questioned whether their gains will continue without pumping in additional property tax dollars. Kolterman blamed the cities for not meeting their annual funding obligations. "To a certain extent, shame on them," he said. Others suggested there are better ways for state lawmakers to get involved, such as requiring the cities to meet their funding obligations or reforming the state Commission on Industrial Relations, which resolves government disputes with public-sector unions. "This bill feels like it's doing something to the city instead of doing something with the city," said Lincoln City Councilman Roy Christensen. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 08, 2017 | 06:47 AM | CLINTON, KY Firefighters are still on the scene at Harper's Country Hams in Clinton, after a fire Wednesday morning.As of 1:00 pm, a state official said firefighters were still on the scene working some "hot spots" in the rear part of the property, but U.S. Highway 51 had re-opened.Just after 6:00 am, multiple fire departments were called to Harper's Country Hams on U.S. Highway 51. A West Kentucky Star reporter on the scene said firefighters worked on saving a portion of the building that had not yet impacted by the fire, but most the complex seemed to be a total loss.Fire departments from several neighboring districts provided mutual aid at the scene.Harper's Country Hams is located at 2955 US Highway 51 North in Hickman County, and a county official said the business employs between 50-100 people.Harper's has won six grand champion awards at the Kentucky State Fair for it's Country Ham.Speaking exclusively on WKYX's "Greg Dunker Show" Wednesday morning, (WKYX is owned by the same parent company as West Kentucky Star, Bristol Broadcasting Company), Governor Matt Bevin said he was saddened by the fire at Harper's Hams. Bevin said the company is "iconic" and "I don't think there's anyone who's lived in Kentucky for more than a week or two that hasn't had Harper's Hams at some point."Bevin says he is asking all Kentuckians to hold the firefighters and all the employees at Harper's Hams in their prayers. He also commented on the jobs that Harper's provides in western Kentucky, indicating that he once had a business he owned that was completely lost due to a fire, so he has an understanding of what may be going through the minds of the owners of Harper's Hams.Bevin went on to say: "There are people that go to work there. There are people whose livelihood that depend on this. There are people whose American dreams are inextricably connected to this company, and it's heartbreaking for me."Kentucky District 1 Congressman James Comer said he was sad to hear news of the fire.I was saddened today to hear about the news about the devastating fire that burned Harpers Country Hams. Thankfully no one died in the fire, but the loss on the community is terrible. As a well-known business in Hickman County, it is an important part of many peoples lives in western Kentucky. Our thoughts are with the firefighters, the employees and their families today. Comer said.Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles also expressed his condolences to the families who have been affected.I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Harpers Country Hams this morning, said Commissioner Quarles. During a call with the Harper family, I expressed my condolences and offered them any and all support the Kentucky Department of Agriculture could provide,"Quarles said. Harpers Country Hams is a classic and well-known ham producer in west Kentucky, and I look forward to working with this great agribusiness to get them back to work. On the Net: Fall back tonight -- for the last time? By The Associated Press Feb. 08, 2017 | 04:54 AM | FRANKFORT, KY Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is preparing to deliver his State of the Commonwealth address. Bevin is scheduled to speak to a joint session of the state House and Senate on Wednesday beginning at 6 pm CST. KET will broadcast the speech live. This will be Bevin's second address to a joint session of the General Assembly. Bevin, who took office in December 2015, spoke to lawmakers last year when he unveiled his budget proposal. But it will be his first speech since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives. Republican House Speaker Jeff Hoover said he hopes Bevin will focus on "all of the positive things that are going on." A divided Legislature decided Wednesday to rein in minority filibuster rights, igniting a burst of outrage and sharp division that could impact the remainder of the legislative session. Senators voted 25-19 to adopt a proposed rules change that would make it somewhat more difficult for the minority to sustain a filibuster while easing the majority's ability to enact a cloture motion halting debate on a bill. Although the change is less dramatic than previous proposals that had been rejected by the Legislature, the revision conceivably could be the swing factor in determining the fate of some closely contested legislation during the remainder of the 90-day session. Still pending when the Legislature adjourned for the day was action to adopt permanent rules that would include the filibuster change. A sign of this year's sharp division among senators is that legislative rules still have not been adopted after the 25th day in session. The filibuster rule change would allow 30 of the 49 senators to call a halt to a filibuster unless 17 votes were cast in opposition to ending debate. The current rule requires the vote of 33 senators to end a filibuster; under that provision, 17 senators whether they voted no, were absent or did not vote could prevail in defeating a cloture vote. "It's still 17, but you have to go on the record" to succeed, Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill, sponsor of the rules change, noted. "It's not moving the bar that much," Sen. John Murante of Gretna suggested. "The burden should be on the majority (in order) to impose their will on the minority," Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln argued in opposing the change. Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg cautioned new senators to consider that they will face "some very hard votes (ahead) with no maybe button" to push. "All of a sudden you're on the spot," he said, "with no ability to nuance an issue" that may not lend itself at the time to either a yes or no vote. "It's time for peace," Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus argued. "This process works" in its present form, he said. "We need to stand down on both sides." "I don't know what you're afraid of," Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha said. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha and Morfeld said they are prepared to wage the battle over filibuster rights through the remainder of the session. Although the minority in the non-partisan Legislature that's most often impacted by a weakening of filibuster rights is composed of senators who are Democrats and either moderates, progressives or liberals, Schumacher suggested that a reduction in filibuster protections could "affect agricultural interests and rural interests more than anything else." Those interests are most often represented by senators who are Republicans and conservatives. Five senators who are Republicans joined 14 Democrats in voting against the rules change. The only other senator who is a Democrat, Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, was absent and excused for the morning session. The five Republicans were Sens. Roy Baker of Lincoln, Robert Hilkemann of Omaha, John McCollister of Omaha, Schumacher and Williams. Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer of Norfolk voted for the rules change. "I like keeping the (filibuster) figure at 17," he said. "That protects minority rights. "And I believe people were elected to vote. That's the burden we all have; we are expected to vote and we are held accountable for those votes." Loading... Headlong's latest production is an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, directed by Sam Pritchard. The company team up with West Yorkshire Playhouse and Nuffield Theatres to produce the play, which opens this week in Leeds. Pritchard's version uses sound and video technology to examine class and identity. The show is designed by Alex Lowde and has sound design from Ben and Max Ringham. In a piece for WhatsOnStage, designer Lowde said: "All the equipment of Higgins' sonic experiment is visible and declared within the set. Microphones, megaphones, voice modulators, speakers, sound booths and subtitling all feature. It becomes a testing ground for Eliza as she embarks on a series of trials. Each act has a slightly different visual identity and style." Pygmalion runs to 25 February at West Yorkshire Playhouse, before touring the UK. Visit the Hong Kong Market during one of the rare times its slow -- Mondays and Tuesdays are the best bets -- and Van Tran will take the time to lead you through the aisles, pointing out anything and everything you need to make a meal with his shops offerings. Like pho, for instance. In the meat freezer at the back of the shop at 1228 N. 27th St., there are beef soup bones to be used to bring flavor to traditional broths overnight. Or there are containers of beef broth stock powder and a coconut-flavored soda from Puerto Rico. The quick way, he said, pointing to a tier of green soda cans stacked at the end of the produce lane, is that right there. Visit any of the Asian markets in Lincoln that cater to the citys Vietnamese residents and you will find Coco Rico. Its a carbonated beverage bottled in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and manufactured by an affiliate of the UK-based Cadbury Schweppes Bottling Group. In Spanish and English at the top of can, it heralds itself as a sabor natural de coco -- natural coconut-flavored soda. Though it doesnt say anything in Vietnamese on the can, Tran said the beverage became a replacement cooking ingredient for many who moved to the U.S. from Vietnam, especially in meals that can be made, Tran said, the really super-fast way. There was a different type of coconut soda back home, one that hes never found in the U.S. He and his wife, Tuy, are refugees from Vietnam who moved to Lincoln in 2004 and lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, prior to coming here and opening Hong Kong Market. When we got here, we used Coco Rico, Van Tran said. I dont know the first person who used it. But its become a kitchen staple for many. Tuy Tran said Coco Ricos often used in braised pork dishes and in preparing chicken. It's also a key ingredient in a few sweet-and-sour fish sauce varieties. In the week leading up to the Lunar New Year, Van Tran said the store sold nearly a pallet of the 69-cent sodas. (This isnt a Lincoln-specific ingredient by any means. Christine Ha wrote about Coco Rico in 2011 for the Houston Press, saying that the tenderizing coconut soda was particularly useful for newly-arrived Vietnamese families who often took in the less desirable, even downright discarded meats: whole catfish, heads and all; beef oxtail; and pork belly way before it was cool to eat.) The acidic beverage -- with nine fewer grams of sugar in it (32) than Coca-Cola -- does what any sugary carbonated beverage does to meat -- it tenderizes it while adding some of the flavor from the contents of the can to the cuisine. It makes the meat soft and the coconut flavor -- it enhances things, said Duy Linh Bui, programs coordinator with Lincoln's Asian Community and Cultural Center. I dont know why, but coconut juice makes (the meat) a better caramel color. Buis husband makes an incredible sweet-salty beef stew with a Coco Rico base. That recipe was two pages long, so try this one from a California-based cook, Mai Pham, who shares recipes on Instagram (@maifoodhaven) and YouTube (youtube.com/c/maifoodhaven). Braised pork spare ribs with Coco Rico From youtube.com/maifoodheaven 2 pounds pork spare ribs 4 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons ground pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 small shallot, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce 2 cans Coco Rico soda 1 yellow onion, cut into wedges Boil baby ribs for 4 minutes, and then rinse them beneath cold water. Cut between the rib bones to make individual pieces. In a non-stick skillet under high heat, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, the thinly sliced shallot, and fry until slightly brown. Add minced garlic and fry until slightly brown. Add spare ribs to skillet and stir fry until golden brown, then add the fish sauce, sugar and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Stir for 2 minutes. Add sweet soy sauce and stir again. Then add two cans of Coco Rico. (Three cups of warm water can also work.) Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium low. Let meat simmer for 45 minutes. Skim off excess oil. Add another teaspoon of pepper and the yellow onion. Cook for 2 minutes, turn off heat and serve. Congresswoman Says US Is Arming ISIS, Introduces Bill to Stop It #wakingtimes #ISIS https://t.co/MMWQc8QVfA Waking Times (@WakingTimes) 24 2017 In one of the largest organized marches in the history of the world, tens of millions of Shia Muslims made an incredibly heartening statement, by risking their lives to travel through war-stricken areas to openly defy ISIS. This massive event that would have undoubtedly helped to ease tensions in the West was almost entirely ignored by corporate media.Women, men, elderly, and children made their way to the city of Karbala on Sunday and Monday last week for the holy day of Arbaeen. Arbaeen is the event which marks the end of the 40-day mourning period following Ashura, the religious ritual that commemorates the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein in 680 AD.As the Independent reports , massive crowds paid homage to the shrines of Imam Hussein and his half-brother Abbas in Karbala, where they were killed in a revolt against the Umayyad ruler Yazeed in the 7th century AD when they refused to pledge allegiance to Yazeed's Umayyad caliphate.Registering only as a blip on the Independent , this most amazing feat was conducted in spite of ISIS, as well as the sacred annual pilgrimage. As the UK paper notes , the march comes as nearly 80 people, many of them pilgrims returning from commemorating Arbaeen in Karbala, were killed in the latest Isis attack in the area.Isis has declared Shia Muslims apostates and targeted them in its bloody campaign to establish a hardline caliphate across Iraq and Syria, according to the Independent. The brave men, women, and children marched on, knowing that an ISIS suicide bomber had just struck near Karbala the week prior. In recent years, this march has taken on a dual purpose. Where it was once a march for Arbaeen, it now also encompasses the Shia resistance and protest against ISIS terrorists.said Pilgrim Jaber Kadhem Khalif.According to the Independent, the 40-year-old said his prayers would go to the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group that has tens of thousands of men deployed on the front lines to fight ISIS.Umm Ali, who came without her husband, as he is currently fighting ISIS on the front lines, said,In spite of this pilgrimage being one of the most massive marches in the world, the West conveniently ignored it. Arbaeen is magnitudes larger than the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca yet Mecca is the only event that ever receives headlines in the West. Given the recent revelation that the Shia Muslims are also marching against Daesh, one can't help but wonder why this isn't all over American news.According to the Independent, organizers of the annual Arbaeen procession in U.K. have previously spoken of their frustration over the lack of mainstream media coverage of the event.Mohammed Al-Sharifi, a volunteer at last year's event told the Independent.And he is right.Many of the stories on Muslims in the U.S. that make it on to the mainstream are those that stoke divide. When a Muslim hero saves hundreds of lives by jumping on a bomb which actually happened in July the mainstream and the Islamophobic alternative media is mum.Those who would judge 1.6 billion people by the actions of just a few are creating a narrative in which innocent lives are put in danger.Throughout history, most mainstream religions have perpetuated extreme violence upon the world. To attempt to paint Islam as the problem is no better than labeling all Catholics murders for the inquisition.But peace and empathy are enemies to the establishment who need you to hate others. When the establishment can paint things as black and white, it is easier for you to be controlled. Consequently, this is the exact mission of ISIS.As the Free Thought Project's Jay Syrmopolous points out, if there is one thing that Islamic fundamentalists and Islamophobic fascists agree on, it's that there should be noThe gray zone is the zone of peaceful coexistence. Eliminating the gray zone and rendering a world as black & white as the flag of the Islamic state is the ultimate goal of fundamentalists on all sides.In fact, a recent ISIS publication, titled Extinction of the Grayzone made clear that the strategy has been at play for the past 14 years.The way to truly defeat ISIS is by rendering their fear and divisive tactics impotent. We need to show ISIS, and those being manipulated by their tactics, that tolerance and freedom are far more powerful than bigotry and hate which is why, coincidentally, not a single American mainstream outlet reported on the tens of millions of Muslims marching against ISIS.Please share this story with your friends and family who may find themselves subject to the fear mongering in the media of Muslim violence. You can bow down to the will of ISIS by allowing their hate-filled rhetoric and divisive tactics to cloud your mind with fear and hatred. Or, you can rise up and stand against those who would drive a wedge through the heart of humankind. The choice is yours. Prosecutors have dropped a sexual assault charge against a man who was accused of raping a woman at a southeast Lincoln apartment complex in April 2015, according to court records. Antonio L. Johnson, 37, had faced a first-degree sexual assault charge until a judge closed the case at the state's request Monday. On April 15, 2015, a 41-year-old woman told police she was walking her dog near 40th Street and Nebraska 2 about 1:30 a.m. and stopped to talk to a neighbor, whom she identified as Johnson, according to court records. After she walked away, she told police, a man grabbed her from behind, pulled her into the entryway of the apartment complex and raped her. Investigators interviewed Johnson at the time and he denied the accusations, police said. In a later interview, he told police he had had a relationship with the woman. They arrested him in September 2015 after receiving test results from DNA and evidence gathered at the scene, according to police. Johnson's attorney, Deputy Lancaster County Public Defender Todd Molvar, declined to comment on the case's dismissal, and prosecutors did not say in their motion why they wanted to drop charges. Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly didn't respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The Lincoln Police Union has endorsed Tom Nesbitt, a candidate for Lincoln City Council, citing his police background and understanding of police issues. Nesbitt is a former colonel in the Nebraska State Patrol. The local police union has publicly voiced concerns about staffing levels and the need to hire more police officers for many years. Nesbitt understands operating budgets and staffing needs, according to the news release on the endorsement. He also understands collective bargaining laws and realizes Lincoln officers are only compensated at the average rate of comparable cities in the Midwest, "making this an enormous bargain to the city." Nesbitt understands that statistics used to describe crime in the city -- calls for service and crime statistics -- are only a few of the available measures. "Due to advancements in technology and ongoing efforts to provide valuable community police, Lincoln police officers are busier today than they ever have been," says the release from the police union executive board. The city is at historic low staffing levels, with 1.17 officers per 1,000 residents, the release says. The union has never asked city administrators to meet the national average for staffing levels but "asks for the resources and staffing levels that will allow us to continue our efforts to keep the community of Lincoln safe, and we know that Tom Nesbitt will make that happen." The city will be adding four police officers over two years, as part of the current two-year budget. Nesbitt is one of seven people who have said they plan to run for the three at-large council seats in the city's spring election. The police union hasn't endorsed a candidate for city council for a number of years, though it endorsed county treasurer Andy Stebbing who lost the mayor's race to Chris Beutler. Stebbing had served as a sergeant with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Applications are being sought for the Nebraska American Legion's 49th annual Junior Law Cadet Program. The female session is set for June 12-16 and the male session for June 19-23 at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand lsland. The in-residence program is offered in cooperation with the Nebraska State Patrol and is open to high school students completing their junior year. Three students will be selected from each of the 14 American Legion districts in the state to attend each session. Application forms, due March 1, are available from American Legion Post commanders, high school principals and at nebraskalegion.net. Participants will learn about law-enforcement responsibilities and training and attend classes to learn about self-defense, firearms, driving and operating radar, crime-scene investigation, fingerprinting and polygraph techniques. WASHINGTON -- Rarely is the question asked: Is our Cabinet secretaries learning? And if we is being honest with ourself, we says: No, they is not. Today's lesson: the education of Betsy DeVos. It was a grizzly tale. Republicans, apparently recognizing the billionaire's lack of familiarity with the rudiments of education policy, tried to shield DeVos from public view. They scheduled her testimony in the evening and limited questions. But this did not save the heiress from getting schooled. DeVos was "confused" by questions about the Individuals With Disabilities and Education Act and befuddled when asked about the raging debate about measuring student proficiency vs. growth. DeVos's solution to protect student aid from waste? Uh, leave it to "the individuals with whom I work." But her finest moment was her argument for why we need guns in schools: "to protect from potential grizzlies." It was too much to bear. Hour after hour on the Senate floor Monday, Democrats howled about the nominee's woeful qualifications. Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, said they couldn't give DeVos a passing grade. She was confirmed Tuesday on a 50-50 tie broken by Vice President Pence. But Democrats in the long run may thank the majority Republicans for confirming DeVos. In the fight against President Trump's agenda, the new administration's incompetence is their friend. Trump's choice of DeVos signals a dangerous desire to dismantle public schools. It would be more dangerous if he chose somebody who was up to the task. In this sense, Trump's Cabinet generally may be a gift to opponents of his agenda. At Housing and Urban Development there will be Ben Carson. Before Carson's nomination, his friend Armstrong Williams said that the retired neurosurgeon "feels he has no government experience, he's never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency." At the Energy Department is Rick Perry, mocked by Trump himself during the presidential primaries. "He should be forced to take an IQ test before being allowed to enter the GOP debate," Trump said, suggesting that Perry wears glasses "so people think he's smart." Heading the National Security Council is Mike Flynn, reportedly drummed out as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency for poor management. Nikki Haley, the U.N. ambassador, has no foreign policy experience. One can already see future Cabinet meetings shaping up in the White House, as Trump goes around the table asking for updates: Carson: "Pass." DeVos: "Could you come back to me, please?" Flynn: "Sorry, what?" Perry: "Oops." No doubt there is some value in nominating people outside the "establishment." But the value is diminished if your outsiders can't do the job. Competence questions arise daily. After years of Republican promises to repeal Obamacare, a secret recording of a meeting of congressional Republicans makes clear that the administration and its allies on Capitol Hill have no such plan. Trump's travel ban has been hung up in court largely because its legal underpinning is sloppy. Then there's Trump's executive order putting political adviser Stephen K. Bannon on the National Security Council; The New York Times reported that Trump signed that order without fully understanding it. Questions of competent management extend to the most important issues. During confirmation hearings, Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reported that they had only cursory conversations with Trump about Russia. Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly acknowledged that he hadn't discussed immigration policy with Trump. Nominees were at odds with Trump on the Iran nuclear deal, torture, entitlement programs, climate change and the border wall. Then there's DeVos. After her rickety performance at her confirmation hearing, she returned a written questionnaire to senators last week -- and it was soon apparent that some of her answers were cribbed from a magazine, the Education Department website, and an Obama administration nominee. On the Senate floor Monday, No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn (Tex.) said, "The president will get the Cabinet he nominated and deserves. Yes, he will. WASHINGTON Another round of bickering is boiling over about temperature readings used in a 2015 study to show how the planet is warming. The issue is about how readings gathered decades ago were adjusted to try to get a clearer picture of how the Earths temperature is changing now. Those adjustments have been questioned by some who reject mainstream climate science and have tried to claim there has been a pause in global warming. A January study in a scientific journal used another set of measurements to confirm the readings and prove again that the earths temperature is rising quickly and that the warming has not paused. But a congressional committee on Tuesday seized on complaints from a retired scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about how the original data were handled to claim the data were falsified even though the retired NOAA scientist they cite does not argue that it was. What is being touted as a scientific scandal is more about data handling than what rising temperatures show, according to phone and email interviews with more than two dozen experts on the issue, including the former government scientist, whose blogging Saturday reignited a debate. The hubbub was sparked when retired NOAA data scientist John Bates claimed in a blog post that his boss, then-director of the National Centers for Environmental Information Thomas Karl, constantly had his thumb on the scale in the documentation, scientific choices and release of datasets in an effort to discredit the notion of a global warming hiatus and rushed a study published in the journal Science before international climate negotiations. Bates said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press that he was most concerned about the way data was handled, documented and stored, raising issues of transparency and availability. He said Karl didnt follow the more than 20 crucial data storage and handling steps that Bates created for NOAA. However Bates, who acknowledges that Earth is warming from man-made carbon dioxide emissions, said in the interview that there was no data tampering, no data changing, nothing malicious. Its really a story of not disclosing what you did, Bates said in the interview. Its not trumped up data in any way shape or form. Still, after Bates blog post, the House Science Committee , a British tabloid newspaper and others who reject mainstream climate science accused NOAA of playing fast and loose with land and water temperature data. House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, speaking at a hearing Tuesday, called on Science to retract the 2015 study and blasted NOAA for not being cooperative with his subpoenas. When the journals publisher Rush Holt, a physicist and former Democratic congressman, said the charges dont support a retraction because the issue is more about data procedures than science, Smith, an attorney, interrupted him and insisted: They falsified global warming data. The Karl study looked mostly at ocean temperature records several decades old and determined that those older readings skewed too warm when compared to modern monitoring from buoys and other devices because they were taken in ships engine rooms. He adjusted those old readings down, which makes it clearer that the earths temperature is rising now. Since then, a new independent study from the University of California, Berkeley looked at the same issue in a different way, and confirmed the Karl calculations. Not using their data we get the exact same results, both for the ocean record and for the land, said Zeke Hausfather, lead author of the Berkeley study. He called Bates claims all about procedural disagreements within NOAA that have very little bearing about our understanding about whats happening to Earths climate. Marcia McNutt, who was editor of Science at the time the paper was published and is now president of the National Academy of Sciences, praised Bates for wanting to highlight the importance of data archiving, but said his criticisms have little to do with the main part of the paper and chastised the House for using issues of data archiving to try to discredit the 2015 study. The study has been reproduced independently of Karl et al thats the ultimate platinum test of whether a study is to be believed or not, McNutt said. And this study has passed. The Associated Press interviewed more than two dozen experts by phone or email. Most agreed with Karl or didnt take a side but said it didnt matter because global warming continues regardless of this latest kerfuffle. Two supported Bates, saying there were serious scientific integrity concerns. ALEXANDRIA, Minn. Minnesota schools say they dont have enough teachers to help prepare high school students for careers, and in the coming weeks lawmakers at the Capitol are expected to step in to help. The debate about career-focused classes like manufacturing, business and health care has been part of a broader state conversation about changes to teacher licensing. This session, lawmakers will likely move Minnesota to tiered licensure, where applicants can get into the profession with minimal requirements that might not include the current requirement of a four-year college degree. Teachers would move up to longer-term licenses as they add training and experience. When it comes to career-specific education, a recent Minnesota Department of Education report found that a third of teachers in five fields are currently teaching under some kind of special state permission. Districts can request permissions when they cant find a fully licensed teacher. Especially in agriculture and industrial tech, there just arent many universities graduating those teachers anymore, said Alexandria Area High School principal Chad Duwenhoegger. Duwenhoegger would know: Alexandria students choose a career interest area to focus on starting in 10th grade. Options include business, manufacturing and health care careers. The school has state-of-the art facilities including a metal shop, culinary lab, and two greenhouses. Were saying, okay, what are you passionate about, what do you love to do? And then helping them get the skillset to get to where they want to be, be it a two-year school, be it military, be it a one-year [or] a four-year degree, Duwenhoegger said. Duwenhoegger said while most Alexandria graduates go on to some kind of further education, local businesses are eager for employees. State data show some industries, like construction and health care, with above-average demand for workers. So some students, like senior Devin Lancaster, plan to go straight to jobs. Devin said he already has a couple job offers. On a recent morning, he scrutinized a metal table hes building for a local machining company as part of a senior capstone class. The structure raises and lowers to aid workers in loading pipe into a machine. The pipe is in a wooden box 16 inches high and weighs 2,000 pounds. They have to be able to roll it around the machines and then load it up, Devin explained, flipping the table over to do some welding on the underside. But teachers can be hard to find. Alexandrias agriculture program struggled to find two recent hires. In industrial technology, Duwenhoegger said the school coaxed a retired teacher back to work until a new teacher could be found. A business teacher is retiring and may be hard to replace, if history is any guide. Last year there was a business opening at the middle school, and there was one applicant that was solid, Duwenhoegger said, but the candidate declined. After that we couldnt find one application for business, not one. The Education Departments 2017 teacher supply and demand report concurred: Career-oriented teachers are expected to be among the most difficult to find in the coming years. Special education, science, math and early childhood also top the list. Outside the city of Alexandria, smaller school districts can have an even harder time hiring. Sauk Centre secondary school teacher Jake Fischer takes his students to local company Felling Trailers for welding class. I didnt know how to pursue job in teaching this type of stuff, Fischer said, adding that he was originally in school for a job in industry. And Fischer has first-hand experience with the scarcity of teacher preparation programs around the state in career-oriented fields. He wants to go back to school for an extra credential, but in his field theres only one school that offers it. Other areas, like medical and hospitality career teaching, have no training programs in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Education report said seven career-focused teacher training programs have suspended or closed in Minnesota since 2010. The report suggests lawmakers could allow two-year schools to offer the training and help fund program start-up at school districts and nonprofits. Those moves may become part of a broader legislative effort to address teacher shortages. Gov. Mark Dayton detailed a proposal Wednesday to inject more than $600 million in funding into the state, targeted at investments in early childhood and K-12 learning. If adopted, the plan would add to a record of spending in education and early childhood in Minnesota. The governors office said that since 2011, Dayton has worked with the Legislature to add $1.5 billion in spending in everything from early childhood support to high school, and would like this latest proposal to bring that total to $2.1 billion. In support for the schools and school systems, Dayton proposed both general increases for school systems based on the number of students, investments in classrooms and more funding for special education and student support staff and counselors. Daytons proposal to increase per student funding by 2 percent in the next two years for K-12 students would add an estimated $1,916,550 in new funding for the 2018 to 2019 school year, with $371 million being spent total across the state. Like proposed tax bills in the House and Senate, Daytons proposal includes aid for schools repaying bond levies, to ease burden on taxpayers, especially farmers and business owners, with a proposed $62 million over the next four years for areas with new schools. Dayton said that his budget proposals are making good on promises to deliver education funding for a wide swath of the population. My budget would continue making the investments our state needs to create better opportunities for Minnesota children and families, Dayton said. It also proposed $40 million for special education funding, and $4 million to increase the number of counselors, social workers, psychologists and nurses in public schools. In 2016, $12.1 million was provided in matching grants to 37 school districts to increase student support staff, including in the Winona area, and there was more demand than that funding would provide. Daytons plan targets early school opportunities as well, with goals of $75 million in voluntary prekindergarten programs and $61 million in the Child Care Tax Credit. In last years funding, there was $25 million included for voluntary prekindergarten programs, but Winonas was not one to receive funding. The plan would also provide $84 million to the Child Care Assistance Program, which the governors office claims will help 30,000 families in Minnesota by expanding access to child care and removing red tape for families and providers. That includes around 200 Winona families that would be able to use the assistance. Other funding goals include investments in the Department of Healths home visiting program for high risk mothers, including teens, and $2 million to increase the number of full-service community schools that offer resources to students beyond the traditional classroom with partners in health and dental clinics and family resource centers. Dayton said the proposals invest in strategies to help grow a shared prosperity for Minnesotan families. It would deliver excellent educations for all our students, starting with our youngest learners, Dayton said. It would support strong families at home and in child care, giving more kids the great starts they need in school and life. Attacking the UN has become a favorite hobby of early Republican Administrations. Ronald Reagan did it, starting with the appointment of Jean Kirkpatrick as his dour and acerbic Ambassador there. George W. Bush ddonald trumpid it, and utilized the urbane but extremist John Bolton as his destroyer in residence. Now Donald Trump is going down the same road by floating the idea of cutting UN programs by maybe 40%. The new Ambassador Nikki Haley promises to take names of those who do not support US diktats to the rest of the world. The US has thus often tried to throw its weight around at the UN. By so doing, the US has mostly shot itself in the foot and antagonized many. First of all, the UN costs the US very little in real terms. The base Pentagon budget is about $650 billion per year. The entire UN system spends about $8 billion per year. The UN cost to each American taxpayer is minuscule. The UN regular budget and the peacekeeping budget are agreed in negotiations, and the US is obligated to pay its share of about 24% and 28% respectively--which is more or less in line with US share of global economic product. Walking out on this deal has never won the US friends, much less made America look great in the rest of the world. Secondly, the US relies on the UN in many practical ways, from managing refugee flows (via UNHCR) to working to improve the lives of women in girls in many developing countries (UNICEF). The UN helps manage security crises in many places where the US does not want to put its own soldiers in harm's way or where it it unwise to put White faces in Black conflicts (as per UN security deployments in Darfur or South Sudan). The UN coordinates vital scientific information about climate change via its InterGovernmental Panel. The list of UN practical contributions to US interests is very long. True, the US does not control UN organs and agencies, although it has always had the veto in the UN Security Council. Sometimes UN bodies, being controlled by states, do the wrong thing. The General Assembly once declared Zionism a from of Racism, but this was rescinded. But a UN totally subservient to the US would not be able to do the independent and impartial good it does, as when Secretary-General U-Thant helped us escape from the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 with his quiet diplomacy. Reagan came around to big time support of the UN at the end of his tenure. George W. Bush did likewise when he allowed the Security Council to refer Darfur to the International Criminal Court. First term Republican Presidents are often bombastic about the limitations of the UN. This plays well with their core domestic supporters. By their second term, reality sets in and they usually recognize we are better off with an independent and impartial UN than without it. Trump is playing an old Republican game. Dwight Eisenhower, who knew the value of allies and the importance of international institutions, is probably turning in his grave. We can only hope that damage to US interests is minimized while we wait for pragmatism and reality to kick in. Congressmen Tim Walz and Ron Kind are among 36 Democratic incumbents identified as the GOPs top targets as the party seeks to expand its majority in 2018. The list, first reported Wednesday by Politico, focuses heavily on blue collar and Midwestern districts where President Donald Trump won in Novembers election. Walz edged out Republican Jim Hagedorn by less than 3,000 votes to win a sixth term representing the states 1st District, which went overwhelmingly for Trump. Walz spent more than $1.6 million defending his seat against the former federal worker from Blue Earth, who spent just over $370,000. Hagedorn, who also lost to Walz in 2014, has said he intends to run again in 2018. Walz campaign manager Terry Morrow said the 1st District has regularly been on the Republican target list since Walz first won the seat in 2006. Minnesotans are tired of full-time candidates and campaigns, Morrow said in a written statement. They prefer people like Tim Walz who get the job done and work across party lines to find solutions. Our campaign continues to build momentum from our razor-thin 2016 result, Hagedorn said in a statement. Tim Walz has lost his grip on this district. Walzs blanket support for the Obama agenda and his votes for failed policies like Obamacare, open borders, extremist EPA regulations and abortion-on-demand are at odds with the views and needs of First District residents, Hagedorn said. In addition to Walz, Republicans have their sights on Minnesotas Collin Peterson and Rick Nolan, who represent the western and northern parts of the state. Kind, an 11-term incumbent from La Crosse, was unopposed in the general election. Trump, who narrowly won Wisconsin, easily carried his western Wisconsin district. Kind is the only Wisconsin Democrat on the list. Listen, I have been no stranger to battling powerful special interests, and this time is no different, Kind said in a statement released by his campaign manager. Regardless of what these outside special interests do, I remain focused on what matters to Wisconsinites expanding economic opportunity and making sure health care is affordable. Brian Westrate, Republican party chairman of the Third Congressional District, greeted the list with mixed emotion. Im overjoyed that the NRCC has identified the 3rd District as a place where they may put money, he said. Having lived here my entire life I am a bit more pragmatic about the actual conditions on the ground. Westrate said the party chose not to put forward a candidate last year after none stepped forward, focusing instead on helping Sen. Ron Johnson and Republicans in state-level races. It paid off: The GOP flipped one state Senate district along with the 92nd Assembly District, which had been held by Democrats since 2008. While Trumps 4 point margin of victory may make Kind look vulnerable, Westrate said past elections have shown otherwise. Kind is also a formidable fundraiser who finished the year with $2.25 million in the bank, according to his latest federal filing. Editor's note: This story has been updated. An earlier version incorrectly stated that Wisconsin Republicans flipped two Assembly seats and the number of votes by which Tim Walz defeated Jim Hagedorn. Focus on education, not buildings is the plea when it comes to the future of Winona Area Public Schools facilities, but no suggestions are given for how. Last spring, WAPS staff met as part of the community summits held to develop the districts future path. You can view the full responses at winona.k12.mn.us. When asked what to change, teachers included these requests to help them better meet the needs of their students: Make class sizes equal across the district. Help students stay in the same school if they require special education services. Schedule time for teachers to work with other teachers. Have the same discipline plan across the district. Other writers would have you believe that these steps to improve education are unrelated to facilities. In reality, our facility situation creates these problems. If there were fewer buildings, students could be divided more equally between classrooms. In 2015-16, kindergarten in Rollingstone had 12 students. Kindergarten classes in Goodview and Jefferson had 17 students; in Madison and W-K, about 20 students. Paying for smaller class sizes for some students while we are unable to afford it for all students favors some over others. If all 211 kindergarten students had been in one building, there would have been 19 students in 11 classes, the cost for one student would be similar to the cost to the others, and students would all be in classes of about the same size. If there were more sections per grade in a school, class sizes would have been more stable each year and through the year. Most new students in Madison join the not-Spanish classroom. The second-grade class has three more students than it did on the first day, which makes eight more students than it had last year (and a total of 25). As each new student joins, there is a loss of learning as all the students adjust. If the new students joined a school with more class sections, they would not all join the same class. If there were more students in a building and fewer buildings, all students would attend a school with special education services. Right now, we draw all students with special needs to Jefferson, Madison, and W-K to pool our resources. Some students have to switch schools to receive services. Some students will switch schools with a younger sibling who needs services so they are not in two different buildings. Again, with changing schools, there is a loss of learning during the adjustment. If there were more students in the buildings, our PE, music, art, and media teachers would have duties at fewer schools. Less travel means more time with students for the same cost. When students are with these specialist teachers, their classroom teachers have time to prepare. Teacher time with students is like a long business meeting, but to prepare for the meeting, teachers also need time to consult with other teachers. Preparation time with other teachers of the same grade means sharing successful ideas and planning shared activities for their students. Preparation time with other teachers of different grades means planning for students sequence of learning. If the specialist teachers are always traveling, it is difficult or impossible for classroom teachers to have shared preparation time. If there were more students in the buildings, we could afford to have principals and counselors there all day. Right now, they also travel to more than one building to reach all their students. Trouble that a teacher might refer to office when the principal or counselor is there must be handled in the classroom when the principal is not. Young students need consistent consequences that can be understood to be able to learn. If discipline changes in one building over the course of one day, how can it be consistent across the district? All of this assumes that our current buildings work for our needs. They do not. Classrooms in our neighborhood schools were built for rows of desks, not flexible work spaces. They are not accessible for students with special needs students have adaptive PE in the hallway and enter through the back door. None of our elementary schools are secured against intruders (and any community who has ever faced that horror once thought, it couldnt happen here). The buildings need new windows, roofs, plumbing, wiring, ductwork not because the district has neglected maintenance, but because the per-pupil funding that the state allows them to spend on upkeep averages to $2 a year for each of our many square feet, and that cannot begin to address all the needs of these buildings. If you doubt their need for improvements, schedule a visit. Breathe the air. Move through the space. Families new to Winona will, and they will not compare it to what Winona once had, but to what they experienced elsewhere. Elementary schools are the primary focus of our facility discussion because there are five of them, and only one middle school and one high school. Red Wing, with 150 fewer elementary students than Winona, has only two elementary schools. Albert Lea, with 400 more elementary students (K-5), has four. Other districts have responded to the realities of their situations. When will we? Theres a theory that President Donald Trump and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, are testing how far and fast they can go to drastically change policy before resistance forces them to pull back. If thats how Trump wants to govern and it sure looks that way after two weeks then the response must be strong and swift. Theres still a chance he could end up being reasonable and inclusive. But to resist Trumps most extreme moves, its all hands on deck and the early lesson is that it all adds up and can make a difference. Politicians from Congress to city halls must continue to speak out, loudly, but also follow through with action. California is leading the charge, though the states leaders must offer more than stern denunciations. They must provide an alternative by showing they can govern. Democrats in Congress are debating how forcefully to oppose Trump, including his Supreme Court nomination. Republicans need to show backbone since they allowed him to rise to the presidency. Where, pray tell, are all those critics of Barack Obamas executive orders who accused him of seeking an imperial presidency? Corporate leaders cant stay on the sidelines; indeed, they may have the best chance to get Trump to listen, one CEO to another. Federal judges must limit his authority when he overreaches or jeopardizes civil liberties. The media must uncover and explain Trumps actions, notwithstanding the insults and alternative facts lobbed from the White House. Most significant of all, Americans from all walks of life can be active citizens, contacting their elected officials and peacefully protesting, as millions did at womens marches the day after Trumps inauguration. More marches in Washington are planned, including ones pushing for Trump to release his tax returns (on Tax Day, April 15) and a March for Science on climate change and energy policy (on Earth Day, April 22). Were seeing how resistance to Trump can play out. The negative reaction to his despicable executive order on immigration and refugees, targeted at Muslim-majority countries, was immediate, fierce and in some ways effective. Diverse crowds protested at major airports across the nation, prompting Obama to praise the demonstrations as the defense of democracy he called for in his farewell speech. He said he would weigh in only if American values were at risk. Trump crossed that line in a week. Silicon Valley CEOs denounced the order, and Starbucks announced it would hire 10,000 refugees in the next five years, focusing on those who helped the U.S. military. Even the billionaire Koch brothers, who bankroll conservative causes, were critical. Importantly, it wasnt just Democrats in Congress who objected to the refugee ban. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John McCain of Arizona are trying to be voices of reason on national security. But words are not enough. Republicans must be prepared to cast votes to rescind and defund the order. As criticism kept mounting, the administration softened the temporary ban by making clear that green card holders are not covered and by moving to expedite waivers for those who helped the U.S. military in Iraq. Team Trump also backtracked when the media exposed and opposition organized against some smaller moves, such as scrapping all Obamacare ads and outreach during the final days of the enrollment period, though it still canceled some TV ads. When bipartisan outrage grew that Trump gave Bannon a permanent place on a key National Security Council committee despite scant relevant experience, the White House added the CIA director. And it seems more than a coincidence that faced with determined activism to protect Dreamers, Trump has yet to overturn Obamas order that defers their deportation. Yet, as part of Bannons disruption strategy, alarming proposals keep coming, almost daily, however chaotic their rollout. The administration is reportedly seeking to change a program that counters violent ideologies at home to focus only on Islamic extremism. A leaked draft of another executive order would exempt from anti-discrimination laws those who oppose same-sex marriage and abortion on religious grounds. Friday, he took a step toward shredding rules put in place after the 2008 Wall Street meltdown to prevent another. By now, we know to take Trump literally as well as seriously. All those campaign promises that even some backers believed were too extreme to keep are actually happening and are hurting real people. We should also know that Trump cares about polls, ratings and his popularity. As cant be said often enough, these are not normal times. To confront this president, it will take extraordinary commitment. We cant get distracted or lose heart. Its going to be a long slog, and its going to get worse maybe a lot worse before it gets better. As the Trump storm clouds darken over America, the silver lining is that resistance is building and our democracy is starting to show its resilience. Writer Sheila OConnor will visit Winona State on Monday, Feb. 13, at 5 p.m. in Stark 103. She is the author of four novels: Tokens of Grace, Where No Gods Came, Sparrow Road and Keeping Safe the Stars. Awards for her novels include the Michigan Prize for Literary Fiction, Minnesota Book Award, International Reading Award, and Midwest Booksellers Award among others. Her books have been included in Best Books of the Year by Booklist, VOYA, Book Page, Bank Street, Chicago Public Library and Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers. The event is free and open to the public. The State of Wisconsin has declared the week of Feb. 13-17 as School Bus Drivers Recognition Week. This week is highlighted each year to recognize the commitment to safety excellence of over 15,000 Wisconsin school bus drivers, who drive over 82 million miles each year and transport more than 600,000 students on any given school day. Kobussen Buses, LTD will recognize 43 drivers from their Baraboo terminal who work with students from the Baraboo School District. According to Kobussen, We are planning a full week of activities to celebrate the outstanding job that our drivers do each and every day at each of our 17 terminals. These activities will include such things as free lunch, door prizes and recognition of perfect attendance. Kobussen continues, With all of the day to day activities that happen, it is easy to forget to thank them for all that [the drivers] do. Setting aside this week helps us show a small amount of our appreciation. A Sauk County committee says it hopes to decrease the cost of solar installations on government buildings by applying for a statewide energy grant. The Sauk County Boards Property and Insurance Committee received an update Monday evening from a firm that has been selected to assist the county in setting up a third-party solar contract. Mark Hanson of Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction told the committee additional savings are available beyond those typically achieved under third-party deals. The county has until March 24, he said, to apply for recently-detailed Wisconsin Focus on Energy incentives that may cover up to 12 percent of installation costs. Hanson said his firm is working with county legal staff to finalize terms of a contract approved by the county board last month. Once thats done, the company will conduct an analysis similar to a 2015 county energy audit that determined potential sites for solar installations. If the audit report is about in line with what well want to do after we do our further analysis, were talking about $100,000 to $150,000 of incentives, Hanson said about the savings possible under the state Focus on Energy program. Thats sort of the ball park range that were going after. Once finalized, the countys $64,000 contract with Hoffman Planning will allow the firm to begin its analysis and make recommendations for a third-party solar setup. Third-party agreements allow tax-exempt entities, such as local governments, to take advantage of a federal 30 percent tax credit and accelerated depreciation incentive only available to for-profit firms that install solar. The firm pays for the installation, sells the energy back to the tax-exempt entity, and then allows that entity the option to purchase the system at a reduced cost in the future. Hanson said if the county were to win a Focus on Energy grant, it could apply that money toward the installation and own a portion of the system right from the beginning. Committee members agreed they would like to pursue that option. The 2015 audit identified the countys law enforcement center, highway department, and nursing home as sites that could benefit financially from solar energy. The county spends about $500,000 annually on electricity for five of its buildings, and another $150,000 for natural gas. Within the last decade, Hanson has said, the average cost of solar energy dropped from about $8 to about $1.90 per watt installed. During a presentation to the board in December, Hanson provided financial data from projects his firm has completed for other tax-exempt entities in Wisconsin. He said solar provides energy price stability, and that overall savings vary depending on the relative size of the system and the purchase model used. During Mondays meeting, Supervisor Scott Von Asten of Baraboo, who chairs the committee, told Hanson the board would like the project to be cash flow positive from the beginning. He also said the high visibility of the countys highway department makes it a prime target for solar, because it would send a positive message about the county. This is a county that cares deeply about the environment and our natural beauty, Von Asten said. So that site is of a particular concern to us. Supervisor Eric Peterson of Prairie du Sac, who does not serve on the committee but attended Mondays meeting, said he found that to be an odd remark. To me, I dont care if it looks nice or not, said Peterson, who has been skeptical of the committees solar initiative. If its serving us, and were saving money, thats what Im looking for. Just like the cell towers, you know. That shows progress, but nobody likes cell towers. Every time you want to put them up, they say Oh, theyre so ugly. Well, maybe solar is ugly too. The first phase of the contract with Hoffman Planning allows the firm to run an analysis and recommend the site, size, and funding mechanism for potential solar installations. The county board has the option to cancel the contract during the first phase, or could authorize the company to seek out prospective third-party solar partners. This article was updated Feb. 8 to correct the facility that Supervisor Scott Von Asten identified as a prime target for solar due to its high visibility. I cant figure out how, but my county has been taken over by an office supply salesman. Ive met Marty Krueger, and he doesnt seem that scary. A bit gruff, perhaps, but that could be because the Sauk County Board chairman and my newspaper arent exactly bosom buddies. In any event, being in his presence doesnt move me to roll onto my back and whizz all over myself like a submissive puppy. Alas, the same doesnt appear true of the board majority. Most of the other 30 county supervisors go along with his cloak-and-dagger political machinations. Its surprising, because the board members Ive met are smart people with sturdy backbones. Yet somehow, Marty gets his way, even when it runs contrary to the will of the people and the principles of good government. He wields a rubber stamp, no doubt purchased at cost from Reedsburg Office Supplies. Board members tell me hes a master manipulator behind the scenes and an intimidating presence. Meet Marty Krueger, the worlds scariest office supply salesman. He belittles supervisors who dare disagree with him during public meetings. He schedules meetings with minimal notice. He withholds documents from fellow supervisors. And recently Marty single-handedly picked the new county manager. Oh sure, the county went through an official hiring process last year. But the woman they hired didnt see eye to eye with Marty. (Perhaps she preferred Bic, whereas Marty is a Sharpie man. Either way, he found that particular pencil-pusher unworthy of serving as his No. 2.) Despite generally positive reviews from department heads, she was shown the door and handed $135,000 in severance. Four days after he signed that deal in Sharpie, no doubt Marty met for coffee with the woman he wanted to hire as a replacement. A few weeks later, the committee told him it wanted to review a list of finalists from the previous search. Instead, Marty invited his preferred candidate in for the only interview. The committee was so incensed at being disobeyed that it voted unanimously to support Martys choice. Its belly was immediately rubbed. Apparently Marty is the kind of politician who can tell you to go to hell and somehow leave you looking forward to the trip. A few on the board objected to this back-room approach to conducting county business, as did the newspaper and several constituents. But in the end, the board voted 24-4 to hire Martys favorite, and that was that. Well, that was not exactly that. Now Martys working on rewriting the boards rules to make sure his authority is unchallenged. Hes collaborating with the county attorney, who would prefer not to answer to the new county manager. This is where having ready access to bulk quantities of Wite-Out comes in handy. The whole situation leaves me with questions. Why do the other board members let Marty get his way? Theyre respected adults elected by their neighbors, not nerds waiting to be relieved of their lunch money by a playground bully. Also, why does the board continue to elect Marty chairman? Its one thing for him to be popular in his district in Reedsburg, where he was once mayor. But its quite another to get re-elected repeatedly by people whose voices he squelches. They dont seem to mind being treated like subjects, nor do they mind that their County Board chairman owes the state $16,000 in taxes. Thats a lot of rolls of Scotch tape. I have one more question: Whats in it for Marty? OK, so youre king of a small county in Wisconsin. Congratulations: You get to work nights for a middling salary, and get dumped on by the public. You might as well work for a newspaper. Is it really worth all the confrontations and consternation, just to rule a county with an iron fist? You could be back at your store, sharpening pencils in peaceful obscurity. Perhaps the reason I have so many questions is that I dont know whats going on at county headquarters. This is by design, as the newspaper gets stonewalled when requesting documents. And even when we get them, we cant help but wonder whether the worlds scariest office supply salesman broke out the Wite-Out. Moraine Park Technical College is setting the stage to develop a new gas utility technician program in Beaver Dams campus alongside a $2.3 million energy education center. According to a news release from MPTC, Alliant Energy has become a contributor to the project by donating $80,000. The release states that MPTCs goal is to begin construction on its energy education center in April 2018 and graduate the first class of gas utility technicians in 2019. Alliant Energy has been a business partner with Moraine Park Technical College for many years, Bonnie Baerwald, MPTC president said. This donation demonstrates their strategic vision for not only their company, but also their industry. With this generous gift, the college will be able to build a state-of-the-art training center for gas utility technicians at our Beaver Dam campustraining young men and women in a profession that provides family-sustaining wages. MPTC believes that that wages for gas utility technicians will be above that of typical entry-level positions, with projected graduates earning an estimated average of $54,000 per year. Being a 21st-century company means we need highly skilled workers heading into the future, Wayne Reschke, Alliant Energy senior vice president for human resources said in the statement. Investing in Moraine Park Technical Colleges natural gas program and its students helps build a talent pipeline for our company and industry. The gas utility technician program is expected to act as a critical pipeline for skilled workers to companies in natural gas, propane, and gas utilities over the next decade. Moraine Park aims for graduates to gain the skills to maintain and operate natural gas and propane systems for both residential and commercial customers. Its a rewarding career with many avenues for growth, Reschke said. Natural gas is a growing part of our companys energy mix and focus. Men and women who graduate from this program will provide innovative solutions and a vital service to their communities. According to Baerwald, Alliants support in making the project a reality should not only help the lives of future graduates, but have a profound impact on communities as well. Alliant Energy knows that an investment in workforce training creates a stronger tomorrow for the energy industries and the communities they serve. We are thankful for their gift and their continuing partnership, Baerwald said. According to Moraine Parks 2015 graduate follow-up report, 60 percent of its graduates are employed within the 10-county Moraine Park district (including Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Green Lake counties), and 97 percent are employed within the state of Wisconsin. The vision for this new Moraine Park program was developed in conjunction with the Wisconsin Technical College System, the Wisconsin Energy Workforce Consortium and gas industry professionals. A type of hysteria is mounting. The headlines, blog postings and appeals to fear continue to spiral. Immigrants, gangs, health care, trade deficits, alternative facts and the ever-present they are all the literal rage. Yet whenever we become fear-driven, whether in our home, our workplace or our country, we become dysfunctional. Whenever we cave to terror, the terrorists, and some politicians, win. An alternative to the hysteria is the courage of love. 1 John 4:18 reads, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." The diplomatic success of our time was the Iran accord, when brains won out over bullets. We will again hear the fear-mongering ramp-up about Iran and against many others, but we can react in better ways. Click on circulating petitions. Call congressional representatives to hold them accountable. Organize against despair through Bridges out of Poverty. Look out for one another. Enjoy laughter and friendship. Relay actual facts. Spread hope. Volunteer. We can say no to rising fear. That enemy need not prevail. Now more than ever, whats called for is practical love. We can say yes to calm, persistent, compassionate, fearless resistance. JUNEAU A 45-year-old Mayville man is being held on a $10,000 cash bond after investigators discovered 10 images containing child pornography on his computer. Marlon Kegel is facing 10 counts of felony possession of child pornography. If convicted of all charges he faces up to 250 years in prison and $1 million in fines. Kegel made his initial appearance on Wednesday before Judge Steven Bauer. Bauer set Kegels bond with the condition that he may not use the internet except for employment. According to the criminal complaint, the Wisconsin Department of Justice obtained a search warrant to search a residence on Donald Street in Mayville. When the warrant was executed Feb. 7, officers made contact with Kegel as well as a woman and a 9-year-old girl who all lived at the residence. Officers confiscated multiple USB drives, external hard drives, multiple laptops, a Playstation 3, assorted cell phones and a digital camera. The items were reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation where 10 images containing child pornography were discovered. According to the criminal complaint, when Kegel was questioned by officers he said that he may have downloaded something but that the images he downloaded were mislabeled. Kegel allegedly told officers he did not like viewing child pornography and would delete the files within two hours of downloading them. Kegel later allegedly admitted to officers that he would intentionally search for child pornography and had been viewing it for three to five years. Kegel allegedly said he viewed the images out of curiosity and was interested in images specifically depicting females from the ages of 10 to 13. When questioned by officers Kegel allegedly denied assaulting the girl who lived at the residence. Kegel will appear in court on Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing. The Columbia County District Attorneys Office on Tuesday dropped felony child exploitation charges against a Poynette man accused of inappropriately filming himself with a 5-year-old foster child. I dont think that going forward with the felony that was originally charged in this would be beneficial to anyone Mr. Skare, the victim, the public, said Assistant District Attorney Cliff Burdon at the hearing. I dont think the things that he did that are outlined in the probable cause warrant him to be branded as a felon or as a sex offender. Jay Skare, 58, was charged in Jan. 2014 with sexual exploitation of a child, accused of making a sexually explicit video with a 5-year-old girl. The video, as described by a Columbia County Sheriffs Office detective in the criminal complaint, showed the girl acting in a highly sexual manner with Skare, including undressing, touching herself, and putting her hands on Skare. During the video Skare also reportedly asks the girl, If I was your dad, what would we do right now? To which the girl says that they would kiss and have sex. This video and how available it should be was under discussion in a motion hearing in July 2015 when defense attorney Charles Giesen argued that it needed to be made available to himself and co-counsel, whereas the prosecution did not want Giesens whole office seeing the video. Mr. Skare felt he had no choice but to do this, because she wasnt talking to the police, Giesen said according to court documents. And thats why those recordings, although they may not have mentioned Mr. Skare specifically, are important, to show shes been groomed. Mr. Skares assessment of this was correct and it supports his having acted in good faith. Your honor, this is a ridiculous argument that the court has heard already, Assistant District Attorney Brenda Yaskal said to Judge Alan White during the 2015 hearing. Mr. Skare is not a law enforcement officer. He is not a social worker. Hes not trained in child interview techniques. The amount of leading questions and various things he had this child do on tape show exactly why lay people do not interview children when it comes to allegations of abuse and neglect. Legal immunity in such cases is limited to law enforcement and social workers, Yaskal argued. In fact, Mr. Skare was told by two different social workers specifically not to engage in the questioning of this child. At the time White said that the direction of the argument pertaining to the childs parents risked the trial becoming a trial within a trial. The case went forward with Skare free on $2,000 cash bail, released on bond after 11 days in jail following his arrest. Trial was scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, prior to a motion hearing being called and a new criminal complaint submitted on Tuesday. Video for police I do not think the public needs to worry about Mr. Skare, Burdon said. He was a foster parent and, again, he did something he thought was appropriate, which he thought was to protect the victim, and instead created the situation which brings us here today. Giese described the case as the most extreme example of no good deed goes unpunished, with Skare and his wife taking in this girl unaware of any history of sexual abuse, uninformed by health and human services, but finding out by the girl acting strangely and overtly sexual. He was afraid the father was trying to regain custody of this poor little girl, Giese said, pointing to a transcript of a discussion between Skare and police, telling an officer of the girls behavior and statements, I could get it recorded, with the officer replying, Yeah, if you could do that, if you could see if you have it, and if you do, we could make arrangements to get him, referring the girls father. (Skare) says, Ill see what I can do, and the officers final orders are Thank you very much for trying to get that, Giese told the court. Jay did that with the explicit consent of the police and he was going to protect this little girl from further harm. The day after he made the recording, he called the police and told them he had it, and they came to the house and arrested him. Judge sees no intent Comparing the case now with the arguments of the preliminary hearing, now having seen the video in question and transcripts of exchanges between police and Skare, White said he was no less convinced now that there was no sexual intent in the video, saying that if the case depended upon intent of that kind, it would have ended at the preliminary hearing in 2015. I dont think it was sexual exploitation of a child filming it, said White. But those things dont go away. And it is a lesson that all of us should take away that we ought to be careful before we start charging things. White emphasized the power held by the court in criminal charges, and I dont think that prudence was used in charging this case. That doesnt mean that at the time of the preliminary hearing there was not a reason for bind-over to begin with. I understand what he was trying to do, White said of Skare. But there are certain things that adults shouldnt do unless they are actually trained in that area. This is not the first case this court has presided over where it has turned into going form an extraordinarily serious charge, to pretty much, the least of charges you can get, said White. This charge remains on CCAP (Wisconsin Circuit Court Access) and hopefully some of the statements here today and the fact that the case is being dismissed will rectify that. While the charge of child exploitation was dismissed, Skare entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. I'm not an economist, so I need someone to explain things to me. If our state is predicting a shortfall of income this year, why are we proposing to cut our taxes ("Cut offers few benefits," Feb. 5)? Aren't graduated income taxes the fairest tax for everyone in our society? If the trickle-down system creates jobs, why are the poverty rates remaining stagnant while the rich people live in guaranteed luxury? If an education is generally agreed to be one of the best ways for people to make a good living, why are we proposing to make massive cuts to the budget for the University, resulting in tuition increases for our children ("Bounds: Vertical cuts needed," Jan. 28)? Don't we want to attract out-of-state students because they pay a greater rate of tuition? If we want people to stop relying on the generosity of others to feed their children, why don't we pay them more than minimum wages for their work? If good health leads to greater productivity, why don't we make sure that everyone has health care? If we want to stop worrying about whether we will be the victim of crime, why don't we make sure that everyone has a good job? Can't we invest in projects that benefit us all and put people to work, like sturdy bridges, smooth streets and energy-efficient buildings? I hear conflicting so-called facts on whether Nebraska has higher taxes than surrounding states. I don't know what is true. Maybe Nebraskans get what they pay for? When a company is searching for a place to plant their new business, don't they look for a place where there is a mix of good schools, a reasonable style of living, good public transportation, and a responsive government that spends its money wisely? Do the people we elect to public office think of these questions when they pass laws and make policies? Marge Schlitt, Lincoln Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides newborn, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology, and other pediatric subspecialty care services in the United States and Puerto Rico. It offers neonatal care services, such as clinical care to babies born prematurely or with complications within specific units at hospitals through neonatal physician subspecialists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and other pediatric clinicians. The company also provides maternal-fetal care services, including inpatient and office-based clinical care to expectant mothers and unborn babies through affiliated maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists, as well as obstetricians and other clinicians, including maternal-fetal nurse practitioners, certified nurse mid-wives, ultrasonographers, and genetic counselors. In addition, it offers pediatric cardiology care services comprising inpatient and office-based pediatric cardiology care of the fetus, infant, child, and adolescent patient with congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease, as well as adults with congenital heart defects through affiliated pediatric cardiologist subspecialists and other related clinical professionals; and specialized cardiac care to the fetus, neonatal and pediatric patients. Further, the company provides other pediatric subspecialty care services through pediatric subspecialists, such as pediatric intensivists, pediatric hospitalists, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric ophthalmologists, as well as pediatric ear, nose, and throat physicians; and support services in the areas of hospitals, primarily in the pediatric emergency rooms, labor and delivery areas, and nursery and pediatric departments. As of February 17, 2022, it operated a network of approximately 2,700 physicians. The company was formerly known as MEDNAX, Inc. and changed its name to Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. in July 2022. Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Sunrise, Florida. Apparently, Governor Dave Heineman left some TransCanada Kool-Aid in the pitcher for his Successor, Mr. Pete Ricketts and, obviously, Pete has taken a good long drink. After Donald Trump signed executive actions to revive the Keystone XL pipeline, Gov. Ricketts said the Keystone XL will provide good paying jobs for Nebraska workers and bring property tax relief to counties along the route ("Trump to restart pipeline projects," Jan. 25) There is not enough space in this forum to adequately debate the jobs issue. The projected number of jobs, temporary and permanent, depends entirely on from which side of the pipeline issue the projection comes. However, there are some undeniable facts about the prospect of property tax relief. Only a county along the Keystone XL that is "lucky" enough to have a pumping station would receive what most people consider property tax, that is, tax on land or real estate. Pumping stations would be on 5 to 10 acres of land that TransCanda woul actually own while the pipeline itself would be laid in ground that still belongs to the landowner who has been paid an easement. The landowner is paying the tax on the land, not TransCanada. The tax that would be paid on the pipe in the ground and other parts of the pipeline would be personal property tax and this is eligible for annual depreciation. The depreciation timeline for pipelines in Nebraska is 15 years. In a country that has no land owned by TransCanada, after 15 years, there will be no taxes paid to the country by the pipeline owner. The promise of an annual windfall of tax revenue to countries along the pipeline rote is, plainly, a deception. Tell us, Pete, how does this situation possibly equal property tax relief? It must be the Kool-Aid. Kevin Graves, Bradshaw The following companies are subsidiares of D.R. Horton: 10700 Pecan Park Austin Inc., 11241 Slater Avenue NE LLC, 2 C Development Company LLC, 8800 Roswell Road Bldg. B LLC, 91st Avenue & Happy Valley L.L.C., ANN & 215 LLC, Austin Data Inc., BP456 Inc., C. Richard Dobson Builders Inc., CH Funding LLC, CH Investments of Texas Inc., CHI Construction Company, CHM Partners L.P., CHTEX of Texas Inc., CV Mountain View 25 Inv LLC, Cane Island LLC, Continental Homes Inc., Continental Homes of Texas L.P., Continental Residential Inc., Continental Traditions LLC, Crown Operating Company Inc., Cypress Road L.P., D.R. Horton - CHAustin LLC, D.R. Horton - Colorado LLC, D.R. Horton - Crown LLC, D.R. Horton - Emerald Ltd., D.R. Horton - Georgia LLC, D.R. Horton - Hawaii LLC, D.R. Horton - Highland LLC, D.R. Horton - Indiana LLC, D.R. Horton - Iowa LLC, D.R. Horton - MV LLC, D.R. Horton - Nebraska LLC, D.R. Horton - Permian LLC, D.R. Horton - Regent LLC, D.R. Horton - Terramor LLC, D.R. Horton - Texas Ltd., D.R. Horton - WPH LLC, D.R. Horton - Wyoming LLC, D.R. Horton BAY Inc., D.R. Horton CA2 Inc., D.R. Horton CA3 Inc., D.R. Horton CA4 LLC, D.R. Horton Commercial Inc., D.R. Horton Cruces Construction Inc., D.R. Horton Inc. - Birmingham, D.R. Horton Inc. - Chicago, D.R. Horton Inc. - Denver, D.R. Horton Inc. - Dietz-Crane, D.R. Horton Inc. - Greensboro, D.R. Horton Inc. - Gulf Coast, D.R. Horton Inc. - Huntsville, D.R. Horton Inc. - Jacksonville, D.R. Horton Inc. - Louisville, D.R. Horton Inc. - Midwest, D.R. Horton Inc. - Minnesota, D.R. Horton Inc. - NNV, D.R. Horton Inc. - New Jersey, D.R. Horton Inc. - Portland, D.R. Horton Inc. - Torrey, D.R. Horton Inc. Foundation, D.R. Horton Insurance Agency Inc., D.R. Horton LA North Inc., D.R. Horton Life Insurance Agency Inc., D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company Inc., D.R. Horton Management Company Ltd., D.R. Horton Materials Inc., D.R. Horton Realty LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Atlantic County LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Central Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Delaware LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Georgia Inc., D.R. Horton Realty of Melbourne LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Northwest Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Southeast Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Southwest Florida LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Tampa LLC, D.R. Horton Realty of Virginia LLC, D.R. Horton Seabridge Marina Inc., D.R. Horton Serenity Construction LLC, D.R. Horton Urban Renewal LLC, D.R. Horton VEN Inc., D.R. Horton Corpus Christi LLC, DBC54 LLC, DHI Commercial - Lakeview LLC, DHI Commercial - Signal Butte LLC, DHI Commercial - Tamarron LLC, DHI Commercial Inc., DHI Communities Construction LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Arizona LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Colorado LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Florida LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Iowa LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Nevada LLC, DHI Communities Construction of North Carolina LLC, DHI Communities Construction of South Carolina LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Texas LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Utah LLC, DHI Communities Construction of Virginia LLC, DHI Communities II LLC, DHI Communities Inc., DHI Engineering LLC, DHI Insurance Inc., DHI Mortgage Company, DHI Mortgage Company GP Inc., DHI Mortgage Company LP Inc., DHI Mortgage Company Ltd., DHI Ranch Ltd., DHI Realty of Alabama LLC, DHI Realty of Mississippi LLC, DHI Title GP Inc., DHI Title LP Inc., DHI Title of Alabama Inc., DHI Title of Arizona Inc., DHI Title of Florida Inc., DHI Title of Minnesota Inc., DHI Title of Nevada Inc., DHI Title of Texas Ltd., DHI Title of Washington Inc., DHI Verandah South Shores Communities LLC, DHIC - Bridges LLC, DHIC - Brittmore LLC, DHIC - Carolina Forest LLC, DHIC - Desert Peak LLC, DHIC - Durbin Creek LLC, DHIC - Freestone LLC, DHIC - Hammock Landing LLC, DHIC - Heritage LLC, DHIC - Horizon Uptown LLC, DHIC - Jacobs Reserve LLC, DHIC - Lakeview LLC, DHIC - Lipoma LLC, DHIC - Minton Cove LLC, DHIC - Mountain Vista LLC, DHIC - Naco LLC, DHIC - Northshore LLC, DHIC - Prairie Village LLC, DHIC - South Creek LLC, DHIC - Tamarron LLC, DHIC - Valley Vista LLC, DHIC - Varina Gateway LLC, DHIC - Waterleigh II LLC, DHIC - Waterleigh III LLC, DHIC - Waterleigh LLC, DHIC - Westridge LLC, DHIC LLC, DHIC Glendale LLC, DHIC Grove West LLC, DHIC South Park LLC, DHIC Westinghouse LLC, DHIR - Aspen Vista LLC, DHIR - Avian Pointe LLC, DHIR - Emerald Lakes LLC, DHIR - Fosters Ridge LLC, DHIR - Gulf Stream LLC, DHIR - Parkview at Lynn Haven LLC, DHIR - Poplar Terrace LLC, DHIR - Properties I LLC, DHIR - Rock Ridge LLC, DHIR - Sunset Village LLC, DHIR - Village at Hickory Street LLC, DRH - ARK LLC, DRH - ASG LLC, DRH - HWY 114 LLC, DRH Cambridge Homes LLC, DRH Capital Trust I, DRH Capital Trust II, DRH Capital Trust III, DRH Colorado Realty Inc., DRH Construction Inc., DRH Energy Inc., DRH FS Mortgage Reinsurance Ltd., DRH Land Opportunities I Inc., DRH Land Opportunities II Inc., DRH Mountain View LLC, DRH Oil & Gas Inc., DRH Opportunities I Inc., DRH Properties Inc., DRH Realty Company Inc., DRH Realty of Iowa LLC, DRH Regrem L LLC, DRH Regrem LI LLC, DRH Regrem LII LLC, DRH Regrem LIII LLC, DRH Regrem LIV LLC, DRH Regrem LV LLC, DRH Regrem VII LP, DRH Regrem XII LP, DRH Regrem XIV Inc., DRH Regrem XIX Inc., DRH Regrem XLIX LLC, DRH Regrem XLV LLC, DRH Regrem XLVI LLC, DRH Regrem XLVII LLC, DRH Regrem XLVIII LLC, DRH Regrem XV Inc., DRH Regrem XVI Inc., DRH Regrem XVII Inc., DRH Regrem XVIII Inc., DRH Regrem XX Inc., DRH Regrem XXI Inc., DRH Regrem XXII Inc., DRH Regrem XXIII Inc., DRH Regrem XXIV Inc., DRH Regrem XXV Inc., DRH Southwest Construction Inc., DRH Tucson Construction Inc., DRHI Inc., Deer Valley Office Park LLC, Desert Ridge Phase I Partners, Emerald Creek No. 4 L.P., Emerald Realty of Alabama LLC, Emerald Realty of Central Florida LLC, Emerald Realty of North Florida LLC, Emerald Realty of Northwest Florida LLC, Emerald Realty of Southeast Florida LLC, Emerald Realty of Southwest Florida LLC, Encore II Inc., Encore Venture Partners II (California) L.P., Encore Venture Partners II (Texas) L.P., Encore Venture Partners L.P., Express Realty of Central Florida LLC, Express Realty of North Florida LLC, Express Realty of Northwest Florida LLC, Express Realty of Southeast Florida LLC, Express Realty of Southwest Florida LLC, Forestar Group, Forestar Group Inc., Founders Oil & Gas II LLC, Founders Oil & Gas III LLC, Founders Oil & Gas IV LLC, Founders Oil & Gas LLC, Founders Oil & Gas Operating LLC, GP-Encore Inc., Georgetown Data Inc., Germann & McQueen L.L.C., Grand Title Agency LLC, Grande Realty Incorporated, Grande Realty of Pennsylvania LLC, Greywes LLC, HPH Homebuilders 2000 L.P., Hadian LLC, KDB Homes Inc., Kaomalo LLC, Lexington Homes - 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Read More Domtar Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Pulp and Paper, and Personal Care. The company provides business papers, including copy and electronic imaging papers used in inkjet and laser printers, photocopiers, and plain-paper fax machines, as well as computer papers, preprinted forms, and digital papers for office and home use. It also offers commercial printing and publishing papers, such as offset papers and opaques used in sheet and roll fed offset presses; publishing papers, which include tradebook and lightweight uncoated papers for publishing textbooks, dictionaries, catalogs, magazines, hard cover novels, and financial documents; and converting papers for envelopes, tablets, business forms, and data processing/computer forms. In addition, the company provides papers for thermal printing, flexible packaging, food packaging, medical packaging, medical gowns and drapes, sandpaper backing, carbonless printing, labels and other coating, and laminating applications; and papers for industrial and specialty applications, such as carrier papers, treated papers, security papers, and specialized printing and converting applications. Further, it offers absorbent hygiene products, including absorbent briefs, protective underwear, underpads, pads, washcloths, and body patches under the Attends, Indasec, IndasSlip, and Reassure brands; and baby diapers, training and youth pants, and bed mats under the Comfees, Chelino, Nene, and Bambino brand names. The company serves merchants, retail outlets, stationers, printers, publishers, converters, and end-users. Domtar Corporation was founded in 1848 and is based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. As of November 30, 2021, Domtar Corporation operates as a subsidiary of Karta Halten B.V. Ben Sasse opposed Donald Trump's nomination as the Republican candidate for president. It was courageous and may have cost him his political career. He thought Trump was not qualified to be the next U.S. president. Since Sen. Sasse made that decision, other information has emerged. Sasse could help save American from chaos and a possible dictatorship by regularly correcting and confronting Trump and his administration and offering alternative actions to Trump's many actions. Trump will tell lies, falsehoods and ignore the truth. He makes outrageous claims, revealing a lack of internal controls in himself. Trump ignores international treaties and laws, including the Constitution, which could eventually lead to chaos. Trump lacks stable, dependable positions on issues. He increases hatred and anger and tears down and ridicules people he disagrees with. Trump wants to expand the military in areas not needed, threatening bankruptcy. His emphasis is likely to place nuclear weapons in places to control the world, which invites an arms race. Trump denigrates women and those who look and think differently from him. He doesn't honor dignity in people. I would thank Ben Sasse for his help. Don Tilley, Lincoln China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page OMAHA -- The rice and chicken were steaming on the stove. The twins chased each other around the apartment and the 2-year-old watched Mickey Mouse on the donated television. Their mother, Fatema Aljasem, 29, sat at the kitchen table with two women from the local synagogue. Since the Syrian was granted asylum in September, the women had been helping her learn English. She pulled at her hijab and pointed at the words, mouthing ways of conjugating the verb "to go." "Shadi goes to school. Ahmad goes to work." The one that seemed especially challenging these days, though, was the verb "to be." How to be calm in the daily chaos of motherhood. How to be comfortable in this new place where the president had just banned refugees like her. How to be an American. Here in deeply conservative Nebraska, President Donald Trump's executive order banning refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim nations elicited complicated feelings about the state's relationship with refugees. Many Nebraskans had supported attempts to keep the country safe but still wanted to show their heart for people fleeing terrorism and war. Their state has taken in more refugees per capita than any other. During the presidential campaign, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., became a prime critic of Trump in large part because of his plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States. When Trump signed the executive order, Sasse criticized it as "too broad." On Sunday, Sasse criticized Trump again, this time for tweeting about the "so-called judge" who halted the order late Friday. Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who has supported a ban on Syrians from the moment Trump first pitched it, has also talked about welcoming refugees already here as a source of statewide pride. Aljasem, who moved with her husband, Ahmad, 30, and their five children, said she felt grateful to arrive before Trump's ban. She felt guilt for those who hadn't. "I tried to call my parents and I didn't hear from them," said Aljasem, whose wide eyes began to water when she spoke. "I don't know where they are. They could be dead." She did get in contact with her sister, who was living in a refugee camp in Jordan. They shared dreams of reuniting, but now her sister wanted to know: Is the United States a good place to be? Aljasem remembered pausing at the question. Then she told her sister about how the children have been making friends at school. She said she never saw anyone sneer at her headscarf or look at her in a "racist way." She had Jewish friends who helped drive her family to doctor's appointments and who were teaching her English. Her husband quickly found a job at a shampoo factory. "The country is good," she recalled telling her. "It's really good. It's still good." After she hung up, though, she confessed that she was worried about whether it would stay that way. "Now I am concerned about how they will treat me if they agree with the president, if they will treat me in a racist way," she said. "I worry this ban will change how I feel inside, that it will cause me to worry more for me and my kids. We did not come here to cause trouble. We just want to live." During the past two years, more than half of the 1,531 refugees resettled by Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska left the nations affected by the ban. More than 60 families -- 164 men, women and children -- came from Syria. Nebraska has long been a draw for refugees. Unemployment is low, rent is affordable, and manufacturing and service jobs are plentiful, according to Lacey Studnicka, a program development officer at Lutheran Family Services. Not that Omaha has been immune to the uptick in bias incidents seen across the country, according to reports from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Someone recently left raw bacon -- those who practice Islam do not consume pork products -- on the front door of a mosque, according to local news reports. It was the fourth time since August that the mosque had been targeted. Studnicka sees those incidents as isolated. "For every negative phone call we get, we get 10 nice ones," she said. A few blocks away from Aljasem, John Dutcher, a 61-year-old house cleaner, lives in a complex of low-rise apartments in a neighborhood where American flags flapped on porches. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Dutcher said he was "one of those guys who would want to put a pig's head on a mosque. I never acted on it, but I played it in my head." "I hated Muslims," he said. For years, Dutcher's neighbors were meth addicts and rowdy alcoholics. Slobs. In June, a Syrian family who spoke no English moved in. Another family moved in after that, then another. Now there are six. Soon enough, Dutcher said, empty bottles in the hallway were replaced with children's bicycles. The loud arguments of a drug-addicted couple were replaced by the sounds of children's laughter. "The Muslims here were all about family and they just loved everyone," Dutcher said. "I remember the people who lived here before; they took for granted everything this country gave them. These people, they really changed my heart." Through interpreters, he learned about the families' stories of loss and fleeing war. It softened his stance on Islam and led him to question some of what Trump was saying. Around refugees, he never felt safer. "I used to be afraid when the meth addicts were here," he said. "Now I don't even look to see who's knocking on my door. I know it will be someone with a plate of food or a kid asking me to fix his bike." Dutcher said he continues to support Trump's views on strong borders and curbing illegal immigration, but said his experience taught him that "refugees were a different thing entirely." "I like him, but I don't like the way he's carried out this ban," Dutcher said. "I didn't think he'd make a blunder so fast." Since the entry ban, Studnicka said, refugee advocacy organizations are seeing a surge in interest. Typically her organization gets five calls a week about volunteering. In the first five days after Trump's order, it received 120. Calls came from congregations such as Beth El Synagogue, whose members were helping the Aljasems get accustomed to their new country, and individuals such as John Detisch and Hillary Nather-Detisch, who were so moved by the crisis in Syria that they resolved to do what they could. The couple agreed to sponsor the sister of Diaa Sarsaf, 32, who was originally from Damascus. Sarsaf said it took about 20 months for authorities to complete background checks and grant him asylum. His sister, whose name is being withheld for her protection, was supposed to arrive last week. The Detisch family bought her furniture, plus 40 pounds of rice and 20 pounds of flour to help stock her kitchen. Then Trump's order came. Then a court ruling that the order should not be enforced. Now, no one is sure whether Sarsaf's sister will reach the United States. "Our girls got them Legos and coloring books," Nather-Detisch said. "We were ready to help, and we were so disappointed that we couldn't." "I am so sorry that you had to go through this," Sarsaf said through an interpreter as he sat at their dinner table. Nather-Detisch's eyes reddened when she heard his apology. Here was Sarsaf trying to reassure them -- and himself -- that things would be OK because he heard that the Trump administration might build a "safe zone" in Syria. "At least she will be able to go there, she will be safe," Sarsaf said. "We just want safety. I don't have any choice than to trust the president." The next night, the Aljasems climbed out of a car in a parking lot downtown. Five-year-old Fadi ran into the arms of a man he recognized from the synagogue. "Are you ready to protest?" Allan Murrow asked the child. Fatema Aljasem could hardly believe her good fortune. She had never before known anyone Jewish, and these Jews were so friendly that her kids would laugh and play with them and hold hands as they walked to a park. The Syrian city of Aleppo had been so dangerous that she delivered her twins in her own home, too afraid to go to the hospital. Two months later, she wrapped them tight and carried them on her shoulders as she walked through the desert at night to reach a Jordanian refugee camp. There were no bombs there, but there were no teachers for her children, either. Now her kids learn the alphabet at school, and she had an English teacher herself. For so long she had been running away. Now, she was stepping out. More than 1,000 people had gathered in Turner Park, a small plot braced by snazzy new high-rises. Someone handed Fadi a "Love Trumps Hate" sign as they walked to the front of the crowd. They shivered and clutched candles close to their chests. Ruth Henrichs, the chief executive of Lutheran Family Services, would later say that she didn't want the night to be a protest but a vigil. In a red state such as Nebraska, she said, "yelling and calling people names would not help the issue." So she gathered members of the clergy, people of all faiths, to envision a more compassionate country. "It might seem that there's darkness in our nation," a speaker on the stage said, "But look around. We have hope! We have light." Murrow tapped Aljasem on the shoulder. "Turn around," he said, encouraging her to look at the crowd. "All for you." She could barely understand most of the speeches. She smiled and cheered and pumped her fists when she heard the words she knew: "Refugee." "Immigrant." "Community." "Friend." A man with an acoustic guitar took to the stage and asked the audience to sing along. "This land is my land, this land is your land ... this land was made for you and me." The chorus began to swell. Aljasem looked at her husband and smiled, and together they tried to sing along. Coordinated approach needed for nuclear programs 08 February 2017 Share Forward-planning is essential for countries wishing to introduce or expand nuclear power programs, participants at an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting heard last week. Ensuring effective coordination among all organisations involved is important, they agreed. The IAEA held its annual Technical Meeting on Topical Issues in Infrastructure Development in Vienna between 31 January and 3 February. It was attended by almost 80 participants, predominantly from countries interested in expanding their nuclear power programs or introducing nuclear power to their national energy mix. The participants discussed the challenges in prioritizing and sequencing the necessary activities and focused on the IAEA Milestone Approach. This, the IAEA said, "provides an internationally accepted method to implement nuclear power programs." The meeting found that countries both embarking on and expanding their programs face similar challenges, requiring a "systematic process for safely building new reactors". Establishing a nuclear energy program implementing organisation at an early stage is vital in order to coordinate the work of all players involved in nuclear power infrastructure development, participants agreed. Such an organisation, they said, can help prepare decision makers in a country to make an informed decision regarding nuclear power and to coordinate infrastructure development efforts among various implementing organisations. The head of the IAEA's nuclear infrastructure development section, Milko Kovachev, said: "Embarking on a nuclear power program is a major undertaking requiring long-term commitment and dedicated effort. As this meeting discussed, governments must create an enabling environment for the introduction of nuclear power, and regulatory bodies and operating organisations must be competent to oversee and manage project activities for a nuclear power program to be successful." The IAEA encourages countries looking at nuclear power to develop program roadmaps, including the consideration phase. These roadmaps, it says, would include national schedules and timelines for developing the required infrastructure. The IAEA provides feedback on such documents, as well as offering Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions to member states to carry out in-depth evaluations of their nuclear power program infrastructure and decision-making. Jamal Ibrahim, director of nuclear power program development at Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation, said: "For Malaysia, as a newcomer country to a nuclear power program, the INIR mission was a crucial step in moving forward with the establishment of an appropriate national nuclear infrastructure. We received impartial feedback from an international team of experts, which strengthened our confidence and enabled knowledgeable decision-making." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Viewpoint: Brexit white paper confuses Euratom debate 08 February 2017 Share The 2008 EU Amendment Act is not a justifiable legal basis for the UK government's belief that Brexit must also mean an exit from Euratom, write Jonathan Leech and Rupert Cowen. The government's white paper on the UK's "exit from and new partnership with" the European Union published last week confirms its position that "When we invoke Article 50, we will be leaving Euratom as well as the EU". In support of this, the document asserts that the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 "makes clear that, in UK law, references to the EU include Euratom". This is presumably an assertion that references to the EU in the Referendum Act, the referendum question and the withdrawal bill automatically include Euratom - something both the Leave and Remain campaigns omitted to mention. The 2008 EU Amendment Act tells us that "A reference to the EU in an Act or an instrument made under an Act includes ... a reference to [Euratom]". The white paper overlooks the point that the 2008 Act does not apply to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union - which is of course neither an Act nor an instrument made under an Act. This is significant, because there is a good legal argument that triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union will have no legal effect on the UK's membership of Euratom, and that to exit Euratom the government will need to trigger equivalent exit provisions in the Euratom Treaty. This would mean, absent that separate trigger, legally the UK remains in Euratom. The white paper also states that "The Euratom Treaty imports Article 50 into its provisions". This is correct - to a point. The Euratom Treaty applies a version of Article 50, re-written to refer to Euratom and the Euratom Treaty in place of references to the EU. Again, this supports existence of a separate Euratom exit process that is similar to but is not part of a single EU Article 50 process. This is an important distinction. It gives the government a choice, at least in relation to its approach to the timing of Euratom exit - a choice that it would be unwise to ignore. The legal meaning of the withdrawal bill is also critical. The bill is the government's response to Supreme Court confirmation that parliamentary authority is required before Article 50 can be triggered. It is highly likely that the government also needs parliamentary authority to trigger exit from Euratom. Clause 1 is very specific. "The Prime Minister may notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union ..." There is nothing in the 2008 Act to suggest that reference to the Treaty on European Union automatically includes reference to the Euratom Treaty. Arguably the bill as drafted does not therefore give authority to trigger exit under the Euratom Treaty. It would have been preferable to include separate authority for Euratom exit, both to avoid this element of doubt and to provide a clear basis for the government to take additional time before triggering Euratom exit should the government conclude that this is in the national interest. In addition to securing parliamentary approval for a Euratom exit, the government will need to be confident that, once triggered, the two-year Euratom exit timetable is sufficient to put in place replacement arrangements to avoid a damaging hiatus for the UK nuclear industry. This is likely to require a good deal of preparatory work before starting the two-year countdown. Since the UK accession to Euratom in 1973, the regulation and international acceptability of the UK nuclear industry have been closely entwined with Euratom. The Euratom Treaty sets out eight areas of activity: promotion of research, establishing and policing uniform safety standards, facilitating investment, ensuring a regular supply of ores and fuels (via the Euratom Supply Agency), applying safeguards, exercising rights of ownership over 'special fissile materials', creation of a nuclear common market and establishing relations with other countries and international organisation to foster progress in nuclear energy. Of these areas, safeguards and international relations are likely to place the greatest strain on the exit timetable. Withdrawal also creates vast uncertainty for the future of UK fusion research. Safeguards are essential to international nuclear commerce - verifying for an international audience that nuclear material is where it should be and is used only for its intended purpose. International safeguards are administered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which requires that non-nuclear-weapon states accept comprehensive safeguards on all nuclear material. Similar arrangements are in place to safeguard civil nuclear material in nuclear weapon states (including the UK). Currently the UK satisfies its safeguarding obligations via Euratom, with Euratom inspectors carrying out inspections of UK plant and inventories and submitting reports to the IAEA. Nuclear trade between the UK and other Euratom members relies on common Euratom safeguarding arrangements. Nuclear trade between the UK and other countries relies on either Euratom nuclear cooperation agreements, or bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements predicated on UK continued participation in Euratom safeguards. Of the circa 50 bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements the UK has entered into since 1956 (when the European Atomic Energy Community came into being), over 30 specifically recite and rely upon UK participation in Euratom safeguards. Without demonstrably adequate safeguards key countries will simply cease trade with the UK in nuclear materials, technology and know-how. For example, absence of a Section 123 Agreement with the USA would prevent supply of key components for both the planned Hitachi-GE ABWR and Westinghouse AP1000 reactors. Absence of a nuclear cooperation agreement with Australia would cut off a key source of uranium imports. Perhaps more crucial would be maintaining supplies of medical isotopes. If the government continues to assert that Euratom and EU exit timetables must align then it will have two years to: design, resource and implement new UK safeguarding arrangements in line with accepted international standards; replace current safeguarding commitments under the NPT (which are also predicated on Euratom membership); identify and plan negotiation of replacement nuclear cooperation agreements with every country with which the UK has ongoing nuclear trade; and ensure it has the resources to conduct all of those negotiations, and be confident that those negotiations will be concluded successfully before Euratom exit takes effect. Disentanglement from the Euratom Supply Agency and Euratom ownership arrangement for special fissile materials (including enriched uranium and plutonium) should, hopefully, prove to be predominantly an administrative task, provided that the UK can satisfy continuing Euratom members as to its safeguarding arrangements. Turning to fusion research, the UK based Joint European Torus experimental fusion facility is dependent on Euratom funding. If the facility is to continue, the UK government will need to negotiate a new basis for UK involvement in the project and new funding arrangements, whether as a "third country", "associated country" or on some other basis. Exiting Euratom also calls into question UK involvement in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, in the initial stages of construction in France. In both cases, in addition to protecting UK involvement in ongoing research, UK interests in intellectual property used or created in those projects will require careful consideration if the UK is not to be disadvantaged in future exploitation of fusion technology. Jonathan Leech and Rupert Cowen Comments? Please send them to editor@world-nuclear-news.org Jonathan Leech and Rupert Cowen are senior nuclear, energy and commercial lawyers at energy and infrastructure firm Prospect Law. Jonathan Leech was a partner in Dentons' energy practice before joining Prospect Law's Projects, Energy and Natural Resources team. Prior to joining Prospect Law, Rupert Cowen was a partner at Hammonds and then Dentons' London energy and infrastructure practices. Related topics The Terrors Of Climate Change Climate Change has already had some adverse effects on the environment from extended drought seasons to increased temperatures in the oceans. In recent years, scientists have embarked on research to assess the effects of climate change on El Nino. The phenomenon is associated with wild environmental conditions such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes and some research have suggested that such conditions will get intense in the context of climate change. El Nino is Spanish word for little boy." What Is The El Nino Phenomenon? The El Nino climate system disrupts normal weather patterns and brings wild weather to various parts of the world. The event refers to the period when the Equatorial Pacific records unusually warm ocean temperatures. It occurs in a cycle called the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) together with La Nina, its opposite. The phenomenon is marked by the eastern Pacific having low air pressure while high air pressure is experienced in the western Pacific. The system occurs in a 2-7 year cycle. El Nino is characterized by the weakening of trade winds in the western and eastern Pacific, the warming up of surface water temperatures on the South American coast, and an eastward shift of clouds and rainstorms. Wild Weather Associated With El Nino El Nino brings about changes in regular weather patterns across the world. The primary effects of the phenomenon are precipitation and temperature changes, variations in the intensity and track of storms, as well as the disruption of ocean currents. The system leads to some negative consequences such as reduced fish populations which frustrate fishing communities such as those in Ecuador and Peru. The fish species migrate north and south in pursuit of cold water. El Nino causes drought spells in regions including Southern Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Drought, in turn, causes fires, low agricultural production, and starvation. Other areas, such as the US and Chile experience increased rainfall which leads to floods and associated destruction. The changing climatic conditions can also facilitate the spread of plagues and diseases. The phenomenon has been blamed, in part, for the recent (2015-2016) Zika virus outbreak in South America. The warmer than usual conditions are conducive for the mosquitoes spreading the virus. Increased snake bites are also reported during an El Nino. The consequences of El Nino affect the economic, political, social, and health landscapes of many countries. Super El Ninos El Ninos are never similar, and no particular ocean and atmosphere patterns can be identified as the standard for the phenomenon. Three unusually intense El Ninos have notably gone down in history. The first one occurred between 1982 and 1983, and it was marked by the reversion of trade winds. This El Nino was blamed for disasters ranging from droughts, storms, bushfires, to floods in almost every continent. The second super El Nino happened from 1997 to 1998 and scientists have also called the 2015 to 2016 one as a super El Nino. Climate Change The concept of climate change has become popular across the world in recent years. The term means changes in normal climatic conditions. In the past, climate conditions such as rainfall, seasons, and temperatures, were predictable and informed activities including agriculture. This situation is no longer the case as climate is becoming more and more unpredictable. Climate change is used interchangeably with global warming to refer to the increasing surface temperatures on Earth. Human beings have been identified as the main contributors to this change. The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses including carbon dioxide to the air which in turn trap heat in the atmosphere. Deforestation has also been identified as a major factor leading to global warming. Rising sea level, melting ice caps, intense heat waves, and an overall increase in global temperatures are some of the adverse effects of climate change. Reasons Of A Potential Connection Between El Nino And Climate Change Scientists have identified distinct shifts in the behavior of El Ninos since the mid-1970s. First is the tendency for more frequent and intense El Ninos. The 1990-1995 El Nino, for example, was the longest recorded one in the current century. The past 50 years have been identified as relatively having more frequent El Ninos. The two extreme El Ninos of 1982-1983 and 1997-1998 have also been singled out as notable events of the century. The Connection Between El Nino And Climate Change El Nino is naturally occurring, and scientists are divided on the effects of climate change on the phenomenon. The causes of El Nino are yet to be clearly identified, and ocean temperatures are monitored to forecast the event. Climatologists have developed some models to determine the link between climate change and El Ninos, most of which have predicted a high likelihood of El Ninos turning into super El Ninos. A study undertaken in 2014 predicts that Super El Ninos may double in future in the context of climate change. The study was carried out by the use of 20 climatic models, and it concluded that super El Ninos might, instead of taking place every 20 years, may occur after ten years. The studys findings have however attracted skepticism from some scientists. Although the event has been happening for thousands of years, it was only a few decades ago that observational evidence began to be recorded. Thus, although scientists know there are lots of variations in El Ninos over a long stretched period of time, more data is needed to predict El Nino changes. One aspect that scientists agree on is that the ocean has been absorbing increased heat since the industrial era began on Earth. As to how the ocean heat content will affect El Nino, no study has been conclusive. Some climate models suggest that the ENSO cycle will weaken, while others say it will be more intense, and still others say there will be little effect. Another school of scientists has suggested that El Nino will definitely be modified since it is operating on unchartered territory, i.e., that of climate change. Whereas the phenomenon is naturally occurring, climate change is human induced, and these two events have the potential to interact in ways never seen before. Salt is an element that occurs naturally in the water and soils. Salinity in soil can be caused by two natural processes which include the gradual withdrawal of ocean water leaving behind salts and the weathering of minerals. Soil salinity also occurs due to human-made process such as irrigation making it one of the principal causes of soil degradation in Australia. Salinity has been destroying the productivity of arable land in Australia for decades leaving huge masses of land affected. The Problem Of Soil Salinity Salinity has become a major concern to many nations that are prone to high soil salinity especially Australia. Soil salinity together with dryland salinity are the two primary threats experienced in many parts of Australian. The areas that are most prone to degrade due to salinity in Australia are the Eastern and Western Mallee located in Western Australia. The neighboring lands to Dumbleyung Lake and East Lake Bryde have also been damaged due to salinity. Areas of Australia that have been affected by salinity as a result of artificial processes include the Werrimull town due to land clearing and the Murray River valley due to irrigation. Causes Of Soil Salinity Naturally, the Australian soil contains salt components which have build up over an extended period of time. The salt present in the Australia soils may have accumulated due to the drying up of inland seas, the weathering of parent rocks and deposits of oceanic salt brought by prevailing winds. During precipitation, the accumulated salt will be absorbed to the subsoil where it is stored within the soil profile and continues to build up. Irrigation is another key player in the contribution of salinity together with the clearing of land which has significantly reduced the amount of native vegetation. Effects Of Soil Salinity High salinity causes dehydration and eventual death of plants since they are not able to take up water or nutrients. Salinity adversely affects food production in Australian and will finally impact negatively the economy. Salinity also effect infrastructure, for example, underground pipes, cables, roads, and buildings start to deteriorate due to oxidation and causing corrosion. Salinity also interferes with the quality of drinking and irrigation water leading to serious economic and environmental effects. At present, an estimated 5.7 million hectares of land is classified under high potential for salinization, and the numbers are projected to increase to 17 million hectares by the year 2050. Solutions To Soil Salinity The Australian government has taken the initiative to help manage the threat of salinity and its consequences. The governments approach is to tackle the salinity problem starting at the national to the regional and state levels then down to the local and individual levels. The Australian government has worked together with other organizations such as the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water and Caring for our Country, Natural Heritage Trust, National Soil Conservation Program and National Landcare Program since 1983 in the management of the salinity issue. Each of the organizations played different roles in different levels. Some of the current isolations include soil treatment, and the treatment for soil erosion, tree farming initiatives, community support through conservation projects and agreements, re-vegetation, training, monitoring programs and fencing among others. Regions with higher levels of salinity are encouraged to grow salt-tolerant plants which can thrive in severely saline soils. Email Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter Sign Up Free | The WPJ Weekly Newsletter Relevant real estate news. Actionable market intelligence. Right to your inbox every week. Go Thank you for your interest! You will now be receiving our Weekly Real Estate Newsletter. Real Estate Listings Showcase According to the editors at InternationalLiving.com, American retirees worried about living comfortably on a limited income should take heart, they've identified the five most affordable havens on the planet where expats can upgrade their lifestyle, but do it on a budget as low as $1,500 a month.Some recent studies on retirement show that most Americans are not adequately prepared for it: They haven't saved enough, they'll likely outlive their nest egg, and so they are instructed to work longer, spend less, and lower their expectations for their retirement lifestyle.International Living Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens commented, "Go to the right places overseas, and retirees can actually improve their quality of life while they spend less."The top 5 countries that come out on top in the "Cost of Living" category in this year's Index, providing the most affordable cost of living for retirees include:Vietnam has become a popular destination in Southeast Asia for both expats and tourists. In 1990, it was one of the poorest countries in the world; today, it is decidedly middle-class and on an upward trajectory. Upscale malls and trendy residential areas are sprouting up everywhere and there are now several internationally accredited hospitals."Vietnam remains an extraordinarily inexpensive place to live," says International Living's Vietnam correspondent Wendy Justice. "Modern, furnished, two-bedroom apartments can be found in lovely beach towns starting at around $350 to $400 per month, and for around $500 per month in major cities. Apartments often include cable TV, high-speed Internet, water, trash, and housekeeping in the rent. Good housekeepers are happy to earn just $2 or $3 per hour."Even in the most expensive cities--Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi--two people can live well for less than $1,500 per month," Justice reports, "If you're hoping to find an even lower cost of living than that, my advice is to head for the beaches. Three low-cost beach towns that won't break the bank are Nha Trang, Hoi An and Da Nang."During 2016 the Colombian peso averaged an exchange rate of 3,100 pesos to $1 USD, making it an extremely affordable place to live. The actual costs will vary depending on exact location, but a monthly budget of $1,500 to $2,000 will allow not just the necessities of life, but also some great amenities like regular maid and handyman services.Rental prices are low, too."In a medium-sized city such as Pereira, unfurnished three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment rentals are in the $400 to $600 range, says International Living's Colombia correspondent, Nancy Kiernan."In the upscale El Poblado neighborhood in the city of Medellin, where I live, rents can be in the $800 to $1,000 per month range. Even at that, the costs are significantly lower than in most major U.S. cities."Utilities (water, electricity, and gas) average $70 per month. High-speed, unlimited Internet, home phone and cable TV will be about $60 per month. Due to the temperate climate in much of the country, there is no need for central heating.Peru has long been a destination for tourists seeking outdoor adventures, spectacular scenery, and archaeological treasures. For expats looking for an inexpensive retirement location, it offers one of the most attractive costs of living in Latin America.From renting to eating out, Peru offers a high quality of life with a modest income. In Arequipa, hundreds of traditional picanterias offer three-course lunches for as little as $2, including a jug of purple chicha morada, the local drink of choice. A large three-bedroom apartment in the popular Yanahuara district of Arequipa can be found for $350 per month or less. For double that price, it is possible to find a totally furnished and outfitted modern condo."You really can live well on the cheap in Peru," says International Living editor Jason Holland. "Your cost of living will, of course, depend on your lifestyle. But many expats report spending about $1,500 a month, all in."Utilities are affordable, too. In Arequipa and Cusco, where air conditioning isn't needed, electricity will run $50 to $60 a month. Water is $10, and high-speed internet/cable TV about $70.Monthly expenses in Nicaragua average $1,200 to $1,500 a month. That includes a one-bedroom furnished apartment, food, electricity, water, Internet, and going-out money. Having a vehicle will add some extra expenses, but in Nicaragua's main cities, public transportation is cheap and constantly available.Food is inexpensive, and taxes are affordable. Examples of real estate taxes include $141 a year for a $132,000 house, on almost an acre of land with an ocean view. Unlike the U.S., Nicaragua does not tax income earned abroad"There is no comparison in the cost of living between the U.S. and Nicaragua," reports Bonnie Hayman, who moved from San Diego to the beach town of San Juan del Sur nine years ago. "Here, you can have a higher quality of life, no financial worries, a better house, more fun, and less stress for a fraction of the cost of back home. Nicaragua literally saved my financial life," she says.If there is one thing that expats in the Kingdom of Cambodia are most likely to agree on, it's that this country offers an affordable cost of living that is hard to compete with.Western-style apartments are available to rent from $300 a month in the capital of Phnom Penh, and go for as little as $200 a month in the beach town of Sihanoukville. Meals at quality local and international restaurants cost as little as $10 to $20 for two people. Cambodia also offers massive savings for those who require regular medications, with cities such as Phnom Penh having several professional pharmacy chains and specialists that provide brand name medications at less than 10% of the cost it would be in the U.S.Expats report living the high life in Cambodia on a low budget. "The cost of living here is so low that my bills total only around $1,200 a month, without having to budget," says expat Brett Dvoretz, who lives in Sihanoukville. Kelly Lynn South By: Mason White WorldWideWeirdNews.com (Scroll down for video) A mother of Kentucky, pleaded guilty to raping her son between the age of 4 and 7 years old. The woman was jailed for incest, sodomy and sexual abuse of a child, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said in a press release. Kelly Lynn South, 40, was sentenced by Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Olu Stevens after she took a plea agreement. South must also register as a sex offender for life. The Louisville Metro Police Departments Crimes Against Childrens Unit arrested South in October 2015, on charges of sexual abuse, sodomy and incest. Detectives said that the crimes were committed between September 2012 and September 2015. South now pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The receipt By: Emily Lewis WorldWideWeirdNews.com (Scroll down for video) A restaurant owner whose employees are mostly immigrants, decided to express his political views on customersa receipts. Mark Simmons, who is the owner of Kiwianaas restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, said that he employs people from around the world. Simmons is also an immigrant. He came from New Zealand to the United States, to make his dream a reality. Simmons, who became famous after he starred in Top Chef Chicago, in season 4, said that although all of his employees are from different parts of the world and they have different cultures, they are all treated as family. The restaurant that was opened in 2011, employs people from places including Russia, China, Guatemala, the Dominican republic and Puerto Rico. Simmons said that he decided to voice his opposition to President Donald Trumps ban of immigrants by adding the words aimmigrants make America great, they also cooked your food and served you todaya on customersa receipts. A customer posted a photo of the receipt to social media, where it went viral. Electric Blanket Warning After Elderly Man Hospitalised Following House Fire This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 8th, 2017 An elderly man has been taken to hospital following a fire at a property in Wrexham during the early hours of this morning. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to the fire on Windsor Drive, Wrexham at 2:18am. Two appliances from Wrexham attended the incident and the fire was under control by 2:57am. An elderly man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation following the incident. The fire is thought to have been caused by an electric blanket. A spokesperson for Welsh Ambulance Service said: We were called at about 2.30am to reports of a fire at an address on Windsor Drive, Wrexham. We sent a crew in an emergency ambulance and an elderly man was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital in a stable condition. Stuart Millington, Senior Fire Safety Manager at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: This gentleman was extremely fortunate to have escaped relatively unharmed although he was transferred to hospital for precautionary treatment. A multi-agency care provision and package has been provided to this gentleman and on this occasion it proved successful as the smoke alarm linked to a monitoring company enabled the fire and rescue service to be alerted. Its vital to be prepared should the worst happen. A working smoke alarm can give you the time you need to get out, stay out, and call 999. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by testing your alarm regularly and by planning and practising an escape route. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service have since released the following tips for electric blanket safety: Always follow manufacturers instructions for using your blanket. Store it flat or rolled and do not store other objects on top of it. Electric Blankets should be replaced every 10 years and tested every 2 years. Always check your blanket for scorch marks, water damage, mould or exposed wires. If you see any of these on your blanket do not use it, replace it. Never use a hot water bottle or drink fluids in bed when you have your electric blanket fitted to it. If you spill you drink or the water bottle leaks you will be mixing water and electricity. Do not fold electric blankets. Do not leave an electric blanket switched on all night, unless it is thermostatically controlled so it can be used all night. Electric blankets should carry the British Standard Kitemark and the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board (BEAB) symbol on them. Picture Google Maps Severn Trent Takeover Of Dee Valley Gets Green Light Unless Appeal By Friday This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 8th, 2017 Severn Trents offer to take over Dee Valley Water has been given the green light by the High Court. As we reported clever work-around was executed, where staff and customers had acquired shares to have their say on the potential takeover by Severn Trent at the shareholders meeting on 12th January. The question on if the newly acquired shares would be ruled as holding valid voting rights was decided in court, with the ruling meaning that Severn Trents bid is going ahead unless there is an appeal lodged by Friday. The ruling emerged this morning and reads At the Scheme Court Hearing, held today, following representations from interested parties, the Court sanctioned the Scheme to effect the Revised Severn Trent Acquisition. The Court has however adjourned to Friday 10 February 2017 pending any application to appeal. Accordingly the Scheme will not become effective prior to this date. Dee Valley will make a further announcement in due course. Reaction to this decision is filtering through from local representatives who have been in opposition to the takeover: Thoughts are with Dee Valley Water employees today. My support continues alongside @KenSkatesAM and @IanCLucas https://t.co/NsoUwTsopu Susan Elan Jones MP (@susanelanjones) February 8, 2017 Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: The workforce in Clwyd South are the reason the company is held in such high regard, particularly for its excellent customer service. Im bitterly disappointed for the loyal Dee Valley Water employees that their views have not been listened to. V. disappointed for Dee Valley Water employees. I'll continue to work with @susanelanjones & @IanCLucas to seek assurances about the future. https://t.co/PaO6V0Pb6q Ken Skates AM (@KenSkatesAM) February 8, 2017 Susan Elan Jones added: This is a real blow for the workforce at Rhostyllen, many of whom will now understandably be anxious about what happens next. I will continue to work with Ken and Ian Lucas MP to seek assurances from Severn Trent about what the future holds. Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymrus North Wales AM, said: The takeover of Dee Valley Water by Severn Trent is not good news for staff, local suppliers and the Welsh economy. Jobs will be lost and the local supply chain will suffer. Small shareholders have been disregarded by the judgement while big corporate shareholders will be laughing all the way to the bank due to todays ruling. Dee Valley provides a good service for customers and its water bills are lower than that of Severn Trent. In the wake of the judgement in London today, I am writing to Severn Trent to ask for assurances for both staff and customers. This takeover has raised many questions about the future of the water industry in Wales and I suspect the ripples will continue way beyond Dee Valley water. The campaign to ensure Welsh water services were run from Wales and for the best interests of people in Wales is one that will continue, whatever the verdict today. The workers at Dee Valley Water deserve better than this. More soon Successful 2016 Celebrated in Coleg Cambrias Annual Report This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 8th, 2017 Coleg Cambria marked a successful 2016 at the launch of their Annual Report Celebrating Excellence last week. Chair of the Governors, John Clutton, and Principal / Chief Executive, David Jones OBE welcomed members of the public, partners, employers, students, staff and local dignitaries to the launch which took place at the colleges Annual General Meeting held at the Deeside Sixth Form Centre. The 2016 Report highlights key achievements during a particularly successful and busy year for the college including its role in the launch of a 16.2M Skills for Employers and Employees project for North Wales, securing the learning and skills contract for HMP Berwyn in partnership with Novus and the publishing of the colleges Estyn Inspection report the best so far for any college in Wales. Notable student achievements mentioned include the best ever A Level results and the achievements of vocational learners at the annual WorldSkills UK show winning more medals than any other college in the UK with three golds, six silver, three bronze and two commendations. The Report also outlines a number of key estate developments in 2016 including the opening of the University Centre and the Sixth Form Centre at Deeside in partnership with Flintshire County Council. Also highlighted is the new development at Bersham Road, Wrexham, which is to benefit from a multi-million pound investment to create a new industry standard technology centre. The new build centre, due for completion in September 2017, will accomodate over 500 learners, with an additional 500+ learners accessing the refurbished facilities. David Jones OBE, Principal and Chief Executive congratulated and thanked learners, staff and governors at the college for their immense commitment and innovation. He said: We are delighted with our accomplishments and are grateful to students, staff, governors and partners for their hard work and dedication in a year that we have achieved the highest inspection grades of any college in Wales for our FE provision. Our overriding priority is to continue to deliver excellent teaching and learning, in order to stretch, challenge and inspire all learners to explore and achieve their full potential. This is essential as Cambrias role becomes ever more important for our communities and our economy. As always we appreciate the support and partnership of our stakeholders and are committed to a collaborative approach in all that we do. Approximately 1,000 people gathered in central Auckland on Tuesday to protest against the anti-immigrant bans imposed by US President Donald Trump on seven majority-Muslim countriesSyria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. Those in attendance included many young people, immigrants and former refugees. In the US and internationally millions of people have protested against Trumps attacks on democratic rights and his demonisation of Muslims and other migrants. There is considerable anger in New Zealand over the governments refusal to condemn the ban. Prime Minister Bill English spoke with Trump on Monday and described the president as warm, civil and very thoughtful. Speakers at the rally in Aotea Square included former refugees, academics, representatives of Islamic community groups, the pacifist organisation Auckland Peace Action, the Green Party, and the pseudo-left Socialist Aotearoa. The organisers sought to channel the growing opposition to extreme-right policies behind New Zealands political establishment and in particular the Greens. Speakers appealed to those in attendance, and to the New Zealand government, for solidarity with those affected by Trumps travel ban. Several blamed Trumps election on racism and white supremacism in the US, without explaining how the same country could have elected a black president in 2008 and re-elected him 2012. David Mayeda, a sociologist from the University of Auckland, declared that Trump ran a campaign on the perception that dangerous outsiders were a threat to Americans occupational fate, even though the country had a declining 4.9 percent unemployment rate. In reality, the vast majority of the jobs created under Obama were temporary or part-time and low-wage. Median household incomes plummeted as wages were slashed in the restructuring of auto and other industries (see: Race, class and the election of Trump). Meanwhile, during Obamas eight years in office the wealth of the richest 400 Americans grew from $1.57 trillion to $2.4 trillion as he expanded the bank bailouts begun under Bush. There is widespread hostility towards the Democrats and the Republicans, which have overseen a massive increase in social inequality since the 1980s. The main political speaker was Green Party candidate Golriz Ghahraman, who described how her family had claimed asylum in New Zealand to escape the Iranian dictatorship and the Iran-Iraq war. She said she was dedicated to fighting for the most vulnerable and denounced the rise of dangerous populism in the US and elsewhere. The Greens, however, are campaigning alongside the main opposition Labour Party in the hopes of forming part of a coalition government after the election in September. Labour has promised to work with Trump. The Greens supported the 19992008 Labour government, which sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. Both parties support the governments increased military spending, designed to integrate New Zealand into US war preparations against China. Green co-leaders James Shaw and Metiria Turei have also said they would be happy to work in a coalition that included New Zealand First, a right-wing populist party that openly supports Trumps attacks on Muslims and has scapegoated Chinese immigrants for New Zealands social crisis. While calling for a handful more refugees to be allowed into New Zealand, the Greens and Labour support NZ Firsts demand to cut immigrant numbers (see: Labour, Greens sign Memorandum of Understanding). A speaker from the pacifist group Auckland Peace Action, which works with the Greens and pseudo-lefts, said Trump was scapegoating Muslims for the woes of capitalism, a failing economic system that protects the rich at the expense of the many. She said Trump would continue the imperialist ambitions of the US, pointing to the attack he ordered in Yemen which killed dozens of people, including an eight-year-old girl. The speaker did not mention the Obama administration, which expanded the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and intervened in Libya, Syria and Yemen, turning millions into refugees. Ali Akil, from the group Syrian Solidarity, gave a pro-imperialist speech attacking Obama for failing to arm the Syrian people with anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down aircraft from the Assad regime, Iran and Russia. He absurdly claimed that the influx of refugees from Syria was caused by the US preventing weapons from reaching the so-called rebels, in which Al Qaeda-linked groups play a leading role. In fact, the US and its allies, including Saudi Arabia, have provided billions of dollars in weapons, fuelling a bloody six-year war aimed at overthrowing the Assad regime. Syrian Solidarity, supported by Socialist Aotearoa and other pseudo-left groups, has called for the US military to create a no-fly zone in support of the anti-Assad forces. Members of the Socialist Equality Group spoke with people at the protest and distributed the World Socialist Web Site perspective, The Trump-Bannon government: Rule by decree. Neal, a bar manager from Ireland who lives in New Zealand, said he usually did not attend protests but this is a worthwhile cause. Whats happening in America worries me. Im not a religious person but I want to retain the right for everyone to be able to practice the religion they believe in. It worries me that the United States was based on the idea of inclusion and its now come to a point where people are now deciding its freedom only for a few. He agreed that Americans had been disillusioned with Obama and that the two-party system just doesnt allow for enough diversity in government. Neal said he wanted higher taxes on the rich to address inequality and more spending on health and education. Eimear, a psychologist, told the WSWS: Trumps made so many horrible decisions affecting people living in America and the whole world. I think its important for people here to stand in solidarity with those who are most affected and to push our own government to make sure they are doing everything in their power to mitigate any effects. She criticised the New Zealand governments response to Trump, saying, I feel like they want to keep face instead of coming out as aggressively as they should. Ives, a social worker who came to New Zealand in 2005 as a refugee from Burundi, said he was shocked by the US election result and Trumps executive order. Today its the Muslims, tomorrow it will be others, he said. We cant turn a blind eye to discrimination against religion or anything. I have friends in America who are Muslims and this plays into the hands of people who are already against Muslims. Its dangerous. I dont think this protects America or the world. Its just for political gain. There hasnt been anyone in the seven countries targeted who has attacked America. He noted that Trump had not included Saudi Arabia in the ban, even though the majority of the September 11 hijackers were from that country. The authors also recommend: The mass protests against Trump and the role of the Democratic Party [1 February 2017] Thousands protest Trump in New Zealand [23 January 2017] Black Lives Matter blames white supremacy for election of Trump [30 November 2016] The operations of the battle group led by the German army in Eastern Europe were formally launched on Tuesday. In the presence of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (Christian Democrats), Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite welcomed the soldiers from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, who are part of the so-called enhanced forward presence (EFP), NATOs military build-up on the border with Russia. Three further battle groups are being established: one in Estonia (led by Britain), Latvia (led by Canada), and Poland, made up of US forces. Already on Monday, the US warship Hue City arrived in the eastern Lithuanian port of Klaipeda. According to media reports, additional combat vehicles and US military technology arrived at the Tapa base in Estonia, including Abrams tanks and Bradley armoured vehicles. Over recent weeks, a total of 4,000 soldiers, 2,000 tanks, field guns, jeeps and lories have travelled through Germany to Eastern Europe in close cooperation with the German army. The advance of NATO combat troops to Eastern Europe is part of the war preparations against Moscow adopted at NATOs summit in Warsaw in early July. This included the construction of a NATO missile defence system in Romania and Poland and the establishment of a 5,000-strong very high readiness joint task force, initiated at the NATO summit in Wales in 2014. The German army is increasingly assuming a leading role. The core of the battle group, the first German battalion in Eastern Europe since the end of the Wehrmachts war of extermination against the Soviet Union during the Second World War, is the Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, an armored infantry battalion from the Bavarian town of Oberviechtach. According to official army figures, 230 German and Belgian soldiers are already in Rukla, Lithuania. By May at the latest, the unit should have grown to over 1,000, of which around 450 will come from the German army. The heavily armed unitaccording to the Bundeswehr it possesses a variety of large vehicles, including several dozen tanks (combat, mining, engineering, bridge-building and armoured vehicles)can be topped up at any time. As army inspector Lieutenant General Jorg Vollmer stated at the beginning of February in Vilnius, Along with the permanent parts of the EFP battle group, we are retaining troops in Germany to temporarily support exercises as required. In addition, in the event of a crisis situation, we are capable and prepared to send the necessary reinforcements to Lithuania. You can depend on that. At the joint press conference with von der Leyen, Grybauskaite justified the NATO offensive with reference to the threat of Russia. Von der Leyen declared dramatically, What we see today, this is NATO the fact that we are ready at any time to step in for each other. we are determined to support Lithuania, we have brought well-trained units here to do so. Ultimately the issue at stake was the defence of democracy and joint values and friendship. This is equally as dishonest as it is cynical. In reality, it is the Western powers, not Russia, who are the aggressors in Eastern Europe. In early 2014, Berlin and Washington organised a coup in Kiev in close collaboration with fascist forces to overthrow pro-Russian President Victor Yanukovitch. Since then, Germany has exploited Russias overwhelmingly defensive response to systematically build up its military forces and go on the offensive. And this is not about democracy, values or friendship, but the imposition of economic and geo-strategic interests with military force if necessary. After an initial shock, the German government views the contradictory stance of the US administration towards NATO as a chance to strengthen its own position in the military alliance and at the same time develop a more independent German and European foreign policy. In a telephone call, the new US defence secretary, James Mad Dog Mattis, reassured von der Leyen that the US remained loyal to NATO, she said in Rukla. But she was of the firm belief that Europe must assume more responsibility within NATO, that means also investing more in its capabilities. This had already been clear and obvious prior to the election and now continues to be a legitimate demand in the room. It was in Europes own interests to invest in its own defence capacities, on the one hand as a stronger European pillar within NATO, but also in the spirit of a European security and defence union. The Baltic states and Poland, which mainly depended on support from the US within the framework of NATO until now, were shaken by the comments of US President Donald Trumpthat NATO is no longer relevant and the EU is an opponentand are orienting increasingly towards Germany. Even a flesh-and-blood Atlanticist like former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, who led his country into NATO, are choosing words of unheard of sharpness and described Trumps remarks as extremely disquieting, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung acknowledged in a recent article headlined Gaps in the deterrence. In the Baltic and Poland it was feared that Trumps lack of clarity could undermine joint defence, the paper reported. Wojciech Lorenz from the transatlantic-oriented think tank Polish Institute for International Affairs warned of a conceivable deal between America and Russia at the expense of Ukraine, the Baltic states and the former Warsaw Pact members. For politicians in Berlin (and other capitals in the EU) Kwasniewski therefore has some advice, the FAZ acknowledges, visibly relieved. Europe must take its own security in its handsindependently of Washington. A Europeanisation of NATO to the logical conclusion: Europe must have a perspective as to how it can [create] its own nuclear deterrence. Spiegel Online commented on yesterdays visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Poland as follows: Whatever serves to strengthen the EUs defence capacity, Merkel and Kaczynski (president of the governing PiS party) will quickly agree. The Pole can even conceive of a nuclear European superpower. The belligerent outlook of former State Department official and Johns Hopkins Professor Eliot Cohens 2016 book is succinctly summarized in its title, The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force. The books contents expose the threat posed to the human race by a nuclear-armed American capitalist class in protracted economic and geopolitical decline. The book is peppered with Clausewitzian aphorisms that give the flavor of the reckless military offensive Cohen proposes: * Strategy is the art of matching military means to political ends [206]. * The actual use of nuclear weapons by the United States is not a last resort [171]. * There is something uniquely reassuring about permanently stationed US troops [169]. * It will do no good to pretend, in the wake of Iraq and Afghanistan, that America will never undertake such operations again [146]. * The right strategic time horizon for the anti-jihadi war is decades, even longer [197]. * American military power is the handmaiden of American statecraft [172]. * Law is one thing; naval power is another [183]. One is tempted to read these aphorisms in the high-pitched, heavily accented voice of Peter Sellers as the deranged ex-Nazi scientist, Dr. Strangelove. But Cohen speaks as a representative of the American ruling class. His strategy is based on three fundamental principles: preemptive war, deterrence through offensive military action (including nuclear attacks), and decades-long military occupations involving thousands of US troops. Although these principles already underlie American foreign policy, Cohen proposes a significant escalation on all fronts. As if to visually support this last point, the cover of Cohens book jacket includes a single image: a US soldiers boots on the ground. In some cases, America must accept the necessity of using force preemptively... he writes. While it is generally believed that the United States has some such capabilities, they will probably become of greater importance in the future [171]. This includes the preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Although one hesitates to say it, he continues, it is conceivable in the future that the United States will have to be ready with precise, low-yield nuclear weapons. This is a horrifying possibility. A North Korean bomb landing on Tokyo (let alone Los Angeles), however, would be infinitely more horrifying. The actual use of nuclear weapons by the United States is not a last resortaccepting the detonation of a nuclear weapon in a great American or allied city is [171]. Cohens position is that decisive military actionincluding preemptive attackis necessary to win back the credibility lost through the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as through the Obama administrations decision not to invade Syria. A recovery of credibility about the use of force, and thereby the power to deter, will probably occur only when the United States actually does something to someonewiping out a flotilla of Iranian gunboats attempting to seize an American-flagged merchant ship, for example [168]. In other words, the US should be prepared to risk a Third World War in order to improve its bargaining position. According to Cohen, the US will need a flexible military strategy to account for the various types of wars the US will be engaged in for many decades: The wars of the twenty-first century may take many forms. Conventional conflict, including with China, most assuredly cannot be ruled out. At the other end of the spectrum, terrorism will surely continue. In between, what has been called hybrid warblending different forms of force with subversion, sabotage, and terrorwill also exist. Wars may be sudden or build up slowly; they may be protracted[they] might drag on for a decade or more [208-209]. Cohen sets a series of military priorities for the US in the coming decades. He speaks for a growing section of the foreign policy establishment which sees China as Washingtons primary world rival. He expresses frustration with those who view Russia as the main enemy. China, due to its superior economic, demographic and military power, poses the first security challenge to the United States that requires a hard power response [99]. He writes that it is an undeniable fact that Americas relative economic position in the world has declined, and may very well continue to do so. However, Cohen says, America has three great assets in its strategic confrontation with China: its alliance relationships, the quality of its armed forces, andif used and explained correctlyits way of war [113]. In Cohens view, war between the two countries is becoming increasingly likely. He cites game theorist Thomas Schelling who wrote, Often we must maneuver into a position where we no longer have much choice left [166]. Cohen claims: War may come without either side willing it from the beginning, [121] and, In the event of a clash between forces comparable in number, skill, and resolve, mass casualties are always possible [73]. These are not the ravings of an isolated sociopath, they are mainstream positions within the Democratic and Republican parties. The book has earned the praise of a number of top US military-intelligence figures, including US military commander, CIA Director and KKR Executive David Petraeus, who said the book was brilliant, timely, hugely important, and very well-reasoned. Michael Chertoff, the former secretary of Homeland Security, said, Professor Cohen lays out a clear, balanced vision for the critical role American military power must take in securing our world. Cohens book has been greeted with glowing reviews from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Times writer Jennifer Senior called the book an implicit critique of the president-elects worldview (to the extent that he has one) and a toothsome snack for those who despise Mr. Trump. Even if you disagree with Mr. Cohenand I did, often, scribbling violent objections in the margins as I readits easy to spend time in his company. He writes thoughtfully, methodically and with unfussy erudition. His chapters are organized with the pleasing precision of a bento box. It is a testament to the deep degeneration of American liberalism that Cohens book could be portrayed by the Times as a toothsome snack for opponents of Trump, and not as an argument for preemptive nuclear war and permanent neocolonial military occupations. The Times does not mention that a preemptive war of aggression is a crime against peace according to the principles elaborated during the trial of leading Nazi Party officials at Nuremberg. Aside from US military adversaries, Cohen is preoccupied with two great obstacles to the imperialist war drive: spending on social programs and domestic and international opposition to war. He explains that increased military spending will require a relentless attack on the living conditions of the working class. A major strategic weakness of American imperialism is that the US has proven unable to adjust its entitlement spending to make it possible to invest large sums in military power and domestic infrastructure [90]. He claims American workers are living too long and are sucking up money that could be used for military build-up: An aging population, in which every year fewer workers support more retired individuals, will face inexorable pressures to cut discretionary spendingof which defense is always the largest elementto provide for entitlements in the form of pensions and medical care. Herein lies the fundamental crisis of the modern welfare state, constructed in Europe and to a lesser extent the United States during and after World War II, and expanded throughout the world thereafter. Entitlements that seem affordable during the postwar demographic boom, at a time of shorter life expectancies today and less technologically advanced medical care, become far harder to sustain when there is no longer a bulge of youthful workers, when nonagenarians are far more commonand when medical care is capable of more and more exotic, successful, and expensive efforts to keep people alive [86-87]. Second, he worries that domestic anti-war sentiment will undercut the ruling classs ability to wage war: War is a contest of will This is particularly true for the United States, whose vast resources are unlikely to be exhausted in a conflict, but whose will may [221]. In his introduction, Cohen notes his concern that today, more than ever, many Americans question the utility of the big stick as a tool of US foreign policy [xi]. Social cohesion and political ability reflect intangibles: the ability to endure loss, the willingness to mobilize national resources, the ability to persevere, having a system able to make decisionsthese are elements of militarily relevant national power, too [92]. Moreover, Americas young population poses a distinct threat: Young people are turbulent, he says, recalling the student revolts of the late 1960s [87]. Cohen fears that Washingtons imperialist allies will be unable to provide necessary military support on account of social opposition: Most troubling of all, large percentages, and in some cases majorities, of the populations of several founding members of NATO no longer accept the fundamental premise of the alliance, embodied in Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty, that an attack against one is an attack on all. By a margin of 53 to 47 in France, 51 to 40 in Italy, and 58 to 38 in Germany, populations told pollsters in 2015 that their country should not use military force to defend a NATO ally in a military conflict with Russia [155]. His conclusion: a Reasonable assurance of popular support again assumes too muchAchieve military success and public support will follow, not the other way around [215-216]. In other words, the US must carry out its drive to war with or without the support of the population. It is better, from a military standpoint, if the government is able to drown the population in pro-war propaganda. But if this proves ineffective, Cohen predicts that raining devastating blows against the enemy will shock the working class into submission. On this question, it is Cohen who assumes too much. Opposition to imperialist war has developed in the United States and internationally over the last 15 years in response to the immense cost in life and resources of the US-led wars of plunder. Significant majorities of the US and Europe opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because they were waged based on lies for the purpose of securing world domination on behalf of American banks and corporations. Millions of citizens and thousands of coalition soldiers have been killed in the wars, while trillions of dollars have been drained from social programs in order to expand the military-intelligence agencies. In the autumn of 2014, polls showed less than 10 percent of Americans supported direct US military intervention in Syria, while similar levels of anti-war sentiment also triggered a parliamentary vote in Britain that postponed UK intervention. These facts horrified the architects of future imperialist war, but they also deepened the ruling classs turn toward political reaction and anti-democratic domestic policies. This process finds expression in the election of Donald Trump, who made a phony appeal to hostility to the war in Iraq by hinting at an isolationist foreign policy. His pretenses toward isolation have been belied by his bellicose threats against both Iran and China, his talk of taking the oil from occupied Iraq and his support for a massive buildup of the US military. His program can be called isolationist to the extent that his plan for unrelenting war and military build-up may be carried out with less reliance on NATO and the traditional US allies. This unnerves certain sections of the foreign policy establishment, including Cohen. No opposition to the US plans for war will come from the Democratic Party. The Times s Jennifer Senior revealed more than she intended when she noted in her review, Had Hillary Clinton won, its doubtful that Mr. Cohens new book, The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force, which he clearly finished well before the election, would receive the attention it now surely (and quite deservedly) will. For all of Mr. Trumps chest-pounding about the Islamic State, it was Mrs. Clinton, ultimately, who was viewed as the more interventionist, even hawkish, of the two candidates. The world Cohen presents is one of endless war, nuclear devastation and occupations on an even greater scale than today. He speaks as a representative of the American establishment, and his proposals reveal the future confronting humanity under capitalism. The wars Cohen proposes will lead to the deaths of millions, tens of millions, or possibly billions. If humanity survives such wars, many millionsand not just those in Central America and the Middle Eastwill become refugees. The environmental impact of a major war would be disastrous and likely irreparable, with untold numbers killed by malnutrition and disease. The fate of humanity relies on the ability of the working class to organize itself independently of the parties of war and capitalism and to seize power from the imperialist war architects before they transform the planet into rubble. The Trump administration argued Tuesday for the restoration of its temporary ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from any country in an hour-long court hearing conducted by telephone. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in San Francisco, heard the government appeal to overturn the temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in Seattle, who acted on a lawsuit brought by the states of Washington and Minnesota. The governments legal representative, August Flentje, special counsel to the assistant attorney general, faced a skeptical reaction from the panel, which peppered him with questions and did not allow him to develop a coherent argument, although it was unclear whether he could have done so even without interruption. None of the three judgesWilliam Canby, appointed by Jimmy Carter in 1980; Richard Clifton, appointed by George W. Bush in 2001, and Michelle Friedland, appointed by Barack Obama in 2013seemed sympathetic to the White House claims that the states did not have legal standing to challenge the executive order. An analogous case was brought by a group of Republican state attorneys-general in 2015, challenging an Obama executive order on immigration enforcement as unduly lenient. That case was heard by a federal district judge in Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, both on standing and on the merits of their suit. One of the first questions, from Judge Friedland, was whether the Trump administration had any evidence of an imminent threat emanating from any of the seven countriesIran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. No traveler from any of those countries has been involved in a terrorist attack inside the United States since at least 1975. As with most of the public performances of the Trump administration, factual accuracy and logical coherence were replaced by authoritarian bluster and fear-mongering at the court hearing. Flentje sought to base his argument for the travel ban on the claim that the presidents authority on national security matters was virtually absolute. When asked by Judge Friedland whether the executive order was unreviewable, he hesitated, then said, Yes. The court was entitled to consider only whether the executive order was properly drafted and not facially invalid. The judges were obliged to confine their scrutiny to the four corners of the paper signed by Trump on January 27, he argued. This line of argumentation ultimately collapsed on itself, since Flentje retreated from the claim that Trump had the authority to strip legal resident aliens, holders of green cards, of their constitutional rights. After customs agents targeted green card holders in the first weekend of enforcement of the executive order, the White House revised its instructions without changing the text of the order, merely issuing an interpretation of the order by White House counsel Don McGahn. Judge Friedland noted the contradiction between the initial claims that the courts had to concede Trumps unchallengeable authority to make national security determinations, and the White House counsels intervention to attempt to salvage the executive order. Could Trumps national security authority be delegated to a White House lawyer, she asked? Speaking for the states of Washington and Minnesota, Washington solicitor general Noah Purcell initially avoided the democratic and constitutional issues at stake, instead diverting the proceeding into a discussion of the exact legal steps to be followed, including whether the Appeals Court panel would send the case back to the district court for further review or issue its own opinion that could immediately be appealed to the Supreme Court. When he finally turned to the main issues, however, the strength of the case against the executive order became plain. He noted that the Trump administration had no clear factual claim or evidentiary claims as to the irreparable harm that would result from the suspension of the executive order, adding, It was the executive order itself that caused irreparable harm. He discussed several legal issues relating to proving that the travel ban violates the First Amendment clause forbidding the establishment of religion. Dismissing the argument that since the ban targeted only seven of the 43 Muslim-majority countries it wasnt a Muslim ban, he explained that this was not the legal standard: You dont have to prove it harms every Muslimyou just need to show the action was motivated in part by animus. Even an action within the legal powers of the president could be illegal and unconstitutional if motivated by religious bigotry. The discriminatory intent could be demonstrated from Trumps own statements, both during the election campaign and in preparing the order, Purcell argued. Trump called for a Muslim ban during the campaign, and after his election asked one of his advisers, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to prepare a version of the Muslim ban that would pass legal muster. Trump also discussed his desire to favor Christian refugees over Muslims in an interview with a Christian broadcaster. It was rare that so much evidence of intent was available even before any discovery had been conducted, he saidhinting at the possibility that Trump administration officials, and even potentially Trump himself, could be called to testify under oath if the case goes forward. This led to a heated exchange, as Flentje declared, Its extraordinary for the courts to enjoin a presidents national security decision-making based on some newspaper articles. Judge Clifton then asked whether the government attorney was claiming that the reports of Trumps anti-Muslim comments were false. Flentje backed off, conceding that Trump had made the statements in question, but arguing that no judicial notice should be taken. All three judges pressed Flentje on whether the president could simply issue a ban on Muslims entering the country, and if he did, would anyone, under the governments theory, have legal standing to challenge it. Under repeated prodding, Flentje conceded that such an order would raise significant First Amendment and establishment of religion questions, but he maintained that only individuals directly harmed by the order, and not state governments, had legal standing to challenge such an order in court. So one-sided were the exchanges that at one point Flentje remarked, in an understatement, Im not sure Im convincing the court. He later offered a compromise ruling, suggesting that the judges could reinstate the travel ban at least for refugees and others who had never previously entered the United States, while allowing it to lapse for green card holders and others with greater ties to the country. In a media advisory before the hearing, a spokesman said that a ruling was not expected to come down today, but probably this week. The Trump White House has already announced that it intends to appeal any unfavorable result to the Supreme Court, which currently has only eight members, making a 4-4 tie vote very possible. That result would leave the Ninth Circuit decision intact. The Trump administrations open hostility to the judicial systems intervention in the travel ban was expressed not only in Trumps speech to Special Forces soldiers in Florida , but also in remarks by retired General John F. Kelly, Trumps appointee as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the agency that directly enforced the ban. Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee Tuesday, Kelly admitted that no one from the seven countries targeted for the travel ban has committed a terrorist attack inside the United States. But he said that it was impossible to rule it out, since US agencies wouldnt know of such an attack until the boom, as he put it. This is an argument, of course, for prohibiting all visitors to the United States from all countriesand for rounding up countless Americans as well. Kelly made a disparaging reference to the federal judges, both the district court judge in Seattle and the two Appeals Court judges who denied the initial move for an emergency stay of the Seattle ruling, saying they could indulge in academic detachment from the danger of terrorism because in their courtrooms, theyre protected by people like me. On Tuesday, the United States Army Corps of Engineers filed documents with the US District Court in Washington, DC stating that it intends to grant an easement to Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) so that it can move forward with the completion of the Dakota Access pipeline. It also notified the Senate of its filings, stating that construction is expected to begin today. Only a court injunction can now officially block the construction. The approved site will carry the pipeline under Lake Oahe, a reservoir on the Missouri River, which supplies the adjacent Standing Rock Sioux Tribes drinking water. The Standing Rock Sioux have opposed the pipeline, citing fears of drinking water contamination and damage to sacred sites. This marks the final hurdle needed for ETP to complete the 1,170 mile pipeline, which will carry crude oil from North Dakota to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico. The Obama administration ordered a halt to the project in December by calling for an environmental review; President Donald Trump wasted no time in issuing an order of his own directing the Army to expedite construction. The pipeline has been the focus of intense clashes between protesters, the Army Corps of Engineers and law enforcement. Popular opposition to the pipeline and to the US governments dismissal of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes concerns drew tens of thousands of protesters to the site in the fall of 2016. A coordinated response of local law enforcement and the Army National Guard aimed at driving away protestors resulted in several serious injuries to protesters, among them hypothermia, traumatic brain injury and burns. Six hundred protesters were arrested. With the deepening of winter, the number of protesters has decreased to around 1,000, most of them concentrated in a camp on land owned by the Army Corps. The protesters there have vowed to stay, despite the fact that the camp is situated on a flood plain and other camps have been cleared. A group of veterans opposed to the pipeline has vowed to send more protesters as the tension over the planned construction heightens. The concerns expressed by the Standing Rock Tribe are well founded. Three major pipeline spills occurred in the United States in October 2016. Through the course of the year, well over 200 pipeline leaks or ruptures occurred. Over 3,000 spills occurred in the United States between 2006 and 2016, costing $4.7 billion. Many pipelines are aging, causing these incidents to occur more and more frequently. Considering the Army Corps poor record in maintaining even the simplest infrastructure entrusted to it, the pipelines placement in the reservoir is almost a guarantee of disaster for the Missouri River and those depending upon it for drinking water. Despite a well-documented history of poor management and hazards of such pipelines, the Dakota Access Pipeline has enjoyed bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota praised the corps decision and denounced the continued delays and stalling tactics of the Obama administration, and stated, ...its crucial that all parties double down in their resolve to listening and working together. She did not mention how those opposed to the pipeline, most especially the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, might be heard over the din of sound cannons and water cannons employed by law enforcement in the service of ETP and other stakeholders in the project. John Hoeven, a Republican senator from North Dakota who chairs the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, similarly crowed over the Corps statement, claiming that it represented a victory for the economic wellbeing of his constituency. He has consistently characterized the protesters as violent public enemies. Although he chairs the Sentate Committee on Indian Affairs, he has dismissed the pleas and demands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. While Obama enjoyed accolades for his halting of construction, he essentially succeeded, not in stopping the construction all together, but in merely interrupting its progress. He left its fate in the hands of Trump, who vociferously supported the pipeline during the presidential campaign. Trump wasted no time; one of his very first acts as president was to issue an executive order demanding that the Corps act expeditiously to ensure that construction went forward. The Corps complied with haste. The Standing Rock tribe has vowed to fight the pipelines construction legally, and several protesters have likewise stated that they intend to fight the pipelines construction. As the protests wore on in 2016, gaining widespread popular support, shares of ETP declined in value. Yet on Tuesday, with the announcement of the Corps intention to grant its easement, the stock finished the day with a 20 cent uptick. Prior to his election, Trump owned a significant stake in ETP. He has declined since then to provide any paperwork to demonstrate that he has divested from the company. Senator Hoeven owns shares in several oil wells in North Dakota, all of which stand to profit from the pipelines construction. Just across the states northern border, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hailed the pipeline as an economic boon to Canadas petroleum industry. While Trudeau has postured as a champion of indigenous rights and of the environment, his support of the Dakota Access pipeline, along with those proposed in Canada, belies the hollowness of liberal bourgeois pretexts internationally. Obamas disingenuous tactics notwithstanding, the Democrats have fallen into formation behind the petroleum industry. Their eyes will continue to stay fixed upon the rising cost of ETP shares, not upon the human costs associated with the pipeline. Billionaire Betsy DeVos was confirmed as secretary of education by vote of 51 to 50 in the Senate Tuesday with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote, marking the first time in US history that such a vote was necessary to confirm a cabinet secretary. Tuesdays vote was the culmination of four days of stage-managed and increasingly farcical play-acting, in which Senate Democrats pretended to be putting up a ferocious battle against DeVos, while Senate Republicans pretended to be manning the barricades on her behalf. In reality, the outcome was determined well in advance. The two Republicans who broke with their party to oppose DeVos undoubtedly cleared their actions in advance with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who can afford exactly two defections given the 52-48 Republican majority, and gave them permission. The Democrats seized on the prospective 50-50 tie to conduct a 24-hour, round-the-clock debate highlighted by liberal Senator Elizabeth Warrens plea for just one more Republican to defeat the nomination. Throughout this exercise in empty demagogy, in which the Democrats claimed to be the defenders of public education and oppose its destruction, every Democrat who spoke was aware that DeVos would be confirmed by virtue of Vice President Pences tie-breaking vote. Moreover, the previous Democratic administration, with Barack Obama in the White House and his Chicago crony Arne Duncan as head of the Department of Education, was an unmitigated disaster for public education. More than 300,000 teachers and other school workers lost their jobs under the Obama administration, which through programs like Race to the Top encouraged the growth of charter schools and other efforts to privatize and weaken public school systems. For all the Democratic chest-thumping about opposing Donald Trump, DeVos is the first of Trumps cabinet nominees to be confirmed without any Democratic support. Some Democrats have voted for every one of previous six cabinet nominees to be confirmed, and in many cases the votes have been overwhelming. Fourteen of the 48 Democrats had voted for the first five Trump nominees, only defecting in the confirmation of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and now DeVos. Trumps pick to head the Department of Defense, recently retired General James Mad Dog Mattis, was overwhelming approved last month by a vote 98 to 1, receiving the support of nearly every Democrat in the Senate, including so-called progressives Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. An ideological opponent of public education, DeVos has donated millions of dollars to politicians and lobbying groups that support the funneling of tax dollars to private and religious schools through voucher programs and removing oversight of education spending through the establishment of charter schools. DeVos is associated with some of the furthest right-wing conservative figures and groups in the US. Her father-in-law Richard DeVos, founder of the Amway pyramid scheme, played leadership roles in a variety of right-wing groups including Focus on the Family, the American Enterprise Institute and the FreedomWorks Foundation. Her brother Erik Prince is the founder of the notorious military contractor and mercenary firm once known as Blackwater. In 2000, DeVos and her husband, Richard DeVos, former CEO and heir of the Amway corporation fortune, spent $5.6 million on a ballot initiative that would have amended the Michigan state constitution to create a voucher program. The initiative was overwhelmingly rejected by voters. DeVos has also spent her money founding a variety of organizations that buy politicians support for the privatization of public education including All Children Matter, the Alliance for School Choice and the American Federation for Children. From 1995 to 2005, DeVos funded and sat on the Board of Directors of the Acton Institute, a right-wing outfit that has advocated for the elimination of compulsory education and child labor laws. After decades of pushing for the complete destruction of public education, DeVos will now direct the agency responsible for providing federal funding to public schools, collecting pertinent data, and enforcing privacy and civil rights laws regarding education. During Senate committee confirmation hearings, DeVos exhibited her complete ignorance regarding federal education laws and made clear her fundamental conflicts of interest. With no experience in public education, DeVos earned her nomination from President Donald Trump to head of the Department of Education as a result of her ideological hostility to public education; she joins a host of Trump appointees who have expressed opposition to the missions of their respective departments. Additionally, DeVos was able to attain her position through the massive amounts of money she and her family have funneled into the coffers of the Republican Party and the campaigns of a host of Republicans candidates. She admitted during Senate committee hearings that she and her family had donated $200 million to Republican candidates over the last few decades. In the last election cycle, DeVos and her family donated $2.25 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and $900,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. She personally donated a total of $1 million to 21 of the Republican senators who voted for her confirmation. As a supplement to the backwardness represented by DeVos, it was announced at the end of last month that Trump had appointed religious obscurantist Jerry Falwell, Jr., son of the televangelist huckster and founder of Moral Majority, to lead a special panel tasked with eliminating and curbing federal regulations on education. Falwell is the president of Liberty University, a private Christian university based in Lynchburg, Virginia, which teaches creationism and maintains a code of conduct that forbids pre-marital sex and homosexual relationships among its student population. Students can be fined for attending a dance, visiting alone with a member of the opposite sex off campus, or engaging in inappropriate personal contact. The Christian fundamentalist was Trumps first pick to lead the Department of Education but he turned down the position. He will now essentially join the Trump administration without facing a Senate confirmation vote. Speaking to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Falwell made clear that he would use his task force to play a leading role in shaping federal education policy. The task force will be a big help to [DeVos]. It will do some of the work for her, he said. The pseudo-left news web site La Izquierda Diarioput out by the Trotskyist Fraction of the Fourth International (FT-CI), whose main section is the Socialist Workers Party (PTS) in Argentinais calling for left populism in response to the coming to power of right-wing governments utilizing populist demagogy, as in the case of new US administration of Donald Trump. This populist strategy is anti-socialist and has disastrous implications for the working class in Latin America and elsewhere. The FT-CI calls for a more radical populism than the one espoused by pseudo-left parties in Europe, namely Podemos and Syriza. The betrayals of the latterimposing the EU austerity diktats and blocking the emergence of an independent political alternative for the working classhave been central in disorienting and demoralizing workers and paving the way for the political right. On December 2, the Spanish section of the FT-CI published an article titled The working class, the left, and right-wing populism. It began by favorably quoting Owen Jones, the columnist for the Guardian, who claims that university students and the middle class on the left need their own form of populism, ultimately to defend their own material interests using the support from sections of the working class. Adopting Joness approach and referring to Podemos, the FT-CI calls for a populism that proposes more radical measures. Referring to Trump voters, Owen writes: True, some will be racists and misogynists beyond redemption, but others have the potential to be peeled away if the lure is attractive enough. Similarly, the FT-CI shuns the more privileged sectors of the employed working class who voted for Trump and, they claim, are responsible for the attacks on minority groups. The FT-CI article states: In the first place, it is necessary to clarify that the North American working class is composed not only of white heterosexual men between the ages of 45 and 60, who were those who voted in the majority for Trump, together with a large layer of the middle class. The working class of the United State is made up as well of marginalized youth, women, Latinos, Arabs, Afro-Americans, gays, lesbians, etc. This is a demoralized petty-bourgeois outlook that rejects the objectively revolutionary role of the working class in capitalist society, reducing workers to a disparate social layer whose outlook is determined by a collection of racial, gender and sexual identities. The populism of the Argentine pseudo-left aims at demonstrating a predisposition to alter the status quo and not to administer it, in the words of two of FT-CIs main theorists from Argentina, Emilio Albamonte and Matias Maiello. They combine radical phraseology and identity politics for this purpose. The FT-CI emerged from a split in the early 1990s out of the International Workers League (LIT-CI), a group formed by Nahuel Moreno from Argentina, who left the International Committee in 1963 to join the Pabloite United Secretariat. In the documents later explaining their split from Morenoism, the FT-CI explain that they still adhere to his politics prior to the 1980s, including his nationalist and opportunistic adaptations to Peronism and Castroism. Seeking to follow the same overall path of Syriza, currently in power in Greece, and Podemos, with 71 elected legislators and several mayors in Spain, the FT-CI tries to cover up their class interests and their abandonment of any semblance of a socialist program. The December 2 article congratulates the sectors in Podemos and Izquierda Unida that have started to address the need to strengthen the struggle in the streets and the demands of men and women workers. In another article on December 1, Clase contra Clase, the web site of the Spanish section of the FT-CI, praises Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias as one of the main forces behind this leftward turn. In Iglesiass own words, the key slogans for this have been to go back to the streets and make Podemos look like the people. In an interview published on December 28, Albamonte declared that the FT-CIs response to the polarization that is happening towards the right and left within the ruling class, out of the 2008 crisis, has been to develop a party of tribunes of the people, referring to Lenins use of the term in What Is to be Done? According to Albamonte, Lenins idea of tribunes meant for workers not to have only a corporatist or syndicalist thought but for them to talk to other sectors of the exploited and oppressed and do what Gramsci called hegemony, which he defines as talking to women, talking to youth, talking to workers without collective agreements, to the most precarious, to the newly hired, and leading them in struggle. The FT-CIs use of Leninist jargon to justify a supra-class, anti-socialist populist movement is preposterous. Lenin carried out a decades-long struggle against populism in works like What the Friends of the People Are and How They Fight the Social Democrats and ruthlessly exposed its role in blocking the development of socialist consciousness in the working class. Albamontes party of tribunes, like the party of the 99 percent, seeks to subordinate the interests of the broader mass of workers in Latin America to the attainment of a more favorable redistribution of wealth from the richest 1 percent to the more affluent sections of the middle class. FT-CI and Podemos both cite the writings of the late Argentine postmodernist and post-Marxist academic Ernesto Laclau and his intellectual and personal partner, Chantal Mouffe. In a 2014 obituary for Laclau, Inigo Errejon, number two of Podemos, explains that Laclaus neo-Gramscian school of thought aims at solving the irreplaceable need forgenerating imaginaries that can unite and mobilise people. This power is hegemonythe joining-together of fragmented groups and neglected demands that become a political us with a will to power. Rejecting the existence of the working class and of the objective socioeconomic basis for socialism, Laclau contrasted a supra-class us to a them, who are held responsible for whatever problems exist. In a December interview with the Nation, Mouffe said: The task of the left is to construct a people based on the equivalence of the demands of workers and those of the feminists, civil rights, and different movements. The us and them for the FT-CI are clearly reflected in their class outlook and political record. Like Podemos and Syriza, the politics of the FT-CI reflect the interests of layers of the upper middle class, which have seen their material fortunes increasingly tied to those of the financial and corporate elites. In Argentina, the percentage of households making more than $50 per day (purchasing parity) increased more than in any other Latin American country: from 6.1 percent to 28.3 percent between 2000 and 2012, according to a 2014 Inter-American Development Bank study. Today, the top 20 percent of income earners in Argentina receive about half of the total personal income. After the 1998-2002 recession in Argentina, a fast GDP growth of 6.5 percent per yearmainly a result of a boom in commodity pricesallowed the ruling class to redistribute some of its income. However, today the bottom half of income earners still make less than the minimum and vital salary of about $500 per month. In the wake of the 2008 crisis, the top 20 percent grew even wealthier. Facing a recession in Argentina and world economic stagnation, these forces fear that the growth of their economic privileges will be undermined by increasing social unrest in response to the policies of right-wing President Mauricio Macri. Their demagogic slogans like make the rich pay for the crisis, their focus on electing more legislators to the coalition they lead (the FIT) in the Argentine Congress, their appeals to the right-wing union bureaucracies and petty-bourgeois movements like Ni Una Menos to lead the struggles against the Macri administration all reflect their pro-capitalist politics and class orientation. Errejon describes the Podemos program as the Latin-Americanization of southern European politicsnot to copy, but to translate its experience; in other words, they aim to carry out betrayals parallel to those of Peron and Allende, whose populismand that of other left nationalist movements like Castroism and Sandinismo, and the Pabloite tendencies that adapted to these forcesdisarmed workers in Latin America. The result was the absolute subordination of workers, peasants, and youth to the interests of US and European banks and corporations, under the rule of the repressive US-backed military dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s that murdered, tortured, and disappeared hundreds of thousands across the region. In order to confront the mounting social attacks and increasingly violent and widespread repression at a time of emerging extreme right-wing governments in the United States and Europe, workers in Argentina and in the rest of Latin America need to fight back on the basis of a revolutionary program of international socialism by building sections of the International Committee and opposing the efforts by pseudo-left forces such as the PTS and FT-CI to employ bourgeois populism in order to block the political independence of the working class. The Chinese government has formally protested the decision by the Trump administration last Friday to impose US sanctions on Iran over its latest missile test. Among the 25 sanctioned individuals and entities were three Chinese citizens and two Chinese companies, which will now be barred from access to the American financial system and dealings with US corporations. The sanctions follow a menacing statement by US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn last week accusing Iran of destabilising behaviour across the Middle East and officially putting Iran on notice. The penalties against Chinese individuals and companies are another indication that the Trump administration is preparing to confront China as well. Iran has denied that its missile test is in breach of UN resolutions. Beijing formally complained on Monday that the sanctions will severely affect Chinese businesses. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a daily press briefing that China, which has in the past supported the US push for UN sanctions against Iran, is opposed to unilateral sanctions, saying the move adversely affected other countries. Lu warned: The sanctions will not help in enhancing trust among the different parties involved and will not help in resolving international problems. The remark suggests that the Chinese government, which has confronted repeated threats by Trump on trade, North Korea and the South China Sea, could be less supportive in the future of US actions in the Middle East and internationally. China along with Russia, Britain, France and Germany were part of the Obama administrations agreement in 2015 with Iran to severely restrict its nuclear programs in return for the gradual lifting of punitive economic sanctions. Trump, however, along with many of his top officials, has been scathing in his criticism of the 2015 deal and could move to abrogate it. Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency published a comment which pointed out that the latest sanctions will have little effect on Iran but signalled an escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Now Trump has taken office, uncertainly in the US-Iran relationship has risen and this may become a ticking time bomb for peace and stability in the Middle East, it stated. The US Treasury department named only one Chinese citizenQin Xianamong those who had been sanctioned and gave no detailed reasons for the decisions. Those on the US list have been targeted for allegedly either being involved in Irans ballistic missile program or supporting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. Yue Yaodong, an executive at Cosailing Business Trading Co, told the South China Morning Post that his firm had been forced to shut down after his accounts at the Agricultural Bank of China were closed. He insisted that his company had only provided quotations to Iranian customers for daily use items and machinery parts via email more than three years ago. He had sent product samples but no deals were completed. I dont know what my company has done that would lead to US sanctions, Yue said. I have no idea why the Agricultural Bank of China would freeze my accounts. I have not been engaged in trade with Iranian customers for years. Foreign banks and corporations, including in China, can face penalties for having dealings for blacklisted individuals and companies. The blacklisting of Chinese individuals and companies took place amid rising tensions between the US and China and an increasingly open discussion in the American and international media about the rising danger of war between the two countries. In his first overseas trip, US Defence Secretary James Mattis visited South Korea and Japan last week to reassure both governments over their alliances with the United States. In the course of last years election campaign, Trump had threatened to walk away from the alliances unless Japan and South Korea paid more towards the cost of American bases. While he suggested that the US would take no immediate dramatic military moves in the South China Sea, Mattis did provoke Chinese protests when he announced the deployment in South Korea of a sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system by the end of the year. Mattis also assured the Japanese government that it could invoke the US-Japan Security Treaty in the event of a war with China over disputed rocky outcrops in the East China Sea known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. The islets have become the focus of an increasingly dangerous cat and mouse game between Japanese and Chinese aircraft and vessels. The Japanese defence ministry reported in early 2016 that for the 2015 fiscal year, its air force scrambled fighter jets a record 571 times to intercept Chinese aircraft allegedly approaching Japanese-claimed airspace near the Senkakus. Following Mattiss visit to Tokyo, three Chinese coast guard ships approached the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands on Monday and, according to the Japanese coast guard, entered Japanese territorial waters around the outcrop. The intrusion was the fourth for the year following 36 such incidents in 2016. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson rang his Japanese counterpart on Tuesday to reaffirm that Washington would go to war with Japan against China if conflict erupted over the disputed islets. The United States will be against any unilateral action made to damage the Japanese administration of the Senkaku islands, he said, according to a Japanese foreign ministry statement. The Trump administrations decision to link its punitive reaction to the Iranian missile test with its increasingly bellicose stance against China is another sign that the confrontations and wars of the Bush and Obama administrations are coalescing into a global conflict as the Trump administration embarks on a reckless and militarist drive to shore up American hegemony. Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones has used a forthcoming exhibition at the Royal Academy (RA) as an opportunity to denounce the Russian Revolution. The headline of his vile comment, We cannot celebrate revolutionary Russian artit is brutal propaganda, speaks for itself. But what follows is a diatribe that mixes political reaction and intellectual charlatanry. To underscore the political, rather than artistic motivations of Jones, he is critiquing an exhibition that he has not even seen! Revolution: Russian Art: 1917-1932 does not open until February 11. Instead, without anything to comment on, he complains that a previous exhibit at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, held in the heart of capitalist Manhattan, was supposedly intellectually lazy for apolitically celebrating Russian art. There is nothing to suggest that the RA ignores the political context of the art it will display. Its advertising material states that it will feature Renowned artists including Kandinsky, Malevich, Chagall and Rodchenko [who] were among those to live through the fateful events of 1917, which ended centuries of Tsarist rule and shook Russian society to its foundations. Amidst the tumult, the arts initially thrived as debates swirled over what form a new peoples art should take. But the optimism was not to last: by the end of 1932, Stalins brutal suppression had drawn the curtain down on creative freedom. ... Revolutionary in their own right, together these works capture both the idealistic aspirations and the harsh reality of the Revolution and its aftermath. The RA speaks here as a well-respected and well-funded institution of the British ruling elite. The Russian Revolution was the single most important event of the twentieth century, indeed of modern times. It took place in the midst of the mass slaughter of World War I, after the imperialist powers had dragged humanity into a bloodbath of hitherto unknown proportionsultimately resulting in 17 million deaths and more than 20 million wounded. The revolution was led by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and the Bolsheviksthe representatives of the internationalist tendency that had stood out against the great betrayal by the parties of the Second International, which had supported their own national bourgeoisie in waging that terrible war. It was thanks to this defence of socialist internationalism that the Bolsheviks won the support of the revolutionary working class and poor peasants, after mass anti-war sentiment led to the overthrow of the tsarist regimethwarting the efforts of the bourgeois leaders of the February Revolution to maintain Russian involvement in the war. For the working class and oppressed masses of Russia, October established their government. For advanced workers throughout Europe and the world, it was a beacon of hope and a pledge for the socialist future of mankind. For the imperialist powers, it was a state that had to be destroyed, by reinforcing and rebuilding the remnants of the tsarist armies to install a military dictatorship. This drive for counter-revolution was the real cause of the terrible suffering inflicted on the Russian massesnot their heroic resistance against such seemingly impossible odds. It is why the revolution became such a powerful pole of attraction for Russias artists and such an inspiration to their creative energies. Jones rejects even the RAs generally accepted differentiation between the flourishing of art during and immediately after the revolution and the stultifying impact of the counter-revolutionary consolidation of the rule of the bureaucracy under Stalin. He wants the RA to issue a public warningthat we must not overlook that Lenins regimes totalitarian violence rivalled Nazism. Otherwise there is a danger that every young idealist in the country will be clamouring for a ticket to the RAand will, he clearly and anxiously understands, walk away inspired by what they see. Jones launches a broadside against the October Revolution, as one of the most murderous chapters in human history, adding that the RAs event is equivalent to putting on a huge exhibition of art from Hitlers Germany. He describes the revolution as a coup and insists that Lenin and the Bolsheviks destroyed rural society by waging war on the kulaks, or rich peasants, in a way that anticipated nazism by demonising an entire category of people. Amid these rabid slanders, he makes a veiled, but politically central attack on the analysis made by Leon Trotsky of the subsequent rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Uniondeclaring baldly, To see Lenins revolution through rosy spectacles as a Good Thing, a utopian dream that only went wrong because the wicked Stalin spoiled it all, is to believe in fairy tales. Jones treats the artists inspired by the Russian Revolution as propagandists who, for reasons that are never specified, produced work that is still undoubtedly some of the most powerful of the 20th century. He singles out Kazimir Malevich and El Lissitzky for helping impose Bolshevik ideology by creating the Suprematist and Constructivist movements, with their claims to express a utopian vision of a revolutionary future. This is a disgusting slur on Malevich, who fought, until his death from cancer in 1935, against Stalins imposition of Socialist Realismsuffering isolation, poverty and the banning of his works. But Jones reserves particular venom for El Lissitzkys 1919 poster Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge. This alone reveals the obscenity and stupidity of his attempt to draw a parallel between Bolshevism and fascism. Jones denounces the posters appeal for workers and young people to support the struggle against the counter-revolutionary White Armies as a call to merciless violence, in which a sharp red triangle is being driven into a black mass like a stake into Draculas heart. Extreme methods were used by both sides, he says in passing. But Lissitzky, in supporting the struggle against the Whites, has drawn a wedge that really was redwith blood. Jones paints a lying picture of gratuitous violence by the Bolsheviks, but fails to mention the intervention of the imperialist powers, or to detail the White terror they helped sustain. He ignores the blockade that cut imports and exports to virtually nothing, which was a major factor in the deaths of millions due to hunger and disease. Admiral Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak, the main leader of the Whites, was advanced by the imperialist powers as the supreme ruler of Russia because he wanted to re-enter the war and was committed to the violent overthrow of the Bolsheviks. Wherever his forces held sway, violent anti-Semitic pogroms were the norm, claiming an estimated 100,000 lives, as were massacres of peasants and workers loyal to the revolution. The regime established in Siberia by Kolchak was such that one of his generals, Konstantin Sakharov, later described it as in essence the first manifestation of fascism. It was reported of another of Kolchaks generals, Grigory Semenov, that in one three-day period, he killed over 1,000 peoplethe last ones burnt alive. Another demanded, Those villages whose population meets troops with arms, burn down the villages and shoot the adult males without exception. So brutal were the anti-Semitic pogroms that Winston Churchill, ruthless in his determination to see Bolshevism strangled in its cradle, complained that my task in winning support in Parliament for the Russian Nationalist cause will be infinitely harder if well-authenticated complaints continue to be received from Jews in the zone of the Volunteer Armies. Trotsky, leader of the Red Army in the Civil War, poured scorn on those who protested the use of violence by the oppressed only to justify the violence of the oppressors. Indeed, among more than a thousand mainly hostile comments on Joness article, one pointed out just this sort of hypocrisy, when in 2009 Jones excused the Spanish Empire and Inquisition by declaring that brutal regimes and empires have long contributed to a legacy of eye-popping realism in religious painting and sculpture. ... Everyone hates empires, but who would be without their achievements? American author Mark Twain once pointed to the rank hypocrisy of those who condemned the harshness of the French Revolution: There were two Reigns of Terror, if we could but remember and consider it; the one wrought murder in hot passions, the other in heartless cold blood; the one lasted mere months, the other had lasted a thousand years; the one inflicted death upon a thousand persons, the other upon a hundred millionwhat is the horror of swift death by the axe compared with lifelong death from hunger, cold, insult, cruelty and heartbreak? And may one put in a word on behalf of the countless victims of the British Empire, which enslaved entire continents? No apologist for the British ruling elite, responsible for immeasurable misery, devastation and death in Africa, India and other parts of Asia, Ireland and around the globe, should ever be permitted to preach in any forum about merciless violence. Jones draws a direct line from the revolution to Stalinist terror. The truth is that the mass terror perpetrated by Stalin in the 1930s was not the result of the October Revolution, but deliberately targeted its socialist legacy. Hundreds of thousands of Bolsheviks were killed in the great purges or died in the gulags. Jones also wholly ignores the battles that took place in the 1920s on the role of art and artists between the ruling Stalinist clique and the Left Opposition around Trotsky. The battles took on increasingly sharper forms and led to the purges of the 1930s, accompanied in the realm of art by the imposition of so-called Socialist Realism and the crushing of artistic creativity. A number of perceptive commentators have compared Joness attack with those of British historian Robert Service, with one noting, His [Services] anti-Trotsky biography was condemned by the American Historical Review as hackwork because it was full of lies, historical falsification and glaring errors. The comment refers to a comparative review by leading historian Bertrand Patenaude of two books: the denunciatory biography, Trotsky, by Service and In Defence of Leon Trotsky by David North, the chairman of the international editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site. Patenaudes review is an unequivocal condemnation of Services biography and explicit endorsement of Norths critique, which he describes as detailed, meticulous, well-argued and devastating. North described Services work as an example of pre-emptive biographyan attempt to discredit Trotsky in anticipation of an eruption of revolutionary struggle. This has immediate relevance in regard to the appearance of Joness comment in the pages of the Guardian. Its publication exposes once again how very right-wing the voice of Britains nominal liberal intelligentsia has become. Joness biography goes some way to explain why this is so. In an August 8, 2015, comment on the leadership campaign then being waged by Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour Party, Corbynites are kidding themselves if they think that pure socialism is the path to hope and change, Jones raised many of the themes he returned to this month. He claimed that his own infatuation with pure socialism ended in Moscow in the early 1990s, when he witnessed the death of a monstrous lie in which I had somehow, through a mixture of idealism, anger, alienation and intellectual pride, managed to implicate myself. His implication was a brief flirtation with joining the Communist Party of Great Britain, as the culmination of my student years as a serious and committed Marxist, a laughable notion. Jones the Marxist was intent on joining the party that defended all of Stalins crimes for decades and which was then busy repudiating Marxism. It hailed Margaret Thatcher for having halted forever the forward march of labour and championed the rightward shift of the Labour Party to an explicitly pro-capitalist agenda that ended with New Labour under Tony Blair. Jones instead cut out the middle man and completed his own journey rightward, as a well-paid media hack, by joining the Labour Party, declaring of himself, I am Labour, but I am not a socialist anymore. Outlining his own concerns then, and revealing why he has now produced what can be described as a pre-emptive art review, Jones warns that the failings of communism have been forgotten by too many people since the 2008 financial crisis started what looks to many like a true and profound crisis of capitalism. A runaway banking system and a society that seems to hugely favour the rich have since inflamed the radical socialist conscience. ... He rails against the anti-market obsession that has overtaken the thinking left, insisting that Markets are human, they have a powerfully creative side as well as a harsh unjust side, while threatening his readers with the warning, Greece has already found out what anti-austerity means in practice. There is nothing remotely progressive or left about Jonesand little that is not banal in his writings. As someone who recently pondered the question, Did the Mona Lisa have syphilis?, who has insisted that Princess Diana deserves the very best of British sculpture, and whose primary concern over Brexit is its possible disastrous impact on Londons cosmopolitan art scene, he is an unalloyed anti-communist and flunkey of the establishment. The authors also recommends: In Defense of Leon Trotsky (second edition) by David North The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century by David North Both books available from Mehring Books Bolshevism and the avant-garde artists (1993) French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron of En Marche outlined key measures in his program, which he will unveil at the end of February, this Saturday in Lyon. He is proposing deep austerity, dismantling the Social Security system, draconian police state measures and close collaboration with Germany on moves to further militarise the European Union (EU). Portraying himself as neither left nor right and claiming that politics is now only a battle between progressives and conservatives, he asked: I do not say that right and left dont exist anymore. But in historic moments, cant we get beyond such divisions? Trying to convince both right-wing and Socialist Party (PS) voters to back him, Macron praised former French presidents of all political stripes: To be moved by [PS President] Francois Mitterrands speech on Europe a few weeks before his death, did one have to be left-wing? To feel pride at Jacques Chiracs speech at the Vel dHiv, did one have to be right-wing? No! One had to be French! He also cited Philippe Seguin, the mentor of right-wing Les Republicains (LR) presidential candidate Francois Fillon. After occupying key posts, including senior adviser to PS President Francois Hollande and then economy ministerwhere he helped design the Responsibility Pact deregulation packageMacron left the government last summer. He formed En Marche, his electoral movement, in November . While making nationalist appeals to discontent among youth, workers and middle class people disillusioned with the traditional ruling parties, PS and LR, he speaks unabashedly for big business. Should he win the election, he would seek to continue the policies of PS and LR governments. The French presidential campaign is dominated by escalating conflicts between the major powers and the deep crisis of European and world capitalism. After the Brexit vote and the election of Trump, tensions are exploding inside the trans-Atlantic alliance, as Trump attacks the EU and backs the National Front (FN) in France and similar neo-fascist forces across Europe. Trumps economic nationalism, his overt hostility to German economic strength, and his war threats against China and the Middle East are all pushing the European ruling class to reconsider its alliances. As US-EU conflict intensifies, Macron proposed in Lyon to boost ties with Germany. Criticizing Trumps anti-immigrant policies, he said, There will be no wall in my program. In Lyon, Macron called for an increase of defense spending from 1.6 to 2 percent of Frances Gross Domestic Product (GDP), that is, a 9 billion increase each year. I want a more European defense, with partnerships between Germany and France, he said. He added, If we live in dangerous times, it is because the international context itself is dangerous. He branded Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia as rising authoritarian regimes, declaring: We must in this context hold our rank, know our history and its guiding logic. Macron aims to place the burden of stepped-up military spending and war planning squarely on the backs of the working class. He proposes to slash labor costs, social spending and business regulations, claiming this will simplify business creation and boost Frances economy. Macron wants an even harsher labor law than the one Hollande rammed through parliament last year, in the face of mass protests and overwhelming popular opposition. He intends to impose drastic reductions in the contributions to social spending employers pay on workers wages in order to move France towards a situation where workers will have no social or health protections. He said, I want labor to be cheaper, by cutting employers tax rates on jobs paying up to 2.5 times the minimum wage, and a 10 percent cut in taxes at the minimum wage. Macron tries to justify this policy by claiming that will boost workers purchasing power. His measures will only force workers to take private health insurance, however, and leave workers with ever smaller unemployment benefits if they are sacked. To liberate labor, I want it to be better paid, he said. We should re-finance health care and unemployment to cut payments made by workers. Then everyone will have more purchasing power. Macron is also proposing a few token measures to cover up his right-wing program, posing as a friend of education. He claimed he wants to increase teachers salaries, especially those working in disadvantaged priority zones. I want us to be able to halve the number of students per class in our schools. In primary schools, in all priority education zones, I will pay teachers who are going there much better. They will have more autonomy to carry out their projects. He promised to give every young person 500 when they reach the legal age of adulthood, as a youth pass to spend on cultural activities. Insofar as Macrons entire program is aimed at slashing social spending and workers legal rights, his proposals for minor handouts and wage increases to a few select categories of workers and his pose of concern for education and youth development are a reactionary farce. Aware that his program is no different and no more popular than the policies he helped formulate under Hollande, who became the most unpopular president in French history, Macron also proposes law-and-order measures handing extraordinary powers to police and intelligence services. He has pledged to recruit 10,000 police in the next five years, adding, We will reorganize our intelligence services, for a more efficient and omnipresent territorial intelligence presence. We will recreate a police service that is effective for daily security. Macrons candidacy has come to the fore particularly after Fillon, the LR candidate, was staggered by accusations that he organized the provision of fictitious jobs paying nearly 1 million in public money to his wife Penelope. According to recent polls, Macron would eliminate Fillon in the first round of April 23 vote, and face neo-fascist National Front leader Marine Le Pen in the May 7 run-off. He is thus at present the favorite to become Frances next president. Macron expressed his concern over this scandal, fearing that it would further alienate masses of people from LR and the PS and boost the far-right FN as a so-called anti-system party. He warned, We are living a moment where each day, scandals reveal practices of another time. Be serious in such times, because what is happening in our media and political life is not good for anyone. Because we are struggling to do everything so that what happens will not benefit to the party of the National Front. Because today, what is emerging in our country is a gangrene on democracy, it is generalized mistrust. Macrons posture as the best opponent of the FNs rise is a political fraud. His campaign itself intensifies the moods on which the FN is proposing, insofar as Macron has publicly met with and embraced nationalist far-right figures such as Philippe de Villiers. On Monday, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) submitted the paperwork to reapply for club status at New York University (NYU) after holding a well-attended rally and public meeting near campus last week. Roughly 400 students and faculty have signed a petition supporting the IYSSEs drive for official club status. Last semester, the NYU administration and the Student Activities Board (SAB) denied the IYSSE club status on fraudulent and antidemocratic grounds, claiming that the school lacks the funds to support the club and that the IYSSE is insufficiently distinct from the International Socialist Organization (ISO). The application begins by stating: The IYSSE represents the student movement of the Socialist Equality Party, a distinct political party with a unique history, perspective and program. The IYSSE is the only youth movement that adheres to orthodox Marxism. It is a Trotskyist party and it traces its roots through the struggle waged by Leon Trotsky against the Stalinist bureaucracy and the Russian Revolution of 1917 to the works of the original theorists of scientific socialism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. In response to the claim that the IYSSE and the ISO are too similar for both to merit clubs, the application states: The IYSSE and ISO represent two historically distinct tendencies whose differences date back to 1939/1940 and have diverged sharply on practically every political question over three quarters of a century. In fact, it was at this very campus that major differences between the Trotskyists and the ISOs predecessors, who became known as the Shachtmanites, took acute form. In 1940, NYU Professor James Burnham split from the Trotskyist movement as a leader of the Shachtmanites. Burnham went on to become a major inspiration of the American neoconservative movement and editor of the National Review . The IYSSE held a successful gathering off campus outside of Washington Square Park on February 2 that was attended by several dozen people. IYSSE and SEP speakers addressed the crowd and denounced Trump and the Democratic Party for laying the foundations for Trumps rise to power. At the rally, SEP member Fred Mazelis told the NYU students in attendance: It is important and commendable that youth from this school have joined this demonstration. However, students who want to oppose inequality, deportations, and war must expand their horizons beyond this campus. They must turn to the working class, to the exploited and historically progressive force that is capable of transforming society and reorganizing it along socialist and egalitarian principles. Another IYSSE member referenced the fact that at the time of the rally, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was holding an informational session on campus to recruit agents: NYU has barred the IYSSE from club status, but it opens its doors to the government so that it can hire deportation agents. These officials will be responsible for splitting children from their mothers and deporting people back to the violence caused by American imperialism in Central America, the Middle East, and worldwide. The IYSSE categorically opposes this. That night, the IYSSE held a public meeting titled The fight against the Trump administration: The way forward. The meetings keynote speaker was Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Joseph Kishore, who addressed a room of over 40 attendees. Trump did not come out of nowhere, Kishore said, nor is he a blemish on an otherwise pristine democratic system in America. Trump is the product of a deep crisis in American capitalism, in which the Democratic as well as the Republicans have presided over growing inequality and non-stop war. These are serious times, and serious times require serious politics, Kishore said. They require a rejection of pragmatic solutions. Among these is the idea that the Democratic Party can be transformed into an instrument for working people. Kishore explained the emergence of Trump from a historical standpoint. The Democratic Party has completely abandoned any pretense to be the party of social reform. Long gone are the days of the New Deal, the New Frontier, or the Great Society. Beginning in the 1970s, Kishore explained, the American ruling class unleashed a period of social counterrevolution that each president has escalated. Obama, Kishore insisted, represented a continuation of these attacks on wages, living standards, and social programs, and an expansion of US imperialist wars abroad. The eight years of the Obama administration set the stage for Trump, Kishore explained, by increasing the powers of the military, the deportation machine, and the intelligence agencies and by driving tens of millions to abstain from voting. The diverse crowd of mostly youth included high school students as well as students from NYU, CUNY, and Barnard. Kyra, a first year student at NYU, explained, I thought the rally was interesting. I received a pamphlet for it a few days ago, and I think it is important to defend immigrant rights, she said. What I was surprised at was the speakers attacking the Democratic Party because I have always been aligned with it. But it is two weeks of the Trump administration, and things are scary. Kyra agreed with connections the speakers brought out between US militarism and the refugee crisis. We have politicians who say they care about not starting another war, but they are the ones who made the problems themselves. The terrorists are the result of the US invasions of those countries. The refugees are just running from what we all detest. There is a tendency to blame the people who are the most disenfranchised for what is not their fault. For me, it comes down to the haves and the have-nots, she added. I want to hear more. Ali, a CUNY student who attended the meeting, gave his thoughts. Its only been two weeks since Trump took office, but it feels like two years with all thats happened. Its hard to process, he said. I think we got a detailed report with a lot of useful, significant information. To me the difference between the Democrats, the Republicans and the mainstream media are incidental. The message here needs to be widely disseminated. Alissa first encountered the Socialist Equality Party in Washington D.C. on a high school class trip to Washington, D.C. to protest Trumps inauguration. The speaker said Trump is a continuation from what was happening before. I am not a supporter of Trump but I want people to know that it is not true that this is just since Trumps been inaugurated. But now, more than ever, it is not going to go away, and not go away peacefully. That is because a lot of Trump supporters are not going to be peaceful. Trump supporters say he will give jobs back but he is against minorities and religiously bigoted. It is hard to see someone in his position who does not really see the problems. The Affordable Care Act was being discussed. Obama was supposed to give healthcare. Instead, low-income kids families will not be able to receive housing and healthcare and instead are condemned in a cycle to the bottom. The opposition of the young people in attendance to the policies implemented by Trump sheds further light on the urgent need to build a political movement based in the working class and aimed against the root cause for the rise of Trump: the capitalist system. The IYSSE expects a decision on its application from the SAB within two weeks. In an extraordinary appearance Monday at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, President Donald Trump dispensed with democratic protocol to deliver a political speech. He denounced the press and implicitly suggested the formation of a presidential-military alliance against the courts and the Constitution. In his brief remarks, Trump lavished praise on the Central Command and Special Forces Command troops that are based at MacDill. He began by thanking the military for its lopsided vote in his favor in last Novembers election. And I saw those numbersand you like me and I like you, he said. He continued: And were going to be loading [MacDill] up with beautiful new planes and beautiful new equipment Were going to load you up. He returned to this theme several times, stating at one point, We will make a historic financial investment in the Armed Forces of the United States Invoking the specter of radical Islamic terrorists, he darkly accused the press of deliberately downplaying the threat. Its gotten to the point where its not even being reported and, in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that. Following this suggestion that the press is aiding and abetting the terrorists, Trump promoted his anti-immigrant measures, without referring to them directly, and implicitly criticized the courts for temporarily blocking his anti-Muslim travel ban. We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism, and we will not allow it to take root in our country Youve been seeing whats been going on over the last few days. We need strong programs so that people that love us and want to love our country and will end up loving our country are allowed innot people that want to destroy us and destroy our country. The speech followed his tweets denouncing the judge who ruled against his travel ban and blaming any future terror attack on the court system. His top political aide, the fascist Stephen Bannon, has meanwhile told the press to shut up. Trumps speech comes in the midst of an intense conflict within the state over foreign policy and national security questions, involving not only the travel ban but also new attacks by the Democrats and much of the media for his supposed softness toward Russia. It also takes place in the context of ongoing demonstrations across the country and internationally in opposition to his racist immigration measures and other antidemocratic policies. The MacDill event marks a milestone in the long-term strengthening of the role of the armed forces in US political life and erosion of the constitutional principle of civilian control. Trump has packed his administration with retired generals, including James Mad Dog Mattis as secretary of defense, Michael Flynn as national security adviser, and John Kelly as head of the Homeland Security Department. The latter appointment for the first time places a military man at the head of a sprawling apparatus for domestic repression established as the internal component of the war on terror. These developments follow the sinister incident, which remains unexplained and virtually unreported by the media, that occurred toward the beginning of Trumps inaugural address. Ten officers from the various services lined up behind Trump and remained there long enough for the image of the new president flanked by uniformed military men to be broadcast across the country and internationally. This was no accident, but rather a calculated maneuver devised by Trump and advisers such as Bannon to present an image of a quasi-military government, prepared to crack down on opposition at home and wage war against multiple enemies abroad. The immense growth in the size, power and political influence of the military is not something new or unique to the Trump administration. Rather, as with every other manifestation of the decay of American democracy, with the Trump presidency a protracted process of decline has reached a qualitatively new stage. Twenty-five years of unending war following the dissolution of the Soviet Union have vastly increased the power of the military brass. The consolidation of a professional military has increasingly isolated the armed forces from civilian society, creating a distinct social caste that asserts its independent interests in the affairs of state ever more aggressively. The greater the level of social inequality, the more widespread the alienation of the working masses from the entire political system, the more the ruling financial oligarchy seeks to base itself on the military. Already in the 2000 election, in which the Supreme Court handed the White House to George W. Bush, the loser of the popular vote, by shutting down a vote recount in Florida, Democrat Al Gore agreed to Republican demands that illegal military votes in Florida, mainly for Bush, be counted. Both Bush and Barack Obama set records for the number of speeches they gave to military audiences. With Trumps chauvinist America First government of generals and billionaires, the semi-criminal financial oligarchy bares its teeth and removes the mask of democratic niceties. In the press and among the think tank strategists of the ruling class, the demise of the bedrock constitutional principle of civilian control of the military is being openly discussed and debated. The headlines of articles on the subject that have appeared since Trumps election include: Is Civilian Control of the Military in Jeopardy? (The American Conservative), The Civilian Control of the Military Fallacy (Defense One), and Trump is surrounding himself with generals. Thats dangerous (Washington Post). An article published by Foreign Policy in December by Georgetown University Professor Rosa Brooks argues that civilian control of the military has become a rule of aesthetics, not ethics, and its invocation is a soothing ritual that makes us feel better without accomplishing anything of value. The Democratic Party will not oppose the further politicization of the military and militarization of politics. On the contrary, in recent days media outlets aligned with the Democrats have presented the military brass as a democratic check on Trumps fascistic impulses. The New York Times responded to Trumps elevation of Bannon to the National Security Council and demotion of the director of national intelligence and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by urging Trump to seek advice in matters of war and peace from more thoughtful experienced hands such as Defense Secretary Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dunford. The Atlantic magazine published an article with the headline Are Trumps Generals Mounting a Defense of Democratic Institutions? There is no faction of the ruling class or its political representatives, Democratic or Republican, that will defend democratic rights. The collapse of American democracy, as with democratic institutions all over the world, is the outcome of the mortal crisis of American and world capitalism. It is up to the working class to take the lead in the defense of basic rights through an independent struggle for political power and socialism. Revelations stemming from the investigation into Brazils Lava Jato bribes and kickbacks scandal centered at the state-run energy conglomerate Petrobras have exposed the use of these same methods abroad, with Brazilian corporations, particularly the construction giant Odebrecht, bribing high-ranking public officers in order to secure lucrative public contracts. On December 21, the US Department of Justice made public that Odebrecht S.A. and Braskem S.A., a petrochemical company partly owned by Odebrecht, agreed to pay a stunning $3.5 billion in fines to Brazilian, US and Swiss authorities after pleading guilty to charges of bribing officials in 12 countries. The US took part in the prosecution basing itself on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which sanctions companies and individuals that directly or indirectly cause acts of corruption on US soil. (Odebrecht carried out infrastructure projects in Florida, Louisiana and Texas). Odebrecht and Braskem used a hidden but fully functioning Odebrecht business unita Department of Bribery, so to speakthat systematically paid hundreds of millions of dollars to corrupt government officials in countries on three continents, said US Deputy Assistant Attorney General Suh. In the settlement, Odebrecht admitted having paid US$788 million in bribes to public officials in Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Angola, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic. In Peru, company executives revealed that US$29 million was paid between 2005 and 2014, a timespan that includes the administrations of Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan Garcia (2006-2011) and Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), all of them right-wing governments dedicated to the protection and expansion of free-market policies that were imposed in the country during the 1990s. While Odebrecht was active since the late 1980s in Peru, and was one of the beneficiaries of the corrupt, autocratic government of Alberto Fujimori in the 90s, there has yet to emerge conclusive evidence of illegal practices during that time. Fuerza Popular, the party headed by Fujimoris daughter Keiko, has made it clear that it will oppose any attempt to investigate Odebrecht-related corruption under the Fujimori government, using its control over the legislature. Among the major figures that may be targeted by prosecutors are the current Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who was prime minister under the Toledo administration, current mayor of Lima Luis Castaneda, who held the same post from 2003 to 2010, and the former mayor of Lima Susana Villaran, who unexpectedly rose to office in 2010 with the support of the pseudo-left. During each of the last three governments a major infrastructure bid was secured by Odebrecht. Under the Toledo administration, it was the Inter-oceanic Highway, a project that would link Brazil to Peruvian ports in order to facilitate the export of products to China. Under Garcia, it was the construction of a substantial part of the Lima Metro. And under the Humala administration, it was the Gasoducto Sur Peruano, a gas pipeline project that would supply the countrys south with natural gas. The first major casualty in the Peruvian investigation is ex-president Alejandro Toledo who on the night of February 3 was accused by prosecutors of receiving $20 million in bribes for the construction of the Inter-oceanic Highway thanks to the revelations of a close collaborator, Jorge Barata, Odebrechts main man in Peru. It is reported that this money ended up in a money-laundering case in which the former president and his Israeli wife, Eliane Karp, acquired a mansion in Lima valued at US$3.7 million. Peruvian justice eventually absolved both of them. In an interview with the daily El Comercio, Toledo, who is currently in Paris attending an economic forum, denied taking the bribes and claimed a political witch-hunt by his enemies. He said that, while under his administration the price of the project was secured at US$850 million, it ended up rising to US$2.1 billion in the next administration of Alan Garcia. On Saturday, prosecutors gave the go-ahead for a raid on one of Toledos houses in Lima in the search of evidence linked to the Odebrecht bribes. They claim to have already found US$11 million in the offshore accounts of Israeli businessman Josef Maiman, one of Toledos allies. If Peruvian and international prosecutors ask for his extradition and he is found guilty in a subsequent trial, Toledo would become the second ex-Peruvian president sitting behind bars: Alberto Fujimori was convicted in 2009 of human rights violations in the dirty war against the Sendero Luminoso guerrillas and subsequently against the resistance of the working class to the free market measures ordered by Washington. Ironically, Toledo was catapulted to the national stage as the overblown symbol of the democratic resistance to the autocratic Fujimori regime during its last years, when it was collapsing amidst filthy corruption scandals. Once elected, he continued and deepened Fujimoris submission to Washington and big business. With Toledo in the crosshairs of the Lava Jato investigation, the position of the current president, Kuczynski, is becoming increasingly precarious. He was Toledos most powerful prime minister, and evidence may turn up that he also was involved in the corrupt deals with Odebrecht. The congressional Lava Jato Commission has declared that it is almost inevitable that the president will be called to testify. This could not come at a worse time for Kuczynski. After landslides ravaging most of the Andean region of the country, violent protests in Lima against an excessive highway toll, and a humiliating conflict with the fujimorista-controlled congress over the removal of a minister of education, the presidents approval rating has fallen 11 points in one month. Two public officers from the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) under the APRA party government of Alan Garcia have already been detained in connection with Odebrechts Lima Metro project. Edwin Luyo, a member of the bidding committee for the Metro, admitted to receiving bribes from Odebrecht and said he could become a witness for the prosecution, while Jorge Cuba, the deputy minister of the MTT, disappeared for some weeks before returning to Lima to face charges. The accusations of bribes and corruption in connection with the construction of the Metroa project whose cost rose from US$583 million to US $900 millionhave thrown the APRA party and its upper echelons into crisis. This party, the oldest one in Peru, was throughout the 20th century a political force that mobilized a substantial part of the Peruvian working class under a reformist bourgeois program. With its first and second periods in power (both under Alan Garcia,) it was transformed into a club of powerful lobbyists centered around the figure of Garcia, a reported multi-millionaire. Currently, it is completely discredited amongst the working class and youth, who view it as the symbol of corruption in the country. The response to the prosecution of Luyo and Cuba from the party leadership around Garcia has been to shield the former president and place political responsibility for the corrupt deals on the minister of transportation at the time: Jorge Cornejo, who is seen by many as a rising star in the party after a relatively successful participation in the last elections for the mayor in Lima and a potential challenger to Garcias near-total domination of the party. Cornejo, who declared some weeks ago that APRA would disappear if Alan Garcia keeps leading it, has charged that the orders to scapegoat him come from Garcia himself. The party responded by stripping him of his rights inside APRA. Meanwhile, in the camp of the pseudo-left, the former mayor of Lima, Susana Villaran, will be summoned to the congressional committee investigating the Odebrecht bribes in connection with the Vias Nuevas de Lima project awarded by the city to Odebrecht in 2012. Elected in 2010, Villaran was a relative newcomer to Peruvian politics who benefited from popular disaffection from the traditional bourgeois parties. From the start, she came under the political influence of individuals linked to the Partido dos Trabalhadores (Workers Party) of former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and the ousted Dilma Rousseff, such as the Argentinian-Brazilian political operator and former member of the French Lambertist OCI (International Communist Organization), Luis Favre. The pro-capitalist record of the PT in Brazil did not stop the pseudo-left in Peru from hailing her election and working with her. By promoting her as a viable alternative to the discredited parties, they paved the way for the return of the right-wing populist Castaneda who easily won the last elections. Now these same elements are either distancing themselves from her former administration or defending her against the charges. Also, there are indications that the main trade union federation, the CGTP, was working in support of Odebrecht. The online journal El Expreso Informativo de Moquegua reported that the CGTP had been promoting the demand that the state gave a US$5 billion credit for the construction of the Gasoducto Andino pipeline, the main project Odebrecht secured during the Humala administrationwhich the CGTP supported. At the end of January, the CGTP issued a statement lamenting the loss of 15,000 jobs due to the Odebrecht corruption investigations. These developments have left the ruling class nervously contemplating the discrediting of every party and political institution in Peru. A column in El Comercio, the Peruvian bourgeoises main voice, explains that for the majority of the population, the main discussion [about the politicians] is who got bribed less. It concludes by warning that the spectacle of corruption tainting the entire political establishment is rich soil for anti-system and anti-status quo sentiments. Sign up for the WSWS email newsletter Peace negotiations between the Philippine administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) abruptly broke down over the past week. On Tuesday, the Philippine military, with the full sanction of the president, declared all-out war against the CPP and its armed wing, the New Peoples Army (NPA). Since he took office in July, Duterte has, under the auspices of his murderous war on drugs, built up the apparatus of military rule, openly speaking on several occasions of his intention to declare martial law. He has at the same time, in a lurching and volatile manner, sought to rebalance Manilas diplomatic and political ties toward Beijing and increasingly away from Washington. Duterte has cultivated a base of support for his administration within the lower ranking officer corps and rank-and-file members of the military, whom he has promised massive pay rises. He is moving to turn over the prosecution of his drug crusade to the military, and has pledged to reconstitute a portion of the military as the Philippine Constabulary, the hated force of state repression created by the American occupation and deployed by Marcos to enforce martial law. He gave a state burial to the hated former dictator and is moving to implement a policy of mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) for high school students, effectively militarizing all of Philippine life. At the same time, he has relied upon the Communist Party of the Philippines and its front organizations to promote his fascistic agenda as progressive. On the basis of their Stalinist program of a two-stage revolution, the CPP and its front organizations have peddled his right-wing populist rhetoric and even promoted the idea that his war on drugswhich has now claimed over 7,000 victimswas of benefit to the working class and poor. The CPP appointed three cabinet level positionsSocial Welfare, Agrarian Reform, Anti-Poverty Commissionand one undersecretaryLaborto the Duterte administration. Duterte announced his public endorsement of vigilante killings on July 25 during a dinner hosted in his honor by BAYAN, the CPPs umbrella front group. BAYAN held a rally on the same day where they invited Bato de la Rosa, head of the Philippine National Police, directly responsible for carrying out the drug war, to address the crowd. The armed wing of the CPP, the NPA, announced that it would carry out executions of alleged drug criminals in support of the Duterte administrations policies. Meanwhile, the government opened peace negotiations with the CPP, which has been engaged in an armed struggle in the Philippine countryside since 1969, in keeping with its Maoist strategy of a protracted peoples war. Both the government and the CPP issued unilateral ceasefire orders for the duration of negotiations. By December, Duterte had declared in a speech that his administration was secure from destabilization because the Communists are willing to die for me. On January 19, during the third round of peace negotiations held in Rome, Joma Sison, founder and head of the CPP, declared that be believed that Duterte could prove that he is truly a patriotic and progressive president and fights against the imperialists and oligarchs for the benefit of the people. Duterte responded in late January by requesting that Washington remove the CPP from its terrorist watchlist. Yet within one week the ceasefire ended, and within two Duterte had declared the CPP to be terrorists and ordered the military to launch an all-out war against the party. What happened? While Duterte has sought to secure the support of lower ranking officer corps, the top military brass have all been trained in Washington and their loyalties are above all to the Pentagon, not the presidential palace of Malacanang. They were trained by Washington in the art of domestic suppression and for the past 48 years they have been at war with the CPP. Duterte has openly spoken of the rumblings from the military leadership in opposition to his rapprochement with Sison and the CPP, as well as his geopolitical reorientation. The military brass has gotten into the habit of publicly countermanding the president. When he declared that there would no longer be any joint war games staged with US forces, his Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana informed the press that this was not true and that the war games would continue. In a similar fashion, the military has staged, over the past several months, a series of provocations on the southern island of Mindanao designed to undermine the peace negotiations with the CPP. At the same time, there is an emerging fragmentation of the CPP leadership. On January 21 the Manila Standard reported that three factions were forming within the partys leadership: Joma Sison and the founding and older members of the party, now based in the Netherlands, were seeking a negotiated settlement with Duterte and a possible coalition government; Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, who headed the party in Sisons exile until their arrest in 2014, were seeking only the release of political prisoners; but Jorge Madlos, the NPA National Operational Command, wanted to continue armed struggle. This report closely corresponds to the political developments. In August, the peace negotiations were jeopardized when NPA units under Madlos carried out a firefight with military forces. On January 30, five days after the last round of peace negotiations, Madlos announced through the party Facebook page which he controlled, that he would be making an important announcement the next day. On January 31, he posted an announcement that he was calling off the CPPs unilateral ceasefire effective February 10 because of repeated military incursions. On the same day, Sisons right-hand man, Fidel Agcaoili, who is heading the CPP negotiating team through its National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) organization, issued a statement on a separate party Facebook page which the Netherlands group controls. He stated, We declare that as of today, there have been no orders from the CPP-NPA leadership to revoke its unilateral ceasefire declaration. The CPP-NPAs unilateral ceasefire remains in place. We strongly advise Secretary Dureza [head of the government negotiating team] not to raise the bogey of disunity among the ranks of the revolutionary movement. On February 1, NPA forces under Madlos engaged in a firefight with the military and killed three soldiers. The military claimed that the three killed had been arrested and executed, and their bodies desecrated. Madlos responded that their bodies had not been desecrated but that they were in an advanced state of decomposition when the government forces located them 24 hours later. In a separate encounter, NPA forces captured three other soldiers. Seemingly unable to control the flow of events, Agcaoili issued a statement on February 1 assuring the government that the recently announced termination of the NDFPs unilateral ceasefire does not mean the termination of the peace negotiations. On February 2, he issued another statement that the NDFP reiterates its commitment to move forward with the peace negotiations. He issued instructionswhich have thus far been disregardedfor the three soldiers held hostage to be released. The roots of the tension between the Netherlands group and the NPA forces under Madlos would seem to be over the disposition of the NPA forces in the wake of a successful peace deal. The NPA currently operates a fairly profitable racket for its leadership, exacting revolutionary taxes from local businesses for protection and permission to continue operation, particularly on the island of Mindanao. In a speech delivered in June, Sison proposed to transform the NPA into armed guards for industry, i.e., to become the agent directly engaged in suppressing the working class, as well as to integrate them within the Philippine Armed Forces. For both Sison and Madlos, the armed wing of the Communist Party exists to secure their political and economic privileges, and they are fighting over its disposition. Duterte responded with initial hesitation to the Madlos announcement that the unilateral ceasefire was ending. He warned in a speech that if he continued peace talks after the NPA attacked soldiers, the military might kill me, and whom will you be talking peace with if that happens? On February 3, he announced that the government was responding by lifting its unilateral ceasefire. On February 5, Duterte delivered a speech in which he gave full vent to his anger against the CPP. He denounced the party as spoiled brats and announced that there was no difference between the CPP and any terrorist organization. He said that he had no interest in resuming peace talks for the rest of his administration. The next morning he issued arrest orders for the 13 leaders of the CPP who had been released from prison to facilitate the peace negotiations, and the police arrested one of them that afternoon. The CPP leadership in the Netherlands responded to Dutertes declaration of war against the party, by reiterating that We continue to look forward to scheduled talks on February 2224. That evening Duterte held a cabinet meeting which the CPP appointed members attended. They issued a statement declaring, We will continue to engage within the Cabinet and the rest of the administration They hailed the political will of President Duterte which had allowed the peace talks to make historic strides and declared that the government and the CPP have never been closer in their articulation of a shared vision of a society that addresses the root causes of warpoverty and inequality. They continued, the foremost concern of both parties in the peace negotiations [i.e., Duterte and the Maoists] is the interest of the Filipino people to address the roots of poverty and achieve a just and lasting peace. While the CPP and its front organizations continued to hail Duterte as progressive and reiterate their desire to work with him, the military leadership latched onto his February 5 speech. Defense Secretary Lorenzana delivered a speech to a press conference on February 7 in which he declared that Duterte had asserted that there was no difference between the CPP and the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf. The military, he said, was launching an all-out war against the Communists. That afternoon, the Manila chapters of the front organizations of the CPP marched to the presidential palace to appeal to Duterte to urgently resume the peace negotiations. Not one of their statements denounced Duterte, but all blamed sections of the military leadership for leading him astray. The marchers were dispersed by the presidential security forces. Last Thursday US District Court Judge Robert H. Cleland signed an order dismissing a lawsuit filed by the United Auto Workers and others in the Michigan unemployment compensation robo-fraud scandal after the plaintiffs reached an out-of-court settlement. In the order, the judge referenced a deal reached between lawyers for the UAW, the Sugar Law Center in Detroit and seven individuals who had been wrongly accused of unemployment fraud and representatives of the Michigan State Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) and Michigan Talent Investment Agency. The suit, first filed in spring 2015, was a result of the faulty review of 50,000 UIA cases undertaken by the agency between 2013 and 2015. A computer program regularly falsely flagged unemployed workers as perpetrators of civil fraud. However, the settlement leaves many affected workers out in the cold and fails to answer legal issues affecting most of the falsely accused, some who were forced to pay back tens of thousands of dollars. A separate class action suit filed against the state in September 2015 by Royal Oak attorney Jennifer Lord is still held up in Michigan Claims Court and the Michigan Appeals Court. Those cases relate to workers who received benefits after September 9, 2012 and were part of the false fraud charges. Most of the facts of the scandal are no longer in dispute. Innocent workers were dunned for applying for or receiving unemployment benefits and forced to pay back as much as 400 percent of the benefits they received. Twelve per cent interest was tacked on to past due amounts that compounded over a time period based on a look back done during 2013-2015. The scandal is an ongoing Kafkaesque nightmare, as many workers were never even aware of the charges against them, much less afforded a chance to defend themselves until their tax returns and paychecks were subject to state garnishment. One autoworker reported she wasnt notified of a problem until the summer of 2016 when the state started garnishing her wages at an auto supplier. The alleged UIA debt dated back to a 2012 claim for $1,000. By 2016 it had grown to $23,000 with penalties and interest. By its own recent admission the UIA says most of the unemployment fraud accusations it made against some 40,000 unemployed Michigan workers over the past several years were bogus. Nevertheless, the judges order makes clear that the state is admitting no wrongdoing. The federal order and settlement result in no sanctions and no jail time for state officials. Meanwhile, Governor Rick Snyder, infamous for his role in the Flint water crisis, has tried to deflect blame for the scandal. In January he shuttled one of the main defendants in the federal case, Sharon Moffett-Massey, from her position as director of the unemployment agency to another position in the state unemployment system. The federal order makes clear that the state is not liable for monetary damages beyond repayment of money the state unfairly collected. When or if the vast majority of the money falsely extorted will be returned is still unsettled. The settlement ends litigation the UAW has been involved in for more than two years. The sweetheart deal ending the lawsuit comes as 1,300 workers at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant face layoff in early March and thus will join the unemployment lines. New Talent Investment Agency/UIA head Wanda Stokes said that many of the mandated changes in the settlement had already have been put in place in the fall of 2015 at the agency. However, workers contacted recently by World Socialist Web Site reporters said they are still facing challenges in collecting money they are owed. A scathing state Auditor-Generals report citing massive deficiencies in Michigans unemployment agency caused officials to stop using the computer as sole arbiter in UIA cases in August of 2015. Under that system, workers claims were flagged, charged and dunned, all without human review. Claimants were not given a real opportunity to contest the charges before their assets and paychecks were dunned. According to the 2014 Auditor Generals report, the UIA was found to be answering only ten percent of calls for help from distressed claimants after the UIA laid off 400 workers in cost-cutting efforts in 2013. The state then relied on the unemployment computer claims system named MiDAS to flag claims for civil fraud. In the settlement, state officials promised that a live person will now answer a distinct phone number at the UIA for claimants still waiting for resolution of their cases. They indicated the special phone line was necessary because most Michigan unemployment claimants never speak to a person when they call. The order also contains language ordering state officials to report to the federal court on the results of implementation of changed practices in the agency. This second tranche of the 2013-2015 bogus fraud cases number about 28,000 and now are under review. Here also a 93 per cent error rate has been found in the cases that have been reviewed by agency personnel so far. The state told the court the review of the second tranche of flagged UIA cases would take up to six months. With a 30-day window after that to pay, according to the court case settlement, it could take seven months for aggrieved workers to get any of their money back. Claimants owed money by the state still face challenges getting payment. The state said before the federal order came down that they had returned only about $5.4 million to just 2,571 claimants falsely accused of fraud. On the other hand, the UIA Contingent Fund, where incoming dollars from improper fines leveled in UIA cases composed a substantial part of the revenue, went from $3.1 million in 2011 to $160 million in 2016. This was despite diversion of at least ten million dollars from the fund to the state budget. Coinciding with the UIA scandal has been an alarming uptick in bankruptcies. The recent settlement is too late to help many workers, who have already lost everything in deals with state collectors. Huntington Woods bankruptcy attorney Drew Millitello told the Detroit Free Press that bankruptcy cases involving the Attorney General of Michigan collecting on claimed UIA debt in bankruptcy court have exploded in number. He told the Detroit newspaper in January of this year: We never had UIA cases before this happened, and that since the inception of MiDAS, we see them all the time. It is unclear if the families who were thrust into bankruptcy after being hit with false fraud claims can recover the tens of thousands of dollars unfairly seized from them by the state under voluntary settlements. In the same report Royal Oak bankruptcy attorney Shirley Horn said her research showed that between May 15, 2015 and Sept. 29, 2016, the Michigan Attorney General filed at least 752 adversarial proceedings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, to recover alleged overpayment of unemployment insurance benefits of which 403 of nearly 600 cases resolved involved such a consent judgment or settlement. In October 1917, in the midst of the slaughter of World War I, the Russian working class, acting under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, overthrew the capitalist provisional government headed by Alexander Kerensky and established the first workers state in world history. Less than nine months earlier, Russia had been ruled by a monarchical dynasty headed by Tsar Nicholas II. The revolution was the beginning of the end of the imperialist war. The Russian Revolution marked a new stage in world history. The overthrow of the capitalist Provisional Government proved that an alternative to capitalism was not a utopian dream, but a real possibility that could be achieved through the conscious political struggle of the working class. Despite the ultimately tragic fate of the Soviet Unionwhich was destroyed by the betrayals and crimes of the Stalinist bureaucracyno other event in the past century had such a far-reaching impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of people on every part of the planet. On this page, readers will find many essays and lectures published over more than 20 years on the World Socialist Web Site examining the significance and lessons of the revolution and its impact around the world. Bryan Health and Holmes Elementary joined forces to raise $16,000 through their Big Change Challenge, a fundraiser that will benefit students at the elementary school and patients and families at the Bryan Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. At Bryan, its very important for us to give back to the community that has given us so much, said Wendy Muir, director of nursing at Bryan Medical Center. The Big Change Challenge was a great opportunity for us, because it allowed anyone who passed through our doors to get involved. Were very excited that this program will benefit young people of all ages, from our tiniest of patients in the NICU to the students at Holmes Elementary. In 2012, Bryan Health accepted an invitation to participate in the Big Change Challenge from Holmes Elementary School. Students, teachers and staff began collecting pennies and loose change at the Holmes campus to donate. At Bryan, a large Plexiglas enclosure was placed in the hospital lobby, which allowed patients, visitors, guests and staff to do the same. Several other groups from across the community also became involved and contributed to the cause, including students at Lincoln High School and students enrolled in the University of Nebraska-Lincolns English as a Second Language Program. Donations added up to $16,016, with the Plexiglas enclosure containing nearly three tons of loose change and bills. To remove the change, Bryan facility team members sawed off the top and secured the existing glass with straps to keep it together. Then, Holmes students helped scoop out all of the change. Proceeds from the challenge were split evenly between the two organizations. Holmes Elementary will use the donations to fund programs that will directly benefit students. At Bryan, the funds will benefit patient and family care efforts in the NICU. We were thrilled when Bryan Health accepted our invitation to participate in our Big Change Challenge, said Haeven Pedersen, principal at Holmes Elementary. Its very important that we teach our students how to be selfless and give back when they can. They learned a lot during this process, and its such a privilege to team up with an organization like Bryan and be able to help so many young people. Both organizations held contests in the days leading up to the big reveal to estimate how much money was stored in the enclosure. Bryan Health hosted a Facebook contest, in which the winner received a Total Indulgence Spa Package at Bryan LifePointe, while a lucky student at Holmes Elementary received a new iPad for the closest guess. MIAMI (AP) - Authorities say a Metromover train crashed into a boom lift in downtown Miami, killing one construction worker and injuring another. Miami-Dade police tell local news outlets the incident happened around 1 a.m. Wednesday. No passengers were on the train, which runs from 5 a.m. to midnight. Emergency crews took both men to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Ignatius Carroll told reporters one man was dangling from the side of the crane and was helped to the ground by co-workers. When crews arrived both men were on the ground. Metromover officials say they'll run buses in the areas affected by the crash. Another section of the train's loop through downtown isn't affected and is running as normal. Authorities are investigating. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida House is moving ahead with a proposal to end the state's tourism marketing efforts and shut down the organization charged with recruiting new businesses. A House panel on Wednesday voted in favor of legislation to end the programs despite, Gov. Rick Scott's insistence that the action could derail the state's economy. Shortly after the vote, Scott tweeted out that "politicians" in the House had "turned their backs on jobs today by supporting job killing legislation." Top House Republicans, including House Speaker Richard Corcoran, have derided the programs as "corporate welfare" that should be ended. It's unclear if the measure will ever go to Scott's desk. So far, Senate Republicans have shown no interest in the House proposal. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Deli customers at Publix may be asking, "Where's the meat?" The Tampa Bay Times (http://bit.ly/2lnk6nM ) reports that the Lakeland-based grocery chain has ended a long-standing practice of giving customers complimentary slices of deli meat when they place orders at the deli counter at some stores. Publix deli workers would often give the customer the initial slice to examine the thinness or thickness of the meat. But Publix began to shift away from that practice at some of its stores about two weeks ago. Now customers have to request the test slice. Publix media relations manager Brian West says the company has made the change at a few dozen stores in central Florida on southwest Florida. Publix has more than 1,000 stores in the Southeastern United States. ___ Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) RACINE Charges have been filed against five men in the shootout and fiery Downtown crash that sent three people to the hospital in February 2016. The charges were filed Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court, just over a year to the date of the Feb. 6, 2016, incident. Three of the men charged Lushious L. Hand and brothers Romero D. Ellison and Larry Ellison Jr. are currently incarcerated. Arrest warrants have been issued for the other two defendants. Their names are not being released at this time. Hand, 26, and Romero D. Ellison, 21 and Larry Ellison Jr., 26, all of Racine, each face four counts of first-degree attempted intentional homicide and six counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Larry Ellison Jr. and Hand also have been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Although many of the defendants in the case were identified early on in the investigation, Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson said Tuesday that the incident was so chaotic that a decision was made to wait for forensic evidence in the case to be analyzed by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab before filing charges. There were also more than 100 witnesses that had to be entered into the system for the cases, she said. This was an extremely serious offense, and it is important that we issue charges with the best evidence going forward as we seek convictions for all of those involved, Hanson said, encouraging any witnesses who have not come forward to contact police. Crash The first man to be charged in the case, Delvin S. Hoard, was convicted in November of discharging a firearm from a vehicle and sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the shootout. At that time, Hoard was the only man charged in connection with the shootout and chase, which reached speeds of 85 mph as people inside the two vehicles reportedly were shooting at each other. The chase ended when one of the vehicles, a Buick SUV, crashed into the Haymarket Building at the northwest corner of Main and Fifth streets. The other vehicle, a Lincoln SUV, tipped onto its passenger side. Racine police who responded to the scene at 2:40 a.m. found the Lincoln engulfed in flames. Officers spoke with numerous witnesses who stated that they heard gunshots prior to the crash and later saw people running from the scene. When police arrived, they reportedly found a passerby giving CPR to Romero Ellison, who police later learned was the driver of the Lincoln. Romero Ellison suffered a brain bleed was put into a medically induced coma as a result of the crash, his complaint states. His brother, a passenger in the Lincoln who police reportedly found with blood pouring down his face, sustained a broken hip and leg injury. A woman riding in the Buick the same vehicle as Hoard reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to her hip/back area. Hand, who was riding with the Ellisons, did not suffer any injuries, the complaint states. Shootout Hoard reportedly told police that he, and the three other people that had been traveling in a silver Buick SUV, had gone to the LRC bar, 2405 Racine St., Mount Pleasant, that night, then to Popeyes restaurant at Ninth Street and Washington Avenue in Racine. It was on the way to Popeyes that the driver allegedly handed Hoard a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun. After arriving at the restaurant, the Buick became pinned in by the Lincoln, Hoard told police. Someone inside the SUV fired two shots at them near 10th Street and Washington Avenue and the chase and shootout ensued. Hoard reportedly told police that he only shot the gun because his driver was yelling at him to do something. The injured woman said shooting ensued shortly after both cars left Popeyes, with people in both vehicles exchanging fire. Probable cause was found Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court to pursue charges against Romero D. Ellison, who is currently an inmate at Green Bay Correctional Institution. Court appearances for the other defendants are expected in the coming days. Authorities say a woman who surrendered to authorities following a standoff at a west Georgia motel is being questioned by investigators from Florida and Alabama. Troup County sheriff's Sgt. Stewart Smith said 37-year-old Mary Rice was being held Wednesday morning in the county's jail. An initial court hearing had not yet been set. A tip called in Tuesday afternoon led law enforcement to the motel in West Point, Georgia, where Rice and 44-year-old William "Billy" Boyette were holed up in a room. Authorities say Boyette fatally shot himself after Rice surrendered. The pair had been on the run since Jan. 31, when the bodies of two women were found at the Emerald Sands Inn in the Florida Panhandle. They also are suspected in the Feb. 3 death of Peggy Broz in Lillian, Alabama. A fourth victim who was shot early Monday when authorities say Rice and Boyette went to her home in Florida died on Tuesday. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said the two also took the car that belonged to Kayla Crocker, 28. Her 2-year-old child was not injured. ___ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - February is Black History Month and our first 2017 edition of African-American Icons is a story of redemption. An ex-felon, now dedicated to merging the gap between corrections and community. Pastor Gregory James is an example of how one man has turned his life around and is now giving back. "It was like a breath of fresh air, like I could breathe again," said Pastor James. Sentenced to life plus 40 years in federal prison for being part of a drug conspiracy scandal, Pastor Gregory James was released in 2008 after more then a decade behind bars. He said, "The thing that was so amazing is that I was excited and I have a chance now to mend or correct some of ills that I had partaken in." Since his release Pastor James has reclaimed his role in the church, launching the ex-offenders national summons, which helps bridge the gap between the department of corrections and community members. "I had family support -- a lot of community support," said Pastor James. "So one of my goals was that I am going to work hard so that the men who were coming out have what I had." Pastor James also serves as a support system for his congregation in times of recovery, including helping residents who are affected by disaster, most recently lending a hand to victims of Hurricane Hermine. "I opened up the church and in doing so the community at large came in and started giving support," he said. "We fed meals 3 times a day, we had people spending the night in the church." Pastor James not only ministers in the church but over the radio as well. "It's a show that empowers our community," said Pastor James. "It gives me the opportunity to keep the community aware and abreast of what's going on. It gives me the chance to talk to officials from a state, local, and even national level." Now almost a decade after being released, Pastor James has made an immeasurable impact on his church and local community and says his past is what motivates him to make his future brighter. "The motivating factor is that no one is telling me what time to get to the chow hall, no one is telling me to state my number to go into an office," said Pastor James. "The motivating factor is that I've got live to make a difference in someones life and that's what I'm going to do." Going the extra mile to help others; that's what makes Pastor Greg James an African-American Icon. Pastor James continues to advocate for those incarcerated and the families affected. One of his most notable projects include "Champion", a group that supports children of parents behind bars. James has also led several empowerment marches and job fairs to help ex-felons re-enter society. Be sure to tune into WTXL ABC 27 every Tuesday evening during the month of February, for our African-American Icon series. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Some of Florida's community health care leadership traveled to the capitol Tuesday, asking the state for continued funding to keep their clinics in business. According to supporters, small community-based health centers provide care to more than 1.3 million Floridians annually, at over 450 locations. About one-third of these patients are uninsured, and more than 40 percent are enrolled in medicaid. With changes and uncertainty surrounding the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act, community health center supporters say it is important to make lawmakers aware of the services provided to under served populations. Speaking at a news conference inside the capitol, Republican State Senator Aaron Bean said more federal funding is needed, regardless of what happens with Obamacare. "What is truly amazing is how much they do with how little they are given. That is just what they do," said State Sen. Aaron Bean, R- Fernandina Beach. "I don't think that they know anything different, other than to take care of Floridians that are in need." Bean says New York, which has almost the same population as Florida, receives about ten times the amount of federal funding as the Sunshine State. KISSIMMEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - The seductive lure of neon flashing lights, explosions endangering workers and first responders, and bandits enticed by stockpiles of cash. The parade of horribles seems endless for local government officials grappling with an anticipated "green rush" in Florida after voters in November overwhelmingly approved a measure legalizing medical marijuana for hundreds of thousands of patients with debilitating conditions. More than two dozen counties --- and about four dozen cities --- have enacted moratoriums temporarily banning medical marijuana dispensaries from opening, and many more are considering measures to regulate the industry. While marijuana is already legal in the state, a 2016 law restricted possession and sales of "full-strength" cannabis to terminally ill patients. The medical community is divided on whether doctors are now legally allowed to register patients who are eligible under November's Amendment 2 --- a much broader class of patients --- into a statewide database that gives patients the ability to obtain marijuana from dispensaries. About 2,000 patients are registered in the database, but that number is expected to eclipse 500,000 before the end of the year, according to Florida Department of Health estimates. "This is coming to a city or a county where you live very soon," state Office of Compassionate Use Director Christian Bax told a packed audience of more than 350 elected officials, industry representatives and hangers-on Saturday at the Florida Association of Counties Medical Marijuana Summit near Orlando. Bax laid out a potential Pandora's box of evils local governments can expect to encounter as Florida's marijuana industry --- potentially one of the largest in the nation --- ramps up. "You're going to have people who think marijuana is just legal. You're going to see people who think they can just grow it in their backyard. You're going to see people who think that, because they've been ordered (it) by a doctor, they can consume or over-consume and get behind the wheel of a car," Bax said. Bax always predicted that "gray markets" would begin to pop up. "You're going to see people who are at best confused and at worst are doing something inappropriate and hanging a shingle or attempting to hang a shingle without any kind of licensure or approval," he said. The constitutional amendment, which went into effect last month, gives the Department of Health six months to craft rules to implement the measure and another three months to put the rules into effect --- an expedited timeline for state rulemaking, Bax frequently points out. This week, health officials began holding a series of public hearings across the state on the proposed rules. And state lawmakers are also considering legislation to implement Amendment 2. Bills will be considered during the session that begins next month. While some county commissioners left Saturday's day-long event feeling reassured about the nascent marijuana industry's imprint on their turf, others remained skeptical. Manatee County Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said she learned at the meeting Saturday morning that a medical marijuana dispensary would soon open in Bradenton, one of the few cities in her county. Manatee County in December approved a six-month moratorium on retail marijuana operations, but most county moratoriums don't prevent cities from allowing dispensaries. "They did not have to go through a public hearing. They just had to go through permitting in the city of Bradenton," DiSabatino told The News Service of Florida. The downtown location is worrisome because, DiSabatino said, it's near to a one-stop center where homeless people can receive meals and medical treatment and is just a few blocks away from a Pittsburgh Pirates training center. The Bradenton marijuana dispensary will be one of several locales operated by Trulieve, one of a handful of "dispensing organizations" licensed by state health officials to grow, process and distribute medical marijuana products. Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers told The News Service the Bradenton dispensary was approved before the county passed its moratorium. DiSabatino is among a growing number of local officials banking on the state Legislature to implement regulations regarding Amendment 2, which received more than 71 percent approval from voters in November. Meanwhile, the local moratoriums --- temporary bans on permitting and zoning for dispensaries --- are intended as status quo placeholders while officials wait for lawmakers, or the Department of Health, to impose new rules. "I don't know that there's that many cities that are hardcore against it. A lot of them are in the sense of, if we've got to have it, that's fine, but we want to make sure they're in the areas where it's safe, away from traffic, away from schools and all that sort of stuff," Florida League of Cities assistant general counsel Ryan Padgett said recently. "This isn't a CVS or Walgreens. (Dispensaries) are in a different ball game. And a lot of people are trying to distinguish what category we put these in." Powerful odors, fire hazards --- a number of volatile chemicals can be used in enclosed spaces to process the cannabis products --- and traffic congestion are among the issues local officials are concerned about in an industry that state lawmakers have said they will not tax because it is a medicine. "It's not any one thing, but it's kind of that drip, drip, drip, drip, drip that has a lot of cities concerned," Padgett said. "We're going to have to do all this extra stuff to deal with this. That's going to take resources and somebody's going to have to pay for it." While most county officials view the entree of legal marijuana in their communities with trepidation, others have a more blase --- or even welcoming --- approach. Alachua County achieved notoriety decades ago for a potent strain of marijuana known as "Gainesville Green." The county is now home to two dispensing organizations, licensed by the state to grow, process and distribute medical marijuana. County commissioners not only rejected a recent recommendation by staff to impose a moratorium on dispensaries, local officials also did away with a sign that once greeted visitors at the county line by advertising a "zero drug" tolerance policy. The new signs now extol Alachua as a place "where nature and culture meet." As in other communities, county officials are being inundated with requests from potential businesses seeking information about zoning and other restrictions, county attorney Michele Lieberman told attendees at Saturday's meeting. A potential marijuana business operator requested information about the county's zoning, Lieberman said. The unidentified company sought the data before its competitors could grab up all the "good locations," it said. "Ours will be very classy," the letter read. Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, told the crowd this weekend that lawmakers don't plan to keep counties and cities from imposing their own regulations or zoning on the marijuana industry. Because the Constitution now requires the public to have access to medical marijuana, moratoriums could be challenged if they keep patients from getting treatment. "In looking at some of the different proposals where a community is going to be forced to choose between a certain number (of dispensaries) or is explicitly authorized to ban locations in their communities, then we do need to have a conversation about access," Rivers said. She and other industry executives are trying to work with local officials to resolve concerns about the numbers of dispensaries and where they are located. "We suggest cautious regulation to assist law enforcement and local elected officials, such as setbacks from schools and places of worship," said Nikki Fried, a consultant for the Green Solution, based in Alachua County. Tallahassee, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida State University Police arrest a man in connection to a sexual assault at a campus sorority house in October 2016. Based on arrest warrants obtained by FSUPD, Adam James Rooks, 29, of Hoschton, GA, was booked for attempted sexual battery and burglary of a dwelling with person assaulted. Rooks turned himself in to the Leon county jail on February 4th and is being held on a $275,000 bond. Significant progress was made on the case due to an anonymous tip after Rooks likeness was posted with a request for assistance by the FSUPD. The investigation was launched after a student reported she was assaulted while home in bed at her sorority house on October 29, 2016. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Residents in one Tallahassee neighborhood are meeting with the city's local planning agency to go over a proposal to rezone property that currently includes the Parks and Recreation headquarters. More than 11 acres in Myers Park is being considered for central urban use instead of recreation and open space. It's a plan that's been discussed for months and Tuesday night, the public gets a chance to chime in. We've talked to residents in this neighborhood before about this issue. They oppose the plan to get rid of the existing parks and rec buildings and to develop housing in that area instead. "The city government leaders are making decisions without thinking of the unintended consequences of those decisions," said Mary Frederick, a Woodland Drives resident. "That is our community center, but it serves the whole city," said Valerie Conner, a Myers Park resident. "So to lose that for a development that is essentially unnecessary is really disturbing." The neighborhood has organized a significant effort on social media, urging people to come to this meeting wearing the color red. The city has held two public open houses already. If you'll remember, this proposal comes after the city decided to stop plans to build a wall to keep out sounds coming from Cascades Park. The Planning Department is recommending approval of the proposal. If it gets the green light, the plan still needs to be looked at by the Architecture Review Board. Reporter Stephen Jiwanmall is at the meeting now and will be bringing you updates. RACINE Racine police along with the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin are warning of a new phone scam making its way through the area which simply starts with a question: Can you hear me? The callers goal is to get the person who answers to instinctively say yes to the question. That yes can be recorded and edited to make it sound like the victim authorized a major purchase without his or her knowledge or consent, according to Lisa Schiller, the BBBs director of investigations and media relations. The most compelling of these reports describe receiving a call, saying yes, and immediately or very soon after learning of fraudulent charges to debit or credit cards despite not having given card information to the caller, Schiller said. Investigators arent sure what the exact connection is between the calls and the charges, if any. Racine Police Sgt. Adam Malacara advised residents to never give out personal information over the phone. If you dont recognize the number, dont answer the phone. As the article states, if you do answer the phone and you hear can you hear me, hang up the phone, Malacara said. While RPD reports only a couple of local calls, the BBB reports as many as 350 around the state since Jan. 30. The submissions continue to pour in each day. Nationally, more than 2,400 have been reported to BBBs across the country, Schiller said. The setup to the call has been reported a number of ways including, Hi, this is Josh from customer service. Can you hear me? Schiller said theyve also received reports of the scam starting with everything from a mention of youve won a cruise to youve won a Disney vacation, auto warranty, insurance, and credit card solicitation calls. The endgame with these calls remains a mystery, Schiller said. We still have very few reports involving a dollar loss, and even then its not totally clear the loss was really due to saying yes and, if it was, how it works. To report the scam or check out which scams are reported in Racine County, the BBB has a scam tracker on its website: bbb.org/scamtracker. MADISON Gov. Scott Walker is set to deliver his budget address today, with some proposals already announced and many details that wont be known for some time. On Tuesday, Walker unveiled his University of Wisconsin System plan, which was highlighted by a 5 percent tuition cut for in-state students and an overall increase of more than $100 million in state funding. The governor on Tuesday also called for $39 million to eliminate a waiting list affecting care for 2,200 children with developmental, physical or severe emotional disabilities. And Walker previously said he will propose $649 million more for K-12 schools and introduced a welfare reform package putting work requirements on parents receiving food stamps. Walker is expected to address those subjects and more at 4 p.m. Wednesday, when he delivers his budget address in the state Capitol. But key details on how money would be allocated wont be known until after the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau provides its analysis in the coming weeks. The Joint Finance Committee will begin its deliberations this spring before the Legislature adopts a 2017-19 budget, which could come in June. Vos opposes tuition cut Walkers proposed tuition cut has been met with resistance from some in his own party, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. I favor keeping tuition where it is and making sure we have adequate financial aid, Vos said in an interview shortly before the governor released his plan. According to the Governors Office, Wisconsin students would save an average of $360 per year under the proposal. The UW System would receive an increase of $35 million in general purpose revenue to pay for the tuition cut. Our investment today ensures student success by making college even more affordable, providing greater opportunities for students to earn their degree, and helping to bridge the gap between higher education and our workforce, Walker said in a statement. We want our students to fuel the growth of our economy. Vos added he supports allocating more money to the university system, noting it has absorbed significant cuts in the past. The last state budget cut UW System funding by $250 million. University of Wisconsin-Parkside officials did not provide comment. County applauds proposal In addition to eliminating the waiting list for children needing long-term support, Walker said his budget will call for more money to be allocated to foster care, nursing homes, drug courts and children and family aid. Officials said the proposal, unveiled Tuesday in front of the Wisconsin Counties Association, addresses many priorities of counties. Racine County Human Services Director Hope Otto called the plan county-friendly and said it addresses areas that have been underfunded for years child welfare, treatment court and childrens long-term care services. I am hopeful that this will translate to continued sustainable funding for these vital services in Racine County, Otto said. Transportation battle ahead Vos and other local legislators have lobbied heavily for Walker not to delay Interstate 94 construction in Racine County. But Vos and Peter Barca, the Assembly Democratic Leader who represents part of the county, say they have seen nothing to indicate Walker has changed his mind about the I-94 north-south project. The proposed state Department of Transportation budget, which was released last fall and figures to be one of the biggest budget battles, allocates no money toward the project, which extends from Milwaukee though Racine County and to the Illinois state line. I am not going to vote for a transportation budget that continues to say the I-94 north-south project is not important, Vos said. On K-12 funding, Vos and Barca generally favor the governors proposal but said they are waiting to see more details. Much will depend on how that money is distributed, Barca said. Its a step in the right direction, if in fact that money is going to be distributed in an equitable manner, Barca told The Journal Times Editorial Board on Monday. Until we see it, I dont know. But obviously Im heartened he didnt cut education, that he actually appears to be putting money in for the first time. Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form MADISON A bill easing access to a treatment for seizures and other medical conditions has passed the state Senate, clearing a hurdle that thwarted the legislation last year. The bill offers a fix to Lydias Law, named after a 7-year-old Burlington girl who died in 2014. Lydias Law legalized cannabidiol, or CBD oil, which is a marijuana extract shown to work for at least some children suffering from seizures. However, advocates say Lydias Law has not worked as intended because Wisconsin families have been unable to access the oil. Under the proposal, a person can possess CBD oil without a prescription as long that person has a written certification from a Wisconsin-licensed doctor that the oil is for treatment of a medical condition. The bill requires that certification be no more than one year old, which is similar to prescription drugs, officials said. It also stipulates that if the federal government changes its classification of CBD oil its labeled as a schedule I drug, the same as marijuana the state will mirror those changes within 30 days. The bill allows families to possess and use CBD oil without fear of state or local prosecution, said state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, who authored the legislation. He said he was ecstatic to give hope to families across the state, adding the bill was the culmination of three long years of work. This bill is not only the compassionate thing to do, it is the right thing to do, Wanggaard said in a statement. Parents shouldnt have to risk jail time to treat their children. It is a sense of relief that we can ease the suffering and fear that too many parents experience trying to improve the lives of their children. While Democrats argued the bill doesnt solve difficulties in getting the oil, Wanggaard said it was a compromise and written narrowly to avoid concerns related to marijuana laws. Officials emphasized the bill does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational purposes or allow for the manufacture of CBD oil in Wisconsin. Wanggaard said people can travel to other states, such as Illinois or Minnesota, to obtain the oil and bring it back without being penalized. State Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, voted yes but said more work needs to be done so families dont have to travel out of state. We can move forward with this, but hold the confetti, pause the parade, Larson said during Senate debate. The Senate passed the measure 31-1, with Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, casting the lone vote against it. It now goes to the state Assembly. An Assembly committee hearing on the bill is scheduled for Feb. 15. The full Assembly is expected to vote on it next month. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has said passing the bill is a high priority. Sally Schaeffer of Burlington, whose daughter is the laws namesake, has been a leading advocate of CBD oil and legislation surrounding it. The original bill passed less than a month before Lydia Schaeffer died, having never received the treatment. Schaeffer said the bill was a good first step toward making the oil more readily available. Im thankful for Vans efforts and those in the Senate listening to the people of Wisconsin, she said. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. On the eve of Benjamin Netanyahus arrival at the White House for a meeting with Donald Trump, the US president is signaling to the Israeli prime minister his limits: He will be able to build within the existing settlements, but not to establish new ones and not to expand them beyond their borders. In short, he is telling him: Remain within the large settlement blocs. A building spree will be unacceptable. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The wording the White House chose to use in its statement were soft, but even with softness one can kill something that Trump or his hyperactive and unexpected team of advisors dont approve of. If the prime minister thought that he had the green light as soon as Trump took office, the president has made it clear that he is the one setting the tone. According to a special statement issued by the White House, The American desire for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians has remained unchanged for 50 years. While we dont believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal. Trump and Netanyahu before the US elections (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO) The wording is delicate, but the message is clear: Trump is making a further change in his stance on this issue, and at this stage, particularly after meeting with Jordans King Abdullah on Thursday, he supports the two-state solution and plans to put a lot of pressure in a bid to reach a peace agreement through his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has been tasked with this mission. Trump is not a man of small details. So far, he has engaged in hooligan diplomacy: He hung up on the Australian prime minister just because the latter dared to ask whether he would honor former President Barack Obamas commitment to take in 1,250 refugees who are in a detention camp in Australia. He proposed to the Mexican president to send American troops to take care of the bad hombres, he warned Iran in a tweet that he would not be as kind as Obama and on Friday night, he even imposed further sanctions on Tehran. Trump is not interested in the history of the countries, in the nature of their citizens, in diplomatic sensitivities and political constraints. The entire essence of his presidency and the reason he ran for president was to strike a deal. Now, he wants a deal between Israel and the Palestinians. He doesnt care about the details, but the wording of the statement indicates that, as we speak, there are people in the White House who are leaning over maps and marking the size of the bloc, the location of the border, what Netanyahu is permitted and forbidden to do. He doesnt have to know the exact location of Amona. He has large teams who have been working on the issue for two weeks, but he has made one thing clear to Netanyahu: There will be no building spree, not with him. Prime Minister Netanyahu will not be the first Middle Eastern leader to meet with Trump. Their meeting will be held in Washington on February 15. On Thursday, the US president met with the Jordanian king and discussed the issue with him. Earlier, he met with British Prime Minister Theresa May, and the issue was raised in their conversation as well. The European stance is clear, in favor of the two-state solution. President Trump and Jordan's King Abdullah, last week (Photo: AFP, Yousef Allan) Trump has changed his mind on the Israeli-Palestinian issue several times in the past. At first, at the start of the race, he said he would be neutral. Then he changed his mind and said that he supported Israels stance one hundred percent. Later, he said that if Israel wanted the two-state solution, he would support it but wont lead to it. In between, he also suggested that Israel should pay for the defense aid it receives from the United States. Then he reconsidered. The statement issued by the White House was aimed at making Netanyahu understand that he will not receive public support or silent support if he continues to expand the settlements. The statement was also aimed at indicating to the Palestinians and to the Arab states that despite what Trump may have said in the past, he is in no ones pocket and his sympathy for Israel does not mean that he is in Israels pocket. Trump plans to put a lot of effort into reaching a peace agreement between Israel and Palestinians. That is also the reason why the administration is dragging its feet on the issue of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump said he would do so as soon as he took office, but in the past two weeks his spokesman Sean Spicer announced that the talks on the embassys relocation were only in their initial stages. When he was asked about it again he said there was no decision and that were at the very early stages of that decision-making process. Netanyahu had hoped that with the end of Obamas term and Trumps arrival, he would be able to continue his policy both in expanding the settlements and building new ones and in failing to make progress towards negotiations with the Palestinians. Now Trump is signaling in the clearest way possible which direction he plans to lead in, and its no coincidence that the White House issued this statement immediately after the meeting with the Jordanian king and a few days before Trumps meeting with Netanyahu. The president may be new, but the old truth is clear to him too, regardless of his verbal affection for Israel: There is one solution, and it contains two states for two people. Trump, who has adopted in recent days in a diplomacy of defiance against the entire world, has made it clear to the Israeli prime minister that friends will get no discounts. BEIRUT The Syrian prison was known to detainees as "the slaughterhouse." Behind its closed doors, the military police hanged as many of 13,000 people over the course of four years before carting out their bodies by the truckload for burial in mass graves, according to a new report issued by Amnesty International. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The report, issued on Tuesday, said that 20-50 people were hanged each week, sometimes twice a week, at the Saydnaya prison in what the organization called a "calculated campaign of extrajudicial execution." The report covers the period from the start of the March 2011 uprising to December 2015, when Amnesty says between 5,000 and 13,000 people were hanged. Saydnaya Prison (Photo: Amnesty International) Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty's regional office in Beirut, said there is no reason to believe the practice has stopped since then, with thousands more probably killed. Amnesty said the killings were authorized by senior Syrian officials, including deputies of President Bashar Assad. "The horrors depicted in this report reveal a hidden, monstrous campaign, authorized at the highest levels of the Syrian government, aimed at crushing any form of dissent within the Syrian population," Maalouf said. Saydnaya Prison (Photo: Amnesty International) There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government on Tuesday, and Amnesty said Damascus didn't respond to its own letter seeking comment. Syrian government officials rarely comment on allegations of torture and mass killings. In the past, they have denied reports of massacres documented by international human rights groups, describing them as propaganda. The Amnesty report prompted a strong reaction from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who, "was horrified about what was in the report," according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Saydnaya Prison (Photo: Amnesty International) "We have repeatedly raised serious concerns about the grave violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law in Syria, including in detention centers and government-run prisons," Dujarric told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. "What is important is that there needs to be accountability for all the victims in this conflict." Amnesty had recorded at least 35 different methods of torture in Syria since the late 1980s, practices that only increased since 2011, Maalouf said. Other rights groups have found evidence of widespread torture leading to death in Syrian detention facilities. In a report last year, Amnesty found that more than 17,000 people have died of torture and ill-treatment in custody across Syria since 2011, an average rate of more than 300 a month. Those figures are comparable to battlefield deaths in Aleppo, one of the fiercest war zones in Syria, where 21,000 were killed across the province since 2011. Saydnaya Prison (Photo: Amnesty International) Saydnaya has become the main political prison in Syria since 2011, according to a former official interviewed by Amnesty. A former guard said it held "the detainees of the revolution," and a former judge said they were seen as "posing a real risk to the regime." The chilling accounts in Tuesday's report came from interviews with 31 former detainees and over 50 other officials and experts, including former guards and judges. Detainees were told they would be transferred to civilian detention centers but were taken instead to another building in the facility and hanged. "They walked in the 'train,' so they had their heads down and were trying to catch the shirt of the person in front of them. The first time I saw them, I was horrified. They were being taken to the slaughterhouse," Hamid, a former detainee, told Amnesty. Saydnaya Prison (Photo: Amnesty International) Another former detainee, Omar Alshogre, told The Associated Press the guards would come to his cell, sometimes three times a week, and call out detainees by name. Alshogre, 21, who spent nine months in Saydnaya and now lives in Sweden, said he would hear detainees being tortured. "Then the sound would stop," he said. He described how at times he was forced to keep his eyes closed and his back to the guards while they abused or suffocated a cellmate. The body often would be left behind, or there would be a pool of blood in the cell for other prisoners to clean up. Omar Alshogre (Photo: AP) The Amnesty report contains similar accounts of abuse. "We already know they will die anyway, so we do whatever we want with them," Amnesty quoted a former guard as saying. The detainees were transported to trials in vans known as "meat fridges," and would not be informed of their fate until just before they were hanged, officials who witnessed the executions told Amnesty. Medics would usually list the cause of death as "heart stopped," or "breathing stopped," before the bodies were taken to mass graves near Damascus. Alshogre, who was arrested at the age of 17, spent time in several detention centers before being taken to Saydnaya. Saydnaya Prison (Photo: Amnesty International) Two cousins detained with him in western Syria didn't survive, dying a year apart in a military intelligence detention facility. The younger one died in Alshogre's arms, deprived of food and so weak he was unable to walk to the bathroom on his own. Still, Alshogre said nothing could have prepared him for Saydnaya. At one point, he was summoned by guards "for execution," he said. He was brought before a military tribunal and told not to raise his eyes to the judge, who asked him how many soldiers he had killed. When he said none, the judge spared him. Alshogre survived nine months in Saydnaya before eventually paying his way out in 2015 a common practice. He suffered from tuberculosis and his weight fell to 35 kilograms (77 pounds). Death in Saydnaya was always present, "like the air," he said. Once when he was deprived of food for two days, a cellmate handed him his food ration and died days later. Another cellmate died of diarrhea, also common in the prison. "Death is the simplest thing. It was the most hoped for because it would have spared us a lot: hunger, thirst, fear, pain, cold, thinking," he said. "Thinking was so hard. It could also kill." The national-religious community in the religious town of Elad is up in arms after two ultra-Orthodox children allegedly attacked a 10-year-old girl with extreme violence because she was holding a "not-kosher" cell phone (a smart phone open to text messages and the internet). Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The incident occurred on Sunday, around 7pm, when Shira Gabbay was making her way home with several of her friends from a youth movement activity. According to her mother, the girls arrived at a bus station, where the two ultra-Orthodox children were waiting. "As soon as the two got up from their seats, Shira sat downand that's when they noticed the cell phone in her hand," Shoshi Gabbay told Ynet. Shira Gabbay In a pain-filled post on social media, Ricky Peretz, the girl's cousin, said that "they told the sweet little girl to give them her phone so they could smash it, since it is 'not kosher.' The innocent child refused, and they simply ripped into her. A 10-year-old girl!! For God's sake!!! What has the world come to?" The girl's mother added that the children "hit her, kicked her, and pulled her hair. My little girl burst into tears, and so did her friends." According to Gabbay, when the bus arrived, the abusive children boarded itand so did the crying girls. "Even though the driver noticed their tears, he did not call the policeand the young attackers got off two stops later. The passengers did nothing to help the crying girls either," the mother continued. The parents filed a complaint at the Rosh HaAyin police stationwhere the girl gave her testimony. The Elad municipality said they would assist the family as well, and the school's counselor had spoken with the girl"But the child is in shock. She is suffering." Shai Gabbay, Shira's father, said that "we expected the police to act and try to track those kids down. They probably go to school in the vicinity of that bus station or live in the area. I assume there's a security camera on the bus, and with a few well phrased questions, the children could be found." "My daughter cried all night," said Shoshi Gabbay. "I spoke with the other mothers, and their daughters had been crying too; they were all rattled," she added. The bus company claimed that "there was no report of such a case." On Tuesday morning, the mother expressed anger at the bus company and over the police's conduct that, according to her, has yet to exhaust all options to find and capture the delinquents. "The police sent a cruiser with two police officers to meet us at the bus station. They asked the bus company for the driver's details, so I don't know how the bus company could possibly say they had no record of this case," said the baffled mother. Gabbay along with other parents intend to meet on Wednesday with Elad Mayor Yisrael Porush. "We are afraid to let our children ride the bus," said one of the mothers. "We can't let our children live in fear of being hit and abused over a cell phone," she continued. The police stated that a complaint was filed and an investigation has commenced. In the last few years, the Ultra-Orthodox community had declared an all-out war against smart phones, including smashing ceremonies of smart phones, putting up posters, and hurling offensive comments at observant or Orthodox Jews in possession of such devices in ultra-Orthodox areas. ANKARA - US Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Turkey's fight against a movement led by a US-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup, Turkish officials said. The visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Tuesday, according to officials from Erdogan's office. The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fightersbacked by the United Stateswhich Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen extradited from the United States. It is also demanding that Washington stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who spent hundreds of hours on the phone and in meetings with US presidents and secretaries of state in the past 12 years, has tried unsuccessfully to reach out to President Donald Trump. Abbas and his aides are alarmed by the possibility of being sidelined at a time when the administration is embracing Israel's prime minister who heads to the White House next week. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Here's a look at what's at stake for Abbas and Palestinian hopes for statehood. Are the Palestinians really being ignored? In December, the Trump transition team refused to meet with Palestinian officials visiting Washington, putting them off until after the January 20 inauguration, according to senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat, the main point man for official contacts with the United States. Other advisers say Abbas tried to arrange a phone call with Trump after the November election and again after the inauguration, but received no response to his requests. The White House did not respond to a January letter in which Abbas expressed concerns about possibly moving the US Embassy in Israel to contested Jerusalem. Erekat, whose contacts are now limited to the US Consulate in Jerusalem, has been quoted as saying that "we have sent them letters, written messages; they don't even bother to respond to us." In contrast, Trump spoke twice with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone, on November 9 and January 22, and will receive him at the White House on February 15. What has the Trump administration said? The White House earlier this week denied an Israeli newspaper report, based on a secondhand quote from a Trump aide, that the administration does not intend to have a relationship with the Palestinian Authority, Abbas' self-rule government, at this point. However, the statement did not say what kind of relationship the White House envisions with the Palestinians. Abbas (Photo: Reuters) A US official said he was given the impression that everything is on hold because Trump hasn't decided how to deal with the Palestinians. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue with reporters. Why does it matter? A strong relationship with the US has been the centerpiece of the Palestinian strategy for winning statehood. The US served as sole broker in two decades of intermittent negotiations on how to set up a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967. Many Palestinians are disillusioned with a process they say effectively provided diplomatic cover for Israeli settlement expansion and distanced statehood prospects. However, Abbas has not come up with a strategy that could circumvent Washington. How has the Palestinian leadership responded? Abbas and his advisers have been careful not to antagonize Trump with public statements, other than urging him to rein in Israel's latest settlement escalation. They hope he'll eventually get in touch, arguing that Trump needs to involve them if he's serious about negotiating a Middle East peace deal. Despite alarm over Israel's recent measures, including legislation retroactively legalizing settler homes built on private Palestinian land, Palestinian officials have drawn some hope from recent US policy tweaks. There also are signs Trump will not rush to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem, a move that could inflame the Muslim and Arab worlds. Are the Palestinians losing access temporarily or being sidelined for good? It's not clear if the Trump administration wants to coordinate with Netanyahu next week before approaching Abbas or sideline him for good. Jordan and Egypt could mediate between the Palestinians and Washington. Jordan's King Abdullah II rushed to the US capital last week to present his views to administration officials before Netanyahu's arrival and appears to have had an impact on issues of concern to the Palestinians, such as settlements and the embassy move. On Tuesday, Jordan condemned Israel's latest settlement legislation. What is Europe's view? The EU has reiterated its support for a two-state solutionof Palestine arising alongside Israel, with the pre-1967 frontier as a baseline for border talks. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday that Europe will keep promoting this message, including in talks with Vice President Mike Pence, who will attend an international security conference in Munich later this month, followed by a visit to EU headquarters in Brussels. The twin brother of Hadar Goldin, whose body was abducted by hamas after he was killed in Operation Protective Edge, spoke to Ynet Wednesday shortly after reports emerged that Israel had made a number of proposals to secure his brothers release. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter At the moment I only see Hamas demands, Tzur Goldin said in response to Hamass military wing, which commented for the first time on alleged talk of prisoner exchange deals between Israel and the terror group. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hamass military arm said that Israel had made suggestions through mediators to obtain the release of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, who met the same fate in Gaza, and other Israelis being held by Hamas, but that the the formulation suggested by Israel did not meet the minimum demands. So far, Israel has refused to comment on the report. Hadar and Tzur Goldin (Courtesy of the family) I dont see any demands at the decision-making level in Israel from the organization, Tzur said who said that his family had serious misgivings about reports in the media. We have learned to not be impressed by talk, rumors and headlines, the family said. We are continuing the demand from the Israeli government to use the full range of its tools to exert intense pressure on Hamas. Only this kind of pressure will bring about results. Anything else is just talk. In practice, nothing is being done on the ground, Hadars brother continued. A negotiation has to take place but the question is what is the stand. Netanyahu knows exactly what needs to be done and what steps need to be taken in order for the State of Israel goes to the negotiation from a position of power and strength, and not as a state that capitulates to a neighborhood bully. A terror organization that controls 1.9 million civilians, stands in political isolation, and there is international legitimacy to exert political and economic pressure on it until it abides by the demands. Tzur also lamented the comparatively luxurious conditions afforded to Hamas prisoners in Israeli prisoners by the government which refrains from taking a stronger stance. Hamas have to be forced to understand that kidnappings and holding on to soldiers who drafted into the IDF is a burden rather than an asset, he added. Mediators are not enough ... I dont think the Israeli public is very happy with what is happening. He also scorned the government, accusing it of choosing to ignore the soldiers fate. There has never been a government that so conspicuously ignores soldiers imprisoned by a terror organization. Soon enough we will reach three years since the abduction of my brother who is actually situated a total of one-and-a-half hours from Tel Aviv. Hadar Goldin (L), Oron Shaul (C), Abera Mengistu (R) In recent days, a Hamas security delegation visited Egypt in an effort to achieve a reconciliation between the two sides. Egyptian officials, speaking to the London-based newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, claimed that the Egyptians used the meeting as an opportunity to ask the Hamas delegationwhich included the deputy leader of the military wing, Marwan Issato open a dialogue on the matter of the missing Israelis being held in Gaza, which also includes Abera Mengistu, a mentally ill Israeli who voluntarily crossed the border. It is believed that, if the report is true, the request was made at the request of the Israelis. Shaul and Goldin were both killed during Operation Protective Edge while Mengistu, a 29 year old of Ethiopian descent from Ashkelon, voluntarily crossed the border into Gaza. Three months after, Hisham al-Sayed , a Bedouin resident of southern Israel, who is known to be mentally ill, also crossed the border. Last July, Jumaa Ibrahim Abu-Ghanima , from the unrecognized Bedouin village of Hasham Zana in the Negev, also crossed the border into Gaza of his own volition. Jumaa Ibrahim Abu-Ghanima, right, and the area where he crossed the border (Photo: Roee Idan) The Israeli-Arabic language newspaper Kul al-Arab reported last month that according to a Hamas source, Qatar mediated between the terror organization and Israel on a possible new prisoner exchange deal, which would see the return of Goldin and Shauls bodies along with the return of Mengistu and the two other Israeli citizens. According to the report, Hamas placed conditions on even starting negotiations which included the release of 60 prisoners who were incarcerated once again after being released in the Shalit Deal. For its part, Israel was reported to have changed its policy of categorically rejecting any possibility of releasing prisoners and agreed to set them free on the condition that they be expelled to the Gaza Strip or Qatar. Hamas rebuffed this condition however, the report said, but the organization denied any Qatari-led mediations. There is no mediation on this matter, not to mention no intervention of Qatar. Similarly, Zahava Shaul, the mother of Oron Shaul, added: I expect the ministers of the government of Israel and its head to act as though it is their children who are being held by Hamas. We hope to see Oron at home soon, and we will not rest until he is. An indictment against Itamar Ben-Aharon, 20, who was accused of being member of the Nahliel group and in taking part in a serious racially motivated assault on a Palestinian, was dropped by the Central District Attorney's Office on Tuesday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter On February 2016, the Shin Bet uncovered a Jewish terror cell that is suspected of perpetrating "price tag" attacks. The group is believed have been responsible for multiple incidents of arson of Palestinian property, throwing Molotov cocktails at a Palestinian residence and even assaulting a Palestinian civilian. All members of the group were charged with hate crimes. One of the crimes attributed to the group: Palestinian car torched in Beitillu Ben-Aharon was arrested as one of them and charged with the 2015 assault of the Palestinian civilian. According to the indictment, Ben-Aharon joined the other members of the Nahliel group in a search for a Palestinian they planned on hurting. After a short drive, the group, armed with wooden clubs, found a Palestinian resident of Ras Karkar village, beat him and sprayed him with tear gas. Price tag graffiti Ben-Aharon claimed throughout the investigation that he was not involved in the assault, yet his name came up during the interrogation of the other members. When trying to build a case against him, the prosecution had difficulties finding evidence to support the allegations and therefore decided to drop the indictment. This is considered pretty unusual, especially since the case was considered high-priority by the police and the Shin Bet. Ben-Aharon's attorney, Sinaiya Harizi, said: "It was obvious from the start that there were large gaps in the evidence against my client. During the months that have passed since the indictment was filed against my client, we have stated the problems in the evidence to the prosecution and I'm glad that they finally rescinded the allegations." A prominent rebel leader in eastern Ukraine has been killed in an explosion in his office, his associates said on Wednesday. The rebels' Donetsk News Agency said Mikhail Tolstykh, better known under his nom de guerre Givi, died early Wednesday morning in what it described as a terrorist attack. Several Russian media outlets said 35-year old Tolstykh died in an explosion in his office. Russian state television showed pictures of firefighters putting out flames in the building where Toltsykh's headquarters is believed to be. The footage from the scene showed several rooms in the building gutted from an apparent explosion. Tolstykh was one of the most recognizable faces in the conflict between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed rebels which has claimed more than 9,800 lives since it began in 2014. Tolstykh's death follows the assassination of his close associate Arsen Pavlov, also known as Motorola, last year. Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avc said Tuesday that his country misses its Israeli tourists and expects their number to double in the coming year. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The tourism minister is currently visiting Israel to promote the two countries' touristic relations as well as inaugurate the Turkish center in Jaffa. Avci said that Turkey expects the reconciliation between the countries to bring forth an influx of Israeli tourists to Turkish vacation spots, and that "the Turkish government welcomes Israeli tourists with open arms, as per Turkish tradition." Israel's Tourism Minister Yariv Levin with his Turkish counterpart Nabi Avci at a tourism fair in Tel Aviv (Photo: AFP) "Over the past year, approximately 260,000 Israeli tourists have visited Turkey, and we want to see 600,000 Israeli tourists over the next," he continued. The minister arrived in Israel accompanied by a large delegation, and his is the most senior Turkey official to have visited Israel since the Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound Turkish boat Mavi Marmara, which claimed the lives of 10 Turkish citizens and led to 6 years of diplomatic freeze between the two countries. The peak of Israeli tourism to Turkey was before the Marmara raid, totaling around 530,000 tourists a year. After New York and London, the discount TKTS booth is now making its way to Tel Aviv. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality will open a tickets stand in Dizengoff Center that will sell tickets to concerts, exhibitions and events at up to 50 percent off price. The sale will begin a few days prior to each show and continue until two hours before the beginning of the show. Over the last few years, city hall has been offering last-minute tickets to Tel Aviv-Jaffa residents with a digital card. Now the municipality would like to extend its distribution to tourists and Israelis visiting the city as well. All cultural establishments in the city will be able to participate in the sale. "Why shouldn't a tourist go hear the philharmonic, watch a play with translated subtitles, or enjoy a dance show just like Israelis do when they travel abroad?" said Eytan Schwartz, director of the Tel Aviv Global program in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality. Two former senior employees of the Israeli Jewish burial company Chevra Kadisha have been arrested this week on suspicion of selling burial plots that did not exist. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The two, who worked for the company in the city of Yehud from 2009 to 2012, allegedly embezzled the money they received to reserve burial plots, something they did not do. According to National Insurance Institute (NII) regulations, a resident of Yehud can purchase a burial plot in the city for himself for the sum of NIS 5,000. Non Yehud residents can do so for NIS 6,000 instead. File photo A covert investigation found that the two had a few running scams. They employed a mediator that would supply them with potential "clients," always charged cash and issued a certificate of purchase for the right to be buried in a specific plot in the cemetery. They did not produce a receipt, and the money never went to the Chevra Kadisha. Years later, when family members came to bury their relative in the plot they thought they had purchased, they found out that money was never paid for it and that there is no documentation of any transaction having been made. In another scam, they made deals with Bukharan Jews from the city of Or Yehuda who, due to not being residents of Yehud, agreed to pay NIS 20,000-30,000 to be buried in those plots, as long as they received in-ground and not above-ground burials. It nevertheless came to the same sad end; the purchase was in cash and the promises were baseless. Police is currently searching for others who may have been scammed in this way. "They took advantage of people's innocence," a police official said. "They were counting on their victim's loved ones to be too bereft and confused after their passing to do much about it, and on the fact that after so many years after the deal, with no record, no one would be able to verify that it even took place." The Israeli 2017 summer is only getting hotter; after concert announcement by Aerosmith, Radiohead and Guns N' Roses, it is now set the two 80s crowd favorites will come to rock the holy land in July. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Most notably known for the song Where Is My Mind, The Pixies is one of the most notable bands in the alternative rock genre. The Pixies After a successful show in 2014, the band decided to visit again on July 25 as part of a tour for their new album: Head Carrier. The concert will be held in Caesarea Maritima. Tears for Fears In the case of Tears for Fears, however, their upcoming show will be their first in Israel. The British duo, famous for hits such as Mad World, Shout, Change and the Seeds of Love, will perform a setlist of their greates hits on July 5 In Tel Aviv. While tickets for Tears for Fears are not yet available, you can already order tickets for the Pixies concert on the website eventim.co.il. A $100,000 funding stream the Dane County Rape Crisis Center receives from the University of Wisconsin-Madison could be in jeopardy under a proposal in Gov. Scott Walker's 2017-19 budget. The funding comes from the segregated fees UW-Madison students pay to help cover a variety of services and activities on campus. The majority of segregated fees are designated as "nonallocable," meaning chancellors have primary authority over their distribution. The remaining "allocable" segregated fees are distributed with the guidance of student government representatives. Walker's budget proposal would allow students to opt out of paying allocable segregated fees in an effort to help "students make the decisions on what they do and do not want to fund." Allocable segregated fees paid by UW-Madison students in fiscal year 2017 amount to about $8.2 million, up from about $8 million the previous year and $7.5 million in 2015. Of those funds, $100,000 per year is allocated to the Dane County Rape Crisis Center under a contract with Associated Students of Madison, the university's student government. It is unclear how many students might choose not to pay allocable segregated fees in the future, or whether they would be able to choose which specific services receive their money. The proposal is part of Walker's focus on college affordability and offering students more freedom, said Walker spokesman Tom Evenson. "At a time when we want to make college more affordable, we should not be forcing all students to pay for things such as 'Sex Out Loud,'" Evenson said, referencing a student group that received $103,000 in allocable segregated fees this year. The group describes its mission as promoting "healthy sexuality through sex positive education and activism" and offers programs ranging from "Healthy Relationships 125" to "Kink 420." "The governor's proposal reduces tuition for students by 5 percent and ensures they have the final say on what their money funds in terms of allocable programs. It is all aimed at affordability and accountability," Evenson said in an email. "Long term commitments, or non-allocable fees, are not impacted under this proposal. But where students and their families are asked to pay for optional activities, the governor's budget provides the freedom to choose." Colin Barushok, chairman of the Associated Students of Madisons Student Services Finance Committee, said it is his understanding that students who opt in would pay higher fees for services like the Rape Crisis Center, where the funding is issued through a contract. Barushok said he's afraid the fees would become so high that eventually, too many students would opt out to continue funding services. He argued students already have input on where their money goes, through their elected student government representatives. "Its true that not every student will use Sex Out Loud, but not every student will use Badger Catholic either, or go to Vets for Vets," Barushok said. "But we trust that every student wants to support their classmates in their ability to go to those programs." While the UW-Madison funding stream is "not a huge piece" of the organization's budget, it is still significant, said Rape Crisis Center executive director Erin Thornley-Parisi. "Its highly concerning to me because this is on top of President Trump threatening to cut the Violence Against Women Act funding, and in Dane County, that will possibly result in us losing a prosecutor who specializes in sexual assault," Thornley-Parisi said. It was first reported by The Hill last month that the president's team is considering widespread cuts to government spending that would include scrapping the U.S. Department of Justice's Violence Against Women grants. Thornley-Parisi said the Rape Crisis Center has seen an increased need for services since the presidential campaign, when a recording of Trump making sexually predatory comments about women was released. Any decrease in funding sources would show "a disregard for the needs of victims of sexual assault," she said. The Rape Crisis Center has an office in Madison and a location on the UW-Madison campus, which houses a counselor who works as an advocate for victims who pursue assaults through the campus disciplinary process. The center also runs a 24-hour telephone line. "This (allocable segregated fee) funding is not specifically used just for the campus office, because the campus knows that students live all over the place," Thornley-Parisi said. "They pay a portion of all of our advocacy services in order to make sure that their students receive services." In addition, she noted, the state Legislature passed a law signed by Walker last year giving victims the right to have an advocate present for any proceeding related to the crime. Victim services the center provides range from helping victims with paperwork and payment for medical exams to walking them through their options when it comes to evidence collection and filing a police report. Advocates work with victims from the moment they enter the hospital until the case has worked through the judicial process. "All of that is free," Thornley-Parisi said. "And its free because of the funding that we get." Other sources of funding include the state Department of Justice, federal grants, federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act and private fundraising, Thornley-Parisi said. Thornley-Parisi said Walker is generally supportive of efforts to prevent violence against women, noting that he increased funding for domestic violence abuse grants by $5 million in the 2015-17 budget. But the threat of any loss of funds is cause for concern, she said. "Victims of sexual assault are feeling like this country doesnt have their back, and now this state doesnt have their back," she said. In addition to the Rape Crisis Center, allocable segregated fees support the General Student Services Fund, WSUM student radio, the Tenant Resource Center, bus passes, grants to student organizations and administrative costs for student government. Students with Associated Students of Madison and UW System Student Representatives spoke out against the opt-out proposal on Tuesday. "Allowing individual students to opt-out of paying would destabilize the funding of these services and create an administrative burden to ensure only fee-paying students could access the services those fees support," said UW System Student Representatives chairman Graham Pearce in a statement. Barushok called the proposal "an attempt to undermine student authority over distributing their own fees." "I think that the governors office is attempting an overreach, a big-government intrusion into our affairs as students," he said. Walker's UW budget proposal also includes a 5 percent tuition cut for in-state undergraduate students, paid for with a $35 million bump in general purpose revenue. That would come on top of a $100 million increase to the UW budget, $42.5 million of which would be tied to performance metrics based on affordability, workforce success of graduates, administrative efficiency, service and other criteria. Walker is set to release his entire budget proposal on Wednesday at 4 p.m. PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with Israeli ambassadors to Africa. During the meeting, he said: "There are 54 countries in the UN. If you change the voting habits of these countries you immediately flip them from one end of the spectrum to the other. With one fell swoop you changed the voting balance in the UN and the day is not far in which we will have UN majority. Sound like fantasy? It's not. Everyone can do the simple math. That is our goal. We want to collapse the resistance and turn it into support." The Russian military has deployed its air defense missiles around Moscow as part of massive drills, to practice response to an air attack. The Defense Ministry said S-300 and S-400 air defense missile systems were involved in the drills Wednesday. Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin told foreign military attaches that the maneuvers launched Tuesday involve 45,000 troops, about 150 aircraft and 200 air defense missile systems. Fomin said that that air defense missiles were also airlifted to the southern shooting range of Ashuluk for target practice. The maneuvers are the latest in a steady series of war games intended to strengthen the Russian military's readiness. Despite the nation's economic downturn, the Kremlin has continued to spend big on military training and weapons modernization amid tensions with the West over the Ukrainian crisis. Yesh Atid leader MK Yair Lapid announced Wednesday that he has been undertaking efforts to rally former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and former Chiefs of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Benny Gantz to his partys ranks. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The announcement came during a press conference held by Lapid, who was quick to point out that none of them are going to make a decision until elections are clearly on the table. Addressing the ongoing investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu according to which he allegedly accepted expensive gifts from billionaire Arnon Milchan, Lapid said It is forbidden to accept presents. As a public servant, I have never received gifts, adding that the only thing I agree to accept is a book on my birthday. Yair Lapid (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Despite his criticism, Lapid was adamant that he would not support an alternative government should Netanyahu be forced to suspend himself from the government or resign. We need to go to elections. Every attempt to try (maneuvers) is, in my eyes, anti-democratic. I will not cooperate with any attempt to establish a new government. In my eyes it is anti-democratic not to go to elections, he asserted, emphasizing that he would not join forces with the Labor party to create a bloc. In the event that an indictment is submitted against Netanyahu, Lapid insisted that he should resign. I believe in the attorney general. If there is a problem, he would say. Outlining his policy of matters of land disputes, Lapid insisted that Maale Adumim had to be part of the State of Israel in any future agreement. Moshe Ya'alon (L), Benny Gantz (C) and Gabi Ashkenazi (R) (Photo: Tomeriko) I am for building in the blocs, he declared. It was possible to come to an agreement with the Americans on regulating construction throughout the blocs on condition of a freeze outside them. Asked about the recently adopted Regulation Law , which will legalize thousands of homes built on privately-owned Palestinian land, Lapid posited that it was merely a ploy to shift the focus of the governmental impotence onto the High Court of Justice. The government is trying to push its lack of leadership onto the High Court, he stated. Finally, Lapid offered his thoughts on comments made by Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett on Tuesday stating that the next round of fighting with Hamas was close. It is irresponsible for cabinet ministers to come out and say that the next round of fighting with Gaza is in the offing, stated Lapid, who was in the cabinet when Operation Protective Edge was being conducted in 2014. Haifa Chemicals was ordered to begin shutting down their ammonia tank operations by the Haifa Court of Internal Affairs on Wednesday, following a petition submited by Haifa City Council. The order was filed following the tank's last ammonia report, which warned of a possible catastrophe, which could take place should the tank continue operating as usual. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Judge Sigalit Gal Ofir has declared the order to be effective immediately, until a discussion on the matter is to be held on Thursday at 11:30. Haifa Chemicals ammonia tank (Photo: Ido Erez) It should be noted that the order is solely a declarative act, as it is not possible to immediately stop using the tank to stre ammonia. The court stated that "this decision is based on a report filed by experts as alleged evidence, which shows a very real and immediate possibility of harming tens, if not hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in the Haifa and Krayot region." Haifa City Council held a press conference in January, in which it released the report to the public. The report, which included the dangers the ammonia tank imposes, was based on a Ynet column warning that "the ammonia ship that enters the Haifa Bay every four weeks is akin to a ship carrying five primed atom bombs, each more deadly than the one dropped on Hiroshima." The report determined that any leakage, resulting from either a terror attack , an earthquake (the Carmel Mountain is an active seismic area), or even an accident could create a deadly cloud of highly poisonous gas that could kill over half a million people (depending on the prevailing wind conditions). Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav said during the press conference, "The party's over. I'm calling you personally, Prime Minister: no more. The ammonia tank is no longer someone's shady business plan, and it cannot be covered up. It is no longer another case that relies on the public's short attention span. Whoever reads this report will get goosebumps. This is no longer a story for the back pages of the newspaper. This could be our next big disaster." Haifa Chemicals Chose not to respond at this time. An archeological excavation of a natural cave in the Judean desert has uncovered many findings indicating that the scrolls dating to the Second Temple were actually planted in the cave. These findings confirm that this is the 12th cave in which scrolls were hidden, and not 11, as was previously thought. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The excavation was led by Dr. Oren Gutfeld from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, assisted by Dr. Randall Price and students from Liberty University in Virginia. The cave was discovered at the beginning of the 90s during an extended archeological review conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, titled Operation Scroll. Its purpose was to locate additional scrolls in the Qumran caves in the Judean desert. Tightly-wound leather scroll discovered in the remains of a jar (Photo: Oren Gutfeld) The scrolls robbery of the Qumran caves started in 1947, the year in which the first scrolls were discovered. Only in the early 50s, however, were orderly archeological excavations conducted in Qumran by Roland de Vaux of the French school of the French Catholic Theological School in Jerusalem and Gerald Harding, then-director of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. To this day, only a small number of scroll fragments were found in the organized archeological digs. The current excavation was conducted throughout January. It is a relatively small cave (approximately 3.5X5 meters) with a narrow entrance on its southern wall. The findings from the surface of the cave date back to the Second Temple, and included clay fragments from pots and bowls, which were used as lids for the pots, but mostly, multiple organic findings, which were well preserved due to the arid climate in the area. Jar fragments in the excavation (Photo: Oren Gutfeld) Among the organic findings were dozens and dozens of olive pits, dates, various kinds of nuts, some whole nuts, which were left unshelled nuts, several thin ropes, bits of woven baskets, and a few pieces of fabric. The interior of the cave was covered by a wicker bed of palm and thin brush branches, which were used by the dwellers of the cave as a kind of mat. Once the first stratum was removed, findings from the Chalcolithic period were uncovered (5th century BC), as well as the Cermaic Neolithic and the pre-Neolithic period (8th-9th centuries BC)mainly pottery and flint tools, including arrow heads, various blades and an complete seal made of red Carnelian stone. Photo: Oren Gutfeld Within the fragments of the jar, a piece of leather was found rolled three times. The finding has generated a lot of buzz, as no new evidence of scrolls have been found in over 60 years, and even then, most of the scrolls were found outside of jars as opposed to within. The rolled-up piece of leather was carefully collected and transported to an archaeological conservation laboratory at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. From there, the scroll was transported to another conservation laboratory under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Dr. Oren Gutfeld and Ahiyad Ovadia (Photo: Oren Gutfeld) Tests have revealed that the scroll was empty and was most likely in the process of being prepared to be written on. Dr. Oren Gutfeld, an archeologist and project leader at Hebrew University said, "This is one of the most exciting and important discoveries of the last 60 years at the Qumran caves. These findings confirm without a doubt that this was the 12th cave that scrolls were buried in during the time of the Second Temple. Unfortunately, many scrolls were stolen by Bedouins during the 1940s and 1950s. However, these findings are important and extremely fascinating and demonstrate the need to promote the excavation of caves in the Judean Desert." Ultra-Orthodox protestors have begun to try and block the Geha Interchange. Police have so far detained three protestor. Police said that they will not allow protestors to break the law and risk the lives of bystanders and motorists. Israel Police will continue to allow the right to protest while maintaining public order and the fabric of normal life, but take zero tolerance toward violent riots. WASHINGTON -- The top US commander in Iraq believes US-backed forces will recapture ISIS's two major strongholdsthe cities of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraqwithin the next six months, his spokesman said on Wednesday. US Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend was quoted telling the Associated Press that "within the next six months I think we'll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude." Townsend's spokesman, Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, confirmed the remarks to Reuters. The German submarine police examination, also known as "Case 3000," was reported on Wednesday to be reclassified by the police as a criminal investigation. This according to television news channels. Journalist Amnon Abramovich reported that of former Navy head Gen. Ram Rothberg was questioned in the case. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Once the case becomes a full-fledged criminal investigation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal lawyer, David Shimron, businessman Miki Ganor (another client of Shimron's) and former commander of the Israeli Navy Vice Admiral Eliezer "Chiney" Marom (who headed the Navy between 2007 2011) are all also due to be questioned by the police. Netanyahu himself, it should be noted, is not at present suspected of wrongdoing in the matter and is not expected to be questioned on the matter. IDF submarine (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) This comes in direct opposition to reports that former Defense minister Moshe Ya'alon had told police of Netanyahu's direct involvement in the purchasing of the submarines and the tender bias in favor of German conglomerate. Ya'alon reportedly provided investigators with detailed information on the talks Netanyahu had with German government officials both for the purchase of three new submarines and for the purchase of anti-submarine warships for the Israeli Navywithout consulting the defense establishment. Israel's submarine deal with Germany includes two main parts: The acquisition of three submarines and the signing of a contract for long-term maintenance work with the German shipyard that is represented by Israeli businessman Miki Ganor. It is the latter contract that would be more profitable to Ganor, according to defense officials. The IDF, for its part, had also issued a response to allegations that Netanyahu insiders enjoyed personal gais from the IDF deal to acquire new submarines, by stating that the purpose of the new subs as replacements for older vessels, and as an upgrade to the Israeli arsenal. For the first time ever, Israel has fewer diplomatic missions worldwide than the Palestinian Authority103-102. Additionally, while Israel only has representation in 78 countries, the Palestinians are represented in 95 countries. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Over the past year, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has closed four missionsEl Salvador, the Caribbean Islands, Marseille and Philadelphialeaving the country with 98 embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions in addition to four representative offices. Palestinian flag raised at the United Nations Headquarters (Photo: AP) Compared to the rest of the world, Israel's numbers are not particularly high: Iran has 142 missions around the world, Turkey has 223, Egypt has 166, Morocco has 135, Pakistan has 118 and Saudi Arabia has 108. The Arab League and Iran together have a total of 1,941 missions. "It is time for Israel to understand that every embassy is a front against foreign relations challenges," said the Foreign Ministry Workers Union Chairman Hanan Goder. "The more missions there are, the stronger the defense and the brighter the display window. The State of Israel must get to every place possible in the world." Goder, who is also the ambassador to South Sudan, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday following a meeting between the prime minister and Israeli ambassadors in African countries. "We have serious manpower issues. People are leaving the ministry. The professional diplomat has ceased to be desirable," said Goder. Despite an assurance by Netanyahu that the Treasury will come to a salary agreement with the Foreign Ministry by Feb. 15th, Goder said, "It is another week and I'm telling you there won't be an agreement because the Treasury is sabotaging it." Four rockets were fired at the southern city of Eilat on Wednesday night from the Sinai Peninsula, with three intercepted by the Iron Dome missile-defense system and fourth falling in an open area. Earlier in the evening, an errant mortar shell from Syria fell inside Israel, with the IDF attacking a Syrian army post in retaliation. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter At 10:54pm, a Code Red rocket alert was sounded in the city, followed by a second siren a minute later. Iron Dome intercepting one of the rockets (: , ) X Israel's air defense system, the Iron Dome, successfully intercepted three of the rockets that were fired from the Egyptian territory, where ISIS-affiliated terrorist fight against the regime. The fourth rocket landed in an open area, causing no damage. Iron Dome in action Fragments from the intercepted rockets were discovered in a swimming pool in the city. Rocket fragments The last time rockets were fired at Eilat was during Operation Protective Edge, in July 2014. At the time, two rockets managed to strike at the center of the city, one of them near a hotel. Ten people were injured and 13 suffered from shock. Syrian war spillover in north Earlier in the evening, a mortar shell fired from a tank in Syria exploded in open territory in the Golan Heights along Israel's northern border. The IDF attacked a Syrian army post in retaliation. The IDF believes the shell was not intentionally fired at Israel, but was rather spillover from the fighting near the border between the Syrian army and rebels trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad. A Syrian official told Lebanese TV network Al Mayadeen that "the Israeli attack was done using a helicopter that launched a missile from Israeli territory towards structures in Madinat al-Baath in Quneitra." He said the army post that was targeted was facing posts of the al-Qaida affiliated terror group Jabhat al-Nusra. No injuries were reported. The legislature began discussing the state budget this week. I have mentioned in previous columns about the $900 million budget shortfall the state faces over the next two years. The first budget bill we debated was LB22, a bill introduced by Speaker Scheer for Governor Ricketts. LB 22 contains the governors recommendation for changes to the existing FY2016-17 appropriations as well as various fund transfers as part of his FY2016-17 budget adjustments. LB22 eliminates over $137 million from the current budget. I support this bill and do not feel that raising taxes to shrink the gap is in the best interest of Nebraskans. I also support the governors ban on nonessential out-of-state travel and state agency hiring freezes for non-critical positions. Some people have asked me how Nebraska got into such a deep hole. The main reason is agriculture commodities prices are extremely stressed to the tune of several hundred million dollars in Nebraska alone. We also face lower than expected tax receipts. This is a very difficult session for everyone, including lawmakers, taxpayers, programs and families. I have met with many people, organizations, associations and groups that have asked to be spared from budget cuts. If we said yes to everyone then we would not save any money. As difficult as it is to say, we must all tighten our belts and cuts need to be made across the board. We may also have to consider dipping into the cash reserve fund. At this point, almost all options are on the table, except for tax increases. While examining the budget this year, I look at it the same way I am sure the most of you do. If your household budget suddenly needed to be trimmed significantly, where would you make the cuts? Nebraska statute mandates a balanced budget each year, so we are not able to kick the can down the road by financing programs on credit. For the most part, if any new legislation carries a fiscal note, more than likely, it will not pass the legislature this year. As lawmakers, we will do our best to provide essential state benefits as we address the current budget situation. As always, if we can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My door is open and I have made it a goal to be accessible to the constituents of our district. Please stop by any time. My e-mail address is mkolterman@leg.ne.gov, and the office phone number is 402-471-2756. David and Katie are always available to assist you with your needs. If I am not immediately available, please do not hesitate to work with them to address any issues that you may need assistance. Please continue to follow me on Facebook at Kolterman for Legislature and on Twitter at @KoltermanforLegislature. More than 130,000 pounds of humanitarian aid was airlifted to relief organizations in Central American and Caribbean nations by the 315th Airlift Wing, Feb. 5, during a training mission that carried cargo as part of the Denton humanitarian program.The cargo, which mainly consisted of food, was donated by outreach groups and humanitarian organizations within the United States. It will provide an estimated 5.4 million meals to nearly 285,000 people - primarily children in Nicaragua and Haiti.The 315th Airlift Wing flew two Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for the Super Bowl weekend missions to Haiti and Nicaragua. In addition to providing humanitarian relief, the mission also served as a valuable training opportunity for the Citizen Airman aircrew.Its really a twofold mission, said Lt. Col. Mark Pool, director of operations for the 300th Airlift Squadron. We get to deliver the Denton cargo, and we get a lot of really good training out of it as well. We fly a lot from Charleston to Europe, downrange, and to AORs, but not that often do a lot of our young pilots and young loadmasters get to fly into these smaller countries that have a lot more difficult approaches, in non-radar environments, with a lot more terrain involved. The mountainous environment adds that extra level of training that we dont get in a lot of places.Pool explained that the primary reason for the mission is the training benefit to the Reservist aircrews, who conducted aerial refueling, navigated through multiple countries airspace, and offloaded cargo with limited ground support.You really see how many people you helped with all those pallets of cargo, said Senior Airman James Noble, loadmaster with the 300th AS. Its definitely a great feeling.In total, the cargo included over 110,000 pounds of food, primarily in the form of dry rice and soup mixes, as well as over 9,000 pounds of school supplies, childrens clothing, toys and stuffed animals, bicycles, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. In Nicaragua, the cargo was delivered to World Mission Outreach, a charitable organization that distributes it to local children.Its a sense of pride with helping out, said Noble. Weve done a couple of these missions, and the crews really come together its a good bonding experience.The Denton program, named for former Senator Jeremiah Denton, allows private citizens and organizations to use space available on military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods to countries in need, without any added cost to the recipient nation or the Department of Defense.You see the impact of what youre doing, said 1st Lt. Stewart Calder, co-pilot with the 300th AS. Its good training for us, its sometimes challenging flying into these places, and its nice because what youre doing is very tangible.Master Sgt. Drew Cheek, loadmaster with the 300th AS, said that the duration and timing of the mission helps to train the drill-status reservists.Its a quick and efficient training for traditional reservists who have Monday through Friday jobs, said Cheek, who also serves as an instructor and evaluator to the younger loadmasters. Especially when there are fewer of us, its better for training reasons because they get more time hands-on.The U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua, Laura Dogu, greeted the aircrew and welcomed the valuable aid supplies when the first aircraft arrived.It was explained that these deliveries show that the American people are still willing to donate in order to help the people of Nicaragua, who want the best for their families.Much of the food is used in daily feeding for up to 20,000 children, many of whom live in slums and in orphanages in Haiti and Nicaragua and receive one hot meal per day through World Mission Outreachs distribution program. For many it is their only meal.Ive been to Haiti, and had a minister there come up to me to shake hands with tears in his eyes, said Cheek. He said Im in charge of feeding 10 thousand kids and we ran out of food last week, and you just showed up with 60,000 pounds of rice. Whenever you have people who come up to you and talk to you and say things like that, thats a huge difference. You know its going to somebody who needs it.Once offloaded and cleared through customs, the cargo was handed over to the aid organizations, which distribute it to multiple schools, orphanages, and the needy. The valuable food is monitored by the outreach organizations to ensure that it is distributed appropriately, and not resold on the black market or otherwise pilfered.Amanda Sowards, mission director at World Mission Outreach, said that the donations totaled $60,000 worth of food, which is enough to provide a total of 5.4 million meals.One shipment is the majority of our food for the year, said Sowards, whose organization feeds 15,000 children per day at 70 locations throughout Nicaragua, including schools and rural communities. One shipment makes a tremendous difference, she said, and that without these shipments their ability to provide hunger relief wouldnt be possible, because local farmers dont have the resources to provide the food needed.Sowards explained that to promote food security, they teach agriculture classes in local schools.That way, students learn the fundamentals of how to bring food to their tables no matter what, and wont be dependent on donations, said Sowards. Were not just giving them food, were also teaching them how to grow it themselves.We work in extreme poverty, said Donna Wright, World Mission Outreach founder. Its not that we want to do this long-term or forever - you hope to get them out of that poverty eventually but its the children who really suffer.Wright explained that malnutrition was a severe problem in the poor areas of Nicaragua, and that the feeding programs create a major impact on sustaining the poorest children.If a child doesnt get anything but a half a cup of rice per day, it would sustain them, said Wright. The people will tell us that before we started feeding them, their children were sickly and unhappy. But now theyre happy, theyre healthy, and when we take things to them well play with them, and they love on us, and when the children start loving on you like that, thats worth all the hard work.Wright said that some of the most difficult parts of providing aid were securing the donations and the logistics of transporting it from the U.S. to their location.The staffs at the aid organizations personally give out wheelchairs, medicines, vitamins, clothes, shoes, and other goods as they receive it.The 300th and 317th AS are components within the 315th Airlift Wing, the Air Force Reserve unit located at the Joint Base. The 315th and Joint Base Charleston have supported the Denton program since 1987, when it was established. Welcome to KARMABrooklyn! We hope that the news and other information we post on this b log will be useful to residents and merchants in Kensington and Windsor Terrace. If you'd like to contact us, write to us at karmabrooklyn [at] gmail [dot] com. Sign up to get the latest news delivered to your inbox every week! LG Electronics' strategic smartphone G6 is expected to be released more than a month earlier than Samsung's Galaxy S8. According to the IT industry, LG Electronics will unveil its G6 in Barcelona, Spain, where the Mobile World Congress (MWC) will be held on March 26, and launch its products in the global market starting in Korea next month. This is significantly ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S8. Advertisement Samsung Electronics has yet to formalize the launch and launch date of the Galaxy S8, but the industry is seeing a strong release on March 29 and April 21. The new Galaxy S was unveiled at MWC, which was inevitably delayed this year due to the Galaxy Note 7 discontinuance. This is the first time that LG Electronics' premium premium phone G-series comes out ahead of the Samsung S-series. In the meantime, the G-series has been repeating the "back-to-back" style in the market where the S-series has already prevailed. LG Electronics released the Optimus G, the original of the G series, on September 8, 2012. It was after Samsung released the Galaxy S3 on May 29 of the year. Samsung Electronics is the number one smartphone in the world thanks to the Galaxy S3, which sold 10 million units in just 50 days. LG Electronics advanced product development every year, but it was not enough. The Galaxy S4, released on April 26 of that year, stood in front of the G2, which was released on August 7, 2013. The G3 was released on May 27, 2014, more than two months earlier than the previous year, but the launch of the Galaxy S5 was faster than the tempo on April 10. The G4 was released on April 29, 2015, and the Galaxy S6 was released on April 9 of that year. The G5 was released on March 31 last year and the Galaxy S7 was released on March 10 last year. The launch of new products faster than competitors and market preemption are very important marketing points. It is for this reason that Samsung Electronics has been accused of recalling and discontinuing the Galaxy Note 7 before Apple's iPhone 7, It is a great pleasure that LG Electronics has been in the G6 for seven consecutive months in the smartphone business, and there are no new premium phones in the market. An official in the electronics industry said, "The Galaxy Note 7 space has accumulated a considerable amount of premium phone standby demand in the domestic and overseas markets." If the G6 evaluation is not bad, it can be absorbed before the Galaxy S8. " Of course, not only the time of release, but also the specifications (performance), price, and promotion of the device itself are also important parameters. Recently, there was a rumor that the Galaxy S8 moved the fingerprint sensor to the side of the rear camera instead of removing the front button. This contrasts with the G6, which has a fingerprint sensor and a home button underneath the rear dual camera. The price of the Galaxy S8 is about $100 more than the G6. Samsung Electronics is expected to make a strong promotion, such as '1 + 1', which will give other Samsung phones or TVs a premium if they buy Galaxy S8 in North America like last year. By DN Singh It has become a usual feature of the wildlife wing of Orissa to get off their state of inertness once the damage is done. A similar kind of amateur action threw three lives off balance. But thanks to the intervention of media and judiciary, the damage was undone. Earlier, a speechless animal is within the concrete confines of a zoo, trying hard to recover from the trauma after the sudden shift of habitat. One was put behind bars for taking its care. And third: a three-year-old child was made victim of a senseless and knee-jerk decision. With least regard to the ground realities, the top brass in the Wildlife Department still frown at the jailed tribal, supposedly the villain of the entire episode. And the lonely inmate in the zoo, an eighteen-month year old sloth bear brought from Keonjhar portrays a tale of tragic separation, shock, trauma and of a shattered symbiotic bond. About 18 months back a tribal, Ram Singh Munda, from Ruplisila village in Keonjhar district, stumbled upon a bear cub battling with illness in a ditch inside the jungle, perhaps after being separated from its mother. Unable to locate the mother anywhere around, Ram brought it home. The sick bear cub slowly recovered from her illness and the love and care of the man breathed a new lease of life into the little soul. Within months the cub not only became a part of the family but a real darling of the household; more so, the sweetheart of Ram`s three-year-old motherless daughter. A bond that can be best described as an example of symbiosis. Named Rani, the cub grew in absolute freedom, moving around, playing with the daughter and other kids of the village and even sleeping near Ram or his daughter. As she grew, Ram grew a little worried about her safety and once even informed the forest authorities. However, despite his meager family income, Ram never allowed Rani to be treated differently from his own daughter. This exemplary bond between man and animal could not escape media attention. A few days back it hogged the headlines and after that the forest department of Keonjhar suddenly came out its state of stupor and acted in a very amateurish manner. Dubbing his action as a gross violation of the Wildlife Act 1972, they dragged Ram out of his house and put him behind the bars and literally lifted Rani out of her home and dumped her in a concrete enclosure at the Nandankaanan zoo. Two souls were shattered with shock. Ram was left to languish in jail and Rani was abandoned in the confines of the zoo in absolute trauma. Almost for three days, the bear refused to touch food and water. And this became a cause for the soaring worries of the zoo keepers and the safety of Rani is still under a question mark. Can she survive the sudden alienation from her habitat and the love of Ram and her daughter? "The forest officials have in a knee jerk reaction seized the sloth bear " says Biswajit Mohanty, an ardent wildlife activist adding that " they have, in their zeal, forgotten to keep the interest of the bear in mind- which might die of loneliness after being abruptly detached from its keeper." An eighteen-month-old fairy tale has hit the block of an absolutely mindless decision taken by the babus in the Forest Department of Orissa who, of course, enjoy the unenviable reputation of being incapable in such exigencies. When this reporter contacted the state`s Principal Chief Conservator of Wildlife about the department`s wisdom behind detaching Rani from Ram and imprisoning the latter, the officer`s reaction could startle any one. "The action taken in this case was taken by the officers who belong to the Territorial wing, so I can not comment much on that.` That comes from an officer who heads the wildlife wing. Ironically, in this whole episode, the PFA played a catalysts role behind the bear cub`s immediate release from Ram Singh`s clutches and was found baying for the tribal`s blood for violation of the Wildlife Act ` 72. But, interestingly, in a press release in Bhubaneswar, the PFA Secretary had urged the state government not to arrest Ram Singh as the latter had never made any commercial gain out of Rani nor had tortured her! And the worst that has happened is that, after Ram Singh`s arrest, back in his home, his three year old daughter has been left to her fate. The child is in total trauma and there is nobody to take care of her. A reality that has not struck the minds of either the forest or the district authorities. As an after thought the local authorities have decided to offer alms to the child in the shape of food, twice a day. Nothing could be more appalling than this; an innocent child who is already sinking in a brooding gloom of separation, her fate has been entrusted to a few officials. On Monday, the tribal was granted bail by the local court, as its attention was drawn to the child`s fate. Now that Ram is out on a bail from the court, philanthropy is in the air. The state that earlier appeared anything but just, now, thanks to media and the judiciary, has thought of supporting Ram`s daughter in her studies and food etc.. Even the local unit of PFA also has gone a step forward. It has not only volunteered to take total care of Rams daughter, but it has also suddenly found a hidden virtue in Ram Singhs behaviour and expressed its willingness to employ him. For them, it appears, Ram can be a real animal caretaker. Ring Road expansion: 2 bridges completed under KRRIP An overhead bridge at Koteshwor and a pedestrian bridge at Dhobighat have been completed in the first phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project (KRRIP). 2 temple priests held for abusing Dalit worshipper Police have arrested two priests of Sherakali Temple in Betali-3 on charge of misbehaving with a local Dalit. A heinous crime Perpetrators of acid attacks deserve stronger punishment than what the law provides for Banks agree to fund Upper Khorunga Three commercial banks have agreed to jointly finance 7.5MW Upper Khorunga Hydroelectric Project promoted by Terhathum Power Company. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump held the first phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Anadolu reports. During the phone talk the two Presidents talked about Turkey-US relations and reaffirmed their readiness to fight against terrorism. Trump said the US supports Turkey as a NATO ally and strategic partner. He also highly appreciated the actions of the Turkish side on fight against the Islamic State terrorist group. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations said as of 09:00 some roads or highways are either difficult to pass or have been closed due to weather conditions. The Berd-Tchambarak highway has been closed. The Urasar-Katnaghbyur section and Sotk-Karvajar road of the H23 highway are difficult to pass. The ministry told ARMENPRESS clear ice has forms in some highways, namely the Kapan-Goris highway, Goris-Sisian highway, M11 Sotk-Karvajar section and the Vardenyats Pass. The weather in Ararat province (except the city of Vedi) is foggy. Georgian authorities said the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles with the use of snow chains. In Nagorno Karabakh, the Karvajar-Sotk highway is difficult to pass. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made over 80 ceasefire violations by firing more than 850 shots at the Armenian positions in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Ministry issued a statement which says: On February 7 and overnight February 8 increase of tension has been registered in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 80 times by firing more than 850 shots from 85-mm D-44 divisional guns, 60mm and 82mm mortars and small arms towards the Armenian posts. More intensive violations were registered in the eastern and north-eastern directions of the frontline where the Azerbaijani forces fired overall 47 shells from D-44 divisional guns (22 shells) and mortars (25 shells). The NKR Defense Army forces took countermeasures to suppress the Azerbaijani activeness and continued confidently fulfilling their military tasks. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan on February 7 met a number of EU high-ranking officials in Brussels, including MEP Frank Engel, Vassilis Maragos, Head of Unit, Regional Programmes Neighbourhood East, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), as well as Herbert Salber, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and for the crisis in Georgia, the Ombudsmans Office told Armenpress. Issues related to the situation of human rights in Armenia, international issues, as well as the regulations of the new Armenian constitutional law on Human Rights Defender were discussed during the meetings. The EU officials attached importance to the new law, considering it as progressive and necessary for installing and strengthening the European standards of human rights in Armenia. They also gave importance to the Armenian Ombudsmans role in the human rights protection field and expressed readiness to develop the cooperation between the Ombudsman and the EU structures, by making it continuous. In a meeting with Herbert Salber, Arman Tatoyan raised the issue of making the NKR Ombudsman take part in the European processes and expressed his serious concern over the decision to extradite journalist A. Lapshin to Azerbaijan and its unacceptable negative consequence. The Ombudsman said now the visits to Karabakh must further intensify. He also presented the details of the Azerbaijani armed forces attacks near Armenias Chinari village on December 29, 2016, as well as on January 3 and 8, 2017, the results of the fact-finding works, as well as the report with the collected proves. Colombia's ELN rebels begin peace talks Rebels from Colombia's ELN left-wing group and government negotiators have begun talks seeking to end more than five decades of conflict. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The extradition of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan is a severe violation of the right of freedom of speech and freedom of movement, Tigran Balayan, spokesman of the ministry of foreign affairs of Armenia said, commenting on Lapshins extradition from Belarus to Azerbaijan. Balayan said: Alexander Lapshins prosecution, his extradition to Azerbaijan is a severe violation of freedom of speech, freedom of movement, fundamental human rights, which once again shows the deep gap between a dictatorship and a democracy. Definitely, the flow of tourists, politicians, public and cultural figures, reporters and tourists to Nagorno Karabakh wont stop; on the contrary it will multiply. STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan wont succeed in making the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin a legal precedent because its underlying argument is unacceptable for any state or institution having democratic nature, Ruben Melikyan, Ombudsman of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh said in a statement, responding to the extradition of Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan. By initiating the criminal prosecution of blogger Alexander Lapshin, Azerbaijan pursued a goal of silencing free speech regarding Nagorno Karabakh and intimidating people who desire to visit Nagorno Karabakh by forming a precedent. After keeping the famous blogger Alexander Lapshin detained for over two month based on charges contradicting the very essence of fundamental human rights, Belarus extradited him to Azerbaijan on February 7. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan wont succeed in making the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin a legal precedent because its underlying argument is unacceptable for any state or institution having democratic nature. Moreover, Lapshins case will become a reverse precedent increasing the interest of human rights activists honestly dedicated to the ideology of human rights and reporters honestly dedicated to the freedom of speech towards Nagorno Karabakh. I urge the structures of the Diaspora and the Armenian journalistic and attorney communities to get involved in the process of making the Lapshin case a reverse precedent, he said. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service, Ria Novosti reported. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. A news correspondent reported from the airport that Lapshin is in a serious mental condition and he didnt respond to the questions of journalists. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus. Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijans General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijans Criminal Code. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements. The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Alexander Lapshins wife Yekaterina says she is shocked regarding her husbands extradition from Belarus to Azerbaijan. It turns out he was being taken on board the aircraft when the court session was still proceeding. I just got a call from the Israeli consulate. Yes, correct, he is in Baku. Although a letter was sent for additional protection and an application was filed to the Human Rights Commission of the UN. Neither his family, nor lawyers or the embassy were informed on what was happening in reality, Lapshins wife said on Facebook. She drew special attention on the heightened security measures of her husbands extradition. Look how many security agents there are. Even Bin Laden wasnt taken like this. Although, of course, a tourist is far more dangerous, she said. Taking into consideration all possible provocations, she urged everyone to refrain from taking drastic actions or announcement, as long as they dont know about the condition of Lapshin there. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service, Ria Novosti reported. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. A news correspondent reported from the airport that Lapshin is in a serious mental condition and he didnt respond to the questions of journalists. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus. Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijans General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijans Criminal Code. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements. The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency Mike Pompeo will pay his first foreign visit to Turkey, Anadolu reported. He will hold meetings with Turkish high-ranking officials. During the meetings the Turkish side is going to discuss the issue of fighting against Gulenists among other issues. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Bitherm is the first Armenian construction brand to take part in the 21st international exhibition entitled Aquatherm Moscow 2017 in Russia. The expo is held in Moscow February 7-10, which is organized by the Reed Exhibitions and ITE companies since 2008. It is the leading expo in the fields of heating, ventilation, water supply and sanitation. Aquatherm Moscow is an exclusive platform which attracts the sector which provides the effective cooperation of the participants of the market producers, suppliers, sellers and final consumers. Internationally renowned brands like Baxi, Merlin and Aquatechnik are presented in pavilions next to the Armenian Bitherm. The Bitherm pipes are made by modern and innovative German technologies and high quality materials. The Bitherm pipes and parts have received several international certificates. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The regular session has kicked off in the Parliament of Armenia, reports Armenpress. 101 MPs were registered. Issues discussed during the previous session will be put up to voting. During the February 7 session, the Parliament discussed the Housing mortgage loan draft law and the related drafts package. The adoption of the draft will enable to define common rules on conditions and procedure of providing mortgage loans which will make more complete the protection of consumer rights and legal interests. Thereafter, the MPs discussed the legislative package on making changes in the law on Armenian citizenship and in the Code of Administrative Violations. The agreement on Cooperation of the CIS participating states in the organization of integrated currency market signed in Ashgabat on December 5, 2012 was discussed. The Parliament also discussed the agreement on Forming a Council of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units of the CIS participating states signed in Ashgabat on December 5, 2012. First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Simon Papyan presented the Paris agreement signed on December 12, 2015. The document aims to strengthen the global response in case of climate change threat. 123 countries joined the agreement. At 16.30, the Cabinet members will hold a Q&A session with the MPs. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Co-Chairman of the Armenian-Belarussian parliamentary friendship group Eduard Sharmazanov says the extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan is a dirty deal, reports Armenpress. In a meeting with reporters, Sharmazanov said that dirty deal between the two countries is a violation of democratic values, the persons right to freedom of speech, the citizens right to free movement and doesnt derive from the logic of regional peace. Moreover, this is a step not typical for democratic regimes. This is a step which is against the Armenian-Belarussian political relations level. As a chairman of the Armenian-Belarussian parliamentary committee, I must say that this step doesnt derive neither from the Armenian-Belarussian relations nor the Russian-Belarussian relations, since Mr. Lapshin is also a citizen of Russia, Sharmazanov said. Asked is he going to discuss the issue with the Belarussian partners, Sharmazanov said: At least at this moment I dont find it appropriate to sit around a table and discuss this issue since the committee is a platform for friendly cooperation, and this is obviously not a friendly step and doesnt derive from our relations. But you dont doubt our parliamentary partners will raise this issue through various channels, he said, adding that Armenia has used all possible diplomatic measures to prevent Lapshins extradition. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. A news correspondent reported from the airport that Lapshin is in a serious mental condition and he didnt respond to the questions of journalists. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus. Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijans General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijans Criminal Code. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements. The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. MPs of the Armenian Parliament unanimously condemn blogger Alexander Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan from Belarus and propose to take respective measures, reports Armenpress. During the Parliament session, MP Khachatur Kokobelyan said Lapshins extradition took place by violations of all international norms and human rights. Here there is one important step. Besides the fact that this person has been deprived from the right to free expression, he is blamed also for visiting Nagorno Karabakh. I think this is not the usual case that we are satisfied with talking about this here or there. The National Assembly as Armenias number one political body must express its clear stance, Kokobelyan said. RPA faction MP Samvel Farmanyan said he has no doubt the Azerbaijani leadership will not have the political courage to condemn Lapshin and they will find any excuse to extradite him to Russia or Israel. We all understand very well that this message is addressed to all cultural and political figures who have a desire to visit Karabakh. I want to state that even a dictator like Stalin was unable to force the citizens of his country to think in a way he wanted. Obviously, the Presidents of Belarus and Azerbaijan will not succeed in doing this. But there is one concern here. The EAEU and the CSTO, and Belarus as an allied state, try to be depreciated in the eyes of the Armenian public, and Russia has to worry about this, Farmanyan said. RPA faction MP Khosrov Harutyunyan also expressed his concern and said Lapshins extradition is a direct blow to the CSTO system and its efforts. Prosperous Armenia faction MP, member of the Armenian Delegation to PACE Naira Zohrabyan called Belarus such step as unprecedented cynicism. The MP said she will support Armenias freezing its membership to the CSTO until the issue receives respective legal solution. MP Vahe Hovhannisyan proposed to actively work with Russia and Israel since Lapshin is a citizen of these two countries. However, he opposed to the views that Armenia must freeze membership to the CSTO. He said this will be an irrational step. ARF faction MP Aghvan Vardanyan proposed the Parliament Speaker to instruct the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs to prepare an announcement text by which the Parliament will condemn the Belarus step to extradite Lapshin. MPs Hrant Bagratyan and Vahram Baghdasaryan proposed to raise the issue of removing Belarus from the CSTO as a reverse step. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The extradition of Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan is being widely covered not only by Armenian and Azerbaijani media, but also several international news agencies. BBC covered the issue with an ironic headline, saying: The blogger jailed for visiting a country that 'doesn't exist'. BBC correspondent Alex Dackevych noted A popular travel blogger known more for his wry observations than his political views has ended up in jail - and at the centre of a geopolitical row - after visiting a disputed territory and thumbing his nose at the authorities. Lapshin's involvement began when he visited Nagorno-Karabakh in 2011 and 2012 and subsequently wrote about those visits in his blog. Azeri authorities say that Lapshin has called for Karabakhs independence in his blog posts - a claim that is difficult to verify because many of the relevant posts were deleted following his arrest, BBC reported. BBC pointed out two posts of Lapshin which havent been deleted yet. "Reading their media gives the impression that the Azerbaijani authorities and journalists believe their own people to be morons," he wrote. The Azerbaijani army is incapable of storming Karabakh for both strategic and political reasons. If they could do it - they would have done so a long time ago, as 23 years is enough time." BBC also mentioned the bloggers wife, who wasnt allowed to visit her husband since December 15. The British Daily Mail reported that the blogger has been arrested in Belarus and extradited to Azrbaijan for visiting a disputed region. The Times of Israel reported the Israeli blogger has been arrested because he has leader of the middle-asian people by visiting the disputed region. The appeal of his extradition has been denied without any explanation in various courts, and the sessions were carried out behind closed doors. The media outlet also said Lapshin has made several publications criticizing Ilham Aliyev. The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has also reported on the case. In addition to covering details of the extradition, the article featured a comment from Nina Ognianova. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Minsk to "unconditionally" release Lapshin. "Lapshin should not be jailed for expressing his opinions or traveling to a disputed region," Nina Ognianova, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said in a statement. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service, Ria Novosti reported. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. A news correspondent reported from the airport that Lapshin is in a serious mental condition and he didnt respond to the questions of journalists. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus. Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijans General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijans Criminal Code. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements. The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan had a working meeting on February 8 in Brussels with Rebecca Harms, co-chair of Euronest and head of the European Parliament delegation in Euronest. Freedom of speech and journalism in Armenia was discussed, the Ombudsmans Office told ARMENPRESS. The activities of journalists and lawyers in Nagorno Karabakh was also discussed in detail. Tatoyan especially highlighted the involvement of Nagorno Karabakhs Ombudsman in international meetings, and handed over NKR Ombudsman Ruben Melikyans reports on Azerbaijani atrocities of April. Rebecca Harms said freedom of speech must be protected everywhere, including in Nagorno Karabakh. The sides highlighted that these are European values and have universal significance. Issues related to the Ombudsmans activities and cooperation with the EU were also discussed. Several agreements have been reached on further joint activities, including jointly with Armenias Ombudsman. Drive begins for united Tharuhat More than one-and-a-half years after the Kailali incident that left at least nine people dead, the Tharuwan/Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee (TJSC) and Tharu groups affiliated to various political parties have started a fresh campaign in the Far West to press the government to form a united Tharuhat province. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan had a meeting on February 7 in Brussels with MEP Frank Engel from Luxembourg, the Ombudsmans Office told ARMENPRESS. During the meeting issues related to freedom of expression and journalistic activities, as well as issues related to their activities in Nagorno Karabakh were discussed. Frank Engel stressed the work of journalists in Nagorno Karabakh has a very important significance and it must be boosted. According to him, the extradition of Alexander Lapshin cant have any effect on further visits to Nagorno Karabakh. In his words, visits to Nagorno Karabakh should be more from now on. In addition, the MEP said the Ombudsman of Nagorno Karabakh and the civil society must take part in international discussions and meetings. Arman Tatoyan highlighted the MEPs stance and stressed that in his turn he takes every effort to contribute to visits to Nagorno Karabakh and the involvement of Nagorno Karabakhs democratic institutions. In this context, important agreements have been reached on further joint actions. The sides also discussed the situation of human rights in Armenia, the regulations of the new law on the Ombudsman and other issues. Frank Engel was briefed on the Ombudsmans priorities. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The extradition issue of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan must be raised in various international structures, Giro Manoyan - head of the ARF Armenian Cause and Political Affairs Office, told a press conference in Armenpress. The Armenian side must try to raise its concern that such steps will not contribute to the peaceful settlement process. Our society, political circles must raise this issue. As you know, protests were held in several countries, this process must be continued, he said. He said in any case the essence of this issue must be clarified since numerous foreign citizens visited Karabakh and appeared in the black list, however criminal prosecution has not launched against them. Giro Manoyan is surprised that Belarus is satisfied only with what Azerbaijan presented as a reason for Lapshins extradition, which is Lapshins visit to Karabakh. This argument is just ridiculous, thats why it is necessary to take countermeasures. We know that the OSCE Commissioner for Freedom of Media expressed concern on this. It would be better our MPs also raise this issue. Works need to be done with the public sector of Russia and Israel, Giro Manoyan said. He says Belarus continues process with anti-Armenian emphasis with Azerbaijan. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. An adequate response for Azerbaijans actions must be demanded from the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, Giro Manoyan, head of the ARF Armenian Cause and Political Affairs Office told a press conference in ARMENPRESS, commenting on the escalation and Azerbaijani ceasefire violations on February 7 and overnight February 8 in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. Every time when it is reported that a meeting of the foreign ministers or Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan is expected, Azerbaijan takes such actions. As you know, the possible meeting of the foreign ministers is being rumored. Here we must demand an adequate, clear, addresses response from the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries for Azerbaijans actions. The mediators usually make equal calls, in order not to be viewed as partial, however there are cases when things must be called by their names, Manoyan said. According to him, it is difficult to expect something particular relating to the Karabakh issue during this year. Firstly, the parliamentary election will be held in Armenia, secondly, Azerbaijans destructive behavior obstructs it. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made over 80 ceasefire violations by firing more than 850 shots at the Armenian positions in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Ministry issued a statement which says: On February 7 and overnight February 8 increase of tension has been registered in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 80 times by firing more than 850 shots from 85-mm D-44 divisional guns, 60mm and 82mm mortars and small arms towards the Armenian posts. More intensive violations were registered in the eastern and north-eastern directions of the frontline where the Azerbaijani forces fired overall 47 shells from D-44 divisional guns (22 shells) and mortars (25 shells). The NKR Defense Army forces took countermeasures to suppress the Azerbaijani activeness and continued confidently fulfilling their military tasks. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Government is taking steps on investigating the corruption crimes and improving the quality of public accountability, Justice Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan said at the Parliament, responding to the question of ANC faction MP Levon Zurabyan, reports Armenpress. We are discussing how to influence the quality of those examinations. And I can say that already a draft law is in circulation according to which the bodies carrying out investigation of corruption crimes must present a report to the public and clarifications why this or that case has been shortened, the Justice Minister said. She added that any law enforcement agency must be held accountable to the public, and this report must present comprehensive information on the investigation process of corruption crimes. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) issued a statement over the reports spread by the Azerbaijani side. Armenpress presents the full statement: The reports spread by the Azerbaijani agitprop from the morning of February 8 over the developments in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, in particular, on the losses and wounded servicemen of the Defense Army are complete absurdity. The NKR Defense Ministrys press service calls on the local media to avoid Azerbaijans information trap, thus by this filling water into their mill. At the same time, we call on our media to use exclusively the official website of the NKR Defense Ministry while reporting on the ongoing developments in the frontline. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Economic Development and Investments of the Republic of Armenia Suren Karayan and Founding Chairman of Capital Locus LLC Avtandil Gogoli signed a Memorandum of Understanding on February 8. The Memorandum provides a framework for the cooperation between the Capital Locus LLC and the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia with the aim of supporting attraction of foreign direct investments to the country and strengthening the presence of international financial organizations and foreign investment companies in Armenian enterprises. The press service of the Ministry informed Armenpress that Suren Karayan stated that in line with its Investment Policy, the Ministry will facilitate the cooperation between the Capital Locus LLC and Armenian companies to attract financial resources from abroad for Armenian companies operating in different sectors of economy. He mentioned that, despite of the fact that Capital Locus is relatively new company, it is already progressing to attract financial resources from abroad for viable investment projects and prospective companies in Armenia. Avtandil Gogoli mentioned that ongoing projects of Capital Locus amounts to 38 million USD for eight different Armenian companies in agriculture and food processing, renewable energy, hospitality and property development. Majority of transactions are expected to be completed in quarter one and quarter two of 2017. Founding Chairman Avtandil Gogoli expressed his gratitude for the support which Capital Locus receives from Ministry of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia. Capital Locus is independent financial advisory company. It explores and secures financing solutions from international financial organizations, special investment funds and asset management companies mainly based in Europe. Capital Locus LLC was founded in Yerevan in 2016 by former CEO of ProCredit Bank Avtandil Gogoli. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin will negatively impact visits of reporters, political and public figures to Belarus, instead of Nagorno Karabakh, Aram Ananyan, director of Armenpress news agency said, mentioning the growing number of reporters, political figures and prominent people who visit Nagorno Karabakh. I dont think the extradition of the blogger to Azerbaijan will anyhow impact the increasing interest towards Nagorno Karabakh, because news reporting isnt a type of political activity, and bloggers arent political figures. It is clear for everyone what Azerbaijan is presenting is solely the smoke screen, in order to hide the real political goal, Mr. Ananyan said. According to Aram Ananyan, professional activities cannot have any political context and political boundaries. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service, Ria Novosti reported. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. A news correspondent reported from the airport that Lapshin is in a serious mental condition and he didnt respond to the questions of journalists. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus. Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijans General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijans Criminal Code. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements. The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Former Israeli parliamentarian, founder of Israel-Armenia parliamentary friendship group Alexander Tsinker thinks that blogger Alexander Lapshin, extradited yesterday by Belarus to Azerbaijan, is the victim of inter-state confrontations in the post-Soviet area. Both the Israeli and Russian authorities have voiced against the bloggers extradition. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Tzipi Hotovely and member of the Knesset Ksenia Svetlova have been involved in the developments, Alexander Tsinker told Armenpress adding that official Baku did not want to step back and just suspend its demand, but it is ready to pardon Lapshin if he asks personally Aliyev about that. He stated that Israel having proposed various options to solve the issue will not calm down as long as its citizen is not set free. As far as I know there is an arrangement not to keep Lapshin in Azerbaijani jails. It was very difficult to imagine that something like that could happen in the contemporary civilized world. Probably some bargains are underway now, where Azerbaijan seeks to win some dividends at the expense of Lapshin. The conflict will be solved, but the gap that has emerged between the post-Soviet states and relations with Israel should be filled in a new way in the best case. This gap can even go deeper, he concluded. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was taken to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of Australia urged Australias Government to condemn blogger Alexander Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan from Belarus, ANC Australia reported. The Armenian National Committee of Australia calls on the Australian government, as well as all human rights and civil liberty organizations in Australia and internationally, to join us in condemning this blatant act of the Azerbaijani dictatorship in attempting to 'export' its repression of freedom of speech. Today, freedom was compromised. It is black day for free speech and journalism around the world. The international community must not countenance this shameful act and instead, we must call for Mr. Lapshin's immediate release, ANC-AU Managing Director Vache Kahramanian said. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin by Belarus to Azerbaijan will negatively impact those two states and not only in terms of reputation, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian told at the National Assembly during parliament-government question and answer session. Our publics resentment is fully understandable Azerbaijan aims to prevent people from visiting Nagorno Karabakh and everyone understands this, everyones reaction is about this, despite the fact that the justifications for Lapshins extradition had other formulations. But the so-called Azerbaijans black list containing hundreds of names from dozens of countries, including well-known, prominent personalities, even state officials, foreign ministers, speaks about itself, Armenpress reports FM Nalbandian saying. The Minister is convinced this case will not become a precedent and peoples flows to Artsakh will not be stopped by this act. Peoples flows have increased and will continue in the same way. Naturally, we have taken measures in this direction and will do the same in the future as well, but I dont think we should announce how we do or what we will do, Nalbandian said, adding that Azerbaijan appears in a deeper and deeper isolation. The Supreme Court of Belarus denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7. Lapshin was taken to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Ensuring peoples access to quality health top priority Minister for Health Gagan Kumar Thapa has said ensuring peoples access to quality health service is his first priority. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan considers the extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin by Belarus to Azerbaijan an unprecedented and illogical step, Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan told at the National Assembly during parliament-government question and answer session. To the question of MP Tevan Poghosyan referring to the future steps to prevent similar cases, the Premier mentioned that he doesnt know how to prevent such illogical steps by this or that person or state. I cannot indicate steps that will in the future prevent such cases. This is an unprecedented case and I do not know the ways to prevent such illogical acts, Armenpress reports the Premier saying. He stated that there have been consultations over Lapshins case with both the MFA and Defense Ministry, but did not reveal details. The Supreme Court of Belarus denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7. Lapshin was taken to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Belarus had no legal grounds to extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan, Justice Minister of Armenia Arpine Hovhannisyan told Armenpress, stating that by this act Belarus violates all the international conventions. According to the Minister, Belarus has not joined the Strasburg conventions on extradition or transfer of sentenced persons, or even the Minsk convention with a jurisdiction over the CIS states. The extradition took place based on the Kishinev convention of 2002. But the real ridicule starts just from here, the Minister said, clarifying that according to that convention the crimes for which one country demands a given person from another country must be punishable by the criminal codes of both countries. In fact, Lapshin is sued under two articles: illegal crossing of Azerbaijans border and making public calls, Hovhannisyan said, adding that neither the crossing the border of Azerbaijan nor making public calls over Nagorno Karabakh are punishable by the criminal code of Belarus. The Minister also brought forward some more argumentations proving the lawlessness of the deal. The refusal of the Americans to capture Berlin is considered one of the strangest decisions in military history. On April 1, 1945, British Prime Minister Churchill wrote to US President Roosevelt: If they [the Soviet troops] also take Berlin, will not their impression that they have been the overwhelming contributor to our common victory be unduly imprinted in their minds, and may not this lead into a mood which will raise grave and formidable difficulties in the future? I further consider that from a political standpoint we should march as far into Germany as possible, and that should Berlin be within our grasp, we should certainly take it. Richard Hatch, who starred in the original television science fiction series 'Battlestar Galactica' and the mid-2000s reboot, died today of pancreatic cancer. He was 71. Hatch was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1979 for his performance as Captain Apollo in the iconic science fiction series. "Battlestar Galactica was a milestone," Hatch once said. "It afforded me the opportunity to live out my childhood dreams and fantasies. Hurtling through space with reckless abandon, playing the dashing hero, battling Cylons, monsters and super-villains what more could a man want?" The sad news of Hatch's death first spread on social media and sites like Bleeding Cool and TMZ, which reported that Hatch "went into hospice care a few weeks ago," as the metastatic form of cancer he suffered from progressed to death. Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family. Ronald D. Moore (@RonDMoore) February 7, 2017 From The Hollywood Reporter: Hatch had been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Alec Peters, the writer/producer behind the Star Trek fan film Axanar, wrote on Facebook. Hatch had acted in and was a supporter of the project, playing a Klingon in Prelude to Axanar. "Richard was in good spirits when I visited him 2 weeks ago. He knew his time was short, but was comforted by the fact that his son would be taken care of," wrote Peters. On the original Battlestar Galactica, which ran for the 1978-79 season, Hatch played hotshot pilot Captain Apollo, with the role earning him a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a television series drama. In the 2004-09 reboot, the actor returned to the franchise as Tom Zarek, an opportunistic political leader who often shook up the playing field as humanity tried to survive annihilation at the hands of the Cylons, a cybernetic race who rebelled against their creators. Hatch also starred as police Inspector Dan Robbins opposite Karl Malden in the fifth and final season (1976-77) of the ABC drama The Streets of San Francisco. He effectively replaced Michael Douglas, who exited the show (Douglas' character Steve Keller left the force to become professor of criminology). There's a wonderful interview with Hatch here from 2012, worth reading as we remember his legacy today. An unbelievably thorough Pinterest board of original BSG promo photos is here. Pack your bags ASAP because you can now fly to Spain for under $350 round-trip Sometimes you really need to get away from everything. And if you havent planned a vacation yet, consider setting your sights on Spain. The Airfare Spot has highlighted a number of cheap fares to Spain from major cities in the United States. Florida-based fliers can score the best deal, with flights to Madrid in March and May starting at $314 round-trip from Miami. For $330 or less, reservations can also be booked for trips to Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza. And there are also flights available for $362 round-trip flights to Barcelona in May. From the New York City area, there are flights available in March, May, and June for as little as $322 to Madrid (flights leave from John F. Kennedy International Airport), or $393 to Barcelona (from Newark Liberty International Airport). Travelers based in Philadelphia or Dallas can also find great round-trip fares to hotspots in Spain, like a round-trip to Madrid from $400. Ready to plan your adventure to Spain? Admire the world-class art and architecture in Madrid and Barcelona, before heading to the countrys southern coast and picturesque islands. This article originally appeared in Travel and Leisure by Melanie Lieberman. Related Links 14 last-minute flight deals for a Valentines Day getaway Fly to Scandinavia for only $275 round-trip Why $69 flights to Europe are a thing in 2017 Broadband Equity FCC Blocks 9 Companies From Providing Low-Income Internet Access FCC regulators are telling nine companies that they wont be allowed to participate in a federal program intended to help them provide affordable internet access to low-income consumers weeks after those companies were approved to do so. The Lifeline program, established in 1985, provides discounted phone and internet service for people in poorer communities to connect with family and access resources for jobs and education. The Federal Communications Commission expanded the program to include broadband last year, and now gives participating households a $9.25 per month credit that they can use for internet access. The move, announced Friday by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, reverses a decision by his Democratic predecessor, Tom Wheeler. In a statement, Pai called the initial decisions a form of midnight regulation. These last-minute actions, which did not enjoy the support of the majority of commissioners at the time they were taken, should not bind us going forward, he said. The status of the nine companies will be changed to pending, according to CNN, and the FCC will reconsider their participation in the program. Regulators had approved four of those companies on Dec. 1 and five on Jan. 18. As many as 13 million Americans who did not have broadband service at home may have been eligible for Lifeline, the FCC found. Roughly 900 service providers participate in the Lifeline program, according to the Washington Post. For Kajeet Inc., one of the companies that was initially granted permission to provide service through Lifeline, the news comes as a shock and a setback. Im most concerned about the children we serve, Kajeet founder Daniel Neal told the Washington Post. We partner with school districts 41 states and the District of Columbia to provide educational broadband so that poor kids can do their homework. Since becoming FCC chairman last month, Pai has stated that closing the digital divide is a central tenet of his policy agenda. While the vast majority of Americans do have access to internet service, there remain distinct gaps in United States broadband penetration, particularly among seniors, minorities and the poor. Last weeks move seems to run counter to Pais stated goals of closing the digital divide. The most obvious fact in our society is that high-speed internet is astronomically expensive for the middle class and down, said Gene Kimmelman, president of the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, in an interview with the Washington Post. So in any way limiting the Lifeline program, at this moment in time, exacerbates the digital divide. It doesnt address it in any positive way. Policy ESSA Student Accountability Ruling Canceled by Congress Just hours after Betsy DeVos was officially confirmed as education secretary by the United States Senate, a Republican-led Congress dismantled rules laying out how parts of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Higher Education Act (HEA) would be implemented. On Monday, Senate and House Joint Resolution 57 and H.J. 58 were passed along for a vote to the full House by the House Rules Committee. The two bills were intended to "disapprove" of rules issued regarding K12 accountability plans and teacher preparation programs. The final House vote fell along party lines, with Republicans voting for disapproval and Democrats voting to maintain the rules with one exception. Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) sided with the Democrats specifically on H.J. 57. Speaking in support of H.J. 57 was the School Superintendents Association. In a statement, Executive Director Daniel Domenech called the rules, issued last year, "unnecessary barriers to state and local leadership." "The ESSA statute is clear on its intent to return decision-making power to the education professionals, working at the ground level to run our nations public schools and implement federal policy," Domenech said. "The primary responsibility for determining educational methods and strategies resides at the state and local levels, consistent with the 1979 U.S. Department of Education Organization Act. States have a constitutional responsibility to establish, fund and support public education. Local school districts have a responsibility to ensure student learning in the context of their states constitutional requirements for education." This stance contradicts Domenech's earlier support for the final accountability regulations. In November the AASA issued a statement calling the final rule on those provisions, "a solid improvement over the initial proposal," which brought the regulations "much more in line with the intent and spirit of the underlying statute." The members of three minority congressional groups called the disapproval process "another step in the Republican attack on public education and enforcement authority of the Department of Education." The Tri-Caucus, made up of Congressional members from the Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Black Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus, accused the GOP of "ripping apart regulation to guide implementation of the most important equity provisions of our nations new K12 law." "H.J. Res. 57 would leave key provisions of the law completely unregulated indefinitely, leaving state systems that serve our nations more than 50 million public school students in limbo and important civil rights obligations unfulfilled," the Tri-Caucus said. "Faithful implementation of ESSA must honor both the bipartisan intent of Congress and the longstanding civil rights legacy of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This reckless measure flies in the face of both." Susan Davis (D-CA), who serves on the higher education subcommittee, warned that passage of H.J. 58 would remove "crucial protections that ensure quality and accountability for our teacher preparation programs." These protections, she noted, "reflect and build on local successes and incorporate meaningful feedback from teachers, giving support and guidance to future educators. Behind these safeguards there are students whose interests we must protect." "The accountability and teacher prep regulations that Republicans eroded are rooted in strong civil rights laws that put the learning needs of all students first," added Jared Polis (D-CO), ranking member of the subcommittee on early childhood, elementary and secondary education. "It is sad that House Republicans chose to put politics before students today. This resolution will cripple the Department of Education, and it will leave states ... blind on how to implement [ESSA]. After months of bipartisan work on a new education law, its both disappointing and appalling that Republicans have chosen to move swiftly to undo all the progress we have made." The measures now go to the Senate for a vote. According to Politico, the White House has said that President Trump would sign both of them. Infrastructure LA Community College District Refreshes Data Center for 9 Colleges As part of a major upgrade to its data center, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) has rolled out a host of power management solutions from Eaton. The two-year project, launched in 2013, came out of a $6 billion construction plan across all nine LACCD colleges and the District Educational Services Center. Its main objective: to buy the very best and invest for the long-term, said Jorge Mata, CIO for LACCD, in a case study. We evaluated a host of technologies, identified things that were valuable in our performance specifications, and created a master agreement that would enable us to achieve very competitive pricing, great terms and conditions, and exceptional warranty coverage before we ever spent a penny, Mata said. After vetting a number of vendors, the college district awarded Eaton a master contract to implement the companys BladeUPS, ePDUs (enclosure power distribution units), PDU (power distribution unit), IPM (intelligent power manager), Flex Busway, Paramount Enclosures, Cooling, Airflow Management and Hot Aisle Containment. LACCD deployed two 60-kVA BladeUPSs, expandable rackmount UPSs with maintenance bypasses and IPM software for monitoring and managing power devices within a physical or virtual environment. The software solution ensures system uptime and data integrity with remote monitoring, management and control of UPSs and other network devices. Eatons BladeUPS was specifically designed for high-density computing environments. The system uses Powerware Hot Sync paralleling technology that allows each module to operate separately and in synch. Furthermore, BladeUPS delivers 12 kW of efficient and reliable power, according to the case study, while occupying just 6U of standard rack space. Mata explained that the technology allowed LACCD to increase its efficiency from operating at N+1 at 100 percent load to being operational at N+3. There are three nodes on standby, he said, and we have the system running at peak efficiency regardless of the load, which saves us money. On top of that, we have increased reliability and we can grow on demand with additional capacity. Not every vendor can offer that. In addition, Eatons Paramount Enclosures provide a scalable, modular approach to enhance overall investment, according to the case study. The cabinets building-block design ensures quick reconfigurations and enhanced airflow management features. The LACCD data center, which houses shared services for all nine colleges, including payroll, student registration and information systems, finance, compliance reporting and human resources, now operates on what Mata referred to as nonstop infrastructure with the Eaton solution. To stay productive, your infrastructure must be very transparent, he said. We wanted a solution that would ensure no business disruption, address the bottom line and help our students and employees meet their bottom lines. To learn more, read about LACCDs IT design standards here or visit the Eaton website. Four dead in separate motorcycle accidents Four people died in separate motorcycle accidents in Kanchanpur and Dhading leaving other four injured. WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- If you've ever turned on your favorite song to boost your mood when you're feeling down, the results of a new, small study probably won't surprise you. The research found that the pleasure you feel when you listen to music is triggered by the same brain chemical system that provides the good feelings associated with sex, recreational drugs and food. The study is the first to show that the brain's "opioid system" is directly involved in musical pleasure, according to the researchers at McGill University in Montreal. The researchers used a drug (naltrexone) to block this brain chemical system in 17 college students who volunteered for the study. Then they had the students listen to music. While on the drug, even the study volunteers' favorite songs no longer caused feelings of pleasure, the study authors reported. "The findings, themselves, were what we hypothesized," study senior author Daniel Levitin, a cognitive psychologist, said in a university news release. "But the anecdotes -- the impressions our participants shared with us after the experiment -- were fascinating. One said: 'I know this is my favorite song but it doesn't feel like it usually does.' Another: 'It sounds pretty, but it's not doing anything for me.' " The findings add to growing evidence that music's ability to significantly affect emotions has an evolutionary origin, according to the researchers. The study was published online Feb. 8 in the journal Scientific Reports. More information The American Music Therapy Association explains how music therapy can help people. unspecified 1 Facebook is ramping up its efforts to become a disaster and crisis response tool. The social network is releasing a new "Community Help" feature in its main app, which will allow Facebook users to connect with those seeking shelter, food, and supplies in the wake of a natural disaster. "To start, we will make Community Help available for natural and accidental incidents, such as an earthquake or building fire," Facebook VP of Social Good Naomi Gleit said in a statement. "We're also starting in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Saudi Arabia for the first couple of weeks, and as we learn more about how people use the product, we will look to improve it and make it available for all countries and additional types of incidents." The new Community Help hub is designed to complement Safety Check, Facebook's tool that lets people mark themselves as safe during a crisis. Facebook first announced the changes in November. The company has previously been met with backlash for activating Safety Check for certain disasters, like the shooting at a Paris nightclub last year, and not others, like the 2015 bombings in Beirut and Lebanon. Now Safety Check is only enabled when enough people are posting about a crisis like an earthquake or shooting. Safety Check was first enabled in 2014 for Typhoon Hagupit in the Philippines, and Facebook turned the feature on for the first time in the U.S. in early 2016 after a gunman massacred 50 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Here are some screenshots of Facebook's new Community Help feature in action: unspecified 2 NOW WATCH: This is how you're compromising your identity on Facebook More From Business Insider Antonio Bagnato A Thai court has sentenced an Australian man to death for the kidnapping and murder of a Hells Angels member alleged to have been a major drug trafficker. Antonio Bagnato, 28, was found guilty of murder, deprivation of liberty and disposing of a body. In December 2015, former Hells Angels member Wayne Schneider was abducted from outside his home by 5 men and later found buried with a broken neck and facial injuries consistent with a severe beating. The judge said the killing was premeditated, with GPS from the getaway car, DNA from the crime scene and witness testimonies all connecting Bagnato to the crimes. "The first defendant [Bagnato] is found guilty of all charges and according to the criminal code, the penalty is execution for the murder and deprivation of liberty, plus a year in prison for hiding the body," Judge Sirichai Polkarn at the Pattaya Provincial Court said. The court room was packed with representatives of all parties. "We've got hearts and they're hurting right now," a relative of Bagnato said, calling the verdict "ridiculous". The judge said DNA evidence also placed 22-year old American man Tyler Gerard at the scene of the abduction. Gerard received a 3-year sentence for deprivation of liberty that was reduced to two years for his cooperation with the investigation. The sentence includes time already served in pre-trial detention, meaning he could be free before the end of the year. Gerard's parents said they were relieved at the verdict. "[Tyler's] words were, 'Calm down mum, pray for the other people in this room'," Tracy Gerard told the ABC. Assault rifles, knuckledusters found in Bagnato properties Schneider was abducted from outside his luxury villa in Pattaya, Thailand in December 2015 by 5 men. Melbourne underworld figure and former president of the Comancheros motorcycle gang Amad "Jay" Malkhoun was inside the house and told police he slept through the attack. At a hearing in November, 2 security guards at Schneider's residential complex identified Bagnato as being involved in the kidnapping. "I saw the defendant trying to push Wayne's legs into the cabin of the pick-up truck," Supan Pitakpong said. Police tracked a GPS device fitted to the rented car used in the kidnapping. Crime scene photos published in Thai media showed a bullet casing, an extendable baton rope and blood on the street where Schneider was abducted. A search of properties rented by Bagnato found 2 assault rifles, 2 handguns, tasers and knuckledusters. Baganto fled to Cambodia and was arrested in Phnom Penh 5 days later. His version of events differed markedly to that given by co-accused Gerard and Australian Luke Cook, who was convicted last year of aiding a fugitive. He told the court he left Schneider's house and spent the night with a Thai dancer from Pattaya's infamously sleazy Walking Street. The judge said his alibi was not credible. Bagnato told the court he was "scared" after Schneider's death and tried to get consular advice in Bangkok, but the Australian embassy was closed. His account of getting a taxi and bus to Cambodia contradicted the court's previous ruling that Cook drove Bagnato, his wife and child to the border. The whereabouts of the other 3 people involved in the abduction is unknown, although it is believed at least one man has returned to Australia. Bagnato reportedly member of secretive fight club Bagnato was a member of the Saint Michael Christian Brothers Fight Club - a secretive organisation that ran fight nights and required members to swear an oath of allegiance, according to Fairfax newspapers. Australian police had a warrant for his arrest in relation to the murder of Bradley Dillion in Sydney in 2014. Bagnato arrived in Thailand 2 days after Dillion's murder. He told the Thai court in November he earned about $11,000 a month training Muay Thai fighters in Pattaya. Thai police told the ABC both men were on a watchlist for drugs and money laundering in Australia. Thailand is a key transit country for organised crime syndicates - including various Australian bikie gangs - smuggling methamphetamine and heroin from the "Golden Triangle" to lucrative markets including Australia. "It's a picture of a superhighway," Narcotics Suppression Bureau Chief Police Lieutenant General Sommai Kongwisaisuk told The Bangkok Post newspaper. Murder Suspect Who Fled to Cambodia Gets Death Penalty An Australian former kickboxing champion who fled to Cambodia to escape justice for the murder of a former Hells Angels member has been sentenced to death for the crime by a Thai court. Antonio Bagnato, 28, traveled to Phnom Penh shortly after the body of Wayne Schneider, a former business partner, was found buried in a forest near the tourist town of Pattaya in December 2015. He was captured by military police near Kandal Market the next day and sent back to Thailand. A 2nd man, U.S. national Tyler Gerard, was arrested at an immigration checkpoint as he tried to cross into Cambodia. Mr. Bagnato denied any involvement in the kidnap and killing of Mr. Schneider. The 2 had previously run a gym together in Sydney. On Tuesday, the Pattaya Provincial Court found Mr. Bagnato guilty of murder and abduction, and sentenced him to death - though legal experts in Australia have said it is unlikely he will face the death penalty as Thailand has not carried out any executions since 2009. Mr. Gerard, 22, was given 3 years in prison for deprivation of liberty after evidence was found linking him to the scene of the kidnapping, though his sentence was reduced to 2 years for his cooperation with authorities. 3 other suspects remain on the run. Thai police believe the killing was motivated by conflicts over a multimillion-dollar international drug network. Cambodian authorities are currently helping Thai police locate 2 suspects wanted for their alleged involvement in another murder case in Pattaya. South African Abel Caldeira Bonito, 23, and Briton Miles Dicken Turner, 27, are said to have crossed into Cambodia on January 24 through the Cham Yeam International Checkpoint in Koh Kong province, the same day victim Tony Kenway was shot in the head while sitting in his car. Mr. Bonito has ties to Phnom Penh. Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Chuon Narin said on Wednesday: "The internal security police and immigration police are working on it. Police have not found them yet." | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: abc.net.au, February 7, 2017Source: The Cambodia Daily, February 9, 2017 A Pakistani Christian has been bailed after more than 3 years in prison without being brough to trial or convicted. Adnan Prince, 29, from Lahore, was initially jailed in November 2013 after being accused of blasphemy and insulting Islam, the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, which carries the death sentence. Despite no successful conviction being made, delaying tactics by the prosecution and lawyers' strikes meant Prince was detained for more than 3 years before finally granted bail against a bond worth $3,000, according to World Watch Monitor. Asma Jahangir, Prince's lead counsel, said forensic evidence had failed to link the accused with his alleged offences and she was confident he could be freed soon. He was accused of blasphemy on October 7, 2013. Prince had been working at a diamond glass shop in Lahore when he was spotted reading a controversial book by Islamic fundamentalist Maulana Ameer Hamza, leader of Jamat-ud-Dawa, a political arm of the jihadi organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba which claimed responsibility for the Mumbai bombings. He was spotted reading the book, I asked the Bible why the Qurans were set on fire, by his Muslim colleague who took offence and reported him for blasphemy, claiming Prince had "marked several pages... with abusive words against the Prophet of Islam". On hearing of his accusation and the severity of the punishment if convicted, Prince fled. But his brother, mother, aunt and uncle were arrested in his place and told they would not be released until he returned. So on November 6 Prince handed himself in to the police station where he says he was tortured repeatedly. "The police were on the verge of killing me after I surrendered to them, but God kept me safe by His grace," he said according to WWM. "When I came to my senses [after 1 round of torture], I was told that a heavy machine would be rolled over my thighs, which would not only be painful but would render me permanently impotent. "Then the deputy superintendent of police pushed the barrel of a pistol into my mouth and told me to confess that I had written abusive words in the book. He said he would count to 3 and that if I didn't confess, he would pull the trigger." On one occasion he was told he was free to go. "But I knew they were lying and would shoot me from behind if I left," he said. "I told them that if you want to shoot me, then shoot me in the chest and not in the back. They stopped torturing me when they felt they would not be able to shake my resolve." While in prison he was kept separate from other prisoners for fear of attacks. Similar cases have been known to take as long as 7 years to reach trial. The most famous ongoing 'blasphemy charge' case is that of Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death for insulting Islam in 2009 and still remains in jail, awaiting her appeal. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: Christian Today, February 7, 2017 Ronald Ryan Fifty years ago this week, Ronald Ryan was the last man hanged under the death penalty its a reminder of why we should never entertain its return Fifty years ago, Jan, Wendy and Pip Ryan huddled in the lounge room of their Hawthorn home and waited for the state of Victoria to kill their father. Their mother, Dorothy, had turned off the radio and TV. Mum had everything dead quiet, Wendy told the Age in 2007. It was an effort to strip away all the scrutiny that had marked the high-profile case of her condemned husband, Ronald Ryan . They held each other and wept. Ronald Ryan was the last person executed in Australia. What made his case extraordinary was Victorian premier Henry Boltes determination to see him hang, the protests that erupted across a nation turning away from capital punishment, and the role of the media in campaigning for Ryans life. A recent Melbourne Herald Sun article about the Ryan case quoted Boltes notorious response to a journalist who had asked what the premier was doing when the execution took place at 8am half a century ago: One of the Ss, I suppose, said Bolte. A shit, a shave or a shower. Comments at the bottom of the article cheered for Bolte and for the return of the death penalty. Thats no surprise. Populist measures for dealing with crime and national security have been gaining traction for more than a decade. Its easy to call for the reinstatement of capital punishment when you think about it in the abstract. As time passes and memories fade we lose sight of the trauma the death penalty causes for all involved. We forget the flaws, political point-scoring and arbitrariness that characterises its implementation, and we avoid confronting the immensity of the act of taking anothers life. In 1965, Ryan was serving time for a string of petty thefts. He was desperate to save his relationship with his wife and to see his young daughters. He devised a plan with fellow inmate Peter Walker to break out. During the escape, prison guard George Hodson was shot and killed. People were shocked by the crime and fearful during Ryans 19 days on the run with Walker. The trial evidence presented by the Crown was weak, and the question of who fired the fatal shot remains contested The case divided public opinion. When the jury found Ryan guilty, Justice John Starke imposed the mandatory sentence of death. Many, including jury members, expected the state government to commute his sentence to a prison term. Judicial executions had become rare and public support for capital punishment was in decline. Since 1951, all thirty-five capital cases in Victoria had been commuted. Tensions escalated when Bolte announced his resolve to hang Ryan. Melbourne newspapers, universities, churches and some lawyers, campaigned against Boltes position. Some speculated he wanted to look strong on law and order for upcoming elections. Barry Jones, leader of the Victorian Anti-Hanging Committee said: I doubt that Ryan had any intention to kill, but I am certain that Bolte did. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: The Guardian, Cameron Muir, February 4, 2017 Washington Governor Jay Inslee Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he thought long and hard about imposing a moratorium on the state's death penalty. Inslee told "Think Out Loud" host Dave Miller that the temporary halt in executions came only after an examination of the entire justice system in Washington state. "The state could not continue to administer unequal justice with such extreme costs, with no deterrence of crime, and a very high failure rate of our prosecutions," Inslee said. "We've had 75 % of our capital punishment sentences overturned." In 2011, then-Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said he hoped the moratorium he imposed would spark a public dialogue around the issue, something he told Think Out Loud has not happened. Inslee told OPB that he believes the issue has gotten a lot of attention, at least in his own office. "I have made this very clear," Inslee said, "that I believe the legislature should move on this subject, that it should change these capital cases to life in prison, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and I've urged them to do so as recently as a week or 2 ago," he said. Inslee acknowledged he used to be in favor of capital punishment. But he says it's different as governor. "I'm responsible for administration of justice," he said. "And what I found in the real world is that we have a very flawed system of justice in our state, which has incredibly unequal results." 29 of the 39 counties in Washington state are not currently asking for the death penalty in capitol cases because they can't afford it, according to Inslee. "It doesn't matter who the prosecutor is: it's off the table. So you basically have ... a handful of counties that are executing citizens of this state for the same crime, where in the majority - and it is the majority of these counties - we use life in prison without a possibility of parole," he said. The moratorium was enacted in 2014, but just this past December, Inslee was confronted with the first death row inmate who had exhausted his appeals. Inslee chose to grant a reprieve of Clark Richard Elmore's death sentence. In 1995 Elmore had raped the 14-year-old daughter of his girlfriend, drove a piece of metal through her head and crushed her skull. Inslee said he spoke with a number of parties involved in the homicide case before granting Elmore's reprieve. "I talked to the prosecuting attorney about this, who prosecuted the case ... I talked to him; I talked to a family member. They had diverse viewpoints. And the prosecutor wanted the death penalty even after 20 years of appeals; the family member I spoke to did not think that was something that she wanted." Inslee says he's hopeful Washington state lawmakers will pass a repeal to the death penalty, but in the meantime, some counties are taking the matter into their own hands. In Seattle's King County, "they're no longer bringing the death penalty," Inslee said. "This is a county that could actually afford it, but the prosecuting attorney there declined to seek a death penalty in a vicious, multiple-victim murder." Inslee says Washingtonians believe in making policy that is based on evidence - something he says is especially needed in the criminal justice system. "We need to spend more time listening to the the evidence of reality," Inslee said, "rather than just making emotional decisions. And I think that is the case in the death penalty." | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: opb.org, February 7, 2017 Texas' death house, The Walls Unit, Huntsville, Texas Another terrifying way the legal system screws the poor. For two months, John Ramirez had been sitting in his cell in Texas's death row prison, counting down the days to his execution date and scrawling handwritten letters to anyone who would listen. His message: Get me a new lawyer. Ramirez's execution was stayed last week just two days before he was scheduled to die, after a federal judge ruled that his court-appointed lawyer had failed to file a necessary clemency petition. He's far from alone: Death row inmates around the country have faced the ultimate punishment after court-appointed lawyers abandoned them, declining to file motions or cutting off communication with their clients in the high-tension, high-stakes last weeks before an execution. It's one example of how America's criminal justice system remains skewed in terms of funding and resources toward prosecutors and away from poor defendants. Ramirez was sentenced to death in December 2008 for the murder of Pablo Castro in Corpus Christi four years earlier, when he was 20. According to testimony at his trial, Ramirez and two women attacked Castro in an attempt to rob him for drug money, with Ramirez slashing his throat and stabbing him more than 20 times. He ended up with just $1.25 from Castro's pockets, and Ramirez wasn't arrested until three and a half years later near the Mexican border. Now 32, Ramirez said in an interview with a local TV station last month that he was remorseful for his actions, but hoped his appeals would lead to a life sentence instead of an execution. "I was young and stupid and made a lot of bad choices that night," he said. "I never meant to do thatI didn't go out planning to take someone's life like that." From the beginning, the man's legal representation has been lacking, to say the least, even if his own instincts about how to ward off capital punishment were suspect. At Ramirez's request, his attorney gave a closing argument at the punishment phase of his trial that consisted of reading a single-sentence bible verse: "For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Amen." Even so, the jury deliberated for three and a half hours over whether to give Ramirez death or a life sentence. But the legal system's ugliest failure came when another, court-appointed attorney named Michael Gross represented Ramirez in his state and federal appeals, which were both unsuccessful. Last November, after his execution date had been set for February 2, Ramirez sent Gross a letter firing him and asking him to not file anything in his case. Meanwhile, Ramirez's godmother struggled to find him a new lawyer. But federal law makes clear that once an attorney is appointed, they have a responsibility to represent their client all the way up to their execution, including by filing clemency petitions. The only way to get out of that responsibility is to go to the judge and have them substitute in a new lawyer. Gross didn't do that. In a motion in federal court, he said that he attempted to find a new lawyer for Ramirez but was unable to do so. The deadline for Ramirez to file a clemency petitionJanuary 12came and went without Gross taking any action. Finally, Ramirez's godmother got in touch with Gregory Gardner, another lawyer who agreed to help, according to court records. Gardner filed multiple motions in federal court two weeks ago, arguing that Gross had neglected his duties and urging the judge to postpone Ramirez's execution and appoint a new lawyer. Last Tuesday, just two days before Ramirez was scheduled to be executed, Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos agreed with Gardner's argument, staying Ramirez's execution . "At the heart of this case is an inmate whose attorney neglected an important legal obligation," she wrote. An appeals court upheld her decision on Wednesday. Garner said he was heartened by the judge's ruling. "We're seeing that the federal courts are not going to allow people to be executed when their attorneys stopped working for them," he said. This doesn't appear to be the first time Gross has let a client down just before their execution. Lawyers and professors who study capital punishment say it's hard to pinpoint how many death row inmates are left high and dry by their lawyers when it matters most. "It happens more than we would like to admit," said Kathryn Kase, a senior counsel at the nonprofit criminal justice legal group Texas Defender Service. "Sometimes there are attorneys available to step in, but there's not always someone who has the capacity to do it." For many years, attorneys in Texas (and other states) who were appointed to defend death row inmates didn't get paid for any work they did after their last appeal to the Supreme Court was denied, according to Kase. That meant that in some cases, if they filed a clemency petition or made last-minute motions to try to save their client's life, they'd essentially be working pro bono. "Some attorneys make the decision that they would rather pay the rent than fight what they feel will be a losing battle," Kase said, adding that the law is now clear that this is not permitted. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! Source: VICE, Casey Tolan, February 6, 2017 Govt mulls setting up free wifi zones at Everest, Annapurna regions The government is planning to set up free wi-fi zones along the trials of Lukla-Everest Base Camp (EBC) area and Annapurna Base Camp. By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - The United States has been home to the world's biggest hedge funds, but the industry's most consistent strong performers generally hail from other nations, according to data released on Tuesday. Mauritius-based Arcstone Capital's Passage to India Opportunity Fund, Great Britain-based Stratton Street Capital's Japan Synthetic Warrant Fund and India-based Fair Value Capital Management's India Insight Value Fund rank as the three top performing hedge funds over the last three years, according to research firm Preqin. None are household names but at a time investors are searching for a crop of new winners, institutional investors are examining the list closely. Arcstone Capital's fund posted an average 44.84 percent return while Stratton Street Capital's fund had an average 36.4 percent gain followed by Fair Value's 35.9 percent annual return. Over the last five years, Taiga Fund Management, based in Oslo, Norway, ranked as the most consistent best-performing fund that selects stocks, Preqin said. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-based Oceana Investimentos followed in second place in the stock-picking category. Preqin ranked the funds based on their annualized returns and how volatile the funds were. Preqin also included funds' Sharpe ratios which calculate how much return investors can expect for the amount of risk they take and their Sortino ratios, which calculates return in relation to volatility to the downside, in the tallies. The best-performing U.S.-based funds include Loyola Capital Management, based in Lake Forest, Illinois, which was last year's fourth-best performer with a 125 percent return. New York-based Extract Capital, which specializes in the mining and energy sectors, posted a 102 percent return last year and returned an average 32.7 percent between 2014 and 2016. To be sure many of these funds are tiny - some have less than $100 million in assets - and many pursue niche strategies. The average global hedge fund made 5.51 percent last year after having lost money the year before, data from Hedge Fund Research show. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) bernie sanders senate floor Democratic senators read Coretta Scott King's letter from the Senate floor on Wednesday morning after Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was stopped in the middle of doing so on Tuesday night. As Warren was reading, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked Senate Rule 19, which forbids senators from suggesting another senator is guilty of "any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." Warren was speaking out against the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican, as attorney general. Senators voted along party lines to silence her. Four senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) later read King's letter from the Senate floor themselves, and were not stopped by Republicans. All plan to vote against Sessions confirmation on Wednesday evening. King's letter was written in 1986 in opposition to Sessions' appointment as a federal judge in Alabama. In the letter, King criticized Sessions' record on voting rights, saying the Voting Rights Act "was, and still is, vitally important to the future of democracy in the United States." "The irony of Mr. Sessions' nomination is that, if confirmed, he will be given life tenure for doing with a federal prosecution what the local sheriffs accomplished twenty years ago with clubs and cattle prods," King continued. The Democratic lawmakers expressed outrage that King's letter could not be read. "The idea that a letter, a statement made by Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., a letter that she wrote, could not be presented and spoken about here on the floor of the Senate, is to me incomprehensible," Sanders said on the Senate floor on Wednesday. "I want the American people to make a decision whether or not we should be able to look at Senator Sessions' record and hear from one of the heroines of the Civil Rights Movement." Story continues "I entered Coretta Scott King's letter about #Sessions into the Senate record and read it from the floor her words should not be silenced," Udall tweeted on Wednesday morning. A spokesman for Mitch McConnell clarified to The Huffington Post on Wednesday that none of the other Senators had preceded reading King's letter with a speech disparaging Sessions. Watch a portion of Sander's speech here: .@SenSanders says idea that a letter from #CorettaScottKing could not be presented and spoken about on Senate floor is "incomprehensible." pic.twitter.com/sdeH8ULAgf CSPAN (@cspan) February 8, 2017 Watch Udall's full speech here: NOW WATCH: 'The largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period': Trump press secretary disputes reports of low turnout at inauguration More From Business Insider English Dutch Heijmans has reached agreement concerning the sale of all shares in its Belgian companies Heijmans Bouw, Heijmans Infra and Van den Berg to BESIX. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017, following approval by the antitrust authorities. The net proceeds in cash for Heijmans are expected to be over 40 million. The sale concerns the companies Heijmans Bouw, Heijmans Infra and Van den Berg, respectively active in the construction, infrastructure, and cable and pipeline construction segments in Belgium. The companies operate from several locations in Flanders. In 2016, the collective turnover of the companies amounted to approximately 250 million. This transaction will reduce the net debt with approximately 40 million. The divestment yields a positive transaction result of 15 - 20 million, which will be recognized in the financial year 2017. The divestment of the Belgian operations is a next step towards debt reduction and a structural improvement in debt/equity ratios. Consequently, Heijmans will focus more on its Dutch activities. The buyer is BESIX, an international group operating in construction, infrastructure, environmental projects, facility management and property development, and has a home base in Belgium. The integration with BESIX offers the companies many opportunities to further develop themselves on the Belgian market. ING Corporate Finance and Rabobank Corporate Finance act as Heijmans' M&A Advisor in this process. For more information / not for publication: Press Marieke Swinkels-Verstappen Communication +31 73 543 52 17 mswinkels-verstappen@heijmans.nl Analysts Guido Peters Investor Relations + 31 73 543 52 17 gpeters@heijmans.nl Govt hospital-medical school collaboration: Health Ministry plans to extend specialty services The government has begun collaboration with various medical schools for specialty services in hospitals outside the Valley. The President of the Portuguese National Security Authority (Gabinete Nacional de Seguranca) has approved Tutus' smartphone Farist Mobile and Farist VPN for the protection of information at the National RESTRICTED, NATO RESTRICTED and UE RESTRICTED security levels for the protection of classified information in Portugal. The Farist Mobile is a secure smartphone based on the Android operating system, with integrated strong encryption to protect against tapping and intrusion. This phone has various innovative security features designed to enable organisations and companies to use all of the possibilities and functions of a smartphone, with high security and without the risk of information leakage. The approval of the Farist Mobile creates new business opportunities for Tutus, both nationally and internationally. The product is ideal for organizations and companies that require a high level of secure communication with officially evaluated and approved solutions. The Farist Mobile is the first open and transparent smartphone based on Android approved for use at the National, NATO and UE RESTRICTED levels in Portugal. Following an extensive evaluation with the support of the University of Oporto, Computer Science Department, GNS decided to approve both the Farist Mobile and the Farist VPN for the protection of national information at the RESTRICTED security level. Tommy Hallberg, VP Sales and Marketing at Tutus Data, adds: "We are extremely proud that the Farist Mobile has been approved to handle classified information, enabling us to reinforce our existing range of evaluated and approved network security solutions. The approval represents an important confirmation for us and our customers that the Farist Mobile satisfies the stringent security requirements applicable at this level. The Farist Mobile is unique in that it offers all the advantages of a smartphone - in a secure form." Joao Maia, GNS Information Assurance Chief: The Tutus mobile system is a secure mobile phone that works inside a VPN with strong end-to-end-encryption and a secure operating system. It can be used as a normal mobile phone or in a secure mode where the users need only be connected to the Internet using WiFi or their mobile data. Currently, this is the only mobile phone in the world protected against GSM attack. All other models appear to be vulnerable to eavesdropping. Gabinete Nacional de Seguranca The Portuguese National Security Cabinet is part of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Portugal and its National Security Authority is exclusively responsible for the approval and accreditation of cryptology products used to protect national classified information. GNS performs it core duties, as prescribed by law, carrying out tasks of a technical and administrative nature, such as: implementation and oversight of technical standards, evaluation, inspection and staff training, which is carried out horizontally across both the public and private sectors, creating the necessary conditions to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the security systems for the protection of classified Information in Portugal. Tutus Data AB Founded in 1992, Tutus delivers high-quality encrypted network solutions for use in military, government and corporate IT applications that require the highest levels of secure communication. Tutus is the main supplier of government-approved and certified IT security products in Sweden, and is making steady progress towards its goal of becoming the leading provider of approved IT security products within the EU. Contacts: Tommy Hallberg, VP Sales and Marketing, Tutus Data AB, +46 76 772 01 64 GNS. Garantia da Informacao, +351 210403626 Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31815ab8-c35d-483c-9154-4a175a0c52b4 Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1942485b-2a61-484d-95ff-fd86d2e181ad Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2af06fb6-88de-42dd-b23d-2707e40befa4 English Icelandic Marel hf. Annual General Meeting 2017 The Annual General Meeting of Marel hf. will be held at the Companys headquarters at Austurhraun 9, Gardabaer, Iceland, on Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 16:00. Agenda: Annual General Meeting matters as provided for in Article 4.13 of the Companys Articles of Association. Report on the execution of remuneration policy. Proposal on a Share-Based Incentive Scheme proposal. Proposal on a renewed authorization for the Company to buy own shares. Any other business, lawfully presented. The meeting will be conducted in English. In particular, it should be noted that candidatures for the Board of Directors shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors at least five full days prior to the meeting, i.e. before Saturday 25 February at 16:00 pm (GMT). In order for shareholders to have proposals or matters considered by the meeting, they must have been submitted to the Board of Directors at least ten days prior to the meeting, i.e. by the latest on Monday 20 February at 16:00 pm (GMT). On the Companys AGM website (www.marel.com/agm) further information in relation to the Annual General Meeting can be found, including further information on the right of shareholders to submit items and proposals to the meetings agenda, a draft agenda for the meeting, proposals of the Board of Directors, Company's annual statements for the year 2016, information on the total number of shares and voting rights as of 8 February 2017, proxy template, as well as information on documents to be submitted in relation to the meeting. The meetings agenda and final proposals will be available to shareholders seven days prior to the meeting, both on the aforementioned AGM webpage of the Company as well as at the Companys offices at Austurhraun 9, Gardabaer, Iceland. Agents of shareholders shall submit written proxies at the entrance of the meeting. Ballots and other applicable documents will be available at the venue of the meeting as of 15:30 on the day of the meeting. The Board of Directors of Marel hf. Official Explanation Q. 1 Based upon the passage, the author implies which of the following: Explanation The portion of text that is of interest is: "In addition, fifteen students at a state university in North Carolina faced charges in court for underage drinking because of photos that appeared on Facebook." A. The fact that authorities pressed charges "in court" "because of" photos that appeared online strongly implies that these photos were the evidence the police needed and could present in court. B. In the last paragraph, the passage states that the opposite is true. C. The passage never even approaches discussing this topic. D. The passage never discusses the government's ability to view restricted data. In the case of students in North Carolina, there is no mention that students tried to restrict access to the photos (and the context lends itself to assuming that the students did not take adequate measures to restrict their photos). E. The passage never speaks of taking precautions such that "no substantial risk" exists. The third piece of advice in the last paragraph is that users not post "blatantly offensive" information under any conditions and the last sentence of the passage speaks of arriving at the place where you do not experience "some [not all] of the damaging unintended consequences." ANSWER: A Q. 2 Which of the following best describes the author's logical flow in the passage? Explanation The following is an outline of the passage: Define a problem: "some users remain oblivious to the fact that the information they post online can come back to haunt them." Provide three examples of the problem: "First, employers can monitor employees who maintain a blog...The second unintended use of information...The third unintended use of social networking websites is..." Provide Ways to Remedy the Problem: "many regular users still fail to take three basic security precautions. First, only make your information available...Second, regularly search for...Third, never post blatantly offensive" Evaluate the Issue at Hand: "By taking these simple steps, members of the digital world can realize the many benefits of e-community without experiencing some of the damaging unintended consequences." A. This matches the logical flow of the passage. B. The passage does not begin by offering examples of a problem. Instead, it begins by defining a problem. C. The passage does not begin by offering examples of a problem. Instead, it begins by defining a problem. The passage never provides a contrasting evaluation of the issue at hand. D. The passage does not end by offering suggestions to support an evaluation of the issue at hand (the ending is the final evaluation of the issue by the author). E. After defining a problem, the author offers three examples of the problem (not a contrasting view of the issue). ANSWER: A Q. 3 The author implies that users should take all of the following actions to protect their online privacy EXCEPT: Explanation A. The author strongly implies this in the last paragraph: "only make your information available to a specific list of individuals whom you approve." B. The author explicitly advises this: "regularly search for potentially harmful information about yourself that may have been posted by mistake or by a disgruntled former associate." C. The author never discusses or implies this. The closest the passage comes is: "regularly search for potentially harmful information about yourself that may have been posted by mistake or by a disgruntled former associate." D. The author states this in the last paragraph: "only make your information available to a specific list of individuals whom you approve." E. The author states this in the last paragraph: "never post blatantly offensive material under your name or on your page as, despite the best precautions, this material will likely make its way to the wider world." ANSWER: C Q. 4 The tone of the passage suggests that the author's view toward e-community and the digital world can best be described as: Explanation Toward the end of the passage, the author summarizes his view of e-community and the digital world. (It is not a good idea to draw a conclusion about the author's views based only upon previous parts of the passage as these parts of the passage do not reflect the entirety of the author's view.): "By taking these simple steps, members of the digital world can realize the many benefits of e-community without experiencing some of the damaging unintended consequences." A. This does not take into account the author's view as summarized in the last paragraph. B. The author never expresses frustration. The passage is more objective and informative than personal and emotional. C. This captures the author's view, which is summarized at the end of the final paragraph. D. The author never expresses feeling distressed. The passage is more objective and informative than personal and emotional. E. This fails to capture the author's elucidation of the risks of e-community and the fact that many users fall prey to these risks. ANSWER: C Q.5 According to the passage, all of the following represent a possible threat to privacy or an unintended use of data EXCEPT: Explanation A. The passage mentions this. "regularly search for potentially harmful information about yourself that may have been posted by mistake or by a disgruntled former associate." B. The passage mentions this. "a college in Bostons Back Bay expelled its student Government Association President for joining a Facebook group highly critical of a campus police sergeant." C. The passage mentions this. "In addition, fifteen students at a state university in North Carolina faced charges in court for underage drinking because of photos that appeared on Facebook." D. The passage mentions this. "employers who check on prospective employees...companies recruiting on college campuses use search engines and social networking websites such as MySpace, Xanga, and Facebook to conduct background checks." E. The passage never mentions this. ANSWER: E Q.6 The primary purpose of the passage is to: Explanation The first, second, and third paragraphs are devoted to explaining unintended uses of information that harm users of the e-community (i.e., employers can monitor employees who maintain a blog, employers who check on prospective employees, and college administrators who monitor the Internetespecially Facebookfor student misconduct). The final paragraph is devoted to explaining three steps that users can take to prevent unintended uses of online information. A. The article provided little information about the growth of the digital world B. This answer mirrors the format of the passage (first, second, and third paragraphs discuss risks while the fourth discusses ways to protect yourself) C. The article makes virtually no mention of the pros of participating in the digital world D. The article mentions steps users of these websites can take, but never mentions steps the websites can take E. Although the article mentions some potential unintended uses of information, this answer does not account for the last paragraph of the passage (which plays an important role in the passage) ANSWER: B Q. 7 Which of the following best describes the relationship of the fourth paragraph to the remainder of the passage? Explanation The following is a rough outline of the passage. Paragraph 1: Introduction & Discuss 1st Unintended Use of Online Information Paragraph 2: Discuss 2nd Unintended Use of Online Information Paragraph 3: Discuss 3rd Unintended Use of Online Information Paragraph 4: Discuss Ways to Protect Against Unintended Uses & Conclusion A. The fourth paragraph offers no examples and it does not support previous assertions. Instead, it offers suggestions to combat previous examples. B. The fourth paragraph provides three suggestions to ameliorate the three previously mentioned problems. C. The fourth paragraph does not summarize the previous points, but offers three additional pieces of advice to combat (not summarize) previously mentioned threats. D. The fourth paragraph offers ways to protect against the examples discussed earlier--not an alternative point of view or interpretation. E. The preceding paragraphs make no conflicting claims and the fourth paragraph does not attempt to reconcile claims. ANSWER: B Hope it Helps aquarius24 wrote: Even today, lions can be seen ruling the African plains, hunting almost any animal that crosses its path and intimidating all but the most intrepid hunters. In second clause "its" is there which requires singular subject in clause 1. (A) lions can be seen ruling the African plains ---WRONG (B) lions are able to be seen ruling the African plains--WRONG (C) lions rule the African plains--WRONG (D) the lion rules the African plains--CORRECT (E) the lion species rules the African plains ---"Species do not make much sense here.. making sentence wordy---WRONG" From it's in the second clause we can conclude that in the first clause subject should be the lion..So we have now Option D,E left....Option D is simple and grammatical correct. So Answer should be D. Impeachment charges against Karki substantiated The subcommittee under the Impeachment Recommendation Committee of Legislature-Parliament has verified most of the accusations labelled against former Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Lokman Singh Karki. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Inclusiveness in Nepal and India There are a number of lessons that Nepal can learn from India to redress historical injustices Man nabbed for killing son over land dispute in Kailali Police on Tuesday arrested an elderly man on the charge of killing his son over a land dispute in Ghodaghodi Municipality of Kailali district. Sangam Prasain is Business Editor at The Kathmandu Post, covering tourism, agriculture, mountaineering, aviation, infrastructure and other economic affairs. He joined The Kathmandu Post in October 2009. Nepal proposes date for Bimstec summit at senior officials meeting Nepal has proposed to host the fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation towards the end of this year. NOC acts to expedite oil pipeline project Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has moved to expedite the proposed Amlekhgunj pipeline project and will be sending a team to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Thursday to finalise the detailed engineering survey (DES) report. NT 4G service opened to Apple phone users Heres good news for Apple phone users. Nepal Telecom (NT) has made 4G (fourth generation) service available to Apple phone users after fixing technical issues. After Trump vowed to put America first, late-night shows in different European countries have been stating all the reasons why the Donald should put their respective countries second. It all started with a video from the Netherlands and has spread to Switzerland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Mashable reports. There is even a website called Every Second Counts curating the English-language videos in a catchy visual. So whos behind it? After the Dutch video went viral (it was made by the show Zondag met Lubach) German writers of the satirical show Neo Magazin Royal sent an email to other European late-night shows inviting them to make similar parodies. We decided to stand up to Trump humorously as a new action. Thats why we are planning to follow our Dutch colleague Arjen Lubachs example and produce a German version of their excellent video, said the email, according to a source at the Lithuanian Laisves TV channel. The editor of the Danish show Natholdet also confirmed that Germany had reached out to them. Holland made the original video a few weeks ago. Germans contacted a number of European talkshows with an invitation to make local versions where each country is told to speak to President Trump with a call that their country should be second, said editor Karsten Holt. Almost a dozen European late-night shows took part in a Skype conference call to coordinate action, said Patrick Karpiczenko, head writer and director of Swiss late-night show Deville. Were a very small team but we wrote and produced ours last week, he said. Were very happy with the reaction so far. More people have seen the video than the number of people living in Switzerland. Germany has played down its role in making all of this happen and stops short of taking any credit. A spokeswoman for Neo Magazin Royale said the show followed the Dutch example as we were all indignant and followed suit but denied that it was Germany to launch the initiative. We are just happy that a lot of countries are joining! spokeswoman Gilda Sahebi said. Despite its protestations, it is plausible that the German show rallied others to troll Donald Trump. Its host Jan Bohmermann has a form on speaking out. Last year, his satire of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan caused a political scandal in the country. The American behind that voice The man behind the Trump voice in the Dutch video is an American comedian based in the Netherlands. Greg Shapiro has a Daily Show on YouTube called United States of Europe. The Dutch show asked me to do a voiceover for the spoof video and initially they wanted someone to read it neutrally, he said. Then I tried a very Trumpy voice and that seemed to work better. Among other things, Shapiro teaches How to do a Trump impression when you have large hands and has a stage show in Amsterdams Boom Chicago Theatre called Trump up the volume. Shapiro had a eureka moment about how to replicate Trumps peculiar cadence during a theater performance a year ago. A partner was on stage doing more of a Trumps New York accent. Suddenly I realised Trump has more of a Californian surfing dude accent. He doesnt sound very New York at all. More like the surfing guy who asks you to grab the board and go to the beach. That was my moment. So any tips on how to do a perfect Trump impression? Shapiros suggestion is simple: dont overdo it. Hes already crazy as he is. On 3-5 October 2017 Kyiv is going to host the Space and Future Forum to network international experts and youth, many of whom will also participate at the first CosmoHack in the world. Joinfo provides media coverage of the Forum, and some of its topics were already discussed ... Ulph Andersson comes through with a typically entertaining section, filmed on the streets of Barcelona by Jack Thompson. Krak have made a compilation of, in their mind, the best tricks to go down over the famous Besos Bar in Barcelona. Ron Deily is one of our favourites out of New Jersey, so we were stoked to see this raw (au naturale) clip that Tom Gorelik... Newsletter Terms & Conditions Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy. Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. Its been nearly a year since Lenovo launched the Yoga 710 convertible notebook. So its about time for a refresh and according to Notebook Italia, one is on the way. The Italian site has published leaked pictures and specs of the upcoming Lenovo Yoga 720, which will allegedly be available in 13.3 inch and 15.6 inch versions. Theres no word on the price or launch date yet, but its likely Lenovo will officially introduced the laptops at the Mobile World Congress show later this month. The new models are expected to feature Intel Kaby Lake processors and some models may also have NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics. Lenovo is also including USB Type-C ports. All of those features are petty much what youd expect from an upgrade to last years models. Heres what a bit more surprising: the new models should be smaller thanks to slimmer bezels around the screen and thinner screens/lids. Notebook Italia reports that there are currently no plans to launch 11 or 14 inch models. But Lenovo is said to be adding a fingerprint scanner to the palm rest and at least some models seem to support pen input. The ZTE Axon 7 smartphone features a 5.5 inch QHD AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. And it sells for $400 (or less), making it pretty affordable for a phone with those specs. When ZTE first unveiled the Axon 7, the company said it had one other special feature: support for Googles Daydream virtual reality platform. That wasnt actually true when the phone started shipping. But now it is, thanks to a software update. ZTE has begun rolling out an update that brings Android Nougat to the Axon 7, and support Googles Daydream virtual reality platform when you pair the phone with a Daydream View headset (or another compatible model, but right now Googles $79 headset is the only game in town). Other Daydream-ready phones include Googles Pixel and Pixel XL, the Motorola Z, and the upcoming Asus Zenfone AR and Huawei Mate 9 Pro. Thanks to its $400 price tag, ZTEs Axon 7 is the most affordable of the bunch. Along with Daydream support, the Android N update also brings other Nougat features including multi-window support, allowing you to view two apps at once, and battery life enhancements. Panel reaches Tikapur to conduct probe A high-level probe commission formed to investigate into Tikapur incident of 2015 visited Tikapur in Kailali on Tuesday. Uh-oh. There's mighty big trouble in Trumpland today, as you might have heard. Gen. Michael Flynn is out as National Security Adviser after admitting that he lied, I mean "gave incomplete information," to VP Pence and others about his little chats with the Russian ambassador. This affair has now turned into a full-fledged dumpster fire because now there is no way Congress and the FBI can avoid asking most inconvenient questions about the Trump campaign's dealings with the Russian government. The context, you recall, is that Russia hacked our election, or tried its best. What did the president and his campaign know, and when did they know it? A seasoned, experienced White House would be tested by having to respond to such questions. Tell me how this motley crew, some days pulling in five or six different directions, is going to deal with its first crisis. Let's get started. Introducing The Main Index There are now over 47,000 individual posts here on A Light In The Darkness. They have all been individually added into Main Index categories. To get the full experience out of A Light In The Darkness and its very extensive library of items, covering virtually all things paranormal, supernatural etc ... we recommend that you flick down the Main Index, which runs down the right hand side of the blog page ... to find the indexed category in which the subject matter you seek is located. Alternatively, why not use long search bar you will find towards the top of the blog page ... ENJOY The social stigma associated with diabetes and a fear of being poisoned by medical drugs may contribute to patients of South Asian origin failing to take their medication, a new study shows. South Asians in the UK are six times more likely than the general population to be affected with diabetes at a younger age and at greater risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Type 2 Diabetes is a major risk factor associated with heart disease. Scientists at the University of Birmingham recommend that South Asian patients would benefit from health professionals giving them tailored advice that highlights the long-term consequences of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Researchers studied the factors that influenced behaviour around taking medicines and identified a number of key areas that helped to shape when South Asian patients took their medication: Beliefs about the need for medicines and their effectiveness Fears around the toxicity of medicines Traditional remedies versus 'western' medicines Stigma and social support Communication by health professionals Dr Paramjit Gill, from the University of Birmingham's Institute of Applied Health Research, said: "Not taking medicines for whatever reason can have a profound effect on patients' health and poor clinical outcomes for those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. "We identified a range of beliefs that influence how patients from South Asian communities approach taking medication for these conditions. These patients would benefit from tailored medical advice that highlights the long-term consequences of diabetes and CVD." Dr Kanta Kumar further added: "Health beliefs found in South Asian diabetic patients are present in other chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. These health beliefs should be explored when consulting South Asian patients about using long-term medication." The study was published in the journal BMC Endocrine Disorders and noted that stigma and social support had a major impact on medicine taking. For people from a South Asian background India, Pakistan or Bangladesh - diabetes and insulin were viewed as culturally unacceptable, making some patients reluctant to start insulin therapy or even admit to family and friends that they had the condition. Some patients were concerned about increasing numbers of prescribed medicines being added to their treatment plans compounding their fears about toxicity. A number of patients feared that taking too many medicines would lead to death. Many patients missed doses intentionally because they 'felt fine' or their symptoms had become less severe. Others decided to stop their treatment during social gatherings often stopping their medicines to take part fully in activities such as weddings. The study found many patients of South Asian origin regarded medicines for treatment of diabetes and CVD as necessary. However, patients who had migrated to the UK described the medicines they received in Britain as more effective than those they would have received in places like India and Pakistan. Some patients used traditional and herbal remedies rather than 'Western' medicines, believing them to better at tackling illnesses without side effects. Family and friends were often important in deciding whether to take these medicines and, in some cases, would also supply them. Health professionals' communication styles were found to influence the way patients viewed the treatment of their disease. Some patients felt that they were not always fully informed about disease management and how medication would help to control their symptoms. The findings suggest that if health professionals took patients' beliefs about medicines into account when prescribing, this would help them to better advise diabetes and CVD sufferers about the benefits of taking their medication on a regular basis. More information: Kanta Kumar et al. Understanding adherence-related beliefs about medicine amongst patients of South Asian origin with diabetes and cardiovascular disease patients: a qualitative synthesis, BMC Endocrine Disorders (2016). Kanta Kumar et al. Understanding adherence-related beliefs about medicine amongst patients of South Asian origin with diabetes and cardiovascular disease patients: a qualitative synthesis,(2016). DOI: 10.1186/s12902-016-0103-0 Immunohistochemistry for alpha-synuclein showing positive staining (brown) of an intraneural Lewy-body in the Substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease. Credit: Wikipedia A simple blood test may be as accurate as a spinal fluid test when trying to determine whether symptoms are caused by Parkinson's disease or another atypical parkinsonism disorder, according to a new study published in the February 8, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. In early stages of disease, it can be difficult to differentiate between Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism disorders (APDs) like multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, because symptoms can overlap. But identifying these diseases early is important because expectations concerning progression and potential benefit from treatment differ dramatically between Parkinson's and APDs. "We have found that concentrations of a nerve protein in the blood can discriminate between these diseases as accurately as concentrations of that same protein in spinal fluid," said study author Oskar Hansson, MD, PhD, of Lund University in Lund, Sweden. The nerve protein is called neurofilament light chain protein. It is a component of nerve cells and can be detected in the blood stream and spinal fluid when nerve cells die. For the study, researchers examined 504 people from three study groups. Two groups, one in England and one in Sweden, had healthy people and people who had been living with Parkinson's or APDs for an average of four to six years. The third group was comprised of people who had been living with the diseases for three years or less. In all, there were 244 people with Parkinson's, 88 with multiple system atrophy, 70 with progressive supranuclear palsy, 23 with corticobasal degeneration and 79 people who served as healthy controls. Researchers found the blood test was just as accurate as a spinal fluid test at diagnosing whether someone had Parkinson's or an APD, in both early stages of disease and in those who had been living with the diseases longer. The nerve protein levels were higher in people with APDs and lower in those with Parkinson's disease and those who were healthy. In the Swedish group, the protein levels averaged around 10 picograms per milliliter. People with multiple system atrophy had levels averaging around 20 pg/ml; those with progressive supranuclear palsy averaged around 25 pg/ml; and those with corticobasal degeneration averaged around 27 pg/ml. Hansson said, "Lower concentrations of the nerve protein in the blood of those with Parkinson's may be due to less damage to nerve fibers compared to those with atypical parkinsonism disorders." For the group in Sweden, the blood test had a sensitivity of 82 percent and a specificity of 91 percent. Sensitivity is the percentage of actual positives that are correctly identified as positive. Specificity is the percentage of negatives that are correctly identified. For those in the early stages of disease, the sensitivity was 70 percent and the specificity was 80 percent. "Our findings are exciting because when Parkinson's or an atypical parkinsonism disorder is suspected, one simple blood test will help a physician to give their patient a more accurate diagnosis," said Hansson. "These atypical parkinsonism disorders are rare, but they generally progress much faster and are more likely to be the cause of death than Parkinson's disease, so it's important for patients and their families to receive the best care possible and to plan for their future needs." One limitation of nerve protein testing is that it does not distinguish between the different APDs, however doctors can look for other symptoms and signs to distinguish between those diseases. The study was supported by the European Research Council, the Swedish Research Council, The Parkinson Foundation of Sweden, the Swedish Brain Foundation, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Torsten Soderberg Foundation at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Swedish Federal Government under the ALF Agreement. Children exposed to harsh parenting are at greater risk of having poor school outcomes. A new longitudinal study sought to determine why. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh who conducted the study suggest that both direct and indirect effects of parenting play a role in shaping children's behavior, as well as their relationships with peers. The study appears in the journal Child Development. "We believe our study is the first to use children's life histories as a framework to examine how parenting affects children's educational outcomes via relationships with peers, sexual behavior, and delinquency," notes Rochelle F. Hentges, a postdoctoral fellow in the psychology department at the University of Pittsburgh, who led the study. "In our study, harsh parenting was related to lower educational attainment through a set of complex cascading processes that emphasized present-oriented behaviors at the cost of future-oriented educational goals." Harsh parenting was defined as yelling, hitting, and engaging in coercive behaviors like verbal or physical threats as a means of punishment. The researchers looked at youth who were part of the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study, which examined the influences of social contexts on adolescents' academic and psychosocial development. This ongoing longitudinal study in a large county near Washington, D.C., included 1,482 students, who were followed over nine years, beginning in seventh grade and ending three years after students' expected high school graduation. By the end of the study, 1,060 students remained. The participants reflected a broad range of racial, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. Participants reported on their parents' use of physical and verbal aggression, as well as their own interactions with peers, delinquency, and sexual behavior. Markers of overreliance on peers included deciding to spend time with friends instead of doing homework and feeling like it's okay to break rules to keep friends. When participants were 21, they reported on their highest level of educational attainment. Researchers found that students who were parented harshly in seventh grade were more likely in ninth grade to say their peer group was more important than other responsibilities, including following parents' rules. This in turn led them to engage in more risky behaviors in eleventh grade, including more frequent early sexual behavior in females and greater delinquency (e.g., hitting, stealing) in males. These behaviors, in turn, led to low educational achievement (as assessed by years of school completed) three years after high school, meaning that youth who were parented harshly were more likely to drop out of high school or college. Parenting influenced educational outcomes even after accounting for socioeconomic status, standardized test scores, grade point average, and educational values. "Youth whose needs aren't met by their primary attachment figures may seek validation from peers," explains Hentges. "This may include turning to peers in unhealthy ways, which may lead to increased aggression and delinquency, as well as early sexual behavior at the expense of long-term goals such as education." The study's findings have implications for prevention and intervention programs aimed at increasing students' engagement in school and boosting graduation rates. "Since children who are exposed to harsh and aggressive parenting are susceptible to lower educational attainment, they could be targeted for intervention," suggests Ming-Te Wang, associate professor of psychology in education at the University of Pittsburgh, who coauthored the study. Programs dealing with unhealthy peer relationships, delinquency, and sexual behaviors may also play a role in increasing educational attainment, the authors note. And teaching methods that focus on present-oriented goals and strategies (e.g., hands-on experimental learning, group activities) may promote learning and educational goals for individuals, especially those who are parented harshly. UAB's lay navigators in the Patient Care Connect Program are, from left, Myeisha Hutchinson, Ramona Colvin, Ernest Grimes, Jr. and Chinara Dosse. Credit: Nik Layman A new University of Alabama at Birmingham study shows that, when older cancer patients were paired with trained nonmedical professionals in the form of 'lay navigators,' there was significant decline in health care resource utilization and Medicare costs, providing an innovative model in transitioning to value-based health care on a national scale. In cancer care delivery, costs are expected to rise to $173 billion per year by 2020, due in part to the aging population and high expenses associated with caring for geriatric patients. The study, published today in JAMA Oncology, zeroes in on the influence of lay navigation on Medicare spending and resource use, such as emergency room visits, hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and chemotherapy in the last two weeks of life, to determine the financial implications on the health care system. "This study provides hard-core evidence that we can reduce inefficiency and duplication of services, and at the same time make it easier for people to get the cancer care they need," said Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and principal investigator on the study. "Unlike the traditional fee-for-service approach, where doctors and hospitals are paid based on the number of health care services they deliver, such as tests and procedures, the lay navigation program is a value-based approach that puts patients at the center, employing evidence-based medicine that takes into account each patient's wishes and preferences." Over a three-year period, from 2012-2015, the observational study examined 12,428 geriatric patients, age 65 and older, enrolled in the Patient Care Connect Program through the UAB Health System Cancer Community Network, which includes 12 community cancer centers across Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee. Comparisons and differences were analyzed between 6,214 navigated and 6,214 non-navigated patients. The primary exposure was contact with a patient navigator who was guided by distress screenings that assessed practical, informational, financial, familial, emotional, spiritual and physical concerns. Navigated patients were matched to non-navigated patients on age, race, sex, cancer acuity, comorbidity and pre-enrollment characteristics. The study found total costs declined by $781.29 more per quarter per navigated patient for an estimated $19 million decline per year across the network. Inpatient and outpatient costs had the largest decline with $294 and $275, respectively, per patient per quarter. Emergency room visits, hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions decreased per quarter by 6 percent, 7.9 percent and 10.6 percent, respectively. "What we know for sure is that our lay navigators have a positive effect on our patients and engage them in their health care, which can be increasingly complex," said Gabrielle Rocque, M.D., medical director of the PCCP and lead author on the study. "The extra layer of support that navigators provide can make a big difference. We have patients who tell us that they never would have made it through their treatment without their navigator." UAB has an established history of utilizing a variety of navigation programs and has found them to improve access to care, enhance coordination of care and overcome barriers to timely, high-quality health care. While most navigation programs focused on early detection and the initial management of care, the PCCP focuses on the whole continuum of care from diagnosis through survivorship to end of life, and in an age group with high symptom burdens, who experience more hospitalizations and incur higher medical costs. "Using lay navigation is a low-cost strategy to meet the demand for navigation services," said Rocque, assistant professor in the UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology and associate scientist at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. "When done right, lay navigators can take the time-consuming pressure off the nurses and medical team through frequent telephone communication and preventive, proactive approaches that lead to earlier identification and management of symptoms." Despite clear benefits to patients from navigation, programs have struggled because of a lack of financial support. The PCCP helps make a financial case to organizational leadership that a navigator can manage a caseload of about 150 patients per quarter and can target high-risk, high-cost patients and patient care. Navigators are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of high-risk patients because they can engage patients in the hospital, in multiple clinics and by telephone. Navigators connect patients and their caregivers to appropriate resources across multiple disciplines, in different health care settings and within the community at large. "Programs such as the Affordable Care Act are driving improvements in mandating better care with lower costs, and that is a good thing," Partridge said. "And this study is a step in the right direction in that we have a definitive assessment of impact that can provide opportunities for improvement nationally and systemwide." More information: Gabrielle B. Rocque et al. Resource Use and Medicare Costs During Lay Navigation for Geriatric Patients With Cancer, JAMA Oncology (2017). Journal information: JAMA Oncology Gabrielle B. Rocque et al. Resource Use and Medicare Costs During Lay Navigation for Geriatric Patients With Cancer,(2017). DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.6307 (HealthDay)Nighttime intensivist staffing is not associated with reduced intensive care unit (ICU) patient mortality, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the Feb. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Meeta Prasad Kerlin, M.D., from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the association between nighttime intensivist staffing and outcomes in ICU patients. Data were included from 18 studies that met inclusion criteria: one randomized controlled trial and 17 observational studies. The researchers observed no correlation with mortality (odds ratio, 0.99; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.75 to 1.29) in meta-analysis that included one randomized controlled trial and three nonrandomized studies with exposure limited to nighttime intensivist staffing. Similar results were seen in secondary analyses that included studies without risk adjustment, with a composite exposure of organizational factors, and stratified by intensity of daytime staffing and by ICU type. In ICU and hospital length of stay and other secondary outcomes there were minimal or no differences. "Notwithstanding limitations of the predominantly observational evidence, our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests nighttime intensivist staffing is not associated with reduced ICU patient mortality," the authors write. Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: Vera Kratochvil/public domain Among high school seniors who have never smoked a cigarette, those who vape are more than four times more likely to smoke a cigarette in the following year than their peers who do not vape. Part of the reason vaping may be associated with future smoking is that it changes teens' perceptions of the risks of smoking, according to a new University of Michigan study. In fact, vapers are more likely to move away from the view that smoking poses a great risk of harm than nonvapers, says Richard Miech, the study's lead author and research professor at U-M's Institute for Social Research. The results come from U-M's annual Monitoring the Future study, which conducts nationally representative surveys of 12th-graders. A subset of the respondents is randomly selected to continue participation in the study and is periodically re-surveyed in later years. The results are based on 347 respondents who were initially surveyed in their senior year of high school in 2014 and then followed up a year later in 2015. Vaping involves the use of battery-powered devices with a heating element that produce an aerosol, or vapor, inhaled by users. The vapors come in thousands of flavors, such as bubble gum and milk chocolate cream, which are attractive to teens. They may or may not contain nicotine, per the user's choice, and contain fewer chemicals known to be harmful to humans than traditional cigarette smoke. Vaping devices include e-cigarettes, "mods" and e-pens. Vaping has become popular in a short time, and has grown from near-zero prevalence in 2011 to one of the most common forms of substance use among teens today, Miech says. "These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence showing that teens who vape are more likely to start smoking than their peers who don't vape," he said. "At the very least, teens who vape should be considered at high risk for future smoking, even if they believe they are vaping only flavoring." Vaping could lead to future smoking through entirely social means. Miech says that kids who vape may believe that smoking is not dangerous if they do not detect any immediate health effects from their vaping. And teens who vape may also be more likely to join peer groups of smokers, which put youth at heightened risk for smoking. "It is possible that among teens vaping, it could lead former smokers back to smoking," Miech said. The study also looked at seniors who had previously smoked cigarettes, but had no recent smoking activity at the time of the initial survey in 12th grade. Among these seniors, those who vaped were twice as likely to smoke in the next year as compared to those who did not vape. The results did not find strong evidence for vaping as an effective means for cigarette cessation, at least among teens. Among the 12th-graders who smoked at the initial survey, those who vaped were just as likely to have smoked cigarettes in the following year than those who did not vape, Miech says. The findings appear in the current issue of Tobacco Control. More information: Richard Miech et al. E-cigarette use as a predictor of cigarette smoking: results from a 1-year follow-up of a national sample of 12th grade students, Tobacco Control (2017). DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053291 , Journal information: Tobacco Control Richard Miech et al. E-cigarette use as a predictor of cigarette smoking: results from a 1-year follow-up of a national sample of 12th grade students,(2017). DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053291 , tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/lookup/ ocontrol-2016-053291 The deaths of more than 700 Australian adults with an intellectual disability could have been avoided with more appropriate health care and monitoring, a UNSW study has revealed. A total of 732 Australian adults with an intellectual disability died in NSW over six years, many from causes or conditions that could have been avoided with more appropriate health care and monitoring. That is the conclusion of the largest study ever conducted in Australia of the cause of death for adults with an intellectual disability (ID). The study, conducted by researchers at UNSW, found potentially avoidable deaths at over twice the rate of the general population. The research also revealed many deaths were incorrectly attributed to an individual's disability, using a flawed classification system that masks the actual cause of death or health condition that may have contributed to the death. The study is published today in the journal BMJ Open. Lead author and UNSW Chair in Intellectual Disability Mental Health, Professor Julian Trollor, said the research highlighted the lack of substantial progress in addressing health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disability, since the initial publication of mortality data in this group more than a decade ago. "In a wealthy society such as ours, such a high death rate and high proportion of potentially avoidable deaths is unacceptable. We must invest more into improving the health of this group who are among our most vulnerable," Professor Trollor said. "There is an urgent need for a national death reporting system for Australians with an intellectual disability." The study reviewed deaths among all adults aged over 20 with ID who received disability services in NSW between 2005 and 2011 (19,362 adults). The researchers found 732 deaths (almost 4%), at an average age of 54 years old, revealing a life expectancy that is 26 years shorter than the general Australian population. The deaths were then compared with a general NSW population group, using Australian Bureau of Statistics data. After the researchers recoded deaths previously attributed to an individual's disability to reveal the underlying cause of death, they found 38% of the deaths in adults with ID were potentially avoidable, compared to 17% in the comparison group. The researchers said similarities in ID services across Australian states meant the population assessed in this study is a nationally representative cause of death sample among people with more severe levels of ID, such as those who typically receive funded disability services. Professor Trollor said people with Down syndrome, who are at increased risk of death from dementia-related complications such as pneumonia, often have the cause of death incorrectly recorded as Down syndrome. "Down syndrome itself doesn't cause the death, yet it's still coded that way," Professor Trollor said. "Comprehensive strategies to mitigate risk of death due to respiratory diseases, including those arising from choking, feeding and swallowing difficulties, have been recommended by the NSW Ombudsman yet sadly, this remains a fairly common cause of death among this group. "These deaths, and those related to heart and metabolic diseases, are potentially avoidable if appropriate care and access to preventative health and lifestyle programs are provided to people with an intellectual disability," Professor Trollor said. "It is critical that these needs are recognised, and that services are readily accessed and appropriately prioritised by people with an intellectual disability and their carers." The researchers also made a number of other recommendations including: Australian governments should develop comprehensive responses that address the inadequacies of health policy, services and access to services for this population; Strategies should be paired with regular reporting of health status and outcomes for people with ID, as occurs in other countries such as the United Kingdom; and Heath services currently funded by state government disability services are threatened with defunding in the roll out of the NDIS and need to be rehoused and preserved. The researchers emphasised that the findings do not translate to every individual with ID and that people with mild ID may have been under-represented in the study. They will next examine trends in death rates over a longer time period to enable a more detailed examination of the factors associated with premature death in people with ID. More information: Cause of death and potentially avoidable deaths in Australian adults with intellectual disability using retrospective linked data. BMJ Open. dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013489 Journal information: BMJ Open Cause of death and potentially avoidable deaths in Australian adults with intellectual disability using retrospective linked data. Three Nigerian nationals extradited from South Africa have been convicted of wide-ranging internet fraud schemes in a United States court, unravelling a large network of international internet scammers. The convicted men, Oladimeji Seun Ayelotan, 30, Rasaq Aderoju Raheem, 31 and Femi Alexander Mewase, 45, collectively face hundreds of years in prison after being found guilty by a federal jury in the Southern District of Mississippi. A total of 21 people in the US, Nigeria and South Africa have been charged in the case . According to testimony and evidence presented in the three-week trial, the trio participated in numerous complex internet-based financial fraud schemes including romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent cheque scams, work-at-home scams as well as bank, financial, and credit card account takeovers. Speaking to News24 Hawks cybercrime unit head Brigadier Piet Pieterse said his team had worked undercover for 12 months to build a case against the large network of criminals in the South African wing of the syndicate. The criminal enterprise was cross-border. We managed to infiltrate the syndicate and get a good picture of their operations. We as the Hawks were there to make an impact at the top tier levels of the criminal enterprise. Nabbing bottom level people was not our directive. Pieterse said a take-down operation resulted in eleven arrests in South Africa. Fictitious online relationships The take-down was done simultaneously with the United States and Canada who also took down members of the criminal organisation based in their countries at the same time. Pieterse welcomed the convictions and said South African authorities used simple but effective investigative methods to gather evidence and stop the cybercrimes. We stuck to the basics and it paid off. Some of the charges the men were convicted of include conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit identity theft, access device fraud, theft of US government funds and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The US Justice Department said that from as early as 2001, the Nigerian trio identified and solicited potential victims through online dating websites and work-at-home opportunities. In some instances, the defendants carried on fictitious online romantic relationships with victims for the purpose of using the victims to further objectives of the conspiracy. Other SA authorities that worked on the case included the South African Police Service, Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) Electronic Crimes Unit, the SAPS Interpol Extradition Unit, the National Prosecution Authority and the South African Department of Justice. How did the scams work? Criminals would illegally obtain banking information from all around the world through hacking. They would use this information to purchase merchandise online. Scamming victims would then be asked to re-package items and send them to South Africa. The criminal enterprise in South Africa would use its elaborate distribution network extending into Africa to make a profit off the items. News24 Property worth Rs 1.3 million gutted in Dhanusha fire Property worth around Rs 1.3 million was reduced to ashes when a fire broke out at a cotton store in Janakpur on Tuesday night. BMW M4 turned into a pickup truck Blinken calls on Israel and Palestine to urgently de-escalate tensions Romania signs deal with Norway for purchase of over 30 F-16 fighters Stoltenberg: The alliance has no plans to change nuclear positions and deployments Tagesschau: Nearly 200,000 people took part in strikes at industrial enterprises of Germany Teenagers hacks Uzbekistan senate website Artsakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis fired at tractor in Khramort village of Artsakh Rally participants' statement: Artsakh can't be a part of Azerbaijan Person accused of arson in Russia cafe confesses Fars: Iranian Foreign Ministry reported UAV deliveries to Russia a few months before the start of the UAS Bayramov: Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders next meeting will take place in Brussels this month Unity rally of participants start march in downtown Yerevan North Korea launches 4 ballistic missiles Council of Border Guard Troops commanders discusses situation at CIS external borders Armenia ex-President Kocharyan joins rally in downtown Yerevan Russia oil, natural gas companies plan to collaborate with Iraq Armenia army intelligence troops 30th anniversary is solemnly celebrated (PHOTOS) Rally of unity in support of Karabakh kicks off in downtown Yerevan Pentagon announces sending 8 NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine Armenian Apostolic Church Supreme Spiritual Council meeting ends, Armenia and Artsakh security discussed Tropical Storm Nalgae death toll climbs to 155 in Philippines Artak Beglaryan is appointed advisor to Artsakh Minister of State (PHOTOS) US House committee extends deadline for Trump to produce documents on Capitol attack Over 200 elephants die in Kenya amid drought 13 dead in cafe fire in Russia Armenia Security Council chief to head for Poland, Netherlands, Lithuania Rishi Sunak: State cannot fix all problems Newspaper: To what extent Armenia adheres to sanctions on Russia? Biden accuses Twitter of spewing lies Newspaper: There are active political processes in Karabakh Qatar FM slams hypocrisy of calls to boycott World Cup France, Singapore and Switzerland begin joint testing of experimental digital currencies Oil war is Biden's biggest mistake Japan considers possible deployment of hypersonic missiles by 2030 Germany to install better air defense system over Defense Ministry buildings Erdogan and Stoltenberg discuss war in Ukraine Armenian MOD: Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire in direction of Armenian positions True cost of Europe's rejection of Russian gas White House tries to explain Biden's statement about freeing Iran Former Pakistani Prime Minister: Either we will have a peaceful revolution or a bloody one Aramyan: Why are police officers' salaries increasing, while defense officers' are not? Pentagon and U.S. weapons manufacturers to discuss Russia, human resources and supply chain Ankara says U.S. may approve sale of F-16s to Turkey within few months IMF: Turkey should tighten monetary policy and give the Central Bank more independence Pope urges religious leaders to keep the world from brink of abyss Putin awards Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II with Order of Honor U.S. says G7 countries realize need for coordinated response to China Round-the-clock curfew is introduced in Kherson Borrell says they can't put China and Russia on same level Olaf Scholz calls on China to influence Russia G7 foreign ministers express 'unwavering commitment' to protecting Ukraine, criticized PRC and IRI Political technologist explains why Pashinyan was elected chairman of board of ruling party in Armenia Erdogan signs up for TikTok China's army is constantly preparing for war amid provocative U.S. actions Kalin: Armenia is constructive about normalization of relations Poland asks EU to suspend fines Putin: Situation in Ukraine was deadly for Russia Portugal to test a four-day workweek US embassy in Armenia issues statement ahead of November 5 protests in Yerevan Dollar, euro go up in Armenia Baku authorities once again refuse to allow PFPA to hold protest rally Iranians commemorate anniversary of US embassy seizure Richard Kauzlarich: Azerbaijan, Armenia FMs meeting in Washington 'will send message to Putin' Russia ratifies protocol on requirements for length of service of EEU bodies' employees for pensions Armenia deputy defense minister in Russia, discusses military cooperation Yerevan receives proposal to hold Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan interparliamentary talks Health minister: We will work with fallen Armenia detainees relatives one more time after which bodies will be buried Putin allows mobilization of citizens with unexpunged criminal record for serious crimes Arnika, NESEHNUTI NGOs of Czech Rep. issue joint statement on plan to expand gold mine in Armenias Karaberd Putin urges to evacuate civilians living in Kherson from the war zone Iran parliament speaker to visit Armenia Ruling force MP: Canada is opening embassy in Armenia because we are one of worlds most democratic countries Girl with Armenian roots ends up in Vladimir orphanage Erdogan says he has agreed with Putin to supply grain to needy countries for free Armenia President, UK envoy agree to continue cooperation, close contacts Armenia FM receives EU Monitoring Capacity Spanish MPs don't approve agreement with Baku as a sign of solidarity with Armenia Japan says North Korea may go ahead with nuclear test Armenia government to allocate about $5M to Karabakh refugees support program Belarusian border service: Border guards intercepts Ukrainian training drone President appoints Ruben Vardanyan as Karabakh Minister of State US embassy expresses concern about human rights violation in Azerbaijan Azerbaijan continues muscle play on Iran border Ibrahim Kalin says Turkey will become an important gas center one way or another Biden: We're gonna free Iran Reuters: G7 countries and Australia agrees on fixed price for Russian oil World oil prices dropping Wizz Air to launch new flights between Venice, Yerevan EU assesses Armenia, Azerbaijan border commissions meeting in Brussels as constructive Artsakh President convenes enlarged working consultation Envoy: China supports Armenians Azerbaijan MOD disseminates disinformation, Armenia army did not fire Armenia ruling party recounts congress voting results Quake jolts Turkey Newspaper: Armenia PM once again manipulates topic of negotiations, Karabakh conflict Newspaper: Studies underway on Armenia MPs business involvement US wants to prevent Germany, other allies from working together with China Protests turn violent in Iran's Alborz Province Portugal is considering abandoning golden visa scheme Biden and Erdogan to meet at G-20 summit YEREVAN. Parliamentarian and member of Heritage party Zaruhi Postanjyan who was opposing participation in the parliamentary elections as a part of an alliance, is likely to join Way Out (Yelk) alliance, Zhamanak newspaper writes. According to newspaper, Postanjyan had met with one of the leaders of the alliance NIkol Pashinyan to reach a preliminary agreement. The alliance is discussing the list of candidates for election, the daily writes. As to deputy chairman of Heritage party Armen Martirosyan, he is going to join former defense minister Seyran Ohanyan, while party leader Raffi Hovannisian will not participate in the elections at all, the newspaper says. STEPANAKERT. Karabakh Defense Army reported about rise in tension along the line of contact between the armed forces of Karabakh and Azerbaijan from late Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, The Azerbaijani side violated ceasefire more than 80 times firing from 60 and 82 mm mortars and sniper rifles. Overall, over 850 shots were fired toward the Karabakh position-holders. The adversary was intensively firing in the eastern and north-eastern direction of the line of contact. The Azerbaijani armed forces fired 47 mortars from D 44 artillery guns and mine launchers. The NKR Defense Army vanguard units responded to suppress activeness of the opposing side and continue confidently carrying out their military watch. YEREVAN. The arrest and extradition of the popular blogger Alexander Lapshina cannot affect the work of journalists and human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh, Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan stated. The fact of extradition of Alexander Lapshin is obviously connected with infringement of freedom of speech. Handcuffs which appeared on Lapshin immediately after his extradition to Azerbaijan, as well as armed people in masks accompanying him, already demonstrate that actions contain elements of unacceptable treatment, Arman Tatoyan emphasized, urging to activate visits to Nagorno-Karabakh. Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the decision of the Prosecutor General on extraditing Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan. After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan. In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but with a Ukrainian passport. Subsequently, he issued several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. Afterward, the Azerbaijani authorities issued an international search for this famous blogger. And on December 15, 2016, he was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on this international search. On January 26, the Minsk city court dismissed the complaint of blogger Alexander Lapshin over the decision of the Belarusian prosecutors office to extradite him to Azerbaijan. The Supreme Court of Belarus on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed in the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to the experts and human rights defenders, Lapshins case may become a horrible precedent limiting the freedom of speech of foreigners and freedom of movement of Armenian citizens. On Tuesday evening Blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku. The Canadian court dropped the charges brought against an Armenian, arrested for unruly behavior on an Aeroflot plane travelling from Los Angeles to Moscow. During the court hearing on Tuesday, the charges were stayed against him, Times Colonist reports. . Sisak Khudaverdyan, 37, was arrested immediately after an emergency landing in the airport of Iqaluit city in northern Canada. He has been under arrest for more than 70 days. Khudaverdyan was charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft and its passengers, mischief and causing a disturbance. Earlier, the Armenian man pleaded not guilty. In case of being found guilty, a $100,000 fine will be imposed on his along with five years in prison. If the verdict is brought without the participation of the jury he will face $25,000 fine and up to 18 months in prison. YEREVAN. Deputy Chairman of Armenia-Belarus parliamentary friendship group Eduard Sharmazanov described extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin as a dirty deal adding that it was done against the interests of Armenia and Russia. He is confident that the move contradicts the principle of peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, as well as high level of political relations between Russia and Belarus. None of democratic countries could accept this. Armenian spokesperson has already made a statement, I do not doubt that the MPs will also do. I personally do not see the need of talking to the Belarus colleagues, because our group is a friendship group, while the move of Belarus is, to put it mildly, not a friendly one. It is not a friendly move towards both Armenia and Russia, because Lapshin has Russian citizenship, added Sharmazanov, deputy speaker of the Armenian parliameny. YEREVAN. Armenia's actions should not be hasty, but determined, Armenian National Assembly speaker Galust Sahakyan stated on Wednesday. We share the sounded opinions of deputies from various political forces. We can make the statement in the parliament, but that will not resolve the issue. The question demands other approaches, Sahakyan noted. Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the decision of the Prosecutor General on extraditing Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan. After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan. In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but with a Ukrainian passport. Subsequently, he issued several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. Afterward, the Azerbaijani authorities issued an international search for this famous blogger. And on December 15, 2016, he was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on this international search. On January 26, the Minsk city court dismissed the complaint of blogger Alexander Lapshin over the decision of the Belarusian prosecutors office to extradite him to Azerbaijan. The Supreme Court of Belarus on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed in the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to the experts and human rights defenders, Lapshins case may become a horrible precedent limiting the freedom of speech of foreigners and freedom of movement of Armenian citizens. On Tuesday evening Blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku. RPP selects district reps for convention The Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal has selected around 700 representatives from the districts for its unity convention scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in two weeks. Russian Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the decision of the Belarusian authorities to extradite popular blogger Alexander Lapshin who has Russian citizenship, to Azerbaijan. The Russian side is deeply disappointed over that decision which isn't corresponding to the spirit of allied relations between Russia and Belarus," the statement said. The Ministry also noted that they were planning to take measures for protection of Lapshins rights and interests, returning him to his family. Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the decision of the Prosecutor General on extraditing Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan. After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan. In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but with a Ukrainian passport. Subsequently, he issued several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. Afterward, the Azerbaijani authorities issued an international search for this famous blogger. And on December 15, 2016, he was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on this international search. On January 26, the Minsk city court dismissed the complaint of blogger Alexander Lapshin over the decision of the Belarusian prosecutors office to extradite him to Azerbaijan. The Supreme Court of Belarus on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed in the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to the experts and human rights defenders, Lapshins case may become a horrible precedent limiting the freedom of speech of foreigners and freedom of movement of Armenian citizens. On Tuesday evening Blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku. Israeli and Russian diplomats are trying to get permission to visit Alexander Lapshin, RIA Novosti reported quoting a member of Knesset, Ksenia Svetlova who participates in the fight against arrest of the blogger. Svetlova said that Lapshins extradition took place very quickly. At the moment I'm in touch with his wife and we do not even know where he exactly is. Israeli consul is not allowed to him, she said adding that representatives of the Israeli and Russian diplomatic missions are trying to get permission to visit him. I am very concerned about Alexander Lapshin's fate. Yesterday he was brought to Azerbaijan in absolutely extraordinary way. He was in handcuffs accompanied by five armed people in masks as if he was at least [the leader of Islamic State group] Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He is just an Israeli blogger. At the moment we don't even know where he is exactly and it can actually be really worrying, Svetlova said. Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the decision of the Prosecutor General on extraditing Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan. After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan. In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but with a Ukrainian passport. Subsequently, he issued several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. Afterward, the Azerbaijani authorities issued an international search for this famous blogger. And on December 15, 2016, he was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on this international search. On January 26, the Minsk city court dismissed the complaint of blogger Alexander Lapshin over the decision of the Belarusian prosecutors office to extradite him to Azerbaijan. The Supreme Court of Belarus on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed in the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to the experts and human rights defenders, Lapshins case may become a horrible precedent limiting the freedom of speech of foreigners and freedom of movement of Armenian citizens. On Tuesday evening Blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku. Alexander Lapshin became the hostage of interstate games in the post-Soviet area. Political analyst Alexander Zinker stated the aforementioned, commenting on the extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan. Blogger Alexander Lapshin, who has the citizenship of the Russian Federation and Israel, was on Tuesday brought from Minsk to Baku by charter flight in accordance with the decision on extradition adopted by the Belarusian authorities. He may face 5-8 years in prison for the crimes stipulated by the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. Both the Israeli and Russian authorities were against the extradition. On the Israeli side, Deputy FM Tzipi Hotovely and Knesset MP Ksenia Svetlova tried to agree on the bloggers extradition, the analyst said. As far as I know, all the parties to this conflictwhich has gone too far noware trying to get out of it saving face. Official Baku didnt wish to take a step back and merely retract its request but is ready to pardon Lapshin if the latter turns to President Aliyev with such a request. Israel, which proposed to its Azerbaijani colleagues different options of solving this situation will not calm down unless the Israeli citizen is set free. As to the agreement that Lapshin will not serve his sentence in an Azerbaijani jail, it does exist, as far as I know. The Russian side seems to also exert certain efforts towards releasing the Russian citizen. I think, Alexander Lapshin became the hostage of interstate games in the post-Soviet area. It is quite hard to imagine such a thing happen in the modern civilized world. Most likely a bargaining is underway now, Baku trying to get certain preferences for Lapshin. The conflict will be solved but as the old joke says Spoons were found but the sediment remained something. The rifts formed in the relations between former USSR countries and Israel will at best have to be re-fixed, but they may also go deeper, Ziker concluded. After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan. In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but with a Ukrainian passport. Subsequently, he issued several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. Afterward, the Azerbaijani authorities issued an international search for this famous blogger. And on December 15, 2016, he was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on this international search. On January 26, the Minsk city court dismissed the complaint of blogger Alexander Lapshin over the decision of the Belarusian prosecutors office to extradite him to Azerbaijan. The Supreme Court of Belarus on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed in the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to the experts and human rights defenders, Lapshins case may become a horrible precedent limiting the freedom of speech of foreigners and freedom of movement of Armenian citizens. Blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku Tuesday evening. YEREVAN. - The extradition of Alexander Lapshin was carried out skirting the interstate and international legal regulations, reads the statement issued by the Chamber of Advocates of Armenian. According to the statement, the study of the chronology of events indicates the political motivation of the process. It is also noted that the extradition shall not be carried out if there are strong grounds to suppose that the request is motivated by persecuting a specific person. In fact, one of the two charges brought against Lapshin is not subject to prosecution even in Azerbaijan: this concerns the illegal crossing of state border which is controlled by Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan does not control the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), this meaning that Lapshin couldnt have violated the norm. The second part of the chargescalls against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijanis not subject to prosecution in Belarus, the document reads. Lapshins extradition contradicts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, under which everyone has a right to speech. Considering this, Belarus had no right to extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan, the statement says. It also recalls the process round the Azerbaijani officer and killer Ramil Safarov, who was extradited by Hungary to Azerbaijan, where he was made a hero. It should be noted that Azerbaijan declared 180 journalists personae non grata for visiting Karabakh. The process round Lapshin aims to isolate Nagorno-Karabakh through terror and creation of a threat for potential visitors, the statement reads. Sparrows, drongos disappearing The ubiquitous chirrups of sparrows are rarely heard these days. Nor do drongos sing quite often. Rapid urbanisation and rampant use of pesticides are taking a toll on these humble birds. Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov on Wednesday told RIA Novosti that he had a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to the country, during which they discussed the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin, who was extradited from Minsk upon the request of Baku. The latter is expected to meet with the Russian Consul on February 9-10. We received a letter or protest from the Russian and Israeli embassies on this issue. The Russian Consul will meet with Lapshin in accordance with the Vienna Convention literally tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. The Embassy will have an access to communicating with him. We will decide the mere technical details today. I have already met with Russian Ambassador and this issue was discussed. I dont see any obstacles here, the Azerbaijani FM said. In his words, the Lapshins further fate will depend on the completion of the investigation. He has been charged with a number of articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. The final decision is the judgment of the court, he stressed. I am surprised and outraged by the excessive politicization of this matter. He is constantly called a blogger. Wouldnt he be of interest if he were an engineer? He violated the law and a criminal case was thus launched in accordance with a legal substantiation, based on which request was made to Interpol, he said. The Prosecutor Generals Office of Belarus issued a statement on Wednesday, in which it tried to explain and lend legitimacy to its actions in respect of blogger Alexander Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan. According to BELTA, the Prosecutor Generals Office stated that on 15 December 2016, Alexander Lapshin, who was placed on a wanted list, was detained in the territory of Minsk upon the request of the Azerbaijani side. The request on handing him over for prosecution was made in the prescribed period. It was drawn up in accordance with the requirements of the Convention on Legal Aid and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases (signed on 7 October 2002) and contained guarantees by the Azerbaijani side on observing the limits of prosecution stipulated by Article 475 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Belarus. The actions of Alexander Lapshin, which he is accused of under Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, are also punishable under the Belarusian criminal legislation, corresponding to Article 361 (3) and Article 371 (3) of the Criminal Code. The statute of limitations for prosecuting Lapshin has not expired yet under the Belarusian and Azerbaijani legislation. He is not a citizen of Belarus. In this connection, the Prosecutor Generals Office of Belarus adopted a decision on handing him over to Azerbaijan for prosecution on 17 January 2017, being guided by Articles 66, 67 and 88 of the Convention and Articles 494 and 495 of the Belarusian Criminal Procedure Code. In accordance with the requirements of the acting legislation, checking the proof of guilt of the extradited person in the incriminated crimes does not fall within the competence of the requested party, the statement reads. The decision on extradition entered into force on February 7. Lapshin read and understood the court decision in the prescribed manner. It is also noted that neither Russia nor Israel, whose citizen Alexander Lapshin is, request his extradition from the Belarusian side. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev talked by phone with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday. According to Azerbaijani media outlets, during the phone conversation, the sides touched on the successful development of bilateral Azerbaijani-Belarusian relations, expressing satisfaction with the official visit of President Lukashenko to Azerbaijan last year and the successful implementation of agreements reached during the visit. They expressed conviction that the ties between the two countries in the political, economic and other spheres will continue developing. [Apart from this,] The heads of states exchanged views on the prospects of bilateral relations and talked about the future presidential-level meetings. Afterwards, Aliyev thanked the Belarusian side and personally President Alexander Lukashenko for the demonstration of just position and decisive steps [taken] in connection with Alexander Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan over the criminal case launched against him under the relevant articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. He considered this step as observation of the rule of law and international conventions, as well as manifestation of friendship and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko, for his part, thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his gratitude.. After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan. In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan, but with a Ukrainian passport. Subsequently, he issued several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities. Afterward, the Azerbaijani authorities issued an international search for this famous blogger. And on December 15, 2016, he was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on this international search. On January 26, the Minsk city court dismissed the complaint of blogger Alexander Lapshin over the decision of the Belarusian prosecutors office to extradite him to Azerbaijan. The Supreme Court of Belarus on Tuesday dismissed the complaints filed in the case of blogger Alexander Lapshin. According to the experts and human rights defenders, Lapshins case may become a horrible precedent limiting the freedom of speech of foreigners and freedom of movement of Armenian citizens. Blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku Tuesday evening. Suicide bomber kills at least 20 at Kabul's Supreme Court, scores injured At least 20 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at Afghanistan's Supreme Court in Kabul, officials say. Motorola Solutions helps to build safer cities with intelligence-led policing solutions and unified TETRA and broadband networks. Motorola Solutions CommandCentral portfolio and the evolving Connected Police Officer enable increased situational awareness and next generation law enforcement. Unified TETRA and broadband networks provided through WAVE TM Work Group Communications. Work Group Communications. ADVISORTM TPG2200 TETRA pager and new DIMETRATM Express system presented at CC Europe 2017, booth A11, Feb. 8-9, in Copenhagen, Denmark. COPENHAGEN, Denmark February 8, 2017 The operational landscape of public safety organisations is changing. One of the biggest challenges that public safety professionals face is being forced to deal with the unknown. At Critical Communications Europe 2017, Motorola Solutions will present a set of solutions that are optimized for the requirements of public safety and commercial customers today and into the future. Motorola Solutions mobile intelligence framework features a set of software and services, platforms and devices that span multiple networks and enable interoperability as well as seamless information sharing and collaboration. INTELLIGENCE-LED POLICING SOLUTIONS At CC Europe, Motorola Solutions will present its CommandCentral portfolio and the evolving Connected Police Officer concept. CommandCentral software applications enable agencies to transform and use data as a force multiplier for increasing situational awareness by unifying it into a real-time, common operating picture. CommandCentral Aware is able to aggregate multiple data sources such as live video feeds, social media activity or national databases in order to deliver a single, real-time operational view to command centre personnel. For sophisticated law enforcement, Motorola Solutions has further developed the Connected Police Officer concept: When equipped with advanced and future-oriented technology like the Si500 Video Speaker Microphone and the LEX L10 handheld devices, police officers are always connected to the control room and benefit from increased safety and efficiency during operation. The cloud-based CommandCentral Vault application completes the solution by providing enhanced chain-of-custody controls for end-to-end security and content integrity. UNIFYING TETRA AND BROADBAND NETWORKS Using its WAVE Work Group Communications interoperability platform, Motorola Solutions will demonstrate how to connect any device to any network and enable seamless workgroup collaboration. The display at CC Europe demonstrates how new push-to-talk technology helps to unify the capabilities of TETRA and public safety LTE systems through voice and data integration. We have developed a powerful set of tools to help make cities safer by increasing public safetys situational awareness and capabilities through mobile intelligence, said Mark Schmidl, corporate vice president of sales for Motorola Solutions in Europe, Middle East and Africa. With our end-to-end interoperable solutions for broadband voice, data, multimedia and various other applications, we are enabling public safety agencies to work faster, safer and more effectively. NATIONWIDE PUBLIC-SAFETY NETWORKS LEAD THE WAY INTO THE FUTURE Projects like Ndnett, Norways nationwide TETRA radio communications system, or SINE, Denmarks public safety network, reflect the enormous potential for broadband networks to gather data and transform it into actionable intelligence. Building a seamless collaborative system that connects people with the right information at the right time is the new paradigm for public safety that Motorola Solutions is exploring at CC Europe. PURPOSE-BUILT SOLUTIONS At CC Europe 2017, Motorola Solutions will also showcase the recent additions to its portfolio of purpose-built solutions, including the ADVISOR TPG2200 TETRA two-way pager. A special highlight is the new DIMETRA Express solution, which will be presented to an international expert audience for the very first time at CC Europe 2017. ADVISOR TPG2200 TETRA TWO-WAY PAGER To effectively respond to fires, natural disasters and other dangerous incidents, control room, dispatch and medical staff need to know who will be arriving on the scene. With its enhanced wide coverage and extended battery life, the new ADVISOR TPG2200 TETRA two-way pager ensures that firefighters, emergency service personnel and healthcare workers can be reached when they are needed most. For higher efficiency, the TPG2200 pager is simple to use, even with one hand, and allows first responders to quickly read messages on the bright 2-inch colour display. Moreover, it can be carried anywhere thanks to its lightweight, compact and robust design. DIMETRA EXPRESS ONE-BOX TETRA SOLUTION Motorola Solutions DIMETRA Express is a single-site TETRA digital radio system that can be deployed within 15 minutes, saving valuable time, and helping to increase performance, reliability and responsiveness. Motorola Solutions DIMETRA Express was developed to meet the demand from customers and partners for a product that is easy to deploy and cost efficient enough to be used for smaller projects. It also enables smaller organisations from across sectors like manufacturing, public transport, hospitality, events or oil and gas, to benefit from high-quality audio, short data services (SDS) and telephony services. The one box system integrates base radios and a switch and can be set up and configured by a single Windows or Android laptop or tablet. The entire centralised architecture is then managed and operated through intuitive web-based applications and tools. Visit our Motorola Solutions expert presentations at CC Europe 2017 on Feb. 8: 12:15 p.m.: Are industry players meeting the demands of the end user? by Ricardo Gonzalez, EMEA Strategy Director at Motorola Solutions 2:50 p.m.: Should cross-border interoperability be replicated across other countries? by Jeppe Jepsen, Director of International Business Relations at Motorola Solutions 4:55 p.m.: How can we ensure closer collaboration between countries networks? by Steen Petersen, Director TETRA Infrastructure Customer Solutions Resources: Motorola Solutions Smart Public Safety Solutions Learn more about Motorola CommandCentral Learn more about Motorola ADVISOR TPG2200 TETRA pager device Learn more about Motorola DIMETRATM Express One Box TETRA digital radio system About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) creates innovative, mission-critical communication solutions and services that help public safety and commercial customers build safer cities and thriving communities. For ongoing news, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/newsroom . Find Motorola Solutions Public Safety on Twitter Find Motorola Solutions on LinkedIn The latest Featured chefs: Lulu's Sarah Jonas and Cameryne Roberts Back in 2001 when Bay View was just starting to buzz with social activity, Sarah Jonas and Cameryne Roberts decided to take a shot in their own neighborhood and open a restaurant in the former George Webb's location on Howell Avenue. Now, the duo expands to Wauwatosa where the two female chefs will soon open Juniper 61. Last month, Tarik Moody, who serves as the digital director and music host for 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, celebrated 10 years at the station. In honor of his decade as a Milwaukeean, Moody aka "The Architect" presents "Love Letter to Milwaukee" at Company Brewing, 735 E. Center St., on Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 p.m. Musical guests include Def Harmonic, Siren, Honey x SistaStrings x Klassik, DJ Madhatter vs Kings and a reunion show by Unlooped vs Dilla. "It features artists that have made an impact on me," says Moody. "I want to show my appreciation to everyone who helped make Milwaukee a home." OnMilwaukee: When did you move to Milwaukee, from where and why? Tarik Moody: I moved to Milwaukee in January 2007 from Minneapolis. I spent nine years in Minneapolis practicing architecture and I also had a radio show on The Current. 88Nine Radio Milwaukee recruited me as a digital manager and evening music host. How has your job evolved? My evening music host position hasnt really changed that much other than the time slot. As far as digital manager, I used to do everything in the beginning. I was a department of one. Now, Im the digital director and I have a team to help me out. What were your preconceived notions of Milwaukee before you moved here? To be honest, I didnt have any preconceived notions of Milwaukee. I had only driven through it on the way from Minneapolis to Detroit. What were your first impressions of Milwaukee? For some reason, I thought Milwaukee was more inland. The lakefront blew me away and it still does. I was really surprised how the city had very strong neighborhoods. How has Milwaukee changed since you've moved here, for better and worse? There has been a lot of development in the neighborhoods like Walkers Point. I love the upcoming development that is happening in Bronzeville. I think the arts and music scene in Milwaukee is much stronger and diverse now. However, the city seems more divided on issues like race and politics. What do you love about 88Nine? I love my co-workers and the impact we have on Milwaukee. I also love all the friends I have made in the past 10 years. What would you like to change? I will continue being a champion of the Milwaukee music scene and I would like to see us in the future embrace all of Wisconsin music. Where did you grow up, go to college and so on? I was born in Louisville, Kentucky and I lived in Houston, Charleston, Birmingham, but I spent most of my life growing up in Atlanta. I graduated from Howard University School of Architecture (Washington, D.C.) in 1996. Prior to 88Nine, I worked as design manager at Northwest Airlines in Detroit and Minneapolis. I also practiced architecture at RSP Architect in Minneapolis, where we worked on commercial projects like restaurants and had a radio show on The Current called Rhythm Lab Radio, which I still produce on 88Nine. Your friends and Facebook friends know that you enjoy food. What are some of your favorite restaurants in the city? Juan Xis Hot Pot service, Real Chili, Company Brewing, DanDan, the numerous taco trucks, Red Light Ramen, Ashleys BBQ on Center, Iron Grate BBQ, La Canoa, Chilango Express they have this lamb special on weekends that is amazing. Are you formally trained in cooking? No, Im not formally trained. I learned to cook from my parents and grandmother. I started cooking at the age of 7. I love cooking soul food and Korean dishes my goddaughter is Korean. What do you like to do in your free time, aside from cooking? I love reading cookbooks. I started reading comics again. You can sometimes catch me DJing out at bars. I used to play piano and guitar when I was younger, but I dont anymore. I do have some production gear in my house that is collecting dust. What do you think of the Milwaukee music scene in general? How has it changed over the years? There is a lot of talent in the scene and I believe that the rest of the country is going to get to hear it very soon. I see more and more collaboration between different artists from various genres now. What are your plans / hopes for the future? Ive been throwing around an idea of opening a sake brewery / izakaya place when I turn 50, but it is just a dream for now. It would serve small plates combining my love of soul food, Korean and Japanese cuisine. I do have an idea for a music festival I want to put on in the city in the future. What side of town do you live on? I have lived in Riverwest since I moved here from Minneapolis. I have a cat named Marshall. Are you recognized on the street when youre out and about and how do you like or dislike local celebrity status? Sometimes. Im still not used to it. It feels weird, because Im an introvert and a geek. So I might come off rude, but Im not. Anything else? Im proud to call four cities home and that now includes Milwaukee. A visionary edifice, a revolutionary feat of engineering, a blot on the landscape, a brutalist carbuncle. Rarely does architecture lead to subtle superlatives. But, sometimes architects design with only a vague notion of the users of their constructions. In the absence of personal profiles of the people that will swing through those grand front doors and ride the escalator to the giddy heights of the top floor, what guides an architect in planning their stucco stairwells, their fantastical fenestrations, and their vaulted visions? Writing in the Journal of Design Research, Ann Heylighen of KU Leuven, Belgium and her co-worker Lore Verhulst and colleague Catherine Elsen at the University of Liege, explain that as design processes become more complex, the distance between architect and user increases. "In large-scale projects, future users often remain absent or hypothetical during design, and in some design competitions, architects are not even allowed to interact with the client," they point out. The team has carried out an in-depth study from the penthouse suite down to the basement to look at real-world design and attempt to fathom who it is that architects have in mind when they design given that actual users of their proposed buildings are usually absent. Fundamentally, the team has found a significant gap between how users are considered in the research literature in this field and the observations of architects. Indeed, architects themselves apparently do not employ the term "user" at all. Moreover, one has to then question how, in the absence of putative users, architects keep in mind such requirements as sustainability, accessibility, heritage value, and the people, the stakeholders, client bodies, consultants, contractors, who will be involved. Architects have to design for "the other" but without necessarily knowing who the other is. Perhaps it is this disconnect that gives rise to those emotionally charged responses to new buildings whether unsightly carbuncle or dizzying edifice. More information: Whom do architects have in mind during design when users are absent? Observations from a design competition. J. Design Research. DOI: 10.1504/JDR.2016.082032 Provided by Inderscience The current protection status of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) should be reconsidered, the study authors say. Credit: bodsa / Pixabay / CC0 Public Domain Leipzig/Halle (Saale)/Porto. The effects of roads on carnivores have obviously been underestimated in worldwide species conservation. This is the conclusion of the first comprehensive global study on this topic, which has been published in the scientific journal Global Ecology and Biogeography by an international research team from Germany and Portugal. The protection status of several species that are severely affected by roads cut through their habitat should be reconsidered, the researchers say. The first global overview of the effects of roads on carnivores offers new insights for the protection of well-known species such as the puma (Puma concolor), the American black bear (Ursus americanus) and the brown bear (Ursus arctos). According to the study, they are among the species whose survival in the long term is most seriously threatened by roads, but for which this hazard has not been fully acknowledged so far. Among the 5% of carnivores (17 species) that are most affected by roads, nine are currently categorised as "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means that they are regarded as not endangered. "Our results show the necessity of updating the protection status of these species, whose threat from roads has previously been underestimated," insists Prof Henrique Pereira from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Portugal Infrastructures Biodiversity Chair/Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-InBIO). Particularly under threat is the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), which lives only in Spain and Portugal; according to estimates, only a few hundred animals remain. The projection in the current study suggests that the species will have died out in 114 years. But while the Iberian lynx is IUCN-classified as "endangered", other species threatened by roads are not. For example, two species in Japan: According to the projection, the Japanese badger (Meles anakuma) and the Japanese marten (Martes melampus) will have died out in nine and 17 years, respectively, because of the threat from roads. The wolf (Canis lupus) is among the top 25 percent of species most exposed to roads worldwide. Credit: raincarnation40 / Pixabay / CC0 Public Domain Those 5% of carnivores (17 species) that are influenced most heavily worldwide by roads include the mammal families of cats, bears, martens, dogs and raccoons. Four species of bear are affected - half of all existing bear species. Surprising for the researchers was that also the stone marten (Martes foina) is among the 17 species most exposed to roads. Although the stone marten is widely distributed and not categorised as endangered by the IUCN, it is often killed by cars. Another species in Germany, the wolf (Canis lupus), is among the top 25% of carnivores (55 species) most exposed to roads globally. It belongs to those predator species that for long-term survival require a large area but whose habitat is cut by roads. For their study, the researchers considered a total of 232 carnivore species around the world (out of a total of ca. 270 existing species) and assessed how severely these are affected by roads cut through their habitat. To do this, they considered for example the natural mortality rate, the number of offspring and the movement behaviour of a species. From these factors, they calculated the maximum density of roads that a species can cope with. Furthermore, they determined the minimum area of unbroken habitat that a species needs to maintain an enduring healthy population. Finally, they compared these numbers with road network data. "Our results show that North America and Asia are the regions with the highest number of species most negatively influenced by roads, followed by South America and Europe," explains Ana Ceia Hasse from iDiv, the MLU and Portugal Infrastructures Biodiversity Chair/CIBIO-InBIO. "But while we had already expected that carnivores would suffer particularly in regions with greater road density, we were surprised to find that even in regions with relatively low road density there are species that are threatened by roads." In Africa, for example, roads have a significant effect on the habitats of leopards (Panthera pardus). This is because sensitive species that naturally cover greater distances can be restricted by comparatively few roads. "We did not simply lay roads and habitats of species over one another, but also considered the specific characteristics and requirements of the species in our calculations. In this way we could also identify species that react sensitively to even only a few roads," says Ceia-Hasse. The methods established in the new study can be used in future for applied purposes - for example for local protection measures, for environmental assessments by authorities, or to integrate the long-term effects of road building into scenarios of the World Bank regarding global biodiversity changes. More information: Ana Ceia-Hasse et al, Global exposure of carnivores to roads, Global Ecology and Biogeography (2017). DOI: 10.1111/geb.12564 Journal information: Global Ecology and Biogeography Provided by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig From bags washing up on Bali's beaches to food packaging scattered across roads and clogging waterways in cities, Indonesia is facing a plastic waste crisis driven by years of rapid economic growth From bags washing up on Bali's beaches to food packaging scattered across roads and clogging waterways in cities, Indonesia is facing a plastic waste crisis driven by years of rapid economic growth. Now an entrepreneur from Bali, disgusted at the rubbish littering the famous holiday island, is trying to tackle the problem with alternatives to conventional plastic. His company, Avani Eco, produces goods including cassava carrier bags, takeaway food containers made from sugar cane and straws fashioned from corn starch, which founder Kevin Kumala says biodegrade relatively quickly and don't leave any toxic residue. "I'm an avid diver and surfer, and I'm out there seeing this plastic pollution in front of my very eyes," says Kumala, explaining why he decided to get into the business of biodegradable plastics, known as "bioplastics". After witnessing the pollution around Bali, he insists tackling the problem is "something that needs to be done". His project comes at a critical time for action on the issue. A 2016 report by the Ellen MacArthur foundation warned that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean, measuring by weight. At the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, 40 of the world's biggest companies agreed to come up with cleaner ways to make and use the material. In Indonesia, the waves of plastic flooding into rivers and oceans has been causing problems for yearswaterways in cities become clogged, increasing the risk of floods, as well death and injury to marine animals who become tramped or ingest plastic packaging. The archipelago of over 17,000 islands is one of the worst offenders when it comes to marine littering, with US charity Oceans Conservancy estimating the country dumps the second-highest amount of plastic into the sea, behind only China. Kevin Kumala, founder of Avani Eco, shows his products during an interview in Jakarta 'Hope for sea animals' Kumala set up Avani Eco several years ago with its headquarters on Bali and a main factory on Java island, and the biodegradable goods went on sale in 2015. The most popular product is the bags made from cassavaan edible tropical root that is cheap and abundant in Indonesiawith the words "I AM NOT PLASTIC" emblazoned on them. The entrepreneur, who is a biology graduate, is happy to demonstrate the bags are not harmfulhe put some material from a cassava bag into a glass of hot water, watched it quickly dissolve, and then gulped down the resulting concoction. "It gives hope to sea animals, they are no longer choking or ingesting something that could be hazardous," he said. About three tonnes of the bags are produced a day at the Java factory and sold to businesses including shops and hotel groups, mostly in Bali and across Indonesia, but also to a growing number of companies abroad. Being environmentally friendly does cost however, with a cassava bag typically about three US cents more expensive than a plastic bag. The material for the other products Avani Eco sells are sourced in Indonesia, but some items are currently made in China as it is more cost effective to do sothough this does add to their carbon footprint. Kumala says the final products can biodegrade in just a matter of monthsand the bags disappear almost instantly in hot waterunlike the years required for conventional plastic to break down. Indonesia is one of the worst offenders when it comes to marine littering However other bioplastics have long been on the market, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has expressed scepticism about the industry. The UN body concluded in a 2015 report that they tended to be more expensive and were unlikely to play a major role in reducing marine litter. Bioplastics are defined as plastics made from materials such as corn starch and vegetable fats and oil, while common plastics are made from natural gas or petroleum. UNEP senior official Habib El-Habr, who works on protecting the marine environment, said bioplastics were "innovative solutions" that could be part of a long-term solution, but added: "We don't know enough about this technology." He said the UN body favoured the management of plastic through such strategies as working with big companies. 'Drowning in plastic' Still Indonesia needs all the help it can get to deal with its waste. Current rubbish collection and disposal systems are inadequate to deal with rising plastic use. Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih, a senior official from Indonesia's environment ministry who deals with waste, conceded there was currently no government funding specifically aimed at reducing plastic waste. However she said authorities were planning to implement a nationwide scheme compelling shops to charge for plastic bags this year, a scheme that has been trialled in other cities and has successfully reduced usage. Despite the challenges, Kumala is upbeat that Indonesia's plastic scourge can be tackled and has plans to expand to other countries in the region. He explained: "The whole of Asia is really drowning in an ocean of plastic pollution." 2017 AFP Taksera villagers protest in Musikot against LLRC report More than one thousand people from Taksera VDC of Rukum descended on the street of Musikot, the district headquarters, on Tuesday demanding that the VDC should be made the centre of Puthauttarganga Village Council while delineating the local administrative zones. China plans to track pollutants using manual sampling stations, satellite sensing and airborne platforms China has established a single network to monitor air pollution levels across the country, as the government attempts to control the spread of information about the country's toxic smog in response to rising public anger. The announcement follows instructions from the national Meteorological Administration last month ordering local meteorological bureaus to stop issuing haze alerts, raising suspicions the government was attempting to suppress information about the chronic problem. Until now data has in large part been manually compiled from local stations, but the national network will now track pollutants using a combination of manual sampling stations, satellite sensing and airborne platforms, the People's Daily state newspaper reported on Tuesday. "Though data collected by ground base stations can be manually forged, real-time satellite data cannot be changed," He Kebin, a Tsinghua University professor, told the paper. The initiative aims to accelerate pollution reduction and eliminate falsified data, the People's Daily said. In October, environmental protection officials in Xi'an, Shaanxi province were caught tampering with air quality monitoring equipment to produce fraudulent numbers. The network's creation coincides with government efforts to suppress reports about the country's choking pollution, which afflicts most major cities. According to the China Digital Times, this week authorities directed all Chinese websites to "find and delete" a two-year-old story from The Paper, a Shanghai-based digital news site, about pollution's health risks. On Wednesday, a link to the story was being circulated on Chinese social media, but clicking on it redirected to a page saying it was "already offline." The piece cited a Peking University study finding that PM 2.5 atmospheric pollution caused 257,000 excess deaths in 31 Chinese cities. The microscopic particles are linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. Measures of the toxin in Chinese cities regularly exceed the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air, often by as much as ten times. The study contradicts a statement made last month by a National Health and Family Planning Commission official, who told the Economic Daily that "it is too early to make conclusions about the health consequences of smog, particularly long-term". While national pollution levels have been falling over the past few years, heavy smog this winterand the accompanying alarmhave brought renewed urgency to the issue. The Chinese government has tried to quiet some of the public reaction. Last month, a 29-year-old Chengdu man was detained for five days by local police after he allegedly spread rumours about the smog levels, the Chengdu Commercial Daily reported. 2017 AFP In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, file photograph, a black cat lounges on a small bed in Morristown, N.J. New Jersey could become the first state to prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. The bill's sponsor said declawing is "a barbaric practice" that more often than not is done for convenience. The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes the law and said declawing is a last option if behavior modification fails. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) Cats would keep their claws under a bill that would make New Jersey the first state to prohibit declawing. The measure, which cleared the lower chamber of the Legislature last month, bans onychectomies and flexor tendonectomies on a cat or any animal unless a veterinarian deems them medically necessary. Sponsors in the state Senate are reviewing possible changes, and it's not clear when it will move forward. The practice, often undertaken to prevent cats from shredding furniture or injuring humans or other pets, is already banned in several California cities and in nearly 20 countries. A similar bill died in New York last year. "Declawing is a barbaric practice that more often than not is done for the sake of convenience rather than necessity," the bill's sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Troy Singleton, said in a statement. An onychectomy involves amputating the last bone of each toe. A flexor tendonectomy involves severing the tendon that controls the claw in each toe, so that the cat keeps its claws but cannot flex or extend them, Singleton said. Under the bill, vets who declaw cats other than to address a medical condition would face a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both. A violator would also be subject to a civil penalty of $500 to $2,000. The American Veterinary Medical Association, which represents more than 89,000 veterinarians, does not support having lawmakers tell doctors what to do and does not agree onychectomies are barbaric. However, the group said it's not medically necessary in most cases or even that frequent these days. "It's a surgical procedure that has complications that go with it," said AVMA animal welfare division director Dr. Cia Johnson. The group believes declawing should be considered only if the claws pose a risk to the owner and attempts to modify behavior have failed. Scratching is part of a normal feline behavior, and owners can positively reinforce it by providing them with posts, boxes and carpets. In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, file photograph, Boris, a Russian blue cat, stands on a playhouse for cats at Morris Animal Inn in Morristown, N.J. New Jersey could become the first state to prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. The bill's sponsor said declawing is "a barbaric practice" that more often than not is done for convenience. The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes the law and said declawing is a last option if behavior modification fails. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) Cat owners should frequently trim their cats' nails, and veterinarians can also place nail caps on to minimize damage, Johnson said. The AVMA does not recommend tendonectomies. Cat owner Laura Goode, of North Bergen, thinks a ban on declawing would be amazing. "At the end of day, it's like removing the tips of their fingers. Cats use them as tools to stretch and to climb," she said. Goode, who volunteers at Only Hope Cat Rescue, said she has cared for cats that have been declawed. Usually, the nails were removed from the front paws, but she once cared for a cat that lost nails on all four. The cat was aggressive and had a difficult time using the litter box because its feet hurt, she said. Declawing is not as frequent as it once was, said Dr. James Nelson of Ewing Veterinary Hospital, who has been a vet for 35 years. When he has performed the procedure, it was usually because a cat was hurting another animal or tearing up furniture. He performed the operation on his own cat when the cat "scratched my own 1-year-old son down to the eye." "Cats wake up from the pain medication, and they're not crying or acting crazy," Nelson said. "They're fine." The AVMA worries a declawing ban could lead some cat owners to relinquish their pets to shelters, where the animal risks being euthanized if it's not adopted. "If the problem behavior can't be resolved," Johnson said, "we feel declawing is better than relinquishment." 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Culex pipiens is among the mosquito species that are important in transmitting West Nile virus in North America. Credit: Joseph Hoyt A study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers has found that drought dramatically increases the severity of West Nile virus epidemics in the United States, although populations affected by large outbreaks acquire immunity that limits the size of subsequent epidemics. The study, published February 8 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, involved researchers from UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, and the New York State Department of Health. They analyzed 15 years of data on human West Nile virus infections from across the United States and found that epidemics were much larger in drought years and in regions that had not suffered large epidemics in the past. "We found that drought was the dominant weather variable correlated with the size of West Nile virus epidemics," said first author Sara Paull, who led the study as a post-doctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz and is now at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. West Nile virus was introduced into North America in 1999 and has caused yearly epidemics each summer since. The intensity of these epidemics, however, has varied enormously. In some years, there were only a few hundred severe human cases nationally, whereas in each of three years (2002, 2003, and 2012), approximately 3,000 people suffered brain-damaging meningitis or encephalitis, and almost 300 died. The variation at the state level has been even higher, with yearly case numbers varying 50-fold from year to year, on average. The causes of this enormous variation were unknown and had led scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to suggest that predicting the size of future epidemics was difficult or impossible. In the new study, Paull and Marm Kilpatrick, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, analyzed patterns in the number of severe West Nile virus infections each year in each state and nationally. They examined a number of weather variables, including summer temperature, precipitation, winter severity, and drought. They also tested a long-standing hypothesis that the disease shows a wave-like pattern in causing large outbreaks in the first year and few cases subsequently due to a build-up of immunity in bird populations, which are the main hosts for the virus. "We found strong evidence that in some regions the spread of West Nile virus was indeed wave-like, with large outbreaks followed by fewer cases," Paull said. "However, our analyses indicated that human immunitynot just bird immunityplayed a large part in the decrease in human cases by reducing the number of people susceptible to the disease." Kilpatrick said the links with drought were unexpected. In collaboration with Dr. Laura Kramer from the New York State Department of Health, his lab had developed a very careful method of mapping the influence of temperature on the biology of both the virus and the three different mosquitoes that are most important in transmitting the virus. "We thought epidemics would coincide with the most ideal temperatures for transmission," Kilpatrick said. "Instead, we found that the severity of drought was far more important nationally, and drought appeared to be a key driver in the majority of individual states as well." It's not yet clear how drought increases transmission of the virus, he said. Data from Colorado indicate that drought increases the fraction mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus, but not the abundance of mosquitoes. Drought might affect transmission between mosquitoes and birds by stressing birds or changing where they congregate. With the help of climatologists Dan Horton and Noah Diffenbaugh at Stanford University, Paull used the links between drought, immunity, and West Nile virus to project the impacts of climate change on future epidemics. Over the next three decades, drought is projected to increase in many regions across the United States due to increased temperatures, despite increases in precipitation in some of the same areas. Model projections indicated that increased drought could double the size of future West Nile virus epidemics, but that outbreaks would be limited to regions that have yet to sustain large numbers of cases. These findings provide a tool to help guide public health efforts to regions most likely to experience future epidemics. More information: Drought and immunity determine the intensity of West Nile virus epidemics and climate change impacts, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, rspb.royalsocietypublishing.or .1098/rspb.2016.2078 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Facebook says it is extending its bereavement policies and will also allow employees paid time off when a family member is sick. The Menlo Park, California, company said Tuesday that its employees will now get up to 20 days paid leave to grieve for an immediate family member and up to 10 days to grieve for an extended family member. Workers will also be able to take up to six weeks paid leave to care for a sick relative. In a Facebook post announcing the changes, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said the company is also introducing paid family sick timethree days to take care of a family member with a short-term illness. The company already offers four months of paid leave to new parents. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The Cuatro Cienegas cichlid, Herichthys minckleyi, will dart in between mating pairs to pass its DNA into the next generation. Credit: Ronald Oldfield While a dominant male fish from northern Mexico mates with a female, a small fella bides his time in the offing. Suddenly, the little guy darts in ahead of Mr. Big and plants his seeds on freshly laid eggs. The behavior, which biologists aptly call sneaking, is rareknown to occur among only a few dozen of about 34,000 fish species worldwide. A Case Western Reserve University researcher reports that the Cuatro Cienegas cichlid, a rare fish by the scientific name of Herichthys minckleyi, uses this alternative stealth mating strategy. Ron Oldfield, a senior biology instructor at Case Western Reserve, videoed the underdog's effort to pass on his DNA in a 300-gallon aquarium. The video recordings are among the first of sneaking behavior published for any species of animal. Oldfield and collaborators published a description of the behavior in the journal Hydrobiologia and then last month the three videos in this release, along with further recordings, images and a research paper describing mating and parental care by the species, were published on Case Western Reserve's permanent electronic archive, DigitalCase, at http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:HminckBehavior. DigitalCase is an initiative by the university to make information available to the public for free in an electronic format. Uncommon strategy "Sneaking has been recorded in diverse species, but overall it's uncommon throughout the animal kingdom, including fishes," Oldfield said. "Sneaking is especially rare in species that have monogamous mating systems. Among those species, there is no shortage of females, so no reason to sneak." But when "large dominant males monopolize multiple females, there are a lot of males that aren't competitive enough to get their own females, and sneaking is their only option to get their DNA into the next generation," Oldfield said. Cichlids are small perch-like tropical fish found in Africa, Asia and Central and South America, and include tilapia and aquarium angelfish. As a group, Central American cichlids are known for being monogamous. Oldfield, however, recently discovered in the wild that the Cuatro Cienegas cichlids are polygamous, with a few very large males owning large territories that each contain multiple females. That leaves a lot of lonely males. Oldfield observed the sneaking behavior while sitting in his home officea desk surrounded by large aquariums. In one tank, "a large, macho malethe largest fish in the tankwas mating with the largest female in the tank," he said. "Another, smaller male was hovering obliquely in the water, hiding next a large piece of wood near the water surface, and was pointed straight at the mating pair." The Cuatro Cienegas cichlid, Herichthys minckleyi, uses the aptly named reproductive strategy called sneaking to quickly slip between a mating pair and pass its DNA onto the next generation. Credit: Ronald Oldfield This species lays adhesive eggs on the surface of a rock. The female makes a pass across the rock and lays a row of eggs. Her male mate typically follows immediately after, releasing an invisible cloud of sperm over the eggs. In doing so, he adds his DNA to hers as the sperm cells bind with the eggs. Darting procreation "As the female finished a pass, in a sudden burst, the small male dove to the rock, tilted his underside toward the eggs, and then leisurely swam away and went back to his hiding place," Oldfield said. He could see the sneaker's genital papilla, which carries sperm outside the body, was enlarged, a sign the fish was very likely contributing to the gene pool. Both the large female and the large male attacked the sneaking male in an attempt to drive it away, but the sneaker still managed to insert himself several times before the pair finished spawning several hours later. During that time, "the sneaking male attacked other males and drove them away from the periphery of the spawning site," Oldfield said. Oldfield believes his use of large fish tanks, which allow the fish to act naturally, led to the discovery. Small tanks, he's found, can make fish behave differently from the wild. With the studies complete, the rare fish are expected to head back toward home. Oldfield plans to donate the fish to Odysea, a new public aquarium in Scottsdale, Ariz., where they will enter a captive breeding program administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to preserve the species. Oldfield hopes the discovery will encourage people to conserve the environment of Cuatro Cienegas. The basin holds hundreds of brightly colored spring-fed pools in the Chihuahua Desert and is home to the cichlid, which is listed as a threatened species, and dozens more unique fish, reptile, snail and plant species. Middle school students of color who lose trust in their teachers due to perceptions of mistreatment from school authorities are less likely to attend college even if they generally had good grades, according to psychology research at The University of Texas at Austin published in the journal Child Development. Low expectations from teachers and extreme disparities in discipline for misbehavior contribute to the disproportionate mistreatment of African American and Latino youths in schools across the United States, and can lead to a growing mistrust for authority by students who perceive and experience such biases, researchers said. "When students have lost trust, they may be deprived of the benefits of engaging with an institution, such as positive relationships and access to resources and opportunities for advancement," said UT Austin assistant professor of psychology David Yeager. "Thus, minority youth may be twice harmed by institutional injustices." In their study, Yeager and researchers from UT Austin, Columbia University and Stanford University examined 483 U.S. middle school students' perceptions of their teachers' impartiality and how those attitudes related to any disciplinary treatment they received and to the likelihood of on-time enrollment at a four-year college. Data were drawn from twice-yearly surveys, from sixth grade until college entry, by 277 white and African American middle- and lower-middle-class students in the northeastern U.S., and compared with a one-year study of 206 white and Latino middle schoolers in rural Colorado. Trust was measured based on how students identified with statements such as: "I am treated fairly by my teachers and other adults at my school." The researchers found that trust decreased for all students from sixth to eighth grade but declined faster for African American and Latino students than it did for their white peers. Furthermore, students who lost more trust than expected in seventh grade were less likely to fulfill on-time enrollment at a four-year college six years later. "Prior research shows that people trust an institution more when they perceive that it is procedurally just and that its authorities have personal regard for individuals served by the institution," Yeager said. In the study, minorities also reported more racial disparities than white students in decisions involving school discipline, with fewer than 55 percent of African American students expecting equal treatment after the first semester of sixth grade. Official school records indicated that African Americans were disciplined more throughout middle school, particularly in regards to more grey-area incidents involving "defiance" and "disobedience" where African American students outnumbered their white peers nearly 3-to-1. Still, the largest race gap in school discipline was in sixth grade, fueling a perceived bias and predicting future disciplinary incidents, researchers said. "Perceived bias and mistrust reinforce each other. And like a stone rolling down a hill that triggers an avalanche, the loss of trust could accumulate behavioral consequences over time," Yeager said. "Seeing and expecting injustice and disrespect, negatively stereotyped ethnic minority adolescents may disengage, defy authorities, underperform and act out." To combat this vicious cycle, researchers tested the efficacy of a "wise feedback" intervention on improving students' trust in a small experimental sub-sample of 88 white and African American seventh-graders. In the experiment, half of the students received critiques and a hand-written note from their teacher on a first-draft essay, stating: "I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations, and I know that you can reach them." While this intervention did not influence white students, African American students had fewer disciplinary incidents the following year (about half) and were 30 percentage points more likely to attend college than those in the control group. The researchers caution that the one-time note is not an intervention that is designed for wide-scale use, but it highlights that teachers can work more systematically to create a classroom climate that boosts the trust of students who may have to contend with discrimination. German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt arrives for a weekly meeting of the German cabinet at the chancellery in Berlin on September 21, 2016 European neighbours Germany and France plan to test self-driving vehicles on a stretch of road linking the two countries, the transport ministry in Berlin said Wednesday. The routeaimed at testing "automated and connected driving in real cross-border traffic"will stretch around 70 kilometres (43 miles), from Merzig in Germany's western Saarland state to Metz in eastern France. "Manufacturers will be able to test the connectivity of their systems, for example when lanes or speed limits change at the border," German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said in a statement following a meeting with French counterpart Alain Vidalies. "We want to set worldwide standards for this key technology through cooperation between Europe's two biggest car-producing countries," he added. The route will allow testing of 5G wireless communications between cars and infrastructure, automated manoeuvres such as overtaking and braking, and emergency warning and call systems, among others. Germany, home to car giants such as Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW, already boasts a number of test zones for automated vehicles on motorways and in cities, but this is the first that will cross into another country. The transport ministry has offered 100 million euros in funding for the projects. The tests come as the nation's traditional carmakers are racing to catch up to Silicon Valley newcomers such as Tesla, Uber and Google parent company Alphabet in the new field, seen as the future of driving. Automated trucks in particular are expected to shake up the road transport sector in the years to come. In a glimpse of what lies ahead, manufacturers took part in an experiment last year that saw six convoys of "smart" trucks cross several European countries using "platooning"in which a leading truck sets the route and speed for wirelessly-connected, self-driving followers. 2017 AFP New research shows that Greater Sage-Grouse are more mobile than previously believed. Credit: J. Carlson Greater Sage-Grouse are thought to return to the same breeding ground, or "lek," every springbut how do populations avoid becoming isolated and inbred? A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications used thousands of DNA samples collected at leks across four states to reveal that some sage-grouse travel more widely than anyone suspected and, in doing so, may temper inbreeding and isolation. Using genetic markers in DNA extracted from feather and blood samples, Todd Cross of the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and his colleagues identified more than three thousand individual sage-grouse that visited leks across the northeastern portion of the birds' range over seven years. Approximately two and one-half percent of birds in the sample turned up twice, a mixture of individuals returning to the same lek in different years, visiting different leks within one year, or visiting different leks in different years. Seven birds made movements of over 50 kilometers (over 30 miles), six of which occurred within a single breeding season. The study used 7,629 samples collected from 835 leks in Idaho, Montana, and North and South Dakota between 2007 and 2013. While the results support the idea that most grouse are faithful to their chosen lek sites, some individuals clearly make long-distance movements, which could help prevent inbreeding within leks and expand the size of the genetic neighborhood. "Our research demonstrates that Greater Sage-Grouse are an even more mobile species than we had realized before, moving large distances of up to 194 kilometersover 120 milesin a single breeding season," says Cross. "These findings highlight the importance of landscape-scale efforts that conserve movement corridors." "The use of genetic recapture information opens an exciting new door to understanding the landscape dynamics of the Greater Sage-Grouse," according to Pat Deibert, National Sage-Grouse Conservation Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Species conservation is more than tracking the number of individuals: We also have to understand how a species uses the landscape and the associated impacts on their vital rates. The data presented in this paper provide additional insight to effective landscape management and conservation design for the Greater Sage-Grouse and will contribute to the continual improvement of management for this species." More information: "Genetic recapture identifies long-distance breeding dispersal in Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)" February 8, 2017, americanornithologypubs.org/do 1650/CONDOR-16-178.1 Provided by The Condor Scientists have long thought that host birds accept or reject parasitic eggs according to how closely they resemble their own eggs in color. However, a new study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that both robins and blackbirds tended to reject brown eggs and accept blue-green eggs regardless of the color differences between their own eggs and the foreign eggs. The article, titled "Egg discrimination along a gradient of natural variation in eggshell coloration," is the collaboration of an international team of researchers, including Dr. Daniel Hanley, Assistant Professor of Biology, Long Island University Post, and Dr. Mark Hauber, Professor of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of City University of New York (CUNY). Avian brood parasites lay their eggs in other birds' nest and this poses a substantial challenge for unwitting foster parents, known as hosts. These hosts can use a number of cues, including the appearance of parasitic eggs to detect and remove the parasitic egg. Senior author, Professor Hauber of the City University of New York, said: "Scientists have long assumed that discriminatory host-to-be examine their own eggs soon after laying and reject all dissimilar eggs that they later find in the nest." However, this study provides experimental evidence that two hosts seem to pay attention to some color differences more than others: bluer eggs were accepted while equally dissimilar browner eggs were rejected. "By using a simple experiment we show that two hosts are much more likely to remove parasitic eggs from their nests if they are browner than their own, but not if they are more blue-green," said Dr. Hanley. "This result is surprising because the prevailing assumption of previous research had been that greater perceived differences between host and parasitic eggs would result in a greater likelihood of rejection." Dr. Daniel Colaco Osorio, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, who was not involved with the study, said, "Eggs bluer than a certain value are accepted and those browner than this are rejected. This suggests that the birds make an accurate keep/reject judgment by comparing the color to some internal and widely shared standard." These findings highlight an unexplored cognitive mechanism underlying host egg recognition and illustrate that both sensory reception and cognitive processes are critical for host perception. The results also suggest that brown coloration can serve as a supernormal stimulus for eliciting higher egg rejection rates than do other colors. Dr. Hanley and his colleagues note that future research would benefit from thoroughly sampling across a host's entire sensory space. In this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, an Iranian journalist takes note as she covers a show displaying some 550 ancient Persian artworks returned by Western countries, including the United States, at Iran National Museum in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iran is displaying hundreds of ancient and Persian artifacts, some dating back as far as 3,500 years and all of them recently brought back home from museums and collections in Western countries. Mohammad Hassan Talebian, deputy head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran, told The Associated Press that all of the items on display were repatriated over the past two and a half years from England, Belgium, Italy and the United States. He credits the improved relations between Tehran and the West in the wake of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal for helping make the process possible. "The atmosphere after the nuclear deal was very important," Talebian said. "It made it easy to bring back all these objects home." The special exhibit, which opened Monday in Tehran's National Museum, displays 558 different artifacts. They include hunting tools and stitching needles from the Iron Age and a pair of necklaces dating back more than 2,000 years to the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Greatthe high point of the Persian rule. Among the oldest items on display are dozens of clay bowls, jugs and engraved coins dating back 3,500 years and formerly housed in the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. In this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, Special Assistant to the Iranian President on Citizenship Rights Elham Aminzadeh, left, and chief of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Zahra Ahmadipour, third left, listen to explanations from archaeologist Yousef Hassanzadeh during the opening of a show displaying some 550 ancient Persian artworks returned by Western countries, including the United States, at Iran National Museum in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic relations since 1979, when Iranian students stormed the American Embassy and took 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers put limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions. However, the brief thaw in Iranian-American relations may be short-lived. New U.S. president Donald Trump has heavily criticized the deal and has already engaged in a war of words with Iran's leadership and put Tehran "on notice" over a recent ballistic missile test. In this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, chief of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Zahra Ahmadipour, right, and Special Assistant to the Iranian President on Citizenship Rights Elham Aminzadeh, center left, look at artifacts during the opening of a show displaying some 550 ancient Persian artworks returned by Western countries, including the United States, at Iran National Museum in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) The items from the University of Chicago had previously been displayed on their own in May 2016, but this is a first time that all of the items repatriated from these four countries have been displayed together. Myriam Rahgoshay, an arts enthusiast, said that the return of these and thousands of other historic artifacts still overseas is a key boost to Iranian national identity. "This is source of great pride and pleasure, because our identity, which is subject to disintegration, is becoming whole again," she said. n this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, clay tags returned to Iran by the U.S. are presented in a show displaying some 550 ancient Persian artworks returned by Western countries, including the United States, at Iran National Museum in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) In this photo taken on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, Iranian amateur archaeologist Bijan Mohebbi, right, and his wife Azar Esfandiari who is a professional archaeologist, visit a show displaying some 550 ancient Persian artworks returned by Western countries, including the United States, at Iran National Museum in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Tiger enters Parsa village, shot dead by police A tiger from Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR) was shot dead by police after it injured 13 people at Lakhanpur VDC-9 in Parsa on Tuesday. Credit: George Hodan/Public Domain Close friendships facilitate the exchange of information and culture, making social networks more effective for cultural transmission, according to new UCL research that used wireless tracking technology to map social interactions in remote hunter-gatherer populations. The research demonstrates how increased network efficiency is achieved through investment in a few strong links between non-kin friends connecting unrelated families, as well as showing that strong friendships are more important than family ties in predicting levels of shared knowledge among individuals. The study, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, was funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Hunter-gatherers offer the closest existing examples of human lifestyles and social organisation in the past, offering vital insights into human evolutionary history. To map the social networks of populations of Agta and BaYaka hunter-gatherers in Congo and the Philippines, researchers from the Hunter-Gatherer Resilience Project in UCL Anthropology used devices called mote - a wireless sensing technology worn as an armband that can record the interactions a person has in one day. The motes recorded all one-to-one interactions at two minute intervals for 15 hours a day over a week in six Agta camps in the Philippines (200 individuals, 7, 210 interactions) and three BaYaka camps in the Congo (132 individuals, 3,397 interactions). With this data, they were able to construct and examine social networks for both groups in unprecedented detail. Many unique human traits such as high cognition, cumulative culture and hyper-cooperation have evolved due to the social organisation patterns unique to humans. First author of the study, Dr Andrea Migliano (UCL Anthropology), commented: "Making friends and having a friendship network is an important human adaptation, one that has helped us develop cumulative culture. "What we see in these hunter-gatherer camps is that people have very strong relationships with their friends - and those relationships are as strong as those with family. These friends connect the different households, facilitating the exchange of information and culture. And it is those connections that make a network efficient." The analyses show that randomization of interactions among either close kin or extended family did not affect the efficiency of hunter-gatherer networks. In contrast, randomization of friends (non-kin relationships) greatly reduced efficiency. The researchers also found evidence that friendships began very early in childhood in both populations. Dr Migliano added: "In contemporary society, we have the technology to expand these social networks, increasing flow of information over much larger numbers of people. This allows humans to co-operate and work together to build wonderful things. Our work illustrates how friendship is one of the secrets to humans' success as a species." More information: 'Characterization of hunter-gatherer networks and implications for cumulative culture' Nature Human Behaviour, 2017. Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour Cytofkit allows users to visualize the different subtypes of cells in their sample. Credit: A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network A new software package offers easier analysis and interpretation of experiments that use mass cytometry, a sophisticated method for determining the properties of cells. The toolcalled cytofkitenables scientists to identify different subpopulations of cells within a sample of immune cells, cancer cells or other tissue types. Flow cytometry remains the go-to method for biological investigations that require single-cell resolution. But, because the technology relies on fluorescent tags to detect different markers within the cell, only a limited number of labels can be applied before the light signals start to bleed into one another. Mass cytometry helps solve this problem. By using metal labeling, the technique allows scientists to measure many more characteristics simultaneously within individual cells. But sorting through all the data it produces can be challenging, and most researchers agree that better analytic tools are needed. Jinmiao Chen and her colleagues at the A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network made cytofkit in response to this need. The package combines state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods and in-house novel algorithms to help anyone make sense of mass cytometry data. "It provides a very user-friendly graphical interface and interactive visualization of analysis results," says Chen. "Anybody, including bench scientists and non-bioinformaticians, can use it without any training." The software involves four main steps: first, cytofkit performs data pre-processing according to the users' specifications; second, the software automatically identified different matching subsets of cells; third, it allows visualization of the data with color-labeled cell types; and lastly, it infers the relatedness between cell groups. Chen's team tested the tool's performance on mass spectrometry results collected from a sample of white blood cells. As they reported in PLOS Computational Biology, the software correctly identified known subpopulations of cells and further segregated these subsets to reveal additional cell types. In collaboration with A*STAR immunologist Evan Newell, the researchers also showed that cytofkit revealed many types of follicular helper T cells from blood and tonsils. Plus, says Chen, "we have tested the utility of cytofkit on a large number of other datasets not mentioned in the paper." Cytofkit is also gaining popularity with scientists around the world. "It now has more than 4,000 users," says Chen. Her lab continues to improve and upgrade the tool in response to user feedback. The softwarewhich works both on flow and mass spectrometry datasets alikeis freely available through Bioconductor, an open-source software framework for biologists. It can be found here. More information: Hao Chen et al. Cytofkit: A Bioconductor Package for an Integrated Mass Cytometry Data Analysis Pipeline, PLOS Computational Biology (2016). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005112 Journal information: PLoS Computational Biology Algae making bubbles of O2 in a South African lake. Credit: University of St Andrews Research led by the University of St Andrews and published yesterday (Monday 6 February) in Nature provides new insight into how life evolved alongside changes in the chemistry of Earth's surface. These researchers examined geochemical records of Earth's 'Great Oxidation Event' 2.3 billion years ago, and captured for the first time the response of the nitrogen cycle to this major transition in Earth's surface environment. The study, which was led by Dr Aubrey Zerkle of the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences at St Andrews, fills a ~400 million year gap in geochemical records of a dramatic change that occurred halfway through Earth's history, when oxygen (O2) first accumulated in the atmosphere. Dr Zerkle explained: "The 'Great Oxidation Event' was arguably the most dramatic environmental change in Earth history. It was critical to the development of the hospitable environment that we inhabit today, as it was a prerequisite for the evolution of animals that universally require O2 to live. "Catastrophic upheavals in past surface conditions such as these provide a critical window for Earth scientists to study how the biosphere responds to environmental change. Understanding how life on this planet responded to geochemical changes in the past will help us to more clearly predict the response to future changes, including Earth's warming climate. It will also inform our search for habitable planets in other solar systems." The rock cores Dr Zerkle and her colleagues studied, from the National Core Library in Donkerhoek, South Africa, have recently been used to date the occurrence of the Great Oxidation Event, and offer key insights about how this event affected the availability of nitrogen. Nitrogen is an essential element in all living organisms, required for the formation of proteins, amino acids, DNA and RNA. As a key "nutrient", nitrogen therefore controls global primary productivity, which in turn regulates climate, weathering, and the amount of oxygen at Earth's surface. Dr Zerkle and colleague Dr Mark Claire pond more than 2 billion years of Earth history, preserved in rock cores stored at the National Core Library, Donkerhoek, South Africa. Credit: University of St Andrews Despite the importance of nitrogen to life, major gaps existed in the previous geochemical records of how the nitrogen cycle has responded to critical events in Earth history. The result of Dr Zerkle's research is a unique set of high-resolution records of nitrogen isotopes in sedimentary rocks that record the environmental conditions during the Great Oxidation Event. These detailed records document the immediate onset of a modern-style nitrate-driven ecosystem, appearing simultaneously with the first evidence for O2 in the atmosphere. She explained: "Our data shows the first occurrence of widespread nitrate, which could have stimulated the rapid diversification of complex organisms, hot on the heels of global oxygenation. The building blocks were apparently in place, the question that remains is why eukaryotic evolution was seemingly stalled for another billion or more years." The results are supported by a recent study of selenium isotopes across the same time interval by researchers including Dr Eva Stueken from the University of St Andrews. Dr Stueken and colleagues found that the selenium cycle was perturbed in a way that can only be explained by an expansion of oxygen in the surface ocean enough to generate nitrate and potentially support complex life. Dr Andrey Bekker from UC-Riverside, who co-authored both studies, explained: "We now know that redox conditions were favourable for complex life to evolve immediately after the Great Oxidation Event. The question is if eukaryotes did not evolve in the early Paleoproterozoic, what are the other intrinsic controls that determine the evolution of life?" Outcrop pics from the Duitschland Formation, which underlies the Rooihoogte and Timeball Hill formations in the Eastern Transvaal basin, South Africa. Credit: University of St Andrews More information: Aubrey L. Zerkle et al. Onset of the aerobic nitrogen cycle during the Great Oxidation Event, Nature (2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature20826 Journal information: Nature Ethambutols mode of action: Corynebacteria (an innocuous relative of the tuberculosis pathogen) are normally rod-shaped (left panel). But cells exposed to ethambutol (right) become more compact, because cell-wall synthesis occurs only in the equatorial plane of division (green) and not at the poles (blue). Credit: Bramkamp Group Ethambutol has long been part of the standard therapy for tuberculosis. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich researchers now describe how the antibiotic acts on the bacterium that causes the disease: It specifically inhibits growth of the cell wall from the cell poles. Tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the ten most frequent causes of premature death worldwide. Every year, approximately 1.5 million people succumb to the bacterial infection, which primarily affects the lungs. Effective treatment of tuberculosis requires adherence to a demanding therapeutic regime over a long period. Thus patients must regularly take a combination of as many as four antibiotics for up to four months. One of these first-line drugs is ethambutol. Although the compound has been in use for many years, the mechanism underlying its effects on mycobacterial growth has remained unclear. Now a research team led by Marc Bramkamp, a microbiology professor at LMU, has carried out a detailed investigation of the drug's mode of action, using super-resolution microscopy to visualize the impact of the antibiotic on cells. It was already known that ethambutol interferes with the formation of the mycobacterial cell wall. The antibiotic has a bacteriostatic effect, i.e., it inhibits proliferation of the pathogen but does not actually kill it. M. tuberculosis belongs to a group of bacteria that is largely made up of harmless species, but includes the microorganisms that cause leprosy and diphtheria. Mycobacteria are characterized by the unusually complex structure of their cell walls. In addition to the core layer of peptidoglycan found in all bacteria, which is composed of a complex network of specialized sugars and unconventional amino acids, mycobacteria possess two further coatsan intermediate arabinogalactan layer made of a polymer comprised mainly of the sugars galactose and arabinose, and a thick, rubber-like outermost layer of lipids which makes the cell wall extremely difficult to disrupt. Complementary construction crews Mycobacterial cells are rod-shaped and grow apically from each end of the rod. Working with a non-pathogenic relative of the tuberculosis bacterium, the LMU researchers show that, under normal growth conditions, two distinct biosynthetic complexes are required for the construction of the cell wall. One set of enzymes is responsible for assembly of the two outer layers, and the LMU team demonstrated that ethambutol specifically interferes with this process by preventing the linkage of arabinose molecules into a more elaborate network. As a result of their inability to construct an intact arabinogalactan layer, cells exposed to ethambutol also lack the outer lipid layer. The other cell-wall complex is activated only in the center of the cell, where the plane of cell division is located. Bramkamp and his colleagues demonstrate that this machinery is responsible for synthesis of the inner peptidoglycan coat. This process is not affected by ethambutol, but it can be inhibited by beta-lactam antibiotics, to which the penicillins belong. In accordance with this division of labor, ethambutol turns out to have a striking impact on cell morphology: With each succeeding cell division, the long axis of the rod-like cells progressively shrinks, and the cells eventually become spherical in shape. In Bramkamp's view, this phenomenon provides a particularly strong argument for a careful re-evaluation of the standard anti-mycobacterial agents. For it confirms that exposure to antibiotics can induce cells to enter what is called the stationary phasea metabolically dormant state in which cells are resistant to the action of antibiotics, which inhibit processes that are essential only in actively growing cells. "The use of ethambutol on its own would cause the pathogen to enter a state that allows it to persist in tissues and that is certainly not a desirable outcome," Bramkamp warns. However, antibiotics that interfere with peptidoglycan synthesis complement and enhance the effects of ethambutol. Based on their new findings, the LMU researchers hope that the cell division machinery will serve as a further point of attack for new antibiotics. More information: Karin Schubert et al. The Antituberculosis Drug Ethambutol Selectively Blocks Apical Growth in CMN Group Bacteria, mBio (2017). DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02213-16 Journal information: mBio For many guitarists, the rich, warm sound of an overdriven valve amp think AC/DC's crunchy Marshall rhythm tones or Carlos Santana's singing Mesa Boogie-fuelled leads can't be beaten. But why is the valve sound so sought after? David Keeports, a physics professor from Mills College in California, looked at the science of valve amps for the journal Physics Education, to explain why their sound is 'better' to the ears of so many guitarists. Professor Keeports said: "Although solid state diodes and transistors are cheaper, more practical, and technologically more advanced than glass valves, valves survive because so many guitarists are exacting about their tone, and prefer the sound a valve amp gives them." "At its most fundamental level, this is because a moderately overdriven valve amp produces strong even harmonics, which add a sweetening complexity to a sound. An overdriven transistor amp, on the other hand creates strong odd harmonics, which can cause dissonance." Professor Keeports explored the physics of why even harmonics enrich a sound, and why the timbre of the sound from a valve amp changes when a guitar is played more loudly. First he ran a 200Hz sine wave a pure wave with a single frequency through a small Bugera hybrid amplifier, featuring a valve preamp and a solid state power amp. He tested both 'sides' of the amp; first turning up the gain knob, which controls the valve preamp while the master volume knob (controlling the solid state power amp) was set low. He then repeated the process with the preamp set low and the master turned up. Using Logic Pro X music production software, he examined the resulting sound waves in both frequency and time domains. Professor Keeports said: "The output from the amp showed that a moderately overdriven valve preamp produced prominent 2nd and 4th harmonics at 400 and 800 Hz, and only a very weak 3rd harmonic at 600 Hz. For the solid state power amp, this pattern was reversed. All of this behavior is consistent with the common claim about the harmonics that valve and solid state amplifiers produce. But the story is not quite so simple. Overdriving the valve preamp harder produces strong odd harmonics." "The shift toward odd harmonics at increasing gain is a characteristic of valve amplifiers that further explains their appeal. An electric guitar player can overdrive an amp two ways: by turning up the amp's gain control, and by attacking guitar strings more strongly. Experienced guitarists don't just play their guitar they also play the amplifier. By striking the strings harder or softer, they can change timbre along with volume." And why does a valve amplifier behave this way? "The simple physics of triode valve function explains everything," said Professor Keeports. "Valves have two ways to to flatten a sine wave. Overdrive a valve moderately, and it flattens just the top of the wave to make an asymmetric wave that is rich in even harmonics. Overdrive the valve harder, and it also flattens the bottom of the wave to produce a symmetric wave full of odd harmonics." "The even harmonics provides the complex, warm, rich sound that so many guitarists desire. Add to that a valve amp's ability to produce somewhat dissonant yet driving sounds when a guitarist attacks strings harder and turns rhythm playing into lead playing, and valve function creates just the harmonics a rock guitarist needs." More information: The warm, rich sound of valve guitar amplifiers" Keeports D 2017 Phys. Educ. 52 025010. iopscience.iop.org/article/10. 088/1361-6552/aa57b7 The sequencing of the first high-quality quinoa genome by a KAUST-led research team could one day help transform our ability to feed the world's growing population. Credit: 2017 KAUST Linda Polik An international team of scientists, including quinoa breeding experts from Wageningen University & Research, published the complete DNA sequence of quinoa the food crop that is conquering the world from South America in Nature magazine on 8 February 2017. Quinoa is rich in essential amino acids and nutritional fibres and does not contain gluten. The crop is important to farmers as it provides a reasonable yield even on poor soils. The new knowledge about quinoa DNA is already being used by breeders who are developing quinoa varieties which grow well in saline soil and still meet the taste requirements of consumers. The scientists determined the sequence of the DNA-building blocks of the entire quinoa genome. The total length of the DNA, the 'genome', consists over a little over 1.3 billion DNA building blocks (the nucleotides A, C, G or T), divided over 18 chromosomes. Printed on paper this would add up to over 500,000 pages of text. To map the DNA building blocks, the scientists used a smart combination of various DNA sequencing techniques. While this enabled them to put together ever-larger DNA segments in the computer from the huge amount of DNA information available, it did not lead to the 18 segments which represent the 18 chromosomes. The scientists therefore applied genetic maps that were made by crossbreeding plants to determine how molecular markers were inherited by the offspring. This allowed them to place most of the DNA on 18 large DNA-strains, representing the quinoa chromosomes. According to Robert van Loo, expert in quinoa breeding at Wageningen University & Research, it was this combination that allowed the scientists to clearly map the DNA. "We were able to determine the location on the chromosome of no less than 85% of the DNA-sequence. This is a major benefit for plant breeders." Panicle of quinoa, growing in the field at the King Abdulaziz University field station, Hada Al-Sham, Saudi Arabia. Grown by Dr Ihsanullah Daur, KAU. Credit: Mark Tester, KAUST Van Loo and his colleagues will be using the new knowledge in various ways, including the development of quinoa varieties which meet the demands of both consumers and farmers. Van Loo: "For example, we discovered mutations which ensure that certain quinoa varieties cannot produce bitter tasting saponins. These 'sweet' varieties do not need to be polished to remove the bitter substances, saving some 15 to 20 per cent. With the new knowledge of quinoa DNA, we can quickly and easily select plants that do not produce bitter substances in the breeding process." In the future, scientists can probably ensure that specific varieties such as those that are well adapted to the cultivation conditions in a specific region do not produce bitter substances. "Gene directed mutation breeding could be a good approach in this regard, with varieties that have already proven their value regionally being the starting point," says Van Loo. "The varieties which are currently being grown in South America can probably be made sweet with one specific mutation." The research was led by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, a region with difficult growth conditions for plants and with many poor or even saline soils. Wageningen University & Research provided DNA sequencing experts and breeding scientists to contribute to the research. It was this Wageningen team that made the genetic maps on which the gene which regulates the production of saponin (bitter substance) was found. Colourful image of the quinoa chromosomes. Credit: Wageningen University Ancient civilisations in the Andes already used quinoa as an important food crop. It faded into the background with the arrival of the Spanish, however, which is why quinoa was never truly 'domesticated' despite being such a good and healthy food crop. One of the properties that makes quinoa less attractive is the presence of bitter substances on the outside of the seeds. Known as saponins, these substances can be removed from the seeds although the process costs time, money and water. Wageningen University & Research has already developed four varieties without bitter substances since the 1990s. Quinoa is part of a plant family known for its growing power in extreme conditions, such as in poor soils, at high altitudes and even in saline soils. There are already various quinoa varieties which produce food in places where other food crops, such as wheat and rice, have very poor yields. As a result, quinoa is seen as a crop that can help produce extra food with fewer inputs of water and fertiliser. The new knowledge of the DNA will accelerate the development of extra sustainable quinoa varieties which also meet other demands from farmers and consumers alike. More information: The genome of Chenopodium quinoa, Nature, nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nature21370 Journal information: Nature Credit: CC0 Public Domain (Phys.org)A large team of researchers with members from several institutions in the U.S., Korea, and the U.K. has found evidence of random radiation clouds in the Earth's atmosphere at elevations used by aircraft. In their paper published in the journal Space Weather, the team describes how they discovered the clouds and offers a theory for their existence. For several years, NASA has been conducting a project called Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS)devices are placed aboard aircraft that measure radiation levels during flights; readings are recorded in a database for study. In this new effort, the researchers accessed the database and examined data from 265 flights during the period 2013 to 2017. In so doing, they found mostly what was expectedhigher than ground levels of radiation. But they also found unusual readingssix instances of high altitude and high latitude flights during which radiation levels rose to twice the normal level for several minutes. The researchers described the events as flying through a radiation cloud. Increased radiation exposure is, of course, the norm for people aboard an airplane due to their closer proximity to outer space. But the risk from such flights is considered smallequivalent to a chest X-ray for longer flights, or a dental X-ray for shorter flights. Such radiation comes from space courtesy of the solar wind or from other sources in outer space. Our atmosphere and magnetic poles filter enough of it to enable Earth. But we do experience geomagnetic storms sometimes, during which electrons escape from the Van Allen radiation belts (zones of charged particles surrounding the planet that have been captured by the Earth's magnetic field) and rain down to the surface. Data from the ARMAS devices indicated that the radiation clouds might be linked to such storms. The discovery of such clouds suggests that frequent flying at high altitudes (above 55,000 feet) may be slightly more hazardous than has been thought. The researchers suggest that sensor networks could be used to create a grid for pinpointing such clouds to allow rerouting of airplanes around them. More information: W. Kent Tobiska et al. Global real-time dose measurements using the Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) system, Space Weather (2016). DOI: 10.1002/2016SW001419 , (PDF) Abstract The Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) program has successfully deployed a fleet of six instruments measuring the ambient radiation environment at commercial aircraft altitudes. ARMAS transmits real-time data to the ground and provides quality, tissue-relevant ambient dose equivalent rates with 5 min latency for dose rates on 213 flights up to 17.3 km (56,700 ft). We show five cases from different aircraft; the source particles are dominated by galactic cosmic rays but include particle fluxes for minor radiation periods and geomagnetically disturbed conditions. The measurements from 2013 to 2016 do not cover a period of time to quantify galactic cosmic rays' dependence on solar cycle variation and their effect on aviation radiation. However, we report on small radiation "clouds" in specific magnetic latitude regions and note that active geomagnetic, variable space weather conditions may sufficiently modify the magnetospheric magnetic field that can enhance the radiation environment, particularly at high altitudes and middle to high latitudes. When there is no significant space weather, high-latitude flights produce a dose rate analogous to a chest X-ray every 12.5 h, every 25 h for midlatitudes, and every 100 h for equatorial latitudes at typical commercial flight altitudes of 37,000 ft (~11 km). The dose rate doubles every 2 km altitude increase, suggesting a radiation event management strategy for pilots or air traffic control; i.e., where event-driven radiation regions can be identified, they can be treated like volcanic ash clouds to achieve radiation safety goals with slightly lower flight altitudes or more equatorial flight paths. 2017 Phys.org A layered ruthenate Ca2RuO4-y ceramic body contracts on heating, or exhibits negative thermal expansion (NTE). The sintered-body structure shows colossal NTE when extremely anisotropic thermal expansion of the crystal grains produces deformation, consuming open spaces (voids) on heating. The total volume change related to NTE reaches 6.7% at most, the largest reported so far. Credit: Nagoya University Researchers based at Nagoya University discover ceramic material that contracts on heating by more than twice the previous record-holding material. Machines and devices used in modern industry are required to withstand harsh conditions. When the environmental temperature changes, the volume of the materials used to make these devices usually changes slightly, typically by less than 0.01%. Although this may seem like a trivial change, over time this thermal expansion can seriously degrade the performance of industrial systems and equipment. Materials that contract on heating, or negative thermal expansion materials, are therefore of great interest to industrial engineers. These materials can be mixed with normal materials, which expand on heating, with the final aim of producing a composite material with its thermal expansion adjusted to a particular value, typically zero, and maintained even at the extremely low operating temperatures used in cryogenic and aerospace engineering. In a new study published in Nature Communications, Nagoya University-led researchers report a reduced ruthenate ceramic material, made up of calcium, ruthenium and oxygen atoms, that shrinks by a record-breaking 6.7% when heated. This is more than double the current record for a negative thermal expansion material, and the bulk material expands again when it is cooled. The results may provide industrial engineers with a new class of composite materials that can be used to increase the accuracy of processes and measurements, to improve the stability of device performance, and to prolong device lifetimes. The size of the volume change, as well as the operating temperatures for negative thermal expansion can be controlled by changing the composition of the material. When the ruthenium atoms are partially replaced by iron atoms, the temperature window for negative thermal expansion gets much larger. This window extends to above 200 C for the iron-containing material, which makes it particularly promising for industrial use. Noting that the volume changes were triggered at the same temperature that the reduced ruthenate material changed from a metallic to a non-metallic state, the researchers looked at changes in the arrangement of the atoms using X-ray techniques. They saw dramatic changes on heating, with the internal atomic structure expanding in some directions but contracting in others. Although the internal structure showed a net contraction, the crystallographic changes were not big enough to explain the giant volume changes in the bulk material. Instead, the researchers turned their attention to the material's overall structure, and found empty voids around the ceramic grains. "The non-uniform changes in the atomic structure seem to deform the microstructure of the material, which means that the voids collapse and the material shrinks," study corresponding author Koshi Takenaka says. "This is a new way of achieving negative thermal expansion, and it will allow us to develop new materials to compensate for thermal expansion." More information: Koshi Takenaka et al. Colossal negative thermal expansion in reduced layered ruthenate, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14102 Journal information: Nature Communications Purdue University will lead research to determine why some communities recover from natural disasters more quickly than others, an effort aimed at addressing the nation's critical need for more resilient infrastructure and to enhance preparedness. The research team will apply advanced simulations and game-theory algorithms, access millions of social media posts and survey data collected along the New Jersey shore, which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The project, funded with a $2.5 million, four-year grant from the National Science Foundation, will focus on six communities. "Why do some communities recover faster than others, and why do some neighborhoods never recover?" said Satish Ukkusuri, the project's principal investigator and a professor in Purdue's Lyles School of Civil Engineering. "What are the underlying factors and mechanisms that lead to this recovery? We need to understand this from an integrative, interdisciplinary and data-driven perspective and provide tools for emergency preparedness agencies so that both rural and city governments can be more prepared when disasters happen." He is working with co-principal investigators Shreyas Sundaram, an assistant professor in Purdue's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Seungyoon Lee, an associate professor in Purdue's Brian Lamb School of Communication. Also a member of the team is Laura Siebeneck, an associate professor in the University of North Texas Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science. "It's a very interdisciplinary team that involves social science, civil engineering, computer engineering and disaster management," Ukkusuri said. "We chose Sandy because it is the most recent large-scale disaster that has happened in the nation that involved a complex, diverse community. Sandy is not too old, so the data are fresh, and yet it is old enough that we can talk about recovery." The team will investigate recovery over a time scale ranging from the storm's immediate aftermath to the present day. "So, it's from 2012 until 2016, and we might even look into the longer term because recovery time could take almost 10 or 20 years," he said. From the social science perspective, the team will collect various kinds of data through surveys of residents in communities on the New Jersey shore. Credit: Purdue University "We will ask questions related to the recovery efforts, and we also want to understand how their social networks, their family structures, their community structures impede or contribute toward the recovery of these communities," he said. The project will serve as part of the NSF's multiyear initiative on modeling resilience in interdependent systems and is funded by a program known as CRISP: Critical Resilient Interdependent Infrastructure Systems and Processes. Researchers will probe how to more efficiently allocate resources, better prepare, and reduce the time and cost of recovery when a community is struck by a disaster. "We have the social side, which is how people interact with other people, and then we have the physical side, which is all these infrastructure networks, the power grid, the communication systems and so forth," Sundaram said. "And you have interdependencies between the two sides. You have to understand both in order to really get a clear picture." Modeling approaches will be harnessed for improved knowledge of both social factors such as how residents' involvement in the community affects their willingness to return to the neighborhood, and physical factors such as road and infrastructure repairs that enhance recovery. Officials across the nation will be able to use the simulations in what-if scenarios. "So you can change the initial conditions and then see what kinds of recovery outcomes you are going to get," Sundaram said. "And you can change community structures, people's objectives, what we call utility functions, and see how that would result in different kinds of recovery outcomes in the end." Ultimately, Ukkusuri said, his team's goal is to allow governmental and emergency agencies to take actions that will accelerate system recovery and enhance the resilience of communities. "The scientific tools will be broadly applicable to various types of disasters and communities," he said. The project also will provide opportunities for students to work with a multi-disciplinary research team, preparing them for complex, systems-related challenges. In discussions about climate change, many people seem to think the only real problem is replacing fossil fuels, and once that's done nothing much really needs to change. "That's not only false, it's a really dangerous way of thinking," said Karen Pinkus, professor of Romance studies and comparative literature in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her new book, "Fuel: A Speculative Dictionary," works to undo the assumption that all we have to do is scale up renewable fuels on the free market "and then everything will be rainbows and unicorns," she said. "Climate change is terrifyingly heterogeneous and complex, from the long timescales of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to the knots binding capitalism and fossil fuels; from inequality to massive global disruption. Now more than ever, the idea that conservation or virtuous consumerism of 'good fuels' can make a difference is simply delusional." Pinkus chose a dictionary format for her book as a way of undercutting the certainty people feel after reading traditional narratives of hope or despair. Her goal is to scramble our thinking about fuel "not in order to demonize energy and not in order to create a new hierarchy in which certain renewables take over from fossil fuels," she said, "but instead to open up potential ways of interacting with real and imaginary substances, by wrenching them out of narrative and placing them into an idiosyncratic dictionary to be applied by readers into new narratives." Entries in the book range from "air" to "Zyklon D," from the "dilithium crystals" of "Star Trek" to "whale oil." Pinkus draws from an eclectic range of sources for her explanations of the terms, from historical anecdotes like the Ford Fiesta "boozemobile," literature like the "Odyssey" and films like "Oblivion." Although most people tend to confuse and conflate "fuel" and "energy" in their speech, for Pinkus the difference is crucial: Fuel is a substance, and energy is a system; the substance is inserted into the system. For example, gasoline is a fuel that is extracted from the ground and put into our cars and boilers, whereas nuclear energy is a system that is fueled by uranium. Pinkus became fascinated with the idea that if we made this distinction thought about fuels as something separate that it would bring us to a different way of confronting climate change. The result, she says, was "Fuel." Rather than espousing one fuel as being the "next big thing," the encyclopedic sweep of "Fuel" encourages readers to think expansively about what fuel can be. Pinkus even references a 16th-century Renaissance treatise that recommended running goats on wheels to create power for a mining operation. Research for the book took Pinkus to many locations, including the Ford Motor Co. archive in Dearborn, Michigan, where she found letters from inventors written to Henry Ford that outlined alternatives to gasoline. "Some of the ideas were ridiculous fake inventions, but some were interesting, like bananas for biomass, and I realized that the idea of alternative fuels wasn't just tied to climate change but was widespread and had a long history," said Pinkus. In a collaboration with artist and landscape architect Hans Baumann, Pinkus is now working on an art exhibit inspired by "Fuel," in which artists contribute works that engage with fuel as a substance. In addition to ongoing research on labor, cinema and machines in 1960s Italy, Pinkus' next book project grew out of "Fuel" and examines the subsurface, from which fossil fuels are extracted and into which waste is deposited, in philosophical and narrative terms; it is tentatively titled "Down There: The Subsurface in the Time of Climate Change." As part of her research, she hopes to do field work with the Cornell Earth Source Heat. Uncertainty clouds Nepal-India meet on air routes Great deal of uncertainty remains over the proposed Nepal-India joint technical committee meeting on air routes which was scheduled for the first week of February, amid controversy over Indias proposal to allow overnight stay for in-flight security officer, popularly known as air marshal. An olive ridley sea turtle, a species of the sea turtle superfamily. Credit: Thierry Caro/Wikipedia (Phys.org)A small team of researchers with members from Australia, Greece and the U.K. has found evidence that suggests the unlikelihood of quick extinction of sea turtles due to warming climate due to overlooked factors. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team explains their findings and why they believe sea turtles will survive current ocean temperature rises. Prior studies have shown that gender determination is not set by chromosomes in sea turtles, but is instead driven by the temperature of the sand in which eggs are laid. Colder nests result in more males, warmer nests more females. For this reason, ocean scientists have been worried that a warming climate would result in fewer males being born, driving sea turtles to extinction. In this new effort, the researchers suggest such theories have failed to consider two critical factors that they believe will prevent such extinctions. The first factor is that newly hatched males tend to have a much higher survivability rate than females. The second factor is a higher number of females would lead to more offspring being born, since males have been found to mate twice as often on nesting beaches as femalesevery two years as compared to every four years. These factors, the researchers suggest, mean that population size will not be compromised, and in fact, there's a possibility of population increase. The researchers came to these conclusions after examining records of 75 sea turtle nesting sites (for seven species) at various places around the world over the past several years. They point out that population size for sea turtles has not dropped as some in the research community had feared. The researchers conclude by noting that their predictions are based only on current nest rise temperaturesat some point, they note, extremely high incubation temperatures will most certainly result in unsustainable offspring mortality rates. Computer simulations have shown, for example, that at a nest temperature of 35 C, just five hatchlings would survive out of 100 eggs laid, the vast majority of which would, of course, be female. More information: Graeme C. Hays et al. Population viability at extreme sex-ratio skews produced by temperature-dependent sex determination, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2576 Abstract For species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) there is the fear that rising temperatures may lead to single-sex populations and population extinction. We show that for sea turtles, a major group exhibiting TSD, these concerns are currently unfounded but may become important under extreme climate warming scenarios. We show how highly female-biased sex ratios in developing eggs translate into much more balanced operational sex ratios so that adult male numbers in populations around the world are unlikely to be limiting. Rather than reducing population viability, female-biased offspring sex ratios may, to some extent, help population growth by increasing the number of breeding females and hence egg production. For rookeries across the world (n = 75 sites for seven species), we show that extreme female-biased hatchling sex ratios do not compromise population size and are the norm, with a tendency for populations to maximize the number of female hatchlings. Only at extremely high incubation temperature does high mortality within developing clutches threaten sea turtles. Our work shows how TSD itself is a robust strategy up to a point, but eventually high mortality and female-only hatchling production will cause extinction if incubation conditions warm considerably in the future. Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2017 Phys.org A school of A. katoptron. Credit: Hellinger et al (2017) The flashlight fish uses bioluminescent light to detect and feed on its planktonic prey, according to a study published February 8, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jens Hellinger from Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany, and colleagues. The splitfin flashlight fish, Anomalops katoptron, is one of many ocean-dwelling animals that produces its own bioluminescent light using symbiotic bacteria. The fish has light organs located under its eyes such that the light can be turned on and off by blinking, like a flashlight. Little is known about the function and purpose of the Morse code-like blinking patterns displayed by the fish. To investigate how the flashlight fish uses bioluminescent illumination, Hellinger and colleagues examined the blink frequency of a school of flashlight fish under different laboratory conditions. They found that during darkness at night time, the flashlight fish blink very frequently, at 90 blinks per minute, with the light being on and off for an approximately equal amount of time. However, when the flashlight fish detected living planktonic prey in the experimental tank at night, their light organs were opened for more time, keeping the light on longer, and they blinked five times less frequently than in the absence of prey. The authors suggest that the flashlight fish reduce their blinking and keep their light organs open so that they can produce more light to detect and feed on prey. They recommend additional field research to see whether the fish display the same behavior under natural conditions. "The splitfin flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron use bioluminescent light to detect planktonic prey during the night and adjust the blink frequency in a context dependent manner," says Hellinger. "The loss of luminescence and subsequent light organ degeneration demonstrates the close symbiotic relation between the fish and its luminescent bacterial symbionts." More information: Hellinger J, Jagers P, Donner M, Sutt F, Mark MD, Senen B, et al. (2017) The Flashlight Fish Anomalops katoptron Uses Bioluminescent Light to Detect Prey in the Dark. PLoS ONE 12(2): e0170489. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170489 Journal information: PLoS ONE Research has shown that students' learning and cognitive performance can be influenced by emotional reactions to learning, like enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom. Most studies on this topic have been done in labs. Now a new longitudinal study out of Germany investigates how students' emotions in a school context relate to their achievement. The study focused on achievement in math, which is not only important for education and economic productivity but is also known to prompt strong emotional reactions in students. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Munich, Australian Catholic University, University of Oxford, University of Reading, University of Konstanz, and Thurgau University of Teacher Education. It appears in the journal Child Development. "We found that emotions influenced students' math achievement over the years," explains Reinhard Pekrun, professor of psychology at the University of Munich and Australian Catholic University, who led the research. "Students with higher intelligence had better grades and test scores, but those who also enjoyed and took pride in math had even better achievement. Students who experienced anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, or hopelessness had lower achievement." The research was conducted as part of the Project for the Analysis of Learning and Achievement in Mathematics (PALMA). It included annual assessments of emotions and achievement in math in 3,425 German students from grades 5 through 9. Students were representative of the student population of Bavaria, which primarily includes youth from nonimmigrant White families, but represents a broad mix of socioeconomic backgrounds and both urban and rural locations. Students' self-reported emotions were measured by questionnaires, and their achievement was assessed by year-end grades and scores on a math achievement test. The study also found that achievement affected students' emotions over time: "Successful performance in math increased students' positive emotions and decreased their negative emotions over the years," according to Stephanie Lichtenfeld, senior lecturer at the University of Munich, who coauthored the study. "In contrast, students with poor grades and test scores suffered from a decline in positive emotions and an increase in negative emotions, such as math anxiety and math boredom. Thus, these students become caught in a downward spiral of negative emotion and poor achievement." The study's finding that emotions influenced achievement held constant even after taking into account the effects of other variables, including students' intelligence and gender, and families' socioeconomic status. The results are consistent with previous studies showing that emotions and academic achievement are correlated, but they go beyond these by disentangling the directional effects underlying this link. Specifically, the research suggests that emotions influence adolescents' achievement over and above the effects of general cognitive ability and prior accomplishments, the authors note. The study's authors recommend that educators, administrators, and parents work to strengthen students' positive emotions and minimize negative emotions related to school subjects, for example, by helping students gain a greater sense of control over their performance. They also suggest that providing students with opportunities to experience success may help reduce negative feelings and facilitate emotional well-being, which can promote students' educational attainment. Future research on this topic could explore whether the pattern found here pertains to other age groups and academic subjects. More information: Reinhard Pekrun et al, Achievement Emotions and Academic Performance: Longitudinal Models of Reciprocal Effects, Child Development (2017). DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12704 Journal information: Child Development On a recent afternoon, a small group of students gathered around a large table in one of the rooms at the Stanford Archaeology Center. A collection of plastic-covered glass beakers and water bottles filled with yellow, foamy liquid stood in front of them on the table, at the end of which sat Li Liu, a professor in Chinese archaeology at Stanford. White mold-like layers floated on top of the liquids. As the students removed the plastic covers, they crinkled their noses at the smell and sour taste of the odd-looking concoctions, which were the results of their final project for Liu's course Archaeology of Food: Production, Consumption and Ritual. The mixtures were homemade beer students made using ancient brewing techniques of early human civilizations. One of the experiments imitated a 5,000-year-old beer recipe Liu and her team revealed as part of published research last spring. "Archaeology is not just about reading books and analyzing artifacts," said Liu, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Professor in Chinese Archaeology. "Trying to imitate ancient behavior and make things with the ancient method helps students really put themselves into the past and understand why people did what they did." The ancient recipe Liu, together with doctoral candidate Jiajing Wang and a group of other experts, discovered the 5,000-year-old beer recipe by studying the residue on the inner walls of pottery vessels found in an excavated site in northeast China. The research, which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provided the earliest evidence of beer production in China so far. The ancient Chinese made beer mainly with cereal grains, including millet and barley, as well as with Job's tears, a type of grass in Asia, according to the research. Traces of yam and lily root parts also appeared in the concoction. Liu said she was particularly surprised to find barley which is used to make beer today in the recipe because the earliest evidence to date of barley seeds in China dates to 4,000 years ago. This suggests why barley, which was first domesticated in western Asia, spread to China. "Our results suggest the purpose of barley's introduction in China could have been related to making alcohol rather than as a staple food," Liu said. The ancient Chinese beer looked more like porridge and likely tasted sweeter and fruitier than the clear, bitter beers of today. The ingredients used for fermentation were not filtered out, and straws were commonly used for drinking, Liu said. Recreating the recipe At the end of Liu's class, each student tried to imitate the ancient Chinese beer using either wheat, millet or barley seeds. The students first covered their grain with water and let it sprout, in a process called malting. After the grain sprouted, the students crushed the seeds and put them in water again. The container with the mixture was then placed in the oven and heated to 65 degrees Celsius (149 F) for an hour, in a process called mashing. Afterward, the students sealed the container with plastic and let it stand at room temperature for about a week to ferment. Alongside that experiment, the students tried to replicate making beer with a vegetable root called manioc. That type of beer-making, which is indigenous to many cultures in South America where the brew is referred to as "chicha," involves chewing and spitting manioc, then boiling and fermenting the mixture. Madeleine Ota, an undergraduate student who took Liu's course, said she knew nothing about the process of making beer before taking the class and was skeptical that her experiments would work. The mastication part of the experiment was especially foreign to her, she said. "It was a strange process," Ota said. "People looked at me weird when they saw the 'spit beer' I was making for class. I remember thinking, 'How could this possibly turn into something alcoholic?' But it was really rewarding to see that both experiments actually yielded results." Ota used red wheat for brewing her ancient Chinese beer. Despite the mold, the mixture had a pleasant fruity smell and a citrus taste, similar to a cider, Ota said. Her manioc beer, however, smelled like funky cheese, and Ota had no desire to check how it tasted. The results of the students' experiments are going to be used in further research on ancient alcohol-making that Liu and Wang are working on. "The beer that students made and analyzed will be incorporated into our final research findings," Wang said. "In that way, the class gives students an opportunity to not only experience what the daily work of some archaeologists looks like but also contribute to our ongoing research." Getting a glimpse of the ancient world For decades, archeologists have yearned to understand the origin of agriculture and what actions may have sparked humans to transition from hunting and gathering to settling and farming, a period historians call the Neolithic Revolution. Studying the evolution of alcohol and food production provides a window into understanding ancient human behavior, said Liu, who has been teaching Archaeology of Food for several years after coming to Stanford in 2010. But it can be difficult to figure out precisely how the ancient people made alcohol and food from just examining artifacts because organic molecules easily break down with time. That's why experiential archaeology is so important, Liu said. "We are still trying to understand what kind of things were used back then," Liu said. Ota, a junior who is double majoring in archaeology and classics, and other students praised Liu's class for giving them an important hands-on view into the ancient world. "Food plays such an important role in who we are and how we've developed as a species," Ota said. "We can use the information that we gain in these experiments to apply to the archaeological record from thousands of years ago and ask questions about what these processes reflect and what we can say about alcohol fermentation and production." President Donald Trump looks at Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, holding a silicon wafer, during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Donald Trump on Wednesday held up Intel's plan to invest more than $7 billion in an Arizona factory as a win for his economic agenda, but it's also a reminder that not all corporate commitments come to fruition. Trump was the second president to celebrate the computer chip maker's attempts to expand its domestic production at the same facility in Chandler, Arizona. In 2012, Obama went to the factory's construction site and celebrated that the plant would produce "some of the fastest and most powerful computer chips on Earth." "Let's stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas," Obama said at the time. "Let's reward companies like Intel that are investing and creating jobs right here in the United States of America." But by 2014, however, Intel had pulled back from finishing the factory. The company said Wednesday that it expects to open the plant known as "Fab 42" within four years. "We delayed completion to ensure Fab 42 came online when we expected sufficient demand," said William Moss, an Intel spokesman. "We're making this investment now in anticipation of the growth of our business." Like Obama, Trump declared it a win for workers. "We're very happy and I can tell you the people of Arizona are very happy," Trump said. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said in an Oval Office visit with Trump that the factory will employ about 3,000 workers directly and 10,000 workers in Arizona in support of the factory. Krzanich said he made the announcement from the White House because "it's really in support of the tax and regulatory policies that we see the administration pushing forward." But Intel has not been a universal fan of Trump's policies. It was among the tech companies that filed a legal brief that challenged the president's 90-day ban on travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. The announcement comes as Intel has shed jobs. It announced last year that it planned to lay off 12,000 workers in a reorganization prompted by a decline in sales of personal computers. That was about 11 percent of the company's workers. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. In a time of increased concern about how minorities are treated by police, teachers, and other authorities, it is critical to examine whether students of color have experiences in school that lead to mistrust of authorities and what the long-term implications are for young people. In a new set of longitudinal studies, minority youth perceived and experienced more biased treatment and lost more trust over the middle school years than their White peers. Minority students' growing lack of trust in turn predicted whether they acted out in school and even whether they made it to college years later. The research, which appears in the journal Child Development, was conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, Columbia University, and Stanford University. "The end of seventh grade seems to be a period for developing trust in institutions like school," explains David S. Yeager, assistant professor of developmental psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, who led the study. "When adolescents see that school rules aren't fair to people who look like them, they lose trust and then disengage. But it doesn't have to be this way; teachers have an opportunity to earn minority students' trust, and this helps students do better in middle school and beyond." Researchers examined students' perceptions of the fairness of their teachers in middle school and how these perceptions related to whether they were disciplined in school and whether they eventually attended a four-year college. Data were drawn from an eight-year study, conducted two years in a row at the same school, that tracked students in the northeast region of the United States from sixth grade until college entry. In one part of the study, researchers surveyed 277 White and African American students twice yearly; about a fifth of the students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, an indicator of poverty. In a followup part of the study, they surveyed 206 White and Latino students from Colorado twice yearly; most of the students were from working-class families and these students have not been followed through college entry. Researchers assessed trust by asking the students to complete surveys that featured questions such as "I am treated fairly by teachers and other adults at my school" and "Students in my racial group are treated fairly by teachers and other adults at [my] middle school." Students were also asked questions that examined their perceptions of how minority students were treated, such as "If a Black or White student is alone in the hallway during class time, which one would a teacher ask for a hall pass?" Academic achievement was assessed from school records (including grade point averages in core classes); disciplinary incidents were also determined from school records. In the first study, researchers found that African American students reported more racial disparities than White students in decisions involving school discipline. School records confirmed this: Only minorities were disciplined for defiance and disobedience, not White students. This suggests the possibility of bias: When teachers have to make a judgment call, minority students may be more likely to be disciplined than their White peers. Minority students notice this, Yeager says, and it undermines their trust in school. Every semester in middle school, African American students became more aware of this bias and lost trust. By seventh grade, this loss of trust made African American students more likely to get in trouble in school and defy school rules, even if before losing trust, they had never been in trouble and had made good grades. African American students who lost trust in school in seventh grade were then less likely to make it to a four-year college six years later. A similar pattern was found among Latino students in the second study. The more semesters students spent in middle school, the more they came to distrust that their teachers were fair. But this pattern doesn't have to be inevitable, the authors point out. The research also featured a pilot randomized experiment, which was built into the study and designed to serve as an antidote to students' mistrust of staff in school settings. Building on pioneering research by Geoffrey Cohen at Stanford University on "wise" critical feedback, researchers randomly assigned a group of 88 seventh grade social studies students (White and African American) to receive a single display of respect from their teachers (who were White): a hand-written note on a first-draft essay encouraging them to meet a higher standard and implying that the teacher believed in them as they tried to do so. African American students who received these notes had fewer disciplinary incidents over the entire next year and were more likely to be enrolled in college six years later. "Youth of color enter middle school aware that majority groups could view them stereotypically," notes Valerie Purdie-Vaughns, associate professor of psychology at Columbia University, who coauthored the study. "But when teachers surprise them with an early experience that conveys that they are not being seen in terms of stereotypes, but rather respected, it creates trust and may set in motion a positive cycle of expectations." In this study, neither trust nor receiving the intervention predicted subsequent college entrance for White students as it did for minority students. The authors suggest that for students with group-based advantages, such as majority-group students who are more positively stereotyped and overrepresented, a loss of trust or a poor relationship with a teacher might be only a temporary setback. The study can inform educational policy and practice. The researchers caution that the one-time note is not an intervention that is ready for wide-scale use. Instead, they say, it highlights that teachers can work more systematically to create a classroom climate that boosts the trust of students who may have to contend with discrimination. - Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta state, returned to Nigeria after spending years in a UK prison - Apart from being celebrated by his people in Oghara, there are beliefs that the former governor would soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has said Chief James Ibori should be more concerned with his family now that he has returned from prison rather than politics. Governor Okowa says Ibori should concentrate on his family instead of politics Okowa stated this in reaction to claims that the former governor of Delta state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and acclaimed political godfather was planning to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ibori returned from the UK recently after serving a concurrent 13-year jail term for money laundering and was reportedly visited by some top politicians in the state including Okowa. The New Telegraph reports that in his first policy statement after the return of Ibori, Okowa said: I am not aware of Iboris planned defection to the APC. READ ALSO: Iboris travails were politically motivated Oghara youths Yes, he is back with us but I think what he should be concerned about is how to reunite with his family and not politics. He also denied the alleged frosty relationship between him and his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Meanwhile, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has described the euphoria that greeted Iboris return to Delta state as a show of shame that debases humanism. It is sad and disheartening to see human beings so audaciously being ripped of their humanism; the very basis of their existence, out of the inadvertent need to cope with the socio-economic and political reality of the society imposed by the incurably corrupt ruling class elements like Ibori. It is like the hunted protecting the hunter; victims celebrating their victimizers out of total dislocation with the empirical reality of their social existence and proper introspection. We are talking about an ex-convict that has through his nefarious and corrupt activities dragged the image of the country as a whole in the mud of global shame. Debo Adeniran of CACOL condemns the rousing welcome accorded Ibori in Oghara Ibori, we believe, is one those who inspired the infamous statement of the former Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron that described Nigeria as a country that is fantastically corrupt. CACOL think those that are openly celebrating the ex-convict are trying to turn Ibori to a hero, so he could go back to playing his so-called Robinhood role while walking free and shoulders-high in spite of committing corruption crimes of incredible proportions. Beneficiaries as the celebrators may be; they do not represent the rule of law, the will or opinion of Nigerians about the obligation and absolute necessity to prosecute Ibori and others like him for their corruption crimes with deserving punitive applied where culpability is established. READ ALSO: "Dear Ibori, we cant thank God enough for bringing you back alive" We also point out that the welcome carnival is a manifestation of a tendency that can never spell any good for socio-cultural, economic and political development because the trend is predicated on corruption and abysmal disregard for core values and morals, CACOL said in a statement made available to Legit.ng. Source: Legit.ng - Ex-Governor of the old Anambra state - Chukwuemeka Ezeife has said that President Buhari's administration is anti-Igbo - Ezeife says the government is poised to ensure that that which is due to the Igbo people is deprived - The former governor says Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former governor of old Anambra state, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a specialist in depriving the Igbo people of that which is due them. The elder statesman made the allegation in an interview with the Punch. Ex-governor of Anambra state raises grave allegations against Buhari Ezeifes remark was in reaction to a question on whether he will be supporting the President should he, Buhari, nominate an Igbo person for presidency in 2019. READ ALSO: Jewish scientists storm Nigeria to test ancestral connection with Igbos According to the former governor, Our life, our future and our prospects are in the hands of God. The only thing Buhari is good at is killing our people and depriving them of anything that is to go to them. The former governor maintained that over 90 percent of Fulani people will gain more should an Igbo man emerges President in Nigeria. He said:I dont know about the Hausa. I think they are trying to determine when they will answer their fathers names. The Fulani adopted a mentality of superiority and an Igbo presidency will be the best thing to happen to the Fulani, not the highest class of Fulani, but the ordinary Fulani. Over 90 percent of the Fulani will gain more from an Igbo presidency than from Buharis presidency. PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest News on Legit.ng News App Ezeife, however, dismissed the claims by some Nigerians that people of the South East lack qualified persons to contest for the 2019 Presidential election. Noting that Nigerians are not considering Igbos for the seat of the President, Ezeife said, From every village in the east, you can get a president. We are gifted. Go to America. Among the professionals there, who are the dominant people? Among the politicians there, who are dominant? Look, there is just no way to deny Gods gift to our people. I could even roll out some names for you, but there is no point doing that. I know that Nigerians know that if they want to rise, they will have to look for Igbos. For as long as they keep the Igbo down, Nigeria will stay down. Source: Legit.ng Works get underway to give Gongabu bus park a facelift Works have started to give a facelift to the New Bus Park at Gongabu, with construction company Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd adding new infrastructure in the area once dotted by around 500 small eateries. Professor Yemi Osinbajo - the acting president of Nigeria, on Wednesday, February 8, met with Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Both of them met behind closed doors. BREAKING: Osinbajo in crucial close door meeting with Okorocha, Sanusi Vanguard reports that when approached by the State House Correspondent to speak on his mission to the Villa, Sanusi however declined saying simply you can just report that I came to the Villa. READ ALSO: Onnoghen finally on path of becoming chief justice as NJC extends his tenure, writes Osibanjo It will be recalled that Sanusi had been very critical of President Muhammadu Buharis policies one of which was the decision to borrow $30 billion from external sources. He had also consistently spoken out on the illiteracy of Northern Nigeria, asking the stakeholders to convert mosques to schools. Also, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was seen leaving the office of the Acting President. He also didnt speak with Reporters. In a similar vein, the Emir of Kano, yesterday, urged the elite to wake up to their leadership roles. He said there is failure in some sectors because of the inability of the leaders to set their priorities right. The Emir also said those in position of authority should focus on providing education, healthcare for the people instead of dreaming of owning runways and having mega cities. According to The Nation, the Emir spoke in Abuja yesterday when Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was given an award by Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris as the Most Security-Conscious Governor in Nigeria. The emir said: My advice to His Excellency is to remind him that to whom much is given, much is expected. For all of us in positions of authority, whether governor, emir, police commissioner, the president, chairman of local government; we must remember that over 170 million Nigerians were created by God and when God chose us and put us in these positions, it is not because he does not love those not given the positions. If there is anything that has destroyed this country, it is people thinking that offices are for themselves and their families but it is not. We were given offices for those who are not in office; we were given office not to sleep so that they may sleep. We were given office so that you can go hungry so that they may eat. You were given office so that you stay awake fearful of what may happen to them so that they may sleep in peace. People who think that they are in office to enjoy, to have sound sleep, to have a comfortable life are the worst leaders ever. So, I say to the governor and myself and to all of us who have a responsibility, the prophet of Islam has one Hadith about leadership that is very frightening. He says, it is a trust and on the Day of Judgment, it is a source of humiliation and regret. Everyone must remember that there would be a day that we will account for these privileges. On that day, if you did not serve those people, you would regret and wish that you never had that office. The Emir also said there is need to address what he described as silent violence like poverty, hunger, lack of healthcare and other social amenities.. On security he said: How would you blow up mosques because you want to establish an Islamic system? In Southern Kaduna, we have people who lived together for decades and centuries killing each other because they have constructed fake identities settler and indigene and because of genuine lack of enforcement of the law. Every time there is crisis in Southern Kaduna, people die, there is a tribunal, there is a report, culprits are identified and nothing happens. So, these small instances utterly lead to conflagration and therefore, it is important to address them at every point in time. Source: Legit.ng Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether Read more Open Carry Stunt in Michigan Goes Too Far Police in Dearborn, Michigan, charged two men with breach of peace after they walked into a police station live streaming their interaction with police while wearing tactical vests, one of them carrying an AP-14 firearm and a handgun. The men told police they were making a point about civil liberties. Police confronted the men, later identified as James Craig Baker and Brandon Brent Vreeland, as they initially refused to comply with the officers commands to put down their weapons, authorities said. In the live video, police can be heard giving commands to put down the guns and step back. One of the suspects told the police, We arent breaking any laws. WARNING: The below video includes offensive language. Michigan is an open state, which means licensed gun owners are allowed to carry a firearm in public so long as it is not concealed. Dearborn police say they first encountered the pair early Sunday afternoon when they were called to investigate a report of two suspicious men in a vehicle wearing tactical masks. A Dearborn sergeant spotted the pair and conducted a traffic stop. The sergeant let the pair go after a preliminary investigation. It was after this run-in with the police that Baker and Vreeland decided to go to the police department. Video shows the two talking to one another as they moved across the parking lot into the station. "So, we're here outside Dearborn police station," one of the men, who is masked, says to the camera. "We're going to go in and file a complaint because we were illegally pulled over about an hour ago." Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad released a press release on the incident explaining how dangerous the stunt was. They are also keen to updating their internal policies. A new study by recruitment company Robert Half revealed that majority of Singapore's chief financial officers will be focussing on implementing new technologies and updating their internal financial policies this year. Almost half (45%) of CFOs surveyed said such were their top priorities this year. Robert Half managing director Matthieu Imbert Bouchard said this highlights the progressively important role technology is playing in the finance function of Singapore firms. "As companies endeavour to explore new ways to increase innovation and streamline business practices, Singaporean businesses are adapting their finance function to harness new technologies and continuously updating internal procedures. These processes allow companies to remain competitive in an increasingly uncertain market those quickest to adapt will inevitably be able to maximise their companys future growth and market share, he explained. He furthered that the growing influence of technology and digitisation is seeing the finance function undergo significant change, and finance companies will need to recruit highly-skilled professionals who are able to keep up with these dramatic developments. "In order to utilise new technologies and streamline processes, businesses need finance teams made up of professionals with the right experience, technical and business acumen as well as adequate soft skills to take full advantage of new opportunities, Imbert-Bouchard said. More From Singapore Business Review AFP News Zhang Yao recalls the moment he realised something had gone deeply wrong at the Chinese mega-factory where he and hundreds of thousands of other workers assembled iPhones and other high-end electronics. In early October, supervisors suddenly warned him that 3,000 colleagues had been taken into quarantine after someone tested positive for Covid-19 at the factory. "They told us not to take our masks off," Zhang, speaking under a pseudonym for fear of retaliation, told AFP by telephone. What followed was a weeks-long ordeal including food shortages and the ever-present fear of infection, before he finally escaped on Tuesday. Zhang's employer, Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn, has said it faces a "protracted battle" against infections and imposed a "closed loop" bubble around its sprawling campus in central China's Zhengzhou city. Local authorities locked down the area surrounding the major Apple supplier's factory on Wednesday, but not before reports emerged of employees fleeing on foot and a lack of adequate medical care at the plant. China is the last major economy committed to a zero-Covid strategy, persisting with snap lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines in a bid to stamp out emerging outbreaks. But new variants have tested officials' ability to snuff out flare-ups and dragged down economic activity with the threat of sudden disruptions. - Desperation - Multiple workers have recounted scenes of chaos and increasing disorganisation at Foxconn's complex of workshops and dormitories, which form a city-within-a-city near Zhengzhou's airport. Zhang told AFP that "positive tests and double lines (on antigen tests) had become a common sight" in his workshop before he left. "Of course we were scared, it was so close to us." "People with fevers are not guaranteed to receive medicine," another Foxconn worker, a 30-year-old man who also asked to remain anonymous, told AFP. "We are drowning," he said. Those who decided to stop working were not offered meals at their dormitories, Zhang said, adding that some were able to survive on personal stockpiles of instant noodles. Kai, a worker at in the complex who gave an interview to state-owned Sanlian Lifeweek, told the magazine Foxconn's "closed loop" involved cordoning off paths between dormitory compounds and the factory, and complained he was left to his own devices after being thrown in quarantine. TikTok videos geolocated by AFP showed mounds of uncollected rubbish outside buildings in late October, while employees in N95 masks squeezed onto packed shuttle buses taking them from dormitories to their work stations. A 27-year-old woman working at Foxconn, who asked not to be named, told AFP a roommate who tested positive for Covid was sent back to her dormitory on Thursday morning, crying, after she decided to hand in her notice while in quarantine. "Now the three of us are living in the same room: one a confirmed case and two of us testing positive on the rapid test, still waiting for our nucleic acid test results," the worker told AFP. Many became so desperate by the end of last month that they attempted to walk back to their hometowns to get around Covid transport curbs. As videos of people dragging their suitcases down motorways and struggling up hills spread on Chinese social media, the authorities rushed in to do damage control. The Zhengzhou city government on Sunday said it had arranged for special buses to take employees back to their hometowns. Surrounding Henan province has officially reported a spike of more than 600 Covid cases since the start of this week. - Distrust - When Zhang finally attempted to leave the Foxconn campus on Tuesday, he found the company had set up obstacle after obstacle. "There were people with loudspeakers advertising the latest Foxconn policy, saying that each day there would be a 400 yuan ($55) bonus," Zhang told AFP. A crowd of employees gathered at a pick-up point in front of empty buses but were not let on. People in hazmat suits, known colloquially as "big whites" in China, claimed they had been sent by the city government. "They tried to persuade people to stay in Zhengzhou... and avoid going home," Zhang said. "But when we asked to see their work ID, they had nothing to show us, so we suspected they were actually from Foxconn." Foxconn pointed to the local government's lockdown orders from Wednesday when asked by AFP if it attempted to stop employees from leaving, without giving any further response. The company had on Sunday said it was "providing employees with complimentary three meals a day" and cooperating with the government to provide transport home. Eventually, the crowd of unhappy workers who had gathered decided to take matters into their own hands and walked over seven kilometres on foot to the nearest highway entry ramp. There, more people claiming to be government officials pleaded with the employees to wait for the bus. The crowd had no choice as the road was blocked. Buses eventually arrived at five in the afternoon -- nearly nine hours after Zhang had begun his attempt to secure transport. "They were trying to grind us down," he said. Back in his hometown, Zhang is now waiting out the home quarantine period required by the local government. "All I feel is, I've finally left Zhengzhou," he told AFP. bur-tjx/oho/je/mca/cwl By Lin Noueihed and Yara Bayoumy CAIRO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Friendly phone calls, an invite to the White House, a focus on Islamic militancy and what Donald Trump called "chemistry" have set the tone for a new era of warmer U.S.-Egyptian ties that could herald more military and political support for Cairo. The mutual admiration dates back to a U.N. meeting in September, when then-presidential candidate Trump found common ground with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's hard line on extremism. Trump described the ex-general, who rights groups criticise as authoritarian and repressive, as a "fantastic guy". Sisi, the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on his election victory, returned the favour last month after the newly inaugurated president barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Egypt, not on the list, refrained from speaking out against the ban on behalf of Muslim countries that often look to it for leadership. That silence spoke volumes about the changing tone of its relationship with the United States. For Trump, Sisi appeals as an uncompromising leader who came to power by overthrowing the Muslim Brotherhood and is fighting Islamic State in northern Sinai and on his border with Libya. For Sisi, Trump appeals as a U.S. leader who unlike Barack Obama is not interested in berating an old ally on human rights. "The rhetoric alone of this Trump administration is much more forward leaning in its support towards Sisi than Obama," said one U.S. official, who declined to be named. "I expect it to be a much closer relationship." Egypt is one of Washington's closest Middle East allies, and U.S. military aid has long cemented its historic 1979 peace deal with Israel. Home to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest waterways, the stability of the Arab world's most populous state is a U.S. priority, but the strategic relationship hit a low under Obama who briefly froze aid after Sisi overthrew an elected president. In contrast, weeks into Trump's presidency, the White House has already discussed declaring the Brotherhood a terrorist group - sure to be welcomed by Sisi, who was condemned by Obama for his crackdown on Egypt's oldest Islamist group. Egyptian and U.S. officials say the Trump administration will likely seek to lift or ease conditions imposed under Obama on the payment of $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid a year. Officials and analysts do not expect a major jump in the size of U.S. military aid overnight, but describe a relationship that is more aligned and mutually supportive. "During the Obama's administration there were difficulties," said an Egyptian government official, who declined to be named. "When the administrations have common goals it makes cooperation easier. The military is the backbone of the relationship. We have a common enemy, which is terrorism." MILITARY SUPPORT Obama froze aid for nearly two years after Sisi overthrew President Mohamed Mursi, an elected Brotherhood official, in mid-2013 after mass protests. Though Sisi went on to win an election and the aid was restored in March 2015, new rules were introduced to ensure it was used for counter-terrorism and border security and Sinai. Congress also made aid dependent on the U.S. Secretary of State certifying that Egypt was moving to govern democratically. That experience has left a bitter taste among some in Egypt's military who saw their overthrow of the Brotherhood as part of the broader war on terrorism. "What interests Egypt now is economic and military aid and this is what Egypt will try to benefit from in light of the closeness between Sisi and Trump," an Egyptian intelligence official said. "In return, America is seeking to benefit from Egypt as an ally in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism." The Egyptian government official said the overall size of the aid package had barely changed in decades, but it would weigh any request for increases carefully. What Egypt gets depends partly on Congress, where some oppose loosening restrictions due to concerns over Sisi's crackdown on dissent. "(The administration) could ask Congress to no longer impose conditions on the funds and they could request increases in certain types of assistance," said Tim Rieser, a foreign policy aid to Senator Patrick Leahy, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "But President Trump's positive statements offer President Sisi a kind of affirmation and encouragement to continue what he is doing, which in some ways is worth more than dollars." NEW ERA Egypt has witnessed years of upheaval since the 2011 uprising helped to end Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, a change ultimately supported by the Obama administration. When the ensuing elections saw Islamists win parliament and presidency, Obama engaged them in an effort to encourage democratisation in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings. But Egypt banned the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation shortly after Sisi seized power. His security forces killed hundreds of Mursi supporters and thousands of activists have been jailed, prompting criticism from the United States and the aid suspension. By contrast, Trump has backed Egypt's approach. "The (Trump) administration has signalled repeatedly that it sees the Muslim Brotherhood as virtually indistinguishable from groups like al Qaeda or even Islamic State," said Eric Trager, a fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "This is something Cairo is very excited about and Arab partners favour as well." On the street, Trump's victory was met with delight by Sisi supporters, who saw in Hillary Clinton an extension of Obama. The early invitation to the White House is seen by Egyptian officials as a sign they will again be heard. But while Egyptian officials like Trump's more aggressive approach to Islamic State they say they have yet to see detailed policies. "The warmth of the rhetoric is definitely something that's different, that makes the Egyptians feel very comfortable," said H.A. Hellyer senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington. "But nobody likes an unpredictable, erratic, variable in the mix and Trump is a very erratic variable." (Additional reporting by Amina Ismail and Ahmed Mohammed Hassan in Cairo, editing by Peter Millership) In this Monday Feb. 6, 2017 photo, activist lawyer Khaled Ali speaks to The Associated Press at his office in Cairo, Egypt, with the wall behind him adorned by photographs of 15 revolutionaries who are either currently in prison or served out their sentences. Rights lawyer Khaled Ali won a startling victory over Egypts government when a court backed his suit blocking the handover of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Now Ali, a former presidential candidate, is considering running again in elections next year to challenge President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. (AP Photo/Thomas Hartwell) In this Monday Feb. 6, 2017 photo, activist lawyer Khaled Ali speaks to The Associated Press at his office in Cairo, Egypt, with the wall behind him adorned by photographs of 15 revolutionaries who are either currently in prison or served out their sentences. Rights lawyer Khaled Ali won a startling victory over Egypts government when a court backed his suit blocking the handover of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Now Ali, a former presidential candidate, is considering running again in elections next year to challenge President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. (AP Photo/Thomas Hartwell) CAIRO (AP) The congratulatory bouquet of flowers sitting in Khaled Ali's austere downtown Cairo office has withered away, but the writing on the attached card is clear: "Tiran and Sanafir are Egyptian." It's a reference to the court victory that brought to prominence the rights lawyer who was a leading player in Egypt's 2011 uprising but was little noticed outside his leftist circles when he ran for president in 2012. With a suit he and other lawyers led last year, Ali succeeded in blocking the government's plan to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The court ruling, upheld on appeal in January, was an unexpected setback to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who had promised the oil-rich kingdom the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in an agreement last year. It gave Ali the shine of a defender of the country's integrity among the many who opposed the handover. Now Ali is considering running again in elections next year to challenge el-Sissi, the former general who came to office in 2014 in a landslide, riding on the support for his fierce crackdown on Islamists. Ali's candidacy would be a long shot, but the 44-year-old sees it as a way to breathe some life into Egypt's leftist, revolutionary and pro-democratic forces after years of defeat and disarray under a crackdown. "Of course, I am a likely candidate, but I have yet to make a final decision," he told The Associated Press in an interview. He said consultations are underway among "democratic and social forces" his term for those behind the 2011 uprising and its supporters to formulate a joint position on the election and consider whether to field a candidate or boycott. He said that his chief concern is the "legal and constitutional" environment of the vote, which is due in the summer of 2018. Ali has been a key figure among the small but vibrant core of mostly young pro-democracy and secular activists known loosely as the "revolutionaries." They were the main force behind the 18-day uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Story continues For a brief window after his fall, they were celebrated in Egypt. But they failed to present a cohesive political force. The military took over after Mubarak's fall and pushed an election process that led to the Muslim Brotherhood winning the presidency and dominance in parliament. Ali came in seventh in the initial round of voting in the 2012 election. Since leading the military in a 2013 ouster of the Brotherhood, el-Sissi has waged a heavy crackdown on dissent, not only among Islamists but also against the ranks of secular activists. El-Sissi has frequently argued that the country needs stability to repair its economy and fight an Islamic militant insurgency. Many of the "revolutionaries" have been jailed, quit political activism or left the country. They have been relentlessly demonized in the largely pro-el-Sissi media, depicted as foreign agents who conspire against Egypt and pose a national security threat. But Ali argued that the climate maybe conducive for change, pointing to new energy generated by the courtroom victory and discontent over reforms introduced by el-Sissi that aim to rescue the deeply damaged economy but have hit most Egyptians hard with spiraling prices. "We have 18 months during which we must work together, reorganize our bases and prepare for a battle that I believe will be an important one, regardless of its final outcome," Ali said at his office, with the wall behind him adorned by photographs of 15 revolutionaries who are either currently in prison or have served out their sentences. The "democratic and social" movements must "work hard to overhaul their relations with the Egyptian street," he said. "They must present themselves as a viable choice or option and next year's election will be an important milestone in that direction." He proudly pointed out that it was those revolutionaries that won the Tiran and Sanafir case, which he called a "crossroads" in Egyptian politics. "This case has placed before Egyptians a contradiction: that those who wanted to relinquish ownership of the islands are the regime and those who defended our ownership in court are the youths of that revolution," he said. Ordinary Egyptians helped Ali in gathering the nearly 200 pieces of evidence that he and his colleagues submitted in the case to show the islands were historically Egyptian, including atlases, books, military books, documents and journals of 19th century travelers. He said one man called him, offering something he said could be useful but he was scared to come to Ali's office, fearing police retaliation. So he waited in a nearby square as Ali sent someone to him. "I phoned him to say what the messenger was wearing and he gave him the document, placed inside a folder for medical tests. It was an old map," Ali said. Still, the revolutionaries have a long way to go. Egypt's politics have been stagnant since el-Sissi's rise to power: political parties are weak, parliament is overwhelmingly dominated by el-Sissi supporters, and there are almost no prominent opposition figures of any ideological stripe. The Brotherhood and other Islamists, once Egypt's most powerful political force, have been decisively crushed and banned from politics and the revolutionaries have little interest in working with their remnants. El-Sissi has yet to formally announce it, but he is likely to seek a second, four-year term in office in 2018. Despite more visible shows of discontent, he has significant public support. He has carried out a number of infrastructure mega-projects and is seen by some as the country's savior from Islamists and the sole force that can bring stability. In the election, el-Sissi will also likely have the backing of state institutions and the media. Ali appears undeterred. "The youth of this country are trying to present themselves as a substitute ... a path of genuine democracy," he said. "We seek a nation where dialogue is one of the tools of political rivalries, not prison, arms, violence and tyranny." AFP News Pope Francis warned the world is on the edge of a "delicate precipice" and buffeted by "winds of war" as he held inter-faith talks with one of Sunni Islam's top leaders in Bahrain on Friday. The 85-year-old Argentine decried the "opposing blocs" of East and West, a veiled reference to the standoff over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in a speech to religious leaders in the tiny Gulf state. "We continue to find ourselves on the brink of a delicate precipice and we do not want to fall," he told an audience including Bahrain's king and Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo's prestigious Al-Azhar mosque. "A few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs," he added. "We appear to be witnessing a dramatic and childlike scenario: in the garden of humanity, instead of cultivating our surroundings, we are playing instead with fire, missiles and bombs." The pope's visit, aimed at strengthening relations with Islam, comes with the Ukraine war in its ninth month, and as tensions grow on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who met Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in September, told journalists that there had been "a few small signs" of progress in negotiations with Moscow, warning that peace initiatives should not be "exploited for other goals". Francis, who is on his second visit to the wealthy Gulf, later met privately with al-Tayeb, with whom he signed a Muslim-Christian manifesto for peace in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. "This meeting has great symbolic importance, both locally and internationally, for promoting peace and peaceful co-existence between different religions and civilisations," said Hala Ramzi Fayez, a Christian and member of Bahrain's parliament. - Sunni, Shiite talks? - Leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, Francis has placed inter-faith dialogue at the heart of his papacy, visiting other Muslim-majority countries including Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. Al-Tayeb, who met with the pope on previous Middle East visits, also called on Friday for talks between Islam's two main branches, Sunni and Shiite, to settle sectarian differences. Later, the pope addressed 17 members of the Muslim Council of Elders, an international group of Islamic scholars and dignitaries, at the mosque of the Sakhir Royal Palace. He told them dialogue was "the oxygen of peaceful coexistence". "In a world that is increasingly wounded and divided, that beneath the surface of globalisation senses anxiety and fear, the great religious traditions must be the heart that unites the members of the body," he said. He also struck out at the arms trade, a "commerce of death" that he said was "turning our common home into one great arsenal". The pope, who is using a wheelchair and a walking stick due to long-standing knee problems, began the first papal visit to Bahrain on Thursday by hitting out at the death penalty and urging respect for human rights and better conditions for workers. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain's minister of finance and national economy, insisted the country has "led the region" with its criminal justice reforms. "We have some of the most robust and wide-ranging human rights and criminal justice protections in the region," the minister told AFP on Friday. "There are very well-established channels through which any of these critics can go, well established institutions of accountability," he said, adding that the pope's comments on the death penalty did not single out Bahrain. "It is important to note that that reference... was a general reference to countries around the world," the minister said. Bahrain has executed six people since 2017, when it carried out its first execution in seven years. Some of the condemned were convicted following a 2011 uprising put down with military support from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. cmk-lar/par/ho/th/dwo Yield-based insurance scheme available for spring paddy cultivators Cultivators of spring paddy (Chaite Dhaan) can now insure their products using a brand new policy introduced by the Insurance Board (IB) which allows policyholders to seek compensation based on projected yield. AFP News Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was recovering in hospital Friday after a gunman shot him in the leg, with his supporters vowing the assassination attempt will not derail his "long march" bid to return to power. The attack on his convoy, apparently by a lone gunman, killed one man and wounded at least 10, significantly raising the stakes in a political crisis that has gripped the South Asian nation since Khan's ousting in April. Khan "was stable and he was doing fine" at Shaukat Khanum hospital in the eastern city of Lahore, his doctor Faisal Sultan told AFP Friday. Seemi Bokhari, a lawmaker with Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, said after visiting Khan the former premier was in high spirits. "The doctors are allowing him to move ... He is feeling perfectly well and he will soon be discharged," she told AFP. The 70-year-old former international cricket star had been leading a campaign convoy of thousands since last week from Lahore to the capital Islamabad when he was attacked. Khan suffered at least one bullet wound to his right leg when a gunmen sprayed pistol fire at his modified container truck as it drove slowly through a thick crowd in Wazirabad, around 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of Islamabad. "Everyone who was standing in the very front row got hit," former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, who was standing behind Khan, told AFP. Senior aide Raoof Hasan said it was "an attempt to kill him, to assassinate him". Chaudhry said party officials would meet later Friday to discuss the immediate fate of Khan's campaign march. "The real freedom long march will continue and the movement for people's rights will remain until an announcement on the general elections," he tweeted. - Threats - Party officials also called for supporters to stage rallies and marches across the country after Friday afternoon prayers, the most important of the week. Protesters lit fires and blocked roads in several cities late Thursday as news of Khan's shooting spread. His campaign truck has become a crime scene for now, cordoned off and guarded by commandos as forensic experts comb the area. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Thursday the attacker had been taken into custody. Officials shared an apparent confession video that was circulating online. "I did it because (Khan) was misleading the public," says a dishevelled man in the leaked video, shown with his hands tied behind his back in what appears to be a police station. He says he was angry with the procession for making a racket during the call to prayer that summons Muslims to the mosque five times a day. Pervaiz Elahi, the chief minister of Punjab, said officers who leaked the video would be disciplined. Pakistan has been grappling with Islamist militancy for decades, with right-wing religious groups having huge sway over the population. It has been no stranger to assassination attempts during decades of political instability, and the powerful military has led the country several times. Pakistan's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot dead at a rally in Rawalpindi in 1951. Another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, was killed in 2007 when a huge bomb detonated near her vehicle as she greeted supporters in the city of Rawalpindi. - Kicked from power - Khan was booted from office in April by a no-confidence vote after defections by some of his coalition partners, but he retains huge support. He was voted into power in 2018 on an anti-corruption platform by an electorate tired of dynastic politics, but his mishandling of the economy -- and falling out with a military accused of helping his rise -- sealed his fate. Since then, he has railed against the establishment and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, which he says was imposed on Pakistan by a "conspiracy" involving the United States. Khan and Shehbaz have for months traded bitter accusations of corruption and incompetence, raising the political temperature in a nation that is frequently at boiling point. Khan has repeatedly told supporters he was prepared to die for the country, and aides have long warned of unspecified threats made on his life. The attack drew international condemnation including from the United States, which had uneasy relations with Khan when he was in power. "Violence has no place in politics, and we call on all parties to refrain from violence, harassment and intimidation," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. sjd/fox/ecl/pbt/dhc American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) CEO Rush Holt, a former Democratic congressman, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, before the House Science Committee. He rebuffed claims by Republican members that federal climate science had been falsified. (AP Photo/Michael Biesecker) WASHINGTON (AP) Another round of bickering is boiling over about temperature readings used in a 2015 study to show how the planet is warming. The issue is about how readings gathered decades ago were adjusted to try to get a clearer picture of how the Earth's temperature is changing now. Those adjustments have been questioned by some who reject mainstream climate science and have tried to claim there has been a pause in global warming. A January study in a scientific journal used another set of measurements to confirm the readings and prove again that the earth's temperature is rising quickly and that the warming has not paused. But a congressional committee on Tuesday seized on complaints from a retired scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about how the original data were handled to claim the data were falsified even though the retired NOAA scientist they cite does not argue that it was. What is being touted as a scientific scandal is more about data handling than what rising temperatures show, according to phone and email interviews with more than two dozen experts on the issue, including the former government scientist, whose blogging Saturday reignited a debate. The hubbub was sparked when retired NOAA data scientist John Bates claimed in a blog post that his boss, then-director of the National Centers for Environmental Information Thomas Karl, "constantly had his 'thumb on the scale' in the documentation, scientific choices and release of datasets in an effort to discredit the notion of a global warming hiatus" and rushed a study published in the journal Science before international climate negotiations. Bates said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press that he was most concerned about the way data was handled, documented and stored, raising issues of transparency and availability. He said Karl didn't follow the more than 20 crucial data storage and handling steps that Bates created for NOAA. He said it looked like the June 2015 study was pushed out to influence the December 2015 climate treaty negotiations in Paris. Story continues However Bates, who acknowledges that Earth is warming from man-made carbon dioxide emissions, said in the interview that there was "no data tampering, no data changing, nothing malicious." "It's really a story of not disclosing what you did," Bates said in the interview. "It's not trumped up data in any way shape or form." Still, after Bates' blog post, the House Science Committee , a British tabloid newspaper and others who reject mainstream climate science accused NOAA of playing "fast and loose" with land and water temperature data. House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, speaking at a hearing Tuesday, called on Science to retract the 2015 study and blasted NOAA for not being cooperative with his subpoenas. When the journal's publisher Rush Holt, a physicist and former Democratic congressman, said the charges don't support a retraction because the issue is more about data procedures than science, Smith, an attorney, interrupted him and insisted: "They falsified global warming data." The Karl study looked mostly at ocean temperature records several decades old and determined that those older readings skewed too warm when compared to modern monitoring from buoys and other devices because they were taken in ships' engine rooms. He adjusted those old readings down, which makes it clearer that the earth's temperature is rising now. Since then, a new independent study from the University of California, Berkeley looked at the same issue in a different way, and confirmed the Karl calculations. "Not using their data we get the exact same results, both for the ocean record and for the land," said Zeke Hausfather, lead author of the Berkeley study. He called Bates' claims "all about procedural disagreements within NOAA that have very little bearing about our understanding about what's happening to Earth's climate." Marcia McNutt, who was editor of Science at the time the paper was published and is now president of the National Academy of Sciences, praised Bates for wanting to highlight the importance of data archiving, but said his criticisms have little to do with the main part of the paper and chastised the House for using issues of data archiving to try to discredit the 2015 study. "The study has been reproduced independently of Karl et al that's the ultimate platinum test of whether a study is to be believed or not," McNutt said. "And this study has passed." The Associated Press interviewed more than two dozen experts by phone or email. Most agreed with Karl or didn't take a side but said it didn't matter because global warming continues regardless of this latest kerfuffle. Two supported Bates, saying there were serious scientific integrity concerns. As far as the study being rushed, the journal says its records show otherwise. Science's new editor-in-chief Jeremy Berg said it usually takes 109 days between a paper's submission and its publication. The Karl study was received by the journal on Dec. 23, 2014 and published 185 days later, on June 26, 2015. "The paper was not rushed in any way," McNutt said. "It had an exceptional number of reviewers, many more than average because we knew it was on a controversial topic. It had a lot of data analysis." By Radu-Sorin Marinas BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's Social Democrat-led government easily survived a no-confidence motion in parliament on Wednesday, three days after mass street protests forced it into an embarrassing U-turn over a graft decree. Critics said the decree, which also drew rebukes from Romania's Western allies, would have turned back the clock on the fight against corruption in the ex-communist nation of 20 million people. The government rescinded the decree on Sunday. "I do hope that as of today we get back to work," Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told lawmakers before the vote. At least 5,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters late on Wednesday to demand the cabinet's resignation, despite a snowstorm, subzero temperatures and power blackouts. "We exist, we resist," they chanted. Separately, an estimated 200 pro-government protesters gathered outside centrist President Klaus Iohannis' office in support of Grindeanu. Iohannis briefly went outside to talk to them but they refused dialogue. The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of parliament seats after winning a December election. They abstained in Wednesday's vote, when 161 lawmakers backed the no-confidence motion and eight voted against. The government, however, has been badly shaken by the protests, some of the largest in Romania since the 1989 fall of communism, and opposition parties vowed after Wednesday's vote to continue their close scrutiny of the ruling party's actions. One minister resigned last week saying he could not support the decree. Grindeanu said a decision on whether to dismiss Justice Minister Florin Iordache, the decree's architect, would be announced on Thursday. Opposition deputy Catalin Predoiu said of the no-confidence motion: "This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it." "POWERFUL EMOTIONS" Grindeanu said his government would not consider any further initiatives similar to the rescinded decree "that could awake powerful emotions in society without proper and wide debate". The decree would have decriminalised a number of graft offences and effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution for graft. The number of people attending daily protests - which reached a quarter of a million on Sunday - has fallen since the government's climbdown. Parliament must still endorse the government's decision to rescind the graft decree. Social Democrat Party leader Liviu Dragnea, who is on trial in an abuse of office case and could have benefitted from the decree, said the repeal should be discussed and approved in parliament as soon as possible. Earlier on Wednesday the Constitutional Court rejected challenges on procedural grounds brought against the rescinded decree by President Iohannis and the top magistrates' council. The court said it would reconvene on Thursday to consider a separate challenge brought by Romania's ombudsman against the content of the decree. Romania remains one of the poorest and most graft-prone member states of the European Union, which it joined in 2007. (Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Matt Robinson and Gareth Jones) Yeah they dont fuck about! Who else was heavily involved in the building process? Lewis: Warren Munson, definitely. Jack: I feel like Warren should be here really. Warren is Marks younger cousin or nephew and hes an absolute man machine got that Munson blood in him. You could hear him within five minutes of him walking out the back going Oh that needs smashing down and picking up the sledgehammer. Lewis: Oh you want that done do you?, and hed pick up the tools. He knocked down the jersey barrier which was here single handedly with a sledgehammer until two in the morning, if that gives you some idea Harry: He started, realised what hed started and that he had to get it done because it looked a state in the park. He just got himself stuck in after that. Jack: So hes definitely a big piece of the picture, hes done fucking loads and hes just a machine. Hes one of the ones who you know that if you start and youre going until the end then hell be there until whatever time its done by. But mate, theres been so many people Harry: Yeah there has been a huge amount at different points. Its four years, getting on five if you think about it for this to be done. The original owners had all the hardcore delivered, they had a vision to build a pool but their eyes were just way bigger than their budget. Jack: It started off with a big pile of dirt and Carl telling the geezer where to put it, then we thought to get cages you know the motorway ones you see at the side of the road? We got a bunch of them, started to lay it out and got a guy to clean it all up with a mini digger; but he was a bit of a twat, gave a dodgy invoice and fucked it all up. This was all the previous owners Harry: A lot of people used to take advantage of them. So they went, Hold on, if this is costing what it is then how are we going to budget for the rest? We realised we couldnt do it with diggers, so Carl said lets just do it ourselves. We then built a couple of tiny bits, they were alright for a while but that was real early. Jack: It was the first time anyone had built really, I think wed clocked a documentary on Youtube of someone building a DIY skatepark. Lewis: And Urbside, that set things off. Jack: So then we decided we could do it, built a couple of bits, built a couple of more bits and then we decided to actually get stuck in. One guys dad works on sites and he managed to get loads of concrete one time, dropped it off in a pump truck. Harry: He was pouring a load of house fittings and said if he got the opportunity then hed over order and give us a call with as much advance notice as he could. Hed ring me up some days going Someones coming down now, give them 20 quid when they arrive. Some days I was literally on my own, it happened on one of the hottest days of last year. Wed had a couple of rough plans for the underlay but nothing proper; it turned up, we undid the back, threw down a load of sheets of wood and a load of it got dumped. Weve only had one wheelbarrow the whole time, its fucked! I just started throwing it on and trying to get a rough shape. But once we had that rough shape man, it was on we had to get it done. There was some stress on the fact that every year weve kind of done something different, whether that was change the driveway, build extensions, whatever else. We kind of like to reinvent ourselves as best we can, keep it as fresh as possible and bring people in over the winter. Now hopefully next year and in general, people will be down making use of the space that weve got thats never been used before. It makes it feel a lot bigger! Small business owners are feeling particularly good about their prospects in 2017 So much so that the economic outlook has improved by 50 percent since the election. Thats according to the UBS Investor Watch, the quarterly report by UBS Wealth Management Americas. The report reveals the highest levels of investor optimism since the 2008 financial crisis. Key Highlights of the UBS Investor Watch Driven by their optimism, small businesses are planning some big things this year. About 41 percent, for example, are planning to invest more in their businesses. Thirty percent are planning to increase hiring while 55 percent of investors are actively looking for investment opportunities. The message is clear. Small businesses are positive about their future growth, and are showing an optimism not seen for quite some time. After years of caution following the financial crisis, we are finally seeing the tide turn. Investors are more willing to move cash off the sidelines and increase investments, while business owners are set to increase capital spending and hiring, said Paula Polito, Client Strategy Officer of Wealth Management Americas in a press release. If the recent optimism continues, it will bode well for the markets and the economy. President Trumps Regulation Cutting Gets Thumbs Up From Small Businesses There seem some obvious reasons for the optimism. U.S. President Donald Trumps executive order to cut regulations has brought a lot of joy for small businesses. On January 30, 2017, President Trump signed the EO to ease the regulatory burden weighing down Americas small businesses. According to Sameer Aurora, head of Client and Investor Insights for Wealth Management Americas, Investors have high expectations of the new administration, particularly with regard to deregulation, infrastructure spending and tax reform. These expectations are fueling a sharp rise in optimism and prompting investors to put more of their money to work. For the report, UBS Wealth Management Americas surveyed 2,025 U.S. investors. The nickname 'Manchester' was sometimes used to describe Bratislava by the late 19th and early 20th century because of its rapidly booming industry. Font size: A - | A + Have you ever heard of Manchester in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire? - Probably not, because Manchester is and always has been in England. However, this nickname was sometimes used to describe Bratislava by the late 19th and early 20th century because of its rapidly booming industry. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Once a medieval fishing town and later capital and coronation city of the Hungarian Kingdom, it suddenly changed its silhouette and the number of chimneys soon exceeded the number of church towers. The year 1848 is known as the revolutionary year in many parts of Europe. A series of revolts that also struck Slovakia as part of the old fashioned Hungarian kingdom were unmistakably a sign of a transition from feudalism to capitalism - the new era in which capital becomes dominant. Businessmen and factory owners formed a new cast which was able to accumulate wealth without belonging to the nobility or church. These wealthy people in exchange provide opportunities for the workers and contributed to the industrialisation and growth of cities. Cvernovka (Source: Peter Chrenka) 1848 can also be viewed as the milestone marking the industrial revolution in Bratislava. In this year the railway between Bratislava and Vienna was established and the train service, operated by modern steam locomotive between these two cities, began and remains on the same route until this day. This railroad includes original bridges and viaducts from 1848, as well as the first railway tunnel excavated in the former Hungarian monarchy of the same year. It was clear at the time that the traditional animal power of horses was already becoming outdated. Just few years after steam locomotives replaced horses in 1840 on the railway line between The line from Bratislava to Trnava held the record as the very first railway in the monarchy. Horse-train station with its Big Ben like tower is still standing as a unique memorial of this era at the corner of Legionarska Street. Good and modern connections with other parts of the monarchy and rest of Europe were necessary for the upcoming industrialisation. Therefore, the first big factories were founded and began to grow near transport hubs such as Danube harbour and railways. Chemical production has always been among the most important industries in Bratislava. The big and modern Apollo oil refinery started processing the black gold as soon as 1895. It took up the area between Panorama City and Apollo Bridge named after the refinery as a tribute to as many as 200 employees who perished in the bombing of 1944. The refinery and other factories were chosen by the allies as strategic targets which had supported the Nazi war machine. Another very important chemical plant was the dynamite factory founded personally by the inventor of dynamite Alfred Nobel. Entire housing colonies for workers together with the factory were built. During communist times the factory was renamed for ideological reasons to the Jurij Dimitrov Chemical Plant. He was the leader of the communist revolution in Bulgaria. At its peak then Jurij Dimitrov factory employed more than 7,000 people and became by far the biggest employer in Bratislava. After the Velvet Revolution the factory was again renamed to the more neutral name of Istrochem. Today, it has only a handful of employees and most parts of it are slowly turning into ruins and has become an attraction for urban explorers. Since the plants decline, the air quality in Bratislava has become much improved, but the area of 120 hectares, which it covers, remains highly polluted and is one of the biggest environmental issues of the city at present. Cvernovka (Source: Peter Chrenka) Currently however, in contrast to the demise of Istrochem, numerous factories in Bratislava make products for daily use, an example being the textile industry. Textile production has belonged among the most prominent industries in Bratislava, since the very early 20th century. One of these factories, very well preserved but with an uncertain future, is called the Pink Castle by locals and it`s located near Trnavske Myto. It is a wonderfully decorated and very functionally built factory building with a shape similar to Bratislava Castle and has a pink painted facade, hence the nickname. Today, Bratislava is also a popular destination for those who come to enjoy the cheap but good beer in many pubs in the old town. However, not many of them have any clue about the once very famous brewery - Stein, which actually became the 3rd largest brewery in Czechoslovakia after Pilsner and Budweiser in 1970`s. In 2007 after almost 140 years production was stopped and the brewery had to make room for a new housing project with unimaginative name Stein2. Thus, not only a loss for beer lovers, but one of the symbols of Bratislava was permanently gone, lost to posterity. As a compromise between reckless development and preserving valuable industrial heritage, the most notable part of the Stein brewery building, the dome-like roof, will be incorporated in the new project. Stein brewery. (Source: Juro Sikora) Nowadays, there are still some traces of the industrial identity of this city visible but unfortunately some of the most remarkable pieces of architecture are forever gone. But how is this possible? Isn't a renovation of an old factory and its transformation into a fancy loft housing or extraordinary hotel something that we would normally expect in the 21st century? Apparently not, in Bratislava we have been witness to a recent large scale destruction of the industrial footprint and once again, as we saw in history, it has forced a new identity onto the city. Valuable architecture that somehow survived the 1944 bombing and 40 years of Communism is now being turned into dust and memories because we need more cheap office buildings for big corporations and blocks of apartments with often questionable quality and aesthetics. They are not so different from the infamous prefabs built by the communists. I hope that this rather pessimistic conclusion will serve as a wake-up call into action to protect that little which has remained from the old industrial city that definitely has a very unique spirit. In factories we trust! Juro Sikora is one of the guides of Authentic Slovakia, offering guided tours beyond the ordinary. The organisation has distanced itself from his statements, while the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry has cancelled its permission for him to serve in the mission. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled A Slovak observer at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission at the Russian Checkpoints of Gukovo and Donetsk (OM), on the Russian side of the border with Ukraine is publicly presenting his extremist opinions. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The information was first published by blogger Jan Bencik, a laureate of the White Crow award for whistleblowers. A former Slovak soldier, Martin Gutten joked with pro-Russian soldier Mario Reitman about killing Bencik on a Facebook site. He also had scornful comments about his OSCE colleagues, saying they are not Slavs, and described refugees as parasites whom he will kill off, the Sme daily reported. OSCE distanced itself from the inappropriate postings of political views on social media. This posting does not represent an official position of the OSCE and is inconsistent with its internal policies, Natacha Rajakovic of OSCE told Sme. Consequently, the OSCE is reviewing the issue and will follow up administratively as necessary. Observers in the OSCE OM are selected through the same rigorous procedure as all other OSCE mission members. They are required to sign the OSCE Code of Conduct as part of their condition for employment, and go through intensive training, Rajakovic explained. Read also: Read also: Police to check Slovak soldiers in Ukraine Read more Once they join the OM, all observers are required by the OSCE Code of Conduct to serve as international civil servants and to uphold all the values of the OSCE in their professional work. The Code of Conduct also stipulates that they may not represent the interests of their respective countries, and are expected to maintain the highest levels of objectivity, impartiality and professionalism, Rajakovic added. Permission cancelled It is possible Gutten applied for the post in the OSCE mission on his own, via the application form on the internet. Before he took the position, however, he would have needed confirmation from the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry that he met all conditions and there was no reason why he could not serve in the mission, Sme wrote. The Foreign Affairs Ministry shares the OSCEs opinion that Guttens postings are unacceptable and has cancelled its permission for him to serve in the OSCE mission. It is possible that they will withdraw him from the mission, Sme reported. The actions of the Slovak observer in the OSCE mission is at odds with the principles and values supported by Slovakia and the OSCE, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Peter Susko, as quoted by Sme. The former and currently retired soldier wrote on his Facebook profile that he was bored and that as an observer he received a diplomatic passport and higher rank. Security analyst Jaroslav Nad says it is possible that the Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agency had made a mistake. If it monitors Slovak soldiers in Ukraine, it should have known about Guttens contacts, he added for Sme. SIS responded that it fulfills its duties. Though salaries are growing, Slovakia is unable to catch up with more developed countries. Font size: A - | A + Slovakia still lags behind other European countries in terms of salary growth. It would take Slovakia 389 years to catch up with Norway in terms of salaries according to the current pace of growth, for example, and Slovaks will never manage to catch up with the Swiss at this rate, the TASR newswire reported. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement This stems from the comparison of salaries of Slovak employees and their counterparts abroad, the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ) informed. It compared average net monthly incomes of Slovaks and citizens of other European countries. It divided the countries into three groups: advanced (where average net monthly earnings stand at around 3,000, like Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands), developed (with average monthly earnings close to 2,000, like Germany, Austria, and Malta), and emerging (where the average monthly income is somewhat over 700, like Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary). Growth rates of incomes in these groups differ, said Monika Uhlerova, deputy head of KOZ, as quoted by TASR. We arent questioning the fact that average incomes in individual countries are growing, but they are growing at completely different rates. The figures were even alarming in some cases. For example, Slovak incomes only made up some 13 percent of Swiss incomes in 2004, but were even less than 12 percent in 2015, Uhlerova continued, as quoted by TASR. In the case of Norway, the share was slightly over 16 percent in 2004 and 18.5 percent in 2015. Slovak incomes reached 28.78 percent of German ones. Slovak incomes have definitely grown over the last 11 monitored years, but the growth rate isnt fast enough for Slovakia to be able to catch up with the first or second categories of countries anytime soon, Uhlerova said. Meanwhile, Slovakia is currently interesting for some foreign employees, particularly Lithuanians, Romanians and Bulgarians. The average monthly Lithuanian income is 81.41 percent of the Slovak one. Lithuania might catch up with Slovakia in terms of salaries in 10 years, Romania in 18 years and Bulgaria in 22 years, Uhlerova said, as quoted by TASR. Employees from these countries, who are interested in working in Slovakia due to more attractive salaries at the moment, might start returning to their home countries in a few years. Therefore, KOZ wants to push for growth in earnings in Slovakia, as this helps increase consumption and, in the end, supports the economy as well. Our trade unions are currently negotiating within higher-level collective agreements as well as corporate collective agreements, said KOZ head Jozef Kollar, as quoted by TASR. Statistics were impacted mostly by weaker production and Christmas sales. Font size: A - | A + The total export of goods amounted to 5.420 billion in December 2016 with a year-on-year increase by 6.2 percent in December, while the total import of goods rose by 6.8 percent y/y to 5.540 billion. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement As a result, the foreign trade balance was negative, amounting to minus 119.8 million, which is 36.1 million more than in December 2015, the Slovak Statistics Office informed on February 8. The production of domestic industry was reduced especially due to Christmas holidays at the end of the year, which results in lower exports in December. On the other hand, imports increased, particularly to cover Christmas sales, said Lubomir Korsnak, analyst with UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia. Despite the deficit balance in foreign trade we perceive the December statistics positively, Korsnak wrote in a memo. The dynamics of growth in foreign trade turnover kept increasing and indicated strengthening foreign and domestic demand. The volume of exports did not change compared with the previous month and maintained the relatively strong November levels, according to UniCredit Banks calculations. The dynamics of their annual increase sped up from 5.5 percent to 6.2 percent. Moreover, after a relatively weak third quarter of 2016, exports have recorded the quickest growth since the beginning of 2015, Korsnak said. As for the imports, the retail revenues showed that the last Christmas season in Slovak shops belonged to one of the stronger ones. Their impact was mostly on imports in November. The December imports were probably influenced by other factors, Korsnak assumes. Over the twelve months of 2016, the total exports of goods increased by 3.6 percent y/y to 70.118 billion and total imports by 3.1 percent y/y to 66.387 billion. The foreign trade balance was thus in surplus for the year, amounting to 3.731 billion, which is 412.1 million more than the year before. Foreign trade in the final quarter of 2016 also contributed to GDP growth, and similarly to household consumption. On the other hand, the GDP was drawn back by the statistical base effect accompanying public investments, Korsnak said. As for the following months, UniCredit Bank expects foreign trade surpluses will amount to some 4.5-4.7 percent of GDP. During the year, especially in its second half, surpluses will go slightly down, being impacted by the imports of technologies, linked especially to investments in the automotive industry, Korsnak wrote. Published information is misleading and creates a false impression of abusing the post, departing URSO head claims. Font size: A - | A + Jozef Holjencik, who is officially leaving the leading post at the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (URSO), has submitted a criminal complaint on the Dennik N daily. He objects to the story with a published recording of a conversation between him and representatives of the water management companies. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The regulators head submits the criminal complaint concerning untrue statements against Dennik N as a private person, URSO informed in a press release, as quoted by the daily. Holjencik claims that the reporter created a false impression that he had abused his position as URSO head and may defame him. Read also: Read also: Fico: Energy prices to return to 2016 levels across Slovakia Read more The recording is unwarranted, while the statements in the story are misleading and attack his person, he said, adding they interfere with his constitutional right for protection of personality, as well as his civil honour and human dignity including the right of honour in professional circles and seriousness of the position of the offices head, as reported by Dennik N. Holjencik officially leaves the post on February 8, following the scandal with energy prices. SaS submits complaint as well Meanwhile, MPs for the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) Jana Kissova and Karol Galek submitted a criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator of the energy scandal to the General Prosecutors Office. A voice similar to Jozef Holjencik, the representative of the independent and impartial regulatory authority, advised the companies active in network industries how to increase energy prices, the MPs said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. He allegedly also incited the suppliers of water management companies to fraudulent behaviour and machinations, price formation and indirectly conditioned the possibility of increasing the distribution fees by preparing expert opinions from subjects close to him, they added. Moreover, the published recording suggests that the person with the voice similar to Holjenciks does not act in the public interest and is pursuing his own personal benefit. The MPs referred to the fact that many expert opinions were given by the Martin-based company JHS, which Holjencik founded in 1998. They say he may still control the firm, as reported by TASR. As a result, they have requested the launch of a criminal prosecution for abusing the powers of a public official. Better education would help Slovaks understand the people that end up becoming refugees, says Monika Svetlikova. Font size: A - | A + Monika Svetlikova, a coordinator of migrant crisis projects in the NGO, People in Need Slovakia, specialises in migration and often helps out in refugee camps. She describes her recent visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, where the situation remains critical. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The Slovak Spectator (TSS): Why did you travel particularly to Lesbos? Monika Svetlikova (MS): The situation is more critical on the island than on the mainland, because of extremely cold weather and also the number of people who are stuck on the island. The situation is more serious there and the needs of many people there remain unsatisfied. Our main base is in Thessaloniki, but we regularly monitor the situation in Greece and we are in contact with our volunteers and other volunteering organisations, so we inform each other when there is a need for help. That is how it was with Lesbos too. TSS: What does the aid consist of? MS: We brought non-food aid: winter jackets, warm underwear, socks, winter packages with gloves and hats. Living conditions at the camps are notably worse because of the weather. Volunteers working in camps are trying to ensure higher quality and warmer places to stay. They sent refugees to local hotels and other accommodation, like an old army ship. TSS: Is the non-food aid from People in Need Slovakia and other organisations enough? MS: I think when organisations connect their powers it will cover the needs, but of course more could be done. The camps should be insulated, many of the refugees still live in camps. However, the small children or elderly people are located in isoboxes in the camps. But in general, across Greece, people live in tents, regardless if they are young or old. TSS: How many refugees are at Lesbos now? MS: The latest statistics from UNHCR stated about 6,300 refugees, including those living in camps such as Moria and Kara Tepe, alternative accommodation as well as those living in non-formal accommodation. There are around 50,000 refugees living in Greece, 15,000 of them on the islands. TSS: How has the situation changed since 2015? MS: The situation is still critical, but maybe now from another point of view. Even one year ago, there was a large number of refugees coming to the islands, hundreds every day. The island has to bear those people, but also the enormous number of volunteers, who were coming to help the refugees. Since January 2017, about 1,200 people sailed to Greek islands, last year at the same time it was 60,000, so the difference is enormous. At the time, the situation was critical due to the large number of people coming every day and the question of how to provide them with first aid. Now the situation is critical because there are still too many people with regard to the size of the island and the capacity of refugee camps. Some of the people have been there for several months already, awaiting their destiny. They have been there for a long time and so there is some frustration and tension. On Lesbos, in the biggest camp Moria, minor disturbances occur regularly, like protests and strikes. TSS: How do the locals perceive the situation with refugees? MS: Locals attitude to migrants is slowly turning towards the negative because migrants have been there for a long time and there seems to be no progress. People are tired and disappointed about the fact that the situation is not changing. The life of the locals also changed, tourism is disturbed. Some people are annoyed by their situation and also with the poor life of migrants and they dont like the fact that the negative atmosphere is often connected with their homeland and hometowns. TSS: What are the next steps to take, once the cold weather ends? MS: In the case of Moria, the biggest camp in Lesbos, there are attempts to lower the number of people in the camps because there are different groups of people, different nations and naturally, in these conditions conflicts occur. Moreover, the work on asylum requests are ongoing, but slowly. In a particular phase of the request, people are able move to continent. TSS: How do refugees react to new volunteers in the camps? MS: Those who have been in one place for a long time and keep seeing the same faces around them every day are happy when someone new comes. They automatically come to greet and talk to us. Usually these dialogues are about everyday things and questions, not about war, but sometimes it comes to those stories. For me, these are precious moments when meeting the people in the camps. That was the reason why I joined People in Need Slovakia. It was one year ago, after I worked at the Serbian-Croatian border. TSS: Have you ever met with unpleasant comments on your job from your surroundings? MS: Ive never experienced attacks or any comments. Questions, sometimes even reproachful, are more frequent. But I am glad when people ask questions, because it means they are really interested in the answer. People are curious about my personal experience. We also lead educational discussions as an organisation at schools around Slovakia. The kids were also curious, they wanted to know from my personal experience how the refugees are. But there are also negative attitudes against refugees and the migrant topic in general. TSS: Why do you think people are feeling negative about it? MS: Definitely, the problem is fear of the unknown and also because of specific cultural context. Also, Slovak politicians used more aggressive discourse in the election campaign last year which set the course of discussion about refugees. Better education, not only about this case, but generally concerning similar social situations would help to understand people who end up becoming refugees. The most common myth is that too many foreigners live in Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slovakia has not been affected by the mass influx of migrants which Europe has had to face between 2015 and 2016. Despite this, Slovaks in general are not willing to help refugees who really need aid and flee from their countries afraid for their lives. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The negative feelings towards migrants and foreigners result mostly from wrong feelings, myths and disinformation, said Zuzana Vatralova, head of the Bratislava office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) during the discussion held in Bratislava on February 8. I consider it important to destroy these myths as they threaten real people who need help and protection, Vatralova said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. Altogether 93,300 migrants and foreigners with a residence permit were living in Slovakia last year, according to the statistics. This represents about 1.7 percent of the total population, which is the same as the number of inhabitants in Presov. It is the sixth lowest number of foreigners in the EU, Vatralova said, as quoted by TASR. In the Czech Republic, for example, the share is as high as 4 percent, while in Poland they constitute only 0.3 percent. The number of foreigners is increasing in Slovakia every year, but up to 55 percent of them come from EU countries. In this case, however, they are not real migrants, she added. Most foreigners from outside the EU came from the Ukraine 14 percent. Slovakia doesnt have many foreigners, compared with other countries there are only few of them, Vatralova said, as quoted by SITA, adding that the most common myth is there are too many foreigners. The statistics however disprove the claim. Globally, there are a quarter of a billion international migrants in the world. If they created a single country, it would be the fifth most populated state, after China, India, the USA and Indonesia. Their number represents 3.5 percent of the global population. Asylum seekers Foreigners do not burden the budget Slovaks are still afraid mostly of illegal migrants, though only some 2,000 such people were detained in Slovakia last year. Their number is increasing every year but only slowly, Vatralova said, as quoted by SITA. There were only 146 asylum seekers in Slovakia last year, while other countries registered the same number during a single day. Moreover, only 170 people were granted asylum last year, while dozens of others received the so-called subsidiary protection. I want to stress that if Slovaks have the feeling that there are too many asylum seekers and there should be fewer of them, it is not true and we fight an invisible enemy, Vatralova said, as quoted by SITA. Another myth is that foreigners take jobs from the locals, though according to the statistics they mostly take a job in which the locals are not interested. Also the claims that foreigners only burden the state budget are untrue as many of them actually work. This is rather a contribution, she stressed. Another subjective myth is that foreigners commit more crimes. The statistics however suggest that only 1.4 percent of them have committed any crime here, which is much less than the other inhabitants. The foreigners have rather become victims of crimes in past years, Vatralova said, as quoted by SITA. Not even the fear of the spread of diseases by migrants is founded. The state has better knowledge of the health of foreigners than of their own inhabitants. The foreigners have to prove they do not spread any infectious diseases, Vatralova said. The opposition hopes the coalitions nominee Maria Patakyova will be able to criticise the ruling power. Font size: A - | A + Independence, apolitical approach, impartiality and resolution are the main principles the new ombudswoman wants to follow. In a secret ballot, 75 of 140 MPs present supported coalition candidate Maria Patakyova, the professor of commercial law at Comenius University in Bratislava who was nominated by the coalition parties. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Patakyova will replace Jana Dubovcova, who leaves the post of ombudswoman at the end of March. After the secret ballot, Patakyova admitted that many reports prepared by Dubovcova were perceived in a political context by the parliament. I hope the steering wheel in perception of what an ombudsperson is doing will turn, which means that that he/she does good service for the public administration bodies, Patakyova said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. She added she appreciates the work of her predecessor. It will be hard to compare, as everybody has the ambition to perform in their own way. The police raids are a serious area where freedoms are restricted and it is necessary to devote appropriate attention to this, Patakyova said, as quoted by SITA, referring to the topics Dubovcova has been dealing with recently. Read also: Read also: Nominees for ombudsperson on human rights, plans and fascism Read more As well as Patakyova, there were two other candidates running for the post: civic activist and psychologist Janka Siposova, the nominee of the opposition parties Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO-NOVA), who received 41 votes, and teacher and activist Anton Culen, the nominee of the far-right Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS) of Marian Kotleba and non-affiliated MP Peter Marcek, who received only 15 votes. The opposition parties SaS and OLaNO-NOVA hope Patakyova will serve as an ombudswoman for everybody. Im looking forward to collaborating with her, said OLaNOs Erika Jurinova, as quoted by the TASR newswire, adding that she will watch whether she is able to stand up to the current ruling power. Jurinova also pointed to the fact that Patakyova was supported by the opposition deputies. SaS hopes the new ombudswoman will continue in her predecessors work, who has been exhaustingly pointing to violation of peoples rights by the state, as reported by TASR. Representative of the Human Rights League clarified the case that recently stirred anti-migration feeling in Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Afghani man, aged 22, who attacked two men with a knife on February 5 knew his victims, Zuzana Stevulova, chairperson of the Human Rights League, said at a briefing of the European Commission representation to Slovakia about migration on February 8. The two men are also of Afghani origin, and they are former child refugees. She said she knew the background of the case, as she knew the two victims who came to the Leagues office. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The two former child refugees, now adults, tried to talk to the man who owes them money but were stabbed by him instead, Stevulova said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. She added it is important to relate the story correctly and minutely, in order not to allow misinterpretations and rumours to spread around. Police stated that the Afghani man was charged with the crime of attempted bodily harm and also of the misdemeanour of disorderly conduct and dangerous threats, for allegedly attacking two men with a knife. On February 5 at 16:30, in front of a fast-food store in Eisnerova Street, he started a verbal conflict with two men aged 22 and 20, and then attacked them, stabbing both of them and causing wounds with an estimated healing time of seven days. He also threatened them with murder, as Bratislava police spokesperson Lucia Mihalikova informed. Thus, the whole case is about two victims of a crime for me, and nothing more, Stevulova summed up. Head of science academy receives award during US trip. Font size: A - | A + Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) head, Pavol Sajgalik, has been awarded the 2017 ECD Bridge Building Award by the American Ceramic Society. He received the award which had never before been bestowed upon any scientist from central and eastern Europe, in person at Daytona Beach, Florida as part of his working visit to the USA in January, SAV spokeswoman Monika Hucakova told the TASR newswire on February 8. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Every scientist is pleased when someone recognises his work and its not a common thing for a Slovak scientist to be awarded on American soil, so, of course, Im pleased, Sajgalik said, adding that the award will encourage him in his further work. Meanwhile, the SAV head during his working trip to the United states took part in the International Conference on Advanced Ceramics & Composites (ICACC) in Florida, at which he gave a lecture entitled Additive-free Hot-pressed Silicon Carbide Ceramics a Material with Exceptional Properties. The management refuses to comment on the situation. Font size: A - | A + The bargaining that started on January 31 seems to have stalled, as the VW leaderships waits for the two unions to strike an agreement, the TASR newswire wrote. The second round of collective bargaining, on February 8, has brought no progress, chair of the Modern Union Volkswagen, Zoroslav Smolinsky, informed TASR. He claims that the plant organisation of the KOVO VW SK Union is blocking the negotiations by not proving the number of its members as had been agreed in the first round of the collective bargaining process. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The Modern Union was established after a dispute within the original KOVO VW SK Union, between its then-head Smolinsky and Emil Machyna of the nation-wide OZ KOVO umbrella organisation. OZ KOVO decided on dissolving the Volkswagen branch in October 2016, and Smolinsky founded the Modern Union which according to him represents more than 7,000 employees. These two organisations, however, have had several disputes since then, including over property which exceeds one million euros. Moreover, the basic branch, KOVO VW SK Union, cannot prove how many members it has. The chair of the original union, OZ KOVO VW, Branislav Chmurny admits he is not able to tell the precise number of union members but he blames Smolinsky for this, arguing that the latter has withdrawn original documents proving, among other things, the registration of OZ KOVO members. Smolinsky should have given the documents to the Bratislava IV District Court but has not done so at this time, Chmurny told TASR. The company management refuses to comment on the internal issues of the unions. They will make a statement after the collective bargaining has ended, spokesperson of the Volkswagen Slovakia, Lucia Kovarovic Makayova, told TASR. The results of the bargaining will involve more than 10,000 employees. The Modern Union is bringing 11 proposals to the table, including the increase of salary charts by 16 percent, unification of the holiday bonuses with the Christmas ones, increasing the rates of individual bonuses, better remuneration for shift-work, prolonging paid breaks during working hours, and more. However, if the two VW SK unions fail to strike an agreement, the employer will negotiate with the stronger union, asking an arbiter authorised by the Labour Ministry to decide which one that is. 10,000 happy little data points. Machine learning is at its best when theres way too much information for any human to comb through manually, like making high-volume stock trades or surfacing the best posts from hundreds of friends on Facebook. Now one Estonia-based startup, Teleport, is using this idea, coupled with images from Google Street View, to automatically look around cities and see if people will like them based on their lifestyle preferences. In a Medium post, Teleport co-founder Silver Keskkula walks through an example of the process. First, he plots 10,000 randomized points throughout a city, and grabs images taken by Google Street View. Then those images are run through computer-vision algorithms that identify objects, people, and buildings, and describes them in a short sentence. Words are a lot easier to search than images, and the final step is calculating which phrases or words are most common, like a country road or a man riding a skateboard up the side of the road. Keskkulas example focuses on motorcycles: He owns two and is interested in a city that welcomes them. If the AI sees a lot of motorcycles around, its able to predict that the city has a culture of motorcyclists, and then rank it higher as a potential place to move. (Of course, this doesnt take into account pending laws and regulations or the temperament of drivers towards motorcyclists.) Teleport currently allows you to select whether you want to live around parks, safe streets, trees, and other visible markers. The idea of extracting information from Google Street View was inspired by MIT Media Labs StreetScore project, Keskkula writes, where machine learning was used to rank the safety of 3,000 streets in New York and Boston. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: (Repeats Feb. 7 column. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.) * http://tmsnrt.rs/2kCR7MU By Andy Home LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Last month Indonesia rocked the nickel market. This month it is the turn of the Philippines. Indonesia's decision to allow the partial resumption of exports of nickel ore sent the London Metal Exchange (LME) nickel price spiralling to a six-month low of $9,350 per tonne. What Indonesia giveth, the Philippines apparently taketh away. The country's eco-warrior-turned-mining-minister Regina Lopez has ordered the closure of 23 mines and the suspension of five others, most of them nickel producers. In London the price shot up to a three-week high of $10,500 on the news and is currently trading around $10,400. Over the coming weeks nickel's fortunes are likely to be beholden to the uncertain implications of government policy in both countries. Volatility is assured but it will be at least partly mitigated by high stocks of the alloying metal. This, after all, is a market that is struggling to emerge from years of over-supply and resulting inventory build. And while events in both Indonesia and the Philippines are going to be key price drivers for the foreseeable future, they will impact only the most upstream part of a supply chain which is still amply filled at the refined metal stage. MORE UNCERTAINTY Last month's part reversal of Indonesia's 2014 ban on the export of unprocessed nickel ore was not what the market was expecting. And it appears to have been wrong-footed again by the severity of the Philippines' proposed action on its mining sector. Most assumed the environmental audit of the country's mines would punish only a small handful of operators. But, according to research by Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) , the closures would represent around 139,000 tonnes and the suspensions another 34,000 tonnes of annual capacity, equivalent to 7.0 percent and 1.7 percent of world supply respectively. Story continues "The potential production losses from these suspensions and closures is substantially higher than our prior expectations, not just owing to the size of mines affected (...) but also in the length of time that these mines may not be producing." ("Metal Detector", Feb. 2, 2017). Of course, it remains to be seen whether policy becomes reality. Lopez's aggressive campaign against the mining sector is already generating an equally aggressive reaction. Expect weeks if not months of political push-and-shove and court action as operators fight back. It amounts to a doubling-up of political uncertainty because everyone's still trying to work out what are the implications of Indonesia's decision to roll back its ban on nickel ore exports. The details are still confused and confusing. Not all miners will qualify for export shipments. It will depend on whether they are committed to investing in downstream processing capacity, the nature of the ore they generate and on how much of that ore is used within Indonesia itself. But there are tangible signs that some are gearing up to restart production. China Hanking (HKSE: 3788-OL.HK - news) said its Indonesian subsidiary is preparing the ground at its site in Sulawesi and has signed a sales agreement covering "at least 1.5 million wet tonnes of nickel ore containing 1.9 percent or above nickel". Others will surely follow. ORE NOT METAL What will be the net impact on nickel supply of Indonesia's (part) return to the market and the Philippines' mine clamp down? Answers on a postcard. That is precisely what every nickel analyst is trying to calculate right now. But it's important to remember that we're just talking about ore and the flow of ore to China's nickel pig iron (NPI) sector, which converts that ore into feedstock for stainless steel mills. NPI production has fallen from its heights but the sector is still not only operating but starting to be offshored in Indonesia itself. Those with a long memory will remember a time when the consensus thinking was that NPI operators would be out of business at a price below $20,000 per tonne. But they have reduced costs, diversified their ore sourcing to countries such as New Caledonia and experimented with supplementing ore with other forms of nickel. The NPI sector is still in its relative infancy having been born out of nickel's stratospheric climb to above $50,000 per tonne back in 2007 and it is not going to go away any time soon. Its resilience has been a key factor in the global market's excess supply of recent years. The International Nickel Study Group (INSG) estimates a cumulative global supply surplus of 468,000 tonnes over the 2012-2015 period. Much of that surplus is sitting in warehouses registered with the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Right now the two exchanges are holding just over 472,000 tonnes of metal between them. Graphic on LME nickel price and stocks: http://tmsnrt.rs/2kCR7MU TRANSITION NARRATIVE Nickel is a market that is still in transition from chronic supply surplus to deficit. The process started gaining momentum last year. The INSG estimates a global deficit of around 64,000 tonnes over the first 11 months of 2016. But as ever with such transitions, it's a stop-start, slow-fuse process and it's worth noting that LME nickel stocks are once again rising, up by over 11,000 tonnes since the start of January. The double conundrum represented by government action in Indonesia and the Philippines will affect the timing of this transition but only at the margins. At least as important in terms of all that metal sitting in exchange warehouses will be demand. Stainless steel is the primary determinant of nickel demand growth and global output rose strongly by 7.0 percent in the first nine months of last year, according to the International Stainless Steel Forum. Can it maintain that pace this year? And, in particular, can Chinese production keep rising at the same rate, 11.4 percent, it recorded in the first three quarters of 2016? The answer to that question may turn out to have bigger medium-term impact on the nickel price than events in south-east Asia. Because this is not a story of scarcity and looming supply crunch. If it were, the whipsaw price action seen so far this year would look mild by comparison. And the nickel price wouldn't still be gyrating either side of the $10,000 level. (Editing by Susan Thomas) David Perdue, the junior Republican Senator from Georgia, appeared at Yahoo Finances All Markets Summit (AMS) on Thursday and railed against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB is a rogue agency that does not have any oversight here in Congress, said Perdue, a former businessman and CEO of Reebok and Dollar General Stores (DG), who was interviewed remotely at AMS. The CFPB created as part of the 2010 financial regulatory overhaul known as Dodd-Frank enforces protections for consumers primarily in the areas of student loans, mortgages and credit cards. The agency has also taken aim at for-profit colleges. Perdue and other Republicans have attacked the CFPB for supposedly being too powerful and argue that its single director has too much unchecked sovereignty. Since Trumps election, Republicans have moved to chip away at that authority. Last week, Perdue was one of several lawmakers to introduce a bill to stop the agency from implementing a rule that provides protections for consumers of pre-paid accounts. The lawmakers said the rule would stifle growth in the electronic payment marketplace. If the CFPB wants to continue to impose rules and regulations that impact every Americans financial well-being, it must answer to the American people, Perdue said in a statement after the bill was introduced. The CFPB is not the only part of Dodd-Frank that Perdue would like to do away with. When speaking to Yahoo Finance on Wednesday, Perdue said hed like to get rid of minimum capital reserve requirements for smaller, regional banks, which he argued stem the flow of money to small businesses. Referring to the entirety of Dodd-Frank, Perdue said, This thing has got to get fixed and fixed now. Trump is also on board with chipping away at Dodd-Frank. The president has already signed an order that would begin the process for doing away with the so-called fiduciary rule, which mandates that brokers act in the interest of their clients. Trump also signed an order asking the Treasury to review Dodd-Frank rules, but Congress must act to actually change the law. Story continues Asked if Congress could do away with Dodd-Frank this year, Perdue said, Clearly this year we hope to get to some pieces of Dodd-Frank. Dodd-Frank is not the only item on Perdues agenda this year. Just this week, Perdue introduced legislation to pare back legal immigration, cut the number of refugees allowed in the US by half, and eliminate the lottery system for Green cards. Perdue says the plan would cut immigration levels to 637,960, significantly lower than 2015 levels of 1,051,031. When speaking to Yahoo Finance on Wednesday, Perdue contended that relatively few immigrants are skilled workers and noted that our legal immigration is more than double the historical norms of just a few years ago. One item thats not on Perdues to-do list this year: pushing for a so-called border adjustment tax (BAT), which effectively penalizes imports and incentivizes exports. Other Republicans have been pushing for a BAT, which would allow corporations to deduct exports as business expenses but would tax imports at 20%. The BAT tax will come at the expense of companies that rely heavily on imported goods, like the tech and auto industries. But big exporters like defense companies could stand to gain from BAT. Perdue has rejected the BAT and asserted on Wednesday that its a regressive tax grab that hammers lower-income consumers. This is the last thing we need to do, Perdue said. More from Yahoo Finances All Markets Summit. Larry Fink: I see a lot of dark shadows in the market right now The 2017 Outlook: Political uncertainty does not equal market certainty Arconic CEO under attack: Dont take it personally, its just business How Wells Fargos CEO is planning to regain customers trust MLB commissioner: We are reexamining our stance on gambling The EU faces a looming crisis which could threaten the sustainability of the eurozone as the International Monetary Fund has warned Greeces debts are on an explosive path, despite years of attempted austerity and economic reforms. Global financiers at the IMF are increasingly unwilling to fund endless bailouts for the eurozones most troubled country, passing more of the burden onto the EU at a time when Germany does not want to keep sending cash to Athens. The assessment opens up a fresh split with Europe over how to handle Greeces massive public debts, as the IMF called on Europe to provide significant debt relief to Greece despite Greeces EU creditors ruling out any further relief before the current rescue programme expires in 2018. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Eurogroup President repeated that position on Tuesday, saying there would be no Greek debt forgiveness and dismissing the IMF assessment of Greeces growth prospects as overly pessimistic. "It's surprising because Greece is already doing better than that report describes," said Mr Dijsselbloem, who chairs meetings of eurozone finance ministers, adding that Greece was on track for a pretty good recovery at the moment. Greek general government debt 2015 The renewed divisions over how to handle the Greek debt crisis has raised fresh questions over whether the IMF will be a full participant in the next phase of the Greek rescue a key condition for backing from the German and Dutch parliaments. As Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, fights a tough reelection battle, Germany is particularly reluctant to send funds directly to Greece, with populist parties in Germany arguing that the payments amount to an unfair bailout from hard-working Germans to less deserving Greeks. The IMF split came as Mrs May last night comfortably defeated a Brexit rebellion in the Commons as MPs rejected Labour plans to give Parliament a "meaningful" vote on the terms of a final deal. Story continues Despite suggestions that up to 30 Tory MPs could defy their party whip and back the Labour amendment just seven chose to do so. Mrs May stemmed the rebellion after the Government pledged to hold a vote in Parliament on the deal before it is sent to the European Parliament. However ministers said that MPs would have to "take or leave it", meaning that Mrs May is prepared to walk away from Europe without a deal if Parliament rejects it. A fresh crisis over Greek debt could be triggered as soon as in July when Greece is due to repay some 7bn euros to its creditors money the country cannot pay without a fresh injection of bailout cash. Greek General Government Debt GFN Beyond the long-running concerns over Greek debt, Europe is currently locked in a fierce internal struggle over how to refound the European Union in the wake of Brexit and the apparent hostility now emanating from White House. Mrs Merkel, the German chancellor, acknowledged the calls for change from within the EU yesterday while on a trip to Poland, but said she would argue that the EU should proceed very cautiously on the question of treaty change as it faced down a growing number of existential threats Reluctant EU members, led by Poland, are calling for a return to the union's founding principles, asking for a fundamental overhaul of treaties that would return power back to nation states. An EU concept paper launched last week ahead of the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Treaty of Rome next month has deepened divisions after it emerged that it did not contain a single mention of the member states, only the EU institutions, according to a senior diplomatic source. Greek GDP has started to grow, expanding by an estimated 0.4 per cent last year, but it is on a very weak path. IMF economists expect the country to grow at less than 1 per cent per year over the long-term, which is too low for it to pay down its debts. That means Greeces public debt remains highly unsustainable, despite generous official relief already provided by its European partners, the IMF believes. Greek General Government Debt Restructuring Even if the country successfully implements all of its planned financial and economic reforms which has been a struggle so far its debt is projected to fall to from 179pc of GDP a year ago to 160pc of GDP by 2030 but become explosive thereafter. Greece cannot be expected to grow out of its debt problem, even with full implementation of reforms, the IMF warned on Tuesday. Despite Eurogroup protestations that the Greek bailout was sustainable, the IMF estimates that by 2060 its debts will amount to a crushing 275 per cent of GDP. The IMF said progress to date in turning the crisis around has been significant but also acknowledged that the deep cuts to public services and pensions had come at a high cost to society, reflected in declining incomes and exceptionally high unemployment. Unemployment is currently still stuck at above 23 per cent. The IMF is very clear about who it believes should give Greece more money to try to turn this situation around. Greece cannot restore debt sustainability through its efforts alone and needs significant debt relief from its European partners, the IMF said. Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos said the IMFs report fails to do justice to the strength of the economic recovery and the improvement in the governments books. The IMF also gives a misleading representation of the governments reform efforts, he said. BERLIN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Germany's DIHK Chambers of Commerce said on Wednesday that Britain's vote last June to leave the European Union had hit business, and that trade between the two countries fell by 3 percent last year. "Trade with the United Kingdom has already suffered a significant blow," DIHK Managing Director Martin Wansleben told a news conference. He added that possible plans by U.S. President Donald Trump to introduce protectionist measures had not yet affected German order books. (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Paul Carrel) Renewable energy subsidies such as the feed-in tariff for solar power are ultimately paid by consumers through levies on energy bills. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures/Corbis/Getty Images MPs have criticised ministers for their shambolic failure to regularly spell out the impact of government green policies on household energy bills. The Commons public accounts committee said the government had missed its commitment to publishing annual reports on how consumer bills were affected by subsidies to support solar and wind power. The Department of Energy and Climate Change made the pledge in July 2014, but has not given an update on the implications for householders since November that year. Renewable energy subsidies such as the feed-in tariff for solar power are ultimately paid by consumers through government levies on energy bills. Either theyre trying to hide something or theyre incompetent. Its not on, because it affects both the [energy industry] supply chain and consumers, said Labour MP Meg Hillier, the committees chair. If it was taxes, wed all be looking at it much more closely but its still money out of peoples pockets and its not acceptable. Its just shambolic really. In a report published on Tuesday, the committee said officials should disclose the costs and savings from the green policies so consumers could decide if they were good value for money. An overspend on renewable energy subsidies due to so much green energy being deployed is forecast to push the average household bill 17 higher than it would have been in 2020. The committee said the overspend reflected a culture of optimism bias among officials at the department, now part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. A BEIS spokewoman said: The government is committed to helping ordinary working people keep more of what they earn and supporting households with the cost of living. Sam Hall, researcher at the thinktank Bright Blue, welcomed the call for greater transparency. One area where more clarity is needed is the cost to consumers of excluding the cheapest renewable energy sources, onshore wind and solar, from competing for fixed-price contracts, he said. Story continues Hillier said that even if the government acquiesced to the committees demand of publishing a report in April, it would only be a partial one. For example, it would not include the 378m consumers will pay via their bills for backup power subsidies next winter. The committee dismissed a BEIS report last November, which it said did not break down the impacts of policies to a household level, and did not show the savings that policies could bring, such as reducing consumers exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices. The report came as the energy regulator announced details of an energy price cap from 1 April for about 4m households on prepayment meters. Such coin- and token-operated meters are mostly used in rental properties and for customers who have fallen behind on their payments. Ofgem estimated the cap would save people on prepayment tariffs up to 80 a year on energy, bringing their dual fuel bill down to around 1,067. That would leave those households paying essentially the same as direct debit customers on the worst, most expensive deals, known as standard variable tariffs. Consumer groups and switching sites welcomed the protections for some of the poorest energy users. For years prepayment meter customers have been paying more for the same gas and electricity as other customers, whilst also receiving a second-class service from their supplier, said Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice. There are only about 30 prepayment tariffs, compared with about 90 for direct debit customers. Martin Lewis of personal finance site MoneySavingExpert.com said the cap was a welcome sticking plaster but suggested people on prepayment meters should be able to access all tariffs if they paid a small surcharge. All the cheap deals offered are for direct debit, and they can be 300-400 a year cheaper than prepay prices for someone on typical use, he said. That is a national disgrace, because most of the poorest people in our society have prepayment meters the most potent poverty premium possible. The price cap, one of the recommendations by the competition regulator after its investigation into the energy market, will stay in place until the end of 2020 when all the UKs homes are expected to have been switched to smart meters. The limit comes just days after npower raised its prices by 109 for a typical customer, and amid reports that British Gas was preparing a similar rise. A spokesman for the company, the UKs biggest energy supplier, said it did not speculate on future pricing. Ofgem recently said it saw no excuse for the big six energy suppliers to raise prices. WASHINGTON Seeking to derail North Koreas drive for nuclear weapons, Republican and Democratic senators set aside their partisan differences Wednesday to unanimously pass legislation aimed at starving Pyongyang of the money it needs to build an atomic arsenal. The Senate approved the sanctions bill 96-0 after lawmakers repeatedly denounced Pyongyang for flouting international law by pursuing nuclear weapons. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said for too long North Korea has been dismissed as a strange country run by irrational leaders. Its time to take North Korea seriously, Menendez said. The Senate bill, authored by Menendez and Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., targets North Koreas ability to finance the development of miniaturized nuclear warheads and the long-range missiles required to deliver them. The legislation also authorizes $50 million over the next five years to transmit radio broadcasts into North Korea, purchase communications equipment and support humanitarian assistance programs. The legislation comes in the wake of Pyongyangs recent satellite launch and technical advances that U.S. intelligence agencies said the reclusive Asian nation is making in its nuclear weapons program. Gardner said the Obama administrations policy of strategic patience with North Korea has failed. The situation in the Korean peninsula is at its most unstable point since the armistice, said Gardner, referring to the 1953 agreement to end the Korean War. The House overwhelmingly approved North Korean sanctions legislation last month. While there are differences in the two bills, Sen. Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he does not expect any difficulty in producing a final measure. The House sent the Senate a bill that was very strong and weve been able to improve it, said Corker, a Tennessee Republican. I think theyll be happy with those improvements. GOP senators and presidential candidates Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida rushed back from the campaign to vote, but one presidential hopeful didnt make it. Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont missed the vote. He issued a statement expressing his support for the legislation. Also missing the vote were Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill. North Korea on Sunday launched a long-range rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite into space. The launch, which came about a month after the countrys fourth nuclear test, was quickly condemned by world leaders as a potential threat to regional and global security. Washington, Seoul and others consider the launch a banned test of missile technology. That assessment is based on Pyongyangs efforts to manufacture nuclear-tipped missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland; the technology used to launch a rocket carrying a satellite into space can be applied to fire a long-range missile. In the annual assessment of global threats delivered to Congress on Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper said North Korea has expanded a uranium enrichment facility and restarted a plutonium reactor that could start recovering material for nuclear weapons in weeks or months. Both findings will deepen concern that North Korea is not only making technical advances in its nuclear weapons program, but is working to expand what is thought to be a small nuclear arsenal. U.S.-based experts have estimated that North Korea may have about 10 bombs, but that could grow to between 20 and 100 by 2020. Clapper said Pyongyang has not flight-tested a long-range, nuclear-armed missile but is committed to its development. North Korea already faces wide-ranging sanctions from the United States and under existing U.N. resolutions is prohibited from trading in weapons and importing luxury goods. The new legislation seeks additional sanctions both mandatory and at the discretion of the president against the government of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and those who assist it. It would require the investigation and punishment of those who knowingly import into North Korea any goods or technology related to weapons of mass destruction; those who engage in human rights abuses, money laundering and counterfeiting that supports the Kim regime; and those who engage in cyber-terrorism. The bill also bans foreign assistance to any country that provides lethal military equipment to North Korea, and targets Pyongyangs trade in key industrial commodities. The White House director for Asian affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, told reporters Wednesday that discussions are continuing at the U.N. Security Council to impose new sanctions on North Korea, and the U.S. is considering other unilateral measures. He did not elaborate on what those measures might be. The principal action the Obama administration has taken to date in response to the nuclear and rocket tests has been to start discussions with close ally South Korea on deploying a new missile defense system. ___ Associated Press writers Donna Cassata and Matthew Pennington contributed to this report. BEIRUT The Khoja familys arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport Tuesday night will mark the end of an odyssey they feared they would never complete. Beginning three years ago in the Syrian city of Aleppo, it has taken them through streets patrolled by snipers and across a militarized border where guards shoot to kill. It has taken them through three years eking out a living in Turkey as Syrias war killed hundreds of thousands and turned their old street into piles of shattered stone. And last week, just when they thought they were finally safe, it left them trapped in Istanbul after one of the Trump administrations most contentious decisions to date. Their bags had been packed for a flight when the White House announced on Jan. 27 a ban on Syrian refugees entering the United States. At first I thought it was a joke, that she was joking with me, said Mahmoud Khoja, 58, remembering the phone call telling them their flights had been canceled. I just froze. Tuesday night, after a week in which courts have suspended the bans over questions of their legality, Khoja and his family will arrive in New York as another court decides whether President Donald Trumps ban should be reinstated. Amid the largest refugee crisis since World War II, families like the Khojas represent just the tiniest fraction of a human exodus encompassing the rich and poor of every faith. And despite the political debates in the United States and Europe, most Syrian refugees will never leave the Middle East. After almost six years of war, Turkey is hosting at least 2.8 million refugees. In Lebanon, at least a million. Fewer than 17,000 reside in the United States. Families approved for resettlement in the United States have undergone up to two years of security vetting by multiple international and government agencies. They have also been identified as those in the greatest need and priority is given for victims of torture, women at risk of abuse, and families in need of serious medical and psychological treatment. In our reporting from the Middle East, we have covered some of the reasons Syrians are fleeing. In Aleppo, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. In the cities of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, it is the iron-fist of the Islamic State. And across areas held by the Syrian government, it is sheer terror at the torture on might face in jail. With the federal appeals courts decision looming, another family thousands of miles away in Cairo will be waiting to learn if their own flight to Chicago will go ahead this time. Speaking from his barren apartment in Cairos Gesr el Suez neighborhood, Samer El Noury, 37, still refuses to believe that his family can now start a new life in America. Five years after fleeing the Syrian capital, Damascus, their original flight was canceled, and now there is nothing left for them in Cairo. Their furniture has been sold. The summer clothes have been given away. If I dont travel tonight, I dont want to go to the United States anymore, he said. Id rather go to some other country. And if the family succeeds, have their feelings changed about the United States? Most American people are kind and are not racist, he said. So I am not going to judge the whole country because of one person. Video: Vetted then blocked: Will this Syrian family make it to their final destination? The Khoja family was supposed to arrive to New York on January 30th. Rutgers Presbyterian Church members were planning to welcome them. But President Trumps executive order halting the entry of Syrian refugees to the U.S. left them stranded in Istanbul as they tried to figure out whether coming to America was still possible. (Dalton Bennett, Ahmed Deeb / The Washington Post) Short URL: http://wapo.st/2jZSkAI Embed code: First lady Melania Trump settled her defamation lawsuit against a Maryland blogger, who agreed to apologize to the Trump family and pay her a substantial sum, her attorneys said Tuesday. I posted an article on August 2, 2016 about Melania Trump that was replete with false and defamatory statements about her, the blogger, Webster Tarpley, said in the statement provided by Trumps attorneys. Tarpley, 71, could not be reached for comment by phone or email. His attorneys, Danielle Giroux and John Owen, confirmed that a settlement had been reached. The bloggers article in August reported about unfounded rumors that Melania Trump once worked as a high-end escort and stated that Trump may have suffered a nervous breakdown after her speech at the Republican National Convention. I had no legitimate factual basis to make these false statements and I fully retract them, Tarpley said in the statement. I acknowledge that these false statements were very harmful and hurtful to Mrs. Trump and her family, and therefore I sincerely apologize to Mrs. Trump, her son, her husband and her parents for making these false statements. Neither Trumps attorneys at Harder, Mirell & Abrams based in Beverly Hills, nor Tarpleys attorneys at Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman would provide the settlement amount. No one answered the front door of Tarpleys Gaithersburg townhouse, where he operates the blog tarpley.net. As a blogger and author, Tarpley for years has advanced often unorthodox views. The Princeton University graduate has called former president Barack Obama a puppet of Wall Street and labeled the 9/11 attacks a false-flag operation. On his blog Tuesday, he didnt write about the settlement. Instead, over recent days he has covered developments in the Trump administration and linked to a podcast titled: The Present as History: Comparing the Current Wave of Self-Destructive Anti-Establishment Politics with the Crisis of the Florentine Renaissance Under Savonarola at the End of the 1400s; Will American Civilization End Up on the Bonfire of the Vanities? Trumps attorneys sued Tarpley on Sept. 1 in the jurisdiction where he lives, Montgomery County, Md. The attorneys also named as defendants the online Daily Mail, which published a similar article in August. Trump had signaled that the lawsuit was important to her. Between the election and inauguration, she came to a scheduling conference Dec. 12, the kind of routine court matter that often is attended only by attorneys. At the time, Charles Harder, her attorney, said, Trump was not required to attend the court conference, but chose to do so to meet the judge, meet opposing counsel and show her commitment to the case. In recent weeks, Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Sharon Burrell issued two key rulings in the litigation. One related to claims against the online Daily Mail. Trumps attorneys had argued that although the publication was based in New York, it did business in Maryland by virtue of its readers in the state. (The publication is also related to the British Daily Mail print tabloid, which published the same story as the online Daily Mail.) But Burrell ruled Maryland was not the correct venue and tossed out the online Daily Mail portion of the lawsuit. Trumps attorneys have since refiled their online Daily Mail claims in New York. A second key ruling by Burrell denied efforts by Tarpleys attorneys to dismiss all claims against him. His attorneys had argued Tarpley had not defamed Trump because he was merely passing on unsubstantiated rumors and opinions, and that Trumps claims against him were filed to try to curb his efforts to write about her. Burrell said it was premature to dismiss the lawsuit on those claims. At this stage of the litigation, she said from the bench on Jan. 27, there is nothing to support Mr. Tarpleys belief that the lawsuit was brought in bad faith or that the lawsuit was intended to inhibit Mr. Tarpleys exercise of his rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Washington Posts Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report. DENVER Colorado Republicans launched their opening attack on the health insurance exchange Tuesday. Just dont call it an attack on Obamacare. Colorado Republicans sounded strikingly different than in years past when talking about their proposal to abolish the state-run health insurance exchange, called Connect For Health Colorado . Instead of tying the exchange to the federal health care law, or Obamacare, Republicans bristled at suggestions that the move aims to undo it. The bill does not repeal anyones insurance policies, insisted Sen. Jim Smallwood, a Parker Republican and insurance agent who sponsored the bill. Its not an attempt to indict former President Obama or his legacy. But Democrats consider the bill a broadside attack on the federal Affordable Care Act. The measure passed on a 3-2 party-line vote, with both Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee in opposition. Isnt this premature? asked Sen. Lois Court, D-Denver. Court argued that Colorado shouldnt dismantle the exchange with no clue what the federal government will do to change the federal health law. About 100 protesters rallied before the hearing to urge lawmakers to retain the exchange. The protesters personal health problems and talked not about the Connect For Health exchange, but about their need for health insurance. I dont know what Im going to do if I lose my health care, and honestly, Im terrified, said Reyna Ulibarri of Denver. It was a dramatic turnaround from a few years back, when Colorado set up Connect For Health. Back in 2011, it was Democrats and not Republicans who chafed at connections between the exchange and the federal health law. This year, it is Colorado Republicans who are frustrated by lumping the two together. Sen. Owen Hill, a Colorado Springs Republican, even blasted his colleagues in Washington by deriding some of the clown show thats going on over there with this health law. Opponents who packed the hearing werent convinced. I understand this bill is about the exchange and not the ACA, but the two are inextricably intertwined, said Howard Paul. Other opponents cited the bills futility. Democrats control the state House and governors office, meaning the bill faces long odds. Its just another paper-shuffling operation, said Ed Shackelford of the Colorado Senior Lobby. ___ This story has been corrected to remove an erroneous reference to Colorado Search and Rescue. ___ Kristen Wyatt can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt A day after Melania Trump filed a lawsuit accusing a British news company of hurting her ability to build a profitable brand, her representatives issued a statement saying that the first lady has no intention of using her public position for personal gain. It is not a possibility, said a statement issued simultaneously Tuesday by a spokeswoman for Melania Trump and a law firm representing her. Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted. The lawsuit filed Monday in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan says that the first ladys ability to sell Melania brand jewelry and other goods had been damaged at a critical time by a defamatory news story. The suit alleges that an article published in August falsely claimed that she once worked for an escort service and that the assertion hurt her ability to build multimillion dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. The suit against Mail Media, the owner of the Daily Mail, says the article caused Trumps brand, Melania, to lose major business opportunities. The complaint said the article had damaged her unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to launch a broad-based commercial brand during this period. Neither the lawyer who filed the suit, Charles Harder of Beverly Hills, nor the White House responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit did not detail a specific plan by Trump to market her products during her tenure as first lady but mentioned that her reputation had suffered as she is experiencing a multi-year term of elevated publicity. The suit also said the Daily Mail article impugned her fitness to perform her duties as first lady. A similar suit had been filed in September against Mail Media and a local blogger in Maryland. A Maryland judge recently dismissed the case against the Daily Mail on jurisdictional grounds. On Tuesday, the law firm representing the first lady said she had settled with the Gaithersburg blogger, Webster Tarpley, who agreed to apologize and pay her a substantial sum, according to the law firm representing her. The firm, Harder, Mirell & Abrams based in Beverly Hills, declined to provide the settlement amount. The Daily Mail article was eventually retracted with a statement from the news organization that it didnt intend to state or suggest that Mrs. Trump ever worked as an escort or in the sex business. The original article provided denials from Trumps spokesman. But the lawsuit cites significant emotional and economic damage and asks for compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million. Mail Media, in Maryland court filings, responded that the article was acceptable because it discussed allegations that had been disseminated about the then-potential first lady, and the impact even false rumors could have on the presidential race. The new suit comes as Melania Trump continues to shy away from the spotlight, taking an unusually low-profile approach thus far to her role as first lady. She has continued to live in New York, and has moved slowly to hire a White House staff. The language in the suit drew criticism immediately. Richard Painter, a White House ethics counsel under former president George W. Bush and a critic of President Donald Trumps decision to retain ownership of his real estate and branding empire while in office, said he was troubled by the clear suggestion in the suit that Melania Trump intended to make money from her public role. He said as drafted it would appear to be an abuse of public office for private gain by the Trumps. On Tuesday, Painter said the new statement from the White House and the California lawyer directly contradict the claims made in the complaint and make the initial complaint misleading. It should be immediately amended, he said. Painter, a professor of legal ethics, is participating in a lawsuit claiming that President Trumps relationship with his company violates a constitutional provision barring presidents from taking money or gifts from foreign governments. RICHMOND, Va. Virginias Republican-controlled Senate moved to claw power away from the governor on Tuesday, passing a proposed constitutional amendment that would enable legislators to veto regulations created by the executive branch. Under the measure, any regulations enacted by state agencies could be undone by a simple majority vote of the House and Senate. Supporters said the amendment, proposed by Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier, and similar to one passed earlier this year in the House, is needed to combat regulatory overreach that they described as pervasive in Richmond and Washington. Donald Trump won the presidency fueled, in part, by this feeling that regulatory agencies have begun to take over and run the government, said Sen. Richard Black, R-Loudoun. There are unelected bureaucrats who enact their own laws without any input from the legislature, Black said. It diminishes the power of voters to influence their government. Democrats called the resolution a risky maneuver that would shake up the balance of power between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. If governors overreach, the courts and legislature can rein them in, said Sen. George Barker, D-Fairfax. I think it is highly dangerous for the balance of power for the legislature to step into the executive role, he said. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the measure would have to clear both chambers this year and next, then win approval from voters. Governors do not have veto power over such amendments. But that did not stop Brian Coy, a spokesman for Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D, from weighing in. The Governor opposes these needless legislative attempts by the General Assembly to inject itself both into the executive and judiciary branches, Coy said. It will result in lobbyists and special interests being able to block administrative health and safety rules simply by donating to the right legislators campaign. The Senate passed the measure on crossover, the mid-point of this years 46-day session and the deadline for legislation to pass out of the chamber where it originates. Any legislation not voted out of a chamber is considered dead for the rest of the legislative session. Also squeaking out of the Senate on a 21-19, party-line vote was a Republican-backed constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to non-violent felons. Democrats opposed the measure because violent felons would have to apply to the governor to have their rights restored and have to wait five years after completing their sentences and paying any restitution, court costs and fees. The measure, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, R-James City, set off a debate that was unusually heated for what has been a low-key session. Democrats saw it as a step backwards because McAuliffe has been using executive action to automatically restore rights to violent and non-violent felons alike without requiring payment of fees and restitution. They said the state explicitly targeted blacks when it included felon disenfranchisement in the 1902 constitution and compared the fee-payment requirement to a poll tax. Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Portsmouth, called the resolution a cynical, dishonest and disingenuous proposal. We will not be going backwards on this issue. Republicans took offense, with Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke, rising to note that Politifact had debunked the claim that felon disenfranchisement had its origins in the Jim Crow era. He said the state constitution disenfranchised felons in 1830 before blacks had the right to vote in Virginia. It was a law-and-order provision, he said. Norment blasted Democrats for opposing his measure after supporting a similar one in 2013, which also required payment of fines and applied only to non-violent felons. I understand the comments made if you dont like the bill or you feel bent over because of the governors pressure on you, but dont give me these spurious arguments that are completely contrary to the intent of this bill, he said. Dont invoke what happened in 1902 to try to stir up some emotions on this thing. Bills that were killed for the remainder of the legislative session include ethics legislation that would prohibit candidates from making personal use of campaign funds and all bills prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination in employment and housing. Also dead is the so-called bathroom bill, which would have required people to use the public bathroom that corresponds to the sex listed on their birth certificate, as opposed to their gender identity. This is a sampling of legislation that is still pending: Redistricting The Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a redistricting commission. Guns The House and Senate passed bills that would allow domestic violence victims to take gun-safety classes for free. Both chambers also passed legislation allowing anyone covered by a protective order to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Immigration The House passed a Republican-sponsored bill that would grant drivers licenses to some non-citizens currently prohibited from holding them. Those include foreigners who have been victims of human trafficking and those with pending petitions for asylum or refugee status. Education The House as approved a bill requiring schools to inform parents about any instructional materials involving criminal sexual assault. Voting The House passed a bill requiring anyone registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship. Abortion and birth control The House passed a bill that would de-fund Planned Parenthood. The House passed a bill allowing women to receive a year-long supply of birth control instead of having to go back to the pharmacy every one to three months. Pornography The House has passed a resolution declaring pornography a public health hazard. Fracking/Freedom of Information The House has passed legislation that would exempt gas companies from having to disclose certain information about chemicals pumped into the ground for fracking. Under the Freedom of Information Act, the firms would have to disclose the names of the chemicals, but not their concentrations. Ticket resales House and Senate have passed bills that would expand the rights of consumers to give away or resell tickets to concerts and sporting events on their own, as opposed to going through the original issuer such as Ticketmaster. . Shannon Hudson has no children in the public education system, but she still took the time to vote in the school board election this afternoon. Its really important to stay involved in local government, said Hudson, a former teacher, standing outside the Fiesta Del Norte shopping centers polling location on San Mateo Boulevard. This is where our voices really do get heard. This is where we get to make the most difference for our own community. While most school board elections tend to draw small turnouts, interest has been much higher this time around. Already, 8,838 people have participated in early voting, exceeding the total number of voters who cast ballots during the last school board election in 2015. That year, turnout was a measly 3.7 percent 6,567 people voted out of an eligible 174,969. And only 1,435 of those voters participated in early voting, meaning about six times as many voted early in the 2017 election. It remains to be seen whether that rush of early voters translates into high turnout today. Thirty-two polling locations visit bernco.gov for a complete list of sites will be open until 7 p.m. tonight. At stake are four seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education and five on the Central New Mexico Community College Governing Board. The field is large 19 people are running in the APS race and nine in CNM with sharp divides on hot button topics like transgender student policies, Common Core curriculum and third-grade retention. Cameron Stoker, father of a first grader and a third grader who attend Griegos Elementary School, hopes his vote will impact his childrens education. Because the turnout is low, its important to go (to the polls), he said. In APS, two incumbents are seeking re-election: board president Dave Peercy, in District 7, representing the far Northeast Heights, and board vice president Lorenzo Garcia, in District 3, representing the North Valley and Downtown. Peercy will face three challengers, while Garcia is up against four. A new board member will represent District 5, the West Mesa, as incumbent Steven Michael Quezada is now serving on the Bernalillo County Commission and did not seek a second term on the school board. The four candidates vying for District 5 have never served in elected office. The final APS race, District 6, includes a former board member, Paula Maes, who lost to incumbent Don Duran in 2013. Duran is not running for re-election to represent the Northeast Heights and East Mountain areas, leaving his seat open for one of the six contenders. The APS board is made up of seven members who serve four-year terms, setting district policy and hiring the superintendent. Five seats are open on the CNM governing board. Michael DeWitte, the current chairman of the board, did not pursue re-election representing District 7, which includes the eastern fringes of Albuquerque and the Joseph M. Montoya campus, and two candidates are vying for the seat. District 1, the West Side campus area, District 4, the South Valley campus area, and District 5, central Albuquerque and the CNM main campus area, each have two candidates in the running. The District 3 race is not contested. Board member Thomas Swisstack, 70, former mayor of Rio Rancho, is guaranteed re-election to represent District 3, the Rio Rancho campus area. CNMs seven governing board members hire the college president. Three federal appellate judges on Tuesday lobbed critical inquiries at those challenging and defending President Donald Trumps controversial immigration order whose immediate fate now rests with the court. The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit aggressively questioned a Justice Department lawyer about what he considered the limits on the presidents power and what evidence Trump relied upon in temporarily barring refugees and other citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. But the panel similarly interrogated Washington states solicitor general, who is challenging the presidents directive, over what evidence he had to demonstrate religious discrimination and whether a lower-court judges freeze on the ban was too broad. The court said it expects to make a decision on the matter probably this week, and Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland promised rapid consideration. The ruling could affect tens of thousands of travelers whose visas were revoked by the initial executive order, then restored after U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle put a nationwide stop to it. The issue of whether the order is allowed to remain in place while legal challenges continue is likely to end up at the Supreme Court. But it will be harder for the Trump administration to prevail at the high court if the appeals court rules that a nationwide halt is warranted. The broad legal question is whether Trump acted within his authority in blocking the entry of people from Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Syria and Yemen, or whether his order essentially amounts to a discriminatory ban on Muslims. The judges must also weigh the harm the ban imposes and whether it is proper for them to intervene in a national security matter on which the president is viewed as the ultimate authority. Justice Department lawyer August Flentje argued Tuesday that the order was well within the presidents power, asserting that Congress and a previous administration had designated the seven affected countries as having problems with terrorism albeit in a different context. Some of the judges, though, seemed wary of that claim. Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked Flentje if the government had pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism. Judge Richard Clifton, a President George W. Bush appointee, noted that the government already had processes in place to screen people coming from those countries and asked, Is there any reason for us to think that theres a real risk or that circumstances have changed such that theres a real risk? The president determined that there was a real risk, Flentje responded. Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued that the government was essentially asking the court to abdicate its role as a check on the executive branch, and he asserted that reinstating the ban would throw the country back into chaos. But Purcell, too, faced critical questions. Clifton said that he was having trouble understanding why were supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected a key point, as the state is trying to demonstrate that Trumps order is intentionally discriminatory and runs afoul of the Constitution. Purcell pointed to public statements from Trump and his allies. Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, for example, recently said: So 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. Flentje disputed that the order is a Muslim ban, and he said the judges should limit their consideration to the executive order itself. It is extraordinary to enjoin the presidents national security determination based on some newspaper articles, and thats what has happened here, he said. Whichever side loses is sure to take the fight to the Supreme Court. That traditionally has been solid ground for presidents. Justices often defer to a president on matters of immigration and national security, because of his constitutional powers and an additional grant of authority from Congress. The politically divisive fight comes as the Supreme Court remains shorthanded following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago; the four Democratic-appointed liberals and four Republican-appointed conservatives often split. Trump said at a White House event Tuesday that he was prepared to elevate the dispute as needed. Were going to take it through the system, he told reporters. Its very important for the country. . . . Well see what happens. We have a big court case. Were well represented. Flentje did offer something of a compromise for the judges Tuesday, saying they could limit the lower-court judges ruling to foreigners previously admitted to the country who were abroad now or those who wished to travel and return to the United States in the future. Purcell countered that officials had not explained how they would practically implement such an order. In addition to Clifton and Friedland, the case was heard by William C. Canby Jr., who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter. The hearing was conducted via telephone, with Friedland listening from San Jose, Canby from Phoenix and Clifton from Honolulu. If those judges turn down the administrations appeal and the matter moves immediately to the Supreme Court, the argument would be only on the temporary restraining order, and it would require five justices to reverse the lower courts actions. The high court faced a similar issue last term, when a Texas judge imposed a nationwide halt on an executive action from Obama that would have shielded more than 4 million immigrants who were in the country illegally, but who met certain requirements to get work permits. The justices then split 4 to 4 on the matter. If five justices could not agree, the case would return to Robart, the district judge, to decide whether Trumps order should be permanently enjoined. The fight up the legal ladder would then begin anew possibly taking months, past when the travel ban is set to expire. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly predicted Tuesday that the administration would prevail in its bid to reinstate the executive order and said judges might be considering the matter from an academic, rather than a national security, perspective. Of course, in their courtrooms, theyre protected by people like me, he said. Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee, Kelly forcefully defended the measure as a necessary pause so officials could improve vetting procedures. He said that it is entirely possible that dangerous people are now entering the country with the order on hold as Trump has said via Twitter and that officials might not know about them until it is too late. Not until the boom, he said when asked if he could provide evidence of a dangerous person coming into the country since the ban was suspended. Kellys view does not reflect the consensus of the national security community. Ten high-ranking diplomatic and security officials among them former secretaries of state John Kerry and Madeleine Albright, former CIA director Leon Panetta, and former CIA and National Security Agency director Michael V. Hayden said in a legal filing that there was no national security purpose for a complete barring of people from the seven affected countries. Kelly also acknowledged Tuesday that if he were given a second chance, he might do things differently in rolling out the order. That stands somewhat in contrast to Trumps recent assertion to Fox News Channels Bill OReilly that the implementation was very smooth, and it is important because if the appeals court reinstates the ban Kelly might get another crack at implementation. In retrospect, I should have this is all on me, by the way I should have delayed it just a bit, so that I could talk to members of Congress, particularly the leadership of committees like this, to prepare them for what was coming, although I think most people would agree that this has been a topic of President Trump certainly during his campaign and during the transition process, Kelly said. He later said, though, that most of the confusion that followed the signing of the order was attributable to court orders and occurred not among Customs and Border Protection officers but among protesters in airports. After people were initially detained and deported, demonstrators packed airports to voice their displeasure, and civil liberties and immigration lawyers filed lawsuits across the country. Many of those suits are ongoing, with lawyers keeping a close eye on the proceedings at the 9th Circuit. On Tuesday, a group of lawyers asked a federal judge in New York to force the government to turn over a list of those who had been detained or deported, as the court had previously ordered officials to do. The government has said no one is being detained and has debated what information it is required to provide. Noncompliance of a court order is very serious, especially where peoples lives are at stake, said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project. We filed this motion to enforce because the government left us no choice. The Washington Posts John Wagner contributed to this report. RECIFE, Brazil In this city at the heart of the Zika outbreak, the gloom and dread have lifted from maternity hospitals and delivery rooms. The scary government posters with giant mosquitoes have mostly come down. Fertility clinics are busy again. At one public hospital that has delivered 1,700 newborns over the past five months, doctors havent seen a single case of Zika-related birth defects. Its as if weve all forgotten about Zika, said Erika Alcantara, 17 weeks pregnant, who had waited for the epidemic to pass before she and her husband tried for their second child. A year after U.N. health officials declared Zika a global emergency, the city that produced some of the outbreaks most terrifying and indelible images of badly deformed infants feels like a place that has mostly moved on. But not everyone has bounced back so fast. Not the parents of the babies in those heartbreaking photographs. Initially, many feared that the infants would be merely the first wave of Zika victims, with many more to follow. Yet as the virus spread across the Americas and infected hundreds of thousands, it did not inflict the kind of damage seen here in northeast Brazil, where three-quarters of Zika-related birth defects have been reported. Today those families are like the survivors of a natural disaster. Though Zika scared a lot of people, its lasting harm fell on a relative few. Those families have developed new routines. Eliane Paz ferries her son, Davi Lucas, to five different hospitals a week for visual, motor and auditory therapy. The 1-year-old was diagnosed with severe microcephaly when he was born in October 2015, weeks before doctors connected the condition to Zika. Paz, a former maid, wakes up at 4 a.m. to make the 90-minute journey to the rehabilitation centers where specialists work with her son. Recifes rehab clinics are crowded with children who have microcephaly, a congenital condition defined by undersize heads and impaired cognition. Now toddlers, they struggle to swallow, roll over or simply hold up their heads. Many languish in a semi-vegetative state. Their parents say they live for milestones that others take for granted. When their children learn to smile, laugh or grip items, its just enough to stave off the despair. At Davi Lucas motor therapy appointment, doctors insert cold bits of papaya into his mouth and stroke his cheeks to try to stimulate chewing. The mashed fruit mostly falls out. For months after he was born, the boy cried constantly, his mother said, but he wasnt able to produce tears. The day he shed his first tear, I started crying, too, Paz said. Having quit her cleaning job, she receives a $300 monthly stipend from the government and devotes all of her time to the boy. It stings when strangers stare at his deformity or she overhears their comments: Mosquito Boy. Devils child. Sixty families come for treatment to the IMIP public hospitals clinic, the largest rehabilitation center in Recife for children with microcephaly. There are 40 more children on a waiting list. The demand for exams has stretched wait times for appointments from a few weeks to several months, and even the families who are grateful to receive care say it isnt enough. Multiple medications have stopped Davi Lucas seizures, but he needs a chest scan to determine why hes having breathing problems, and the machine at the hospital is broken. His mother worries that public attention is fading as Zika infections ebb. Whats going to happen to us when people forget about Zika? Paz asked. A year ago Zika was spreading rapidly across the Americas, prompting governments to warn women to avoid or postpone pregnancy. Today Zika is waning virtually everywhere in the Western Hemisphere. Epidemiologists say the pattern fits the typical trajectory of a virus that spreads explosively at first but fizzles out as it runs out of new hosts to infect. What researchers still dont understand is why the majority of Zika-related birth defects have been so concentrated in one region of a single country. Of the more than 2,600 cases of Zika-related congenital syndrome confirmed so far in the Americas, nearly 2,400 are in Brazil. The vast majority are in a cluster of northeastern states, including Pernambuco, where Recife is located. Why was there so much microcephaly if its the same virus? said Amilcar Tanuri, an epidemiologist at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro who formerly worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Were looking at other possible co-factors, but were still in the middle of the investigation, he said. With its heat, abundant mosquitoes and extensive slums, Recife, the largest urban area in Brazils northeast, became one of Zikas most potent launchpads. The city and surrounding state typically register 11 or 12 cases a year of microcephaly, but by late 2015, hospitals were reporting 50 to 60 a month. It was a tsunami, said Sergio Negromonte, the director of the maternity ward at one of the citys largest private hospitals. His hospitals emergency room shut down because patients with Zika symptoms were spilling out into the hallways and parking lots. Sonogram exams became somber, fateful appointments like a sentencing, said Pedro Pires, an obstetrician-gynecologist who specializes in Zika. State health records show that 2015 was a peak year for births in Pernambuco, precisely at the moment when Zika was most virulent but had yet to be identified. As much as 70 percent of Recifes inhabitants contracted Zika in 2015 and 2016, according to Pires, and that high rate of infection likely prevented a revival of the epidemic in recent months summer in the Southern Hemisphere because most of the population has become immune. Last year, the birthrate fell by about 7 percent statewide, according to the latest figures, but it dropped as much as 45 percent at the private clinics that cater to more affluent women. Negromonte and other doctors say they have never seen such a sharp drop in birthrates. The panic has mostly lifted. Alcantara, the mother who delayed pregnancy because of Zika, said she and her husband, Wilton, made that decision after the couple and their 3-year-old daughter, Lara, were infected in early 2015. But new research on the disease and its virtual disappearance convinced Wilton, himself an emergency room doctor, that it was safe enough to have a child in Recife again. The couple brought Lara with them on a recent morning to a routine sonogram check. It showed a healthy baby boy. The only tears were Laras. She wanted a sister. Her father hugged her, laughing. Well try for another girl next year, he said. Gleyse Kelly da Silva had never heard of microcephaly when her unborn daughter was diagnosed with it in late 2015. I was shocked by what I saw on Google, she said. I would cry myself to sleep every night, and when my husband thought I was no longer awake, he would start crying. The hopelessness gave way to action. A few months after her daughter Giovanna was born, she formed a WhatsApp chat group for mothers of children with microcephaly. Within a week, the group had 100 members. What started out as a way to share tips on treatment facilities and navigating the bureaucracy became a source of 24-hour support. When her daughter kept her up all night crying, da Silva would turn to the group and find other mothers also awake. They would tell me, youve got this, keep going, she said. Today, 400 mothers from across the state have joined the chat group. It has become their best megaphone whenever they need to amplify pressure on government health officials. And when one mother is tight on cash and cant afford medicine, others step in to help. They share tips on which anti-seizure drugs work best and which sleeping positions can soothe inconsolable babies. I joke that weve all become doctors without diplomas, said da Silva, 28. Giovanna, now 15 months old, is still unable to hold up her head for long. She eats better now but doesnt sleep much. At night, da Silva and her husband, Felipe, settle onto the couch with the baby. She doesnt cry if her father keeps her bouncing on his knee. He has had to quit his job as a security guard. But he has learned to sleep this way: head slumped into the armrest, television on mute, with Giovanna draped across his leg, bouncing, bouncing, bouncing. CHICAGO Children at a suburban Chicago school are wearing Cubbie blue in support of a classmate who was severely beaten and Cubs star Anthony Rizzo is inviting the boy to Wrigley Field when he gets better. Rizzo tweeted his invitation to 12-year-old Henry Sembdner to watch batting practice and a game, saying hed heard the 7th-grader was a Cubs fan. The attack happened last Friday at Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin. Authorities say another student attacked after Henry bumped into him. He suffered facial fractures and other injuries. The boy remains hospitalized but school officials say his condition is improving and hes breathing on his own after doctors removed a breathing tube. Police say their investigation is continuing to determine if the other boy should face criminal charges. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The topic of the public lecture at the seminary was The Bible and Race, and the discussion had turned to racial reconciliation, buzzwords used for new efforts to heal old rifts. What would it look like, one pastor wanted to know, for a church to ever actually become racially reconciled? Was it even possible? Cynthia Latham had been sitting silently in the back. Now she stood up. I am a member of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, she said slowly and proudly. And we are a reconciled congregation. In 2015, the church that Latham boasted of was two congregations, not one. There was the booming black church in the heart of the inner city, led by a charismatic preacher in the staunch tradition of black Baptists. And there was the quiet white church, nestled in the suburbs half an hour to the south, holding onto a tightknit community of Southern Baptist believers. And then the black church and the white church merged. The resulting congregation at Shiloh black and white, urban and suburban appears to be the only intentional joint church of its kind in the United States. Fifty-four years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously pronounced that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in this nation, Shiloh Baptist embarked on a journey to address whether that centuries-old divide can be changed. Now, two years later, even after some congregants left rather than change their traditions and the election of Donald Trump as president ratcheted up some tensions, many members at Shiloh say their ambitious effort at racial reconciliation is working. I have never felt so much love in a church in my life. . . . This church made me realize there is no color, none, said Sue Rogers, 67, who is white. I would do anything for anyone in this church, and they would do anything for me. Latham, who is black, said, You get in there, you get fed. I dont care how you walk in there, you dont walk out the same. The merger, at first, was rooted in practical goals. Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist, the black church downtown, had survived a horrible chapter in its 142-year history. In 2008, its then-pastor was charged with sex crimes against a teenage girl and then sued by a woman who said he had sexually assaulted and impregnated her. That year, the church hired Pastor H.B. Charles, 43. He came from a Los Angeles congregation that he had led since he was 17 and his father died, leaving Charles to take over his pulpit. Six year later, Charles had righted the ship at Shiloh. The church was booming with more than 7,000 members, and leaders began to mull planting a second church, preferably in the suburb of Orange Park. They would get the new church on its feet, then spin it off as an entirely separate congregation. They took their proposal to the Jacksonville Baptist Association. But Rick Wheeler, who leads the association, had another idea. Wheeler knew about another church, very different from Shiloh. Ridgewood Baptist Church was suburban and white. And while Shiloh was thriving, Ridgewood was losing members and in debt since the senior pastors death from cancer. Instead of starting a new church, Wheeler asked, would Shiloh like to merge with Ridgewood? Gradually, over months of meetings and prayer in both churches, the idea of a merger went from laughably unlikely, to a sound business decision, to a higher calling. Charles considered the thrust of Kings observation, which was about as true in 2014 as it was in 1963. According to the Pew Research Centers latest report on the subject, 80 percent of U.S. churchgoers still attend a church where at least 80 percent of the people in the pews are of only one race or ethnicity. The pastor decided that was not what Jesus intended. The Bible says that from the church, God is making a tribe of every nation, people and tongue. I feel like the church should look like that, he said. And the only way to make a tribe of all peoples, Charles said, was to actually join existing churches. After the two churches merged into one church with two campuses, Shiloh agreed to be a dues-paying member of the Southern Baptist Convention the nations largest evangelical denomination, which has sometimes struggled in moving past its racist history and the National Baptist Convention, the largest traditionally black denomination. When the first joint service convened in January 2015, the media crowed about a new hope and a powerful statement in Jacksonville. And Peggy Kovacic, who candidly admitted that she had never had a black friend in her 72 years, showed up at Shiloh. At first, many white members of Ridgewood left rather than remain in the new merged church. Ashlyn Barreira, 24, said she and her family tried attending Shiloh but were angered early on when they found Shiloh members sitting in their ordinary pew in Orange Park. I will be honest, yeah, it was kind of a racial thing. Were not racist, she said. Its almost like black people are like, Haha, we are taking over something yall once owned, because white people failed or whatever. She quickly quit the integrated church. It just wasnt my thing. I didnt feel God there. The merger of the two churches each more than 100 years old involved compromises. The music proved an especially tough adjustment for many people, accustomed to either the vibrant gospel in downtown Jacksonville or the traditional hymns in Orange Park. Dan Beckwith, one of 11 pastors on the staff, said the leadership did not want to let people pick and choose by offering a contemporary service at one time of day and a traditional service at another time, lest the congregation resegregate. So on one Sunday, all the music at both locations has a gospel flavor. The next, a more sedate tone. At one of his first meetings with the Ridgewood congregation to discuss the merger, an older white man asked Charles: Will we still have Beast Feast? The man explained: Each year, the men of Ridgewood went hunting together, then cooked and ate what they caught. Every year, pastor, someone has trusted Christ at this Beast Feast, the man told Charles. Im sure that you would agree with me that if one redneck comes to Jesus, its worth it. Charles was taken by the mans conviction. That was an initial thing that God really used to calm me down and remind me that this was going to be OK, he said. But after one year, it turned out that the integrated congregation was not much interested in hunting together. There is no more Beast Feast. The music, however, has been a success. It swelled one recent Sunday in the gymnasium at the Orange Park church, where members white and black wrapped their arms around each other to sway to its beat. Charles made his weekly entreaty, calling anyone wishing to commit to Jesus on this day to come to the altar. Over the strains of the musics crescendo, he boomed, This is good ground to plant your faith. And after a silent breathless moment, tentative feet stepped into the aisle. Danny Smith grew up in a black church, where his father was the pastor. It was the kind of church African-Americans have belonged to for centuries, a safe haven for sharing common concerns and banding together for social justice. When he moved to Jacksonville three years ago, Smith joined another black church. And then Shiloh joined with Ridgewood, and Smith heard his new pastor calling for volunteers to go from the downtown church to the suburban location, just for the first year, to help smooth the transition. Charles asked for 150 volunteers, and 250, including Smith, signed up. At the end of that first year, not a single one went back to the downtown campus. Smith, who became a deacon, loved the multiracial campus in Orange Park: You can tell the real truth of Christianity comes out in Shiloh. . . . Were all the same color in the eyes of Jesus Christ. Shiloh feels different, though, than the black church of his childhood. And the amiable barbecues he enjoys now with his fellow deacons, black and white, are not the same as his gatherings with black friends. When I get together with friends, yeah, I can talk about Black Lives Matter and how I feel about that. And yeah, I can talk about the courts, and how its allowing these white officers to get off scot-free, Smith said. Gathered round for barbecue with the deacons, those subjects dont come up. Im glad it doesnt, Smith said. That would cause racial tension. And thats not needed in the body of Christ. That such conversations do not take place often at Shiloh is a result not just of the recent integration, but also of the long-standing ethos of the congregation, guided by Charles. Pastor Charles is just a teacher of the word. Hes not a teacher of the culture, said Sebrina Wesley, a lifelong Shiloh member who works for the church. In the privacy of his office, surrounded by walls of books, Charles acknowledges that his ministry is far more calculated than that. As a pastor, as a black man, there are things I have seen this year that anger and trouble me, he said. But he rarely expresses that anger. Yes, he wants to keep his integrated congregation happy, he said. In the first year after the merger, more than a thousand new members joined including interracial couples who felt they had finally found a church where they belonged. But Charles said he also sees the long game in growing his diverse flock. I think the power of the gospel is subversive. It undermines the way of the world in subtle fashion, he said. One of the primary ways Jesus spoke of his mission and his kingdom is by the planting of a seed. Seeds dont grow overnight. Over time, I am teaching and leading in such a way that fruit will grow. On a recent Tuesday afternoon in January, Kovacic attended her Bible study group, which is made up mostly of older retired women, black and white. They talk about things they dealt with being treated differently because they were black that I didnt encounter, she said. I think blacks in this country probably deal with more than most. I guess its given me a little more understanding. And with that dawning understanding came love. I get just as many hugs at Shiloh as I used to get at Ridgewood, she said. After Bible study, Kovacic stepped outside into the Florida sunshine and leaned her head amiably on the shoulder of her friend Laverne Gordon, 65, in the parking lot. A friendship has grown between the two women, one that extends beyond the church walls. When Gordon was sick, Kovacic delivered her special anti-inflammatory chicken, then brought more of the spice mix to church for her. Want to get lunch? Kovacic asked Gordon. Gordon said she was broke. But Kovacic shrugged, saying she would pay for Gordons meal if Gordon would do the driving. Within moments they were on their way to Panera Bread, chatting about how teenagers keep their eyes glued to their cellphones and what a Christian woman should say to an old friend who has ditched church in favor of meditation. Over soup and sandwiches, the women swapped stories of their lifetimes in the Baptist church the traditional black Watch Nights that Gordon grew up observing, compared with the candlelight Christmas Eve services that Kovacic loved. Then the conversation turned to Trump. When somebody has been legally elected, I dont understand why you wouldnt just pray for him, Kovacic said. What I dont understand, Gordon retorted, is how [Trump] behaved the way he did and he still got elected. Gordon voted for Hillary Clinton, and although Kovacic wont share who she voted for she just says she picked the lesser of two evils Gordon said later that she is sure her friend voted for Trump. At the lunch table, Kovacic said nobody protested when Barack Obama was elected. Gordon objected, reminding Kovacic of ways the Obama family faced tremendous disrespect, often motivated by racism, during his presidency. And Kovacic conceded that point. Im not a Democrat, and I dont agree with him politically. And he has accomplished a lot of positive things as a black president, she said. Black people dont get the recognition they deserve. I acknowledge that hes had a positive impact in a lot of ways. Gordon nodded. They both praised Paneras green tea, then starting talking about one of the lessons of their Bible study: the importance of loving people, even more so across divides. SANTA FE A bill providing more than $670,000 in emergency funding to the New Mexico court system has hit a speed bump in the Senate, as a tug of war between the legislative and executive branches intensified. With the looming prospect of jury trials being halted statewide due to a lack of funds, the House on Monday voted 68-0 to pass the bill, which is supported by Gov. Susana Martinezs administration. But the Senate put the brakes on the measure Tuesday, assigning it to two committees. That sets the stage for an emergency meeting today of the state Board of Finance, a seven-member board controlled by the governor that had put off a decision on the courts funding request in December. Martinez, the states two-term GOP governor, has already vetoed two court funding proposals approved by lawmakers during this years 60-day session. In doing so, she has criticized the Democratic-controlled Legislature for not examining ways to reduce court spending. An influential Democratic senator said the Senates approach to the House-approved funding bill complies with the governors request. Were going to give it the scrutiny shes requesting, Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, told the Journal . He also accused Martinez of trying to starve the states judicial branch, saying, Its been a long history of her not recognizing the needs of the courts. Without additional money being provided in the next several weeks, Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Daniels has warned jury trials will be suspended starting March 1. In addition, there are planned employee furloughs and related closures at the state Supreme Court. The House-approved legislation, House Bill 261, would provide an immediate infusion of $593,000 for the court systems jury fund and $83,000 to the Supreme Court. That would allow the judicial branch to keep paying for jury trials until mid-April, court officials have said. Additional funding would then have be provided in the annual state budget bill to keep jury trials going through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. Despite the two previous vetoes, a Martinez spokesman on Tuesday suggested the Legislature has failed to come up with an adequate court funding measure. As the governor has said before, if the Legislature doesnt act, she will, Martinez spokesman Chris Sanchez said. The bill pending in the Senate would appropriate less money than the proposals axed by Martinez, but it would not change the cost of jury trials, which average about $99,000 per week statewide. The Administrative Office of the Courts has already moved to reduce juror pay jurors currently get $6.25 an hour and mileage reimbursement rates. In all, the judicial branchs budget makes up less than 3 percent of total state spending. WASHINGTON Vigilantism is alive and well on the internet. A few days ago, a hacker went onto the underground dark web and took down at least 2,000 sites hosting scam offers, political commentary and forums for child pornography. We have zero tolerance policy to child pornography, said a hacker statement left on websites hosted by Freedom Hosting II, which specializes in servicing the dark web. The dark web is a part of the World Wide Web thats accessible only to people using specialized software, often the Tor browser, which allows exploring the web anonymously. The dark web is not accessible by search engines and is favored by a gamut of users ranging from libertarians and political dissidents to gunrunners, drug traffickers, counterfeiters, hit men and pornographers. In an email to McClatchy, the hacker said he was European and part of the Anonymous collective of hacktivists, or hacker activists. We all work on setting things right, giving back freedom and power to people and taking it from governments abusing their power etc., he said, responding to an email sent to the address on the hacker statement. An internet security engineer, Sarah Jamie Lewis, who is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, said she had studied the hack, which occurred last Friday, and determined that it had taken down about 20 percent of the dark webs content. Those 2,000 sites disappeared, and they are still down, Lewis said. Those sites are irrevocably compromised now. Among the largest compromised sites were those frequented by consumers of child pornography, hosting child exploitation activity, said Lewis, who said she previously worked in cybersecurity for Amazon and for the British equivalent of the National Security Agency, the General Communications Headquarters. They were forums where people gathered to trade that kind of content, she added. Other sites contained discussions of cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin, or about libertarian values and anonymity, she said. There was also a lot of scam content, sites of people trying to trick others to give them money, say, for passports, Lewis said, noting that one appeal called for investors to send bitcoins and receive double their investment in a short time. Lewis said she presumed the child pornography traders would find other places on the dark web to set up shop. A privacy legal expert voiced qualms about the vigilante action. Nobody has any sympathy, obviously, for somebody hosting child pornography, said Gabe Rottman, an attorney at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a civil liberties and privacy group with offices in Washington. But Rottman said vigilantism tended to escalate, and could cause collateral damage. The dark web, he said, is going to be used by good guys and bad guys. Its going to be dissidents in China and also criminals. Just as criminals once grabbed human shields to thwart attack, online criminals may raise the ante on possible vigilante takedowns, slipping their online activities onto the networks of crucial facilities, like electrical grids, Rottman said. Theres a potential for an arms race, he said. Hacker takedowns on the dark web also can interrupt FBI monitoring of crime. With the sites shut down, the FBI wont be able to infiltrate them and gather intelligence on members by deploying their own crafted spyware, David Bisson, an editor with Tripwire, a software and cybersecurity company based in Portland, Ore., wrote in a blog posting. This means that users whose credentials arent included among the list of 381,000 login details could flock to another dark web site hosting equally harmful content, Bisson wrote. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment. The hacker said he didnt trust the FBI to target only criminals and pornographers. They dont only target visitors of child pornography sites, but also of any other site hosted. That could especially be risky for journalists, whistleblowers and many other users of (T)or. I do not agree with this method of investigation and firmly believe that it should be illegal, even for law enforcement, he wrote. WASHINGTON The Arab Spring may seem like a distant memory, but a new report by a team of Arab and American analysts argues that across the Middle East people still feel the same yearning for better governance and rule of law that motivated protesters in Cairos Tahrir Square. The persistence of this vision of more modern and just government is important to remember, especially at a time when the Trump administration is so focused on the threatening image of Islamist extremism. The study is a reminder that most residents of Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East want the same things that Americans do justice, dignity, freedom and prosperity. It was six years ago this month that protesters toppled the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, which marked the zenith of the Arab uprising. Since then, the trends have mostly been disastrous for the Arabs, with civil wars in Libya, Syria and Yemen and the rise of the hyperviolent Islamic State. Despite these reversals, Arabs still embrace an agenda of better governance, according to the report, titled Arab Fractures: Citizens, States, and Social Contracts, which was published last week by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The lead author was Marwan Muasher, a former Jordanian foreign minister. He was joined by three other Arabs and three Americans. In a survey of 103 prominent Arabs conducted for the study, authoritarianism and corruption were cited as among the regions top two problems, identified by 65 and 48 of the respondents, respectively. These problems of governance were seen as more important than terrorism, sectarian strife or other security issues. Six years into the Arab uprisings, most Arab states are still facing a crisis in governance, the report argues. That includes most of the regions monarchies, such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which have been more stable than their neighbors but whose subjects still hunger for a more open and dynamic political life. The report draws on a survey called the Arab Barometer, conducted biennially since 2006 in 15 Arab countries by Princeton University, the University of Michigan and a group called the Arab Reform Initiative. The findings illustrate the desire among Arabs for better, freer political systems. In the latest installment, conducted last year, corruption and the economy were identified as the top two problems. Respondents were surprisingly frank. A question asking people if there was some or a lot of corruption in their governments got a positive response from 90 percent of Tunisians, 84 percent of Egyptians and Algerians, 83 percent of Palestinians, 76 percent of Moroccans and 63 percent of Jordanians. The internet has transformed the Arab world more than most Westerners realize. According to the Carnegie study, Arabs average more than five hours a day online. Saudis in 2014 were the highest per-capita watchers of YouTube videos globally, with over 90 million a day collectively, and had the worlds highest Twitter penetration rate, at 33 percent. In 2014, 17 million tweets a day originated in the Arab world. Thanks to the internet, citizens feel connected to each other and the outside world. They want human rights including the right to criticize their governments. Surprisingly, according to the 2016 Arab Barometer, two-thirds of those surveyed thought they could criticize their governments without fear. This passion for better governance matters because it comes amid such a desolate landscape. The report notes: It is difficult to overstate the magnitude of the catastrophe that has befallen the Arab world since February 2011. As of 2015, more than 143 million Arabs were living in countries afflicted by war or occupation. While Arabs are only 5 percent of the worlds population, they make up half its refugees, the study notes. The study bluntly blames the persistence of police-state tactics in much of the Arab world for slow political development. The path toward better governance must be anchored in a respect for pluralism, argues Muasher in a concluding chapter. A suffocating uniformity has contributed to the stagnation of Arab societies, he writes. This self-critique by prominent Arab analysts provides a baseline for change. The bosses of New Mexicos teachers unions have finally admitted openly that they want zero accountability in the area of student improvement based on test scores. Refreshing honesty perhaps, but a stance that does a grave disservice to the many amazing teachers who educate our kids as well as to taxpayers and students. Last week, after the state Department of Education proposed further adjustments lowering the weight of student growth on standardized tests in teacher evaluations, the heads of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation and the National Education Association New Mexico made it clear the only reform they would find acceptable in this area is no reform at all. And that sounds like they are all about protecting adult jobs for even low performers rather than recognizing great work and making sure your kid is ready for the next grade as well as graduation and beyond. PED Secretary Hanna Skandera is proposing legislation and policy updates that would reduce the weight of student growth in teacher evaluations from 50 percent to 40 percent, cut the hours of student testing and increase the number of days teachers can be absent from three to five days before it affects their evaluation. The suggestions come after a fall listening tour that had the secretary and staff visiting 10 New Mexico cities, 21 schools and meeting with hundreds of parents, teachers and community leaders. But Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, and Charles Bowyer, executive director of the National Education Association, New Mexico, dont want any accountability codified in statute. Both rejected the adjustments, with Bernstein saying student improvement based on test scores has no place in teacher evals, calling it junk math, and Bowyer saying he doesnt want standards put into law because that makes them too hard to change. That position is as steeped in self interest as it is short-sighted. Under New Mexicos school report card system, passed by the Legislature in 2011, and its teacher evaluation system, put in place by administrative rule in 2012, K-12 public schools and their teachers are graded in part on the academic progress their students make. And since then several things have happened that should make every New Mexican proud: More schools have earned A grades back in 2011-12 there were 40 A schools; in 2015-16 there were 118. Schools in the Cloudcroft, Espanola, Hobbs, Los Lunas, Lovington, Gadsden, Melrose, Silver and Socorro districts and the Explore Academy charter school increased their 2016 school grades by at least three letters, to As and Bs from Ds and Fs. The statewide four-year graduation rate has increased from 63 percent in 2011 to 71 percent last year. Teacher absences have plunged there have been 55,000 fewer substitute-teacher days since 2012, meaning there have been 55,000 more days students have had their trained and licensed teacher in their classroom. (Back in 2011-12, 47 percent of New Mexico teachers were absent 10 or more days what the state considers habitually truant for students. In 2016, only 12 percent were.) The number of teachers rated as highly effective or exemplary has increased by a third from 21.7 percent in 2014 to 28.6 percent in 2016. In 2016, 7,339 more students became proficient in math and 5,026 more students became proficient in reading than in 2015, with the vast majority of them economically disadvantaged and minority children. To be sure, the systems had problems out of the box, and the state Public Education Department has made regular adjustments. Those include: Ensuring teachers are only evaluated on the improvement of students they have actually taught (early on, first-year teachers as well as teachers of subjects not included in the annual standardized tests were rated based on how students in their grade level or entire school performed). Teacher evaluations and school report cards are now several pages, providing detailed data points that explain how a rating/grade has been determined. Testing windows and the release dates of evals and grades have been streamlined to eliminate lag times so data is as fresh as possible. Tests have been eliminated or shortened. And additional training has been added to increase the number of qualified classroom observers while reducing the number of times high-performing teachers have to be observed. Now, New Mexico has more kids reading and doing math at grade level. More kids graduating ready to enter college or the workplace. And thus more teachers and schools rated as good or better or best. Yet it has never been enough for the teachers unions, which summarily dismiss school grades as unfair labels and sued to get the data-driven teacher evaluations tossed in 2013. In various courts they have lost the claim that Skandera did not have the authority to implement evaluations, that the evaluations violated state law because they have five rankings from exemplary to ineffective, that they were unfair because professionals other than principals can be qualified to perform classroom observations, that they lacked uniformity, that they unfairly allow charter schools to apply for a waiver. The issue is still in state court in Santa Fe where unions are arguing student improvement based on test scores should be removed from the system, though several of PEDs adjustments were in response to the judge saying the metric was hard to understand. The unions conveniently ignore the fact evaluations that include student improvement based on standardized test scores are an integral component to the states waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and thus an integral component to getting federal funding. They ignore the progress New Mexicos students have made with the help of their dedicated teachers and school leaders who are not afraid of accountability. And they ignore the important work yet to be done to ensure all of New Mexicos students are ready for the next grade and beyond. You cannot begrudge them for taking this position. Union leaders jobs are about making life better for teachers, not kids. And adults jobs are always easier when there is no accountability. And at least now thats out there in the open. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. He sat there, glaring at the teacher, refusing to do anything she asked of him. Then one by one he started breaking pencils in half, throwing the pieces at his stunned classmates, his angry stare never leaving his teachers frustrated gaze. She had taught school for years, had dealt with tough kids before, she told me. But none like Jonathan, an angry foster child with likely a number of yet undiagnosed mental issues and educational deficits. He was new to the teachers second-grade class, but already his behaviors had forced her to call in the schools de-escalation staffers to handle him several times. Exactly how they handled him with restraint or seclusion or some other method of containment, calming and control I was never clear on. He was my foster son only briefly. For a time, Katie Stone had also been in the dark about how a public elementary school in Albuquerque was dealing with her daughters behaviors. Her daughter has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and an intellect beyond her years. We were told these were therapeutic holds using de-escalation techniques, she said. But Stone kept asking for details. An educational assistant, she was told, often did the restraining, but on at least one occasion the task fell to a volunteer office worker who pinned her daughter to the floor with her knee. As the behaviors worsened with each incident, Stone said, the school began isolating her daughter, removing the girl from the class and making her sit in a timeout room. That room, Stone learned later, was a closet. She pulled her daughter, then in fourth grade, out of public school and started home-schooling her. Stone also started advocating for a law to limit the use of restraint and seclusion in the states public schools. House Bill 75 sponsored this legislative session by Reps. James Smith, R-Sandia Park, and Deborah Armstrong, D-Albuquerque is the third attempt and has, she thinks, the best chance of becoming law. New Mexico is one of nine states with only voluntary guidance on policies governing restraint and seclusion in schools. The current bill, if passed and signed by the governor, would require school districts and charter schools to adopt policies and procedures that limit the use of these techniques except in emergency situations and not as planned interventions, to notify parents of the student subjected to the techniques within 24 hours and to annually report the uses of the techniques to the state Public Education Department. To me, this bill is so logical, said Stone, who is also a public radio producer and an advocate with the New Mexico Autism Society, one of at least 15 agencies supporting the bill. Even jails and juvenile psychiatric facilities have more rules and regulations about restraining people than there are in our schools. Seclusion and restraint can be dangerous practices, especially when performed by personnel not trained in proper methods or who overuse the methods as a form of discipline and de-escalation. Many child experts call the techniques abusive and ineffective, with the potential to leave lasting psychological damage to the children. Most seclusion and restraint incidents involved children under fifth grade. Most involved boys. And an estimated 76 percent involved children with disabilities, according to studies presented Friday to the House Education Committee, which approved a revised version of the bill. In the past school year, Albuquerque Public Schools reported 1,025 incidents in which students were restrained, according to Pegasus Legal Services for Children in Albuquerque. The Legislative Finance Committee also estimates that about six cases annually result in lawsuits that cost the district tens of thousands of dollars. Its not a once-in-a-while kind of thing for some of our kids, but a regular occurrence, Stone said. And were not talking the use of restraint and seclusion required because of fighting students. Thats not the point of this bill. Stone said she is hopeful that with a few tweaks to the bill, APS and the PED will support the legislation before it is considered by the House Judiciary Committee. No date has been set yet for that. Still a point of contention is PEDs position that the use of restraint and seclusion be a part of a special education students individualized education plan, with input and consideration for the teachers and parents involved, PED spokesman Robert McEntyre said. APS officials did not return calls for comment. Stones daughter, incidentally, never returned to public school but was enrolled in a smaller, private high school where restraint is never used. I never saw Jonathan again after he was moved to a higher level of foster care and then home to his biological family in another state. Id like to think he got the help he needed and that whatever school he ended up in had the training and support it needed to help him without use of needless restraint or isolation. But it apparently wasnt enough. He hanged himself in an out-of-state juvenile detention facility at age 16. UpFront is a news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Mayor Richard Berry announced a new city office Tuesday intended to serve Albuquerques immigrants and refugees by providing a central point of contact for groups and agencies that serve them. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs will offer services without regard to the legal immigration status of people who seek help, Berry said at a news conference. The office and three-member staff are funded by an 18-month $300,000 W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant awarded in July. The city will provide office space at City Hall. Though the office will open in July, the announcement Tuesday was timely given the charged discussion about immigrants and refugees, both nationally and locally, Berry said. There has always been rhetoric from the left and the right as it involves immigration, he said. But I dont think it has ever been ramped up to the level weve seen most recently. By announcing the new office on Tuesday, Berry said he wanted to cut through some of the rhetoric and help allay the fears of people in the immigrant and refugee communities. Its mostly about making sure people understand that we are a welcoming community, he said. If you are an immigrant or a refugee, we want you to know that Albuquerque is a welcoming place for you. Asked whether the office would serve people who lack legal immigration status, Berry said: It is not our job to check on that. Thats not what this office is about. Berry made the announcement the morning after dozens of speakers urged city councilors to approve a memorial reaffirming Albuquerque as an immigrant-friendly city. The memorial, introduced Monday by four city councilors, seeks to calm uncertainty and fear since President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders last month intended to temporarily restrict the entry of immigrants and refugees into the U.S. The city has planned to form an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs for about 18 months, Berry said. Mariela Ruiz-Angel, who is organizing the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs under contract with the city, said she wants to create a one-stop hub where people can find government and private services. Abbas Akhil, former president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, said he and other community organizers met with city officials in August, shortly after the Kellogg grant was announced, to discuss how to move forward. I think this office could play the role of bringing everybody together, Akhil said after the news conference. I think it sends a good message that we are an immigrant-friendly city. Protecting New Mexicos children is not something that can be accomplished solely by the Children, Youth and Families Department, said CYFD Cabinet Secretary Monique Jacobson. No family can do it alone, no agency can do it alone, no nonprofit can do it alone, no church can do it alone. We all have to pull together, she told a cross section of business and community leaders, about 50 people in all, who attended the first New Mexico Kids Matter Informational Breakfast on Tuesday. New Mexico Kids Matter is the nonprofit that operates the CASA program Court Appointed Special Advocates and trains the volunteers who represent kids placed in state custody and speak in their best interests before the courts and schools, and in the community. Audience members were asked to support New Mexico Kids Matter by becoming a CASA volunteer or making a financial or other donation. Last year, about 39,000 calls regarding neglect and abuse of children were reported to CYFDs Statewide Central Intake, which screened about 20,000 of them for investigation to determine if incidents could be substantiated. In instances of a childs immediate safety risk, they come into our custody, Jacobson said. At any given time, we have about 2,600 kids in our custody. They are our kids. They literally belong to the state of New Mexico and they need the support of our staff and of the CASAs. A childrens court judge makes the determination if a child should remain in the custody of the state and its the judge who appoints a trained CASA volunteer to a childs case. The CASA volunteer assures that all services ordered by the court are provided, regardless of whether the child is placed in foster care, a group home, a residential treatment center or a juvenile detention center, said Veronica Montano-Pilch, executive director of New Mexico Kids Matter. CASA volunteers work solely with kids in Bernalillo County, who make up the majority of kids in state custody, Montano-Pilch said. CASA is part of a national organization with 950 programs around the country. The local program previously was called Albuquerque CASA and was run by the Childrens Court, Montano-Pilch said. Three years ago, the local programs board of directors took over its operation under the umbrella name New Mexico Kids Matter. Children matched with CASA volunteers, she said, spend less time in long-term foster care, demonstrate better educational performance, tend to receive more court-ordered services and have a far better record of not re-entering the child welfare system. In addition, the intervention and oversight provided by CASA volunteers save the state millions of dollars in child welfare costs because matched children spend 25 percent less time in long-term foster care since they are reunited with their parents or find adoptive homes faster. New Mexico Kids Matter has an annual budget of $350,000, which comes from state, county and federal funds, grants from United Way and the Albuquerque Community Foundation, and private donations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working the Santa Teresa port of entry seized 8.5 pounds of cocaine over the weekend from a man who was traveling with his wife and 5-year-old child. This is an unfortunate trend in that the smuggler was traveling with his wife and young child in the vehicle in an apparent effort to deflect attention away from the drug smuggling attempt, said CBP Santa Teresa Port Director Ray Provencio in a statement. Smugglers will occasionally attempt to blend in with legitimate travelers by using family members to help mask their true intent. The man was traveling in 2004 Ford Lobo with two adult passengers and a young child as they attempted to enter through the Santa Teresa port. A CBP officer noticed anomalies in the appearance of the backseat of the truck that led to the discovery of a hidden non-factory compartment. The officer probed a bundle found in the compartment and recovered a substance which tested positive for cocaine. A total of three cocaine-filled bundles were recovered from the hidden compartment. The driver, a 38-year-old Mexican male from Chihuahua City, Mexico, was turned over to ICE HSI special agents to face charges in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. His 29-year-old spouse and 5-year-old child were processed and returned to Mexico. FARMINGTON Tribal President Russell Begaye has vetoed a Navajo Nation Council resolution to provide $242,576 in supplemental funding to 33 chapters to use for disaster relief services, arguing it would violate the law about maintaining a certain level of funding. The bill containing the proposal for supplemental funding was approved by the council at the winter session last month and the amount would have been allocated from the minimum balance of the Unreserved Undesignated Fund Balance. The presidents action was announced Monday in a news release from his office in Window Rock, Ariz. Five chapters in San Juan County in New Mexico were among those that would have received funding. When the council passed the bill on Jan. 25, the 33 chapters each had a balance of less than $10,000 to help residents respond to recent winter weather, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the Office of the Speaker. Begaye explained his reasons for using his line-item veto authority in a three-page memorandum sent to Speaker LoRenzo Bates and the council. The president wrote that the resolution did not comply with tribal law, including a requirement that the UUFBs minimum balance hold an amount that is not less than 10 percent of the previous fiscal years budget. He added that tribal law requires any distribution to chapters must be divided so that 50 percent is equally distributed among the 110 chapters and the rest is allocated based on the number of registered voters within each chapter. As leaders, we must respect and uphold our Navajo Nation Code, as we are not above the law, Begaye wrote. In the written message, the president referred to a memorandum by Dominic Beyal, executive director of the Office of Management and Budget, and to a legal opinion by Attorney General Ethel Branch. Beyal wrote that his office compiled chapter balances using information as of Jan. 27, but the results were unreliable because the chapters and the Division of Community Development have not maintained accurate and current information. He added that when the bill was drafted and then introduced, there was no available balance in the UUFB but a revised report from the acting controller showed the minimum balance held about $12.2 million and the UUFB had about $4.1 million available. Delegate Seth Damon, who sponsored the legislation, tried to amend the bill to change the funding source from the minimum balance to the UUFB, Beyal wrote. Although council considered the amendment, the decision was made not to change the funding source, which lowered the minimum balance below the amount required by tribal law and may affect the tribes credit rating, he wrote. Damon expressed disappointment in the presidents action in the release from the speakers office. These funds were intended to help our people. We are still in the middle of the winter season and due to the action of President Begaye, many chapters will not have emergency response funds when another storm arrives, Damon said. In the same release, Speaker Bates remarked that Begayes action comes after he approved using $5 million from the minimum balance to help public assistance programs. If President Begaye believes that this recent resolution violates the law then he himself violated the law on Jan. 17 when he approved a nearly identical resolution. The president cannot pick and choose when he wanted to apply his interpretations of our laws, Bates said. He added that despite Begayes claim that the council violated tribal law in how the money was to be distributed, the bill did state the funding was for 33 chapters and the council has previously approved funding for individual chapters. As for the issues raised by Beyal and Branch, Bates said both have designated representatives sitting at council sessions and they had the opportunity to voice their concerns when the legislation was discussed. Begaye vetoes funding for disaster assistance SANTA FE The collision that killed a mother and her teenage daughter caused by thieves in a stolen van, police say could lead to stiffer criminal penalties the next time a similar crash occurs. State Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, is asking the Legislature to adopt a law making it easier to charge a driver of a stolen vehicle with murder if the person recklessly plows into another car and kills someone. The basic penalty for vehicular homicide is a six-year sentence, Rehm said. Stealing a vehicle can result in 18 months or more in prison, depending on whether its a first offense. But first-degree murder the penalty called for in Rehms bill has a basic sentence of life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years. What Im trying to do is make it easier to take these individuals who have a total disregard for the safety of the public and hold them criminally liable, Rehm said Tuesday in an interview. There needs to be a stiffer penalty than six years, when you look at the seriousness of what theyre doing. The proposal comes after several Bernalillo County wrecks involved stolen vehicles over the past few years, he said. Just last month, a crash involving a stolen van killed 14-year-old Shaylee Boling and her mother, Shaunna Arredondo-Boling, 39. Arredondo-Bolings 3-year-old son, who was also in the car, suffered a broken leg. Arredondo-Bolings mother, Diane Boling, said her family is still reeling from the loss of her daughter and granddaughter. The family held its second funeral service in two weeks Tuesday. Told about the proposed law, Boling said she supports increased penalties for people convicted in these cases. I dont want anybody else to have to go through this because of something stupid someone did, Boling said. Maybe it will make someone think a little harder next time before they steal a car or do anything unlawful that could take a life from somebody else. The two suspects in the stolen van who allegedly crashed into Arredondo-Bolings car face charges of murder and other crimes. But Rehm, a retired sheriffs captain, said it isnt always easy to pursue a murder charge when someone in a stolen vehicle drives recklessly and causes a fatal wreck. Prosecutors may have to bring charges under the depraved mind theory that the person was acting without regard for human life. Rehms proposal would not require the depraved mind theory for such a crash to qualify as murder. His proposal faces some political challenges. Democrats control the House and Senate, and they have said repeatedly that their top priority is adopting a budget and creating jobs. Many Democrats also oppose tougher punishments, saying they are costly because offenders are housed in prison longer and dont effectively deter criminals. Rikki-Lee Chavez, a spokeswoman for a coalition of groups evaluating crime legislation this session, said state laws should be aimed at pervasive problems, not one high-profile incident. The New Mexico SAFE coalition includes the American Civil Liberties Union and New Mexico Conference of Bishops. This is precisely the type of costly penalty increase proposal N.M. SAFE cautions against, Chavez said in a written statement. This legislation will not solve real problems as it purports to do. Rehms proposal, House Bill 328, would stiffen penalties not just for vehicular homicide but also for offenders who cause great bodily harm while recklessly driving a stolen vehicle. The bill must clear three committees before reaching the House floor the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Appropriations and Finance Committee. It would also require approval by the Senate and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Two incumbents easily held onto their seats Tuesday in an Albuquerque Public Schools board election that drew relatively good turnout. According to unofficial results, David Peercy, board president, and Lorenzo Garcia, board vice president, were each re-elected by wide margins for District 7 and District 3, respectively. And two new faces will join the board longtime West Side Democratic ward chair Candy Patterson won the District 5 seat, while marketing administrator Elizabeth Armijo will represent District 6. The Bernalillo County Clerks Office could not be reached for turnout figures Tuesday, but participation was relatively strong. This year, the number of early voters exceeded the total participation in the 2015 school board election. Over 8,800 people cast early ballots this year, compared to a total of 6,567 voters in 2015. In District 3, Garcia took 65 percent of the vote, beating out three official candidates and a write-in to win a third term representing the North Valley and Downtown. I am looking forward to it, Garcia told the Journal. I feel very blessed and very lucky. I had good, strong support. The retired public health expert said he will focus on the districts money woes the Legislature cut $25 million from the current fiscal years budget and more reductions are on the horizon. Peercy prevailed against three opponents to get 64 percent of the vote for District 7, the far Northeast Heights. He will also serve a third term. Peercy, a retired Sandia National Laboratories scientist, could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. Newcomer Patterson also had a decisive win for the District 5 seat vacated by Steven Michael Quezada, who moved on to become a Bernalillo County commissioner. She received 57 percent of the vote in a field of four candidates. I look forward to working collaboratively with all the board members, said Patterson, a longtime West Side community activist. I am very excited about who we have on the board today. The final APS race, District 6, drew the largest number of contenders. Armijo prevailed against five other candidates, winning 53 percent of the vote to represent the Northeast Heights and East Mountains. Incumbent Don Duran, a former board president, did not seek a second term. A call to Armijo was not returned Tuesday. The Bernalillo County Clerks Office will canvass the election Friday morning. While the race drew more voters than some past years, total participation was still modest. For instance, only about 4,000 people cast ballots for Peercy, the candidate who attracted the strongest support. CNM One incumbent fell in the Central New Mexico Community College Governing Board race. Annette Chavez y De La Cruz, former director of the CNMs South Valley campus, beat Melissa Armijo, who was seeking another term. Chavez y De La Cruz received 55 percent of the vote. Two incumbents did prevail. Pauline J. Garcia beat Robert Chavez handily for District 1, earning 64 percent of the vote. Nancy Baca won District 5 with 57 percent, defeating Gina Naomi Dennis. Thomas Swisstack, former Rio Rancho mayor, was unopposed for District 3. Former CNM president Michael Glennon won in District 7, taking over the seat from incumbent Michael DeWitte, current board chairman, who did not run again. Glennon received 70 percent of the vote. He faced one other candidate, Harold Murphree. Rio Rancho In Rio Rancho, incumbents for Districts 3 and 5 walked away with wins Tuesday night, earning re-election alongside newcomer District 1 candidate Wynne Coleman. Unofficial results from the Sandoval County Bureau of Elections office showed Coleman with 265 votes, ahead of Natalie Nicotine with 236 votes and Margretta Franklin with 70 votes. District 3 incumbent Martha Janssen ousted her opponent with 93 votes to William Dunns 89 votes. District 5 incumbent Catherine Cullen ran unopposed and ended the night with 100 votes. Rio Rancho Observer staff writer Antonio Sanchez contributed to this report. Under pressure from the Journal and amidst concern from advocacy groups, the Albuquerque Police Department agreed on Tuesday to abandon part of a strategy that would have eliminated email notifications about homicides, officer-involved shootings and other newsworthy incidents. The strategy, implemented by Communications and Community Outreach Director Celina Espinoza, came at a time when police are responding to fewer Journal questions about significant events, including violent crimes. Espinoza said early Tuesday that the department planned to put news releases on the citys website and link to them via social media rather than communicating directly with news organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and the Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists expressed serious concern during the day about the strategys impact on transparency and police accountability. But by Tuesday evening, Espinoza backtracked, saying she would continue to send information about critical events in email to Journal reporters and work to improve communication. She said the strategy was put in place so that the department could better communicate directly with the public. On Tuesday APDs Twitter account held its first Tuesday Cop Talk, where Twitter users can direct questions directly to the public information officers. But the strategy comes amid a noticeable decline in the information being shared with the media. Public information officers have taken weeks to release the names of some homicide victims and other details about violent crimes, and they seem reluctant to do so. In one case, despite repeated requests, police didnt release the name of a burglary suspect who was shot and killed by a homeowner until nearly two weeks after the incident. When asked why it took so long, Espinoza said detectives had been trying to identify the man and find family members. But that was contradicted by an obituary published by family members shortly after the mans death. Many emails and calls to APD spokesman officer Fred Duran about crimes have still not been answered weeks after being sent. CHICAGO It should be a routine call, scheduling a visit from the cable guy to set up internet access. But nothings routine when youre running a medical marijuana company. Theres this flurry of activity that starts with the account manager with a headset on in a cubical, said Jeremy Unruh, general counsel and compliance chief at PharmaCann, which operates two cannabis cultivation centers and four dispensaries in Illinois. Can we do it? Can we not do it? How do we contract with a marijuana company?' Unruh has grown used to the uncertainty, the let me ask my manager responses. The cable company ended up working with PharmaCann, but Unruh said the extra steps it took are an illustration of what its like building a new industry, one that used to have to operate in the shadows. Engaging in normal business activities is made that much more complicated by the subject matter of what we do for a living, he said. State lawmakers approved Illinois pilot medical cannabis program in 2013, and dispensaries started opening two years later. Despite generating more than $42 million in retail sales so far, the nascent industry in Illinois is going through more than the normal growing pains of new companies. Its marijuana, after all, and entrepreneurs are learning just how hard it is to shake off the stigma attached to a substance the federal government puts in the same class as heroin and LSD. Illinois companies also are grappling with slower-than-expected growth of patient numbers, so while they wait for demand to increase here, they are eyeing other states for expansion. And beyond all those nuts bolts is the overarching fear the new administration will nullify the industrys progress. President Donald Trump showed support for medical marijuana on the campaign trail, but Jeff Sessions, Trumps attorney general nominee, has criticized the drugs legalization, saying he wont commit to disregarding federal law. The challenges begin where they do for any startup: With capital. The U.S. Department of Treasury has given banks the green light to work with legal marijuana entities under some conditions, but most lenders still hesitate. Elected officials, including Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and a group of U.S. senators led by Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren, are pushing to make it easier for banks to work with companies in the $7 billion industry. In Illinois, there are just a few banks willing to take on medical marijuana companies as customers, which means no ready access to lines of credit or loans. One bank that medical cannabis business owners said they work with declined to confirm on the record that it operates in the industry. Another did not return requests for comment. Entrepreneurs frequently find themselves looking elsewhere for their financial lifelines. The founders of Cresco Labs, which operates three cultivation facilities in Illinois, first tapped friends and family for startup funds, and then other investors. A bank loan helped Cresco secure and construct its facilities. A lot of companies use lines of credit to smooth out cash flow, said Charlie Bachtell, Crescos CEO and co-founder. But in the medical cannabis industry, companies need to have cash in the bank, he said. Most dispensaries cannot accept credit card payments from customers, and all that cash on hand can tempt criminals. A bank account also lets companies write checks to vendors, and employees receive paychecks instead of envelopes stuffed with cash. But those little victories come at a cost. Banks pass along the cost of the extra compliance work it takes to do business with companies in the space like paperwork to prove money isnt being laundered. A bank told New Age Care in Mt. Prospect, Ill., last May that its monthly servicing fees were going to almost double, to $600, a sum that pushed the dispensary to drop day-to-day banking operations and start dealing mainly in cash or money orders, said co-owner David Knapp. The company hired a security firm to transport funds, adding another expense to its accounts payable ledger. Rule No. 1 in the medical marijuana business, Knapp said: Always have a backup plan. If fluctuating expenses havent reinforced that rule, the stunted growth of the program has. Illinois program has about 16,000 qualified patients, a number 10 to 12 months behind projections made in 2014, said Crescos Bachtell. All of our revenue projections are driven by patient population, Bachtell said. The limited number of conditions medical marijuana can be used to treat has contributed to the low patient numbers. Illinois launched its program 14 months ago with 39 qualifying conditions, and today there are 41. Some pioneering states, such as Colorado, grant medical marijuana cards to patients based on broad definitions of symptoms and conditions. (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) Lawmakers signed a bill last summer that pushed back the end of the pilot program to 2020, but it also changed the way qualifying conditions are approved. Originally, an advisory board composed of patients, medical experts and advocates vetted the conditions that people petitioned to be added, then the director of the Department of Public Health decided whether to approve them. The legislation eliminated the boards role in the process, putting approvals solely in the hands of department Director Nirav Shah, who hasnt approved any additional qualifying conditions. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and terminal illness were added to the original list of 39 conditions as part of last summers bill. There are seven lawsuits pending in court seeking to add conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and osteoarthritis to the list. Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold declined to comment. The new approval process has come under fire, but many cannabis business owners agree that strict regulations are necessary to make the pilot program successful. The rules help fight the image that pops into many peoples heads when they hear the word marijuana, and has drawn operators accustomed to highly regulated industries, including former lawyers, commodity traders and real estate professionals. (END OPTIONAL TRIM) With slow growth in Illinois, entrepreneurs are expanding their business to other states. PharmaCann operates a cultivation facility and four dispensaries in New York, has been awarded a dispensary license in Maryland and is developing a cultivation center and dispensary in Massachusetts. Cresco won a license in Puerto Rico, is about to partner with a group in Massachusetts that has a license already, and is eyeing opportunities in four other states. Other companies are formulating plans beyond Illinois borders as well. But theres still work to be done to combat the stigma surrounding marijuana and to increase understanding of the drug, business owners say. Parts of the state law can inhibit that and make business operations more difficult. (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) Regulations restrict cultivation centers from advertising their products to the public. Mark de Souza, interim CEO for Revolution Enterprises, which has two cultivation facilities in Illinois, partially blames that rule for the programs slow growth. A rule for how to dispose of cannabis plant waste like the stocks and roots amounts to another huge expense. Unruh likens the process to disposing of weapons-grade plutonium. And the struggle to find vendors willing to work with marijuana companies seems constant, said Zachary Zises, one of the owners of Dispensary 33 in Chicago. The electronic security monitoring company that covered the building on one of the citys bustling streets dropped them, Zises said. The company that first provided general liability insurance to Dispensary 33 for the dispensary also exited the cannabis space. Less competition among vendors translates to higher rates. The risk-reward isnt there with any of these providers, Zises said. (END OPTIONAL TRIM) Finding a property to house a dispensary can be a search of needle-in-a-haystack proportions. State laws mandate that dispensaries must be 1,000 feet from the property lines of schools or day care homes, for example. And good luck finding a landlord willing to work with a cannabis company, said Knapp at New Age Care. It was almost like dating again, he said. There was just a ton of rejection. Things change constantly as the industry grows and works to become established, but one thing is for sure, Knapp said. Its been a wild ride. 2017 Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. - PHOTOS (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): _____ Garth Brooks is making a stop in New Mexico on his latest tour. The country megastar will stop in Las Cruces at the Pan American Center on April 8. He will be touring with his wife, Trisha Yearwood. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. Prices are $64.23, plus fees. There is a limit of eight tickets per purchase which can only be purchased online or by phone. His return to Las Cruces marks the first show in 21 years. It is slated to be the only New Mexico show. Brooks has been certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history with 138 million albums. He is also the fastest-selling album artist in RIAA history and the only solo artist to have seven albums top the 10 million mark. Garth spent more weeks at No. 1 on the album sales charts than any other artist since the inception of SoundScan. He has taken 25 singles to the No. 1 position on the country charts. When his recent boxed set, Blame It All On My Roots debuted at No. 1, it marked the 13th time Garth had accomplished this feat making him the highest country debut leader of all time. FARMINGTON, N.M. A federal appeals court in Denver has denied a petition asking it to review a lower court ruling requiring the removal of a Ten Commandments monument in New Mexico. The Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/2kNYvYf ) that a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th circuit had previously left in place the lower court ruling regarding the monument outside Bloomfields City Hall. Petitioners asked the full court to review the case, and it has declined to do so. City Manager Eric Strahl says the City Council will likely meet to next week to decide the next step. The city could either remove the monument or appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the 2012 lawsuit on behalf of two Bloomfield residents who objected to the monument. ___ Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com FORT COLLINS, Colo. The Larimer County District Attorneys Office says a man shot by a Fort Collins police officer while holding a pellet gun had been attempting suicide by cop. The Coloradoan reports (http://noconow.co/2kG78BL ) 25-year-old Austin Snodgrass was shot outside a home Jan. 21. He is recovering and will be jailed on suspicion of felony menacing with a deadly weapon and attempting to influence a public servant. District Attorney Cliff Riedel says in an opinion released Tuesday that Officer Matthew Brede acted lawfully in shooting Snodgrass as the suspect walked toward him while pointing a pellet gun at him. The opinion says Snodgrass admitted to luring police to his home with a false report that his roommate had been stabbed. Riedel says Snodgrass lied to get officers to shoot him because he did not want to live anymore. ___ Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, http://www.coloradoan.com PRESCOTT, Ariz. The city of Prescott is considering selling a fire station that housed 19 elite Arizona wildland firefighters who died in 2013. The Daily Courier reports (http://bit.ly/2k3nq5N ) that relatives of the Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighting team are calling on the community to save the station. The City Council on Tuesday heard from several Hotshot relatives after discussing the possibility of selling unneeded city properties to help pay for the citys public-safety pension program. Hotshot advocates are calling on members of the community to come up with ideas to put the station to use, possibly for wildland training or firefighting education. The 19 Hotshots died in June 2013 while battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. They were based out of Station 7. ___ Information from: The Daily Courier, http://www.dcourier.com Former interior secretary Sally Jewell said in an interview Wednesday that the Army Corps of Engineers was reneging on its commitment to other federal agencies and tribal leaders to conduct a thorough environmental review of the Dakota Access pipeline before granting an easement to the projects sponsor. On Tuesday, Army officials said in court filings that they would grant the final federal permit the pipelines sponsor, Energy Transfer Partners, needs to complete the 1,170-mile project. Jewell, who has refrained from commenting on the new administration even as it has clashed with members of her former department, said she felt compelled to speak out because she believes it is now violating its legal obligations. Jewell said the Corps failed to adequately consult with leaders of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, whose reservation abuts the proposed route, early on in the process. The formal Environmental Impact Statement, which the agency indicated in December it would conduct, would have provided the tribe with an opportunity to air its concerns and allowed other agencies to weigh in on the decision. So the decision to not do any of that is reneging on a commitment they made [in December] and I think its fair to say that Im profoundly disappointed with the Corps reversal of its decision to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement and consider alternative routes, she said. This is a clear reversal of a commitment on the part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on something they gave thoughtful consideration to when they decided to do an environmental review. She added that when approving projects in the United States, the Corps is required to abide by the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. That has not been done in this case. Army officials could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday. In documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the agency said it was withdrawing its notice of intent to conduct an environmental review in response to the presidential memorandum President Trump issued Jan. 24 instructing the Army to expedite review of Energy Transfer Partners easement application. Rochelle Safo has spent so long at the digitization belt, she hears it in her dreams: The click of the camera, the beep of the computer, the whir of the belt as it conveys the next specimen beneath the cameras lens. Click. Beep. Whir. Click. Beep. Whir. The sounds fill the windowless room deep in the bowels of the National Museum of Natural History where she works. Eight hours a day, five days a week, every week for the past 16 months, Safo has helped operate a huge conveyor belt designed to digitize the museums vast botany collection. Deftly, she and her two fellow digitizers place papers bearing pressed plants on the belt, pass them under a camera, snap a photo, check the image on the computer, then replace the sheets in their folder. Click, beep, whir. Its definitely not what I had imagined, admitted the 24-year-old Safo. Shed gone to Georgetown to get a masters degree in museum studies with the hope of becoming a curator. But when she graduated and started looking for jobs at the Smithsonian, this was what was available. The seemingly monotonous task turned out to be essential. Theres a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than you think, Safo said. The fact that we all manage to stay sane is really what makes the museum run. The NMNH botany collection, or herbarium, is among the largest in the world, filling more than two floors of the museum with massive palm fronds, tiny slides containing microscopic algae, coconuts heavier than a human toddler, pressed plants older than the United States, and objects associated with some of the famous names in the history of science and exploration Charles Darwin, Captain James Cook, President Theodore Roosevelt. All told, there are more than 5 million specimens spanning the past three centuries of plant life on Earth. Some 3.5 million of those objects are press sheets dried and preserved plants mounted on stiff white paper and meticulously labeled with information about when and where they were found. It is a record of what existed, said Department of Botany chief Laurence J. Dorr. And since 20,000 to 30,000 new specimens are added each year, it will stand as a record of what exists today. But for years, the record was locked away in cabinets, difficult to search and impossible to analyze on large scales. And at the plodding rate of traditional digitization (in which press sheets are scanned and identifying information is entered into a database by hand), any effort to turn the physical archive into a digital one seemed Sisyphean. New objects were added to the collection so rapidly the museum couldnt keep up. It took 40 years to catalogue the first million and a half items in the herbarium. Then the Digitization Program Office got involved. Next month, the botany staff will notch their next million digitized objects. It took less than a year and a half. I go back to the automobile, said Ken Rahaim, who oversees mass digitization for the entire Smithsonian. We borrowed a lot from Henry Ford, kind of creating a more industrialized process to do the mass digitization that we do here at the scale that we do it at. Were taking specialists and putting them at the tasks theyre all most efficient at. Assembly line techniques arent all that were required for the mass digitization program. The NMNH project uses a conveyor belt and high-speed camera developed in the Netherlands; it is the biggest project to use the technology in the United States. (The Dutch Naturalis Biodiversity Center employed the technology to digitize 7 million specimens in less than five years.) The project also relies on the efforts of about a dozen transcribers based in Suriname, who enter information from the press sheet labels into the database. Fans of the collection, or people who just enjoy mildly tedious typing, also can pitch in via the museums online transcription center. Some five dozen people are involved in the process, said Sylvia Stone Orli, digitization manager for the botany department. When the initiative won a museum award last year, so many team members got up to receive it, they barely fit on the stage. This is the reality of working at a natural history museum, Orli said. Even collectors and curators spend most of their time at their desks, archiving and analyzing data. One of Orlis colleagues in invertebrate zoology used to have a series of photos pinned to his door showing pictures of scientists in various swashbuckling situations with captions such as, What my friends think I do and What my mom thinks I do. The final photo, captioned What I actually do, shows a woman sitting in front of a computer. Its really funny, because museum work what theyre doing on the conveyor belt and what a lot of us do is just like daily, monotonous things to get the work done, Orli said. Rahaim interjected, But thats the foundation for the data that generates the information that actually creates the knowledge that makes the breakthrough. . . . Any eureka moment comes though a lot of foundational hard work at that level. Dorr agreed. Digitization, he said, will give researchers access to collections on opposite sides of the world. It will allow scientists to use computer algorithms to simultaneously study more specimens than could ever be examined by hand. He imagines a world in which all museum collections are digitized and posted online, and the entire body of human knowledge about nature is available at the click of a button. As we do more and other collections do more, I think were on the cusp of revolutionizing the questions we can ask about the natural world, he said. Already, digitization has answered a more mundane question. Several years ago, the botany department lost track of a press sheet containing a purple fireweed collected in Yellowstone in 1883. The specimen was unremarkable except for the fact that it was collected by President Chester A. Arthur it was the only object he contributed to the museum. So every few years, someone would wonder where it went. In December 2015, a few months into her gig at the conveyor belt, Safo spotted the delicate preserved flower and beneath it, Arthurs name. We see a lot of really cool ones, she said, then listed off famous names shed seen inked onto faded labels: Roland Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon; President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This, too, is part of the appeal of working on the belt. With 920,928 items digitized (as of Tuesday night), Safo and her colleagues have handled more specimens from the herbarium than anyone else in the botany department. Its given them a personal, tactile relationship with the collection, one that feels worth the long hours of tedious work. And its not always dull. Safo and her fellow digitizers pass the time with music and conversation. They listen to podcasts. They race to see if they can beat past records for most items photographed. On a good day, they are as much like machines as the conveyor belt itself, their hands moving fluidly, each persons movements in perfect synchrony with those of her colleagues. Click. Beep. Whir. Video link: Digitizing millions of plant specimens http://wapo.st/2kSSucn Embed code: DALLAS The company planning a high-speed train between Dallas and Houston says it has reached land option agreements on about 30 percent of the parcels estimated to be needed for the route that stretches through 10 counties. Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar said Tuesday that is was a significant step in the project and reflected the positive dialogue theyd had with landowners. The companys option program compensates owners in exchange for the right to acquire a parcel at a future date at an agreed price. The bullet train would take passengers between the two cities in 90 minutes. The company said 50 percent of the parcels needed in Waller and Grimes counties are covered by the option agreements. Landowners there have been among the most vocally opposed to the line. HENRYETTA, Okla. (AP) A small Oklahoma town is echoing the story line of '80s movie Footloose by canceling a Valentine's Day dance because of an arcane city ordinance enforcing a strict moral code. KTUL-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2logzET ) that the organizer canceled the dance in Henryetta because it would have taken place 300 feet from a church, in violation of an ordinance that forbids dancing within 500 feet of a place of worship. Mayor Jennifer Clason, who was born in Henryetta, says she always knew about the old city ordinance but that it has never been enforced. Police Chief Steve Norman says his department has no interest in doing so. Clason says city councilors will consider abolishing the ordinance during their Feb. 22 meeting. The town of 6,500 is 90 miles east of Oklahoma City. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. SEATTLE Seattle leaders voted to cut ties with banking giant Wells Fargo over its role as a lender to the Dakota Access pipeline project as well as other business practices. The crowd erupted in cheers Tuesday and chanted water is life when the City Council unanimously passed the measure, which directs officials to end the citys contract with the San Francisco-based bank once it expires in 2018 and not to make new investments in Wells Fargo securities for three years. The example that we have set today can become a beacon of hope for activists across the country, said council member Kshama Sawant, who co-sponsored the measure. It came the same day that the Army told Congress that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, completing the disputed four-state project. The stretch is the final big chunk of work on the 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the pipelines crossing, fears a leak would pollute the tribes drinking water. The tribe has led protests that drew hundreds and at times thousands of people who dubbed themselves water protectors to an encampment near the crossing. Wells Fargo has said it is one of 17 involved in financing the pipeline and that it is obligated by carry out its credit agreement. The bank is providing $120 million of the $2.5 billion. While we are disappointed that the city has decided to end our 18-year relationship, we stand ready to support Seattle with its financial services needs in the future, said Tim Brown, Wells Fargo middle market banking regional manager. Tribal members urged the Seattle council to send a broader message to oppose the pipeline and stand with indigenous people. You have been a city setting the example to the world, and I look to you to do that now, said Olivia One Feather of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. When big cities such as this do the right thing, it sparks hope in the world. Environmental activists across the country have called on a number of banks to stop financing the construction of the oil pipeline as well as on individuals to pull their money out of those banks. Wells Fargo had managed more than $3 billion of Seattles operating account, processing everything from payroll and vendor payments to revenue collected from city business taxes to city fines. The measure passed Tuesday calls out Wells Fargo for a number of enforcement orders issued against it in recent years. Regulators fined the bank $185 million after employees opened millions of customer accounts fraudulently to meet sales goals. In the wake of that scandal, California and Illinois announced they would suspend some business relationships with the bank. Also in response, Seattle officials last October ended negotiations with Wells Fargo over a $100 million bond deal for the citys electric utility. Some who spoke Tuesday urged the council to look for a nonprofit bank, credit union or other financial institution that aligns with the citys social values when it seeks to replace Wells Fargo. ___ Associated Press writers Manuel Valdes in Seattle and Blake Nicholson in Bismarck, North Dakota, contributed to this report. SANTA FE New Mexico jury trials will not have to be halted at least for now after the state Board of Finance signed off Wednesday on giving up to $600,000 to the cash-strapped court system to pay jurors. The seven-member board also approved a smaller amount, $82,614, to avoid planned employee furloughs at the state Supreme Court. The first furlough day would have been March 10. Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura told board members that judges statewide were poised to begin canceling jury trials, starting March 1, if emergency funding was not pledged Wednesday. I cant let juries sit there without pay when it affects trials, Nakamura said. She also said that if jury trials were to be canceled, defense lawyers would likely have sought to have cases dismissed under a defendants constitutional right to a speedy trial. The money for both the jury fund and the Supreme Court will come out of an emergency pool of money set aside by lawmakers during a special session last fall. The courts will have to repay the money if a separate funding measure is signed into law in the coming weeks. Gov. Susana Martinez, who is chairwoman of the board and appoints most of its members, cautioned that emergency funding would be a temporary solution for the courts. The emergency funding is expected to keep jury trials going through mid-April. Additional funding would then have to be provided in the annual state budget bill to keep jury trials going through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. This is not the way to fix, or permanently fix, a budget crisis that is none of our fault, Martinez said. Band-Aid approach The two-term GOP governor, a former prosecutor, has already vetoed two court funding proposals approved by lawmakers during this years 60-day session. In doing so, she has criticized the Democrat-controlled Legislature for not examining ways to reduce court spending. Top Democrats have fired back, accusing the governor of trying to starve the court system. In a statement Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, called the Board of Finances emergency funding approval a Band-Aid approach. Twice the Legislature acted in a bipartisan manner to bring responsible solutions to the crisis facing our courts, Smith said. What Gov. Martinez and the Board of Finance did (Wednesday) was once again kick the courts woes down the road. That prompted a retort later in the day from Martinez, who said the two proposals she vetoed were flawed attempts to fund the courts. She also claimed the funding levels approved Wednesday by the Board of Finance would save taxpayer dollars, although jury pay levels remain unchanged. Expenditures Meanwhile, several Board of Finance members noted during Wednesdays meeting that state court officials have made repeated requests for emergency funds in recent years. At one point, board member Robert Aragon, who ran unsuccessfully for state auditor in 2014, described the chronic funding pleas as a crisis created by a lack of proper administration in the courts central administrative office. However, Nakamura, a Republican who is in line to become Supreme Court chief justice this year, said she believes expenditures from the courts jury fund have been proper. On average, about 5,000 jurors serve in various New Mexico courts per month, according to judicial branch data. Of the roughly $8.6 million in projected fund expenditures for the current budget year, nearly 90 percent is being spent on compensating jurors, witnesses and court interpreters, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. That includes expenses for jury summonses and parking, which came under scrutiny Wednesday. The jury fund is projected to have a $1.6 million shortfall, partly because some of this years funding had to be used to pay jurors who served during the past fiscal year. Exacerbating the crunch, the court system, like other state agencies, had its budget cut in last falls special session. In anticipation of the cuts, the Administrative Office of the Courts reduced both juror pay and mileage reimbursement rates. Jurors currently get $6.25 an hour, down from the previous $6.75. In all, the judicial branchs total budget makes up a little less than 3 percent of total state spending. The tall, regal first lady was a magnet for marketers and she happily signed on. During her years in the White House, she became a paid pitchwoman for hot dog buns, mattresses and air travel. Many Americans were aghast at the sight of the presidents wife lending her name and face to hawk products in commercial advertising; Congress launched an investigation. But the controversy died down when Eleanor Roosevelt disclosed that she had donated most of her earnings to charity. A similar round of pearl-clutching erupted in Washington this week when Melania Trumps lawyers argued in a libel lawsuit that a British tabloids sleazy accusations about her past had damaged her chances to capitalize on multimillion dollar business relationships at a time when she was one of the most photographed women in the world. The East Wing as a marketing opportunity? Trumps representatives later issued indignant denials, saying she has no intention of trying to profit from her role. (The defamatory story was published in August, at a time when few expected the Trumps to take the White House, and the former model had once had a sideline selling Melania jewelry.) But her lawsuit revealed an unspoken truth: Modern first ladies know that inherent to the role is the power to sell. Roosevelt showed up in print and television commercials endorsing bread products, margarine and even the burgeoning airline industry. The latter featured a portrait of Roosevelt seated on a plane, serenely knitting above this quote: I never cease to marvel at the airplane. Roosevelt was surprised at her ability to push products, historians recalled, but in the years since the selling power of first ladies has been well documented. Their position is unsalaried and the work is unofficial, but presidents wives have used their platforms to promote worthy causes, promote their husbands and, sometimes, promote themselves. Lady Bird Johnson, now seen as a pioneering environmentalist, led a nationwide campaign to discourage roadside littering. Michelle Obama produced public service announcements encouraging children to eat their vegetables, at the same time her husband attempted to overhaul the nations health care system. Nancy Reagan launched her just say no campaign to steer kids away from substance abuse that dovetailed with her husbands war on drugs. Of course, these were all pursuits with the public interest in mind, and none stood to gain personally from this kind of promotional work. And all first ladies have sought to sell the nation on the likability of their husbands as Melania did in interviews during Donald Trumps campaign for president when she spoke of the Donald only I know. (Even when theyre not trying, first ladies can be startlingly effective at selling commercial goods. A study in the Harvard Business Review found Obama boosted the stock-prices of the fashion brands she wore significantly, creating tens of millions of dollars in value.) Though the new first lady has been slow to set up a staff or embrace the public aspects of her role, she is uniquely suited for some aspects of it. She worked as a model, essentially a walking advertisement for fashion designers, then later hawked her eponymous jewelry collection on the television network QVC an accomplishment touted by the White House website, though her official bio dropped mention of the home shopping channel. Celebrity branding expert Jeetendr Sehdev sees the potential for creating of a commercial enterprise around the first lady as just another marketing opportunity in a culture rife with them. She would be redefining what it means to be a first lady, and there would be people who loved it, who would see it as a game-changer, and there would be people who would hate it, he said. Well, yes: Some people would understandably hate it, since it is technically illegal for a president or his spouse to profit off the presidency. The Trumps have already run into ethical quandaries around their family business, including a PR pitch by Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry calling attention to a $10,800 bracelet she wore during an interview following her fathers election. Ivanka Trump vowed to sever ties with her business soon after. Still, the idea of the first lady as a brand is not unheard of though it is rarely spoken of in such frank terms. During the early days of the Obama White House, social secretary Desiree Rogers referred to the Obama brand in a luxury magazine and was promptly smacked down. The president is a person not a product, senior adviser David Axlerod reportedly told her. Indeed, Roosevelt faced unrelenting fury when she allowed her literary and talent agents sell her image and name to advertise products, said Carl Sferrazza Anthony, a historian for the National First Ladies Library in Canton, Ohio. It wasnt just that she was seen as making money off the presidency but that by promoting a product she was also somehow degrading the dignity of the presidency, he said. The closest any member of a first family came to replicating Roosevelts faux pas was Jimmy Carters younger brother Billy, who gained celebrity for his boozy, good-ol boy likability. In the late 1970s, he endorsed a product called Billy Beer. The cans read: Brewed expressly for and with the personal approval of one of Americas all-time Great Beer Drinkers Billy Carter. Even though Trumps lawyers insist she has no plan to profit from her time as first lady, Norm Eisen, a former Obama administration ethics lawyer, said that at some level, the language in her lawsuit has to be taken at face value. Youre not allowed to make assertions that are not true in legal documents, he said. Taken literally, Eisen sees the mere idea of creating Melania Inc. as an extension of the criticism that has dogged the president that his massive business empire is illegally benefiting from Trumps Oval Office perch. The Trumps are using the White House like the Kardashians used reality TV, to build and vastly expand their business enterprises, he said, with questions being raised about Washingtons Trump International hotel courting foreign diplomats for bookings, international deals pursued by the presidents sons, Trumps public excoriation of Nordstrom for dropping his daughters clothing line and continued murkiness about his intent to separate from his business while in office. There is one thing that current and former first ladies can sell, though, without running into legal or ethical trouble books. First lady memoirs are practically their own industry reliably lucrative products, netting advances of a million dollars and up. Nancy Reagans My Turn and Barbara Bushs Memoir reportedly earned $2 million a piece. Laura Bushs Spoken From the Heart fetched her a reported $1.6 million advance, and Hillary Clinton was paid $8 million for Living History. Obama could earn far more than that, according to publishing experts. So if Melania Trump wants to sell something, perhaps she should start writing. Two Republican state senators quest to fix what they claim is misbranding of milk is off to a frothy start at the Roundhouse. The bill, which targets soy milk, almond milk and other nondairy products, stalled in its first Senate committee Tuesday after practical concerns were raised. It could be brought back in a revised form, but in its original form would only allow products obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy mammals to be labeled as milk. Critics say such a move would be unprecedented nationally and would represent an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights. The bill, Senate Bill 161, is sponsored by Sens. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell and Pat Woods of Broadview. Both work as farmers. Hate crimes: It doesnt look like the Legislature is ready to add police and firefighters to the list of groups protected under the state Hate Crimes Act. A proposal to do so failed on a 3-2 vote along party lines in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. Democrats said that state law already provides enhanced penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers and that the Hate Crimes Act isnt the right place to address the topic. Republicans and other supporters, meanwhile, said passage of the bill would send a message that the community supports officers, especially as they face acts of violence or hostility simply because of the uniform they wear. House Minority Leader Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, sponsored the bill. Tax returns: A proposal to require presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns to secure a spot on the ballot didnt fare well Tuesday. A motion to recommend passage of the measure failed on a 3-3 vote after Democratic Rep. Debbie Rodella of Espanola crossed party lines to join Republicans in opposing the bill. Opponents said it wasnt fair to single out the presidential ticket rather than, say, candidates for governor or secretary of state for disclosure of past tax returns. They also suggested it would prevent voters from being able to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice, especially in the case of President Donald Trump, who broke with tradition and refused to release his tax returns. Rep. Georgene Louis, D-Albuquerque, a co-sponsor House Bill 204, said New Mexico voters deserve to see presidential candidates business relationships and other potential conflicts. And statewide elected offices, she said, are already subject to state laws on financial disclosure. The idea still has a glimmer of hope, as a similar bill, sponsored by Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, is pending in the Senate. Dan McKay, dmckay@abqjournal.com STOCKHOLM A winter evening in Stockholm, lights glinting in the harbor, snow falling outside. And what about us, I am asked, up here in the North? What happens to us? My Swedish companions are journalists, analysts and civil servants, people who care about their countrys national security. Though neither elite nor wealthy, they do share a worldview. They think their countrys prosperity depends on the European Union and its open markets. They also think their safety depends on the United States commitment to Europe. And since President Donald Trump took office, they suddenly find themselves staring into an unfathomable abyss. Its not party politics that bother them: These are conservatives, by Swedish standards, and Republican presidents have suited them in the past. Trumps tweeting and bragging dont bother them that much either, though they find it unseemly. The real problem is deeper: Swedens economic and political model depends on Pax Americana, the set of American-written and American-backed rules that have governed transatlantic commerce and politics for 70 years and they fear Trump will bring Pax Americana crashing down. Nor are they alone: Variations of this conversation are taking place in every European capital, and many Asian capitals too. The Swedes do have specific, parochial concerns, and one of them is Russia. For the past several years, Russia has played games with their air force and navy, buzzing Swedish air space and sending submarines along the coast. Jittery Swedes have brought back civil defense drills, and until November, it looked like other changes were coming. Once, Swedish neutrality was a useful fiction, both for them and for the United States, because it gave Sweden a role as a negotiator. Now, Swedish support for joining NATO is at an all-time high. But they seem to be late to the party. If the U.S. president feels lukewarm about NATO, then what is the point? The health of the European Union worries them too. Sweden is a small country, but it has big companies, all of which have major investments and trading arrangements all across Europe. Brexit probably caused more distress here than anywhere else in Europe: Sweden had long counted on Britain to help make the arguments for more open, less regulated European markets. In the past, the United States made some of those markets too. But what now? If the United States is dedicated to America First, then American diplomats are hardly going to help Sweden wave the flag for free trade, as they did in the past. What worries them most of all, though, is something else: Over and over again, they ask me about Stephen K. Bannon. But in the course of the evening, it becomes clear that theyve read more about him and know more about him than I do. White supremacist ideology is alive and well in Scandinavia Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people in a 2011 attack in Norway, is its most famous exponent. Sweden also has a home-grown populist party, the Sweden Democrats, who share Bannons pro-Russian and anti-Muslim sympathies. My Swedish companions think their country has absorbed and assimilated large numbers of refugees in the past couple of years pretty well, but of course there are tensions, and tensions can be exploited. Will the U.S. administration, consciously or unconsciously, now help Nordic nationalists make their case? None of my companions go as far as the extraordinary editorial in the German magazine Der Spiegel, which has just called on Germans to stand up for what is important: democracy, freedom, the West and its alliances, and which asks Europeans to start planning political and economic defenses against Americas dangerous president. But, yes, these Swedes would like to create new forms of European security. A Baltic-Nordic security pact should be on the table. European defense structures should get attention and investment. The world is more dangerous than they imagined, the alliances and institutions they have long relied upon may be crumbling. We are on our own here, one of them writes to me the next day. Which pretty much sums up how the rest of Americas allies feel right now too. After months of investigation, the Better Business Bureau has cleared the Wounded Warrior Project, one of the nations largest veterans charities, of lavish spending, and gave the nonprofit organization its seal of approval. The bureaus Wise Giving Alliance report found that Warrior Project spending has been consistent with its programs and missions. Last March, the Wounded Warrior Project fired its top administrators amid news reports that the charity was spending millions in donations intended for veterans on a swanky convention in a five-star hotel along with other parties and employee perks and high salaries. At the time, two of the organizations leaders, who were let go, were making $473,015 and $369,030, respectively, in 2013, the last year for which tax documents are readily available. The Better Business Bureaus Wise Giving Alliance suspended the charitys seal designation, and donations fell off with donors uncertain about how their money would be spent. About 85 employees were laid off in September from the organization, which now has 500 employees. One source of contention was over media reports that said the organization had spent $3 million on that all-hands Colorado conference, but Wounded Warrior said last March that the expense was less than $1 million. Likewise, the Better Business Bureau said its review found that the cost was less than $1 million. The investigations found that based on the 415 staff members, the cost was about $440 per day per employee for the five-day conference, including hotel rooms, food, travel and conference space, according to Stars and Stripes, which first reported the news. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, who took over the Wounded Warrior Project in July, said in an emailed statement that he is pleased to see the Better Business Bureaus report validating our impact and commitment. In a previous interview, he said he understood how the Colorado conference appeared from the outside. The Wounded Warrior Project no longer holds such events and already has increased the scrutiny on spending for travel and all expenses, he said, adding that he would be paid less than those before him, with his salary at $280,000. This year the non-profit WWP will hit a milestone by providing meaningful resources to our 100,000th wounded warrior, he wrote. And we are humbled and honored to provide continued support to these warriors and their families for many years to come. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, a former prime minister and U.S. dual citizen, won Somalias long-postponed presidential elections Wednesday. Voting took place at the international airport under heavy security. Somali citizens were not able to directly participate in the vote due to threats from extremist group al-Shabab, but Farmajos victory was widely seen as a reflection of popular support. Legislators appointed by the countrys powerful clan leaders cast the actual ballots and ultimately unseated the favorite, incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Farmajo, 55, is known for his anti-corruption work during eight months he served as prime minister six years ago. When he was asked to step down in 2011, hundreds of people took to the streets of the capital, Mogadishu, demanding that he stay on. This victory represents the interest of the Somali people. This victory belongs to Somali people, and this is the beginning of the era of the unity, the democracy of Somalia and the beginning of the fight against corruption, Farmajo said after taking the oath of office. Farmajo will now face off against endemic official corruption and al-Shababs continued control of large swaths of the countryside. Transparency International has consistently listed Somalia as the most corrupt country in the world. Farmajos win was celebrated in Somalias streets, but analysts expressed wariness that he could mold a functioning government out of what is often considered a failed state. The election itself did little to instill confidence. A joint statement by the United Nations, the United States, European Union and others warned of egregious cases of abuse of the electoral process in the weeks leading up to the vote. And a Mogadishu-based nonprofit, Marqaati, released a report this week alleging that some presidential candidates paid $50,000 to $100,000 to legislators to sway their allegiance. Meanwhile, the constant threat of violence meant people in Somalia will have to wait again to cast ballots themselves. Throughout the presidency of Farmajos predecessor, Somalia was plagued by high-profile attacks, particularly those targeting lawmakers and officials in Mogadishu. In an interview with The Washington Post last year, Mohamud called al-Shabab militants resurgent, admitting that his own fledgling security forces had failed to step up against the al-Qaida-backed group. But the continued presence of extremists is not simply a product of the Somali governments weakness. An African Union mission in Somalia, launched in 2011, was able to force al-Shabab from some of the urban centers it once controlled, but the mission has largely failed to eradicate members of the group who still hover between cities. The United States has since spent more than $2 billion on Somalia, and European nations have given large sums as well. But massive amounts of money have been lost to corruption so much so that the government has proven unable to pay its own soldiers or police. Security forces thus have little impetus to work, and some even defect to al-Shabab. Farmajo is perhaps most famous for reinstating soldiers salaries during his time as prime minister. People were equally excited for Mohamud when he was elected, said Kenneth Menkhaus, a professor at Davidson College and an expert on politics in the Horn of Africa. But as a matter of political survival, he was co-opted by a system that relies on dealmaking and corruption. Progress in Somalia is contingent on reducing that corruption. Formajo will face the mammoth task of uniting a country composed of disparate so-called federal member states, each of which has a distinct clan composition. In several of those states, strongmen have emerged who are seen locally as more important and more powerful than the president. Formajos success may rely on building a broad alliance of clans without succumbing to horse-trading of government funds. Complicating that process is the fact that Farmajo does not belong to the clan that has led the government and controlled Mogadishu at large for decades. Over the years, as the Hawiye clan became entrenched, and established cartels that siphoned off money from foreign aid, customs revenue and even U.S. security assistance, said Menkhaus. Farmajo hails from the Darod clan, which mostly resides in northern Somalia. The United States and Europe have conveyed their support to the central government while also recognizing that the best way to secure Somalia in the long term might be to empower regional fighting forces that maintain control over their own portion of the country. For its part, the United States has devoted considerable resources to training a Somali special forces unit, and has continued its campaign of airstrikes and drone strikes on al-Shabab. While U.S. military officials say that campaign has been successful, its killing of several al-Shabab leaders in recent years hasnt paralyzed the group as some had once expected. Farmajo was born in Somalia and grew up in Mogadishu as the son of a government official. In 1982, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was posted to Washington, D.C., three years later. While in the United States, he spoke out against his government and subsequently was granted asylum out of fear for his safety. Except for his stint as prime minister, he has lived in the United States since. He was politically active enough in the diaspora to be asked by former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to come back and serve. At the time, Farmajo was working for the New York State Department of Transportation in Buffalo, the city where he got his bachelors degree. After his eight months in office, he went back to his old life, and lived just outside the city until returning to Somalia again last year to begin campaigning. On Wednesday, the Buffalo News ran the headline: Grand Island man elected president of Somalia. The article quoted Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, apparently a close friend of Farmajos, as saying: This is an opportunity for our new president to collaborate with a new world leader who happens to be from Grand Island. Somalia was one of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens were barred from entering the United States for 90 days by a now-suspended Trump administration executive order. As a head of state, Farmajo would be exempted from the ban should it be reinstated. BALTIMORE House Democrats kicked off a three-day policy retreat on Wednesday by presenting themselves despite their minority status as champions for the majority of voters who did not vote for President Donald Trump. President Trump is exactly who we thought he is: incompetent and in some cases, in terms of our national security, dangerous, said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. As long as that president continues down this path, there is nothing Democrats can work with him on. The annual issues conference, House Democrats first with control of neither Congress nor the White House since 2006, unfolded at a waterfront hotel in Pelosis, D-Calif., native Baltimore. Members of Congress were set to hear from a series of authors, labor organizers, think-tankers, and fellow politicians about why they had lost the 2016 election. Other sessions would home in on how to oppose Trump with an agenda of their own. Weve got to have some honest conversations, said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who rang warning bells about how her party was on track to lose blue states in the Midwest. Well fight Trump where we gotta fight him, press back where we gotta press back, but then we gotta keep pivoting to what our vision for the country is, said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who mounted a failed bid against Pelosi for minority leader after the 2016 defeat. I think people are gonna get whiplash with Trump. Rank-and-file Democrats volunteered a number of ideas to resist Trump, capitalizing on the energy being seen across the country from liberal activists and others at congressional townhalls, lawmakers offices and airports after Trumps travel ban was issued. They want to think about new ways to communicate, given Trumps unorthodox tweets, focus on changes to the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank financial regulations. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., for instance, believes Trumps broken promises will add up. Its great, its exhilarating, but I realized just now that the last three weekends, Ive spoken at rallies of 10,000 people or more, Dingell said. And none of them had been organized the week before. Progressive groups are riding so high, in fact, that they condemned the fact that a representative of the centrist group Third Way has a speaking slot at the retreat on Wednesday night. This weeks Democratic retreat will be the 15th under Pelosi and the second after an election in which the party gained seats but fell short of taking back the House. In 2012, Democrats increased their numbers by eight, but were hindered by a map that gerrymandered most of the Midwest, as well as North Carolina and Virginia, in favor of Republicans. In 2016, they gained six seats, putting them about where they were after the partys landslide 2010 defeat. On Thursday members will hear preliminary findings of a red team-style review of the partys House campaign arm following underwhelming 2016 election results. House leaders, including Pelosi, predicted double-digit gains and raised the possibility that Democrats could win the 30 seats they needed to reclaim the majority. Instead, their half-dozen wins were largely because of court-ordered redistricting. Its just an honest assessment of what we do well, and what we need to work on, simple as that, said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., who is leading the review and declined to discuss the findings in detail. Two people familiar with the preliminary report but not authorized to comment on it expect the review to be critical of some Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee practices, including some long-standing relationships with outside consultants. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., the DCCCs chairman, is scheduled to follow that presentation with an outline of the committees plans for 2018, including encouraging signs in candidate recruiting. Theyre coming out of the woodwork, Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., the committees recruiting chairman, said Tuesday. One prized target who had fended off Democratic recruiters during the 2016 cycle, he said, called him days after the election and said, in his words, that wild horses couldnt drag me away from a 2018 run. But the hard memory of Trumps win which few Democrats saw coming has lasted, and influenced how Democrats are thinking about opposing a president who polls poorly across the country but stronger in swing seats. He tweets, said Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Others tweet back at him. I dont think there are rules of engagement like there used to be. People need to know were hearing them, and that were working on the issues that are important to them, not the issues that are polling well. Swalwell called Trump masterful at throwing a hundred balls in a hundred directions, said hed like to see Democrats concentrate on defending Obama-era milestones such as the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. He urged independent investigations into Trumps ties to Russia, the crafting of a forward-looking economic message and holding Trump responsible for his campaign promises. I think this stuff adds up, said Swalwell, who chairs a group of younger Democratic lawmakers called the Future Forum. He may have promised 1,200 Carrier jobs and delivered 800; he may have promised 4 percent GDP [growth] and its around 2 percent. I think just kind of going at those individually may not resonate as much with folks, but . . . those broken promises will add up, and I think that may be the undoing. Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md., a freshman who represents much of Prince Georges County, said that he and his colleagues were looking for buy-in on ideas they could take back home, like workforce training. Probably the most important thing is coming out with a proactive, positive agenda, Brown said. My hope is that we come out of it with a clear vision and an agenda, and a set of action items. The day after Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was rebuked while making a speech critical of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Sen. Ted Cruz blasted Democrats, saying their party is the one rooted in racism. The Democrats are the party of the Ku Klux Klan, Cruz, R-Tex., said in an interview on Fox News on Wednesday. You look at the most racist you look at the Dixiecrats, they were Democrats who imposed segregation, imposed Jim Crow laws, who founded the Klan. The Klan was founded by a great many Democrats. Cruz isnt the first Republican to associate Democrats with the Ku Klux Klan. In 2013, Virginia state Sen. Stephen Martin said that the Democratic Party created the hate group. Martin later released a statement saying he regretted the carelessness and inaccuracy of his comments, according to PolitiFact. Although there is some historical link between Democrats and the KKK, to say that the hate group was founded by the Democratic Party is misleading, J. Michael Martinez, author of Carpetbaggers, Cavalry and the KKK, told PolitiFact. Angry Southern whites during the 1860s and 1870s were Democrats, and some of them joined the KKK, which was more of a grass-roots creation. Members of the KKK in the South acted as a strong arm for Democratic politicians during the Reconstruction Era, and Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was associated with the KKK, spoke at the 1868 Democratic National Convention, Carole Emberton, an associate professor of history at the University of Buffalo, told PolitiFact. But, Emberton also said that the party lines of the 1860s and 1870s are not the party lines of today. By the 1960s, the Democratic Party was the party of the civil rights movement. Similar claims also have been debunked by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama-based hate watch group. Last year, David Neiwert, a contributing writer for the group, wrote that describing the KKK as a leftist organization is false. Yes, in the South of the 1920s, the Klan was a militaristic and terroristic wing of the Jim Crow-loving Democratic Party there, in no shape, form, or fashion was this the leftist wing of the Democratic Party. When the members of the Klan were Democrats, as in the 1920s, as well as in the 40s when they were called Dixiecrats, they were conservative Democrats, he wrote. Neiwerts article was in response to CNN conservative analyst Jeffrey Lords statement calling the KKK a leftist terrorist organization. The Dixiecrats Cruz referred to was a splinter group of conservative white Southern Democrats who opposed the national partys growing intervention in race relations. They even ran a rival campaign in the 1948 presidential election, pitting then-South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond against the Democratic incumbent, President Harry S. Truman. The rest of Cruzs comments on Fox News focused on defending Sessions, whom he called an honorable, decent person and who has faced repeated accusations of racism. The charges that she was making of Jeff Sessions are demonstrably false. Theyre slanderous, theyre ugly, Cruz said of Warren. Cruz was referring to Warrens decision to read statements that figures such as the late Senator Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and the late Coretta Scott King had made in the past against Sessions. The Democrat from Massachusetts was reading a letter written by the wife of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. when, in an extraordinarily rare move, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., interrupted her, saying shed violated Senate rules. The specific rule in question, Rule 19, says senators are not allowed to directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming of a Senator. In a 49-to-43 vote, the Senate upheld the ruling that Warren violated the rarely invoked rule. The statements from Kennedy and Coretta Scott King were both in opposition to Sessionss nomination for the federal judgeship in 1986. At that time, Kennedy was a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. During the debate Tuesday night, Warren read Kennedys statement that called Sessions a disgrace to the Justice Department. Warren had just started reading the letter from Coretta Scott King when she was interrupted. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. For this reprehensible conduct, he should not be rewarded with a federal judgeship, Coretta Scott King wrote, referring to controversial prosecutions when Sessions was the U.S. attorney for Alabama. Cruz said what happened Tuesday night demonstrates the Democratic Partys desperation and anger. He added that the Democrats are not angry at Republicans; theyre mad at the voters because of the outcome of the election. When the left doesnt have any more arguments, they go and just accuse everyone of being a racist, Cruz said, and its an ugly, ugly part of the modern Democratic Party. Democrats have since rallied behind Warren. Some began using #LetLizSpeak on Twitter and posted copies of Kings letter to Facebook. Others criticized McConnell, saying he selectively enforced the more-than-200-year-old rule and pointed out other instances in which it couldve been used, but wasnt. In 2015, for instance, Cruz accused McConnell of lying during a debate over whether to fund the Export-Import Bank, a little-known government agency that helps fund risky investments abroad. Cruz was not found to be in violation of Rule 19 then. Politico congressional reporter Burgess Everett reported that McConnell convinced his colleagues to stand down. The final vote for Sessions is scheduled for Wednesday evening, a day after the Senate narrowly confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary. The Washington Posts Paul Kane, Ed OKeefe and Amber Phillips contributed to this report. CNN scored a surprise hit last night with a broadcast from a parallel universe a debate about the future of Obamacare, starring presidential primary season runners-up Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Ted Cruz, R-Tex. According to AdWeek, the nearly two-hour special attracted 2.46 million viewers, and 932,000 from the coveted demographic of viewers ages 25-54. Those were the kind of numbers enjoyed by Fox News, which typically laps CNN for viewers and they came not for a tabloid special but for a debate about health insurance. Youve heard me say once or twice that I dont think the media does a particularly good job covering the issues that matter to working people, Sanders told The Washington Post a few days before the debate. I think what happens in presidential campaigns with a series of debates, is good but theres no reason that those debates cant happen 12 months a year. Indeed, had a few primaries broken a different way, CNNs special could have been a presidential debate. In February 2017, it turned into a heated, personal and wonkish argument between two men whose perspectives were not universally accepted in their caucuses. Sanders favors the replacement of Americas kludgy health-care system with European-style single payer, often calling it Medicare for all. Cruz favors immediate repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which Republican leaders are struggling to pull off. But some of the debates most striking moments came over rhetoric and spin not policy. Sanders conceded from the outset that the ACA was not perfect. Nobody believes that it is, he said. Cruz, in calling it a disaster, attempted to trap Sanders by saying the ACA had doubled insurance company profits. I find myself in agreement with Ted, said Sanders. Hes right. The function of insurance companies is not to provide quality health care to all people. Its to make as much money as they possibly can. Ted, lets work together on a Medicare for all, single-payer program, so were finally going to get insurance companies, private insurance companies out of our lives. Cruz pivoted, saying that an overzealous Food and Drug Administration was being stingy about approvals, and that Democrats were misleading when they said that Republicans would put current health insurance customers out in the cold. But Sanders took another opportunity when Cruz said that, under the Republican reform, no one would see a canceled plan over a preexisting condition. Bernie, its easy to say to people, gosh, youre going to lose your coverage, said Cruz. What do the Democrats say to the 6 million people who had their health insurance canceled? Ted, Ted, youre a good lawyer, and you use words well, Sanders replied. What you just said is cancel your insurance. Cancel your insurance, OK? Thats good. But what happens if tomorrow you wake up and you go to the doctor and you discover that you have cancer? All right? You just discovered it. And the insurance companies say, hey, youre not a good deal for us, we cant make money off of you, you will not get that health insurance? In similar debates, Democrats might have resisted hearing their ideals compared to the ones in Europe. Sanders felt no such angst, rattling off the names of wealthy Scandinavian countries when Cruz insisted that socialism would drive people into poverty. Cruz, meanwhile, referred to notes from his lectern to tell horror stories from Britains National Health Service. In a hospital in Essex, doctors twice canceled a lifesaving potential lifesaving surgery for a patient with esophageal cancer, because there were no free beds in the intensive care unit, Cruz said. In Wales, an 82-year-old woman who had fallen waited eight hours on the floor before an ambulance arrived. Her daughter sat beside her in the ordeal, described it as one of the longest nights of her life. This is what happens when government takes over health care every example on Earth the result is rationing and waiting periods, and you, the citizens, being told, no, you cant have the health care you want and deserve. In America, we do rationing in a different way, Ted the way we do rationing is, if you are very rich, you can get the best health care in the world, Sanders replied. But if you are working-class, you are going to be having a very difficult time affording the outrageous cost of health care . . . and others end up in the hospital at outrageous costs for illnesses that could have been treated initially at far less cost. So please, dont tell me about rationing. This country has more rationing than any other industrialized country on Earth, except the rationing is done by income. And working-class people and poor people today are suffering as a result of that rationing. Dabur India Ltds pure-play beauty retail venture NewU today announced the launch of Sri Lankas Ayurvedic beauty brand Spice Island in India. This marks the Indian entry of Spice Island, which will be available exclusively at NewU outlets across the country, and will feature a range of premium Skin Care, Bath & Body Care and Hair Care products. Inspired by the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, Spice Island is a holistic approach to personal skin and hair care. Its is a renowned Sri Lankan brand that is helping people re-connect with Ayurvedic means of skin care and healing. Spice Island uses 100% natural ingredients of Spices, Herbs, Botanicals and Super-fruits, sourced directly from the spice trade of Sri Lanka, to provide the user enriching outcomes. Consumer are increasingly embracing healthy, holistic living, and this is also reflected in the rising preference for products based on natural ingredients. We are confident that the Spice Island range will meet the aspirations of the modern day consumer and further establish NewU as the preferred destination for all beauty care needs of the Indian consumer, NewU Chief Operating Officer Mr. Vijay Shanker said. The Spice Island range, which includes Shampoos, Body Butter, Day Cream, Night Cream, Shower Gels and Body Lotion, are priced between Rs 649 and Rs 1,399. The products are available in 14 SKUs. Going forward, the company plans to expand the Spice Island range to include a host of other beauty products like Face Wash etc. Spice Island is the second new international brand to be introduced in India by NewU in recent months. Prior to this, NewU had launched Jaquline USA in India with a range of Nail Care and Nail Styling products. The awareness levels among consumers in India for beauty products and beauty trends are on the rise. Theres also a growing awareness, particularly among the younger generation, about the benefits of the age-old science of Ayurveda. While seeking convenience in beauty care, they are also aware of the damaging effects of harsh chemicals, which has led to a spurt in demand for natural beauty and personal care products. The new Spice Island range is aimed at meeting this emerging consumer demand and aspiration for efficacious Ayurvedic beauty care products, NewU Marketing Head Ms Vinni Pannu said. Ajay Dang, Head - Marketing at Godrej Consumer Products, has joined the esteemed Jury panel for the inaugural edition of DIGIXX Awards. Being brought by Adgully in association with ad:tech, DIGIXX 2017 will be held during the ad:tech conference in Delhi on March 9 and 10. The DIGIXX Awards are judged by an independent panel of highly acclaimed thought leaders in the advertising ecosystem advertising agency executives who create campaigns for the worlds most powerful brands, marketers with direct control over many of the largest advertising budgets and major media company leaders. Intense scrutiny during the judging process ensures that winning submissions reflect the industrys best work and reward the creatives and brands successfully using innovation to push interactive to new levels. With an experience of over 20 years, Ajay Dang has a proven track record of delivering strong business results in tough competitive markets through strategic thinking, innovation and a strong execution focus. His experience spans diverse fields such as FMCG, consumer finance and media. Dangs specialties include Business and Brand strategy, Product Innovation, Consumer Insights and Marketing Communication, Working in matrix environment, Change Management. Prior to Godrej Consumer Products, Dang held assignments at Nestle, Colgate Palmolive, Godrej Saralee, General Electric, and HT Media. Dang was adjudged Marketer of the Year FMCG Home Care at the 4th edition of the IAA Leadership Awards held by the International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter. He also received the APAC Effie Award (2016) for HIT: Track the Bite App campaign in the Branded Utility category. The DIGIXX Awards screening committee comprising senior marketing and media professionals will evaluate and score each submission. Every entry is evaluated by multiple committee members to ensure an accurate, thorough review. The five entries with the highest scores become the finalists for each category. Finalists will be notified. Last date for submission of entries ended on February 6, 2017. With this, the DIGIXX Awards now moves towards the judging round. For further details please visit https://www.adgully.com/digixx-awards-2017. The 24,000 migrants will be allowed to stay and work for two years. But they likely will either get a new legal loophole to stay or else will simply hide from the federal governments deportation agents.The Venezuelan door in the nations borders was opened on October 12, when border chief Alejandro Mayorkas was forced by White House campaign officials to block Venezuelas economic migrants at the border.The pre-election move has greatly expedited the arrival of Venezuelan migrants at the border but it has not been applied to other groups of migrants from Nicaragua, Haiti, or Cuba.Since January 2021, Biden and Mayorkas have admitted at roughly 3 million economic migrants over the southern border, including at least 240,000 Venezuelan migrants. They have also admitted at least 1.5 million legal immigrants, visa workers, and tourists who work illegally.CBS also reported that Mayorkas may decide to admit additional Venezuelan, despite Congress immigration laws which limit the inflow of legal immigrants to about 1 million per year: Biden administration officials have said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas could raise the programs ceiling if he makes a determination the move is justified.The Cuban-born Mayorkas has repeatedly shown himself as a migration zealot. For example, he argues that Americans immigration laws must comply with his equity policies that put foreigners ahead of Americans.His policies have seriously damaged the Democratic Partys chances in the 2022 midterms. In August, a majority of Americans said Biden is allowing a southern border invasion, according to a poll commissioned by the left-of-center, taxpayer-supported National Public Radio (NPR).If the GOP gains majorities in the House and Senate, Mayorkas will likely face blame for sinking other left-wing agendas favored by other members of the Democratic Party, such as civil rights, climate management, and economic development. But Mayorkas may survive the disaster because he is strongly backed by West Coast investors and their battalion of non-profit activist groups.The federal government reopened the migration pipeline in 1965 and doubled it in 1990 after forty years of growing prosperity in a low-migration economy.Since 1965, the governments extraction of migrant workers from poor countries has pressured down Americans wages.It is also boosted rents and housing prices, and it has reduced native-born Americans clout in local and national elections . The inflow has also pushed many native-born Americans out of careers in a wide variety of fields and spiked the number of Deaths of Despair.An April 2020 article in thedescribed some of the debilitating poverty faced by Americans in a high-migration economy. Lauren Bruce, a mother with one college-age child in Madison, Wisconsin, told the newspaper: YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Armenia Seyed Kazem Sadjadi, press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office told Armenpress. Welcoming the guest, Artur Davtyan highlighted the importance of the existing high-level relations between Armenia and Iran in various sectors. He said there is also a potential to make more effective the cooperation between respective structures in the legal field. The Iranian Ambassador also attached importance to the cooperation between the prosecutions and other legal structures of Armenia and Iran, taking into account the fact that the number of mutual visits of the citizens of Armenia and Iran has been significantly increased due to the facilitation of the visa regime between the two countries. At the meeting issues related to mutual assistance over criminal cases, extradition of convicts were discussed. The Prosecutor General said the Prosecution is ready to further intensify the cooperation with the Iranian side aimed at organizing proper legal protection both for the citizens of Armenia in Iran and citizens of Iran in Armenia. The sides expressed readiness to further strengthen the stable grounds of mutual cooperation. The Iranian Ambassador conveyed the Prosecutor General the invitation of Irans Prosecutor General to visit Iran. A wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting. We are writing about Katie Kline and Jonathan Weinberg, a couple that has just moved from St. Louis to Colorado. They say that they are happy with their two Subarus , and that they do not intend to sell either. However, they cannot understand why so many people rang their door bell or left messages under their wipers regarding the purchase of their 2002 Subaru Outback The car is not in a perfect condition, and that can be observed even if you do not take a closer look. According to the couple, it all started about a month and a half ago, when a man that did not introduce himself knocked on their door and offered to buy their Outback for more than it is worth. They refused, but other people kept contacting them about the crossover.As 9News reports, Katie thinks that the car is so popular in the state because "it is perfect for Colorado, and you can go anywhere with it. The owner of the vehicle described the Subaru Outback as the state car of Colorado, and she explained that she does not want to sell it because of the battle that would have to be fought trying to find a good deal on another Subaru.The couple decided to place two signs on the inside of their car to make sure that nobody else tries to buy it from them. Jonathan Weinberg, Katies partner, says that their vehicle was not that popular back where they came from, and that was because Midwesterners did not understand the Subaru culture like they do out here.Not all Colorado residents agreed with the owners definition of the Subaru Outback, but we are surprised that the couple did not inquire further into the purchase offers they received.After all, if they get enough money from the sale of the car, they could buy one from another state with fewer miles on the clock and a better mechanical condition. The latest batch of spyshots showcases a 2018 Porsche Cayenne going through winter testing, and the exhibit has only a few areas of its body covered in camouflage. The rear end has black tape over the edges of its tail lights, along with other bits of tape over some ornaments.The wheel arches have a set of ornaments that might not reach production in that form, while the front also has some of the tape we mentioned above. You can observe a set of new headlamps, which have a LED daytime running light setup that reminds us of the Mission E concept.The electric Porsche concept car seems to be an inspiration for the next-generation 911, so it is likely that Porsche is going for a unified look of its cars through a visual signature that can be noticed in the headlamps.Porsches next-generation Cayenne is built on the MLB Evo platform of the Volkswagen Group, but the Zuffenhausen brand has done its usual routine with it to ensure that the result will feel different when compared to its cousins from the German conglomerate.The new platform will bring a lighter Cayenne on the market, which will also benefit from improved fuel economy. Evidently, performance will also be enhanced, because the vehicle will have a reduced sprung mass, along with the ability to accelerate faster thanks to less weight it needed to move.Moreover, the engine lineup is also getting improvements, so the Cayenne should be quicker than the current model in all possible scenarios: breaking, cornering, and acceleration.Porsche could launch the next-generation Cayenne by the end of this year, but there is a chance that the German brand will schedule the market release for 2018. Regardless, the next Cayenne is on the way, and this prototype is close to what you will see in showrooms next year. The core brand of the German conglomerate, BMW , will have Jozef Kaban as the lead designer, while Domagoj Dukec will pen BMW i and BMW M cars. Mr. Dukec has been with the BMW Group since 2010, and he used to be the lead exterior designer for the BMW brand and the BMW i division.Mr. Dukec is responsible for the BMW Concept Active Tourer, and the Concept Vision Connected Drive, among other cars made by BMW Before working for the BMW Group, Domagoj Dukec was employed by PSA Peugeot-Citroen, in Paris, where he was a design supervisor. His former projects involve being part of the team that designed the Citroen C4 Coupe, second-generation Citroen C5, Hypnos Concept, GQ Concept, and the C5 Airscape.Meanwhile, Mr. Jozef Kaban is the former lead designer of the Skoda brand, which is owned by BMW Groups rivals at the Volkswagen Group. Beyond the recent Skoda models signed by Kaban, the Czech designer is also responsible for the Bugatti Veyron, but also for more modest cars, which include the Volkswagen Lupo.Many years ago, Jozef Kaban was the head of exterior design at Audi, which makes us very curious about the cars that will be drawn by Kaban in the future. BMW had to find a new exterior designer after Karim Habib , the f ormer lead designer of the BMW brand , announced his departure from the corporation.Jozef Kaban will assume the new post in the second half of this year. Skoda has yet to announce his successor, but whoever will be named will have big shoes to fill, as Kaban has done great things for the Czech brand. However, the recent facelift of the Skoda Octavia was not unanimously appreciated , so his successor could get the chance to fix it if it does not suit his or her vision. The two weren't involved in a fight that saw them lapping the track at the same time, as we're dealing with a battle of the numbers here. Motorsport Magazine recently unleashed a 2016 Camaro SS on the Magny-Cours, with the French track having previously hosted a Ford Focus RS sprint.We won't ruin the fun delivered by this video by dropping the lap times of the two go-fast machines here, with the figures being delivered in the piece of footage at the bottom of the page.Interestingly, the list of lap times shown in the video also involves the five-oh incarnation of the Mustang, but there are at least two things we need to mention here.To be more precise, we'd be curious to check out the Magny-Cours times of the Shelby GT350 and, of course, the chronograph performance of the 2018 Mustang GT As for the V8-animated sixth-gen Camaro seen here, we're dealing with an example that matches the Corvette-borrowed 6.2-liter V8 with an eight-speed automatic tranny.Since we're talking about a muscle car such as this Chevy and the Drift Mode wielding Focus RS , we obviously also need to see some sideways action. Thankfully, the piece of footage at the bottom of the page doesn't fail to deliver when it comes to sideways shenanigans.As such, the final piece of the clip is dedicated to showing what happens when the driver of the Camaro SS decides to throw the chronograph out the window and play the tail-out game. AMG While we're not sure how many bets the GN in the piece of footage at the bottom of the page gathered in its fight with the current-generation Affalterbach sedan, we can tell you the brawl was anything but tight.Truth be told, a Grand National that finds itself in factory stock form is only valuable as a collector car, with its drag strip worth being average, since we're talking about a slab of America that needs about 14 seconds to play the 1,320 feet game.Nevertheless, this Buick owes an important part of its reputation to its modding-friendly nature. So, when the driver of the GN lined up next to the C63 S, he probably knew what he was doing.The Buick guy was also extremely motivated when it came to battling the German go-fast four-door, as proven by the driver's brilliant reaction time - we can't see the number, but it's enough to check out the footage of the take-off to get the point.Interestingly, the attitude of the man occupying the driver's seat of the Mercedes-C63 S seemed to be at the opposite end of the relaxation scale. For instance, while the Buick went for the mandatory burnout, the Mercedes-AMG decided to skip the tire-warming moment.We'll refrain from dropping the times of the two machines here, since we hate ruining the giggle delivered by the clip. Speaking of which, the poor arrangement delivered at the end of the video means you'll have to guestimate the exact time of the C63.Since we mentioned the Mercedes-AMG , we have to tell you that the twin-turbo V8 sedan is a car that, in standard trim, can complete the quarter-mile task in about 12.2 seconds. So let the sprinting games begin. For those #Gearhead #Techies check out the refreshed @uconnect #SRT #PerformancePages with the #DynoGraph #CoolShit People ! @dodgeofficial #FCADesign A photo posted by Ryan Nagode (@nogo05) on Feb 7, 2017 at 4:47pm PST Wow, check out that power graph! 900 horsepower for the SRT Demon , yo! Im afraid thats a serious case of wishful thinking from those who believe that Dodge integrated an Easter Egg into that graph. The rumor mill and leaked photographs suggest that Dodge will employ a bigger supercharger for the Demon, but to push the 6.2-liter HEMI V8 from 707 to 900 ponies on premium gas is a bit of a stretch. On a race-ready E85 blend, however...Whatever the SRT skunkworks has in store for the us, theres no denying the Demon rides on the hype train better than the Hellcat did prior to its official reveal. And it shouldnt come as a surprise that car people like you and yours truly are getting weak at the knees every Thursday or so. Up to this point in time, we were offered four video teasers featuring the Demon, with eight to go until we see the vehicle in the flesh at the 2017 New York Auto Show.As mentioned above, output is still a matter of speculation. What we do know for sure, however, is that the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is 215 pounds lighter than the SRT Hellcat. The SRT Demon also features Nitto drag radials and, believe it or not, only one seat. Owners who want to make the best out of their SRT Demons can opt for something christened Demon Crate There are many questions left to be answered by Dodge and the peeps over at SRT, but then again, patience is a virtue. With time, the new muscle car yardstick will be undressed of its secrets. Hopefully it won't be as ludicrously expensive as some people on enthusiast forums are making noise about. First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain. Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that. And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details. If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Research conducted by Fundraising Magazine has shown that 17 of the top 20 fundraising charities in the UK have poor mobile website speed. Using Googles mobile website speed testing tool, Fundraising Magazine found that only three of the top 20 fundraising charities in the UKs websites achieved either a fair or good rating when it came to mobile speed. The research also tested large fundraising charities websites in terms of overall mobile-friendliness as well as on desktop speed. Separate Google research showed that nearly half of all visitors will leave a mobile site if the pages dont load within three seconds, which means that charities who with poor mobile speeds could potentially be missing out on millions of pounds in donations. The mobile website speed testing tool provided by Google scans websites looking for hindrances to usability such as font legibility, image optimisation, server response time and over-usage of plugins. Ellie Hale, charity, marketing and PR lead at the Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology, said: Mobile fundraising is rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of online giving and it will only continue to do so. Your website has to work on mobile devices. There is still a long way to go and a lot of charities are woefully unprepared, but at least there is more discussion about it and people have woken up to the need for mobile optimisation. Fundraising Magazine found that overall, charities have been making great strides in the last year to make their websites mobile-friendly. Fundraising found that 84 of the top 100 fundraising organisations in the UK had a mobile-friendly website in 2016, up from 73 in 2015. Parkinsons UK mobile optimised website saw 24 per cent increase in income Parkinsons UK has reported that a move to optimise its website for mobile has seen the charitys digital income stream increase by 24 per cent. Speaking to Fundraising Magazine, Julie Dodd, director of digital transformation and communication at Parkinsons UK, said that year-on-year growth of digital-led income was up 20 per cent from 2015 to 2016, while giving to the organisation through digital platforms such as JustGiving was up by around nearly 10 per cent. Were expecting that first 20 per cent to go up significantly again as a result of the new donation funnel improvements were currently making, said Dodd. This research comes from Fundraising Magazines main feature in its February issue. Subscribers to Fundraising Magazine can read the full article here. Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the new Carnival Horizon will offer a series of four-day Bermuda cruises from New York in spring and summer 2018, part of the ships inaugural season that includes previously announced voyages to Europe from Barcelona and the Caribbean from New York and Miami. The four-day cruises will depart Thursdays and feature a full-day visit to Bermuda. Five four-day Bermuda cruises will be offered, departing May 24, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16 and Sept. 13, 2018. They replace previously scheduled eight-day Caribbean itineraries. Including the five Bermuda sailings aboard Carnival Horizon, Carnival Cruise Line will offer 18 different voyages to the island in 2017-18 departing from five convenient East Coast homeports, including Baltimore, Charleston, New York, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale. Bermuda is a beautiful and sought-after destination and what better way to visit this breathtaking island paradise than on the spectacular Carnival Horizon, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. These visits to Bermuda are part of Carnival Horizons terrific inaugural schedule that also features top destinations throughout Europe and the Caribbean, providing our guests with opportunities to create wonderful and fun memories together, she added. Carnival Horizon is set to debut April 2, 2018, with a 13-day Mediterranean voyage from Barcelona - the first of four round-trip departures from this Spanish port. Other sailings from Barcelona include two seven-day cruises departing April 15 and 22, 2018, and a 10-day voyage departing April 29, 2018. Carnival Horizon will then reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018. Carnival Horizons 2018 schedule from New York includes 12 eight-day cruises operating round-trip from the Big Apple May to Sept. 2018 and visiting Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), San Juan, and Grand Turk. Departure dates include May 28, June 5, 13 and 25, July 3, 11, 23 and 31, Aug. 8, 20 and 28, and Sept. 5, 2018. Carnival Horizon will then shift to Miami and kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018. The ship will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22, 2018. A 49-year old woman attempted to purchase a $1.2 million home with a forged Pennsylvania credit union cashiers check. Carroll Township Police charged Katherine D. Kempson of Dillsburg, Pa., last month with four counts forgery and one count of writing a bad check. Police said Kempson allegedly went to the website of the $3.3 billion Members 1st Federal Credit Union in Mechanicsburg, Pa. and copied the cooperatives logo. She then allegedly pasted the logo on a fake $1.2 million cashiers check. Kempson also wrote a bad check to Caldwell Banker Real Estate for $60,000 and forged the signatures of a Members 1st Federal Credit Union employees on bank documents. This daily digest focuses on Yuan rates, major Chinese economic data, market sentiment, new developments in Chinas foreign exchange policies, changes in financial market regulations, as well as market news typically available only in Chinese-language sources. - Chinas foreign reserves fell below $3 trillion in January, the first time in nearly six years. - The PBOC suspended liquidity injections through open market operations for the third day. - Would you like to know more about trading? DailyFX webinars are a great place to start. To receive reports from this analyst, sign up for Renee Mu distribution list. Yuan Rates - The Yuan fix set by the PBOC was little changed on Tuesday, strengthened by +2 pips to 6.8604 from yesterday. The offshore Yuan moved towards the guided level, with the USD/CNH rising 328 pips to 6.8326 as of 12:08pm EST. In the later portion of the Asian session, China released the January print for foreign reserves. The countrys foreign holdings dropped -$12.3 billion to $2.9982 trillion in the first month of 2017 from last December; this is the lowest level for the gauge since March 2011. Data downloaded from Bloomberg; chart prepared by Renee Mu. USD/CNH 1-Hour Prepared by Renee Mu. Following the release of the January foreign reserves read, the offshore Yuan extended losses against the U.S. Dollar. The drop below the $3 trillion psychological level may have raised market concerns on Chinas support on the Yuan in the future. The FX regulator, SAFE, stated in a press release that the January decline was mostly led by Chinas Central Bank providing FX liquidity in the effort to balance market demand and supply. It reiterated that Chinas foreign reserves are still sufficient no matter based on the absolute value or evaluation indicators. Market News Sina News: Chinas most important online media source, similar to CNN in the US. They also own a Chinese version of Twitter, called Weibo, with around 200 million active usersmonthly. - Property sales in major Chinese cities dropped significantly in January, according to a report released by China Index Academy. The average sales in 26 surveyed cities fell -50.5%. In terms of housing inventory, 13 surveyed cities reported an average of -0.57% decline. Chinese local governments and banking regulators have launched numerous measures to cool the market over the past three months. However, this does not necessarily mean that the heated Chinese property market has been fully eased. The Lunar New Year holiday, around when property sales normally drop, fell in January this year. Whether this is a reversal or retracement will need more evidence to prove in the coming weeks, when the property market returns to normal from a holiday mode. - Chinas Central Bank suspended liquidity injections through open market operations for the third day on Tuesday, despite that there were 120 billion Yuan of reverse repos matured on the day. The same day, PBOCs Research Bureau Head Xu Zhong commented on open market operations: both the amount and the rate are subject to change depending on PBOCs targets. He also said that increases in reverse repos rates seen recently were market-driven and are different from hikes in reserve requirement ratio. Hexun News: Chinese leading online media of financial news. - Nearly one third of companies listed on Chinas A-shares have purchased wealth management products (WMPs) in 2016, according to East Money Information. 890 listed companies have bought 1.07 trillion Yuan of WMPs last year. Most companies told that lacking investment opportunities is the main reason that they purchased WMPs, the return of which is generally higher than that of bank deposits. The rising demand also encouraged banks to issue more WMPs. However, this may have increased banks off-balance risks and raised regulators concerns. Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, the PBOC will include WMPs into its Macro Prudential Assessment, a system to evaluate banks risks. To receive reports from this analyst, sign up for Renee Mu distribution list. Suzanne Gage, a scientist whose podcast, "Say Why To Drugs," has received over 264,000 listens, has been chosen by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to receive the 2016 Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science. Gage recently completed her post-doctoral research in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, and is now a scientist at the University of Liverpool. She also founded "Sifting the Evidence," a blog on The Guardian's website in which she examines epidemiology, mental health and substance abuse. She is being honored by AAAS for "her evidence-based approach to public engagement activities and targeting audiences who may not be actively seeking science information." Gage is a "highly talented, enthusiastic and energetic young researcher who promises to be a real star of the future," wrote Marcus Munafo, a professor of biological psychology at the University of Bristol, where Gage was a post-doctoral research associate until December. Through her blog and podcast, Munafo wrote, "Suzi has worked tirelessly to provide information to the general public about the scientific evidence surrounding the effects of recreational drugs." Her podcast, which she was inspired to produce after appearing on rapper Scroobius Pip's podcast, discusses a different recreational drug in each episode. Gage aims to counter misinformation and myths surrounding various substances. Munafo noted that Pip's involvement in the podcast has helped Gage reach an audience of young adults who might not otherwise receive the information. Pip emphasized that the program is not meant to condone drug use. "This is not a pro-drugs podcast, this is not anti-drugs podcast," Pip explained, "this is pro-truth and anti-myth." The podcast has topped the Science and Medicine chart in the iTunes store and has received support on Twitter, including from Virgin Group founder Richard Branson. It also won the Skeptic Magazine 2016 Ockham Award for Best Podcast. Munafo wrote that the show has also been used by teachers to introduce their students to evidence-based thinking. Gage has also traveled across the United Kingdom, speaking at "Skeptics in the Pub," evening events hosted by local organizations to promote critical thinking. She has spoken at the Royal Institution of Great Britain and music festivals in the UK. She engaged with younger audiences in 2011 by participating in "I'm a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here," an online event where students meet and interact with scientists. The scientists compete with one other, answering questions about science and their research that are provided by students, who then vote for their favorite scientist. Gage won in the "Brain Zone" category and used the winnings to start her podcast. Gage's work in public engagement was recognized in 2012, when she won the UK Science Blog Prize, and in 2013, when she received the British Association for Psychopharmacology Public Communication Award. She has also written for The Economist, The Telegraph and The Lancet Psychiatry. Gage's recent scientific work in studying the relationship between health behaviors and mental health outcomes has included investigating causal associations from observational studies, with particular emphasis on substance use and mental health. She earned a Master of Science degree in cognitive neuropsychology from University College London in 2005 and a Ph.D. in translational epidemiology from the University of Bristol in 2014. Her research also earned her the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Travel Award in 2012. More recently, she received the Society for Research in Nicotine and Tobacco's 2015 Basic Science Network Travel Award. The AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science was established in 2010 to recognize "early-career scientists and engineers who demonstrate excellence in their contribution to public engagement with science activities." The recipient receives a monetary prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration to the AAAS Annual Meeting and reimbursement for reasonable travel and hotel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting to receive the prize. The award will be bestowed upon Gage during the 183rd AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 16-20, 2017. The AAAS Awards Ceremony and Reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, in the Republic Ballroom of the Sheraton Boston Hotel. ### The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science as well as Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances, Science Immunology, and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS. See http://www.aaas.org. For more information on AAAS awards, see http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/. MINNEAPOLIS - A simple blood test may be as accurate as a spinal fluid test when trying to determine whether symptoms are caused by Parkinson's disease or another atypical parkinsonism disorder, according to a new study published in the February 8, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. In early stages of disease, it can be difficult to differentiate between Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism disorders (APDs) like multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, because symptoms can overlap. But identifying these diseases early is important because expectations concerning progression and potential benefit from treatment differ dramatically between Parkinson's and APDs. "We have found that concentrations of a nerve protein in the blood can discriminate between these diseases as accurately as concentrations of that same protein in spinal fluid," said study author Oskar Hansson, MD, PhD, of Lund University in Lund, Sweden. The nerve protein is called neurofilament light chain protein. It is a component of nerve cells and can be detected in the blood stream and spinal fluid when nerve cells die. For the study, researchers examined 504 people from three study groups. Two groups, one in England and one in Sweden, had healthy people and people who had been living with Parkinson's or APDs for an average of four to six years. The third group was comprised of people who had been living with the diseases for three years or less. In all, there were 244 people with Parkinson's, 88 with multiple system atrophy, 70 with progressive supranuclear palsy, 23 with corticobasal degeneration and 79 people who served as healthy controls. Researchers found the blood test was just as accurate as a spinal fluid test at diagnosing whether someone had Parkinson's or an APD, in both early stages of disease and in those who had been living with the diseases longer. The nerve protein levels were higher in people with APDs and lower in those with Parkinson's disease and those who were healthy. In the Swedish group, the protein levels averaged around 10 picograms per milliliter. People with multiple system atrophy had levels averaging around 20 pg/ml; those with progressive supranuclear palsy averaged around 25 pg/ml; and those with corticobasal degeneration averaged around 27 pg/ml. Hansson said, "Lower concentrations of the nerve protein in the blood of those with Parkinson's may be due to less damage to nerve fibers compared to those with atypical parkinsonism disorders." For the group in Sweden, the blood test had a sensitivity of 82 percent and a specificity of 91 percent. Sensitivity is the percentage of actual positives that are correctly identified as positive. Specificity is the percentage of negatives that are correctly identified. For those in the early stages of disease, the sensitivity was 70 percent and the specificity was 80 percent. "Our findings are exciting because when Parkinson's or an atypical parkinsonism disorder is suspected, one simple blood test will help a physician to give their patient a more accurate diagnosis," said Hansson. "These atypical parkinsonism disorders are rare, but they generally progress much faster and are more likely to be the cause of death than Parkinson's disease, so it's important for patients and their families to receive the best care possible and to plan for their future needs." One limitation of nerve protein testing is that it does not distinguish between the different APDs, however doctors can look for other symptoms and signs to distinguish between those diseases. The study was supported by the European Research Council, the Swedish Research Council, The Parkinson Foundation of Sweden, the Swedish Brain Foundation, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Torsten Soderberg Foundation at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Swedish Federal Government under the ALF Agreement. To learn more about Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism disorders, visit http://www.aan.com/patients. The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with 30,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. MINNEAPOLIS - A simple blood test may be as accurate as a spinal fluid test when trying to determine whether symptoms are caused by Parkinson's disease or another atypical parkinsonism disorder, according to a new study published in the February 8, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. In early stages of disease, it can be difficult to differentiate between Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism disorders (APDs) like multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, because symptoms can overlap. But identifying these diseases early is important because expectations concerning progression and potential benefit from treatment differ dramatically between Parkinson's and APDs. "We have found that concentrations of a nerve protein in the blood can discriminate between these diseases as accurately as concentrations of that same protein in spinal fluid," said study author Oskar Hansson, MD, PhD, of Lund University in Lund, Sweden. The nerve protein is called neurofilament light chain protein. It is a component of nerve cells and can be detected in the blood stream and spinal fluid when nerve cells die. For the study, researchers examined 504 people from three study groups. Two groups, one in England and one in Sweden, had healthy people and people who had been living with Parkinson's or APDs for an average of four to six years. The third group was comprised of people who had been living with the diseases for three years or less. In all, there were 244 people with Parkinson's, 88 with multiple system atrophy, 70 with progressive supranuclear palsy, 23 with corticobasal degeneration and 79 people who served as healthy controls. Researchers found the blood test was just as accurate as a spinal fluid test at diagnosing whether someone had Parkinson's or an APD, in both early stages of disease and in those who had been living with the diseases longer. The nerve protein levels were higher in people with APDs and lower in those with Parkinson's disease and those who were healthy. In the Swedish group, the protein levels averaged around 10 picograms per milliliter. People with multiple system atrophy had levels averaging around 20 pg/ml; those with progressive supranuclear palsy averaged around 25 pg/ml; and those with corticobasal degeneration averaged around 27 pg/ml. Hansson said, "Lower concentrations of the nerve protein in the blood of those with Parkinson's may be due to less damage to nerve fibers compared to those with atypical parkinsonism disorders." For the group in Sweden, the blood test had a sensitivity of 82 percent and a specificity of 91 percent. Sensitivity is the percentage of actual positives that are correctly identified as positive. Specificity is the percentage of negatives that are correctly identified. For those in the early stages of disease, the sensitivity was 70 percent and the specificity was 80 percent. "Our findings are exciting because when Parkinson's or an atypical parkinsonism disorder is suspected, one simple blood test will help a physician to give their patient a more accurate diagnosis," said Hansson. "These atypical parkinsonism disorders are rare, but they generally progress much faster and are more likely to be the cause of death than Parkinson's disease, so it's important for patients and their families to receive the best care possible and to plan for their future needs." One limitation of nerve protein testing is that it does not distinguish between the different APDs, however doctors can look for other symptoms and signs to distinguish between those diseases. ### The study was supported by the European Research Council, the Swedish Research Council, The Parkinson Foundation of Sweden, the Swedish Brain Foundation, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Torsten Soderberg Foundation at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Swedish Federal Government under the ALF Agreement. To learn more about Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism disorders, visit http://www.aan.com/patients. The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with 30,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. ### Nearly one in four adults aged 65 and older has trouble walking or climbing stairs--and 3.4 million older adults have trouble taking care of their personal needs, such as dressing or bathing. As we age, these difficulties can impact our well-being and our ability to live independently. Based on the proven health benefits of exercise for older adults, a team of researchers theorized that exercise might also help adults prevent or delay disabilities that interfere with independent living. The team designed a study to test that theory, and their results were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The researchers enrolled 1,635 adults between the ages of 70 and 89. All of the participants were at high-risk for becoming physically disabled. At the beginning of the study, the participants were able to walk about five city blocks (one-quarter of a mile) without assistance. The participants were split into two groups. One group was encouraged to exercise regularly. In addition to taking a daily 30-minute walk, they performed balance training and muscle strengthening exercises. The other group attended weekly workshops for 26 weeks, followed by monthly sessions. The workshops provided information about accessing the healthcare system, traveling safely, getting health screenings, and finding reliable sources for health and nutrition education. The workshop instructors also led the participants in 5- to 10-minute flexibility or stretching exercise sessions. Researchers gave all participants thorough tests for disability at the beginning of the study and then at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after the study started. The researchers reported that people in both groups experienced about the same level of disability after the study. However, people in the exercise group experienced a lower level of severe mobility problems than did people who attended the health workshops. ### About the Health in Aging Foundation This research summary was developed as a public education tool by the Health in Aging Foundation. The Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly 1 million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit http://www.HealthinAgingFoundation.org. This Week from AGU: Greenland Ice Sheet melting can cool subtropics and alter climate GeoSpace Greenland Ice Sheet melting can cool subtropics and alter climate A new study in Paleoceanography finds evidence that the last time Earth was as warm as it is today, cold freshwater from a melting Greenland Ice Sheet circulated in the Atlantic Ocean as far south as Bermuda, elevating sea levels and altering the ocean's climate and ecosystems. Analysis of 1883 at-sea rescue leads to new understanding of wave energy A team of oceanographers has developed a new model for ocean wave energy, using an 1883 account of how a ship's crew dumped oil into stormy seas and calmed the waves enough to save the crew of a sinking ship. The study is described in a new paper published in Geophysical Research Letters. Greener cities could help urban plants endure summer heat A new study in Geophysical Research Letters indicates that adding more greenery to the urban landscape could help urban vegetation cope better with the summer heat and a warming climate. New climate index based on atmospheric pressure produces more accurate predictions of storm wave conditions A method based on the north-south atmospheric pressure gradient along the Atlantic coast of Europe could lead to enhanced forecasting of extreme wave conditions and increased preparedness within coastal communities, a new study in Geophysical Research Letters suggests. Research Spotlights How Mars Got Its Layered North Polar Cap Orbital wobbling shaped the dome of ice and dust at the planet's north pole, suggests a new study in Geophysical Research Letters. New Ground-Penetrating Radar Method Shows Promise in Aquifer Recent advances in ground-penetrating radar data analysis could help reveal aquifer structure in unprecedented detail, according to a new study in Water Resources Research. Pulses of Rising Magma in Sierra Nevada's Past A detailed study in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth of layered igneous material at California's Fisher Lake offers a novel approach to identifying the pathways and timescales of individual magma pulses in volcanic arcs. ### Find research spotlights from AGU journals and sign up for weekly E-Alerts, including research spotlights, on eos.org. Register for access to AGU journal papers in the AGU newsroom. Access a live feed of new research papers from AGU journals here. The American Geophysical Union is dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity through its scholarly publications, conferences, and outreach programs. AGU is a not-for-profit, professional, scientific organization representing more than 60,000 members in 139 countries. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our other social media channels. Holographic atomic memory, invented and constructed by physicists from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw, is the first device able to generate single photons on demand in groups of several dozen or more. The device, successfully demonstrated in practice, overcomes one of the fundamental obstacles towards the construction of some type of quantum computer. Completely secure, high-speed quantum communication, or even a model of quantum computer, may be among the possible applications for the new source of single photons recently built at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw (UW Physics), Poland. An unprecedented feature of this new device is that for the first time it enables the on-demand production of a precisely controlled group of photons, as opposed to just a single one. "Compared to existing solutions and ideas, our device is much more efficient and allows for integration on a larger scale. In the functional sense, one can even think of it as a first equivalent of a small 'integrated circuit' operating on single photons", explains Dr. Wojciech Wasilewski (UW Physics), one of the authors of an article published in the renowned scientific journal Physical Review Letters. The first single-photon sources were invented in the 1970s, and even though the many types of them that exist today still have their many drawbacks, single photons can nevertheless be successfully used in quantum communication protocols that guarantee full confidentiality. However, to be able to perform complex quantum computations we would need entire groups of photons. The simplest method of generating groups of photons is to use a sufficiently large number of sources. The devices in widespread use today utilize the phenomenon of Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC). Under certain conditions, a photon generated by a laser can split into two new ones, each with half the amount of energy, and with all other properties linked by the principles of conserving energy and momentum. Thus, when we record information on one of the photon from the pair we also find out about the existence and properties of the other photon, which nevertheless remains undisturbed by observation and therefore perfectly suitable for quantum operations. Unfortunately, every SPDC source generates single photons rather slowly and quite randomly. As a result, for a simultaneous emission from even as few as 10 sources we might have to wait up for several years. In 2013 a team of physicists from the Universities of Oxford and London proposed a much more efficient protocol for generating groups of photons. The idea was to place a quantum memory at each source, which would be capable of storing emitted photons. The photons stored in the memories could be released at the same moment. Calculations showed that the time scale required to wait for a group of 10 photons would then be shortened by a whopping ten orders of magnitude: from years down to microseconds! The source now unveiled by the University of Warsaw physicists represents the first implementation of this concept, and one that's much more integrated: here, all the photons are created immediately within the quantum memory as a result of the laser pulse, which lasts only microseconds. External sources of single photons are no longer needed at all, and the necessary number of quantum memories has dwindled to just one. "Our entire experimental setup takes up about two square meters of our optical table surface. But the most important events take place in the memory itself, in a glass cylinder measuring approximately 10 cm in length and with a diameter of 2.5 cm. Anyone who might expect to see inside the cylinder a sophisticated design worthy of a semiconductor integrated circuit will be greatly disappointed: the interior of a cell is filled only with pairs of rubidium atoms 87Rb at 60-80 degrees Celsius", describes Michal Dabrowski, a PhD student at UW Physics. The new memory, which was built with the support of PRELUDIUM and SONATA grants from Poland's National Science Centre and the resources of the PhoQuS@UW project is a spatially multimode memory: individual photons can be placed, stored, processed and read in different areas inside the cylinder, acting as separate memory drawers. The write operation, performed with a laser beam, works by preserving a certain spatial model, a hologram, in the form of atomic excitations. Illuminating the system with the laser allows us to reconstruct the hologram and read the memory's content. In the conducted experiments the new source generated a group of up to 60 photons. Calculations show that in realistic conditions, the use of higher power lasers would help to increase this number even up to several thousand. (The calculations involved in the data analysis from this experiment were of such great complexity that they required the computing power of 53,000 grid cores of the PL-Grid Infrastructure). Due to noise, losses and other parasitic processes, the quantum memory from UW Physics can store photons from several to tens of microseconds, which for humans can seem like a very short time. However, there are systems allowing for simple operations to be performed on photons in nanoseconds. In the new quantum memory we can in principle perform several hundred operations on each photon, which is sufficient for quantum communication and information processing. Having such a working source of large groups of photons brings us an important step closer to constructing one type of a quantum computer, able to perform certain calculations in much less time than the best modern computing machines. Several years ago it was shown that by performing simple linear optics operations on photons we can increase the speed of quantum computing. The complexity of these computations depends on the number of photons processed simultaneously. However, the limitations of the sources of large groups of photons prevented linear quantum computers from spreading their wings, keeping them limited to elementary mathematical operations. In addition to quantum computations, the photonic 'integrated circuit' may be useful in quantum communication. Currently, this involves sending single photons using an optical fibre. The new source would allow many photons to enter the optical fibre simultaneously, and therefore would increase the capacity of quantum channels. ### Physics and Astronomy first appeared at the University of Warsaw in 1816, under the then Faculty of Philosophy. In 1825 the Astronomical Observatory was established. Currently, the Faculty of Physics' Institutes include Experimental Physics, Theoretical Physics, Geophysics, Department of Mathematical Methods and an Astronomical Observatory. Research covers almost all areas of modern physics, on scales from the quantum to the cosmological. The Faculty's research and teaching staff includes ca. 200 university teachers, of which 88 are employees with the title of professor. The Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, is attended by ca. 1000 students and more than 170 doctoral students. SCIENTIFIC PAPERS: "High-Capacity Angularly Multiplexed Holographic Memory Operating at the Single-Photon Level"; R. Chrapkiewicz, M. D?browski, W. Wasilewski; Physical Review Letters 118, 063603 (2017); DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.063603 CONTACTS: Dr. Wojciech Wasilewski Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw tel. +48 22 5532630 email: wojciech.wasilewski@fuw.edu.pl M.Sc. Michal Dabrowski Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw tel. +48 22 5532629 email: michal.dabrowski@fuw.edu.pl RELATED LINKS: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/ Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. http://psi.fuw.edu.pl/ Quantum Memories Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. http://www.fuw.edu.pl/informacje-prasowe.html Press office of the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. IMAGES: FUW170208b_fot01s.jpg HR: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/press/images/2017/FUW170208b_fot01.jpg The heart of the system to generate groups of photons is a glass cell filled with hot gas vapour. Illuminating the cell with a laser results in the emission of photons with a wavelength in the infrared spectrum range. (Source: UW Physics, Mateusz Mazelanik) FUW170208b_fot02s.jpg HR: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/press/images/2017/FUW170208b_fot02.jpg Wojciech Wasilewski (left) and Michal Dabrowski from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw demonstrate the single photon generator based on holographic quantum memory. Here, the gas-filled glass cell is located inside the magnetic shield used to eliminate external disturbances. (Source: UW Physics, Mateusz Mazelanik Leipzig/Halle (Saale)/Porto. The effects of roads on carnivores have obviously been underestimated in worldwide species conservation. This is the conclusion of the first comprehensive global study on this topic, which has been published in the scientific journal Global Ecology and Biogeography by an international research team from Germany and Portugal. The protection status of several species that are severely affected by roads cut through their habitat should be reconsidered, the researchers say. The first global overview of the effects of roads on carnivores offers new insights for the protection of well-known species such as the puma (Puma concolor), the American black bear (Ursus americanus) and the brown bear (Ursus arctos). According to the study, they are among the species whose survival in the long term is most seriously threatened by roads, but for which this hazard has not been fully acknowledged so far. Among the 5% of carnivores (17 species) that are most affected by roads, nine are currently categorised as "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means that they are regarded as not endangered. "Our results show the necessity of updating the protection status of these species, whose threat from roads has previously been underestimated," insists Prof Henrique Pereira from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Portugal Infrastructures Biodiversity Chair/Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-InBIO). Particularly under threat is the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), which lives only in Spain and Portugal; according to estimates, only a few hundred animals remain. The projection in the current study suggests that the species will have died out in 114 years. But while the Iberian lynx is IUCN-classified as "endangered", other species threatened by roads are not. For example, two species in Japan: According to the projection, the Japanese badger (Meles anakuma) and the Japanese marten (Martes melampus) will have died out in nine and 17 years, respectively, because of the threat from roads. Those 5% of carnivores (17 species) that are influenced most heavily worldwide by roads include the mammal families of cats, bears, martens, dogs and raccoons. Four species of bear are affected - half of all existing bear species. Surprising for the researchers was that also the stone marten (Martes foina) is among the 17 species most exposed to roads. Although the stone marten is widely distributed and not categorised as endangered by the IUCN, it is often killed by cars. Another species in Germany, the wolf (Canis lupus), is among the top 25% of carnivores (55 species) most exposed to roads globally. It belongs to those predator species that for long-term survival require a large area but whose habitat is cut by roads. For their study, the researchers considered a total of 232 carnivore species around the world (out of a total of ca. 270 existing species) and assessed how severely these are affected by roads cut through their habitat. To do this, they considered for example the natural mortality rate, the number of offspring and the movement behaviour of a species. From these factors, they calculated the maximum density of roads that a species can cope with. Furthermore, they determined the minimum area of unbroken habitat that a species needs to maintain an enduring healthy population. Finally, they compared these numbers with road network data. "Our results show that North America and Asia are the regions with the highest number of species most negatively influenced by roads, followed by South America and Europe," explains Ana Ceia Hasse from iDiv, the MLU and Portugal Infrastructures Biodiversity Chair/CIBIO-InBIO. "But while we had already expected that carnivores would suffer particularly in regions with greater road density, we were surprised to find that even in regions with relatively low road density there are species that are threatened by roads." In Africa, for example, roads have a significant effect on the habitats of leopards (Panthera pardus). This is because sensitive species that naturally cover greater distances can be restricted by comparatively few roads. "We did not simply lay roads and habitats of species over one another, but also considered the specific characteristics and requirements of the species in our calculations. In this way we could also identify species that react sensitively to even only a few roads," says Ceia-Hasse. The methods established in the new study can be used in future for applied purposes - for example for local protection measures, for environmental assessments by authorities, or to integrate the long-term effects of road building into scenarios of the World Bank regarding global biodiversity changes. ### Link to press release: https://www.idiv.de/news/news_single_view/news_article/carnivores-m.html Pictures: https://portal.idiv.de/owncloud/index.php/s/sNtzWXp2ZmdlW1l Publication: Ceia-Hasse, A., Borda-de-Agua, L., Grilo, C. and Pereira, H. M. (2017), Global exposure of carnivores to roads. Global Ecology and Biogeography. doi:10.1111/geb.12564. Published online 26.01.2017: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/geb.12564 The study was financially supported by the German Science Foundation (DFG), the European Regional Development Fund (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006821) as well the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (UID/BIA/50027/2013, PTDC/AAC-AMB/117068/2010, SFRH/BPD/64205/2009). Related press releases: 22.12.2016 Earth cut into 600,000 pieces (press release of the HNEE) https://www.idiv.de/en/news/news_single_view/news_article/earth-in-600.html 14.09.2016 Damages caused by bears: Humans determine frequency https://www.idiv.de/news/news_single_view/news_article/damages-caus.html 05.09.2016 Major update of IUCN Red List - "necessary, but not sufficient" says Henrique M. Pereira (German only) https://www.idiv.de/de/news/news_single_view/news_article/major-update-1.html Further Links: Red List Spatial Data: http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/spatial-data OpenStreetMap Data Extracts: http://download.geofabrik.de/ iDiv is a central facility of Leipzig University within the meaning of Section 92 (1) of the Act on Academic Freedom in Higher Education in Saxony (Sachsisches Hoch-schulfreiheitsgesetz, SachsHSFG). It is run together with the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, as well as in cooperation with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ. The following non-university research institutions are involved as cooperation partners: the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI BGC), the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology (MPI CE), the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI EVA), the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB), the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) and the Leibniz Institute Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Gorlitz (SMNG). Professor Emanuele Orgiu, who recently came to the INRS Centre Energie Materiaux Telecommunications, is part of the new cohort of young researchers admitted to the Young Academy of Europe. He was recognized by his peers for his scientific excellence and accomplishments. Among his many accomplishments, Professor Orgiu coordinated the extensive and multidisciplinary European project Bottom-Up Blueprinting Graphene Based Electronics (UPGRADE) from 2013 to 2016. This project, worth 1.3 M ~1.8 M$, brought together groups from France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium to study a new bottom-up approach to generate graphene nanoribbons that, unlike pristine graphene, display unique semiconducting properties with potential uses in information and communication technologies. Professor Orgiu's scientific excellence was also acknowledged by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), which named him Emerging Investigator twice in recent years for his research on charge transport in semiconducting molecules and assemblies. ### The Young Academy of Europe The Young Academy of Europe brings together young European scientists and researchers that want to be part of a network that discusses science and scientific policies in the European Union to advance science for future generations. The academy's next annual meeting will be held in Budapest September 4-6, 2017. Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Feb. 8, 2017: Quinoa could hold the key to feeding the world's growing population because it can thrive in harsh environments and grows well on poor quality, marginal lands. KAUST researchers have now completed the first high-quality sequence of the Chenopodium quinoa genome, and they have begun pinpointing genes that could be manipulated to change the way the plant matures and produces food. This project brought together 33 researchers from 4 continents, including 20 people from 7 research groups at KAUST, to produce an article that will be published this week in Nature (DOI: 10.1038/nature21370) and will feature on the cover of the February 16 issue. "Quinoa was the staple 'Mother Grain' that fueled the ancient Andean civilizations, but the crop was marginalized when the Spanish arrived in South America and has only recently been revived as a new crop of global interest," said KAUST Professor of Plant Science Mark Tester, who led the project team. "This means quinoa has never been fully domesticated or bred to its full potential even though it provides a more balanced source of nutrients for humans than cereals." As a first step toward improving our understanding of how quinoa grows, matures and produces seeds, Tester's team decided to sequence its genome. They used a combination of techniques, including cutting-edge sequencing technologies and genetic mapping, to piece together full chromosomes of C. quinoa. Their resulting genome is the highest-quality quinoa sequence to date, and it is already yielding insights into the plant's traits and growth mechanisms. "One problem with quinoa is that the plant naturally produces bitter-tasting seeds," said Tester. "This is due to the accumulation of chemical compounds called saponins in the seeds. We've pinpointed one of the genes that we believe controls the production of saponins in quinoa, which would facilitate the breeding of plants without saponins to make the seeds taste sweeter." There is immense potential for the genome sequence to help scientists understand quinoa and therefore modify it for more widespread, commercial use. For example, breeders could use this genetic information to learn how to control plant size to favor shorter, stockier plants that are less likely to fall over. These more stable plants could support bigger seed heads and be grown closer together in large fields. "We already know that the quinoa plant family is incredibly resilient," said Tester. "It can grow in poor soils, salty soils and at high altitudes. It really is a very tough plant. Quinoa could provide a healthy, nutritious food source for the world using land and water that currently cannot be used, and our new genome takes us one step closer to that goal." ### About KAUST: Established in 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a graduate-level research university located on the shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. KAUST is dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education and innovation. Curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research is conducted by students, faculty, scientists and engineers to address the world's pressing scientific and technological challenges related to food, water, energy and the environment. The university currently educates and trains over 900 master's and doctoral students supported by an academic community of 150 faculty members, 400 postdocs and 300 research scientists. With 100 nationalities working and living at KAUST, the university brings together people and ideas from all over the world. Visit kaust.edu.sa for more information. Ludwig researchers discover that circular DNA, once thought to be rare in tumor cells, is actually very common and seems to play a fundamental role in tumor evolution FEB. 8, 2017, NEW YORK -- A paradigm-changing Ludwig Cancer Research study reveals that short fragments of circular DNA that encode cancer genes are far more common in cancer cells than previously believed and probably play a central role in generating the cellular diversity that makes advanced cancers so difficult to treat. The new findings, published online today in Nature, are likely to change the way tumor evolution is understood by scientists and could ultimately lead to new ways to prevent and treat many malignancies. In their study, an interdisciplinary team led jointly by Ludwig San Diego's Paul Mischel with Vineet Bafna of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine analyzed cells from 17 different types of cancer to explore extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), which is so named because it is unassociated with chromosomes. They report that ecDNA is a key feature in nearly half of all types of tumors and show that it encodes multiple copies of cancer-driving genes. The researchers also show that ecDNA plays a far bigger role in the growth, diversity and drug resistance of cancer cells than the same genes housed on chromosomes in such tumors. "We've discovered something fundamental about how cancers diversify and evolve," says Mischel, a member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego. "This is an essential rethinking about what goes wrong with genes in cancer." In their paper, Mischel and his colleagues describe how they integrated several different technologies, including genomics, bioinformatics and classical cytogenetics, to detect, quantify, and analyze ecDNA. They found ecDNA in 40% of tumor cell lines but extremely rarely in normal cells. And when they looked specifically at patient-derived models of brain tumors, nearly 90% of these carried ecDNA. The researchers, spearheaded by Kristen Turner, Viraj Deshpande and Doruk Beyter from the Mischel and Bafna labs, found that cancer-fueling genes, or oncogenes, are more likely to occur on ecDNA than on chromosomes. They then quantitatively modeled these findings and verified their model's predictions through experiments conducted on tumor samples from patients. These studies revealed that tumors are more diverse -- or heterogeneous -- when oncogenes are amplified on ecDNA instead of on chromosomes, enabling them to more rapidly achieve and maintain high levels of cancer promoting genes. Unlike chromosomes, ecDNA is parceled out randomly to daughter cells when a tumor cell divides. So any given cell in a tumor might have no ecDNA in its nucleus or be crammed to the proverbial gills with the stuff -- and the greater the variation in their number, the greater the heterogeneity of cells in a tumor. It is this cellular diversity that makes tumors far more resistant to environmental challenges, most notably drug therapy. The new work was inspired by a previous study led by Mischel and reported in Science in 2014. In that study, Mischel and colleagues revealed that ecDNA plays a central role in the drug resistance of certain brain tumors. This came as a surprise because, for decades, cancer biologists had focused more on which genes promote cancer rather than where those genes are located. Genomic technologies too evolved along lines that favored this type of analysis. Although a few cancer biologists in the 1960s had described the presence of ecDNA in some tumor cells, they lacked the tools to quantify ecDNA, so the phenomenon had long been considered rare and inconsequential to the development of cancer. "It occurred to us after we made the observations published in 2014 that maybe ecDNA is a lot more common and consequential than anyone thought," says Mischel. "Understanding how tumor cells evolve and how they increase the copy number and variability of their drivers is likely to yield some pretty important clues about the fundamental biology of cancer and how we might be able to target it," says Mischel. He and his team are now working to unearth the molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis and maintenance of ecDNA and exploring how ecDNA levels change in response to changes in the tumor's internal environment. ### This research was funded by Ludwig Cancer Research, the National Brain Tumor Society, the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation, the Ziering Family Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the CureSearch for Children's Cancer, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the NIH, and the NSF. In addition to his Ludwig affiliation, Paul Mischel is a Professor of Pathology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, where Vineet Bafna is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering. Geoffrey Wahl of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, in La Jolla, is also a co-senior author on the Nature paper. About Ludwig Cancer Research Ludwig Cancer Research is an international collaborative network of acclaimed scientists that has pioneered cancer research and landmark discovery for more than 40 years. Ludwig combines basic science with the ability to translate its discoveries and conduct clinical trials to accelerate the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies. Since 1971, Ludwig has invested $2.7 billion in life-changing science through the not-for-profit Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the six U.S.-based Ludwig Centers. To learn more, visit http://www.ludwigcancerresearch.org. For further information please contact Rachel Steinhardt, rsteinhardt@licr.org or +1-212-450-1582. New work by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich researchers on students' emotional attitudes to mathematics confirms that positive emotions and success at learning in math mutually reinforce each other. Research has shown that students' learning and cognitive performance can be influenced by emotional reactions to learning, like enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom. Most studies on this topic have been done in labs. Now a new longitudinal study out of Germany investigates how students' emotions in a school context relate to their achievement. The study focused on achievement in math, which is not only important for education and economic productivity but is also known to prompt strong emotional reactions in students. It appears in the journal Child Development. "We found that emotions influenced students' math achievement over the years," explains Reinhard Pekrun, professor of psychology at LMU Munich and Australian Catholic University, who led the research. "Students with higher intelligence had better grades and test scores, but those who also enjoyed and took pride in math had even better achievement. Students who experienced anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, or hopelessness had lower achievement." The research was conducted as part of the Project for the Analysis of Learning and Achievement in Mathematics (PALMA). It included annual assessments of emotions and achievement in math in 3,425 German students from grades 5 through 9. Students were representative of the student population of Bavaria, which primarily includes youth from nonimmigrant White families, but represents a broad mix of socioeconomic backgrounds and both urban and rural locations. Students' self-reported emotions were measured by questionnaires, and their achievement was assessed by year-end grades and scores on a math achievement test. The study also found that achievement affected students' emotions over time: "Successful performance in math increased students' positive emotions and decreased their negative emotions over the years," according to Stephanie Lichtenfeld, senior lecturer at LMU, who coauthored the study. "In contrast, students with poor grades and test scores suffered from a decline in positive emotions and an increase in negative emotions, such as math anxiety and math boredom. Thus, these students become caught in a downward spiral of negative emotion and poor achievement." The study's finding that emotions influenced achievement held constant even after taking into account the effects of other variables, including students' intelligence and gender, and families' socioeconomic status. The results are consistent with previous studies showing that emotions and academic achievement are correlated, but they go beyond these by disentangling the directional effects underlying this link. Specifically, the research suggests that emotions influence adolescents' achievement over and above the effects of general cognitive ability and prior accomplishments, the authors note. The study's authors recommend that educators, administrators, and parents work to strengthen students' positive emotions and minimize negative emotions related to school subjects, for example, by helping students gain a greater sense of control over their performance. They also suggest that providing students with opportunities to experience success may help reduce negative feelings and facilitate emotional well-being, which can promote students' educational attainment. ### Future research on this topic could explore whether the pattern found here pertains to other age groups and academic subjects. The research was supported by LMU and the German Research Foundation. Readers of newspapers prefer - paper. In relation to the time they devote to their favorite papers, the digital editions play only a marginal role. This is the rather surprising result of a study of British papers by Neil Thurman of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich. Nowadays, one often hears that the age of journalism is over, that the daily paper is irrelevant, and the future belongs to the digital media. But in fact, a new study finds that the old-fashioned print editions of established papers are far more popular than is generally believed: In terms of the total amount of time readers devote to newspapers, 89% goes to the print edition. Online and mobile formats take up what's left -- 4% and 7%, respectively. "Digital media have significantly extended the reach of major newspapers, in some cases several fold," says Neil Thurman, a professor in the Institute for Communication Sciences and Media Research at LMU, and the author of the new study. But he found that, on average, readers spend 40 minutes per day reading the print edition, while the same titles on digital platforms manage to engage their attention for less than a minute. "Scale those numbers up and you can see why newspapers still rely on print for the vast majority of the attention they receive," says Thurman. The study appears in Journalism Studies. In the course of his study, Thurman analyzed data collected by the UK National Readership Surveys and by comScore (a market research firm) for eleven of the leading daily papers published in the UK, including The Guardian, The Times and the tabloids The Mail, The Sun and The Mirror, for the period between April 2015 and March 2016. Thurman believes that the results of his survey may well apply to the German media landscape also. In fact, data published in the Reuters Institute Digital News Reports suggest that in Germany printed newspapers are 38% more likely to be used as a weekly source of news than online newspapers. In the UK the figure is 13%. "Therefore, given the relative popularity of printed newspapers in Germany, I would expect that Germans would spend even more time with newspapers in print than readers in the UK," Thurman concludes. ### Members of the Department of Chemistry of Lomonosov Moscow State University have created unique polymer matrices for polymer composites based on novel phthalonitrile monomers. The developed materials possess higher strength than metals, which helps to sufficiently decrease the mass of aircraft parts that operate at high temperatures. Scientists have published the project results in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science. A team of scientists from the Chair of Chemical Technology and New Materials at Lomonosov Moscow State University lead by Alexey V. Kepman, a Leading Researcher, is working on developing structural polymer composite materials. They are used for production of various constructions, vehicle components, and structural elements exploited under loading. Aerospace industry, where material requirements are much higher, requires high performance polymer composites. Polymer composites are made of a polymer matrix and a reinforcement material (filling agent) that remain separate and distinct within the finished structure. For example, in carbon fiber reinforces composites (CFRP) carbon fabrics are used as a reinforcing agent while polyester or epoxy resins, bismaleimides, polyimides, and many other polymers -- as a matrix. A modern airplane -- e.g. Boeing 787 Dreamliner -- consists of polymer composites for 50%, and a fighter aircraft -- Eurofighter -- of FRP for 70%. Development of high-temperature polymer composites will allow replacing the existing metal engine parts (for instance, low-pressure jet compressor blades) or supersonic aircraft body elements with polymer composite parts. Chemists have applied a new approach to molecular design of bis-phthalonitrile monomers that are used as starting materials for polymer matrices. They have also developed materials with improved processing requirements suitable for cost-effective injection methods for CFRP manufacturing which is uncommon for most phthalonitriles known to date. Such methods allow to produce high-integrity CFRP parts of complex shape with minimal junction of elements. The project members -- Boris Bulgakov and Alexander Babkin - say: "At the moment the operating temperature of polymer composite applications reaches up to no more than 150 ? for most popular materials and up to 250 ? -- for high temperature ones. And we have developed polymer composites with epoxy-like processing, appropriate for operation at elevated temperatures up to 450 ?". One kilogram of titanium or aluminum alloy nowadays is much cheaper than the same amount of polymer composite (8-10 times less). However, according to Boris Bulgakov, production and maintenance of large complex shape parts made of polymer composites is hugely cheaper. Cost-effectiveness becomes possible due to a significant decrease of labor requirements for the assembly process and a high level of integrity of the resulting structures made of carbon fiber. Boris Bulgakov explains: "For instance, a wing made of polymer composites is assembled by junction of 10 elements and a wing made of metal - of 100 elements. This means that construction of a metal wing costs more. Moreover, strength of CFRP is 6-8 times higher than that of aluminum and at the same time CFRP density is 1.5 times lower". Polymer composites are widely used for production of premium automobiles, Formula-1 racing bolides, airplanes, and spaceships. Weight decrease in the case of airplanes results in fuel economy and increased aircraft useful load. Thus, the production cost of polymer composites is compensated by a reduction of fuel consumption and an increase in cargo capacity. Besides that, polymer composites are less expensive to maintain since they are not susceptible to corrosion. Development of the new matrices for polymer composites has been conducted in the framework of the Federal Target Program "Research and Development in the Priority Areas of Development of the Russian Scientific and Technological Complex for 2014 - 2020." Professor V.V. Avdeev, the head of the Chair of Chemical Technology and New Materials has set a goal to organize pilot production of phthalonitrile resins. The resin samples, synthesized at Lomonosov Moscow State University, are under investigation at P. I. Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development, A.N. Tupolev Kazan National Research Technical University and other organizations. ### Researchers from North Carolina State University, Boston University and George Mason University have developed a Bitcoin-compatible system that could make it significantly more difficult for observers to identify or track the parties involved in any given Bitcoin transaction. Bitcoin was initially conceived as a way for people to exchange money anonymously. But then it was discovered that anyone could track all Bitcoin transactions and often identify the parties involved. Bitcoin operates by giving each user a unique public key, which is a string of numbers. Users can transmit money in the form of digital bitcoins from one public key to another. This is made possible by a system that ensures a user has enough bitcoins in his or her account to make the transfer. The use of the public keys gave users a sense of anonymity, even though all of the transactions were visible on the public Bitcoin blockchain which lists all transactions. Over time, experts and private companies have developed highly effective methods of de-anonymizing those public keys. Now researchers have developed a system called TumbleBit, which is a computer protocol that runs on top of Bitcoin. TumbleBit takes advantage of an existing concept called "mixing service." The idea works like this: instead of Party A paying Party B directly, many different Parties A pay an intermdiary "tumbler," which then pays the Parties B. The more parties are involved, the harder it is to determine which Party A paid which Party B. "However, this still has a security flaw," says Alessandra Scafuro, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State and co-author of a paper describing TumbleBit. "Namely, if an outside observer can compromise the tumbler, it could figure out who was paying whom." To address this, TumbleBit takes a three-phased approach. In the first phase, called escrow, the Parties A notify the tumbler that they would like to make a payment, and the Parties B notify the tumbler that they would like to be paid. This is all done on the public blockchain. For the second phase, the researchers have put cryptographic tools into place that allow the tumbler to pay the correct parties without actually knowing which parties are involved. Phase two does not appear on the blockchain. In the third phase, called cashout, all of the transactions are conducted simultaneously, making it more difficult to identify which parties are involved in any specific transaction. Phase three does appear in the public blockchain. "We tested TumbleBit with 800 Bitcoin users, and found that the second phase only took seconds to complete," Scafuro says. "One limitation of TumbleBit is that, right now, the system is designed to work with a fixed denomination - so paying amounts larger than that denomination require making multiple payments," Scafuro says. "That's something we're working on." The paper, "TumbleBit: An Untrusted Bitcoin-Compatible Anonymous Payment Hub," will be presented at the Network and Distributed System Security Symposium, being held Feb. 26 to March 1 in San Diego, Calif. ### Lead author of the paper is Ethan Heilman of Boston University. The paper was co-authored by Leen AlShenibr and Sharon Goldberg, of Boston University, and Foteini Baldimtsi of George Mason University. The work was done with support from the National Science Foundation under grants 1012910, 1414119 and 1350733. Scientists know a great deal about blue whales off California, where the endangered species has been studied for decades. But they know far less about blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean, where ships strike and kill some of the largest animals on Earth. Now a research team has found a way to translate their knowledge of blue whales off California and in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to the other side of the world, revealing those areas of the Northern Indian Ocean where whales are likely to be encountered. The team of scientists from NOAA Fisheries and the Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project published the findings in the journal Diversity and Distributions. The Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission included the results of the study when assessing a shift in busy shipping lanes off the south coast of Sri Lanka that will reduce the danger to whales in an important feeding area. "Small changes in shipping routes can be a very effective way to address a serious conservation issue with minimal inconvenience to the shipping industry, but rely on a good understanding of the relationship between whale distribution and habitat," said Russell Leaper, a member of the Scientific Committee. "This study makes an important contribution towards that understanding." To meet requirements of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA Fisheries regularly conducts marine mammal and ecosystem assessment surveys. Surveys off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific have shown that the upwelling of deep ocean water rich in nutrients supports dense patches of krill that blue whales feed on. This information has proven critical in addressing the emerging problem of ships striking blue whales, and has informed the management of ship traffic to and from the busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to mitigate this problem. "We are fortunate in the United States to have some of the best marine mammal data sets in the world," said Jessica Redfern, a research scientist at NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, Calif., and lead author of the new study. "It was exciting to explore how we could use these data sets to aid conservation efforts in parts of the world where few data exist." The research developed computer models of blue whale habitat off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific, including upwelling and underwater topography that affects areas of krill concentration. The models then identified similar upwelling and feeding regions in the Northern Indian Ocean that are also likely to be important habitat for the endangered species. "The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project has spear-headed efforts to draw attention to and mitigate the risk of ships striking blue whales in Sri Lankan waters. To best protect this species in this data-limited region, it is essential to adapt approaches developed in other parts of the world. Our collaboration achieves just that," said Asha de Vos, founder of the Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project and a coauthor on the study. The Northern Indian Ocean and its inhabitants have not been surveyed to the same extent as the eastern Pacific Ocean, and much of the information about whale distributions comes from Soviet whaling several decades ago. However, the model results matched up well with the limited information available, the scientists reported. The model suggests that the distribution of blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean may shift seasonally, following their food as monsoon climate patterns alter the most productive habitat. The scientists concluded that research and monitoring is critical in the areas identified as blue whale habitat in the Northern Indian Ocean because many of these areas overlap with some of the busiest shipping routes in the world. "Marine mammals face threats from human activities in most of the world's oceans, but we lack the data needed to address these threats in many areas," Redfern said. "The data collected aboard our surveys allow us to predict species habitat in other parts of the world. Understanding species habitat allows us to address conservation problems that are often unexpected and critical to maintaining healthy populations." ### 'Relationships' in the soil become stronger during the process of nature restoration. Although all major groups of soil life are already present in former agricultural soils, they are not really 'connected' at first. These connections need time to (literally) grow, and fungi are the star performers here. A European research team led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has shown the complete network of soil life for the first time. This Wednesday, the results of the extensive study are published in Nature Communications. Earthworms, fungi, nematodes, mites, springtails, bacteria: it's very busy underground! All soil life together forms one giant society. Under natural circumstances, that is. A large European research team discovered that when you try to restore nature on grasslands formerly used as agricultural fields, there is something missing. Lead author Elly Morrien from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology explains: "All the overarching, known groups of soil organisms are present from the start, but the links between them are missing. Because they don't 'socialise', the community isn't ready to support a diverse plant community yet." When nature restoration progresses, you'll see new species appearing. But those major groups of soil life remain the same and their links grow stronger. "Just like the development of human communities", says Morrien. "People start to take care of each other. In the soil, you can see that organisms use each other's by-products as food." In this way, nature can store and use nutrients such as carbon far more efficiently. Fungi as drivers "Fungi turn out to play a very important role in nature restoration, appearing to drive the development of new networks in the soil." In agricultural soils, the thready fungal hyphae are severely reduced by ploughing for example, and therefore the undamaged soil bacteria have an advantage and rule here. The researchers studied a series of former agricultural fields that had changed use 6 to 30 years previously. With time, there is a strong increase in the role of fungi. Earlier, researchers did look at fungal biomass, but that won't show you the whole story. "After six years, about 10% is fungal biomass and 90% is from bacteria. Still, we discovered that already at that stage, about half the carbon - being the food - goes to the fungi. After 30 years, that share has risen to three quarters of the carbon stored. Fungi really are the drivers in natural soils." From steppe to savannah The international team compared grassland soils from all over Europe. In the Netherlands, research fields on the Veluwe were included. "Worldwide, you find many types of grassland ecosystems. Think of steppes, tundras, prairies and savannahs." A unique opportunity, Morrien calls it. Because of the European consortium EcoFINDERS, data for many species of soil organisms from many different locations could be studied. By labelling the carbon atoms, the research team was able to follow the food flow throughout the whole soil ecosystem. In this way, they could link the organisms to their corresponding functions in the community. Morrien: "This linking has never been done at such a large scale before. Now we can finally get an advanced view of a complete and intricate soil community." And who knows: "We might be able to help the fungi restore the missing links, which will speed up nature restoration considerably." ### With more than 300 staff members and students, NIOO is one of the largest research institutes of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). The institute specialises in water and land ecology. As of 2011, the institute is located in an innovative and sustainable research building in Wageningen, the Netherlands. NIOO has an impressive research history that stretches back 60 years and spans the entire country and beyond. The search for life beyond Earth starts in habitable zones, the regions around stars where conditions could potentially allow liquid water - which is essential for life as we know it - to pool on a planet's surface. New NASA research suggests some of these zones might not actually be able to support life due to frequent stellar eruptions - which spew huge amounts of stellar material and radiation out into space - from young red dwarf stars. Now, an interdisciplinary team of NASA scientists wants to expand how habitable zones are defined, taking into account the impact of stellar activity, which can threaten an exoplanet's atmosphere with oxygen loss. This research was published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on Feb. 6, 2017. "If we want to find an exoplanet that can develop and sustain life, we must figure out which stars make the best parents," said Vladimir Airapetian, lead author of the paper and a solar scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "We're coming closer to understanding what kind of parent stars we need." To determine a star's habitable zone, scientists have traditionally considered how much heat and light the star emits. Stars more massive than our sun produce more heat and light, so the habitable zone must be farther out. Smaller, cooler stars yield close-in habitable zones. But along with heat and visible light, stars emit X-ray and ultraviolet radiation, and produce stellar eruptions such as flares and coronal mass ejections - collectively called space weather. One possible effect of this radiation is atmospheric erosion, in which high-energy particles drag atmospheric molecules - such as hydrogen and oxygen, the two ingredients for water - out into space. Airapetian and his team's new model for habitable zones now takes this effect into account. The search for habitable planets often hones in on red dwarfs, as these are the coolest, smallest and most numerous stars in the universe - and therefore relatively amenable to small planet detection. "On the downside, red dwarfs are also prone to more frequent and powerful stellar eruptions than the sun," said William Danchi, a Goddard astronomer and co-author of the paper. "To assess the habitability of planets around these stars, we need to understand how these various effects balance out." Another important habitability factor is a star's age, say the scientists, based on observations they've gathered from NASA's Kepler mission. Every day, young stars produce superflares, powerful flares and eruptions at least 10 times more powerful than those observed on the sun. On their older, matured counterparts resembling our middle-aged sun today, such superflares are only observed once every 100 years. "When we look at young red dwarfs in our galaxy, we see they're much less luminous than our sun today," Airapetian said. "By the classical definition, the habitable zone around red dwarfs must be 10 to 20 times closer-in than Earth is to the sun. Now we know these red dwarf stars generate a lot of X-ray and extreme ultraviolet emissions at the habitable zones of exoplanets through frequent flares and stellar storms." Superflares cause atmospheric erosion when high-energy X-ray and extreme ultraviolet emissions first break molecules into atoms and then ionize atmospheric gases. During ionization, radiation strikes the atoms and knocks off electrons. Electrons are much lighter than the newly formed ions, so they escape gravity's pull far more readily and race out into space. Opposites attract, so as more and more negatively charged electrons are generated, they create a powerful charge separation that lures positively charged ions out of the atmosphere in a process called ion escape. "We know oxygen ion escape happens on Earth at a smaller scale since the sun exhibits only a fraction of the activity of younger stars," said Alex Glocer, a Goddard astrophysicist and co-author of the paper. "To see how this effect scales when you get more high-energy input like you'd see from young stars, we developed a model." The model estimates the oxygen escape on planets around red dwarfs, assuming they don't compensate with volcanic activity or comet bombardment. Various earlier atmospheric erosion models indicated hydrogen is most vulnerable to ion escape. As the lightest element, hydrogen easily escapes into space, presumably leaving behind an atmosphere rich with heavier elements such as oxygen and nitrogen. But when the scientists accounted for superflares, their new model indicates the violent storms of young red dwarfs generate enough high-energy radiation to enable the escape of even oxygen and nitrogen - building blocks for life's essential molecules. "The more X-ray and extreme ultraviolet energy there is, the more electrons are generated and the stronger the ion escape effect becomes," Glocer said. "This effect is very sensitive to the amount of energy the star emits, which means it must play a strong role in determining what is and is not a habitable planet." Considering oxygen escape alone, the model estimates a young red dwarf could render a close-in exoplanet uninhabitable within a few tens to a hundred million years. The loss of both atmospheric hydrogen and oxygen would reduce and eliminate the planet's water supply before life would have a chance to develop. "The results of this work could have profound implications for the atmospheric chemistry of these worlds," said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, a Goddard space scientist not involved with the study. "The team's conclusions will impact our ongoing studies of missions that would search for signs of life in the chemical composition of those atmospheres." Modeling the oxygen loss rate is the first step in the team's efforts to expand the classical definition of habitability into what they call space weather-affected habitable zones. When exoplanets orbit a mature star with a mild space weather environment, the classical definition is sufficient. When the host star exhibits X-ray and extreme ultraviolet levels greater than seven to 10 times the average emissions from our sun, then the new definition applies. The team's future work will include modeling nitrogen escape, which may be comparable to oxygen escape since nitrogen is just slightly lighter than oxygen. The new habitability model has implications for the recently discovered planet orbiting the red dwarf Proxima Centauri, our nearest stellar neighbor. Airapetian and his team applied their model to the roughly Earth-sized planet, dubbed Proxima b, which orbits Proxima Centauri 20 times closer than Earth is to the sun. Considering the host star's age and the planet's proximity to its host star, the scientists expect that Proxima b is subjected to torrents of X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation from superflares occurring roughly every two hours. They estimate oxygen would escape Proxima b's atmosphere in 10 million years. Additionally, intense magnetic activity and stellar wind - the continuous flow of charged particles from a star - exacerbate already harsh space weather conditions. The scientists concluded that it's quite unlikely Proxima b is habitable. "We have pessimistic results for planets around young red dwarfs in this study, but we also have a better understanding of which stars have good prospects for habitability," Airapetian said. "As we learn more about what we need from a host star, it seems more and more that our sun is just one of those perfect parent stars, to have supported life on Earth." ### Each year, about 1.38 million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have facilitated a 90-percent, five-year survival rate, among those treated. However, with the increased rate and length of survival following breast cancer, patients face a lifetime risk of developing lymphedema, one of the most distressing and feared late onset breast cancer-related effects. Lymphedema is an abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid in the ipsilateral body area, or upper limb. This remains an ongoing major health problem affecting more than 40 percent of 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. Lymphedema following breast cancer surgery is typically considered to be primarily due to the mechanical injury from surgery. However, recent research has found that inflammation-infection and higher body mass index are also main predictors of lymphedema. Researchers from New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing (NYU Meyers), led by Dr. Mei R. Fu, PhD, RN, FAAN, conducted a study, "Precision assessment of heterogeneity of lymphedema phenotype, genotypes and risk prediction," to address this phenomenon and prospectively examine phenotype of arm lymphedema by limb volume and lymphedema symptoms in relation to inflammatory genes in women treated for breast cancer. The study, published in The Breast, is the first of its kind in exploring associations between genetic susceptibility targeting identified phenotypic risk factors of inflammation and heterogeneous phenotypes of lymphedema. "It remains puzzling that up to 23% of survivors who only had lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy of 1 or 2 lymph nodes removed have developed lymphedema, while some survivors who had mastectomy with more than 10 lymph nodes removed have not," said Dr. Fu. "There is a critical need to understand heterogeneity of lymphedema phenotype in relation to assessment of lymphedema phenotype and related biological mechanism." The study consisted of 136 women with a mean age of 52 with a first time diagnosis of breast cancer (Stage I-III), and were scheduled for surgical treatment of lumpectomy or mastectomy. The researchers measured data at 4-8 weeks post-surgery and 12 months post-surgery to monitor development of lymphedema during this period. They used lymphedema phenotyping to measure more symptoms than the typical method of observing swelling and limb volume. The symptom phenotyping was important in indicating early stage lymphedema where limb volume cannot be assessed yet. The researchers found that using symptom phenotyping, prior to surgery, only one participant had more than 8 symptoms and only 18 had 1-7 symptoms. At 4-8 weeks post-surgery all participants had at least one symptom, 53% had 1-7 symptoms, and 46% had more than 8 symptoms, whereas only 16% had arm lymphedema defined by limb volume increase. At 12 months post-surgery 26.5% had more than 8 symptoms and 63% reported 1-7 symptoms, whereas only 22.8% had arm lymphedema as defined by limb volume. Additionally, prior to surgery, identification of symptom phenotypes was not feasible, as 86% of participants were symptom-free. However, at 4-8 weeks post-surgery 58.1% of participants were classified as the phenotype of impaired limb mobility, with 86% discomfort, and 55.9% fluid accumulation. At 12 months 55.2% of participants were classified as the phenotype of impaired limb mobility with 38.2% pain/discomfort, and 44.1% fluid accumulation. This data found significant associations between genotypes related to several lymphatic and inflammatory genes and symptom phenotypes of impaired limb mobility, fluid accumulation, and pain/discomfort. The data further provides support for heterogeneity of lymphedema phenotypes, especially phenotype of symptom clusters based on biological mechanisms. Dr. Fu notes that the sample size and only 12-month period of observation does put limitations on the study. The evidence from the study supports that interventions to promote lymph fluid flow and optimize body mass index have demonstrated positive effects for phenotype of fluid accumulation. Additionally, this study underscores the need for further research and exploration to advance understanding. "Precision assessment of heterogeneity of lymphedema phenotype and understanding the biological mechanism of each phenotype through exploration of inherited genetic susceptibility is a logical step for finding a cure for this chronic condition," said Dr. Fu. "Our research team has laid the foundation for, and shown the importance of, further studies on this topic. We hope it will help us gain a better understanding of lymphedema that will eventually lead to a cure." ### Researcher Affiliations: Mei R. Fu a, d, Yvette P. Conley b, Deborah Axelrod c, d, Amber A. Guth c, d, Gary Yu a, Jason Fletcher a, David Zagzag e A. NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USA B. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA C. Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA D. NYU Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA E. Pathology and Neurosurgery, Division of Neuropathology, Microvascular and Molecular Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, NYU Langone Medical Center, Acknowledgements: This study was supported by the National Institute of Health (NINR Project # 1R21NR012288-01A and NIMHD Project #P60MD000538-03) and 2011 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Foundation/Breast Cancer Research Grant: Funded by the ONS Foundation through an unrestricted grant from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH and other funders. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. About the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing, a Master of Science and Post-Master's Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing research and theory development. A new study on the relationship between people and the planet shows that climate change is only one of many inter-related threats to the Earth's capacity to support human life. An international team of distinguished scientists, including five members of the National Academies, argues that there are critical components missing from current climate models that inform environmental, climate, and economic policies. The article, published in the National Science Review, describes how the recent growth in resource use, land-use change, emissions, and pollution has made humanity the dominant driver of change in most of the Earth's natural systems, and how these changes, in turn, have important feedback effects on humans with costly and serious consequences. The authors argue that current estimates of the impact of climate change do not connect human variables -- such as demographics, inequality, economic growth, and migration -- with planetary changes. This makes current models likely to miss important feedbacks in the real Earth-human system, especially those that may result in unexpected or counterintuitive outcomes. Furthermore, the authors argue that some of the existing models are unreliable. The United Nations projections of a relatively stable population for the whole of the developed world depend, for instance, on dramatic, and highly unlikely, declines projected in a few key countries. Japan, for example, must decline by 34%, Germany by 31% and Russia by about 30% for the projected stability in total developed country population to be born out.12 In addition, countries often highlighted for their low birth rates, like Italy and Spain, are not projected to decline by even 1% for decades. In this new research, the authors present extensive evidence of the need for a new type of model that incorporates the feedbacks that the Earth System has on humans, and propose a framework for future modeling that would serve as a more realistic guide for policymaking and sustainable development. "Current models are likely to miss critical feedbacks in the combined Earth-Human system," said co-author Eugenia Kalnay, professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at University of Maryland. "It would be like trying to predict El Nino with a sophisticated atmospheric model but with the Sea Surface Temperatures taken from external, independent projections by, for example, the United Nations. Without including the real feedbacks, predictions for coupled systems cannot work; the model can get away from reality very quickly." ### The paper "Modeling Sustainability: Population, Inequality, Consumption, and Bidirectional Coupling of the Earth and Human Systems" is available at: https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article/doi/10.1093/nsr/nww081/2669331/Modeling-Sustainability-Population-Inequality Direct correspondence to: Dr. Safa Motesharrei University of Maryland 4254 Stadium Drive College Park, MD 20742 ssm@umd.edu To request a copy of the study, please contact: Daniel Luzer daniel.luzer@oup.com 212-743-6113 Sharing on social media? Find Oxford Journals online at @OxfordJournals Fish in the lab produced more light at night, in presence of planktonic prey The flashlight fish uses bioluminescent light to detect and feed on its planktonic prey, according to a study published February 8, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jens Hellinger from Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany, and colleagues. The splitfin flashlight fish, Anomalops katoptron, is one of many ocean-dwelling animals that produces its own bioluminescent light using symbiotic bacteria. The fish has light organs located under its eyes such that the light can be turned on and off by blinking, like a flashlight. Little is known about the function and purpose of the Morse code-like blinking patterns displayed by the fish. To investigate how the flashlight fish uses bioluminescent illumination, Hellinger and colleagues examined the blink frequency of a school of flashlight fish under different laboratory conditions. They found that during darkness at night time, the flashlight fish blink very frequently, at 90 blinks per minute, with the light being on and off for an approximately equal amount of time. However, when the flashlight fish detected living planktonic prey in the experimental tank at night, their light organs were opened for more time, keeping the light on longer, and they blinked five times less frequently than in the absence of prey. The authors suggest that the flashlight fish reduce their blinking and keep their light organs open so that they can produce more light to detect and feed on prey. They recommend additional field research to see whether the fish display the same behavior under natural conditions. "The splitfin flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron use bioluminescent light to detect planktonic prey during the night and adjust the blink frequency in a context dependent manner," says Hellinger. "The loss of luminescence and subsequent light organ degeneration demonstrates the close symbiotic relation between the fish and its luminescent bacterial symbionts." ### In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170489 Citation: Hellinger J, Jagers P, Donner M, Sutt F, Mark MD, Senen B, et al. (2017) The Flashlight Fish Anomalops katoptron Uses Bioluminescent Light to Detect Prey in the Dark. PLoS ONE 12(2): e0170489. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170489 Funding: The work was supported by funds from the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Changes in climate can rapidly impact even the deepest freshwater aquifers according to Penn State and Columbia University hydrologists. The researchers found that responses to climate variations can be detected in deep groundwater aquifers faster than expected -- in many cases within a year. Because rain water may take years to reach deep aquifers through natural infiltration, the findings suggest another factor is involved, such as pumping of aquifers done by agricultural industries. "We saw a rapid response in deep groundwater levels to both major climate cycles and local precipitation," said Tess Russo, R.L. Slingerland Early Career Professor of Geosciences at Penn State. "These aquifers are so deep, we expect it takes years for precipitation to make its way down, so if it's not natural recharge causing the response of groundwater to changes in precipitation, then it may be coming from pumping changes." The research, published in Nature Geoscience, sheds new light on groundwater budgets in the U.S. and better defines how water held in deep aquifers could change with the climate. Groundwater used by municipalities and industry is almost always drawn from deep wells, which provide a more reliable source of water than shallow aquifers, especially during times of drought. Despite the importance of these deep aquifers, no one really knows how much water they contain or how they might react to climate change. "Groundwater doesn't move very fast so we typically think of deep aquifers as having a delayed response to what's going on at the surface, including our changing climate," said Russo, who is also an associate in Penn State's Earth and Environment Systems Institute. "But we actually see a relatively rapid response." Russo and Upmanu Lall, of the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University, analyzed relationships between climate and groundwater data from across the United States, and used a small set of regional pumping data from wells in Kansas to demonstrate the potential connection. Russo said evidence suggests that pumping represents an intermediate connection between precipitation and deep groundwater levels. Changes in temperature and rainfall can affect crop water requirements, for example, leading to changes in reliance on water from deep wells. "If you look at agricultural areas where you have crop water demand changing as a function of precipitation, that is going to control pumping variability over time," Russo said. "Pumping could be an intermediate connection between climate and groundwater -- one that causes an immediate response." Though evidence suggests pumping causes the rapid response between deep groundwater and climate, scientists were not able to conclusively link them because of a lack of pumping data across the U.S. "We need more data collection on human activities," Russo said. "We need pumping records if we are really going to nail down the connection between climate and groundwater." ### The National Science Foundation Water Sustainability and Climate Project, the Columbia Earth Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and the University of Chicago 1896 Pilot Project funded this research. Testing treatments for bone cancer tumors may get easier with new enhancements to sophisticated support structures that mimic their biological environment, according to Rice University scientists. A team led by Rice bioengineer Antonios Mikos has enhanced its three-dimensional printed scaffold to see how Ewing's sarcoma (bone cancer) cells respond to stimuli, especially shear stress, the force experienced by tumors as viscous fluid such as blood flows through bone. The researchers determined the structure of a scaffold, natural or not, has a very real effect on how cells express signaling proteins that help cancer grow. The size and shape of pores and scaffold porosity -- the percent of empty space in a structure created by pores -- can impact cell attachment, alter the permeability of media and nutrients and facilitate cell migration, according to the researchers. The scientists said 3-D printing allows them to get closer than ever to mimicking the architecture of real bone. The research is detailed in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering. The scaffold itself is special, according to Mikos. The bone-like printed polymer contains pores of varying sizes to constrain fluids that flow through and apply varying degrees of shear stress to the tumor cells, depending on the scaffold's orientation in relation to the flow. "We aim to develop tumor models that can capture the complexity of tumors in vitro and can be used for drug testing, thus providing a platform for drug development while reducing the associated cost," Mikos said. He noted that by varying the scaffold architecture, they can change the mechanical environment through which fluids flow and the magnitude of shear stress exerted on tumor cells. Flat sections of scaffold were printed with pores in one of three sizes: 0.2, 0.6 and 1 millimeter. Three layers of each were stacked to make each 3-D scaffold, and these were seeded with tumor cells and placed in a flow perfusion reactor that mimics the push and pull of fluids and tissues in a biological environment. This makes simulations much more realistic than growing cells in a flat petri dish, Mikos said. The researchers found that cells proliferated far better under flow than in conditions with no fluid flow. When the fluid began to flow, layers with the smallest pores, which restrict permeability, showed significantly more proliferation. They also found that under flow, cells increased their production of insulin-like growth factor protein (IGF-1), a ligand on the surface of sarcoma cells and part of the signaling pathway that plays a critical role in resistance to chemotherapy. Additionally, the orientation of the 0.2, 0.6 and 1 millimeter pore sizes played a role in how much IGF-1 the cells produced. They suspected that the combination of shear stress and scaffold orientation prompted different levels of protein production. The researchers now plan to refine their scaffold-printing process to study metastasis and test tumors' response to drugs. ### Rice Ph.D. alumnus Jordan Trachtenberg, now an independent contractor at Rice, and alumnus Marco Santoro, now a faculty research associate at the University of Maryland, are lead authors of the study. Co-authors are Rice graduate students Brandon Smith and Eric Molina; graduate student Cortes Williams and Vassilios Sikavitsas, a professor at the University of Oklahoma; graduate student Charlotte Piard and John Fisher, the Fischell Family Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland; postdoctoral researcher Jesse Placone of the University of California, San Diego; and research assistant Brian Menegaz, senior research scientist Salah-Eddine Lamhamedi-Cherradi and Associate Professor Joseph Ludwig, all at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Mikos is the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a professor of materials science and nanoengineering. The National Institutes of Health, the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supported the research. Read the abstract at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00641 This news release can be found online at http://news.rice.edu/2017/02/08/better-scaffolds-help-scientists-study-cancer/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews Related materials: "Cancer treatment models get real": http://news.rice.edu/2015/08/05/cancer-treatment-models-get-real-2/ Mikos Research Group: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~mikosgrp/index.htm Rice Department of Bioengineering: https://bioe.rice.edu Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,910 undergraduates and 2,809 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for happiest students and for lots of race/class interaction by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about Rice," go to http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversityoverview. Los Angeles, CA (Feb. 8, 2017) As more states begin to legalize the use of marijuana, more young people may start to believe that it's safe to experiment with the drug. However, those under 25 are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs than are older adults. New legislation on legal marijuana use should include consideration of age limits and other guidelines for safe use, according to the authors of an article published today in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, a Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) journal published in partnership with SAGE Publishing. "As states consider legislation for marijuana use, it is imperative to determine safe guidelines regarding its impact on the brain, particularly during critical periods of neurodevelopment," commented study authors Staci A. Gruber and Kelly A. Sagar of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "Although 'just say no' did not work as a successful prevention policy, 'just not yet' may be a more effective and informed message to promote, especially among our nation's youth." Examining research on recreational marijuana's impact on the brain, Gruber and Sagar recommend that laws legalizing marijuana outline restrictions on: Age: Some parts of the brain, such as those dealing with planning and problem-solving, continue to develop until the mid-20s. In addition, those who start using marijuana during adolescence are more likely to have problems with memory and to use marijuana at high levels in the future. Policymakers should take into account the risks that marijuana poses to adolescents when considering age restrictions and advertisements for these products should not target youth. Frequency and magnitude of use: Those who use marijuana frequently and/or in high doses are more likely to have worse problems with cognition and memory than those who don't. To prevent users from abusing marijuana, policymakers should determine safe guidelines for use. Potency: Some varieties of marijuana plants and related products, including concentrates such as oils and wax, have high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's ability to get users high. Other varieties and products contain greater concentrations of non-psychoactive cannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD), which does not get users high and is well known for its role in treating conditions such as pediatric epilepsy, anxiety, and pain. Instead of treating all types of marijuana as the same, policymakers should consider limits on THC potency for young consumers as well as minimums for potentially beneficial cannabinoids, such as CBD, for medical use. While recreational marijuana use during vulnerable periods of neurodevelopment has been linked to adverse effects, marijuana and its constituents also appear to hold great therapeutic potential. Currently, "policy has outpaced science, and eased restrictions allowing citizens to use marijuana, in some cases without the benefit of appropriate research," continued Gruber and Sagar. "Additional investigation is warranted and necessary to help guide informed policy decisions. Consumers have a right and a clear need to understand what their chosen marijuana products contain and what to expect." ### Find out more by reading the full article, "Marijuana on the Mind? The Impact of Marijuana on Cognition, Brain Structure, and Brain Function, and Related Public Policy Implications," by Staci A. Gruber and Kelly A. Sagar, in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences. For an embargoed copy of the full text, please email tiffany.medina@sagepub.com. Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 1,000 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. Our growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company's continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC and Melbourne. http://www.sagepublishing.com Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences is a publication of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS) that presents original research and scientific reviews relevant to public policy. This allows scientists to share research that can help build sound policies, allows policymakers to provide feedback to the scientific community regarding research that could address societal challenges, and encourages the scientific community to build models that seriously consider implementation to address the needs of society. http://journals.sagepub.com/home/bbs In a time of increased concern about how minorities are treated by police, teachers, and other authorities, it is critical to examine whether students of color have experiences in school that lead to mistrust of authorities and what the long-term implications are for young people. In a new set of longitudinal studies, minority youth perceived and experienced more biased treatment and lost more trust over the middle school years than their White peers. Minority students' growing lack of trust in turn predicted whether they acted out in school and even whether they made it to college years later. The research, which appears in the journal Child Development, was conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, Columbia University, and Stanford University. "The end of seventh grade seems to be a period for developing trust in institutions like school," explains David S. Yeager, assistant professor of developmental psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, who led the study. "When adolescents see that school rules aren't fair to people who look like them, they lose trust and then disengage. But it doesn't have to be this way; teachers have an opportunity to earn minority students' trust, and this helps students do better in middle school and beyond." Researchers examined students' perceptions of the fairness of their teachers in middle school and how these perceptions related to whether they were disciplined in school and whether they eventually attended a four-year college. Data were drawn from an eight-year study, conducted two years in a row at the same school, that tracked students in the northeast region of the United States from sixth grade until college entry. In one part of the study, researchers surveyed 277 White and African American students twice yearly; about a fifth of the students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, an indicator of poverty. In a followup part of the study, they surveyed 206 White and Latino students from Colorado twice yearly; most of the students were from working-class families and these students have not been followed through college entry. Researchers assessed trust by asking the students to complete surveys that featured questions such as "I am treated fairly by teachers and other adults at my school" and "Students in my racial group are treated fairly by teachers and other adults at [my] middle school." Students were also asked questions that examined their perceptions of how minority students were treated, such as "If a Black or White student is alone in the hallway during class time, which one would a teacher ask for a hall pass?" Academic achievement was assessed from school records (including grade point averages in core classes); disciplinary incidents were also determined from school records. In the first study, researchers found that African American students reported more racial disparities than White students in decisions involving school discipline. School records confirmed this: Only minorities were disciplined for defiance and disobedience, not White students. This suggests the possibility of bias: When teachers have to make a judgment call, minority students may be more likely to be disciplined than their White peers. Minority students notice this, Yeager says, and it undermines their trust in school. Every semester in middle school, African American students became more aware of this bias and lost trust. By seventh grade, this loss of trust made African American students more likely to get in trouble in school and defy school rules, even if before losing trust, they had never been in trouble and had made good grades. African American students who lost trust in school in seventh grade were then less likely to make it to a four-year college six years later. A similar pattern was found among Latino students in the second study. The more semesters students spent in middle school, the more they came to distrust that their teachers were fair. But this pattern doesn't have to be inevitable, the authors point out. The research also featured a pilot randomized experiment, which was built into the study and designed to serve as an antidote to students' mistrust of staff in school settings. Building on pioneering research by Geoffrey Cohen at Stanford University on "wise" critical feedback, researchers randomly assigned a group of 88 seventh grade social studies students (White and African American) to receive a single display of respect from their teachers (who were White): a hand-written note on a first-draft essay encouraging them to meet a higher standard and implying that the teacher believed in them as they tried to do so. African American students who received these notes had fewer disciplinary incidents over the entire next year and were more likely to be enrolled in college six years later. "Youth of color enter middle school aware that majority groups could view them stereotypically," notes Valerie Purdie-Vaughns, associate professor of psychology at Columbia University, who coauthored the study. "But when teachers surprise them with an early experience that conveys that they are not being seen in terms of stereotypes, but rather respected, it creates trust and may set in motion a positive cycle of expectations." In this study, neither trust nor receiving the intervention predicted subsequent college entrance for White students as it did for minority students. The authors suggest that for students with group-based advantages, such as majority-group students who are more positively stereotyped and overrepresented, a loss of trust or a poor relationship with a teacher might be only a temporary setback. The study can inform educational policy and practice. The researchers caution that the one-time note is not an intervention that is ready for wide-scale use. Instead, they say, it highlights that teachers can work more systematically to create a classroom climate that boosts the trust of students who may have to contend with discrimination. ### The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the W. T. Grant Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and was supported by the Mindset Scholars Network . The Society for Research in Child Development will hold its Biennial Meeting in Austin, Texas, April 6-8, 2017. Members of the media are encouraged to attend to hear presentations on the latest research. Those journalists interested in learning more about this year's conference, or obtaining a press pass, should contact hklein@srcd.org. Conference attendance is free for qualified press with advanced registration. Summarized from Child Development, Loss of Institutional Trust Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Adolescents: A Consequence of Procedural Injustice and a Cause of Lifespan Outcomes by Yeager, DS (University of Texas at Austin), Purdie-Vaughns, V (Columbia University), Hooper, SY (University of Texas at Austin), and Cohen, GL (Stanford University). Copyright 2017 The Society for Research in Child Development, Inc. All rights reserved. Children exposed to harsh parenting are at greater risk of having poor school outcomes. A new longitudinal study sought to determine why. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh who conducted the study suggest that both direct and indirect effects of parenting play a role in shaping children's behavior, as well as their relationships with peers. The study appears in the journal Child Development. "We believe our study is the first to use children's life histories as a framework to examine how parenting affects children's educational outcomes via relationships with peers, sexual behavior, and delinquency," notes Rochelle F. Hentges, a postdoctoral fellow in the psychology department at the University of Pittsburgh, who led the study. "In our study, harsh parenting was related to lower educational attainment through a set of complex cascading processes that emphasized present-oriented behaviors at the cost of future-oriented educational goals." Harsh parenting was defined as yelling, hitting, and engaging in coercive behaviors like verbal or physical threats as a means of punishment. The researchers looked at youth who were part of the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study, which examined the influences of social contexts on adolescents' academic and psychosocial development. This ongoing longitudinal study in a large county near Washington, D.C., included 1,482 students, who were followed over nine years, beginning in seventh grade and ending three years after students' expected high school graduation. By the end of the study, 1,060 students remained. The participants reflected a broad range of racial, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. Participants reported on their parents' use of physical and verbal aggression, as well as their own interactions with peers, delinquency, and sexual behavior. Markers of overreliance on peers included deciding to spend time with friends instead of doing homework and feeling like it's okay to break rules to keep friends. When participants were 21, they reported on their highest level of educational attainment. Researchers found that students who were parented harshly in seventh grade were more likely in ninth grade to say their peer group was more important than other responsibilities, including following parents' rules. This in turn led them to engage in more risky behaviors in eleventh grade, including more frequent early sexual behavior in females and greater delinquency (e.g., hitting, stealing) in males. These behaviors, in turn, led to low educational achievement (as assessed by years of school completed) three years after high school, meaning that youth who were parented harshly were more likely to drop out of high school or college. Parenting influenced educational outcomes even after accounting for socioeconomic status, standardized test scores, grade point average, and educational values. "Youth whose needs aren't met by their primary attachment figures may seek validation from peers," explains Hentges. "This may include turning to peers in unhealthy ways, which may lead to increased aggression and delinquency, as well as early sexual behavior at the expense of long-term goals such as education." The study's findings have implications for prevention and intervention programs aimed at increasing students' engagement in school and boosting graduation rates. "Since children who are exposed to harsh and aggressive parenting are susceptible to lower educational attainment, they could be targeted for intervention," suggests Ming-Te Wang, associate professor of psychology in education at the University of Pittsburgh, who coauthored the study. Programs dealing with unhealthy peer relationships, delinquency, and sexual behaviors may also play a role in increasing educational attainment, the authors note. And teaching methods that focus on present-oriented goals and strategies (e.g., hands-on experimental learning, group activities) may promote learning and educational goals for individuals, especially those who are parented harshly. ### The study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The Society for Research in Child Development will hold its Biennial Meeting in Austin, Texas, April 6-8, 2017. Members of the media are encouraged to attend to hear presentations on the latest research. Those journalists interested in learning more about this year's conference, or obtaining a press pass, should contact hklein@srcd.org. Conference attendance is free for qualified press with advanced registration. Summarized from Child Development, Gender Differences in the Developmental Cascade from Harsh Parenting to Educational Attainment: An Evolutionary Perspective by Hentges, RF, and Wang, M-E (University of Pittsburgh). Copyright 2017 The Society for Research in Child Development, Inc. All rights reserved. Research has shown that students' learning and cognitive performance can be influenced by emotional reactions to learning, like enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom. Most studies on this topic have been done in labs. Now a new longitudinal study out of Germany investigates how students' emotions in a school context relate to their achievement. The study focused on achievement in math, which is not only important for education and economic productivity but is also known to prompt strong emotional reactions in students. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Munich, Australian Catholic University, University of Oxford, University of Reading, University of Konstanz, and Thurgau University of Teacher Education. It appears in the journal Child Development. "We found that emotions influenced students' math achievement over the years," explains Reinhard Pekrun, professor of psychology at the University of Munich and Australian Catholic University, who led the research. "Students with higher intelligence had better grades and test scores, but those who also enjoyed and took pride in math had even better achievement. Students who experienced anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, or hopelessness had lower achievement." The research was conducted as part of the Project for the Analysis of Learning and Achievement in Mathematics (PALMA). It included annual assessments of emotions and achievement in math in 3,425 German students from grades 5 through 9. Students were representative of the student population of Bavaria, which primarily includes youth from nonimmigrant White families, but represents a broad mix of socioeconomic backgrounds and both urban and rural locations. Students' self-reported emotions were measured by questionnaires, and their achievement was assessed by year-end grades and scores on a math achievement test. The study also found that achievement affected students' emotions over time: "Successful performance in math increased students' positive emotions and decreased their negative emotions over the years," according to Stephanie Lichtenfeld, senior lecturer at the University of Munich, who coauthored the study. "In contrast, students with poor grades and test scores suffered from a decline in positive emotions and an increase in negative emotions, such as math anxiety and math boredom. Thus, these students become caught in a downward spiral of negative emotion and poor achievement." The study's finding that emotions influenced achievement held constant even after taking into account the effects of other variables, including students' intelligence and gender, and families' socioeconomic status. The results are consistent with previous studies showing that emotions and academic achievement are correlated, but they go beyond these by disentangling the directional effects underlying this link. Specifically, the research suggests that emotions influence adolescents' achievement over and above the effects of general cognitive ability and prior accomplishments, the authors note. The study's authors recommend that educators, administrators, and parents work to strengthen students' positive emotions and minimize negative emotions related to school subjects, for example, by helping students gain a greater sense of control over their performance. They also suggest that providing students with opportunities to experience success may help reduce negative feelings and facilitate emotional well-being, which can promote students' educational attainment. Future research on this topic could explore whether the pattern found here pertains to other age groups and academic subjects. ### The research was supported by the University of Munich and the German Research Foundation. The Society for Research in Child Development will hold its Biennial Meeting in Austin, Texas, April 6-8, 2017. Members of the media are encouraged to attend to hear presentations on the latest research. Those journalists interested in learning more about this year's conference, or obtaining a press pass, should contact hklein@srcd.org. Conference attendance is free for qualified press with advanced registration. Summarized from Child Development, Achievement Emotions and Academic Performance: Longitudinal Models of Reciprocal Effects by Pekrun, R (University of Munich and Australian Catholic University), Lichtenfeld, S (University of Munich), Marsh, HW (Australian Catholic University and University of Oxford), Murayama, K (University of Reading), and Goetz, T (University of Konstanz and Thurgau University of Teacher Education). Copyright 2017 The Society for Research in Child Development, Inc. All rights reserved. A researcher in the College of Arts and Sciences is providing fresh insights into the "Great Oxidation Event" (GOE), in which oxygen first appeared in the Earth's atmosphere more than 2.3 billion years ago. Christopher Junium, assistant professor of Earth Sciences, is part of a team of researchers led by Aubrey Zerkle, a biogeochemist at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, which has uncovered evidence of an interaction between nitrogen and oxygen in ancient rocks from South Africa. The discovery not only illuminates how life evolved alongside changes in the chemistry of the Earth's surface, but also fills in a 400-million-year gap in geochemical records. Their findings are the subject of a major article in Nature (Macmillan Publishers, 2017). "We've captured, for the first time, the response of the nitrogen cycle through this major transition in the Earth's surface environment," says Junium, pointing out that global oxygenation was not an instantaneous event, as the name implies, but protracted over hundreds of millions of years. "There are particular aspects of the nitrogen cycle, making it very sensitive to the presence of oxygen." Scientists have long suspected that certain visible signals have accompanied the GOE in geochemical records; however, many of the records are plagued with gaps. "Understanding the nitrogen cycle through the Earth's history is important because it controls global primary productivity, which, in turn, regulates climate, weathering and the amount of oxygen at the Earth's surface," says Junium, a sedimentary and organic geochemist. Working with cores of sedimentary rock from the South African town of Donkerhoek, Junium and his colleagues used nitrogen stable isotopic analysis to record environmental conditions during the GOE. They found that the first occurrence of widespread nitrate coincided with the initial appearance of oxygen in the atmosphere. Estimated concentration of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere over the Precambrian Era (4.56 to 0.541 billion years). Junium says that, during the GOE, oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere increased by as much as four orders of magnitude, near or above modern levels. The prevailing notion is that such a confluence of events would have triggered the rapid diversification of complex organisms, ones reliant on atmospheric oxygen. Instead, more than a billion years passed before oxygen levels were high enough for the evolution of complex eukaryotes (i.e., cells or organisms sharing complex structural characteristics) to occur. Why the delay? "It remains an item of intense interest amongst the geochemical community, a question that we are actively seeking to answer," Junium adds. Part of the answer may reside in another study that has looked to traces of the element selenium in sedimentary shale, revealing the amount of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere some 2 billion years ago. "There was a quarter of a billion years or so in which the Earth's oxygen level was high and then sunk back down again," says Junium, citing a recent paper co-authored by Eva Stueken, a university research fellow at St. Andrews. "The selenium cycle was perturbed in such a way that there was enough oxygen to generate nitrate and to potentially support complex life." Zerkle says that catastrophic upheavals provide a critical window into how the biosphere responds to shifts in the environment. "Understanding how life on this planet has responded to geochemical changes in the past may help us predict responses to future changes, including the Earth's warming climate," she says. "It also informs our search for habitable planets in other solar systems." An essential element in all living organisms, nitrogen is responsible for the formation of proteins, amino acids, DNA and RNA. It also accounts for 80 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. ### Junium's work at Syracuse was funded by the National Science Foundation, and involved researchers from St. Andrews, the University of Leeds and the University of California, Riverside. Scientists have long thought that host birds accept or reject parasitic eggs according to how closely they resemble their own eggs in color. However, a new study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that both robins and blackbirds tended to reject brown eggs and accept blue-green eggs regardless of the color differences between their own eggs and the foreign eggs. The article, titled "Egg discrimination along a gradient of natural variation in eggshell coloration," is the collaboration of an international team of researchers, including Dr. Daniel Hanley, Assistant Professor of Biology, Long Island University Post, and Dr. Mark Hauber, Professor of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of City University of New York (CUNY). Avian brood parasites lay their eggs in other birds' nest and this poses a substantial challenge for unwitting foster parents, known as hosts. These hosts can use a number of cues, including the appearance of parasitic eggs to detect and remove the parasitic egg. Senior author, Professor Hauber of the City University of New York, said: "Scientists have long assumed that discriminatory host-to-be examine their own eggs soon after laying and reject all dissimilar eggs that they later find in the nest." However, this study provides experimental evidence that two hosts seem to pay attention to some color differences more than others: bluer eggs were accepted while equally dissimilar browner eggs were rejected. "By using a simple experiment we show that two hosts are much more likely to remove parasitic eggs from their nests if they are browner than their own, but not if they are more blue-green," said Dr. Hanley. "This result is surprising because the prevailing assumption of previous research had been that greater perceived differences between host and parasitic eggs would result in a greater likelihood of rejection." Dr. Daniel Colaco Osorio, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, who was not involved with the study, said, "Eggs bluer than a certain value are accepted and those browner than this are rejected. This suggests that the birds make an accurate keep/reject judgment by comparing the color to some internal and widely shared standard." These findings highlight an unexplored cognitive mechanism underlying host egg recognition and illustrate that both sensory reception and cognitive processes are critical for host perception. The results also suggest that brown coloration can serve as a supernormal stimulus for eliciting higher egg rejection rates than do other colors. Dr. Hanley and his colleagues note that future research would benefit from thoroughly sampling across a host's entire sensory space. ### The City University of New York is the nation's leading urban public university. Founded in New York City in 1847, the University comprises 24 institutions: 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, and additional professional schools. The University serves nearly 275,000 degree-credit students and 218,083 adult, continuing and professional education students. LIU Post is one of the nation's largest private universities. Since 1926, LIU has provided high quality academic programs taught by world-class faculty. LIU offers 500 accredited programs to more than 20,000 students and has a network of over 200,000 alumni, including leaders in industries across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information. For more information, please contact Shante Booker or visit http://www.cuny.edu/research Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, thanks to a pragmatic multi-sector response backed by strong political commitment and heavy government investment, a study published in Paediatrics and International Child Health reports. Such an early, concerted response allowed the country to successfully address the four prongs of the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) elimination strategy. As a result, MTCT rates were reduced from 20-40% in the mid-1990s to 1.9% in 2015 (surpassing the WHO elimination target of <2%). The WHO strategy focuses on the following four prongs: primary prevention of HIV in women of childbearing age; prevention of unintended pregnancies in women living with HIV; prevention of HIV transmission from an HIV-infected woman to her infant; and provision of appropriate treatment, care and support to women and children living with HIV. In Thailand, initiatives to promote condom use, provide information about the risk of transmission and introduce testing for pregnant and post-partum women were successfully implemented. For example, the 100% Condom Programme, which promotes 100% condom use by male patrons of commercial sex workers, has played a crucial role in preventing HIV infection in women of reproductive age. The success of such initiatives resulted in part from strong political leadership - the national AIDS policy of Thailand was transferred from the Ministry of Public Health to the Office of the Prime Minister in 1991 - and greatly increased investment, with government spending on the HIV/AIDS programme rising from US$684,000 in 1988 to US$82 million by 1997. The high rate of antenatal care provision in Thailand is also key. A voluntary HIV test with same-day results is offered at the first clinic visit, followed by re-testing later in pregnancy for HIV-negative women. For HIV-infected pregnant women, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is provided as soon as possible. Such treatment is now available at much lower cost, thanks to legislative changes which have allowed the non-commercial production of generic ART in Thailand. Counselling services at antenatal clinics also promote the use of dual methods of contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy in women with HIV. The study's author, Professor Usa Thisyakorn of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok said: "Thailand has achieved WHO elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission targets with early and concerted efforts of all sectors of Thai society. This provided numerous lessons learned in working together to safeguard children. Since children are the country's future, how the country responds to the problems created for them indicates how highly the country values its future." ### NOTE TO JOURNALISTS When referencing the article: Please include Journal title, author, published by Taylor & Francis and the following statement: * Read the full article online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20469047.2017.1281873 Please note the article will not be available online until the embargo has been lifted. About Taylor & Francis Group Taylor & Francis Group partners with researchers, scholarly societies, universities and libraries worldwide to bring knowledge to life. 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A study of high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggests that characteristically male brain anatomy was associated with increased probability of ASD, according to a new article published online by JAMA Psychiatry. ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition that is more common in males then females. Christine Ecker, Ph.D., of Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, and coauthors examined the probability of ASD as a function of sex-related variation in brain anatomy. The study included 98 right-handed, high-functioning adults with ASD and 98 neurotypical adults (ages 18 to 42 years) for comparison. Imaging and statistical analysis were used to assess ASD probability. The study based its analysis on cortical thickness in the brain because that can vary between males and females and be altered in people with ASD, according to the article. The authors report characteristically male anatomy of the brain was associated with a higher probability of risk for ASD than characteristically female brain anatomy. For example, biological females with more typical male brain anatomy were about three times more likely to have ASD than biological females with characteristically female brain anatomy, according to the study. The authors note limitations of their findings, including the need for future research to examine possible causes. The study findings also must be replicated in other subgroups on the autism spectrum. "Our study demonstrates that normative sex-related phenotypic diversity in brain structure affects the prevalence of ASD in addition to biological sex alone, with male neuroanatomical characteristics carrying a higher intrinsic risk for ASD than female characteristics," the article concludes. ### (JAMA Psychiatry. Published online February 8, 2017. doi:10.1001/ jamapsychiatry.2016.3990; available pre-embargo at the For The Media website.) Editor's Note: The article contains conflict of interest and funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc. BUFFALO, N.Y. - Poorer and less-educated older Americans are more like to suffer from chronic pain than those with greater wealth and more education, but the disparity between the two groups is much greater than previously thought, climbing as high as 370 percent in some categories, according to new research by a University at Buffalo medical sociologist. The results, based on 12 years of data from more than 19,000 subjects aged 51 and over, excluding those diagnosed or treated for cancer, provide several kinds of bad news about chronic pain in the United States, according to Hanna Grol-Prokopczyk, an assistant professor of sociology at UB and the paper's author, published in this month's issue of the journal Pain. Chronic pain levels are also rising by period and not just by age, meaning people who were in their 60s in 2010 reported more pain than people who were in their 60s in 1998. "There are a lot of pressures right now to reduce opioid prescription," says Grol-Prokopczyk. "In part, this study should be a reminder that many people are legitimately suffering from pain. Health care providers shouldn't assume that someone who shows up in their office complaining of pain is just trying to get an opioid prescription. "We have to remember that pain is a legitimate and widespread problem," she says. PHOTO: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2017/02/009. The study also serves as an argument for investing more into research for other treatments. "We don't have particularly good treatments for chronic pain. If opioids are to some extent being taken off the table, it becomes even more important to find other ways of addressing this big public health problem." Tens of millions of American adults experience chronic pain. A 2011 Institute of Medicine report (now the National Academy of Science Health and Medicine Division) noted that chronic pain affects more people and costs the economy more money than heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. Yet most research on the condition has asked only whether people had chronic pain or did not. Grol-Prokopczyk's groundbreaking study is among the first to look beyond either the presence or absence of chronic pain to examine instead matters of degree, asking whether the pain was mild, moderate or severe. Her research, based on the Health and Retirement Study, which asked participants if they were "often troubled with pain," also follows the same subjects over 12 years, as opposed to most studies that illuminate a particular point in time. "I found that people with lower levels of education and wealth don't just have more pain, they also have more severe pain," she says. "I also looked at pain-related disability, meaning that pain is interfering with the ability to do normal work or household activities. And again, people with less wealth and education are more likely to experience this disability." People with the least education are 80 percent more likely to experience chronic pain than people with the most. Looking exclusively at severe pain, subjects who didn't finish high school are 370 percent more likely to experience severe chronic pain than those with graduate degrees. "If you're looking at all pain - mild, moderate and severe combined - you do see a difference across socioeconomic groups. And other studies have shown that. But if you look at the most severe pain, which happens to be the pain most associated with disability and death, then the socioeconomically disadvantaged are much, much more likely to experience it." More research needs to be done to understand why pain is so unequally distributed in the population, but Grol-Prokopczyk says it's critical to keep the high burden of pain in mind in this period of concern over the opioid epidemic. "If we as a society decide that opioid analgesics are often too high risk as a treatment for chronic pain, then we need to invest in other effective treatments for chronic pain, and/or figure out how to prevent it in the first place," she says. ### Close friendships facilitate the exchange of information and culture, making social networks more effective for cultural transmission, according to new UCL research that used wireless tracking technology to map social interactions in remote hunter-gatherer populations. The research demonstrates how increased network efficiency is achieved through investment in a few strong links between non-kin friends connecting unrelated families, as well as showing that strong friendships are more important than family ties in predicting levels of shared knowledge among individuals. The study, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, was funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Hunter-gatherers offer the closest existing examples of human lifestyles and social organisation in the past, offering vital insights into human evolutionary history. To map the social networks of populations of Agta and BaYaka hunter-gatherers in Congo and the Philippines, researchers from the Hunter-Gatherer Resilience Project in UCL Anthropology used devices called mote - a wireless sensing technology worn as an armband that can record the interactions a person has in one day. The motes recorded all one-to-one interactions at two minute intervals for 15 hours a day over a week in six Agta camps in the Philippines (200 individuals, 7, 210 interactions) and three BaYaka camps in the Congo (132 individuals, 3,397 interactions). With this data, they were able to construct and examine social networks for both groups in unprecedented detail. Many unique human traits such as high cognition, cumulative culture and hyper-cooperation have evolved due to the social organisation patterns unique to humans. First author of the study, Dr Andrea Migliano (UCL Anthropology), commented: "Making friends and having a friendship network is an important human adaptation, one that has helped us develop cumulative culture. "What we see in these hunter-gatherer camps is that people have very strong relationships with their friends - and those relationships are as strong as those with family. These friends connect the different households, facilitating the exchange of information and culture. And it is those connections that make a network efficient." The analyses show that randomization of interactions among either close kin or extended family did not affect the efficiency of hunter-gatherer networks. In contrast, randomization of friends (non-kin relationships) greatly reduced efficiency. The researchers also found evidence that friendships began very early in childhood in both populations. Dr Migliano added: "In contemporary society, we have the technology to expand these social networks, increasing flow of information over much larger numbers of people. This allows humans to co-operate and work together to build wonderful things. Our work illustrates how friendship is one of the secrets to humans' success as a species." ### Notes to Editors: 1.) For more information, copies of the paper, video, images or interview requests please contact Ruth Howells in UCL Media Relations on mob: +44 (0)7990 675 947, email: ruth.howells@ucl.ac.uk 2.) The research paper 'Characterization of hunter-gatherer networks and implications for cumulative culture' is published in Nature Human Behaviour embargoed until Wednesday 8 February, 1500 UK time (1000 US Eastern) Development of host-cell directed therapies that could restore cellular function during M. tuberculosis infection, such as a 'release and kill' strategy, could shorten drug treatment of TB patients BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been called "the perfect pathogen." These bacteria hijack human macrophages, persist inside the cells to evade immune destruction, and then prevent the macrophage from undergoing programmed cell death. This provides a niche where they grow in a protected environment that is hard to reach with antibiotics. An end to that hijacking may now be possible, as University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers explain in the journal Scientific Reports. In a proof-of-concept experiment, they were able to specifically force M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages into programmed cell death called apoptosis, thereby releasing the sheltered M. tuberculosis bacteria from the macrophage. The released pathogenic bacteria could then be killed by a lower concentration of rifampicin, one of the front-line tuberculosis antibiotics that is ineffective against the sheltered intracellular bacteria. This strategy has been dubbed "release and kill," by Jim Sun, Ph.D., and colleagues, and if developed to clinical application, it could mean greatly shortened treatment periods for patients with tuberculosis, which now last at least six months. Their preclinical findings show, for the first time, that drug-induced selective apoptosis of M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages is achievable. Furthermore, drug-induced apoptosis could also improve the adaptive immune response against the pathogen and potentiate vaccines. More than 10 million people develop active tuberculosis disease each year, and 1.8 million die. This latest paper expands upon seminal results published by Sun and colleagues last year. They identified a macrophage enzyme called PPM1A as a central component of both the antiviral and antibacterial responses of macrophages. When M. tuberculosis infects macrophages, they found that it induced the upregulation of PPM1A, which in turn caused what Sun called "immune paralysis" of the macrophages. Specifically, the heightened PPM1A levels abrogated the ability of macrophages to send out an "alarm signal" (the efficient production of cytokines and chemokines) in response to pathogen-associated molecules like lipopolysaccharide, it blocked the rush to the "scene of the fire" (migration of macrophages in response to a chemotactic signal of infection from other cells), and it prevented the macrophage's ability to "put out the fire" (by impairing the macrophage's capacity to engulf, or phagocytose, bacteria, the first step in the normal defense against bacterial infections). In this latest Scientific Reports paper, the UAB researchers greatly expand their understanding of PPM1A's role beyond immune paralysis. They show how the abnormal upregulation of this macrophage enzyme provoked by M. tuberculosis acts as a checkpoint that ends the macrophage's ability to undergo both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis. Apoptosis is a normal, daily event. Between 50 billion and 70 billion cells in an adult undergo apoptotic death every day. Intrinsic apoptosis responds to a signal of cell aging or dysfunction from the inside, and extrinsic apoptosis responds to a 'death signal' from outside the cell. The normal apoptosis of a macrophage after it has engulfed an invading bacterium leads to priming of cell-mediated immunity, helps to kill the intracellular bacteria and limits harmful tissue inflammation. M. tuberculosis blocks these events, and when the bacteria are ready to exit the macrophage to disseminate, they induce necrosis, not apoptosis, of the cell, which evades stimulation of an immune reaction. ### Details PPM1A is the protein called Protein Phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+-dependent 1A. Besides showing that the heightened PPM1A production blocked intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, Sun and colleagues examined its mechanism of action. In a variety of elegant experiments using PPM1A overexpression or knockdown mutants, kinome analysis, and a selective inhibitor of PPM1A, the researchers showed that PPM1A controls a downstream effector of apoptosis, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase enzyme, or JNK. Elevated PPM1A levels in overexpression mutants or M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages inactivated JNK. This inactivation could be bypassed by sub-toxic treatment with the JNK agonist anisomysin to induce selective apoptotic killing of M. tuberculosis-infected human macrophages. Sun is a Research Fellow in the UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, mentored by Olaf Kutsch, Ph.D. Besides Sun and Kutsch, authors of the paper, "Mycobacterium tuberculosis exploits the PPM1A signaling pathway to block host macrophage apoptosis," are Kaitlyn Schaaf, Samuel R. Smith, Alexandra Duverger, Frederic Wagner, Frank Wolschendorf and Andrew O. Westfall, UAB Department of Medicine. A study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers has found that drought dramatically increases the severity of West Nile virus epidemics in the United States, although populations affected by large outbreaks acquire immunity that limits the size of subsequent epidemics. The study, published February 8 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, involved researchers from UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, and the New York State Department of Health. They analyzed 15 years of data on human West Nile virus infections from across the United States and found that epidemics were much larger in drought years and in regions that had not suffered large epidemics in the past. "We found that drought was the dominant weather variable correlated with the size of West Nile virus epidemics," said first author Sara Paull, who led the study as a post-doctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz and is now at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. West Nile virus was introduced into North America in 1999 and has caused yearly epidemics each summer since. The intensity of these epidemics, however, has varied enormously. In some years, there were only a few hundred severe human cases nationally, whereas in each of three years (2002, 2003, and 2012), approximately 3,000 people suffered brain-damaging meningitis or encephalitis, and almost 300 died. The variation at the state level has been even higher, with yearly case numbers varying 50-fold from year to year, on average. The causes of this enormous variation were unknown and had led scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to suggest that predicting the size of future epidemics was difficult or impossible. In the new study, Paull and Marm Kilpatrick, an associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, analyzed patterns in the number of severe West Nile virus infections each year in each state and nationally. They examined a number of weather variables, including summer temperature, precipitation, winter severity, and drought. They also tested a long-standing hypothesis that the disease shows a wave-like pattern in causing large outbreaks in the first year and few cases subsequently due to a build-up of immunity in bird populations, which are the main hosts for the virus. "We found strong evidence that in some regions the spread of West Nile virus was indeed wave-like, with large outbreaks followed by fewer cases," Paull said. "However, our analyses indicated that human immunity--not just bird immunity--played a large part in the decrease in human cases by reducing the number of people susceptible to the disease." Kilpatrick said the links with drought were unexpected. In collaboration with Dr. Laura Kramer from the New York State Department of Health, his lab had developed a very careful method of mapping the influence of temperature on the biology of both the virus and the three different mosquitoes that are most important in transmitting the virus. "We thought epidemics would coincide with the most ideal temperatures for transmission," Kilpatrick said. "Instead, we found that the severity of drought was far more important nationally, and drought appeared to be a key driver in the majority of individual states as well." It's not yet clear how drought increases transmission of the virus, he said. Data from Colorado indicate that drought increases the fraction mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus, but not the abundance of mosquitoes. Drought might affect transmission between mosquitoes and birds by stressing birds or changing where they congregate. With the help of climatologists Dan Horton and Noah Diffenbaugh at Stanford University, Paull used the links between drought, immunity, and West Nile virus to project the impacts of climate change on future epidemics. Over the next three decades, drought is projected to increase in many regions across the United States due to increased temperatures, despite increases in precipitation in some of the same areas. Model projections indicated that increased drought could double the size of future West Nile virus epidemics, but that outbreaks would be limited to regions that have yet to sustain large numbers of cases. These findings provide a tool to help guide public health efforts to regions most likely to experience future epidemics. ### Additional coauthors of the paper include Moetasim Ashfaq and Deeksha Rastogi from Oak Ridge National Laboratories. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Irvine, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 -- Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have identified a key neural pathway in humans that explains how the brain processes feelings of fear and anxiety, a finding that could help scientists unlock new ways to treat mental health disorders. People are motivated to remember fearful events, because this information is useful for daily survival. Yet over-interpretation of fear may lead to anxiety and other mental disorders. Understanding how the human brain processes fearful information has been a topic of intense scientific research. Until now, the brain circuit underlying fear has only been mapped in rodents. The study, "Amygdala-hippocampal dynamics during salient information processing," appears today in the journal Nature Communications. Researchers recorded neuronal activity using electrodes inserted into the amygdala and hippocampus of nine people as they watch scenes from horror movies to stimulate the recognition of fear. "Deep brain electrodes capture neurons firing millisecond by millisecond, revealing in real time how the brain attends to fearful stimuli," said Jie Zheng, a UCI graduate student and the study's first author. Researchers demonstrated that these two regions, nestled deep in the center of the brain and which play a key role in recognizing emotional stimuli and encoding them in memories, are directly exchanging signals. "In fact, neurons in the amygdala fired 120 milliseconds earlier than the hippocampus. It is truly remarkable that we can measure the brain dynamics with such precision," said Zheng. "Further, the traffic pattern between the two brain regions are controlled by the emotion of the movie; a unidirectional flow of information from the amygdala to the hippocampus only occurred when people were watching fearful movie clips but not while watching peaceful scenes." Human and animal studies have established the amygdala's role in fear processing and a parallel role the hippocampus plays in enhanced memory processing of emotional events. Despite the breadth of this research, senior author Dr. Jack Lin, said it was not previously known how these two nearby brain regions interact during the recognition of fearful stimulus. "Most studies focus on each brain region in isolation," said Lin, a UCI professor of neurology. "Our study unifies the varied literature on the roles of the amygdala and hippocampus in emotional processing, with direct evidence that the amygdala first extracts emotional relevance and then sends this information to the hippocampus to be processed as a memory." Understanding the activation of the exact brain network in processing fearful stimuli is critical to develop new treatment for psychiatric disorders in the era of personalized medicine. "This is the first study in humans to delineate the mechanism by which our brain processes fear at the circuitry level," Lin said. "This has huge implications for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. For example, current drugs available to treat anxiety disorder bind to large areas of the brain, leading to unwanted side effects." "Our hope is that we will one day be able to target and manipulate the precise amygdala-hippocampal circuit involved in processing negative emotions while preserving positive ones," he said. "This study brings the promise of targeted therapy a step closer." Measurements were collected from electrodes implanted by UC Irvine Health neurosurgeons in nine patients with medication-resistant epilepsy as part of an assessment of their seizure activity. Electrode placement was guided exclusively by these patients' clinical needs, Lin said ### The study was conducted in collaboration with Robert Knight, a UC Berkeley professor of psychology; postdoctoral fellow Kristopher Anderson; and research scientist Avgusta Shestyuk. The deep brain electrodes were placed by UC Irvine Health neurosurgeons Dr. Frank Hsu and Dr. Sumeet Vadera. UC Irvine Health neurologist Dr. Lilit Mnatsakanyan recruited patients for the study. Gultekin Gulsen, UCI associate professor of radiology and biomedical engineering, provided analysis tools. Michael Yassa, UCI associate professor of neurobiology and behavior, and postdoctoral fellow Stephanie Leal helped design the study. This study was supported with funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awards 2R37 NS021135 and K23 NS060993, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders award R01 007293, the Nielsen Corporation and the UCI School of Medicine Bridge Fund. UC Irvine Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UC Irvine Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 411-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America's Best Hospitals for 16 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center features Orange County's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and is the primary teaching hospital for UC Irvine School of Medicine. UC Irvine Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a desktop diagnosis tool that detects the presence of harmful bacteria in a blood sample in a matter of hours instead of days. The breakthrough was made possible by a combination of proprietary chemistry, innovative electrical engineering and high-end imaging and analysis techniques powered by machine learning. The team details their work in the Feb. 8 issue of Scientific Reports. To identify low levels of harmful bacteria among a large number of human blood cells, researchers for the first time melted bacterial DNA in 20,000 extremely small simultaneous reactions. Each reaction contained only 20 picoliters--a scale that is hard to picture: one drop of rain contains hundreds of thousands of picoliters. Each type of DNA has a specific signature as it comes apart during melting. As the melting process is imaged and analyzed, researchers can use machine learning to determine which types of DNA appear in blood samples. During experiments, the system accurately identified, 99 percent of the time, DNA sequences from bacteria causing food-borne illnesses and pneumonia--in less than four hours. "Analyzing this many reactions at the same time at this small a scale had never been attempted before," said Stephanie Fraley, a professor of bioengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego and the paper's lead author. "Most molecular tests look at DNA on a much larger scale and look for just one type of bacteria at a time. We analyze all the bacteria in a sample. This is a much more holistic approach." Current methods used to detect and identify bacteria rely on cultures, which can take days. That is too long to provide physicians with an effective and timely diagnosis tool--as anyone who has been prescribed antibiotics while waiting for test results knows. "We are driven by clinical needs," Fraley said. She brought together a team of bioengineers, clinicians, electrical engineers and computer scientists to develop a faster diagnosis system. How it works It all starts with one milliliter of blood, which researchers inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes, a food-borne bacterium that causes about 260 deaths a year in the United States, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes everything from sinus infections, to pneumonia, to meningitis. Researchers isolated all DNA from the blood sample. The DNA was then placed on a digital chip that allowed each piece to independently multiply in its own small reaction. For the process to work at such small scales--each well containing DNA in the chip was only 20 picoliters in volume--researchers used a proprietary mix of chemicals subject to a provisional patent. The chip with the amplified DNA was placed in an innovative high-throughput microscope that Fraley and her team designed. The DNA was then heated in increments of 0.2 degrees Celsius, causing it to melt at temperatures between 50 to 90 degrees Celsius -about 120 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. As the DNA double-helix melts, the bonds holding together the DNA strands break. Depending on the DNA's sequence, the bonds have different strengths and that changes the way the strands unwind from each other. This creates a unique sequence-dependent fingerprint, which researchers can detect using a special dye. The dye causes the unwinding process to give off fluorescent light, creating what researchers call a melting curve--a unique signature for each type of bacteria. When engineers imaged the melting process with the high-throughput microscope, they were able to capture the bacteria's melting curves. They then analyzed the curves with a machine learning algorithm they developed. In previous work, the algorithm was trained on 37 different types of bacteria undergoing different reactions in different conditions. The researchers showed that it was able to identify bacteria strains with 99 percent accuracy. By contrast, the error rate for traditional methods can be up to 22.6 percent. Next steps Next steps include shrinking the size of the system so that it can be more easily deployed in clinics and physicians' offices. Researchers also want to add to the system the capability to detect fungal and viral pathogens, as well as genes for antibiotic resistance. They also want to further validate their results on patient samples. Fraley hopes the system will be available to physicians in the next five years. "This has the potential to reach people near or at the point of care," she said. "With further improvements, it could also be deployed in low-resources settings. It's a simple and innovative approach." In addition to Fraley, authors are: Daniel Velez Ortiz, Hannah Mack, Julietta Jupe, Sinead Hawker and Yang Zhang, graduate students in the Department of Bioengineering at UC San Diego; Ninad Kulkarni and Behnam Hedayatnia, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC San Diego; and Dr. Shelley Lawrence, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego. ### The research was supported by a UC San Diego Clinical and Translational Research Institute Pilot Grant, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface and the UC San Diego Frontiers of Innovation Scholars Program. LINK TO THE PAPER TO COME The Magellanic Clouds, the two largest satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, appear to be connected by a bridge stretching across 43,000 light years, according to an international team of astronomers led by researchers from the University of Cambridge. The discovery is reported in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) and is based on the Galactic stellar census being conducted by the European Space Observatory, Gaia. For the past 15 years, scientists have been eagerly anticipating the data from Gaia. The first portion of information from the satellite was released three months ago and is freely accessible to everyone. This dataset of unprecedented quality is a catalogue of the positions and brightness of a billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy and its environs. What Gaia has sent to Earth is unique. The satellite's angular resolution is similar to that of the Hubble Space Telescope, but given its greater field of view, it can cover the entire sky rather than a small portion of it. In fact, Gaia uses the largest number of pixels to take digital images of the sky for any space-borne instrument. Better still, the Observatory has not just one telescope but two, sharing the one metre wide focal plane. Unlike typical telescopes, Gaia does not just point and stare: it constantly spins around its axis, sweeping the entire sky in less than a month. Therefore, it not only measures the instantaneous properties of the stars, but also tracks their changes over time. This provides a perfect opportunity for finding a variety of objects, for example stars that pulsate or explode - even if this is not what the satellite was primarily designed for. The Cambridge team concentrated on the area around the Magellanic Clouds and used the Gaia data to pick out pulsating stars of a particular type: the so-called RR Lyrae, very old and chemically un-evolved. As these stars have been around since the earliest days of the Clouds' existence, they offer an insight into the pair's history. Studying the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC respectively) has always been difficult as they sprawl out over a large area. But with Gaia's all-sky view, this has become a much easier task. Around the Milky Way, the clouds are the brightest, and largest, examples of dwarf satellite galaxies. Known to humanity since the dawn of history (and to Europeans since their first voyages to the Southern hemisphere) the Magellanic Clouds have remained an enigma to date. Even though the clouds have been a constant fixture of the heavens, astronomers have only recently had the chance to study them in any detail. Whether the clouds fit the conventional theory of galaxy formation or not depends critically on their mass and the time of their first approach to the Milky Way. The researchers at Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy found clues that could help answer both of these questions. Firstly, the RR Lyrae stars detected by Gaia were used to trace the extent of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The LMC was found to possess a fuzzy low-luminosity 'halo' stretching as far as 20 degrees from its centre. The LMC would only be able to hold on to the stars at such large distances if it was substantially bigger than previously thought, totalling perhaps as much as a tenth of the mass of the entire Milky Way. An accurate timing of the clouds' arrival to the galaxy is impossible without knowledge of their orbits. Unfortunately, satellite orbits are difficult to measure: at large distances, the object's motion in the sky is so minute that it is simply unobservable over a human lifespan. In the absence of an orbit, Dr Vasily Belokurov and colleagues found the next best thing: a stellar stream. Streams of stars form when a satellite - a dwarf galaxy or a star cluster - starts to feel the tidal force of the body around which it orbits. The tides stretch the satellite in two directions: towards and away from the host. As a result, on the periphery of the satellite, two openings form: small regions where the gravitational pull of the satellite is balanced by the pull of the host. Satellite stars that enter these regions find it easy to leave the satellite altogether and start orbiting the host. Slowly, star after star abandons the satellite, leaving a luminous trace on the sky, and thus revealing the satellite's orbit. "Stellar streams around the Clouds were predicted but never observe," explains Dr Belokurov. "Having marked the locations of the Gaia RR Lyrae on the sky, we were surprised to see a narrow bridge-like structure connecting the two clouds. We believe that at least in part this 'bridge' is composed of stars stripped from the Small Cloud by the Large. The rest may actually be the LMC stars pulled from it by the Milky Way." The researchers believe the RR Lyrae bridge will help to clarify the history of the interaction between the clouds and our galaxy. "We have compared the shape and the exact position of the Gaia stellar bridge to the computer simulations of the Magellanic Clouds as they approach the Milky Way", explains Dr Denis Erkal, a co-author of the study. "Many of the stars in the bridge appear to have been removed from the SMC in the most recent interaction, some 200 million years ago, when the dwarf galaxies passed relatively close by each other. "We believe that as a result of that fly-by, not only the stars but also hydrogen gas was removed from the SMC. By measuring the offset between the RR Lyrae and hydrogen bridges, we can put constraints on the density of the gaseous Galactic corona." Composed of ionised gas at very low density, the hot Galactic corona is notoriously difficult to study. Nevertheless, it has been the subject of intense scrutiny because scientists believe it may contain most of the missing baryonic - or ordinary - matter. Astronomers are trying to estimate where this missing matter (the atoms and ions that make up stars, planets, dust and gas) is. It's thought that most, or even all, of these missing baryons are in the corona. By measuring the coronal density at large distances they hope to solve this conundrum. During the previous encounter between the Small and Large Magellanic Cloud, both stars and gas were ripped out of the Small Cloud, forming a tidal stream. Initially, the gas and stars were moving at the same speed. However, as the Clouds approached our Galaxy, the Milky Way's corona exerted a drag force on both of them. The stars, being relatively small and dense, punched through the corona with no change in their speed. However, the more tenuous neutral hydrogen gas slowed down substantially in the corona. By comparing the current location of the stars and the gas, taking into account the density of the gas and how long the Clouds have spent in the corona, the team estimated the density of the corona. Dr. Erkal concludes, "Our estimate showed that the corona could make up a significant fraction of the missing baryons, in agreement with previous independent techniques. With the missing baryon problem seemingly alleviated, the current model of galaxy formation is holding up well to the increased scrutiny possible with Gaia." ### Images are available to download at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rw1qflz31jql02x/AADBQYKfmzaTN9aV__JgL5-La?dl=0 Reference Vasily Belokurov et al "Clouds, Streams and Bridges. Redrawing the blueprint of the Magellanic System with Gaia DR1" Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 8th Feb. 2017 (http://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stw3357) Contact details Paul Seagrove Research Communications Officer, University of Cambridge Tel: +44 (0)1223 765542 Mob: +44 (0)7739 160561 Email: paul.seagrove@admin.cam.ac.uk About the University of Cambridge The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. To date, 96 affiliates of the University have won the Nobel Prize. Founded in 1209, the University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges, which admit undergraduates and provide small-group tuition, and 150 departments, faculties and institutions. Cambridge is a global university. Its 19,000 student body includes 3,700 international students from 120 countries. Cambridge researchers collaborate with colleagues worldwide, and the University has established larger-scale partnerships in Asia, Africa and America. The University sits at the heart of one of the world's largest technology clusters. The 'Cambridge Phenomenon' has created 1,500 hi-tech companies, 14 of them valued at over US$1 billion and two at over US$10 billion. Cambridge promotes the interface between academia and business, and has a global reputation for innovation. http://www.cam.ac.uk New research from Professor Helen Carr of Kent Law School argues that by understanding the caring relationships between homeless people and their pets we will be able to reframe how we think about homeless people Published as 'Caring at the Borders of the Human: Companion animals and the homeless' in the book ReValuing Care: Cycles and Connections (Routledge), Professor Carr's research also reveals that homeless people often show a collective responsibility for the pets and, because of the close relationship between the pet and the homeless person, a collective responsibility for homelessness itself. The story of homeless people and their animal companions is recognisable from many towns and cities worldwide. It was also recently brought to light in James Bowen's bestselling book, and its cinema adaptation, A Street Cat named Bob. Professor Carr refers to the book within her chapter, noting the similarities between the story and face-to-face research among homeless people, many of whom described their animals as life changers and life savers, with some formerly homeless people claiming that it is their pet that keeps them alive. Professor Carr also argues that there is more to be said about the power of animals in relation to homeless people. For instance, she suggests that the donations of food provided by domiciled people to homeless people can be understood as political because it demonstrates sympathy with another species and because it suggests that we all share responsibility for the situation that homeless people find themselves in. Professor Carr's chapter, 'Caring at the Borders of the Human: Companion animals and the homeless' can be found in ReValuing Care: Cycles and Connections, edited by Harding, Fletcher & Beasley, published by Routledge. ### For further information or interview requests contact Sandy Fleming at the University of Kent Press Office. Tel: 01227 823581/01634 888879 Email: S.Fleming@kent.ac.uk News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Note to editors Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It has been ranked: 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2017; 23rd in the Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2017; and 23rd in the Complete University Guide 2017. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, Kent is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016. Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality. In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities. Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium . The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals. In 2014, Kent received its second Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. AUSTIN, Texas -- Middle school students of color who lose trust in their teachers due to perceptions of mistreatment from school authorities are less likely to attend college even if they generally had good grades, according to psychology research at The University of Texas at Austin published in the journal Child Development. Low expectations from teachers and extreme disparities in discipline for misbehavior contribute to the disproportionate mistreatment of African American and Latino youths in schools across the United States, and can lead to a growing mistrust for authority by students who perceive and experience such biases, researchers said. "When students have lost trust, they may be deprived of the benefits of engaging with an institution, such as positive relationships and access to resources and opportunities for advancement," said UT Austin assistant professor of psychology David Yeager. "Thus, minority youth may be twice harmed by institutional injustices." In their study, Yeager and researchers from UT Austin, Columbia University and Stanford University examined 483 U.S. middle school students' perceptions of their teachers' impartiality and how those attitudes related to any disciplinary treatment they received and to the likelihood of on-time enrollment at a four-year college. Data were drawn from twice-yearly surveys, from sixth grade until college entry, by 277 white and African American middle- and lower-middle-class students in the northeastern U.S., and compared with a one-year study of 206 white and Latino middle schoolers in rural Colorado. Trust was measured based on how students identified with statements such as: "I am treated fairly by my teachers and other adults at my school." The researchers found that trust decreased for all students from sixth to eighth grade but declined faster for African American and Latino students than it did for their white peers. Furthermore, students who lost more trust than expected in seventh grade were less likely to fulfill on-time enrollment at a four-year college six years later. "Prior research shows that people trust an institution more when they perceive that it is procedurally just and that its authorities have personal regard for individuals served by the institution," Yeager said. In the study, minorities also reported more racial disparities than white students in decisions involving school discipline, with fewer than 55 percent of African American students expecting equal treatment after the first semester of sixth grade. Official school records indicated that African Americans were disciplined more throughout middle school, particularly in regards to more grey-area incidents involving "defiance" and "disobedience" where African American students outnumbered their white peers nearly 3-to-1. Still, the largest race gap in school discipline was in sixth grade, fueling a perceived bias and predicting future disciplinary incidents, researchers said. "Perceived bias and mistrust reinforce each other. And like a stone rolling down a hill that triggers an avalanche, the loss of trust could accumulate behavioral consequences over time," Yeager said. "Seeing and expecting injustice and disrespect, negatively stereotyped ethnic minority adolescents may disengage, defy authorities, underperform and act out." To combat this vicious cycle, researchers tested the efficacy of a "wise feedback" intervention on improving students' trust in a small experimental sub-sample of 88 white and African American seventh-graders. In the experiment, half of the students received critiques and a hand-written note from their teacher on a first-draft essay, stating: "I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations, and I know that you can reach them." While this intervention did not influence white students, African American students had fewer disciplinary incidents the following year (about half) and were 30 percentage points more likely to attend college than those in the control group. The researchers caution that the one-time note is not an intervention that is designed for wide-scale use, but it highlights that teachers can work more systematically to create a classroom climate that boosts the trust of students who may have to contend with discrimination. ### GALVESTON, Texas - Research from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston has shed new light on what causes the permanent vision loss sometimes seen in the wake of a head injury. The findings are detained in The American Journal of Pathology. When someone suffers a head trauma, sometimes there is damage to the optic nerve that is responsible for passing information between the eyes and the brain. When the optic nerve is injured, there are tears and swelling in the affected area that causes the nerve cells to die. This type of injury is called traumatic optic neuropathy, or TON, and results in irreversible vision loss. At this point, there is no effective treatment for TON and the mechanisms of the optic nerve cell death have been largely unclear. Wenbo Zhang, UTMB associate professor in the department of ophthalmology & visual sciences, and his team found that inflammation brought on by white blood cells play a role in head trauma-induced vision loss. Limiting inflammation could decrease nerve damage and preserve cell function, researchers discovered. Inflammation is part of the body's defense system against injury and infection and is an important component of wound healing. White blood cells travel to injured areas to help repair the damaged tissue, causing inflammation in the process. Excessive or uncontrolled inflammation can actually make injuries worse and contribute to disease in a couple of different ways - by activating cell death processes, clogging and rupturing blood vessels and producing toxic molecules like free radicals. "Our data clearly showed that one of the protein receptors on white blood cells called CXCR3 brings white blood cells to the optic nerve in response to production of its binding partner CXCL10 by damaged nerve tissue," said Zhang. "When we deleted CXCR3 or gave mice a drug that blocks the receptors following optic nerve damage, we observed fewer white blood cells on the scene by real-time noninvasive imaging, nerve damage was decreased and nerve cell function was preserved compared with mice that did not receive any intervention following injury." Yonju Ha, a lead author of this article, said that further studies on this receptor and its role in white blood cell recruitment following tissue injury may aid in the development of new interventions for diseases associated with nerve injury, such as TON, stroke, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. ### Other authors include Hua Liu, Shuang Zhu, Panpan Yi, Wei Liu, Jared Nathanson, Rakez Kayed, Bradford Loucas, Jiaren Sun, Massoud Motamedi from UTMB and Laura Frishman from the University of Houston. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the John Sealy Memorial Endowment Fund for Biomedical Research, Retina Research Foundation, the University of Texas System Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Research Institute, Retina Research Foundation and the BrightFocus Foundation. Thwaites Glacier on the edge of West Antarctica is one of the planet's fastest-moving glaciers. Research shows that it is sliding unstoppably into the ocean, mainly due to warmer seawater lapping at its underside. But the details of its collapse remain uncertain. The details are necessary to provide a timeline for when to expect 2 feet of global sea level rise, and when this glacier's loss will help destabilize the much larger West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Recent efforts have used satellites to map the underlying terrain, which affects how quickly the ice mass will move, and measure the glacier's thickness and speed to understand the physics of its changes. Researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Edinburgh used data from the European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 to identify a sudden drainage of large pools below Thwaites Glacier, one of two fast-moving glaciers at the edge of the ice sheet. The study published Feb. 8 in The Cryosphere finds four interconnected lakes drained in the eight months from June 2013 and January 2014. The glacier sped up by about 10 percent during that time, showing that the glacier's long-term movement is fairly oblivious to trickles at its underside. "This was a big event, and it confirms that the long-term speed-up that we're observing for this glacier is probably driven by other factors, most likely in the ocean," said corresponding author Ben Smith, a glaciologist with the UW's Applied Physics Laboratory. "The water flow at the bed is probably not controlling the speed." Other glaciers, like some in Alaska and Greenland, can be very susceptible to changes in meltwater flow. Water there can pond beneath the glacier until it lifts off parts of its bed, and suddenly surges forward. This can increase a glacier's speed by several times and account for most of its motion. Researchers were not certain whether such an effect might be at play with Thwaites Glacier. "It's been difficult to see details about water flow under the ice," Smith said. For the new study, the authors use a new technique to discover drops at the glacier's surface of up to 70 feet (20 meters) over a 20 kilometer by 40 kilometer area. Calculations show it was likely due to the emptying of four interconnected lakes, the largest about the size of Lake Washington, far below. The peak drainage rate was about 8,500 cubic feet (240 cubic meters) per second, about half the flow of the Hudson River -- the largest meltwater outflow yet reported for subglacial lakes in this region. "This lake drainage is the biggest water movement that you would expect to see in this area, and it didn't change the glacier's speed by that much," Smith said. The reason is likely that Thwaites Glacier is moving quickly enough, he said, that friction is heating up its underside to ice's melting point. The glacier's base is already wet and adding more water doesn't make it much more slippery. The new study supports previous UW research from 2014 showing that Thwaites Glacier will likely collapse within 200 to 900 years to cause seas to rise by 2 feet. Those calculations were made without detailed maps of how water flows at the glacier's underbelly. The new results suggest that doesn't really matter. "If Thwaites Glacier had really jumped in response to this lake drainage, then that would have suggested that we need a more detailed model of where water is flowing at the bed," Smith said. "Radar data from NASA's Operation Ice Bridge program has told us a lot about the shape of Thwaites Glacier, but it's very difficult to see how water is moving. Based on this result, that may not be a big problem" Melting at the ice sheet base would refill the lakes in 20 to 80 years, Smith said. Over time meltwater gradually collects in depressions in the bedrock. When the water reaches a certain level it breaches a weak point, then flows through channels in the ice. As Thwaites Glacier thins near the coast, its surface will become steeper, Smith said, and the difference in ice pressure between inland regions and the coast may push water coastward and cause more lakes to drain. He hopes to apply the same techniques to study lake drainage below other glaciers, to understand how water flow at the base affects overall glacier movement. When NASA's ICESat-2 satellite launches in 2018 the calculations will be easy to do with high precision. "In 2018 this changes from a hard project to an easy project, and I'm excited about that," Smith said. ### Other co-authors are Alexander Huth and Ian Joughin at the UW and Noel Gourmelen at the University of Edinburgh. The research was funded by NASA and the European Space Agency. For more information, contact Smith at bsmith@apl.washington.edu or 206-616-9176. See also University of Edinburgh press release: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/CryoSat/CryoSat_reveals_lake_outbursts_beneath_Antarctic_ice DALLAS - Feb. 8, 2017 - A study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has uncovered key molecular pathways behind the disruption of the gut's delicate balance of bacteria during episodes of inflammatory disease. "A deeper understanding of these pathways may help in developing new prevention and treatment strategies for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and certain gastrointestinal infections and colorectal cancers," said Dr. Sebastian Winter, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and a W.W. Caruth, Jr. Scholar in Biomedical Research at UT Southwestern, who led the study. More than 1 million people in the U.S. suffer from IBD, a chronic, lifelong inflammatory disorder of the intestines that has no cure or means of prevention. The findings, published online today in Cell Host & Microbe, explain a critical mechanism behind the changes in the gut during intestinal inflammation, an issue that had previously been unclear to scientists. "We found that gut inflammation correlates with a change in the nutrients available to the bacteria," said Elizabeth Hughes, a graduate student in the Winter Lab and co-first author of the study. A healthy human gut is teeming with microbes, with bacterial cells outnumbering other cells in the body by 10-to-1. For most of a person's life, these microbial communities, or microbiota, facilitate digestion, protect against infections, and orchestrate the development of a healthy immune system. During episodes of intestinal inflammation - which can occur during IBD and gastrointestinal infections and cancers - the composition of these gut microbial communities is radically disturbed. "Beneficial bacteria begin to dwindle in numbers as less beneficial, or even harmful, bacteria flourish," said Ms. Hughes. "This imbalance of microbiota is believed to exacerbate the inflammation." A healthy gut is devoid of oxygen. The beneficial bacteria that live there are well-adapted to the low-oxygen environment and break down fiber through fermentation. Unlike these beneficial bacteria, potentially harmful E. coli grow better in high-oxygen environments. "Inflammation changes the environment so that it is no longer perfect for the commensal anaerobes, but perfect for opportunistic E. coli, which basically wait for an 'accident' like inflammation to happen," Dr. Winter explained. The increased availability of oxygen during inflammation helps E. coli thrive in an inflamed gut through a metabolic "trick," Ms. Hughes said. "Through respiration, the abundant waste products generated by the beneficial microbes can be 'recycled' by commensal E. coli - which do not grow well on fiber - and turned into valuable nutrients, thus fueling a potentially harmful bloom of the E. coli population," she explained. Learning more about the forces behind disease-related shifts in the gut's bacterial composition provides insights into treatment targets and diagnostic resources. This understanding could lead to more effective treatments for IBD and inflammation-associated colorectal cancers. New drugs might, for example, inhibit this particular metabolic function of E. coli. "If we interfere with the production of waste products by the beneficial commensal bacteria, then we impede their metabolism, which causes them to grow more slowly and throw off the entire ecosystem," Dr. Winter said. "The most effective strategy may be to inhibit commensal E. coli's unique metabolism to avoid the bloom and negative impacts." Dr. Winter and his research team continue to study these mechanisms. ### Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in this study were co-first author Maria Winter, senior research associate; Caroline Gillis, graduate student; Dr. Luisella Spiga and Dr. Wenhan Zhu, postdoctoral researchers; Cassie Behrendt, research technician; and Dr. Lora Hooper, Chair of Immunology and Professor in the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense and of Microbiology. Dr. Hooper, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, also holds the Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology and is a Nancy Cain and Jeffrey A. Marcus Scholar in Medical Research, in Honor of Dr. Bill S. Vowell. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil assisted with this study, which received support from The Welch Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and a National Science Foundation graduate research fellowship. About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985. The faculty of almost 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year. This news release is available on our website at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/news To automatically receive news releases from UT Southwestern via email, subscribe at http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/receivenews Contrary to popular assumptions, researchers on two continents find wolves kill less often in the presence of brown bears LOGAN, UTAH USA - If you've ever been elbowed out of the way at the dinner table by older, stronger siblings, you'll identify with wolves competing with larger bears for food. A study by Utah State University ecologist Aimee Tallian and colleagues reveals wolves might be at more of a disadvantage than previously thought. Tallian is lead author of a paper examining competition between wolves and brown bears on two continents published Feb. 8, 2017, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B [DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2368]. "Wolves and brown bears coexist across most of their range," says Tallian, who completed a doctoral degree from USU in 2017. "Although competition between predators such as these is widespread in nature, we know little about how brown bears affect wolf predation." With colleagues in Scandinavia and North America, Tallian examined how brown bears affected wolf kill rates at study sites in northern Europe and Yellowstone National Park. "We found an unexpected pattern," she says. "Wolves killed less often in the presence of brown bears, which is contrary to the common assumption that wolves kill prey more often to compensate for loss of food to bears." Tallian says the consistency in results between the systems on different continents suggests brown bear presence actually reduces wolf kill rate, but the researchers aren't sure why. They surmise wolves, unlike lynx and mountain lion, may not be quickly abandoning their kills, as bears move in take advantage of the spoils. "The wolves may be hanging around longer, waiting their turn to gain access to food," Tallian says. She and her colleagues also wonder if wolves kill less frequently because it takes them longer to find prey. "We think this may be the case, in the spring, when newborn ungulates make easy pickings for bears," Tallian says. "It may simply take more time for wolves to find calves, when there are fewer of them." Interactions between apex predators can either relax or strengthen their effect on prey and predator populations, she says. "The team's results suggest that ignoring such interactions may underestimate the effect competition between predators can have on predator populations," Tallian says. "In addition, it's possible to overestimate the impact of multiple predators on prey populations." ### A 2012 recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Tallian's research was performed under a NSF Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide grant. Additional authors on the paper include Tallian's USU advisor Dan MacNulty, Andres Ordiz, Camilla Wikenros, Jonas Kindberg, and Hakan Sand of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Matthew Metz of the University of Montana; Cyril Milleret and Petter Wabakken of Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences; Douglas Smith and Daniel Stahler of Yellowstone National Park and Jon Swenson of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Welcome to the News Release Wire Selection Control Panel. Instant News Wire Wednesday, February 8, 2017 National Public Radio (NPR) News just ran a two-part investigative series on All Things Considered and Morning Edition about how hard it can be to get a firm handle on funeral costs. As an advocate for pre-need funeral planning, my advice is to listen to these stories and educate yourself about local funeral home costs BEFORE you need to use their services for the death of a family member. Its not that funeral homes dont want you to know what they charge for their services. But by not posting their price lists on their websites, they make it harder for consumers to compare. By making you physically visit the funeral home to get a price list, they make it harder to be an informed consumer. When you have to call for a mailed or faxed price list, funeral homes do not make it easy for you to understand all the moving parts to funeral, cremation, and memorial service pricing. In Part One of NPRs reporting, You Could Pay Thousands Less For A Funeral Just By Crossing the Street, the story highlights how a direct cremation, provided by the same funeral company, can vary by thousands of dollars. From the report, The cremations are all the same, but some will cost much more than others, depending on where the consumer made the arrangements, and which of the companys brand names appears on the invoice. This is true here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as it is in Jacksonville, Florida, where this story is set. This story includes quotes by Scott Gilligan, a lawyer for the National Funeral Directors Association, and Joshua Slocum, executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance. In Part Two, Despite Decades-Old Law, Funeral Prices Are Still Unclear, a consumer advocate thought it would be easy to get a straight answer about funeral products and services and what they cost. He was wrong. From the report, A federal regulation called the Funeral Rule is supposed to protect consumers who have lost loved ones. Among other things, it requires funeral businesses to provide potential customers with clear price information. But an NPR investigation found that the rule goes only so far in protecting consumers, and that its promise of transparency often goes unfulfilled. This story includes quotes by Slocum, Gilligan, and Will Chang, who heads a Silicon Valley startup that has collected thousands of funeral home price lists and posted them on his site, Parting.com. You can read more about Parting.com on this Family Plot Blog post. Remember, just as talking about sex wont make you pregnant, talking about funerals and end-of-life issues wont make you dead. Start a conversation, and research your options well before the need arises, today. Share this: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accused pro-Brexit ministers in London of 'grabbing power' from Scotland by refusing to honour referendum pledges to protect the countrys farmers. She said it is 'vital' for farming powers to be transferred from the European Union direct to Holyrood. Speaking at the NFU Scotland conference on Tuesday (7 February), Ms Sturgeon said agriculture was a devolved issue, so only Scotland, and not Westminster, should determine its own policies as far as possible. The first minister said there was mounting anxiety that Andrea Leadsom, the environment and agriculture secretary, wanted to impose a UK-wide agriculture policy and seize control over about 500m in Scottish farm subsidies. But Ms Sturgeon said future decisions must reflect "Scotland's distinct priorities". Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, predicted 'an almighty political row' over the coming months about whether Holyrood or Westminster should be running agriculture. 'Biggest challenge to farming' Ms Sturgeon told the conference that Brexit "presents the biggest challenge to farming in Scotland in our generation". There should be no question that responsibility for agricultural policy remains with the Scottish parliament, she said. Anything else would not be grabbing power from Europe, it would be grabbing power from the Scottish parliament and that would be unacceptable. Agriculture is a more important part of Scotland's economy than the UK because of our landscape and climate. So it's important for the agriculture sector that Scotland has a strong say in the negotiations with the EU. It's vital to ensuring that the settlement which is reached meets your needs and the Scottish government will work with the industry to make the sector as sustainable and efficient as possible. In addition, it is also vital that any powers which are transferred from the European Union, at the time of Brexit, must go to the Scottish Parliament rather than to Westminster. It is the best way of ensuring that future decisions on farming reflect Scotland's distinct priorities." The Government has agreed to act to avoid a crisis in the free range egg industry by lifting the housing order imposed to protect against avian influenza from 1 March. Ministers had been warned that the whole of the United Kingdom's free range flock would lose its free range status if birds continued to be locked up beyond the end of this month. Under European Union rules free range birds can only be housed for a maximum of 12 weeks before their eggs are downgraded to barn. In the United Kingdom the 12 weeks come to an end on February 28. Egg industry leaders have been pressing the Government to prevent free range status being lost. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) now says it will lift the housing order (download the PDF) from the end of February to prevent downgrading, although the order will continue in force in what Defra sees as high risk areas of the country - particularly areas close to outbreak sites. Cases of high path H5N8 have been found on three turkey farms in Lincolnshire, on a number of game units in Lancashire and in backyard flocks in Wales and North Yorkshire. Very tight new bio-security measures Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association (BFREPA) told FarmingUK he was pleased that the housing order would be lifted, although he said the association would continue to work on behalf of producers in the high risk areas whose birds would have to remain housed and consequently lose their free range status. "I am delighted that, in principle, birds will be out, although subject to very tight new bio-security measures," he said. "There will still be producers in high risk areas where the housing order will continue to apply. We will be working hard on their behalf on the implications for labelling and pricing in particular." Mr Gooch said he did not know yet how many producers would continue to be subject to a housing order. Nationwide housing order The nationwide housing order was put in place in early December for 30 days before any cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza had been found in the UK. At that time H5N8 cases had been confirmed in many countries in continental Europe, and the housing order was an attempt to prevent the virus being transmitted to commercial poultry in this country by migrating wild birds. When cases began to arise in the UK, Defra announced that the order would be extended until the end of February. Blue marks indicate the high risk areas where producers will still need to house birds As outbreaks began to mount, concern began to grow that the housing order may be extended beyond the end of February and that free range flocks would lose their status. Egg industry leaders in the UK began lobbying the Westminster Government. They also joined forces with farmers in other EU countries to ask the European Commission to allow free range status to be maintained beyond 12 weeks. Deadlines have passed in the Netherlands, Germany and France with no resolution, but the UK Government has now agreed to act to prevent a crisis. 'Relieved' Robert Gooch said that most producers would be relieved at the Government's decision. Our members have coped fantastically with the unprecedented challenge of housing their birds. They have focused on the welfare of their flocks at all times and will be hugely relieved if they are able to let birds out again on March 1," he said. Mr Gooch has previously said that having their eggs downgraded to barn would be disastrous for the country's free range producers. Estimates obtained by FarmingUK indicate that the cost to the free range sector of downgrading the 18-million-bird free range flock could be more than 80 million. The BFREPA chief executive said he was pleased with the Government announcement, and he urged producers to rigorously comply with a list of additional bio-security measures outlined by Defra to ensure that the risk of avian influenza continued to be minimised. This list includes draining ponds and areas of standing water or covering or netting them if this is not possible. Producers are urged to fence off these areas and also to remove any sources of food for wild birds. Farmers are being advised to decontaminate their ranges, cleanse and disinfect concrete and other impermeable areas, apply shavings and woodchip - the resin in shavings and woodchips is thought to have virucidal properties - and harrow the ground to help kill any virus present. The number of people visiting a farm should be limited and foot dips should be available for necessary visits. Retailers have also expressed their concern that a solution should be found "I would urge producers to make sure that they strictly follow all these measures," said Robert Gooch. "They should make sure that they are doing everything necessary in readiness for the housing order being lifted at the end of the month." Lobbying Lobbying in Europe has been less successful than here in the UK. The issue was raised by both Dutch and Belgian representatives at a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in January. Agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan said he would work to find a solution but said there was no easy solution: "I appreciate that this is a difficult issue, particularly in member states in which the 12-week confinement period is coming to an end, after which eggs cannot be classified as free range," he said. "There is no easy solution to this matter, given the need to maintain the integrity of labelling and information for consumers who are prepared to pay a premium of up to 20 or 30 per cent for these free range products in the confident knowledge that they paying for what they are getting. Its an issue that requires further reflection. That reflection needs to consider all the possibilities available. We will be working with member states over the next couple of weeks to see if we can get a resolution to this important matter." Maintaining free range marketing status Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) explained the nature of the egg industry's submission to the EU. "BEIC is requesting that a derogation is provided to Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008, Annex II, point 1.a., to allow free range flocks that remain housed after March 1 in Great Britain under veterinary order to be able to maintain their free range marketing status. This would remain in place until such time as veterinary authorities determine that the disease situation allows for any housing restriction to be lifted - possibly in a further one to two months." He said, "It is our view that we are in exceptional circumstances across the EU and this calls for exceptional measures to be put in place. The simple solution is for the EU Commission to allow the 12 weeks to be extended for a further one to two months to get past this time of heightened disease challenge." Avoiding a free range crisis In the UK, the BEIC has been working hard to persuade Ministers to act to avoid a free range crisis. It started exploring ways of lifting the housing order at the same time as maintaining bio-security. Mr Williams said: "Whilst we would be guided by veterinary advice, in the face of potentially losing free range egg marketing status - which we cannot allow to happen - we believe that the AIPZ (avian influenza protection zone) must be lifted on February 28 across Great Britain, but with the maintenance of high levels of enhanced bio-security It was the AIPZ order that included the instruction to house poultry. Retailers express concern Retailers have also expressed their concern that a solution should be found. If the whole of the UK flock has its status downgraded after February 28, supermarkets will be left with no source of supplies at a time when free range eggs are more popular than ever with consumers. Individual retailers did not want to comment at the moment, although they made it clear that they were in discussions with the BEIC, the British Poultry Council, the National Farmers Union and Defra. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents the British retail industry, is also involved in talks. A BRC spokesman told FarmingUK: As producers are required by law to bring the birds indoors to prevent the spread of the virus, the free range status of eggs is maintained and they will be marketed and labelled as free range. We are working with Defra to find a pragmatic solution that mitigates any negative impact on free range farmers should the enforced housing period extend beyond the 28 February, when the derogation from free range regulation ends. 761 outbreaks Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 have been found across large parts of Europe and also in other parts of the world. Between October and January there were a total of 761 outbreaks of H5N8 in Europe - 51 per cent in poultry and the rest in wild birds. Some 1.6 million poultry were destroyed. As well as affecting 18 countries in Europe, H5N8 has also been found in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. At a recent briefing in Paris, FarmingUK asked OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) director general Monique Eloit about the issue of AI and the threat to free range egg production. She said that political decisions about rules for free range poultry ordered to be housed were not a matter for her organisation, but she said: "Many countries are developing free range farms, not only for ducks but also for hens. Therefore they have access to outdoors. Therefore that means that, for the farmer, the management is always more difficult to manage. It is always more difficult to manage disease when animals are outside. They have potential contact with wild birds. It is always very difficult to keep the area clean, not only for AI but also for many diseases. We have to find the right balance between AI concerns and consumer expectations," she said. Criminal offence Defra said the housing order was imposed under Article 6 (4) of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006. It is an offence to not comply with the Order under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981. Poultry keepers who breach the order could face an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment for up to six months. A spokesman said a breach of the housing restriction was solely an offence under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981. It would not affect the marketing of the eggs, he said. Rolls-Royce and Claas have signed a project agreement for the supply of MTU engines to be used in agricultural vehicles. Claas will be fitting the new improved MTU Series 1000 to 1500 engines to its Lexion and Tucano combine-harvesters, its Jaguar forage-harvester and its 4x4 high-horsepower tractor Xerion. MTUs Series 1000, 1100, 1300 and 1500 are based on Daimler OM 93x and OM 47x commercial vehicle engines and cover a broad power range from 100 to 480 kW. From 2019, a total of 4,000 to 5,000 engines are to be supplied per year across all series and emissions levels. The MTU brand is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The engines will comply with the EU Stage V emissions standard due to come into force in 2019. Bernd Kleffmann, Head of Systems Engineering Development at Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH, said: With an eye, among other things, to the EU Stage V Emissions Directive, we have decided in favour of these tried-and-trusted engines from MTU to power a large proportion of our vehicles. We already have over 10 field-trial vehicles fitted with EU Stage V MTU engines and are very satisfied with them. Bernd Kruper, Vice President Industrial Business including Construction & Agriculture at MTU, said: We are delighted at winning one of the most renowned agricultural machinery manufacturers for the EU Stage V engines weve introduced. This is a continuation of our long-standing success story with Claas. As well as reducing the mass of particulate in exhaust gases, the EU Stage V regulations due to come into force in 2019 are also intended to put a limit on the number of particles. The engines meet these tighter emissions limits, in particular, by having an additional diesel particulate filter and thanks to internal design improvements intended to reduce fuel consumption. The rural sector has welcomed a government commitment to support rural economic growth in the long awaited government response to the Rural Planning Review published yesterday (7 February). Farmers have welcomed the government planning guidance on farm shops, polytunnels and farm reservoirs which will enable farm businesses to continue to grow. The CLA, which represents landowners and farmers, said the reforms could provide more rural homes, many of which have been taken forward by the Government in its response to the Rural Planning Review. This includes new guidance on provision of infrastructure like on-farm reservoirs and polytunnels, as well as extensions to permitted development rights for farmers seeking to turn agricultural buildings into homes. 'Positive impact' CLA President Ross Murray said the proposed reforms will have a 'positive impact' on rural economic growth. He said: It is important farmers improve their infrastructure, reducing planning barriers to them creating on-farm reservoirs. It could make the difference in encouraging them to invest in their business. Turning redundant agricultural buildings into new homes could add income and meet rural housing needs. The idea of a specific new right of permitted development to create affordable homes in particular is a positive step forward. 'Boost sustainable food production' NFU senior planning and rural affairs adviser Suzanne Clear said the new guidance should help develop modern farm shops. She also said the inclusion of polytunnels being considered on agricultural requirements sends a 'positive message' to growers, and could 'boost' sustainable food production. Ms Clear said: I am pleased to see that new guidance will allow on farm reservoirs to be positively considered, especially that it takes into account the need for more water storage. The long-awaited consultation on farm buildings and getting more homes on farm is particularly welcome and we look forward to seeing how this moves forward. Given the permitted development rights for farm buildings are over 20 years old a change in threshold size is well overdue. Marts to donate Scotch Lamb for St Andrew's Day campaign In the grand scheme of investment theses, this is probably among the more bizarre that I've seen. There's been an awful lot of negativity surrounding Twitter (TWTR) for the past year. A little positivity would go a long way right about now. Make Twitter great again! BTIG Research analyst Rich Greenfield has just upgraded Twitter from neutral to buy and assigned a one-year price target of $25. The analyst believes that Twitter is seeing an influx of new daily active users (DAUs), which could accelerate growth and subsequently bolster ad sales. The expected boost in DAUs is concentrated within the U.S., which is where most social media companies enjoy the highest monetization levels (although Twitter has always been cagey about disclosing monetization metrics). A lot of the DAU activity is due to President Donald Trump's affinity for using the service, which Greenfield compares to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous "fireside chats" as a way to communicate directly to the public. The Tweeter-in-Chief now has over 24 million followers on the service, which has more than doubled over the past six months. Trump's 140-character missives often create media cycles, which just attract more users. These users hope to engage with Trump directly to express their views; that increased engagement contrasts with much of Twitter's history where it was used as a one-way broadcast service. I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it. Some FAKE NEWS media, in order to marginalize, lies! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2017 Greenfield notes that downloads of Twitter's app have accelerated since the election, especially in the early innings of 2017. Third-party research firms are also showing an increase in daily usage among U.S. adults. This should translate into better financial results during the latter half of the year, in the analyst's view. Trump can't fix Twitter's other problems A large part of this upgrade is predicated on Trump's usage, and BTIG notes that a potential change in Trump's social media strategy could undermine the thesis. Trump is fundamentally volatile and unpredictable, and while it's unlikely for him to abandon his favorite social media service (he has decided to keep tweeting from his personal account instead of the official @POTUS account), Twitter still faces considerable risks related to Trump. The tech sector has the most potential to be adversely affected by Trump's policies on immigration, and Twitter joined the hundred tech companies that oppose the recent executive order. Meanwhile, Twitter was notably absent from Trump's meeting with tech leaders in December (reportedly because Twitter would not create an emoji to attack Hillary Clinton during the campaign). Perhaps more important is that even if there is an influx of Trump-related engagement, Twitter has deeper systemic problems around its core service still being hard to use. Twitter is still trying to combat abuse and harassment on its service. And the aforementioned executive exodus is still ongoing; just yesterday TechCrunch reported that Chief HR Officer Renee Atwood left recently and the VP of Diversity Jeffrey Siminoff is out at the end of the month. Don't buy Twitter based solely on the Trump factor. Haiti - FLASH : Double murders by decapitation in the commune of Hinche Saturday, the decapitated body of two people were discovered in Tabacal (Commune of Hinche) in the Central Plateau. The victims were identified as Cantave Michel, a security guard and Celimene Desinor a mother of family. Reginald Michel, spokesman for the National Police of Haiti (PNH) of the Department of Centre, explained that according to the first pieces of information of the investigation, Lucson Jean-Baptiste (23 years) is suspected of being the alleged perpetrator of this double murder. He could have acted according to testimonies collected, to avenge the death of his mother in 2016 which he attributed the death to an act of sorcery caused by the victims. Lucson Jean-Baptiste is known by police who already suspected him of involvement in several other assassinations in the region. The alleged killer is on the run and actively sought, however, it is possible that he fled to the Dominican Republic. The spokesman of the PNH deplores the fact that today lynching is still a practice used by the population in Haiti, especially in the Department of Centre. Barbaric acts that occur most often in cases of theft of cattle, armed robbery and witchcraft... TB/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politics : We will build a single Haiti for all Haitians dixit Jovenel Moise This Tuesday at the National Palace before a crowd of several thousand people, Haitian and foreign political personalities, the 58th President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise addressed his first speech to the Nation in which he preaches among other things the union between the Haitians for the progress of the country. The President has also pledged to work to ensure that the people of the diaspora who want to return to the country can do it without problems and to work today so that in five years the balance is positive... Extract from the speech of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise : "[...] My compatriots, brothers and sisters, Haitian people, The first word I am telling you today is thank you. [...] Thank you for choosing me in the October 25th elections and again on November 20th [...] you made me your President [...] I am aware of all the responsibilities this entails, I take this opportunity to congratulate you because you have chosen democracy instead of anarchy. The path of Peace instead of violence, order and progress instead of disorder and brigandage that drive back our country. My mission is to build a society, a nation that will make us proud. To accomplish this mission, we must reform our schools. School is not just about giving knowledge; one of the roles of school is to train good citizens, people ready to serve their country, people who understand that the country's interest must pass before their own interest [...] My mission is to create conditions for every Haitian to live better. My mission is to bring down all the barriers between the rural and urban people, the rich and the poor [...] the Haitians of the country and those of the diaspora. We are all Haitian. We will build a single Haiti for all Haitians. A Haiti where discrimination must not prevent the economic and social success of anyone. A Haiti where the inhabitants do not only struggle against poverty. A Haiti where everyone can find a better life. I take the commitment today to work to restore Haiti's dignity. I pledge to work for the young men and women want to live in the country. I pledge to work for people in the diaspora who want to return home, can do it without problem. For the diaspora come to do business, create jobs and participate fully in the development of their country. [...] Haiti has returned to the path of democracy, respect for the Haitian people. Haiti is a wealth, a diamond. Why its children suffering in poverty ? It's because we refuse to unite, that's what I came to tell you. I have come to tell you that we are capable if we want it, it is the mentalities that we must change. My dear compatriots, the day has come to put lands, rivers, sun and people together, to develop our country, I need everybody, all the old candidates, all the people who voted for me, all those who did not vote for me, as well as those who did not vote at all, we need everyone. I need all of you so that Haiti can meet these challenges. Haitian people, my dear compatriots, the feeling that animates me on February 7 is a sense of humility. I measure with discernment the heavy task ahead, I am aware of the long road we have traveled and of all the efforts we have made to allow democracy to conquer. I would like to thank all those who have made this victory possible. Thank you very much. The people have been waiting for this investiture ceremony for more than a year, and they have broken through with determination, courage and determination all the obstacles and traps set to block the march of history and democracy. My compatriots we are finally assembled in the name of an enterprise that has been imagined for years by men and women who are passionate about the ideals of justice and freedom, and who have led the country towards human progress and shared prosperity. I pledge to work from first to last day of my term. Today is my first day, I will start working today until the last day of 2022. I tell you [...] Jovenel Moses, your President, the President you have chosen, at the end of his mandate, the result will be positive, I pledge before you Haitian people. [...] I feel a sense of pride to be Haitian, each of us, woman or man, girl or boy, have a duty to be at the height of this noble heritage that brought Haiti to the ranks of the first victorious fighters of freedom, equality and dignity without consideration of race, caste, color or fortune. Our responsibility is great, but it is noble, it consists in embellishing and working for the enrichment and progress of the Nation. We must transmit to our children a dream-making country, which finds its place in the concert of Nations. It is a heavy responsibility that falls to us in the face of history, because the future of Haiti will be only what we will do of it, I rely on you. The time has come to implement the change decided by the people on November 20th. Yes, the time has come to combine integrity, morality, merit, order and discipline. Under my administration, never again, justice and Haitian institutions will be exploited for political persecution [...]" Listen to the first speech at the Nation of President Jovenel Moise : See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20030-haiti-inauguration-jovenel-moise-58th-president-of-haiti.html HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : The Trump administration, look forward to work with Jovenel Moise Tuesday, following the inauguration of Jovenel Moise, 58th President of the Republic of Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20030-haiti-inauguration-jovenel-moise-58th-president-of-haiti.html Mark Toner, Acting Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs in Washington, DC, made the following statement : "The United States congratulates President Jovenel Moise on his inauguration as the 58th president of Haiti, following an extended electoral period and the additional challenge of recovery from Hurricane Matthew. The Haitian people deserve to have democratically elected leaders. Today's inauguration of a democratically elected president allows Haiti to return to democratic and constitutional rule. We look forward to working with Haiti's newly elected president as well as leadership at all levels of government as they work to ensure Haiti's stability and prosperity. The United States government reaffirms our engagement with the people and Government of Haiti." Moreover, the former Ambassador of the United States to Haiti, Kenneth Merten, Special Coordinator for Haiti to the Department of State, also confirms that the Trump administration is ready to work with the Government of Haiti, nevertheless he recalled that the main priorities of the United States in terms of cooperation with Haiti to date are not yet defined. HL/ HaitiLibre Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning Related Stories You won't want to miss this weeks Hendersonville Lightning. The Lightning has an exclusive story on the sentencing of the Fletcher Fire and Rescue secretary who pleaded guilty of embezzling more than $300,000 from the fire department over seven years. The Lightning reports on the law enforcement training center and efforts to make it a regional training center and contains more than two dozen other all-local stories, pictures and news briefs. You've got to get a copy because it's only in print and it's only in your Hendersonville Lightning. Heres where you can pick up a Lightning Hendersonville Hendersonville Lightning Office, 1111 Asheville Hwy Pop's Diner, 5 Points, North Main Street Triangle Stop, 701 North Main Street The 500 block of North Main Street (First Citizens Bank / Mast Gen. Store) Black Bear Coffee Co., Main Street The 300 block of North Main Street (McFarland's Bakery / Mike's on Main) . Pardee Hospital in the lobby . Flat Rock Playhouse, downtown (100 block of South Main Street) Southside Hendersonville (Spartanburg Highway) Hairstyles by Charlene, Joel Wright Drive McDonald's, Spartanburg Highway Norm's Minit Mart, Spartanburg Highway Hendersonville Co-op Burger King/BP, Spartanburg Highway Ingles Supermarket Southside Hendersonville (Greenville Highway) Carolina Ace Hardware Whitley Drug Store Flat Rock/East Flat Rock Flat Rock Post Office Zirconia Post Office East Flat Rock Post Office Orr's Family Restaurant, Spartanburg Hwy Energy Mart Exxon, Upward Road & I-26 Triangle Stop, 754 Upward Road & I-26 Village Cafe and Pub Page 2 Hendersonville (Kanuga Road) Hot Dog World, Kanuga Road Mr. Pete's Market, Kanuga Road Norm's Minit Mart, Kanuga Road Hendersonville (Fifth Avenue) Hendersonville Post office Fifth Aenue Shell Laurel Park YMCA H'ville, Sixth Ave & Oak Str Laurel Park Village, Rite-Aid. 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Griffins Store, Edneyville Shell station, 64 East and Sugarloaf Road Ingles, Howard Gap Road Moose Cafe Highway 25 North (Asheville Highway) The Ugly Mug Coffee Shop, Hwy 25-N Triangle Stop, Hwy 25-N, Balfour Mountain Home Post Office Fletcher Post Office Ingles Naples Post Office Travel Plaza, US 25 and I-26 Southern & Eastern Henderson County, Polk County Dana Post Office Rosco's Grocery, Green River Saluda Post Office Triangle Stop, 1487 Ozone Road, Saluda All Henderson County Ingles Stores All Henderson County Post Offices General of the Jaish-e-Muhammad has been holding rallies across Pakistan, openly recruiting new cadre and raising funds. The crowd had gathered for prayer on the last Friday in January at the Jamia Masjid Usmania it is one of three in the village of Gumtala in Pakistan Punjab in memory of a man whose only obituary records just a single name, Tahir, killed somewhere in India and buried in a grave with no headstone. Islam is a world power and cannot be destroyed, the cleric who led the congregation said, whoever tries to destroy it will be destroyed himself. He went on: Jihad is the most important obligation of our faith. For the past three months, that man General of the Jaish-e-Muhammad, Mufti General of Jaish-e-Mohammad Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, as the terrorist groups house journal al-Qalam, identifies him has been holding similar rallies across Pakistan, openly recruiting new cadre and raising funds. Even as Islamabad sought to signal its commitment to act against terrorism last month by detaining Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, and saying it was considering proscribing its parent political group, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the Jaish has emerged centrestage on the jihadi landscape. The Jaish is proscribed in Pakistan, and its chief Masood Azhar Alvi, Asghars elder brother, has been detained in an Islamabad house, after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif conceded it carried out last years terrorist attack at the Pathankot airbase. But on ground, the group is operating with growing impunity. In tehsil Yazman of Bahawalpur, another report records, the Jaish ideologue Abdul Rasheed delivered a Friday sermon, where he introduced the organisation to the 400-strong congregation. The cleric spoke, it says, of the painful story of the sufferings of the Muslim nation, and called on the people to join jihad to protect the people of the faith. The lecture had a strange impact on the people, the report goes on, and many promised to give active support to jihad. Fifty people, the report concludes cryptically, later met to discuss hard work and organisational matters. Al-qalam, sold across Pakistan for a modest Rs 10 despite the ostensible ban on the organisation, provides a graphic record of just how energetic the Jaishs recruitment campaign has become. The February 3-9 issue reports a gathering where 16 people gathered at its sprawling seminary in Bahawalpur, the Markaz Usman wa Ali, to recite 600 verses from the Quran related to jihad. The event, it says, was started by Masood Azhar, who it describes as the Ameer-ul-Mujahideen, or leader of the holy warriors. Toba Tek Singh, the district of which Gumtala is a part and famous because of Saadat Hasan Mantos eponymous Partition-era masterpiece has a long history of jihadist mobilisation. Jhang, birthplace of the anti-Shia Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, with which the Jaish has had an intimate relationship, is just kilometres away. Local men from villages around the area have long fought and died with the Lashkar, Jaish and other jihadist groups. Amjad Farooqui, a top al-Qaeda operative killed in 2004, fought with the Jaish in Kashmir. The village where he was born, Pir Mahal, is just a short distance from Gumtala; it was festooned with Jaish graffiti at the time of his funeral. Elsewhere in al-Qalam, there are signs of an ambitious mobilisation programme at a nationwide level. The magazine has a large advertisement for a declamation contest, Maarif-o-Asbaaq Ghazwa-e-Ehzaab on the blessings and lessons of a battle in 627 CE, when the armies of Muhammad, numbering some 3,000, defeated a Jewish and Arab confederation of 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels. The contest, it says, will be held on February 9 in Rawalpindi and Karachi, February 16 in Mansehra, and February 23 in Muzaffarabad. Bahawalpur itself, other reports in al-Qalam state, will host an all-Pakistan declamation contest on the Ghazwa-e-Hudaibia, or war of Hudaibia, perhaps an editorial error, since Hudaibia generally refers to a famous sulah, a ten-year peace treaty concluded by Muhammad allowing the Muslims access to Mecca. The lead cartoon in the latest issue of al-Qalam shows contempt for peace treaties: captioned we wish to work for peace with Afghanistan: government, it shows the United States directing artillery fire at Pakistan, using a soldier called Ashraf Modi, a combination of the names of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Even though the Lashkar-e-Taiba has been the most visible face of anti-India jihad since 26/11, the Jaish has authored several of the most complex and high-profile attacks in recent months: at Pathankot and Nagrota, in both cases demonstrating knowledge of gaps in base defences. The Lashkar, by contrast, has managed only one spectacular attack, on Uri, where the high fatalities it secured took place by luck poor fuel storage by Indian troops rather than design. The Lashkar has instead focused its attentions on mass mobilisation, holding rallies across Pakistan on Sunday to mark Kashmir Day under a label it used since 2009, the Tehreek-e-Azaadi-Kashmir, or movement for the liberation of Kashmir. Experts say the long leash given to the Jaish could be part of a deliberate strategy by the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. The Jaish is is not as publicity-oriented as the Lashkar, notes scholar Ayesha Siddiqa, and has over years managed to stay aloof from popularity contests among the jihadis ,which is why it has managed to acquire the reputation of being India and Kashmir focused. Though the organisations attack on Parliament House in Delhi brought India and Pakistan to the edge of war in 2001-02, and it was placed on the United Nations Security Councils 1267 list of terrorist groups, China has blocked New Delhis campaign to have Jaish chief Masood Azhar subjected to sanctions. From history, theres at least some reason to suspect that Jaishs revival might have consequences for Pakistan itself: protected by the ISI, even after its role in hijacking Indian Airlines flight IC-814, the organisation later turned on military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, and by his own account was involved in attempts to assassinate him. Mati-ur-Rahman Arain, Muhammad Haroon Akbar Khan and Muhammad Tayyab were all listed in Punjab Police records for 2011 as Jaish-e-Muhammad operatives involved in an attack on a Pakistan Air Force bus, as well as other strikes. However, the Jaish has disappeared from more recent lists of terrorists maintained by the Punjab Police in Pakistan: a sign that Masood Azhar is believed to have purged his organisation of anti-Pakistan jihadists. Source : The Indian Express Pakistans military continues to support terrorist groups that attack India to keep it off balance and draws international mediation into dispute over Kashmir, according to a report by a group of eminent South Asian experts from 10 major American think tanks. As per the report titled A New US Approach to Pakistan: Enforcing Aid Conditions without Cutting Ties which will be released here on Friday, Pakistans military has often disrupted nascent peace efforts pursued by Indian and Pakistani civilian rulers, most notably in 1999 during the Kargil war. Pakistani military leaders continue to support terrorist groups that attack India in an effort to keep it off balance and to draw international mediation into the dispute with India over Kashmir, said the report. Pakistans use of terrorist groups as part of its security and foreign policy is a function of its obsession with India, which it perceives as an existential threat. From an outside perspective, Pakistans paranoia regarding India is unfounded, it said. The report said while India may be unwilling to renegotiate Kashmirs territorial status, numerous Indian leaders have tried to reach a modus vivendi with Pakistan. Pakistan never changed its policy of supporting certain militant groups that fight Afghan and coalition forces, making it impossible for the US to achieve its objective of keeping Afghanistan from reverting to a safe haven for international terrorism, it said. Pakistans seemingly unconstrained expansion of its nuclear arsenal, particularly the development of tactical nuclear weapons and extended?range missile systems, also remains a cause for concern, especially with regard to India, said the report co-authored by Lisa Curtis from The Heritage Foundation and Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistan Ambassador to the US, who is now with The Hudson Institute. Among other members of the report are Col (retd) John Gill, Professor from National Defense University; Anish Goel, from New America; Bruce Riedel from Brookings Institution; David S Sedney, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Marvin Weinbaum from, Middle East Institute. The US clearly recognises that Pakistans support for the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups is not the sole reason for Afghanistans security challenges. However, the other problems become insurmountable when the principal insurgent groups enjoy safe havens in Pakistan, the report said. Pakistans tolerance for terror groups also undermines the country itself, corroding its stability and civilian governance and damaging its investment climate, as well as inflicting death and injury on thousands of its own innocent citizens, it said. The objective of the Trump administrations policy toward Pakistan must be to make it more and more costly for Pakistani leaders to employ a strategy of supporting terrorist proxies to achieve regional strategic goals, it said. There should be no ambiguity that the US considers Pakistans strategy of supporting terrorist proxies to achieve regional strategic advantage as a threat to US interests. US policy must also pay attention to non-proliferation goals while dealing with Pakistan, the report said. The US continues to provide economic and military assistance to Pakistan without having secured its objective of convincing Islamabad to end its policy of using terrorist proxies to achieve regional strategic objectives. However, there have been some positive developments with regard to Pakistans fight against terrorists that attack the Pakistani state, it noted. The Pakistan military has been accused of facilitating the attack against Indias Pathankot air base last January that derailed the goodwill created by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise visit to Lahore to meet with PM Sharif six days earlier. And Pakistan-backed militants have acted as spoilers numerous times when bilateral ties seemed to be warming, it said. American interests in the region are not served by Pakistans strategic thinking, which is fueled by the belief that India seeks to weaken and then dismantle Pakistan. Nor are American interests fully compatible with Pakistans desire to steer events in Afghanistan and counter any Indian role there. Continued US assistance, offered in the hope of a gradual change in Pakistans terrorism policies, only provides Pakistan an economic cushion and better quality military equipment to persist with those policies, the report said. Source : MSN The Westin Nova Scotian New Castle Hotels and Resorts, which made history in 1996 when it became the first franchisee of Westin Hotels & Resorts, today announced that it has renewed the Westin franchise for another 20 years for The Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. New Castle Hotels and Resorts, which made history in 1996 when it became the first franchisee of Westin Hotels & Resorts, today announced that it has renewed the Westin franchise for another 20 years for The Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. The Westin brand is among the most recognizable and resonant brands with both business and leisure travelers, said Gerry Chase, president and COO of New Castle. Westins wellness branding and focus on authenticity really speak to the heart of Maritime Canada, which prides itself on a level of genuine hospitality rarely seen in other places. Its about a sincere smile, a warm handshake and empathy for our guests that is instinctive. Westin was the right brand partner in 1996 and, 20 years later, Westin is a more powerful proposition than ever before. The Westin Nova Scotian was built in 1930 as one of the famed Canadian National Railway hotels that stretched across Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans. Since re-opening as The Westin Nova Scotian, the south end of Halifax has become a lifestyle hub featuring Atlantic Canadas the only national museum; the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Cunard Center and dozens of shops and restaurants as well as the new ViaRail Train station. Historic hotels convey a sense of place that no other hotel can claim, and that has a tremendous amount of appeal to guests in search of a locally authentic experience, John Wilson, general manager. At the same time, todays travelers also appreciate the consistency of a known brand, particularly one with the overall wellness programming thats Westins hallmark. Amenities like our indoor saltwater pool and full-service Sykea spa, as well as our green meetings designation and other environmental recognition bring that message home. Its an ideal combination. The Westin Nova Scotian has earned 4-Diamond status from CAA/AAA for the past seven years and its Elements on Hollis restaurant has earned six consecutive Wine Spectator awards of excellence. According to Guido Kerpel, regional vice president for New Castle, the franchise renewal will coincide with a multi-million-dollar renovation now in the planning stages. Shelton, Conn.-based New Castle Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, independent, third-party hotel manager, owner and developer with 20 hotels and resorts and nearly 3,500 rooms under contract or in development. New Castles growing portfolio of hotels spans 10 states and two Canadian provinces and includes several of Canadas historic landmark resorts. The privately held company was established by CEO David Buffam in 1980 and consistently ranks among the top hotel management and development companies in North America, serving the United States and Canada. New Castle is a preferred operator for diverse brands within the Marriott, Hilton and Starwood families. Poll: Most Americans don't want US embassy moved to Jerusalem by Grant Smith An IRmep poll fielded by Google Consumer Surveys January 27-29 reveals 56.2 percent of the US adult Internet user population prefers the US keep its Israel embassy in Tel Aviv. Only 38.3 percent prefer moving it to Jerusalem, while 5.5 percent are either uncertain or have other responses. The statistically-significant survey has an RMSE score of 3.3%. Israels policy since its founding in 1948 has been to locate foreign embassies in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv. However, the original 1947 UN agreement partitioning Palestine into Arab and Jewish states required that Jerusalem be internationalized. Israels US lobby began laying the groundwork for moving the US embassyin hopes that others would follow and stayin the late 1970s. In 1979, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) submitted a petition with 100,000 signatures to President Jimmy Carterwho had campaigned in favor of a moveasking him to formally withdraw the US from the 1947 UN Agreement and relocate the embassy. Carter refused. In 1984 the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), working with conservative Christian organizations such as the Moral Majority, provided testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of a move the embassy bill introduced by Senator Daniel P. Moynihan (D-NY). AIPAC argued in 18 pages of testimony and an accompanying booklet that US policy was "divorced from reality" and was an "affront" to Israel and that "the American Jewish community wants to see an end to the anti-Israel tilt that for decades has afflicted US policy toward Jerusalem." AIPAC also claimed that US religious demographics were strongly in favor, because "most Christian Americans...also are likely to support a change." The Reagan administration strongly opposed the bill as undermining its ability to play an effective role in the Middle East peace process. AIPAC fully committed to passing a law in the mid-1990s to thwart the Oslo peace process. The Oslo accords sought a peace treaty between Israelis and Palestinians through negotiation of borders, addressing the issue of Israeli settlements and the final status of Jerusalem. AIPAC was determined to create new facts on the ground by predetermining the outcome, stating it was imperative to establish now the US conviction that realistic negotiations must be premised on the principle that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and must remain united. AIPACs chosen vehicle was the presidential candidacy of Kansas Republican Senator Bob Dole. Dole was not an obvious choice. Dole was conservative on US foreign aid to Israel, proposing a 5 percent cut in 1990. That same year Dole passionately urged that the Senate not pass Concurrent Resolution 106 which declared that Congress strongly believes that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city. Dole instead argued [the Arabs] regard Jerusalem as part of their homeland and they have a strong emotional attachment to it. I am not trying to argue that point; I am only trying to underscore how sensitive and how complex this issue is. The real point is not whether I, or even 100 Senators, believe that Jerusalem should or should not be the capital of Israel. The issue is whether the Senate of the United States should be jumping into the middle of an extremely sensitive situation, without looking, in many cases without even thinking, first." Despite Doles opposition, the resolution passed. However, in 1995 Dole was running for president against incumbent Bill Clinton, seeking campaign contributions from big Israel lobby donors and votes in key states. Dole expressed his entirely new position sponsored in a bill to move the embassy, co-sponsored by Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyle. Dole proclaimed, "In my view, the United States does not have to wait for the end of final status talks to begin the process of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem." Delaware Senator Joe Biden was also a staunch supporter. Moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem will send the right signal, not a destructive signal. To do less would be to play into the hands of those who will try their hardest to deny Israel the full attributes of statehood. Zionist Organization of America legal scholar Malvina Halberstam and three AIPAC legal researchers worked diligently to make sure the new bill would not be challenged on constitutional separation of powers grounds. The resultant bill leveraged congressional prerogatives over spending authorizations, demanding that $100 million of the US State Departments Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad'' budget for fiscal years 1996-1997 prioritize Jerusalem embassy construction. Under the act, no further State Department overseas building funding for any project would be authorized until the State Department certified the embassy was open by May 31, 1999 at the latest. However, the bill contained a ZOA-AIPAC engineered waiver designed to avoid constitutional challenges that the law infringed on the presidents authority over foreign policy. The president could keep US State Department overseas building funds intact by issuing a waiver every six months certifying that the move could not be made on national security grounds. On the campaign trail in 1992 Bill Clinton professed, I believe in the principle of moving our embassy to Jerusalem. He never repeated the notion after being elected to office. After providing an opposing legal opinion to congress and even threatening a veto, President Clinton grudgingly allowed the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to become law without signing it. Until the election of Donald Trump, it has been a bit of a running joke within Israel lobby circles that candidates campaigning for the highest office in the land always promise to move the embassy, only to renege after assuming power. AIPAC officials claim the issue is always at the very top of their agenda, and work tirelessly to make sure it appearsdespite growing and vocal oppositionin Democratic party platforms. GOP party platforms, which court the evangelical Christian vote, are much easier. At the beginning of 2001, AIPAC executive Howard Kohr asserted "The issue of Jerusalem remains a priority for usIt will always be on the agenda. AIPAC, he claimed "takes President [George W. Bush] at his word; he has stated he will begin the process of moving the embassy to Jerusalem. This administration has made a hallmark of standing by its commitments." However, before, during and after 9/11 and the disastrous US invasion of Iraqa policy at the forefront of neoconservative regional designs and quietly supported by AIPACBush resisted all further Israel lobby efforts to move the embassy with waivers and signing statements. President Obama followed suit, signing a presidential waiver not to move the embassy like clockwork every six months. Donald J. Trump has been as vocal as any presidential candidate in promising to move the embassy. Trump declared in a 2016 AIPAC candidate forum that as president he would "move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem." This statement may have been to soften his earlier proposals to tighten the reigns on US foreign aidand more worryingly to the lobbyremain neutral on the Israel Palestine front, the toughest negotiation of all time. Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations leader Malcom Hoenlein claims the issue can be finessed in order to avoid generating controversy. Hoenlein recently admitted that the move is not a pressing matter for the Israeli government officials he frequently consults. Interested parties beyond the lobby, including Palestinians abroad and in the US, who are rarely consulted, are closely watching for indications that President Trump will follow through on growing post-election rhetoric and allow the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to come into force by not signing a waiver in June. Whatever action President Trump takesor in this case fails to takethe record is clear. Those in favor of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem have never presented a compelling case directly to the American public about what US national interest it would serve. This is because there is no case. It is also whywhen informed of its true authors and UN oppositionAmericans do not approve of the move. Karuk Tribe, Forest Service and EcoAdapt Meet to Explore Climate Change Adaptation by Tony Marks-Block The US Forest Services Pacific Southwest office, in partnership with the non-profit organization EcoAdapt and the Bureau of Land Management (California), met with the Karuk Tribes Department of Natural Resources on January 17th to receive input on their Northwestern California Climate Adaptation Project. The project intends to assess the climate change vulnerability of resources and habitats within the Klamath, Six Rivers, Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity National Forests, and BLM lands (Arcata, Redding and Ukiah) to inform future forest and resource management planning. The US Forest Services Pacific Southwest office, in partnership with the non-profit organization EcoAdapt and the Bureau of Land Management (California), met with the Karuk Tribes Department of Natural Resources on January 17th to receive input on their Northwestern California Climate Adaptation Project. The project intends to assess the climate change vulnerability of resources and habitats within the Klamath, Six Rivers, Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity National Forests, and BLM lands (Arcata, Redding and Ukiah) to inform future forest and resource management planning. This meeting was the second held in Orleans, California, in an effort to rectify the federal agencies alleged failure to meet their trust responsibilities to affected tribal governments (see the July 26, 2016 edition of the Two Rivers Tribune). Responding to an invitation extended by the Karuk Tribe, these agencies, the Yurok Tribe and general stakeholders met on July 1, 2016 to provide a forum for a wide variety of climate change concerns and as an opportunity for the federal government to meet their legal obligation to consult with tribes. According to the Karuk Tribes Watershed Restoration Coordinator Earl Crosby, the aforementioned meeting was more show and tell than consultation. Nevertheless by the end of the July meeting, the Forest Supervisor of the Six Rivers National Forest Merv George Jr. and the Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Klamath National Forest Christine Frisbee pledged their commitment towards realigning the timeline of the Northwestern California Climate Adaptation Project to provide tribes government to government consultation on its development, as well as input on the focal resources (habitats, species, ecosystem services) studied. As many of you may know, I am a Hupa Tribal Member and dedicated to this land said George Jr. Besides that, my wife is a basketweaver. She would have my throat if I didnt protect these resources, he added at the July meeting with a smile. When the January 17th meeting commenced, however, smiles were strained. We hadnt heard a peep from anyone about where they were in the process, reported Karuk Director of Natural Resources Leaf Hillman. Yet by the time the meeting concluded, the federal agencies and EcoAdapt proved they were open to consultation and ongoing collaboration with the Karuk Tribe to generate various assessments and strategies to reduce vulnerabilities and/or increase overall resilience to climate change. In particular, Tribal members emphasized the importance of prescribed fire in creating climate resiliency for Tribal resources. The increase in conifers due to fire exclusion only makes our forests more vulnerable to wildfires, which are increasing in size due to fire exclusion and climate stressors, said Karuk Deputy Director of Eco-Cultural Revitalization Bill Tripp. Upon general consensus, the meeting agenda was shifted to highlight findings from the newly published Karuk Tribe Climate Vulnerability Assessment. The lead on this project, University of Oregons Dr. Kari Norgaard, emphasized the political implications of climate change planning, saying this process needs to be an opportunity to change the management framework, and that the structures in place are not supportive of Indigenous sovereignty. Project lead for EcoAdapt Jessi Kershner then asked for more information about the assessments format, and Leaf Hillman explained the Tribes choice to outline its focal and indicator species through the lens of fire. Fire exclusion, he said, has demonstrated that we cant talk about species or habitats without talking about fire. Federal agency officials agreed, and the meeting discussion moved quickly to exploring possibilities for incorporating this work into the Northern California Climate Adaptation Project. The Tribes Pikyav Field Institute Program Manager Lisa Hillman wanted to make sure that information the Tribe provided in the assessment wouldnt only be an addendum in publications, but would be fully integrated alongside other recommendations. In response, the USFS Assistant Regional Ecologist and project lead Dr. Sarah Sawyer said that traditional ecological knowledge will play a huge role in evaluating vulnerabilitiesand will be incorporated alongside everything else in reports. While the project is slated for completion in the spring of 2018, Kershner reported that they were still in the first step of the projects planning process of defining goals and priorities and generating a list of focal resources. We want to focus on Step 1 to get off on the right foot. Next steps will be to narrow down the number of focal species and/or habitats evaluated and to draft an assessment template that addresses commonalities between federal and tribal perspectives. The Republic of Ireland hopes to attract firms moving out of the UK to avoid the impact of Brexit, the Irish ambassador to the UK has told MPs. Daniel Mulhall said Brexit poses "very real challenges" for Ireland but the country is adopting a pragmatic approach and wants to benefit from "any upsides" from business moving away from the UK. The told the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that Dublin has concerns about the impact of Brexit on trade, the border and the common travel area but is confident a deal could be struck to address those issues and preserve the close links between the two countries. "We naturally seek to avail of any upsides from this situation, such as the possibility of attracting some of the economic activity that may need to find a post-Brexit location within the European Union," Mr Mulhall said. "This is a pragmatic response on the part of the Irish government to managing the downsides of Brexit and responding to the reality that some companies will feel a need to move. "For those who do plan to move, we believe that Ireland is the best place for them to operate for we can provide an ideal setting with our highly educated, English-speaking population, a location within the EU single market, and an environment proven to be conducive to investment." Mr Mulhall said Ireland would be more affected by Brexit than any other EU member states. "I believe it is widely recognised that Ireland will be uniquely affected by the UK's exit from the EU. This is because of the special circumstances that apply to us, the fact is that we have the only land border with the UK. "What's more, Brexit will bring to an end a very productive Irish-UK relationship as EU partners, one that has served us well for 44 years. This is regrettable from our point of view." Mr Mulhall said neither Taoiseach Enda Kenny nor British Prime Minister Theresa May wanted a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but acknowledged that "arrangements with regard to customs will be complicated to tie down". Mrs May has ruled out remaining a member of the single market and will seek a new customs arrangement rather than stay in the customs union. Mr Mulhall stressed it is "essential that Brexit does not affect the Good Friday Agreement, and that the people of Northern Ireland can have confidence that this will be the case". The ambassador told MPs that the IDA had received 100 official inquiries "from companies looking to potentially invest in Ireland post-Brexit". Mr Mulhall also highlighted the increase in the number of requests for Irish passports since Brexit. "The number of passports we issued last year in Britain went up by 40% and the number of foreign birth registrations - which is applications for citizenship through a grandparent - went up from 600 to more than 5,000, so there is a lot of this happening," he said. In Northern Ireland the number of passports issued rose by 20% last year, but Mr Mulhall said that was probably because a higher proportion of people there had already taken advantage of their entitlement to Irish citizenship. Update 3pm: The general manager of HP Incs Leixlip plant, Maurice OConnell, has said some of the 500 people set to lose their jobs may be offered redeployment elsewhere in the companys Irish assets. Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a separate company to HP Inc, continues to employ 2,100 staff at its enterprise business in Leixlip, Galway and Cork, along with workers in its sales offices. "There is an interest in redeploying people to other sites along with the work," he said. "The organisation here in Leixlip has made a great contribution to the business and there is an interest in trying to redeploy people." He indicated it was too early to say how many might be offered redeployment, though he confirmed most of the positions would be eliminated. "This decision (to close the Leixlip print plant) is driven by the HP global print strategy to drive efficiencies and savings," he said. The first jobs will go in July. Mr OConnell said "enhanced" redundancy packages would be on offer. Mr OConnell said employees were disappointed and saddened by the news; some of them had up to 22 years service. "Its a sad day for employees," he said. Update 12.42pm: Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor has refused to commit to meet with the 500 HP Inc workers who have lost their jobs, writes Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter. The tech giant has this morning announced that they will be closing their global print plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare plant over the next 12 months. Ms Mitchell OConnor said the IDA would now be working hard to sell the plant as a going concern. However, she refused to say whether she will meet with those who have been made redundant. "Id say the workers now want me to do my job, they want the IDA to do their job and to make sure that we are selling Lexlip and Kildare all over the world this evening and throughout the rest of the year to make sure that we win investment into Ireland," Ms Mitchell OConnor said. "I will make that call very soon, but I have to say, I know the workers its not platitudes they want its jobs. The inkjet plant is set to close by February next year while Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a separate company to HP Inc, continues to employ 2,100 staff at its Enterprise business in Leixlip, Galway and Cork, along with workers in its sales offices. Asked what measures she had personally taken to try and save the jobs at the HP Inc plant Minister Mitchell OConnor said: "I have obviously been working with Enterprise Ireland very much and we have had a budget. So my job as a Minister is to ensure that Enterprise Ireland and the IDA have the budget to go out there and to win investment into our country and also to scale up our own indigenous companies." But speaking in the Dail just minutes later Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed that the Jobs Minister had spoken to senior staff at HP in recent days. Earlier: Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the Governments concerns and priorities are with the staff of HP Inc and their families today. Around 500 jobs are set to be lost the print business of HP Inc in Leixlip, which is to close over the next 12 months, management announced this morning. Enda Kennys confirmed to the Dail that while the IDA did travel to California for discussions with the company, and Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor did not, and spoke to senior managers on the phone last week. He said the Government focus will be to trying to find a buyer for the facility. This is a brilliant location, it is a fabulous building, it has multi uses, he said. It could be sold, indeed, as a going concern, and the IDA and the Ministers efforts now will be to provide an alternative in what is a superb location. Minister Mitchell O Connor has said that all the supports of the State will be made available to workers. Firstly, my thoughts are with the employees of HP Inc and their families as they receive this difficult news today, said the Minister. There is no doubt that this is a significant blow to the employees, their families and to the region. My officials and I, together with the IDA, have had extensive discussions with the company in an effort to avert these job losses. I note with regret that the redundancies are arising on account of the companys global efficiency strategy to accelerate their business transformation. The transfer of work will be phased over 2017 with planned completion by February 2018. HP remains committed to Ireland and they intend to have a continued sales operations presence in Ireland. Todays announcement also has no bearing whatsoever on the workers and operations of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a completely separate company that employs over 2,100 people in Leixlip, Galway and Cork. It is important for the workers to know that I have asked that all the supports of the state will be made available to any workers affected by this decision. I have spoken with my colleague Leo Varadkar, Minister for Social Protection, and he has confirmed that officials in his Department are being deployed to brief staff on State supports and re-training options. I am in daily contact with the IDA and I have asked the Agency to continue with their efforts to ensure jobs are delivered to the region. IDA will continue to work with the company in the time ahead to help secure a buyer for the Leixlip site. Securing investment for Kildare and the surrounding region is a continuing priority. We have had significant jobs announcement and jobs growth in recent months with jobs announcements right across the country, however, todays news is, sadly, a reminder that we must not be complacent. We have to work hard to ensure we remain competitive and continue to encourage companies into Ireland as well as supporting our home grown businesses. Update 11.18am: Transport Minister Shane Ross said today that there can be no exceptional circumstances for anyone caught drink driving. Minister Ross said that he is launching a sustained attack on drink-drivers with new laws repealing the current situation where a first-time offender does not get automatically disqualified. He has faced questions from TDs and Senators over the lack of public transport provision in rural Ireland. However, Minister Ross said that there can be no special case for people in rural Ireland on this issue. I dont believe there are any exceptional cases, he said. I believe this is an absolute. If youre over the limit in Dublin, youre over the limit in rural areas as well. They must accept that the dangers that are posed by people going behind the wheel over the limit are the same in one place as the other, and the dangers of fatalities are the same, because the impairment to driving is the same. Update 8.26am: Independent Kerry South TD Michael Healy-Rae has expressed his opposition to proposed legislation that would see first-time drink-drivers disqualified from driving. Transport Minister Shane Ross will brief an all-party group on the proposals later, and Deputy Healy-Rae is looking forward to hearing more information on the plan. Hes talking about bringing it before a committee today, said Deputy Healy-Rae. Is he or has he brought it before the Cabinet, has he the full support of Cabinet on this, do his colleagues support what hes intending or proposing to do? So yes, this may be his own personal opinion, but well have to see will it eventually become law or not. Earlier: The Cabinet is set to approve new laws next week that will see first-time drink-driving offenders disqualified from driving. Transport Minister Shane Ross will outline why the measure is necessary when he addresses an Oireachtas Committee this morning. In 2009 when drink drive limits were lowered, laws were passed that first-time drink drive offenders got three penalty points and a fine but were not banned from driving. This morning at the Transport Committee, Minister Ross will say the statistics around drink driving are extremely concerning and need to be tackled urgently. He will say that the current regime for first-time offenders sends out a message it is not a serious offence. He will announce he plans to bring legislation to Cabinet next Tuesday meaning all drivers caught drink driving will receive a mandatory disqualification. He will also appeal to Opposition parties not to amend the legislation when it goes before the Dail and Seanad so it will pass into law quickly. German police have raided homes and offices linked to a group of anti-government extremists suspected of trying to establish their own state. Some 15 premises in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate are being searched, police said. Commissioner Helen Dixon has brought a case with potentially enormous implications for trade and privacy rights of millions of EU citizens, aimed at having the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) decide whether transatlantic data transfer channels breach the privacy rights of EU citizens. Ms Dixon formed a provisional view that there are deficiencies concerning rights of EU citizens to access remedies under US law for breach of data protection rights under European law, the court was told yesterday. The significance of the case, listed for three weeks at costs of millions of euro, is underlined by the US governments first involvement in litigation in the Irish courts. Its lawyers claim significantly enhanced protections have been put in place in recent years to ensure privacy rights of EU citizens are not at risk from transatlantic data flows. Any finding that the safeguards are inadequate could have sweeping commercial ramifications for data flows and risk undermining international co-operation to confront common threats, the lawyers argue. Legal experts from the US and various EU states have provided reports outlining their views on the extent and adequacy of the US protections, including under the Foreign Intelligence Security Act 1978 and US Patriot Act 2001. The power of the US president to make executive orders was also raised during the opening of the case. Ms Dixon initiated her proceedings after forming the draft view in 2015, having examined a complaint by Austrian lawyer Max Schrems over personal Facebook data being transferred to the US, that he had well-founded objections the transfers breached his privacy rights as an EU citizen. Mr Schrems complained in June 2013 after former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden revealed surveillance by the NSA of certain internet and telecoms systems operated by companies including Facebook, Microsoft, and Google. The Irish High Court referred issues in the case to Europe and in 2014 the CJEU ruled the Safe Harbour framework for data transfers was invalid under the EU Charter due to a failure to enable EU citizens pursue effective legal remedies in the US over alleged breach of their EU privacy rights. Ms Dixons current case is against Facebook Ireland, because it transfers data from its European headquarters in Dublin to its parent in the US, and Mr Schrems as complainant. No orders are sought against either defendant and the case is essentially aimed at having the CJEU decide whether three European Commission decisions of 2001, 2004, and 2010, upholding the validity of data transfer channels, known as standard contractual clauses (SCCs), are valid. Ms Dixons draft view is the SCCs do not provide adequate protection equivalent to that provided under EU law. While Facebook argues different levels of protection apply on the ground in various EU member states for data transfers within the EU, the issue is whether US law provides EU citizens with equivalent protection and access to court as available under EU law, counsel said. The case continues today. DCC has further expanded its energy division by agreeing to buy Essos retail petrol station network in Norway for 235m (273m), adding to similar deals DCC has done with Esso in France and Shell in Denmark. A first year return on invested capital of 15% is expected from the Norway deal, which gives DCC ownership of 142 petrol stations in Norway. On a group level, DCC yesterday said that it expects operating profit and earnings per share to be significantly ahead for the year to the end of March. A third quarter trading update covering the three months to the end of December yesterday said group profit was strongly ahead for the year. The DCC Energy and DCC Technology divisions saw strong annualised profit growth, with the DCC Healthcare arm showing a good organic performance. While DCCs share price was up yesterday and has risen around 12% in the past month, Davy Stockbrokers still sees room for growth. DCC is trading at around 68 in London, but Davy said it could rise by a further 18% this year; raising its target price from 75 to 80 in a research note yesterday. Davy also suggested DCC could make more similar acquisitions to the Norway deal. The announcement supports our view that DCC Energy is positioned as a preferred acquirer of retail assets from the oil majors in Europe, and we think there is potentially plenty more to come, Davys transport and logistics analysis team said in the note. I have been reading a history of China recently. It seemed apt, given the clear indications that Chinas role in the global economy is becoming ever larger and its presence is being felt in many countries, including Ireland. That presence is currently visible in sectors including aircraft leasing and renewable energy. But all major sectors abroad of relevance to Ireland including financial services, agri-food, and travel are subject to extensive and active acquisition activity by a range of Chinese companies. The scale of this corporate expansion is breathtaking but must be measured as a reflection of Chinas emergence as the worlds second largest economy. With that market presence, it is inevitable that many billions will be deployed to build networks, market access, manufacturing capabilities, and service businesses which can project Chinas interests around the world. Any cursory review of Chinas history reveals a dark side to how the western world engaged with that emerging market. Between 1870 and the 1930s, China was subjected to harsh and aggressive actions by forces representing Russia, Japan, Britain, the US, Germany, and France. Many troubling events took place as the West imposed a world view on China which treated locals as in need of cultural, social, and economic education. It should not surprise anyone against that backdrop that Chinas leaders are cautious the love-in that has erupted since it began to open its markets to outside interests during the latter part of the 20th century. As China boomed, it became a huge source of business for global corporations as they sold products and services into a rapidly advancing society. In recent years, while that momentum continued, Chinas indigenous sector began to prosper and after positioning itself within the long Chinese borders it has since began a journey of international expansion. This is why Ireland needs to think cleverly and strategically about Chinese capital. For decades, Irish companies have been working on ways to sell products into China but now they must weigh up the opportunities and challenges posed by capital coming in the other direction. For some companies, it may be a welcome development as a route to selling out to bidders who are prepared to pay full prices for quality assets. For others, it can be a means to access capital that can be tapped to further expand and grow across many borders. Ireland has some natural advantages in his context and that may explain why, relative to our actual economic size, we are receiving a disproportionate amount of attention from China and its corporations. Ireland, firstly, has no history of conflict with China. That may sound trite but it is an important calling card for a small open economy that relies on global trade. Second, we have unique connections with America, the UK, and the EU. America was part built by the Irish and its corporations value Ireland as a strategic base for markets outside the US. The UK has deep and obvious links with us, while the EU and Ireland have a long-established set of relationships. All of these ties are under currently pressure from strong geo-political forces presently but Ireland is better placed than most to navigate its way through. These are the reasons why China may see Ireland as a valuable base from which to establish and develop its interests across the so-called western world. I note that already Chinese investors are acquiring and building a presence in the Irish aircraft leasing industry, itself a politically sensitive sector that manages assets worth over $100bn each year around the world. It is likely other investments will take place in different sectors as this process develops further. Agri-food, IT, property, and tourism are some of the sectors that Chinese investors value for both their international exposure and knowledge which can be transferred back into the vast domestic market. The attack took place on Sunday evening on Rembrandt Square when it was busy with tourists and locals. One of two Irishmen arrested, aged 29 and from Drimnagh, south Dublin, is a significant drug dealer and senior member of the Kinahan crime cartel. The second Irishman, aged 23, is from Dublins south inner city and thought to be working for the dealer. The drama unfolded when the target of the shooting escaped death after a gunman pointed a handgun at his head and fired, but the gun jammed, according to security sources. The victim, understood to be a Dutch national of Nigerian background, fled and stopped a police car patrolling the square at 8.45pm A spokesman for Dutch police said the victim told officers he had been threatened with a firearm which had been put to his face. The victim gave a very good description of the gunman and also of three other people who were with him. He directed officers to a pub on the square, Smokeys, to where he said the four had fled. The spokesman said the two officers called for backup which arrived within a few minutes. Shortly after, they entered the pub and arrested the gunman, working on the description the victim gave. Based on the descriptions of the other gang members, police quickly identified the three accomplices. During a search, they found three firearms. The four arrested were taken into police custody on suspicion of threatening with a lethal weapon, a firearm, and possession of an illegal weapon. The spokesman said the four can be held for a maximum period of three days based on the permission of a senior officer and then, on the authorisation of a district attorney, for a further maximum period of three days. The spokesman said that the suspects will then appear before a judge who will decide if the charges are serious enough to warrant a further 14 days detention. He confirmed that there was CCTV on Rembrandt Square, but added that it did not cover all of it. He said it would be part of the investigation to acquire the footage to see if it captured the shooting or provided any other evidence regarding the suspects. He explained there were strict laws around CCTVs and police have to apply to the department of justice and the district attorney to gain access. He said that while many pubs have internal CCTV, not all did. The detective team is also speaking to witnesses. Meanwhile, gardai in Dublin uncovered a drug distribution operation and seized more than 3kg of heroin in an investigation by local detectives in Crumlin/Drimnagh area. While the area is the base of the Kinahan cartel in Dublin, gardai have no evidence yet that the haul is connected with them. It is understood that the sole man arrested in the operation is an unknown to gardai and the investigating team is trying to build up a picture of the individual and who he might be linked with. Sources said criminal gangs are under so much pressure and surveillance at the moment, particularly in the Crumlin and south inner city, that day-to-day drug business is being affected. Gardai are investigating if gangs are having to use petty criminals with little or no serious history to cut up drugs. However, sources said this individual would have to be well trusted to be given responsibility for such a quantity of heroin. The expressions of concern from within the Cabinet come as Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe warned his ministerial colleagues that the 120m cost of bringing forward public sector pay increases will have to be delivered by savings. When Paschal came to the Cabinet last week, and said he had done the 120m deal, there was a collective gasp. Then when he said it will have to be done through efficiencies through the year, people gasped further, one minister told the Irish Examiner. The minister said that the spending review is not about identifying new projects but more to figure out what priority items ministers dont want cut. We knew this warning was coming as there was no explanation where the money is coming from. This is his way of saying guys I want your estimates in early and set out your priorities which means those at the bottom of the list are going to be cut, the minister said. The days of buoyancy could be over and public sector pay could be more expensive. There is definite slippage in the numbers alright, which is worrying, but we may get looking. But I doubt it, the minister said. Everyone has been talking as to which ministry is going to get the axe, but we dont know. He is going to try and spread it evenly, but 10m say off each department is a lot of money, he said. Separately, Transport Minister Shane Ross has come under fire for shunning his responsibility in the Bus Eireann dispute. Bus services are set to come to a halt as unions have announced an all-out rolling strike from February 20 if management at Bus Eireann does not withdraw its proposals to significantly cut premium payments, allowances and shift rates. The National Bus and Rail Union is to attend the Oireachtas Transport Committee next week to discuss the issue. General secretary Dermot OLeary called on Mr Ross intervene. Playing footloose and fancy free with the rights of ordinary decent bus workers, along with the travel plans of hundreds and thousands of workers, college students, those who require to attend at vital hospital appointments and school-going children is simply not good enough, whilst the shunning of political responsibility by the minister in this matter is manifestly irresponsible, he said. The countrys public service transport links could all grind to a halt if disputes at Dublin Bus and Irish Rail are not resolved. Unions have said they will ballot Dublin Bus workers in the coming days if a solution to a dispute centred around pensions is not found. A pay dispute at Iarnrod Eireann has been referred to the Labour Court after talks at the Workplace Relations Commission failed. Rail workers are demanding a 21% pay rise. The company has said it is in severe difficulty having accumulated a deficit of 153m. TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold") (TSX:NGD) (NYSE MKT:NGD) today announces that the company has entered into a binding letter agreement with Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") to sell the company's gold stream on the El Morro project to Goldcorp for $65 million cash (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will provide New Gold with additional liquidity as the company advances the construction of its Rainy River project, which is scheduled to commence production in September 2017. "Our interest in El Morro has generated significant value for our company over the last several years," stated Hannes Portmann, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The sale of the stream allows us to realize $65 million from an asset that is not a core part of our portfolio to support our key, near-term growth project at Rainy River." The total expenditures on El Morro by New Gold and its predecessor companies since the asset was first acquired has been less than $7 million. New Gold is proud that, including the $65 million payment for the stream, the company will have generated total proceeds of $205 million through a series of transactions related to El Morro over the last seven years. Goldcorp has been a great partner to New Gold at El Morro and the company wishes them continued success as they advance the property over the coming years. The Transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the negotiation of a definitive agreement. All required internal Goldcorp and New Gold approvals of the Transaction have been obtained. The Transaction is expected to close in February 2017. About New Gold Inc. New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company. The company has a portfolio of four producing assets and two significant development projects. The New Afton Mine in Canada, the Mesquite Mine in the United States, the Peak Mines in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro Mine in Mexico (which transitioned to residual leaching in 2016), provide the company with its current production base. In addition, New Gold owns 100% of the Rainy River and Blackwater projects located in Canada. New Gold's objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the company, please visit www.newgold.com. VANCOUVER, Feb. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Mirasol Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: MRZ, "Mirasol") is pleased to announce that Yamana Gold Corporation (Yamana) has commenced the 2nd year of exploration at the Gorbea JV, completing a systematic surface mapping program in December 2016 and initiating a minimum 3,500 metre, eight hole drilling program on January 17, 2017 at the Atlas gold-silver project Chile. Atlas is one of nine properties within the Yamana - Gorbea JV, signed with Mirasol on May 10, 2015 (see news release March 26, 2015). This agreement grants Yamana the option to acquire a 51% interest in the property portfolio by incurring exploration expenditures of US$10 million and by making staged cash payments to Mirasol totalling US$2 million over a four-year period. Yamana can earn up to 75% in the JV by making a decision to mine and by funding to production Mirasol's 25% project interest. Mirasol's Gorbea projects are situated in the prolifically mineralized Mio-Pliocene-age mineral belt of Chile (Figure 1). The exploration program is targeting large, bulk-mineable, high-sulphidation epithermal (HSE) oxide gold deposits. Multi-million-ounce gold discoveries have recently been announced in this mineral belt by Barrick Gold Corp at the Alturas Project ([1] Inferred resource of 5.5 Moz Au @ 1.25 g/t Au) and Gold Fields at the Salares Nortes Project ([2] Mineral Resources of 3.3 Moz Au, 42.1 Moz Ag @ 3.9 g/t Au, 48.9 g/t Ag). Results from Yamana's first year of exploration at the Atlas Project returned encouraging gold and silver drill intersections (see news release April 25, 2016), while too deep to be considered as indications of an open-pittable body of mineralization, these intersections show similarities in grade and mineralization style to bulk mineable HSE deposits elsewhere in the belt. This suggested potential exists for the Atlas property to host a significant precious-metal bearing HSE system and warrants further drill testing for shallower open-pittable occurrences of oxide gold and silver mineralization. Table 1: Atlas 2016 Drilling, Higher Grade Gold-Silver Intersections Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) Down-hole Intersections (m) Gold * (g/t) Silver * (g/t) AuEq60 ** (g/t) AuEq60 gm ** (g x m) Report Date CLATRD0004 230 244 14 0.06 150.1 2.6 35.9 March 21, 2016 CLATRD0007 556 596 40 1.38 17.9 1.7 67.3 April 25, 2016 including 556 584 28 1.82 22.0 2.2 61.2 April 25, 2016 CLATRD0010 468 522 54 0.35 5.5 0.4 23.9 April 25, 2016 including 472 482 10 1.02 6.2 1.1 11.2 April 25, 2016 Manually selected intervals typically >0.1 g/t gold and/or >10 g/t silver * Grades reported are length weighted average intersections calculated as Sum product of grade and length / sum of length ** Gold equivalent (Au Eq60) is calculated as Gold g/t + (Silver g/t / 60) Gold equivalent gram metre (AuEq gm) is calculated as AuEq x Down hole intersection metre ______________________ 1 Barrick Annual Report, 2015 2 Gold Fields Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Supplement to the Integrated Annual Review, 31 December 2015 This season's geological mapping program leveraged knowledge gained from last year's drilling of the Altas Project, focusing on a series of breccia zones that are dominantly located within a 4 to 5 km, circular resistivity feature defined by the 2016 Atlas IP geophysics program (Figure 1; also see news release March 21, 2016). Brecciation can be an important rock preparation mechanism and may act as a host for mineralization in HSE gold deposits (see further information on HSE gold silver deposits by clicking on this link), as has been demonstrated at the recent multi-million-ounce Alturas and Salares Note discoveries that are predominantly hosted within breccia bodies. The 2017 Atlas JV drill program is designed to test for oxide gold mineralization to a depth of 300 metres below surface. Targets include the up-dip (nearer surface) extensions of mineralization intersected in last year's drilling, as well as first pass testing of new targets at the Fox, Apollo, NN and Falda zone breccias that have been prioritized with a combination of geological, geochemical and geophysical information. First results from this season's drilling are anticipated by mid Q2, 2017. Mirasol is a project generation company focused on the discovery of precious metals and copper resources in the Americas. Strategic joint ventures with metal producers have enabled Mirasol to advance its priority projects, focused in high-potential regions in Chile and Argentina. Mirasol employs an integrated generative and on-ground exploration approach combining leading-edge technologies and experienced exploration geoscientists to maximize the potential for discovery. Mirasol is in a strong financial position and has a significant portfolio of drill ready gold-silver exploration projects located in Chile and Argentina. Stephen Nano, President and CEO of Mirasol, has approved the technical content of this news release and is a Qualified Person under NI 43 -101. Quality Assurance/Quality Control of the Gorbea exploration program: Under the terms of the Gorbea Agreement, all exploration is managed by Yamana. All previous exploration on the projects was supervised by Mirasol CEO Stephen C. Nano, who is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101. All information generated from the Gorbea Joint Venture program is reviewed by Mirasol prior to release. The technical interpretations presented here are those of Mirasol Resources Ltd. Yamana applies industry standard exploration methodologies and techniques. All geochemical rock and drill samples are collected under the supervision of Yamana's geologists in accordance with industry practice. Geochemical assays are obtained and reported under a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are dispatched to an ISO 9001:2000-accredited laboratory in Chile for analysis. Assay results from drill core samples may be higher, lower or similar to results obtained from surface samples due to surficial oxidation and enrichment processes or due to natural geological grade variations in the primary mineralization. TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. ("Wesdome" or the "Company") (TSX: WDO) is pleased to provide an update of underground drilling progress at its 100% owned Kiena Mine Complex, in Val d'Or, Quebec. Since the last update on November 15, 2016, a fourth drill has been added on the 960 metre level (Figure 1), 29 drill holes have been completed and assay results have been received for 21 drill holes (Table 1). The new drilling continues to trace the Kiena Deep mineralized system along an altered and deformed north north west trending ("NNW") basalt-komatiite contact zone. To date, it has been traced 550 metres NNW along strike and over a depth range of 400 metres. It remains open at depth and along trend. Wesdome continues its accelerated drilling program with the goal of determining the extent, continuity and geometry of the Kiena Deep gold system. Highlights *(Uncut and cut assay averages over core lengths*) 1. Major step out holes extending trend to a tested length of 550m: 6.63 g/t gold over 11.0 m uncut (6.63 g/t cut) in hole 6146 7.67 g/t gold over 8.2 m uncut (5.53 g/t cut) in hole 6147 2. Assays received from visible gold occurrences reported November 15, 2016: 18.67 g/t gold over 9.8 m uncut (5.44 g/t cut) in hole 6134 110.23 g/t gold over 4.1 m uncut (5.91 g/t cut) in hole 6155 14.89 g/t gold over 2.0 m uncut (14.89 g/t cut) in hole 6155 3. Additional New Results: 27.97 g/t gold over 1.0 m uncut (27.97 g/t cut) in hole 6134 34.27 g/t gold over 8.4 m uncut (6.78 g/t cut) in hole 6137 306.10 g/t gold over 0.6 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6142 6.23 g/t gold over 10.5 m uncut (5.67 g/t cut) in hole 6142 41.39 g/t gold over 2.4 m uncut (11.62 g/t cut) in hole 6142 24.92 g/t gold over 5.2 m uncut (10.03 g/t cut) in hole 6142 11.40 g/t gold over 3.6 m uncut (5.81 g/t cut) in hole 6143 43.05 g/t gold over 14.0 m uncut (5.35 g/t cut) in hole 6143 10.45 g/t gold over 8.0 m uncut (5.23 g/t cut) in hole 6144 18.04 g/t gold over 2.7 m uncut (16.07 g/t cut) in hole 6144 14.61 g/t gold over 15.4 m uncut (3.08 g/t cut) in hole 6145A 37.71 g/t gold over 0.7 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6150 4.68 g/t gold over 4.0 m uncut (4.68 g/t cut) in hole 6151 29.52 g/t gold over 0.5 m uncut (29.52 g/t cut) in hole 6151 9.11 g/t gold over 1.5 m uncut (9.11 g/t cut) in hole 6152 8.75 g/t gold over 1.5 m uncut (8.75 g/t cut) in hole 6152 3.47 g/t gold over 16.0 m uncut (3.47 g/t cut) in hole 6154 124.98 g/t gold over 4.3 m uncut (13.98 g/t cut) in hole 6154 44.85 g/t gold over 1.2 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6154 28.00 g/t gold over 17.0 m uncut (2.84 g/t cut) in hole 6155 50.14 g/t gold over 1.0 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6156 41.89 g/t gold over 2.0 m uncut (18.53 g/t cut) in hole 6156 20.28 g/t gold over 7.3 m uncut (10.2 g/t cut) in hole 6156 27.25 g/t gold over 0.6 m uncut (27.25 g/t cut) in hole 6157A 10.37 g/t gold over 4.8 m uncut (9.49 g/t cut) in hole 6157A * The geometry of these zones is not clearly understood at this point. Further drilling is required to interpret true widths. Assay intervals include values cut to an arbitrary, historic 1 oz/ton or 34.28 g/t Mr. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO, commented "Drilling results have been accelerated with the goal of delineating and defining this significant new find as quickly and efficiently as possible. This set of Kiena Deep drill results continues to deliver grades substantially higher than the historic production grade profile at Kiena of 4.5 g/t. We are also very encouraged by step out holes confirming mineralization now tested along 550 metres of strike length, indicating a potential large new gold system. Furthermore, in the Company's efforts to accelerate our advanced exploration at Kiena, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Marc-Andre Pelletier as Vice President of Quebec Operations, who will be based full time at the Kiena Complex. Marc-Andre has over 20 years' experience in underground gold mining in Canada, and will be working closely with our geologic team to evaluate ramp development. On behalf of management and the board, I would like to welcome him to the Wesdome team." Geological Context Drilling continues to identify two styles of mineralization spatially related to a basalt-komatiite (ultramafic) contact zone that trends NNW. High grade extensional quartz veins in basalt (Upper Quartz Vein Zone), and Albitized stockwork and vein breccia systems in sheared and altered zones (Lower Stockwork Zone). There are likely multiple zones which remain only partially defined and are open. The full extent of the mineralized system has not been delineated. It has been traced 550 m along the contact area trend between depths 1,000 and 1,400 m and remains open. Step out holes 6146 and 6147 are of significant interest as these holes have intersected quality grade over wide widths some 150 metres north, and 250 metres south along trend of the known mineralized system, which remains open (Figure 1). Drilling Progress Four drills are operating on levels 670m, 770m, 910m and 960m. Challenging drilling conditions in the deformed and altered contact area have been addressed with a combination of bits, drill assemblies and specialized drilling reagents. The experience obtained in these conditions and the additional drill added to the 960m level has resulted in improved success in attaining the desired targets. Shorter holes with better attack angles will continue to accelerate results. Scope and Purpose The accelerated drilling is designed to delineate the potential size of the Kiena Deep gold system and define its internal geometry as quickly and efficiently as possible. Confidence in internal grade and continuity will de-risk a decision to initiate ramp development to provide definition drilling and access to Kiena Deep as soon as possible. The Company intends to continue the drilling campaign with four underground drills. Ongoing evaluation for the requirement of enhanced drill platforms will determine the timing of underground ramp development, as the location of this infrastructure is dependent upon drilling results currently being generated. Table 1: Kiena Deep Drilling Results Compilation Hole No. From (m) To (m) Core length (m) Assay (g/t Au) Cut Grade* (g/t Au) Target 6134 440.00 441.00 1.00 27.97 27.97 Upper quartz vein (VG) 797.00 806.80 9.80 18.67 5.44 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 797.00 799.40 2.40 69.86 15.82 Lower stockwork 822.00 834.00 12.00 1.24 1.24 Lower stockwork 6135 381.50 382.40 0.90 1.21 1.21 Lower stockwork 6136 620.70 622.70 2.00 1.04 1.04 Lower stockwork 627.10 628.10 1.00 1.26 1.26 Lower stockwork 6137 444.10 452.50 8.40 34.27 6.78 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 444.10 445.90 1.80 151.88 23.59 Lower stockwork 6138 Target not attained (ABD) 6139 399.70 401.60 1.90 1.73 1.73 Lower stockwork 6140 Results pending 6141 Results pending 6142 435.00 437.00 2.00 1.32 1.32 Lower stockwork 438.70 439.30 0.60 306.10 34.28 Lower stockwork (VG) 475.50 486.00 10.50 6.23 5.67 Lower stockwork 581.30 583.70 2.40 41.39 11.62 Lower stockwork (VG) 591.60 594.00 2.40 3.35 3.35 Lower stockwork 598.80 604.00 5.20 24.92 10.03 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 598.80 601.00 2.20 55.92 20.74 Lower stockwork 6143 489.40 493.00 3.60 11.40 5.81 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 489.40 490.00 0.60 67.83 34.28 Lower stockwork 504.00 518.00 14.00 43.05 5.35 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 504.00 504.90 0.90 171.33 34.28 Lower stockwork 6143 537.10 546.30 9.20 1.29 1.29 Lower stockwork 6144 569.20 570.20 1.00 3.19 3.19 Lower stockwork 583.00 585.20 2.20 5.40 5.40 Lower stockwork 609.00 617.00 8.00 10.45 5.23 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 609.00 611.00 2.00 37.94 17.04 Lower stockwork 629.00 631.70 2.70 18.04 16.07 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 631.00 631.70 0.70 41.88 34.28 Lower stockwork 6145 Target not attained (ABD) 6145A 408.80 424.20 15.40 14.61 3.08 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 414.40 418.20 3.80 56.86 10.14 Lower stockwork 6146 377.50 388.50 11.00 6.63 6.63 Lower stockwork? (VG) 6147 393.00 430.00 37.00 1.69 1.69 Lower stockwork 490.00 498.20 8.20 7.67 5.53 Lower stockwork (VG) 6148 Target not attained (ABD) 6150 418.70 419.40 0.70 37.71 34.28 Upper quartz vein (VG) 6151 170.00 174.00 4.00 4.68 4.68 Upper quartz vein 245.50 250.50 5.00 2.51 2.51 Upper quartz vein 385.50 386.00 0.50 29.52 29.52 Upper quartz vein (VG) 6152 271.50 273.00 1.50 1.57 1.57 Lower stockwork (VG) 383.10 386.00 2.90 1.88 1.88 Lower stockwork 393.00 394.50 1.50 9.11 9.11 Lower stockwork 400.50 403.50 3.00 5.06 5.06 Lower stockwork 457.10 458.60 1.50 8.75 8.75 Lower stockwork (VG) 6153 Target not attained (ABD) 6153A Target not attained (ABD) 6154 335.00 351.00 16.00 3.47 3.47 Lower stockwork Incl. 338.00 346.90 8.90 4.97 4.97 Lower stockwork 405.70 410.00 4.30 124.98 13.98 Lower stockwork (VG) 447.50 448.70 1.20 44.85 34.28 Lower stockwork (VG) 6155 388.50 405.50 17.00 28.00 2.84 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 401.40 405.50 4.10 110.23 5.91 Lower stockwork 421.40 423.40 2.00 14.89 14.89 Lower stockwork (VG) 6156 274.00 275.00 1.00 50.14 34.28 Lower stockwork (VG) 412.00 414.00 2.00 41.89 18.53 Lower stockwork (VG) 437.00 444.30 7.30 20.28 10.20 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 441.00 444.00 3.00 44.08 21.77 Lower stockwork 6157 Target not attained (ABD) 6157A 477.00 477.60 0.60 27.25 27.25 Lower stockwork (VG) 516.5 521.3 4.80 10.37 9.49 Lower stockwork (VG) * Assay intervals include values cut to an arbitrary, historic 1 oz / ton or 34.28 g/t Au (VG) = visible gold (ABD) = Hole abandoned Management Appointment The Company is very encouraged by the continued exploration results at Kiena and the potential to re-establish production at this fully permitted facility. As a result, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Marc-Andre Pelletier as Wesdome's Vice-President of Operations for Quebec in charge of the Kiena Mine Advanced Exploration Program. Marc-Andre is an experienced professional mining engineer who was most recently Vice-President of Operations at St Andrew Goldfields Ltd. Prior to Marc-Andre's tenure at St Andrew's he was employed by Barrick Gold Corporation from 2001-2009 elevating to the position of Mine Superintendent at Barrick's Williams Mine. Prior to his Barrick experience Marc-Andre worked extensively in Quebec in progressive technical roles. Throughout his career Marc-Andre has dedicated himself to achieving safety, production, and costs targets. He is a graduate of Laval University in mining engineering and is a resident of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Kiena Complex The Kiena Mine Complex is a fully permitted, integrated mining and milling infrastructure which includes a 930 metre production shaft and 2,000 tonne per day capacity mill. From 1981 to 2013 the mine produced 1.75 million ounces of gold from 12.5 million tonnes at a grade of 4.5 g/t. The bulk of this production came from the S-50 Zone between depths of 100 and 1,000 metres. In 2013, operations were suspended due to a combination of declining gold prices and lack of developed reserves. The infrastructure has been well preserved on care and maintenance status. Technical Disclosure The technical and scientific disclosure in this press release has been prepared and approved by Marc Ducharme, P. Geo., Chief Exploration Geologist of Wesdome and "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 disclosure standards. Analytical work was performed by Techni-Lab (ActLabs) of Ste-Germaine-Boule (Quebec), a certified commercial laboratory (SCC Accredited Lab #707). Sample preparation was done at Techni-Lab (ActLabs) in Val d'Or (Quebec) and assaying was done by fire assay methods at Techni-Lab (ActLabs) laboratory in Ste-Germaine-Boule (Quebec). In addition to laboratory internal duplicates, standards and blanks, the geology department inserts blind duplicates, standards and blanks into the sample stream at a frequency of one in twenty to monitor quality control. About Wesdome Wesdome Gold Mines is in its 29th year of continuous gold mining operations in Canada. The Company is 100% Canadian focused with a pipeline of projects in various stages of development. The Eagle River Complex in Wawa, Ontario is currently producing gold from two mines, the Eagle River Underground Mine and the Mishi Open pit, from a central mill. Wesdome is actively exploring its brownfields asset, the Kiena Complex in Val d'Or, Quebec. The Kiena Complex is a fully permitted former mine with a 930 metre shaft and 2,000 tonne per day mill. The Company has further upside at its Moss Lake gold deposit, located 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is being explored and evaluated to be developed in the appropriate gold price environment. The Company has approximately 130 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WDO." VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 8, 2017) - Pilot Gold Inc. (TSX:PLG) ("Pilot Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional drill results from 17 drill holes in the Peg Leg and Covington Pit areas, located south and west respectively, of the Main Zone, at the 100% controlled Goldstrike Project in southwestern Utah. The primary target is shallow Carlin-style, oxide gold mineralization within the 14 km2 "Historic Mine Trend", between and down-dip of historic open pits. Highlights from the Peg Leg Zone (5 drill holes) include: 1.78 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 29.0 metres (m) including 3.54 g/t over 12.2 m in PGS179 including in PGS179 0.90 g/t Au over 6.1 m and 0.76 g/t Au over 33.5 m including 1.47 g/t over 6.1 m in PGS183 and including in PGS183 1.33 g/t Au over 18.3 m in PGS187 One of the remaining two drill holes intercepted 0.41 g/t Au over 12.2 m (PGS186), with 1 hole missing the target. Following the widely-spaced proof-of-concept drill holes released last month, including 0.51 g/t Au over 41.1 m in PGS142 and 0.54 g/t Au over 25.9 m and 0.75 g/t Au over 10.7 m in PGS149 (refer to news release dated January 10, 2017), these additional results from the new 1.5 km-long Peg Leg area continue to demonstrate that additional drilling is warranted. Highlights from the Covington Pit area (12 drill holes) include: 1.57 g/t Au over 6.1 m and 4.10 g/t Au over 7.6 m including 6.32 g/t Au over 4.6 m in PGS191 and including in PGS191 1.15 g/t Au over 10.7 m in PGS182 in PGS182 0.83 g/t Au over 3.0 m and 7.36 g/t Au over 1.5 m in PGS178 and in PGS178 0.74 g/t Au over 6.1 m in PGS 185 Three of the remaining eight drill holes intercepted narrow widths including 0.23 g/t Au over 4.6 m and 0.83 g/t Au 3.0 m. Five drill holes were lost due to ground conditions or crossed the south graben-bounding fault before intersecting the target basal Claron Formation. New drilling will be carried out at steeper angles in order to intercept the target. Four of the holes confirmed that higher grade mineralization is hosted in an east-west striking mafic dike located immediately north of the Covington Pit. There are currently two drills operating on the project in the Aggie area and on the new Warrior Zone target. All 2016 drill results have been released. Complete table of drill results for the current holes Complete table of results for all drilling by Pilot Gold at Goldstrike in 2015 and to date in 2016 Map of drill collars and traces Map showing the areas of new drilling and the location of historic pits at Goldstrike Goldstrike is located in the eastern Great Basin, immediately adjacent to the Utah/Nevada border, and is a Carlin-style gold system, similar in many ways to the prolific deposits located along Nevada's Carlin trend. Like Kinsley Mountain and Newmont's Long Canyon deposit, Goldstrike represents part of a growing number of Carlin-style gold systems located off the main Carlin and Cortez trends in underexplored parts of the Great Basin. The historic Goldstrike Mine operated from 1988 to 1994, with 209,000 ounces of gold produced from 12 shallow pits, at an average grade of 1.2 g/t Au. Moira Smith, Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration and Geoscience, Pilot Gold, is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and validated that the information contained in the release is accurate. Drill composites were calculated using a cut-off of 0.20 g/t. Drill intersections are reported as drilled thicknesses. True widths of the mineralized intervals vary between 30 and 100% of the reported lengths due to varying drill hole orientations, but are typically in the range of 60 to 80% of true width. Drill samples were assayed by ALS Limited in Reno, Nevada for gold by Fire Assay of a 30 gram (1 assay ton) charge with an AA finish, or if over 5.0 g/t were re-assayed and completed with a gravimetric finish. For these samples, the gravimetric data were utilized in calculating gold intersections. For any samples assaying over 0.200 ppm an additional cyanide leach analysis is done where the sample is treated with a 0.25% NaCN solution and rolled for an hour. An aliquot of the final leach solution is then centrifuged and analyzed by AAS. Metallic screen techniques may be employed where the presence of coarse free gold is suspected. Approximately 1000 grams of coarse reject material are pulverized and screened. Two splits of the fine fraction are assayed, as well as all material that does not pass through the screen (the coarse fraction). The final gold assay reported is a weighted average of the coarse and fine fractions. QA/QC for all drill samples consists of the insertion and continual monitoring of numerous standards and blanks into the sample stream, and the collection of duplicate samples at random intervals within each batch. Selected holes are also analyzed for a 51 multi-element geochemical suite by ICP-MS. ALS Geochemistry-Reno is ISO 17025:2005 Accredited, with the Elko prep lab listed on the scope of accreditation. Goldstrike is an early-stage exploration project and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by NI 43-101. The potential quantities and grades disclosed herein are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource for the targets disclosed herein. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in these targets being delineated as a mineral resource. Further information on Goldstrike is available in the technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Goldstrike Project, Washington County, Utah, U.S.A.", effective April 1, 2016 and dated October 7, 2016, prepared by Michael M. Gustin, C.P.G. and Moira Smith, Ph.D., P.Geo. found at the top of this page or under Pilot Gold's issuer profile in SEDAR (www.sedar.com). About Pilot Gold Pilot Gold is led by a proven technical and capital markets team that continues to discover and define high-quality assets. Our core projects are Goldstrike in Utah, Black Pine in Idaho and Kinsley Mountain in Nevada. The Company also holds important interests in two Turkish assets, Halilaga and TV Tower, and has a pipeline of Western US projects characterized by large land positions and district-wide potential that can meet our growth needs for years to come. For more information, visit www.pilotgold.com. Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving metals market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. 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Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut. Read More AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products worldwide. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, and onshore energy installations; marine insurance products covering offshore energy, cargo, liability, recreational marine, fine art, specie, and hull war; and terrorism, aviation, credit and political risk, and liability insurance products. It also provides professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, crime, professional indemnity, cyber and privacy, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers. In addition, this segment offers accidental death, travel, and specialty health products for employer and affinity groups. The Reinsurance segment offers reinsurance products to insurance companies, including catastrophe reinsurance products; property reinsurance products covering property damage and related losses resulting from natural and man-made perils; professional lines; credit and surety; and motor liability products. This segment also provides agriculture reinsurance products; coverages for various types of construction risks and risks related to erection, testing, and commissioning of machinery and plants during the construction stage; marine and aviation reinsurance products; and personal accident, specialty health, accidental death, travel, life and disability reinsurance products. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda. Ally Financial Inc., a digital financial-services company, provides various digital financial products and services to consumer, commercial, and corporate customers primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through four segments: Automotive Finance Operations, Insurance Operations, Mortgage Finance Operations, and Corporate Finance Operations. The Automotive Finance Operations segment offers automotive financing services, including providing retail installment sales contracts, loans and operating leases, term loans to dealers, financing dealer floorplans and other lines of credit to dealers, warehouse lines to automotive retailers, and fleet financing. It also provides financing services to companies and municipalities for the purchase or lease of vehicles, and vehicle-remarketing services. The Insurance Operations segment offers consumer finance protection and insurance products through the automotive dealer channel, and commercial insurance products directly to dealers. This segment provides vehicle service and maintenance contract, and guaranteed asset protection products; and underwrites commercial insurance coverages, which primarily insure dealers' vehicle inventory. The Mortgage Finance Operations segment manages consumer mortgage loan portfolio that includes bulk purchases of jumbo and low-to-moderate income mortgage loans originated by third parties, as well as direct-to-consumer mortgage offerings. The Corporate Finance Operations segment provides senior secured leveraged cash flow and asset-based loans to middle market companies; leveraged loans; and commercial real estate product to serve companies in the healthcare industry. The company also offers commercial banking products and services. In addition, it provides securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company was formerly known as GMAC Inc. and changed its name to Ally Financial Inc. in May 2010. Ally Financial Inc. was founded in 1919 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. EnerSys provides various stored energy solutions for industrial applications worldwide. It operates in three segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The company offers uninterruptible power systems applications for computer and computer-controlled systems, as well as telecommunications systems; switchgear and electrical control systems used in industrial facilities and electric utilities, large-scale energy storage, and energy pipelines; integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, renewable, and industrial customers; and thermally managed cabinets and enclosures for electronic equipment and batteries. It also provides motive power products that are used to provide power for electric industrial forklifts used in manufacturing, warehousing, and other material handling applications. In addition, the company offers mining equipment, diesel locomotive starting, and other rail equipment. Further, it provides specialty batteries for starting, lighting, and ignition applications in transportation; and energy solutions for satellites, military aircraft, submarines, ships, and other tactical vehicles, as well as medical and security systems. Additionally, the company offers battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories, and outdoor cabinet enclosures, as well as related after-market and customer-support services for industrial batteries. The company sells its products through a network of distributors, independent representatives, and internal sales forces. The company was formerly known as Yuasa, Inc. and changed its name to EnerSys in January 2001. EnerSys was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. EPAM Systems, Inc. provides digital platform engineering and software development services worldwide. The company offers engineering services, including requirements analysis and platform selection, customization, cross-platform migration, implementation, and integration; infrastructure management services, such as software development, testing, and maintenance with private, public, and mobile infrastructures for application, database, network, server, storage, and systems operations management, as well as monitoring, incident notification, and resolution services; and maintenance and support services. It also provides operation solutions comprising integrated engineering practices and smart automation; and optimization solutions that include software application testing, test management, automation, and consulting services to enable customers enhance their existing software testing and quality assurance practices, as well as other testing services that identify threats and close loopholes to protect its customers' business systems from information loss. In addition, the company offers business, experience, technology, data, and technical advisory consulting services; and digital and service design solutions, which comprise strategy, design, creative, and program management services, as well as physical product development, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality. It serves the financial services, travel and consumer, software and hi-tech, business information and media, life sciences and healthcare, and other industries. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc., an offshore energy services company, provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry primarily in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, the Asia Pacific, and West Africa regions. The company operates through three segments: Well Intervention, Robotics, and Production Facilities. It engages in the installation of flowlines, control umbilicals, and manifold assemblies and risers; trenching and burial of pipelines; installation and tie-in of riser and manifold assembly; commissioning, testing, and inspection activities; and provision of cable and umbilical lay, and connection services. The company also provides well intervention, intervention engineering, and production enhancement services; inspection, repair, and maintenance of production structures, trees, jumpers, risers, pipelines, and subsea equipment; and related support services. In addition, it offers reclamation and remediation services; well plug and abandonment services; pipeline abandonment services; and site inspections. Additionally, the company offers oil and natural gas processing facilities and services; and fast response system, as well as site clearance and subsea support services. It serves independent oil and gas producers and suppliers, pipeline transmission companies, renewable energy companies, and offshore engineering and construction firms. The company was formerly known as Cal Dive International, Inc. and changed its name to Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. in March 2006. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Walker & Dunlop, Inc., through its subsidiaries, originates, sells, and services a range of multifamily and other commercial real estate financing products and services for owners and developers of real estate in the United States. The company offers first mortgage, second trust, supplemental, construction, mezzanine, preferred equity, small-balance, and bridge/interim loans. It also provides multifamily finance for manufactured housing communities, student housing, affordable housing, and senior housing properties under the Fannie Mae's DUS program; and construction and permanent loans to developers and owners of multifamily housing, affordable housing, senior housing, and healthcare facilities. In addition, the company acts as an intermediary in the placement of commercial real estate debt between institutional sources of capital, including life insurance companies, investment banks, commercial banks, pension funds, CMBS conduits, and other institutional investors, as well as owners of various types of commercial real estate. Further, it advises on capital structure; develops the financing package; facilitates negotiations between its client and institutional sources of capital; coordinates due diligence; and assists in closing the transaction. Additionally, the company offers property sales brokerage, underwriting and risk management, and servicing and asset management services. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. provides digital payment solutions for businesses to control purchases and make payments. It offers corporate payments solutions, such as accounts payable automation; Virtual Card, which provides a single-use card number for a specific amount usable within a defined timeframe; Cross-Border that is used by its customers to pay international vendors, foreign office and personnel expenses, capital expenditures, and profit repatriation and dividends; and purchasing cards and travel and entertainment cards for its customers to analyze and manage their corporate spending. The company also provides employee expense management solutions, including fuel solutions to businesses and government entities that operate vehicle fleets, as well as to oil and leasing companies, and fuel marketers; lodging solutions to businesses that have employees who travel overnight for work purposes, as well as to airlines and cruise lines to accommodate traveling crews and stranded passengers; and electronic toll payments solutions to businesses and consumers in the form of radio frequency identification tags affixed to vehicles' windshields. In addition, it offers gift card program management and processing services in plastic and digital forms that include card design, production and packaging, delivery and fulfillment, card and account management, transaction processing, promotion development and management, website design and hosting, program analytics, and card distribution channel management. Further, it provides other products consisting of payroll cards, vehicle maintenance service solution, long-haul transportation solution, prepaid food vouchers or cards, and prepaid transportation cards and vouchers. The company serves business, merchant, consumer, and payment network customers in North America, Brazil, and Internationally. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Post Holdings, Inc. operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, Refrigerated Retail, and BellRing Brands. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal and hot cereal products. It serves grocery stores, mass merchandise customers, supercenters, club stores, natural/specialty stores, and drug store customers, as well as sells its products in the military, ecommerce, and foodservice channels. The Weetabix segment primarily markets and distributes branded and private label RTE cereal, hot cereals and other cereal-based food products, breakfast drinks, and muesli. This segment sells its products to grocery stores, discounters, wholesalers, and convenience stores, as well as through ecommerce. The Foodservice segment produces and distributes egg and potato products in the foodservice and food ingredient channels. It serves foodservice distributors and national restaurant chains. The Refrigerated Retail segment produces and distributes side dishes, eggs and egg products, sausages, cheese, and other dairy and refrigerated products for grocery stores and mass merchandise customers. The BellRing Brands segment markets and distributes ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and supplements. It serves club stores, food, drug and mass customers, and online retailers, as well as specialty retailers, convenience stores, and distributors. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Media Excel Productions, Ernest Kwasi Ennin, has called for a full scale investigation into the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) bribery allegation. According to him, the bribery allegation made by George Quaye, Head of Communications for Charterhouse, that the most offers of bribe that come to him as an executive of the VGMA scheme are from gospel artistes is a serious crime which needs to be investigated by the police. He stressed that if the communications director of the awards scheme was bold to come out with this serious bribery allegation, then it is important for the police to investigate it. Speaking on Day Break Hitz on Hitz FM, the music producer stated that the bribery claims by George Quaye has tarnished the image of the scheme, adding that he should be made to mention the names of the gospel artistes who offered the bribe for the police to prosecute them. He hinted that the refusal of the organisers of the awards to react to the bribery allegation is also a clear indication that something is wrong somewhere. Some of the gospel artistes who spoke to BEATWAVES have also sent warning signals that until George Quaye mentions the names of bribe givers, they would not submit their songs for future nominations. A few days ago, gospel artistes such as OJ, Selina Boateng, Cynthia McCauley, among others, announced their decision to withdraw from this year's edition of the awards. They argued that George Quaye's bribery allegation has undermined the credibility of the awards scheme and disgraced the entire gospel artistes in the country, hence their decision to withdraw from this year's event. Kwabena Kwabena will thrill lovers with both his old and new songs at a pre-Valentine's Day concert dubbed 'Vitamilk Love Night'. He will be joined by M.anifest, E.L, Okyeame Kwame, Efya, Samini, among others. The love concert which is scheduled for the National Theatre on Friday, February 10 will see the best couples rewarded on the night. Love partners who want to take part can send their love letters to Kwabena Kwabena's Facebook page. The five best love couples will win tickets, and eventually one will be awarded the ultimate prize. The prize package includes an all-expenses-paid holiday in a hotel for the best five couples. Gospel artiste Rev Eddie Eyison is set to release his third album titled 'Great Mercy'. His yet-to-be released album features gospel giants such as Celestine Donkor, Princess Nightingale from Nigeria, Sam Dupey and Nana Yaw Boakye. It contains 10 inspiring and danceable tracks. The title track, 'Great Mercy' is a mid-paced tune which has very contemporary soothing sounds that is bound to be enjoyed by every music lover. The album has not been officially launched, and yet the feedbacks and anticipation from the fans who had the opportunity to listen to some of the songs are unbelievable, Rev Eyison told BEATWAVES. The gospel artiste has been in the gospel music industry for the past two decades. He is also a senior pastor at the Royalhouse Chapel in Accra. He stated that before the launch of the album in May, three singles will be released as promotional songs to market the album, adding that a beautiful music video for the song titled 'Great Mercy' featuring Celestine has already been shot. The Lord deserves to be praised for strengthening and giving me this gift of singing to touch the lives of souls. I want to use this opportunity to assure my fans that the dwindling Ghanaian gospel music industry will resurrect by the power vested in my songs through the power of the Holy Spirit, Rev Eddie Eyison added. By George Clifford Owusu Harare (AFP) - A court in Zimbabwe on Wednesday released on bail the pastor who last year led a surge of protests against President Robert Mugabe and is now facing subversion charges. "It is ordered that (Evan Mawarire) be admitted to bail," judge Clement Phiri said following Mawarire's High Court bail application. The court ordered Mawarire to surrender his passport and report twice a week to the police as well as paying a $300 (280 euro) bond. He will next appear in court on February 17. Mawarire, an evangelical pastor, started the popular "This Flag" protest movement last year, becoming a figurehead of opposition to Mugabe's regime. Mawarire was arrested on Wednesday February 1 at Harare airport as he returned to the country after fleeing in July in fear for his life when Mugabe publicly denounced him. Phiri described the prosecution's case as "weak" while prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba insisted that Mawarire was "a celebrated terrorist" who would abscond if bailed. Zimbabwe security forces cracked down last year after internet activism by the "This Flag" movement led to a series of anti-government protests and work strikes. The national flag became a symbol of anti-government protests after the then little-known pastor posted a Facebook video in which he had the flag wound around his neck as he deplored the country's worsening economic crisis. Mawarire's sister Teldah Mawarire tweeted that is was "great" that Evan had been released. "Activists should not be persecuted in the first place. Free expression is a human right," she wrote. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has awarded a multi-billion-cedi contract to Sibton Switch Systems Limited to implement a retail payment system infrastructure in Ghana. The contract, which is seen by many industry experts as unnecessary and shady, will see Sibton Switch Systems Limited a company formed only in August 2015 run a system to make banks, mobile money platforms and other payment systems interoperable. Initial figure sighted by Daily Guide as the cost submitted by Sibton to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the implementation of the retail payment system was GH4,667,414,340.82. What raises eyebrows is the fact that two other entities that bid for the same contract Vas Intel Limited and Mericom Solutions Limited submitted tender amounts and packages worth GH14,094,795.00 and GH5,465,396.06 respectively. Vas Intel files for annulment Minutes of a tender committee meeting dated Monday, July 04, 2016, capture the bids submitted by all the three interested companies. The tender committee, chaired by Mr Innocent Asamoah, in its remarks after the evaluation of the tenders, concluded that all three were responsive and met their expectations and so awarded the contract to Sibton Switch Systems Limited. This led Vas InteL Limited to write to the BoG to protest the award of the contract to Sibton Switch Systems Limited. In its letter dated July 25, 2016, Vas Intel wrote that it was conceivably impracticable for the BoG to award a contract to Sibton within six business days after the opening of tenders on July 4, 2016. According to the letter, All procurement actions taken by the BoG pursuant to Act 663 must be done with a strict and uncompromising adherence to the principles of transparency and fairness so as to protect and preserve public property and interest, as well as the integrity of the laws governing public procurement within the territory of the Republic of Ghana. Telecom operators in the country are unhappy about moves by the Central Bank to impose on them a third-party company which will be intermediate in mobile money transactions across different networks. Telecom operators outraged The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has bared its teeth at the Central Bank and condemned the move to impose Sibton Switch Systems Limited on the players in the industry. In a letter dated January 9, 2017, the chamber argues that the move by the BoG and Sibton is not in alignment with international standards or benchmarks. They also argue that the fees being charged by the switch are too high and have the potential to undermine the successes chalked by the industry. The Telecoms Chamber, after meetings with banks, mobile money operators, and the Central Bank, warned that aside from the outrageous costs of the project, the scope was also not well defined and could run the industry into a state of chaos. Case for GHIPSS The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana. It was incorporated in May 2007 with a mandate to implement and manage interoperable payment system infrastructure for banks and non-bank financial institutions in Ghana. Industry leaders believe that the BoG should annul the deal with Sibton Switch Systems Limited and offer GhIPSS the needed leverage to continue integrating payment systems like they have successfully done over the past decade. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - More than 52,000 South Sudanese fled to Uganda in January alone as continued fighting risks creating a situation of mass atrocities, the UN's special adviser on genocide prevention said Tuesday. The displaced, primarily from towns south of the capital Juba in Central Equatoria state, have given accounts of the killing of civilians, homes destroyed and sexual violence, said Adama Dieng. "President Salva Kiir has made a commitment to end the violence and bring about peace, yet we still see ongoing clashes, and the risk that mass atrocities will be committed remains ever-present," said the special adviser in a statement. Dieng said he was particularly alarmed at the situation in Kajo-Keji where fleeing civilians have said they fear mass violence. After several delays, a team from the UN peacekeeping mission arrived in Kajo-Keji on Sunday to report on the situation. After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than three million people displaced. There is growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in the country where more than six million people -- half of South Sudan's population -- are in need of urgent aid. Humanitarian organizations expect this number to rise by 20 to 30 percent in 2017. The inauguration of Nana Akufo-Addo on January 7, 2017 as President of the Republic of Ghana and the smooth transition of power from NDCs John Mahama has clearly demonstrated who the true democrats in Ghanas political terrain are. In 2012 when the same Ghanaian electorate elected John Mahama as President in genuinely run elections, the reaction of then flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP was to dispute the election results, and to destabilize Ghana with a vicious election petition designed to put controversy on the legitimacy of John Mahamas Presidency. In this regard, his inauguration was tainted with controversy and boycotted by the NPP in the eyes of the world - and for eight months he was before court with controversy hanging over his presidency. Right from the word go, he was subjected to insults and vilification from AkufoAddo and members of the NPP who could not accept the fact that they had truly lost an election. Indeed the strategy of the NPP was to make Ghana ungovernable as long as Mahama was President. Aside from the court petition, Akufo-Addo and the NPP mobilized all forces both physical and spiritual to destabilize Mahamas Presidency. This strategy continued even after the Supreme Court confirmed the election results as valid, and throughout Mahamas 4 year term as President. Some of the hostile forces that were mobilized by the NPP against Mahama were civil society groups, media surrogates, some members of the judiciary, labour leaders, Chiefs and opinion leaders sympathetic to the NPP,and ironically pro-NPP prophets and religious leaders. The strategy was to mobilize and instigate these groups to champion a crusade to make the Mahama Presidency unattractive to the average Ghanaian. Indeed this strategy even went to the desperate extent of co-opting Ex-President Rawlings and his wife to play a role in destabilizing the Mahama Presidency from within as was evidenced in the formation of the NDP a party which was used by Rawlings and his wife primarily to battle President Mahama and the NDC from within. Ironically the hatred for the NDC that easily facilitated the mobilization of all these hostile forces against Mahamas Presidency can be traced primarily to hatred of Rawlings by victims of his 19 year reign as President, who had found refuge in the NPP. Their deep hatred for the NDC cannot be because of Professor Mills or Mahama, but primarily due to the fact that they have negative and painful memories of the Rawlings era which has been transferred to the NDC - a party that he is associated with as founder. On the part of religious leaders and prophets, the NPP succeeded in influencing their mentality to cause them to behave contrary to the biblical cardinal principle of loving your neighbour as yourself. In this regard, some were influenced to operate with so much hatred for the Mahama Presidency to levels that were baffling and defied established Christian virtues. Others were also converted into political prophets and used to preach doom, gloom and armageddon in Ghana should Mahama be retained in power. As much as possible, the Akan tribal card was also manipulated to galvanize the middle class and the educated elite of Akan heritage to develop hatred for a Government that was headed by a non-Akan. In this regard, media outlets that predominantly used Akan languages were established throughout Ghana to fiercely support and promote the NPP cause. They were utilized primarily to destabilize the Mahama Presidency with daily doses of concocted fabricated news calculated to make the Mahama Presidency unpopular, and as being the cause of all problems of Ghanaians. On these friendly media outlets it was virtually taboo to highlight any good works of the Mahama Government. Labour and Union Leaders were not left out of the mix of this vicious political strategy of Akufo-Addo and the NPP. They were also instigated to resort to strikes and demonstrations at the least provocation in support of the strategy to make Ghana ungovernable under Mahamas Presidency. Against all these odds however, Mahama focused on delivering on his mandate and miraculously left a legacy of monumental proportions within a short period of 4 years which could only be explained as having occurred through divine provision. Indeed God has used Mahama to elevate Ghana to a level in Africa which cannot be discounted. In this regard there is no denying the fact that the standard of governance that Mahama has set is very high indeed. It includes high democratic standards and tolerance of opposing views, a high standard of infrastructural development only witnessed since Nkrumahs era, a high standard of leadership by compassion, a high standard of respect for institutional governance, a high standard of respect for rule of law, a high standard in the fight against corruption, a high standard of leadership in foreign affairs which was witnessed only during Nkrumahs era, and a relatively good standard of economic development. This generally is the legacy that Mahama has come to be associated with. Of course there are those who would associate Mahama with other legacies such as Ghanas perceived high debt overhang and perceived high corruption among others to enrich the debate. Akufo-Addos Presidency would definitely be judged by these standards of the Mahamas legacy. He would have no excuse to deliver to Ghanaians standards any less than the high standards that Mahama has left behind. Unlike Mahama who had to navigate his Presidency through hostile waters from day one, Akufo-Addo has been presented with smooth and calm waters within which to navigate his Presidency from day one by Mahama. This is in spite of numerous acknowledged issues of irregularities and hacking of the ECs system which trailed the 2016 elections and could have been the subject of election petitions had the shoe been on the other foot. Akufo- Addo therefore has no excuse to fail except for the fact that he has laid the foundation for his possible failure with gargantuan promises, coupled with huge public expectations that would be operating simultaneously with the laws of natural justice and cardinal biblical principles which call on all of us to love our neighbours as ourselves whether they belong to one party or the other. The methods that were employed to secure his Presidency would thus surely impact on Akufo-Addos presidency as it unfolds. For Ex- President Mahama, he has established himself as a statesman par excellence in the history of Ghana and Africa politics, and posterity will surely judge him well in due course. God Bless our Homeland Ghana. By: Mensah Dekportor (Hamburg Germany) Email: [email protected] The landlord of the building that houses Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) in Takoradi, John Donkor is threatening to sue the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for making unsubstantiated allegations about him misleading the public about his dealings with the Ministry. Adom News earlier reported that the Bureau of National Investigations prevented some Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) staff from moving stuff out of the EDC building because GNPC had failed to mention anything about EDC in their handing over notes to the Transition Team then. Subsequently, the Energy Ministry put out a statement saying information about EDC was in their handing over notes so it need not to have been in GNPCs also. In that statement, signed by Communications Director of the Ministry, Adawu Wellington, the Ministry claimed their attempt to move out stuff from the building was because they offered the landlord US$3,000 as monthly rent and he rejected it. The statement also said the landlord was subsequently invited to another meeting to discuss the rent matter but he failed to turn up, adding that he was misleading the public with his claims that he offered to house EDC stuff for free. But the landlord said no such offer was made for him to even reject, and it is never true the ministry invited him to a meeting he failed to attend. He recalled that in a meeting between him and officials from Tullow Oil Ghana Limited and the Energy Ministry, they mentioned that instead of the US$6,000 a month Tullow paid for the build in the past four year, the Ministrys budget was US$3,000. John Donkor said the discussion was not conclusive so the ministry officials promised to get back to him with a formal offer but they never did, so he did not even get the opportunity to see an offer to reject. He is therefore demanding proof of their offer and his rejection, otherwise he would sue the Ministry for maligning him and tarnishing his hard-earned reputation. Indeed, when Adom News asked Wellington for evidence of an offer by the Ministry and rejection by the landlord, as he claimed, he could not provide any but said "the landlord believes in God and cannot deny he was made an offer and he rejected it." Wellington admitted he was not in the meeting with the landlord but he has no reason to doubt what his bosses told him. In effect, he has no evidence to support his claims about the landlord except what his bosses at the Ministry communicated to him. Joseph Donkor also noted that a day after the meeting, the Ministry sent people to the facility with the intention to move stuff out without taking inventory as the rent agreement between him and Tullow said. So they did not invite me to any subsequent meeting after that meeting before they took steps to try and get stuff out of the building, he said. The landlord also said the impression being created that he called BNI to prevent the GNPC and Ministry stuff from moving things out is false, a member of NPP Transition Team in the Western Region, Kwesi Biney has stated on record that he called the BNI to help because the Chairman of the Transition Team asked him to keep an eye on state properties in the region. Rigworld vs Ministry Meanwhile, the Ministry and Rigworld are also denying each others claims that there was an agreement to move stuff from EDC building to Rigworld Warehouse in Takoradi. The Ministrys Local Content Coordinator, Afua Amissah had earlier sent an email to Tullow staff asking them to liaise with one Nuertey Agyeman, Executive Director of Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA) to move the stuff to the Rigword warehouse. The Ministrys Communications Director, Adawu Wellington showed a letter from Seaweld, dated December 18, 2016, indicating that they (Seaweld) was taking charge of the items from the EDC but they will be keeping it at the Rigworld warehouse at Apowa due to lack of space at Seaweld. Wellington said, subsequent to that letter, Nuertey Agyeman also assured the Ministry he had spoken with the CEO of Rigworld, Dr. Kofi Abban and he had agreed to house the items. But when Adom News called Dr. Kofi Abban, he flatly denied ever having any agreement with the Ministry, Seaweld or Nuertey Agyeman to house any items from EDC. Rigworld has no business with Ministry of Ernergy, EDC or GNPC weve not received any items weve not had any verbal agreement with any one weve not signed any contract with Seaweld we have no business with Seaweld we dont have any government items he said. Indeed, Adom News reached out to the CEO of Seaweld, Alfred Fafali Adagbedu and he confirmed he never spoke directly with Rigworld about using their warehouse to store items from EDC but he spoke with GOGSPA and they assured him Rigworld was willing to help. Efforts to reach Nuertey Agyeman to confirm if indeed he spoke with Rigworld about storing EDC stuff proved futile. Today is Safer Internet Day (SID) and Facebook has launched a series of initiatives to help make the Internet a safer and better place for people across Africa, especially children and the youth. Facebook is partnering with public sector agencies and non-governmental organisations from across Africa under the rallying call Be the change: unite for a better Internet. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of the people who use Facebook. Every day people come to Facebook to connect with people and issues they care about, and they should be able to do so in a safe, secure environment, says Akua Gyekye, Public Policy Manager Facebook, Africa. Facebook builds products that empower the community to stay in control, support each other during crises and stay safe online. Every Facebook product has privacy and security built into it to protect your information. Worldwide conversation Over 100 countries are participating in an effort to start conversations and help people think about the small steps they can take to stay safe online. The initiative is coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe and beyond. In Africa, Facebook is working with partners such as: Watoto Watch in Kenya, the International Center for Leadership Development and the Womens Technology Empowerment Centre in Nigeria, South Africas Film and Publication Board, JOXAfrica Association in Senegal, Tech Women Zimbabwe as well as J Initiative and Ghana Internet Safety Foundation from Ghana to ensure the safety and education of their communities and address the needs of vulnerable people. Facebook is providing financial and marketing support for them to use to raise awareness about online safety. Facebook is also hosting an event in Johannesburg, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya to promote the importance of online safety to students, teachers, parents and policymakers. Everyone has a part to play Gyekye says: This is an opportunity to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. We are proud to work with young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, and policymakers to create a better Internet. Facebook has redesigned its Safety Center, an engaging resource to help people get the information they need about controlling their information and staying safe. It walks you through the tools Facebook offers to control your experience as well as numerous tips and resources for safe and secure sharing. It is available in over 50 languages, is mobile friendly and includes step-by-step videos. Quotes from relevant partners TechWomen Zimbabwe As more Zimbabwean women and girls go online to take advantage of the immense opportunities the internet offers, they empower themselves with knowledge, education and connections with others, says Techwomen Zimbabwes Founder, Aretha Mare. We are determined to break down barriers to the Internet for women and girls so they can maximise the benefits of the Internet - and that includes tackling challenges such as online harassment and bullying. Watoto Watch Network: Kenya The Internet brings offers great opportunities for Kenyas youth and children. This years Safer Internet Day gives young people the opportunity to voice their views on how to make the internet better, says Lillian Kariuki, executive director at Watoto Watch Network. JI Initiative from Ghana We are passionate advocates for a safe Internet for young people and children, so we are pleased that Facebook embraces its responsibility to keep people safe on its platform, says Awo Aidam Amenyah, Executive Director at JI Initiative. We are pleased to work with Facebook to promote positive online experiences for everyone. Ghana Internet Safety Foundation The massive support weve seen for this years Safer Internet Day is truly inspiring, says Emmanuel Adinkrah, Co-Founder and CEO of Ghana Internet Safety Foundation. It is heartening to hear about the ways young people are using technology to take positive action online to empower each other and spread kindness. We want to encourage them to keep building a better internet for all. Film and Production Board: South Africa It is important to have conversations early and often about how inappropriate content on the Internet may affect children, says Janine Raftopoulos, Manager Communications and Public Education South Africas Film & Publications Board (FPB). Parents, educators, guardians and industry all have a part to play in ensuring that children understand how to stay safe online. ICLDING: Nigeria Were pleased with our partnership with Facebook for Safer Internet day to raise awareness and have conversations about staying safe online, says Felix Bidemi Iziomoh, Executive Director at ICLDING. We are proud to play a role in uniting our community for a better internet. Womens Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) The 2017 theme for the Safer Internet Day Be the change: unite for a better internet resonates strongly with the Federal Government of Nigerias campaign, The change begins with me, says Adeyemi Odutola, Communications Officer at Womens Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC). We are excited to partner with Facebook to host a day of workshops and fun activities for secondary students, where they will learn how to navigate the Internet confidently and safely. Senegal (JOXAfrica Association) Protecting children on the Internet is a priority for us as we rally with governments NGOs and private companies for a better online community, says JOXAfrica Senegals Assane Diouf. Together with Facebook, as the worlds biggest online social network, we can create higher awareness of how we can keep children safe online. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com Members of the Tijaniyya Muslim Council of Ghana Monday paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. The delegation, led by Sheikh Khalifa Abul Faidi Ahmed Maikano, Spiritual leader of the Tijaniyya Council in Ghana, was at the Flagstaff House to congratulate Dr Bawumia on his election as Vice President of Ghana and to reinforce their commitment to helping the NPP regime develop the nation. Sheikh Maikano emphasized that the change in regime should lead to a positive change in all spheres of national life, and pledged the Tijaniyya Muslim Councils readiness to help the Nana Akufo-Addo government to achieve its vision of accelerated development. Dr Bawumia recalled with thanks that during the 2016 election campaign he reached out to the Tijaniyya Muslim Council to supplicate on behalf of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and NPP to Allah for victory in the 2016 elections, which duly came to pass. He pledged that the Akufo-Addo government will not discriminate in sharing the national cake, and also ensure that the marginalized in society will benefit with the creation of jobs to meet their skill sets. The appointment of a Minister for Inner City and Zongo development is to ensure the uniform upliftment of the various Zongos in Ghana, Dr Bawumia reiterated, adding, The era of rice and sugar politics is over. 1003-2 1003[1] 1003-3 1003-4 1003-6 The Founder & General Overseer of Christ Oilfields Authority Church(COAC), Reverend King David Abazeri, has called on African Governments and Leaders to introduce an Annual Conference for Creativity in their respective Countries to offer the platform for Citizens to come together to find solutions to the numerous challenges facing each Member State. The Annual Conference for Creativity should be non-partisan in nature to serve as the driving force for all-inclusive governance and the modification to Winner-takes-it-all from our Governance System. Reverend King David Abazeri noted that Africans specifically Ghana needs human resources with supernatural creativity, integrity and innovation to fight against unemployment, poverty, disease, nepotism and corruption. It has been observed that people who are inspired with creativity and innovation do not only engage in decent industrialization, but are also self-assured. The Christ Oilfields Authority Church (COAC) is located at Dansoman, Banana Inn opposite St. Marys School. Contact Reverend King David Abazeri on 024 373 1218 . Signed . Reverend King David Abazeri (Founder/General Overseer of COAC) In my candid estimation, former President John Dramani Mahama was excessively corrupt by his words and actions. Every aspect of his conduct as portrayed in his public life indicated that he was not a man of principles but extremely corrupt. In addressing the two questions of why and how he became unprecedentedly corrupt, let me first start with the WHY. He became corrupt because he was born, trained, and encouraged to be corrupt. His propensity to engage in corrupt practices could well not be by accident but genetic. The way he gave ministerial and other public service appointments to people of mostly his northern and ewe extractions even though, most of them were markedly incompetent and fraudsters, goes to confirm his own nature as a corrupt person. How did he become OVERLY corrupt, one may want to know? I am using the word overly to emphasize how was deeply into corruption without ever able to extricate himself from it but rather getting more infatuated with the situation by each ticking second of the clock. HOW means by what means. Here we go. Because he was born corrupt and became a suspect of personally pocketing some huge money at the expense of the public after returning from Brazil on a trip to negotiate for the purchase of some Embraer jets for the Ghana Air Force, the only way out of that public suspicion about him was to get more corrupted. Was there not allegedly a Committee formed and tasked by the late President Mills to investigate him in relation to the cost of the planes to Ghana which was considered very huge and far way out of their normal price? What then happened? Before the Committee could start their sittings and investigations, President Mills succumbed to a mysterious death the cause of which has not been known until today. With President Mills gone, the path was paved for Vice President Mahama to assume the mantle of President. As President, he felt insecure. He believed the only way out of his insecurity was to surround himself with only one or two groups of people that he could fully trust to shield him from any public investigations into his conduct. Most of the people he appointed were crafty and lovers of illegal wealth. They engaged themselves in various acts of malpractices, embezzling public funds at such an alarming rate that most discerning Ghanaians started to worry about the fate of the nations economy. They cunningly initiated what became as create, loot and share judgment debts. The more his subordinates got richer through such acts and sole-sourcing of government contracts at two to four times their actual cost price, the more he decided not to let the servant get richer than the master but the other way round. Therefore, instead of punishing the perpetrators of corruption within his government and party, he rather decided to surpass them by getting much richer through same illegal means. It was this unhealthy competition between him and his appointees that made him become overly corrupt because he always wanted to maintain the lead without allowing anyone to overtake him in the run for material wealth and money. He never understood that life is not a race and that money does not bring total happiness to its possessor. He is now a disgraced person. It could not have been said any better by Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, his tribeswoman and probably close relation, who describes him as being wicked, evil and a disgrace to the northerners. The above explanations are to me, the reasons for why and how former President Mahama became so corrupt. He abused his position as the President to favour certain groups of Ghanaians his hired NDC radio phone-in serial callers, certain journalists and radio station programmer presenters, Northerners and Ewes (without sounding tribal but stating the obvious fact), his family and cronies and on top of all, embezzling public funds himself. Why was he cleverly protecting Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the Ghanaian swindler of the 21st Century from any meaningful prosecution if not to conceal the degree of his corruption? Had Woyome not threatened to mention names of those who profited from the GHC51.2 million he defrauded Ghana of? Onaapo Mahama bye, bye! Rockson Adofo 08.02.2017 LISTEN In any state, human resources are the primary driving force to its sustained development. As such, states with well equipped human resources are mostly on the verge to immense "break out" in their socio-economic capacity. Education is one way the human resource is made to realise it's full potential through the supply of technical- know- how needed for sustained growth. Ghana in context, development is lacking not because we don't have the needed natural resources to support a states advancement, but the vital human resource to optimize the utilization of these resources is "ill" equipped. The educational system in Ghana has poorly contributed to ameliorate the flaw in its human resources due to two significant reasons; colonial heritage and partisan interest. The former connotes the condition by which precedents laid down by colonial masters are adhesively followed without considering unique values and customs associated with a state. Whearas the later means the play of partisan politics in the educational system by supposed leaders. The adherence to colonial heritage in the Ghanaian educational system draws back a state's capacity. Ghana is a nation with so much mineral resources that needs to be extracted and optimised. Therefore, the "bookish" culture introduced by a nation with less mineral resources can only render the nation underdeveloped. To extract, technical skills is needed and to utilize, reasoning is needed. Technical skills, although taught in various educational institutions around the country is not advanced, due to poor encouragement from national leaders. For instance, state contracts are mostly awarded to non-Ghanaians, and those who venture into technical fields are poorly trained due to use of "under- advanced" technologies which renders them uncompetitive in the international world. Where an individual lives in a society where cognisance is not given to his skills, he resorts to "white collar jobs". Where he can "boldly seat in an air conditioned office with a pleasant tie". Without the built capacity to reason, the utilization of mineral resources would not be optimised for socio, politico, economic growth. When there is too much emphasis on books and not on theories, the human capital cannot 'think' and advance theories of development without relying on western ideologies. This primarily contributed to Ghana's over reliance on foreign assistance to exploit it's resources for example, the excavation of new found oil resource was left to foreign experts which left the country with meager returns from its oil benefit. Partisan influence in the educational system by leaders undermines its effectiveness. For instance, the NPP and NDC made senior high school a four years and three years program respectively to gain popular support for their party. Ignoring the fact that, a four year term helps students better cover their large syllabus, prepares them adequately for their final exams and reduces pressure on university facilities. Ghana should come to understand the value of human resources to sustained growth and free it from colonial heritage and partisan influence in that way, poverty would be eradicated. Policy makers should 'reason' in this direction. #Thinking Is Everything-Rebrand The Educational System Rachael Omeife (Department of Political Studies) KNUST [email protected] Various terms have been used to describe media monitoring in businesses over the past years. However, the relevance of this strategic activity has taken on a more critical value in todays complex web of corporate marketing and communication needs of advancing not just sales and its reputation, but even more so, directing its entire operations. The act of media monitoring can best be understood to be a standardized method of gathering data from a range of different traditional media (newspapers, radio or television) and new media (social media, online) and breaking the content up into understandable and measurable pieces of information. The relevance of a strategic media monitoring is assured starting in the efficient and effective data collection processes, but even far more essential are the preceding activities since it provides almost limitless opportunities in its diversity of applications. In Ghana, a few of the top corporate organisations from varied sectors of the economy utilize strategic media monitoring and this is commendable, prominent among the firms that utilize social media monitoring for the purposes of its communications efforts in Ghana, include civil society organisations, prominent organisations in the financial, telecommunications, food industry and also, international organisations. However, data available in Ghanas media monitoring industry clearly indicate that, many others are yet to recognize its value and take steps to utilize its countless benefits. It is sad for any organisations to have old-fashioned in-house, a merely active paper clippings service as their approach to observing what the media reports on within any time frame. But unfortunately, this is the order of the day in many firms who are unwilling to spend an extra to contract media monitoring firms or create a robust department in-house. The option to rigorously adopt a comprehensive media monitoring system to aid not just the communications efforts of the firm but even more so, direct and inform its operations is imperative in todays evolving way of doing business. Even though a robust in-house system development through efficient training of a few staff to undertake media monitoring is feasible, it is appropriate and better advisable to employ the services of a well experienced media monitoring firm. Such a firm must be technology-driven company, which boasts of research savvy and strategic communications-oriented team and leadership. This will best position them to offer their clientele with exact (both demanded and needed) current updates and varied permutations elucidated from the robust data collected and eventually analyzed. The mission of a media monitoring firm in providing such top quality services related to collecting and analyzing information publicized in media cannot be underestimated and for the sake of their clients' satisfaction, its imperative that they keep developing products, reaching for innovative solutions and upgrading the standards of its services. Media monitoring is indispensable in the work of marketing and public relations/communications departments. Media monitoring help to provide relevant information that helps organisations to measure the efficiency of the company or brand's communications, and hence, help gain some knowledge, which allows them to keep mastering their activities and best modify the communications strategy being implemented. Tommy ODell holds a Bachelors Degree in Information Studies and a Masters Degree in Communications, all from the University of Ghana. He is a senior media analyst and communications strategist. He can be contacted at [email protected] with any enquiries, comments and for both technical and non-technical write-up requests. The Akans say if you continue to cover your sore, no matter how hard you try, you cannot heal it. So you have to uncover the sore once in a while and apply harsh remedies. When I was growing up in my holy village, the commonest disease was Malaria Fever. In those days we had no any other remedy to cure the disease but liquid quinine. This medicine was so bitter that if you gave it to a child and tried giving him another dose the following day, the whole neighbors will hear his cry. As I was growing up, I realized that curative medicines are often bitter. I must admit that I do not envy the President and his Veep at all because they carry a very heavy load on their shoulders. In fact, they knew from day one that the load they were going to carry would be very heavy but for service to God and mankind they chose to carry the load. Today, the world seems to be on the shoulders of the two gentlemen. I am an optimist and I pin my hopes on their experiences. Mr. John Mahama and his NDC nation wreckers and looters took eight years to spoil everything and President Nana Akufo Addo and Dr. Bawumia will have to take barely four years to fix it. And they will fix it, Insha Allah! The road to fixing the shattered economy is laden with thorns and as such the duo will have to tread cautiously as they hasten slowly. Undoubtedly, it is easy to destroy than to build. I am very optimistic that the job can be done because while President Nana Akufo Addo understands the mechanism of decision making, both hidden and overt, Vice President Dr. Bawumia understands the nitty-gritty of economics and financial matters. With their able and tested cabinet ministers, no one can convince me that they will fail. Anyway, failure is not an option because all what Ghanaians are looking for is nothing but success. You see, determination combined with opportunity and intelligence can make things happen. Now that the president has surrounded himself with such a competent team, it is the mark of a strong leader. As for criticism, the NDC apparatchiks will go all out to criticize anything the president will do but the president should choose to ignore them because he will do better if he chooses to ignore them. There is always a bright magic at work when a leader picks the baton and finds another great leader waiting to guide him. President Akufo Addo is a lucky man because Kufour is alive and kicking and he will surely guide his footsteps. And come to think of this: Mr. Rawlings too is alive and kicking and at good terms with President Akufo Addo. I know Nana Addo will never hesitate to run to the two distinguished statesmen for pieces of advice when the going becomes tough for him. Former President John Mahama did not get that chance because he surrounded himself with bootlickers and people whose main interest was to loot the state coffers. Thankfully, both President Akufo Addo and Vice President Bawumia believe people are a mass to be shaped and formed for their own good and best interest. All these qualities manifested themselves during the electioneering campaign. Look at the way Vice President Bawumia. started his job. The man will pay unannounced visit to departments and interact with the heads there and leave quietly. No bullying, no threat. What these gentlemen need most is courage. President Akufo Addo told the nation immediately he was sworn into power that the state of the economy as he saw now is worse than what he envisaged in the run-up to the 2016 electioneering campaign. It was this iconic World War II military officer called General George Patton who once said courage is fear holding on a minute longer. If your father dies and leaves behind huge debt and you are the one who inherited him, you will by all means fear because you will begin to wonder how you are going to pay the debt. But if you hold on a minute longer you will realize that there is nothing you can do but to put your shoulders to the wheels and move the wagon forward. Today, Ghana is a country awakened to danger. If you should ask where danger means what, you may as well ask what is the state of the economy? We all seem to agree that the economy is in shambles. The Cedi cannot withstand international shock. Corruption has been institutionalized by the previous regime and investors have lost hope because of high utility tariffs. Unemployment has hit the rooftop. Ghanaians have seen difficult times before like the 1983 famine which nearly brought the country on her knees but what happened to Ghanaians during the eight-year rule of the NDC is unsurpassed and unimaginable. Wherever you go, Ghanaians are asking: How is President Nana Addo going to solve all these myriad of problems that he inherited from the disgraced Mahama regime? The answers are very simple. President Akufo Addo and his able team should direct at their command-every means of diplomacy, harness the vast manpower of this country of twenty five million, woo investors both at home and abroad to come on board to help. The Vice President, Dr. Bawumia should lead, oversee and co-ordinate a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard the national coffers so that no Jupiter will dare dip his or her hands into the coffers like what happened during the eight years of the John Mahama corrupt regime. As for Ghanaians, what they can do to help President Nana Akufo Addo to get the country out of the wood is to be patient and prepare for any inconveniences that may accompany any harsh remedies that would be applied to bring the economy out of the wood. This is the time for hard work, creativity and enterprise. The promise of one district, one factory which is dear to our hearts and which was a major campaign promise of the NPP can be realistic if chiefs get prepared to offer land and the youth too must get out of the cities and go back home to get involved. I am happy the Minister of Agriculture-Designate is contemplating re-introducing General Acheampong's Operation Feed Yourself Programme. The programme was very successful to the extent that Ghana exported cereals to neighboring countries. Graduates who majored in Agriculture Sciences should put off their coats and go back to the land. The government too must as a matter of urgency import farm inputs like tractors, combine harvesters, fertilizers etc to make agriculture attractive for the youth to get involved in agriculture. You don't expect the youth of today to farm with cutlasses and hoes like the way our grandfathers used to do. It is not acceptable for a country like Ghana to import tomatoes, cocoyam leaves, onions etc from landlocked countries like Burkina Faso and Niger. If the Agriculture Minister-Designate gets the nod, he should as a matter of urgency work to revamp the Nasia Rice field in the Northern Region and the Aveyime one in the Volta Region. THE DREAM FREE SHS There is one thing stronger than all the armies of the world, and that is an idea whose time has come. If President Nana Akufo Addo is able to implement his Free SHS concept, I can bet with my last Kufuor Cedi that even the dye in the wool supporter of the NDC will vote for the NPP in 2020. If countries like Uganda and Kenya have been able to introduce Free SHS, I don't see the reason why Ghana cannot do same. They say the beginning of every government starts with the education of our youth. People often say they would 'hit the street running', which is another way of saying they did their preparation work and were ready. The idea of a Free SHS was mooted during the 2012 electioneering campaign and so I believe by now a feasibility study has taken place for the programme to start running by the beginning of the next academic year. It was not for nothing that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah introduced free education in the northern regions. The Osagyefo knew there was abstract poverty in the northern regions and a greater number of the populace were illiterates. In fact, the Osagyefo knew he could not rule a country effectively with such high level of uneducated people. Many years down the line, a northerner like Dr. Hilla Limann who gained from the free education concept in the Northern Region became the president of Ghana. The late Alhaji Aliu Mahama, another beneficiary of free education also became the Vice president of Ghana and the immediate past president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, another beneficiary and many of his former ministers from the north also benefited from free education. Good Lord, my fountain pen cannot write again!!! Eric Bawah President Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Bawumia in a group photo with the chiefs President Akufo-Addo has expressed concern about the involvement of some traditional rulers in activities that affect the environment, especially illegal mining popularly known as galamsey. There are occasions whenthere are chiefs who are complicit in the decisions that are taken about galamsey operations, he said at a meeting with the National House of Chiefs at the presidency yesterday. He therefore asked the chiefs to rather take initiatives that would protect the environment. Charge I think it's important that all of us in Ghana recognize that if we don't make a stand against this willful degradation of our environment, sooner than later, we will all get up and find we have devastated the country and its future, he noted. The president stressed the need for all Ghanaians to make sure that we bring this phenomenon under control. He has sought the full cooperation of the National House of Chiefs to support proposals his government intends to make to parliament to control the degradation of the environment. Whiles welcoming the chiefs to the Flagstaff House, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo thanked them for their commitment to support his government. I've said and I've been saying for many years, that if we are to succeed in our common undertaking of bringing progress and prosperity of our country, it requires that those of us political leaders at the centre and you the traditional leaders of our country find an effective way of collaborating to address the concerns of our people. I hold on to that commitment; I hold on to that belief today, he affirmed. He seized the opportunity to introduce to them the Minister-designate for Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs, Kofi Dzamesi. On his part, President of the National House of Chiefs and Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo on his election as president of the republic, saying many Ghanaians have endorsed his agenda for change. Whiles admitting the fact that the task ahead cannot be accomplished by singular efforts of President Akufo-Addo, Togbe Afede called on all Ghanaians to lend their support because there is no room for apathetic spectating. Pledge We want to assure you that the chiefs of this country are solidly behind youbecause development is our primary concern and as we all know, politicians come and go but chiefs remain and remain accountable to the people; so your success is indeed our success, the National House of Chiefs President emphasized. They [chiefs] have since resolved to help the president to resolve all outstanding chieftaincy conflicts to help unite Ghanaians. We are therefore, mobilizing on all fronts all of our chiefs so that we can play a better role in governance, he disclosed. Even though Togbe Afede admitted the fact that the country's Constitution debars chiefs from playing active role in politics, the National House of Chiefs can play a role of an independent arbiter and catalyst in the governance and development process. Resolve At their meeting last week, Togbe Afede revealed that the House of Chiefs had adopted a strategy aimed at making the traditional rulers effective in the performance of their responsibilities to the people they serve. For the prosecution of this agenda, he indicated that the House approved the formation of six committees research and traditional affairs, land, natural resources and environment, finance and infrastructure, external relations, legal affairs and governance and development. These committees, he said, would help mobilise chiefs in the country to procure the necessary information and resources that would position them to play their role effectively. From Charles Takyi-Boadu, Jubilee House Former President John Dramani Mahama has finally packed out of the No.3 Prestige Link residence at Cantonments, Accra, which he wanted to keep as part of his end-of-service package. After public pressure had reached a crescendo, the former president who lost miserably to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during last year's crucial election, said he was no longer interested in keeping the property which is the official residence of sitting vice presidents. He was said to have packed out last Friday and former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, reportedly signed an inventory of the residence prepared by officials of the government and the Public Works Department (PWD) on Monday, February 6, to signify the official handing over of the house. Ex-President Mahama is said to be currently residing at Airport Residential Area, near Gold House in Accra, according to the Greater Accra Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Anthony Nukpenu. The ex-president's request to keep the facility sparked outrage and as the debate ensued, the government said it had declined the request. Preconceived Plan It is suggested that Mr Mahama wanted the No. 3 Prestige Link residence as part of his retirement package the moment he stepped into that facility as then vice president and that's why he ordered the construction of a new one to house the current vice president and subsequent ones at Cantonments, with all its security risks. According to sources, there were about 17 luxurious Toyota Avalon saloon cars, Land Cruisers and BMW, but since the ex-president packed out, only one Avalon is said to have been left for the new government as contained in the handing over notes. The posh vehicle were all said to have been driven away to unknown locations. Most of them at the presidency were reportedly auctioned to (presidential) staffers and other 'powerful' NDC gurus who allegedly changed the ownership with the help of some DVLA staff just before Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in as president. Recently, it emerged that Mahama was demanding five saloon cars and five four-wheel drive vehicles as part of the retirement package; but it is unclear if the unaccounted-for Toyota Avalons were part of the demand. Currently, saloon cars left in the presidential pool are those reportedly left by President Kufuor's administration when he left office in January 2009 and which the NDC administration never used, as well as aged vehicles used by the immediate past NDC administration. A statement from Mr Mahama's office had said that he found it important to move out of the building to avoid marring the spirit of cooperation between the two sides of the Transition Team. Even after coming public to say he had changed his mind, it took him almost a month to pack out. Former President Mahama's request to keep the bungalow appeared contrary to the approved recommendations set by the Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh committee on Emoluments and Conditions of Service for Article 71 office holders. The committee's reportedly did not recommend a house for him but rather agreed on 40 percent of his salary in lieu of accommodation. Apparently, the NDC government after realizing that there was no basis to appropriate the house, allegedly used its majority in parliament to secretly amend the Prof. Edu-Buandoh Committee report to include housing settlement for outgoing President Mahama. Even after the amendment, the immediate-past NDC government did not say then President Mahama's abode should be given to him. By William Yaw Owusu The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba may have enjoyed the numbers from the majority New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament to get the nod as minister; however the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) said they will not recognize the newly appointed Gender Minister. According to a Member of Parliament for Odododiodio who doubles as a member of the Vetting Committee, the candour and general composure of Otiko Djaba do not qualify her to be a minister hence the decision by the Minority to abstain from approving her. Minority NDC on Tuesday said it will not be part of what they described as illegality. Minority led by its leader Haruna Iddrisu said the approval of the appointee who failed to enroll in the National Service Scheme (NSS) would amount to an illegality, arguing that Article 94 (2) of the 1992 Constitution is clear on the eligibility of anyone aspiring to be a minister. Another concern of the minority was refusal of the now Gender Minister to withdraw a statement she made against Ex-President John Dramani Mahama. Asked if she still stood by her description of Ex-President Mahama as wicked, evil and someone with a heart of the devil, Afisa Djaba said she spoke out of conviction and would not apologize or withdraw her comments. Shewas also reported to have told a rally in Tamale that President Mahama had outlived his usefulness and does not deserve a second term in office. While responding to a question posed by Bright Kwesi Asempa, the host of Onua Fm morning show Yen Nsem Pa as to why minority abstained from approval of the Gender Minister, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye said We dont believe she has the candour to hold herself as a minister, her demeanor does not qualify him to be a minister, how do we entrust the life of the children and the aged in her care He maintained that since the majority used its numbers to pass the Gender Minister, the minority will not have anything to do with her. The majority is already disappointing Ghanaians with the way they try to bulldozer their way. She was not the only one who appeared before us and has an issue. Others have apologized so why cant she Odododiodio MP lamented. She will not receive minority support, as far as we are concern she is not a minister, she should do her work it does not concern us Tindouf (Algeria) (AFP) - Behind a long sand wall winding through the disputed Western Sahara, leaders battling for the independence of the former Spanish colony say they are on alert. Morocco insists the territory is an integral part of its kingdom, but the Algeria-backed Polisario Front demands a referendum on self-determination. "There are 25,000 Sahrawi fighters and any other Sahrawi is recruitable," whether man or woman, says Polisario defence chief Abdullahi Lehbib. His comments come after the president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Ghali, on Sunday said "all options remain open" to resolve the dispute, hinting at a possible return to armed struggle. Morocco fought the Polisario from 1975 to 1991, gaining control of most of the territory before a UN-brokered ceasefire took effect. It has built six mostly sand barriers along roughly 2,700 kilometres (1,675 miles) to cordon off this land. On the other side is the Polisario-run SADR. Mourners pray over the coffin of Polisario Front leader Mohamed Abdelaziz at his funeral in Tindouf, on June 3, 2016 Since the 1991 ceasefire, the United Nations has maintained peace keepers in the vast desert territory where around half a million people live. A referendum on independence was set for 1992 but was aborted when Morocco objected to the proposed electoral register, saying it was biased. "Despite the ceasefire we have continued recruitment and conscription," Lehbib tells AFP. Tensions flared last year after the Polisario set up a new military post in the district of Guerguerat near the Mauritanian border, within a stone's throw of Moroccan soldiers. The move came after Morocco last summer started building a tarmac road in the area south of the buffer zone separating the two sides. 'Resistance Museum' "The stalling of the peace process, and especially the situation in Guerguerat, mean that we are on alert along the wall," Lehbib says. Members of the Sahrawi People's Liberation Army at the Polisario Front's congress on July 8, 2016 at the Sahrawi refugee camp of Dakhla 170 km southeast of Tindouf Trenches, barbed wire and mine fields flank the Sahrawi side of the wall near El-Mahbes. Cheikh Bechri Mhame, the sector's commanding officer, describes how his men patrol the area in four-wheel-drives, looking out for any movement near the barrier which is two to three metres high. Dressed in military fatigues and armed with automatic rifles, his soldiers are also tasked with cordoning off land peppered with anti-personnel mines. Around a hundred kilometres from there, in one of the refugee camps in the Tindouf area in southwest Algeria, the director of the "Resistance Museum" tells visitors the army was able to adapt to life along the wall. Built between 1980 and 1987, Morocco's "defence wall wasn't efficient in defending the Moroccans," Mohamed Ouleda says. "The (Sahrawi) army chose certain spots to carry out incursions, even if at the time there were only 12,000 fighters to face a Moroccan armada." He said Sahrawis captured "511 Moroccan prisoners of war between the wall's construction and the ceasefire", citing Red Crescent documents that AFP was not able to obtain. In his museum, Ouleda shows off "spoils of war... retrieved on the other side of the wall": weapons, armoured vehicles and Moroccan military documents. Polisario chief Ghali says the wall's construction in fact led to a "war of attrition" for the Moroccans, not the Sahrawis. "The Moroccans built the wall thinking it was insurmountable," he says. "But it became an economic, psychological and moral burden for the Moroccan army instead of a solution." "That's when Morocco started the negotiations that led to the UN peace plan and ceasefire." The Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI) says it will support the government to implement the 'One District One Factory' policy captured in the manifesto of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The STCCI has also pledged to help the government to implement its numerous policies to ensure the socio-economic development of the Western Region and Ghana as a whole. The Chamber expressed happiness with the governments decision to partner private local and foreign investors to develop large-scale strategic anchor industries to serve as growth poles for the economy. According to STCCI, the ruling party indicated in its manifesto that the current government would enforce local content provisions by developing efficient and competitive local supplier networks for the goods and services that industry need. We will work closely with the government to ensure that the National Industrial Sub-contracting exchange becomes a reality. Ato Van-Ess, Chairman of the STCCI, made this known during this years Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Chamber in Takoradi. Railways He said the lack of a modern, integrated transportation infrastructure in the country was one of the weakest links in the nations development, lauding the current government for planning to develop a modern railway network. The Western and Eastern Lines will be completely overhauled. This will facilitate the haulage of bauxite, manganese, cocoa, cement, iron ore and other bulk commodities, as well as the transportation of people, he added. Mr Van-Ess disclosed that in order to play an active role to ensure a functional rail system in Ghana, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, which is STCCI's main partner, was relying on a German railway expert to kick-start discussions on achieving a functional rail network. As such, the government's creation of the Railway Ministry falls directly into STCCI vision of a functional rail system and we will ensure that we play active role in the success of the ministry, he stressed. Ports Mr Van-Ess applauded the government's plan to continue the expansion of the ports and fully automate the process for clearing goods and vehicles which would lead to a reduction in port charges and fees. He said that the expansion and modernization of the Tema and Takoradi Harbours in collaboration with the private sector would, among other things, help boost economic activities in the localities. He pointed out that STCCI supports the government's initiative of relocating the headquarters of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to the Western Region. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi 08.02.2017 LISTEN The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), in partnership with AB2020 and TEDxAccra, is hosting the first annual Tech in Ghana Conference in London this month. Organized by AB2020, UKGCC and TEDxAccra, with support from the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Tech London Advocates, Tech in Ghana Conference in London will take place on Monday, 27th February, 2017. First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Millison Narh and Angela Mensah-Poku, Director of Enterprise Business Unit & Wholesale the business arm of Vodafone Ghana, will be among the speakers at the conference. Vodafone Ghana's Mobile Financial Services Director, Martison ObengAgyei, will also join a panel alongside WorldRemit CEO, Ismail Ahmed, Interpay founder Saqib Nazir, Zeepay founder & CEO Andrew Takyi-Appiah, and CEO of expressPay Curtis Vanderpuije, to discuss Ghana's nascent but fast-rising fintech industry. Ms Angela Mensah-Poku said, We are proud to be an integral part of the first Tech in Ghana Conference in the United Kingdom. With technology dictating the pace of everything under the sun, this conference could not have come at a more opportune time. Ghana has a plethora of innovative solutions that are yearning for global visibility and now is the time. BoG also celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and is a key regulator in Ghanas tech industry. Other recently confirmed attendees include Tom Ilube, founder of the African Gifted Foundation, which in 2016 opened the African Science Academy, Africas first STEM school for gifted and talented young women in Ghana. The UK Prime Ministers Trade Envoy to Ghana Adam Afriyie is to give an opening keynote at the event, which will also feature a Ghana tech initiatives showcase, and exclusive backstage interviews courtesy of TIGC production partners TEDxAccra. Mr. Asante Asare 08.02.2017 LISTEN The Association of Gold Exporters of Ghana (AGEG), an umbrella body of local small-scale gold exporters, has called on the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to institute a probe into what it termed unfair trade practices and wanton money laundering by Indians, other expatriates and some management staff of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC). AGEG, in an interview with BUSINESS GUIDE, alleged that the Managing Director of PMMC, George Abradu-Otoo, has over the past few years been supervising the exportation of gold for foreigners, particularly Indians through PMMC using surrogate companies owned by some 'faceless' Ghanaians, who apparently are members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) without repatriating the funds to Ghana as required by law. The Association also alleged that the said surrogate companies have made it impossible for the expatriates on the local market to pay the 0.5 percent tax by Minerals Commission, which is part of the Mineral Sustainability Fund even though members of AGEG and other locals are being made to pay. AGEG disclosed that foreign exporters in the sector, with the support of PMMC, have been evading the 3 percent Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Withholding Tax, even though they (the foreigners) continue to export gold worth billions of dollars annually. Chairman of AGEG, Kobina Asante Asare, who spoke to BUSINESS GUIDE, said Ghana is losing billions of dollars annually due to the unfair trade practices by Indians and other expatriates. PMMC is exporting gold on behalf of third parties and these guys are not bringing the money back and this is creating a huge vacuum within the sector. PMMC, no matter how much they ship they don't repatriate one percent, he said. PMMC has argued that they are not responsible for repatriating the funds but rather the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The argument is inappropriate because the right information needed from PMMC concerning the 'true' identities of those exporting via PMMC is not being given to GRA, according to him. He also said that local players in the industry were being crowded out of business due to huge tax burdens which foreigners are not paying. The chairman of AGEG indicated that local exporters were paying 3 percent withholding tax; 0.5 percent Mineral Sustainability Tax, among others, which is adversely affecting their operations. According to him, foreigners have taken 90 percent of the domestic gold market leaving Ghanaian players within the sector with just 10 percent due to the unfair trade practices that started under the previous NDC administration. It would be recalled that Bank of Ghana (BoG), under the Mahama administration, in 2016 ordered that all gold exports must be channeled through PMMC which the Association opposed, leading to a legal tussle between them and PMMC. Smuggling In some instances, the expatriates in order to avoid the payment of such taxes, smuggle their gold to neighboring Togo where there is only 1 percent withholding tax and Cote d' Ivoire which charges 2 percent Withholding tax, he added. Appeals He urged the Nana Addo administration to investigate the MD of PMMC, George Abradu-Otoo and the surrogates companies that are exporting gold on behalf of the expatriates. Mr Asare appealed to government to ensure fair trade practices on the market, repatriation of proceeds from gold being exported by foreigners and payment of taxes by all operators. By Melvin Tarlue Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Finland's Ambassador responsible for Ghana, Nigeria, Benin and Liberia, has called on DAILY GUIDE as part of her initiative to court media support to disseminate information on the centenary celebration of her country's independence this year. Finland gained independence from Russia in 1917, and will this year mark its 100th anniversary under the theme 'Together'. We the Finnish people want to celebrate this together with all friends of Finland and we are doing many things in this regard. One of the things we are doing is the CodeBus Africa project which would be starting from Ghana, Ambassador Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury disclosed. She explained that the 'CodeBus Africa Project' is a 100-day educational adventure experience which would train some 160 young persons aged between 12 and 20 in the areas of creative technology and youth empowerment. The ambassador stated that the selection of the participants would be gender-biased in favour of girls and the bias would not be accidental. CodeBus would be simulated simultaneously in 10 African countries from the months of February through to May. There will be interesting training workshops to inspire participants to make maximum use of technology in finding solutions to needs and challenges. The Finnish diplomat was accompanied by her Deputy Head of Mission, Emmi Mwanzagi, and they were received by the Publisher & Managing Editor of DAILY GUIDE, Gina Blay, and Fortune Alimi; the paper's editor. Gina Blay congratulated the people of Finland for their centenary and assured the ambassador that DAILY GUIDE would not relent on its role of information dissemination and in this particular instance, sharing information on Finland's 100th anniversary. It has emerged that out of the 79 bills passed by the previous parliament, 31 Bills representing 43.3% were tax Bills. This was contained in a report released by Odekro on the sixth parliament of the fourth Republic of Ghana. According to Odekro their findings affirmed the complaints of industry and the general public that the previous Government overtaxed businesses over the last four years. Regulation of the financial sector ranked 2nd on the list of Parliaments priorities, with 10 enacted Bills (12%) falling in this category. The government introduced or amended crucial Bills such as the Public Financial Management Act 2016, Ghana Export-Import Bank Act 2016 and the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act 2015. Interior (7 Bills), Energy (6 Bills), and Trade and Industry (4) Bills were ranked 3rd, Fourth and 5th by volume of Bills passed, in that order the report indicated. Odekro is an organization committed to making public, parliamentary proceedings and ensuring transparency in the work of Parliament. The report on the sixth parliament was sponsored by STAR-Ghana with funding from UKaid, DANIDA and European Union. Group Captain Fredrick Asare Bekoe (second from Left) poses with officers and men after the occasion The Ghana Air Force on Tuesday held a brief ceremony dubbed, 'Mission Accomplishment' Parade for contingents who took part in the United Nations operations in Cote d' Ivoire (UNOCI) -Ghana Aviation (GHAV 19) at the Air Force base in Accra. According to Base Commander, Group Captain Frederick Asare Bekoe, the event was held to welcome the last peace-keeping group- UNOCI-GHAV 19 home after its duty tour in Cote d' Ivoire. The event was also used to celebrate a decade of successful peace-keeping operations by personnel of the entire UNOCI- GHAV Operations in the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire since violence broke out in that country in 2006 after elections. The Base Commander, who paid glowing tribute to the personnel, who participated in the peace-keeping operations in the country, also called for observance of a moment of silence in remembrance of personnel who fell in the line of duty. Group Captain Asare Bekoe explained that the Ghana Air Force provided helicopter services by air lifting relief items and medical supplies to both personnel and distressed persons in the war-torn country. Director General-IPSO, Brig Gen CKAA Awity, lauded the men and women of UNICOV-GHAV 19 for what he described as their selfless effort and team spirit to restore peace to the country. He urged them to put their expertise to good use in Ghana as the await future deployments to provide similar services. We are satisfied that you were part of the success story of UNOCI-GHAV which of course is an indication that your efforts have brought honour and dignity to your unit, the Ghana Armed Forces and the country as a whole, and there is no doubt that you won the admiration of the government and people of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, he remarked. By Solomon Ofori The monumental contributions of Ghana's parliament to its citizens and beyond cannot be overemphasized. It is one of the arms of government that is well established and invariably power packed with MPs with an uncommon intellectual sagacity to ensure a smooth running and development of the country. The core mandates of this arm of government is to make laws, approve budgets, vet and approve government appointees, deliberate on government policies, just to mention but a few. Ghana's parliament has been resolute in the discharge of it duties as expected by its citizens in the past years. Additionally, Ghana's parliament has gained the unflinching support and approval of its citizens on virtually all the issues they debate and approve or disapprove. This is because it was deemed competent and incorruptible in the eyes of the ordinary Ghanaians. However, the recent developments in the so cherished and highly respected arm of government, the legislature, has made a "U" turn as its reputation and integrity is questioned by the ordinary citizens. The lost of the credibility and integrity of parliament by the ordinary Ghanaians begins to gain grounds when the idea that parliament was incorruptible seems to be a misconception in the minds of Ghanaians as the then former Majority Leader hon Alban Bagbin made a corruption allegation against the seemingly august house. This issue was very dear to the hearts of the Ghanaian populace who were finally left completely bamboozled as it was swept under the carpet. Surprisingly, the erroneous believe of the incorruptibility of this arm of government begins to fate out as another corruption allegation hits parliament. The right thinking Ghanaians were left with no option than alluding that bribery and corruption has eaten deep in to the house we so much cherished and respected sometimes ago. This manifested itself when a nominee who has currently been sworn in as a Minister for energy hon Boakye Agyarko, was alleged by one of the committee members to have attempted bribing the minority members on the vetting committee to approve him as a minister. The famous adage that "when a fish comes out from water and tell the public that a crocodile has an eye problem" who are you to doubt its claim? An indelible doubt is left in minds of the ordinary Ghanaians as parliament decided to set up a committee to investigate this whole incongruous bribery saga. What kept Ghanaians questioning the credibility of the pending committee report is when the committee formed is made up of five parliamentarians with its chairman as a nominee. The question one may ask is that, can there be a true and sincere investigation of this case with a chairman who would be vetted, approve and work with the same people on which the investigation would be carried out, should the the investigation proves affirmative? I was taken aback when the president Nana Addo upon his vociferousness on bribery and corruption sworn in the nominee whose integrity regarding to bribery and corruption was questionable. Furthermore, the decision to vote and approve a nominee whose credibility was questioned by the minority in parliament has vindicated my assession that parliament has outlived its usefulness. Our resources are being wasted by some of our parliamentarians since a nominee can be approved by the majority in parliament only without the support of the minority. I must admit that I am indeed at a lost regarding to the meaning and significance of vetting and the majority are in better position to clarify it to me. I don't want to believe that the majority approved Hajia Mahama to signal the minority that they must approve all nominees regardless of their knowledge in the position they are designated for. I still doubt that they did that just to prove the point that the minority will always have their say but the majority will have their way. This isn't the first time this has happened. I can recall that appointees were vetted and approved by the then NDC MPs who were the Majority in parliament as the NPP MPs, the then Minority, boycotted the vetting of nominees. I see no sense in forming vetting committees if all nominees must be approved regardless of their performances in the positions they are going to occupy. It is a complete waste of resources and time. In other words, it is a deliberate attempt by parliament to put money into the pockets of its members. God is watching you. In conclusion, I am making a clarion call on the parliament of Ghana to stop wasting our resources and time on the formation of numerous committees that are insignificant to the ordinary Ghanaians since parliament takes delight in compromising with so many issues that put lives of the ordinary Ghanaians in perpetual jeopardy. Am also by this article calling on the ordinary citizens of this country to vehemently resist any harsh policies and laws that may be imposed on us by our policy makers. Thank you. I will return soon. Students' Activist UEW-K [email protected] . 0240371356. 08.02.2017 LISTEN Coffin sellers in Accra have stated that although low mortality was good for the country, it was creating negative impact on their businesses, as people were not buying their coffins. Much as we are not praying for people to die, I must also confess that our livelihood is derived from the number of coffins we sell in the year, Mr Agyekum Darkwah Junior, a coffin seller told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Korle-Bu hospital during an interview. 'The market was not good last year as the nation recorded low deaths compared to previous years.' The GNA carried out some interviews to find out how some businesses faired by the close of December 2016. The interviews sought the views of dealers of goods and services around Korle-Bu, Kaneshie, Abeka Lapaz and Dansoman, with some coffin makers and sellers expressing their views on their sales for the year. Mr Darkwah Junior said his capital had been locked up since patronage was low last year, adding that 'My only prayer is to get more buyers for my beautifully crafted caskets so as to make my investments fruitful this year. I have employed more than eight carpenters so if the market goes low, I would not be able to remunerate them, he said. Stephen Kwame Addai, a coffin shop owner at Kaneshie, however, dismissed the notion that the business was quite a diabolic one, as it thrived on more deaths. He argued that as investors they would continue to pray for business to boom and that coffin sellers were like any other investors. We do not wish the death of our fellow human beings. Death, whether by vehicular accidents or sickness is natural, Mr Kwame Addai said. Emmanuel Abankwaa, who works on coffins at Dansoman, meanwhile said the business was a legitimate source of income. We are not saying people should die but if they die, we cannot give them life, but can only help to facilitate their burial, he said. The survey, which sought to ascertain how the coffin business was faring, also revealed that Fridays and Saturdays were major market days for the dealers. Akorli Samuel, who deals in coffins at Lapaz, disclosed that he sold more than 30 coffins last week Friday and Saturday. The coffin dealer, who has had 16 years experience in the business, explained that, mourners and families of the bereaved normally purchase his products on these particular days, for burial ceremonies. People do not usually buy coffins and keep them ahead of burials. To some people, coffins are not to be kept in anticipation of death, Mr Akorli noted. He also encouraged the youth to embrace the venture and he prayed for an increase in the business and to make it very attractive. Parents should not discourage their children from entering the venture. It is truly a profitable one, he said. The interviews revealed that the price of a coffins ranges from GH300 to GH10,000, depending on the size and materials used. By Gideon Ahenkorah President Muhammadu Buhari has grown to become an unassailable enigma. The more Nigerians try to demystify him the more enigmatic he becomes. It is only heroes that do what Buhari does in Nigeria and get away with it. This is so because it is only in Nigeria that a Buhari would become our president without a WASC certificate which he claimed to have but never had. He became our president without acquiring the requisite basic academic qualification as demanded by our laws. He not only became president, even his blinded supporters had said even if he presented a NEPA Bill as his WASC certificate they would still have voted for him. It is only a hero who would remain a president and call the bluff of the people, the legislature and the judiciary even when it is obvious he was never qualified to have become president. It is only a hero who would spend his first six months in office gallivanting around the world without a cabinet for a country as complex as Nigeria, making up for all the time he was shut indoors in Daura between 1984 and 2015 as a result of self-imposed poverty of hypocritical roots, yet, his Halleluyah Band would continue to sing his praises and not see anything wrong in that; not having the wisdom to know that that was the time Nigeria embarked on its jolly ride into recession as there were no drivers to direct its continued course of progress it recorded from the previous administration. But our hero and his co-travellers would not want to hear any of that. Even when the drivers eventually came in, they have proved to be grossly incapacitated for the task on hand. Yet, they are the heroes of some heroes (LWKMD). It is only a hero who would watch thousands of Nigerians murdered by state agents and terrorists without any government official calling for a minute silence for the victims nor ask Nigerians to pray for them, nor swiftly react to save the situation. But when our hero falls sick, sycophants and bootlickers stumble over themselves in desperation begging Nigerians including families of murdered IPOB members, Shiites, Agatu community, Southern Kaduna region, IDPs and many others who have been callously mowed down by some of our heros misguided tribesmen and security agencies to pray for his safe recovery and return as if it is fashionable in the eyes of men and commendable in the eyes of God to pray for strength for those who supervise your killing and do nothing to apprehend your murderers so they could face justice even when that is the foremost priority on their list of job specification at the time of being engaged. It is only a hero who would drive down our exchange rate to the highest level within just a little over a year since the creation of the Nigerian State 56 years ago and still brags that he should be judged only after four years as if hunger would allow a majority of the poverty-stricken citizens live up to the end of our heros tenure to be able to assess his abysmal performance. It is only a hero who would lambast and berate, severally and severely, those Nigerians who travel abroad for serious medical reasons including treatment for cancer only for him to frequent UK hospitals to treat mere ear infections while billions of naira budgeted for our heros State House Clinic remain docile in thin air, if you understand what I mean (I dey laff o). Is it not heroic, fellow citizens, for our darling DSS to effect the arrest of our judges with so much venom and unnecessary bravado based on certain financial crimes reports only for the same DSS to have its security/financial crime report on Ibrahim Magu of the EFCC jettisoned by our hero for whatever reason? It is quite heroic for our president to pursue his political opponents with vendetta and vengeance in the name of fighting corruption only for him to end up harbouring grass cutters as SGF and ministers. While he loathes corruption, he dines with Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi, Babachir Lawal, Ibrahim Magu, Timipre Sylva, late Abubakar Audu, Abba Kyari etc and still gets a pat on the back from some incurably servile citizens. Only a hero can get that! With these few points of mine, I am sure, double sure, completely sure, absolutely sure and one hundred per cent sure, that I have been able to convince and not confuse you that even in sickness, Buhari remains a hero, their own kind of hero! Thank you! (in the voice of our old Literary and Debating Society days back in secondary school). [email protected] ; Twitter: Stjudendukwe The Zongo Development Fund will not be abused on social and traditional engagements, the Minister-nominee for Zongo Development and Inner cities, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Siddique has said. Alhaji Siddique warned that the Zongo Development fund would not be a Father Christmas fund for the targeted beneficiaries. Indications from government are that, it will be allocating $50 million dollars to the fund, which will be an item in the 2017 budget. During Alhaji Siddique Bonifaces vetting for the Zongo Development and Inner cities portfolio, concerns were raised that the fund could go into welfare support for zongo communities. But Alhaji Siddiques said, my role is not to sponsor or help somebody christen or name a child. There won't be packages for funerals. If I am coming from somebody's funeral, I am coming as a member of parliament or as a friend or as a family member. To temper expectations, Alhaji Siddique said he will make the zongos aware of the priority areas of the fund, which will include infrastructure development. We are talking about stocking libraries, helping to rehabilitate schools in the zongos, not the whole the country, he said. Also in the education sector, he said they will empower Arabic instructors with the fund. It was a module I introduced under youth employment. We were paying Arabic instructors allowances. That brought a lot of children, and they had time to teach. We need to look at that. These are some of the things that we will be doing. If you look at infrastructure, we will look at the drains, we will look at the roads and other things that have to be done to keep the community together. About Boniface Siddique Boniface Abubakar Siddique, 56, holds an MA in Economics from the University of Essex, MBA in Financial Management from the University of Exeter, MA in Conflict, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Center and a BA in Social 6 Sciences from the KNUST. He worked in the Ministry of Finance for 14 years as an Economic Officer, eventually becoming a Senior Finance Officer. In politics, he has been a two-time MP for Salaga from 2001-2009. He also served as Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment and Northern Regional Minister. He is married with three children. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana 08.02.2017 LISTEN The leadership of the House of Parliament met the media in Accra on Monday, and asked for collaborative efforts between the Second Estate and the unofficial Fourth Estate of the Realm to move Parliamentary proceedings in the country forward. The Speaker of the House, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, hit the nail right on the head by asking media practitioners to hold Parliamentarians accountable to the people who elected them to Parliament. According to an official report from the House, the Speaker said journalists should not hesitate to prompt the House and its members, if members of the Fourth Estate notice conducts on the part of parliamentarians which fail to account to the people. The Chronicle toasts to the health and wisdom of the Septugenarian who presides over the House with a pedigree of academic acumen and a reasonable experience as a parliamentarian himself, that the members ought to be accountable to the people. That is the essence of parliamentary representation. Invariably, in this society, constituents only get to hear and interact with their Members of Parliament only when the MPs have to return to the various 275 constituencies to fight elections. We are delighted that the Right Honourable Speaker himself has weighed in on an issue that is fundamental to the representation of the people in the House, and which, unfortunately, has been so fragrantly abused by those who sit in the House on the strength of the people's exercise of their democratic rights. This pre-supposes that MPs have a duty to account for their representation to the people. In other words, members of Parliament have to frequent their constituencies and inform their constituents of the happenings in the House, and how their membership of the House was benefitting their various constituencies. This supposes that members have to hold town hall meetings in their constituencies, and, as well as having offices where constituents could interact with their Members of Parliament. The Chronicle notes with satisfaction the provision of offices for individual members at Parliament House in Accra. That is one giant leap in deepening our democratic dispensation, for which the Mahama administration should take a lot of pride. What this means is that constituents visiting their MPs in Accra could confer with them in their offices. We would like to believe that the state would empower MPs to construct offices in the regions to serve as their resource centres. We are happy with the Speaker's admonition to the media to scrutinise the activities of members of the House. What this means is that when journalists comment on members who only come to sit down without participating in debates, such members would not have to take offence. In our view, when the media examines the quality of representation available to the House, it would help the individual members, and the House generally, to strengthen the House and fulfill the members' obligations to the people of Ghana, while deepening democracy in this part of the world. The Chronicle hopes that the encounter between the leadership of the House and the media would not become a one-day publicity stunt, and that the leadership would continue to engage the media in a collaborative effort to deepen democracy in Ghana. We hope and pray that the media would continue to exhibit that high standard of journalism necessary to mirror proceedings in the House. Like in any profession, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. It is our hope that the good in media representation in the House would outweigh the bad and the ugly. Forward with the mutual trust between the House and the media! Minister-designate for Inner City and Zongo Development says the Zongo Development Fund would not be used to fund marriages, 'outdooring' and funeral ceremonies. Abubakar Siddique Boniface said whenever he attends any of such social events; his donations would be as a friend or minister but not monies from the Fund. Answering questions from Asawase Member of Parliament (MP) during his vetting by Parliaments Appointments Committee, Wednesday, Mr Boniface said the Funds would be dedicated to infrastructural development in the Zongos. He spoke about how he would champion the educational needs of the people of the Zongos by putting in place the infrastructures like community libraries, rehabilitate schools in the communities and within the catchment areas of the identified Zongos. According to him, what he started under the Youth Employment model of recruiting Arabic instructors would also be given a boost. Mr Boniface said he would also dedicate some of the funds to non-formal education so those who were unable to go to school can take advantage to upgrade themselves. Answering a question on communities notorious for early marriages, he said he looks forward to implementing aggressive girl child education in those areas, adding if the girls are in school, there will be no need for them to be married away. The nominee said the funds would be dedicated to making sure the drains and roads in the Zongo communities will be developed. Despite their knowledge of ICT, the youth in the Zongos are noted for using the ICT to defraud people, something the minister said would change with the institution of this new ministry. According to him, he would explore ways for the youth to use the knowledge in ICT to their advantage and push positive causes as has been done in Jamaica and Brazil. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim |[email protected] Abidjan (AFP) - The Ivorian government on Wednesday forcefully condemned a special forces revolt after troops fired in the air in the army barracks town of Adiake following weeks of trouble from mutinous security forces. The elite troops appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck in January that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments. The authorities appeared somewhat conciliatory during previous bouts of protest, but swiftly took a stance when the special forces -- who are in charge of the president's security -- joined the mutiny. "The government ... condemns and deplores these violent forms of protest," Information Minister Bruno Nabagne Kone said, criticising "an attitude that has unfortunately been recurrent in recent weeks". Earlier Wednesday, a resident of Adiake told AFP that elite troops based there were shooting in the air for the second consecutive day. "Today, it's market day, and they (the troops) told the women to return to their houses. Everyone is terrified, and holed up in their homes," he told AFP by phone. The shooting ceased in the mid-afternoon, another resident said. "The mutinous troops say they are waiting ... to go back (to their protest) if nothing is decided," he said. Tuesday's gunfire in Adiake, located to the east of the commercial capital Abidjan, was the first protest action by special forces troops since other soldiers and members of the security forces mutinied in January. Adiake also is home to a maritime base that trains marine commandos and provides coastal surveillance in an area that shares a border with Ghana. A defence ministry official said the government will make a statement later Wednesday on the unrest. Political link? Troops first launched a mutiny over pay on January 5. The initial protests were quelled when the government reached a deal with 8,500 mutineers, agreeing to give them 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros, $19,000) each. However more soldiers have since taken to the streets demanding similar bonuses. Last year Ivory Coast approved an ambitious military planning budget seeking to modernise the army and buy new equipment. But even that 1.2 billion euros pot would not be enough to offer similar payments to all of the country's 23,000-strong security forces. The revolt led to President Alassane Ouattara ordering major changes in top security ranks -- the armed forces' chief of staff, the senior commander of the national gendarmerie and the director-general of the police. Parliament speaker Guillaume Soro speaks as President Alassane Ouattara looks on The mutiny came as a constitutional reform saw former prime minister Daniel Kablan Duncan sworn in as vice president -- with some analysts saying he could well be placed to step into Ouattara's shoes in future. But some analysts wonder whether another former premier, ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, may have harboured presidential ambitions of his own, seeing a possible link between the army mutiny and the reshuffle. Soro, who was elected parliament speaker in January, attended Kablan's swearing-in ceremony, and has consistently backed Ivory Coast's constitutional reform however. The International Monetary Fund said in December that Ivory Coast was on track towards becoming the continent's fastest-growing economy. The mutinies, however, have raised fears the country might slip back into deadly unrest. A rebellion in 2002 sliced the former French colony into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south, triggering years of unrest. 08.02.2017 LISTEN Barely a week after ordering the dismissal of the 206 police recruits for allegedly providing fake certificates, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has struck once again. This time, he is warning those moving from one government agency to the other, seizing both government and private assets to desist from the conduct or be prepared to face the full rigours of the law. He has grounded his action in the Criminal Code sections 125 and 152. The Section 125 of the criminal code, which defines Stealing, reads: A person steals if he dishonestly appropriates a thing of which he is not the owner. Section 152, which deals with Unlawful Entry also reads: Whoever unlawfully enters any building with the intention of committing crime therein shall be guilty of second degree felony. This means any alibi of living in a cloud cuckoo land would not be entertained. It has become hackneyed in Ghana to see party footsoldiers moving from one government department to the other, sacking people from their posts and taking over the running of the agency, any time there is a change of government. These footsoldiers also go onto the streets seizing cars they suspect to be government property. President Akufo-Addo, for instance, had his landcruiser vehicle seized at the Opera Square in Accra in 2009, when the late Atta Mills government took over the reins of power by people who claimed to be operatives from the seat of government, the Osu Castle. The said operatives claimed the cross country vehicle belongs to the state, hence the action to seize it. Later, the then government spokesman, Mahama Ayariga issued a press statement where he apologized to Nana Addo, after which the car was returned. The then presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), however, decided not to use the car again. The Barclays bank manager at the time was also pulled out from his car in traffic by the same footsoldiers, claiming it was a government car. The Atta Mills government had to again come out to apologize over the wrongful seizure. The footsoldiers also invaded public toilets, the National Health Insurance offices and toll booths where they sacked the workers and took over. Workers who resisted the illegal takeovers were assaulted by the marauding footsoldiers. With this treatment at the back of their minds, footsoldiers of NPP also went into action immediately the Electoral Commission (EC) declared President Akufo-Addo as winner of the December 2016 elections. The NPP grassroots' supporters went from one toll booth to the other, sacking the workers and taking control. Like it happened in 2009, they were also moving on the streets and into private homes, seizing cars. The development compelled the Akufo-Addo government to set up a special taskforce, comprising of the police, Ghana Revenue Authority and Flagstaff House among others, to search and locate all government assets that have fallen into private hands. The public has been warned to stop taking the law into their own hands but rather report anyone suspected to be in possession of government cars or property to the taskforce. But despite all these warnings, some of the footsoldiers are still attacking personnel government departments and agencies and this is what has forced the IGP to apply the law. In a statement released in Accra yesterday, the Police Administration said Information reaching the Police Administration indicates that some group of persons are going around seizing vehicles and other items belonging to functionaries of the previous government for having stolen them, and also taking over and locking up state institutions and agencies, with the latest of such take-overs being those of SADA, NHIA offices in Tamale, Northern Region. The Police Administration takes a very serious view to these acts, as they constitute criminal offences, and also breach the peace. Perpetrators of these unlawful entries and seizures of state institutions and other person's belonging could be held for any or all of the following offences: Unlawful Entry; Contrary to the Criminal offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) Section 152. Stealing. Contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) Section 125. It is an offence for any person or group of persons to take the law into their own hands and invade people's homes and workplaces under the pretext of retrieving stolen state property. Anyone with information about any act of criminality, including alleged stealing of any state property by any persons, be they public officials or private individuals should report the matter to the nearest Police Station or CID Headquarters, Accra for the necessary action. The Police have commenced an operation to arrest and prosecute those who commit these unlawful acts. By Emmanuel Akli 08.02.2017 LISTEN The Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya West constituency, Nenyin George Andah, has expressed worry over the traffic and inconveniences commuters experience every day on the Kasoa-Awutu Bereku-Winneba road. In a statement he delivered on the floor of Parliament yesterday, the MP said most of the residents within Awutu Senya West, Awutu Senya East, Gomoa East and users of the Kasoa-Awutu Beraku-Winneba road, are faced with a nagging problem each morning on their way to performing or returning from performing economic and or social activities within Accra/Tema. He indicated that the situation is even worsened on weekends, with travellers moving out of town for funerals and other social activities. Admittedly, the MP associated the problem to the construction of the first phase of the Kasoa Interchange by the National Democratic Congress government, but was quick to add that the construction had brought some relief on the Kasoa section of the highway. There is heavy traffic building up at the Kasoa tollbooth that sometimes backs two or three kilometres, with two hours or more waiting that commuters or users have to endure, and then experience that again at the Liberia camp to Beraku junction, which has become a poignant inconvenience to my constituents and other commuters. Mr. Speaker, it was reported by the previous government, during the commissioning of the Circle Interchange, that the estimated build-up of traffic on the circle road cost the nation a US$100 million annually, as widely covered live, and subsequently reported on during President John Mahama's speech at the circle Interchange commissioning. The MP, who made his first statement on the floor yesterday, continued that an investment in a few interchanges, including the 715 metres Kasoa Interchange/Flyover was meant to eradicate these problems. Mr Speaker, as a result of long delays in traffic, drivers and some passengers become impatient and use the shoulders of the road, or over exceed speed limits whenever they have a little opportunity to catch up, after spending a lot of time in traffic, putting their lives and that of other road users at risk. There's a likelihood of hitting a pedestrian or another motorist. Mr Speaker, a number of these unemployed individuals find employment opportunities in the long and chaotic traffic congestions, running in between cars in traffic, and end up risking their lives, with most of them almost getting knocked down. As a result of these, people are losing their lives through accidents. These inconvenient situations should be rectified. He, however, recommended for consideration, the immediate regular deployment of the MTTD personnel to control traffic on these roads. By Maxwell Ofori, Parliament House 08.02.2017 LISTEN The Electoral Commission (EC) has rescheduled the Council of State elections from Thursday February 9, to Thursday, February 16. EC hereby informs the candidates, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and the public that the elections of regional representatives to the Council of State by the Regional Electoral Colleges, scheduled to be held at all regional capitals, has been rescheduled. A statement signed by Mr Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, Head of Communications for the EC, and copied to Ghana News Agency, indicated. According to the statement: The additional week was required to enable the MMDAs make the requisite arrangements for the composition of the Regional Electoral Colleges mandated for the election of the regional representatives. We wish, however, to state that all other arrangements, including nominations to contest in the election, are still valid for the purpose of the election. Source: GNA 113 persons have picked nomination forms to contest for the Council of State elections schedule on Thursday, 16th, February, 2017 nationwide. The elections which was originally schedule for Thursday, 9th , February, 2017, have to be postponed by the countrys Electoral management body, the Electoral Commission (EC), due to inability of the various assemblies to provide the EC all the assembly members who have been elected to form the Electoral College , to vote on the election day. Confirming the postponement date on SPACE FM MORNING FLIGHT, the Public Affairs Director of the EC, Mr. Eric Kofi Dzakpasu said all the necessary arrangements by the EC have been done, but the assemblies have decided to do some arrangements to elect their Representatives to form the Electoral College. Mr. Kofi Dzakpasu was hopeful that if the one week extension is given to the assemblies, they will be adequately be and ready for the Council of State elections. He said the EC has accepted all the particulars of all the candidates and they are in the processes of balloting and printing of the balloting papers. He noted that the EC is poised to organize free and credible Council of State elections, but the voters are not ready, but was optimistic that the assemblies will put the necessary and prudent measures to elect their representatives for the elections. The EC Public Affairs Director said all over the nation, 113 individuals have picked the nominations for the elections with the Volta Region topping the list with 23 persons contesting for the one slot position of the Regional representative of the Council of State. The lowest region, he stated has 5. On gender bases, Mr. Kofi Dzakpasu said, 6 out of the 113 persons who have picked the nomination forms are women. The younger contestant in the elections is 23 year old man and elderly person among them is an 84 year old man. Article 89 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana states that, there shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions. (6) of the same Article says the appointment of a member of the Council of State may be terminated by the President on grounds of stated misbehavior or of inability to perform his functions arising from infirmity of body or mind , and with prior approval of Parliament. A Retired Mental Health Nurse, Mrs. Sarah Adams Kyeremeh, has cautioned the general public to desist from self medication since its harmful to their health. According to her, the risk associated with self medication is enormous, hence the need to desist from such practice. Mrs. Adams Kyeremeh made this known to Space Fm, in an exclusive interview in Sunyani. She attributed some of the risk factors of self medication as being delay one from receiving early treatment which could lead to complications and other mental related issues. The retired nurse said it is therefore imperative to seek for medical attention as early as possible so far as health issues are concerned, adding that early treatment could save them their lives and avoid their health from deteriorating. Mrs. Sarah Adams Kyeremeh has further called on the youth to use their time profitably and not indulge in taking illegal drugs which could destroy their future. She also advice the unemployed graduates in the country to do something for themselves rather than waiting on government to provide them jobs. According to her, young graduates can also venture into Agriculture which could equally better their lives as same as white color jobs. Mrs. Kyeremeh, stated that since the devil finds job for the idle mind, she has therefore entreated the youth to find something to do to avoid been taking drugs and other negative practices. The retired nurse has also called on parents to have a good relationship with their wards to enable them detect any unfamiliar behaviors in them. PARIS, France, 8 February 2017 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- The 2017 AFRICA CEO FORUM, the biggest international African private sector gathering, will host over 1,000 African and international personalities and key African industrial, financial and political decision-makers, including around 200 female business leaders from 43 African countries. An essential platform for dialogue and networking, the AFRICA CEO FORUM is devoting this year's edition to the role of women in African enterprise. As part of theAfrican Women in Business initiative, a high-level panel will bring together the most influential women in the African private sector and the CEOs most active in promoting gender diversity. The goal is twofold: to identify the best strategies for increased female representation in business and to highlight the career paths of the women who have shaped the African private sector. "A greater representation of women in companies is crucial to the prosperity of the African private sector", said Amir Ben Yahmed, President of AFRICA CEO FORUM. "By creating the African Women in Business initiative, we have decided to put female leadership at the heart of our discussions." The African Women in Business initiative will also present the findings of the McKinsey & Company Women Matter Africa report. This report sets out the progress made by the African private and public sectors in terms of women's representation. While Africa equals - and even exceeds - international standards, there is still a long way to go to achieve true gender equality. By launching the African Women in Business initiative, the AFRICA CEO FORUM is contributing to the implementation of concrete solutions for the improvement of gender diversity. It aims, as in all matters to the life of African companies, to shake things up and push boundaries. The management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) wishes to congratulate the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on his nomination by His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo and subsequent approval by the Parliament of Ghana as Minister of Education. Management lauds Dr. Opoku Prempehs rich credentials, experience and competence and, therefore, has no shred of doubts that with its support, the Ministry of Education, under his outfit, will record one of the best performances in the annals of our nations education. We, therefore, urge all directors, teachers, staff and the general public, including parents and stakeholders, to lend their support to the new Minister as he works for the growth and development of our nations pre-tertiary schools and education. SGD: JONATHAN BETTEY (REV) DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country are complaining of lack of funds as being a major challenge to their activities over the years despite their quest to support the needy. Chief Executive Officer of Cloth the Naked Outreach, Stephen Quainoo in an interview with Brytfmonline indicated funds has been the major obstacle as far as their operations is concerned and called on co-operate bodies and philanthropists to assist their humanitarian course. He said , his outfit since its establishment in 2010 has supported lots of needy persons across the globe as they currently operate in Africa as well as the United States of America. Mr. Quainoo stressed his outfit's commitment to help the needy and also assist in eradicating poverty across the world with the needed support they need. He was grateful to their foreign partners as well as other groups and individuals who have supported their outfit in any way. About Cloth the Naked Outreach: Clothe The Naked Outreach is a charitable Non-profit and Non-governmental organization, specialized in providing Clothing Assistance, Educational Opportunities, Outreach Programs, and Recreational Opportunities, for the less-privileged people, especially Orphans in Orphanages, Children in deprived villages, Mentally-Challenged People in Psychiatric Hospitals, and Prisoners. CTN Outreach is currently registered in Ghana West Africa, and United States of America under the administration of three Executive Directors Mr. Stephen Quainoo, Mr. Jonathan Asamoah, and Ms. Gaynell Dumas. The organization also have over 150 Ambassadors (Members) around the world. The organization was started in Ghana in 2010 but got registered in 2013 in Ghana. And in 2016, it got registered in USA as Nonprofit organization. The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, asked the most questions during the vetting of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba. The Majority Leader, Joseph Osei-Owusu on the contrary, asked the minister 7 questions in the 129 minute-long encounter with the Appointments Committee of Parliament. Details of the encounter are captured in the following infographic. By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Talks on changes to Libya's unity government could yield results in the coming weeks, putting the north African country on a path to stability, the UN envoy said Wednesday. The UN-backed government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj was installed in Tripoli last year but has failed to assert itself further east, where strongman General Khalifa Haftar holds sway. UN envoy Martin Kobler told the UN Security Council that talks on "possible amendments" to the political agreement, and notably on Haftar's future role, have made progress in the past two months. "I am confident that a format will be found in the next weeks within which these questions can be decided upon and recommendations can be put forth for approval to the relevant institutions," Kobler said. Any changes must be endorsed by the Libyan House of Representatives, which has refused to back the Sarraj government. "2017 must be a year of decisions and political breakthrough," said Kobler. Security Council members Egypt and Russia have offered support for Haftar, whose self-declared Libyan National Army has had success in battling jihadists. Britain also said it backed a broader government. "What we need is a genuinely inclusive government that brings in all of the key actors in Libya, and we need that because that is the best way to restore stability," said British Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson. Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations vying for power. Despite the political deadlock, Libya has boosted its oil production to over 700,000 barrels a day, providing the state with much-needed revenue. Abidjan (AFP) - The Ivorian government on Wednesday pressed a bid to defuse a revolt by special forces, as fears of renewed unrest spread following weeks of protests over pay by security forces. The authorities went into talks with protesters from the elite special forces -- the latest troops to mutiny in recent weeks -- while sharply condemning the soldiers who fired in the air in the army barracks town of Adiake. The elite troops, who are in charge of the president's security, appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck in January that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments. "The government ... condemns and deplores these violent forms of protest," Information Minister Bruno Nabagne Kone said, criticising "an attitude that has unfortunately been recurrent in recent weeks". Earlier Wednesday, a resident of Adiake told AFP that elite troops based there were shooting in the air for the second consecutive day. "Today, it's market day, and they (the troops) told the women to return to their houses. Everyone is terrified, and holed up in their homes," he told AFP by phone. The shooting ceased in mid-afternoon, another resident said, but tension remained high, with elite troops manning the entrances to Adiake and barring entry to journalists. Meanwhile a group of mutineers headed from Adiake to the commercial capital Abidjan, where they were due to meet Defence Minister Alain Richard Donwahi. Asked why they had fired shots in the air, one said: "The authorities know what we want." Tuesday's gunfire in Adiake, located to the east of the commercial capital Abidjan, was the first protest action by special forces since other soldiers and members of the security forces mutinied in January. The government says two people have been injured in the latest wave of protests. Adiake also is home to a maritime base that trains marine commandos and provides coastal surveillance in an area that shares a border with Ghana. Political link? Troops first launched a mutiny over pay on January 5. Those protests subsided when the government reached a deal with 8,500 mutineers, agreeing to give them 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros, $19,000) each. However more soldiers have since taken to the streets demanding similar bonuses. Last year Ivory Coast approved an ambitious military budget to modernise the army and buy new equipment. But the 1.2-billion-euro pot would be insufficient to offer similar payments to all of the country's 23,000-strong security forces. The mutiny led to President Alassane Ouattara ordering major changes in top security ranks -- the armed forces' chief of staff, the senior commander of the national gendarmerie and the director-general of the police. Parliament speaker Guillaume Soro speaks as President Alassane Ouattara looks on The revolt came as a constitutional reform saw former prime minister Daniel Kablan Duncan sworn in as vice president -- with some analysts saying he could well be placed to step into Ouattara's shoes in future. But some analysts wonder whether another former premier, ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, may have harboured presidential ambitions of his own, seeing a possible link between the army mutiny and the reshuffle. 'Pandora's box' Soro, who was elected parliament speaker in January, attended Kablan's swearing-in ceremony and has consistently backed Ivory Coast's constitutional reform. "The situation is worrying because the army is still under the control of ex-rebel chiefs," said Ivorian analyst Jean Alabro. Ouattara, he said, "opened a Pandora's box" by initially agreeing to the demands of the mutineers. The International Monetary Fund said in December that Ivory Coast was on track towards becoming the continent's fastest-growing economy. The mutinies, however, have raised fears the country might slip back into deadly unrest. A rebellion in 2002 sliced the former French colony into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south, triggering years of unrest. Twelve-year-old Gabriella Ellis of the Delhi Public School (DPS) in Accra placed 1st runner-up after over 12 hours of grueling competition at the grand finale of this year's annual National Spelling Bee contest, which was held at the Accra International Conference Center on Saturday, February 5. Gabriella lost the ultimate prize - consisting of an enticing all-expense paid trip to Washington DC to represent the country at the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee (courtesy South African Airways), GHC10,000 scholarship from Indomie, headline sponsors, GHC10,000 Ecobank Junior Saver account, a glistening trophy, a Mariam Webster Dictionary, Blue Knights Bookshop vouchers, a DSTV decoder and other assorted prizes - to Lily M. Tugbah of Solidarity International School. Ewoenam Afetsi, 13, representing SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, placed third. For her prize, Gabriella Ellis received a DSTV decoder and an all-expense paid trip to the DSTV headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa (courtesy South African Airways), Blue Knights Bookshop vouchers and an assortment of prizes from other sponsors. Speaking to the media after the competition, excited Gabriella disclosed how fulfilled she was to have come that far after she had failed to qualify for the National Finals last year. Everyone who comes here looks to be the ultimate winner, but I am also proud of myself for coming this far, she underscored. All the nine other colleagues of Gabriella made it to Round 3 of the competition, which also involved an earlier written vocabulary test, as well as an oral round which came off at the Christ the King School in Accra. Adam Koray Seidu, 11 years old; Akshaya Lakshika, 9; Dhirhaj Sahijwani, 12; Jeet Thakwani, 10 and Raj Thakwani, 10, advanced to Round 4 of the contest. Both Adam and Raj emerged among the top 10 spellers at the event, cementing the school's place as one of the best-performing institutions in the competition. Raj, who made his debut showing at the finals, disclosed that he's satisfied with his achievement, and looks forward to an improved performance next year. Mother of Adam Koray Seidu, while being elated at her son's improvement from last year (he was in the top 20) admitted that it had not been a rosy road to the top 10 spot. I feel really good just that it's been a lot of very hard work, she said. The glamorous 10th anniversary of the Spelling Bee, which was moderated by Joy FM's Nathaniel Attoh, was graced by esteemed personalities, including Robert Jackson (US Ambassador to Ghana), Efua Ansah (last year's winner and the country's first finalist at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC), former Deputy Tourism Minister, Dzifa Gomashie; the Spelling Bee Team from the U.S; ace broadcasters Nana AnsahKwao IV; Kafui Dey and Nhyira Addo. Officials for this year's event were William Nii Teiko Evans-Anfom (head judge), Nancy Keteku (pronouncer), Joyceline Coleman (pronouncer), Juliet Amoah (associate pronouncer), Apiokor Seyiram Ashong (associate pronouncer), Francis Doku (judge), Stella Kankam (judge), Evangelina A. Odue (national coach) and Emmanuel S. Afful ( deputy national coach). Mr. Mukesh Thakwani, Director of DPS International, Ghana congratulated teachers and management of the school for the training and knowledge they are imparting into the children and assured the school and Ghanaians that DPS International, Ghana will continue to invest in providing its learners with world class education that walks the extra mile. Bamako (AFP) - Mali's security forces on Wednesday arrested two suspects in their search for a Colombian nun kidnapped the night before from a church in the southern part of the country. The woman, identified by Colombia's foreign ministry as 56-year-old Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoti, a Franciscan nun, was seized by armed men in the Karangasso village close to the Burkina Faso border. A total of four armed men told those inside the church they were jihadists before taking the Colombian away, a security source said. Another security source told AFP that two Malian suspects were stopped and taken into custody Wednesday while driving a vehicle belonging to Narvaez's church. "The abductors initially threw her into the ambulance of the church, which led to their arrest," the source told AFP. The kidnappers were heading towards Burkina Faso, where authorities were on alert for signs of the gunmen. The nun was one of four Franciscan nuns living in the village of Karangasso, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital, Bamako, a worker at the church told AFP by telephone. "She was the only one taken by the armed men," the worker said. Edmond Dembele, secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Mali, said bishops were seeking more information about the kidnapping, which took place around 2100 GMT on Tuesday, he told the Vatican's missionary news agency, Fides. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the kidnapping, but attacks in the south of Mali by jihadists, a threat that was once confined to the restive north, have become increasingly common. On Christmas Eve last year a French aid worker, Sophie Petronin, was seized in Gao, in the north. Last month, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa released a new proof-of-life video of Swiss missionary Beatrice Stockly, who has been held hostage by the group for more than a year. The Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) video showed Stockly, who was captured in the north, saying she was in good health. The north fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. They were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013. But the implementation of a peace accord reached in 2015 has been piecemeal, with insurgents still active across large parts of the nation. Attempts by two South Africans to challenge a Ghanaian spiritualist over his powers have landed one of them in serious trouble, requiring immediate intervention to save him from shame. The South African has been left with the problem of continuous diarrhea (loose stool) after stealing a spiritual perfume from spiritualist, Nana Togbe Kedinakpo, known in private life as Eric Awunyo Kwasi, in Tembisa, South Africa. The bizarre incident started when Togbe Kedinakpo started performing a magical show at the Tembisa Shopping Plaza on Sunday, February 5, to the admiration of the audience. His performance was under the watch of the police and the owners of the plaza since he was operating under license. Suddenly, two South African men around the place started challenging him over the authenticity of his powers, in spite of the wonders he was performing. He took up the challenge and applied powder to the cheeks of one of them and pierced them with pins but to the amazement of the man, he had no pain. After that, he cut off his own tongue and later replaced it to the surprise of the crowd that had gathered around him. He subsequently warned them against the consequences of their action after which they appeared to have succumbed following the cheek-piercing show. After the show, he went to his base at Kempton Park and rested till the next day only to be told some visitors were looking for him; he came out to see among the visitors, the second man of the two, who challenged him the previous day at Tembisa. Togbe Kedinakpo, who has his offices at Atwedie, in the Asante Akim and Fawadie-Mampong in the Ashanti region, said the family started pleading with him to save the man from constant loose stool and confessed that he had stolen one of the perfumes he had used for the magical display. Though they returned the perfume, the spiritualist is insisting he wouldnt take it back since he didnt know what they had done to it. The man is in deep trouble with the only option of buying a new perfume in India at a whopping cost of $20,000 before Togbe Kedinakpo leaves South Africa. The construction of a five-storey classroom block at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) senior high school in Kumasi has stalled while authorities grapple with congestion. Officials say the contractor who began the project funded by the KNUST and government of Ghana at an undisclosed amount seven years ago cannot be traced. Only 16 of that 40-unit classroom block can be put to use by school authorities. The project also includes six science laboratories as well as six others for audio visual, home economics, computer laboratories. Assistant Headmaster, Daniel Boamah Duku, says due to the delay, students are congested in their classroom. He is asking for swift government intervention to address the challenges. Mr Duku tells Nhyira News additional ten computers to the old ones will worsen the congestion situation. The school is procuring more computers and these computers donated by 1991 year group will create congestion because of space. "One of the classrooms has been converted into a computer lab and the main computer lab is in the classroom complex that has been abandoned by the contractor. He said it is supposed to contain 40 classrooms, six science laboratories, two computer labs and audiovisual rooms and facilities for the vocational class. "We hope that the classroom complex will be rekindled so that there will be a one to one student computer ratio, he added. Chairman of the donor group, Rev Isaac Opoku Agyemang, is optimistic the computers will help students reach their full potentials in this new era of technology. 08.02.2017 LISTEN Dear Otiko Djaba, how much would you ask for Human Trafficking this year? I know you just came out of a very turbulent vetting and approval process. It was tough, so you probably would wish that I allowed you to settle first, before I brought my problems to you. Last year I did an open letter to the then Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. Amongst the critical questions, I asked was whether she thought Ghana could end Human Trafficking in the next foreseeable future. According to a US 2016 State Departments Trafficking in Persons report, the government of Ghana has decreased efforts to identify and to support victims of human trafficking. The report further states that the Ghanas Department of Social Welfare provided care for only 17 victims of child trafficking for the entire year 2016, and this would not have been possible but for the financial support provided by donors. I will like to juxtapose this government effort with the effort of just one single NGO, Challenging Heights. Just within one operation, Challenging Heights was able to rescue 18 children from trafficking situations. In the year 2016 alone, Challenging Heights provided services for 120 rescued and rehabilitated boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 17, all rescued from fishing communities along Lake Volta. So far, since 2005, Challenging Heights has rescued and rehabilitated over 1,500 of victims of human trafficking. The entire Ghana government has not done even a quarter of this figure under the same period. A couple of years ago, the US State Departments Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report rated Ghana on Tier Two Watch list. This rating was repeated in the year 2016 as the government of Ghana took no serious effort at addressing the issue of human trafficking. Last year the US government issued a warning that if government did not show sufficient commitment to the fight against human trafficking, Ghana was going to lose some vital support that the US government was giving to the country, and this could mean over $500million in aid and other support. Somewhere last year, a man who felt enslaved by poverty, actually sold four of his children, all boys, to a fisherman on Lake Volta. All four of them were sold for GHC500. Challenging Heights, together with the Ghana Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, pursued this case, and within three days, we had rescued all four boys back. Unfortunately, in such a classical case, the government of Ghana failed to provide any resource in the operation to rescue and to care for the children. Challenging Heights paid for every single cost, including transportation for all the members of the operations team, we paid for costs of hotel, and feeding, for every single person, including the police. In addition, we paid for the care of the children, including the after care. We had to pay for transporting the children from our rehabilitation center to the courts during the prosecution processes. I will reiterate my point that sometimes I feel real pains, in the way our government has been handling the issue of Human Trafficking in Ghana. It appears it is a non-issue, and therefore government is unprepared to invest any of our tax money into addressing the situation. Nearly every action that has taken place has been because some donors have provided funding; from the Human Trafficking Act itself, to the Legislative Instrument, to training of the security agencies, to nearly everything; foreign governments, UNICEF, ILO, IOM, have been the ones providing funds for every single action that has taken place. Recently the United States government provided some $5million to support government efforts at addressing the issue of human trafficking. This money was given to Free the Slaves, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to support government efforts. Some of the funds are to rescue victims, others are for the training of security agencies. The government of Ghana has shown a complete lack of interest in providing any counterpart support in this project. This is worrying, as we cannot shirk our responsibilities, and expect a better future for our children. We cannot ignore a problem as big as human trafficking, and expect to stay clean in the committee of nations. We need to recognize that all over the world, countries are taking actions to address human trafficking. The US itself faces the problem of human trafficking in its country. But the US government has made the issue of human trafficking a top priority. The British, the American and several other governments, seeing the threat human trafficking poses, have invested several hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the last decade in fighting the menace, both in their own countries, and abroad. The Vatican, led by Pope Francis, recently initiated a multi faith worldwide project to address the issue of human trafficking. I had the rare privilege of being part of this project from the beginning. The Anglican church, through its Anglican Alliance, is also implementing projects across the world, and I have been blessed to be part of that project too. It is worrying to note the new trend here in Ghana, on Lake Volta, where we are seeing an increasing number of victims who are teenage mothers, and teenage spouses. In a recent research done by Challenging Heights, with support from the Canadian government, we discovered a shocking 40% of girls between the ages of 11 and 16 being victims of early child marriage of children who worked in forced labor in the fishing industry. This is worse than the 33% national average. It is roughly estimate that for every 100 boy child victims who spends 10 years on Lake Volta, more than 30% of them are likely to be married off by age 17, and for every 100 girl child victims who spends 10 years on the Lake Volta, 20% of them are likely to be married off by age 14. We also estimate that for every 100 boy child victims who spend 10 years on the Lake Volta, nearly 60 girls under 15 are likely to be married off from the source communities to 60 of those boys on the Lake. These estimates show that urgent action is needed to break the cycle. Otherwise, as we see this trend increasing, and we see more younger boys and girls being married off at early ages, we will be faced with a more difficult problem to solve. We need some serious action. Right here in Ghana, children are being sold and bought for as low as GHC100. On Lake Volta we have boys and girls, some as young as six years, working day and night, some working between the hours of 3am and 8pm. They cast nets, they paddle canoes, they ply outboard motors, they mend nets, they remove fishes, and they dive deep into the lake to remove trapped nets. We have girls who have been thrown into perpetual servitude, and they serve as sex materials for men who work for older child victims, in addition to working as fishmongers and cooks. These are boys and girls who are oiling the wheels of Ghanas economy at the expense of their freedom, education, health, development, and future. These are boys and girls who have resigned into believing that it is okay to torture other children. These are boys and girls who have been living disposable lives. These boys and girls die needless unreported deaths, some through work related risks, others through work torture, while still others die as a result of neglect. I know that there is some visible progress in reducing the numbers of children trapped in servitude on Lake Volta. This I will mainly attribute to the efforts of civil society organizations, perhaps supported by the Legislative and institutional frameworks created by the Ghana government. But more needs to be done, and government needs to show sincere commitment in investing in programs aimed at addressing the issues. The government of Ghana is about to draw its fiscal budget for the year 2017. I put the same questions to your predecessor; how much would you put in your 2017 fiscal budget to address the issue of Human Trafficking in Ghana? How much would you budget for the Human Trafficking Secretariat? How much would you ask for Police-Ministry collaborative operations? How many shelters would you like to build in the ensuing year? James Kofi Annan What happen to Premier Retails share price? Shares of Premier Retail Ltd [ASX:PMV] opened up more than 11.90% today, at $14.01 per share. The stock is still down 2.84% for the year. But will there be more spikes to come? Why did Premiers share price rises? This morning Premier released a market update to investors. The subject matter related to sales and earnings for the first half of financial year 2017. And as you could probably tell from the share price jump, figures were great. Total sales for the half are expected to total $588.6 million, up 7.1%. The company expects underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) between $9293 million for the half. If achieved it will represent a 9.410.6% jump on FY16 figures. The company will provide further details on their FY17 figures on 21 March, 2017. [ampBannerMM] What happens now? If you even own one Premier share, good news, youre $1.49 richer. But what happens now? Will Premiers share price continue to climb? Will it dip? Or will it just track sideways for a while? Like everyone else, I dont know for certain. But investors will now be focused on that EBIT figure of $9293 million. Shares have now priced in that earnings figure. No prizes for guessing what will happen if they underperform from here until 21 March, 2017. The share price might trend down slightly until then. But if Premiers is going to have another double digit percentage jump in share price, theyll need to report an EBIT of more than $93 million. Crazier things have happened. The company might just be able to do it. But we wont know for sure for another 41 days. Regards, Harje Ronngard, Junior Analyst, Money Morning The Nigerian police has allegedly recovered the sum of N100 million allegedly used by River state's Governor Nyesom Wike to bribe INEC Officials The investigative committee of the Nigerian police has reportedly recovered over N100 million from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials arrested after the Rivers state election rerun. DCP Damian Nkem Okoro presenting report and N111,300 million recovered from 23 INEC officers to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun. READ ALSO: Mega party will take over government in 2019 Party chairman According to Sahara Reporters, the investigative committee of the Nigeria police on Tuesday, February 7, said the recovered money was given to the INEC officials as bribe by the Rivers state government. Security operatives stashing up the recovered money during a visit to the office of Ibrahim Idris, the police IG on Tuesday, February 7. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun. The chairman of the Police panel, DCP Damian Okoro allegedly disclosed that: "The sum total of N111.3 million was recovered from 23 electoral officials out of N360m." Okoro said that some officials got N15 million each while three senior electoral officers got N20 million each. The cash was displayed for all to see during the briefing on Tuesday, February 7. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun. READ ALSO: APC asks Federal Government to sanction Wike Recall that the Nigerian police Special Investigation Panel arrested 26 INEC officials who served in the December 2016 Rivers state National/State Legislative re-run elections. The cash recovered was neatly arranged on a table during the meeting. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun. PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest News on Legit.ng News App Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, January 30, refused an application by the Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike to stop the probe of election violence in the state. The governor had earlier prayed the court to grant an ex-parte motion for an interim injunction on a proposed probe by the Nigerian police. Source: Legit.ng A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has revealed that the N75 million in his GTB account was actually paid to him by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state. Ozekhome says the money found in his account was paid to him by Fayose He however insists that the money was not a proceed from crime but his legal entitlement for working for the governor who he called his client. READ ALSO: Ozekhome agitates for true federalsim Ozekhomes account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the anti-graft agency got a judgement through a motion ex-parte from a Federal High Court, Lagos. This was after the EFCCs lawyer, Idris Abdulahi Mohammed, asked the court for a 120-day freezing of the account to allow for thorough investigation of an alleged money laundering case against the lawyer. But the New Telegraph reports that in his reaction to the judgement, Ozekhome said: For the records, the N75 million was paid into my account by my client, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, as part payment of professional fees for the numerous cases my chambers is currently handling for him (in his personal capacity) and his aides across Nigeria. On the 13th day of December, 2016, I defeated the EFCC in a judgment delivered by the Honourable Justice Taiwo O Taiwo, sitting at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti. In his judgment dated 13th December, 2016, the court ordered the EFCC to immediately defreeze two accounts belonging to Governor Fayose and domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which accounts EFCC had, illegally, unconstitutionally, an in a most uncouth and cavalier manner frozen and blocked in Zenith Bank Plc. READ ALSO: Courts rejects fresh bid by EFCC to freeze Governor Fayoses account The court described the action of the EFCC as illegal, wrongful, unconstitutional and unlawful. Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the same lawyer who was said to have obtained the ex-parte order blocking my account from Honourable Justice Abdulazeez Anka, is the very counsel for the EFCC in the case I won for Governor Fayose before the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti. Source: Legit.ng - Dr Peregrino Brimah, a social commentator has questioned the veracity of the news being doled out to Nigerians on the health status of the president. - He also lambasted the media spokesmen of the president, accusing them of outright deceit. - He insisted that Nigeria is at a grave risk with the cloudy circumstances surrounding the status of the president Dr Peregrino Brimah questioned the integrity of the presidents spokesmen Following the recent letter written by President Muhammadu where he communicated his desire to extend his vacation abroad in order to complete his test cycles, Nigerians have continued to ask questions as to the veracity of the claim. In a latest effort, Dr Peregrino Brimah, a social commentator questioned the integrity of the presidents spokesmen. The commentator insisted that there are possibilities that the spokesmen are still feeding Nigerians with lies concerning the health status of President Buhari. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari has written the National Assembly of his desire to extend his vacation citing medical reasons. The president had gone on a 10-day vacation in the UK which also included medical check-up and was expected back in the country on Monday, February 6. READ ALSO: OPINION: The Buhari presidency and the bright hope ahead According to Brimah Spokesman Femi Adesina repeatedly told the Press that Buhari is completing a "test cycle." I have conferred with several of my Medical colleagues. We are at a loss as to what a "test cycle" is. We know of "chemotherapy treatment cycles," which refer to stipulated times at which drug, radiation and other therapeutic modalities are administrated to chronically ill cancer patients. We know of "tests," which are given upon a patient's visit to a medical facility. But "test cycle?" Is this a new word or brand new medical terminology? Based on the precedence of lies form the presidential media men, "test cycle" is more likely than not, a lie and manipulation of the truth to deceive Nigerians and put the nation at further risk. The media spokesman in failure to perform the duties for which he is paid handsomely, did not mention how and when he spoke with the president or the hospital and how he got the information he relayed to Nigerians that included the novel word, "test cycle." Was it by phone? Was it by Skype? Was it by text? Was it a video call? Did he speak with the president, an aide or the hospital? It is sad and depressing to see that while insults are easy for Buhari's "arrogant" spokesmen to dish out, they cannot do their duties and ridicule national intellect with utterances and attitudes fit of motor-park touts. And this puts it mildly. These are matters of serious concern. PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest news on Legit.ng News App Going further, he noted that Nigeria is at grave risk right now. We demand a full notice of the president's actually health condition. It is our right to see his medical record and this must come from certified physicians. We demand a moratorium of all major transactions and decisions by the federal government until and unless acting president Yemi Osinbajo's total control of power without intimidation is confirmed." Meanwhile, since so much has been said about President Buhari's vacation, there are questions as to the president's state of health, with many arguing for and against his death. Nigerians have however been encouraged to have a positive outlook regarding the alleged death of the president. Source: Legit.ng -The Federal Government has asked the South African Government to investigate and punish those involved in the killing of a Nigerian in Johannesburg in December last year - The FG also called on Pretoria to end extrajudicial killings, criminalisation of immigrants and xenophobic attacks in South Africa. - The Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said that Nigeria and South Africa should rather be engaging in cooperation that could lead to social-economic development as the two giants of Africa The Federal Government has asked the South African Government to investigate and punish those involved in the killing of a Nigerian in Johannesburg in December last year. Nigerians in South Africa protesting against xenophobia It also called on Pretoria to end extrajudicial killings, criminalisation of immigrants and xenophobic attacks in South Africa. READ ALSO: Two Nigerians murdered in cold blood in South Africa The Punch reports that the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who visited the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, in Abuja on Tuesday 7th February sought assurances that xenophobic attacks against Nigerians by South Africans would be stopped. Her visit was sequel to the killing of a Nigerian, Tochukwu Nnadi, in December last year by South African police officers. Nnadi was choked to death for allegedly dealing in hard drug. Dabiri-Erewa complained that over 116 Nigerians were killed within two years in South Africa. She said 63 per cent of the extrajudicial killings were carried out by the police. She expressed sadness over the criminalisation of Nigerians by South Africans, noting that Nigeria and South Africa should rather be engaging in cooperation that could lead to social-economic development as the two giants of Africa. The presidential aide said: The last time we came here was on a sad note, we are here again on another sad note, but you have made very good comment about the fact that we need to work together to stop what is going on anywhere in Africa. We are worried about the criminalisation of immigrants especially among ourselves and we are worried in particular about the criminalisation of Nigerian migrants in South Africa. Erewa pointed out that Nigerians who broke the law deserved to be punished, but added that jungle justice should not be meted on them. She said: Yes, some do commit crimes and they deserved to be punished, but the extrajudicial killings worried us. In the last two years, 116 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa and according to statistics, 63 per cent of them were killed by the police and we hope that the death of the Nigerian who died on the 29th of December, 2016, would get justice in the hands of the South African authorities because I know you will and I believe you will. DOWNLOAD: Legit.ng current affairs app for android to get the latest news Dabiri-Erewa, however, admonished Nigerians living in foreign countries to respect the laws of their hosts, noting that their activities impacted on their compatriots who are law abiding. Earlier, the ambassador had expressed regrets over the killings and assured his guests that the Nigerian government would get the report of investigations into deaths of Nigerians in South Africa. Source: Legit.ng - President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the choice of former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as vice president, according to Pastor Tunde Bakare - Bakare said Okonjo-Iweala was suggested by former president Olusegun Obasanjo under whom she served but Buhari said he preferred a stronger candidate in case he dies in office - The pastor said Buhari made a case for his choice by giving an example of a younger Yar'Adua who died in office President Buhari and Pastor Bakare ran together on the platform of CPC in 2011. Popular pastor and overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly Tunde Bakare has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari had always wanted a vice president that could hold the country together should he die in office. READ ALSO: 116 Nigerians killed in SAfrica in two years FG The Cable reports that Bakare made this revelation to his congregation about a month ago. According to him, Buhari, who rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjos choice of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former minister of finance as a deputy, believed that because of his age, he may die in office. Buhari reportedly gave the example of late President Umar Musa YarAdua as backing for his desire for a strong deputy. Bakare said he has documented all that happened between him and Buhari ahead of the presidential race together on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 in his book: Strategic Intervention in Governance. PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest news on Legit.ng News App After I was called and I went to Abuja, and I sat with Mr President or General Buhari then, I said why me? Im not a politician, I do not belong to any political party, I am not carrying card of any party, why me? He gave me all the reasons, they are written in the book; Strategic Intervention in Governance. He gave three reasons, but the one that made everyone around me that day to dove their hats was when he said: I am not as young as you think, and even YarAdua that is younger is dead. In case I die, I know you can hold the nation together. That was when Jim (he didnt give his surrname) removed his cap and said egbon, you must agree, The Cable quoted Bakare as saying. Meanwhile, acting President Yemi Osinbajo has warned Christian leaders in the country to preach the love of Jesus Christ rather than hate messages. Osinbajo gave the warning on Tuesday, February, 7, when declaring open the 14th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, The Nation reports. Source: Legit.ng - A Boko Haram hunter, Aisha Bakari Gombi, has revealed how she battled Boko Haram insurgents to rescue some of people kidnapped in Borno state - Aisha is one of only a handful of women involved and she has become a heroine for hunters and local people alike - Her gallantry has won her the title queen hunter As seven abducted women and four children were being taken deeper into Sambisa forest, Aisha Bakari Gombi received a call. Aisha Bakari briefing other local hunters before embarking on Boko Haram chase The voice was familiar: an army commander asking her to assemble a group of hunters to track them down. READ ALSO: Boko Haram bomb attack foiled in Maiduguri, 2 arrested (Photo) The seven had vanished earlier that day after a group of Boko Haram militants attacked their village, Daggu. Three local people were shot dead and cars, houses and food stores set ablaze. Daggu is a half-hour drive from Chibok where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted in April 2014. Both villages are in the region of Borno state in north-eastern Nigeria, which has become all too familiar with such attacks by the worlds deadliest terrorist group. UK Guardian reports that Bakari Gombi grew up near the Sambisa forest, where the extremists still operate despite a military offensive last year that destroyed many of their major camps. She used to hunt antelopes, baboons and guinea fowl with her grandfather. Now she hunts Boko Haram. There are thousands of hunters in the region who have been enlisted by the military on an ad hoc basis. But Bakari Gombi is one of only a handful of women involved and she has become a heroine for hunters and local people alike. Her gallantry has won her the title queen hunter. The first rescue mission in Daggu failed because Boko Haram was heavily armed. But we saw where [the girls] are being held, Bakari Gombi explains the morning after. We could free them if the military would give us better weapons, she adds, eyeing the double-barrel shotgun on her lap. Like many in the rural regions of north-east Nigeria, Bakari Gombi is Muslim but also believes in traditional spirits. One of her rituals is to douse fellow hunters with a secret potion to protect them from bullets. The 38-year-old leads a command of men aged 15-30 who communicate using sign language, animal sounds and even birdsong. DOWNLOAD: Legit.ng current affairs app for android to get the latest news Boko Haram know me and fear me, says Bakari Gombi whose band of hunters has rescued hundreds of men, women and children. The Nigerian army began recruiting women in 2011 and, while the numbers remain low nationwide, in this region some women have very personal reasons for joining the counterinsurgency. One of those is Hamsat Hassan, whose sister was kidnapped by Boko Haram two years ago. She has not been seen since. I couldnt fire a gun when I asked to join the Hunters Association in a town also called Gombi, but all I knew was that I wanted to avenge the people who abducted my sister, she says. Hassans grandparents look after her seven children so she is available to hunt whenever her services are called on. While most of the groups are volunteers who juggle their commitments with other jobs, Bakari Gombi and Hassan are among the 228 male and female hunters who were recruited on a more formal basis last year by a local government official. Hunters are doused with a secret potion to grant them immunity to bullets But by October the 10,000 naira (25) allowances paid to the hunters had stopped. Two months later most of the team had pulled out of the programme, though some, including Bakari Gombi and Hassan, remained committed to the fight. Bukar Jimeta, the commander of the Gombi Hunters Association, says though Boko Haram is regrouping in the surrounding areas, the collapse of the programme and lack of funds has left them unable to tackle the growing threat. The hunters are not the only ones experiencing financial difficulty. In December a group of Nigerian soldiers uploaded a video to YouTube in which they appealed for equipment, food and water. The army also faces a corruption scandal at the highest level. The former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is due to stand trial for allegedly stealing 1.8bn allocated for weapons to fight Boko Haram. READ ALSO: Boko Haram allegedly sacks community in Yobe The hunters believe their tracking skills are vital to the armys counterinsurgency efforts, no matter how under-resourced they may be. Im waiting for a call authorising me to go back to rescue those women and children from Daggu, but I dont know if they will give us more arms, says Bakari Gombi. Whether or not she receives the weapons she requires, she vows that her mission to root out Boko Haram from the forest in which she grew up will continue. Source: Legit.ng The United Nations under-secretary-general for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, has revealed that the Boko Haram, the terrorist group that caused major devastation in the north-eastern part of Nigeria, is broke. Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram The insurgents, since they were uprooted from the Sambisa forest in Borno state, have been carrying out attacks on soft targets in the country as well as attacking villages and settlings in neighbouring countries. READ ALSO: Boko Haram allegedly sacks community in Yobe The News Agency of Nigeria, with agency reports, states that Feltman told the Security Council of the UN on the secretary-generals fourth report on the threat the group poses to international peace and security efforts. He noted that the Boko Haram is now under serious military pressure. It however warned that the sect must not be taken for granted. The report quoted him as saying: ISIL-affiliate Boko Haram is attempting to spread its influence and commit terrorist acts beyond Nigeria. And Boko Haram remains a serious threat, with several thousand fighters at its disposal. It is, however, plagued by financial difficulties and an internal power struggle, and has split in two factions. Its fighters, estimated to range from several hundred to 3,000, have moved to other parts of the country. READ ALSO: Police discover Boko Haram feeder cell in Kano ISIL has increased its presence in West Africa and the Maghreb, though the group does not control significant amounts of territory in the region. The reported pledge of loyalty to ISIL by a splinter faction of Al-Mourabitoun led by Lehbib Ould Ali may elevate the level of the threat. Source: Legit.ng A report by Bloomberg has detailed how the year 2017 is a defining year for President Muhammadu Buharis government in its quest to improve Nigerias economy. It is a 'make' or 'break' year for Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari This is coming after a growing discontent mounting in Nigeria over the economic policies of the government and the after effect on the Nigerian people. The Buharis administration is now seeking to raise international debt, as lenders and investors are waiting for the government to announce a plan that could determine whether he keeps his promises to boost the economy and create millions of jobs. The governments economic blueprint for the next four years is due to be released this month and expectations are high that the document will bring out Nigeria from its recession. The blueprint is also expected to boost the annual economic growth rate to at least 7 percent by 2020, budget and planning minister, Mr Udo Udoma told journalists on Monday, February 6 in Abuja. Minister Udo Udoma is one of the key ministers expected to drive Nigeria's economic recovery plan The recovery and growth plan for 2017 to 2020 comes after Buhari forced the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintain a currency peg for more than a year, curbing foreign investment, while the importers of certain raw materials and equipment are still banned from accessing dollars, denting manufacturing output. Buhari approved the 2016 budget almost five months after the start of the year, causing delays in spending and adding to the woes of an economy hurt by declining oil prices and output. This is the last opportunity, if it has taken them two years to develop a plan, I dont want to believe it wont work, otherwise it will be total failure for this government, Ayodele Akinwunmi, head of research at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited opined. The government said ensuring macroeconomic stability, foreign-exchange availability and food and energy security are its immediate. Part of the plan will be to boost oil production and revamp refineries, raise power generation, build food-processing zones, and invest in mines, and the government could sell assets and increase foreign borrowing to fund this. Nigeria sought about $4.5 billion of external funding last year, but only managed to borrow $600 million from the African Development Bank, which will be used for power generation, roads, railways and ports. The government has struggled to obtain more financing as foreign investors and the IMF have criticized its currency policies, which they say have left the naira overvalued and led to a severe shortage of the foreign-exchange businesses need to import raw materials and equipment. Source: Legit.ng Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, has said he made an eternal commitment to always speak the truth no matter what. His statement comes on the heels of criticism from Nigerians over comments made on the health status of his principal, who is in the United Kingdom on a medical vacation. Femi Adesina says some people want lies but they wont get it from him PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest news on Legit.ng News App On Tuesday, February 7, Adesina told Channels Television that he does not speak directly with Buhari, but that those around him have said the president is fine. Im in touch with London daily, Im not saying I speak with him direct, but Im in touch with London daily, people around him we speak daily, he had said. He added that Buhari should be expected back in the country sooner that people think. This came as a surprise to many Nigerians, who was expecting Buhari to return to the country on Sunday, February 5, before he extended his vacation indefinitely. But in a swift response to his critics, Adesina has said that some people prefer to be lied to, but such persons will not get that from him. In a tweet on Wednesday, February 8, Adesina said: Some folks would rather be lied to. But they wont get it from this spokesman. An eternal commitment to the truth, no matter what. God rules. Source: Legit.ng - Governor Ayodele Fayose accuses security agencies of detaining innocent citizens and perceived opponents of the federal government for flimsy reasons - Chief Judge of Delta state, Marshal Umukoro, urges state governors to sign the death warrant of inmates on death roll in order to decongest the prisons Governor Fayose accuses security agencies of detaining detain innocent citizens for flimsy reasons. Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has said the federal government and its law enforcement are to blame for contributing to the problem of prison congestion in Nigeria. READ ALSO: Probe IPOB killings, activist mounts pressure on Osinbajo Fayose made the accusation when responding to a letter by the national security adviser, Major General B.M Mungonu (rtd), with reference number NSA/601/A and dated January 16, 2017 on the need to facilitate quick decongestion of Nigerian prisons. According to Tribune, the NSA in the letter had described the congestion of prisons by awaiting trial suspects and condemned convicts as a major problem bedevilling the administration of Justice in Nigeria. In reply, Fayose accused security agencies such as police, DSS and the EFCC arresting and detaining innocent citizens and perceived opponents of the federal government for flimsy reasons and on malicious, spurious and unfounded allegations. Prison congestion has long been a problem of several prisons across the country are facing. READ ALSO: EFCC goes after Ibori with 170-count charge In proffering solution to the issue, the chief Judge of Delta state, Marshal Umukoro, urged state governors to sign the death warrant of inmates on death roll in order to decongest the prisons. Umukoro who gave the charge on Wednesday, February 1, in Ibadan during the 2017 Aquinas Day colloquium of Dominican Institute said signing the death warrant would reduce prison congestion, and served as deterrent to others. At the lecture titled: The Judiciary and Criminal Justice System: Odds and Ends, Mr. Umukoro said recent statistics from the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, indicated that no fewer than 1,612 inmates are on death sentence in Nigeria prisons, Premium Times reports. The chief judge also called for synergy between the police, prisons and the courts in order to boost justice administration. Source: Legit.ng - Some religious clerics on Wednesday, February 8, met in Abuja to discuss the rise in hate speech among Nigerians - The clerics urged Nigerians to pray for the country and her leaders - The group also resolved to hold an inter faith praise concert to celebrate the achievements of President Muhammadu Buharis led administration Some religious clerics on Wednesday, February 8, met in Abuja to discuss the rise in hate speech among Nigerians. The clerics Muslims and Christians urged Nigerians to pray for the country and her leaders. The group said patriotism is the key to the survival of nationhood. After the meeting the group - Christian/Muslim Intellectual Forum (CMIF) led by a civil society organization, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJECT), resolved to hold an inter faith praise concert to celebrate the achievements of President Muhammadu Buharis led administration. READ ALSO: Nigeria: A hell-hole for Christians by Femi Fani-Kayode The group said the concert will serve a threat against terrorism and corruption which has ravaged the country. A communique signed by Reverend Steven Onwu, the chairman, communique drafting committee; secretary, Garba Shehu and Dan Enyi said the sustained frosty relationship between followers of different faith is unhealthy. The communique read in part: "The young intellectuals of both faiths accepted and elected upon themselves to become vanguards and crusaders of mutual inter-faith relations in their respective communities and places of worship through enlightenment campaigns and conduct opposed to the exacerbation of religious issues/tensions throughout the country." READ ALSO: Invite Goodluck Jonathan for questioning, Northern clerics charge security agencies It said: "The youths of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria agreed to start action to begin a joint annual national religious feast/carnival where worshipers of both faiths would intermingle to collectively beseech God Almighty in prayers, songs and dances for the peace and development of Nigeria. The gathering will also offer a platform for interactions, dialogues and discussions of issues/problems afflicting the practice of both religions and proffer solutions. With time, the scope could be expanded to include quarterly joint conferences and seminars to discuss emerging religious issues, affairs or trends. See photos from the meeting below: "The Muslim and Christian youths reached a consensus that henceforth matters of religion shall not reflect in our social interactions, workplace, homes and anywhere Nigerians converge. And that the practice of religion shall be perceived more as something very personal to the believer or worshiper and shall never be reason for strained relationships, unnecessary politicization and incitement to anarchy. READ ALSO: Religion cannot offer Nigerians an alternative "The forum also condemned in strong terms the penchant of some clerics for hate speeches; inflammatory or inciting sermons and resolved from now onwards not to tolerate preachments. Instead, preachers who undermine the essence of love, peace and unity, which are the cardinal values of all religions shall be deserted." Source: Legit.ng The Nigerian Navy has flagged an operation to tackle maritime criminality like sea robbery, piracy and others in the Niger Delta region. Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, represented by Chief of Training and Operation, Naval Headquarters Rear Adm. Adeniyi Osinowo, flagged off the operation in Warri. Photo: Nigerian Tribune. Nigerian Tribune reports that the operation called tagged Operation Tsare Teku was flagged off by the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas in Warri, Delta state on Wednesday, February 8 in readiness of the Navy to rid the waterways of criminal activities. READ ALSO: Nigeria economic woe is everybodys fault Gov. Ahmed Vice Admiral Ibas, who was represented by Rear Adm. Adeniyi Osinowo, the chief of training and operation at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, said the operation became necessary because the effects of the activities of illegal refiners were becoming worrisome. What is really of concern to Navy is that the agitation of some of the militant groups has transmitted in one way of the other detrimental to the image of the nation. Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Rear Adm. Mohammed Garba, said Operation Tsare Teku was aimed at safeguarding the maritime domain. PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest news on Legit.ng News App Statistics at our disposal shows that there is reduction in occurrences of piracy, sea robbery and other forms of crime in the waterways. To those who are bent on perpetrating maritime crime, it is no longer a business as usual, he said. Meanwhile, Seven Russian citizens and a Ukranian have been reportedly attacked and abducted by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea 45 nautical miles south-west off Brass, Nigeria. News of the incident was broken by the Russia News Agency TASS which said the general cargo ship, BBC Caribbean, was attacked near Pennington Oil Terminal at the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Source: Legit.ng Presently, there are different versions of the origin of man on earth. These are various scientific, alternative, and apocalyptic theories. However, African hypothesis of the origin of modern humans is the most grounded in science. Did humans come from Africa? What is the origin of man according to science? Continue reading to know the facts. The initial idea of the evolution of man is reflected in the ancient mythologies. Later, there were different versions of the origin of man. Nevertheless, African hypothesis of the origin of modern humans is the most grounded in science nowadays. What is the origin of man according to science? African hypothesis of origin of modern humans According to this hypothesis, the primary area of origin of man is Africa. The founders of this hypothesis were renowned British scientists Louis and Mary Leakey. What is the origin of man according to science? The hypothesis is based on their findings in the Olduvai Gorge, in northern Tanzania, which gave the name to Oldowan culture. Thanks to the huge range of modern research. This hypothesis is now recognized as the first origin of humans according to science. What is the origin of man according to science? During 1930s-60s, archaeologists Louis, Mary and Jonathan Leakey conducted large-scale excavations in the Olduvai Gorge. In 1959-1963, scientists made the most important discoveries, some of which became an essential step in human origins research. In particular, they found the remains of Homo Habilis (two million years ago). What is the origin of man according to science? They resembled monkeys, who already crossed the line that separated a man from the animal. READ ALSO: Top museums in Nigeria: location and year of establishment They also found Australopithecus skull, chipped bones of killed animals during hunting, and rough stone tools belonging to the ancient Paleolithic era (Oldowan culture). What is the origin of man according to science? Near the remains of human beings, the scientists found the remains of animals of the same period. The largest of them was Crocodylus anthropophagus. What is the origin of man according to science? Thanks to the huge range of modern research, this hypothesis is now recognized as the leading theory of the origin of humans according to science. According to the theory, modern humans developed in Africa and then began to disperse through the world unevenly 50,000 to 100,000 years ago. What is the origin of man according to science? Recent origin of modern humans in East Africa was quoted as the scientific consensus as of the mid-2000s. Thus, we know the exact origin of man according to science. According to it, humans came from Africa. They appeared in the area that is adjacent to the Great Rift Valley, crossing the continent from South to North. According to this hypothesis, a man appeared in Africa and spread throughout the world from our continent, replacing populations of Homo Erectus and the early version of Homo sapiens Homo Neanderthalensis. READ ALSO: Major historical events in Nigeria before colonial era Source: Legit.ng Following claims of a rift with the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has denied any friction. NSCDC, Peace Corps clash: Authorities make critical statements Vanguard reports that the Defence Corps pledged to work with any government agency to improve the security situation in the country. The NSCDC Spokesperson, Mr Emmanuel Okeh said this in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja. Okeh was reacting to reports of friction and alleged fracas between both organisations in Osun in January. The Senate had in Dec. 2016, passed the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill to empower the youth and operate as a security outfit under the Ministry of Interior. NSCDC Though, the bill is still awaiting the presidents assent. Okeh, however, said that he was not aware of any fracas between NSCDC officials and the PCN in any part of the country. I am not aware of any problem between NSCDC officials and the Peace Corp. The NSCDC is always ready to collaborate with any government agency and NGO to ensure peace and stability in the country, he said. According to him, though the PCN is not yet a recognised government agency, the NSCDC will be ready to collaborate with it when it comes on stream like its been doing with other security agencies. The NSCDC spokesperson dismissed insinuations that the PCN was just a reduplication of the activities of the Corps, insisting that the role of each organisation would be clearly spelt out by the law. On any existing relationship between both organisations, he said that the Civil defense corps was not involved in any training of PCN officials or joint operation for now. He stressed that with the security situation in the country, no security agency could deal with the myriad of security threats confronting the country alone. Okeh called on Nigerians to continue to support the corps and other security agencies in their bid to ensure a peaceful and prosperous nation. Source: Legit.ng Hajiya Rakiya who is the sister of President Muhammadu Buhari has said she communicates with him every day and urged Nigerians to continue to pray for his well being. NAN reports that the only surviving elder sister of the president said Nigerians should desist from spreading rumour of his death as he needed the prayers of every Nigerian for him to succeed in the task of addressing the problems facing the nation. READ ALSO: Senator gives details of Buharis medical status She said President Buhari is bound to fall ill or even die at any time his Creator wishes. She said the president is in high spirit as she speaks with him regularly since he travelled to London. I speak with Buhari every day - President's sister I just returned from the lesser Hajj and even while in Saudi Arabia I was communicating with him everyday. We were 28 from our mother late Hajiya Zulaihatu who died in 1992, but Buhari was her last born Amadodo as she is popularly called said she speaks with him every ten hours. Alhaji Abdulman Daura who is the organising secretary of the All Progressives Congress in the northwest said the rumour about the presidents death was baseless. A close ally to the president, Alhaji Aminu Na-Dari also commented on the issue of the presidents health saying he speaks with Buhari regularly too and that he is hale and hearty. He said the current economic problem in the country was not caused by President Buhari but that he is working seriously to salvage the situation. Source: Legit.ng ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Feb. 8, 2017) Twenty-six federally insured credit unions subject to civil monetary penalties for filing late Call Reports in the third quarter of 2016 have consented to penalties totaling $17,485, the National Credit Union Administration announced today. In the third quarter of 2015, 22 credit unions consented to penalties. Individual penalties ranged from $45 to $10,000. The median penalty was $174. The Federal Credit Union Act requires NCUA to send any funds received through civil monetary penalties to the U.S. Treasury. A list of credit unions filing late in the third quarter and agreeing to pay civil monetary penalties is available online here. The assessment of penalties primarily rests on three factors: the credit unions asset size, its recent Call Report filing history and the length of the filing delay. Of the 26 credit unions agreeing to pay penalties for the third quarter of 2016: Fourteen had assets of less than $10 million; Nine had assets between $10 million and $50 million; and Three had assets between $50 million and $250 million. No credit unions with assets of more than $250 million were subject to civil monetary penalties for filing late Call Reports in the third quarter. Three of the late-filing credit unions had been late in a previous quarter. A total of 40 credit unions filed Call Reports late for the third quarter of 2016. NCUA consulted regional offices and, when appropriate, state supervisory authorities to review each case. That review determined mitigating circumstances in six cases that led to credit unions not being penalized. Another six credit unions received a requested waiver. Two state-chartered credit unions paid penalties to their state regulators. NCUA informed the remaining credit unions of the penalties they faced and advised them they could reduce their penalties by signing a consent agreement. NCUA also said it would initiate administrative hearings against credit unions that did not consent. NCUA sends reminder messages about Call Report filing deadlines that include information on how to receive technical support to handle filing problems. The agency also has created an automated reminder email system that contacts credit unions that have not filed their Call Reports and confirms successful filing. NCUAs Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives has dedicated an Economic Development Specialist to assist small credit unions in filing Call Reports on time. Credit unions that would like assistance should send an email to OSCUIConsulting@ncua.gov. NCUA also has produced a video (opens new window) describing how to file Call Reports. President Yoweri Museveni has warned his ruling National Resistance Movement Members of Parliament against voting jobless people to the East African Legislative Assembly. He says the region instead needs people who understand and will fast track integration. The President, who is also the Chairperson of the ruling party, was speaking to the NRM Parliamentary caucus members at state house Entebbe shortly before choosing candidates they will be presenting to Parliament for elections to the East African Legislative Assembly. He has also urged successful candidates to enforce the merger of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the East African Community in matters of trade, but quickly added that integrating politically beyond the East African Community member states would create problems. Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa says 38 out of the 43 candidates will be considered after the rest pulled out. Candidates and their agents were seen doing intense lobbying, with others chanting names of their preferred contestants during the Presidents communication. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Fannie Mae, the gigantic government-sponsored mortgage service entity, has guaranteed $1 billion of debt backed by Invitation Homes, the single-family rental business owned by the giant private equity firm Blackstone. In making the guarantee, Fannie is taking a big leap into the growing home rental market, in which Blackstone is the biggest player. But its also a sign that the true comeback kids are not the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots but Fannie Mae and its cousin, Freddie Mac, both of which were supposed to be left for dead a decade ago. Fannie and Freddie, as you may remember, were buffeted by the financial crisis. In September 2008, the government put the two entities into conservatorship and provided a $187.5 billion bailout. The choice was based on a careful legal and economic calculus. The government could not afford to liquidate the entities, which had trillions of dollars in mortgage assets, without further damage to the economy. However, the government also decided not to fully nationalize them. The reasons were political: The government did not want to look as if it owned these two entities, and nationalizing Fannie and Freddie would also have added trillions of dollars in debt to the governments balance sheet, blowing up the national debt ceiling. Fannie and Freddie were, thus, cast into purgatory. They were put under the supervision of the government, but the public still owned 20.1 percent of them. The idea was to gradually run down the entities debt and come up with a better idea for developing a healthy and growing mortgage market free of the implicit government backing they long enjoyed. At the time, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. said there is a consensus today that these enterprises pose a systemic risk and they cannot continue in their current form and that the government would make a grave error if they did not permanently address issues involving the government-sponsored enterprises, or G.S.E.s. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Toni Valentine, a third-year law student, wanted to know if her school, Charlotte School of Law, was going to close, but it was not telling her. So, she took an overnight bus last month from here to the Education Department in Washington. I was exhausted and dressed in sweats, and dragging my suitcase, Ms. Valentine, 30, said. But that didnt stop me. After hearing her out, officials at the agency later that day sent her and other students an email explaining that closed-door negotiations to restore the law schools access to federal loans had broken down. The for-profit school, with hundreds of students, remains in business, even without the lifeline of federal student aid. It is counting on the Education Department under the Trump administration to reopen the loan spigot that the agency turned off last month after the American Bar Association, the law school accreditor, found that the school did not satisfy its admissions and curriculum standards. South Carolina regulators on Tuesday rejected an effort by the Trump Organization to limit its environmental cleanup liabilities at an industrial site once owned by President Trumps eldest son. The decision is a rebuke of the Trump Organization and could result in millions of dollars in added costs for the company. It followed a refusal by the organization to provide regulators with required information about business and financial relationships between the president and his son Donald Trump Jr. The Trump Organization had no immediate comment. The issue grew out of the younger Mr. Trumps involvement in Titan Atlas Manufacturing, a company that he helped start in 2010 in North Charleston, S.C., and that failed two years later. In 2014, Donald J. Trump, while he was still running the Trump Organization, bailed out his son, who was then facing payment of a $3.65 million bank loan to Titan Atlas. The elder Mr. Trump created an entity called D B Pace, which took over the loan and the six-acre Titan Atlas site. For years, false claims have bubbled from an especially noxious internet crockpot. The walks on the moon were faked by NASA. The Sept. 11 attacks and the bombing of an Oklahoma City federal building were inside jobs carried out by the United States government. The slaughter of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut did not actually happen but was staged by gun-control advocates, using child actors. Most people might want to get as far away as possible from this brew of toxins, carried on a website and radio show run by an ally of President Trump. But not the president. As he has before, President Trump dipped a ladle into this pot on Monday, asserting in a speech before military leaders in Florida that the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report on episodes of terrorism. The White House followed up by releasing a list of 78 incidents of Islamic violence that the administration claims were played down. In fact, nearly all of them were covered by The New York Times and other news outlets, some with multiple reports from journalists around the world. The falsehood Mr. Trump uttered in his speech on Monday echoes untrue reports of a cover-up of Islamic terrorism that have been made repeatedly on Infowars, a website that traffics in conspiracy theories like those about Sept. 11 and the mass shooting at the elementary school. The site was founded by Alex Jones, on whose radio show Mr. Trump appeared during the primary campaign. Your reputation is amazing, Mr. Trump told Mr. Jones, promising to return. Mayor Bill de Blasio will probably be on familiar ground when he is questioned by federal prosecutors and F.B.I. agents in New York as part of a sweeping criminal investigation into his campaign fund-raising. It was unclear when exactly the interview would take place, but it was expected to be conducted in a conference room at offices of Mr. de Blasios lawyers firm in Midtown Manhattan, people with knowledge of the matter have said, not in the offices of Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan. It was expected that the interview would last about four hours, the people said. The parameters of the session took shape after extensive negotiations between prosecutors and the mayors lawyer, Barry H. Berke, the people said, and it was possible that some details could change. The prosecutors overseeing the fund-raising investigation have been examining whether the mayor or others in his administration traded favorable city action for donations to his campaign or to his now-defunct nonprofit political group. They want to question the mayor about more than a dozen topics, several of the people have said. Government really sucks. This belief, expressed by the just-confirmed education secretary, Betsy DeVos, in a 2015 speech to educators, may be the only qualification she needed for President Trump. Ms. DeVos is the perfect cabinet member for a president determined to appoint officials eager to destroy the agencies they run and weigh the fate of policies and programs based on ideological considerations. She has never run, taught in, attended or sent a child to an American public school, and her confirmation hearings laid bare her ignorance of education policy and scorn for public education itself. She has donated millions to, and helped direct, groups that want to replace traditional public schools with charter schools and convert taxpayer dollars into vouchers to help parents send children to private and religious schools. While her nomination gave exposure to an honest and passionate debate about charter schools as an alternative to traditional public schools, her hard-line opposition to any real accountability for these publicly funded, privately run schools undermined their founding principle as well as her support. Even champions of charters, like the philanthropist Eli Broad and the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, opposed her nomination. President Donald Trump and his family have done little to assuage concerns that they see the White House as a cash cow. The president has bucked tradition by refusing to release his tax returns. He ignored pleas from the Office of Government Ethics, which called on him to fully divest his holdings in order to avoid dragging mounds of conflicts of interest into the Oval Office. The presidents adult sons have been busy working on projects at home and abroad now that the Trump name opens more doors than ever. Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter, conspicuously wore a piece from her jewelry line in a postelection interview on CBSs 60 Minutes. But any veneer of plausible deniability about the Trump familys greed and their transactional view of the most powerful job in the world was shattered this week by a defamation lawsuit the first lady, Melania Trump, filed. Mrs. Trump is suing The Daily Mails website in New York State court over a story published last year that included a baseless claim that the former model once worked as an escort. Mrs. Trump is certainly entitled to challenge the accuracy of that allegation and to argue that it was defamatory. But her assessment of the damage the claim has done to her earning potential is galling, and revelatory. As a result of the report published in August, Mrs. Trump contends in the suit, her brand has lost significant value, and major business opportunities that were otherwise available to her have been lost and/or substantially impacted. The suit offers no specific examples of lost business opportunities. Welcome! You have come to the right place. Khmerization is a home to the Cambodian daily news, which is updated twice daily. Please take a tour and enjoy yourself. Thank you. To contact Khmerization please send an email to: The modern-day vice president serves primarily as a close presidential adviser and assistant. The vice presidents move from Capitol Hill to the White House has allowed the office to become a significant institution. But this week, Mike Pence reminded Americans of an older role the vice president also sometimes serves: that of legislative officer who can preside over the Senate. Vice President Pence on Tuesday saved the administration and Betsy DeVos, President Trumps nominee for secretary of education, from an embarrassing defeat. It was a historic moment: None of Mr. Pences 47 predecessors has ever cast a tiebreaking vote to install a cabinet officer over the opposition of 50 percent of the Senate. The close split in the Senate and controversial nature of the DeVos nomination gave Mr. Pence this unique opportunity on Day 18 of his vice presidency. By contrast, his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden Jr., served 2,922 days in the nations second office (after having been elected to seven terms in the Senate) without getting to break a single Senate tie. Mr. Biden was one of only 12 vice presidents not to break a tie of any sort. The tiebreaking performances of some vice presidents contributed to the familiar lore disparaging the second office. Vice President John C. Calhoun cast the decisive vote to defeat President Andrew Jacksons nomination of his close ally, Martin Van Buren, to be ambassador to Britain in 1832. The setback to Van Burens career was only temporary; the following year he replaced Calhoun as Jacksons vice president and, four years later, became president. In these distinctly abnormal times for the republic, with Donald Trump in the White House and a group of unprepared revolutionaries around him, one must be grateful for small doses of normalcy and politics as usual. Thank heavens, then, for Senate Democrats, who just gave us the most predictable of spectacles: a liberal holy war against Betsy DeVos, just confirmed as the new secretary of education by Mike Pences tiebreaking vote. A visitor from Saturn might be puzzled by this particular crusade, since none of the things that liberals profess to fear the most about a Trump era revolve around education policy. If Trump is planning to surrender Eastern Europe to the Russians or start a world war with the Chinese, perhaps his secretary of state nominee deserved an all-night talkathon of opposition. If hes bent on domestic authoritarianism with a racist tinge, then its Jeff Sessions, his attorney general, who presents the natural target for Democratic protest. If the biggest problem is that Trump will nominate allies who are unqualified for their responsibilities, then the choice of Ben Carson to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development seems like an obvious place to draw a line. But somehow it was DeVos who became, in the parlance of cable-news crawls, Trumps most controversial nominee. Never mind that Trumps logorrheic nationalism barely has time for education. Never mind that local control of schools makes the Education Department a pretty weak player. Never mind that Republican views on education policy are much closer to the expert consensus than they are on, say, climate change. Never mind that the bulk of DeVoss school-choice work places her only somewhat to the right of the Obama administrations pro-charter-school positioning, close to centrist Democrats like Senator Cory Booker. None of that mattered: Against her and (so far) only her, Democrats went to the barricades, and even dragged a couple of wavering Republicans along with them. DeVos did look unprepared and even foolish at times during her confirmation hearings, and she lacks the usual government experience. But officially the opposition claimed to be all about hardheaded policy empiricism. A limited and heavily regulated charter school program is one thing, the argument went, but DeVoss zeal for free markets would gut public education and turn kids over to the not-so-tender mercies of unqualified bottom-liners. Just look at what happened in her native Michigan, her critics charged, where the influence of her philanthropic dollars helped flood Detroits school system with unsupervised charters run by incompetents and hacks. Attacks on the plan can be expected from many quarters, even among supporters of a carbon tax in theory. Supporters of the Clean Power Plan are likely to oppose its repeal. Democrats also tend to oppose limitations on the right to sue like those envisioned in the Baker proposal. And the idea of a dividend will no doubt anger those in the environmental movement who would prefer to see the money raised by the tax used to promote renewable energy and other new technologies to reduce emissions. It is also unclear how the plan will be received by the Trump administration. Stephen K. Bannon, the senior counselor to the president, has shown little interest in appeasing establishment Republicans. Breitbart News, which Mr. Bannon led before joining the Trump White House staff, has been outspoken in denying the science of climate change. Whatever the fate of the plan, it is a notable moment because it puts influential members of the Republican establishment on the record as favoring action on climate change a position that is publicly held by few Republicans at the national level, though many quietly say they would like to throw off the orthodoxy in the party that opposes action. Alexander Duncan McCowen was born on May 26, 1925, in Tunbridge Wells, England. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked with several repertory theaters before making his London debut in 1950 in Chekhovs Ivanov. His first movie role was in The Cruel Sea (1953), a British war film starring Jack Hawkins. In 1959, Mr. McCowen became a member of the Old Vic Company. Maggie Smith joined at the same time, and Judi Dench was also a member. He appeared in Richard II and Twelfth Night, among other plays, all the while feeling overshadowed by the stage pillars of an earlier generation, notably John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson. They were like giants to me, he told the British newspaper The Independent in the early 1990s, not just gigantic performances, but they appeared to be actually physically larger than life. I think they cast a wicked spell on my generation, the big three, because most of us just assumed we couldnt do it too. He left the Old Vic in 1961 and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1962. A hallmark of his early years with the troupe was Peter Brooks celebrated production of King Lear, in which Mr. McCowen played the Fool alongside Paul Scofield in the title role. (Thirty years later, after a long absence from Shakespeare, he returned to play Prospero at Stratford-upon-Avon in a Shakespeare company production of The Tempest directed by Sam Mendes.) After his success with Hadrian VII he gave more than 500 performances Mr. McCowen went on to star in Christopher Hamptons play The Philanthropist, which became a runaway hit in London in 1970 but was less successful on Broadway, where it ran for only 64 performances. Nevertheless, he received another Tony nomination and won a Drama Desk Award. His theater credits also included the 1973 London premiere of Peter Shaffers Equus, in which he played a psychiatrist who tries to treat a pathological young man who blinds horses, and Molieres The Misanthrope, in which he co-starred with Diana Rigg. In 1984, Mr. McCowen undertook another one-man show, Kipling, a collaboration with the playwright Brian Clark, which had its premiere in London and moved to Broadway later that year. He had long been fascinated with Rudyard Kipling, and in a Times interview shortly before the shows Broadway opening, he called him the greatest English literary entertainer since Dickens. The Helen Hayes Theater, now being renovated after being sold to the nonprofit Second Stage Theater, is also getting a major upgrade: The cramped womens room, which had five toilets, has been demolished and will reopen with 10; the mens room, which had one toilet and three urinals, will reopen with two toilets and four urinals. The theater is also adding two bathrooms with access for those with disabilities. And more is ahead: Jujamcyn Theaters plans to add three additional womens stalls, one mens stall and three urinals to the St. James, as well as reconfigure that buildings lobby to allow bathroom lines to flow better, as it expands the theater between a run of Present Laughter and the much-anticipated stage adaptation of Frozen. The Nederlander Organization expects to renovate the Palace Theater, currently home to a revival of Sunset Boulevard, as part of a development project that will involve lifting the theater 29 feet and will create more space for bathrooms. And the Shuberts anticipate renovations at three theaters: the Ambassador, the Cort and the Lyceum. The challenge is clearly visible these days at many shows, including Waitress, a hit musical that, with a story about empowerment, a song about pregnancy testing and a joke about estrogen asphyxiation, is drawing a heavily female crowd. At one evening performance last week, the line for women zigzagged from one side of the mezzanine to the other and back again, contained by ropes, organized by ushers, overflowing into stairwells, hemmed in by a bar. Two ushers controlled the line; a third stood at the bathroom entrance directing women to specific stalls. We do this eight times a week, an usher said. We have a system. As the lights dimmed for Act II to begin, an usher sent six women still waiting in line to the mens room. That scene has been playing out throughout the run of the show at a matinee performance last year, several women sitting in the orchestra section bolted down the aisle as soon as Bad Idea, the final song in the first act, began to play; during the intermission, ushers were radioing stage managers to give updates about the line progress. If we cannot set aside party loyalty long enough to perform the essential duty of vetting the presidents nominees, what are we even doing here? AL FRANKEN, the Democratic senator from Minnesota, just before the Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Two senators crossed party lines to vote against her, forcing Vice President Mike Pence to break the tie. In a party-line vote, 49 to 43, senators upheld Mr. Dainess decision, forcing Ms. Warren into silence, at least on the Senate floor, until the showdown over Mr. Sessionss nomination is complete. He is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday. Immediately, Democrats took up Ms. Warrens cause, urging on social media for Republicans to #LetLizSpeak. Ms. Warren said on Twitter that Mr. McConnell had silenced Mrs. Kings voice on the Senate floor, to say nothing of millions who are afraid & appalled by whats happening in our country. Within hours of being shut down on the Senate floor, Ms. Warren read the letter from Mrs. King on Facebook, attracting more than two million views an audience she would have been unlikely to match on C-Span, if she had been permitted to continue speaking in the chamber. Democrats argued that Mr. McConnell was enforcing the rule selectively, citing examples of Republicans appearing to test the boundaries of Rule XIX. In one instance from 2015, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas accused Mr. McConnell of lying over and over and over again. In another, last year, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas described the cancerous leadership of Senator Harry Reid, the former Democratic leader. Republicans accused Ms. Warren of violating the rule repeatedly, saying she had been warned before Mr. McConnells objection. Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, suggested that Ms. Warren had been rebuked over a quotation from Senator Ted Kennedy that called the nominee a disgrace to the Justice Department. Our colleagues want to try to make this all about Coretta Scott King, and it is not, he said. But when Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, sought clarification, he was informed that while a warning was issued over the letter from Mr. Kennedy, the ruling itself hinged on Mrs. Kings letter. That judgment came from Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, who had taken over as the presiding officer. In either event, Republicans suggested, the episode spoke to Democrats inability to accept the results of the 2016 election and, more narrowly, to adhere to the rules of a body where decorum has often fallen away. Its incredible to say that the media does not give enough attention to terrorism, said David C. Rapoport, a retired U.C.L.A. political science professor considered a founder of terrorism studies. He said modern global terrorism arose in the 1880s in Russia in parallel with, and partly owing to, the rise of mass daily newspapers. In the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, even failed terrorist plots often have drawn saturation coverage think of the fizzled so-called underwear bomb on a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009 or the S.U.V. jury-rigged to blow up that produced only smoke in Times Square on a May night in 2010. Though no target was harmed, both attempts drew mountains of coverage, much of it focused on how terrorists went undetected. But in an appearance Monday at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., Mr. Trump reviewed the horrors of more recent attacks, including those inspired or directed by the Islamic State, and pronounced the coverage inadequate. Radical Islamic terrorists are determined to strike our homeland as they did on 9/11, as they did from Boston to Orlando to San Bernardino, he said at the headquarters of Central Command, which carries out military operations in the Middle East. All over Europe its happening. Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported and, in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that. The president did not explain the reasons he believed journalists might have for not reporting Islamist terrorism. But in response to a wave of skeptical comment, the White House on Monday night released a list of 78 attacks around the world since September 2014. Most have not received the media attention they deserved, the accompanying statement said. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, stood by the point on Tuesday, though adjusting the language. Its becoming too often that were seeing these attacks not get the spectacular attention that they deserve, he said. And I think it undermines the understanding of the threat that we face around this country. WASHINGTON A Justice Department lawyer on Tuesday said courts should not second-guess President Trumps targeted travel ban, drawing skepticism from a three-judge federal appeals panel weighing the limits of executive authority in cases of national security. But even August E. Flentje, the Justice Departments lawyer, sensed he was not gaining ground with that line of argument. Im not sure Im convincing the court, Mr. Flentje said. It was a lively but technical hearing on an issue that has gripped much of the countrys attention and that of foreign allies and Middle East nations for the past week. Issued without warning on Jan. 27, just a week after Mr. Trump took office, the executive order disrupted travel and drew protests at the nations airports by suspending entry for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries and limiting the nations refugee program. No matter how the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules in a decision that is expected within days an appeal to the United States Supreme Court is likely. That court remains short-handed and could deadlock. A 4-to-4 tie in the Supreme Court would leave the appeals courts ruling in place. As for the military, Mr. Trumps comments suggested that he saw service members as another constituency: Like factory workers, farmers and coal miners, they seemed to be cast as an interest group to be wooed. MacDill, Mr. Trump said, was quite a place, and were going to be loading it up with beautiful new planes and beautiful new equipment. Mr. Trumps overt partisanship before an audience of armed forces personnel runs against a decades-long legacy of civilians who have guided the military in keeping with a presidents policies, while maintaining a distance from overt presidential politics. Many presidents pander to the military and through it to voters who focus on national defense, said Richard H. Kohn, an expert on civil-military relations and professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina. But leading off with the election, attacking the press and talking about endorsements is a clear attempt to politicize the military and invite their partisanship. In rhetoric and style, his words mimicked a campaign rally. George C. Marshall, the five-star general who also led the State Department and the Pentagon, once observed that he was so determined to avoid the appearance of being political that he did not vote. That legacy has continued, and is honored by a number of military officers who have pinned stars on their shoulders. During the election season, there was considerable debate about whether it was appropriate for retired generals like Michael T. Flynn (for Mr. Trump) or John R. Allen (for Hillary Clinton) to endorse candidates. But there was no question that active-duty officers were to stay far away from politics. Gen. David L. Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, told reporters on Tuesday that military leaders had an obligation to speak truth to power regardless of party. He declined to comment on Mr. Trumps remarks. Peter D. Feaver, a political science professor at Duke University who served on the staff of the National Security Council under Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, said that Mr. Trump was right to try to build a relationship with the military he now commands. But he said it was a mistake for the president to speculate about its voting behavior. The National Liberation Army, Colombias second-largest rebel group, joined the government for peace talks in Ecuador on Tuesday, moving Colombia closer to ending a 52-year guerrilla rebellion. The group, known as the E.L.N. for the initials of its name in Spanish, is much smaller than the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, the rebel group that settled into disarmament camps this month, as part of a peace accord that it signed last year. But talks with the E.L.N. were a priority for President Juan Manuel Santos, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his efforts to end Colombias armed conflict. I want to remind you on this occasion that the parties have committed themselves to move forward, said Juan Camilo Restrepo, the government negotiator, at a ceremony to open the talks. The sides want to move ahead as fast as prudence allows, he added. Canada officially recognizes 634 First Nations, comprising nearly 900,000 indigenous people, or about 2.3 percent of the countrys population. They are spread among nearly a dozen language groups, from Mikmaq on the Atlantic coast to Dene in the Northwest Territories. First Nations do not include the Inuit of the far north or the Metis, a people of mixed ancestry. But who is and who is not recognized as an Indian is a hotly debated, hugely complicated issue. The vast island of Newfoundland, roughly the size of New York State, remained a British colony when Canada was formed in 1867. It did not join Canada until 1949 on the condition that none of its people would be registered as Indians. But thousands of Newfoundlanders traced their ancestry to the Mikmaq, the original inhabitants of Canadas Atlantic coast, who were first encountered by the Breton explorer Jacques Cartier on his 16th-century voyages of discovery. The Mikmaq of Newfoundland fought for decades to be granted status under the Indian Act, which governs Canadas relations with its indigenous peoples. One band, as individual communities are called, was finally recognized in 1985. Nine remaining Newfoundland bands joined forces and fought the federal government for decades more. They eventually agreed in 2008 to be grouped together as a single band the Qalipu, which means caribou in Mikmaq with limited rights and no reserve land. The government established an enrollment process and expected about 10,000 Newfoundland Mikmaq to apply. But it received more than 100,000 applications, prompting the government to suspend the process, tighten its criteria and begin a lengthy review of those already approved while applying the stricter rules to those applications not yet reviewed. On Monday, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, the department that oversees indigenous affairs, sent letters to applicants and announced the results of the review on its website: Only 18,044, or about one in five, of those who applied had been accepted. Mr. Todorovs 2001 study of the rescue of most Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust concluded that their saviors had complex motivations: They were sympathetic to the Germans and to authoritarian rule, but were also repelled by anti-Semitism. In The New World Disorder: Reflections of a European (2003), written on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, which the French and German governments and many Europeans opposed, Mr. Todorov urged Europe to abandon its pacifism and passivity. He told The New York Times: Our potential enemies are no longer inside Europe. We must join forces to defend ourselves against these external enemies. Yet he did not see immigrants to Europe as threats. In his 2009 book, Fear of the Barbarians: Beyond the Clash of Civilizations, he wrote: One can demand from newcomers to the country that they respect its laws or the social contract that binds all citizens, but not that they love it: Public duties and private feelings, values and traditions do not belong to the same spheres. Only totalitarian societies make it obligatory to love ones country. In an interview in December in the French newspaper Le Monde, Mr. Todorov expounded on what he saw as a dual challenge to French life: the threat of terrorism and the threat of overreaction by the authorities. He cited the idea of complementary enemies, the title of a 1961 book by one of the thinkers he most admired, Germaine Tillion, a member of the French Resistance and an anthropologist who studied Algerias war of independence. To systematically bomb a town in the Middle East is no less barbaric than to slit somebodys throat in a French church, Mr. Todorov said, referring to the beheading of a French priest in July by assailants inspired by the Islamic State. Actually, it destroys more lives. Mr. Todorov said that French intellectuals longstanding fear of national decline resulted from the fact that in the 20th century, France moved from the status of a world power to the status of a second-rank power. This explains, in part, the bad mood that is constitutive of the French spirit, he said. In the interview in Le Monde, Mr. Todorov said he was skeptical of the concept of good, preferring simple kindness. He cited the Soviet novelist Vasily Grossman, the author of the World War II masterpiece Life and Fate, as someone for whom evil mostly comes from those who want to impose good on others. WASHINGTON President Trumps advisers are debating an order intended to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, targeting the oldest and perhaps most influential Islamist group in the Middle East. A political and social organization with millions of followers, the Brotherhood officially renounced violence decades ago and won elections in Egypt after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Affiliated groups have joined the political systems in places like Tunisia and Turkey, and President Barack Obama long resisted pressure to declare it a terrorist organization. But the Brotherhood calls for a society governed by Islamic law, and some of its former members and offshoots most notably Hamas, the Palestinian group whose stated goal is the destruction of Israel have been tied to attacks. Some advisers to Mr. Trump have viewed the Brotherhood for years as a radical faction secretly infiltrating the United States to promote Shariah law. They see the order as an opportunity to finally take action against it. Officially designating the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization would roil American relations in the Middle East. The leaders of some American allies like Egypt, where the military forced the Brotherhood from power in 2013, and the United Arab Emirates have pressed Mr. Trump to do so to quash internal enemies, but the group remains a pillar of society in parts of the region. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, denied reports that the purpose of the attack was to capture or kill any specific Qaeda leader. The raid that was conducted in Yemen was an intelligence-gathering raid, he said. Thats what it was. It was highly successful. It achieved the purpose it was going to get, save the loss of life that we suffered and the injuries that occurred. Neither the White House nor the Yemenis have publicly announced the suspension. Pentagon spokesmen declined to comment, but other military and civilian officials confirmed that Yemens reaction had been strong. It was unclear if Yemens decision to halt the ground attacks was also influenced by Mr. Trumps inclusion of the country on his list of nations from which he wants to temporarily suspend all immigration, an executive order that is now being challenged in the federal courts. According to American civilian and military officials, the Yemeni ban on operations does not extend to military drone attacks, and does not affect the handful of American military advisers who are providing intelligence support to the Yemenis and forces from the United Arab Emirates. In 2014, Yemens government temporarily halted those drones from flying because of botched operations that also killed civilians. But later they quietly resumed, and in recent years they have been increasing in frequency, a sign of the fact that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, is considered one of the worlds most dangerous terrorist groups. The raid stirred immediate outrage among Yemeni government officials, some of whom accused the Trump administration of not fully consulting with them before the mission. Within 24 hours of the assault on a cluster of houses in a tiny village in mountainous central Yemen, the countrys foreign minister, Abdul Malik Al Mekhlafi, condemned the raid in a post on his official Twitter account as extrajudicial killings. Newly rediscovered letters from the painter Andrew Wyeth, which date to the late 1930s and are headed to auction this spring, reveal his emotions as his works first attracted attention from New York critics and buyers. In a batch of his unpublished writings to his girlfriend, Alice Moore, which correct previous scholarship on the painter, he credits his success partly to her. Knowing you I know has brought maturity into my work and I feel now that I am really on the way to do big things, he wrote to Ms. Moore in 1938. About 40 of Wyeths love letters to her will be offered in May through online bidding at Skinner auction house in Boston, with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. In the same way that Bill Wyman doesnt leap to mind when you think of the Rolling Stones, or Zeppo when you think of the Marx Brothers, the painter Alexei Jawlensky (1864-1941) has never been at least for most Americans a household name in German Expressionism, the movement he helped create with his friend Wassily Kandinsky. Jawlensky, born in Russia, had an up-and-down career and up-and-down relationships. But his best works hum with a power and intensity that, as the critic John Russell once wrote, bear down on us like runaway locomotives. Beginning Thursday, Feb. 16, the Neue Galerie, New Yorks Expressionist jewel, will host the first full museum retrospective in the United States devoted to his work, with 75 paintings that he made from 1900 to 1937, including a selection of the semiabstract Mystical Head portraits that are among his most beloved. (Greta Garbo owned one.) (Through May 29; Neuegalerie.org.) Prices for his products will change over time and with demand, according to a complicated set of rules. In standard gallery pricing, the cost of multiples like prints and photographs typically escalates as the edition sells out. But in this case, with edition sizes for each artwork ranging from three to 10, prices start at $15,000 (close to usual gallery fees for blue-chip collectors who seek first choice and possibly a monopoly on a particular product line). They drop over time to $60 (closer to the cost of a shopping trip to Oxxo) on the projects final day, March 16. I see this as a game a bizarre, playful game, with elements of Monopoly, chess, go and maybe backgammon, said Mr. Orozco, whose unruly gray hair and nubby wool jacket give him a hip-professor look. On a break from installation in the store, where assistants were applying stickers to packages, Mr. Orozco was talking, pacing and smoking in the Kurimanzutto courtyard outside the official red-and-yellow Oxxo entrance sign, which has the graphic punch of the best Pop Art. Its a way of collapsing in the same physical space two different systems the art market, which is about exclusivity and high prices, and the market for everyday consumer goods with their mass availability and low prices, he said. Im interested in the turbulence that creates. This week, The New York Times is bingeing on late-night comedy shows and curating the best stuff in case you missed it. You need sleep, after all, and something in the news to smile about. We dont need anything because were getting paid to watch late night which is insane. Do you like this feature? What do you want to see here? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com Oliver + Colbert = Trump TV THE ATTACK Written by Loic Dauvillier Illustrated by Glen Chapron Adapted from the novel by Yasmina Kadra 152 pp. Firefly Books. $24.95. THE ARAB OF THE FUTURE 2 A Graphic Memoir: A Childhood in the Middle East (1984-1985) By Riad Sattouf Translated by Sam Taylor 154 pp. Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt & Company. Paper, $26. ROLLING BLACKOUTS Dispatches From Turkey, Syria, and Iraq By Sarah Glidden 298 pp. Drawn & Quarterly. $24.95. If I locked you up, it was so you could taste hate, Dr. Amin Jaafaris captor says in the extraordinary graphic novel version of Yasmina Kadras The Attack. Anything can happen if you scratch at someones self-esteem. Especially if they are feeling powerless. William Melvin Kelley, who brought a fresh, experimental voice to black fiction in novels and stories that used recurring characters to explore race relations and racial identity in the United States, died on Feb. 1 in Manhattan. He was 79. The cause was complications of kidney failure, his daughter Jessica Kelley said. Mr. Kelley blended fantasy and fact to construct an alternative world whose sweep and complexity drew comparisons to James Joyce and William Faulkner. Minor characters in one story or novel might appear later as larger figures, their stories elaborated in greater detail and, in his later fiction, in language that recalled the linguistic experimentation of Joyces Finnegans Wake. Mr. Kelleys fabulist bent was apparent in his first novel, A Different Drummer, published in 1962. Set in a mythical Southern state, it traced the fortunes of a black farmer, Tucker Caliban, who salts his land, shoots his horse and cow, burns down his house and heads north with his pregnant wife and their infant child, prompting an exodus of every black resident in the state. Gambias former President Yahya Jammeh once pledged that he would reign for a billion years. But last month he fled into exile, 22 years after taking power in a coup. His democratically elected successor has since accused Mr. Jammeh, above, of plundering the treasury and fleeing with millions of dollars. A lesser-known source of income for Mr. Jammeh, though, had been a head-spinning scheme. For years, his government sold residence permits sometimes costing up to $15,000 apiece to thousands of Chinese millionaires. Why? A special program meant to encourage investment in Hong Kong allowed wealthy Chinese citizens to gain the right to live there if they had permanent residence in another country. As of 2013, some 9,000 Chinese obtained residence permits for Gambia. The maneuvering went on until 2015, when Hong Kong suspended the program. A review found that many of the people enrolled didnt eventually settle in Hong Kong. Instead, they used their Hong Kong passports for easier travel to other countries (but probably not Gambia). _____ Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. Read the latest edition of the U.S. briefing here and the latest for Asia and Australia here. What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. A lesser-known source of income for Mr. Jammeh, though, had been a head-spinning scheme. For years, his government sold residence permits sometimes costing up to $15,000 apiece to thousands of Chinese millionaires. Why? A special program meant to encourage investment in Hong Kong allowed wealthy Chinese citizens to gain the right to live there if they had permanent residence in another country. As of 2013, about 9,000 Chinese obtained residence permits for Gambia. The maneuvering went on until 2015, when Hong Kong suspended the program. A review found that many of those who enrolled didnt settle in Hong Kong. Instead, they used their Hong Kong passports for easier travel to other countries (but probably not to Gambia). Patrick Boehler contributed reporting. _____ Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help.Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated on the web all morning. What would you like to see here? Contact us at briefing@nytimes.com. You can sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox. Even as global stock markets climb, worries are building among investors that long-simmering debt troubles in Greece and Italy will put additional strain on the euro. Over the past year, aggressive bond buying by the European Central Bank and encouraging signs of economic growth across Europe have helped the eurozone overcome a series of political jolts, including Britain electing to quit the European Union and Italian voters rejecting the proposals of a reform-minded government. Yet with the central bank expected to eventually unwind its purchases of government bonds and other assets, investors are increasingly becoming concerned about how Europe and Germany, in particular can cope with escalating debt pressures in Italy and Greece. The result has been a sell-off of European government bonds as investment funds reassess the risks of holding such securities. In Italy, for instance, some hedge funds are making direct bets that the prices of Italian bonds will collapse. By contrast, Germanys automotive giants have favored a more confrontational approach. That has been backed by many locals, who have so far rebuffed Ubers aggressive local expansion plans that have often run roughshod over domestic regulation, and by German politicians eager to please some of the countrys biggest employers. BMW, for example, is working with the chip maker Intel and Mobileye, an Israeli tech company, to develop a self-driving car of its own by early in the next decade. It has also formed a partnership with IBM to use artificial intelligence to allow vehicles to automatically adapt to their owners preferences. To combat the likes of Tesla, the California electric automaker, BMW is planning to expand its i Series line of battery-powered and hybrid vehicles. Since 2014, it has sold 100,000 of the i3 model, which runs on batteries and has a lightweight carbon fiber body. Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks, has similarly been investing in digital alternatives. Of the three automakers, it has also been the only one so far to become an active partner with Uber, albeit in a limited deal where it provides a set of its autonomous vehicles to the ride service. Daimler also owns Car2Go, a short-term car rental service; Blacklane, an upmarket ride-hailing app; and MyTaxi, Europes largest taxi-hailing service. Andrew Pinnington, chief executive of MyTaxi, said the automakers backing had allowed it to expand rapidly across Europe, where it has often teamed up with local taxi associations to combat the rise of Uber. This is a game that requires deep pockets, Mr. Pinnington said. The German carmakers digital plans have led to increased collaboration between what have long been staunch rivals. On Wednesday, responding to Mr. Spicers comments, Nordstrom maintained that it had pulled Ms. Trumps products based on their declining sales performance. The company said it informed Ms. Trump of its decision in early January. Over the past year, and particularly in the last half of 2016, sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didnt make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now, the Nordstrom statement said. Weve had a great relationship with the Ivanka Trump team. As Mr. Trump has noted several times, the president is exempt from conflict of interest provisions in federal law that prohibit other government officials from using their positions to benefit themselves or their family members financially. So even if his post was meant to intimidate Nordstrom or other retailers that still work with Ivanka Trump, it probably does not violate conflict of interest rules, said ethics experts, who nonetheless called it inappropriate. It is a total misuse of presidential power, said Lawrence M. Noble, the general counsel of the Campaign Legal Center and formerly the top lawyer at the Federal Election Commission. He is really bringing to bear the whole weight of the office of president on a business decision. Take another company that is considering whether or not to drop her line they obviously are going to ask themselves if they want to be attacked by the president. Mr. Trumps blast at Nordstrom came two days after his wife, Melania, filed a libel lawsuit that described her multiyear term as one of the most photographed women in the world an apparent reference to her status as a candidates wife and now first lady as a lucrative business opportunity. And Mr. Spicer, the White House spokesman, has urged people to visit the Trump International Hotel in Washington, which opened late last year. Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, a group that promotes ethics in government, said Mr. Trumps swipe at Nordstrom was not a major issue in itself. But Mr. Weissman said it demonstrates that as president, Mr. Trump continues to have multiple conflicts of interest with his own and his familys business interests. Mr. Trump refuses to sell his assets or put them into a blind trust, but he has said that he has ceded operation of his businesses to his adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric. He has committed to severing himself from the family business operations, Mr. Weissman said. That is obviously not the case. After a contentious interview on Tuesday in which Kellyanne Conway, the presidential adviser, and Jake Tapper of CNN clashed over whether the White House or the news media was more indifferent to facts, the journalist was bracing on Wednesday for a backlash from the right. While the 25-minute interview touched on issues like the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary and President Trumps relationship with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, the bulk of it focused on Mr. Trumps criticism of the media and the administrations penchant for repeating falsehoods. The interview was frequently testy, and Mr. Tappers performance was widely praised by those seeking a more aggressive approach to fact-checking the Trump administration. Late last month, David Engs family and friends celebrated Chinese New Year by taking in traditional lion dances, complete with offerings of hongbao, or red envelopes of cash, tied to heads of cabbage. But this years event was a bit different. Mr. Engs family store, Fong Inn Too, had closed two weeks earlier, and former customers approached him to ask where they could buy good tofu or sticky rice cakes. He had nowhere to send them. No one does what we do, Mr. Eng said. For more than 80 years, Fong Inn Too, the oldest family-owned tofu and noodle shop in New York City, sold traditional rice and soybean products made according to age-old family recipes. A piece of fresh tofu sold at wholesale for 4 cents in the 1930s. Last year, it was 25 cents. People are in disbelief, Mr. Eng said. Weve been a fixture in Chinatown for over 80 years. They cant believe that weve actually closed. Ive been wondering when the Upper West Side was going to complain about me. Until my review of White Gold this week, Id never, in my five years as The Timess restaurant critic, written a full, starred review of any restaurant north of Lincoln Center but south of Columbia University. (I dont count Tavern on the Green, even though the driveway is on the Upper West Side.) Honest, Ive tried. Anytime I hear about a new restaurant on Amsterdam or Columbus that sounds out of the ordinary, I check it out. And its not that the restaurants have been bad. In fact, truly disastrous scouting trips have sometimes led to reviews, since a restaurant thats gone off the rails can make interesting reading. Nothing on the Upper West Side has been like that. In general, the meals Ive had have fallen into the category that Gael Greene once described, if I remember correctly, as neither good enough nor bad enough to write about. Sometimes you hear the neighborhood called a restaurant wasteland. Usually that comes from people who live there, but its not true. There are loads of restaurants on the Upper West Side. The trouble is that, in my experience, they are just good enough. Most of them seem content to be the place you go when youre too busy or tired to cook. Not very many aspire to be the place where you try to impress your friends, or yourself. This is one way to think about the divide between neighborhood restaurants and destination restaurants. I dont like those terms destination in particular is too ambiguous to be useful. People tend to use it to mean a place that takes itself seriously, but a destination restaurant could also be a modest little spot that serves a cuisine you cant find in every neighborhood. I encountered death on the border of Europe is this acceptable? Mr. Rosi asked. Its one of the biggest crises and tragedies in Europe since World War II. At that time, we could say we didnt know. We cant say that now. The New York Times Op-Doc short 4.1 Miles, made by Daphne Matziaraki, also examines the toll of the migrant crisis from the perspective of a coast guard captain. This one is a Greek from the island of Lesbos, which sits 4.1 miles from the Turkish coast. Like his Italian counterparts, the captain dedicates his days to pulling imperiled, if not dead, men, women and children from the sea. He embodies the responsibility that I feel we all have as citizens of the Western world, Ms. Matziaraki said. Hes been carrying the weight of this for a year and a half. Him and his fellow crew members are seeing this firsthand. And he feels extremely lonely in that the world has turned its back. He wants the world to share their responsibility, and the burden. Ms. Matziaraki said she hoped that audience members who see her film recognize themselves in those who are fleeing atrocities, many of them educated, middle-class people with young families. These are humans exactly like us; they hurt in the same way that we do, Ms. Matziaraki said. Everyone I spoke to said, Its not a choice to leave our home. While the state is at the epicenter of the problem, there are hot spots, including other parts of the East Coast, California and Texas. Sitting at the intersection of so many streams of commerce, New York has had to innovate under the pressures of invasive species. In 2009 it introduced a novel law forbidding the transporting of any firewood more than 50 miles from its source to prevent the spread of disease. (The oak at Green-Wood Cemetery, Mr. Charap believes, was probably infected by firewood improperly brought to the city.) Inside a laboratory at Cornell University, tiny, nut-brown Galerucella birmanica beetles from China are kept under quarantine as their appetite for water chestnut is tested. An invasive aquatic species most likely introduced to New York in the 1880s, the water chestnut continues to clog the states fresh waterways. Someday, the bugs may be released as a biological means to control the plant. The state Conservation Department has also created an app that allows people to log sightings of plants and animals they suspect might not belong in their yards or any natural areas. Last year, over 300 people reported more than 12,000 such sightings. On the ground, the battle is fought with teams of forestry experts going tree-to-tree inoculating root systems against fungus. In the air, the Conservation Department uses State Police helicopters to conduct seasonal patrols to spot shriveled trees on mountainsides or to search for animals that do not belong here, such as the Eurasian boar. Such efforts do pay off. Its been several years since the last boar sighting for Bill Burns, 75, a farmer who grows corn and other crops on over 600 acres in Spafford, N.Y., on the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes. Mr. Burns estimates that the animals, which are native to Russia and are believed to have been introduced here by game farmers who were careless with their fences, have caused more than $100,000 in damages to his crops over the years. They will go right down the corn planter tracks and suck the seed right out of the ground, Mr. Burns said. He shot and killed several of them they taste rewarding, he said but it took a concerted effort by the state and federal authorities, which sent in specially trained trappers and dogs to round up the animals, to achieve true relief. The pigs have been eradicated from the state, according to the Conservation Department. Still, from his kitchen window, Mr. Burns can look across Skaneateles Lake and see stands of dead ash trees. He believes they have been killed by swarms of emerald ash borers, a jewel-toned Asian beetle first confirmed to have colonized New York State in 2009, according to Cornell University. The insects are one of the states top priorities. Mr. Burns fears it is too late. I am irritated and disappointed in just about everybody in the world that is careless, he said. A hearty cheer some 50 voices strong greeted the eight members of the Khoja family Tuesday night as they wheeled their luggage into the arrivals area of Kennedy International Airport. It came from volunteers of Rutgers Presbyterian Church on Manhattans Upper West Side who signed on to sponsor this family of Kurdish Syrian refugees months ago, only to find them caught up in a maelstrom of presidential politics, judges decisions and delays. The volunteers cried, and the Khojas could not stop smiling. We heard that we cant go to America and now we are here and we cant believe our eyes, Suzan Khoja, 28, said in breathless English. Ms. Khoja; her five siblings, ages 12 to 31; and her parents left Aleppo and had been living in Istanbul for a few years. Their arrival at Kennedy, just before an appellate court in San Francisco heard arguments about whether President Trumps indefinite ban on Syrian refugees should be reinstated, was the dramatic end to 12 days fraught with confusion, deferred dreams and cautious hopes. WASHINGTON The Defense Department may rent space in Trump Tower, where President Trump lives part time, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest because taxpayer dollars could be going directly to his business interests. An official said the move might be necessary to support the day-to-day operations for the president and his staff. In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower, Lt. Col. JB Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement Tuesday night. The statement said the space was necessary for the personnel and equipment that would support Mr. Trump at his residence in the building, on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The village clerk and treasurer, Chrissy Kiernan, said by email on Monday that Ms. Wu and Mr. Levin indicated last week that she had changed her mind about what she wanted to do with the property. We were advised to expect an amended proposal to restore and alter, rather than demolish and replace, the structure, Ms. Kiernan said in the email, adding that before the fire, Ms. Wus architect and the village building inspector had made plans to inspect the house on Wednesday. Ms. Wus revised application would have then been reviewed by the village Landmark and Preservation Commission. The village mayor, Nora Haagenson, did not return a phone call. The fire broke out after 3 a.m. Sunday. A next-door neighbor, Laura Stulbaum, said she had been awake with a child who had a bad dream. She said she heard something outside. She saw smoke and, worried that a fire could spread to their house, awakened her husband and piled into the car. My husband called 911 as we pulled away, she said. I looked back through the rearview mirror and the whole house was in flames. She said she had watched two men go into the house several nights earlier and had called the police. But Mr. Bain, of the historical society, said he doubted that intruders had started the fire, because it began in the basement. If they were going to build a fire to stay warm, theyd build it in one of the three fireplaces, Mr. Bain said. You dont build it in the basement, because that would kill you. I am a Jewish immigrant who came here as part of a family that was stateless, and my deep patriotism is rooted in that experience. I benefited from American humanitarianism, and I have worked my entire life to give back to this country. An America inhospitable to immigrants and foreigners, a place of fear and danger instead of refuge, is unthinkable in the context of the nations history and founding principles. If a more practical argument is required, think of the consequences for the quality and future of our colleges and universities, and their highly prized superiority in science and engineering. Moreover, what will become of the major government agencies of scientific research, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation? Will their research agendas be manipulated to fit Mr. Trumps view of reality? Will there be a continuing erosion of support for basic research as opposed to research that contributes to some commercial product? The greatest advances in medicine were a result of research conducted after World War II, motivated exclusively to enable humankind to better understand nature, not to come up with a new drug. What, then, are we, the leaders of our institutions of higher education, to do when faced with a president who denies facts, who denies science? Is it best to stand by when he repudiates climate science and revives the credibility of discredited theories about autism? Facts and photographs did not stop him from rejecting the evidence regarding the election results or the size of crowds at his inauguration. He has undermined public confidence in the electoral system. In the face of this, standing up for the truth which is, after all, higher educations business might appear to be an act of political partisanship. But this is not about political parties. It is about the proper role of the academy in a troubling time. American colleges and universities, public and private, are properly seen as nonpartisan elements in civil society, committed to research and teaching in a manner that transcends ordinary politics. But to succeed, these institutions must ensure that academic freedom and the highest standards of scholarship prevail. This means respect for the rules of evidence, rigorous skepticism and the honoring of the distinction between truth and falsehood. Doing this has never been easy. Institutions of higher education are dependent on state and federal funding, including tax exemptions, research funds and scholarship support. Pressures from within also exist, often inspired by students and faculty members seeking to create a consensus of belief that can marginalize disagreement and dissent. Nevertheless, the key to the astonishing success and international superiority of the American university, particularly in science and engineering, has been its resilient commitment to freedom and nondiscrimination, and its respect for truth, no matter how uncomfortable. To the Editor: Re Anti-Immigrant Fringe Stirs as Canada Transforms (news article, Feb. 1): I disagree with the characterization of Point de Bascule, the website of which I am the director, as a less tolerant voice. The implication that we are anti-Muslim does not correspond with our track record. Our efforts have focused not on Muslims in general but on leaders and organizations promoting Shariah and Islamic supremacism. While we are anti-Islamist, we are open to the idea that Muslims can embrace democratic values; this is why very early on, in 2008 and 2010, we organized public meetings with Muslim activists opposed to Shariah. All Quebecers mourn the deaths of the six worshipers killed by a gunman late last month in the Quebec City mosque tragedy. This is not, however, inconsistent with dedication to the necessary vigilance and information-gathering on jihadists and other Islamic supremacists. MARC LEBUIS Montreal Every day, the presidents behavior becomes more worrying. One day he demeans a federal judge who challenges him; the next day, without evidence, he accuses the media of hiding illegal voting or acts of terrorism. His lack of respect for institutions and truth pours out so fast, you start to forget how crazy this behavior is for any adult, let alone a president, and just how ugly things will get when we have a real crisis. And crises are baked into this story because of the incoherence of President Trumps worldview. How so? The world today is more interdependent than ever. The globalization of markets, the spread of cellphones, the accelerations in technology and biology, the new mass movements of migrants and the disruptions in the climate are all intertwined and impacting one another. As a result, we need a president who can connect all of these dots and navigate a path that gets the most out of them and cushions the worst. But Trump is a dot exploiter, not connector. He made a series of reckless, unconnected promises, not much longer than tweets, to get elected, and now hes just checking off each one, without thinking through the linkages among them or anticipating second-order effects. It is a great way to make America weak and overstretched again. Where do I start? Trump wants to get tougher with China on trade and security. Thats not crazy. But how would I do that? Id organize an alliance of Pacific trading nations that surround China and enlist them in a trade pact that supports U.S.-style rule of law, greater market access for U.S. intellectual property and products and promotes U.S. values as opposed to Chinas. Id call it the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP for short. Any parent who has had children in middle school is familiar with their teenage excuses. First, they complain that the teachers are mean and assign too much homework, then that the reading is boring, and then when all else fails, they give you that aggrieved look and whine, Its tooooo haaaaard. The point is that whatever happens, its someone elses fault. Its annoying when it comes from a 13-year-old. When it comes from the president of the United States and his team, its downright terrifying. In a chilling article in The Times this week, Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman described President Trumps Keystone Kops White House where aides meet in the dark because they cant figure out how to use the light switches (setting them to on might be worth trying), and Trump wanders around his living quarters in his bathrobe watching CNN and obsessing about how mean everyone is to him. When his executive order putting Steve Bannon into the top circle of the National Security Council drew howls of protest, Trump got mad because, Thrush and Haberman reported, he had not been fully briefed on the order before he signed it. Was there a woman who didnt recognize herself in the specter of Elizabeth Warren silenced by a roomful of men? The explosion of indignation, mockery and free publicity that greeted Tuesday nights move to prevent Senator Warren from reading a letter about Senator Jeff Sessions written by Coretta Scott King resonates with so many women precisely because they have been there, over and over again. At a meeting where you speak up, only to be cut off by a man. Where your ideas are ignored until a man repeats them and then they are pure genius or, simply, acknowledged. Being interrupted or ignored, and being one of the few women in the room, can be both inhibiting and enraging. You check your own perception: Was I being too aggressive, or did I really have a point? Is this about being a woman, or something else? As a scientist leading global efforts to develop vaccines for neglected poverty-related diseases like schistosomiasis and Chagas disease, and as the dad of an adult daughter with autism and other disabilities, Im worried that our nations health will soon be threatened because we have not stood up to the pseudoscience and fake conspiracy claims of this movement. Texas, where I live and work, may be the first state to once again experience serious measles outbreaks. As of last fall, more than 45,000 children here had received nonmedical exemptions for their school vaccinations. A political action committee is raising money to protect this conscientious exemption loophole and to instruct parents on how to file for it. As a result, some public school systems in the state are coming dangerously close to the threshold when measles outbreaks can be expected, and a third of students at some private schools are unvaccinated. The American Academy of Pediatrics has produced a 21-page document listing all of the studies clearly showing there is no link between vaccines and autism, in addition to more recent epidemiological studies involving hundreds of thousands of children or pregnant women that also refute any association. A study of infant rhesus monkeys also shows that vaccination does not produce neurobiological changes in the brain. TOKYO Call them populist or anti-establishment. Some, like Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen or Narendra Modi, are from the right. Others Bernie Sanders, Alexis Tsipras, Jeremy Corbyn, Pablo Iglesias are from the left. But in established democracies throughout the world, politicians are rising to power by tapping into the peoples disenchantment with the elite. Not in Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is as establishment as they come: His father served as foreign minister, and his grandfather and great uncle were prime ministers. Yet his approval rating has consistently exceeded 50 percent, which is extraordinary by Japanese standards, and he has no serious challengers. Why is public confidence in the political mainstream eroding in the West and elsewhere, but not here? One reason is that Japans limited experience with what might be called left-wing populism was a decisive failure. The landmark election of the Democratic Party of Japan in 2009 represented a mass protest against the conservative Liberal Democratic Partys almost uninterrupted half-century in power and the entrenchment of the bureaucracy during that time. But the D.P.J.s crowd-pleasing proposals more social security spending, a new child allowance were wildly unrealistic. The party also failed to make good on its promise to move a major U.S. Marine Corps base out of Okinawa, disappointing the public while irking the United States government. The L.D.P. handily won the 2012 general election partly on the back of those failures. President Trump and Republican lawmakers have never been able to explain how they would improve on the Affordable Care Act, which theyve promised to quickly repeal and replace with something better. Now, its increasingly evident that they have no workable plan and might never come up with one. Congress blew past a self-imposed Jan. 27 deadline to introduce legislation to end the health law. Mr. Trump told Fox News in an interview that ran Sunday that a replacement for the health law might not be ready until next year. Meanwhile, Republican senators like Lamar Alexander and Orrin Hatch have started talking about repairing the A.C.A., or Obamacare, rather than removing it root-and-branch. And while House Speaker Paul Ryan still insists that Congress will repeal and replace it this year, his wishful statements are clearly meant in large measure just to placate the burn-it-all-down wing of his caucus. After campaigning for years against the health care law, Republicans seem to be realizing that it will be incredibly difficult to deliver on Mr. Trumps promise of providing a program that is better, cheaper and covers more people. The law has extended health insurance to more than 22 million Americans. Plenty of them are calling lawmakers, showing up at town halls and marching in the streets demanding that Obamacare be preserved. Public support for it has never been higher, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Another poll, by the Pew Research Center, found that 60 percent of Americans say the government should make sure that everybody has health coverage. TEL AVIV Jews across the United States were rightly troubled and angered at the end of January, when a White House statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day failed to mention the Holocausts principal victims: Jews. Groups both generally unsympathetic and sympathetic to President Trump denounced the statement. Some considered it proof that the new administration wants to appeal to anti-Semitic sentiments. Others gave the White House the benefit of the doubt, presuming the statements wording was a regrettable mistake. The Anti-Defamation Leagues chief executive officer argued in a blog post that leaving out Jews from the statement confirmed the hopes of haters who seek to normalize anti-Semitism and dismiss the notion that Jews suffered disproportionately during World War II. The Republican Jewish Coalition said the lack of a direct statement about the suffering of the Jewish people during the Holocaust was an unfortunate omission. The conservative columnist John Podhoretz called the White Houses attempt to explain away and justify the statement abominable. The government of Israel, however, was silent. That silence didnt go unnoticed. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, tried to deflect criticism of the statement by saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes this administration and appreciates the friendship and respect that Mr. Trump has shown to Israel and the Jewish people. In other words: The Trump administration is a friend of Israels and therefore a friend of the Jewish people. And therefore it deserves some leeway in its Holocaust-related statements. To the Editor: Betsy DeVos was confirmed as education secretary by the Senate on Tuesday, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tiebreaking vote (front page, Feb. 8). There will surely be other unqualified cabinet nominees confirmed by the Republican-held Senate. Unqualified in the most fundamental sense: The presidents selections are men and women who, with few exceptions, want to eviscerate the very departments they are being asked to lead. This is a troubling time in America. Our democracy is being put to the test. The history books will record that not only did our 45th president play fast and loose with our constitutional rights and the rule of law, but that the Republican-held Congress rolled over and put party above country. To those who seek to demoralize us, please know that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the United States of America will be our guiding light. To the Editor: I was heartened to read Anna Norths shrewd analysis of Melissa McCarthys takedown of Sean Spicer on Saturday Night Live (Why Melissa McCarthy Had to Play Sean Spicer, Taking Note, nytimes.com, Feb. 6) and the anecdote in your front-page article Reality Chills Heated Words on Health Law (Feb. 7) about how the room erupted with knowing laughter at the careful formulation of a response by Tom Price, President Trumps pick for secretary of health and human services, at his confirmation hearing. This reminded me that in the worlds first democracy, citizens of Athens gathered in huge numbers to laugh at Aristophanes biting satire of that citys officials and notables. And, according to legend, when an actor playing Socrates made fun of the philosophic gadfly from the stage, the real Socrates rose from his seat and pointed to his own face to confirm that, indeed, the likeness was good. Maybe Mr. Trump can find a way to show the public and his celebrity impersonators that hes a good sport and really understands how democracy works. Even kings had official jesters to remind them of their humanity. Perhaps instead of speaking truth to power, if more people yes, even journalists would erupt in laughter at Mr. Trump, he might become a better person and a better president. As the ancients taught us, comedy is a great social corrective. THE year was 2012. The place was Bowling Green, Ohio. A federal raid had uncovered what the authorities feared were the makings of a massacre. There were 18 firearms, among them two AR-15 assault rifles, an AR-10 assault rifle and a Remington Model 700 sniper rifle. There was body armor, too, and the authorities counted some 40,000 rounds of ammunition. An extremist had been arrested, and prosecutors suspected that he had been aiming to carry out a wide assortment of killings. This defendant, quite simply, was a well-funded, well-armed and focused one-man army of racial and religious hate, prosecutors said in a court filing. The man arrested and charged was Richard Schmidt, a middle-aged owner of a sports-memorabilia business at a mall in town. Prosecutors would later call him a white supremacist. His planned targets, federal authorities said, had been African-Americans and Jews. Theyd found a list with the names and addresses of those to be assassinated, including the leaders of N.A.A.C.P. chapters in Michigan and Ohio. But Mr. Schmidt wound up being sentenced to less than six years in prison, after a federal judge said prosecutors had failed to adequately establish that he was a political terrorist, and he is scheduled for release in February 2018. The foiling of what the government worried was a credible plan for mass murder gained little national attention. We examine a claim that the news media The New York Times included ignored or underreported a number of attacks by Islamic terrorists. And my colleague Wesley Morris joins to discuss why the 60-year-old words of the novelist James Baldwin captured in the film I Am Not Your Negro are so resonant right now. Background reading: Adam Liptak on Tuesday nights oral arguments in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on President Trumps targeted travel ban. A. O. Scotts review of I Am Not Your Negro. Wesley Morris on why pop culture cant deal with black male sexuality. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at thedaily@nytimes.com. Tweet me at @mikiebarb. And if that isnt enough, we can even text. They found the first carcasses in late December, on the frozen steppes of Mongolias western Khovd province. By the end of January, officials in the region had recorded the deaths of 2,500 endangered saiga antelopes about a quarter of the countrys saiga population and scientists had identified a culprit: a virus called peste des petits ruminants, or P.P.R., also known as goat plague. It was the first time the disease, usually seen in goats, sheep and other small livestock, had been found in free-ranging antelopes. For the saiga, an ancient animal that once roamed the grasslands of the world with the woolly mammoth and the saber-toothed tiger, the outbreak was potentially catastrophic. The antelopes numbers, once in the millions, have been severely depleted by illegal hunting, habitat loss and competition for food. The species is described as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List. SAN FRANCISCO Intel, the worlds largest computer chip manufacturer, will invest $7 billion to finish a factory in Arizona, adding 3,000 jobs, the companys chief executive said on Wednesday after meeting with President Trump at the White House. The completion of the factory, which will complement two other Intel semiconductor plants in Chandler, Ariz., had been under consideration for several years. Standing beside Mr. Trump in the Oval Office, Brian Krzanich, Intels chief executive, said the company had decided to proceed now because of the tax and regulatory policies we see the administration pushing forward. Mr. Trump said: The people of Arizona will be very happy. Its a lot of jobs. He said Intel called the White House several weeks ago to coordinate the announcement. That outreach illustrates the tightrope that Silicon Valley companies are walking as they deal with a president most of them did not want to see in office. The new year has already brought about significant changes to our world, including the way some of us travel. It also commemorates, less significantly, the one-year anniversary of my taking over the Frugal Traveler column. (No applause, please.) The old cliche time flies rings true: It really does seem like yesterday that I wrote my first column from Las Vegas. Ive also spent entirely too much time actually flying this past year. But at least all that airtime has yielded lessons some more painful than others. Here are five of them, picked up during my travels through 10 countries and a dozen states in 2016. CARRY VALUABLES ON YOUR PERSON When my Megabus from Chicago to Milwaukee burst into a fireball on the side of the highway, I was among the lucky ones. I had settled on a budget carrier that loudly advertises fares as low as $1 (mine was a still-cheap $11). We quickly realized something was wrong when the bus turned around halfway through the trip and headed back to Chicago, and some passengers noticed a burning smell. A fire had started in the wheel well and, within minutes, had consumed the entire bus, along with peoples luggage. While the experience was harrowing, I was traveling with only a backpack, and so didnt lose any of my possessions in the ensuing blaze. Others lost thousands of dollars in property, including clothes, laptops and schoolbooks. One man I spoke with lost nearly everything he owned, including credit cards and personal identification. A good rule of thumb, regardless of method of transit, is to carry particularly valuable or irreplaceable property phone, Social Security card, passport and the like on your person. No matter how brief the trip its only 90 miles between Chicago and Milwaukee a lot can happen in a short distance. TO EAT LIKE A LOCAL, GET IN LINE Travelers frequently ask me for tips on finding good, cheap meals overseas. I typically recommend thinking like a local: going to grocery stores, farmers markets and, if your stomach can handle it, eating street food. Another good tip is simple but effective: Follow the crowds. The idea is that if theres a long line of locals outside a restaurant, thats usually a sign that theres something good being cooked inside. Damien Chazelle, the writer and director of the musical La La Land, never had any doubts about Los Angeles as an artistic canvas. From the films opening, with commuters dancing and singing on a congested freeway exit ramp, to the visually stunning final sequence, the city is depicted as a place where dreamers may struggle but where optimism also abounds. Growing up in New Jersey, Mr. Chazelle said, I had some negative conceptions of Los Angeles, but I was willing to try something other than the East Coast because I wanted to do movies. He added: For a few years, there were ups and downs, but I slowly became smitten. I had never lived in a city with palm trees, and now Ive been here for almost nine and a half years. His debut directorial film, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, was first shown in 2009, followed by the drama Whiplash in 2014. Mr. Chazelle, who recently won the 2016 Golden Globe Award for best director for La La Land, recently discussed his current film, Los Angeles and some of his travel forays. Below are edited excerpts from that conversation. Others acknowledged that gentrification has already arrived in the South Bronx. Gentrification is already here, said John Matos, a graffiti artist known as Crash, who owns the WallWorks New York art gallery. You cant fight it, you cant deny its here. Others point to its authenticity as a reason to visit the neighborhood. Come see the South Bronx and come see things that are genuine, said Giuseppe Gonzalez, 40, a former Bronxite and the owner of Suffolk Arms, a bar in Manhattan. I grew up in the 80s in the South Bronx and you cant romanticize it, he said. But, he added, if you really want a picture of what New York City used to be like come to the Bronx. As a business owner, Mr. Gonzalez said that he wanted businesses to open up and thrive in the Bronx, but that he also wanted them to be responsive to the community around them. It is the last true borough in New York City with the true flavor of New York, Mr. Garcia Conde said. Here are some alternative suggestions for visitors, from Mr. Garcia Conde and others: Culture 1. Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College. Theyve been around for a long time. They are very supportive of local artists, Mr. Matos said. 2. Pregones Theater and Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. They are a staple in the Bronx and continue to bring authentic arts and culture to the community, Mr. Peres said. 3. The Bronx Documentary Center. A nonprofit site that hosts photography and film events. 4. BronxArtSpace. A gallery and community organizing space. Operators that organize trips to Iran have begun canceling tours citing difficulty in securing visas for American travelers in the wake of President Trumps executive order barring citizens from seven majority Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. Though the order, issued on Jan. 27, has been blocked in a federal court, and citizens of the affected countries of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen may resume travel, Americans may not be able to enter Iran as tourists for the next few months. Wilderness Travel, which is based in Berkeley, Calif., canceled its April and May departures after its Iranian counterparts advised the company that Iran is presently not issuing travel visas to Americans. No visas will be issued for American citizens for the next 90 days, and it is not clear what will happen after that date, Barbara Banks, the director of marketing and new trip development for Wilderness Travel, said in an email. The increase of interest in travel to Iran had been a wonderful development; cultural exchange and understanding is the foundation for a peaceful world. We hope that this unfortunate situation will be resolved, and look forward to an end to the travel restrictions on both sides. After five teenagers defaced a historic black schoolhouse in Virginia with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti last year, a judge handed down an unusual sentence. She endorsed a prosecutors order that they read one book each month for the next 12 months and write a report about it. But not just any books: They must address some of historys most divisive and tragic periods. The teenagers can read Night, by Elie Wiesel, to learn about the Holocaust. They can crack open Maya Angelous landmark 1969 book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, for an unsparing account of the Jim Crow South. They can also dive into The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, a captivating tale about two boys from Afghanistan. Those books were among the 35 works of literature that the judge, Avelina Jacob, ordered the unidentified teenagers, ages 16 and 17, in Loudoun County to choose from last week after they pleaded guilty to spray-painting the Ashburn Colored School, a dilapidated, one-room 19th-century schoolhouse that had been used by black children during segregation in Northern Virginia. The teenagers sentence, known as a disposition in juvenile cases, also includes a mandatory visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington and the Smithsonians Museum of American Historys exhibit on Japanese-American internment camps in the United States. Good morning. (Want to get California Today by email? Heres the sign-up.) Calling California out of control, President Trump recently threatened to withhold federal funds from the state. In response, the State Senate leader, Kevin de Leon, said California was creating jobs faster than any state in the nation and paid more annually in federal taxes than it gets back. So what exactly do Californians get back per dollar paid in federal taxes? There isnt really a simple answer, unfortunately, said Ann Hollingshead, a fiscal and policy analyst for the California Legislative Analysts Office. Part of the difficulty stems from the tangled web of money that flows between individuals, the state and the federal government. Perhaps the most cited figure comes from the Tax Foundation, a conservative group that found Californians got back about 78 cents in services per federal tax dollar paid in 2005. WASHINGTON As the Central Intelligence Agency was setting up its secret prisons overseas 15 years ago to interrogate terrorism suspects, a Defense Department unit was considering a proposal to establish a secret military prison abroad, according to previously undisclosed government documents. The proposal was presented in a 2002 memo written in part by Bruce Jessen, one of two psychologists who eventually helped create the C.I.A.s enhanced interrogation program. The memo, obtained by The New York Times, recommended opening at least one secret overseas site where prisoners would be subjected to constant sensory deprivation and develop a profound sense of despair. The military, though, did not act on the proposal for an undisclosed non-U.S., unsuspected, secure location to hold, manage and exploit detainees. The Department of Defense, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment on the extent to which the plan, which originated in the militarys Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, was considered. Aside from sensory deprivation, the memo suggested that additional pressure tactics be permitted against prisoners, including those that maximize cultural undesirability, but it did not mention the brutal physical coercion techniques, such as waterboarding, later approved for use in the C.I.A. prisons. They married in July, and in August they settled in Rhode Island, where Dr. Almilaji had received a scholarship for a masters degree in public health at Brown University, studying on a student visa. He was excited to be sharpening skills to help rebuild his country. She was excited because it seemed their days apart were over. Now Dr. Almilaji is stranded in Gaziantep, Turkey, near the Syrian border, after what was supposed to be a one-week visit to take care of personal and professional affairs. His original return visa was not honored. He went to the American Consulate in Istanbul on Jan. 20 to get a new visa to return, and has not heard back. Dr. Mouhsen fled the loneliness of their apartment in Providence to stay with friends in New York City, where she is studying for her medical board exams and wrestling with morning sickness. She is pregnant. He tells me to eat fruits and vegetables, take care of me and the baby, she said. Although Dr. Mouhsen has Montenegrin roots, they both grew up in Aleppo, Syria, and plan to return someday. In 2013, Dr. Almilajis early detection system found that polio was making a comeback in war-ravaged Syria, and he coordinated a campaign the next year that vaccinated more than a million Syrian children. Though his work was supported by powerful organizations like the United States Agency for International Development, Unicef, the World Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, there is little they can do to help him now. Early in the civil war, Dr. Almilaji was arrested, tortured and jailed for six months by the regime. But he says he feels even more powerless now that his wife is suffering from an abrupt separation caused by the action of the United States government. Ive been arrested, and Ive been tortured and everything, he said in a phone conversation from Turkey. But my wife, she doesnt have to suffer this. Nordstrom, the department store chain, said on Friday that it was dropping the Ivanka Trump line, a decision it said was based on sales performance. A campaign, using the hashtag #GrabYourWallet, which has encouraged shoppers to boycott products with ties to Mr. Trump, his family and his donors, called the Nordstrom announcement a victory. It was not clear what prompted the president to criticize the company five days later. As Mr. Trump has noted several times, federal conflict-of-interest laws apply to other officials, but not to the president. Nordstroms stock dropped briefly after the presidents Twitter post, then rose again. Mr. Trumps blast at the company came two days after his wife, Melania, filed a libel lawsuit describing her multiyear term as one of the most photographed women in the world an apparent reference to her status as a candidates wife and now first lady as a lucrative business opportunity. DeVos brings along a sense of humor on her first day A day after her narrow confirmation as education secretary, Betsy DeVos toured the department she now leads and delivered a speech to staff members and reporters. WASHINGTON Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, President Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, privately expressed dismay on Wednesday over Mr. Trumps increasingly aggressive attacks on the judiciary, calling the presidents criticism of independent judges demoralizing and disheartening. The remarks by Judge Gorsuch, chosen by Mr. Trump last week to serve on the nations highest court, came as the president lashed out at the federal appellate judges who are considering a challenge to his executive order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The president called their judicial proceedings disgraceful and described the courts as so political. Those remarks followed Mr. Trumps weekend Twitter outburst in which he derided a Seattle district court judge who blocked his travel ban as a so-called judge whose ridiculous ruling would be overturned. Judge Gorsuch expressed his disappointment with Mr. Trumps comments about the judiciary in a private conversation with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, as he paid courtesy calls on Capitol Hill to build support for his confirmation. An account of the discussion was confirmed by a White House adviser working to advance the Gorsuch confirmation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment. The statement consists of two parts: a cover letter addressed to Mr. Thurmond, which Ms. Warren did not read aloud, and the statement, part of which Ms. Warren read on the Senate floor. She later read it in full on Facebook Live, uninterrupted. By Wednesday afternoon, her video had been viewed more than seven million times. The introduction. I regret that a long-standing commitment prevents me from appearing in person to testify against this nominee. However, I have attached a copy of my statement opposing Mr. Sessions confirmation and I request that my statement as well as this letter be made a part of the hearing record. Anyone who has used the power of his office as United States Attorney to intimidate and chill the free exercise of the ballot by citizens should not be elevated to our courts. Here is the text of the statement. Statement of Coretta Scott King on the Nomination of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III for the United States District Court Southern District of Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, March 13, 1986 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Jefferson Sessions for a federal district judgeship for the Southern District of Alabama. My longstanding commitment which I shared with my husband, Martin, to protect and enhance the rights of Black Americans, rights which include equal access to the democratic process, compels me to testify today. Civil rights leaders, including my husband and Albert Turner, have fought long and hard to achieve free and unfettered access to the ballot box. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge. This simply cannot be allowed to happen. Mr. Sessions conduct as U.S. Attorney, from his politically motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicates that he lacks the temperament, fairness and judgment to be a federal judge. The Voting Rights Act was, and still is, vitally important to the future of democracy in the United States. I was privileged to join Martin and many others during the Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights in 1965. Martin was particularly impressed by the determination to get the franchise of blacks in Selma and neighboring Perry County. As he wrote, Certainly no community in the history of the Negro struggle has responded with the enthusiasm of Selma and her neighboring town of Marion. Where Birmingham depended largely upon students and unemployed adults (to participate in non-violent protest of the denial of the franchise), Selma has involved fully 10 percent of the Negro population in active demonstrations, and at least half the Negro population of Marion was arrested on one day. Martin was referring of course to a group that included the defendants recently prosecuted for assisting elderly and illiterate blacks to exercise that franchise. ln fact, Martin anticipated from the depth of their commitment twenty years ago, that a united political organization would remain in Perry County long after the other marchers had left. This organization, the Perry County Civic League, started by Mr. Turner, Mr. Hogue, and others as Martin predicted, continued to direct the drive for votes and other rights. In the years since the Voting Rights Act was passed, Black Americans in Marion, Selma and elsewhere have made important strides in their struggle to participate actively in the electoral process. The number of Blacks registered to vote in key Southern states has doubled since 1965. This would not have been possible without the Voting Rights Act. However, Blacks still fall far short of having equal participation in the electoral process. Particularly in the South, efforts continue to be made to deny Blacks access to the polls, even where Blacks constitute the majority of the voters. It has been a long up-hill struggle to keep alive the vital legislation that protects the most fundamental right to vote. A person who has exhibited so much hostility to the enforcement of those laws, and thus, to the exercise of those rights by Black people should not be elevated to the federal bench. The irony of Mr. Sessions nomination is that, if confirmed, he will be given life tenure for doing with a federal prosecution what the local sheriffs accomplished twenty years ago with clubs and cattle prods. Twenty years ago, when we marched from Selma to Montgomery, the fear of voting was real, as the broken bones and bloody heads in Selma and Marion bore witness. As my husband wrote at the time, it was not just a sick imagination that conjured up the vision of a public official, sworn to uphold the law, who forced an inhuman march upon hundreds of Negro children; who ordered the Rev. James Bevel to be chained to his sickbed; who clubbed a Negro woman registrant, and who callously inflicted repeated brutalities and indignities upon nonviolent Negroes peacefully petitioning for their constitutional right to vote. Free exercise of voting rights is so fundamental to American democracy that we can not tolerate any form of infringement of those rights. Of all the groups who have been disenfranchised in our nations history, none has struggled longer or suffered more in the attempt to win the vote than Black citizens. No group has had access to the ballot box denied so persistently and intently. Over the past century, a broad array of schemes have been used in attempts to block the Black vote. The range of techniques developed with the purpose of repressing black voting rights run the gamut from the straightforward application of brutality against black citizens who tried to vote to such legalized frauds as grandfather clause exclusions and rigged literacy tests. The actions taken by Mr. Sessions in regard to the 1984 voting fraud prosecutions represent just one more technique used to intimidate Black voters and thus deny them this most precious franchise. The investigations into the absentee voting process were conducted only in the Black Belt counties where blacks had finally achieved political power in the local government. Whites had been using the absentee process to their advantage for years, without incident. Then, when Blacks realizing its strength, began to use it with success, criminal investigations were begun. In these investigations, Mr. Sessions, as U.S. Attorney, exhibited an eagerness to bring to trial and convict three leaders of the Perry County Civic League including Albert Turner despite evidence clearly demonstrating their innocence of any wrongdoing. Furthermore, in initiating the case, Mr. Sessions ignored allegations of similar behavior by whites, choosing instead to chill the exercise of the franchise by blacks by his misguided investigation. In fact, Mr. Sessions sought to punish older black civil rights activists, advisors and colleagues of my husband, who had been key figures in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. These were persons who, realizing the potential of the absentee vote among Blacks, had learned to use the process within the bounds of legality and had taught others to do the same. The only sin they committed was being too successful in gaining votes. The scope and character of the investigations conducted by Mr. Sessions also warrant grave concern. Witnesses were selectively chosen in accordance with the favorability of their testimony to the governments case. Also, the prosecution illegally withheld from the defense critical statements made by witnesses. Witnesses who did testify were pressured and intimidated into submitting the correct testimony. Many elderly blacks were visited multiple times by the FBI who then hauled them over 180 miles by bus to a grand jury in Mobile when they could more easily have testified at a grand jury twenty miles away in Selma. These voters, and others, have announced they are now never going to vote again. I urge you to consider carefully Mr. Sessions conduct in these matters. Such a review, I believe, raises serious questions about his commitment to the protection of the voting rights of all American citizens and consequently his fair and unbiased judgment regarding this fundamental right. When the circumstances and facts surrounding the indictments of Al Turner, his wife, Evelyn, and Spencer Hogue are analyzed, it becomes clear that the motivation was political, and the result frightening the wide-scale chill of the exercise of the ballot for blacks, who suffered so much to receive that right in the first place. Therefore, it is my strongly-held view that the appointment of Jefferson Sessions to the federal bench would irreparably damage the work of my husband, Al Turner, and countless others who risked their lives and freedom over the past twenty years to ensure equal participation in our democratic system. The exercise of the franchise is an essential means by which our citizens ensure that those who are governing will be responsible. My husband called it the number one civil right. The denial of access to the ballot box ultimately results in the denial of other fundamental rights. For, it is only when the poor and disadvantaged are empowered that they are able to participate actively in the solutions to their own problems. We still have a long way to go before we can say that minorities no longer need be concerned about discrimination at the polls. Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asian Americans are grossly underrepresented at every level of government in America. If we are going to make our timeless dream of justice through democracy a reality, we must take every possible step to ensure that the spirit and intent of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution is honored. The federal courts hold a unique position in our constitutional system, ensuring that minorities and other citizens without political power have a forum in which to vindicate their rights. Because of his unique role, it is essential that the people selected to be federal judges respect the basic tenets of our legal system: respect for individual rights and a commitment to equal justice for all. The integrity of the Courts, and thus the rights they protect, can only be maintained if citizens feel confident that those selected as federal judges will be able to judge with fairness others holding differing views. I do not believe Jefferson Sessions possesses the requisite judgment, competence, and sensitivity to the rights guaranteed by the federal civil rights laws to qualify for appointment to the federal district court. Based on his record, I believe his confirmation would have a devastating effect on not only the judicial system in Alabama, but also on the progress we have made everywhere toward fulfilling my husbands dream that he envisioned over twenty years ago. I therefore urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to deny his confirmation. I thank you for allowing me to share my views. After the vote to bar Ms. Warren from speaking further about Mr. Sessions, other senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Tom Udall of New Mexico, read Mrs. Kings letter without facing any objection, prompting some activists to raise charges of sexism. Ms. Warren has long displayed an instinct for capitalizing on highly visible fights. After she was barred from speaking on the Senate floor, she began reading the 1986 letter from Mrs. King on Facebook. By Wednesday evening, the video had attracted more than nine million views. In the letter, Mrs. King, the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., took aim at Mr. Sessionss record on civil rights as a United States attorney in Alabama, saying he had used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. She called on the Senate not to confirm Mr. Sessions to a federal judgeship, and his nomination to that post was ultimately rejected. On Wednesday morning, in a conference room in the Capitol the vote prohibited Ms. Warren from speaking about the nomination only from the Senate floor Ms. Warren addressed civil rights leaders, recounting her long night. What hit me the hardest was, it is about silence, she said. Its about trying to shut people up. Its about saying, No, no, no, just go ahead and vote. She went on. This is going to be hard, she said. We dont have the tools. Theres going to be a lot that we will lose. But I guarantee, the one thing we will not lose, we will not lose our voices. Some called it a gift to womens rights, and the episode angered many who diagnosed it as a plot to muzzle a vocal senator, Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader and Republican of Kentucky, may have had the procedural right to cut short Ms. Warrens speech on the Senate floor against Jeff Sessionss nomination for attorney general on Tuesday. But critics had Twitter, and they roared back, using Mr. McConnells words in a rallying cry against what they saw as an attempt by a powerful man to silence a woman who was speaking her mind: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. As Mr. McConnell explained it, Ms. Warren had run afoul of Rule XIX, which forbids demeaning another senator, as she began reading a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King on the day before the vote on Mr. Sessionss nomination. The King letter criticized Mr. Sessions, a Republican, when he was up for a federal judgeship, for using the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens while serving as a United States attorney in Alabama. WASHINGTON The Trump White House is nearing completion of an order that would direct the Pentagon to bring future Islamic State detainees to the Guantanamo Bay prison, despite warnings from national security officials and legal scholars that doing so risks undermining the effort to combat the group, according to administration officials and a draft executive order obtained by The New York Times. White House officials have detailed their thinking about a new detainee policy in an evolving series of drafts of an executive order being circulated among national security officials for comment. While previous versions have shown that the draft has undergone many changes including dropping language about reviving C.I.A. prisons the plan to add Islamic State detainees to the Guantanamo population has remained constant. The latest version of the draft, which circulated this week, would direct Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to use Guantanamo to detain suspected members of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces, including individuals and networks associated with the Islamic State. The White House has kept similar language in the draft order despite warnings from career government national security officials that carrying out its plan would give federal judges an opportunity to reject the executive branchs theory that the war against the Islamic State is legal, even though Congress never explicitly authorized it. The issue could arise when reviewing an inevitable habeas corpus lawsuit filed by an ISIS detainee. For weeks, Republicans rejected suggestions that Mr. Sessions could not be trusted on civil rights, arguing that he had been tarnished unfairly over accusations of racial insensitivity that have dogged him since the 1980s. Everybody in this body knows Senator Sessions well, knows that he is a man of integrity, a man of principle, Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican of Alaska, said during the debate on Wednesday afternoon. The twisting of Mr. Sessionss record offended him, he said, even as Democrats continued their attacks on the nominee. As the 84th attorney general, Mr. Sessions brings a sharply conservative bent to the Justice Department and its 113,000 employees. A former prosecutor, he promises a focus aligned with Mr. Trump in pushing a law and order agenda that includes tougher enforcement of laws on immigration, drugs and gun trafficking. Civil rights advocates worry, however, that he will reverse steps taken by the Obama administration in the last eight years to bring more accountability to police departments, state and local governments, and employers. Advocates point to his history of votes against various civil rights measures, as well as the accusations of racial insensitivity. Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, said on Wednesday that on civil rights, immigration, abortion, criminal sentencing guidelines and a range of other issues, Mr. Sessions had been far outside the mainstream and had pushed extreme policies often targeting minorities. That criticism peaked with Tuesday nights rebuke of Ms. Warren, based on an arcane Senate rule that prevents members from impugning the character of a fellow senator, as she read the letter from Mrs. King, the widow of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mrs. King wrote the letter in response to Mr. Sessionss 1986 nomination for a federal judgeship, for which he was ultimately rejected in part because of accusations that he had been insensitive to minorities as a prosecutor. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican majority leader, led the objection against Ms. Warren. His explanation afterward She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted instantly became a liberal rallying cry, re-establishing Ms. Warren as a leading voice of Democratic resistance to Mr. Trump. Mr. McConnells view clashes violently with that of Senate Democrats and their allies around the country. They have viewed the beginning of the Trump era as a disaster best exemplified by an immigration executive order they decry as unconstitutional and un-American, as well as a selection of cabinet choices they rate as unqualified and carrying the very same baggage that has prevented others from being confirmed in the past. Even some Republicans have criticized as inept and amateurish the rollout of the immigration order, which is now at the center of a federal court fight. Others have expressed trepidation at the prospect of being hammered in a Trump tweet if they run afoul of the new president. Mr. McConnell, who is known for being able to take the temperature of his colleagues and to act accordingly, said he sensed no real unease about Mr. Trump on the Republican side of the aisle. We have had very good unity on our side, Mr. McConnell said. People are genuinely excited about taking the country in another direction. I dont find any decision that he has made surprising. He said Senate Republicans had been enthusiastic about Mr. Trumps cabinet nominees, dazzled by his Supreme Court pick and elated at the chance to roll back what he called the regulatory rampage of the Obama administration. A lot of us were wondering, what is Trump really going to be like? Mr. McConnell said. He used to support Democrats and have various views earlier in his life about politics. But when he got to the point of actually having the office and making the decisions, I think the decisions have been very comforting to my members, most of whom are a little bit right of center and further right of center. It goes without saying that having Mr. Trump in the White House gives House and Senate Republicans the opportunity to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda if they can find common ground. That prospect should be heightened by installing colleagues like Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama and two fellow Republicans, Representatives Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina and Tom Price of Georgia, at the highest levels of the administration. Mr. Sessions is Mr. Trumps nominee for attorney general while Mr. Mulvaney has been tapped to run the White House Office of Management and Budget and Mr. Price to head the Department of Health and Human Services. A three-judge state court panel in North Carolina on Tuesday held up part of a new Republican-backed law that strips important power from the newly elected Democratic governor. The ruling, temporarily halting the requirement that the governor seek legislative approval for his cabinet selections, escalated the partisan tensions that have shaken up the state, and came shortly before a scheduled State Senate hearing on one of Gov. Roy Coopers cabinet picks. Mr. Cooper has called the law, which was signed in December in the waning days of his Republican predecessors tenure, a politically motivated power grab. The court is absolutely correct in their decision and should not be intimidated by threats from legislative leaders, Mr. Cooper said in a statement, in which he urged the state to put these partisan confirmation games behind us. Passed in the bitter aftermath of Novembers election, the limits on Mr. Coopers power prompted protests outside the North Carolina Capitol, where Republicans hold majorities in both chambers. A man everyone calls Cheese won Somalias presidency on Wednesday, and the streets of the beleaguered capital, Mogadishu, exploded in cheers. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a former prime minister, was chosen for the top job, capping a clan-based electoral process that had been widely criticized as corrupt even by Somali politicians who participated in it. Mr. Mohamed, better known in Somalia by his nickname, Farmajo (from formaggio, the Italian word for cheese, for which his father was said to have acquired a taste when Somalia was an Italian colony), was considered the protest candidate and less manipulated by foreign interests than the departing president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Mr. Mohamed enjoys wide support within Somalias army. The moment his victory was announced, celebratory gunfire rang out in Mogadishu as soldiers across the city sprayed bullets into the sky. KABUL, Afghanistan Six employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross were killed and two others were missing on Wednesday after an attack in northern Afghanistan that officials attributed to local affiliates of the Islamic State. This is a despicable act. Nothing can justify the murder of our colleagues and dear friends, Monica Zanarelli, the head of the Red Cross delegation in Afghanistan, said. At this point, its premature for us to determine the impact of this appalling incident on our operations in Afghanistan. The Taliban, who still inflict the largest share of violence in a 15-year war that has escalated in recent years, quickly denied that they were behind the attack. The Red Cross has a 30-year history of helping war victims in Afghanistan, providing crucial medical aid to areas near the battlefield, among other things. The insurgency also relies on Red Cross volunteers to retrieve the bodies of its dead in large parts of the country and to help families of its detainees communicate with them in prison. Pope Francis on Wednesday issued a fresh rebuke against Myanmar over its repression of the Rohingya minority group, just days after a United Nations report concluded that security forces had slaughtered and raped hundreds of men, women and children in a campaign of terror. They have been suffering, they are being tortured and killed, simply because they uphold their Muslim faith, Francis said of the Rohingya in his weekly audience at the Vatican. He asked those present to pray with him for our Rohingya brothers and sisters who are being chased from Myanmar and are fleeing from one place to another because no one wants them. The pope urged Christians to not raise walls but bridges, to not respond to evil with evil, to overcome evil with good, and added: A Christian can never say, Ill make you pay for that. Never! That is not a Christian gesture. PARIS Youths set cars and trash bins ablaze and vandalized buildings in suburbs around Paris on Wednesday, venting rage for the fourth straight day over accusations that police officers had beaten and raped a young black man they arrested last week. The police have used tear gas several times over the four days to disperse angry crowds, and in one instance officers fired live rounds into the air as warning shots, a rare occurrence in France. Five people were convicted on Wednesday evening of ambushing police forces. But there have also been peaceful marches in and around Paris to protest the arrest, and the violent unrest has waned. The unrest has not approached the scale of violence that shook France for weeks in 2005. But even so, it reflects persistent tensions between the police and residents in suburbs where people from immigrant backgrounds are often concentrated and where unemployment is high, especially among young people. The arrest last Thursday took place in one such suburb, Aulnay-sous-Bois, which is not far from where the 2005 trouble started: Clichy-sous-Bois, where two teenagers died fleeing the police. Youths in the area complain about frequent racial profiling by the police, who in turn cite the difficulties and dangers they face working in hostile neighborhoods. Matthew Haley, the head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams, said that you just dont get this quantity of insight into Jackies personal life and that level of intimacy. Mr. Ormsby Gore was her husbands great friend, but the fact that they developed such an intimate friendship in such a short space of time is important, he said, even if built on shared sadness. Contacted about the letters on Friday, a representative of the Kennedy family said that they had decided not to comment. Barbara Leaming, who has written biographies of President and Mrs. Kennedy, said that Mr. Ormsby Gore was the pivotal relationship Jack had in the presidency, a man he trusted almost as much as Robert Kennedy. Jackie loved in Jack the man he wanted to be, and David was the man helping him, in her eyes, to be the man Jack wanted to be, she said. The distress that followed Robert Kennedys assassination in June 1968 was one reason she turned to the security of Mr. Onassis, Ms. Leaming said. It was the second great trauma for her, Ms. Leaming said. She was very clear it was not a marriage of love, as she said to Joe Alsop in a letter. She was seeking safety. As for Mr. Ormsby Gore, of course he fell in love with her she understood him so well, Ms. Leaming said. But I have no idea if it was consummated or not. Mr. Ormsby Gore did marry again, in December 1969, to Pamela Colin, an American who bore more than a passing resemblance to Mrs. Onassis. He died in 1985, at 66, after a car crash. Mrs. Onassis attended his funeral. Since he first came to power in January 2000, Mr. Putin and his allies have gone to great lengths to silence or undermine all critical voices in Russia. It has been almost two years since the still-mysterious assassination of Boris Nemtsov, another charismatic opposition figure, on the doorstep of the Kremlin. His is the most recent in a string of killings of prominent critics politicians, journalists and human rights activists that remain unsolved. Russian television is largely back under government control, as it was during Soviet times, along with most formerly independent news agencies. More than 100 nongovernmental organizations working on issues including the environment, civic education and fighting the spread of AIDS have been declared foreign agents, forcing many to close. Mr. Navalny was the driving force behind large street protests in 2011, 2012 and 2013 that unnerved Mr. Putin. He has also repeatedly embarrassed senior officials by accusing them of corruption, exposing their lavish mansions and other perquisites that seem beyond the reach of a public servant earning a modest government salary. In recent years, Mr. Navalny became the prime example of how the government would use the courts to entangle critics. In addition to the conviction revived on Wednesday, he has been accused of defrauding a French perfume company and stealing a nearly worthless piece of street art, and he was caught up in yet another case involving the death of an elk. While he spent much of 2014 under house arrest, his younger brother Oleg was sent to jail for three and a half years. Either way, the tempo of airstrikes by the American-led coalition against Islamic State targets around Al Bab has increased in recent days, with six strikes reported by the military on Tuesday alone, and 35 since Jan. 1. 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. Both pro- and anti-government forces expect to take advantage, vowing to seize Al Bab within days, fighters and supporters say. Russia and Turkey have agreed that the pro-government forces, not the rebels, will enter the city, according to two government supporters with knowledge of the plans. Otherwise, they said, the rebels who have pressed Al Bab on three sides for months would have seized it long ago. One of these people is an army soldier fighting there. The other is a pro-government informant from Al Bab, who now lives outside Syria but has relayed information to the Syrian military from his contacts in the city. Both were reached via internet chat and requested anonymity because they were not authorized to communicate with reporters. Russia insisted on the terms for occupying Al Bab in a deal reached last month in Astana, Kazakhstan, according to the informant, who said Russia wanted pro-government forces to take the city in part to seize water facilities that could help alleviate shortages. But it remains unclear if all rebel forces backed by Turkey in the Al Bab siege have accepted those terms. Some stepped up their assault on Wednesday and vowed to take the city first. Allowing pro-government forces to occupy Al Bab could be humiliating for the rebels before a new round of peace talks scheduled to start on Feb. 20 in Geneva. But with shrinking options, the rebels are increasingly wedded to the wishes of their Turkish backers. BEIRUT, Lebanon To the overnight editor at the Arab affairs website, it looked like big news: Kuwait, apparently following the lead of President Trump, had issued a visa ban on citizens from five other predominantly Muslim countries. The editor wrote an article, and the news rocketed through cyberspace. One link caught the eye of Mr. Trump himself, who shared it on his official Facebook page with a word of praise for the reported policy: Smart! But there was a problem: The Kuwait ban was from 2011, long before Mr. Trump announced a similar measure in the United States, said James Brownsell, the managing editor of The New Arab, the site that produced that article on Feb. 1. His writer did not notice that the news was years old. Many sites that often support Mr. Trump and also published the report, including Infowars.com and Russias Sputnik news agency, have since clarified that it was outdated and unrelated to Mr. Trumps order. A coincidence, however, it is not. Technically, neither Mr. Trump nor the Trump Organization owns the property (or most of the other buildings featuring the Trump name outside the United States). But in 2010, Mr. Trump allowed the buildings Turkish owners, Dogan Holding, to brand it with his name, in exchange for a sizable fee. The total has not been disclosed, but campaign records show that by July 2015, Dogan Holding had paid Mr. Trump between $1 million and $5 million for the use of his name. It was the revelation of that deal that had the Sumeli sisters making for a premature exit. Why should I respect a president who doesnt respect my veil? asked the younger Ms. Sumeli, who is studying child development. We wont be coming here again, her elder sister added. The sisters were among several visitors to take issue with Mr. Trumps attempts to suspend immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. While Turks were not subject to the ban, most interviewed at Trump Towers were nevertheless offended by its principle and expressed solidarity with those from the affected countries. It doesnt matter whether Turkey is included or not Im against it, the younger Ms. Sumeli said while gathering her things. If my government banned Christians, she added, Id be against that, too. Trump Towers Istanbul is a two-pronged construct: an office block and an apartment complex that jut skyward from a multistory mall at the bottom. JERUSALEM Amid a swirl of police investigations and ethics probes enveloping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and his inner circle, a budding scandal over contracts for new submarines and other warships appears to be gaining momentum as another potential threat to his political future. For weeks, the police have been carrying out an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Israeli contracts with a German shipbuilding company for the purchase of submarines and new missile ships that Mr. Netanyahu championed. His personal lawyer, David Shimron, also represents the Israeli agent for the company, which has led to accusations of a conflict of interest in contracts that involve billions of dollars of business and the shape of Israels defense strategy. Moshe Yaalon, whom Mr. Netanyahu ousted as defense minister last year and who was against adding the new submarines, is reported to have recently given testimony. Adding gravity to the case, Israels Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition calling for the shipping affair to be the subject of a full criminal investigation. On Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu filed a 45-page response to the court ahead of a hearing scheduled for March 8. In it, he argued, through a different lawyer, that the petition should be dismissed on grounds it had been brought by publicity hungry politicians with ulterior motives who based their claims on questionable press reports and were trying to usurp the attorney generals authority. NYTimes.com no longer supports Internet Explorer 9 or earlier. Please upgrade your browser. Kong: Skull Island comes out in just a little over a month, and all of the marketing so far has promised an insane amount of crazy monster action, which is really all anyone needs in life. But so far, we havent seen anything that amounts to the nuttiness of the new Japanese poster for Kong: Skull Island. Even the films director Jordan Vogt-Roberts had to shout it out: Can we talk about how great our Japanese Kaiju poster is? pic.twitter.com/BsIF0S4mH9 Jordan Vogt-Roberts (@VogtRoberts) February 7, 2017 The poster has a whole lot going on, with Japanese characters scrawled across the top and bottom, adding a retro B-movie sheen to the whole situation. Kong is placed top center, crushing a fiery helicopter and baring those giant nasty teeth. Flames silhouette what we can likely assume are the military group exploring Skull Island, with a couple of natives holding spears above the flame. And the monstersoh, the monstersare littered, literally, everywhere. Giant spiders, skull-walkers, a giant ox-looking thing, tentacles and possibly some sort of tree monster are all over the place. Its nuts. How can this movie not be great? The film stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman, Samuel L. Jackson, Toby Kebbell, Shea Whigham and John C. Reilly. What a cast. And Kong is absolutely huge. The fact that this film serves as a companion to 2014s Godzilla is even more exciting, and eventually when they fight, well all stand in awe. Kong: Skull Island comes stomping into theaters March 10, which is far too far away. Check out the previous trailers, which are equally crazy, here and here, and find the full-sized Japanese poster belowclick to enlarge. The U.S.-Mexico relationship isnt exactly estupendo right now, what with wall and tariff talk and all. Fortunately for diplomatic relationships, Conan OBriens heading south of the border in a few short weeks and hes bringing a couple of guests with him. For his Conan Without Borders: Made in Mexico special, the Finnish prime minister lookalike is hiring an all-Mexican staff, bringing in a Mexican audience and inviting Mexican actor Diego Luna, along with former-Mexican President Vicente Fox. The special is OBriens sixth international trip in the past two years after prior excursions to Berlin, Cuba, Armenia, South Korea and Doha. OBriens previously joked that if the show goes well enough, he may actually stick around in Mexico City, which could be a problem from him if we ever send troops that way. Conan Without Borders: Made in Mexico airs March 1 at 10 p.m. EST on TBS. You can watch a preview clip below. To describe Joyce Carol Oates latest novel as anything short of epic feels disingenuous, and yet it still falls short of capturing A Book of American Martyrs gravity. The narrative explores both sides of the national debate surrounding access to abortion, exposing the violence that may erupt when devotees of both causes meet. Its also a testament to how fervor for a cause can inspire such devotion that families are destroyed. On November 2, 1999, Luther Dunphy shoots and kills Dr. Gus Voorhees in the parking lot of a womens center in Ohio. Voorhees, one of the most prominent abortion providers in the country, made a name for himself defending womens rights and fighting for abortion access. Dunphy, a carpenter and Evangelical pro-life activist, views abortion as murder. Seeing an opportunity to end to what he views as Voorhees crime spree, Dunphy kills the man and waits to be arrested. The opening casta liberal doctor and a right-wing activistappears cut and dry. But Oates complicates the narrative by crafting a multi-decade and intergenerational story of the two men and their families. Dunphys life is one of near constant tragedy, from his childhood with a distant father to his failed career as a minister to the death of his young daughter and his wifes subsequent battle with depression. Hes a man grasping at control that always eludes him, who uses religion as a source of comfort against the battering tide that has been his life. But hes also a man with deeply misogynistic viewsa man who sexually assaulted a young woman when he was in high school and who holds wifes sexuality against her. But Voorhees is also less than heroic. Although he is the public face of the pro-choice movement, he often leaves his family to travel or work. His wife, like Dunphys, gave up her out-of-the-home career when they had children so that her husband could continue his job. And hes not open with her about the danger he faces as a target of the ultra-right-wing Army of God, choosing instead to pretend that theres a safe line between his career and his home life. Oates teases out the similarities between the Dunphys and the Voorhees, highlighting each familys struggle with a father who is co-opted by a cause. The latter portions of the book are rooted in daughters Dawn Dunphy and Naomi Voorhees experiences as they grapple with the fallout of their fathers choices. Oates is at once critical and empathic, eschewing simple black and white moral arguments for a nuanced examination of martyrdom. Voorhees and Dunphy both become symbols for their respective causes, but by doing so they allow their families to be martyred by public scrutiny. The families broken lives and attempts to reclaim their respective identities are heartbreaking. Ultimately, Oates does not moralize, and this isnt a book that will comfort those who are strong in their beliefs. But in that lies the books value. At a time when we as a society feel so ideologically distant and yet are told that we have more in common than all that divides us, this novel rings true without being weighed down by sentimentality. Abortion is a viscerally relatable debate around which to build a narrative, but A Book of American Martyrs central themes apply to other debates. The machinations that drive devotees into conflict will continue to exist if a consensus isnt reached, leaving behind nothing more than martyrs to an intractable war. Bridey Heing is a freelance writer based in Washington, DC. More of her work can be found here. If you thought your flight to JFK with a seat-kicker behind you and a loud breather beside you was long, hear this: Qatar Airways announced the successful completion of the worlds longest flight in one of its own commercial Boeing 777 jets. Starting in Doha, Qatar, and traveling to Auckland, New Zealand, the record-breaking flight covers a shocking distance of 9,032 miles. In total, this journey takes passengers into the air for 17 hours and 30 minutes. For travelers in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Dallas, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., this means a greater access to Auckland by joining Qatar Airways network of 150 other destinations. Debate has ensued concerning the merit of worlds longest flight, as many say Qatar Airways may not have been the first to cover such a great distance in the air. Most, however, agree that the real success comes in connecting thousands of people with hundreds of destinations that are otherwise hard to reach. Images courtesy of Qatar Airways Grace Williamson is a travel intern with Paste and a freelance writer based out of Athens, Georgia. One of Americas most hateful human beings sits at the new Trump White Houses helm, writing the presidents racist and isolationist executive orders and expelling anyone who may threaten his ambitious agenda. Bannon is officially Trumps chief adviser, but he is the one calling the shots in the White House. Every major decision at the new White House has involved Bannon, according to the Associated Press. America knows this. Thats why #PresidentBannon and #StopPresidentBannon became popular Twitter hashtags in the last few days. The danger Bannon poses to the United States and to the whole world cannot be understated. In August of last year, Trump selected Bannon as his new campaign CEO. Earlier, Bannon called Trump a blunt instrument for Breitbart News, the conspiracy-peddling online hub of the white nationalist alt-right Bannon led from 2012 until he signed on to the Trump campaign. Through Breitbart, Bannon has been turning people against the government, beltway politicians and multiculturalism, hoping to create chaos and amass a far-right, nationalist movement large enough to elect an allegedly populist candidate such as Trump. Many consider Breitbart as the Trump Pravda because of its consistent promotion of the new president, who has become an increasingly effective tool for Bannon to advance his white nationalist agenda. In under 10 days, Bannon, along with another of Trumps top advisers, Stephen Miller, engineered executive orders halting the United States refugee program and barring entry to anyone from seven Middle Eastern and African countries for even permanent legal US residents, declaring intent to build a wall at the border with Mexico, weakening Obamacare, and withdrawing from an international trade agreement. According to Kate Brennan of Just Security, Bannon is calling the shots and doing so with little to no input from the National Security Council staff. Now Trumps appointed Bannon to the National Security Council Principles Committee, a spot usually reserved for generals, shocking former government officials. After serving the Navy for seven years, Bannon went to business school, worked as an investment banker at Goldman-Sachs, and tried his hand as a Hollywood producer. But starting in the early 2000s, Bannon devoted his life to creating right-wing propaganda. He teamed up with Citizens United, the group that successfully opened up American politics to unlimited corporate money in 2010, to create several right-wing propaganda films attacking undocumented immigrants and Occupy Wall Street while also lionizing the Tea Party. Andrew Breitbart, featured in the documentary Occupy Unmasked, called Bannon the Leni Riefenstahl of the Tea Party movement. Right-wing media personality Glenn Beck compared him to Joseph Goebbels, Hilters chief propagandist, and said the Trump campaign was grooming Brownshirts. In numerous films, Bannon worked with David Bossie, the president of Citizens United who became Trumps deputy campaign manager. If it hadnt been clear before, the Bannon and Bossie hires signaled that Trumps campaign, and his presidency, would center around lies, falsehoods and manipulation of the public, right in line with Trumps entree into presidential politics years earlier, when he commenced his never-ending birther obsession over President Obamas US citizenship. As Bannon runs the White House and Press Secretary Sean Spicer repeatedly lies to the media, Bossie is helping lead a nonprofit called America First Policies that is not required to disclose its donors and will back Trumps agenda by, presumably, spreading more of the rightwing propaganda for which Bossie is famous. America First, which Trump emphasized in his inauguration speech, harkens back to the early 1940s, when American anti-Semites used the phrase to oppose accepting Jewish refugees fleeing genocide in Nazi Germany. In 2007, Bannon helped Andrew Breitbart found Breitbart News and became a board member. In 2012, as Bannon took over the media company in the wake of Breitbarts death, he began turning what was already a far-right propaganda machine into the platform of the emerging alt-right, a fringe, mainly online movement of spiteful, racist white nationalists including neo-Nazis and supporters of ethnic cleansing. Bannon steered the site into even more racist and alarmist territory, filling the minds of its readers with constant accounts of alleged illegal immigrant crime and black-on-black crime as well as misogynistic and anti-Semitic articles. Media Matters put together astonishing collages of Breitbart News headlines. Stories entitled, Were Somalis, We Dont Pay: Migrants Smash Bistro with Iron Bars or Migrant Stabs Bouncer at Gay Nightclub After Being Refused Entry imply all black and brown migrants are criminals destroying Western society. Another, Syrian Refugees Spreading Flesh-Eating Disease, Polio, Measles, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, portrays refugees as a sick, contagious herd rather than desperate people who have fled massacres in their countries only to be met with squalid conditions at refugee camps in the Middle East and North Africa. While Bannon claims he isnt a racist white nationalist, many disagree. Even House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called him a white supremacist. And with his films and Breitbart News, Bannon has stoked the flames of American racism. Breitbart News is opening operations in Paris and Berlin, countries where white nationalist fervor is growing. Accordingly, Bannon wants to create an intercontinental white nationalist movement and is already pursuing allegiances with far-right white nationalist parties in Austria, France and the United Kingdom. Breitbart has an operation in London and another in Jerusalem, where a far-right, pro-Netanyahu faction supports illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine and the countrys oppression of Palestinians. If you look at Bannons beliefs and past statements, youll have no choice but to find the man insane and profoundly dangerous. Darkness is good, Bannon told The Hollywood Reporter. Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. Thats power. Part of his agenda on immigration is abundantly clear: refusing Muslims entry into the United States. Bannon, along with Miller and National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, believe that if a lot of Muslims are allowed to enter the country, the US will see a large and permanent domestic terror threat that becomes multidimensional and multigenerational and becomes sort of a permanent feature, according to a Trump administration official. But its not just Muslims Bannon is after. He and Miller are, according to the Los Angeles Times, conducting a radical experiment to fundamentally transform how the U.S. decides who is allowed into the country[blocking] a generation of people who, in their view, wont assimilate into American society. Bannon has stated he wants to reduce legal immigration in order to restore American sovereignty. Hes complained about Asian immigrants taking away engineering jobs from native-born Americans and reaching executive positions in Silicon Valley. Dont we have a problem with legal immigration? Bannon asked on his Breitbart radio show. Twenty percent of this country is immigrants. Is that not the beating heart of this problem? According to someone who worked with Bannon in Hollywood, the man is obsessed with war and voraciously reads books on military conflicts throughout history. Steve is a strong militarist, hes in love with warits almost poetry to him, she said. A former Breitbart staffer told The Daily Beast how Bannon was an aggressive boss and constantly used military terminology while on the job. Bannon is obsessed with protecting the Judeo-Christian West from Islamic ideology, saying were already immersed in a global war. Hes also said, Were going to war in the South China SeaNo doubt. With his White House power and his seat on the National Security Council, Bannon could throw the United States into catastrophic military conflicts. Flynn recently put Iran on notice, and the president wants to escalate Americas attacks on ISIS, possibly collaborating with Russia. On Feb. 1, Trump went out of his way to threaten both Mexico and Australia. Bannons power is immense, to be sure, but the influence of another top White House advisor, Stephen Miller, a former aide to attorney general nominee Jeff Sessionswho has his own disturbing racist recordshould not be underestimated. Miller works with Bannon to craft many of Trumps policies and executive orders. Now in his early thirties, Miller made a name for himself while an undergraduate at Duke University, writing a far-right newspaper column and, on national TV, defending white lacrosse players accused of raping a black woman. In the Duke Conservative Union, Miller met the white nationalist, alt-right leader, Richard Spencer, who was then a graduate student and mentored the younger Miller. The two worked together to host a panel featuring anti-immigration crusader Peter Brimelow, founder of VDARE, which the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a white nationalist hate group. The US is in a position many havent seen in their lifetimes, or, at least, in quite a while. A far-right extremist, white nationalist militant is the most powerful man in Washington, and white supremacist groups are recruiting new members and being given a voice in the national press. A flaccid Congress, bent on passing huge tax cuts for the wealthy and hobbling public programs, isnt doing anything to oppose Trumps dangerous lunacy. The Senate, including some Democrats, are voting for nominees for the cabinet and other top posts who seek to decimate the very agencies theyll lead. Our foreign policy is in jeopardy, as is our standing in the world. In the 1930s, many Germans didnt see what was coming until it was too late. We cant afford to do the same. Often, when we talk about climate change, it seems like a far-off scenario. We talk in terms of saving the planet for future generations and predict disruptive sea level rise within the century. But the effects of climate change are already felt around the world; future changes will only intensify them. Berta Caceres was at home on March 3, 2016, when the gunmen stormed her house in Honduras and killed her. The attack likely didnt come as a surprise for the environmental defender; before her death, she warned of 33 death threats and a hit list with her name on it. A 20-year-old first sergeant in the Honduran military later confirmed that her name had appeared on a hit list distributed among special forces units (military units that were trained, as it happens, by the United States). The murder made headlines around the world. Caceres was the recipient of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, and her work as an environmental activist reached global audiences. Isidro Baldenegro Lopez, a smallholder farmer and another recipient of the Goldman Prize, was killed last month in Mexico. The high-profile work of activists like Caceres and Baldenegro has often been successful in halting or delaying destructive activities, and their leadership inspired other environmental defenders to follow suit. But this work has never been more dangerous. Murders of environmental activists reached an all-time high in 2015, the last year for which there are analyses. Most of these deaths dont make the headlines, and others are likely never reported at all. Rising Numbers In 2015, more than three environmental defenders were killed every week, Global Witness reported murders in all, constituting a rise of nearly 60 percent from the previous year. Graphic courtesy of Global Witness I am extremely appalled by the number of killings and attacks and the lack of response from states, Michel Forst, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights defenders, wrote in a recent report. Even as countries around the world made progress with the Paris climate deal, climate activists face more persecution than ever. Location Graphic courtesy of Global Witness Attacks were most prevalent in Latin America and Asia, but activists all over the world have been threatened and harmed. More than half of the murders happened in three countries: Brazil (50), the Philippines (33), and Colombia (26). Brazil had by far the most deaths; many individuals targeted were either subsistence farmers or environmentalists working to protect swaths of the Amazon. However, as UN rapporteur Forst highlighted in his report, violence around land rights is an issue that crosses borders. Much of the demand for the resources in those countries comes from countries in the global North, he wrote. Major Threats As the worldwide demand for natural resources grows and companies encroach more upon indigenous lands, environmental issues have become a new battleground. Conflicts over mining were the number one cause of killings in 2015, with agribusiness, hydroelectric dams and logging also key drivers of violence, Global Witness reports. Amnesty International has created a map and database of stories about such clashes in the Americas. More than ever before, environmental activists are the targets of a ruthless campaign aimed at stopping them from protecting vital natural resources, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said in a statement. Indigenous Groups Take the Lead Indigenous defenders, like Caceres and Baldenegro, often form the backbone of these protestsand they are targeted in turn. In Global Witnesss 2015 calculations, nearly 40 percent of victims worldwide were from indigenous groups. Land and resource rights in many hotspots are highly contested, especially concerning ancestral lands and the rights of indigenous populations, Bethany N. Bella and Geoffrey D. Dabelko point out at the New Security Beat, and there are few legal protections that can be counted on. In the U.S., protestors focusing upon resource extraction have made the Dakota Access and Keystone pipelines household phrases; however, they have faced risks to their health and safety in the process. What Can Be Done Bella and Dabelko at the New Security Beat recommend providing political and financial support for regional human rights initiatives and encouraging businesses and governments to recognize the rights of environmental activists. And, sad as they are, high-profile cases like those of Berta Caceres and Isidro Baldenegro Lopez draw international attention to these causes, encouraging more groups to fight for environmental preservation. Caceres, had she lived, would have been recognized as a UN Environment Champion of the Earth in December; in her stead, her brother Juan Manuel Caceres received the award. Berta didnt die, she multiplied, Manuel Caceres said in his acceptance speech. Top photo by Daniel Cima/CIDH CC BY 2.0 Melody Schreiber is a freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C. File this one under ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOPE. A woman in India who presented to hospital with a pain in her face was found to have a cockroach nestled behind her skin and between her eyes and it was still alive to boot. Selvi, 42, awoke from a deep sleep around midnight last Tuesday to a tingling, crawling sensation in her right nostril. At first she thought it might have been the beginnings of a cold, The Times of India, but she soon felt something move. I could not explain the feeling but I was sure it was some insect, she told the New Indian Express. Whenever it moved, it gave me a burning sensation in my eyes. She spent the entire night in discomfort, heading to hospital first thing in the morning. Four hospitals later (doctors initially thought it was nasal growth) and the wriggling cockroach was finally extracted. It was a full grown cockroach, said Dr M.N. Shankar, the head of the ENT department. It was alive. And it didnt seem to want to come out. He said that the cockroachs position made extraction difficult, and that he drag it to a better one. It was sitting in the skull base, between the two eyes, close to the brain. If left inside, it would have died before long and the patient would have developed infection which would have spread to the brain. The process lasted about 45 minutes. Dr Shankar told the Times his department has in the past removed maggots, houseflies and leech from nasal cavities, but not a cockroach, especially not one this large. Excuse me while I investigate vacuums to sleep in from now until forever. Source: The Times of India, New Indian Express. Photo: Luis Davilla / Getty. 888poker Study Claims UK is the Luckiest Country February 08, 2017 Matthew Pitt Editor The definition of luck, or chance, differs depending on many factors including the religious and emotional context of the one interpreting it. Finding a four-leaf clover is often considered lucky for the person who finds it, while the number 13 and black cats have long been associated with bad luck. Luck, or chance, plays a major role in the short-term success of a poker player. While more skillful players win more money than their lesser skilled counterparts over a massive sample size, the skill factor can often be all but cancelled out by luck in a small sample size. 888poker knows a thing or two about luck with it running the second-largest online poker site in the world so it makes sense for them to create a study that considers how Lady Luck shines down on various countries around the world. Six metrics were used to measure how lucky a country was. These were: Number of Summer Olympic Gold medals Total number of Winter & Summer Olympic Gold medals Number of sporting achievements Average amount of rainfall (mm depth per year) Number of reality TV show winners Largest lottery win amount The study found that the United Kingdom is the luckiest "country" in the world followed by the United States of America, Italy, France and Japan, with Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Brazil being on the wrong side of the lucky league. Rank Country Summer Medals Total Medals Sporting Events Rainfall (mm) TV Shows Lottery Win 1 UK 263 873 73 1220 74 $260 million 2 USA 1022 2802 92 715 34 $1.5864 billion 3 Italy 206 691 8 832 38 $248 million 4 France 212 824 16 867 58 $31 million 5 Japan 142 484 3 1668 1 $1.14 billion 6 Egypt 7 29 1 51 23 n/a 7 Germany 191 824 19 700 25 $67 million 8 India 9 28 2 1083 65 $3.456 million 9 Turkey 39 94 0 593 10 n/a 10 Russia 148 555 14 460 20 $4.77 million 11 Iran 18 68 0 228 0 n/a 12 South Africa 25 86 0 495 23 $7.3 million 13 Ethiopia 22 53 0 848 10 n/a 14 Mexico 13 67 0 758 6 n/a 15 Pakistan 3 10 4 494 0 n/a 16 Nigeria 3 24 0 1150 4 n/a 17 China 227 597 2 645 9 $3.9 million 18 Brazil 30 128 11 1761 18 $72.58 million 19 Thailand 9 31 0 1622 9 $83,265 20 Vietman 1 4 0 1821 3 n/a 21 Phillipines 0 10 0 2348 20 $16.7 million 22 Indonesia 7 30 0 2702 6 n/a Head to 888pokers infographic to see the formula used to calculate the lucky countries rankings Why You Should Never Bluff a Calling Station February 08, 2017 PokerNews Staff There were many intriguing hands featured on the live stream of different events during the recently completed 888Live Rozvadov Festival in the Czech Republic. One from the 5,300 High Roller eventually won by [Removed:291] featured a river bluff gone wrong, with the bluffer Henri Buehler taking time the next day to discuss the hand with PokerNews. Buehler recounts the action below, though via the live stream we can fill in some more particulars. He'd been playing for a while with his opponent in the hand, having noted him to be very loose and opening with a wide range of hands. But Buehler also noticed the player had been less wild after the flop, often continuation betting but giving up after firing one barrel if he hadn't connected with the board. In this hand the blinds were 800/1,600 when Buehler's opponent raised to 4,000 from middle position. Buehler chose to defend his big blind with a call holding . (He says queen-deuce in the video, though the stream showed his hand as queen-trey.) Buehler had about 63,000 to start the hand, and his opponent about 81,000. After a flop of Buehler checked, then watched his opponent bet 5,500 (about half the pot). Buehler called a "float" from out of position, he describes it, as he intended to try to take the pot away with a bluff on a future street. With the pot up to 21,400 the turn brought the to double-pair the board, and both players checked. The then fell on the river, and that's when Buehler chose to fire a decent-sized bet of 13,000 in an effort to steal the pot. Alas for Buehler, his opponent instantly called. Hear what his opponent had and Buehler's laughing response to his failed bluff attempt. For more from Buehler, be sure to check out his Twitch channel twitch.tv/buehlero. Life is Dulce We call it the dolce far niente. It means the sweetness of doing nothing. You may have heard this while scrolling through Instagram or T Read moreThe benefits of doing nothing Hybrid Holdings Pty (LTD) brings its professional business consulting services to SME's worldwide. With a renowned reputation across Europe, we are known to achieve the businesses goals while increasing their capital through Stock Exchanges. By: Hybrid Stock Exchange Contact Hybrid Stock Exchange Uros Trajkovic ur@hhpty.com Hybrid Stock ExchangeUros Trajkovic End -- Previously, we only did business privately through referrals from satisfied clients but the demand rose significantly, which persuaded us to finally introduce our services to the public. Due to this high demand, we will only be accepting a limited number of clients per year.This service includes, but is not limited to, the following specifications: Stock Market Listing Listing you on any stock exchange worldwide. Legal Remedies Any aggrieved party has recourse to take issues of any matter, in respect of all decisions taken on the basis of the present Fee Regulations, to the courts of law. Business Plan We create a comprehensive and professional business plan for your company. Company Profile We create a professional and concise company profile which takes into account the size of your company. Prospectus Plan We create a professional and comprehensive public offer prospectus plan Online Marketing All relevant social media (mainly Facebook & Twitter), Search Engine Optimization as well as posting on thousands of news portals.In addition, new services are introduced to the Public Sector: ISIN Creation Complete application for the ISIN. International Financial Reporting Standards Use of the IFRS for the public company financial statements. Securitization International Securitization Report and Management.Kindly visit our website www.hhpty.com for more information as well as the price list. St. Louis non-profit organization has already raised 91% of $7 million goal By: Operation Food Search (l. to r.) Brian and Bob Dierberg, Sunny Schaefer, and Hank Thill Contact Sunny Schaefer ***@operationfoodsearch.org Sunny Schaefer End -- Operation Food Search (OFS), a hunger relief organization that provides food to the area's hungry, recently announced the public phase of its food insecurity campaign, "The Campaign to End Childhood Hunger in the St. Louis Region."OFS has already raised $6,388,000 of its $7 million capital campaign goal, leaving only $612,000 remaining. The funds will focus on expanding the organization's nutrition education services, providing community education about the area's hunger problem, and increasing capacity building with its agency network. In addition, the campaign allows for the purchase of more freezer, cooler and racking space to store food and supplies.The main goal of the capital campaign is to grow OFS' ability to stop the damaging cycle that food insecurity produces. Hunger strains the region's education and negatively affects health outcomes with one in four children approximately 173,000 children in the 31 counties in Missouri and Illinois plus the city of St. Louis being at risk.The public phase was recently announced at OFS' grand opening of its new 67,000-square-foot headquarters located at 1644 Lotsie Blvd. in Overland, Mo. More than 150 individuals and charitable partners and agencies were on hand for the public phase kickoff.Rene Knott, KSDK NewsChannel 5 news anchor, served as the Master of Ceremonies. Program speakers included Carolyn Kindle Betz, VP and Executive Director of the Enterprise Holdings Foundation; Albert Mitchell, President of the Monsanto Fund and VP of Communications, Monsanto, and; Jackie Yoon, Bank of America St. Louis Market President. Michael Kupstas, OFS Board Chairman and Sunny Schaefer, OFS Executive Director, thanked guests for their generosity and commitment to tackle the hunger issue together.The Bank of America, Crawford Taylor Foundation and Enterprise Holdings, Emerson, and Monsanto were among several corporations and foundations to make leadership gifts to the campaign. Additional contributors include Dana Brown Charitable Trust; Byrne & Jones; Edward Jones; Interco Charitable Trust; Hussman Corporation;William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee; Robert J. Lieber Charitable Trust; PARIC Corporation;SoTel Systems; Norman J. Stupp Foundation; Trio Foundation of St. Louis, and; Warehouse of Fixtures. The campaign also attracted a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor. Two challenge grants totaling $700,000 were committed by an anonymous national grant maker, as well as from The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma."Operation Food Search is delighted by the success of the campaign to date, and now we are turning to the community to help us achieve our remaining goal," said Operation Food Search Executive Director Sunny Schaefer. "Our vision is to transform the way our organization and our network of more than 330 member agencies resolves childhood hunger and family food insecurity in the bi-state region. Working together we can improve nutrition, education and health outcomes."Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search (OFS) is a hunger relief organization that provides food and nutrition education. With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families with a range of programs and services proven to reduce food insecurity and increase access to healthy and affordable food.OFS helps feed more than 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis one-third of which are children through a network of 330 community partners in 31 Missouri and Illinois counties, as well as in the city of St. Louis.For more information, call (314) 726-5355 or visit http://www.OperationFoodSearch.org Contact Expotrade ***@expotrade.net.au Expotrade End -- With economic and financial capacity directed to infrastructure as well as transport projects across Western Australia, the Federal and State governments have allocated substantial funds for major projects which will transform social and economic outlooks for the State.The $2 billion Forrestfield Airport Link development, under construction in Western Australia, has had an additional $490 million Federal investment towards the improvement. The project will connect Perth's eastern suburbs to the CBD with completion slated for 2020.Jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments, the project will see three new stations at Belmont, Airport Central and Forrestfield.This significant transport project for the State aims to increase public transport options for the eastern suburbs, improving access between the city and Perth Airport. It will also drive development in surrounding areas which is expected to benefit local residents.Major projects and transport infrastructure projects for the State will be profiled at the 8Annual WA Major Projects Conference 2017. Forrestfield-Airport Link Project Director Dave Thomas will discuss timelines for construction and benefits for the community at the Conference.The transport sector continues to be a major priority for the state with the Western Australian Government also investing $1.8 billion in key roads and public transport infrastructure. The State Government'splan sets forth a vision for the next generation of Perth's transport network.The long-term plan for the city's transport future looks at how the network can efficiently sustain a growing population, which is approaching 3.5 million and beyond. The plan aims to accommodate the transport requirements of an additional 1.4 million people.Taking into consideration future living and working hubs, a flexible transport system is in order for the city. The plan provides a framework for a transport network which can keep people and freight moving as the city continues to expand.Focusing on access to jobs, universities and schools, on a broader scale, the plan seeks to ensure that Perth continues to be known as one of the most liveable cities in the world.WA Department of Transport, Managing Director, Graeme Doyle will discuss transport infrastructure priorities for Western Australia at the WA Major Projects Conference.A new high-rise development could transform Perth's skyline, with a new World Trade Centre proposed for the city. Designed by Woods Bagot, the $1.85 billion complex is envisioned as a 75-storey mixed-use tower that would include apartments, a shopping precinct, a convention centre, a hotel and office spaces. The developer, World Trade Centre Perth, will manage the complex's commercial activities.Principal of Woods Bagot, Grant Boshard will discuss the exciting new proposal at the WA Major Projects Conference.The 8Annual WA Major Projects Conference ( http://www.waconference.com.au/ ) is taking place on the 2021of June at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.Expotrade is a global conference and event organizer with its head office based in Melbourne, Australia. Expotrade has delivered some of the largest, most successful B2B industry conferences and events in the areas of infrastructure, major projects, sustainability, technology & architecture. For almost 10 years, our unique blend of knowledge, experience and flexibility has accomplished an array of consistently top quality events. Today, Expotrade events enjoy such a distinctive edge, they are amongst the best patronised in the calendar.For more information, visit www.expotradeglobal.com in-cosmetics, the world's leading B2B events portfolio for Technical Access to 30,000 Personal Care Ingredients, has announced its collaboration with SpecialChem, the B2B digital marketing company specializing in chemicals and materials. Media Contact Sonia Vij ***@specialchem.com Sonia Vij End -- in-cosmetics, the world's leading B2B events portfolio for personal care ingredients, has announced its collaboration with SpecialChem, the B2B digital marketing company specializing in chemicals and materials. The collaboration will enable the users of in-cosmetics websites to access SpecialChem's Universal Selector an online database of cosmetics ingredients and the exhibitors of the in-cosmetics shows to be highlighted in the Universal Selector.The Universal Selector, which gathers around 30,000 datasheets of cosmetics and personal care ingredients, is accessible from http://www.in-cosmetics.com and each in-cosmetics event website."We are very pleased to enter into this collaboration with SpecialChem"says Lucy Gillam, Director, in-cosmetics Group at Reed Exhibitions. "Enabling the users of our in-cosmetics Global website to access the SpecialChem Universal Selector will enrich the content we deliver to the cosmetics community, providing access to tens of thousands of products. We are also pleased to enable the exhibitors at the in-cosmetics Global show to be highlighted in the cosmetics Universal Selector wherever it is displayed"."Our Universal Selector aims to make product selection faster and richer by giving formulators the technical data they need on all the cosmetics and personal care ingredients in the world. We especially put a lot of effort into tracking and adding into the Universal Selector all the latest products that are launched, which is real added value for the users" says Christophe Cabarry, SpecialChem's founder and CEO. "We are very excited by this partnership with in-cosmetics. They are such a reference point for the industry, delivering the industry's leading trade shows around the world. Together, we will add value for users of the in-cosmetics Global website and extend the reach of the Universal Selector to benefit the global industry" added Mr. Cabarry.Benefits for users of the Universal Selector on the in-cosmetics Global website will include: Enhanced searches with more than 10 search dimensions for a richer and more detailed product selection Access to new products' data sheets as soon as they are launched Data quality thanks to permanent crowd-sourced feedback from usersFor detailed information, please visit www.in-cosmetics.comThe in-cosmetics Group organizes world-leading cosmetics and personal care events across the world, gathering more than 30,000 personal care industry professionals each year. The exhibitions and conferences bring together personal care ingredients suppliers, formulators, R&D and marketing specialists and showcase the most diverse range of innovative cosmetics ingredients, services and technologies. An unrivalled global educational programme provides a crucial insight into future scientific advances, emerging trends and regulations. This year, in-cosmetics events will run in the UK, South Korea, the USA, Brazil and Thailand. For more information, please visit www.in-cosmetics.com/SpecialChem is the Universal Selection Source for chemicals and materials. We help formulators, specifiers, and suppliers of chemicals and materials to connect, to innovate, and to accelerate both their technology and business.Since the year 2000, SpecialChem has built technical websites dedicated to some of the largest downstream markets for the chemical industry including Polymer Additives, Plastics & Elastomers, Paints, Coatings & Inks, Adhesives & Sealants, and Cosmetics & Personal Care. Each of these websites offers a Universal Selector aimed at providing technical data on every material or ingredient in the world in order to search, analyze and compare them, as well as the expert knowledge to select them.Our 500,000+ registered members comprised of engineers, formulators, product developers, marketers, applicators and brand owners across the globe build the world's largest online network dedicated to chemicals and materials. This profiled network, combined with more than 3 million visitors per year, are unique assets for SpecialChem to offer chemicals and materials suppliers both strategic marketing services (to explore new markets and validate new products) and operational marketing services (to raise awareness, educate a market, or engage new customers).For more information, visit http://www.specialchem.com Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 41F. SW winds at 25 to 35 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 41F. SW winds at 25 to 35 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Artificial Pancreas Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024 Artificial Pancreas Market Contact Raj Shah sales@coherentmarketinsights.com 2067016702 Raj Shah2067016702 End -- Artificial pancreas is a disruptive technology that is expected to revolutionize the diabetes market in near future especially for type 1 diabetes treatment. Type 1 diabetes, characterized by inadequate insulin production, requires daily administration of insulin to regulate the amount of glucose in the body. Thus, patients suffering from type 1 diabetes need to be regularly monitor their blood glucose levels and administer insulin accordingly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), number of diabetes patients worldwide has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. According to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), there were around 1.5 million type 1 diabetics worldwide in 2015. There are no commercially available treatment option for type 1 diabetes. Therefore, organizations such as JDRF and OpenAPS are focusing only on developing effective and compliant therapies for type 1 diabetes. Artificial pancreas market outlook is optimistic for early entrants.Medtronic entered the artificial pancreas market with introduction of MiniMed. MiniMed 670Gthe first of its kind artificial pancreas for treatment of diabetes 1received FDA approval in September 2016. The device would be made available in 2017. MiniMed 670G combines an automated glucose monitor and an insulin pump. The FDA has granted approval for this device to be used in patients aged 14 years and above. Once additional real-life tests are successfully carried out by the company, the product would be accessible to the target user group, mainly the pediatric population.MiniMed 670G is a hybrid closed-loop system that automates the cumbersome process of monitoring and adjusting glucose and insulin levels in type 1 diabetes patients. Patients can monitor health through a device like a smartphone. This artificial pancreas would help patients sleep well at night and wake-up with a healthy glucose levels. Moreover, Medtronic's MiniMed 670G artificial pancreas would improve therapy adherence and allow patients to live life unlike previously where there was a need for regular intervention. Various regional players are expected emerge in the artificial pancreas market in near future in order to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities.However, emergence of other disruptive technology could somewhat affect the overall growth of artificial pancreas market revenue. For instance, automated insulin delivery device is a prospective alternative to artificial pancreas. OpenAPSa do-it-yourself (DIY) automated insulin delivery systemis an open source design that can be used by anyone to connect their CGM and insulin pump to make it an artificial pancreas. The device was developed in 2013 by Ben West, Dana Lewis, and Scott Leibrand.According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 29.1 million diabetic patients in the U.S. in 2015, of which 8.1 million are undiagnosed. Type 1 diabetes accounts for around 5% of the total diagnosed diabetes cases in adults in the U.S. Type 1 diabetes is common among Scandinavian population and in Sardinia and Kuwait and less common in Asia and Latin America. Developed regions are expected to dominate the artificial pancreas market size, owing to early adopters of disruptive technology. Success achieved in these markets influences companies to enter into emerging markets, where the regulations, distribution and purchase/treatment patterns vary widely.Medtronic's MiniMed 670G artificial pancreas only needs to be calibrated by the patient, while the rest is taken care of by the automated device. Adoption would be a little slow, especially in developing countries, considering the high price of the device. However, given the long-term gains from the device, adoption is expected to increase over time. According to the CDC, the annual healthcare burden due to diabetes to the U.S. government was US$ 176 billion in 2012. Governments and insurance providers are pushing pharmaceutical and medical device companies to reduce medicine and device costs. This is expected to have a significant impact on the pricing of the artificial pancreas. There is high demand for effective treatment of diabetes. As such, addressable market is expected to generate high return on investment (ROI) for artificial pancreas market players.Coherent 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. 8th Mobile Money & Agent Banking Summit 2017 Contact Jose Carpio Magenta Global Pte Ltd ***@magenta- global.com.sg +65 6846 2366 Jose CarpioMagenta Global Pte Ltd+65 6846 2366 End -- The latest cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions for the mobile telecommunications and banking sectors will be showcased this month at theto be held on February 21-22 at the Park Royal Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. The Exhibition is being organized in-synch with a compelling conference agenda tackling the industry's most pressing issues and most attractive growth opportunities in rapidly expanding Myanmar and other surrounding high-growth markets around the Asian region.The Director General of the Foreign Exchange Management Department of the, U Win Thaw, will be delivering the Opening Address.Participating industry players include:(Malaysia),(Thailand),(India),(Thailand),(USA),(India),(Myanmar),(Japan),(Sri Lanka), and(Switzerland)Raj Hajela,of, said: "Estel is extremely excited by the fast-paced and positive developments happening in all emerging economies in the Fintech space. We see Myanmar being at the forefront of these developments and quite uniquely placed to leap frog various legacy technologies and embrace mobile financial services as the primary tool to achieve financial inclusion and move the country towards a cashless economy. With our vast experience as a technology provider to the global Mobile Financial Services industry, Estel is very well-placed to assist aspiring Myanmar companies with our expertise and technology, to help them succeed in this space. We hope to meet many such companies while we participate as an exhibitor in the 8Mobile Money & Agent Banking Summit 2017."Viraj Mudalige,of, adds: "We are looking at a vast expansion program designed to take Epic to the next level. We currently have offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Sri Lanka. By this expansion, our market penetration will also expand thus making our products freely available within the region to cater to the growing needs of the banking community. I am indeed happy to be part of this Mobile Money & Agent Banking Summit 2017 in Myanmar. Epic's innovative FinTech Solutions will no doubt take the industry by storm. We are band of technocrats who believe in offering disruptive, cutting-edge solutions to the world. Two of our flagship products - Epic Mobile Wallet and Epic Branchless Banker, which have changed the banking landscape in Sri Lanka and the region - are on display here at the Mobile Money and Agent Banking Exhibition. I personally invite all delegates to stop by the Epic booth and experience these innovative FinTech solutions."Already on its eighth edition, the Mobile Money & Agent Banking Summit will feature distinguished industry speakers including: Hal Bosher,of; Jacques Voogt,of; Brad Jones,of; and Alexi Lane,of; plus many others.Theis supporting this Summit.VIew the event website at http://www.magentaglobalevents.com/ 8th-mobile-money- agent... For more information, please contact Jose at +65 6846 2360 or jose@magenta-global.com.sg today. Exciting travel deals from Discovery Shores, a luxury resort in Boracay, await guests at the 24th PTAA Travel Tour Expo. Contact Jane Santiago ***@discovery.com.ph Jane Santiago End -- Experience "A World of Discovery" at the 24th PTAA Travel Tour Expo on 10 to 12 February 2017 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Visit the booth of Discovery Shores Boracay along Hall 1, Aisle F and G. This year, Discovery Shores Boracay offers exciting Suite Deals starting at PHP 10,500++ per night in a Junior Suite for lean season and PHP 13,000++ per night in a Junior Suite for peak season. The offer includes buffet breakfast at Sands Restaurant, round trip Caticlan airport transfers and a complimentary en suite foot wash upon arrival.To celebrate its 10th Year Anniversary this 2017, the award-winning resort offers an exclusive deal - book and stay within the anniversary month of March and enjoy a stay in a Junior Suite for only PHP 10,500++ per night. Buy five nights during the expo and get one complimentary night in a Junior Suite. This exclusive offer is valid until 19 December 2017.Discover other exciting offers for Palawan, Tagaytay and Ortigas from The Discovery Leisure Company (TDLCI), a homegrown hospitality group. Have a sneak peek of "A World of Discovery" through a fun Virtual Reality viewing area at the booth showcasing a 360 degree view of TDLCI's hotels and resorts. An additional discount of 5% off the bill await My Discovery Elite members during the expo.Discover these exciting Suites Deals for Boracay at http://www.discoveryshoresboracay.com/ travel-tour- expo-2017 Discovery Shores Boracay is an award-winning 87-suite luxury resort in Station 1 of White Beach. The beachfront property features the highly-acclaimed Terra Wellness Spa and well-loved restaurants Sands and Indigo. The resort is has been listed in Travel + Leisure Magazine's World's Best Hotels and is a regular awardee on TripAdvisor.Discovery Shores Boracay is one of five properties of The Discovery Leisure Company's portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts, and is a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts Lifestyle Collection. Get updates through Discovery Shores Boracay's official website at http://discoveryshoresboracay.com The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc. is a Filipino hospitality group that manages a collection of hotels and resorts in exquisite locations around the Philippines. Its distinctive destinations inspire authentic experiences for every traveler, from Discovery Suites Manila, Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay, Discovery Shores Boracay, Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan and Discovery Primea Makati.The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc.'s portfolio of award-winning properties is known worldwide for its signature Filipino hospitality, marked by genuine and personalized "Service That's All Heart". Choice Based on Industry Specific Expertise, Ease of Implementation, Customized Dashboards, Granular Reporting, and Scalability By: Epicor Epicor Logo Contact Vernon Saldanha Procre8 ***@procre8.biz Vernon SaldanhaProcre8 End -- Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, today announced that Havelock AHI, a leading interior manufacturer and fit-out contractor, has implemented the next-generation Epicor ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution across its six locations in the GCC (gulf cooperation council).With Epicor ERP serving as the backbone of the business, Havelock AHI has been able to improve communication between departments, streamline operations and ultimately deliver the highest quality products and services to its customers in the region.Commenting on the decision to upgrade from a 'home-grown' ERP solution to Epicor, Aiman Mahmoud, senior IT manager, Havelock AHI, said, "Because our core business is built on offering bespoke solutions, it was only natural that we would expect the same from our ERP system. We needed a customisable system to meet the needs of the manufacturing and contracting pieces of our business without incurring significant costs or long implementation delays. We also wanted a solution that would scale easily to meet the demands of our growing business."In addition to choosing a solution that was tailor-made for their industry, ease of implementation was another key criterion. As Aiman explained, "The Epicor ERP solution architecture is extremely user friendly so, unlike other IT implementations where we have worked together with the vendor and partners, we managed the entire implementation of Epicor ERP in house. The only module that we did consult with the Epicor team on was accounting, since this is one of the critical modules that ties everything together." Epicor were equally impressed with the technical knowledge of the Havelock team and recognised Havelock last year with the customer award for "Achieving Last Mile and Leveraging Epicor Framework".With anywhere between 75-80 users accessing the system across the six Havelock locations in the GCC at any time, one of the biggest benefits has been the improvement in visibility and transparency across all departments. Citing a recent example of an order of cashier counters for a large customer, Aiman said, "The sales cycle of every single customer from tender to fulfilment is unique. Flawless execution hinges on tight integration and coordination between our associates in sales, engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, shipping and accounting. Implementing Epicor ERP has allowed us to rely on systems rather than manual processes, improve communication between departments, streamline operations and ultimately ensure that we deliver the highest quality product and service to our customers."With the Epicor ERP system now serving as the backbone of the business, Aiman and his team are beginning to benefit from its rich functionality, specifically its reporting features, to improve business operations and aid management decision making. "We are currently working on building customised reports for each department. For example, our associates in purchasing now have granular visibility of purchase orders which ultimately contributes to improved OTD (on time delivery), arguably one of the most important manufacturing metrics. In addition to departmental reports, we are also working on developing data rich reports and dashboards for our senior management team that will give them a clear snapshot of the health of the business and allow them to make more informed business decisions.""Havelock AHI faced some significant challenges with their previous ERP solution, specifically around usability and maintenance. We focused on delivering a solution that not only addressed the requirements and challenges of their industry and specific business, but was also easy to deploy and achieve last-mile functionality, operate, manage and upgrade," said Sabby Gill, executive vice president, International for Epicor Software. "I am confident that Epicor ERP will provide Havelock AHI with the flexible and scalable platform they need to continue to innovate and grow their business in the region."Aiman concluded, "At Havelock AHI, our core values are offering our customers outstanding quality, service and value, attention to detail and continuous improvement. We are also committed to providing our associates with an exciting and rewarding work environment. Choosing to partner with Epicor has provided us the platform we need to stay true to our values, and at the same time grow our business." By: BandbCuba End -- The best way to know a country is to explore it by yourself, take this. In BandCuba, well show you how to save money when you visit this country. Knowing public transportation, accommodation options and the best seasons to visit will help you save on your vacation.Cuba is ain the world, known for its beautiful landscapes and historical monuments in its cities. When you visit it is like traveling in time. But the currency exchanges its not so easy on tourist. The food, hotel rooms, transportation, recreation and other expenses can make the bills grow.Saving on youris possible if you sacrifice elements such as a 5 stars hotel, taxi transportation in 100% of your tours and if you decide to eat in Havana's cheapest areas. This can be an enriching experience and you will save a few dollars.At first the important thing is to set a fixed budget per day and calculate the maximum savings you can make. For this you should take into account aspects such as accommodation, food and transportation. Also make a travel itinerary about the things to do in Havana ( https://www.bandbcuba.com/ blog/11-best- things-to-do- in-ha... ) and check if the places you will visit requires a fee to get in.An informed traveler is a smart traveler, for that were going to give some tips to travel low cost to Cuba.1) Search for a cheaper accommodationAccommodation in Havana is more expensive than in other areas nearby, rooms can cost up to double if they are in the capital. But if you explore a little further away you will find private homes at good prices below 22 CU. Learning the language (basics phrases) will help you communicate with the locals and it will be easy to ask about hostels of lower price and security.We advise you to search for, such as the ones we can offer in BandCuba, to find a cheap lodging option with food included. So you can have maximum savings on the two most important things of your trip.2) Research transportation optionsGetting by taxi and tourist buses toof interest represent a great amount if you want save money. That's why we advise you to investigate your options of public transportation and collective taxis, these do not exceed 2 or 3 CU per trip. You can travel to other areas like Vinales in local buses.3) Learn Spanish!If you really want to save money on your trips to Cuba learn Spanish, enough to communicate with the locals. Get out of your comfort zone and it's your tool for traveling without4) Explore your gastronomical options in the streetThe menus in hotels are expensive for the tourists, if you give a tour to the city you will find options that are very cheap. For example, in Vedado Street you will find the famous home-cooked restaurants known as "paladares" where you can find good price offers for excellent food.Someare "El Rapido" (pizza and hamburger), Pekin restaurant, Carmelo and Artechef. In the boulevard, Paseo del Prado and Vedado you can find meals for less than 1 $ per dish.5) Travel in the best seasonsTravel in seasons with less tourist congestion to get more local and economic options. Accommodation and food are low compared to June and August. The best months to travel are fromand from September to early December.With these tips to travel to Cuba with little money from Bed and Breakfast in Cuba ( https://www.bandbcuba.com/ ), you can enjoy a local experience, save for your next visit or extend your ride longer. What trick do you use to save on your travels? Share it with us! Andhra Pradesh beckons global tourists with its pristine beaches, stunning hill stations, divine temples and serene backwaters Aims to develop the state as the most preferred destination globally Appeals for investment in tourism projects By: www.spheretravelmedia.com Contact Pushpanjali Singh PR Manager ***@spheretravelmedia.com Pushpanjali SinghPR Manager End -- The Sunrise state of Andhra Pradesh, blessed with some of the finest tourist destinations in India, beckons international tourists to come and experience the hospitality and create a memory that would be etched ever after.with a dominating presence as a stand-alone exhibitor at this year's FITUR, Madrid. Taking advantage of the huge gathering of the worlds travel-trade fraternity in Madrid during FITUR 2017 Exhibition, the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh also held a roadshow to connect with key tour operators and media representatives from across the world, including from Spain.The rich and varied culture of Andhra Pradesh can be perceived from its melodious music, scintillating dances, delectable cuisine, ingenious arts & crafts and wonderful people. Right from the pristine beaches of Visakhapatnam to the backwaters of Dindi and again from the holy Lord Balaji temple of Tirupati to the beautiful Araku Valley, the state has all the elements making it a world class tourist destination. Andhra Pradesh is a vibrant conglomeration of People, culture and Festivals.led the team and made an exalting pitch to the international audience at the roadshow. He also stressed upon the point that with a favorable tourism policy in practice and a business friendly approach, Andhra Pradesh is keen to attract investment in the tourism infrastructure projects. He listed a spate of opportunities that the government is keen to offer potential investors. Apart from various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, he emphasized that the state assures investors of full-fledged support and co-operation. "Our endeavor is to develop Andhra Pradesh as the most preferred destination and under the dynamic leadership of Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu we are taking progressive steps in that direction. Our vision is to create an all-round tourist friendly environment in the state which ensures a memorable experience for each and every guest every time they visit Andhra Pradesh."Giving his wholehearted support to Dr. Srikants outreach program, the Ambassador invited the audience to take full benefit of the business-friendly and development oriented initiatives being spearheaded by the Government in Andhra Pradesh.The Secretarys presentation covered details on key tourism circuits that international travelers can experience. An audio-visual on Andhra tourism was also played.He informed that with the aim to attract tourists from far and wide, the state is organizing multiple mega festivals such as Visakha Utsav, Lepakshi festival, Araku festival and Flamingo festival in the upcoming months. These programs are in line with the State governments missionary approach to promote the state as India's most preferred tourist destination and position as a global tourism brand by providing world class tourism products and services, while preserving the culture, heritage, environmental balance and natural beauty of the state.Rich culture is always prevalent in the state of Andhra Pradesh. A huge collection of performing arts emerged from this state including music, drama and dance to our world. The most popular form of classical dance, Kuchipudi originated from Andhra Pradesh. The audience at the roadshow was enthralled by a. The networking dinner spread that followed included Andhra dishes to introduce guests to Andhra cuisine. John Mills, PE, LEED AP, BD+C, Director of Electrical Engineering Contact Jodi Hausenfluke ***@halff.com Jodi Hausenfluke End -- Halff Associates, Inc. (Halff), one of the nation's leading engineering/architecture consulting firms, is proud to announce that John Mills has joined Halff as director of Electrical Engineering.John has more than 30 years of diverse electrical engineering experience on projects ranging in size from very small to more than 300,000 sf. He is a senior-level engineer who has developed low- and medium-voltage power distribution systems, lighting systems, lightning protection and grounding systems, solar photovoltaic systems, fire alarm and security systems, and telecommunications systems.John's project experience encompasses the industrial, commercial, federal, municipal, institutional, higher education, and retail arenas. He has designed projects that have earned the LEED Platinum, Gold, and Silver certifications.John earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas, San Antonio. He is a Professional Engineer and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction.Halff is a Texas-based, employee-owned, diverse and multi-disciplined professional services firm. For more than 65 years, Halff has provided innovative solutions for clients in Texas and throughout the United States, offering full-service planning, engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental, oil and gas, right of way, visualization, and surveying services. Halff has 14 offices in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. For more information about Halff, visit www.halff.com Local author Nicki Jacobsmeyer will be available to sign copies of book End --Telling a story in pictures is Chesterfield, an addition to Arcadia Publishing's popular Images of America series. The book, by local author Nicki Jacobsmeyer, boasts more than 200 vintage images, many of which have never been published, and chronicles the history of the Missouri town.Arriving in 1815 by boat at Howell's Landing off the Missouri River was Chesterfield's founder, Col. Justus Post. Chesterfield, Missouri, is a distinct city because it did not grow from a single "named community" like most. It was once six separate towns, each with its own post office. The history of these communities and families that lived in them interweave to make a remarkable story that still lives on in the city of Chesterfield.Since the beginning, the town has strived to serve its community with exceptional schools, places of worship, public services, and businesses. The railroad, steamboats, and later the airport aided the economy, and the city began to thrive. Chesterfield became incorporated in 1988 with the support of many, including the chamber of commerce, businesses, renowned schools, and dedicated citizens. The city continues to grow because of the seeds that were planted over two centuries ago. The rich history is embedded in the people, streets, and buildings that stand today. Members of the Chesterfield Historic and Landmark Preservation Committee were instrumental in providing images and knowledge of the history of Chesterfield. The Chesterfield Post Office has been open since 1895.Barnes & Noble1600 Clarkson RoadChesterfield, MO 63017Saturday, February 18th, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.The combination of Arcadia Publishing & The History Press creates the largest and most comprehensive publisher of local and regional content in the USA. By empowering local history and culture enthusiasts to write local stories for local audiences, we create exceptional books that are relevant on a local and personal level, enrich lives, and bring readers closer - to their community, their neighbors, and their past. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com Contact Erin Oliveira ***@quotebound.com Erin Oliveira End -- South Florida is set to launch its own chapter of Online Marketing Certified Professional (OMCP), led by Prediq Media CEO Alex Oliveira. The organization, recognized as the leading independent standard for certification of online marketing professionals, will host monthly meetings locally to give marketers insight into online marketing best practices."OMCP is a fantastic, collaborative effort by industry leaders to establish and maintain best practice standards in the online marketing arena," said Oliveira, OMCP's South Florida meetup leader and committee member. "We're looking forward to sharing insights and ideas with other local marketers at the South Florida chapter's first meetup."The first meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9 at 6 p.m. at the Prediq Media office in Boca Raton, located at 7000 West Palmetto Park Road Suite 210. The community-driven gathering is open to marketing professionals or aspiring marketing professionals. The February topic is SEO keyword research best practices. Future meetings will discuss best practices for a variety of online marketing areas, including digital advertising (PPC, AdWords and more), web analytics, landing page conversion rate optimization, mobile marketing, content marketing , social media marketing, marketing automation, email campaigns, and more.Prediq Media Group is a full-service digital marketing agency based in Boca Raton, Florida. With an emphasis on social media marketing, search marketing and lead generation, the agency aims to keep clients ahead of the curve in an ever-changing tech world. For more information, call 800-796-0201 or visit http://prediqmedia.com By: Consilium Staffing Provider Spotlight-Dr. Sima Assefi-Consilium Locum Media Contact Sarah Clinton Communications/ PR Specialist pr@consiliumstaffing.com Sarah ClintonCommunications/PR Specialist End -- Consilium Staffing, a locum tenens staffing company based in Irving, Texas, has awarded its first ever Distinguished Service Award to family practice physician Dr. Sima Assefi. Dr. Assefi, who has worked with Consilium since April of 2014, has provided care at more than 20 urgent care facilities in Pennsylvania."Dr. Assefi has been an incredible asset to our company and a true pleasure to work with," said Landon Webb, Consilium regional vice-president and Dr. Assefi's account manager. "She has spent more than 4,000 hours treating patients since she first signed with us, and the facilities at which she worked have consistently sent glowing reviews about her competence, warmth, and attention to care for every patient. I have become a better account manager through working with Sima, and I consider her a friend."Dr. Assefi's path to practicing medicine, though untraditional, very likely contributed to her ability to work and thrive in diverse medical settings. Originally from Iran, Dr. Assefi attended secondary school in the United Kingdom after political unrestand eventual warnecessitated that she and her sister leave their home country. She then moved to the United States and earned her undergraduate degree in natural sciences from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.While in college, Dr. Assefi worked in bakeries, as a third-shift dispatcher at a taxi company, and later as a waitress and bartender to pay her way through school and help support her younger brother, who still was studying in the U.K. When her brother finished school and was able to work, Dr. Assefithen 33 years oldenrolled in medical school in the Dominican Republic at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Medical School.After completing medical school and then residency in the United States, Dr. Assefi took on a permanent position in family medicine. Unfortunately, Dr. Assefi's medical career was quickly put on hold when she received a sudden cancer diagnosis. Following successful treatment, Dr. Assefi began working as a locum tenens urgent care physician and quickly decided that was the "right fit" for her. Since her first contract with Consilium in 2014, Dr. Assefi has worked at 22 rural urgent care facilities and has treated approximately 12,000 patients.Consilium, Your Partner in Locum Tenens, connects contract healthcare professionals with understaffed medical facilities across the country. For more information about Consilium and to view career opportunities for nurse practitioners, physicians and physician assistants, please visit: http://www.consiliumstaffing.com http://www.consiliumstaffing.com/ about-consilium/ consiliu... ). JLL has appointed Costin Banica, Business Developer Industrial Agency, to the role of Head of Industrial, effective 17th February 2017. Banica joined JLL Romania last year as Business Developer Industrial in charge of supporting the management in seising the opportunities in this growing market. Banica will continue his current role [] M7 Real Estate has further expanded its platform into Luxembourg through the appointment of Stephane Gatto, who will be based in a new M7 office in Luxembourg. This follows the recent opening of offices in Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia. The Luxembourg office has been established to provide a dedicated accounting, [] European industrial property witnessed its strongest year yet, with investment volumes reaching a record high of 24.5 billion in 2016, according to CBRE. Germany, Norway, Spain and CEE all reported record trading activity for the year meaning 2016 volumes were four per cent higher than in 2015. In addition to [] Toyota has made a few failed attempts to bring its Lexus luxury brand to India but this time, it no not going to fail. Lexus India is going to kick start its operations from 24th March 2017. In the first phase, they will launch three cars, 2 SUVs and 1 sedan. These include RX450h Hybrid SUV, ES300h Hybrid sedan, and LX450d/LX470 SUV. The recent initiatives by the government which made import and sales of hybrid cars more attractive has prompted Toyota to introduce Lexus. The Japanese luxury brand comes into picture just as its parent company is uncertain about its future plans in India owing to the recent diesel ban debacle. The Lexus hybrid cars will also benefit from the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and hybrid vehicles) schemes subsidy which stand at INR 1.38 lakhs for large hybrid cars. Lexus RX450h Lexus cars will be retailed at exclusive Lexus dealerships, which will first be opened in major Indian cities. The first such dealership Lexus Boutique is to be opened in Mumbai at the Taj Hotel in Santacruz. All Lexus cars which will be on sale in India, will be on display at this boutique which will adhere to global Lexus standards. Speaking about the three cars, Lexus RX450h is a hybrid SUV. It is one of the best selling Lexus SUVs in the world. Powered by a 3.5 liter V6 petrol motor and mated to a hybrid system from Toyota, this SUV delivers combined output of 308 hp via a CVT gearbox. It will be priced from INR 1.2 crore. The second SUV on offer would be their flagship offering Lexus LX450d and LX570. The diesel 450d is powered by a 4.5 liter V8 delivering 269 hp and 650 Nm while the petrol LX570 is powered by a 5.7 liter V8 generating 383 hp and 546 Nm. Price of both will start from INR 2.34 crore. The most affordable Lexus offering for India will be the ES300h hybrid sedan. To be priced from INR 60 lakh, it will come with the same engine transmission option as seen on the Toyota Camry hybrid in India. In fact, the Lexus ES300h is based on Toyota Camry Hybrid. The 2.5 liter petrol motor along with Toyota Hybrid system delivers peak output of 160PS and 213Nm. Refinement, better efficiency and smoother drive would be the strong selling points. Initially, all will be sold as CBUs. Toyota Kirloskar Motor also has the option of setting up a CKD operations at one of its Bidadi plants in the future if its necessary. Lexus RX450h Photos Umea University researcher Maquins Sewe has established links between patterns of malaria in Kenya and environmental factors (temperature, rainfall and land cover) measurable by satellite imagery. In his doctoral dissertation, the researcher shows that conducive environmental conditions occur before increases in hospital admissions and mortality due to malaria, indicating that the satellite information is useful for the development of disease forecasting models and early warning systems. "When integrated with 'on-the-ground' malaria surveillance and control strategies, forecasting models that use satellite images can help policy makers to choose the most cost-effective responses to reduce malaria burden," says Maquins Sewe, researcher at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health Unit. "Since prevailing weather conditions regulate the abundance of malaria-transmitting mosquitos, assessing environmental risks can help predict a rise in malaria infections geographically and allow proactive control efforts to focus on hot areas." According to Maquins Sewe, satellite-based malaria forecasting might be especially useful in low resource settings where data on weather conditions are limited or nonexistent. The idea is that an early warning system, based on the use of weather monitoring and malaria surveillance, can provide sufficient lead time to launch geographically focused cost-effective proactive interventions. The control and prevention of malaria is very important in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria contributes to high levels of morbidity and mortality. Children under the age of five are the most vulnerable group and have the highest mortality from malaria. The elimination of malaria by 2030 was one of the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the World Health Assembly in 2015. Improved malaria surveillance technologies is recommended as one of the key strategies to achieve the SDG's elimination goal. In his research, Maquins Sewe used data from the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) run by Kenya Medical Research Institute and United States Center for Disease Control (KEMRI/CDC). The data covered the Asembo, Gem and Karemo regions of Western Kenya, which have a combined population of over 240,000. In this region, malaria accounts for 28 percent of all deaths in children under 5 years. The study provides evidence that a progression of changes in environmental conditions and the subsequent occurrence of malaria mortality follow the expected biologic mechanism. Temperature determines both the development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito and the rate at which the mosquito develops from larva to adult, while precipitation provides the necessary breeding places. The study identified a risk pattern that together with a delay form the basis for the forecast model. However, the model developed in the study showed that longer-term forecasts decreased in accuracy. In order to optimize response strategies, Maquins Sewe developed an economic assessment framework to quantify the tradeoffs between the cost-effectiveness of proactive interventions and the fact that forecast accuracy diminishes with increasing lead-time. "This study contributes to malaria early warning systems with several important components, including risk assessment, a model for integrating surveillance and satellite data for prediction, and a method for identifying the most cost-effective response strategies given the uncertainty with predictive data in the long-term," concludes Maquins Sewe. Find the thesis online at: http://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1064930&dswid=-262 Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a novel type of LED street light of increased efficiency. Compared to conventional LEDs, power consumption may be reduced by up to 20%. This will also decrease costs and CO 2 emission. Conventional high-power diodes are replaced by a special array of LEDs. This enhances efficiency, increases service life and safety, and produces a better light. Parallel connection of a large number of LEDs is difficult, as failure of a single diode will cause failure of the overall system or section. According to Michael Heidinger of KIT's Light Technology Institute, the alternative of connecting LEDs in series is also associated with drawbacks, because the voltage required increases with the number of diodes used. As the legally permissible contact voltage is limited to 120 volts, only up to 40 LEDs have been connected in series so far. Heidinger has now invented an interconnection method that compensates aging and failures of individual LEDs. This method allows to install a large number of LEDs -- 144 in the prototype -- on a single board and to operate the array safely. This new switching concept works with far smaller voltages. "Voltage of the prototype was 20 volts," Heidinger says. Moreover, the array produces less heat. "In case of a few LEDs, power loss is highly concentrated," Heidinger says, "and has to be distributed with a high effort." Insufficient heat distribution causes local overheating that massively affects the service life of the lamp. Heat distribution or reduction requires a high expenditure and, hence, is expensive. Such costs are reduced when using Heidin-ger's new LED array. In addition, luminous characteristics are more comfortable for the human eye. "Many small LEDs are perceived as panel radiators from a certain distance. Their glaring effect is smaller than that of high-performance LEDs that are perceived as spot-like light sources." Moreover, low-power LEDs are cheaper than high-performance LEDs. Hence, the new system can be produced and offered at the same prize, although more light-emitting diodes are required. Last but not least, change to the new lamp technology is uncomplicated and inexpensive. "The LED module can be installed simply into existing lighting systems," Heidinger says. In the future, cities and municipalities might profit from reduced power consumption of the novel type of LED. At many places, the old, conventional, and power-consuming illumination is being replaced by LED technology at the moment. According to the city administration of Karlsruhe, illumination of this medium-sized city with 300,000 inhabitants requires about 60,000 lamps (one tenth of which are LEDs). In 2015, their power consumption totaled about 12,000 megawatt hours. Annual power and maintenance costs of EUR 3 million result. In Berlin, energy costs for public electric illumination (the capital also has gas lamps) amounted to about EUR 14 million in 2015. Power consumption totaled 75,000 megawatt hours. In Germany's second largest city Hamburg, energy consumption for illumination in 2014 totaled about 35,000 megawatt hours causing costs in the amount of EUR 7 million. Industry partners are already developing first products based on KIT's technology. "For the first time, we can now construct glare-free lamps of high efficiency, which meet highest safety standards," Klaus Muller, Managing Director of Gratz Luminance, says. "Before the end of this year, we will make available our lamp to customers for testing purposes." Work was performed within the framework of the collaborative project "Optimiertes Gessamtsystem LED-Leuchte" (Optimized LED-based Illumination System). The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the "Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand" (Central Innovation Program for Medium-sized Companies), grant number ZF4046701LT5. Of the more than 700,000 Americans who suffer a heart attack each year, about a quarter go on to develop heart failure. Scientists don't fully understand how one condition leads to the other, but researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have now discovered a significant clue -- which ultimately could lead new therapies for preventing the condition. Heart failure can develop after a heart attack due to a long-term damage response by the immune system that transforms much of the heart muscle into stiff, fibrous, scar-like tissue. In a study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers report that a set of signaling proteins produced in the epicardium, a layer of special cells that lines the heart muscle, appears to play a key role in keeping this wayward damage-response process in check. "These findings highlight the importance of the heart's interaction with the immune system in the post-heart-attack response," said co-senior author Rajan Jain, MD, an assistant professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. "They hint at the possibility of developing designer therapies aimed at modulating specific aspects of immune system in the future as part of treating patients who have had a heart attack. " Prior work from Epstein and colleagues at Penn has shown that in the epicardium, a cascade of protein-to-protein interactions known as the Hippo signaling pathway occurs early in life and is important for normal heart development. Other research has suggested that two key components of the Hippo pathway, the signaling proteins YAP and TAZ, also promote the regeneration of heart muscle after experimental heart-attack-like damage in newborn mice. In this study, researchers examined the role of epicardial YAP and TAZ after heart attack in the adult heart, which, compared to the fetal or newborn heart, is much less able to regenerate itself following injury. After an experimentally induced heart attack, normal adult mice, as expected, showed a small amount of fibrous change in the heart, limited to the area where a coronary artery were blocked and heart muscle had been deprived of oxygen. By contrast, in adult mice whose YAP and TAZ genes had been deleted from their epicardial cells just before the heart attack, there were signs of widespread inflammation and fibrosis in the heart muscle. "The hearts of these mice were essentially encased in fibrotic cells," Jain said. "We found that this extreme fibrotic response was accompanied by a decline in heart function resembling what is seen in human heart failure, as well as rapid weight loss and a much higher death rate." Researchers found evidence that the Hippo-pathway proteins normally trigger the increased production of the immune protein interferon gamma. The latter summons regulatory T cells -- "T-regs" -- which generally calm immune responses, and have been shown in prior research to reduce heart-muscle inflammation after a heart attack. In the YAP-less, TAZ-less mice, a heart attack failed to induce the usual rise in interferon gamma production and recruitment of T-regs, allowing inflammation and fibrosis to run rampant. "We are hoping to harness the immune system, just as we are doing at Penn to fight cancer, in order to improve the balance between scar formation and regeneration after a heart attack," said co-senior author Jonathan A. Epstein, MD, executive vice dean and chief science officer at Penn Medicine. "The more we look, the more we discover that the immune system is regulating how we heal from injury in every way -- acting like the conductor of a complex cellular orchestra." In a further experiment, the researchers applied a hydrogel laced with interferon gamma to the hearts of some of these mutant mice just after their heart attacks. As hoped, the artificial restoration of interferon gamma led to higher T-reg levels in the heart and much more moderate inflammation and fibrosis. The findings show that epicardial YAP and TAZ are important not only for the normal development of young hearts but also for a healthier repair process in damaged adult hearts. Jain, Epstein and their colleagues now plan further experiments to map out the fibrosis-causing immune response in more detail -- a project that could reveal multiple targets for future drug interventions to prevent heart failure in heart attack patients. The team also plans to develop mice in which the YAP and TAZ genes are not deleted but are instead overexpressed. "The hope is that higher levels of these proteins will lead to a scar-free healing of the heart after a heart attack," Jain said. The human mouth can harbor more than 700 different species of bacteria. Under normal circumstances these microbes co-exist with us as part of our resident oral microbiota. But when bacteria spread to other tissues via the blood stream, the results can be catastrophic. Researchers from the University of Bristol have now revealed a potentially key molecular process that occurs in the case of infective endocarditis, a type of cardiovascular disease in which bacteria cause unwanted blood clots to form on heart valves. If untreated, this condition is fatal and even with treatment, mortality rates remain high (up to 30 per cent). There are over 2,000 cases of infective endocarditis in the UK annually and the incidence is rising. The Bristol team's findings could lead to the development of new drugs to help combat this life threatening heart disease. A key part of the study involved use of the UK national synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source. Using this giant X-ray microscope the team were able to visualise the structure and dynamics of a protein called CshA which, based on previous studies at Bristol University, was believed to play an important role in targeting the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii to the tissues of the heart. The researchers were intrigued to find that CshA acts as a 'molecular lasso' to enable S. gordonii to bind to the surface of human cells. Such adhesive interactions are critical first steps in the ability of this bacterium to cause disease. The study, which appears as 'Editors' Picks' in the current issue Journal of Biological Chemistry, was conducted in collaboration with Professor Rich Lamont at the University of Louisville, USA. Lead author Dr Catherine Back from Bristol's School of Oral and Dental Sciences, said: "What our work has revealed is a completely new mechanism by which S. gordonii and related bacteria are able to bind to human tissues. We have named this the 'catch-clamp' mechanism." The team were able to demonstrate that the terminal portion of CshA is very flexible. This allows it to be cast out from the surface of the bacterium like a lasso. When the lasso contacts fibronectin on the surface of human cells (the 'catch'), it brings CshA and fibronectin into close proximity. This then enables another portion of CshA to tightly 'clamp' the two proteins together, anchoring S. gordonii to the host cell surface. Co-researcher Dr Paul Race from Bristol's School of Biochemistry and the BrisSynBio Research Centre, said: "What is particularly exciting about this work is that it opens up new possibilities for designing molecules that inhibit either the 'catch' or the 'clamp' steps in this process, or potentially both. The latter possibility is particularly intriguing, as bacteria are generally less likely to become resistant to agents that target multiple steps in an infective process." Dr Angela Nobbs, from the School of Oral and Dental Sciences, who co-led the study with Dr Race, added: "With the molecular level insight that our study provides, it is now a realistic possibility that we can begin to develop anti-adhesive agents that target disease-causing Streptococcus and related bacteria." Scientists know a great deal about blue whales off California, where the endangered species has been studied for decades. But they know far less about blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean, where ships strike and kill some of the largest animals on Earth. Now a research team has found a way to translate their knowledge of blue whales off California and in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to the other side of the world, revealing those areas of the Northern Indian Ocean where whales are likely to be encountered. The team of scientists from NOAA Fisheries and the Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project published the findings in the journal Diversity and Distributions. The Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission included the results of the study when assessing a shift in busy shipping lanes off the south coast of Sri Lanka that will reduce the danger to whales in an important feeding area. "Small changes in shipping routes can be a very effective way to address a serious conservation issue with minimal inconvenience to the shipping industry, but rely on a good understanding of the relationship between whale distribution and habitat," said Russell Leaper, a member of the Scientific Committee. "This study makes an important contribution towards that understanding." To meet requirements of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA Fisheries regularly conducts marine mammal and ecosystem assessment surveys. Surveys off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific have shown that the upwelling of deep ocean water rich in nutrients supports dense patches of krill that blue whales feed on. This information has proven critical in addressing the emerging problem of ships striking blue whales, and has informed the management of ship traffic to and from the busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to mitigate this problem. "We are fortunate in the United States to have some of the best marine mammal data sets in the world," said Jessica Redfern, a research scientist at NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, Calif., and lead author of the new study. "It was exciting to explore how we could use these data sets to aid conservation efforts in parts of the world where few data exist." The research developed computer models of blue whale habitat off the U.S. West Coast and in the eastern tropical Pacific, including upwelling and underwater topography that affects areas of krill concentration. The models then identified similar upwelling and feeding regions in the Northern Indian Ocean that are also likely to be important habitat for the endangered species. "The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project has spear-headed efforts to draw attention to and mitigate the risk of ships striking blue whales in Sri Lankan waters. To best protect this species in this data-limited region, it is essential to adapt approaches developed in other parts of the world. Our collaboration achieves just that," said Asha de Vos, founder of the Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project and a coauthor on the study. The Northern Indian Ocean and its inhabitants have not been surveyed to the same extent as the eastern Pacific Ocean, and much of the information about whale distributions comes from Soviet whaling several decades ago. However, the model results matched up well with the limited information available, the scientists reported. The model suggests that the distribution of blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean may shift seasonally, following their food as monsoon climate patterns alter the most productive habitat. The scientists concluded that research and monitoring is critical in the areas identified as blue whale habitat in the Northern Indian Ocean because many of these areas overlap with some of the busiest shipping routes in the world. "Marine mammals face threats from human activities in most of the world's oceans, but we lack the data needed to address these threats in many areas," Redfern said. "The data collected aboard our surveys allow us to predict species habitat in other parts of the world. Understanding species habitat allows us to address conservation problems that are often unexpected and critical to maintaining healthy populations." A researcher in the College of Arts and Sciences is providing fresh insights into the "Great Oxidation Event" (GOE), in which oxygen first appeared in the Earth's atmosphere more than 2.3 billion years ago. Christopher Junium, assistant professor of Earth Sciences, is part of a team of researchers led by Aubrey Zerkle, a biogeochemist at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, which has uncovered evidence of an interaction between nitrogen and oxygen in ancient rocks from South Africa. The discovery not only illuminates how life evolved alongside changes in the chemistry of the Earth's surface, but also fills in a 400-million-year gap in geochemical records. Their findings are the subject of a major article in Nature. "We've captured, for the first time, the response of the nitrogen cycle through this major transition in the Earth's surface environment," says Junium, pointing out that global oxygenation was not an instantaneous event, as the name implies, but protracted over hundreds of millions of years. "There are particular aspects of the nitrogen cycle, making it very sensitive to the presence of oxygen." Scientists have long suspected that certain visible signals have accompanied the GOE in geochemical records; however, many of the records are plagued with gaps. "Understanding the nitrogen cycle through the Earth's history is important because it controls global primary productivity, which, in turn, regulates climate, weathering and the amount of oxygen at the Earth's surface," says Junium, a sedimentary and organic geochemist. Working with cores of sedimentary rock from the South African town of Donkerhoek, Junium and his colleagues used nitrogen stable isotopic analysis to record environmental conditions during the GOE. They found that the first occurrence of widespread nitrate coincided with the initial appearance of oxygen in the atmosphere. advertisement Estimated concentration of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere over the Precambrian Era (4.56 to 0.541 billion years). Junium says that, during the GOE, oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere increased by as much as four orders of magnitude, near or above modern levels. The prevailing notion is that such a confluence of events would have triggered the rapid diversification of complex organisms, ones reliant on atmospheric oxygen. Instead, more than a billion years passed before oxygen levels were high enough for the evolution of complex eukaryotes (i.e., cells or organisms sharing complex structural characteristics) to occur. Why the delay? "It remains an item of intense interest amongst the geochemical community, a question that we are actively seeking to answer," Junium adds. Part of the answer may reside in another study that has looked to traces of the element selenium in sedimentary shale, revealing the amount of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere some 2 billion years ago. "There was a quarter of a billion years or so in which the Earth's oxygen level was high and then sunk back down again," says Junium, citing a recent paper co-authored by Eva Stueken, a university research fellow at St. Andrews. "The selenium cycle was perturbed in such a way that there was enough oxygen to generate nitrate and to potentially support complex life." Zerkle says that catastrophic upheavals provide a critical window into how the biosphere responds to shifts in the environment. "Understanding how life on this planet has responded to geochemical changes in the past may help us predict responses to future changes, including the Earth's warming climate," she says. "It also informs our search for habitable planets in other solar systems." An essential element in all living organisms, nitrogen is responsible for the formation of proteins, amino acids, DNA and RNA. It also accounts for 80 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe Norway has decided to retire and begin scrapping its remaining 56 F-16C fighters by 2022 rather than keeping them in reserve or trying to sell them on the second-hand market. By 2022 the F-16s will have been replaced by 52 F-35s, which will begin arriving in Norway by late 2017. The F-35 has been plagued by a seemingly endless number of unexpected delays but so far Norway has remained a customer. If deliveries continue on schedule Norway will have all 52 F-35s in service by 2021 and F-16s will no longer be needed at all. While the F-35s will be arriving on schedule Norway is now concerned about the new ALIS (Autonomic Logistics Information System) software the U.S. Navy and Air Force have created to handle aircraft maintenance. ALIS was developed with the F-35 in mind and as an automated supply system that would be eventually used by most other military aircraft. But foreign customers for the F-35 feel that ALIS is being forced on them and one of those customers, Israel, has refused to depend on ALIS exclusively for F-35 maintenance. Another problem foreign customers have is all the information on their ALIS supported aircraft the system will collect and send back to the United States. Some of this data is protected by local laws and that, plus continued software development problems are bothering foreign F-35 users. Then there are the American political problems related to ALIS and the F-35. For example the F-35 manufacturer, in order to obtain maximum political support for the F-35, selected suppliers with an eye towards where they were, in addition to what they could do. The object of this (a common practice) was to have suppliers in as many of the 435 Congressional districts as possible, especially those held by a politician providing crucial support for keeping the F-35 project funded. This means that there are more suppliers than are actually needed and that security in any networked supply system is only as strong as that of the weakest company connected to the network. While testing the network security on ALIS actual and potential vulnerability to hackers was revealed as a major weakness. Fixing it is difficult because so many suppliers are involved and the demands of foreign users has made the task even more difficult. ALIS is more than just a convenient way to order spare parts and other F-35 maintenance supplies. It also contains analysis capabilities that predict the health of individual F-35s, based on what they have been doing. If an enemy can break into ALIS, they know what the F-35 fleet (of, eventually, several thousand aircraft) has been doing and what is being planned. Building, maintaining, and now making ALIS more resistant to attack is itself a multi-billion dollar project. Failure to protect ALIS puts all F-35s at risk. Its a new vulnerability, the dark side of the many benefits coming from the use of networks and new analytics capabilities. Meanwhile Norway justifies scrapping its F-16s by pointing out that it has one of the oldest and heavily used F-16s in Europe. The Norwegian F-16s have, on average, 10,000 flight hours. Currently Norwegian F-16s fly about 140 hours each per year. Maintaining these elderly fighters as a reserve would be too expensive. Moreover the market for used F-16s is crowded and many of those secondhand fighters have far fewer flight hours on them. Norway originally obtained 72 F-16AMs in the early 1980s and upgraded them in the late 1990s to the Block 50 standard. The Norwegian F-16AMs were built in the Netherlands under license. A decade ago Norway realized it would have to replace the wings on its F-16C fighters to keep them in service until the early 2020s. This was done but in doing so it was discovered that these elderly fighters would require more of these expensive fixes to keep them going. Finally the Norwegians realized selling second-hand F-16s required permission from the United States (because so much American tech was involved) and Norwegian political objections to many potential customers further complicated sales. The F-16 is the most numerous post-Cold War jet fighter, with nearly 5,000 built or on order. There are 24 nations using the F-16, and 14 have ordered more, in addition to their initial order. During The Cold War, Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s, but since then warplane production has plummeted about 90 percent. Since the end of the Cold War, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going, despite the fact that the F-35 is supposed to replace the F-16. But the F-35 price keeps going up (it is already north of $100 million per aircraft) and the F-16 continues to get the job done at half that price and using many of the same weapons (like AMRAAM) that the F-35 uses. U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has finally installed the high speed version of their inflight data access for paratroopers or SOCOM operators to receive real time updates while in flight. This is part of an effort to provide special operations troops Internet like capabilities wherever they are. Not just in the combat zone but also while in aircraft on their way to a mission. The latest innovation is hardware (a satellite datalink for transport aircraft) and software (that provides classified data updates to troops on the aircraft). On the aircraft this EMC2 (Enroute Mission Command Capability) acts like Wi-Fi for troops on the aircraft. This is part of a decades old effort to give the infantry have better mission planning tools, and these are even more useful than the one the pilots use, at least in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's because the ground troops, especially the SOF (special operations forces), are doing most of the fighting. The infantry run about ten times as many patrols and other combat missions than do the aviators. And the ground troops are far more likely to get shot at. Just as the pilots discovered decades ago, mission planning tools and combat simulators can be a lifesaver. Sometimes the ground and air mission simulators merge. This was the case with EMC2 that showed up in 2014. This system was designed to operate inside U.S. Air Force C-17 and C-130 transports when carrying commandos, rangers or paratroopers as they are being flown to an operation where they will parachute in. This trip often involves eight hours or more in the air, especially if the flight is from the United States to some distant hotspot. During that time the situation at the destination can change quite a lot and the troops have to be kept up to date. There have been products similar to EMC2 available for over a decade, but with much slower data links (think varying degrees of dial up speed) and not as much supporting software. EMC2 deals with a lot of these shortcomings and the solutions that have long been on SOF operators wish lists. EMC2 features internet service, mission planning apps, video, handling highly classified intelligence and collaboration apps so commanders on the aircraft can communicate with those on the ground or other aircraft. The aircraft are equipped with flat screen PC terminals that can also be used for teleconferencing. Data can also be transferred to tablets and smart phone type devices used by officers, NCOs and troops on board. In the past troops had to wait until they were on the ground and got their own radios and sat phones working to get updates. They will still do that on the ground, but from now on the trip will be less boring and more informative as the troops get regular updates about what they are soon to jump into. SOCOM can equip some of its larger transport helicopters with EMC2 and kit is being developed to easily and quickly do that for most aircraft that transport combat troops. by Austin Bay February 7, 2017 As a retired Marine Corps general officer, Secretary of Defense James Mattis knows firsthand that America's adversaries attempt to exploit American weakness, with the goal of making America pay a price. That's why Mattis intends to address emerging weaknesses and evident deficiencies in American defenses -- to avoid paying a costly price. As Secretary of Defense, his focus is the U.S. military, guiding it in the present and preparing it for the future. However, I suspect Mattis intends to help correct one of America's fundamental national security inadequacies: our failure to systematically coordinate the "elements of national power." The elements are usually identified as Diplomatic, Information/Intelligence, Military and Economic. The military acronym is DIME. Mattis is well equipped to tackle America's DIME deficiency. He was an outstanding combat officer. He possesses a first-rate intellect and an old school history professor's grasp of detail and nuance. But first and foremost, he's a proven global-level leader who has dealt with the tactical, operational and strategic consequences of the haphazard coordination of American power. Haphazard coordination creates weaknesses in even the world's finest military and the world's strongest economy. The price Americans pay when an adversary harms us may or may not include lost American or allied lives, material destruction and immediate financial damage. But there are always political costs. Some costs are immediate and tangible. Even if inconsequential, they may draw mainstream media attention, at least for a news cycle. Other political costs, however, emerge over time. We know something about what is being called the Secretary of Defense's initial "campaign plan" for rebuilding and modernizing American military capabilities. Much of it is contingent on Congress providing the budget. Loren Thompson, in Forbes Magazine, said that Mattis intends to rebuild all four services. The Navy will get new ships. The betting is the Air Force -- at some point -- will get money to begin building a new heavy bomber to replace its antiquarian B-52s and aging B-1s and B-2s. The Marines need new amphibious vehicles. Mattis intends to improve military communications by funding a secure tactical communications system that frustrates enemy intercept and cyber intrusions. However, the Army is first in line for resurrection. The budget shortfalls over the last six to eight years have eroded the Army's ability to win a land war with a near-peer adversary. Thompson pointed out that for the last decade the Army has focused on counter-insurgency operations (think Afghanistan). It needs to be able to fight and win "combined-arms mechanized battles." That phrase is Pentagonese for battles combining tanks, armored infantry, artillery, attack helicopters, strike aircraft (Navy, USAF and USMC), special operations units and even long-range missile fires. Soldier training must change and focus on the skills these battles demand. In a sense, the Army's future is "back to the future." The Cold War Army in West Germany was built for mechanized warfare. Desert Storm and the 2003 Iraq invasion featured mechanized, combined arms operations. The Army can tap reserve stocks of tanks and armored personnel carriers, which reduces costs. However, they require refurbishment. The Army needs equipment to defeat new weapons in adversary arsenals, to include armed drones and long range "smart missiles" with anti-armor munitions. A near-peer adversary -- possessing these new weapons -- has been probing the air defenses of NATO's Nordic members and threatening the borders of NATO's Baltic states: Russia. Mattis intends to quickly field a U.S. Army that can deter Kremlin adventurism in Eastern Europe. That's the M in DIME. Two or three U.S. armor brigades may forward deploy to Poland. That involves Diplomacy and makes an Information statement. Poland wants the Trump Administration to encourage the export of liquefied natural gas to Eastern Europe in order to undermine Russia's ability to deny energy supplies and threaten European economies. Presto -- an E. And we've the bare sketch of America coordinating DIME to deter war. Foreign and local economists agree that one of the key reasons for past and current misery in Afghanistan is the epic levels of corruption. Thus Afghans saw it as a sign of progress that during 2016 they had moved up to the seventh most corrupt nation on the global corruption index. For a long time Afghanistan had been one of the three most corrupt nations. Afghanistan is still one of the worst because although the country is now 169th out of 176 countries its corruption score is still a miserable 15. By way of comparison in the Americas one the most corrupt nation is Venezuela (166th out of 176 countries) with a score of 15. But in Eurasia it is still Afghanistan. That explains why, for centuries Afghanistan was the poorest and least developed country in Eurasia. Despite considerable economic and educational progress since 2001 Afghanistan is still a mess. The corruption ratings reflect that. Corruption in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually North Korea, Somalia or, since 2011, South Sudan) have a rating of under fifteen while the least corrupt (usually Denmark) it is often 90 or higher. The current score for Afghanistan is 15 compared to 32 for Pakistan, 40 for India, 29 for Iran, 29 for Russia, 25 for Tajikistan, 21 for Uzbekistan, 29 for Kazakhstan, 40 for China, 11 for South Sudan, 12 for North Korea, 30 for Mexico, 66 for the UAE (United Arab Emirates) 64 for Israel, 74 for the United States, and 72 for Japan. A lower corruption score is common with nations in economic trouble. African nations are the most corrupt, followed by Middle Eastern ones. The corruption is one reason the government has lost control of about a third of the population since 2014. The foreign troops left in 2014 and the Taliban have been on the offensive ever since. That, like most else in Afghanistan, has not worked out as expected. At the end of 2016 the Taliban only controlled about ten percent of the country and were very active (contesting control of) another 20 percent. This is nearly ten times as much control as they had at the end of 2014. Most of the Taliban gains have been in Helmand because, as the old saying goes, follow the money. Over half of Taliban income comes from the drug gangs and much of the rest comes from associated activities (smuggling, extortion, looting). If the drug related activity were counted it would add about five percent to national GDP. But the drug business financially benefits only about ten percent of the population while inflicting mayhem and misery on four or five times as many Afghans. So most Afghans fight back. This has been done at great cost to Afghan civilians, especially those living in the countryside and fighting the Taliban and drug gangs as part of tribal militias. Since 2009 over 24,000 Afghan civilians have died from war related violence but the armed tribesmen fighting to protect their families are not counted separately. Civilian deaths were up four percent in 2016; with 3,500 killed. As in the past some 80 percent of the deaths were attributed to the Taliban, drug gangs and sundry other organized outlaws. While ISIL accounts for less than ten percent of the deaths, the ISIL activity was up in 2016. The government has assisted tribes fighting the gangs and Islamic fanatics and have managed to halt or reverse Taliban gains in 2016, at least as far as population controlled goes. That has come at a heavy cost; more civilian and security forces casualties and another 640,000 people driven from their homes. Despite that during 2016 700,000 Afghans returned from exile in Pakistan and Iran. Another two million are expected to return by 2019. This population is partly because economic conditions have improved in Afghanistan, but also because the host countries want their Afghan refugees gone. Yet many of the six million Afghans living outside the country are legal, or at least tolerated. The expatriate Afghans, mainly those in the Gulf States and the West, send home about $7 billion a year. The national budget is currently $6.6 billion and two-thirds of that comes from foreign aid. Because of the Taliban and drug gangs, 36 percent of the budget goes to security. Another 21 percent goes to infrastructure and natural resources. Despite how important both these items are a lot of this money is stolen and that is a very visible bit of damage caused by corruption. Yet there is still a growing sense of national identity and willingness to make sacrifices for a better future. This is aided by the fact that in most of the country the Taliban and drug gangs are hated and often encounter organized and heavily armed resistance from locals, even before the security forces show up. This is partly because the Taliban and the local drug trade were started by members of the Pushtun minority. While a minority the Pushtun have always been the largest minority and thus used that to usually dominate the other minorities (who resented it). This is a major reason why Pakistan is such an unhelpful neighbor. Pushtun Politics Pakistan considers Afghanistan a client state and many Pakistanis support that attitude because of the Pushtun threat. That threat is getting worse inside Pakistan. The Afghans are considered a collection of fractious tribes pretending to be a nation. With no access to the sea, most Afghan road connections to ports are with Pakistan. The Afghans resent this, especially since for thousands of years invasions of northern India (which, historically, lowland Pakistan was a part of) came out of Afghanistan where many Pushtun tribesmen would join the invaders. Pakistan and India are well aware of this, and still consider the Pushtuns a bunch of bloodthirsty savages from the mountains. Afghanistan has only been around for a few centuries and Pakistan was carved out of British India in 1947. Before that it was a collection of feudal states and tribal territories. When you get right down to it, Pakistan's big problem is that it contains two-thirds of the Pushtun people (who are 15 percent of Pakistan's population) while Afghanistan contains the other third (who are 40 percent of Afghanistan's population.) "Pushtunstan" is a nation of 30-40 million Pushtuns caught between Pakistan (still over 150 million people without the Pushtuns) and northern Afghanistan (with about 18 million non-Pushtuns) Without Pushtuns, Afghanistan would become yet another Central Asian country with a small population (neighboring Tajikistan has 7.7 million and Uzbekistan has 30 million). But Pushtunstan is never going to happen because the Pushtuns have long been divided by tribal politics and cultural differences. That is apparently the main reason why proposals (by Afghans) in the 1950s to merge with Pakistan never went anywhere. When the Pushtun aren't fighting outsiders, they fight each other. The violent and fractious Pushtuns are a core problem in the region, and have been for centuries. There is no easy solution to this and now more Pushtuns are openly calling for the establishment of a Pushtunstan and are making common cause with the Baluchis to the south (in Baluchistan) who have long fought to establish an independent Baluchistan. Both tribal separatist groups want to be rid of the Pakistani military and the Islamic terrorist organizations the military supports. Taliban Tribulations The Taliban has undergone a major purge in their leadership with most of the key leaders in Afghanistan replaced in the last few months. This was the result of Haqqani Network leaders taking control of the Afghan Taliban in mid-2016 and bringing in experienced Haqqani operatives from Pakistan to help with that. By late 2016 Afghan police confirmed that a growing number of known Haqqani personnel were showing up in eastern Afghanistan, often involved with planning terror attacks. However some this increased presence was apparently to deal with rebellious Haqqani factions and there have been reports of gun battles between some Haqqani groups as a result. This was connected with the Afghan Taliban internal problems. Many Taliban want to concentrate on getting rich (by working with the drug gangs) while other point out that the strict form of Islam the Taliban (in theory) adhere to forbids the use of opium and heroin or profiting from the production and distribution of this stuff. The Taliban has long tolerated the drug gangs because they were a source of needed cash. But now many Taliban factions are seeing that relationship as a permanent one and that has contributed to the current disagreements over who should run the Taliban. Many of these conservative dissidents are joining ISIL, which is uncompromisingly anti-drug. In addition many Afghan Taliban factions were willing to fight other Taliban over the decision to allow the organization to be run by the head of the Haqqani Network. This is because since 2014 the Afghan Taliban has been unable to agree on who should run the organization and that has led to more of the factions going into business for themselves. The several dozen factions have territories and different Pushtun tribes and clans they depend on for recruits. To maintain those tribal connections the Taliban need cash to pay full time staff and attract new recruits each year. The tribal leaders and local officials also have to be bribed. The faction leaders have been sending less (increasingly no) cash to the senior leadership in Quetta. More of the faction leaders are responding to family needs and many of those kin want to get out of Afghanistan. That costs money and there is but one major source; crime. How did smaller rival take control of the Taliban? They did it by being patient and helpful to previous Taliban leaders. By early 2016 hat Sirajuddin Haqqani, the experienced, successful and proven leader of the Haqqani terrorist network founded by his father, Jalaladin Haqqani had, in effect, became a senior commander in the Taliban and a potential successor to leader Mullah Mansour. Then in late May 2016 Mullah Mansour was killed by an American airstrike and two days later a little known Islamic cleric Haibatullah Akhundzadas was installed as the new leader of the Afghan Taliban. Akhundzadahas had little leadership experience but was an old and trusted Taliban religious scholar and advisor. His consul had long been sought and followed by senior Taliban leadership. At first it was believed Akhundzadahas was to be a figurehead leader and Sirajuddin Haqqani would step in and get things organized. The reality was a bit different. Akhundzadahas proved more of a leader than expected and Haqqani demonstrated its usual willingness to cooperate. Together the two new leaders negotiated and agreed to a number of major changes. This new arrangement was OK with the drug gangs and even Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri hailed the new arrangement. Al Qaeda is trying to reestablish itself in Afghanistan and needs Taliban support to do that. Akhundzada and Haqqani have continued most policies Mansour followed, including doing dirty work for Pakistan and working with Iran to prevent the expansion of ISIL in Afghanistan. It was that last item Mansour was believed to have discussed with Iranian officials during his recent (May 20) visit to Iran. But the new Taliban leadership was implementing a lot of changes, and the Pakistani generals are not yet sure all these will benefit Pakistan. February 7, 2017: In Kabul a bomb went off near the entrance to the Supreme Court compound leaving 21 dead and 53 wounded. No one has taken credit for the attack yet. In the east (Nangarhar province) American UAV and manned warplanes attacked an ISIL camp and killed at least two of the Islamic terrorists and wounded three others. More importantly the attacks destroyed a large quantity of weapons, ammo and equipment ISIL had stockpiled there. ISIL is apparently a priority target for American airstrikes in Afghanistan and any target that is confirmed as ISIL connected goes to the top of the list. The ISIL situation in Afghanistan is getting worse. This is a side effect of ISIL suffering major defeats everywhere else. ISIL will no longer control any of Iraq by the end of 2017 and the situation isnt much better for ISIL across the border in Syria. The growing unpopularity of ISIL throughout the region and over a year of heavy losses is turning the Afghanistan branch of ISIL into the main one. The growing unpopularity of the Taliban and other Islamic terror groups in Afghanistan has been a major boost for ISIL. As has happened elsewhere, the hard-core members of other Islamic terror groups see ISIL as a step up. Despite that ISIL is dying, largely because everyone (including nearly all other Islamic terror groups) oppose it. This means that since 2013 (when ISIL first appeared) the group has lost over 60,000 personnel to combat, disease, accidents and desertion. Most of the losses have been suffered in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Its believed that ISIL currently has only about 15,000 fighters available, mostly in Syria and Iraq. There are a few thousand more in northern Libya, eastern Afghanistan and Egypt. In all five countries ISIL is under heavy attack and ISIL recently lost its only major Libyan base. Defending it cost them the loss of some 3,000 dead, captured and deserters. ISIL is expected to suffer major losses in 2017, mainly in Syria and Iraq. That could mean in a year Afghanistan would be the largest ISIL force anywhere but not very large and under constant attack by just about everyone. Despite that ISIL will remain a minor factor because thats how ISIL operates. February 5, 2017: The government is being accused of deception as it was revealed that the peace deal worked out with Islamic terror group Hezb I Islami (also known as the Hekmatyar organization) last September (after three months of negotiations) allows the members of the group to keep their weapons. What the group is doing is disbanding its military wing while allowing the members to keep their weapons. This is justified by the fact that Hezb I Islami made a lot of enemies since the 1990s and members require their weapons for self-defense. The group has not yet disclosed how many armed men it has and where they are. It is feared that the Taliban or even the drug gangs, will cite the Hezb I Islami deal in any future negotiations as justifications to keep their weapons. The government insists that these are only personal weapons and not artillery and rocket launchers but no one is sure and many Afghans see the demilitatized Hezb I Islami members becoming part of another warlord army. Hezb I Islami has survived since the 1990s civil war and has not been a major military presence in Afghanistan since the late 1990s because of factionalism, hostility towards any foreigners (Moslem or otherwise) and losses suffered fighting rival Islamic terror groups (including al Qaeda). A representative of leader (and founder) Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed the agreement in Kabul. Terms include amnesty for Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and the release of some imprisoned Hezb I Islami members as well as a ceasefire. The UN recently took Hekmatyar off its list of international terrorists. Hekmatyar created and led an Islamic radical group that lost out to the Taliban in the late 1990s and has been trying to make a comeback ever since. As a result Hezb I Islami spent most of its time fighting other Islamic terrorists, mainly Pakistan sponsored groups like the Taliban and Haqqani network. The Hekmatyar organization has been surviving as bandits in various areas of eastern and central Afghanistan. This peace deal was mostly symbolic for the government and recognizing the fact that Hekmatyar and the government had some common enemies; drug gangs and Pakistan-backed Islamic terrorists. February 2, 2017: In the east (Khost province, near the Pakistan border) an American UAV used missile to kill six Taliban men belonging to one of breakaway Taliban factions. Two of the dead were kin (a nephew and son-in-law) of dissident Taliban faction leader Mullah Muhammad Rasool. During the late 1990s Mullah Rasool was the Taliban strongman in the southwest as governor of Nimroz province until 2001. The Rasool clam made a fortune by controlling the drug smuggling down there. Rasool had lots of contacts in Iran and saw himself as a potential supreme leader of the Afghan Taliban. The Taliban civil war is the result of disagreement over who should take over as Taliban leader after founder Mullah Omar was revealed in 2015 to have died in 2013 (in a Pakistani hospital). The information was kept to a few key Omar associates who were accused of doing this as part of a plot to install an Omar successor (Mullah Mansour ) who was second-rate but backed by the Pakistan military (which provided sanctuary for Taliban leaders in southwest Pakistan since 2002). From late 2015 to mid-2016 Rasool fought other Taliban factions for control of the organization. Heavy fighting began in late November 2015 when Mullah Mansour ordered attacks against the forces loyal to rival Mullah Rasool. This marked a major defeat for the Taliban as they lost a major asset; unity. Most of the fighting took place in Herat, Zabul and Farah provinces. There were apparently several thousand casualties and the heavy fighting did not cease until July 2016. Meanwhile Pakistan sided with Mansour. who was then killed in May 2016 by an American air strike. Pakistan then used its considerable control over the Afghan Taliban to get the head of the Pakistan backed Haqqani Network appointed as one of the three senior Taliban leaders. Rasool apparently backed down in the face of all this and has apparently left the country. February 1, 2017: In the east (Nangarhar province) tips from local Afghans made possible an airstrike that killed Shahid Omar, a much hated leader of a local group of 40 to 50 ISIL Islamic terrorists. Elsewhere in the east (Khost province) an American UAV used missile to kill four members of the Haqqani Network. January 26, 2017: In the south (Helmand province) Islamic terrorists tried to enter Afghanistan from Baluchistan using an escort of Pakistani border guards. The Afghan border guards confronted the group and that kicked off a two hour gun battle before the intruders retreated back into Pakistan. That was followed by a mortar attack on the Afghan border guards involved, leaving one Afghan dead and two wounded. Afghanistan complained to Pakistan but was told no Pakistani security forces were involved. January 22, 2017: T he governor of Helmand province (where the Taliban are most active and where most of the world supply of opium and heroin are produced) said provincial security forces had collected lots of evidence that Iran and Pakistan were supporting and supplying the Taliban in Helmand. January 17, 2017: Iranian military commanders appeared on a video posted to a government news site to describe the number of Afghan and Pakistani Shia mercenaries fighting for Iran in Syria against rebels (most of them Sunni) trying to overthrow the Shia government there. The video commentary described there being 18,000 Afghan Shia currently fighting in Syria and far fewer (less than a thousand) Pakistani Shia. Some 20 percent of Pakistanis are Shia and that comes to ten times as many Shia as Afghanistan has. Most of the Pakistani Shia Iran recruited are Baluchis who are 3.5 percent of the population. The disparity here can be explained by the fact that Iran pays well for those who sign on to fight in Syria and most of these volunteers are from Afghan refugees living in Iran. Many of these Afghans are apparently not Shia but need a job. In Pakistan a major source of Islamic terrorist violence has long been Sunni Pakistani zealots killing Pakistani Shia. Sunni religious conservatives believe that Shia are heretics and must die for that. January 16, 2017: In northwest Pakistan (North Waziristan) the first 2,000 locals who fled to Afghanistan 2014, returned home from Afghanistan. These Pushtuns fled after the army offensive against Islamic terrorists in North Waziristan began in mid-2014. About 20,000 of these refugees will return by the end of the month. Turkey announced the capture of the Islamic terrorist responsible for the New Years Eve attack on a Turkish nightclub that left 39 dead and over 60 wounded. There turned out to be an Afghan connection. Many of those killed by the lone gunman were foreign tourists. ISIL took credit for the attack. Today the Turks showed photos of the Central Asian man they arrested today in a raid on a neighborhood where a lot of Central Asians live. There were some security photos of the shooter that were circulated and indicated that the attacker might be Central Asian. The police raid took the suspect alive even though he resisted. The next day police announced that the suspect, Abdulkadir Masharipov, was an Uzbek native who received his terrorist training in Afghanistan and came to Turkey a year ago. Masharipov confessed to carrying out the attack. Validus Holdings, Ltd. provides reinsurance coverage, insurance coverage, and insurance linked securities management services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Reinsurance, Insurance, and Asset Management. The Reinsurance segment underwrites property reinsurance products on a catastrophe excess of loss, per risk excess of loss and proportional basis; and aerospace and aviation, agriculture, composite, marine, technical lines, terrorism, trade credit, workers' compensation, and other specialty lines, as well as casualty and financial lines. The Insurance segment underwrites property, accident and health, agriculture, aviation, contingency, marine, and political lines insurance products; bankers blanket bond, commercial crime, computer crime, cyber- crime, professional indemnity, and directors' and officers' insurance products for various financial institutions and other companies; and commercial and institutional risks comprising general, professional, and product liability, as well as miscellaneous malpractice insurance products. This segment also underwrites marine and energy liability, and political risk insurance products, as well as insurance products for repair, maintenance, and upkeep of aircrafts and premises for small companies. The Asset Management segment manages capital for third parties through insurance-linked securities, and other property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance investments. Validus Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda. The lives of hundreds of marine animals off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, could be disrupted if the U.S. Air Force decides to go through with testing bombs around those waters. "The Air Force has proposed dropping about 100 bombs per year, some as large as 300 pounds, on waters north of Kauai," Michael Jasny, a leading expert in the law and policy of ocean noise pollution and director of the Marine Mammal Protection Project for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), told The Dodo. "It says it will keep whales and dolphins out of harm's way by looking for them on the surface, but that's no easy task in the heavy waters around the islands." Shutterstock Dodo Shows Wild Hearts Guy And Wild Shark Have Been Best Friends For Decades People are concerned for the welfare of whales and dolphins in the waters where the tests would take place. The NRDC, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Conservation Council for Hawaii, Earthjustice and the Ocean Mammal Institute sent a joint letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the agency in charge of approving the proposal, urging the government to take the impact on marine animals into account. "At the very least, the Air Force should use the Navy's network of hydrophones (or underwater microphones) to help detect these vulnerable species around its bomb site," Jasny said. "And it should keep to the northern end of the training area, where the islands' resident whales and dolphins are less likely to go. Otherwise, the Air Force would be taking unnecessary risks in one of the most remarkable spots for marine mammals on the planet." Shutterstock Kayla Filoon was used to spending time with homeless dogs. For the past year, the 20-year-old student volunteered as a dog walker at ACCT Philly, an animal shelter in Philadelphia. But when Filoon met Russ, a quiet, 4-year-old pit bull with patchy fur, she knew there was something special about him. ACCT Philly "He came in as a stray, and he was really beat up," Filoon told The Dodo. "He was missing fur on his tail and ears. He was also terribly skinny. They told me he was about 40 pounds when he came into the shelter." Behind Russ' rough appearance, Filoon soon recognized what a delightful dog he was. "He was just sitting there calmly, staring at me," Filoon said. "And I thought, he is adorable! I need to take him now." ACCT Philly When Filoon came back later to check on Russ, the dog had barely moved. "He was sitting in the same position that he was before, just being quiet while the other dogs were barking and causing commotion," Filoon said. She walked Russ for about 45 minutes, but it only took about five minutes for her to fall in love with him. "He was really cuddly with me, even when we went into the yard," Filoon said. "He seemed like such a sweet dog, and he didn't bark at any of the other dogs." Kayla Filoon She also discovered that Russ knew basic commands like sit, down and stay, which made her think he used to belong to someone. She wondered how he ended up at the shelter in such terrible condition. After the walk, Filoon reluctantly put Russ back into his kennel. Then she called her mom. "I told her, 'I think I need to adopt a dog tomorrow,'" Filoon said. "My mom thought I was kidding, because I always fall in love with the dogs that I take out - it's hard not to. So she didn't really believe me, but there was something about Russ." Dodo Shows Soulmates Growling Little Kitten Becomes Her Mom's Best Friend Kayla Filoon The situation also seemed urgent to Filoon. The shelter was overcrowded at the time, and it recently had to euthanize about 15 dogs, according to Filoon. "Any dog had a chance of being put down, especially the ones who were sicker, and Russ was definitely one of them," Filoon said. "He had kennel cough." Filoon had class the next day, but as soon as she finished, she rushed back to the shelter. This time, she decided to take Russ out for a car ride. Kayla Filoon "He just sat in my passenger seat," she said. "I thought, 'He's the perfect dog.'" When they returned to the shelter later that afternoon, Filoon knew she wasn't going home without him. With the help of the shelter staff, she quickly organized his adoption papers. Kayla Filoon "I took him home that night," Filoon said. Kayla Filoon Filoon then had to tell her six other housemates about Russ. Luckily, they adored him, too, Filoon said. Russ took a little while to get used to his new environment, and he needed to sleep a lot because he was still getting over his kennel cough. Kayla Filoon But Russ quickly fell in love with his new life, especially with his new mom, Filoon. "He always has to be close to me," she said. Kayla Filoon "One night I'm sitting there on the chair, doing my homework, and he's trying to find ways to cuddle with me," Filoon said. "There was a whole other sofa open, and we had his bed on the floor, but he didn't want to lie anywhere else. So he ends up positioning himself, and I look down, and I think, "Oh my gosh, look at him.'" Kayla Filoon Filoon's friend snapped a photo and put it on social media. The image quickly went viral. Filoon hopes the photo will inspire others to adopt shelter dogs. Kayla Filoon "He's such a love bug, honestly," Filoon said. "I'll be lying there, and he'll put his head under my arm, or his paw over my chest. And he'll even lay on my chest." Kayla Filoon "I was worried that when I brought him home, his attitude might change," she said. "But he's still the same relaxed, I'll-lay-down-and-cuddle-with-you kind of dog. He's probably one of the most grateful dogs I've ever seen." Kayla Filoon To help more dogs like Russ, make a donation to ACCT Philly. In 2014, when President Barack Obama was still in office, he got some competition: A bald eagle named Mr. President started gaining popularity. Mr. President lives in Washington, D.C., high up in a tulip poplar tree at the U.S. National Arboretum, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to the American Eagle Foundation, this is the first bald eagle couple to nest in this location since 1947. Dodo Shows Soulmates Pig Loves To Launch Himself Onto His Dad's Lap And when he and his mate, First Lady, decided to have eaglets, everyone started to take note - especially since there was an easy way to watch everything Mr. President and his mate were doing via live cam. The First Lady laid eggs and dutifully watched over them until they hatched in February of last year. When they hatched, their eaglets became known as Freedom and Liberty. Now people are hoping to watch the couple raise a family again this year. "Last year, the First Lady laid two eggs mid-February," the American Eagle Foundation wrote recently. "She may lay eggs around the same time this year. Be on the lookout!" This year, as the pair hunkered down in their nest in late January, people seemed especially glad there was something to hope for. "I'm proud they are our President and First Lady!" one commenter wrote. U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Nordstrom Inc. for dropping daughter Ivankas brand from the department-store chain, drawing a new company into the presidents ongoing skirmishes with corporate America. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly, Trump said on his personal Twitter account Wednesday. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! He later retweeted the message from the official presidential account, @POTUS. Nordstrom said last week that it would stop selling Ivanka Trumps brand this season, citing poor sales. The retailer had come under fire from the Grab Your Wallet campaign, a critic of the administration that is asking shoppers to boycott retailers that carry Ivanka Trump or Donald Trump goods. Trumps tweet renewed questions about whether hes using the presidential pulpit to sway business interests for himself or his family. In addition to starting a lifestyle brand, Ivanka Trump has worked for the Trump Organization, and husband Jared Kushner serves as a presidential adviser. Ivanka Trump said last month that she was handing day-to-day operations of her brand to lieutenant Abigail Klem. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump Presidential Pressure Its never great to have these questions about dual allegiance, said Jordan Libowitz, communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-partisan watchdog group. But certainly weve never seen before a president using the power of the presidency to pressure businesses for the obvious benefit of his family. A representative for Seattle-based Nordstrom didnt respond to requests for comment. Ivanka Trumps brand didnt have an immediate comment. The Nordstrom tweet went out at 10:51 a.m. Washington time just 21 minutes after Trump was scheduled to receive his daily intelligence briefing. Shares of Nordstrom dipped after Wednesdays tweet was posted, though they quickly recovered. As of 12:36 p.m., the stock was up 0.8 per cent at $43.14. Once again, a company is now engulfed in a political controversy with a single tweet from the president. Trumps personal account has 24 million followers, and hes frequently used it to browbeat businesses often without warning. He also gained use of the official @POTUS account, which has about 15 million followers, when he was inaugurated on Jan. 20. F-35 Jet Lockheed Martin Corp. was a target last year, when then president-elect Trump said the costs of the F-35 fighter jet were out of control. The comment sent the stock down 2.5 per cent and erased almost $2 billion in market value. He has also used his account to praise companies, such as L.L. Bean. In January, he urged people to buy products from the catalogue retailer after the founders granddaughter sparked controversy by donating to a political action committee that supported his campaign. Nordstrom had been an early supporter of Ivanka Trumps shoe line after it launched in 2011. It was one of the first retailers to offer her wares, which span footwear, apparel and accessories. But recently her products began to disappear from its inventory, raising questions about the relationship. Thats when the chain confirmed that it decided not to reorder the brands merchandise. Based on the brands performance, weve decided not to buy it for this season, the company said last week. Shoppers also have reported a shrinking selection of Ivankas products at other retailers. And the T.J. Maxx and Marshalls chains have stopped presenting her merchandise in separate branded areas, instead putting the items in with the rest of their wares, according to a company memo obtained by the New York Times. Employees were instructed to throw away the Ivanka Trump signs, the newspaper reported. TJX Cos., the parent company of the two retailers, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg. Macys Split Donald Trump had an earlier feud with Macys Inc., which previously sold his brand of menswear. The department-store chain split with him in 2015, after he criticized Mexican immigrants at the outset of his presidential campaign. Trump called Macys a very disloyal company and urged a boycott. First Lady Melania Trump, meanwhile, is in a legal battle over her own brand. Shes suing the Daily Mail, saying a defamatory article deprived her of the chance to sell clothing, shoes, jewelry and perfume. The $150-million (U.S.) suit said the London tabloid, which later retracted the story, made it almost impossible to take advantage of major business opportunities. Read more: Growing online backlash over Ivanka Trump brand offered at The Bay Donald, who? Ivanka Trump is the star in Japan China woos Ivanka, Jared Kushner in attempt to smooth ties with Trump Read more about: SHARE: The taxi driver who picked up a Star reporter after the 2017 Juno Award nominees were announced Tuesday was in a particularly good mood, and for good reason: He had just walked out of Torontos Rebel nightclub after learning his musical group was among the Juno contenders, and had been interviewed by that same reporter on the red carpet minutes earlier. Daniel Nebiat, a 44-year-old musician originally from Eritrea, is one of nine members who make up the Okavango African Orchestra, which was nominated for the World Music Album of the Year. He plays the krar, a six-stringed instrument from Eritrea and Ethiopia, sings in his native Tigrigna and, for the past three years, has been a driver for Torontos Co-op cabs. For him, Tuesday started like any other shift. I woke up at 3 oclock in the morning, I started driving at 4 oclock, Nebiat said. But then they told me to come (to the nominations ceremony) . . . so I came there, parked my car and went in. About an hour later, still clad in his usual driver getup a black cap, and a zip-up hoodie on top of a grey T-shirt Nebiat was walking the red carpet at Rebel with fellow orchestra mate Tichaona Maredza, newly minted Juno nominees posing for flashing cameras and giving interviews to media. This is my first Juno nomination, thats why you saw me there looking confused, Nebiat confessed about two hours after the event. I didnt know what to do because Ive never been in a situation like that. Subscribe now: http://goo.gl/tovwfd - LYE.tv | Love You Erena is the first Eritrean online TV. But the sudden fame didnt faze him. Instead of taking the rest of the day off to celebrate after the festivities wrapped up, Nebiat immediately walked back to his car and got back to work, driving up to the front of Rebel where event attendees were still trickling out. The first person who happened to reach his cab was a rather weary Star reporter whod been waiting for a taxi to get back to the newsroom. Hows your day going? she asked as she got in. Its going amazing, he responded, grinning ear to ear as he turned around. I just got nominated for a Juno. Nebiat, who grew up in the Eritrean capital of Asmara, said hes been singing since he was a child, taking part in an Eritrean tradition of going door to door as part of New Years celebrations and singing for neighbours in exchange for small gifts or money. When he was 11, he used the money hed earned from singing to buy his first krar. His mother did not approve. I dont want it to sound like a cliche, but family doesnt want you to be a musician and my mom was not happy about the krar, Nebiat recalled. She got rid of it, she broke it. The cycle Nebiat would buy a krar, his mother would break it, hed go sing to earn more money to buy another one would continue until he was about 16, when his mother, who ran a cafe, asked him to help with the business. She didnt have nobody to help her in the restaurant, so she asked me to work there, Nebiat said. I said, OK, if you let me play my music, Ill help you, so she stopped breaking my instruments. Nebiat said his mother has since become his biggest fan. Daniel Nebiat Hakimey CD release @ Tranzac Toronto After immigrating to Toronto in 1996, Nebiat continued playing the krar and singing, performing at weddings, community functions and concerts while occasionally supplementing his income with a courier or delivery gig, but said he decided to take up driving a taxi after getting married and starting a family three years ago. I have kids now, so life is a little bit more complicated than when you are single. . . . So to support my kids and my family, I have to do taxi, he said. He got involved in the Okavango African Orchestra around the same time after being approached by Nadine McNulty, the artistic director for the Batuki Music Society, which is dedicated to promoting and advancing African arts and culture in Canada. The orchestra, which takes its name from the Okavango Delta basin in Botswana, now consists of nine members from seven African countries who play 12 instruments and sing in 10 languages. Although he said hes still processing the orchestras nomination, Nebiat said one of the biggest parts for him is that, as far as he knows, hes the first Eritrean-Canadian to be part of a Juno-nominated group. (A spokesperson for the Juno awards said the organization does not collect birthplace information from submitters.) Im just happy to represent my culture, my background, my music and everything that Ive been working for since I came here, Nebiat said. One of the songs I did on this CD is Yohanna. It means congratulations to my country, so by being nominated for the Junos, I can say yohanna to my Eritrean community in Toronto. I feel great, I feel amazing. Nebiat then got back in his cab to pick up more passengers, continuing until his shift ended at 4:30 p.m. SHARE: The Show:Taboo, Season 1, Episode 2 The Moment: The period filth The War of 1812 is nearly over. James Delaney (Tom Hardy) has just returned to England after 12 mysterious years in Africa. He has many enemies, as did his late father, who left behind angry creditors. Delaney and his crooked lawyer Thoyt (Nicholas Woodeson) have called the creditors into a courtroom, where they mob behind the bar. Delaney glowers at them from the front. The son does not inherit the debts of the father, Thoyt cries. Suddenly Delaney stands, opens a leather satchel and tips its contents onto a table. Coins rain down. That is 219 pounds and four shillings, he growls. My fathers debts total 219 pounds and four shillings. So you will be paid. But first you will form an orderly line. The mob quiets. But first you will form an orderly line, Delaney repeats, more slowly but as menacingly as a dragon. The men form a line. I hope if Hardy ever wins an award for this, the first person he thanks is his makeup artist. Never has there been a more scrofulous show. Every character, including King George, is perpetually disgusting: Their cheeks are streaked with soot, their knuckles red from punching things. What teeth remain are green or rudely capped with clots of silver. And the tattoos! I hope some of the many on Hardys body are real or else hes spending days in makeup chairs. But man, its effective. Hardys glower is scary no matter how its deployed. But its really powerful when rimmed with blood and grime. Taboo airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX Canada and is available on demand. Johanna Schneller is a media connoisseur who zeroes in on pop culture moments. She usually appears Monday through Thursday. SHARE: Theres nothing more romantic than staying home and cooking for a loved one. A simple meal that shows off your skills and thoughtfulness is much more meaningful than ordering off a menu. The Star asked readers what they made for their significant others during their early stages of dating or as newlyweds. Here are a few of their stories. From Lakshmi Kadambari, 67, Toronto My husband was my brothers friend and we knew each other for five years before we got married back in Hyderabad, India. When we got engaged I made him upma, a south Indian bread dish, because I had bread in the house and its a quick dish that he never had before. I learned how to make it from my mom and he still enjoys it today after 47 years of marriage! We moved to Toronto 43 years ago and both love cooking and introducing our dishes to our friends and neighbours. Gopal does the chopping and I do the cooking, but he also makes really good curry puffs. My husband also used to work at Sears and I would bring him lunch and wed eat it in the cafeteria together. Now were both artists where hell draw and Ill paint. We love doing things together. From Benjamin Gleisser, 61, Toronto Eleven years ago when I lived in Cleveland, I met Carolyn at a creative workshop and we had a long-distance relationship for about eight months. I bragged to her that I was a good cook and on her first visit, I told her to play Iron Chef: name one ingredient and Id make an entree with it. She said chocolate. I made her chicken breasts with a mole sauce. We married in 2007 and ironically, she has since given up chocolate and is now a vegetarian. From Lisa Nagy, 51, Mississauga I was sitting in the office of my financial planner figuring out what to do for the rest of my life. Three days before, my 23-year marriage ended in the most horrible way. I was devastated. I was crying so hard its a wonder I spoke at all. I asked my very nice planner, How will I recognize kindness, I dont even know what kindness is. He shared the story of his mother who lived through a similar hell to mine. After her divorce, she met my planners future stepdad and were married for more than 30 years. My planner then said, Lisa, one day kindness will walk through the door and youll recognize it. Several months later I was at my first sleepover with my new love at his house. Im a dedicated tea drinker and my boyfriend is a big coffee fan. He didnt have a kettle to make tea, but it didnt matter, I just boiled water in a saucepan. In the meantime, he said he had to run out to the car to get something. Well, five minutes turned into 10, 10 turned into 20, 20 turned into 30. Im wondering what the heck is going on when the front door opened and he walked in. He said, I realized you didnt have a kettle to make your tea. I cant have you making your tea out of a saucepan. He then unpacked a very nice kettle and made me a fabulous Indian chai as I thought to myself, Kindness just walked in the door. From Irene Neal, 72, Guelph I have to lovingly credit my dear mother with the cooking and baking skills she taught me when I was a teenager. Back in the 1960s when my future husband and I were young and going skating together at the local arena, and watching the latest movie at The Roxy, a Sunday dinner at home with my parents was always crowned with my moms homemade pie for dessert. Sometimes it was cherry, rhubarb or raspberry but usually it would be apple simply because we had a Duchess apple tree that gifted us with bushels of delicious red-striped beauties. After one of my moms Sunday roasted beef dinners with all the trimmings and indulging in his second piece of pie, the love of my life didnt stop complimenting the luscious flavour of the apple pie. It was a thrill to hear those accolades, because unbeknownst to him I made that pie with the hope that it would be almost as delicious as my moms. I think this must have been the true test of him falling in love with me, not only as his sweetheart but also as someone who could satisfy his sweet tooth. After 50 years of wedded bliss, his favourite dessert is still my homemade, warm apple pie with a slice of sharp cheddar on the side. From Mandy Johnson, 31, Toronto When my common-law partner and I started dating, we would have what we called From Scratch Nights, which quickly became a favourite date night amidst our busy work schedules (I was a bartender and he worked nine-to-five). On those nights we both hunted for special recipes online and once a recipe was chosen, we would purchase the necessary ingredients, which was a learning experience in itself. What is champagne vinegar, anyway? Ive also never purchased so many fresh herbs in my life. Over the years, we tried our hands at pistachio-crusted salmon with basil and lemon pesto, Shepherds Pie and stuffed chicken. In his small galley kitchen, wed prep the ingredients and read the recipe aloud at least a dozen times. We would sit at the small countertop space, sipping wine and getting to know one another while checking the oven every 10 minutes and asking each other if it looks done. We loved our 10 p.m. date-night dinners plated to perfection if we do say so ourselves enjoyed on a candlelit table. Weve been together for almost seven years. Memories of those hours spent cooking a meal while sipping wine still bring us together. These days we cook several dinners a week, no longer in his itty bitty apartment kitchen, but in our kitchen. We still plan From Scratch Nights, although not as often as we would like. From Nancy Alfred, 73, Scarborough I met my husband when we went to the same college in Illinois in 1965. When I graduated, we moved to Canada and got married. His family is from Estonia, so I wanted to learn the language and pay attention to his customs I have never even heard of Estonian when I met him. I never learned the language very well (maybe I should take lessons again) but I did learn to make rosolje, a traditional Estonian beet salad that his family made at Christmas. He bought the right kind of salted herring and chopped up many of the ingredients: beets, apples, potatoes, meat, and pickles. We didnt cook together a lot back then because Id get home from work around six and hed already started cooking. I realized at that point that he had good culinary skills. I was surprised, and maybe a bit envious because I never chopped as well as him. That was in 1967. We continued to make rosolje every Christmas and we plan on making it this July for our 50th wedding anniversary. From Donalda Bridge, 80, Toronto The first meal I made for my husband Roy was a TV dinner when I was 20. I took the dinners out of the freezer, read the instructions, turned on the oven and put them in. I picked up a magazine to read while they cooked. Eventually the timer went off and I took out the TV dinners, which still had frost on top. I didnt realize you had to preheat the oven. Roy never said anything about my mistake. Hes been very faithful complementing me about enjoying what Ive made for us to eat. As the years passed, Ive become a very good cook and have been given recipes from friends and relatives, and also bought a few cookbooks. Roy and I have been married for 60 years since last November. Needless to say, Ive learned to turn on the oven at the proper time and temperature. From Karen Lang, 65, Toronto First, I must point out that my dad loved my meat loaf. In fact, my whole family loved my meat loaf. So when I made it as a newlywed for my husband I expected a warm reception. But my husband was surprised that I didnt cover it with a tin of tomato soup like his mom did. He seemed mildly alarmed by my addition of several spices and herbs (his idea of exotic spices were salt and pepper). He was downright mystified by the garlic. It wasnt his mommas meat loaf, which he professed to love, but I carried on, knowing that it would be his new favourite. I could not have been more wrong. It seems that while I was cleaning up that night, he tried to flush the meat loaf down the toilet. When he realized that I was on to what he was doing (I think I may have screamed a little) he turned beet red and sort of laughed, but he kept shoving that meatloaf down! The toilet got completely stopped (luckily it didnt overflow) so we had the superintendent come up with a plunger to our new apartment. That happened in September 1970 when we were both 18 and remarkably were still together. Say I Love You With Spaghetti Oddly enough, spaghetti is a popular choice among lovers. Carol Taplin in Stouffville wrote that her husband Michaels spaghetti sauce is the best in the city. Michael made spaghetti with his famous sauce when we started dating and I remember thinking, well, thats nice that hes making dinner but spaghetti? OK. However, when I tasted it I could not believe how amazing it was. I accepted his proposal shortly after no, just kidding but it wasnt long after. This past summer Patricia Fox of Newmarket celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, who made his signature spaghetti bolognese for her when they were young and both living at home in the suburbs of London, England. One Saturday evening he took over my mothers kitchen to cook for me, she writes. I had taken domestic science at school, but hadnt progressed much further than sponge cake and jam tarts. Now the two continue to cook (wine bottle close at hand, naturally) and have passed the love of cooking to their grandson. Christine Edwards met her partner while stranded in a broken elevator in Toronto. After a few dates, he invited her over to his place and made a simple pasta dish with vegetables and sausages in a red-wine tomato sauce. I missed choir rehearsal because we were so caught up in conversation, she writes. At the end of the night, he walked me to the subway stop, hugging me tightly before we parted ways. The smell of tomato sauce was still on his breath as he said goodbye. Correction February 9, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled Gopal Kadambaris given name. SHARE: Toronto Public Library is shining a light on the so-called winter blues by introducing light therapy lamps at two branches as part of a pilot project launched this week. The lamps, available at the Malvern and Brentwood libraries, mimic natural sunlight to help treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that surfaces in the winter. Each location has two lamps, but based on the feedback from users, the service could be rolled out to other branches next year. Other libraries have tried this before, in Edmonton and Winnipeg, and there was really a positive impact in those places, says Alex Carruthers, manager of learning and community engagement for Toronto Public Library (TPL). We thought we could bring this to Torontonians and it would be a real benefit to them as well. In Canada, millions of people suffer from a range of winter blues due to the lack sunlight. Between two and three per cent of the population has full-blown SAD, with symptoms that include weight gain, decreased energy, fatigue, tendency to oversleep, irritability and feelings of anxiety and despair. And, another 15 per cent have a less severe experience, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Dr. Robert Levitan, a professor of psychiatry and physiology at the University of Toronto, welcomes the initiative. Its the first time hes heard of the lamps being used in public libraries in Ontario, but says there are Scandinavian cafes that use them. Its an excellent idea, says Levitan, whos also the Cameron Parker Holcombe Wilson Chair in Depression Studies at U of T and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. There are lots of people with seasonal mood symptoms and for some its hard to have access to light therapy, so having it available in a public place is a good thing. He notes that while full-blown SAD can be debilitating, even a milder form of seasonal depression can affect quality of life to a lesser degree. In either case, he says, light therapy is effective. And, because the therapeutic lamps can be pricey each one cost TPL about $240 its an opportunity for people who normally couldnt afford one to try it out. Its believed light therapy affects brain chemicals linked to mood, energy and sleep which helps ease symptoms. Levitan, whos been involved in light therapy studies, says its been shown to be very effective in about two-thirds of cases involving those with full-blown SAD. Part of the way it works is much like a stimulant, to help the brain wake up, much more effectively and quickly, which is very positive for mood. Its generally considered safe; side effects may include headaches and eye strain. Check with your doctor first if you have bipolar illness or a family history of it, and if you have any condition that makes your eyes sensitive to light or take medications that increase light sensitivity. At both library branches, information will be provided outlining what the lamps are for, who should avoid them and how to use them. For instance, its recommended that users sit, read or work in front of one for between 20 to 30 minutes. Although the project just started Monday, Tiziano Vanola, who heads the Brentwood branch in Etobicoke, says feedback from library users has so far has been positive. Theyre pleased that service is being offered and say theyll be sure to use it. That library, along with the Malvern branch in Scarborough, were selected to participate in the pilot project, which lasts until April, because they are busy locations and in opposite ends of the city. It is important that people give us feedback because we want to collect as many data as possible in order to then evaluate if its a service that we want to continue or expand. SHARE: OMIYA, JAPAN-If you blink youd miss it. The train goes screaming through the station like, well, a bullet. We try to snap pictures as the shinkansen bullet train speeds by. After largely failing, we stash our gear and get back in the queue lines marked on the platform for Car 11. Our bullet train is arriving shortly. It will stop for exactly one minute. We stand with bags in hand. Were off to explore a few sites along the new Hokuriku Shinkansen line that runs from Tokyo north to the Sea of Japan and west to Kanazawa. It opened last year, the latest of the bullet trains that started speeding across Japan in 1964. The Hokuriku line was instantly popular with identically dressed commuters (dark on the bottom white on top) and its beginning to attract more international visitors. Related story: Japanese loos offer civilized experience Railway is the most suitable transportation system in Japan, says Hirotomo Sorimachi of the Railway Museum in Omiya, just north of Tokyo, where we stop for a quick visit. Land is so small we cant afford to build highways like in North America, he tells me through our translator. The museum is packed with train geeks or tetsu (the word for iron). Grown men wait in a very long lines to try a train simulator. Families wander through old rail cars, exhibits and rows of shinkansen merchandise in the gift shop that would make Thomas the Tank Engine blush. I pass on the gift shop, but back at the train station I pick up a beer and a little bag of crackers for the ride to Joetsu Myoko. The package likely mentions the crackers are fish-flavoured. One can only assume its an acquired taste. When we get off 37 minutes later, a cleaner holds a big plastic bag open for my crackers and empty beer can. You wouldnt dream of leaving trash on the train. Our list of delights at Joetsu Myoko include a tasting and tour at craft sake maker Kiminoi and wandering through Takada Park, discovering spiders the size of your thumb and fields of lotus waving in the breeze. For a higher-tech experience, we head to the Myoko Happiness Illumination, the worlds largest LED light image. Its a magical two-kilometre walk through The Elton John of light shows, complete with dancing dragons and holograms of the God of Thunder. Next stop: Itoigawa. A couple of local journalists catch up with us at the Tanimura Art Museum, curious to know our thoughts about the museum built by an industrialist (gorgeous) and what we think would attract more tourists to the area (Speak more English, the American writer says). Its a chicken-and-egg story, journalist Kunihiko Umeda tells me through our translator. A local restaurant has an English menu but they dont speak English. Yet our next stop, the Fossa Magna Museum, has English signage telling us all about the areas dinosaurs and jade. Its happening bit by bit, says Umeda. The target here is for visitors to feel hospitality; its a key word in Japanese. And you do. You may not be able to read what button to push on the kettle in your hotel room or converse with a server in a restaurant, but Japanese omotenashi crosses the language barrier with countless bows, a train clerk offering origami swans as you pass through the turnstile and front-desk clerks who accompany you to your room when your key card wont work (because youre at the wrong room). We also visit a few temples and carry our shoes in plastic bags provided at the entrance. Inside Eiheiji Zen temple near Fukui City, you cant take pictures but you can sit among monks chanting. If you go to a lot of temples, you can bring along a little book, a sort of temple passport, where monks will mark the page. The end of the line of the Hokuriku Shinkansen is Kawazawa, but we hop on a regular train south to Takayama. In the Old Town we see plenty of Westerners as we sample sake here, miso there and sushi across the way, all while slaloming around visitors taking pictures in the narrow shopping street. Weve seen an increase in the number of tourists since the bullet train, Nobuhisa Hori, a local tourism official tells me. Before it was mainly Asians but now we see more Europeans and North Americans. We provide some novelty. Groups of local junior high school students stop us to practise their English and ask questions for a school assignment. Just around the corner from the tourist street, little school kids in yellow caps parade by, grinning at the Canadian on a bench. When you wave and say hello, they say hello back and promptly collapse into fits of giggles. Jennifer Allford was a guest of JR West and its partners, which didnt review or approve this story. When you go Get there: I flew Air Canada via Tokyo there and Osaka return. Take the bullet train: From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen line north. Explore loads of different routes, tickets and passes around Japan on these high-speed commuter trains. You can get pretty much anywhere in a few hours. West Japan Railway Co. details: westjr.co.jp/global/en Brush up on your Japanese: Get a Japanese language book and/or a translator and be prepared to use them outside the major centres. Hop in the bath: Plenty of hotels along the route have onsen, the traditional Japanese public baths, where you sit and shower thoroughly before putting your towel on your head and hopping in naked. Many hotels will let non-guests use the onsen, for a fee. Try a Japanese inn: Your hotel room will be covered with mats, and while youre at dinner, a low table will be moved aside and a comfy bed made up on the floor. Dont forget to take your shoes off when you come in your room. Details: g-housen.co.jp Make some paper: Learn the art of Japanese paper making at Echizen Washi (Echizenwashi.jp) in Echizen City and make a sheet or two yourself before wandering through the gift shop of beautiful cards and notepads. Do your research: visitjapan.jp, www.jnto.go.jp Read more about: SHARE: A Canadian-American man who fled from Ohio to Quebec after strangling his high school sweetheart with a belt has pleaded guilty to murder and been sentenced to life behind bars. Kyle Sheppard, 33, of Toledo, Ohio, who had been scheduled to go on trial next month, will have to serve at least 15 years in prison before being eligible for parole. The case arose when Katie Sheppard, 29, who worked for a dry-cleaning business, failed to report to work on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. A friend, concerned for her safety, went with her boss to her home and found the house locked. That evening, an officer found her body, which police said had been posed with the hands folded across each other, on the front porch of her home. She had been strangled with a belt and wrapped in a blanket. Court documents show the couple had been married for four years and had been together since high school. The relationship had soured. Kyle Sheppard discovered his wife was having an affair with a co-worker. On the morning of the murder, Kyle Sheppard a former U.S. marine sent an angry text message with sexually explicit language to her lover. Sheppard, who was originally from Windsor, Ont., and worked at an auto-parts supplier in Toledo, had called that morning to say he would not be at work. The dual citizen drove into Canada via Windsor after the killing, prompting authorities in the province to issue an alert for his vehicle. Two days later, he called police from a motel in Saguenay, Que., north of Quebec City and surrendered. He also confessed to them. Sheppard then spent several years in custody in Montreal fighting extradition to the United States. In part, he argued his statements to police should have been excluded and that he could face the death penalty. The extradition judge ultimately did find police had violated his constitutional rights by interrogating him, and excluded the confession evidence. However, the Superior Court judge ruled in October 2013 that there was still enough reason to extradite him on murder charges. Canada agreed to the extradition in April 2014. He was finally handed over to American authorities after the Quebec Court of Appeal refused in June last year to overturn the extradition order. Sheppard admitted in court in Toledo last week that he strangled his wife until he heard her neck pop, the Toledo Blade reported. He also insisted he had lost his best friend, still loved her and had planned to grow old with her. Deception and betrayal should never be fatal, Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Linda Jennings said in sentencing him. You did the unthinkable to someone who you vowed to love, honour, and cherish. The prosecution said the accused had used his cellphone to search for how to kill your wife and get away with it. SHARE: OTTAWANew census data confirms what many Torontonians would already tell you: the citys sharpest population gains are concentrated downtown, which is experiencing levels of growth that are only matchedand in some cases exceededby swaths of the suburbs that ring the Big Smoke. Several areas of significant population growth10 per cent or more from 2011 to 2016run along the waterfront, roughly from the Humber River to the Portlands, according to a colour-coded map released Wednesday by Statistics Canada. The map shows similar growth rates in much of the downtown core, including the Yonge St. corridor, where a number of large condo projects have broken ground in recent years. However, the gains in population are uneven across Canadas largest city, with booming neighbourhoods in some cases situated directly beside ones that have seen stagnant growth or population losses. There are big, high-rise construction sites in here, so that might be it, said Johanne Denis, director general for census data analysis at Statistics Canada, adding that more information will be coming later this year that could help explain population changes in Toronto neighbourhoods. Its hard to say with the census data we have today. Read more: Canadas population grew 1.7M in 5 years, latest census shows Canadas 2016 census shows growth rate of new dwellings slowing down Canadas fertility rate continues to put pressure on immigration In the Toronto city centre, several areas saw their populations double or more from 2011 to 2016. One standout is the area along Queen St. W. between Shaw St. and Dovercourt, which saw its population shoot up 109.2 per cent over the five-year period, the data shows. Liberty Village has also seen large growth, with a population increase of 174.9 per cent over the five-year measurement period. Out in the 905, the largest growth was in Oakville, where one census tract experienced a skyrocketing 1,700 per cent population gain. And several areas of Brampton more doubled in population from 2011 to 2016. That was consistent with the overall trend in many of the municipalities around Toronto, several of which saw significant population growth from 2011 to 2016. According to Statistics Canada, this is part of a cross-country trend where peripheral municipalities posted higher growth in population than large city centres: 6.9 per cent versus 5.8. Its called the urban sprawl, Denis said, describing it as a well-established trend, where people move to live in areas outside cities for more land, cheaper houses and other reasons. Milton posted the largest jump in population for the GTA, 30.5 per cent, with more than 110,000 people living there as of last year. The fast-expanding citythe sixth-fastest-growing municipality in Canada with more than 5,000 peoplewas followed by Bradford West Gwillimbury, which grew by almost 26 per cent, King Townships 23.2 per cent growth, and Whitchurch-Stouffville, at 21.8 per cent. Toronto saw the largest increase in absolute numbers. The population of the city itselfnot including the surrounding areajumped by 116,511 to 2,731,571 in 2016, the data shows. Meanwhile, some areas have shrunk. Several neighbourhoods in Scarborough lost more than 10 per cent of their populations, for example, according to data from the census tract level. Areas west of Yonge St. and north of Queen St., as well as in North York, also saw their populations decline, according to the colour-coded map released Wednesday. Toronto CMA Wide by torontostar on Scribd The Toronto Census Metropolitan Area, which includes much of the 905, grew 6.2 per cent to 5,928,040 in 2016. Thats up from just over 4,663,000 in 1996, according to Statistics Canada. SHARE: OTTAWAThe Trudeau government has been conferring with jittery European allies about how to engage with the new Donald Trump administration in Washington, sources say. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked Trump with British Prime Minister Theresa May on the weekend and the unpredictable U.S. president was also a subject of discussion in a Monday call with French President Francois Hollande. Read more: Chrystia Freeland to meet Rex Tillerson, Paul Ryan in Washington The first meeting between Harjit Sajjan and Mad Dog Mattis was a real love fest Readouts of the telephone calls from the prime ministers office did not mention Trump and instead focused on how the British and French leaders offered condolences on the recent killing of six people at a Quebec City mosque. Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity briefed The Canadian Press on Trump-related aspects of the calls, which were not made public. May became Trumps first foreign visitor when she travelled to Washington late last month. Given that Trudeau will soon have his own meeting, he was interested to hear about her visit, sources say. Trudeaus message to foreign leaders some of whom have been more critical of Trump is that Canada is mindful that it is at the start of a four-year relationship with the new president. The prime minister reinforces the message that the two economies are deeply intertwined and dependent, so Canada needs to engage constructively with Trump, sources say. The high-level, behind-the-scenes talks come as the Trudeau governments ongoing full-court press on the Trump administration continued Tuesday with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland meeting in Washington with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. She also met Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, and veteran Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. She is to meet Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday. Tillerson, the longtime chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, was sworn in as secretary of state last week and he and Freeland spoke by phone on his first day on the job. They affirmed the importance of keeping trade flowing across the Canada-U.S. border, according to a readout from her office. That same day, Tillerson welcomed German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel to Washington. Sources say Freeland later spoke to Gabriel about his visit. Freeland and Gabriel know each other well from their work together clearing one of the final hurdles to getting the Canada-EU free trade deal approved. They collaborated to fix a section on the investor-state dispute resolution mechanism. Freeland moved into Foreign Affairs last month in a cabinet shuffle by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aimed at dealing with the election of Donald Trump as president. She had already engaged in a round of Washington networking in December, when she was the trade minister. Freelands latest trip to Washington comes after Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan visited the Pentagon on Monday. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau will also be in Washington to meet some newly appointed Trump cabinet members as well as members of Congress. But his soon-to-be opposite number, financier Steven Mnuchin, wont be among them, because he has yet to be confirmed as treasury secretary. Read more about: SHARE: Amid growing interest in the fate of Torontos famous Honest Eds sign, developers say a decision will be made as early as Wednesday on what theyll do with it. Westbank Corp., the luxury real estate developer that purchased the property in 2013, has spent the past few days responding to a small furor caused by one of its architects, who implied the sign might not be saved. Gregory Henriquez, a Vancouver-based architect leading the design team of the massive redevelopment project, told CBC Radio that the sign is actually a bunch of incandescent bulbs, which are environmentally not so sustainable. Read more: A souvenir from Honest Eds, the only place like it, anyplace: Keenan A timeline of Honest Eds, a Toronto landmark since 1943 Goodbye to the Mirvish Village people Westbank Corp., responding to the Star via e-mail, said that Henriquezs description was right, but it was his opinion and he seems to have given the impression that the fate of the sign is decided. At this point it is not. As soon as a final decision is made by all the parties involved, well let you know. Since the marquee, with 23,000 light bulbs, was installed in 1984, it doesnt qualify for heritage status. The sign is part of the deal inked between David Mirvish and the developer, which bought the 1.8-hectare location on Bloor and Bathurst Sts. Ian Duke, the principal development consultant with Westbank, said in an interview that more details would be coming shortly on the fate of the marquee and surrounding signs. Despite the fact that (the signs) are newish in the context of the history of Honest Eds, they have still been around for 30 years and have obviously become the top five or six images that denote Toronto to the world, so we appreciate they are iconic, said Duke. I would say the challenges they present are that theyre so big that if you stand beneath one, its daunting theyre massive but the larger challenge is the physical condition of the signage. Theyve been up for a long period of time, theyve been through a lot of winters, theres lots of wiring. Were doing some investigation as to what is feasible in terms of their current condition and what we can expect when they are taken apart and put back together again. Chris Borgal, principal architect of Goldsmith Borgal and Company, has over 40 years experience working on heritage planning and restoration projects across Canada and the U.S. The heritage balancing act is very complex, said Borgal, who is not involved in the Honest Eds redevelopment. Heritage preservation has to be blended in a matter that can be economically suitable for the developer but at the same time meet larger civic interests. Iconic signs are significant, Borgal added. People recognize that corner and that (Honest Eds) was a very prominent part of the community. Conversations between the city and Westbank Corp. about the signage are only just starting, said Graig Uens, a senior planner with Torontos Community Planning department. Weve had no significant discussions but our intent is that something will happen with the sign and thats theirs as well, Uens said. Its a character piece and a pretty unique part of that site, Uens continued. I am confident that both sides want to see something interesting happen. Meanwhile, citizens like Vida Setoudeh have started a petition to save the sign and is encouraging Torontonians to reach out to their city councilors. I think its important that we do stand up for this; its literally a sign of the changing times how theyre changing at warp speed, Setoudeh said. Im not sentimental but believe cities are spaces for shared memories and experiences . . . this (sign) is one of our icons. Mark Garner, the CEO of the Yonge Downtown BIA, said hes reached out to Westbank Corp. offering to take it for a proposed neon sign museum. If no ones preserving it, are you kidding me? We would take it automatically if the developer wants to take it down and put it into storage until we figure out what to do . . . you just cant destroy it, Garner said. The conversation we need to have is about how the role of signage is part of Torontos legacy, evolution and where we are today. A community council meeting to vote on the latest proposal put forth by Westbank Corp. is forthcoming, which will also create opportunities for the public to speak to the application and to city councilors voting on the recommendations. The latest plans for the proposed redevelopment is now to build 47 buildings, including a 28-storey tower on Bathurst St. Demolition is set to begin in May. SHARE: After trying for years to have an Ontario class action lawsuit from 60s Scoop survivors thrown out, the federal government is now asking a Toronto judge to hold off on releasing his ruling in the case. Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba is set to deliver his judgment next Wednesday on whether Canada is liable for the loss of cultural identity suffered by indigenous children when they were taken from their homes and placed in non-indigenous care between the 1960s and the early 1980s. But in a move described as unprecedented and which has outraged the Ontario plaintiffs, the governments lawyers have asked Belobaba to postpone the release of his ruling because Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett has announced she wants to start negotiations on a settlement with 60s Scoop survivors across the country. No 60s Scoop lawsuit has moved as far through the courts as the Ontario case, and one of the plaintiffs lawyers said his clients want the ruling delivered next week as planned. This is unheard of and should be firmly rejected, lawyer Jeffery Wilson told the Star Wednesday. The minister rose in the house last week saying this is a dark chapter in Canadian history. So is the minister saying that for her, the process of healing means you deny everyone access to justice? After many attempts by the government to delay the case or have it dismissed altogether over the last eight years, the lawsuit was finally heard in court last year at what is called a summary judgment proceeding, in which the plaintiffs argue they have enough evidence against the defendants to forego a full trial. The government again pushed in December for the case to be thrown out, arguing that, while the removal of the children and placement in non-indigenous care is now known to have been damaging, the government should not be judged for the actions of the past. Contrary to what the government has said in court, Bennett reiterated in a statement to the Star Wednesday that the Liberals are committed to negotiation and reconciliation. In this case, the government is asking, again, to sit down with all parties to discuss the best way forward to achieve a fair settlement for the claimants and to advance reconciliation between indigenous people and the government of Canada, she said. Government lawyer Barney Brucker, who has not previously appeared in court on the 60s Scoop lawsuit, wrote this week in an email obtained by the Star that, given Bennetts announcement of her intention to negotiate, the lawyers would like to discuss with Belobaba the potential benefits to the negotiations that an abeyance of your decision might have. Morris Cooper, another lawyer for the plaintiffs, told the judge that his clients were firmly against the proposal. Respectfully, this unprecedented, unilateral request by the defendant that you consider delaying the forthcoming release of your reasons for decision brings to mind the only reply that would have been uttered by my late father in similar circumstances, namely the singular Yiddish word Chutzpah, Cooper wrote. No translation does it justice, but it can fairly be said to mean shameless audacity, impudence, gall, or effrontery. To the best of my knowledge, no lawyer for a defendant has ever asked a court, in any common-law jurisdiction, after the completion of a trial or summary judgment hearing, to hold off the release of the decision so that the defendant can now go out into the hall and begin an effort to discuss a settlement with the plaintiff. Belobaba told the governments lawyers Wednesday that they can file a motion by the end of this week to delay the release of his judgment. He said he would then rule on that motion early next week. As you know, the plaintiff is not going to consent to any delay in the release of my decision, as is their right, he said in an email to the parties. I have never heard of a defendant succeeding in a motion to delay the release of a decision, but I am keeping an open mind and will review your motion in writing with care. It is estimated that there are at least 16,000 60s Scoop survivors in Ontario. The class action is seeking up to $1.3 billion in damages. The NDPs indigenous affairs critic called out Bennett and the Liberal government for speaking so strongly about truth and reconciliation in public,then sending in lawyers to fight the 60s Scoop survivors in court. Whether its the ongoing cases in the residential school settlement agreement or the 60s Scoop, this government is applying the same brass knuckles, obstructive approach that has been applied for years by the government of Canada, Charlie Angus told the Star. I want to hear the prime minister say why hes sending in lawyers to say theyre not responsible for the actions of destroying cultural identity. It is perverse, in 2017, for the government of Canada to act in such an obstructive and insidious manner, when they made very clear public promises to do the opposite. SHARE: Two court cases of alleged corruption involving Queens Park Liberals will overlap with the setting of a Sept. 7 trial date in the Sudbury byelection bribery scandal. Four days later, on Sept. 11, a previously scheduled and separate prosecution unfolds in a Toronto courtroom on criminal charges against two top aides to ex-premier Dalton McGuinty over accusations of deleted documents in the $1 billion cancellation of two gas plants in 2011. Both trials are slated to wrap up in late October, just eight months before the next provincial election in June 2018. The gas plants case begins the day MPPs return to Queens Park from their summer break. Premier Kathleen Wynnes former deputy chief of staff, Patricia Sorbara, will be in a Sudbury court Sept. 7 on lesser Elections Act bribery charges with local party power broker Gerry Lougheed, a wealthy funeral home owner. Were all ready to proceed, Sorbara lawyer Brian Greenspan said Wednesday after the date was set. This was the first available date for all parties involved. Ontario Provincial Police allege Sorbara and Lougheed offered jobs to get a would-be Liberal candidate to step aside for Wynnes preferred choice now Energy Minister Glen Thibeault in a February 2015 byelection. Lawyers for both have repeatedly maintained their clients have done nothing wrong. The investigation has had some twists and turns. While Lougheed was originally charged under the Criminal Code, Sorbara was not. Last April, that criminal charge against Lougheed was stayed, leaving him in legal limbo. We are disappointed that the police, having originally charged Gerry criminally, only to have the charges stayed by the Crown, have now laid charges under the Elections Act, Lougheed lawyer Michael Lacy told the Star in November when the new charge was announced. Elections Act charges are in a lower, non-criminal category of violations known as provincial offences, where penalties include fines of up to $25,000 and maximum jail sentences of two years less a day. In the Toronto case, one-time McGuinty chief of staff David Livingston and his deputy Laura Miller face breach of trust and mischief charges in the alleged deletion of documents in relation to two cancelled natural gas-fired power plants in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election. Miller is now executive director of the British Columbia Liberal Party, helming re-election efforts for Premier Christy Clark this spring. Lawyers for her and Livingston have also maintained their clients are innocent. McGuinty, who left office in 2013, was not a subject of the probe and co-operated with the OPP investigation. Mr. Livingston is looking forward to having this matter resolved once and for all, and he is confident that at trial he will be cleared of any wrongdoing, lawyer Fredrick Schumann of Stockwoods LLP said when the trial date was set in May. Miller had initially stepped down from her post with the B.C. Liberals to organize her defence when charged, but was reinstated in March in a move Clark called the fair and right approach, one that respects the fundamental principle that every person is innocent unless proven otherwise. The lawyer for Miller is Scott Hutchison of Henein-Hutchison, the same firm that successfully defended former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi in his sexual assault trial. Miller has a FundRazr page online raising money toward her legal fees. It has generated $78,111 from 114 donors toward her $100,000 goal. Read more about: SHARE: IRBIL, IRAQThe documents in the Daesh file hinted at signs of rebellion within the ranks of its foreign fighters. A Belgian militant had a medical note saying he had back pain and would not join the battle. A fighter from France claimed he wanted to leave Iraq to carry out a suicide attack at home. Several requested transfers to Syria. Others just simply refused to fight. The documents on 14 problem fighters from the Tariq Bin Ziyad battalion made up largely of foreigners were found by Iraqi forces after they took over a Daesh base in a neighbourhood of Mosul last month. At its peak, Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, drew thousands of recruits each month and controlled about a third of Iraqs territory, and the foreigners who poured in from dozens of countries have been characterized as the most diehard fighters. But the group has steadily lost ground and appeal. The militants are now besieged in the western half of Mosul, once the biggest city Daesh controlled and the heart of its self-proclaimed caliphate. But the groups losses have triggered concerns in Europe that disillusioned fighters might find their way home. He doesnt want to fight, wants to return to France, said the notes on a 24-year-old listed as a French resident of Algerian descent. Claims his will is a martyrdom operation in France. Claims sick, but doesnt have a medical report. He was one of five fighters in the file listed as having French residency, or as originally from France. More citizens from France have joined Daesh than from any other country in Europe since 2011, when Syrias popular uprising against President Bashar Assad turned violent and fuelled the rise of extremist groups. The French government reported a sharp decrease in the number of its citizens travelling to Syria and Iraq to join the group in the first half of 2016, but said that nearly 700 still remain there, including 275 women and 17 minors. The forms in the file are marked with the year 2015, but appear to have been filled out later as they specify the dates that some of the militants joined, which stretch into 2016. In addition to each militants name, country of origin, country of residency, date of birth, blood type and weapons specialties, the documents list the number of wives, children and slave girls each had. A photo is also included. It was not possible to verify the personal information, but Iraqi officers who found the file said they believe it is genuine. Two men from Kosovo refused to fight and asked to move to Syria. One said he had head pain. Of the more than 4,000 foreign fighters who have left European Union nations for Iraq and Syria, around a third have returned, according to a report from The Hague-based International Centre for Counter-Terrorism. About 14 per cent have been confirmed dead, while the rest remain overseas or their whereabouts are unknown. People say that they are the most motivated, but there are plenty of foreign fighters that went and found that the IS (Daesh) experience wasnt what they thought it would be; they thought it would be a great adventure, said Aymenn al-Timimi, an analyst specializing in militant groups who has compiled an online database of Daesh documents, some of which indicate similar issues of morale. The organization keeps meticulous records, leaving clues to its inner workings as the fighters are ejected from the territory. Iraqi counterterrorism forces discovered the documents in a house in Mosuls al-Andalus neighbourhood that was being used as an administrative base for the Tariq Bin Ziyad battalion. The militants were seen removing documents and computers from the building, according to neighbours, before they set fire to the building as Iraqi forces retook the area, said Lt. Col. Muhanad al-Tamimi, whose unit found the documents unscathed in a desk drawer. Those foreign fighters are the most furious fighters we ever fought against, he said. When those fighters refuse to fight it means that theyve realized this organization is fake Islam and not the one they came for. Iraqi troops faced a barrage of suicide car bombs and fierce resistance during the first month of their operations to retake Mosul last year. However, after pausing to reorganize, the forces have made rapid progress on the eastern side of the city this year. Late last month, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his forces had recaptured all neighbourhoods of Mosul east of the Tigris River and that the Daesh militants had collapsed quickly. Edwin Bakker, a research fellow at the International Center for Counter-Terrorism and a professor of counterterrorism at Leiden University, said that fighters from Western European countries are largely known to intelligence agencies, but that there is less information on those from countries such as Bosnia and Kosovo. With open borders in Europe, these fighters might return home and stage attacks on the continent, he said. But warnings of a tsunami of returning foreign fighters are exaggerated, he said. We shouldnt underestimate the numbers that have gone to live there and die there, he added. Another 30-year-old French national in the file is noted as having been involved in the departure of Abu Azzam al-Fransi and his wife from the land of the Caliphate. Fransi indicates that the fighter he helped leave was also from France. Lt. Gen. Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, commander of Iraqs counterterrorism forces, said there are many foreign fighters in Mosul, and that foreign suicide bombers have been responsible for many of the 350 car bombs launched toward their lines. In one Daesh headquarters in the Dhubat neighbourhood of Mosul, his forces found a stash of passports 16 Russian and four French. There were also 20 blank Iraqi passports taken from Mosuls passport department, he said, speculating that the militants are forging them to be able to leave the country. Despite the recent rapid advances in eastern Mosul, Iraqi generals still expect a bloody fight ahead. The western side of the city, home to 750,000 civilians, is surrounded by Iraqi forces and Daesh members still there will have little choice but to fight or die. There are still a lot of people that are motivated, Bakker said. The majority is there to fight. Read more about: SHARE: On Monday in Florida the same state devastated by the Pulse nightclub massacre last year U.S. President Donald Trump told members of the military that the media were purposely not covering terrorist attacks. Youve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe, its happening, he said at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported. And in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that. Reporters, who heard the presidents remarks, asked White House press secretary Sean Spicer what Trump was talking about. Spicer clarified that the presidents beef was actually with terrorist attacks they deemed under-reported. Read more: Donald Trump says the media missed nearly 80 global terror attacks. We didnt White House wants media to cover terrorism more, cites Canadian examples Hours later, Spicer offered the reporters a list with 78 examples from Sept. 2014 through Dec. 2016. It was bare-bones in nature and seemed to have been hastily assembled. The document contained numerous typos and several factual inaccuracies. Some of the attacks listed were so high-profile and thoroughly reported that anyone with Google would be hard-pressed to say they didnt receive sufficient attention. Among them were the Pulse nightclub massacre, the Bastille Day attack in Nice, France, the co-ordinated shootings and explosions in Paris and the holiday-party shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. The other attacks included on the list seemed to have been picked arbitrarily. More than half involved two or fewer deaths or injuries, so its no surprise that they didnt receive front-page coverage. As the Washington Posts Phillip Bump noted, the list could be Spicers way of doing damage control and manipulating the media a concept called working the refs by whipping journalists into a fact-checking frenzy over global terrorism. But whats more telling, perhaps, is not what Trumps list included but what it didnt. Some of the countries most devastated by terrorism from Islamic extremists were left out entirely. Whether that suggests that the administration thinks they received adequate coverage is anyones guess. But it was a glaring omission either way. In 2015, nearly three quarters of all deaths from terrorist attacks occurred in five countries Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria, according to the State Department. The White House chose not to include any attacks from Iraq, Nigeria and Syria on its list. The two others got a single mention each a knife attack that wounded a U.S. citizen in Pakistan in 2015 and a suicide bombing that killed 14 Nepalese security guards in Afghanistan last year. Similarly, between 2004 and 2013, about half of all terrorist attacks and 60 per cent of fatalities from terrorist attacks took place in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, Erin Miller, of the Global Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland, told the BBC. Its hard to precisely quantify how many victims of terrorism are Muslim. Some have floated statistics as high as 95 per cent and the U.S. government has published reports reflecting that number. But experts such as Miller say its difficult to determine how accurate the reports are because most data depends on news coverage and often the religious affiliation of terrorist attack victims is not included. Its not out of the realm of possibility, given the extreme concentration of attacks in majority-Muslim countries, Miller told the BBC. What the data shows, according to the Global Terrorism Database reported by Voice of America, is that a vast majority of terrorist attacks about 98 per cent between 2001 and 2015 occurred outside the U.S. and Western Europe, even if the White Houses list and rhetoric may suggest otherwise. A Washington Post analysis of all terrorist attacks from the beginning of 2015 through the summer of 2016 found that the Middle East, Africa and Asia have seen nearly 50 times more deaths from terrorism than Europe and the Americas. According to the analysis, 658 people were killed in 46 attacks in Europe and the Americas. During that same time period, 28,031 people died in 2,063 attacks in the rest of the world. Among the most deadly attacks noted in the analysis were a suicide bombing that killed 292 in Baghdad, an attack by Murle tribesmen that killed 208 in Ethiopia and the downing of a Russian airliner by an explosive device that killed 224 people, almost all of them Russian. The only one mentioned on the White Houses list was the airline crash. The list also left out the massacre of more than 140 civilians by Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) militants in the Syrian border city Kobane in June 2015. It marked one of the terrorist groups deadliest assaults on civilians since it declared a caliphate in the region the year before. Also omitted were mentions of terrorist attacks on U.S. soil perpetrated by non-Muslims or people who didnt sympathize with Daesh, including the killings of African-American churchgoers in Charleston, S.C., at the hands of white supremacist Dylann Roof. Of the attacks included in the list, many produced victims from the United States, Europe and other non-Muslim majority countries. Of those attacks in majority-Muslim countries that had both local and nonlocal victims, the White House emphasized the nonlocal victims by listing their nationality and using phrases such as frequented by Westerners or frequented by tourists. If there is any critique to be made of the way Western journalists cover terrorist attacks around the world, its that they may disproportionately focus on incidents involving Western citizens the exact opposite of what Trumps list seems to suggest. The death toll in the West tends to be lower most of the time, but the coverage the West gets is an order of magnitude larger, Mohamad Bazzi, a journalism professor at New York University and former Middle East bureau chief for Newsday, told FiveThirtyEight. The conversation was thrust centre stage after the Paris attacks, when Facebook rushed to activate its safety check-in feature, the first time it had done so in response to a conflict situation. Soon, outraged citizens of the world were wondering why the social media site had not done so for other deadly attacks in 2015 in non-Western countries, such as the suicide bombings that killed 43 in Beirut just days before the Paris attack; or for the 102 who died in Turkey in October of that year; or after bombs killed 145 in Nigeria in September, or in April, when al-Shabab militants killed 147. (None of these attacks made it on the White House list, either.) The news media have indeed covered all these attacks but audiences were more engaged with the Paris massacre, which experts said could be indicative of a greater issue. Bazzi told FiveThirtyEight that it was sidebars and human features and profiles of the victims and all the associated stories about the Paris attacks that separated its coverage from that of the other equally deadly incidents around that same time period. Its that imbalance of reporting that Monica Guzman, vice-chair of the ethics committee at the Society of Professional Journalists, told FiveThirtyEight reporters they should be aware of. Many newsrooms like to think they cover all parts of the world equally, but they dont, really, Guzman told FiveThirtyEight. Unconscious biases abound and maybe some conscious ones, too . . . Great journalists take these challenges head on and never assume theyve conquered them. Read more about: SHARE: MOGADISHU, SOMALIAColourful campaign posters in this seaside capital give the impression that Somalias presidential election on Wednesday will be like any other. Thats far from true. Mogadishu is in lockdown because of violence by homegrown Islamic extremist group al-Shabab. The airport will be closed, and the vote will be confined to a heavily protected former air force base. Fears of attacks already have delayed the vote several times. But suicide bombings arent the biggest threat as this Horn of Africa country, after a quarter-century, tries to put a fully functioning government in place under strong international pressure. Graft vote-buying, fraud, intimidation is the top concern in a nation that Transparency International now rates as the most corrupt in the world. After decades of chaos and warlord-led conflict, the vote will be historic in this country of about 12 million. But some observers worry whether it will be credible. Already the countrys auditor general, Nur Jimale Farah, has said two of the seats for parliament members who will elect the president have gone for $1.3 million (U.S.) apiece. Unlike in elections elsewhere, Somalias next leader will not be chosen by popular vote but by legislators, who were selected by the countrys powerful, intricate network of clans. Some votes were bought with $5,000, some with $10,000, and some with $20,000 or $30,000, Farah recently told Voice of America. The United States and others have pressed Somalia to move ahead with elections as an important symbol of recovery. In the past decade, the U.S. has given $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid and another $240 million to support Somalias political and economic recovery, and $196 million in overall funding is planned for 2017. Mogadishu remains so unstable that the U.S. does not have an embassy there. But the international community also has expressed growing concern about the election. A joint statement by the United Nations, U.S., European Union and others cited a number of egregious cases of abuse of the electoral process, including seats reserved for women candidates only that were ultimately taken by male candidates. Violence, intimidation and corruption also have marred the process, the UN mission said, also criticizing the decision to not disqualify candidates who allegedly commit them. Some involved in the vote remain confident, calling it an important step for a nation so unstable for so long that it was included on U.S. President Donald Trumps recent executive order blocking immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. We are well-prepared to elect a new president. Its a test for a maturing democracy, said Ahmed Ali, a Somali lawmaker. The president will be elected by the 275 members of the lower legislative house and by 54 senators. Among the 22 candidates, many who also hold foreign passports, Somalias incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is seeking re-election and may have an edge to win a second five-year term. But rival candidate and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke has accused regional countries of interfering in the electoral process by pushing for certain candidates. Those neighbouring countries should respect our sovereignty and stop meddling in our affairs, he said, without naming specific countries. Various Muslim-majority countries seek a friendly Somali government, including Turkey, which has invested in the country. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are backing different candidates. Though Matt Bryden, director of Sahan Research and an expert on Somali politics, doesnt believe the election process has been free and fair, he said it is better than the alternative. There have been credible, and I think well-substantiated, allegations of fraud, intimidation, abuse, but essentially it is still a step forward, Bryden said. The alternative was probably not to have a transition at all, in which case Somalia would have gone back to fragmentation, so its not pretty, but it is a step in the right direction and its probably the best we could hope for at this stage. Many in Somalia anticipate a highly contested race which likely will see a further round between the two candidates with the greatest number of votes. To ensure that Wednesdays election happens, thousands of soldiers were fanning out across Mogadishu, restricting traffic on major streets to reduce the threat of violence by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, which has threatened to disrupt the vote. Of course, I understand how these tough security measures will complicate peoples lives, but we will not take chances in ensuring a peaceful election, said Ali Mohamoud, a police colonel, standing by a checkpoint as soldiers searched cars and passengers. At least one candidate put a positive spin on the election. Jabril Abdulle, who also holds a Canadian passport, has been active in Somali politics since the late 1990s and leads the Mogadishu-based Center for Research and Dialogue. We are offering bold vision, clear ideas ... that will be good for the Somali people and that will also be good for the whole world, particularly the Horn of Africa region that desperately needs some stability, he said. Somalia should not be viewed as a land of conflict, drought and killings. By 2020, we bring a new Somalia that is at peace with itself and peace with its neighbours. SHARE: NEW ORLEANSThe tornadoes that struck southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday injured about 20 people, destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and left about 10,000 customers without power, but no deaths were reported, the governor said. Gov. John Bel Edwards took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. The worst damage was in the same 9th Ward that was so heavily flooded in Hurricane Katrina. Edwards, a Democrat, said he was heartbroken to see some of the same people suffering again, and promised that the state will provide the affected citizens with the resources they need as quickly as possible. He said seven parishes were hit by tornadoes in an afternoon of tumultuous weather across southeastern Louisiana. Hatchet-wielding firefighters walked up and down the debris-strewn Chef Menteur Highway after the storm, looking for anyone missing or trapped. Their primary search came up empty, and a secondary search was planned to make sure and to better assess the damage. The NASA assembly facility in Michoud, Louisiana, sustained damage as the tornado passed through and the campus lost power. A Lockheed Martin spokesman told The Washington Post all of their employees are accounted for but couldnt speak for the NASA employees. The smell of natural gas was reported near the facility. Edwards said he called in the Louisiana National Guard to police and secure the area, and urged people to stay away. This is not a time to sight-see, he said. The storm ripped apart homes, toppled a gas station canopy, snapped tall power poles and flipped a food truck upside-down. It left shards of metal hanging from trees, and trapped a truck driver as power lines wrapped around his cab. The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama. Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the White House was monitoring the weathers impact, and that U.S. President Donald Trump would be reaching out to local and state officials. Yoshekia Brown lost everything to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now shes lost everything again: Three-quarters of her home in eastern New Orleans collapsed. Sister, your house is gone, her brother told her as she drove home. She didnt believe it until she saw it herself. I lived in between two blighted properties. One of those would have been gone before my house, she said. Its just gone. Like the movie Twister. Luckily her 2-year-old son and three dogs have survived, and her home was insured. She said shes not sure what to do next, but said something good has to come from this. Outside the heavily damaged Royal Palms Motel, Malcolm Ballard, 65, was left homeless by the tornado. His room was ransacked; the furniture and carpet soaked after the door and windows blew open. Kevin Ballard, 56, came to check on his older brother, but his own injuries turned out to be worse, with cuts and bruises on his head and neck, after an auto repair shop he was in collapsed around him. I was standing in front of the building at first and I seen something black, twisting, Kevin Ballard said. Tires and everything fell on the back of my neck and head. The Baton Rouge area also got hit. Ascension Parish Sheriffs spokeswoman Allison Hudson says three people suffered minor injuries and several homes and some other buildings were damaged in the historic part of Donaldsonville, about 32 kilometres southwest of the capital. In Killian, just east of Baton Rouge, the mayor said several houses were destroyed and several others damaged, but an elderly couple suffered the only injuries he knew of: One a broken leg, the other a broken arm. How you manage to get blown completely across the street with cinder blocks flying and no worse than a couple broken limbs apparently the good Lord was looking after them, said Mayor Craig McGehee. With files from The Washington Post SHARE: WASHINGTON Donald Trumps press secretary stood on the White House podium and delivered a message to the world: Trumps executive order was not a travel ban and not extreme. Sean Spicers words last week were duly reported. Then Trump went on Twitter and touted his travel ban. His phrase for it: extreme vetting. It was yet another mixed message from an administration that has made a dizzying early specialty of them. On matters semantic and significant, the president and his team have left Americas allies and adversaries suffering through the worlds highest-stakes involuntary guessing game, struggling to decipher just what it is this government actually means. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dispatched at least three ministers to Washington this week. They will work to build relationships with the young administration. They will also seek clarity. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump The pressing question is not only whether anyone who is not Trump can accurately speak for Trump. It is which Trump words are the magic Trump words. Thats a question that is already being asked inside the bureaucracy: when the president tweets something, how literally should we take that? And I think the answer is, we dont know yet, said Philip J. Crowley, an assistant secretary of state under Barack Obama. And I suspect inside the White House, they dont know yet either. The confusion may not exclusively be evidence of inexperience and inevitable first-month disorganization, although that seems part of it. Trump has argued, in his campaign book and in interviews, that a president should use the element of surprise to keep opponents off balance creating his own version of Richard Nixons madman theory of diplomacy. In the foreign policy world, predictability is a very significant currency. And yet we have in the president someone who prides himself on being unpredictable, even impulsive, Crowley said. Whether this is a permanent feature of the Trump administration, or just a phase as the president learns the nature of the job, thats a question Im not sure we have an answer for yet. Trumps volatility has miffed not only Americas enemies but its friends. Trump began a mini-feud with Australia last week over an Obama pact to accept 1,250 refugees detained in camps off the countrys coast. But the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. embassy in Australia, announced that Trump would honour the arrangement. Australian news outlets publicized the news. A few hours later, Trump wrote on Twitter, Why? I will study this dumb deal! The embassy was left to tell Australians, I refer you to the White House. Australias prime minister had no clearer explanation. Well, that is his tweet. Im telling you what has been said to us, and said by his spokesman, and said by the embassy, Malcolm Turnbull said. The administration offered up another policy muddle on a matter of considerably more strategic importance. Asked two weeks ago about disputed territory in the South China Sea, Spicer said the U.S. would make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country words that represented a severe escalation of the U.S. approach to Chinas claims to the land. Then Secretary of Defence James Mattis tamped down the rhetoric. Speaking in Japan, he rejected dramatic military moves and said the U.S. would exhaust all efforts, diplomatic efforts, to try and resolve this properly. Harry Harding, a professor and expert on U.S.-China relations at the University of Virginia, said Chinese leaders and analysts alike are struggling to sort out those mixed messages. The resulting uncertainty is, of course, very troubling, and theres a tendency to grasp on the latest bit of information to try finally to find the clarity and certainty that was absent before. Thats quite dangerous, I think, Harding said in an email from Hong Kong. And as each interpretation is contradicted by the next bit of information, it means that the interpretations will be almost as volatile as the man himself, at least until things settle down if they ever do. Mattis spoke in Japan during an Asia trip meant to reassure American allies worried by Trumps campaign rhetoric. The visit, informally dubbed a reassurance tour, was of limited comfort. When Mattis was going off to South Korea and Japan, how reassuring is that? I just cant imagine anyone is buying what hes selling, because hes just not an insider in this administration, said Steve Saiderman, an international relations professor at Carleton University. In general, he said, If theres such a fundamental break between what the bureaucrats are saying and what the president is saying, nobody can be certain about anything. In some cases, the bewilderment appears to be a result of a divide between Trump and the traditional politicians, generals and diplomats working for him. His top allies sometimes appear to be attempting to conduct traditional Republican foreign policy without him. The disconnect was perhaps starkest on the matter of Russias latest military action in eastern Ukraine. The White House issued a statement that offered no rebuke of Russia. Then his United Nations ambassador condemned the aggressive actions of Russia and said the U.S. laments the Ukrainian suffering caused by Russia. Then Trump gave an interview in which he said he respects Russian President Vladimir Putin. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan met Monday with Mattis. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is meeting Wednesday with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Finance Minister Bill Morneau is delivering a speech about the economic relationship at Georgetown University on Thursday. It is a high-profile diplomacy blitz. Saiderman advocated a different strategy for Canada: conducting as much low-level diplomacy as possible, getting things done with professionals without attracting the attention of the mercurial president. Its in the best interest of Canada, he said, not to remind him that Canada is a member of NAFTA or Canada is a member of NATO. MORE ON THESTAR.COM The complete list of all 42 false things Donald Trump has said as president Canada will never be party to torture, defence minister says after visit to Trumps Washington Trump calls NAFTA a catastrophe, suggests negotiating extra F for fair Donald Trump just gave a Black History Month speech about the persecution of Donald Trump Coast-to-coast protest wave challenges Donald Trump and Democrats Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONThe White House wants journalists to write more stories about terrorist attacks, which U.S. President Donald Trump says are being under-reported. Asked for examples, his office released a list of attacks including two in Canada in 2014. Its a striking change from the last administration which, in an effort to calm anxieties, tended to emphasize how rare terrorist attacks actually are: some media have calculated that more people in the U.S. were accidentally killed by toddlers with guns than Islamist terrorists in 2015. Read more:Donald Trump says the media missed nearly 80 global terror attacks. We didnt Almost 100 times more people around the world were killed by malaria in 2014, according to the international aid organization Oxfam. Almost 200 times more people were killed that year by a diarrheal disease. But terrorism needs more attention, Trump said. Youve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe its happening. Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported, Trump said this week, during an event with enlisted military personnel. And in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that. During a photo-op with country sheriffs, Trump made the point again Tuesday: I happen to know how dishonest the media is. Asked what Trump was talking about, his spokesman Sean Spicer promised to provide a list of examples. When that list was distributed to U.S. journalists it included 78 such incidents from 2014 to 2016. The list included two attacks in Canada in 2014: the killing of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent in Quebec, followed by the shooting of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and the gun attack on Parliament Hill. We want to be very clear there are a lot of examples, Spicer said, when asked about the list. Many of them havent gotten the attention they have deserved. Its becoming too often that were seeing these attacks not get the spectacular attention they deserve. The suggestion these killings were ignored would surprise Canadian media-monitoring firms. One such firm, Montreal-based Influence Communications, shared its statistics for media coverage of events in 2014. The No. 1 most-covered story in Canada by international media that year was the Parliament Hill shooting, Influence said. No. 3 was the killing of Vincent in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. CNNs Anderson Cooper came to Ottawa to broadcast from the scene. In fact, some media critics at the time mocked American television networks for over-dramatizing the unfolding danger, compared with the more cautious coverage in Canada. It was a gigantic story, said Jean-Francois Dumas of Influence Communication. It was a big story around the world. The most-covered stories in Canada by international media that year, aside from terrorism, were the Keystone XL pipeline, the late Rob Fords troubles and illness and Michaelle Jeans election as head of the Francophonie. The firm did not provide international statistics on coverage of malaria, diarrheal diseases, and toddlers with guns. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONThe U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary on Tuesday, with Vice-president Mike Pence casting a historic tiebreaking vote after senators deadlocked over her fitness for the job. The entire Democratic caucus of 48 senators voted against DeVos, as did two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who said they did not think DeVos was qualified for the job. The remaining 50 Republicans voted for DeVos, setting up a 50-50 tie that Pence broke with his vote at about 12:30 p.m. It marked the first time a vice-presidents tiebreaking vote was needed to confirm a cabinet secretary, according to Daniel Holt, an assistant historian in the Senate Historical Office. And it was the first time a vice-president cast any tiebreaking vote in the Senate since Dick Cheney did so nine years ago. The confirmation vote came after dozens of Democrats took to the Senate floor to speak out against DeVos for most of the day Monday and through the night into Tuesday, a 24-hour last-ditch effort to persuade one more Republican to break party ranks and derail the confirmation. They argued that she doesnt understand or believe in public schools and that she is not committed to enforcing civil-rights laws related to education, and should therefore be disqualified from leading the Education Department. But as the hours wore on, it became increasingly clear that their effort would fail. I hope against hope that another Republican senator will have the courage of the senators from Alaska and Maine and join us, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday morning. But if that doesnt happen, we Democrats are very proud of what we have done, because the nominee is so unqualified and now Americans know that. The Democratic speeches were interrupted occasionally by Republicans coming to the nominees defence. Sen. Tim Scott said DeVos who has no professional experience in public education would bring fresh eyes to the job and push for more opportunities for poor and disadvantaged children. We need to make sure that every child in every zip code has a quality choice, Scott said Tuesday, moments before the scheduled vote. President Donald Trump also weighed in via Twitter: Senate Dems protest to keep the failed status quo. Betsy DeVos is a reformer and she is going to be a great Education Sec. for our kids! he wrote. DeVos has faced an unprecedented wave of popular backlash and partisan opposition: Since the Education Department was established in 1979, nominees to lead it have always been easily confirmed, often on voice votes or with unanimous support. The closest confirmation vote for an education secretary was 49 to 40 in 2016, in favour of John King, who served during the last year of Barack Obamas presidency. But DeVos is unlike previous nominees in that she has no personal or professional experience in public education or elected office. A Michigan billionaire and major Republican donor, she has spent three decades using her wealth and political clout to advocate for alternatives to public schools, particularly taxpayer-funded vouchers to help parents pay tuition for private and religious schools. She has also advocated for a loosely regulated variety of charter schools. Republicans have defended her as an outsider who would challenge the status quo and as a conservative who would reduce the federal footprint in public schools. They are keen to change course after eight years in which the Obama Education Department exercised an unusually high level of influence. Betsy DeVos has committed: No more Washington mandates, no more national school board, said Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. I urge a yes vote. But DeVos free-market approach triggered opposition from teachers unions, which mobilized considerable forces against her, as well as from fellow education reformers who said they worried she was more committed to the ideology of school choice than to ensuring quality schools for vulnerable children. Is this a knowledgeable candidate who understands the federal law? Is this a candidate who comes to us without conflicts of interest? Is this a candidate who is willing to stand up and be the defender of all young children in the schools? said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the committees ranking Democrat. To me, and I think to many of my colleagues who have been out here speaking, she is not. DeVos was not widely known when Trump picked her in November. But that changed after her performance at a confirmation hearing in January, when she stumbled over basic policy questions and left open the possibility that she would cut education funding, privatize public schools and scale back the Education Departments civil-rights work. New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall said DeVos displayed a profound lack of understanding about education policy at her confirmation hearing. I cant say it enough: A vote for Ms. DeVos is a vote to destroy our public school system, he said. Video clips from that hearing went viral and DeVos became an instant meme just days before Trumps inauguration. Opposition to her nomination then rode a wave of anti-Trump momentum after the Womens March on Washington. Across the country, parents, teachers, community leaders and civil rights advocates are rightly insisting that the federal role in education should be to strengthen public education, not abandon it, and to protect students civil rights including students with disabilities, low-income students, students of colour, LGBT students, and immigrant students, King said. The open question now is, will the future leadership of the department heed that message? Read more about: SHARE: MAPLEWOOD, N.J.A New Jersey boy has become the first openly transgender member of the Boy Scouts one week after the Boy Scouts of America changed its policy to allow transgender children to join the organization. I am accepted, Joe Maldonado said Tuesday night as he put on a Cub Scout uniform. The Record reported the 9-year-old joined Pack 20 in Maplewood following the organizations decision to allow transgender scouts. Maldonado was banned from a Cub Scout group in Secaucus. This is fun, Im so proud, he said during the meeting. Scout leader Kyle Hackler taught Maldonado the Cub Scout salute and oath. This means youre the same as Scouts all over the world, Hackler told Maldonado. The scouts mother, Kristie, said she was proud of the fight she had put up after the Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts last year told her Joe would not be allowed to continue to be a member of Pack 87 in Secaucus. The Boy Scouts changed their policy of referring to the gender on birth certificates to determine eligibility last week after Maldonados story gained national attention. Previously, the Boy Scouts overturned bans against gay scouts and scouting leaders. The organization released a statement welcoming the Maldonado family. Moving forward, the BSA will continue to work to bring the benefits of our programs to as many children, families and communities as possible, the statement said. Maldonado told the newspaper she had decided to bring her son to Maplewood because she did not want to go back to Secaucus, where she said scouting officials told her some parents had complained last year. SHARE: ANKARA, TURKEYIn a sign of improving ties, Turkish officials said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and responded positively on two key Turkish demands that had soured Ankaras relations with the Obama administration. Following the 45-minute telephone conversation late Tuesday, officials from Erdogans office also announced that CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be making his first overseas visit to Turkey on Thursday. The decision showed the importance the new administration attaches to Turkey, a country on the front line of the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Ties between Turkey and the U.S., which are NATO allies, were strained under the Obama administration. Turkey expressed frustrations over what it perceived as U.S. reluctance to extradite the cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey accused of orchestrating the countrys failed military coup. It was also angered by Washingtons support of Syrian Kurdish fighters. While Turkeys government considers the fighters terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey, the Obama administration regarded them as the most effective group in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. It had also asked Turkey to allow the judiciary process for Gulens return to take its course. Read more: Turkey is closer to reforming constitution, expanding Erdogans powers Canadian arrested in Turkey for insulting president on Facebook, lawyer says Turkeys slide into authoritarianism is a worrisome sign of whats to come: Editorial The Turkish government has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trumps presidency, and the call was being closely watched in Turkey for signs of a recovery. Officials from Erdogans office, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, said Tuesdays phone conversation was positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere. Both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close co-operation, and agreed to meet at the shortest time possible, they said. Erdogan requested that Washington stand with Turkey in its struggle against the Gulen movement and stop supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters, the officials said. Erdogans spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, told Turkeys NTV news channel that the Turkish leader not only asked Trump not to back the Syrian Kurds but also presented a plan in which allies could retake Raqqa, the main IS-held city in Syria, without the Kurdish fighters. Trumps general reactions were positive, Kalin said. Kalin said Erdogan told Trump that there were a series of measures Washington could take while awaiting for the courts to decide on Gulens extradition, in apparent reference to Turkish demands that the cleric be taken into custody and prevented from running his movement. Trump and his security adviser responded by saying they would start work to examine the issue, Kalin said. Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against extremist groups, the officials said, without elaborating. Officials said Pompeo would discuss Gulen and the U.S. backing of Syrian Kurdish fighters during his visit. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking at a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart in Ankara, sounded optimistic about future co-operation with the Trump administration. On the issue of fighting Daesh, we that is Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be co-operating with the United States, Cavusoglu said. We believe that the fight from now on will be more effective and that we will be able to clear both Syria and Iraq of Daesh. He was using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. The Turkish officials didnt say whether Trumps ban on travellers from seven predominantly Muslim nations was raised during their talk. Last year, Erdogan criticized Trump then a Republican presidential candidate over his comments about barring Muslims from entering the United States and called for his name to be removed from the Trump Towers in Istanbul. However, the normally outspoken Erdogan has not yet commented in public on the travel ban, which is being reviewed by a federal appeals court. Read more about: SHARE: The mall was named for him. His name adorns signposts at the nearby metro station. It also looms from the sides of the twin skyscrapers that the mall sits beneath. Yet many of the diners, shoppers and store owners here at Trump Towers Istanbul on a recent evening could not quite believe that the complex among the tallest buildings in one of the worlds largest predominantly Muslim cities had anything to do with President Donald Trump. Evin Sumeli, a 19-year-old training to be an anesthetist, was sitting down for a meal with her sister, Mizgin, 18, when she learned that Trump does indeed profit from the buildings. OK were leaving! she declared. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump One floor below, Cigdem Turan, a cashier at a cosmetics store, was similarly surprised. I actually asked people if he had anything to do with the building, but they said no, said Turan, 25, who began working at Trump Towers early last fall. My husband said its probably just a coincidence. A coincidence, however, it is not. Technically, neither Trump nor the Trump Organization owns the property (or most of the other buildings featuring the Trump name outside the United States). But in 2010, Trump allowed the buildings Turkish owners, Dogan Holding, to brand it with his name, in exchange for a sizable fee. The total has not been disclosed, but campaign records show that by July 2015, Dogan Holding had paid Trump between $1 million and $5 million for the use of his name. It was the revelation of that deal that had the Sumeli sisters making for a premature exit. Why should I respect a president who doesnt respect my veil? asked the younger Sumeli, who is studying child development. We wont be coming here again, her elder sister added. The sisters were among several visitors to take issue with Trumps attempts to suspend immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. While Turks were not subject to the ban, most interviewed at Trump Towers were nevertheless offended by its principle and expressed solidarity with those from the affected countries. It doesnt matter whether Turkey is included or not Im against it, the younger Sumeli said while gathering her things. If my government banned Christians, she added, Id be against that, too. Trump Towers Istanbul is a two-pronged construct: an office block and an apartment complex that jut skyward from a multistory mall at the bottom. Though it stands in a country increasingly blighted by terrorism, and though it is named for a man increasingly at odds with the Muslim world, security is light. As at most malls in this city, there is just a single airport-style X-ray machine at each entrance. The local municipality says it has no plans to increase security, and visitors themselves displayed few signs of concern. I really dont care if its Trumps or not, said Ozan Tung, a 23-year-old actor who was finishing off a chicken curry. What else am I going to do if I dont come here? Yet Trump has received his fair share of bad publicity in Turkey. In June, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even called for the towers to be renamed, in protest of Trumps Islamophobic remarks during the campaign. Since Trump announced his travel ban, Erdogan has avoided directly condemning Trump, leaving criticism to colleagues in his government. Analysts speculate that Erdogan is waiting to see how Trump approaches Turkey before voicing his disapproval too openly. Foreign visitors to the mall would recognize many of the shops; Benetton, Burger King, Mango and Lacoste all have a home there. In the basement is a playground and a carousel, among other attractions for children. And at the very top of the escalators is the most familiar name of all: Trump Cadde, or Trump Avenue. Its a string of upscale cafes clustered around the malls main attraction, a restaurant called Trumpet. The mall is full of the citys middle class: hairdressers, students and at one table, a quartet of female civil servants. They were wary of giving their full names because of the purge of government employees that followed the failed coup last year, but the question of the malls eponym nevertheless set off a lively discussion. Ayten B., 45, wont be coming again, she declared, to nods of approval from her friends. If their children didnt like the playground in the basement so much, they said, they wouldnt have come in the first place. But, Ayten said, theres something to Trumps thought process: Look at all those bad things happening in the seven banned countries. Hatice E., 43, agreed. Iran is a law unto itself, and theres chaos across Iraq, Somalia and Yemen. Who would want that? Ayse G., 40, gently constructed a counter-argument. Why should Trump punish a whole religion, she asked, rather than just the few people responsible? Then the coffees arrived and Hacer N., 43, spoke up. If Trump is against Muslims, she wondered, why has he built a mall in a Muslim country? He shouldnt be erecting buildings here, Ayse chimed in, if he doesnt like Muslims. The Sumeli sisters said they were mystified by Erdogans approach to Trump, and by his other recent diplomatic moves, too. Actually I cant understand it, Evin said. He has good relations with someone, and then he breaks that relationship. He has bad relations with Russia, and then he fixes it. I just dont get it, Mizgin added. But elsewhere in the building, not everyone was so concerned. Deep in the bowels of the mall, Umit Basalan, a 29-year-old shopkeeper, said there was little wrong with Trumps travel ban. His decision was right its not about Muslims, its about terror, said Basalan, suggesting that Turkey should copy Trumps policy. At first he spoke about Muslims, but then he just referred to these seven countries. Basalan fondly remembered a 2012 visit by Trumps daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump. Maybe, Basalan concluded, she brings business. Two floors above, the Sumeli sisters had just made their exit. We were going to tour around, the elder sister said. But now were just going to leave. Read more about: SHARE: JERUSALEMA pair of Israeli rights groups on Wednesday asked the countrys Supreme Court to overturn a new law legalizing dozens of settler outposts in the West Bank, opening what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle over the contentious legislation. The legal challenges added new uncertainty to the law, which has drawn fierce international condemnations and been questioned by Israels own attorney general. Read more: Palestinian official calls explosive new Israeli settlement law last nail in coffin Violence erupts as Israel evicts West Bank outpost The law, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus nationalist coalition, retroactively legalized thousands of homes found to have been built on private Palestinian land. While its backers claim these homes were built in good faith, critics say the law amounts to legalized land theft. In the first lawsuit against the measure, the Arab rights group Adalah and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center asked the high court to block implementation of the law. It was the first in what is expected to be a series of legal challenges. This sweeping and dangerous law permits the expropriation of vast tracts of private Palestinian land, giving absolute preference to the political interests of Israel, said Suhad Bishara, an attorney for Adalah. She said the court gave Israel 30 days to respond. She added that Adalah had requested the court freeze the laws implementation until its final ruling. In the meantime, the state can begin implementing the law. Experts say the legalization process will take years as authorities identify properties, confiscate lands and work out compensation with the original Palestinian owners. The West Bank is home to some 120 settlements recognized as legal by Israel, as well as about 100 unauthorized outposts that the government has tacitly accepted. The new law sets out a process to legalize about half of those outposts, as well as about 3,000 additional homes built illegally in recognized settlements. Palestinian landowners can receive financial compensation or alternative land. The Palestinians seek the West Bank and east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as parts of a future independent state. Most of the international community considers all Israeli settlements illegal and counterproductive to peace by gobbling up the territory sought by the Palestinians. Some 600,000 Israelis now live in the two areas. After years of conflict with President Barack Obama over settlements, Netanyahus hard-line government has grown emboldened by the election of President Donald Trump. The new president has signalled he will take a much softer approach to the settlements. Since Trump took office, Israel has approved plans to build more than 6,000 new homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group, said that one of the newly approved projects is connected to a Jewish seminary in the Beit El settlement. Trumps proposed ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has been a top fundraiser for the same seminary. The Israeli building announcements, coupled with passage of the new law late Monday, have drawn condemnations from many of Israels closest allies. The European Union, as well as Britain, Germany and France, have all spoken out against the law. The U.N. has also condemned the measure. Trump, however, has remained largely silent. Last week, the White House said that new settlement construction may not be helpful to promoting peace. White House spokesman Sean Spicer has said the new Israeli law will be discussed next week when Netanyahu meets Trump in Washington. Trumps departure from the policies of previous Republican and Democratic administrations has alarmed the Palestinians. We do not know what is going on between Netanyahu and President Trumps administration, but at the end of the day we say that whoever wants to achieve a just and historical peace in the region between the Israelis and the Palestinians cannot be silent on settlement activity, Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said on Palestinian radio. Its time for President Trump to tell Netanyahu, Enough. The new law, meanwhile, faces an unclear future. Israels attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, has said he will not defend it in court, saying the law allows for the expropriation of private property in violation of Israeli and international law. It also is problematic because it applies Israeli law to occupied land that is not sovereign Israeli territory. In contrast to the settlers, the West Banks more than 2 million Palestinians are not Israeli citizens and do not have the right to vote in Israel. Even Netanyahu has expressed misgivings about the bill, reportedly saying it could drag Israel into international legal prosecution. In the end, however, he agreed to support it after coming under heavy pressure from within his governing coalition. Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, whose Jewish Home party spearheaded the legislation, has said the state plans to hire a private lawyer to represent it. Amichai Cohen, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, a think-tank, said it is rare, but not unprecedented, for an attorney general to refuse to defend the state. In perhaps the most infamous case, Israels then-attorney general launched a criminal investigation, over government objections, into a coverup by Israels domestic security agency of the killing of two Palestinian militants who had hijacked an Israeli bus in 1984. The attorney general was forced to resign. Cohen said it was not unprecedented for Israel to hire a private lawyer and that because the case involves the Knesset, its legal adviser can defend the law in court. Read more about: SHARE: MOGADISHU, SOMALIAA former prime minister who holds dual Somali-U.S. citizenship was declared Somalias new president Wednesday, immediately taking the oath of office as the long-chaotic country moved toward its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded defeat after two rounds of voting, and former prime minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was declared the new leader. History was made, we have taken this path to democracy, and now I want to congratulate Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Mohamud said. Fears of attacks by extremist group al-Shabab limited the election to the lawmakers instead of the population at large. Members of the upper and lower houses of the legislature voted at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu, while a security lockdown closed the international airport. Thousands of cheering Somalis quickly poured into the streets in jubilation, chanting the new presidents name. Cheering soldiers fired into the air. Somalia will be another Somalia soon, said Ahmed Ali, a police officer celebrating in the crowd. Mohamud held a slight lead over Farmajo, 88 votes to 72, after the first round of 21 candidates, but Farmajo held a clear lead after the second round among the three candidates remaining. This victory represents the interest of the Somali people. This victory belongs to Somali people, and this is the beginning of the era of the unity, the democracy of Somalia and the beginning of the fight against corruption, Farmajo said after taking the oath of office. Farmajo, who holds degrees from the State University of New York in Buffalo, was prime minister for eight months before leaving the post in 2011. He had lived in the United States since 1985, when he was sent there with Somalias foreign affairs ministry. Somalia began to fall apart in 1991, when warlords ousted dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other. Years of conflict and al-Shabab attacks, along with famine, left this Horn of Africa country of about 12 million people largely shattered. Across Mogadishu, Somalis had gathered around TV screens at cafes and homes, eagerly watching the vote. We need an honest leader who can help us move forward, said Ahmed Hassan, a 26-year-old university student. Somalias instability landed it among the seven Muslim-majority countries affected by President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration, even though its government has been an increasingly important partner for the U.S. military on counterterrorism efforts, including drone strikes against al-Shabab leaders. The new president, Farmajo, can travel to the United States on his U.S. passport. In a sign of the dangers that remain in Mogadishu, two mortar rounds fired by suspected extremists late Tuesday hit near the election venue. There were no public statements by al-Shabab on Wednesday. While the international community pushed Somalia to hold the election as a symbol of strength, including the U.S. pouring in hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years for political and economic recovery, the vote was marred by reports of widespread corruption. The legislators voting 275 members of the lower legislative house and 54 senators were selected by the countrys powerful, intricate network of clans. Weeks ago, a joint statement by the United Nations, the U.S., European Union and others warned of egregious cases of abuse of the electoral process. Examples included violence, intimidation and men taking seats that had been reserved for female candidates, the joint statement said. With reports of votes being sold for up to $30,000 apiece, This is probably the most expensive election, per vote, in history, the Mogadishu-based anti-corruption group Marqaati said in a report released Tuesday. SHARE: WASHINGTONSenator Elizabeth Warren earned a rare rebuke by the Senate for quoting Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor, after Republicans used an obscure rule to shut down her speech that criticized Senator Jeff Sessions, the nominee for attorney general. Republicans took issue when Massachusetts Democrat quoted from a pair of letters written by the late King and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy opposing Sessions' ill-fated nomination to a federal judgeship in 1986. King's letter accused Sessions of racial bias; Kennedy's called him a "disgrace to the Justice Department." It was all too much for Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell, who said Warren had "impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama." In an extraordinary move, the Senate voted on party lines to shut her down. King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate Rule 19, for impugning the motives of Sessions, though senators have said far worse. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate. Still, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. What does it mean for one senator to "impugn" or "impute" another? That's a matter of perspective, as congressional Democrats and other Warren defenders made clear when they rallied behind her on Twitter, launching the hashtag #LetLizSpeak to the top of the site's trending list. Senate Republicans balked at Warren's use of the word "disgrace," as quoted from the Kennedy letter, in reference to Sessions. But it was during her reading the letter from King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., that Republicans warned her that she was violating Rule 19. "Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation," McConnell said later. "Nevertheless, she persisted." Warren argued: Im reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. Im simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her. Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by former Sen. Edward Kennedy that labeled Sessions a disgrace. "I am surprised," Warren said, "that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate." Democrats pointed out that McConnell didnt object when Sen. Ted Cruz called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. The episode was followed by lamentations by Senate veterans, including its most senior Republican, Orrin Hatch of Utah, about how the Senate is too partisan. With files from Washington Post SHARE: WATERLOO The largest show choir contest in the Midwest has grown too big to fit in a single day. This weekends DeKalb Show Choir Invitational will expand to start Friday evening before returning for 15 hours of singing and dancing Saturday at DeKalb High School. We were just getting so full, said Chris Straw, who co-chairs the show with his wife, Terri. We were having schools performing at 7:15 in the morning in the one-day format. As a remedy, this year six middle school choirs will perform Friday at the high school, immediately after an exhibition show by DeKalb Middle Schools MidPointe group. Saturday will see the main action 36 high school choirs competing in four divisions in the gymnasium and auditorium, along with 59 soloists in the band room. With a total of 42 groups and 59 soloists from 27 schools, Its the biggest one in the Midwest not just Indiana, Straw said. It just keeps getting bigger and better. A little research established the contests top rank last year, when it attracted 39 competing choirs, Straw said. This years total of 42 choirs does not include the local groups that will perform in exhibition. Saturday, DeKalb High Schools Sound Sensation girls choir will take the stage at 5:52 p.m. in the gymnasium to end the daytime competition. DeKalbs Skinny Bois all-male group will perform at 7:30 p.m. to start the finals round, with DeKalbs Classic Connection mixed choir closing the show at 10:48 p.m. An estimated 7,000 people flooded the school for last years contest, Straw said. Staging a nighttime finals round for both the championship and varsity mixed choirs has increased the popularity of DeKalbs contest. We were one of the first invitationals to ever do that, and thats proven very successful, Straw said. This will be the third year for simultaneous finals rounds, with varsity choirs in the auditorium and championship choirs, typically from larger schools, in the gymnasium. Competitors in the championship division will include Plainfield, the 2015 Class B state champions for both womens and mixed choirs, and Castle, 2016 Class A state runners-up in the womens division. DeKalbs contest serves as a qualifying site for this years Indiana State School Music Association state finals. This weekend marks the 26th year for the DeKalb Invitational. Local choirs competing include East Noble girls in the varsity division at 8 a.m., varsity division entrants Lakeland at 1:16 p.m., Garrett at 1:44 p.m. and East Noble at 2:52 p.m., all in the auditorium, and a championship division entry by East Nobles mixed choir at 12:50 p.m. in the gymnasium. Doors will open Saturday at 6 a.m., and performances begin at 8 a.m. in the auditorium and 8:48 a.m. in the gymnasium. Awards for daytime performances will be presented at 6:15 p.m. Finals for mixed choirs in the varsity and championship divisions start at 7:30 p.m., with final awards scheduled for 11:15 p.m. Tickets are priced at $12 for either the day or night session or $17 for both sessions. WASHINGTONThe Trump White House is nearing completion of an order that would direct the Pentagon to bring future Daesh detainees to the Guantanamo Bay prison, despite warnings from national security officials and legal scholars that doing so risks undermining the effort to combat the group, according to administration officials and a draft executive order obtained by The New York Times. White House officials have spelled out their thinking about a new detainee policy in an evolving series of drafts of an executive order being circulated among national security officials for comment. While previous versions have shown that the draft has undergone many changes including dropping language about reviving CIA prisons the plan to add detainees affiliated with Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, to the Guantanamo population has remained constant. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump The latest version of the draft, which circulated this week, would direct Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to use Guantanamo to detain suspected members of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces, including individuals and networks associated with Daesh. The White House has kept similar language in the draft order despite warnings from career government national security officials that carrying out its plan would give federal judges an opportunity to reject the executive branchs theory that the war against Daesh is legal, even though Congress never explicitly authorized it. The issue could arise when reviewing an inevitable habeas corpus lawsuit filed by a Daesh detainee, which would place the burden of proof on the U.S. to justify the detention. The Obama administration first argued in late summer 2014 that Daesh was part of the existing armed conflict that Congress authorized in 2001 against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. But while Daesh got its start as Al Qaedas affiliate in Iraq a decade ago, that theory is disputed because the two groups later split and went to war with each other. It raises huge legal risks, said Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor and former senior Justice Department official in the Bush administration. If a judge says the Sept. 11 authorization does not cover such a detention, it would not only make that detention unlawful, it would weaken the legal basis for the entire war against Daesh. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, did not respond to an email seeking comment on the issue. The White House had limited the draft order so that it focused on carrying out President Donald Trumps vow to keep the Guantanamo prison open and use it for newly captured detainees, the Times reported late last week. That draft of the order dropped the ideas of reopening CIA prisons and permitting interrogators to use harsher techniques than those now allowed in the Army Field Manual. That report was based on accounts by people familiar with a version that circulated last week. But a new draft order circulated this week, titled Protecting America Through Lawful Detention of Terrorist and Other Designated Enemy Elements, includes some revisions. The latest version, unlike the previous one, explicitly revokes President Barack Obamas January 2009 executive order directing the government to close the prison by January 2010, a deadline it failed to meet. The revised text also dropped references to revitalizing the use of the military commissions system at Guantanamo for prosecuting terrorism suspects, and instead focused exclusively on detention policy like its directive to use the prison to detain captured Daesh suspects without trial. In the 2012 version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, Congress bolstered the governments power to imprison suspected members of Al Qaeda, the Taliban and associated forces by authorizing such detentions without reference to the Sept. 11 attacks. But while it has provided funds for military operations against Daesh, it has never explicitly authorized combat or detention operations against it. In summer 2014, when the group swept out of Syria and began rapidly conquering swaths of Iraq, Obama launched a bombing campaign to curtail its advances. At the time, he put forth the theory that the groups early ties to Al Qaeda were sufficient to bring it under the Sept. 11 war authorization without new action from Congress. Nevertheless, in 2015, the Obama administration asked Congress to enact an authorization for use of military force against Daesh. Lawmakers disagreed about whether it should place limits on the use of ground forces or impose an expiration date, and Congress never acted on the proposal. Congress has continued to give no sign that it has the will or the consensus to explicitly authorize war on Daesh. Last year, an army captain sued Obama, arguing that the war was illegal because Congress had not authorized it. A U.S. District Court judge dismissed the lawsuit without ruling on the legal merits, saying the plaintiff lacked standing to bring the case. But any Daesh detainee at Guantanamo would have legal standing to get a court to rule on the question of whether the group is legitimately part of the war against Al Qaeda. Ryan Goodman, a New York University law professor who worked at the Pentagon during the Obama administration, said there were other reasons bringing a Daesh detainee to Guantanamo for indefinite detention, as opposed to prosecuting him in civilian court, might raise problems: Foreign allies, he said, might refuse to turn over prisoners or assist in detention operations if that was the administrations goal. But even if that turns out not to be the case, he said, the legal risks of bringing a suspected member of Daesh are very serious. If I were in the administration, I would advise that bringing ISIL fighters to Guantanamo raises too many legal risks, he said. If a court finds the 2001 statute does not apply to ISIL because of the extraordinarily remote links between ISIL and the original Al Qaeda, then it would put into legal jeopardy the executive branchs basis for lethal operations as well as detention operations. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump doesnt tweet about everything, one of his top aides said Tuesday in trying to explain his silence on the terrorist massacre of six people at a Quebec City mosque. Trumps spokesman and defence secretary have publicly expressed their condolences to Canada. But the presidents decision to avoid any comment of his own has come under renewed American scrutiny in the wake of his false accusation that the media is ignoring terror attacks committed by Islamic extremists. CNN host Jake Tapper pressed Trump counsellor Kellyanne Conway on Tuesday. In Quebec City last week, a white right-wing terrorist opened fire on a mosque. A mosque filled with innocent men, woman and children. Six people were killed. President Trump has not said or tweeted one public word about this, Tapper said. You want to talk about ignoring terrorism? Why hasnt the president offered his sympathy to our neighbours in the north? I know hes sympathetic to any loss of life, Conway responded. Its completely senseless and it needs to stop regardless of who is lodging the attack. We of course are very sad about loss of life here. She continued, I will ask him. He doesnt tweet about everything. He doesnt make a comment about everything. The morning after Conways remarks, Trump tweeted a complaint related to his daughters clothing business. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! he wrote. Trump is known for his prolific use of Twitter to discuss trivial matters. Since the mosque shooting on Jan. 29, he has tweeted insults of the New York Times, congratulated the winners of the Super Bowl, and disparaged Arnold Schwarzenegger, among other things. He also publicized an attempted attack near the Louvre art museum in Paris, in which nobody was killed, calling the machete attacker a new radical Islamic terrorist and urging America to get smart. Trump, who employed regular anti-Muslim bigotry during his campaign, has relentlessly emphasized the threat of Islamic extremism while saying almost nothing about other threats. The man charged in the Quebec attack, Alexandre Bissonnette, has been alleged to have expressed right-wing views online. This is the second way in which the administrations response to the attack has been criticized. After conveying sympathies to Canada, Trumps press secretary, Sean Spicer, implausibly attempted to use the attack on Muslims to justify Trumps ban on entrants from seven mostly Muslim countries. Read more about: SHARE: Are all humans human? Or are some more human than others? Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire can testify to how the dehumanization of others can destroy entire societies. His experiences in Rwanda have been well chronicled, witnessing a horrific genocide that the world stood by to watch. Hatred knows no boundaries, it knows no borders, and it knows no limits. When it infects a heart, it can lead to devastating consequences. Here in Canada, we saw this last week in Quebec City. But there are ways to combat hatred, to stand up to it, to neutralize it, and, dare we hope, replace it with love and compassion. We are living in a world that feels unhinged, but we cannot forget that various communities have gone through countless upheavals, oppressions, and discrimination in the past and still experience systemic racism and marginalization even today. Whether we are seeking justice for indigenous communities, or calling for an end to racial profiling of black communities, or standing up to anti-Semitism wherever it appears, this is part of a critical and necessary struggle. We must include Islamophobia in that struggle. For the vast majority of fellow Canadians who are committed to living peacefully with their neighbours, to raising their families in communities that are safe and accepting of all, there is a lot of confusion. How can we on a day-to-day level make a difference? Albeit heartwarming and so welcome, it must go even further than standing at vigils, marching in rallies, and sending cards. We all have to understand that our governments have a responsibility to stand up for the rights and dignity of all its citizens, newly arrived, and well-established; original inhabitants and refugees. This is perhaps the most important challenge of our time when division and fear are expedient ways for some politicians to gain support in their quest for power. It is also a time where fake news means that misinformation has become regular fodder for those with agendas of hate. Where can we turn, except to our governments, which have the resources to help combat this scourge? Sadly, when it comes to standing up for Canadian Muslims, freedom of expression is often used as cover for opposing meaningful action. The current motion to study and understand systemic racism and religious discrimination in Canada, tabled by MP Iqra Khalid, is under attack by those who pretend that this motion is about silencing critique of Islam. It is highly unlikely, given that their criticisms are out of touch with the content of the recommendations, that the critics of the proposed Bill even read it. However, understanding the real meaning of the proposed legislation would not have stopped the critics. Why? It must be understood that beyond ignorance, and genuine questions about Islam and Muslims, there are those who are ideologically opposed to giving Muslims any rights at all. As VICE news reporter Ben Makuch discovered in a recent investigation of the white nationalist Soldiers of Odin, there is an irrational fear of a Muslim takeover, full stop. In the United States, over $40 million has been spent to perpetuate stereotypes and to spread misinformation of Islam and Muslims between 2001 and 2009, according to a report titled Fear Inc. This means our struggle to stand up for the human rights and freedoms of Muslims in the West is all the harder when there are real efforts to poison minds about their presence. Tragically, this feeds into extremist narratives on either side. Daesh wants nothing more than to convince Canadian Muslims that they cannot belong here, that they will never fit in. And anti-Muslim white supremacist actors are bent on spreading fear of Muslims. This inevitably leads to violence. Stuck in the middle are majorities of people who look for leadership and guidance. Our governments can both show the way and follow civil societys lead in creating strong, robust communities where policies and programs can help cure this harmful social ill. Because we are all equally human. Debbie Douglas is the executive director at the Ontario Council for Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), Bernie M. Farber is the executive director of the Mosaic Institute in Toronto and former CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Ihsaan Gardee is the executive director at the National Council of Canadian Muslims. SHARE: All he had to do was say no, but he couldnt resist the billionaire lifestyle. All Conservative leader Rona Ambrose had to do was say no, but she couldnt resist the lifestyle of the sensational hypocrite. It will trail her political career forever, like a vestigial tail. Ambrose attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for visiting the billionaire Aga Khans private island on a Christmas vacation while she herself was secretly on a billionaires private yacht. For all I know the yacht, belonging to Calgary Flames co-owner and trice a billionaire Murray Edwards, was circling the island at the time. I envision Ambrose peering through opera glasses, putting down her cigar and typing out her tweet, one-fingered and hard. Thatll fix him. But no. I looked up St. Barts and St. Martin where her flailing spokesman said the yacht was lolling or yawing, or whatever you call sailing to nowhere while rich. It is nowhere near the Bahamas but St. Martin is coincidentally the island where I spent the only tropical vacation of my life. Oh what a terrible week that was. I ended up in a dispute with Air Canada about the definition of a fridge. I say its a small box that keeps stuff cold when you have to buy bulk supermarket food because the hotel restaurant is so bad, and they said it was more of a foot locker with a breezy ambience. As for the stained towels and having to sleep under the mattress pad for warmth, I shall say no more. I am not applying Maslows Hierarchy of Needs to vacations he is on an island, she is on a yacht, I am eating Cheese Doodles in a rage but I am tired of Conservative status anxiety. Ambroses spokesman responded by spinning so badly he threw his back out. Her idyll was fine, he said, because she was open and transparent with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, unlike the Prime Minister. That is not true. Trudeau didnt think he was doing anything wrong, but Ambrose must have known she was teetering. According to iPolitics, she only told the commissioner about her Jan. 3-14 trip on Jan. 12, the day of the tweet, possibly while she was still on the yacht. This was six days after the story about the Trudeau trip broke and the Conservatives had exploded in complaint. Thats open and transparent like Fox News is fair and balanced. Trudeau had initially defended himself by saying he had known the Aga Khan since childhood. That remark upset insecure Conservatives. But Ambrose told the commissioner that her life partner, ex-rodeo rider J.P. Veitch, has been friends with Edwards for 33 years. And the difference is? Ambrose once favourably compared Laureen Harper to Sophie Gregoire Trudeau because Harper was modest and quiet, unlike some girls. Trudeau travelled with political friends, Ambrose with regular ones. Veitch is a former rodeo cowboy, Trudeau the son of a prime minister. I dont know what this means. Well I do. Trudeau has gallons of friends in the party, Ambrose has none (she has even fewer now). Ambrose is jes plain folks, Trudeau is glamorous. For a Canadian. Compared to the last one. But here is the meat of the nut. Ambrose is interim, Trudeau is ... prime minister. He defeated the nasty party, the party of MP Kellie Leitch who has 18 letters after her name and is not an idiot, the party that flirts with Trumpishness and nudges voters to hate everyone with a nicer couch. Ambrose has a fine life courtesy of the taxpayer and that is as it should be. Stornoway is grand, grander than where Trudeau lives because Canadians are too tangled up in conflicted feelings about money to rebuild the prime ministers mouldy, asbestos-ridden official residence. Ambrose should probably not hang out with rich people. When I am in their homes, which is rarely, I think uneasily of my drapes. The rich are equally uneasy. People with yachts hate people with islands. The Obamas have been staying with billionaire Richard Branson. What does he have, an archipelago? Perhaps a terrible dissatisfaction raked Ambrose that afternoon as the ocean shone silvery-blue. In the water, a dark fin rose. Her bitter heart beat faster as she tweeted about the billionaire lifestyle. Ronalee, you might want to delete that, Veitch may well have said protectively. I am told he is a nice man. I wish them well. SHARE: Some things never change. Politicians keep promising to open up government, to shed light on official goings-on at all levels. Then, year after year, decade after decade, the public keeps getting denied timely access to the most basic information about vital issues. This culture of secrecy infects all governments and it spills over into official bodies of all sorts. That includes Ontarios network of provincial tribunals, which rule on such important matters as workplace safety, police conduct, pay equity and human rights abuses. The Toronto Star is challenging that secrecy in the courts, arguing for timely access to records of proceedings so the public can get the fullest possible picture of how the tribunals make decisions on key issues. Right now thats very difficult. Tribunals look and mostly act like regular courts, but unlike courts their records are not presumed to be publicly available by default. Instead, they are governed by provisions of Ontarios Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. And that means getting access to records of their activities can be long, frustrating and expensive. The bottom line is that a law ostensibly aimed at ensuring freedom of information often does exactly the opposite. It can take so long to get records through the FOI process that they become irrelevant. The system stymies the ability of the public, usually through the news media, to know what quasi-judicial bodies like the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission are doing in some of the most controversial areas of public policy. Prying open the provinces tribunals would be an important public service. It would force them to operate with the same level of openness as the public has rightly come to expect from the court system. That, in turn, would make them more accountable. At the same time, the new legal battle launched by the Star this week underlines the fact that freedom of information laws throughout the country have increasingly become obstacles to actually getting information. In Ottawa, successive federal information commissioners have bemoaned the ability of officials to stonewall, delay and obfuscate in the face of requests for records. Way back in 1998, John Grace publicly lamented that a culture of secrecy still flourishes in too many high places. And just two years ago, Suzanne Legault (who still holds the job) explicitly warned that the federal Access to Information Act has actually moved us forward in a culture of secrecy and evolved into a shield against disclosure. This has happened, with variations, at pretty much all levels of government. And it hardly matters which party is in office. Invariably they come to power promising a new era of openness, then do little or nothing to change the system (although the Harper Conservatives did their level best to make things even worse). The ingrained habits of bureaucrats and office-holders change slowly, if at all. It takes patience and persistence (as well as money) to challenge this institutional bias towards secrecy. And whether the issue is secrecy in Ottawa, at city hall or in Ontarios extensive system of tribunals, the principle should be the same: As a general rule, information collected on behalf of the public, at the publics expense, should be available to the public. SHARE: In recent years, the census has become a symbol of the old-fashioned notion that public policy should be grounded in facts and evidence. So now that the initial data of the 2016 census have been released, what lessons should policy-makers draw? One is that Canada is doing something right. Our population grew by 5 per cent since 2011; there are now 35,151,728 of us. This rate of population growth, driven largely by immigration, is significantly higher than that of any other G7 country. It seems people want to be here, and no wonder. We are far from perfect, but we remain and are still seen to be among the most welcoming and opportunity-rich countries in the world. The census results are heartening. Population growth is key to maintaining both the labour force and the sources of innovation and entrepreneurship we need for economic success. Open immigration policies, economic prospects and a still-strong social safety net have made Canada an attractive destination; our future prosperity likely depends on our keeping it that way. As our population ages, and our birth-rate declines, we must continue to welcome newcomers from all over the world, not only out of moral duty, but also economic necessity. The census numbers provide a timely reminder of the importance of immigration to Canadas future. Understanding this, the federal government flirted last fall with substantially increasing the number of immigrants Canada would take in this year above the current level of 260,000. It ultimately scrapped the idea amid polls showing public resistance, but fear and misinformation shouldnt get in the way of smart policy. There is a growing expert consensus that Ottawa will have to significantly boost immigration levels in the coming decades to offset the economic impact of our aging population. Some, such as the Conference Board of Canada, argue that our goal should be to grow Canadas population to 100 million by the end of the century. But any significant increase will require that Ottawa invest in building its capacity to manage these large numbers. And what better time to start than today, amid a global migrant crisis and American retreat on immigration? Still, it will not be enough simply to accept more newcomers. Governments of every order will have to work to increase the likelihood that immigrants will successfully integrate into the economy. On this challenge, too, the census has much to tell us. Newcomers, along with other Canadians, are disproportionately moving to urban centres. Some 83 per cent of our population lives in cities, with 40 per cent residing in the countrys 15 biggest municipalities. Toronto alone accounts for 7.8 per cent of the population and is growing faster than the country as a whole. We all have a stake in the capacity of these cities to bear the pressures of their rising populations. Higher levels of government should focus their investments accordingly, not least on infrastructure and services to help immigrants integrate and succeed. A growing labour force is vital to our economic performance. And the new census makes clear that we cant have that without openness to newcomers. We need immigrants, more of them - and an investment in their success is an investment in Canadas future prosperity. SHARE: Re: Group aims to halt moose calf hunt, Feb. 2 Group aims to halt moose calf hunt, Feb. 2 Dianne Saxe blames the moose decline on a loss of roadless areas, disease, parasites and hunting as well as climate change. She does not mention losses due to predators or indigenous hunters. Interestingly, the only moose population in North America that is holding its own and increasing is the population on the wide open prairie, certainly considered atypical moose habitat. The leading theory for this anomaly is the lack of predation, especially on moose calves. Black bears and gray wolves are reluctant to establish populations in the predominantly grassland habitat. In Ontario, there appears to be a reluctance to acknowledge the impact that predators have on moose populations. In fact, last fall the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry placed a ban on the harvest of wolves and coyotes in a large portion of central Ontario. This will not be helpful to a moose population already in decline. Kerry Coleman, Oxford Mills, Ont. Your Sunday editorial entitled Save the moose is right on the mark. Why continue to sell moose licences in order to decimate our future breeding stock? The old adage follow the money helps answer that question. Buying a moose licence costs ($55.70) a year. There are 98,000 licensed moose hunters in Ontario. Thats over $5.5 million going into the Ministry of Natural Resources/Government of Ontarios coffers every year and these fees would dry up if the moose hunt was banned. Frank Feeley, Fonthill, Ont. SHARE: Nvidia's (NVDA) third-quarter results showed investors just how strong the company's future is in areas like machine learning and autonomous driving. Though shares have soared over the past year as a result of the strong outlook, investors are betting there are more gains to come. From machine learning to autonomous driving to virtual reality, graphical processor units, or GPUs, are the brains behind much of the technology. Nvidia's chipsets are the dominant presence, and it's the early stages of what's being dubbed by some as "the artificial intelligence revolution." This convergence of technology is being driven by artificial intelligence at the heart of almost every decision technology companies (and non-tech companies) make, as they try to understand their customers better and focus on productivity increases. "While we still argue that GPUs are not the best fit for inference applications, it is still early and [Nvidia] continues to outperform in multiple segments, particularly Datacenter and Gaming," Barclays Capital analysts highlighted in a note previewing earnings. "We applaud the execution on growth vectors (autos, VR) and step to the sidelines to reassess opportunities later in the year." Nvidia has been at the forefront of this AI trend and the company's CES keynote highlighted just how important Nvidia is to the future of technology's next wave of computing. At CES in January, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang touched on a number of areas, including announcing GPUs-as-a-service and high-end gaming for any computer, including Apple (AAPL) Macs. He also unveiled a plethora of new partnerships, including ones with Audi Bosch on self driving cars and a new Nvidia Shield. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 83 cents a share on $2.01 billion in sales, according to analyst estimates compiled by Yahoo! Finance. Over the past 12 months, shares of Nvidia have soared nearly 370%, compared to the near 22% gain in the S&P 500. Here are three ETFs that may benefit if investors like Nvidia's fourth-quarter results. iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF The $10.8 billion iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has Nvidia make up 10.41% of its portfolio, charging investors an expense ratio of 0.47%. Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore had been expecting the strong cycle in gaming PCs to plateau, but recent data suggests it's only getting stronger, which bodes well for Nvidia. "We had modeled the gaming cycle to plateau this quarter, but with strong data points on specialty gaming hardware from Intel, AMD, and PC hardware vendors at CES, we assume that gaming is again slightly higher than seasonal," Moore wrote in a research note, previewing earnings. Moore has an equal weight rating and a $115 price target on Nvidia. Industrial Innovation ETF The $234.8 million Industrial Innovation ETF (ARKQ) has Nvidia make up 7.21% of its portfolio, charging investors an expense ratio of 0.75%. Jefferies analysts led by Mark Lipacis believe that Nvidia's heavy exposure to gaming, autonomous driving and deep learning are likely to give it advantages over the competition. VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF The $431.5 million VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has Nvidia make up 6.27% of its portfolio, charging investors an expense ratio of 0.35%. RBC Capital Markets Amit Daryanani noted that while the size of the AI market is up for debate, it's likely to be enormous, no matter what it ends up at. "We start with the AI opportunity growing at a ~12x rate over 3 years (per Intel's AI Day) and use 1) recently published white papers to calculate GPU workload growth; and 2) GPU performance improvement since 2008," Daryanani wrote in a research note ahead of earnings. "Our analysis suggests that total Data Center revenue growth could come in closer to 100% (Street at 40%) this year (91% unit growth, 5% ASP uplift)." RBC has an outperform rating on Nvidia and a $124 price target. Many investors haven't heard that China's central bank said Tuesday that its foreign-exchange reserves fell by $12.3 billion to $2.998 trillion last month. That puts China's reserves below the psychologically significant threshold of $3 trillion. In 2014, reserves stood at $4 trillion. It is yet another alarm bell that the world's second-largest economy is heading for trouble, a trend exacerbated by the growing threat of a trade war. President Donald Trump's China-bashing and "America First" protectionism is likely to bring the two countries to economic if not military conflict. One way way to profit from this unfolding dynamic is through the Global X China Financials Exchange-Traded Fund (CHIX) . As the Trump administration likes to lament, China retains a tight grasp on the value of its national currency, the renminbi. During China's rise as an economic superpower, the country restrained the value of the renminbi even as massive amounts of money flooded into the Middle Kingdom to buy inexpensive clothing, gadgets, televisions, toys and other consumer goods. China's central planners kept the country's currency artificially low by storing huge amounts of money denominated in other currencies. A devalued currency boosts the attractiveness of manufactured goods sold overseas by making them cheaper The problem is, concerns about China's indebted banking sector and slowing economy are compelling companies and families to ship their money out of the country for safety. They are either investing the cash or parking it. Foreign-exchange reserves are considered a vital financial cushion during crises, and China faces mounting trouble. This situation poses a rare opportunity to reap a quick profit. A time-proven method for making money is to capitalize on imbalances in the global financial system. Shorting Global X China Financials Exchange-Traded Fund could help investors make a killing from China's worsening financial instability. The most salient concern in China right now is the country's debt. In China's mercantile economy, state-run banks are the biggest lenders. China's economic policymakers racked up a colossal amount of debt through ill-conceived expenditures on infrastructure projects to kick-start growth. The result is excess capacity in flagging industries and an army of "zombie" enterprises that are kept alive through debt-financed subsidies. A day of reckoning is at hand. China's total debt is projected at about $28 trillion, a mind-boggling amount greater than that of Germany or the U.S. China's corporate debt accounts for about 160% of the country's gross domestic product, twice the U.S. level. As the economy sputters, this corporate debt is souring. The McKinsey Global Institute reported that the non-performing loan ratio of China's debt is on course to soar to 15% in 2019 from 1.7%, boosting the annual cost of servicing that debt. In this overvalued stock market, it is tough to find anything that isn't too expensive. Many analysts are calling for a correction this year, as overbought stocks finally catch up with their weak earnings prospects. But investors can exploit China's economic missteps by shorting the Global X China Financials ETF. With net assets of $27.66 million, this fund is a bellwether for China's financial sector. The ETF focuses most of its portfolio on financial services stocks such as Agricultural Bank of China,Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. These institutions will plunge if China's financial difficulties deteriorate this year, which Tuesday's foreign-reserves announcement seems to indicate. The ETF generated a total return of 18.81% in 2014, but total returns over the past two years are instructive. The fund declined 6.22% in 2015 and 4.83% last year. Expect that trend to continue this year. Get ahead of the curve before a full-blown China-U.S. trade war erupts and makes China's economic danger worse. --- Warren Buffett reaped $4.9 billion by making this one small change to his investment strategy. It's the closest you'll ever get to NEVER losing money while investing. I made $185 every day over 1,586 days doing this. Is it time for a change that will lead to more money in your pocket? Get the full details here. John Persinos is an investment analyst at Investing Daily. At the time of publication, he owned none of the stocks mentioned. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) is the latest cruise company to add more sailings to Cuba, and also the first to feature weekly trips to Havana through December. Two months ago, Norwegian received approval to operate five cruises to Cuba on its Oceania Marina and Seven Seas Mariner through May of this year, but as of yesterday, the company was authorized to add 25 more sailings on the Norwegian Sky, which will commence in June and run through December. "We have seen great demand from our guests for sailings to Cuba and we look forward to providing more opportunities for them to experience this incredibly culture-rich destination on a weekly basis," Norwegian CEO Andy Stuart said in a statement. The new four-day, round-trip cruises will sail from Miami every Monday starting in June and ending in December. The Norwegian Sky will dock overnight in Havana and make a stop in the Bahamas as well, according to the company. Norwegian will start taking bookings for the new trips on Feb. 21. Last week Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) boosted its Cuba itineraries for 2017 to 13 from four on its Empress of the Seas ship, sailing from Tampa and Miami. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean appear to be benefitting from a boost in travel. "Following the November U.S. presidential election, travel stocks (leisure and commercial) have rebounded sharply," MKM Partners analyst Christopher Agnew said in a research note Wednesday. Agnew said he anticipates that corporate travel will rebound in 2017, which should help all travel companies including cruise line operators, car rental companies and hotel corporations. Meanwhile, a recent January report by the Cruise Lines International Associations shows that Millennials, people born between 1981 and 1997, and the Generation X population, born between 1961 and 1981, favor cruise vacations over any other type of getaway. The report said that 39% of Millennials think ocean cruises are the best type of vacation while another 7% praised river cruises. And 44% of Gen Xers said ocean cruises top their vacation lists while an additional 8% favor river cruises. Wolfe Research analyst Jared Shojaian said in note sent to TheStreet that Norwegian's Cuban market is tiny in comparison to other areas -- like North America for example -- giving the company "a small benefit" from these extra sailings. He said he is still bullish on Norwegian stock but expects the new Cuba sailings to add only 20 basis points to the company's 2017 yield, which equates to about a four-cent rise in full-year earnings per share. Shares of Norwegian are slightly lower at $47.64 late this morning. ANGOLA The way Craig Everage sees it, hes not necessarily concerned about recovering the money that was stolen from his restaurant on Monday. What he wants more than anything is to get the person arrested and convicted of the crime so the perpetrator cant commit any more crimes in Angola. Angola is a good community in which to live and do business and it doesnt have room for brazen criminals, Everage said. The main thing we want is, its going to happen to someone else, said Everage, owner of We Hop, 309 N. Wayne St. If we dont get this stopped it is going to happen to someone else. At about 12:35 a.m. Monday, someone broke into the We Hop restaurant, using a pry bar to gain entry in a rear door. Before gaining entry, the individual had to access the roof to cut communications lines leading into the restaurant. They had to do a lot of work for a few hundred bucks, Everage said. Once inside, the person made his or her way to security cameras and cut their wires. They knew where the cameras were. Theyve been in the restaurant before, Everage said. He didnt think it was a former employee based on images captured in the surveillance video. The case has been turned over to Angola Police Department investigators. They have a couple leads, Everage said. A small amount of cash and one bottle of liquor was stolen. The restaurant office was ransacked. The loss is no where near the $1,000 reward Everage has offered to get an arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. Were doing all we can to get this stopped, Everage said. Everage expressed appreciation for the support he has received following the ordeal. People with information about the crime should call Angola Police at 665-2121. New York-based boutique investment bank Moelis has landed an advisory role on what is widely expected to be the largest initial public offering in history -- Saudi Arabian Oil Co. -- multiple news outlets have reported. Saudi Arabian Oil, better known as Saudi Aramco, has been considering a number of banks including Rothschild, Lazard and Moelis, founded by Ken Moelis during the 2007 financial crisis, among others, according to various reports. The company has reportedly asked top banks including Goldman, Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS) , as well as others like HSBC Holdings (HBC) , which has a competitive Middle East unit, to pitch for an advisory role on an IPO that would value the company at north of $2 trillion. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Michael Klein's consulting firm, M. Klein & Co., have already been selected to advise on the IPO, Bloomberg has reported. Saudi Aramco recently tapped HSBC Holdings plc's Middle East unit, along with regional banks Riyad Capital, NCB Capital and Alinma Investment, to assist with the sale of riyal-denominated Islamic bonds, or sukuk, ahead of the IPO, according to Bloomberg. But for Moelis, a bank that might not come to mind as an oil and natural gas transaction powerhouse, or an IPO adviser for that matter, the Saudi Aramco is a mandate of epic proportions. Last year, Moelis advised on less than $3 billion worth of announced energy transactions, none of which were in the oil and gas space, according to The Deal's database. In fact, the last time Moelis played an advisory role on a disclosed deal involving an oil and gas producer was in March of 2013 when the company was the buy-side adviser to Sanchez Energy's acquisition of Hess' (HES) Eagle Ford shale acreage in south Texas for $280 million, The Deal's database shows. However, landing a role on Saudi Aramco's IPO likely has more to do with Moelis' reputable leadership than it does with the bank's recent energy advisory roles. Just last fall, Ken Moelis was named No. 45 on Bloomberg's list of the most influential people in the financial markets. Moelis sees his bank's position as a smaller, more focused bank than his rivals as an advantage in playing the role of "trusted adviser," Bloomberg reported at the time. Notably, Bloomberg said then that Moelis was already on the short list of boutiques that might be tapped to help manage the mega-IPO of Saudi Aramco. Others who have been pegged for a potential role in the IPO, which is expected to ship off a 5% slice of the company worth more than $100 billion as an initial step in Deputy-crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's years-long plan to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy away from oil, include Mexico City-based international law firm White & Case. White & Case's Wendell Maddrey led the legal team advising Saudi Aramco on its $100 million acquisition of Novomer Inc.'s Converge polyol technology in November. And last March, Maddrey represented Saudi Aramco subsidiary Saudi Refining Inc. on the purchase of Motiva Enterprises LLC from Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) for an undisclosed sum. Clifford Chance'sMiddle East branch also has a strong relationship with Saudi Aramco, often advising the company's lenders, including one of the most recent transactions in which a group of 30 lenders put together a $10 billion revolving credit facility for the oil producer in April 2015. Meanwhile, a lead member of Prince Mohammed's economic team, Mohammed Al-Sheikh is a former lawyer at Latham & Watkins. A Moelis & Co. official declined to comment. Intel (INTC) CEO Brian Krzanich said the company will invest $7 billion in an Arizona chip factory, an effort that could create as many as 3,000 supply-side jobs in the U.S. The comments came during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House Wednesday afternoon. Construction of the Chandler, Ariz., factory, Fab 42, was begun previously but the plant has been left vacant, CNBC reported. Reports said Intel shelved development of the plant in 2014, some three years after announcing plans for Fab 42. Intel added the investments will take place over the next three to four years and could employ more than 10,000 people in the Arizona area supporting the factory. Trump called the investment a "great thing for Arizona," a press pool report said. When asked why the announcement was made at the White House, Krzanich said it was in response to the Trump administration's "advantageous" tax and regulatory policies. "It's really in support of the tax and regulatory policies that we see the administration pushing foward," Krzanich explained. The factory will produce 7-nanometer chips that "will be the most powerful computer chips on the planet," the company said in a statement. Krzanich is the latest tech executive to announce a job creation initiative in the wake of Trump's election. IBM (IBM) CEO Ginni Rometty announced in December that the company would hire 25,000 people in the U.S. and invest $1 billion over the next four years. Additionally, SoftBank Group (SFTBY) founder and CEO Masayoshi Son said that same month that he plans to invest $50 billion in U.S. businesses as part of an effort to create 50,000 jobs, although reports have questioned whether the investment would have happened even without Trump's involvement. Shares of Intel edged 0.2% higher to $36.42 on Wednesday afternoon. The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc.. Read More USANA Health Sciences, Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells science-based nutritional and personal care products. The company offers USANA nutritional products that comprise essentials/CellSentials, such as vitamin and mineral supplements that provide a foundation of total body nutrition for various age groups; optimizers comprising targeted supplements that are designed to meet cardiovascular, skeletal/structural, and digestive health needs; and foods that include meal replacement shakes, snack bars, and other related products. It also provides Celavive, a skin care regimen for various skin care types and ethnicities; and other products for prenatal, infant, and young child age groups. In addition, the company offers materials and online tools to assist associates in building their businesses, as well as in marketing products. It offers its products directly in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, as well as online. The company has a research collaboration agreement with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine for research in the field of traditional Chinese medicine; and National Sports Training Bureau. USANA Health Sciences, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Utilities segment operates approximately 61,000 kilometers (km) of operational electricity transmission and distribution lines; 5,300 km of electricity transmission lines; 4,200 km of natural gas pipelines; 7.3 million electricity and natural gas connections; and 360,000 long-term contracted sub-metering services. This segment also offers heating and cooling solutions; gas distribution; water heaters; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioner rental, as well as other home services. Its Transport segment offers transportation, storage, and handling services for merchandise goods, commodities, and passengers through a network of approximately 22,000 km of track; 5,500 km of track network; 4,800 km of rail; 3,800 km of motorways; and 13 port terminals. The company's Midstream segment offers natural gas transmission, gathering and processing, and storage services through approximately 15,000 km of natural gas transmission pipelines; 600 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage; 17 natural gas processing plants; and 3,900 km of gas gathering pipelines, as well as one petrochemical processing complex. Its Data segment operates approximately 148,000 operational telecom towers; 8,000 multi-purpose towers and active rooftop sites; 10,000 km of fiber backbone; 1,600 cell sites and approximately 12,000 km of fiber optic cable; and 2,100 active telecom towers and 70 distributed antenna systems, as well as 50 data centers and 200 megawatts of critical load capacity. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. is a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Alice in Dairyland is one of the most widely recognized communications professionals in Wisconsin agriculture. Her job is to educate Wisconsin children and adults about the value, economic impact and future of the states $88 billion agricultural industry. Those interested in applying for the job as Wisconsins 70th Alice in Dairyland have until Monday, Feb. 6, to submit application materials to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Alice in Dairyland works with television, radio and newspaper professionals to share information about Wisconsin agriculture. She gives public speeches, takes industry tours and makes many classroom presentations. She must be able to develop and execute marketing plans and develop professional relationships with industry professionals. She must be able to learn and retain information about the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture and be able to tailor that information delivery to diverse audiences. Applicants should have considerable knowledge or work experience with Wisconsin agriculture; at least three years of experience, education or training in communications, marketing or public relations; public speaking experience and a willingness to attend an extensive number of work-related events on evenings and weekends. Applicants must be female, Wisconsin residents and at least 21 years old. This one-year, full-time contractual position starts June 5, 2017. The position holder will be headquartered in Madison and travel extensively throughout the state. The annual salary for Alice in Dairyland is $45,000 and includes holiday, vacation and sick leave as well as use of a sponsor-provided vehicle for official business. Reimbursement is provided for an individual health insurance premium up to $450 a month, as well as professional travel expenses. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references and summary of qualifications to DATCP by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. Application materials are available at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/BecomingAlice.aspx. Qualified applicants will be invited to a preliminary interview in Madison in mid-February. Top candidates will be required to attend the two-day program briefing and press announcement March 16-17, and the three-day final interview process during which the new Alice will be selected May 11-13 in Brown County. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Alice in Dairyland Program Director, Ti Gauger at 608-224-5115 or Ti.Gauger@wisconsin.gov. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. It also offers ProxyEdge, an electronic proxy delivery and voting solution; data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information, as well as mutual fund trade processing services; data and analytics solutions; solutions for public corporations and mutual funds; SEC filing and capital markets transaction services; registrar, stock transfer, and record-keeping services; and omni-channel customer communications solutions, as well as operates Broadridge Communications Cloud platform that creates, delivers, and manages communications and customer engagement activities. The company's Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the front-to-back transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange-traded derivatives, order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting, and custody-related services. This segment also offers business process outsourcing services; technology solutions, such portfolio management, compliance, fee billing, and operational support solutions; and capital market and wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York. KAR Auction Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides used vehicle auctions and related vehicle remarketing services for the automotive industry in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. The company operates through two segments, ADESA Auctions and AFC. The ADESA Auctions segment offers whole car auctions and related services to the vehicle remarketing industry through online auctions and auction facilities. It also provides value-added services, such as auction related, transportation, reconditioning, inspection, title and repossession administration and remarketing, vehicle research, and analytical services, as well as data as a service. This segment sells its products and services through vehicle manufacturers, fleet companies, rental car companies, finance companies, and others. As of December 31, 2021, this segment had a network of approximately 70 vehicle logistics center locations in North America. The AFC segment offers floorplan financing, a short-term inventory-secured financing to independent used vehicle dealers; and sells vehicle service contracts. The company provides wheel repair and hail catastrophe response services. It serves vehicle manufacturers, vehicle rental companies, financial institutions, commercial fleets and fleet management companies, and dealer customers. The company was formerly known as KAR Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to KAR Auction Services, Inc. in November 2009. KAR Auction Services, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Canada is committed to supporting Ukraine and exploring the ways to enhance the effectiveness of its assistance. This was stated by Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "I can assure you that Canada is committed to supporting Ukraine," Sajjan said. According to him, Canada will soon demonstrate this commitment by its decision regarding the UNIFIER military training mission. "The decision will be made soon to demonstrate our commitment to Ukraine," the Minister said. He stressed the need to "constantly enhance our support, based on previous experience and increasing efficiency." "That is what we are doing now, studying the types of long-term aid we need to provide," Sajjan summed up. ol Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has stated that the pension system of Ukraine will undergo fundamental changes in 2017. The PM said this at a Cabinets meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "I believe that in 2017 we have all the grounds to say that the pension system will undergo changes," Groysman said. According to him, the reformed pension system will be "fair" and Ukrainian pensioners will feel an increase in pension payments. "This system needs to be changed radically," the Prime Minister added. ol This year marks the 25th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area. Habitat for Humanity will be celebrating this achievement throughout 2017. Celebrations and outreach will center on the anniversary tagline: Theres No Place Like Home. Celebrating the Past and Changing the Future. Habitat was officially accepted as an affiliate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1992 after concerned community members participated in a local Housing Now march and rally. The march was a show of solidarity for a national call to attention of housing needs in America. The group formed a Housing Now Coalition and eventually decided to establish a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. In 2006, Habitat for Humanity opened the ReStore. Open to the public, the ReStore is a retail outlet that provides discounted home and construction items. All profits from sales help area families in need. Since its initial start, Habitat has built 42 affordable homes for local families, helped hundreds of people with housing upkeep and repairs, diverted over 350 tons of materials from the local landfill, and received love and support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and community supporters. Looking back over this extraordinary journey, all of our amazing accomplishments over the past 25 years would not have been possible without the overwhelming support from all of our staff, board members, volunteers, donors, communities, sponsors, and partners, said Kahya Fox, executive director. Through our collective belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live, we will continue to work together towards this goal. The year of celebration will include a look back and review of past successes, fun facts about Habitat posted on its website and through social media, a celebration dinner in the fall, andecognition throughout the year for all of Habitats many supporters. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that partners with homeowners and the community to build simple, decent, and affordable housing. For more information, to become a volunteer, or to make a donation, visit www.habitatlacrosse.org or call 608-785-2373. In 2016, Ukraines exports to the European Union reached 37.3% of total exports. At the same time, only 9.8% of Ukraines products were exported to the Russian Federation. Chairman of the State Statistics Service Ihor Verner stated this at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Exports to the EU increased by 3.1% and reached 37.3%. In absolute terms, it totals $13.2 billion," said Verner. At the same time, exports to the Russian Federation decreased by 27.4% and totaled 9.8% in the general structure of exports. In general, the State Statistics Service noted a reduction in the rate of Ukrainian export decline. iy The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania on mutual abolition of visa requirements and the agreement with the Government of the United Arab Emirates on military and technical cooperation. The relevant decisions were adopted at a Cabinets meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The text of the agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania has not yet been published and its specific points are unknown. In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on military and technical cooperation. The decision was made during a Cabinets meeting. The text of the document has not been published yet. ol Poland and Germany agree that return to the policy of "business as usual" in relations with Russia is impossible until the conflict in the east of Ukraine is resolved and the international order is restored. Secretary of State in the Polish President's Office Krzysztof Szczerski said this after talks between Polish President Andrzej Duda and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Warsaw on Tuesday, PAP reports. "Both the President and the Chancellor have noted that it is impossible to agree on a long-term occupation of a sovereign state. It is impossible to agree on a transition to normal contacts "business as usual" [with Russia] after the situation that happened in Ukraine until the conflict is resolved and the international order in Ukraine is restored, which is based on the international law," he said. According to Szczerski, Duda and Merkel have expressed concern about recent developments in Ukraine and that the situation is getting worse. ish The Russian Federation holds captive at least ten Ukrainian prisoners, as well as more than 30 Crimean Tatars. First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Gerashchenko has stated this at a plenary meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Today the Russian Federation keeps at least ten political prisoners and separately more than 30 Crimean Tatars, who also became the Kremlin's prisoners, and whom Russia uses to blackmail Ukraine and the world", she said. According to Gerashchenko, there are 109 hostages on the occupied territories. "Putin has all of the keys [for their release]," the MP said. In her opinion, it is necessary to increase pressure on Russia in order to release Ukrainians. ish Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay a visit to Ukraine on February 9-10. Anadolu agency reports this referring to the statement made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. "Cavusoglu and his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin will consider all aspects of bilateral relations and discuss new opportunities for cooperation," reads a statement. According to the report, the two sides will also discuss important regional and international issues, particularly the situation of the Crimean Tatars, as well as recent developments in the eastern regions of Ukraine. The two-day visit of the Turkish foreign minister coincides with the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Ukraine. ish 02/08/2017 By Katharine Webster Last fall, Devon White 15 16 was living in the trendy Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville. She had just graduated with her masters in autism studies at UMass Lowell and had a job she loved, working with children on the autism spectrum. But she still felt restless. So when she ran across a LinkedIn job posting for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to help run a brand-new autism treatment center in Kuwait, she applied even though she was still waiting for the results of her BCBA exam. I always thought that if I could find a way to travel and help people, that would be my dream, she says. Now her dream has come true. In January she began work as the programs director and lead BCBA at Malak Special Needs Services, a startup that just opened its doors to a small number of children. Video by Alfonso Velasquez Devon White talks about her decision to go to Kuwait to help run the first affordable, comprehensive autism treatment center. The center in Kuwait City was founded by Hesham Alebrahim, who has a son with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). When their son was 3 years old, Alebrahim and his wife Sarah brought him to the New England Center for Children in Southborough for two weeks, looking for a cure, White says. They ended up staying two years. But when they returned to Kuwait, their son regressed. So Alebrahim decided to open a state-of-the-art treatment center in Kuwait City with BCBAs, speech therapists and occupational therapists under one roof. White says the Malak center is the first affordable, comprehensive treatment center in Kuwait. Now the center is a dream place. If you could choose one facility to work with kids, this would be it, White says. They have all the materials they need. They just need somebody to put everything into action. That would be White, who accepted the job as programs director after visiting Kuwait in early December. She arrived at night and checked into a lavish hotel suite filled with fruit baskets and welcome cards. But when the call to prayer woke her at 4 a.m. and she opened her curtains, she was confronted by a landscape of scattered skyscrapers and desert. Everything was brown and dust-colored, and I thought, Maybe this is a huge mistake! she admits. But six hours later, I was at the center, and I was so happy and energized by all the people who wanted to learn and wanted to work, and by the amount of need. And it felt like a little family. Photo by Courtesy photo Photo by Courtesy photo Devon White with Hesham Alebrahim and the staff of Malak Special Needs Services in Kuwait City. White spent six days training the centers first therapists and helping Alebrahim refine his contract with clients. She learned that Alebrahim planned to make the center affordable for more families by charging a fixed, monthly fee for all services. Affordability is important to White: Her brother is on the autism spectrum and he got the best services her parents and the Andover schools could provide, but she knows many families arent so fortunate. Theres a huge discrepancy in money and resources, and thats even more true in a country like Kuwait where health insurance doesnt cover autism treatment, she says. White says she never would have had the confidence to take the job in Kuwait without the research experience and rigorous training she got here, including studying 3-year-olds with Assoc. Prof. Richard Serna. The study took place at a Head Start program in Lowell, where many of their research subjects were non-native English speakers and immigrants. When youre in this inner-city environment or in a different country, there are so many cultural sensitivities you need to attend to, she says. It matters because you need to make relationships with parents and families, too, for this work to be meaningful. White also did research as an undergraduate and graduate student with Assoc. Profs. Doreen Arcus and Ashleigh Hillier. With Arcus, she designed an ongoing study, based on her own family experience, to determine whether children with ASD develop better social skills if they have a neurotypical sibling. With Hillier, she published a paper on college students attitudes toward fellow students with ASD. She hopes eventually to do original research in Kuwait. Im so lucky to have so many amazing mentors, she says. In terms of my confidence and knowing my own competency, the research experiences were huge. And I would never be able to make this move across the world if I werent a confident researcher and clinician now. On Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily halting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, suspending the refugee program and permanently imposing a religious test for refugees going forward. Jen Smyers of Church World Service spoke for many people of faith working on behalf of refugees when she called Jan. 27 a shameful day in the history of the United States. Numerous national security experts and diplomats including more than 1,000 State Department officials have also spoken out, warning that the order is wrongheaded and dangerous. The optics of an American policy that appears to target Muslims seriously tarnishes the reputation of the U.S. in Muslim-majority countries and throughout the world. The initial chaos and confusion surrounding the rollout is a harbinger of the damage to come from alienating Muslims worldwide, empowering radicals, and abandoning refugees to suffer in camps. Far from making us safer, the executive order is widely viewed as a direct threat to our national security and an assault on American values. Of all the controversial provisions of the order, none is more problematic and damaging than the religious test that gives priority to refugees fleeing religious persecution if, and only if, they are a religious minority in their country of origin. The intent is clear: Open the door to Christians from Muslim-majority countries while doing everything possible to keep Muslims out. Although the order does not explicitly mention Muslims and administration officials insist it is not a Muslim ban we know the motive behind the order from Trumps own campaign promise to mandate the complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Facing fierce backlash last summer, Trump retooled the Muslim ban to make it more palatable, but he did not retreat from his intention to keep Muslims out. Asked by NBC News in July if he was backing away from his Muslim ban, Trump answered: I dont actually think its a rollback. In fact, you could say its an expansion... People were so upset when I used the word Muslim. Oh, you cant use the word Muslim. Remember this. And Im OK with that, because Im talking territory instead of Muslim. Now, six months later, Trumps Muslim ban under another guise is the official policy of the United States government. From a human rights perspective, the most disturbing parts of the executive order bar refugees for four months, cut the number allowed in by 60,000, impose a religious test, and freeze indefinitely the refugee resettlement of Syrians. Taken together, these policies add up to an inhumane, immoral and woefully inadequate response to the greatest humanitarian crisis since World War II. Contradictions and ironies abound. Trump recently told Christian Broadcast News that he wanted to help Syrian Christians, whom he claimed (without citing evidence) were deliberately kept out while Syrian Muslim refugees were let in under the last administration. But his executive order bars all refugees from Syria indefinitely meaning that Christians facing genocide in Syria will have no haven in America. Last year the U.S. accepted a small number of Syrians (10,000 as of August 2016) out of the nearly 5 million Syrian refugees. After Trumps order, the number will be zero. Once the four-month ban on refugees from other countries is lifted, the number of projected refugees will be cut almost in half and those seeking entry will face a religious test. Beyond humanitarian concerns, I am convinced that Trumps order is also unconstitutional. The Establishment clause of the First Amendment prohibits government from targeting Muslims for exclusion and favoring Christians for admission; in short, prioritizing some religious groups over others. Lawsuits have already been filed challenging Trump on First Amendment and other constitutional grounds. If strengthening national security is the goal, keeping out refugees Muslim or otherwise is not the solution. Refugees are currently vetted for more than two years before being allowed entry, and no person accepted into the U.S. as a refugee has been implicated in a fatal terrorist attack since systematic procedures were established for accepting refugees in 1980, according to an analysis of terrorism immigration risks by the Cato Institute. Orwellian doublespeak cannot obscure the hostility toward Muslims and Islam that animates President Trumps executive order on immigration. A Muslim ban is a Muslim ban by any other name. On the day we remember the Nazi genocide of the Jews, the United States closed the door to those fleeing genocide today. A shameful day indeed. In a recent interview, I was asked to reflect on what it looks like for rural voices to be heard, which has been a big talking point during this last election cycle. I referenced an op-ed from a friend of mine, former Congressman Dick Swett of New Hampshire. He stated, dont insist that everybody worship at the altar of global warming, just talk to them about common sense approaches to conservation. We dont need to sing out of the same songbook to be singing in harmony. Dicks advice could apply to a lot of issues where emotions often get in the way of solutions. Naturally, I dont think were going to agree 100 percent on many things, but I do think we agree a lot more than were letting ourselves think. One of these issues is that of equity; rural folks strive for equity with urban dwellers, just like within both urban and rural communities we seek equity between genders, races, generations, and more. As Minnesotans, we have typically done a good job of agreeing that our state does better when everyone succeeds. This includes all kids getting a good education, businesses of all sizes being able to succeed, and all residents no matter their skin color or religious background having access to economic opportunity. Statistics, however, continue to show that we have work to do. For example, we know that 14 percent of Minnesota kids ages 0-4 live in poverty (39 percent for black children and youth, 26 percent for Hispanic children and youth, and 25 percent for Native Americans) and that 8 of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundations 20 counties are in the highest range of income inequality in the state. When SMIF surveyed minority business owners in our 20-county region, we found that the main barrier to success was access to capital. Yet, studies continue to show women and people of color, especially new immigrants, are driving entrepreneurship. Economic inequalities and educational achievement gaps are not solely issues affecting the urban core. Earlier this month, Minnesota Public Radio host Tom Weber interviewed Dane Smith, president of Growth and Justice (which is a think-tank that advocates for equity through policy) as well as Granite Falls Mayor Dave Smiglewski. They pointed out that there are areas of great inequality in parts of Greater Minnesota. They mentioned issues ranging from access to high-speed internet and good infrastructure to racial disparities. Today, Greater Minnesota is more racially diverse than most people realize. I share the view put forward by Dane Smith that community leaders are addressing this and embracing this issue, because I see evidence of it every day. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is another institution undertaking a study on equity, and lack thereof, as a cause for economic concern. In that same vein, here at SMIF, we have launched The Prosperity Initiative to give minority-owned businesses one-on-one technical assistance. We received an Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program allocation from DEED to supplement our business lending to groups that have trouble accessing traditional bank financing. SMIFs Early Childhood team and partners are driving the conversation around affordable, quality child care in rural communities. All of our resources help rural populations trying to make a difference in their community. As Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, noted when announcing their new Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute: A lack of economic opportunity does not know racial or ethnic or even geographic boundaries. There are people in all communities who are struggling to get a fair chance at a good education and a good job. Investing in people of color, new Americans, women, veterans, people with disabilities, low-income people, young leaders and other historically under-resourced groups across all Minnesota communities is a win-win proposition. It can lead to increased economic opportunities for all Minnesotans. By creating welcoming communities that people want to move to and start businesses, raise families and volunteer their time, we create a state that is vibrant and strong. My colleague Diana Anderson, president of SMIFs sister foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, has the following African proverb on her office wall: If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. As we go forward, who can we bring along? Love chocolate? Erica Skolnik of Frenchies bakery teaches a class on baking chocolate desserts at the Hill Center on Feb. 13. (Kate Patterson/For The Washington Post) SUNDAY CULINARY HISTORIANS OF WASHINGTON MEETING: Philip Greene, author of To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion," discusses the history of the Manhattan cocktail. 2-4 p.m. Free. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. 202-487-6740. chowdc.org. MONDAY COOKING CLASS: Erica Skolnik of Frenchie's teaches chocolate desserts for Valentine's Day. 7-9 p.m. $59. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org. FRIDAY ALEXANDRIA WINTER RESTAURANT WEEK 2017: Participating restaurants offer lunch or dinner specials. Restaurants include Bastille, Brabo and others. $35 dinner specials; $10-$20 lunch specials. Alexandria. visitalexandriava.com/restaurants/restaurant-week. RESERVE NOW FEB. 22 TURN UP THE HEAT: Fundraiser featuring wine and food tastings. Proceeds benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance. 6:15 p.m. $175-$325. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-312-1399. ocrfa.org. Debora Abera (St. Augustine Catholic School) Shishir Sriramoju (Family photo) More than 100 middle school and high school students received honors Tuesday from the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Debora Abera, a sixth-grader at St. Augustine Catholic School in Washington, was chosen for her efforts reading to younger students and volunteering in the school library. Shishir Sriramoju, an eighth-grader at Stone Hill Middle School in Ashburn, Virginia, started a summer chess club for elementary school students and used the money he raised from the club to aid childrens charities. Michaela West (Jenny Rella) Michaela West, a fifth-grader at St. Josephs Regional Catholic School in Beltsville, Maryland, started the Bundles of Love club, which gathers basic supplies and delivers them to homeless people in Baltimore and Washington. The three D.C.-area students, along with 99 other middle school and high school state winners, receive $1,000 and a trip to Washington in May for the national awards ceremony. At that time, 10 will be chosen as the nations top youth volunteers. A list of all winners and information about their volunteer activities can be found at spirit.prudential.com/honorees.state. Joe Maldonado, the first openly transgender member of the Boy Scouts of America, shows off his new Cub Scout uniform. The organization recently changed its policy to allow transgender children to join. (Amy Newman/The Record via AP) A week after the Boy Scouts of America changed its policy to allow transgender children to join, a New Jersey boy has become the first openly transgender member of the organization. I am accepted, Joe Maldonado said Tuesday night as he put on a Cub Scout uniform. Joe was identified as a girl at birth but now lives as a boy. The Bergen Record reported that the 9-year-old joined Pack 20 in Maplewood after the organizations decision to allow transgender Scouts. This is fun; Im so proud, he said during the meeting. Scout leader Kyle Hackler taught Joe the Cub Scout salute and oath. This means youre the same as Scouts all over the world, Hackler told him. The Scouts mother, Kristie, said she was proud of the fight she had put up after the Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts last year told her Joe would not be allowed to continue to be a member of Pack 87 in Secaucus. The Boy Scouts changed their policy of using the gender listed on a childs birth certificate to determine eligibility after Joes story gained national attention. The national organization released a statement welcoming the Maldonado family. Moving forward, the BSA will continue to work to bring the benefits of our programs to as many children, families and communities as possible, the statement said. Maldonado told the newspaper she had decided to bring her son to Maplewood because she did not want to go back to Secaucus, where she said Scouting officials told her some parents had complained last year. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks to members of the media in one of several interviews she gave the day after she was silenced in the Senate. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg) A full night had passed since the United States Senate voted to make Elizabeth Warren stop talking, so she got up on Wednesday morning, put on a magenta suit and her trademark rimless eyeglasses, and immediately commenced being the noisiest silent woman of the 24-hour news cycle. I thought I was just going to debate Jeff Sessions as the attorney general of the United States, the Democratic senator from Massachusetts said to some colleagues at a videoed breakfast-time meeting she posted to Twitter, appearing elaborately flabbergasted. Only to discover that reading a truthful statement from an eyewitness to history, about the man who has been named attorney general to the United States, was out of order! She jabbed the air with her index finger, while Cory Booker (D-N.J.) leaned back in his chair, and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took a sip of coffee. We will not be silenced! Warren enjoined them. We will not be silenced! In a post-Deplorables era, where the best response to an enemy insult is to embrace it, Wednesday saw Warren ready to relieve Hillary Clinton of all her official Nasty Woman duties. An intended humiliation instead turned into a battle cry; an intended silencing instead handed Warren a megaphone and an army. Wednesday was Warrenday. (Facebook/Sen. Elizabeth Warren) The evening prior, because of an obscure century-old Senate rule designed to prevent literal fistfights on the floor, Warren had been rebuked by her Senate colleagues for reading out loud a letter by civil rights icon Coretta Scott King. The letter spoke negatively of Sen. Sessions; after being told to stop reading it, Warren continued. She was warned, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), explaining why he thought Warren should be forced to stop talking, and to sit out all remaining Sessions-related debate. Nevertheless, she persisted. McConnell ostensibly did not realize Nevertheless, she persisted would sound like a rusty nail on a dusty chalkboard to any woman whod ever been told she talked too loud or nagged too much but it did. #NeverthelessShePersisted spread and memed on social media all through Wednesday. T-shirts were sold. Tattoos were designed. Warren, meanwhile, went on Good Morning America. We had a chance to hear Coretta Scott Kings voice, specifically, about the nominee who stands before us, she told the interviewer, against the backdrop of the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda. You know what I think Republicans object to? The facts. She scooted a few feet around the Rotundas balcony and went on CNN. McConnell said, This is out of line, and he shut me up, she told the interviewer. The screen switched to CNN anchor Dana Bash, who had a breaking-news question of her own: In Warrens absence, her Democratic colleagues had been taking to the Senate floor to read Coretta Scott Kings letter themselves, Bash relayed, and Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) had just tweeted something: When I read the same letter as @SenWarren, no one prevented me from speaking. Sen. McConnell owes Sen. Warren an apology. #LetLizSpeak. What did Warren think the Republicans were up? I have no idea what the Republicans are up to! Warren replied. You should ask them that! (Though McConnell is active on Twitter, he did not address the online backlash to Warrens rebuke. Nevertheless, it persisted.) Walk us through what this was like, asked an MSNBC reporter at Warrens next stop in the Rotunda. I just went on the floor to do what I was supposed to do, Warren said, arguing that it was her duty to fully examine Sessions as a nominee. Some say it was sexist to silence you on the floor. Youd have to ask Mitch McConnell, Warren replied, somewhat coyly. Hes the one who shut me down. Do you think it was sexist? the MSNBC reporter asked. I think it was wrong, she replied. (A new banner appeared at the bottom of the screen: I think it was wrong.) Meanwhile, the Coretta Scott King letter the original subject of consternation was reprinted in full on news sites around the world. On Facebook, activist groups organized plans to show up at McConnells house and read him the letter from the street, and it all kept persisting, all over the place. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who opposes the Districts new assisted-suicide law, says he will move forward in committee on overturning the measure, setting up what could be a rare House floor vote to nullify a local District law. Chaffetzs announcement came Tuesday after he met with President Trump. But the lawmaker said the topic did not come up during the Oval Office visit. The decision by the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee disappointed the laws advocates and D.C. leaders who consider Chaffetzs plan an affront to home rule. Congress in 1973 granted the District the right to elect a mayor and a legislative body to enact local laws, but retained the right to veto the citys legislation and spending decisions. [D.C. becomes seventh jurisdiction to allow terminally ill to end their lives] (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) I didnt ask for this bill. D.C. presented it to the Congress, so we have the option to deal with it, and in this particular case I am going to exercise that and put it up for a vote, Chaffetz said, adding that he opposes the law. I think Congress should vote on it. More people live in the nations capital than in Vermont or Wyoming, and they pay more in federal taxes than their counterparts in 22 states. But the federal district has no voting member of Congress. In recent weeks, Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill have introduced legislation to roll back the citys gun laws and prevent it from using local tax dollars to subsidize abortion services for poor women. One lawmaker has threatened legislation that would end the citys legalization of marijuana. On Wednesday, DCVote, which urges voting rights for the District in Congress, sent a letter to the House of Representatives, calling on lawmakers to respect the will of the citys 670,000 residents. It was signed by 27 local and national organizations, including labor unions, abortion rights groups, LGBT advocates and gun-control groups. These federal congressional actions would unjustly undermine important local decisions made by the people of the District of Columbia through their elected leaders, the letter said. As is the case with residents of your congressional districts and home states, the Districts residents should have the ability to enact local laws to address pressing local concerns. We urge you to respect local autonomy by opposing these efforts to thwart the will of the District of Columbias residents. Under the D.C. law, which was passed by the D.C. Council in November, the nations capital would become the seventh jurisdiction to provide a way for terminally ill patients to end their lives. The legislation was modeled after the nations first physician- assisted-suicide law, enacted in Oregon. It would allow doctors to prescribe fatal medication to patients believed to have less than six months to live. Patients would have to make two requests over two weeks and ingest the drugs themselves. The D.C. Council passed the measure in November. Assisted suicide is legal in California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state. Both the House and Senate would have to agree to overturn the D.C. law by Feb. 18 to prevent it from taking effect, according to lawyers for the D.C. Council. Republicans in the Senate have in recent years been reluctant to get bogged down in debate over D.C. laws. Mike DeBonis contributed to this report. Betsy DeVos waits to be sworn in as U.S. Education Secretary at the White House on Feb. 7. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday delivered her first public message since her rocky confirmation hearing, promising her new staff that she is committed to working with it to protect, strengthen and create new world-class education opportunities for Americas students. DeVos pledged in a nine-minute speech to challenge the Education Department to examine its policies and practices and to listen to her new colleagues. Let us set aside any preconceived notions and lets recognize that while we may have disagreements, we can and must come together, find common ground and put the needs of our students first. DeVos addressed more than 200 employees at the headquarters in Washington, with others tuning in online for what was billed as an all-hands meeting. She enters office as a polarizing figure, with supporters calling her a change agent and critics charging that she is unqualified and would undermine public schools. She was confirmed Tuesday by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Pence casting a tiebreaking vote after senators deadlocked on her fitness for the job. She became fodder for late-night comics including on Saturday Night Live after suggesting that she opposed a ban on guns in schools because of potential grizzlies. On Wednesday, she joked about the confirmation battle, saying it had been a bit of a bear. (The Washington Post) [With historic tiebreaker from Pence, DeVos confirmed as education secretary] In all seriousness, she continued, for many, the events of the last few weeks have likely raised more questions and spawned more confusion than they have brought light and clarity. So, for starters, please know, Im a door open type of person who listens more than speaks. She also gently urged employees to keep an open mind about her. All of us here can help bring unity by personally committing to being more open to, and patient toward, views different than our own, she said. DeVoss confirmation hearing raised questions about her commitment to enforce civil rights and disabilities laws meant to ensure that the nations children have access to public education. On Wednesday, she won applause from employees when she acknowledged the departments unique role in protecting students. We believe students deserve learning environments that foster innovation and curiosity, and are also free from harm, she said. Im committed to working with you to make this the case. So far there have been no major policy changes at the department. But many staffers are unsure what to expect, given that DeVos in the past said bluntly that government really sucks; that as a candidate, President Trump suggested dismantling their agency; and that this week, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a one-sentence bill to abolish the department as of Dec. 31, 2018. [The popular uprising that threatened DeVoss confirmation] Phil Rosenfelt, a longtime career employee who served as acting secretary until DeVos was sworn in Tuesday, spoke before DeVos. He compared the transition process to a wedding, merging two families into one. We are one team, he said. But Rosenfelt also delivered something of a pep talk. Education may not be specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, he said, but its at the heart of the opportunity that the Constitution provides for our nation. He said the agencys basic mission to press for equity and opportunity for all students is unchanged. And he praised the work of its employees, calling them nimble, innovative, thoughtful, creative and open to new ideas. I wake up every day excited to come to work with all of you, and I always knew that the Education Department was the best place to work, he said to applause. DeVos said the departments mission to serve the next generation is noble and consequential. My challenge to you is simple: Think big, be bold and act to serve students, she said. And I will promise you this: Together, we will find new ways in which we can positively transform education. Her opponents, including Democrats, teachers unions and civil rights activists, have promised to keep close watch. Outside the headquarters Tuesday afternoon, nearly two dozen protesters chanted, Welcome to your first day, we will not go away! They were organized by an arm of the left-leaning Center for American Progress. After the recent tragedy at the Black River Falls Police Department, it seems there is now a cause for celebration within the department. Summit Nutritionals, a New Jersey based company, has stepped up to help donate a new canine officer to the Black River Falls police department. The company will partner with Jessifanny Canine Services, LLC, which operates out of Iron Ridge, Wis, who will provide the new dog and training. Jessifanny had an established relationship with Summit Nutritionals and so they reached out to the founder, Dr. DePaco, after hearing about the loss of Kilo, the departments former canine officer. I heard about the disaster in Black River Falls by other police officers so I reached out to the Chief, said Jessie Smith of Jessifanny Canine Services. Once I got the story, I called my point of contact at Summit and asked if we could help. Summit Nutritionals agreed to help out the BRF PD and donated a new dog and training to the department as part of their continuing tradition of helping around 30 police departments across the country in similar situations. In a letter to the company, Chief Eisenhauer expressed how much help a canine officer would be and the services it could provide in helping make the community a safe place to live. We have implemented several strategies to combat [drug trafficking and sales] and they have worked, the Chief said in a statement. Having a canine unit will take us a step further in keeping Black River Falls a healthy, safe place to live and visit. Moving forward, Jessifanny Canine Services will help choose a dog with the department and then provide a four-week training course for both the handler and dog to get them properly certified. As of now, a dog has not been selected. The BRF PD is excited to have a new dog in the works and is grateful for the support of not only Summit Nutritionals and Jessifanny Canine Services, but of the community as well. (Whitney Shefte/The Washington Post) Claudette Monroy slipped into a window seat on a crowded bus. Her long curls fell forward as she looked down at her lap, checking her homework before she arrived at George Washington University, where she is a graduate student. When she first started at the school just blocks from the White House, she struggled with how best to describe herself to classmates. Im an international student, she tried. But it didnt fit, so she started introducing herself as an immigrant student. That, too, wasnt right. She finally settled on, Hi. Im Claudette. Im an undocumented student from Mexico. As the bus turned at 16th and K streets in Northwest Washington, Monroy pulled the cord. She got out and walked the rest of the way, past a one-man protest where a sign read I Love Diversity. Past a statue of President Andrew Jackson perched on a horse in Lafayette Square. Past a chain-link fence in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., which is now occupied by a president who was elected on a promise to deport people much like her. There are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country and while many are watching from a as their fates are decided in the nations capital, there are others who share streets, sidewalks and Metro trains with the very people making those decisions. They are taxi drivers who find politicians in their back seats. They are child-care workers who get calls from Justice Department employees who are running late. They are scholars who find themselves standing in the shadow of the White House, where a pen stroke could undo all they have been working toward. Its so crazy the person who lives there has so much power to impact everyones lives, Monroy said. During his campaign, Donald Trump vowed to build a wall at the Mexican border, step up deportations of those already in the country, and turn away refugees and immigrants from Muslim countries. Its our right as a sovereign nation to choose immigrants that we think are the likeliest to thrive and flourish and love us, Trump said in a major immigration address last summer. Since taking office, he has already started making good on those promises. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) Among those in Washington who could be affected and who spoke to The Post despite fears of repercussions are a chef who worked his way up from a dishwasher, a transgender woman who fears death if she is deported, a laborer who spends his days off at the library, a father of two American-born children and Monroy, who works at a nonprofit organization that helps immigrants and women and who knows whats at stake beyond her own life. They know they entered the country illegally. But they say they had no choice. Enrique, the chef who came from Honduras as a teenager, said he wishes he could have immigrated with a visa. But the violence and poverty that spurred him to walk alone through three countries is still a fear. I know how I came [to the United States] was very wrong, he said. But if I had stayed in my country, Id be dead at this time. [I dont feel safe: Undocumented immigrants fear a Trump presidency] Before Trumps inauguration, whenever Monroy passed the White House, she would take a picture and post it on Snapchat or Instagram. Many were accompanied by praise for President Obama, who created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to offer temporary protection to her and more than 700,000 dreamers who were brought to the United States as children. The programs future is uncertain, and so are their fates. That day in January when Monroy walked to class, she posted a new photo of the White House. It featured an emoji of a brown fist and one word: Resist. Made by immigrants The executive chef at a restaurant in Alexandria, Va., is undocumented and has worked his way up from dishwasher to running the kitchen. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post) As he does seven mornings a week, Enrique cruised around the Washington Beltway, the U.S. Capitol gleaming on his right. He knows the laws made there could devastate his family. He also knows the people who work there, including members of Congress, eat his food. Enrique, who spoke on condition that he be identified by his first name only, crossed into the United States in 2001 and started washing dishes in Washington 10 years ago. Now 36, he is the head chef at a popular restaurant in Northern Virginia. They must see that we do something good for this country too, right? he asked of the people beneath the Capitol dome. This is a country made by immigrants, right? Enriques rise has been fueled by faith in hard work. He juggles two full-time jobs. In his living room is a ring binder stuffed with the paperwork of legitimacy: tax returns, English certificates, a culinary diploma, his GED. A typical 12-hour day began with dropping his son off at day care and driving to Virginia, where his wife has been working since 7 a.m. on their side business hawking health products. Enrique headed out on the sidewalks to recruit customers. Mira, amigo, can I give you some information? asked the man who, as a boy, would grab a bunch of bananas from his mothers shop in Honduras and sell them one by one on the street. After three hours, he gave his wife eight phone numbers for follow-up. By 2 p.m., he had changed into a chefs jacket and was deep into pre-dinner prep with four assistants. He grabbed a jumbo tomato. His knife, a woodpecker blur, turned it into a pile of perfect slices in seconds. Hes an asset to any business, said his boss, a naturalized U.S. citizen who is aware of Enriques undocumented status. When you find somebody willing to work hard and who wants to be here, youre lucky. Enrique said the anti-immigrant climate of the country weighs on him. He pays attention to every rumor of shift in policy. He drives cautiously. He and his wife have made plans for their son if something happens to them. I cant stand to think about being separated from my son, said Enrique, his face flushed from the heat. Now sometimes my mind is crazy with What if? What if? What if? He picked up his knife and turned back to work. I am entitled to be here Catalina Velasquez was the first transgender undocumented immigrant to graduate from Georgetown University. During her first semester, her family was deported to Colombia, and she has not seen them since. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) A man came to Catalina Velasquezs apartment building in downtown Washington recently, angrily yelling for her. She did not know him. She does not know how he found out where she lived. But she knows why he was there. It is the same reason she is being cyberbullied, she said. Not only is she a transgender woman, she is also an undocumented immigrant and has been a vocal critic of Trumps leadership. That combination, she said, makes people angry. I am entitled to be here, unapologetically so, said Velasquez, who runs her own political, media and diversity consulting firm and spoke at the White House during Obamas presidency. And I love this country, although she does not harbor any illusions about its history of hostility to minorities and women. This is not the first time we have had a bigot in office, she said. I think we will survive it. But like before, it will come at the expense of many lives, and it will be lives like mine. [She fought to keep immigrants from being deported. Now she faces the same fate. ] Velasquez, who graduated from Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service and speaks three languages, is protected under DACA. But if Trump abolishes the program, she fears that as a transgender woman, deportation will mean a death sentence for her. She was 14 when her parents took her out of private school in her native Colombia and moved the family to the United States, where they applied for asylum and were denied. She was in her first semester at Georgetown when her mother called to tell her immigration agents were at the familys home and she needed her daughter to write down their bank account numbers. Her mother, father and sister were detained and deported without her ever seeing them. She was 21 then. I have not been able to hug my mother since then, Velasquez, now 29, said. Every year is one more Christmas, one more Thanksgiving, one more birthday that I dont get to see them. Sometimes its debilitating. Sometimes it gives me the strength to say that this shouldnt happen to another family. The man who tried to find her that day never made it to her apartment. If he had, he would have seen plenty of signs that she will not easily be silenced. On her walls, posters speak to her activism and hopes. On one hangs a large framed image of a peace sign with the word Imagine. On another, a butterfly hovers under the words, No Papers. No Fear!!! Trump is coming for me Solomon, an undocumented Ethiopian who did not want his last name used or his face shown, does laundry while waiting for construction work. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post) On Inauguration Day, Solomon, 50, headed to the Mall. But when the African immigrant got to a security checkpoint, he turned back. For 15 years, the police never even asked me for a piece of paper, said Solomon, who asked to use his first name only. But now, I dont know. Maybe Trump is coming for me. He came to Washington from Ethiopia in 2002 and has lived in the netherworld of the undocumented ever since. He spent several years as a building maintenance worker, but more often has stood outside the Home Depot on Rhode Island Avenue NE to get day jobs painting or in construction. It is hard to get work without a passport or drivers license, he said, but at least he has gotten by without hassle. On the days he does not work, Solomon often heads to a D.C. public library less than two miles from the White House to read international news at a computer terminal. Last week, he walked out after finishing, hiking up the collar of his leather coat against the February cold. He pulled out his phone and called up a Voice of America channel with news in Amharic. More killing, always killing there, he said, shaking his head. My friends there tell me, Dont think about coming back here. His family, of Eritrean descent, was kicked out of Ethiopia in the 1990s, he said. Even though they were all born in Ethiopia, government agents took their shop in Addis Ababa without compensation, he said, and forced them into Eritrea. His uncle died in the desert during the move. He was eaten by hyenas, Solomon said. Solomon made his way to Mexico, snuck across the border into California and immediately applied for political asylum. He was denied, but his lawyer failed to tell him that he had 30 days to appeal. When he did not, his file was closed. Now, more than a decade later, he is trying again, paying an immigration lawyer $2,000 in advance to reopen his case. Maybe that will shield him. Now, I have nothing, he said. Trump can do whatever he wants to be. Back into the shadows The 31-year-old custodian never thought he would hear his mother and wife, an immigrant from El Salvador, make the suggestion they did recently: Maybe the family should move to Mexico. No, he told them. I know more about the U.S. than Mexico. I dont think there is a place for me in Mexico. He said he has had the same conversation with other relatives and that he has tried to encourage all of them to stay, even those with less protection than him. The custodian, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was 13 when his family, with the help of paid coyotes, brought him from Mexico to Washington. He went to middle school and high school in the city. His first full-time job cleaning office buildings, at the age of 17, was just a few blocks away from the White House. This is their home, he told his mother and wife. This is his childrens home. He has a 3-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son who were born in the United States. On a recent afternoon, he picked them up from school and, as they sat nearby drawing, he bragged about them. The boy was awarded a scholarship for a private school and just received an award for being the best math student in class. I want them to become something I didnt, he said. I want them to have a career. I want them to have a degree. If that means I have to stay here and face all this racism, I have to. At the building where he works, an equidistant walk between the Capitol and the White House, he sees Trump hats on shelves. He said he questions how people can leave them there, knowing immigrants clean their offices every day. Under Obama, the custodian qualified for DACA protection, but his permit expires this year. While he has applied for renewal, nothing has yet arrived in the mail. Im really afraid, he said. If I lose DACA, its going to be a mess for me. Im going to lose my job. How am I going to raise my kids? When I got DACA, I felt I was coming out of the shadows. Now I feel were going back into the shadows. Go down with a fight Claudette Monroy on her way to class at George Washington University, where she is a graduate student in international education. She has lived half her life in the United States. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) In March, Claudette Monroy will have spent exactly half of her life in Mexico and half in the United States. At 30, she can now express her feelings better in English, but responds more strongly when people curse in Spanish. She was 10 when her father died and 12 when her mother told her she could no longer pay for her school and needed her to stay home with her younger sister. At 15, using a visitor's visa, she came to live with her older sister in Virginia. The plan was I was going to finish my freshman year, and I was going to go back to Mexico, she said. Then life happened. I was doing well in school. Monroy is now working toward a masters degree in international education. She is also the director of education at the Family Place, a service organization that offers literacy classes for adult immigrants, many of whom have no more than a third-grade education. She credits DACA with giving her that freedom to thrive and help others. A lot of fear I had before was taken away, she said. She hopes Trump will continue to honor the policy, but said if he revokes it, she is less worried about herself than others. Every day she sees women who come from places where gangs have taken their homes and tried to recruit their children. Women who fear not just instability, but losing loved ones, if they are forced to leave the United States. It is why in recent weeks she has attended protests at the White House and in front of the Trump hotel, adding her slight frame to the swelling crowds. Ive told my friends if I have to go down with a fight, it will be a glamorous fight, she said. When she left work one day, closing a lime-green door behind her, she passed a sign in the yard. On the front, visible from the street, it announced the name of the organization. On the back, it held a message that made her smile and that she sees as an important reminder amid so much uncertainty: Si, se puede. Yes, we can. Claudette Monroy, director of education at the Family Place in the District, leaves work and passes a sign that says Yes, we can in Spanish. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) Emily Wax contributed to this report. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers in Maryland are mounting an effort to prevent the State Board of Education from privatizing low-performing public schools. Late last year, the board started to discuss ways to help low-performing schools. Among its solutions: expanding charters and the use of vouchers. Many lawmakers stood united Tuesday to announce a plan for legislation that would push back against efforts by Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and the State Board of Education to increase the number of charter schools in Maryland and the number of students who attend private schools on vouchers. They were joined by members of the states teachers union. Under the bill, the state would tie the hands of the State Board of Education by not giving it a say in a local districts improvement plans for low-performing schools. We dont need escapes out of public schools. We need to improve our public schools, said Del. Eric G. Luedtke (D-Montgomery), a former teacher who is to sponsor the Protect Our Schools Act, a bill that essentially prevents the state board from privatizing schools. Board President Andrew Smarick, a former partner at Bellwether Education Partners and now a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, could not be reached to comment. The governor believes that all children . . . deserve a chance at the best education possible, said Doug Mayer, a spokesman for Hogan. This administration will continue to be a strong advocate for all forms of education. House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said the Democratic lawmakers are committed to opposing bills proposed by the governor that would increase funding for private school vouchers and would create a panel the Maryland Public Charter School Authority to approve new charter schools. Currently, charters require the approval of local school districts and adhere to rules that are set by the state Department of Education. Busch said the proposal makes absolutely no sense to essentially create a board for traditional public schools and a board for charter schools. Hogan wants the state to spend $10 million over the next three years on Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today, or BOOST, a voucher program that would allow low-income students to attend private schools. Lawmakers have questioned whether the vouchers are working as intended to provide more options to students from poor families. More than 1,900 of the 2,464 students awarded scholarships this year were enrolled in private school last year, according to a report by the state Department of Education. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan uses his Facebook page to share his cancer journey, promote his agenda and, at times, urge voters to contact Democratic lawmakers who oppose him. The Republican also uses the social media platform to quiet his critics. After a deluge of comments last week asking that he denounce President Trumps controversial travel ban, Hogans office blocked numerous posters and deleted their messages from the page. Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said those who were blocked were believed to be part of an organized campaign, which several of the blocked commenters denied. Mayer said the governors office has blocked 450 people since Hogan took office two years ago. About half were blocked for using hateful or racist language, he said. The rest were blocked after the 2014 riots in Baltimore or during the days since the travel ban each time, Mayer said, because the governors office thought the postings were part of a coordinated attack. Gretchen Weigel Doughty (courtesy of Gretchen Weigel Doughty) All I did was ask my governor to speak out, and I was blacklisted, said Gretchen Weigel Doughty, a Takoma Park resident who said she messaged Hogan about the ban on her own, without outside guidance. I said, Im an independent, and youre going to lose my vote if you dont speak out on this issue. Trumps executive order, which barred refugees as well as citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States, affected thousands of travelers and sparked an avalanche of criticism, including from Gov. Charlie Baker (R-Mass.) and other Republicans. Democrats in Maryland urged Hogan to weigh in, too. When he stayed silent, thousands of people called his office and sent Facebook comments asking him to denounce the ban often after reading social-media postings from others who had already sent such messages. The governors office does not have a specific policy for handling comments on Hogans page, which has more than 146,500 likes. Mayer said most of the removed comments were vulgar, derogatory, hateful or racist, but aides have also deleted those that are a part of an organized effort. We encourage debate and all manners of political discourse on the governors page, Mayer said. But it doesnt mean we will let an outside group with their own political motivation to hijack the governors page. [Meet a pastor, a business owner and a teacher Hogan blocked] Aides to other top elected officials in the region, including Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and Maryland Attorney General Brian K. Frosh, all Democrats, said they only delete comments or block posters that are racist or incendiary. (Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post) Mayer said anarchists flooded Hogans Facebook page with comments after the unrest in Baltimore and were subsequently blocked, meaning their comments were deleted and they were unable to post again. He said the blocked travel-ban commenters appeared to be posting as part of an effort coordinated by Pantsuit Nation, a Facebook group created in support of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton late in the 2016 campaign. This image by Sandra Clark shows her comment to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. The comment has since been hidden from public view. ( Courtesy of Sandra Clark ) Mayer said the posters did not identify themselves as part of Pantsuit Nation. But the staff viewed it as a coordinated attack because the posts occurred all at once and contained very similar language. One comment came from Suzanne Nash of Chevy Chase, who said she decided to send a message after seeing coverage of the travel ban while waiting to board a flight from Arizona. She said she asked Hogan to help Artiman Jalali, a 5-year-old Iranian American boy from Bethesda, who was detained for hours at Washington Dulles International Airport without his mother. Nash said she is a member of Pantsuit Nation but that her involvement in it had nothing to do with her message to Hogan. It feels insulting, Nash said of having her voice removed from the public page. Mayer said that when an outside group decides to spam the page, even people who post independently might unfortunately get caught up in being blocked or deleted. Erich Sommerfeldt, a public relations professor at the University of Maryland, said deleting negative comments, rather than responding to them, can hurt a company or public figures brand. Organizations who delete negative Facebook comments are perceived as less honest, less genuine and less trustworthy than organizations who simply respond to the negative comments, Sommerfeldt said. People want and expect transparency when communicating with public figures and companies online. Engaging with negative commenters may be the last thing you want to do, but its a better way to get to the root of the problem. Raquel Coombs, a spokeswoman for Frosh, said the attorney generals office deletes posts only if they contain profanity or are threatening. Its a government Facebook, and people have the right to post their feelings, she said. McAuliffe communications director Brian Coy said staffers occasionally delete comments that are unduly incendiary or contain profanity from the Virginia governors official Facebook page. If you look at our page, there is a very healthy and two-sided discussion underway on all manner of things, Coy said. Thats the function of Facebook. A spokesman for Bowser said her office does not delete comments from her Facebook page and blocks users only if they make threats or post racist or anti-Semitic comments. Currently, five users are blocked from posting on Bowsers Facebook page, and two are blocked from viewing her tweets. The Maryland Democratic Party has blocked 10 people from viewing its Facebook account since April because they posted spam or abusive comments, said party spokeswoman Jazzmen Knoderer. Maryland House Democrats have blocked one user from leaving Facebook comments, while Maryland Senate Democrats have blocked two users each from their Facebook and Twitter pages. The Democratic pages draw far smaller audiences than Hogans page, which Hogan spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said averages 1 million views a week. With Trumps travel ban under court challenge, the number of calls to Hogans office about the issue appears to be waning. Last week, Chasse said the office received nearly 2,000 calls on the issue on Jan. 30 alone. On Wednesday, Chase said the tally grew to 2,567 calls through Feb 6. THE DISTRICT Pedestrian fatally struck by car A 65-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed in Northwest Washington on Monday night by a speeding car whose driver was drunk, authorities said. The incident happened about 10:45 p.m. on U Street near 10th Street NW, according to D.C. police. The woman was in a crosswalk on U Street NW near 10th Street when a black 2016 Nissan Versa that was speeding west on U Street struck her. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police later identified her as Carolyn Ellis of Clinton, Md. Police said they searched the area and found the damaged vehicle. Authorities arrested and charged David Jones, 36, of Bowie, Md., with involuntary manslaughter, leaving after colliding and driving under the influence. Dana Hedgpeth Man is charged in fatal shooting in January A Maryland man was arrested Monday in connection with a fatal shooting in the District last month, authorities said. About 6:40 a.m. on Jan. 17, officers went to the 600 block of 14th Place Northeast to investigate a report of a shooting and found two men with gunshot wounds in a vehicle, D.C. police said in a statement. Ronnell Tye Reaves, 22, of Suitland was dead at the scene, and the other man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, the statement said. On Monday, police arrested Matthew Moore, 32, of Upper Marlboro in connection with the shooting, according to the statement. He has been charged with second-degree murder while armed. Justin Wm. Moyer MARYLAND Man is dead after report of fight Police said Tuesday that they are investigating an altercation in Prince Georges County in which one man was killed. About noon, officers went to the 6400 block of Central Avenue in response to a report of a fight at the Exxon gas station in Capitol Heights, across the street from the Addison Road Metro station, Seat Pleasant police spokesman Thomas Lester said. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from trauma to the upper body. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Prince Georges County homicide detectives have taken over the investigation, authorities said. Preliminary indications are that the confrontation was not random, authorities said. Police did not have details about a suspect or the victims identity. Lynh Bui and Justin Wm. Moyer Prince William County These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-792-5123. BRISTOW AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Elliots Oak Pl., 12000 block, 9 p.m. Jan. 27 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28. A laptop, jewelry and shoes were stolen from a residence entered by damaging a rear door. Merlot Ct., 9000 block, noon to 2:20 p.m. Jan. 24. An attempt was made to enter a residence by damaging a front door. Moray Firth Way, 12500 block, 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25 to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 26. An attempt was made to enter a residence by damaging a rear door. DUMFRIES AREA THEFTS/BREAK-INS Montview Dr., 15600 block, 9 p.m. Jan. 28. An attempt was made to enter a residence by damaging a door and a window. Porters Inn Dr., 16900 block, 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. Jan. 31. An attempt was made to enter a residence through a window. MANASSAS AREA ROBBERIES Centreville Rd., 8000 block, 7:58 p.m. Jan. 28. A masked gunman demanded money from a restaurant employee, who fled through a rear door and called police. The gunman fled empty-handed. Sudley Rd., 8200 block, 8:33 p.m. Jan. 25. Two men entered a taxi in Alexandria and rode to the area, where they robbed the cab driver of cash at gunpoint. One of the men hit the cab driver in the head with a gun. The driver was treated for injuries. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Amblewood Dr., 13100 block, 4:30 p.m. Jan. 27 to 7 a.m. Jan. 28. A camera, a cellphone and a pack of cigarettes were stolen from a vehicle parked inside an open garage. Cub Run Ct., 10200 block, 6:30 a.m. Jan. 26 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 29. An attempt was made to enter a residence by damaging a rear door. Glade Ct., 7700 block, 12:45 to 1 a.m. Jan. 26. A residences patio was entered. Nothing was reported stolen. Meadow Grove Ct., 10600 block, 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 31. Cash and a computer tablet were stolen from a residence entered by breaking a window with a brick. TRIANGLE AREA THEFT/BREAK-IN Chestnut Dr., 18300 block, 3:30 p.m. Jan. 20 to 7:23 p.m. Jan. 24. Copper was stolen from a vacant residence entered by damaging a rear window. The interior also was damaged. WOODBRIDGE AREA CHILD NEGLECT Lambsgate Lane, 5000 block, 9:45 p.m. Jan. 29. A woman and a man left a 6-month-old child home alone. The child fell and was injured. A Richmond woman, 26, and a Woodbridge man, 27, were arrested. WEAPONS Alton Hotel and John Coffee courts, 9:05 p.m. Jan. 28. Several gunshots were heard. No one was reported injured. Cloverdale Rd., 14800 block, 7:04 p.m. Jan. 25. Someone fired a weapon, hitting a male motorist in the back. The motorist was treated for injuries. Lombard Ave., 4900 block, 1:08 a.m. Jan. 28. A man fired a weapon in the air. No one was reported injured. A Woodbridge man, 40, was arrested. Wertz and Cardinal drives, 4:53 p.m. Jan. 25. Several gunshots were heard. No one was reported injured. ROBBERIES Mapledale Plaza, 5800 block, 10:05 p.m. Jan. 26. A masked gunman robbed a restaurant of cash. Occoquan Rd. and F St., 8:43 p.m. Jan. 28. A man hit a male pedestrian in the back with an unknown object. When the pedestrian turned around, the man demanded money and punched the pedestrian, knocking him to the ground. The man took cash and a cellphone from the pedestrians pockets. River Ridge Blvd., 16600 block, 4:18 p.m. Jan. 25. A masked gunman robbed a business of cash. THEFTS/BREAK-INS Christy Lane, 3500 block, Jan. 23 to 5 p.m. Jan. 27. A handgun, a computer tablet and a cellphone were stolen from a residence entered through a rear door. Findley Rd., 3700 block, 6:20 to 8:20 p.m. Jan. 28. Cash, a laptop, a camera and documents were stolen from a residence entered by damaging a window. Mapledale Ave., 14000 block, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29. Two video-game systems, a laptop and a computer tablet were stolen from a residence. Millwood Dr., 13400 block, 12:49 to 1:33 a.m. Jan. 29. A man entered a church through an unlocked door and attempted to enter a financial office. Nothing was reported stolen. Penbury Ct., 2700 block, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 29. A residence was entered and a TV was damaged. Potomac Mills Cir., 2700 block, 11:03 a.m. Jan. 25. A man in a store concealed merchandise. When a loss-prevention officer confronted the man, the man threatened him with a tool and fled the store into the mall. A mall security guard attempted to stop the man, who pushed him. The man then threatened the loss-prevention officer with a knife and fled. A Woodbridge man, 53, was arrested. Tassleford Lane, 15700 block, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 28. Cash was stolen from a residence. Manassas These were among incidents reported by Manassas police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-257-8000. ASSAULTS Center St., 8900 block, 1:10 a.m. Jan. 29. A woman in a restaurant hit another woman in the head. A Manassas woman, 22, was arrested. Main St., 9300 block, 11:50 p.m. Jan. 28. During a fight at a restaurant, a man hit another man in the face. A St. Louis man, 56, was arrested. Manassas Park No reports were received from Manassas Park police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-361-1136. Police in Baltimore fatally shot an armed 18-year-old man Tuesday during a foot pursuit, one day after he was released from jail on gun and drug charges, authorities said. At around 3 p.m., officers in the Tri-District area saw a vehicle with up to five occupants driving erratically, Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith said at a news conference. When one occupant bailed out of the vehicle, an officer pursued him to the area of Frederick Avenue and Monroe Street. In an alley, the officer caught up with the suspect, who was armed with a gun, and shot him, Smith said. The suspect was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead. The gun was later recovered at the scene. Smith said the suspect, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, had been arrested twice in the past month on gun and drugs charges. Thats really despicable, because its putting our officers and our citizens in harms way, Smith said. The officer who shot the man will be identified within 48 hours, and will be put on routine administrative duties, Smith said. The officer was wearing a body camera that was on during the shooting, according to Smith. [Baltimore officials and Justice Department announce agreement to revamp police practices] Baltimore police have been under increased scrunity since the death of Freddie Gray in 2015 and the riots that followed. Last month, officials announced an agreement with the Justice Department to change police practices that may lead to excessive force. Smith did not say whether the events that led to the shooting were in line with the changes outlined the consent degree. Whats not in line is a person with a gun, he said. This story has been updated. D.C. police on Wednesday released the name of a man shot by officers a day earlier after he allegedly brandished a BB gun following an armed robbery. [Armed man shot by D.C. officers after robbery, police say] About 8 a.m. Tuesday, officers were flagged down by pedestrians in the 1300 block of Good Hope Road SE who reported a robbery, D.C. police said. When officers approached the suspect, he brandished a gun and disregarded repeated commands to drop it, and officers shot him, the statement said. The man, identified as 50-year-old Eric Cuthbertson of no fixed address, was taken to a hospital for treatment of serious wounds, police said. Police said they recovered his weapon, which turned out to be a BB gun, at the scene. Cuthbertson was charged with armed robbery and assault on a police officer while armed, among other offenses, police said, and the officers who shot him were placed on routine administrative leave. Police asked anyone with information to contact them at 202-727-9099. A federal judge in Virginia has temporarily blocked the release of the name of a Fairfax County police officer involved in a fatal shooting, after the officer filed a lawsuit claiming a disclosure could put his or her safety at risk. The case in U.S. District Court in Alexandria potentially sets up a major legal clash that pits police departments efforts to be more transparent about police shootings against growing concerns by some officers that they could be targeted for reprisals. The issue of naming officers involved in use-of-force incidents has become one of the most charged in policing in the aftermath of national protests over fatal encounters between police and minorities and a string of high-profile killings of officers in recent years. [In fatal shootings by police, 1 in 5 officers names go undisclosed] U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III granted the officers request for a temporary restraining order Monday and scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing for Thursday. The officer fatally shot a man in Herndon on Jan. 16 after, police said, the man lunged at officers with a knife following a two-hour standoff at his home. Before the fatal encounter, police said, the man had shot and wounded two other men, set his home ablaze and held a roommate hostage inside. Police said the roommate was in danger. Last year, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors enacted a policy requiring the countys police department to release the names of officers involved in the use of deadly force within 10 days of an incident, except in instances where there are credible threats to officers safety. The policy was adopted as part of a wave of reforms after the fatal shooting of an unarmed Springfield man, John Geer, in 2013. Police did not release Officer Adam Torress name until a judge ordered the department to do so, 16 months after the shooting. Torres ultimately pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. In the lawsuit filed Feb. 3, the officer, who has 16 years service and is a member of the Special Operations Division, argues that the department should withhold his or her name regardless of the outcome of the threat assessment, which the Fairfax County police said has not been completed. There is a documented history of threats being made against police officers in similar situations to myself, the lawsuit reads. It goes on to list a number of instances of officers being threatened when their names were released to the public after use-of-force incidents. The officer did not list any specific threats against him or her but said information about his or her family is available online. The officer filed the case as a John Doe, and portions of the court record have been redacted. Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin C. Roessler Jr. said he is sensitive to officers safety concerns and for that reason is conducting a thorough assessment of the risks to the officer and had not yet decided whether to publicly identify the officer. The chief said he could not say how long the assessment would take. Im using resources outside the department, and they are working diligently with staff on it. The key item is I want it to be thorough and proper, so I cant establish a timeline, Roessler said. County board member John C. Cook (R-Braddock), who chairs the Fairfaxs Public Safety Committee, said the board imposed a 10-day waiting period before a name would be released because supervisors wanted to give the chief the time he thought he needed. Under this new system, the board was set to have a meeting with Roessler at which he would explain why the assessment was unfinished, Cook said. But before that meeting could take place, the lawsuit was filed. Were all on new ground here, Cook said. I dont think youre going to see a lawsuit every time. . . . At some point, you will set a precedent. Attorneys for the officer released a brief statement. As this case is current before the courts we are not able to provide any specific comments, the statement read. We do believe that it is important to protect the identity of the officer, and we will be making that argument before the judge. Board member Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), who has opposed past police reform efforts, welcomed the injunction. He argued that the scope of a threat is generally not known until the officers name is released. To jump ahead and put the officer and his family at risk is unacceptable, he said. But the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia protested the order, saying Ellis ignored the publics right to information while giving too much credence to the officers fears. The subject of releasing officers names after use-of-force incidents has been hotly debated since 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014. Police departments have taken widely varying approaches on whether and when to identity officers. In Chicago, the police department releases a name only if the officer is criminally charged in a fatal shooting. In Philadelphia, the police chief decided in 2015 to make the names of all officers involved in shootings available within 72 hours. Lawmakers and the courts have also weighed in on the issue. In 2015, Arizona legislators angered by the release of an officers name in Phoenix pushed a bill that would have required police departments in the state to wait 90 days before releasing the names of officers involved in shootings, but it was vetoed by the states Republican governor. In Oregon last year, lawmakers proposed a similar bill after a bounty was posted online for the state trooper who fatally shot a leader of a group of antigovernment activists who had occupied buildings at a wildlife refuge. The bill did not emerge from committee. In California, a 2014 state Supreme Court decision mandated the release of officers names after shootings unless there are specific safety concerns. The Fairfax County chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police supported a bill during the current state legislative session in Richmond that would have made it a misdemeanor to release the names of officers involved in critical incidents before the conclusion of the criminal and internal affairs investigations. The bill, which provided for a waiting period not to exceed six months, did not make it out of committee. A Washington Post investigation found that in 20 percent of cases of fatal police shootings nationwide in 2015, officers names were not released. Mike Curtis, the founder of Northern Virginia Cop Block, said police unions have been particularly vocal in resisting the kind of measures adopted in Fairfax and other jurisdictions. They are asking for some accountability, and the police unions are fighting it every step, Curtis said. Their job is to insulate bad police officers from being held accountable for their deeds. In Fairfax County, the officer involved in the fatal Herndon shooting has been put on administrative leave, a routine step until criminal and internal affairs investigations have been concluded. Matthew Ezekiel Stager (U.S. Marshals Service) A wanted sex offender who disappeared after leaving a federal prison in Virginia was caught Wednesday in the District, police said. Matthew Ezekiel Stager, 45, was released from federal prison in Petersburg, Va., on Feb. 2 and was supposed to fly to a transitional center in Texas that day, but he never showed up, the U.S. Marshals Service for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a statement. On Wednesday, authorities sought the publics help in finding him. About 2:40 p.m., D.C. police officers arrested Stager in the 500 block of 4th St. NW near the Judiciary Square Metro station, D.C. Superior Court and D.C. police headquarters. A spokesman for the U.S. marshals said Stager was convicted in 1999 in North Carolina for indecent liberties with a minor, a charge that forced him to register as a sex offender. In 2013, he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender, a federal crime, and was serving a five-year sentence, the spokesman said. The Bureau of Prisons allows some offenders to self-report when moving from one facility to another, according to the spokesman, but Stager, who was being moved from a medium-security facility to a transitional center near Austin, failed to show. A Bureau of Prisons spokesman said Stager was headed to a residential reentry center, or halfway house, that would provide programming such as employment counseling that would ease his transition into the community as the end of his sentence approached. The only inmates allowed to move without supervision are considered minimal risk, Jill C. Tyson, chief public information officer for the agency, said in an email. Stager, who is 5-foot-8, 145 pounds, and has distinctive tattoos, has a history of drug abuse and mental illness, authorities said. Last weekend, as many Washingtonians were preparing to watch the Super Bowl, one person wielding a gun and posing as a seller of items offered online, moved around the city, carrying out two robberies and a burglary, according to the D.C. police. Police said a 17-year-old male teenager was arrested and charged in all three incidents. Advice is given frequently about ways to ensure safety during prospective online transactions, but crimes still occur. The occurrence of three, in two days, all in the District, seemed a vivid illustration of the hazards that may be encountered. The first of the weekend robberies occurred Saturday about 2:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Taylor Street NE. The victim expected to purchase a cell phone that was being offered through an online app, police said. Instead, police said the presumed seller robbed the would-be buyer at gunpoint. A similar event occurred on Sunday, the police said. The victim drove to the 200 block of Farragut Street NW about 3:50 p.m. to buy a laptop. But the victim instead was confronted by a gun, wielded by a robber who got into the victims car and demanded property, the police said. Between the two robberies, police said, came what they described as an armed burglary. In that incident, the victim arranged a meeting at her house in the 600 block of Riggs Road NE around noon, so she could buy an item that was offered for sale online. Instead of a seller, police seaid, she was met by someone who showed a gun, entered her house, and demanded and got property. Police said the teenage suspect was arrested Sunday. He was charged with two counts of armed robbery and one of armed burglary in the three weekend incidents, the police said. In addition, they said he was charged with robbery in a third holdup, which occurred about 7 p.m. on Jan. 20, in the 300 block of Taylor Street. The circumstances were similar to those described in the two weekend robberies. In advice given for online transactions, participants are urged to meet at a public place whenever possible. In addition, if the meeting is to be at a home, the advice is to have a friend or family member there. Co-op Credit Union donated nearly $9,121 to Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals at Gundersen Health System through fundraising activities in 2016. CCU raised money through employee Friday Jeans Days, candy bar sales and participation in Bowl for Kids and Radiothon events in La Crosse. CMN Hospitals use the funds to support children and their families who, because of illness or injury, need assistance which would otherwise be unavailable. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, makes an opening statement during a hearing in Washington on Wednesday. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News) President Trumps promise to find $1 trillion for infrastructure ran headlong into the senior senator from Wyoming, who said on Wednesday that the White House plan to raise private money for roads and bridges wouldnt do much to help his rural state. Sen. John Barrasso (R), who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, represents a state with fewer inhabitants than Washington, D.C. His states capital, Cheyenne, has a population not much larger than that of Rocky Mount, N.C. Funding solutions that involve public-private partnerships, as have been discussed by administration officials, may be innovative solutions for crumbling inner cities, but do not work for rural areas, Barrasso, who figures to play a central role in any infrastructure plan, said at a hearing Wednesday. Trump has made infrastructure investment a focal point of his presidency, but the only substance to support his goals thus far has been a 10-page white paper that emerged in the final days of his campaign. [Everything you ever wanted to know about the Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings, votes ] Written by Wilbur Ross and Peter Navarro, the paper says that by providing investors with an 82 percent tax credit, private money can be raised to pay for roads, bridges, transit and other critical infrastructure needs. (Ross is Trumps nominee for commerce secretary; Navarro is head of the presidents National Trade Council.) The challenge to that approach is that private investors will want a return on their money beyond the tax credit, so only through tolling or other methods of raising money will their investments pay off. That makes high-volume urban areas attractive, while less-populated areas would be unlikely to see private cash. [House begins quest for funding for Trumps infrastructure plan, but is it same rhetoric as always?] Senators anticipate that the Trump administration will expand its infrastructure plan beyond the Ross-Navarro paper, and that Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will work with Congress to craft a more comprehensive approach to funding transit, roads and bridges. In Barrassos home state, cattle outnumber people 2 to 1. That ratio is slightly lower in Idaho and much higher in three other states Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, four states that were represented at Wednesdays hearing by William Panos, director of Wyomings Department of Transportation. Public-private partnerships and other approaches to infrastructure investment that depend on a positive revenue stream from a project are not a surface transportation infrastructure solution for rural states, Panos said. The traffic volumes on projects in rural states are low, and its almost never feasible from revenue generation. Finding any additional revenue, let alone the $3.7 trillion estimated to meet infrastructure needs by 2020, has been the congressional challenge since the existing source, the gas-tax-funded Highway Trust Fund, began failing to meet the need. The funding for the current transportation bill was achieved from sources that have been described as gimmicks and funny money. Panos said finding new revenue sources to replenish the trust fund is important if the federal government wants to continue spending for projects in states such as his. The Highway Trust Fund and the programs it supports are critical to maintaining and improving Americas surface transportation infrastructure, Panos said. In the House last week, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) proposed an increase in the 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, which has not been raised since 1993, a hike he said would increase the cost per gallon by 2 cents. A gas tax increase has been supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and big fuel users such as FedEx. But many members of Congress have been loath to embrace any measure that would increase taxes. At the Senate hearing Wednesday, Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) invoked his fathers mantra: Things that are worth having are worth paying for. Fairfax City Council member David L. Meyer won a special election Tuesday night to become mayor, a step toward normalcy for the city government after the 2016 arrest of then-Mayor R. Scott Silverthorne on charges of trading meth for sex. Meyer, who is in his fifth term on the council, won the nonpartisan mayoral election with 1,644 votes. Council member Eleanor D. Schmidt received 1,190 votes, and fellow member Michael J. DeMarco took 943 votes. In another special election held Tuesday in Virginia, Jeff M. Bourne easily won the House of Delegates seat vacated by fellow Richmond-area Democrat Jennifer McClellan, who was elected to the state Senate last month. Bourne received 90 percent of the vote. Meyer will serve the rest of Silverthornes term, which expires in July 2018. [A beloved mayor. An alleged meth-for-sex scheme. And a secret life exposed.] Silverthorne resigned shortly after his arrest in August. He faces a felony charge of distribution of methamphetamine after allegedly agreeing to provide an undercover Fairfax County police officer with two grams of crystal methamphetamine in exchange for participating in an orgy in a Tysons Corner hotel. Council member David L. Meyer was elected mayor of Fairfax City. (Courtesy of David L. Meyer) His attorney said Wednesday that the former mayor plans to enter a plea at a hearing set for March and that the details are being worked out. Now, its time for us to put the last six months of the citys challenges behind us and focus on the business of the city, said Meyer, who will succeed interim mayor Steven C. Stombres this week. That business includes several redevelopment projects planned in some of the aging strip malls that dot the city of nearly 24,000 residents. Meyer said he wants to jump-start dormant plans for a new shopping center at Fairfax Circle, the site of a vacant strip mall near the citys eastern border that is frequented by homeless men and women. Another nearly vacant strip mall near Chain Bridge Road is also slated for redevelopment. Meyer said he plans to meet with developers about those parcels as well as guide Fairfax through long-term plans on how to deal with local traffic and housing as younger families move in and longtime residents reach retirement age. Fairfax is undergoing a major generational change with its population, Meyer said. It will help us decide how we position the city for the next generation. A special election to fill Meyers seat on the council has not yet been scheduled. Justin Jouvenal contributed to this report. All the doctors tricks were failing him. Hed tried neck massage, pressure to the eyes, ice on the face. But an hour in, Ashish Jha still couldnt slow his racing heart. His wife asked what hed recommend if a patient called with the same problem. I said, Oh, thats easy. Go to the emergency department. As a physician, Jha knew that this tachycardia could lead to a heart attack. Yet he felt caught by a decision hed made in enrolling his family in a high-deductible insurance plan. Such plans, which offer lower premiums in exchange for higher out-of-pocket expenses, are an increasingly common type of coverage for millions of Americans. The Harvard University health-policy researcher had chosen his with its $6,000 deductible as a kind of personal experiment in better understanding how that trade-off influences health. And now, when faced with the prospect of paying thousands of dollars for an emergency-room visit, Jha stayed home. I should have gone to the hospital, he said recently. But I knew there was a big bill waiting for me if I did, and I rolled the dice. At least 46 million Americans have health plans with deductibles of $1,000 a year or more, according to Paul Fronstin, director of the health research and education program at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. That number represents 25 percent of employees, compared with just 4 percent a decade ago. Some people are given no option by employers that are trying to shift rising health-care costs to workers. Others choose the coverage which is popular on the Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges for the lower premium payments. [The U.S. spends more on health care than any other country. Heres what were buying.] Understanding high deductibles including who they help and whether they control short- and long-term spending is part of Jhas research on health costs and quality of care. That was the motivation behind his experiment, to get out of the ivory tower and understand what its like to live with one of these, as he put it. In his case, the answer was clear: While his decision to avoid the ER saved the health system money, it was unwise from the perspective of patient care. Studies dating to the 1970s have consistently shown that when consumers must spend a big chunk of their own money on their care, they can cut back by as much as 15 percent. That slowdown happens fast, dropping like a health-care guillotine. The question researchers still are weighing, though, is what consumers slice off. Do they stop filling name-brand prescriptions when equally effective generics are available? Or do they avoid critical care, as Jha did in staying home instead of heading to the hospital? What I take away from [his] story, said Amitabh Chandra, a friend and fellow Harvard health-policy economist, is that simply calling the patient a consumer doesnt make buying health care anything like buying cars and computers. Last year, Chandra and three colleagues looked at what happened after a Fortune 100 company switched 75,000 well-paid, tech-savvy employees into high-deductible plans. What they found closely mirrored Jhas personal pattern. Workers both the healthy and the sick skipped out on care indiscriminately. Prevention, imaging or drugs, consumers were cutting back on all those, Chandra said. Thats a sign they dont really know what care is valuable and what care isnt valuable. Supporters of high-deductible plans argue that consumers need time to adapt and that more tools that will help them price-shop effectively. The researchers considered that, too. The company put $3,750 into a health savings account for each employee and provided a state-of-the-art online tool to compare prices for tests, doctors appointments and other services. We found no evidence that consumers were learning to price-shop after two years of high-deductible coverage, Chandra said. None. High deductibles can be particularly dangerous for poor or chronically ill consumers, he said. First they get hit with the illness. And then they get hit financially and cognitively with the demands of having to figure out where they should go for care. [It will only get harder for Republicans aiming to repeal Obamacare] Stephen Parente, a University of Minnesota economist who is working closely with congressional Republicans to build whatever replaces the Affordable Care Act, says that high-deductible plans must be tweaked. He would like to see a standard insurance policy carry at least a $5,000 individual deductible but provide exceptions for care for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma. Some 117 million adults have such conditions, which become more expensive if left untreated. For them, self-rationing could compromise their health as well as further drive up spending. Parente has teamed up with Mark Fendrick, a health-policy professor at the University of Michigan, to develop a version 2.0, which would allow people dealing with chronic disease to access certain preventive services before they meet their deductible cap. Fendrick calls it a high-value health plan. Jha and his wife agreed to extend his experiment into a second year. Since his heart scare, his cardiologist has increased his medication and discussed a procedure that is likely to end the tachycardia entirely. Jha admits that he would have already scheduled the appointment except for that same high deductible. I can step back and be completely clear what the right answer here is, he said. I should go get the procedure. But its hard to be rational about this stuff. This article was done in partnership with Marketplace, the business and economics radio show produced by American Public Media, and Kaiser Health News, a national health-policy news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Michael Perry and his family wanted to have a better connection with their food, so they packed up and moved to Fall Creek, Wis. where they could raise chickens and pigs. What they didnt know is that they would go on an adventure worthy of writing a book. Coop: a Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting is the community read sponsored by the Black River Falls Public Library, in collaboration with Jackson County UW-Extension. The community read program started with the goal of having people dialogue about literature. Both the library and extension are hoping this book will spark conversations about agriculture and the life lessons it teaches. It is a nonfiction book about the authors experience moving to a small farm in Fall Creek, said Tammy Peasley, director of the Black River Falls Public Library. He was from a small town, but basically wanted to experience rural life with his family. While the book may seem like a simple concept, Peasley says that it is more than what meets the eye and is a reflection of rural, Wisconsin life, featuring experiences that touch on parenting, relationships, joy and grief. I think it is something that many readers will be able to identify with some aspect of the book, said Peasley. A library patron walked by one of the displays and said they were so excited about Michael Perry coming because some of his books are her favorites. She read them at a very particular time in her life where theres still different stories that he included in his books that she distinctly remembers. It is this connection to Jackson County that got the library and extension excited about making this book a community read. It touches on a lot of things in regards to family values and farm values and why many of us in Jackson County have strong connections to the land and the farm, said Trisha Wagner, the agriculture agent with Jackson County UW-Extension. The book really explores a lot of feelings that people have towards how agriculture is changing. One of the large parts of the book is that Perry purchases chickens to raise in his backyard, which was just recently allowed by Jackson County in specific areas and is a growing trend in the U.S. Along with the community read, several free events are planned including a presentation about supporting those who are grieving presented by Black River Memorial Hospice, chicken coops and what it takes to keep chickens and there are three discussion groups planned to discuss the book. Michael Perry will also be speaking at the Lunda Theater in Black River Falls on Friday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. He is also the author of Population: 485, a book that details his experiences as an EMT and firefighter in New Auburn, Wis. One of our goals and part of our mission at the library is both to promote literacy as well as life-long learning, said Peasley. I think this book is a great opportunity to be able to strive for that mission. For more information about the events surrounding the community read, please go to the Black River Falls public library website or Facebook page. LOUISIANA Tornadoes pummel New Orleans At least six tornadoes tore through New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana on Tuesday, injuring 13 people as the storm roared across highways and streets, tearing down trees, power lines and homes, officials said. The storm system destroyed numerous buildings and homes in New Orleans and in suburban areas of Baton Rouge, according to the National Weather Service website. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a statewide state of emergency. Eight people were treated for minor injuries at New Orleans East Hospital, including a woman who was nearly seven months pregnant and was in stable condition, hospital spokeswoman Caryn Battiste said. University Medical Center in New Orleans also received five injured people but details on their conditions were unknown, hospital spokeswoman Siona LaFrance said. Nearly 50,000 customers were without power in Louisiana, with more than 10,000 of them in New Orleans, according to Entergy New Orleans spokeswoman Kacee Kirschvink. Nancy Malone, communications director for the Red Cross of Louisiana, said damage was reported in about six parishes, or territorial districts, where the Red Cross was assisting first responders. The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama. The national Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said 2.7 million people were at risk across the region. From news services PENNSYLVANIA Man faces charges of serial child rape A Pennsylvania handyman accused of serial child rape kept a perverse shrine in his trailer home as many as 1,000 pairs of used girls underwear and documented his crimes in hundreds of disturbing, graphic images and writings, authorities said. Investigators said William Charles Thomass crimes were discovered because he wrote about sex assaults on a piece of plywood that he used in a renovation project. Thomas, 58, of Morrisville, was arraigned Tuesday on 51 charges, including five counts of child rape, and was jailed on $750,000 bail. Authorities urged other victims to come forward, saying Thomas wrote about molesting children as young as 3 and as far back as the 1970s. To be blunt about it, this is a real-life boogeyman, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said at a news conference. Speaking by video during a brief court appearance, Thomas said he never inflicted any pain on a child, nor would I want to. Police in the Philadelphia suburbs said they began the investigation when the owner of a trailer Thomas had just renovated found the plywood on which Thomas had written about sexually assaulting two young girls, authorities said. Police searched Thomass trailer and found in addition to the underwear, drawings and his written accounts more than 1,000 images of child pornography, including Polaroid photos with the names of three of the victims listed in court documents as well as names of children who have yet to be identified, a police affidavit said. Police also searched a shed on another property once owned by Thomas and found more sexually explicit accounts scrawled on the walls, court documents said. Court documents cite abuse dating at least to the 1990s. Associated Press Prison visitors get Trump stamped on hand: Visitors entering a Tennessee prison one day last week had the word Trump stamped on their hands as they passed through security. State corrections officials said they dont know who chose to put the presidents last name on the stamp at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville or why, but it wont happen again. State Department of Correction spokeswoman Neysa Taylor said the words on the stamp change daily. She said prison officials dont want anyone to be offended and have forbidden proper names being put on stamps in the future. Associated Press LITHUANIA Troops arrive in sign of NATO commitment Germany and NATO underscored their commitment to beefing up the defense of Eastern Europes border with Russia as the first of four new battalions under the North Atlantic alliances banner arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday. In moves agreed to last year under President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels not seen since the Cold War, prompted by Russias annexation of Crimea and accusations that it is supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. The German-led battle group of 1,000 troops in Lithuania will be joined this year by a U.S.-led deployment in Poland, British-led troops in Estonia and Canadian-led troops in Latvia. Doubts about the U.S. commitment to NATO have surfaced since the election of President Trump, who has described NATO allies as very unfair for not contributing more financially to the alliance. Reuters ISRAEL U.N., E.U. condemn new settlement law The European Unions foreign policy chief and the United Nations secretary general on Tuesday criticized an Israeli move to legalize thousands of settler homes on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The E.U.s Federica Mogherini said the law, if implemented, crossed a dangerous threshold. Such settlements constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten the viability of a two-state solution, she said. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the action went against international law and would have legal consequences for Israel. The Israeli parliament passed the legislation two weeks after the inauguration of President Trump, who has signaled a softer approach to the settlement issue than that of the previous U.S. administration. The Israeli law retroactively legalizes about 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land. Reuters PERU Ex-presidents arrest sought in bribery case Prosecutors in Peru asked a judge to order the arrest of former president Alejandro Toledo on Tuesday for suspected involvement in a bribery scheme linked to the scandal-plagued Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht. Authorities searched a house owned by Toledo in Lima on Saturday after finding $11 million in the bank account of an associate. Prosecutors believe the money was part of $20 million in bribes that Odebrecht has acknowledged paying to officials during Toldeos 2001-2006 government. The prosecutors asked Judge Richard Concepcion to jail Toledo for up to 18 months while they prepare criminal charges against him, the attorney generals office said on Twitter. The judge is expected to hand down a decision this week. Toledo rose to power decrying corruption in the government of predecessor Alberto Fujimori, an authoritarian leader who is serving 25 years in prison for graft and human rights abuses. Reuters Romanian president rejects early elections: Romanian President Klaus Iohannis tore into the Social Democrat-led government over a corruption decree that has sparked the biggest protests since the 1989 fall of communism, but backed it to stay in power, in a potential reprieve for Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu. The government rescinded the decree Sunday, which critics said would have turned back the clock on the fight against corruption in the European Union member state. Jovenel Moise sworn in as Haitis president: Jovenel Moise was sworn in as Haitis president for the next five years after a bruising two-year election cycle, inheriting a struggling economy and a deeply divided society. The 48-year-old entrepreneur took the oath of office in a Parliament chamber packed with lawmakers and dignitaries from countries including the United States, Venezuela and France. In his inaugural address, Moise vowed to bring real improvements, particularly to the long-neglected countryside. U.K. fighter jets escort Pakistani airliner: British fighter jets escorted a Pakistani civilian airliner to Stansted Airport near London after a passenger became disruptive, authorities said. The Royal Air Force said it launched Typhoon jets from a base in eastern England to intercept the plane, which was flying from Lahore to Londons Heathrow Airport. From news services Regarding the Feb. 5 Politics & the Nation article USDA removes data on animal welfare: President Trump signed edicts hurting one group after another over the past two weeks, so it was only a matter of time before he got around to hurting animals, already the most oppressed sentient beings on Earth. The animals turn came last week when the Trump administration took down the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service online reports on government regulation of roughly 9,000 animal-handling facilities. These are laboratories, dog breeders, fur farms, circuses, zoos and aquariums. The site is used every day by animal-protection activists to monitor government enforcement of the 1966 Animal Welfare Act, the only effective federal law protecting animals. Removing the APHIS inspection materials marks a huge setback for animal protection. It will almost certainly lead to reduced government inspection of animal facilities and more animal suffering, a virtual repeal of the Animal Welfare Act. Fittingly, this oppressive act followed the same dark-of-night process as the one barring entry to the United States by at least 60,000 thoroughly vetted Muslim immigrants one week earlier: no notice, no hearings, no due process, no public announcement. The oppressive mind-set doesnt really care who the victims are. Hopefully, the courts will. Dean Havalieratos, Washington Sanford J. Ungar, a veteran journalist and president emeritus of Goucher College, is distinguished scholar in residence at Georgetown University and a Lumina Foundation fellow. He teaches seminars on free speech at Harvard University and Georgetown. Stephen K. Bannon, the White House strategist, roving provocateur and now foreign policy guru for President Trump, stirred up a hornets nest recently when he called the national media the opposition party. Mainstream media organizations howled in protest at Bannons mischaracterization of their role and pledged anew their dedication to fairness, truth and accuracy. As they should. But I suggest they also take a deep breath and eagerly embrace Bannons (and subsequently Trumps) description of the medias mandate in these deeply troubled times for American democracy. Not the party part, of course. But being an independent opposition an outside check on abuses of power by government and by other public and private institutions is exactly what the Founding Fathers had in mind for the feisty, boisterous scribes and pamphleteers of their time. Its just what the media should do, and what the country needs, today. Surely Bannon is aware of the rich history behind the concept of the media as opposition: Journalist Benjamin Franklin Bache, grandson of the great philosopher of the American Revolution, was such a vociferous critic of figures including George Washington that he was jailed under the Alien and Sedition Acts. Abraham Lincoln was denounced as a tyrant by the media of his time for the way he centralized power and suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War. For an extended period in the mid-20th century, some theorists extolled the potential of the press to serve as a fourth branch of government, albeit an unofficial one, working in concert with the legislative, executive and judicial branches to advance a post-World War II agenda around which there seemed to be a national consensus. One consequence was to ignore or help cover up questionable practices of presidents and other high officials. But even then, the U.S. Information Agency was sending American journalists and scholars around the world to help developing countries learn how to nurture and protect independent and, yes, opposition media. Perhaps that overseas experience helped debunk the dewy-eyed patriotic notion that we were all one big happy family working together in concert. Indeed, in some of the most memorable crises of recent times, the media moved into the vanguard of reform. During the civil rights movement, for example, it was courageous editors, reporters and photographers, particularly in the South, not mainstream elected officials of either major party, who perceived the growing unrest and impelled the revision of unjust laws and social practices. Likewise, in the case of the long, withering war in Vietnam, Americas formal political institutions failed miserably to reflect the degree of dissent over a dramatically unsuccessful policy. Even the few members of Congress who began to speak out against the war generally voted for massive appropriations to keep it going. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Famously, President John F. Kennedy asked the New York Times to withdraw David Halberstam from Saigon, where Halberstam and other independent-minded war correspondents were raising difficult questions about the quagmire. Ultimately, it was the people of all ages protesting in the streets of U.S. cities (counted more accurately by the media than by the government) and hard-driving journalists, not politicians, who brought about a shift in policy. The unauthorized publication of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 did not end the war, as Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the documents, thought it might, but finally made it more respectable for reluctant critics to go public with their misgivings. Solidarity among various journalistic organizations outweighed competitive instincts, making it feasible to beat back the governments efforts to persuade the Supreme Court to suspend the revelations. Certainly there were moments when the Nixon administration treated journalists as the true opposition, and realistically so. When Times reporter Earl Caldwell managed to report from the inside about the activities of the Black Panther Party, Nixons Justice Department sought to compel him to testify before a federal grand jury and reveal his sources; he was willing to face jail time rather than do so. It took intrepid young reporters from The Post to convince the public, not to mention Democratic members of Congress, that the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in 1972 was more than a third-rate burglary. The rest is history. And so it goes. Awkward as it may be, at the moment, for the media to accept the mantle of the opposition that Bannon has conferred upon them, that is surely how events will play out. Having helped Trump climb to power by paying so much attention to him in the early days of his candidacy, they will by no means now be intimidated and keep their mouths shut, as Bannon has suggested. Perceiving American journalists the real ones, that is, who reject alternative facts and tell the carefully researched truth in the face of power as the only genuine protection against autocracy and tyranny is exactly right. Long live the real opposition. WHEN A federal judge halted President Trumps immigration executive order last Friday, the news was at first little more than a terse line on phone screens and cable-news chyrons, implying a thousand unanswered questions: What holes did the judge find in the Trump administrations arguments? To what degree was the decision based on the Constitutions guarantee of due process or of equal protection? On the separation of church and state? Why did District Court Judge James L. Robart go further than other federal judges had before him in stopping the executive orders phase-in? The judges written ruling was not very illuminating. But Mr. Robart sits in a judicial district that has been experimenting with cameras in the federal courtroom, and every minute of the oral arguments that led to his decision was recorded and released promptly after he ruled. Turns out Mr. Robart spent a great deal of time on equal-protection questions. He also appeared to be particularly skeptical that Mr. Trumps broad travel restrictions were rationally related to stopping terrorism, noting that he found little evidence that people who have been allowed into the United States from the countries singled out in the executive order pose a unique threat. A few days later, lawyers appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, arguing the same case up the appeals chain. Though those arguments were conducted via teleconference, the audio was live-streamed online on Tuesday. Interested parties and everyone with a minute to spare and a stake in the country should have been interested could listen as the lawyers tangled over some of the most high-minded concepts underpinning American freedom in one of the most consequential cases any judge will hear this year. This is not to say that the proceedings felt like scripted high drama. To those worried that cameras or microphones in the courtroom would lead to grandstanding and theatrics, Mr. Robarts hearing should have been a comfort. It was a plodding hour of court administrative business, technical questions and statutory references. The judge rarely acknowledged the cameras at one point, he explained some legal terminology for the audience out there and was otherwise businesslike. To say the federal judiciary has moved toward 21st-century transparency at a snails pace would be an insult to snails. Bringing cameras into the courtroom has been formally discussed for three decades now. The federal judiciary has conducted pilot after pilot and still is not satisfied that judges and lawyers can behave professionally with the cameras on. The Supreme Court keeps its proceedings strictly hidden from video recordings, as do many others. There are some cases in which cameras should be turned off in criminal proceedings in which witnesses would be uncomfortable, for example. But considerations such as those should not stop courts of appeals or courts considering civil cases from opening themselves to public view. Its role of administering justice and interpreting the law makes the judicial branch different from the political branches, but no less important to Americans who deserve to see literally how their government functions. A New Lisbon man was arrested in Jackson County last month for identity theft and an illegally-obtained prescription. Jacob R. Knoll was stopped by a Wisconsin State trooper on Jan. 8 for a defective license plate lamp and false evidence of registration. During the stop, Trooper Chris Saraniecki said he could smell marijuana odors coming from the car and called in Trooper Brock Rizzo, who filed the report, for assistance. Trooper Saraniecki recovered 13 pills during the search of the car and Knoll provided the trooper with false identification at that time as well. At the time of his stop, Knoll provided the information of his brother who had previously been arrested for illegal possession of drugs after Knoll had provided a false identity before. Knoll also had a warrant out for child support and was on probation and parole according to the report. He had also been previously convicted for felony burglary in Juneau County in 2014. The identity theft charge is a class H felony and because Knoll is a repeat offender, it could carry a maximum sentence of $10,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison, illegally obtaining a prescription is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of $500 in fines and up to two years and six months in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 13 at the Jackson County Courthouse. The Feb. 4 front page offered an excellent illustration of the point Tom Nichols made in his Feb. 5 Outlook essay, Chill, America. Not every Trump outrage is outrageous. I am not a fan of President Trump, and I find questionable the artifice he has employed in lieu of making a clean break from his business interests. Still, the Feb. 4 histrionic headline Eric Trumps business trip cost taxpayers $97,830 did The Post no credit and only confirmed Trump partisans view that the mainstream media is irremediably hostile to the president. Whatever one may think of Eric Trump or his father and, yes, the dubious means by which the president has distanced himself from his business interests, Eric Trump is entitled to Secret Service protection at taxpayer expense when he travels. As Mr. Nichols pointed out, if you want to fight Mr. Trump, you need to pick your battles. Breathlessly treating every element of this presidency as shocking is a cry wolf formula guaranteed to jade, especially in light of the abundant evidence from the campaign that far more outrageous statements and actions failed to derail Mr. Trumps election. Thad Moyseowicz, Alexandria So, now it has come to this: We must watch our hard-earned money be used to pay for Secret Service protection of President Trumps children as they travel around the world on various business jaunts. If the Trump companies are as successful as they purport to be, it would be honorable for them to reimburse the government for these expenses. I can only hope that the word honorable is part of the Trump family lexicon. Jack Hume, Silver Spring AT A time when democracy is eroding in several nations in Central and Eastern Europe, an encouraging countermovement has suddenly erupted in Romania, a formerly Communist nation of 20 million on the Black Sea. For the past week, huge demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of people have rocked the capital, Bucharest, and other major cities in what has been widely described as the largest political mobilization since the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989. The rallying point has been simple, direct and, given the countrys history, inspiring: a demand that the government not relax anti-corruption laws. Romanian governments have been permeated with graft at least since the days of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, but after joining the European Union in 2007 the nations political elite came under mounting pressure from Brussels to reform. The eventual result was the establishment of the independent National Anticorruption Directorate, which has been prosecuting cases at the rate of more than 1,000 a year including those of senior political figures. After handily winning a low-turnout election in December, the ruling Social Democratic Party perceived an opening to reverse the cleanup process. It first proposed a law that would pardon anyone serving less than five years for certain crimes a measure that seemingly could apply to the partys de facto leader, Liviu Dragnea, who received a two-year suspended sentence for electoral fraud. Then came a bolder stroke: On Jan. 31, the party issued a late-night emergency decree decriminalizing some forms of corruption if the amount of money involved was less than 200,000 Romanian lei, or about $48,000. That would get Mr. Dragnea off the hook on another corruption charge on which he faces trial, and allow him to become prime minister. It would also allow the government to resume the practice of buying the support of mayors and other local politicians across the country with handouts of cash. The bet that an apathetic populace would swallow this brazen maneuver proved badly misguided. Romanians almost immediately took to the streets, stirred by civil society groups, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the countrys independent elected president, who denounced the decree. By last weekend the crowds, though peaceful, had swelled to such proportions that the cabinet under Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu voted to rescind the measure. But demonstrators still returned to the streets on Sunday and Monday, seeking the resignation of ministers. The government appeared likely to survive after President Klaus Iohannis told Parliament on Tuesday that new elections were not called for, though a cabinet reshuffle may be necessary. The Social Democrats could still seek to gut the anti-corruption law through parliamentary action. But that would risk enraging an already aroused populace. Romanians have demonstrated that democratic values have taken root in the country over the past two decades, with the help of European allies and the United States. Thats an achievement that doesnt benefit only their nation: It makes Europe more stable and more safe. The Trump administration should consider such progress before proposing to trash the European Union. A winter evening in Stockholm, lights glinting in the harbor, snow falling outside. And what about us, I am asked, up here in the North? What happens to us? My Swedish companions are journalists, analysts and civil servants, people who care about their countrys national security. Though neither elite nor wealthy, they do share a worldview. They think their countrys prosperity depends on the European Union and its open markets. They also think their safety depends on the United States commitment to Europe. And since President Trump took office, they suddenly find themselves staring into an unfathomable abyss. Its not party politics that bother them: These are conservatives, by Swedish standards, and Republican presidents have suited them in the past. Trumps tweeting and bragging dont bother them that much either, though they find these unseemly. The real problem is deeper: Swedens economic and political model depends on Pax Americana, the set of American-written and American-backed rules that have governed transatlantic commerce and politics for 70 years and they fear Trump will bring Pax Americana crashing down. Nor are they alone: Variations of this conversation are taking place in every European capital and many Asian capitals too. The Swedes do have specific, parochial concerns, and one of them is Russia. For the past several years, Russia has played games with their air force and navy, buzzing Swedish air space and sending submarines along the coast. Jittery Swedes have brought back civil defense drills, and until November, it looked as though other changes were coming. Once, Swedish neutrality was a useful fiction, both for them and for the United States, because it gave Sweden a role as a negotiator. Now, Swedish support for joining NATO is at an all-time high. But they seem to be late to the party. If the U.S. president feels lukewarm about NATO, then what is the point? (The Washington Post) The health of the European Union worries them too. Sweden is a small country, but it has big companies, all of which have major investments and trading arrangements all across Europe. Brexit probably caused more distress here than anywhere else in Europe: Sweden had long counted on Britain to help make the arguments for more open, less regulated European markets. In the past, the United States made some of those arguments too. But what now? If the United States is dedicated to America First, then American diplomats are hardly going to help Sweden wave the flag for free trade, as they did in the past. What worries them most of all, though, is something else: Over and over again, they ask me about Stephen K. Bannon. But in the course of the evening, it becomes clear that theyve read more about him than I have and know more about him than I do. White supremacist ideology is alive and well in Scandinavia Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people in a 2011 attack in Norway, is its most famous exponent. Sweden also has a home-grown populist party, the Sweden Democrats, who share Bannons pro-Russian and anti-Muslim sympathies. My Swedish companions think their country has absorbed and assimilated large numbers of refugees in the past couple of years pretty well, but of course there are tensions, and tensions can be exploited. Will the U.S. administration, consciously or unconsciously, now help Nordic nationalists make their case? None of my companions go as far as the extraordinary editorial in the German magazine Der Spiegel, which has just called on Germans to stand up for what is important: democracy, freedom, the West and its alliances, and which asks Europeans to start planning political and economic defenses against Americas dangerous president. But, yes, these Swedes would like to create new forms of European security. A Baltic-Nordic security pact should be on the table. European defense structures should get attention and investment. The world is more dangerous than they imagined; the alliances and institutions they have long relied upon may be crumbling. We are on our own here, one of them writes to me the next day. Which pretty much sums up how the rest of Americas allies feel right now too. Read more from Anne Applebaums archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook. In his Feb. 3 op-ed, Thank God for Harry Reid, Charles Krauthammer wrote, In a serious body, a serious rule change requires a serious supermajority. . . . Otherwise you have rendered the place lawless. If in any given session you can summon up the days majority to change the institutions fundamental rules, there are no rules. But, didnt the GOP-controlled Senate do just that when it voted by majority to override several Democratic boycotts of confirmation hearings? Is it only bad if the Democrats do it? Is that the lesson Im apparently slow to learn? Susan R. Paisner, Silver Spring The technique has been called (by this columnist) immunity through profusion. By keeping the molten lava of falsehoods flowing, the volcano that is Donald Trump can inundate the public and overwhelm his auditors capacity to produce a comparable flow of corrections. This technique was on display the other day when the president met with some sheriffs. He treated them to a whopper that is one of his hardy perennials, market-tested during the campaign: He said the U.S. murder rate is the highest its been in 47 years. (Not even close: The rate killings per 100,000 residents is far below the rates in the 1970s and 1980s.) This Trump Truth (Sen. Eugene McCarthys axiom: Anything said three times in Washington becomes a fact) distracted attention from his assertion to the sheriffs that there is no reason to reform law enforcements civil forfeiture practices. There is no reason for the sheriffs to want to reform a racket that lines their pockets. For the rest of us, strengthening the rule of law and eliminating moral hazard are each sufficient reasons. Civil forfeiture is the power to seize property suspected of being produced by, or involved in, crime. If property is suspected of being involved in criminal activity, law enforcement can seize it. Once seized, the propertys owners bear the burden of proving that they were not involved in such activity, which can be a costly and protracted procedure. So, civil forfeiture proceeds on the guilty-until-proven-innocent principle. Civil forfeiture forces property owners, often people of modest means, to hire lawyers and do battle against a government with unlimited resources. And here is why the sheriffs probably purred contentedly when Trump endorsed civil forfeiture law if something so devoid of due process can be dignified as law: Predatory law enforcement agencies can pocket the proceeds from the sale of property they seize. President Trump meets with county sheriffs in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Feb. 7. (Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) The Constitutions Fifth Amendment says property shall not be taken without just compensation, and the 14th Amendment says it shall not be taken without due process of law. President Trump, 18 days from having sworn to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, sympathized with the sheriffs complaint that they are being pressured to reform civil forfeiture practices. These practices are a textbook example of moral hazard of an incentive for perverse behavior. They give law enforcement a financial interest in the outcome of cases. It is conceivable that Trumps studiousness has been stretched too thin to encompass the facts of civil asset forfeiture. He says he would like to look into it. Meanwhile, however, he is for it because he assumes bad people are behind the pressure for reform. And speaking of a Texas state legislator who favors reform, Trump said, Well destroy his career. Just another day on Americas steep ascending path back to greatness. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. It is early morning and the kids at Blair-Taylor are heading to their classrooms to start their day. Each classroom has a smiling teachers face in it and has fun activities on the wall with a full day of learning planned. For some children within the school, though, they veer right into three special classrooms, home to the SoSET Charter School. School choice continues to be a huge national debate, but its ramifications for school districts in Jackson County and surrounding areas is real, causing some schools to lose state aid while others have chosen to innovate. The School of Science, Engineering and Technology, or the SoSET Charter School, has about 60 students enrolled in it at Blair-Taylor from first to sixth grades, forming three classrooms. We chose to send our children to the SoSET Charter School because it seemed to have more individualized learning, smaller class sizes and the opportunity to advance as warranted, said Chrissy Boe, who has two children attending the charter school. With the recent controversy surrounding Betsy DeVos being approved as Trumps secretary of education pick, many parents continue to have conversations about their childrens education, with each side telling them which way is the best. The debate involves terms like vouchers, open enrollment and school choice, all of which are common phrases for DeVos and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker when talking about education. In Wisconsin, there are several choices when parents are deciding where their children should go to school. You can go to the local public school within your district, open enroll in a nearby school or attend a private or charter school. With the opening of the SoSET Charter School in 2004, the Blair-Taylor School District made school choice easier for the parents of their students by making it available within the same walls. Basically we have a school within a school, said Jeff Eide, superintendent of the Blair-Taylor School District while describing the SoSET Charter School. Their focus is the same in regards to the end product, but how they are delivering it is sometimes different. The main difference between the two elementary schools at Blair-Taylor is in how each teaches their students. The standard Blair-Taylor Elementary School teaches students using the typical structure you would expect out of a classroom, which works well for most students. While the typical classroom structure works well for most students, the SoSET Charter School works to teach students using a different approach that works well for them, while also focusing on science, engineering and technology. It is an option for parents to look at if theyd like to, said Eide, who says that the idea originally started because some staff from Blair-Taylor were interested in having a charter school. Instead of creating a new charter school separate of the current infrastructure, the staff approached the Blair-Taylor School District to ask whether the district was interested in the charter school being a part of the district. The district liked the idea and applied for a grant to make it happen. Not only was this option better for some students, it also had the benefit that it didnt cut the budget for the Blair-Taylor School District. All public schools receive money from the state for each child who attends the school, even those students who choose to open enroll at the school. Many parents choose to open enroll their students in schools outside of their district as opposed to them attending the school within their district. The Department of Public Instruction states more than 55,000 students transferred through open enrollment during the 2015-2016 school year, each child moving $6,748 to the school the student was enrolled with, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for the 2016-2017 school year. Specific programs or offerings that some schools provide sets them apart from some other districts, which may be why some families choose to open enroll into their district, said Dr. Shelly Severson, superintendent of the Black River Falls School District. We have quite a few students that open enroll into Black River Falls because they live just outside our borders or maybe their family did live here once. Besides open enrollment, there are several other options for children to attend schools, all of which take aid away from public schools. Severson says one of the biggest draws from funding for the Black River Falls School District is virtual schools, which are popping up more and more around the state allowing students to attend school using the internet, providing several logistical benefits to the family. One of our biggest losses is students who were raised in the school district of Black River Falls, but for whatever reason they decided they want to go 100 percent to virtual schools, Severson said. We have to send the bulk of our state aid for that student to the virtual school. While virtual schools have been a problem for Black River Falls, Severson does admit that vouchers, while troubling for some school districts, have not appeared to be a problem for the district at this point. Vouchers allow parents to take the funding away from a public school and use it as tuition for their child at a private or parochial school. I get very concerned when public tax dollars are sent to parochial schools because I just feel like it is against the whole foundation of public education. There is a free and appropriate public education provided to every student and if a family decides to do something outside of that, I feel like any religious education should be on that parents dime, not on the public taxpayers dime, said Severson. The Independence school district in Trempealeau County is the closest example of a school district that has to compete regularly with a parochial school in its back yard, something Barry Schmitt, the Independence School District superintendent and high school principal, acknowledges has affected their bottom line. We are not getting to count the students that go to the parochial school in the funding formula for state aid, said Schmitt, whose enrollment is 392 students for kindergarten through 12th grade. But in the same sense we dont have to provide instructional materials or personnel for those students. If we did absorb those students, our current facility probably wouldnt be large enough. Schmitt estimates that the local parochial school, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, takes 10 kids per grade from the Independence School District for kindergarten through eighth grades. Once students complete eighth grade, they go to high school in their respective district. A large number of our residents in this district choose private education for their children and we are not ones to judge parents as to what they feel is the best education system for their children, said Schmitt, adding that he sees no educational concerns when both groups are brought together in high school. I dont know what the relationships are with public and private schools in other districts, but I feel the relationship we have between the two schools here in Independence has always been a very cooperative and positive relationship, Schmitt said. While the private versus parochial dynamic has been going on for several generations at the Independence School District, school choice has really bubbled over in the last 10 years on a national scale. With all of these school choices available to the Boe family, she is glad that the option they have chosen is available. I am happy with our decision because the teachers are remarkable and the kids enjoy the engineering focus, Boe said. If you are a parent and are interested in open enrollment for your children, the application period runs from Feb. 6 through April 28 for the 2017-2018 school year. For more information about open enrollment, visit the Wisconsin Public School Open Enrollment website at dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) talks to reporters the morning after being silenced in the Senate chamber during the confirmation process for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), President Trumps nominee for attorney general. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post) A sharply divided Senate confirmed President Trumps nominee for attorney general Wednesday, capping an ugly partisan fight and revealing how deep the discord has grown between Republicans and Democrats at the dawn of Trumps presidency. The day after an unusually tense conflict on the Senate floor, the chamber voted 52 to 47 on Wednesday evening to clear Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), whose record on civil and voting rights as a federal prosecutor and state attorney general has long been criticized. Sessions won confirmation almost exclusively along party lines. Sen. Joe Manchin III (W.Va.) was the only Democrat who supported him, and no Republican voted against him. Sessions voted present. In remarks after his confirmation, Sessions mentioned the heated debate surrounding him and said he hoped the intensity of the last few weeks would give way to better relations in the Senate. Trumps victory came after a bruising confirmation process for Sessions and other Cabinet nominees, which Democrats have used to amplify their concerns about the presidents agenda even as they have fallen short of derailing any nominees. These proxy battles have generated friction in the traditionally cordial upper chamber, as revealed Tuesday evening when Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) rebuked Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), accusing her of breaking a Senate rule against impugning a fellow senators character and blocking her from speaking for the remainder of the Sessions debate. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) In doing so, McConnell asserted his control over a legislative body that is increasingly at risk of veering from normal protocol. But he also sparked a backlash, with accusations of sexism and selective use of an obscure Senate rule bouncing around social media for much of Wednesday. Ahead of the final vote, Democratic senators arrived one after another in the chamber Wednesday to criticize McConnell, particularly for this statement late Tuesday: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Outside the Senate, liberals gleefully thanked McConnell for elevating Warren, one of the Democratic Partys biggest stars, and handing her a slogan for a potential 2020 presidential bid. I think Leader McConnell owes Senator Warren an apology, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a floor speech Wednesday. He and Democrats were particularly chagrined that a Senate rule could be invoked to block criticism of someone who is up for confirmation before the body. [McConnell gives Warrens 2020 presidential campaign a boost] Warren unleashed a tweetstorm of displeasure following Sessionss confirmationWednesday night, saying the senator and the GOP senators who supported him will hear from her and all of us if Sessions makes the tiniest attempt to bring his racism, sexism & bigotry to the Justice Department. She said all senators who voted to put Sessionss radical hatred into power would hear from the opposition. Consider this MY warning: We wont be silent, Warren tweeted. We will persist. While Democrats couldnt block Sessionss confirmation, there may have been other upsides to the fireworks: rallying their liberal base by demonstrating a willingness to fight Republicans and publicly scrutinize Trumps team. We didnt go into this hoping just to tell a story. We wanted to beat one or two of these nominees, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). And it doesnt look like were going to do that. But theres value in telling the story. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said that the intense focus Democrats put on Sessions will make the public much more likely to watch to see if hes independent of the president or just a shill for the president. The flare-up over Warrens remarks began as she attempted to read a statement by Coretta Scott King, the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., in opposition to Sessionss 1986 nomination for a slot as a federal district court judge. The letter accused Sessions of using his role at the time as a U.S. attorney to undermine voting rights. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters, wrote King, who died in 2006. Several Democrats took to the Senate floor Wednesday to reread a portion of that statement in solidarity with Warren. Still banned from floor, but spoke w/ civil rights leaders this AM to say: Coretta Scott King will not be silenced, Warren told more than 1.8 million Twitter followers Wednesday morning. Republicans were not happy with Warrens actions. In an interview on Fox News, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) accused his Democratic colleague of advancing false claims about Sessions and sought to remind Americans that Southern Democrats were the party of the Ku Klux Klan and spearheaded segregation laws decades ago. The Democrats are angry and theyre out of their minds. . . . Theyre just foaming at the mouth, practically, Cruz said. Cruz once called McConnell a liar on the Senate floor, and he was not rebuked. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) argued that Republicans were hypocrites. They had no qualms about silencing Warren, he argued, even as they have declined to rebuke Trump for aggressively lobbing insults at his critics. My Republican colleagues can hardly summon a note of disapproval for an administration that insults a federal judge, tells the news media to shut up, offhandedly threatens a legislators career and seems to invent new dimensions of falsehood each and every day, Schumer said. I hope that this anti-free-speech attitude is not traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue to our great chamber. Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), the Senates only African American Republican, offered a deeply personal defense of Sessions, who he said had earned my support. Scott read social-media messages he had received arguing that he had let black people down with his support for Sessions. I left out all the ones that used the n-word, Scott said in a floor speech to which at least nine of his Republican colleagues came to watch. Scott said he didnt take issue with Warrens attempt to read Kings words, but rather with her reading of a statement by Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal senator from Massachusetts who died in 2009. The Senate needs to function. We need to have comity in this body, Scott said. After his confirmation Wednesday, Sessions recalled saying that Kennedys 1986 criticism, which came during his unsuccessful nomination to be a federal judge, breaks my heart. Early Wednesday, McConnell appeared keen on trying to move past the discord, focusing his remarks on the Senate floor on how the chamber had come together to approve several of Trumps Cabinet picks. He singled out Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as an example, even though her confirmation required a rare vote from Vice President Pence to break a tie Tuesday, after two Republicans decided she was unqualified for the job. We came together yesterday to confirm Betsy DeVos as secretary of education so she can get to work improving our schools and putting students first, McConnell said. Democrats signaled early that the deference normally afforded to senators nominated to the Cabinet was unlikely to be extended to Sessions. Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.), one of two African American Democrats in the Senate, testified against him during a confirmation hearing marking the first time a senator had done so against a chamber colleague. Democrats concerns about Sessionss record on civil rights and voting rights coincide with broader concerns about Trump on the same front. They have expressed alarm about Trumps ban on refugees and foreign nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries, currently tied up in court, and about his unsubstantiated assertions of massive voter fraud in the election. [Trumps pick for attorney general is shadowed by race and history] Sessions became Trumps sixth Cabinet-level nominee to win confirmation, putting him well behind the pace of President Barack Obama in 2009. Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump in February 2016, and his conservative views have shaped many of the administrations early policies, including on immigration. In his confirmation hearing last month, Sessions repeatedly vowed to put the law above his personal views. He said he would abide by the Supreme Court decision underpinning abortion rights and a court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Sessions has repeatedly declined to say whether he would recuse himself from an investigation involving Trump associates or possible links to Russias interference in the presidential election; he said he would seek the recommendations of ethics officials and value them significantly in making a decision. Sessions confirmation leaves a vacancy that will be filled by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican. That term ends in 2018. For McConnell, a devoted follower of Senate tradition, Tuesday night served as an opportunity to project a restoration of some structure to a chamber that has experienced some chaotic moments of late and is at risk of further disorder. Democrats have used procedural tactics including boycotting committee votes to stall Trumps nominees, whom they have labeled a controversial lot. Meanwhile, Trump has urged McConnell to dramatically change Senate rules and go nuclear if Democrats do not back down from their resistance against his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch. The nuclear option would entail allowing Gorsuch to be confirmed with a simple majority, rather than requiring a 60-vote threshold to end a filibuster. McConnell is widely believed to want to avoid eliminating the filibuster, a Senate rule that demands bipartisanship and can serve to strengthen big policy initiatives and that many view as a bedrock of the upper chambers civility. His effort to silence Warren on Tuesday night was seen in some corners as similarly protecting the integrity of the Senate. The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, McConnell said Tuesday night before setting up roll-call votes on the matter. Republicans agreed, voting 49 to 43 along party lines, that Warren had run afoul of Rule 19 by reading anti-Sessions statements from King and Kennedy. After the Sessions nomination vote, Republicans moved forward with the confirmation of Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), Trumps nominee for secretary of health and human services, another figure Democrats have aggressively criticized. A final vote on Price was expected to happen early Friday morning. Paul Kane, Ellen Nakashima, Ed OKeefe and David Weigel contributed to this report. Read more at PowerPost House Democrats kicked off a three-day policy retreat on Wednesday by presenting themselves despite their minority status as champions for the majority of voters who did not vote for President Trump. President Trump is exactly who we thought he is: incompetent and in some cases, in terms of our national security, dangerous, said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) As long as that president continues down this path, there is nothing Democrats can work with him on. The annual issues conference, House Democrats first with control of neither Congress nor the White House since 2006, unfolded at a waterfront hotel in Pelosis native Baltimore. Members of Congress were set to hear from a series of authors, labor organizers, think tankers and fellow politicians about why they had lost the 2016 election. Other sessions would home in on how to oppose Trump with an agenda of their own. Weve got to have some honest conversations, said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who rang warning bells about how her party was on track to lose blue states in the Midwest. [I said Clinton was in trouble with the voters I represent. Democrats didnt listen.] : Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) delivers remarks while attending an opening news conference during the House Democratic caucus "Issues Conference" on February 8, 2017 in Baltimore, Md. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images) Well fight Trump where we gotta fight him, press back where we gotta press back, but then we gotta keep pivoting to what our vision for the country is, said Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who mounted a failed bid against Pelosi for minority leader after the 2016 defeat. I think people are gonna get whiplash with Trump. Rank-and-file Democrats volunteered a number of ideas to resist Trump, capitalizing on the energy being seen across the country from liberal activists and others at congressional town halls, lawmakers offices and airports after Trumps travel ban was issued. They want to think about new ways to communicate, given Trumps unorthodox tweets, focus on changes to the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank financial regulations. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), for instance, believes Trumps broken promises will add up. Its great, its exhilarating, but I realized just now that the last three weekends, Ive spoken at rallies of 10,000 people or more, Dingell said. And none of them had been organized the week before. Progressive groups are riding so high, in fact, that they condemned the fact that a representative of the centrist group Third Way has a speaking slot at the retreat on Wednesday night. This weeks Democratic retreat will be the 15th under Pelosi and the second after an election in which the party gained seats but fell short of taking back the House. In 2012, Democrats increased their numbers by eight, but were hindered by a map that gerrymandered most of the Midwest, as well as North Carolina and Virginia, in favor of Republicans. In 2016, they gained six seats, putting them about where they were after the partys landslide 2010 defeat. On Thursday, members will hear preliminary findings of a red team-style review of the partys House campaign arm after the underwhelming 2016 election results. House leaders, including Pelosi, had predicted double-digit gains and raised the possibility that Democrats could win the 30 seats they needed to reclaim the majority. Instead, their half-dozen wins were largely because of court-ordered redistricting. Its just an honest assessment of what we do well, and what we need to work on, simple as that, said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), who is leading the review and declined to discuss the findings in detail. Two people familiar with the preliminary report but not authorized to comment on it expect the review to be critical of some Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee practices, including some long-standing relationships with outside consultants. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), the DCCCs chairman, is scheduled to follow that presentation with an outline of the committees plans for 2018, including encouraging signs in candidate recruiting. Theyre coming out of the woodwork, Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.), the committees recruiting chairman, said Tuesday. One prized target who had fended off Democratic recruiters during the 2016 cycle, he said, called him days after the election and said, in his words, that wild horses couldnt drag me away from a 2018 run. But the hard memory of Trumps win which few Democrats saw coming has lasted, and influenced how Democrats are thinking about opposing a president who polls poorly across the country but stronger in swing seats. He tweets, said Rep. Cedric L Richmond (D-La.), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Others tweet back at him. I dont think there are rules of engagement like there used to be. People need to know were hearing them, and that were working on the issues that are important to them, not the issues that are polling well. Swalwell called Trump masterful at throwing a hundred balls in a hundred directions, said hed like to see Democrats concentrate on defending Obama-era milestones such as the Affordable Care Act and Dodd-Frank. He urged independent investigations into Trumps ties to Russia, the crafting of a forward-looking economic message and holding Trump responsible for his campaign promises. I think this stuff adds up, said Swalwell, who chairs a group of younger Democratic lawmakers called the Future Forum. He may have promised 1,200 Carrier jobs and delivered 800; he may have promised 4 percent GDP [growth] and its around 2 percent. I think just kind of going at those individually may not resonate as much with folks, but . . . those broken promises will add up, and I think that may be the undoing. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), a freshman who represents much of Prince Georges County, said that he and his colleagues were looking for buy-in on ideas they could take back home, like workforce training. Probably the most important thing is coming out with a proactive, positive agenda, Brown said. My hope is that we come out of it with a clear vision and an agenda, and a set of action items. Read more at PowerPost President Trump shakes hands with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) during Republican congressional retreat on Jan. 26 in Philadelphia. Trumps remarks on sensitive policy matters have often bewildered the lawmakers, including Ryan, who are trying to enact his agenda. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) When President Trump told Fox News Channel host Bill OReilly recently that the rollout of a Republican health-care plan would maybe . . . take till sometime into next year, he contradicted many congressional Republicans who have promised a swift repeal of the Affordable Care Act. And they followed what has become an uncomfortably common routine: making sense of his words, figuring out how they mesh with their own promises and getting back to work. I dont really know what hes referring to in terms of a year, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), the No. 2 Senate leader. Hopefully we will get our replacement plan in place well before that. Said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Republican conference chairman: When I heard that timeline, I was like, Okay, well, thats thats another timeline. Well factor that in. Said Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi (R-Ohio), chairman of a key subcommittee assembling the health plan: He doesnt know what he doesnt know, with respect to the legislative process. (Obtained by The Washington Post) It was only the latest example of Trump making an off-the-cuff statement on a sensitive policy matter that has bewildered the Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill who are working to implement his and their agenda. In the case of health care, Trump has frustrated GOP leaders who have been struggling to keep their party together on a complicated and potentially disruptive plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) only to watch Trump seem to overpromise and step on their carefully crafted messaging. There are significant policy disagreements among Republicans on health care and other issues, but Trumps musings have often served to heighten those conflicts, to GOP leaders dismay. [Behind closed doors, Republican lawmakers fret about how to repeal Obamacare] Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) went to the Senate floor Monday to lash out at an obsession with advancing a narrative of a deeply divided Republican majority. Sure, there are details that need to be worked out, both on the process and the substance on things like tax reform, trade and, of course, health-care reform, he said. But, by and large, Republicans all have the same ultimate goals for these key areas. Although the goals may be similar, their language has often diverged. During the presidential transition, Republican lawmakers began speaking about their health-care plans in terms of universal access a positive-sounding alternative to the universal-coverage aims of the ACA. But in a Jan. 15 interview with The Washington Post, Trump promised insurance for everybody a phrase that evokes the single-payer system Republicans detest rather than the free-market-oriented solutions they have tended to favor. Trump also, in that interview, warned Congress not to get cold feet because the people will not let that happen and said he has a health-care plan very much formulated down to the final strokes. We havent put it in quite yet, but were going to be doing it soon, he said. The sense of urgency was reflected in a three-pronged plan party leaders presented to the GOP rank and file at a retreat in Philadelphia last month. In laying out a 200-day congressional agenda, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) said that a blueprint would be rolled out within weeks, and that the House would pass a special fast-track bill repealing the ACA and beginning the replacement process no later than the end of March. Meanwhile, Ryan and other leaders said, the Trump administration would be moving to undo federal regulations tied to the ACA and advancing other pieces of the replacement through congressional committees. Trumps remarks to OReilly, aired to an unusually large audience before the Super Bowl broadcast Sunday on Fox, seemed to extend that timeline by months. [OReilly told Trump that Putin is a killer. Trumps reply: You think our country is so innocent?] Maybe itll take till sometime into next year, but were certainly going to be in the process, he said, adding: I think that, yes, I would like to say by the end of the year, at least the rudiments, but we should have something within the year and the following year, he said. As with Trumps previous comments on a number of issues including health care, border security and immigration, GOP congressional leaders moved to shoehorn what he had said into their plans. I think theres a little confusion here, Ryan told reporters Tuesday, suggesting that Trump was referring to the transition period necessary to implement the GOP health-care plan. As far as legislating is concerned, were going to do our legislating this year. White House press secretary Sean Spicer endorsed that reading later Tuesday: I think we can have this done legislatively sooner rather than later. But I think the implementation of a lot of the pieces may take a little bit longer. A similar dynamic has played out on tax reform, another politically hairy endeavor that has been the subject of intense behind-the-scenes talks between the Trump administration and congressional leaders. Ryan and other House leaders have pushed a corporate tax model known as border adjustment, where companies can deduct the costs of exported goods but not imported goods from their taxable income, as an alternative to the border tariff that Trump has frequently threatened to level on U.S. companies that move production overseas. On the evening of Jan. 9, Vice President Pence and key Trump advisers including Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Stephen K. Bannon, the presidents chief strategist, spent more than two hours in the speakers office as Ryan made the case for border adjustment. Ryan and aides left the meeting thinking that Trump would come around to the idea. [A tax that could pay for Trumps wish list is already dividing the GOP] But a week later, Trump blindsided Ryan and other House leaders when he told the Wall Street Journal that he found the proposal too complicated. Anytime I hear border adjustment, I dont love it, he said. Because usually it means were going to get adjusted into a bad deal. Thats what happens. Since then, however, Trump appears to have softened somewhat. The next week, he delivered remarks at the GOP retreat promising a tax reform bill that will reduce our trade deficits, increase American exports and will generate revenue from Mexico. Ryans aides pointed to those comments as well as remarks that day from Spicer pointing to a plan using comprehensive tax reform as a means to tax imports from countries that we have a trade deficit from as evidence that Trump has endorsed border adjustment. Several Republicans shrugged off Trumps most recent remarks as the imprecision of a political novice. Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.), a key player in health-care discussions, said he plans to rely on personal interactions he has had with Trump, Pence and their aides to guide legislation rather than Trumps public pronouncements. I continue to use that as the basis for my plan, he said. Said Rep. Roger Williams (Tex.): Hes the president, and hes got maybe a calendar hes looking at, but I can tell you: Its our job. I think the emphasis should be on getting this thing done now, because thats what the American people want. Tiberi, chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on health, said Trump may not be aware of the political implications of pushing the health-care issue into 2018 that is, just ahead of the midterm elections. Theres a lot of anxiety already out there. I think the longer we wait, the more difficult it becomes, so I think wed rather do it sooner rather than later, he said. Obviously, hes the president, but you kind of put it in perspective: Hes only in his second full week, and he hasnt been around this process for very long. Read more at PowerPost Somali lawmakers wait for their turn to cast their ballots during the presidential vote at the airport on Wednesday in Mogadishu. (Feisal Omar/Reuters) A former prime minister who holds dual Somali-U.S. citizenship was declared Somalias new president Wednesday, immediately taking the oath of office as the long-chaotic country moved toward its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded defeat to former prime minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo after two rounds of voting, saying that history was made; we have taken this path to democracy. Fears of attacks by extremist group al-Shabab limited the election to members of the upper and lower houses of parliament instead of the population at large. Lawmakers voted at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu, while a security lockdown closed the international airport. Thousands of cheering Somalis quickly poured into the streets in jubilation, chanting the new presidents name. Cheering soldiers fired into the air. Somalia will be another Somalia soon, said Ahmed Ali, a police officer celebrating in the crowd. Mohamud held a slight lead over Farmajo, 88 votes to 72, after the first round of 21 candidates, but Farmajo won the second round among the three candidates remaining, with 184 votes to Mohamuds 97. A Somali lawmaker casts her ballot during the presidential vote at the airport in Mogadishu. (Feisal Omar/Reuters) This victory belongs to Somali people, and this is the beginning of the era of the unity, the democracy of Somalia and the beginning of the fight against corruption, Farmajo said. There is a daunting task ahead of me, and I know that. Farmajo, who is in his mid-50s and holds degrees from the State University of New York in Buffalo, was prime minister for eight months before leaving the post in 2011. When he was in office, al-Shabab was expelled from Mogadishu, his campaign biography says. He had lived in the United States since 1985, when he was sent there with Somalias foreign affairs ministry. Somalia began to fall apart in 1991, when warlords ousted dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other. Years of conflict and al-Shabab attacks, along with famine, left this Horn of Africa country of about 12 million people largely shattered. Across Mogadishu, Somalis had gathered around TV screens at cafes and homes, eagerly watching the vote. We need an honest leader who can help us move forward, said Ahmed Hassan, a 26-year-old university student. Somalias instability landed it among the seven Muslim-majority countries affected by President Trumps executive order on immigration, even though its government has been an increasingly important partner for the U.S. military on counterterrorism efforts, including drone strikes against al-Shabab leaders. In a sign of the dangers that remain in Mogadishu, two mortar rounds fired by suspected extremists late Tuesday hit near the election venue. There were no such attacks reported in the capital Wednesday and no public statements by al-Shabab. The international community pushed Somalia to hold the election as a symbol of strength, with the U.S. pouring in hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years for political and economic recovery. But the election was marred by reports of widespread graft in a country recently ranked as the worlds most corrupt by Transparency International. The legislators voting 275 members of the lower legislative house and 54 senators were selected by the countrys powerful, intricate network of clans. Weeks ago, a joint statement by the United Nations, the United States, European Union and others warned of egregious cases of abuse of the electoral process. With reports of votes being sold for up to $30,000 apiece, This is probably the most expensive election, per vote, in history, the Mogadishu-based anti-corruption group Marqaati said in a report released Tuesday. We encourage Somalias new administration to take credible steps to stamp out corruption and to establish strong electoral institutions to enable a free and fair one-person, one-vote poll in 2020, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said as the United States congratulated Farmajo. Tremendous challenges remain for Somalia and its new president, even beyond graft, al-Shabab attacks and an economy propped up in part by the countrys diaspora of more than 2 million people. An African Union peacekeeping force of more than 20,000 is making plans to pull out of the country by the end of 2020, leaving the job to national security forces that observers have said remain underprepared. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees are under pressure to return home as neighboring Kenyas government seeks to close the worlds largest refugee camp, Dadaab, by the end of May. Human rights groups have warned that Somalia is hardly equipped to support the returnees especially as the United Nations and others warn that drought is creating a humanitarian crisis for almost 3 million Somalis. An Afghan woman walks past a vehicle at the International Committee of the Red Cross office in Kabul in 2008. (Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images) Six staffers of the International Committee of the Red Cross were killed and two others are missing after their convoy was ambushed by unidentified gunmen in northern Afghanistan, the humanitarian agency said Wednesday. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest against the ICRC in Afghanistan, but local officials blamed the Islamic State, which is known to have militants operating in the area. The Taliban, which also is fighting the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, denied any involvement in the ambush. The attack underscored the deterioration of security in Afghanistan, where insurgents have been battling Afghan government and foreign forces since the Taliban was driven from power in late 2001. [U.N. says civilian toll in Afghanistan is highest in years] The Islamic State claimed responsibility Wednesday for a separate attack a suicide bombing Tuesday evening that killed at least 22 people outside Afghanistans Supreme Court in Kabul, news agencies reported. The ICRC said the attack on its personnel occurred near Shebergan, capital of the northern province of Jowzjan. The province bordering Turkmenistan has been known as one of a handful of relatively secure areas in northern Afghanistan. The team of five field officers and three drivers was in a convoy to deliver livestock materials in an area south of Shebergan, the ICRC said in a statement. An Afghan employee of the ICRC said the team was trying to help people affected by this weeks heavy snowfall in the region. [Heavy snow causes scores of deaths in Afghanistan] This is a despicable act. Nothing can justify the murder of our colleagues and dear friends, said Monica Zanarelli, head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan. The ICRC later said it was temporarily suspending operations in Afghanistan, putting its fourth-largest humanitarian program on hold. Thomas Glass, an ICRC spokesman in Kabul, described the attack as the deadliest for the organization in Afghanistan since it began working in the country 30 years ago. In December, a Spanish employee of the ICRC was kidnapped in the restive province of Kunduz. He was freed safely after a month of captivity. Taliban insurgents denied responsibility for that abduction as well. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid promised that the group would assist in finding the perpetrators, Reuters news agency reported. The Jowzjan provincial police chief, Rahmatullah Turkistani, said the ambush was probably the work of Islamic State militants, the Associated Press reported. The provincial governor, Lotfullah Azizi, told Reuters that the Islamic State is very active in that area. [The Islamic State is gaining ground in Afghanistan] If the groups responsibility is confirmed, the ambush would mark the first known Islamic State attack on an international organization in Afghanistan since its emergence in the country in late 2014. The Islamic States activities have been mostly confined to eastern areas of Afghanistan, although it has claimed deadly attacks this year against Shiites, mostly in Kabul. Affiliates of the group are largely made up of Pakistani militants driven into Afghanistan after a military crackdown in their country, according to Afghan officials. The Islamic State tends to resort to exceptional attacks at the start of its emergence for the sake of propaganda, said Bashir Bezhan, an Afghan analyst. It wants to show its presence through such an attack, cause concern among people, particularly among aid groups, and frighten them to pack and go. William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news A 2015 post on Naomi Watanabes Instagram from Ibiza. So . . . this hot guy on the boat started talking to me in Spanish, and I totally thought he was hitting on me. I gave him a smile only to find out that he just wanted to tell me I had lipstick on my teeth. I checked the mirror and saw that I had a [s---] ton of lipstick, as if I had eaten one stick whole, smeared on my front teeth. I just jumped straight into the ocean. (Courtesy of Naomi Watanabe) Naomi Watanabe is huge in Japan. Shes got almost 6 million followers on Instagram, shes a regular on television shows and magazine covers, she has her own fashion line, and a Japanese railway company even created a Naomi train last year. Shes also literally huge. At 220 pounds, the 29-year-old comedian is double the average weight of Japanese women her age. My ideal body is that of a sumo wrestler big but muscular, Watanabe said with a laugh during an interview at a production company studio in Tokyo, where she had been doing a photo shoot for an upcoming Thomas the Tank Engine movie in which she does a voice-over. A classic Naomi Watanabe Instagram post: cute hair, cute outfit, cute animal. With her confidence and self-deprecation, Watanabe has earned almost 6 million Instagram followers. (Courtesy of Naomi Watanabe) In this country of overwhelmingly thin women most fashionable stores dont even stock sizes above M, and thats a Japanese M Watanabe is challenging deeply ingrained perceptions about body image, showing that its possible to be confident and happy even if you arent svelte. Japan is not like the U.S. You dont see many plus-sized women around here, she said, this day sporting pink and blue curls through her long pigtails. But rather than trying to change other peoples minds, I would like to help change the minds of bigger women, to help them feel good about themselves. Bigger women are definitely in the minority in Japan. Only 3 percent of Japanese women are classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization, compared with 34.9 percent in the United States. The government even has a law setting out maximum waist sizes for company employees over the age of 40: 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. Those with wider girths are ordered to attend nutrition and exercise lessons. But many young women are dangerously thin. Government health data shows that 22 percent of Japanese women in their 20s can be categorized as underweight or malnourished. Watanabe offers another way. Shes not promoting weight gain but instead wants to encourage body positivity. And she delivers her message in hilarious Technicolor on Instagram. She posts photos of herself in crazy outfits or funny poses with ice cream, or trying to eat people. While in Milan, where she appeared at Fashion Week for the Italian brand Furla, she posted a photo of her feet on the scale, approaching 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds. Um . . . Did I eat too much pizza? I believe I weighed 45 kg before I came to Milan. Another photo, posted on her 29th birthday, showed her in a swimming pool wearing a pink bathing suit with bagels on the breasts. It got more than 620,000 likes, earning her the title Most Valued Instagrammer in Japan last year, with the tech company saying her daring yet humorous expressions had captured wide attention. The photo that Watanabe posted to mark her 29th birthday last year, which earned her the title of Most Valued Instagrammer in Japan. (Courtesy of Naomi Watanabe) Shunning the Japanese desire to be thin, Watanabe posted this photo of her feet on the scale during a trip to Italy. (Courtesy of Naomi Watanabe) It would be an understatement to say that Watanabe doesnt take herself too seriously. Asked who shed want to play her in a film, she said Arnold Schwarzenegger or perhaps John Travolta, since he can sing and dance. She told a Japanese fashion blog that her workout routine involves lying on her back, eating curry and rice while doing leg lifts. She was also named one of Vogue Japans Women of the Year in 2016, partly because shed set clear goals and achieved them, notably going on a world tour to Los Angeles, New York and Taipei last year. Watanabe, who was born to a Taiwanese mother and Japanese father who divorced when she was young, had always wanted to be a comedian. A post from 2011, when Watanabes star was rising. She has made it her mission to show that plus-sized women can love fashion and have a positive body image, even in a country that prizes thinness. (Courtesy of Naomi Watanabe) Against her mothers wishes, she made her debut when she was 18. Three years later, she got her big break, appearing on a television show doing an outrageous Beyonce impersonation. She soon became a regular on Japanese shows, lip-syncing to Crazy in Love and earning the title Japans Beyonce. Her repertoire now includes Beyonces Super Bowl routine, complete with black leather costume, and Lady Gaga impersonations. In 2013, she became a regular cover girl for a new magazine aimed at plus-size women, part of a trend to make pocchari marshmallow girls more accepted. The following year she launched her own clothing brand, called Punyus, a play on the Japanese word for squishy or bouncy. In Japan, larger-sized women couldnt wear what they wanted. They couldnt wear skirts, they would wear only black and would never show any skin, Watanabe said. Of course, larger women want to be fashionable, too, but there werent any fashionable clothes for us. So she started Punyus, offering a range of cool styles, from street and hip-hop to kawaii Japanese cute. Sometimes women come up to me in the street and start crying, saying, Thanks to you, I have clothes that make me feel cool, she said. On Instagram, followers say theyre encouraged by Watanabe. I want to learn from you and have more self-confidence, wrote Hitomi Yamamura on one recent photo that Watanabe posted. The comedian says shes noticed some change in attitudes even in the past few years. Japanese women are changing, and there are loads more women who can express themselves and many fewer women who just say yes to everything like before, she said. I see more women becoming superstrong and confident, and it helps me grow, too. Still, Watanabe shies away from calling herself a feminist. Im not like Beyonce, being a powerful woman, she said, letting out a roar and raising her arm as if to flex her muscles. In the overwhelmingly male world of comedy, theres a prevailing sentiment that women are to be seen and not heard, she said. This is normal in Japanese society in general. This idea that youre a woman so you shouldnt work, just stay home, Watanabe said. Thats why women try to learn how to cook very well, so they can hear their loved ones say Mmm, delicious and quit their job. I just dont like it that theres no other choice but that. Watanabes post from the Odd Fellows Ice Cream Company in New York, during her 2016 world tour. Japan is not like the U.S. You dont see many plus-sized women around here, she said in an interview. (Courtesy of Naomi Watanabe) Yuki Oda contributed to this report. A group of Wisconsin legislators is circulating a bill that aims to take public notices out of newspapers and put them instead on government websites a bad idea that would harm transparency, democracy and public trust. For more than two centuries, governments in this country have paid newspapers to publish public notices about the actions of government. Without a third-party, independent source providing the information, there is no accountability, no check-and-balance to make sure that government is posting all the public notices it is required by law to post. Besides, relatively few people actually use government websites compared to newspaper websites and relying exclusively on individual government websites does nothing for people who dont use computers. Most Wisconsin residents continue to rely on the printed newspaper for information about their local elected governments, as they have for decades. For those who choose not to use computers, it remains the best source. For those who use computers, theres already an invaluable resource at your fingertips. Since 2005, newspapers in Wisconsin have been digitally archiving every public notice published in every newspaper in our state every day. Today, there is a database with more than a decade worth of information posted on a website thats free to use, 24/7: www.WisconsinPublicNotices.org. Wisconsin newspapers collect that information daily, archive and maintain it free of charge. That database is very user-friendly searchable by city, county, newspaper, Zip code and key word. This service is provided to citizens, courts and local government free of charge because newspapers in Wisconsin have made a substantial investment to provide and maintain the service for the sake of transparency and public trust. Businesses throughout the state use www.WisconsinPublicNotices.org to learn about projects they may wish to bid on. Just ask a contractor how efficient it would be to every day log onto the website of every local government in Wisconsin. Eliminating the usefulness of that website wouldnt be good for business in our state. So, is this a big money-maker for newspapers and are newspapers gouging government by charging an exorbitant rate for publishing notices? That rate barely covers the cost of processing and printing the information. Besides, the rate is regulated by the state the Department of Administration, to be specific. Most states dont regulate the rate that newspapers can charge for the service. To give you an idea how regulated the process is in Wisconsin, just look at the portion of the statute that regulates the type used to print notices: All legal notices shall be in Arial type face. A standard line shall be 6-point leading without spacing between the lines, and 11 picas in length. In fact, it was the newspaper industry in Wisconsin that agreed on a standard type face to help the DOA cut down on its administrative workload. The Wisconsin Legislature approved of that streamlining without opposition in 2012. The process of publishing public notices is more regulated in Wisconsin than in most states. With that said, only one state Utah briefly eliminated the requirement of publication, and it was a failure. Its also important to note that government isnt the sole bearer of the cost of publishing legal notices. In many cases, the cost is passed along by the government agency to those who are seeking government action. As Beth Bennett, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, has testified: A notice for a new license is passed along to the new licensee. Foreclosure notices are assumed by the banks and the attorneys handling the foreclosure. Court notices are passed along by the courts to the subject of the legal matter; and in many instances, public notices are required to be placed by John Q. Citizen who pays directly for the publication of the notice. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has such notices. Taking public notices out of newspapers is just another attempt by government officials to curb government transparency in Wisconsin. Homes in the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the occupied West Bank on Feb. 7. (Ammar Awad/Reuters) Israeli human rights groups representing Arab villages in the West Bank petitioned the countrys high court Wednesday to block a contentious new law that would allow Israel to seize private Palestinian land and award it to Jewish settlers. The first legal challenges to the law came amid especially blunt condemnation by Israels allies. The countrys own attorney general warned that the bill violated international law and was likely to be blocked by the high court. Germanys Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it was deeply disappointed in the bill, which has been called a land grab by its critics. Our trust in the Israeli governments commitment to the two-state solution has been fundamentally shaken, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The German criticism echoed tough language by Britain, France, the European Union and the United Nations. As a long-standing friend of Israel, this bill damages Israels standing with its international partners, said Tobias Ellwood, Britains minister for the Middle East. The bill crosses a very thick red line, Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told Agence France-Presse. [Israel passes law to seize Palestinian land for Jewish settlements] The White House said the Trump administration was withholding comment until Israels courts rule on the legality of the bill. That could take weeks or longer. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House next week. All eyes in the region will be on the meeting, expecting that it will signal the depth of Trumps support for Netanyahu and Israel, balanced against the United States Middle East allies. Netanyahu supported the controversial bill, which passed the parliament along party lines, 62 to 50, late Monday. In the days before the bills passage, Netanyahu and his defense minister announced that the state would build more than 6,000 homes in Jewish settlements, branded as illegal by most of the world and as unhelpful by the Trump White House. The promised building boom in the settlements, coupled with the bill that allows the state to seize Palestinian land, has put the Trump administration in a corner. Either the U.S. president will give a green light to Israels hard-right government, now more beholden than ever to its religious settlers, or Trump will warn Israel to slow down and will stake out his own position on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [Trump administration cautions Israel on new West Bank settlements] Netanyahu is being pressed by the powerful settler movement, which maintains that the land was promised to Jews by God, to declare that the two-state solution is dead and to tell Trump he should forget about achieving the deal of the century, an Arab-Israeli peace accord that awards the Palestinians their own state. Netanyahu has vowed he would go no further than a state-minus for the Palestinians, but he has not publicly given up on the two-state solution. The first legal challenge to the law was filed Wednesday by Adalah, an Israeli group that advocates for Israels Arabs, who make up 20 percent of the population, and by Jerusalem-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights. In their petition, the groups lawyers argued that the Israeli parliament cannot legislate land issues for private Palestinians in the West Bank, who live under Israeli military occupation and military authority and are not Israeli citizens. The brief asserts that the new Israeli legislation violates international law and international treaties on human rights. The legislation is designed to protect homes in Jewish settlements, built on private Palestinian property in good faith or at the states instruction, from possible court-ordered evacuation and demolition. [Israeli police remove Amona settlers in West Bank] Privately owned Palestinian land would be seized by the government and held until there is a final resolution of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian landowners could apply to the state for annual rents or be given other parcels. Thousands of Jewish homes in dozens of settlements and outposts may now be protected unless the Israeli high court blocks the bill. Netanyahu has been quiet about the bills passage. Israels deputy foreign minister, Tzipi Hotovely, said: Israel has both historic and legal rights to this land, and the law reaches the right balance between the rights of the Jewish families to their homes and the right of the owners of these plots of land to get compensation. Israeli lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich, who sponsored the bill, told the newspaper Maariv: We are finished with beseeching legal advisers and judges. We will decide what will happen in the settlements. We will define the goals. If the legal system is able to tell us how to do this using the existing tools, very good. If it doesnt know how to do this, we will change the tools. Ruth Eglash contributed to this report. Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Police officers walk through the lobby of Trump Tower in New York on Jan. 17, 2017. (Andrew Harnik/AP) The Department of Defense is seeking to rent space in President Trumps New York skyscraper, Trump Tower, a move that could directly funnel government money into the presidents business interests. The U.S. military agency is working through appropriate channels . . . to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower, Lt. Col. J.B. Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman, told The Washington Post in a statement late Tuesday. The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building, Brindle said. The space will be separate from the Secret Service detail that is routinely based in Trumps signature midtown tower, where his private company, the Trump Organization, is headquartered and where he owns a lavish triplex penthouse. Although Trump now officially lives in the White House, the Trump Tower residence still houses his family, including first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) Defense officials made similar arrangements for past presidents, including at the Chicago home of Barack Obama, to offer support for day-to-day operations of the president and his staff. But the prospect of a government agency paying rent to a company owned by the president again raises additional questions about the mingling of Trumps financial interests with his presidency. Trump led the development of the Fifth Avenue skyscraper in the 1980s and still owns it. Defense officials would not say what they expected to spend on the space. But CNN, which first reported the news, quoted a leasing agent who estimated renting a floor in Trump Tower can cost about $1.5 million a year. Trump Organization and White House officials did not respond to requests for comment late Tuesday. The military interest in Trump Tower could reinvigorate questions over how much Trump properties are benefiting from Trumps public office. Trump has resisted calls to divest his financial stake in business interests, although he has resigned from his official management roles and left the companies operations to his adult sons and a longtime executive in his company. I have never heard of a president charging rent to the DOD or any other part of the government so they can be near him on his travels, said Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics counsel under George W. Bush who is part of a lawsuit accusing Trump of violating a constitutional ban for his continued ownership interest in a Washington hotel. He should give them for free a very limited amount of space and they can rent nearby if needed. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) Read more: Documents confirm Trump still benefiting from his business Workers at Trumps Washington hotel vote to join union, casting spotlight on potential conflicts An early test of Trumps ethics pledge is a glittering new foreign tower Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny takes a selfie with his supporters at the opening of his campaign office in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 4, 2017. (Elena Ignatyeva/AP) A regional Russian court on Wednesday declared opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in a retrial of a 2013 embezzlement case, handing him a felony conviction that by Russian law would prevent him from participating in Russias 2018 presidential elections. Navalny received a five-year suspended sentence for allegedly siphoning off money from a lumber sale, a charge that he has denied and called politically motivated. It is one of a number of criminal cases brought against the 40-year-old politician since he became the countrys best-known critic of President Vladimir Putin. Bad things tend to happen to those who take part in opposition politics in Russia. Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister turned opposition politician, was gunned down in sight of the Kremlin walls in 2015. Vladimir Kara-Murza, another opposition activist, is in a medical coma in the hospital after a suspected poisoning, the second since 2015. Others have seen hidden camera videos, including honeytrap stings, aired on state television. Russias treatment of dissenters, whether in the press or in opposition politics, garnered headlines in the United States this week after conservative television anchor Bill OReilly in an interview with President Trump called Putin a killer. Trump opted not to repeat the statement. There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent? he replied. A Kremlin spokesman demanded an apology from Fox News, the channel that airs OReillys show, then said it didnt want to blow the case out of proportion. While Navalny will not face jail time, the decision would appear to end his goal of challenging Putin or another Kremlin-supported candidate in Russias 2018 presidential elections, a bid he announced in December while the case was in court. According to Russian law, those convicted of grave crimes, roughly equivalent to felonies in the United States, must wait 10 years or have the conviction expunged to run for president. Putin has not said whether he will run for reelection. From the courtroom, wearing a white dress-shirt and jeans, Navalny declared he would ignore the sentence and continue our campaign. Our campaign has nothing to do with the court, he said in video shot in the courtroom. Tomorrow, the Kremlin will start saying that I do not have to right to participate in the campaign. But I would like to emphasize again that in accordance with the constitution, I do have the right. The verdict, delivered by a judge in the Russian city of Kirov, was nearly a carbon copy of a decision handed down by the court in 2013. The case was being retried because of criticism by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Navalny, who first came to prominence for uncovering fraud in Russian state corporations, was an active leader during the 2011-2012 white ribbon protests that coalesced around Putins 2012 return to the presidency. A raft of fraud and embezzlement charges followed, leading to suspended sentences and periods of house arrest. His 2013 sentence was quickly reduced to probation after the verdict ignited protests in central Moscow. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights declared the 2013 conviction prejudicial, saying that Navalny and his co-defendant were denied the right to a fair trial. In November, Russias Supreme Court declared a retrial. The Kremlin has denied interfering in the cases. Navalnys popularity is largest among the urban middle class in Russia, which represents a minority of the electorate, but has an outsized presence in Russian political life and the media. Navalny ran in the Moscow 2013 mayoral elections, garnering 27 percent of the vote. Read more: Anti-Putin activist says hell run for president of Russia in 2018 Interview with Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news An empty waiting room in the womens center at a public hospital in Recife, Brazil. Because of the outbreak of Zika infections in 2015 and 2016, the number of newborns in Recife dropped substantially. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post) In this city at the heart of the Zika outbreak, the gloom and dread have lifted from maternity hospitals and delivery rooms. The scary government posters with giant mosquitoes have mostly come down. Fertility clinics are busy again. At one public hospital that has delivered 1,700 newborns over the past five months, doctors havent seen a single case of Zika-related birth defects. Its as if weve all forgotten about Zika, said Erika Alcantara, 17 weeks pregnant, who had waited for the epidemic to pass before she and her husband tried for their second child. A year after U.N. health officials declared Zika a global emergency, the city that produced some of the outbreaks most terrifying and indelible images of badly deformed infants feels like a place that has mostly moved on. But not everyone has bounced back so fast. Not the parents of the babies in those heartbreaking photographs. Initially, many feared that the infants would be merely the first wave of Zika victims, with many more to follow. Yet as the virus spread across the Americas and infected hundreds of thousands, it did not inflict the kind of damage seen here in northeast Brazil, where three-quarters of Zika-related birth defects have been reported. [Scientists are bewildered by Zikas path across Latin America] Today those families are like the survivors of a natural disaster. Though Zika scared a lot of people, its lasting harm fell on a relative few. Gleyse Kelly da Silva and Felipe da Silva are the parents of 15-month-old Giovanna Santos who suffers from microcephaly because of the Zika virus. The parents, here with Giovanna and two of their other three children, live in Recife. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post) Those families have developed new routines. Eliane Paz ferries her son, Davi Lucas, to five different hospitals a week for visual, motor and auditory therapy. The 1-year-old was diagnosed with severe microcephaly when he was born in October 2015, weeks before doctors connected the condition to Zika. Paz, a former maid, wakes up at 4 a.m. to make the 90-minute journey to the rehabilitation centers where specialists work with her son. Recifes rehab clinics are crowded with children who have microcephaly, a congenital condition defined by undersize heads and impaired cognition. Now toddlers, they struggle to swallow, roll over or simply hold up their heads. Many languish in a semi-vegetative state. Their parents say they live for milestones that others take for granted. When their children learn to smile, laugh or grip items, its just enough to stave off the despair. At Davi Lucass motor therapy appointment, doctors insert cold bits of papaya into his mouth and stroke his cheeks to try to stimulate chewing. The mashed fruit mostly falls out. For months after he was born, the boy cried constantly, his mother said, but he wasnt able to produce tears. Eliane Paz and 15-month-old Davi Lucas wake up at 4 a.m. at least three times a week to travel to Recife so Davi Lucas can receive therapy. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post ) The day he shed his first tear, I started crying, too, Paz said. Having quit her cleaning job, she receives a $300 monthly stipend from the government and devotes all of her time to the boy. It stings when strangers stare at his deformity or she overhears their comments: Mosquito Boy. Devils child. Sixty families come for treatment to the IMIP public hospitals clinic, the largest rehabilitation center in Recife for children with microcephaly. There are 40 more children on a waiting list. The demand for exams has stretched wait times for appointments from a few weeks to several months, and even the families who are grateful to receive care say it isnt enough. Multiple medications have stopped Davi Lucass seizures, but he needs a chest scan to determine why hes having breathing problems, and the machine at the hospital is broken. His mother worries that public attention is fading as Zika infections ebb. Whats going to happen to us when people forget about Zika? Paz asked. Gessycca Barbosa Queiroz, a 15-month-old who was born with microcephaly receives physical therapy at IMIP public hospital in Recife. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post ) The start of the outbreak A year ago Zika was spreading rapidly across the Americas, prompting governments to warn women to avoid or postpone pregnancy. Today Zika is waning virtually everywhere in the Western Hemisphere. Epidemiologists say the pattern fits the typical trajectory of a virus that spreads explosively at first but fizzles out as it runs out of new hosts to infect. What researchers still dont understand is why the majority of Zika-related birth defects have been so concentrated in one region of a single country. Of the more than 2,600 cases of Zika-related congenital syndrome confirmed so far in the Americas, nearly 2,400 are in Brazil. The vast majority are in a cluster of northeastern states, including Pernambuco, where Recife is located. Why was there so much microcephaly if its the same virus? said Amilcar Tanuri, an epidemiologist at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro who formerly worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Were looking at other possible co-factors, but were still in the middle of the investigation, he said. With its heat, abundant mosquitoes and extensive slums, Recife, the largest urban area in Brazils northeast, became one of Zikas most potent launchpads. The city and surrounding state typically register 11 or 12 cases a year of microcephaly, but by late 2015, hospitals were reporting 50 to 60 a month. It was a tsunami, said Sergio Negromonte, the director of the maternity ward at one of the citys largest private hospitals. [The heart of the Zika outbreak] His hospitals emergency room shut down because patients with Zika symptoms were spilling out into the hallways and parking lots. Sonogram exams became somber, fateful appointments like a sentencing, said Pedro Pires, an obstetrician-gynecologist who specializes in Zika. State health records show that 2015 was a peak year for births in Pernambuco, precisely at the moment when Zika was most virulent but had yet to be identified. As much as 70 percent of Recifes inhabitants contracted Zika in 2015 and 2016, according to Pires, and that high rate of infection likely prevented a revival of the epidemic in recent months summer in the Southern Hemisphere because most of the population has become immune. A mother with her newborn in the infirmary at a public hospital in the city of Recife. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post ) Last year, the birthrate fell by about 7 percent statewide, according to the latest figures, but it dropped as much as 45 percent at the private clinics that cater to more affluent women. Negromonte and other doctors say they have never seen such a sharp drop in birthrates. The panic has mostly lifted. Alcantara, the mother who delayed pregnancy because of Zika, said she and her husband, Wilton, made that decision after the couple and their 3-year-old daughter, Lara, were infected in early 2015. But new research on the disease and its virtual disappearance convinced Wilton, himself an emergency room doctor, that it was safe enough to have a child in Recife again. The couple brought Lara with them on a recent morning to a routine sonogram check. It showed a healthy baby boy. The only tears were Laras. She wanted a sister. Her father hugged her, laughing. Well try for another girl next year, he said. Erika Alcantara, 36, is 17 weeks pregnant. She receives an ultrasound while her husband, Wilton, 35, and daughter, Lara, watch. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post ) I was shocked Gleyse Kelly da Silva had never heard of microcephaly when her unborn daughter was diagnosed with it in late 2015. I was shocked by what I saw on Google, she said. I would cry myself to sleep every night, and when my husband thought I was no longer awake, he would start crying. The hopelessness gave way to action. A few months after her daughter Giovanna was born, she formed a WhatsApp chat group for mothers of children with microcephaly. Within a week, the group had 100 members. What started out as a way to share tips on treatment facilities and navigating the bureaucracy became a source of 24-hour support. When her daughter kept her up all night crying, da Silva would turn to the group and find other mothers also awake. They would tell me, youve got this, keep going, she said. Today, 400 mothers from across the state have joined the chat group. It has become their best megaphone whenever they need to amplify pressure on government health officials. And when one mother is tight on cash and cant afford medicine, others step in to help. They share tips on which anti-seizure drugs work best and which sleeping positions can soothe inconsolable babies. I joke that weve all become doctors without diplomas, said da Silva, 28. Gleyse Kelly da Silva, 28, with her youngest daughter, Giovanna, who is 15 months old and has microcephaly. (Joao Pina for The Washington Post ) Giovanna, now 15 months old, is still unable to hold up her head for long. She eats better now but doesnt sleep much. At night, da Silva and her husband, Felipe, settle onto the couch with the baby. She doesnt cry if her father keeps her bouncing on his knee. He has had to quit his job as a security guard. But he has learned to sleep this way: head slumped into the armrest, television on mute, with Giovanna draped across his leg, bouncing, bouncing, bouncing. Read more: Zikas terrifying path Zika prompts urgent debate about abortion in Latin America A severe birth defect linked to Zika quadrupled in Colombia last year Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Public education in Wisconsin should provide high quality learning for ALL children no matter who they are or where they live, Eau Claire School Board President Chris Hambuch-Boyle recently told me. Chris and education leaders across the state read with interest details of the Governors plan for our next state budget. Governor Walker gave money to a number of new initiatives and reaped the praise of some education leaders. The plan picks and chooses among various proposals advanced over the last few years. Some new programs are funded and some existing programs get more money. The plan is a compromise. However as with any political compromise we should know what is not included and what is not being done. We fund schools primarily through a school aid formula. Its purpose is to equalize resources in school districts across Wisconsin so regardless of where a child lives in the state, the opportunities for learning will be relatively equal. The equalized aid formula is broken. A number of plans were proposed to fix the formula including ideas I supported. But the Governors new plan does nothing to fix the formula. Rather, most of the new money in the Governors plan gives the same dollars to property-rich districts as to property-poor districts. This is a new direction for our state. Since 1973, governors have supported sending money for schools through the equalized aid formula. The policy of both parties was to see that every Wisconsin child had the same benefit of equal opportunity for a sound education. Board President Hambuch-Boyle expressed concerns that the Governors plan Makes the inequity worse. Under the guise of heres some more money he extends the inequity. Consequently, children in property-rich schools have a better opportunity than children living in a property-poor district. School districts across the state would be better served if the additional dollars recommended by the Governor were distributed through an improved equalized aid formula. Children would be better served if school leaders knew they could count on a steady partnership from the state. President Hambuch-Boyle and many others across the state are working very hard to re-imagine public education for 21st Century students. Leaders in western Wisconsin encouraged legislators to learn about innovations. During a recent visit to an Eau Claire Middle School, I saw evidence of a new world in our public schools. What do we want from our education system for our children? We want a place for our children to learn, to develop cognitive and social skills. We need our children to develop character and become responsible citizens. But we also want our children to find their passion and purpose. Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith write in their book, Most Likely to Succeed, that students need to tackle the challenge of how to leverage your passion and talents to make the world better. Most Likely to Succeed is both a book and a documentary. Local education leaders recently invited legislators to view the film and talk about changes in our classrooms. The film explores innovation in education and the possibilities for the 21st century school. After viewing the film and visiting the ARCTIC Zone classroom at Eau Claires Northstar Middle School, I am beginning to see the future of education. The world no longer cares how much you know, because Google knows everything. What the world cares aboutwhat matters for learning, work and citizenship is what you can do with what you know, write Wagner & Dintersmith. Students need to learn in groups by practicing problem solving and navigating group dynamics. Critical thinking, communication and collaborative problem solving are skills actively taught and evaluated as part of the school day in pioneering programs. New ways of teaching and learning means many old ways must change. Resources are needed. Funding stability is critical. Wisconsin schools can innovate. We can provide high quality opportunities for our children that live in Beloit, Black River Falls, Brookfield or Bruce. To get there, school leaders must be confident they dont have to worry about deep cuts in the next budget and we must fix the current school funding formula. This commitment is necessary to provide an equal opportunity education to every child. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to convince President Trump in a telephone call that arming Kurdish fighters in Syria to fight the Islamic State would be counterproductive to the military effort and damaging to already strained ties between the United States and Turkey, American and Turkish officials said Wednesday. One of Erdogans objectives in the call was to try to persuade Trump to abandon a military-backed proposal to arm Kurdish fighters for an assault on the militants self-proclaimed capital, the city of Raqqa. But Trump was noncommittal in Tuesdays conversation, saying that additional consultations were needed on the Kurdish question, the officials said. Senior Trump advisers have expressed doubts about the wisdom of arming the Kurds but have not ruled it out. Turkey sees the Syrian Kurdish fighters as part of its own Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a group the United States and Turkey have labeled a terrorist entity. U.S. support for the Syrian Kurds soured ties between the Obama administration and Turkey and could also complicate the nascent relationship between Trump and Erdogan, which has so far been free of the rancor that characterized Obamas exchanges with the Turkish leader. Officials said the call was cordial and notably free of fireworks, amid strong indications that both leaders were trying to turn the page. Trump spoke broadly about the importance of strengthening ties with Ankara, U.S. officials said. Hours after the call, Turkeys semiofficial state news agency announced that CIA Director Mike Pompeo was flying to Turkey this week in what amounted to a high-level sign of U.S. concern for the relationship. The CIA declined to confirm Pompeos visit. Turkish officials made a point of telling local media outlets that it was Pompeos first trip abroad since he became director. Erdogan has tried to convince the United States that Turkish-backed Arab fighters in Syria and Turkish troops can carry out the offensive on Raqqa instead of the Kurds. Early Wednesday, Turkish-backed forces made significant advances toward al-Bab, a Syrian border town occupied by the Islamic State that Turkish forces have struggled to capture for months, Turkish officials and rebel commanders said. The Turkish forces and their Arab allies in Syria part of Turkeys overall Syria intervention, known as Euphrates Shield captured areas west and southwest of the town, including a hospital and a strategically important hill, the commanders said. The timing of the military push close to the phone call appeared to be no accident, said Selim Koru, a political analyst at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, an Ankara-based think tank. With the United States watching, a competition was underway between the Turkish-backed forces and Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are allied with the Democratic Union Party in Syria, he said. Who is the better ground force against ISIS? Koru said. Entous reported from Washington. Karen DeYoung in Washington and Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report. Read more: What Turkey was looking for when Trump called Erdogan Turkey expects improved relations with the Trump administration Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news (Photo: Getty Images) Two fake versions of Jergens, a popular drugstore lotion, have been spotted on beauty shelves. Kao USA Inc. has warned customers to double check the labels on bottles of Jergens Ultra Healing 10 oz. and Jergens Original Scent 21 oz. According to the company, only a small number has been identified so far. The counterfeit product may have some telling signs, according to the company. It may have a thin, watery consistency and an unexpected texture, color, or odor. But true lotions are easily identifiable by bar code. The code on a legitimate bottle of Ultra Healing should read UPC 19100-10998 with Lot Code X0G30055; Original Scent will have UPC 19100-10994 with Lot Code X0G13154. According to Dayton Daily News, even shopping at a certified Jergens retailer doesnt mean the product is legitimate. Counterfeit products have been sold in retail stores around the Northeast United States. While Kao has not received any report to date of adverse health effects or injury due to the fakes, the idea of putting fake lotion on your skin should be enough to make customers double check their bottles. Consumers, particularly those with impaired immune systems, should be careful not to use the counterfeit lotion, says the brand. Jergens is hardly the first brand forced to take action in the face of knockoffs. Counterfeit products, especially of viral products like Kylie Lip Kits, are a consistent problem. But unlike fake Gucci bags, beauty products could mean health impacts for customers. Customers who have purchased knockoffs complain of ingredients that should be nowhere near a beauty product, from glue (horrifying) to urine a (true nightmare). One study even showed that fake electric beauty tools have been known to cause electrocution. And youre not the only one who may get hurt by faux product. In some cases, the proceeds support organized crime and the funding of terrorist organizations, Bob Barchiesi, president of the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition, told Cosmopolitan. Last year, Kylie Jenner herself got involved after fans let her know about fake Lip Kits. She warned fans to check URLs before purchasing a Lip Kit, even if the product looked exactly like hers. Story continues @KylieJenner fake Koko k I got Literally has glue in it! So gross!! So not cute.. pic.twitter.com/Ha7J8WAvja emma morgan (@emmamorg3) October 26, 2016 As Cosmopolitan reports, many of these fake dupes come from the cheaper, poorly regulated factories Chinese factories. Brands work as fast as they can do track down fakes Estee Lauder Companies, for example, has an Intellectual Property Group but its also up to us to consider what we buy. As Karen Buglisi Weiler, global president of MAC Cosmetics, explained, This isnt just a MAC issue. Its a public health and safety issue. Its best, of course, to go to the brand directly when purchasing products. But if youre scavenging for a deal on eBay or Amazon weve been there check for a certified retailer, consistent product packaging, and seller reviews. Price point can also be a giveaway. If youve found a lip shade online thats sold out everywhere else and it was sold at a steep discount, look closely before putting it anywhere on your skin. For their part, Jergens is working with consumers to track down counterfeits. If you suspect you may have purchased a fake Jergens product, the company requests you to contact the Kao USA Consumer Care Center at 1-800-742-8798 or consumer@kao.com. Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Thordis Elva reunites with Tom Stranger, who raped her when both were in their teens, to share their mutual experience. (Photo: TED Talk) A woman who was raped as a teen reunited with the man who assaulted her for an extraordinary reason: to heal, with each other. The pair stood onstage at a recent TED Talk to share their experience, which will be recounted in their upcoming book, South of Forgiveness. In 1996, Tom Stranger was an 18-year-old Australian exchange student who traveled to Iceland to live with a host family. While attending school, he joined the student play and met Thordis Elva, who was 16. The pair soon fell in love and became a couple but one night after returning home from a party, Stranger raped Elva. My head had cleared up, but my body was still too weak to fight back, and the pain was blinding, Elva told the crowd during the TED Talk. I thought Id be severed in two. In order to stay sane, I silently counted the seconds on my alarm clock. And ever since that night, Ive known that there are 7,200 seconds in two hours. Stranger soon broke up with Elva and returned to Australia, leaving the teen to reconcile herself with what had happened to her. Tom wasnt an armed lunatic, she said. He was my boyfriend. And it didnt happen in a seedy alleyway; it happened in my own bed. Elvas experience is common nearly one in 10 women has been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime, and in 8 out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew her attacker, according to statistics complied by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. So Elva internalized the trauma, swallowing the narrative she had been taught about sexual assault: Girls get raped for a reason. Their skirt was too short, their smile was too wide, their breath smelled of alcohol, she said. It took years before she realized that the only thing that couldve stopped me from being raped that night is the man who raped me had he stopped himself. Nine years went by and Elva was headed toward an admitted nervous breakdown. After wandering into a cafe one day, she decided to pen a letter to Stranger the most pivotal letter Ive ever written, in an attempt to find closure. That meant forgiving her rapist. What followed was an eight-year global correspondence between Elva and Stranger. Story continues Deep down, I knew I had done something immeasurably wrong, Stranger said onstage. I also drew heavily upon other parts of my life to construct a picture of who I was. I was a surfer, a social science student, a friend to good people, a loved brother and son, an outdoor recreation guide and, eventually, a youth worker. I gripped tight to the notion that I wasnt a bad person. Their letters became a healing ground of sorts, a safe space for them to talk through the rape itself. One day, Elva, who by then was married with a son, asked Stranger to face their past in person during a one-week trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Of course, Elva had her doubts. When the plane bounced on that landing strip in Cape Town, she recalled, I remember thinking, Why did I not just get myself a therapist and a bottle of vodka like a normal person would do? The two established some guidelines for their meeting. We followed a strict policy of being honest, says Stranger, and this also came with a certain exposure, an open-chested vulnerability. There were gutting confessions, and moments where we just absolutely couldnt fathom the other persons experience. The seismic effects of sexual violence were spoken aloud and felt, face to face. At other times, though, we found a soaring clarity, and even some totally unexpected but liberating laughter. Stranger views the experience as a rare opportunity to evolve. I was offered to really own what I did and found that it didnt possess the entirety of who I am. Saying to Thordis that I raped her changed my accord with myself, as well as with her. But most importantly, the blame transferred from Thordis to me. Elva insists their experience is unique. Nobody has the right to tell anyone else how to handle their deepest pain or their greatest error. She also acknowledges her privilege to speak about rape without fearing for her life. Shes now making it her mission to read, write, and speak on the issue to both women and also to men, who she says are generally excluded from the national conversation about rape. But all of us are needed here, she said. Just imagine all the suffering we could alleviate if we dared to face this issue together. Related: Sexual Assault Survivors Share Fear, Disbelief Over Trump Presidency Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. "Taking legal protections away from 800,000 young people raised in this country is absolutely counter to what we stand for as a nation." Senator Bernie Sanders, defending DACA, on Twitter Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to recite the Coretta Scott King letter his colleague Sen. Elizabeth Warren was banned from reading. Calling it an outrage that Republican senators voted to silence Warren Tuesday night after she quoted Martin Luther King Jr.s widow in a speech opposing attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions, Sanders said, We need to hear all points of view. The idea that a letter that wrote could not be presented and spoken about here on the Senate floor is to me incomprehensible. Sanders then read aloud on the Senate floor the letter King wrote in 1986 during Sessions failed confirmation hearing for a federal judgeship. In the letter, King explained her opposition of Sessions, writing: Anyone who has used the power of his office as United States Attorney to intimidate and chill the free exercise of the ballot by citizens should not be elevated to our courts. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. For this reprehensible conduct, he should not be rewarded with a federal judgeship. Sen. Bernie Sanders reads full Coretta Scott King letter on Senate floor that Sen. Warren was silenced while reading https://t.co/k9sqYAGoz1 NBC News (@NBCNews) February 8, 2017 Sanders also tweeted that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who said Warren broke Senate rules by reading the letter should apologize to the Massachusetts senator. I think Sen. McConnell owes @SenWarren an apology. It's outrageous she was denied the right to voice her concerns about Jeff Sessions. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 8, 2017 McConnell stood by his accusation that Warren had violated Rule 19, a rarely evoked chamber regulation that prohibits senators from insulting each other on the Senate floor. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted, McConnell said, in a statement that was quickly co-opted as a rallying cry for Warrens supporters. But Senate Republicans notably didnt object when Sanders and three other male senators New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley later read portions of the same letter on the Senate floor. Merkley himself questioned why he and the other male senators were permitted to read from the letter while their female colleague was silenced. https://twitter.com/SenJeffMerkley/status/829372064201134082 Asked for additional comment on Wednesday, McConnell spokesperson David Popp told CNN that the rule invoked to halt Warren cannot be done retroactively. To my knowledge, the other Dem speeches were not preceded by a prolonged disparagement of a colleague followed by warnings from the chair alerting the Senate to the ongoing disparagement so that an objection could be raised, Popp said in a statement. Last night, Sen. Warren had been warned by the chair and continued to violate the rule anyway. I have not seen the others, but I understand that wasnt the case with their remarks. Meanwhile, with Warren now barred from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate on Sessions nomination, thousands of people rallied around the Massachusetts senator on Twitter under the hashtag #LetLizSpeak. Warren did just that during a Wednesday interview with The View, where she explained that she did not believe she was violating the rule of the Senate by reading Kings letter. Coretta Scott Kings words are deeply moving, she said. They are powerful, and they describe a moment in history in which Jeff Sessions was an active participant. Republicans dont want to hear it. They want to find a way to shut it down. She added of Sessions potential confirmation, expected Wednesday night: We may not be able to stop it, but Ill tell you this: That does not mean we give up. Photo credit: Getty From Cosmopolitan The Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary Tuesday with a 5150 vote that required Vice President Mike Pence to cast a tie-breaking ballot - the first time in American history a vice president has broken a tie for in a Cabinet confirmation vote. I appreciate the Senate's diligence & am honored to serve as @usedgov Secretary. Let's improve options & outcomes for all US students. - Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) February 7, 2017 DeVos, a billionaire philanthropist from Michigan and staunch Trump supporter, emerged as arguably the most divisive of President Trump's Cabinet picks. She's a strong proponent of school choice, meaning the government should give parents and guardians vouchers to choose which school (public, private, or otherwise) to send their kids. Critics have pointed out that this approach would effectively gut funding for public schools and restore systemic segregation in America's education system. The approach has rankled voters in states that voted for Trump, according to the New York Times, many of whom are from rural areas where a single public school is the only feasible option for parents. During her confirmation hearings, DeVos stumbled on a few key questions, including federal funding for students with disability. Her experience in the education system was also shown to be narrow - for instance, neither she nor her kids attended public schools, which the vast majority of America's children attend. She's never worked in education, but DeVos and her husband have spent two decades raising money and awareness for the school voucher system, including private and charter schools. It appeared the Democrats might be able to block DeVos's confirmation when two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, said they planned to vote against the president's nomination. But Democrats failed to persuade other Republican lawmakers to cross the aisle. Story continues The evening before the vote, Democrats held the Senate floor for 24 hours as a sign of protest. DeVos is "fundamentally incompetent," Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, said Monday. "This is not a job for amateurs." You Might Also Like DNA led to the arrest of Karina Vetranos suspected killer, six months after her battered body was found in a New York City park in a seemingly random killing. But a police source tells PEOPLE it was a neighborhood investigators hunch that really broke the case open earlier this year. According to the source, who has knowledge of the investigation, N.Y.C. police Lt. John Russo played an instrumental role in capturing 20-year-old Chanel Lewis. He was arrested Saturday and is charged with Vetranos murder and sexual assault. Russo, an observant cop with a sharp memory, lives in the same Queens neighborhood as Vetrano and her parents, the source explains. In May, he remembered seeing some guy skulking around his neighborhood; was sort of looking into cars and over fences, the source says. That was three months before the murder. Russo called 911 about the suspicious figure, but the man was gone by the time officers arrived, the source says. The next morning, Russo spotted the man again. This time, police were able to question him and to file a record of their encounter. Whats more, a 911 caller identified Lewis by name in a call in May, saying he looked as if he was breaking into a Howard Beach home with a crowbar, ABC News reports, citing police sources. Lt. Russo alleges it was Lewis that he saw around the area in Queens, a source tells PEOPLE. Two weeks ago months later into the investigation and with the case still on his mind Russo turned again to Lewis alleged activity last year, the police source says. He put two and two together, the source says, and investigators began reviewing records to discover that Lewis had been issued several summonses near the scene of Vetranos death one just days before the August slaying. Russo was spending a lot of time every single day trying to figure out what was missing, one source reportedly said. It occurred to him that was someone they should look at. Police tracked him to his mothers house in Brooklyn last week. On Thursday, Lewis gave investigators a DNA sample, which was matched on Saturday to a sample recovered from Vetranos body, leading to his arrest. Story continues Lewis has yet to enter a plea to his charges and he remains held without bail. Lewis parents were unavailable for comment, as were his lawyers. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Motive: A Hatred of Women? Lewis is a professed misogynist who once threatened to attack several female students at his high school with a knife, police sources allege to PEOPLE. Lewis allegedly told investigators he hates , but detectives still have no idea where the suspected killers apparent contempt comes from, one source claims. (A second police source confirms this account.) Police say Lewis admitted to Vetranos Aug. 2, 2016, killing, the first source claims. Authorities say that though he has denied he sexually assaulted Vetrano, Lewis told police he couldnt stop himself from attacking the 30-year-old as she was jogging. Her body was found by her father in a Queens park, about a dozen feet from a trail she used daily. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death. Investigators said she put up a ferocious fight before her death, capturing crucial DNA of her killer. Pick up PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBenet Ramsey and more. His parents are not being cooperative, and he has copped to it, the police source explains of Lewis. One detective involved in the investigation characterized him as a lady hater at odds with the reaction of Lewis father, who described his son as a humble man who had excelled in school. Police confirm that Saturday was Lewis first arrest. But the source alleges that he generated at least one 911 call while he was a high school student. Several years ago, according to the source, administrators at Lewis Rockaway Park high school contacted police after Lewis allegedly ranted about his disgust for the opposite sex and threatened to bring a knife to school to maim a number of female students. Lewis was not arrested for that threat, but officers still documented the incident, according to the source, who claims that in recent years Lewis has made similar threats and sentiments though without charges. During his arraignment on Sunday, Lewis was reportedly confronted by Vetranos parents: Her mother called him a demon. But Lewis father, speaking to reporters after his son was arrested, said his son was peaceful. Chanel would never have gone to do what they say he has done, his father said. Hes never had a fight in his 20 years. John Oliver regularly objects to the postures and policies of President Donald Trump. But this time when the issue is banning immigrants, refugees and travelers from Muslim countries its personal for the TV news satirist, an immigrant himself. Speaking with Dan Rather on SiriusXMs Dan Rathers America on Tuesday, the Last Week Tonight host discussed Trumps controversial executive order signed on Jan. 27, which temporarily bans any refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days, indefinitely bans refugees who hail from Syria and temporarily banning citizens from several Muslim countries from entering the U.S Im very concerned, as a human being, about what is happening. I have been through the American immigration process in the most luxurious way. As a white, male, human being, with a generic first and last name, coming from Great Britain, sponsored by a series of TV production companies in America and absolutely crystal clear, perfect English. Ive seen the system at its easiest, and its hard. So if Im getting the best of the system, I really fear for the people getting the system at its worst, Oliver, 39, told Rather on the radio program. A U.K. native, Oliver, who now lives in New York, immigrated to the United States from Birmingham and went through the vetting system to be admitted into the U.S. Having undergone the immigrant process firsthand, the TV host recognizes the disparities between his experience and what immigrants are now encountering in their attempt to enter the country. Also, as an immigrant, I guess thats one of the reasons I find some of these actions taken through the executive order so viscerally offensive. It is offensive to me to see how immigrants are being treated. Not just people on green cards, but you talk about visas the translators who have worked for our military in Iraq and Afghanistan, they have bled for this country without ever having visited it, said Oliver. They have sacrificed family members. Something which our president has not done. He has not done either of those things. So for him to see them as a threat to this country rather than a proud benefit, is pretty hard to swallow. Story continues The 120-day temporary ban also hits close to home for Oliver because his wife, Kate Norley, served in the Iraq war, and worked alongside Iraqi translators to whom the United States made promises that have too often gone unfulfilled. She worked with a translator who bled with her in Iraq. So the complications involved in getting him out of there So many of our military you go to any military members Facebook pages. We made promises to those translators. Those military members made promises saying, Of course I will help you because they believed that the country they were fighting for would do the right thing by them, said Oliver. And it is heartbreaking to think the extent to which those veterans feel that they have betrayed the people who served alongside them. It is a true shame. It was shameful before this president came into office how we were treating them. It was shameful how they were treated during the last administration. Its even worse now. After Trump signed the executive order, a slew of celebrities and politicians took to social media to express their outrage, including Jennifer Lawrence, Alyssa Milano, Judd Apatow, Mia Farrow and Rihanna. In response to the international outrage, Trump issued the following statement released by the White House: 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. We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months. 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. This is not about religion this is about terror and keeping our country safe. The statement continued: There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order. We will 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. I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver returns for season 4 on Feb. 12 at 11 p.m. ET on HBO. Related: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Anna Nicole Smith at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida one month before she died. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) If you were surprised when Anna Nicole Smith died in a Hollywood, Fla., hotel room on Feb. 8, 2007 10 years ago today you werent paying attention. From Jims Krispy Fried Chicken employee to Playboy centerfold The blond bombshell, who had a ninth-grade education, clawed her way out of Texas. Born in 1967, she was a teen bride (marrying and having a son with a co-worker from Jims Krispy Fried Chicken) and eventually became a stripper (meeting another future husband, Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II at Gigis Cabaret). She had dreams of stardom and an obsession with Marilyn Monroe and took matters into her own hands by sending naked photos of herself to Playboy in 1992. That ultimately launched her modeling career, as she became a centerfold for the magazine. That same year, she was named the Guess girl. She was a stunner. Anna Nicole went from working as a stripper to becoming the Guess Girl in 1992. (Photo: Guess) Related: Anna Nicole Smiths Daughter, Dannielynn, Has Already Had Modeling Offers It was during those early days of fame in 1994 that she married Marshall, who was 89 to her 26. The billionaire showered her with millions of dollars in gifts, which exceeded her modeling paychecks. He died just a year later. Before Anna Nicole landed her own reality show, she starred in a real-life one when she (endlessly) battled Marshalls son in a case ultimately looked at by the Supreme Court over his dads fortune. Her integrity was constantly called into question, as she was accused of marrying the tycoon strictly to inherit his big bank account. (Of Marshall, Smith told Larry King in 2002, He took me out of a horrible place and was taking care of me and my son, and I loved him for that.) Anna Nicole married billionaire J. Howard Marshall, who was 63 years her senior, in 1994. He died a year later. (Photo: Getty Images) The tabloid princess Anna Nicole being held up backstage at the 2004 AMAs. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images) In an interview with Los Angeles magazine in 1994, Anna Nicole said, I love the paparazzi. They take pictures, and I just smile away. Ive always liked attention. I didnt get very much growing up, and I always wanted to be, you know, noticed. That included negative attention from that court battle, her subsequent bankruptcy filing, a trip to rehab for pill addiction, crashing a bar mitzvah and dirty dancing with the birthday boy (to the horror of guests), a battery arrest at the Beverly Hills Hotel, her weight gain and loss (Trimspa, baby!), and public appearances in which she was incoherent. Smith became a tabloid staple and ate it all up. Story continues Anna Nicole at Oscars parties in 1996 soon after a stint in rehab for addiction to Vicodin and alcohol: Anna Nicole in November 2004 at the American Music Awards: Taking her top off at MTV Australia Video Music Awards in March 2005: And at a Trimspa event in July 2005: On the heels of the hit reality show The Osbournes (in which Ozzy was often subtitled because nobody could understand what he was slurring), E premiered The Anna Nicole Show in the summer of 2002. It focused on Anna and her hangers-on (her lawyer Howard K. Stern, a purple-haired assistant, a toothless cousin, and the diva interior designer Bobby Trendy), and she often appeared inebriated. It was difficult to watch sometimes she was completely unintelligible and it should have been a red flag to someone, anyone (especially with her documented pill addiction), but no one who claimed to look out for her was ready to put a stop to it. The first episode of the Anna Nicole Show in 2002: America apparently couldnt look away, and the show ran for just over two seasons. Truly, the only bright spot on the show was seeing how much she loved her grown son, Daniel. He was sweet and shy in front of the cameras, but it was apparent he was her everything. Were sure theres a joke in there somewhere about how the way she slurred Daniels name was always so sweet, but, again, it was all difficult to watch. Imagine being an awkward teenager with a mother who was always impaired and youre being followed around by a camera crew. Not an ideal situation. Anna Nicole with her beloved son, Daniel, on the red carpet in 2004. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) The birth of Dannielynn and death of Daniel The show went off the air in 2004 and Anna Nicole stumbled along (literally) to 2006. That spring, there were rumors that she was pregnant, but she played coy. Thats because her relationship ended with the babys father, L.A.-based photographer Larry Birkhead, and she didnt want him involved. Her hope was she could give birth in the Bahamas and name lawyer/companion/enabler Stern as the father, which would shut down Birkheads paternity claims. (She was in a very bad place and it later became apparent she had been using drugs while pregnant, which was later corroborated by her doctor.) Related: The 6 Biggest Celebrity Paternity Scandals Anna Nicole with her newborn daughter, Dannielynn Hope, on Sept. 7, 2006. (Photo: Anna Nicole Smith/Getty Images) That September, she welcomed a daughter, Dannielynn, at a Bahamas hospital, with Stern by her side. Smiths happiness over her baby was short-lived, however, because Daniel, 20, died three days after Dannielynn was born at the hospital while he was visiting his mother and meeting his sister. An autopsy later found that he suffered a drug overdose after mixing methadone and two types of antidepressants. While a toxicologist suggested it was intentional, it was ultimately ruled accidental. Photo: NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images Anna Nicole Smith never recovered from Daniels death. In the months after, she was inconsolable, and at one point was hospitalized with pneumonia and a partially collapsed lung. Comedian Margaret Cho was a close friend of hers and later said, I think that her grief was overwhelming. Her son had died, and her son was just so precious to her. She slept with a poster-size photo of Daniel after he died. At that point, Anna Nicole also became involved in a custody battle over Dannielynn (five men ultimately claimed paternity, including Zsa Zsa Gabors husband), going so far as to marry Stern though it was later discovered that it was not a legal wedding. Further, her estranged mother was bashing her in the press. She was also going to lose the house she was living in. Anna Nicole and Larry when they were a couple. (Photo: Splash News) Her final days Anna Nicole and Howard at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fl., one month before she died there. (Photo: Getty Images) So that is where things were in February 2007 basically complete chaos only in addition, Anna was sick again. When she checked into the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Feb. 5 with an entourage that included Stern, psychiatrist Dr. Khristine Eroshevich, and a bodyguard (but without Dannielynn, who was back in the Bahamas while they made the trip to pick up a boat) she was described by a hotel clerk as out of it. She had flu-like conditions. While there was talk about calling a local doctor, Stern ultimately decided to take Anna to her suite to ride it out without any medical help to avoid press attention. It was in that suite that Anna, 39, died on Feb. 8. This is from the New York Times report that day: A personal nurse traveling with Ms. Smith called the hotel operator at 1:38 p.m. to report she had found Ms. Smith alone and unconscious in her sixth-floor suite, the police said. Ms. Smiths bodyguard arrived a few minutes later and tried to revive her with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as did paramedics, who arrived after 2 p.m., they said, but she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 2:49 p.m. The office of the Broward County Medical Examiner was to perform an autopsy on Friday morning. A paramedic with the Hollywood Fire Rescue Department told WTVJ-TV that Ms. Smith was not breathing when he and other rescue workers arrived in her suite, and that they had tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to restore her heartbeat A lawyer for Ms. Smith, Ronald Rale, said she had complained of flulike symptoms earlier in the week and was run down from her recent troubles, including the death of her 20-year-old son and a paternity suit over her infant daughter. Of course, it took time for the truth to come about what was going on in that suite. In March, the autopsy results were made public. The Associated Press reported that the one-time model died after a miserable last few days in which she endured stomach flu, a 105-degree fever, pungent sweating and an infection on her buttocks from repeated injections The hotel suite littered with pill bottles, soda cans, SlimFast, nicotine gum and an open box of Tamiflu tablets. Her official cause of death was accidental overdose on at least nine prescription drugs. One of them was the seldom-prescribed sedative chloral hydrate, which was also a contributing factor in the 1962 overdose death of Anna Nicoles idol, Marilyn Monroe. The recommended dose of the drug was one to two teaspoons; Anna Nicole drank it from a baby bottle. A month after she died, Eroshevich turned over to authorities 44 different prescription drugs from Smiths home in the Bahamas. The bottles contained painkillers, opiates, and sleeping medications. Many of the labels had pseudonyms for Smith, including Michelle Chase, Susie Wong, and Jean Smith. Because charges were later brought against Stern, Eroshevich, and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor for conspiring to provide Anna Nicole excessive amounts of opiates and sedatives (Stern and Eroshevich were initially convicted, but the charges were later overturned), more details later came out about the blondes final days. Special agent Danny Santiago of the State Department of Justice testified that when detectives from the Broward County Sheriffs Office found the bed where a lifeless Smith was discovered, it was covered with feces. There was vomit in the sink. He went on to say that coroners told him that Smith had an infected abscess on her buttock and that Eroshevich admitted that Anna Nicole had been taking medication via injection. Anna Nicole was taking antibiotics and given ice baths to combat her flu-like symptoms, but she suffered intense, pungent sweating that soaked the sheets. Maurice Brighthaupt, who was Smiths security guard, testified about watching Smith slurp the powerful sedative chloral hydrate the primary cause of her overdose from a baby bottle, as if it were a soda. (I saw her use a spoon maybe twice, and after that it was bottle to mouth. Gulp, he said.) He also saw Stern inject Anna Nicole with other meds more than seven times and recalled seeing Stern in a bathroom using a cigarette lighter and a spoon to melt valium into an injectable form because, They felt it would get in her system faster. Tasma Brighthaupt, Maurices wife, said she was watching Smith on the morning she died. (Stern had to go out to pick up the boat.) At one point, she and one of Anna Nicoles friends from the Bahamas looked in on the star and they discovered that Annas lips were blue and her skin was discolored. Tasma, a registered nurse, began CPR. The aftermath Anna Nicoles death was just as dramatic as her life. In addition to the trials, which went on for years, there was drama over where she would be buried (with a famously weepy judge), a paternity battle between Stern and Birkhead (Larry won), and an inquiry into Daniels death. The one bright spot in this real-life tragedy is Dannielynn, who is being raised largely out of the spotlight by Larry, in Louisville, Ky. But shes not completely hidden away. Each year, they attend the Kentucky Derby, and Dannielynn did an ad campaign for Guess Kids in 2012. Typically, Larry and Dannielynn will do an interview at least once a year, and they did so recently. In it, she said she loves dancing, stuffed animals, and Tinker Bell. Shes learning to play the violin, and shes doing well in school. She didnt inherit the Marshall fortune. (Anna Nicoles estate lost its last legal bid in 2014.) Dannielynn looks just like her mom, but hopefully will grow up to have none of the same troubles Anna Nicole did. More from Yahoo Celebrity: Photo credit: Getty From Cosmopolitan In Donald J. Trump's first military operation as President, a raid in Yemen, dozens of civilians (including children) and a U.S. Navy Seal were killed. U.S. military officials told Reuters that Trump approved the operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support, or adequate backup preparations. Despite all the casualties, do you know who's still at large after the strike? The intended target. Bizarrely, Trump ordered the strike in the early morning hours last Sunday, but he wasn't in the Situation Room when it happened. The President was here in the residence. He was kept in touch with his national security staff, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. Secretary Mattis and others kept him updated on both the raid and the death of Chief Owens as well as the four other individuals that were injured. So he was kept apprised of the situation. Further, the morning after the attack, the first thing Trump did was tweet angrily about the New York Times. Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE NEWS and failing @nytimes and either run it correctly or let it fold with dignity! - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017 This is unusual for several reasons. According to David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, the President usually goes to the Situation Room and is presented with what they call a full package for the attack. Theres a legal assessment of the legal authorities under which theyre doing these, he told PBS. Theres a risk assessment to the commandos who would be doing it. There is a risk assessment of what could happen to civilians who are in the area. It looks like President Trump got briefed on it, by and large, at a dinner, not in the Situation Room, not with legal advisers around." Story continues I think one of the questions, given how many things have gone wrong, is: would it have been different if he had been in the Situation Room and perhaps had a different set of briefings, he added. Follow Laura on Twitter. You Might Also Like "California in many ways is out of control" By Richy Rosario President Trump is not here for California offering a helping hand to undocumented immigrants. In a recent interview with Bill OReilly of Fox News, POTUS expressed his distaste with the states burgeoning new legislation, which is designed to help the immigrants not legally documented. The state created The California Values Act, which would make it a sanctuary state for the undocumented population. The act was introduced by Senate Leader Kevin de Leon, reports Fusion. According to Leon, this is what the act would do: Among other things, prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies and school police and security departments from using resources to investigate,interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes. In response to this, Trump said he will suspend the federal funding the state receives. If we have to, well defund, he said. We give tremendous amounts of money to California. California in many ways is out of control, as you know. For Trump, these sanctuaries pose a major threat to his ideologies on immigration. I think its ridiculous, he said, adding that these cities and laws only breed crime. Well have to wait and see what the future holds for the state, considering the bill was approved on Tuesday (Jan. 31) by a state senate committee, reports The Los Angeles Times. This post President Trump Threatens To Defund The State Of California first appeared on Vibe. John W. Hayden, MD, beloved father and dedicated physician, passed away Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, at age 94, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center. Born Oct. 3, 1922, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Hamilton and Frances (Peggy) Hayden, John graduated from University School in Cleveland in 1940 and Hamilton College in 1944. After enlisting in the Navy in World War II, he entered the State University of New York-Syracuse Medical School on the V12 Bill, received his medical degree in 1947, and began an internship in pathology under Nobel laureate Dr. George Whipple at Rochesters Strong Memorial Hospital. There he encountered a beautiful blonde piano student at the university lunch counter, using the now-legendary opener, May I have a sam handwich? which soon led to a long and happy marriage to Mary Phyllis Briddell that began Dec. 28, 1948, in Crisfield, Md. He was called into service in U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict, serving from 1951 to 1953 as a lieutenant and general medical officer on the USS Midway and the U.S. Naval Academy. While at the Naval Academy he met Adolph Gundersen, who encouraged Hayden to join him at the growing multi-specialty Gundersen Clinic. John and Phyllis returned to Boston, where he was a resident at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, and chief orthopedic resident at Boston Childrens Hospital. During his last three years in Boston, he served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, working with his mentor, the legendary Dr. William T. Green. Dr. Hayden then made the decision to leave academia and move to La Crosse to respond to the invitation of Adolph Gundersen and his brother, Sigurd Gundersen Jr., to help bring orthopedic care to Western Wisconsin. At this time, other physicians trained in the East were all coming out in this mass migration to the West, Dr. Hayden later recalled, including Drs. Cameron Gundersen, Per Helliesen and George Murphy. I thought if these bright fellows went to this institution it would grow and do well and it has. Although interested in the Gundersen Clinic, Dr. Hayden agreed to come only if he could bring his colleague, Dr. Douglas G. Tompkins, with whom he had trained. So in 1958, he packed his young family in his Ford station wagon to move to La Crosse, and together with Dr. Tompkins, established the orthopedic department of the Gundersen Clinic-Lutheran Hospital. Here, he excelled in general orthopedics, performing some of the first total hip replacements in the region. Beginning in the 1960s, he served on Gundersen Clinics Board of Directors, as president of the Lutheran Hospital-La Crosses medical staff, and as a member of Hospitals Board of Trustees. Life outside the hospital was just as fulfilling; he helped found the La Crosse Community Theatre, played his beloved flute in the La Crosse Symphony, and was a life-long member of Christ Episcopal Church, where he served on its vestry and helped lead a successful campaign to modernize parts of the church building and restore its stained glass windows in the mid-2000s. He was an avid outdoors-man, hunting with his prized German wirehair pointers and capturing wildlife in photography and pastels. In his final years, he and friend, Jim Doerre furnished magnificent hand-crafted furniture for children, friends and church; he was equally proud of putting his woodworking skills to use for Habitat for Humanity. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Marianne and the staff at the Willows Assisted Living, Lori and the staff at Hearten House, and the Bethany Riverside Nursing Home for their excellent care, and to thank Sandy, Jean, Janice and Jim for their many years of friendship, generosity and service to John and Phyllis. We also extend our appreciation to the great staff at Schmidtys restaurant, Johns favorite place to eat. John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Phyllis; and his brother, Hamilton Peter (Bill) Hayden. He is survived by his five children, Melissa Hayden; Charles (Tammy) Hayden and children, Amanda, Alex, Emily and David; Sarah Hayden Kahrl and children, Ariel, Hunter, Miles and Ethan Kahrl; John A. (Margaret) Hayden and children, Brittany and Patrick Hayden; and Christopher (Amy) Hayden and children, Abby and Corey Hayden. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., La Crosse. Funeral services will be held at 10 am. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Christ Episcopal Church, 111 North Main St. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Johns favorite charities, by check made out to either Habitat for Humanity or Christ Episcopal Church, mailed to c/o Chip and Tammy Hayden, W5946 Woodland Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.dickinsonfuneralhomes.com. For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Taylor Swift is usually the first one you hear from following a breakup, typically in the form of a thinly veiled reference to her ex in a hit single. But this time it's Tom Hiddleston who's talking. The British actor, briefly more famous for wearing a "I T.S." t-shirt on the beach than playing Loki in The Avengers and Thor movies, reveals in a new GQ cover story interview that last summer's short-lived fling was no publicity stunt -- and it's all good. "Of course it was real," Hiddleston told the mag about the surprise 90-day romance that blew up after the pair were pictured kissing on the beach in Rhode Island, which quickly progressed to a trip to England to meet his family and a joint jaunt to Australia, where he was shooting Thor: Ragnarok. "Taylor is an amazing woman," the actor says in his first on-the-record comments about his ex, who he started dating shortly after her year-long relationship with Calvin Harris came to an end. "She's generous and kind and lovely and we had the best time." Alas, as hot as their passion burned, it didn't last and all Hiddleston can do is try to explain that... t-shirt. "The truth is, it was the Fourth of July and a public holiday and we were playing a game and I slipped and hurt my back. And I wanted to protect the graze from the sun and said, 'Does anyone have a T-shirt?'," he explains. "And one of her friends said, 'I've got this.'" This, of course, was the T.S.-loving tank top that GQ joked all of "Taylor's friends are contractually obligated to own." It wasn't a sign of too much too soon, Hiddleston says. "We all laughed about it. It was a joke... it was a joke... among friends." That wasn't all Hiddleston, 35, had to say about it, though. He added that he's learned to be psychologically strong about not letting other people's interpretations of his life affect said life. "A relationship exists between two people. We will always know what it was," he says. "The narratives that are out there altogether have been extrapolated from pictures that were taken without consent or permission, with no context. Nobody had the context for that story. And I'm still trying to work out a way of having a personal life and protecting it, but also without hiding. So the hardest thing is that that was a joke among friends on the Fourth of July." Story continues You got that? Good, because he's not done. "I just, I was surprised. I was just surprised that it got so much attention," he says. "The tank top became an emblem of this thing." Enough about the t-shirt, though -- Hiddleswift couldn't last because sometimes the spotlight just burns too brightly. "I only know the woman I met," he says of Swift, with whom he just wanted a "regular" relationship, as did she. "She's incredible... a relationship always takes work. A relationship in the limelight takes work... So we decided to go out for dinner, we decided to travel." Click here to read the full interview. Paris (AFP) - With its old-school layout, unwieldy pages and heavy doses of slapstick humour, France's Canard Enchaine weekly may have seemed especially vulnerable as the internet upended the newspaper business. But as its "fake job" claims against presidential hopeful Francois Fillon show, "The Shackled Duck", which last July celebrated 100 years in print, has hardly lost its bite. Although circulation has fallen to about 400,000 copies in 2015 from 500,000 in 2010, its sales have spiked in tandem with its most explosive claims: The edition detailing the money paid to Fillon's wife, dubbed "Penelopegate", quickly sold out an estimated 500,000 copies. But Le Canard Enchaine refuses to post its reports on its website. It accepts no advertising. Its journalists are its only shareholders, and its finances are among the healthiest in the French media landscape. And every Tuesday night, politicians send couriers to the paper's Paris offices ahead of Wednesday's public distribution, hoping they won't be the subject of its skewering reports. - 'The opposition' - Created to take an anti-war stance during World War I, the Canard Enchaine long styled itself a "satirical" paper happy to deride the foibles of the famous, before shifting its focus towards investigative journalism in the 1970s. In French a "canard", or duck, is the colloquial name for a newspaper, while the chains refer to the heavy press censorship of the war. For years, hardly any of its rivals could match its stream of scoops, some of them uncovering the most infamous political scandals in French history. Even with a relatively small newsroom that relies heavily on freelance contributors, the Canard punches above its weight, with sources ranging from diplomats and judges to corporate executives and whistle-blowers. Among its most prominent victims in recent years: Herve Gaymard, a finance minister who had the state pay for a huge luxury duplex even though he owned a Paris apartment and Michele Alliot-Marie, accused of too-cosy ties with Tunisia's president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as the country's revolution erupted at the end of 2010. Story continues "The Canard is neither right-wing or left-wing, it's in the opposition," Erik Emptaz, a co-editor in chief, says in a documentary airing on French TV on Friday. Politicians of all stripes are among its most devoted readers, and sometimes its sources. "We quickly turn to Page Two," where snippets of government gossip fill the page, Roselyne Bachelot, a former rightwing minister, says in the documentary. "I've told them a few things myself," she adds with a smile. And President Francois Hollande was often called the Canard's "junior editor in chief" when he was head of the Socialist Party. The paper's scoop about Fillon's wife could be one of its biggest yet in terms of fallout. Fillon, a conservative, was leading the presidential race until the Canard revealed that his wife had been paid more than 800,000 euros ($860,000) over 15 years for a suspected fake job as a parliamentary aide to Fillon and an ally. Polls after the story broke showed him falling back into third place, behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, with Macron tipped to ultimately emerge victorious. Fillon has lashed out at the Canard and other media that carried the story, declaring himself the victim of a "lynching" while admitting that he made an "error" in using public funds to hire his wife. For Greens lawmaker Noel Mamere, "Penelopegate" is an example of the meticulous investigative work that, together with its caustic tone, has earned the Canard cult status. "The Canard never puts out a claim that could end a politician's career without checking and double-checking," said Mamere, adding: "It's the opposite of a social network." The Cincinnati Zoo has stepped up to the plate to raise three Malayan tiger cubs after their mom rejected them. First-time mom Cintas maternal instincts did not kick in and vets, concerned that the cubs' body temperatures would dip too low without the warmth of their mom's body, decided to remove them from the den. Read: Endangered Giant Otter Moves to a Different Country, All in the Name of Love Its not uncommon for first-time tiger moms not to know what to do," said Mike Dulaney, curator of mammals and vice coordinator of the Malayan Tiger SSP. "They can be aggressive and even harm or kill the cubs. Nursery staff is keeping them warm and feeding them every three hours." The cubs will be cared for in the zoos nursery and will then move to Cat Canyon when they no longer require constant care. Read: Panda on the Run: Search Intensifies for Extremely Rare Red Panda After It Escapes From Zoo Visitors should be able to see them playing and running around in their outdoor habitat in early spring, according to the zoo. The three will grow up together," Dulaney said. "They will not be re-introduced to their mom as she would not recognize them as her own after a prolonged separation." Watch: Zoo Animals Eat Their Christmas Presents After Incredible Game of Hide-and-Seek Related Articles: Golden Globe and BAFTA nominees David Oyelewo and Rosamund Pike star in a cross-cultural romantic drama based on true events that had immense ramifications for the future of a nation. - What's it about? - Heir to the throne of Bechuanaland, an African territory then under British rule, Seretse Khama took up residence in the UK in his 20s, training to become a barrister -- a legal expert and courtroom advocate -- at a prestigious London institution. It was there, in London, that he met his future wife Ruth Williams, an office clerk at a large insurance company. With tradition, racial separation, and even the powerful British government against their cross-cultural marriage, the two set off for Khama's homeland and begun a long and difficult process that saw Khama become the first leader of a newly-formed independent republic of Botswana. - Who's in it? - David Oyewolo played Martin Luther King Jr. in "Selma" after roles in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," "The Help," "Lincoln," "Interstellar" and "The Butler." He is Seretse to Rosamund Pike's Ruth, the actress well known for "Die Another Day," "An Education," "Gone Girl" and, like Oyewolo, "Jack Reacher." They're supported by Terry Pehto (Oscar winner "Tsotsi," current miniseries "Madiba"), Vusi Kunene (season one of "Cape Town"), Jack Davenport ("Pirates of the Caribbean"), Jack Lowden (July 2017's "Dunkirk") and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Brit comedy "Only Fools and Horses") among others. - Who's behind it? - The second film from director Amma Asante was 2013's period drama "Belle," inspired by a real person but much more loosely than "A United Kingdom." For that, she was named one of the Directors to Watch by the Palm Springs film festival, recognized with nominations from the NAACP, Black Reel, and Women Film Critics Circle awards. Story continues She worked from a script provided by Guy Hibbert, who has won four BAFTAs for his work, including 2013's secret service drama "Complicit," starring David Oyelowo. - Is it any good? - With an average review score rating of 6.7/10 on Metacritic, an 88% general approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is derived from a 6.9/10 score. Simiarly, over 1,300 IMDb users have contributed to a weighted average of 6.7/10. - When's it out? - A number of English-language countries will have been able to contribute to early review scores, given that "A United Kingdom" was featured at the Toronto, London and Stockholm film festivals in late 2016 before a UK & Irish general release in November, with New Zealand and Australia following in December. US cinemas receive the film for February 10, 2017, and Hong Kong is set for a February 16 release, after which Denmark and Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore are among territories dated for March. - Trailers & Social - Official trailer: youtu.be/url66-67O90, facebook.com/AUnitedKingdomFilm/videos/668770679940690 Facebook page: facebook.com/AUnitedKingdomFilm Instagram account: instagram.com/aunitedkingdom Twitter feed: twitter.com/AUnitedKingdom Official website: aunitedkingdomfilm.com THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) Greek police say two more Turkish families have illegally entered the country across a border river and plan to request asylum, claiming they face persecution in Turkey. Authorities say more than 100 Turks have requested asylum in Greece since the failed July 15 coup in Turkey, including eight servicemen who fled in a military helicopter. All claim they are in danger in their country, where authorities link them with the attempted coup. Police said Wednesday they arrested a Tunisian and a Moroccan man for smuggling the Turkish families, for a fee, into Greece over the Evros river, which runs along the two countries' land border. The Turks were identified as two men, three women and a 1-year-old boy. They were detained Tuesday, near the border town of Orestiada. Just a few miles north of the border, San Diego is renowned for its Mexican cuisine. "We have that kind of cultural influence being so close to Ensenada and Tijuana, Mexico, and we get some amazing chefs here," says Justin Robbins, head concierge at Fairmont Grand Del Mar. But with so many options, how do you find the best place to grab a bite during your vacation? U.S. News asked local experts to highlight the places that represent San Diego's dedication to authentic Mexican fare. Try one (or more!) of these seven spots during your next visit to San Diego. [Read: 8 Great Bars in San Diego.] Coasterra Local experts highly recommend Coasterra for its breathtaking views of San Diego's downtown skyline and its creative menu. Branded as modern Mexican and located right on the bay, this restaurant is a splurge but well worth the cost. Heap made-at-the-table guacamole on crunchy tortilla chips and sip south-of-the-border-influenced craft cocktails, like one of its mezcal concoctions. Other specialty cocktails include the organic skinny margarita and the Jalisco mule, a twist on the Moscow mule that replaces vodka with tequila. For dinner, order the short rib enchiladas smothered in a decadent mole poblano sauce. Or, for lighter fare, try the light, yet flavorful, sea bass. This restaurant is often booked solid, so make a reservation a couple days in advance. Entree prices range between $18 and $49. Bracero Cocina de Raiz Brett Hamblen, head concierge at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, says Bracero Cocina de Raiz is "an amazing restaurant option." Edna Gutierrez, public relations manager at the San Diego Tourism Authority, says the restaurant, located in bustling Little Italy, is known for its "high-end Mexican gastronomy [which showcases] the Cali-Baja style of cuisine." The albacore, served both seared and tartare, is a must-try appetizer. Bracero's new brunch menu is also getting a lot of buzz, especially the chilaquiles rojos and the huevos rancheros. Stop by Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. to enjoy the happy hour menu. Robbins says, "Bracero is definitely a hot spot to be seen." For parties larger than four, reservations are strongly recommended. Entrees cost about $30. Small plates are all less than $20. Story continues [Read: 8 Breakfast Spots San Diego Locals Love.] South Beach Bar & Grille South Beach Bar & Grille is all about the ocean views and the fish tacos. Located in the rustic surf community of Ocean Beach, this restaurant is a well-known local favorite. "Their mahi-mahi tacos are amazing," says Cathy Gomez, chief concierge at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. This spot has a variety of daily specials, including discounted tacos and drinks. South Beach is the picture-perfect place to enjoy a libation while watching the sunset or local surfers catch some waves. Nearly all the tacos cost less than $5. City Tacos City Tacos is the place to go for a plate of mouthwatering tacos complemented by an imported Mexican beer or a local craft beer. Located in trendy North Park, this restaurant uses seasonal and local ingredients to dish up unique taco combinations. Local favorites are the smoked portobello con vegetables taco or the puerco agridulce taco, which features pork tenderloin in a demi-glace. If you're not a beer drinker, sample one of the aguas frescas made on-site daily. Service here is quick but not at the expense of high quality. Drop in on a Tuesday to take advantage of Taco Tuesday discounts. All tacos cost $3.50. Puesto You can't leave San Diego without stopping by award-winning Puesto. With locations in La Jolla and downtown near Seaport Village, this spot has an "amazing taco menu," Robbins says. Locals advise you to order the tamarindo shrimp tacos, a side of the herb lime rice and a Puesto perfect margarita. Happy hour is weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m., timed perfectly to catch the sunset at the nearby waterfront. Taco Tuesdays include $2.50 tacos and $3.50 Modelos. For dinner, mix and match three tacos for $15, and large plates start at $16. Buen provecho! Tacos El Gordo With its flagship location in Tijuana, Mexico, Tacos El Gordo delivers authentic Mexican cuisine. This restaurant makes its own corn tortillas, serves top-grade meat and uses fresh ingredients in its house-made guacamole and salsas. Located south of downtown in the nearby city of Chula Vista, Tacos El Gordo's motto is that every customer is family. There is no wrong choice when it comes to the tacos, but popular ones include the tender and flavorful adobada (spiced pork), the succulent lengua (beef tongue) and the traditional tripa (beef tripe). The restaurant also serves Mexican soda. All tacos cost less than $2.50. [Read: The Best Things to Do in San Diego.] Rolando's Taco Shop Rolando's Taco Shop is a low-key chain of neighborhood restaurants that will impress you with its authentic Mexican flavors. With several local shops -- including in Barrio Logan, a neighborhood just east of downtown with a large Mexican-American population -- Rolando's serves fresh guacamole prepared with Mexican Hass avocados and a variety of house-made salsas. Try the carne asada fries, an indulgent choice beloved by San Diegans, or the hearty surf and turf burrito. Service is fast, friendly and professional. Tacos cost about $3. Combination plates, with rice and beans, start at about $6. To experience more of what San Diego has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide. Darcie Czajkowski writes about travel for U.S. News. She is an avid traveler, who has visited nearly 40 countries. She has lived in Bali, Indonesia and has called San Diego her home for 13 years. Her travel and lifestyle articles have appeared on TripExpert and The Carmel Valley Life, a local San Diego publication. As a current graduate student in Marriage and Family Therapy, Darcie has also written about life, love and relationships for Elite Daily. WARRI, Nigeria (AP) Seven Russian sailors and a Ukrainian have been kidnapped from a cargo ship in Nigerian waters, the Russian embassy in the West African nation said Wednesday. The kidnappings come less than three months after three Russians were taken hostage off a ship in Nigerian waters and freed weeks later. The Russian embassy posted messages on social media saying Nigerian authorities have been asked to help locate the victims. It did not give the day of the kidnapping, saying only that the men were taken off the BBC Caribbean, a cargo vessel owned by Dutch company Briese Shipping B.V. and flagged in Antigua and Barbuda. Nigeria's navy and police refused to comment. Ship hijackings and crew kidnappings are common off Nigeria's southern Atlantic coast. Hostages usually are released unharmed after a ransom is paid or crude from oil tankers is stolen. Last year, the navy rescued several hostages in dangerous attacks on hijacked ships. Also Wednesday, Nigeria's navy reported "another major feat" in rescuing two oil tankers attacked by pirates. A statement said its sailors saved the Mt Gaz Providence oil tanker on Tuesday, reacting to a distress call after the ship with a crew of 21 was attacked off southern Bonny Island. The navy also said it twice repelled pirates trying to hijack the oil tanker Mt Rio Spirit after the vessel had loaded petroleum at ExxonMobil's Qua Iboe terminal, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Bonny Island. The tanker was attacked even though it was escorted by a Navy vessel. ___ Associated Press writer Michelle Faul in Johannesburg contributed. 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] Activists in the rebel-held Syrian city of Idlib reported deadly strikes by Russian aviation early on Tuesday, February 7, with the local Syrian Civil Defense volunteer group saying at least 15 people were killed. Idlib is last major stronghold of rebel forces since the recapture of Aleppo by government-backed forces, and is dominated by two major Islamist rebel groups, Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the latter of which was formerly linked to al-Qaida. Credit: Video 1: Edlib Media Center ||Video 2: Aleppo Media Center via Storyful WASHINGTON Another round of bickering is boiling over about temperature readings used in a 2015 study to show how the planet is warming. The issue is about how readings gathered decades ago were adjusted to try to get a clearer picture of how the Earths temperature is changing now. Those adjustments have been questioned by some who reject mainstream climate science and have tried to claim there has been a pause in global warming. A January study in a scientific journal used another set of measurements to confirm the readings and prove again that the earths temperature is rising quickly and that the warming has not paused. But a congressional committee on Tuesday seized on complaints from a retired scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration about how the original data were handled to claim the data were falsified even though the retired NOAA scientist they cite does not argue that it was. What is being touted as a scientific scandal is more about data handling than what rising temperatures show, according to phone and email interviews with more than two dozen experts on the issue, including the former government scientist, whose blogging Saturday reignited a debate. The hubbub was sparked when retired NOAA data scientist John Bates claimed in a blog post that his boss, then-director of the National Centers for Environmental Information Thomas Karl, constantly had his thumb on the scale in the documentation, scientific choices and release of datasets in an effort to discredit the notion of a global warming hiatus and rushed a study published in the journal Science before international climate negotiations. Bates said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press that he was most concerned about the way data was handled, documented and stored, raising issues of transparency and availability. He said Karl didnt follow the more than 20 crucial data storage and handling steps that Bates created for NOAA. He said it looked like the June 2015 study was pushed out to influence the December 2015 climate treaty negotiations in Paris. However Bates, who acknowledges that Earth is warming from man-made carbon dioxide emissions, said in the interview that there was no data tampering, no data changing, nothing malicious. Its really a story of not disclosing what you did, Bates said in the interview. Its not trumped up data in any way shape or form. Still, after Bates blog post, the House Science Committee , a British tabloid newspaper and others who reject mainstream climate science accused NOAA of playing fast and loose with land and water temperature data. House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, speaking at a hearing Tuesday, called on Science to retract the 2015 study and blasted NOAA for not being cooperative with his subpoenas. When the journals publisher Rush Holt, a physicist and former Democratic congressman, said the charges dont support a retraction because the issue is more about data procedures than science, Smith, an attorney, interrupted him and insisted: They falsified global warming data. The Karl study looked mostly at ocean temperature records several decades old and determined that those older readings skewed too warm when compared to modern monitoring from buoys and other devices because they were taken in ships engine rooms. He adjusted those old readings down, which makes it clearer that the earths temperature is rising now. Since then, a new independent study from the University of California, Berkeley looked at the same issue in a different way, and confirmed the Karl calculations. Not using their data we get the exact same results, both for the ocean record and for the land, said Zeke Hausfather, lead author of the Berkeley study. He called Bates claims all about procedural disagreements within NOAA that have very little bearing about our understanding about whats happening to Earths climate. Marcia McNutt, who was editor of Science at the time the paper was published and is now president of the National Academy of Sciences, praised Bates for wanting to highlight the importance of data archiving, but said his criticisms have little to do with the main part of the paper and chastised the House for using issues of data archiving to try to discredit the 2015 study. The study has been reproduced independently of Karl et al thats the ultimate platinum test of whether a study is to be believed or not, McNutt said. And this study has passed. The Associated Press interviewed more than two dozen experts by phone or email. Most agreed with Karl or didnt take a side but said it didnt matter because global warming continues regardless of this latest kerfuffle. Two supported Bates, saying there were serious scientific integrity concerns. The Associated Press interviewed more than two dozen experts. Most supported the study or didnt take a side but said it didnt matter because global warming continues regardless of this latest kerfuffle. When New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson left Congress in 2009, she went to work the same month as a paid consultant for a subsidiary of weapons-contracting giant Lockheed Martin. That company then capitalized on Wilsons extraordinary familiarity with Washington to craft a lobbying strategy meant to avoid having to compete for the renewal of a government contract that brought in huge profits. The strategy relied on discrete meetings between Lockheed officials and powerful members of the fledgling Obama Administration, key members of Congress, and influential Washingtonians who had also passed through the revolving door between government and private industry. Wilson, a Republican who had spent four years on the House Armed Services Committee and six years on the Intelligence Committee, spent five months drawing up a roadmap for Lockheed to achieve its key objective: Renewing its existing contract to manage Sandia National Laboratories, a wholly-owned subsidiary that helps make nuclear weapons and has an annual budget of more than $2 billion, without having to compete with any other firm unlike most federal contractors. Fulfilling the classic role of a "nonlobbyist" strategic adviser, trading on information she gained while serving in public office, she told the firm exactly who they should approach for help. I had a very effective meeting w/ Heather this PM, David L. Goldheim, Lockheed Martins director of corporate development at Sandia Corp., wrote in an email dated March 31, 2009 to senior officials at Sandia, which was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity. Her advice and insights are excellent. Essentially, our next steps will be to map contacts (as well as individuals to be avoided). This story is part of National Security. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Don't miss another National Security investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. On Jan. 23, President Trump announced that he will nominate Wilson, a former pilot and graduate of the Air Force Academy, to become the nations 24th Secretary of the Air Force. But even though Trump promised during the presidential campaign to drain the swamp of Washington powerbrokers that use knowledge gained in public office to pursue private gains, dozens of internal Lockheed and Sandia emails involving Wilson make clear that she is practiced at doing just that. Over the course of two years of work for Lockheed, Wilson made more than $200,000. Story continues Moreover, hers was not a normal course of influence-peddling in the Washington contracting world. An Energy Department auditor ruled in 2013 that the contracts she signed with Sandia and several other private nuclear weapons firms were impermissibly vague and violated government rules, and declared that the work she did trying to ensure that Sandia kept its contract had been illegally billed by the contractors to the federal government itself forcing Sandia to give back the federal money. The auditor did not find fault with her conduct. In Wilsons new job, she apparently won't be constrained from making any decisions about her former client Lockheed, which does more business with the Air Force than any other contractor, according to federal procurement records published by the General Services Administration. While an executive order signed by Trump on Jan. 28 bars top officials from working on particular matters that are directly or substantially related to the work they did for private-sector clients, it only applies to work done within the past two years. Although Wilsons financial papers have not been published yet by the Office of Government Ethics, her known work for Lockheed preceded the two-year period governed by the order. As a result, Wilson would be allowed to oversee work by Lockheed Martin on fighter jets and other weapon systems, including the F-35, a plane that has been plagued by massive cost overruns and technical snafus. Critics have argued that some parts of the program should be competed, an idea that Lockheed has resisted. Wilson also will have no limitations on her involvement in a costly modernization of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, including land-based missiles maintained by Lockheed under a nearly half-billion-dollar Air Force contract, as well as the controversial deployment of new U.S. nuclear warheads made mostly by Sandia to U.S. fighter bases in Europe. As of 2015, the most current year available, Lockheed had 3,982 outstanding Air Force contracts worth $7.4 billion, accounting for 14 percent of all the services acquisition dollars. She has what I call the appearance of a conflict of interest, and appearances matter, said Gordon Adams, a professor emeritus at American University and former associate director for national security at the Office of Management and Budget. She should probably recuse herself from anything involving Lockheed. Thats tricky in particular for the F-35, because its a big part of the job. Asked last week about the scope and purpose of her past Lockheed contracting work and its relevance to her nomination and future work, Wilson did not respond. In a 2015 email to the Center, she said she never contacted serving government officials about the Sandia contract an action that would have met the legal definition of lobbying. I was not a lobbyist for Sandia, she said. Lockheed, which has previously said it fully cooperated with a federal audit of Wilsons contracts, declined further comment on that matter or on Wilson last week. But Wilson, 56, is actually one of several Trump nominees to high office who have thrived in Washingtons culture of public-private enrichment. Robert Lighthizer, Trumps nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, was a professional lobbyist for the steel industry, which has a strong interest in tariffs. Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, the nominee to become Homeland Security Secretary, worked as an adviser to DynCorp, which recruits and trains border patrol agents. Defense Secretary James Mattis served on the board of General Dynamics Corp., which has billions of dollars in Pentagon contracts. Interior Secretary nominee Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) was on the board of QS Energy, a company that could benefit from expanding oil pipelines, when he was elected to Congress in 2014. Don't miss another National Security investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. Consulting on how to lobby The New Mexico-based consulting firm that Wilson started running immediately after leaving Congress, Heather Wilson and Company, LLC, was paid $226,378 between January 2009 and March 2011 by Sandia Corp. LLC, according to a June 2013 report by the Energy Department inspector general. The contract, obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, vaguely called for Wilson to develop a national security speaker series at Sandia, and to advise the labs top administrators regarding congressional interaction strategies and House/Senate dynamics as well as DC presence and policy related issues. When Wilson met with Goldheim and Sandia Corp. Vice President and General Counsel Becky Krauss on March 31, 2009, according to their email communications, Wilson came prepared. She recommended the company aggressively lobby Congress, but keep a low profile and named Washington insiders who Lockheed Martin representatives should try to enlist in their no-bid contract plan to create voices around the decision maker, who was then-Energy Secretary Steven Chu. She suggested in particular that Lockheed ask former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the Secretary of Energy between 1998 and 2001 and later an industry consultant, to call Rahm Emanuel, Obamas chief of staff at the time, and also directly reach out to former senior Energy Department officials, Chus key advisers, and former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), who had earned the nickname Saint Pete from nuclear contactors in his home state. Wilson also told Lockheed that Jonathan Epstein, who worked at the time for one of New Mexicos senators, had identified Washington figures who either opposed Sandias contract bid or would be neutral. Asked this week about the contact, Epstein, who is now a staff member for the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold Wilsons confirmation hearings, declined to comment. Throughout the spring of 2009, Wilson stayed in close contact with Goldheim and Krauss, briefing them on the personal characteristics of some of the lobbying targets. She also expressed concern to Lockheed about its top officials directly lobbying Capitol Hill, suggesting that they instead seek the help of a former congressional staffer, whose name was redacted from the email copy, with strong connections in Congress. Since he no longer works on Capitol Hill, you dont face the issues concerning contacting Congress that you otherwise would, Wilson wrote, in a seeming reference to the disclosure laws that govern the direct lobbying of government officials. Wilson did not respond to several requests for comment about this remark. In the following months, Wilson continued to guide Lockheeds Sandia strategy. In a July 6, 2009, email, she told Goldheim to start working the edges like key members of Congress etc. In that email, Wilson also established the baseline message that the companys representatives delivered over and over for the next two years during meetings with the strategys targets: Your message to these people is that competition is not in the best interest of the government and ask them to call [name redacted] today and tell him that a recompete at Sandia is not needed. Over the next two years, a team of Lockheed officials followed Wilsons script and strategically targeted decision-makers, according to other Lockheed and Sandia emails obtained by the Center. The campaign culminated in a formal May 20, 2011 pitch letter from Merillyn Hewson, now the CEO of Lockheed Martin, to Chu, which said extending our current contract avoids potential disruption at Sandia and the costs associated with a competition that is not likely to result in either performance or cost improvement for the government. That letter came two months after the Government Accountability Office, an independent group reporting to Congress, noted in a 345-page report which caught the attention of Sandia officials and caused brief concern that the benefits of competition in acquiring goods and services from the private sector are well established Competitive contracts can save money, improve contractor performance and promote accountability for results. Contracts attracted scandal As it turned out, the companys lobbying efforts for a noncompetitive contract failed. The National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the nuclear weapons laboratories, did not accept Lockheeds claims about avoiding competition, and in Dec. 2011, decided to solicit other bids. Although the Energy Department then gave Lockheeds subsidiary several short-term extensions, last month it awarded the new Sandia contract worth up to $2.6 billion annually for ten years, if all options are exercised to a group of private companies that did not include Lockheed, without detailing why. The Sandia contract was one of three that Wilson executed between 2009 and 2011 with the private firms that produce nuclear weapons. In addition, she collected $195,718 from the privately-run Los Alamos National Laboratory, for whom she arranged meetings with and visits by senior federal officials who had the ability to impact both funding and future work at the Laboratory in the intelligence arena, according to the 2013 IG report. She was also paid $2,500 to attend each of three business meetings at the privately-run Oak Ridge National Laboratory; she also was paid additional funds by the privately-run Nevada Test Site, to advise them about future business opportunities, that report said. These labs are involved in studying, producing and storing nuclear materials and weapons parts in numbers and types that the Navy and the Air Force, Wilsons putative new employer, decide they need. Their contracts with her, in retrospect, might turn out to have been a shrewd investment: Sandia in particular had cited, as justification for hiring Wilson without considering anyone else, her high-level connections and critical engagement with key individuals. Public scandal surrounded all of these contracts, once the June 2013 Inspector General report was published. It said none of the invoices that Wilsons firm had sent to the laboratories contained sufficient detail to conclude she actually provided all the services the firm promised to supply. Bills sent for $10,000 a month lacked details as to the time expended and nature of the actual services the firm performed. It also called the circumstances surrounding the award and execution of [Wilsons contracts]unusual and in some instances, highly irregular, noting in particular the absence of any specified deliverables, contrary to department regulations. It said that Los Alamos had decided to proceed with the contract even though a senior official had been told that it was risky becausethere was inadequate data to justify that the price for the services was fair and reasonable. A Sandia official had similarly protested her hiring in internal emails, the report said. We dont do business with anyone else like this and would prefer that this contract go away, the unnamed Sandia official said, according to the report. Moreover, the Sandia contract in particular explicitly prohibited work on business development an unreimbursable task under federal contracting regulations but we found that these types of activities were actually one of the purposes of the consulting activities, the report said. After finishing this initial review, the Inspector General decided to conduct a wider probe at Sandia, which ended in a Nov. 7, 2014 IG statement that by spending these and other government funds to pursue more government money, Lockheed Martins subsidiary in particular had violated the Byrd Amendment, which prohibits such activities. Referring to the work performed jointly by Wilson and Lockheed, it specifically said the government should not have been billed for developing a plan intended to result in influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of the Department regarding a contract extension. The report did not fault Wilson. Lockheed denied any wrongdoing but after an investigation by the Justice Department paid $4.7 million in August 2015 to settle the matter. The four laboratories wound up repaying the government a total of $442,000 that they had spent on Wilsons services. This was not Wilsons first brush with an ethics controversy. In February 2013, then-House Speaker John Boehner appointed Wilson to the Congressional Advisory Panel on the Governance of the Nuclear Security Enterprise, meant to critique and suggest improvements in the way the government does business with nuclear weapon contractors including the four that had hired Wilsons firm. Wilsons appointment got the attention of an anti-nuclear watchdog group in her home state, Nuclear Watch New Mexico. Wilson ignored pleas by the groups executive director, Jay Coghlan, to step down from the congressional commission over the perceived conflict of interest. The panel recommended that Washington sharply scale back its regulation and oversight of all the nuclear weapons laboratories. Wilson is currently president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, a job she started in June 2013. She was named to the board of directors of South Dakota-based defense contractor Raven Industries in February 2016. The company received contracts worth $17.5 million from the Air Force between 1981 and October 2016, mostly for uniforms and satellite information services, according to federal procurement records. A spokeswoman for Raven Industries did not return phone messages inquiring about the status of Wilsons seat on the board. Wilson met with Trump in New York on Dec. 12 to discuss a possible Cabinet post. In a statement to School of Mines students on Jan. 23, Wilson said she initially was reluctant to accept Trumps nomination, but Defense Secretary James Mattis persuaded her to accept it. Lockheed Martins CEO Hewson, whose path crossed Wilsons when both were working on the plan to capture a no-bid extension of the Sandia contract, told stockholders during a teleconference Jan. 24 that she met twice with Trump during his transition to the White House. In a phone interview, Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Maureen Schumann said Hewson had not recommended or even discussed an appointment for Wilson with Trump or anyone on his transition team. The Senate Armed Services Committee has not set a date yet for a hearing on Wilsons nomination. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R.-Tex.) said in a statement last week that "Wilson is an excellent choice for Secretary of the Air Force. Having served with her on the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees and worked with her on many issues, I know her to be a serious and thoughtful leader who is well-equipped to meet the challenges we face in national security. I look forward to working with her in this new role." For Nuclear Watch New Mexicos Coghlan, Wilsons prospective role as the head of the Air Force one of the primary customers for Lockheed Martin and the other nuclear weapon contractors that employed her sets off alarms. It obviously raises very serious ethical questions, Coghlan said. The presidential vote can be viewed as a popular vote for change, but part of that change should be appointing ethical people to senior positions. And shes failed that test. I anticipate shes going to be asked some tough questions during her confirmation hearing. Center for Public Integrity Managing Editor for National Security R. Jeffrey Smith contributed to this article. A version of this story was co-published by POLITICO. Related: Heather Wilson's communication with the DOE This story is part of National Security. Click here to read more stories in this topic. Related stories Copyright 2017 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) - Two Congolese working for Al-Jazeera have been freed five days after being abducted during a reporting mission, the Qatar-based broadcaster said Wednesday. The two men were kidnapped last Wednesday near Nyanzale in the south of the restive Nord-Kivu province and were freed on Monday, it said. The zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo's turbulent east is notorious for kidnappings for ransom. Al-Jazeera however said no money was paid for their release, explaining it was secured "through the work of the local authorities". "Al-Jazeera is relieved that all men are safe and sound and would like to thank officials from the FARDC (the Congolese army) and the UN mission in DRC for their support in assisting Al-Jazeera in getting the two men released without paying for any ransom demands and assisting in escorting our staff to safety during this traumatic period." Al-Jazeera's English service staffers who were with the men said their vehicle was attacked by armed men who took the two locals hostage but left three foreign journalists -- a Briton, an Italian and a Kenyan -- untouched. One of the freed men said the kidnappers appeared to be Rwandan Hutu rebels associated with the Nyatura Mai-Mai, a local Congolese Hutu militia. The man said both he and his colleague were "severely abused" by their abductors and were hospitalised in Goma, the region's main city, on Wednesday. Nord-Kivu has been torn by violence and armed conflict for more than two decades. Tirana (AFP) - Albanian police dismantled the biggest human trafficking ring uncovered since the start of the migrant crisis, arresting 18 people in a series of stings, public prosecutors said Wednesday. The alleged traffickers were accused of smuggling people from the Middle East and North Africa into Austria and Germany, a prosecutors' statement said. The police operation, carried out from last September, revealed a network that was "well organised and transferring the migrants through Greece and then through Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Hungary, to Austria and Germany," a public prosecutors office spokesman told AFP. The traffickers were charging between 900 and 1,250 euros ($963 and 1,338) for the journey, spokesman Albi Serani said. In a separate crackdown on Albanian human traffickers, five people were arrested on Tuesday in the French port city of Calais. For years Calais has been a staging post for migrants seeking a way into Britain by stowing away on trucks or trains crossing the Channel. Albania lies on the so-called Balkans route taken by hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa seeking to escape war and poverty in their countries on their way to western Europe. The route was effectively shut down in March last year, but migrants have continued to cross the region in smaller numbers -- a few hundred a day -- often being helped by traffickers. MOSCOW (AFP) - Anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny shot to the head of Russia's opposition as one of the leaders of the biggest protests against Vladimir Putin's rule, drawing the wrath of the authorities. The clean-cut lawyer, 40, has spent time under house arrest and seen his brother jailed in a string of cases he has denounced as retribution for challenging the Kremlin and exposing the vast wealth of Putin's inner circle. Late last year, in his most ambitious move yet, he announced he would run for president in 2018, an election that Putin is widely expected to dominate. But a guilty verdict announced Wednesday in a retrial of an embezzlement case means he could be barred from the vote -- though he insists he will not be forced out of the race. Criticised by some liberals for his anti-immigrant nationalist stance, Navalny tapped into discontent among the young urban middle class with fiery speeches and Western-style campaigning. "I will discuss what everyone is silent about but what it has long been time to say," Navalny said in December when announcing his bid for the presidency. But in an environment where the media and the political landscape are tightly controlled by the Kremlin, he remains a fringe figure for most Russians, who are more likely to believe the official portrayal of him as a Western stooge and convicted criminal. "Navalny is a unique politician of the younger generation," said Nikolai Petrov, a professor at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, adding that he had managed to develop a high profile "at a time when public politics has ceased to exist." - Protests and payback - During the mass protests of 2011, sparked by allegations of vote rigging in parliamentary polls, Navalny grabbed attention with his uncompromising rhetoric. In front of crowds of tens of thousands, he coined catchy phrases such as the "party of crooks and thieves" to slam the governing United Russia. Story continues Although the protests petered out after a crackdown by the authorities and Putin cruised to a third term as president in March 2012, they had given Navalny a platform to launch his political career. In 2013 he ran a crowd-funded campaign to be mayor of Moscow and ended up finishing second behind the Kremlin candidate, with over 27 percent of the vote. But Navalny was also facing a series of legal cases against him, a campaign that supporters saw as a sign the Kremlin was running scared. In July 2013 he was found guilty in an embezzlement case involving an allegedly crooked timber deal and given a five-year suspended sentence, after an initial ruling to jail him was quickly altered when it prompted protests. But Navalny was then forced to spend months under house arrest and often kept incommunicado over another graft case linked to the French cosmetics company Yves Rocher. He was also given a suspended sentence in that case, but his brother Oleg, a co-defendant, was not so lucky: He was imprisoned for three and a half years. Russia's supreme court last year overturned the 2013 conviction after a ruling by the European Court of Human rights -- but a retrial was then ordered that delivered Wednesday's guilty verdict. - Palaces and pooches - Despite his legal travails, Navalny has kept trying to expose the lavish wealth of the elites who have emerged during Putin's rule, broadcasting the findings of his investigations to his 1.8 million Twitter followers. Trawling through land registries and the filings of offshore companies, Navalny and his team have helped lay bare the hidden fortunes of high-ranking officials. Among his most eye-catching exposes have been details on the palatial homes in Russia and abroad of some of the Putin's closest allies -- including one with a vast storage room for fur coats built by Vladimir Yakunin, former chief of Russia's national railways. In July 2016, as Western sanctions over Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis and low oil prices were hitting average Russians hard, Navalny revealed that deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov was sending his pet corgis on private jets to dog shows around Europe. "Dear friends, those who voted for Putin and United Russia, you made it possible for Russian officials to steal completely openly and live as they do," Navalny said in an online video. "Please don't ever do this again." By John Davison and Stephanie Nebehay BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) - The Syrian government executed up to 13,000 prisoners in mass hangings and carried out systematic torture at a military jail near Damascus, rights watchdog Amnesty International said on Tuesday. The Syrian Justice Ministry denied the Amnesty report, calling it completely "devoid of truth", Syrian state news agency SANA reported late on Tuesday. Amnesty said the executions took place between 2011 and 2015, but were probably still being carried out and amounted to war crimes. It called for a further investigation by the United Nations, which produced a report last year with similar accusations also based on extensive witness testimonies. Syria's government and President Bashar al-Assad have rejected similar reports in the past of torture and extrajudicial killings in a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The Amnesty report said an average of 20-50 people were hanged each week at the Sednaya military prison north of Damascus. Between 5,000 and 13,000 people were executed at Sednaya in the four years after a popular uprising descended into war, it said. "The victims are overwhelmingly civilians who are thought to oppose the government," the report said. "Many other detainees at Sednaya Military Prison have been killed after being repeatedly tortured and systematically deprived of food, water, medicine and medical care." The prisoners, who included former military personnel suspected of disloyalty and people involved in unrest, underwent sham trials before military courts and were sometimes forced to make confessions under torture, Amnesty said. SANA quoted the justice ministry as saying Amnesty's accusations were not based on real evidence but rather on "personal emotions aimed at achieving known political goals". The ministry also accused rebel groups fighting to unseat Assad of executing and kidnapping civilians, SANA said. The justice ministry described the report as an attempt at "harming Syria's reputation on the international stage especially after the victories of the Syrian army". The army and allied forces drove rebel groups out of Aleppo city in December, in Assad's most important gain of the nearly six-year-old war. SECRECY The executions were carried out secretly and those killed were buried in mass graves outside the capital, with families not informed of their fate, Amnesty said. The report was based on interviews with 84 witnesses including former guards and officials, detainees, judges and lawyers, as well as experts. It followed a report issued a year ago by the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria, whose war crimes investigators said they had documented a high number of deaths in Sednaya military prison. "Amnesty's findings are almost completely in-line with our 'Death in Detention' paper," Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the U.N. panel, told Reuters. "We mentioned the executions in Sednaya and have extensive details on the systematic details of the regular ceremonies they have to conduct hangings in front of an audience of public officials. It is one of the clearest instances of a systematic practice that we had and based some of the key findings upon." The foreign ministers of Britain and France decried Amnesty's findings. Britain's Boris Johnson tweeted: "Sickened by reports from Amnesty International on executions in Syria. Assad responsible for so many deaths and has no future as leader." "@Amnesty has documented the horror in the prisons of the Syrian regime. This barbarity cannot be the future of Syria," said France's Jean-Marc Ayrault. The International Committee of the Red Cross has visited selected government-run detention facilities since 2011, but its confidential findings are only shared with Syrian authorities. "We only visit central prisons, which are under the Ministry of Interior," ICRC spokeswoman Iolanda Jaquemet said. The ICRC has systematically requested "access to all detainees arrested by all parties to the conflict", she added. (Reporting by John Davison in Beirut and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; additional reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut; editing by Angus MacSwan and Jonathan Oatis) In the five years since Mamy Ranaivoson became a pastor, he has performed the marriage of one of his daughters, baptized his first grandchild and welcomed another daughter to the clergy. Last fall, the Madagascar native marked another milestone: relocating to Wisconsin to preside over Journey Lutheran Church in Onalaska. A fifth-generation Lutheran and father of four, Ranaivoson, 55, has dedicated his life to helping others through his work as a physician, missionary and pastor, a journey that has spanned four continents, three decades and six degrees in medicine and theology. Along the way, he has mastered French, English, Malagasy and a Papuan dialect, along with a wealth of compassion. Ranaivoson left Madagascar, where he practiced family medicine, in 1991, relocating to Papua New Guinea for missionary work, serving as the local hospitals sole physician for several years. While he experienced the joy of bringing babies into the world, he was also often the last person patients saw before they died. Death can happen anywhere, and you do whatever you can, said Ranaivoson, who did his best to fill their last moments with comfort and peace. Id say, God loves you, but I wanted to be able to say more. That yearning led him to Wartburg Seminary in Iowa, where he earned a master of arts in theology development and evangelism. However, he deferred his religious career to obtain a masters degree in public health at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Maryland before embarking for Africa, where he founded clinics for HIV/AIDS patients in 23 countries. While in Kenya, he had lunch with a pastor from the United States who reignited his interest in the clergy. He patted me on the shoulder and said, Dont give up on your call. I (enrolled) in the seminary again for my master of divinity. In 2012, he began his pastoral career in Kansas but left after four years to live closer to his infant granddaughter in Minnesota. Upon joining Journey Lutheran, he was immediately struck by the similarities between the church and his life. One particular thing about this church: its five years old and Ive been five years in the ministry. The church was built in 91, and I left my home (in Madagascar) then, Ranaivoson said, adding, The missionary in charge when I was in Papua New Guinea was from Holmen. Small world. Ranaivoson says he was overwhelmed by the welcome he received from the congregation, as members sent over meals for his family and hosted gatherings. We were very touched by the love they showed us, Ranaivoson said. We have that eagerness to journey together. This is really a true of reflection of God is welcome everywhere. I am an outsider and I am welcome here. God meets us where we are. Ranaivoson has carried over the follow-up mentality of the medical field to his ministry, diligently checking back with church members who are recovering from illness or loss. However, he recognizes the doctor approach wont always suffice. When you are a physician, you prescribe and tell people what to do. You have the power to influence and change their lifestyle, he said. As minister, you cant tell them what to do. You are there to listen and accompany people at where they are. In addition to providing an open mind and open ears, Ranaivoson presides over weddings, visits patients in hospice, leads both traditional and contemporary services and is implementing an online Bible study program. I want to provide a place where you grow in faith and own your place in the church, he shared. So they can find what God wants them to be and go for it. While still in his first months at Journey Lutheran, Ranaivoson has found himself at home and grateful for the journey that led him there. I have done my part in medicine, Ranaivoson said. Now they need me here. Los Angeles (AFP) - An appeals court weighing whether to reinstate President Donald Trump's executive order closing US borders to refugees and nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries said it did not plan to hand down its ruling on Wednesday. "The court will not be issuing a decision today," said David Madden, spokesman for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, adding that an advance notice of 30 to 90 minutes would be given when a decision is imminent. A panel of three judges held a contentious hearing in the matter on Tuesday, with the lawyer representing the Trump administration insisting the controversial ban was justified for national security reasons. The order, which was issued with no prior warning, sparked travel chaos and was met with condemnation by immigration advocacy groups. The ban was suspended nationwide on Friday by a federal judge in Seattle, after two US states asked it to be overturned on grounds of religious discrimination and that it had caused "irreparable injury." Trump's decree summarily denied entry to all refugees for 120 days, and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely. Top administration officials have argued it is needed to keep out Islamic State and Al-Qaeda fighters migrating from Middle East hotspots, insisting time is needed to implement stricter vetting procedures. BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A federal judge in Argentina will request information from Brazil and Switzerland to determine if President Mauricio Macri's spy chief received bribe money from a builder in 2013, state-run news agency Telam reported on Tuesday. Prosecutors publicly announced two weeks ago that they are investigating whether National Intelligence Agency Director Gustavo Arribas received a bribe from Brazil-based Odebrecht SA [ODBES.UL] in the form of a $600,000 bank transfer from a Brazilian money changer. Arribas denied taking bribes or having any link to Odebrecht in a statement last month, when reports of an alleged bribe first appeared in local media. He said he was living in Sao Paulo in 2013 and had declared all of his bank accounts to Argentine authorities. Arribas' lawyers could not be reached on Tuesday. Odebrecht is at the center of a global graft scandal. As part of a $3.5 billion settlement with Brazilian, U.S. and Swiss authorities in December, the company admitted to paying bribes in 12 mostly Latin American countries including $35 million in Argentina. [nL1N1EI01R] Prosecutors in Argentina are also investigating four projects involving Odebrecht, the largest construction firm in Latin America, for corruption. The formal requests for information will be sent after Feb. 21, Telam reported. The judge overseeing the case, Canicoba Corral, was not immediately available for comment. Argentina wants access to movements in Arribas's Credit Suisse account from Switzerland and plea bargain testimony from the money changer in Brazil, Telam reported. The bank transfer being investigated took place well before Macri was elected in November 2015. Odebrecht declined to comment on active investigations. The company said in a statement to Reuters that it was working to adopt measures to improve its commitment to ethical business practices and to promote transparency. (Reporting by Caroline Stauffer and Maximiliano Rizzi; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker) Buenos Aires (AFP) - Prosecutors have requested the arrest of Argentina's intelligence chief under former president Cristina Kirchner over murky accusations he shielded a fugitive drug trafficker from arrest. The request came a day after ex-spy chief Oscar Parrilli was indicted on charges of hiding information on the whereabouts of the man who was formerly Argentina's most-wanted fugitive. Parrilli was a key figure under Kirchner (2007-2015), spearheading her program to overhaul the intelligence services amid accusations they were interfering in politics. But now he himself is accused of using his post for political ends. The fugitive in question, Ibar Perez Corradi, was wanted for a 2008 triple homicide, as well as money laundering and drug charges. He was finally captured in Paraguay in June. After his arrest, he fought extradition to Argentina, arguing his life would be in danger there because "very important people in the (Kirchner) government were involved" in his alleged crimes. Parrilli, however, denied any plot to help him. He dismissed the case against him as politically motivated, blaming current President Mauricio Macri. "Argentine democracy is in serious danger," he told a press conference. Argentine media have recently broadcast leaked wiretaps of phone calls between Kirchner and Parrilli in which she can be heard urging him to pursue cases against judges perceived as unfriendly to her and her allies. Parrilli said the recordings had been altered. His indictment is the latest in a string of cases against top Kirchner officials since Macri, a center-right businessman, took office in December 2015, ending 12 years of leftist rule under Kirchner and her late husband Nestor. Kirchner herself is facing a series of corruption charges, which she denies. Photo credit: Getty From ELLE BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The Army told Congress on Tuesday that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, completing the disputed four-state project. The Army intends to allow the Lake Oahe crossing as early as Wednesday, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer. The stretch under Lake Oahe is the final big chunk of work on the 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. Developer Energy Transfer Partners had hoped to have oil flowing through the pipeline by the end of 2016, but construction has been stalled while the Army Corps of Engineers and the Dallas-based company battled in court over the crossing. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a leak would pollute its drinking water. Tribal attorney Jan (yahn) Hasselman has promised a legal battle and says the government "will be held accountable in court." He says the specifics of the tribe's challenge are being worked out. The tribe has led protests that drew hundreds and at times thousands of people who dubbed themselves "water protectors" to an encampment near the crossing. ETP says the pipeline is safe. An environmental assessment conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, then-Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy on Dec. 4 declined to issue permission for the crossing, saying a broader environmental study was warranted given the Standing Rock Sioux's opposition. ETP called Darcy's decision politically motivated and accused then-President Barack Obama's administration of delaying the matter until he left office. The Corps launched a study of the crossing on Jan. 18, two days before Obama left office, that could have taken up to two years to complete. President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Jan. 24 telling the Corps to quickly reconsider Darcy's decision. Story continues The court documents filed Tuesday include a proposed Federal Register notice terminating the study. ETP has been poised to begin drilling under the lake as soon as it has approval. Workers have drilled entry and exit holes for the Oahe crossing, and oil has been put in the pipeline leading up to the lake in anticipation of finishing the project. Protesters have at times clashed with police, leading to nearly 700 arrests since the tribe set up the encampment on federal land. The camp's population thinned to fewer than 300 as harsh winter weather arrived and as Standing Rock officials pleaded for the camp to disband before the spring flooding season. Update: The Standing Rock Sioux tribe has released the following statement from its Chairman Dave Archambault II on the decision: The drinking water of millions of Americans is now at risk. We are a sovereign nation and we will fight to protect our water and sacred places from the brazen private interests trying to push this pipeline through to benefit a few wealthy Americans with financial ties to the Trump administration. Americans have come together in support of the Tribe asking for a fair, balanced and lawful pipeline process. The environmental impact statement was wrongfully terminated. This pipeline was unfairly rerouted across our treaty lands. The Trump administrationyet againis poised to set a precedent that defies the law and the will of Americans and our allies around the world. You Might Also Like Your best friends birthday? Check Facebook. Directions? Fire up Waze. Want to tip 20%? Open your calculator app. Your smartphone makes these tasks and a zillion others nearly effortless. But more and more research suggests that this digitally lightened mental workload may be coming at a cost. Relying on your phone or the Internet to lighten your mental workload is a lot like relying on a carrather than your legsto get you places, the latest research suggests. Driving is faster and easier than walking. But sitting in a car does your body little good. Likewise, media multitasking may be the cognitive equivalent of too much sedentary time. Research from McGill University in Canada found that drivers who depend on GPS-style navigation to get around, as opposed to those who rely on their own spatial abilities, had less activity and gray matter volume in the hippocampus region of their brainan area important for memory consolidation. Similarly, a 2011 paper in the journal Science found that people tend to have worse recall when they know a piece of information is stored somewhere online or on a computer. Instead of remembering the piece of information itselflike a siblings phone numberyou instead remember how to find that piece of information on your device. Thats not a big deal if youre searching for something simple and unambiguous, like your sisters digits. But when your brain is confronted with a more complex or profound question, it may falter. If youre always pulling facts from Google, you can answer a trivia question, but youre not building up the knowledge base necessary to be a deep and deliberate thinker, says Nicholas Carr, a technology writer and author of The Shallows, a book about the Internets effect on our minds. Like an atrophied muscle, your brains ability to perform heavy lifting may be compromised. Your mind may also struggle to filter whats important or real from whats counterfeit, Carr says. A recent study from Stanford University backs him up. The Stanford researchers discovered that students struggled to differentiate real news from promotional storieseven when an article was clearly labeled with a term like sponsored content. An older Stanford study found that media multitaskersthose who juggle online tasks like email, texting, browsing blogs and posting on social mediahave problems staying on task or sorting important info from background noise. Theyre suckers for irrelevancy, said that studys coauthor, Clifford Nass, in a 2009 press release. Everything distracts them. With these devices, when were always jumping from task to task, we have this perception that our constant activity is a sign of efficiencylike were getting a lot done, says Dr. Gary Small, a professor of behavioral sciences at UCLA and author of the book iBrain. But actually this process of jumping around is not economical. Every time you switch tasks, your brain needs a moment or two to find its bearings. And the more you engage in rapid task-shuffling, the harder it becomes for you to ignore distractions and stay focused, he says. That could be because media multitasking may weaken your brains anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in high-level information and emotion processing, according to research from University College London. Your brain may also suffer from a lack of downtimethose small breaks, like waiting in line at the grocery store, when we all used to daydream instead of staring at our phones. When your brain has the opportunities to wander, it fires up a group of overlapping networks known as its default mode, shows research from Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a neuroscientist at the University of Southern California. When the brain has space to roam freely, its default mode is engaged in reliving recent experiences, connecting emotionally relevant information, and constructing narratives that make sense out of life, Immordino-Yang explains. This is why people often have big insights in the shower or doing the dishes. But as our increasingly portable and powerful devices insert themselves into more and more of our lives empty spaces, our brains may have fewer opportunities to make those connections and conjure those a-ha! insights. Potentially, were sort of reshaping our brains networks so that theyre more inclined to look for stuff in our environment to entertain us, instead of thinking about the longer-term and broader and ethical and deeper considerations we would otherwise be having, Immordino-Yang says. What we dont realize when we opt for the convenience or ease technology offers is that were denying ourselves the ability to create rich talents, Carr adds. Without practice, our brains begin to lose these talents for deep thinking or maintained focus. VIENNA (AP) The deputy mayor of an Austrian town is inviting constituents to strip down and join him in the sauna. Saunas in Austria are traditionally mixed, and most guests are naked. Deputy Mayor Gerhard Kroiss says the main idea behind his initiative is to discuss improvements to the facility, run by his municipality of Wels in Upper Austria province. He also says there's no sweat if those taking him up on the invitation want to discuss other issues. The meeting is set for Feb. 15, and Kroiss said Wednesday that feedback has been positive. London (AFP) - Campaigners accused Britain of betraying vulnerable children Wednesday after a scheme to take in unaccompanied young migrants from Europe was limited to 350 people -- 200 of whom have already arrived. The number falls well short of the 3,000 proposed by the original advocate of the scheme, opposition Labour politician Alf Dubs, 84, who himself arrived in Britain as a child fleeing the Nazis. The government did not specify how many children it would take in when it announced the plan last year, amid widespread concern about the fate of Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe. Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told MPs on Wednesday that the total number would be 350, including "over 200 children already transferred under section 67 (of the Immigration Act) from France". This refers to children brought over the Channel from the "jungle" migrant camp in Calais on the northeast French coast. "We will announce in due course the basis on which further children will be transferred from Europe to the UK... to the specified number," he said. The decision was based on an assessment by local authorities across Britain on how many children they could manage, with a government spokesman stressing their often "difficult needs". But the announcement was widely condemned, with Dubs himself warning that to shut the scheme would be "shameful". "At a time when Donald Trump is banning refugees from America, it would be shameful if the UK followed suit by closing down this route to sanctuary for unaccompanied children just months after it was opened," the peer said. "During the Kindertransport, Sir Nicky Winton rescued 669 children from Nazi persecution virtually single-handedly. I was one of those lucky ones. "It would be a terrible betrayal of his legacy if as a country we were unable to do more than this to help a new generation of child refugees." Josie Naughton, the co-founder of the Help Refugees charity, also called it "shameful", saying: "The government could do so much more." Story continues Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition party, said it was a "betrayal of these vulnerable children and a betrayal of British values". Goodwill said the government would continue to accept refugees, including 3,000 vulnerable children and their families from camps in countries bordering Syria by 2020. He said it had also taken more than 750 children from Calais who had relatives in Britain -- 50 of whom will be placed with local authorities. Bangladesh on Wednesday rebuked Myanmar for opening fire on a boat in the Naf river that marks their border and killing one fisherman, describing it as an "act of unprovoked aggression". Tensions have been running high since thousands of Rohingya began pouring over the border, fleeing a crackdown by the Myanmar army which began in October. It was the second time that Myanmar forces had fired on Bangladeshi fishermen. Bangladesh's foreign ministry expressed "deep concern" at the latest shooting on Monday, which also seriously injured another crewman aboard the trawler. "The ministry urges the government of Myanmar to ensure that Myanmar desist from repeating such an act of aggression," a statement said. Police said Myanmar border guards opened fire without warning on the fishing boat when it unintentionally strayed into Myanmar waters. Nearly 70,000 Rohingya Muslims have entered Bangladesh in recent months, with stories of killings and mass rape by Myanmar soldiers that have raised global alarm and sparked protests around Southeast Asia. The army says it is hunting militants who mounted deadly raids on police posts in October. According to the Bangladesh government some 400,000 Rohingya are living in Bangladesh and most are unregistered. Dhaka last week asked diplomats and UN agencies to support a controversial plan to relocate Rohingya refugees to a remote island. Washington (AFP) - Islamic State's self-proclaimed capital, the Syrian city of Raqa, will soon be isolated from the rest of the world, a spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting the jihadist group. Although it will not be completely encircled, "it will be very difficult to get into or out of the city," Colonel John Dorrian said in a video conference from Baghdad." "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks the city will be nearly completely isolated," Dorrian said. The coalition has been gradually tightening a vice on IS in Iraq and Syria. US-backed Iraqi forces have recovered part of the Iraqi city of Mosul, although the city's western districts have yet to be retaken. Raqa is the coalition's next big objective. Arab-Kurdish forces backed by the coalition have launched an offensive on Raqa, advancing on the city from the north. But the issue of who exactly will assault the predominantly Arab city has not yet been worked out. Turkey has expressed interest in taking part in the operation, with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicating that his country is ready to deploy special forces to take part in the battle. Turkey opposes giving added weight to the Syrian Democratic Forces, as the Arab-Kurdish coalition is called, regarding it as little more than a front for the Kurdish YPG militant group, which Ankara considers a terror organization. "We have said for many months the US would be opened to a Turkish role," Dorrian said. Turkey already has troops in northern Syria, having launched an offensive in the area in August against IS and Kurdish militants. After a rapid advance, the Turkish army, which was acting in support of Syrian rebel groups, has been embroiled in recent weeks in deadly combat around Al-Bab, in northern Syria. Brussels (AFP) - Belgium's terror monitoring centre has expressed concerns about the spread of Saudi- and Gulf-backed fundamentalist Islam in the country's mosques, according to an official report published in local media Wednesday. The OCAM national crisis centre said the austere Sunni doctrine of Wahhabism preached in an increasing number of Belgian mosques was getting financial support from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, according to the report quoted in Flemish-language daily De Standaard. Belgium has been on high alert since three suicide bombers attacked Zaventem Airport and the Brussels metro system in March 2016, killing 32 people. "We believe that a growing number of mosques and Islamic centres in Belgium, like the rest of Europe, are under the influence of Wahhabism, the Salafist missionary apparatus," the centre said. "We also note that the imams of these mosques are regularly being 'salafised' or are already 'salafised'," it added. Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Wahhabism, which has been accused of inspiring extremist ideologies across the Muslim world. The Belgian official report said Saudi authorities had set up a "generous" bursary scheme for Muslim students from other countries. "They are strongly encouraged to become imams in their Belgian mosques or be active in proselytising in Belgium or more widely in French-speaking or Dutch-speaking areas," it said, as cited by De Standaard daily. "The Saudi authorities and the Wahhabist establishment have clearly settled on this method to reinforce the influence of the doctrine and practice of Wahhabism in Muslim communities in Europe," it said. Belgium has a long-running problem with radicalisation, producing what officials say is the highest number of jihadists going to fight in Syria and Iraq in proportion to its population of any EU country. Police arrested 11 people in house raids in Brussels on Wednesday in connection with jihadists returning from Syria, prosecutors said. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police detained 11 people after a series of raids across Brussels overnight as part of an investigation into possible returning fighters from Syria. The federal prosecutors said in a statement on Wednesday that police had carried out searches at nine addresses in various districts of the Belgian capital and one district outside. No weapons are explosives were found. A judge will determine later on Wednesday whether those detained would have to remain in custody. Prosecutors said the case was not related to its investigations into the Paris attacks of November 2015 and the Brussels bombings in March 2016. (Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop, editing by Robin Emmott) BERLIN -- At a recent meeting with journalists to discuss this year's Berlin International Film Festival, Diester Kosslick pointed to "Django," a film about the persecution of Roma jazz guitarist Django Rheinhardt in Nazi-occupied Paris, as proof of how the festival resonates with today's political currents. Kosslick cited a rise today in anxiety over minorities, including refugees, in Europe and in the U.S. as arguments for the film's relevance. "Film culture, film festivals and people working in culture generally must stand up against these tendencies," Kosslick, director of the festival, told members of Berlin's Foreign Press Association in Germany's capital. Running Feb. 9-19, the Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is in its 67 th year. One of the major film festivals in the world, organizers say it is the most heavily attended such event, selling more than 300,000 tickets in 2016. With the European Union strained by debates over refugee policy, Brexit and upcoming federal elections in Germany, France and the Netherlands, many festival selections are bound to be interpreted through a political lens. While the Berlinale program addresses serious topics such as discrimination against refugees and exploitation in Africa, Kosslick maintains the overall program is life-affirming. "Although filmmakers describe these unpleasant tendencies in our society, in all the films we've programmed, in the end or the middle, there is hope and a way out." Take, for example, "The Other Side of Hope," the latest opus by Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki. Observers say Kaurismaki skillfully blends melancholy and humor. "His films are on a knife edge between tragedy and comedy ," says Jaakko Seppala, a researcher in film and television studies at Helsinki University who studies the director's work. "You don't quite know whether he's being serious or simply tongue in cheek." Story continues One of the most anticipated premieres of Berlinale, "The Other Side of Hope" is inspired by Europe's refugee crisis. It connects the lives of Wikstrom , a 50-year-old traveling salesman, and Khaled , a Syrian refugee , who, upon learning that that he will be deported to Aleppo, decides to stay in Finland illegally and finds both discrimination and kindness. "With this film, I try to do my best to shatter the European way of only seeing refugees as either pitiful victims or arrogant economic immigrants invading our societies merely to steal our jobs, our wives, our homes and our cars," Kaurismaki said in a prepared statement. Kaurismaki's upcoming film is part of a trilogy about port towns, and so far, it seems, refugees. The first, "Le Havre" (2011) , set in the nondescript French seaside town, tells of a shoe-shiner's selfless plight to help a young African immigrant reach his mother in the United Kingdom. "I think the topic is internationally interesting," says Petri Rossi, head of production and development at the Finnish Film Foundation, which funded half of the film. "It gives in a way a face and personality to refugees." Although the upcoming film is set in Finland, Rossi stresses the topic is a global one, likely to resonate with Kaurismaki's large fan base abroad. "He was one of the first Finnish directors who really had an international career, starting even from his earliest films ," says Rossi. Along with his elder brother Mika, Kaurismaki is credited with sparking the rebirth of Finnish cinema that began in the 80s. Addressing the polarizing refugee topic in the context of Finland, which tightened its immigration policy in recent months, is in line with the director's history of engaging with current affairs both in and out of his films. In 2003, Kaurismaki boycotted the Oscars in protest of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, refusing to attend although his film "The Man Without a Past" was nominated for Best Foreign Film. In 2002, he canceled a visit to the New York Film Festival because Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami was refused a visa "He has always been making films that are more or less contemporary or discussing pressing social issues," says Seppala. Earlier movies like 1996 "Drifting Clouds," set during a period of economic depression in Finland, tell stories with global appeal. It's a universal story about the plight of the working class -- a man and a wife who lose their jobs and try to build a new life, says the researcher. Sarah Hucal is a Berlin-based journalist. You can follow her on Twitter here. smackdown-2717 Hey, Blue Team! To quote the faceless voiceover guy from the opening video package, The Road to WrestleMania rolls through Seattle. Were halfway between The Royal Rumble and The Elimination Chamber, and the Mania feuds are starting to peek their heads out. Related Links: This weeks Smackdown Live went to the extreme. But not the Tommy Dreamer kind. The kind where each segment of the show is either extremely bad or extremely good, but there was no middle ground. Overall, the good stuff was good enough to make up for the bad and lead to a pretty enjoyable show. Important Copy-Pasted Note: Its time to vote in the 2016 RSPW Awards, so make sure you pop over and cast your vote for With Spandex on UPROXX for Best Wrestling Media. Weve won two years in a row, so help us three-peat! Voting ends on February 9, but go ahead and get in your vote now. The Road to WrestleMania is a long one. To help us down the highway, why not take a moment to give The Best and Worst of Smackdown Live a share on your favorite social media platform. While youre at it, follow With Spandex on Twitter and like us on Facebook. And now without further ado, here is The Best and Worst of Smackdown Live for February 7th, 2017. Best: The Impending Family Feud The weeks Smackdown Live opens with a rousing home state welcome for the most over face on the show, Daniel Bryan. With Yes! chants swallowing the arena like it was 2014. God, do I wish it was 2014. Bryan talks about the things hes grateful for, until hes interrupted by his verbal arch enemy, The Miz (along with Maryse). The Miz mocks Daniels forced retirement and wonders out loud what Daniel Bryans still even doing in the WWE. The whole time, they both have the entire crowd on their feet and in the palm of their hands. Im at home eating it up as much as they are, loving every moment of The Miz yelling at the audience that Daniel Bryan cant wrestle, but he can. They spend the next two minutes making the crowd pop for everything. It was right about then that I realized just how much potential there is in the rumored match that the WWE has planned for The Miz and Maryse at WrestleMania. Story continues If you get dirty in the sheets like me, then youve probably read by now the cut-and-pasted text of Dave Meltzer claiming that this years WrestleMania will feature a mixed tag match pitting The Miz and Maryse against John Cena and Nikki Bella. The initial idea of this match did not get me as riled up as some of my fat bearded black t-shirt-wearing brethren. But after this promo and one by John Cena later in the night on Talking Smack, my eyes have really opened to the potential this storyline has. After months of trying to figure out who would be Daniel Bryans avatar in the ring against The Miz, theres really nobody better than his quasi-brother-in-law. It makes perfect sense. And theres already so much interesting history between The Miz and John Cena. The Miz holds a WrestleMania victory over him. Cena practically has to pin The Miz at Mania before he goes off to host award shows full time. Add on top of all of that the Bellas and Maryse and you have an awfully good foundation to build off of. Yes, the cynical side of me assumes this is just a way to get a high profile Total Divas match on the card, but that can be forgiven depending on how it plays out. Im envisioning Maryse interfering in Nikkis match on Sunday. Nattie and Maryse could double-team Nikki afterwards, do something to her neck, then send Nikki out of the building on a stretcher with a neck brace on her like the one she had after her surgery. They could follow it up with The Miz mocking Nikki to John Cenas face while hes trapped in one of the Chamber pods. The whole thing causes Cena to let his emotions get the best of him and ends up costing him the match and the belt. After that, the rest of the Tuesdays from here to Mania would pretty much write themselves. It still wont quench my thirst for one last match between The Miz and Daniel Bryan, but Ill take it. Best: Oh Yeah, And The Rest Of This Is Great Too The Miz and Daniel Bryan stuff was so good that I completely forgot we are less than a week away from the Elimination Chamber. Meaning smack-talking Daniel Bryan wasnt the only reason Miz was out here; he was also the engine of a promo train. Coming down the tracks next would be Baron Corbin, followed by Dean Ambrose, and lastly AJ Styles, all pleading their case for victory on Sunday. But only AJ Styles manages to do this while using the phrase, Are you done playing Tickle Butt? If this were the Attitude Era, Tickle Butt would be on a t-shirt in the Shopzone tomorrow. I hope this catches on like a modern day Slap Nuts. From the look on Daniel Bryans face, Im positive Tickle Butt wasnt in the script, but instead an AJ Styles original. Is Tickle Butt some sort of Southern phrase Im unaware of? After googling Tickle Butt and finding the definition in Urban Dictionary, Im going to go ahead and assume this is some sort of Bullet Club hazing ritual. And possibly something well witness on an upcoming episode of Ride Along. But I digress. We are in fact done playing Tickle Butt, because Daniel Bryan books these men in a fatal fourway match that starts right now. The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles was the match of the night, and a perfectly executed build to the Chamber match for all four men. Its a very fun and fast-paced match, where all four got their shit in while progressing their individual storylines just far enough. All four have been doing fantastic in-ring work on the show lately, and this week was no exception. Though all four men left the match looking great, Baron Corbin left as the winner, getting a fairly clean pin on AJ Styles. I like that outcome. Styles can afford to take that pin. Hes the best wrestler in the world who would clearly defeat Corbin in a fair one-on-one match. It saves the Intercontinental Champion from being pinned and keeps The Miz looking strong headed into Mania, while at the same time giving Baron Corbin the extra push he needs to look like he belongs with these guys. Its all great. Speaking of The Lone Wolf, possibly my favorite part of the match was right at the beginning before anybody locked up. The Miz is trying to convince Corbin to team up with him in the match, and Corbin just looks at him and shakes his head no. The look on his face says so much while being subtle. Its like the Opposite Day Roman Reigns. Worst: Building A Wall The best part of the Nikki Bella/Natalya feud Im sorry, did I say best? I meant the only good part of the Nikki Bella/Natalya feud has been the physicality. The pull-aparts around ringside, the merchandise booth brawl, etc. So this week, WWE removes that element completely by separating them in different rooms for a split screen interview, where they just spewed Total Divas-esque dialogue directly into the lens of the camera. The whole thing could have been saved if it had led to one of them popping into the others room and beating them up at the end. But instead they saved the attack for Talking Smack and left SmackDown proper with the gabbing gossip. Worst: Crews Control Lately, Dolph Zigglers matches are as short as his opponents is a thing Jerry Lawler would say if he were still alive today. This Ziggler heel turn is off the rails. I dont know what is happening here. Hes winning, hes losing, hes hitting people with chairs. None of it seems to matter, and now hes headed into a handicap match at The Elimination Chamber pay-per-view against both Kalisto and Apollo Crews. Its an absolute mess. He would have been better off being taken off TV for a couple of months after superkicking Lawler if they didnt have anything of any substance planned for him. It is nice to see Crews win a match again, and I have to admit, the audience was on their feet by the end of the segment. So something about this is obviously working for some people. But nothing about this is working for me. Worst: At Least Theyre Not Remembering Cryme Tyme? So at this point in the show, Smackdown stops so a montage of WWE Superstars could read a fourth graders book report on Rosa Parks. Im all about the idea of WWE celebrating Black History Month, but the execution of it needs at least an ounce of genuineness behind it. Right now these look court-ordered, like they were produced as part of a settlement with the ACLU over something Michael Hayes did. Best: Double The Laziness Allowing two contract signings to take place at the same time seems like a major mistake by Ashley in Human Resources, but this is the same person who thought Kane was competent enough to hold a middle management job after having literally tried to kill people on television. So I guess her track record backs up this decision. The Womens Revolution broke more ground this week by having the first ever Dual Contract Signing, an in-ring contract signing segment where contracts for two separate matches are being signed at the same time. Groundbreaking stuff. Some people (like me) have accused the WWE Creative team of being lazy. But whoever on the writing team spoke up with, Ive got it! Well do TWO contract signings at the same time! is some kind of lazy genius. Once you get over how convoluted the premises is, the rest of it plays out pretty well. Its one of Alexas best promos, and Mickie James does a much better job explaining why she has beef with Becky than she did the last time she tried to. Who will be the brave soul who takes the next step forward and books the even more groundbreaking three-match contract signing? Worst: Re-Ascension The miracle under the Space Needle. In their first win since I think they beat the New Age Outlaws once? Have they won a match since that? The Ascension came up victorious on this weeks Smackdown Live. Well, at least The Ascension winning was the narrative the announce team was going with. The truth is even stranger: the Vaudevillains also won this match. Shocking, I know. You see, it was a twelve-team tag team match, pitting the teams of The Ascension, The Vaudevillains, and The Usos vs. American Alpha, Heath Slater and Rhyno, and Breezango. When Victor somehow got the pin on Rhyno after hitting with a knee from the middle rope, he didnt just win the match for The Ascension, all those other guys on his team won the match too. I know the WWE has mostly forgotten how tag team wrestling is supposed to work, but when one guy wins, the whole team wins is a pretty basic principle. The match itself was not great. And Im not going to get my hopes up that The Ascension winning is going to lead anywhere. It just seems like another pointless segment with all the teams thrown in there. How many times have we seen some combination of these guys all teamed up or thrown in a Battle Royale? Or whatever that thing was last week; segments that exist to kill time. Im done with just being happy to see these guys on television. I want the WWE to actually do something with them. Pick two teams and have them feud with each other. It may seem simple, but its a great place to start. Two teams with a personal issue between them, fighting to settle said issue in an actual storyline. Any two teams. Just give it a try and see if it works. Best: But Harper And Wyatt Though This weeks episode opened up with another great video package from WWEs amazing production team. It set up tonights main event match between John Cena and Randy Orton, quickly highlighting the storied history of the biggest feud from the worst era. As crazy as this sounds, its been almost ten years since the height of the Cena/Orton feud. So I bet you there are kids out there and maybe even some newer adult fans who may have to be told that these guys have as much history as they do. I wasnt happy at all to see Cena and Orton reunite against each other in their its 2014, youve got to be kidding me with this Hell in a Cell match classic, but something about the timing of this rematch made it much more appealing going in. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or something like that? As it turns out, the 2017 version of Cena/Orton was not as good of a match as I had hoped for. It wasnt a bad match, it was just very Orton/Cena. It reminded me of a short version of all their 2009 pay-per-view matches. I was looking for something just a bit different after all these years. Ok, it wasnt all the same. This was the first John Cena/Randy Orton match to take place on Smackdown Live, to take place in front of a man watching in a rocking chair at ringside, and the first while Randy was possibly under the mind control of a cult leader of swamp people. Business picked up once the ref bumped out, allowing Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper to get involved, building even more upon the amazing energy between the two of them that we saw last week. The more I see Harper and Wyatt in the ring face to face, the more I want to see that match. The live crowd seemed to feel the same way. I want to see Harper vs. Wyatt at Mania this year. Its the right time. You can still do it, WWE. Its not written in stone. You could have AJ win back the belt in the Chamber. You could give us two potentially classic matches between four active professional wrestlers at Mania. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles and Bray Wyatt vs. Luke Harper gets me one step closer to buying a place ticket to Orlando. As of now, Im one step closer to watching WrestleMania alone in my living room with all the lights out like I did last year. Sad! Until next time, Im Justin Donaldson and Im not ready to stop playing Tickle Butt just yet. Ms DeVos is a billionaire lobbyist and philanthropist with anti-LGBT views: Getty Betsy DeVos has been voted in as education secretary after Vice President Mike Pence cast a rare, tie-breaking vote on the Senate floor. There were 51 votes in her favour and 50 against. She was the only cabinet pick to come close to failure after Democrats successfully stalled and delayed her hearing. The vote came after the Democrats staged a 24-hour protest in the Senate, asking for support from just one more Republican to break the vote in their favour. In the days before her appointment, congressional switchboards were jammed as people phoned in to protest to their representatives. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, were against her appointment, but a third Republican dissenter was needed. Mr Pence was filmed running up the steps to the Senate on Tuesday morning to cast his vote for Ms DeVos and ensure a 50-50 tie. It was the first time in American history that a Vice President's vote was required to break a tie for a cabinet pick. This cabinet nom is so unqualified, so divisive, that @MikePenceVP had to drive down Pennsylvania Ave to cast the deciding vote. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 7, 2017 Jeff Sessions, the incoming Attorney General, also voted in her favour. His confirmation vote was scheduled for just after Ms DeVos to ensure he could take part. Filings from the Federal Election Commission show that her family previously donated to more than 20 Republicans who voted in her favour. Ms DeVos tweeted after the vote that she appreciated the Senate's diligence and was honoured to be appointed. Let's improve options and outcomes for all US students, she tweeted. I appreciate the Senate's diligence & am honored to serve as @usedgov Secretary. Let's improve options & outcomes for all US students. Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) February 7, 2017 She also re-tweeted a social media post from President Trump, who said the Democrats were protesting in order to keep a failed status quo. Story continues House speaker Paul Ryan said her appointment was ensuring that schools did not suffer from innovation-crushing regulations and that state schools had more control over their educational agenda. States and local communities need the flexibility to be able to innovate, he said in a statement. These rules crush the spirit of federalism that strengthens schools and helps kids across the country. Thats why were repealing them today. Senate Dems protest to keep the failed status quo. Betsy DeVos is a reformer, and she is going to be a great Education Sec. for our kids! President Trump (@POTUS) February 7, 2017 Democrats accused her of not having any experience in the classroom and being head of an agency that funds free schools, which she is against. She is in favour of school choice and charter schools, which means federal funds could be diverted from free schools and disadvantage the lowest income students further. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, said she was the least-qualified nominee in a historically unqualified cabinet. On conflicts of interest she ranks among the worst, he said on the floor during the all-night filibustering session. She seems to constantly demand the main purpose of her job: public education. Senator Al Franken grilled the billionaire philanthropist during her senate confirmation hearing last month on her thoughts about teaching methods, and said he was surprised that she knew so little of an issue that had been discussed in education for years. She was asked about proficiency versus growth, and she appeared flustered and asked for clarification. She has also come under fire for lobbying government for anti-LGBT and anti-abortion bills. Civil rights groups said they were deeply concerned about Ms DeVos, who could dismantle protections for LGBT and transgender students. When asked why she served as vice president of an anti-LGBT foundation for years, she said it was a clerical error. Her family has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to groups that promote conversion therapy for gay people. In her new role, she will be responsible for deciding which federal education laws schools abide by in each state. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) A bipartisan group of 34 U.S. lawmakers has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to step up pressure on Venezuela's government by immediately sanctioning officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses, The Associated Press has learned. The letter was partly prompted by an AP investigation, which it cites, that found corruption in Venezuela's food imports. It also calls for a thorough probe into alleged drug trafficking and support for Middle Eastern terror groups by the country's new vice president, Tareck El Aissami. El Aissami has been the target of U.S. law enforcement since his days as interior minister almost a decade ago, and has been tied to bribes paid to officials by the nation's top convicted drug trafficker. He has denied any wrongdoing. Relations between the U.S. and its staunchest critic in Latin America have been tense for years the two countries haven't exchanged ambassadors since 2010. And at Congress' insistence, President Barack Obama sanctioned several top Venezuelan officials for cracking down on opponents or helping smuggle cocaine to the U.S. But Trump mentioned the country only briefly during the campaign. And Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments during his confirmation gave little sign of whether he will depart from the Obama administration's relative restraint and call for dialogue between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and his opponents. Venezuela is mired in political gridlock, even as its economy is falling apart. Amid such uncertainty, Maduro has taken a softer tack. After blasting Trump as a "bandit" and "mental patient" during the campaign, he's remained silent since, even in the face of the Republican's promise to build a wall with Mexico and freeze immigration from close Venezuelan allies such as Iran and Syria. "He won't be worse than Obama, that's the only thing I dare to say," Maduro said last month in an appeal to supporters to withhold judgment on the new U.S. leader. Story continues The letter, co-written by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, the former chair of the house Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, the ranking member of the foreign relations subcommittee that oversees Latin America, appears intended to force the administration's hand. "Decisive, principled action in response to unfolding developments in Venezuela as one of the first foreign policy actions of your administration would send a powerful message to the Maduro regime and the Venezuelan people," according to the letter, which was signed by an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Specifically, the lawmakers call on Trump to sanction officials responsible for profiting from the dire humanitarian situation. That includes officials in the Venezuelan military who have been put in charge of distributing food, but the AP found that are instead making money from hunger. "An extensive investigative report by the Associated Press in December 2016 exposed what many assumed to be true, that corrupt Venezuelan officials are in fact profiting from the humanitarian struggle in the country," the letter says. It mentions the AP investigation's findings that two generals, food minister Rodolfo Marco Torres and his predecessor Carlos Osorio, are among military officials trafficking in hard-to-find food for personal profit. Neither official responded to requests for comment, but in the past, both have dismissed charges of corruption as empty accusations propagated by political opponents. The letter also calls on the Treasury Department to issue clarifying regulations to ensure that U.S. companies don't inadvertently fuel graft and benefit from the overpayment of food contracts in violation of the foreign corrupt practices act. Finally, lawmakers are seeking increased U.S. funding for pro-democracy and civil society work in the country. Lawmakers reserved their most-stinging criticism for El Aissami, a hardliner socialist who would take over from Maduro should the president step down or be removed, as his opponents are seeking. El Aissami has been targeted by U.S. law enforcement since almost a decade ago, when dozens of fraudulent Venezuelan passports ended up in the hands of people from the Middle East, including alleged members of Hezbollah. He was also accused in 2011 by one of the nation's top drug traffickers of taking bribes through his brother to allow huge shipments of cocaine to leave from the country's main port. "Given these reports, the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, and his prominence in the regime, we urge the appropriate agencies to thoroughly investigate Tareck El Aissami's conduct and activities," the letter said. Venezuela's government has not yet responded to the letter and El Aissami didn't comment when the AP contacted him through his office. El Aissami earlier has denied any wrongdoing and called those who speak ill of him traitors who seek to harm Venezuela. ___ Associated Press writer Hannah Dreier contributed to this report. ___ Joshua Goodman is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APjoshgoodman. More of AP's reporting on Venezuela's problems can be found at https://www.ap.org/explore/venezuela-undone. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) The horrific 1955 Mississippi slaying of Emmett Till, which helped trigger the modern civil rights movement, should be re-investigated now that a key witness is quoted as saying she lied about what the black teen said and did before he was lynched, Till's relatives say. Two of Till's cousins, Wheeler Parker and Deborah Watts, said a renewed probe of Carolyn Donham's role could settle lingering questions. Among them: Whether an as-yet unidentified person, possibly a woman, was with Till's killers the night he was abducted. Now 77, Parker has a particular interest in the case: He was there when his 14-year-old cousin from Chicago violated Southern racial taboos of the time by whistling at Donham, then a 21-year-old white woman working at a country store in rural Mississippi. "He did whistle, for sure," Parker told The Associated Press in an interview this week. Till was later beaten and shot, and his mutilated body was found weighted down with a cotton gin fan in the Tallahatchie River. During the suspects' trial, Donham claimed Till also made sexual advances and grabbed her hand, neither of which Parker said ever happened. "I don't know what else they could investigate," Parker said. "(But) if they could bring more truth, I'd say investigate." A new book by author and historian Timothy B. Tyson says Donham told him a decade ago in an interview that she wasn't telling the truth with her claims of sexual advances. "That part's not true," the book quotes Donham as saying. Her first husband and his half-brother were acquitted of murder in Till's killing, but both subsequently claimed responsibility in a paid magazine interview. "We know that she has admitted that she lied, and we know that is part of the reason Emmett is no longer with us," said Watts, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. "If there is any chance to reopen the case, I hope they will take this opportunity to do it now." Story continues Tyson, a Duke University scholar whose book "The Blood of Emmett Till" came out last week, told AP that Donham broke her decades-long silence during an interview in 2008; Tyson said he didn't publish the account earlier because an author's timeline is different from that of a reporter. Now 82, Donham lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has not responded to interview requests by AP. Till's body was found in Tallahatchie County, where District Attorney John Champion said his office isn't investigating. Any false testimony from 1955 could be hard to prosecute because of Mississippi's two-year statute of limitations on perjury, he said. Dewayne Richardson, the district attorney in Leflore County where Till was abducted, declined to comment. Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said he "will do all the law allows to make sure justice is done." But he wouldn't comment on any investigation. The U.S. Justice Department said it's aware of Tyson's book but declined further comment. Justice closed a renewed investigation of Till's slaying in 2006, and a county grand jury declined to issue a manslaughter indictment against Donham in 2007. That same year, Congress approved the Emmett Till Act to provide funding and staff to re-examine civil rights cold cases. After Till's mother insisted on an open-casket funeral, revealing how her son had been mutilated, public outcry helped propel the civil rights movement. Three months later, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama an act she said was partly inspired by Till's murder. The subsequent Montgomery bus boycott made a recognized leader out of a then-unknown minister named Martin Luther King Jr. "What was done to Emmett Till was a crime against humanity. It really shocked the conscience of the world, the sheer brutality," said Paula Johnson, co-director of Cold Case Justice Initiative at Syracuse University. Donham, known as Carolyn Bryant at the time, took the stand in September 1955 in the murder trial of her husband Roy Bryant and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, in Till's slaying. With jurors outside the courtroom during a mid-trial hearing, Carolyn Bryant was sworn in and testified that a "nigger man" she didn't know entered the store and stopped at a candy counter. Bryant testified that Till grabbed her hand and then grasped her around the waist, saying "You don't need to be afraid of me" before using an obscenity and mentioning something he had done "with white women before." Moments later, outside, came the whistle, she said. "Did you have any white men anywhere around there to protect you that night?" Carlton asked. "No," she answered. She added: "I was just scared to death." However, the judge ruled her entire testimony inadmissible, meaning jurors never heard it. An all-white jury acquitted the two men even without it. Later, both men told Look magazine they killed Till. Both Roy Bryant and Milam are dead, and no one else was charged despite evidence at least one other person possibly a woman was present during Till's abduction. Till's great-uncle Moses Wright testified during the trial that Milam and Bryant abducted his nephew at gunpoint and headed toward a car parked outside the house, asking a question of someone who was inside. "They asked if this was the boy, and someone said, 'Yes,'" Wright testified, indicating it was someone with a "lighter voice than a man's." The two men left with Till, whose body was found days later. The person Wright said he heard speaking from inside the car was never identified. Watts said she wonders who else was in the car that night, but there's no way to say without an investigation. "However that information is acquired, it's necessary," she said. ___ AP writers Jeff Amy in Jackson, Mississippi, and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report. GABORONE (Reuters) - Botswana's high court agreed on Tuesday to delay the provisional liquidation of state-owned BCL Mine Ltd after lawyers representing the liquidator KPMG said they had received an offer to buy its mothballed mines, which produce copper and nickel. While the lawyers declined to name the company making the offer, a source close to the process told Reuters a company from the United Arab Emirates had put forward an offer for the three companies under the BCL group. "The minister is currently in the UAE negotiating for the sale of the BCL group," said the source, who declined to be named as the matter was confidential. The Minister of Minerals, Energy and Green Technology Sadique Kebonang posted on his Facebook page on Monday a picture of himself captioned: "In the UAE trying to save BCL." In a briefing in January, Nigel Dixon-Warren of KPMG said he would recommend to the courts that BCL be placed under final liquidation as its three subsidiaries were insolvent and the government had no money to finance operations. Following the placement of BCL group under provisional liquidation in October 2016, Russia's Norilsk took legal action against the mining group to recover $271.3 million it says it is owed for the sale of a 50 percent stake in the Nkomati JV in South Africa. Apart from the Norilsk claim, BCL owes creditors including suppliers and banks around $85.41 million. ($1 = 10.5374 pulas) (Reporting by Johannesburg Newsroom, editing by David Evans) An Illinois mans past came back to help him when a former high school classmate volunteered to donate her kidney to his 2-year-old son who was in need of a transplant. Ryan Wagner and Ashley Wagner took to their Facebook page "Team Ryan Strong" to ask if anyone would be interested in donating to their son - and their wish was granted. Read: Man Gives Wife the Gift of Life for Their 20th Anniversary as He Donates Kidney Ashley found out she was pregnant in December 2013. A week later, Ryan was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. The pair created the page to document his journey and garnered tons of support. But, they couldnt have expected that when their son Miles was born, hed have a battle of his own. At 2 months old, the child had a seizure and doctors told the couple that due to a genetic disease, primary hyperoxaluria, Miles kidney and liver were failing and hed need a transplant. We juggled chemotherapy for Ryan and dialysis for Miles, Ashley told InsideEdition.com. Thankfully at one year old, Miles received a liver transplant from a deceased donor. But his need for a kidney eventually became pressing, so the couple reached out to the community of mostly strangers that had already provided so much. Ashley posted a status on the page asking, Is it on your bucket list to save a life? We were getting desperate to find a donor, Ashley said. Elizabeth Wolodkiewicz, a former high school classmate of Ryan, messaged the family and said she wanted to go through the process find out if she was a match. We hadnt talked for 13 years since I had graduated, Ryan told InsideEdition.com. We were cautiously optimistic. We were of course hoping that it would work out, but we also didnt want to get disappointed if it didnt work out, Ashley said. But it did work out, and on Monday, Wolodkiewicz and Miles went through a successful surgery and are both doing well. Story continues Read: Woman Kept Alive for 6 Days Without Lungs While Surgeons Waited for Transplant Donor She didnt really know us," Ashley said. "Shed never met our child. For her to be committed to the process and I think we were both blown away. Its like Miles knows they have a special connection." Ryan said his sons journey has also encouraged him in his own battle. Ive been through 71 rounds of chemo which is more than my doctor has ever seen before. [Miles] has really pushed me harder just seeing a little kid like this and he is always so happy, Ryan said. He added: It inspired me to be like I may be fighting this battle, but at the same time he is fighting his own battle. Yet he can be happy with everything thats happening, so it inspired me to just be happy and appreciate the time we have together." Watch: Babysitter Donates Liver to Baby She Cared for Who Was Waiting for a Transplant Related Articles: By David Ingram NEW YORK (Reuters) - A 9-year-old New Jersey boy has become the first transgender member recognized by the Boy Scouts of America, which last week said it would accept children into its century-old programs based on the gender indicated on their applications. The boy, Joe Maldonado, was thrown out of a Cub Scout pack last year but was welcomed by a different local chapter on Tuesday night, his mother said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. Kristie Maldonado said she has been crying from happiness that her child was accepted. "Once he got that uniform on, he was glowing," she said. "It was just beautiful." The Cub Scouts, open to boys aged 7 to 10, is the first of three age groupings in the Scout program. The Boy Scouts of America confirmed the landmark acceptance of the New Jersey boy, saying in a statement on Wednesday that it looked forward to "welcoming Joe and the Maldonado family back into the Scouting community." Transgender rights has gained momentum in many parts of the United States, with changes visible from magazine covers to public restrooms for those who identify with a gender other than the one listed on a birth certificate. For decades, scouting resisted acceptance of gay and transgender people. The Boy Scouts of America lifted its outright ban on openly gay adult leaders and employees in 2015, 105 years after the organization was founded. Joe Maldonado, who was born a girl, showed signs at age 2 of identifying as a boy, his mother said. He wanted to wear boys' clothes and use the men's room at Burger King, she said. Before transitioning to being a boy, he even spent time with the Girl Scouts, but "he didn't like it and he didn't fit in," his mother said. Last year, he joined the Boy Scouts in Secaucus, New Jersey. Kristie Maldonado said everyone in the pack knew that her son was transgender. But a month later, she said, she received a call from a scout official who said parents had complained and told her son not to return. Story continues Scout leaders in Secaucus could not immediately be reached on Wednesday. The pack that accepted Joe is in Maplewood, a commuter-town about 20 miles (32 km) west of New York City. "This is fun. I'm so proud," the boy said during the Tuesday night meeting, according to The Record newspaper. "This means you're the same as Scouts all over the world," scout leader Kyle Hackler told the boy, the newspaper said. U.S. doctors and parents are increasingly embracing the identity of transgender children as soon it starts to become obvious, sometimes around age 3. Last week, the Texas-based Boy Scouts of America said it would register youth based on the gender identity indicated on the application. In explaining the change, the group cited shifting definitions of gender under state laws. On Wednesday, spokeswoman Effie Delimarkos said in statement that the organization would "continue to work to bring the benefits of our programs to as many children, families and communities as possible." (Reporting by David Ingram in New York; Editing by Alan Crosby) London (AFP) - From the victory of the "Leave" campaign to an expected vote by parliament on Wednesday for starting talks with Brussels, here is a snapshot of key Brexit developments which have shaken Britain since June 23: - Britons vote Brexit - On June 23, Britons vote 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of leaving the European Union after 43 years in the fold. Mass immigration from other parts of the European Union is cited as a key factor in the vote, along with national pride. Britain starts on a path to become the first country to leave the 28-nation EU. - Markets shudder - The result hammers global markets as sudden uncertainty compounds concern over weak economic growth. Stock exchanges, the pound and oil prices tumble. On June 27, the ratings agencies Standard and Poor's and Fitch downgrade Britain's sovereign debt. While equities bounce back, the pound remains well below its pre-referendum high of around $1.50. Since the vote, sterling has lost almost 17 percent of its value against the US dollar. - Cameron quits - Conservative prime minister David Cameron, who had called the EU referendum and backed the "Remain" side, says on June 24 that he will resign, leaving it to his successor to invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the formal process for withdrawing from the EU. On June 30, Cameron's leading rival Boris Johnson, who backed the "Leave" campaign, says he will not try to become prime minister. The other leading Brexit figure, UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, steps down on July 4. - Labour crisis - On June 26, top lawmakers in the opposition Labour Party quit the so-called shadow cabinet to protest against leader Jeremy Corbyn's lacklustre efforts in campaigning for a "Remain" vote. Corbyn refuses to resign and is challenged for leadership of the party, but survives owing to strong support among Labour rank-and-file members. - Cameron swansong - Story continues Cameron meets with EU peers for the last time on June 28, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel warns that the EU will not agree to allow Britain to "cherry-pick" rights enjoyed by member states. Scottish overtures to EU leaders for possible independent admission are rebuffed by France and Spain. - Leadership race - Interior minister Theresa May, 59, launches her successful bid for the Conservative Party leadership on June 30. May had backed "Remain" but kept a very low profile during the referendum campaign. She moves into 10 Downing Street on July 13 vowing to hold the United Kingdom together and "forge a bold, new positive role" for Britain in the world. May names Johnson foreign minister and gives leading Brexit campaigner David Davis the task of negotiating with Brussels, after warning that "Brexit means Brexit and we're going to make a success of it." - Friction with Brussels - In September, May explores post-EU access to global markets during a G20 meeting in China, but is warned by EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker that for now, trade talks are an "exclusive matter" for the EU on behalf of its members. On October 2, May says that Britain will trigger Article 50 before the end of March 2017, establishing 2019 as a deadline for EU withdrawal. - Court ruling - The High Court in London rules on November 3 that the government must obtain parliamentary approval to begin the Brexit process. May files an appeal, but the Supreme Court upholds that ruling on January 24, 2017. - Clean break - On January 17, May says Britain must make a clean break, telling foreign ambassadors: "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market." She vows not to accept unfavourable terms from EU partners, saying: "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain." - Trump endorsement - New US President Donald Trump welcomes May to Washington on January 27, calling Britain's decision to leave the EU a "wonderful thing" and hailing the "most special relationship" between the two countries. - MPs back draft Brexit bill - On February 1, British MPs approve by a margin of 498 to 114 the first stage of a bill allowing May to trigger Article 50. Following Wednesday's vote in the House of Commons, the bill then passes to the House of Lords for final approval expected next month. Congressmen Ron Kind and Tim Walz are among 36 Democratic incumbents identified as the GOPs top targets as the party seeks to expand its majority in 2018. The list, first reported Wednesday by Politico, focuses heavily on blue collar and Midwestern districts where President Donald Trump won in Novembers election. Kind, an 11-term incumbent from La Crosse, was unopposed in the general election. Trump, who narrowly won Wisconsin, easily carried his western Wisconsin district. Kind is the only Wisconsin Democrat on the list. Listen, I have been no stranger to battling powerful special interests and this time is no different, Kind said in a statement released by his campaign manager. Regardless of what these outside special interests do, I remain focused on what matters to Wisconsinitesexpanding economic opportunity and making sure health care is affordable. Brian Westrate, Republican Party chairman of the 3rd Congressional District, greeted the list with mixed emotion. Im overjoyed that the NRCC has identified the 3rd District as a place where they may put money, he said. Having lived here my entire life I am a bit more pragmatic about the actual conditions on the ground. Westrate said the party chose not to put forward a candidate last year after none stepped forward, focusing instead on helping Sen. Ron Johnson and Republicans in state-level races. It paid off: The GOP flipped one state Senate district along with the 92nd Assembly District, which had been held by Democrats since 2008. While Trumps 4-point margin of victory may make Kind look vulnerable, Westrate said past elections have shown otherwise. Kind is also a formidable fundraiser who finished the year with $2.25 million in the bank, according to his latest federal filing. In southern Minnesota, Walz edged out Republican Jim Hagedorn by less than 3,000 votes to win a sixth term representing the states First District, which went overwhelmingly for Trump. Walz spent more than $1.6 million defending his seat against the former federal worker from Blue Earth who spent just more than $370,000. Hagedorn, who also lost to Walz in 2014, has said he intends to run again in 2018. Our campaign continues to build momentum from our razor-thin 2016 result, Hagedorn said in a written statement. Tim Walz has lost his grip on this district. Walz campaign manager Terry Morrow said the First District has regularly been on the Republican target list since Walz first won the seat in 2006. Minnesotans are tired of full-time candidates and campaigns, Morrow said in a written statement. They prefer people like Tim Walz who get the job done and work across party lines to find solutions. In addition to Walz, Republicans have their sights on Minnesotas Collin Peterson and Rick Nolan, who represent the western and northern parts of the state. Editor's note: This story has been updated. An earlier version incorrectly stated that Wisconsin Republicans flipped two Assembly seats and the number of votes by which Tim Walz defeated Jim Hagedorn. London (AFP) - A retired English teacher was jailed for at least 16 years on Wednesday for what his judge called an "appalling catalogue" of sex offences against children in Thailand and Britain. Mark Frost, 70, admitted 45 sex offences against nine children in Thailand between 2009 and 2012 and two British pupils in the 1990s. The offences including rape, sexual assault and inciting sexual activity with a child under 13. His victims were aged between 10 and 15. At England's Central Criminal Court in London, he was sentenced to serve 13 concurrent life sentences and will spend a minimum of 16 years in jail. His crimes were "the most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse", judge Mark Lucraft said. "It is clear you have an obsession with sexually abusing young boys with evidence of planning and grooming. "Your conduct towards each and every one of these victims is horrific and deeply disturbing." He added Frost's offending was "truly shocking" and that he was someone who will continue to pose a risk to children. The court heard how Frost raped impoverished Asian boys and encouraged them to engage in sex acts after grooming them with cash and sweets. "The harrowing evidence presented by the prosecution in this case outlined the suffering that Mark Frost caused to his victims," said Ruona Iguyovwe, from the state's Crown Prosecution Service. "Over many years, Frost repeatedly exploited vulnerable young victims, both in the UK and in Thailand, for his own sexual gratification. "His offending has caused severe psychological harm to all of the children he abused, many of whom are now old enough to realise the enormity of what happened to them." The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) urged other potential victims to come forward. "Mark Frost's vile campaign of sickening child abuse spanned over quarter of a century in the UK and abroad, and today's sentence will likely see him spending the rest of his days behind bars," a spokesman said. "Frost was a prolific and dangerous paedophile who worked as a teacher and Scout leader for decades. We hope that anyone who suffered can now find the courage to speak out." London (AFP) - Former British socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a close friend of Prince Charles, died on Wednesday at the age of 45, a year after being diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumour. The heir to the throne and his wife Camilla led the tributes, saying they were "deeply saddened and our thoughts are so much with the family". Police said they were called to a central London address at lunchtime and a woman in her 40s was pronounced dead at the scene. "At this early stage, the death is being treated as unexplained. We are not treating this death as suspicious," a spokesman said. During the 1990s and 2000s, Palmer-Tomkinson regularly made headlines for her hard partying, exhibitionist streak, and high-profile cocaine addiction. A close friend of the royal family, she had attended the wedding of Charles' son Prince William and his wife Kate in 2011. She was also a newspaper columnist and television personality, speaking candidly about her battle with drugs and her health problems -- including in recent months, her tumour. Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: "Her honesty helped to raise awareness of the disease." Brussels (AFP) - A friend of one of the Brussels bombers managed to flee Belgium despite having been sentenced to seven years in prison for terrorist offences, prosecutors said Wednesday. Khaled Khattab, a friend of airport attacker Najim Laachraoui, was convicted and sentenced in May 2016 for helping to recruit jihadists for Syria, a prosecutors' spokesman said. But the 26-year-old Khattab was allowed to go free while he was awaiting a further hearing to finalise the details of his jail term, and was arrested in Turkey. "Apparently he fled for Syria and the Turks arrested him. We are asking for his extradition," spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP, confirming a report in La Derniere Heure newspaper. "During the hearing we asked for his immediate arrest," Van Der Sypt said. "The court did not take us up on it and that is their right." Khattab, a dual Belgian-Syrian national, received the harshest of 26 sentences in a mass terror trial of people linked to top Belgian jihadist recruiter Khalid Zerkani. Khattab had been arrested in Belgium in October 2014 after having returned from a visit to Syria, La Derniere Heure reported. But he was allowed his freedom during the subsequent trial as he had a home in Belgium. La Derniere Heure said the court had nonetheless noted Khattab's "worrying frame of mind" after a CD glorifying the Islamic State group was found in his police cell during his initial detention. Bomber Laachraoui, 24, was also convicted at the same trial and sentenced to five years in jail in absentia. Laachraoui was one of two suicide bombers who struck Brussels airport on March 22 last year, while a third blew himself up on a metro train, killing 32 people in all. Investigators also believe Laachraoui was a bomb-maker for the November 2015 Paris attacks and that the same Brussels-based cell was responsible for both incidents, which were claimed by the Islamic State. Belgium, a country divided along linguistic and political lines, has been accused of multiple failings in keeping track of home-grown extremists in the wake of the Paris and Brussels attacks. In one revelation, Turkey said Belgium ignored warnings from Ankara after it deported Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the second airport bomber, to the Netherlands as a "terrorist fighter" in 2015 following his arrest near the Syrian border. By Joseph Guyler Delva and Makini Brice PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Businessman Jovenel Moise became Haiti's new president on Tuesday, ending a political stalemate that lasted more than a year with his promise to deliver thousands of new jobs. Moise, a banana exporter who inherits a flagging economy and a bitterly divided population, took the presidential oath in a ceremony in the capital, Port-au-Prince, before going on a tour around the national museum. Moise was declared the winner in January of an election initially held in 2015 which then had to be rerun more than a year later because of allegations of voter fraud. He succeeds Michel Martelly, who left office in February 2016 without an elected successor. A transitional government has led the country ever since. Moise has vowed to create thousands of jobs by providing duty-free preferences for certain light manufactured goods and to stimulate the textile industry, a top employer which accounts for most of Haiti's national export earnings. In an interview with Reuters last month, Moise said he believed U.S. President Donald Trump's business background would give him a better grasp of bilateral relations, cheering the fact that both he and his U.S. counterpart shared an entrepreneurial background. Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew last October, which killed up to 1,000 people and left 1.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance. The country of about 10.6 million people, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, also still bears the scars of a powerful earthquake in 2010 and the number of Haitians trying to enter the United States through Mexico increased sharply over the past year. Haiti's opposition has accused Moise of money laundering, allegations he dismisses as baseless and politically motivated. The case is still under investigation, however, and as president Moise will be immune from some criminal proceedings. Moise's next task will be to name a prime minister to be approved by parliament, which has proved to be a bruising political battle for some of his predecessors. Nonetheless, Moise's Bald Heads Party and its allies will hold the majority in parliament, so analysts expect the nomination to pass relatively easily. (Reporting by Joseph Guyler Delva and Makini Brice; editing by Grant McCool) By Allison Lampert (Reuters) - Canada's federal government on Tuesday announced C$372.5 million ($283 million) in repayable loans for two of Bombardier Inc's jet programs, far less than the $1 billion originally sought by the Canadian plane and train maker. The loans, which come from a Canadian aerospace and defense fund targeting research and development projects, will be used for Bombardier's CSeries family of narrowbodies and the Global 7000 business jet, according to a statement from the government. The contributions will be provided over four years, in a number of installments, with the majority allocated to the Global 7000 program. "The repayable contributions announced today will help to ensure that Canada remains at the center of Bombardier's research and development activities," Bombardier Chief Executive Alain Bellemare said in a statement. Bombardier initially asked Canada to match a $1 billion injection in the CSeries program from the province of Quebec in 2016. But negotiations dragged on for more than a year as the Liberals made requests of the company, such as changes to its dual class governing structure. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is under pressure to invest in Montreal, Quebec-headquartered Bombardier, after his ruling Liberals unexpectedly won 40 of the province's 78 Parliamentary seats, far more than expected, in an October 2015 election. Bombardier, which briefly considered bankruptcy protection last year after simultaneous airplane developments caused a cash crunch, is now in a better position financially than when it asked for the matching $1 billion. Quebec's spending in the CSeries, along with a separate $1.5 billion investment by the province's largest pension fund in Bombardier's rail division, could trigger a new trade feud between the company and rival Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA . Brazil's foreign ministry in December authorized World Trade Organization proceedings against Canada over Bombardier's roughly $5.4 billion CSeries jetliner program, which competes with some Embraer jets as well as the smallest products of plane giants Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE . Reimbursable loans are a key pillar of the world's largest trade dispute, involving mutual transatlantic claims of unfair support for aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing. The WTO found that government loans used by European Union member states to support Airbus airplane developments constituted unfair subsidies, prompting the threat of U.S. sanctions. But, after more than a decade, the case has yet to complete lengthy WTO legal and compliance processes. (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal, Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris and Sweta Singh in Bangalore; Editing by Savio D'Souza) Montreal (AFP) - The Canadian government provided a Can$372.5 million (US$282.7 million) loan to Bombardier, far less than the plane manufacturer had hoped to obtain as it seeks to resolve financial difficulties. The four-year advance serves to support research and development for the Global 7000 business aircraft program and CSeries aircraft, said CEO Alain Bellemare. After multiple delays and cost overruns for more than Can$5 billion in development, Bombardier delivered its first CS100 in June and its first CS300 late last year. "I believe Bombardier is indeed back," said Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation and economic development. Bombardier finally obtained federal government aid after restructuring several times and firing thousands of employees since late 2013, for both its aeronautics and rail divisions. The Quebec government made a $1 billion investment in the firm's CSeries program starting in 2015 and sought a match from the federal government. A Delta Air Lines order for 75 CSeries planes nearly a year ago boosted the plane-maker. The government aid "is the right solution for innovation, jobs and long term competitiveness for the company," said Bains. After a maiden flight of its ultra long-range Global 7000 -- its largest private jet -- Bombardier plans to market the plane starting in 2018, two years behind schedule. Montreal (AFP) - A 17th-century painting seized by the Nazis in 1936 has been returned by US authorities to the heirs of a Jewish art merchant who fled Germany for Canada, it was announced Wednesday. The Max and Iris Stern Foundation said that the painting, "Young Man as Bacchus," by the Dutch portrait artist Jan Franse Verzijl (1599-1647), had been recovered by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from the Luigi Caretto art gallery in Turin, Italy. The Caretto gallery, which had consigned the work for sale at New York's Spring Masters art salon in May 2015, "voluntarily waived their claim of ownership to the painting to allow its return to the Max and Iris Stern Foundation," said a statement from Concordia University in Montreal. The Stern Foundation, which was created by and is directed by Concordia University, is now the "world leader" in restoring paintings looted by the Nazis to their rightful owners, its director Clarence Epstein told AFP. The foundation praised the Turin gallery for its "great generosity" in voluntarily renouncing its claim to the Verzijl painting. The FBI got involved following a request from New York state's Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO), on behalf of the foundation. This is the 16th canvas recovered by the foundation, which also works with McGill University in Montreal and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The three universities are the legatees of Max Stern, a German-born Jew (1904-1987) who owned an important art gallery in Dusseldorf before being expelled from the Reich's Chamber of Fine Arts and given just days by the Nazis to sell off more than 400 paintings before he could flee first to England and then to Canada. Held in detention camps in both of those countries upon his arrival, Stern eventually founded the Dominion Gallery in Montreal, long one of Canada's most prestigious galleries. "Recognizing that forced sales of Nazi-era cultural property are equivalent to acts of theft remains the projects guiding principle," Epstein said of the Stern Foundation's work. The return of "Young Man as Bacchus," during a Wednesday morning ceremony at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, follows a historic ruling by a US court in 2007 that the works Stern was forced to liquidate had, beyond any doubt, been stolen. Most of Stern's original art holdings remain in Germany even today, Epstein said. Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil has formally challenged Canada at the World Trade Organization over what it says are unfair subsidies for aircraft builder Bombardier, the WTO website said. Canada immediately rejected the allegation, saying its support was entirely legal. The foreign ministry in Brazil said it had requested consultations with Canada at the WTO "over subsidies given by the Canadian government at a federal, provincial and local level to the aerospace industry." The statement singled out aid for Bombardier's C Series airplanes. Under WTO rules, if Canada and Brazil are unable to reach agreement in the next 60 days, the complaining party -- Brazil -- may request adjudication. According to the Brazilian complaint, Bombardier, a direct competitor of Brazil's Embraer in the regional and business jet sector, received $2.5 billion in government aid just in 2016. Embraer is the world's biggest aircraft builder after Boeing and Airbus. "The subsidies that the Canadian company has already obtained and continues receiving from the Canadian government have not only been fundamental in the development and survival of the C Series program, but have also allowed Bombardier to offer its aircraft at artificially low prices," said Paulo Cesar Silva, Embraer's CEO, in a statement. But Joseph Pickerill, a spokesman for Canada's minister of international trade, said that "Canadian support measures to the aerospace industry, including to Bombardier, were developed in full knowledge of WTO rules and are consistent with these obligations." He added, in an email to AFP, "We are confident that our announcement respects international law." Brazil lodged its complaints a day after the Canadian government had granted Bombardier a four-year loan of 372.5 million Canadian dollars ($283 million) at favorable terms. The company originally sought $1 billion, but said its situation has improved. Story continues Simon Letendre, a Bombardier spokesman, told AFP that Embraer itself received substantial "contributions" in various forms from the Brazilian government. After repeated delays and a doubling of its production costs to more than $5 billion, Bombardier delivered its first CS100 commercial planes last June, and its first CS300s at the end of the year. In late 2015, Bombardier received a $1 billion bailout from the Quebec government, giving the province a 49.5 percent stake in the C Series project. The Land Stewardship Project will host a workshop Feb. 15 in Caledonia, Minn., with a national soil expert. Microbiologist Kristine Nichols, chief scientist at the Rodale Institute, will address methods for improving soil biology and the impact of cover crops, rotations and grazing on soil health. Raised on a conventional farm in southwest Minnesota, Nichols worked as a soil microbiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture before joining the organic farming research organization. The workshop will also feature a panel with local farmers Myron Sylling of Spring Grove, Minn., and Olaf Haugen of Canton, Minn., who will discuss crop and grazing practices. Workshop attendees will also have an opportunity to talk about LSPs farm policy reform efforts on the 2018 Farm Bill. The workshop will be held at the Good Times Restaurant at 118 Bissen St. and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $15, including a meal. Call 507-523-3366 or email ssnater@landstewardshipproject.org by Feb. 13 to reserve a meal. The former New York City police officer known as the "Cannibal Cop" has revealed he still visits websites for sexual fantasies, months after his conviction was reversed in a case that gripped America. Gilberto Valle spoke exclusively to Inside Edition in an interview that will air in full Wednesday afternoon. He is speaking ahead of the release of his new book, Raw Deal: The Untold Story of NYPD's Cannibal Cop. Read: In the Clutches of a Killer: How This Woman Escaped From a Serial Murderer With Her Life Valle, 32, was arrested in October 2012, accused of planning to kidnap dozens of women so that he could cook and eat them. He was busted after his wife checked his internet search history and found he had described his dark fantasies, including kidnapping and killing her, in online chat rooms. Valle, who is now divorced, was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and found guilty by a jury in March 2013. But nearly two years later, the conviction was overturned on appeal. Inside Edition's Diane McInerney asked him if he still visits sexual fantasy websites. "On occasion, yes," he said. "Because there's nothing illegal, theres nothing wrong with that. What I do at home is my business." Read: Sheriff's Deputy Dies From Inhaling Liquid Nitrogen While Rescuing Worker at Sperm Bank In the interview, he said that despite those online conversations, he's not a bad guy. "It's not a crime to fantasize about people you know," he said. "It's not a crime to fantasize about committing crimes against people you know. It's action. There were no actions taken, period." For the full interview, tune into Inside Edition on Wednesday. Click here for an exclusive excerpt from Gil Valle's new book. Watch: Man Steals Cop Car and Streams Whole Chase on Facebook Related Articles: Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - The governor of a Brazilian state where police have been on strike for five days, leading to bloody chaos, said more soldiers were coming to help. Despite the deployment this week of 1,200 soldiers to replace striking police, the streets of southeastern Espirito Santo state -- particularly its capital Vitoria -- remained lethal. The troops sent so far "are not sufficient," state acting governor Cesar Colnago said. Brazilian media broadcast footage of looting, carjackings and muggings in municipalities abandoned by police officers, who are seeking better pay. According to the local police union, there have been 90 murders since the unrest started Saturday, compared to just four in all of January. There have been 200 robberies and about 90 million reais ($29 million) in damage to businesses, including from mass looting of stores, the union said. The government has yet to give official crime statistics. Colnago said the elite National Force and the military, which has sent soldiers with rifles to try to restore calm, would step up their presence. "We are taking steps to increase the level of the National Force, which is police, and of the armed forces so that we can have security," he told journalists, adding that people were so fearful of being attacked on the streets that it was as if they were in prison. - Cities unguarded - Brazilian law bars the Military Police -- as the force patrolling cities throughout Latin America's biggest country is known -- from going on strike. In Espirito Santo, however, relatives and sympathizers are blockading police stations, and officers inside are making no effort to come out -- effectively leaving the city unguarded. The police want better conditions and higher salaries. A court declared the action an illegal strike and the state police chief has been replaced. The crisis reflects nationwide budget crises in Brazil, which has faced a crippling recession for two years and is struggling to return to growth. Story continues The country is also one of the most violent in the world, with heavily armed criminals battling both on the streets and in prisons. Last month clashes inside a prison near the northern city of Natal left 26 people dead, prompting the deployment of army troops. Soldiers were also deployed to Rio de Janeiro during legislative elections last October, as they had been in large numbers during the Olympics two months earlier. There were jitters in the Olympic city Wednesday when a statement was published on Facebook purporting to announce that Rio police would stage a copycat strike starting Friday, with family members blockading stations. However, police authorities called the statement, which was made to look official, a fake. CHICAGO (Reuters) - A Chicago man has been arrested and charged with a felony hate crime for allegedly smashing the window of a city synagogue and putting swastika stickers on its front door, police said on Wednesday. Stuart Wright, 31, was arrested by the Chicago Police Department on Tuesday. He has been charged with one felony count of hate crime to a church or synagogue and one felony count of criminal damage. Wright is scheduled to appear in a Chicago bond court on Thursday, police said in a statement. Police said Wright smashed the large front window of the Chicago Loop Synagogue early on Saturday and affixed swastika stickers to the building's front doors. The attack, which was captured on surveillance video, was condemned by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. There have been a number of hate and bias incidents reported recently in the United States. In January, a fire gutted a Texas mosque, with federal law enforcement officials ruling it arson. On Sunday, a story about subway riders in New York working together to clean up neo-Nazi graffiti went viral on social media. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Peter Cooney#) By Ben Blanchard and Elizabeth Piper BEIJING/LONDON (Reuters) - China has invited British Prime Minister Theresa May to attend a major summit in May on its "One Belt, One Road" initiative to build a new Silk Road, diplomatic sources told Reuters, as London said she would visit China this year. "One Belt, One Road" is Chinese President Xi Jinping's landmark programme to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure projects including railways, ports and power grids across Asia, Africa and Europe. China has dedicated $40 billion to a Silk Road Fund and the idea was the driving force behind the establishment of the $50 billion China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. China has so far given few details about who will attend the summit, to be held in Beijing. The country's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, told the official China Daily last week that leaders from about 20 countries have confirmed their participation, representing Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America, though he did not give names. One Beijing-based diplomatic source with direct knowledge of the invite list told Reuters that May was among the leaders who had been invited. "China is choosing the countries it sees as friends and who will be most influential in promoting 'One Belt, One Road'," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. Two other diplomatic sources confirmed May was on the invite list. "It's China's most important diplomatic event of the year," one of the sources told Reuters. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said plans for the summit are proceeding smoothly, and that details of the participants will be announced at a later date. "China welcomes Prime Minister May to visit China at the appropriate time," Lu told a daily news briefing. Sri Lanka has already confirmed its prime minister is coming, and China says Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is also attending. Foreign leaders often combine attendances at important multilateral events China is hosting with official state visits to China. MAY TO DISCUSS TRADE Speaking in London, May's aides confirmed she would visit China this year to discuss trade ties, the latest in a series of foreign trips to cement relations with major powers as she negotiates Britain's divorce from the European Union. May's aides gave few details about the trip, but she is keen to strengthen her hand by securing foreign support before launching Brexit talks, which are set to be among the most complicated Britain has ever undertaken. "It would be a renewed expression of the close relationship between Britain and China, something that you have seen obviously develop over the past few years," May's spokesman told reporters on Tuesday. "I would imagine that trade would form some part of the discussions that we have." The Commerce Ministry has said China has an open attitude towards a free trade deal with Britain once it leaves the EU and was willing to study it, but Chinese officials have otherwise said little publicly about the subject. May attended a summit in China of the G20 leading economies last September, shortly after she became prime minister following June's referendum vote to leave the EU, and was invited by Xi to visit again. With May having made clear she plans for Britain to leave the EU's single market, trade has dominated her talks with foreign leaders in recent months. She has secured assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world powers that they are keen to start talks on boosting links. But her attempts to up the stakes in talks with the EU, which she is due to launch before the end of March, have also drawn criticism. Some opposition lawmakers have accused May of ducking difficult issues to win promises for trade - a charge repeated when she became the first foreign leader late last month to meet Trump, who has since been criticized over his immigration curbs. She also came under fire for strengthening ties with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has been criticized by rights groups for jailing tens of thousands of people after a failed coup in July. (Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan in London and Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by William James, Catherine Evans and Lincoln Feast) China has established a single network to monitor air pollution levels across the country, as the government attempts to control the spread of information about the country's toxic smog in response to rising public anger. The announcement follows instructions from the national Meteorological Administration last month ordering local meteorological bureaus to stop issuing haze alerts, raising suspicions the government was attempting to suppress information about the chronic problem. Until now data has in large part been manually compiled from local stations, but the national network will now track pollutants using a combination of manual sampling stations, satellite sensing and airborne platforms, the People's Daily state newspaper reported on Tuesday. "Though data collected by ground base stations can be manually forged, real-time satellite data cannot be changed," He Kebin, a Tsinghua University professor, told the paper. The initiative aims to accelerate pollution reduction and eliminate falsified data, the People's Daily said. In October, environmental protection officials in Xi'an, Shaanxi province were caught tampering with air quality monitoring equipment to produce fraudulent numbers. The network's creation coincides with government efforts to suppress reports about the country's choking pollution, which afflicts most major cities. According to the China Digital Times, this week authorities directed all Chinese websites to "find and delete" a two-year-old story from The Paper, a Shanghai-based digital news site, about pollution's health risks. On Wednesday, a link to the story was being circulated on Chinese social media, but clicking on it redirected to a page saying it was "already offline." The piece cited a Peking University study finding that PM 2.5 atmospheric pollution caused 257,000 excess deaths in 31 Chinese cities. The microscopic particles are linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. Story continues Measures of the toxin in Chinese cities regularly exceed the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air, often by as much as ten times. The study contradicts a statement made last month by a National Health and Family Planning Commission official, who told the Economic Daily that "it is too early to make conclusions about the health consequences of smog, particularly long-term". While national pollution levels have been falling over the past few years, heavy smog this winter -- and the accompanying alarm -- have brought renewed urgency to the issue. The Chinese government has tried to quiet some of the public reaction. Last month, a 29-year-old Chengdu man was detained for five days by local police after he allegedly spread rumours about the smog levels, the Chengdu Commercial Daily reported. A patrol plane from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force flies over the disputed islets known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and Diaoyu islands in China, in the East China Sea: Getty Three Chinese Coast Guard ships entered the waters near a chain of disputed Japanese islands, further raising tensions in the East China Sea. Though Japan controls the uninhabited island chain, which they refer to as the Senkaku Islands, China also calls the islands their own, referring to them as the Diaoyu Islands. The Chinese vessels spent two hours in Japanese territorial waters, the Japanese Coast Guard said in a statement. They said it is the fourth time this year Chinese ships have entered Japan's waters. There were 36 similar incursions last year, they added. The incursion comes days after US secretary of defence James "Mad Dog" Mattis pledged to defend Japan and its disputed islands. "I made clear that our long-standing policy on the Senkaku Islands stands the US will continue to recognise Japanese administration of the islands and as such Article Five of the US-Japan Security Treaty applies," Mr Mattis said, as he appeared alongside Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada. China accused the US of compromising the stability of the region after Mr Mattis's statement, calling on Washington to stop issuing wrong information and risk further complicating the delicate issue by bringing instability to the regional situation. US Defence Secretary James Mattis, left, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Getty) Experts say the incursion could be seen as a provocation on behalf of the Chinese in an attempt to "push the limits" of Japanese and US territorial defence. "There's been a big ramping up of maritime and air-based incursions," John Nilsson-Wright, senior research fellow in the Asia Programme at Chatham House told The Independent. "The Chinese are testing the envelope in terms of their ability to challenge Japan's de facto control. "They've done that by extending the ADIZ (air defence identification zone) into the East China Sea in a way that threatens Japan's control of the territories and they've also done it at sea by extending visits by naval vessels." Story continues Mr Nilsson-Wright said the incursion could be seen as "an attempt to push back against that reported confirmation by the Americans. It's both a test of the US administration and it's also an attempt to consistently maintain China's policy of pushing at the limits of Japanese territorial defence." He added: "So long as China continues to test these limits, we ought to take this very seriously. It's not that either country wants to go to war over the territory, but the fear is this crisis could escalate through miscalculation rather than intentionally. "And it's linked to the wider concern about the broader deterioration of relations with China as the result of Trump's election and the live nature of the conflict in the South China Sea." Donald Trumps attack on the U.S. judiciary is too much for authoritarian China, it seems. The U.S. president is an enemy of the rule of law, according to a top Chinese judge, reacting to Trumps verbal attacks on an American judge who blocked his controversial travel ban last week. U.S. District Judge James Robart on Friday suspended a White House executive order banning visitors from seven majority Muslim nations for 90 days. In response, Trump took to Twitter to denounce Robart as a so-called judge who was leaving Americans at risk of terrorist attacks. That prompted He Fan, a member of the apex Supreme Peoples Court of China, to denounce Trump as a bully without dignity on his own social media account, drawing a link between his criticism of Robart and the slaying of a Chinese judge in his home by a former defendant last month. A president criticizing judges and bandits murdering judges are all enemies of the rule of law, He wrote Sunday in a post on his public WeChat blog, Colorful Law, which has around 200,000 subscribers. He argues that Trump jeopardized the sovereignty of the U.S. legal system by openly criticizing a judge. No matter how much they hate a court ruling, presidents can only keep it to themselves, wrote the 39-year-old, who has published a book on the U.S. Supreme Court. They dont air their criticisms in public, let alone put a judge in the crosshairs. Hes own criticism is not without irony. In autocratic China, rule of law is most commonly cited as a tool when authorities want to quash peaceful protests. Chinese courts work hand in hand with the executive authority, boasting a conviction rate of 99.92%. Last month, a group of top U.S., European and Australian legal experts wrote a letter to U.K. newspaper The Guardian to express grave concern over an ongoing crackdown on Chinese lawyers. Trump has appealed Robarts Muslim Ban block to a higher court in San Francisco with a ruling expected later this week. WASHINGTON Conservative lawyer Chuck Cooper has emerged as Donald Trumps likely pick to be the nations next solicitor general, three sources say. As the nations top advocate, Cooper would be charged with defending legal challenges to U.S. laws and Trumps executive orders, such as the suit against Trumps travel ban that is currently wending its way through the courts. Cooper is a longtime friend of Trumps attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions. Cooper, a fellow Alabaman, helped prepare Sessions for his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, which was seen as a success by those in Trumps orbit. Sessions has decided he wants Cooper for the job, and according to one source close to the White House, Trump has agreed to let Sessions choose the solicitor general, who represents the federal government before the Supreme Court. Two other well-connected Republican lawyers who know Cooper confirm that he is Trumps leading candidate to be solicitor general, a position sometimes referred to as the 10th justice, because of the influence it carries with the nine who actually sit on the Supreme Court. Both of these lawyers describe Cooper as a reliable movement conservative whose appointment will be comforting to elite lawyers on the right. Chuck is right down the line on our issues, says one of these lawyers, who asked to remain anonymous in discussing a nomination that has not yet been made public by the administration. Though Sessions has chosen Cooper for the job, Trump could change his mind at the last moment and veto the pick. Spokesmen for the White House and the Justice Department declined to comment on the nomination. Cooper also declined to comment. Several legal news outlets, including Above the Law, reported last month that the race was down to Cooper and George Conway, a Washington lawyer who is married to top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Cooper clerked for Justice William Rehnquist before joining the Reagan-era Justice Department, around the same time Sessions became a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. He then jumped to the White Houses Office of Legal Counsel. Later, Cooper started his own Washington law firm, Cooper & Kirk. Story continues Cooper has argued before the Supreme Court seven times. His last appearance was in 2013, when he unsuccessfully urged the court to uphold Californias 2008 voter initiative that banned same-sex marriage in the state. Coopers confirmation process could be complicated both by his 2013 defense of the same-sex marriage ban and by his 1986 argument, while in the Office of Legal Counsel, that the federal government could reject job candidates with AIDS out of fear of contagion. Also controversial will be his 1982 role as a lawyer in the DOJs Civil Rights Division arguing for the federal government to reverse a ban on giving tax breaks to private schools that discriminated based upon race. Cooper said his position on same-sex marriage has evolved. He even helped plan his lesbian stepdaughters wedding a few years ago, which could neutralize the California cases impact. But the 1982 Supreme Court case he argued, called Bob Jones University v. U.S., might prove to be more problematic. Cooper believed the First Amendment prevented the IRS from revoking tax exemptions from a private, religious university that barred interracial dating among its students. The Supreme Court disagreed, ruling against him 8 to 1. Cooper, a member of the conservative legal group the Federalist Society, is an old Washington hand and is respected among lawyers in the city. He has begun the process of reshaping Trumps Justice Department alongside Leonard Leo, another prominent Washington lawyer and the vice president of the Federalist Society. Ted Olson, the conservative Washington lawyer who argued for same-sex marriage two years ago, told Yahoo News he believes Cooper would be a very, very good solicitor general. Olson, who did not know whether Cooper had received the nomination, has known Cooper since they both worked in the Reagan administration in the 1980s. Yahoo News Correspondent Hunter Walker contributed to this report Read more from Yahoo News: The new executive director of the La Crosse Community Foundation will have a familiar face when Petra Roter returns to the Coulee Region she fell in love with as a dean at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 2000 to 2005. La Crosse has a very, very special place in my heart, said Roter, who will assume the purse strings of the foundation on March 20. I found it to be an incredibly welcoming community. I have family and friends in the area, and when the opportunity arose to participate in this position, I jumped on it. Roter counts outgoing foundation executive director Sheila Garrity among those friends, going back to the days when they co-chaired the Mayors Task Force on Binge Drinking and Safety and were involved in other initiatives, such as mental health efforts and visioning for both UW-L and the city. I had the privilege of working with Sheila, the 57-year-old Roter said. I watched Sheila mobilize people to get things done, and Im excited about the positive and proactive ways Garrity developed the foundation during her 24 years at the helm. Garrity, who announced her retirement on Sept. 21, is equally enthusiastic about her successor, saying, Shes energetic, and shell be great. She is great. Garritys last day is set for March 31, giving her two weeks to show Roter the ropes and Roter to learn them. It also will be a time when Roter can rekindle relationships she developed through community activities when she was UW-Ls dean of student development and academic services. Roter described the La Crosse Community Foundation, which safeguards and distributes grants from its more than $59 million in assets, as a very solid foundation that has a long tradition of serving the community. She embraced the opportunity to continue the tradition, saying, You go through life trying to make an impact, and its programs have a longstanding, enduring kind of an impact and leave a legacy. I am so looking forward to carrying on the good works of the foundation and its donors and further enriching lives and strengthening our families and community, she said. Since leaving UW-L, Roters resume includes being vice chancellor for student affairs at UW-Oshkosh from 2005 to 2016, including serving as interim chancellor in October and November 2014. Roter, who has served in a variety of faculty roles during her career, also was in the UW System administration from July 2011 to May 2012 and from July 2016 until the present. Her most recent role there was as senior special assistant to the vice president for academic and student affairs. A Chicago native, Roter describes herself as a processed cheesehead, having spent most of her life in the Badger State. Her parents bought and ran a supper club in Ladysmith, Wis. As for Garrity, after quipping that shes heading off into the sunset, she acknowledged that shell spend a lot of time as a doting grandmother, enjoying the outdoors and volunteering for Project Proven at Western Technical College. The program provides education and other services to help people who have been incarcerated make successful transitions back into society. Bogota (AFP) - Colombian prosecutors say they suspect President Juan Manuel Santos, winner of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, received a bribe from scandal-plagued Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht for his 2014 re-election campaign. Prosecutors said they were still investigating the allegation, which emerged from a probe of a former senator accused of taking and making bribes to ensure Odebrecht won a juicy government contract. The Santos administration roundly rejected the claim, accusing the right-wing opposition of fabricating it. The case is the latest spinoff from a giant scandal in Brazil involving the state oil company there, Petrobras, which was bilked for billions of dollars over the course of a decade by corrupt executives, politicians and contractors -- including Odebrecht. The many officials Odebrecht bribed around Latin America allegedly include Colombian ex-lawmaker Otto Bula. Colombia's attorney general, Nestor Humberto Martinez, told a press conference that Bula oversaw two transfers to Colombia in 2014 for a total of $1 million, "whose final beneficiary was allegedly the management of the Santos for President 2014 campaign." Bula was allegedly hired by Odebrecht to help the construction company win a 500-kilometer (300-mile) road project. Bula, who has been arrested, denies the accusation. He is close to former president Alvaro Uribe, the fiercest critic of the center-right Santos government. The administration's transparency secretary, Camilo Enciso, accused Uribe's camp of "defending itself by attacking with lies," after some Uribe-era officials were themselves named in the Odebrecht scandal. The controversy comes as the Santos government implements a historic peace deal with Colombia's FARC guerrillas and seeks to negotiate another with a rival rebel group, the ELN. A corruption investigation could damage Santos as he races to end a half-century conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives. Bogota (AFP) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos asked electoral authorities Wednesday to investigate accusations that his 2014 re-election campaign took a bribe from scandal-plagued Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Santos, the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is seeking to clear his name after a former senator leveled the damaging accusation, which the government vehemently denies. "I request the CNE (National Electoral Council) open a wide-ranging investigation as soon as possible so the full truth of the Odebrecht case comes to light," Santos wrote on Twitter. Colombia's attorney general, Nestor Humberto Martinez, said Tuesday that prosecutors have opened an investigation into allegations the Santos campaign took a $1 million bribe from Odebrecht. The case is the latest spillover from a giant scandal in Brazil involving the state oil company there, Petrobras, which was bilked for billions of dollars over the course of a decade by corrupt executives, politicians and contractors -- including Odebrecht. Since the Brazilian scandal broke, Odebrecht's dirty dealings around Latin America have been coming to light. The public officials allegedly bribed by the construction giant include Colombian ex-lawmaker Otto Bula, the source of the accusations against the Santos campaign. Bula was allegedly hired by Odebrecht to help the construction company win a 500-kilometer (300-mile) road project in Colombia. Martinez said Bula paid a bribe to Santos's campaign manager via an intermediary. Bula is close to former president Alvaro Uribe, Santos's fiercest critic. Santos's transparency secretary, Camilo Enciso, has roundly rejected the accusations, calling Bula a "shady character" and accusing Uribe's camp of "attacking with lies." The attorney general acknowledged Wednesday that investigators have no physical evidence against the Santos campaign. He said the probe was based on Bula's testimony, which "makes no link to the president" himself. Story continues The controversy comes as the Santos government implements a historic peace deal with Colombia's FARC guerrillas and seeks to negotiate another with a rival rebel group, the ELN. A corruption investigation could damage Santos as he races to end a half-century conflict that has killed more than 260,000 people and left 60,000 missing. The twin Petrobras and Odebrecht scandals have sent shockwaves around Brazil and Latin America, leading to the arrest of a laundry list of top politicians and executives and freezing numerous mega-projects awarded to Odebrecht. Pennsylvania state Sen. Daylin Leach went after President Trump on Tuesday, branding him a fascist, loofa-faced, s***-gibbon, and challenging him to come after me. Leach, a Philadelphia-area Democrat, posted a Politico report on Facebook about the presidents recent White House meeting with county sheriffs from across the country. During the meeting, one sheriff brought up civil asset forfeiture, a practice allowing law enforcement to seize money and property belonging to individuals accused of committing a crime, even before a verdict is handed down. The sheriff, from Rockwall County, Texas, griped about a Texas state senator seeking to change the law so that a conviction would be required before a suspects assets could be seized. The sheriff joked that the cartel would build a monument to the legislator. Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name? Well destroy his career, Trump responded. State Sen. Daylin Leach of Pennsylvania. (Photo: Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call) Leach, an opponent of civil asset forfeiture, linked to the article on Facebook, adding, Hey! I oppose civil asset forfeiture too. Why dont you come after me you fascist, loofa-faced s***-gibbon!! He posted a similar message to Twitter. In an interview with Yahoo News, Leachs spokesman, Steve Hoenstine, did not back down on the legislators comments. Hes never really been one to tiptoe around the issues, Hoenstine said. He says what he thinks, and hes really angry in general about what Trumps doing, and when he saw what Trump said about this other state senator, he took it a little personally because hes been trying to pass civil asset forfeiture reform in Pennsylvania. He makes the comment, and then everyone in the room just laughs, and its just so gross. Hoenstine also noted that Leach paid his way through law school performing stand-up comedy and runs his own social media accounts. The colorful posts were not a surprise, Hoenstine said. After PhillyVoice.com wrote about Leachs comments, the lawmaker proudly linked to that report on his Facebook page and wrote, S***-Gibbon goes viral! Maybe someday it will be written on my tombstoneor his. Read more from Yahoo News: As Senate Democrats protested the confirmation of President Donald Trumps pick for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was kept from quoting a letter by Coretta Scott King, slain civil rights activist Martin Luther KingJr.s wife. The letter in question was a three-decade-old letter one in which King voices her opposition to Sessions judicial nomination at the time, which ultimately failed. By attempting to quote the letter, the Senate found Warren in violation of rule No. 19, which states that senators cannot directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator. But who is Coretta Scott King? Coretta, who met King while she was studying concert singing at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, married the leader of the civil rights movement in 1953. She took on the duties of pastors wife at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and dedicated her life to raising their four children. Coretta remained one of her husbands biggest supports as he became one of the more important activists in the countrys history. An active humanitarian, Coretta divided her time between the church, her children, and fighting against racial and economic injustice. She rallied for womens rights, gay rights and religious freedoms as she traveled across the world with her husband to lend their voice to democratic movements. King was assassinated in 1968 but Coretta continued to fight for justice and also opened the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, to push for the rights of minorities. She died in 2006. coretta scott king Photo: REUTERS/Tami Chappell TLC/GAC Story continues Even though Warren was not allowed to read Corettas letter out loud in the Senate, she used Facebooks Live feature to spread her message right outside the upper house. Read the letter below: Related Articles Photo credit: Getty From Road & Track Some of us don't get to enjoy even a taster's menu of pride before we're rewarded with an immediate Humpty Dumpty moment. This past Thursday, I drove to Indianapolis to get measured for a new Nomex race suit. On the way back, I looked at my Accord's odometer and allowed myself a quiet moment of satisfaction. Forty-five k without a hitch, I smiled. You never got that kind of trouble-free mileage out of any German car or British truck, even the ones that cost five times as much. It's true. The stout-hearted Honda coupe is a real step down from the stuff I used to drive everyday, but there's also a sort of relief in knowing that you don't have to worry about an Airmatic failure or a minor problem with the PCM display that turns overnight into a five-thousand-dollar labor bill. Well, the very next day my wife heard a scraping noise from the right front wheel. Has to be brakes, I thought, and I spent a chilly thirty-four-degree evening with a head-mounted LED flashlight and one of those rental brake-caliper-service kits you borrow from the local parts store. Turns out that it's not that brakes after all, and actually there's a quite worrisome oil leak going on. I don't exactly know what the problem is. I'm going to do what I should have done in the first place: send it to somebody with a garage and the patience to figure out the real problem. Since I'd taken the time to put the Accord up on a jackstand or two, however, I thought I'd just go ahead and finish the brakes. Shouldn't be anything difficult about that. I've swapped pads and rotors dozens of times in my life. There's just one problem. Photo credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Nearly all of the work I've done on cars has been on race cars. Like my Neon, built from an empty shell. Not a speck of rust on it. There's plenty of space under the hood, because everything from the air conditioner to the factory intake manifold has been sent on permanent vacation to the scrapyard. Or my Boxster S, which after twelve years and 48,000 miles has yet to see a single bit of road salt or even much rain. Story continues Working on a well-maintained trackday rat or race car is a delightful experience that can almost be done without gloves. Everything is properly lubricated, torqued to spec, hospital clean. After nearly one hundred days on track, for example, my Boxster seems almost to know how to swap out its own brake pads. I lay the tools out in a precise order and get it done in a hurry. My Honda has only seen three Ohio winters, but the moment I pulled the front wheels off and took a good look at what was going on in there, I knew that all bets were off. Every bit of the running gear had light salt rings around it, like a home-made pretzel dipped in water, sprinkled with big bits of application-specific seasoning, and cooked in a toaster oven to just the right temperature. The steel parts were deeply, thoroughly rusted. The aluminum parts were pockmarked with a stunning moonscape of corrosion. Some of the caliper bolts required a solid whack to the other end of the wrench to even move; others appeared to be only finger-tight. When I let the calipers swing down to swap out the pads, a fine dusting of rust, salt, and grit settled onto the pavement below. Working on a race car is easier than being a tech at a Ford dealer in the Midwest. It was at that moment that I had one of my deepest personal suspicions confirmed: Working on a race car is easier, not harder, than being one of the line techs at a Ford dealer in the Midwest. You could drop the engine out of my squeaky-clean 993 in less time than it would take to perform a basic 30k service on the underside of a decade-old F-150 work truck. And that's assuming that nobody's been there before you to round off the bolts, cross all the threads, and twist the rubber gaskets surrounding the rear brake pistons. There's another thing that corrosion does: it obscures the individuality of parts in an assembled system. Is there a washer between that bolt and the drilled hole? It's hard to tell, because everything is the same shade of dimpled grey. Is that nut turning, or are you grinding the corners off it? The only saving grace is that you can get a sense of a previous alignment job by looking at the places on a strut or control arm where the damage to the metal is reduced or missing altogether. When it was time to trace what I thought (and still think) was an oil leak, I was confronted by yet another issue. On my Neon, oil leaves a clear trace on the untroubled metal surfaces of engine block, swaybar, and crossmember. On this road-worn Honda, though-is that grease, or is it road grit? Is that oil brand-new, courtesy of a blown seal, or was it thrown up from the road a year ago? The only way to tell would be to sandblast the whole underside of the car and then drive it around a nice closed course. Like, say, Mid-Ohio. Photo credit: George Rose / Getty It's been a goal of mine for a while to get better at maintaining and running my own race cars. Not to the level that I'm weighing pistons or anything like that, but I'd like to be able to tear my Neon or Danger Girl' MX-5 Cup car down to the shell without causing havoc. It seems like an achievable goal. But I'm no longer going to kid myself that I'd make a good "everyday" mechanic. Maybe in California. Not here in Ohio. Not as long as every car spends a quarter of its life having salted water pressure-washed into every nook and cranny. The heck with all of that. I don't know what's going to happen to my Honda. It might be a minor issue, or I might be the first person in recent history to suffer a complete engine failure in an Accord with under a quarter-million miles. It would serve me right. I was getting just a bit too proud. Of my choice in car. Of my ability to maintain it away from the "stealership" or the independent shop. Of my general all-singing, all-dancing automotive savvy. Now we'll see what it will take to put Humpty Dumpty together again. It's an apt analogy, you know. In both cases, you're talking about confusing, profoundly messy work. But it doesn't explain why there was a talking egg up there on the wall in the first place. My guess: he was bragging to somebody about his trouble-free coupe. Born in Brooklyn but banished to Ohio, Jack Baruth has won races on four different kinds of bicycles and in seven different kinds of cars. Everything he writes should probably come with a trigger warning. His column, Avoidable Contact, runs twice a week. You Might Also Like By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump fumed on Wednesday over what he called too much politics in the U.S. judiciary, while a federal appeals court kept him and the rest of the country waiting for its ruling on a temporary suspension of his travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard arguments on Tuesday on the Trump administration's challenge to a lower court ruling putting the temporary travel ban on hold. The appeals court said it would rule as soon as possible but not on Wednesday. On Saturday, Trump accused U.S. District Judge James Robart, the Seattle judge who suspended Trump's order last week, of opening the United States to "potential terrorists." Trump, who argues his Jan. 27 executive order is aimed at heading off attacks by Islamist militants, has repeatedly vented his frustration over the halt since then. "I don't ever want to call a court biased," Trump told hundreds of police chiefs and sheriffs from major cities at a meeting in a Washington hotel on Wednesday. "So I won't call it biased. And we haven't had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political. And it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read the statement and do what's right." Trump was also dismissive of Tuesday's court hearing. "I was a good student. I understand things. I comprehend very well. OK? Better than, I think, almost anybody. And I want to tell you, I listened to a bunch of stuff last night on television that was disgraceful," Trump said, referring to the appeals court proceedings. The appeals court must decide whether Trump acted within his authority or violated the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on laws favoring one religion over another, as well as anti-discrimination laws, and whether it was tantamount to a discriminatory ban targeting Muslims. Story continues The 9th Circuit is expected to decide the narrow question of whether a lower court judge acted properly in temporarily halting enforcement of the presidents order. While the court could take into account the strength of the arguments on both sides, this is just a first step in a fast-moving case. Trump's order barred travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except those from civil war-torn Syria, who are subject to an indefinite ban. VIEWS OF JUDGES Trump, a Republican, has made extensive use of presidential directives that bypass Congress since taking office on Jan. 20, and has appeared to be taken aback by legal challenges to his travel order. He praised a federal judge in Boston who earlier ruled in his favor on the travel ban as a "highly respected" jurist whose findings were "perfect." On Saturday, Trump labeled the Seattle judge who put his directive on hold last Friday a "so-called judge" who made a "ridiculous" ruling. Robart was appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush. Last year, Trump accused Indiana-born U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel of bias in overseeing a lawsuit against one of Trump's businesses, Trump University, because of his Mexican heritage. Democrats and other critics have called Trump's comments toward the judiciary an attack on a core principle of American democracy: that the courts are independent and uphold the rule of law. Under the Constitution, the judiciary is a co-equal branch of the U.S. government, along with Congress and the president's executive branch. At the meeting with law enforcement officials, Trump read from the law he cited to justify the travel ban, quoting it in fragments and sprinkling in bits of interpretation. He said the law clearly allowed a president to suspend entry of any class of people if he determines them to be a detriment to national security. During Tuesday's oral argument, the appeals court panel pressed an administration lawyer over whether the national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. Judge Richard Clifton, also appointed to the bench by Bush, posed equally tough questions for a lawyer representing Minnesota and Washington states, which are challenging the ban. The order, the most divisive act of Trump's young presidency, sparked protests and chaos at U.S. and overseas airports. Ultimately the matter is likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is ideologically split with four liberal justices and four conservatives pending Senate action on Trump's nomination of conservative appellate judge Neil Gorsuch to fill a lingering vacancy on the high court. U.S. State Department figures showed that 480 refugees have been admitted to the United States since Robart's order went into effect, including 168 on Wednesday. Of those admitted, 198 were from war-torn Syria. (Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and David Shepardson in Washington; Writing by Will Dunham and Frances Kerry; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Bill Trott and Howard Goller) Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f36148%2f72671bc4-3e25-43d5-af40-3b852be23b95 LONDON Letters sent home to parents from a child's school are nothing new, but we're willing to bet no other parent in history has ever received a letter quite like this. SEE ALSO: Student turns her Oxford rejection letter into a magnificent work of art On Tuesday afternoon, Paul Hunt from Somerset, England, took to Twitter to share a letter he'd received about his 10-year-old son. This letter, that was sent home from school today, is the funniest thing I've ever read. pic.twitter.com/5UYItrfVmO Paul Hunt (@pahunt1978) February 7, 2017 Here's the letter in full: Yep: "Wildo the Dildo". If that's not a creative name for an imaginary character, we don't know what is. Some people were in disbelief. @pahunt1978 Is that genuine? I've just laughed a lung up. Louis Barfe (@LFBarfe) February 7, 2017 Others had suggestions on how best to proceed. @pahunt1978 @chrisdeerin write back and ask what a dildo is Rambert Packnel (@IPTF_) February 7, 2017 @IPTF_ @chrisdeerin oh I so want to do that now! Paul Hunt (@pahunt1978) February 7, 2017 Clearly, though, this person had the best idea of all. @pahunt1978 There's only one thing for it: enter Wildo into the competition for the London 2017 mascot. Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) February 7, 2017 We can't imagine he'll ever make mascot, but Wildo the Dildo will surely live on in our memories forever. BONUS: Celebrities try (and fail) to pronounce the longest place name in Wales Campaigners have called for a day of global action: AP Opponents of controversial oil pipeline they claim is threatening an indigenous communitys water supply, have called for a global day of action after the project was given the green light by an agency of the US government. The campaign to stop the North Dakota Access Pipeline captured the imagination of people from around the world, and last December the Army Corps of Engineers announced it was halting permission for the project to pass close to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. But following the signing of an executive order by Donald Trump that cleared the way for that pipeline and another project, the Corps, an agency of the Department of Defence, said it would let the $3.8bn project proceed. Opponents of the pipeline on Wednesday called for protests around the world. In the US, actions are taking place from New Hampshire to California. Trump is not Obama. He has put billionaires into key positions. He has friends on Wall Street, Daryl Frazier, a spokesperson for Honour the Earth, one of a coalition of groups that is opposing the pipeline, told The Independent. Were tying to fight against big money. Big money doesnt care about protect the water supply. That is what the protests were about. The 1,200-mile pipeline will transfer oil from the Dakotas to a shipping point in Illinois. Energy Transfer Partners, the company that has almost completed the project, wants the pipeline to pass beneath the Missouri River close to the site of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation near the town of Cannon Ball. The Indigenous Coalition at Standing Rock is calling for February 8th to be an international day of emergency actions to disrupt business as usual and unleash a global intersectional resistance to fossil fuels and fascism. Connect with other struggles. Think long-term movement building. We are in this for the long haul, says a message posted on the SacredStoneCamp website Story continues The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has consistently asked for people to go home, and we understand this. Regardless, water protectors remain on the ground at the Sacred Stone Camp, determined to stop the black snake, and we support them. It adds: If you go, expect police violence, mass arrests, felony charges for just about anything, abuse while in custody, targeted persecution and racial profiling while driving around the area, etc. The Army intends to cancel further environmental study and allow the Lake Oahe crossing, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a leak would pollute its drinking water. The Associated Press, said the tribe had led protests that drew hundreds and, at times, thousands of people who dubbed themselves water protectors to an encampment near the crossing. An assessment conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, then-Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy on December 4 declined to issue permission for the crossing, saying a broader environmental study was warranted. Environmentalist Bill McKibben said that decision by Mr Trumps government was a sign they are are casual racists with no sense of American history and that they will do anything the oil industry tells them to do He addd: Along with Flint, this is the most remarkably blatant example of environmental racism in years." University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student leaders and administrators were pleasantly surprised by Gov. Scott Walkers proposal to increase funding for the University of Wisconsin System. During a visit to the new UW-L student union Tuesday, Walker unveiled a higher education budget proposal that would tie a portion of $100 million in increased funding to performance criteria as well as support increased salaries for university employees. Walker spent his afternoon visiting campuses across the state. Hell release his full two-year budget proposal today. Walker wants a continuation of the tuition freeze at UW campuses for the first year of the biennium. The state would provide an additional $35 million to the system in return for a 5 percent tuition cut in the second year. UW-L has an annual tuition rate of $6,298.32, and students would see a $315 reduction. Something I have heard time and time again from students and families is the high cost of education, Walker said. We want to make sure education is obtainable and affordable. UW-L Student Association Vice President Patrick Brever of Oak Creek, Wis., was pleased to hear that higher education would be a priority of the governors going forward. He said higher education has become expensive for students and families and having the additional money to reduce tuition would be a welcome relief. Jacob Schimmel, the student association president, was leery of a policy provision that would allow students to opt out of some segregated student fees such as student activities. Those fees are set each year by elected student leaders and Schimmel said it would be counterproductive to let students choose what they wanted to fund a la carte. Workforce development has been a top priority of Walker since he was first elected governor, and his budget proposal includes a requirement that students have an internship or work experience before graduating. Walkers proposal also targets UW System faculty workloads; he said he would like faculty to teach more courses each semester. His budget proposal would require the UW System to set a workload policy and require public monitoring of professors hours in the classroom. Faculty at UW-L are already required to teach a minimum of 12 credits, or four classes, each semester, with instructional staff required to teach 15 credits. Those requirements are in addition to other job responsibilities such as academic research and mentoring new faculty. I am concerned with the possibility of this requirement becoming an overly bureaucratic mechanism, UW-L interim provost Betsy Morgan said. Our faculty all teach full loads and work very hard on student education. Walker has spoken often about tying increased UW System funding to performance measures, but has not given specifics. He deferred on the issue again Tuesday, saying his administration would work with the UW System Board of Regents on a system to track and measure criteria such as improving graduation rates, decreasing time to complete a degree and keeping graduates from leaving the state. UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow attended the governors remarks and said UW-L already does a good job graduating students on time. According to 2015 Department of Education data, UW-L reported a 36 percent four-year graduation rate and a 70 percent six-year graduation rate. Gow was concerned about tying funding to the ability of a university to keep students from leaving the state. Students leave Wisconsin for a number of reasons, he said, and its more the responsibility businesses and communities to make sure they are offering the careers and amenities needed to keep people here. Gow said this was the first time in his 10 years at the campus that a governor had proposed increasing funding for the system. While the $100 million in new funding is less than half the amount cut by the Legislature in the previous budget, he said, things were heading in the right direction. I am thrilled with this budget, he said. It does the two things I have always wanted: It lowers tuition and increases our resources. I am thrilled with this budget. It does the two things I have always wanted: It lowers tuition and increases our resources. Joe Gow, UW-L chancellor One of the little-understood provisions of the 12th Amendment allows the U.S. Senate to name a Vice President under very limited circumstances. It happened once, on this day in 1837. richard johnson 536 Richard Mentor Johnson in 1840 In the 1836 presidential election, Martin Van Buren won the election with 170 electoral votes, defeating William Henry Harrison and three other candidates. Van Buren and his running mate, Richard Mentor Johnson, were hand-picked by outgoing President Andrew Jackson to continue his polices. Van Buren, a master politician, was able to navigate his way through a tough election. Johnson had been a controversial figure for several reasons, but Jackson and others thought the Kentucky native would balance the ticket. Instead, Virginia rejected Johnson and the states 23 vice presidential electoral votes went to William Smith of Alabama. Johnson needed 148 votes to become Vice President in the election; instead, he received 147 votes, falling one vote short. Johnson had troubles in Virginia and also in Kentucky because of his personal life. Johnson had fought with Harrison in the War of 1812 and there were claims from his supporters that Johnson had personally killed the Indian leader Tecumseh during the Battle of Thames in 1813. The vice presidential candidate was dogged by other claims during the 1836 of a more scandalous nature, at least in the South. After Johnsons father died, he inherited a slave, Julia Chinn, who was an octoroon. Chinn became Johnsons common-law wife, since the couple couldnt marry under miscegenation laws in effect, and had two children before Chinn died in 1833. Johnson then had two other relationships with women who were black or mixed race. On February 8, 1837, the Senate convened under the terms of the 12th Amendment under the following provision: The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President. Story continues In the 1800 and 1824 contingent elections, the House decided who would be President, and in the case of Aaron Burr in 1800, the Vice President. The candidates were Johnson, and Harrisons running mate, Frances Granger of New York. Johnson won the contingent vote, 33-17, on party lines, and became the ninth Vice President. Johnsons four years as Vice President were marked by an unusually high number of tie-breaking votes required in his role as president of the Senate. But Johnson also frequently went home to manage his tavern in Kentucky. Van Buren decided to run for re-election in 1840 with no vice presidential running mate after his experience with Johnson. But Johnson campaigned for re-election on his own and received 48 electoral votes for Vice President, compared with Van Burens 60. Harrison and John Tyler received 234 electoral votes to win the election easily. After leaving Washington, Johnson spent a decade trying to continue his political career, until he died at the age of 70 in Kentucky in 1850. Recent Historical Stories on Constitution Daily Ronald Reagans big impact on the Supreme Court How FDR lost his brief war on the Supreme Court 10 fascinating facts on President Ronald Reagans birthday WASHINGTON (AP) Congressional Democrats are under intense pressure from the liberal base to oppose President Donald Trump at every turn, a dynamic that will color nearly every debate on Capitol Hill this year and complicate prospects for action on all issues. It's sure to be a topic of debate as House Democrats gather for a policy retreat in Baltimore on Wednesday, but the 10 Senate Democrats up for re-election in states Trump won are under particular pressure. They must balance demands from their base to stand up to Trump with the need to appeal to independent and swing voters statewide. If these Democrats mishandle the moment, Republicans could potentially win a filibuster-proof 60-vote Senate majority in next year's elections. That would give Trump and the GOP the ability to usher in major changes on a partisan basis, like President Barack Obama and Democrats did in passing "Obamacare," a terrifying prospect for Democrats. "I would have to go live in another galaxy far, far away," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., who's concerned about the re-election prospects of Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. "We can't afford to lose McCaskill, we can't afford to lose her, but I don't know." Democrats' stance toward Trump has hardened notably in recent weeks after Democratic senators took heat for their early votes in favor of some of Trump's first Cabinet picks. In one much-noticed incident, reliably liberal Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island was booed by voters while trying to explain why he voted to confirm GOP Rep. Mike Pompeo to head the Central Intelligence Agency. Liberal stalwart Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sherrod Brown of Ohio both had to defend their committee votes to approve Ben Carson to lead the Housing and Urban Development Department. Thousands showed up outside Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's home in Brooklyn to demand he stiffen his spine against Trump. Story continues Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, by contrast, one of a handful of Senate Democrats seen as potential candidates for president in 2020, has won praise from liberal bloggers for voting against nearly all of Trump's picks. Her stance highlights a division between those Democratic lawmakers eyeing a White House run in 2020, and increasingly embracing purely oppositional stances toward Trump, and the senators who will face voters in red states next year and who in several cases are still talking about their desire to find common ground with the president. "My job is to do what Hoosiers want me to do," said Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, who is up for re-election in a state Trump won big. "And so where there are chances to work together with President Trump such as keeping jobs in the United States," Donnelly said he'd be grateful for Trump's help. By contrast Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, also seen as a potential presidential candidate, views his role as opposing Trump. Booker said his hopes for potential areas of Democratic compromise with Trump have been dashed by the president's actions. "He's got a scorched earth policy, not a common ground policy, so I have no more illusions," Booker said. "When it comes to Trump I'm in a posture of fighting him, resisting him and trying to stop him from hurting people." Such views have ground action in the Senate to a crawl on Trump's Cabinet picks, as Democrats respond to voter anger by dragging out debate as long as possible, holding all-night sessions this week after boycotting committee votes last week. How it will play when Congress confronts must-do votes on spending bills later this year to keep the lights on in government remains to be seen. Lawmakers also will confront a deadline later this year to raise the government's borrowing limit or send the nation into unprecedented default. That's apart from the lengthy legislative agenda Trump is hoping to get through Congress, including repealing and replacing the health care law and overhauling the tax code. Some Democrats may look for chances to extract concessions or compromise, but for now the loudest voices are coming from the left which is counseling against making any deals with Trump. Donations are pouring in to Democratic lawmakers and groups, and some Democrats point out that a strategy of pure opposition to Obama worked for Republicans who went from being in the minority on Capitol Hill to now controlling the House, Senate and White House. "If you think you're going to be able to win in a red state that Trump won by being closely aligned to Trump, you're going to be shown to be quite in error," said Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., criticizing Senate Democrats he says have not been firm enough against Trump. "Your best bet you could do is make sure that Donald Trump and his policies are known to be unpopular and you're running against that." Such sentiments drew an angry retort from Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a conservative Democrat up for re-election in a red state. He said the liberal base, with its threats to mount primaries against Democrats who don't vote against Trump at every step, risks endangering Democratic senators' re-election chances and driving them into a powerless minority. "If that's what you want, God bless you then go out and earn it. Start basically primary-ing everybody," Manchin said. "That beats them up so bad that they can't get through a general election when they should be able to get through a general election." Democratic Senators on Wednesday picked up where Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was forced to leave off Tuesday night, reading the letter that Coretta Scott King wrote about Sen. Jeff Sessions in 1986. This is the United States Senate, and the American people expect from us a vigorous debate on the important issues facing this country, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday in an impassioned speech on the Senate floor, before quoting Kings letter. Senate Republicans silenced Warren on Tuesday night, arguing that she violated a rule against insulting fellow Senators when she quoted King during the debate over Sessions nomination as U.S. Attorney General. Warren is now prohibited from speaking again about Sessions confirmation. Sanders called the action incomprehensible. Anyone who knows anything about Coretta Scott King understands this is not a vicious woman. This is not a woman who was engaged in personal attacks. This is a woman who stood up and fought for civil rights, for dignity, for justice for her whole life, Sanders said, calling Warrens exclusion an outrage. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall also read Kings letter on the Senate floor Wednesday. Its a sad day for our democracy, Mr. President, when the words of Coretta Scott King are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate, Brown said. Id like to share those words with you today in their entirety. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton also voiced her support for Warren, repeating the words of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in what has become a rallying cry for Warrens supporters. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted,' Clinton said in a tweet, quoting McConnell before adding her own words: So must we all. Los Angeles (AFP) - Kelly Asbury was 24 when he sought work as an animator with Hanna-Barbera Productions on the TV series "The Smurfs." He was turned down. Now, over 30 years later, Asbury is directing a new animated movie that reboots the franchise based on the popular little blue humanoids. When he took on the project, the first thing he received was a rule book. "There were parameters we had to work within," Asbury, 57, told reporters. Rule number one: "Smurfs must only eat smurfberries. They can eat smurfberry pie, smurfberry sandwiches, they can do whatever you want but can't have a Subway sandwich." With that book under his arm, Asbury is finishing up the Sony Pictures Animation film "Smurfs: The Lost Village" in which a map leads Smurfette and company on a race to find a mysterious village before Gargamel, an evil wizard, does. Asbury said it was a huge responsibility to take on a project involving venerable characters loved around the world. "I don't want to be the one accused of ruining the Smurfs," Asbury said, then knocked on wood. The movie comes out March 30 in Colombia and Mexico and Argentina on April 6, and a day later in the United States. - Starting from scratch - When Asbury took on the project, he had not yet worked with Sony and knew little about the Smurfs, who were created in 1958 by the Belgian comics artist Peyo in 1958 and became an animated TV series in the 1980s. "I wish I had been a child when the Smurfs came on television," said Asbury, who also directed "Shrek 2" and worked as an animation artist on "Beauty and the Beast." He said he was in his 20s back then, had no kids and thus did not pay much attention to the Smurfs. "The funny part for me is actually when I was about 24, I applied for a job to work on the Smurfs and didn't get it at Hanna-Barbera," Asbury said. Thirty years later, he got a call from Sony asking if he would take on this project. Asbury agreed and did a crash course on the history of the Smurfs and on Peyo. Story continues Now, he considers himself an expert. This is Sony's third movie in the franchise, and at first it was to be a continuation of the first two live-action flicks from 2011 and 2013, but 100 percent animated. With what he had learned, Asbury turned the project on its head by insisting the characters had to be as close as possible to the original ones. "I looked around and saw the Peyo artwork and kind of looked back at Peyo's comic book and I sort of made a case that we had to do it like this and pulled it back and redesigned it to make it look more true to Peyo," he said. "And it looked so different from the live action that everyone said, 'you know, this needs to be a clean slate, a complete reboot, which is how it really evolved." - Choosing voices - As for the cast, Julia Roberts does the voice of SmurfWillow, along with Demi Lovato (Smurfette), Rainn Wilson (Gargamel), Joe Manganiello (Hefty Smurf), Jack McBrayer (Clumsy Smurf), Danny Pudi (Brainy Smurf) and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf). "The way I choose voice talent is I don't let them tell me who the actor is" so as not to be seduced by big names, he said. He recognized Roberts right away, but not Lovato, who sings a version of "Let It Go" in "Frozen." "I knew her singing but I didn't recognize her speaking voice. There's a very strong confidence, there a quality and a texture. It's a different Smurfette, but she is tough in this movie and she's willful and strong and determined," said Asbury, who also does the voice of Nosey Smurf. Disney made two major announcements Tuesday, revealing the opening dates for their highly anticipated Avatar and Star Wars-themed attractions. First up, "Pandora - The World of Avatar" will open at Disney's Animal Kingdom on May 27 in Orlando. In Pandora, guests will be transported to the world of floating mountains and bioluminescent plants and join the native Na'vi on excursions. Next, the Star Wars-themed lands at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in California will open in 2019. The Star Wars attractions will become the largest-ever, single-themed expansions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with county sheriffs during a listening session in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 7, 2017 in Washington DC: Andrew Harrer/Pool/Getty President Trump recently signed two executive orders reviving both the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines. And now hes telling reporters that he hasnt received any negative phone calls regarding the projects. As you know I approved two pipelines that were stuck in limbo forever. I dont even think it was controversial. You know, I approved them and I havent even heard one call from anybody saying, oh, that was a terrible thing you did, he told members of the media on Tuesday. You know, usually, if I do something it's like bedlam, right? I haven't had one call from anybody, he continued, promising that the Keystone project would create up to 30,000 jobs. In reality, the State Department found that the project would create up to 42,000 jobs that will last for one to two years. The department also found that the project would only create 35 permanent jobs. As you know, I did the Dakota pipeline and nobody called up to complain, he continued, because it was unfair. Years of getting approvals, nobody showed up to fight it. This company spends a tremendous hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and then all of a sudden, people show up to fight it. It's not fair to our companies. And I think everyone is going to be happy in the end, okay? In a court filing, the US Army Corps said on Tuesday that it would allow Energy Transfer Partners to move forward with the project. The Sioux Standing Rock Tribe has vehemently opposed the pipeline, citing the risk it poses to its water supply and affecting nearly 17 million people living downstream, a concern that inspired month-long protests against the project. The pipeline would run under the Missouri River just one mile away from the reservation. Meanwhile, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe issued a statement saying it was undaunted in its commitment to challenge an easement announcement by the US Department of the Army for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Obama administration correctly found that the Tribes treaty rights needed to be acknowledged and protected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations, attorney Jan Hasselman said in a statement. Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian Tribes and unlawful violation of Treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court. Story continues Americans have come together in support of the Tribe asking for a fair, balanced and lawful pipeline process, Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement. The environmental impact statement was wrongfully terminated. This pipeline was unfairly rerouted across our treaty lands. The Trump administration yet again is poised to set a precedent that defies the law and the will of Americans and our allies around the world. President Donald Trump is standing by his daughter. On Wednesday, Mr. Trump shared his support for Ivanka Trump, whose eponymous brand has been dropped by retailers in recent weeks. He tweeted, My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 Later on Wednesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer defended Trumps tweet, saying in his daily press briefing: I think this was less about his family business than an attack on his daughter. For someone to take out their concern with his policy on a family member of his is not acceptable, and the president has every right as a father to stand up for them, he added. Last week, Nordstrom announced it would no longer sell Ivanka Trump products, citing poor sales as the reason for the changes. While the decision came on the heels of the presidents executive order to ban immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries, the company insisted that it had made a business decision. Yet behind the scenes, a company memo expressed support for immigrants and highlighted its diverse employee pool (Nordstrom denied any connection). A source close to Ivanka told Refinery29 of the decision, They couldnt handle the political pressure, someone new came in, and there was a change in the attitude toward the brand. Backlash to the presidents tweet has been swift. According to White House schedule, this tweet was sent 20 minutes into his daily intelligence briefing. https://t.co/BoilJ6cV6L Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) February 8, 2017 .@realDonaldTrump Donald, what have we repeatedly said about using your office to influence the family business! Bess Kalb (@bessbell) February 8, 2017 Although others did defend Ivanka on the thread. Story continues @realDonaldTrump It's extraordinarily bigoted of @Nordstrom to drop @IvankaTrump clothing line for purely political reasons. Not okay. Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 8, 2017 While Nordstrom was the first, many companies have followed. Shortly after Trumps tweet, news broke that both T.J Maxx and Marshalls, both owned by the TJX Companies, are also dropping the Ivanka Trump line. The New York Times obtained a copy of an internal memo issued Wednesday saying Effective immediately, please remove all Ivanka Trump merchandise from features and mix into the runs All Ivanka Trump signs should be discarded. On Tuesday, #GrabYourWallet founder Sharon Coulter confirmed to media outlet Mic that Ivanka- and Donald-branded products were completely pulled from HSN and that ShopStyle was in the process of following suit. The two brands had been previously placed on the infamous #GrabYourWallet boycott list an anti-Trump movement that launched in October after the presidents 2005 Grab her by the p**** comments were publicized. The movement keeps tabs on companies that sell Trump-branded products and encourages people to boycott them, hitting their bottom lines as a political statement. Coulter predicted that by Tuesday, ShopStyle would be removed from the boycott list. T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HSN and ShopStyle are the latest on the hot list to separate from the Ivanka Trump dynasty. Here are more and counting: T.J. Maxx and Marshalls (both owned by TJX Companies) The following memo was sent to employees of both stores on Wednesday, February 8, according to The New York Times: Effective immediately, please remove all Ivanka Trump merchandise from features and mix into the runs All Ivanka Trump signs should be discarded. The word runs in the memo refers to clothing racks. A spokeswoman for the TJX companies told the New York Times that The communication was intended to instruct stores to mix this line of merchandise into our racks, not to remove it from the sales floor, Ms. Thompson wrote in an email. We offer a rapidly changing selection of merchandise for our customers, and brands are featured based on a number of factors. But an anoymous source who works at the stores told the newspaper that this was the first time she had seen a request like this in her years at the company. Neiman Marcu s According to fashion site Racked, the department store Neiman Marcus dropped Ivanka Trumps jewelry line from its website, including baubles from its New Jersey store. The 21 items on sale vanished, along with any mention of Ivanka on Neiman Marcuss list of designers. On Feb. 3, the store sent the following statement to Racked: Based on productivity we continuously assess whether our brands are carried in stores, on our website, or both. Belk During the first weekend in February, the nationwide department store scrubbed Ivankas name from its search engine. One exception: Ivankas dresses and coats are still available in one Charlotte, N.C., store, according to Racked. On Monday, Belk emailed the following statement to Racked: We continually review our assortment and the performance of the brands we carry. And we make adjustments as part of our normal course of business operations. Shoes.com The Canadian shoe retailer tweeted its decision to abandon Ivanka Trump back in November as a result of the #GrabYourWallet boycott: We understand and your voices have been heard. We have removed the products from our website. A spokesperson for Ivanka defended the company in a statement to Footwear News: While Shoes.com was an inconsequential part of our business, they were not fulfilling their end of the contract and parting was inevitable. Jet.com The discount shopping website is in the process of pulling Ivankas clothing and fragrance, according to Mic. Yet, theres no shortage of MAGA hats and F*** Trump shirts available for purchase. Frasca Jewelers The owner of a jewelry store in Palm Desert, Calif., told the Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday that shes decided to drop Ivanka Trumps line, even asking that the Ivanka Trump brand remove her store from its website. The line hadnt sold for a long time, she said. It had been limping along, and then there was a little attention after the election. But I dont brand it anymore. If someone asks to see Ivanka Trump pieces I show them, but otherwise theyre just among other pieces in our cases. Macys While the 158-year-old brand dropped Donald Trumps menswear line during the summer of 2015 after the now-president called Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers, its only now facing pressure to follow suit with Ivankas brand. Macys Facebook page has been flooded with demands to stop selling her line. Nordstrom dumped Trump, please follow suit. I would never put plastic Ivanka Trump boots on my little daughter, wrote one follower. Another: Drop Trump from your product line! Stay tuned for a company response. Follow Yahoo Style on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Steve Bannon is clearly no fan of Asia. Back in 2015, when he was a mere far-right media provocateur, Bannon chatted on his radio show with then-candidate Donald Trump and bemoaned the fact that as many as two-thirds of Silicon chief executives were from South Asia or from Asia. That statistic turned out to be wildly inaccurate the true figure is probably more like one in eight but it was hardly the first time Bannon, now Trumps chief strategist, had expressed alarm over threats from the East. Im an economic nationalist, he said last November. The globalists gutted the American working class and created a middle class in Asia. In the early days of Trumps administration, Bannons antipathy toward globalization has mostly targeted manufacturing industries, and especially the threat American companies face from Chinese competitors. But there are already signs the administration may open up an equally damaging second front in its protectionist battle, targeting global services as well. Beginning with a crackdown on the visas used by Indian software engineers working in America, this would accelerate the reverse of globalization and mark a further attempt to unpick the supply chains upon which global companies rely, just as Peter Navarro, the head of a new White House National Trade Council, made clear that unwinding those supply chains is now an explicit objective of U.S. policy. The initial focus of this push will be Americas H-1B visa system. This allows 65,000 highly skilled foreigners to work temporarily in the United States each year for anything from a few months to a few years at a time a process sometimes pejoratively referred to as body shopping. In practice, nearly all the visas are handed to Indian IT companies that handle outsourced work from the United States, or U.S. companies like IBM and Accenture that directly employ thousands of techies in cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad. Outsourcing of IT services is big business in India, earning annual revenues of roughly $120 billion. But in the United States it is undeniably controversial. During his campaign, Trump attacked companies for flying in cheaper workers from overseas, in a jab at those using the H-1B route. Shares in Indian IT groups like Infosys and WIPRO plunged last week after a bill from Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., proposed to more than double the minimum salary for H-1B applicants to $130,000, a level that would price out all but the most senior Indian executives. Lofgren said her approach would ensure the system helped to create jobs here in America, not replace them. And while her own bill is unlikely to become law, Indian software businesses appear to be resigned to the fact that Trump will bring in similar measures soon. That prospect causes alarm in New Delhi, not least because it will sharply increase costs for Indias software houses. But as Arvind Subramanian, the governments chief economic advisor, noted last week, the bigger worry is that these restrictions could herald a wider crackdown on outsourcing of all kinds, from back-office support to research and development and financial services. We [India] are much more vulnerable to restrictions on services, he said. So one has to worry quite a bit that any reversal of globalization in this atmosphere could also mean restrictions on exports of services. And thats bad news. Changes to H-1B visas are an important part of these worries. Indian outsourcing companies like Infosys use the H-1B system to bring engineers to work with clients like Apple and Walmart, which employ Indian companies to install and manage complicated IT systems. Workers using the visas are typically managers, rather than coders, who talk to clients about projects and then work with engineers in India to deliver them. Critics of this system are right to point out that Indians are paid less than their local equivalents, although not by much. Median wages for American IT workers were $81,000 in 2015, while Infosys paid its employees on H-1B visas roughly $76,000, according to Kotak, a Mumbai-based broker. But Indian IT companies handling outsourced work from the United States prefer sending foreigners rather than hiring Americans for other reasons too, such as their willingness to move around the country to work with different clients, or their ease working with teams of Indian engineers back at home. Critics like Lofgren are also right that the H-1B system has drifted over the years, from one designed to attract entrepreneurs to something akin to an IT guest worker program. If Trump reverses this, it would hardly be a disaster. The likes of Infosys will hire more people in the United States, pushing up wages for software workers, but also hiking costs for Indian and U.S. tech businesses (and their clients). Mostly, though, Indian IT companies will respond by concentrating more of their work at home. The result would be less business and lower profits, but the basic global delivery model of Indian IT would remain intact. Yet this scenario leaves unanswered the more important question of whether that will be the end of the changes, said Kawaljeet Saluja, Kotaks head of research: The big thing we dont know is whether Trumps intent is to dent the outsourcing model or to kill it. There are good reasons to suspect a wider assault is coming. First, for those like Bannon, who see America as engaged in a battle for global economic supremacy, a blow against Indian IT would be symbolic. It was in Bangalore, after all, that a conversation with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani inspired Thomas Friedman to write The World Is Flat. This insight He said to me, Tom, the playing field is being leveled came to represent an enthusiasm for just the kind of tech-infused, globally interconnected company that Bannon views as so damaging to U.S. interests. More than that, though, services matter because they make up an ever-larger component of global trade. Services exports account for about $5 trillion annually, according to the World Trade Organization, worth about a quarter of trade in goods. But that increases to half or more if you measure the value added at each stage of production, said Razeen Sally, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy. Trumps crusade to bring factory jobs back to America is not likely to succeed, to put it mildly. But to the extent that it does, it will have a knock-on effect on services in any case, given the way that manufacturing and services are closely intertwined in what trade experts dub global value chains. For every production facility the president badgers into returning home, much of the services upon which it relies from transport and logistics to finance and legal services will have to come back too, adding to production costs. But more broadly, if you fear that Indian IT workers are undercutting wages in the United States, why not target other kinds of outsourcing too? Companies like GE and Cisco operate big research-and-development centers in India, employing thousands of engineers and scientists in jobs that could plausibly be done by more expensive American workers. Financial services is another example. Goldman Sachs, which often attracts Trumps attention, runs its second-largest global office in Bangalore, employing more than 6,000 people. Rather than the stereotype of bored call-center workers, many of these perform sophisticated analysis or management tasks of the type that used to be done only on Wall Street. There are many ways Trump could target these kinds of relationships. His administration could pressure companies to begin reshoring positions, not more basic call-center jobs, which would strike a populist tone, given the fact that many consumers dislike calling helplines abroad. The tax system could be used to target IT outsourcers too, not least the rules, known as transfer pricing, by which global companies are allowed to account for trade between internal units spread around the world. If Trump wants to go after outsourcing, there are so many ways he could do it, Saluja says. Put another way, an initial skirmish over India IT visas is likely to be the thin end of a much bigger wedge. Of course, its possible that Bannon and Trump wont go down that path. Joblessness is rare in U.S. white-collar sectors, meaning that pressure for action against foreigners is weaker. The costs of hiring locally would also be higher for U.S. businesses, which might provoke an even wider backlash from tech companies, many of which are opposing Trumps wider ban on migrants from Muslim-majority countries. Meanwhile, the likely angry reaction from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi might give Trump pause although, on current form, probably not for very long. It may depend on whether the administration can settle on a single enemy; if the crusade against China continues, India, a democratic power with its own nationalist leader, may be a critical ally. Perhaps most critically is the fact that Trumps economic worldview appears firmly stuck in the 1980s, when the location of factories, rather than the complexities of supply chains, was what mattered in the global economy. But Trumps view of the world may be overshadowed by the nihilistic visions of his advisors, from Bannon to Navarro, who imagine a zero-sum world in which any victory for a foreign company is a loss for an American one in any sector. Given the bruising record of Trumps early weeks in power, it would be wise to take that threat both seriously and literally. Photo credit: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images By Martin Petty MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a vigorous defense of his war on drugs on Wednesday, rejecting not only allegations of extrajudicial killings, but the advice of a former Colombian leader who urged him not to repeat his mistakes. The ex-prosecutor promised to stand behind those on the front lines of his war and called Cesar Gaviria an "idiot" for a newspaper article in which the former Colombian president warned Duterte that a security-centerd approach "do more harm than good". Duterte last week suspended police from anti-narcotics operations after a South Korean businessman was murdered by rogue drugs squad police. He has put the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in charge, and plans to deploy troops as reinforcements. Duterte said his campaign was about destroying the apparatus of the drugs trade, not killing, and only he would be accountable if law enforcers were accused of wrongful killings during raids and sting operations. "Those done in the line of duty I take full responsibility," he said in a speech. "If someone should go to jail, it's not police, not military, not the PDEA - It's me." Duterte's war on drugs has attracted global attention due to its high death toll in his first seven months in office and the shock factor of images in media of bloodied corpses lying in streets and slums. As at Jan. 31, some 2,555 Filipinos were killed in what police said were shootouts during anti-drugs operations. More than 7,700 deaths have been recorded overall, and the cause of many of those are much in dispute. 'BIG FISH' The Catholic Church used sermons at the weekend to speak out about the drugs war, saying killings were not the solution and the poor were being worst hit. A Feb. 1 report by Amnesty International said the same, and concluded that police had behaved like the criminal underworld they were supposed to suppress, taking payments for killings. The report said many killings were "systematic, planned and organized" by authorities. Duterte rubbished those claims and said it was necessary to provide undercover police with cash to buy drugs in sting operations, referred to as "buy-busts", otherwise prosecuting dealers would be difficult. He denied his campaign was focusing on small-time users and pushers only, and he had proved local politicians were on his radar. "There is always a contention Duterte is killing the poor," he said. "So where is the big fish? We started with the mayors, they were killed along the way, so there's the big fish," he said. In Tuesday's New York Times, Gaviria, who was Colombia's president from 1990-1994, appealed to Duterte to use alternative strategies to fight drugs and explained why his country's crackdowns on cocaine cartels had failed. He hoped Duterte would avoid a heavy-handed approach and "not fall into the same trap". "Trust me, I learned the hard way," he wrote. Duterte said Gaviria was "lecturing" and the Philippine case was different to Colombia, because "shabu", or methamphetamine, was damaging to the brain whereas the behavioral impact of cocaine was less severe. (Editing by Nick Macfie) Already considered a likely Democratic 2020 presidential candidate, Elizabeth Warren's profile has been boosted yet further after she was rebuked by the Senate for quoting Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor. A heroine on the populist left and one of Democratic party's stars, Mrs Warren is known for her progressive ideas and was the only female candidate touted to be Hillary Clinton's running mate last during the presidential campaign. Despite being elected as a senator less than four years ago, she has swiftly gained national recognition. The Republicans helped propel the Massachusetts Democrat into the spotlight once again when she read a three-decade-old letter from Dr. Martin Luther King's widow that dated to Sen. Jeff Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Sessions and top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell was quick to invoke the chamber's arcane rules. Rising star Democrats were quick to rally to the defence of Mrs Warren, whose star has been rising since the 2008 financial crisis. During that time, she was instrumental in setting up a government watchdog agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect customers from unsuitable bank lending practices as well as serving as the chair of a programme for asset relief. The 67-year-old is one of the country's leading bankruptcy experts and is known for being a vocal champion for middle class Americans facing financial pressures, particularly those who have fallen victim to predatory lenders. Mrs Warren has often spoken of how her own parents' financial struggles as a child have influenced her politics. Ms Warren was vocal in her criticisms of Mrs Clinton's ties to Wall Street and big business. Significantly, she did not endorse Mrs Clinton until the party's primaries were nearing an end. Story continues Before entering politics, Ms Warren was a Harvard law professor for almost 20 years. She was once named in a list of the most influential lawyers of the decade in the National Law Journal and has made Time Magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world three times. Attacks on Trump The Massachusetts senator has garnered further attention by lampooning Donald Trump in her debut on the campaign trail. In a blistering attack she called the property tycoon "a small, insecure money grubber" who would "crush you into the dirt". WATCH: Elizabeth Warren urges Senate Republicans against confirming Betsy DeVos as Trump's education secretary. https://t.co/emVZZclOg4pic.twitter.com/PDTOdAk9tT Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) February 6, 2017 She also called him "fraudster-in-chief," among other things. Mr Trump responded via Twitter, labelling her "goofy Elizabeth Warren" and referring to her as "Pocahontas," a reference to Warren's claim to have Native American ancestry. She has been one of the party's most strident voices against Mr Trump's administration, grilling the presidents Cabinet nominees and speaking out against Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch within minutes of his nomination. I hope that Crooked Hillary picks Goofy Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, as her V.P. Then we can litigate her fraud! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2016 Rallying the party Since Mrs Clinton's shock election defeat in November, she has been one of the leading figures trying to re-energise the Democratic party. Days after the election, Mrs Warren warned Mr Trump that he would face a battle within the White House. "We are going to be smart, we are going to be organised, we're going to use our time and talents in a strategic and careful way, but we are going to fight back. We are not going to turn this country over to what Donald Trump has sold," she said in an interview with television network MSNBC. In February, she said her party needed to "grow a backbone". No matter how extreme Republicans in Washington became, Democrats might grumble or whine, but when it came time for action, our party hesitated and pushed back only with great reluctance, she said in a speech in Baltimore. Far too often, Democrats have been unwilling to get out there and fight. That ends today. Its time for Democrats to grow a backbone and to get out there and fight. Burnishing her credentials Mrs Warren will be adding to her CV this spring when she brings out a new book, one that continues her battle for progressive economics. "This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class", which will be published on April 18, will offer a mini-history of the American middle class, from the New Deal of the 1930s to what the publisher calls Mr Trump's "phony promises" that endanger it now. It will also include "candid accounts of her battles in the Senate, vivid stories about her life and work, and powerful descriptions of the experiences of working Americans," along with a plan for advancing progressive goals. "Washington works great for the rich and powerful who can hire armies of lawyers and lobbyists, but it is not working very well for everyone else," Mrs Warren, who began the book well before Trump's election, said. "America's once-solid middle class is on the ropes, and now Donald Trump and his administration seem determined to deliver the knockout punch. At this perilous moment in our country's history, it's time to fight back - and I'm looking for more people to join me." Bolstering her foreign policy credentials, she added an experienced national security adviser to her staff in February. Having been appointed to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mrs Warren has hired Sasha Baker, who served as the deputy chief of staff to former Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter. 2020 candidate? It was not long after Mrs Clinton's defeat before she was asked in an interview - half jokingly - who she would choose as a running mate for the 2020 election. The mother-of-two laughed and deflected, saying: That is a long way off. We dont have energy to waste on that. But that hasn't stopped many others speculating. Arthur Schwartz, a Manhattan Democratic district leader who backed Bernie Sanders during the primary season, said she would be fantastic". Were going to hear a lot from her over the next four years, he added. Profile | Elizabeth Warren First she must focus on her re-election bid next year. According to a WBUR poll, 44 percent of state voters think she deserves re-election. Overall, Warren has a 51 percent favorability rating in the state. Doubts also remain whether her progressive image would attract crucial support from moderates in a general election. Her rising profile is boosting her campaign coffers though. According to an Associated Press review of Warren's latest campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts Democrat took in a hefty $5.9 million in campaign contributions from January 2015 through the end of 2016. Contributions to Warren rose sharply in the final three months of last year, when she took in more than $1 million. London (AFP) - Veteran Australian entertainer Rolf Harris was on Wednesday cleared of three sex offences by a London court, but the jury was discharged on four other counts after failing to reach a verdict. Harris, a household name in Britain for more than 50 years, was accused of six counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault, taking place between 1971 and 2004. The jury took almost a week to find the 86-year-old not guilty of two indecent assault charges and of sexual assault. Harris was cleared of groping a blind disabled woman in London in 1977 and of sexually assaulting a woman in her 40s after the filming of a television show in 2004. Judge Alistair McCreath discharged the 12-member jury on the remaining four counts, and the prosecution team have one week to decide if they will apply for a retrial on the charges that split jurors. Harris watched via a video-link from prison, where he is currently serving a sentence of almost six years after being convicted in 2014 of 12 sex offences against four female victims, one aged as young as seven or eight. His defence team claimed the initial convictions were "wrong" and that the resultant media coverage had "without doubt made him vulnerable to people making accusations against him". After studying art in London, Harris found fame in the 1960s when he secured his own television show after landing work at the BBC. He scored a chart hit with the 1969 track "Two Little Boys", about two youngsters who grow up to fight in a war together, and performed his song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" with the Beatles. His success continued with the BBC's "Animal Hospital" in the 1990s and in 2005 he painted an 80th birthday portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Port-au-Prince (AFP) - A European Union delegation in Haiti for Tuesday's inauguration of President Jovenel Moise announced it was increasing EU aid to the poverty-stricken island to boost growth and help it recover from devastating storm damage. The additional 35 million euros ($37.4 million) is intended to help meet urgent humanitarian needs and provide relief to the hundreds of thousands of Haitians affected by the destructive passage in October of Hurricane Matthew. Edita Hrda, a Czech diplomat with the EU's external action service, told journalists here that the aid package includes 16 million euros for humanitarian assistance and 19 million for development, primarily for budgetary support. Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, sent written congratulations to the new Haitian president and invited him to Brussels on an official visit. Hrda said the EU wanted to strengthen its relations with the new administration to help Haiti with its economic, social and environmental development. The EU delegation's talks here with the new Haitian president, she added, focused on "the rule of law, governance and human rights, as well as on the fight against corruption and on electoral reforms." The European Union is one of Haiti's leading international lenders. With the newly announced aid package, European assistance to Haiti will total 455 million euros for the 2014-2020 period. Haiti is more than $2 billion in debt. Its growth is not expected to top an anemic one percent this year. Moise, a 48-year-old banana exporter and political novice, was sworn in on Tuesday in an unusually austere ceremony, ending a prolonged political crisis. His original election in 2015 was annulled amid charges of massive fraud. He prevailed again in a rescheduled election last November. By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has proposed extending import duties on solar panels from China by 18 months, a shorter period than initially planned, and with a gradual phase-out, Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said on Wednesday. Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties have been in place on Chinese solar panels and cells since 2013 and are currently under review as to whether they should be maintained. A majority of EU countries last month opposed a proposed two-year extension. Timmermans told a news conference that it was a sensitive issue. The Commission's proposal, revealed by Reuters on Tuesday, will be put to the EU's 28 member states later this month. "The phase-out is also meant to make sure that producers of solar panels in the European Union have the time to adapt to the new situation. The precise conditions are something that will be up for debate, also with member states now," Timmermans told a news conference. The Commission faces a delicate balancing act between the interests of EU manufacturers and those benefiting from cheap imports, while also being concerned about the response from Beijing, seen as a possible ally in fights against protectionism and climate change. The EU and China came close to a trade war in 2013 over EU allegations of dumping by Chinese solar panel exporters. To avoid that, both sides agreed to allow limited tariff-free imports of panels at a minimum price of 0.56 euros per watt, anti-dumping duties of up to 64.9 percent for those outside the agreement and anti-subsidy duties capped at 11.5 percent. The case is due to be settled by March 3. (Additional reporting by Waverly Colville; Editing by Robin Emmott/Ruth Pitchford) The European Union appears to be softening its stance on a controversial Russian pipeline project, even as it seeks to wean itself off dependence on Russian gas. And its unlikely to find much pushback from Washington. The Nord Stream 2 project, meant to pipe natural gas from Russia across the Baltic Sea into Germany, unleashed a blizzard of opposition, particularly from Eastern European countries and even former President Barack Obamas administration, after it was announced in 2015. Some critics say the pipeline doesnt make economic sense and isnt needed; the original Nord Stream pipe is only about half used. And many worry it would redouble Europes reliance on Russian energy imports and make it easier for Moscow to use energy as a blunt political tool to strongarm neighbors. But now, Europes initial resistance to the project appears to be weakening. Sweden dropped objections to Gazproms request to use Swedish ports during the pipelines construction. Germany has defended the project against stiff resistance from fellow EU members, particularly Poland, saying it would save cash and reduce emissions. Other countries, like the Netherlands, are deafeningly silent on the controversial project, while their own industries quietly seek a way to join in on the pipeline action. And the newly-released European Commissions State of the Energy Union report, despite paying lip service to Europes need to diversify sources of energy supply, doesnt mention Nord Stream 2 once. That has some eastern countries irate. During her meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo called Nord Stream unacceptable to Warsaw. This project is not an economic one. Its a geopolitical one, a Polish diplomat told Foreign Policy. Those geopolitics come home to roost, like Russias little green men, in Ukraine. Some in Brussels, and in the previous U.S. administration, were worried that Nord Stream would allow Russia to fulfill its dream of bypassing Ukraine, its traditional middleman for exports to Europe. Drying up Kievs revenues from gas transits worth $2 billion a year would further imperil the shaky Ukrainian economy, at a time when Kiev has its hands full with renewed fighting in Russias semi-official war in the eastern part of the country. Story continues Like many Russian pipeline projects, Nord Stream 2 has proceeded in fits and starts. Western companies who partnered with Russias state-owned Gazprom all abandoned the project after it bogged down in regulatory battles and intense political scrutiny. But Gazprom has forged ahead, and Europes growing acceptance suggests its stubbornness may be paying off. And then theres the United States. Obama and senior administration officials pushed Europe for years to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, and actively opposed Nord Stream 2, as well as other Russian pipes meant to do much the same thing. At the same time, the Obama administration and many lawmakers urged greater exports of liquefied natural gas from the United States to terminals in Europe, to give at least Western Europeans more supply alternatives. The Trump administrations stance is unclear. It is bullish on U.S. oil and gas production and exports. But President Donald Trump has rattled European allies by extending a roughshod olive branch to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson fought U.S. sanctions against Russia when he ran U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil. One of Trumps earliest backers and top foreign policy campaign advisers, Richard Burt, came under fire for counseling Trump while being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby for the Nord Stream 2 project. Given Trumps stated willingness to take a transactional approach with Russia to secure cooperation in other areas like fighting terrorists experts think he could look more favorably on increased Russian energy influence in Europe. The State Department didnt respond to a request for comment. Others say the controversy surrounding Nord Stream 2 is overblown. When Nord Stream 1 was completed it didnt turn out to be a geopolitical disaster, Tim Boersma at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy told FP, citing the projects predecessor, completed in 2012. Historys proven the majority of those concerns and grand geopolitical scaremongering proved unfounded, he said. Boersma said Gazprom can make a compelling case for the commercial motivations behind the project, though time will tell whether that holds. European countries are seeing declining domestic gas production, while longterm demand is expected to stay flat. Nord Stream 2 is the shortest route from gas fields in western Siberia to European markets, so should be competitive on price. And once it hits EU territory, Russian gas is subject to the same strict European regulation as gas from any other country, Boersma said. (Gazprom is currently in talks with Brussels to resolve a longstanding antitrust complaint.) But the project promises continued drama. Now that Gazprom is 100 percent owner of the pipeline, it will likely face new legal hurdles, said Sijbren de Jong, of the Hague Center for Strategic Studies. De Jong expects Poland or the Baltic states to lodge new court cases against Nord Stream 2 in a bid to scrap the project entirely. If Gazprom forces its way through the courts over the opposition of some of the EUs own members, it would be a political coup for Russia, he said. In years past, energy regulation has been one way for Brussels to keep Gazproms ambitions in check: A previous Russian pipeline, South Stream, ultimately floundered because it ran afoul of EU law. But its not clear if those rules, meant to keep energy monopolies from getting even a potential chokehold over European consumers, will ultimately be enough to stop Nord Stream 2. And that would bode ill for more than just gas markets. If the EU is unable to rule on this, it cant rule on much else, de Jong said. This article has been updated to clarify Tim Boersmas title and comments. Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent avoided prison on Wednesday after being convicted last year of lying during a national security background check about operating a New Jersey strip club with another agency employee. David Polos, an ex-assistant special agent-in-charge with the DEA, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan to one year of probation and ordered to undertake 250 hours of community service and pay a $5,000 fine. Prosecutors had in court papers sought a sentence that "reflects the seriousness of the offenses" he committed, after a jury in June found Polos guilty for concealing his ties to the Twins Plus Go-Go Lounge strip club in South Hackensack, New Jersey. But under federal sentencing guidelines, Polos, 52, faced up to only six months in prison. His lawyer, Marc Mukasey, argued the loss of his job and widespread media coverage were punishment enough. "I stand before you today as a disgraced husband, an outcast in my own profession, and ashamed to be in my own skin," Polos told Gardephe in court. Polos, of West Nyack, New York, was found guilty in June along with Glen Glover, a former DEA telecommunications specialist, on conspiracy and false statement charges in connection with the club, where prosecutors said they were part-owners and worked. Jurors also convicted Polos for lying about having a relationship with any foreign nationals for not disclosing he was having an extramarital affair with a Brazilian dancer who prosecutors said entered the United States illegally. Prosecutors said that during background checks in 2011 used to spot any outside employment that could put them near criminal activity or create risks of being blackmailed, Polos and Glover failed to disclose that they were running the club. The club featured scantily clad and sometimes topless female dancers, including some who engaged in sexual acts with patrons and staff, and many who are illegal, undocumented immigrants, prosecutors have said. Story continues Mukasey said in court that Polos' conduct was reckless but malevolent. He told reporters that he would consider whether to appeal the conviction. Glover is scheduled for sentencing on Friday. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler) By Maiya Keidan and Olivia Oran NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), which opened in 2008 with one of the biggest launches in hedge fund history, is folding its London operations into the United States and shifting staff members to New York, four sources told Reuters. About eight staff members who made up the London team were recently told to move to the Battery Park City headquarters of Goldman Sach Group Inc in lower Manhattan or find a new job internally, the sources said. A Goldman spokesman confirmed the move but not the details, adding that the reasons for the staff shift were not related to Brexit. "This is a discrete decision for reasons specific to GSIP, one investment team within Goldman Sachs, and shouldnt be construed as anything but that," he said. The move was triggered by managing director Nick Advani, who led the hedge fund's London operations, the sources said. He said in June he would be stepping down from his role, they said, requesting anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media. Advani, now an advisory director at Goldman, did not respond to requests for comment. Advani is expected to leave the firm later this year, the sources said. Managing director Raluca Ragab, who had been formally leading the London-based team since Advani's departure, will also leave Goldman once the move is complete, one of the sources said. Ragab's departure is for personal reasons, one of the sources added. Multi-strategy hedge fund GSIP launched in November 2008 with $7 billion in assets, one of the largest hedge fund launches at the time. GSIP, run globally by co-heads Raanan Agus and Kenneth Eberts, sits within Goldman's asset management division. But a focus on value investing with around 20 positions mainly in equities became more challenging in recent years, a former employee told Reuters. GSIP's Global Long Short Partners Offshore fund posted losses of 8.2 percent in the year to end-September in 2016 after small gains of 1.5 percent in 2015, according to an investor letter reviewed by Reuters. Last September, three of the fund's top five credit positions were in the Europe Middle East and Africa region, according to the letter. GSIP's assets fell in 2014 after Goldman pulled out $2.8 billion in response to the U.S. Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the Volcker rule, which restricted banks' proprietary trading. The fund now manages around $3.5 billion. Separately, Goldman may move up to 1,000 staff out of London in response to Britain's vote to leave the European Union, it was reported last month. (Reporting by Maiya Keidan in London and Olivia Oran ia New York, additional reporting by Carolyn Cohn and Simon Jessop; Editing by Tom Brown and David Gregorio) By David Ingram (Reuters) - Facebook plans to add a feature on Wednesday to make it easier for people affected by disasters to find each other locally to provide and receive help. The world's largest social network said its "Community Help" will activate after natural disasters and major accidents as a part of "Safety Check," a related feature that allows Facebook users to assure others that they are safe. The company's designers envisioned a virtual classified advertising section where people near each other can offer shelter after a forest fire, seek food in the wake of an earthquake and meet other immediate needs in an organized way. "It's going to help easily match people who are looking to help with those who need help within the community," Preethi Chetan, a Facebook product designer, told reporters in a briefing. Facebook, with 1.9 billion monthly users as of December, rolled out Safety Check in 2014. The feature has sometimes stumbled. Last year, after a suicide bombing in Pakistan, users as far away as New York received notifications asking if they were safe. Others said they were alarmed by vague text messages to mobile phones that asked, "Are you affected by the explosion?" Safety Check was used for the first time in the United States in June after a gunman massacred 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In designing Community Help, Facebook officials said they consulted with emergency relief organizations such as the Red Cross. Community Help will at first be used for natural disasters and incidents such as building fires, not for mass shootings or bombings, the company said. Initially it will be available only in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, it said. Facebook said it plans to expand to other countries and other types of incidents after testing. The new feature comes with a few safety guidelines, such as a warning to users that if they meet strangers to arrange disaster help, they should do so in a public place, officials said. (Reporting by David Ingram in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler) (Reuters) - Facebook Inc is doubling its bereavement leave for employees and also introducing paid family sick time, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said in an internet post. "Facebook employees will have up to 20 days paid leave to grieve an immediate family member, up to 10 days to grieve an extended family member," Sandberg said in a Facebook post. (http://bit.ly/2k0imnj) Previously, the company's employees had 10 days paid leave for immediate family and five for extended family. Facebook also announced paid family sick time three days to take care of a family member with a short-term illness, like a child with the flu. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr) (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's tweets on various companies have drawn much attention, but with the Dow <.DJI> hitting a record high on Tuesday and the S&P 500 <.SPX> also poised to hit a fresh peak, the impact on the shares of those companies has been mostly short lived. Following is a list of companies targeted in Trump's tweets: Boeing : The Dow component was targeted by Trump in a Dec. 6 tweet that criticized costs for the Air Force One plane manufactured by the company. Shares closed that session little changed and have since jumped nearly 8 percent through Monday's close. United Technologies Corp : Trump tweeted on Nov. 24 about working on a deal with the Dow component to keep jobs at its Carrier unit in Indiana. Shares gained 0.6 percent in the session following the Thanksgiving holiday and have advanced more than 2 percent through Monday. Lockheed Martin Corp : Trump on Dec. 12 tweeted about the U.S. defense company's F-35 fighter jet program, calling it "out of control." Lockheed Martin shares fell 2.5 percent on the day of the tweet, but have recovered somewhat since and were down 1.6 percent as of Monday's close. Lockheed Martin has outperformed the NYSE Arca Defense index <.DFII>, which has fallen 2.6 percent over the same time frame. General Motors Co : Trump on Jan. 3 threatened a "big border tax" on GM for making its Chevy Cruze model in Mexico. GM's shares fell briefly in premarket trade following the tweets, but have since gained nearly 6 percent through Monday's close. On Tuesday, shares were down more than 5 percent after the automaker's quarterly earnings release. Ford Motor : Shares are down 0.3 percent since Trump tweeted on Nov. 17 the company would keep jobs in Kentucky. Fiat Chrysler : Trump applauded the company on Twitter on Jan. 9 for plans to invest in Michigan and Ohio plants. U.S.-listed shares of the stock are down nearly more than 2 percent through Monday's close. Toyota Motor Corp: Trump, who campaigned on promises to keep manufacturing business in the United States, tweeted on Jan. 5 that he would impose a fee if the Japanese automaker built its Corolla cars for the U.S. market in Mexico. Toyota's U.S.-listed shares <7203.T> ended Jan. 6 down 0.6 pct and have slumped more than 6 percent since then, as one of the few stocks targeted that has continued to struggle. (Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch and Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Leslie Adler and Meredith Mazzilli) A three-judge panel on a federal appeals court on Tuesday tore into the Trump administrations argument that a restraining order on his executive travel ban puts the country at risk. A federal judge in Seattle hit pause last week on President Trumps Jan. 27 executive order, prompting the administration to appeal, with the president himself lambasting so-called judges who would question his authority. On Tuesday, judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco questioned the Department of Justices argument that the temporary freeze to the order was causing irreparable harm from a security perspective. Is there any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism? asked Judge Michelle T. Friedland, an appointee of Trump predecessor President Obama, pointing to the seven Muslim-majority countries in Trumps ban. These proceedings have been moving very fast, DOJ Special Counsel August E. Flentje said, a line he repeated throughout the hour-long oral argument, which took place over the phone. (The countries covered by the ban Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen have not played a part in recent terror attacks in the United States.) The judges chided the government attorney, pointing out it was the administration that asked for the emergency hearing to lift the restraining order and allow immigration authorities to resume enforcing the directive. Then, Trumps special counsel argued that the courts could not review such executive orders due to the presidents broad authority, granted by the Constitution and Congress, over national security and immigration. The administration sought to throw out the ruling because the courts decision overrides the presidents national security judgement, Flentje said. Are you arguing then the presidents decision in that regard is unreviewable? Friedland asked. Yes, Flentje answered. The government doesnt believe there are any constitutional limitations that prevent the president from taking such an action, he added. Story continues While Flentje could point vaguely to convictions of Somali-Americans for material support for ISIS, and Congress and the Obama administration did list the seven countries as areas of concern, none of their citizens have killed any Americans in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Since 1990, of the 182 terrorists inspired by jihadist ideology who have attempted to carry out attacks in the United States, or on inbound flights, 101 were U.S. citizens and few were recent arrivals, according to testimony by the RAND Corporation. Other legal experts have expressed concern that Trumps often baseless invocation of national security threats could be a power grab. Tuesdays oral argument was focused more narrowly on the governments argument against the temporary restraining order, issued in response to a complaint from Washington state, but a handful of states have brought suit against Trumps directive. Washington, later joined by Minnesota, successfully challenged Trumps executive order, arguing that the president overstepped his authority and violated both the Constitution and federal immigration law. The directive, they said, caused irreparable harm to those in their states and elsewhere by separating families, stranding our university students and faculty, and barring travel. On Monday, nearly 100 Silicon Valley companies, more than 280 law professors, 16 state or district attorneys general, 10 former top national security officials, and a slew of civil liberties groups joined the opposition to the travel ban. The group, including former secretaries of state John F. Kerry and Madeleine Albright, former CIA director Leon Panetta, and former CIA and National Security Agency director Michael V. Hayden, said there was no national security purpose for barring the seven countries. Trumps attorneys argue the executive branch has the power to determine whether foreign nationals should be allowed into the United States, and the courts, by questioning that authority, are taking an extraordinary step of second-guessing a formal national-security judgement. Divisions within the administration over what the order means or which officials were consulted before it was issued have spilled out into the public. The DOJ seemed to acknowledge the confusion, asking the judges at the least to narrow the restraining order so that immigration authorities could let in legal permanent residents, foreigners already in the country, or valid-visa holders, while continuing to enforce the directive against other travelers and immigrants. The judges on Tuesday questioned what would prevent the administration from subsequently changing its interpretation of the order yet again. And DOJ and the bench sparred over the intent behind the administrations immigration order. The judges referred to public statements indicating a clear intent for the ban to discriminate against Muslims, which plaintiffs cited as evidence of a desire to harm a particular group. The administration has claimed the order is not a Muslim ban, but the order itself gives priority to persecuted religious minorities within the countries. Trump promised such a ban on the campaign, and advisers have been frank about the purpose of the order; in recent days, Trump himself used the term ban. As close advisor Rudy Giuliani put it and the Washington solicitor general noted during the oral argument the president told him he wanted a Muslim ban and to find the right way to do it legally. The DOJ protested that the court should not enjoin the presidents national security authority based on some newspaper articles. But Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush appointee, pushed back, saying they were admissible, though it had seemed Trumps statements were not made at the time to be a serious policy principle. Credit: Pool / Pool Bir Fawaz (Syrie) (AFP) - Fierce fighting took place on Wednesday between jihadist militants and US-backed Syrian rebels just 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Islamic State's self-proclaimed capital of Raqa, an AFP reporter saw. On Saturday, the rebels -- a coalition of Arab and Kurdish fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) -- announced a new phase in a bid to capture Raqa, and mounted an attack from north and northeast. An AFP reporter at Bir Fawaz, 20 km north of Raqa, heard machine-gun fire all day Wednesday as SDF attacked IS positions in the neighbouring village of Maayzila. The village also came under repeated attack by at least three anti-IS coalition warplanes, and heavy smoke could be seen billowing from there. "There has been heavy fighting since the morning. Many IS fighters are holed up inside Maayzila," the local SDF commander, Ararat Kojer, told AFP. Twelve villages have fallen to the rebels in the latest phase of the offensive, which was launched on November 6. "Progress is slow because IS are putting up a ferocious resistance and placed mines around the approaches to many villages," Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is monitoring the conflict, told AFP. The SDF, which has been lobbying for weapons to help them carry out the offensive, has recently received armoured SUVs from the United States. A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes on IS in Syria and neighbouring Iraq since 2014. The SDF's offensive is being supported by 500 US troops, including demining teams, military trainers and members of the special forces. Earlier Wednesday, a spokesman for the coalition predicted that the IS bastion would soon be almost cut off. Although it will not be completely encircled, "it will be very difficult to get into or out of the city," Colonel John Dorrian said in a video conference from Baghdad. "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks the city will be nearly completely isolated," Dorrian said. Story continues US-backed Iraqi forces have wrested part of the Iraqi city of Mosul from IS control, although the city's western districts have yet to be retaken. Raqa is the coalition's next big objective. But the issue of who exactly will carry out the assault has not yet been worked out. Turkey has expressed interest in taking part in the operation, with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicating that his country is ready to deploy special forces to take part in the battle. Turkey opposes giving added weight to SDF, viewing it as little more than a front for the Kurdish YPG militant group, which Ankara considers a terror organisation. Though President Donald Trump has named his nominee for the open seat on the Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch, 10th circuit appellate court judge from Colorado some Democrats are saying they plan to filibuster the nomination. This week, for example, Sen. Chuck Schumer (writing in Politico) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (speaking on CNN) both said that Gorsuch will have to muster 60 votes in order to be confirmed in other words, that he will need to be filibuster-proof. Whether as a type of payback for Republicans refusal to approve president Obamas pick, Merrick Garland, or because they have concerns regarding Gorsuchs ideological and legal background, if Senate Democrats follow through on that threat it would be, by some counts, only the second-ever SCOTUS nominee filibuster. Thats not to say that nobody has ever come close. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, cloture was attempted (basically, the supporters of the nomination tried to prove that they had enough votes that a filibuster wouldnt work) four times on Supreme Court nominations, from when the rules changed in 1949 until 2013. It happened against William H. Rehnquist twice (in 1971 and again in 1986) and against Samuel Alito a move that was supported by then-senator Barack Obama in 2006. Though the attempt at cloture was rejected in 1971, Rehnquist was confirmed anyway and lawmakers at the time denied a filibuster had happened; in the two other cases, cloture was successfully invoked and prevented a filibuster. That means the Senate has only successfully filibustered a SCOTUS nominee once, when President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Abe Fortas to be Chief Justice in 1968. Surprisingly, Fortas holds this dubious distinction despite already sitting on the Supreme Court at the time the filibuster took place. A Memphis native, Fortas became a professor at Yale Law School before climbing the ranks in Washington. He served on the Securities and Exchange Commission, then served under presidents Roosevelt and Truman, later taking up private practice in Washington, D.C. Story continues A longtime friend of President Johnsons, Fortas was appointed to sit on the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice in 1965 when Arthur Goldberg left his post to become a U.S. ambassador the U.N., at the presidents request. During his time on the Supreme Court leading up to his Chief Justice nomination, Fortas began creating a legacy based largely on supporting civil rights and expanding legal rights for youth. For example, Fortas wrote the majority decision on Kent v. United States in 1966, granting expanded legal rights to minors, and upheld the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter However, Fortas next presidential promotion would not be so fortuitous for Fortas or Johnson. When Chief Justice Earl Warren announced his retirement in 1968, Johnson quickly moved to put Fortas in the courts top spot. In fact, Johnson had persuaded Warren to leave the Court so that he would have the opportunity to put a new Chief Justice on the Court before Nixon took office. Though Fortas was already serving on the Supreme Court, the Constitution still requires Chief Justice nominees to be screened by the Senate Judiciary Committee. A solidly liberal Justice with Washington experience and close ties to the White House, Fortas seemed like the natural appointment for Johnson to make. But the President and members of the Senate were not yet aware that Fortas had some ethical skeletons hiding in his closet. During the confirmation process it came to light that money Fortas had received for teaching engagements at the Washington College of Law, a sum of $15,000, did not come from the school, but was instead funded by private corporations. Republicans were already less than enthusiastic about Fortas given his liberal tendencies regarding civil rights . They also took issue with his proximity to the President. All of this on top of the knowledge of potential conflicts of interest with private companies was all the Republicans, who were a minority in the senate, needed to resist Fortas by the most dramatic means available: filibuster. For the first time ever, Senators blocked a SCOTUS appointment by filibuster. (Though there has been some debate over whether the rejection constituted a full filibuster, historians and contemporary observers generally agree that it was.) The vote to end the debate over his nomination did not end in Fortas favor, with only 45 voting yes, 14 votes short of the 59 that were needed. Johnsons plan had backfired terribly, and he was forced to withdraw Fortas nomination on October 2. The Republicans were victorious, which enabled Nixon to name conservative Warren Burger to the Court after taking office in 1969. It should be noted that Burgers appointment wasnt a complete disaster for progressives Burger voted in favor of abortion rights in Roe v. Wade in 1973, and in Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 1971 Burger voted with the rest of the Court to maintain that busing was an appropriate method for integrating schools. As for Fortas, he remained an Associate Justice until he was forced to resign from the Court in 1969 with the threat of impeachment looming over him. After the Chief Justice nomination debacle, Financial disclosures revealed that Fortas had accepted $20,000 in fees from a foundation controlled by his former client, Louis Wolfson, who was under federal investigation at the time the payment was made. He became the first Justice to resign from the Court due to public outcry. The financial scandals in which Fortas was involved largely overshadowed what the New York Times described as a long and brilliantly successful legal career in Fortas 1982 obituary. Indeed, Fortas career was irreparably marred in court of public opinion by two unfortunate firsts for the Supreme Court: first, the senate filibuster, and later, the circumstances of his resignation. And yet much of his legal legacy stand to this day as, for now, does his status as the only Supreme Court nominee to be blocked by a filibuster. WASHINGTON The United States isnt the only country thats a complete basket case right now. Basically the entire world has reached record levels of political chaos and uncertainty. Thats according to the relatively little-publicized Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index, which just hit a two-decade high. The index was constructed by Scott R. Baker, Nick Bloom and Steven J. Davis, economists at Northwestern University, Stanford University and the University of Chicago, respectively. It tracks the relative frequency of news coverage relating to economic policy uncertainty, based on archives from major newspapers in 18 countries. These countries collectively represent more than two-thirds of the global economy. In January, the index surpassed 300 for the first time ever. For context, thats roughly three times the average number during the past 20 years as far back as the index goes. Why does this matter? Uncertainty about the policy environment leads to a lot of business decisions being put on pause. Moreover, research has found that big shocks in policy uncertainty such as what were seeing now around the world foreshadowed declines in investment, output and hiring. Reversing an investment or hire is expensive, after all. When theres more uncertainty about whether laws and political leadership will change, businesses are more likely to stand pat. Even if fully committed to hiring and expanding, they may still be less nimble because banks are reluctant to extend financing when theyre unsure what the rules of the road or economic conditions will look like. Its easy to blame President Trump for sowing unpredictability (one of his stated objectives) worldwide. But surprisingly, the United States does not seem to be the primary driver of this global phenomenon, at least if you look at only the American component of the index. Uncertainty in the United States has been elevated in recent months, according to this measure, though it is nowhere near its monthly record high. That was reached in mid-2011, when a debt ceiling showdown brought the country to the brink of default. Despite the chaos and confusion of the past several weeks, the United States doesnt seem to be in economic policy crisis mode. The same cannot be said for the rest of the globe. Trumps caprices are likely battering other, smaller economies, and thereby driving up uncertainty in other countries in ways that may not be reflected in just the U.S. numbers. But other countries have also been sowing plenty of their own homegrown turmoil. Across Europe, far-right nationalism, populism and anti-establishment sentiment have unleashed great uncertainty about who will be in charge in a few months and what their economic platforms will be. Major elections coming up in Germany, France and the Netherlands have spooked financial markets and raised questions about whether the European Union will continue to exist in anything resembling its current form. Britons have already voted to exit the European Union, of course, but the country still hasnt hashed out the terms of the divorce. Indeed, its still struggling to figure out if and when Brexit will happen. Meanwhile, other jurisdictions, such as France, are trying to lure away the lucrative British banking industry, leaving that sectors employees in an uncomfortable limbo. Europe is hardly the only continent with problems. In Asia, China sees an opening to become more of a world political leader, thanks to Trumps commitment to greater U.S. insularity. But internally, China too faces record-high economic policy uncertainty, thanks to an enormous capital exodus, a regulatory clampdown and manufacturing troubles. Its neighbor South Korea is also grappling with political turmoil following a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of its president, the questioning of more than 400 individuals in that investigation, and raids of 150 companies and government agencies. On the other side of the globe, Brazil is still dealing with fallout from its own corruption scandal, which also displaced a president. And tumult and instability have roiled Turkey, too, among other countries. And so on. None of this is evidence that the United States ought to retrench. To the contrary, its a sign that the world needs us all the more to act like the beacon of stability, leadership and liberal values that we have long declared ourselves to be. There is less room than ever for incompetent governance, hissy-fit phone calls with foreign leaders, magic math and laughable press-room lies. Americans desperately need our elected officials to get their acts together and start behaving like grown-ups. So does the rest of the world. LUSAKA (Reuters) - First Quantum Minerals has asked a Zambian court to dismiss a $1.4 billion claim by a state-owned firm, which accused the Canadian company of irregular transactions with its local subsidiary. The claim by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH), which holds minority stakes in most of the country's copper mines, includes $228 million in interest on $2.3 billion of loans that it said First Quantum wrongly borrowed from the Kansanshi Copper Mine, as well as 20 percent of the principal amount, or $570 million. First Quantum said in court papers seen on Wednesday in the Lusaka high court that the action taken by ZCCM-IH was started without the approval of the state firm's board, which was dissolved when the action commenced. ZCCM-IH, in which the Zambian government has a 77 percent stake, said in papers filed in the Lusaka High Court on Oct. 28, 2016 that First Quantum used the money as cheap financing for its other operations. First Quantum says the loans were at a fair market rate. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by James Macharia and David Evans) A rare moment in U.S. legislative procedure occurred on Tuesday night, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked Senate Rule XIX to prevent Sen. Elizabeth Warren from reading from a letter written by Coretta Scott King in 1986 about current Attorney General nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. The rule in question states that, No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. It was adopted following an infamous fight on the Senate floor that took place in 1902. But what exactly happened in 1902? The details were described on Feb. 28 of that year by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, which presented a full report on a personal encounter between Senators Pitchfork Ben Tillmanwhom TIME later called one of the most unabashed racists in Southern historyand John McLaurin, both of South Carolina. The story, the committee declared, was not possible to sum up any better than had already been done by the official record on the proceedings of the previous week. The exchange in question, as quoted in that report, begins after Tillman has said that a friend, whom he will not name, told him that Wisconsin Senator John Spooner had come by votes for a treaty in an unsavory way: MR. TILLMAN: You know how you got [the votes]. MR. SPOONER: How did we get them? MR. TILLMAN: I say you know how you got them. MR. SPOONER: I do not know how we got them. I do not know that any man voted for that treaty except in obedience to his convictions. Does the Senator know any different? MR. TILLMAN: I only know that in a court the Senator would convict on circumstantial evidence some men. MR. SPOONER: Does the Senator impeach any Senator? Let him name him. I do not impeach any Senator, nor do I know of any ground for impeaching any. MR. TILLMAN: I have reason to believe, from the circumstantial evidence and from things that have been told to me in confidence by men on the other side, that improper influences were used. MR. SPOONER. Name the man. That is due to the country, and due to the man whom you suspect and by innuendo charge MR. TILLMAN: I can prove this: That the patronage of a State has been given to a Democrat who voted for the treaty. MR. SPOONER: What State? MR. TILLMAN: South Carolina. MR. SPOONER: Fight it out with your colleague. MR. TILLMAN: I am ready At the conclusion of the Senators remarks the junior Senator from South Carolina, being recognized by the Chair, addressing the Senate, said: MR. McLAURIN of South Carolina: Mr. President, I rise to a question of personal privilege. During my absence a few moments ago from the Senate Chamber, in attendance upon the Committee on Indian Affairs, the gentleman who has just taken his seat, the Senator who has just taken his seat, said that improper influences had been used in changing the vote of somebody on the treaty, and then went on later and said that it applied to the Senator from South Carolina, who had been given the patronage in that State. I think I get the sense of the controversy. I desire to state, Mr. PresidentI would not use as strong language as I intend to had I not, soon after the Senate met, replied to these insinuations and said that they were untrueI now say that that statement is a willful, malicious, and deliberate lie [At this point Mr. Tillman advanced to Mr. McLaurin, of South Carolina, and the two Senators met in a personal encounter, when they were separated by Mr. Layton, the acting assistant doorkeeper, assisted by several Senators sitting near.] Story continues Eventually, the Senator from South Carolina was called to order. Asked which one he meant, Teller responded as such: This one, and the other one, too, for that matter. As to what had actually happened during the encounter, one contemporary report noted that Tillman literally climbed over another Senator to spring like a panther upon McLaurin. As they clashed, Tillman aimed a right-hand smash at his colleagues face, the report continued. Partially warding it off, McLaurin received the blow upon the forehead, just about the left eye, and promptly returned it, apparently striking Tillmans nose. And, in the course of breaking up the fight, the assistant sergeant-at-arms also received a punch in the face for his trouble. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter The two were declared in contempt of the Senate. That the conduct of the two Senators was an infringement of the privileges of the Senate, a violation of its rules, and derogatory to its high character, tending to bring the body itself into public contempt, cannot be questioned or denied, the Committee stated. Though it was found that Tillman and McLaurin were not equally guilty in short, Tillman started it both were formally censured. Tillman survived the dishonor, was later re-elected to the Senate twice, and died in office. McLaurin served out his term, but did not seek reelection, TIME would later note. The bad blood between the two men was caused in part by McLaurins unfounded charge that Pitchfork Ben was an intellectual.' Seizing the opportunity, Massachusetts Sen. George Hoar proposed the addition of what became Rule XIX(2) to the Senate rules. On Wednesday, Warrens fellow Democrats spoke out to criticize the use of the rule to silence Warrenand they are not the first to take issue with its applications. As Neil MacNeil and Richard A. Baker note in their history of the Senate, the rule was intentionally vague, leaving the behavior in question up for interpretation, so that nearly anyone could be accused of breaking the rule and nearly anyone could avoid it, too. While Rep. Horace Towner argued in Munseys Magazine in 1916 that the rules consequence was that it had made the Senate unfortunately boring and somnolent, that more pressing concern was voiced in 1951 by Sen. Herbert Lehman of New York, who raised the issue of the problem of Rule XIXs breadththe same issue Warrens allies are attempting to raise today: that any member of the Senate can act as the independent judge of what is and what is not a reflection and imputation of conduct or motives unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. The hunt for a man and woman wanted in a two-state killing spree ended at a Georgia motel on Tuesday afternoon when the man fatally shot himself and the woman surrendered to police, according to Florida authorities. William Boyette, 44, killed himself after law enforcement surrounded the West Point, Georgia, motel in which he and 38-year-old Mary Rice were hiding following an alleged week-long crime spree that began in Florida, an Escambia County Sheriffs Office spokesman tells PEOPLE. He took his own life, the spokesman says of Boyette. Rice gave up She left the motel room to surrender and, a short time later, he shot himself. Authorities say the pair was surrounded in the small, roadside motel about 80 miles south of Atlanta by local police, Georgia State Patrol, U.S. Marshals and SWAT officers when Rice turned herself in. She is being held at the local Troup County Jail but has not yet been charged. It was not immediately clear when she would be extradited or if she had retained an attorney. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The capture came the same day as the pairs final alleged victim, Kayla Crocker, passed away at a Florida hospital, the sheriffs spokesman tells PEOPLE. The pair allegedly shot Crocker in her Pensacola, Florida, home and took off with her car. Crockers 2-year-old son, who was in the home at the time of the shooting, was unharmed and is in the care of family members, the spokesman says. A GoFundMe page has been created in the wake of Crockers death to cover funeral expenses and set up an education fund for her two children. Crocker also has a 6-year-old daughter, according to the page. The alleged killing spree began on Jan. 31 in Milton with the homicides of Alicia Greer, 30, and Jacqueline Moore, 39, the spokeswoman confirms. Greer was reportedly in a relationship with Boyette, USA Today reports. Story continues What we are experiencing is a running nightmare, quite honestly, ECSO Chief Deputy Chip Simmons said Monday, before Boyettes death and Rices capture. On Friday, 52-year-old grandmother Peggy Broz was fatally shot in her Lilian, Alabama, driveway. Police allege the pair killed Broz and stole her car. A GoFundMe page was later set up for Brozs family, describing her as a genuinely kind soul. DOVER, Del. (AP) A former Navy chaplain and Catholic priest who was convicted of sexually assaulting a Naval Academy midshipman years ago has been sentenced to 30 years in prison on federal child pornography charges. Fifty-one-year-old John Thomas Matthew Lee of Millsboro, Delaware, was sentenced Wednesday. Lee's sentencing had been delayed several times after his attorney complained that prosecutors were seeking the maximum 50-year sentence although they had said they would ask for about 25 years behind bars. Lee pleaded guilty in 2015 to producing and distributing child pornography. Authorities say he uploaded child pornography to social networking sites and persuaded several children to send him pornographic images of themselves. Lee served prison time after a 2007 court-martial on charges including forcible sodomy and failing to tell a sex partner he was HIV-positive. Frances spy agency believes Russia intends to try to influence Frances upcoming elections in favor of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. On Wednesday, Le Canard Enchaine said that Frances Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) believes that Russia will help Le Pen by way of bots that will flood the internet with millions of positive posts about Le Pen and by publishing her opponents confidential emails. The level of threat is so high that the next defense meeting at the Elysee, Frances presidential palace, will be on this subject, the paper said. France has clearly already been bracing for outside interference. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian already said France wants to learn lessons from the future following American allegations of Russian influence in their elections. WikiLeaks, believed by U.S. Democrats to have worked with Russia in the past presidential election, already promoted documents from its archives tied to center-right candidate Francois Fillon and center-left candidate Emmanuel Macron. Russian state-sponsored media already suggested Macron is a U.S. agent who is lobbying on behalf of banks and that he has a secret gay lover, a wholly unsubstantiated claim made by Kremlin-backed propaganda pusher Dmitry Kiselyov. Macron, surging in the polls, is perhaps the candidate most likely to take on Le Pen in the second round of presidential voting this May, which polls, for what theyre worth, say he would win. What is new is the extent to which the French government itself seems to be trying to deal with this perceived threat to its election, now just over two months away. Le Pens National Front seems less perturbed. Its vice president, Florian Philippot, told French media outlet RTL.fr that they, too, are counting on the state to preserve the security of the presidential elections. To be fair, leaks by Russia arent the only ones hurting Le Pens opposition. Le Canard Enchaine is the same paper that revealed that Francois Fillon paid his wife and children almost one million euros from state coffers to serve as his parliamentary aides, and that his wife received 45,000 euros as a severance package. Despite all the furor, Fillon has said he will not pull out of the race, proving that some political parties, at least, do not need Russian meddling to hurt their chances of winning. Photo credit: Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images Lille (France) (AFP) - Five hotel managers suspected of belonging to a network smuggling Albanian migrants into Britain were arrested Tuesday in a police operation in the French port city of Calais, a judicial source said. "It is an investigation that has been underway for several weeks, concerning a network of Albanian smugglers which has been using four hotels in Calais," Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Pascal Marconville told AFP, confirming a report in the daily "La Voix du Nord". Those arrested were managers or co-managers of the hotels concerned, according to a judicial source. They were being held in custody, which had been extended in the evening, the prosecutor's office said. "These hotels were not owned by Albanians but by people who obviously, and according to the initial investigations, hosted people of Albanian nationality for this network of smugglers, in order to smuggle them into Britain," Marconville added. The network offered "guaranteed passage" only to Albanians, charging a fee of between 5,000 and 10,00 euros ($5,300 to $10,600) depending on how they cross the Channel, allowing them to transit through the hotels and not through camps, such as the razed former "Jungle" on the outskirts of Calais that once housed up to 10,000 migrants. Several migrants had also been apprehended, up to seven per room, Marconville added. "We had strong suspicions about the practices of these hotels. While we thought we were dealing with an Albanian network, it seems that there are also Eritreans and Syrians involved," he said, adding that "the managers were fully aware of the facts and some even sold the clothes of the migrants after their departure". The defendants could appear in court on Friday. Meanwhile, the hotels have been closed "and protected to prevent them from becoming squats," said the prosecutor. Calais has for years been a staging post for attempts by migrants to sneak into Britain by stowing away on trucks or trains crossing the Channel. Abidjan (AFP) - The Ivorian government on Wednesday pressed a bid to defuse a revolt by special forces, as fears of renewed unrest spread following weeks of protests over pay by security forces. The authorities went into talks with protesters from the elite special forces -- the latest troops to mutiny in recent weeks -- while sharply condemning the soldiers who fired in the air in the army barracks town of Adiake. The elite troops, who are in charge of the president's security, appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck in January that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments. "The government ... condemns and deplores these violent forms of protest," Information Minister Bruno Nabagne Kone said, criticising "an attitude that has unfortunately been recurrent in recent weeks". Earlier Wednesday, a resident of Adiake told AFP that elite troops based there were shooting in the air for the second consecutive day. "Today, it's market day, and they (the troops) told the women to return to their houses. Everyone is terrified, and holed up in their homes," he told AFP by phone. The shooting ceased in mid-afternoon, another resident said, but tension remained high, with elite troops manning the entrances to Adiake and barring entry to journalists. Meanwhile a group of mutineers headed from Adiake to the commercial capital Abidjan, where they were due to meet Defence Minister Alain Richard Donwahi. Asked why they had fired shots in the air, one said: "The authorities know what we want." Tuesday's gunfire in Adiake, located to the east of the commercial capital Abidjan, was the first protest action by special forces since other soldiers and members of the security forces mutinied in January. The government says two people have been injured in the latest wave of protests. Adiake also is home to a maritime base that trains marine commandos and provides coastal surveillance in an area that shares a border with Ghana. Story continues - Political link? - Troops first launched a mutiny over pay on January 5. Those protests subsided when the government reached a deal with 8,500 mutineers, agreeing to give them 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros, $19,000) each. However more soldiers have since taken to the streets demanding similar bonuses. Last year Ivory Coast approved an ambitious military budget to modernise the army and buy new equipment. But the 1.2-billion-euro pot would be insufficient to offer similar payments to all of the country's 23,000-strong security forces. The mutiny led to President Alassane Ouattara ordering major changes in top security ranks -- the armed forces' chief of staff, the senior commander of the national gendarmerie and the director-general of the police. The revolt came as a constitutional reform saw former prime minister Daniel Kablan Duncan sworn in as vice president -- with some analysts saying he could well be placed to step into Ouattara's shoes in future. But some analysts wonder whether another former premier, ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, may have harboured presidential ambitions of his own, seeing a possible link between the army mutiny and the reshuffle. - 'Pandora's box' - Soro, who was elected parliament speaker in January, attended Kablan's swearing-in ceremony and has consistently backed Ivory Coast's constitutional reform. "The situation is worrying because the army is still under the control of ex-rebel chiefs," said Ivorian analyst Jean Alabro. Ouattara, he said, "opened a Pandora's box" by initially agreeing to the demands of the mutineers. The International Monetary Fund said in December that Ivory Coast was on track towards becoming the continent's fastest-growing economy. The mutinies, however, have raised fears the country might slip back into deadly unrest. A rebellion in 2002 sliced the former French colony into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south, triggering years of unrest. Doctors often fail to recommend or even discuss genetic testing of women at high risk for mutations associated with breast or ovarian cancer, a new study published Tuesday has found. "Women are very interested in genetic testing but many fail to receive it," said Allison Kurian, a Stanford University Medical School professor and lead author of the study published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. "This is particularly worrisome because it means that doctors are missing the opportunity to prevent cancers in mutation carriers and their family members." Kurian and researchers at the University of Michigan based their findings on a survey of more than 2,500 women with stage 0 to stage 2 cancer two months after surgery. They were asked if they wanted genetic testing for the presence of mutations in BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes and, if so, whether they had received it. Two thirds of the women said they wanted to be tested, but only a third had received it. About 56 percent of those who were not tested said it was because their physicians had not recommended it. Only 40 percent of all high-risk women reported receiving genetic counseling to help them decide or understand the results. Of those who were tested, 60 percent had counseling. Reshma Jagsi, a senior researcher on the study, said that was "worrisome" because testing can be a powerful tool for women who are at risk. She said it can affect what kind of surgery women may choose to treat an existing breast cancer, or treatments to pursue to reduce the risk of developing new cancers in the future. Kurian said it was likely some doctors do not realize the benefits of the testing, or are unable to explain it to their patients. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany hopes to hold a meeting with Russia, Ukraine and France on the Ukraine crisis at a gathering of G20 foreign ministers in Bonn next week, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. "We are conducting talks ... with our partners in Paris, Moscow, Kiev about the usefulness, political usefulness and logistical feasibility of such a meeting," spokesman Martin Schaefer said. He said that Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel wanted to organize a meeting of the four foreign ministers soon to give new impetus to the implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to use his influence on separatists in eastern Ukraine to stop the violence there. Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists have both blamed each other for the latest flare-up in a conflict that has killed 10,000 people since April 2014. Schaefer downplayed growing controversy about an interview given by German ambassador Ernst Reichel to a Ukrainian publication in which he said that elections were possible in eastern Ukraine despite the Russian presence in the region and Kiev's intent to "raise Ukrainian flags at each city council." He said Reichel's comments did not mark a departure from the German government's views or the Minsk peace process, which maps out a process for restoring Ukraine's sovereignty over its full territory after a series of other steps, including elections. Schaefer also said the German government deeply regretted an incident in which a Ukrainian lawmaker "smeared" a piece of the Berlin wall at the German embassy in Kiev in protest over the ambassador's remarks, saying it was "inappropriate behavior". He said Germany was the first country to recognize Ukraine after its independence and remained a steadfast supporter of Ukrainian reforms. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Michelle Martin and Dominic Evans) YouTube sensation Gigi Gorgeous fortunes have risen with a new, more intimate kind of celebrity: fame that is built week by week through social media, without any middle man negotiating access to the star of the show. Since doing her first makeup tutorial on YouTube eight years ago, Gorgeous has amassed a following of nearly 2.5 million subscribers, many of whom feel they know her well. But a new documentary pulls back the curtain much further than the bubbly confessor ever has before, revealing intimate footage of her transition from living life as a boy in Canada to a transgender woman in glitzy L.A. This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous, directed by documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple, debuts on YouTube Red on Feb. 8. TIME spoke to the starmore formally known as Gigi Lazzaratoabout why she decided to share footage from her vault, how to deal with the haters online and what she wants this movie to mean. (The following has been lightly edited for length and clarity.) TIME: How much did you know about what the film would be likedid you just turn over all your videos or were you more involved in putting it together? Gigi Gorgeous: I was absolutely not involved in the editing process and the post-production. I didnt even give over all my YouTube videos. It was just assumed that they would be downloaded and used in the film. I did give over hours and hours and hours of my personal footage that I keep in my vault, as I like to call it. Because I literally let nobody see it. What was it like seeing the film for the first time? I was just as anxious and nervous as the rest of my family, since its about us and they were all filmed, very intimately. I had worked so hard on keeping a lot of my film from my transition a secret. And to have it all edited and put together in 91 minutes, to see my entire lifefrom baby footage to the person I am nowis absolutely crazy It was magical, sitting by my father at the world premiere. Story continues The importance of familywith your dad being so supportive, for most of the journeyseemed to be a big theme. Yes, most of it, for sure. Not all of it. He had a struggle himself, which you see. I didnt know, going into this, that it was going to be focused so intensely on family, but Im glad that it is because it turned out to be a love story between my family and I. Having my family behind mehaving my two amazing brothers and my father back me up on every decision I made, even though sometimes they might not have agreed with itwas an absolute blessing. How did you feel about sharing all the footage not just of your transition but before the transition? Some people in the trans community are very sensitive about even sharing their birth names, much less before and after film from surgeries. I decided to keep everything authentic and unapologetically me years ago. When I decided to transition, I could have deleted every single old video of myself, but Ive been given an opportunity to be a voice for the transgender communityit is in my power now to educate and also to inspire other trans girls and boys around the world Every part of the transition is important, the moments before, the moments during and the moments after. Its all relevant. Why did you first start sharing videos in public? I just needed a creative outlet, to be honest. Me and my best friend, we were in a Catholic school and wanted to express our teenage selves Over time it has shifted in so many ways because the website has grown so much. I started using YouTube when I really wanted to reach out to the world, and I found a group of people who had the same interests as me. And I think a lot of people who are lost or need inspiration or advice can find a community or a family online, just as I did. At the end of the day, YouTube is family. What was it like for you to grow up while social media was getting so big? Its crazy to me, because time has really flown and Im so happy to see that YouTubers and influencers are turning the page, and rolling over into mainstream media. We all really, really root for each other, because we all come from YouTube. To be driving around L.A. and seeing my billboards is insane. Will having the film out there change the relationship you have with your YouTube followers? It will only make it stronger. Ive gradually shown more and more of my personal life, my real self, my not-on-camera personality. And thats what this film is, its a raw look into my life. How do you deal with the haters online? Its just about trying to stay positive. Ive built up such a thick skin. Its very easy to take one commentwhether it be a really mean comment that digs deep or just something rudeand really run with it. Its so easy, if there are 100 comments, and 99 are nice, you just run with the bad one. I try to see that the love outweighs the hate I would hope me opening up my life in such a vulnerable way in the film would ignite more positivity, but you never know. People are going to say whatever they want to say. Theres some nervousness in the LGBT community right nowin terms of what Trumps win will mean for the political landscape. How have you been feeling since the election? We are living in a lot of fear right now, and its fine for people to be scared. But the most important thing is that we stick together, with love, and be positive. What do you hope people are going to take away from the movie? I think understanding and acceptance are the most important words. Love trumps hate, in many ways, in every way, and you can be your authentic self. If you put your mind to it and you put your work in, all your dreams can come true. President Trump campaigned on building a wall on our southern border. He said over and over that Mexico will pay for it. He never said how he was going to get Mexico to pay. Well, surprise, we will have to pay for it first. We have a better idea, President Trump. Why dont you start an online page to build the wall. Since you havent paid federal taxes for two decades and are worth billions of dollars, you start the fund with a few billion of your own money. Then, those who actually want the wall built can contribute. When you have collected all the money needed, you can then start building the abomination. All too soon we will be presented with another election. More slogans, more chants. How about, Tear down that wall? It has a nice Reagan ring to it. Four years from now, with the stroke of a pen, a new administration could send that wall crashing into the tunnels the Mexican drug lords use underground to pollute this country. How they must be laughing at us. By Ben Hirschler LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline and Gilead Sciences will vie for business in treating HIV patients next week when both companies unveil clinical trial results at a medical meeting in Seattle. Most attention is focused on Gilead's next-generation drug bictegravir, a so-called integrase inhibitor similar to GSK's successful dolutegravir that may offer advantages in terms of greater potency and reduced side effects. GSK plans to defend its patch by highlighting the potential of a new two-drug treatment regimen for controlling the virus behind AIDS, a development that marks a departure from conventional triple drug cocktails. As dolutegravir has been the mainstay of GSK's HIV business in recent years, investors are nervous about the threat posed by Gilead's competitor, even though next week's bictegravir data is only from mid-stage Phase II testing. The drug is also in final stage Phase III testing. GSK Chief Executive Andrew Witty said dolutegravir's key attribute was its proven track record in avoiding the HIV virus's potential to develop drug resistance. He described other issues as "peripheral". "It has an extremely impressive resistance profile," Witty told analysts after reporting fourth-quarter results on Wednesday. "It is not easy to beat ... in terms of the thing that really matters, I think that dolutegravir remains an extremely impressive molecule." Results of Gilead's Phase II trial comparing bictegravir with dolutegravir when both drugs are used as part of a drug-drug combination will be presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle on Feb. 13. Detailed findings from two Phase III trials testing GSK's new two-drug combination of dolutegravir and Johnson & Johnson's rilpivirine will also be presented the same day. GSK already said in December that the studies were successful. GSK sells its HIV drugs through its majority-owned ViiV Healthcare unit, in which Pfizer and Japan's Shionogi hold minority stakes. GSK said Shionogi had made clear it intended to retain its stake in ViiV and its put options had now been removed. (Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African bullion producer Gold Fields has a $1 billion loan facility to draw on if it wants to pursue mergers or acquisitions, but no deals are on the immediate horizon, its chief executive said on Wednesday. "We have a $1 billion committed, unutilised facility," Nick Holland told Reuters on the sidelines of an African mining conference in Cape Town. But he said the company did not feel compelled to pursue any deals at the moment and if it did so it would likely be in countries where it already operates such as Australia, Peru or Ghana. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Barbara Lewis) Meet Louboutina, nicknamed Loubie, the golden retriever that hangs around New York City, giving hugs to strangers. Read: Dog Barks Frantically to Save Neighbor Suffering From Stroke: 'It Was Like This Sixth Sense' Hugging and holding hands is her thing, said Cesar Fernandez-Chavez, Loubies owner. Thats her personality. Fernandez-Chavez, 45, told InsideEdition.com that he walks Louboutina around their home in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, and neighbors often stop by to say hello. "She has a pretty face, so she always attracts people," he joked. If theres a group of people, Fernandez-Chavez explained his pup will sniff around each member of the group something he calls her "Louboutina rounds" and, "the moment she sits next to a person out of that group, and she leans, I know shes going to hug that person." He said Louboutina started wrapping her front paws around a persons body when she was about 6 months old, out of the blue," and was never trained to do so. "Shes trying to bond with a person," he explained. "She prefers humans more than dogs." Fernandez-Chavez explained he was gifted Louboutina when she was just a puppy. He had just gone through a traumatic break-up, and a close friend hoped the dog would help him move on. He recalled in the first several months, he would often hug her the way he would another person. That became our bonding, he said. Maybe she picked it up from me. Now, when the golden retriever isnt hugging strangers on the streets, she makes her rounds at the hospital where Fernandez-Chavez works as an interpreter. I just have to open my office door, and she goes and does her rounds for half an hour, hugging everyone, he said. Read: Chocolate Labrador Gives Birth to Green Puppy Named Fifi, After Princess Fiona From 'Shrek' Fernandez-Chafez, who runs her Instagram page, @LouboutinaNYC, said hes also often surprised how many people photograph his pup without him noticing. Story continues Im not even aware of most of it unless her followers start tagging her, he said. But shes always looking at the camera. She knows when people are taking a picture of her. Shes a little actress. Fernandez-Chafez, who has lived in New York for 16 years after growing up in Lima, Peru, said on his next trip back to his hometown, he plans to take the hugging pup with him. She makes me happy, he said. I have a simple life, but she makes it feel very rich. Watch: Man Thinks Dog Is Lost - but Collar Says He Just Likes to Wander: 'Tell Me to Go Home' Related Articles: WASHINGTON (AP) A bipartisan group of senators wants President Donald Trump to get approval from Congress before easing U.S. sanctions against Russia. Their legislation, dubbed the Russia Sanctions Review Act, is the latest salvo in an increasingly heated debate over Trump's desire to improve relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The measure underscores concerns among many Democrats and a few vocal Republicans that the White House may lift or lessen the penalties without a firm commitment from Moscow to reverse its pattern of aggression around the world. Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its incursions into eastern Ukraine have drawn widespread condemnation in Europe and the United States along with a raft of economic penalties. Relations with Moscow are also tense over Putin's backing of Syrian President Bashar Assad and allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in the U.S. elections to help Trump win. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters on Wednesday that the bill gives Congress a vehicle for turning disagreement into action. "The president will have to engage us," Cardin said. "And we hope that in engaging us, there will be much more support for the president's policies and it won't just be done by tweet or by spur of the moment comment." Bill co-sponsors Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have been two of the GOP's sharpest critics of Trump. McCain, speaking Tuesday in the Senate chamber, called Putin a "killer" and declared there is "no moral equivalence" between the United States and Russia. His remarks came after Trump appeared to draw parallels between the two countries during an interview with Bill O'Reilly on Fox News, broadcast before the Super Bowl. The president repeated his desire to improve relations with Putin. O'Reilly called the Russian president "a killer." Trump answered, "We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?" Story continues Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary crime and terrorism subcommittee, is leading an investigation of Russia's efforts to influence America's 2016 elections. "Russia has done nothing to be rewarded with sanctions relief," Graham said in a statement Wednesday. "To provide relief at this time would send the wrong signal to Russia and our allies who face Russian oppression." Cardin said the Russia sanctions bill is styled after 2015 legislation pushed by Republicans and approved overwhelmingly in the Senate that gave Congress a vote on whether former President Barack Obama could lift sanctions against Iran. That measure reflected Republican complaints that Obama had overstepped the power of the presidency and needed to be checked by Congress, according to Cardin. But Republicans may not be as enthusiastic about backing a bill that could be a seen as undermining Trump. Votes from more than two thirds of the Senate likely would be needed to override a veto of the bill. The legislation also would have to get through the GOP-led House. "It's not an attack against President Trump," Cardin said of the bill, emphasizing the need for oversight. "This is basically to re-establish ourselves." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a former presidential rival of Trump's, also backs the bill. ___ Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner President Trump during a meeting with county sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 7. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) A government lawyer urged a federal appellate panel not to consider comments by Donald Trump and his advisers about wanting to ban the entry of Muslims into the United States, arguing that they should only look at the text of his executive order banning travel from seven majority Muslim nations in considering its legality under the Constitution. The government asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower courts temporary stay on Trumps ban, arguing that the stay was too broad and is an unwarranted rebuke of the presidents power to protect national security. The review should be confined to the four corners of the document, said Justice Department attorney August Flentje in the cases oral argument Tuesday afternoon. Flentje later told the judges that the text of the executive order itself should be the end of the inquiry for the judges. Lawyers for Washington and Minnesota, the states that sought the stay, had cited in their suit Trumps past statements calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the country, including remarks in which he favorably compared his idea to President Franklin D. Roosevelts internment of Japanese-Americans. They also quoted Trumps former adviser, Rudy Giuliani, who went on television after the ban was signed to say that Trump asked him for a legal Muslim ban and that the executive order was the result of that request. Were not saying the case shouldnt proceed, but it is extraordinary for a court to enjoin the presidents national security determination based on some newspaper articles, Flentje said. Judge Richard Clifton, an appointee of President George W. Bush, interrupted him there. Do you deny those statements were made? he asked. Flentje said he did not but added that even the federal district court judge who blocked the order, James Robart, said he would not look at statements Trump made while he was a candidate. Flentje asked the 9th Circuit Court to do the same. Story continues The attorney arguing for the states of Washington and Minnesota, Washington Solicitor General Noah Purcell, brought up Trumps statements calling for a ban on Muslims entering the country several times. There are statements we quoted in our claims that are rather shocking, Purcell said, noting that the evidence of religious animus was striking, given that the case hadnt yet gone into discovery, when both sides can demand evidence from the other. A judge asked why Purcell believed hed have a strong case showing that the executive order was motivated by religious animus. Well, your honor, for starters, the president called for a complete ban on the entry of Muslims, Purcell said. The attorney argued that the Supreme Court case McCreary County, Ky., v. ACLU showed that even government actions that are otherwise constitutional but were taken with the purpose of favoring one religion over the other should be struck down. (That case concerned government buildings in Kentucky displaying the Ten Commandments.) Clifton seemed unconvinced that Purcell could prove the ban was motivated by religious discrimination or would result in religious discrimination. So far, I havent heard a lot of reference to evidence and a lot more reference to allegations, and I dont think allegations cut it at this point, he said. The oral argument largely centered on whether the states had standing to sue the federal government over the order in the first place, along with whether the 9th Circuit Court judges had the authority to decide on the temporary restraining order or should instead send the dispute back down to the district court. However, the back-and-forth over the presidents previous statements about his travel ban and Muslims seems likely to be a preview of the constitutional claims that will be made when (as is almost certain) the case reaches the Supreme Court. The oral arguments, which were streamed live (audio only) on the courts website, lasted about an hour. The appellate panel is expected to rule quickly on the governments request. Read more from Yahoo News: NEW YORK (AP) Ron Chernow, the historian who helped inspire the musical "Hamilton," has a biography of Ulysses S. Grant coming out in October. Penguin Press is calling the book "Grant" and plans to release it Oct. 17, the publisher told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Chernow's previous book, "Washington: A Life," won the Pulitzer Prize in 2011. His 2004 work on Alexander Hamilton was the basis for Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning Broadway smash, for which Chernow served as historical consultant. Chernow's new book will likely be the most high-profile effort yet to change the reputation of the country's 18th president. As Penguin noted in its press release, Grant has been "caricatured as a chronic loser and inept businessman," a drunk whose Civil War heroism was overshadowed by his legacy as a "credulous and hapless president whose tenure came to symbolize the worst excesses of the Gilded Age." Grant's competence is even challenged on the White House web site, www.whitehouse.gov . His biographical essay, which has been on the site for years, contends that "When he was elected, the American people hoped for an end to turmoil. Grant provided neither vigor nor reform." But writers ranging from Ta-Nehisi Coates to the historian Jean Edward Smith have argued that Grant is an underrated and even heroic president. Their defense of him extends from the same issue that led early critics, many sympathetic to former confederates, to denounce him: His determination to enforce equal rights for blacks in the South after the Civil War. According to Penguin, Chernow will address Grant's drinking and other flaws, but within a "grand synthesis of painstaking research and literary brilliance that makes sense of all sides of Grant's life, explaining how this simple Midwesterner could at once be so ordinary and so extraordinary." Chernow's other books include "Titan," a biography of John D. Rockefeller; and "The House of Morgan," winner of the National Book Award in 1990. The 67-year-old author received a National Humanities Medal in 2015, when he was praised for combining "skillful storytelling with a taste for great themes and detailed psychological portraits." I had the pleasure to attend Martin Luther King Day ceremonies at Viterbo University. Former La Crosse Mayor John Medinger was given a special award for his emulation of Dr. Kings fight for civil rights and equal treatment under the law. He has been a tireless advocate for civil rights for many years. However, I was quite concerned when current Mayor Tim Kabat presented a proclamation apologizing for past and present racism and prejudice in La Crosse. I see no need for such apologies because no evidence was presented that La Crosse has had anywhere near the racial strife seen, say, in the Deep South in the 1960s. La Crosse was referred to as a sundown city, where people of color cannot walk our city sidewalks at night without the real possibility they will be stopped and questioned by police, asked where they have been and going to. They may even be searched. This, it is argued, would not happen to a white person as a result of white privilege. I was dubious, so I asked Maureen Freedland, a past MLK award recipient, for proof of white privilege, and she suggested I find a black person in the audience and ask about their experiences in La Crosse. So I did. This African-American told me he has indeed been stopped at night walking, asked for his identification and, in general, been given the third degree treatment by police. He said La Crosse definitely was a sundown city where people of color feel outnumbered and unwelcome. Despite President Donald Trumps continued insistence that the 2016 Presidential election was rife with fraud, the House Administration Committee voted to eliminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an agency formed specifically to ensure the integrity of elections. The vote came along party lines, with the six Republican members of the Congressional committee voting in favor of terminating the commission. The decision will shift the duties of the EAC to the Federal Election Commission. The three Democrats on the committee opposed the decision. Congressman Robert Brady of Pennsylvania offered an amendment to reform the EAC while funding it through 2022, but the amendment was denied. The proposal to do away with the commission committed to ensuring election integrity was opposed by 38 different organizations including the League of Women Voters, NAACP and Voting Rights Institute. The EAC serves every American voter by conducting research, collecting data and sharing information among elected officials, the public, and interested organizations, a joint statement issued by the pro-democracy groups stated. In light of the many challenges faced by our state and local election administrators and the serious procedural problems that weaken voter access and participation, we believe that this is a time to reaffirm our commitment to voting rights and fair elections by strengthening the EAC and providing it with the staff it requires to function effectively. Democracy program director Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, issued a similar statement that argued, at a time when the vast majority of the countrys voting machines are outdated and in need of replacement, and after an election in which foreign criminals already tried to hack state voter registration systems, eliminating the EAC poses a risky and irresponsible threat to our election infrastructure. House Administration Committee chairman Gregg Harper, a Republican congressman from Mississippi, argued the EAC had outlived its purpose and was no longer needed. He said the commissions testing and certification program for voting machines is for the most part unused and argued the EAC had spent more than half its budget on overhead expenses in recent years. Story continues The EAC was first established in 2002 following the 2000 Presidential election that was plagued with problems. The commissions mission was to upgrade voting technology and provide vital information to federal and state officials regarding elections. "The House Committees decision to scrap the EAC is extremely unfortunate," Pippa Norris, the director of the Electoral Integrity Project, told International Business Times. She called its services "vital functions to protect the public confidence in the integrity of US elections." "We have a urgent need to strengthen this independent body, not weaken or eliminate it and leave major challenges of electoral administration in the hands of partisan state legislators and officials," Norris explained. Republicans have been pushing for the elimination of the commission since 2011, when Congress first passed a bill to end the EAC an act also proposed by Congressman Harper. The EAC lost its quorum of commissioners in 2010 and was unable to perform many of its duties until the U.S. Senate confirmed three new commissionerstwo Republicans and one Democratin 2014. The commission issued its annual report to Congress, in which it revealed 47 states relied on its voting machine certification process. The EAC was also directly responsible for printing and distributing materials for voters with disabilities, as well as overseeing the replacement of voting machines in Virginia in short order prior to the election. At a time when the Department of Homeland Security has designated election systems as part of the countrys critical infrastructure, election officials face cybersecurity threats, our nations voting machinery is aging and there are accusations of election irregularities, the EAC is the only federal agency bridging the gap between federal guidance and the needs of state and local election officials, EAC Commission Chair Thomas Hicks said in a statement provided to International Business Times. The decision to do away with the EAC has been on the radar of Republicans in congress for years, but comes at an odd time. President Trump has continued to question the integrity of the 2016 Presidential election and stated his belief that at least three million people voted illegally. Trump has stood by those claims as recently as Sunday when he reiterated them in an interview with Fox News Bill OReilly. He has promised to convene an investigation into the election results, set to be headed by Vice President Mike Pence and said the commission was going to look at it very, very carefully. Related Articles Budapest (AFP) - Hungarian NGOs will have to declare foreign funding or face suspension under a proposal to be submitted to parliament, an official from the governing right-wing Fidesz party said Wednesday. The draft bill would force non-governmental organisations receiving "considerable" foreign funds to reveal the exact amount. "Hungarians should know for example if the foreign financing of a civil organisation's activity is more than 5 to 10 percent of its budget," Lajos Kosa, leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group, told reporters in Budapest. If an NGO does not disclose the information, "it will not be able to continue its activity," and could have its tax number suspended, he said. The draft bill, details of which have yet to be published, is to be submitted around April, according to a schedule on the parliament's website. Hungarian NGOs have long felt the heat under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but they now fear that the self-declared fan of US President Donald Trump will turn the screws even tighter. According to Hungarian branch of the Helsinki Committee, a human rights group critical of the government's refugee policies, NGOs are already under strict obligations to report annually on their funding, both domestic and foreign. "The planned legislation is a political campaign tool aimed at discrediting independent, government-critical NGOs," Andras Kadar, the Hungarian branch's co-head, told AFP in an email. Last month, the deputy head of Fidesz, Szilard Nemeth, accused NGOs -- in particular groups backed by the Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros -- of interfering in Hungary's politics. He said "fake" civil organisations should be "cleaned out" of the country, though government officials later denied that Hungary was about to expel any group. After Orban's re-election in 2014, dozens of groups supported by Norway were investigated by government auditors over alleged financial irregularities. None were found, but the enquiries -- echoing pressure on NGOs in Russia under President Vladimir Putin -- prompted former US president Barack Obama to warn Hungary against a "clampdown" on civil society. By Laura Zuckerman SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - An Idaho man who admitted fatally beating a gay man by kicking him up to 30 times with his steel-toed boots pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal hate crime, U.S. attorneys said. Federal prosecutors said Kelly Schneider, 23, of Nampa, attacked Steven Nelson at a remote wildlife refuge last spring because of Nelsons sexual orientation. Steven Nelson was assaulted and later died because he was gay, Wendy Olson, former U.S. Attorney for Idaho, said in a statement. Last month, Schneider pleaded guilty to a state charge of first-degree murder in Nelson's death and is scheduled to be sentenced March 20. Sentencing for Schneider on the federal charge is set for April 26 in Boise. Both crimes are punishable by up to life in prison. Schneider was contacted by Nelson the evening of April 27 after Schneider posted a shirtless photograph of himself in a solicitation for sex on the website backpage.com, federal authorities said. The pair met by prearrangement the next evening, when Schneider took Nelsons money but did not engage in a sexual act, according to U.S. prosecutors. Before that encounter, Schneider told his friends that he was not gay and would not let anyone who was touch him, prosecutors said. Schneider arranged to go with Nelson on April 29 to an isolated area within Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge in southwest Idaho with the promise of a sexual encounter. Instead, Schneider attacked Nelson at the wildlife area, kicking Nelson between 20 and 30 times with steel-toed boots while repeatedly using a homophobic slur, prosecutors said. Nelson did not resist throughout the assault and died of his injuries later that day, authorities said. (Reporting by Laura Zuckerman; Editing by Sharon Bernstein and Lisa Shumaker) By Dave McKinney Chicago (Reuters) - As Illinois House speaker for more than three decades, Michael Madigan has often worked to raise peoples taxes. As a private attorney, he works to lower them. Madigan & Getzendanner is one of Illinois leading law firms for clients filing appeals to contest their property appraisals in an effort to reduce their real-estate taxes. Between 2004 and 2015, the speakers firm won $63.3 million in refunds for clients, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the Cook County treasurers office. In 2015, Madigans practice ranked second among law firms in total property tax refunds, the county data shows. Madigans chief political rival, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, has said Madigans law firm poses a conflict of interest for the speaker. Rauner alleged the conflict as legislation he supported to freeze property taxes stalled in the House, which Madigan and his Democratic majority controlled. Mike Madigan is making millions millions from his law firm from high property taxes, Rauner told reporters in June 2015. Madigan, who declined to be interviewed for this report, has in the past denied any conflict of interest. Madigans spokesman, Steve Brown, said the speaker scrupulously follows all ethics laws and has strict personal standards. None of his actions as an attorney, a member of the House of Representatives or speaker have been inappropriate, violative of any law or ethical rule or against his own personal code of conduct, which goes beyond the law or legal requirement, Brown said. Madigan & Getzendanner did not respond to inquiries from Reuters. On its website, the firm says it specializes in major commercial properties, such as office buildings, hotels, shopping centers and industrial sites. Little is known about Madigans personal wealth. In 2014, after seeking to impose a 3 percent tax on Illinois millionaires, Madigan refused to release his income-tax returns to show if his plan would personally impact him. In a news conference, he offered only that he made at least $1 million in a good year. Decisions on the property values used to calculate taxes are made by the Cook County assessor, Joseph Berrios. Property owners can appeal to Berrios office about his assessments or to separate boards with the county and the state. Businesses and homeowners often hire law firms to make their cases for tax reductions with those entities. A former state representative, Berrios is chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, a post he assumed with help from Madigan, who is a voting member of the county Democratic organization. Berrios is also an investor in a lobbying firm with clients that have business before the legislature in Springfield. Berrios daughter, a former member of Madigans House Democratic caucus, is a registered state lobbyist. Berrios spokesman Tom Shaer said the assessor recuses himself from any decisions in cases involving Madigan & Getzendanner clients and has not dealt directly with Madigan on an assessment matter during more than six years in county office. Madigan co-founded his law firm in 1972, just as his career as a state legislator was getting started. Madigan & Getzendanners client list grew to include firms with ties to the state, as well as political donors. At least six financial institutions that Madigan & Getzendanner listed as clients last year on its website have ties to Illinois pension systems. They have donated more than $109,000 since 2000 to the speaker or to his daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, state campaign records show. A spokesperson for Lisa Madigan declined to comment. Madigan & Getzendanner previously listed clients on the firms website, but that online list disappeared after Reuters began inquiring about the firms clients last year. Illinois is not among the 26 states that require lawyer-legislators to disclose information about their clients. In fact, Brown said, an Illinois Supreme Court rule bars lawyers from disclosing clients identities without permission. Illinois does require officeholders to disclose the nature of professional services for which they received at least $5,000. In his latest filing, Madigan noted only that he performed legal services for various individuals, partnerships and corporations. (Edited by David Greising and Brian Thevenot) Baghdad (AFP) - Hundreds of supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in Baghdad on Wednesday to demand electoral reform ahead of a planned provincial vote in September. The protesters, who have been demanding deep political reform since last year, argued that the current rules were tailored for Iraq's leading parties, which they accuse of corruption and nepotism. "We came here to demand that the electoral law be amended and the members of the electoral commission replaced," said Naim Toma, a 43-year-old taxi driver who lives in Sadr City, a Shiite district in northern Baghdad. Many of the protesters were from the same northern Baghdad neighbourhood, which was named after the influential cleric's father and from which he draws much of his support. "One of our main demands is for the members of the electoral commission to be changed because they are currently all affiliated to a big political party," said another of the protesters, Ikhlas al-Obeidi. "Ultimately, we want to change the political leadership that has dragged this country into crisis and replace them with people who work to serve the Iraqi nation and people," said the young doctor. The protesters, most of them waving Iraqi flags, all argued that the Independent High Electoral Commission was anything but independent. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's cabinet approved a September date for provincial elections. The commission's term expires that month. "We must... pick independent members who are competent and not loyal to parties or blocs because they will always be under intense political pressure," said Hana Edwar, a veteran activist. The other key demand pushed by the few hundred protesters who gathered in front of the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad was a reform of the electoral law. The current seat allocation system for parliament was adopted before 2014 parliamentary polls, after small parties made significant gains in provincial elections a year earlier. Story continues Sadr supporters held a string of massive rallies last year, which on two occasions saw protesters break into the Green Zone, which is home to the country's key institutions as well as major Western embassies. The demonstrations were halted when tens of thousands of members of the security forces launched Iraq's largest military operation in years four months ago to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group. The announcement last month that elections would take place in September however has brought the political agenda back to the fore and Sadr supporters looked set to resume their campaign of streets protests. "Next week we will hold a huge march to reaffirm these demands," Ibrahim al-Jaberi, a Baghdad official in Sadr's movement, said. The call came at a Sunday Mass in October of last year. Abuna Georges, or Father Georges, was addressing displaced Christian Iraqis in a camp in Erbil, and he called on all the photographers from the city of Qaraqosh to unite. The goal? To document the devastation suffered by their city, located just 20 miles south of Mosul, under two years of ISIS rule. Ten people volunteered. For 12 days last November, they roamed the streets of Qaraqosh, photographing every house, shop, school and church that was damaged or destroyed in the fighting. The idea was to document with pictures every single house of the city, says Alessio Mamo, an Italian photographer who met Father Georges while covering displaced minorities in Iraq. So, when Father Georges team of photographers took to Qaraqoshs streets, Mamo and freelance journalist Marta Bellingreri followed. We felt this offered an interesting point of view on the aftermath of the battle against ISIS, Mamo tells TIME. Using satellite imagery all official maps had been stolen from city hall Father Georges worked with architects to list the towns 6,000 buildings. Given their mission, the photographs shot thousands of images, documenting not only the damage to the exterior, but also to each room. We want to show what remains but also we want to be precise, Father Georges told Bellingreri, who translated his statement for TIME. In the future, we will build them again, so we want to leave these images for the future, to not to forget what has happened. The photographs will also be used to ask for compensation from the Iraqi government, which, Father Georges claims, didnt try to protect them from the advancing ISIS militants. This work is very important for future generations, says Mamo. They will know that their parents and grandparents tried to denounce what happened there. Story continues With reporting by Marta Bellingreri. Alessio Mamo is an Italian photographer based in Sicily. Marta Bellingreri is a freelance journalist. Olivier Laurent is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent Follow TIME LightBox on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A self-described Australian "Islamic Bonnie and Clyde" couple were Wednesday charged with planning a terrorist act, which reportedly involved a Sydney stabbing attack. The pair, Sameh Bayda and Alo-Bridget Namoa, both 19, were already in custody accused of collecting documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. "Today's charges follow an extensive investigation by officers from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team and on-going consultation with the Commonwealth DPP," New South Wales state police said in a statement. "The charge carries a penalty of life imprisonment." The Sydney couple, reportedly husband and wife, were arrested about a year ago. At the time, Bayda was allegedly found with Arabic documents on how to carry out a stabbing and how to make an improvised explosive device (IED), the Sydney Morning Herald said. Namoa allegedly had in her possession an Islamic flag and hunting knife, as well as instructions in Arabic on making a IED detonator, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, adding that in a text message conversation with Bayda, she described them as the "Islamic Bonnie and Clyde". Both were denied bail with the case due back in court on March 15, a Central Local Court official in Sydney told AFP. Canberra has become increasingly worried about homegrown extremism and the terror threat level was raised in September 2014. Australian officials say they have prevented 11 terror attacks on home soil in the past two years. But some have gone ahead, including the murder of a Sydney police employee in 2015 by a 15-year-old boy. Counter-terror police have made a series of arrests since late 2014, with the youth and radicalisation of many of those detained a growing concern for authorities. Rome (AFP) - The Italian government on Wednesday unveiled a series of measures aimed at easing the crush of migrants pouring into the country, including a new push at integration. But the plan also calls for fresh efforts to curb the influx, and to expel migrants whose asylum applications are rejected. "We have to welcome and integrate those who have a right to stay, and send home the others," interior minister Marco Minniti told a parliamentary commission. Asylum seekers will also be asked to earn their keep by working with little or no pay on civic projects, such as maintaining parks, giving language classes or helping the Red Cross. The programme has already been tested over the past months in the northern town of Belluno, but in a country where youth unemployment is around 40 percent, many regional councils are bristling at the plan, saying they should be giving jobs to their own citizens. Labour unions officials have said the project exploits the migrants, a concern echoed by refugee advocates. For Roberto Zaccaria, president of the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR), volunteer work "constitutes part of the integration phase, along with Italian classes. But it shouldn't become a condition for obtaining asylum". Minniti, however, said "It's not about creating competition on the job market." - Spreading the burden - More than 500,000 migrants have entered Italy since 2014, and nearly 175,000 asylum seekers are waiting in reception centres. The government plans to distribute migrants more evenly across the country, with a goal of 2.5 migrants to every 1,000 residents. It will provide a total of 100 million euros ($107 million) to municipalities accepting to increase their share of migrants. "Not every commune is going to participate right away, but it's a first step," said Matteo Biffoni, head of immigration at the National Association of Italian Communes (ANCI). The government also plans to close the biggest reception centres, "because smaller numbers allow for a different relation with locals", Minniti said, adding that he would bolster security at the centres. Story continues Some sites intended to house 300 people currently hold 1,000, and others have been declared unfit for habitation but are still being used, for lack of any alternative, said Gabriella Guido of the advocacy group LasciateCiEntrare ("Let Us In"). But the new measures will go hand in hand with a new push to deport migrants who fail to qualify for asylum, and stronger border patrols. Currently, reviews of asylum requests take six months on average, and about 40 percent of the requests are approved. But for those who fail to qualify, an appeal process can take up to two years. To speed up the process, a new legal authority will be created for refugees contesting a refusal of asylum. New holding centres will also be built in each of Italy's 20 regions for refugees facing deportation, compared with three across the country now, with a total capacity of 1,600 people. Italy will also renew repatriation deals with the migrants' countries of origin, and speed the process for countries with which it already has accords, including Tunisia, Egypt and Nigeria. Minniti said more expulsions could encourage more voluntary departures, and asked lawmakers to approve doubling the funds earmarked for such cases. Last week, Italy reached a deal with Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord to stem the migrant flows and human smuggling, which includes pledges of money, coastguard training and equipment for the North African country. Of the 181,000 migrants who entered Italy last year, some 90 percent arrived via Libya. "We are aware that the challenge will be the implementation" of the accord, Minniti said. "In Libya, the trafficking of human beings is a powerful criminal and economic force." Tokyo (AFP) - Japan last year logged its biggest annual current-account surplus since the 2008 financial crisis, figures showed Wednesday, as the country's prime minister prepares to meet protectionist-leaning Donald Trump. The new president has assailed Japan for allegedly devaluing the yen to boost exports, grouping it with other countries he says are taking "advantage" of the United States. The surplus in the current account -- the broadest measure of Japan's trade with the rest of the world -- comes at a tricky time for Shinzo Abe, who heads to Washington this week. "I think Japan having a sizeable current-account surplus is definitely a political liability now," Takuji Okubo, chief economist and principal at Japan Macro Advisors, told Bloomberg News. "It basically gives ammunition to the Trump administration that the yen is too cheap." Japan's current account surplus hit 20.65 trillion yen ($184 billion) last year, the highest level since a record surplus of 25 trillion yen in 2007, the finance ministry said. The indicator includes trade both in goods and services as well as tourism and returns on foreign investment. Data released by the US Commerce Department on Tuesday showed the United States ran its second largest trade deficit with Japan, after China. On Wednesday, Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga commented on the issue, saying the allies' economics relations were "maturing", and noted the country was a major US job creator. The comments come after Trump slammed car giant Toyota over a planned vehicle factory in Mexico. Japan's 2016 current account figure grew 26 percent from 2015 as it posted the first annual surplus in goods and services trade since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster sent the country's energy import bills soaring. Energy prices have since fallen while record tourism has boosted the services sector. Financial income, including Japanese firms' buyouts abroad and investment in bonds and other securities, also rose by more than one third from the previous year. Japan publishes fourth-quarter gross domestic product figures on Monday. The world's third largest economy will have kept its growth pace and expanded 0.3 percent in the three months to December, according a median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Corbyn says he 'welcomes' Speaker's Trump statement: PA Jeremy Corbyn has said he unequivocally supports a statement by the Speaker of the House of Commons suggesting Donald Trump will not be allowed to address Parliament during his state visit to the UK. Mr Corbyn was speaking on BBC Radio London, after John Bercow faced calls to resign for saying he "strongly opposed" the President being invited to speak to MPs. The Speaker is traditionally politically neutral, but his firm statement in the House on Monday afternoon was met with applause from MPs. Asked if Mr Bercow has the right to make such a statement, Mr Corbyn said: "The speaker speaks for Parliament. He is elected by all members of the House, he is therefore independent. He has the authority over Westminster Hall and that aspect of state visits." He added: "I think he has spoken absolutely clearly [about] Donald Trump, and his misogyny and his racism and his behaviour over international law, particularly on the convention on refugees. "I think he is absolutely right and I welcome the statement." Mr Bercow told MPs on Monday he did not have the authority to block Mr Trump's state visit altogether, after Theresa May extended an invitation to the President during her visit to Washington last month. But he said he had the power as Speaker to oppose an appearance by Mr Trump in Parliament's Royal Gallery, generally regarded as one of the high points of a traditional state visit. Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall, Mr Bercow said. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. He said that addressing Parliament was "not an automatic right, it is an earned honour". And to the visible shock of MPs, Mr Bercow added in a raised voice: "I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons." Story continues Government ministers have been critical of Mr Bercow's statement. Sajid Javid told the BBC's Today programme that his actions could set him on a collision course with the Prime Minister, who has been careful to present a positive picture of her relationship with Mr Trump. He said: "Anyone who knows the Speaker knows that he speaks his mind but he doesnt speak for the Government. The Government is very clear. President Trump is the leader of our most important ally he is elected fairly and squarely. "And its manifestly in our national interest that we reach out to him, we work with him and that he visits us in the UK." Decisions over who can address Parliament are taken jointly by the Speaker and the Lords Speaker, and a spokesperson for the House of Lords said on Monday evening that the latter - Lord Fowler - had not been consulted ahead of Mr Bercow's statement. Lord Fowler was reported by the Guardian to be "irritated" at not being informed in advance. He is expected to give his own statement on Mr Trump's visit at 2.30pm on Tuesday afternoon. Jessica Chastain will produce a series about women and NASAs first spaceflight program, and YES Jessica Chastain is certainly no stranger to space. She had prominent roles in two of Hollywoods biggest space sagas, The Martian and Interstellar. And now, Jessica Chastain will produce a TV series about Project Mercury, NASAs first spaceflight program. The series will focus on a group of women who were denied access to the program. This is the first TV project Chastain will produce. And shes doing it with her newly launched production company, Freckle Films. She may even star in the project, though that remains yet to be confirmed. We already know shes a big lover of both science fiction and space itself. So it wouldnt be surprising if she decides to get onscreen. The series announcement comes on the heels of the massive success of the film Hidden Figures. Both critics and audiences alike have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the behind-the-scenes glimpse into womens involvement in the predominantly male world of NASA. And the success of this movie shows that people want to know more about all the people involved in the space race not just the ones who got the credit. Project Mercurys mission was to send a human being into orbit around Earth. And it had pretty strict criteria for its selection of potential astronauts. Part of that selection process ruled out women. The potential astronauts had to be test pilots. At the time, there were no female test pilots, so women werent considered for the opportunity. Because they were ruled out, a private project was formed for women pilots. It was called the Mercury 13, and the women involved underwent the same rigorous testing procedures as their male counterparts in Project Mercury. Despite the fact that this all went down in the late 50s and early 60s, NASA would not end up sending a woman into space until Sally Ride in 1983. Were delighted Jessica Chastain will bring the stories of these phenomenal women to life onscreen. And we cant wait to hear more about every detail of this amazing project as it unfolds. London (AFP) - Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus said Wednesday he had been "surprised" by his extraordinary start to life in the Premier League. The 19-year-old rising star arrived in England last month after City agreed a deal with Brazilian side Palmeiras in pre-season. While some overseas players take time to adjust to the physicality and pace of the Premier League, Jesus has settled in immediately with three goals in four appearances, including a double in Sunday's 2-1 win at home to Swansea. Such has been his impact, he has has kept Argentina ace Sergio Aguero out of the side for the last two matches, which has in turn led to speculation about the Argentine striker's future at Eastlands. "Yes, I am very surprised," Jesus told mancity.com when asked how things had gone since he joined the club. "Although I work a lot every single day, with everyone's support, in order for that to happen. "I am very happy. Each day I feel that I am adjusting really well, with the support of everyone in the club. "The players, they help me every day and that makes me happy, even more because I am able to make a good start in a City shirt." City are currently third in the Premier League table, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea. Jesus will look to add to his goal tally in City's next match, away to Bournemouth in the league, on Monday. John Grisham has revealed that he has a new thriller due out in June. The author announced via Twitter that the new book is titled "Camino Island," calling it a "a heist thriller and a fun beach read." The book will be released on June 6 in hardcover, e-book and audiobook formats. According to industry resource The Bookseller, "Camino Island" opens with a heist for five F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscripts. When they are still missing months later, a struggling writer is enlisted "to return to the small Florida island she loved as a child and get close to its infamous bookseller, and his interesting collection of rare manuscripts." Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f36158%2fb1ce62b7-22d8-48ae-ba7b-3077ed475a3d John Oliver, one of the smartest people on television right now, has no idea what to expect from Trump. The comedian joined Stephen Colbert on The Late Show to discuss his upcoming plans for the show and the political chaos of the last few months. Oliver joked that there hasn't been that much of a transition over the past few months, except for "the flames and the fact America is in it." Even though he's not from one of the seven Muslim majority countries affected, Oliver even expressed concern for his own green card status. "I have an American wife and an American son now, but who knows whats enough?" Sheldon from 'Big Bang Theory' debunks some truly ludicrous fan theories This powerful marriage equality ad just wants politicians to 'do their job' 'Chicken Attack' is an oddly great music video featuring a transforming ninja chicken Watch Benedict Cumberbatch get 'incredibly fit' for 'Doctor Strange' fight scenes People arrive as volunteers at JFK International Airport's Terminal 4 are on hand to work with people that may have been detained from the seven countries under President Trump's executive order, February 4, 2017 in New York: Bryan R Smith/AFP/Getty In the first major legal test of the new administration, attorneys argued over President Trumps travel ban on Tuesday night on whether to restore the refugee and visa ban against seven majority Muslim countries. The presidents order banned travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days. However, Syrian refugees would be barred indefinitely. Three appellate judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco considered the fate of Trumps temporary travel ban, four days after it was blocked by a federal judge in Seattle. The three judges presiding over the case are William C Canby Jr, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter; Judge Richard Clifton, who was appointed by President George W Bush; and Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland who was appointed by President Barack Obama. In one exchange, Judge Friedland asked Justice Department lawyer August Flentje if the government could provided any evidence connecting the seven banned countries to terrorism. He responded by saying, these proceedings have been moving very fast. Before the hearing, President Trump said that he hopes the case would go on to the Supreme Court while arguing that the order is important for the country. Halfway through the arguments, more than 120,000 viewers listened in via the courts official YouTube page. Washington State Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued on behalf of Washington state that the motion would throw the country into chaos. The executive order itself caused irreparable harm to our state and its people," he argued. "We had longtime residents who couldn't travel without knowing if they can return. The states of Washington and Minnesota brought the case against the Trump administration, which will likely reach the US Supreme Court. TORONTO -- When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit the road last month on what was billed as a "listening" tour, he traveled to restaurants, roadside rest stations and town halls across the country to meet his fellow Canadians. He received a mixed response: While some people warmly welcomed him, others criticized Trudeau's handling of the economy, relations with the nation's indigenous peoples and the Alberta tar sands, a rich source of oil whose development is carbon-intensive. A poll conducted in January for a Toronto newspaper showed Trudeau's approval ratings had dropped to their lowest levels -- 48 percent -- since he became prime minister. It was a stark contrast to October 2015, when the young politician came to power promising sweeping change and was greeted by most Canadians like a fresh island breeze. No doubt about it, Trudeau's honeymoon with the public is over. Less than 18 months after leading his Liberal Party to a resounding victory in the federal election, Trudeau and his cabinet face investigations over alleged cash for access, accusations of breaking a campaign promise to reform the country's elections system and criticism over other issues ranging from handling the national budget deficit, military spending and even mail delivery. When Trudeau canceled plans to attend January's World Economic Forum in Switzerland in order to embark on the cross-country tour, his critics regarded the move as damage control. Days earlier, Canadians learned that Trudeau and his family had vacationed on a private Bahamian island owned by the Aga Khan, an Ismaili Muslim spiritual leader whose foundation receives millions of Canadian dollars in funding from Ottawa, and had arrived there on the multi-millionaire's private helicopter. The trip raised a cry about a potential breach of ethics laws, which in Canada prohibit ministers from accepting gifts, including free travel. Robert Bothwell, a history professor at the University of Toronto, says he believes the trip was a case of "bad optics" rather than an ethical breach. Prince Karim Aga Khan has long been a friend of the Trudeau family, Bothwell says, adding that the multi-millionaire has endowed the country with lots of money and has enjoyed warm relations with successive governments, both Conservative and Liberal. Story continues The trip was a big misstep for Trudeau, Bothwell says. "As a leader you want to establish a link to your electorate. Voters want to feel that they're sharing some of the same experiences with you. You don't go out of your way to show you're receiving benefits that your fellow citizens wouldn't have a hope of receiving." The Aga Khan case made news partly because it had just come on the heels of another potential ethical breach. In November, a newspaper revealed that the prime minister and senior cabinet ministers had raised millions of dollars through private fundraisers, many of which had been attended by wealthy business people in private homes. Tickets had cost as much as $1,500. Critics saw it as a violation of an ethics document the Trudeau government had released just weeks after coming to power. Trudeau said some attendees had lobbied him at the fundraisers, but he insisted that had no bearing on his policy decisions. "I don't know if anything of importance was discussed or decided at those fundraisers but I do know that I wasn't there to put forward my concerns and neither were you," said Jeremy Kronick, a senior policy analyst with the C.D. Howe Institute, a Toronto-based think tank. "When you decide who gets access to political leaders based on how much money they have, it's not right for democracy." For the Aga Khan case, the country's Ethics Commissioner, an independent officer of parliament, is investigating a possible breach of the Conflict of Interest Act. Trudeau recently announced his government would introduce legislation banning elite fundraisers for cabinet ministers. The various ethical breach allegations are part of wider criticisms Trudeau faces. During his campaign in 2015, Trudeau promised to scrap the first-past-the-post voting system, a winner-take-all system that many Canadians have criticized. His government dedicated millions of dollars to exploring the possibility of proportional representation or a ranked ballot system. But last week, the government revealed it was no longer pursuing a change to Canada's voting system because there was no "clear preference" for a new one. The response was swift and fierce. "What Mr. Trudeau proved himself to be today was a liar, to be the most cynical variety of politician, saying whatever it takes to get elected then, once elected, seeking any excuse, however weak, however absent, to justify that lie to Canadians," said NDP democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen. Other challenges lay ahead for the prime minister. Trudeau has kept his campaign promise to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women. But he faces criticism over the pace of reforms for the country's First Nations populations that include improving education and infrastructure. South of the border, U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear his disdain for the North American Free Trade Agreement in its current form, and this could prove to be a thorny issue in talks between Canada and the U.S. So, too, could the countries' respective policies on refugees and immigration. "The issues that are likely to come up over the next couple of years are going to eclipse the ones Trudeau is dealing with now," says Bothwell. "We'll be heading into negotiations with a U.S. administration that is not interested in establishing common ground. It's interested in being triumphant. If Trump uses the negotiating style he boasts about, he could end up bullying Canada." That could spell trouble for the Trudeau government. But some political pundits see a possible upside for Trudeau. "If Canada comes out of negotiations with the U.S. in a good position on trade and other issues, it will be a boost for this government," Kronick says. "Justin Trudeau could even end up being seen as beacon of light in the dark world of Donald Trump." Randi Druzin is an author and journalist based in Toronto, Canada. She has worked at a handful of major media outlets. She has also written for The New York Times, Time magazine and dozens of other publications. Her web site is www.druzin.com. Attack: Police officers inspect the site of suicide bombing at the Supreme Court in Kabul: AP At least 20 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at Afghanistans Supreme Court in Kabul, officials said. A further 45 people were injured in the blast on Tuesday, with the death toll expected to rise. The attacker detonated their suicide vest in the car park as employees and other people were coming out of the main court building, according to reports. Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said that an investigation was underway. Target: the Supreme Court has been attacked in the past (AP) No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban has been responsible for attacks on the court in the past. In a similar incident in 2013, a suicide bomber killed 13 people after detonating his vest in the same car park. It comes hours after a top government official was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistans western Farah province. Abdul Khaliq, the top official in the Khak-e-Safed district, was on his way home from the mosque when he was killed. Responsibility for that attack was claimed by the Taliban. Kanye West's friendly relationship with President Donald Trump may have been short-lived. A Twitter defense of West's meeting with Trump has been deleted from the rapper's account. After meeting with the then president-elect at Trump Tower on Dec. 13, West explained in a series of tweets that he discussed "multicultural issues" with Trump, including violence in West's hometown of Chicago. Those tweets have been deleted. Also, rapper King Myers says West produced his anti-Trump track , "Propaganda." King Myers calls for Trump's impeachment in the song. The rapper is signed to West's G.O.O.D. Music label. In November, West told a crowd during a concert that he didn't vote in the presidential election, but he would have voted for Trump. West's representatives didn't immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f375887%2fd72454c9-634b-4c1f-8cae-023a787071f1 Donald Trump advisor and Bowling Green Massacre memorialist, Kellyanne Conway's Twitter follow list is a conservative smorgasbord, as you might expect. However, one account does stand out among this dank closet of retrograde opinion: @NoToFeminism. A parody account created by Australian writer and comedian Rebecca Shaw, the hilarious account (which has even been published into a book) skewers the arguments of women who say they don't need feminism, one garbled self-hating tweet at a time. SEE ALSO: CNN and Kellyanne Conway's Twitter feud just escalated hilariously It's not like the account tries to hide its intentions. Its tag line is "lol feminsim no thanks." Its pinned tweet is this spectacular bon mot: I don't need femims women can't be leaders what if they get periods?? They might start a war over a bad reason! a thing men have never done WomanAgainstFeminism (@NoToFeminism) February 9, 2015 At some point on Saturday, the tweet "I don't need femims I like sex with men like I like my President: Screaming incoherently into the night & obviously unfit for the position" would have appeared in Conway's Twitter feed. Did she chuckle quietly to herself? Inquiring minds want to know. I don't need femims I like sex with men like I like my President: Screaming incoherently into the night & obviously unfit for the position WomanAgainstFeminism (@NoToFeminism) February 4, 2017 I dont need fimsms because feministss think women should be superior but I am an EGALITARIAN which means i believe eagles are superior WomanAgainstFeminism (@NoToFeminism) January 3, 2017 Shaw said she first realised Conway followed her joke account about one month ago. "I was just extremely pleased. It's very funny, to me. It's just perfect that someone so oblivious would be following an account like this," she said in an email. Story continues Not a fan of Conway, Shaw said she wasn't sure why Conway would follow @NoToFeminism. "I assume it's because she saw the handle or a tweet and decided to make some kind of statement, without realising that it's a parody." she said, "That happens a lot, but not usually with people who are meant to be smart enough to be given access to the leader of the free world." Since the discovery, people have been encouraging Shaw to tweet at Conway. She said she's considering it, if she can think of "something suitably funny." "I suppose I should try and trick her into engaging with me seriously, but it might make me too depressed," she added. It's so amusing to me that Kellyanne Conway follows @NoToFeminism pic.twitter.com/pYa1TjBkaB Bec Shaw (@Brocklesnitch) February 7, 2017 Why and how did this happen spectacular follow happen? We've reached out to the White House to ask this very important question, with its serious implications for national security. Chicago (AFP) - Another member of the Kennedy family dynasty entered American politics Wednesday, as Christopher Kennedy announced his candidacy for governor of Illinois. The Kennedy heir is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, known by many Americans simply as RFK. The elder Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. A senator at the time, he was seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency. He had previously been attorney general in the administration of his brother John F. Kennedy, the 35th US president, himself assassinated in 1963. Until now, Christopher Kennedy has mostly stayed out of politics, preferring a career in business. He will run as a Democrat seeking to replace Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican who is among the nation's least popular governors. The 53-year-old Kennedy is a businessman and real estate developer in Chicago, the third largest city in the nation. Illinois is one of the country's most populous and economically important states. Kennedy also helps maintain the family's billion-dollar fortune, a key factor in his candidacy, as state Democrats have been looking for someone who can compete financially with Rauner, a millionaire businessman able to bankroll his own campaign. In a video announcing his candidacy, Kennedy struck a mostly upbeat message, highlighting his work in business and philanthropy. "I have a vision for the future that restores the economy," Kennedy said. But he also indirectly criticized the Republican governor, who has locked horns with the Democrat-controlled state legislature and is stuck in a historic stalemate that has left the state without a budget for some 19 months. "I'm running for governor, because this state is headed in the wrong direction," he said. "I believe that compromise is not surrender. That's how I think our state should work." In a sign of the bruising and long political battle to come -- the election is not until November 2018 -- the state's Republican Party quickly put up a web page attacking Kennedy. "The last thing Illinois needs is a Madigan lap dog in the governor's office," the party wrote, referring to the powerful Democrat and speaker of the state house Mike Madigan, the governor's chief rival. Kennedy is expected to face a challenge from other Democrats with eyes on the governor's mansion. He is the second candidate to formally announce. Neil Carmichael: Charlie Forgham Bailey A key Conservative rebel has hailed a Government climbdown to give MPs a decisive vote if there is no Brexit deal even as Labour insisted it was virtually worthless. Neil Carmichael told The Independent he was delighted that the vote will now be staged before the European Parliament has its say on the outcome of the negotiations, suggesting a threatened revolt is off. Crucially, he argued ministers were also guaranteeing a vote even if Theresa May emerges from the Article 50 talks with no deal at all, the key demand of the rebels. But Labour, which initially welcomed the important concession, quickly decided it fell far short of the meaningful vote it is demanding. Angry Labour MPs turned on Brexit minister David Jones after it quickly emerged that the Commons would still be left with a take it or leave it choice, in 2019. To leave it would mean Britain crashing out of the EU with no agreement at all risking an economic slump, they argued However, Mr Carmichael signalled that the threatened Conservative revolt in a vote around 6pm tonight had been averted by Mr Jones concession. Mr Carmichael said: Im pleased the minister has informed the Commons that there will be a meaningful vote at the end of the negotiations and in a timely manner. This is a big step in the right direction and Im confident we will be given further clarification during the course of the afternoon. The key shift, Mr Carmichael argued - strongly disputed by Labour - was an agreement that MPs will be given a vote even if the Prime Minister fails to strike a deal, a highly-plausible scenario, given the tight timetable. Many observers believe Ms May would be forced to call a general election in those circumstances, rather than carry out her threat to pull out of the EU regardless. However, under questioning by Labour MPs, Mr Jones confirmed the Governments determination to complete Brexit even if the Commons rejected her deal or lack of a deal. Story continues MPs would have to accept the deal that the Government will have achieved, because there was no question of a veto. Mr Jones said: Frankly, that is the choice that the House will have to make thats the most meaningful vote that the House can imagine. To send the Government back to the European Union to say it wants to negotiate further would be seized upon as a sign of weakness so, therefore, I cant agree with it at all. Another possible Tory rebel, Anna Soubry, appeared to side with Labour in arguing Mr Jones had not given a satisfactory concession. She told a Brexit-supporting MP: We want the same vote - the sovereignty of this place - in the event of no deal being struck by the Government despite their finest efforts. At the start of the debate, Mr Jones told MPs: We intend that the vote will cover not only the withdrawal arrangements, but also the future relationship with the European Union. I can confirm that the Government will bring forward a motion on the final agreement to be approved by both Houses of Parliament before it is concluded And we expect and intend that this will happen before the European Parliament debates and votes on the final agreement. The phrase future relationship with the European Union was interpreted to mean a proposed new trade deal, as well as the exit terms. Donetsk (Ukraine) (AFP) - A military chief of a self-proclaimed Russian-backed republic in eastern Ukraine was killed in an "act of terror" Wednesday, the latest victim of a string of similar attacks, local authorities said. The dead man was Mikhail Tolstykh, 36, head of the notorious "Somali" battalion and a leading commander of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, the rebels' spokesman told AFP. "There has been an act of terror and Givi was killed," Eduard Basurin said, using the nom de guerre which Tolstykh was better known by. He blamed Ukrainian security services but declined to provide more details. Local reports said Tolstykh's office was blasted by a flamethrower. Rebel chief Alexander Zakharchenko accused the Ukrainian military of conducting the attack. "The Ukrainians... can not defeat us on the battlefield, so they kill us in a malicious way," he said. Kiev's SBU security service however denied that it was responsible, instead suspecting an internal operation to clear the rebel ranks. "People tied to illegal armed groups are purged by special agencies beyond the line of contact," an advisor the the SBU chief, Yuriy Tandit, told the 112 Ukrainian channel. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the killing "an attempt to destabilise the situation" in eastern Ukraine and also denied that Russia was in any way involved in it. Rebel officials announced two days of mourning after Tolstykh's death. In October, another well-known Donetsk military chief, Arseny Pavlov, was killed in a bomb attack. Several rebel commanders considered to be adversaries of the separatist authorities have been killed in car bombings and ambushes far from the scene of the fighting in eastern Ukraine. Tolstykh took part in major battles with Ukrainian government forces in a conflict that has been going on for 33 months despite Western efforts to forge a truce. Born in eastern Ukraine, he served in the army as a tank commander and later worked various manual jobs before he joined the rebel cause, where he also started off as a driver for another commander. Story continues He and Pavlov, who was better known as "Motorola", had been the most recognised faces among the rebels during the worst of the fighting, starring in viral video clips from the combat zone and interviewed often by state channels. Russia's state-owned Rossiya24 channel heavily covered his killing Wednesday, airing archived portraits and showing the charred building and an office gutted by an apparent fire. Some 10,000 people have been killed since Ukraine's mostly Russian-speaking eastern industrial regions revolted against Kiev's pro-Western government in April 2014. Kiev and the West have accused Russia of supporting the rebels and deploying troops across the border, claims that Moscow denies. By Lawrence White and Ritvik Carvalho LONDON (Reuters) - British banking executives and security experts are growing frustrated at the dearth of information available more than three months after 2.5 million pounds ($3.09 million) was stolen from Tesco Bank in the UK's biggest financial cyber heist. Security officers normally share information on an informal basis immediately after a major cyber incident so that the other banks can check their systems, sources at four of Britain's biggest lenders said. In the case of Tesco Bank, a small lender with annual profits of just 162 million pounds, details about exactly how criminals stole the money and what vulnerabilities were exposed have yet to be provided, however. The case has exposed the lack of proper procedures to share information as well as confusion over which government agency has ultimate responsibility for the issue, lawmakers and executives say. "It is very frustrating," a senior executive at one of Britain's largest banks told Reuters. "The gentlemen's code has been broken." A risk officer at another of Britain's biggest lenders said a formal regulatory system was essential in a financial centre like London where hundreds of banks of all sizes operate. "I am not going to criticise them [Tesco], the problem is the structure," he said. The Nov. 5-6 attack, which affected 9,000 Tesco Bank customers, is the first major case to be investigated by Britain's new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), working with the National Crime Agency (NCA). The NCSC brings together and replaces a host of bodies including CESG (the information security arm of GCHQ), the Centre for Cyber Assessment, Computer Emergency Response Team UK and the cyber-related responsibilities of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. As regulatory authorities for the banking system, the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority would also be involved in any regulations governing financial cyber crime. The NCSC did not respond to requests for comment on the Tesco case. An NCA spokesman said: "The investigation is ongoing therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further." The new body is coming under pressure from the financial industry and lawmakers to act quickly. "It is up to the NCSC to institutionalise the sharing of information and give some kind of obligation or requirement for feedback after an attack like Tesco Bank," Troels Oerting, Group Chief Information Security Officer at Barclays, told Reuters. A team of academics from the University of Newcastle said in December that a relatively unsophisticated method known as 'distributed guessing' could have been used to generate usable card payment details in the November attack. A spokesman for the bank, which is owned by leading supermarket chain Tesco Plc , declined to discuss the specifics of the case. "We continue to work closely with the authorities and regulators in their investigation of the criminal incident that took place last year. Our priority throughout has been to look after our customers," the spokesman said on Monday. Bank executives and cyber security experts told Reuters in October they feared Britain's banks are not reporting the full extent of cyber attacks to regulators for fear of punishment or bad publicity. (Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall) VIENNA (AP) The Latest on Europe's response to the influx of migrants and refugees to the continent (all times local): 2:30 p.m. Interior and defense ministers from 15 European countries have agreed to come up with new measures to ensure that the overland route from Greece remains shut for migrants seeking new lives in other EU nations. Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka and Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil say the officials decided to draw up a plan by April for the so-called West Balkans route. Wednesday's meeting included counterparts from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Greece. Some of the countries became arrival or transit points for the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants who started flooding Europe in 2015. Others oppose resettling migrants already in the EU on their territories. Austria was instrumental in coordinating last year's shutdown of the route. ___ 1:15 p.m. European Union countries have only taken in around 12,000 refugees from overburdened Greece and Italy despite promising to share 160,000 almost 18 months ago. A European Commission progress report on the refugee emergency shows that only 9,000 were relocated from Greece. Hundreds of thousands of migrants entered the country last year. Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans said Wednesday that it is "highly urgent" for countries to live up to their pledges, with the legally binding scheme set to expire in September. Timmermans urged countries to use "peer pressure" to force EU partners to react, but ruled out any immediate legal action against those not fulfilling requirements. He said the Commission's March progress report will be "the moment where I draw my conclusions what next steps we could take." ___ 12:50 p.m. Albanian prosecutors say that six people have been detained on suspicion of illegally smuggling refugees from Arab countries. Story continues A statement Wednesday said the six were part of an 18-member group whose arrests started in September after police found some 100 migrants, mainly from Syria, coming from neighboring Greece. The migrants would then head to Kosovo hidden in trucks, then Serbia before trying to reach Austria or Germany. Each migrant would pay 900 to 1,250 Euros ($963 to $1330) for the illegal transport, prosecutors said. Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has not been a major transit route for migrants through Europe so far, although small groups have tried crossing it to reach its northern neighbors. ___ 10:30 a.m. The interior and defense ministers of 13 European nations are meeting in Vienna on ways to prepare for a possible uptick in migrant flows once winter is over. Convened by Austria's interior and defense ministers, Wednesday's meeting includes counterparts from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Greece. Some of the countries became arrival or transit points along the now-closed west Balkans route for the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants looking for better lives. Others oppose resettling migrants already in the EU on their territories. Austria was instrumental in coordinating last year's shutdown of the migrants' path into prosperous EU countries that began in Greece and wound through the western Balkans. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Attorneys for a Minnesota police officer accused of fatally shooting a black man during a traffic stop say Philando Castile's gun was accessible and that he was reaching for it when he was killed. The Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/2kqLjr4 ) reports that a memo filed Tuesday in Ramsey County District Court contradicts prosecutors' claims that St. Anthony Officer Jeronimo Yanez didn't see the weapon and made conflicting statements about it. Yanez is charged in Ramsey County with manslaughter and two other felonies in the July 6 killing of the 32-year-old school cafeteria employee in Falcon Heights. Castile's girlfriend streamed the aftermath of the shooting live on Facebook. The memo says the shots fire by Yanez, who is Latino, "were intentional and justified." A judge will hear arguments and issue a decision Feb. 15. ___ Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com Shortly after Senate Republicans voted to stop Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., from reading a 1986 letter by Martin Luther Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, during Jeff Sessions confirmation hearing Tuesday, the Internet exploded in protest as the hashtag #LetLizSpeak began trending on Twitter. In the letter, addressed to then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Strom Thurmond, King expressed her opposition to Sessions, who had been nominated for a federal judgeship in Alabama. Warren told Yahoo News that she wanted to highlight Kings response to Sessions, who as a U.S. attorney in Alabama had prosecuted civil rights workers for helping elderly black citizens vote and believes her GOP colleagues simply didnt want to hear it. I think they just didnt want to hear her letter, Warren said Wednesday. And Ill be blunt: Thats part of the reason once he put me in my chair, and Im not allowed to speak in the United States Senate, I went outside, I read the letter, I posted it on Facebook. I want everyone in America to read this letter. Related: The Coretta Scott King letter Elizabeth Warren wasnt allowed to read Republican senators argued that Warrens quoting the letter violated an arcane Senate rule against impugning the motives of a colleague. She was warned, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell argued on the Senate floor. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. I will not be silent about a nominee for AG who has made derogatory & racist comments that have no place in our justice system. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017 If McConnell was hoping to silence Warren, the move backfired as social media users rallied around the progressive firebrand and she persisted became a rallying cry. "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." So must we all.https://t.co/JXROGHPNkH Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 8, 2017 "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." the new mantra for all women, everywhere. #letlizspeak Jared Gaburo (@jpgaburo) February 8, 2017 GOP, you messed with the wrong Nasty Woman. #LetLizSpeak Vicki Moore (@eileenleft270) February 8, 2017 "She was warned, she was given an explanation, nevertheless, she persisted." Well be behaved women seldom make history. #letlizspeak markelajean (@leadership_love) February 8, 2017 Never the less, she persisted- Elizabeth Coleman, aka Bessie, was the worlds first black female pilot. #blackhistorymonth #letlizspeak pic.twitter.com/TORb85mH6M Stephanie (@Stephynb) February 8, 2017 The US Senate is a 1950's law firm that has yet to accept that women can be full partners with votes, clout, and voices. #LetLizSpeak (((FUTrump))) (@GildedTrumpTurd) February 8, 2017 We cannot stop calling, or marching, or calling, or showing up at town halls, or calling, or marching #ShePersists #LetLizSpeak Kiers10 (@Kiers10B) February 8, 2017 She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. pic.twitter.com/ebXJRX23Re Marc (@MarcSnetiker) February 8, 2017 CALLING ALL Y'ALL CROSS STITCHERS: wanna stitch "Nevertheless, she persisted" in exchange for @PPact donations? https://t.co/dGNMDrwS5e Kristen Coates (@kristenlcoates) February 8, 2017 Warrens reading of Kings letter on Facebook Live attracted more than 2 million views. Story continues George Takei, the actor and activist, suggested Warrens Democratic colleagues read Kings letter on the Senate floor in solidarity. You know what? Every Democratic Senator should stand up and read Coretta Scott King's letter tomorrow. Every. Single. One. George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 8, 2017 New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall did just that. New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall begins reading Coretta Scott King's letter on the Senate floor https://t.co/T5uqoA85rO pic.twitter.com/sunkqrkLe6 CBS News (@CBSNews) February 8, 2017 Udall then took to Twitter to explain why he did it. When Mr. Sessions served as US Attorney, his record on voting rightsthe backbone of our democracywas subject to serious question. Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 In the context of this confirmation hearing, Senator Sessions' record on civil rights must be included in the debate #LetLizSpeak Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 I read Mrs. Kings letter about Mr. #Sessions commitment to justice for all. I leave it to my colleagues to assess that commitment. Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 I read Mrs. Kings letter about Mr. #Sessions commitment to justice for all, he wrote. I leave it to my colleagues to assess that commitment. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) followed suit. Republican senators silencing @SenWarren because she quoted a letter from Coretta Scott King in opposition to Jeff Sessions is outrageous. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 8, 2017 I think Sen. McConnell owes @SenWarren an apology. It's outrageous she was denied the right to voice her concerns about Jeff Sessions. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 8, 2017 Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio, said Warren was out of line. We have become a society incapable of having debates anymore, Rubio said. But to Warren, Kings letter was a crucial part of the debate. I went to the floor last night to do my constitutional responsibility: to debate whether or not Jeff Sessions should be the next attorney general of the United States, Warren told Yahoo News. My constitutional responsibility is to come down here and debate with my head and with my heart. More from Yahoo News: Ever since his sister heard him talking in his sleep in their bedroom in Iran, Ali K. tried to stay awake at night. Since that night, I was so afraid, I could not sleep, he said of his childhood. Because what if I said aloud what I feel? In third grade Ali fell in love with an older boy at school, but never spoke to him. Several years later, he saw reports that two people had been hung for homosexuality. Eventually, the conflict between who he was and what his country allowed him to be became too much, and Ali says he decided to kill himself by walking into traffic on a busy road. He stood on the curb for hours but never stepped into the street. His mother was having heart problems, and he says he feared the news of his death would kill her. (TIME agreed to identify Ali by his first name in order to protect his family in Iran, where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death.) In Iran, all my life I was afraid, Ali, now 30, said in a phone interview. I realized people like me are not allowed to exist. Now, after more than seven years in America, Ali fears he could be forced to return to a country that could kill him for his sexuality. He is one of many LGBT immigrants from the seven majority-Muslim nations affected by President Trumps Jan. 17 executive order barring travelers from Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen for 90 days, all refugees for 120 days, and refugees from Syria indefinitely. The fate of Trumps order is uncertain after a federal appeals court ruled Sunday to uphold a temporary stay on the ban. A three-judge panel from U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments Tuesday and is expected to issue a ruling this week. Whatever the outcome, an appeal to the Supreme Court is likely. The immigration order has thrown countless lives into tumult, but for LGBT residents from countries where homosexuality is criminalized, the fear is especially acute. It is a violation of international law to send a person back to a nation where they face persecution. The Obama administration implemented several policies to protect LGBT asylum seekers, including recognizing same-sex partners as spouses for the purpose of refugee resettlement and urging federal agencies abroad to protect LGBT people at every stage of the refugee process. It is not yet clear whether Trump will continue those policies. Immigration lawyers say its extremely unlikely that the U.S. government would violate the 1951 Refugee Convention to deport LGBT people back to countries where they risk persecution and execution. But advocates say that is of little comfort to gay asylum seekers from the Middle Eastern countries affected by the ban. Everyone is feeling completely unsettled and as if the rug can be pulled under them at any time, says Michael Jarecki, an immigration lawyer who is vice-chair of the Chicago chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He says theres a real possibility that his clients will have their asylum cases put on permanent hold because of their countries of origin. For Manal, 29, that prospect means every day is a waiting game. Manal is a Syrian Catholic who grew up in Dubai and came to the U.S. for a Masters program in Southern California. When she got to L.A., she moved into an apartment owned by a woman she had never met. They fell in love, and Manals roommate became her partner. When my student visa ended, I had fallen in love, and I said Im not going back,' she said. Theres no way I could live as a gay woman in the Middle East. She now works as a graphic designer in L.A. (TIME has agreed not to publish her full name to protect her safety.) Manal applied for asylum almost two years ago and is still waiting for her interview. I think Im going to get PTSD just from this waiting, she said. Theres always this dark cloud that follows us around. Manal knows she has it a lot better than many immigrants and refugees, no matter their sexuality. Still, when faced with the possibility of losing her ability to live and work in the U.S., she shudders. I always have that thought but honestly I dont have an answer, she says. If she has to return to Syria, she says she would get her head chopped off. After completing his undergraduate degree in Iran, Ali came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2009 for a Masters degree and then moved to California to pursue a PhD in engineering. He came out of the closet, had a few relationships, and now lives with his Russian boyfriend in California, also an asylum seeker. Ali filed for asylum 18 months ago, and in the meantime relied on an Employment Authorization Document that allowed him to work legally in the U.S. That permit expired at the end of January and he says he submitted the documents to get it renewed the day before Trump signed the executive order. Now, Ali says he has no idea what will happen with his asylum or work permit applications. If my application comes up tomorrow, theyre going to throw it at the end of the list again, he says. Everything in my life right now is in the air in the matter of a week. The immigration order has changed his sense of the country he hoped to call his new home. This is the United States, he said. It shouldnt be that you wake up one day and, without doing anything wrong, everything can be taken away from you. That is not my image of this country. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Talks on changes to Libya's unity government could yield results in the coming weeks, putting the north African country on a path to stability, the UN envoy said Wednesday. The UN-backed government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj was installed in Tripoli last year but has failed to assert itself further east, where strongman General Khalifa Haftar holds sway. UN envoy Martin Kobler told the Security Council that talks on "possible amendments" to the political agreement, and notably on Haftar's future role, had made progress in the past two months. "I am confident that a format will be found in the next weeks within which these questions can be decided upon and recommendations can be put forth for approval to the relevant institutions," Kobler said. Any changes must be endorsed by the Libyan House of Representatives, which has refused to back the Sarraj government. "2017 must be a year of decisions and political breakthrough," said Kobler. The United Nations brokered the Libyan political agreement that was signed in Morocco in 2015 and Western countries had been adamant that the Sarraj government was the only legitimate voice. Security Council members Egypt and Russia have offered support for Haftar, whose self-declared Libyan National Army has had success in battling jihadists in Benghazi, the country's second city. Following the meeting, the council declared that it "recognizes the growing concern among Libyans for a more inclusive political settlement within the framework of the Libyan political agreement," said Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, this month's council president. - Bring in all the actors - Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations vying for power. "What we need is a genuinely inclusive government that brings in all of the key actors in Libya, and we need that because that is the best way to restore stability," said British Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson. Story continues Kobler admitted that opening up the hard-fought political agreement to changes was risky, and stressed that there should be "very limited" amendments. "It's also a risk to leave the agreement as it is, because it doesn't work," the envoy told reporters following the council meeting. Sarraj has reportedly offered to meet Haftar in Cairo to try to come to agreement. "General Haftar must have a role in the chain of command of the army, and we encourage talks," said Kobler. Despite the political deadlock, Libya has boosted its oil production to over 700,000 barrels a day, providing the state with much-needed revenue. "It's a wealthy country, it's a rich country, it has the largest proven oil reserves of Africa," said Kobler. "That's why it's important that the insecurity ends because the Libyan people need it." (Reuters) - Liverpool can learn a thing or two from Chelsea such as the Premier League leaders' ability to grind out results even when they are not playing at their best, midfielder Adam Lallana has said. Liverpool's bid for the title has collapsed in recent weeks as a five-game winless run in the league has seen them drop to fifth, 13 points behind Chelsea. "You can see they (Chelsea) have a lot of experience and that they are used to winning. They know how to win games even when not at their best. You don't have to always win by scoring five or six," Lallana told British media. "Maybe that's an area we need to improve on. We maybe need to realise how good we are at times." In contrast, Chelsea appear to be running away with the league title as they hold a comfortable nine-point cushion over the chasing pack after 24 games. "Milly (James Milner) is probably the only one in our group who has that type of experience because it only comes from winning silverware like he did at Manchester City," Lallana added. "Myself and the other players haven't won titles or loads of cups so we need to learn from him and listen to him because that type of experience is vital. We need to learn and get back to winning ways in the league as soon as possible." Liverpool host second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who are unbeaten in their last nine league games, at Anfield on Saturday. (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson) An inaccurate graph about global warming published in The Mail on Sunday appears to show a difference between the Met Office and NOAA's figures, but this is based on a simple mistake: Screengrab The Mail on Sunday has been attacked for using a fake graph in an article about global warming as its supposed whistleblower contradicted the storys central claim that US Government scientists had manipulated climate data. The article, headlined Exposed: How world leaders were duped into investing billions over manipulated global warming data, claimed it had astonishing evidence that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had rushed out an academic paper that exaggerated global warming in order to influence world leaders meeting at the Paris Summit on climate change in 2015. The journal paper found that global warming had not slowed down after 1998 as previously thought by some scientists. Its findings were later confirmed by other scientists at the Met Office, Nasa and other institutions. The Mail on Sunday quoted a former NOAA scientist, Dr John Bates, as saying the lead author of the paper, Thomas Karl, had insisted on decisions and scientific choices that maximised warming and minimised documentation and in an effort to discredit the notion of a global warming pause, rushed so that he could time publication to influence national and international deliberations on climate policy. But in a subsequent interview with E&E News, Dr Bates stressed he did not believe the data itself had been manipulated to present a false picture. The issue here is not an issue of tampering with data, but rather really of timing of a release of a paper that had not properly disclosed everything it was, he said. Dr Bates published a blog about his concerns at about the same time The Mail on Sunday article was published. The newspaper also published a graph showing flawed NOAA data showing higher temperatures alongside verified Met Office data showing lower temperatures. However the two sets of figures compared the temperatures to different baseline dates, a glaring and simple error that means they are not comparable in the way shown. Story continues When adjusted so they are comparable, the Met Office figures are roughly the same as the NOAA ones as the Met Office itself confirmed. Dr Gavin Schmidt, the director of Nasas Goddard Institute for Space Studies, described the graph as a hilarious screw up by the #FailOnSunday in a message on Twitter. He showed The Mail on Sundays graph alongside the correct one. In a blog post, Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment in London, wrote that the newspapers graph was fake. And he said The Mail on Sunday had "a track record of unreliable reporting on climate change and of misrepresenting the science". In a statement sent to The Independent, the newspaper made a distinction between the words change and adjust. Bates was quoted out of context. He is sticking by his claim that Karl made bad scientific choices and so skewed the temperatures dataset, and is posting a new blog on this tonight, it said. The no tampering claim [by Bates] was a reply to the question: So are you saying he actually changed the figures? Of course, he never alleged that. It was about how they were adjusted. The paper admitted it had made an error about the graph but said it had corrected this online. We made an inadvertent error, and took swift steps to correct it online, it said. Even scientists have to issue corrigenda to their peer-reviewed papers. These are highly technical subjects. But the substance, as previously pointed out, stands. However the online graph still showed a significant gap between the NOAA and Met Office figures. The Met Office itself has published a graph showing its figures, known as HadCRUT4, compared to those from NOAA and other bodies, Nasa, Berkeley Earth and Cowtan and Way. In general, the agreement between the data sets is very good. They all display a similar increase in estimated global average temperature over time, it says. David Rose, the journalist who wrote the story, told The Independent: The core of my story stands. The Karl et al 'Pausebuster' 2015 paper breached NOAA's own Climate Data Programme rules. It used a preliminary, experimental land dataset that had not passed an Operational Readiness Review. In other words, it used unverified data, unstable software, and was not properly archived. It also deployed a newly issued sea dataset that adjusted temperatures from buoys upwards in such a manner that that, in Bates's words, involved poor scientific choices that maximised warming. Its pending replacement will reverse this, and so produce lower values and a lower recent warming trend. A weeklong hunt for a man and a woman wanted for the killings of three people ended Tuesday with his suicide and her arrest at a dingy motel in Georgia, authorities said. William Billy Boyette, 44, shot himself during a standoff with sheriffs deputies and Mary Rice, 37, was taken into custody after they holed up in a room near the Alabama border, the Troup County Sheriffs Department announced. Read: Fugitive Went on Facebook Live After Allegedly Shooting 2 Cops: Report The duo was considered armed and dangerous and had been on the run for a week, hiding in woods while being pursued by bloodhounds, U.S. marshals and officers from surrounding law enforcement agencies. They were wanted for the fatal shootings of three women over seven days, officials said. #BREAKING: Heavy police presence at West Point hotel; could possibly be FL triple murder suspect>>>https://t.co/OolskWMnqF pic.twitter.com/fwULGS3KFX WTVM News Leader 9 (@WTVM) February 7, 2017 The killings began January 31, when Alicia Greer, 30, and Jeanette Moore, 39, were found shot to death in a Milton, Fla., motel room, authorities said. Two days later, the suspects were responsible for the death of Peggy Broz in Lillian, Ala., officials said. The couple also allegedly stole Brozs car. On Monday, the body of Kayla Crocker, 28, was discovered in her house near Pensacola. Authorities said the young mother was killed in a home invasion attack. Her 2-year-old son was not harmed. The suspects stole Crockers white Chevrolet Cobalt, authorities said, and drove to a Hardees restaurant, where they ate a meal shortly after the attack. Read: FBI's Most Wanted Woman Is Captured in Mexico After Months on the Run A tipster reported the stolen Cobalt outside the West Point Motel Tuesday, officials said. Authorities surrounded the building and Rice surrendered to U.S. marshals during the standoff. Story continues As officers prepared to enter the couples room, a shot rang out, officials said. Boyettes body was found inside, according to authorities. He was a longtime drug trafficker, according to officials. Watch: Fugitive Wanted in Connection With Murder of Pregnant Woman and Cop Captured Related Articles: Donald Trump James Mattis Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is "not happy" the White House is arguing with him over who should take the top job in the Pentagon's policy shop, Foreign Policy reports. According to FP, Mattis wants Mary Beth Long, a George W. Bush-era Pentagon official, to come aboard as undersecretary of defense for policy, but the White House is insisting he go with Mira Ricardel, a Trump transition team member, who also served in the Bush administration. This doesn't seem to be a fight over qualifications, however. FP reports that one of the issues the Trump administration has is that Long was among more than 100 Republican national-security leaders who signed an open letter in March saying then-candidate Donald Trump was "fundamentally dishonest" and unfit for office, as well as listing other complaints. Long later walked back the criticism and dropped her "Never Trump" position, telling NPR in November that it was "a moral and civic duty to get behind this president." Still, the report from FP suggests an apparent blacklist for Republicans who openly opposed Trump before the election. Some other "Never Trump" Republicans told The Washington Post they were not being called for national-security positions likely because of their opposition. Former State Department official Eliot Cohen said White House jobs were being viewed as "lollipops, things you give out to good boys and girls." Theresa Whelan is the acting undersecretary. The undersecretary of defense for policy isn't the only unfilled job at the Pentagon's policy office. The No. 2 spot, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, is vacant, as well as supporting roles covering cyber, space, Afghanistan-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine, and nuclear and missile defense policy. NOW WATCH: The president's close friend of 40 years explains Trump's sense of humor More From Business Insider London (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday said a decision by Russia to decriminalise some forms of domestic violence was a step backwards. "We see this as a retrograde step by the Russian government. Repealing existing legislation sends out absolutely the wrong message on what is a global problem," May told parliament. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a controversial bill reducing the penalty for violence against family members when it is the first such offence and does not cause serious injury. It reclassifies such offences as administrative misdemeanours punishable by a fine. Previously such action was defined as battery, and was punishable by up to two years in jail. The move sparked rare protest in Russia and critics said it would exacerbate the already-widespread problem of domestic abuse of women by making it even harder for victims to get help through the legal system. According to the state statistics agency, in 2015 there were 49,579 crimes involving violence in the family, of which 35,899 involved violence against a woman. In January, rights group appealed to Russia's parliament not to pass the bill. Amnesty International condemned it as a "sickening attempt to trivialise domestic violence". Foreign affairs committee chief Konstantin Kosachev said the West was criticising the measure with the aim "of attacking our country". President Trumps nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court set off a storm of ads, spending and pressure from outside groups, but a few Democratic Senators are feeling the squeeze more. Ten Democratic Senators are up for re-election in 2018 in states that Trump won. So as lobbying gets under way for and against Gorsuchs nomination, these lawmakers are in a uniquely uncomfortable position, torn between their base and their home-state voters. They have a choice in front of them, explains Carrie Severino, policy director of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network. Are they going to align themselves with the liberal fringe of their party, or are they going to represent what the voters in their states clearly chose in the last election? Judicial Crisis Network is one of numerous activist groups on both sides of the aisle that are now pumping resources into pressuring Senators about the nomination, with a special focus on what many see as those 10 Democrats most vulnerable Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Bill Nelson of Florida, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Jon Tester of Montana, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Judicial Crisis Network is running broadcast, radio and digital ads in multiple states, and Severino is appearing on radio and television shows as their grassroots organizers pick up around the country. There are two main aims of these lobbying efforts. One goal for conservative groups would be to get Democratic Senators to support Gorsuchs nomination, although Republicans have the votes to confirm Gorsuch themselves. They have a simple majority with two to spare, as they showed in the Betsy DeVos fight. But Democrats could throw up a hurdle by taking the rare move of filibusteringrequiring Republicans to get to 60 votes to end debate and hold a vote. To get to 60, Republicans would need eight Democrats to break ranks and vote for cloture. Thats where conservative groups think some of the 10 red-state Democrats could be persuaded. Conservatives argue the Democrats could mollify Trump voters in their home states by not engaging in a filibuster, but appease their own base by ultimately voting against Gorsuch in the confirmation vote. Heitkamp, for example, has already said shell oppose a filibuster. Story continues Its a very different calculus for a senator to decide not just to say Im going to vote against this person, but to say Im going to block this person from even having a vote,' says Severino. That is a very extreme position and its not one that I think very many senators are going to want to embrace at the end of the day. McClatchy reports that there is a group of conservative organizations planning a multi-million dollar effort, including rallies, phone banks, direct mail campaigns and advertising, to confirm Gorsuch, with a special emphasis on the red-state Democrats. [They] need to be very concerned, given how high a priority this was, Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of the anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony List, told McClatchy of Trump voters expectations for a conservative justice. But for every conservative group, theres a liberal organization pushing back against those same senators with the opposite message. Marge Baker, executive vice president at the liberal People For the American Way, said they are specifically targeting their efforts to counter the Judicial Crisis Network. Theres some senators who are kind of under attack from the other side already, and so were going to obviously want to pay special attention to folks who are getting hit from the other side with this huge advertising campaign, she said. People For the American Way is already running ads in 14 states, eight of which are the home states of the 10 vulnerable Democratic Senators. Its full steam ahead, echoes Nan Aron, founder and president of Alliance for Justice, a liberal judicial advocacy group. The Alliance for Justice is preparing a report on Gorsuchs record, producing ads, making calls to Senators and organizing on the ground in states across the country. Its probably pretty obvious that much of our focus will be on Senators who are up for reelection in those 10 states, says Aron. I think they would think Im stupid if that werent what we were doing. We plan to win this fight. But the stakes are high for those 10 Senators, facing crushing pressure from both sides of the aisle. Filibuster and potentially appear obstructionist and they could lose their Senate seat next year. Vote against a filibuster or appear too soft on the Trump Administration, they could lose support and funding from liberal groups. If theres a [Senator] that thinks they should go it their own and vote for one of these nominees or not stand for the filibuster, then theyre the ones that are putting themselves at risk for whether or not theyll be re-elected, warns Charles Chamberlain, executive director of progressive PAC Democracy for America. Because were not going to be helping that. American actor Mel Brooks has been chosen to receive this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts' Fellowship. The actor will receive the award from Prince William this Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards. The fellowship is BAFTA's highest honor, recognizing individuals who have made an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games. Past recipients include Terry Gilliam, Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Scorsese and, most recently, Sidney Poitier. "In choosing me for the 2017 Fellowship I think that BAFTA has made a strangely surprising yet ultimately wise decision," said Brooks, who was nominated for a BAFTA best screenplay award for 1974's "Blazing Saddles." Melania Trump 's new legal action against DailyMail.com has raised questions about possible plans to cash in on her role as first lady, a move her rep denies. Read: President Trump, Melania and Barron Jet Off For Family's First Weekend Getaway Since Inauguration The libel lawsuit against the news website seeks $150 million in damages because Melania Trump lost the opportunity "to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million-dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world." Despite those claims, the first lady's people said she is not aiming to collect money off her new title. "The first lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so, a rep for Mrs. Trump said. The lawsuit, filed on her behalf in New York State court Monday, claims the wife of President Donald Trump was damaged by a now-discredited report that she was once an escort. The story first appeared last August on a blog, and then on DailyMail.com. The suit, filed by her attorney, Charles Harder, said: "MailOnlines conduct was extreme and outrageous in falsely making the scurrilous charge that the future First Lady of the United States worked as a prostitute." Read: Are Melania and Donald Living Separate Lives? Spokesman Denies Claims She Won't Move to D.C. The blogger, Webster Griffin Tarpley, of Maryland, settled Tuesday, admitting the story was inaccurate. He also reportedly paid her a substantial sum. In the apology, the 71-year-old blogger wrote: I posted an article on August 2, 2016 about Melania Trump that was replete with false and defamatory statements about her. I had no legitimate factual basis to make these false statements and I fully retract them. Watch: Melania Trump Spotted for the First Time Since Inauguration, Avoids Manhattan Protests Related Articles: WASHINGTON (AP) Mexico's foreign secretary says U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to travel to Mexico in the coming weeks. During a visit in Washington, Luis Videgaray also said Wednesday that Mexico's government was not working to reschedule a visit to the U.S. by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. He did not say when Tillerson would visit. Relations between the two countries have gotten off to a rocky start under President Donald Trump. Pena Nieto's visit to Washington was called off only days ahead of time after Trump again insisted that Mexico would pay for the wall that the U.S. president promises to build along the border. Trump has suggested that a 20 percent tax on imports from Mexico could provide funding for the wall. Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico's foreign minister heads to Washington on Wednesday for meetings with the US secretaries of state and homeland security as the two nations face their biggest diplomatic crisis in decades. Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray's trip comes after President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled his own January 31 visit to Washington in protest over US President Donald Trump's insistence that Mexico pay for a border wall. Despite the row, Pena Nieto and Trump spoke on the phone and agreed that their surrogates will continue bilateral talks. Videgaray will meet with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security chief John Kelly to discuss "the protection of Mexicans in the United States, immigration, security and border infrastructure," the Mexican foreign ministry said in a statement. On Tuesday, Mexican Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong spoke with Kelly on the phone and they agreed to meet in Mexico City soon, though no date was announced. In addition to upsetting Mexico with his wall plan, Trump wants to upend bilateral economic ties, demanding a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Documentary filmmaker and activist Michael Moore expressed his discontent at the Senate for approving the confirmation of billionaire Betsy DeVos as President Donald Trump's pick to lead the education department. Reacting to her confirmation, Moore did not mince his words when he took to twitter and said: The Senate Republicans have just sent a big FU to the school children of Americaeven the worst countries dont s--- on their own kids, Moore added, Perhaps someone should call Child Protective Services. The drama that unfolded over DeVos confirmation Tuesday stretched on from Monday as Democrats staged an all-night session to oppose her confirmation. Even though Democrats were able to muster the support of two Republicans Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), DeVos was voted in after Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in her favour, making him the first and only vice president to have cast the deciding vote on a Cabinet nominee. Moore also reiterated remarks made by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during DeVos confirmation hearing where he correlated her appointment to nepotism and plutocracy. Just so were clear: Betsy & her Amway fam bought this Cabinet position 4 her, giving over $200 Million to Republican candidates thru the yrs he tweeted. DeVos has also been criticized for her known support to charter schools and school choice, which permits low-income families to use public funds to finance for private or charter schools and as a result she was condemned by the largest labor union in the U.S., the National Education Association, as it argued that her principles may cost the public education system. Moore, also a Michigan native like DeVos, said the incoming secretary of Education has "worked tirelessly" to destroy the state's schools and also criticized her support for charter schools. Story continues Moore, who had pledged support to Hillary Clinton during the presidential election had vigorously opposed DeVos nomination in the run-up to the vote Tuesday through public rallies. On Monday, call (202) 225-3121. Call your representative and your two senators, and, number one, we do not accept Betty DeVos as our secretary of education thats day onemake it part of your daily routine, Moore had said to a crowd assembled for the Womens March in Washington a day after President Trumps inauguration. Related Articles A North Carolina mother is speaking out after she says a day care worker breastfed her child after being told not to, telling InsideEdition.com she wants police to press charges against the woman she believes has no business caring for children. Kaycee Oxendine, 27, brought her 3-month-old son to day care at the Childrens Early School in Carrboro on Friday, where the infant is minded while she works as a pre-kindergarten teacher for a different organization in the building, she said. When one of her sons teachers said the baby seemed constipated, another woman working in the day care offered to breastfeed the child to see if it helped, Oxendine said. She said she had a child, and said, Id like to help. I said, Oh, no. Youre not his mother. I thought that was disgusting and I said no," she told InsideEdition.com. "I thought it was a clear understanding... because she said something about getting prune juice for him." On top of her personal reasons for refusing, Oxendine said her decision was compounded by the fact that her son, who was born two months premature, is lactose intolerant. He cant have milk, she said. "I give him soy formula." But Oxendine said that once she left her child in the womans care, she allegedly breastfed him anyway. Read: Wendy Williams Clashes With Alyssa Milano Over Breastfeeding: I Don't Need to See That Oxendine said she believes a video she recorded of the security footage inside Carrboro Early School shows a woman holding a baby, who she appears to then raise up to her chest. The woman stopped when another person in the room stood up from their seat and walks away, the video shows. Oxendine was shown the footage when she came to pick up her son later that day, she said. I was very shocked, it almost seemed unreal," she said. "I was very angry, to say the least." Story continues The baby was allegedly rushed to a local hospital that night after becoming ill from what Oxendine believed was the milk. He has no tolerance for it, she said of milk. He ended up getting sick, throwing up. His digestive system cant handle it. The infant has since returned home and recovered, Oxendine said. Hes a very happy baby; he doesnt cry at all, she said. "Hes great." But the distraught mother said she believes the woman should be held accountable. If I have a choice, I want her criminally charged, Oxendine said. I dont think she should be able to work with kids. Its very, very disturbing, what she did. Ive definitely had sleepless nights and my emotions have been all over the place. Its a lot to deal with. You definitely dont expect that to happen to your child. The Carrboro police department did not respond to InsideEdition.coms request for comment, but told WTVD on Tuesday that the incident is being investigated as misdemeanor child abuse. However, no charges have been filed. Daron Council, the director of the day care, told InsideEdition.com that the employee in question is not working in any of the Childrens Early Schools three facilities. Read: Shaken Mom Takes Video Of Man She Says Attacked Her Over Breastfeeding: 'You F***ing Wh**e' The appropriate steps were taken on my behalf when I found out, he said. The employee was a licensed professional who usually worked in a location other than the Carrboro program, authorities said. Both locations received superior classifications during October and November inspections by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, records show. Attempts by InsideEdition.com to locate the day care worker who allegedly breastfed Oxendines child were unsuccessful. Saying she does not hold the Childrens Early School or any other day care official responsible for what happened, Oxendine noted she is comfortable bringing her son back to be watched. As long as its not in that womans care, she said. Watch: Husband Allegedly Beats Breastfeeding Wife After She Denies His Advances Related Articles: Good morning. These are todays top stories: Senate Republicans silence Elizabeth Warren Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was cut off on the Senate floor last night for quoting Coretta Scott King while voicing her concerns about Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination for Attorney General. The Democratic lawmaker was asked to sit down for violating Senate rules for impugning the motives of Sessions. She later spoke out in tweets, saying, I will not be silent. The Senate is expected to vote on Sessions confirmation today. Betsy DeVos is confirmed as Education Secretary Billionaire philanthropist Betsy DeVos was narrowly approved to be the nations next Secretary of Education yesterday after Vice President Mike Pence stepped in to break a tie in the Senate. In a historic move, Pence voted in favor of DeVos, becoming the first vice president to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination. DeVos was sworn in yesterday evening. Yemen moves to ban U.S. ground missions Yemen is reportedly no longer allowing the U.S. to carry out Special Operation anti-terrorist ground missions in the country. The decision comes after a deadly raid in Yemen last month that left an American commando and several Yemeni civilians dead. Battlestar Galactica actor dies at 71 Richard Hatch, who starred as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica series, has died at age 71. The actor had pancreatic cancer. Also: Tornadoes caused chaos in Louisiana, injuring dozens of people and leaving 10,000 homes without power. A federal appeals courts ruling on Trumps immigration ban could be announced as early as today. The Department of Defense wants to rent space in Trump Tower. Merriam-Webster added more than 1,000 words to its dictionary, including weak saucea popular term among young people for something unimpressive. People are really amused by new photos of former President Barack Obama enjoying his island vacation with Richard Branson. The Morning Brief is published Mondays through Fridays. Email Morning Brief writer Melissa Chan at melissa.chan@time.com. Moscow is reportedly preparing to send a new ambassador to Washington, and if history is any guide, he might end up being a great fit for the citys new policy realities. According to a reports from several Russian news outlets on Monday, the Kremlin is considering promoting Anatoly Antonov, a hardliner who is currently Moscows deputy foreign minister, to the post. Antonov is a well-known figure among U.S. diplomatic and foreign policy hands, several of whom characterized him as a tough, well-prepared negotiator who can also act as an unrepentant propagandist when the need arises. He is a force to be reckoned with, Matthew Rojansky, the director of the Wilson Centers Kennan Institute, told Foreign Policy. If Moscow wants to continue to send the A-Team to Washington, then sending him makes total sense. The 61-year-old Antonov is a career diplomat and was just appointed deputy foreign minister in December. Prior to that, he served as Russias deputy defense minister, where he became the public face of the Kremlins intervention in Syria to bolster President Bashar al-Assad, spearheading multiple press briefings on the issue. He was also a driving force in Moscows 2014 incursion into Ukraine. The Ukraine adventure which has recently seen an uptick in fighting between Russian-backed separatists and government forces also landed Antonov on the E.U.s sanctions list in 2015. Showing his ability to hit opponents hard, Antonov played a leading role in Moscows war of words with Turkey following the shoot down a Russian jet on the Turkish-Syrian border in 2015. He famously presented Moscows accusations that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was involved in an illegal oil trade with the Islamic State, charges that Moscow has subsequently dropped as relations have since warmed between the two countries. The minister would also bring with him years of experience sitting across the negotiating table from American officials. He served as lead negotiator in talks to forge the New START Treaty in 2010, working with U.S. diplomat Rose Gottemoeller, current deputy secretary general at NATO. One U.S. official told FP that Antonov earned the respect of the Americans for his business-like manner in what would prove to be a quick negotiation. Story continues After NATOs 2010 Lisbon Summit, Antonov was again one of the main negotiators with the U.S. on ballistic missile defense cooperation. The talks began very constructively, said Alexander Vershbow, a top Pentagon official at the time who was involved in the negotiations. But after a year of talks, the Russian team shifted tack, deciding instead to try and derail American and NATO missile deployments in Europe. Antonov then became a brilliant obstructionist, nay-sayer, and propagandist until Moscow ended talks with the United States and NATO in 2013, said Vershbow, who stepped down from his post as NATOs deputy secretary general in October. Antonov also led the Russian effort in 2015 and 2016 to set up regular talks with U.S. civilian officials at the Pentagon to ensure U.S. and Russian aircraft maintained their distance in the skies over Syria. Reporting by the Russian newspaper Kommersant indicates that Antonov had been tapped by the Kremlin months ago, when it seemed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton would be president. Antonovs dogmatic views were seen as an asset in dealing with Clinton and navigating what the Kremlin assumed would be strained U.S.-Russia ties. Despite Trumps upset victory and more conciliatory tone towards relations with Russia Antonov apparently still fits the bill. But hell be landing in a very different Washington. The Trump administration has taken a more pro-Russian stance than the Obama team, and has flirted with the idea of unilaterally dropping U.S. sanctions on Russian companies and individuals, and cooperating with Russian forces in Syria to fight the Islamic State. An advisor to U.S. national security officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity told FP that Trumps top advisers, notably White House strategist Steve Bannon and national security advisor Michael Flynn, see Russia as a potential partner. Its not that theyre Russia lovers. They have a view that in the scheme of things, Russia is not the real problem. We need to rethink how we work with Russia, and in the end Russia can actually be at times a partner to deal with real problems like China and radical Islam, the official said. Speaking at a terrorism conference in Moscow last April, Antonov came to much the same conclusion, and sounded the same warnings that have been emanating from the White House over the past several weeks. No one can feel safe today, nobody is living on an island, Antonov warned, adding that the only way to beat back terrorists flowing out of the Middle East is for the international community to work together. This is what we did back in the days of World War II, he added. What stands in the way today is political ambitions and selfish national interests of certain countries, who realize full well that they cant fight terrorism on their own, he concluded in a thinly veiled shot at the Obama administration. But Antonovs real strength, as it has been for Russian ambassadors in the past, is arms control. Regardless of who is in the White House, nuclear weapons is a major issue for Moscow, John Herbst, the director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, told FP. Moscows current envoy to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, who was appointed ambassador after Barack Obamas election in 2008, also served as deputy foreign minister before being posted to America and worked heavily on issues pertaining to nuclear nonproliferation. And despite Antonovs reputation as a hardliner, in Washington hell be advancing the Kremlins marching orders, not his own. Hes a professional, an order-taker, but not really an innovator, said Herbst. Hes someone who wont embarrass Moscow and will toe the Kremlin line, whatever that may be. Photo Credit: ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images Casey Anthony, perhaps the most hated mother in America, was spotted among the estimated 3,000 demonstrators who protested President Donald Trumps executive order barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort. WPTV, West Palm Beach, reported Saturday Anthony, the Orlando mother who was tried and acquitted in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, was among those marching the 2.4 miles from Trump Plaza to Palm Beach. Video of the protest shows Anthony sporting a black cap worn backward and glow-in-the-dark wristbands. She declined to speak on camera but said off camera she opposes Trumps policies. Anthony lives in the West Palm Beach area but rarely is seen in public, WPTV said. Radar Online reported Anthony was greeted with cries of baby killer. Anthony was acquitted in 2011 following a six-week trial in the death of her daughter, whose skeletal remains were found wrapped in a blanket inside a trash bag in a wooded area near her parents Orlando home by a meter reader. Caylee had been missing for a month before her disappearance was reported to police. Anthonys explanation of her daughters whereabouts varied. At one point she told detectives the child had been kidnapped by a nanny and that she had been too scared to alert authorities. She was tried for first-degree murder and prosecutors sought the death penalty. Defense attorneys argued Caylee had drowned accidentally in the family swimming pool, and her grandfather, George Anthony, had disposed of the body. Though the defense did not present any evidence to back up the theory, it ridiculed the prosecutions evidence as fantasy forensics. Anthony did not testify. Though she was acquitted of the murder charge, Anthony was convicted of lying to police. She was credited with time served and freed July 17, 2011. A private investigator last year said Anthonys attorney, Jose Baez, claimed she had killed her daughter and hidden the body. Story continues "Baez had told me that Casey had murdered Caylee and dumped the body somewhere and, he needed all the help he could get to find the body before anyone else did, Dominic Casey told Fox News. Related Articles (LONDON)The mother of a backpacker slain in an Australian hostel wrote an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, rejecting the decision to label her daughters death as a terror attack. The August slayings of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, and fellow Briton Tom Jackson, 30, were on a list of 78 attacks the White House says were executed or inspired by the Islamic State terror groupand under-reported by the media. Rosie Ayliffe says the possibility of terrorism was discounted early in the investigation. My daughters death will not be used to further this insane persecution of innocent people, she wrote. Police in Australia allege that suspect Smail Ayad shouted Allahu akbar an Arabic phrase meaning God is great during the attack, but said there was no indication the assault was motivated by extremism. They have said they are investigating whether Ayad, who is French and was 29 years old at the time of killing, had a romantic obsession with Ayliffe-Chung. Ayads lawyer told a court in October that her client had been given a preliminary diagnosis of schizophrenia. The case has been referred to the Queensland state Mental Health Court, which determines whether a person is competent to stand trial. The attack took place in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene. Jackson tried to stop the attack and was fatally wounded. This vilification of whole nation states and their people based on religion is a terrifying reminder of the horror that can ensue when we allow ourselves to be led by ignorant people into darkness and hatred, Ayliffe wrote. This article originally appeared on TIME. The mother of a backpacker slain in an Australian hostel wrote an open letter to President Donald Trump, rejecting the decision to label her daughters death as a terror attack. The August slayings of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, and fellow Briton Tom Jackson, 30, were on a list of 78 attacks the White House says were executed or inspired by the Islamic State terror groupand under-reported by the media. Rosie Ayliffe says the possibility of terrorism was discounted early in the investigation. .@realDonaldTrump An open letter regarding the deaths of the heroic Tom Jackson and my daughter, Mia Ayliffe-Chung: pic.twitter.com/e4oK5eey0H Rosie Ayliffe (@RosieAyliffe) February 7, 2017 My daughters death will not be used to further this insane persecution of innocent people, she wrote in the letter shared on her social media. Police in Australia allege that suspect Smail Ayad shouted Allahu akbar an Arabic phrase meaning God is great during the attack, but said there was no indication the assault was motivated by extremism. They have said they are investigating whether Ayad, who is French and was 29 years old at the time of killing, had a romantic obsession with Ayliffe-Chung. President Trump Assails So-Called Judge Challenging Travel Ban Ayads lawyer told a court in October that her client had been given a preliminary diagnosis of schizophrenia. The case has been referred to the Queensland state Mental Health Court, which determines whether a person is competent to stand trial. The attack took place in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene. Jackson tried to stop the attack and was fatally wounded. This vilification of whole nation states and their people based on religion is a terrifying reminder of the horror that can ensue when we allow ourselves to be led by ignorant people into darkness and hatred, Ayliffe wrote. Sydney (AFP) - The mother of a backpacker killed in Australia has slammed Donald Trump for including the stabbing death on a list of supposedly under-reported terrorist attacks, claiming the president was using her daughter to demonise Muslims. The US leader this week accused "dishonest" media of purposefully failing to report on attacks by radical jihadists, for which he provided no evidence, in the wake of his contentious travel ban on people from seven mostly-Muslim nations. The White House distributed a list of 78 incidents it said were "executed or inspired by" the Islamic State group, saying most "have not received the media attention they deserved". Five Australian attacks were included, including a cafe siege in Sydney in 2014 that received global headlines and the stabbing deaths of British backpackers Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, and Tom Jackson, 30, last year. Agence France-Presse filed five stories on the backpacker killings which were also widely covered by the British press and other media in Australia and around the world. In an open letter to Trump posted on social media, Ayliffe-Chung's mother Rosie Ayliffe said it was wrong to connect her death with Islamic fundamentalism. "The possibility of Mia and Tom's deaths being consequent to an Islamic terror attack was discounted in the early stages of the police investigation," she said. Frenchman Smail Ayad has been charged with their murders at a backpacker a hostel in Home Hill, a rural town in north Queensland state. Police said they had found no signs of radicalisation despite Ayad saying "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) during the attack, and ruled out any terror links. "There has been no indication whatsoever that any radicalisation or any political motives existed that caused him to attack the people that he did," Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder told a press conference last August. Rosie Ayliffe said "any fool can shout Allahu Akbar as they commit a crime" and said she had travelled extensively in the Islamic world and "encountered nothing but respect and hospitality". Story continues "This vilification of whole nation states and their people based on religion is a terrifying reminder of the horror that can ensue when we allow ourselves to be led by ignorant people into darkness and hatred," she added in the letter. "My daughter's death will not be used to further this insane persecution of innocent people." Also on the Trump list of atrocities he claimed were under-reported were the Paris attacks of November 13, 2015, the Nice truck-attack of June 14, 2016, and the San Bernardino mass shooting in California in December 2015. All dominated global headlines for days. By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - A mother has sued a Pennsylvania school district for a delay in telling parents that the water at her daughter's school was contaminated with toxic levels of lead, according to a complaint filed in U.S. federal court on Wednesday. The Butler Area School District told parents in a letter on Jan. 20 that test results, which they acknowledged receiving five months earlier, had found leads levels at Summit Elementary School "exceeding acceptable water standards." Jennifer Tait, whose daughter attends the school, says officials should have said something as soon as the test results came through last August, according to her lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh. Despite lead abatement efforts beginning in the 20th century, when lead was once commonly used in pipes and paint, communities across the United States continue to be exposed to dangerous levels of the metal. Lead poisoning can permanently stunt a child's intelligence and development. The issue came to the fore again in 2015 after state officials in Michigan acknowledged that the water supply in the city of Flint had been contaminated by lead. In her lawsuit, Tait accuses school district officials in Butler of a "gross delay" in notifying parents, saying her daughter and other students routinely drank water tainted with toxic levels of lead for the five months between when the school district's received the test results and when it sent out the letter. The district officials' actions in effect created "a school full of poisonous drinking water," the lawsuit said. Tait is seeking damages for negligence, among other charges, and is asking the court to allow others at the school to join in the lawsuit. William Pettigrew, the school district's acting superintendent, referred questions about the lawsuit to the district's lawyer, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Story continues Pettigrew said he took over after Dale Lumley, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, resigned and retired on Sunday. Lumley could not immediately be reached for comment. In an earlier statement, Lumley said a school maintenance official failed to share the worrying test results with him or the district's board until Jan. 19, the day before he sent out the letter to parents and sought out a supply of bottled water for students. The district's director of maintenance also resigned this week, Pettigrew said. "The school is closed under my recommendation," Pettigrew said. The children are now being taught in a vacant school building nearby, he said. The school's water was found to contain lead at levels nearly four times higher than federal limits, with one sample measured at 55 parts per billion, according to the Jan. 20 letter, which is posted on the district's website. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Bill Rigby and Leslie Adler) A string of powerful storms left paths of destruction in the South on Tuesday as tornadoes touched down across southern Louisiana and elsewhere. Twisters ripped through areas of New Orleans, including those affected by Hurricane Katrina, causing thousands to lose power in the Bayou State. Read: Quick-Thinking Man Saves Teen With Autism After Finding Him Asleep in His Shed During Nor'Easter An unknown number of homes and businesses were also destroyed while cars and trucks were flipped like toys, but Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said no deaths were reported. According to reports, nearly half a dozen powerful twisters barreled through southeast Louisiana. While no deaths were reported, at least 40 people were injured in Louisiana. In surveillance footage and cell phone videos taken by brave bystanders, fierce winds whip debris through the air, roofs are blown off buildings, and power lines flash before the lights go out in the paths of the storms. Gov. Edwards traveled to New Orleans to tour tornado-damaged areas and meet with local officials. "I am heartbroken to once again see Louisiana families suffering in the wake of devastating tornadoes today," Gov. Edwards said Tuesday. "We are working tirelessly to ensure that every citizen affected by this storm receives the resources they need as quickly as possible." Read: Frozen in Time: 7 of the Worst Blizzards to Ever Hit America The governor also declared a state of emergency and dispatched the National Guard to the hardest-hit areas. The Baton Rouge area also got hit with severe weather, officials said. Three people in Ascension Parish suffered minor injuries and several homes and buildings were damaged, according to the sheriff's office. Two Mississippi counties reported wind damage, but no injuries, from suspected tornadoes, according to reports. Watch: Fearless Storm Chaser Wearing a Dress Strikes a Pose in Front of Tornado Related Articles: By Simon Lewis and Mohammad Nurul Islam YANGON/COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (Reuters) - A Myanmar patrol boat opened fire on Bangladeshi fishermen, killing one, because it feared it was under attack, Myanmar state media said on Wednesday, in a report on the latest violence on the countries' troubled border. But Bangladesh called the early Monday shooting an "act of unprovoked aggression" against unarmed fishermen, in a comment likely to increase tension on a border that has been unsettled since attacks on Myanmar guard posts on Oct. 9 in which nine policemen were killed. Myanmar blamed insurgents from the Rohingya Muslim minority for the October attacks and, in response, its security forces launched a crackdown that has tested the already strained relations between the neighbors, who both see the stateless Rohingya as the other side's problem. Bangladesh has complained about a new wave of almost 70,000 refugees from Myanmar since Oct. 9, who have followed hundreds of thousands of Rohingya already in Bangladesh, having fled previous unrest and discrimination. Many of the refugees have given accounts of extrajudicial killings, beatings, rape and arbitrary detention to U.N. investigators, journalists and human rights monitors. The Myanmar government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected the reports of abuse, saying many were fabricated. It insists strife in the area near the border with Bangladesh, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter. The government-run Global New Light of Myanmar, said the Myanmar patrol boat came across eight "illegal" Bangladeshi fishing boats, five of which were in Myanmar's waters. "The illegal boats surrounded the marine patrol boat in maneuvers that suggested they were going to attack," the newspaper said, citing unidentified officials. "To ensure security and the lives of the soldiers, the patrol team fired two shots, causing the boats to abandon the area." The newspaper did not suggest the Bangladeshi fishermen were armed. 'ACTS OF AGGRESSION' Bangladeshi police, residents and fishermen in the Bangladeshi district of Teknaf said fisherman Nurul Amin, 26, was killed when a Myanmar navy vessel approached his boat at speed in the Naf river which forms the border in that area. The Myanmar boat chased the small wooden fishing boat toward the Bangladeshi bank of the river before opening fire, they said. One fisherman was being treated for a bullet wound and another went overboard but swam to safety, said the sources, including Colonel Anisur Rahman, Border Guard Bangladesh commander for Cox's Bazar. Rahman said the Myanmar vessel had "crossed into Bangladesh's body of water". Bangladesh had "strongly protested the act of unprovoked aggression" to Myanmar's government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "The ministry expressed deep concern at the repetition of such acts of aggression that do not contribute towards building up of an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding among neighbors," it said. Bangladesh officials said in late December four Bangladeshi fishermen were injured by Myanmar's navy in an incident on the border. A spokesman for the office of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, said the information in the newspaper report came directly from the navy and he could not give any more details. "This is a complicated issue," said the spokesman, Zaw Htay, adding it would take time to "find out the real situation of this incident". (Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Robert Birsel) FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) President Trumps new head of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, hasnt been in office long, but hes has been quick to make his policy priorities clear. And diluting the net-neutrality regulations adopted by his predecessor Tom Wheeler if not outright deleting them looks high on his list. The rules currently remain in force, and still bar internet providers from stopping or slowing down legal websites and apps or straight up charging them for faster delivery of their data. But in his first two weeks as chairman, Pai has followed through on his longstanding opposition to those regulations by taking early steps to weaken them, which could mean your favorite sites and apps like Spotify will load a lot slower or cost more. Opening moves One of Pais first moves as chairman was to propose a five-year extension of an expired waiver that had let smaller internet providers out of reporting requirements mandating disclosure of network management practices, performance and commercial terms, otherwise known as fees and surcharges you may owe them. Pai said that exemption, limited to providers with 250,000 subscribers or less (the old waiver set that ceiling at 100,000), would free them from unnecessary, onerous and ill-defined reporting obligations. But it also liberates them from the pressure to adopt last years FCC proposal for nutrition-label-style disclosures. Days later, Pai terminated an investigation into whether AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) were violating net-neutrality principles by exempting their own video services from their wireless data caps. In a statement, Pai defended those free-data plans by saying they are popular with customers and boost competition among wireless providers. Neither move should have surprised readers of Pais earlier statements. When the FCC adopted net-neutrality rules in early 2015, his 67-page dissent denounced them as intrusive government regulations that wont work to solve a problem that doesnt exist using legal authority the FCC doesnt have. Story continues In that and older writings see, for instance, his May 2014 statement on net-neutrality Pai has suggested that the FCC should defend basic freedoms to connect to and use legal sites and apps while allowing ISPs to charge sites and apps for better-than-basic delivery. In a live-streamed press conference held Tuesday, Democratic senators lined up to defend the existing rules. There is no problem that needs to be fixed, said Sen. Ed Markey (D.-Mass.). Sen. Patrick Leahy (D.-Vt.) scorned Pais vision of the internet as free and open if youve got money. Varying views from private industry A venture capitalist who has long backed net-neutrality rules, Union Square Ventures partner Fred Wilson, wrote in a blog post that backing startups on a field tilted in the favor of the incumbents is not fun and not particularly profitable either. Another veteran investor who had expressed fears in 2014 about the viability of media-based startups, however, was more confident Monday. I am not really worried about this issue, said John Backus, co-founder and managing partner of the PROOF Fund. He pointed to increasingly fast and cheap bandwidth, much of it from WiFi hotspots instead of cellular networks. Backus also rejected the idea that startups would pay ISPs for premier treatment: I have never seen a startup want to use high-cost equity capital to prioritize delivery of their bits. Large content companies, meanwhile, dont seem afraid. Netflix (NFLX) has told shareholders that its now popular enough with ISPs customers to discourage any bullying attempts. Young Turks Network founder Cenk Uygur pointed to his two big content hosts as reason for confidence that ISPs wont bog down his news-and-talk shows. If they come for us, theyre coming for Google and Facebook, he said in an interview Saturday. I at least have some pretty decent heavyweight partners. Uygur, a net-neutrality advocate, added that smaller video sites had more to fear. What about internet providers themselves? Big ones like Comcast (CMCSA) have made a point of saying they already follow open-internet principles. Net-neutrality opponents suggest that dumping the current rules would let smaller providers raise money by crafting their own deals, but will a Netflix pick up the phone when they call? We will never have the volume of traffic to get significant revenue on the content side, said Michael Goldstein, vice president of sales and marketing at Ting. Ting, which resells Sprint (S) and T-Mobile (TMUS) wireless service and offers its own gigabit fiber internet connection in a few locations, backs net-neutrality. An experiment with real-world consequences The net-neutrality debate can seem abstract, especially since the current rules are call for the FCC to treat internet providers as common carriers that, like phone companies connecting calls, must treat all customers equally. But the outcome of argument will have real-world consequences for not just internet providers and video sites, but you the paying subscriber. Pai and other opponents say rolling back the current rules will free internet providers to invest in upgrading their service. Thats something we should be able to check in two years: If your connection gets faster and cheaper than it would have otherwise, the FCC chair can claim a victory. But if going to sites or apps that your ISP hasnt blessed gets notably more annoying, youll have grounds for complaint. That will also be the case if you get stuck paying more for less, as Markey warned in Tuesdays press conference. None of those outcomes are assured today. Its easier to predict the persistence of the problem net-neutrality rules are supposed to address a lack of competition. So whatever the FCC does, odds are youll still have the same couple of wired broadband providers which for many of you will mean only one, the local cable company. Disclosure: Verizon is in the process of buying Yahoo Finances parent company, Yahoo. More from Rob: Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro. By Ernest Scheyder and Terray Sylvester HOUSTON/CANNON BALL, N.D. (Reuters) - The leader of a Native American tribe attempting to block the Dakota Access oil pipeline said on Wednesday the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe may have exhausted legal options to stop the project after the company building it won federal permission to tunnel under the Missouri River. Legal experts agreed the tribe faces long odds in convincing any court to halt the $3.8 billion project led by Energy Transfer Partners LP, which could now begin operation as soon as June. The U.S. Army said on Tuesday it would grant the final permit for the pipeline after an order from President Donald Trump to expedite the project. The army owns the land through its Corps of Engineers. "We're running out of options, but that doesn't mean that it's over," David Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We're still going to continue to look at all legal options available to us." Opponents called demonstrations against the pipeline in New York, Washington and San Francisco for later on Wednesday. Tuesday's announcement dealt a major setback to Native American tribes and climate activists who have vowed to fight the pipeline, fearing it will desecrate sacred sites and endanger drinking water. Supporters say the pipeline is safer than rail or trucks to transport the oil. The 1,170-mile (1,885 km) line will move crude from the shale oilfields of North Dakota to Illinois en route to the Gulf of Mexico, where many U.S. refineries are located. Public opposition to the pipeline has drawn thousands of people to the North Dakota plains, including high-profile political and celebrity supporters. Large protest camps popped up near the site, leading to several violent clashes, including one incident where protesters burned vehicles, and another when police fired water cannons on activists in sub-freezing temperatures. Over the last several months, more than 600 people have been arrested. The opposition sensed victory last year when the administration of former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, delayed completion of the pipeline pending a review of tribal concerns and in December ordered an environmental study. But those fortunes were reversed after Republican Trump took office on Jan. 20. Trump issued an order on Jan. 24 to expedite both the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and to revive another multibillion-dollar oil artery: Keystone XL.Obama's administration blocked that project in 2015. BIG HURDLE In a court filing on Tuesday, the Army said it would allow the final section of the DAPL to tunnel under Lake Oahe, part of the Missouri River system. The permit was the last bureaucratic hurdle to the pipeline's completion. With liberal activists marching in the streets to protest Trump on issues such as immigration and women's rights, the victory for Trump and the pipeline will present a significant challenge to opponents who have lined up against the new president. The tribe said on Wednesday it would attempt to use a "legal battle and temporary restraining order" to shut down pipeline operations. But Wayne D'Angelo, an energy and environmental lawyer with Kelley Drye & Warren in Washington, said he believed the Trump administration was on "pretty solid legal ground." "The basis for this decision is well-established," D'Angelo said. "The basis for the Obama administration's decision to reverse its position with respect to that easement is not well-established." The tribe would have to prove a very difficult standard: that approval for the pipeline was "arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion or inconsistent with the record before the agency," D'Angelo said. The protest camps dwindled after the Obama administration ordered the environmental review in December as the tribe urged people to leave due to concerns about trash buildup in a flood plain. But a few holdouts have remained, including some who braved temperatures of minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 C) on Wednesday. Two men gathered around a wood stove said they were discouraged by the setback but hoped demonstrations in other parts of the country would galvanize the opposition. "People are a little discouraged right now because we are being attacked by DAPL," said Shadrick, 22, who declined to give his last name for fear of police reprisals. "We're being attacked by the military and the police. We're being attacked by the tribe. We're really on our own here." (Additional reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Matthew Lewis) U.S. prosecutors unveiled an indictment Wednesday detailing what may amount to the largest data breach in the history of the National Security Agency an archive of classified material that may total more than 500 million pages. The incident is a black eye on the secretive spy agencys attempt to crack down on so-called insider threats and may have exposed some of the NSAs most sensitive spy tools. Prosecutors allege Harold T. Martin III stole a huge trove of classified documents, which he stored at his home in Maryland, while working as a contractor to the NSA and other intelligence agencies. While the full scope of Martins collection of top secret material remains unclear, Wednesdays indictment includes 20 charges of improperly retaining classified information. If convicted, Martin could face a maximum of 200 years in prison. In a statement, the acting assistant attorney general for national security, Mary McCord, said Martin violated the trust our nation put in him by stealing and retaining classified documents and other material relating to the national defense beginning as early as 1996 up until his arrest last year. Initial court filings from October hinted Martin may have communicated with foreign powers, but Wednesdays indictment includes no such allegations, only that the NSA contractor stole and improperly retained top secret information. An attorney for Martin declined to comment on the indictment. While Martins stolen archive could total 500 million pages, Wednesdays indictment includes charges for only 20 documents. Investigators didnt clarify whether Martins material is less sensitive than previously suspected or whether they are only indicting him for possession of a portion of the material he stole. Martin allegedly stored the documents at his home, where investigators discovered them stashed on digital devices and in hard copy. They include a 2014 NSA report outlining intelligence information regarding foreign cyber issues, containing targeting information; another 2014 NSA report containing foreign cyber intrusion techniques; and an NSA anti-terrorism operational document concerning extremely sensitive U.S. planning and operations regarding global terrorists. Story continues Martins archive also includes a CIA document and a National Reconnaissance Office document dated from 2007 that included information relating to the launch of an intelligence collection satellite and an unacknowledged ground station. Prosecutors allege that Martin also brought home documents from United States Cyber Command, the branch of the United States military tasked with carrying out offensive cyber operations, that describe capabilities and gaps in capabilities of the American military. U.S. officials have said Martins trove included NSA hacking tools leaked online by a mysterious hacker group calling themselves the Shadow Brokers. Theres speculation Martin may have been the groups source, but Wednesdays indictment includes nothing indicating that the contractor shared any of his material. At the time of his arrest, Martin worked as a contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton, the giant defense contractor. Martins role in the center of a massive breach of classified information is a huge embarrassment for the firm, which also employed NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Since Snowdens leaks, the agency has spent billions trying to improve internal security. Martins motives for accumulating the documents remain unclear. U.S. officials have alternatively speculated that Martin was a hoarder, was trying to get ahead in his career by taking his work and classified documents home with him, or was carrying out espionage. None of these allegations have been substantiated, and Wednesdays indictment sheds no further light on his motives. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images By Dustin Volz (Reuters) - A former National Security Agency contractor was indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges he willfully retained national defense information, in what U.S. officials have said may have been the largest heist of classified government information in history. The indictment alleges that Harold Thomas Martin, 52, spent up to 20 years stealing highly sensitive government material from the U.S. intelligence community related to national defense, collecting a trove of secrets he hoarded at his home in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The government has not said what, if anything, Martin did with the stolen data. Martin faces 20 criminal counts, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the Justice Department said. "For as long as two decades, Harold Martin flagrantly abused the trust placed in him by the government," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein. Martin's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. Martin worked for Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp when he was taken into custody last August. Booz Allen also had employed Edward Snowden, who leaked a trove of secret files to news organizations in 2013 that exposed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the NSA. The indictment provided a lengthy list of documents Martin is alleged to have stolen from multiple intelligence agencies starting in August 1996, including 2014 NSA reports detailing intelligence information "regarding foreign cyber issues" that contained targeting information and "foreign cyber intrusion techniques." The list of pilfered documents includes an NSA user's guide for an intelligence-gathering tool and a 2007 file with details about specific daily operations. The indictment also alleges that Martin stole documents from U.S. Cyber Command, the CIA and the National Reconnaissance Office. Martin was employed as a private contractor by at least seven different companies, working for several government agencies beginning in 1993 after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years, according to the indictment. His positions, which involved work on highly classified projects involving government computer systems, gave him various security clearances that routinely provided him access to top-secret information, it said. Unnamed U.S. officials told the Washington Post this week that Martin allegedly took more than 75 percent of the hacking tools belonging to the NSA's tailored access operations, the agency's elite hacking unit. Booz Allen, which earns billions of dollars a year contracting with U.S. intelligence agencies, came under renewed scrutiny after Martin's arrest was revealed last October. The firm announced it had hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead an audit of its security, personnel and management practices. A Booz Allen spokeswoman did not have an immediate comment on Martin's indictment. Martin's initial appearance in the U.S. District Court of Baltimore was scheduled for next Tuesday, the Justice Department said. (Reporting by Dustin Volz in Washington and Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Phil Berlowitz) Obama in 2011. (Pete Souza/Instagram) For Pete Souza, who served as the chief White House photographer during former President Barack Obamas eight years in office, every day is throwback Thursday and, increasingly, an opportunity to slam President Trump. Since Trumps inauguration, Souza has been posting vintage images from Obamas two terms on Instagram while subtly throwing barbs at the new commander in chief. Last month, amid Trumps war of words with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto over the presidents vow that Mexico will pay for his proposed wall along the U.S. southern border, Souza posted a photo of then-President Obama sampling tequila with Pena Nieto in 2013. This one is for Grover. President Obama sampling some tequila with President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico in 2013. @heygrover A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 31, 2017 at 6:18pm PST Last week, after reports surfaced that Trump abruptly ended a tense phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Souza shared an image of a smiling Obama talking with Turnbull and former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos in September. Talking with then Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand, left, and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia last September at the ASEAN gala dinner. A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Feb 2, 2017 at 2:21pm PST Souza then gave a direct shout-out to Bruce Springsteen, who apologized for Trump on behalf of America during a concert in Melbourne. During the chaos that followed Trumps controversial executive order on immigration banning Syrian refugees, Souza responded by sharing an image of Obama and a young refugee. Story continues Talking with a young refugee at a Dignity for Children Foundation classroom in 2015. A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 29, 2017 at 5:16am PST He followed that with a picture, taken in the Oval Office the day after the election, of Obamas meeting with Alex, the 6-year-old boy who wrote a letter to the president about the heartbreaking image of a dust-covered Syrian boy in the ambulance that went viral last year. Its not just Trump who has drawn Souzas ire. After Trumps announcement of Neil Gorsuch as his nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the February 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Souza posted a photo of Obamas pick, Merrick Garland, who was blocked by congressional Republicans and never received a vote. Merrick Garland. Just saying. A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 31, 2017 at 5:28pm PST On Monday, after a New York Times report that Trump aides have been forced to confer in the dark because they cannot figure out how to operate the light switches in the Cabinet room, Souza posted a photo of a fully lit Cabinet meeting. Those damn lights A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Feb 6, 2017 at 7:33am PST His caption: Those damn lights ;) The same day, Souza shared an image of Obama meeting with three female advisers at the White House a reference, perhaps, to Trumps mostly male West Wing. Critics have noted that many of Trumps photo ops are all-male affairs. Meeting with top advisors. This is a full-frame picture. I guess you'd say I was trying to make a point. A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Feb 6, 2017 at 9:29am PST Souza isnt the only Obama alum using social media to take on Trump. An aggressive army of formerly buttoned-up Obama staffers have taken to Twitter to rail against Trumps policies. Related: Obamas White House alumni fight Trump tweet for tweet Souzas trolling of Trump has gone beyond photo sharing too. On Twitter, the former White House photog has been tweeting and retweeting links to articles critical of the Trump administration. And on Wednesday, Souza retweeted a Trump message and compared his presidency to Netflixs House of Cards. Maybe the producers of House of Cards should think about a 13-part documentary on this POTUS instead of doing 13 new fictional episodes. https://t.co/3zmdSPLBMA Pete Souza (@PeteSouza) February 8, 2017 I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it. Some FAKE NEWS media, in order to marginalize, lies! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2017 More from Yahoo News: Doha (AFP) - Qatar's energy minister, the current OPEC president, said Wednesday that world oil markets were "responding positively" to output cuts implemented by the cartel and some non-cartel producers. The move to tighten the taps is aimed at reducing a glut of oil on world markets that has depressed prices and taken a heavy toll on the finances of many energy producing nations. OPEC and non-OPEC producers led by Russia agreed in December to cut output by nearly 1.8 million barrels per day, initially for six months, starting from the beginning of this year. "I think the market is responding positively and you can see the drop in supply," Mohammed Saleh al-Sada told reporters. "As you know, what we are after is the rebalancing of the market." Global oil prices fell from more than $100 a barrel in June 2014 to near 13-year lows of less than $30 in early 2016. They have since bounced back above $50 following the OPEC output deal. Sada, who was speaking to reporters as part of a Qatari-government organised press trip with international journalists in Doha, said he was happy with the level of compliance with the agreed cuts shown by individual producers. "The degree of adherence is very high," he said. And he said the output curbs needed more time in place so officials could judge their effectiveness. "It is too early to make a judgement because the agreement is for six months, extendable for six more months." Sada said that a scheduled OPEC meeting in May would give a "better picture" about the state of the market. However, the minister added he was confident that ultimately prices would adjust. "Once we get the market in a rebalanced situation, then the mechanism of determining the price is going to work automatically and we are not manipulating the price," said Sada. The OPEC president's comments helped pare back a slide in prices following a reading showing US stockpiles soared last week. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell more than one percent on Tuesday as markets fretted that a US government report to be released later on Wednesday would also point to an increase in stockpiles. Around 0730 GMT, West Texas Intermediate was trading down 46 cents at $51.71 per barrel, while Brent North Sea crude was down 29 cents at $54.76. Nancy Pelosi says President Trumps call to reshape Dodd-Frank is a massive con and that he is putting #WallStreetFirst. Sadly, she has set the tone for Congressional Democrats, siding with Elizabeth Warren progressives who hate Wall Street bankers and absolutely loathe Donald Trump. Given the toxic political climate, Congress is unlikely to produce a much-needed overhaul of Dodd-Frank. Not only would it be a heavy and politically difficult lift for Republicans, but they also have other priorities, including reforming the collapsing Obamacare healthcare program and our dysfunctional tax system. Related: The Republican War on Obamas Regulations Is About to Begin But heres a hard truth for the Pelosi-Warren camp: it may not require rewriting Dodd-Frank to soften bank regulation. Having pushed through a bill long on pages (now above 20,000) and short on specifics, financial overseers have had considerable discretion in enforcing vague rules. Many in the banking industry complain that the laws interpreters have been too tough, driven by a political agenda that has hurt the economy. Depending on his picks to head up key posts, Trump can quickly turn that tide. As former Congressman Barney Frank said last November on CNBC, the main thing [Trump] can do to downplay regulation is appoint regulators who wont regulate. That may already be happening. According to some in the financial industry, bankers have detected in recent weeks a more reasonable tone in dealing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The relief is welcome, and more is to come. Why should we care? Because the financial industry greases the economic skids. Many blame the past several years sub-par growth partly on a lack of risk-taking and lending in the banking sector. Related: Trumps Golden Opportunity: Slashing 179,000 Pages of Federal Regulations What do bankers want? They want more control over how they manage their businesses and fewer quixotic compliance mandates. They complain that they are spending too much time and money trying to meet arbitrary and changeable rules set down by regulators instead of growing their businesses. They say, for instance, the determination of what constitutes a systemically important financial institution is capricious, much like the $10 billion asset threshold for intensive oversight. Story continues Banks are spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year on stress-testing and preparing complex living wills that most consider a useless academic exercise. They say that the regulators inconsistent determination of how banks can meet heightened capital requirements has led many to harbor resources instead of making loans which might spur growth. The six biggest banks, for example, have accumulated more than $100 billion in excess capital, money beyond that required to meet regulators demands; they want the freedom to pay dividends or buy back shares, activities governed by the Fed. Pam Perdue writes in The Hill, since January 2013, banks and credit unions alone have dealt with 1,207 new rules spanning 53,486 pages in the Federal Register. Those figures come from the Banking Compliance Index, which measures the incremental cost burden on financial institutions. In the last quarter alone, according to this measure, banks faced new 6,057 pages outlining 115 new rules, requiring 809 hours of compliance per institution, at a cost of more than $53,000 per bank. Related: An Economic Agenda for Disruptor Trump That might not sound dire, except that a study by the Minneapolis Fed showed that adding just two compliance personnel would make one-third of all small banks unprofitable. Since half of all small business loans come from banks with under $10 billion in assets, the sector is vital to an expanding economy. Between 2010 and 2015 the number of community banks (those with less than $10 billion in assets) shrank by 14 percent; many blame regulatory excess. In President Trumps February 3rd executive order he asked for a review of financial regulation and laid down core principles for banking rules. He did not, for the record, command the dismantling of Dodd-Frank, as the liberal media has reported. He kept key tenets of the bill, such as banning the use of taxpayer money to bail out failed banks. His appointees to various agencies will be charged with implementing his guidelines, which stress, for instance, fostering economic growth and vibrant financial markets and enabling American companies to be competitive with foreign firms. Importantly, Trump has the opportunity to immediately nominate a vice chairman of supervision at the Fed, a post that was created through Dodd-Frank but never filled by President Obama. Former Treasury official and GE executive David Nason is a leading candidate for the position, a choice that bankers would welcome. Nason runs GEs Energy Financial Services division and would bring a desirable level of real-world experience to the Fed office. Currently, nearly every person in the supervisory office is an economist, many of whom appear to have been hired straight out of graduate school. Related: U.S. Banks Gear Up to Fight Dodd-Frank Act's Volcker Rule Trump can also fill two vacant Fed chairs right away with candidates not hostile to the financial sector. Also, most expect the resignation of Fed Board member Daniel Tarullo who has acted as a banking supervisor and is known for his harsh take on regulation and capital requirements. Janet Yellens term on the Fed runs until 2024, but she is expected to step down when her chairmanship ends early next year. Likewise, Vice Chair Stanley Fisher will likely leave in of July 2018. Consequently, Trump may well be in a position to fill five of seven fed seats over the next year and a half. Both the head of the OCC and the FDIC are expected to vacate their posts this year. The remaining key regulator is Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Chief Richard Cordray. His tenure will be determined by the courts which will decide whether the crafting of his position was unconstitutional, as a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has claimed. In short, over the next several months Trump can replace many key officials that have overseen the banking sector in recent years and appoint more business-friendly individuals who agree with his call for rolling back excessive regulation. With Democrats behaving in full spoiler mode, that may be the best we can hope for. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May won approval from parliament's lower chamber on Wednesday to trigger Britain's exit from the European Union, defeating attempts by pro-EU lawmakers to attach extra conditions to her plan to start divorce talks by March 31. Lawmakers (MPs) voted 494 to 122 in favour of legislation giving May the right to trigger Brexit, ending days of intense debate. The bill now needs the approval of the upper chamber, in which May does not have a majority, before it becomes law. The victory marks a significant step towards starting what is expected to be a complex and difficult two-year negotiation with the EU on issues such as trade, immigration and security that will redraw Britain's role in the world. "We've seen a historic vote tonight," said Brexit minister David Davis. "A big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states." After surviving a minor rebellion from within May's Conservative Party that had threatened to undermine her authority and negotiating strategy, the law was passed without amendment and on schedule. That raised expectations that the bill will enjoy an equally smooth passage in the unelected House of Lords, when its journey there begins in earnest on Feb. 20. The government wants to complete the legislative process by March 7. Sources close to discussions in the upper chamber said they expected peers to keep pushing for parliament to have more say during the negotiating process. One source said that could mean a one-week delay to the law's final approval, but neither expected the process to endanger May's end of March deadline. STRAINING UNITY At times rancorous, the debate exposed two major faultlines running through Britain's post-referendum politics: the disconnect between strongly pro-EU Scotland and the rest of the country, and the division over Europe in the opposition Labour Party. An opinion poll indicated on Wednesday that support for Scottish independence had risen since May came out last month in favour of Britain making a clean break when it leaves the EU. Scottish National Party lawmakers repeatedly said in parliament they were being denied a voice in the Brexit process, which was fuelling demand for another independence referendum. "The barracking by government members and the preventing of SNP MPs from speaking in this House play right into our hands and result in headlines saying that support for independence is surging," said SNP lawmaker Joanna Cherry. As the final votes were being counted, SNP lawmakers sang Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" - the EU's anthem - in the debating chamber. The law has also become a conduit for frustrations within the Labour Party, which has split over whether it should support May's vision of Brexit or try to block it to secure a different deal. Labour's support is divided between more prosperous urban constituencies that generally favoured staying in the EU and declining industrial areas that strongly backed Brexit. To complicate things further, many pro-EU Labour lawmakers represent anti-EU areas. Dozens of Labour lawmakers voted against the bill, defying their leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said they should support the law even though their attempts to amend it had failed. Several members of Corbyn's policy team resigned over the issue. "I ... cannot, in all good conscience, vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home," said Clive Lewis, Corbyn's business spokesman, who quit moments before the vote. (Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kevin Liffey) PITTSBURGH (AP) A western Pennsylvania school district where high levels of lead in an elementary school's water went unresolved for months faces a federal lawsuit. The school, Summit Elementary, was closed for two days in January after Butler School District Superintendent Dale Lumley said he learned the problem hadn't been rectified since it was detected in August. The school has since been closed indefinitely for unrelated problems with E. coli in the wells from which the school's water is drawn, and its students began classes Monday in another previously shuttered building. Lumley resigned Sunday, the district announced, and has yet to comment on his decision. His attorney, and one for the district, didn't immediately return calls for comment Wednesday. Those attorneys declined comment Tuesday when Pittsburgh media outlets contacted them after the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court. Attorneys for Jennifer Tait and her daughter, Jillian, who attended Summit Elementary, are hoping a federal judge in Pittsburgh will grant class-action status in their case, which would let other students exposed to lead in the water join the lawsuit. Brendan Lupetin, one of the attorneys for the Taits, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the district's response to the lead issue has been insufficient. The district has offered to pay each student to be tested once for lead in their bloodstreams. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead levels of 5 micrograms in a deciliter, or one-tenth of a liter of blood, is considered elevated and unsafe for children. Jillian Tate's blood showed 3 micrograms of lead, Lupetin said, adding, "In the medical literature, any lead levels in a child's blood is not good." The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and wants a judge to order the district to pay for future periodic lead testing for Summit students. The district should also be forced to create a contingency fund to pay for future medical expenses, should any students eventually develop health problems linked to lead in the school's water, Lupetin said. Story continues "Lead poisoning in kids is real scary stuff," Lupetin said. "It usually always causes some kind of compromise of the central nervous system" and can lead to behavioral and learning disabilities. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages, which Lupetin said can be imposed if a jury finds "reckless conduct" by the district or a "state-created" danger. Lumley has said he was aware of the August tests, but was advised by a maintenance worker put in charge of monitoring the water that the lead problem was resolved by September. It turns out it wasn't, though it's not clear when Lumley learned that before it was revealed to angry parents at a school board meeting Jan. 23. Washington (AFP) - The Pentagon wants to rent space in Trump Tower in New York for equipment and military personnel accompanying President Donald Trump during his stays there, it confirmed Wednesday. First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron are still living in Trump Tower and the real estate tycoon-turned-president plans to make regular visits. US presidents are accompanied around-the-clock by military personnel, notably those who carry the briefcase containing the nuclear codes that would enable him to launch an attack at a moment's notice. The Pentagon's request for a Trump Tower foothold carries potential for embarrassment because it plays into a running debate over potential conflicts involving Trump's vast real estate interests. Trump has refused to sell off his holdings upon taking office, instead putting them in a trust managed by his two elder sons. He also rejected putting his assets in a "blind trust" controlled by an independent manager. "In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower," Lieutenant Colonel James Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman said. "The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building," he said. According to Pentagon officials, the Defense Department has previously rented space near the private residences of previous presidents. But they were unable to provide details. CNN reported that renting a full floor on Trump Tower costs about $1.5 million a year. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f376143%2f862b54cf-2874-4dbd-b68b-73545e9a0c17 As far as fruit packaging goes, this is perhaps the least Earth-friendly one by far. A Hong Kong supermarket has come under fire from shoppers for carrying an elaborately packed single strawberry from Japan. The strawberry, sold by the upscale CitySuper, is packaged in a box, nestled in a straw nest and fruit sock within. Its price tag? HKD $168 ($21.60). SEE ALSO: Canadian grocery store is in hot water over pre-peeled avocados The uproar started over the weekend, when a picture of the fruit was posted on Facebook. It soon started making its way round social media. People are starving all over the world but a supermarket in Hong Kong is selling a single strawberry for 17 https://t.co/7zLqzd3Ktg Rachel Blundy (@rachelblundy) February 8, 2017 CitySuper says that the strawberry was packaged this way by the Japanese supplier as a Valentine's Day gift idea. "The strawberry gift box was imported from Japan with its original packaging given its premium grade, rarity, and fragility for quality protection," a spokesperson for the supermarket told the Hong Kong Free Press. The supermarket said that the strawberry's high price was due to its cost price, logistical costs, market conditions and product exclusivity. The strawberry was air-flown from the city of Nara, Japan, and has been billed as a "rare" fruit with "good acidity and rich sweetness". ## # # # A photo posted by fufufu^ ^01.13 (@fumiko.koizumi) on Feb 5, 2017 at 4:59am PST The uproar about the box comes amidst a petition by environmentalists in Hong Kong calling for less plastic packaging by supermarkets. The petition was launched in January and now has 7,917 signatures. Story continues Environmentalists have also started a campaign, #trashthecheckout, to pressure the city's supermarkets to reduce plastic packaging by removing plastic packaging from fruits and vegetables and leaving it at checkout counters: Gary Stokes, who started the campaign, wrote in his Facebook post: "If everyone starts to #trashthecheckout then we can only hope that the supermarkets will start listening and begin to source their produce responsibly." Stokes, who is also Asia director for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, told the South China Morning Post that the "heavily packaged strawberry" reminded him "of something out of Mad Max like it's the last strawberry on Earth." Lima (AFP) - Prosecutors in Peru requested the arrest of former president Alejandro Toledo Tuesday over accusations he took a $20-million bribe from scandal-plagued Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. A judge now has 48 hours to decide whether to grant the request to jail Toledo for 18 months of "preventive custody" as prosecutors prepare their case against him on charges of money laundering and influence peddling, the attorney general's office said. Toledo, Peru's president from 2001 to 2006, came to office on a promise to clean up politics after a dirty decade under ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who is today in prison for corruption and human rights violations. The mounting case against him has caused shock in Peru since reports emerged earlier this month that he took a massive bribe to ensure Odebrecht won the juicy contract for a highway linking Brazil and Peru. Investigators raided Toledo's house in Lima on Saturday, carting off documents. The former president is currently believed to be in Paris, and prosecutors argue he poses a flight risk. The accusations emerged from the giant scandal in Brazil involving the state oil company there, Petrobras, which was bilked for billions of dollars over the course of a decade by corrupt executives, politicians and contractors -- including Odebrecht. Among the tell-all plea bargains to come out of the Brazilian investigation was one from Odebrecht's former boss in Peru, Jorge Barata, who admitted the company gave Toledo's government a $20-million bribe for the highway project. Barata said the intermediary for the bribe was Toledo's security chief, Israeli national Avraham Dan On, according to investigation documents leaked to the Peruvian press. The money was allegedly deposited in accounts belonging to a Peruvian-Israeli businessman, Josef Maiman, a friend of Toledo. Investigators have traced $11 million in bribes to Maiman's accounts, deposited between 2005 and 2008. They allege the money was then stashed in offshore businesses created by Maiman and Toledo's mother-in-law. Toledo denies the accusations. By Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - (This January 30 story has been refiled to fix name spellings in paragraphs 12, 13, 17.) Philippine police have suspended controversial anti-narcotics operations until they can rid their ranks of "scalawags", their chief said on Monday, following President Rodrigo Duterte's admission the force was "corrupt to the core". Duterte, in a break from his steadfast support for the police, estimated 40 percent of the force were corrupt and as "lousy as drug lords", responding angrily late on Sunday to the kidnap and killing of a South Korean businessman by drug squad officers. Duterte has been unwavering in his defense of police involved in the campaign against drugs in the face of international outrage over the death toll, and repeatedly said he would protect those accused of wrongdoing. He has, however, frequently voiced frustration at police corruption. Duterte made it clear the drugs war would continue until his presidency ends in 2022 and his police chief, Ronald dela Rosa, said he hoped operations could resume within a month. "To all the rogue cops, beware! We no longer have a war on drugs. We now have a war on scalawags," Dela Rosa told reporters after a flag-raising ceremony at the police headquarters where South Korean Jee Ick-joo, 53, was strangled in October. "We will cleanse our ranks." New York-based Human Rights Watch dismissed the suspension of the anti-drug campaign as a public relations stunt, unless Duterte "seeks meaningful accountability" for the wave of drug-related killings unleashed after he took office seven months ago. More than 7,000 people have since been killed, about 2,250 during police operations. The remainder are being investigated. The drugs war has alarmed the West and rights groups accuse Duterte of tolerating a wave of extrajudicial killings by police. Police deny this, saying they have acted in self-defense. 'DIRE CONSEQUENCES' While rights groups suspect many of killings being investigated have been police "hits", police have attributed the deaths to vigilantism, narcotics turf wars and other violence not related to drugs. "His wilful blind-eye to those deaths constitutes a disgraceful betrayal of the public trust," Phelim Kine, the group's deputy Asia director, said in a statement, referring to Duterte. Kine said it was "a telling indicator of his personal contempt for rule of law and the right to life of his fellow citizens". Dela Rosa's decision to suspend the drug crackdown came a day after he announced the dismantling of all anti-drugs units due to police abuses, including the planting of evidence. The death of Jee was a disaster for the image of the police. Jee was arrested for drug offences that his wife and lawyers said was an official cover for kidnap for ransom. Senator Leila De Lima, Duterte's most outspoken critic, said the president had a problem with "cognitive dissonance" and it was baffling that he could so strongly denounce police yet vow no let-up in the campaign. "I continue to worry about the state of the president's mental health," she said in a statement. "This latest incongruence between his factual assertion of a rotten police force on the one hand and his reliance on them to continue prosecuting his drug war as official government policy, has dire consequences." (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel) Washington (AFP) - The ringleader behind a 2015 armed assault on a Texas exhibit of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that left two attackers dead was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday. Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, 45, had been found guilty of supporting the Islamic State group, of conspiracy to commit murder, and other charges in what the US Justice Department said was its first jury trial involving an IS-inspired attack on the United States. US-born and raised Kareem was alleged to have chosen the target, supplied the weapons and encouraged friends Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi to undertake the attack in Garland, Texas on May 3, 2015. Carrying assault weapons and wearing body armor, the two were intercepted by security personnel and, as a gunfight erupted, were shot dead before they could enter the event. A security guard was wounded. "Over the course of the conspiracy, Kareem, Simpson and Soofi considered attacking military bases, individual military service members, shopping malls, the Super Bowl and the 'Mohammed Art Exhibit and Contest,'" the Justice department said in a statement. All three had shown support for the Islamic State group, which the US has officially designated an "foreign terrorist organization", according to prosecutors. Tindouf (Algeria) (AFP) - Behind a long sand wall winding through the disputed Western Sahara, leaders battling for the independence of the former Spanish colony say they are on alert. Morocco insists the territory is an integral part of its kingdom, but the Algeria-backed Polisario Front demands a referendum on self-determination. "There are 25,000 Sahrawi fighters and any other Sahrawi is recruitable," whether man or woman, says Polisario defence chief Abdullahi Lehbib. His comments come after the president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Ghali, on Sunday said "all options remain open" to resolve the dispute, hinting at a possible return to armed struggle. Morocco fought the Polisario from 1975 to 1991, gaining control of most of the territory before a UN-brokered ceasefire took effect. It has built six mostly sand barriers along roughly 2,700 kilometres (1,675 miles) to cordon off this land. On the other side is the Polisario-run SADR. Since the 1991 ceasefire, the United Nations has maintained peace keepers in the vast desert territory where around half a million people live. A referendum on independence was set for 1992 but was aborted when Morocco objected to the proposed electoral register, saying it was biased. "Despite the ceasefire we have continued recruitment and conscription," Lehbib tells AFP. Tensions flared last year after the Polisario set up a new military post in the district of Guerguerat near the Mauritanian border, within a stone's throw of Moroccan soldiers. The move came after Morocco last summer started building a tarmac road in the area south of the buffer zone separating the two sides. - 'Resistance Museum' - "The stalling of the peace process, and especially the situation in Guerguerat, mean that we are on alert along the wall," Lehbib says. Trenches, barbed wire and mine fields flank the Sahrawi side of the wall near El-Mahbes. Cheikh Bechri Mhame, the sector's commanding officer, describes how his men patrol the area in four-wheel-drives, looking out for any movement near the barrier which is two to three metres high. Story continues Dressed in military fatigues and armed with automatic rifles, his soldiers are also tasked with cordoning off land peppered with anti-personnel mines. Around a hundred kilometres from there, in one of the refugee camps in the Tindouf area in southwest Algeria, the director of the "Resistance Museum" tells visitors the army was able to adapt to life along the wall. Built between 1980 and 1987, Morocco's "defence wall wasn't efficient in defending the Moroccans," Mohamed Ouleda says. "The (Sahrawi) army chose certain spots to carry out incursions, even if at the time there were only 12,000 fighters to face a Moroccan armada." He said Sahrawis captured "511 Moroccan prisoners of war between the wall's construction and the ceasefire", citing Red Crescent documents that AFP was not able to obtain. In his museum, Ouleda shows off "spoils of war... retrieved on the other side of the wall": weapons, armoured vehicles and Moroccan military documents. Polisario chief Ghali says the wall's construction in fact led to a "war of attrition" for the Moroccans, not the Sahrawis. "The Moroccans built the wall thinking it was insurmountable," he says. "But it became an economic, psychological and moral burden for the Moroccan army instead of a solution." "That's when Morocco started the negotiations that led to the UN peace plan and ceasefire." Warsaw (AFP) - The powerful head of Poland's ruling party on Wednesday warned that any moves toward a two-speed European Union would lead to the bloc falling apart. Jaroslaw Kaczynski told Polish media that a so-called two-speed Europe would lead to the "breakdown, and in fact the liquidation, of the European Union in its current sense." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last week that European leaders may commit to a union of "different speeds" when they make a major declaration on its future at a summit in Rome next month. The EU has long been riven by debate about whether all countries must commit to full integration including the single currency, or whether some can go at different paces. Kaczynski, who is regarded as Poland's real powerbroker despite holding no formal governmental post, made the comment a day after talks with Merkel in Warsaw focused on the EU's future post-Brexit. "I don't think the chancellor is a supporter of this type of concept (two-speed Europe), because if it were to be implemented, then Angela Merkel's long political career, her global political career, would end very badly, because the breakdown of the EU is certainly an event nobody could be happy about," Kaczynski said Wednesday. He has long opposed Germany's federalist model of closer European political integration, arguing instead for reforms that would decentralise the bloc by granting greater powers to member states. The future EU "must be one and it must also be different, it must be better," Kaczynski said. The EU's 27 leaders minus Britain are due to make a declaration at the summit in Rome in March marking the 60th anniversary of the EU, in which they will set out a post-Brexit roadmap. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, a group of the EU's founding members, issued a statement last month backing a two-speed EU. Germany and Poland on Tuesday vowed to cooperate in the interest of European unity, as the EU faces a string of challenges this year including Brexit and several high-stakes national elections where populist parties with anti-EU agendas could make inroads. Poles are overwhelmingly pro-EU, with surveys consistently showing that around 80 percent favour membership, seen by the public as a source of economic growth thanks to generous subsidies from Brussels. London (AFP) - The British government "does not believe there should be a second referendum" on Scottish independence, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said Wednesday, following reports that she is making contingency plans for another vote. Speculation is mounting that Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will declare her intention to hold a rerun of the September 2014 vote, as a poll published Wednesday revealed rising support for independence ahead of Britain's departure from the European Union. "We don't believe that there should be a second referendum. There has been a referendum, it was clear, decisive, it was legal, and both sides agreed to abide by the results of that referendum," May's spokesman told journalists on Wednesday. Downing Street was responding to a report that it had told Scottish newspaper The Courier it was holding "contingency" talks to deal with a referendum announcement. Scotland rejected independence by 55 percent in 2014, but 20 months later it voted to remain in the European Union by 62 percent, sparking calls for a fresh vote. The battle over Scotland's constitutional future is now almost an even split, according to a new poll released Wednesday. Support has risen to 49 percent, excluding undecided voters, with 51 percent in favour of staying in the British union, a BMG poll for the Herald newspaper said. The poll was conducted after May confirmed her intention to take Britain out of the European single market. - 'Game on' - Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has said a second independence referendum is now "highly likely", and allies have suggested it could be as early as 2018. Former SNP leader Alex Salmond tweeted a picture of the Herald's front page story on the poll, saying: "Game on..." The SNP said the latest poll showed the independence debate is now "a virtual dead heat". Story continues "If the Tories continue with their blind pursuit of a hard Brexit, ignoring the clear view of an overwhelming majority of people in Scotland, then more and more people will see independence as the option delivering certainty and stability," said SNP chair Derek Mackay. Conducted among 1,067 voters aged over 16, the poll asked: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" with 43 percent saying "Yes" and 45 percent saying "No". The remainder were undecided or would not say. It represents a three-point swing towards independence from a similar BMG/Herald poll conducted in December. However, the survey also found 56 percent of Scots do not want another independence referendum before the conclusion of Brexit negotiations, expected in 2019. The Scottish parliament, in a symbolic motion, voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to reject Britain's march towards the EU exit, with the semi-autonomous government warning Scotland would not be "humiliated". The Scottish government said the vote a- backed by nearly three quarters of Scottish lawmakers from across the political spectrum a- is one of the most important in the parliament's 18-year history. May warned Wednesday that an independent Scotland "would not be in the European Union." By Elisabeth O'Leary and Alistair Smout EDINBURGH/LONDON (Reuters) - Support for Scottish independence has risen since British Prime Minister Theresa May came out last month in favor of Britain making a clean break with the European Union when it leaves the bloc, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. The poll still showed a slim majority opposed to independence, but the ruling Scottish Nationalist Party said the fact that almost half those asked said they supported secession indicated that sentiment was shifting and could embolden calls for a new vote. In 2014, Scots voted roughly 55 percent to 45 percent to remain in the United Kingdom. But last year's Britain-wide vote to leave the EU changed the landscape because a majority of Scots backed staying in the EU. The pro-EU SNP, the biggest party in Scotland's parliament, has said that there should be another independence vote if its views on Brexit are rejected. May has repeatedly said she sees no need for one. A majority of those asked in the BMG survey, 51 percent, still opposed independence, the survey showed, but that number fell by three and a half points while the number supporting secession rose by the same amount, to 49 percent. The proportions were calculated after "don't know" votes were removed in the survey of 1,067 Scottish residents, which was conducted for the Herald Scotland newspaper. Without removing the "don't knows", the proportions were 43 percent for independence vs 45 percent against. http://tmsnrt.rs/2k3fQwD A demand for a second independence referendum from Scotland's devolved government would throw the United Kingdom into a constitutional crisis just as PM May seeks to negotiate the terms of the Brexit divorce with the EU's 27 other members. The opinion poll findings indicate pro-independence sentiment is not yet strong enough to guarantee the success of such a vote, but the SNP said it showed Scots did not like May's plan to quit the EU's single market when it leaves the bloc. Derek Mackay, a member of the Scottish parliament and SNP Business Convener, said if May continued pursuing what her critics call a "hard Brexit "then more and more people will see independence as the option delivering certainty and stability." HYPOTHETICAL STILL Michael Turner, head of polling at BMG Research said currently only 59 percent of SNP supporters wanted a referendum before Brexit negotiations were completed, which might reflect caution that any ballot arranged too hastily might be lost. "Although support for independence has risen, in some respects, it's hypothetical still," BMG's Turner said, nevertheless adding that in statistical terms, the move in opinion was genuine. "It is a small but significant shift towards independence." Scotland has a population of around 5.3 million, according to the last census, slightly more than 8 percent of the United Kingdom's population as a whole. It was an independent kingdom until joining England in the Act of Union in 1707. A report in Dundee-based newspaper the Courier on Wednesday said May believes Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon could next month demand a second referendum on independence and is privately working on a strategy to deal with this. Asked for comment, a Scottish government source said the government was still in a negotiation process with the United Kingdom which continues in good faith but it was "interesting to see that the UK government appears to accept the Scottish mandate to decide its own future, should that become necessary". However, in his response to the report, a spokesman for May said the UK government did not believe there should be a second referendum. Ultimately it is the United Kingdom's parliament in Westminster which takes the call on whether Scotland can hold a second referendum. Last week, a British minister told nationalists to "forget" about another vote. While Scotland's government can present a bill in the Scottish parliament saying that a referendum will be called, such a move would be open to legal challenge. The BMG poll found a clear majority of those Scottish residents polled - 56 percent to 44 percent - still oppose holding another independence vote before Britain finishes negotiations to leave the EU, probably in early 2019. And while Brussels is sympathetic to Scotland's pro-EU stance, some European politicians, such as Spain's Rajoy, have ruled out membership for an independent Scotland. Spain is sensitive over the issue due to a secessionist movement in Catalonia, where in 2014, there was an informal ballot on independence. The former head of the region this week went on trial for staging the ballot, as it was in breach of a legal order. (Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Philippa Fletcher) U.S. President Donald Trump offered to destroy the career of a Texas state senator who opposes asset seizure before a suspect is convicted during a meeting Tuesday with county sheriffs. Trump met in the Roosevelt Room with sheriffs from around the country and invited them each to make a statement while reporters were present. Rockwell County, Texas, Sheriff Harold Eavenson was the first to speak up, complaining about a measure that would prevent the government from seizing a suspects assets before that suspect is convicted. Can you believe that? Trump asked. And I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed, Eavenson added. Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name? Well destroy his career, Trump said. Federal racketeering laws allow law enforcement to seize assets without due process, a controversial practice questioned by some conservatives as well as liberals. Police say such seizures allow them to combat everything from terrorism to the drug trade, but the practice also has victimized people who were wrongfully accused. They then have to prove they are not criminals to get their property back. Police departments use asset seizure to augment their budgets and warn repealing the practice would gut funding, the liberal-leaning ThinkProgress reported. Attorney General-designate Jeff Sessions is a staunch supporter of asset seizure It was unclear to whom Eavenson was referring. Texas state Sen. Konni Burton introduced a bill in December, and state Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa filed a similar measure in November. The Texas Tribune quoted Hinojosa as saying he never had met Eavenson but invited him to talk about it. There have been abuses, and I want a higher standard of proof, he said during a break in a floor session. Hinojosa shrugged off the theat. The president says a lot of things off the cuff, Hinojosa said. It was probably just hyperbole. The Tribune said Burton, who is a woman, did not respond to a request for comment. But she told the Texas Observer last week she thinks the current practice violates the Constitution. Story continues State Sen. Bob Hall, who represents Rockwell County, has spoken about the issue but hasnt introduced any legislation. Related Articles Moscow (AFP) - Top Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was found guilty on Wednesday of embezzlement and given a five-year suspended sentence that threatens to end his bid to challenge President Vladimir Putin in a presidential poll next year. A judge in the provincial city of Kirov found the Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner guilty at a trial that he insists was aimed at knocking him out of the election expected in March 2018. Navalny, 40, announced in December that he would run for president, with Putin widely expected to compete and win a fourth term despite not confirming his candidacy yet. Russian law bans people serving such a sentence from standing for office but Navalny -- who shot to prominence at the head of mass protests against Putin in 2011-2012 -- pledged to appeal the verdict and insisted he would keep on campaigning. "According to the constitution I have a full right to take part in the elections and I will do that," Navalny said after the verdict. "I will continue to represent the interests of people who want to see Russia a normal, honest and non-corrupt country." - 'Gang of thieves' - Navalny condemned the verdict as a "telegram from the Kremlin". "Putin and his gang of thieves fear meeting us in elections," he wrote on Twitter. "And they are right: we will win." The court was holding a retrial after Navalny and his co-defendant, businessman Pyotr Ofitserov were convicted of alleged embezzlement in 2013. They allegedly defrauded the Kirov regional budget of 16 million rubles ($270,000, 253,000 euros) in a timber deal when Navalny was working as an advisor to the governor. The European Court of Human Rights last year quashed the 2013 ruling, saying the men did not have a fair trial. But Russia's supreme court then ordered that Navalny and Ofitserov face a retrial. The judge on Wednesday gave Navalny and Ofitserov exactly the same sentences as before and used almost identical wording in a ruling he read out over more than three hours. Story continues Navalny's suspended sentence will run out in about 18 months as he already served most of the five years sentence prior to the retrial, his lawyer Olga Mikhailova told journalists. - 'Big risk' for Putin - The German foreign ministry voiced "concern" at the guilty verdict and insisted that Navalny "must continue to have the opportunity to participate in political life in Russia". While Navalny insists he has enough legal avenues to overturn any ban on him running, the conviction should in theory now disqualify him from standing for president. If that happens it would eliminate the most prominent and eloquent representative of the marginalised opposition to Putin. The Kremlin has denied it is behind the case against Navalny, and Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected claims that Navalny's possible exclusion would make the 2018 poll less legitimate. But political analyst Alexander Morozov said that letting Navalny stand would be too much of a "big risk" as Putin must eventually start casting an eye towards finding a potential successor. "Now the Kremlin only responds with police measures. Political dialogue is recognised as impossible," Morozov wrote in a comment on the RBK news site. In a legal confusion that Navalny hopes to exploit, the Russian constitution says anyone who is not in prison can stand for election. Lawyer Vadim Kudryavtsev, who was not representing Navalny, told Kommersant FM radio that Navalny will be unable to stand if he loses his appeal, however. If Navalny then takes his case back to the ECHR he is likely to win and get the verdict annulled again, the lawyer added. After rising to fame with his fiery rhetoric at mass protests in Moscow Navalny finished runner-up to a Kremlin candidate in Moscow's 2013 mayoral race with 27 percent of the vote, an unprecendented amount for such a fierce Putin critic. Navalny was allowed to compete in that race as he was appealing his first 2013 conviction. He later spent months under house arrest over another fraud case that saw his brother Oleg jailed in December 2014 for three and a half years as a co-defendant. The end of Navalny's latest trial comes as another member of Russia's marginalised opposition, Vladimir Kara-Murza, is in a coma with organ failure after suffering an "acute poisoning" last week, his wife said. So far there has been no confirmation of foul play over the incident, which comes two years after an earlier suspected poisoning nearly killed Kara-Murza. Here are some of the key stories CNBC is following this hour: In an historic vote, the Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as Education secretary after Vice President Mike Pence's unprecedented tie-breaking vote. Two Republicans joined 48 Democrats to vote against Devos. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said before the House Homeland Security Committee that he expects a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to be well under way within the next two years. A cheese snack that looks like slain gorilla Harambe sold on eBay for nearly $100,000 . Last year, the gorilla was shot by handlers at the Cincinnati Zoo after dragging a small boy who fell into its enclosure. The seller said he found the snack that resembles Harambe in a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The bid began at $11.99. By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday stayed an order that would have blocked Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA from selling their cholesterol drug, Praluent, while they appeal the order. A federal judge earlier had blocked sales of the drug after rival Amgen Inc won a trial in which it accused them of infringing its patents. The order would have taken effect on Feb. 21. Regeneron general counsel Joseph LaRosa said in a statement the company would continue to defend its case through the appeal process. "We continue to believe the facts and controlling law support our position in this case, he said. Sanofi spokeswoman Ashleigh Koss said in an email the company was pleased the order had been stayed, "giving patients in the U.S. continued access to this important medicine during the appeal process. "It is our longstanding position that Amgens asserted patent claims are invalid," she said. Amgen spokeswoman Kristen Davis said in an email that the company respected the court's decision but was confident it would prevail against Regeneron and Sanofi's appeal. Amgen was down 1.9 percent in after-hours trading. Regeneron was up 2.7 percent in after-hours trading and U.S.-traded shares of Sanofi were down 1.9 percent. Amgen had sought to block Praluent sales in an October 2014 lawsuit against Paris-based Sanofi and Tarrytown, New York-based Regeneron. It said Praluent, a drug intended to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol by blocking a protein known as PCSK9, infringed its patents related to the protein. Thousand Oaks, California-based Amgen makes a rival drug called Repatha. A jury found Amgen's patents valid last March. U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson in Delaware, who presided over the case, granted a motion last month by Amgen to bar sales of Praluent. Regeneron and Sanofi petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to stay that order while they appealed. Multiple doctors submitted briefs in support of a stay, saying patients would be harmed if sales of Praluent were halted. The companies could still decide to reach a settlement that would give Amgen royalties on Praluent sales. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Praluent and Repatha to reduce bad cholesterol in 2015. The drugs are more costly than other cholesterol drugs, with a list price topping $14,000 annually. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa Shumaker) From Road & Track What the hell is a Lada VFTS, and why should you care that there's one for sale in Florida? Well, because going sideways is great, and because it's quite a machine, despite being a Lada. Or maybe, because it's a Lada. Here's a quick rundown. There's a 69-years-old Lithuanian man out there called Stasys Brundza. He became an engineer in the 1970s while racing a Soviet-built Moskvitch, quite successfully. However, that car wasn't good enough for Brundza, so for the 1976 Acropolis Rally, he built a Lada 2103 with a 1600cc engine. He finished sixth overall, beating a BMW 2002, a Porsche 911, an Alfa Romeo Alfetta and a bunch of Lancia Stratoses in the process. Photo credit: via rallyedream.hu The Russians realized how important racing is for the export markets, and so they offered Stasys every resource they had to entice him to come up with something even better. By 1977, his team was ready with the surprisingly cutting-edge 1600R. It had titanium bits, Weber carburetors and the requisite huge fender flares. In 1980, AutoVAZ launched a new Lada model, the 2105, so Lithuania's Vilnyusskaya Fabrika Transportnykh Sredstv (save yourself the headache and just call it VFTS) had a new donor to turn into a Group B race car. Unfortunately, no matter how well equipped their lab was, VFTS couldn't get more than 160 horsepower out of a naturally-aspirated Lada 1.6-liter engine. By 1982, that made the $20,000 car described on this FIA B-222 homologation paper rather uncompetitive outside the Soviet Union, although Lada marketed the car it was based on in all the Scandinavian countries, Great Britain, Germany and Greece, plus Panama and Columbia. They also built a turbocharged prototype, but that never got homologated. Photo credit: via zsiguli.hu The naturally-aspirated car was tweaked further all the way until the early 1990s. Of course, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Lada had bigger things to worry about, while Stasys moved on, opening a VW-Audi dealership. Story continues That's when the VFTS started an unexpected second life as the most popular rally car in Hungary. Using an empty 2105 body, those who couldn't afford an original could easily build a replica, using engines, components and tires the Lithuanians never had access to. While staying (mostly) within the FIA rules, a "built" Lada became the standard tool for any Hungarian gearhead who wanted to go rallying on a budget. Mind you, racing a VFTS at a professional level was anything but cheap, but for amateur racing, they were tops. Photo credit: via the Vancello Blog That brings us to the car for sale in Florida. On the one hand, at $40,000, it's vastly overpriced to be sure. On the other hand, it's also one of the most advanced VFTS Evolutions on the planet, and it's almost assuredly the only one in North America. Built in Hungary in 2015, this 1987 body is packed with a stroked 2.0 engine with double 48 Weber carburetors producing around 200hp, a category-correct 5-speed dogleg gearbox, a new limited-slip differential, a beefy stainless-steel exhaust, a certified cage, magnesium wheels and pretty much every bell and whistle you could want on a VFTS. Lesser race cars go for half the money in Hungary, but then again, this is brand new and available with a Florida title on Craigslist. You can't say that about most Group B rally cars. Hat tip to Vancello for all the info and Bill Caswell for finding it on Craigslist! You Might Also Like Washington (AFP) - Several senior Republican statesmen, including former secretaries of state and the treasury department, proposed Wednesday a carbon tax as a way of fighting the threat posed by climate change. Their proposal aims to scrap former president Barack Obama's environmental regulations in favor of taxes on polluting emissions that could be returned to everyday Americans as cash. "Mounting evidence of climate change is growing too strong to ignore," said the proposal, called "The Conservative Case for Climate Dividends" and issued by the Climate Leadership Council. The group includes former secretary of state James Baker who served under George H.W. Bush; Henry Paulson who was treasury secretary under George W. Bush, and George Schulz, who was secretary of state under Ronald Reagan. "While the extent to which climate change is due to man-made causes can be questioned, the risks associated with future warming are too big and should be hedged. At least we need an insurance policy." The vast majority of climate scientists agree that human activity -- primarily the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal -- is sending more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and warming the planet. The notion of somehow taxing carbon emissions in order to make polluting a less favorable business venture, has been promoted mainly by left-leaning environmental groups in the past. But the proposal by the former Republican leaders urged conservatives to consider the idea anew, now that Donald Trump is US president and Republicans hold a majority in both houses of Congress. Trump has called for a rollback of environmental regulations established under Obama, describing them as "job-killers," and has nominated a leading critic of such measures to head the Environmental Protection Agency. The new proposal -- which Baker planned to discuss with Vice President Mike Pence, and Gary Cohn director of the National Economic Council at the White House on Wednesday -- would establish a "gradually increasing tax on carbon dioxide emissions," starting at $40 per ton. Story continues "This tax would send a powerful signal to businesses and consumers to reduce their carbon footprints," said the group's proposal. "The proceeds would be returned to the American people on an equal basis via quarterly dividend checks," it added, amounting to some $2,000 the first year for a family of four. The plan would also impose fees on imports from countries without comparable carbon pricing, to "protect American competitiveness and punish free-riding by other nations, encouraging them to adopt their own carbon pricing." Finally, the plan would eliminate "regulations made unnecessary by the carbon tax... including an outright repeal of the Clean Power Plan." A group of Republican elder statesmen called on their partys leadership to address climate change by enacting a carbon tax to replace much of the Obama-era environmental regulation. The plan, proposed by a group dubbed the Climate Leadership Council on Wednesday, calls for a carbon tax that increases over time and distributes the proceeds back to Americans in the form of a dividend. The plan would be accompanied by regulatory rollback, including elimination of Obamas Clean Power Plan, and a border adjustment that imposes a fee on products made in countries without their own carbon pricing mechanisms. The group includes GOP leaders from the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, including former Secretary of State James Baker, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and former Secretary of State George Shultz. Leading Republican economists Martin Feldstein and N. Gregory Mankiw endorsed the economics of the plan. The simplistic view is that Democrats want to solve climate change and Republicans dont, said Ted Halstead, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council, in a speech announcing the proposal. As our statement proves, that is not true it is not enough to repeal the current programs. You also must replace those current programs with something better. Read More: Rex Tillerson Says He Believes in Climate Change but That May Not Mean Much Pushing President Trump to address climate change seems counterintuitive given his skepticism of the science underpinning global warming. Trump has repeatedly called climate change a hoax and promised to undo various measures to address it (though he softened his tone after the election). The plans backers said Trumps deregulation promise provides a unique opportunity to repeal and replace some environmental rules with conservative measures aimed at addressing climate change. A group led by Baker was scheduled to push the plan in a meeting with White House officials Wednesday including National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and others. Story continues Crazy as it may sound, this is the perfect time to enact a sensible policy to address the dangerous threat of climate change, Feldstein, Mankiw and Halstead in a New York Times op-ed. This would be pro-growth, pro-competitiveness and pro-working class. The plans backers propose a sensible carbon tax that begins at $40 per ton and increases with time. They estimate that the average family of four would receive $2,000 annually in dividend payments. The planeven with the elimination Obama-era regulationswould allow the U.S. to meet its emissions reduction commitment to the Paris Agreement without any other policies, according to the report. Read More: This Climate Change Measure Has Fossil Fuel Companies and Green Groups Working Together Economists and environmental groups alike have called pricing carbon the most efficient way to address global warming and such a measure has received the endorsement of the leadership at major corporations including oil companies like ExxonMobil and Shell. And many other companies ranging from Walmart to Microsoft have moved forward with an internal price on carbon. Still, actually implementing a carbon tax at the federal level would almost certainly provoke vigorous debate over the details. Wednesdays plan would give revenue collected through the tax back to the American people, but many more liberal supporters of a carbon tax argue that the government should use the funds for renewable energy development and other programs. (The disagreement on this point doomed a proposed carbon tax before voters in Washington state last year). Democrats are also unlikely to jump to support undoing the Clean Power Plan and other regulations. Still, officials in the Obama White House have long-acknowledged that the administrations use of regulations to address climate change was far from ideal. But President Obama was left with few alternatives after Congress rejected a cap-and-trade proposal early in his presidency. If you were starting from scratch you would not arrive here, said Brian Deese, a senior advisor to President Obama on climate change, in remarks late last year. Theory suggests a nationwide price on carbon would lead to even more economically efficient outcomes. Republicans in Congress have largely balked at measures to address climate change, though a small contingent continues to push the issue. The backers of the new plan said they believe even current skeptics will eventually have to face the reality of climate change. This will become the inevitable climate solution, said Halstead. We cannot tell you when, but we can tell you that eventually, this country has to deal with this issue, and we think that our solution will be front and center. By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Rights groups petitioned Israel's Supreme Court on Wednesday to annul a heavily criticized law that retroactively legalized some 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The law, approved by parliament on Monday, has drawn condemnation from Europe and the United Nations and has been described by Israel's attorney general as unconstitutional. Acting on behalf of 17 Palestinian villages and towns, The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah), and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center also asked the court for an injunction in order to stop any registration of the plots as under settler ownership. The Supreme Court has in the past supported Palestinian property rights and annulled laws it deemed unconstitutional. The legal process in some of those cases took months, though the court usually rules on injunction requests within days. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the law an aggression against the Palestinian people and threatened to suspend security cooperation with Israel if its ramp-up of Israeli settlements continued. On Tuesday Federica Mogherini, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said that if implemented, the measure would cross a new and dangerous threshold. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the action went against international law, while French President Francois Hollande said it paved the way for the annexation of territory Palestinians want as part of a future state. The administration of new U.S. President Donald Trump has so far signaled a softer approach toward Israeli settlement policy. Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Feb 15. Most countries consider Israeli settlements built on land captured in the 1967 Middle East War as illegal and obstacles to peace. Some 550,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, which was also seized by Israel in 1967, among 2.6 million Palestinians who want those territories for a future state. In January, Israel announced it would build about 6,000 new homes in the two areas, to which it cites biblical, historical and political connections. (Additional reporting by Luke Baker; Editing by Jeffrey Heller and John Stonestreet) Sydney (AFP) - Rio Tinto Wednesday reported a surge in annual net profit on the back of improving commodity prices in a strong turnaround from last year's loss, and rewarded shareholders with a buyback. The world's second-largest miner reported an annual net profit of US$4.62 billion for the year to December 31, compared to a US$866 million net loss in the previous financial year when key metals prices plunged and Chinese demand slowed. The result, which was slightly below analysts' expectations, is a reflection of the brighter outlook for the mining sector amid the commodity upswing in late 2016. The price of iron ore, Rio's main commodity, has recovered from less than US$40 a tonne just over a year ago to rising above US$80 earlier this year. "Today's results show we have kept our commitment to maximise cash and productivity from our world-class assets, delivering US$3.6 billion in shareholder returns while maintaining a robust balance sheet," chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques said in a statement. "We enter 2017 in good shape," he added. As part of the US$3.6 billion return to shareholders, Rio declared a full-year dividend of 170 US cents per share and a share buyback of US$500 million this year. While the dividend was 21 percent lower than the previous year, it was above market forecasts of about 140 US cents. The full-year amount was also higher than the minimum 110 US cents flagged by Rio last year. Capital spending, which came in at US$3.01 billion for 2016, was expected to be about US$5.0 billion this year and about US$5.5 billion each in 2018 and 2019, Rio said. Underlying profit, a measure the Anglo-Australian giant prefers, came in at US$5.10 billion, a 12 percent increase from the prior period. The underlying result was ahead of consensus, which was about US$4.9 billion. Shares in Rio closed 0.81 percent higher at Aus$65.69 in Sydney ahead of the release of the results. - Positive outlook - Story continues "The big improvement in the year was cost-cutting," Fat Prophets resources analyst David Lennox told AFP. "They managed to pull out US$1.2 billion in costs, which I suspect most pundits wouldn't have been expecting." Prices in key commodities such as steel-making ingredient iron ore have soared in recent months, supporting producers, with shares in Rio Tinto jumping more than 60 percent from a year ago. Before the recent rebound, miners had slashed spending, sold assets and wound back capital expenditure to combat market headwinds as commodity prices tumbled. Rio last month sold most of its Australian coal assets to China-backed Yancoal in a deal worth up to US$2.45 billion as part of a divestment drive that analysts said would lead to a complete exit from the sector. Lennox said the outlook for Rio was positive, amid expectations of infrastructure growth in not just China but also the United States and India. "We've got three pressure points now on pricing, whereas over the last three years, we've really only had China," he added. The World Bank said in its commodities forecast last month that most prices appeared to have bottomed out last year and were on track to climb in 2017. The bank projected metals prices to rise by 11 percent this year, up from an earlier forecast of four percent. One of the few clouds hanging over Rio is the possible impact of investigations by regulators over US$10.5 million in payments linked to the world's biggest untapped iron-ore deposit in Guinea. The miner said the outcome of the investigations and any related litigation was "subject to a number of significant uncertainties" and "could ultimately expose the group to material financial cost". By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - Businessman Chris Kennedy, a member of the Kennedy family political dynasty, on Wednesday officially announced his campaign for governor of Illinois in the November, 2018 election. After months of speculation, the Democratic candidate formally filed paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections, said his spokesman, Mark Bergman. Kennedy, son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, said he will run against Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and will work to create more jobs and restore the economy. "Today, I am announcing my run for Governor because I love Illinois, but we have never been in worse shape," Kennedy said in an emailed statement. "We dont need incremental improvement - we need fundamental change in state government." Since taking office in 2015, Rauner has feuded with the Democratic-led state legislature, leaving the nation's fifth most-populated state without a full-year operating budget. No other state has gone 19 months, as Illinois has, without passing a budget. Bergman said Kennedy had previously considered a U.S. Senate run in 2009 but concluded it was not the right time. Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe said in a statement that Kennedy secretly met with the state's House of Representatives Speaker Mike Madigan to "kiss his ring." Rauner has said Madigan's law firm poses a conflict of interest for the speaker. Kennedy, 53, a Chicago resident, is a former chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. He leads Top Box Foods, a nonprofit organization he co-founded with his wife that provides affordable, healthy foods to Chicago neighborhoods. He also managed the Merchandise Mart, a landmark Chicago exhibition hall, and currently oversees Wolf Point, a real estate development project in the city's downtown. Kennedy's father, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968 while serving as a U.S. senator. His uncle, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1963 during his first term as president. (Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Alan Crosby and Dan Grebler) Bucharest (AFP) - Romania's defiant Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu easily survived a no-confidence vote on Wednesday even as his government continued to face nationwide protests over its efforts to weaken anti-corruption laws. The motion, submitted by the centre-right opposition, failed to garner the required 233 votes in parliament where Grindeanu's left-wing Social Democrat party (PSD) holds a solid majority after winning elections only two months ago. After the vote the prime minister vowed not to quit but indirectly acknowledged the public anger that fuelled the protests. "From my point of view, the government will from now on act in full transparency and on the basis of dialogue," the 43-year-old told lawmakers in Bucharest. For more than a week, hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated against an emergency decree approved on January 31, which critics say would have protected corrupt politicians from prosecution. Although the measure was scrapped late Sunday, the marches have continued, with some protesters vowing to forge on until the government steps down. The street rallies -- the largest since the fall of communism in 1989 -- have also served as fodder for political bickering between the PSD and the opposition-backed President Klaus Iohannis who has championed the protest movement. - 'You've won, now govern' - "Romanians don't want corrupt politicians to be pardoned and shielded from justice. We call on you to stop acting against the law," read the motion filed by 123 opposition MPs, dozens of whom wore armbands reading "Quit". Observers say much of the public anger is directed at the graft-riddled political establishment, which includes powerful PSD head Liviu Dragnea. The 54-year-old was barred from running for office because of a voter fraud conviction and is currently on trial for alleged abuse of power, a charge he denies. "The government has understood the demonstrators' message. Other measures will be taken to end this conflict," Dragnea said on Wednesday. Story continues While the crowds have noticeably shrunk from the half a million people thronging cities and towns on Sunday, they are expected to grow again over the weekend. In a parliamentary address Tuesday, Iohannis had hinted that the government should quit. "The repeal of the decree and the possible sacking of a minister is too little. Early elections are too much," Iohannis said. "If the PSD, which has created this crisis, fails to resolve the crisis immediately, I will summon all the political parties for talks. You've won, now govern and legislate -- but not at any price," he warned. Grindeanu lashed out at the president on Wednesday, accusing him of displaying a "strong desire to quickly install his own government". - 'Difficult marathon' - Despite the climbdown on the corruption law, the government still aims to free some 2,500 people serving prison sentences of less than five years, via a separate decree to be reviewed by parliament. Grindeanu has argued the measures were meant to bring penal law into line with the constitution in the European Union member and reduce overcrowding in prisons. But critics see the moves as a brazen attempt to let off the many lawmakers who have been ensnared in a major anti-corruption drive in recent years. That push has seen almost 2,000 people convicted for abuse of power and a serving prime minister and a string of ministers and lawmakers go on trial. The government's latest manoeuvres have sparked alarm in Brussels and Washington. The European Commission, which had previously praised Romania for its efforts, warned Wednesday that a U-turn in "this incredibly difficult marathon" against corruption would be a "disservice" to the country. Russian presidential candidate Alexei Navalny on Wednesday was found guilty of embezzlement on retrial. He received a five-year suspended sentence. Election law says this should mean the end of his presidential campaign. But Navalny says he wont quit. A lawyer and the closest thing Russia has to an opposition leader, Navalny was first found guilty of embezzlement in 2013. This was the same year he ran for mayor of Moscow, and the charges were widely considered to be part of a smear campaign run by the Kremlin, which prefers its opposition candidates to not be quite so oppositional. He was put under house arrest until 2015. In 2016, the European Court of Human Rights threw out the conviction, ruling the 2013 trial was unfair and Navalny announced his run for president. The court later ordered Russia to pay Navalny $67,000 in compensation. In the retrial, which began in early December, the charges were exactly the same, and the judge refused to call in the all of the witnesses for the defense because the information was already in the case file. Navalny and his lawyers said the text of the verdict was identical to that issued in 2013. Convicted criminals cannot run for president in Russia, and so it was understood that, if Navalny was found guilty, as 99 percent of criminal defendants brought to court in Russia are, his presidential race would be finished. But Navalny is vowing to continue his run anyway, tweeting that he will continue his campaign and fight for a better Russia without regard for this sentence dictated by the Kremlin. He continued, Putin and his gang of thieves are afraid to meet us in elections. They are right to do so: we will win. How? Because, though election law bars him from running, Article 32 of the Russian Constitution protects a citizens right to run for office. And so it seems Navalny, in a move straight out of the Soviet Russian dissidents playbook, is likely to seek to hold the government accountable to its own constitution. Even if he does manage to get on the ballot for the 2018 presidential race, Navalny is highly unlikely to win the presidency, which would perhaps leave some to wonder whether facing embezzlement charges is worth the trouble of running for office. But perhaps the man who, last year, blogged the truth is in us and we will win has a different understanding of political victory. Photo credit: DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV/AFP/Getty Images MOSCOW (AP) Russia's interior ministry says it has arrested nine members of a major hacking group suspected of stealing millions of dollars from Russian bank accounts. Police spokeswoman Irina Volk said in a statement on Wednesday that the nine people were arrested last month in Moscow, St. Petersburg and three other regions as part of an investigation into a group believed to stolen more than 1 billion rubles ($17 million) from Russian bank accounts since 2013. The interior ministry said the hackers have also managed to penetrate Russia's "critical infrastructure" including military plants. It did not provide details. The announcement follows arrests of other suspected hackers in May last year. Police said 27 people have been charged so far, with 19 of them awaiting trial. From Europe to the Pacific, there are thousands of places on Earth to say "I love you". However, there are only a limited number of destinations where the landscape provides a natural setting for raising matters of the heart. The Heart of Voh, New Caledonia The natural heart shape which is visible in a mangrove swamp in the North Province of New Caledonia was made famous by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand when he used it on the cover of one of his books. Travelers who want to take their own pictures can climb 400 meters to a vantage point on nearby Mount Kathepaik. But for the best view of the Heart, take a ride in one of the ultra-light aircraft that regularly fly over the spot. The excursion is not cheap, but the pilots are cooperative, and willing to open their aircraft doors to allow you to take the perfect picture. Heart-shaped rock near Nakalele blowhole, Hawaii It seems hard to believe that such a perfect representation of tenderness is the work of nature without help from humankind. These days the "heart-shaped rock" on Maui, Hawaii, has become a major attraction for tourists who come to the area to see the Nakalele Blowhole, a spectacular natural geyser that shoots seawater up to 100 feet into the air. Heart Reef in Queensland, Australia Travelers who visit the Whitsunday Islands on snorkeling trips usually take time for an aerial tour of the Great Barrier Reef which offers an opportunity to take pictures of the area's famous coral heart. Flights take off from the airport on Hamilton Island, which is also the starting point for ferry or light aircraft trips to Airlie Beach, and the rest of the islands. Flights over the reef also offer the perfect vantage point to appreciate the splendor of one of the world's most beautiful beaches, Whitehaven Beach. Antelope Canyon, United States Trekkers in Arizona rarely pass up the opportunity for a visit to the Navajo Nation reserve, which is home to the major vacation destination Lake Powell. The Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons carved out by torrential rains that have potential to drown travelers to this area offer an experience of the heart of the American West. In Lower Antelope Canyon observant visitors will be greeted with the vista of the sunlight shining through a perfectly heart-shaped aperture in the sandstone rock. Corfu, Greece To find your place in yet another natural heart, head to the Greek island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea. On the western side of the island intrepid travelers may be rewarded with a view of this heart-shaped lagoon, which is not easily seen from the ground. Only the lucky few who have a chance to fly over this destination can be certain of a perfect vantage point from which to observe this symbol of love. The White House and key Democrats and Republicans turned up the heat again on Big PhRMA on Tuesday, lashing out at soaring prescription prices and vowing to press for measures to lower Medicares staggering drug costs and encourage greater competition among drug manufacturers. After weeks of uncertainty over President Donald Trumps commitment to lifting a legislative ban on Medicare negotiating lower drug prices with major pharmaceutical companies -- as does Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, and other government health care agencies -- White House spokesman Sean Spicer said yesterday, Hes for it, yes. Related: Trump Jolts the Pharmaceutical Industry with Vow to Bring Down Drug Prices The easier way to look at this is to look at what other countries have done: Negotiating costs to keep those down, Spicer said during a White House press briefing. He said the mounting costs of health care and prescription drugs are a huge burden on seniors in the Medicare program and must be addressed. Trump has sent mixed signals on whether he would support direct government intervention to lower health care costs, even as he has repeatedly complained about astronomical and unjustifiable surges in drug prices. Spicers comments temporarily drove down biotech stock prices and rekindled industry speculation over whether the new administration would come down hard on drug manufacturers. Yesterday evening, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), one of the most liberal members of Congress, and arch-conservative Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, seemingly joined forces during the town hall meeting to denounce the drug industrys pricing practices and agreed to support two major initiatives: to lift the prohibition on Medicare bargaining for lower prices and to authorize consumers and drug distributors to acquire cheaper drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders, who promoted these and other ideas for reining in drug prices during his unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, delivered a scathing critique of the highly profitable drug industry and its top executives. He also took to task Senate and House members who over the years did nothing to address the drug price crisis. Story continues Related: How Big Pharma Lobbyists Keep Medicare Drug Prices High Just as the case with healthcare, we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, Sanders said. Whats going on is that the pharmaceutical industry owns the United States Congress. I would admit its not just Republicans. They have a huge influence over the Democratic party as well. So right now, the reality is that uniquely in the whole world, you can walk in tomorrow to your pharmacy, and the cost that you pay is double or triple [what it is elsewhere], and there is nothing that anybody can do about it, he said. Pharmaceutical companies have been among the biggest political spenders for years. They've traditionally supported Republican candidates, as they have received 64 percent of industry contributions on average since the 1990 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog research organization. Until now, drug lobbyists led by PhRMA have succeeded in blocking measures that threatened to cost them billions of dollars of annual profits. Cruz, who differs sharply with Sanders over GOP efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, said the two are in agreement on measures for increasing price competition and opening the borders to the importation of less expensive drugs. However, he voiced strong support that the Food and Drug Administration speed up the agencys review of new drug applications especially drugs for the treatment of seriously ill adults and children. Related: Two Big Reasons Prescription Drug Prices Are So Much Higher in the US I would love for us to work together going after big PhRMA, and in particular taking on the FDA, Cruz told Sanders. Right now it takes $2 billion to approve a new drug. . . There is story after story after story of life-saving drugs that are available, that are approved, they are used in Europe, they are used in Canada, and the FDA wont allow it. 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. In some cases, pharmaceutical companies have jacked up their prices by as much as 1,000 percent to 5,000 percent for some life-saving drugs. Medicare, which covers 55 million Americans, spends $1 of every $6 on prescription drugs, or an estimated $95.1 billion in 2016, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Less than two weeks into his administration, Trump on Jan. 21 summoned the heads of a half-dozen top drug manufacturers to the White House for the first round of talks after complaining that the pharmaceutical industry was getting away with murder by gouging consumers and the government. 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 Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the top trade group. "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. Related: The Feds Finally Make a Move on Soaring Drug Prices Trump had offered a number of measures for containing drug prices, including the importation of cheaper drugs and allowing Medicare to begin negotiating drug prices. At the behest of drug manufacturers, Congress included the Medicare non-negotiation ban in the 2003 Medicare Part D drug legislation. That prohibition provided major pharmaceutical companies with billions of dollars in windfall profits. PhRMA and its long-time 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 opening the borders to cheaper drugs from abroad. They are digging in again to block efforts to repeal the restrictions. Broadly, both of these proposals are concerning given the consequences for patients, both Medicare beneficiaries and consumers generally, said Allyson Funk, a spokesperson for PhRMA. Funk insisted in an email that It is a common myth that there is no negotiation in Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program for seniors. She said that large, powerful purchasers like Express Scripts have negotiated deep discounts and rebates directly with drug manufacturers, bypassing the Department of Health and Human Services and saving money for both beneficiaries and taxpayers. She also said that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has said on multiple occasions that the secretary of health and human services would not be able to negotiate lower prices than exist now without restricting access to medicine for beneficiaries. Related: Trump pushes drugmakers for lower prices, more U.S. production As for the drive to allow the importation of less expensive drugs from Canada and other countries, Funk said the importation of unapproved and potentially counterfeit medicine, jeopardizes the secure medicine system in the United States and presents a serious risk to public health. PhRMA did not directly respond to Sanders claim that the powerful lobbying group with deep pockets has effectively co-opted congressional Republicans and Democrats in the past to block unwanted legislation. But experts on campaign spending and lobbying say there is no question PhRMA wields a big stick. The pharmaceutical industry is indisputably one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, said Sheila Krumholz, the executive director of the center. It spent tens of millions on campaign donations and hundreds of millions on lobbying last cycle, which helped open doors on Capitol Hill for their army of 1,400 lobbyists. All that money is a pittance compared with the industry profits it helped produce, but means consumers shoulder higher costs than they would otherwise. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Anda Union, a band specializing in the traditional music of Mongolia (Inner and Outer), takes the stage with a handful of two-stringed folk instruments one 12-string guitar would have them outnumbered, string-wise. But the band, which also features percussion, a three-hole flute and other barebones instruments, produces a sound as full as a small orchestra, often with the intensity of a heavy metal band. Its a sound especially the multi-layered harmonics from the throat singing style known as khoomii that takes the uninitiated by surprise. Just ask the bands manager. Tim Pearce was a British theater producer 11 years ago when he went to Shanghai for an arts festival. He recalled he was at a showcase event that featured multiple acts, including Anda Union. On walked these Mongolians, Pearce recalled. They were just starting out, but they blew me away. It called to me so strongly. Pearce ended up spending a week with the band members in their home base in Inner Mongolia, started getting the band bookings and was soon the bands official manager. He even went back to Mongolia with a film crew and made a documentary about the band, which was released in 2011. The band has built up significant following in the United States since it began touring here in 2011, and Anda Unions current tour includes several stops in Wisconsin, including Saturday, Feb. 11, at Viroquas Historic Temple Theatre. Anda Unions members have links to all the nomadic tribes that were united under the rule of Genghis Khan, and their repertoire features songs from all of those. Pearce explained that the band members come from an oral culture, where history and tradition often is passed on to the next generations in the form of song. The music of Mongolia, which often is described as magical, was in danger of dying out after years of cultural repression under Chinese rule. Anda Union has made it a mission to revive that music and bring it to light, and the band has had wild success in doing so, according to Pearce, spurring the formation of other bands. They really kick-started a movement, Pearce said. Bands like Anda Union werent necessarily a tradition on the sparsely populated grasslands of Mongolia. Music was much more likely a solitary pursuit, performed in the family yurt (a circular tent) to pass the evening after a long day of herding animals. By joining forces, Anda Union could give people in an auditorium the same sensation a soloist might present in a more confined space. In a yurt, you get goosebumps, but put it on a stage when theres that distance to the audience and a soloist doesnt translate, Pearce said. Assembled on stage, Anda Union kicks out music that seems more familiar to Western ears than some might expect, evoking ancient Celtic or Scandinavian music. With the Mongolian lyrics they are singing the words will be a mystery, but its fairly easy to pull the stories from the music given the titles, such as The Girl Who Stole Horses, Galloping Horses, The Sable Horse and Suhes White Horse. They dont only sing songs about horses, but they do loom large in Mongolian culture and music, and the songs about horses are particularly stirring, with the beat evoking pounding hooves. They rock, they really do, Pearce said of the band. And, he added, with their exotic instruments and traditional Mongolian garb it looks quite like magic. Photo credit: Getty From Cosmopolitan UK We're still discovering new stars, galaxies and even planets in space but it turns out there are lots of mysteries still to uncover right here on earth, too. A new discovery underneath the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean has revealed a hidden continent, that has been lost for over 200 million years, according to CNN. The continent, handily titled 'Mauritia', was uncovered by a South Africa University research team who concluded that rocks found on Mauritius were far too old to have originated from the island. The team were analysing zircon, a mineral found in rocks formed during volcanic eruptions. Photo credit: Getty Lewis Ashwal, lead author of the paper which was published in Nature Communications explained: "Mauritius is an island, and there is no rock older than 9 million years old on the island. However, by studying the rocks on the island, we have found zircons that are as old as 3 billion years." As such, the researchers claim that this points to "the existence of ancient continental crust beneath Mauritius". The lost continent was believed to have been formed when super-continent Gondwanaland split, also creating Australia, Africa, South America, Antartica and India. Of course, this continent is likely to be lost forever, but it's still pretty cool knowing it exists. You Might Also Like Photo credit: Guido Mieth / Getty From Popular Mechanics Researchers have discovered the existence of high-altitude "radiation clouds" that can expose airplane passengers to high levels of radiation. These clouds were discovered as part of the NASA-funded Automated Radiation Measurements for Aerospace Safety (ARMAS) program. It's widely known that radiation levels are generally higher in the upper atmosphere versus on the ground, simply due to the higher levels of cosmic rays. However, when studying these levels of radiation, researchers detected small pockets where radiation levels suddenly spiked, up to double the normal level. These spikes could not be explained by normal sources of radiation like cosmic rays. Instead, the researchers believe that geomagnetic storms, caused by shockwaves from the solar wind, are causing the radiation clouds. These shockwaves can free electrons trapped in the Van Allen belts and send them into the upper atmosphere, where they collide with oxygen or nitrogen atoms and emit radiation. While the level of radiation is likely too low to affect most people, airplane crews, frequent flyers, and first trimester fetuses may be at greater risk due to their longer exposure times or greater vulnerability. The same ARMAS technology used to identify these radiation clouds might be used to track them, meaning flights could be diverted or rerouted to avoid them. Source: New Scientist You Might Also Like LONDON (Reuters) - The British government cannot begin the process of leaving the EU before it has agreed with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the form of the letter to launch divorce talks, Scotland's Brexit minister said on Wednesday. Michael Russell told a committee of lawmakers in London that he did not know when Prime Minister Theresa May planned to submit a letter to the European Union to trigger Article 50 of the bloc's Lisbon Treaty and had not been shown a draft. The fourth meeting of the joint ministerial committee, which brings together representatives of the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for talks with the British government is due to take place on Wednesday. Asked about that committee's involvement in the letter, Russell said: "We don't believe that triggering Article 50 can be done unless ... there has been an attempt to get an agreement on the letter." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Elizabeth Piper) By Liz Goodwin WASHINGTONDemocratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Yahoo Global Anchor Katie Couric in an exclusive interview Wednesday that he believes his Republican colleagues are concerned but afraid to speak out against President Trump. Schumer singled out Trumps recent reply to Fox News Bill OReilly when OReilly criticized Vladimir Putins government for killing political dissidents. You think our countrys so innocent? Trump responded. Schumer called the comments appalling and degrading to the United States. If this was said by a Democrat, every one of my Republican colleagues would be howling at the moon at the moral equivalence of Russia and the United States, he told Couric. Theyre silent. And that is one of the things that bothers me the most. Trump goes way overboard. The people who could have the most effect at bringing him back are the people in his party. Theyre afraid to say anything, it seems. The Democrat from New York also said his Republican colleagues are aware that the president has shown an overreach as president and a disregard for the checks and balances in the Constitution. I think our Republican colleagues dont know what to really do about it, he said. I think theyre troubled deep down inside about this man. Schumer also expressed concern about the role of White House adviser Steve Bannon, the former CEO of Breitbart News who was recently elevated to the Principals Committee of the National Security Council, which shapes domestic and foreign security policy. I really worry about him, Schumer said. I think he has too much influence, far too much. Schumer said that Trumps apparent inability to focus on things has helped Bannon become the strongest person in the presidents orbit. The person who seems to be exerting the influence is Bannon, not [Jared] Kushner, not [White House Chief of Staff Reince] Priebus, not [Vice President Mike] Pence, Schumer said. If he would leave the administration, that would be a good thing for the country and, I would argue, for Trump himself. Story continues Schumer also revealed that in his Tuesday meeting with Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, the judge refused to answer his questions about his views on the emoluments clause of the Constitution, whether a total ban on Muslims entering the country would be constitutional, and if President Trumps public criticisms of judges and the judiciary are appropriate. What kind of independence can there be for a judge like that who cant even condemn a Muslim ban? Schumer asked. Schumer said he was dismayed that Gorsuch would not state his views on the emoluments clause, which forbids public officials from taking gifts from foreign governments. Some ethics experts have speculated that the provision could lead to legal challenges to Trumps business interests abroad. People claim hes an originalist. OK, he should then have a view, Schumer said. Schumer said he was leaning toward voting against the judge because he believes Trump is overreaching his executive power already and the court must be able to stand up to him. Schumer has earlier threatened to filibuster any nominee whom he views as being outside the mainstream. We need independent courts. Im not sure Judge Gorsuch would do that, Schumer said. The Democratic leader also called the recent wave of grassroots liberal protests wonderful even those protesters stationed outside his Brooklyn home yelling Chuck is a chicken and other insults aimed at persuading him to block Trumps Cabinet nominees. I am glad that people are aroused and out there and protesting and voicing their concerns, he said. Its a wonderful thing. The idea of having an inspired electorate who will help us stand up to some of the great excesses, and there are so many, in the Trump administration is a good thing. So far, Schumer has voted for five of Trumps Cabinet nominees and voted against five others. He defended his no votes as an obligation the American people. I think this is just about the worst bunch of Cabinet nominees with certain exceptions; I respect Gen. [James] Mattis and voted for him that Ive seen, he said. Democrats opposition has led to tense moments on the Senate floor lately. Schumer called Sen. Mitch McConnells Tuesday night rebuke of Sen. Elizabeth Warren for impugning the integrity of Sen. Jeff Sessions wrong and a huge mistake. He said the Senate rule under which Warren was rebuked is selectively enforced and should be changed. Nevertheless, Schumer said, there are issues he would collaborate with the Trump administration on. He said he absolutely would have worked with the president to tighten vetting procedures for visitors to the United States if Trump had asked, instead of suddenly dropping an executive order canceling tens of thousands of valid visas on a Friday night. He pointed out that Trumps executive order, which barred the entry of immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries, does not address the fact that potential terrorists could be entering the United States from Western nations whose residents are not specially vetted at our borders. Now we have learned that lots of people have become residents of places like Belgium and France who may have immigrated from Syria, who may have been poisoned by ISIS, and were asking them almost no questions, Schumer said. This, which seems to me to be a Muslim ban, makes us weaker in terms of security. Schumer also conceded that the Democratic Party had to regroup after its crushing loss in 2016, saying that the party was working on developing a sharp edged economic vision. The minority leader has been in touch with defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and says that she will play a helpful role in rebuilding the party. (WASHINGTON) Sen. Elizabeth Warren has earned a rare rebuke by the Senate for quoting Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor. The Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chambers arcane rules by reading a three-decade-old letter from Dr. Martin Luther Kings widow that dated to Sen. Jeff Sessions failed judicial nomination three decades ago. The chamber is debating the Alabama Republicans nomination for attorney general, with Democrats dropping senatorial niceties to oppose Sessions and Republicans sticking up for him. King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate. The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship. The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor so I'm right outside, reading it now. Posted by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for impugning the motives of Sessions, though senators have said far worse. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate. Still, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. Warren argued: Im reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. Im simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her. Story continues Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by former Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that labeled Sessions a disgrace. Democrats pointed out that McConnell didnt object when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. The episode was followed by lamentations by Senate veterans, including its most senior Republican, Orrin Hatch of Utah, about how the Senate is too partisan. The Vernon County Land and Water Conservation Department will be holding its 2017 awards banquet in Viroqua, Tuesday, Feb. 21. This event honors the Conservation Farmer of the Year, Conservation Landowner of the Year and Conservation Teacher of the Year, along with recognizing area youth who participated in the conservation poster and photo contests. Conservation Farmer of the Year Grant and Jenny Rudrud were selected as the Conservation Farmers of the Year due in large part to their impeccable reputation for applying principles of land and water conservation on the land, as well as their long standing relationship with Vernon Countys Conservation Field Office in Viroqua. The Rudruds farm is located in the town of Franklin, which they operate with their three children, Sanna, Heath, and Brody. The Rudrud milk 80 cows and farm 240 acres of contour strip cropland. The Rudruds sons also rent an additional 250 acres of cropland in the county. The family utilizes a soil nutrient management plan and the family area diligent in their soil sampling practices. They purchased the family farm in 1988, at which time they installed a large waterway that served the family farming operation well. Recently, they added a second waterway that connects to the old one, they practice no till on the high ground and spread manure daily on the property. The Rudruds have been extremely active and involved in their community over the years and are proud to have been selected as the Vernon County Land and Water Conservation Farmer of the Year. Conservation Landowner of the Year The Conservation Landowner of the Year award will be presented to John and Laurel Shea, and their children, Noah and Lilly. The Sheas have property near Chaseburg and have always been strong land conservation advocates from trout stream restoration to the use of solar energy. The Shea family has found a way of balancing the management of their land emphasizing both wildlife habitat and agricultural productivity, with choices that have led to a living example of what sustainable land management truly looks like. The Sheas have also planted more than 5,000 trees in the last seven years providing a wildlife habitat, shade, soil stabilization, and food for friends and family. They have pastured livestock on the property and work closely with Hamburg Hills, a certified organic dairy operation also located near Chaseburg, for managed grazing on their land, The Sheas have also hosted student-oriented field days with students from the Westby Area School District, showcasing the benefits of perennial agriculture to the land and to the trout streams. The Sheas said they are proud to have been selected as the Vernon County Conservation Landowners of the Year. Conservation Teacher of the Year Dave Puig has been the driving force behind developing a four-year Land Ethic/Outdoor Leadership program at Youth Initiative High School in Viroqua. In addition to teaching classes about water, land, and conservation, he is responsible for planning and taking each grade on a weeklong wilderness expedition. One of Puigs curriculum goals is to bring the wilderness travel aspects of Outward Bound (focusing intensely on leadership development, teamwork, initiative, resilience, and character development) to each student. Puig has been an outdoor wilderness educator for 12 years and has been an educator at YIHS for the past five years. During that time he has served on the Driftless Folk School Board of Directors for two years, and has been an Outward Bound instructor for four years. Poster contest winners The poster and photo contest generated 475 entries. The contest is divided into age brackets, with the top three entries in each group selected. A total of 13 entries were selected at the county level and the overall top three posters are then submitted to the state level conservation competition. The three top winning entries advancing to the state competition were entered by sisters, Eva and Emma Lee of Coon Valley, who are students at Westby Area High School, and Eli McKay of Viroqua, who attends the Viroqua Area Montessori School. Sarah McDowell, Vernon County Land and Conservation event organizer, said there will be good food, door prizes and some really great raffle prizes. Make it a point to celebrate locally led conservation and find out all the exciting things going on with our county parks by attending the county conservation banquet, McDowell said. The banquet will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. The meal will be catered and reservations are required to attend. Tickets are $15 each and reservations must be made by Wednesday, Feb. 15. For more information about the banquet, contact Sarah McDowell at 608-637-5484 or smcdowell@vernoncounty.org. Anyone interested in nominating someone for next year, should contact Vernon County Land and Water Conservation at 608-637-5480. As you're probably all too aware, the U.S. is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, meaning that some life-saving overdose treatments have become crucial tools for hospitals, law enforcement, first responders, and families of addicts. At the same time, the makers of one such vital drug have raised the price by more than 600% since 2014, drawing the attention of lawmakers who want to know why. This morning, 31 U.S. Senators sent a letter [PDF] to the CEO of Virginia-based Kaleo Pharmaceuticals, seeking information on the soaring price of the company's Evzio (naloxone) injectors. Since 2014, the cost of twin pack of Evzio has jumped from $690 to $4,500 without any apparent reason for such a dramatic change in cost. "This drug is now in the hands of first responders and families struggling with substance use disorder across the country," reads the letter, noting that more than 30,000 Americans die each year from opioid overdose. "It is particularly needed in rural areas where access to life-saving emergency services can be limited. Such a steep rise in the cost of this drug threatens to price-out families and communities that depend on naloxone to save lives." Related Stories From Consumer Reports Though intravenous, generic naloxone is significantly more affordable than Evzio, it is not as easy to use for a layperson as an auto-injector like Evzio. So the choice is between having access to the treatment but not being sure you'll be able to administer it properly when the time comes, or having a user-friendly version of the drug that most people can't afford. This is very similar to the dilemma that thrust emergency allergy treatment EpiPen into the spotlight last year. One couldas some first responders didpurchase epinephrine and needles for very little money, but that's not the same as having an auto-injector that virtually anyone can administer. Story continues "Evzio was designed to be simple to administer, making it particularly well suited for use by laypersons such as families looking to protect loved ones from overdose," write the lawmakers. "Unfortunately, reports indicate Kaleo has responded to the increased need for naloxone devices by ratcheting up the price for Evzio." The letter notes that Kaleo has downplayed concerns about the $4,500 price, noting that this is a list price and not a "true gauge" of what consumers are actually paying, and that in reality many users are getting Evzio for little or no out-of-pocket money. Nevertheless, the senators say they remain "concerned about the impact the high list price may have for those who do not qualify for the program and for state and local entities who hope to purchase large quantities of your product." To that end, the letter asks for more detailed information on the company's reasons for raising the price of Evzio, including information about any changes in the cost of production. Just as with EpiPen, there are programs to provide Evzio to certain groups at no or minimal cost, so the lawmakers want to know exactly how many devices Kaleo sets aside for these programs, and what the company does to inform consumers of their eligibility. Some critics have likened such programs to free samples, intended to primarily raise brand awareness in guise of public service. Finally, the senators want to know just how much revenue Kaleo has earned from purchases made by the federal government in the last year. There's also the issue of how much federal money has been spent indirectly on Evzio through third parties that use federal funds to purchase the injectors. The letter was signed by Sens. Patrick Leahy (VT), Al Franken (MN), Christopher Murphy (CT), Jack Reed (RI), Dick Durbin (IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Maria Cantwell (WA), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Tammy Baldwin (WA), Claire McCaskill (MO), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Angus King (ME), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Edward J. Markey (MA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Joe Donnelly (IN), Jon Tester (MT), Bernie Sanders (VT), Sherrod Brown (OH), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Tom Udall (NM), Tim Kaine (VA), Mark Warner (VA), Gary Peters (MI), Jeff Merkley (OR), and Cory Booker (NJ). E-mailed Response From Kaleo In a statement emailed to Consumerist, Spencer Williamson, CEO of Kaleo said the following: "We received the letter from the Senators and are in communication with them to ensure all questions are addressed. Our first priority remains ensuring that patients can access EVZIO. In fact, with the launch of Kaleos enhanced patient access program, more Americans are able to obtain this life-saving product for $0 out-of-pocket than any time in history. "Details of how we are ensuring the broadest access to EVZIO for patients and their loved ones through our patient access program include: For the more than 200 million Americans with commercial insurance and a prescription, they can get EVZIO for $0 out-of-pocket. For patients who do not have government or commercial insurance, and have a household income of less than $100,000, they can also receive EVZIO for $0 out-of-pocket. For those paying cash, the price is $360. "As the senators noted, EVZIO was designed for use by those without medical training, as most life-threatening opioid emergencies occur in the home and are witnessed by friends or family who may be in the best position to intervene quickly with naloxone. Through quick administration of EVZIO by caregivers, we can help save lives while saving significant costs to the healthcare system by avoiding long term in-patient care. No naloxone product, branded or even generic, is less expensive for commercially insured patients, or patients without insurance and incomes below $100,000 a year, than EVZIO. "Since EVZIO was not designed for the bulk purchase market, which is comprised primarily of first responder agencies, health departments and harm reduction organizations, we developed the Kaleo Cares Product Donation program to provide EVZIO free of charge and ensure communities in need can access our product. To date, we have donated nearly 200,000 doses of EVZIO and it has been reported to us that 2,800 lives have been saved through this program. "Our goal at Kaleo is to ensure the broadest access possible to this potentially life-saving medication." More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2017 Consumers Union of U.S. By Carolyn Crist (Reuters Health) - Young men who receive sex education before age 18 are more likely to use more than one type of contraceptive method during sex, such as a condom in addition to their female partners hormonal birth control, according to a small U.S. study. The dual method significantly decreases the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or having an unplanned pregnancy, said lead author Nicole Jaramillo, a public health researcher at San Diego State University in California. This is especially important among adolescent males with the growing use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods among their female partners, she told Reuters Health. It is still very important to promote and educate about the use of condoms for STI prevention. Jaramillo and colleagues looked at data from 539 heterosexual men, 15 to 20 years old, who answered the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth and reported being sexually active. The survey asked whether they had received sex education about seven topics: STIs, HIV/AIDS, how to say no to sex, birth control methods, where to get birth control, how to use a condom, and abstinence, or waiting until marriage to have sex. The survey also asked about contraceptive use during their last sexual intercourse, including whether they had relied only on female-controlled methods such as the pill or LARC, only on male-controlled methods such as vasectomy or condoms, had used a combination of contraceptive methods, or used no method. Almost all of the men - 99 percent - said they had received sex education on at least one topic, and 19 percent said they had learned about all seven. Most learned about STIs (95 percent) and HIV/AIDS (92 percent). The least commonly taught topic was where to find birth control, with less than 42 percent of young men saying they had received instruction. Most of the men, 91 percent, reported using a form of contraception. Condoms alone were used by almost 44 percent, almost 9 percent had relied on female-only methods and 39 percent used dual methods. Having learned about birth control methods and how to say no to sex were associated with dual contraception use. With each additional sex education topic a young man had been exposed to, his odds of using dual methods increased by 47 percent, researchers found. This study allowed us to look at the different topics of sex education rather than grouping the topics as abstinence only versus comprehensive sex education, Jaramillo said. Sex education that focuses on a broad range of topics is the most effective form of sex education. In the United States, STI rates have increased in recent years, Jaramillo added. In 2013, about 20 million people contracted an STI, about half of the cases among ages 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis cases rose to an all-time high in 2015, the authors write in Journal of Adolescent Health. U.S. rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies are among the highest in industrialized countries, the study team notes. However, U.S. teen birth rates have dropped to an all-time low of 24 births per 1,000 women between ages 15-19, according to CDC data. We know young men play a key role in making decisions about contraceptives, but not many reproductive health programs target them, said Jennifer Manlove, a reproductive health researcher at Child Trends in Bethesda, Maryland, who was not involved in the study. We know from other research that high-quality programs are engaging, interactive and targeted toward the population, she told Reuters Health. Programs should highlight mens role in contraception. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2krWCPY Journal of Adolescent Health, online January 26, 2017. MANILA (Reuters) - A massive fire swept through a crowded shanty town near the docks in Manila, destroying houses and leaving 15,000 people homeless, authorities in the Philippine capital said on Wednesday. Seven people were injured in fire that broke out late on Tuesday night and raged for 10 hours as it spread rapidly, engulfing more than 1,000 makeshift houses, fire officer Edilberto Cruz told reporters. About 15,000 people were left homeless and were temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers, and their belongings, like television sets, washing machines and clothes were left on a major road, blocking trucks hauling containers at the port. Only a week ago a worker was killed and more than a hundred injured at a huge industrial fire at factory south of the capital. Fires are common in factories and shanty towns in Manila, one of the most populated cities in the world. In 2015, 74 workers were killed when they were trapped in a slipper factory north of the capital. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato Editing by Martin Petty and Simon Cameron-Moore) NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Two weeks have passed since a red panda named Sunny escaped the Virginia Zoo and the raccoonlike animal is still missing. The Virginian-Pilot reports (http://bit.ly/2llcZLK) that sightings of the animal in Norfolk have dwindled to nearly none. Executive Director Greg Bockheim says the 19-month-old critter should be fine if she avoids dogs and motor vehicles. She eats bamboo, and plenty of that grows in the area. She'll eat other plants as well. The zoo continues to conducts its own searches of zoo grounds. Bockheim said the zoo is hoping she'll just show up. He said that's what red pandas do sometimes. Red pandas, which are native to China, have escaped exhibits in the United Kingdom, California and Washington, D.C. But they're often retrieved in days, if not hours. ___ Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com By Doina Chiacu and Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton and other Democrats on Wednesday flocked to support U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren for voicing criticism of President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general even after being silenced by Republicans on the Senate floor. Republican senators voted on Tuesday evening to end Warren's reading of a letter written 30 years ago by Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow that criticized Senator Jeff Sessions, the nominee to lead the Justice Department, for his civil rights record. Warren then went to the hallway where she continued to read the letter for a Facebook video that had drawn over 8 million views as of Wednesday afternoon. In a rare public comment since losing the presidential election to Trump on Nov. 8, Clinton posted on Twitter a link to Warren's video and a quote from Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that was originally meant as a rebuke. "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." Clinton quoted McConnell as saying. "So must we all," Clinton added. The Senate action prompted a tide of support on Facebook for Warren, a darling of the political left, under a hashtag #LetLizSpeak. McConnell's quote "nevertheless she persisted," went viral online among Warren supporters. The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday cleared the way for confirming Sessions as attorney general. A final vote was expected Wednesday evening. THE LETTER Sessions had "used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens" when he prosecuted voting fraud as U.S. attorney in Alabama, according to the letter read by Warren, from Massachusetts. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cut her off, saying that she broke a Senate rule that "impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama." Senators voted 49-43 to silence Warren, seen by some Democrats as a potential presidential candidate in 2020. While Warren was stopped before she finished reading the letter, others, including rising Democratic star Senator Kamala Harris of California took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to read it. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reminded reporters that the late Senator Ted Kennedy called Sessions disgraceful in 1986 but he was not rebuked. "I guess if a man says it you dont get the words taken from you," Pelosi said in Baltimore. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said silencing speech is "not what America is about." Warren has been a fiery critic of Trump since he launched his presidential campaign. Democrats have expressed concern about Sessions' record on race, immigration and criminal justice reform. Republican Senator Ted Cruz said Warren's move was part of an attempt by Democrats frustrated at Trump's win to obstruct business in the Senate. The Democrats are angry and theyre out of their minds. You know were seeing in the Senate, the Senate Democrats objecting to every single thing theyre boycotting committee meetings, theyre refusing to show up," he said. Many civil rights and immigration groups also have concerns about Sessions with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) saying his positions on gay rights, capital punishment, abortion rights and presidential authority in times of war should be examined. Sessions was a federal prosecutor in 1986 when he became only the second nominee in 50 years to be denied confirmation as a federal judge. This came after allegations that he had made racist remarks, including testimony that he had called an African-American prosecutor "boy," an allegation Sessions denied. Sessions said at his hearing in 1986 that groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the ACLU could be considered "un-American." He also acknowledged he had called the Voting Rights Act of 1965 a "piece of intrusive legislation." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Julia Edwards Ainsley in Washington, Emily Stephenson in Baltimore and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Alistair Bell) The leaks continue. Another draft of a potential executive order has leaked from the Trump White House, calling for the State Department to consider designating Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization, several U.S. officials told a team of Reuters reporters. The officials said several U.S. government agencies have been consulted about such a proposal, which if implemented would add to measures the United States has already imposed on individuals and entities linked to the IRGC, the news agency says. The draft is not completed, and its unclear if it will make it to the presidents desk, but the move would be an indication of how hard a line the Trump administration may take with Tehran. The IRGC is one of the most powerful institutions in Iran, holding sway over vital aspects of the countrys economy, and military. Just last week in response to a long-planned ballistic missile test, national security advisor Michael Flynn declared Iran has been put on notice for its destabilizing actions in the Middle East. Flynn and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis are longtime Iran hawks, and FPs Dan De Luce and Paul McLeary have lots more on Washingtons new Iran hawkery here. Going for it. The New York Times Peter Baker also provides more details of a plan to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Officially designating the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization would roil American relations in the Middle East, he writes. The leaders of some American allies like Egypt, where the military forced the Brotherhood from power in 2013, and the United Arab Emirates have pressed Mr. Trump to do so to quash internal enemies, but the group remains a pillar of society in parts of the region. Some State Department and national security council officials have objected to the Brotherhood plan, according to the Times. Launch scrub. Fox News Lucas Tomlinson and Jennifer Griffin have obtained satellite imagery of a second Iranian missile that was on the pad and ready to launch earlier this month, but was scrubbed at the last minute. Story continues Trash talk. FPs Robbie Gramer lays out some of the rhetoric that has been coming out of Tehran during the latest escalation in tensions, including Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying Tehran had been working for decades to divulge the true face of the U.S. and the depth of corruption of its leaders. Trump did it in a few days after coming to the White House, he said. Khamenei cited a 5-year old Iranian detained for hours at a U.S. airport following Trumps immigration ban as a case that belies the American version of human rights. Yemen blowback. The government in Yemen is angry at the civilian casualties inflicted by U.S. SEALs last month in a raid on an al Qaeda camp and has withdrawn permission for the U.S. to run Special Ops ground missions against suspected terror groups in the country, American officials tell the New York Times. While the White House continues to insist that the attack was a success a characterization it repeated on Tuesday the suspension of commando operations is a setback for Mr. Trump, who has made it clear he plans to take a far more aggressive approach against Islamic militants, the Times David Sanger and Eric Schmitt write. It also calls into question whether the Pentagon will receive permission from the president for far more autonomy in selecting and executing its counterterrorism missions in Yemen, which it sought, unsuccessfully, from President Barack Obama in the last months of his presidency. Pentagons revolving door. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis asked Ash Carters deputy secretary Robert Work to stay for the first several months of his tenure, due to disagreements between Mattis and the White House over who should work in the Pentagon. Now, the Washington Times reports, a Lockheed Martin exec. might be in line to eventually replace Work. Robert Rangel, who was named senior vice president of strategic enterprise initiatives at the worlds largest defense contractor might get the nod for the job which focused on day-to-day operations of the Pentagon and management of the budget. FinallyFrom Politico, a look at What Steve Bannon Wants You to Read. Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley. SecDef Jim Mattis spoke with his Mexican counterpart Secretary of National Defense General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda on Tuesday, as an increasingly contentious relationship develops between the U.S. and Mexico. According to a Defense Department readout of the call, the two emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Mexico defense relationship. The friendly tone marks a contrast to the rhetoric coming out of the White House toward Mexico, as Trump presses ahead with plans to build a wall along the Mexican border and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled a meeting with Trump. France Mattis may want to pick up the phone and dial his counterpart in France as reports coming in about President Trumps phone call with French President Francois Hollande dont sound good. Politico reports that Trumps call descended into a rant against NATO, with the president saying that the U.S. wants our money back from the alliance because of members, like France, who fail to meet defense spending commitments. Trump also raised the subject of China for unclear reasons, lamenting that it was exploiting the United States. Sanctions A half dozen senators are looking to box in President Trumps ability to loosen sanctions on Russia. CNN reports that a bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) will introduce the Russia Review Act on Wednesday, which would give Congress a veto over any lifting of sanctions. In the event Trump wanted to roll back sanctions put in place against Russia for its annexation of Crimea or alleged interference in the 2016, the legislation would force Trump to submit a report explaining why and give Congress a 120 day period to weigh in on the move. Afghanistan The Army has published a blow by blow account of a battle in Kunduz, Afghanistan in November 2016 which claimed the lives of two Special Forces soldiers. The account details the raid in Boz Qandahari Village in Kunduz to clear safe havens being used by Taliban leaders. After a mile-long muddy track to the objective and clearing Taliban compounds, the 10-man Special Forces team along with its Afghan partners found themselves surrounded by Taliban, leading to a fierce firefight in which 27 Taliban and three local leaders from the insurgent group were killed. Capt. Andrew Byers, one of two Green Berets killed in the mission, was awarded the Silver Star for saving the lives of his men during the fight. Landlord The Defense Department is going to pay the Trump family a hefty rent bill for some office space in Trump Tower, according to the Washington Post. The Pentagon is looking to use the space to provide personnel and equipment to support President Trump when hes spending time away from the White House and, as it has for previous presidents. Whats different this time, however, is that the Trump familys ownership of the building means the Pentagons rent bill, which could stretch to over a million dollars annually, will go right into the Trumps pockets, raises ethics concerns. Budget How much does a 355-ship Navy cost? Congress would like the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to find out. USNI News reports that Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) says that a CBO cost assessment of a larger Navy fleet and the logistical resources necessary to support it is already underway. Wittman also emphasized the importance of putting money into maintaining the current fleet, which has become an issue as budget craps strain maintenance resources. During the 2016 presidential campaign, President Trump promised to increase the number of Navy ships to 350, along with pledges to increase Army and Marine Corps end-strength. Photo Credit: ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images London (AFP) - Artefacts revealing 8,000 years of human history in London are going on show on Friday after being unearthed during the city's giant underground railway project. The Elizabeth Line, Europe's biggest infrastructure project, has allowed archaeologists to examine a cross-section of London life along its east-west route beneath the British capital. Now some 500 objects from the tens of thousands excavated since 2009 in building the line, also known as Crossrail, are being revealed to the public. "We've managed to take a slice down through London but also across London," said Jackie Keily, the curator of "Tunnel: the Archaeology of Crossrail" at the Museum of London Docklands. The skeletons of plague victims, humorous Victorian chamber pots, Roman horseshoes, mediaeval bone ice skates and even 1940s railway company teacups are among the relics on display. A rare medallion of Roman emperor Philip I from the year 245, only the second example ever found in Europe, is also on show in the free exhibition running until September 3. The train tunnels were bored up to 40 metres (131 feet) underground, but the construction of new surface stations also gave archeologists the chance to explore shallower layers where human activity has left its mark. - Clues to London life - While the central section of the Elizabeth Line runs through the Roman heart of the city, the suburban sections reveal shards of flint from tool-making 8,000 years ago. Crossrail excavations also turned up 68,000-year-old reindeer antlers and bison bones, plus a fragment of a woolly mammoth jaw. The exhibition also tells the story of the tunnelling project. It contains a statue of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, which was placed at tunnel entrances. As per tradition, the eight tunnel boring machines were given women's names, in this case Ada, Elizabeth, Ellie, Jessica, Mary, Phyllis, Sophia and Victoria. Crossrail will link London's centre to suburbs to the east and west, plus Heathrow Airport, along 118 kilometres (73.3 miles) of track. Story continues The project is costing 14.7 billion ($18.4 billion, 17.2 billion euros) and employing up to 10,000 people at a time. It should carry 200 million passengers per year, providing an extra 10 percent of capacity on London's creaking transport network. The museum exhibition is situated in the Canary Wharf financial district in east London's former Docklands. Some 28 metres below the murky Thames water, engineers are putting the finishing touches the Canary Wharf Crossrail station. Covered in scaffolding and boarding, the platforms, 240 metres long and 30 metres wide, are in place, and works trains are already rumbling through the tunnels. "Crossrail is about 80 percent complete," Camilla Barrow, the deputy project manager for rail systems, told AFP in the westbound tunnel. The central London tunnel section opens in May 2019 before the full Elizabeth Line service starts in December that year. There are a lot of killers. Weve got a lot of killers. What do you think our countrys so innocent? And so Donald Trump once again rushed to Vladimir Putins defense. Trumps comments to Foxs Bill OReilly this weekend closely echoed a 2015 conversation with MSNBCs Joe Scarborough, in which Scarborough observed that Putin kills journalists that dont agree with him, and Trump replied: Well, I think that our country does plenty of killing, too. Apparently when someone calls Putin a killer, Trumps response is to call Americans killers. Its a chilling thing that our own president doesnt seem to know or value that, in America, we dont kill journalists or political opponents like Putin does. But I want to focus on a different aspect of Trumps remarks. As others have noted, Trump isnt simply embracing Putins preferred talking points. Hes adopting Putins favorite propaganda device a refurbished Soviet tactic that Edward Lucas, who spent years as the Economists bureau chief in Russia, named whataboutism. Lucas described it this way: Criticism of the Soviet Union (Afghanistan, martial law in Poland, imprisonment of dissidents, censorship) was met with a What about (apartheid South Africa, jailed trade-unionists, the Contras in Nicaragua, and so forth). In 2008, Lucas saw whataboutism making a comeback in Russia. By 2012, it was out in full force. Heres one reported example: When Western governments condemned Putins crackdown on the post-election protests, Kremlin officials were ready with: What about the United Kingdom? Breaking the law during public gatherings there could lead to fine of 5,800 pounds sterling or even prison. Since then, Putin has made this a steady drumbeat in his defense of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria. But what about Kosovo, he asks? What about Iraq? What about Libya? What about? What about? What about? Whataboutism, with its sly equivalences, false parallels, and misleading analogies, can exhaust and frustrate those who confront it. Putin is an especially skillful practitioner. Story continues Now something new is happening. The American president is taking Putins what about you tactic and turning it into what about us? He is taking the very appealing and very American impulse toward self-criticism and perverting it. Its simplistic, even childish but more importantly, its dangerous. Heres why. First, whataboutism is unilateral moral disarmament. America isnt perfect, but it is principled. We care about freedom and equality and decency. We (mostly) try to do the right thing and when we dont, Americans hold their country to account. Thats one of the many things that makes us great. Theres a crucial practical benefit to our national character; past presidents have seen that it can be a powerful asset in shaping global affairs. Trump, on the other hand, has made it clear that, as far as hes concerned, our national character is completely unremarkable. That takes off the table a raft of American foreign policy tools: moral calls to action, rallying to higher aspirations, shaming and cajoling. After all, weve got killers too. Second, whataboutism stunts Americas global leadership. Leadership requires action when bad things happen abroad. Trumps attitude leads to inaction and paralysis. Putins a killer? So what, so are we. And just like that, the mistake that was the Iraq War gives a free pass to Putin to invade his neighbors (we invaded countries, too!). Our own errors mean that we cant contest a whole host of wrongs our adversaries might commit (we assassinated foreign leaders, too! We bombed civilians, too!). A country cannot lay claim to leadership if it is in the grips of this logic. Third, it puts the American people at risk here at home. Maybe you agree with Trump that America isnt so great compared to other countries fine. But you should still be alarmed that our president doesnt blink before throwing us under the bus. And you should wonder whether hes going to even acknowledge the threats we face, much less confront them. Remember what Trump defenders said when faced with overwhelming, conclusive evidence that Russia interfered in our election. You guessed it: we spy, too! The American president should do something about Russia interference in Americas elections because he is the American president. Full stop. But whataboutism takes away the responsibility to do the right thing. Finally, whataboutism with all of its blurring and even outright erasing of moral lines can easily creep into domestic policy debates. Consider the response of Trumps defenders to criticism of the immigration executive order: Barack Obama did it, too! He suspended Iraqi refugees in 2011! Never mind that what Obama did was different in key ways that ruin the analogy. He did something vaguely similar and therefore we cant have a reasonable, fact-based conversation about the obvious logical, moral, and policy flaws in Trumps edict. Whataboutism at home, just like whataboutism abroad, could slowly but surely exhaust and frustrate the American public until we just throw up our hands. Scarier still, if Trump can see no moral distinction between Russias murder of journalists and the plenty of killing America apparently already does, then whataboutism grants Trump a frightening latitude to commit awful deeds as president. In Trumps telling, thats already part of the job description. Lets remember what genuine moral analysis and honest self-criticism look like. Obama didnt always get the balance right, but he had powerful moments. In his speech in Brussels in 2014, he effectively parried Putins arguments on Ukraine. He exploded the false analogy to Kosovo and even to Iraq a war he had vigorously opposed. A year later, in Selma, he went on to broaden the argument, describing how America errs, then learns, then ultimately improves. Thats what we need from an American president. Not this. Top photo: Trump and OReilly watch the Yankees play the Orioles at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 30, 2012. JIM MCISAAC/Getty Images Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese mobile firm SoftBank said Wednesday its nine-month net profit doubled, largely due to one-off gains from the sale of its stake in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The company said April-December net profit came in at 857.4 billion yen ($7.6 billion), up 99.9 percent from the previous year, while operating profit rose 18 percent from a year ago. Apart from the Alibaba sale, SoftBank pointed to improvements at its money-losing US subsidiary Sprint as well as the acquisition of iPhone chip designer ARM Holdings. Revenue edged down 0.3 percent to 6.58 trillion yen, the company added, citing the impact of a stronger yen. The firm did not release earnings estimates for its fiscal year to March. SoftBank reaped huge profits from a partial sale of its stake in Alibaba, China'a equivalent to eBay, while in June it sold Finnish game-maker Supercell Oy, creator of "Clash of Clans", to Chinese internet behemoth Tencent for $8.6 billion. Also last year, SoftBank announced the $32-billion ARM purchase. Led by flamboyant founder Masayoshi Son, SoftBank has embarked on a string of international acquisitions both big and small in recent years. Son was among the first business people to meet with Donald Trump after his November election victory. Son pledged to invest $50 billion in business and job-creation in the United States, winning open praise from the then president-elect. By Isaiah Esipisu TURKANA COUNTY, Kenya (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A borehole dug by herders in a desperate attempt to survive Kenya's last severe drought has been transformed into a lifeline for thousands of children and animals as a new drought hits, thanks to the addition of solar pumping and water storage. The well has become an oasis in the impoverished drylands of eastern Africa where charities say back-to-back droughts are threatening the lives of millions of children. Originally built to meet the needs of 12 herders and their families, the upgraded borehole now provides water for thousands of people and livestock living at the foot of Pelekech mountain in Lokore region in Turkana County. As a result, herders can bring home their livestock every day to drink water, which they say is a blessing. "It is usually a disaster when animals are taken miles away from home in search of pasture and water because most of our children depend on milk for survival - and if there is no milk, it could mean death for them," said Jacinta Akiru, a 65-year-old mother of five from Lokore. The Kenya Red Cross Society last month predicted the number of Kenyans without enough to eat would almost double by April to 2.4 million from 1.3 million, mainly in the country's north and along the coast. NOT RUN DRY At first, after sinking the well, the herders' families drew water by hand using a bucket and rope, and could only fetch enough for their immediate domestic needs. "When we started this project, it was in a desperate move just to see if we could find some little water for domestic consumption," said Angeline Namudang, the treasurer for Lokore Community Disaster Management Committee, the group which sunk the borehole. The herders used to spend weeks or even months away from home in drought periods, looking for water and pasture. They often returned to find their children, left behind with relatives, were malnourished or even dead. That changed when a solar pump and water tanks were installed in 2013, with the help of international NGO Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Germany. The well now supplies water kiosks and animal drinking troughs in two villages. "This has been like a revolution to us," said Lotit Agirai, who has six wives and 30 children. "Having access to water for domestic animals closer to home is the best thing that has happened to me," said Agirai, now in his 70s. He used to trek with herds of livestock more than 30 kilometres across the border to Uganda's Karamoja area in search of water and pasture. So far, 625 households are using the water facility. Each household has on average seven members, and about 150 animals, including goats, sheep, camels and donkeys. Households pay 300 Kenyan shillings ($3) a month for water - 100 Kenyan shillings ($1) for domestic use, and 200 Kenyan shillings ($2) for animal access. The money pays for maintenance and two watchmen to guard the facility day and night. The borehole has never gone dry, and is still producing water during the ongoing drought which meteorologists say is the worst since 2011. DISEASE PROTECTION Access to safe water means fewer cases of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid, especially during drought conditions, said Purity Ndubi, the nurse in charge of Waso dispensary in Isiolo County in northern Kenya - another arid part of the country. "We always have a spike of these cases during droughts," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The same happens to livestock, according to Johnson Wamalwa, the chief livestock officer in Turkana West sub-county. "During such periods, many animals from different places share the same drinking points, which makes it easy for infectious diseases to spread," he said. Thousands of domestic animals have already died in the country's north because of drought-related diseases, fatigue from trekking long distances, and lack of pasture. Between December and January, more than 6,000 goats and sheep died of goat plague in Laisamis sub-county in northern Kenya's Marsabit County, according to Michael Baariu, a local veterinary officer. The plague is a highly contagious viral disease, and often fatal to sheep and goats. However, the residents of Lokore are at peace. None of their livestock have died since the onset of the drought in mid-2016. "We are also optimistic that our children will remain healthy till the end of the drought season," said Akiru. ($1 = 103.7000 Kenyan shillings) (Reporting by Isaiah Esipisu; Editing by Alex Whiting.; 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) BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - Islamist gunmen stormed a hotel in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region on Wednesday, killing four guards, a senior official and an Islamic State agency said. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in Bosasso, according to its news agency Amaq. A group declaring allegiance to Islamic State has been active in the Puntland region in recent months. The senior official had earlier blamed Islamists from al Shabaab, but a spokesman for the Somali group denied this. Three fighters stormed the International Village Hotel, Yusuf Mohamed, the governor of Bari region, told Reuters. "Four guards and two of the attackers died in the fighting," he said. He said the militants had managed to enter the compound but not the main building of the hotel, which is popular with foreigners. Islamist leader Abdiqadir Mumin broke away from the main al Shabaab insurgency in 2015 and swore allegiance to Islamic State. Experts says the group's strength is unclear, but he may have fighters numbering in the low hundreds under his command. However, experts say his group has no known operational links to Islamic State in the Middle East. Al Shabaab regularly launches attacks in Somalia, but tends to focus on the capital Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government. Until 2011, the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab controlled most of Somalia including Mogadishu. Since then it has been pushed out of the capital and slowly forced out of other strongholds by African Union troops and Somali soldiers. (Reporting by Abdiqani Hassan, Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Additional reporting by Ahmed Tolba in Cairo; Writing by George Obulutsa and Edmund Blair; Editing by Alison Williams) Mogadishu (AFP) - Supporters of Somalia's new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a veteran diplomat and former prime minister, hope he can be the answer to corruption and extremism in the world's most notorious failed state. The 55-year-old father of four, better known as Farmajo, holds both American and Somali citizenship, and was elected after a six-month voting process marred by widespread allegations of vote-buying and corruption. Nevertheless, Farmajo, from the Darod clan, was welcomed with celebration by many Somalis who had looked forward to change after a series of Hawiye presidents. In a country where clan divisions dominate politics, the administration of his predecessor, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was widely seen as more corrupt than any that came before him. As president, Farmajo inherits a country where Al-Shabaab extremists hold swathes of countryside and attack Mogadishu at will. And after decades of unrest, hundreds of thousands of Somalis have been displaced internally, or else have fled the country. "This is the beginning of unity for the Somali nation, the beginning of the fight against Shabaab and corruption," a triumphant Farmajo said after being declared president. Many Somalis fondly remember the eight months when Farmajo -- whose nickname means "cheese" -- was prime minister in 2010-11. On his Facebook page, Farmajo says that while premier, he implemented the first monthly stipends for soldiers, worked on the country's new constitution and sent delegations to defuse clan-related tensions in several regions. The soldiers firing celebratory gunfire in the streets of Mogadishu on Wednesday have not been paid for months. And in a report this week, the Somali anti-corruption NGO Marqaati said civil servants had gone unpaid so the government could pay for lobbying during the elections. In his time as prime minister, Farmajo also established an anti-corruption commission, prohibited unnecessary trips abroad by members of government and put in place an audit of government property and vehicles. Story continues - Forced out - In 2011, after months of political infighting over the holding of presidential elections, a deal was struck to postpone the vote in exchange for Farmajo's resignation. He agreed to step down in "the interest of the Somali people and the current situation in Somalia". In early 2012 Farmajo and members of his former cabinet set up the Tayo ("Quality") political party. On his Facebook page, he says that the party's priority was "encouraging the repatriation of Somali diasporans so as to assist in the post-conflict reconstruction process." Farmajo was born in Mogadishu to activist parents from the southern Gedo region. He has lived off and on for years in the United States, where he studied history and political science. He worked at the foreign ministry before the overthrow of Siad Barre's regime in 1991 ushered in decades of anarchy. He also worked at the Somali embassy in Washington. Before being appointed prime minister he spent several years working in New York for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and the Erie County Division of Equal Employment Opportunity, as well as the New York State Department of Transportation. MOGADISHU (AFP) - Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was elected Somali president Wednesday, in the second presidential election since 1991 held amid tight security due to clashes between Al-Qaeda-linked fighters and African Union peacekeepers. Following is a timeline of developments over the past 25 years in the war-torn country: - President Barre deposed, chaos ensues - In January 1991, President Mohamed Siad Barre, a strongman in power since 1969, is deposed by rebels and flees the country. The rebel alliance soon falls apart and clan-based fighting breaks out later that year. From December 1992 to 1995, the international community intervenes with 38,000 troops to end a major famine and restore peace, but the United Nations' mission ends in failure and the deaths of 18 US soldiers. - New government barred from Mogadishu - In 2005, a new government formed the previous year after protracted talks in Kenya enters the country but cannot reach Mogadishu, which is controlled by warlords. The authorities set up shop in Baidoa, west of the capital. A year later, the Islamic Courts movement, accused by the US of harbouring Al-Qaeda extremists, captures Mogadishu after heavy fighting. - Shabaab emerges, joins Al-Qaeda - Ethiopia invades Somalia in December 2006 with Washington's support. The Shabaab, the Islamic Courts' armed wing, emerges to stage a bloody insurgency in the capital and the south. In 2007, an African Union (AU) force deploys in Mogadishu to back up a transitional federal government, which comes to the capital. Ethiopia withdraws from Somalia in 2009, and days later, the Shabaab seizes Baidoa while the UN holds talks in Djibouti with the entire Somali parliament. Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed becomes president of a transitional administration. In 2010, Shabaab proclaims its allegiance to Al-Qaeda and claims a double attack that kills 76 people in Kampala in retaliation for Uganda's participation in the AU force. Story continues AU troops drive Shabaab militants out of Mogadishu in August 2011 but the militants continue to control rural areas and launch repeated attacks in the capital. In October 2011, a Shabaab suicide bombing at a ministry in Mogadishu kills 82 people. In late October, Kenyan troops cross the border into southern Somalia and Ethiopian forces follow in November. Shabaab fighters strike back at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi on September 21, 2013 where at least 67 people are killed and around 20 go missing, in retaliation for Kenya's military intervention. In April 2015, another Shabaab attack kills 148 people at the university in Garissa, eastern Kenya. - Parliamentary, presidential elections - A new Somali parliament is sworn in on August 20, 2012 following the adoption of a provisional constitution. The new parliament, comprised of deputies nominated by 135 clan elders, elects Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as president on September 10. It is the first presidential election in Somalia since Barre was deposed in 1991. From October to December 2016, around 14,000 clan-based delegate electors -- from a total population of 12 million -- vote in a second parliamentary election. On December 27, 2016, a new batch of 275 Somali deputies take the oath of office. On February 8, 2017 former premier Farmajo is elected president after incumbent Mohamud admits defeat in a second round of voting by lawmakers. SpaceX, headed by CEO Elon Musk, plans to launch its Falcon 9 rockets every two or three weeks, the company's president, Gwynne Shotwell, told Reuters Monday. The SpaceX launches will start as soon as its new launch pad in Florida opens next week. The launches will be at the fastest rate since SpaceX started launches in 2010. The planned launches come after a SpaceX rocket exploded on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida last September. The accident caused damage to the launch site and a $200 million AMOS-6 communications satellite from Israeli company Spacecom. The repairs at the damaged launch pad should cost far less than half of the new launch pad, which is about $100 million, said Shotwell. The new launch pad is at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. In January, months after the incident, only one rocket has been launched. The successful launching of the Falcon 9 rocket took place at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. How SpaceX Will Fix Rocket Engines SpaceX is adjusting the rocket's engines to improve performance and resolve potential safety concerns, Shotwell said. SpaceX plans to change the design of the rockets turbopump and a new software fix to eliminate cracks that have raised concerns from NASA and the U.S. Air Force, both which work with SpaceX . NASA hired SpaceX to shuttle astronauts to and from the International Space Station starting late next year. SpaceX is also one of two companies certified to fly military and national security satellites for the Air Force. The company found two types of cracks during ground tests of its Merlin engines in 2015, Shotwell told Reuters. The cracks were not related to the launch pad explosion in September 2016, she clarified. For us, the concern was not the cracks, but do they grow over time? Would these cracks cause a flight failure? Shotwell said. I think NASA is used to engines that arent quite as robust, so they just dont want any cracks at all in the turbo machinery." Story continues The new turbopumps will be installed before Crew Dragons first unmanned test flights scheduled for November. Related Articles By Dave McKinney SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - As speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Michael Madigan has outlasted five governors and is now on his sixth. This year, the Chicago Democrat will become longest-serving state or federal House speaker in the United States since at least the early 1800s. Madigan is to Illinois what his late mentor, Mayor Richard J. Daley, was to Chicago, the states great metropolis - a city the political boss once controlled down to the last garbage truck. As speaker for all but two years since 1983, Madigan has directed the fate of key pension, labor and tax laws. As state Democratic Party chairman since 1998, he has shaped the fortunes of his allies and stymied opponents. But if Daleys Chicago was the city that works, a nickname coined during his tenure, Madigans Illinois is the state that doesnt work. The speaker is one of Americas most powerful politicians, presiding over arguably its most dysfunctional state capital. Illinois is beyond broke. It is the first state in at least eight decades to go without an annual budget, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Its bond ratings, the lowest of any state, are near junk status. It is projected to have a budget deficit this fiscal year of $5.3 billion and owes vendors about $10.8 billion in unpaid bills. Its pension system, serving more than 815,000 public employees and retirees, was tied with Kentuckys system for the lowest funding ratio among states, at 37.6 percent, according to a 2014 ranking by Pew Charitable Trusts. Unfunded liabilities stood at $129.8 billion last June, up from $2.5 billion in 1971, the year Madigan joined the legislature. Pension obligations are now projected to consume about a quarter of state operating revenues every year through 2044, raising the specter of steep tax hikes or deep cuts to public services. The states unpaid bills could reach $47 billion by 2022, Republican Governor Bruce Rauners administration has predicted. Hundreds of Illinois politicians share a measure of blame for the fiscal fiasco. Still, as speaker, Madigan has sponsored or voted for every major state law affecting pensions over his three decades in the job and is a leader in budget deliberations every year. No one in modern Illinois politics wields as much legislative power, said David Axelrod, the Chicago-based Democratic political consultant who helped put Barack Obama in the White House. In his domain - in terms of the art of keeping and exercising power within that building - hes incomparable, Axelrod said, referring to the state capitol in Springfield. Whatever his complicity in helping to create the problem, hes also going to be essential to its solution. Madigan declined to be interviewed for this report. In the fall of 2015, he shrugged off criticism during rare public comments about his role in the fiscal crisis. If you wish to be a critic of me, then you would blame everything thats happened in the state for the last several years on me. Some do that, he told reporters. I dont choose to be so negative. Madigans spokesman, Steve Brown, said past governors, fellow House members and state senators, often from both parties, all signed off on the same laws and budgets that Madigan supported or sponsored. There is shared responsibility for all, Brown said. As the latest governor to tangle with Madigan, Rauner has said the speaker needs to own up to his outsized role in the states crisis, given Madigans long tenure and unique clout. He controls the government of Illinois. Thats a fact, Rauner said in May 2015, after the legislature failed to pass a budget and shot down key Rauner proposals. Weve been driven into a ditch. Rauner declined requests for an interview about Madigan. Madigan emerged relatively unscathed from an epic battle for power with Rauner and the Republican Party in the 2016 elections, amid record campaign spending. Between January and November, the governor, his wife and his campaign fund gave at least $37.5 million to candidates and groups, many of which targeted Madigan in a torrent of television attack ads, state records show. The speakers Democratic majority lost four of its 71 House seats in the 118-member chamber. But Madigan scored a victory by helping engineer the defeat of the governors choice for comptroller, the office that disburses state funds. In 2013, Madigan took credit for passing a landmark fix to the pension system. But the state Supreme Court invalidated the law two years later, citing a clause in the Illinois constitution that prohibits existing state pension benefits from being diminished or impaired. Before it was overturned, Madigans attempted pension overhaul angered his union-heavy base. Now, Madigan is appeasing those longtime allies by fighting off Rauners efforts to weaken collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions and workers compensation protections. Two weeks before the Illinois legislature adjourned without passing a budget last May, Madigan spoke to a crowd estimated at 10,000 supporters outside the state capitol. Governor Rauner wants to change collective bargaining! he yelled. How do you feel? Noooo! came the rowdy response. BREAKFAST IN CHICAGO Soon after Rauners 2014 election, Madigan met the governor-elect for breakfast at the Chicago Club, an old private institution catering to the citys business elite. As they talked, the speaker handed Rauner an index card listing the seven governors with whom Madigan had served, according to three people with direct knowledge of the meeting. The message was clear, these people said. Madigan aimed to outlast Rauner, too. Brown, Madigans spokesman, said he was not aware of the episode with the index card. In the two years since that breakfast, Rauner has yet to enact a single piece of his Turnaround Agenda. Madigan has blocked the governors proposals to weaken collective bargaining and workers compensation rights, portraying Rauner as an enemy of the middle class. The speaker also has stopped the governors attempt to impose term limits for legislative leaders and to change how legislative district boundaries are redrawn every 10 years, a process Madigan has used to help elect Democratic allies. Rauners predecessors can relate. It is difficult to point to any major state law that has passed without Speaker Madigans blessing. In 1989, Republican Governor James R. Thompson had tried and failed for two years to pass a 20 percent increase in individual and business income taxes, along with a new sales tax on services, through Madigans House. Madigan undermined the governor by passing a substitute plan in less than six hours. His top aides called the maneuver Operation Cobra, because Madigan had kept it secret even from close allies. It raised rates 18 percent, but only temporarily. Desperate for revenue, Thompson signed Madigans package into law. Mike is one smart guy, Thompson told Reuters, admiring Madigans legislative acumen decades later. UNDERSTUDY TO THE BOSS Early in his career, Madigans political connections got him a job on the back of a garbage truck, the speaker said in a 2009 interview for a University of Illinois at Chicago oral history project documenting the life of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who served as mayor from 1955 to 1976. He got the patronage job because Madigans father worked as a ward superintendent, an unelected position dedicated to monitoring neighborhood garbage pickup and street-cleaning. Later, when Madigan was a law student at Chicagos Loyola University between 1964 and 1967, the mayor got Madigan a job in the citys law department as a clerk. By 1969, Madigan was giving out jobs himself as a ward committeeman under Daley, rewarding people who helped hustle Democratic votes, the speaker told historians. He quickly learned about party discipline. After Madigan ran against a Daley-backed candidate for a higher party post, Daley refused to speak with him for nine months. He was a boss. He should be, Madigan said in the interview with historians. Everywhere in life, everywhere in the world, there has to be bosses. Daley ultimately backed Madigans first run for the state legislature. Madigan said he keeps a mass card from the 2003 funeral of Daleys wife on his office desks in Springfield and in Chicago. The card shows the mayor and Eleanor Sis Daley at their 35th wedding anniversary. When Im sitting there and trying to make a tough decision, Ill look over at him and just ask myself, What would he do? Madigan said. MODERN MACHINE POLITICS Madigan has continued to apply Daleys lessons in patronage. People with connections to Madigan, for instance, regularly have landed jobs at two transportation agencies serving the Chicago area, according to a task force appointed in 2013 by then-Governor Patrick Quinn to investigate political influence on such hires. In 2011, the Regional Transportation Authority hired Madigans son-in-law, Jordan Matyas, as a $130,000-a-year lobbyist. The agency denied at the time that the family connection played any role. Matyas declined a request for comment. Alex Clifford - the head of Chicagos commuter rail agency, Metra - alleged in a 2013 memo to the agencys board that, in 2012, Madigan used an emissary to lean on the agency to give a pay raise to a Madigan campaign worker and donor and to hire another unidentified staffer. Madigan acknowledged in a 2013 statement that he tried to get his campaign worker a raise, but he said he backed off when Clifford balked. Clifford contended his job was threatened by two board members aligned with Madigan. He ultimately agreed to leave the agency when the board gave him a controversial $718,000 severance package. Quinn, a Democrat, created the task force in 2013 to restore trust at Metra. Its final report detailed an additional 26 alleged instances in which Madigan or a lawyer acting on his behalf recommended people for public-transit jobs. In some cases he did not recommend people to be hired he in effect decided they were hired, the report said about Madigans influence. The additional 26 hires came between 1983 and 1991. The task force discovered them in records the agency kept to track the hiring recommendations of politicians. Such political hires were common and considered legal in Illinois until 1990, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that patronage hiring by Illinois Republicans violated the constitutional free speech rights of public workers who did not support the party in power. The task force did not investigate the hiring of Madigans son-in-law as an RTA lobbyist, but noted that it created a perception problem. Brown, the Madigan spokesman, said of the task force report: Most of the claims made concerning Metra were unsubstantiated and the speaker disputed the claims. Clifford, now a transit executive in Santa Clara, California, described Madigan as a throwback. Hes built a machine, he told Reuters. Some of us thought those kinds of political godfathers went away in the 30s and 40s. Obviously, not in Illinois. ILLINOIS MATH Public jobs, salaries and benefits have been central to the mounting fiscal crisis. Laws and budgets passed on Madigans watch have added tens of billions of dollars to the states pension underfunding. In 1989, Madigan supported a law that permanently awarded compounding 3 percent annual increases in pension payments, which can make a retirees yearly payout double over 25 years. Some retirees praise Madigan for his hand in the pension perk. Certainly, anybody who voted yes did a great thing for us, said Dave Davison, a 78-year-old retired teacher and school administrator who heads the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. I do not feel bad, or feel like were abusing the situation. In 2002, Madigan sponsored legislation that allowed thousands of state workers to retire as early as age 50 with full pensions. Initially, the state projected that about 7,400 workers would take advantage of the one-time offer. But more than 11,000 workers signed up, at a projected cost to the state of $2.3 billion through 2045. The state has made efforts in the Madigan era to control unfunded pension liabilities. But some of these merely shifted billions of dollars to the states general obligation debt, which skyrocketed from $7.62 billion in 2002 to $27.8 billion in 2016. The state borrowed a total of nearly $17 billion to make pension contributions between 2003 and 2011 under legislation sponsored or supported by Madigan. In 2010, Madigan teamed with Quinn, the Democratic governor, to pass a law that cut pension benefits for employees hired after 2011. That will save the system substantial money once those workers retire. But for decades to come, the state will continue to shoulder higher costs of pensions for workers hired before 2011. And a little-known provision of the law allowed the state to slash pension contributions immediately, using the projected long-term savings as the rationale. The law was cited as a textbook example of the legislatures habit of pushing urgent obligations far into the future in a 2015 analysis commissioned by the Teachers Retirement System, or TRS, the state teachers pension. The state has systematically underfunded TRS using Illinois Math, the report stated. In an interview, Quinn said the law would eventually save billions of dollars and that Madigan played a key role in passing it. A DOWNHILL RAMP Pension legislation Madigan helped draft decades ago continues to haunt Illinois. An example is the 1994 overhaul known as the Edgar Ramp, after Governor Jim Edgar. The politics of the law were unique. As the 1994 election approached, Edgar faced a reelection challenge from Democratic Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch. Madigan had backed a rival to Netsch in the Democratic primary race. Netsch was planning to use the pension crisis against Edgar. Madigan came to the Republican governors rescue by helping him pass a pension change in an election year. Madigan was trying to shore up his own power, Edgar said later. The speaker needed to protect the reelection prospects of his Democratic allies in the House from public employee unions angry about their underfunded pensions. Madigan was always looking out for his members, Edgar said in an interview with Reuters. The surprising alliance helped keep Edgar in office. It didnt work so well for Madigan, who lost his Democratic majority - and his speakership for the only term since 1983 - as Republicans made sweeping gains nationwide. The resulting law contributed to a meteoric rise in unfunded obligations. The ramp promised bigger pension contributions but phased them in slowly until 2011. In the intervening years, unfunded liabilities shot up by $57 billion. Those phased-in increases were the primary driver of the added liabilities, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2013, the SEC accused Illinois of understating the risk of pension shortfalls and misleading the holders of $2.2 billion in state bonds between 2005 and 2009. The 1994 Edgar Ramp law enabled the state to shift the burden associated with its pension costs to the future, the SEC wrote in its complaint. The state settled by agreeing to better disclosure but admitted no wrongdoing. Edgar, in an interview, praised Madigan for working with him. He faulted his successors for passing laws that weakened pensions and for failing to recalibrate contributions during economic downturns. Nobody foresaw the recession we saw or the fall of the market or the lack of fiscal discipline we saw in state government, discipline that we had in the 90s but that disappeared in the 2000s, he said in an interview with Reuters. BRONZE-PLATED LEGACY In a hallway near Madigans statehouse office, four bronze wall plaques list the 59 House speakers who have served since Illinois gained statehood in 1818. Madigans entry takes up far more space than that of anyone else. By August, Madigan will have outlasted the longest-serving house speaker in modern U.S. politics, the late Solomon Blatt, who ran the South Carolina chamber for 32 non-consecutive years between 1937 and 1973. Last month, Madigan celebrated his tenure by giving each of the members of his Democratic majority a crystal clock that retails for $150. Omitted from the gift list was Scott Drury, the only Democrat who did not vote for Madigans reelection as speaker. Instead of a gift, Drury said, he got stripped of his committee leadership position in retaliation for stepping out of the party line. Brown, Madigans spokesman, said Drury had become a difficult person to work with. The 65 Democrats loyal to Madigan now have clocks bearing the inscription: The Honorable Michael J. Madigan. Longest-serving speaker of a state House of Representatives in United States history. 2017. (Edited by David Greising and Brian Thevenot) A wave of suicides among teenage Afghan migrants in Sweden after it introduced stricter asylum rules has sparked concern among refugee workers and volunteers, they said Wednesday. In the past two weeks, seven asylum seekers, all unaccompanied minors, have tried to kill themselves at different refugee housing centres across Sweden. Three of them died, all Afghan teenagers aged under 18, said Mahboba Madadi, who works closely with unaccompanied asylum seekers for a non-profit group. "They're afraid of being expelled and have no hope," Madadi told AFP. In a revised security assessment published in December, the Swedish Migration Board deemed some regions of Afghanistan "less dangerous" despite "increasing violence" in the war-torn country. The assessment has made it easier for authorities to expel rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan. "There are parts of Afghanistan where one can return," a spokesman at the Swedish Migration Board told AFP. He said rejected asylum seekers under 18 will not be sent back to Afghanistan if they do not have family members or acquaintances to take care of them. Sara Edvardson Ehrnborg, a teacher who also volunteers for a non-profit group helping refugees, said unaccompanied Afghan migrants were increasingly worried their asylum applications would be rejected. Loneliness and lack of affection in asylum homes could also trigger the teens to end their lives, according to Madadi. "They're not happy in the homes. They're kids who need someone who shows them love," she said, expressing concerns that more asylum seekers would attempt suicide. "We are extremely worried and we want the Swedish government to do something about this," she added. Sweden took in the highest number of refugees per capita in Europe in 2015, registering 160,000 asylum applications. Last year, the Scandinavian country granted 2,100 Afghan minors asylum and rejected 600 others. Sweden is an attractive destination for unaccompanied minors due to its free education system and health care. Mike (Patrick J. Adams) figures out that Sofia Price (Marla McLean) is not the only tenant her landlord wants to evict. In a sneak peek from Season 6, episode 13 of Suits, Mike visits Linda Johnson (Paula Boudreau) attorney of Sofias landlord to give what appears to be his clients payment for all the rent she missed. Johnson, however, returns the check to Mike, saying that he missed the deadline. Mike tells Johnson that they cant evict Sofia because her son is in the hospital. While Johnson feels sorry about Sofias son, she says that she has a job to do and theres nothing she can do to change the courts decision. Despite missing the deadline, Mike tells Marissa (Athena Karkanis) and Oliver (Jordan Johnson-Hinds) back at Eastside Legal Clinic that theres still a way to stop Sofias landlord from evicting her. I got to thinking, why they would be in such a hurry to evict somebody who could actually come up with the money, Mike asks his colleagues. Theyre not trying to get her out. Theyre trying to get everyone out, Marissa answers. Exactly, Mike replies. Theyre gonna demolish that building. I was over there last night. The workers were already there, which means they have already started. When Marissa asks Mike if hes going to file a countersuit against Sofias landlord, the former Pearson Specter Litt employee confirmed by saying: I want to nail their asses to the wall. Also in the episode, Harvey (Gabriel Macht) tells Mike that he knows a way to get him into the bar. But much to Harveys disappointment, Mike isnt on board with the idea. Whats wrong with you? Harvey asks Mike in the trailer for the episode. Whats wrong with me is I dont feel like going back to prison, Mike replies. While Mike is seemingly firm with his decision, the ex-convict may change his mind the moment he finds out that Harvey is helping him to get into the bar to ensure Rachels (Meghan Markle) future as a lawyer. The preview clip opens with a teary-eyed Rachel telling Louis (Rick Hoffman) that shes not getting into the bar. Louis relays the news to Harvey, who immediately discovers that Rachels problem is due to her fiances shady past. Will Mike eventually agree to Harveys plan? Or will they find a different way to get Rachel in to the bar? Story continues Suits Season 6, episode 13, titled Teeth, Nose, Teeth, airs on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 10 p.m. EST on USA Network. Patrick J. Adams as Mike Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/USA Network Related Articles Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch said President Donald Trumps tweets about the judiciary are demoralizing and disheartening. Gorsuchs comments came during a meeting with Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, after Trump referred to a federal judge who last week blocked his executive order barring immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries as a so-called judge. The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2017 He certainly expressed to me that he is disheartened by the demoralizing and abhorrent comments made by President Trump about the judiciary, Blumenthal told reporters after the meeting on Wednesday. I believe he has an obligation to make his views known more explicit and unequivocally to the American people, Blumenthal said of Gorsuch. Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for Gorsuch during the Supreme Court confirmation process, confirmed to CNN that Gorsuch used the words disheartening and demoralizing to describe Trumps tweet. Until Wednesdays comments, Gorsuch has remained fairly quiet since Trump nominated him to the Supreme Court. Trump ramped up attacks against the judiciary after the travel ban was put on hold, tweeting that judges should be blamed in the event of a terror attack by an immigrant. The executive order is currently under consideration by an appeals court after the Trump administration filed an appeal. By Johan Ahlander and Niklas Pollard STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish academic Hans Rosling, a doctor and statistician who captured a worldwide audience with his witty style and original thinking on topics like population growth and development, has died at the age of 68. With humour, lively graphics and an impassioned rhetorical style, Rosling used forums like online TED talks to influence public debate. In one typical example, he deployed a set of brightly coloured plastic boxes from furniture store IKEA to illustrate demographic trends in the richest and poorest countries. The Gapminder foundation, a self-styled "fact tank" he co-founded to fight misconceptions about global development, said in a statement that Rosling had died on Tuesday, a year after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A health professor at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, Rosling was known for highlighting progress in the developing world, including declines in child mortality and poverty, and the advance of democracy in Africa. "Hans Rosling was a good friend and a brilliant teacher. He managed to bring life to facts and he helped people to see the progress we often overlooked. We are deeply saddened by the loss," philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates told Swedish news agency TT. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter: "A giant has passed away. Hans Rosling made change possible by sharing his extraordinary knowledge. A friend that will be missed by many." In 2014, at the height of the Ebola epidemic, Rosling packed his bags and went to Liberia to offer his services. "He went straight into the Health Ministry and said, 'Hi there, here I am. Professor Hans Rosling. Can I help you?'," Helena Nordenstedt, doctor and scientist at Karolinska, told Swedish daily Expressen. In the past decade, Rosling had cut back on his work at Karolinska to devote more time to work as a public educator for Gapminder, where he liked to refer to his role as an "Edutainer". "We know that many will be saddened by this message. Hans is no longer alive, but he will always be with us and his dream of a fact-based worldview, we will never let die," the foundation said. (Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could be the beginning of a compromise between tech companies and President Donald Trump on the U.S. immigration order, CNBC's Jim Cramer said. On Sunday night, the Washington Post reported that several technology companies including Apple (AAPL), Facebook (FB), Google (GOOGL), and Microsoft (MSFT) filed a legal brief opposing the administration's entry ban that temporarily barred citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States and suspended the U.S. refugee program. According to the Post, the brief said in part, "The order inflicts significant harm on American business, innovation, and growth. The order effects a sudden shift in the rules governing entry into the United States and is inflicting substantial harm on U.S. companies." Musk, who serves on Trump's business council, said via Twitter (TWTR) on Sunday activists should recommend that moderates work with the president. "I think that the idea there is something that could work in between is something that Musk is really kind of front and center with, saying, "Look, you got to work with the guy," Cramer said on " Squawk on the Street ." "And I think that when you have such a uniform protest and then you sit down, I mean, maybe this was the first example of there could be a compromise," he said. Cramer said Trump's tweets indicate that the White House is not going to back down on its immigration plans. He said the issues is likely to go to the Supreme Court. "I don't think this is going to be as left, right as people think," he said. "I think that there are people in the Supreme Court ... who are Republican who really aren't kind of backing the federal court system." Republicans invoked an obscure Senate rule to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., while she was delivering a scathing critique of her colleague Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. Warren quoted a letter by the late Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., opposing Sessions nomination to a federal judgeship in 1986. King had said that Sessions used his power as an acting federal prosecutor in Alabama to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens, and Kennedy had called him a disgrace to the Justice Department. Sessions nomination was voted down in committee. Warren was resurfacing these accusations during her argument that he should not be confirmed as President Trumps attorney general. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., interrupted Warren midway through her reading Kings letter and accused her of violating Senate Rule XIX. Senators voted along party lines to silence Warren, turning a national spotlight on what had been a routine critique by one of the Trump administrations most outspoken opponents. #LetLizSpeak started to trend on social media. Though senators have said worse about their colleagues, Warren did in fact violate section two of Rule XIX: No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. On Wednesday morning, Warren said that she went to the Senate floor to fulfill her constitutional responsibility debating whether Sessions should be the nations next attorney general. Sen. Elizabeth Warren reacts to being rebuked by the Senate leadership and accused of impugning a fellow senator, Attorney General-designate Sen. Jeff Sessions, Feb. 8, 2017, on Capitol Hill. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric asked Warren why she thought the rule was applied to her in this instance. I think its because they didnt want anyone to read Coretta Scott Kings letter. This is a powerful letter, Warren replied. Where did Rule XIX come from anyway? Like the nation itself, the rules governing the Senate have evolved over the years. In 1801, then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson published rules dictating the behavior and procedures of senators in A Manual of Parliamentary Practice, and new rules have been added or taken away in the years since. Story continues In February 1902, roughly a century after Jeffersons manual appeared, a fistfight on the Senate floor between Sen. John McLaurin, D-S.C., and his old mentor Sen. Benjamin Tillman, D-S.C., compelled the Senate to create the rule that was used to silence Warren. According to Senate historians, Tillman, 54, pointed to McLaurins empty chair in the Senate chamber while accusing his former protege of treachery for succumbing to improper influences in collusion with Republicans. McLaurin, 41, who was in a nearby committee meeting, was told of the remarks and sprinted into the chamber, where he upbraided his old friend for telling a willful, malicious and deliberate lie. Artist J.S. Pughe illustrated The recent flurry in the Senate about the 1902 fight. (Photo: Library of Congress) Tillman lunged at McLaurin, and misdirected blows struck several other senators who were trying to pry them apart. Senate historians say it was the first physical assault in the chamber since 1850. In August 1902, Senate members adopted stricter guidelines concerning the decorum of floor debates: sections two and three of Rule XIX. The rule in question is so rarely enforced that its a challenge to find examples. Bloomberg reporter Greg Giroux surfaced a moment in 1979 when Sen. John Heinz, R-Pa., invoked Rule XIX after Sen. Lowell Weicker, R-Conn., called him an idiot and devious. Ultimately, Weicker was not silenced because Majority Leader Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) successfully eased tensions and had them shake hands. Giroux also dug up a time in 1964 when Sen. Clifford Case, R-N.J., invoked the rule against Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, D-Mont. Presiding officer Ted Kennedy rejected the request. Amber Phillips of the Washington Post compiled several other moments in recent history where Rule XIX arguably could have been invoked or enforced but was not: then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid calling Republican senators puppets controlled by then-President George W. Bush in December 2007, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., accusing Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., of lying to him in July 2015; and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., disparaging the cancerous leadership of Reid in May 2016. James Grimmelmann, a professor of law at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School, told Yahoo News that the enforcement of Rule XIX against Warren reminds him of the House gag rule of 1836 that forbade the House of Representatives from considering petitions from abolitionists. Theres no direct link, but the disuse of it is eerily reminiscent of the gag rule, Grimmelmann told Yahoo News. In both cases, you have such a sensitivity and defensiveness on the part of some members of the institution around the subject of race that they are willing to silence their colleagues rather than risk hearing things they dont want to hear. Former President John Quincy Adams, who was back in Congress as a representative of Massachusetts, adamantly opposed the gag rule as a direct violation of the Constitution and a restriction on free speech. He finally gathered enough votes to repeal the resolution in 1844. Liberal politicians have rushed to Warrens defense. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., for instance, argued that senators would need to address Sessions character in a discussion regarding his suitability for being attorney general. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said it is outrageous that Kings words would be deemed inappropriate for the Senate. That's the key point. Rules against criticizing other Senators cannot apply when you are DEBATING THE NOMINATION OF A SENATOR! https://t.co/mLQqP7z14d Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 8, 2017 Republican senators silencing @SenWarren because she quoted a letter from Coretta Scott King in opposition to Jeff Sessions is outrageous. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 8, 2017 Proud to read the words of #CorettaScottKing on the floor for Sens & the American people to hear. We will not be silenced. cc: @SenWarren https://t.co/6WNvTkK1Ch Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) February 8, 2017 Read more from Yahoo News: One of the most striking aspects of Tuesday nights dramatic encounter between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren was how little real drama there was. The Republican leader forced Warren to sit down for impugning Senator Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trumps nominee for attorney general. Despite the huge uproar the incident created in social media, it was handled as calmly and procedurally as everything else in the Senateand in keeping with the aesthetic favored by McConnell, who carefully maintains a dry demeanor even when wielding chamber rules like a scimitar. There was nary a raised voicejust a somewhat tense, drab exchange of parliamentary conventions, and then Warren sat. The Senate is many things, but one of them is a classic old-style club, in which it doesnt matter how disreputable one believes a fellow member is; the important thing is to maintain decorum and formalized respect. Recommended: How to Build an Autocracy The strangeness of Senate rules provides the broader backdrop for the entire fight over Sessionss nomination. The Alabaman is all but certain to be confirmed, despite the objections of most Democrats, as well as many civil-rights groups, but when Sessions last came up for Senate confirmation, in 1986, he was soundly rejected for a federal judgeshipthanks in part to the very words that got Warren silenced Tuesday night. There are plenty of differences between the two nominations, but few are so salient as the fact that the Senates rules now protect Sessions, as a senator, from the same slights that sank him years ago. I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate, Warren complained Tuesday. Her phrasing was imprecise: It wasnt that the words were unsuitable per se. Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, was reading from a letter that the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. wrote at the time of Sessionss nomination, opposing it. King laid out a devastating broadside, over the course of 10 pages, arguing he was unfit for the bench, and that his confirmation would undo her husbands work. Coretta Scott King concluded: Story continues I do not believe Jefferson Sessions possesses the requisite judgment, competence, and sensitivity to the rights guaranteed by the federal civil rights laws to qualify for appointment to the federal district court. Based on his record, I believe his confirmation would have a devastating effect on not only the judicial system in Alabama, but also on the progress we have made everywhere toward fulfilling my husband's dream that he envisioned over twenty years ago. I therefore urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to deny his confirmation. Senator Strom Thurmond, the infamous former segregationist from South Carolina who chaired the Judiciary Committee did not enter the letter into the congressional record, meaning it was for a time lost, until The Washington Posts Wesley Lowery resurfaced it earlier this year. Recommended: Is the Anti-Trump 'Resistance' the New Tea Party? The letter was a central part of the successful effort to defeat Sessionss nomination. The Judiciary Committee voted against recommending his nomination to the broader Senate, then deadlocked on whether to send the nomination on without a recommendation, effectively killing it. One pivotal vote was Alabama Senator Howell Heflin, a Democrat, who began as a Sessions supporter but changed his mind over the course of the testimony. Sessionss nomination was withdrawn, even though Republicans, the party of President Reagan, held a majority that was one seat larger than the GOPs edge today. Warren read from the same letter from King on Tuesday, as well as another from the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who had called Sessions a disgrace to the Justice Department, when she was ruled to have breached decorum. McConnell charged that Warren had impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama. Put differently, the very words that helped to mortally wound Sessionss nomination 30 years ago, when he was merely a United States attorney had become anathema when Sessions joined the Senate in 1997replacing Heflin, the man who had voted against him. Like many ancient customs, the rule enforced against Warren was born out of a genuine concern: The prohibition against impugning a colleague was installed after Senator John McLaurin and Ben Tillman of South Carolina got into a fistfight on the floor in 1902. But like many century-old rules, this one produces peculiar results when applied today, such as the notion that Kings words, acceptable in 1986, are not acceptable now that Sessions is a member of the club. Recommended: What Effective Protest Could Look Like This is one reason presidents like to name members of the Senate to Cabinet posts and other jobs that require Senate confirmation: They know that members are loath to vote against members of their own club, since it threatens their treasured decorum. The last current or former senator to be rejected for confirmation was John Tower, a Texan whom George H.W. Bush nominated for secretary of defense in 1989. Tower was said to be a heavy drinker and a womanizer. The New York Times starchily noted at the time, After weeks of fierce debate, personal lobbying by the President and allegations of private misconduct by Mr. Tower that would never have been aired in an earlier age, the end came in a calm, ceremonial proceeding with all 100 senators gathered in the chamber. Of course it was calm and ceremonialit was, after all, still the Senate. Even with Sessions headed toward likely confirmation, his nomination has posed a sharp challenge to the rules of decorum. The Warren-McConnell contretemps is not the first incident. Senator Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, testified against Sessionss nomination, the first time a member had testified against another members appointment. The willingness of senators to flout these norms does not arise in isolation. They fit with, for example, Senator Rand Pauls highly unusual filibuster of John Brennans nomination to be President Obamas CIA director, or Senator Ted Cruzs fauxlibuster, in which he spoke for hours in 2013, even though the speech had no role in actually preventing funding for the Affordable Care Act, his ostensible aim. That stunt earned Cruz, not for the first time, the disdain of some of his colleagues. A common thread uniting each of these trespasses on decorum is that they make for great red meat for the respective senators bases. Cruz performed his opposition to Obamacare; Paul earned a massive amount of press, including adoring coverage from civil libertarians on the left; Bookers testimony was heavily covered; and Warrens fight with McConnell instantly turned into a viral moment. These senators are not speaking to their colleagues, and if they are, its as a secondary audience. The primary audience is the public, which is easier than ever to reach with smartly edited and quickly published social-media posts spotlighting the heroic senators stand. As a result, citizens can expect to see more incidents like what happened on Tuesday. Warren may have been silenced on the Senate floor, but her voice was amplified widely elsewhereand thats likely to prove more alluring to members than upholding musty customs. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump after his election. On Friday, Feb. 10, he will meet with President Trump, before spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. In that first meeting, experts believed Abes task was simply to assure Trump that the two are on the same side, after plenty of inflammatory campaign rhetoric from the real estate mogul. In this second meeting, he has much more work cut out for him, not only in maintaining U.S.-Japanese trade, but also in ensuring Japan still has a hearty welcome under the U.S. security umbrella. This meeting will be different, Celine Pajon, a research fellow at IFRIs Center for Asian Studies, told Foreign Policy, because Trumps first decisions as president showed that he is actually serious and determined to apply the program he announced during his campaign. When they first met, Trump had already said he would pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but he hadnt yet done it. Now he has. And though Trump had spent 30 years criticizing Japan for taking advantage of the United States, he hadnt made the claim as president that Japan is engaging in global freeloading by intentionally devaluing its currency. Now hes done that, too. Since he couldnt convince the U.S. president to remain in TPP, Abe is expected to use the Feb. 10 meeting to express the importance of bilateral trade, and to perhaps lay the groundwork for trade talks. For Japan, the United States is its second biggest trade partner, and an especially important market for autos and electronics. There is a widespread view, Pajon said, that Japan should move quickly to try to shape Trumps views on the value of the bilateral relationship, even if Trumps first moves were not necessarily in favor of Japans interests. Abe is also expected to try and mollify Trump with more tangible offers than a future trade deal. Japanese officials have said Abe will put forth a five-pronged plan, the U.S.-Japan Growth and Employment Initiative, that would ostensibly create up to 700,000 jobs through greater Japanese investment in the United States, though it does not detail specific investments or programs. Story continues In some ways, this strategy resembles Abes approach with Russian President Vladimir Putin. When Putin came to Japan in December, Abe announced 80 business deals between the two governments, including about 300 billion yen in investments, loans, and credit deals in Russia. The carrots were meant to tempt Moscow to return the disputed Kuril islands to Japan, and also to coax Russia on to Tokyos side as a regional check against China. But for Japan, better relations with Russia are a luxury; a healthy alliance with the United States is a must-have. Getting along with Trump is a matter of life or death for Japan, Pajon said. Tokyo does not have an alternative to its alliance with the United States to deter the threat of nuclear North Korea and an increasingly aggressive China. And Trump believes Japan, which has a pacifist constitution, does not invest enough in defense. (Though Abe is doing his best to change that.) Abe can make a good pitch. Japan is Americas most stable East Asian ally, and at least some in Trumps administration understand that. Secretary of Defense James Mattis took his first foreign trip to South Korea and Japan, and pointedly did not rock the boat by demanding, for example, that Americas Asian allies pony up more. But the Trump administration could still cause headaches for Japan by ratcheting up tensions with China. The Trump administration, especially Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have signalled a much tougher line on pushing back against Chinese activity in the South China Sea. Some in Chinese military circles are already banging the war drums. Many in Tokyo fear that a more belligerent Washington could drag Japan into conflict. And Japan has its own vulnerable flank, ultimately defended by Americas word, making good relations between Tokyo and Washington all the more crucial, regardless of the Trump administrations confrontational talk. Just after Mattis left Japan, reaffirming Americas commitment to the countrys defense, three Chinese coast guard ships sailed in the East China Sea near the disputed Senkaku (or, as theyre known in China, Diaoyu) islands, claimed by both countries. Under President Barack Obama, the United States reiterated its commitment to defending those uninhabited rocks in the case of conflict. Abe might be hoping to gain assurances that pledge still holds. Photo credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images NEW YORK (AP) President Donald Trump's travel ban is not only being debated in the courts, it's also being debated by the travel industry. Many experts remain bullish about prospects for tourism, despite a strong dollar that makes the U.S. expensive for some international travelers. The U.S. Commerce Department predicts a record 78.6 million international visitors will visit the U.S. in 2017. Brand USA, which promotes travel to the U.S., said it has "not received any data that shows any tangible change in bookings or cancellations by international travelers." But others worry that Trump's order banning travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen may scare off visitors from elsewhere. An op-ed piece in the Toronto Star newspaper last week encouraged Canadians to "boycott vacations to the U.S." until Trump's term is over. "The Grand Canyon will still be there," the piece said. "The Golden Gate Bridge. Mount Rushmore. Disney World. They'll all be there. And with any luck, the Statue of Liberty will still be there too." Travel agent Melissa Erskine, owner of iDream Travel based in Ontario, Canada, says some of her clients "are no longer interested in going to the U.S. due to Donald Trump's policies and have looked at other options within Canada. I just booked flights for two families to New York City for April and they have taken out trip cancellation insurance ... They wanted peace of mind that they can cancel their trip if needed." Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, New York's tourism agency, said Canada is New York's second-biggest international market after the United Kingdom, "so when our neighbors to the north call for a boycott, it's a huge cause for concern." Travelers from the Middle East comprised just 3.6 percent of non-resident international arrivals to the U.S. in the first half of 2016, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data. The president's order does not include the Middle Eastern countries that send the most travelers here Israel, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Story continues But Dixon and others fear travelers around the world may interpret the ban as a broader message that they're not welcome here. "We are very concerned from a perception perspective that the U.S. has an image problem," said Dixon. "New York is hypersensitive to this. We have 30 percent of all the overseas travelers who come to the U.S. Half of all the spending on travel comes in the form of international travel." Some data suggests a downturn in bookings in the days after the ban was announced. StudentUniverse.com, a site geared to travelers ages 18-26, said bookings from the United Kingdom to the U.S. dropped 19 percent between Jan. 27 to Feb. 7 compared to the same period last year. ForwardKeys, which analyzes 16 million flight reservation transactions a day, said bookings to the U.S. dropped 6.5 percent between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 compared with the same period in 2016. Jason Clampet, editor in chief at the travel industry website Skift.com, said the ban, combined with the strong dollar, gives international travelers "another reason to shop elsewhere." Others, however, say demand for U.S. vacations has never been stronger. Intrepid Travel expects to bring record numbers of travelers to the U.S. in 2017. Contiki Tours president Melissa da Silva says bookings to the U.S. have increased 30 percent since last year. Tony Daly, with Ranch Rider, a British-based travel company, said interest in riding and ranch vacations in the American West remains robust. While he's seen some research suggesting some British travelers are reconsidering U.S. trips, "that's not the whole story. The results also show there are large numbers of U.K. travelers who either agree with or who are undecided based on the recent (Trump) order." Madelyn Fitzpatrick, with the Los Angeles branch of Hylink, one of China's largest digital advertising agencies, said Chinese travelers are also not put off by Trump, who she said is seen as a celebrity president in China. "America is a destination for experiences and local cultural exploration, so its politics do not affect the traveler, unless we begin to see dangers or threats," she said. On Tuesday, the U.S. Travel Association said revenue in the U.S. related to international travel returned to pre-9/11 levels just last year. "The U.S. lost a significant amount of ground in the international travel marketplace in the years after 9/11, which our industry has come to call 'the Lost Decade,'" U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dow said in a statement. While everyone agrees that counterterrorism and security measures are essential, some worry about a repeat of that post-9/11 tourism decline. U.S. Travel Association spokesman Jonathan Grella said the Trump travel ban has a "potential dangerous ripple effect. ... People make (travel) choices based on policies, based on protests of those policies, based on fear. The fallout could be wide-ranging." Washington (AFP) - Travel bookings to the United States fell 6.5 percent in late January compared to last year in the wake of President Donald Trump's travel ban, according to a report Wednesday. The travel restrictions apparently deterred travelers from outside the seven Muslim-majority countries hit by the ban, according to data from ForwardKeys, a travel analysis firm. The executive order, signed January 27 and suspended by the courts since February 3, blocked the arrival of travelers and refugees from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. Arrivals from those countries from January 28 to February 4 were down 80 percent from the same period of 2016, the report said. But bookings from Western Europe and the Asia Pacific region each fell about 14 percent, while those from Northern Europe were down 6.6 percent. (The data excludes China and Hong Kong due to the Chinese New Year holiday impact.) "The data forces a compelling conclusion that Donald Trump's travel ban immediately caused a significant drop in bookings to the USA and an immediate impact on future travel," ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager said in the report. "As inbound travel is an export industry (it earns foreign currency), this is not good news for the US economy." While he cautioned that the data represents just an eight-day snapshot, the report said the period represents the first consistently long run of declines from the corresponding year-earlier period since before the presidential election in November. In addition, total international bookings for travel to the United States for the coming three months have slowed amid the continuing immigration controversy. While they are currently 2.3 percent ahead of last year, they had been running 3.4 percent ahead just eight days earlier, the report said. Ottawa (AFP) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will speak on February 16 before the European Parliament in Strasbourg to urge members to ratify a sweeping trade deal between the two sides. He will then travel to Berlin, for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and to Hamburg, to take part in an annual banquet. Trudeau, who will be the first sitting Canadian leader to address the European Parliament, will be vaunting a long-in-the-making deal known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The deal also requires ratification by EU member states, which could take years. It would eliminate 98 percent of tariffs between the two sides. The visit comes at a particularly sensitive time for trade talks, with Britain poised to leave the European Union, new US President Donald Trump rejecting an Asia-Pacific trade deal and demanding renegotiation of a North American trade pact, and globalization seemingly out of favor with many Western publics. But Trudeau said in a statement that "CETA sets a high standard for free trade agreements of the future." He called it "the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the European Union." Canada and China last year opened talks on a major trade accord, though those are expected to continue for years. Trudeau's meeting with Merkel will focus on "key foreign policy and commercial priorities," according to the prime minister's office. Trudeau will then visit Hamburg, as guest of honor at its annual St. Matthew's Day celebration. Canada last week named Stephane Dion, a former foreign affairs minister, as ambassador to both the EU and Germany, where Trudeau said he would play a "central role" in trans-Atlantic issues including trade. If the courts ultimately quash President Donald Trumps executive order barring travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, hell likely have the conservatives who worked to block former President Barack Obamas executive orders as well as his own behavior to thank. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is considering whether to reinstate the ban, which was blocked nationwide by a federal judge in Seattle Sunday. The suit was one of several filed in the wake of the bans rollout Jan. 27. Four other judges also halted the ban, but those rulings were narrower. The appellate court said no ruling would be forthcoming Tuesday. No matter which way the decision goes, the issue is likely to wind up in the Supreme Court, something Trump is more than willing to see through. Some things are law, and Im all in favor of that, and some things are common sense, he said Tuesday during a meeting with county sheriffs at the White House. This is common sense. The executive order barred Syrians from entering the United States in definitely and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering for at least 90 days. The refugee program was suspended for at least 120 days. During the election campaign, Trump pledged to institute a Muslim ban, something prohibited by the Constitution because it targets a particular religious group. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has said the president asked him how to get around that and Giuliani told him to focus on countries, not religion. But the thinly veiled tactic may not sit well with the courts. That coupled with Trumps attack on U.S. District Judge James Robart, a George W. Bush-appointee who issued the Seattle order, which could be construed as an attack on the independence of the judiciary, could spell doom for the ban despite legal precedent giving the president nearly absolute power in deciding who gets to enter the United States. The exclusion of aliens is a fundamental act of sovereignty inherent in the executive power, the Supreme Court said in 1950. Story continues But Trump berated Robart as a so-called judge and also said it would be the judges fault if a terrorist attack occurred. White House spokesman Sean Spicer denied the president doesnt believe in judicial independence. "There's no question the president respects the judicial branch and its ruling," Spicer said, adding, "I don't think there's any other way that you can interpret that, that the president has the discretion to do what's necessary to keep this country safe." Trump also doesnt accept polls that indicate Americans reject the ban. A Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday indicated Americans oppose the temporary travel ban 51 percent to 46 percent and the halt to the refugee program 60 percent to 37 percent. Feelings were even stronger when it came to the indefinite ban on Syrians. Respondents rejected that 70 percent to 26 percent. They also saw the travel ban as a Muslim ban, 51 percent to 45 percent, and 56 percent said homegrown jihadists pose a much greater threat than radicalized foreign visitors (17 percent). Message to President Donald Trump: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free still has profound resonance with Americans, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, which queried 1,155 voters Feb. 2-6 and had an error rate of 2.9 percent. Related Articles Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at department store chain Nordstrom for dropping his daughter's clothing line, again spotlighting the intermingling of the US presidency with Trump family businesses. The public rebuke, which the White House later defended, called renewed attention to the potential tangle of business interests Trump brought with him on taking office last month. In a tweet posted moments after he wrapped up an address to US law enforcement, Trump hit out at the high-end retailer for announcing last week it had decided to discontinue sales of Ivanka Trump's fashion line due to poor sales. "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by Nordstrom," Trump wrote. "She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Since his surprise victory in the November presidential election, Trump has used his Twitter feed to lambast individual companies -- from General Motors to Boeing -- be it for off-shoring jobs or allegedly overcharging the federal government for aircraft. - Family business - But the latest tweet was different in that it sought to defend part of Trump's family business empire, which critics have said could be a source of profound conflicts of interest for the White House. Trump made sure to give his message on Ivanka maximum reach by posting it both on his personal handle @realDonaldTrump and on the official account of the US presidency @POTUS. Since his November victory, Trump has touted an effort to remove himself from running his business empire, transferring corporate control to his sons. But he has resisted divesting, as a government ethics watchdog had called on him to do. Critics say the Trump businesses still pose a significant ethical quandary. Further playing into the running debate, Pentagon officials said Wednesday they were looking to rent space in Trump Tower, Trump's flagship Manhattan luxury building, to accommodate equipment and staff who accompany the president during his stays there. Story continues That came on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Melania Trump in New York, which claimed that damaging rumors reported by a British tabloid had interfered with her "unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to earn millions of dollars due to her raised profile as first lady. - Boycott calls - White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Wednesday defended Trump's Nordstrom tweet, saying the president was standing up for a family member. "There's clearly efforts to undermine that name based on her father's issues or particular policies," Spicer told reporters. "For someone to take out their concern of the policies against a family member of his is simply not acceptable and he has every right to speak out about it." Nordstrom responded on Wednesday, reiterating that its decision to drop the Ivanka Trump line was made purely on business grounds. "Over the past year, and particularly in the last half of 2016, sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didn't make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now," the company said in a statement to AFP, adding that it had "a great relationship" with Ivanka Trump's business. Nordstrom is one of several US businesses that has faced boycott calls for its association with the Trump brand. It is among the firms targeted in a "Grab Your Wallet" campaign launched by anti-Trump activists in protest at the Republican billionaire's agenda. The campaign on Wednesday was still targeting other retailers such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Dillard's for carrying Ivanka Trump products. Sign of the fine line that firms are treading in the current political era, others such as PepsiCo and Budweiser have faced a backlash from the opposite camp after moves deemed critical of the Trump administration. - Ethical obligations - Richard Briffault, an expert in government ethics at Columbia Law School, told AFP that Trump's use of the presidential bully pulpit to defend his daughter's business "was inconsistent with any notion of the ethical obligations of a public official." "What this suggests is that he hasn't fully internalized the consequence of being the most important public official in the country," Briffault said. Since a 1989 executive order, federal officials have been barred from using public office for private gain, Briffault said, adding that any public criticism from a sitting president could be interpreted as an attempt to influence that company's business decisions. "It gives the appearance that he is using his position to promote the business interests of a close relative," said Briffault. Unlike other companies he has attacked on Twitter, including Lockheed, Boeing and Ford, which saw their share prices suffer following criticism from Trump, Nordstrom's stock finished up more than 4.0 percent on Wednesday. The news of Trump's remarks preceded a report from The New York Times on Wednesday, which said TJX Companies, the parent of clothing retailers TJ Maxx and Marshalls, had told employees to discard all Ivanka Trump promotional signs and not to display her clothing separately. By Alana Wise and David Shepardson NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. aviation executives will meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss the industry's aging airports and air traffic control reform, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Invitees include executives from the nation's largest airlines and cargo carriers, as well as directors for several U.S. airports, according to the sources. American Airlines Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker, who previously called Trump's 90-day halt on travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries "divisive," will not attend due to a scheduling conflict. "Doug would very much like to be there, but it's just a matter of this already being on the calendar," spokesman Matt Miller said in a phone interview. "Doug shares President Trump's commitment to modernizing our nation's infrastructure and looks forward to working with his administration to ensure all Americans have access to safe and efficient air travel." The meeting comes at a time of heightened tension within the industry as heads of the largest three U.S. passenger carriers -- American Airlines Group Inc, United Continental Holdings Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc -- have sought to pressure the new administration into denouncing the three major Middle Eastern carriers, which they accuse of having been unfairly subsidized by their governments. The three airlines, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates, have denied these claims. The new administration has not yet addressed U.S. carriers' concerns, but White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Wednesday told reporters that it will be "something decided when they meet, what they'll talk about." "The president wants to talk about economic growth, job creation," Spicer said at the daily White House press briefing. He did not say which executives would attend the meeting. During the presidential race, Trump often decried the state of American airport infrastructure, saying U.S. airports "are like from a third-world country." (Reporting by Alana Wise and David Shepardson; Editing by Alan Crosby) By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's review of post-crisis banking rules could sound the death knell for new global standards now being finalized and rip apart a common approach to regulating international lenders, bankers and regulators said. Central banks and watchdogs around the world have spent the past eight years drawing up regulation aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, but there are fears that project could unravel after Trump said he wants the U.S. to row back on capital rules. Trump's order for a regulatory review to overcome what he sees as obstacles to lending came as banking watchdogs were trying to complete the final piece of global capital requirements, known as Basel III. Given that the United States wants to shrink the banking rule book, there are doubts over whether the Basel rules can make it over the finishing line next month if they don't have backing from the United States. Without support from the world's biggest capital market, other countries would be less willing to commit too. The core aim of the outstanding part of Basel III that regulators are working on - dubbed Basel IV by critical banks who worry about more stringent capital requirements - is to impose more consistency into how banks calculate the amount of capital they hold against risky assets like loans. JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon said in the aftermath of the financial crisis that European rivals had been "a lot more aggressive" than American banks in calculating capital, meaning they were holding less. European policymakers have rejected that criticism, but their region's banks have been lobbying against the remaining Basel rules, saying they would force them to increase significantly the amount of capital they need to hold. If the United States fails to approve the completion of Basel III, the perceived problem that European banks get away with holding less capital than U.S. lenders may not be properly tackled, a source involved in the negotiations said. Story continues "It's in the interests of American banks to get this done," the source said. Others are less optimistic that a deal can now be done after Trump's intervention. "It's going to delay completing Basel III, and perhaps lead to it not being concluded," an adviser to banks said on condition of anonymity. "I do fear that Basel IV is doomed," a banking industry official added. There are headwinds from elsewhere, too. Patrick McHenry, Republican vice chairman of the House financial services committee, fired a warning shot at Federal Reserve Governor Janet Yellen about the Basel talks in a letter dated Jan. 31, ahead of Trump's executive order. The Fed must "cease" all attempts to negotiate binding standards "burdening American business" until the Trump Administration has had the opportunity to nominate officials that prioritize "America's best interests", McHenry said. While lawmakers often call on regulators to ease pressure on firms, regulators said Trump's intervention in banking rules gives more clout to McHenry's warning. The Basel Committee declined to comment. GLOBAL COOPERATION Trump's decision to review existing, post-crisis banking rules has rung alarm bells among regulators outside the country. Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, which regulates the euro zone's main lenders, said on Monday that easing banking rules could threaten financial stability. Draghi was chairman of the Group of 20 Economies' (G20) regulatory task force, the Financial Stability Board, which during the financial crisis was instrumental in building up a global approach to reinforcing banking standards. A former regulator said the United States would be scoring an own goal by withdrawing from multilateral bodies like Basel as it would no longer be shaping rules that impinge on U.S. banking competitiveness globally. "It's early days, but what we have seen in language and rhetoric from Washington is worrying," said David Wright, a former top EU official who was part of crisis-era efforts to create the global regulatory consensus. "If you break international consensus, you are effectively opening up a regulatory race and heaven knows where it will end," said Wright, now at Flint Global, which advises companies on regulatory matters. Wright was referring to what was seen in the run-up to the financial crisis, when countries like Britain resorted to a "light touch" approach to banks to make London a more attractive financial center. Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU's financial services chief, said last week that international regulatory cooperation had been vital in tackling the financial crisis and must continue. Much will hinge on how much regulatory change Trump can actually push through. Former Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, who jointly sponsored the Dodd Frank Act that Trump wants to review, told the BBC last week he does not expect Congress to approve the wholesale rolling back of rules, but the Trump administration could pressure U.S. regulators to ease up on applying existing requirements. Anil Kashyap, a Bank of England policymaker, said last month that Trump's nomination for the powerful role of Fed Vice Chair in charge of banking supervision would shape the U.S. approach to international rule-making. It will have a "huge impact", a regulatory source added. The fear among global regulators is that multilateral bodies like the Basel Committee and the Financial Stability Board could be abandoned by the United States under Trump. Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri, chairman of Spain's Bankia, told Spanish television on Tuesday he would be concerned if Trump was questioning the usefulness of international banking rules. "It would worry me very much because I think it's very important, very relevant that there have been advances in the homogenization of regulation amongst developed countries," he said. (Additional reporting by Paul Day in Madrid, editing by Giles Elgood) The debut of the Trump administration has left Americans with major questions about the country's position on numerous issues of world-historical importance: Russian aggression, the ongoing refugee crisis in the Middle East, leadership on issues of international trade and climate change to name just a few. But its becoming increasingly clear that there are other more pedestrian questions that are going to be extremely hard to avoid in this unprecedented presidency. A few: Related: Heres Why Trump May Be Sending More Jobs to Mexico than He Saves Should the president of the United States double as the Pentagons landlord? Should the first lady of the United States view the position as an unparalleled opportunity to promote her personal fashion businesses? Should the U.S. General Services Administration be negotiating the terms of a decades-long multi-million dollar building lease with the presidents son? The refusal of President Trump to divest his ownership of the Trump Organization and the larger Trump familys extensive efforts to turn their own personal brands into money-making opportunities continues to create extraordinary conflicts of interest. On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that the Defense Department is now actively considering whether or not it should rent office space in Trump Tower in Manhattan. President Trumps wife Melania and young son Barron still live there, and the president has indicated that he would like to spend some time there as well as in the White House. With the Secret Service already occupying space in the building (and the city of New York spending hundreds of thousands of dollars every day to protect it), the U.S. military is now trying to decide if it, too, needs to rent offices from Trumps personal business. Related: Pentagon Hands Trump a $30 Billion Wartime Arms Wish List In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement to The Times. Story continues That news comes just a day after lawyers representing Mrs. Trump in a libel lawsuit against the British Daily Mail newspaper outlined what appear to be plans to cash in on her position as first lady in a court filing. The lawsuit alleges that Mrs. Trump has been harmed by a false claim that she once worked as an escort, a claim since retracted by the newspaper. Plaintiff had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model and brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. These product categories would have included, among other things, apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skincare, and fragrance. Representatives for Mrs. Trump immediately claimed, despite the plain language of her lawyers court filing, that the first lady has no plans to profit from her position, claiming Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted. Defenders of Mrs. Trump argued that in order to press her case successfully, she needs to demonstrate that the false allegations caused her actual harm, and that the language in the lawsuit is designed to do that. Related: Why British Parliament Is Threatening to Slam the Door on Trump As all this was going on, President Trump signed over management responsibility for the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington to his oldest son, Donald Trump Jr. The building is owned by the federal government and is currently leased to the Trump Organization in an arrangement with the General Services Administration. The lease contains very specific language stating that no person who holds a position of authority in the federal government may also benefit from the hotels operating agreement with the government. Last week, ProPublica uncovered a document showing that Trump had placed his ownership stake in the hotel into a trust operated by his son. Crucially, Trump still owns his interest in the hotel and stands to profit from it, but will not actively engage in management. This puts the GSA, whose managers literally work for Trump, in the position of negotiating with the presidents eldest son about the future of a lease that directly benefits the president himself. The situation is giving government ethics experts fits. Former Obama administration ethics lawyer Norm Eisen publicly insisted that Trump, from the moment he took the oath of office, has been in violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution. But Trump and his family seem unconcerned. Related: 12 Facts We Now Know About President Trump Indeed, the lack of concern about appearances and conflicts is evident in the White House itself, where Trumps daughter Ivanka is now attending high-level meetings of economic policymakers despite the fact that she has extensive business interests of her own, and has yet to demonstrate that she has, as promised, removed herself from the management of Trump Organization. At this point, the enrichment of the Trump family by and in conjunction with multiple agencies of the federal government isnt something that can be avoided. It is already happening, and there seems to be nothing that will stop it. Certainly, the Republicans running the House and Senate, who have oversight authority over those agencies, have signaled that they have no interest in doing anything about it. But its still important to keep pointing out that while top political leaders and their families in many countries around world routinely cash in on their positions, this is not acceptable in the United States. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will release its ruling on President Trumps immigration ban on Thursday at the earliest, and it will provide advance notice to the public. The website Politico reported on Wednesday afternoon that a court spokesperson said the media will get notice between 60 minutes and 90 minutes before the findings and orders are announced from the three-judge panel that considered the case of State of Washington v. Trump on Tuesday afternoon. The widely anticipated action on a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in Seattle could see President Trumps executive order reinstated, or all or parts of Trumps executive order stayed until the case heads to the United States Supreme Court, goes back to the Seattle-based court of federal judge James Robart, or is possibly considered by more Ninth Circuit judges. Senior Judge William C. Canby Jr. (in Phoenix), Senior Judge Richard Clifton (in Honolulu) and Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland (in San Francisco) heard arguments in a phone conference about the executive order signed by President Trump on January 27. The executive order directed federal agencies to issue a 90-day suspension of entry into the United States for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The order also barred entry of all refugees into the United States for 120 days, and it barred Syrian refugees indefinitely. Robart ordered a temporary stop to parts of the order from going into effect. Robart issued the temporary restraining order (or TRO) until he could weigh further arguments, but he made it clear that he had serious doubts about the constitutionality of the executive order. The Justice Department appealed Robarts order to the Ninth Circuit, arguing the TRO was too broad and it went against the Presidents powers, as granted to him by Congress. It also has proposed that parts of Robarts TRO could remain in effect if they apply to foreign nationals who already have ties to the U.S. but are temporarily abroad or plan to travel in the future. Story continues Washington state, supported by Minnesota and Hawaii, has made several arguments demanding Robarts order remain in place. It cited Trumps campaign promises to ban Muslims from the United States, the economic impact on Washington state brought by the executive order, and harm brought to the states system of public universities as causing the need for Judge Robarts order. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Trumps own words a factor on immigration bans legal fate? A new obstacle to Trumps immigration limits? Immigration rules put on hold; government appeals Lyle Denniston, Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent, says Donald Trumps comments on Muslim immigration were considered as a factor as three federal appeals judges pondered the fate of his immigration ban executive order on Tuesday. President Donald Trumps public pleas for a ban on Muslims entering the United States could turn out to be a threat to the legality of his executive order imposing immigration restrictions, or so it appeared after a federal appeals court held a historic hearing Tuesday afternoon on that order. Although the order in specific terms is not aimed at Muslims, the challengers have offered the Presidents own words to prove that it actually was, and the three-judge panel appeared inclined to consider that as valid evidence. The three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, holding the one-hour hearing by telephone hookup with each of them joining in from a different city, made suggestions that they will seriously consider ruling broadly, not narrowly, on the Trump Administrations defense of the order and its request to put it back into full effect. It has been on a temporary hold since a federal trial judge in Seattle blocked it last Friday pending further review. A broader ruling by the appeals court, either in favor of or against the presidential order, could set the stage for an early review of the high-stakes constitutional controversy by the Supreme Court. Specifically at issue is the governments request for an appeals court order to postpone the Seattle judges temporary restraining order while federal lawyers pursue an appeal to get it overturned. The prospect arose during the hearing that the panel might even reach for a ruling that would directly decide the merits of the orders legality. The presiding judge, Michelle T. Friedland, appeared to be most inclined to do that. From the tone and content of the judges questions to the two lawyers, it appeared that Judge Friedland and Senior Judge William C. Canby, Jr., were more skeptical of the Trump orders validity, while the third member, Judge Richard Clifton, appeared more doubtful of the arguments made for the two states challenging the Presidents action. Story continues But, when the issue arose over whether the panel should consider President Trumps own statements that he wanted a ban on Muslims although the final order itself does not say that, even Judge Clifton said evidence of that was clearly on the table. That evidence could help bolster one of the core constitutional arguments of the challenging states that the order is an unconstitutional form of religious discrimination. The states lawyer, Washingtons state solicitor general, Noah Purcell, had the most difficulty during the hearing with tough questioning from Judge Clifton. The judge expressed doubt that the executive order in final form should be interpreted as a Muslim ban when it only targeted nations that perhaps no more than 15 percent of the worlds followers of Islam. The Trump Administration lawyer, Justice Department special counsel August E. Flentje, drew the toughest questions from Judge Friedland. She sharply questioned whether the government had recent evidence to justify its view that the seven targeted nations with Muslim majorities were, in fact, a genuine threat of exporting terrorism to the United States. When Flentje started to call up a few examples of potential threats, the judge cut him off by noting that such information was not technically before the court. In recent days, the Trump legal team has been pressing a fallback argument in case the appeals court refused to put back into the effect the full scope of the executive order. At most, they argued, a ban on enforcement should be limited solely to protect foreign nationals who already have ties to the U.S. but are temporarily abroad or plan to travel in the future. But none of the three judges appeared interested in an attempt to try to pick and choose between restrictions to be allowed or prohibited. Judge Clifton, for example, said the court would have no basis for editing the restrictions scope. That judge also questioned the authority or White House attorneys to try to narrow the breadth of the Trump order after it had been issued. The court, he suggested, might be inclined to require the President and his top aides to rewrite the order to narrow it. As the hearing ended, Judge Friedland said the court understood how important the case is, and said the judges would try to issue a decision as soon as possible. Given the complexity of the case, and the judges potentially differing approaches, it appeared doubtful that a full-scale opinion would emerge before sometime Wednesday at the earliest. It is possible that a brief order could come out earlier, to be explained later. Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and he has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily A new obstacle to Trumps immigration limits? Immigration rules put on hold; government appeals Podcast: President Trumps immigration order: Is it legal? Donald Trump on Wednesday continued what increasingly looks like a campaign of intimidation against federal judges, as the legality of his executive order barring refugees and citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States is debated in the courts. The attacks began last week, when a federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order that blocked the administration from enforcing the travel ban until the courts could reach a decision on whether it complies with the law. The basic conflict appears to be between federal law that prohibits using a persons national origin as a criteria for blocking entry into the country and a separate statute that gives the president the authority to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. Related: Defying the Best Legacy of the Free World, Trump Instills Fear Itself Trump attacked Seattle Judge James Robart last week, predicting death and destruction if his order is not obeyed. He urged people to hold the court system in general and Robart in particular responsible for putting the country at risk of a terrorist attack. Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril, Trump tweeted. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad! Trumps attack on the judiciary raised alarm among legal experts. On Monday, American Bar Association President Linda A. Klein said, It is vital that our judiciary remains independent and free from political pressureindependent from party politics, independent from Congress and independent from the president of the United States himself. But Trump has shown little concern about the appearance that he is pushing against the boundaries of the separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches of the government. Related: Trump May Be the First Test Case for His Own Supreme Court Nominee Story continues On Wednesday, even as a three-judge appeals court panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was in the process of deciding whether or not to leave Robarts ruling in place, Trump appeared at a gathering of law enforcement officials in Washington to attack the process. He called the arguments against his executive order disgraceful and continued to suggest that if the courts do not rule in his favor, they should be seen as placing the country in danger. Trump showed up at the event with about 15 minutes worth of prepared remarks, but spoke for more than 25 minutes because the first part of his appearance was dedicated to a free-associative riff on the case. Trump brought a copy of the section of the U.S. Code that, he believes, gives him the authority claimed in the executive order, and he read part of it out loud. He then began to address the oral arguments in the case, which were carried live on some news programs Tuesday evening. If these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court theyd do what they should be doing, he said. Its so sad when you read something so simple ... so perfectly written and so clear to anybody and then you have lawyers and I watched last night in amazement and I heard things that I couldnt believe. Things that really had nothing to do with what I just read. Related: Why British Parliament Is Threatening to Slam the Door on Trump He continued, I dont ever want to call a court biased, and I wont call it biased and we havent had a decision yet but courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do whats right and that had to do with the security of our country which is so important. Right now we are at risk because of what happened. Trump defended his own reading of the law, adding, I was a good student. I understand things. I comprehend very well, okay? Better than I think almost anybody. And I want to tell you I listened to a bunch of stuff last night on television that was disgraceful. He added, I think its sad. Its a sad day. Our security is at risk today and it will be at risk until such time as we are entitled and get what we are entitled to as citizens of this country as chiefs as sheriffs of this country. We want security. One of the reasons I was elected was because of law and order and security. In an op-ed published Wednesday, before Trumps most recent discussion of the case, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said the presidents intimidating and threatening missives attacking the judiciary, and his personal invective and insults raise core constitutional dangers. Related: Heres Why Trump May Be Sending More Jobs to Mexico than He Saves But the presidents assaults on the independence of the judiciary are, so far at least, not raising much alarm among the Republicans running both houses of Congress. Asked about Trumps behavior on Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Look, I know hes an unconventional president ... He gets frustrated with judges, we get frustrated with judges. But hes respecting the process, and thats what counts at the end of the day. Trump, he added, is honoring the ruling. If it seems strange that the speaker of the house is praising the president of the United States for not openly defying the ruling of a federal judge, well, thats where we are today. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By Tulay Karadeniz and Humeyra Pamuk ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in an overnight phone call on joint action against Islamic State in the Syrian towns of Raqqa and al-Bab, both held by the militants, Turkish presidency sources said on Wednesday. U.S.-Turkish differences during former President Barack Obama's administration impeded the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State, and closer coordination could mean faster progress towards freeing swathes of northern Syria from IS. Erdogan now hopes that relations with Washington, strained by the presence in the United States of a cleric he blames for an attempted military coup last year and by U.S. support for Kurdish militia in Syria, can be reset under Trump. Turkey has the second largest army in the NATO alliance and is key to any success in rolling back and eventually neutralising IS in Syria and Iraq where IS declared a cross-border caliphate after lightning advances in 2014. Turkey has presented a detailed plan to oust Islamic State from its Raqqa urban stronghold in northeastern Syria and strategy discussions with the Trump administration are under way, according to Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin. "The operational details were not discussed on this call ... Now detailed planning will be conducted in coordination," he told Turkish broadcaster NTV in an interview. Ankara believes recent IS attacks in Turkey, including a New Year's Day shooting in an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people, have been steered from al-Bab and Raqqa, and regards a clear-out of the towns as a national security priority. Turkish government and Syrian rebel sources said on Wednesday insurgents backed by Turkey's military had taken the outskirts of al-Bab, northeast of Aleppo. If al-Bab falls, Ankara would strengthen its sway over an area of northern Syria where it has created a de facto buffer zone. Syrian government forces have also advanced on al-Bab from the south, bringing them into close proximity with their Turkish and rebel enemies in one of the most complex battlefields of Syria's six-year-old civil war. But Turkey said international coordination was under way to prevent clashes with Syrian forces. The White House said that in the phone call, Trump spoke about the two countries' "shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms" and welcomed Turkish contributions to the fight against Islamic State. But it gave few details. Sources in Erdogan's office said the two leaders had touched on issues including a "safe zone", as well as the regional migrant crisis and the fight against terrorism. Turkey has long advocated a secure zone for displaced civilians in Syria threatened by Islamist militants or forces fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They also said Erdogan had urged the United States not to support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and that new CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be in Turkey on Thursday to discuss that and other issues with Turkish counterparts. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington of Pompeo's visit. But the offices of both leaders said Trump had reiterated U.S. support for Turkey "as a strategic partner and NATO ally" during Tuesday's phone call. Turkey has long urged world powers to help create a safe zone, which it also sees as a way to purge its border of Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters, and stem a wave of migration that has caused tensions with Europe. Obama and U.S. allies balked at the idea, saying it would entail significant ground forces and planes to patrol a "no-fly zone", a dicey commitment in such a crowded and messy conflict. "TWO FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES" The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of U.S.-backed militias, launched a new phase of its campaign against Islamic State in Raqqa on Saturday. Turkey has repeatedly said it wants to be part of the U.S.-led operation to retake Raqqa from the ultra-hardline Sunni militant Islamic State, but does not want the YPG, which is part of the SDF alliance, to be involved. Relations between Erdogan and Obama soured over U.S. support for the YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist group and an extension of Kurdish insurgents fighting inside Turkey. The Turkish army and Syrian rebel groups it supports have been fighting IS in a separate campaign around al-Bab, northeast of the city of Aleppo. Ankara has complained in the past about a lack of U.S. support for that campaign. Kalin said there had been better coordination with the U.S.-led coalition on air strikes in the last 10 days. He added that Ankara's priority remained the creation of a safe zone between the Syrian towns of Azaz and Jarablus, a strip of border territory to the north of al-Bab. The Turkish sources said Pompeo would discuss both the YPG and steps against the network of U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating last July's coup attempt. Gulen denies any involvement. Turkey has been frustrated by what it considers to be Washington's reluctance to hand over Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. "As you know, we have two fundamental issues with the U.S. administration inherited from Obamas period. One is the support given to YPG and the other is the (Gulen) problem," Kalin said. "Our president spoke about these openly and clearly. Trump was informed on these and, without going into too much detail, he said lets ask our teams to work on this and lets give the necessary instructions." (Reporting by Washington newsroom, Tulay Karadeniz and Humeyra Pamuk in Ankara; editing by Nick Tattersall and Mark Heinrich) President Trump attacked what he described as the disgraceful hearing on his refugee and travel ban in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Speaking Wednesday to the winter conference of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, a group of police chiefs and sheriffs, Trump expressed dismay that the court case is going on for so long and argued that even people without knowledge of the law can see that his ban is legal. You can be a lawyer. Or you dont have to be a lawyer. If you were a good student in high school, or a bad student in high school, you can understand this, he said. On Jan. 27, Trump signed an executive order blocking citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S. The order largely affected citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It stopped people from these countries from entering the United States for 90 days. Trumps order also barred all refugees from entering the country for 120 days and indefinitely halted the entry of all Syrian refugees. The order inspired widespread protests, and it quickly faced legal challenges, including one from the state of Washington. On Feb. 3, a federal court judge in Washington issued a temporary restraining order halting the ban until arguments in the case could be heard. Attorneys for the Department of Justice subsequently filed an emergency motion requesting an immediate administrative stay to block the ruling that suspended Trumps executive order. The three-judge 9th Circuit panel began considering the Justice Departments request in a hearing on Tuesday night. After about one hour of arguments, the judges ruled that Trumps ban should remain suspended while they continue to hear arguments. As he began his speech on Wednesday morning, Trump pulled out a piece of paper and offered to show his audience the supposed simplicity of the case by reading whats in dispute. He proceeded to recite portions of U.S. immigration law that grant the president broad authority to decide who may or may not enter the country. Trump repeated his argument that the law is so clear that a bad high school student would understand. Story continues It was done for the security of our nation, the security of our citizens, so that people come in who arent going to do us harm, Trump said. Thats why it was done, and it couldnt have been written any more precisely it was written beautifully. While the president does indeed have broad power over immigration, Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued that Trumps executive order violated the Constitutions ban on religious discrimination. Purcell pointed to statements Trump made during his White House bid last year, when he called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Purcell also noted that Trump gave an interview on the day he signed the order saying he wanted to prioritize Christian refugees. Trump and other administration officials have repeatedly pushed back on the notion the executive order is a Muslim ban. They have even argued it should not be described as a ban at all, even though the president used the term before and after the recent controversy. Instead, the presidents team has taken to describing the executive order as part of Trumps desire to have extreme vetting for people entering the country. Despite the White Houses insistence the order is not a Muslim ban, one top Trump ally has suggested it came from Trumps original campaign promise. In an interview late last month, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani claimed he helped draft the order after Trump asked him to find a way to legally implement a Muslim ban. When Yahoo News asked White House press secretary Sean Spicer about Giulianis comments last week, he dismissed them as the mayors opinion. Though the 9th Circuit judges decided Trumps order should remain suspended until they finish hearing arguments, a final ruling in the case should come soon. At Tuesday nights hearing, presiding Judge Michelle Friedland said the court would issue its ultimate decision as quickly as possible. In his speech, Trump pointed to his presidential powers over immigration and expressed shock the court did not immediately decide to reinstate the order. He suggested the laws are so simple and obviously in his favor that this delay shows clear political bias from the judges. I watched last night in amazement. And I heard things that I couldnt believe. Things that really had nothing to do with what I just read, Trump said. And I dont ever want to call a court biased, so I wont call it biased. And we havent had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political. And it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do whats right. Read more from Yahoo News: The Trump administration recently scored a diplomatic success of sorts, although it got lost in the flood of headlines about the presidents foreign policy controversies: Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense James Mattis just concluded constructive visits to Japan and South Korea. While Mattis certainly benefitted from low expectations the presidents phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull set a low bar the former general conveyed a reassuring message that U.S. allies received eagerly. Yet what was most remarkable about this visit to East Asia was its consistency with the Obama administrations approach to security issues in the region and inconsistency with President Donald Trumps rhetoric from the 2016 campaign. Recall the revolution in American foreign policy that Trump proclaimed during the campaign. While President Barack Obama had pursued a rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific in order to sustain and strengthen U.S. leadership in the region, Trumps America First rhetoric suggested that the United States would turn away from its traditional role as a global leader. On Asia specifically, Trump intimated that the United States might withdraw its forces and not come to the defense of its allies if they did not contribute more, and mused that Japan and South Korea should develop their own nuclear capabilities. The message from Trump was clear: Pay up, or youre on your own. This was not the message Mattis brought with him to East Asia. In Seoul, Mattis repeated long-standing assurances that the United States would defend its South Korean ally. Standing with his South Korean counterpart, Defense Minister Han Min-goo, Mattis used language almost identical to the Obama administrations formulation, saying, any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming. Mattis also reaffirmed the decision by Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system to the Korean peninsula. There was no indication that there was any discussion of the financial support arrangements that candidate Trump had so strongly criticized. In Tokyo, Mattis reassured Japan that the United States remained committed to Japans defense in the face of threats from China and North Korea. He described Japans financial support to U.S. forces as a model of cost-sharing, and the issue did not come up in his meeting with Defense Minister Tomomi Inada. Mattis also said that Japans defense spending was on the right track, a statement that ran counter to candidate Trumps frequent complaints that U.S. allies take advantage of America. We therefore have a situation in which the secretary of defense reassured U.S. allies with the same positions, and at times almost the same language, as an administration that Trump had previously lambasted. While U.S. allies undoubtedly feel somewhat reassured that the United States still has their back, it remains unclear how to interpret Mattiss message in light of Trumps previous comments. One possible explanation for this dichotomy is that Trumps approach to East Asia may not be as radically different from Obamas as the campaign rhetoric indicated. It is possible that the White House will jettison candidate Trumps fiery rhetoric on alliances (at least in Asia), along with lock her up and other slogans that Trump found to be useful politically but untenable or unrealistic to pursue as president. If so, this would be a positive development not only because it suggests an embrace of Obamas policies and strategies toward the region, but also because it suggests that Trump is willing to adapt his approach as he learns more about the issues. This would not be unprecedented President John F. Kennedy, for example, campaigned on closing the so-called missile gap, but changed course when he learned that the gap did not, in fact, exist. Good leaders adapt when presented with new information, and an adjustment by Trump in this area would be a step in the right direction. On the other hand, it is also possible that Mattis and Trump are simply not on the same page when it comes to U.S. alliances in Asia, and that Trump will re-attack when he refocuses on these issues. Since his inauguration, other than announcing the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and conducting some courtesy calls with other heads of state, Trump has mostly focused on issues not related to the Asia-Pacific. This could mean that Trump simply hasnt turned his attention to the region enough to make the kind of drastic statements that he did on the campaign. Accordingly, Trumps calls for a far more confrontational and less reassuring approach to U.S. allies may reappear. If Trump reiterates some of the more radical pronouncements he made as a candidate, the geopolitical dynamics of the Asia-Pacific could change dramatically and not for the better. A move by Trump in this direction would also significantly undermine the credibility of Mattis and others in the administration who have sought to reassure U.S. allies and are advocating for a more traditional approach to the region. The Trump administration will have an opportunity to clarify its approach to the Asia-Pacific when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Washington on Feb. 10. While talk of a large potential economic agreement will probably dominate the headlines, security issues will also come up. Will Trump reiterate Obamas statement that U.S. security commitments cover the Senkaku islands, an area also claimed by China? Will Trump press Abe on further increasing Japanese financial support to U.S. forces and increasing Japans defense budget? Will the president reiterate his previous threat to withdraw U.S. forces if Japan doesnt pay more? With the Trump administration still less than a month old and many of its key Asia-related policymaking positions not yet in place, it is understandable that the White House has not expressed a comprehensive strategy toward the Asia-Pacific. Yet the world is not standing still, and these issues should be on the agenda when Abe comes to town. Top Photo: Mattis in Japan. TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump has told Spain's leader Mariano Rajoy that the United States is committed to NATO, the White House said, despite his past criticism of the transatlantic military alliance. Trump's first conversation with Rajoy since taking office on January 20 served to "reaffirm the strong bilateral partnership across a range of mutual interests," the White House said. "President Trump reiterated the US commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and emphasized the importance of all NATO allies sharing the burden of defense spending." The American president is due to meet with fellow NATO leaders in May. The United States provides significant funding to NATO, and Trump has previously urged other member nations to step up their contributions. European leaders are concerned about Trump's virulent criticism of NATO -- he has dubbed the transatlantic military alliance "obsolete" -- at a time when it stands as the main defense against Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Trump's friendly stance toward Putin has been under scrutiny, and triggered consternation among European allies, since he won the US election in November. Trump took office with US-Russian ties at new lows amid accusations by American intelligence agencies that the Kremlin hacked Democratic Party emails as part of a pro-Trump campaign to influence the election. Trump and Rajoy also discussed "shared priorities, including efforts to eliminate ISIS," the White House said, referring to the Islamic State group. "The leaders agreed to continue close security, economic and counterterrorism cooperation." BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's order temporarily banning visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries shows that his administration does not understand its counterterrorism duties, Chinese state media said on Wednesday. Trump's Jan. 27 order, which he says is necessary for national security, sought to bar entry by travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, and by all refugees for 120 days, except for refugees from Syria, who face an indefinite ban. The move, which sparked protests and chaos at U.S. and overseas airports, has been suspended by a federal judge in Seattle and is now under intense scrutiny from a U.S. federal appeals court questioning whether it unfairly targeted people over their religion. China's government has offered mild criticism of the ban, saying immigration policy was a sovereign right but "reasonable concerns" must be considered. But the official Xinhua news agency said Trump's order "shows that his administration has no correct recognition of the responsibility it needs to shoulder in a global fight against terrorism". "Radical elements around the world could use the ban to further justify their ruthless causes, and to gain more recruits," Xinhua said in a commentary. "That is a grave threat not only to the safety and security of the United States, but that of others worldwide. "Banned countries on the list, such as Iraq, Libya and Syria, have been victimized by terrorism because previous U.S. governments and other Western powers deliberately intervened for self-interests," it added. Such commentaries from Xinhua do not equate to government policy, but often reflect official thinking. The world's most populous nation generally accepts few refugees. China offered permanent residence to 1,576 foreigners in 2016, the public security ministry has said, but such openings are largely reserved for experts and professionals. China, which says it faces a serious threat from terrorism, has often rebuked the United States and other Western countries for what it considers their double standards on terrorism. Nervous about being implicated in possible human rights abuses, Western nations have been reluctant to cooperate in China's campaign in its far western region of Xinjiang, where officials say Islamist militants aim to set up a separate state. Rights advocates say ethnic violence in the region in recent years is a response to repressive government policies affecting the largely Muslim Uighur people who call Xinjiang home, though China denies rights abuses there. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) BERLIN (Reuters) - The travel restrictions put in place by U.S. President Donald Trump on seven countries are deterring travelers from other countries too, according to a travel analysis company. ForwardKeys, which analyses 16 million flight reservations a day from major global reservation systems, said bookings for international arrivals to the United States over the next three months were 2.3 percent higher than last year. But on Jan. 27, the day Trump issued the executive order, bookings had been 3.4 percent ahead of the previous year, Forwardkeys data showed. When the travel ban was in place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, bookings to the United States dropped 6.5 percent, including an 80 percent slump in reservations from the seven countries listed on Trump's order and a 13.6 percent drop from Western Europe. On the day the curbs were lifted by a U.S. judge, bookings from Iran surged, ForwardKeys said, leaving reservations for travel to the United States five times higher on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 than the same two days a year earlier. Most of those bookings were for arrival in the United States on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6. ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager cautioned that the data was just a snapshot of an eight-day period and it would continue to monitor the situation. Other groups, such as the U.N. World Tourism Organization, have also warned travel demand could be hurt by U.S. restrictions, which are still suspended pending a U.S. appeals court hearing due to start at 2300 GMT on Tuesday. "The ambiguity of these very latest developments introduced by President Trump is casting a shadow over the future travel demand to and from the U.S.," said Nadejda Popova, travel project manager at Euromonitor. "The new executive order could also impact how the U.S. is perceived as a tourism destination and how open to foreign travelers it will be in the future." (Reporting by Victoria Bryan; editing by David Clarke) Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday won a victory in Congress with the confirmation of his fiercely-contested education secretary -- and earned tongue-in-cheek praise from Iran's supreme leader for his travel ban. Meanwhile, the Justice Department rolled out its legal arguments in a push for the controversial immigration order to be reinstated by the courts. Here are five takeaways from Trump's day: - Trump ban in court (again) - The Justice Department faced tough questioning as it urged a federal court of appeals in San Francisco to reinstate Trump's travel ban targeting citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries -- put on hold by the courts last week. In an hour-long hearing, an attorney for the government argued that the immigration restrictions were motivated by national security concerns and that a federal judge had overstepped his authority in suspending them. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," said the Justice Department lawyer, August Flentje. The three-judge panel often appeared skeptical, with one saying the government's argument was "pretty abstract." The ruling is expected later this week. - Media pushback - When the White House published a list of several dozen terror attacks -- including those in Paris and Orlando -- as evidence that the media were underreporting the global jihadist threat, it laid itself open to some feisty pushback. Sure enough, the next morning some of the world's leading media set methodically about the task of illustrating -- attack by attack, story by story -- just how flawed that assertion was. The Guardian, the BBC, CNN and The New York Times were just a few of the news outfits that rolled out annotated lists of the often exhaustive coverage most of the 78 attacks cited by the White House had received. Many of the atrocities listed held global headlines for days, if not weeks, and were so well known they are short-handed by the cities where they occurred: Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino, Orlando. Story continues - Cheers from Khamenei - Donald Trump may be facing a wall of opposition over his travel ban, but at least one person is grateful to him: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We are thankful to this gentleman... he showed the real face of America," Iran's supreme leader said in a speech to military officers in Tehran. "What we have said for more than 30 years -- that there is political, economic, moral and social corruption in the ruling system of the US -- this gentleman came and brought it out into the open in the election and after the election." Referring to the case of a young Iranian boy pictured in handcuffs at a US airport following Trump's travel ban, he said: "By what he does -- handcuffing a five-year-old child -- he shows the true meaning of American human rights." - DeVos squeaks through - Trump's administration claimed a victory with the Senate's confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary, after Vice President Mike Pence cast a historic tie-breaking vote. The chamber had deadlocked at 50-50, with two Republicans breaking ranks to oppose Trump's hotly-contested nominee, a Michigan billionaire who champions using taxpayer monies to help fund privately-run schools. Pence was needed to break the tie, the first time a sitting vice president has ever cast a deciding vote for a cabinet pick. The 59-year-old DeVos has triggered an outpouring of frustration and anger from critics, as someone who never attended a public school or worked in the public school system, and displayed no apparent grasp of basic educational issues. - Melania Vs Mail Online - America's first lady Melania Trump has relaunched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Daily Mail Online -- which makes the eyebrow-raising claims that the publication prevented her from reaping the "once-in-a-lifetime" windfall to be had as a business lady married to the president. Trump's wife, a former Slovenian model, is seeking $150 million in damages from Mail Media, Inc., which publishes the Daily Mail Online, for reporting rumors that she worked as an escort in the 1990s. In court documents filed Monday, the first lady said that she and her brand had missed out on "multiple millions of dollars" in licensing, marketing and endorsement opportunities that would otherwise have been available to someone spending time as "one of the most photographed women in the world." Ankara (AFP) - Turkey on Wednesday claimed significant progress in the months-long battle to capture the Islamic State (IS) held Syrian town of Al-Bab, signalling it was looking to push to the jihadist stronghold of Raqa in the next stage of the operation. Ankara launched an unprecedented incursion to support rebels inside Syria in August, making rapid advances in initial stages but has been locked in a bloody battle for Al-Bab since December. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Al-Bab was now "surrounded on all sides" and the town's outer neighbourhoods were "under control". "The efforts to take it completely under control continue," Yildirim added during a press conference in Ankara with the head of Libya's unity government Fayez al-Sarraj. Four soldiers were killed in the latest fighting on Wednesday, Dogan news agency reported, raising the death toll for Turkey's Syria campaign to at least 52 mostly from IS attacks. Fighting raged on the ground near Al-Bab on Wednesday as Turkish troops and allied rebels forces clashed with IS fighters, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said both Turkish troops and allied rebels and Syrian regime forces had advanced towards IS-held Al-Bab overnight. Anadolu news agency said pro-Ankara forces had captured strategic hilltops from the jihadists. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that over the last few days, Turkish special forces, soldiers and Syrian rebels had made "serious" progress in Al-Bab. - Raqa next up? - Cavusoglu suggested that once Al-Bab was captured Turkey and its allies could send special forces to take Raqa, the de-facto capital for the Islamic State (IS) group to the southwest. "The target after this (Al-Bab) in Syria is the Raqa operation," Cavusoglu said alongside his Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Ankara. "As regional countries, as countries inside the (US-led) coalition, we can put our special forces in, we need to put them in," Cavusoglu added, referring to any Raqa offensive. Story continues His comments come after US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke via telephone and discussed acting together in Turkey's battle to capture Al-Bab and also over Raqa. Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was "looking forward to working with Turkey and the Trump administration in order to intensify the efforts to eradicate Daesh," or IS. Last August, Ankara launched an ambitious military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters to clear its border of IS and pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia. Cavusoglu warned against working with the militia to retake the city. "It is necessary to conduct the Raqa operation not with terror groups but the right people," he said. Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said a "concrete plan" to clear IS from Raqa was being discussed with Washington. Trump had a "positive attitude" on the Raqa issue, Kalin added during an interview with NTV broadcaster. - 'Russia-Turkey coordination' - Al-Bab has been besieged since Monday, when government forces of President Bashar al-Assad advancing from the south severed a road leading into the town. Turkish forces and allied rebels meanwhile have advanced from the east, north and west, the Observatory told AFP in Beirut. This has created a delicate situation for Ankara, which has opposed Assad since the onset of the almost six-year civil war. But relations between Turkey and Assad's chief ally Russia improved markedly in the last months and the two sides worked together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo. Kalin said Turkey was coordinating with Russia to avoid any risk of contact with Syrian regime forces. According to the Observatory, six civilians were killed overnight and 12 injured in Turkish bombardment while another six civilians were killed on Wednesday in regime shelling as they fled an IS-held village on the outskirts of the town. Turkish forces regularly carry our air strikes in support of its ground operation in Syria but officials insist that the utmost is done to avoid any civilian casualties and have vehemently denied claims civilians have been killed in previous strikes. The Turkish army said 254 targets were hit and 58 "terrorists" were killed in the latest strikes in Al-Bab. By Humeyra Pamuk and Tom Perry ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish military have captured the outskirts of the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab in northern Syria, the Turkish government and rebel sources said on Wednesday. The advance threatens an important Islamic State stronghold, whose fall would deepen Turkish influence in an area of northern Syria where it has created a de facto buffer zone. Syrian government forces have also advanced on al-Bab from the south, bringing them close to their Turkish and rebel enemies in one of the most complex battlefields of the six-year-old conflict. But Turkey said international coordination was under way to prevent clashes with the Syrian forces. "The al-Bab operation must be completed immediately in the period ahead ... In recent days our special forces and the Free Syrian Army (rebels) have made serious progress," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference. In a sign of Turkish momentum and confidence, the government said its next target would be the Syrian city of Raqqa, de facto capital of the embattled Islamic State group which has also been partly dislodged from its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul. The U.S. military, which is leading an international coalition against Islamic State, said it expected Raqqa to be "completely isolated" in the next few weeks. COORDINATION WITH RUSSIA Al-Bab has been a major target of a Turkish offensive launched in northern Syria last August to drive Islamic State away from the border and prevent further gains by U.S.-backed Kurdish militia that are also fighting the jihadist group. The city is just 30 km (20 miles) from the Turkish border. A Free Syrian Army rebel commander speaking to Reuters from the southeastern outskirts of al-Bab said Syrian government planes and helicopters were visible to the west of his position, saying there was now an "indirect frontline" between the sides. But an official in a military alliance backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the city was being left to Turkish control, in what appeared to be part of a de facto deal with Russia, Assad's most powerful ally. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said clashes with the Syrian forces had been avoided. "As a result of coordination between coalition forces, the Turkish air force and Russia, necessary measures are being taken to prevent any unpleasant incidents or clashes," Yildirim said. Assad has been backed in the war by the Russian air force and an array of Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias. The Syrian army advance towards al-Bab is aimed at preventing deeper Turkish advances and safeguarding the city of Aleppo, 50 km (30 miles) to the southwest. "PROGRESS IS FAST" The Turkish military said in a statement that 58 Islamic State militants had been killed in air strikes, artillery fire and clashes. Four Turkish soldiers had been killed and at least a dozen wounded. The advancing forces had captured strategic hilltops around al-Bab, the army said. A Syrian rebel fighter reached by Reuters said he was speaking from inside al-Bab where he said Islamic State lines were collapsing. "Praise God, the progress is fast," he said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organization that reports on the war, cautioned that it was not yet clear if Islamic State had collapsed entirely in the city. It said at least six people had been killed and 12 more wounded in the latest shelling there. The organization says Turkish bombardment has killed scores of people since December. Turkey says it has been careful to avoid civilian casualties. Islamic State is being fought by three separate military alliances in northern Syria, including the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces which incorporate the Kurdish YPG militia. U.S. support for the YPG has angered Turkey, which views it as an extension of a Kurdish militia that is waging an insurgency in Turkey. A spokesman for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had presented a detailed plan to drive Islamic State out of Raqqa and discussions on the issue were under way. Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told broadcaster NTV there had been better coordination with the U.S.-led coalition on air strikes in the last 10 days and Ankara's priority was to establish a safe zone between the Syrian towns of Azaz and Jarablus, which are just over the border. The safe zone is an important goal for Ankara because it would mean that civilians displaced by the conflict could be provided for in Syria, rather than crossing into Turkey. Turkish sources said Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call overnight to act jointly against Islamic State in al-Bab and Raqqa. The White House said in a statement that Trump spoke about the two countries' "shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms" and welcomed Turkey's contributions to the fight against Islamic State, but it gave no further details. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam, Suleiman al-Khalidi, Nevzat Devranoglu, Gulsen Solaker, Ece Toksabay and Orhan Coskun; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Dominic Evans) ANKARA, Turkey (AP) In a sign of improving ties, Turkish officials said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and responded "positively" on two key Turkish demands that had soured Ankara's relations with the Obama administration. Following the 45-minute telephone conversation late Tuesday, officials from Erdogan's office also announced that CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be making his first overseas visit to Turkey on Thursday. The decision showed the importance the new administration attaches to Turkey, a country on the frontline of the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Ties between Turkey and the U.S., which are NATO allies, were strained under the Obama administration. Turkey expressed frustrations over what it perceived as U.S. reluctance to extradite the cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey accused of orchestrating the country's failed military coup. It was also angered by Washington's support of Syrian Kurdish fighters. While Turkey's government considers the fighters terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey, the Obama administration regarded them as the most effective group in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. It had also asked Turkey to allow the judiciary process for Gulen's return to take its course. The Turkish government has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency, and the call was being closely watched in Turkey for signs of a recovery. Officials from Erdogan's office, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, said Tuesday's phone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere." Both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation, and agreed to meet "at the shortest time" possible, they said. Erdogan requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and stop supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters, the officials said. Story continues Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, told Turkey's NTV news channel that the Turkish leader not only asked Trump not to back the Syrian Kurds but also presented a plan in which allies could re-take Raqqa, the main IS-held city in Syria, without the Kurdish fighters. Trump's "general reactions were positive," Kalin said. Kalin said Erdogan told Trump that there were "a series of measures" Washington could take while awaiting for the courts to decide on Gulen's extradition, in apparent reference to Turkish demands that the cleric be taken into custody and prevented from running his movement. Trump and his security adviser responded by saying they would "start work" to examine the issue, Kalin said. Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against extremist groups, the officials said, without elaborating. Officials said Pompeo would discuss Gulen and the U.S. backing of Syrian Kurdish fighters during his visit. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking at a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart in Ankara, sounded optimistic about future cooperation with the Trump administration. "On the issue of fighting Daesh, we that is Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be cooperating with the United States," Cavusoglu said. "We believe that the fight from now on will be more effective and that we will be able to clear both Syria and Iraq of Daesh." He was using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. The Turkish officials didn't say whether Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations was raised during their talk. Last year, Erdogan criticized Trump then a Republican presidential candidate over his comments about barring Muslims from entering the United States and called for his name to be removed from the Trump Towers in Istanbul. However, the normally outspoken Erdogan has not yet commented in public on the travel ban, which is being reviewed by a federal appeals court. President Trump told a Wednesday gathering of police chiefs and sheriffs that he wants their help identifying and deporting criminals who illegally immigrated to the U.S. I want you to turn in the bad ones, Trump said in a speech at the winter conference of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Trump said hes been speaking to a lot of law enforcement officials since taking office last month. During last years campaign, Trumps hard-line approach to illegal immigration was a key plank of his White House bid. The president claimed that the authorities he has conferred with have suggested that drugs are responsible for the vast majority of crime. He further vowed to aggressively confront the drug cartels. Were going to stop those drugs from poisoning our youth, from poisoning our people. Were going to be ruthless in that fight. We have no choice, and were going to take that fight to the drug cartels and work to liberate our communities from their terrible grip of violence, Trump said. He went on to ask the local law enforcement leaders in attendance to help in this battle against drugs by informing the Department of Homeland Security about the identities of illegal immigrant gang members. He told the audience they have the power and knowledge necessary to tell Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly who the illegal immigrant gang members are. You have that power because you know them. Youre there, youre local, you know the illegals, you know them by their first name, you know them by their nicknames. You have that power. The federal government can never be that precise, but youre in the neighborhoods. You know the bad ones. You know the good ones, Trump said. President Trump speaks to law enforcement officials at the Major Cities Chiefs Association winter conference in Washington. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Last month, Trump signed executive orders with dramatic measures to curb illegal immigration, as well as establishing that his administration wanted the immediate construction of a physical wall on the southern border. His executive orders also contained measures designed to push local authorities to assist with deportations. He called for empowering local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws and for the defunding of so-called sanctuary cities, where officials refuse to hand over some undocumented immigrants for deportation. Story continues As he concluded his comments on the issue during the Wednesday speech, Trump suggested that much of the countrys crime is driven by immigrant gang members. So much of the problems you look at Chicago and you look at other places so many of the problems are caused by gang members, many of whom are not even legally in our country, he said. But according to CBS Chicago affiliate, local police have never linked the violence to an influx of illegal immigrants. Rather, they say, prison sentences for gun crimes are too lenient, allowing repeat offenders with gang ties out on the street to commit more violence. Read more from Yahoo News: By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Wednesday that 12 million people in Yemen faced the threat of famine brought on by two years of civil war and the situation was rapidly deteriorating. It appealed for $2.1 billion to provide food and other life-saving aid, saying that Yemen's economy and institutions are collapsing and its infrastructure has been devastated. "If there is no immediate action, and despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, famine is now a real possibility for 2017. Malnutrition is rife and rising at an alarming rate," U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien told a news briefing. "A staggering 7.3 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from," he said. Yemen has been divided by nearly two years of civil war that pits the Iran-allied Houthi group against a Western-backed Sunni Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia that is carrying out air strikes. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Nearly 3.3 million people - including 2.1 million children - are acutely malnourished, U.N. figures show. They include 460,000 children under age five with the worst form of malnutrition who risk dying of pneumonia or diarrhoeal disease. About 55 percent of Yemen's medical facilities do not function and the health ministry has no operational budget, said Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen. "Many of the people never make it to the feeding centers or the hospitals because they can't afford the transport," he said. "Many people die silent and unrecorded deaths, they die at home, they are buried before they are ever recorded." In all, nearly 19 million Yemenis - more than two-thirds of the population - need assistance and protection, the United Nations said. "Ongoing air strikes and fighting continue to inflict heavy casualties, damage public and private infrastructure, and impede delivery of humanitarian assistance," it said. "The Yemeni economy is being wilfully destroyed," it added, saying that ports, roads, bridges, factories and markets have been hit. Yemen's main port at Hodeida is badly damaged and lacks cranes for offloading, leaving 30 ships offshore at any time and delaying deliveries, McGoldrick said. The Saudi-led coalition imposes strict restrictions on the ports which it controls. An estimated 63,000 Yemeni children died last year of preventable causes often linked to malnutrition, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week. "In Yemen, if bombs dont kill you, a slow and painful death by starvation is now an increasing threat," Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement as the U.N. plan was launched. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Miles and Angus MacSwan) Secretary of State Rex Tilerson appears to have clarified the puzzling statements on the South China Sea that he made at his confirmation hearing. This is encouraging. In a written response, Tilerson explained that the blockade he suggested, to prevent China from accessing the artificial islands it constructed, would only be necessary if a contingency occurs. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, in Asia last week, also turned down the temperature on the issue. At this time, we do not see any need for dramatic military move, he said. Developing its South China Sea strategy is one of the most urgent and challenging tasks facing the new Trump administration, and it is wise not to jump into an immediate confrontation with Beijing. A successful policy will require a robust interagency conversation one that the administration may not yet be in a position to have. Such a conversation would involve key strategic, economic, diplomatic, and military questions about American leadership in Asia. Among them: the tension between confronting China (and Russia) in areas of disagreement and cooperating wherever possible on critical issues; the need to cultivate close allies such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea to support shared aims; the importance of the unity and credibility of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for regional stability, as well as how to bolster U.S. bilateral relationships with the ten Southeast Asian member states; and the balance between offering the economic strategic engagement that Asia seeks from the United States with the countrys role as security guarantor. After interagency debate and careful risk-benefit evaluations by professionals, there is likely to be room for the new administration to ratchet up U.S. military activity to defend U.S. interests including freedom of navigation and overflight, the free flow of lawful commerce, peace and stability, and respect for international law in the South China Sea. But any new U.S. military action needs to be embedded in a coherent, forward-looking strategic vision for the region and to be unveiled alongside a carefully crafted diplomatic plan that explains that vision. Sudden moves will further rattle U.S. allies, antagonize Beijing unnecessarily, and feed the false Chinese narrative that the U.S. is the primary cause of tension and militarization in the South China Sea, and most everywhere else. Story continues The new administrations vision should recognize that rules and international law play a critical role in ensuring prosperity and peace in the region. While the new administration does not seem, overall, to be enamored of the rule of law, it ought to consider using this approach in Asia. The United States has benefitted greatly from the current system, which supports freedom of navigation and open markets. Moreover, a focus on rules also ensures the diplomatic support needed for a U.S. policy to be sustainable. ASEAN aspires to become a rules-based community, and U.S. allies have similarly adopted rules-based policy. Chinas actions in the South China Sea have been so galling because Chinas policies are based on the dictum of might makes right and ignore the constraints of international law. For that reason, the United States should be clear that any U.S. operations, freedom of navigation or otherwise, are to be conducted in accordance with, and in service of, international law. Relatedly, even though China, and perhaps even some Philippine officials, want to forget about the arbitral ruling in July of 2016 that clarified, in the Philippines favor, a host of questions about the maritime entitlements of the disputed features in the South China Sea, the United States should continue to remind all that the award is binding, while not taking sides on the complex underlying territorial claims. The United States should support ASEAN as it continues its 15-year negotiations with China over a code of conduct, but expect no meaningful progress. ASEAN sees this as an important channel through which to engage China, and we must accept that the nations of Southeast Asia want simultaneously positive relationships with China, India, Japan, Russia, the United States, and others. As a group, however, ASEAN does and should uphold its own principles, including respect for international law. To help ASEAN stand up for itself, the United States should continue to support vocally ASEAN unity and centrality. In its 50th year, ASEAN has helped keep the peace in Southeast Asia. To strengthen its role, among other measures, we should continue to help the ASEAN nations develop their own abilities to know what is happening in their waters, and cooperate with them on issues of mutual concern like illegal fishing, marine degradation, and piracy. Indeed, one of the least publicized tragedies of Chinas reclamation projects is the terrible, essentially irreversible destruction of the regions precious coral reefs, exacerbating an already alarming reduction in biodiversity and valuable fisheries. Finally, the United States will need to develop a major strategic economic initiative for Asia (if the Trans-Pacific Partnership is not to be reconsidered), such as a reinvigorated U.S.-ASEAN Connect that responds to ASEANs desire for greater economic unity. Otherwise, the United States will end up ceding leadership in Asia, even if the new administrations security policy is flawless. That would be real loss, because American leadership in Asia has brought significant benefits to the United States over the past many decades while also greatly benefitting the region. It has been, as the Chinese are fond of saying, win-win in the best sense. Photo credit: ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images Ubers Flying Taxi Program Elevate Gets 30-Yr. NASA Veteran Mark Moore Ubers flying taxi project just welcomed Mark Moore, a NASA veteran with 30 years of experience with flying contraptions that ferry a small number of people at high altitude. While self-driving vehicles and autonomous taxis could soon be on American roads, radio cab company Uber has set its sights a little higher than ground level. The company appears quite serious about offering a flying taxi to its patrons in the future. A recent hire by the company for its flying car initiative, Uber Elevate, clearly indicates that the companys long-term vision isnt restricted to the highways and bylanes. Uber recently recruited Mark Moore, reported Bloomberg. With a 30-year experience at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), Moore can easily be considered an authority figure on high altitude flight. He has been hired as a director of engineering for aviation for Uber Elevate. While the job description is a little sparse, Moore is expected to work on the companys flying car initiative. Uber hires NASA aircraft engineer to help develop flying cars at Uber Elevate https://t.co/Lwq6qiIcQP by @etherington pic.twitter.com/rBymDXmhuv TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) February 6, 2017 Interestingly, Uber Elevate appears to follow the standard operation of commercial airplanes, except, it will offer pick and drop services to each individual passenger that calls for a flying car through Uber Elevate. Ubers vision for flying cars isnt overly complicated, and surprisingly, avoids the hurdles faced by the concepts that have been introduced till date. Click here to continue and read more... Ubers Flying Taxi Program Elevate Gets 30-Yr. NASA Veteran Mark Moore is an article from: The Inquisitr News LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister Boris Johnson has given up his U.S. citizenship, a U.S. Treasury Department list showed on Wednesday, a move the New York-born politician had said he would make. Johnson, who was appointed foreign secretary shortly after Britain voted to leave the European Union in a June referendum, had dual nationality and, according to local media, settled a U.S. tax bill in 2015 on the earlier sale of his London house. Britain's foreign ministry did not have immediate comment. The U.S. Treasury lists all people who have renounced U.S. citizenship or long-term residency in the three months ending on Dec. 31, 2016. Johnson comes under the name Alexander Boris Johnson on the list - his full name is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Gareth Jones) London (AFP) - British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, who was born in New York, has renounced his US citizenship, according to a United States Treasury Department document released Wednesday. Alexander Boris Johnson figured in the Treasury list of people who had given up their US citizenship in the last quarter of 2016. The former mayor of London has held both British and US passports. Johnson had said in 2015 he intended to give up his dual nationality for patriotic reasons. He said his US passport was "an accident of birth" and that he had to "find a way of sorting it out" with the then US ambassador Matthew Barzun. "The reason I'm thinking I probably will want to make a change is that my commitment is, and always has been, to Britain," he told the Sunday Times newspaper. "They (the Americans) don't make it easy for you," Johnson added, hinting it could be a long and arduous process. Britain's foreign ministry said he renounced his US citizenship early in 2016, which then took some time to go through the system. Johnson had previously settled a capital gains tax bill sent by the US after he sold his house in north London, calling the demand "absolutely outrageous". All US citizens have to pay tax to Washington, even if they live outside the country. Geneva (AFP) - The UN appealed Wednesday for $2.1 billion to provide desperately needed aid to millions of people in war-ravaged Yemen this year, warning the country could soon face famine. "Two years of war have devastated Yemen and millions of children, women and men desperately need our help," warned UN humanitarian aid chief Stephen O'Brien in a statement. "Without international support, they may face the threat of famine in the course of 2017 and I urge donors to sustain and increase their support to our collective response." The appeal from UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations aims to gather funds to help some 12 million of the nearly 19 million people expected to need assistance across Yemen this year. The poor Arab country has been engulfed in war for years, but the conflict escalated dramatically in March 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched air raids against Shiite Huthi rebels, who had taken over the capital and seized swathes of the country's centre and north. Nearly 7,500 people have been killed and more than 40,000 injured since the conflict escalated two years ago, while more than two million people remain displaced inside Yemen, according to UN numbers. But the fighting has also dramatically exacerbated the drawn-out humanitarian crisis in one of the world's poorest countries, leaving a full two thirds of the population in need of aid. More than 10 million people need immediate, life-saving aid, including more than two million children who are acutely malnourished. Nearly half a million children under five were meanwhile suffering from life-threatening severe, acute malnutrition at the end of 2016 -- a 57-percent increase over 2015, Wednesday's report said. Last year, UN agencies and other partners provided aid to 5.6 million people in Yemen. This year, they hope to more than double that number. The country is almost entirely dependent on imports, most of which transit through the Hudaydah port, which was bombed by the coalition in 2015. And the Saudi-led coalition's shutdown of the Sanaa airport in August 2016 has had a heavy toll on civilians because medicine cannot be flown in and Yemenis cannot receive treatment abroad. Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f375840%2f4be94637-d00a-46ac-a0b2-5cadfd212002 Amid growing consumer backlash against corporations that associate with Donald Trump, at least one business leader isn't shy about his support of the president. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank praised Trump's agenda in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. "To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country," Plank told the financial news channel. "People can really grab that opportunity." SEE ALSO: Meet the woman who's making consumer boycotts great again Plank said he also admires the president's willingness to take action without sweating the details. "He wants to build things, he wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive," Plank said in reference to Trump's promise to spend big on infrastructure and build a border wall. "Im a big fan of people that operate in the world of publish and iterate versus think, think, think, think, think." The sportswear exec met with Trump in the White House last month along with other corporate bosses to discuss ways of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the country. Under Armour makes around two thirds of its products in countries like China, Jordan, Vietnam and Indonesia, but Plank has said that he'd like to open more U.S. plants. "Today, unfortunately, much of our manufacturing is done outside the U.S., Plank said at an event last June, according to the Baltimore Sun. We'd like to reinvent the process." Plank spent most of Tuesday's interview talking about how the company intends to rebound from its current sales slump. He compared that struggle to the New England Patriots' surprise comeback in Sunday's Super Bowl. "You know, I think a lot of people bet against Tom Brady the other night, too," he said, drawing parallels with another noted Trump fan. His comments Tuesday come a week after a massive customer boycott forced Uber chief Travis Kalanick to step down from a adviser post with the new administration . Story continues New Balance, one of Under Armour's rivals, faced a similar backlash last November when a company spokesperson praised Trump's trade policy proposals. Social media users made a show of burning or trashing the brand's sneakers in response. Such fierce consumer reactions have likely pressured many Trump-supporting business leaders to keep their political allegiances to themselves. But the administration's billionaire-heavy cabinet and plans to dismantle financial regulations have already earned it a reputation with some as a friend to big business. Thus, Trump probably has plenty of quiet fans in corporate America's C-suites. Plank's opinion is already causing some blowback on Twitter. Hey @UnderArmour: about what percentage of your customer base is women? Asking for a friend. https://t.co/sf582M84Pr Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) February 7, 2017 Bought my last pair of @UnderArmour running pants. Shame, they were good quality. #GrabYourWallet https://t.co/EarJ8euHYw O General My General (@rideatdawn) February 8, 2017 Update, Wednesday Feb. 8: Under Armour released a lengthy statement, claiming that it "engages in policy not politics." The Army said on Tuesday it would allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, clearing the way for completion of the disputed four-state project. However, construction could still be delayed because the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which has led opposition to the pipeline, said it would fight the latest development in court. The Army intends to cancel further environmental study and allow the Lake Oahe crossing as early as Wednesday, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer. The stretch under Lake Oahe is the final big chunk of work on the 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. Developer Energy Transfer Partners had hoped to have oil flowing through the pipeline by the end of 2016, but construction has been stalled while the Army Corps of Engineers and the Dallas-based company battled in court over the crossing. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a leak would pollute its drinking water and will challenge to the Army's decision to grant an easement, though the details were still being worked out, attorney Jan Hasselman said. FAQ | The Dakota Access Pipeline The tribe has led protests that drew hundreds and at times thousands of people who dubbed themselves "water protectors" to an encampment near the crossing. ETP says the pipeline is safe. An assessment conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, then-Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy on December 4 declined to issue permission for the crossing, saying a broader environmental study was warranted given the Standing Rock Sioux's opposition. ETP called Darcy's decision politically motivated and accused then-President Barack Obama's administration of delaying the matter until he left office. Story continues The Corps launched a study of the crossing on January 18, two days before Mr Obama left office, that could have taken up to two years to complete. President Donald Trump signed an executive action on January 24 telling the Corps to quickly reconsider Darcy's decision. The court documents filed on Tuesday include a proposed Federal Register notice terminating the study. "I have determined that there is no cause for completing any additional environmental analysis," Acting Assistant Army Secretary Douglas Lamont said in a memo on Tuesday. Standing Rock Dakota pipeline route map The tribe argues that under the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1888, the federal government is obliged to consider a tribe's welfare when making decisions that affect the tribe. "The Obama administration correctly found that the tribe's treaty rights needed to be respected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations," Hasselman said. "Trump's reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian Tribes and violation of treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court." Environmental groups also criticised the Army decision, with the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and the Centre for Biological Diversity all issuing statements saying the Trump administration is putting corporate profits ahead of the rights of Native Americans and the environment. ETP has been poised to begin drilling under Lake Oahe as soon as it has approval. Workers have drilled entry and exit holes for the crossing, and oil has been put in the pipeline leading up to the lake in anticipation of finishing the project. ETP spokeswoman Vicki Granado did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Army's decision. ETP CEO Kelcy Warren said in November the company should be able to finish the project in a little over three months once it has the go-ahead. Those protesting the pipeline at an encampment the tribe set up on federal land have at times clashed with police, leading to nearly 700 arrests. The camp's population thinned to fewer than 300 as harsh winter weather arrived and as Standing Rock officials pleaded for the camp to disband before the spring flooding season. The Corps has notified remaining protesters that the government-owned land will be closed beginning on February 22. Phyllis Young, a protest leader and member of the Standing Rock Sioux, said she thinks the Army's decision might draw some people back to the camp to stand with those who remain. Opposition to oil pipelines "is our life struggle, and we're going to continue fighting however we have to do it," she said without elaborating. Picture: AFP / Getty Images An agency of the US government has said it will allow the $3.8bn North Dakota Access Pipeline to carry oil beneath the Missouri River close to the site of indigenous American community - a move previously blocked after huge protests. In December, the Army Corps of Engineers said it had turned down permission for the pipeline to pass under Lake Oahe, a reservoir formed by a dam on the river. The then Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, declined to issue permission for the crossing, saying a broader environmental study was warranted given the Standing Rock Siouxs opposition. The Corps launched a study of the crossing on January 18, just two days before Barack Obama left office, that could have taken up to two years to complete. However, the company building the 1,200-mile pipeline that will transfer oil from the Dakotas to a shipping point in Illinois, Energy Transfer Partners, said the decision was politically motivated. President Donald Trump signed an executive action on January 24, telling the Corps to quickly reconsider Ms Darcys decision. He also made it easier for a separate company, TransCanada, to push ahead with another project, the Keystone XL pipeline. Graphiq Tom Goldtooth, Native American environmental activist, said the protests that swelled to include thousands of people at the site of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, would now be repeated. Were telling President Trump he will not be able to have this pipeline without a fight, he told The Independent. Expect massive resistance. It will be like nothing he has seen before. US Army confirms it is giving the green light for the completion of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. #DAPL pic.twitter.com/CqIjWtiwmP James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) February 7, 2017 He said thousands of people across the country, and millions around the world, had been moved by the plight of the protesters, who had fought not only for the safety of the reservations water source, but also for the civil rights of indigenous people. Story continues He said the mechanism for the approval of such projects had been rolled back by Mr Trump. The Standing Rock tribe is used to tyranny, and they are used to colonisation. They have been facing this for the last 500 years. Lawyer Jan Hasselman said the tribe would challenge the decision. @POTUS 3) Building the DAKOTA Pipeline WITHOUT hurting Indigenous groups or Environment is a challenge PEOPLE are hoping you succeed at... pic.twitter.com/7wtCjl9cSB Peter Darwin (@scotchnutz) February 7, 2017 The Obama administration correctly found that the tribe's treaty rights needed to be respected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations, he told the Associated Press. Trump's reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian Tribes and violation of treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court. ETP has been poised to begin drilling under Lake Oahe as soon as it has approval. Workers have drilled entry and exit holes for the crossing, and oil has been put in the pipeline leading up to the lake in anticipation of finishing the project. The news agency said that those protesting the pipeline at an encampment the tribe set up on federal land have at times clashed with police, leading to nearly 700 arrests. The camps population thinned to fewer than 300 as harsh winter weather arrived and as Standing Rock officials pleaded for the camp to disband before the spring flooding season. CAMP TAJI, Iraq (AP) Forces fighting the Islamic State group should be able to retake the IS-held cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria within the next six months, according to the top U.S. commander in Iraq. On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said "within the next six months I think we'll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude." Townsend also said he expected the fight for Mosul's western half to begin in days. Iraqi forces have retaken about half of Mosul the country's second largest city since the operation was officially launched in October, following more than two years of coalition-led anti-IS operations around Iraq clearing supply lines and partially isolating the city. Last month Iraqi forces declared Mosul's east "fully liberated" and have since largely paused the fight. Townsend, who heads the U.S.-led coalition against IS, said Iraq's military is still in the process of putting forces into place ahead of the push into western Mosul, but predicted operations would begin "in the next few days." Closely backed by U.S.-led coalition airpower, Iraqi ground forces faced months of grueling urban combat in Mosul that at times brought the front lines to a standstill for weeks. But the pace of operations increased as Iraqi forces closed in on the Tigris River which roughly divides the city. Townsend credited the quicker progress with better coordination and "lessons learned" on the part of Iraqi forces. But on the ground inside Mosul, Iraqi troops said as they neared the Tigris, IS fighters launched fewer car bombs and largely fled their advances unlike the heavy resistance they faced in the first few weeks of combat inside the city. Townsend said he expects that the fight for western Mosul will pose a particular challenge for Iraqi forces due to the older neighborhoods and narrower streets. "It will be a more difficult fight, more constricted," he said. Story continues At times during the Mosul fight, Iraqi forces experienced relatively high casualty rates among some of their most elite and well-trained fighters. Iraqi medics inside Mosul said during some of the heaviest fighting, Iraq's special forces were suffering around 20 casualties both deaths and serious injuries a day. Townsend said these high attrition rates were "a concern," but he didn't believe they would hamper the forces moving forward. In Raqqa, significant ground military operations against IS have barely begun. The coalition has been targeting IS in the area for more than two years and U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters have been on the offensive in nearby areas, mostly north of the city, retaking just a cluster of surrounding villages over the past few months. On Saturday, the fighters known as the Syria Democratic Forces announced the launch of the "third phase" of the Raqqa operation, which aims at isolating the city from the rest of IS-held territories before attacking the city itself. The announcement came a day after aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition destroyed two bridges on the southern edge of Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS' self-declared caliphate. Iraqi and coalition officials have warned that the extremist group is still expected to pose a security threat in Iraq and beyond, even after it is defeated territorially. Townsend said he hopes U.S. forces can remain inside Iraq even after the Islamic State group is territorially defeated, unlike the withdrawal of forces that occurred in 2011. "ISIL morphing into an insurgent threat, that's the future," Townsend said using an alternative acronym for the group. On a helicopter ride back to his Baghdad base Wednesday afternoon, he pointed to streets in the Iraqi capital below where he fought the predecessor to IS al-Qaida in Iraq and the landmarks targeted by the group with insurgent bombings. When asked if he thought Iraqi forces would be capable of fighting IS when the group returns to its insurgent roots, he replied: "I don't know. We would have to refocus training in those areas." U.S.-led coalition spokesman Col. John Dorrian, speaking to reporters from Baghdad during a weekly teleconference said he had not seen Townsend's remarks and declined to comment on the timing of the anti-IS operations. Regarding the looming battle for Raqqa, Dorrian said, "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks the city will be nearly completely isolated, and then there will be a decision point" to launch an assault to retake the city itself. ___ Associated Press writer Ali Abdul-Hassan in Camp Taji, Iraq, Zeina Karam in Beirut and Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report. Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico's interior minister and the US Homeland Security chief agreed Tuesday to meet "soon" in Mexico City, officials said on Tuesday as bilateral ties hit new lows over US plans for a border wall. In a telephone call, Mexico's Miguel Angel Osorio Chong and US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly discussed "progress that has been made on guaranteeing the safety and well-being of people on both sides of the border," a Mexican statement read. The Mexican Interior Ministry's update assessment, which declined to provide a date for the upcoming meeting in Mexico's capital, belies the fact that the North American neighbors are having their worst bilateral row in decades. After insulting Mexicans on the campaign trail, US President Donald Trump continues to insist that he will have Mexico pay to build a wall on the US-Mexican border. On the economic front, Trump also wants to renegotiate NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, governing trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States. Trump made the loss of US factory jobs to Mexico under NAFTA a key campaign, and now policy, focus. Given Trump's protectionist threats, Mexico is looking to expand trade ties with Europe and Asia, but reducing its dependence on the massive US market will be tough. Mexico and the European Union have agreed to speed up negotiations to modernize an existing free trade pact in which $57 billion in goods were exchanged in 2015. At the same time, the government said it planned to negotiate a free trade agreement with Britain once it exits the European Union. Some 80 percent of Mexico's exports go to its northern neighbor, and many of those goods are made with parts from the United States, highlighting how much the two nations' industries are intertwined. Two-way trade between Mexico and the United States totals around half a trillion dollars per year, four times more than the Latin American nation's combined business with China and the EU. Carolyn Kaster/AP A Democratic US senator was silenced by Senate Republicans after she read out a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren read the 30-year-old correspondence from Coretta Scott King during a debate over Senator Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump's nomination for attorney general. The letter was from the date of Mr Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. King wrote in 1986 that Mr Sessions, when acting as federal prosecutor, used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Jeff Sessions has come under fire since being nominated for attorney general (Andrew Harnik/AP) Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Ms Warren had broken senate rules by impugning the motives and conduct of Mr Sessions. Senators then voted 49-43 to uphold a ruling in his favour. Ms Warren posted to her 1.74 million followers on Twitter: Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs Kings voice on the Sen floor - & millions who are afraid & appalled by whats happening in our country. Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs King's voice on the Sen floor - & millions who are afraid & appalled by what's happening in our country. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017 On Tuesday night, she read the letter on Facebook Live, and wrote: During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate. The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship. The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor - so Im right outside, reading it now. Elizabeth Warren is forbidden from speaking from the remainder of the debate over Sessions (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Since his nomination Mr Sessions, senator for Alabama, had been dogged by allegations that he attempted to suppress black votes in Alabama. The Democratic National Committee said in a statement it was a "sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr's widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate". Ms Warren is now forbidden from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate. A vote on Mr Sessions is expected on Wednesday. Theres a new threat putting potentially tens of millions at risk in southern Africa. And its not war or disease, but caterpillars. The fall armyworm, called such because it marches its way through swaths of crops, was first discovered in Africa last year. (Its originally from the Americas.) Since then, its wreaked havoc on staple maize crops in South Africa and Zimbabwe. There are reports the pest has also reached Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique. It could make an already untenable food situation even worse. Southern Africa is just beginning to recover from a scorching two-year drought that plunged seven countries to the brink of starvation. We have a situation where about 40 million people are food insecure until the next harvest in two months, David Chimimba Phiri of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization told Foreign Policy. If the armyworm is not controlled it could have devastating impacts on food security, he said, speaking from FAOs regional office in Zimbabwe. Southern Africa is the new line of defense against an invasive species that the FAO warned could quickly spread to Asia and the Mediterranean, becoming a major threat to agricultural trade worldwide if left unchecked. The FAO is convening a meeting with regional leaders to take stock of the new pest invasion next week. South Africas agricultural minister said his country is reacting quickly to confront the invasive species. Officials dont yet know the full extent of the damage, though the Zambian government said the caterpillars already affected more than 10 percent of its crops. Experts suspect the fall armyworm, native to North and South America, first slipped into Africa through food imports. Unwelcome, invasive species are a common side effect of global trade, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson told FP. In the United States, the USDA conducts overseas inspections of U.S-bound exports, monitors imports, and conducts state-by-state quarantines. Even then, some invasive pests like the Asian emerald ash borer or the gypsy moth slip through the cracks with devastating consequences for the states they land in. Story continues Other countries, particularly developing ones in Africa, dont have the same safeguards, making them even more vulnerable to invasive species. And the fall armyworm is a particularly nasty critter. Unlike other pests, it eats gains, seeds, flowers, wild plants, fruits, vegetables, anything it can get its mouth on, destroying crops it burrows into. A trickle of armyworms can turn into, well, an army quickly: as dense as 1,100 caterpillars per square meter. Once it transforms into a moth, it can migrate hundreds of miles to new feeding grounds. And if African governments arent careful with pesticides, the armyworm could develop resistance to those, too, Phiri warned. A subspecies of the armyworm already became resistant to genetically modified crops in North America. Phiri said the good news is governments took swift steps to identify infested areas and spread awareness of the pests to rural areas. And governments are urging farmers not to panic yet as they take stock of the new threat. Unfortunately for southern Africa, invasive species are nearly impossible to eradicate. Its no longer a question of eradicating it, Phiri said. We have to find ways to manage it now that its here. Photo credit: Sam Droege/USGS Bee and Monitoring Lab/Flickr Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars, owned by Chinese group Geely, said Wednesday it posted a healthy profit rise in 2016, boosted by record sales and stronger finances. Net profit soared by 90 percent to 5.94 billion kronor (633 million euros, $628 million), while sales climbed by 10 percent to 180.6 billion kronor, Volvo said in a statement. The brand sold more than 534,000 cars in 2016, six percent more than its 2015 record. "I foresee that 2017 will also be a record year in terms of sales," said chief executive Hakan Samuelsson. Volvo has made a remarkable comeback since 2010, when the loss-making carmaker was taken over by Chinese group Geely. In December, it succeeded in raising 5.0 billion kronor (529 million euros, $564 million) by selling preferential shares to three prudent Swedish investors: public pension funds AMF and AP1, and insurance group Folksam. On Tuesday, Swedish media revealed the company plans to hire up to 800 people at its plant in Gothenburg, Sweden's second city. The company is also expected to begin manufacturing cars in the US in 2018, where it is building a factory near Charleston, South Carolina. The carmaker is also leading the drive to develop self-driving cars. In January, it provided test cars to a number of families in Gothenburg, and it is expected to continue the test in London later this year. Senator Elizabeth Warren has earned a rare rebuke by the US upper chamber for quoting Coretta Scott King during the debate on the confirmation of senator Jeff Sessions. The Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chamber's arcane rules by reading a three-decade-old letter from Dr Martin Luther King's widow written in opposition to senator Jeff Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. The chamber is debating the Alabama Republican's nomination for attorney general, with Democrats dropping senatorial niceties to oppose Sessions and Republicans sticking up for him. The Senate voted to stop Elizabeth Warren from speaking during a debate over Jeff Sessions nomination https://t.co/aQGwXPu0tGpic.twitter.com/gAjZhQjl4u BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) 8 February 2017 Mrs King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Mr Sessions used his power to "chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens." Quoting Mrs King technically put Mrs Warren in violation of senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Mr Sessions. The rule, No 19, says senators cannot "directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator." Mrs Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Mr Sessions was elected to the senate. Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rule and the senate voted along partisan lines, 49-43, to admonish MrsWarren, effectively barring her from speaking during the remaining debate on Mr Sessions. A vote on his nomination is expected on Wednesday evening. Story continues Democrats pointed out that Mr McConnell didn't object when Ted Cruz, the Republican senator from Texas, called him a "liar" in a 2015 dustup. "I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. I'm simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her," Mrs Warren said. .@SenateDems are once again going to #holdthefloor all night this time to speak out against @SenatorSessionss nomination for AG. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) 7 February 2017 Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety and defend the Massachusetts senator. Mrs Warren "has been warned multiple times," Mr McConnell's spokesman Don Stewart told NBC News. "And after additional warning today, she was found in violation of the rule. She appealed the ruling and lost." Rachel Maddow reads parts of the Coretta Scott King letter Mitch McConnell couldn't bear to hear in the Senate. https://t.co/NWZccVGflH Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) 8 February 2017 The Massachusetts senator was originally warned after reading from a statement by former Democratic senator Edward Kennedy that labeled Mr Sessions "a disgrace". Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs King's voice on the Sen floor - & millions who are afraid & appalled by what's happening in our country. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) 8 February 2017 Mrs Warren has taken to social media to protest the senate's decision and has read the full letter just outside the senate. The episode was followed by lamentations by senate veterans, including its most senior Republican, Orrin Hatch of Utah, about how the Senate is too partisan. Coretta Scott King's full 1986 letter can be read here Profile | Jeff Sessions By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - A Washington lawyer from a major law firm was wearing a wig as a disguise when he was arrested last week trying to sell a copy of a secret lawsuit against a California technology security company for $310,000, according to a criminal complaint. Jeffrey Wertkin, a former U.S. Justice Department trial attorney who joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as a partner last year, was charged in the complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco made public on Tuesday. He was arrested on Jan. 31 at a Cupertino, California, hotel while trying to sell a copy of the lawsuit to an FBI agent posing as a colleague of an employee at the security firm in exchange for a duffle bag full of money, the complaint said. "My life is over," Wertkin said out loud shortly after his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to the complaint, which did not state where he obtained the lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act. A lawyer for Wertkin, who was charged with contempt of court, could not be immediately identified. Akin Gump in a statement said it was "shocked and deeply troubled by the conduct alleged in the charges filed against Mr. Wertkin." "Immediately upon learning of these charges, we took swift action and Mr. Wertkin is no longer with the firm," Akin Gump said. According to the complaint, the lawsuit was filed in January 2016 under the False Claims Act, which allows whistleblowers to sue companies on the government's behalf to recover taxpayer money paid out based on fraudulent claims. Those lawsuits are filed under seal to allow the Justice Department to investigate and determine whether it wants to intervene in the cases. Whistleblowers can receive a share of any resulting recovery. Wertkin joined 920-lawyer Akin Gump in its Washington office in April 2016 from the U.S. Justice Department, where he was involved in pursuing False Claims Act cases and several fraud investigations as a trial attorney, the complaint said. Story continues According to the complaint, in November, someone calling himself "Dan" contacted an employee of the Sunnyvale, California-based security company to discuss providing a copy of the lawsuit for a "consulting fee." That employee began recording calls with "Dan" at the FBI's request, and negotiated to have a colleague, who was actually an agent, deliver $310,000 in exchange for the lawsuit. The case is U.S. v. Wertkin, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 17-mj-70131. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Andrew Hay) One family got the surprise of their life as they encountered a sea lion that mimicked the motion of their twirling umbrella inside a Spanish aquarium. Read: Police Comfort Scared Sea Lion Pup Stranded on Stairwell Anton Juhant, of Skfja Loka, Slovenia, was at the Oceanografic Aquarium in Valencia with his family during a vacation January 20 when a sea lion swam toward them as they stood behind the protective glass. The curious sea lion became fascinated with the familys polka dot umbrella and when the Slovenians twirled it, the sea mammal began to spin, mimicking the moves of the parasol. In footage obtained by Caters News Agency, the short clip transfixes viewers the same way the sea lion appears to be engrossed by the umbrella. This was such a special moment," Juhant told Caters. "My wife and kids all adore animals, so it was an encounter we all very much enjoyed. Read: Curious Sea Lion Climbed 145 Steps to Browse a Gift Shop "The kids were going crazy when he first started to spin, trying to get him to change directions and at different speeds. He went back up for air several times, but kept coming back for more." Anton said that the kids did not want to leave and played with the sea lion for about 15 minutes. Watch: Wetted Bliss: Couple Says 'I Do' in Underwater Wedding at New Orleans Aquarium Related Articles: John Oliver may be slightly concerned about being deported, but that isnt stopping him from speaking out against President Donald Trumps controversial immigration order. During a Tuesday night appearance on The Late Show, the British Last Week Tonight host discussed the travel ban with Stephen Colbert, sharing his objections to the the executive orders now-halted restrictions. I have an American wife and an American son now, but who knows whats enough? Having a green card used to be enough, and yet what we saw with that executive order on immigration, that debacle, things are not what they were supposed to be. We held up translators Afghan and Iraqi translators at the border who have bled for a country theyve never visited, have sacrificed family members for this country. This president has done neither of these things, so its a little hard to swallow him telling people whether they should be a benefit to America or not. Watch the full clip below. Photo credit: Sam Smith From Road & Track THE CAR: 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage GT 1.2-liter I-3, 78 hp, 74 lb-ft $13,830 base price (ES model) $17,330 as tested (GT model) 37/43 mpg EPA Below: A conversation the author had with himself, after a week of driving a 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage every day. (Editor's Note: When he's not traveling, Smith works from home. Last month, he visited R&T's Michigan office for a week and drove a test Mirage, on loan from Mitsubishi. Then he submitted this conversation with himself, which inexplicably includes two haiku. Also, it just needs to be said: The modern haiku may be the laziest form of poetry.) Okay, I give. What the hell is this little four-wheeled dorklet? Be nice! I was almost certainly a dorklet when I was little. I may still be a dorklet. My children almost certainly believe me to be a dorklet, even though they are toddlers. (Fun story: After typing that last sentence, I left my home office, went upstairs, and said the word "dorklet" to my eighteen-month daughter, who is learning to talk. She's in the mimic stage and far from a steady walker. She then wobbled around the house, beaming, chasing the dog with her arms in the air, yelling, "Dork-LET! Dork-LET! Dork-LET!" My wife, normally a patient person, pointed a finger at me and told me to go back to my office.) But I digress. There are multiple answers to your question: ONE: This is a car. In base form, one of the cheapest new ones on sale in America. A stripped-out Mirage ES costs just over $13,000. The GT trim brings xenon headlights, a continuously variable automatic transmission (replacing a five-speed manual), 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera, front seat heaters, and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay. Our test vehicle had a base price of $17,330 with destination and handling charge. In base form, the Mirage costs less than a Honda Fit or Hyundai Accent but more than either the Nissan Versa or Chevrolet Spark. All of which are roughly the same size as the Mirage but more pleasant to drive. In GT trim, it scrapes into the territory occupied by cars one size up-machines like the Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra, and Kia Forte. Story continues TWO: This is simple sheet metal, four 165-section tires, and three cylinders. Photo credit: Sam Smith THREE: This is less car than either a Versa or a Spark. Which, I remind you again, are cheaper in base trim. And both of which, in base trim, put this thing on the trailer in terms of comfort, noise, initial value, perceptible quality, resale value, performance, style, and every other objective or subjective metric we use to evaluate new cars. FOUR: You know that time in college when you were sitting on the couch, and it was three in the morning, and maybe you'd been drinking a little? Or maybe, you know, drinking a lot? With friends? And you went to the kitchen but couldn't find anything except ramen noodles, and you knew that if you made the ramen noodles, you'd have to turn on the stove, at which point you would probably light something important-say, your hair, or the cat-on fire? And then perhaps another, wholly sober friend took pity on you and went to White Castle? And he came back with a cardboard suitcase full of 30 tiny hamburgers? And you ate maybe 12 of them in one sitting? And you thought to yourself, "I never would have bought that suitcase of hamburgers on my own, and the fact that it exists is a little depressing, but it did the job okay? Even though I would have picked almost anything else for dinner, given the option?" The Mirage is basically that. Plus an average dealer transaction price of around $11,000, according to TrueCar. Over 22,000 Mirages were sold in North America in 2016. For reference, Mitsubishi sold more than 26,000 Outlander SUVs and precisely zero Lancer Evolutions that year, because the Lancer Evo is dead, because no one bought it. Despite the fact that I loved it impossibly much. We have no Lancer Evo but we do have a bunch of Outlanders. So we have no Lancer Evo but we do have a bunch of Outlanders, because that's how the modern car market works. SUVs sell, and rally replicas with cheap interiors don't. On a related note, if you purchased a new, high-performance SUV in the past decade, pat yourself on the back. In a roundabout way, you kind of helped kill off fast four-doors like the Evo. One of the best fast cars in modern history, even if its door panels felt like they were stitched together from old milk jugs. Nice work. Dorklet. Come on, the Mirage can't be that bad. Relatively speaking. I mean, it's not good, either. But you may have heard of it for being bad. Back in 2014, The New York Times famously ran a review of this thing, written by John Pearley Huffman. The headline was "It's Cheap, but Is It Overpriced?" Jalopnik's Jason Torchinsky then penned a rebuttal to that story, pointing out that it really wasn't a bad car, for the price. Torch was right; the NYT piece wasn't perfect. If anything, it lacked context, but Huffman should get a pass, because that was a space-limited print review, and it's difficult to pack context into a 700-word car review while still conveying basic information. (That said, the Grey Lady getting her skirt ruffled is always amusing. The story used the word "disconcertingly," and the phrase "flatter than the electroencephalogram of a dead hamster." Also, the latter made me wonder: Why a hamster? What does size or species have to do with it? Is the electroencephalogram of a dead elephant more lively, and thus less flat?) Photo credit: Sam Smith Regardless, the NYT piece made good points. The Mirage is a perfectly usable car, but relative to every other cheap car on the market, it's a penalty box. Neither a pleasant or particularly modern driving experience, and not actually good value-its chief selling point. Even if you ignore the existence of new-car alternatives, a cursory Craigslist search shows that eleven thousand dollars will buy a used, three-year-old Honda Fit with under 30,000 miles and more than 30,000 miles of factory powertrain warranty left. The Fit is a far better car; it's faster, it gets similar mileage in the real world; it's far nicer inside; it's roomier and more space-efficient; it's more fun to drive. It also holds value incredibly well. In reality, the Mirage is the definition of a car ill-matched to its market. Perhaps the thing makes sense in Japan, or in Thailand, where it is built. Apropos of nothing, I think, later in this post, I shall write poetry about this car. You mentioned car reviews. This isn't much of one. Who said this was a car review? Isn't this site focused on cars? Don't you write car reviews for a living? As my grandmother used to say, a little yes, a little no. We also focus on car culture. So this is . . . culture. I wouldn't go that far. Okay, low culture. It's not Shakespeare, that's for sure. I was promised (threatened with?) poetry. Patience! That comes later. I'm bored with this. You going to tell me what it drives like? A lot of reviewers have used the Mirage as an excuse to come up with slack metaphors, knocking its talents. You know: This car is so [adjective], it [does a specific car job] like an [undesirable thing]. It's knee-jerk for the form. You do this job long enough, the metaphor reaction builds up in your glands. And to paraphrase John Lee Hooker, it's got to come out somehow. Because extremes are fun to write about, you often see bad metaphors when a car is noticeably ahead of the performance or technology curve. Or, in the case of the Mirage, behind it. Especially when a manufacturer doesn't buy much in the way of advertising in this country. Some of those metaphors don't always make sense, because people get excited. ("Driving the Viper fast is like running into a closed KMart with a pair of dull scissors.") Many of them involve animals but don't actually describe the car. ("The Ferrari sounds like a bear eating lunch on a Tuesday.") Not that I'm not metaphor-guilty, myself. I am. We all are. I've used at least one in this post so far. I don't feel good about it. It's loud. The engine sounds unpleasantly odd and coarse. But the Mirage is ripe for description. It's loud. The engine sounds unpleasantly odd and coarse. The interior feels cramped, and the steering doesn't give you much confidence as to what the front wheels are doing. Or the fact that the front wheels are even there. Also, our test car had a continuously variable transmission. CVTs are not pleasant. They keep an engine at or near its torque peak, a near-constant rpm during acceleration, so they tend to be associated with droning exhaust and intake noise. It's a constant, indifferent mooing, like a tired cow searching for something. See? Did it again. Animal. Hard to stay away. Ahem. Right. What if I just describe the Mirage without being creative? That seems fair: The engine vibrates everything. You feel it at stoplights, rocking your shoulders. You feel it in your fingers, hanging on the steering wheel. Three-cylinders vibrate a lot, by nature. This one is particularly shakey. The three in the base Ford Fiesta is far nicer. Quieter, smoother, sounds better. The cockpit is incredibly loud. Engine and road noise dominate. The interior plastics are commensurate with the base price. I wouldn't gripe about that, but if you're spending big cash on a Mirage GT-even if the dealer is willing to deal and get you lower than MSRP-you might want to go sit in a Focus first. Photo credit: Sam Smith The car is neither offensively slow or noticeably quick. It is possible to speed, if you try very hard. The CVT is loud and annoying. Ride quality is remarkably decent for a car of this size and wheelbase. Not a lot of head toss, and potholes aren't punishing. I have owned cheap, and occasionally terrible, cars all my life. This is better than some of them and worse than others. I'm sorry. I can't take it any more: Driving this car is like eating cardboard: It's probably not bad for you, but with so many other options out there, why? There. Sorry. I feel better now. The poetry? Mitsu, I love youMitsu, you shining star, youNope; was mistaken. What do you get whenYou need a new car? Answer:I suppose this works That was predictably terrible. One last thing: Why are the pictures of your test car in black and white? I took them on black and white film-Ilford HP5 400, to be specific. (Nice film. Good-looking grain, excellent range, and relatively forgiving of exposure errors.) Black and white film is an ancient idea. Useful for some things, not for others. But certainly not the smartest option if you make pictures for a living. Next to everything else on the market, the Mirage feels ancient, even though it's not. So I grabbed an old film camera from my closet and took a few pictures. Those pictures are straightforward and uninteresting. Serviceable, if you're not picky. That might have been on purpose. Sam Smith is an Editor at Large for Road & Track. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he supports several old cars, two cranky motorcycles, a racing license, and a candy addiction that is deeply inappropriate for a 36-year-old man. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @thatsamsmith. You Might Also Like WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House defended President Donald Trump's criticism of the Nordstrom retail chain on Wednesday, saying the firm's decision to drop his daughter Ivanka's clothing line for the coming season was politically motivated attack. "I think this was less about his family's business than an attack on his daughter," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing. Although Nordstrom has said the decision not to carry Ivanka Trump's line was based on its performance, Spicer said there had been "a direct attack on his policies and her name" and Trump was standing up for her because she was "being maligned because they have a problem with his policies." (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Doina Chiacu) White House press secretary Sean Spicer defended President Trumps Wednesday tweet lashing out at Nordstrom after the department store announcement that it would no longer carry his daughter Ivanka Trumps clothing line. Terrible! Trump exclaimed. As many critics noted, it appeared that Trump was using his presidential office to boost his daughters company raising yet another potential conflict of interest in an administration that has blurred the lines between government and Trump family business projects. Both Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, are top Trump advisers. White House press secretary Sean Spicer. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) I think this was less about his family business and an attack on his daughter, Spicer said during a press briefing hours after the presidents social media barb. Shortly after the Nordstrom tweet was sent from Trumps personal account, it was retweeted by the official @POTUS Twitter handle. For someone to take out their concern with his policies on a family member of his is just not acceptable, and the president has every right as a father to stand up for them, he continued. Nordstrom has stated that the decision to drop Ivanka Trumps brand was based on sales performance, not politics. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 In the wake of her fathers election, Trumps elder daughter has made a public effort to separate herself from her eponymous brand. How then, another reporter asked Spicer, was she treated so unfairly by Nordstrom if shes no longer involved in the business? Clearly its targeting her brand, and her name, Spicer insisted. While shes not running the company its still her name on it, and theres clearly efforts to undermine that name based on her fathers positions on particular policies that hes taken. Story continues Trumps Nordstrom tweet raised eyebrows not only because of its content but also its timing, which, as many noted, suggested that the tweet was sent about 20 minutes after the start of the presidents daily intelligence briefing. One reporter attempted to clarify the timing of the tweet at Wednesdays press briefing. But Spicer dismissed it out of hand. Ive heard the conjecture. He was free when that happened, he said. Read more from Yahoo News: The White House is defending President Trumps tweet critical of Nordstroms for dropping his daughters clothing brand, amid renewed questions of the entangled relationship between his companies and his Administration. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted that his daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by the clothing outlet, which announced last week it was dropping her eponymous clothing brand from its website and stores. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Trumps tweet, which was also retweeted by the official @POTUS account, was appropriate, because the president interpreted Nordstroms decision as a personal attack, despite the companys assertion that it was a business decision. This was less about his family business and more about an attack on his daughter, Spicer said. This is a direct attack on his policies and her name. The president has every right as a father to stand up for them, Spicer added. Spicer addressed concerns that Trump sent the tweet during his Presidential Daily Briefing, which was scheduled to begin at 10:30 am. He was free when that happened, he said. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday it had been in touch with Yemeni officials through diplomatic channels amid concerns over a U.S. commando raid targeting al Qaeda militants that killed several civilians. "We are in touch with Yemenis through diplomatic channels," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing. "They understand the fight and commitment that we both share." (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Tim Ahmann) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trumps administration is considering a proposal that could lead to potentially designating Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The officials said several U.S. government agencies have been consulted about such a proposal, which if implemented would add to measures the United States has already imposed on individuals and entities linked to the IRGC. The IRGC is by far Irans most powerful security entity, which also has control over large stakes in Irans economy and huge influence in its political system. Reuters has not seen a copy of the proposal, which could come in the form of an executive order directing the State Department to consider designating the IRGC as a terrorist group. It is unclear whether Trump would sign such an order. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran denies any involvement in terrorism. Several draft orders on other topics have been circulated among U.S. agencies, only to be rejected or postponed by the Trump administration. Reuters reported last week that officials were debating whether to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, but that decision appears to have been indefinitely postponed. Naming Iran's single most powerful military and political institution as a terrorist group could have potentially destabilizing effects, including further inflaming regional conflicts in which the United States and regional arch-rivals blame Iran for interference. Iran denies those allegations. It would also likely complicate the U.S. fight against Islamic State in Iraq, where Shiite militias backed by Iran and advised by IRGC fighters are battling the Sunni jihadist group. Some of Trumps more hawkish advisors in the White House have been urging him to increase sanctions on Iran since his administration began to take shape. After tightening sanctions against Iran last week in response to a ballistic missile test, White House officials said the measures were an initial step. U.S. Gulf allies have long favored a tougher U.S. stance against Iran, whom they blame for regional interference. But officials said the process for issuing potentially controversial orders has slowed considerably in the wake of the political and legal uproar over Trumps order to ban entry to the United States from seven majority-Muslim countries, which is now the focus of a federal appeals court battle. The United States has already blacklisted dozens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC. In 2007, the U.S. Treasury designated the IRGCs Quds Force, its elite unit in charge of its operations abroad, for its support of terrorism, and has said it is Irans primary arm for executing its policy of supporting terrorist and insurgent groups. A designation of the entire IRGC as a terrorist group would potentially have much broader implications, including for the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and the United States and other major world powers. The nuclear deal, which has been harshly criticized by Republicans in Congress and Trump for giving Iran too much and not placing tight enough restrictions on the country, granted Iran relief from most Western sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Reuters reported last week that the IRGC designation is among the proposals being considered as part of an Iran policy review in the Trump administration. The objective would be to dissuade foreign investment in Irans economy, because of the IRGCs involvement in major sectors including transportation and oil. In many cases, that involvement is hidden behind layers of opaque ownership. The new administration regards Iran as the clearest danger to U.S. interests, and they've been looking for ways to turn up the heat," said a senior U.S. official who has been involved in what he called a broad review of Iran policy. The official said that rather than tearing up the nuclear agreement, a step he said even Israel and Saudi Arabia oppose, the White House might turn instead toward punishing Iran for its support for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and some Shiite forces in Iraq, as well as covert support for Shiites who oppose the Sunni regime in Bahrain, and cyber attacks on Saudi and other Gulf Arab targets. But sanctioning the IRGC could backfire, this official warned. It could strengthen the hardliners and undercut more moderate leaders such as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and encourage Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria to curtail any action against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and perhaps even sponsor actions against U.S.-backed or even American forces battling Islamic State in Iraq. The Revolutionary Guards answer to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose power far surpasses that of Rouhani. "The Iranians will not take any U.S. action lying down," said the official. "They may not act quickly or in the open, but there is a danger of an escalating conflict." Current U.S. sanctions include penalties for foreign companies which knowingly conducting significant transactions with the Revolutionary Guards, or other sanctioned Iranian entities. However, many companies in which the Revolutionary Guards have an interest in or own are not blacklisted, and have been able to sign foreign deals. Sanctions lawyers say the fine print of existing U.S. sanctions allows foreign companies to continue to deal with some IRGC-held firms indirectly. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball, John Walcott, Jonathan Landay and Lesley Wroughton; additional reporting by Jeff Mason and Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Michael Perry) We tend to have a mental image of retirement as relaxing. You might spend your days fishing in a quiet lake at dawn, taking a casual stroll down the boulevard or maybe traveling a bit. But avoiding everything that is too strenuous or straining could actually be bad for your mental health. Mental effort might actually help keep your brain healthier and improve your memory. But it requires some serious mental effort beyond a weekly crossword puzzle. The mental strain you exert to solve a complicated mathematical problem or learn a new language could help keep your brain sharp. Physical exertion might help too. Research from the University of British Columbia suggests that regular aerobic exercise might increase the size of the area of your brain involved in verbal memory and learning. Regular moderate exercise could increase your brain volume in as little as six months or a year. However, with both mental and physical exercise, you need to push yourself. Learning more about history from a documentary may be interesting, but it doesn't provide much of a challenge. And taking a slow walk around the block can be great for stopping to smell the roses, but it might not change your brain the way slightly more strenuous exercise could. [See: 10 Tips for Finding a Great Place to Retire.] If you're ready to stay in peak mental condition during retirement, step away from the remote and try these ideas instead: 1. Learn something brand new. Learning new things forces your brain to make new connections. You could learn something completely new, such as an instrument if you've never been musical before. Or you could translate an old skill into a new one. For instance, you could take up playing the guitar if you've played piano in the past. Trying to speak a new language is another way to challenge yourself. Learning a new skill, especially a difficult one, is a good way to keep your brain engaged and growing. 2. Play difficult games. Some "brain games" marketed to keep your brain young are challenging and interesting, but some aren't strenuous enough. If something is too easy, it's probably not growing your brain. But you can definitely find board games and online games that take real mental effort, and playing those can help keep your mind active. Story continues 3. Meet new people. Meeting new people is another way to force your brain to make new connections, both literally and figuratively. It's even better if you can form new friendships and learn new skills at the same time. You could take a class at a local college and make new friends in the process. [See: 12 Ways Retirees Spend Their Newfound Free Time.] 4. Brush up on old skills. If it has been a while since you've spoken French or done a calculus problem, take the time to brush up on those skills. Relearning these things can be almost as challenging as learning them for the first time. 5. Travel. Being somewhere new makes your brain work harder. You can't follow your old ruts and rhythms. You'll have to consult the map, and maybe even speak a different language to get your basic needs met. Even if you stay close to home, but go to a new city, navigating a new area can be a challenge. 6. Take up a new sport. Learning a new sport serves several purposes at the same time. Not only will you work up a sweat physically, but learning the rules and regulations of a new sport gives your brain work to do. And if it's a team or competitive sport, you might also meet some new people. [See: 10 Classic (and Unique) Retirement Gift Ideas.] 7. Set exercise goals. Instead of being content with a walk around the block, set some difficult exercise goals. Run a 5K or join your grandkids in an adventure trek. Meeting tough physical goals takes mental grit, and the physical exercise is great for your overall health. Don't let your retirement be boring. Doing difficult things during retirement helps your brain stay more agile, so you can better enjoy your golden years. Abby Hayes is a freelance blogger and journalist who writes for the personal finance blog, The Dough Roller, which covers topics ranging from credit scores and banking to how much money you should be saving. Abby has written on behalf of Dough Roller for Credit.com and Mint.com. She has been writing about personal finance for seven years, but also covers topics as diverse as bowling, credit union management and parenting. The former New York City police officer known in the tabloids as the Cannibal Cop has described in his new book the moment his wife discovered his dark sexual fantasies. In an exclusive excerpt from the new book, which he co-wrote, Raw Deal: The Untold Story of NYPDs Cannibal Cop, Gilberto Valle explained how he was using his wifes computer after his had broken. He says she later installed spyware onto the machine because she suspected he was having an affair. Click Here to Read an Excerpt From Raw Deal: The Untold Story of NYPDs Cannibal Cop. "This, of course, led to her finding the kind of pornography I was really looking at, and eventually all the chats that went along with the secret fantasy life I was living," he wrote. Valle, 32, had been visiting a Dark Fantasy Network (DFN), where he would share his fantasies of kidnapping and killing his wife and other women so that he could cook and eat them. He wrote: It was not that I thought anything was wrong with me; I was just aroused by certain things, just like everyone else. Just because my template was different didnt mean I thought that it was a big problem. I would never harm anyone in real life, so why did I care what turned me on? Read: In the Clutches of a Killer: How This Woman Escaped From a Serial Murderer With Her Life He even made a list of the materials hed need: A car, chloroform, rope, a gag, and a tarp or plastic bags to protect the car from blood. In an interview with Inside Edition, the former cop explained: These were things that were between me and an anonymous person that were never supposed to be out there. In the book, he described how his wife confronted him about her findings, writing: She cut me off and said, Cook women? Grill them? Thats what we are to you? Valle added: I was mortified. I just kept repeating that she knows me, and I kept apologizing." Story continues In October 2012, the father of one was arrested and accused of planning to kidnap dozens of women so that he could cook and eat them. Valle, who is now divorced, was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and found guilty by a jury in March 2013. But nearly two years later, the conviction was overturned. In his interview with Inside Edition, he said that despite those online conversations, he's not a bad guy. "It's not a crime to fantasize about people you know," he said. "It's not a crime to fantasize about committing crimes against people you know. It's action. There were no actions taken, period." Read: 'Cannibal Cop' Reveals He Still Visits Fantasy Websites: 'There's Nothing Wrong With That' Following the trial, his wife took their infant daughter and left for Nevada. In his book, he wrote that he "only had eleven months" with his infant daughter. His then-wife testified in the trial. "It bums me to this day," he said. "I never faulted her for the way she reacted." Brian Whitney, who co-authored Raw Deal, told Inside Edition: People say he should be locked up but then again, he never did anything so what are you trying to say? That people should be locked up because they have thoughts you dont agree with or thoughts that scare you? Valle admitted that on occasion he does still visit DFN websites and similar websites because theres nothing illegal, theres nothing wrong with that. What I do at home is my business. He added:" I would never do these role plays again, but that doesn't mean I can't look at porn if I want to." Valle said that he hasn't seen his daughter in five years and goes to therapy regularly. No one can just snap their fingers and it goes away. I would never hurt anyone, ever. If there is a treatment, if someone can snap a finger or say a magic word but no one can choose what they are into," he said. Click Here to Order Your Copy of 'Raw Deal: The Untold Story of NYPD's Cannibal Cop Watch: Suspected Arrested in the Rape and Murder of Queens Jogger: 'The Demon Must Get His Justice' Related Articles: Santiago (AFP) - Workers at the world's largest copper mine, BHP Billiton's Escondida in Chile, are vowing to launch a "long and hard" strike Thursday for pay increases, causing jitters on world markets. Escondida, a giant mine complex in the Atacama desert in northern Chile, produces about five percent of global copper output, some 927,000 metric tons (one million tons) a year. Its 2,500 workers began shutting down machinery Wednesday in preparation to strike, said Carlos Allendes, spokesman for the Escondida Workers' Union. "We're getting ready. The strike will start Thursday at 8:00 am (1100 GMT) no matter what," he told AFP. "This could go on for a long time. We're prepared to maintain a long and hard strike." Ninety-nine percent of workers voted Tuesday to strike, after the collapse of negotiations mediated by the country's labor directorate. BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, has rejected workers' demands for a seven percent raise and bonuses of 25 million pesos (around $39,000). It is offering bonuses of 8 million pesos, with no raise. Like other miners, the Anglo-Australian company has been forced to cut costs as copper prices have slid in recent years, from a record high of $10,190 per metric ton in February 2011 to $4,318 per ton in January 2016. The company has said it will suspend production for at least the first 15 days of the strike. The workers, who have set up a protest camp outside the mine, say they have a war chest of $390,000 to sustain the strike. The union is vowing the longest strike since 2006, when workers walked out for 25 days. The strike -- and the threat of others at several top mines where contracts expire this year -- have sent copper prices higher over fears of a shortage. Chile is the world's largest copper producer, supplying one-third of global output. Copper is used primarily in power generation and for the transmission of electricity. Yemen will reportedly no longer allow the U.S. to carry out ground antiterrorism operations in the country after a Special Forces raid last week quickly devolved into a deadly firefight, claiming the lives of an American commando and several Yemeni civilians. The New York Times reports that several unnamed military and civilian officials said Yemen will sharply curb the U.S. militarys ground reach in the country, but will not prohibit drone attacks or impact U.S. security advisers who provide intelligence to Yemeni and Emirati allies. Neither American nor Yemeni officials have publicly announced the ban, while spokespeople for the Pentagon declined to comment, according to the Times. However, if enacted, the banning of ground operations could undermine President Donald Trumps promise to be more aggressive in taking the fight to Islamic militants than his predecessor. Trumps administration has staunchly defended the Jan. 29 operation as a success, despite a rising tide of criticism as details emerge. Yemeni officials were reportedly outraged by the mission, during which a joint team of Navy SEALs and elite forces from the United Arab Emirates came under attack while attempting to raid a housing compound believed to be a major base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The ensuing firefight raged for nearly an hour and required air reinforcements to ward off attacks against the U.S.-led ground forces. One Navy commando, Chief Petty Officer William Ryan Owens of SEAL Team 6, died during the mission, and the Pentagon has acknowledged that several civilians, including children, were likely killed. An 8-year-old girl the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a 2011 U.S. airstrike was also reportedly caught in the crossfire. Read more: Donald Trump Is About to Inherit These Four Middle East Headaches Yemeni officials almost immediately reacted with outrage, the Times reports. The countrys Foreign Minister Abdul Malik Al Mekhlafi referred to the resultant deaths as extrajudicial killings on his official Twitter account, while President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi personally raised the issue with the U.S. Ambassador, according to a Yemeni diplomat interviewed by Al Jazeera. Story continues Last weeks messy operation was the first major military action authorized by Trump, a decision made just days after he took office. Critics say the call may have been made hastily. Officials had been planning the operation since last year while former President Barack Obama was still in office. In the raids immediate aftermath, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer initially portrayed it as having been already approved by Obama, though former security advisors have disputed that narrative. Regardless of when and whether the operation was vetted, Spicer defended it as a successful intelligence-gathering mission that resulted in the collection of data that could save American lives. According to the Times, however, intelligence officials say the value of those materials will take time to assess and it is too early to determine how useful the data will be. Other reports have claimed that the mission had a secret objective beyond intelligence gathering. Military and intelligence officials reportedly said the real goal of the raid was to kill or capture Qassim al-Rimi, the leader of AQAP and one of the worlds most wanted suspected terrorists. NBC News reported that al-Rimi appears to have not been affected by the operation and may have been heard taunting the American President in an audio clip released after the raid. Spicer denied on Tuesday that the raid had any objective other than retrieving intelligence. The raid that was conducted in Yemen was an intelligence-gathering raid, the Times quoted Spicer as saying. Thats what it was. It was highly successful. It achieved the purpose it was going to get, save the loss of life that we suffered and the injuries that occurred. [NYT] By Yara Bayoumy and Noah Browning WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen said on Wednesday it had not suspended counter-terrorism operations with the U.S. government, despite controversy over a U.S. commando raid on al Qaeda militants in which several civilians were also killed. The raid in al-Bayda province, approved by new U.S. President Donald Trump, resulted in a gun battle that left one Navy SEAL dead and an American aircraft a charred wreck. Local medics said several women and children were killed. Yemeni officials told Reuters that Sanaa had not withdrawn its permission for the United States to carry out special operations ground missions but had made clear their "reservations" about the last operation. A statement by the Yemeni embassy in Washington said the government "stresses that it has not suspended any programs with regards to counterterrorism operations in Yemen with the United States Government". The Yemeni government "reiterates its firm position that any counterterrorism operations carried out in Yemen should continue to be in consultation with Yemeni authorities and have precautionary measures to prevent civilian casualties." Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi has met with the U.S. ambassador to Yemen and "made clear his reservations about the problems with the last operation," a senior Yemeni official told Reuters. U.S. defense officials said they were investigating the reports of civilian casualties in the raid. U.S. Senator John McCain criticized the operation, telling NBC news on Tuesday: "When you lose a $75 million airplane and, more importantly, an American life is lost I don't believe you can call it a success." But White House spokesman Sean Spicer defended the operation on Wednesday, calling it "absolutely a success." "I think anybody who undermines the success of that raid, owes an apology and disservice to the life of Chief Owens," Spicer said, referring to the Navy SEAL who died. The Yemeni government has supported a U.S. campaign against the country's powerful al Qaeda branch for more than a decade. U.S. TO WORK WITH HADI The State Department said the United States would continue working with Hadi "and his representatives to ensure that this important partnership remains solid in order to ultimately eradicate" al Qaeda and Islamic State from Yemen. The Jan. 29 commando raid was only the second publicly acknowledged ground attack by U.S. forces in Yemen. U.S. military officials told Reuters last week that the recent operation went ahead without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations. As a result, three officials said, the attacking SEAL team found itself dropping onto a reinforced al Qaeda base defended by landmines, snipers, and a larger than expected contingent of heavily armed Islamist extremists. But the U.S. military's Central Command said last week that it only asks for operations it believes have a good chance of success based on its planning. A White House official has said the operation was thoroughly vetted by the previous administration and that the previous defense secretary had signed off on it in January. The situation in Yemen is complicated by a civil war pitting the Saudi-backed government against the Houthi movement aligned with Iran. Although the government is recognised internationally, the Houthis control many of Yemen's main population centers including the capital Sanaa. The U.S. operation may also have created a headache for the government not just by killing innocent people but also a local al Qaeda commander, Abdulraoof al-Dhahab, who was an ally of pro-government tribes fighting the Houthis.. The deaths could alienate those armed tribes fighting for the government cause and aid al Qaeda recruitment. "It was wrong to kill him and the children...he fought the Houthis and did not have any thought of launching attacks abroad. If the government allowed this to happen, it was a mistake," one tribal leader from al-Bayda said. More than a dozen al Qaeda members were also killed, the Pentagon said. (Additional reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Alistair Bell) Yemen's foreign minister said it has asked for a "reassessment" of a US raid last month that killed several women and children, but denied reports that his government has requested a suspension of American ground operations. The operation, which had been the first against suspected terrorists to be approved by President Donald Trump - was characterised as a success by the White House. However officials privately admitted that almost everything went wrong in the commando raid late last month on an al-Qaeda compound in Baida province. Navy Seal Team Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, 36, was killed and three other US troops were wounded in a fierce gunfight. The Pentagon only acknowledged several days later that several civilians, including children, had apparently been killed. The New York Times originally reported that Yemen had demanded a halt to such operations, in what would be a setback for Mr Trump, who had promised a more aggressive approach to tackling Islamist extremism in the region. But foreign minister Abdul-Malik al-Mekhlafi said Wednesday that "Yemen continues to cooperate with the United States and continues to abide by all the agreements." He added that the government "is involved in talks with the US administration on the latest raid." He said reports that Yemen has demanded a halt to US special operations are "not true." The extremists' base had been identified as a target before the Obama administration left office on January 20, but then-President Barack Obama held off approving a raid, in part because officials said they were not certain the available intelligence was sufficiently reliable. Also, on-the-ground surveillance of the compound was "minimal, at best," one of the officials said. Mr Trump approved the raid after a discussion with his top national security advisers over dinner, rather than in the Situation Room as is customary. Story continues US military officials told news agency Reuters that Mr Trump approved the operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support, or adequate backup preparations. As a result, three officials said, the attacking Seal team found itself dropping onto a reinforced al-Qaeda compound defended by landmines, snipers, and a larger than expected contingent of heavily armed Islamist extremists. What followed was "a brutal firefight" took the lives of Owens and at least 15 Yemeni women and children. One of the dead was the eight-year-old daughter of the late militant Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a 2011 US drone strike. Some of the women were firing at the US force, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. The International Crisis Group think-tank has warned that operations like the Baida raid risked fanning hostility towards the US among civilians, providing fertile ground for recruitment by al-Qaeda. The use of US soldiers, high civilian casualties and disregard for local tribal and political dynamics, the Brussels-based group said in a report released last Thursday, plays into AQAPs narrative of defending Muslims against the West and could increase anti-US sentiment and with it AQAPs pool of recruits. Yemen has also protested against Mr Trumps executive order banning its citizens of the war-torn country from travelling to the US. LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia recorded $3.4 billion in investment pledges in different sectors of the economy in 2016, representing a 0.7 percent increase from the previous year, the investment promotion agency said on Wednesday. The energy sector registered the highest amount of pledged investment, followed by manufacturing and agriculture, the Zambia Development Agency said in a statement. It said investment rose despite a general election last year, showing confidence in Zambia was not eroded, and forecast a further rise this year, especially in the energy sector. Zambia's electoral commission suspended campaigning in some areas, including the capital Lusaka, due to sporadic violence. The southern African nation is struggling to maintain power supplies as a severe drought has caused levels to drop in the Kariba Dam which generates much of the nation's electricity. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by James Macharia) Harare (AFP) - A court in Zimbabwe on Wednesday released on bail the pastor who last year led a surge of protests against President Robert Mugabe and is now facing subversion charges. Evan Mawarire, an evangelical pastor, started the popular "This Flag" protest movement after posting a Facebook video last April, in which he wore Zimbabwe's flag on his shoulders as he condemned the country's worsening economic crisis. Judge Clement Phiri ordered Mawarire to surrender his passport and report twice a week to the police as well as paying a $300 (280 euro) bond. He will next appear in court on February 17. "It is ordered that (Evan Mawarire) be admitted to bail," said Phiri. Mawarire was arrested on Wednesday February 1 at Harare airport as he returned to the country after fleeing in July in fear for his life when Mugabe publicly criticised him. Following Mugabe's intervention, security forces violently crushed the protest movement that had led to a series of anti-government protests and work strikes. Phiri described the prosecution's case as "weak" while prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba insisted that Mawarire was "a celebrated terrorist" who would abscond if bailed. After leaving Zimbabwe, the pastor first travelled to South Africa and then to the United States, raising awareness of his movement. "The president of Zimbabwe made comments to the effect that I was not welcome in Zimbabwe, but he doesn't get to make that decision for me," Mawarire said in an interview with South African website Daily Maverick shortly before he flew to Harare. He added that he was considering running for public office in Zimbabwe, where Mugabe has dominated politics since national independence in 1980 through election rigging and violence. - 'Respect citizens' rights' - The pastor's sister Teldah Mawarire welcomed Evan's release. "We are happy that the wheels of justice are turning, however it is still our concern that Zimbabweans who speak out should not be persecuted," she told AFP. Story continues "Freedom of speech, the freedom to organise, the freedom to assemble are basic human rights and we call on the state to respect the rights of citizens." Zimbabwe's cash-strapped government has struggled to pay civil servants and the military on time as the economy has suffered a severe meltdown with more than 90 percent unemployment. Mawarire, 39, was also detained in Zimbabwe last year for allegedly trying to overthrow the state, but a court dropped the charges against him -- a surprise move that triggered rare celebrations on the streets of Harare. Zimbabwe's 92-year-old president, who is increasingly frail, has vowed to stand for re-election in 2018, though leading figures in Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party have long been jockeying to step into the role when he dies. In a vote widely seen as not credible, Mugabe easily defeated the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party in the last election in 2013. ROWLEYS NEXT STOP: CHINA: Cynthia Rowley is heading to China to show her fall collection. She will showcase her line on the runway at Shenzhen Fashion Week on March 19. Shenzhen Fashion Week is produced by the Shenzhen Garment Industry Association, with IMG serving as a strategic partner. Rowleys decision to show in China reflects the growing importance of the region as a key market for international brand recognition and to conduct more retail business there, including e-commerce. Rowley showed her resort 2017 collection in collaboration with IMG at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia that took place in Sydney in May. The brand will be making a series of strategic investments in the Asia-Pacific region in order to tap into the momentum. Im so excited to travel to China to show the fall collection, said Rowley. Were planning to expand our global digital media presence significantly this year. This is an amazing opportunity for us to kick-start that, and build a meaningful connection with our existing audience in China. The company launched furniture and a home collection throughout China and Asia last year. The proven consumer interest led to their decision to expand into apparel there. Currently, Rowley wholesales mostly furniture, home and accessories in key cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. It also sells in Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and India. Rowley isnt doing a presentation in New York this season. Instead, she has collaborated with artist Lucien Smith on a short film project featuring Lili Sumner. It will be released later this week to coincide with the companys fall collection images. The film will screen at a party the brand is throwing Sunday night at Pauls Casablanca in Manhattans SoHo. Further, Rowley plans to visit Melbourne, Australia, in March to speak at the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival and open a Cynthia Rowley shop-in-shop at Harrolds, a luxury multibrand retailer. Story continues Rowleys brand currently encompasses ready-to-wear, surf and swim, fitness apparel and accessories, beauty, jewelry, fragrances, bags, tech accessories, eyewear, as well as office supplies and home furnishings. Related stories COS Taps Six Furniture Designers to Play Musical Chairs for Holiday Film by Lernert & Sander Diplomacy a la Mode: Will Designers Dress Melania Trump? Bella Hadid Stars in Campaign for Her Favorite Childhood Luxury Brand Photo credit: Four Seasons/Getty From Town & Country People wait years for the chance to dine at Noma, Rene Redzepi's restaurant in Copenhagen. But now a new opportunity is offering travelers the chance to eat not only there, but also at Redzepi's favorite restaurants around the world. Starting in May, the trip that Redzepi organized in conjunction with the Four Seasons (it requires use of their private jet, above) will kick off in Seoul, Korea. Photo credit: Getty "Traveling, and really traveling with the people that are close to you like I did with my pop-ups in Australia and Japan, has become my biggest inspiration," Redzepi told T&C from Denmark. "Typically in our trade you just work all the time, you never really tap out to explore. It's really proven to be something out of the ordinary for me to take these journeys, and I feel so fueled. Traveling has really built up the energy and spirit among my team and in myself as well." At this moment in the interview, a cook interrupted our call with Redzepi for the following exchange: [And tomatoes? Oh my god, it's perfect fit, huh? Do you think we should try to add some give it some salt and give it one or two day ferment? Just to see what happens? A lactic ferment? "Sorry," Redzepi said. "We're just testing some wild roses with some first season tomatoes here, and they really fit each other very well." Back to the business of discussing this epic trip he's put together, and specifically how he selected the destinations. "We basically started to talk to our colleagues and friends within the chef community and I tapped into my own travel experience and also the travels of the very diverse and multicultural staff at Noma," he said. "It ended up being a good mix of things you want to explore, places that you've always dreamt of going, and places that I feel we know very well. We'll be going to places that are really well-known for food." Photo credit: Four Seasons Tokyo, for example, is an early stop on the trip and a place Redzepi has visited in the past. It's a city to which he says he "could go every month and even though I've been many times, I still feel like a total novice going back." Story continues Here are the stops on the Culinary Discoveries journey, which runs from May 27 to June 14, 2017, and some highlights: Seoul, Korea (dinner at Chef Jong Kuk Lee's home and a visit to the Jin-Kwan temple) Tokyo, Japan (foraging with Chef Namae Shinobu and a private dinner at his Michelin-starred restaurant, L'Effervescence) Hong Kong (street food, tours of local markets, and cooking classes with Michelin-starred chefs) Chiang Mai, Thailand (exploring traditional Thai markets, an elephant trek through the verdant jungle, and a private dinner with Garima Arora, a native of India and former Noma chef now based in Thailand) Mumbai, India (dinner at Gaggan with a former Noma chef) Florence, Italy (wine tasting at medieval estates and exploring the Chianti countryside, a private viewing of Michaelangelo's David, and dinner with Chef Fulvio Pierangelini, who will return from retirement for a single night to cook alongside his son, Fulvietto Pierangelini) Lisbon, Portugal (gala dinners, Michelin star dining, and a tour of the historic Mercado da Ribeira) Copenhagen, Denmark (foraging for local ingredients with the Noma team for a private dinner at Noma that evening) Paris, France (a farewell dinner at the Michelin-starred Le Cinq at Four Seasons Hotel George V) The guests, each of whom will have spent $135,000 for this experience (there's a $12,000 supplement for single travelers), will stay at Four Seasons properties and visit Redzepi's choices for the best restaurants in each city. Business class airfare from each guest's home city to the trip's first stop in in Seoul and home from the journey's final stop in Paris is included. Redzepi is especially excited about Chiang Mai and Mumbai, two places he's never been, and in Mumbai the group will visit Gaggan, a restaurant that was recently ranked the best restaurant in Asia and where one of his former staffers works as sous-chef. Redzepi doesn't yet know how much of the trip he will take part in; he has three children at home and is in the middle of building a new Noma whose location in a national landmark area is delaying the project slightly ("That's the price, I guess, for really wanting to be in a very unique location," he says). The original Noma will close February 25, and the new restaurant is scheduled to open later this year. You Might Also Like Stores carrying Ivanka Trumps clothing and jewelry lines are dropping like flies. (Photo: Getty Images) Backlash has boomed in the two weeks since President Trump took office, but his entrepreneur daughter is also feeling the burn, with numerous companies dropping or facing pressure to pull Ivanka Trump products. The latest: TJ Maxx and Marshalls, along with the Home Shopping Network (HSN) and the search engine ShopStyle. The parent company of TJ Maxx and Marshalls, TJX Companies, issued an internal memo to employees on Wednesday, telling them to toss Ivanka Trump display signs in the trash and mix her remaining merchandise in with other brands, rather than displaying her products on separate racks, according to The New York Times, who received a copy of the memo. Effective immediately, please remove all Ivanka Trump merchandise from features and mix into the runs [regular racks where most clothes are placed], stated the note, which was confirmed by Doreen Thompson, a spokeswoman for the TJX Companies, according to The New York Times. All Ivanka Trump signs should be discarded. In addition, #GrabYourWallet founder Sharon Coulter confirmed on Tuesday that Ivanka- and Donald-branded products were completely pulled from HSN and that ShopStyle was in the process of following suit, according to Mic. Both HSN and ShopStyle had been previously placed on the infamous #GrabYourWallet boycott list an anti-Trump movement that launched in October after the presidents 2005 Grab her by the p**** comments were publicized. The movement keeps tabs on companies that sell Trump-branded products and encourages people to boycott them, hitting their bottom lines as a political statement. Coulter predicted that by Tuesday, ShopStyle would be removed from the boycott list. Although several stores have been under pressure to drop Ivanka Trumps brand, most cited poor sales as the reason. (Photo: Getty Images) TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HSN, and ShopStyle are the latest on the hot list to separate from the Ivanka Trump dynasty. Here are more and counting: Nordstrom Citing poor sales, Nordstrom announced it would stop selling Ivanka Trump products on Feb. 3. While the decision came on the heels of the presidents executive order to ban immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries, the company insisted that it had made a business decision. Yet behind the scenes, a company memo expressed support for immigrants and highlighted its diverse employee pool. A source close to Ivanka told Refinery29 of the decision, They couldnt handle the political pressure, someone new came in, and there was a change in the attitude toward the brand. Story continues Neiman Marcus According to fashion site Racked, the department store Neiman Marcus dropped Ivanka Trumps jewelry line from its website, including baubles from its New Jersey store. The 21 items on sale vanished, along with any mention of Ivanka on Neiman Marcuss list of designers. On Feb. 3, the store sent the following statement to Racked: Based on productivity we continuously assess whether our brands are carried in stores, on our website, or both. Belk During the first weekend in February, the nationwide department store scrubbed Ivankas name from its search engine. One exception: Ivankas dresses and coats are still available in one Charlotte, N.C., store, according to Racked. On Monday, Belk emailed the following statement to Racked: We continually review our assortment and the performance of the brands we carry. And we make adjustments as part of our normal course of business operations. Shoes.com The Canadian shoe retailer tweeted its decision to abandon Ivanka Trump back in November as a result of the #GrabYourWallet boycott: We understand and your voices have been heard. We have removed the products from our website. A spokesperson for Ivanka defended the company in a statement to Footwear News: While Shoes.com was an inconsequential part of our business, they were not fulfilling their end of the contract and parting was inevitable. Jet.com The discount shopping website is in the process of pulling Ivankas clothing and fragrance, according to Mic. Yet, theres no shortage of MAGA hats and F*** Trump shirts available for purchase. Frasca Jewelers The owner of a jewelry store in Palm Desert, Calif., told the Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday that shes decided to drop Ivanka Trumps line, even asking that the Ivanka Trump brand remove her store from its website. The line hadnt sold for a long time, she said. It had been limping along, and then there was a little attention after the election. But I dont brand it anymore. If someone asks to see Ivanka Trump pieces I show them, but otherwise theyre just among other pieces in our cases. Macys While the 158-year-old brand dropped Donald Trumps menswear line during the summer of 2015 after the now-president called Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers, its only now facing pressure to follow suit with Ivankas brand. Macys Facebook page has been flooded with demands to stop selling her line. Nordstrom dumped Trump, please follow suit. I would never put plastic Ivanka Trump boots on my little daughter, wrote one follower. Another: Drop Trump from your product line! Stay tuned for a company response. Read More: Tiffany Trump Wore the Shoe Brand Thats Suing the Ivanka Trump Label Ivanka Trumps Kids Cause Prince George Effect With Custom Clothes Melania Trump Shows Off Her Diamond Diet on Vanity Fair Mexico Follow Yahoo Style on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Jasmine Smith-Leach cuddles her crochet octopus. The toy helps provide comfort to preemies. (Photo: Poole Hospital) Kat Smith, a 41-year-old mother from Dorset, England, gave birth prematurely to beautiful twin girls in early November 2016 approximately three months before they were due. Jasmine and Amber Smith-Leach were born at low birth rates, 2 lbs. 2 oz. and 2 lbs. 12 oz., respectively, and were fighting for their lives at Poole Hospital. Miraculously, a crochet octopus toy helped provide comfort to the twins. When the girls were asleep, they held onto the tentacles tightly. By two weeks old, mom said that although the twins had a few conditions associated with premature birth, they were doing really well. Kat holding Jasmine and Amber (Photo: Poole Hospital) Normally they would be in the womb and would play with the umbilical cord so the octopuses make them feel grounded and safe, Smith said in an interview with the Bournemouth Daily Echo. Administrators at Poole Hospital say the crochet octopi are linked to better health and wellbeing for preemies. The idea stems from Denmark, where specialists discovered that crochet octopi can help comfort and calm babies. Cuddling the tentacles specifically produces higher levels of oxygen in the blood, promotes regular heartbeats and better breathing in preemies. Babies are also less likely to pull out their tubes. When we heard about the difference a cuddly octopus can make to our tiny babies we were impressed, explained Daniel Lockyer, a neonatal services matron at Poole hospital. Poole hospital created tentacles for tinies, where they asked volunteers to help make the crochet octopi. They received such an overwhelming response from the community that they are no longer looking for donations. (Photo: Getty) In November 2016, Poole administrators created a program called tentacles for tinies, where they asked volunteers to help make the crochet octopi enough so each baby in the neonatal intensive care unit could have to cuddle and take home with once better. The octopi are crocheted in various colours and sizes and offered to parents in gift packs. The hospital received such an overwhelming response from the community more than 200 crochet octopi were delivered that they no longer need donations for the remainder of the year. Theyre hopeful that the toys will help comfort many more premature babies back to health, as they did for Jasmine and Amber. Story continues Its incredible that something so simple can comfort a baby and help them feel better, Lockyer said. Let us know what you think by tweeting @YahooStyleCA! LONDON - The price of bitcoin fell from one-month highs on Wednesday after sources at bitcoin exchanges in China said the People's Bank of China had summoned some smaller exchanges to a closed-door meeting. The central bank announced last month it was investigating trading at some of the biggest Chinese players to fend off market risks. Market participants worry Beijing will seek to clamp down on domestic bitcoin trading as it seeks to stem a flow of capital out of the country that has put pressure on the yuan. A Bloomberg report on Wednesday's meeting coincided with an early 4 percent fall in the global price of bitcoin before it recovered in morning trade in Europe. (Reporting by Patrick Graham in London, and John Ruwitch and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; editing by John Stonestreet) By Joseph Menn and Jack Stubbs SAN FRANCISCO/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian cyber-security experts have scaled back cooperation with Western contacts after one of their number was arrested in Moscow on treason charges, making it harder to fight global online crime, U.S. law-enforcement and industry sources say. Despite acrimonious relations between Russia and the United States in recent years, experts on cyber security in both countries say their law enforcement agencies and private firms had been working together more closely behind the scenes to fight financial fraud and other crimes committed online. But at least some of that cooperation appears to have come to a sudden halt since Ruslan Stoyanov, head of the computer incidents investigation team at Russian cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab, was arrested in December on suspicion of treason. Two officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) were also arrested, identified by a Western security source as Sergei Mikhailov and Dmitry Dokuchayev, both from the FSB's Information Security Center. Five experts at U.S. or other Western cyber firms all told Reuters their communication with contacts in Russia had been scaled back since the arrests, either because the Russians had stopped replying or because the Westerners had decided it was better not to contact them for now. "Everybody has clammed up," said John Bambenek, a manager of threat research at Fidelis Cybersecurity. The arrests send a message that "even an informal information-sharing relationship with trusted Russian intelligence and law enforcement officers might be considered treason, said Vitali Kremez, director of research at American security firm Flashpoint. While no charges have been officially announced, the three arrests came after U.S. intelligence agencies publicly accused Russia of interfering in the U.S. presidential election through computer hacking, an allegation Moscow denies. Ivan Pavlov, an attorney representing one of the suspects, although he did not identify which, said the charges were for treason, related to allegations the men had provided information to U.S. spy services. Some American cyber-security experts now think the arrests could be a rebuke to the United States or warning to Russians not to aid U.S. investigations into the election or other major controversies. This sends a shiver down everybodys spine, said a senior U.S. law enforcement official. We were getting some headway over there with arrests last year of suspects accused of using sophisticated software programs to steal from bank accounts in multiple countries, the official said. DO THE RIGHT THING The official said Kaspersky, which sells cyber security software and advice, was one of the Russian firms seen in the West as "trying to do the right thing" in cooperating with Western law enforcement agencies to help fight cyber crime. Russia's FSB did not respond to Reuters requests for comment, and no official bodies in Russia have commented about the case. A Kremlin spokesman said only that President Vladimir Putin was aware of media reports about the arrests but the Kremlin could not confirm anything about them. Stoyanov could not be reached for comment. Reuters was unable to find a lawyer representing him or get in touch with his family. Kaspersky said the charges against Stoyanov related to a period before he joined the company and that it was not aware of all of his prior activities. The computer incidents investigation team, headed by Mr. Stoyanov, hasnt had any U.S. projects, as the unit primarily investigates cyber attacks on Russian companies, the company told Reuters by email. Stoyanov's team provides "technical assistance" to foreign law enforcement agencies, it said, but it was "not aware of any activities where Mr Stoyanov would have shared information with any organization that wasnt specifically tied to an active cyber-criminal investigation." Russia's Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source last week as saying a fourth person had been arrested and up to eight people could be implicated in the case. Reuters was not able to confirm this report. CROSSING BORDERS Cyber crime ignores borders by its nature, and fighting it requires an unusually high level of cooperation between the companies under attack, the private security firms they hire for protection and investigations, and the law enforcement agencies in multiple countries that try to track hackers down. Some of the best firms that sell cyber security services to private clients also perform work as government contractors and employ law enforcement veterans for their expertise. Since Russia is one of the major sources of cyber attacks, firms particularly prize communication with Russian contacts. In the past, communication with Russian sources has depended on what people with such contacts describe as an understanding that authorities on both sides would not interfere as long as experts steered clear of classified information. The senior U.S. official and the five experts from the private sector all said that the arrest of Stoyanov had thrown that basic assumption into doubt. One of the private sector experts, who has extensive Moscow dealings, said his Russian contacts had stopped talking to him about anything related to the Stoyanov case. Another said a friend at a security firm in Russia was no longer talking to him about cyber crime at all, because "he has real reasons to be worried". He did not give further details. Three other Western private sector experts said they had stopped or curtailed contacts with Russian sources from their own side, on the understanding that the Russians would no longer welcome it. POINTING OUT BOUNDARIES Stoyanov worked for the cyber crime unit at Russia's Interior Ministry from 2001-2006 before leaving law enforcement for the private sector, first for a large Internet service provider and then for Indrik, a small Russian internet security firm. He joined Kaspersky when it bought Indrik in 2012. Before and after he left the Russian Interior Ministry, he had an unusually high profile abroad, attending conferences in the United States and Germany and making contact with Western government officials and people in private industry, according to people who knew him and saw him at international events. While working for Indrik, before it was bought by Kaspersky, Stoyanov shared information about Russian criminal hacking gangs with American companies, including at least three firms that had contracts to provide services to U.S. spy agencies, people who had worked for each of those three companies said. The sources identified one of those companies as Internet infrastructure and security company Verisign. Verisign said in an email to Reuters that its research products do not include "any information that would be classified as state secrets". Several sources recalled that Stoyanov was careful to make sure any collaboration covered only crime-fighting and did not veer towards the taboo subjects of state-supported hacking. When we were learning how to work in Russia, he was pointing out to us what the boundaries of danger would be, said a Western researcher who collaborated informally with Stoyanov for years before Stoyanov joined Kaspersky. He was always super-clear, whenever it came to anything dealing with the states interests, dont even drift that way, said the researcher. (Additional reporting by Svetlana Reiter in MOSCOW and Mark Hosenball in WASHINGTON; Editing by Christian Lowe and Peter Graff) (Reuters) - Facebook Inc is doubling its bereavement leave for employees and also introducing paid family sick time, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said in an internet post. "Facebook employees will have up to 20 days paid leave to grieve an immediate family member, up to 10 days to grieve an extended family member," Sandberg said in a Facebook post. Previously, the company's employees had 10 days paid leave for immediate family and five for extended family. Facebook also announced paid family sick time three days to take care of a family member with a short-term illness, like a child with the flu. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr) Samsung's upcoming virtual personal assistant Bixby could come with a feature that will work around the world--and make the Google Pixel's assistant nervous. Credit: PHConcepts/Steel Drake Credit: PHConcepts/Steel Drake Samsung is planning to support up to eight different languages when Bixby launches with the Galaxy S8 later this year, according to a report from ETNews and earlier discovered by Samsung-tracking site Sammobile. According to the report, Bixby will come with support for English, Korean, and Chinese, among other languages. If Bixby supports eight languages, it would put the virtual personal assistant far ahead of Google's alternative, Google Assistant. Google's option only supports a handful of languages, including English and German. However, Bixby will trail Apple's Siri, which comes with support for more than 20 languages. MORE: Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumors: What Features to Expect Bixby is the result from last year's Samsung acquisition of Viv Labs, a company that was founded by the folks behind Siri. Viv was working on an advanced artificial intelligence service that has become the backbone for Bixby. According to several reports, Bixby will debut with the Galaxy S8. The feature could be activated by a physical button that would sit on the side of the device. Once you press the button, Bixby will turn on and give you the ability to issue vocal commands, search the Web, create to-do lists, and more. Speculation abounds over when the Galaxy S8 and thus, Bixby, will be unveiled. Samsung has already said it won't showcase its new device at Mobile World Congress later this month, leaving many to believe that the handset will be presented at a press event in March or April. Either way, Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S8 in April. When it hits store shelves, expect to find a curved screen up to 6.2 inches in size, a new design, and a home button baked into the screen. The Galaxy S8 will also be the first smartphone to run Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 processor. Story continues See also : The Best Tech Deals Right Now By Saad Sayeed KARACHI (Reuters) - For years, violence kept most of Pakistan's aspiring young musicians from following their dreams, whether the threat of Taliban militant attacks or gang wars in the crowded southern port city of Karachi. Now, as law enforcement crackdowns slowly improve the security situation across the nation, some musicians are getting help from two-year old Pakistani start-up Patari, a music streaming and production company. Both the startup and the musicians' efforts are helping to carve out a new creative space for young people in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where those below 30 make up 60 percent of a population of almost 200 million. Karachi rap ensemble Lyari Underground was once afraid of putting its music on Facebook, deterred by episodes of bloody gang war in the precinct of the same name that many Pakistanis consider the most dangerous in their largest city. But the same violence has inspired many of the group's songs, taking cues from the music of U.S. rapper Tupac Shakur, said its founder, who uses the name AnXiously. "In a ghetto, rap exists naturally," he added. "If there is no rap, then it is not a ghetto. Rap is a product of this reality and these surroundings." Band members said when they first heard the music of Tupac, although half a world away, it reminded them of their own experiences living with violence and poverty. Lyari remains one of Karachi's poorest areas and financial limitations often force its young people to forego creative pursuits. FROM STREAMING TO PRODUCING Launched in February 2015, Patari now boasts a library of 40,000 Pakistani songs and podcasts, and subscribers exceed half a million, said Chief Executive Khalid Bajwa. Nearly 30 million of Pakistan's people use the internet, mainly on mobile telephones, says digital rights organization Bytes for All. Bajwa declined to discuss revenue, apart from saying the company was "self-sustaining", mostly by producing events for established firms such as drinks company Pepsi, consumer goods giant Unilever and Pakistani clothing brand Khaadi. The company's latest initiative, Tabeer, or 'Dream Come True', pairs established artists with unknown musicians to produce six songs and music videos, completed on a budget of $15,000, and features on its app. Patari exploited the fact that Pakistan's tiny pop music scene comprised a couple of "corporate branded shows" featuring the same artists every year, but excluded amateur musicians. "We saw an inefficiency in the market, where you have all this talent, all this interest, but there is nothing bridging the two," said Chief Operating Officer Ahmer Naqvi. The first two videos, featuring Abid Brohi, a rapper from remote Sibbi in southwestern Balochistan province, and 13-year-old tea vendor Jahangir Saleem, have drawn more than a million views, matching Coke Studio, Pakistan's premier music programme. Another video features Nazar Gill, from the capital, Islamabad, who was one of the cleaning staff at an apartment building where Naqvi once lived. One day, Gill knocked on Naqvi's door and asked to sing a song he had written. "I sang my song for him and he liked it," recalled Gill, a member of the country's tiny Christian minority that prides itself on its musical tradition. "He said, 'Nazar, I will not let your voice go to waste.'" OUT OF THE TALIBAN'S SHADOW Tabeer's sole female artist, Malala Gul, grew to love music as a child, by listening to an aunt who sang songs in the Pashto language spoken across Pakistan's northwest. Times were tough when she began singing five years ago, in a city roiled by Taliban-led violence. "Conditions in Peshawar were very bad, but thank God the situation is much better now," she said. Gul stressed the importance of music, rebuffing those who call it unIslamic. "This is a big world, and some people will say one thing, others will say another, but anyone who understands and values music will go very far." (Reporting by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Intel Corp chose the White House Oval Office as its backdrop to announce a $7 billion investment in a previously shelved Arizona factory, which it said would create 3,000 jobs when it is up and running. Intel Chief Executive Officer Brian Krzanich told reporters about the investment while standing behind President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters Krzanich called him a few weeks ago to say he wanted to meet to make a big announcement. Krzanich said he made the announcement at the White House as a sign of support for the "tax and regulatory policies that we see the administration pushing forward." Trump, a Republican who took office on Jan. 20, promised during his campaign to push companies to keep or create jobs in the United States rather than sending them abroad. Intel was one of more than 100 companies that joined together to file a legal brief opposing Trump's temporary travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority nations. The issue did not come up during the Oval Office meeting, said Reed Cordish, a White House official in charge of technology initiatives. The company said in a statement that the plant would be completed in three or four years. The chip factory was started in 2011 as a $5 billion project that was targeted to open in late 2013. Intel shelved its plans in 2014 when smartphones and tablets cut into demand for chips for personal computers. Krzanich said in an email to Intel employees that was posted on the company's website that the factory would build chips for data centers and smart devices. Intel announced less than a year ago that it would cut up to 12,000 jobs globally, or 11 percent of its workforce, as it refocused its business towards microchips that power data centers and Internet connected devices and away from the declining personal computer industry it helped found. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by David Alexander Editing by Frances Kerry, Toni Reinhold) (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp has thought up another way to attract potential customers to its cloud computing service: deterrent against patent trolls. Companies new to the cloud are vulnerable to non-practicing entities, which do not make any products themselves but use their arsenal of broad technology patents to sue other firms in order to extract royalties or a cash settlement. The new offering could appeal to companies new to the cloud arena, needing a service such as Microsoft's Azure to store their data or host their mobile app. It was not clear that it alone would be enough to draw customers away from the market leader, Amazon.com Inc's Amazon Web Services. Under a plan unveiled on Wednesday, Microsoft said customers of its cloud service could rely on any of 10,000 Microsoft patents free of charge to deter legal threats against them. The Redmond, Washington-based company also said it would extend its existing promise to defend any customers sued over Azure to include the freely available or 'open source' technology incorporated into its cloud service. The protection is designed to appeal to an automaker, for instance, which may have car-related patents but has no such cover for its mobile apps and other cloud-based products, making it a target. "They haven't had years to build up that patent portfolio," said Julia White, Microsoft corporate vice president, in an interview. "Cloud innovation is far too important to be stifled by lawsuits." (Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco; Editing by Bill Rigby) A tablet computer displays air traffic data during ATD-1 flight simulations. (NASA Photo / David C. Bowman) Landing planes at busy airports can be a challenging work of aerial ballet, and this week, NASA is testing a computerized choreographer to handle the job in the skies over Washington state. The tests, supervised by NASAs Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, are part of a series of flights known as Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration, or ATD-1. Three research airplanes have been outfitted with NASA-developed software that keeps track of the speed and position of the airplanes as they approach an airport. The flight deck interval management software automatically calculates how fast the planes should be traveling to maintain the proper spacing between them, and displays that information on a tablet in the planes cockpits. The software can predict the moment when an airplane touches down within a few seconds. That information should help pilots and ground controllers plot the planes routes more easily and efficiently. The payoff comes in the form of fuel savings, noise and pollution reduction and fewer flight delays. NASAs Langley Research Center in Virginia and Ames Research Center in California played key roles in developing the software, but the Pacific Northwest provides more open space for trying out the system under real-world conditions. A Honeywell Dassault Falcon business jet is taking on the role of prima ballerina for this weeks tests. It broadcasts speed and position data to a Honeywell Boeing 757 based out of Seattles Boeing Field, and to a United Airlines Boeing 737 based out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. During each test flight, the three jets conduct the aviation equivalent of a pas de trois with Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Wash., serving as the primary stage. Its a very simple follow the leader operation that is easy to execute by the flight crew, Sheri Brown, ATD-1 project manager at Langley Research Center, said in NASAs preview of the tests. Story continues Performances are taking place all this week, but NASA says the initial ATD-1 flights were already very successful. Heres a Twitter recap of todays test: Things have improved a little since this pic yesterday. Neither rain nor snow, etc. can stop @NASAAero ATD-1 flight test in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/fUgnOF6WrS NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 We are using 2 @Honeywell_Aero and 1 @united planes to test airborne traffic management aircraft spacing technology in Washington state. pic.twitter.com/vSoHZedmql NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 This @NASAAero flight test works on a "follow the leader" arrival principle. Here's the leader a @Honeywell_Aero Falcon biz jet. pic.twitter.com/we4eXDFwwW NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 Reporting from onboard the Honeywell Boeing 757 aircraft before takeoff for today's tests of interval mngmnt software. pic.twitter.com/6yLyb6DvL9 NASA Aeronautics (@NASAAero) February 7, 2017 About to take off inside a Honeywell 757. Filming for NASA's ATD-1 testing around Seattle with team lead Boeing and team member United. pic.twitter.com/YEbC8K01oz NASA X (@NASAXrocks) February 7, 2017 Beautiful takeoff from Boeing field. NASA's ATD-1 testing underway. pic.twitter.com/9KXDXXpxiE NASA X (@NASAXrocks) February 7, 2017 This is @Honeywell_Aero cockpit en route to Moses Lake testing site not much to see above clouds. pic.twitter.com/L235OvTa0j NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 The aircraft spacing computer tool is displayed on an electronic flight bag tablet in cockpit. More here: https://t.co/PPvmcm3UNC pic.twitter.com/nIMiuIU9GY NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 Displays on board show technology at work planes follow each other using computer precise spacing guidance. 757 is shown in black. pic.twitter.com/lIMlonSsAj NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 And we do a go around over Moses Lake lining up for another test scenario. It's a beautiful day to fly and test! pic.twitter.com/qlJuBU4Mzy NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 Flight tests also require test engineers, directors from us, @BoeingAirplanes and @Honeywell_Aero. Cool engineering set up! pic.twitter.com/SXVBNx8Fzl NASA_Langley (@NASA_Langley) February 7, 2017 Brian Baxley from NASA Langley Research Center at 10000 feet speaking about the benefits of ATD-1 for the general public. pic.twitter.com/nDWRRJEJlE NASA X (@NASAXrocks) February 7, 2017 The 757 performed beautifully today. ATD-1 testing was very successful. Looking forward to tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/OJ85D8FTyQ NASA X (@NASAXrocks) February 8, 2017 Stay tuned for more about ATD-1 as the test flights continue. And stay tuned for the sequel as well: NASA researchers already have started putting ATD-2 through its paces in a 360-degree airport simulator at Ames Research Center. For more about the ATD-1 flights, check out the report on Boeing Fields Centerline blog and NASAs media advisory. More from GeekWire: Wednesday, February 8, 2017 By Kari Hong at Boston College School of Law: I have personally litigated just under 100 actions in the Ninth Circuit, clerked for the current Chief Judge, and founded a clinic in which I have continuing representation at the Court. I listened to the arguments in Washington v. Trump, found them riveting and wanted to share some observations. Judge Kozinski quipped that, in a federal appeal, it is not the best case that wins but the second-worst one. That insight came to life during arguments regarding the limits of each side's arguments. As a preliminary matter, it was astonishing and impressive to listen to two attorneys and three judges be as prepared and articulate as they were with under 96 hours of preparation. Kudos to all involved. However, I was most interested in the questions Judge Clifton asked as he seemed to zero in on each side's weaknesses. For the Government, it is hanging its hat on the notion that 212(f)---the clause that authorizes the president to suspend entry of "any aliens or of any class of aliens" when he determines that their entry would be "detrimental to the interests of the United States." The clause permits the president to act by proclamation, to suspend entry for any time period he alone deems necessary, and to impose any other restrictions that are appropriate. The plain language certainly supports the Executive Order. The judges, however, twice asked the Government if a president would be authorize to expressly bar all Muslims into the United States without any review by the courts. At first the government attorney said yes, and then backtracked. This question, I think, is the key weakness in the government's case. As a gut matter, it seems that however broad this language appears, common sense suggests there must be some limit. The federal government needs to figure out what that would be if it wishes to succeed. At a minimum, common sense suggests that the Constitution would be able to limit 212(f). But, I suspect that there might be more in the INA that would do so as well. The INA is known for confusing, contradictory clauses. Just as the zipper clause was not as broad as the language suggests, I suspect that the States would strengthen its argument if it too can figure out if the INA itself serves any limit to a hypothetical ban as a statutory ground. I have to think that the limitation of the presidential's power to simply "entry" rather than the legal term admission or presence might be an example of a means to curtail this order to reach those with LPR status, work visas, student visas, and those who have petitioning relatives or employers. I suspect there might be more such arguments out there. For the States, they seemed to advocate their strongest argument to be this action is based on impermissible animus. As a statutory matter, Judge Clifton then asked isn't discrimination---arguably defined benignly as preferences---of one nationality over another central to US immigration policy? Although he did not mention all instances, I agree with Judge Clifton that this is very much true. From the Cold War, asylum law absolutely favored granting status to famous defectors---think Mikhail Baryshnikov and Nadia Comaneci--as proof of the West's superiority. Immigration and asylum law reflected this preference, providing asylum to nationals of the Eastern Block and Cuban based on much lower thresholds for eligibility than other nationals needed to show. Judge Clifton asked if any case cabined the presidential power, and none was cited. However, we do have one example where the courts did not permit the president to make asylum harder for people of certain nationalities. The American Baptist Church v. Thornburgh settlement involved allegations that the Reagan administration was intentionally interfering with the claims of asylum seekers from Guatemala and El Salvador to further his own administration's preference for certain Central American governments over others. (And there, the asylum seekers were detained, pressured to waive claims, letters sent to IJs to contend no threat of persecution existed , and granted at rates between 1 and 3%.) Ultimately, there was no decision on the merits, but the government did agree to a settlement, which created the ABC benefits. This suggests that as much as Congress can set a floor on eligibility and make it easier for some nationalities to get asylum, the President cannot unilaterally raise the bar and make it harder for a class of otherwise eligible asylum seekers to request relief. It seems to me that this theory might be bear out as a reason how not all differential treatment is in fact equal under the INA or constitution. Lastly, I was surprised at how receptive the judges seemed to grant the States standing to pursue the Establishment Clause claims. The judges seemed to be cobbling together the theory that Kerry v. Din and Mandel did in fact support standing for a third-party to be harmed by the denial of a non-citizen into the country. If this bears out below, this will be quite fascinating new case law. -JKoh https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2017/02/a-former-practitioners-meditation-on-the-second-worst-case-by-kari-hong-guest-post.html China does not have separation of powers. But that did not stop Chinese Supreme Peoples Court Judge He Fan from calling President Donald Trump an enemy of the rule of law. He said Trump should not have criticized federal Judge James Robart for temporarily blocking his executive order on immigration. Under the U.S. system of separation of powers, a president should accept his loss silently and not attack the judge who ruled against him, He wrote. What is the separation of powers? The U.S. Constitution set up three separate but equal branches of government: the legislative branch, or Congress, makes the law; the executive, led by the president, executes the law; and the judicial, or courts, interprets the law. The idea is to divide power so each branch of government has its own powers and limits. But fights over how to apply these divisions of power have been frequent, up to and including Trumps travel ban. On January 27, President Trump signed an executive order to temporarily stop travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim majority nations. After Judge Robart blocked his order, Trump went on Twitter to call Judge Robart a "so-called judge. He said Robarts decision was "ridiculous, and opened the United States to possible terror attack. On Tuesday, the federal appeals court in San Francisco heard arguments on whether Judge Robarts order against Trumps travel ban should be overturned. The court is expected to rule this week on the appeal from the Trump administration. Josh Chafetz is a professor of law at Cornell University in New York. He said Trumps criticism was unusual, coming so early in his presidency. By calling Robart a so-called judge, Trump seems to be questioning his standing as a judge, Chafetz said. Randy Barnett, a law professor of Georgetown University, sees Trumps criticism of the judge as mildly disrespectful. But he said it does not compare to President Barack Obamas criticism of the Supreme Court during a 2010 speech before Congress. Obama was criticizing a Supreme Court decision that permitted unlimited donations to political campaigns. Barnett said that the judges were in the audience as Obama criticized them. The Democrats in the audience stood and cheered. Battles over separation of powers There have been many battles among the three branches of government over separation of powers in U.S. history. The Supreme Courts first decision about separation of powers came in 1803. The court ruled it had the power to reject a law passed by Congress if it found the law unconstitutional. In 1832, President Andrew Jackson did not like a decision by the Supreme Court, led by Justice John Marshall. The decision ended states law on land that belonged to Native American tribes. Jackson reportedly said, John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it. Nearly 100 years later, President Franklin Roosevelt proposed to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court from nine to 15. His critics accused him of trying to pack the court. They said he wanted to appoint justices supportive of his policies to get around opposition from the sitting justices. The proposal failed to pass in Congress. Among the courts other important rulings was a 1974 decision ordering President Richard Nixon to release tape recordings in what was known as the Watergate scandal. The scandal led to Nixons resignation. Some legal experts have questioned whether Trump will comply with court orders. Barnett, the Georgetown professor, said it is a good sign that the Trump administration stopped the travel ban after Judge Robarts ruling. But Trump has argued that he feels strongly his immigration ban is needed. This is what he tweeted Wednesday morning: If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Bruce Alpert. Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story executive - adj. matters of policy directed by the president branch - n. a division of government ridiculous - adj. silly, crazy mildly - adv. not very strong scandal - n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong comply - v. to along with a ruling or decision pack - v. to choose people who agree with you and put them on a court or in other positions American business leaders are urging South Korean leaders to increase market access to U.S. companies seeking to sell goods in South Korea. The business leaders want to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump not to introduce policies that harm trade between the countries. During the U.S. presidential campaign, Trump threatened to make changes to the bilateral free trade deal. The deal is known as the Korean U.S. Free Trade Agreement or KORUS FTA. Last year, Trump criticized the deal as job killing. The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, or AMCHAM Korea, wants to keep the current KORUS FTA. The agreement took effect in 2012. The deal removed 95 percent of tariffs on consumer and industrial products over five years. James Kim is Chairman of AMCHAM Korea. He said South Korea should consider ending some regulations on imports that hurt trade. We need to make the Korean economy more transparent and predictable, by making the regulatory process more deliberative, Kim said recently in Seoul. The American car industry, for example, has said it spends a lot of time and money on unneeded environmental rules. It also says it faces regulations that often are introduced without notice or explanation. Fifteen percent of cars in South Korea are from foreign manufacturers. In other developed economies, such as the U.S. and European countries, foreign cars make up 40 percent of the market. The American Automotive Policy Council says nearly 80 percent of the trade deficit with Korea is in automobile trade. That deficit was almost $28 billion in 2015. Jeffrey Jones is a former AMCHAM Korea chairman. He says Trumps statements on trade add urgency to efforts to take care of misunderstandings about trade practices. But, he says time is running out. Supporters say KORUS agreement is working AMCHAM Korea is sending a group to Washington, D.C., to defend the current trade agreement. The group wants to speak with lawmakers about how the trade deal is working. South Korean officials say most problems have been solved through negotiations. They say the trade agreement also has helped the U.S. economy. The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association says U.S. car imports to South Korea have increased by 20 percent in two years. AMCHAM Chairman Kim says one way to build support for the U.S.-Korea trade agreement is to show how American exports to South Korea have increased. U.S. exports to South Korea of all products and services have risen by 8 percent in the last 10 years. Exports of some agricultural products have increased sharply since the free trade agreement has gone into effect. Kim notes that several Korean companies, including carmakers Hyundai and Kia, have opened factories or offices in the U.S. The Korean companies have created more than 45,000 American jobs. Recent news reports suggest that Samsung Electronics is considering opening a new manufacturing center in the U.S. Trump wrote on Twitter, Thank you, Samsung! We would love to have you! Samsung did not confirm that it would build a new factory. It did say, however, that it was making an investment of $17 billion in a semiconductor factory in Austin, Texas. The trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea is bilateral, meaning between two sides. It is unlike the huge 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership deal from which the U.S. withdrew, or the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, which Trump has also criticized. Korean companies with operations in Mexico, however, are concerned they could face increased tariffs if NAFTA is renegotiated. NAFTA covers trade among Mexico, Canada and the U.S. Im Mario Ritter. Brian Padden reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story Consumer adj. relating to goods and services bought by people Regulations n. rules or law about how something should be done Predictable adj. not unusual, happening in a way that can be foreseen Deliberative adj. doing something in a way that includes discussion of facts and thoughtful decision-making The United States Senate has narrowly approved Betsy DeVos to lead the federal Department of Education. DeVos will join President Donald Trumps new cabinet. Cabinet members are among the presidents closest advisers. The president nominates them, but they need congressional approval before taking office. As the secretary of education, DeVos will oversee the nations schools. She will also assist the president with education policy and legislation. Controversial selection If that job description sounds relatively simple, the path to DeVos congressional approval was not. She has been one of Trumps most controversial cabinet choices if not the most. One reason is that DeVos says she wants to reduce the federal governments involvement in education. Historically, the federal government has played a major part in directing the nations public school system. Public schools are free for all students and have a fairly standard education curriculum. About 100,000 primary and secondary schools nationwide are public. About 35,000 are private -- meaning students have to pay to attend classes. DeVos says she would like to give more power over education to states and to parents. At her confirmation hearing, she said she wants to move away from what the system thinks is best for kids to what moms and dads want, expect and deserve. For example, instead of the local public school, some parents may want to send their child to a private same-sex school, one that provides training a certain foreign language, or one based on their religious beliefs. DeVos seeks to use public school money to support the choice. Some supporters of DeVos say she will bring needed competition to public education. They say her vision for school choice will also give students from poor families the same opportunities as those from richer families. Critics say DeVos plans will harm public schools and the students who depend on them especially students in rural areas or those who have a disability. Critics also point to her lack of firsthand experience of the public school system. DeVos did not attend public schools or send her children to them. She has also never been a teacher or school administrator. Instead, she is a wealthy philanthropist, a major donor to members of Trumps Republican Party, and a 30-year advocate for alternative choices to public education, especially Christian schools. Vice president breaks tie The controversy around DeVos confirmation was clear in Tuesday's vote. After arguing against DeVos on the Senate floor for 24 consecutive hours, all 48 Democrats opposed her, along with two Republicans from rural states. The other 50 Republicans supported her. The final vote was split, 50-50. Fortunately, the U.S. Constitution has a way to deal with this problem. It says that if senators are equally divided, the vice president makes the deciding vote. In this case, Vice President Mike Pence supported Trumps choice and voted in favor of DeVos. The Associate Press notes that the Senate historian says this is the first time a vice president has had to break a tie in a Cabinet nomination. Im Kelly Jean Kelly. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story, with reports from VOA and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story controversial adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument curriculum n. the courses that are taught by a school deserve v. used to say that someone or something should have certain adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically opportunities n. a situation in which something can be done philanthropist n. a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people alternative adj. offering or expressing a choice consecutive adj. following each other without interruption 4 Hindu devotees prepare to take part in a mass bathing ritual during the month-long Swasthani Festival in Changu Narayan at Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. Almost anyone with a good idea and the ability to write directions for a computer software program can make products that were not possible before the internet. But it is not enough to just have an idea. A team of people with different skills is necessary to turn that idea into reality. Teams like this are often formed at an event called a hackathon. Sabeen Ali is the founder and leader of a California company called AngelHack. It organizes hackathons around the world. At a hackathon, she says, people with creative ideas can join with others to develop and write computer programs. A hacker is anyone that can take limited resources or be in any type of constraint -- time constraint, resource constraint, knowledge constraint -- and create something from nothing or something from very little. As a child, Sabeen Ali learned to live on very little money. Her parents were immigrants from Pakistan. Her father died when she was very young. I lived in a house with a single parent, three kids. And we had to figure out how to do a lot of things on our own. Ali said she used her childhood experiences to create her company. Somebody who works in a larger organization 9-to-5, building the same app, day after day, can come and build that thing thats been keeping them up at night. Or somebody like me, whos an entrepreneur, who has this amazing idea -- I know how to make money from it, I know all the customers and the clients, but I dont have the tech resources to be able to put it together -- I needed this type of outlet and support and forum. Her business has organized hackathons in more than 90 cities throughout the world. Hackers form teams, and compete to win awards for the best idea and best product. AngelHack works with a winner from each event for 12 weeks, helping them form companies and persuade people to invest money in their idea. The top teams are brought to Silicon Valley, near San Francisco, where they present their idea to hundreds of possible investors. Some teams helped by AngelHack have had great success. Investors gave one team $10 million. Two others were bought by Google, the technology company. Im Dorothy Gundy. VOA Correspondent Elizabeth Lee reported this story from San Francisco. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story software n. programs or processed involving or related to a computer system resource n. supplies or support; something that generally improves ones quality of life constraint n. a controlling force; repression entrepreneur n. someone who organizes and launches a business amazing adj. surprising outlet n. an opening; a way to release something forum n. a public place; a center for open discussion collaborative adj. of or related to jointly working with others This is Whats Trending Today. The Twitter hashtag #LetLizSpeak was trending on social media Wednesday. And over 6 million people saw a video from Elizabeth Warren, a member of the United States Senate. She posted her video on Facebook Tuesday night. Warren is a member of the Democratic Party from Massachusetts. And Liz is a nickname for Elizabeth. On Tuesday, the Senate was considering whether to approve Senator Jeff Sessions, a Republican, as the next U.S. Attorney General. Sessions is President Donald Trumps choice for the position. The attorney general is a member of the presidents cabinet and heads the Department of Justice. During the Senate debate on Sessions nomination, Warren read a letter written by Coretta Scott King. King was the wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King [Junior] She wrote the letter in 1986, when Sessions, then a lawyer for the federal government, was being considered for a federal court judgeship. Tuesday night, Warren was reading Coretta Scott Kings letter aloud on the Senate floor. King wrote that Sessions used his power in Alabama to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens... That is when Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, intervened. He warned Warren that Senate rules bar one senator from speaking badly about another. Warren was permitted to continue reading the letter. But she was stopped again, this time by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Warren was told she could not continue reading the letter. She said, I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate. Warren asked to continue speaking, but her appeal was rejected. A majority of senators voted to bar her from speaking about Sessions until after his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. Warren left the Senate floor, went to a nearby room and continued reading the letter. She posted the video to her Facebook page. By Wednesday afternoon, the 15-minute video received over 400,000 comments. Some of them included: We love you, Thank you so much for displaying what real leadership is, and Standing strong and proud beside you from Kentucky, Senator Warren. Warren then said I think (the letter) is relevant to everyone who is about to vote on Jeff Sessions. The Democratic leadership in the Senate accused the Republican senators of only enforcing the rule because a Democrat was speaking. Many people also used the Twitter hashtag #LetLizSpeak to express their support for Warren. Wednesday morning, the Massachusetts senator met with civil rights leaders and Democratic Party supporters outside the Senate. At the same time, other senators, including former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, read Kings letter on the Senate floor without being stopped. And thats Whats Trending Today. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about Warren being banned by the senate? Let us know in the comments section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story chill n. a cold and unfriendly quality suitable adj. having the qualities that are right, needed, or appropriate for something relevant adj. of or relating to evidence to prove or disprove an issue under consideration This is Whats Trending Today Flying cars may soon become a reality. The rideshare service Uber has asked an expert from NASA, the American space agency, to help the company develop cars that can fly. NASA engineer Mark Moore will work on the Uber Elevate project, Bloomberg Technology reported. The Bloomberg show said the project aims to support other businesses that are developing flying vehicles as well. Last October, Uber announced plans to use flying vehicles in the future to avoid traffic in and around cities. The company wants to use small, fully electric aircraft that could take off and land like a helicopter. Uber said its flying vehicles would be much quieter, cost less to operate and produce less pollution than helicopters. Moore has worked at the space agency for 30 years. His research has dealt mainly with vertical takeoff and landing vehicles the kind of vehicle Uber now hopes to develop. Talk of plans for a flying car made Uber and NASA trending topics on social media. One person in San Francisco wrote on Twitter, I used to think flying cars was a ridiculous idea. This morning I sat in SF traffic. I changed my mind. Another person tweeted from Mumbai, India: Reading about Uber hiring a NASA engineer to build flying cars, while Im stuck in traffic at the legendary Sakinaka signal. There is hope. Moore told Bloomberg Technology that he predicts there will be several early models of flying cars with human pilots within one to three years. And thats Whats Trending Today. Im Ashley Thompson. VOA News reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story vertical - adj. positioned up and down rather than from side to side : going straight up ridiculous - adj. extremely silly or unreasonable hire - v. to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary legendary - adj. very famous or well-known One of the more infuriating things about the Internet is when a website closes down. You might follow a favorite writers blog, save links to helpful articles, and share interesting posts on social media. But then one day, you return to the website to discover that it is gone. The site does not exist anymore. All of the useful stories and information are now missing. It is like they never existed. The good news is that you may be able to find those sites again, even after they are offline. You can find help from a website called the Wayback Machine. What the Wayback Machine Is The Wayback Machine site shows a kind of history of the internet. It shows websites that are no longer online and older versions of current sites. The Wayback Machine provides archived records of publicly available websites. Not all websites or versions of sites are available, but many are. How to Use the Wayback Machine To see the archived images, go to the Wayback Machine website and enter the web address of the site you want to see. You must enter the exact web address, not just the sites name. For example, if you want to see an earlier version of the Learning English website, you would enter learningenglish.voanews.com, not the words Voice of America Learning English. Click the Browse History button. On the results page, you will see how many times the website has been archived and information showing when the site was saved. You can click on a year to see the exact date the site was saved. A blue dot on a date shows the page was saved on that day. Click on a date with a blue dot to see what the website looked like on that date. Here is Voice of America Learning English in 2012: Here is Facebook in 2006: And Google in 2004: You can only search for the home page of a website. But once you go to the archive, you may be able to find the story you are looking for on the site. Saving a Website to The Wayback Machine If you want to save an older version of a website, you can do that at the bottom of the Wayback Machine websites home page. Enter the web address of the page you want saved and hit enter. The Wayback Machine Beta Version The Wayback Machine recently launched a beta or test version that lets you search for older websites by keywords. Unlike the original version, the beta version lets you enter search terms to try to find websites you cannot remember. It can also help users when they do not know the exact web address. To use the beta version, go to Beta Wayback Machine. Enter the search term and hit enter. You will see a list of results that match your term. For example, in the Beta version, you can enter "GeoCities" and see a list of GeoCities websites in different countries. How the Wayback Machine Started The Internet has a history -- perhaps not a long history, but a rich one. The Wayback Machine was based on a computer software program developed in 1996 to document websites, saving the history of the internet. The Wayback Machine website was launched in 2001, using a version of that software. Since that time, the Wayback Machine has expanded quickly, as has much of the Internet. The site was named after the WABAC Machine, a time machine used by a boy and his dog on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, a 1960s television series. Ideas for Using the Wayback Machine You can use the Wayback Machine to find closed websites, such as GeoCities, which is now only available in Japan. If you are thinking of buying a domain name, see how it was used before in its earlier life on the internet. If the site was used mainly for spam or unwanted advertising, you may not want to use that web address for your site. You can also see how a website looked in the past and follow its design over the years. Im Marsha James. Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you ever wanted to see a history of past websites? Have you ever been upset to find a website had closed? What websites have you searched for on the Wayback Machine? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story infuriate - v. to make (someone) very angry article - n. a piece of writing about a particular subject that is included in a website, magazine, newspaper, etc. offline - adj. not connected to a computer or network archive - v. to collect and store materials (such as recordings, documents, or computer files) so that they can be found and used when they are needed address - n. the letters, numbers, and symbols that are used to show the location of a site on the Internet click - v. to press a button on a mouse or some other device in order to make something happen on a computer beta - adj. a version of a product (such as a computer program) that is almost finished and that is used for testing keyword - n. a word that is used to find information in a piece of writing, in a computer document, or on the Internet original - adj. made or produced first match - v. to provide, produce, or do something that is equal to (something else) domain name - n. the characters that form the main part of an Internet address On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. CNPPID revises lot lease proposals rate plan for Johnson Lake and Plum Creek HOLDREGE A revised rate plan within the proposed long-term residential leases at Johnson Lake and Plum Creek was approved Monday by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Board of Directors, and received positive responses from several of about 30 leaseholders at the board meeting. The CNPPID directors approved the Power and Recreation Committees recommendation to maintain current lease rates from March 1, 2018, through February 2024. No increase for six years, thats what this says, CNPPID General Manager Don Kraus said. He said that revision would allow leaseholders to complete payments on the sanitary improvement district at Johnson Lake before they see an increase in lot lease fees. A second motion approved by the board is for annual rate increases of 3 percent, beginning on March 1, 2024, and for the balance of the 30-year leases. A 3 percent increase would be $67.50 on the current $2,250 annual lease fee on a tier one (lakefront) lot at Johnson Lake. According to CNPPID, the current leases date to 1995, and the fee is set at 5 percent of average appraised fair market value of the lots, with values adjusted every 10 years after new appraisals. A huge concern for Johnson Lake residents was that significant increases in property values in recent years would greatly increase the 5 percent fee. In some cases, they said, it would be beyond what families who have owned homes there for generations could afford. Before Mondays board votes on the lease proposal revisions, Central Directors Dave Rowe and Ron Fowler of Johnson Lake said the had filed statements with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission to acknowledge their potential conflicts of interest on lake lease issues because they are leaseholders. They abstained from both votes related to the revisions and said they wont participate in any other discussions or votes on the issue. The next step will be a public meeting on the revised lease proposal in May. Kraus told the Hub the board then will consider all lease comments received and consider a vote to finalize new leases at the July 5 board meeting. He added that there still could be changes based on the comments. Meanwhile, lease information on the www.cnppid.com website will be updated to reflect Mondays revisions, and Kraus said there likely will be a new mailing to leaseholders. This was a little bit of a surprise this morning, Johnson Lake Development Inc. President Jean Edeal told the board. This road to finding an agreeable lease has been a long one. She thanked the board for making changes to the original proposal, which had been a concern for many leaseholders. This should help relieve a lot of peoples minds, Edeal said, adding that the goal all along was to have an affordable lease, a lease that was fair and easy to understand, and for 30 years. Other leaseholders thanked the board for acting on their concerns. Steve Kemper, who has lived at Johnson Lake for 18 years, choked up as he said, We really like the place and thank you. It was so important to so many of us that you discussed this with us. According to CNPPID minutes from the Jan. 27 committee meeting of the board, homeowner Don Hutchens of Lincoln told the directors he didnt think they were considering how much Johnson Lake residents pay for property upkeep. He said after Mondays votes, Youve got a hold of it (acceptable lease proposal) now as a board ...You came up in the ninth inning with two outs and hit a home run for the district and the lease holders. Also at Mondays board meeting in Holdrege, CNPPID Civil Engineer Cory Steinke said Lake McConaughy now holds 1.46 million acre-feet of water, which is 84 percent of capacity. Icing is affecting inflow measurements, but he estimated them at 1,000-1,200 cubic feet per second and said releases are about 700 cfs. Rocky Mountain snowpacks in the North Platte and South Platte basins remain above normal, and there is good carryover water in the federal reservoirs in Wyoming. Steinke said current conditions dont guarantee a spill of excess water downstream into Nebraska because it depends on how the snow melts in the next few months. That could all go away in no time, he said. Steinke said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are considering making a call to release water Feb. 15-March 15 from the environmental account stored in Lake McConaughy to boost Central Platte target flows during migration season for whooping cranes. CNPPID Irrigation Division Customer Service Supervisor Van Fastenau reported that the three pumps at Elwood Reservoir were turned off at the end of January, leaving that lake at 4.5 feet from full. Some high Platte flows still are being diverted into irrigation canals for groundwater recharge. In other business, the board approved vehicle and supply purchases: Eight 2017 pickups from the Gene Steffy dealership in Fremont for a total of $211,087. Supply Canal crawler dozer from Road Builders Machinery & Supply of Grand Island, $277,975. 2007 Caterpillar backhoe loader from Nebraska Machinery Co. of Doniphan, $41,870 with trade. 2017 Caterpillar long-reach excavator from Nebraska Machinery Co. of Doniphan, $222,200. Chemicals from Van Diest Supply Co. of McCook, $189,030. Bridge planks and stringers from Bs Enterprises Inc. of Norfolk, $58,859. The board also approved: Moving the March 6 board meeting to the Roadway Inn in Holdrege, which also will be the site for the Central Water Users annual meeting that day. Letters of consent and understanding with Phelps County to replace a timber bridge north of Loomis with an arched culvert. Spending up to $10,000 to help Lake McConaughy Lessees Inc. with K-3 Cabin Area road improvements. Supplemental water service agreements with Platte Valley, Paxton-Hershey, Keith-Lincoln, Suburban and Lisco canal companies. Brandon L. Garrett, Alexander Jakubow and Ankur Desai (University of Virginia School of Law, University of Virginia - School of Law and University of Virginia School of Law) have posted The American Death Penalty Decline (Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Vol. 105, 2017) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: American death sentences have both declined and become concentrated in a small group of counties. In his dissenting opinion in Glossip v. Gross in 2014, Justice Stephen Breyer argued todays death penalty is unconstitutional, noting that from 2004 to 2006, just 29 counties (fewer than 1% of counties in the country) accounted for approximately half of all death sentences imposed nationwide. That decline has become more dramatic. Just fifty-one defendants were sentenced to death in 2015 in thirty-eight counties. In 2016, just thirty defendants were sentenced to death in twenty-seven counties. In the mid-1990s, by way of contrast, over three hundred people were sentenced to death in as many as two hundred counties per year. While scholars and journalists have increasingly commented on this decline and speculated as to what might be causing it, empirical research has not examined it. This Article reports the results of statistical analysis of data hand-collected on all death sentencing, by county, for the entire modern era of capital punishment, from 1990 to 2016. This analysis of death sentencing data from 1990 to 2016, seeks to answer the question why a few counties, but not the vast bulk of the others, still impose death sentences. We examine state and county-level changes in murder rates, population, victim race, demography, and other characteristics that might explain shifting death sentencing patterns. We find that death sentences are strongly associated with urban, densely populous counties. Second, we find that death sentences are strongly associated with counties that have large black populations. Third, we find homicide rates are related to death sentencing in three ways: contemporaneously within and between death sentencing counties, lagged within and between death sentencing counties. and that counties with more white victims of homicide have more death sentencing. Fourth, we find that death sentencing is associated with inertia or the number of prior death sentences within a county. These results suggest what remains of the American death penalty is quite fragile and reflects a legacy of racial bias and idiosyncratic local preferences. We conclude by discussing the practical and legal implications of these trends for the much- diminished death penalty and for criminal justice more broadly. WASHINGTON Worried that President Donald Trumps freeze on federal hiring might include firefighters during wildfire season, some Arizona lawmakers wrote to federal agencies this week to make sure firefighters would be exempt. They neednt have worried: It turns out that firefighters are exempt, along with military, emergency workers and others, according to the presidents order and to guidance this week from the Office of Personnel Management. With almost 500 vacant federal jobs in Arizona currently, many in the Department of Veterans Affairs, agencies are grappling with whos in and whos out. And lawmakers are keeping a wary eye. The hiring freeze was signed by Trump Jan. 23, just days after he took office. It called for an across the board freeze on federal hiring for 90 days to give the Office of Management and Budget time to develop a plan to shrink the federal workforce through attrition. But it excluded military personnel, jobs deemed necessary for national security and exemptions determined by OPM where necessary. The list expanded again Tuesday when OPM issued guidance to agencies that included 18 exempt categories, including postal workers, seasonal employees, internal promotions and other categories. Despite the list of exemptions, an official with the American Federation of Government Employees said the freeze can only hurt services at agencies like the VA. Marilyn Park, a legal representative for the AFGE, pointed to the long patient waiting lists that landed the Phoenix VA hospital in the news. Well guess what, you just made that wait longer, she said of the freeze. Park said the freeze hits an agency that struggled in the past but had been inching toward improvement. Phoenix really brought the situation to the forefront and highlighted the starving staff and resources that they were forced to stretch, Park said of the VA in the Valley. But Paul Coupaud, an official of the Phoenix VA Health Care System, said the agency will continue to function as best as it can. He said last week that the VA in Arizona had scores of openings and that officials were waiting to hear from upper management to see if they could proceed on those openings. But the freeze has drawn critics from the other side who say there are too many exemptions. Dan Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, is one of those critics who believes the freeze to be more symbolic than real. If the Trump people said, We want to shut down this program or we want to cut this agency by 50 percent, they would take it serious, he said of Washington bureaucrats. But these noises about hiring freezes dont mean much to them. The only way to reduce federal funding is by actually reducing the size of the government, Mitchell said. But Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, called Trumps order as a step toward reducing unnecessary federal spending, even as he called for exemptions for firefighters. Flake had written to the acting secretary of Agriculture on Wednesday to ask for that exemption. I am glad the president is taking action to rein in excessive government bureaucracy while looking out for public safety, Flake said in a statement released by his office after it became clear that firefighters would not face a freeze. Flakes letter to Agriculture came the same day that Rep. Krysten Sinema, D-Phoenix, wrote the acting director of OPM to raise concerns about a hiring freeze as the wildfire season approaches. She was joined in that letter by Rep. Tom OHalleran, D-Sedona, Republican Reps. Trent Franks of Glendale and Andy Biggs of Gilbert, and five others. Arizonans know too well the devastating effects wildfires have on our communities, Sinema said in a statement prepared by her office. Firefighters protect our families, homes and businesses, and a federal hiring freeze seriously threatens Arizonas public safety. Tom Crosson, the chief of public affairs at the National Park Service, later said that the freeze will not apply to firefighters, pointing to the OPM guidance exempting the hiring of seasonal employees. Of the roughly 500 vacancies in Arizona listed on USAjobs.gov, a government website, 367 were from a handful of department: Defense, Health and Human Services, and Veteran Affairs. For now, Coupaud said the VA is adequately staffed and he is not worried about a delay on people getting hired. Of course, people can still leave the VA and that could put us in a more challenging position, he said. The Pasco County Sheriffs Office has added something new to its ongoing inmate vocational programs. Now inmates can participate in welding training programs leading to industry certifications. Program runs 4 days/week, 10 hours/day Program not paid for with taxpayer money Carpentry and construction programs also available Take away the striped uniforms worn by those inside the building behind the Land O Lakes jail, and it looks like any other welding shop. We do regular repairs around the building, we also do barbecues, smokers, and trailers, said instructor Troy Bowen. Bowen has a background in welding, and was brought in to teach the program about a year ago. [Bowen] shows you everything from paperwork to manual work, and if you dont do something right you stay doing that all day long," said inmate Billy Reed. "He wont cut you slack. Inmate David Dutton, who will graduate from the program in a few weeks, told us the program was his first experience in welding. It's already helped him with his next life step. I do have a job lined up for Florida Gas," said Dutton. "My son works there and he got me a position working there until a welding spot opens up." Photo: Bay News 9 The program runs four days a week for 10 hours a day. Long hours, but inmates like Dutton see them as time spent building future careers. I can see myself retiring doing welding," said Dutton. "Im going to stick with it. In addition, the sheriff's office has designed the program to be self-sustaining. No taxpayers money is used for this," said Pasco County Lt. Justin Wetherington. "It all comes out of the inmate welfare account, and every penny goes right back into it." Thus far, nine inmates have gone through the program. Officials told us not one of those nine has been back to the jail, and many are working in welding careers. The sheriffs office also offers two other vocational programs in construction and carpentry. Those programs sell items the inmates make to help pay for the curricula. An overnight arrest in Hillsborough County led to an extensive search for explosive materials at a Sarasota home. Tampa arrest leads feds to search of Sarasota home Kenneth Iversen, 23, arrested on drug charges Tuesday in Tampa After making statements about explosive materials, authorities search his Sarasota home According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, 23-year-old Kenneth Iversen was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with being in possession of methamphetamine. Deputies said Iversen was taken into custody after trying to flee authorities in the 7900 block of 79th Street. When he was caught, Iversen told deputies he may have been trying to purchase bomb making materials from stores in Hillsborough County, officials said. Hillsborough officials contacted the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, which began a search of the home Iversen shares with his mother in the 4000 block of Tonga Drive. Local and federal officials were brought in as part of the search, along with a hazardous materials team. FBI agents and firefighters spent about eight hours at the home overnight. The search did not yield anything, though officials made no specific statements about the search. The search concluded just before 8 a.m. Iversen, who said he is employed as an Uber driver, was arrested last week in Sarasota. In that arrest report, a deputy said he spotted Iversen sitting in a car smoking a glass pipe. Investigators said they found cocaine in Iversen's car and a loaded gun was hidden in the door panel of the vehicle. Iversen does not have a concealed weapons permit. Iversen bonded out of jail last week just hours after that arrest. Now he is back behind bars in Hillsborough County. It remains unclear if he will face additional charges after the search of his home. This story was posted on: 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 08, 2017. The lawyer for Jameis Slaughter, Markeith Loyd's ex-girlfriend, said she is not a threat to society after she bonded out of the Orange County Jail late Tuesday night. The State Attorney's Office agreed to lower Slaughter's bond from $500,000 to $25,000 on Tuesday morning. Slaughter is charged with accessory after Loyd allegedly shot and killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and for giving investigators a false name when they questioned her. But Slaughter's attorney, Susan Malove, said her client was not a danger to society or a flight risk. Criminal defense attorney Mark NeJame said now that the state attorney has had more time to see all the evidence in the case, it is not unusual for the bond to change. "Even though some of the public is going to say that is a horrible crime (and think) 'I don't care if they do any little thing to have helped them, they should stay in jail,' that is not the purpose. That is for sentencing, not for a bond determination," NeJame said. Slaughter is one of three people originally arrested for aiding Loyd before his arrest. Loyd is also accused of killing Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton and is being charged with other violent crimes. Loyd's niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, was released from jail last week after her bond was lowered. The state dropped the charges against her Tuesday because of insufficient evidence. Meanwhile, Loyd's former boss, Zarghee Mayan, was released from jail Wednesday. In court last week, the judge refused to lower his bond. However, this week prosecutors agreed to lower it from $400,000 to $20,000. The court approved Mayan's bond reduction Wednesday. NeJame said many factors could have played into why the three bonds were high. "It is entirely possible that the first bond was requested to put the squeeze on the other defendants to disclose where he (Loyd) may be," NeJame said. The judge said now that Slaughter is out of jail, she must remain in the area until her next court date, and she cannot have contact with any of the other defendants connected in the case. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Britain must pay to leave the EU in the same way as friends going to the pub must pay for their round of drinks, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Margaritis Schinas, a spokesman for Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, said the divorce bill is an "essential element" of an orderly Brexit. "It is like going to the pub with 27 friends," Schinas told a daily briefing. "You order a round of beer but then you cannot leave while the party continues, you still have to pay for the round you ordered." Britain's former ambassador to the EU said last week that the EU is set to demand up to 60 billion euros ($64 billion) from Britain to settle outstanding budget commitments. EU sources confirmed the figure to AFP. Britain estimates the figure at closer to 20 billion, they added. Schinas would not confirm the figure, saying that "technical work was ongoing". But he added: "During the time of its membership the UK has taken and probably will take financial commitments. These commitments should be fulfilled in full. "This will be an essential element of the negotiations on the orderly separation." Senior EU negotiators met on Monday to discuss their preparations ahead of Britain's expected triggering of the two-year divorce process in March. They discussed Britain's financial services industry and the rights of EU citizens in Britain and vice versa, Schinas said. French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve became the latest senior European figure on Monday to declare that Britain must agree to pay the bill before negotiations on a future trade deal can start. Cazeneuve and Juncker, who met in Brussels, agreed that the terms of any eventual deal cannot be better than those of membership of the EU, they said. Kempinski is delighted to announce that it will open its first hotel in Cuba in the second quarter of this year. The Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana features 246 rooms and suites and is located within the historic Manzana de Gomez building in the heart of Old Havana - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kempinski Hotels has just signed a management contract with the Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA. "We are very pleased to be opening this outstanding hotel in the spring," says Markus Semer, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Kempinski Hotels. "The opening is a continuation of our pioneering spirit as the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana will be Cuba's first modern luxury five-star hotel. And its location within a famous historic building currently makes it the most exclusive hotel project in Old Havana." "For us, it is important to gain new partners who are internationally renowned, to manage our hotels, for this reason Kempinski was selected to take care of our new hotel in Havana," adds Carlos M. Latuff, Executive President Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA. "With its impeccable 120-year history, European-style luxury and extraordinary quality, Europe's oldest luxury hotel group Kempinski is a perfect fit with the Manzana de Gomez. Constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, as Cuba's first European-style shopping arcade, it is an iconic building in an important historical area. Together with Kempinski we will make this jewel the city's leading luxury hotel," he continues. Even before it has opened, the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana is causing much excitement not only in Cuba. Guests can choose from 246 luxury rooms and suites, ranging in size from 40 to the stunning presidential suite's 150 square metres all with ceilings of four to five metres. The rooftop terrace and swimming pool, with views over the old town, are just one of the many highlights. There will be a spa managed by Resense, which offers guests more than 1,000 square metres of pure relaxation, together with a choice of three restaurants, a lobby bar, cigar lounge, and a business centre makes sure guests will have everything they need for a truly memorable stay. There is no doubt that this new luxury hotel, in the heart of Havana's most historic area, next to the city's most interesting sights, is destined to become the place to be in Cuba's capital. About Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA To enjoy Cuba in its entire dimension the Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA offers a universe of diversity and comfort in 64 hotels and villas with more than 27,000 rooms a third of the capacity of the country in important cities as well as in beach resorts. Gaviota further reinforces its business through various subsidiaries; Transgaviota taking care of personal transportation, Marinas Gaviota offering an excellent range of nautical offers, as well as a wide choice of promenades and excursions tailored by Gaviota Tours, Gaviota's own travel agency, which coupled with touristic centre-points, spas, diving centres, dolphonariums amongst others, distinguish Grupo Gaviota as the most well rounded and versatile host of Cuban tourism. Pinar del Rio, Havana, Varadero, Cayos de Villa Clara, Topes de Collantes, Jardines del Rey (Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo), Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa are some of the most prominent destinations of Gaviota in Cuba. In harmonious synergy, hotels, modalities and environments are combined with specialized services targeted at different audiences and markets with flexibility and differentiation, with the intent of providing maximum satisfaction. Renown international companies like Melia International, Iberostar Hotels and Resorts, H10, Blue Diamond, Valentin, Warwick International, among others, work with Gaviota, managing over 80 percent of Gaviota's portfolio; and new partners such as Kempinski Hotels, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Sercotel, Centara Hotels and Resorts, MGM Muthu Hotels and Catalonia Hotels and Resorts, are joining Gaviota in 2017 for the management of facilities in Havana and the northern coast of Villa Clara and Ciego de Avila. About Kempinski GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. The Public Security Police (PSP) issued a communique last Friday (Feb 3) through the official government channels to the media. The same text was made publicly available on the Government Information Bureau (GCS) website. In the press release, they made serious accusations against an English media outlet for the sake of clarifying what they labeled a false news report over an incident involving a Hong Kong couple and a taxi driver who insanely overcharged the two tourists for a taxi ride from the Venetian to Wynn Palace on January 30 (the 3rd day of the Year of the Rooster). Since we are an English media outlet we set out to check the said reporting and came to the astonishing conclusion that all facts stated are true and that the PSPs communique essentially confirms it. (Our comments have been inserted in the square brackets.) The taxi driver concerned admitted that he overcharged the above-mentioned woman [the Filipina wife], and our Force has handled the case appropriately [how?]. On the other hand, investigation found that the content of the video clip only showed the malpractice [!] of the taxi driver concerned and did not target on [sic] the personal privacy of the driver [!!]. After a comprehensive analysis [?], it was concluded that the above-mentioned incident [violation of privacy?] did not constitute a criminal offence and no one was detained in the incident, reads the PSP press release. So the big question is what is the police denying or clarifying exactly?! How can the police keep someone, anyone, in custody for 5 to 6 hours and say no one was detained? Detention is a deprivation of liberty. Someone who is (either legally or illegally) coerced to stay in a confined place and not authorized to leave is deprived of liberty, and is therefore under detention. Detention, as used in the report, is the accurate term, a legal expert told us, particularly when they had their identification with them, and the police does not claim that they refused to provide such identification. Actually, only lawful detention would warrant a deprivation of liberty. In this trade, we are used to people blaming the press, the messenger, because we are normally the bearer of unfortunate news. But we are shocked to see this kind of behavior from a police force, gratuitously attacking the reputation of a media organization that was simply doing its job. So, we contacted the couple who confirmed that all the facts reported by the English media outlet are true. Moreover, the husband, a British national, considers the PSP communique to be intriguing, very confusing, and misleading. Is this common police practice in Macau? he asked perplexed, while informing us that, We have replied to the Police Statement and suggested that they review their report to correct the inaccuracies. The police failed to mention that there were complaints filed with them (namely overcharging and violation of privacy); they failed to mention that the taxi driver was at the station for a very short period of time while the couple was held for over 5 hours pending investigation. Whats more, is that new facts some alarming are finding their way to us. A source familiar with the case told the Times that the police officer at the scene of the incident (somewhere about Wynn Palace) communicated to the couple that for HKD3,000 the taxi driver would be willing to let go of the accusation of privacy violation, just prior to escorting everyone to the station, because, naturally, the couple refused the preposterous proposal. We also learned that the couple, as advised by their lawyer, filed a complaint to the Tourism Department, which redirected them to the Traffic Bureau (DSAT), claiming that the latter is the entity which supervises taxi operations. In the meantime, the bad apple is out there free to pursue his greedy unlawful activity as far as we know. What did the police do? What does handling the case appropriately mean? We dont know, but we want to know. Pursuant to the applicable law, the police shall guarantee the fundamental rights and liberties of citizens as well as assuring respect for the law. Since they chose to participate in this public debate, we seek a clarification on how these goals were implemented in the reported case. We also seek clarification from the police as to whether they are talking about us, Macau Daily Times, which reported the incident. They failed to display the courage or decency to name the English media outlet and such lack of transparency looks poor on any police force badge. Australia and China pledged yesterday to deepen their ties on everything from trade to tourism, a show of unity that comes at a delicate time in Australias relationship with Chinas chief rival for Pacific power, the United States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is visiting Canberra for talks with his Australian counterpart, touted a free trade agreement the two nations signed a year ago as a success, while vowing to take a firm stand against protectionism. At the time when we face an international situation that is full of uncertainties, we agree to send a clear message that it is important to firmly commit to an open world economy, Wang told reporters through an interpreter. It is important to steer economic globalization toward greater inclusiveness, broader shared benefits and in a more sustainable way. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia is committed to ensuring the free trade agreement with China continues to grow, and said the countries plan to cooperate more on tourism, regional infrastructure, innovation and energy. Australia reassures China that we are a reliable partner and that we will continue to place a strong trade and economic relationship as one of our highest priorities, Bishop said. The vows of cooperation come just as Australias relationship with its longtime ally, the U.S., is hitting its lowest point in decades. Australia was disappointed, though not surprised, by President Donald Trumps decision to pull the U.S. out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Relations soured further after a tense phone call between Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a refugee resettlement deal struck by the previous Obama administration. Australia is strategic to Americas push in the Pacific against a more assertive China. The U.S. and Australia have increased their military cooperation as part of the Pacific pivot, with American Marines now rotating through a training hub in the northern port city of Darwin. Bishop took pains to say the relationship between China and the U.S. was one of the most significant in the world. We look forward to there being a deeper, more positive engagement between the U.S. and China, and Australia will do all it can as a strong strategic partner of both countries to encourage that deeper, constructive engagement for the benefit of our region and beyond, she said. Wang said Chinas relationship with the U.S. has long withstood difficulties, and that the countries interests remain intertwined, particularly in trade. For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognize that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States because both will lose, Wang said. And both sides cannot afford that. Kristen Gelineau, Sydney, AP An Australian senator and outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump announced yesterday he will start a new political party to appeal to disenfranchised conservatives. Cory Bernardi decided to abandon Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls conservative Liberal Party as the ruling coalition trails further behind the center-left Labor Party in opinion polls seven months after elections. Bernardi told the Senate he had resigned from the party to start his new party called Australian Conservatives. We will be united by the desire to create stronger families, to foster free enterprise, to limit the size and scope and reach of government while seeking to rebuild confidence in civil society, Bernardi said. Bernardis defection came on the first day that Parliament has met since Trumps inauguration. Senator Nick Xenophon, leader of a minor party Nick Xenophon Team, marked the occasion by bringing a doormat emblazoned with Trumps face and with the message: Australia: not your doormat. Xenophon has taken exception to a terse phone call between Trump and Turnbull when they first spoke as national leaders last month. Xenophon said Trumps reported language was completely uncalled for in a conversation with an ally such as Australia. This doormat might be a good gift for Cory Bernardi, given that as hes such a big fan of Donald Trump, Xenophon said. Bernardi won in an election last July that saw a record number of Australians vote for anti-establishment parties that splintered the conservative vote. Bernardis former government colleagues accused him of being a traitor, saying he was obliged to serve the party on whose policy platform he had been re-elected. The 47-year-old had long been among the Liberal Partys most conservative figures. He was demoted from a senior party position in 2012 for suggesting legal recognition for gay marriage could lead to legalization of bestiality and polygamy, offending many same-sex marriage advocates. Bernardi recently spent three months in New York seconded to the United Nations and met Trump associates. He owns a red hat with a Trump-like slogan: Make Australia Great Again. Bernardi said yesterday the major political parties had failed Australians. The level of public disenchantment with the major parties, the lack of confidence in our political process and the concern about the direction of our nation is very, very strong, Bernardi said. Rod McGuirk, Canberra, AP The Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) said that the citys new wholesale market, which is currently under renovation, will open in the second quarter of the year with twice as many sales booths as the current market. IACM president Jose Tavares said all booths at the new market have already been rented out. In a written inquiry to IACM, lawmaker Kwan Tsui Heng questioned the future of the new markets management model. Jose Tavares responded that the authorities will review the management model after 2022. Illegal graffiti in Tap Seac Gallery The Tap Seac Gallery premises were vandalized on February 2, with three walls smeared with paint. The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) has reported the incident to the Judiciary Police (PJ), which is now investigating. No arrests have been made so far. PJ said that the culprits, once identified, will be charged with aggravated destruction of relics and can be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison. The IC said repairs will cost approximately MOP20,000. Call for domestic helper market opening Lawmaker Mak Soi Kun is calling for the government to open Macaus domestic helper market to Guangdong Province, according to a report by TDM. In a written inquiry to the government, Mak praised the governments work in livelihood policies, before adding that the Chinese central government has already permitted an unlimited number of domestic helpers from Fujian and Guangdong to work in the region. Mak remarked that the Macau government has only released this information to the citys Labour Affairs Bureau, meaning that many local families who need domestic helpers are still unaware of the policy. He urged the government to make the information public through multiple channels. FSS increases employer contribution Starting this February, the standard employer contribution for social security will be MOP90. The Social Security Fund (FSS) announced that the contribution would be doubled from MOP45 on January 1 this year. The FSS reiterated yesterday that all employers are required to pay this new amount to contribute to their casual workers social security. Under the Executive Order, the contributions for casual workers from January 1 are MOP90 for employees who work more than 15 days a month, where employers and employees portions are MOP60 and MOP30 respectively. For employees who work fewer than 15 days a month, employers and employees contributions are MOP30 and MOP15 respectively. IC extends deadline for subsidy program The application deadline for the 2016 Subsidy Program for the Production of Original Animation Short Films has been extended to 5 p.m on April 12. The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), which organizes the event, said the extended deadline allows 45 more days for applicants to prepare the necessary documents. Successful applicants will receive a subsidy of up to MOP240,000 for the production, promotion and marketing of the animated films. The 2016 Subsidy Program for the Production of Original Animation Short Films, which launched last December, is part of the Subsidy Program Series for Macaus Cultural and Creative Industries. Macaus Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) informed the Times in a written statement yesterday that Zhuhai municipal authorities are investigating the intensity of light emitted from the Zhuhai Center Tower and that the building operators have agreed to adjust the brightness of the light. The DSPA contacted Zhuhai authorities late last month in response to complaints from Macau residents that the light emitted from some buildings in Zhuhai constituted a form of light pollution, particularly in the Sai Van Lake area and parts of Taipa. The DPSA said that the cooperation mechanism between Macau and Zhuhai had been utilized to express the concerns of local residents. Regarding the glare and spotlight problems at the Zhuhai Center Tower [], the Macau Environmental Protection Bureau has informed the Zhuhai Environmental Protection Bureau [] and has received a reply, the DPSA said in a statement. [Zhuhai authorities] arrived on the scene to investigate [the complaints], and the operators of the Zhuhai Center Tower will adjust the brightness of the light. According to Macau locals living in one of the affected areas, the Zhuhai Center Tower lights have been noticeably dimmer in the past few days compared to the previous week. Last weeks Chinese New Year celebrations may account for this difference. The cooperation mechanism, or working group, between Macau and Zhuhai is used for the coordination of environmental policies in the cities administrations. In an interview with the Times last week, the Chairman of the Green Environment Protection Association of Macau, Lun Veng San, testified to the importance of the cooperations, saying it could be used for the negotiation of joint policies to reduce inter-territory light pollution. The Macau-Zhuhai cooperation mechanism has been criticized in the past, with others claiming that the scope of the cooperation is limited. On February 1, the Macau Daily Times ran an article about a British/Philippine tourist couple who spent 6 hours in the Taipa police station after taking a video of a taxi driver who tried to charge them MOP100 for a trip from The Venetian to the Wynn Palace. This case raises many serious issues for the Macau government and the local tourism industry. When they arrived to deal with the disturbance, the taxi driver alleged to the police that the couple had taken a video of him, and so the police took everybody to the local station. It then took six hours to finally determine that the video did not capture any images of the driver so that the whole allegation was false. The tourist couple then decided to not press charges of false allegation against the driver, I guess for fear that the whole mess would just continue. This all happened on the 3rd day of the Chinese New Year, a peak tourist time, and yet there seem to have been no English-speaking police or casino staff available at the initial scene nor in the police station to quickly resolve the problem. For better or worse, English is the global lingua franca, and it seems ludicrous to me that no English speakers were available to act as interpreters. Surely, the casinos and the police do not assume that all tourists speak Cantonese or Putonghua. Moreover, no legal help was available for the tourists. The police only showed them the law in Chinese and Portuguese. Again, in a place so reliant on international tourism, surely a system of emergency legal aid should be in place, even during public holidays? There must be many tourists getting into hot water during their visits and most will have no idea of local laws or how to find a local lawyer to represent them. I am reliably informed that the couple tried to contact both the Hong Kong/Macau British and Philippine consulates and neither place had anybody on duty to answer calls. Given the very substantial British and Philippine presence in the region this seems totally unacceptable. From personal experience I know that the Australian consulate is useless, and it is disheartening to learn that the same can be said for the British and Philippine consulates. My wife tells me that there is always somebody to answer phone calls at the US Consulate, and she is a US Warden and is available (on a voluntary basis) to assist US citizens having difficulties here. Next, I am very concerned about this whole legal situation of taking peoples photos. I cannot read the law and I am very concerned about its concept and implementation. Is it a blanket ban, so that anybody who appears in my streetscape photographs can charge me? Or is it something specific to taxi drivers, in which case I ask why do they deserve this special protection? I cannot understand any reasonable rationale for why I cannot take photos of people in public places performing public services are you telling me that I can be charged if I take a photograph of a taxi driver assaulting a passenger as evidence of his/her criminal behavior? It is very widely understood, and there is overwhelming evidence, that there are very serious problems with taxi services in Macau. Yet the government seems to bend over backwards and is willing to seriously damage Macaus reputation as a tourist destination, the core of our economy, just to protect just a few bad apple taxi drivers and taxi owners. It is well beyond the time that major changes were made. Letting Uber and similar services operate here would largely solve the problems what are we waiting for? New Zealands Prime Minister Bill English said yesterday he told President Donald Trump during a phone call that he disagreed with his travel and refugee ban but that the conversation remained amicable. Last week Trump had a testy exchange with Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a deal Australia reached with the Obama administration to resettle refugees in the U.S. Trump later tweeted that the deal was dumb. By contrast, English told Radio New Zealand that his 15-minute call with Trump the previous day was a sensible, polite discussion that affirmed the good relationship between the countries. English said he told Trump he disagreed with the contested travel ban but didnt berate him over it. Im not there to scold him, although a lot of people might like us to do that, English said. English told the radio station that they also discussed China and North Korea. Clearly the U.S. president has some views about China, particularly over trade, over the South China Sea, English said. He said Trump told him it was important that countries work together to ensure North Korea did not cause trouble. Australia and New Zealand are part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing program with Canada, Britain and the U.S. English said he told Trump it was important that the U.S. maintain its presence and interest in the Asia-Pacific area, particularly after pulling out of a regional trade deal. The White House said in a statement that Trump affirmed the U.S. commitment to strong and active engagement in Asia and thanked New Zealand for its contributions to international peace and security. English said Trump also talked about the importance of U.S. border security. The US has something of a view that none of those pressures exist in New Zealand, English said. But actually they do. AP Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte angrily berated more than 200 allegedly erring policemen on national TV yesterday and said he would send them to a southern island to fight extremists dreaded for their beheadings. Dutertes expletive-filled outburst against the officers at Manilas presidential palace was his latest tirade against a police force that he has called rotten to the core. He recently banned the national police from carrying out his anti-drug campaign after a group of officers used the crackdown as a cover to kidnap and kill a South Korean man in an extortion scandal. The 228 policemen from metropolitan Manila are accused of a range of administrative and criminal offenses, including extortion and illegal arrests. Some have tested positive for drug use, regional police spokeswoman Inspector Kimberly Molitas said. Duterte, a longtime crime- busting city mayor and government prosecutor who ran after erring policemen and soldiers before he rose to the presidency last June, said he had wanted to punish the policemen by ordering them to clear the murky Pasig River by the presidential palace of water lilies, but that the river was clear of lilies. So he ordered them instead to prepare in two weeks for a two-year deployment to Basilan Island, the birthplace of the brutal Abu Sayyaf extremist group, where he said some police stations have been blown up by the terrorists. If you survive, come back here, Duterte told the policemen, who were made to stand in the sun before him outside the Malacanang palace. If you die there, Ill tell the police not to spend to bring you here and just bury you there. Duterte said the policemen can opt to resign but warned them about getting involved in criminal syndicates like some former police and military personnel. I will create a battalion just to keep track of your movements because it has been the sad experience of this country that the most vicious criminals are mostly ex-police or sometimes, ex-military men, he told the policemen, their heads bowed, threatening them with death if they venture into crime. Sorry, I wont think twice, you would really be the ones to go down in extrajudicial killings, said Duterte, who stood beside top police officials. Some rogue policemen have mulcted street vendors and ordinary Filipinos, while others have killed drug dealers, seized and sold their methamphetamine, a strongly addictive stimulant locally known as shabu, then pocketed the money, Duterte said. If youre mad at me, wait until my presidency ends, then lets go into a gunbattle, said the president, who started his six-year term in June. Duterte abruptly ended his talk to lead a Cabinet meeting, but asked the policemen to wait for him under the sun. More than 7,000 suspected drug dealers and addicts had been killed in Dutertes anti-drug crackdown before he prohibited the 170,000-strong police force from serving as the main enforcer of the campaign last week amid the scandal over the South Korean businessmans murder. Troops will be tapped to temporarily replace the policemen, Duterte said, prompting human rights groups to express alarm due to what they say is the militarys equally notorious image. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP The same taxi driver who overcharged a Hong Kong family last week also tried to extort HKD3,000 from the two tourists. A source familiar with the case told the Times that the police officer at the scene (outside Wynn Palace) told the Hong Kong couple that the taxi driver would not press charges against them in exchange for a HKD3,000 compensation. When the couple refused the proposal, the agent escorted everyone to the station. The couple who planned to spend the third day of the Chinese New Year in Macau said the taxi meter had not been engaged and asked the driver to turn it on, as previously reported by MDT. However, the driver declined, claiming that there was no meter over the Chinese New Year period and that the fee would be MOP100. On Thursday, the husband wrote a two-page letter of complaint to the Hong Kong office of the Macau Government Tourism Office. However, the office redirected them to the Transport Bureau (DSAT). The couple was escorted to Taipa Police Station via police van at around 1:30 p.m. on January 30, where the husband said his wife was forced to have her fingerprint impressions taken, and that they had refused to comply. We werent allowed to leave the police station until around 6:30 p.m., and we left the police station in the company of our lawyer, said the Hong Kong resident, who is also a British national. He said they were distressed by the heated argument in the station, during which the police presented them with legal books written in Portuguese and Chinese. We dont know what theyre denying, he said, adding that the authorities had told them that they would be detained that night and would meet the magistrate before the morning. To deny that we were detained there [is absurd]. Nobody spends five hours in a police station [] voluntarily, he lamented. LV Of all the lasting effects of Edward Snowdens leaks, theres one photo that leaves a particularly strong mark. In it, U.S. federal employees in T-shirts and blue jeans are seen intercepting network equipment from Cisco Systems Inc. at a shipping facility. The feds in the photo, their faces obscured, were reprogramming the machines to spy on peoples activities. The image captured a deeply held paranoia within Silicon Valleys biggest internet companies: In an era of increasingly sophisticated nation-state hacking, how can we trust that network infrastructure isnt compromised before its dropped off at the company loading docks? This fear has created a sense of urgency for Apple Inc., Google, Facebook Inc. and other technology giants that have been devising their own alternatives to Cisco, which controls more than half of the market for network equipment. After the photo was published, Cisco filed a public complaint with the White House, arguing that spying by the National Security Agency was hurting U.S. companies. Cisco told Bloomberg it doesnt work with governments on backdoors for its products and maintains tight checks on its processes and supply chain to assure customers of their security. While Ciscos dominance isnt in danger of slipping any time soon, the industrys creeping concerns over cybersecurity have created an opening for new businesses and equipment-design skunkworks inside large companies. In the three years since the Snowden leaks, networking software and equipment startups raised USD6.35 billion, a 47 percent increase over the prior three years, according to researcher CB Insights. Weve lost confidence in the vendors in the wake of the Snowden revelations, and that is a weakness and an opportunity, said John Kindervag, a vice president at market analysis firm Forrester Research. One company thats benefiting is SnapRoute Inc., which was founded by a former manager of Apples global data center network. The startup makes a cheaper, simpler network switch than the ones Cisco sells. And unlike most switches, its open-source, allowing customers to look for bugs, performance glitches or backdoors that might allow a government to peek inside. SnapRoute plans to announce a $25 million round of funding Tuesday from AT&T Inc., Microsoft Corp., Lightspeed Venture Partners and Norwest Venture Partners. The startup counts Facebook among its customers. Facebook is also a founding member of the Open Compute Project, which develops and shares open-source data center designs. It launched the project in 2011 after revealing details about a data center it built in Prineville, Oregon, using only Facebook-designed servers, power supplies and backup systems. Alphabet Inc.s Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Microsoft are now members. So is Cisco. Its playing along with a potential competitor because Cisco Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins has said the company needs to be part of every technology discussion that our customers want to have. The high cost of traditional networking products was the main reason for Amazon.com Inc.s investment into creating its own equipment. It was cost that caused us to head down our own path, James Hamilton, vice president and distinguished hardware engineer for Amazon Web Services, said at a conference in November. Networking gear is really expensive. Besides looking to save a lot of money on premium equipment, companies are placing a higher value on transparency. Cisco guards its code and designs, making them difficult to repair when things break. Bloomberg Businessweek reported in September that a web hosting company filed for bankruptcy protection after a series of Cisco switches failed and a major customer left, while Cisco worked for months on a fix. Cisco has declined to comment on that case, saying only that it tries to fix problems quickly. By 2020, spending on open-source and self-built switches and other network technologies will account for at least 20 percent of the global data center market, up from less than 2 percent last year, according to researcher Gartner Inc. Big Switch Networks Inc., Cumulus Networks Inc., Pluribus Networks Inc. and SnapRoute are among the companies cultivating a niche thats putting pressure on leaders Cisco and Juniper Networks Inc. and their proprietary code, said Naresh Singh, an analyst at Gartner. The giants are already under pressure from software-based networking alternatives like SnapRoutes, and the adoption of open-source tools from mega users, such as Facebook and Goldman Sachs, poses an even bigger threat to their businesses, Singh said. Cisco said some companies balk at using open-source network equipment, citing maintenance complexity and hidden costs. SnapRoute founder Jason Forrester said the idea for his startup came from a key discovery he and his colleagues at Apple made when they began designing their own networking software and switches. Forrester (no relation to the market research firm) left Apple in 2015 but declined to talk in detail about his work there. Switching wasnt as hard as Cisco and others led customers to believe, he said at SnapRoutes offices in an industrial part of Palo Alto, California, located 10 miles from Apples campus. Switches from SnapRoute are $30,000 to $40,000 cheaper than comparable brand-name models, Forrester said. And whereas switches from Cisco and other big suppliers can have tens of millions of lines of code, SnapRoutes has just 22,000, he said. This means fewer features, so SnapRoute may not be an attractive option for some companies. But the simpler code makes it easier for customers to sift through in search of hidden spying devices. Bloomberg Seeking to revive its long-dormant aerospace industry, Taiwan yesterday launched a USD2.1 billion investment in the production of air force jet trainers to be designed and manufactured on the island to counter Chinese military and diplomatic pressure. President Tsai Ing-wen presided over a ceremony in the central city of Taichung to inaugurate the project, which she hopes will aid Taiwans security and stem the flow of engineering talent overseas. The push to develop new homemade equipment is seen as growing more urgent against the backdrop of rival Chinas increasingly rigid approach to Tsais independence-leaning government. Building fighters locally is not a dream, it is an action. We not only want the fighter to take off, but also want the industry to upgrade and take off as well, Tsai told participants. Taiwan has largely abandoned the aircraft industry since it developed its Indigenous Defense Fighter, or IDF, in the 1980s following difficulties in obtaining military hardware abroad as a result of pressure from China. Although Taiwan has since bought fighter jets from the U.S. and France, Tsai said failure to develop the domestic industry would be a major disaster for the island democracys security. She said the project would also help upgrade the high-tech islands precision industries. Taiwans locally made fighter industry has been stagnating for almost 30 years. Not only has our aerospace industry been outperformed by other countries that had lagged behind us, but we also suffered serious brain-drain, Tsai said. We do not have another 30 years to waste. Now, the government is adamant in leading its people to regain the prestige of its defense industry. To aid the development, the Taiwanese militarys main research base, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, has received a 21 percent budget increase in the past year alone, Tsai said. Domestic manufacturer Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. will also participate in the project, which aims to deliver its first aircraft by 2020. The new planes, 66 of which are on order, will replace the locally-made AT-3 Tzu Chung trainers built in the 1980s, along with even older U.S.-made Northrop F-5s. Prior to Tsais election last year, the former ruling Nationalist Party government had been considering broad cooperation in the project with foreign companies, which might have helped counter pressure from China, which considers the island its own territory to be unified with by force if necessary. That approach was abandoned amid calls by Tsai and others to revive and nurture the local industry. Taiwans IDF fighters remain in service and are now undergoing upgrades, although they remain inferior to Chinas newest generation mainstay, the J-10, an indigenously developed model, and the J-11, which is a copy of Russias Su-27. Taiwans air force fleet also boasts the advanced French Mirage 2000 and the U.S. F-1 Fighting Falcon. AP A Thai court yesterday sentenced an Australian man to death for the murder of a countryman who was an alleged confederate in a drug smuggling gang. The Pattaya Provincial Court on found Antonio Bagnato, 28, guilty of killing former Hells Angels member Wayne Schneider in November 2015 after he and accomplices beat and kidnapped the victim from his luxury villa in the resort area. Bagnato fled to Cambodia where he was arrested soon after the crime. Eyewitness accounts and DNA evidence from bloodstains and weapons linked Bagnato to the crime. American Tyler Gerard, 22, who confessed to involvement in the abduction and aided police, was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Other accomplices who were seen by guards at the housing estate where the attack took place were not apprehended. Thai police say Bagnato murdered Schneider because of a dispute over their drug trafficking network, which was said to stretch from Europe to Asia and net millions of dollars. Thailand rarely carries out the death penalty. Police had an early break in their investigation because the guards who witnessed the abduction helped police identify the getaway vehicle, which was rented and had a GPS system. Tracking the route of the vehicle led police to Schneiders buried body. Pattaya is a seaside town notorious for corruption and prostitution, and its visitors and expatriate residents include underworld figures from many countries. AP Vatican officials are defending their decision to invite a Chinese delegation to an organ trafficking conference, saying the positives of encouraging reform outweighed negative criticism that the Holy See was helping whitewash Beijings use of organs from executed prisoners. Monsignor Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, said there was no way to know if China is still harvesting organs from executed prisoners. But he said yesterday the Vatican wanted to strengthen reformers in China, which has declared that the practice ended in 2015. We believe truly that they want to change, and that they are changing, he said. The Chinese delegation is headed by the former vice minister of health, Dr. Huang Jiefu, who is proposing a U.N. global task force for organ trafficking oversight. AP Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy TWIN FALLS The third of four suspects in a Magic Valley burglary ring has pleaded guilty to four felonies in the string of thefts he committed last summer with his girlfriend, sister and brother-in-law. Spencer Willson Wells, 22, of Twin Falls pleaded guilty Monday to three felony counts of burglary and one felony count of grand theft. According to the terms of his plea agreement, Wells will be sentenced to four to eight years in prison, but he could avoid the penitentiary and instead be ordered to probation if he successfully completes an educational and therapeutic program directed by the Idaho Department of Correction. The sentence is far lighter than those of his sister, 38-year-old Brezzy Ray Lemon, and her husband, 35-year-old James Howard Arthurs. Lemon, set for sentencing Feb. 21, agreed to a 10 to 20 year prison sentence. Arthurs was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison. The final suspect, Wells girlfriend, Alishia Elaine Bullock, 22, is set to enter a plea Feb. 15. The crew was charged with a string of break-ins and thefts in August and September last year that targeted business across the Magic Valley, including at least nine businesses in Hansen, Filer, Hollister, Castleford and Twin Falls. They allegedly stole two ATMs, cash and other valuables during their spree. KIMBERLY Want to help create new Kimberly elementary school attendance zones? The school district is looking for volunteers. Those interested in serving on a transition committee should submit a letter of interest to the Kimberly School District office, 141 Center St. W. Meetings will begin this spring. The group will make recommendations to the school board about new attendance zones, a name and colors for the new elementary school, and how to handle a $3 million remodeling of the existing elementary school. Theres going to be quite a lot under their umbrella, Superintendent Luke Schroeder said Tuesday. A new 50,000-square-foot elementary school estimated to cost about $11 million will open in fall 2018 to help alleviate overcrowding. Then, remodeling will begin on the existing elementary school. The new 10-acre campus will be at the corner of Polk Street West and Emerald Drive North. It will be paid for using a $14 million bond voters approved in May 2016. It will be Kimberlys second elementary school. Community members are invited to attend an informational meeting about the new elementary school project. Its slated for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 at the school district offices round building. The design for the new school is pretty much complete, Schroeder said, and is out for bid. He anticipates a groundbreaking this spring likely, in late March or April. The Kimberly School District is also going through the process of getting permission to rezone the property and have it annexed into the city. BOISE Kathy Peterson has kept a near-constant vigil this session in the Capitol rotunda. My opinion Legislation discrimination of my life insurance bill. Need bill hearing, reads the sign she hopes lawmakers will begin to pay attention to. For years, Peterson, of Meridian, has been pushing to get a bill passed requiring life insurance companies to make an attempt to contact customers by certified mail before canceling a policy for non-payment. She got a version of it introduced in 2014, but it never got a full hearing. Im just trying to give things that added protection and get things on a good rapport between the insured and the insurer, Peterson said. This year will be different she hopes. Peterson said she spoke late last week to David Hensley, Gov. C.L. Butch Otters chief of staff, and that he said House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, is inclined to allow a hearing and would identify a lawmaker for her to work with. For Peterson, its personal after her mother died in 2012, Peterson and her siblings never got the $100,000 life insurance payment because, they were told, the policy had lapsed. The insurance company said her mother had stopped paying and they notified her by mail; Peterson says her mother, who paid premiums for almost 30 years, was told both by phone and by letter in 2007 that the policy was paid in full, and that she never got anything in the mail threatening to cancel it after that. We felt like victims of fraud, Peterson said. Peterson went to court. The case ended up being dismissed, although without prejudice the insurance company had been seeking a dismissal with prejudice, which would have meant the case couldn't be re-filed. Thats when she began to push for the bill. The current version would require notification by first-class mail, which is done now, for a first warning, and then by certified mail for a second if no response is received. Peterson has been using her Facebook page My Life Insurance Protection Plan to promote the idea, and she has heard from many people who have stories similar to hers. A bill similar to Petersons was heard in Connecticut in 2010 but didnt pass. There are some other states that require notification of insurance policy lapses by certified mail in some limited cases. Virginia requires lapse notices for long-term care insurance to be sent to the policyholder and designated third party by certified mail. Maine requires notification by registered mail of a pending lapse if the policyholder is insured under the states retirement system. Shes passionate and she feels really strongly about her cause, said Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee Chairman Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls. Patrick told the Times-News he has suggested to Peterson that she change the bill to get rid of the requirement for notification by certified mail, but she was unwilling to. Patrick said he doesnt generally block bills, but that his committee wouldnt back this one. There was no support for it, he said. And I didnt want to waste the committees time. Requiring notifications by certified mail, Patrick said, could cost insurance companies a lot of money. Theyre persistent about sending bills out, he said. Its not like theyre negligent. For Peterson, requiring certified mail is the best way to protect policyholders against unintentional lapses. Theres so many reasons why people dont get their mail, its just not reliable to use first-class mail, she said. Peterson said she plans to keep fighting for her bill. She said she wants to change the Legislatures operations to take the decision on whether to hear a bill away from just the committee chairmen: My opinion (is), the statehouse should be the house of the people. BURLEY Wires on one of Mountain View Elementary Schools new rooftop heaters burned last week, causing the school to revert to using electric space heaters until repairs are made. Cassia County School District Superintendent Gaylen Smyer said staff at the school smelled an odor about 8 a.m. on Jan. 31. A custodian shut the power off to the heater. We didnt call the fire department because there wasnt an open flame, Smyer said. It just got hot and the wires melted together. The damage is on a control panel on the side of the heater, Smyer said. The heater is on the roof of the kindergarten wing. Parent Andrew Funk said he was alarmed that the fire department was not called to the school as a precaution. Its concerning, he said. Smyer said the manufacturer of the two-year-old heater will honor an outdated warranty and replace the side panel because of the unusual nature of the malfunction, but he didnt know when the part would be manufactured and the repairs made. Some of the other new heating units at Mountain View and at Burley Junior High School are also having problems, he said. The heaters at the junior high school are in their first season of use. Sensors in the heaters are failing, which shut the heaters down. We have to monitor several of the units, he said. Smyer said the extreme winter weather has brought the problems to the forefront, which may be a silver lining allowing the district to get problems fixed before too much time elapses. RAFT RIVER If you plan anytime soon to go east to Pocatello, or north to Idaho Falls and beyond, plan to add another 200 miles and several hours to your trip. The Idaho Department of Transportation closed Interstate 86 on Monday between mileposts 0 and 36 because of flooding over the Raft River bridges. The safest alternate route now runs through Tremonton, Utah. I-86 runs between the I-84/I-86 junction called the split, about 15 miles east of Burley and Pocatello. The Raft River bridges are about halfway between the split and the Neeley exit on I-86. We dont have an official route around (the closed section of the interstate), said Nathan Jerke, spokesman for ITD. Traffic cant be detoured locally because of flooding on those possible routes, where road conditions change daily. Normally, ITD would detour traffic to I-84, then Yale Road, which reconnects with I-86 just east of the Raft River bridges, Jerke said, but the bridge over Raft River on Yale Road is in the same condition as the interstate bridges. By late Monday afternoon, the Raft River had risen over both eastbound and westbound bridges. Electronic reader boards warn drivers at Glenns Ferry and Pocatello of the I-86 closure, he said. For the bulk of eastbound traffic, the easiest route is I-84 to Tremonton, then I-15 to Pocatello. I-86 is open both directions from Pocatello west to the Neeley exit for drivers needing to travel to American Falls and Massacre Rocks. But many drivers especially tractor-trailers hauling fuel or commodities are taking U.S. 93 and U.S. 26 around Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and through Arco, said Chancey Perkins, a truck driver who hauls cattle from Wendell to Idaho Falls. Carey has more snow than Perkins has ever seen. People are walking through tunnels to get to their homes, he said. Arco is where traffic splits to go to Idaho Falls and Blackfoot or Mackay and Challis. Were seeing about double the amount of traffic through here, said Tiffany Martinadale, manager at the Bargain Barn convenience store and fueling station in Arco. Roads here are flooded, icy or slushy, Martindale said Wednesday. We printed out a map from the ITD to show to drivers. Meanwhile, the ITD cant say when I-86 will reopen, Jerke said. By Tuesday, water over the eastbound lanes had dropped about four inches. We hoped to get the road back open, but the water is maintaining that level, he said. With the potential for additional rain, theres a good possibility it will stayed closed. The same area was closed in the late 1960s and 1980s due to flooding at Raft River, Jerke said. The bridges have an anticipated life of about 50 years, which they have met. The ITD expects to replace the bridges in 2019 and the project will raise the grade of the interstate there 10 feet. We take the flooding into account, Jerke said, and plan for 500-year storm. The beleaguered YMCA of the Magic Valley wants a new deal on its contract to manage the city pool. The city of Twin Falls should beware. For years, the city has contracted with the Y to run the pool. The city pays the YMCA $120,000 a year to manage the aquatic center, and the Y is allowed to collect fees from swimmers, from $2.50 to $4.50 a swimmer depending on age. Part of that effort now seems to be renegotiating its contract with the city, no doubt for a bigger chunk from taxpayers. The city doesnt have to discuss new terms the contract doesnt run out until next year but on Monday the City Council agreed to open a new round of talks with the Y immediately. It should proceed with caution. Weve said previously we hope that the YMCA succeeds in its turn-around effort. A city of this size should have a Y, and the group does countless good for the community. Yet, were leery about a new arrangement, especially if it costs taxpayers more money. As new negotiations open up, the city should remember its responsibility is to taxpayers and not the membership of the YMCA. Y members have already paid a high cost for the organizations mismanagement. Itd be a shame if that cost was passed on to taxpayers in the form of higher city contributions to the pool. On Monday, the pools former director, John Twiss, testified before the Council, saying he hasnt seen a dollar of city money reinvested into the pool. He called for a new strategy; the current one simply isnt working. Take, for example, the pure numbers. The YMCA claims the Y had a net income of $414,304 at the city pool between January and October 2016. Pool visits were up from the previous year. But in December, the YMCA cut pool hours during the school year as admissions plummeted. Councilwoman Ruth Pierce wondered aloud whether it might be time for the city to cut ties with the Y and open up new bids for a potentially different contractor. That day may soon come, but city leaders first want to see what happens in a new round of negotiations with the YMCA. Still, City Manager Travis Rothweiler indicated patience with the Y might be wearing thin around City Hall. I believe the time to determine whether or not the city wants to find a different partner or go a different direction may occur at some point in the future, City Manager Travis Rothweiler said. Not necessarily as a part of this process. Its clear city leaders are already considering worst-case scenarios the city almost certainly doesnt want to be in the business of managing a public pool. Nor, though, is it keen to keep pumping taxpayer dollars into an enterprise that may ultimately fail. The question now is whether the YMCA is in a position to keep managing the pool without a significant boost in cash from the city. Time will tell. In the meantime, the city should be cautious not to wade too deeply and risk getting in over its head. Dear Mr. Colley, Generally I enjoy listening to you on your radio program. I listen to you often. Thank you for your conservative insights. The purpose of this communication is to comment on your Times-News column dated Jan. 17. In doing so I am going against my better judgment of taking on someone who sits behind a microphone and buys ink by the gallon. In the first paragraph of your column you state The representative from Northern Idaho is being censured for speaking what could well be the truth about how women advance legislatively. Really, Bill, really? Do you really believe that that could well be the truth about how women advance legislatively? Do you really believe that that could be the truth about how Rep. Maxine Bell, now in her 15th term, became, and continues to serve, as chairwoman of the very important Appropriations Committee? Do you really believe that that could be the truth about Boyle and Packer and Perry and Trujillo and VanOrden came to their position in the various committees? Bill, do you know of what you are accusing the speaker and the majority leader and the assistant majority leader and Rep. Bell and other distinguished women on the Legislature? Ye,s you do know. Bill, dont hide behind could be the truth. You know what you are suggesting and, in my view, it is reprehensible and disgusting that you would suggest such a thing. That is something that Hillary or others on that side of the aisle would do. For this statement alone, you owe every woman in the Legislature a huge apology. Later in your column you speak of attending the state GOP convention. I was there as well. You were speaking of electing party leaders and then you made some interesting comments. A great many delegates simply asked party elders who we were supposed to vote for and this allowed the mandarins to drive the choices. Really, Bill? You knew who was running. They had all been campaigning. Did you do your homework? Did you approach any of the candidates? Did you ask any trusted friends as to their opinion? Did you listen to the candidates as they spoke and then make a decision on your own? I did all of these things as I made my decision as for whom was going to get my vote. Surely a man of your stature cannot be swayed by party elders. In that same paragraph, and while speaking of your local party meetings you make additional comments. You say, At local party meetings the committeemen and women have seats facing forward. In a room behind them the local mandarins have a wide view if anyone goes off the farm. Im reminded of the story of Soviet troops attempting to retreat from battle with the Germans. Stalin had his own men shot by a line stationed in the rear. It didnt matter a retreat sometimes was the best strategic decision. The party leader didnt approve. Bill, how dare you compare your local GOP leaders to Stalin and his atrocities? Bill, there are additional disgusting comments in your column, but I will end with this one. You write, This is what Heather Scott and her growing army of allies are looking to stop. Really, Bill? What army a total of five out of 105 legislators. Have you visited with any of those five and inquired of the second thoughts that they are having about throwing in with her? They would be interesting phone calls. Then, in this same paragraph you sum up with another disgusting and reprehensible analogy. This is why the powerful have decided it was time to strike. The tanks have rolled into Prague, to make a historical analogy. As the story unfolds well learn if Idahos Prague Spring is finished or if the heavy-handed power mongers have miscalculated. Bill, do you even know, or have you ever visited with, those that you are calling heavy-handed power mongers? I have. They are simply honest and good people who are sacrificing much of their life to serve the people of Idaho. They deserve much better than what you wrote in your column. Bill, maybe you written what you wrote for shock-effect or to try to get an audience. The sad thing is that I will probably read your column this Tuesday. As I read it I will wonder what is true and what is just shock-effect, and than I will probably not read it at all the following Tuesday. As mentioned at the beginning, I have enjoyed listening to you on the radio. You have some interesting guests and comments, but this column was way out of line. C. Mark Peterson Burley Eight Abu Sayyaf members have been killed in the ongoing operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the bandit group in Sulu. The campaign, led by Joint Task Force Sulu, is taking place in Sitio Talok Talok, Capual, Sulu. The number of dead ASG members is up from five yesterday, following a 20-minute clash. The AFP is fighting with ASG bandits under sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya, who is based in Indanan. Government troops have seized several high-powered firearms and explosives during the firefights. ADVERTISEMENT Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. SYDNEYBeijing has played down the prospects of conflict with the United States over the South China Sea in the wake of aggressive rhetoric by Donald Trumps administration, saying both sides would lose. China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich region despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbors and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. In Manila, officials said Wednesday the Philippines is seeking US and Chinese help to guard a major sea lane as Islamic militants shift attacks to international shipping. Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Manila does not want the Sibutu Passage between Malaysias Sabah state and the southern Philippines to turn into a Somalia-style pirate haven, Coast Guard officials said. The deep-water channel, used by 13,000 vessels each year, offers the fastest route between Australia and the manufacturing powerhouses China, Japan and South Korea, they said. ADVERTISEMENT In the past year Abu Sayyaf gunmen from the southern Philippines boarded ships and kidnapped dozens of crewmen for ransom in the waters between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, raising regional alarm. Meanwhile, the islands in the South China Sea are considered a potential flash point and recent comments from White House spokesman Sean Spicer and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have raised the temperature. But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit to Australia that war would benefit no-one. For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognize that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States, he said in Canberra through an interpreter late Tuesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Both will lose and both sides cannot afford that. Spicer last month said the US is going to make sure we protect our interests in the South China Sea while Tillerson said Chinas access to the islands might be blockedraising the prospect of a military confrontation. Wang said the US-China relationship had defied all sorts of difficulties over decades and pointed to more recent statements by US Defense Secretary James Mattis that it was important to give priority to diplomatic efforts, ABC said. On a trip to Japan last week, Mattis said Beijing has shredded the trust of regional countries with the military fortification of islands it controls, but balanced the message with a call for disputes to be settled through arbitration and diplomacy. After scheduled strategic dialogue talks with Wang, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday said Beijing was keen for a close relationship with the Trump government. Beijing certainly welcomes a deep engagement with the United States, she told Sky News. They are looking forward to an era of cooperation, they see opportunity with the new administration to deepen the connections and as he [Wang] said, the United States and China have too much to lose for there to be conflict between them. My impression was that China is looking forward to engaging positively with the United States, she added. Under President Barack Obamas administration, Washington insisted it was neutral on the question of sovereignty over the South China Sea islets, reefs and shoals. But, while calling for the dispute to be resolved under international law, the US supported freedom of navigation by sending naval patrols through Chinese-claimed waters in a move supported by Canberra. We did discuss the South China Sea, said Bishop. China is now deeply engaged in negotiations, discussions, consultations with the other claimants. Hopefully well continue to see both sides working very hard for peace and prosperity in our region. Chinas island-building program in the South China Sea has irked neighborsmany of whom also have claims to parts of the seaand caused global concern. Philippine defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday Manila expected China to try to build on a reef off the coast of the Philippines, adding this would be unacceptable in the flash point waterway. Bishop urged Beijing to play a responsible role, committed to the international rules-based order which has provided so much opportunity for peace, prosperity and stability in its dealings in the South China Sea. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. CAMP VICENTE LIM, LagunaThe Police Regional Office Calabarzon has guaranteed the security of the Korean community living or working in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. PRO Calabarzon Regional Director Chief Supt. Valfrie Tabian gave this assurance to Tae Seon Kim, district director for Laguna, and Jong Jin Byun, district director for Cavite, of the United Korean Community Association of the Philippines on their visit to this camp Wednesday. The Korean delegation was worried about the latest events in Angeles City, where businessman Jee Ick Joo was kidnapped and killed by alleged rogue policemen in an extortion attempt. Kim told Tabian about 10,000 Koreans live or work in Calabarzon, and most of them are stationed in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. Tabian said the incident in Angeles will not happen under his leadership. He also instructed all provincial police directors and chiefs of police to ensure the security of the Koreans in their territory. ADVERTISEMENT The Korean community has designated Korean Desk Police Liaison Officer Chief Insp. Yun Won Chang to be stationed at Calabarzons Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to coordinate the security of the Koreans. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The European Union and Morocco issued a joint statement giving reassurances about the implementation of the agricultural agreement, in response to a strong worded statement by Moroccos Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry warning of serious repercussions on bilateral ties if the EU fails to honor the agreement. Parties have recognized the importance of maintaining stable trading relationships. They agreed that technical teams will combine to detail mark the work, says a joint statement issued following a meeting Tuesday between the EUs Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini and Moroccos Minister Delegate to Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita and attended by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The statement underscored the strong partnership linking the two parties adding that they will remain attached to promoting this partnership. The dialogue between the EU and Morocco will continue in the spirit of peace and mutual trust to coordinate the necessary arrangements for the continuation and development of relations between the two sides, particularly in the field of agriculture, stresses the statement. Pending the conclusion of discussions, if necessary, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the implementation of the free trade Agreement on processed agricultural products and fishery products between the European Union and Morocco, adds the statement. On Monday, Moroccos Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry called on the EU to prevent attempts seeking to hamper the implementation of the agricultural agreement and warned of the social and economic repercussions that may result from failing to honor the agricultural agreement after attempts to deny entrance of some Moroccan products. Morocco and the European Union have inked an agricultural agreement whose implementation covers all the territories of the Kingdom of Morocco, the ministry said. Last December, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) declared the agricultural trade deals with the Kingdom as valid and annulled the verdict it issued in December 2015. The 2015 ruling had suspended the agreement on grounds that it included the Moroccan Sahara southern provinces within its scope. In its 2016 verdict, the court declared invalid the challenge to the Morocco-EU trade deals submitted by the Polisario, the Algeria funded and based separatist militia, to the trade deals. The EUs top court, thus overruled its previous verdict and rejected the Polisarios right to appeal. The EU and Morocco have struck agreements allowing duty-free quotas for agricultural products such as tomatoes and granting access for European vessels to fish in Moroccan waters in return for financial assistance. The two sides also began negotiations in 2013 to sign a deeper and broader free trade agreement. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and many world leaders have condemned on Tuesday the law passed by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, that gave legal status to what had been considered by Israel so far as illegal settlement outposts. Speaking at a press conference after meeting French President Francois Hollande in Paris, President Abbas deemed the regularization law that legalizes settlement activities as an aggression against the Palestinian people and said the Palestinian government is going to follow up on these Israeli acts with the international courts, reported the Palestinian news agency WAFA. This bill is a breach of international law, said Abbas, before he called on France and the international community to help us implement (UN) Security Council resolution 2334 before it is too late. The Security Council voted in December in favor of a resolution condemning Israeli settlements, which it considered illegal and an obstacle to peace. The European Union, through the voice of High Representative & Vice-President Federica Mogherini, joined the international condemnation of the Israeli settlement law passed by the Knesset on Monday night, saying the Regularization Law crosses a new and dangerous threshold by legalizing the seizure of Palestinian property rights and effectively authorizing the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land in occupied territory. The law may provide for legalizing numerous settlements and outposts previously considered as illegal even under Israeli law, which would be contrary to previous commitments by Israeli governments and illegal under international law, said Federica Mogherini in a statement. In passing this new law, the Israeli parliament has legislated on the legal status of land within occupied territory, which is an issue that remains beyond its jurisdiction, said the EU official, warning that if the law is implemented, it would further entrench a one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict. The EU urges the Israeli leadership to refrain from implementing the law and to avoid measures that further raise tensions and endanger the prospects for a peaceful solution to the conflict, Mogherini said, renewing the EU commitment to a two-state solution in order to rebuild mutual trust and create conditions for direct and meaningful negotiations. British Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, on his part said, It is of great concern that the bill paves the way for significant growth in settlements in the West Bank, threatening the viability of the two-state solution. The White House did not comment on the passing of the law, but Donald Trumps officials said the issue would be discussed at next weeks meeting in Washington between Donald Trump and Netanyahu. The Israeli attorney general Avichai Mandelblit has said the law is unconstitutional and it is likely to eventually be struck down by the Israeli Supreme Court. Senegalese Foreign and Fisheries Ministers are expected in the Mauritanian capital to discuss the fate of dozens of Senegalese fishermen arrested in Mauritanian waters early this month. Together with fisheries minister, we are examining the steps to take quickly in order to bring support to our fishermen arrested in Mauritania, said Mankeur Ndiaye, the Senegalese Foreign Minister. Some 131 Senegalese were arrested on February 3 by Mauritanian coastguards for fishing in the countrys waters. Forty have been expulsed while the remaining men are still locked up in Nouakchott harbor military police station, le360.ma reports. Some of them, crews of 12 boats to be more precise, tried to flee but were caught up by Mauritanian coastguards and sent back, Modou Fall, spokesperson for the Senegalese fishermen in Mauritania told le360.ma. Those men are currently held at gendarmerie of port of Nouakchott and do not have any clue of what Mauritanian authorities are planning to do with them, he added. According to press reports, 5 other boats were arrested on January 27 at Nouadhibou, the second city of the country. The coastguards seized the crews and the boats, as Mauritanian authorities have not renewed their fishing license. The renewal of the six-month license has been delayed for one year now, Le360.ma notes. The Senegalese Foreign Minister vowed that his country would do its utmost to ensure that the situation gets back to normal. Japan Monday hailed the African Unions decision to reinstate Morocco in the continental organization and described the North African country as an important partner for the stability and development of the continent. The government of Japan hails the decision by the summit of the African Union related to the return of Morocco in the AU, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement. The Japanese government underscored that the kingdom also represents a major partner in the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development). The Japanese government, led by Abe, is eager and determined to continue working with the AU and the kingdom of Morocco, the statement further indicated. The kingdom has taken part in the TICAD since its inception in 1993. The TICAD conferences were intended to help to promote high-level policy dialogue amongst African leaders and their development partners. Moroccos return to the continental organization and the strong leadership of King Mohammed VI that has returned the North African country to its rightful place in its institutional family were hailed worldwide as a new momentum to the continents development and stability and a strong impetus to regional cooperation. We believe Moroccos membership in the African Union will positively contribute to the continents further economic, political, and social integration and to its stability and security, said the US State Department, while the French Foreign Ministry described Moroccos return as a major step towards unity, stability and development of the African continent. Other European countries, including Great Britain, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Norway, Czech Republic, and regional organizations such as the European Union or the Arab League have all hailed Moroccos return to the AU. These countries have underscored in their respective statements, that Moroccos reintegration in the AU will further strengthen African unity and enable the AU to fulfill its role in achieving the economic and political integration of member countries, in addition to fostering security and stability in a spirit of consensus and partnership. Safety standards in Georgia By Messenger Staff Several days ago, a major fire in Tbilisi completely destroyed one of the largest and most popular trading centers.The fire broke out at about 3-4pm overnight from January 29 to 30, and 30 fire brigades tried to put out the fire for several hours.Up to 1,000 vendors lost their property, work places and many of them are now facing crippling debt.Now all of them are asking and demanding that the local authorities help them or reimburse the losses.The case once again raised question marks over safety and security measures in Georgia.The fire service stated that fire could have been put out sooner if someone had called the emergency services earlier.It is astounding that a building with so many employees, and one of the largest and most popular gold trade centres in Tbilisi, had no fire alarms or fire prevention systems.The owners of the buildings must take responsibility for this extreme oversight, but those employed in the building are also responsible as they had not demanded the introduction of such systems.Unfortunately, many Georgians think that nothing bad will happen to them until such disasters really take place, as proved by the recent publication of Georgias traffic collision statistics.It is also not right to demand the compensations from the local authorities.However, there is another issue.The local authorities and the Government in general are also responsible, as there is no genuine mechanism in the country that would check how different companies acting in Georgia meet even minimal safety norms.It should be mentioned here that the country badly needs efficient insurance system. Insurance companies should work more efficiently to explain to the population and businessmen in particular about the advantages of insurance system. The insurance companies should attract the population by offering genuine compensation to the businessmen as well as the farmers and ordinary citizens.So far, the insurance companies fail to attract wide masses of population and businessmen in insuring their property or businesses. The News in Brief Moscow and Tbilisi to Supply Electricity to Abkhazia Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said on January 30 that the Enguri hydropower plant, Abkhazias main energy supplier, will be temporarily stopped for monitoring the derivation tunnel as part of the initial preparatory works for a larger rehabilitation woks scheduled for 2018. Kaladze also stated that he talked about the issue with representatives of Chernomorenergo, the Abkhaz state-owned energy company, during their meeting on January 26 in Minsk, Belarus. On February 15 we are planning to stop the Enguri hydropower plant to monitor the tunnel, since its repair works are scheduled for 2018. We talked on concrete details related to all these issues [with Chernomorenergo]. The meeting was successful. We will stop the Enguri hydropower plant for some time in 2018, so that the tunnel is entirely repaired, Kaladze said. During this period, Abkhazia will not face energy supply problems, the Energy Ministry told civil.ge without disclosing further details. Aslan Basaria, head of Chernomorenergo, stated at his press briefing on January 31 that the monitoring process will last for about three-four weeks. In the meantime, the Russian energy officials agreed to supply Abkhazia with 200000 kWh electricity, according to Basaria. He, however, added that the volume would not be sufficient for meeting the regions needs and that Tbilisi would cover for the difference in energy supply. Abkhazias consumption today, in this weather, reaches around 390000 kWh. Therefore, we will face power shortage on which, we have an agreement that the Georgian energy system will insure against the energy shortage that we will have, he added. Basaria explained that several meeting were held on the matter, with Georgian Energy Minister in Minsk and with Russian authorities in Moscow. Without Russias help it is difficult for us to solve these problems. We have been cooperating with Georgia in the field of energy for almost 20 years. Since the plant is in our shared use, we are obliged to agree all decisions, including on stopping the plant, supplying Abkhazia with electricity and all other matters that come up in the process Chernomorenergo head stated. Basaria also noted that the price for the Russian electricity will be between 390 (USD 6.5 million) and 500 (USD 8.2 million) million Russian rubles. The electricity will be supplied to Abkhazia at a wholesale price and without profits. Rates range from about two rubles and 30 kopeks (USD 0.04) to two rubles and 50 kopeks (USD 0.05) [per kWh], Basaria added. Aslan Basaria also stated that the water level in the Enguri dam is nearing to its critical point of 420 meters above sea level below which the power generation will stop. According to the Abkhaz official, the water level in the reservoir is at 431 meters and the plant might go off before February 15, the scheduled start of the tunnel monitoring. The water shortage is linked to a hike in power consumption in Abkhazia as well as outdated electric wires, Basaria explained. Officials in Tbilisi were predicting a complete blackout in Abkhazia from late February in case of failure to reduce the regions power consumption or to secure additional supplies of electricity from sources other than the Enguri hydropower plant. Abkhazia fully relies on electricity generated by the Enguri hydropower plant, whose 271.5-meter-tall concrete arch dam is located on the Georgian side of the administrative border and its five generators are on the Abkhaz side in Gali district. According to a long-standing, informal agreement between Tbilisi and Sokhumi 40% of the electricity generated by the plant goes to Abkhazia and the rest 60% is received by rest of Georgia. In 2015, Georgia distributed 1,797 million kWh electricity to Abkhazia, 17.31% of Georgias overall consumption, according to Georgias Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commissions report. In 2014 and 2013 Abkhazia was supplied by 1,638 million kWh electricity (16.11%) and 1,605 million kWh electricity (16.57%) respectively. (Civil.ge) Georgias aspiration to move closer to the internal market of Europe is impressive and exemplary - Thomas Mayr Harting Georgias aspiration to move closer to the internal market of Europe is impressive and exemplary, - Thomas Mayr Harting, Managing Director of the EEAS at the European Commission said after meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze. We are glad to be in Georgia, which is a very dynamic partner within the Eastern Partnership initiative. Georgias aspiration to move closer to the internal market of Europe is impressive and exemplary, he said. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze held a meeting with Christian Danielsson, Director General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations and Thomas Mayr Harting, Managing Director of the EEAS at the European Commission, who arrived in Georgia for a two-day working visit in Georgia. The sides discussed priorities of Georgia-EU bilateral co-operation paying special attention to the importance of developing the Association Agenda and the Single Support Framework in due time, which will allow Georgia to successfully carry out reforms under the Association Agreement. The Georgian side welcomed the fact that EU assistance is focused on economic development, support for small and medium-sized businesses and the formation of vocational education system, which is fully in line with the Georgian Governments priorities. The sides underlined the necessity of completing procedures necessary for granting Georgia visa-free travel in the shortest possible time. The importance of strategic communication in terms of promoting concrete results on the path of European integration was also highlighted. The sides exchanged their views on the importance of the fifth Eastern Partnership summit scheduled to take place in Brussels, on 24 November 2017. The sides spoke about the security and human rights situation in Georgias occupied territories, including restrictions on the free movement of people. Mikheil Janelidze expressed his gratitude for the European Unions active involvement, including in the Geneva International Discussions. The EU delegation reaffirmed the European Unions firm support for Georgias territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. (IPN) via @learyreports WASHINGTON -- Jeb Bush celebrated the confirmation today of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. I congratulate Betsy DeVos on her confirmation as our nations next Secretary of Education. The president made an excellent choice to lead the Department of Education," Bush wrote in a statement from his education foundation, whose board DeVos sat on. DeVos, who struggled through her confirmation hearing, barely made it through the Senate, with Vice President Mike Pence having to cast a tie breaker. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson voted against her and Sen. Marco Rubio voted in favor. But for Bush and other education advocates, it is a win nonetheless. Bush wrote several letters and op/eds on DeVos' behalf. "Millions of families share Secretary DeVoss vision for disrupting a failed status quo that has denied too many children access to a quality education," Bush said today. "Its time to upend the entrenched special interests that put adults above genuine reforms that will raise student achievement. I hope the senators who opposed Secretary DeVoss nomination will now put aside the tired arguments of the unions and come together to prioritize the needs of students. Under Secretary DeVoss leadership, I am confident the federal government will loosen its grip on our education system and return power to the states and parents where it rightfully belongs. --ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times A staffer for U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, is under a criminal investigation for equipment and data theft, according to Politico. Imran Awan has worked for various members of the House of Representatives since 2004. Multiple relatives of Awan who have also worked for House members are also part of the investigation. Efforts to reach Awan were unsuccessful. A spokesman for Wasserman Schultz, David Damron, didn't respond to questions about Awan but sent a statement to the Miami Herald: "At this time we are continuing to gather information from House officials, and will determine the best approach to move forward once we have received a thorough review. We are consulting House counsel to ensure that due process is afforded to her employees before any action is taken. A spokeswoman for U.S. Capital Police, Eva Malecki, sent a statement to the Miami Herald: "At the request of Members of Congress, the United States Capitol Police are investigating the actions of House IT support staff. No Members are being investigated. No arrests have been made. We have no further comment on the ongoing investigation at this time." Read the Politico report here. From a letter to the Miami Herald editor sent by Florida Gov. Rick Scott: In business, people come together, certainly with their own objectives in mind, to make a deal. The goal is to arrive at a win-win where everyone leaves happy. Politics, on the other hand, too often is a game to make the other side lose at any cost. We should demand better. The men and women who were elected to represent their districts and states have a duty to actually represent them. Working to obstruct progress at any price is why people hate politics and a large part of why voters elected President Trump to make major changes. He has made some great appointments, and one of the greatest is his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. I believe this appointment follows my own standard for appointing judges here in Florida: Choose someone who wants to interpret the law, not write it. More here. @amysherman1 Following President Donald Trumps immigration ban, the Broward County Commission passed a resolution celebrating diversity while avoiding the term sanctuary community. The resolution declared Broward an inclusive and welcoming county for all of it's residents and visitors irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity or national origin. The resolution sponsored by Commissioner Nan Rich of Weston praised immigrants for making significant contributions to the economic and social fabric of the nation. Rich said in an interview that her resolution had nothing to do with sanctuary cities. Trump has said he will strip communities of federal funds that provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants sought by federal officials. In response, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez reversed the county's 2013 policy to stop honoring federal detention requests. Broward never had a sanctuary policy although the Broward Sheriff's Office has said that it will only honor federal detention detainers if there is a finding of probable cfause. Rich said that immigration activists asked her to sponsor the resolution. We have to speak out when people are doing something that is in contradiction to our American values, she said in an interview. Rich, who is Jewish, said her grandparents emigrated from eastern Europe in the 19th Century. Im particularly sensitive to the moral imperative to welcoming immigrants, said Rich, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council in 1999. We know what happens when doors are closed and people die and they dont find the refuge and the safety and protection. Immigrant and Democratic activists spoke in favor of the countys resolution and bashed Trumps actions related to immigrants. The resolution passed 7-1 after commissioners struck a phrase about offering refuge, an early version of the minutes show. Commissioner Chip LaMarca, the lone Republican, cast the dissenting vote. He noted that the county already has an act banning discrimination. He also said that the resolution wouldnt do a damn thing to protect the county from the federal government taking away money. LaMarca said in an interview that he didnt want to risk losing federal funding for port, road and infrastructure projects. There have been direct threats from the federal government -- if we dont do things a certain way they are going to withhold funding, he said in an interview. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, will host town halls in Broward this weekend. The town halls will be held at E. Pat Larkins community center, 520 NW 3rd St., Pompano Beach at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and at The Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors at 2 p.m. Sunday. Deutch represents District 22 which includes parts of Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate and Boca Raton. Deutch, who represents a solidly Democratic district, has been a vocal critic of the administration of President Donald Trump including Stephen Bannon's role on the National Security Council and his nominee, Neil Gorsuch, for the U.S. Supreme Court. Deutch supported the Treasury department's recent sanctions against Iran. He opposed the Iran deal in 2015. As the Florida House prepares to demolish the foundation of Gov. Rick Scott's job-creation agenda, tourism leaders have a chance to show off their marketing skills to the political world Wednesday. The stage is a 1 p.m. meeting of the 15-member House Careers & Competition Subcommittee, which is expected to pass a bill eliminating Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida and mothballing nearly two dozen economic incentive programs. Local tourism groups were blitzing members during Super Bowl Sunday, hoping to assemble an invasion of up to 1,000 people in an effort to defeat a top priority of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes. Not since Johnnie Byrd of Plant City in 2003 has a Florida legislative leader stirred so much controversy so early in his term. But Corcoran is determined to win this round. "Help us produce 25,000 tweets, emails, phone calls and Facebook messages to EACH member," reads a blast email from Robert Skrob, executive director of the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations. "Be there by 12 noon so Rep. Corcoran's shills from Americans for Prosperity can't get into the room, much less find a seat (emphasis added). Work with our crackerjack PR team at CoreMessage to get talking points and your people booked on talk radio (and) television ... so the story after Wednesday's meeting is about the fight for jobs for Floridians instead of Corcoran's 'alternative truth' one-liners." Other tourism executives are putting heat on individual lawmakers. A target is Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast (left), chosen by Corcoran to manage the incentives bill. A retired Navy commander who fought in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, he represents a coastal district south of Jacksonville full of Mom-and-Pop businesses that depend on tourists drawn by the marketing efforts of Visit Florida that Corcoran has targeted for elimination. Kurt Allen of Marineland, the iconic dolphin adventure site in St. Augustine, wrote Renner: "The tourism industry is outraged that our political leaders would make a move so detrimental to the state, local constituents and our way of life. When I was told that the bill is being sponsored by you, I had to ask a second time." Renner said Visit Florida's "recurring problems" and "embarrassing moments" need to be put under control. He told the Times/Herald: "We don't need to be spending money on incentives when we have so many unmet needs in our state." Certain of the bill's passage, he said: "We'll have a good vote." via @anitakumar01 WASHINGTON -- The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Trump-family-owned Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend is fraught with ethical problems. Will U.S. taxpayers pay for Abe? Will Abe stay for free? Will Abe pay Trump, who will give the money to the U.S. Treasury? Im hoping the White House will clarify the arrangement, but every financial scenario I can think of compromises the office and presents a significant conflict of interest that every other modern president has taken pains to prevent, said John Wonderlich, executive editor of the Sunlight Foundation, which pushes for government openness. The White House referred questions about who is paying to the State Department, which referred questions to the Japanese government. Several Japanese officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lack of transparency about the arrangements is also troubling, said Norman Eisen, who served as a White House ethics lawyer under President Barack Obama. Most fundamentally, this demonstrates that Mr. Trumps unresolved business conflicts are going to hang over almost everything he does. . . . This news provides one more reason that Mr. Trump shouldve made a clean break with his businesses instead of hanging on to his ownership interests. More here. Photo credit: Koji Sasahara, AP HELENA A proposed checkoff program would allow hunters purchasing licenses to voluntarily donate for lethal control of wolves. Rep. Becky Beard, R-Elliston, brought House Bill 367 before the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee Tuesday. The bill creates a voluntary checkoff where hunters can donate $1 or more to help reduce the impact of wolves on landowners and livestock producers. Beard brought the bill at the request of her constituents, she told the committee. The bill requires Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to use the funding to contract with USDA Wildlife Services, including but not limited to flight time, collaring, and lethal control of wolves. FWP currently spends about $800,000 annually on collaring and lethal control programs. Similar checkoffs are available for programs such as non-game animals and Hunters Against Hunger. Avon-area rancher Brian Quigley with the Rocky Mountain Stockgrowers Association detailed some of the additional expenses faced by livestock producers, such as paying fees per animal for predator control. We were asked how else hunters could help and this is what we came up with, he said of the proposed checkoff. Ranchers will continue to bear the brunt of predator costs, particularly with the recent loss of a federal grant that financed a portion of predator programs, Jim Brown with the Montana Woolgrowers Association said. Jay Bodner with the Montana Stockgrowers Association also voiced support. In our mind, its money very well spent and another opportunity for hunters who want to contribute to this, he said. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks opposed the bill for technical reasons that it felt could be addressed through amendments. Wildlife division administrator Ken MacDonald said the department does not oppose the concept of the bill. Marc Cooke with Wolves of the Rockies did oppose the concept of HB367. He argued that the bill excludes nonlethal measures that have proven effective and that wolf populations are stable. To say wolves arent being killed and we need to kill more, I just dont buy it, he said. Also opposing was Ben Lamb with the National Wildlife Federation, agreeing that funding should be available for lethal and nonlethal wolf management. Voluntary checkoffs also do not tend to work well in most cases, pointing to a similar program in Wyoming that runs at a deficit. Beard closed on the bill noting the importance of agriculture in Montanas economy and touting the bill as a voluntary step to assist livestock producers requesting assistance. She indicated that she may be open to FWP suggested amendments but would need additional fact checking before deciding. The committee took no immediate action on HB367. HELENA The Montana House on Tuesday endorsed a bill to stop Montana State Hospital officials from releasing homeless mentally ill patients to shelters, sometimes with only their hospital garb and a week's worth of medication. Rep. Ellie Hill Smith, D-Missoula, said her bill would end the practice of dumping homeless patients, and force health officials to include housing arrangements in their discharge plans from Montana's only state-run psychiatric hospital in Warm Springs. "When Warm Springs discharges them, they are often still in their hospital clothes and they are given seven days of medication," Hill Smith said. "It is, frankly, morally reprehensible and it's fiscally unsound." Some 166 people since 2011 have been discharged from the hospital without a place to live, including 95 over the past two years, according to information provided for the bill by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. Not having a stable home environment increases their chances of being readmitted to the hospital, Smith said. Hill Smith, an attorney who previously ran a Missoula homeless shelter, said 386 of the 768 people who were admitted in the hospital last year were returning patients. It was not clear how many of those returning patients were homeless. Department of Public Health and Human Services spokesman Jon Ebelt did not return a call for comment, but he said in a written statement that the hospital has a team that works toward safe community placements. Planning for the discharge of a patient can begin within 10 days of a patient being admitted to the hospital, he said. "In reality, there is sometimes a stigma about mentally ill individuals returning to communities that makes placement a challenge," Ebelt said in the statement. Health department officials said in a fiscal note accompanying the bill that the state would be forced to pay for temporary housing costs upfront while hospital officials await a determination of whether the patients are eligible for federal aid. The cost to the state would run more than $150,000 a year, according to the agency's estimate. Hill disputed that, saying the costs would be lower if hospital officials begin patients' discharge plans when they are admitted. The bill also requires health officials not to delay a person's discharge from the hospital in order to comply, and to provide patients who are headed to temporary housing with information on how to find permanent housing. The measure is supported by Disability Rights Montana, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Montana Primary Care Association. NAMI Montana executive director Matt Kuntz said housing is a critical part of recovering from mental illness, though he added that some people who leave the hospital choose to be homeless. "I don't know if it's dumping or if it's a person's choice," he said. "But whether it's dumping or just setting someone up to fail, the end result is the same." The House approved the bill 88-12 after a brief discussion in which nobody spoke against the measure. It must pass a final vote before it goes to the Senate for consideration. Tuesdays, the Bethel Community Church clothing store is open for business, but it wont earn a cent. The basement operation, which spills into several rooms and offers clothes, coats, shoes and toys for babies, toddlers, kids and adults, is all donation-based and 100 percent free to those who shop there. We have an open-arms policy, said Kim Murray, who runs the shop. Everything is free. And we have given away a bunch of clothes. Tuesday the store was open for extended hours: until 6 p.m. rather than its usual 1 p.m. closing time, to give people with different schedules a chance to stop by. At the noon hour, about 30 to 40 people wandered around, eyeing clothes, filling bags, all checking in at the counter before they left so a volunteer could weigh their items for record-keeping. Jerry Hoffman stopped in Tuesday after his mom brought up the giveaway several times in reference to his sons, Caden and Skyler, who live in Kalispell with their mom. He sorted through the table of boys clothes, heaped high with shirts and pants. Hoffman carefully picked through the pile, holding up an item to review it before neatly folding it up and either placing it back on the table or in a plastic shopping bag. Theyre just growing so fast its hard to keep up with them, he said. Im hoping it all fits. Im not sure of their shirt size. Working as a roofer pays well during warmer months, Hoffman said, but it leaves him short during the winter and he knows Kalispells been cold this year. If I were to have to go and buy them he said with a frown. This seems to be the time they run out of clothes. Andrea Fitzpatrick toted her twin 7-month-olds in two baby carriers into the store to look for onesies to replace their older brothers hand-me-downs. She heard about the giveaway just yesterday and had a couple of bags filled after a few minutes in the store, stashed in one baby carrier behind the counter while she continued to pick through clothes, baby hanging off one arm, the other asleep in a carrier at her feet. Im one of those ladies who looks for zippers, she said. 'Cause Im all about efficiency. But she mostly found buttoned clothes on the table, eventually gathering up her daughters, Adina and Ayelet, and made her way out of the church, several bags of clothes accompanying the baby carrier in each hand. Some lady walked up to me the other day and asked if it was easy, Fitzpatrick said. Thats not the word I would use. Murray and some other churchgoers started giving away free clothes at one-day events starting in 2010. This all started, quite honestly, as a bunch of women in a Bible study complaining we couldnt fit into our jeans, Murray said. Four or five of those events later, the demand grew and the church was willing to donate more rooms in their basement to the cause. Now theyre open every Tuesday, serving more than 4,000 visitors last year and Murray said theyve had around 12,000 people come since they started regular hours in 2012. Murrays background is in marketing and thats helped her network with other donation-based centers in town like the YWCA, Salvation Army, Poverello Center, Missoula Shirt Works, etc. You name the place; Murrays gotten clothes from them. We kind of had a deal with God: You keep sending us clothes and people, well keep putting them out, Murray said. Hes what makes it work. I wont say its quite miraculous, another volunteer, David Paul, jumped in, but it sure seems like it from where we stand. The church prefers donations be dropped off Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while volunteers are there, but there is a donation bin in the parking lot. A mapping technology company based in Missoula is expected to create 25 new jobs here and another 16 jobs in Bozeman as a result of $267,500 in grant money awarded by Gov. Steve Bullocks administration. Missoula County has been awarded $187,500 in Big Sky Trust Fund job creation funds to help OnXmaps to expand. The money will be used for the purchase of equipment, software, furniture, lease rate reduction and reimbursement of wages. The company creates GIS/GPS software so that people (mainly hunters and hikers) can see precise public and private land boundaries on their smartphones even when they are out of cell coverage. They also make chips for GPS units. OnXmaps recently announced the construction of a second building next to their headquarters on Brooks Street in Missoula to keep up with their rapid growth. They have offices in Bozeman, as well, and the City of Bozeman will get $80,000 to help the company there. In total, Bullock announced Tuesday that $512,700 in grants will help businesses in five Montana communities, supporting the creation of 74 new jobs. A micro-distillery in Butte called Headframe Spirits will get $60,000 from Butte-Silver Bow County to create eight new jobs, and a concrete siding business in Drummond called Better Than Logs will get $15,000 to create two new jobs. Lake County got $170,200 to assist Jore Corporation/Rocky Mountain Twist in creating 23 new jobs in Ronan. The company makes power tool accessories and supplies them to the retail market. It also produces engineered drilling solutions for industrial clients. From making whiskey to programming better maps for hunting, Im pleased we can help these homegrown businesses create even more jobs, Gov. Bullock said in a statement. Our economy is diverse, and these public-private partnerships make a difference. The recipients of the grant money are chosen through a rigorous application process through the Montana Department of Commerces Office of Tourism and Business Development. The goal is to give businesses that can prove they could grow with a cash infusion the chance to provide stable and long-term economic growth. Eric Siegfried, the founder and president of OnXmaps, said his company has benefited and created jobs with Big Sky Trust Fund grant money twice before. In fact, they received a $221,600 grant back in 2013 when the company was called Hunting GPS Maps. We bring 90 percent of revenue from out-of-state into Montana, so were excited that we can hire this many people in Montana, he said. Siegfried said the application process involves lots of paperwork and audits. They ask you for your business plan, and you have to show every job youve created or they dont count it, he explained. It was challenging back when we didnt have enough staff. Now we have the department to do all that paperwork. The company needs to hire across the board, he said, but especially software engineers, database engineers and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) engineers to make maps. They will also be hiring in the digital marketing and sales departments, as well as customer service. Most of their GIS experts have graduated from the University of Montana, and many of their software engineers have come from Montana State University in Bozeman. According to Emilie Saunders, a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce, the Big Sky Trust Fund is funded by the states coal severance tax fund. Its a reimbursement grant program, meaning that each business only receives the money after working with the state to document the job creation. Then, there is a site visit to review the progress, and after that the grantee is reimbursed for the cost of those jobs. More funding opportunities are still available. The deadline for submitting an application for consideration at the next Grant/Loan Review Committee meeting is March 1. For more information, contact section manager Annmarie Robinson by phone at 406-841-2250 or by visiting bstf.mt.gov. The Montana Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold the homicide conviction of Markus Kaarma, who killed a 17-year-old German exchange student in Missoula. Following a trial in December 2014, a jury convicted Kaarma of deliberate homicide for killing Diren Dede, who was shot after entering Kaarmas Grant Creek garage in April 2014, apparently looking to steal alcohol. In February 2015, Kaarma was sentenced to 70 years in prison and won't be eligible for parole for 20 years. Kaarma appealed to the high court in late 2015, alleging that the jury was given unfair instructions on the use of force for self defense, that one potential juror should have been removed because she had a relationship to law enforcement, and that testimony that should have been excluded was allowed at trial. In an opinion written by Chief Justice Mike McGrath, the state Supreme Court refused all but one of Kaarmas claims, and said even though the lower court made a mistake in allowing testimony from a Missoula police detective, the error was not enough to overturn the conviction. Nate Holloway, Kaarmas attorney, had taken issue in the appeal with testimony from detective Guy Baker, who talked about blood spatter patterns found in the garage. Holloway said Baker should have been disclosed as an expert witness to allow him to hire a similar expert to refute the testimony. Bakers descriptions of high-velocity versus low-velocity blood spatter were expert testimony, McGrath wrote in his opinion. The District Court abused its discretion by allowing Baker to testify in this manner. However, McGrath said Bakers opinions lined up with the findings from experts on the defense and prosecution, and was not central to the issue of whether Kaarmas actions were deliberate homicide. There was no reasonable possibility that the inadmissible evidence might have contributed to a conviction, the chief justice wrote. *** Kaarma also claimed that because of significant public and media attention, the trial should have been moved out of the city. And, in briefs to the Montana Supreme Court, Holloway said Missoula County District Court Judge Ed McLean did not tell the jury to consider burglary as a forcible felony. Under the law regarding the defense of an occupied structure, deadly force is allowed if the occupant is subject to bodily harm or believes he or she is in danger of harm, or to prevent a forcible felony. Holloway argued Kaarma was defending his household when he shot into his garage where Dede was, and shouldnt have had to also prove he was defending himself. The statute regarding self defense only allows the response to be proportional to the harm or threat. The Supreme Court's opinion said Kaarma argued he shot into the garage after hearing a metal on metal sound that made him fear for his life, and that the jury instructions reflected that. In addition, McGrath said Kaarmas own defense team withdrew a proposal at trial to call burglary a forcible felony. Kaarmas attorney also had claimed one of the members of the jury pool should have been removed by the judge because she was related to a former law enforcement officer, had known the detective in the case since he was a child, and said she was more likely to believe an officers version of events than Kaarmas. She also said she felt she could be fair, and McGraths opinion said McLean was in the best position to decide if her answers during jury selection were credible. Holloway eventually used one of the defense teams challenges to remove the woman from the jury panel. Under state law a new trial could be granted if a review concluded that the defense was forced to use up its challenges on someone the judge should have removed. The Supreme Court acknowledged widespread media attention, but said it was not enough to prejudice a potential jury against Kaarma. (E)xtensive publicity alone is not sufficient. Informed jurors are not biased jurors, McGrath wrote in his opinion. The nature of the media coverage was not so inflammatory or sensational that community sentiment was against him to the extent an unbiased jury could not be found. Finally, Holloway had claimed that testimony about a prior assault by Kaarma against his partner Janelle Pflager shouldnt have been allowed at trial. Kaarma elicited specific testimony from Pflager about his good character, he was the familys protector. The state then had the right to present other character evidence to rebut it, McGrath wrote. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens went into tracking mode Tuesday morning after two people reported seeing a mountain lion wandering about Hamilton. After searching for four hours, they came up empty. There was a fresh skiff of snow this morning when we started, said FWP Warden Justin Singleterry. The initial report said the lion was spotted near the garbage cans near Valley View Estates off North 8th Street. The garbage cans hadnt been disturbed when we got there, Singleterry said. We searched all around Valley View and then circled around Marcus Daly Hospital and then went up and down all the alleys. But they didnt see a thing that would indicate a mountain lion was roaming about. The second report came from a woman who said she spotted a mountain lion crossing the road at Fifth and Pine at about 5:30 a.m. So the wardens moved their search there. Once again, they found nothing. It turned out the first report was called in by the husband of a woman who worked the night shift at Valley View. Singleterry let her sleep until about 1 p.m. before calling to ask for more information. She wasnt really all that helpful, he said. Turns out she didnt really see the lion by the garbage cans. She said she saw it in a field by the street over toward the mountains, Singleterry said. I didnt really know what field she was talking about. So I asked: from the garbage, which way? She said it was going toward the hospital. I asked 'was it pretty far? Like 100 yards? She said yeah, maybe. She really couldnt pinpoint anything, he said. We spent four hours searching. There were no fresh tracks. So now well just have to wait and see if there are any more sightings. It is conceivable that a mountain lion could wander through town, he said. We have wildlife coming through town all the time, Singleterry said. There could be a mountain lion come through Hamilton. We dont want them here, but its very possible. That doesnt mean that people need to panic, he said. If youre already doing what you should be doing while living in a wildland/urban interface, you dont have to go on super alert, he said. You already know how to live with wildlife. You dont let your little pug dog go outside at midnight, Singleterry said. You live in western Montana. There are lions and bears and all kinds of stuff. The proposed pig research facility at the University of Montana would cost an estimated $4 million to build and be paid for with external contracts and grants, according to UM. "There will be no state general fund dollars for any of this," said Scott Whittenburg, vice president of research at UM. UM officials have stayed largely mum on the proposed facility, which is linked to a potential faculty hire. But this week, Whittenburg shared more information about the lab. He also said it would have benefits for people as well as for the university. "Animal research, and in particular porcine research, has been demonstrated to be an excellent animal model for studying human conditions and diseases," Whittenburg said. "Therefore, federal agencies will continue to fund research on these animal models for several years to come." As planned, researchers would work only on pigs and mice at the facility, he said. The lab could accommodate an estimated 25 pigs, or 10 for one project and 15 for another, according to UM records. "The potential work being proposed is in line with the research that we already do in trying to assist veterans, particularly those that have suffered TBI (traumatic brain injury) or other neurological or traumatic injuries from their service to this country," Whittenburg said. He declined to identify the species of pigs that would be housed at the facility, but he said the university meets all federal guidelines to ensure the benefit of its animal research to society "far outweighs the impact to the animal." As proposed, the facility likely would be a 10,000-square-foot building located in Missoula County or closer to Hamilton, Whittenburg said. The lab would employ some 10 to 15 people, and he anticipates a third party would provide services. UM President Sheila Stearns is expected to make a decision on whether to move ahead with the facility in the next couple of weeks, although the timeline isn't set in stone. The idea for a porcine research facility was the result of a faculty search at UM, Whittenburg said. As of Tuesday, UM had not made a formal offer to any potential hires related to the proposal. However, in November, researcher Candace Floyd, who directs a University of Alabama School of Medicine lab focused on spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, confirmed she was in talks about joining the faculty at UM. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation website identifies its spinal cord research program as having the only porcine lab in the U.S. At UM, faculty have already expressed support for the proposal and aired criticisms. In one guest opinion piece, opponents said such a lab would be inconsistent with UM's "green" initiatives and image, and the moral costs outweigh the alleged benefits. Faculty who signed the piece said polls show support for animal research is diminishing, and research demonstrates that pigs are "cognitively, socially and emotionally sophisticated." " ... Recent peer-reviewed science publications, including articles in the prestigious British Medical Journal, are critical of the translatability of animal research, of the expense of animal research, of animal research as a misplaced research priority, of the design and quality of surveyed experiments, of publication biases which lead to 'spurious' conclusions, and of animal researchs benefits failing to justify moral trade-offs," the faculty said. However, another group of faculty members argued that animal research saves lives, and research on pigs has advanced medicine. "Pronouncing that research with animals has not played a critical role in countless medical breakthroughs and reduced the suffering of millions of patients simply ignores the facts," said other faculty members. The signers offered numerous examples, including these: "Before it was synthetically produced, pigs were the primary source of insulin for treating diabetes, and bioprosthetic heart valves from pigs (or cows) have been transplanted into thousands of patients with heart disease." UM will iron out more details if the proposal moves forward. According to UM email records, MonTEC could be the agent that makes the purchase; MonTEC is the business and technology incubator managed by UM. "We are investigating several mechanisms to purchase and build out the facility," Whittenburg said. Western Montana residents with flood-prone basements had better brace for trouble in the next couple of days as another wet winter storm moves into the area. As some areas dig out from 3 feet to 5 feet of snow that arrived since Saturday, a new system that might bring rain and warm temperatures could produce lots of standing water and fast melting, according to National Weather Service forecasts. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the Missoula Valley has received about 2.7 inches of snow-water equivalent, said meteorologist Ryan Leach. Theyve had a little less than that in the Bitterroot about 2 inches. And now were going to throw another three-quarters to an inch of moisture on top of that. Thats a classic scenario for peoples basements to get flooded. Snow-water equivalent describes how much water would be in a pile of snow if it instantly melted, regardless if it landed as fluffy powder or snowball-packing slush. The weather system expected to arrive Wednesday carries some very warm air for February, with the potential to drive Missoula temperatures into the 50s. That might make a mess of places like Eureka, which got 30 inches of snow over the weekend. Most of the town was closed yesterday, said Roger Harrison, owner of the Trappers Saloon in Eureka. I made it open, but thats because I had one of those lucky uncles who came out and spent the entire weekend keeping me plowed out. The big pass in Canada was closed, so a bunch of the Canadians who come down here to visit their cabins are stuck. And after the Super Bowl, we had several customers who couldnt make it home because they couldnt get up their roads. We had a couple sleep in the bar, and a couple more who found beds in town. Crowsnest Pass in Alberta was reopened early Tuesday morning after being blocked for a couple of days. U.S. Highway 2 along Glacier National Parks southern border remained closed most of Tuesday afternoon because of avalanche danger. The portion between Essex and East Glacier didnt open to traffic until 4:20 p.m. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad crews on Tuesday flew a helicopter equipped with a DaisyBell avalanche mitigation device that uses small hydrogen-gas explosions to trigger snow slides. It was the first time since March 2014 that GNP officials issued an emergency hazard reduction permit to the railroad. All trains and traffic were blocked around the John F. Stevens Canyon stretch of the highway during the blasting work. The trains still arent running, said Snow Slip Inn owner Bill Caron late Tuesday afternoon. The business just west of Marias Pass along Highway 2 had received 5.5 feet of snow since Friday. The last time we had this much snow was in 1996, Caron said. Ive been removing snow from the roof so Ill be ready for business tomorrow. Then Im going to be going around to check on the neighbors. So far, so good, but Im going around making sure. Blackfeet Reservation residents remained in a state of emergency because of the heavy snow and drifting winds on the east side of the Continental Divide. Tribal spokesman Robert DesRosier said the Tuesday temperature was minus 4 degrees with winds blowing 10 mph to 15 mph. The storm and traffic trouble meant good news for Whitefish Mountain Resort, which enjoyed one of its best-ever business days on Monday. Resort spokeswoman Riley Polumbus said the weekends dump of powder snow got well-shredded by Tuesday. We had some people extend their stay, whether because they wanted to ski the powder or were stuck, or both, I dont know, Polumbus said. On Monday alone we got 14 inches, and 11 of that came overnight. It was a snow day for local schools, which meant a bonus vacation day on our biggest powder day. If the law means anything, the Trump administration will succeed in overturning the so-called court ruling against its travel ban. The nationwide stay of the ban issued by Judge James Robart, a Washington state-based federal district judge, is tissue-thin. It doesn't bother to engage on the substance, presumably because facts, logic and the law don't support Robart's sweeping assertion of judicial authority in an area where judicial power is inherently quite limited. This doesn't justify President Donald Trump tweeting that Robart is a "so-called judge." That slam earned Trump bipartisan blowback and may encourage other judges to tilt against Trump's ban in response to a perceived threat to the independence of the judiciary. But Robart's handiwork is shoddy and usurpatory, despite the fact that he is indeed a literal judge. Even if you assume that the states of Washington and Minnesota have standing to pursue the litigation (Robart asserts implausibly that they "face immediate and irreparable injury" from the executive order, the heart of which is a three-month pause on most travel from seven countries), the stay falls down. It ignores our constitutional scheme and Supreme Court precedent, as the Justice Department brief seeking to reverse it persuasively argues. First, Judge Robart is trespassing on a core executive responsibility. "The exclusion of aliens is a fundamental act of sovereignty," the Supreme Court held in the 1950 Knauff case, "inherent in the executive power to control the foreign affairs of the nation." The courts are not meant to second guess the executive's conduct of foreign affairs, or intrude on its plenary power in this area. "It is not within the province of any court," the court noted in that decision, "unless expressly authorized by law, to review the determination of the political branch of the Government to exclude a given alien." Second, it's hard to get around the relevant federal immigration law, which says, "Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate." This is as explicit and wide-ranging as it gets. When the president has such authorization from Congress, the Supreme Court held in the Youngstown Steel case in 1952, his "authority is at its maximum, for it includes all that he possesses in his own right plus all that Congress can delegate." Finally, aliens residing outside the United States have no right to come here. The Supreme Court held in the 1982 Landon case, "an alien seeking initial admission to the United States requests a privilege and has no constitutional rights regarding his application, for the power to admit or exclude aliens is a sovereign prerogative." It's not clear how Judge Robart expects opponents of the Trump ban to overcome these substantial and well-established obstacles. A more extensive and carefully reasoned decision by a Massachusetts-based district judge reached the opposite conclusion of his. It is true that the ultimate source of the Trump executive order is his ill-advised call for a Muslim ban during the campaign. But the executive order, focusing on seven war-torn or hostile countries that had already been singled out for special scrutiny during the Obama administration, is manifestly not a Muslim ban. Judge Robart may not like the Trump policy, but that doesn't mean that it is illegal or unconstitutional. His ruling is worthy of the generally unhinged opposition to President Trump. If the judge doesn't deserve the abuse that Trump heaped on him on Twitter, he produced what should rightly be considered so-called jurisprudence. The term doublespeak evolved from George Orwells classic book, 1984. It is defined as deliberately ambiguous speech. A fine example of this is a recent (Jan. 30) guest column by Brent Mead, CEO of the Montana Policy Institute, a free market think tank funded by dark money from the fossil fuel industry and far-right foundations. Mead decries the closing of Colstrip Units 1 and 2, but its the free market thats driving the closures. The demand isnt there and it doesnt pencil out to keep these aging plants open. He also advances the ability of states to govern themselves without Washington's (D.C.s) heavy hand. But one of the reasons the demand for Colstrips power is declining is because states like Oregon and Washington are switching to clean, renewable energy instead of buying electricity from coal-powered generators in Montana. Thats a pretty good example of a state governing itself. The loss of revenue and jobs at Colstrip poses a serious quandary that needs to be addressed by leadership in government and organized labor. Mead doesnt give a damn about that, however. Hes just doing the bidding of the corporate sponsors who pay his salary. The gist of Meads column is support for Donald Trumps nominee, Scott Pruitt, to the Environmental Protection Agency. Thats the agency overseeing the cleanup of toxic messes like the Clark Fork River Basin, the East Helena smelter and, potentially, the leaking holding ponds at Colstrip. Pruitts goal is to dismantle the EPA. George Orwell would be proud of Meads use of doublespeak. Pete Talbot, Missoula HELENA The Montana Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would increase the number of notices that must be made to people who are delinquent on their property taxes and make it clear that if they fail to pay their taxes for three years they could lose their property. House Bill 18 passed unanimously and now goes back to the House to approve a Senate amendment. Democratic Rep. Tom Jacobson of Great Falls said his bill seeks to ensure that property owners fully understand the law under which the county can assign tax deeds to their property including homes to investors who pay the delinquent taxes. The bill also would require some of the notices to come from the county and for notices to be published in area newspapers, increasing the possibility that family members or neighbors might see the notices and intervene on behalf of the homeowners. Jacobson told members of the House Taxation Committee last month that a widow who lived in his district got a call from a company that had paid her delinquent taxes and obtained a tax deed to her house. She was informed that the company owned the home she had lived in for 40 years and that she could buy it from them at full market value, rent it from them or move out by the end of the month. The house was worth about $175,000, and the woman did not have a mortgage, Jacobson said. The law often affects senior citizens who own their homes outright, he said. Republican Sen. Brian Hoven told the Senate last week that the bill solves the issue of notification, making it difficult for a property owner to say: "'I didn't know there was an issue.'" Still, he urged fellow lawmakers to talk to nonprofit groups in their districts and ask them to obtain the list each January of people who are in danger of being three years' delinquent after the May taxes are due and to contact them to make sure they understand the problem and see if they need some assistance. Jacobson also has requested a draft bill that would eliminate what he called the "atrocity" of people losing the full value of their property as a penalty for failure to pay taxes. A federal judge naturalized 14 new American citizens at the Mike Mansfield Federal Building in Butte on Tuesday in an extra ceremony outside Montanas regularly scheduled rotation. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer Randy Pebbles said his office has received a larger number of citizenship applications lately, though he wouldnt venture to guess why. Pebbles said Montana typically has 12 naturalization ceremonies a year, but that the spike in applicants required the extra Butte ceremony and one in Missoula last week. Newly appointed U.S. bankruptcy judge Ben Hursh presided over the court. Hursh said the naturalization ceremony, his first, was a good experience. The new citizens came from 10 countries: China, Cuba, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Germany, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Russia, New Zealand and the Philippines. During the ceremony Hursh read aloud the approximate linear distance from each new American's country of origin to Montana, each measured in thousands of miles. I suspect that your route here was not direct and that there were many more miles along the way. Hursh said. In his remarks to the new citizens, Hursh read aloud quotes from John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Samuel Adams and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We may have all come on different ships but were in the same boat now, Hursh said quoting MLK. Hursh appealed to the new citizens to be active members of their communities, and exercise their right to vote not just nationally, but locally. After each citizen received their naturalization certificate, Pebbles ran them through relevant procedural nuances of their new citizenship. Any child under 18 automatically becomes a citizen if their parent becomes a naturalized citizen according to the Child Citizenship Act, Pebbles said. Pebbles also implored the new citizens to keep their naturalization certificates pristine, as folding, laminating or otherwise damaging them voids them, leading to a long and costly replacement process. Your Green Card can go through the washing machine dont put your certificate through the washing machine, Pebbles said. DEER LODGE A young man from the Deer Lodge area is one of 500 students nationwide to receive a college scholarship worth $4,000 per year for four years. The scholarship to Samuel Forbes, of Avon, a freshman at Montana State University-Bozeman, comes from the national Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Forbes received a $500 scholarship from Deer Lodge Elks Lodge 1737, which then submitted his application to the state organization. There, he received a $500 scholarship and his application advanced to the national level. Forbes, the son of Doug and Aleta Forbes, studies computer science at MSU, taking 12-18 credits per semester, and says he especially enjoys programming. He was valedictorian of the 2016 Powell County High School graduating class, a member of the National Honor Society and as a member of Montana Youth Service he completed more than 100 hours of volunteer work during 2015-2016. Forbes was one of six students graduating from eighth grade at the Avon School in 2012; there were 14 students in school that year. Avon is a small ranching community north of Deer Lodge. His father, Doug, credited good teachers over the years for helping Samuel be a successful student especially Tressa Graveley, his third- through sixth-grade teacher; and Jody Walker, his seventh- and eighth-grade teacher. His mother, Aleta, teaches K-2 in Avon. The advantage of a small school is the one-on-one ratio of student to teacher, she said. A teacher can adjust according to the students needs, whether they are struggling or need more challenges, so a student cant slip through the cracks. "In multi-grades younger students have an advantage because they hear lessons taught to upper classes, so they are somewhat familiar with the material when they reach that grade, and older students can help the younger ones. Samuel is grateful for the support he receives, including that from his family, he said. Im very appreciative of the Elks, the Avon and Deer Lodge communities and my high school teachers, especially math teacher Miss Susan Bleken and Mr. Bob Scully who teaches accounting, business law and office procedures, practical things that I can use. Bob Stone, Elks Lodge member, said: It is so rewarding for small townville to have a national winner. The Deer Lodge Elks have 140 members and we are extremely proud to be involved with putting out a scholarship to a national champion. Water & Environmental Technologies project engineer Stephen Frazee, left, and Montana Tech mechanical engineering student Kyle Smith of Butte discuss job and internship opportunities for the coming year at WET during the annual Tech Career Fair in the Student Union Wednesday morning. The fair brings students together with industry and government recruiters. DEER LODGE The First Presbyterian Church in Deer Lodge was founded on Sunday, June 9, 1872. At first, the congregation met in the IOOF Hall, but by Feb. 21, 1875, the first Presbyterian Church building in Montana Territory was complete at the corner of Milwaukee and Fifth with Rev. James R. Russel conducting services. In 1914, Samuel E. Larabie, a prominent Deer Lodge businessman, donated money to honor his mother, Mary Ann Larabie, for construction of a larger building, across the street from the original church, to accommodate the growing number of parishioners. The Gothic-style church building was completed in 1917 and three stained glass windows created by A.J. Connack of Elizabeth, New Jersey, were given in memory of Larabie family members. The largest window, 16 feet by 10 feet, constitutes more than a third of the east wall. It depicts the Transfiguration of Our Lord with Moses on the left holding the Tablets of Law, and Elijah on the right with the Prophets Scroll; angels and other Biblical symbols complete the complex design. The Transfiguration window is a memorial to Samuel E. Larabie (1845-1914), given by his children. To the south of the pulpit, the Charles X. Larabie (1843-1914) memorial window, 10 feet by 10 feet, is devoted to Isaiah and bears the texts, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace and Break forth into joy. Sing together ye wasteplaces of Jerusalem, for the Lord hath comforted his people. Just west of that, on the same wall, is the Rainbow window featuring an angel playing a harp, given by C.X. Larabie honoring Miss Eva Bella Larabie (1888-1914). LIBBY No one will ever accuse Bob Hosea of failing to get into the spirit of Christmas not with the 22,000 Christmas lights he strings on and around his home in Libby every December. But its 100 other lights Hosea puts up, on horror of horrors an artificial tree, that will likely put you in the Christmas spirit faster than any Clark Griswold home display could hope to. Hosea, a former miner and now a computer programmer, packs the unassembled artificial tree, 100 Christmas lights, a 12-volt battery and a tree-topping star along with a headlamp, food and extra clothes in a backpack. By the time he adds his Canon camera, the backpack is nearing 50 pounds. Hosea then sets out hiking, often into the Cabinet or Purcell mountains. About the time any sane wintertime hiker would be returning to their vehicle as dusk approaches, Hosea is deep in the forest, far up a creek or on a mountaintop. He has the artificial tree assembled, the lights strung, the star on top and the battery, which is attached to the back of the tree, connected. Sometimes, hes also got snowmen built. All thats left to do is wait for nightfall to approach, snap some pictures until its too dark to take any more and then disassemble everything, pack it back up, and often spend several hours hiking out in the dark of night, his way illuminated only by the headlamp. The result an image of the lonely little 5 1/2-foot tree, miles from the nearest electrical outlet, brightly lit in a darkening Montana winter wonderland is about as eye-catching as it gets. If youre like some people, youll envision one or more of the images on your next Christmas cards. What Hosea, who never even had that in mind when he took his first Spirit of Christmas photograph, finds amusing is that now, you can get the image on everything from a Christmas card to an iPhone case to a shower curtain. *** Hosea hasnt strayed very far from Libby to take photographs of the tree, although hes packed it as high as 7,000 feet on Scotchman Peak it took five hours of hiking just to get there and posed it in Glacier National Park as well. The artificial tree has been illuminated as it stands in what seems like the middle of Bull Lake, next to Kootenai Falls, along Snowshoe and Granite creeks, and sharing an old rowboat with a snowman on Tom Poole Lake in the Yaak. The latter required Hosea to balance on a log hidden behind the rowboat as he assembled the tree and carried out body parts for the snowman hed rolled up on shore, so as not to disturb the slushy cover of ice on the lake, nor the little layer of snow covering the boat and its oars. Hosea took his first photograph of a decorated tree at Geiger Lake in 2012. The only time I can pinpoint as the genesis for the idea, he says, was 10 years ago or better. My son and I were decorating the house, and theres a hillside behind the house. I remember us saying itd be cool if you could see a tree or star lit up on the hill. They never have done that, Hosea says They didnt have LED lights when we talked about it, and it would have taken solar panels to power it but three winters ago, Hosea converted strings of 110-volt Christmas tree lights, and a tree-top star ornament, so they could run off a 12-volt battery. Then he hiked into Geiger Lake in the Cabinet Mountains. It was the first of a handful of times he went in with the idea of finding a live tree at the location to use. Id end up grafting branches onto them, and they still looked like crud, he says. I finally decided Id hate to hike six miles and not be able to find a decent tree, so I bought an artificial tree off Amazon. Every outing with the tree has been a solo trip for Hosea. "It's hard to get anyone to go with you when they know they'll have to hike out in the dark," he says. *** The first photo that started what would become his Christmas Spirit series remains Hoseas favorite. Maybe its because it was before he bought the artificial tree, and all the time it took to get a scraggly tree to look full. Maybe its because he still had everything ready with two hours to kill before it got dark enough to start taking pictures, and used the extra time to build a snowman that became a part of the shot. Or maybe its because what seems like it would be a quiet, snow-dampened scene in the image, was anything but in reality. At the time, I bet there were 1,200 ducks, geese and trumpeter swans on the lake, and they were super noisy, Hosea says. Theyd fly off right above me, turn back and land on the lake, and boy, did they make a racket. The strangest part was purposely waiting for it to get dark, he continues. Hiking out with a headlamp by myself was ... lets say, fun. He posted the picture on his Facebook page for family and friends to see. That started it. Some wanted prints. Hosea obliged, asking only for a few bucks to cover the cost of mailing. As he produced new pictures in new locations, the demand for having the images on Christmas cards rose. He found a couple of retail outlets in Libby to display cards. I spent 10 months folding, stuffing and packaging them, Hosea says. They did sell good, but I had so much time involved I didnt have any left over to go hiking or take new pictures. And so this year, he signed up with an online art gallery, Fine Art America. Now, aside from updating his website (TheBobFactor.com) and photography Facebook page (of the same name), Hosea lets Fine Art America do most of the post-picture-taking labor. Which frees him up to hike and take pictures, which was all he wanted to do in the first place. Meantime, people taken with the images can now order them as prints, framed prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, duvet covers, tote bags, T-shirts and even shower curtains. *** The neatest part of this story, save for the images themselves, is that Hosea never intended for his hiking and photography hobbies to become commercialized. He just wanted to share his pictures with family and friends. Demand drove the unanticipated business side of things. In addition to the Christmas tree, Hosea photographs landscapes and wildlife, and does some fascinating time-lapse photography of cloud and water movement you can also see on his website. Hosea figures hes carted the artificial tree to two dozen different locations in the past three years, and been satisfied with the results about 75 percent of the time. The images get titles Christmas Spirit at Glacier Park, Fishing with Christmas Spirit or Christmas Spirit Among the Giants (for when the tree visited the Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area). The photographs are actually 10 to 14 images combined into one, using a photographic method called high dynamic range, or HDR. Most people figure I use Photoshop, but I dont have Photoshop and I dont want to, Hosea says. With HDR, each of the 10 to 14 images captures one type of color in 30-second exposures. It takes a while to get one done, Hosea says. It takes a minimum of 10 images, and Ive had some require 12 to 14 separate images. HDR allows people to not only see the brightly lit tree, but its remote surroundings as well, even as night falls. *** The photographer grew up about 18 miles west of Libby, in Troy, and has lived in Lincoln County pretty much all of his life. He worked as a wildfire firefighter for a couple of years after graduating from Troy High School in 1975, and later worked at the ASARCO silver mine in Troy. I was mainly a driller for eight years, and then spent four years as an electrician, he says. When the mine shut down, he and a fellow former employee decided they didnt want to follow other miners to available work in Nevada. By then the pair had drawn enough electrical ladder diagrams by hand, then with Microsoft Paint, and then with other software, that they figured there had to be an easier way. They designed the software to do so in 1994. CMH Software was founded that year, and is on its 12th version of the original software that launched the firm. Technically, Im the president of the company, Hosea says, although in reality Im the main programmer. Kevin Christensen is the vice president, sales manager and web guru. Weve always just considered ourselves fortunate that we were able to stay in this area, says Hosea, who never attended college and is self-taught in computer programming and electronics. Hes been what he considers a serious hiker for 15 years now, and added photography as a hobby about 10 years ago. Hosea started TheBobFactor website as a place to post pictures he took on hikes. Now, its where people head to get themselves into the Christmas spirit, courtesy of a little artificial tree that occasionally appears in the very real forests of northwest Montana, just as darkness falls. Area public and private school administrators voiced their reaction to the U.S. Senates unprecedented 51-50 confirmation of billionaire Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education on Tuesday. At risk of being political in what typically are nonpartisan issues, a few administrators provided their personal opinions as opposed to their school boards view. Don Kronenberger, director of the private Silver Bow Montessori school in Butte, has mixed views, as all three of his children attended the private school until grade seven, then they attended East Middle School and Butte High School. Speaking personally, individually," he said: The No. 1 most important thing is that there be more public investment in pre-K public education, he said. That needs to be done in America. Thats going to benefit public and private schools. He said hes worried about rural schools, especially in a big heavily rural state like Montana. Rural schools, any public schools, but especially in Montana, there is nothing to take from the public education pie. Theres no money that can be shorn from the public education pie to reallocate it. However, Kronenberger said he sees value in parents having public education options and choices. Providing diverse options and choices strengthens the community, he added. Don Peoples, Jr., Butte Central Schools superintendent, said it is healthy for a community to have options: We know (DeVos) is pro-school choice. At BCCS, were definitely pro-school. We want people to have a choice, public or private or charter schools. But we want our public schools to be viable and healthy as well whatever is best for their children, public or private. We believe that choice is important, whether its public, private or charter whatevers best for kids. Some states allow a voucher system, in which taxes fund private schools. But Silver Bow Montessori receives no vouchers, said Kronenberger. Many of Montessoris current 24 preschoolers attend on state-funded Best Beginnings scholarships the only exception, said Kronenberger, as any licensed daycare can allow such funds, which are a form of state aid for working parents. Kronenbergers youngest is a senior at Butte High and his older two are at public state colleges Montana State and the University of Montana. Theres a concern that we maintain the public education pie and even grow it and rather than divert it, added Kronenberger. Glen Johnson, Dillon Elementary Schools superintendent, said the DeVos appointment affects me deeply, but I cannot say its the stance of my school district. Personally I am very frustrated and disappointed, Johnson wrote in an email to the Standard. "By law, teachers, counselors, speech therapists, paraprofessionals, principals, and superintendents all have to have a certain degree of training to be qualified to work in schools with children. You cant teach unless you have a degree and training in education, you cant be a principal if you havent been a teacher and received a Masters Degree, and you cant be a superintendent without first having been a principal. Experience is valued. Nearly every job in the world requires some kind of basic knowledge, some degree of training, as well as the various other factors, including experience, which qualifies a person to hold that particular job, said Johnson. However, as of today, one can become the U.S. Secretary of Education without having any training, knowledge, qualifications, or experience whatsoever. Added Johnson: I am speaking as a private citizen who is a product of Montana public schools and as a person who has devoted 39 years of his life towards educating tomorrows leaders. Judy Jonart, Butte public schools superintendent, spoke directly for her district: Its a real assault to public education, said Jonart. We will continue to be inclusive and meet the needs of our individual students and support the highly qualified teaching staff. Were going forward with Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA and well continue to align our standards with state standards those are still in place. ESSA, signed into law on Dec. 10, 2015, replaces No Child Left Behind and places more burden on the states to prove accountability in testing, teacher quality, low-performing schools and other issues. It goes into full effect in the current 2017-18 school year. Elsie Arntzen, Montana's newly elected superintendent of public instruction, said said in a statement: I am optimistic for change at the U.S. Department of Education. I look forward to working with Secretary DeVos and I will be inviting her to visit Montanas public schools to understand the importance of local control, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities that frontier schools face. Montana, Arntzen added, will have a strong voice at the federal level on education policy. Both Jonart and Jim ONeill, Butte curriculum director, said public education is the foundation of Americas democracy. Its the great equalizer. We have to graduate everyone and its one of the reasons our country is a super power, ONeill said. In the very end, regardless, our education community will do whats best for our kids, said Jonart. I dont want people to panic were still very solid. Steady as we go. Parents who home school their children privately in Butte and who could potentially receive vouchers to fund them, depending on what policies DeVos or the states institute could not be reached by The Standard on Tuesday. WOMAN FACING FOURTH DUI A woman faces her four DUI charge after being involved in a two-car crash at Front and Main Monday around 10 a.m. Ramona C. Reilly, 50, was making a turn onto Front and crossed into the oncoming lane, colliding with an oncoming car, police said. When police arrived, they smelled alcohol on Reilly, they said, and conducted a field sobriety test at the jail, where she also blew more than twice the legal limit, according to the police report. Because of the fourth DUI charge, Reilly faces a charge of felony aggravated DUI. She was is charged with misdemeanor careless driving and no liability insurance in effect. As of Tuesday morning, Reilly remained in the Butte jail. Old World Cuisine dinner canceled The annual Night of Old World Cuisine usually held in February has been canceled, organizers said. The Circle of Serbian Mothers Clubs event is usually held at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Parish Center, 2100 Continental Drive. This year it was scheduled for Feb. 18, but due to circumstances beyond our control it has been canceled. It will be rescheduled at a later date. Adult education classes available Adult Community Education is still accepting registration for the following spring classes held at Butte High School. Start dates are listed below. Uses of Essential Oils March 6, 7, 8 Fee: $65/$10 seniors 6 to 9 p.m., room to be decided. Basics of Birding (five weeks) March 13-April 10 Fee: $65/$10 seniors, 6 to 9 p.m., Room S-108. To register, contact Crissy Vetter at 406-533-2967 or email at vettercr@butte.k12.mt.us. Fundraising event at Pizza Ranch The Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department is hosting a community impact fundraising event from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at Pizza Ranch, 3541 Harrison Ave. Pizza Ranch will donate 20 percent of dine-in, pickup, or delivery orders to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Volunteers will be on hand busing tables. Details: 406-494-2822. Elks Bingo a twice weekly event Bingo is played at 7 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday at the Butte Elks Lodge, Montana and Galena. Money raised is used for scholarships for local college-bound high school students, and for youth programs such as the Hoop Shoot for boys and girls ages 9 to 13. The Elks also hosts a Christmas party for children who may not have much during the holidays. Help is needed for these programs. Members are asking residents to make bingo at the Elks a weekly event. Details: Frank Snyder, 406-494-6614. American Legion meets Monday Are you a veteran? Interesting in joining a military organization? The American Legion Post 115 meets at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at the Comfort Inn. All veterans are welcome. Details: Stephen Allen, 406-494-4492. Animal Control impounds listed These are animals that have been picked up by Butte Animal Control. Details: Chelsea Bailey Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter, 699 Centennial Ave., at 406-497-6528 or stop by from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Dogs: Five-year-old male terrier cross, black and white, neutered, picked up Monday on Carousel Way Twelve-year-old female chow cross, red, spayed, picked up Monday on Montana and Front Two-month-old German shepherd cross, tan and black, medium hair, picked up Sunday at Silver Bow Homes Cats: Eight-year-old black shorthaired, male, neutered, picked up Monday near Silver Bow Homes Adult gray and white longhaired, picked up Feb. 1 on the 2400 block of Phillips Toastmaster winners listed Top O` the Mornin` Toastmasters weekly winners include best speaker, Sherry Flamand, best evaluator, Diana Jensen, and Mike Gribben, best topic respondent. The next meeting starts at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at Perkins. Wednesday, Feb. 8 ARCHIVES LECTURE The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will continue its Brown Bag Lunch series at noon at 17 W. Quartz, with a presentation by staff about the Archives upcoming exhibit on the French, Germans, and Greeks in Butte. In addition to presenting a short history of those ethnic groups in Butte, guests will be treated to a behind-the-scenes view of the process that goes into developing an exhibit. Details: 406-782-3280. WASHINGTON With an asperity born of exasperation, Justice Antonin Scalia once wrote, "If you want aspirations, you can read the Declaration of Independence," but "there is no such philosophizing in our Constitution," which is "a practical and pragmatic charter of government." Scalia was wrong, and much depends on Neil Gorsuch not resembling Scalia in this regard. Gorsuch can endorse Scalia's originalism, construing the Constitution's text and structure as it was understood by its Framers and ratifiers, without embracing Scalia's misunderstanding of this: There is no philosophizing in the Constitution until the Founders' philosophy is infused into it by construing the document as a charter of government for a nation that is, in Lincoln's formulation, dedicated to a proposition that Scalia implicitly disparaged as impractical and unpragmatic. The proposition is that all persons are created equal in their possession of natural rights, to "secure" which -- the Declaration's word -- the government is instituted. In Lincoln's formulation, the Constitution is the "frame of silver" for the "apple of gold" that is the Declaration. Silver is valuable and frames are important, but gold is more precious and frames derive their importance from what they frame. The drama of American democracy derives from the tension between the natural rights of the individual and the constructed right of the community to make such laws as the majority desires. Natural rights are affirmed by the Declaration; majority rule, circumscribed and modulated, is constructed by the Constitution and a properly engaged judiciary is duty-bound to declare majority acts invalid when they abridge natural rights. In Justice Elena Kagan's confirmation hearing, she was asked if she believes there are natural rights that are not among the rights the Constitution enumerates. She replied: "I don't have a view of what are natural rights, independent of the Constitution." Using a foggy double negative, she added: "I'm not saying I do not believe that there are rights pre-existing the Constitution and the laws, but my job as a justice is to enforce the Constitution and the laws." And: "I think that the question of what I believe as to what people's rights are outside the Constitution and the laws that you should not want me to act in any way on the basis of such a belief." Well. Natural rights, which are grounded in nature, are thus "independent of" the Constitution. They are not, however, "outside" of it because its paramount purpose is the protection of those rights. The Ninth Amendment says: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." If you believe, as Robert Bork did, that this amendment is a meaningless "inkblot" you must believe that the Framers were slapdash draftsmen about this, and only this, provision. Scalia believed that "the whole theory of democracy ... is that the majority rules. ... You protect minorities only because the majority determines that there are certain minority positions that deserve protection. ... The minority loses, except to the extent that the majority, in its document of government, has agreed to accord the minority rights." If that is the "whole theory" of democracy, then democratic theory is uninteresting. What is interesting begins with the institutional and cultural measures necessary to increase the likelihood that majorities will be reasonable and respectful of the natural rights of those in the minority. It is the judiciary's job to construe the "document of government" the frame of silver in the light cast by the apple of gold. With the Declaration, Americans ceased claiming the rights of aggrieved Englishmen and began asserting rights that are universal because they are natural, meaning necessary for the flourishing of human nature. The Constitution is America's fundamental law but not its first law. The Declaration appears on Page 1 of Volume 1 of the U.S. Statutes at Large and it is at the head of the United States Code under the caption "The Organic Laws of the United States." Since the 1864 admission of Nevada to statehood, every state's admission has been conditioned on adoption of a constitution consistent with the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration. The Constitutional Convention met in the room where the Declaration was debated and endorsed, and the Constitution implements what the Declaration initiated. Gorsuch will occupy much of the jurisprudential space Scalia so admirably did. But having earned a doctorate in philosophy and jurisprudence at Oxford studying under John Finnis, author of the book "Natural Law and Natural Rights," perhaps Gorsuch will effect a philosophic correction. Agenda journalism was on full display in Susan Olps article, Planned Parenthood, its clients living with uncertainties. (Sunday, Feb. 5, Montana Standard) Her one-sided reporting left a principal question unaddressed: why would anyone want to redirect funding from Planned Parenthood? Could it be Planned Parenthoods history of deception, like falsely suggesting that they offer mammograms and pre-natal services, or that abortion only accounts for 3 percent of its services? Could it be that Planned Parenthood facilities have shown a willingness to cover up sexual abuse? Could it be that Planned Parenthood, an organization that receives over $500 million in taxpayer funding, is also a major participant in elections contributing millions to candidates of one political party? Could it be that Planned Parenthood illegally profited from the transfer of fetal organs? Could it be that Planned Parenthood modified abortion procedures in order to procure intact fetuses and obtain higher profits from the sale of fetal organs? Could it be that Planned Parenthood violated the HIPAA to increase revenues from the harvesting of fetal organs? The Butte Rescue Mission has been on fire watch protocol since firefighters recently found numerous safety violations that will ultimately shut it down as a homeless shelter. Meanwhile, mission officials say they get overwhelming community support and can afford utilities and other expenses if they move operations to a now-vacant Uptown building at Quartz and Main streets. It is not something we are just stepping into blindly, Rocky Lyons, the missions executive director, said Wednesday. We are good stewards of the money given to us by our supporters. Two commissioners who represent Uptown have cited numerous concerns about the mission moving to the former Homeward Bound building at 304 N. Main St., just across the street from the Butte-Silver Bow Archives. Mission officials have offered $100,000 to buy the building from the nonprofit social services agency Action Inc., but the organization says it wants public forums held about the possible move before agreeing to any sale. In the meantime, fire officials did not want to force homeless people into the streets, especially in the winter. But it is not physically or economically possible to make the building at 1204 E. 2nd St. originally a single-family house safe for numerous people so it cannot continue as a homeless shelter much longer, Butte-Silver Bow Fire Chief Jeff Miller said Wednesday. But some small safety improvements have been taken since the building was inspected on Jan. 5, he and Fire Marshal Brian Doherty said, and precautionary protocols must be followed now. Our biggest thing in the interim while theyre trying to relocate is that someone is awake at all times down there so if there is a fire they can notify people and get them out, Miller said. The mission often has 35 to 40 occupants at night and feeds about 100 people a day, but Doherty said many the buildings smoke alarms were missing or without batteries and there were no carbon-monoxide detectors. The same protocols have been ordered for the mission that are required when fire-alarm or sprinkler systems are down in other buildings with a lot of people, Doherty said. Among other things, someone must be on the lookout for hazards such as blocked escape routes and make periodic announcements on where to go in case of fire. Lyons said smoke alarms in every room are working now, carbon-monoxide detectors have been installed and someone monitors the dorms at night and checks the building for fire hazards every hour. Mission officials have pledged to hold a public meeting to explain their operations and address any concerns about relocating to the Uptown building. A time and date are pending. Commissioner Cindi Shaw wonders if the mission can afford expenses at the former Homeward Bound building, which provided transitional housing for homeless people before Action Inc. left it in early 2015 because of changes in federal funding priorities. Action Inc. still owns the empty building and keeps the heat on during the winter usually around 45 degrees to ensure that a sprinkler system works in case of fire, said Margie Seccomb, its executive director. It costs about $1,700 per month to keep the heat on at that level, she said, and it would be about $3,000 per month to keep it at comfortable levels in the winter if occupied. The building is about 20,000 square feet but has only one boiler, so there is no way to heat selected floors or rooms. Action Inc. pays about $8,000 a year for insurance on the building and $6,000 a year for special improvement district services provided by the county, she said. All in all, it costs about $30,000 a year just to keep vacant, she said. When transitional housing was provided there, it cost about $285,000 a year, but that included 24-hour staffing. Expenses for the mission might differ, Seccomb said, but those are the kinds of questions that need to be answered before any move is made. Lyons said she and others have been considering relocation and associated costs for months. The mission would sell its current building and one across the street, but it already meets considerable expenses, she said. We are paying $10,600 a year for insurance now and Im going to get an insurance break (by moving), she said. People think we dont pay any bills here or we dont have an extensive budget, but we do pay our bills, we do have insurance, we do upkeep on the building. The mission gets great backing from people and businesses in Butte-Silver Bow and six other counties its serves in southwest Montana, she said, and can afford the other building. We get overwhelming support from local churches, from Christians, from people whose hearts line up with our mission, she said. We have businesses (that give) and we also get support from foundations and trusts. WAPELLO, IowaThe dispute among members of the Louisa County Board of Health (BOH) and the Louisa County Board of Supervisors has moved to a new level. County officials reported Tuesday during the supervisors regular meeting that BOH Chairman Craig Helmick and Vice Chairwoman Rita Adam had appealed their dismissals from the board. That move will force the supervisors to conduct a public hearing on the dismissals, which they agreed to hold at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28. The supervisors voted Jan. 10 to dismiss Helmick and Adam, whose terms would not expire until Dec. 31, 2018, for allegedly failing to communicate and meet with the supervisors. The accusations stemmed from a decision the BOH made in May to increase salaries for six of the nine employees of the Louisa County Public Health Service (LCPHS). Those increases exceeded the pay raises the supervisors had negotiated with union workers as part of a two-year agreement in 2016 and also what was eventually approved later for most other county employees for fiscal year 2018. BOH members had argued the increases were based on comparable wages for nursing staff in other areas and would be funded through grants. Two BOH members eventually chose not to seek re-appointment when their terms expired late last year and the supervisors then took action against Helmick and Adam. During a special supervisors meeting prior to approving the dismissals, Helmick had disputed the boards claims of failing to communicate or meet with the board. In their appeal, both continued to dispute that issue. The allegation that there has been a failure to communicate is specifically and categorically denied, the two wrote. They also said if that was the concern, the supervisors should have required them as county officers to make a report to the supervisors under oath. They also argued they could only be removed through a district court action. Helmick did not respond to a request for comment. Adam has previously said she did not wish to respond. At Tuesdays meeting, the supervisors indicated frustration over prolonging the issue. Im disappointed they filed this and to wait until the last minute, supervisor Brad Quigley said. They bought (the LCPHS employees) another pay period, supervisor Chris Ball said. Supervisor Randy Griffin said the supervisors need to focus on the specified charges. This isnt about wages. This is about communicating and meeting with the board, he said. In other action, the board tabled action on a proposed policy that could require future employees to live in the county. Quigley had raised the issue earlier this year, explaining he felt that requirement would help the county grow. The supervisors agreed to ask County Attorney Adam Parsons and Human Resources Consultant Paul Greufe for input before enacting any policy. In final action, the board: Accepted the salary recommendations for elected officials that was submitted earlier by the Louisa County Compensation Board. Approved the appointment of Katie Walker and the re-appointment of Paul Duncan and Royce Bonnichsen to the Louisa County Pioneer Cemetery Board. MUSCATINE, Iowa Hy-Vee Mainstreet is helping Southend residents who dont own a car with getting home from the store. The company provides MuscaBus ride home vouchers to Southend residents who shop at Hy-Vee Mainstreet on 510 East 6th St. The voucher program began on Feb. 1, ahead of the closing of Wholesale Food Outlet, the only store in Southend. WFO will close its doors this Saturday. With the Wholesale Food Outlet closing, we saw a need in the Southend of our communitypeople without adequate transportation and we decided to do something about it, said Matt Schweizer, store director at Hy-Vee Mainstreet. Schweizer said a lot of Southend residents dont have a car and would walk to WFO for their groceries. I know how important it is to have a grocery store within walking distance, so I just identified it as a need, he said. Residents who take advantage of the voucher program will pay for the bus ride to Hy-Vee Mainstreet, and will have to request the ride home voucher at the store. To be eligible, residents must show a photo ID with a Southend address. Schweizer said the store has advertised the program on Facebook and in their weekly circular, but only a few people requested vouchers thus far. For now, the store will continue to provide the vouchers, but its future depends on the communitys needs. If the program is getting a lot of use and its helping peoples lives, well probably continue it. And conversely, if no one is interested in it, well probably discontinue it, he said. For more information about the voucher program, call Hy-Vee Mainstreet at 563-263-6461. MUSCATINE, Iowa Shelly Servadio of Muscatine spent a year drafting a bill that would afford veterans in crisis the same standard of care as civilians and shes working with Iowa House Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines to put it to vote. Servadio, a veteran and a nurse, said Meyer will sponsor the bill, which she named the Veterans in Crisis Care Act. The bill ensures that veterans in crisis, including physical pain, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, arent turned away from the hospital when they seek help. Instead, it places them in a 24-hour hold, which will allow doctors to treat them. If they need to be transferred to a VA facility to continue care, the bill mandates that they be transferred only when its safe to do so. We have to realize that soldiers dont present like everybody else, we have to realize that they have triggers that might not be recognizable when they first present, and therefore they need a 24-hour hold, they need that buffer, she said. We cannot let them walk out the door without care. The bill also guarantees that veterans will receive mental health care in Iowa whenever possible, instead of being shuttled to a different state. We have veterans that are getting shipped out of state because we dont have mental health care beds. So I literally heard a veteran say that they were sent to an out of state (facility) for their mental health care, she said. Servadio said that veterans seeking care can sometimes be turned away. One veteran was seeking care for a physical crisis, and he was told that it was going to take several months before his physical crisis could be resolved, or get the care that he needs and the pain that he was in was so bad that he couldnt endure it, so he committed suicide, she said. Veteran suicides, she said are an epidemic in Iowa. Only last week, 34-year-old veteran Aaron Goff of Columbus Junction was found under a bridge in town after he committed suicide. And last summer, 33-year-old veteran Brandon Ketchum of Davenport committed suicide after requesting hospitalization at a VA facility and being turned away. The bill, Servadio said, will be the first step in addressing veteran suicide in Iowa. These guys are going off to war and theyre surviving war but then they are coming home to our state in Iowa where the funding has been cut, where the system is overwhelmed and not equipped (to handle them), she said. Servadio said the draft she wrote will be translated to legal language and will be assigned a number. The next step will be to get the bill for a vote in the house. MUSCATINE, Iowa Through his volunteer work at the VFW Post 1565 in Muscatine, Korean War veteran Ralph Brewer fulfills a duty he couldn't fulfill during his service. Brewer joined the military in 1954, hoping to fight in Korea. "We were going to Korea, but they changed our orders ... and I stayed here in the states for 6 months, then they shipped me to France," he said, adding he served as a heavy equipment engineer. "I couldn't help (other soldiers) when I was in the service on the combat field but I can help them now," Brewer said. Now he does everything from assisting them with their applications to the Veterans Administration to making sure veterans receive honors at their funerals. And when he raises a flag for a business who wants one or on Memorial Day, he feels proud. "You just kind of get a little shiver," he said. Brewer received a National Aide-de-camp Award for his work with the VFW Tuesday night. He is one of 10 awardees in the state of Iowa to be honored this year, and the only VFW member in District 1 to ever receive the award. The district includes Muscatine, Wapello, Burlington, New London, Grandview, Fruitland and the surrounding areas. Victor Goodrich, District 1s senior vice commander, nominated Ralph about six months ago for going over and above the call of duty to help the VFW. He handles all the honor guards and all the military funerals that we do out of this post, Goodrich said. Hes also helped veterans out when they needed help, talked to them, whatever they needed to do, he does (it). Brewer, who has been volunteering at the VFW for a decade, received a cap with a silver band that has National Aide-de-camp embroidered on it. (The cap) tells everybody that hes nationally recognized and everybody in the VFW will understand when they read that that national recognized him, Goodrich said. It makes me really happy that he got it. Im really proud of him." The veterans surprised Brewer with the award during the posts monthly meeting. His wife, Mary Jo Brewer, and daughter Teresa Chatfield, attended to share the moment. Hes not one to blow his own horn," Mary Jo said. "He doesnt brag on what he does, he just does it because he loves his post and he loves veterans." Brewer said receiving the cap was a complete surprised and that the award means everything to him. WAPELLO, IowaA Louisa County Hunter Safety course will be offered from 6- 9 p.m., Thursday, March 9 at the Monsanto Rec Building, and from 8 a.m.4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 11 at Langwood Education Center, 12635 Co Rd. G56, Wapello. Students must attend both classes in order to become certified. The course includes classroom lessons as well as live fire and shooting demonstrations. Snacks and drinks will be provided both days; participants should bring a sack lunch Saturday. Iowa residents born after January 1, 1972, and nonresidents born after January 1, 1967, must satisfactorily complete a hunter education course in order to obtain a hunting license. Participants must be at least 11 years old to attend, however certificates are not valid until the childs 12th birthday. Registration is available at iowadnr.gov/huntered. There also is a link directly to the class at LouisaCountyConservation.org. Click on Events/Hunter Safety, then scroll down until you see the online registration and click the link. You can also try the Iowa DNR at 515-725-8200 or Louisa County Conservation at 319-523-8381. The course is free, made possible by donations from Monsantos Off-The-Job Safety Committee, and sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Louisa County Conservation and Louisa Countys volunteer hunter education instructors. COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa On Saturday, Feb. 25, Columbus Junction, Iowa, will host the fifth annual St. David's Day Parade and Feast. Saint David is the patron saint of Wales. The parade will start under the viaduct on Main Street at 1 p.m. and end at the American Legion, where participants will celebrate the Feast of St. David with lobsgows. Please wear red for Wales and carry banners with your Welsh name or carry Welsh flags. This event is for people of Welsh descent, relatives of people of Welsh descent and people who want to enjoy a fun day with the Welsh. Please RSVP to Troy Pugh at 563-299-2472 or troypugh@machlink.com. Volunteers and donations are welcome. DES MOINES Nearly 100 people sang and chanted outside a Statehouse committee room hoping to prevent lawmakers from taking action on legislation aimed at curbing so-called sanctuary cities policies by Iowa local governments and universities Tuesday. Despite their efforts, including disruptions that resulted in Iowa State Patrol officers removing some them from the meeting, the protesters were unable to prevent the House Public Safety Committee from voting to send House Study Bill 67 to the full House. That may not be as bad as it seems, according to one lawmaker who called the bill as crazy as it gets. If they stop this procedure, then the bill doesnt get debated, and we dont get it to the floor even to get our voice heard even more, Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, said. Were with you. Trust me. Democrats were with the bills opponents on a 12-9 party-line vote. The protesters included members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund, the Des Moines Catholic Worker community and the Central Iowa Democratic Socialists of America, who packed the committee room in hopes of stopping action on the bill that would prohibit those sanctuary policies in which state or local officials, agencies or institutions fail to share information or cooperate with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. However, sponsor Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, thinks there is a tremendous amount of support for the bill. The people who support this effort are not the ones who are going to show up at the Statehouse, he said. They are the ones who work every day, they raise their families, they dont have time to come up here. Its really about respect for the rule of law, Holt said. As lawmakers voted, the demonstrators shouted, Stop. This is a racist bill and will destroy the lives of our friends and neighbors. It greases the wheels of Trumps deportation plan. We need safe communities, integration, not night raids and deportation. They were escorted from the room by troopers. No arrests were made, according to the patrol. Earlier, when the room was cleared while Democrats and Republicans went to private caucuses, troopers told demonstrators only 20 people would be allowed in the room when the committee reconvened. Well make it feel like 200, one demonstrator shouted. More than 20 were allowed back in the room, and other demonstrators stood outside the Capitol holding signs against the windows calling for Justice 4 All, No Racism, No Hate and No Hate, No Fear. According to Iowa CCI, the bill is just one of what are sure to be many racist bills coming from the Statehouse this session, along with bills that specifically target the immigrant community. Holt said his bill targets illegal immigrants who are violent criminals in order to protect Iowans. We all know that the vast majority of people that are not in our country legally have just come here for a better life, and theyre contributing in a number of ways in our communities, Holt said. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] 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 [] There some good news regarding the condition of legendary Kenyan boxer Conjestina Achieng. According to her elder brother, William Ochieng, Conjestina has made tremendous strides two months after she escaped from Mathari Mental Hospital. Speaking to eDaily, Mr Ochieng said the ex-boxers health has significantly improved to a point her cognitive facets are functioning well. Now you can talk to Conjestina Achieng and she will reason with you. She is often calm and composed. The only challenge we are now facing, given our financial situation, is to regularly buy her drugs. She can diligently follow her drug prescription; if you give her money to go buy goods from the market, she goes and returns accurate balance to you. She talks politely too. She has changed, said Mr Ochieng. If youd ask me, this is the time people can visit and share with Conjestina Achieng encouraging words. It is the right time, he added. After her escape from Mathari Mental Hospital on December 5 following strike by doctors and nurses, Conjestina Achieng went to live with her younger brother in Nairobi. She lived with my younger brother for nearly two weeks. By that time she had taken drugs with her. And after completing her dose, she went back to Mathari Mental Hospital for another dose. Conjestina pressurized our brother to give her fare to travel to our home here, in Siaya. My brother gave her the money, she went to Machakos Bus Station and paid KSh800 and safely traveled to our home in Siaya. Imagine that action. Kenyans deserve to know that and appreciate. Even we, at home, were so much surprised! Mr Ochieng further urged president Uhuru Kenyatta to chip in so Conjestina can recover fully. I wish Uhuru takes notice of Conjestina Achieng plight, and come to her rescue even if it means buying her the drugs. I have tried as much as I can to get help from the County Government of Siaya, but no help has come her way. If the President can chip in and do something for her, Conjestina will regain her health fully. But currently, all her senses are functioning well. Otherwise, I thank Kenyans for not abandoning Conjestina and the son at the time of need. It is only fair if they are informed that Conjestina Achiengs health is improving, he said. Nominated senator Paul Njoroge yesterday shot in the air to disperse workers who had come to shut down a Shell fuel station he operates on Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Among those caught up in the fracas was Vivo Energy CEO Polycarp Igathe, who was at the scene to enforce the closure. The bullet came dangerously close to hitting Mr. Igathe a few more inches and this would be a whole different report. According to reports, Vivo Energy had hired men to confiscate equipment after the senator failed to honor certain terms of contract. The men arrived in the afternoon and demolished part of the station entrance. They then carted away some fuel pumps before the senator made his entrance. Reportedly, he had obtained a court order from Naivasha law courts stopping the exercise. Principal magistrate Esther Kimilu restrained the fuel company from interfering, taking over or terminating the contract until the case is heard and determined. Despite the senator presenting them with the court order, workers continued with the demolition, forcing the senator to fire his pistol. The legislator blamed business rivalry for the incident. He stated that he has complied with all regulations, and that theres interest by a rival to take over his premises. I paid Sh2.5 million to Vivo and I have insurance of Sh6 million. The fuel company decided to ignore a court order, he is quoted by the Star. Mr. Igathe denied receiving any court order, and stated that they were shutting down the station due to poor management. He told reporters that the station had not had fuel for several days, adversely affecting customers. I had come to enforce the closure notice only for the Senator to open fire. I have recorded a statement with police on a threat to my life, he said. Watch just how close the senator came to shooting Mr. Igathe. Nominated Sen Paul Njoroge in gun drama with Vivo Energy CEO Polycarp Igathe over ownership of fuel station in Naivasha on @ntvkenya @ 9pm pic.twitter.com/0u16k8eSIW Muraya Kariuki (@murayakariuki) February 7, 2017 There were reports on Tuesday night that the senator had been arrested. Everyones favorite Kenyan musician Juliani is back with new music. After close to two years hiatus from the music scene, the Exponential Potential rapper marks his comeback in spectacular style. His new track is titled Machozi Ya Jana, a moving and emotionally stirring piece that seeks to create awareness about social injustices, extra-judicial killings and an end of police abuse of power in the country. The track specifically advocates for justice of slain trio Willie Kimani, Josephat Mwenda and Joseph Muiruri who were abducted, tortured and murdered mid last year. Machozi Ya Jana is a bold call for police accountability and protection for the vulnerable and weak in our society. In Kenya, it has been easy for a corrupt and incompetent police officers to frame and detain an innocent person who must then wait in jail, for long, for a chance to prove his innocence. This has led to a culture of impunity among the police service that has seen increasing cases of brutality and killings. This song says enough is enough. We want accountability for such actions from the highest levels of authority, said Juliani in an official press release. Listen to the song below or download it on Mdundo. Kenyas afro-pop band, Sauti Sol have added two m0re gongs to their growing list of awards. The high-flying hitmakers won two awards at the fifth edition of the HiPipo Music Awards, held in Kampala at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The two awards were for the mega collaboration with Tanzanias Ali Kiba Unconditionally Bae. The song won the categories: Song of The Year Kenya and East Africa Super Hit. Sauti Sol celebrated the wins with their social media followers as follows: Other big winners were Ugandan artistes Sheebah Karungi, who took home four awards: Artiste of The Year, Best Female Artiste, Best Afro Beat Song and Video of The Year. Coming in third was Bebe Cool, who scooped Music Icon of the Decade, Best Male Coming in third was Bebe Cool, who scooped Music Icon of the Decade, Best Male Artist and Song of the Year. Tanzanias Diamond Platnumz won the Quinquennial Africa Music Vanguard Award and the East Africa Best Video for Salome featuring Rayvanny. The HiPipo Music Awards is an annual extravaganza organised by HiPipo, to celebrate, promote and recognize music excellence in Uganda and East Africa. NEW YORK Irwin Corey, the wild-haired comedian and actor known for his improvisational riffs and nonsensical style who billed himself as "The World's Foremost Authority," died Monday at his home in Manhattan, according to his son, Richard. He was 102. Corey's dizzying mix of mock-intellectual circumlocutions, earnest political tirades and slapstick one-liners made Corey the king of comedic confusion and earned him the nickname "professor." "Did you hear about the guy who went to the druggist and wanted to get some cyanide?" one of his jokes went. "The guy takes a picture of his wife out of his wallet, and the druggist says, 'I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a prescription!'" Corey became a staple on television talk shows and in comedy clubs, and his film career included working with Jackie Gleason and Woody Allen. He often wore sneakers, a skinny black tie, black tails and his hair was disheveled. It was never clear exactly what he was an authority on. Often he would begin his act with long-winded gobbledygook filled with sentences that followed their own logic before pausing and then saying, "What was the question again?" His son, Richard, on Tuesday called his father "original and one-of-a-kind, iconic." Even in his grief he channeled his father by telling obituary writers that his father "died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his son." Corey was among a generation of comics who emerged in the 1950s and '60s who used their humor to question the status quo, a group that included Dick Gregory, who mocked racial attitudes, and Jerry Stiller and his wife, Anne Meara, who satirized assumptions about marriage. Corey punctured academic pretense, and his jokes also took on a political and social bite. Born in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Corey lived in an orphanage until age 13. He said he got his start when he auditioned for a play in the 1930s with the soliloquy from "Hamlet." The casting director laughed so hard, he eventually told him, "You should be a comedian." He took his advice. He got his first regular gig at the Village Vanguard, where he earned his nickname after an opening act that began with five minutes of nervous pantomime. The first word out of his mouth was, "However." After that, he had a whirlwind career that spanned several stints on Broadway (from "New Faces of 1943" to "Thieves" in 1974); in film (from "How to Commit Marriage" in 1969 to "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" in 2001); and on late-night television and in comedy clubs. He was last on Broadway in "Sly Fox" in 2004 opposite Eric Stoltz, Richard Dreyfuss and Elizabeth Berkley. Corey joked that he tried to join the Communist Party back when doing so could mean an appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee. But it was the Communist Party not the government that blacklisted him. "I wanted to join the party, but they wouldn't let me," he told The Associated Press in 2004. "They said I was an anarchist." Was he? "I think so," he replied. During the Democratic National Convention of 1956 he rode a float down Michigan Boulevard carrying a sign that read, "Professor Corey will run for any party, and he will bring his own bottle." When Thomas Pynchon won the National Book Award for "Gravity's Rainbow," Corey accepted for the press-shy author in a bizarre, rambling speech that thanked "Richard Python." "His style is a deep philosophical statement: No one in fact is any more important than another," his son told The New York Times in 2008. "He is constantly digressing from his own tangent, so he's digressing from a digression." Corey stayed busy deep into the '90s, making appearances at comedy clubs and Friar's club roasts. He denounced the war in Iraq and attended rallies supporting legalization of marijuana. He also could be spotted pushing a walker in midtown Manhattan traffic, panhandling or selling free newspapers to motorists, with all the money raised going to charity. Corey's wife of 70 years, Fran, died in May 2011 at age 95. A few months shy of his 90th birthday, Corey told the AP that he had no intention of hanging up his trademark rumpled suits and string tie any time soon. He called life, at any age, the "one miracle that happened in this galaxy." "Walking on water is a trick," he said. "But life is a miracle." SAN FRANCISCO Emergency crews in the San Francisco Bay Area rescued stranded residents from flooded homes and cars Tuesday as the latest storm in this wet California winter set off street flooding and rockslides. In Marin County north of San Francisco, authorities sounded the community emergency siren at 8 a.m. when heavy rain and high tide started to send roaring Corte Madera Creek over its banks at the town of Kentfield. Flooding affected about 1,000 residents, Marin County Fire Battalion Chief Bret McTigue said. Emergency crews in boats and on foot carried out seven rescues for people trapped in their homes or cars as the water rose. About 40 homes had substantial amounts of water in them, McTigue said. "This storm packed the biggest punch ... of all the storms we had this year," McTigue said. South of San Francisco, one of several rockslides and mudslides overturned a pickup truck on a state route near Santa Cruz. The National Weather Service said more than an inch of rain could fall in the region this week. In the state capital, the Sacramento River was expected to swell to just a few feet below flood stage. The storm also whipped up strong winds, with gusts topping 50 mph throughout the San Joaquin Valley and into Southern California. The rain total in downtown Los Angeles since October the start of the wet season hit about 15 inches and already exceeds the normal amount for an entire year, the weather service said. At Jackies Consignments, unique, even slightly weird objects and memorable words of wisdom are served daily by Barbara Treankler, now celebrating her 10th anniversary as owner of the popular shop on Solano Avenue. Ive put things out on the floor with a tag that says we dont know what it is but it sure is cool, Treankler laughed. Strange, weird things but they usually go in a hurry. Register readers have come to recognize and look forward to Treanklers weekly ads that contain not items for sale, but her thoughts and advice offered for free. It all started when I realized we were overhearing very interesting things from our customers, she said. I started sharing them and my own thoughts and my ads have evolved to where they are now. In all that time, she admitted, I have had one complaint. But Ive had a thousand phone calls saying how much people appreciate them. For instance, Treankler said, I did share one time that my brother was killed by a drunk driver and I was amazed by the number of people who called me who could relate and sympathize. Ive probably averaged 20-25 calls and cards a week from people who appreciate my ads. I dont have a catalog of these ideas, they just occur to me most times. For those who have never bought or sold anything through Jackies, Treankler explained how the consignment business works. You bring your items to us to sell for you, you sign a 60-day contract and its our job to sell the item(s) in that time. Its a 50/50 split, we price it, and if it doesnt sell in the first 30 days, then its marked down 20 percent and then its here for another 30, she said. If it still doesnt sell, its up to our customers to come and pick it up or if we donate it to a charity in Napa. Older merchandise needs to go to make room for the newer items. But dont think that everything makes it into the store. For instance, Jackies does not accept clothing or weapons. Last years hot Christmas item is also usually rejected, because Treankler notes that lots of people are trying to pass them along right after Christmas. Having said that, January is usually a good month for the store, she said. Treankler made one thing clear: I like the unusual, the more unusual the better. Ive had employees scream when they opened a box and looked inside, she chuckles. For instance, we got a photographers trunk in this afternoon and it was here less than an hour. Occasionally we get things that take my breath away, like there was one I wouldnt dare leave in the store overnight, she said. One day I had a man come in saying he had something he wanted to sell that had been in his family a very, very long time, but he wouldnt tell us what it was. When we uncrated it we saw it was a U.S. flag that flew on Union flag commander David Farraguts flagship during the blockade of New Orleans. My heart stopped, she said. This was a very emotional piece for me. The gentleman had the documentation that proved the flag was the real thing, we sold it, and it will eventually be going to the Civil War museum in Gettysburg. Sometimes, the sheer volume and value of items overwhelms Treankler. The first year I was here, I had a lady come in and open an account. She had a whole lot of DVDs, which isnt unusual, but then she brings in two white kitchen garbage bags completely filled with jewelry boxes, said Treankler who purchased the store from the original owner and kept the name. I started to inventory the items while she was here and I told her this was going to take me two to three hours. She told me I could do it at my leisure and left, and I didnt see her again for five months! Then I started opening up 18-carat diamond and ruby watches and other heavy pieces the women had inherited from her mother and grandmother. And why was she choosing to sell it now? Treankler says the woman explained she simply had completely different tastes from her kin. When she came back and heard the value I had calculated, we thought we were going to have to call the paramedics, she laughed. She said she didnt know how they were going to pay for their sons college education and now they could. It was a real OMG moment. One of the things Treankler loves about the business is that every day is Christmas morning here because I never know whats coming through the door and what is going to be in the box. Really good, really unusual items sell quickly. Grandmas china not so much. Some people dont know anything about the things they bring in and there are others who do. The trick is keeping track of all these things but I have the secret weapon that I inherited from my mother, that after I handle the item, I remember it. On some stuff, the value may not be seen by folks. But with my regular customers I know exactly what they are looking for and can often sell things over the phone without the customer ever seeing it. They trust I know what they like, she affirmed. There definitely are trends and things have changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Younger buyers dont want their mothers china or silver, they want things that can go in the dishwasher. Treankler says based on her experience, dont save things for your kids because for the most part they dont want it. Theres never a shortage of items coming in. On an average day, Treankler says, shell deal with about 150 consigners and price about 800 items. The whole trick of this is pricing it right, she said. Why does she do it? Treankler said, I meet a lot of nice people in this business. I feel like I am doing this job for a reason. It took five hours and an emotional vote change by one member, but the City Council on Tuesday night filled its vacancy by appointing David Oro, the citys first Filipino-American council member. Oros appointment to serve out the last two years of Belia Ramos term came despite his paid work on the Watson Ranch project, the largest development ever attempted in American Canyon. In choosing Oro, the council bypassed three other applicants for Ramos seat, which became vacant in January after she resigned to join the Board of Supervisors. Former councilmember Joan Bennett applied for the vacancy, along with the other two candidates who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in November: Deputy Sheriff Tony Heuschel and retired truck driver Doug Lindsey. A fifth applicant business owner Arvind Nischal withdrew from consideration on Tuesday morning. Nischal said his new position as chairman of the board for the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce would have represented a conflict of interest, according to the chambers bylaws, if he had joined the City Council. A similar conflict of interest concern did not prevent Oro from being voted 3-1 to replace Ramos, who supported his candidacy for her former seat. He would bring a great perspective to the council, said Ramos in an interview before the council vote. She said Oro could absolutely be impartial in making decisions on Watson Ranch, for which he previously worked as a consultant. Oro, an 11-year resident of American Canyon and a corporate communications specialist, spent 13 months promoting Watson Ranch to community members and advocating for it at City Hall meetings, all while under contract with McGrath Properties, the lead developer on the project. He quit working for McGrath Properties in October so he could pursue the vacant council seat. He disclosed his association with the project on his council application, and promised to recuse himself from voting on any matters related to Watson Ranch for one year, the minimum required under state law for public officials with conflicts of interest. Ramos had her own conflict with Watson Ranch, stemming from her home ownership near the project site. She recused herself from project decisions for four years. When asked if he would consider recusing himself for more than 12 months, Oro declined. Im going to follow the law, said Oro after the meeting. The law is 12 months. City Attorney William Ross confirmed that the length of time for recusal, under the Political Reform Act of 1974, is one year from the time an official separates from the employment that poses a conflict. Although he disclosed his work for Watson Ranch, Oro said he would not reveal how much he was paid by McGrath Properties. Im not disclosing any client figures in terms of what I made, he said. He added that he did not charge the developer my normal client rate. I made a lot more money off other people who were clients. They got the friends and family rate, said Oro, who said he moved to American Canyon in 2005, in part, because of the plans to build a town center under the project. As for becoming the citys first Filipino American councilmember, he downplayed the significance of being that communitys first representative at City Hall. Filipino Americans have long been one of the largest ethnic groups in American Canyon. I think its important to have the right reflective representation on the City Council, be it family, be it race, be it age, said Oro. The 44-year-old almost didnt join the council, which was deadlocked in a 2-2 tie in choosing between Oro and Bennett. The council eliminated Heuschel and Lindsey from consideration during the first portion of the meeting, when all four applicants were interviewed. Councilmembers Mark Joseph and Mariam Aboudamous supported Oro, while Mayor Leon Garcia and Councilmember Kenneth Leary favored Bennett. None of them expressed concerns with Oros prior work for Watson Ranch. Joseph and Aboudamous said they liked Oros fresh perspective and his go-getter attitude towards bringing about change to American Canyon. Garcia and Leary preferred Bennetts experience from serving 13 years on the council until she lost her reelection. Bennett also received considerable community support in her bid to rejoin the council a petition signed by 200 residents favoring her selection was submitted to City Hall prior to the meeting. Had the council remained deadlocked at 2-2, the city would have been forced to call a special election in June to fill the remainder of Ramos term. City Manager Dana Shigley said such an election could cost the city between $45,000 and $60,000. That costly possibility, and the delay of not seating a fifth councilmember for another four months, was enough to cause Leary to change his position, and vote for Oro. I cannot allow this to go to a special election, said Leary, who was visibly upset in making his decision. I dont agree with my colleagues on Oro, he added, But in the best interests of this city, we need to move forward. My car has a way of drawing attention to itself, particularly after I go to San Francisco. Last year, it got stolen, sending me on an emotional three-day journey that ended with me getting it back in one piece. Last week, my black Honda decided to play dress up by adding a conspicuous accoutrement to its aging finish. A pink feather boa. I was driving back from seeing my girlfriend in San Francisco when the frilly, colorful garment attached itself to my rear axle. You might ask, How does a pink feather boa attach itself to a car? By being in the No. 2 lane of westbound Highway 80, which I was traversing on a Sunday. I remember seeing it in the road rolling towards me like a neon synthetic tumbleweed discarded from some drag queens closet. My thought process upon laying eyes on it was something along the lines of: Pink boa. What? Huh? OK. I mentally shrugged as I drove over it. I gave no other thought to it. I didnt even look for it in the rearview mirror as I kept heading home to Napa. The next morning when I went out to start my car, I noticed something peeking behind my left rear tire. I bent down. My pupils dilated. You again. I reached under the rear bumper and tugged at the boa. It didnt budge. It was wound tight around the axle near the wheel well. It was cold that morning, and I wasnt in the mood to lie down on the freezing concrete of our driveway and take a serious stab at removing the stowaway. I figured it would just fall off. Its made of feathers. How long can it last? Long enough to become the talk of my work. Monday was no big deal. Nobody seemed to notice the fashion accessory while I was at the Napa Valley Register. I even forgot about it as my mind focused on the stories I needed to finish for the Eagles next edition. Tuesday came, and that was when the pink feather boa started making news. I left the Registers office to head down to American Canyon. I got into my car, and drove near the exit when someone honked from behind me. I spied my rearview mirror, and saw our photographer, J.L., waving his arms madly and gesturing for me to stop. He got out of his car and walked up to my drivers side window. You got something under your I cut him off before he could finish. Yes, I know. A pink boa, I said matter of fact. I ran over it on my way back Sunday. Oh, OK. I was wondering, J.L. replied. Hope it doesnt damage anything. Damage anything? I figured it would just fall apart eventually, I remarked. What can it do? I thought it might do something to the brake assembly, J.L. said. Great, thanks. I now have visions of my car disintegrating on the highway at high speed. J.L. went back to his car while I pulled out of the parking lot. Something literally as light as a feather was now weighing heavily on my mind. I considered stopping at Les Schwab and having them remove the boa. But I was on a tight schedule that day, and didnt have time to sit around a tire shop while a bunch of guys covered in grease got a good laugh at my expense. As it turned out, it was a bunch of women who got their chuckles on. Wednesday morning I was back at the Register building, bright and early. I had my head down, focused on reading stories for production and layout when I heard from across the newsroom Theres a black Honda in the parking lot with a pink boa! shouted my colleague, Jennifer. In my two-plus years at the Register, I dont think I ever heard Jennifer bellow something that loud, that excitedly. It was as though she was harkening some great, breaking news we should all know. I rose up from my cubicle like a joyless Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day. Thats my car. I explained to Jennifer what had happened. Her delight was still glowing. The ladies up front love it, she exclaimed, referring to the circulation and business departments. They were all wondering whose it was. I gotta go tell them! Off went Jennifer to regale her discovery. Down I went, back to my desk and my work. My editor, Sean, delighted in hearing the story. What is it with you and your car? he said from his corner office. First, it gets hair extensions, and now this. Sean was referring to my car theft experience, which ended in me finding a reddish lock of hair in my drivers seat upon recovering the vehicle. I finished up producing the Eagle that morning, and headed out at lunchtime. But not before another boa-inspired bellow filled my ears. Hey, you got something under you car! I stopped unlocking my car door and spun around. John, our tall, strapping, Paul Bunyan of an operations director, was walking out of the building, and headed in my direction. For a moment I thought he was playing with me. I figured he must have heard Jennifers boisterous proclamation earlier. Who couldnt have? I walked up to John, ready to be ribbed. But when I saw his eyes, I could tell he was serious. He didnt know. Here we go again. Take three on the tale of the pink feather boa. I swore to myself that I would remove it the next day, no matter what. Thursday, however, was yet another rainy day. Shimmying my way under my car on wet pavement didnt seem appealing. And to top it off I was pressed for time to make the annual State of the City address down in American Canyon. Upon parking at the Doubletree Hotel, where the speech was held, I was greeted by a hotel guest lugging suitcases to his car. Ya got somethin there under yur car, he said with a thick, country drawl. It supposed to be there? It took everything in me to not be snarky. Yes, its the latest thing in automotive styling. Feathered chassis. I gave him what was by now a well-honed, concise explanation, which he was satisfied with. OK, have a good day there, buddy. While attending the State of the City, I made up my mind to go to Les Schwab and get the damn thing removed once and for all. But as luck would have it, I didnt have to. I walked out of the hotel and noticed the boa dangling further than before from under the left fender. I reached down and grabbed it, and this time it easily came free. The rain must have loosened its grip on the undercarriage. The boa was not in good shape. Four days of hugging my car, like Robert De Niro in Cape Fear, left it looking haggard and limp. Many of its feathers were gone. I momentarily thought of disposing of it in the nearest garbage can. Instead, I placed it in my trunk for the time being. Souvenirs, after all, come in all shapes and forms, and this one certainly will remind me of yet another journey I experienced with my storied car. Faced with declining enrollments and burgeoning budget deficits, the Napa Valley Unified School District has encouraged more than 60 of its employees mostly teachers to retire early to save it millions of dollars in salary and benefits. But the projected savings will not eliminate all the red ink in the NVUSD budget over the next five years, according to officials. In December, the district contracted with Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) to devise an incentive program for older teachers and other employees to retire at the end of the school year. The plan offered teachers 55 years and older with five or more years of service (or age 50 with 30 years of service) an annuity equivalent to 70 percent of their yearly salaries if they filed for retirement, effective June 30. This annuity is in addition to their regular retirement payment. The average salary of teachers and other non-management personnel who took the incentive is $86,692, according to Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Alejandro Hogan. The average annuity theyll receive is $60,684. The same incentive was offered to management personnel of similar age and service as teachers. Their average salary is $134,844. However, the district chose to use a salary cap of $97,838 to determine their annuity, which averages out to $68,486 for management. The PARS program convinced a total of 66 district employees, out of 228 who were eligible for it, to take the money and retire. Of the 66 workers, 52 are teachers. Hogan estimated the retirements would save NVUSD nearly $3 million in salaries and benefits next year and $14.5 million over five years. Thats because under the plan, only 26 of the 66 retiring workers will be replaced. Of the 52 teachers who opted for it, only 22 of those positions will be filled and not all of them with new instructors, according to Elizabeth Emmett, NVUSD director of Communications and Community Engagement. Most of the retiring teachers are at Napa schools, except for five in American Canyon, officials said, adding that that works out well for the district because it is expecting to lose more than a thousand students at Napa campuses in the next 10 years, reducing the need for all of the teachers it currently has. The increasing rate of declining enrollment, which first began two years ago, has meant less funding for NVUSD and the need to revise its fiscal projections. The enrollment decline, said Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Wade Roach, is a real blow to our budget. Because of the cost of living in Napa, Roach told the school board last Thursday, its becoming more and more difficult for families with kids to live in our area, so were seeing a fairly steep decline in our enrollment. He cited other factors affecting NVUSDs bottom line: reductions in the state education budget for K-12 schools, and rising pension costs from the Public Employees Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System. Roach estimated that NVUSD would have a $24.5 million deficit by 2020-21 unless action is taken. He further said about half of the deficit, or $12.4 million, would come as early as next year. Were looking at a fairly big hill to climb, he said. Its not unclimbable, but its going to take a lot of work and effort. His projections, however, didnt take into account the projected savings from PARS, which was adopted by the school board after Roachs presentation on the budget. Following the meeting, Roach said the PARS savings will make a dramatic impact on the deficit. But, it wont solve the deficit entirely, he added. His next budget outlook, scheduled for March, will show progress toward addressing the deficit, but it will not show that we have resolved the budget issues. I would expect that the process of bridging the budget gap will take several months, he said, and will most likely not be completed until we adopt the budget in June. District trustees said they were satisfied for the most part with the PARS plan. Remarks by Robb Felder and Joe Schunk, however, revealed the pluses and minuses of encouraging teachers and other employees to retire early. Clearly, it was a popular plan among our employees to take advantage of, said Felder, who noted in December when PARS was first discussed that encouraging older teachers to leave might save the jobs of younger teachers in the event of layoffs. At that same meeting on Dec. 8, Schunk reminded the other board members that in 2011 the last time NVUSD used an early retirement program the district lost 1,600 person years of experience from more than 100 employees who left. So theres impacts beyond the financial, said Schunk. This time, the early retirements will be felt not only in the classroom, but at district headquarters. Two of the 66 leaving in June are Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Elena Toscano, and Executive Director for Secondary Education Mark Morrison. Additionally, Superintendent Patrick Sweeneys executive assistant, Fran Carpenter, opted to take the incentive and retire. Emmett said the retirees will receive their annuity in monthly payments over a period of three to 15 years, depending on the option they chose. The average age of teachers retiring is 62.9. Their average years of service is 21.9. For managers, their average age is 61.6, and their average years of service is 16.5. The Napa County District Attorneys Office reported on Tuesday that no charges will be filed against celebrity chef Michael Dominic Chiarello who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence last fall. Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero cited a lack of sufficient evidence. Then 54-year-old Chiarello, a St. Helena resident and owner of Bottega in Yountville, had pulled his 2015 Porsche Boxster to the side of Silverado Trail, south of Yountville Cross Road, at 3:27 a.m. Nov. 2, when a California Highway Patrol officer stopped to check the vehicle out. He was arrested and booked at the Napa County jail on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. Chiarello posted the $5,000 bail and was released from jail in less than three hours. Chiarello immediately disputed the arrest allegations and, according to a spokesman, planned to challenge any charges filed against him. Chiarello is a well-known chef who also owns Coqueta in San Francisco and has made numerous television appearances on Top Chef and Top Masters as well as hosting his own show Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello. He also owns Chiarello Family Vineyards in St. Helena, where he was the founding chef of Tra Vigne restaurant in the 1980s. This story has been modified from the original to reflect that Chiarello was already pulled over when law enforcement encountered him. Two San Francisco men were arrested after allegedly stealing liquor from the Safeway in American Canyon and then leading police in a vehicle pursuit on Tuesday night, according to American Canyon Police. The pursuit began at about 9:05 p.m. when officers arrived at the Safeway and located the suspect vehicle a grey Honda leaving the parking lot. Police Chief Tracey Stuart said that when officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects did not pull over until arriving at the intersection of Elliot and Marla drives. More than $600 in liquor was recovered from the vehicle, Stuart said. The driver of the vehicle, Natali Cisneros, 18, was arrested on suspicion of evading police, theft and possession of stolen property, police said. The passenger, Tyree Vaughn, 20, was arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of stolen property. Both men were booked at the Napa County jail. ________________________ Best in the State Washington Post's The Fix, 2011, 2009 Best in Pittsburgh Region PoliticsPA, 2011 "[W]idely cited as one of the oldest and most-read political blogs in the city" Pittsburgh City Paper, 2007 ________________________ After a rainy January, February got started with another series of storms, dumping more than 5 inches of rain on St. Helena in past last week, closing local roads and knocking out power to various neighborhoods. Monday and Tuesday alone saw a combined 2.84 inches inches of rain, according to Earle Prestens weather station along Spring Creek, which reported 5.44 inches of rain since last Thursday. A weather station near Pope Street and Chiles Avenue registered 3.5 inches over those same two days, with a total of 6.62 inches since last Thursday. Totals were even higher at a station on White Sulphur Springs Road, which received 4.57 inches on Monday and Tuesday, and 8.39 inches since last Thursday. The Napa River at the Pope Street bridge reached its 16-foot flood stage at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday. It crested at 19.2 feet at 10 a.m. and receded below flood stage at 1:30 p.m. Several rural roads were closed due to flooding and downed trees, including Lodi Lane, Sanitarium Road, Deer Park Road between Highway 29 and Silverado Trail, and Silverado Trail between Pope Street and Zinfandel Lane. Early Tuesday morning a tree fell at Howell Mountain Road and Clark Way, onto the front of a passing car whose driver was subsequently taken to St. Helena Hospital after complaining of pain in his chest. The road was closed for several hours. Also on Tuesday morning, a driver in a Volvo got stuck on a flooded Lodi Lane. The driver had headed down the road shortly before it was closed, and did not drive through any barricades. Part of a cliff gave way on the Pacific Union College campus in Angwin, blocking a road behind Irwin Hall. Sanitarium Road was closed early Tuesday, but drivers were still able to access St. Helena Hospital via Deer Park Road and Sunnyside Road. This story has been altered since first posting to clarify that the driver of the Volvo did not drive through any "Road closed" barricades. February is National Heart Health Month, a month in which millions of people nationwide raise awareness of heart disease and stroke. Equally as important, its a month that is intended to encourage all women to schedule a well-woman visit, an annual check-up that can help women assess their risk factors for heart disease and stroke. At the age of 27, St. Helenas Jasmine Garcia would never have imagined that she would need open-heart surgery. But, on April 13, 2016 that is exactly what she had. During a routine physical, Garcia was shocked when her primary care doctor asked her if she knew that she had a heart murmur. I had no idea, I never felt sick or thought anything could be wrong with my heart, she said. She was immediately referred to a local interventional cardiologist, Dr. Stewart Allen, who performed an echocardiogram, a diagnostic test that creates pictures of the heart. The test results were life-changing. Dr. Allen detected an aortic root aneurysm with bicuspid aortic valve and severe aortic insufficiency, a potentially life-threatening condition if the aneurysm were to rupture. Dr. Allen knew that Garcia needed surgical treatment and referred her to a leading cardiothoracic surgeon with the Adventist Heart Institute, Dr. Gan Dunnington. After a series of tests were completed, Garcia was scheduled for surgery the next day. She was quite sick, we needed to do an aortic root repair with coronary button reimplantation, Dunnington said. He added Garcias surgery went very well and she spent six days recovering in the hospital before going home. Within three months of the procedure, Garcia was back to work as an admissions clerk at St. Helena Hospital. Dr. Dunnington and the team at the Adventist Heart Institute saved my life. I wouldnt be here if it werent for them, she said. Im proud to wear red in support of Heart Health Month and help raise awareness. Garcias colleagues at St. Helena Hospital also wore red in support of her and to help raise awareness for women across the nation. Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death, with more than 17 million deaths each year. That number is expected to rise to more than 23.6 million by 2030. In the United States, one in every three women will be affected by heart disease. But, studies show that 80 percent of cardiac events are preventable. Dr. Monica Divakaruni, interventional cardiologist and womens heart health specialist said, Its so important for women to know their numbers, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index, and get checked at an early age. Women, in particular, can be completely asymptomatic and have no idea that they are living with heart disease until something drastic, like a heart attack, happens. A well-woman visit can get to the heart of a womans numbers, so she understands her baseline and her risks. If you or someone you know needs to schedule a physical or well-woman visit, call Adventist Heart Institute, with offices in Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Solano and Mendocino counties, at (888) 529-9018. A group of residents who came together in opposition to St. Helenas recent water and sewer rate hikes are hoping the City Council takes the first steps next Tuesday toward reconsidering the rates. St. Helena Citizens for Fair Water and Wastewater Rates is urging the City Council to form an ad hoc committee to reevaluate the rates and consider financing more of the citys capital improvements through long-term bonds rather than cash. Critics say the proposed rates are unnecessarily high because the city is relying too much on cash to fund expensive projects up front within the next few years. The new groups second meeting drew about 80 people on Monday. It was held at Vineyard Valley Mobile Home Park, whose residents would see their rates more than double under the currently proposed rate structure. Pat Dell, a resident of Vineyard Valley and one of the founders of the group, said the campaign against the rate hikes isnt being driven just by seniors on fixed incomes. A petition urging the city to reevaluate the rates had received 723 signatures as of Monday, with 134 coming from residents of the middle-class Sylvaner neighborhood, she said. Rather than pursuing a referendum to put the proposed rates on the ballot, the group has agreed to work with the council, which approved the rates in November. We need to talk to each other, Dell said. Theres so much need for that in this city, and not only for this issue. This is not an adversarial relationship (with the council), said Dale Grossman, who discussed the financing of the citys capital improvement plan. Its not a zero-sum game where our win is their loss. We feel that by working together, everyone in St. Helena will benefit. At recent council meetings, three councilmembers have spoken in favor of further review of the rates and the underlying financial assumptions involving the citys long-term capital improvement plan. Those councilmembers Paul Dohring, Geoff Ellsworth and Mary Koberstein attended Mondays meeting but didnt speak publicly due to limitations imposed by the Brown Act, the states open meetings law. Koberstein has asked for the formation of an ad hoc committee to appear on the councils Feb. 14 agenda, which will be released later this week. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Vintage Hall. Opponents say that the citys capital improvement plan, consisting of $33 million worth of water and wastewater projects, relies too heavily on cash and sets an overly aggressive schedule that isnt practical. Twenty-three of these 48 projects are scheduled to be started this year and next year, said Grossman. Im not an engineer, but this seems like a lot of projects to be taking on in a very short period. A more gradual schedule would be more manageable for city staff and would help spread out the costs, resulting in less steep rate increases, he said. Critics also say the city is depending too much on cash rather than debt to finance improvements. We need to explore spreading the funding of the (capital projects) over a reasonable period to soften the blow for all residents, especially those that can least afford a steep increase, said Tom Vence. Tom Belt said he wants the city to consider tapping the General Fund to remove the Upper York Creek dam, rather than burdening ratepayers with the project, last estimated at $6.5 million. It was back to the 1970s for Soroptimist St. Helena as its members celebrated the 40th annual crab feed Saturday night, held at the Native Sons Hall. More than 1,150 pounds of crab were served to some 305 people Saturday, with the club serving an additional 120 people Friday night. Anna Beard, secretary of the club and official Kitchen Boss, said there was 3.5 pounds of crab per person, plus an additional 50 pounds for those who wanted more. The crab was bought from Bodega Bays North Coast Fisheries. Wine was donated by local wineries and individuals. Additionally, the club members make their own special crab sauce with tomatoes, garlic, lemon and horseradish, along with their own salad dressing and pesto. Beard has been overseeing the crab feed, first held in 1977, since she joined the club in 1991. According to Yvonne Vosti, president of Soroptimist St. Helena, two special guests on Saturday night included Marieli Rubio, the clubs Violet Richardson Award winner and Kristi Trebotich, the clubs Live Your Dream awardee. Rubio is a St. Helena High School student who is involved in community service. Trebotich is a mother of four who is a recent Pacific Union College nursing school graduate, who only passed her California State Board RN license test on Feb. 1. She lost her husband, Yuri Trebotich, to colon cancer last April and said the Soroptimists helped her and her family during her schooling and the transition of losing her husband. The Soroptimists have been so supportive, she said Saturday night. They took me under their wing and have allowed me to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse so that I might take care of my family. Vosti said the club has raised more than $1 million through its crab feeds in the past 40 years and has donated that back to the community. Soroptimist St. Helena was chartered in May 1954. 11h00: Pre-ministerial press conference by the NATO Secretary General Location: NATO Headquarters, Brussels (Luns Room) Access to NATO premises as of 09h00. Note The press point will be available live on the NATO website and on satellite; this material is free of rights and free of charge. It will be available in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EU7B or EU10A), the Americas (NS806 or IS34) and Asia (Asiasat5). The technical parameters of this transmission are available at www.eurovision.net/synopsis Photos, video and audio files from NATO will be available after the event on the NATO website and via the NATO Channel. Language feeds on the website The press conference will be available during live transmission and after the event in original sound, English, French, and Russian. Accreditation and access Journalists holding a 2017 NATO media pass will have access to the press conference as usual, upon presentation of their pass. Media representatives that do not hold a 2017 NATO media pass will need to request accreditation directly at the main entrance of the NATO Headquarters on 14 February, starting from 09h00. They will have to present an ID and a valid press card (provided by a recognised national professional body of a NATO country i.e. government, professional association or union, etc.) Media representatives that do not hold a valid press card (as listed previously) are invited to send a signed letter from their editor to NATO Press & Media Service, not later than 16h00 on Monday 13 February 2017 (Fax: +32.2.707.1399, email: moc@hq.nato.int). Please note that a security check will take place, and security personnel will examine equipments and personal effects carried onto the site. Points of contact Press arrangements Damien Arnaud Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 38 Accreditation Thomas Bellanger Tel: +32 (0)2 707 14 31 General Queries Front Office Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 50 41 TV/Radio issues Mr. Henk Dekens Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 50 51 Post-event Video distribution content@natochannel.tv +32 (0)2 707 12 27 Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg) NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller, will meet with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Volodymyr Groysman, at NATO Headquarters on Thursday, 9 February 2017. Media Advisory 14:15 Deputy Secretary General joint press point with Prime Minister of Ukraine Main entrance The press point will be available live on the NATO website and in broadcast quality on satellite. Still and video imagery of the meeting will be available after the event on the NATO website. Follow the Deputy Secretary General on Twitter (@Gottemoeller). Also follow us at @NATOPress. Welcome to Navigating the Storm Navigating the Storm is dedicated to providing a revolutionary analysis on the current crisis of the capitalist world-system and to facilitating ongoing strategic discussion between revolutionary anti-imperialists forces (i.e. revolutionary nationalists, communists, anarchists, etc.) towards the building of a collective orientation and program to guide our action over the course of the next four years and beyond. This blog is facilitated by Kali Akuno and will be updated regularly with new installments of the Navigating the Storm series, articles and information on the development and resolution of the current crisis, and commentary and analysis by various organizations, individuals, and subscribers to the blog. UNITY and STRUGGLE In a ceremony honoring both Emory's rich history and the bright promise of a bold future, Claire E. Sterk was inaugurated Wednesday morning as the university's 20th president. With commitments to build an inclusive community, promote local and global engagement, and to lead by employing Emorys enduring qualities of excellence, distinctiveness and relevance, Sterk formally accepted the charge of leadership in a service featuring music and poetry, distinguished guests and time-honored rituals. I am hopeful about the future because I know what the people at Emory are capable of accomplishing. We will be guided by what we stand for: knowledge, the pursuit of truth, evidence, rational reasoning and ethical principles, she said. Our past demonstrates that with the right people aligned behind a common purpose, we will forge a future worthy of our ambition. The internationally acclaimed public health researcher was unanimously elected to lead the university in June by the Emory Board of Trustees, following an intensive national and international search. A native of the Netherlands, Sterk is Emorys first female president and also its first president who is a social scientist by training. That historic distinction was highlighted by Sanjay Gupta, assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory School of Medicine and CNN chief medical correspondent, who delivered the keynote address. You are the first female president of Emory. First female president. Kind of has a nice ring to it, he said, to rousing applause. Sterks appointment builds upon more than two decades of service to the campus community. She arrived at Emory in 1995 with an appointment to the faculty of the Rollins School of Public Health, where she is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Public Health. During her tenure here, she has served the university as a professor, researcher, academic leader and administrator. In 2013, she was named provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Sterk took office as Emory's president on Sept. 1, 2016, succeeding James W. Wagner, who retired after 13 years at the university's helm. Advancing a culture of connection With the cry of a bagpipe and the rumble of a drum, the ceremony began at 10 a.m., as a piper led a procession of Emory faculty, trustees, staff, administrators, students, and special guests dressed in academic regalia into Glenn Memorial Auditorium. Bobbi Patterson, chief marshal of the university, gave the summons to convocation and Bridgette Young Ross, dean of the chapel and spiritual life, offered an invocation, inviting a packed sanctuary to join in reflections of gratitude for the university and our small part in a great, great history. John F. Morgan, chair of the Emory University Board of Trustees, welcomed attendees, then a specially commissioned inauguration poem titled "XX" was presented by Kevin Young, University Distinguished Professor and Charles Howard Candler Professor of Creative Writing and English, and director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Explaining that the poems title represented the Roman numeral for 20, Young opened with: To begin is to believe. Think of how the leaf decides it is spring, crouched and royal in its skin, that isnt yet. The green that awaits, brown, then bud, then blossom With familiar imagery from around the Emory campus the statue, cigared, bronze; the Rose; the no smoking signs, the twos and threes of juniors laughing his prose celebrated both the university and the promise of fresh starts. Looking up, the green above a belief, just beginning, he concluded. Introduced by Interim Provost Stuart M. Zola, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed delivered greetings from the platform, praising Emorys connection to the community and Sterks vision for strengthening those relationships. I know she values the important partnerships that Emory students, faculty, staff and administration can develop with people and places outside of academia throughout the city of Atlanta and beyond, Reed said. She believes in the culture of collaboration. Shes lived it. Sterk understands that were living in an age of global connectivity, Reed explained, adding that she has been "a critical sounding board for me as mayor and I know she will make a superb president and partner for years to come building a deeper engagement with Atlanta. For that, we are excited. That engagement is so welcome. Additional greetings followed on behalf of the United Methodist Church, delivered by Emory trustee emeritus and Bishop G. Lindsey Davis, and representatives of Emory alumni, staff, undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. Making history at Emory Following an introduction by Jon Lewin, executive vice president for health affairs, president and CEO of Emory Healthcare, and board chair of Emory Healthcare, keynote speaker Gupta said that he jumped at the opportunity to be part of an auspicious moment in the life of the university. Frankly, Im a bit humbled to be here, he said. Professor Sterk has been at Emory for 20 years and has ascended to the presidency. Ive been here just a few years less and am just the mornings entertainment. Gupta said he was inspired to speak at Sterks inauguration in part because of his wife and three outrageously curious and engaged daughters, ages 11, 9 and 7, who spend their time trying to change the world, trying to make it a better place." There is a lot of girl power in my house, he said. Each daughter had offered thoughts on Emorys first female president, Gupta said. His oldest felt that Sterk inspires her: Every day shes more convinced that she can do whatever she wants to do, and be whatever she wants to be, he said. Another daughter suggested Sterk require her direct reports refer to her as Madam President. But it was his youngest child who perhaps offered the greatest insight: What difference does it make that shes a female? she asked. With all due respect, Madam President, she thinks there should be nothing special about women wielding power, Gupta concluded, to hearty applause. Praising Sterks vision for deeper engagement within the Atlanta community and beyond, Gupta said he believes Emory has the ability to make a better and stronger world and it also has a responsibility to make a better and stronger world. Sterk has become president at a pivotal time. There are real collisions between science and conjecture, at times a true disdain for evidence and facts, even an assault on truth and knowledge," Gupta said, arguing that "higher education is crucial more crucial than ever and higher education needs leaders willing to fight on its behalf." Noting that Sterk lived in The Netherlands until she was 30, he acknowledged that as an immigrant to this country youve already contributed so much. I think thats a point worth making, especially now. Tradition and vision As chair of the Board of Trustees, Morgan led the formal presidential investiture, launched with a live video feed of Oxford Colleges Seney Hall bell ringing 20 times in honor of Emorys 20 presidents. Former Emory presidents James T. Laney, William Chace and James Wagner and members of the Board of Trustees presented Sterk with symbols of the office, including the gown of office, a sprig of Wesley holly, charter documents, keys, the Emory torch and trumpet, the medallion of office and the gleaming university mace. After Sterk received the mace, attendees rose in a standing ovation to welcome the university's new president. Sterk then addressed the convocation, outlining her commitment to Emory's mission "to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity" and looking ahead to a bold future for the university. Today we celebrate an institutional rite of passage, she said. We do so with excitement, determination and optimism because of our faith in and hope for Emory. The opportunity to lead Emory in this moment of history is a tremendous honor, she noted. It also brings an equal share of responsibility. I am humbled by the confidence that so many of you place in me. Harkening back to her childhood in The Netherlands, Sterk recalled pretending to conduct an invisible orchestra when no one was around. Given that I am standing before you today, I believe in many ways I have received a role that resembles my adolescent dream, she said. I relish inspiring people to collaborate and make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. I am inspired by listening to all voices and harmonizing those into an inclusive community a community with focus and intent and based on mutual respect. Reflecting on her upbringing, Sterk acknowledged her parents, whose own educations were cut short by World War II. That makes me the first in my family to graduate from high school, she said. Yet she also credited her parents for instilling in their children a deep love of learning. They taught us the value of compassion and caring and insisted on courage, Sterk said. My parents taught us: als je de controle los laat, gebeuren de mooiste dingen, which means, If you are willing to be open to others, the most beautiful things will happen, she said. I am grateful for the lessons they taught me, for these align beautifully with the lessons we learn and teach at Emory: lessons for living, for caring, for courage, and the value of knowledge, preservation and inquiry. Lessons that are rooted in a history of bold actions, inspired by the motivation to serve humanity. Heeding a call to action From her first days on the job, Sterk says she has felt a call for action and a sense of shared responsibility to the world. I am encouraged by and committed to Emorys core values of inclusion, compassion, collaboration, integrity, optimism and boldness, she said. I share these values and I will forcefully represent them. Sterk closed with a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln, who was president of the United States when Emory College was just a quarter-of-a-century old: Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow, she quoted. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. We must ensure that the reputation of Emory, the way in which the world perceives this great university, is consistent with the real thing. We need to help the world see and appreciate our deep and nurturing roots, our substantial and solid trunk, and its widespread and flourishing branches. Recalling her parents' lesson about being open to others, Sterk pledged that Emory will also "be open enough for amazing things to happen. Now is the right time for Emory to seize its ambition, she said. We will make the right choices and leap forward. Internationally acclaimed Israeli writer David Grossman will speak on The Holocausts Carrier Pigeon: Reflections on Writing and Memory for Emory's 20th annual Tenenbaum Family Lecture in Judaic Studies, set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. Presented by Emorys Tam Institute for Jewish Studies, Grossmans lecture will address the meaning of the Holocaust today, how we preserve the memory of the Holocaust, and what is the place of art in protecting that memory and the testimony of survivors and witnesses. The free lecture will be held in White Hall, Room 208, followed by a reception and book sale. Grossman will be available to sign purchased books. A leading Israeli writer of his generation, Grossman is the author of eight internationally acclaimed novels, including See Under: Love (1986) and To the End of the Land (2008), as well as several nonfiction and childrens books. Grossmans work has been translated into 30 languages. He is the recipient of Israels most prestigious literary awards the Sapir Prize and the Bialik Prize as well as many international honors. Grossman's writing has examined some of the most difficult aspects of Israeli and Jewish identity, from the struggle with Holocaust memory to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he explores through the lens of human emotion and everyday experience. His new novel, A Horse Walks into a Bar, is set in a comedy club in a small Israeli town where an audience awaits an evening of amusement. Instead, they witness a comedian falling apart on stage, and are unable to boo, or whistle, or leave, in awe of witnessing the comedians personal hell. Ultimately, the book deals with human suffering, society, truth and love all of the most surprising and breathtaking aspects of the human condition. Free parking is available in the Fishburne, Peavine and Oxford parking decks on the Emory campus. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Tenenbaum Family Lectureship in Judaic Studies, which salutes the family of the late Meyer W. Tenenbaum 31C-32L of Savannah, Georgia. Tenenbaum, a native of Poland, arrived in the United States at age 13 knowing no English, and graduated from the Emory School of Law 11 years later. He went on to head Chatham Steel Corporation, now a major steel service center with headquarters in Savannah. The lectureship was established in 1997 by Meyers son, Samuel Tenenbaum 65C, and honors the entire Tenenbaum family and its ethos of citizenship and public service, which is expressed through its support of religious, educational, social service and arts institutions across the United States. This years program is also made possible by the Waxman Support Fund, which promotes scholarly research, teaching and public programming at Emory on topics related to antisemitism, the Holocaust, and relations between Jews and other communities. The Tam Institute for Jewish Studies brings together scholars and students from a number of different departments and programs at Emory to engage in the interdisciplinary exploration of Jewish civilization and culture. Nineteen distinguished core faculty members offer courses in Jewish religion and thought, history, archaeology, anthropology, language, literature, politics and philosophy. The Institute awards an undergraduate major and minor and provides support for doctoral-level work in Jewish studies, including the new graduate certificate program in Jewish studies. For more information on the lecture and on the Tam Institute, visitwww.js.emory.edu. Students enrolled in the Miami Executive MBA en Espanol program had the opportunity recently to learn from, speak withand express their gratitude fora former head of state, Colombian Senator Alvaro Uribe. On behalf of all Colombians, thank you for repairing our country, one student in the class told Colombias former populist president at the February 3 meeting. Invited to the School of Business Administration by Roberto Rave, a student in the MBA program who serves as an advisor to the Republican Congress of Colombia, the former president discussed the current state of economies in Latin America and the necessity to strengthen democracy to improve the quality of life. Democratic values and a private sector are a must for the country to progress, Uribe said. When there isnt a high education level, well, people must go to another country to find it. Uribe, who is credited with reducing Colombias crime and poverty rates when he served as the war-torn nations 31st president, was as warmly received by the class as he is in his homeland. During his 2002-2012 presidency, homicides, kidnappings, and poverty dropped considerably, and Uribe left the top office with a 75 percent approval rating. He is the guide and shares in our sense of patriotism, Rave said of Uribe. The visit marked Uribes second time at UM; during his first visit in November 2015, he spoke out against the peace negotiations his successor, Juan Manuel Santos, initiated with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombian (FARC), warning that the negotiations would weaken the countrys institutions. His vocal opposition was seen as critical to last years failure of a national referendum on the peace accord. During this visit, Uribe echoed many of the sentiments he expressed previously, particularly his call for democracy and his belief in Latin Americas ability to be incredibly successful. In Cartagena, there is an acceptable quality of life on the side of the city that has industry, he said. On the other side, it is full of poverty due to the lack of (business). Pointing to Venezuela as an example of a country that should not be in its current state of impoverishment and turmoil, Uribe told the story of the time he advised the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that Venezuela needed a strong private sector because the countrys oil wealth would not sustain it forever. Chavezs answer was that the late Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro, told him Venezuela did not need one. The former president also urged the crowd to seek more information, especially since technology is so readily available. I had to ask my son how to use my first MacBook, he joked. I watched so much television and read so many newspapers. The audience showed their admiration for Uribe in a question-and-answer session following his lecture. At one point, he mentioned the books he was reading and a few in the crowd nodded their heads; two women excitedly said they also had them. As the two-hour talk ended, Uribe urged governments to be more responsible to the people they represent. There are three factors that should be in the model: confidence in investments, strengthening the press, and having integrity in your region, Uribe said. 65th annual All Ag Banquet set for Feb. 24 by Andrea Hahn CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondales College of Agricultural Sciences will host the 65th Annual All Ag Banquet on Feb. 24. The event celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of faculty and students. A social hour with cash bar begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Corker Lounge, with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the ballrooms. An awards presentation follows the banquet. This includes student awards for the outstanding junior student, outstanding senior student, registered student organization and Potash i2i Student Recognition. Two other major awards -- the Donald M. Elkins Excellence Award and the Gary L. Minish Outstanding Adviser/Mentor Award -- are from student nominations, recommendations and student votes. Both awards reward faculty or staff members who show demonstrable dedication to education and mentoring. The college made the first 150 student tickets available for free to make it easier for students to attend. Tickets for non-students, faculty and others are $25. Students beyond the first 150 will pay $20. The SIU Ag Alumni Society Board of Governors annual meeting, held the same day as the banquet, is at 4:30 p.m. in Ballroom B at the Student Center. The meeting is open to the public. This year the meeting includes an Agbassador Pinning Ceremony in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Agbassador program. The Agbassadors is a student recruitment organization made up of students whom faculty, administrators and other agricultural sciences students have recommended based on academics, communication skills, overall knowledge of agricultural fields and university achievements. They visit high schools and community colleges, attend career fairs and open houses, and represent the college at many events throughout the academic year. For more information, contact Susan Graham(sgraham@siu.edu) or Renee Kinzinger (reneekinzinger@siu.edu). Openings available at Rainbows End by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Rainbows End Child Development Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has openings in several age groups this spring. The center provides licensed child care for children from the age of six weeks through second grade. Located at 650 S. State St., behind SIUs Student Health Center, Rainbows End operates from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center has full-time openings for children ages three and older. Any child from the community is welcome to attend. Preference is given to children of SIU students, faculty and staff as enrollment in an age group fills up. The cost varies depending on the age of the child and whether the parent is a student, faculty/staff member or community member. The children participate in a variety of educational activities at the center under the direction of skilled and experienced teaching staff, assisted by early childhood students from the university. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are provided. The center, which is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, has a numerous classrooms, an indoor activity room and three playgrounds. Rainbows End has a low child-to-teacher ratio and participates in the Illinois Department of Human Services Child Care Subsidy Program. Karen Samuel is the new director of Rainbows End. A double alumna of the university, Samuel earned her bachelors degree in elementary education and her masters degree in curriculum and instruction at SIU. She brings to the position more than 20 years of experience in the early childhood field. She has been employed in several area child development centers and regional childhood programs and has served since 2013 as the assistant director of Rainbows End. She became the director January 1. To learn more about Rainbows End Child Development Center, visit www.rainbowsend.siu.edu or visit the center and take a tour. You can also find out more or register a child by calling 618/453-6358. Spring program marks Simon Institutes 20th anniversary by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar will deliver the keynote speech of Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institutes spring 2017 event schedule to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the institutes founding in 1997. We are delighted that Gov. Edgar will be joining us to reflect upon Sen. Simons living legacy through the Institute that now bears his name, Jak Tichenor, interim institute director, said. Gov. Edgar was literally present at the beginning of the institute, and we deeply appreciate his continued support of the nonpartisan approach to public policy development that Paul began here 20 years ago this spring. Edgar signed the documents that created the Institute at SIU Carbondale on Sept. 18, 1995, prior to Simons retirement from the U.S. Senate in 1997, saying at the time: He will bring a strong commitment to public service, a thoughtful approach to confronting the vital issues of the day, a fundamental decency and unshakable integrity to this important, exciting venture. Edgar is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m., May 4, in the Student Center auditorium. Other topics during the spring program mirror concerns often expressed by Simon. Discussions and conferences on pressing state issues of fairer school funding, the budget, children in poverty, and engaging youth in public affairs and politics, highlight the schedule as the institute celebrates 20 years throughout 2017. We believe the best tribute to Paul and his legacy is to explore important public policy issues and address the issues of the day, Tichenor said. That is what we believe is a fitting tribute to his memory. He really felt strongly about that. On March 10, the institute will host an Illinois School Funding Fairness Conference to examine the report issued last week by the states funding reform commission. Scheduled speakers include Illinois Secretary of Education Beth Purvis, state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, and Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington; Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability; Daniel Thatcher, who is with the National Conference of State Legislatures; and Brent Clark, executive director, Illinois Association of School Administrators. Tichenor notes that Simon, as a state legislator more than 50 years ago, was concerned with school funding formulas. Legislative approval this year of some of the commissions proposed measures would be one of the most significant developments in school funding in more than 100 years, Tichenor said. More than 50 years ago he (Simon) was pointing out that just relying on a property tax base to fund K-12 education was inadequate for a modern-day Illinois since that was based on our agricultural past, Tichenor said. Most of the institutes events are free, and officials encourage the public and students to take advantage of these opportunities. Several events require an RSVP. More information, including registration details, is available at http://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/event-information/index.php. The current schedule is: Feb. 16 -- 5 p.m., Institute lobby. Decoding the Illinois Budget, featuring Tichenor, Linda Baker, institute university professor, and John Jackson, institute visiting professor. The event will be a reaction and discussion of Gov. Bruce Rauners Feb. 15 budget address. March 3 -- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Center Ballroom B. Jeanne Hurley Simon Lecture, featuring Tequia Hicks-Delgado, a former White House Senior Adviser for Congressional Engagement and Legislative Relations and SIU Carbondale alumna. Hicks-Delgado, a graduate of Carbondale Community High School, worked at the institute while earning her degree in political science. Her experience also includes working for former U.S. Senate minority leader Harry Reids office. March 10 -- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Student Center ballrooms. Illinois School Funding Fairness Conference. March 23-24 Building Our Childrens Futures: A Multi-Disciplinary Conference to Address and Confront Child Poverty. University of Illinois-Springfield. The institute and SIU School of Medicine are among the conference sponsors. Diana Rauner, president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, is one of the keynote speakers. Linda Baker, former director of the Illinois Department of Human Services, will also have insight into how state spending and state policies are impacting children. March 28 -- 5 p.m., Institute lobby. Pizza and Politics: The Simon Poll. The session will discuss poll findings on issues related to state government, including the budget impasse, children living in poverty and human trafficking. April 8 -- 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Youth Government Day for High School Students, Springfield. April 12 -- 7 p.m., Student Center Ballroom B. Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture, featuring John Sides, associate professor, political science, George Washington University and founder of the Washington Posts The Monkey Cage blog. May 4 -- 6 p.m., Student Center Auditorium. Keynote address, former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar. For more information on this or any other institute program, contact the institute at 618/453-4009 or visit paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu. Actor Lucas Hedges has denied claims that he is missing out by not celebrating his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for "Manchester by the Sea". Speaking to Vulture, Hedges said that he doesn't fear of missing out (FOMO), reports femalefirst.co.uk. "No FOMO! It's a bit challenging, but it's also my dream, to be doing this play ('Yen') and be nominated for all these awards. And I get to work for a theatre that's accommodating to me. I feel like I'm fitting in everything, not like I'm missing out on anything," Hedges said. Hedges missed out on joining his cast mates at the Golden Globes because the play was in rehearsals, but he wasn't nominated for a gong. But he made it to the recent Oscars nominees' lunch. --IANS dc/nn/ ( 140 Words) 2017-02-09-01:58:07 (IANS) Shayara Bano, 38, stirred a hornet's nest after she moved the Supreme Court to challenge the triple talaq under Muslim personal law, under which a man simply has to utter 'talaq' thrice to divorce his wife. The consent of the woman is never taken into consideration, and as opposed to what is mandated under the Quran, the woman is never given the stipulated three months' time. Shayara has also challenged in the apex court the concept of 'nikah-halal', under which a woman must consummate another marriage in order to go back to her first husband if she wants to. She also wants to outlaw polygamy within a Muslim marriage. A resident of Kashipur, Shayara got married to Allahabad-based property dealer, Rizwan Ahmed, in 2002. The problems started soon enough.(ANI) Dehradun will host the UK's premier debating competition in India, the 'Great Britain Debate' on Wednesday. DIT University will host the debate, organised by the British Deputy High Commission, Chandigarh. The topic of the debate will be "Globalization has passed its high-watermark and is now in retreat". The event aims to celebrate and encourage debating prowess and offers an opportunity for informed discussion amongst the student fraternity. British Deputy High Commissioner Chandigarh, David Lelliott, said "For the last two years we have held the Great Britain Debate in Chandigarh, and it has been a big success, so I'm very pleased we are able to follow that up by bringing it to Dehradun. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the UK and India's shared tradition of lively, reasoned debate and our close educational ties. And of course to strengthen our links with universities across Northwest India, including our friends at DIT University who have been excellent partners. We've seen a very high quality of debate in previous years and I'm looking forward to more of the same." Organised by the British High Commission network in India, the Great Britain Debate competition is the biggest since its conception. In its fourth edition, the competition will be organized in eight cities - Indore, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Dehradun, Jaipur and Patiala. The debate is being organised in association with Chevening Scholarships. Chevening is the British Government's flagship global scholarship and fellowship programme, funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and partner organizations. The India programme is the largest Chevening country programme in the world, funding 130 scholarships for future Indian leaders. Last year's Great Britain Debate in Chandigarh was won by Thapar University. (ANI) Speaking at a rally in Meerut, Gandhi yesterday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should know that the people in Uttar Pradesh are united and cannot be divided. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocks Uttarakhand tragedy, insults freedom struggle but has no answers to questions on demonetisation," Gandhi said. He also charged the Prime Minister of spreading hate and anger among people. The Prime Minister visited Meerut to spread hate and anger. A message should be sent from the youth of Uttar Pradesh that the state stands together and it cannot be broken. We will win in Uttar Pradesh and complete the promise which the Prime Minister cannot fulfill that employment could be generated from within Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party workers and Congress workers should stand together," he added. The electioneering in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh is getting momentum for assembly seats in Kanpur. The polling will be held in third phase on February 19 for ten seats. Kanpur was known for its mills and factories, many of which have been closed now, however the city still retains the position of one of the main business centres of the state. Though hundreds of tanneries are functional in the city, ineffective implementation of environmental laws has resulted in polluting the river Ganga badly. Although all major political parties are giving emphasis on development, the farmers whose land were acquired for Ghatampur power project are still waiting for their compensation. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to debate on motion of thanks to President's address in Rajya Sabha today. In his reply to motion of thanks to President's address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister yesterday said it is high time to understand and appreciate the inherent strength of India's people and take the country to newer heights. Prime Minister Modi said there is a need to repose faith in 'Jan Shakti'. He said because of democratic power of people, a person born to a poor family could become the Prime Minister of India. Coming down heavily on Congress, the Prime Minister said everyone remembers how democracy was under threat from 1975 to 1977, when opposition leaders were jailed and newspaper freedom was curtailed. The Prime Minister said, "There are many people like him those who are born post independence, who could not die for the nation during the freedom struggle, but are living for India and serving the country. The Congress feels only one family got Independence for India and the root of the problem lies there." The Prime Minister also asked the opposition party why the Benami law passed during former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's tenure in 1988 was not notified for 26 years. He said today everyone should join hands to develop India and take the country to newer heights. On implementation of demonetisation process, the Prime Minister said the government was always ready for the discussion on the issue but the opposition was only interested in TV bytes and not debates. The Prime Minister the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India from corruption and black money. He said the timing for the implementation of the decision was right as the economy was doing well. He said his government do not see everything from the prism of elections and the interests of the nation are supreme for it. "Now, middlemen no longer enjoy the benefits they did and the government has stopped the corruption and loot," he added. Calling for holding simultaneous elections to lok Sabha and the State legislative assemblies, Prime Minister Modi said political parties must think over it. He said it will help in managing expenditure. The Prime Minister expressed surprise that there were some who made cleanliness also a political issue. He called upon the people to work together on ushering a Swachh Bharat. Referring to yesterday's earthquake, he said, said the Centre is monitoring the situation. (ANI) Dawn to dusk general strike in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area today called by All Tripura Indigenous Regional Parties Forum (ATRPF) of three major tribal based opposition - IPFT, INPT and NCT protesting the amendment move of Citizenship Act by the Central government. Both ruling CPI-M and BJP has opposed the strike stating a futile move to create unrest in the hill. The trains to and from Agartala and vehicular movement on National Highway and other district roads have been cancelled due to the strike. Almost two-third of the state's total geography is falling under ADC, which covered entire inter-district road networks in Tripura. The schools, colleges and other public offices have remained been closed due to the strike. The shops and markets in ADC areas were also closed. The tribals in general spontaneously supported the bandh, as there was no presence of hill living tribals in the city who daily come for selling out non-timber forest produces in the markets. "The reason of the strike was injected to the emotion of the common tribals that the amendment of Citizenship Act will tell upon the existence of the tribal in Tripura. The majority tribal population became minority after liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 following influx of a huge number of non-tribals in the state. They are apprehended the amendment of Citizenship Act will further marginalise tribal, which helps to success the strike today," said veteran politician Tapas De. Meantime, the state administration deployed massive security across ADC areas in view of the strike. Administration has made elaborate security arrangements in ADC headquarter at Khumulwng and other ADC villages in the remote hill areas. Besides, state police, CRPF, TSR and other paramilitary personnel have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidences. However, the picketers did not allow any activities in the public places in the ADC areas. Hundreds of picketers were mobilised in roads and public places since last night to make the strike successful and send a strong message of unity among tribal to both centre and state government, said tribal youth leader Devid Debbarma. According to police, there was no report of any untoward incident anywhere in the state. The demonstrators have been peacefully picketing in busy places and soliciting public support including from the non-tribals in favour of their demand. Opposing the strike, Chief Executive Member of ADC Radha Charan Debbarma alleged this strike is politically motivated and provocative. In the name of opposing the amendment of Citizenship Bill, the leaders of the forum have been trying to form an alliance with BJP in next assembly poll scheduled in early next year. "We the Leftists too are against of amendment of Citizenship Bill that had been proposed by the Central Government. But calling strike in Tripura will have no affect rather demonstrating in Delhi and pursuing with the central government could help them to succeed. The strike will encourage divisive forces without serving actual purpose," Mr Debbarma said. Meanwhile, Forum leader and veteran politician Bijoy Hrangkhwal said that tribal of Tripura has been suffering because of anti-tribal policies of the left front government. The tribal parties were fighting for more power and independent functioning of ADC but left front government in Tripura opposed it and misguided the central government. Tribals are the majority in the state since time immemorial but now the indigenous people of the state become minority. ADC has been functioning like a department of the Left Front government and the Manik Sarkar government is against empowerment and independent rule of ADC. The forum will continue it's fight for protection of tribal rights till end, Hrangkhwal added.UNI BB AD1118 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1141272.Xml A special CBI court today completed hearing on bail applications of all 11 accused in Vijay Mallya loan default case. The court will announce its order in the case on February 10. All the accused are employees/ex employess of IDBI and KFA. This is a case were IDBI bank employees allegedly sanctioned about Rs. 900 crore loan to KFA while it was having a low credit rating. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its chargesheet that this loan was sanctioned by IDBI official by doing a criminal conspiracy by them in connivance with the KFA employees. The basic arguments were put up by defence lawyers who were replying CBI counsel 's arguments yesterday who opposed bail to all the accused. Defence Lawyer Advocate Abad Ponda, while replying to CBI counsel's arguments said, "It had been clarified by the Supreme Court time and again that court should not go into the minute merits and demerits of the case in bail pleas. We just recommend the loan...it was passed by someone else. It is a matter of argument during trial that whether we recommended right or not while we examine and cross examine the witnesses." He said nowhere in the chargesheet they say that even a single penny from Mallya or anyone else come to the accused, adding that there is no possibility of this trial getting over in near future. 'If arrest is really necessary, there should be real reason for keeping them behind bars. But nowhere in his two and half hour argument CBI counsel has pointed out the reason why they should be kept behind bars. This was an unjustified arrest and this can't be allowed to continue in the name of remand when nothing is needed from us as far as investigation is complete. And chargesheet is before this honourable court," he added. Advocate Rajiv Chavan said the IDBI officers cooperated throughout the investigation, adding that they didn't hinder any part of the investigation. "The loan amount was diverted, word is used siphoned, but it was not used for personal use , it was used for aircraft rental and Salaries etc. The CBI claims that There was a criminal conspiracy on the night of November 23, 2009. This allegation is completely ridiculous,' he added. He further stated that the CBI has not bothered to investigate this fact that whatever proposal is submitted by the credit officer, the credit committee has rights to do variations to it. "They can increase, decrease and keep the rating similar.It generally variates. The Credit Committee and rating committee are two different bodies and it is not the case of CBI that credit committee pressurised rating committee to give those ratings to KFA. 38 corporate with BB rating and 24 corporate with B+ rating have got loans so it's not the CBIs case that corporate low credit ratings," he added. Chavan said all the judgements which they have relied upon about tampering of evidence are of the cases of influential and powerful people. "Here, there is no possibility of tampering of witnesses because all are already retired," he said. Bharat Badami, CBI counsel chipped in and argued a point. He said that it is not necessary that prosecution must say that the accused have taken bribe/ money. Another Lawyer for accused Yogesh Agarwal, ex-chairman IDBI said, "There is not a single inquiry ordered in the whole carrier of my client.He sanctioned umpteen number of loans but not a single case of sanctioned was sent for inquiry. Only on the basis of a meeting he attended , he can't be hold guilty because CBI thinks that after this meeting the loan was sanctioned." (ANI) Police said here today that 432 bottles of country liquor and 108 bottles of foreign liquor were seized from the vehicle on Siswa-Bhatwa road linking Bihar with Uttar Pradesh under Vishwambhapur police station area. Two liquor peddlers, identified as Arun Singh and Chhotu Yadav, were arrested from the spot late last night. Liquor peddlers, natives of Goplaganj district were carrying the consignment from UP when they were nabbed by the police following a tip off. An intensive interrogation of bootleggers is on to nab other members of their gang.UNI XC DH AD1256 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1141391.Xml With an aim to ensure safety of old age parents, who are often neglected by their wards, the Assam government has proposed to link geriatric care to the pay of its employees from the 2017-18 fiscal to ensure that they look after their parents. Presenting a Rs 2,349.79 crore deficit budget yesterday, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said every government employee must take care of his or her parents. If they do not, the government will deduct a part of the employee's salary and give it to the neglected parents for their sustenance, Dr Sarma had told the assembly. "Care for elderly parents is the responsibility of every ward. If a government employee son cannot do it for his parents, it becomes the duty of the government to do so from his salary," he said. The government also decided to provide each of about 5 lakh employees two sets of khadi and handloom dresses annually. Neglect of elderly parents by their sons and daughters in many parts of India, in a rapidly growing consumerism society, has found echo in the well of Parliament also. A private members bill to this effect was also moved in Lok sabha one year back.UNI ABI AD1300 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1141401.Xml A study reveals that discrimination of weight by teachers may be the major reason for low score of obese female students in school. The results, published in the journal Sociology of Education, indicated that the relationship between obesity and academic performance may result largely from educators interacting differently with girls of various sizes, rather than from obesity's effects on girls' physical health. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the US found that even when girls scored the same on ability tests, obese girls received worse high school grades than their normal-weight peers. "Teachers rated them as less academically able as early as elementary school," said study's author Amelia Branigan. They analysed elementary school students around age nine and high school students approximately 18 years old in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1997 cohort. The students were evaluated by teacher-assessed academic performance, while grade point average was the measured outcome used to assess the high school students. They found obesity to be associated with a penalty on teacher evaluations of academic performance among white girls in English, but not in math. There was no penalty observed for girls who were overweight but not obese. "Obese white girls are only penalised in 'female' course subjects like English," Branigan said. This suggests that obesity may be most harshly judged in settings where girls are expected to be more stereotypically feminine. This may reflect findings that obesity is more stigmatised among women than among men or individuals of other races, according to Brannigan, who says social interventions for teachers may lessen the performance gap. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to set up a panel of three former judges of the apex court to look into the issue of compensation in the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) project on the river Narmada. A bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Jagdish Singh Khehar proposed to set up a three-judge panel to monitor the compensation and rehabilitation for the oustees of SSP on river Narmada in three states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Earlier, the apex court said that to ensure better deal for the project-affected families and had asked the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and states to suggest names of experts who could be appointed in the committee which would deal with the issue of resettlement and rehabilitation of the oustees. While hearing the petitions pertaining to rehabilitation of oustees of the project, the court had made it clear that it would not allow stalling of the project. (ANI) Passengers of New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express had a providential escape after fish plates and joint vaults of the rail track were tampered with allegedly by subsersive elements on Barauni-Katihar section of East Central railway today. Rail police said here that fish plates and joint vaults between Mansi-Maheshkhunt stations on the section were removed apparently with an intention to force derailment of the premier train as the train was slotted to move ahead of other trains. Fortunately villagers passing by tracks noticed fish plates and joint vaults missing and they immediately informed railway authorities at Mansi station. Acting on the alert New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express was stopped and so were Katihar-Patna Intercity Express, Barauni-Katihar and Katihar-Hajipur passenger trains which were following Rajdhani express. Train services were restored on the section after repairing the damage which took nearly three hours. The railway police are probing the terror angle as a couple of recent derailments in north India pointed to the role of terrorists. The latest incident of an abortive bid to sabotage trains came on the close heels of explosion of a crude bomb on tracks in Buxar district last MondayUNI DH SJC -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-1141531.Xml China's leading online smart phones selling company Xiaomi will now focus on strengthening its offline market and distribution channels in India in the coming months. Disclosing this here today on the occasion of unveiling of company's powerful and featured Redmi Note 4 in India, Xiaomi's Country Head, Manu Jain said, "at present 90 per cent of our sales come from online route and offline contribution is merely 10 per cent. Keeping in view the potential of exponential growth from offline market the company has now drawn ambitious plans to strengthen offline retail channel in the country." The company has set up a unit in the state of Andhra Pradesh where over 75 per cent of the smart phones sold in India are assembled. "We are presently importing the all major components of mobile phones from China and other countries but exploring possibilities to procure some of the components within the country," Mr Jain said. Describing the Redmi Note 4, a successor to the widely acclaimed Redmi Note 3, he said the new one is gorgeously designed in premium metal body with high gloss aluminium lines, 5.5 inch FHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 13 MP CMOS camera and 5 MP front camera, LTE, minimum 32 GB memory expandable up to 128 GB, rear finger print sensor and powerful, long lasting 4100 MAh battery, surely to fulfill the aspirations of the youth who wants more in their smart phones. The Redmi Note 4 will be available exclusively on Mi.com and flipcart.com through online sale at a price starting from Rs 9,999 to Rs 12,990 for different features, he added. UNI RKS VJ PY SHK 1447 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-1141577.Xml The High Court had earlier on January 18 deferred the hearing on the same till January 25. A CBI special court had on January 4 granted bail to the former air chief's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and his lawyer Gautam Khaitan in this case. The court had then directed Sanjeev and Khaitan not to contact any witnesses and not to leave the National Capital Region (NCR) without prior permission. The court had earlier granted bail to the 72-year-old former air chief, saying that CBI has failed to state the alleged bribe amount and when it was paid. The former air chief, who retired in 2007, his cousin Sanjeev and Khaitan were arrested on December 9, 2016, by the CBI in connection with the case which relates to procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from UK-based firm during the UPA-2 regime. (ANI) Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore said that terrorism was a global threat and the footprint of terrorism did not restrict to any border. He was speaking during the 17th international counter terrorism seminar organized here today. Col Rathore said that there should be proper coordination between the agencies within the country, as well as between the countries, because terrorists take advantage of element of surprise if we live in isolation. He said that now the focus should be more on Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).The Minister said that the outcome of the seminar should be shared among the different agencies, to develop intelligence and also use the knowledge for safety and security. He also said that there should be collaboration in intelligence, strategy and technology. He appreciated both the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence for keeping pace with other countries in terms of modernising the forces.He also unveiled the NSG annual magazine 'The Bombshell', which contained details of various IED explosions that occurred in various parts of the world in 2016.UNI MKS SHK 1700 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1141861.Xml Two students of IIT, Guwahati, were arrested today on allegation of molestation of three Gauhati University students. Local reports said the three girls had filed a complaint at Amingaon police station against the IIT students yesterday. They had alleged that the two boys had drugged and molested them after promising to provide them a room to spent the night on February 2 after the girls were stranded at IIT at the end of a cultural function there. The girls were rescued by a police patrol party near IIT in an unconscious state and admitted at a local hospital. Based on the complaint, police initially had called the boys for questioning and later arrested them. The girls' statements have also been recorded by a local magistrate. The two boys are reportedly students of second year mechanical engineering at IIT and stay in the same hostel in the campus. UNI SG AKM 1729 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-1141950.Xml Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has sought the support of his cabinet ministers in exhibiting the ultimate will of his government in carrying the state forward in all sectors. He categorically asked the ministers to work for faster development of the state through innovative methodologies that ensures result oriented performance of their respective department, official sources said. "It's time that we live upto our people's expectations and make this government a truly welfare government, where fruits of development is being reaped by each and every citizen of our beautiful state," Khandu assertively said. He sought periodical report in every three months from the ministers on tangible developments undertaken in their respective ministries which also includes, plans, policy, status of on going projects, completed projects, central and state sponsored programmes with special focus on Prime Minister's flagship programmes like digital India, jan dhan yojana, swatch Bharat, skill India etc. "I am confident that with your diligence and acumen, you will be managing the departments assigned to you in a highly efficient manner," CM emphatically said while pitching for visible and result oriented development of the state. In doing so, he has sought active support in the endeavour to achieve common goal of taking the state to higher levels of development in all fields. UNI PB AKM 1751 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-1142028.Xml In the wake of the upcoming elections in Uttarakhand, Nepal has decided for the first time to close liquors shops along its border with Uttarakhand 48 hours before the polling. Champawat district administration held a meeting with Nepalese authorities in this connection recently. The state has a 275 km long border with the neighbouring country Nepal. Pithoragarh and Champawat districts have their eastern border with Nepal along river Kali. The border areas with Nepal are highly sensitive from security point of view. In view of this, the security of the borders has been further strengthened. (ANI) Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu acting Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao was studying the situation in the state following divisions in the ruling AIADMK. "The Governor is studying the situation," Naidu told media persons here. Naidu said the Centre has no role to play in the internal developments of AIADMK and he did not want to make comments on it. The AIADMK is in the middle of a storm after V.K. Sasikala was chosen to replace O. Panneerselvam as the new Chief Minister, triggering a rebellion. Panneerselvam alleged on Tuesday night that he was forced to resign as the Chief Minister by V.K. Sasikala -- a long-time confidante of J. Jayalalithaa. Sasikala on Wednesday accused Panneerselvam, acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, of "betrayal". Official sources said in Mumbai that Vidyasagar Rao, the Maharashtra Governor who has additional charge of Tamil Nadu, has not finalised plans to go to Chennai. They said Rao would be busy with official commitments till late on Wednesday evening and there is no word when he is likely to proceed to Chennai. The Congress party has accused the central government of using the Governor to try and topple the AIADMK government in the state. Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said people's mandate should not be ignored and "one can't bring down the government in a state using the Governor as a puppet". Party leader Digvijay Singh said the Governor was not fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities. --IANS ps/rn ( 258 Words) 2017-02-08-18:04:07 (IANS) AIADMK State Secretary Purushothaman today said that action would be initiated against former AIADMK Legislator Om Sakthi Sekhar who extended support to Mr O Panneerselvam (OPS). Mr Sekhar extended support to Mr Panneerselvam last night itself and left for Chennai today. Mr Purushothaman told the newspersons today that Mr Sekhar who is not at all holding any post in the party here have no right to announce support of the local unit to Mr OPS. He said Jayalalitha safeguarded the AIADMK party founded by late MG Ramachandran and after her demise Sasikala, the close aid of Jayalalitha, came forward to rescue the party. She had never asked anyone to make her party General Secretary or the Chief Minister, he added. On the other hand, she accepted the present post following pressure from AIADMK cadres belonging to different states, he said. Now Mr Panneerselvam had fallen prey to the tactics of the enemies and leveling allegations against Sasikala who is innocent, Purushotaman said.UNI PAB AKC SNU 1810 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1142043.Xml Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, wife of party president and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today made an appeal in the 'Taj city' to support her husband. Dimple, along with another SP Rajya Sabha member and Bollywood star Jaya Bachchan, campaigned in three Assembly seats of the Agra district today where polling would be held in the first phase on February 11."Please, you all support your bhaiyya so that he could retain the seat," Dimple appealed to the people in her first public meeting in this elections at Bah Assembly constituency. Dimple said her husband had worked honestly for the past five years adding,"I can promise that the remaining work in your area would be completed once our Government return back to the power."The Kannauj MP said that the CM always worked for the upliftment of the youths and farmers. Due to his effort now the rural areas were getting power for 18 hours a day. "The new Agra-Lucknow Expressway will accelerate the development in the region and the farmers of the area would be most benefitted," she further said. Jaya Bachchan in her brief speech said that Akhilesh Yadav was a symbol of youth in the country and by going in alliance with Rahul Gandhi of Congress a new equation has been set in the country. Jaya also criticised the BJP Government at the Centre for its anti-people approach.UNI MB JW SNU 1843 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1142092.Xml Two militants belonging to two different organisations were nabbed by Manipur Police and troops in two separate incidents on Tuesday. Defence Wing today said troops of Jwalamukhi apprehended a hardcore underground activist in an operation.In the operation, a KUFO/UTP cadre was apprehended from Motbung of Kangpokpi district. The individual was identified as Lhungkhogin. He was apprehended along with one 9mm Pistol with magazine, ammunition and other warlike stores. The militant confessed of being involved in extortion and nefarious activities in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on behalf of his organisation. He was later handed over to Police Station G-Sapermaeina. In another incident Manipur police nabbed a cadre of NSCN(K) identified as Soraisam Milan, from Heirangoithong. Imphal West police said he was involved in extorting money. UNI NS RN 1943 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1142322.Xml The mortal remains of T Thirupandi (33), an Indian Army Jawan, who died in an avalanche in J&K, was cremated with full guard of honour at his native A Punavasal village near Kadaladi in this Southern district of Tamil Nadu, this evening. Thirupandi, while serving at the Line of Control in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, died after an avalanche hit an Army camp on February six. Army officials said after the day's patrol work, Thirupandi returned to the camp with four of his colleagues and was sleeping when the avalanche hit the camp. The Jawan, who had been serving the army since 2001, left behind his parents, wife T Kanagavalli, daughter T Sathya Gayathri (5) and son Harish Pandi (3). His body was flown to Madurai Airport from New Delhi this morning and later brought to his native village by road. Officers from Army Cantonment, Coimbatore paid their last respects. Forty two rounds were fired in the air as a mark of respect to the departed Jawan according to the Army tradition. Later, the body was consigned to flames after hundreds of people bid an emotional farewell. District Collector S Natarajan handed over Rs 20-lakh solatium to the family of Thirupandi, granted by the State Government. UNI GSM AKC SNU 1941 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1142269.Xml Birla Corporation today reported a decline of 85.06 per cent in net profit to Rs 2.09 crore for the third quarter ended December 31.Profit after Taxes during the quarter was lower at Rs.2.09 crore, primarily due to higher borrowing costs on account of acquisition of Reliance Cement Co Pvt Ltd. (RCCPL) and reduction of treasury income as internal accruals were utilized to fund the acquisition.The company had posted a net profit of Rs 13.99 crore in the October-December period a year ago.During the quarter under review, revenue of the Company reduced by around 9 per cent to Rs 832 crore and cement dispatches were lower by 11 per cent at 17.47 lakh tonnes, compared to the corresponding period the previous year, the company said in a BSE filing.Despite the fall in revenues, Earnings Before Interest, Depreciation, Taxation and Amortization from operations (EBIDTA) were almost flat (YOY) at Rs 57.96 crore. This was made possible by efforts of the management to improve efficiencies in operations and bring down operating costs, particularly those of power and fuel. EBIDTA for nine months ended 31 December 2016, was significantly higher at Rs 276.30 crore, compared to Rs 183.19 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.The drop in volumes was contributed primarily by the effect of demonetisation in the key markets of North and Central India where the Company's operations are concentrated. Among the States, demand in Uttar Pradesh, which contributes over 80 per cent of the Company's sales in Central India, was the most impacted. Shortage of currency took a major toll on rural consumption that constitutes bulk of channel-trade sales.Construction activities in large projects were impaired by an embargo on sand and aggregates mining in large parts of the State. Further, the ensuing State elections saw new projects being postponed or put on hold.Owing to low demand, prices remained depressed in all markets, with competition intensifying and large-volume players undercutting on prices.In response to the adverse market conditions, the Company, on one hand, focused on protecting market shares while working on measures to arrest slide in price realization with a series of marketing and commercial initiatives. The period also saw the integration of the Reliance Cement operations. The Company embarked on a plan of reorganizing its portfolio and optimizing the supply chain in overlapping markets, to maximize the value of the acquisition.There are distinct signs of traction in demand across most markets with impact of demonetization tapering off. We have seen a substantial spurt in sales volume in January 2017 over December 2016, which gives us the confidence of markets returning to normalcy by the end of Q4 2017 when the major State elections would also have been concluded.The Union Budget confirms the Government's commitment on infrastructure spends. This, combined with initiatives in low-cost rural housing, village roads and assets creation, smart cities and affordable housing, augurs well for the cement sector. We expect a spurt of activities in the core geographic footprint of the Company covering Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which are likely to be beneficiaries of these initiatives.Having regard to the prevailing macro environment, the operations of RCCPL have been quite satisfactory there being improvements in operating parameters across the board. All its plants are operating at high levels of efficiency and achieving optimal levels. Efforts to integrate its operations with the Company and realize synergy benefits are on course and have started yielding benefits.Even under the current scenario, when demand as well realizations continue to be soft in one of its key markets viz. Uttar Pradesh, EBIDTA per ton of RCCPL is fairly high owing to strong operating parameters, high levels of cost effectiveness and fiscal incentives it enjoys.Measures being undertaken by us such as installation of Waste Heat Recovery System and dispatches by rail in its grinding unit in Uttar Pradesh are expected to aid in further reduction in cost and increasing volumes. Once the volumes and realizations pick up in the coming months, its profitability would improve further and should be amongst the highest in the industry.RCCPL has started the exercise of rebranding of the 'Reliance Perfect Cement' brand as 'MP Birla Perfect Cement'. The campaign has been well received in the markets. The initiative is expected to provide impetus to increase volumes and maintain the premium pricing of the brand in the trade segment.The Jute Division continues to improve its performance. Despite decline in production owing to spurt in absenteeism of workers, cash profit for the quarter under review has been stable at Rs 6 crore. This could be achieved mainly on the back of improved man and machine productivity. The Division continues to lay emphasis on modernization and manufacturing of value-added products, giving better results.UNI BM RN 2101 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1142473.Xml Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cutting remark on Dr. Manmohan Singh, as unbecoming of a Prime Minister, adding that the ruling dispensation is reducing the Parliamentary Democracy to their own kind of 'dictatorship'. Responding to the Prime Minister's address in the House today where he took a dig at Manmohan's 'clean' record of 35 years as an economist, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told ANI that the former had acted in a manner unbecoming of his post. "This is completely unbecoming of a Prime Minister. This is not Parliamentary democracy and they (BJP) are taking it towards a level of their own dictatorship. They had an empty House except for the ruling party. Nobody was there when the motion of thanks was accepted. The honourable President would do well to consider whether to accept this motion of thanks," he said. Further asserting that is is not expected of a seating Prime Minister to speak in such disparaging language about a former prime minister, Yechury stated that the Manmohan should have been allowed to at least respond to what the Prime Minister was saying about him. Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi provoked a walk out in the Rajya Sabha with his scathing attack on his predecessor and veteran economist Dr. Manmohan Singh. Taking a dig at his squeaky clean record of 35 years of service as an economist, he accused the former prime minister of having a talent of 'bathing in raincoats', and getting away with the ugliest of scams. "Dr. Manmohan Singh has played a significant role in the economic system of India. In the history of India it is rare to find a man who has had a such a long relationship with the economy of India, 35 years of 70 years of independence.", Prime Minister said. He further added that in 35 years of service, so many scams surfaced, yet it marked no stain on Dr. Manmohan as an economist. "We leaders have so much to study as so much happened at the time, but there was not a single blot on him. This is a special skill Dr. Manmohan Singh excelled at and we should all learn this art of bathing in raincoat," he said. Meanwhile, an outraged Congress has threatened to boycott the Prime Minister in both the Houses of the Parliament until he tenders an apology to Dr. Manmohan. (ANI) Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'raincoat' barb on Dr. Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha today, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi asserted that by making such a statement, the former has demeaned his position and himself more than anyone else. Taking to Twitter, Rahul said, "When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor-years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament &the nation." "He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly; they were shameful," he added in a series of tweets. Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day provoked a walk out in the Rajya Sabha with his scathing attack on his predecessor and veteran economist Dr. Manmohan Singh. Taking a dig at his squeaky clean record of 35 years of service as an economist, he accused the former prime minister of having a talent of 'bathing in raincoats', and getting away with the ugliest of scams. "Dr. Manmohan Singh has played a significant role in the economic system of India. In the history of India it is rare to find a man who has had a such a long relationship with the economy of India, 35 years of 70 years of independence.", Prime Minister said in reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Rajya Sabha today. He further added that in 35 years of service, so many scams surfaced, yet it marked no stain on Dr. Manmohan as an economist. "We leaders have so much to study as so much happened at the time, but there was not a single blot on him. This is a special skill Dr. Manmohan Singh excelled at and we should all learn this art of bathing in raincoat," he said. The remark stirred an instant outrage, with leaders of Congress deciding to walk out amid the futile pleas of Speaker Hamid Ansari to maintain the decorum of the house. Outside the parliament, Dr. Manmohan maintained his trademark calm and simply chose not to respond to questions over the Prime Minister's statement. Meanwhile, the Congress has warned of boycotting the Prime Minister for the rest of the Budget Session (April 12th) until he apologises for his comment on Dr. Manmohan Singh. (ANI) Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments against his predecessor Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday asserted that never in the history of the nation such language has been used for a Prime Minister. Averring that Prime Minister Modi's comments were "ugly and poor in taste", Chidambaram said the latter only liked to hear his own voice as has not heard a single leader of Opposition speaking in the Parliament. "We have taken strong exception to the language and demeanour of the Prime Minister. firstly he doesn't come to the house to listen to any of the Opposition leader. Today he was scheduled to come at five o'clock, he deliberately did not come on time and arrived in the House only after the last speaker from the Opposition had concluded and then he begins his speech. Within minute of his speech he attacks the former prime minister in the most unacceptable manner," said Chidambaram. "Translated what he said was, "50 years Dr. Manmohan Singh occupied various positions and one must learn from him to how to take a shower wearing a rain coat." It was extremely poor in taste, it is unbecoming of a Prime Minister to use such language for a former Prime Minister, and it is uncertainly unbecoming of any one to say such harsh and ugly statements about Dr. Manmohan Singh," he added. Substantiating the walking out in the Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said that the Congress vacated the Parliament as it did not want to stoop to the level of Prime Minister Modi's debate. "We are very disappointed and angry with what the Prime Minister said and we have expressed our protest by walking out. We could have stayed back in the house and created a ruckus we could have stormed the well of the house and shouted down the Prime Minister but that would have in circumstances of today brought us down to the level of the debate Mr. Prime Minister wanted," he said. "We don't want such a debate to take place, we walked out registering our protest we want the people to know that no Prime Minister before has used such language for a former Prime Minister," he added. Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day provoked a walk out in the Rajya Sabha with his scathing attack on his predecessor and veteran economist Dr. Manmohan Singh. Taking a dig at his squeaky clean record of 35 years of service as an economist, he accused the former prime minister of having a talent of 'bathing in raincoats', and getting away with the ugliest of scams. "Dr. Manmohan Singh has played a significant role in the economic system of India. In the history of India it is rare to find a man who has had a such a long relationship with the economy of India, 35 years of 70 years of independence.", Prime Minister said in reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Rajya Sabha today. He further added that in 35 years of service, so many scams surfaced, yet it marked no stain on Dr. Manmohan as an economist. "We leaders have so much to study as so much happened at the time, but there was not a single blot on him. This is a special skill Dr. Manmohan Singh excelled at and we should all learn this art of bathing in raincoat," he said. The remark stirred an instant outrage, with leaders of Congress deciding to walk out amid the futile pleas of Speaker Hamid Ansari to maintain the decorum of the house. Outside the parliament, Dr. Manmohan maintained his trademark calm and simply chose not to respond to questions over the Prime Minister's statement. Resuming his speech, Prime Minister Modi hit back at Congress saying when they used words like "loot" and "plunder", why was no second thought given. "We have the strength of paying back in the same coin and language, and yet within the confines of the Constitution. This is the exhibit of an attitude where you can't accept defeat," he said to the half empty House. Meanwhile, the Congress has warned of boycotting the Prime Minister for the rest of the Budget Session (April 12th) until he apologises for his comment on Dr. Manmohan Singh. (ANI) In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump signing an executive order that effectively suspends immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, the U.S. refugee programme for 120 days and Syrian refugees from entering the country, a bold political move by an upscale restaurant in New York has taken everyone by surprise. "Immigrants make America great (they also cooked your food and served you today)," reads the bottom of the receipt at Kiwiana, owned by former 'Top Chef' contestant Mark Simmons. New York journalist Mary Emily O'Hara visited the New Zealand cuisine restaurant recently. She took a picture of the receipt and put it on Twitter. Her tweet has been retweeted for more than 95,000 times. "We were just looking for a place that wouldn't have a long wait, and gave it a shot. When the check came I was surprised to see the statement at the bottom," she was quoted as saying to CNN. Simmons has said he created the note soon after President Donald Trump's executive order. He said he was just practicing his freedom of speech and the response he has received has been pretty positive overall. (ANI) The UN political chief warned on Tuesday that Islamic State terrorist group is adapting to increasing military pressure by shifting to the "dark web." Jeffrey Feltman, the UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, made the remarks when he was briefing the UN Security Council on the UN chief's latest report on the threat posed by the IS to international peace and security, Xinhua reported. Feltman said that IS was adapting in several ways to military pressure by resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using the "dark web," encryption and messengers. The report stressed that IS was on the defensive militarily in several regions. "Although its income and the territory under its control are shrinking, IS still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," Feltman said. Feltman noted that IS relies mainly on income from extortion and hydrocarbon exploitation, even though resources from the latter are on the decline. UN member states are concerned that the IS would try to expand other sources of income, such as kidnapping for ransom, and increase its reliance on donations, he said. While the previous reports on the subject have focused on Southeast Asia, Yemen and East Africa, Libya and Afghanistan, the report, which is the fourth on this subject, zeroes in on Europe, North Africa and West Africa. It noted that the IS has conducted a range of attacks in Europe since declaring in 2014 its intent to target the region. Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by IS personnel, while others were enabled by IS providing guidance or assistance or were inspired through its propaganda. --IANS sku/ ( 286 Words) 2017-02-08-07:48:06 (IANS) Somalia's al Shabaab militants stormed a hotel in the capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland region, Bosasso, today, killing four guards, while two of the attackers also died, a senior official said."Three al Shabaab fighters stormed the International Village Hotel this morning. Four guards and two of the attackers died in the fighting," Yusuf Mohamed, the governor of Bari region, told Reuters."Fortunately, the attackers did not enter the rooms. The fighting took place inside the compound. A third fighter escaped and we are pursuing him. All the people in the hotel are safe." REUTERS SHS RK1118 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1141258.Xml US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has underscored Washington's intent to strengthen ties with Australia, Japan and South Korea, the State Department said a move aimed at reassuring allies unnerved by the campaign rhetoric of new President Donald Trump.In separate calls with counterparts from the three long-time allies, they agreed to work closely to tackle threats from North Korea's nuclear ambitions and increased tensions in the East and South China seas, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said yesterday."Secretary Tillerson reiterated the Administration's intent to strengthen our military alliances, our economic partnerships, and our diplomatic cooperation," he said in a statement.Tillerson expressed interest in early meetings with his counterparts "and expressed his deep respect for their nations' contributions to regional security, global prosperity, democratic institutions, and the rule of law," it said.The calls come at a time of raised concerns in the Asia-Pacific about Trump's attitude to the region.During his election campaign, Trump appeared to question US alliances with Tokyo and Seoul and complained that they were not sharing enough of the cost of the US security umbrella. Trump has also criticized Japan's trade policies as damaging to US jobs.More recently ties with Australia were strained after details of an acrimonious phone call between Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull emerged and the former described a deal between the two nations on refugee resettlement as "dumb."Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is due to visit Washington for a two-day summit with Trump from Friday that is expected to focus on security ties in the face of a rising China and trade.Earlier yesterday, Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida as saying that Tillerson had confirmed that a long-standing commitment by Washington to defend Japanese territory applies to the Senkakus, a group of small islands that China claims and calls the Diaoyus.The State Department declined to comment on the Kyodo report but US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis reaffirmed America's commitment to its mutual defense treaty with Japan on Friday when he met Abe in Tokyo and in a call with Abe in late January. Trump said the US security commitment was "ironclad.Turnbull's leadership was questioned after he was berated by Trump and an opinion poll published on Monday showed support for his coalition had slipped to its lowest level since he took power 17 months ago and that his Liberal-National coalition would easily fall if an election were held now.REUTERS SDR 0445 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1141174.Xml The Syrian government executed up to 13,000 prisoners in mass hangings and carried out systematic torture at a military jail near Damascus, rights watchdog Amnesty International said.The Syrian Justice Ministry denied the Amnesty report, calling it completely "devoid of truth", Syrian state news agency SANA reported late yesterday.Amnesty said the executions took place between 2011 and 2015, but were probably still being carried out and amounted to war crimes. It called for a further investigation by the United Nations, which produced a report last year with similar accusations also based on extensive witness testimonies.Syria's government and President Bashar al-Assad have rejected similar reports in the past of torture and extrajudicial killings in a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.The Amnesty report said an average of 20-50 people were hanged each week at the Sednaya military prison north of Damascus. Between 5,000 and 13,000 people were executed at Sednaya in the four years after a popular uprising descended into war, it said."The victims are overwhelmingly civilians who are thought to oppose the government," the report said."Many other detainees at Sednaya Military Prison have been killed after being repeatedly tortured and systematically deprived of food, water, medicine and medical care."The prisoners, who included former military personnel suspected of disloyalty and people involved in unrest, underwent sham trials before military courts and were sometimes forced to make confessions under torture, Amnesty said.SANA quoted the justice ministry as saying Amnesty's accusations were not based on real evidence but rather on "personal emotions aimed at achieving known political goals".The ministry also accused rebel groups fighting to unseat Assad of executing and kidnapping civilians, SANA said.The justice ministry described the report as an attempt at "harming Syria's reputation on the international stage especially after the victories of the Syrian army".The army and allied forces drove rebel groups out of Aleppo city in December, in Assad's most important gain of the nearly six-year-old war.The executions were carried out secretly and those killed were buried in mass graves outside the capital, with families not informed of their fate, Amnesty said.The report was based on interviews with 84 witnesses including former guards and officials, detainees, judges and lawyers, as well as experts.It followed a report issued a year ago by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, whose war crimes investigators said they had documented a high number of deaths in Sednaya military prison."Amnesty's findings are almost completely in-line with our 'Death in Detention' paper," Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the UN panel, told Reuters."We mentioned the executions in Sednaya and have extensive details on the systematic details of the regular ceremonies they have to conduct hangings in front of an audience of public officials. It is one of the clearest instances of a systematic practice that we had and based some of the key findings upon."The foreign ministers of Britain and France decried Amnesty's findings. Britain's Boris Johnson tweeted: "Sickened by reports from Amnesty International on executions in Syria. Assad responsible for so many deaths and has no future as leader.""@Amnesty has documented the horror in the prisons of the Syrian regime. This barbarity cannot be the future of Syria," said France's Jean-Marc Ayrault.The International Committee of the Red Cross has visited selected government-run detention facilities since 2011, but its confidential findings are only shared with Syrian authorities."We only visit central prisons, which are under the Ministry of Interior," ICRC spokeswoman Iolanda Jaquemet said.The ICRC has systematically requested "access to all detainees arrested by all parties to the conflict", she added. REUTERS SDR 0532 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1141180.Xml The Turkish army and allied Syrian rebels have captured the western outskirts of the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab, a rebel official and war monitor said today, escalating their assault as the Syrian army also advanced on the city."With last night's assault, Islamic State's defences have been broken through and the advance is now continuing," said a Turkmen Syrian rebel official, speaking from the Turkish city of Gaziantep.Syrian government forces have advanced to within a few kilometres (miles) of al-Bab, which is located 40 km northeast of Aleppo. The separate campaign by the Syrian army has raised the risk of a clash with the Turkish military.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation that reports on the war, said the Turkish forces and their Free Syrian Army rebel allies had captured a hill on the western periphery of the city."We don't know if Daesh (Islamic State) will be able to recover it, or if it is in a state of collapse," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said. The rebel official said Turkish reinforcements had been sent to the area a week ago.REUTERS SHS PM1358 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1141508.Xml Gunmen stormed a hotel in the capital of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region today, killing four guards, a senior official said.In a nation awash with weapons, it was not immediately clear who staged the raid in the port city of Bosasso. The official blamed al Shabaab Islamists, but a spokesman for the group denied involvement."Three al Shabaab fighters stormed the International Village Hotel this morning. Four guards and two of the attackers died in the fighting," Yusuf Mohamed, the governor of Bari region, told Reuters. He said the militants had not managed to enter the hotel, which is popular with foreigners.Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operation spokesman, told Reuters: "We are not behind the Bosasso hotel attack. It is propaganda."Al Shabaab regularly launches attacks in Somalia, but tends to focus on the capital Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government.Until 2011, the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab controlled most of Somalia including Mogadishu. Since then it has been pushed out of the capital and slowly forced out of other strongholds by African Union troops and Somali soldiers. REUTERS PY AN1506 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1141636.Xml Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Iran was committed to implementing the 2015 Agreement curbing its nuclear programme. "Iran, as we all are, is committed to its obligations under the JCPOA," Araghchi said at the start of talks with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. Referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Araghchi said, Tehran looked forward to "exchange views and discuss the challenges the agreement faces today." "In the past, our dialogue was very fruitful and we hope for its similar character in the future," he added. Ryabkov expressed the hope that his meeting with Araghchi would be fruitful for implementing the nuclear agreement, which he called a "stabilising element in international relations." Iran- Five permanent UN Security Council members, Germany and the European Union signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in July 2015 to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme. Under the Agreement, Iran pledged to refrain from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran. A UN resolution was passed shortly afterwards, reaffirming the nuclear agreement. Last week, Iran conducted a test ballistic missile launches allegedly in line with its defence programmes. The US accused Iran that the tests were a violation of the UN resolution, and imposed sanctions against 25 individuals and entities which provide support to Tehran's ballistic missile program and to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force on Friday.UNI XC AKC SNU 1631 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1141691.Xml US President Donald Trump's order temporarily banning visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries shows that his administration does not understand its counterterrorism duties, Chinese state media said today.Trump's Jan. 27 order, which he says is necessary for national security, sought to bar entry by travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, and by all refugees for 120 days, except for refugees from Syria, who face an indefinite ban.The move, which sparked protests and chaos at US and overseas airports, has been suspended by a federal judge in Seattle and is now under intense scrutiny from a US federal appeals court questioning whether it unfairly targeted people over their religion.China's government has offered mild criticism of the ban, saying immigration policy was a sovereign right but "reasonable concerns" must be considered.But the official Xinhua news agency said Trump's order "shows that his administration has no correct recognition of the responsibility it needs to shoulder in a global fight against terrorism"."Radical elements around the world could use the ban to further justify their ruthless causes, and to gain more recruits," Xinhua said in a commentary."That is a grave threat not only to the safety and security of the United States, but that of others worldwide."Banned countries on the list, such as Iraq, Libya and Syria, have been victimised by terrorism because previous US governments and other Western powers deliberately intervened for self-interests," it added.Such commentaries from Xinhua do not equate to government policy, but often reflect official thinking.The world's most populous nation generally accepts few refugees. China offered permanent residence to 1,576 foreigners in 2016, the public security ministry has said, but such openings are largely reserved for experts and professionals.China, which says it faces a serious threat from terrorism, has often rebuked the United States and other Western countries for what it considers their double standards on terrorism.Nervous about being implicated in possible human rights abuses, Western nations have been reluctant to cooperate in China's campaign in its far western region of Xinjiang, where officials say Islamist militants aim to set up a separate state.Rights advocates say ethnic violence in the region in recent years is a response to repressive government policies affecting the largely Muslim Uighur people who call Xinjiang home, though China denies rights abuses there.REUTERS PY PM1717 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1141909.Xml Armed men have kidnapped a Colombian nun from the town where she worked in southern Mali, officials said today.The woman was taken late on Tuesday evening from Karangasso, where she had been working in a health centre, about 300 km east of the capital Bamako, security ministry spokesman, Baba Cisse, said.They also stole an ambulance and then abandoned it for a motorcycle, Cisse said.Army spokesman Colonel Diarran Kone said the men had not yet been identified and that the army was searching for them.Islamist militants often stage attacks in Mali's desert north and sometimes kidnap foreigners there. They are also increasingly conducting raids in southern and central Mali, areas previously deemed safe.REUTERS PY AN1805 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1142070.Xml Germany is in talks with its partners about organising a meeting between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany on the Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Bonn next week, a foreign ministry spokesman said today."We are conducting talks in the Normandy format with our partners in Paris, Moscow, Kiev about the usefulness, political usefulness and logistical feasibility of such a meeting. It is too early for me to confirm it, but it is possible that it could come to that," said the spokesman.He added that Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel believed it would be a good idea to organise a meeting of the four foreign ministers soon to give new impetus to the implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement and to calm down the violence in eastern Ukraine.REUTERS PY AN1912 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1142209.Xml Belgian police detained 11 people after a series of raids across Brussels overnight as part of an investigation into possible returning fighters from Syria.The federal prosecutors said in a statement on Wednesday that police had carried out searches at nine addresses in various districts of the Belgian capital and one district outside. No weapons are explosives were found.A judge will determine later on Wednesday whether those detained would have to remain in custody.Prosecutors said the case was not related to its investigations into the Paris attacks of November 2015 and the Brussels bombings in March 2016. REUTERS JW BL2248 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1142573.Xml The 68-story skyscraper, where President Donald Trump resides when he's not in the White House, boasts luxury amenities and sweeping views of the New York City skyline. "The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building," NBCnews quoted Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. JB Brindle as saying. He said the Defence Department would work through "appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements" during the leasing process. There is already a large contingent of Secret Service personnel who maintain a round-the-clock presence at the address, which accommodates both residential and commercial tenants, the report added. Available commercial space there runs $80 to $100 per square foot - and a full floor can pull $1.2 million to $1.5 million a year, said Jared Horowitz, of the real estate firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, which leases commercial space at the building. Any Pentagon rental is sure to raise questions of conflict as the federal government would be sending tax dollars to the Trump Organisation, which is run by the Trump family and owns the building. --IANS sku/ ( 226 Words) 2017-02-09-04:22:06 (IANS) TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned a recent legislation of Israeli parliament to legalize expansion of settlements on Palestinian lands in the West Bank, Tasnim news agency reported. Tel Aviv's settlement activities is a "serious obstacle to security and stability" in the region, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying. Such policies, which run counter to the UN resolutions, violate Palestine's right to decide its fate under the international law and would only aggravate the situation, Qasemi said. Iran calls on the international community "to take practical and immediate steps in support of the Palestinians' legitimate demands and... in rejection of the Zionist regime's expansionist policies," Qasemi said. The comments came after the so-called "Regularization Law," passed by the Israel's parliament on Monday, legalized the construction of about 3,000 housing units on the private Palestinian land in the West Bank. MEXICO CITY, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's export of cars saw a slight year-on-year drop of 0.7 percent in January, in part due to lower sales in the U.S., said the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) on Tuesday. AMIA numbers showed that 211,682 cars were exported abroad in January 2017, as opposed to 213,244 in the same period of 2016. Speaking at a press conference, AMIA Director-General Fausto Cuevas explained that the drop was due to a 1.7 percent slowdown in new car purchases in the U.S., which receives 76 percent of Mexican automotive exports. "Our participation in the American market remains very relevant. We have 14 percent of participation there...which allows us to have a very optimistic outlook for this year," he said. Cuevas pointed out that the American market saw a record car sales year in 2016, and it is not strange for demand to see a minor dip in January. Mexican automotive exports to Canada also slowed in January, although they increased to European and Latin American markets, such as Germany and Uruguay. The overall production of cars and sales in Mexico maintained their level in January, compared to the last months of 2016, the AMIA data showed. In total, automakers produced 278,542 cars, 4.1 percent more than in January 2016. Total sale of cars in domestic market rose 3 percent to reach 123,260 units, as compared to 119,693 cars in the first month of 2016. Enditem BRUSSELS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is expected to settle down the trade dispute case regarding China's solar panels on March 3, EU news website EurActiv reported on Tuesday. The EU is considering shortening the extension of anti-dumping duties after receiving resistance from member states, according to the report. The EU started imposing high tariffs on Chinese solar panels more than three years ago and extended the trade measures at the end of 2015. But appeals for fewer restrictions in the sector have been on the rise in Europe. A majority of EU countries in January opposed an initial plan from the European Commission, the bloc's executive body, of extending trade measures for another two years. Media reports said that the Commission was considering limiting the extension of measures to 18 months. China's Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the EU to end trade measures against Chinese solar exports, saying it would harm interests of both sides to extend the measures. The ministry earlier said the growth pace of clean energy has been dragged down in Europe after European countries slashed subsidies on solar panels and set minimum import price. Hundreds of European companies and environmental organizations have asked the Commission to scrap those measures as solar panel prices were driven up and the solar power sector was impeded. "It is time for the Commission to let anti-dumping duties and its 'price undertaking' on Chinese solar panels expire," said Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish member of the European Parliament. "Only that way can we have credibility in our ambitions and policies for openness to trade and fighting climate change in an effective and cost-efficient manner," Fjellner was quoted as saying by EU website Borderlex. China and the EU went through major disputes on trade measures on solar panels imported from China before reaching deals on a minimum import price and a quota set for Chinese imports in 2013. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN political chief on Tuesday warned that the extremist group Islamic State (IS) is adapting in several ways to military pressure including by using the "dark web" to communicate and recruit members. Jeffrey Feltman, UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, told the Security Council that IS is on the defensive militarily in several regions; and meanwhile the group is resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using encryption and messengers. Noting the income of the group as well as the territory under its control are shrinking, Feltman said the IS still "appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," and it might try to expand other sources of income, like kidnapping for ransom and increase its reliance on donations. He also warned that IS has expanded its area of attacks to countries neighboring Iraq and Syria and foreign terrorist fighters leaving Iraq and Syria augment the threat of terrorism in their countries of origin. To address the rising threats, Feltman highlighted the need for "the broadest possible international cooperation" in the judicial and law enforcement spheres and strengthened collaboration on information sharing among member states. He also called on member states to step up efforts to prevent and resolve the violent conflicts that both drive and are made worse by terrorism to effectively "deprive terrorism of the oxygen it needs to survive." ANKARA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- About 4,500 Turkish public staff have been dismissed over their suspected links with the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO), a statutory decree announced on Tuesday. Under the statutory decree issued on the website, 2,585 from the Education Ministry, 893 from the gendarmerie, 417 from the General Security Directorate, 49 from the Interior Ministry and 520 from other public institutions were sacked over their jobs. Turkey accuses FETO of orchestrating last July's coup attempt which killed 248 people and injured nearly 2,200 others. After the coup attempt, the government declared a state of emergency that has seen tens of thousands of public servants dismissed or suspended from their jobs over suspected ties to Gulenists. VANCOUVER, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Canadian immigration lawyer said here on Tuesday he and others in his field had been swamped with immigration assistance requests from Muslims legally residing in the U.S. They're seeking a new home in Canada following U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order that banned residents from seven Muslim-majority countries, said Richard Kurland, an immigration lawyer in Vancouver, British Columbia in west Canada. The "cascade" of immigration assistance requests began after the signing of Trump's Muslim ban, he said. "That's when people who were merely uncomfortable and displeased changed their emotional state to one of fear," he told Xinhua in an interview. After the executive order there was a sudden increase in intake for consultations for how to immigrate to Canada at Kurland's office. He said he experienced four days of steady calls from Muslim residents in the U.S. seeking his help to move to Canada. "The callers were highly educated, PhD or master's degree level," he said. "If they weren't in school then they were in senior executive positions in management in various American companies. They all used the word 'fear'." Kurland said he expects the applications to keep coming despite the temporary halt of the Muslim ban by a federal court judge in Seattle last week. The legal and political outcome of the order remains unclear. He said ther immigration lawyers he knows in Canada are also experiencing the surge in applications. Canadian Universities are also noticing a boost in interest from Americans. Following the Nov. 8 presidential election in the U.S., the University of Toronto reported a surge in American interest in a University's website for prospective students. On Nov. 9, nearly 10,000 Americans visited future.utoronto.ca, a site for students which features graduate biographies, program descriptions and information on how to apply to the University, according to the university' s news website. In Vancouver, the University of British Columbia (UBC) has been experiencing a 15-percent increase in applications by American students since 2014, but a spokeswoman for the university said it wouldn't be accurate to link that increase to a single political reason. "We've been trending with that amount of interest for a number of years for now," said UBC spokeswoman Susan Danard. BUCHAREST, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Some 500 U.S. soldiers are on their way to Romania, as part of the American commitments in ensuring the security of the east flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), announced the Defense Ministry of Romania on Tuesday in a release. The American troops left Monday from Poland for Romania, together with their military technic in endowment: M1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and 155mm self-propelled howitzer M109A6 Paladin type. The U.S. fight unit is part of the Brigade 3 Armored which deployed around 3,500 servicemen and 2,800 pieces of military technic in Bremerhaven, northwestern Germany, at the beginning of January. After reaching the "Mihail Kogalniceanu" Air Base in Constanta County, southeastern Romania, the Americans will conduct shooting exercises with fighting ammunition and attend several multinational exercises, together with the Romanian servicemen, according to the release. The unit will station in Romania for nine months, afterwards it will be replaced by another fight unit, ensuring a consistent presence, based on continuous rotation in Europe. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that more land are needed for camps for Burundian refugees as hundreds of Burundian refugees continue to flow into neighboring countries every week, a UN spokesman said here. The UN agency "is today calling on host governments to urgently provide more land to ensure shelter and avert a drastic deterioration in conditions," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. The 2017 projections indicate that the number of refugees from Burundi will cross half a million, he noted. "The pressure is most acute in Tanzania, but camps in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have also reached or even surpassed their capacity," Dujarric said. The number of people fleeing Burundi, where peace talks have stalled, has been rising in the first weeks of the year, and the majority are women, children and individuals with specific needs, the UN agency said. In early February, the number of Burundian refugees fleeing their country since April 2015 stood at 386,493. At present, Tanzania hosts 222,271, Rwanda has 84,866 and the Democratic Republic of Congo 32,650. "Without allocation of new land to extend capacity in existing camps or build new ones, these countries will struggle to provide sufficient shelter and life-saving services in the camp sites," UNHCR said in a press release. "Camp facilities also need to be upgraded, including construction of more homes, schools, health centres and better drainage systems to lessen the risk of disease." The challenges and gaps due to the crowded conditions in existing camps include access to basic social services, provision of child protection, tackling sexual and gender-based violence, insufficient classrooms, averting absenteeism, helping people with special needs, the UN agency said. "The land shortages and rising number of arrivals exacerbate these problems." UNHCR has been working with the host governments to address the land issue and are impressed by their commitment, as well as their generosity, but more action is needed to avert a dangerous slide in standards and conditions, including relying on shrinking space to accommodate growing numbers, it said. "At the same time, donor nations should help with stepped up assistance and funding," said the UN agency. Last year, UNHCR received a vital 96.1 million U.S. dollars in contributions for the Burundi situation, or 53 percent of the amount requested. Burundi has suffered turmoil since April 2015 when President Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term in violation of the national constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement that ended a decade-long civil war. More than 500 people in Burundi have been killed since the outbreak of the crisis. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) chief on Tuesday mourned the death of Hans Rosling, a Swedish medical doctor, statistician and academic, calling him "a friend to the world's children." Rosling "was not only a friend to his colleagues at UNICEF; he was a friend to the world's children," Anthony Lake, the executive director of the UNICEF, said in a statement. "No one used data more persuasively to make the case for why investing in the most disadvantaged children is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do," Lake said. "We will miss him." Rosling died on Tuesday, aged 68, after a year-long illness, in Uppsala, Sweden. He was a statistician and development champion, whose gift for making data sing brought his innovative ideas to a worldwide audience. A professor of international health at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, Rosling liked to call himself an "edutainer." A talented presenter, whose signature animated data visualisations have featured in dozens of film clips, the statistician used humour and often unlikely objects such as children's toys, cardboard boxes and teacups to liven up data on wealth, inequality and population. CANBERRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia is experiencing hotter, longer and more frequent heatwaves, a climate change report from the nation's Climate Council revealed on Wednesday. Data released in the Climate Council's Cranking Up The Intensity: Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events report said the world sweltered through its hottest year on record, and Australia was one nation being affected the most. Will Steffen, climate scientist from the Australian National University (ANU) and the Climate Institute, said the results of the study were "a cause for concern", as the climate was "shifting a bit faster" than originally thought. According to the report, since 1980, heatwaves were starting up to 17 days earlier in Melbourne, 19 days earlier in Sydney and 12 days earlier in Hobart, while the number of 'heatwaves' days in Perth had increased by 50 percent. "A lot of these impacts we are seeing occurring now are occurring earlier than we had projected a few years ago," Steffen told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday. "It is a risk for human health, particularly for the most vulnerable, the elderly, very young people, and exposed outdoor workers. "It is (also) obviously a risk for the agricultural industry, it is a risk for natural ecosystems, (while) we saw an underwater heatwave about a year ago wipe out a large part of the Great Barrier Reef." Steffen said climate change was also affecting Australia's tropical regions; he said it was likely that cyclones could increase in intensity and "travel further southwards" in the future. "There will also be an increase in coastal flooding as well as sea levels," he said. Steffen said the government needed to do more to lower emissions for future generations, including by closing dirty coal-fired energy stations. "To reach the Paris target which we signed up too, we would need to have a target in 2030 of 40 per cent to 60 per cent emission reduction on 2005 levels," he told the ABC. "We've only got 26 percent to 28 percent, it is far, far short of what is actually needed according to the science. On present projections we are not even likely to meet that weak target that we have." SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Victoria is at a greater risk of severe bushfires than ever before, a leading scientist has warned. David Peckham, a former bushfire scientist with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), said that Victoria could soon be hit by bushfires worse than those on Black Saturday in February 2009 in which 173 people were killed. Peckham said the potential of another series of fatal bushfires hitting Victoria infuriated him because they could be preventable if governments took appropriate action. "The situation is very, very serious. This state has never been in a more dangerous situation in the last 30,000 years. We are sitting, truly, on a little pile of gun powder and smoking cigarettes," Peckham told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday. "What we are looking down is the fires that have taken place that culminated up into Black Saturday, fundamentally all the early ones which burnt about a third of the state in 2003 and 2007, all took place north of the ranges in areas where there weren't too many people exposed. "Black Saturday exposed a few more, but not really great numbers, compared to places like say Eltham, Warrandyte where you have not a few hundred or the odd thousand but tens of thousands of people exposed." Peckham said he feared another large bushfire could cause massive environmental damage. "As the Indigenous people are so correctly saying, (the bush) needs so much healing. Ever since human occupation here 30, 40, 50,000 years it's never been like this. We are sitting in a terrible situation," he said. Peckham recalled waking up at 3am local time on Black Saturday with a bad feeling and analysis of weather data did nothing to dispel his uneasiness. "What I saw just terrified me," he said. "The fire danger index was right through the roof. I remember saying, 'I hope I'm wrong about this'. It was clear it was going to be a monumental day." SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- One of Australia's largest banks, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) said they will pay out over 23 million dollars to customers who received poor financial advice. The payout will see 1,800 customers compensated, with over half already accepting and finalising their compensation payments. Leif Gamertsfelder, executive general manager at the CBA, said late Tuesday that the bank is now ready to move forward, and is satisfied it has made things right with their customers. "Our priority now is to work with customers who are considering their assessment outcome - and respond to any queries or address their concerns as soon as possible." Gamertsfelder said. The review began in 2014, with CBA chief executive Ian Narev ordering its inception, after the bank was exposed to have provided bad advice, following a series of investigative reports and an Australian Senate inquiry. The CBA will release its half yearly results on Feb. 14. SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Victorian teenagers will be offered free meningococcal vaccinations to combat the rise of a potentially lethal strain of the virus. The Victorian Government announced on Wednesday that it would spend 5.3 million US dollars to protect teenagers aged between 15 and 19 from the W strain of meningococcal. The announcement came as the number of diagnosed meningococcal W cases almost tripled from 17 in Victoria in 2015 to 48 in 2016. Three people have died in Victoria alone from the virus in the past two years. Jill Hennessy, Victoria's Health Minister, said the high number of incidents of the new strain forced the government to act. "Most young parents are familiar with meningococcal C and B, [but] there is a new strain of meningococcal," Hennessy told reporters on Wednesday. "In light of the fact that we've had 48 notifications, it's important to try and get a vaccination into a part of our population that is most at risk." Hennessy said the 15-19 age group was chosen was based on the recommendation of national immunization experts as teenagers are at increased risk. She said that Victoria had to pay for the program due to a lack of Federal Government funding. "We've seen rates of meningococcal C rapidly decline since a national immunisation program was introduced," she said. "We're lobbying the Federal Government to make immunisation program for Meningococcal W. To date our efforts have fallen on deaf ears." The B strain of meningococcal is the most common form of the virus in Australia but the W strain has become increasingly prominent nationwide in the last two years. Of the 256 cases of meningococcal disease in Australia in 2016, 48 to 50 per cent were cases of the W strain. The strain has a death rate of around 10 per cent. QUITO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group on Tuesday officially began talks aimed at ending five decades of fighting. "After three years of secret meetings and several months of delays, delegates of the government of (Colombian President) Juan Manuel Santos and the National Liberation Army installed the negotiating table," the Caracol News network reported. "Here we are, willing to find a political solution to the conflict," said the ELN's head negotiator Pablo Beltran. The hour and a half ceremony, held at a center located 30 km from Quito, Ecuador, was also attended by representatives of countries backing the peace talks, including Norway, Chile, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela, with about 150 guests and some 60 international and national media outlets. The talks are buoyed by the fact that Santos' government recently concluded a peace deal with the country's largest rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which is now in the process of laying down arms. WELLINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government signaled Wednesday that it is considering allowing the central bank to introduce debt-to-income (DTI) limits on mortgage lending in a new bid to curb exposure to a possible house price bubble. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) would carry out a full cost-benefit analysis on DTI limits and public consultation before any decision was made on the potential use of the macro-prudential policy tool, Finance Minister Steven Joyce said in a statement. "I have discussed DTIs with the Reserve Bank governor, who remains concerned about the levels of debt in some households in the context of recent increases in house prices," Joyce said. "I have decided that, consistent with good regulatory principles, a full cost-benefit analysis and consultation with the public should occur before I consider whether to amend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Macro-Prudential Policy." The MOU agreed by the Finance Minister and the RBNZ governor governs the use of macro-prudential tools and sets objectives for and requires accountability around the use of the tools. DTI limits were designed to regulate the amount of debt that a mortgage borrower could access relative to their income. "The Bank has a number of regulatory tools available to it to address systemic risks it identifies and I am cautious about adding further tools," said Joyce. "The use of macro-prudential tools can be complex and affect different borrowers in different ways. I am particularly interested in what the impacts could be on first home buyers." The RBNZ was currently gathering information about the DTI levels that borrowers were obtaining and assessing the potential case for the use of debt-to-income limits. The RBNZ had indicated that public consultation will commence in March and occur during the first half of 2017. However, the ACT party, a minor party in the governing partnership, said the DTI proposal showed the government was "desperate to be seen doing something about the housing crisis, without considering whether its attempts to curb demand will work, or what other consequences might follow." "Capping the funds so you can borrow to a ratio of your income would give a systematic advantage to those who can borrow offshore either personally or through family, because the New Zealand government cannot possibly monitor financial transactions worldwide," ACT leader David Seymour said in a statement. The RBNZ has repeatedly warned that soaring house prices particularly in Auckland, which is home to a third of the population pose a risk to the country's financial stability. WELLINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's most senior military officer arrived in New Zealand Wednesday for a four-day visit to discuss expanding bilateral defence ties. The Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Perry Lim, is to hold talks with New Zealand Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, and Secretary of Defence Helene Quilter. Lim would also visit Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee, Keating said in a statement. "Singapore is a long-standing defence and security partner of New Zealand's and it is a pleasure to welcome Lieutenant General Lim to the country," said Keating. "I look forward to hosting my counterpart from Singapore and continuing to advance our defence relationship." Lim's visit follows talks last month between Brownlee and Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in New Zealand. The pair issued a joint statement after observing Exercise Thunder Warrior, an artillery live-fire exercise at the Waiouru Training Area, in the central North Island. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) exercise, said the statement. The ministers conducted the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Defence Ministers Meeting, saying they said they looked forward to further opportunities to strengthen defense cooperation and agreed to initiate an annual formal ministerial meeting to conduct discussions "on issues of mutual concern." They endorsed the key principles of the bilateral 2009 Defence Cooperation Arrangement, "particularly that cooperation between like-minded countries on defence and security issues is an essential part of responding effectively to threats to regional peace and stability," said the statement. Brownlee affirmed New Zealand's continued commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus framework. The FPDA defense pact was established by the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-11-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer met Tuesday in Brasilia with his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri on measures of getting their countries closer to the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc. In the meeting, the two presidents explored ways that can help strengthen their countries' ties with the four founding members of the bloc -- Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. "It is time to increase trade, investments and opportunities for Argentineans and Brazilians," Temer said. "In a moment in which tendencies of disunion, isolation and protectionism gain momentum, Argentina and Brazil answer with more approximation, dialogue and trade," he said. "There will be a chancellors' meeting in March to address Mercosur's (the Southern Common Market) relations with the Pacific Alliance," Macri said. The two presidents also hope to strengthen relations with the United States, China, Japan and the European Union. In his first official trip to Brazil as president, Macri signed a series of cooperation and collaboration agreements with Temer. He extended invitation to Temer for a visit to Argentina later this year, and Temer accepted the invitation. QUITO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- "A year since the UN working group on arbitrary detention ruled (WikiLeaks founder Julian) Assange was a victim of arbitrary detention ... certain countries say they will not comply, that it is not binding," Ecuador's Foreign Affairs Minister Guillaume Long said in his twitter post Tuesday. Though Long did not specifically name the countries, British and Swedish authorities have prevented Assange from taking advantage of political asylum offered by Ecuador, effectively trapping him inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the past five years. Long also noted that developed and developing countries are held to a double standard. "If Ecuador had been accused (of noncompliance), the pressure brought to bear on us would be incredible," said Long. Based on articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN group's ruling in last February ruled Assange detention as arbitrary and called for his release, as well as compensation for the time he spent under virtual house arrest. While the UN group's rulings are not binding, they are traditionally heeded. Britain threatens to arrest the anti-secrecy activist if he sets foot outside the embassy, to comply with a European arrest warrant put out by Sweden, where Assange is wanted for questioning in relation to sexual assault allegations, which he denies. Assange has agreed to being questioned, but does not want to travel to Sweden, believing Swedish officials will extradite him to the United States, where he could be tried for spying and other crimes. Since its founding in 2006, WikiLeaks has released hundreds of thousands of compromising diplomatic cables and confidential military documents on the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, including revelations of war crimes. HANOI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Over 247,000 person-times of Chinese tourists visited Vietnam in January 2017, up nearly 68 percent year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) on Wednesday. Among the one million person-times of foreign arrivals in Vietnam during the month, Chinese tourists accounted for about 25 percent. The number of Chinese visitors was 2.7 times as many as those from Americas and the same as those from Europe and Oceania together, said GSO. In 2016, Vietnam welcomed over 10 million person-times international tourists while Chinese tourists accounted for nearly 2.7 million person-times, marking the record growth from the market. Data by the GSO in the past five years shows that each year, the number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam accounted for 20-25 percent of total foreign arrivals, registering the biggest market. Vietnam targets to welcome 11.5 million person-times of foreign tourists in 2017. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Wednesday called on people to support the government's six-month anti-drug crackdown which was launched last month. "I'd like to appeal to all people to join the government to prevent the use of illicit drugs and to eliminate the drugs for the future of our offspring," he said in a speech during a Buddhist ceremony. Hun Sen said parents should also act to keep their children away from illicit drugs. The prime minister added that although some countries such as the Philippines and Mexico allowed police to smash drug criminals during their operations, Cambodia did not allow to kill drug suspects. Cambodia launched the six-month anti-drug campaign on Jan. 1, 2017. According to government figures, some 2,428 people were arrested in nearly 1,000 drug-related cases in January. BEIJING, Feb.8 (Xinhua) -- To air a scholarly program during a festive season might mean a risk in audience rating, but the Chinese Poetry Conference, aired a day following the Spring Festival, has proved otherwise. The second season of the China Central Television (CCTV) program, a competition of poetry recitation, comprehension and appreciation, became a lunar new year hit right after it was aired on Jan. 29. With a rating that topped one percent, the program grabbed a market share of nearly 16 percent when it ended Tuesday night, leading all prime time broadcastings, including hot soap operas, according to media reports. The champion, Wu Yishu, a 16-year-old high school student, also shot to stardom for her outstanding performance in the final of the competition. She has become an icon of many high school students and other young people, who say that Wu has inspired their passion for the ancient literary form. More than 100 competitors participated in the show. Among them, the youngest one ages only seven years old. The competition has also attracted foreign fans of Chinese poetry. A foreign student at the show. (Web Pic) Wu is from the High School of Fudan University in Shanghai. She adores classic poetry, Chinese traditional costume Hanfu and she always carries along a poem collection of Su Shi, a famous poet in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is estimated that the girl can recite more than 2,000 poems. Wu Yishu at the competition. (Web pic) "I wish my daughter will, like Wu, present to the world the self-confidence of our great culture in the future," a web user with the username of "shudonglidexingxing" wrote on WeChat, a leading social networking service in China. Another WeChat user "Fangzhanbo" said that the beauty of both Chinese culture and the girl champion is "glamorous and luminous." Some netizens said that in a society where poetry has been widely assumed to be marginalized to the point of death, Wu's sudden fame, together with the popularity of the program, may bring hope to such cultural treasures. However, Meng Man, one of the four experts commenting in the TV program, said that the affection to poetry has been buried in people's heart while the popularity of the show helps reignite their passion. "Just as the seed buried under the ground can sprout because of a drop of water or a wisp of wind," said Meng. WELLINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand government ministers will no longer be involved in approving applications for cannabis-based medicines after delegating the authority to the Ministry of Health. The move follows a long public campaign for better access to cannabis-based treatments that included a former Council of Trade Unions leader when she was terminally ill with cancer. Campaigners had claimed that ministers, who were previously responsible for making such decisions, could be swayed by political, rather than medical, considerations over the use of cannabis-based drugs Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said Wednesday that the ministry was taking over decisions on applications to prescribe non-pharmaceutical cannabis-based products. After the delegation of decision-making on pharmaceutical grade cannabis products "some years ago," ministerial approval was no longer necessary for all cannabis-based treatments, Dunne said in a statement. Dunne said he had previously believed ministerial approval was appropriate "rather than exposing officials to risk, given the complicated and contentious nature of the issue." However, guidelines had since been developed and simplified to give specialists "a clear, straight-forward and unobstructed pathway to acquiring the appropriate products." He expected medical professionals consider the prescribing of cannabis-based products with an open mind. "I also intend to include a list of internationally available cannabis-based products that are either pharmaceutical grade or Good Manufacturing Practice certified, to provide additional clarity on the issue," Dunne said. Paul Smith, professor of neuropharmacology at the University of Otago, said the move was a positive step that brought New Zealand into line with many other countries such as the United States. However, cannabis-based medicines were not "magic bullets," Smith said in a statement. "The evidence that they work for some conditions like neuropathic pain is not entirely consistent or convincing, but they do appear to help some people. So, it is a question of benefit versus burden for a particular condition," he said. "In the case of terminal illness, there is not much reason to have concerns because the harm will be minimal and the patient may benefit." CANBERRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The number of female offenders sighted by Australian police increased by five percent in 2015-16, compared to a one percent increase for males, statistics released on Wednesday showed. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its Recorded Crime - Offenders 2015-16 statistics on Wednesday, which showed there were 4,957 more incidents of females offending compared to 2014-15. The ABS' Director of Crime and Justice Statistics, William Milne said in comparison, the number of male offenders increased by only 49, or less than one percent. He said a rise in theft and drug offences were two main reasons for the five percent increase. "Theft was the most prevalent principal offence for females, while the largest increases in female offender numbers were for theft (up 12 percent), illicit drug offences (up 8 percent) and acts intended to cause injury (up 6 percent)," Milne said in a statement on Wednesday. "The number of female offenders proceeded against for illicit drug offences has almost doubled since the beginning of the time series in 200809." Despite the sharp increase in the number of females offending, there were still three times as many male offenders (323,949) compared to females (97,304). Overall, the number of offenders flagged by police in Australia during 201516 rose for the fourth straight year to total 422,067 offenders, an increase of around one percent - or 5,016 offenders - from the previous year. According to police, the most common offences involved illicit substances, with drug-related offenders making up 20 percent of the total number (83,160). BRASILIA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Michel Temer and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri agreed Tuesday here to deepen relations with Mexico and with the Pacific Alliance in general. After a meeting with ministers from both countries, Macri told a press conference that he had spoken with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto on the regional and international context. "There are various countries interested in deepening relations with us, beginning in the region, with the Pacific Alliance. This opens an important opportunity, including with Mexico," he said. Macri alluded, without referring explicitly to the U.S., that the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump opened new possibilities of cooperation with Mexico. "Clearly, this change of scenario means that Mexico is turning and looking South," continued the leader. "Yesterday, I spoke with President Pena Nieto...to express that we are open to dialogue, we want to cooperate." Brazil's Temer also highlighted his desire to see better regional integration with Mexico. "We discussed the topic of an ever larger Latin American integration with Mexico, including to see closer ties between Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance," he outlined. Mercosur is known as a full customs union and a trade bloc in Latin America with Brazil and Argentina both its member countries, while the Pacific Alliance, also a Latin American trade bloc, links Mexico and other three countries which all border the Pacific Ocean. The possibility of Mexico seeking better economic ties with South America's two leading economies has emerged amid tensions with the Trump administration, especially concerning the border wall and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Temer and Macri also said the new international context could create more favorable conditions for free-trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union. LIMA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Peru's Public Ministry called for a preventive prison sentence Tuesday against former President Alejandro Toledo over alleged corruption charges. On Monday, the ministry said that it has begun an investigation against Toledo for allegedly using his influence in money laundering. The statement was made after a search of a house that belongs to the former leader on Saturday. According to Hamilton Castro, Peru's anti-corruption prosecutor, the authorities have begun to investigate Josef Maiman, a businessman and close friend of Toledo, as well as Jorge Barata, a former executive for Odebrecht Latinvest in Peru. The ministry also said that Barata paid Toledo 20 million U.S. dollars through offshore accounts in Andorra. And 11 million dollars was found on accounts belonging to Maiman in Britain, according to the statement. These illicit payments are suspected to have a linkage to the contract for the Interoceanic highway linking Peru with Brazil, which was awarded to Odebrecht and other Brazilian construction firms. Speaking to the Peruvian press last week from Paris, France, Toledo said he was the victim of "political persecution" and that he had already been investigated without any solid evidence against him. SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Central banks of South Korea and Australia agreed on Wednesday to double their bilateral currency swap deal for an extended period in a bid to enhance trade and financial stability. The Bank of Korea (BOK) said it reached an agreement with the Reserve Bank of Australia to extend their existing currency swap deal, in which the South Korean currency is swapped for the Australian dollar, for three more years while doubling the size of it. The deal, which is originally scheduled to terminate on Feb. 22, will be extended to Feb. 7, 2020. The size will be expanded to 10 billion Australian dollars (7.7 billion U.S. dollars) from 5 billion Australian dollars. The BOK said the deal can be extended further when it matures, adding that it was reached to enhance financial stability and help increase trade between the two countries. The extended deal followed the failed negotiations between South Korea and Japan about their separate currency swap agreement amid rising diplomatic friction over comfort women issue. Comfort women include Korean women who were forced or lured into sexual slavery for Japanese military brothels before and during World War II. Japan recalled its ambassador to South Korea and consul general in South Korea's southern port city of Busan as South Korean civic group activists put up a statue of girl that symbolizes teenager comfort women victims. South Korea has inked currency swap deals worth about 122.2 billion U.S. dollars as of Wednesday. The country also reached 38.4 billion dollars of a multilateral currency swap agreement under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM). OTTAWA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two public-sector reports issued here over the past two days have both identified free trade as a key driver to Canada's economic growth. In a report released on Tuesday, Canada's Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade acknowledged that free trade agreements are an essential component to the country's economic well-being. The committee called on the Canadian government to increase public involvement and parliamentary oversight of future trade deals as a way to increase the benefits of trade for all Canadians and "to alleviate protectionist sentiments" of which Canada is "not immune." Among the committee's nine recommendations is one in which Ottawa would establish a formal public consultation process "when defining a negotiating mandate in relation to a particular free trade agreement," and another where the federal government would report to Canadians about the "expected economic, labor, environmental, social and other outcomes" regarding an agreement prior to its ratification. Five years following a trade deal's enactment, the government should also commission one or more independent evaluations to analyze the agreement's outcome, the committee recommended. "There is currently little oversight of free trade negotiations, (which) can have significant ramifications for workers, business owners and the country at large," Liberal Senator Percy Downe, the committee's deputy chair, said in a statement. "Our recommendations would oblige the government to be more accountable in its pursuit of trade deals and give Canadians greater involvement in the process to ensure negotiators truly represent their interests," said Downe. Another report, issued on Monday, does not provide as detailed legislative and policy roadmap to deal making. But it too wants Ottawa to look beyond Canada's borders to build the country's economy. The Advisory Council on Economic Growth, an expert panel Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau established last year to advise the federal government on economic policy, also released a list of recommendations. The report calls on Ottawa to boost innovation, hasten the establishment of a "highly skilled and resilient" Canadian workforce, develop such key sectors as agriculture and energy, and position Canada as a "central global-trading hub and a nexus for global supply chains." Although the expert panel believes Canada has a continental opportunity to kick-start its moribund trading relationship with Mexico -- as well as to strengthen linkages with the American business community in response to the protectionist direction of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration -- it also wants Canada to focus on "preferential trade" with China, Japan and India. "Such trade pacts would open up new markets for our companies, help them to achieve economies of scale, raise their productivity, give our consumers greater product choice and lower prices, and accelerate overall GDP growth," says the report, entitled Positioning Canada as a Global Trading Hub. DHAKA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A State-owned Chinese company has signed a 4.49-billion taka agreement to construct a major bridge which will help faster communication between Dhaka and major river port town Narayanganj, some 30 kilometers northeast of the capital city. Sinohydro Corporation Limited, one of the largest international companies, signed the official construction contract with the Bangladeshi government's Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on Wednesday in capital Dhaka. The Bangladeshi government with the financial assistance from the Saudi Fund Development (SFD) has taken up the project in view of its importance in connectivity with three national highways. "The bridge will establish an alternative route to bypass congested Dhaka city and facilitate connectivity with Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Mawa national highways," project profile mentioned. It further said construction of the bridge will also help establish a direct road communication between two commercially important Narayanganj sub-districts (Bandar and Sadar). Ebne Alam Hasan, chief engineer of Bangladesh's Roads and Highways Department and Lv Liushan, vice president of Sinohydro Corporation Limited, inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides at in capital Dhaka. Bangladeshi Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, among others, was present at the deal signing ceremony. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier laid the foundation of 3rd Shitalakhya Bridge through a video conference with Communications Minister Obaidul Qader at Narayanganj, which is one of the country's important business hub since British period. Hasina had then reportedly said the project would be epoch making steps for better connectivity between Dhaka and Narayanganj as well as development of the surrounding areas and economic condition of the people. The bridge will be four-lane. Of the total funds, the SFD will provide nearly 4 billion taka while the rest will be borne by the Bangladeshi government. RHD and SFD have already signed a contract for the construction of the 1.2 kilometer bridge over the river Shitalakhya. (1 U.S. dollar equals 82 taka). BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday urged Taiwan to improve safety across its whole tourist sector and to take measures to ensure the safety of mainland travellers. An Fengshan, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a routine press conference that Taiwan should provide a safer travelling environment and conditions for mainland tourists. A total of 21 tourists from the Chinese mainland were injured Saturday in a bus accident in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan. The bus, which was carrying 25 tourists and a tour guide from the mainland, hit the top of a tunnel when the driver took the wrong turn. All the injured were taken to hospital. Everyone, apart from the tour guide who remains in hospital, have returned to the mainland, according to An. An said mainland authorities had extended their sympathies to those injured and helped handle the accident through non-governmental tourism organizations on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The mainland, An said, was deeply saddened by a string of accidents over recent years that had involved mainland tourists. In July 2016, 26 people -- 23 tourists and a tour guide from the Chinese mainland, and the Taiwanese driver and tour guide -- were killed when a tour bus crashed into a barrier on a highway and caught fire near Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan. Investigation found that the driver was drunk and had deliberately set the bus on fire. He had been found guilty of rape before the accident, but was not put into prison as he had appealed. by Le Yanna, Tran Van Doanh HANOI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Vietnamese people queued in front of a shop selling gold here on a cool morning, patiently waiting for their turn to enter and buy the precious metal that had been formed into roosters, Buddhas, rings, bullion and sheets. Standing in the queue on Tran Nhan Tong Street, a young bank clerk wearing the uniform of the local Techcombank, told Xinhua that she arrived at 6:00 a.m. before the shop had opened and said that even at that earlier hour a number of other customers were already queuing. The crowd became bigger and bigger, and the queue became longer and longer, she said. One of the shop's staff, a young man decked out in a yellow and red costume and a bonnet often worn by officials in feudal times, instructed customers to come in one by one. The man was not wearing fancy dress, he just wanted to create an image of the God of Wealth to impress and lure customers to the shop. Monday, Feb. 6, is the 10th of the first month of 2017, the year of rooster according to the lunar calendar. The 10th day of every lunar new year is regarded as the Day of God of Wealth in Vietnam. On this day, people often go to gold shops and buy gold bullion, bars or sheets, gold jewelry, or figurines of the 12 zodiac animals with the strong belief that doing so will bring them prosperity and good luck for the whole year. "This year is the year of rooster, so I am going to buy a gold figurine of a rooster. I hope that I will have a flock of gold chicken by the end of this year," the Techcombank clerk said joyfully while standing in the long queue which had started to cause traffic congestion on the street. Nguyen Thi Dan, a retired garment worker from the rural district of Thanh Tri, Hanoi, told Xinhua that she was going to buy a gold ring. "Wearing it or not doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that we have to buy gold on the Day of God of Wealth," she said. Many Vietnamese people, including those who queued on the street, believe in a folk tale about the God of Wealth, or God of Prosperity. According to the tale, the God of Wealth who lives in heaven, one day falls to earth after getting drunk. He goes to people's houses to ask for food and drink and later the houses' owners become rich. On the 10th day of the lunar new year, he flies back to the heaven. To memorize the God of Wealth, people choose this day to worship him and pray for luck and prosperity. Such a practice in Vietnam is believed to originate from China. Caishen is the Chinese god of prosperity worshipped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. He has been depicted with many historical figures and embodies forms, including Zhao Gongming, Fan Li and Bi Gan. Caishen is often depicted riding a black tiger and holding a golden rod. He may also be depicted with an iron tool capable of turning stone and iron into gold. "The custom of buying gold on the Day of God of Wealth has a long history in Vietnam and first became popular in the Chinese-Vietnamese community in Ho Chi Minh City, and then in Hanoi," Wei Yonglu, director of the Vietnam-China Flavoring Company, told Xinhua. Wei, who has been in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for numerous occasions, said that many years ago, only traders bought gold on the Day of God of Wealth, but in recent years, the buyers come from all walks of life, such as homemakers, office clerks, public servants, reporters, or retirees. "In Hanoi, on the Day of God of Wealth, many parts of Cau Giay and Tran Nhan Tong streets, where a number of gold shops are located, face traffic congestion because armies of buyers rush there," said the Chinese man. To meet an increasingly bigger demand for gold on the Day of God of Wealth, gold and jewelry companies in Vietnam, especially Bao Tin Minh Chau, Phu Quy, SJC, PNJ and DOJI, have launched different gold products. Tran Thi Cuc, deputy general director of Ho Chi Minh City-based PNJ, said the company has launched on the market nearly 150,000 gold products on the Day of God of Wealth, up 50,000 products compared with last year's occasion. PNJ's customers often buy small gold bars or rings weighing one or two tenths of a tael. A tael, the most common measurement of the weight of gold in Vietnam, equals 37.5 grams. According to many gold traders, this year, gold in the forms of the God of Wealth and roosters have sold well, and their prices are not too high like in previous years. Gold bars of moderate weight have also attracted many buyers. On Monday morning in Hanoi, DOJI sold gold bars at prices of 37.5 million Vietnamese dong (around 1,675 U.S. dollars) per tael. The prices of a tael of gold in Vietnam are about 4 million Vietnamese dong (179 U.S. dollars) higher than those in the world market. "Buying gold on the Day of God of Wealth should be moderate, and made with your own money, not loans, to wish for luck and avoid risks when the metal's price drops," advised local economist Doan Huu Tue. SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The looming prospect of a trade war between the United States and China, has a leading Australian expert concerned about the impact on Australia, especially as both nations are the country's most major trading partners. James Laurenceson, deputy director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI), told Xinhua on Wednesday, Trump's behavior towards China is increasingly volatile and erratic, and could lead to a trade war between the two nations. "The difference between Trump's pre-election rhetoric and the policy decisions since taking office have narrowed, not widened," Laurenceson said. "Most notably, the people he has surrounded himself with are extreme China hawks, particularly on the trade side." The primary concern with the Trump administration has always been whether his subordinates were acting on his behalf to further his real policy motives, or whether their actions are being guided as a means of negotiating a stronger position from which to negotiate with China on trade. Laurenceson was adamant that Trump's comments about Taiwan and currency valuations, prove he is trying to use any means necessary to bargain, but there needs to be real concern that he may attempt to follow through with his controversial words. Laurenceson highlighted the way in which experts had speculated regarding Trump possibly only posturing on refugees, only to be flummoxed as he signed an executive action order to halt their entry, something he warns could be up next in terms of trade. "There are U.S. domestic laws that will allow a President to put in place a blanket tariff for a period of time, they would be WTO illegal, but I don't think he cares," Laurenceson said. Australia would be heavily impacted by any form of trade war occurring between its two largest trading partners, and Laurenceson says Australia must now turn even further towards Asia. "Australia would look on the U.S. imposing a blanket tariff on China in horror. First of all it damages our own economic prospects, but even worse, it's inconsistent with the international rules of trade," Laurenceson said. "Australia needs more free trade, not less. Australia very quickly, without hesitation, would line up behind the likes of China and support a more open economy, rather than a closing one." There is concern however, that Australia could be squashed between the two nations, as we are heavily reliant on capital from both nations, and any movement by the U.S. to initiate impositions on trade could be catastrophic for Australia's economy. "We are in an awful position, but I am quite confident we would not come out on the side that is proposing more protectionism and less free trade," Laurenceson said. "It would be awkward, it would be horrible saying the U.S we condemn your actions, they are inconsistent with international laws, it's not in our national interest in any sense, but I think we would do it," "If the U.S. continues down the path of advancing policies based on rhetoric we have heard, its authority to lead will vanish." BANGKOK, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Social Security Office is paying compensation to those currently jobless after their workplaces were severely damaged by flooding, the agency's secretary general Suradej Waleeittikul confirmed on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of employees became jobless due to the disastrous flooding in southern Thailand. The compensation is provided by the Social Security Office on condition that the jobless employees are entitled to social security benefits while their employers are unable to pay wages due to flood-inflicted losses, Suradej said. The compensation amounts to half of the employee's daily wage and will only be provided for a maximum of 180 days. This is the first time for Thailand to provide such compensation to social security recipients affected by natural disasters. Seventy-eight villagers were reportedly killed due to last month's flooding in southern regions and nearly one million others were affected. Some had to evacuate to higher ground while others lost rubber and coconut plantations. The flood-hit areas in southern Thailand include the world-famous tourist spots of Phuket, Krabi and Surat Thani. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailand's fourth-largest bank by assets, opened its branch here on Wednesday to facilitate Thai investors in Cambodia with loans, cross-border transactions and business advisories. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ouk Maly, deputy governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). KBank president Predee Daochai said the bank's Cambodian branch began operations with the investment capital of 50 million U.S. dollars. "The branch's objective is to facilitate Thai businesses in the areas of corporate financing, fund mobilization for investments in infrastructure projects, and production of garments and processed food," he said. KBank is the fourth Thai bank and the 37th commercial bank that operates in the kingdom. Besides commercial banks, Cambodia has 14 specialized banks, 57 microfinance institutions and 160 rural credit operators, according to the NBC. The Southeast Asian country has a population of nearly 15 million, and the banking and financial institutions have been serving around 4.4 million depositors and 2.6 million borrowers. South African President Jacob Zuma (M) attends a gathering to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jan. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) CAPE TOWN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- After two decades since democracy, the black majority in South Africa still remains largely outside of the mainstream economy, says President Jacob Zuma. "Social justice cannot be achieved if we allow the status quo to persist," Zuma said at a meeting with business and labour leaders in Cape Town before delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament later this week. Zuma is expected to stress economic transformation in his SONA to ensure that economic benefits be shared. "A most important challenge we need to confront head on this year is the scale of inequality and exclusion in this country. It needs urgent action," Zuma said. Economic inclusion since the end of apartheid in 1994 demonstrated that South Africa can grow the size of the economy, Zuma said. "We have though, failed to ensure that the growth is shared. As we begin a new phase of economic recovery we have to make sure we take everyone along. We have to rework and sharpen our transformation model and more importantly demonstrate commitment and empathy," the president said. South Africans, he said, should never rest until the vision for a better life for all is realized. The meeting took place under improved conditions economically. Following a period of low economic growth in the last few years, prospects have improved for the years ahead. It is expected that economic growth in South Africa will be 1.3 percent in 2017 following an estimated 0.5 percent in 2016. "Despite the improved outlook, we have to acknowledge that we are not growing fast enough to significantly reduce our triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment," he said. Unemployment in the country currently stands at 27.1 percent, the highest rate since June 2004. The youth unemployment stands at 44 percent for 18 to 29 year olds. In South Africa as in the rest of the world, the largest employers of unskilled workers are shrinking in importance. This puts more workers in the job market, being not only unemployed but also largely difficult to employ due to lack of skills. Low economic growth and pressure on revenue suggest that the public sector can no longer be the main engine of jobs growth, Zuma said. "We used to rely on government to absorb the unemployed. The public service is also facing pressure," he said. Zuma stressed the importance of promoting cooperation among business, labour and the government to move South Africa forward. "I am confident that working together as we are doing, we can achieve more in developing our economy and making it more attractive for foreign and domestic investment," he said. Judi Wakhungu (C), cabinet secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa (R) launch a '60 years Commemorative Magazine' during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the East Africa Wild Life Society (EAWLS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan government official has appreciated China's effort in protecting wild life, saying China's trade ban on ivory will bring positive effects on elephant protection in East Africa. Judi Wakhungu, cabinet secretary of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 60th anniversary event of the East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS) that cooperation with China in protecting wild life "has grown from strength to strength," noting that China is very much involved in wild life protection, donating equipments and expertise. Judi Wakhungu, cabinet secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources speaks during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the East Africa Wild Life Society (EAWLS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 7, 2017.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) "Most recently, we have seen the Chinese president announcing the trade ban of ivory, and that is going along with conserving wild life," she said. Dismissing criticisms that the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway has damaged wild life protection, Wakhungu said that the project has taken wild life protection in consideration from scratch. Students and their teacher from Swedish School perform during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the East Africa Wild Life Society (EAWLS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 7, 2017.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) "For example, the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR is specially designed to accommodate animal passages culverts as well as bridges for animals. The SGR design also has a protective fence to animals out of harm's way," she said. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa echoed Wakhungu's words, saying China pays great attention to cooperation in wildlife protection, such as assisting the law-enforcing outfits from both China and Kenya to destroy a huge ivory smuggling criminal gang, donating wildlife protection equipment and materials to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and providing training opportunities to strengthen technology, cooperation and experience sharing in wild life protection. Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa speaks during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the East Africa Wild Life Society (EAWLS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 7, 2017.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) EAWLS Executive Director Julius Kamau thanked China for its generous support, and said the organization will continue cooperation with China in wild life protection. Judi Wakhungu (2nd R), cabinet secretary of Kenya's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources dance with actors during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the East Africa Wild Life Society (EAWLS) in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 7, 2017.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Established in 1961 through a merger of the Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Societies (both formed in 1956), the EAWLS is a membership-based non-government organization that seeks to enhance the conservation and wise use of the environment and natural resources in East Africa for the benefit of current and future generations. BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Wednesday that Beijing will issue policies to support and attract Taiwanese to work and live on the mainland. The policies are currently being drawn up, An Fengshan, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a regular press conference. An said the policies cover employment, social insurance and living needs, adding that the policies will not only facilitate Taiwanese to live and work on the mainland, but aim to boost the social and economic integration of the two sides. In response to a question concerning remarks by the Taiwan administration about Taiwanese enterprises that operate on the mainland, An said the Chinese mainland had always encouraged and supported Taiwanese enterprises and set great store by safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. "We used to do in this way and we will continue to do it in the future," said An, asking in reply that "who on earth is disturbing and hindering cross-Strait economic cooperation and Taiwan investment in the mainland? We must see it clearly." An said huge business opportunities had been created by the reform and opening up of the mainland. The Chinese mainland will continue to encourage Taiwan businessmen to develop on the mainland, and provide more convenience and opportunities for them. TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called for mass turn out in the rallies to mark the anniversary of Islamic revolution on Feb. 10, local media reported on Wednesday. It is expected that people would partake "massively" in the 38th anniversary of the Islamic revolution this year to show solidarity and unity of the nation with the revolution and the leadership. "In the rallies, people will demonstrate that their glory, independence and national sovereignty are bound to the Islamic revolution," said Rouhani. "We hope people will participate actively in the ceremonies of Feb. 10, given the current global and regional situation," he said. The 1979 revolution in Iran toppled the U.S.-backed regime of Shah and brought the country under the leadership of Ayatollah Seyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, an event seen as a turning point in Iran's history. On Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also urged the Iranians to respond to the U.S. "threats" in the nationwide rallies on Friday. The United States has announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's missile development after Tehran carried out latest medium-range ballistic missile test late last month. Iran has dismissed the concerns over its missile program, calling the tests solely for defensive purposes. HANOI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam and Laos are striving to bring up bilateral trade revenue by 10 percent in 2017, said Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday. Phuc made the remark at a press briefing with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith in Vietnamese capital Hanoi after the two co-chaired the 39th meeting of Vietnam-Laos Inter-Government Committee. According to Phuc, in 2017 the two countries will expand cooperation in human resource training, investment in transportation infrastructure projects that links Vietnam and Laos, cooperation in management and sustainable use of water and other natural resources. Highlighting ties between Vietnam and Laos in education, Phuc told reporters that currently, over 14,000 Lao students are studying in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnamese enterprises have invested in over 400 projects in Laos with total investment of around 3.7 billion U.S. dollars. Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said that in 2017, Lao and Vietnam are celebrating the 55th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties and 40th anniversary of signing of Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. After the meeting, four cooperation documents were signed, including one on establishing a joint-venture company to invest into construction of Vietnam-Lao 500kV electricity transmission line. Thongloun Sisoulith is visiting Vietnam from Tuesday to Wednesday. HANOI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- People's Procuracy in Vietnam's capital Hanoi said Wednesday that it has just finished an indictment to prosecute two Japanese citizens for smuggling seven gold statues. The two Japanese men were both prosecuted for smuggling via Vietnam's northern Noi Bai International Airport, reported the state-run news agency VNA on Wednesday. According to Vietnamese law, the two men can face punishment of 20 years imprisonment or life sentence. The two men were planning to buy gold products in Vietnam and sell in Japan to make profit. On Aug. 3, 2016, local customs authorities at the airport detected that one of the men brought seven gold statues without customs declaration procedures. The statues, with total weight of 6.794 kg worth nearly 6.75 billion Vietnamese dong (302,644 U.S. dollars), were later seized for investigation. ANKARA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to enhance the cooperation in fighting against terrorism, according to an official statement Wednesday. The two made the agreement through a telephone conversation late Tuesday, their first time since Trump took office last month. The Turkish Presidency said Erdogan and Trump shared commitment to combatting terrorism in all its forms. During the telephone call, the two leaders also vowed to improve bilateral relations, noting that Turkey and the U.S. are two friendly and allied nations always connected to each other with links of alliance. Erdogan also wished Trump success during his term as the U.S. President, the statement added. According to a statement issued by the White House, President Trump "reiterated U.S. support to Turkey as a strategic partner and a NATO ally, and welcomed Turkey's contributions to the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group." The U.S.-Turkish relations became strained near the end of the Obama Administration due to the extradition of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara has accused of being the mastermind of a failed coup attempt last July. An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, gestures at a regular press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland resolutely opposes Rebiya Kadeer, a Uygur separatist, visiting Taiwan and participating in any activities on the island, a spokesperson said Wednesday. An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press conference while responding to a question regarding the Taiwan Solidarity Union's intention to invite her to Taiwan in March. "It is a well-known fact that Rebiya Kadeer is among the heads of the separatist 'East Turkistan' forces," An said. "The invitation by the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist force is intended to make trouble and will certainly harm cross-Strait relations." An also responded to a question regarding the claim by a leader of Taiwan's "New Power Party," who said Taiwan authorities would offer scholarships to some Tibetan people identified by Taiwan as "refugees" to sponsor their study on the island. An said that "our attitude is very clear, and (we) firmly opposes confusing the refugee issue with the issue of overseas Tibetan compatriots." XINING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- As Spring Festival finished, Wu Wei and his wife Gao Yaqing finally had a moment of relief after the busiest time of year in their store. The couple run a pet store in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. They sell pet food, as well as offer grooming and daycare services for pets. As pets are not allowed on Chinese trains, people leave their pets in daycare over the holidays. Wu's store became a temporary home for over a dozen pet dogs during the holiday. "The dogs are like family to me," said Gao, who has three dogs herself. The couple opened the store in March 2016. The 110-square-meter store is called Naonao's Pet Store, after her pet dog Naonao, which means liveliness in Chinese. "I hope the store can be a place full of life and energy," Gao said. For Spring Festival, Wu and Gao served a Chinese traditional meal of dumplings stuffed with chicken, carrots, and cabbage for the dogs. "I'm very happy seeing my dog enjoy the festival food," said Ning Dinghua, whose dog Dabai stayed at the store. When sending her there, Ning brought Dabai's own cup, dog food, and snacks. He made daily phone calls to check on her. "Dabai is very active, and I fear she may run away when taken out for walks," Ning said. As soon as he returned to Xining, Ning went to pick up Dabai at the store. "She quickly ran towards me and bounced around joyfully," he recalled. EMERGING SECTOR China has over 30,000 pet stores, about three times that of the United States, mostly in large cities, according to market research by the American Pet Products Association. Like Wu, many pet stores experienced a boom during Spring Festival. Wu charges 40 to 60 yuan per dog, per day. Despite the large number of stores, strong demand in some cities drove up the price. "A large dog can cost nearly 100 yuan per day (about 14.6 dollars), more expensive than my kid's tuition fee in the kindergarten." read one online post. In China, keeping pets is a growing trend. The pet dog population in China reached 27.4 million, ranking third in the world after the United States and Brazil, according to official statistics. The growing pet population has brought new opportunities. The pet care market in China is valued at 97.8 billion yuan, with pet food and snacks, daily supplies and daycare services being the top three segments, according to a 2016 report by China's online pet community goumin.com. In recent years, daycare provision has expanded beyond pet stores, clinics and daycare centers. Applications for families to find and become registered daycare providers have increased. Xiaogouzaijia, established in mid-2015, now covers 200 Chinese cities with tens of thousands of registered families. "The booming pet care market reflects people's improved quality of life," said Lin Wenjun, a scholar from Nankai University. "With household income and pet care knowledge increasing, new products and services such as pet smart wearables, grooming and insurance are also emerging." Demonstrators participate in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order barring U.S. entry to all regugees and seven Mideast and North African countries' citizens in front of the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 4, 2017. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Washington on Saturday to demonstrate against an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) by Xinhua writer Liu Chang BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump wants to shut off America's external security threats by issuing a travel ban, yet such a short-cut approach would be to little avail, and a latent bane for the global fight against terrorism. The Trump team on Tuesday scrambled to defend in a U.S. court of appeals the legitimacy and effectiveness of the entry ban against people from seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees. The executive order now faces strong opposition inside the country and widespread controversies worldwide, and was halted by a U.S. federal judge last week. The legal battle has already triggered a political crisis at home, and may well further fracture the country on many fronts, including race and religion. Washington may have its reasons to issue such an order, yet the ban entails serious logic and ethical flaws. Since 9/11 attacks in 2001, most of the fatal terrorist strikes that happened on U.S. soil have been carried out by non-Muslims. Among all seven countries on the ban's list, five of them have never seen their nationals conduct terror acts inside the United States. To better improve its security, Washington needs to deal with its long-standing gun violence problem first. Meanwhile, radical elements around the world could use the ban to further justify their ruthless causes, and to gain more recruits. That is a grave threat not only to the safety and security of the United States, but that of others worldwide. Moreover, Trump's order shows that his administration has no correct recognition of the responsibility it needs to shoulder in a global fight against terrorism. Such countries banned on the list as Iraq, Libya and Syria are those that have been victimized by terrorism because previous U.S. governments and other Western powers deliberately intervened for self-interests. As a result, millions of Syrians as well as peoples of other countries in the region have been made both homeless and hopeless. With the ban, the United States has shut its door to the refugees it ought to take in. What's worse, it may set a misleading precedent for other countries that also have a share in accepting these tragic immigrants. No safety net could be expansive and impenetrable enough to guarantee absolute security if the root causes that cultivate terrorism and other extremist thoughts are not eradicated. The Trump administration needs to work with others around the world in this tough fight, not just mending its own fences. Related: U.S. court turns down request to reinstate Trump's travel ban SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. court denied early Sunday a request by the government to overturn a ruling that has suspended a controversial travel ban targeting refugees and nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries. Full story Spotlight: Trump's travel ban chaos continues as U.S. Justice Dept. appeals judge's blocking WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Justice Department on late Saturday filed a notice of appeal seeking the reinstatement of President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban on refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. Full story Spotligh: Protesters in U.S. rally against Trump's travel ban KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's exports expanded by 10.7 percent to 75.55 billion ringgit (17.01 billion U.S. dollars) in December, recording the highest value in 2016, said the International Trade and Industry Ministry in a report on Wednesday. The surge was supported by higher exports of manufactured goods and agriculture and mining goods, including electrical and electronic products and petroleum products. The figure was the first time for Malaysia to have a double digit increase in exports in 2016. The country's imports in December also rose to 66.83 billion ringgit, a 11.5 percent compared with that of 2015, the report said. Total trade in the month stood at 142.39 billion ringgit, a 11.1 percent year-on-year increase, leaving a higher trade surplus of 8.72 billion ringgit. For 2016, Malaysia's total trade grew by 1.5 percent, reaching 1.485 trillion ringgit, compared to 1.463 trillion ringgit in 2015, mainly contributed by higher trade with China, the United States and the Republic of Korea. Exports rose by 1.1 percent while imports increased by 1.9 percent. The ministry said trade "remained resilient despite the uncertainties in the global environment." China continued to be the largest trading partner with Malaysia for the 8th consecutive year since 2009, the report said. (1 Malaysian Ringgit equals 0.23 US dollar) HANOI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam expects pepper to remain a key foreign currency earner for the country in 2017, with targeted export turnover of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Wednesday. With a forecast year-on-year export growth of 13 percent, pepper is hoped to be among the 13 commodities earning shipment revenue of more than 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, the state-run news agency VNA quoted the ministry as saying. In 2016, Vietnam shipped abroad 177,000 tons of pepper worth 1.42 billion U.S. dollars, rising by 34.3 percent in volume and 12.9 percent in value. The markets with the strongest surges in pepper imports from Vietnam were Pakistan (up 3.14 times year-on-year), the Philippines (3 times), the United States (31.3 percent), Egypt (23.2 percent), Spain (14 percent), and India (12 percent). In January 2017, a total of 8,000 tons of pepper were exported, raking in 56 million U.S. dollars, down 18 percent in volume and 37 percent in value year-on-year. Many insiders attributed the fall to the Lunar New Year holiday, which made importers step up purchases at the end of 2016 and eased activities in January. This year, the Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam started on Jan. 26 and ended on Feb. 1. According to Vietnam Pepper Association, the country's pepper output will hike at least 15 percent year-on-year to hit about 180,000 tons in 2017. Vietnam's current cultivation areas are expanding by 15-20 percent from the previous year, due to higher pepper prices, said the association. BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner announced Wednesday that it will pass down most of its authority to approve transport investment to local officials. Provincial governments will be authorized to examine and approve feasibility reports for new expressways, some bridges and tunnels, and normal-speed regional railways, according to a statement from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The projects will still need to be recorded by the central government. The construction of academies and research institutions concerned with transportation will also enjoy the new policy. Rail lines, if mainly funded by China Railway Corp., the country's railway operator, can be determined by the company itself. The move is the latest effort by the NDRC to simplify administrative procedures in infrastructure investment, a significant sector for the slowing economy. China's fixed-asset investment in transportation last year was 2.85 trillion yuan (413.95 billion U.S. dollars), with more capital expected to be pumped into the sector in the next few years. The NDRC also noted in the statement that local authorities should not further delegate the power, and said it will channel more energy into transport planning and supervision. TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's deputy foreign minister left Tehran for Moscow on Wednesday for talks on a series of bilateral and international issues, Tasnim news agency reported. In his one-day stay in Moscow, which takes place at the invitation of the Russian side, Abbas Araqchi will meet Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, and the two sides will discuss regional and international issues, including disarmament, nuclear cooperation, and implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal. Iran is one of Russia's major supporters on Middle East issues. The two countries, together with Turkey, are jointly mediating a political settlement of the Syrian civil war. On Monday, Moscow regretted the imposition of new sanctions by the United States on Iran after the latter's missile test. The U.S. on Friday announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's ballistic missile program and providing support to a military force in Iran. RAMALLAH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel's recent legislation legalizing settlement construction on Palestinian lands in the West Bank may be an attempt to undermine the two-state solution, said Palestinian analysts. The Israeli Knesset, or parliament, passed the controversial law on Monday, retroactively legalizing dozens of Jewish outposts with around 3,850 housing units illegally built on privately owned Palestinian lands, despite international condemnation deeming the law unconstitutional. Israel offered to compensate landowners with money or alternative land after seizing their lands, even if Palestinians refuse to waive their property. Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian National Initiative Party Chairman, told Xinhua that the new Israeli law "paves the road for 120 settler outposts to become settlements which include 3,850 housing units," adding "this dangerous law legalizes confiscation of private lands for settlement construction." He also warned the law "would allow Israel to seize around 60 percent of the West Bank territory, classified as area C according to the Oslo Accords signed in 1993, hence shattering the concept of establishing an independent Palestinian state." Israeli law stipulates that outposts are unauthorized and illegal in the West Bank occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War, where Palestinians plan to build their future state. However, "illegal" outposts and "legal" settlements are both internationally condemned as violations of the norms. Israeli settlements is the thorniest issue impeding the resumption of bilateral peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, who called on the international community to take immediate action against it. Recent U.S.-sponsored talks between Israelis and Palestinians ended in vain in April 2014. Abdulmajeed Sweilem, a Ramallah-based political analyst, told Xinhua that passing this law in Israel's parliament "reveals the fact that settlements mobilize right-wing radical ideology in Israel, which is not only an occupying power, but additionally a political settlements' state." He explained Israel "is employing its funds and other financial resources toward a government-supported mechanism, with right-wing parties, to keep settlements a major issue for the right wing in Israel who controls the political equation." Israel's approval of the law comes weeks after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 2334, which considers Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories illegal, calling on Israel to halt further construction. Only a few days before passing the new law, the Israeli government approved the construction of over 6,000 housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements. Samih Shbeib, another West Bank political analyst, linked the increase of Israeli settlements with the U.S.'s new administration of President Trump. He told Xinhua that America's silence regarding settlements encouraged Israel to increase it substantially. "Increased settlements, especially in Jerusalem, its suburbs and the West Bank, all indicate that Israel plans to annex the entire West Bank in the future," said Shbeib. He stressed that the situation "is critical" and needs an international reaction to end Israeli settlement construction, as such measures "threaten regional peace, stability and security." Palestinian officials recently threatened that if Israel continues increasing its settlement activity in Palestinian territories, then Palestinians plan on presenting their case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, demanding an international investigation of increased settlement construction. Reyad el-Malki, Palestinian foreign minister, told the "Voice of Palestine" Radio that "if the new U.S. Administration, the UNSC and the ICC all fail to stop Israel's takeover of Palestinian lands, then we cannot subsequently be blamed for taking practical measures against it." "Palestinians will take their case to the ICC and demand an official court investigation," he said, adding "we will once more request that the UNSC holds an emergency session for another resolution against this Israeli law." He also stated that Palestinians will take other measures "mainly reconsidering security cooperation with Israel." Rajab Abu Sereyah, another West Bank Palestinian political analyst, informed Xinhua that the Palestinian dispute over Israeli settlements "has currently reached its peak, particularly under the new U.S. administration of President Trump." "The decades-long conflict with Israel has reached a crucial stage, challenging Palestinians and preventing them from establishing their independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital," added Abu Sereyah. Related: UN chief "deeply regrets" Israeli adoption of bill to retroactively legalize settlements in West Bank UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that he "deeply regrets" that Israel adopted a bill late Monday that would retroactively legalize Jewish settlements on privately owned Palestinian land. Full story Feature: Jewish settlements -- an increasinginly insurmountable issue in Israeli-Palestinian conflict People against a Jan. 27 executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump barring entry into the United States by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and media staff gather outside the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the United States, Feb. 7, 2017. A U.S. federal appeals court heard oral arguments Tuesday about one of President Donald Trump's executive orders but withheld an immediate decision on the travel ban imposed on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. (Xinhua/Xu Yong) SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal appeals court heard oral arguments Tuesday about one of President Donald Trump's executive orders but withheld an immediate decision on the travel ban imposed on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. A three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioned August E. Flentje, special counsel to the assistant U.S. attorney general on behalf of the Trump administration, and Noah G. Purcell, solicitor general of Washington State, on behalf of the states of Washington and Minnesota. As Flentje reiterated that it is the president's authority to limit the entry of foreign nationals on national security grounds, the judges asked him to provide evidence connecting those barred from entry with terrorism. The representative of Washington and Minnesota states was also grilled by judges over the two states' defiance of Trump's travel ban. One judge asked Purcell if the Seattle judge's suspension of Trump's ban was "overbroad." Purcell alleged the travel ban was unconstitutional because it was motivated to target people with a specific religious belief. Then he was asked by the judges to substantiate his claim with evidence other than the president's public statements. The hearing was streamed online and the record was posted on the court's website. The court said at the end of the hearing that it would give a ruling as soon as possible within the week. Both sides have attracted support from some groups and entities, including a number of U.S. technology companies such as Apple, Google and other top names fighting Trump's ban. In front of the entrance of the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, some people were protesting against the travel ban, with one of them covering herself with national flags of Muslim-majority countries and locking herself within a cage. Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 27, barring travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days and all refugees from entering the country for 120 days. The order has prompted widespread protests across the United States. On Feb. 3, federal judge James Robart in Seattle, Washington state, ruled to suspend Trump's travel ban nationwide, effective immediately. Then the Department of Justice appealed to restore Trump's ban before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. MOGADISHU, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, on Wednesday called for a peaceful vote as Somali lawmakers vote for a state president. IGAD said it looked forward to continued cooperation and collaboration with the upcoming federal government in its tenure and beyond, according to a statement released ahead of the crucial vote. "IGAD commends Somalia for the efforts and commitment despite the numerous challenges towards establishing a secure, peaceful and prosperous Somalia," the statement said. IGAD, which groups Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia, said its members have played an important role in providing political, financial, technical and logistical support toward peace, security and political development of Somalia including the electoral processes. The 329 Somali parliament members from both houses will vote for the head of state in an election where a candidate might get two-thirds of the votes to win outright in the first round. The election, which was originally scheduled for October 2016, had been delayed several times. JINAN/NANCHANG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- When Yao Huifeng quit his well-paid job in a medical company to become a rice grower six years ago, he was nicknamed "Yao the idiot." Now people call him "manager Yao" due to his successful career transition. From city life to farm work in Yifeng County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Yao has tried various methods for high-quality rice, the only constant being that his produce is organic. He avoids using chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and leaves the field fallow for a season to guarantee quality, which is what Chinese middle-class consumers now care about most. His rice sells at 10 yuan (1.45 U.S. dollars) a kilo, three times higher than average, yet still popular. Last year, his success drew more than 70 local farmers to join his rice cooperative. "Ninety percent of the local fields have switched to organic rice, and the economic output in our cooperative has exceeded 4 million yuan," Yao told Xinhua. Organic farming, and eco-farming in a broader sense, is becoming increasingly popular in the world's most populous nation amid growing concerns for food safety. China has become the world's fourth largest organic food consumer, but organic food penetration is still small, taking up only about 1.5 percent of the country's food market share, according to a report by Zero Power Intelligence Group, a research institution headquartered in Shenzhen. Lured by the tremendous market potential of green food, companies have rushed into the sector in search of profits. Zhengzhuang farm, based in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, has been devoted to high-quality, chemical-free fruit since it was founded in 2012. Like Yao's farm, it abandoned chemical fertilizers and turned back to "old-fashioned" animal manure to use on the land of about 67 hectares. "Using chemical fertilizers can cause the soil to harden and degrade, while organic manure can help the land regain nutrients," said Wang Yan, co-founder of the farm. Wang has been purchasing manure from a nearby dairy farm for the last three years. Two cows, each producing a tonne of dung a year, can meet the demand of one mu of land. "Apart from cow dung, we also use feces of geese, horses, donkeys and earthworms. The greater the variety of manure, the better," she added. Wang calls herself a modern farmer, who represents a new generation of growers embracing innovative and green agriculture production. China has been promoting sustainable farming to reform the agriculture industry in recent years. A document issued earlier this week called for an output increase in high-quality products based on green and innovative production. It also said the country would maintain a zero increase in the usage of pesticides and fertilizers. Long-time reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to boost production has resulted in severe problems, such as pollution and soil degradation. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture show about one-third of the world's chemical pesticides, or 1.4 million tonnes, are used in China every year. The use of pesticides in China is 2.5 times the amount in developed countries. "Arable lands in China faces three major problems -- low productivity, soil degradation and low fertility," said Gao Yiwu, CEO of Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group, a fertilizer manufacturer. Many have already felt the pinch of unsustainable farming. Wang Cuifen has been growing crops since 1997. "The output increased year by year in the past decades, but the soil is getting harder and harder these years, and I had to use more chemical fertilizers to maintain a high yield, but I know it will not work long," she told Xinhua. In 2014, sponsored by the local government, Wang started to use organic fertilizers. "It worked really well and the soil is getting rich again," she said. The revival of manure has also created new business opportunities for Liu Shuchun, a pig breeder. The disposal of the excrement of his 5,000 pigs used to be a big headache, but not now. The price of a tonne of pig manure sold for 40 yuan in 2012, this year the price was double. "It is very promising," Liu said. He has set up 19 biogas digesters to produce organic fertilizers out of pig manure. A tonne of the processed manure cost up to 750 yuan but still sells fast. A dead-end in old farming and a shift in consumption habits has encouraged more farmers to engage in green agriculture. To promote supply-side reform in agriculture, authorities are training more professional talent and offering favorable fiscal policies for business start-ups in rural area to encourage investment, increase farmers' income and create safe food, which is good for both farmers and consumers. "The success of agricultural supply-side reform depends on increase in farmers' income as well as more quality farm products," said Tang Renjian, deputy director of the central rural work leading group. "Efforts should be made to maintain a sustainable, green agriculture growth, rather than relying on resource consumption." ANKARA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two Turkish soldiers were killed, 15 others wounded during clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in town Al-Bab of northern Syria, Turkish General Staff stated on Wednesday. The Turkish army stated that strategic hills overlooking Al-Bab were captured by the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army and clashes resumed for the full control of the town. The statement said that 58 IS terrorists have been killed in clashes, airstrikes and artillery since late Tuesday. The military operation pounded 254 IS targets including shelters, defense positions, command centers and tunnel entrances, the statement said. The U.S.-led anti-IS coalition also carried out seven airstrikes in al-Bab region, destroying 10 shelters, a tunnel entrance, a defense position and an armored vehicle. The Turkish Armed Forces launched the Euphrates Shield Operation last August 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. SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Bai Ruyun was a contestant on a televised classical poetry competition recently, and while she did not win, her story has touched many people. On Monday, Bai, 41, from the northern province of Hebei, appeared on a CCTV-broadcast program wearing a blue puffer jacket and a quiet, modest smile. She stood in sharp contrast to her competitors who were solemn faced and dressed formally. Any preconceptions of Bai that the audience may have formed from her appearance were soon disproved when she quoted a 300 year old poem during her introduction; "From whichever direction the winds leap, I remain strong, though dealt many a blow." If there were any doubts over her ability, they were soon put to bed as Bai breezed through the first round, answering all nine questions correctly, some of which involved obscure, little-known verses. Throughout the question-and-answer session, Bai remained poised, as she whispered her answers -- her voice left damaged by lymph cancer. Bai's fleeting time on national TV has inspired the nation. TOUGH LIFE, UNYIELDING SPIRIT Bai, born into a poor family in Nanhe County in the city of Xingtai, became interested in classical poetry when she was a teenager. "I was caring for my younger brother who had a brain tumor. When he was seized by extreme pain, he would desperately hit himself on the head. I did not want to restrain him, so I read out poems to divert his attention." As she read, the boy would calm down and gradually, she learned all the lines by heart. Like some of her peers in rural China, Bai could not afford to continue her education after middle school. This did not stop her from reading and memorizing poems even after a hard day in the fields. She knows more than 10,000 classical poems by heart and the philosophy conveyed in the lines helps her cope with whatever life throws at her: her brother who had the brain tumor is bed bound, another brother went missing at 25, and she had cancer. When she was being treated for cancer, she went to every appointment alone. "My husband had to work in order to raise money, so I decided to manage on my own." When Bai was confined to her hospital ward, poetry was her only companion. She brought collections of ancient Chinese poems and read whenever she had time. To reduce her travel expenses, she would leave home before daybreak, take four buses and a train to hospital in the provincial capital Shijiazhuang. The trip took five hours but cost only 21 yuan (about 3 U.S. dollars). "In fact, there's a direct bus from my village to Shijiazhuang, but a ticket costs 45 yuan." She underwent many rounds of chemo-therapy, which damaged her hearing and speech. "I felt lucky to be alive and took comfort in the lives of the many great poets who had used their suffering to make them stronger." Bai's husband is a security guard and the couple have two daughters aged 12 and 18. "I help my husband with our small vegetable patch and do the housework. In my spare time, I still enjoy reading poems." CCTV's Chinese poetry competition, one of the most widely watched programs over the past two weeks, finished Tuesday night. Wu Yishu, 16, from Shanghai won. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Wednesday sent 25 tons of rice for the people of drought-hit Sri Lanka, which is facing the worst drought in four decades, the Foreign Ministry said. An aircraft carrying the rice has left for Sri Lankan capital Colombo, the ministry said in a statement. The Pakistani government and people "stand shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need and will continue to provide all possible support to them," the statement said. Sri Lankan officials said last month that at least 10,000 people were affected by the ongoing drought and the number are expected to increase in the coming weeks. ACCRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo late Tuesday assured that under his leadership Ghana will back on the path of progress and prosperity. Addressing representatives of chiefs and traditional rulers at the seat of government in Accra, Akufo-Addo said very soon the difficulties in the country's economic circumstances are going to be a thing of the past. He said steps will be taken very soon, in his address to the nation, and in the first budget, to let Ghanaians know that the commitments the governing party made in order to get their mandate were not just hollow words, and that there was every intention to live by those commitments. "Those commitments, in our vision, are the way forward for the progress and prosperity of our country," he said when the standing committee of the National House of Chiefs paid a courtesy call on him at the presidency. In his response to remarks made by the President of the House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, President Akufo-Addo noted that the "business" of political leaders is to capture the spirit of the time and make policy for the furtherance of the interest of the people. "I want to assure you, and through you to all the Chiefs of our country, that to the extent that I have control over those I am working with, that is going to be the situation," he said. Togbe Afede called on all Ghanaians to lend their support to the government for the prosperity of the country. "There is no room for apathetic spectating," he said. JAKARTA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jakarta metropolitan police will deploy more than 16,000 personnel to secure gubernatorial election in the Indonesia's capital, police disclosed on Wednesday. The plan was made as scores of hardliner groups insist on taking to the streets prior to the election day of Feb. 15, which have been barred by police. "A total of 16,222 police personnel will be deployed with support from armed force and volunteers,"Jakarta police spokesman Senior Commissioner Argo Yuwono said. The spokesman said that a total of about 3,000 polling stations would be the target of security. Besides, the personnel would patrol to ensure the smooth running of the democratic activity, Yuwono said. Competition for the Jakarta gubernatorial post has been tight since last year with involvement of hardliner groups in the campaign supporting one of the three candidates. Three candidates, incumbent governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, a son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and former Education Minister Anies Baswedan, are competing for the post. BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China will welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May at an appropriate time, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday, providing no details about the timing of the visit. May's spokeswoman was quoted by Reuters as saying May will make a visit this year, the latest of her trips to major trading powers as she negotiates Britain's divorce from the EU. "We are willing to work with Britain to advance sustainable, healthy and stable development of the China-Britain global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century," Lu said. The spokesperson said China believes Britain and the EU will negotiate a "win-win" deal. A prosperous, stable and open Britain and Europe is in the interests of all, Lu added. This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Britain. SHANGHAI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday attributed its international parks' growth to the success of Shanghai Disneyland, which has received over 7 million visitors since it opened in June 2016. In its fiscal report released Wednesday, Robert Iger, Walt Disney chairman and CEO, said the biggest success stories in 2016 were at its Parks & Resorts, "with the opening of Shanghai Disneyland." He said the park proved to be enormously popular with guests over Chinese New Year -- operating at maximum capacity for the entire holiday period, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3. Iger said that the park could potentially exceed 10 million visitors by its first anniversary. He is confident in the resort's ability to break even in this fiscal year. The company on Wednesday reported its quarterly earnings for its first fiscal quarter, ending Dec. 31, 2016. BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Li Liguo, former minister of civil affairs and Dou Yupei, former vice minister of civil affairs, are being held accountable for poor Party governance and negligence, the discipline arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Wednesday. Investigation found that Li and Dou failed to fulfill their duties in strict governance of the CPC, and found systemic corruption in their ministry, according to a statement by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). Based on intra-Party regulations on accountablity and disciplinary penalties as well as Li's violations of Party discipline, Li faced punishment, including being placed on probation in the Party for two years and demotion, according to the statement, adding that Li will not serve as a delegate to the Party's 18th National Congress. Dou received a serious intra-Party warning, no longer holds the position of delegate to the Party's 18th National Congress and will retire early. The CCDI announced that Li and Dou had been put under investigation in early January. "We hope people will participate actively in the ceremonies of Feb. 10, given the current global and regional situation," said Rouhani. (AFP photo) TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called for mass turn out in the rallies to mark the anniversary of Islamic revolution on Feb. 10, local media reported on Wednesday. It is expected that people would partake "massively" in the 38th anniversary of the Islamic revolution this year to show solidarity and unity of the nation with the revolution and the leadership. "In the rallies, people will demonstrate that their glory, independence and national sovereignty are bound to the Islamic revolution," said Rouhani. "We hope people will participate actively in the ceremonies of Feb. 10, given the current global and regional situation," he said. The 1979 revolution in Iran toppled the U.S.-backed regime of Shah and brought the country under the leadership of Ayatollah Seyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, an event seen as a turning point in Iran's history. On Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also urged the Iranians to respond to the U.S. "threats" in the nationwide rallies on Friday. The United States has announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's missile development after Tehran carried out latest medium-range ballistic missile test late last month. Iran has dismissed the concerns over its missile program, calling the tests solely for defensive purposes. JUBA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN special adviser on genocide prevention has expressed grave concern at the continued level of violence in several areas of South Sudan. Adama Dieng, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, said more than 52,000 South Sudanese fled to Uganda in January alone, coming primarily from areas in and around Yei, Morobo, Lainya and Kajo-Keji. "President Salva Kiir has made a commitment to end the violence and bring peace, yet we still see ongoing clashes, and the risk that mass atrocities will be committed remains ever-present," Dieng said in a statement released on Tuesday night. He said the peace process has yet to be accompanied by a complete cessation of hostilities, undermining the likelihood that the National Dialogue proposed by the Government will be seen as credible. According to the special adviser, some 24,000 arrived between Jan. 25 and 31, of which 4,500 arrived on Jan. 28. Many have given accounts of the killing of civilians, destruction of homes, sexual violence, and looting of livestock and property, and cite fear of arrest and torture, he added. Dieng was particularly alarmed at the situation in Kajo-Keji and Central Equatoria, where civilians have fled in fear of violence. The access of the UN peacekeeping mission to and around Kajo-Keji has reportedly been restricted despite the serious security situation, as peacekeepers were initially blocked from accessing the area. "If South Sudan is to achieve peace, all belligerents must urgently cease hostilities and invest in the peace process to settle their differences, before the territorial fragmentation and destruction of the social fabric of this young country become irreversible," Dieng said. He said freedom of movement of residents has also reportedly been limited. Some have reportedly been instructed to leave Kajo-Keji. "Others who fled their homes and moved towards the border area between South Sudan and Uganda were reportedly intercepted by government forces," Dieng said. Those seeking refuge report using a number of informal border crossing points to enter Uganda, as armed groups are preventing the use of major roads, forcing them to travel through the bush often without access to food and water. TIKRIT, Iraq, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi government forces repelled an attack by extremist Islamic State (IS) group militants on Wednesday against military posts in Iraq's Salahudin province, a provincial security source told Xinhua. The incident occurred after midnight when dozens of IS militants attacked the posts of the government-backed Hashd Shaabi paramilitary units in the rugged area by the mountain of Himreen, sparking heavy clashes, the source said on condition of anonymity. Reinforcement troops from the Iraqi army and police backed by army helicopters arrived early in the morning to the scene, forcing IS attackers to withdraw back into their hideouts in the area, said the source. The battles resulted in the death of at least two paramilitaries and five others were wounded, along with the destruction of the homes of nine shepherds, the source added. Ahmed al-Jubouri, Salahudin province governor, warned on Monday in a statement of a potential security setback with increased attacks by IS militants against civilians and provincial security forces, using the Mteibijah rugged area in the east of the province as a launching pad. "The towns of Dour, Alam and Samarra witnessed almost daily attacks by Daesh, killing and wounding numerous civilians and security members, in addition to burning homes and destroying power transmission lines," Jubouri said. Salahudin ground forces are incapable of repelling IS attacks given their large numbers in the vast rugged area of the eastern part of the province, Jubouri said. He said that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, must take "swift and decisive action" to reclaim control of the province's eastern areas. In Oct. 2016, security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi paramilitary units undertook an operation to regain the IS's main bastion in Mteibijah, 100 km southeast of Salahudin's provincial capital of Tikrit. The Mteibijah operation targeted reclaiming control of the entire area, where hundreds of IS militants hid, in order to prevent their attacks against civilian and military targets in the neighboring provinces of Salahudin and Diyala. However, security forces only regained control of parts of the rugged sprawling areas in the predominately Sunni Arab province of Salahudin. IS attacks against the province came as Iraqi security forces, backed by an anti-IS international coalition, carried out a major offensive to drive IS militants out of their last major stronghold in and around Mosul, 400 km north of Bagdad. The U.S. drilling ship JOIDES Resolution is docked at a port in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 8, 2017. Dozens of scientists from different countries are set to start an expedition to the South China Sea , to explore the formation of the sea as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). In the first of two expeditions, 33 scientists from China, the United States , France and other countries boarded the drilling ship on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong) ABOARD JOIDES RESOLUTION, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of scientists from different countries are set to start an expedition to the South China Sea, to explore the formation of the sea as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). In the first of two expeditions, 33 scientists from China, the United States, France and other countries boarded the U.S. drilling ship JOIDES Resolution on Wednesday, which was docked at a Hong Kong port. The scientists will explore the lithosphere extension during the continental breakup, by drilling four sites to a depth of 3,000 to 4,000 meters in the northern area of the South China Sea. The study will contribute to understanding how marginal basins grow. China has 26 scientists from top Chinese universities and research institutions on the expeditions, the most of any participating country. Since joining the IODP, China has played a major role in two previous expeditions to the South China Sea in 1999 and 2014, respectively. Scientists collected samples through deep-sea drilling, for studying climate change and basin formation in the South China Sea. A total of 66 scientists from 13 countries will participate in the expeditions (Expedition 367 and 368), lasting four months. LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese film festival that will travel the length and breadth of Britain was announced Wednesday in Manchester. Manchester Airport, along with Chinese company Hainan Airlines, is launching the festival to celebrate movies and culture from China. Each event is free of charge, and everyone that attends will go into a competition to win a pair of flights to Beijing direct with Hainan Airlines. Starting in Manchester on Feb. 22, the Chinese film festival will run until April 11 and take place in 12 British cities. Films being shown include "Hero", "Operation Mekong" and "Call of Heroes." A spokesman at Manchester Airport said "Hainan Airlines started its direct service from Manchester to Beijing four times a week in June last year, and the festival has been arranged to showcase the vibrant culture of China, which thanks to the route, is much closer and accessible for British residents." The route makes Manchester the only airport outside of London with a direct service to the Chinese mainland, taking just 10 hours. Patrick Alexander, head of marketing at Manchester Airport, said "We are pleased that Hainan Airlines are headline sponsors of Manchester Airport's first ever film festival, where we will showcase Chinese culture to a range of people across the UK." "Since the start of our direct service to Beijing, China is now within touching distance of so much more of the UK population," the airport official added. The festival will extend to London, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leicester, Preston, Birmingham, Nottingham as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. Each of the screenings will be free. And there will be competitions among viewers for chances to win flights from Manchester to Beijing. SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Unknown armed men gunned down six employees of ICRC in the northern Jauzjan province on Wednesday, the spokesman for ICRC here in Kabul, Ramin Ayaz Ahmad said. "Unfortunately the gruesome incident happened after unidentified armed men gunned down six employees of ICRC in Jauzjan province today," Ahmad told Xinhua without providing more details. However, governor of Jauzjan province Lutfullah Azizi when approached by Xinhua confirmed the incident and said the crime occurred in Qushtapa district today morning. "Militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group abducted eight employees of ICRC in Jargdak area of Qushtapa district at around 10:00 a.m. local time today and after shooting dead six of them on the spot and took two others to unknown locations," governor Azizi told Xinhua. All the victims are Afghans, the official said, adding police have launched operations to ensure the safe release of the remaining two abductees, besides bringing to justice those involved in the heinous crime. IS insurgents who are active in parts of Jauzjan province with Shiberghan as its capital 390 km north of Kabul, are yet to make comment on the report. THE HAGUE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The debates in the campaign for the forthcoming Dutch general elections are currently mainly about Geert Wilders circulating photoshopped pictures in recent days. Last Monday, the right-wing Party of Freedom (PVV) leader posted a tweet with a picture in which his D66 (Democrats) colleague Alexander Pechtold was photoshopped into an anti-Wilders demonstration in 2009 in London. The photoshopped picture, circulating on the internet since 2009, shows Muslim protesters called for the introduction of the Islamic law Shariah in the Netherlands. "Pechtold demonstrates with Hamas terrorists. Is this the next step?" Wilders wrote. The tweet was the anti-Islam PVV leader's reaction to the presence of Pechtold, like other politicians, at a demonstration in the Hague in early February against the travel ban proclaimed by U.S. President Donald Trump for citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. Amin Abu Rashid, a prominent Palestinian-Dutch Hamas supporter, was also among the protesters. "Often I can laugh at people who are creative with images on the internet," Pechtold responded through Facebook. "But not this time, because it can give people false ideas, which also became clear in my Twitter timeline. Wilders incites his supporters by doing this." Pechtold decided not to file charges against Wilders. "You have political decency or you don't," he said on Tuesday, "You cannot force decency in the courtroom." The D66 leader received support from Prime Minister Mark Rutte who called the tweet "totally tasteless." He also said he found Wilders' behavior "totally abnormal." Late January, Rutte called for more decency in an open letter in several national newspapers, addressing "people who don't want to adapt, attacking our habits and rejecting our values and people who attack gay people, who shout at women in short skirts, or call ordinary Dutch people racist." "If you so fundamentally reject our land, I prefer that you leave. As it happens I have that feeling too. Act normal or go away," he wrote. The call by Rutte was a clear move as VVD (Liberals) leader during campaign season. The PVV is leading the latest polls for the Dutch general elections to be held on March 15, with a large margin over VVD. Wilders posted another tweet with the D66 leader photoshopped as a woman, also derived from the internet. Asked whether he would stop Tweeting like this as a future prime minister, he said: "No, you better get used to it." NEW DELHI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), announced Wednesday all limits on cash withdrawals would be removed entirely from March 13. "The limit on cash withdrawal from savings bank account will be enhanced to 50,000 rupees (744 US dollars) from the current 24,000 rupees (357) from Feb. 20," RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi said in a press conference in Mumbai. "From March 13, there will be no limit on cash withdrawal from savings accounts." The cap on cash withdrawals was imposed in India in November last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered scrapping of all 500 (7.40 U.S. dollars) and 1,000 rupee notes will be withdrawn from the country's financial system. The banned currency notes estimated to be 85 percent in the cash-reliant country. The sudden announcement of scrapping the high value notes caused anxiety among Indian citizens and resulted in huge disruption to daily life. Long queues outside banks and ATMs became a daily spectacle across cities and villages in India. Modi initially described the move of demonetisation as a step towards crackdown on black money, however the government later term the exercise as move towards cashless economy. RAMALLAH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that the recent Israeli bill on settlements in the West Bank is "a major setback" to peacemaking efforts. Abbas said in a letter to the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini that "the decision taken by the Israeli government is a major setback to peacemaking efforts and will undermine the two-state solution, which will have implications on the region and the world in general." He expressed hope in working together with the EU "for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2334 in order to maintain the potential for just and comprehensive peace." Mogherini had warned in an emailed press statement that if this new Israeli law was to be implemented, it would cross a dangerous threshold, adding that "such settlements constitute an obstacle to peace." "It would further entrench the one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict," she added, highlighting the EU's position towards settlements in the West Bank deeming them illegal. On Monday night, the Israeli parliament voted in favor of legalizing nearly 4,000 Jewish settlements that will be built on Palestinian-owned lands in the West Bank. NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan ministry of health will implement a raft of policy and regulatory incentives to facilitate additional funding towards medical research, officials said on Wednesday. Cabinet Secretary for Health Cleopa Mailu said that robust funding towards medical research will strengthen Kenya's response to killer diseases. "Investing in quality research is key to provide solution to national health challenges linked to a rise in infectious and non communicable diseases in the population," Mailu remarked. He spoke during the annual scientific and health conference organized by Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Delegates who included senior policymakers, scientists and health advocates agreed that Kenya must explore new financing options for medical research in the wake of dwindling overseas support. Mailu said the government is committed to increasing budgetary allocation towards health research in line with continental and global conventions. "Sustainable financing of key health programs like research, skills development and public awareness is the cornerstone of national development and well being of our citizens," said Mailu. He added the government has prioritized funding towards research on non-communicable and neglected tropical diseases that have strained health-care infrastructure in Kenya. "We are still confronted by daunting health challenges occasioned by epidemics whose spread is aided by environmental and lifestyle changes. This is where the bulk of research efforts should be concentrated," Mailu said. Kenya remains a regional hub for medical research thanks to a conducive policy environment, investment in modern infrastructure and abundant manpower. The Acting Director of KEMRI, Dr Gerald Mkoji said that Kenyan scientists and their overseas peers have joined hands to intensify search for cure of major tropical diseases. "We are focusing on strengthening our research capacity on prevention and treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and zoonotic diseases," said Mkoji. He revealed that Kenyan scientists have tapped into natural products to develop medicine for treating leading tropical diseases. BUCHAREST, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu stressed Wednesday that the government has an obligation to the people's trust gained in the polls and must continue to assume governance of the country. "As prime minister, I wish to see the much needed reconciliation between Romanians," Grindeanu said in his address in parliament occasioned by debates on a motion of no-confidence initiated by main opposition the National Liberal Party. "I hope to settle things today and get back to work," he said, adding that the cabinet has a program good enough for the people, and mayors and chairmen of county councils want to do something good for their communities. He said, referring to the speech of President Klaus Johannis on Tuesday, that beyond slogans and the struggle "to hang on the peoples' protests to renovate his credibility," the president has proved his "ardent wish to install as soon as possible" his own government. "Please do not accept this game and do not fall into this trap again," the prime minister told the lawmakers. "I fully understand all the emotion and anger that Ordinance 13 had generated...I will not accept any such initiative in the government," assured Grindeanu, referring to a controversial emergency ordinance on amending Criminal Codes. The cabinet led by Grindeanu adopted the ordinance on Jan. 31, which, according to reports, could partially decriminalize abuse of office offenses. The opposition and protesters complained that the changes would likely prevent some politicians charged with crimes from being punished. The authorities had to annul the ordinance on Sunday amid mass protests. However, demonstrations across the country did not stop, with protesters as well as opposition parties led by the Liberals putting forward new demands for the government to step down. According to the prime minister, the government will be one "of dialogue and public consultation" on the major issues that concern the entire society. Lawmakers of the National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union on Feb. 1 lodged the non-confidence motion against the coalition government. The vote upon the motion is scheduled for Wednesday, with slim chances to get past, since the ruling parties hold an absolute majority in the parliament. NAKURU, Kenya, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan scientist on Wednesday called for a need for livestock farmers to practice feed conservation to cushion their animals from famine during prolonged periods of drought. Joel Khobondo, a livestock scientist told Xinhua in an interview that planting grasses during wet season and conserving it to feed the animals during the dry period is effective in mitigating adverse impacts of drought on the livestock. "Livestock farmers should adopt feed conservation techniques in which they grow grasses during the rainy season and conserve it as either hay or silage for the drought," said Khobondo, who also lectures animal science at Egerton University. Currently, in parts of Rift Valley, a bale of hay is going for 2.5 U.S. dollars, an increase from an average of 0.7 dollars during the rains when there is plenty of fodder. Presently, pastoralist communities are suffering the most due to the current dry season which has extensively diminished pastures, forcing the livestock owners to explore alternative feed avenues including moving to neighbouring Uganda. The government is also buying livestock from affected communities, particularly in coastal, Eastern and Northeastern regions where for years seasons of low or zero rainfall has caused death of livestock, a main source of livelihoods for the locals. The purchase normally referred to as the livestock off-take program protects the pastoralists from the total loss of their assets while relieving them from extreme hunger since they can use the money to buy food. Khobondo said it was important to educate livestock farmers on preparing for the low rainfall seasons. Proper management of livestock involved adopting appropriate feeding programs for the animals during the wet and dry seasons. THE HAGUE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg issued a common vision of a successful future of the European Union, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday. On March 25 this year the EU will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which ultimately lead to the modern day European Union. The Netherlands is the acting head of the Benelux, a politico-economic union of the three neighboring states, for the years 2017 and 2018. "As founding member states, we are determined to make a success of the EU with 27 member states, building on their joint history and achievements," it said in a statement, "We firmly believe that the EU remains the best answer to face today's challenging times and shape tomorrow's world." Benelux wishes to strengthen EU cooperation together with "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights." In addition, the Benelux wants the EU to focus on core priorities and to only act when member states themselves are not able to deliver for their citizens. Its statement emphasized "a common responsibility to further strengthen a democratic and transparent formulation and decision-making processes" and that "different paths of integration and enhanced cooperation could provide for effective responses to challenges that affect member states in different ways." The Treaty of Rome, officially named the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (TEEC), is an international agreement that led to the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC). The agreement was signed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy and West Germany on March 25, 1957 and entered into force on Jan. 1, 1958. BUCHAREST, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Romania's government, installed a month ago, on Wednesday easily survived a motion of no-confidence initiated by main opposition the National Liberal Party, as the motion only got 161 votes in favor, far from the required minimum of 233 votes. The ruling lawmakers of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats ensured the session quorum in the censure motion debate, but did not vote, so did the parliamentary group of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania. At the debate on the motion before voting, interim head of the National Liberal Party Raluca Turcan stated that the censure motion is a political sanction against an unacceptable governing behavior of the ruling coalition. Turcan told the prime minister that the repeal of the controversial emergency ordinance does not "erase his sins," does not exempt him from responsibilities and he should pay with his position. The head of the Save Romania Union Nicusor Dan stated at his intervention that the current government lost its trust, because it placed "the interest" of the party's head ahead of the country's interests. However, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told the lawmakers that the government has an obligation to the people's trust gained in the polls and must continue to assume governance of the country. "As prime minister, I wish to see the much needed reconciliation between Romanians," he said, adding that "I hope to settle things today and get back to work," the cabinet has a program good enough for the people, mayors and chairmen of county councils want to do something good for their communities. "I fully understand all the emotion and anger that Ordinance 13 had generated...I will not accept any such initiative in the government," assured Grindeanu, referring to a controversial emergency ordinance on amending Criminal Codes. According to the prime minister, the government will be one "of dialogue and public consultation" on the major issues that concern the entire society. Romania has seen mass protests these days after cabinet led by Sorin Grindeanu adopted an emergency ordinance on amending Criminal Codes on Jan. 31 which, according to reports, could partially decriminalize abuse of office offenses. The opposition and protesters complained that the changes would likely prevent some politicians charged with crimes from being punished. The authorities had to annul the ordinance on Sunday amid mass protests. However, demonstrations across the country did not stop, with protesters as well as opposition parties led by the Liberals putting forward new demands for the government to step down. Lawmakers of the National Liberal Party and the Save Romania Union on Feb. 1 lodged the non-confidence motion against the coalition government. TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Oman have signed a renewed document to build a pipeline transferring Iran's natural gas to the Arab state, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Wednesday. The document was signed in the presence of Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and his Omani counterpart Mohammed bin Hamad al-Ruhmi in Tehran on Tuesday. "We reached a conclusion on the ways to implement the project by the end of February," Zanganeh said without giving more details. According to a contract between the two countries in March 2014, Iran would export an annual 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas to neighboring Oman when the pipeline comes on stream. Under the contract, Iran's gas would be pumped from the southern Iranian province of Hormuzgan to Oman's Sohar port, where it would join Oman's domestic natural gas network. The accord is a 25-year deal with a value of about 60 billion U.S. dollars. It is reported that Oman might have some of the imported gas liquefied for export to its neighbors, in addition to the country's own domestic use. Both sides are still lagging behind the schedule to implement the project. According to Fars, Iranian companies lack experiences to install pipeline under deep waters, so they need to share international expertise and experiences. Iran's Ministry of Petroleum announced in November last year that the energy giants, France's Total and the Netherlands' Shell, had joined a fresh round of talks between Iran and Oman for the construction of a sub-sea gas pipeline. COLOMBO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka, on Wednesday said it shared very good relations with China and looked forward to working closely with them. Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, speaking at a forum organised by the Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri Lanka said that China had become one of the world's emerging economies and had invested largely in the island country. He said China was now funding an economic zone in Hambantota in the south which any country could invest in. "Even though these zones are funded by Chinese money we would like to see other countries investing. We would like to see the world coming in," Samaraweera said. He further said Sri Lanka had become the ideal destination for investments and the government wanted to ensure that it had an investor conducive environment. In addition to Hambantota, Samaraweera said the government would also like to see more international investments in Trincomalee in the east, and other parts of the country. WINDHOEK, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's agriculture ministry on Wednesday bade farewell to 15 Chinese experts who completed a two-year program teaching farming skills in the southern African country. The 15 Chinese agriculture experts were part of the Tripartite Agreement on South to South Cooperation (SSC) entered into between Namibia, China and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on June 2014. Under the agreement, China deployed 15 experts from various agricultural fields, who for the past two years provided technical assistance to Namibia's irrigation projects, veterinary laboratories and research stations. John Mutorwa, minister of Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), said the ministry also hosted a debriefing meeting on the project Wednesday in the presence of delegates from FAO and the Chinese embassy as the first phase of the SSC that was implemented under the agreement is nearing completion on Apr. 30. At the event, Chinese Charge d'affaires ad interim, Li Na said, during the past two years, the MAWF and FAO provided a very comfortable environment and sufficient facilities to secure a better living and working conditions for the Chinese experts. "The SSC tripartite agreement sets a new and efficient cooperation between our two countries. I believe that under the frame of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, our partnerships in various fields, including agriculture, will surely be well promoted," he said. FAO Country Representative Babagana Ahmadu said the SSC project in Namibia achieved significant success in terms of complementing government's efforts of increasing agricultural production. According to Ahmadu, through the SSC project, rice yields at Kalimbeza increased with more than 10 percent and that 15 new Chinese rice varieties and one foxtail millet variety are under trial to determine their adaptability. "About 400 Namibian farmers and government officials have been trained in rice, foxtail millet and horticulture production," he added. Meanwhile Mutorwa said that the SSC was successfully implemented and has achieved its objectives. "The 15 experts that were deployed to Namibia under this agreement have done an excellent job and we are indeed satisfied with their work performance." Enditem by Xinhua writers Liu Xinyong, Zheng Xin BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A new central document on natural areas in need of protection demonstrates China's desire for environmental progress. Demarcation of the exact boundaries of natural areas with important ecological functions will be completed by the end of 2020, according to the document released Tuesday by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. The regions include those important to water and soil conservation, biodiversity, wind-breaking and sand fixation, as well as ecologically fragile zones prone to soil erosion, desertification and salinization. Functions and acreage will be maintained, and their protected status will remain in place indefinitely, the document reads, describing the strategy as a "lifeline guaranteeing ecological security." EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT The Chinese phrase "hongxian" (red line) is frequently used in China to describe a limit that should not be crossed. In 2005, Guangdong Province used the phrase to demarcate areas for protection in a document on the environment of the Pearl River Delta. "The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) started to explore the environmental red line scheme in 2012," said Lu Jun, deputy head of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning. A document on overall reform released in November 2013 listed "drawing up the environmental red line" as a major task. Clear definition of the red line in environmental protection was given in the Environmental Protection Law that was amended in 2014 and went into force in 2015. To guide local governments in drawing the red line, the MEP compiled a handbook in 2015, without setting any timetable. EXISTING LOCAL PRACTICES Most provincial level regions have already started the work. Ten provinces, including eastern China's Jiangsu and Jiangxi, have already published their plans. Qiangyuan District of Ji'an city, Jiangxi Province, has put about 23 percent of its total area within the red line. The most stringent controls will be implemented in the restricted area and no project unrelated to environment protection will be allowed, said Wang Zhaorong, deputy head of the local environment protection bureau. In the environment versus economy trade-off, Zixi County in Jiangxi made a similar decision, saying no to some 100 industrial projects involving total investment of more than 30 billion yuan (4.4 billion U.S. dollars) during the last three years. With fiscal revenue of a mere 600 million yuan, Zixi is determined not to pursue growth at the cost of its environment. FUTURE PROSPECTS At present, China has more than 10,000 protected natural areas covering about 18 percent of the country, including nature reserves, forests, geological parks and drinking water sources. Those areas are frequently used for other purposes, causing some severe environmental degradation. As current boundaries are unclear and ineffectively managed, specifying the exact boundaries and reinforcing supervision are crucial to the security of China's environment. Lu Jun compared the environmental scheme to a similar approach in protecting arable land. The country will retain a minimum of some 1.2 million square kilometers of arable land regardless of other land use requirements. Drawing up a clear line for natural space is only the first step in effective management. The new guidelines asked Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, and regions along the Yangtze River Economic Belt to draw up their red line by the end of 2017, while other areas should complete the task before the end of 2018. By the end of 2020, the demarcation of the border and calibration of the protected regions should be completed and the fundamentals of an environmental protection red line system will be established. By 2030, the red line strategy will be firmly in place, the environmental function of the areas defined and national environmental security guaranteed, according to the document. Local government officials will be held accountable for violations of the red line policy and damage to the environment. Related: China to complete drawing ecological "red line" by 2020 BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The central authorities Tuesday issued guidelines on an ecological "red line" that will declare certain regions under mandatory and rigorous protection. Zhang Dejiang (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), speaks while presiding over a seminar on the annual NPC Standing Committee report for deputies in Beijing, held in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 8, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Wednesday demanded improvements to the quality of legislation passed by the legislature. Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks when presiding over a seminar on the annual NPC Standing Committee report for deputies in Beijing. A total of 10 NPC deputies expressed their opinions on the report and the work of the NPC, concluding that the NPC Standing Committee exercised its duties earnestly in the past year and had many achievements. Zhang said efforts should be made to give more play to deputies and clear the channels of opinion to take the work of the NPC to a higher level. Deputies present proposed better supervision of local government debt, new legislation on national defense and better implementation of laws on cultural activities. The opinions and suggestions offered by the deputies should be studied carefully, Zhang said. He stressed the NPC and its Standing Committee should uphold the authority of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core with concrete actions. Efforts should be made to ensure the policies and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee will be effectively implemented in the NPC work, and to greet the 19th National Congress of the CPC with outstanding achievements, Zhang said. He called for upholding the notion of people-centric development, solving outstanding issues that concern deputies and the people, and increasing the people's sense of gain. Zhang said he hoped that the NPC deputies could grasp the sentiments of the people and pool their wisdom. The fifth annual session of the 12th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, will open on March 5 in Beijing. ISTANBUL, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 497 earthquakes, mostly minor ones, have stricken Turkey's northwestern province of Canakkale over the past three days, forcing relief agencies to set up container shelters in the region, local media reported on Wednesday. The first wave of the tremors was recorded early Monday morning at Ayvacik district with a magnitude of 5.3, which left 8 people with minor injuries, according to the Canakkale governor's office. The aftershocks, however, damaged some 300 houses, forcing local residents to live in tents established by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority and the Turkish Red Crescent, press reports said. As the quakes continued to rock the region on Wednesday, the two relief agencies decided to set up container shelters and move in the victims before sunset to better protect them from cold weather, according to CNNTurk. Meanwhile, Mehmet Ozhaseki, Turkey's environment and urbanization minister, cautioned that some 42 percent of the country's territory is on active fault lines. "We need to act keeping this reality in mind," Ozhaseki was quoted as saying by the Hurriyet daily. "We should build safe buildings on stable bases." A total of 605 people were killed in November 2011, when a 7.2-magnitude tremor hit the eastern part of Turkey. Another two powerful quakes, measuring 7.4 and 7.2 magnitudes respectively, claimed some 18,000 lives in Turkey in 1999. Enditem KIEV, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A key commander of independence-seeking insurgents was killed early Wednesday in an explosion in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, local media reported. Mikhail Tolstykh, 36, nicknamed Givi, was killed at around 6:12 a.m. local time (0412 GMT) by a blast in his office, said the insurgent-run DAN news agency, citing the rebel operational command. Preliminary investigation showed the explosion was caused by a rocket-propelled flame thrower, the Bumblebee, the agency said. The insurgent operational command has blamed Kiev for the attack, saying that Givi's death was "in the interest of the Ukrainian special forces." Yuriy Tandyt, the aid to the head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), said later that the SBU does not have enough information to confirm or deny the death of the rebel commander, because the incident happened in an area that is beyond Kiev's control. Tolstykh commanded the insurgent battalion called Somali that took part in major battles against government troops in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The tensions in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions worsened last week as fierce fighting erupted between government troops and pro-independence insurgents in the Kiev-controlled Avdeevka town, resulting in dozens of combatant and civilian casualties. LUSAKA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and Algeria on Wednesday reiterated commitments to enhance cooperation in various fields. Harry Kalaba, Zambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal made the commitments during talks held in Algiers, the Algerian capital. The Zambian minister said his government was grateful to the Algerian government for its continued support, adding that the support signifies the strong ties that exist between the two countries, according to a statement released by his ministry. The Zambian minister, who is on a state visit to Algeria said he had been sent by his government to discuss other possible areas of cooperation especially in the field of agriculture. Zambia, he added, was grateful to the Algerian government for supporting over 150 Zambians studying at various universities in that country on Algerian scholarships. On his part, the Algerian premier said his government has invited Zambian President Edgar Lungu for a state visit later this year to signify the importance of the relationship between the two countries. The visit will coincide with the hosting of the Zambia-Algeria Joint Permanent Commission which will result in the signing of various agreements of cooperation, he added. Enditem JERUSALEM, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian organizations petitioned Wednesday Israel's top court against a law legalizing thousands of settler homes built on private Palestinian lands, in a first challenge to the internationally condemned law. The coalition, composed of 17 organizations including local Palestinian councils and civic organizations from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, collaborated with Adalah, an Israel-based Arab legal rights group, and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, submitted the petition. The petition asks the Supreme Court to block the law, which the parliament passed on Monday night. Under the new legislation, about 3,850 housing units in dozens of outposts built illegally on privately owned Palestinian lands would be retroactively legalized. The State of Israel would seize the lands, offering compensations or alternative land to the landowners, even if they do not agree to waive their property. The outposts were erected by ultra-right settlers without permits from the Israeli authorities, but the government often turned a blind eye to their construction. There are additional 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. Israeli media widely regarded the law as expected to be canceled by the Supreme Court, if challenged, as legal experts deemed it unconstitutional. NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Wildlife experts on Wednesday called for the expansion of conservancies in Kenya in order to enlarge wildlife habitats. Dickson Ole Kaelo, CEO of Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), told a wildlife forum in Nairobi that the country's national parks are currently congested with wildlife animals, forcing some of them out of protected areas. "The idea is to expand conservancies to include all areas where we have wildlife as conservancies are ideal habitats for wildlife. They tend to have less predators than the parks," Kaelo said during a conference on the Building Capacity in the management of the wildlife-livestock interface. The day-long event brought experts to discuss ways to improve Kenya's wildlife management. Government data indicates about 30 percent of wildlife resides in national parks. The rest live in conservancies, private and community land. KWCA said that there are currently 155 wildlife conservancies in Kenya which sit on 4.2 million hectares of land. Kaelo said that conservancies create space and institutions. He noted that conservancies also help to complement national parks because they create the same conditions which exist in national parks. "In fact during the breeding time, some wildlife species prefer to move out from the national parks and go to the conservancies," he said. Kaelo added that the density of lions is higher in conservancies surrounding the Masai Mara wildlife park compared to the park itself. Kenya national parks were created to protect wildlife such as rhinos, hippos and elephants that are sensitive to humans. "These animals need environments with tall grass and where they don't freely interact with humans," Kaelo said. According to KWCA, livestock could also be used to manage wildlife in national parks. He added that livestock and wildlife eat different species of vegetation and hence promote balance in the national parks ecosystem. Enditem CHENGDU, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese archaeologists said Wednesday they have unearthed a large cluster of boat coffin tombs dating back 2,200 years that will shed light on ancient indigenous culture. The tomb cluster was discovered at a construction site in Feihu Village, Pujiang County in southwest China's Sichuan Province in September last year. It covers an area of 10,000 square meters and has 60 tombs in four rows. As of mid-January, workers with Chengdu Cultural Relics and Archeology Institute have excavated 47 tombs, said the institute Wednesday. The tombs date back to the late Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC) and the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). The boat-shaped coffins are four to seven meters long and made of nanmu, a rare wood. The cluster belonged to the indigenous Shu culture and contains elements of the Chu and Qin cultures. Pujiang County was part of the Shu Kingdom, which has no written record of its history. Workers have dug up more than 300 pieces of pottery, bronze, iron and bamboo as well as weapons, coins and 11 seals, said Gong Yangmin, head of the excavation team. Two excavated tombs were well preserved, said Gong. In one, workers discovered ten bamboo baskets of well-preserved grain and a delicate string of glass beads on the waist of the tomb owner, showing his high status. "Glass beads like dragonfly eyes were exotic at the time. They were probably imported via the Silk Road," said Gong. As there are ruins of salt wells nearby, the tomb owners were possibly salt administration officials, according to archeologists. Boat coffins have been found in Pujiang seven times. Construction work at the site has been suspended and the county government plans to build a museum there. An Iraqi soldier inspects the debris on January 22, 2017 at St. George's Monastery (Mar Gurguis), a historical Chaldean Catholic church on the northern outskirt of Mosul, which was destroyed by Islamic State (IS) group in 2015. (AFP/Xinhua) TIKRIT, Iraq, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi government forces repelled an attack by extremist Islamic State (IS) group militants on Wednesday against military posts in Iraq's Salahudin province, a provincial security source told Xinhua. The incident occurred after midnight when dozens of IS militants attacked the posts of the government-backed Hashd Shaabi paramilitary units in the rugged area by the mountain of Himreen, sparking heavy clashes, the source said on condition of anonymity. Reinforcement troops from the Iraqi army and police backed by army helicopters arrived early in the morning to the scene, forcing IS attackers to withdraw back into their hideouts in the area, said the source. The battles resulted in the death of at least two paramilitaries and five others were wounded, along with the destruction of the homes of nine shepherds, the source added. Ahmed al-Jubouri, Salahudin province governor, warned on Monday in a statement of a potential security setback with increased attacks by IS militants against civilians and provincial security forces, using the Mteibijah rugged area in the east of the province as a launching pad. "The towns of Dour, Alam and Samarra witnessed almost daily attacks by Daesh, killing and wounding numerous civilians and security members, in addition to burning homes and destroying power transmission lines," Jubouri said. Salahudin ground forces are incapable of repelling IS attacks given their large numbers in the vast rugged area of the eastern part of the province, Jubouri said. He said that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, must take "swift and decisive action" to reclaim control of the province's eastern areas. In Oct. 2016, security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi paramilitary units undertook an operation to regain the IS's main bastion in Mteibijah, 100 km southeast of Salahudin's provincial capital of Tikrit. The Mteibijah operation targeted reclaiming control of the entire area, where hundreds of IS militants hid, in order to prevent their attacks against civilian and military targets in the neighboring provinces of Salahudin and Diyala. However, security forces only regained control of parts of the rugged sprawling areas in the predominately Sunni Arab province of Salahudin. IS attacks against the province came as Iraqi security forces, backed by an anti-IS international coalition, carried out a major offensive to drive IS militants out of their last major stronghold in and around Mosul, 400 km north of Bagdad. Abu Ayman al-Zeidalani looks out from behind a washing line in a destroyed building in the rebel-held town of Saqba where he and his family are taking shelter after fleeing their home in the Eastern Ghouta area due to the battles between government forces and rebels on February 6, 2017. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Wednesday that the situation in the country is moving in a way desired by Damascus and Moscow, according to state news agency SANA. The president made the remarks during his meeting Wednesday with a delegation of the Russian Duma, during which the president praised the Russian stances and "sacrifices" made during the war on terror in Syria. He underscored the importance of the Russian role, whether in Syria or on the international arena, "in the face of the Western schemes which aim to dominate the sovereign and independent countries fighting for the interests of its people." Assad also stressed that his government is determined to defend Syria and to move forward in the efforts of establishing reconciliations, "because it's the most effective way toward ending the war and reaching a peaceful solution." The Russian delegation members stressed their country's support to Syria in the war on terror, and to render the needed humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country. Russia stepped into the Syrian conflict to aid the Syrian government forces in September 2015, succeeding to prop up the forces of President Assad in the face of tens of rebel groups, most of which are backed by the Western and regional countries. Moscow has also succeeded to make alliance with Turkey regarding the war on the terrorist groups in Syria, mainly the Islamic State (IS) group, and recently managed to jointly broker a ceasefire with Turkey in Syria that went into force on Dec. 30. Several breaches were reported, but the truce was highly valued as a way toward reaching a political solution to the long-standing conflict. MANILA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Philippine academics and analysts lauded on Wednesday the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to pursue an independent foreign policy by standing up and declaring that the Philippines should cease from being America's "proxy nation". In a forum to assess Duterte's foreign policy, the analysts and scholars stressed the need to review the Mutual Defense Treaty that the U.S. and the Philippines signed in 1951 and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that Washington and Manila inked in 2014. Retired Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, an author, said that EDCA promotes the national interest of the U.S. in the region. Former Senator Francisco Tatad, for his part, said that the Philippines should have re-negotiated the 1951 treaty as the treaty, which was crafted during the Cold War has become irrelevant under the post-Cold War era. Political analyst and author Adolfo Paglinawan said EDCA is a "forward deployment of the U.S. pivot of its military presence to the Asia-Pacific," making the Philippines a proxy nation. "EDCA was precisely the U.S.'s way of extending the legitimacy of its presence in our neck of woods, because first it has no business being around in our region that is more than 200 miles away for its nearest shores," he said. In the same forum, Paglinawan also reputed the statement of university professor Renato de Castro who cited a survey of the Pulse Asia Research Inc. released on Jan. 27 that "there is disconnect between the administration's effort to come out with an independent foreign policy vis-a-vis the sentiment of the Filipino people." "However, what seems to be the only disconnect is in the survey itself," Paglinawan said, adding that De Castro was biased in his interpretation of the nationwide survey that out of 1,200 adults, 84 percent agreed that the county should uphold its rights in the disputed region in the South China Sea. Paglinawan pointed out that the same Pulse Asia poll also asked respondents whether "the Philippines should explore security or defense cooperation with China and Russian than the United States" and it found 47 percent (12 percent "very much agree," 35 percent "agree") of Filipinos are open with pivoting diplomatic ties to China and Russia, with 34 percent undecided and only 18 percent disagreeing. Paglinawan said De Castro was using a survey commissioned by a private think tank being ran by former Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, who is known to be a pro-American diplomat. He initiated to bring the sea dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in the Hague, which is neither permanent nor a court at all and has nothing to do with the United Nations. Clearly, Paglinawan said that De Castro deliberately committed some facts to defend the so-called "rules-based" foreign policy of the former Aquino administration that eschewed the Philippine position to support its subservience to American interest in pushing for EDCA. BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF) sold a portion of its stake for a large profit and played a significant role in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Detsky Mir, the leading children's goods retailer in Russia, according to a press release on Wednesday. The IPO is the first exit from an investment for RCIF, established by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the China Investment Corporation, according to RCIF's release emailed to Xinhua. The release quoted Kirill Dmitriev, co-CEO of RCIF and CEO of RDIF, as saying that the IPO of Detsky Mir is a landmark transaction for the Russian market. "Detsky Mir is an example of a fast-growing Russian company, which demonstrates impressive results and its growth will accelerate alongside the resumption of growth in the Russian economy," said Dmitriev. The success of this deal confirms strong demand from international investors for public placements of top quality Russian companies. It has also opened the door for other Russian issuers looking at public markets, Dmitriev added. Hu Bing, co-CEO of RCIF, said that RCIF remains the largest minority shareholder of Detsky Mir, whose IPO was an important event for the Russian equity market and revealed the high interest of foreign investors in Russian assets. The investment in Detsky Mir is also an important success story for Chinese investors working in Russia and interested in investments in the country, Hu said. "We intend to further implement successful projects and investment in Russia," Hu added. Through the sale, RCIF has achieved a significant exit yield on an investment and has contributed to the increased liquidity of Detsky Mir's shares for new shareholders, according to the release. Fire fighting vehicles are seen at the accident site in Tongling, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 8, 2017. An explosion rocked a chemical plant in Tongling City of east China's Anhui Province on Wednesday night, local authorities said. Casualties are unknown. The accident happened at around 10:40 p.m. in a suburb area, according to Tongling's fire department. The fire has been bought under control. (Xinhua) HEFEI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two people were slightly injured in a boiler explosion at a chemical plant in Tongling City of east China's Anhui Province on Wednesday night, local authorities said. The two suffered minor cut from glass fragments and were sent to hospital for treatment. The accident happened at around 10:50 p.m. in a suburb area, according to Tongling's fire department. The fire had been bought under control. Video footage on microblog Sina Weibo showed huge fire, and heavy smoke billowed into the sky. Preliminary investigation showed the explosion was caused by fuel oil burning, and no dangerous chemical products were involved, said Zou He, director of the public security bureau of Tongling. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo speaks after winning the vote in Mogadishu, Somalia, Feb. 8, 2017. Former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was elected new president of Somalia in a tightly contested polls held in Mogadishu on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei) MOGADISHU, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former Prime Minster Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was elected the new president of Somalia after the incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded his defeat after two rounds of voting. Farmajo garnered 184 votes against his closest contender Mohamud who got 97 votes in the second round to emerge as winner. The third candidate, former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, got 45 votes. Farmajo, a former prime minister in Somalia's transitional federal government between 2009 and 2010, thanked the electoral teams and organizers of the election for the success of the process. The former PM and university professor fought off a tough fight which featured 21 candidates vying for the next occupant of Villa Somalia in the next four years. Farmajo who holds a U.S. passport got his Master's degree in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and subsequently worked in New York State, including at the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, the Erie County Division of Equal Employment Opportunity, and the New York State Department of Transportation. He was appointed prime minister in 2009 by then president Ahmed to succeed current Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who resigned from his post following a dispute. He however had a short stint as prime minister before he was forced out in UN-sponsored talks in Kampala, Uganda following a rift between President Ahmed and the Speaker of Parliament. In 2011, Farmajo founded a new political party, the Somali Justice and Equality Party, also known as Tayo where he served to date as secretary general. Ahmed al-Sayyid al-Naggar, the board chairman of Egypt's largest state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, receives an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 5, 2017. China provides a world model for a peaceful big power with positive, comprehensive reforms and a ruling party that has come from the people, said the board chairman of Egypt's largest state-run Al-Ahram newspaper in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China provides a world model for a peaceful big power with positive, comprehensive reforms and a ruling party that has come from the people, said the board chairman of Egypt's largest state-run Al-Ahram newspaper in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. Ahmed al-Sayyid al-Naggar, CEO of Al-Ahram Foundation, expressed appreciation of the Chinese efforts in environmental improvement, anti-corruption crackdown and military upgrade as key positive measures in China's long-term reform. "Economically and politically, China is already an international big power. Its long-term anti-corruption model already provides a positive image complementary of its very positive economic and political image," said Al-Ahram chief. As a frequent visitor of Beijing, Naggar sometimes noted heavy pollution in the Chinese capital city, yet he pointed out that "China has already cultivated several forests, which signals keenness to restore tree crown cover that improves environment." As for Chinese military reform, President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has been urging the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to transform into a "mighty, modernized, new-style" military force based on technology rather than number of troops. "The upgrade of China's military force to make it smaller yet more efficient is a very positive step to reduce spending and still maintain the Chinese military at highest level of readiness, professionalism and advancement to protect the country against any possible aggression," Al-Ahram CEO told Xinhua. Naggar continued that even during the Cold War, China as a peaceful power was not dragged into the idea of armament race and it only established sufficient weapons to protect its territories. "China made all advanced weapons like other powers, but it was not dragged into the race of numbers," he explained. In early March, China is scheduled to hold its "two sessions": The fifth annual session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, and the fifth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body. "Unlike many ruling parties made by governments, the Communist Party of China (CPC) rose from the people until it came to power. Such meetings, like the 'two sessions' coming in March, help the ruling party strongly convey the voices of the people," said Naggar. He added that the CPC is based on collective rather than individual work as well as equal votes. "So, China's political system provides a model for collective leadership." Al-Ahram top man stressed that through the party meetings the main topics, policies, developments and amendments raised for discussions by the NPC and the CPPCC "show the benefit of collective thinking rather than individualism." In 2013, President Xi proposed "the Belt and Road initiative" that seeks to revive ancient trade routes to link China with countries in Asia, Africa and Europe through the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Naggar, also one of Egypt's renowned economists, said that President Xi wanted through the initiative to present "a unique model to the world for running international relations in a peaceful manner." "The initiative is not a mere reproduction of the ancient Silk Road. It's a reproduction of the symbolic value of the ancient trade route," he added, noting it aims to restore peaceful, fair and balanced economic cooperation regardless of military power. "So, President Xi presents China's model for international relations based on peacefulness, contrary to the European and American one based on hegemony over developing states and their markets, which is no longer acceptable," Naggar said. He believes that in order to complete this reform, the Belt and Road initiative should move from a moral initiative of good will to "an institution" gathering the concerned states, creating favorable relations among them and allowing their local currencies to be used in their mutual trade. "Among this Silk Road region, the Chinese yuan is expected to be the most powerful currency, which is already included in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," Naggar said. The Egyptian official hailed China as the world's number one exporter of high-tech products, arguing that although some of them are made by Western firms operating in China, the country has its own technological products. "For example, our Al-Ahram is planning to establish several paper factories in Egypt and we found that the best technology for making paper out of agricultural wastes is purely a Chinese one. So, Al-Ahram is about to finalize a contract with a Chinese company to get this technology," Naggar told Xinhua. He explained that China is "a real friend" to the Arab world as it never voted against Arab rights and always supported Arab causes, and this is why the Arab world prefers China in making business deals on the basis of mutual interest. As for China's relations with Egypt, Naggar said that he read a lot about Chinese literature since he was young and he found many aspects in common between the Chinese people and those of other ancient civilizations like the Egyptian people. "China is the only country visited three times by Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Also, President Xi's visit to Egypt last year was highly appreciated by both the Egyptian leadership and people," said Al-Ahram CEO. He continued that the Egyptian and Chinese resources are exceptionally harmonious, citing that Egypt is a tourism destination while China is the world's largest tourism exporter and the Chinese yuan has become acceptable in the Egyptian tourism market. "Also, the Chinese investments in Egypt are so limited compared to those of China around the world. So, we hope for more Chinese visitors to Egypt and more Chinese investments in Egypt while China remains Egypt's number one source of imported commodities," Naggar told Xinhua. MOGADISHU, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has been elected the new president of Somalia after the incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded defeat after two rounds of voting. Farmajo was born in 1962 in Mogadishu to a family originally from Gedo in south-western Somalia. He got his primary and secondary education in Mogadishu before starting his first job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Somalia. Between 1985 and 1989 he served as the first secretary at the Somali embassy in Washington DC. In 1989, he left to pursue a bachelor's degree in history at the University of Buffalo in New York. During this time, Farmajo applied for political asylum in the United States after the Somali government collapsed in 1991. He continued his studies at the University of Buffalo and obtained a master's degree in political sciences and international relations. Upon acquiring American citizenship, he went on to hold several jobs in New York state, including at the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, the Erie County Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and the New York State Department of Transportation. President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed appointed Farmajo as prime minister in October 2010 to succeed Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who resigned from his post following a dispute. Farmajo resigned from this post in June 2011 under pressure from the international community as part of the Kampala Accord between President Ahmed and the Speaker of Parliament, during which the mandate of the transitional institutions was extended to August 20, 2012. In 2011, Farmajo founded a new political party, the Somali Justice and Equality Party, also known as Tayo. Farmajo is currently the secretary general of Tayo party, which is chaired by Mariam Qasim, his former minister of women's affairs. Tayo is the first Somali political party headed by a woman. Enditem DUBAI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- An aviation industry expert said here on Wednesday that the global focus of the aviation industry will shift significantly to the East in the next decade which will have major implications for the airline maintenance, repair and operations (MRO). Speaking on the first day of the 9th edition of the annual MRO Middle East, David Stewart, managing partner at U.S. consultancy Oliver Wyman, said that as the North American and Western European markets continue to undergo significant cost reduction efforts and tightly control capacity, there will be a continuing shift to the East in aircraft maintenance. Stewart said there are 7,491 civil aircrafts in service in the United States and 2,460 in China, "however, the projection is that by 2026, the Chinese aircrafts in service will double to 5,771 units, while those in the U.S. are expected to rise slight to 8,067." Therefore, Asia, China in particular, will drive future demand for MRO services, he said. The growing demand and competition in Asia has motivated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national carrier Etihad Airways to enter into an MRO and catering agreement with Germany's biggest carrier Lufthansa on Feb. 1. The catering deal alone is worth 100 million U.S. dollars. GENEVA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) and humanitarian partners launched an international appeal on Wednesday for 2.1 billion U.S. dollars to provide life-saving assistance to 12 million people in Yemen in 2017. This has been the largest consolidated humanitarian appeal for the country ever launched. Stephen O'Brien, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said that without international support, the Yemen people may face the threat of famine in the course of 2017. "Two years of war have devastated Yemen and millions of children, women and men desperately need our help, I urge donors to sustain and increase their support to our collective response," he said. Since March 2015, violent conflict and disregard by all parties to the conflict for their responsibility to protect civilians have created a vast protection crisis in Yemen and millions of people face threats to their safety and basic human rights every day. Latest UN figures showed that deliberate war tactics are accelerating the collapse of key institutions and the economy, thereby leaving some 18.8 million people, more than two thirds of the population, in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 10.3 million people are acutely affected and need some form of immediate humanitarian assistance to save and sustain their lives including food, health and medical services, clean water, sanitation and protection, according to UN figures. Nearly 3.3 million people, including 2.1 million children, are acutely malnourished while 2 million people remain internally displaced. HARARE Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former Zimbabwean Vice President Joice Mujuru on Wednesday fired several founding members of her opposition party, accusing them of being agents of the ruling Zanu-PF party. Mujuru was fired by President Robert Mugabe in 2014 on charges of trying to topple him. Several of her allies were also later expelled from the party. The former VP together with the sacked officials went on to form the Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party in 2016 to challenge Mugabe's party in the 2018 elections. Among the seven fired by Mujuru are former Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and former Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa. Mutasa once served as state security minister in Mugabe's government. Mujuru said more heads were going to roll in the fledgling party to cleanse it of unwanted elements. "As a party, we have decided to take stern measures against elements determined to stall the progress that the party has been making," Mujuru said. Her party last month contested in a by-election and lost to Zanu-PF, the first election that the party contested in since formation. Mujuru is a former liberation fighter who joined cabinet at independence in 1980 as the youngest member. She held several cabinet posts until her promotion to VP in 2004, a position she held until she was fired from Zanu-PF. Enditem TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia's Bukhary International Ventures (BIV) on Wednesday to carry out studies on Iran's Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields, Iran's Petro-Energy network reported. The recovery of natural gas and its transfer to onshore facilities will be studied by BIV, said Gholamreza Manouchehri, NIOC's deputy of development and engineering, who signed the deal on behalf of his company. BIV will submit the result of its studies to NIOC over the fields within a period of seven months as put in the deal. Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields are the NIOC's recent discoveries, located respectively about 65 km and 85 km offshore the Persian Gulf. GENEVA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), William Lacy Swing, condemned on Wednesday the latest attack in Afghanistan that left six staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) dead. "I unequivocally condemn the cowardly and murderous attack on our ICRC colleagues in Afghanistan, who were shot and killed while delivering humanitarian aid," he said in a statement issued Wednesday. "It is an absolute and shocking tragedy that humanitarians should have their lives cruelly cut short, while they themselves are saving lives," he said, adding that all of IOM staff would stand beside their ICRC colleagues. According to the ICRC, its team, which was composed of three drivers and five field officers, were on its way to deliver much-needed livestock materials in an area south of the town of Shibergan in Jawzan province and was attacked by unknown armed men earlier on Wednesday. President of the ICRC, Peter Maurer, said in a statement: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms what appears to be a deliberate attack on our staff. This is a huge tragedy. We're in shock." It is not yet clear who carried out the attack or why, the ICRC said. MEXICO CITY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray is to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's cabinet members in Washington on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations, the ministry said in a statement on Wdnesday. "This visit continues the dialogue and communication that the presidents of both countries agreed to in recent days," said the statement. Videgaray is to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of National Security John Kelly on "topics of the bilateral agenda billed as a priority by President Enrique Pena Nieto," including protecting the rights of Mexican immigrants in the U.S., migration, border security and infrastructure. The term "border infrastructure" is taken to mean the controversial wall Trump wants to build along the shared border of the two countries. Mexico is against the wall and has refused to pay for the project as requested by Trump. It remains to be seen what mechanism the U.S. will put in place to recoup the expense. Hours prior to the meetings, Trump told an audience of law enforcement officials "the wall is getting designed right now," and promised it would be a "great wall." Trump said the wall is needed to prevent illicit drugs and illegal migrants from crossing into the country. For that reason, Pena Nieto cancelled a scheduled meeting with Trump on Jan. 31, and bilateral ties got tense since then. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and humanitarian partners on Wednesday launched an international appeal for 2.1 billion U.S. dollars to provide life-saving assistance to 12 million people in Yemen in 2017. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily news briefing here that "this is the largest consolidated humanitarian appeal for Yemen ever launched." Meanwhile, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said while launching the plan in Geneva that Yemenis might face the threat of famine in the course of 2017 without international support, according to Dujarric. At present, some 18.8 million people - more than two thirds of Yemenis- are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 10.3 million people are acutely affected and need immediate humanitarian assistance to save and sustain their lives. Nearly 3.3 million people - including 2.1 million children - are acutely malnourished while 2 million people remain internally displaced. Last year, UN agencies and partners assisted more than 5.6 million Yeminis with direct humanitarian aid. DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian cabinet minister said Wednesday four countries sharing Lake Tanganyika Basin will next week discuss a joint exploration of oil and gas in the world's second deepest lake. Sospeter Muhongo, the East African nation's Minister for Energy and Minerals, told Parliament in the political capital Dodoma that the meeting will be held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). "There are traces of oil and gas in the lake and the meeting is aimed at harmonizing exploration efforts and avoid conflicts over the resources," Muhongo said. He said the meeting will take place in the DRC's lake town of Kalemi and Tanzania will be represented by Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Medard Kalemani. Lake Tanganyika is jointly shared by Tanzania, DRC, Zambia and Burundi. In October 2016, Tanzania and DRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint oil and gas exploration in and along Lake Tanganyika. Tanzanian President John Magufuli said the MoU was another milestone in the bilateral ties between the two countries, saying that it was through such deals that African countries can tap and make use of their economic potentials. Enditem OTTAWA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced here Wednesday he will visit the European Parliament and Germany on February 16-17. Trudeau is invited by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. It will be the first time for a sitting Canadian prime minister to addresses the full European Parliament. Earlier in the day, Trudeau talked with Antonio Tajani by phone, and both affirmed their desire to further strengthen the relationship between Canada and the European Union, according to the Canadian Prime Minister's Office. They also reiterated their commitment to ratifying and implementing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as quickly as possible for the mutual benefit of both Canada and the EU. "CETA is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the European Union. CETA sets a high standard for free trade agreements of the future. It will benefit Canada and the European Union by opening new markets and creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers on both sides of the Atlantic," said Trudeau in his announcement. Trudeau will then pay an official visit to Germany and meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel on key foreign policy and commercial priorities for both countries. "Germany is an important friend and ally, and I look forward to meeting with Chancellor Merkel to further strengthen this relationship. Our two countries enjoy robust commercial ties that cover trade, investment, science, technology and innovation, and we are always open to new ways to expand this relationship and grow the middle class in both our countries," added the prime minister. CETA was signed at the Canada-EU Summit in Brussels last October. The EU is Canada's second largest trading partner. Germany is an important trade and investment partner for Canada. In 2016, the bilateral trade hit more than 21 billion Canadian dollars (about 16 billion U.S.dollars). Germany is also one of the top ten foreign investors in Canada. Donald Trump (L) and his daughter Ivanka Trump take the stage on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States, July 21, 2016. New York billionaire Donald Trump officially accepted the presidential nomination of the U.S. Republican Party Thursday night on the final day of the Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday railed against department store chain Nordstrom over its decision to stop selling his daughter Ivanka Trump's clothing and accessory line. The retailer said last week that it won't purchase products from the Ivanka Trump line this fall, based on the brand's performance. "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Trump tweeted via his private Twitter account, which reaches 24.2 million followers. Trump also retweeted his tweet on his official @POTUS account, which has 15.1 million followers. The tweet was retweeted by 14,000 times in three hours and evoked thousands of replies, among which many followers voiced concerns that the U.S. president abused his power to benefit his family. Nordstrom, which has about 350 stores in the United States and Canada, can't be reached for an immediate comment. Stock of the Seattle-based retailer took a brief fall after the Twitter criticism, from 42.69 U.S. dollars per share at 10:50 a.m. to 42.50 at 10:55 a.m. The shares, however, regained ground in early afternoon trading, in contrast with other companies Trump has criticised on Twitter, including Lockheed, Boeing and Ford. Ivanka Trump, daughter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, takes the stage on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States, July 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) The White House defended Trump's criticism of Nordstrom. "I think this was less than his family's business than an attack on his daughter," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing. Nordstrom is among one of dozens of retailers that faced boycott calls for selling Trump products or doing business with his family. A social media campaign called "Grab Your Wallet" started in October following the revelation of a tape that showed Trump making lewd comments about women. The photo shows a display area of Ivanka Trump brand in Lord & Taylor in New York on Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaojun) Ivanka, Trump's eldest daughter, has said she would take a leave of absence from her clothing business as well as the Trump organization. She has moved to Washington along with her husband, Jared Kushner, who was appointed to the position of senior adviser to the president despite worries of nepotism. JERUSALEM, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Four rockets were fired from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula towards Eilat in southern Israel, setting off sirens in the quiet resort city on Wednesday night. According to the military, Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted three rockets, and a fourth rocket exploded in an open field. No injuries or damages were reported. No organization immediately claimed responsibility for the barrage. In 2014, Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, a Salafi jihadist group in Sinai, fired several rockets at Eilat in two separate incidents. Shortly earlier, Israel's military said it struck a Syrian army post in response to a projectile fired at the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. No injuries were reported from the tank round fire, which was presumably a spillover from the ongoing war in Syria, a military spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson said the army "targeted a post belonging to the Syrian regime in the northern Syrian Golan Heights." Errant fire from the nearly five-year fighting in Syria has occasionally been spilling over to Israel, usually causing no casualties or damage. Israel had repeatedly declared it would not intervene in the internal fighting in Syria but is widely believed to carry out airstrikes at weapons shipments and have been providing medical treatment to hundreds of wounded Syrians who reached the border. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (2nd L) tastes food made by refugees in Lisbon, Portugal, Feb. 8, 2017. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had a lunch with refugees in Lisbon on Wednesday, in a symbolic gesture to welcome refugees. Portugal has accepted to take in 10,000 refugees last year, though the number of refugees arriving here has been quite low. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) LISBON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had a lunch with refugees at Lisbon's Cozinha Popular da Mouraria on Wednesday, in a symbolic gesture to welcome refugees. At a time when "obstacles and walls are being created" and there are "limits of entry and exit of people", Portugal's stance is to open its arms to refugees, he told reporters before the lunch. "This is a small sign of what we think," he said. The lunch, made by five refugees from Iraq, Syria and Eritrea, was a "small gesture" worth more than "big declarations against those policies", the president said. Rebelo de Sousa said the country would always open its arms and naturally accept people, just as the Portuguese have been accepted around the world. Portugal has accepted to take in 10,000 refugees last year, though the number of refugees arriving here has been quite low. The country received until Wednesday 957 refugees under the EU relocation plan, according to figures released by the European Commission. A girl cries as she waits to be treated at a therapeutic feeding center in a hospital in Sanaa,Yemen, on Jan. 14, 2017. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that malnutrition among children in Yemen reaches an all-time high as nearly 2.2 million children in the war-torn country are acutely malnourished and require urgent care. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and humanitarian partners on Wednesday launched an international appeal for 2.1 billion U.S. dollars to provide life-saving assistance to 12 million people in Yemen in 2017. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily news briefing here that "this is the largest consolidated humanitarian appeal for Yemen ever launched." Meanwhile, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said while launching the plan in Geneva that Yemenis might face the threat of famine in the course of 2017 without international support, according to Dujarric. At present, some 18.8 million people - more than two thirds of Yemenis- are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 10.3 million people are acutely affected and need immediate humanitarian assistance to save and sustain their lives. Nearly 3.3 million people - including 2.1 million children - are acutely malnourished while 2 million people remain internally displaced. Last year, UN agencies and partners assisted more than 5.6 million Yeminis with direct humanitarian aid. HAVANA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cuba is looking to relaunch and attract foreign investment to its oil industry, particularly in offshore explorations and drilling, to reduce its dependence on oil imports, said a top official on Wednesday. "Almost half of the country's energy demands are covered by domestic production. Our main goal is to increase that percentage with the help of foreign companies in the near future," said Roberto Suarez, deputy general director of the island's Cuba Petrol Union (CUPET) at the opening of a business forum on the nation's oil and gas industry. Suarez said CUPET produces around 4 million tons of equivalent oil a year which is used mainly at old fuel electricity plants, while 97 percent of the island' s gas production is used for electricity generation and house consumption. The "Cuba Oil and Gas Summit 2017" is held until Friday with the presence of oil industry officials from 70 companies of 15 countries. The Cuban official stated the island hasn't made any major oil discoveries since 2002 and the state company has been able to maintain a stable production due to the constant optimization in the oil fields that are being exploited. "Our company's fundamental oil exploration activities lie along what we call the North Belt, which is the area where recent discoveries have been made," he added. This zone is about 200 kilometers long, east of Havana, up to the Hicacos Peninsula. "We' re open to foreign investment in the zone divided in 45 blocks in order to intensify shallow water and on shore explorations," he said. Australia's Melbana Energy Ltd, one of the few Western companies working in Cuba, said it identified potential oil reserves in Block 9 of this zone that combine for an estimated 8.2 billion barrels. The company's best estimate is that it could recover about 395 million of those barrels. Russia's oil giant, Rosneft, is also set to start studies and explorations in the area. The state-owned company is also looking for partners to introduce new technologies to its industry and continue deep-water exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. Experts indicated that this 112,000 kilometer area has estimated reserves equivalent to 22,000 million oil barrels. Since 1999, CUPET along with foreign companies have unsuccessfully tried four times to find oil this area and currently a fifth deep-water exploration attempt is about to start. Last December, Chinese company BGP started a series of marine seismic analysis to identify areas of potential deep-water exploration in Cuba's EEZ. Cuba's energy system has depended heavily since 2003 on subsidized oil from Venezuela, which reached about 120,000 barrels a day. However, the deep economic crisis in that South American nation has reduced the oil shipments to around 55,000 barrels a day and Cuba has to look for other alternatives. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Libya envoy Martin Kobler on Wednesday urged the Libyans to make 2017 "the year of decisions" and political breakthrough in implementing a political accord signed more than a year ago. "We are beginning to see an emerging consensus among parties. 2017 must be a year of decisions and political breakthrough," Martin Kobler, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said while briefing the UN Security Council on the current situation in Libya. "I am hopeful that with bold decisions and actions we will witness a political breakthrough that can place Libya on the path of peace, prosperity and stability," he said. Kobler noted that 2016 was spent seeking to implement the agreement and begin the re-establishment of state authority across the country. Despite some gains, "Libyans are not in a position to address the root causes of divisions," he said, adding that some important decisions must be taken, including on possible amendments to the political agreement, on ways to form a strong army and police force, and on how best to utilize the revenues from oil and gas exports for the benefit of all Libyans. On the security front, he said the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group, which one year ago was expanding its territory in Libya, now controls none. However, it still poses a threat and the fight against terrorism is far from over, he added. "The country's borders remain porous," he said. "Terrorists, human and weapons traffickers and criminal gangs continue to exploit the security vacuum." Meanwhile, the UN envoy also welcomed the initiative of the neighboring states to form a panel of experts to develop recommendations on improving regional border security. Turning to the economy and finance, he said despite its wealth and abundant natural resources, the country saw living conditions and public services deteriorate over the past years. However, oil production has increased to more than 700,000 barrels per day, and the 2017 budget has been agreed at 37.5 billion Libyan dinars (about 26 billion U.S. dollars). "This is an opportunity to address much-needed service delivery," in particular in the area of health, he said. In January, a workshop was held in Malta joined by Libyan experts and activists to establish a roadmap for national reconciliation, he noted. "A process is needed to heal the wounds of years of conflict and oppression." Since the uprising that toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the North African country has been struggling to make a political transition. CARACAS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday said oil exporting countries should meet to reach an agreement on how to protect oil prices. To that end, Maduro is calling for a summit of leaders from member states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as well as nonmembers. "I continue to propose, quite clearly, that the heads of state and government from all OPEC and non-OPEC countries must gather" to devise strategies to stabilize the world oil market, Maduro said during his regularly-scheduled radio program. Oil exporters recently agreed to a plan to cutback output, which served to raise prices, but Maduro wants a more long-term approach. The industry "cannot withstand another fall in prices," said Maduro, warning that would "lead to the bankruptcy of companies across the board, or push them to the brink of bankruptcy." Maduro's Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez and Minister of Oil and Mining Nelson Martinez are currently on a tour of oil-exporting nations to promote the summit, visiting Russia, Iran and Iraq, and landing in Kuwait on Wednesday. Venezuela's economy, which is very dependent on the revenues oil exports bring in, was devastated by the plummeting price of crude starting in 2014. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the launch of formal peace talks between the government of Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. In the talks with the second-largest opposition group, the Colombian government seeks an agreement similar to the one reached last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), to end a five decade-long conflict. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that resolving the conflict is essential to achieving a comprehensive peace in Colombia, to saving lives and to advancing sustainable development across the whole country. "The secretary-general takes note of the commitment of the parties to listen to the voices of the communities affected by the conflict," Dujarric said in a statement. The UN chief also commended Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Norway and Venezuela for their commitment as guarantors, as well as the other accompanying and supporting countries, it added. The Colombian government and the ELN began their official talks on Tuesday aiming at ending five decades of fighting. The ceremony was attended by representatives of countries backing the peace talks, including Norway, Chile, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela, with about 150 guests and some 60 international and national media outlets. The talks are buoyed by the fact that the Colombian government recently concluded a peace deal with the country's largest rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which is now in the process of laying down arms. $40,000 fine for $600 bribe The officer was ordered by Deputy Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle to pay $9,000 forthwith and the rest within six months. Prosecutor Krishna Jaglal led evidence that the officer was charged with two counts of soliciting $700 and then $600, from Gary Maharaj on May 29, 2013. The court heard that prior to demanding the bribe, the officer led Maharaj to believe that he was the wrong party in a vehicular accident. Maharaj testified that the officer first asked for $700 to forego prosecution. Jaglal later led evidence from Sgt Deodath Seepersad and Cpl Lawrence Joefield of the TT Police Services Professional Standards Bureau. The court heard that a sting operation was planned with the money being purposefully marked to be identifiable. The officer and Maharaj met at a store in Princes Town where the former handed over the case to the latter. Undercover officers moved in, identified themselves to the policeman, searched and found the $600 in the officers pockets. The officer was at the time stationed at Princes Town Police Station. Prosecutor Jaglal was instructed by State attorney Kieara Kanhai. On being arrested, the court heard, the officer told policemen, Boss, I eh receive salaries in a few months now. Defence attorney Subhas Panday put it to Maharaj that he placed the money in a box of chicken and chips and shoved the box towards the officer. But Jaglal, in challenging this claim, asked the lawyer why did he not go to the nearby Princes Town Police Station and enter a report that Maharaj had attempted to bribe him. At the end of the summary trial, Magistrate Earle- Caddle found the officer guilty of two counts of soliciting $700 and $600 and one count of accepting $600. On the first two counts, she fined him $10,000 each or 18 months in jail. On the third count of receiving, the magistrate fined him $20,000. The officer was granted six months to pay the remaining $31,000. The maximum fine for a police officer soliciting and receiving a bribe is $500,000 and a term of imprisonment The playground has become a battlefield It is like it says in that song, the playground has become a battlefield. All of us grew up as friends, playing together. Now your friend is the one who is killing you. said a relative yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Relatives believe that he was murdered in retaliation to the shooting which occurred on Sunday afternoon. Two men were wounded in that incident, and they were treated and later released. Trimmingham, 35, was murdered on Upper Hillcrest Avenue at about 7 pm. Residents discovered his bullet- riddled body at the side of the road after a volley of gunshots were heard. Police officers at first thought the body was that of murder accused Marlon Trimmingham, however relatives yesterday confirmed that it was his brother. Newsday understands that today they will be attempting to request that his second brother, Earl Trimmingham, who has also been accused of murder, be released from prison to take part in Sheldons funeral service. The date of the service has not yet been announced. Family members, while admitting to Trimminghams chekered past, said he changed his life for the better two years ago, and he did not deserve his death. Trimmingham is the father of four. The youngest of the four is only two months old. Im not gonna say that he was as saint. He had a past. said relatives, But as far as we know that last time he was involved in anything was two years ago. They took this man from his children. He didnt deserve that. An autopsy performed at Forensics confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds Police shoot man on Nelson Street Antonio is said to have resided at Upper Nelson Street, Port-of- Spain. According to reports, PC Neptune and PC Garcia of the Inter Agency Task Force (Duncan Street Post) were on duty at the corner of Duke and Picadilly Street, Port-of-Spain on Monday. At about 9.30 pm they noticed a man of African descent, later identified as Antonio, walking toward them. He drew a firearm and began shooting at them. The police officers returned fire, and he was shot in the head and leg. Police officers rushed him to the Port-of-Spain hospital, where he remains warded. During a search, 8.6 grammes of cocaine was also allegedly found on his person, along with a Luger 9mm pistol, a magazine and eight rounds of 9mm ammunition. Port-of-Spain CID are investigating. Mom whose baby diagnosed with cerebral palsy sues Mt Hope The mother, Lena Francis and her husband, Fred, are holding the NCRHA accountable for their childs predicament because doctors did not act promptly to delivere the baby via caesarian section. Francis (Lena), in a lawsuit, stated that she became pregnant in 2009 and on October 25 of that year, she went to the Mount Hope Maternity Hospital to deliver what was medically listed as a normal baby. In the lawsuit filed in the San Fernando High Court, Francis stated that shortly after admission, a nurse upon placing a monitor on her belly, said that she was checking the babys heart rate. Sometime later that day, according to the mother, the nurse advised a doctor on the ward that the babys heart rate was too fast. A doctor examined the mother and realised that the foetus was in distress. Francis was administed certain medication. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Asaf Hosein who, together with attorney Dr Camanie Narayansingh-Chang, are arguing the case for the parents. The mother and father are contending that the attending doctor, upon observing that baby (Elijah) was in distress, ought to have carried out a Caesarean section immediately, especially in light of the fact that the mothers water bag had burst almost six hours before. Instead, according to the lawsuit, the doctor applied forceps and Francis delivered baby Elijah. However, the mother was discharged, but Elijah was kept in the hospital due to a medical condition that was described by a doctor to the parents, as a slight focus on the right side of the brain. Francis stated in an affidavit that she had observed that her childs forehead and between his eyes, were damaged and on the right side of the neck, there were torn tissues and ligaments. There was also a lump on the top left side of Elijahs skull and his left shoulder went out of place. The mother also stated in her lawsuit that there are blood clots in her childs eyes when he is crying. Elijah, she stated, is seven years old and has severe neurological disabilities. He suffers from cerebral palsy with accompanying overall developmental retardation, seizures and visual impairment. Francis describes her child as having no useful voluntary movement of either his arms or legs. Elijah cannot walk, talk, sit unattended or eat for himself. Both mother and father are contending that the injuries their child sustained occurred at birth and the NCRHAs doctors were negligent in the management of the mothers pregnancy. The family is seeking general and aggravated damages 3 police officers were wrong, a judge says Justice Carol Gobin ruled in favour of Suresh and Tarikha Sohan, who occupied property at Forres Park, Claxton Bay, with the permission of Tarikhas grandmother, who was a tenant of Caroni (1975) Ltd. The couple lived in the property for decades before their uncle began to claim an interest in it. In August 2014, the couples uncle, Ramkissoon Bhall, retained private bailiff Ramkarran Ramparas, who demolished the Sohans home. The house was completely destroyed, they said in their lawsuit. Police were also present at the time. The couple filed proceedings against their uncle, the bailiff and the Attorney General, claiming damages for trespass and declarations that the bailiff acted illegally. The claim against the AG related to the alleged illegal acts of the police officers, who, the couple claims, assisted in the illegal demolition of their home. At the trial, the Sohans uncle and the bailiff conceded that they were liable for trespass. The State maintained that the police were only present during the demolition to ensure there was no breach of the peace and played no part in the demolition. In her ruling, Gobin found the testimony of the police officers to be inconsistent and ruled that they acted together with the bailiff and intimidated the couple with their large weapons, abusing their power. Damages for the couple are to be assessed. Murdered south businessman laid to rest According to police, at about 1 am, Mohammed was driving along the Tarouba Link Road near the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Marabella when their vehicle was blocked by a white AD wagon. Reports are that occupants of the wagon opened fire on Caliph and Mohammed. Caliph was shot to the lower abdomen and died on the spot while Mohammed was shot but survived. Police said in an attempt to escape the assailants, Mohammed sped off to the nearby Mon Repos Police Station on Royal Road where he sought assistance. A bleeding Mohammed was rushed to San Fernando General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. There were 11 bullet holes in the vehicle including a shattered window on the front passenger side. Minutes before the shooting, Caliph and Mohammed had attended the official opening of Steel Restaurant and Lounge at South Park (Mall) in Tarouba. On Monday, scores of mourners gathered at the family home in Gasparillo to bid farewell to Caliph. PM in alternate reality Rowley, speaking Monday night in the first in a series of national conversations, said: You call on the Prime Minister to do something about crime. Im not in your bedroom! Im not in your choice of men! You have a responsibility to determine who you associate with and know when to get out. And the State will try to help. But then when the tragedy occurs and it becomes known to the police, the police must now go the extra mile to ensure that there is detection. The statement drew widespread disapproval and outrage from women across the country who said the Prime Minister was blaming victims of violence for choosing violent men. Facing a tsunami of public disapproval, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi defended the Prime Ministers statement, saying it was taken out of context. Mahabir-Wyatt however, was not convinced. Claiming these words were taken out of context and do not mean what they say, sounds like one of (US President) Mr Trumps references to alternative facts. If they do not mean what they say, whose responsibility are they referring to? We wish to point out that Jamilla De Revenaux had gotten out of the relationship when she was murdered in MovieTowne. Rachael Ramkissoon, a 16-year-old student murdered on her way to school, was not in a bedroom or a relationship with her murderer. Shannon Banfield, a young woman murdered and stuffed in a shelf was not in a relationship with her murderer, Mahabir-Wyatt said. Rowley made the controversial statement in response to a female member of the audience who raised concerns about these very incidents which hinted at a rise in violence against women. Enraged by Dr Rowleys answer, Mahabir-Wyatt, a former Independent Senator asked, What is the Prime Minister talking about? What reality is he in? Is he blaming women for choosing their attackers? How exactly do they do that? Do men (who are) about to kidnap and kill a 16 year old girl have a sign across their foreheads that say, Danger! I am a murderer? Mahabir-Wyatt said the countrys women felt betrayed by Rowleys statement because he did not direct his attention to men. He is not warning men about their tendency toQwards violence. Their easy resort to abuse when rejected. He is telling women to choose more wisely. How do we do that with an unknown rapist, or psychopath, she asked. (See Page 10A) Scandalous but not surprising Speaking at his constituency office in Debe Junction, Moonilal said one would have thought the Prime Minister would seek to offer policy solutions to domestic violence. There was nothing like that. He essentially blamed victims that they made a bad choice, as if they were choosing between original and spicy at KFC. This really is scandalous but not surprising. It is outrageous and deserves the sternest condemnation because in effect, the Prime Minister appears to be blaming victims for their circumstances. There is no explanation to rationalise violence against women or children, Moonilal said. He added that even before becoming prime minister, Dr Rowley had displayed a lack of sensitivity in addressing complex social problems. He then challenged Rowley to assume the role of National Security Minister, instead of gallerying all over the country in a hoax called a National Conversation. He should become the leader of National Security and provide leadership to law enforcement agencies. Not making comments, bouffing up criminals, bouffing up women...that is not fighting crime and that is not leadership, Moonilal said. He hoped government was not using taxpayer money to fund the Conversations series. AG DEFENDS PM For his part, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi stoutly defended Rowley, saying the Prime Ministers comments were taken out of context. Speaking yesterday after the opening ceremony of the ARIN-CARIB Steering Group Meeting, AG Al-Rawi went so far as to imply that the media had narrowed in on that one particular statement by Rowley, without giving sufficient coverage to everything else the PM said. Dr Rowley is known for speaking in a very straightforward and forthright manner. And last night (Monday) I was at the event and Dr Rowley went through the background of the domestic violence issue...people having protection orders and in one case in particular, notwithstanding the courts assistance and the police assistance for a protection order. He then went on to deal with the issue of a person who breached their own protection order and was tragically murdered. It was after going up to that run to the wicket, that he then said what he had to say. The question that came from the floor had to do with what is government doing about stopping incidences like this, Al-Rawi said. But quite frankly, the AG continued, how does the government go into the physical relationship between persons when theres a protection order, when the police are involved, when the social and probation officers are involved, when the entire family knows of the situation and then the murder is committed? I think he was speaking to the boundaries and practicalities and thats the way his comment was actually put. (Additional reporting by Akilah Holder Finance Ministry warns public According to a recent statement, the ministry said the request usually comes via an email asking people to send personal financial information to the address: ministryoffinancefortrinidad@ gmail.com. The ministry said this is a FRAUDULENT address, stating that the ministry uses the gov.tt domain and not domains such as gmail.com; hotmail.com or yahoo.com. According to the statement persons are using fake Facebook profiles associated with the fraudulent address to gather information on the pretext that the ministry, the International Monetary Fund and similar bodies are offering grants and loans. The statement said some of the aliases used by the fraudsters are: Kathy Ann Thompson and Melina Haynes. It added that in some cases persons were contacted by phone and asked to provide the information. The ministry is asking persons who receive such communication to contact the ministrys Corporate Communications Unit at telephone number: 612-9700 Ext 2805/6/8/9 or visit the ministrys website: www.finance.gov.tt for clarification of the services offered by the ministry. Fire Chief wants Dillon to go Our demand is that our good Prime Minister re-examine the appointment of this Minister of National Security, said Ramkissoon. He (Dillon) needs to understand the protective services do not operate like the army where there is total command and no allowance for a representative body. He came from the bosom of the military, but the fire service, the police and prisons have representative bodies and he has to understand that. Dillon - who is also the Point Fortin Member of Parliament - drew the ire of the Association after he showed up unannounced at the Point Fortin Fire station last year to speak with officers about the dilapidated state of their station. We begged and pleaded with him for a meeting and what he did instead was to show up unannounced and made a statement to the media that government allocated $11 million for the relocation of the building. It is as if he is trying to deny workers the right to have representation. He went to deal with the workers without the representative body and that is totally wrong. He needs to deal with workers through the representative bodies. Since Dillon made public the allocation of $11 million for the relocation of the fire station last December, Ramkissoon said that nothing has been done. The Association, he said, sent numerous letters to the Minister asking for a meeting, but the Minister has not responded to any of them by phone nor by letter. Meanwhile, the state of the 85-year-old fire station continues to deteriorate. Since Saturday, officers have placed their bunk beds in the yard of the station under the cover of a tarpaulin to draw attention to their plight. A report coming from an inspection of the station by the Point Fortin Borough Corporation that Ramkissoon provided for Newsday found numerous structural defaults in the station. It concluded that the building is in an advanced state of deterioration and should not be occupied. A second inspection was performed by the Occupational Safety and Health Authority in January. Ramkissoon said the findings were very concerning but the final report has not yet been published. The Point Fortin Fire station is an over 85 year old wooden structure, and the first responder for any emergencies at major energy companies like Atlantic LNG and Trinmar. It is only when something major happen they would take us seriously, said Ramkissoon. A source at the station said he has worked there for 13 of the 20 years that he has been a fire officer, and the building has been the same ever since. Government frustrated at crime Even as a Manpower Audit aims to untangle the tangled system of the TT Police Service, he said that under the law he cannot direct the police how to act. I too am angered by some of the things I see, Rowley said. He added it is a long way for crime to reach to an acceptable situation but Government is on the job. Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon, hoped the use of DNA would help boost the countrys paltry 18 percent detection rate for murders. He expressed frustration at bandits being on bail and bemoaned that when police hold a bandit with a gun he/she quickly gets bail from a magistrate and gets another gun to go out to commit more crimes, to get money to pay his attorneys to keep him out of jail. He said a message must be sent to those persons bent on destroying TT. While the largest section of the incarcerated consists of persons of remand suspects who are yet untried he hopes to free up the prison population by use of electronic tagging whereby inmates would be restricted to certain locations outside jail. Rowley urged zero tolerance for police misconduct, saying the public must trust the police to give them information on criminality. Saying Acting Police Commissioner, Stephen Williams has been told to weed out bad officers, Rowley if citizens are afraid of the police the war on crime will be lost. Attorney General (AG) Faris Al-Rawi later said this is the 17th year of the Preliminary Inquiry into the Piarco Airport scandal, as he expressed frustration at how the PI goes from High Court to Appeal Court to Privy Council, then a judicial review of the PI can follow the same tack, after which the case itself once underway could also follow the same three tiers. Crime also featured heavily in the question session. Asked about the Citizen Security Programme, Dillon said it is under evaluation, but was not thrown out. A man asked how quickly could death row inmates be hanged, to which Rowley replied that the death penalty is not in the hands of Government alone because certain other structures are in place. He said if only ten percent of murderers are ever apprehended, any focus on the death penalty will not affect the majority 90 percent. Al-Rawi said that of the 33 persons on death row, 11 are ineligible to be hanged as their appeals exceed the five year limit set by the Privy Council in the Pratt and Morgan judgement. It's been quite a year. And I make no predictions about the one to come. I do know that it will -- at least where we are -- start ou... The European Union pledged to take the necessary measures to secure the implementation of the existing Free Trade Agreement for processed agricultural products and fishery products binding it to Morocco and preserve the achievements made under the two sides partnership in this area. The pledge was made during the meeting that gathered in Brussels Tuesday the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Moroccos Deputy Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita. The meeting was held just one day after Morocco issued a strong-worded statement following attempts to deny entrance of some Moroccan products to the European space, warning that any failure to honor the Morocco-EU farm deal would entail negative repercussions. Acts aiming at blocking access of some Moroccan products to the European market should be sanctioned and treated firmly by our European partners, stated the statement released Monday by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Any impediment to the implementation of this agreement threatens thousands of jobs on both sides and constitutes a real risk for the resumption of migratory flows, added the statement, which underlined Moroccos sustained efforts to contain soaring illegal immigration and ward off Europe from this threat. A press release issued after the Mogherini-Bourita meeting stated that both parties affirmed that they remain committed to defending, preserving and strengthening their partnership in its various dimensions. The two sides recognized the importance of maintaining stable trade relations and agreed that the technical teams would meet soon to set the details of the way forward, the press release said. Both sides assured that discussions between the EU and Morocco will continue in a climate of serenity and mutual trust, in order to agree on the necessary arrangements to continue and develop their relations, particularly in the field of agriculture, the press release stated. It added, Pending the conclusion of these discussions, appropriate measures would be taken where necessary to secure the implementation of the existing Free Trade Agreement for processed agricultural products and fishery products between the EU and Morocco and preserve the partnerships achievements in this area. The two sides underscored the strategic importance of their relations, and expressed their willingness to resume work and expand cooperation in all areas of common interest. The High Representative took this opportunity to personally congratulate Morocco on its return to the African Union. The two sides agreed to work together to strengthen the mutual synergies of their partnership on regional and pan-African issues, the press release concluded. The Spanish interior ministry Tuesday announced it pinned down two Moroccans belonging to a terrorist recruiting cell affiliated to the Islamic State group (IS). The two men, aged 25 and 27, were nabbed at Badalona, North-East of Barcelona. According to the ministry, they use internet to recruit and indoctrinate would-be terrorists for IS. These internet-recruited would-be terrorists exhibited a very high level of indoctrination and were determined to join the terror group in Syria, the ministry noted in a statement. The two IS terrorist suspects, the ministry added, were major supporters of the terrorist group and also funded it with drogue trafficking money and other illegal activities. The men resorted to several techniques to secure their activities on internet. They also used several telephone numbers acquired with fake identities, the ministry indicated in the statement. Investigations at the suspects residences are still underway in an attempt to discover additional evidences of their activities on internet and social media where they have established local as well as external contacts, reports say. Around 185 terrorists have been arrested since 2015 on terrorism related charges as authorities try to crash radicalism. The United Nations warned Maghreb and Sahel countries of the relocation of Islamic State fighters fleeing defeats in Iraq, Syria and Libya. There are great risks that these jihadists join sleeping cells of al Qaida, and settle in the Maghreb and in the Sahel, the UN said in a report. Moroccan Arabic media Akhbar Al Yaoum, which got wind of the report, says the document particularly warns Morocco and Tunisia as to threat of these returns. Some 1,500 Moroccans and over 5,000 Tunisians have been reported fighting in the ranks of terrorist groups abroad mostly in Libya, Iraq, and Syria. After losing its Syria Raqqa base and Libyan Sirte stronghold, the IS group is being edged out in its Iraqi safe haven of Mosul. Fighters originating from Maghreb and Sahel countries are heading back to their countries, a move the UN argues puts security of those countries at risk. The UN report calls on those countries to beef up security at airports and at sensitive sites. The report hailed Morocco and Tunisia for their cooperation with the Interpol, contrary to Algeria, Akhbar Al Yaoum further reports. In October, the Interpol warned Morocco to keep eyes open at the countrys airports in order to nab IS fighters believed to be travelling with fake passports. Up to 6,000 people fighting under IS have been moving across borders, the Interpol reportedly told Moroccan authorities. Yemeni protesters condemn U.S. drone attacks in Sanaa on April 24, 2014. Photo: MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images The fallout from a U.S. raid in Yemen that killed one Navy SEAL and a number of civilians continued on Tuesday. The New York Times reported that Yemen has withdrawn permission for the U.S. to conduct ground missions against terrorist targets in the country. Yemen will still allow U.S. drone attacks, and the decision does not affect American military advisers providing support in Yemen. Drone strikes were previously halted for a time in 2014 after several operations that killed civilians. Yemenis were incensed by photos of children killed in the 50-minute firefight. Nawar Al-Awlaki, the 8-year-old daughter of American Al Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki, was reportedly among those killed in the attack. Its unclear if the Trump administrations decision to temporarily ban immigrants from Yemen factored into the decision. Nearly everything went wrong during the operation. Al Qaeda fighters seemed to know U.S. forces were coming, and a MV-22 Osprey had to be destroyed after a hard landing. Last weekend, Qassim al-Rimi, the head of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, released a recording taunting President Trump, and NBC News reported that he was the missions real target. Trump has taken flak for authorizing the mission over dinner, and anonymous U.S. military sources accused him of giving the go-ahead without sufficient support in place. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied that the purpose of the mission was to target a specific Al Qaeda leader. The raid that was conducted in Yemen was an intelligence-gathering raid, Spicer said. It was highly successful. It achieved the purpose it was going to get, save the loss of life that we suffered and the injuries that occurred. However, Senator John McCain, chair of the Armed Services Committee, had a more pessimistic characterization of the raid. Following a classified briefing on Tuesday, he initially called the operation a failure. Later he dialed back his assessment. Every military operation has objectives. And while many of the objectives of the recent raid in Yemen were met, I would not describe any operation that results in the loss of American life as a success, McCain said in a statement. Going forward, I am confident that our military will act on lessons learned from this operation to strengthen our fight against our terrorist enemies. Yes, DAPL. Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images The Trump administration gave Energy Transfer Partners the green light to complete construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline Tuesday. The pipeline is 85 percent built, but its final leg cuts across land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and under the Missouri River, just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The Sioux see the pipeline as a threat to its sacred land and water supply, and mobilized a coalition of environmentalists and Native American rights activists to protest its construction last year. That activism persuaded the Obama administration to conduct an environmental-impact assessment and consider alternative routes for the pipeline. But then Donald Trump became president, and within his first week, signed an executive order encouraging the Army Corps to expedite its review and approval process. Army Corps officials told Congress Tuesday that it would be approving the final permit necessary for the pipelines completion, without a full environmental review and that Energy Transfer Partners would be free to begin construction as soon as Wednesday. The Standing Rock Sioux plan to challenge the Armys decision in court. But as Voxs Brad Plumer notes, their prospects dont look good: Back on September 9, a federal judge rejected the tribes request for an injunction to halt the pipeline while the DC Circuit Court heard a broader case over whether the Army Corps properly consulted the Standing Rock Sioux. (That case is still ongoing.) So the tribe would have to come back and ask yet again for an injunction this time over the fact that the Army Corps decided to ignore an ongoing environmental review. Its unclear if the judge would be any more sympathetic this time around. Several hundred protesters remain camped out around the Standing Rock Reservation, and they plan to wage mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far. Authorities arrested 74 protesters near the pipelines route last week. The activists refused to vacate land that the government says is privately owned, but which they believe rightfully belongs to Native Americans. Jason Chaffetz, who is supposed to make sure the U.S. doesnt become an autocracy. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images On Tuesday, Voxs Ezra Klein published a piece arguing that the real threat to Americas system of government isnt President Trump, but a Congress that wont do its job. Theres a whole section devoted to Representative Jason Chaffetz, who chairs the House Oversight Committee. While its Chaffetzs job to hold Trump accountable, the only Trump-related item on his 43-item to-do list is reforming the Office of Government Ethics, which Republicans criticized for speaking out about Trumps business conflicts. In light of this, its even more bizarre that, following his first visit to the Oval Office on Tuesday, Chaffetz felt it was important to emphasize that Trump wouldnt even allow him to discuss his ability to investigate the administration to ensure it is adhering to ethical standards. Before my bum even hit the chair, the president said, No oversight. You cant talk about anything that has to do with oversight, Chaffetz said. The Utah congressman said the president was inquisitive and chit-chatty, according to Politico. They discussed Postal Service reforms, undoing President Obamas creation of the Bear Ears National Monument, embassy security, and reducing the costs of the federal workforce. Chaffetz said they also talked about the size of Trumps election win, but not his vow to continue investigating Hillary Clintons private email server. After the grab-em-by-the-pussy video, Chaffetz unendorsed Trump, explaining that he wouldnt be able to look his 15-year-old daughter in the eye if he backed such a man. Eventually Chaffetz decided he found Hillary Clinton even more loathsome, and it seems that, post-election, his opinion of Trump has improved drastically. Per The Wall Street Journal: Mr. Chaffetzs visit to the White House was unusual. House members who are not in leadership rarely get a one-on-one sit down meeting with the president. But Mr. Chaffetz said that it appeared to be part of an effort to build better relations with Congress. This is such a sea change from President Obama who essentially gave us the stiff arm, Mr. Chaffetz said. This is just so much better its so interactive. Trump may have bragged about sexual assault on video, but its just nice to see a little decorum in the White House. Senator Elizabeth Warren. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images In 1836, at the behest of slave interests in the South, Congress created a rule prohibiting any debate over slavery in either House. The putative rationale for the rule was that Congress had no authority over slavery, therefore the issue was irrelevant, and any petition addressing slavery would be immediately tabled. John Quincy Adams, a former president turned member of the House and anti-slavery activist, called this the gag rule. The U.S. Senate in 2017 has applied a version of this rule to the debate over the nomination of Alabama senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Sessionss candidacy is obviously not the moral equivalent of slavery. It is, however, a faint echo of the same political tradition. Sessions is not an advocate of restoring slavery or even legal segregation. But he has labored during his career to restrict African-American voter registration, and is the senator mostly closely identified with Trumps ethno-nationalist themes. Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump, and served as a valuable adviser to him and a platform between traditional Republicanism and the presidents brand of populist white identity politics. The rule in question, Rule 19, is a longstanding, though selectively enforced, ban on senators ascribing to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator in a floor speech. Last night, Senator Elizabeth Warren denounced Sessions, and read from a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King opposing Sessionss candidacy for a federal judgeship (which was denied). The Republican majority halted her speech on the grounds that she impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama. The rule against impugning fellow senators is a slightly absurd imposition of etiquette designed to protect the swollen senatorial ego. What makes it not merely silly but utterly absurd in this instance is the fact that the senator being protected in this case is not only a party to the debate, along with 99 other senators, but also the subject of the debate. And the very argument of Sessionss critics is that he is unworthy of the office to which he has been nominated. The application of Rule 19, which has not always been enforced, prevents opponents of his candidacy from making their case. Many historians of the 19th century believe the gag rule backfired against the South. It dramatized the undemocratic nature of the Slave Power, changed the subject from the merits of slavery to the merits of being allowed to debate slavery (thus broadening the opposing coalition), and ultimately created far more publicity for anti-slavery petitions. Mitch McConnells gag rule on Elizabeth Warren will likely have the same effect. Sessions has the votes for confirmation, but the grossness with which his colleagues have suppressed criticism of his record has given the opposition a platform, and a cause. Many forces combined to rein in the Bush administrations overreaching. Can they succeed with Trump as well? Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Efforts to put Donald Trumps authoritarian tendencies into a historical context usually begin with the simultaneously troubling and reassuring precedent of Richard M. Nixon. Like Trump, Nixon was a mistrustful and self-conscious outsider who hated the news media and compulsively focused on enemies. As we fear Trump will do, Nixon harnessed government resources to harass those enemies, ordered widespread law-breaking, expanded presidential powers to the breaking point, and tried to hide his more nefarious activities from scrutiny. But despite his power and a reelection landslide victory that makes a mockery of Trumps pretensions of popularity, Nixon was brought to heel and eventually forced to resign. A potential authoritarian threat to democracy was repulsed. Nixon was not, however, unique in succumbing to the temptations of an imperial presidency. As Jonathan Rauch reminds us in an important new analysis of how to contain Trump if he goes off the rails, all presidents cross lines and seek to expand their powers. And in fact, the most relevant precedent may be a relatively recent one: For a good example, one need look back no further than the presidency of George W. Bush. After the 9/11 attacks, Bush claimed alarmingly broad presidential powers. He said he could define the entire world as a battlefield in the War on Terror, designate noncitizens and citizens alike as enemy combatants, and then seize and detain them indefinitely, without judicial interference or congressional approval or the oversight called for by the Geneva Conventions. Its initially hard to think of the sometimes-comical and often self-deprecating W. as resembling the volatile narcissist in the White House today; when Bush call himself the decider, more people laughed than cowered. But whatever the 43rd president lacked in bully-boy arrogance the people around him most notably his vice-president supplied abundantly. And there is no getting around the fact that the Bush team deliberately exploited the national emergency of 9/11 to do all sorts of things it had no real popular mandate to do, most notably the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and to intimidate opponents with the charge of anti-Americanism. It is very easy to imagine Team Trump doing the same thing. The presidents charge that he would hold the court system responsible for any future terrorist attacks is a credible threat that like Bush he might convert a national-security failure into a warrant for near-total power. As Rauch notes, however, Bush was, like Nixon, eventually brought to heel as well, without the trauma of a threatened impeachment and a resignation. He quotes one-time Bush administration Justice Department official Jack Goldsmith as describing a giant distributed networks of lawyers, investigators, and auditors, both inside and outside the executive branch that reined in a potentially authoritarian regime: These forces swarmed the government with hundreds of critical reports and lawsuits that challenged every aspect of the Presidents war powers. They also brought thousands of critical minds to bear on the governments activities, resulting in bestselling books, reports, blog posts, and press tips that shaped the publics view of presidential action and informed congressional responses, lawsuits, and mainstream media reporting. Eventually Congress and the courts joined this effort, and in 2006, so did the American electorate, in a midterm buffeting of the presidents party that ruined Karl Roves painstaking efforts to build a durable GOP majority based on a combination of national-security fearmongering and carefully targeted domestic initiatives. But it was a near thing. The good news is that many of the same forces that helped rein in Bush are at hand today, and Trumps open contempt for norms has put them on high alert. But as Trumps election showed, the old norms dont have the power they had in the past even the most recent past. It should be relatively apparent that the first step toward making sure the Trump administration doesnt lurch down the path to authoritarian abuse of power via a national-security emergency is to deny it the sort of government-of-national-salvation status Bush and his team enjoyed in the wake of 9/11. If that means Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans (the few who are left, anyway) have to run the risk of being attacked for insufficient patriotism, so be it. It is their patriotic duty to do so. And as the example of George W. Bush shows, the sooner the president is denied imperial powers, the sooner his imperial pretensions can be exposed as mere power-grabs. With luck, there will not be an incident like 9/11 or the Iraq War during the Trump presidency. But if there is, does anyone doubt he will exploit it to the hilt? Thats the authoritarian emergency for which we must all prepare. Spicy. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images Last week, President Trump sent a team of Navy SEALs to raid a compound in Yemen with the aim of capturing or killing the head of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Qassim al-Rimi. When the raid was over, al-Rimi was still alive, and on the lam while one SEAL, 14 (alleged) Al Qaeda fighters, an 8-year-old American citizen, and an unconfirmed number of other civilians lay dead. The SEALs did manage to collect some phones and computers, though the value of the information contained therein is not publicly known. Meanwhile, in light of the raids many civilian casualties, the Yemeni government is starting to rethink its support for U.S. ground operations on its soil. Surveying these results, Arizona senator and prominent war enthusiast John McCain dubbed the mission a failure. Last week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer sounded inclined to agree, telling reporters, I think its hard to ever say something was successful when you lose a life. But for Spicer, its gotten much easier to say such a thing in the days since. The action that was taken in Yemen was a huge success, Spicer said at his press briefing Wednesday. The life of Chief Ryan Owens was done in service to this country and we owe him and his family a great debt for the information that we received during that raid. I think any suggestion otherwise is a disservice to his courageous life and the actions that he just took. Full stop. Spicer did argue (without evidence) that the raid had saved the lives of American civilians (even as it killed an 8-year-old one). But a large part of his case for calling the raid a success seemed to be that Ryan Owens died during it and, thus, to call it anything less would be to insult a dead American soldier. WATCH: White House: Anyone who suggests Yemen raid wasn't a success "does disservice" to Navy SEAL killed in raid. https://t.co/YO8x1eNyyL NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) February 8, 2017 I think anybody who undermines the success of that [raid] owes an apology and [does] a disservice to the life of Chief Owens, Spicer said. You cant call an American military endeavor a failure without insulting the soldiers who died pursuing it. Donald Trump has always believed this. I understand things. I comprehend very well, okay? Better than, I think, almost anybody. Photo: Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images Donald Trump loves to talk about how too many people get murdered in Chicago. Whether hes addressing the Republican National Convention, live-tweeting an episode of The OReilly Factor, giving an interview to ABC News, honoring Black History Month, or talking shop with a conference of sheriffs in D.C., the president makes sure to note that a lot of people get killed in the Windy City, and someone should really do something about it. Most of the time, that someone is himself but the something is left opaque. Trump has vowed to send in the feds if conditions dont improve, but whether this means increasing federal assistance to Chicago or occupying the city with federal troops is unclear. Regardless, Rahm Emanuel asked Trump for federal aid to combat homicide, at a face-to-face meeting in December. That request has, thus far, been denied. In fact, the president has actually threatened to cut federal aid to Chicago, unless the city ceases providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. But on Wednesday, Trump suggested that such coercion might be just what Chicago needs to solve its homicide problem. You look at Chicago, and you look at other places, Trump told a law-enforcement conference in Washington. So many of the problems are caused by gang members, many of whom are not even legally in our country. If this were true, then forcing Chicago to crack down on illegal immigration would be an easy way for the federal government to address its homicide problem. And if checking Twitter were a good way to build muscle mass, I would have killer biceps. Alas, we do not live in that beautiful world. There is little evidence that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at a disproportionately high rate and no evidence, whatsoever, that they are responsible for gang violence in Chicago. Further, sanctuary cities municipalities that refuse the request of federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants tend to have lower crime rates than other cities. Per NPR: On average, counties that did not comply with ICE requests experienced 35.5 fewer crimes per 10,000 people than those that did Research has shown that working with federal immigration enforcement made it harder for local police agencies to investigate crimes because witnesses and victims who were in the country illegally would be less likely to come forward if they thought they risked being detained and deported. Chicago does have a homicide problem. As do many other urban communities where there is concentrated poverty, racial segregation, easily accessible firearms, and low homicide-clearance rates. If Trump wants to make America safer, he will push for federal policies that reduce the number of neighborhoods defined by those conditions. By contrast, if he wants to scapegoat those with the least political power in America for all the nations problems, he will carry on pushing for more draconian policies toward the undocumented. Who can guess which he will choose? John Kelly. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images John F. Kelly would like you to know that the clumsy rollout of President Trumps travel ban was definitely not President Trumps fault. In retrospect, I should have, and this is all on me, by the way, I should have delayed it just a bit, Trumps head of DHS told the House Homeland Security Committee. So I could talk to members of Congress to prepare them for what was coming. As a general rule, with executive orders, the buck stops with the president (who is, after all, the executive). And, in this particular case, its rather difficult to see how the hasty implementation of Trumps travel ban is all on Kelly according to the New York Times, he was in no position to delay the order: Gen. John F. Kelly, the secretary of homeland security, had dialed in from a Coast Guard plane as he headed back to Washington from Miami. Along with other top officials, he needed guidance from the White House, which had not asked his department for a legal review of the order. 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. Kelly has disputed that story, but the Times sticks by its reporting. Regardless, Kelly didnt think he or the president had much to apologize for. The DHS secretary predicted that the courts would eventually reinstate the administrations executive order temporarily barring refugees and visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States. The administration will make its case before three federal judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday night. Kelly further suggested that the judges who had stayed the order were guilty of academic detachment from the life-or-death realities of national security. Of course, in their courtrooms, theyre protected by people like me, Kelly said. The secretary testified that it is entirely possible that dangerous people are pouring into the country now that the ban has been lifted, as the president has repeatedly claimed. And its true: It is entirely possible that a wave of jihadist refugees (who made it through Americas rigorous vetting process) happened to be on the cusp of immigrating when Trump took office just as it is entirely possible that you will slip and crack your skull the next time you take a shower. As ten former high-ranking diplomatic and security officials including former CIA director Leon Panetta, secretaries of State John F. Kerry and Madeleine Albright, and National Security Agency director Michael V. Hayden said Monday, Trumps executive order serves no national security purpose. Since the Refugee Act of 1980 established the current regime for vetting applicants, no refugee accepted into the United States has committed a major fatal terrorist attack on U.S. soil, according to an analysis by the Cato Institute. Further, no visa holder from any of the countries on Trumps blacklist has carried out a fatal terrorist attack in the United States since 1975. Asked if he could provide evidence that inadequately vetted immigrants were entering the United States, Kelly told the committee, Not until they act and blow something up, or go into a mall and kill people We wont know until then. More substantively, Kelly said that he was at a total loss to understand how we can vet people from various countries when in at least four of those countries we dont even have embassies, referring to five of the seven countries on the blacklist as nearly failed states. Nonetheless, Kelly maintained that the travel ban was only temporary, and that no additional countries would be added to the current blacklist. At other points in the hearing, Kelly tempered the presidents more aggressive proposals for immigration enforcement. The secretary said that the federal government would only cut funding to sanctuary cities on a case-by-base basis and suggested that, even then, the administration would only revoke funds specifically earmarked for immigration enforcement. If we are specifically giving grants for cooperation on the removal of illegal aliens and the department or city is no longer doing that, it seems irresponsible to me to continue giving them the money, but it will be case by case, Kelly said. The secretary also said that he did not expect to meet Trumps ambitious hiring goals of 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and 5,000 U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials within two years. Finally, while Kelly had told Fox News that Trumps border wall would be finished within two years, the secretary told Congress that he merely expects its construction to be well under way by 2019. Oh, and the wall may not cover the whole border and may include stretches of fence. (Much like the border barrier we already have.) Mitch McConnell, Neil Gorsuch, Mike Pence Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images The nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court has divided and confused the Democratic Party. Democrats have no common agreement on a strategy, or even what objective to pursue. Thus they find themselves divided between one faction pursuing hopeless, doomed confrontation, and another advocating capitulation. The correct strategy is to approach the nomination from the standpoint of maximizing their ability to win future Supreme Court nomination fights. That means mounting a filibuster against the nomination, forcing the Republican Party to end the filibuster, and then voting to seat Gorsuch. The liberal argument for refusing to filibuster the nomination proceeds from the assumption that Democrats have the choice between Gorsuch and some other justice, and should base their vote on his qualifications and record. Gorsuch comes from the far extreme right, says Senator Jeff Merkley, who is leading the opposition. On the opposing side, Gorsuchs Democratic defenders insists he is better than the alternative. Moderates could do a lot worse than Judge Neil Gorsuch, argues Yale law professor E. Donald Elliott, and we probably will if he isnt confirmed. The prospect that Gorsuch will be defeated and replaced with a more extreme alternative is not worth considering. His nomination is a fait accompli. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced last month that the 52 Republican senators would seat whomever Donald Trump nominated for the Supreme Court vacancy The nominee will be confirmed even if it required abolishing the filibuster on Supreme Court nominations. Defeating Gorsuch is not a realistic option for Democrats. Contrary to the slogans of Gorsuchs critics, he is not extreme by the standards of a Republican nominee. The reason to oppose him is the legitimate belief that Republicans had no right to prevent Barack Obama from filling the vacancy when it opened. But Republicans have already won that fight. So what is there left to win? This is the major source of Democratic confusion. They should cross the aisle and join Republicans to cut off a filibuster, allowing an up-or-down vote by a simple majority on Judge Gorsuch, argues Elliott. That will prevent Republicans from invoking the nuclear option to change the Senate rules and abolish the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees. University of Colorado law professor Melissa Hart endorses the same conclusion. If Democrats filibuster, she warns, Republicans will eliminate the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations and the selection of judges both for the Supreme Court and for the lower federal courts will forever be a purely partisan process. It is very odd to argue that Democrats should value the existence of a weapon they can never use. The worst-case scenario for Democrats would be a system in which Republican presidents are able to seat a Supreme Court justice with 50 votes, but Democrats can only seat a justice if they can muster 60 votes. There is a lot of reason to believe this is the system that exists right now. If McConnell can smash all preexisting norms by blockading a Supreme Court vacancy, claim he is doing so in the name of voters, proceed to lose the next presidential election by 3 million votes, and then announce the next nominee will be confirmed sight unseen with or without a single Democratic vote, then McConnell can fill a Court seat any time he has 50 votes. Elliott argues that Democrats should save the filibuster for the next Supreme Court fight, which she predicts will matter more. And perhaps it will. But the technical existence of the filibuster would not give Democrats any leverage. The importance of the battle would simply increase the internal pressure on Republican senators to hold ranks. Democrats have nothing to gain by keeping the filibuster on the books. On the other hand, they have a great deal to lose. The last two Democratic Supreme Court nominees were confirmed only because Democrats had near filibuster-proof Senate margins at the time. The last nominee, Elena Kagan, received just 5 Republican votes, and several of those Republicans faced intense backlash from primary challengers for doing so. (Indiana Senator Richard Lugar was defeated in a primary in part because he voted for Democratic justices.) If the next Democratic president gets a Supreme Court vacancy, he or she will have an extremely difficult time defeating a filibuster. Democrats will probably need to abolish the filibuster for Supreme Court picks to get their justice seated. They may or may not have enough votes to do it. Some of their members (like West Virginia senator Joe Manchin) have political reasons to avoid siding with their party in a high-stakes social-policy fight. Other Democratic senators have expressed institutional reluctance to change the Senate rules. What they need is for Republicans to end the judicial filibuster for them. McConnell is a norm-violator. Thats what he does. Hes very good at it. Keeping in place an ambiguous set of rules, such as giving the minority a blocking power that the majority openly threatens to eliminate if it is used, is the kind of circumstance under which his tactics thrive. Democrats can eliminate his advantage only if they force the norms and the rules to say the same thing. The tactical imperative for Democrats lines up neatly with their moral understanding of the battle lines. Democrats object to the Republican Partys right to nominate anybody to fill the current vacancy. Most agree that if Republicans did have such a right, Gorsuch would make for a highly qualified pick. Their correct tactic is to hold 41 senators together to mount a filibuster on the explicit grounds that the seat belongs to a Barack Obama nominee. Once McConnell eliminates the filibuster, they should support Gorsuch on the final ballot to indicate their endorsement of his qualifications. If, on the other hand, they let McConnell seat Gorsuch without eliminating his own ability to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee later, they may come to regret it. Nazanin Zinouri and her dog, Dexter, are reunited. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images Nazanin Zinouri came home to the United States this week after spending a week banned from entering the country as a result of the Trump administrations travel ban. Zinouri, a graduate of Clemson Universitys Ph.D. program and an engineer who has lived in the United States for the past seven years (employed in the U. S. on a work visa), was unable to get back into the country after returning to her native country, Iran, to visit her family. No one warned me when I was leaving, no one cared what will happen to my dog or my job or my life there, she wrote on Facebook, after being refused from boarding a flight from Dubai to Washington, D.C. No one told me what I should do with my car that is still parked at the airport parking. Or what to do with my house and all my belongings. On Sunday, Zinouri touched down in Boston. And on Monday, she was finally able to get home to South Carolina, where her dog, Dexter, was waiting to welcome her home, and also make us all weep. This is Dexter. He was reunited with his mom yesterday after she was stuck in Iran during the travel Bannon. 13/10 welcome home pic.twitter.com/U50RlRw4is WeRateDogs (@dog_rates) February 7, 2017 This isnt the first instance of Puppy Twitter tweeting more substantive content, rather than the usual pictures and GIFs of fluffy animals, since Trump was inaugurated. Both @dog_rates and @EmergencyPuppy have started using their platforms to critique, if subtly, the current administration. Good dogs now just slightly more political. Photo: Courtesy of the retailers As weve noted before during the holidays, being a label whore when it comes to gifting isnt a terrible idea. A $50 Chanel hand cream or $30 pair of Supreme boxers can feel so indulgent and over-the-top in a great and glamorous way. To that end, weve rounded up 30 (relatively) inexpensive things from typically very expensive brands that would make wonderful Valentines Day gifts. Gucci Pursuit Treck Slide Sandal $210 You could always opt for a pair of striped socks from Gucci, but these slides make more of a statement. $210 at Nordstrom Buy Moncler Quilted Down Puffer Scarf $230 While still on the pricey side, this pale pink puffer scarf is a fraction of the price of Monclers slick down parkas and would be like wearing a mini-jacket on your neck, sort of. $230 at Nordstrom Buy Etro Printed Foulard $125 The tiny prints of cars, hot air balloons, bicycles, and airplanes on this silk Etro scarf are just too cute to pass up. $125 at Farfetch Buy Kenzo Logo Tag Beanie $125 We love how the bold stripes of this Kenzo beanie take us back to grade school. $125 at Farfetch Buy Elsa Peretti Apple Bookmark $60 Theres likely no one who was ever unhappy to receive an Elsa Peretti gift from Tiffany & Co. This one will be a nice treat for avid readers. $60 at Tiffany Buy Supreme Hanes Boxer Briefs $25 Is it a little weird to buy underwear off eBay? Sure. But when its Valentines Day, youre dating a fuccboi, youre on a budget, Supremes online store is closed, and you dont have time to wait on line in person at the New York shop, what else are you gonna do? (Note: These are not actually used boxer-briefs; theyre brand-new.) $25 at eBay Buy get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. 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. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Amma Asante. Photo: Getty Images Director Amma Asante is not yet a household name, but she should be, and with the upcoming release of A United Kingdom, she will be. Based on the true story of Seretse Khama, a prince from Botswana, and his English wife, Ruth Williams, this lush period piece is both a beautiful love story and the tale of the real-life ramifications of their marriage on the political landscape of postcolonial Africa. Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo star as the headstrong lovers whose marriage creates quite a stir in England and Botswana alike, both politically and personally. Seretse, who went on to become the first prime minister of Botswana, was expected to come back from his studies abroad, marry a local woman, and lead their tribe as per tradition; he was most certainly not expected to bring home a bride, much less an English, white one. Additionally, interracial marriage had just been made illegal under nearby South Africas apartheid. Like Asantes previous film Belle, which starred Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a biracial woman in the 18th century, A United Kingdom strikes a delicate balance between the political and the personal. Its an elegant period piece, a crowd-pleasing love story, and a fascinating look at how one countrys political landscape was reshaped by that love. A United Kingdom opens on February 10, 2017. Can you talk a little bit about how you strike that balance between the political and the personal in your films? I think I come from a place where, I think, the personal usually in some ways sits within the context of the political. Most relationships are political even if we dont want them to be. What I mean by that is, when an interracial couple get together, even if they get together simply through the purity of their love, they are often faced with their relationship being politicized, because people project ideas onto them as to why theyve chosen each other, what it all means, and its often deemed as a political statement. Political with a small p. Even if the couple doesnt want it to be. When I came to this project, there was this whole thing of, It should just be a love story, and we should play down the politics, we should just play on the power of the love. I said to the various men who were involved in the project that to me, this was a difficulty. You dont really understand the power of that love unless you understand what it stood up to. Unless you understand the politics of what it stood up to. You know, three governments, two continents, as well as obviously the family pressure as well. For me, I fought very hard in the story to make sure that there was a good strong balance of the political with the love story, but what I did make a commitment to was always making sure that we saw those politics through the prism of the love story. What did you bring to this personally? I understand youre in an interracial partnership as well, if Im correct. Did this make it more personal for you? In a way, Ill be honest with you, no, it doesnt. Interracial relationships, like relationships with two black people, or, you know, two white people, or my friends who are gay Im very lucky that I live in a world, my close world, my small world, which is quite balanced. An interracial relationship isnt that much of a big deal to me. Had this film only been about that, I dont know that I would have been interested in it. Its what the couple had to stand up to that fascinates me. Personally, it was the politics of what they had to stand up to. Both Belle and A United Kingdom have such fabulous costumes. Is that part of the attraction of doing a period piece, playing with the production design, and the beautiful costumes, and things like that? Its got to be in so many ways I really embrace all sides of myself. I really embrace this intellectual side that is fascinated with the politics, of life with a capital L, and life with a small l. I really embrace that side, but I embrace the side of me that is completely artistic, and completely creative, and loves putting a color palette together, and loves seeing it all come together, first through the cinematography, and then through the production design, and then through the costumes. The one thing that costume drama allows you to do is really explore that whole side of yourself. That whole vision coming to screen. When you can revisit the past, a past that you were not born to Ive never got the opportunity to see, but you can visit it and re-create it onscreen, its beautiful. Theres nothing better than seeing your actors step out of the car for the first time onto set. Theyre in costume, and they step into the location that has been created specifically for your story, and suddenly a world evolves in front of you. Youre suddenly whisked back 50 years or so. Its just incredible. We acknowledge the artistry of production design and costume design, but its almost embarrassing to say, I love the costumes, it was so beautiful. You know, its sort of like, No, we should be serious about the politics, the subtext and all this. But theres also a really lovely love story, and a lot of wonderful costumes that are just a joy to see. As women, as well, we have that pressure as well to be serious, if were filmmakers, and not to talk about the other side of things. Thats why I kind of set out I really embrace all parts of myself. They all exist, and I give them equal value. I like to try and make beautiful movies that will engage an audience. Particularly if were dealing with subjects a little bit tougher, or a little bit more challenging. To cloak them in some beauty is not always a bad thing. I love that side of myself, and I loved collaborating with Jenny [Beavan]. Shes such a talented costume designer, as was my costume designer on Belle as well. I learned from them, and we share ideas, and we grow. I love how I always present them with a palette, they never push back my palette, they always find a way to achieve it in the most stylish way possible. Theyre a joy to work with. On top of that, Jenny is just a blast as a human being. Shes just a brilliant human being to be around, who doesnt take herself too seriously. I love her. Do you think the United Kingdom is more progressive than America when it comes to the film industry, or do you think that Hollywood is making strides when it comes to representation behind and in front of the camera? I think were in equal positions. I think were tied at the moment. I think we have been probably struggling for a lot longer to create a more level playing field, but I think that America has taken is trying to take some big leaps at this moment in time. Weve moved slowly. America has tried to take some big leaps, including what the Academy did last year [with] a more rich and diverse set of new members Our statistics show very similar numbers to yours, in terms of women directors, in terms of women of color. You may be a tiny bit ahead of us, just simply by virtue of the fact that you have Hollywood here in America, and you have the biggest and most powerful filmmaking environment and industry, but were pretty much equal. Both countries need to do better. This interview has been edited and condensed for publication. Elizabeth Warren has been barred from speaking about Jeff Sessions. Photo: Getty Images Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge, civil-rights activist Coretta Scott King wrote in a letter (PDF) to judiciary committee chairman Strom Thurmond in 1986. This simply cannot be allowed to happen. This is the line Senator Elizabeth Warren read aloud on the Senate floor Tuesday night, and its the line that prompted Senate Republicans to vote shed impugned the motives of Sessions, whos up for confirmation in his role as attorney general. Warren was subsequently barred from speaking on Sessions at all Ive been red-carded, she told MSNBC. But at least four senators Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, New Mexico senator Tom Udall, Oregon senator Jeff Merkley, and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders have since read the same passage out loud on the floor. King sent Thurmond the letter when Jeff Sessions was up for a federal district judgeship in Alabama. In it, she says Sessions acted against the interests of the civil-rights movement, which was led by her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It has been a long uphill struggle to keep alive the vital legislation that protects the most fundamental right to vote, she wrote. A person who has exhibited so much hostility to the enforcement of those laws, and thus, to the exercise of those rights by Black people should not be elevated to the federal bench. According to Warren, the letter doesnt impugn Sessions but describe[s] a moment in history in which [he] was an active participant. Republicans dont want to hear it, she said on the View Wednesday, where she read several more passages from the letter. They want to find a way to shut it down. Read the full text of Kings letter here. Department stores are dropping Ivanka Trumps line. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Just a few days after news broke that Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus are dropping Ivanka Trumps line, the New York Times reports that T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are also moving to distance themselves from the first daughters brand. A note from TJX Companies, the parent company of both stores, literally told employees to throw Ivanka Trump signs in the garbage. Effective immediately, please remove all Ivanka Trump merchandise from features and mix into the runs, the note read. All Ivanka Trump signs should be discarded. (Runs are the clothing racks where the majority of items hang.) A spokeswoman for the company confirmed that the note had been sent out, but said it didnt mean Ivanka Trump products would totally disappear: The communication was intended to instruct stores to mix this line of merchandise into our racks, not to remove it from the sales floor, she said. We offer a rapidly changing selection of merchandise for our customers, and brands are featured based on a number of factors. She declined to say whether it was unusual to tell employees to throw away a brands signs. Both Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus have said they dropped the line based on its sales performance, and Ivanka Trumps company has commented on the Nordstrom news. We believe that the strength of a brand is measured not only by the profits it generates, but the integrity it maintains, a spokesperson for the line said. Trump also jumped into the fray, defending his daughter the way he knows best: on Twitter. Ivanka, meanwhile, has remained silent, although back in October she seemed surprised that anyone would want to boycott her clothing line because of things her father has said and done. I prefer to talk to the millions, tens of millions of American women who are inspired by the brand and the message that Ive created, she said, adding that shes never politicized that message. Hmm. meh she already had an emmy and she carried the show on her back since day 1 anyway so... good riddance doubt keri will win now, sorry ontd Reply Thread Link He was so hot and much needed eye candy Reply Parent Thread Link I miss him so much. Paul and Sarah were so good together! I love all their scenes together Reply Parent Thread Link paul is hot but my god that actor was wooden as hell Reply Parent Thread Link 's hot bod I too am mourning Paul Reply Parent Thread Link Ditto. I really liked Sarah/Paul. My interest in the show dropped when he left. Reply Parent Thread Link nah last season was sooo good Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I can't even remember how last season ended, but I'm still excited. Sad to see the show go, but at least it's going out before it runs itself into the ground. Reply Thread Link @TheBruun @ScottAukerman @PFTompkins I'm moving in too. I gotta get my hands on that sweet LA weeeeed . But I'm taking your room, Johnstable. Tatiana Maslany (@tatianamaslany) December 27, 2016 hopefully she goes to present and still make a comedy bang bang appearance Reply Thread Link Her comedy nerdness is another reason I love her so much Reply Parent Thread Link Kristian's stories about breaking his foot 4 times killed me esp when he talked about breaking it during a play where he was dressed as a cnn microphone. Reply Parent Thread Link it was really.. political! Reply Parent Thread Link omg that was so fucking good. I love that they ripped on that like the entire rest of the podcast. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm still shocked she won, I never thought I'd see the day. Now they need to go on ahead and give Emmy Rossum her due for Shameless. I'm so mad Claire Foy is going to get it this year. Reply Thread Link Same - Emmy Rossum has been killing it on Shameless since the first season. I enjoyed The Crown, but there's very little to Claire Foy's performance, and nothing that warrants her winning awards. Still, the Television Academy just loves any show focusing on upper-class Brits and they'll reward one (and its actors) over a working-class American show any day of the week because they think it makes them seem so classy themselves. Still bitter about all the awards Downton Abbey got despite being a poorly-written, history-revising, utterly generic soap opera. Reply Parent Thread Link I haven't watched this yet but my dad got me the first two seasons on DVD "because you need to watch this and using force would be illegal" so imma start soon. Is this a good binge show? Reply Thread Link I think it works better as a binge show than week to week, so binge it! The first season is AMAZING, but other seasons (3 in particular) are very uneven. Binging will sort of help with that. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah bingeing is a lot better imo, especially s3&4. Some people say it gets a little complicating, but maybe they had the weekly gap between them? Reply Parent Thread Link i binge watched the first two seasons! then i kinda forgot about it so need to catch up Reply Parent Thread Link it's definitely a better binge show then a week to week show Reply Parent Thread Link i love her and happy she won an emmy but i'm rooting for keri russell this year Reply Thread Link Anyone else going to the liveread of a surprise episode in Toronto in March? I just want to actually meet Tatiana & get her autograph on my dvd. I've met some of the secondary cast & had Tatiana acknowledge me at a panel, but I want that close up interaction :) She's so adorable. Reply Thread Link she already won that's all that matters Reply Thread Link I miss Paul!!!! Him and Sarah were so hot together! Reply Thread Link Hope for Keri!! Although it's sad, she deserves to win even with all the competition Reply Thread Link I couldn't agree more. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah! Tatiana is great, but Keri >>>>>> Reply Parent Thread Link ITA. She's been so criminally overlooked, it's ridiculous. I swear these awards forget that FX exists outside of OJ.... Reply Parent Thread Link Every time I remember she actually won, I feel gleeful for like a split second before I remember all the suckage that is this planet right now. Imma start day drinking soon stg Reply Thread Link Yass Keri, rise !! I like Tatiana but Keri has my heart Reply Thread Link Despite new sanctions by the Trump Administration and an escalating war of words regarding its ballistic missile program, Iran is continuing to push ahead with plans to maintain oil production at around 3.8 million bpd, the level agreed upon at the November OPEC meeting last year. In order to do so, Iran will need to attract billions in new investment, as its current production is based on aging fields and crumbling infrastructure. To maintain the current production level while continuing to export and meet domestic demand, Iran will need at least $100 billion in new investment. New U.S. sanctions, which target 25 Iranian individuals and entities said to be associated with the countrys missile program, is being touted as an initial step in the administrations plan to push back hard on Irans regional ambitions, with National Security Advisor Michael Flynn announcing last week that the U.S. was putting Iran on notice. The Iranian response to the U.S. rhetoric has been mostly dismissive, with one Iranian official characterizing the Trump Administration as inexperienced. The question is how these new sanctions or future U.S. actions against Iran may inhibit the countrys recovering oil and gas industry. The announcement of the new sanctions caused a slight tremor in prices, which was offset by inventory reports and reviving U.S. output. If tensions between the U.S. and Iran were to escalate, it would place upward pressure on prices. Related: Electric Vehicles Will Be A Major Oil Price Driver In The Future Iran is set to announce a round of tenders in mid-February. Originally set for January, the tenders were delayed several weeks, in part due to disagreements within the Iranian government (which oversees the National Iranian Oil Company, or NIOC) over how best to attract foreign investment. Debates over new oil contracts raged all last summer, as the question of inviting more foreign companies into Iran is beset with political significance in a country still considerably isolated from international capital, as well as one that has a long history of distrusting foreign oil companies. According to Reuters, the first round of tenders has been repeatedly delayed, while major companies have made only hesitant inroads into Iran. Shell signed a provisional deal in December to develop three large oil and gas fields, but has yet to act on it. French company Total agreed in principle to a $2 billion deal to develop the South Pars natural gas field, with a 50.1 percent stake in the project The new round of U.S. sanctions, though they are limited in nature, are acting to deter U.S. companies from seeking new contracts. Deputy oil minister Amirhossein Zamaninia has welcomed interest from U.S. companies, but has warned that as long as the primary sanctions remain, U.S. firms cannot play any role in Irans oil and gas industry. Zamainnia has expressed hope that President Trump, as a non-conventional politician, will seek to revise U.S.-Iranian relations and seek business deals, which could potentially serve the U.S. economy. Yet Trumps hard stance on Iran thus far, and the imposition of new sanctions, would make that appear unlikely. The Iranian press claims the new sanctions are isolating the U.S., rather than Iran, which is still free to pursue deals with European companies. Iran has placed no limitations on American companies, but based on their own laws they are not allowed to attend oil tenders in Iran," Zamaninia told the press. Without U.S. companies participating, Iran could probably attract the investment it needs in the short-term. The tenders to be offered in February will include twenty-nine companies, most of them Chinese or East Asian, though Total and Shell have both been permitted to participate. BP was encouraged in January to bid once contracts became available, though the company has not said one way or the other whether it will participate. Related: Plunging Refining Margins See Oil Majors Disappoint In Q4 Iran remains primarily interested in attracting European capital. This makes sense, both from an economic and political perspective (and with the U.S. sanctions and new administration, politics will matter just as much as economics). Iran wants to start exporting in large quantities to Europe again, and last month it dispatched the first major tanker shipments to a European port in five years. Should U.S. antagonism towards Iran increase, to the point that President Trump considers imposing new sanctions or even backing out of the July 2015 nuclear deal, it would place no restraint on European countries like Germany, Great Britain and France, who were all parties to the deal. Germany company BASF, along with two other German petrochemical firms, has expressed an interest in investing as much as $12 billion in Iran, according to Iranian press sources. Total, for its part, has said that it is still ready to go through with its plan, now worth $4.8 billion, to develop South Pars. It should be noted that a lot of the enthusiasm being generated about possible investments in Iran are coming from Iran-affiliated news sources. It may take some time to see if the confidence being projected around Irans ability to attract ample investment accurately reflects industry confidence in the countrys ability to work with foreign companies. Nevertheless, should the February tenders be a success, and should Iran overcome its own political divisions regarding attracting foreign investment, theres a strong chance the country will continue to develop its untapped oil and gas fields and continue the on-going recovery of its domestic energy industry, regardless of punitive actions taken by the United States. By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: An unlikely supporter of U.S. President Donald Trumps energy policies spoke out this week, and its really appropriate in this mad mad word of alternative facts and logic be damned, that its someone Trump had vowed to take down. When asked by the BBCs Lyse Doucet why he wasnt worried when President Trump said he wanted the U.S. to have complete energy independence from its foes and the oil cartels, the Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy Khalid al-Falih calmly replied, Well, were not the foes. When Doucet pointed out, But you are the oil cartel he said he looked forward to working with the Energy Secretary. When pressed that there must be some concern for a country that was singled out by Trump during the election campaign as one that would find imports to the U.S. blocked, not a feather was ruffled. It is perhaps unsurprising given how much business was done in that country by the new President before he was sworn in. President Trump has policies which are good for the oil industry and I think we have to acknowledge it, he had earlier said. We want the same thing. In fact, they want the same thing so much that al-Falih says that they may invest more than the billions of dollars already in the U.S. refining and distribution industry, encouraged by the pro-industry, pro-oil and gas policies of the Trump administration. One remark which was of note that the U.S. leaders determination to pump till it drops would be supported so long as it grows in line with global energy demand. This literally weeks after we celebrated the signing of a deal to restrict global production because of poor demand. (ED: Id break down but then I remembered Im in the New World where logical actions appear to have no place.) Related: Oil Markets On A Knife Edge Despite 91% OPEC Compliance This all happened at about the same time that the Kingdom was announcing its biggest effort to date to divest itself of fossil fuel dependency. At a news conference al-Falih told reporters that by 2023 the country aims to be generating 9.5 GW of power from renewables. To this effect, it will award its first tender to build 700 MW of wind and solar power in September. 300 MG of solar and 400 MG of wind. Al-Falih said, The terms on renewable contracts will be motivating so that the cost of generating power from these renewables sources will be the lowest in the world. The major renewable energy supply programme is expected to involve investments of up to $50bn by 2023, and be the first public-private partnership tenders in the Kingdom. Its hoping to bring in $50bn of investment and transform the state into a solar powerhouse. Applications are being sought later this month, with a proposal request to be issued in the middle of April, and the first projects announced at the end of the summer. "We have vast renewable energy resources, said al-Falih, And by exploiting them, we work towards our sustainable development goals and reinforce our position as the worlds most reliable supplier of energy, allowing us to accelerate economic transformation. Related: Irans Oil Industry Unshaken By New Sanctions To date, Saudi Arabia has been slow to make use of its abundant renewable source. But the impact of the falling oil prices led to never-felt-before financial pain by the Government using up more than $100bn of reserves and reducing home subsidies. Change had to come. Its a wise move to look to an abundant source of power which couldnt be further from the new Presidents horizon, so as to not rely on the peculiar friendship. It was noted that pre-election Trump would have done anything to undo the Iranian pact but it took just one phone-call with the Saudi King for him to agree on the importance of rigorously enforcing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran and of addressing Irans destabilising regional activities. Whether King Salman is in possession merely of more impressive powers of persuasion than Malcolm Turnbull we dont know, but this is one power play were going to settle down for. By Precise Consultants More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The oil ministers of Iran and Qatar have suggested that OPECs production cut agreement may have to be extended beyond the June deadline, despite an almost 100-percent compliance rate. The comments come a day after the American Petroleum Institute reported the second-largest crude oil inventory increase in history, at 14.227 million barrels, which added fuel to worries that production cut efforts are not enough to rebalance the market. Irans Oil Minister, Bijan Zanganeh, told Iranian media after a meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart that the option of extending the cut needs further study, but, he said, in principle the group must do it. Zanganeh also said that most OPEC producers would be happy with oil at US$60 a level that has proved difficult to reach. Qatars Oil Minister Mohammed Al Sada, for his part, spoke at a news conference in Doha, saying that the oil market may rebalance in the third quarter, adding that its too early to make a judgment. At the same time, however, Qatars Finance Minister said that the country is comfortable with the current level of oil prices, with expectations that it will be able to plug its budget hole this year, at oil price levels of US$45, as stipulated in the budget. Related: Huge Crude Inventory Build Sparks Wave Of Panic Buying The latest update from OPEC on how the production cut was progressing pegged daily production for January at 32.89 million barrels, versus a target of 32.5 million barrels. This represented a compliance rate of 91 percent and suggested that nearly everyone is on board with the market rebalancing effort. Iraq is still producing 130,000 bpd more than agreed, but as a whole, the cartel is exceeding expectations of compliance. This, however, seems to be insufficiently lifting benchmark prices. After APIs report yesterday, WTI slipped below US$52 and Brent dropped below US$55. Both WTI and Brent benchmarks climbed following Wednesdays EIA inventory report that showed gasoline inventories decreased, contrary to yesterdays forecasted build by the API. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: By Steve Buckstein Opponents of Betsy DeVos tried everything they could to keep her from becoming U.S. Secretary of Education. In the end, she was approved by the Senate on Tuesday with Vice President Pence breaking a 50-50 tie vote. In addition to arguments that she is wealthy (which she is) and that she never attended public schools (which she didnt), opponents feigned shock that she had the temerity to argue that educating children takes precedence over protecting and funding public schools that may not meet their needs. Perhaps her opponents biggest error is thinking that private schools are not providing public education. But they are. Many Americans recognize that meeting the educational needs of children trumps meeting the financial needs of the adults who work in public school buildings. Public education means educating the publicor it should. Students dont suddenly stop being part of the public just because their parents believe they will be better educated in other than their local public school building. Betsy DeVos believes that public funding of education shouldnt be limited to schools dominated by public teachers unions. She may not be a friend of those unions, but she is a friend of children who may need those funds to help them learn somewhere else. She has, and will advocate for school choice programs including charters, vouchers, and Education Savings Accounts that allow those children to take their public education funds to the schools they and their familiesnot the governmentchoose. Steve Buckstein is Founder and Senior Policy Analyst at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons free market public policy research organization. Federal Cabinet approved Electoral Reforms Bill ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the historic draft Electoral Reforms Bill prepared by the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms. The proposed law, which will grant financial and administrative autonomy to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), is expected to be presented before parliament next month for enactment. The cabinet, which met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair, discussed a 33-point agenda. Later, Law Minister Zahid Hamid and Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb briefed the media on the decisions made by the cabinet. Giving details of the draft Electoral Reforms Bill, Zahid Hamid said special measures would be undertaken to encourage enlistment of women voters in case there was a difference of more than 10 percent in the number of male and female votes. All the political parties would have to issue 5 percent tickets to female candidates on general seats. Disabled voters would be provided with the postal ballot facility, he added. He said delimitation of constituencies would be carried out after every 10 years. Zahid Hamid said the recommendations for electoral reforms had been prepared with consensus by the parliamentary committee. The Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, he said, would mull over the required constitutional amendments before presentation of the reforms bill to parliament for approval. He said the recommendations envisaged total financial, administrative and functional autonomy for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The ECP would be empowered to take disciplinary action against officials deputed from other departments and ministries for election purposes. The commission would be required to prepare a comprehensive action plan six months ahead of any elections to seek input and objections from the political parties and candidates, he said. A formal complaint system, he added, would be introduced to lodge complaints about malpractices before elections and for their redressal. The law minister said that votes would be counted and the result would be compiled at the polling station, and the Form-14 containing results, would be transmitted to the returning officer and the ECP through a mobile application to ensure prompt transmission of results. In case victory margin was less than 5 percent or 10,000 votes, recounting would be mandatory, he added. A uniform system of printing of ballot papers, he said, would be introduced for all constituencies. Under the reforms package, he said a citizen would be automatically registered as a voter once he or she was issued a Computerised National Identity Card and no application would be needed for the purpose. Speaking on the occasion, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that besides discussing the draft Electoral Reforms Bill, the cabinet under the Prime Minister's Healthcare Programme gave approval for the issuance of additional funds for treatment of patients suffering from fatal diseases, including kidney, liver and bone marrow transplant and various forms of cancer. The cabinet decided that 46 modern hospitals, with a capacity of 100 to 500 beds each, would be built in all parts of the country on an emergency basis to provide the latest healthcare facilities to the poor, she said. The minister said the Health Infrastructure Development and Management Company (HIDMC) would be established. She said the report of the cabinet committee constituted for the people affected by Indian firing on the Working Boundary was also discussed in the meeting. It was decided that Rs 500,000 compensation would be given to the heirs of each person martyred in Indian firing in Sialkot and Narowal sectors, and Rs 150,000 for the treatment of each seriously injured person. Moreover, 50 bunkers would be built along the Working Boundary so that people wandering off at vulnerable positions could take refuge there during shelling, she added. About Afghan refugees, she said the registered Afghan nationals would be allowed to live in Pakistan until December 31, 2017. Military intelligence officials briefed parliamentarians on military courts ISLAMABAD: Top military intelligence officials on Tuesday briefed the parliamentary leaders on the working of military courts to remove their apprehensions about the judicial system under the armys supervision. The absence of representatives of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) the two government allies from the in-camera briefing was conspicuous. Later, the opposition parties criticised the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for not taking their coalition partners into confidence before approaching them for a consensus. When the opposition parties have not yet made any categorical comment on revival of military courts, the JUI-F and the PkMAP are openly opposing the governments plan. Tuesdays meeting, which had been specially convened for the briefing, was presided over by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and also attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Law Minister Zahid Hamid. The briefing was given by the outgoing and incoming heads of the Military Intelligence (MI). Officials of the Inter-Service Intelligence were also present. Earlier, the opposition parties had rejected the two briefings on the same issue given by the law minister. During the last such meeting on Jan 31, the parties had agreed to meet again on Feb 16. The opposition parties had asked the government to provide a roadmap of its plan to carry out judicial reforms and structural changes in the criminal justice system before seeking their cooperation for reviving military courts. Military courts were established and granted permission to try civilians accused of terrorism in January, 2015, after the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December, 2014. The courts were given a two-year constitutional cover as both houses of the parliament passed the 21st Amendment in the Constitution despite fears among lawmakers that the establishment of military courts might undermine democracy in the country. The courts have been non-functional since Jan 7 after expiry of the two-year constitutional cover. The government now wants a two-year extension for the military tribunals. Although the opposition parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami and the Awami National Party (ANP), disagree with the governments point of view, they are keeping the option of talks open on the issue. Talking to reporters PTI vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi termed the briefing satisfactory, saying the MI officials with the ranks of major-general gave replies to their questions in a polite and dignified manner. However, he criticised the government for its failure to take its allies on board on the issue. He said that he had also questioned the absence of the interior minister from such important briefings. The PTI leader said the opposition was waiting for the Feb 16 meeting in which the government had promised to provide a complete roadmap about its future plan. He said the government had failed to carry out judicial reforms as promised by it at the time of seeking the political parties support for establishment of military courts. Mr Qureshi said the parties had agreed that a parliamentary committee would be constituted to monitor and oversee the implementation of the governments plan to introduce judicial and structural reforms in the country. Moreover, he said, the opposition wanted that any decision on military courts should be taken at the highest forum and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should convene a multi-party conference for this purpose. Meteorologist Paul Douglas writes about Minnesota weather daily, trying to go beyond the "highs" and "lows" of the weather story to discuss current trends and some of the how's and why's of meteorology. Rarely is our weather dull - every day is a new forecast challenge. Why is the weather doing what it's doing? Is climate change a real concern, and if so, how will my family be affected? Climate is flavoring all weather now, and I'll include links to timely stories that resonate with me. Absolutely pathetic! Headline: CNN, 10/29/2022 The flyer shown here is an example of what the Republican Party of Wisconsin is sending out ... The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, The California Sunday Magazine received the 2017 National Magazine Award for Photography in a ceremony held Tuesday in New York City. Pacific Standard took home the award for Feature Photography, which honored Adrift, a story about the refugee crisis shot by Francesco Zizola aboard search-and-rescue boats in the Mediterranean Sea. In a citation, judges commended The California Sunday Magazine for their unrelenting pursuit of excellence, working with a wide range of subjects and photographic styles. Other finalists for the general photography award were AFAR, Aperture, Powder and WSJ. The California Sunday Magazine was also a finalist for Magazine of the Year. The Magazine of the Year award went to Mother Jones. The Feature Photography citation noted that Zizolas photographs of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean combine a strong visual perspective with a powerful narrative voice. Finalists for Feature Photography were stories published by The New York Times Magazine, Refinery29 and National Geographic. The awards, nicknamed the Ellies for the elephant-like shape of the Alexander Calder-designed statuettes presented to winners, are sponsored by the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Columbia Journalism School. The 2017 awards were judged by 282 editors, art directors, photo editors and educators. Related: THE CINEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE CALIFORNIA SUNDAY MAGAZINE (For PDN subscribers; login required) TRACING THE LIFE OF A MENTALLY ILL MURDERER HOW PHOTO EDITORS FIND AND HIRE PHOTOGRAPHERS One of my favorite Woody Allen lines is, "I'm not afraid of death. I just don't want to be there when it happens." Death ... Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America. The show, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Johnstown Moose Club, will have merchandise for sale, informative speakers and raffles. The event is always a good way to spend a winter day in upstate New York. The first featured guest will be the Adirondack Deer Trackers. Joe DiNitto, Steve Grabowski, Jim Massett and Dave Williams make up this unique group of Adirondack Deer Hunters from central New York who have a combined 170 years of Adirondack hunting experience between them. They will be on hand signing copies of their new book called Adirondack Deer Trackers: Stories As Told In Deer Camp. Our second featured guest is writer/photographer and Fishing Author Spider Rybaak. Rybaak, who returns with his newest book Fishing the Adirondacks." Our third featured guest is Adirondack Outdoors editor Leo Maloney who will be on hand to greet readers and passing out complimentary copies of his publication. GRANVILLE The school board is looking for community members to help interview superintendent candidates. The district is advertising for the position to lead the roughly 1,100-student district. The salary range is between $130,000 and $150,000. The district is putting together two advisory committees to interview semifinalists in March. Each 12-member committee will be made up of administrators, two members of the teachers association, two support staff members, two parents, two students and two community members, according to a news release about the search. The committees will assess the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and prepare a report to the board. Committee members will be required to attend three meetings in late March. On March 27, they will meet from 5 to 8 p.m. in the high school library to learn about the process from Deputy District Superintendent Tony Muller. The next day, they are tentatively scheduled to meet at noon to interview the semifinalists. They will present their findings to the school board on the evening of March 29. People interested in applying should contact Connie Resetar, secretary to the superintendent at 642-1051, ext. 1310 or by email at cresetar@granvillecsd.org. The deadline is March 6. If more than four community members express interest, the participants will be selected by lottery. The board sought input via an online community survey about qualities that people would like in a superintendent. President Audrey Hicks said the results of that survey will be presented at the next meeting on Monday. She said the board is still developing criteria for qualities it is seeking in a superintendent. The goal is to have a new superintendent in place by July 1 or before. The local BOCES is handling the search. District Superintendent James Dexter said in an email it is difficult to estimate how many candidates will be brought in for initial interviews. The deadline for applications is Feb. 17. They can be sent to WSWHE BOCES at 1153 Burgyone Ave. in Fort Edward or by emailing jdexterwswheboces.org. For more information, call 746-3310. The district is looking for a replacement for Mark Bessen, who retired at the end of January. Former Hudson Falls Superintendent Mark Doody is serving as interim superintendent. A winter storm forced cancellations of after-school events, town meetings and more Tuesday afternoon and evening. A winter weather advisory was issued for Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, but the National Weather Service later updated it to an ice storm warning set to expire at 4 a.m. Wednesday. The Tuesday evening commute was a rough one with multiple accidents reported, both on local roads and on the Northway. A trooper at the Queensbury station said there were multiple accidents, and another at the Northway station said troopers had been busy all afternoon. An accident near Northway exit 17 snarled the southbound commute, according to a Post-Star reporter who was stuck in the traffic jam. The National Weather Service forecast snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 4 inches with greater amounts in the higher elevations. At 7 p.m., the National Weather Service changed the winter weather advisory to an ice storm warning running until 4 a.m. Wednesday. Freezing rain is expected, perhaps changing to rain in the morning. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-20s to lower 30s. Winds will be at 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. The ice storm warning means severe winter weather conditions were expected or occurring. Significant amounts of ice accumulations were expected to make travel dangerous or impossible. Travel is strongly discouraged. Ice accumulations and winds were likely to lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches that add to the danger. The following postponements and cancellations were announced Tuesday: The town of Bolton postponed its Town Board meeting to a date to be announced. In sports, Salem at Argyle; Fort Edward at North Warren; Hadley-Luzerne at Lake George; South Glens Falls at Queensbury; Hartford at Fort Ann; Hudson Falls at Glens Falls; Granville at Corinth and Warrensburg and Whitehall boys basketball games have been postponed to Wednesday at the same times. The Greenwich at Saratoga Catholic girls basketball game has been postponed. The boys swimming meet between Fonda-Johnstown at Queensbury has been postponed until tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. The Warren/Washington County STD/HIV Clinic scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Warren County Municipal Center has been canceled. The next clinic will be held Feb. 14. The spaghetti dinner has also been canceled at Argyle Central School. For a full list of school closings and event cancellations, click here. Democrat William Loeb wants to return to the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Loeb, previously Glens Falls 4th Ward Supervisor from 2010 through 2013, said Tuesday he will run for his former seat in November, which will be open because Republican James Brock is not seeking re-election. I thought I was done, but circumstances pushed me in this direction, Loeb said. Loeb, 65, a medical technologist at Glens Falls Hospital, said he wants to bring a scientific approach to county issues and a focus on unifying city, Queensbury and up-county supervisors. I really enjoy being able to break down walls so that everyone in the county can benefit, he said. Loeb lost a re-election bid in 2013 to Brock. Brock was re-elected in 2015, but is not seeking re-election this year. Loeb previously was city 4th Ward councilman from 1986 through 1993. Glens Falls Democratic Chairwoman Margaret Farrell said Loeb is extremely experienced in local government. A Republican candidate has not yet been announced. Loeb said he consulted with 16 prominent individuals locally, both Democrat and Republican, before he decided to run. I reached out to a lot of people. I just felt that was something to do instead of barging back into the scene, he said. I was encouraged across the board to do it. More than 5,000 National Grid customers in the region were without electricity as of early Wednesday thanks to the ice storm that hit the region. More than 3,000 of the outages were in Hamilton County, where the southern part of the county was hardest hit. Most of Lake Pleasant, Speculator and Wells were without power as of 5:30 a.m. Nearly 1,800 in Saratoga County were in the dark, with Greenfield, Wilton and Galway the hardest hit. More than 200 were out in Warren and Washington counties, with Lake Luzerne and Argyle the worst off. The company expected most customers to have their power back on by early Wednesday evening. However, more outages are likely Wednesday as winds pick up and ice remains on trees and branches. Numerous schools in the region have delayed their openings because of slick roads and power outages. A list can be found here. Temperatures are expected to rise into the 40s Wednesday, with colder weather and snow likely Thursday and over the weekend. The question Im asking all of you is this: Does any of this make any sense? This is just a small snapshot of what Congress did last week, and a startling indication of the direction it is taking the country in the days and weeks ahead. There was a French philosopher born three centuries ago who said it pretty well: Common sense is not so common. I think it applies here. So what Im asking you to do is put yourself in Washington and ask yourself how you would vote. Congress voted to reverse the Stream Protection Rule aimed at protecting the nations waterways from debris generated by surface mining. The Interior Department said the rule would protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests by keeping coal mining debris out of nearby water. It was an anti-pollution measure. Daile Rois, who lives about 2,000 feet from a shuttered coal mine near Charleston, West Virginia, told The New York Times that many creeks, including the two that run across her property run orange. The vote was 228-194 in the House of Representatives where our Rep. Elise Stefanik voted to return pollution to West Virginia. Advocates for the reversal said the rule was designed to kill coal mining jobs. Even if that were true, have we become so desperate for jobs that we approve of poisoning our neighborhoods in the name of a paycheck? Perhaps Congress will roll back the air standards in our community next? Congress also voted to revoke a Security and Exchange Commission rule requiring energy and mining companies to reveal their payments to foreign governments. The aim of the rule was to add transparency and curb corruption. Congress saw it differently. The House voted 235-187 to keep deals like this secret. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is huge on transparency, voted for secrecy. Had the rule been in effect the past few years, Exxon Mobil, whose former CEO is now secretary of state, would have had to disclose what payments it was getting from the Russian government. Not now going forward. If you have ever dealt with an elderly parent or a sick relative, you know the time comes when they cannot go it alone and they need help doing even the simplest things. The Obama administration enacted a rule that required the Social Security Administration to report people who receive disability benefits and have a mental health condition to the FBIs background check system to ensure they could not purchase a firearm. But Congress voted 235-180 that even those judged with mental disorders like schizophrenia and severe anxiety will now be able to purchase a firearm. I consider this an assisted suicide bill, and once again our Rep. Elise Stefanik voted for it. I repeat, people who cannot manage their own affairs can still have a firearm. Congress also rescinded a rule to reduce the release of methane gas from oil and natural-gas wells on federal lands. The measure was intended to fight climate change. It wont anymore. The House voted 221-91, with our own congresswoman finally voicing a dissent, to roll back the rule. Sadly, this is just the beginning. Congress is looking at undoing nearly 200 rules and policies in the coming weeks. And like these, they wont make headlines on the evening news or in the newspaper. President Trump also signed an executive order rescinding a rule due to go into effect in April that would require retirement advisers in the financial sector to work in the best interest of their clients instead of themselves. You mean that isnt a law already? Sadly, it is not, and it will never be. Ken Tingley is the editor of The Post-Star and may be reached via email at tingley@poststar.com. You can read his blog The Front Page daily at www.poststar.com or his updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kentingley. Editor: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. This quote from the Statue of Liberty is an indication of a great nation. We were that nation once. We stumbled along the way, most notably when we shamefully turned away refugees who were fleeing persecution during the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Our nation was in the grips of a right-wing isolationist sentiment called America First. The Nazis were right-wing nationalists who came to power on the promise to Make Germany Great Again. It is ironic that the White House chose to betray our values once again last Friday, which was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. President Trump, in an executive order written by Steve Bannon, turned away refugees who are fleeing wars in Syria and Iraq, along with other Muslims. Bannon is a right-wing isolationist who is known as a white supremacist. Yet another irony: several terrorist attacks in this country during this century have been carried out by our very own right-wing white supremacists, while none have been carried out by foreigners from the countries which are affected by this order. Former Mexican President Fox said that the executive order has united the world against Trump, and by extension, against the United States. I have a greater concern. John Dean, White House counsel under President Nixon, has recently said that The American presidency has never been at the whims of an authoritarian personality like Donald Trump. He is going to test our democracy as it has never been tested. Prominent Republican conservative Charles Koch said the nation is at a point of tremendous danger, adding that America can go the authoritarian route under Trump and Bannon. Who will join me in defending our values against these bullies? Richard Morse, Warrensburg More than 1,000 NATO soldiers being stationed in Lithuania sends a clear signal that the alliance stands "strong and united" in the Baltics in the face of Russian aggression, the Lithuanian president said Tuesday. Dalia Grybauskaite said that Lithuania has "never before" seen "forces of such size and integrity" deployed in one of NATO's easternmost countries close to key Russian exclave Kaliningrad. At last year's NATO summit in Warsaw, the alliance decided to deploy forces in the countries bordering Russia and Belarus. After Russia displayed its might in Georgia and Ukraine in recent years, there is a fear in Baltic countries and Poland that other ex-Soviet republics could be next. Germany will lead the multinational unit of more than 1,000 soldiers that will be based near Kaliningrad with a navy base and long-range missiles. NATO battle groups are also being stationed in Poland, Latvia and Estonia as part of an alliance mission as countries in the region fear a resurgent Russia. The buildup "sends a very clear and important message to all that NATO stands strong and united," Grybauskaite said Tuesday. "The battalion arrives to the right place at the right time. Because we do see the aggressive militarization of the Kaliningrad region. It's on our border," Grybauskaite said, adding "This means this is a threat to (the whole) alliance, and Europe." Secretary of State Rex Tillersons comment during his confirmation hearing that the United States would deny China access to its man-made island bases in the South China Sea caused a predictable furor. However, few people seriously think the US is going to blockade the islands. This is a poor option anyway. Chinas military is not going to be rolled back and abandon the islands. It cant. Beijings leadership has proven it is no better at running an economy than anyone else in human history. That only leaves restoring Chinas grandeur to justify Chinese Communist Party rule. Backing down in the face of US pressure would be humiliating and possibly threaten regime survival. Even if the US has few decent options for direct military pressure on existing Chinese-held island bases, Tillersons comments and subsequent statements by Trump Administration officials suggest an abrupt change in longstanding US policy towards China. One might now anticipate an end to accommodationist (some would say, appeasement) policy under which the norm was de-escalation whenever China did something provocative. Regional geography is an unchanging variable and not in Chinas favor in this case as it leaves open the possibility that if push comes to shove, the US and its partners could hem Chinese forces inside the 1st Island Chain. And, if necessary, make life exceedingly difficult for Chinese forces operating inside the chain. The geography makes the 1st Island Chain effectively a barrier. There are relatively few access (or exit) points through the chain that stretches all the way from Japan in the north down past Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, and over to the Straits of Malacca in the south. The aforementioned asymmetrical weapons do not take into account the considerable resources of the US (and other nations) in the form of naval combatant ships, submarines, airpower, Marines, and surveillance resources that can be used to block the 1st Island Chain. With a newfound US backbone, particularly if solidly linked operationally and politically with Japan and its considerable, if latent, military resources other regional nations might feel more confident about asserting their own interests. President Xi and his immediate predecessors perhaps didnt think through the geography angle as much as they might have. And China tipped its hand too soon in 2009 when it ended its so-called charm offensive, which was indeed lulling to sleep regional nations (and even many Americans), and started throwing its weight around. The political forces that are behind the latest outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine are seeking to block the path towards improved US-Russian relations the Russian envoy to the UN told RT. Those, who are provoking those manifestations of violence in the Eastern Ukraine, are actually aiming at making sure that there are additional obstacles for the improvement of relations between the US and Russia because they do not want the relations between the two countries to improve, Russias Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told RTs Aleksey Yaroshevsky in an interview. Churkin said the recent spike of military activity [in the Eastern Ukraine] was initiated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the [so-called] volunteer battalions that are fighting in the east of the country. He particularly emphasized that the reports of the OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine prove that the bulk of the blame lies on Kiev. If you read the reports of the OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine, it is obvious that it is the fault of the Ukrainian [government] , Churkin said, referring to the latest escalation of violence in Ukraine. He added that the OSCE mission could be clearer in presenting the facts, which they have at some points. He then said the western media's coverage of the Ukrainian conflict distorted the facts to a great extent. The United Nations warned Israel on Tuesday that the new Settlements Law helps pave the way for the annexation of the West Bank. It "opens the potential for the full annexation of the West Bank and therefore undermines substantially the two-state solution," the UN Special Envoy to the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov told AFP. "This is the first time the Israeli Knesset legislates in the occupied Palestinian lands and particularly on property issues," he told AFP. "That crosses a very thick red line, he said and added that it also increased the possibly that the International Criminal Court would rule on the issue of West Bank settlements. The Israeli Right cheered the the so-called Settlements Bill that retroactively legalizes 4,000 new homes on private Palestinian property while offering the landowners compensation. They hoped it would prevent any future forced demolitions of settler homes, such as the last weeks evacuation of the Amona outpost and next months scheduled demolition of nine homes in the Ofra settlement. "Those settlers in Judea and Samaria that were sent by past governments to live there have suffered from a great deal of injustice over a long period of time. Tonight we made sure to fix it and regulated their status once and for all," Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said after the bills passage. But European countries condemned the new legislation on Tuesday. This law could exacerbate regional tensions, stated French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. The law further harms the two-state solution, said Ayrault as he recalled that in January some 75 countries and international organizations had affirmed that this option was the best way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He called on Israel to respect international law, which considers settlement activity to be illegal. In Jerusalem, Netanyahu spoke with visiting Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel about the almost three-year freeze in the peace process. I think the problem for which we lack peace with the Palestinians is a simple truth the persistent Palestinian refusal for the last 70 years, 68 years since Israel was established, to recognize a Jewish state in any boundaries. This is the core of our particular conflict. I look forward to the day when we have Palestinians who are willing to recognize, finally, the Jewish state. That will be the beginning of peace and a great step forward to achieving it, Netanyahu said. An extensive new poll has found that 55 per cent of Europeans want to stop immigration from Muslim countries, with just 20 per cent supporting its continuation. A survey carried out by the Royal Institute of International Affairs think tank asked 10,000 Europeans in ten different countries if they agreed with the statement, All further migration from mainly Muslim countries should be stopped. 55 per cent answered in the affirmative, 25% said they dont know and just 20% said they disagreed with the statement. Opposition to Muslim immigration is strongest in Poland, where 71% oppose it compared to just 9% who support it. In France, which has experienced a number of horrific terror attacks over the last two years, 61% oppose Muslim immigration while just 16% support it. In Germany, which has seen instances of mass molestation of women carried out by Muslim migrants, most notably in Cologne, 53% support a halt on Muslim immigration, while 19% oppose that view. This poll proves that opposition to Muslim immigration in Europe is now the mainstream view. With new elections in France, the Netherlands and Germany set to take place later this year, it remains to be seen how that resentment will translate into actual political change. The leftist multi-billionaire George Soros is the financier behind multiple progressive organizations including ACORN, Apollo Alliance, National Council of La Raza, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Tides Foundation, Southern Poverty Law Center, People for the American Way, Media Matters, and Moveon.org. Among Soross leftwing causes is the eradication of national sovereignty in favor of open borders. Insofar as there are collective interests that transcend state boundaries, the sovereignty of states must be subordinated to international law and international institutions, Soros said nearly 20 years ago. Soros and his Open Society Foundations had lobbied the Obama administration to sharply increase the admission of refugees to a total of at least 100,000 annually. President Trump wants to cut that total back to 50,000 once the admission of refugees to the United States resumes. Through Soros's front group, the Open Society Foundations, he is now bankrolling various progressive organizations that are challenging President Trumps anti-terrorist immigration executive order in court. It shouldn't surprise anyone that pressure groups funded by George Soros are litigating to keep U.S. ports-of-entry wide open to terrorists and other people who hate America," Matthew Vadum, senior vice president of the Capital Research Center, told LifeZette . "Soros has said he wants to bring America down. Flooding the country with Muslim aliens who won't assimilate is one way to do that." For example, the Soros organization has contributed at least $35.5 million to the American Civil Liberties Union , which was one of the first leftwing groups to represent plaintiffs in a challenge to the executive order. President Trump's war on equality is already taking a terrible human toll. This ban cannot be allowed to continue, said Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project. The International Refugee Assistance Project at the Urban Justice Center and the National Immigration Law Center, also Soros donees, have participated in the litigation. Taryn Higashi, executive director of the Centers International Refugee Assistance Project, is an Advisory Board Member of the Open Society Foundation's International Migration Initiative. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) at the Urban Justice Center is outraged at the executive order signed by President Trump that suspends all refugee resettlement for 120 days, bans refugees from Syria indefinitely, and reduces the number of refugees to be resettled this Fiscal Year to 50,000, the progressive advocacy group stated in a press release . Denying thousands of the most persecuted refugees the chance to reach safety is an irresponsible and dangerous move that undermines American values and imperils our foreign relations and national security. This is the kind of hysteria the left traffics in. Why didnt these bleeding hearts cry out when only a very tiny percentage of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States by the Obama administration were the truly persecuted religious minorities who were the victims of genocide? These religious minorities included Christians and Yazidis, whom were virtually ignored by the Obama administration. Leftists are instead allying themselves with the Muslim Brotherhood-tied Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), who falsely labeled President Trumps executive order the Muslim Exclusion Order in a lawsuit CAIR filed on behalf of a number of radical Islamists . It wont be the first time that CAIR has teamed up with a Soros-funded organization. For example, representatives from CAIR, the George Soros-funded New America Foundation and Hamas attended an Al-Jazeera Forum in Doha, Qatar in 2011. Once again, the left and radical Islamists have joined forces to use open borders and the Islamophobia canard as rallying cries against the country they both despise. What rankles them the most is that President Trump will not be cowered into surrendering his resolve to protect the American people. Billionaire leftist teams up with Democrat attorneys general to bury administration in legal challenges More than a dozen lawsuits and counting have been filed against President Donald Trumps executive order that temporarily blocks visas from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen. Looking beyond the handful of emotional personal stories that are gaining the medias sympathy, there is a more predictable political power dynamic at play. The lawsuits largely stem from organizations bankrolled by billionaire leftist George Soros and Democratic state attorneys general. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who has carried out a political vendetta against Trump, led 15 other state attorneys general in a joint statement condemning what they called an unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful executive order. The Democratic AGs also said, Religious liberty has been, and always will be, a bedrock principle of our country and no president can change that truth, a curious statement from the party that targeted the Little Sisters of the Poor. Last August, George Soros son, Alex Soros, posted a picture of himself with Schneiderman on Instagram, and wrote, Great to meet with #newyork attorney general @ericschneiderman who recognized that @realdonaldtrump was a fraud way before many and has courageously taken him on! Democrats are even raising money off the lawsuits. In a Facebook post, the Democratic Attorneys General Association said, "Stand with Attorney General Bob Ferguson and all Democratic State Attorneys General fighting for what's right!" It added, "Chip in to support Democratic AGs fighting for progressive rights and freedoms." Outside of the politicians, Soros' Open Society Foundations, which advocates for open borders, is financing several advocacy groups that initiated litigation against the order. Leading the way in these lawsuits in several states is the American Civil Liberties Union, which has gotten at least $35.5 million from the Open Society Foundations, according to the Capital Research Center, a Washington think tank that investigates nonprofits. Soros also gave $4.6 million to the National Immigration Law Center, which has been involved in litigation, according to the CRC; and $621,000 to the Urban Justice Center, which has an appendage known as the International Refugee Assistance Project that has jumped into the lawsuits, according to the CRC. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Over the past 15 years, the trio of cash-rich Middle Eastern carriers or ME3 have barnstormed their way to the forefront of the global airline market. Most recently, their expansion has brought them into direct competition with the US trio of American, Delta, and United Airlines. The three US legacy carriers or US3 allege that the ME3's growth has been artificially enhanced by more than $50 billion in unfair government subsidies and their continued growth in America puts US aviation jobs at risk. According to the Partnership for Fair and Open Skies an organization tasked with speaking on behalf of the US3 on the matter the ME3 is in violation of the Open Skies agreements that govern air travel between the US and various countries around the world. As a result, the US3 will likely petition the Trump administration to renegotiate these treaties. In January, Emirates announced a new route between Newark, New Jersey and Athens, Greece. The response from the US3 was swift and furious. "By flagrantly violating its Open Skies agreement with the United States at the start of the Trump administration, Emirates is throwing down the gauntlet," Partnership for Open and Fair Skies chief spokesperson, Jill Zuckman, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with President Trump and his team to enforce these agreements and protect American jobs something that the Obama administration failed to do." Foreign passengers, domestic business However, there's another group of US companies in this debate and it is siding with the Middle Eastern carriers. This coalition called US Airlines for Open Skies (USAOS) features JetBlue, Hawaiian as well as cargo carriers Atlas and FedEx. "United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines do not speak for all US airlines," the group writes on its website. " This is not US Airlines vs. Gulf Airlines, this is a small group of big US airlines seeking to restrict competition, against the interests of other US airlines, the US travel and tourism industry and US consumers." The USAOS believes that meddling on the part of the US government in relations to the Open Skies agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, will put similar agreements with numerous other nations in jeopardy possibly restricting future access into the foreign markets for US carriers. "Foreign airlines bring thousands of passengers to the United States, creating demand for connecting flights for smaller U.S. airlines," the USAOS's website states. Since foreign airlines are prohibited from flying between points within the US, smaller domestic airlines such as JetBlue, Hawaiian, and Alaska Air benefit greatly from the connecting passengers carried to the US airports by the ME3's wide-body jumbo jets. As a result, the group argues, a slowdown of international traffic into the US On February 7, in a joint letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the CEO's of JetBlue, FedEx, Hawaiian, and Atlas Air wrote that "regrettably, three large legacy U.S. airlines Delta, United, and American are making demands that would jeopardize Open Skies and reduce competition in an already overly concentrated U.S. airline market." Trump has 24 official members of his Cabinet, and the Senate has so far confirmed 14 of them. In the month since Trump took office, two high-level hires withdrew from the confirmation process, and one senior adviser resigned. We'll keep this list updated as Trump announces the rest of the senior leadership positions, and the Senate confirms or rejects them. Here's what we know so far: Labor Secretary: Alexander Acosta (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Hilda L. Solis, Thomas Perez Duties: enforce labor laws, including ones involving unions and other business-citizen relations UPDATE 2/15: Top Republicans in the Senate encouraged the White House to withdraw Andrew Puzder's nomination, due to concerns that he wouldn't receive the necessary votes for confirmation. Critics, notably labor unions, were concerned that Puzder would 'betray American workers' because he's said in the past that machines are the answer to rising wages not raising the minimum wage. Some women also expressed disgust that Puzder said he "like[s] beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis," who star in the ads for Carl's Jr., the fast food chain Puzder heads as CKE CEO. He dropped out of the running on February 15, a day before his confirmation hearing. Reactions to Acosta: After Puzder's polarizing pick, many on both sides of the aisle view Acosta as a sensible choice for the job. The AFL-CIO trade union said Acosta's nomination deserves "serious consideration." The Senate has confirmed him for other roles three times, so he's expected to sail through again. National Security Adviser: Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster Obama administration counterparts: James Jones, Thomas Donilon, Susan Rice Duties: Provide the president's daily national security briefing; coordinate the administration's foreign policy, intelligence, and military efforts UPDATE 2/13: On February 13, Trump's first National Security Adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, resigned after admitting that he may have discussed loosening American sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the US before Trump was sworn into office, despite previously insisting he hadn't. Flynn had been criticized for being anti-Islamic, for his questionable business ties to Turkey's increasingly authoritarian president, for what some saw as his overly positive views toward Russia, and for promoting conspiracy theories on Twitter during Trump's campaign. He was also accused of being too hawkish when he was DIA director, which is why a former Pentagon official alleged Flynn was forced out of the agency. Reactions to McMaster: As a leading military scholar who's well-respected by his troops and known for pushing back on authority, McMaster is seen as a solid choice to replace Flynn, whose appointment was mired by controversy. Even Democrats praised the pick, calling McMaster "brilliant." Supreme Court Justice: Neil Gorsuch (pending Senate confirmation) Reactions: While Republicans applauded the choice, many Democrats came out in opposition, saying they would vote against Gorsuch. Secretary of Agriculture: Sonny Perdue (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterpart: Tom Vilsack Duties: direct the $155 billion Agriculture Department, which oversees farm subsidies, agriculture policy, and food stamps Reactions: Perdue's appointment is largely a non-controversial one. Some environmental groups put out statements saying they were concerned he wouldn't protect drinking water or natural resources, but agricultural organizations seem pleased. Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Dr. David J. Shulkin (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Eric Shinseki, Robert A. McDonald Duties: lead the agency that provides medical benefits and care for the nation's veterans through the VA's 1,233 health care facilities, manage the national cemeteries Reactions: While Shulkin himself is not a veteran, his father was an Army captain and he was born on a military base. President Barack Obama nominated him to be under secretary for health at the VA after cleaning house following the 2014 scandal finding that the agency's wait times were excessively long, jeopardizing its care of veterans. US Trade Representative: Robert Lighthizer (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Ron Kirk, Michael Froman Duties: America's main trade negotiator, develop and recommend trade policy to the president, coordinate trade policy within the government Reactions: White House Press Secretary: Sean Spicer Obama administration counterparts: Robert Gibbs, Jay Carney, Josh Earnest Duties: serve as the main spokesperson for the Trump administration, provide daily press briefings Reactions: Spicer's appointment was largely expected because he stuck by Trump throughout the campaign as the communications director for the Republican National Committee. Counselor to the President: Kellyanne Conway Obama administration counterparts: Valerie Jarrett, Brian Deese, Shailagh Murray Duties: continue to act as one of Trump's most trusted senior advisers Reactions: Some call Conway the "Trump Whisperer" for her ability to manage the president-elect and articulate his appeal to the public. Many expected Conway to take a role in Trump's administration since she has been such a close confidante managing his campaign, though she herself said she resisted taking the job since it could interfere with raising her children. Office of Management and Budget Director: Mick Mulvaney (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Peter R. Orszag, Jacob J. Lew, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Shaun Donovan Duties: produce the president's budget, lead the Office of Management and Budget Reactions: Mulvaney's desire to slash the federal budget is likely good news for Republican deficit hawks, but it clashes with Trump's plans to increase infrastructure and defense spending. Interior Secretary: Ryan Zinke (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Ken Salazar, Sally Jewell Duties: manage and conserve federal land and natural resources, oversee agencies including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and United States Geological Survey Reactions: Environmental groups expressed concern that while Zinke professes he wants to protect natural resources, his voting record shows his support for fossil fuel companies, particularly for coal mining on federal lands. Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Hillary Clinton, John Kerry Duties: act as the top American diplomat, lead US foreign policy Reactions: Tillerson has been praised for his business acumen and diplomatic missions negotiating deals for ExxonMobil, but roundly criticized for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Senators from both sides of the aisle have said he'll have difficult confirmation hearings because of their relationship. While Tillerson accepts humans are causing climate change and he supports the Paris agreement to limit emissions, environmentalists have taken issue with ExxonMobil's fierce lobbying promoting oil and gas. Energy Secretary: Rick Perry (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Steven Chu, Ernest Moniz Duties: lead US energy policy and regulation, oversee the 17 national labs and American nuclear security Reactions: Perry has said in the past he wants to eliminate the Department of Energy (though he also forgot its name), prompting supporters of the agency to question his appointment to lead it. Democrats also criticized Perry for sitting on the Board of Directors of the company behind the highly controversial Dakota Access Pipeline as an example of why he's unfit for the post. Homeland Security Secretary: Gen. John Kelly (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Janet Napolitano, Rand Beers, Jeh Johnson Duties:. President George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11. Reactions: As the third retired general Trump has selected for a top leadership role, Kelly's choice has sparked fears among some experts that the incoming administration could have an imbalance between civilian and military relations. Those who oppose Trump's campaign promises likely won't agree with Kelly's support of the plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico or to keep the US military prison open in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Director of National Intelligence: Dan Coats (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Dennis C. Blair, James R. Clapper Duties: advise the president on national security, lead the 16-member US Intelligence Community, direct the National Intelligence Program Reactions: Coats is well-respected among his fellow senators from both parties, and is expected to be confirmed easily. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Scott Pruitt (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Lisa P. Jackson, Gina McCarthy Duties: enforce US environmental laws like the Clean Air and Clean Water acts Reactions: Environmental groups and Democratic leaders skewered the choice, citing Pruitt's climate change denial and his pending lawsuits against the EPA. Pruitt has described himself as a "leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda," leading opponents of Trump's pick worried that he could dismantle the agency and President Obama's environmental legacy in the process. Small Business Administration Administrator: Linda McMahon (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Karen Mills, Maria Contreras-Sweet Duties: lead the Small Business Administration, which helps Americans start, grow and manage small businesses through policy initiatives, assistance, and loans Reactions: Since McMahon built her and her husband's own small business into a massive empire, many are optimistic she will understand the needs of American small business owners. Housing and Urban Development Secretary: Dr. Ben Carson (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Shaun Donovan, Julian Castro Duties: increase home ownership, increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination Reactions: House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called Carson a "disturbingly unqualified choice" since he's never worked specifically in housing or urban development, or held a government position. Other critics voiced similar concerns, also noting that Carson called fair housing policy "social engineering" in a 2015 opinion piece. Defense Secretary: Gen. James Mattis (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Robert M. Gates, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Ashton Carter Duties: lead the military, serve as "deputy commander-in-chief" Reactions: Marines consider Mattis a warrior and he is well-respected by other service members. He has come under fire in the past for controversial admissions, however, like when he said in 2005 that it was "fun to shoot some people." Still, senators on both sides of the aisle have praised the pick, though they would have to waive a law requiring service members to wait seven years before becoming Defense Secretary to provide checks and balances. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she won't vote to waive the requirement, but Mattis likely has enough votes to clinch the nomination. Commerce Secretary: Wilbur Ross (pending Senate confirmation) Obama administration counterparts: Gary F. Locke, John E. Bryson, Penny Pritzker Duties: promote American commerce and businesses Reactions: There hasn't been much opposition to Ross' appointment. Some critics did bring up his billionaire, insider status and the fact that his coal company oversaw the Sago Mine disaster that killed a dozen people in 2005. Treasury Secretary: Steven Mnuchin (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Timothy F. Geithner, Jack Lew Duties: serve as the president's Reactions: As Business Insider's Matt Turner writes, there's a long list of reasons why people might not like Trump's pick for Treasury secretary. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders skewered Mnuchin's status as a hedge fund manager who worked at a large financial institution like Goldman Sachs two things Trump called out on the campaign trail, as well. Health and Human Services Secretary: Rep. Tom Price, MD (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Kathleen Sebelius, Sylvia Mathews Burwell Duties: lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees agencies like the FDA, CDC, NIH, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Reactions: Since Price has repeatedly tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, is pro-life, against gay marriage, opposes gun control, and denies the overwhelming evidence that climate change is real, many progressives are outraged he will be overseeing some of the country's largest science and health agencies. Many Republicans, particularly those who want to nix Obamacare, applauded the choice. Transportation Secretary: Elaine Chao (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Ray H. LaHood, Anthony R. Foxx Duties: lead the US Department of Transportation, which includes the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Highway Administration Reactions: Uber and Lyft both said they approve of the choice, since Chao has said she supports the gig economy. There hasn't been much opposition to Chao, especially because she's a well-known, respected figure with experience at the federal level. Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Arne Duncan, John King, Jr. Duties: Lead the US Department of Education, manage federal financial aid policies, ensure equal access to education. Reactions: While proponents of school vouchers have predictably lauded Trump's pick, its opponents have lambasted DeVos, arguing that the programs weaken public schools and fund private schools at taxpayers' expense. Teachers' unions have similarly criticized her for not understanding the public school landscape since she sent her children to private schools. United Nations Ambassador: Gov. Nikki Haley (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Susan Rice, Rosemary DiCarlo, Samantha Power Duty: Advance US interests at the United Nations. Reactions: Some diplomats criticized Haley for her lack of experience on the world stage since she has never held a position in the federal government. Democratic senators said she would get a "thorough" confirmation hearing, but that they would give her fair consideration. CIA Director: Rep. Mike Pompeo (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Leon Panetta, David Petraeus, John Brennan Duty: oversee the Central Intelligence Agency Reactions: Several Republican lawmakers praised Pompeo's directness, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the CIA. Pompeo has been criticized for anti-Muslim remarks he's made in the past scrutiny that reemerged after Trump announced his appointment. Attorney General: Sen. Jeff Sessions (confirmed) Obama administration counterparts: Mark Filip, Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch Duties: act as the country's chief law enforcement officer, represent the US in court cases, provide the Executive Branch with formal and informal legal counsel and advice Reactions: Sessions' consideration for a Cabinet position has revived allegations of racism that jeopardized his chance to become a federal district court judge in 1986, when a prosecutor testified Sessions called the NAACP and the ACLU "un-American." Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he is "very concerned" about Sessions' civil rights record, a sentiment other liberals echoed. Many conservatives, meanwhile, applauded Trump's choice, with Republican senators saying they'd vote to confirm him. Chief Strategist: Steve Bannon Obama administration counterpart: Valerie Jarrett Duties: serve as senior counselor to the president,shape the administration's political strategy Reactions: Bannon's appointment set off a firestorm of controversy, with critics pointing to what they considered racially charged, bigoted rhetoric used on Breitbart under Bannon's leadership. Chief of Staff: Reince Priebus Obama administration counterparts: Rahm Emanuel, Pete Rouse, Bill Daley, Jack Lew, Denis McDonough Duties: oversee the Executive Office of the President, serve as the president's right-hand man Reactions: While Priebus' hire may comfort the Republican establishment, it may aggravate some of Trump's supporters who expect him to fulfill his promise to "drain the swamp" of Washington insiders in government. Other notable hires: Assistant to the President and White House Counsel: Donald F. McGahn Deputy National Security Adviser: Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland Deputy Secretary of Commerce: Todd Ricketts Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Seema Verma US ambassador to China: Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad National Economic Council Director: Gary Cohn, COO and president of Goldman Sachs National Security Council Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary: Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg National Security Council Senior Director of Strategic Communications: Monica Crowley US Ambassador to Israel: David Friedman (WITHDRAWN) Secretary of the Army: Vincent Viola, founder of Virtu Financial and owner of the Florida Panthers Assistant to the President and Director of Trade and Industrial Policy on the National Trade Council: Peter Navarro, UC-Irvine economist Special adviser to the president on regulatory reform: Carl Icahn, $16.7 billion hedge fund titan Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Communications: Hope Hicks, Trump's spokesperson since the start of his presidential bid Assistant to the President and Director of Communications: Jason Miller, had the same role in Trump's campaign Assistant to the President and Director of Social Media: Dan Scavino, also had the same role in Trump's campaign Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism: Thomas P. Bossert, was President George W. Bush's deputy Homeland Security Adviser From November 2016 to now, the cedi has depreciated by over 10percent and has already done a year-to-date depreciation of 1.8percent against the US dollar, largely due to low commodity prices and low foreign exchange earnings, whereas the whole of the first quarter of 2016 saw a depreciation of 1percent. However many analysts believe the instability will be short-lived. READ ALSO: Ghana ends first round of oral defence in maritime border disagreement In an effort to stabilise the cedi, the Bank of Ghana recently auctioned US$69million into the market. However, the Head of Research & Strategy at Ideal Capital Partners Peter Nii Odoi Charway, in an interview with BFT described the BoGs measures as unsustainable. He explained that the economy needs to earn more US Dollars through more local production and value added exports. We need to explore alternative opportunities for local production and export to earn more US dollars, he added. Jeffery Baiden, Chief Operating Officer at Nimed Capital, an investment bank, noted that the major factors that have accounted for the performance of the cedi, since the beginning of year, include the rise of the US Fed funds rate to 0.75percent, coupled with a gradual treasury yield decline. These factors have collectively triggered portfolio flows into less risky US debt instruments from our domestic market, he added. He added that the currency will see some short-term pressure as companies and businesses restock their inventory. But Kisseih Antonio, Managing Director of Ecobank Capital, said the BoG can do little to stabilise the cedi if the government is not prudent in helping deal with the current account imbalances. Ken Ofori Atta said this when he addressed the media in Accra on Sunday February 5, 2017. He mentioned that the ministry had scheduled a meeting with the Chinese embassy on Monday February 6, 2017. He said that the meeting would be their second meeting with the Chinese embassy since President Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in on January 7, 2017. Were meeting for a second time with the Chinese Embassy on Monday, and we are trying to nail down and look at an enhanced relationship with China to see how they can support the direction in which were now going as we build a stronger economy READ ALSO: Finance Minister likely to present 2017 budget on March 3 He also mentioned that the China Development Bank (CBD) loan would be high on the agenda during the meeting. In 2011, the Attah Mills/Mahama government secured a $3 billion loan from the China Development Bank (CDB) which is state-owned, for major infrastructure development projects in Ghana. Despite the controversy surrounding the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, it was approved by Parliament in August 2011. But till date, out of the $ 3 billion loan facility, close to about $1 billion has been disbursed. China-Ghana economic cooperation continues to gain momentum. In 2010 the bilateral trade surpassed US$2 billion for the first time. In 2013 it hit US$5.15 billion, ranking 3rd in 24 Mid & West African countries and 7th in Africa. Therein, Ghanas export volume to China has seen a year-on-year increase of 86.7%, reaching US$1.2 billion in 2015. China has become one of the major investment source countries of Ghana with the non-financial FDI reaching US$1.5 billion. The NPP government since assuming office has said that the budget deficit and government debt are much higher than had been expected. This has brought more unexpected pressure on public finances. At her vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, she mentioned that she will begin this by holding discussions with all stakeholders in the domestic aviation sector. We are going to look at the handling charges and the prices of aviation fuel. We have realized that the airlines have thirty percent of cost comprising of aviation fuel while fifteen percent is made of handling charges. READ ALSO: High cost of utility still a challenge for businesses - AGIHigh cost of utility still a challenge for businesses - AGI I cannot assume that I know all the reasons for the dwindling fortunes of the domestic airlines as such I will be meeting the domestic airline operators and report back to the committee if the need arises, she added. The increasing cost of flight tickets has led to a decline in passenger volumes between 2015 and 2016. The figure has declined from 717,000 to 427,000 within the one year period. The high cost of aviation fuel also adds up to the high operational cost in the sector. Dapaah explained that this development has affected the lease agreements for domestic airline companies as the cost is expensive. In October 2016, the erstwhile NDC government reduced the cost of fuel by twenty percent. This was part of efforts to make Ghana an aviation hub within the sub-region. The incident occurred at the Dutse-Alhaji Junction located along Murtala Muhammed Expressway, Kubwa A trailer had initially rammed the salon car which went on to crush the victims. According to the Daily Post News, the motorcycle riders were waiting for passengers at the Public Service Institute before the accident happened. Five other people who sustained injuries following the tragic incident were taken to the Kubwa General Hospital for treatment. Bisi Kazeem, the spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the accident to a case of speed violation, mechanical deficient vehicle and dangerous driving. ALSO READ: Truck kills pregnant woman a few hours to visiting children in the US According to Vanguard News, the president of the court, Omolara Abiola had initially granted Mary custody of their two offspring after determining that Linus had been an irresponsible father. He was warned against going after the children following the court decision but has refused to comply. Court president Abiola revealed that the children managed to disclose their location to their mother via a phone call. According to the Uganda Monitor, Lukoya who parades himself as an 'untouchable almighty god' was on a special door-to-door ministration when the mob attacked him. Fortunately the police was on hand to save the pastor who reportedly preaches in three different religions - the traditional worship pattern, Acholi, Islam and Christianity. The Uganda Monitor quoted the mob saying, He is not a true prophet. He preaches falsehood and false prophecies to us and we are tired of him." Speaking concerning the matter, Albert Onyango, the Agago District Police Commander said the pastor was being attacked due to the transgression of his daughter. Residents hate him because of the past rebellion his daughter led. They also believe Lukoya is a cult leader whose presence brings bad omen. I think it is time Lukoya realized that he is not wanted in the district. This is the fourth time in less than two years that people are attempting to kill him." ALSO READ: Fake prophet lures man into marrying troublesome wife The attack on fake men of God have gone on the increase in recent times. The consumption causes colorectal cancer which is a major cause of mortality throughout the world and it is the third most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of death affecting men and women. The Chief Medical Personnel, at Niola Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Adedapo Osinowo according to bellanaija.com said "All fatty meals should be eaten in moderation but if you eat these assorted meats every day, I am sad for you. You can eat them but not every day." He added that eating 'wele' is also a risk factor for cancer. "These parts are risk factors for cancer because of the way they are prepared, they tend to produce harmful substances that can cause cancer. Their preparation is responsible for this. What is important is to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to increase antioxidants in the body." 'Wele' consumption 'Wele' is not enjoyed by Ghanaians alone; it is a delicacy for most Africans. The skin of animals like cows, sheep and goats, which are needed for the production of goods like shoes, bags and belts, are being eaten at an alarming rate. The continuous consumption of wele means the slow death of the leather industry, which has the potential to yield millions of dollars in revenue annually. "Shuga" is a television soap opera that was first aired in November 2009 on MTV Base as part of an initiative dubbed "MTV Staying Alive Ignite!" Its first two seasons was commissioned by MTV Networks Africa in association with The MTV Staying Alive Foundation, PEPFAR (The US President's Emergency Fund for Aids Relief), the Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG) and the Government of Kenya, as part of a multimedia campaign to spread the message about responsible sexual behaviour and tolerance. The congratulatory message, which was conveyed to President Akufo-Addo by a special envoy of the Swazi King, assured the President of the co-operation of the King and people of Swaziland over the course of the tenure of office of President Akufo-Addo. It was the hope of King Mswati III that bilateral relations between the two countries will grow from strength to strength to the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries. The King of Swaziland also extended his deepest condolences, through the President, to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asanteman and Ghana, on the passing of the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II. On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the Kings envoy for his message, and used the opportunity to congratulate the King Mswati III on his election as the Third Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union. President Akufo-Addo also congratulated King Mswati on his nomination as Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), during the 28th African Union Summit which was held in Addis Ababa this January, and assured the King of Ghanas support to help achieve a malaria-free Africa. The President recounted how he, as Ghanas 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; and that the AU should be responsible for the selection of Africas representatives on the Security Council. READ ALSO: The sacked recruits, who were midway into the mandatory six-month training for trainees, were believed to have been improperly recruited. But the security Analyst, Mr Sekyere believes that the Police erred in recruiting unqualified people and training them, hence they will be a threat to the Ghanaian society. How do authorities explain to Ghanaians after training personnel to acquire institutional knowledge for over three months to go home on the basis of incorrect and falsified documentation? How come these were not detected at the initial stages before being trained? he asked. The fact that we are unable to tell what their next move is, puts us in a very insecure position and that's why we must be concerned, he told the Daily Graphic newspaper. Some Ghanaians believe that the fact that the sacked recruits were probably not trained on how to handle weapons, they would not be a threat to the Ghanaian society. But Mr Sekyere thinks otherwise, saying that the mere fact that the personnel have had basic knowledge of the operations of the Police service is as dangerous as having a weapon. He was, however, content that the police had the bio data of the sacked recruits. With that, he believes that the Police should monitor the activities of the sacked recruits using measures that do not infringe on their rights. Otiko Djaba stood her grounds when she was asked to apologise to ex-president John Mahama for describing him as a devil and a man with evil heart. The minority also failed to approve her nomination because of the less cordial relationship between herself and her mother. READ ALSO: NDC MP threatens court action if Otiko is approved But many Ghanaians did not see reasons with the minority in Parliament who later staged a walkout opposing her nomination. Most people argued that they would have supported the Minority side if they failed to approve her based on the fact that she did not do her national service instead of the other reasons they gave. Otiko Afisa Djaba said she was very impressed with the support from Ghanaians during such times. READ ALSO: Otiko Djaba gets approved as by majority votes as NDC walks out I am very grateful to the good people of this country; theyve made me understand that if you are fair and firm and stand your grounds it pays off. I am 55 years, and if I dont learn to speak the truth now, at what point in life will I be honest in my ways, the NPPs national women organiser told Accra-based Kasapa FM. Otiko who was sworn in as a minister Tuesday (February 7, 2017), said she will give her best in the Ministry despite the controversy surrounding her approval. Gloria Akufo praised her predecessor especially for her corporation on the maritime dispute between Ghana and Cote DIvoire. READ ALSO: Marietta Brew and Gloria Akufo represent Ghana at ITLOS She has worked tirelessly on this case from its inception, and I would like to acknowledge her tremendous service to Ghana throughout the case. Despite the change of government, she has continued to work closely with me in preparation for this hearing, as well as addressing you today. This, in my respectful view, attests to the stability of our democracy and also underscores the fact that on the matter that brings us before this Special Chamber, Ghana stands united, Akufo added. Ghana ended her oral argument on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. Ivory Coast will begin its oral argument on Thursday, February 9, 2017. The second round of oral argument will begin on Monday, February 13, 2017. The hearing was presided over by Judge Boualem Bouguetaia, President of the Special Chamber constituted to deal with the dispute. Other members of the panel hearing the case are judges Rudiger Wolfrum, Germany, and Jin-Hyun Paik, the Republic of Korea. Ad hoc judges Thomas Mensah, Ghana, and Ronny Abraham, France, were selected by Ghana and Cote dIvoire, respectively, according to the rules of the ITLOS. Background Ivory Coast is claiming ownership of the disputed TEN oil field, forcing Ghana to file a suit at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to ward off Ivory Coast from disputed oilfields. It filed its suit based on Article 287 Annex VII of the 1982 UNCLOS. READ ALSO: Ghana ends first round of oral defence in maritime border disagreement Cote dIvoire in February 2015 filed for preliminary measures and urged the tribunal to suspend all activities in the disputed area until the definitive determination of the case, dubbed: Dispute Concerning Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between Ghana and Cote dIvoire in the Atlantic Ocean. According to him, Ghanas parliament voted for truth, integrity and sincerity with regards to the approval of Otiko Afisa Djaba as Gender, Children and Social Protection. Yesterday in parliament, the MPs voted for truth and integrity as against falsehood and hypocrisy. Otiko has been very blunt and sincere with herself and everybody, especially Northerners, about how they feel about the former president. She admitted saying those words, she stood by her words, she did not withdraw those comments she made about the former president and that showed sincerity. The NDC MPs wanted her to withdraw the true comments she passed about the former president but she did not." Ms Djaba was approved by parliament amidst controversy over some comments she passed about former President John Mahama during campaigning the 2016 election. She described Mr Mahama as one with an evil heart for superintending the rot that characterized the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), an initiative that was to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians living in the three regions in the north of the country, where the former president himself hails from. The Minority side of the House on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 staged a walkout opposing her nomination on the basis that she refused to honour her national service. The number of legislators who voted in support of her approval was 152, which is more than half of the votes of the 275-member house. No vote was recorded against her nomination as the Minority abstained from voting. This followed a controversy after Minority MPs raised an objection that the ballot papers did not have the signature and stamp of the Speaker and, thus, could not be used for the ballot. In an interview with Accra-based Accra FM, he said, The NDC MPs posture in parliament will not help the country. Their actions now in parliament can be compared to a wounded lion roaring at people, or like persons embarking on suicide mission. They will need to exercise restraint. Ghanas new Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, who is also the leader of the countrys legal team said the claims made by Cote DIvoire was baseless since there had been a long-standing agreement on their maritime boundary under their domestic laws. Cote DIvoire has accused Ghana of using the development of its oil industry to annexe the territory which does not belong to it. However, Gloria Akufo argued that Ghana had only developed its oil industry based on a recognised pre-existing maritime boundary by the two countries. It is on the basis of this tacit, mutual understanding that over many years Ghana has developed this industry step by step, openly, from the first licensing of blocks, through decades of studies, exploratory drilling and the eventual drilling of wells she told the Special Chamber when it resumed public hearing on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. Based on this, she prayed the Chamber to affirm the customary equidistance boundary as the maritime boundary between the two countries. She, therefore, prayed the court to declare the existence of a boundary which the Parties have themselves long agreed and delimited in practice and in consequence. She further argued that Cote DIvoire cannot only disagree with the accepted maritime border by both countries only because it believes Ghana will benefit economically. The fairness and good sense of equidistance as a method of delimitation in the circumstances of this case make it understandable why the two States adopted it as a basis for their customary boundary. It is impossible to think of a fairer solution. A fairly-drawn agreed line does not suddenly become unfair simply because one State decides that it would be economically more advantageous for it if the line were drawn somewhere else READ ALSO: Marietta Brew and Gloria Akufo represent Ghana at ITLOS Ghana submits that this case is both unusual and simple. It is unusual because the maritime boundary has already been agreed upon; it is simple because, given the coastal geography, it is a textbook case where equidistance can be easily and conveniently applied to reach a fair resolution. The two approaches, agreement and delimitation, lead to the same result. Ghana asks this Special Chamber not to be swayed by the rather extravagant case Cote dIvoire seeks to present here by relying on a bisector theory and its related maps to create a huge area as the so-called area in dispute. Their bisector claim is so unrealistic that it should be dismissed out of hand. READ ALSO: Finance Minister likely to present 2017 budget on March 3 Ivory Coast will begin its oral argument on Thursday, February 9, 2017. The second round of oral argument will begin on Monday, February 13, 2017. The Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin who made this known said the cars, which are part of the presidential pool of official vehicles, are missing from the Flagstaff House garage. He said the president, Nana Akufo-Addo has, therefore, been forced to use a 2007 model of a saloon car within Accra. President Akufo Addo is currently using a 2007 BMW model purchased by the state during the Ghana @50 celebrations...That is what he is using. So where are the cars? he questioned. Mr Arhin further told Accra-based Neat FM that the president also uses his own private vehicle when going on a long journey for official duties. Just this last week Saturday, the president had to use his private Land Cruiser for an official duty in Kyebi. That is the same Land Cruiser he used during the campaign time he said. The Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Mavis Hawa Koomson prior to the 2016 elections has confirmed that she really called President Mahama a "mad person" but did that out of the influence of the members of the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC). The MP speaking in an interview with a local radio station Pink FM said: "The NDC members themselves wanted to call the President a mad person but couldnt do that so they did that through me and made me attribute the president as a mad person when I sought to question the quality of work done on the Kasoa Western bypass during its commissioning somewhere last year." Read also: However, appearing before Parliament's Appointments Committee she said she regrets using unprintable words on Mahama. "Yes, I do regret using those words because it a political talk and I am sorry for that," she pleaded. The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr James Avedzi, told the media that the Speaker failed to recognise the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu who stood on his feet for about ten minutes wanting to make a point. Read more: Minority walks out as Parliament approves Otiko Djaba "We in the Minority side of the House believed strongly that issues that were being done on the floor in connection with the approval of the nomination of Otiko Djaba was an illegality and for that matter we needed to express our views but the Speaker will never call even the Minority Leader who stood on his feet for more than 10 minutes. "On three consecutive times, the Speaker will never call him to recognise him so that we can air our view and let the Ghanaians know the position that we have taken" Avedzi said. Read more: Minority rejects Otiko Djaba The number of legislators who voted in support of her approval was 152, which is more than half of the votes of the 275-member house. No vote was recorded against her nomination as the Minority abstained from voting. This followed a controversy after Minority MPs raised an objection that the ballot papers did not have the signature and stamp of the Speaker and, thus, could not be used for the ballot. The international press has really slept at the wheel on this one Conditions in Venezuela are incomparably worse, by orders of magnitude. The country has become a large, dictatorial failed state in the middle of the region that has generated heartbreaking stories of personal struggle but little in the way of international action to address rising hunger and violence. "I entered Coretta Scott King's letter about #Sessions into the Senate record and read it from the floor her words should not be silenced," Udall tweeted on Wednesday morning. Both Warren and Udall were speaking out against the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican, as attorney general. King's letter was written in 1986 in opposition to Sessions' appointment as a federal judge in Alabama. In the letter, King criticized Sessions' record on voting rights, saying the Voting Rights Act "was, and still is, vitally important to the future of democracy in the United States." "The irony of Mr. Sessions' nomination is that, if confirmed, he will be given life tenure for doing with a federal prosecution what the local sheriffs accomplished twenty years ago with clubs and cattle prods," King continued. As Warren read the letter on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked Senate Rule 19, which forbids senators from suggesting another senator is guilty of "any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." "When Mr. Sessions served as US Attorney, his record on voting rights the backbone of our democracy was subject to serious question," Udall tweeted. Sessions was likely to be confirmed as attorney general on Wednesday afternoon, though Democrats have expressed strong opposition. Watch Udall read Kings speech on the Senate floor: New York Times terrorism correspondent Rukmini Callimachi reported from Iraq that ISIS has been talking about Trump's travel ban, which bars refugees and citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries identified as hot spots for terrorism from entering the US. "I reported here in Nov/Dec of last year," Callimachi tweeted on Wednesday. "Guess what's different on this trip? Everywhere I go, Iraqis want to ask about the visa ban." Callimachi is in Mosul, ISIS' stronghold in Iraq that is slowly being liberated from the terrorist group. She said a resident of western Mosul, which is still under ISIS control, told her translator in a phone call that ISIS is also discussing the ban. "The resident said ISIS has been openly celebrating the ban," Callimachi tweeted. "They've even coined a phrase for it: or 'The Blessed Ban.'" Callimachi explained why: "ISIS sees this as *their* doing. They succeeded in scaring the daylight out of America." "ISIS, according to this resident of Western Mosul, thinks their terror tactic worked. They frightened the most powerful man in the world," Callimachi said, referring to Trump. ISIS has been silent on the ban on its official propaganda channels, but the group's supporters have been cheering it online. And the Pentagon noted on Tuesday that many Iraqi ISIS fighters are now trapped in western Mosul, the area of the city that Callimachi's source is from. Terrorism experts opposed to the ban have said it will end up helping ISIS recruit more people as it pushes its message that the West is at war with Islam. US legal actions that seem to target Muslims could play into that narrative. "The [ISIS] chatrooms have been abuzz about how this shows that there is a clash of civilizations, that Muslims are not welcome in America etc.," Mia Bloom, a terrorism expert and professor at Georgia State University, told Business Insider via email last week. ISIS supporters were found to be calling Trump's travel ban a "blessed ban" on Telegram channels. But Callimachi's reporting suggests that ISIS fighters themselves (rather than just online supporters) are also using the term. Callimachi notes that ISIS' language is similar to that used by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of ISIS' predecessor group Al Qaeda in Iraq. Zarqawi "called the 2003 invasion of Iraq 'the Blessed Invasion,'" Callimachi said. Trump defended the travel ban in a rambling speech to the National Sheriffs' Association on Wednesday morning. He accused judges of trying to overturn the executive order because of politics and pointed to immigration law that seems to support his travel ban. Citing a draft of the "Russia Review Act," the cable network said the proposed legislation would allow a 120-day congressional review of any White House request to lift sanctions on Russia and give Congress final approval authority. The bipartisan move will be led by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland. Sens. John McCain, Marco Rubio, Claire McCaskill, and Sherrod Brown have also expressed support. Rubio told CNN the legislation had received broad support, and he suggested lawmakers could potentially defeat a presidential veto if it came to that. "I think if there was a real threat of lifting sanctions minus the respect for Ukrainian sovereignty and meeting those conditions, my sense is that we would have the votes to pass that in the Senate and we would be able to pass it with a veto-proof majority," Rubio said. The latest move in the Senate comes after an interview Trump gave to Fox News host Bill O'Reilly in which Trump appeared to defend Putin. In response to O'Reilly's description of Putin as a "killer," Trump responded: "We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?" US officials have had Russia in the crosshairs in recent months because of the cyberattacks they say Russia carried out to destabilize the presidential election and for the regime's interference in eastern Ukraine. The Senate split 50-50, with every Democratic senator and Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting to oppose DeVos. It was the first time in US history that a vice president has had to cast a tiebreaker vote for a Cabinet nominee. The vote ended an uncharacteristically contentious confirmation process for a secretary of education. The position is typically confirmed without major opposition. So what exactly does the secretary of education do? Education in the US is largely under state and local control, and the federal government's role is limited in scope. As the head of the US Department of Education, the secretary advises and executes legislation over education policy at both the K-12 and postsecondary levels. "The position of secretary of education is, more than anything, an opportunity to be a bully pulpit to express the views of the president," Paul Reville, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, told Business Insider. "The role is highly constrained." Created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, the Education Department is the smallest Cabinet-level department. Its main functions include administering federal assistance to schools and enforcing federal education laws. The secretary of education is No. 15 in line to succeed the president. Before it became an independent agency, the Education Department existed under the scope of what is now known as the Department of Health and Human Services formerly the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. A changing political and social environment after World War II led to the creation of the department as interest in investing in the American educational system increased. The Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957, for example, pushed the US on its heels and started the race to close the perceived gap in technological capabilities between the USSR and the US. Today, the department collects data and does research on student outcomes and success, providing national figures that allow for comparison among states. While school districts get most of their funding from local taxes, federal agencies including the Education Department contribute about 8% to district budgets. The department's Title I program, for example, provides funding to schools with large numbers of low-income students. The department, through its Office for Civil Rights, also handles matters related to discrimination in schools and colleges on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. For example, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the Department of Education in 2014 on behalf of Gavin Grimm, a transgender student who said he was discriminated against by his school district because it did not let him use the bathroom that corresponded with his gender identity. And in 2015, an alliance of Asian-American groups filed a complaint with the department against Harvard University, saying Harvard and other Ivy League schools used racial quotas that discriminated against Asians in their admissions processes. The Office for Civil Rights is also responsible for investigating violations of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender in education. The Education Department currently has more than 200 open investigations into sexual assaults on college campuses. One of the largest and certainly the costliest areas of responsibility for the department is administering federal student aid. The department spent about $22.5 billion in fiscal 2016 on the Pell Grant program, which provides aid for students that does not need to be repaid. The program was the largest area of spending for the department in 2016. In her home state of Michigan, DeVos has championed charter school and school-voucher initiatives, but she has not waded into issues of higher education. She is the first choice for secretary of education without substantial experience in higher education. In the email, which was made public by Intel, Krzanich cited the company's "announcement" that it would finish construction on a $7 billion semiconductor factory in Arizona that Intel began building six years ago. said the plant was an "investment in our own future," adding he made the announcement at the White House in part to show support for the Trump administration's tax reform policies. "We support the Administrations policies to level the global playing field and make U.S. manufacturing competitive worldwide through new regulatory standards and investment policies," Krzanich wrote in the email. The email also touts Intel's track record of being one of the top two R&D spenders and top five exporters in the US, despite facing certain tax and regulatory hurdles that make Intel "disadvantaged relative to the rest of the world where we compete." It's unclear exactly which part of Trump's policies Intel supports, but Trump is well-known for having made pro-business promises that would slash corporate tax rates and bring cash incentives to R&D-heavy companies. Krzanich has previously spoken about this in a CNBC interview, in which he made it clear he doesn't support "trade wars" but would welcome lower tax rates and R&D tax credits, among many others. Common ground Kraznich's visit to the White House comes as many of his tech industry peers, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, are loudly criticizing Trump's immigration policies, such as the recent order suspending immigration from several predominantly Muslim countries. In a statement to Business Insider, Intel's spokesperson said, "Its more about policies conducive to the kinds of substantial, long-term investments we make...We join other companies in supporting the administrations pro-business and pro-investment goals, which encourage long-term investments like this one." Despite Silicon Valley's differences with Trump over immigration and other issues, tax and regulatory reform might prove to be an area of common ground. A recent This edition of the Lagos Theatre Festival will portray the rhythm, soul and sights of Lagos. The theme was selected to capture through performance, the sounds of Lagos expressed in the comings and goings, the repetitive activities and the music of the city. We will be seeing works that reflect specific auditory perspectives like noises, rhythm, beats, language, etc. from a range of socio economic and geographic groupings across Lagos. This year, there will be 5 curated shows from the UK and Nigeria in the festival. Four of the curated shows are winning scripts from the playwriting competition won by James Ene- Henshaw, Joy Isi Bewaji, Bode Asiyanbi, Paul Ugbede. The plays will be produced by; Crown Troupe of Africa, Beeta Universal Productions, Tunji Sotimirin and Oxzygen Koncepts following grants awarded by the British Council. The fringe shows will see 35 companies from Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe showcase work from all genres in the performing arts. These include comedy, experiential theatre, musical and Drama. Ojoma Ochai, Director Arts, British Council said We are very proud of what Lagos Theatre Festival has achieved in terms of being a platform through which the Nigerian theatre sector engages with the rest of the world. The pair were apprehended on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 by officers of the Omi-Adio police division, Daily Post reports. Edemba, who is 60 years of age admitted that a quest for financial comfort was the motivation behind his involvement in the crime. The sexagenarian was caught with his accomplice, Adeyemi, who is also a herbalist after a successful ambush by the police. Confirming this report was Ken Brasana, the police prosecutor on the case who said, The herbalist, Adeyemi, walked into the ambush laid by the police while he tried to remove the human head wrapped in a black polythene bag, which was hidden beside a shop at Abidogun Junction, Omi- Adio. The duo is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of human skull. Southern News reports that Kuyemekume, a resident of Saviours Estate, Nkpor Village, Rumuolumeni area of the state, had allegedly lured the toddler into his room after sending her older brother on an errand and defiled her. It was gathered that after raping the little girl, Kuyemekume warned her never to tell anyone or he would kill her but when the girl got home, she told her mother what Uncle Kuyemekume had done to her leading to the woman reporting the matter to the police who arrested him. The 18-year-old suspect identified only as Amina, according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was intercepted alive while her colleague, Zainab, was shot dead when they tried to ram into motorists at the NNPC Mega Station along Damboa Road, Maiduguri. Amina was said to have become scared and threw away the explosive wrapped around her and ran away but the operatives chased her to a safe place and shot her in the leg before she was arrested. On interrogation, the would-be bomber said that she was abducted two years ago by the insurgent sect in Madagali, Adamawa State, and taken to the Sambisa forest where she was married off to one of the commanders. Continuing, she said: They gave us N200 each which they said we should use to buy food for ourselves. It took us three days to come to Maiduguri on a motorcycle. We were directed by the sect members to detonate our explosives anywhere we saw any form of gathering. They said if we press the button, the bomb would explode and we will automatically go to heaven. I was scared, so, I told them that I could not detonate any explosive. So, they said if Zainab detonated her own, it would serve the purpose. On our way to Maiduguri, we encountered the military and they were shooting. I was very scared and the people that brought us ran away. I am from Imam s faction of Boko Haram, even though I have never seen Shekau. But I hear about him in Gobarawa. Amina added that her father, mother and younger brother, Umar, were all killed when they tried to escape from the Boko Haram enclave where they were held hostage. We came from Gobarawa along Damboa, Madagali and Algarno axis, in a community where a lot of us were held hostage and married off by the sect members. I am also married to a Boko Haram Commander known as . The Commandant of the NSCDC in charge of Borno State, Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the command had handed over the suspect to the Garrison Commander, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, for proper investigation. On his part, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, confirmed that the suspect was in custody of the Army and that she would undergo investigation. We are going to profile her as she would give us the lead to get to other insurgents. According to the Daily Post News, the amount was specifically for payment of two plots of land located around the Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Bori Camp. Shedrach Ternenge Iyo, a detective working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that the accused, Gobari Maxwell, received the money via a bank transaction made from the bank account of the complainant. ALSO READ: Yahoo boy sentenced to 2 years in prison for committing fraud He said, Maxwell allegedly committed the offence on June 12, 2012 at Ikeja Judicial Division by dishonestly converting the said sum to his personal use. During investigation, the agency sent a letter to the two banks which were used for the transaction; a First Bank account belonging to the complainants wife and a Diamond Bank account belonging to the pastor, requesting for account statements. When we received the banks response, we analysed both accounts and discovered that the sum transferred for the land purchase was N3.8 million while N700,000 was transferred as a loan to the pastor. Okungbowa made the land payments in seven instalments through his wifes bank account from June24 to May 31, 2012 in the variations of N300, 000 and N500, 000 consecutively. After volunteering a statement and being read a caution, the pastor confessed to have received the money but claimed he used it to settle his elder brothers hospital bills, who was brought back to Nigeria from the United States of America (USA) for treatment. The accused is facing a one-count charge of stealing contrary to Section 258(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011." There is this familiar sense of foreboding that is quietly creeping through Nigeria. We have been here before. It was not too long ago that Nigeria was in a state of suspense because of late President Yar'adua's health issues and death. Less than seven years after we are here again. The next few months would determine the political course for at least two years, maybe six years. We are in a very critical period of this administration. How should the media cover this period when the leader of the most populous black nation is most likely is on his sick bed and a politically inexperienced Vice-President is waiting in the wings? A look at the headlines of the top national dailies indicates that the Nigerian press is waiting for a major development or when the ball drops. In other words, the press is more reactive than active. News sites, TV houses and newspapers should have published articles about President Buhari's state of health and what is most likely going on with the nation's first citizen. Top doctors should be interviewed to give us the citizens a clue on what might be wrong with a man who is 74 years old. Let's not mince words. Nigerian media isn't as robust as it should be. Imagine the President of the United States in a hospital away from the public eye. Imagine the White House trying to hide the fact that the POTUS has health issues. The American would be in a frenzy. The New York Times, TIME, Washington Post and LA Times would send investigative journalists to sniff out which hospital the President is staying and get a hand on his medical records. Headlines will be dedicated to the Vice-President, speculating what sort of leader he will be. Articles, op-ed and think pieces would rise up from every corner of the digital space on the political history of the VP and what type of President he would make. The reactionary nature of our media has to do with press censorship during the decades of military rule, poor finances and inadequate training of journalists. According to M. O. Bamidele, a journalist and social critic who posted the incident on his Twitter account, Egwuaba, and the unnamed lady had been in a relationship for sometime now but the lecturer who is known for his violent ways with other women, has been taking it as a duty to assault her whenever she errs. The latest incident, according to Bamidele, occurred when the lady went for a church program in the night but her lecturer boyfriend became suspicious that she could be seeing another man and trailed her to her hostel where he beat the living daylights out of her, inflicting severe injuries on her. Read what Bamidele wrote: "Edward Egwuaba, a lecturer in the Sociology Dept, Kogi State University physically abused a female student he is having an affair with. This happened on Monday night; the girl left Edward's place for a church meeting and later went back to her hostel. But Edward who had been trying to reach her grew suspicious and found her later in her hostel. He beat her mercilessly, leaving bruises all over her body. According to a friend of the maltreated girlfriend, this is not the first time Edward would maltreat a woman. He had done a similar thing to a previous girlfriend whom he allegedly beat up and locked in the booth of his car." Many women activists have been going to social media to call for the arrest of the lecturer whom they see as a serial women abuser though it is not known whether any action would be taken against him. Know as Tiko Tiko the clown, Carrillo is running for political office. Tiko Tiko is the candidate for the Ecuadorian Socialist Party. He is vying for a spot in the National Assembly. He is the third candidate for the second district in Guayaquil. Tiko Tiko is a famous clown in Ecuador. His career began in the 1970s. His programmes and commentary on child issues have made him relevant till today. Carrillo isn't originally from Ecuador. He was born in Colombia but later secured Ecuadorian nationality. "I was born in Bogota and Tiko Tiko was born in Guayaquil," he told The Universe in 2008. Tiko Tiko is so famous and his influence far-reaching that he usually features in the weekly address of President Rafael Correa. ALSO READ: The trend of killer clowns in America British comedian John Oliver mocked Correa for featuring a clown in his weekly addresses. His criticism got a lot of backlash among Ecuadorians including President Rafael Correa. Tiko Tiko also got into the action. He penned an op-ed piece in a newspaper and said that clowns have a right to participate in the political affairs of a country. According to a Facebook user, Mofinternational Usman who posted the incident on his wall narrated how the Omacho who is the Executive Secretary of the State Scholarship Board, subjected the girl identified only as Favor, to the evil punishment because the girl refused to stop attending a certain school. The young girl who is Omacho's sister's daughter was left with sores on her feet as a result of her aunt's wicked acts. Read what Usman wrote: "A very high level of a case of child abuse committed by Mrs. Rebecca Omacho to the daughter of her sister by name Favor, who stays with her. Mrs. Rebecca is the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Scholarship Board, decided to maltreated Favor by putting a stone in the fire and after the stone got hot, she pulled it out with a rag and placed the hot stone on Favors legs so she could the girl from going to the school she have been attending and keep her indoor permanently. But little Favor was said to have defied the order and scaled the fence of the house to attend class. It was when she returned home that this wicked and evil woman decided to maltreat her for disobeying her instructions. What a wicked world? I was also surprised seeing the wicked woman begging for cover up at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, saying that exposing her to the public will dent her career in the service since she only has one more year to retire. But her plea was ignored by the authorities of the ministry and the case was reported to the police for proper investigation and documentation. But before then, the accused had run away from the said ministry where the case was brought for interrogation by members of Community Life Advancement Project ( CLAP). Am also appealing to the state government to take care of little Favor because she is seriously in need of medical assistance." Jatau made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bwari.She said that the absence of clean water and lack of access road to the only healthcare facility in the community often posed challenges for the residents to access proper health care delivery.According to her, the facility also caters for anti-natal services for residents in other neighbouring communities, such as Peyi in Bwari and Kuchiko Ija in Niger State.She said government should not relent in its efforts to construct access road to the community and should repair damaged parts of the road and provide potable water for the people.Lack of accessible road is one of our major challenges in this community, specifically we have problem of clean drinking water.We have one borehole in this health facility located in the community and sometimes the machine would develop a fault and we cannot get water, we most times buy from truck pushers.If pipe borne water could be provided so that the community dwellers can access good drinking water, it will help in preventing a lot of water-borne diseases.It will even ease our problem here, most times women and children come here with diarrhoea and related water borne diseases.We have discovered that most of the diseases are as a result of lack of clean drinking water, she said Anyawu-Akeredolu, wife of Governor-elect of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), spoke at a cancer awareness programme held at the Seed of Life Primary and Secondary School, Eleyele, Ibadan. It was organised by her pet project, BRECAN, to mark the 2017 World Cancer Day which took place on Feb. 4. Anyawu-Akeredolu said that the programme was to create awareness among the school children to prevent the disease at an early stage. Breast cancer is affecting a lot of our women and even at an early age." This is why we decided to bring the awareness down to the school children, who will learn about cancer at an early age." Many children have lost their mothers, aunties or sisters to cancer because of ignorance and lack of awareness of early detection." These children often watched their beloved parents going through excruciating pains before they finally passed on, she said. Also, Dr Kingsley Ndoh, who works with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, U.S, described cancer as an abnormal growth in any part of the body. Ndoh said that lack of exercise, eating unhealthy foods, smoking and inherited genes from parents could increase the chance of cancer. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BRECAN team later took the school children through practical demonstration of how to examine breast to detect cancer. Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said in Abuja on Tuesday that there was no justification for the killings. Dabiri-Erew, who visited the South African Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Lulu Aaron- Mnguni, appealed to authorities in that country to ensure that justice was done in the case of Nigerian killed last December to serve as deterrent to others. Tochukwu Nnadi, a 34-year-old business man was killed by South African police on Dec. 29, 2016. She said we are worried about the criminalisation of illegal migration, especially among ourselves as brothers in Africa. We are worried in particular about the criminalisation of Nigerian migrants in South Africa. Yes, some do commit crimes and deserve to be punished, but the extra-judicial killings worry us a lot. We also want to appeal to Nigerians wherever they are to obey the laws of the land:we are worried as well, about extra-judicial killings anywhere in the world. She said Nigeria lost 116 persons to such killings in South Africa and in 2016 alone, 20 persons were killed. Dabiri-Erewa hoped that relationship between both countries remained strong and better and distractions avoided. Aaron-Mnguni said the killings would be investigated and those involved would be punished. He said South Africa has high level of technology to know how a person dies. IPOB also warned that failure to release Kanu would lead to doom and calamity for Nigeria. The group made the comments via a statement released by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. The statement reads: The Almighty God is angry with the present Nigeria government and their failure to heed for the total release his prophet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. There is a saying that a Prophet is not recognized in his own land. Mazi Kanu is God sent, but unfortunately a lot of people both at home and in Diaspora saw his moves and determination as divine while a few myopic people in the present Nigerian government see it as a huge joke of the century. Many saw him as another youth seeking for relevance. Many saw him as hungry man who wants to earn a living through defrauding the vulnerable; few people took the messenger and the message serious. The Nigerian state saw him as a rascal that must be tamed. The Nigerian government cannot stop him; instead those planning to stop him will be doomed forever. The Nigerian nation in their usual way instead of discussing and negotiating took a dangerous path of arrest and detention, however. Looking at the state of affairs in Nigeria since his arrest and detention, one can confidently say that Mazi Kanu is now a Prophet of God, the country has not moved forward. Nigeria APC government should not wait like in the case of Pharaoh till the nation receives the last plague before doing the needful. God is not a man that tells lies. Mazi Kanu is divinely sent on a mission and must be seen as such. No harm must befall the prophet of God. Kanu has been in detention since October 2015 when he was arrested by security operatives in Lagos. ALSO READ: Basic infrastructure like safe roads, clean water, adequate power supply, protection of life and property, and generally, the best possible life that can be afforded based on the nation's strengths, are simple necessities the government is expected to make possible. These basic things are not too much to ask of a responsible government. Unfortunately for Nigerians, its government hasn't quite stumbled its way into what is close to that, and these things are a luxury. Since the country entered its longest stretch of democracy in 1999 with President Olusegun Obasanjo at the helm, its politics has been plagued with what one can only describe as unbelievably poor leadership; an arena where the most incompetent, self-centered charlatans have wormed their ways into the corridors of power, and thrived at the disadvantage of the people they should be obligated to. The only thing that the typical Nigerian politician can effortlessly and consistently offer the people is neglect. To arrest this culture of bold-faced incompetence, the Nigerian masses rallied together during the 2015 Presidential election and voted out President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in what was regarded as a significant victory for the power of the common people as President Muhammadu Buhari was put in the country's highest seat of power. Jonathan's PDP had been the face of everything that was wrong with the country's politics, so Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) was supposed to be that new wave of hope to take the country to the great heights it is capable of climbing. Two years and a stinging recession later, it hasn't been smooth sailing. One of the most well-documented criticisms of Jonathan's administration, among too many to count, was that he was too quiet and too lukewarm in reacting to issues of national concern. This was why majority of the Nigerian populace put their feet down and went to the polls in 2015 to vote out the man who sneaked his way into Aso Rock in a rather fortunate manner. When President Buhari's spokesman, Femi Adesina said, You dont have to hear from the president on that matter" in response to why the President was silent on the quite troubling issue of the ongoing mindless slaughter of Nigerian citizens in Southern Kaduna, it was not surprising to most observers, just disappointing, because this administration was supposed to be a departure from what Nigerians have been conditioned to endure. It ran on that promise to be better. Instead, we have been served up more of the same slice of non-accountability that's seen the country drag its feet towards true progress since independence. The hallmark of Nigerian politics is one of gods and unquestioning worshippers. The President's silence on the Kaduna killings is a damning indictment of his administration, but it's sadly been the one thing he's consistently offered the country; frustrating silence. Since the President's inauguration in May 2015, he's played mute on a lot of worrying events when Nigerians have looked up to their leader to offer comfort and assurance. One would think the President is only here to share the good times and go into hiding when things get rough, and Nigeria has witnessed a lot of rough times since 2015. The killings of pro-Biafra protesters; the menace that is the free reign of terror in the country by Fulani herdsmen especially in the Southern Kaduna killings many have labelled a genocide; and the accidental bombing of innocent lives in Rann by the Nigerian military, rank high in a dishonourable list of events that has seen the President parade his spokespeople to address the nation instead of what should be his reassuring voice. It's telling when you think about the fact that the most notable national issue the President has directly reacted to is the very public criticism from his wife that she wouldn't vote for him a second time because of the disappointing performance of his administration. And he handled that with as much grace as one would expect from someone trying to get rid of a swarm of blood-sucking mosquitoes, drawing widespread criticism that he, again, did not acknowledge, never mind apologise for. Not only did the President not directly address the nation concerning the Rann bombing on January 17, which is unarguably one of the most tragic events in Nigeria's recent troublesome history, he departed for the United Kingdom on a ten-day "work leave" three days later while the nation still reeled in shock and horror. What has followed since the President got on that weary jet has further exposed his reluctance to communicate with the people that swept him into power, the same people he was wooing only a couple of years ago to give him a chance to steer the nation's course. The President's health has always been an issue of concern, most especially during election season when the opposition tried to discredit his candidacy with what they pointed out was a frail health that couldn't handle the stress of being the head of a demanding nation like Nigeria. The concerns have not gone away, and it has intensified in the past couple of weeks that the President has been away, with a whirlwind of rumours circulating on his ill health, with some even claiming that he is dead. Other than a tweeted picture of the President watching television in London with his back to the camera, Nigerians haven't heard anything from the President in two weeks now. One would think the intensifying rumours of the President's suspected death - a sad replay of the unfortunate demise of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua - would force him to grant the simple courtesy of addressing his nation to calm tensed nerves, but one would be expecting too much from yet another typical Nigerian politician. The puzzling indefinite postponement of the President's leave in London has left more tongues wagging as to his status and frankly, this is a situation that a responsible leader would easily recognise as an unnecessary distraction, and quickly put to bed. A proper democracy is supposed to run on absolute transparency, and even though Nigerians already suspect this democracy isn't matching up to what one is supposed to look like, it doesn't have to fall any further than it already has. The President's leave is over. He should hurry up the maintenance of the jet and start heading home. President Buhari has abandoned a nation that is largely wallowing in regret right now. Adesina speaks for President Muhammadu Buhari. When a man who speaks for the President doesn't have access to his principal, it's sufficient grounds for plenty of worry. "I am in touch with the President daily...daily", Adesina said during a recent television interview, "but", he added with an index finger pointed to the heavens, "I am not saying I speak with him direct, but I am in touch with London daily. "But people around him (sic), we speak daily", Adesina added. In yet another interview, Adesina detailed how hamstrung he's become in a Presidency where a cabal has reportedly seized the reins. ALSO READ: I speak to people around Buhari daily "I have not spoken to him (Buhari) directly...He was to speak with me last night, I was already put on standby that the President would speak to me last night. The call eventually did not come. "So maybe he slept off or something. But I dont even need him to speak to me. Because I dont need to authenticate that hes well or is alive. I speak with people there every day and they tell me how Mr. President is. So, I dont need any authentication". Let's call it what it is--Femi Adesina is in a bad place. Femi Adesina needs help in the form of hugs and kisses. Spokespersons should have round the clock access to their bosses because they speak for their bosses. Adesina is the President's mouthpiece. When he says he's been unable to speak with Buhari, he's inadvertently asking the rest of us to bail him out; he's indirectly telling us that he's been ostracized when it comes to discharging the responsibilities of his office. How do you communicate the state of health of a President to the people when you've not heard him speak since he left Nigeria's shores? Why does a spokesperson have to depend on second hand information to know what's going on with his boss? Do the other people the President is speaking with, have two heads? There was a sneer in Adesina's voice when the interviewer mentioned Mamman Daura. To hear the grapevine tell it, Daura is the President's cousin who calls the shots within the Buhari administration. They call him the head of a sinister cabal. Was Daura in the Uk with Buhari as everyone expects?, the interviewer inquired. "I dont know if Mamman Daura is there", Adesina barked. "He doesnt serve in government. I can talk about those who serve in government that I saw off at the airport". You don't need to read between the lines--you can actually read the lines themselves. Adesina's case may just be one of many instances where otherwise capable persons have been emasculated in the larger scheme of things by a President who some say likes to micro-manage governance. Just look at Babatunde Fashola and Kayode Fayemi. Who would have thought that these gentlemen would be made to look this ineffectual and (for want of a better expression) clueless? Adesina who has been under fire over comments on the health status of President Buhari said"some folks" who want him to lie will be disappointed. "Some folks would rather be lied to. But they won't get it from this spokesman. An eternal commitment to the truth, no matter what. God rules," Adesina said via Twitter on Wednesday, February 8, 2017. Adesina alleged that corrupt people are wishing that President Buhari should die. On the 11.8km-long Third Mainland Bridge, for the past two weeks since contractors 'peeled off' the top layer of the road's surface, a process know as milling, it has been about holding on to your steering and making sure you make it to the other end of the bridge in one piece. Most drivers completed that journey with flat or ripped tires. For Michael Adebayo, who uses the road every other day, it has been a story of long pile-ups and fear. "I'm not a great driver" he says, "but that bridge is now something else. Imagine me driving from Ikorodu road on an enjoyable speed, then I get to third mainland and it feels like the road is trying to take the steering from me" At night, one wrong swerve can be the difference between home and a very painful phone call. On the morning of January 21, motorists on the bridge, which connects the mainland to the Island, woke up to a pile-up that spilt into Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ikorodu Road. The previous night, Righteous Construction Company, which Pulse gathered was carrying out the repairs on behalf of FERMA, had started work on the roughest patches of the bridge. There were no road signs to warn road users of this. Neither the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing or FERMA informed the general public that repairs would commence on the bridge on that day. According to sources, even the law enforcement agencies were left in the dark. One of the police officers in charge of traffic on the mainland axis of the bridge, who spoke to Pulse on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that he and his colleagues had no prior knowledge of the repair. According to him, they had resumed on Monday to find heavy traffic along Iyana-Oworo, leading into Ikorodu Road. "We initially thought there was an accident", he said, "so we called the RRS officers stationed on the bridge to confirm; they told us that work was going on, so we began making efforts to divert traffic and lessen the congestion". Officers of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency, who pleaded anonymity, also had the same story to tell. From investigations, Pulse discovered that the federal government, in reaction to the present economic climate, has altered its method of awarding and paying contractors for projects. According to sources at FERMA, contractors are no longer paid the cost of the contract before they execute projects; instead, they are directed to self-finance until they achieve preset landmarks, or the contract is completely executed. A big part of this budget, which contractors no longer get before they work, is a mobilisation fee. That fund is used to cover preliminaries, such as creating road signs, boards and banners to notify the public. Ideally, a week would have been enough for the repairs; but two weeks after it was first milled, the road was worse off than before, and the contractors were nowhere in sight. Reports of slashed tires, seemingly endless traffic jams, and accidents at night slowly became normal, in their usual Nigerian way. In a bid to understand the reasons for the delay, Pulse spoke to the Comptroller of Works at the Federal Ministry of Works in Lagos. Engineer Ike, who is in charge of all federal infrastructure projects in the South-West, suggested that the contractor encountered mechanical difficulties while executing the project. In that time, the ministry, alongside FERMA and the contractor, Righteous Construction Company, held meetings to raise and correct the inefficiency and initial mistakes that caused the difficulties that road users encountered. In his words, "I noticed that (they didn't notify the appropriate authorities), they made initial mistakes that we corrected, and we're very sorry for it". He also added that the discussions had borne fruit, as the contractors promised to resume work on Monday. On the right lane of the bridge which faces the Island and is in worse condition, engineers from Righteous Construction Company began laying the asphalt on Monday, under supervision from FERMA officials. Despite evident progress, motorists did not hold back their displeasure at the delay, and the added congestion that came from splitting the road into two lanes while repairs continued. Some even made a note to slow down and shout insults in the direction of the men at work. Still, it seems unusual that the repair resumed so swiftly. By Monday afternoon, the appropriate signs and banners had been placed at regular intervals to notify motorists that work had resumed, and there was a slew of trucks and equipment suddenly ready to commence the work that should have been finished over a week before. One of the FERMA officials overseeing the project told us that the delay might have been caused by a lack of funds; the initial plan was to mill the entire bridge but the agency considered the cost as well as the effects on commuters who ply the bridge on a daily basis. Engineer Jubrin, a civil engineer with Lagos East Zone of FERMA said, "the hitch was from the contractor... and all things being equal, we are not supposed to stay for more than a week". He added, "we gave the contractor 90 days, but from the days he collected the award letter to now, over 2 months have been exhausted" According to Engineer Awodun, Federal Road Maintenance Engineer, Lagos East, those 90 days are part of a larger program for fixing the surface of the bridge that will extend until May, and while the surface of the road will be rough, it is up to the motorists to exercise care. Speaking to Pulse, he added "Most of the accidents you see on roads are due to the negligence of drivers. What we do is that we put necessary signs to alert people to what's going on; once we have done our part, the responsibility of obeying the necessary rules is not with us" Work on the bridge continues in earnest; by Tuesday, the longest stretch of the milled road was overlaid and smoothened. Considering that a 2-week delay followed barely two days of work in January, any time frame is not particularly assuring. There's also the issue of a general culture of lethargy and inefficiency that has plagued infrastructural projects in Nigeria, and its effect on the people who use these structures. Third Mainland Bridge may well be fixed in the next few days, but there are tires, cars and frustrated road users that still bear the scars, however small, of those two weeks. Mr Charles Ugomuoh, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Animal Branch, disclosed this at the inauguration of the K9 Dog trailers in Abuja on Wednesday. Ugomuoh said that other areas the dogs would be deployed included Abuja international airport, Force headquarters, National Assembly, National Defence College, Federal Secretariat and other black spots. He said that the trailers would also be deployed to escort peaceful protesters and processions. He said that the k9 sniffers would be used to detect IEDs, narcotics, arms and ammunitions, and crime prevention and detection. Agomuoh said that the acquisition of the technology was one of the many efforts of the Inspector-General of Police to re-strategise the the police force for better service delivery. He said the technology consisted of six compartments kennels with factory fitted air conditioner for the deployment of sniffer and general purpose patrol dogs. The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, directed the deployment of more dogs to the Abuja and Lagos airports to track drugs and other airport crimes. In a related development, the Nigeria Police Force has officially enrolled into the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS). Idris said that the system would enhance the welfare of policemen and help to ascertain the numerical strength of the force. He made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at interactive session with newsmen in preparation to hold one-day rally on good governance and anti-corruption. He said that the rally, to be held on Feb. 9, in Lagos and Abuja simultaneously, would be in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Kaigama said: for instance if you go to court in developed countries, you will never see a criminal being escorted to court being celebrated on his way to court or being celebrated at an event." But what we find in Nigeria is a different thing." So it is not just the issue of prosecution or investigation, Nigerians must own the fight against corruption. We must fight it jointly and we will take to the door steps of the criminals." Not until we do that, those in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government and the three tiers of government will never see this fight as a major issue." The TUC president said that Nigerians must own up to the fight against corruption without fear or favour. He said that the rally was an opportunity to enlighten Nigerians on the consequences of corruption and the best way out of it. Corruption is killing us, what we are experiencing now is a product of bad leadership; we want to install good governance at all levels especially in states and local government areas." The fight against corruption must start somewhere and end up somewhere at the door step of the criminals." The issue of corruption has taken another dimension." How can somebody who served four years or at most eight years get humongous pay at the end of the day when a public servant who served meritoriously for 35 years or attainted 60 years can never get such in his life; where is equity?" Kaigama said that TUC, NLC and their civil society allies were ready to partner anti corruption agencies to say enough of the era of celebrating criminals. We want the EFCC, ICPC and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption to be strengthened." The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya, told newsmen in Lokoja that the victims were travelling in a commercial bus from Okene to Onitsha when their vehicle was stopped by unidentified gunmen. According to Aya, the incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Monday at Ochoze village on Okene-Auchi road. He said the bandits were 10, saying that the Police Commissioner had dispatched trackers to search the bush for the victims. Aya said that the police were on top of the situation and that the victims and their abductors would be found very soon. Meanwhile, the Administrator of Okene Local Government, Mr Abdulrazaq Muhammad, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Okene and its environs. Muhammad said in a statement that the curfew was in response to the growing wave of crimes in the area, urging residents and shop owners to comply. He also said that activities of commercial motorcycle operators had been restricted to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., while movement of persons and goods was scheduled for 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. till further notice. The administrator said in the statement that was signed by his media assistant, Mr Abdulmumini Abubakar, that hotels, beer parlours and other related outfits would henceforth operate between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mrs Njeri Karuru, the UN Women Programme Manager on Peace and Security, said the meeting was necessary to ensure that stakeholders were involved in the process toward ensuring lasting peace in the state. She said the meeting was also aimed at charting way for womens engagement in peace building process and its sustenance. She added that women were usually relegated to the background in peace building processes despite their contributions to economic growth. She explained that if women were engaged in conflict resolution, they would monitorearly warning signs of crisis for appropriate action. Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, the Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said socio cultural and religious differences since 2001 tampered with peaceful coexistence in the state. She said that despite the vulnerability of women and children, they were often not included in formal peace building processes due to religious, patriarchal, cultural and socio economic factors. She added that stakeholders at the meeting would review the situation and issues raised would all be addressed. Gov. Simon Lalong said the UN meeting was in line with its mandate to restore peace and security in the state, a yardstick toward fast tracking development. The governor, represented by Mr Samson Dewan, his Special Assistant on Institutions and Litigation, said the Plateau Peace Building Agency was established to shore up efforts toward stable structure for peace in the state. He then stressed the need for concerted efforts by stakeholders to ensure peace on the Plateau. Lai Mohammed, now minister of information made the demand while acting in his capacity as spokesman for the Action Congress (AC). In a report by on Monday, December 21, 2019, Mohammed said: "the current situation whereby ministers and aides of the President give out uncoordinated information on his health, is doing more harm than good." He goes on further: It is clear to discerning Nigerians that those pretending to speak authoritatively on the President's health are deceiving the public since they are neither well informed on the issue nor competent to speak on it. Therefore, a daily briefing by the Minister of Information, based on authentic details provided by the President's doctors, should start forthwith. As we have said many times, the health of the President, as a public figure can no longer be of interest only to his family and friends. Nigerians have a right to know," he said. The AC also called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the only body constitutionally empowered to start the process of determining whether or not the President (Yar'Adua) could continue in office on the basis of his health, to rise above mundane considerations and put the nation's interest first. Late Yar'Adua was elected Nigeria's president on April 21, 2007, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to ThisDay, Osinbajo sent a letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. A lawmaker also confirmed that the Senate President received the letter requesting that Onnoghen be confirmed as the substantive CJN. The Senator however warned that it will not rubber stamp the appointment of the acting CJN. He said The Senate President is in receipt of the letter from the acting president, but it will be left to Senator Saraki to reconvene plenary to start the screening process. But even if he does so, the presidency should not expect us to rubber stamp Justice Onnoghens nomination, as we would have to carry out our own background checks, investigation and screening before deciding whether to confirm him or not. Reports also say the challenge now, is that the Senate is on recess and Justice Onnoghens tenure as CJN will expire in some days. According to ThisDay, only the National Judicial Council (NJC) can renew Onnoghens tenure as acting CJN. The NJC, which Onnoghen heads, is considering the option of recommending the acting CJN for another tenure, reports say. According to an NJC source who spoke to newsmen, While serving in an acting capacity for the second time, the Senate will go about its business screening him at its own pace. Osinbajo also said that the countrys greatest enemy is hate which he described as a device of the devil. The VP made the comments on Tuesday, February 8, during an event organized by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). Our greatest enemy is hate. In the past few years we have seen the most brutal killings of men and women. The history of blood and religious conflict extend to every Nigeria government, he said. The federal government has taken steps by first align with the state government working with the police to be the first respondents. It is not true to say that the FGN was silent, it is not true. Troops were sent in after a security council briefing were received from the state and police after they found themselves of not been able to curtail the killings. However from the foregoing it is obvious that every Nigeria leader whether Christian or Muslim has tried to solve the problem of the aged killing and none have succeeded. Indeed the killing has increase with intensity. In many respect the failure of our criminal justice system to punish culprits has not helped matters. But meanwhile the suicide bombers and those ready to die along with their victims have added a more satanic dimension to the public, he added. Hundreds of residents have reportedly been killed by Fulani herdsmen in a crisis which led the state government to declare 24-hour curfews in the Southern Kaduna area. ALSO READ: Group accuses El-Rufai of planning to eliminate people of Southern Kaduna NAN reports that the PSF bi-monthly meeting is organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), with support from Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) ongoing in Abuja. According to a statement signed by Prof. Oshita Oshita, Director-General IPCR on Wednesday, the forum made the observation while delibrating on conflict and security matters. The forum, he said, described as worrisome condition of inmates in the Nigerian prisons. Oshita said the forum therefore cautioned the federal government to take urgent actions to support the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS). He added that the forum also enjoined state governments to support efforts of the federal government by providing necessary logistic support to the NPS. The director general added that the forum also resolved to join hands with the Kaduna Government in finding lasting peace in the state, especially in the brewing insecurity in the southern part of the state. Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi stated this while reacting to Amechi's recent comment that the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna-Kano rail lines were being delayed by the refusal of the National Assembly to sign the loan request by the federal government. In a statement on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, Sabi noted that Amaechi's statement shows he was not in tune with the position of the government. The Senate, therefore, called on the minister to withdraw his statement against the legislature. The statement reads in parts. As at today, the only request for approval from the Executive for loan was the one dated January 27, 2017, and signed by acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo seeking a 'resolution of the National Assembly For the Issuance of USD 1 Billion Eurobond In the International Capital Market For The Funding of the 2016 Budget Deficit' and we immediately granted the approval. Also, in the letter quoted above, the government mentioned the two rail lines cited by the minister as part of the projects for which the Eurobond will be utilised. So, we cannot understand what the grouse of Mr Amaechi is. We view that statement based on false and misinformed premise strongly as a mere attempt to incite the people against the National Assembly. The Minister should, therefore, withdraw that statement. Furthermore, the National Assembly will take up the matter with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. As a former Speaker of a state House of Assembly, we believe that a minister like Amaechi should always check his facts and refrain from making unguarded and inciting remarks against the legislature. We do not expect such statements from a Minister in the present government, the statement said. Enang, who gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said that the approval of the nominees would help to drive the countrys foreign policy. He said that the commencement of screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs was an indication that the senate was committed to good governance. According to him, the screening of 23 nominees out of the 46 in one day showed clearly that the legislature was fully committed to moving the country forward. I want to appreciate the President for the quality of the candidates he has chosen and presented as non-career ambassadors. Also, the screening process by the committee has shown that they are dedicated and very thorough. The questions that the people have been able to answer have also shown us the stuff they are made of and there is no doubt that they would represent Nigeria well. I also want to appreciate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my staff because we did a lot of preparation to see this through. The committee made up of very eminent Nigerians like former speaker and other eminent lawmakers really took on the nominees and they have been able to prove they were worthy of their nomination. They also took time to take on all the nominees one-by-one, gave them the guidelines and template for handling the job before the screening. This is one of the most thorough processes of screening I have witnessed over time, he said. On concerns by some Nigerians that some of the nominees were over 60 years and may not be able to stand the rigours of the job, Enang said that none of them was too old to be an ambassador for a country. He said, to be an ambassador for a country, you must have acquired a lot of experience either as a judge, a member of the legislative house, a commissioner or permanent secretary. You must have held some post of great responsibility. That is what happens in diplomacy. He added that young Nigerians were equally given the opportunity to serve the country in other countries. Enang pointed out that the need for experience notwithstanding, there was room for young people to also grow. According to him, the current list contains names of some young people. We have the political class, which are the non-career and the career ambassadorial nominees. The career ambassadors are the younger ones that are within the career and even in the non-career list, some are between 37 years and 40 years old and there are others that are above 50 years. So it is a good mix-up and none of them is too old to represent Nigeria in another country, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee completed the screening of 23 non-career ambassadorial nominees out of 46 of them on Tuesday. The nominees who were screened are Goni Bura (Yobe), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Ahmed Ibeto (Niger), Kabiru Umar (Sokoto) and Baba Madugu (Bauchi). Others are Baba Jidda (Borno), Justice George Oguntade (Lagos), Garba Gajam (Zamfara), Bala Mairiga (Zamfara), Christopher Okere (Anambra), Etubon Asuquo (Cross River) and Nurudeen Mohammed (Kwara). The list also had Amin Dalhatu (Jigawa), Ahmed Bamali (Kaduna), Prof. Dandatti Abdulkadir (Kano), Justice Isa Dodo (Katsina), Prof. Mohammed Yisa (Kwara), Mrs Modupe Irele (Lagos) and Suzanne Folarin (Ogun). ALSO READ:Bukola Saraki says fixing poor power supply is a priority Maj. Gen. Ashimiyu Olaniyi (Oyo), Oriji Ngofa (Rivers), Jonah Odo (Ebonyi) and Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti) also made the list. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Jan. 12 re-transmitted nominees list to the senate for confirmation after it was first rejected. The gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming November election in the state, said the Chinese type of economy could be replicated in the state. According to him, with government partnership with the traders and business tycoons, we can create a thriving local economy in the state that will make it a commercial hub in sub-Sahara Africa. Government needs to understand its role in commerce and not to just focus attention on collecting tax; it needs to create commercial enhancement policy relationship between it and entrepreneurs." The state must think beyond waiting for Federal Governments intervention; we can build a strong economy on our own without looking at the direction of the centre, he said. Ubah, the Chairman, Capital Oil and Gas ltd., said the 21st century was not a century for lazy sub-national governments, rather a century that beckoned on them to build thriving local economies. He said attracting business was not enough, but making policies that would reduce the cost of doing business and create profit margin for expansion would in turn aid economic growth. Without creating road map for commercial activities, we will remain stagnant economically, Ubah said. He added that the Igbo race was endowed with the potential to rival the Chinese in business. According to him, our businessmen and women lack the requisite support of their state governments which their Chinese counterparts do enjoy. We are the only black race that can mimick the Chinese style of doing business, but unfortunately our business players do not get governments support like that of their Chinese counterparts." If I have the opportunity to govern the state, I will not just replicate but internalise the Chinese model of commerce here, he said. Earlier, the traders expressed their willingness to partner with the state government on robust policies that would grow businesses in the state. We have been left to the lurch as we continue to struggle with our individual efforts and we cannot continue to do these alone without government support,Chief Chijioke Okeke, said. The cleric made the revelation while speaking to members of his church in Lagos in January 2017. After I was called and I went to Abuja, and I sat with Mr President or General Buhari then, I said why me? Im not a politician, I do not belong to any political party, I am not carrying card of any party, why me?'" Bakare said in an audio recording obtained by The Cable. He gave me all the reasons, they are written in the book; Strategic Intervention in Governance. He gave three reasons, but the one that made everyone around me that day to doff their hats was when he said: I am not as young as you think, and even YarAdua that is younger is dead. In case I die, I know you can hold the nation together. That was when Jim (he didnt give his surname) removed his cap and said egbon, you must agree, he added. Bakare and Buhari contested on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Buhari, who is now 74-years-old, eventually won the presidential election in 2015 along with running mate, Yemi Osinbajo. Osinbajo is 59 years old and is currently acting as president while Buhari attends to health issues in the United Kingdom. Buharis health has been a cause of concern since January when he left the country for a 10-day medical vacation. ALSO READ: President Buhari is to return on Feb 6 - Presidency Tensions were further heightened by the presidents decision to extend his medical vacation indefinitely. The suddenness of the presidents trip and his refusal to speak to Nigerians has sparked fears and rumours that he might be in worse condition than the government is claiming. Osinbajo, on Monday, February 6, however assured Nigerians that theres no cause for alarm over the presidents health. Buharis spokesman, Femi Adesina also said that the president might return to the country sooner than expected. During Governor Kayode Fayemis government, he awarded a N304m contract for planting of flowers for urban renewal project in Ado Ekiti. Over 50% of the contract sum had been paid but there is no single flower anywhere, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Dr. Samuel Omotoso told journalists in Ado-Ekiti. The former governor also purchased 133 vehicles for royal fathers. The vehicles were given out in August 2013 and the contract papers were done in November. This was a clear case of misappropriation. He also paid N24m for the construction of Awedele Market. The money was paid to a phoney company and no construction was seen. The most disturbing was that, eight days to the expiration of his tenure, Fayemi withdrew a sum of N852m from University Basic Education Commission account which he was not a signatory to and diverted to other areas we could not trace. The former governor also paid a sum of N115m for the construction of a new Governors office. But no structure was put in place as we speak. The same was witnessed in the construction of the State Pavilion, the governors lodge and the 5km road projects, where billions were diverted. He even took N4bn loan four days before he left office. All these needed explanations. The summon was not meant to harass him. This is just an opportunity for him to clear his name. But should The security agencies failed to bring him here, then we will go the legal way, because we have the constitutional powers to summon any former or serving chief executive, he added. Meanwhile, Fayemi has said he won't be distracted by the childish allegations of fraud levelled against his administration by the Ekiti Assembly. ALSO READ: Fayemi condemns Ekiti Assembly over N40B fraud allegation According to Bakare, Obasanjo told Buhari that he would support him if he agreed for Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister, to occupy the Vice Presidential slot. Bakare made the revelation while speaking to members of his church in Lagos in January 2017. The day I signed that paper was the last day of submission. I carried the candidacy paper with me, but I didnt fill. The final day, Nasir el-Rufai (current governor of Kaduna) came to my room, and said Chief Obasanjo summoned him, that if he could appoint Okonjo-Iweala and drop Bakare, he (Obasanjo) will support Buhari, Bakare said in an audio recording obtained by The Cable. I was so glad, I was totally relieved, I took the nomination paper and I said let us go to General Buharis room. He took us to his bedroom, only three of us there. I said Nasir el-Rufai has just come to tell me good news, President Obasanjo has spoken to IBB, has also spoken to Dangote, they will now support you if you can only substitute Ngozi Iweala and let me go. I said, sir, there are five reasons why you must yield to this, and he kept on looking at me Look, many of you dont know this man For the ability to keep calm in the midst of storm and not say anything to hold your peace, I need some Fulani blood. I said five reasons why you must embrace this: 1. Ngozi Iweala is Delta Igbo; you have solved the problem of south-south and south-east. 2. Shes a Christian, faith balance. 3. She is a woman, gender balance. 4. She is a former minister of finance and external affairs, it is called experience, and currently, her position in the World Bank gives her global exposure, any of this five, I dont have. He looked at me, and said did Obasanjo meet with you or Nasir? I said honourable minister (el-Rufai), you speak, and he repeated all the things Ive said. And he (Buhari) asked him, what do you think he (Obasanjo) is up to? He said you know our boss, there is something up his sleeve. Then he turned to me, and said Pastor Bakare I told you I have prayed my own prayer the way I know how to, and I chose you, if you dont want, give me the form, I would look for somebody else. It was then Nasir said, egbon, sign it. In that room, I signed it, and Nasir seconded it. I left the place and it was as if a burden lifted, he added. Bakare and Buhari contested on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) but lost to Obasanjos party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Buhari eventually won the presidential election in 2015 but according to Bakare, God warned him to stay away from the presidents administration in his first term. Meanwhile, Okonjo-Iweala has denied having any interest in the 2019 presidential race. The panel, which was constituted by police high command submitted report to the Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday in Abuja. The report said that N111 million was recovered from 23 INEC officials that participated in the elections. The recovered cash was displayed during the presentation of the report at Police Headquarters, INECs Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the commission had not been briefed on the report by anybody on it. He said that when it would see the report and the indictment, INEC would support all processes to prosecute the people allegedly involved the alleged bribery. Chairman of the panel, Mr Damian Okoro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, made the allegation while presenting the teams report to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, in Abuja on Tuesday. He alleged that three senior election officials collected N20 million each out of the N360 million allegedly given to key officials by the state governor, Nyesom Wike. He said the other officials received N15 million each. According to Okoro, there are some cases of misconduct on the part of some electoral officers, who were compromised in the line of duty Osaze-Uzzi said we await the police report; just like everybody saw it on the media that was how we also saw it. As at today, they have not communicated to say this is the report. We know the panel has submit report to the IG, maybe, he will study it and avail us with the report if need be. The director said that the commission would allow the law to take its course on any of its staff members indicted in the alleged bribe. If any of our staff has been found culpable, we will deal with him appropriately and then allow the law to take its course. If they are charged to court, then normal administrative process will follow. If they are convicted, necessary action will be taken. If they are not convicted, we will examine if they have committed any administrative breach. If they have committed any administrative breach we will deal with that administratively, while the police will deal with the criminal aspect of it," he added. We are determined to weed out any bad egg from the system, he said. Generally, people all over the world exchange romantic gifts, and express love in the most beautiful manners possible on February 14. Apart from this, there are some other special twists and modifications to the celebration in some parts of the world. So, from Africa to South America, Asia and The Americas, here are the special ways people celebrate Valentine's day around the world. Brazil Brazilians do not celebrate Valentine's on February 14 because carnivals are celebrated around February and March. Lover's day is instead celebrated in June where gifts are exchanged with lovers and loved ones. South Africa Valentine's is celebrated in South Africa like in many other countries of the world - with a little special twist. According to Huffington Post, "[some men get to know women secretly crushing on them on Val's day] as women pin the names of their love interest on their shirtsleeves, an ancient Roman tradition known as ." France The country has the reputation of one of the most romantic countries in the world so it is not surprising that Valentine's day cards originated from there. Its been said that the world-wide trend began when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415. Nigeria In Nigeria, as in many other parts of the world, Valentine's is celebrated on February 14, and especially in the cities like Lagos and Abuja, people often wear red clothes, or accesories. The colour white is also usually common. Flowers are sold in abundance, many gifts are shared, romantic dinners, chocolates, teddy bears, etc. From university campuses to the metropolis, love making sessions also go down. A running joke is that people born in November are products of love made on Valentine's day. ALSO READ:7 sexual things women wish men would do more Phillipines Mass weddings have characterised Val's day in Phillipines in recent times. Lovers gather to have mass weddings where new couples say their wedding vows, and the old ones renew theirs. South Korea Val's day is very popular in South Korea with a variation of it celebrated in March and April, too. In February, it's called Val's day where women give men gifts ranging from chocolates and other gifts, In march it's called White day and guys do the giving. April 14th is known as Black day and it is for single men and women to mourn their solitary status by eating dark bowls of jajangmyeon, or black bean-paste noodles. Europe Some European countries have a tradition where lovers give each other St Valentines keys as romantic gestures and an invitation to unlock the givers heart. Turkey Val's isn't very celebrated in the country but in places such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, the magic of love is celebrated with bright lights, overpriced roses sold by old ladies, and parties for single people. Wales The negotiations mark a new milestone in the Colombian peace process, after President Juan Manuel Santos's government sealed a historic accord with the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in November. The government and the ELN are now seeking to bring "complete peace" to Colombia, said the representative for host country Ecuador, Juan Meriguet, as he declared the talks open in a small ceremony at a Jesuit retreat outside the capital Quito. "We have before us the opportunity to finally turn the page on this war," said the government's chief negotiator, Juan Camilo Restrepo. But experts warn the ELN will be a tougher negotiating partner than the FARC. There was friction between the two sides even as they celebrated the formal opening of talks. Restrepo warned the rebels that if they fail to give up kidnapping, "it will be very difficult to advance." The ELN's chief negotiator, Pablo Beltran, for his part called on the government to "take responsibility" for its actions during the conflict -- saying the rebels were prepared to do the same. Colombia is the scene of the last major armed conflict in the Americas. South America's third economy and the world's biggest cocaine producer, the country has been torn since the 1960s by fighting that has drawn in multiple leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries, drug gangs and the army. November's landmark peace accord with the FARC, the oldest and largest rebel group, leaves the ELN as the last active guerrilla insurgency. It has an estimated 1,500 fighters, mostly in the north and west. 'More fundamentalist' than FARC The talks come after three years of secret negotiations and an embarrassing false start in October, when the ELN refused to release their most high-profile hostage, ex-lawmaker Odin Sanchez. A flurry of behind-the-scenes negotiations followed, leading to Sanchez's release on Thursday in exchange for two ELN prisoners. In a further goodwill gesture on Monday, the ELN released a soldier they had captured two weeks earlier. But there will be more bumps in the road, warned Frederic Masse, an expert on the conflict at the Universidad Externado in Bogota. "The ELN has more fundamentalist demands than the FARC," he said. "They want much deeper social change." Complications: kidnappings, elections This marks the fifth effort to make peace with the ELN, after a string of failed attempts in the 1990s and 2000s. Negotiators will now get down to business on Wednesday, behind closed doors. Despite Monday's hostage release, the issue of kidnappings remains a touchy subject. Unlike the FARC, "the ELN has still not renounced kidnapping," long a source of revenue for both rebel groups, said Kyle Johnson of the International Crisis Group. "They might kidnap someone else in the future and we'll be back in the same difficulties." Elections in 2018 to decide Santos's successor also threaten to complicate matters. The peace process faces ongoing resistance from conservative opponents who accuse Santos of granting impunity to rebels guilty of war crimes. Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, had to tweak the initial FARC accord after voters narrowly rejected it in a referendum last October -- a major embarrassment for the government. The slightly revised version was ratified in Congress, where the president enjoys a majority. A new poll found that Colombians are growing less optimistic on the chances for peace. The motion, tabled by the centre-right opposition, is expected to fail as Grindeanu's left-wing Social Democrat party (PSD) holds a solid majority. "Romanians don't want corrupt politicians to be pardoned and shielded from justice. We call on you to stop acting against the law," read the motion filed by 123 opposition MPs. On Tuesday, the prime minister remained defiant in the face of Romania's largest protests since the fall of communism in 1989. Calling for "calm and stability", Grindeanu insisted he would not resign. For more than a week, hundreds of thousands of people have been taking part in demonstrations against an emergency decree approved on January 31, which critics say would have protected the corrupt from prosecution. Although the decree was scrapped late Sunday, the marches have continued, with some protesters vowing not to stop until the government steps down. While the crowds have noticeably shrunk from the half a million people thronging cities and towns on Sunday, they are expected to grow again over the weekend. "Every action the government took in the last week proves that they are not honest at all. So we cannot trust them," protester Danchiric, who works in advertising, told AFP at Bucharest's Victory Square on Tuesday night. Earlier in the day, the opposition-backed President Klaus Iohannis had hinted that the government should quit. "The repeal of the decree and the possible sacking of a minister is too little. Early elections are too much," Iohannis told MPs in Bucharest. Instead, he said, the onus was now on the Social Democrats to find a solution. 'Govern and legislate' "If the PSD, which has created this crisis, fails to resolve the crisis immediately, I will summon all the political parties for talks," the president warned. "You've won, now govern and legislate -- but not at any price." The government still also aims, via a separate decree to be reviewed by parliament, to free some 2,500 people serving prison sentences of less than five years. Grindeanu has argued the measures were meant to bring penal law into line with the constitution in the European Union member and reduce overcrowding in prisons. But critics see the moves as a brazen attempt to let off the many lawmakers who have been ensnared in a major anti-corruption drive in recent years, as Romania seeks to shed its reputation as one of the bloc's most graft-riddled countries. That push has seen almost 2,000 people convicted for abuse of power and a serving prime minister and a string of ministers and lawmakers go on trial. The government's latest manoeuvres set alarm bells ringing in Brussels. The European Commission, which had previously praised Romania for its efforts, warned against "backtracking". If neither a coffee shop nor club is your cup of tea, a new Davenport eatery promises to fit somewhere in between. Step inside Element Tea and Wine Lounge, which opened Jan. 21 on Belle Court near the intersection of 53rd Avenue and Jersey Ridge in Davenport, and you'll see it's not the typical eatery. Inspired by tea rooms in their home country of China, owners Kelvin and Jin Chen, of Bettendorf, aimed to offer an escape from the rush of bars and restaurants as well as an alternative to the cozy coffee joint. The answer was a concept the couple grew up with. Were tea people, said Jin Chen, who moved to New York as a child. In our culture, if you have guests coming over, tea is always there. The selection of tea includes black, green, white and herbal with signature blends such as white ginger pear, chocolate rose, coconut chai latte, jasmine and Moroccan mint. And its served with style in an English-inspired teapot warmed with a tea candle and matching teacups. As her husband of 12 years says, it's a mix of classy and casual. "There wasn't a place like this where you could start your day with a pick-me-up or come to after work," Kelvin Chen said. "It's that in-between kind of place." Elements menu also includes a list of 35 wines, a dozen craft brews and appetizers spanning from the simple and elegant (shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, a charcuterie that's a French word for smoked, dry-cured or cooked meat board to deep-fried delectable (waffle-cut sweet potatoes dipped in a waffle batter and splatted with seasoned salt and chipotle ranch). And, because Jin Chen "always can go for something sweet," show-stopping desserts, such as tiramisu, mango mousse cake, red velvet cake, gelato and an array of cheesecakes are also on tap. There are cakes that you might not find (elsewhere) in the Quad-Cities, she said. They're really something else ... Weve seen a lot of people stop to take photos of them. That includes Brooke Schelly, who recently has filled her Quad-City-based food Instagram account, called FeedMeQC, with photos from the chic establishment. The initial reaction is wow, Schelly said. "They dont just offer a plate with a cheesecake. They design it with the sauces and chocolate that looks really pretty and is perfect for photos. And, she said, the taste is on par with what you see on your plate and around the tea room. What will make it successful is how people feel when they walk through the door, Schelly, who has visited Element Tea and Wine Lounge fives times over the past few weeks, said. Its automatically relaxing. Its a place created to rejuvenate your mind and the tea room really matches that in this calm, modern, sleek way. That next level combination is what sets the cafe apart in the Quad-City food scene, she said. I think I said out loud, This is my new favorite place, she said. Its the kind of place you can go sit in a corner and read a book for two hours without being rushed out the door and the kind of place you can bring a group of friends. Melissa Peters, of Clinton, another early visitor to the lounge, agrees it brings a unique atmosphere to the Quad-Cities along with desserts that don't have the "once frozen" taste. I was able to unwind with a friend and we didn't feel hurried, which is a nice change, Peters said. "I think it's a very chill and relaxed environment." And that's the environment that Jin Chen had in mind. I wanted to create an atmosphere around a place I would like to hang out after a long day, she said. I might not want to go to a bar, but I might want to go somewhere and have some warm tea or a glass of wine. A Texas woman charged in a deadly crash late last month in downtown Davenport has waived her right to a preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Friday. Lauria Lee Kelly, 57, of Alvarado, filed the waiver in Scott County District Court Monday through her attorney, Harlan Giese Jr. During a preliminary hearing, a judge hears evidence to determine whether there is enough probable cause to justify a trial. She will be arraigned March 2. Kelly is charged with homicide by vehicle-reckless driving, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The crash happened shortly before 6 p.m. Jan. 30. According to an arrest affidavit filed by the Davenport Police Department, Kelly was driving her blue 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 because of 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 and Harrison streets and the other at 2nd and Main streets, according to the affidavit. One witness, who was crossing 2nd Street at Brady, said she heard the roar of an engine just prior to the crash, according to the affidavit. Kelly's vehicle struck the rear of a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo that was stopped at the red light on 2nd and Brady. The force of the impact caused fatal injuries to the driver, Cynthia Elaine Jones, 53, of Davenport. The Monte Carlo then was pushed into the rear of a green 1999 Buick Regal 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. Kelly and the driver of the Buick were taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Kelly was arrested after her release from the hospital and taken to the Scott County Jail, according to the affidavit. While she was in the hospital, police sought a search warrant to take a blood sample for testing. According to an application filed in support of the search warrant, a certified drug recognition expert examined Kelly and noted that she showed multiple signs and symptoms of impairment, including dilated and watery eyes, unsteadiness, quick slurred speech and jerky and fumbled movements. She also had a distorted sense of reality and believed the Order of the Masons was chasing her, according to the application. She consented to a breath test, which showed that she had a blood alcohol content of 0.0, according to the application. The application further states that Kellys symptoms were consistent with her using central nervous system stimulants and narcotic analgesics. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., said Tuesday that she has given herself 30 days to decide whether to run for governor and that she'll weigh such factors as whether a downstate figure "with my brand of politics" can appeal to a statewide audience and if she has the skills to make a difference in the infamously deadlocked state. Bustos, who has represented the 17th Congressional District since 2013, has been mentioned for weeks as a potential challenger to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. However, over the weekend, she said in Rockford that she would have a decision within 30 days. In an interview with the Quad-City Times on Tuesday, the Moline Democrat confirmed the timeline and amplified on some of the factors going into her decision. "As I weigh this, it is a matter of where can I make the biggest difference and how can I be in a position to help our state and region as much as possible," she said. Bustos is one of a handful of Democrats in the state said to be considering a bid for the party's 2018 gubernatorial nomination. Among the others: U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, state Sens. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, and Daniel Biss, D-Skokie, Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar, Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers and businessmen J.B. Pritzker and Chris Kennedy. Bustos said she is considering both political and policy matters in trying to come to a decision. Bustos has received national attention for being one of the few rural Democrats in Congress, and that's one of the reasons she was chosen to co-chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. However, she said Tuesday one of the things that she's considering is whether she could appeal to other parts of the state. "Does my brand of politics and governing, does it resonate in other parts of Illinois?" she said. "I'm a downstater. My politics are not the same as perhaps another member of Congress in another part of the state." She also said that she's wrestling with the idea whether she can lead the state in a new direction. Illinois is in the midst of epic gridlock. It's in its second year without a budget, and the state has large unfunded pension obligations. Bustos said her background in the private sector makes her different from many other politicians but she still wrestles with the question. "I ask myself, 'Am I the best person to set our state on a healthier path,' and I take that part very, very seriously," she said. "And if there's something that keeps me up at night as I make that decision, it is that. I think about that a lot." Temperatures tonight dip into single digits Here's the afternoon forecast from the National Weather Service. Snow is likely before 1 p.m. with total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Skies will be cloudy with a high near 26 degrees. North winds between 10 to 15 mph will gust as high as 20 mph. Tonight will be mostly cloudy then gradually becoming mostly clear with a low around 9 degrees. Wind-chill values could be as low as -5 degrees. Northwest winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Roads continue to be slick causing numerous fender benders and sending vehicles in to ditches. Deputy mayor invites constituents to join him in sauna VIENNA The deputy mayor of an Austrian town is inviting constituents to strip down and join him in the sauna. Saunas in Austria are traditionally mixed, and most guests are naked. Deputy Mayor Gerhard Kroiss says the main idea behind his initiative is to discuss improvements to the facility, run by his municipality of Wels in Upper Austria province. He also says there's no sweat if those taking him up on the invitation want to discuss other issues. The meeting is set for Feb. 15, and Kroiss said that feedback has been positive. 7 Awesome Valentine's Day Deliveries for Dudes Valentines Day is the perfect time to show your guy how much you care, but stuffed teddy bears and bouquets of roses may not seem quite as romantic for him. Here are six creative Valentines Day gifts your boyfriend or husband will actually love. The best part: you can have them delivered straight to his door. Don't wait, VD will be here sooner than you think. Read more. To declaw cats or not? New Jersey could be first with ban Cats would keep their claws under a bill that would make New Jersey the first state to prohibit declawing. The measure, which cleared the lower chamber of the Legislature last month, bans onychectomies and flexor tendonectomies on a cat or any animal unless a veterinarian deems them medically necessary. The practice, often undertaken to prevent cats from shredding furniture or injuring humans or other pets, is already banned in several California cities and in nearly 20 countries. "Declawing is a barbaric practice that more often than not is done for the sake of convenience rather than necessity," the bill's sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Troy Singleton, said in a statement. An onychectomy involves amputating the last bone of each toe. A flexor tendonectomy involves severing the tendon that controls the claw in each toe, so that the cat keeps its claws but cannot flex or extend them, Singleton said. Under the bill, vets who declaw cats other than to address a medical condition would face a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both. A violator would also be subject to a civil penalty of $500 to $2,000. The American Veterinary Medical Association, which represents more than 89,000 veterinarians, does not support having lawmakers tell doctors what to do and does not agree onychectomies are barbaric. A planned development of five townhomes at 612 Dilger Ave. was approved by the Rapid City Council on Monday night after a few local residents voiced concerns over the project. The development, which would include both one- and two-bedroom apartments in separate townhome structures, is being overseen by NeighborWorks Dakota Home Resources, a nonprofit organization. The structures will be three stories tall with garages on the first floor, living spaces on the second floor, and bedrooms on the third. Each unit will be on a separate lot, and all property owners will share a common area lot. Joy McCracken, NeighborWorks' executive director, said the one-bedroom apartments would be 720 square feet and those with two bedrooms, 968 square feet. They will cost from $115,000 to $145,000, including plumbing, heating and kitchen appliances. There are very few decent, safe, affordable houses on the market for less than $130,000, McCracken said in a phone interview. NeighborWorks plans on applying for tax increment financing, or TIF, to help pay for infrastructure costs including creating a new sidewalk, and hooking sewer and water lines to the property, McCracken said. They also plan on applying for a construction loan from the South Dakota Housing Development Authority. Local governments use TIF to put additional tax they collect from increased property valuation toward community improvement. Lisa Houghton and her husband moved into 610 Monroe St., the property directly across the street from the development location, in May 2016. A mother of five with a baby girl expected in the next week, Houghton was optimistic about the project but questioned the price. Putting people in 700 square feet for $140,000 doesnt seem affordable to me, Houghton said. Thats my concern. Are we really pushing it through our taxpayers or our city council members on the idea of low-income housing to help people who need help or ... are we trying to profit? Houghton said she paid just under $136,000 for her home in May, which includes five bedrooms and two bathrooms in 2,000 square feet, along with a private driveway and front porch. Kristie Pequette has lived at 712 Dilger Ave. with her husband and three daughters for two years. Her property is one house down from the corner of Monroe and Dilger, where the development will be built. I think its a little too high, Pequette said of the expected sale price. Things will only sell for what theyre worth. Thats a lot of little houses all in one spot. She said she was pleased that the design took into account the appearance of the older houses in the area, and her only fear was that the neighborhood could be rezoned as a high-density housing area. The next step in the process is applying for funding assistance, including the TIF application, McCracken said. She expects ground to be broken in about 60 days and construction to be completed in five to six months. Then the properties will be put up for sale and will target families with household incomes between $25,000 and $30,000. To try to assuage the concerns of residents, McCracken mentioned that covenants will require the owners to occupy them, all property exteriors to be insured under the same plan, and that a homeowners' association be created to deal with issues and costs associated with matters including snow removal and landscaping. NeighborWorks will assist with the early processes for the first couple of years, including the creation of a homeowners' association. She expects the development to house about 10 individuals total. Residents affected by the Bradsky Road bridge's weight-limit downgrade sounded off to the Pennington County Commission on what they say is an emergency situation, and commissioners agreed to have a solution at the next meeting, Feb. 21. Lynn Gray, a rancher and trucking business owner who lives near the road, told commissioners there are myriad basic needs that can't be met because of the downgrade, and they want something done about it now. They argued the downgrade is affecting many people's livelihoods by preventing them from getting farm and construction equipment across the bridge, which serves as the only way in or out for about 56 homes. "We have a bridge that has suddenly become barely usable," Gray said Tuesday. "For a lot of us, our livelihoods depend on that bridge." The Bradsky Road bridge's weight limit was reduced to 6-10 tons depending on the type of vehicle from 24 tons Nov. 22 after an inspection revealed that the piling was severely rotted, according to Mark Schock, county Highway Department assistant superintendent. Schock reported on the history of the bridge and updated the commissioners on the status of the replacement project, which sits in the hands of state Department of Transportation officials. He said the earliest repair work could begin would be late spring or early summer. The residents said they're extremely frustrated and scared that any emergency including a fire could end in tragedy. Three fires in the past three or four years have seen homes burn to the ground because of a lack of water resources and the inability of emergency vehicles to travel quickly, the residents said. After hearing from about five concerned residents, the commissioners decided to form a committee to study options for providing another way in and out of the area. The most popular solution seemed to be building a basic road from South Airport Road to Back Country Trail, which connects to Bradsky Road. This would give residents another way in and out of the area. However, private landowners would have to agree to allow the road to go through their pastures. Commissioner Ron Buskerud, who attended the meeting via Skype and telephone, urged the Highway Department to continue to press the state for answers on a timeline and the possibility of speeding up the process. PIERRE | Local business improvement districts in South Dakota could levy a lodging room tax of up to 3 percent under a proposal that began moving Tuesday through the Legislature. The 3 percent would be an alternative to the $2 maximum fee currently. I think this is good policy, said Rep. David Lust, R-Rapid City, the primary sponsor of the measure, House Bill 1085. Lust said he thought the percentage should have been used from the start. He called the $2 fee inherently unfair because it is proportionately much higher for lower-priced rooms. The 3 percent would cost more than $2 for rooms priced at about $70 and higher. The House Local Government Committee held a public hearing on the bill Tuesday and voted unanimously to endorse it. The measure now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Rep. Tim Reed, R-Brookings, said the bill provides fairness, flexibility and local control. This really is permissive, said lobbyist Dean Krogman of Brookings. He testified on behalf of tourism businesses seeking its passage. Its purely a local option, said lobbyist Roger Tellinghuisen of Rapid City. He testified for the Deadwood Gaming Association. Other hotel-industry owners testified in favor. Doug Schinkel of the state Department of Revenue opposed the bill. Youve heard this isnt a tax increase? Not true. This is a tax increase, Schinkel said. He noted there is already a state tourism tax of 1.5 percent. PIERRE | South Dakota judges would be allowed to extend probation periods for juvenile offenders under legislation offered by two Brown County lawmakers. The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously endorsed Senate Bill 164 as several influential members of the panel spoke against the 2015 juvenile justice reforms, which set the probation periods. The law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2016, set maximums of four months for juvenile probation, eight months for intensive juvenile probation and 12 months total for all probation. Those havent been long enough in many cases. There were 138 requests last year for extensions, according to Greg Sattizahn, state court administrator. Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, is prime sponsor of SB 164, which would expand the maximums to six, 12 and 18 months. Rep. Dan Kaiser, R-Aberdeen, is the lead House sponsor. Kaiser, a police officer, said hes heard concerns from probation officers that theyve felt handcuffed. He said some juveniles need more guidance because their family life doesnt provide it. Novstrup brought an amendment to his bill so that it would prohibit extending probation solely to collect restitution. No opponents testified. A fix to a huge problem caused by Senate Bill 73 was Sen. Brock Greenfields description of the Novstrup-Kaiser legislation. At some point somebody has to say it, so I will. Senate Bill 73 has to go away, said Greenfield, R-Clark. I support the (current) bill because it makes it better. This would be a good vehicle to make it go away. Committee chairman Lance Russell said hes in 110 percent agreement with Greenfield about the 2015 legislation. Russell, R-Hot Springs, is a lawyer. He said schools lack counselors and adhering to SB73 is costing local government a lot of money. Russell said hed like to give back some discretion to judges. The committee endorsed the changes 7-0. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. The bill, voted down 9-6 Wednesday in the House Education Committee, would have required insurance companies to disclose how much money they donate to the private-school scholarship fund in exchange for tax credits. It also would have required the group in charge of the program to show how much goes to each private school. The scholarship program was created last year and can accept up to $2 million annually. PIERRE | A bill that would allow people to carry concealed pistols in the Capitol is headed to the state Senate. The House voted 46-20 Wednesday to approve the bill, which applies to people who have an enhanced carry permit. It would also include qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired officers. Majority Leader Lee Qualm, the bill's main sponsor, says the thought that people in the Capitol are carrying will deter criminals. The measure would require people to register in advance with security. There are no metal detectors or other security checks at the Capitol entrances to enforce the current prohibition on most people carrying guns in the building. The South Dakota Highway Patrol, which provides security at the Capitol, opposes the bill. Similar legislation has failed in the past. PIERRE | The Legislatures approval should be required for nuclear waste sites in South Dakota, the state House of Representatives decided Tuesday. The vote nearly was unanimous only Rep. Susan Wismer, D-Britton, voted against it on the legislation brought by Rep. Lana Greenfield, R-Doland. No one spoke against House Bill 1071, which had a mixture of Republican and Democratic co-sponsors from both chambers. The measure went to the Senate. The lead sponsor there is Sen. Kevin Killer, D-Pine Ridge. Greenfield said current law lets the governor approve a nuclear waste project by himself or ask the Legislature for its advice. Ive simply stricken that part and made us part of the discussion by adding the Legislature, Greenfield said. She explained that an outside group wanted to sink a deep hole in Spink County last summer and she saw a need to be proactive. Greenfield said the legislation doesnt imply anything sinister regarding Gov. Dennis Daugaard. She said the governors office supported the legislation at its House committee hearing. PIERRE | State senators failed Tuesday to approve more budget freedom for South Dakotas public universities. But the matter might resurface in the days ahead. The Board of Regents, which governs the state universities, wanted two special accounts in the state treasury to use for federal and other grants and contracts. The regents didn't want to have to take midyear transfers to the Legislatures Joint Committee on Appropriations. Because of the desire for continuous authority, the legislation needed a two-thirds majority, or 24 ayes, for Senate passage. The vote was 19-16. Sen. Deb Peters, R-Hartford, said she was undecided and ultimately voted nay. She gave notice after the vote that she would seek reconsideration of the bill later. The Joint Committee on Appropriations voted 14-0 on Feb. 3 to endorse the measure, Senate Bill 19. Peters and three other lawmakers were excused when the committee voted. Sen. Larry Tidemann, R-Brookings, said during the debate Tuesday that the committee originally was prepared to kill the bill. But he said there was zero opposition to it. I think its greater transparency, Tidemann said. The Legislature would still have budget authority over the state, federal and other funds received by the regents, Tidemann said. This bill is a compromise. We're going to move forward with a cleaner budget, a leaner budget, said Sen. John Wiik, R-Big Stone City. Senate Democratic leader Billie Sutton of Burke questioned why the Legislature would relinquish some of its authority. Likewise Sen. Jason Frerichs, D-Wilmot, said he hadnt heard of any problems that would justify the change. Sen. Lance Russell, R-Hot Springs, said he could understand the advantages but warned it would be almost impossible to take the authority back from the regents in the future. The coalition of opponents consisted of hard-core conservatives and Democrats. PIERRE | Child support and child custody are splitting the Legislature this year. At odds are lawmakers who want to adjust the child-support payment schedule for the first time since 2009 and lawmakers who want joint custody to become the presumed arrangement in divorce cases. Each side seems to have enough votes to block the others legislation. The latest incident came Tuesday. A Senate panel decided Tuesday to delay its decision on whether to endorse changes in the child-support payment schedule. The full House of Representatives rejected the same changes 35-31 on Jan. 18. Sen. Art Rusch, R-Vermillion, introduced the Senate version of the changes on Jan. 31. An official state commission recommended the changes. They included reducing payment amounts between lower-income parents and increasing amounts between higher-income parents. Tuesday, Sen. Craig Kennedy urged the other Senate Judiciary Committee members to read the commissions report from its 2016 round of work. I found it very understandable, and I found it very persuasive, Kennedy, D-Yankton, said. The committee voted 6-1 to defer the bill. Rusch cast the only nay. The senators who favor joint custody saw their legislation defeated 21-14 in the Senate on Feb. 1. Prime sponsor of Senate Bill 72 was Sen. Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City. One of the chief opponents was Rusch, a retired judge. The next move came from first-year Rep. Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids. He introduced the same joint-custody legislation in the House on Feb. 2. Pischke testified against the child-support legislation at public hearings held by the House and the Senate committees. Pischke said Tuesday that he was disappointed that Rusch brought back the same child-support legislation that had lost in the House. I dont think that this is probably the right time, Pischke told the Senate panel. Sen. Lance Russell, the Senate committee chairman, questioned the mechanics of the commission Tuesday. Russell, R-Hot Springs, said the system in a number of respects fails the individuals. He said he doesnt know how long the child-support bill should be deferred. It is a significant issue, but unfortunately I dont think the bill is as robust as it should have been, said Russell, a lawyer. Feb. 23 is the deadline for lawmakers to finish consideration of legislation in its first chamber. A hearing date hasnt been scheduled yet for Pischkes joint-custody bill, HB1203, by the House Judiciary Committee. The Federal grazing fee for 2017 will be $1.87 per animal unit month (AUM) for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and $1.87 per head month (HM) for lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The 2016 public land grazing fee was $2.11. An AUM or HM treated as equivalent measures for fee purposes is the use of public lands by one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. The newly calculated grazing fee, determined by a congressional formula and effective on March 1, applies to nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM and nearly 6,500 permits administered by the Forest Service. The formula used for calculating the grazing fee, which was established by Congress in the 1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act, has continued under a presidential Executive Order issued in 1986. Under that order, the grazing fee cannot fall below $1.35 per AUM, and any increase or decrease cannot exceed 25 percent of the previous years level. The annually determined grazing fee is computed by using a 1966 base value of $1.23 per AUM/HM for livestock grazing on public lands in Western states. The figure is then calculated according to three factors current private grazing land lease rates, beef cattle prices, and the cost of livestock production. In effect, the fee rises, falls, or stays the same based on market conditions, with livestock operators paying more when conditions are better and less when conditions have declined. The 2017 grazing fee of $1.87 per AUM/HM applies to 16 Western states on public lands administered by the BLM and the Forest Service. The states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Permit holders and lessees may contact their local BLM or U.S. Forest Service office for additional information. The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more land over 245 million surface acres than any other Federal agency. Most of this public land is located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, manages approximately 193 million acres of Federal lands in 44 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. President Donald Trump's approval of Butte County as part of a major disaster declaration means that Butte County Auditor Elaine Jensen has a batch of paperwork to complete. What may make it unusual is that the declaration results from the Christmas 2016 storms that hit much of South Dakota, but it's not a blizzard disaster. "This is not considered a snow event," Jensen said. "There wasn't enough snow." But, she said, damages and repairs to lines for rural electric cooperatives that serve the county, Butte Electric and Grand Electric, do count. So, she said, do the costs of search and rescue operations such as the one north of Newell Dec. 26 that required snow plow operation to save the life of a man who barely survived in a snowbank on the prairie. Following the declaration, she said, "We are now ready to proceed with turning in the exact numbers, the county's costs and rural electric cooperatives, for reimbursement. Jensen said she had not been given a deadline. "I'm sure they will be getting in contact with me very quickly," she said last Friday after learning the state's request for a presidential disaster declaration had been approved. Normally her paperwork in a disaster declaration goes to the state and is forwarded to federal officials. South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard had requested a major disaster declaration for 24 counties and two tribal governments in South Dakota. The affected counties include Butte, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Dewey, Edmunds, Fall River, Faulk, Grant, Haakon, Hamlin, Harding, Jackson, Jones, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, Roberts, Stanley, Sully, and Ziebach. The disaster declaration also covers the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Dewey and Ziebach Counties and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Jackson County. U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) issued statements after President Trump approved the disaster request. "The federal disaster assistance will help communities recover from strong winter thunderstorms and a subsequent blizzard that resulted in flooding, significant snow and ice accumulations, and high-velocity straight-line winds across the state. Three people lost their lives as a result of the winter storm," said the three in a joint statement. I want to thank President Trump for taking quick action so these communities across South Dakota can continue the hard work of rebuilding their cities and towns, said Thune. Now that this declaration has been approved, I hope folks can have greater peace of mind knowing that more help is on the way. A number of South Dakota communities suffered significant losses during recent thunderstorms and blizzards, said Rounds. President Trumps disaster declaration will help these communities which suffered losses to be eligible for federal assistance as they work to rebuild. South Dakotans are resilient, but disasters like this can threaten a familys financial security, said Noem. President Trumps swift actions will help make sure South Dakota communities get the help they need to rebuild from a devastating winter storm. After 40-plus years working behind a desk, Bruce Quick decided he needed some exercise. Within weeks of his retirement in July as Vice President of Human Resources for Volunteers of America in Sacramento, Calif., Quick took off on the walk of a lifetime 700 miles in 40 days. I started walking on Aug. 21 (2016) in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and ended in Porto, Portugal on Sept. 29, Quick said, adding he averaged about 17.5 miles a day on the historic Camino de Santiago. I wanted to walk the Camino, of course, to say I could do it at 65. The trip was inspired, in part, after watching the 2010 film, The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, who also wrote and directed it. But what Quick really wanted and needed was an opportunity to think about the next chapter(s) in his life and evaluate what he could do during his retirement years. I also felt it would be a good time to put closure to any unresolved issues in my life, he said. An avid hiker, Quick has trekked with friends, including climbing in and out of the Grand Canyon. The Camino trip was completely on my own, he said. I didnt want to feel like I had to walk at someone elses pace. In anticipation of the 40-day trek, Quick set a training goal of walking 10 miles every day. Id never done more than 18 miles in a day and,even then,I knew Id be able to rest the following day, he said. He walked early in the morning around Sun City, averaging 15 miles a day every day and didnt allow any rest days. As he got closer to the departure date, Quick carried his 20-pound backpack. The neighbors must have thought I was some homeless guy walking around the streets, he laughed. He flew into Paris, then took a five-hour train ride to the start of the Camino. The Camino is a humbling experience as you are pushed out of your comfort zones and learn to really appreciate the simple things. For example, carrying a 20-pound backpack filled with your basic necessities for 40 days and never really needing anything more, the former Sturgis resident explained. Quick grew up on a dairy farm 12 miles north of Sturgis off S.D. Highway 79. He moved away after graduating from Sturgis Brown High School in 1969. He now lives in Lincoln, Calif., about 30 miles north of Sacramento. Setting out on the pilgrimage, he discovered the Camino can be separated into three stages. For the first 10 days, Quick said, you concentrate on all the aches, pains and inconveniences youre not used to. The next few days are spent questioning your sanity. What in the world am I doing out here? Finally, the pilgrim moves into the spiritual (the main purpose for walking the Camino). You develop your relationship with the Camino and begin to rely upon your religious/spiritual beliefs. I had many opportunities to have deep philosophical and spiritual conversations with other pilgrims, he said. In particular, I learned and will continue to remind myself to let go of the things I cannot change and appreciate what I have. Still, the journey came with its challenges. Although I experienced blisters, shin splints and backaches, I survived, he said. Walking 4,700 feet up over the French Pyrenees the first day was do-able. Other challenges included sleeping on the floor in pilgrims hostels or albergues with 30 other people. Most of the time you were too tired to care, he said. It was also trying to go for days without meeting anyone who spoke English. When passing on the route, most walkers offered the traditional Bien Camino greeting. A Hello from another traveler was uplifting, he said, particularly when he met a woman from Sacramento. In spite of it all, he said, the beauty of Spain and Portugal, the kindness of the Spaniards and the Portuguese and the amazing pilgrims I walked with overcame any aches, pains and worries I had. Another delight were the special menus for pilgrims provided by restaurants in villages along the Camino. Three course meals, usually 10 euros, included salad, meat, French fries, wine (always wine) and bread. In some places, the pilgrims would prepare communal meals at the hostel. When he reached the end of the Camino (600 miles) ahead of his schedule, Quick decided to continue on the Fatima trail finishing on the coast of Portugal. Although he found it difficult to return home, Quick admits he found what he was seeking. I met some of the most wonderful people and truly know how fortunate I was to have the experience, he said.I realized how burdened we are with all the material things that we acquire in a lifetime and how easy it is to live with just the basics. I miss the simplicity of the Camino. So, whats next? He knows he will continue to travel and explore. Walking the Camino pushed me out of my comfort zone, he said. I know I dont need a whole lot to travel anymore. Im not sure I will walk the Camino Frances again as I dont want to change any of the great memories I have. I hope to walk other parts of the Camino. One that Im thinking about is a 500-mile walk from Le Puy, France to St. Jean de Port, France. But Im just thinking about it at this point. I dont want to tell my feet yet. BISMARCK, N.D. | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finished its review of the Dakota Access pipeline and will issue an easement under the Missouri River as early as this afternoon, but the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has pledged to challenge the decision in court. The Army intends to cancel further environmental study, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from deputy assistant Army secretary Paul Cramer. The stretch under Lake Oahe is the final big chunk of work on the 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a leak would pollute its drinking water. The tribe has led protests that drew hundreds and, at times, thousands of people who dubbed themselves "water protectors" to an encampment near the crossing. Developer Energy Transfer Partners says the pipeline is safe. Details of the tribe's legal challenge to the Army's decision were still being worked out, attorney Jan Hasselman said. But tribal Chairman Dave Archambault said the tribe is "undaunted" by the Army's decision. Even if the pipeline is finished and begins operating, he said, the tribe will push to get it shut down. The Obama administration correctly found that the Tribes treaty rights must be respected and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations," Hasselman said. "Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian tribes and a violation of treaty rights." An assessment conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, then-assistant Army secretary for civil works Jo-Ellen Darcy declined to issue permission for the crossing Dec. 4, saying a broader environmental study was warranted. ETP has been poised to begin drilling under Lake Oahe as soon as it has approval. Workers have drilled entry and exit holes for the crossing. Despite his determination to seek justice for his tribe, Archambault is again asking supporters to advocate from home and not return to protest in North Dakota, where the state and tribe have been working to clean up camps where several hundred people still live and protest the pipeline. "Please respect our people and do not come to Standing Rock and instead exercise your First Amendment rights and take this fight to your respective state capitols, to your members of Congress and to Washington, D.C.," he said. A Rapid City woman was arrested Sunday for firing what police described as a BB gun at a man and a girl after an argument in a parking lot at Rushmore Crossing. Police were dispatched at 4:30 p.m. to the parking lot of 1707 Eglin St. for a weapons call. A male victim told police he had been walking through the parking lot with his daughter when a tan minivan almost struck his daughter. An exchange of words followed between the man and the driver, whom police identified as Randi Steele, 23, and Steele allegedly pulled out a black firearm and pointed it at the man and his daughter. Police said she fired several BBs from the handgun before driving out of the parking lot. The girl was struck by one or more of the shots and suffered a minor injury, police said. Police transmitted a description of the van over the radio, and it was located and a traffic stop was conducted. Steele pulled the van into the parking lot of 300 Sixth St. before coming to a stop. Police approached her and reported observing a black BB gun on the floor by her seat. Steele was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault and two warrants and was taken to the Pennington County Jail. Rapid City police are investigating a stabbing that occurred on or before Monday. Police were dispatched at 6:45 a.m. Monday to 1805 W. Fulton St. for a report of an individual in the area with several stab wounds. While en route, police were advised the injured subject had left the address and was walking toward Mountain View Road. The subject was located walking in the 800 block of Jackson Boulevard, and a medical unit was called to the scene. The injured subject was transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police were continuing to investigate the incident. A Rapid City woman convicted of unlawfully disposing of her stillborn daughter was sentenced Tuesday, but the hearing spotlighted the options open to a mother who delivers a stillborn child outside the hospital or is unable to keep her newborn. Wita Hope Davis, 39, had pleaded guilty in 7th Judicial Court to the misdemeanor charge of disposal of a dead body without a permit. Magistrate Judge Scott Bogue sentenced her to the jail time she has served from her arrest Nov. 11 until Friday, when she moves to a womens home that runs a recovery program. In doing so, Bogue cut about 200 days off Davis' term. Davis offense was rooted in alcohol abuse, her lawyer, Betsey Harris, told the court. Davis, who gave birth on her own at a friends home, had been afraid of reporting the stillbirth to authorities because she had been drinking during her pregnancy, Harris said. She went into labor in her sixth month of pregnancy after being assaulted, including being kicked in the stomach, Harris said. But Davis had another option, Harris told the Journal. She could have gone to a hospital, where she could be treated and authorities called to issue a death certificate. The cost is minimal for people who are impoverished, Harris said, and turning over a newborn to the hospital is completely legal. South Dakota law requires a permit before a dead body, or a fetus that is at least 20 weeks old, may be discarded. The permit is available online from the state Department of Health, or on paper from the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred or the body was found. I don't think democracy died last week in South Dakota, but it sure took one heck of a beating. Our Legislature staged a coup d' etat against its own people. Surreal as it sounds, that's basically what happened when Gov. Daugaard signed House Bill 1069 into law, essentially invalidating an Initiated Measure 22 that South Dakota's voters passed in November. The measure was a drastic reform of campaign and governing procedures in the state that was widely discussed and debated for months before the election. Overall it was a draconian overhaul of the status quo, limiting lobbying expenditures, creating an ethics commission and putting a public financing of campaigns component into state election procedures. That last bit caused me to vote against the measure, but nearly 52 percent of voters believed that it was a good thing, so the measure carried. The reaction in Pierre was reflexive and dismissive. Of course, you'd expect an entrenched political class to react in horror to a change as sweeping as IM 22. But what caught naive observers (like me, I guess) off guard was the utter rejection and dismissal of the state's official claim to be the place where "under God the people rule." Apparently that ethos doesn't mean much, and I certainly suggest that the governor and the Legislature expunge it from all official South Dakota insignia, lest we become even more of a laughingstock in the national conversation about this event. The Washington Post says that our elected officials are "disturbed" and "tone deaf." South Dakota, the first state to adopt statewide initiatives and referendums (in 1898), has a historic commitment to its belief that the people rule. It took nearly 120 years for that resplendent imperative to get wiped out. This populist-driven expression of democracy just got swamped by an avalanche of official contempt for the voice of the people. Supposedly, the next step from South Dakota's governing class is to prepare and pass a set of reforms that they believe are more consistent with what the voters have in mind. Daugaard says that he and "the legislators will work to honor the will of the voters." I wasn't aware that divining "the will of the voters" is part of our elected officials' job descriptions, but given the legislative arrogance of this enterprise, it's no surprise to learn that they actually believe that voters were thinking one way and voting another. Considering that the reforms the governor proposes will be created by and applied to those who are affected by them, I'd have to say that Daugaard's intent may be honorable, but the follow through will probably be a waste of time. I'm looking forward to doing a point-by-point analysis of the changes that come from a political cast of characters who reject the notion that in South Dakota, the people rule. Prove me wrong, South Dakota pols. Lawmakers correct to repeal IM 22 I am writing in support of the recent repeal of Initiated Measure 22. The measure contains many statutes which are unconstitutional, including the ethics commission, the Democracy Credits program and the statutes concerning conflict of interest for state legislators. But my main concern was the funding behind IM 22. The pro-IM 22 campaign was funded almost entirely by donations from outside of South Dakota. The main organization advocating for IM 22 was South Dakotans for Integrity who gathered nearly $1.3 million to pass IM 22. The main donor for this organization was a group called Represent.Us, which is from Massachusetts. Very little money or support for this measure came from South Dakota. Most of this money went toward misleading advertisements showing politicians being bribed by lobbyists. Despite IM 22 supporters claims, there are no documented occurrences of such legislative bribery having occurred in South Dakota. Not to mention that bribery of a state legislator is already punishable with a Class 4 felony in South Dakota. This measure was not necessary for South Dakota and was not a measure generated by South Dakotans. Teresa Johnson Rapid City Thune's facts wrong on estate tax I was disappointed to see Sen. Thune take a cheap shot at the IRS in his column in the Journal that advocated abolishing the estate tax. First of all, the IRS did not enact the law. Congress did that in 1916 and as recently as 2013 made it permanent once more with a rate of 40 percent on estates over $5 million. Secondly, the money collected does not go into IRS coffers but instead goes to the U.S. Treasury to pay the bills. Instead of pandering to his supporters Sen. Thune needs to work with his fellow representatives to enact legislation that will abolish a law that they have previously passed. Enough of blaming federal employees for doing their job of enforcing laws that the Congress has legislated. Richard Lolley Rapid City Proposed science bill about religion What Sen. Phil Jensen isn't telling you is that Senate Bill 55 is yet another attempt by Sen. Monroe to shove religion and God back into the public school system, something he has been trying to do since he was first elected. If one would read the proposal, he would see this for what it really is. South Dakota needs to keep politics and religion separate. Bill Goff Pierre PIERRE | A South Dakota legislative committee blocked an attempt Tuesday to start rolling back the 2016 sales-tax increase. The legislation sought to strip four words out of a 2016 law that calls for revenue from remote sellers to be dedicated to reducing South Dakotas sales tax. The fight was over the phrase to enforce the obligation. The problem began when several businesses, the latest Amazon, agreed to voluntarily start collecting and remitting sales taxes on mail order and internet purchases. South Dakota hasnt won its court fight yet against other remote sellers on whether sales tax revenue can be required from businesses that dont have a physical presence here. Without a court ruling, or an act of Congress, the obligation doesnt officially exist yet. Consequently its open to interpretation whether the taxes now being voluntarily paid from remote sellers have to be used to reduce the states 4.5 percent sales tax. The automatic reduction law was an amendment last year by then-Rep. Jeff Partridge, R-Rapid City, that helped pass the sales-tax increase to 4.5 percent from 4 percent. The current bills prime sponsor is first-year Rep. Tim Goodwin, R-Rapid City. His co-sponsors are three of the Legislatures more conservative members: Sen. Lance Russell, R-Hot Springs; and two House freshmen, Rep. Drew Dennert, R-Aberdeen, and Rep. Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids. The House Taxation Committee voted 9-5 Tuesday to set aside its legislation, HB1131. During the public hearing Rep. Ray Ring, D-Vermillion, asked if there would be difficulty sorting out the tax obligations from a business that has both a physical presence and an internet market. Jim Terwilliger, the economist for the state Bureau of Finance and Management, said there isnt a way currently to figure that out. That would be an important statistic because the Partridge amendment refers to the additional revenue from remote sales. Rep. Isaac Latterell, R-Sioux Falls, said the governor's interpretation of Amazon's remittance as voluntary sidesteps the word obligation in the Partridge amendment. Rep. Mary Duvall, R-Pierre, defended the governor. She said Goodwin and his backers were shooting from the hip with their bill. Duvall asked that the committee set it aside and use the coming year to gather information for possible action by the Legislature in 2018. The Partridge amendment calls for rolling back the 2016 tax increase by one-tenth percent on the July 1 following the calendar year for which each additional $20 million increment of net revenue is collected and remitted by such remote sellers. When it comes to avoiding liability, the Ravalli County commission may be between that proverbial rock and a hard place concerning lines drawn on a map a century ago. In the early 1900s, large tracts of land in the Bitterroot Valley were subdivided into 10-acre orchard tracts that speculators hoped would attract thousands to the area for a chance to grow apples. Through that subdivision process, developers platted hundreds of miles of easements they hoped someday would become county roads. There are still large tracts of land remaining that were subdivided in those years before the apple boom busted. And on the maps depicting those subdivisions, those platted county road easements also remain. On Tuesday, county road administrator John Horat told the commission his office has heard from a number of people interested in building on orchard tracts. Those folks wanted to understand what the countys policy was for building a road on the established county easement. The problem is as of now there is no county policy. In the past, Horat said the county hasnt typically permitted new roads built on the county easements, unless there was some specific reason that it was required. Many have just appeared, he said. They were kind of off the radar. Horat and Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Dan Browder of the Ravalli County Attorneys Office met with the commission Tuesday to discuss the potential of developing a policy to create consistency for landowners and the county. From a legal standpoint, this issue does come up from time to time, Browder said. It appears that a policy would handle that consistently rather than on an ad hoc basis. A number of people who work in the real estate business attended the meeting. They were concerned with the potential of the county creating a policy that would require landowners to build expensive roads into their home sites. Horat said the county standard for this type of road would meet the fire code requirement of a 20-foot wide, all-surface road. Commission Chair Greg Chilcott said it was a sticky issue for the county as it attempts to mitigate any potential future liability for its residents from those historic easements. If the county allows a landowner to punch in a two-track road up a hill to access a nice home that fire trucks cant access, that could open the door for a lawsuit, he said. We do have a fiduciary responsibility to mitigate liability to the taxpayer, Chilcott said. We get to read about it in the paper when we dont do that exactly right. There are no easy answers when it comes to finding a way to address the county liability with this issue, Browder said. Not having a policy is a policy, he said. Allowing people to build anything they want is a policy that can have liability implications, Browder said. At the end of Tuesdays meeting, the commission created a committee to further consider the issue. The committee will meet Feb. 22 and bring its findings back to the commission. CORVALLIS - Mona Ruth (Harris) Johnston went to be with the Savior she loved Friday, Feb.3, 2017. She was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on June 4, 1926 to James Lowell and Ruth Davidson Harris. Mona graduated from Jackson High School and went to Union University for one year. She met her beloved husband, Larry, when they went on a double date each with another person just before he was sent overseas to fly missions with the P47 Thunderbolt fighter. They courted by correspondence and she waited when Larry was shot down over Italy and was MIA for six months. When he returned they were married in Jackson on July 10, 1945. Three children were born to their union: Julie Ann Johnston of Bloomington, Indiana; Stephen Lowell Johnston (Val) of Oroville, Washington; and Jonni Boshae (Steve) of Corvallis. Mona and Larry found their permanent home in the Bitterroot Valley where they purchased a small farm on the east side with a perfect view of the mountains. Larry experimented with different types of livestock before settling on a Holstein dairy which they operated for forty years. Mona was a strong, intelligent woman with a great interest in medical science. When her youngest child was in middle school she was hired at Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton as a lab technician. This brought great fulfillment to her, and literally provided subsidy to the varied financial fortunes of the dairy farm. She retired from the lab after 25 years. Mona was active for quite a long time with Soroptomists so the family were faithful patrons of the frozen banana booth at the Ravalli County Fair. She was an avid reader, bargain shopper and enjoyed travel when she could pry Larry from the farm. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lawrence Johnston, and only sister Martha Frances Deaton. She is survived by her three children, grandchildren Aimee Hamilton (Erik Hammerstrom) of Tacoma, Washington, Travis Johnston (Kristy) of Panama City Beach Florida, Casey Boshae-Williams (Jeff) of Los Angeles, and Tyler Boshae (Kassie) of the family farm in Corvallis. She is also survived by and took great delight in three great grandchildren Jude Lawrence, Elias Steven and Asher Tyler Boshae of Corvallis. They dubbed Mona Gramma Great and their hugs were the first order of business whenever they entered her home. She was cared for by her daughter and son-in-law at her home on the farm since Larry died. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel. Recently Montana representative Derek Skees of Kalispell introduced HB 357 to the Montana Legislature. The goal of this bill is to require Montanans to submit a photo ID before being allowed to vote in state and national elections. This bill is unnecessary and prohibitive legislation that infringes the voting rights of Montanans. The purported aim of Mr. Skees is to ensure that the electoral process is protected from instances of voter fraud, a goal Im sure everyone can agree is noble on its surface. The problem, however, is there has not been a verifiable instance of voter fraud in modern Montana history. I am proud to have been born and raised in a state where voter turnout was well above the national average in the 2016 general election. Over 74 percent of eligible Montana voters cast a ballot last November compared to just over 58 percent in the country as a whole. If we as a state hope to continue having high turnout rates in our elections we cannot disenfranchise perfectly eligible voters by enacting draconian and unnecessary voter ID laws. Placing an unnecessary hurdle in the voting process for thousands of Montanans to combat a problem that simply does not exist is not something I can support in good consciousness. I urge my fellow Montanans to find your legislator at leg.mt.gov, or by calling 406-444-4800,and contact them to ensure they vote NO on HB 357. Hannah Gale, Corvallis Montana is number one in something; yeah! But we shouldnt cheer. A Missoulian article from Feb. 1, 2017, page A7, reviews a pending Montana bill about the dating of milk. Admittedly not a very exciting topic, unless you consider that the current Montana rule was recently selected as a national poster child for how state laws force extravagant waste of food. The current Montana rule requires milk to be labeled with a sell by date that is 12 days after pasteurization. This is the shortest such sale date in the country; most states have no sell by date at all. After reaching the sell by date Montana retailers must throw out unsold milk; it cant even be donated even though studies have shown that milk is good much, much longer. And Montana consumers, not understanding this dating game, may also throw out good milk. Not only is good milk wasted, but reports have shown that milk costs more in Montana. So the 12-day rule, promulgated by the Board of Livestock, causes good milk to be thrown out and consumers to pay more for milk. Great to be number one! A 2015 legislative proposal to dump the 12-day rule was voted down in a House committee. Now, the 2017 proposal mentioned in the Missoulian article proposes a smaller step of keeping the 12-day sell by date but adding a best by or use by date indicating the number of days after pasteurization that the milk should be fresh and safe for consumers. Thanks to Rep. Hertz, Polson, for his continuing efforts to help out the average Montanan. Unfortunately, keeping the 12-day rule will likely keep Montana the number one national example for food waste. Frank Prochazka, Corvallis At 8 the next morning, I awoke to darkness. From November until January, Deline gets less than five hours of sun each day, although it makes up for that between May and July, when it gets over 22 hours daily. Eventually, I saw a glimmer of predawn on the horizon, but it was not until 10:30 a.m. that the first rays of sun peeked out. I walked outside and headed toward the church for Sunday Mass. The round, yurt-shaped structure was in town, on the shore of Great Bear Lake. Chunks and shards of ice lay heaped on the shoreline, while farther out, the surface of the lake was pancake-flat, alternately skimmed white with snow or glistening with ice that froze overnight. A wedge of open water was visible just offshore. It looked turbulent, straining and frothing where it encountered the surface ice, as if it were determined not to freeze. Deline is predominantly Roman Catholic. Inside the church, I witnessed the communitys focus on preserving North Slavey. An elder was leading the congregation in the rosary. His call was in North Slavey, and the response was in a mix of Slavey and English. During the Mass, the Gospel and the homily were in English, followed by an on-the-spot translation into North Slavey. The language is spoken everywhere in church, on the streets and at home as part of a concerted effort to keep it alive. The 2011 Canadian census counted only 225 people who identified the language as their mother tongue. But North Slavey is an official language of the Deline Gotine Government and of the Northwest Territories. For the moment, North Slavey is not on the verge of extinction. It belongs to a family of North American indigenous languages that includes Apache and Navajo. Children in Delines primary school are taught the language; this year, an elder began to teach North Slavey to high school students. Mr. Neyelle said the new government wanted to make acquiring and passing on the language a priority because it believed speaking North Slavey was crucial to preserving the culture. Slavey is ours, he said. Thats where our powers lay. He said his descriptions in Slavey had more depth and color than those in English, even though he was fluent in both. Teenagers I spoke to echoed this thought. They said jokes were funnier in Slavey. Photo After Mass, I walked over to Great Bear Lake, curious about the little skein of open water I had seen hours earlier. To my surprise, it had disappeared. Thinking I was turned around, I kept searching, but saw only the reflective surface of new ice and beyond that, a large field of older, snow-covered ice. Mr. Neyelle confirmed that the water had frozen over during the time I was in church. He was not surprised it had happened so quickly. Sometimes, he said, you could actually see ice creeping across open water. His description made it seem like a fox or wolf stalking its prey. We drove to Ski Hill, a gathering place for the community perched on top of a cleared rise near town. The sun had been up for three hours, but already it was getting dark. Several pickup trucks were parked close together, next to a recently built hut with a blazing fire pit in the middle. Children were sledding (despite the name of the hill, no one actually skis there), and some of the adults were test-driving a new snowmobile with a powerful engine. Strips of lake trout along with moose meat and hot dogs cooked on top of barrel grills. The atmosphere was festive, perhaps because it seemed as if Great Bear Lake was finally freezing over. This meant access to the entire lake, better fishing and, eventually, an ice road that would temporarily connect Deline to the outside world. Or perhaps it was festive because these were friends gathering on a Sunday to enjoy the sunset, grilled food and conversation in North Slavey and in English. It reminded me that despite the groundbreaking nature of Delines self-government and Unesco status, it was still a small town. The type of town where the phone directory is a piece of paper taped to the wall. One elder I met there was Charlie Neyelle, 72, Morris Neyelles older brother and the elders representative on the Kaowedo Ke. Charlie Neyelle is a spiritual and mental health guide for the community, and pushed for self-government and preservation of Great Bear Lake. I asked him a question I had posed to many people during my time in Deline: What does Great Bear Lake mean to you? Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has left a clear signal that the date for the local body elections will not be announced soon even though there is widespread criticisms for the delay to announce the date for the elections. The date for the local body elections will be announced only after consensus with the disgruntled parties including the agitating Mashes based parties, Prime Minister Dahal said while talking to the media persons at Bharatpur airport on Wednesday. The government has already made a request to the Election Commission to initiate necessary preparation for the local body elections,which is equivalent to announce the date for the elections, Prime Minister Dahal,who is also the chairman of the CPN Maoist Centre, said. Though the government had made such a request to the Election Commission to initiate necessary preparation for the local body elections, Chief election commissioner Dr Aayodhi Prasad Yadav has already said that sending request to hold the local body elections is not enough to hold the elections. The government is criticized for delaying to announce the date for the local body elections not only from the opposition parties but also from the government ally Nepali Congress. As delaying to announce the date for the local elections would bring constitutional crisis in the country, there is widespread pressure to the government to announce the date for the local body elections. Buzz! Suyasha from Ganesh Talkies doesn't agree with OML's decsion to include Rock On-2 promotions on the Nh7 Weekender Stage When actors Shraddha Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar performed on stage at the Nh7 Weekender festival to promote their film Rock On2, independent musician Suyasha SenGupta from Ganesh Talkies, not too happy with this decision by the organisers, decided to express her discontent on Facebook. Read her Facebook status below: Suyasha SenGupta is one of the few women fronting a band in the Indian independent music scene. Her band Ganesh Talkies from Kolkata is one of the top names touring the circuit. She expresses her concerns and talks about her efforts to share the same. Here are excerpts from our discussions about her concerns on movie promotions at a music festival: RSJ: Why were you so disappointed about OMLs decision to have Rock On 2 promotions at the Nh7 Weekender festival? Was your FB status merely about ranting? Suyasha: It becomes very hard for women to be taken seriously as musicians when you witness a Bollywood actress playing a role to sing at a prestigious music festival. The FB status was not a rant but an effort toward starting a dialogue to get people to see from my perspective. RSJ: Dont you think her inclusion doesnt need to be taken so seriously as she is not even trying to be a musician but following a marketing decision? Suyasha: I think her inclusion needs to be taken very seriously as someone like Shraddha Kapoor who is a popular Bollywood actress, is setting the wrong example for aspiring musicians especially those who are women. It nullifies all our efforts working so hard and aspiring to be on a stage like Weekender. The obvious attention that this addition may receive due to the heavy support system with Bollywood, undermines our efforts as musicians. RSJ: How does Shraddha's performance on the Nh7 Weekender stage affect your life as a musician? She is just another slot at a music festival. Suyasha: The stage is very sacred to me. In Kolkata, we are all very serious about our music and we pursue it with a lot of honesty. None of us are trying to be somebody else. Its just who we are. Shraddha performing on the same stage feels like an encroachment on my space. By mine, I mean all the musicians space. A non-serious approach to music this way definitely affects my life as a musician. RSJ: Some could say that Shraddha is only doing her job as an actor and promoting her film. Suyasha: Please understand that I like Shraddha as an actor and she is great in her own right. Nobody is ever going to contest that qualification. However, watching Shraddha playing a role of a musician and the movie business using her sex appeal to sell a film by putting her up on a music festival stage, is only going to send out wrong signals. When you see a film star doing that on the pretext of music, it automatically nullifies everything that Ill aspire for as a musician. - Suyasha SenGupta I dont care about what I look like on stage. Im not supposed to worry about that. Im supposed to worry only about performing well and making good music We reached out to Vijay Nair, CEO, OML whose response will be updated soon. Intro Greetings! I am a political scientist , specializing in International Relations , my research and teaching focus on ethnic conflict and civil-military relations . I watch way too much TV, and I like movies as well so I tend to write about both and find IR stuff in pop culture. I rant alot about American politics and sometimes about Canadian politics. I like to take ideas I once learned a long time ago and apply them to whatever strikes my fancy. More in GALLERY: A look at the relationship between the Central Coast and the Snowy Plover (40 of 55) If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). "The Death Penalty & the Dignity Clauses" | Main | "How States Can Take a Stand Against Prison Profiteers" February 7, 2017 Prez Trump in sheriffs meeting expresses support for broad civil forfeiture police powers This Washington Post report details the notable joke Prez Trump made regarding a state legislator who apparently wants to limit police civil forfeiture powers, and highlights the broader issues raised by the surrounding discussion. Here are the details: At a meeting on Tuesday with sheriffs from across the country, President Trump joked about destroying the career of an unnamed Texas state senator who supported curtailing a controversial police practice for seizing people's property.... Sheriff Harold Eavenson of Rockwall County, Tex., brought up the issue of civil asset forfeiture, which allows authorities to seize cash and property from people suspected, but in some cases never convicted or even charged, with a crime. Eavenson told Trump of a state senator in Texas that was talking about legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money. Can you believe that? Trump interjected. And, Eavenson went on, I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed. Who's the state senator? Trump asked. Do you want to give his name? We'll destroy his career, he joked, to laughter from the law enforcement officials in the room.... While many people are unfamiliar with the practice, asset forfeiture is widespread. In 2014, federal authorities alone seized over $5 billion from suspected criminals, more than the total losses to burglary that year. That number doesn't even count seizures conducted by state and local law enforcement. Critics of asset forfeiture policies say the broad leeway afforded to law enforcement officers in most states creates a system ripe for abuse.... A 2015 ACLU investigation found that Philadelphia police routinely seized what amounted to pocket change from some of the city's poorest residents. A 2014 Washington Post investigation found that police seized $2.5 billion in cash from motorists not charged with crimes as part of a federal program. When told of the practice, a large majority of Americans are opposed to it. A December 2016 survey by YouGov and the libertarian Cato Institute found that 84 percent of Americans oppose taking a persons money or property that is suspected to have been involved in a drug crime before the person is convicted of a crime.... But law enforcement groups have been resolute in their support for the practice. They say seizing money from people not charged with crimes is sometimes necessary to protect public safety, particularly in cases where it may be hard to obtain a criminal conviction against a suspect. Law enforcement groups often cast asset forfeiture as a tool for fighting drug kingpins and foreign drug cartels, as Sheriff Eavenson implied at the White House meeting. But reports of asset forfeiture abuse suffered by American citizens have become more common. Nonetheless, police have had great success in convincing state and federal lawmakers to uphold the practice. President Trump has not spoken much about the practice, and the White House did not immediately return a request for comment. But Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has been an enthusiastic proponent of civil asset forfeiture. In a 2015 Senate hearing, Sessions said that 95 percent of forfeitures involve suspects who have done nothing in their lives but sell dope. February 7, 2017 at 11:35 PM | Permalink Comments I would like to see civil forfeitures applied to tax evading, traitor, left wing corporations, such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, the outfits owned by Carlos Slim, such as the NY Times. Just seize their assets because of their betrayal of our nation and evasion of taxation. To deter. Apple has $290 billion in cash stashed overseas. Productive day for a Department of Justice employee to take that back. Seize their US holdings until they pay their tax bill. Posted by: David Behar | Feb 8, 2017 7:40:43 AM Al Franken once called this sort of "joke" as kidding on the square. Trump is playing the role of a conservative President, so libertarians probably won't be too happy with him on this issue. Posted by: Joe | Feb 8, 2017 10:14:37 AM Civil forfeiture from a theoretical standpoint is not problematic--from an actual, facts on the ground standpoint, there is a lot of reining in that needs to be done. Posted by: federalist | Feb 8, 2017 10:58:46 AM On the merits, I can see solid arguments for the conviction requirement. (We have it in my state.) However, I always have thought that there should be some exceptions -- for example, when the defendant absconds on bond or escapes from custody thereby putting the criminal case on hold indefinitely (and in some cases essentially permanently). There are basically two alternative justifications for why property is forfeitable: 1) the criminal should not profit from his crime; and 2) the government should be able to take the tools of his criminal conduct away from the criminal. Since both justifications rely on the fact that the owner has committed a crime (or allowed his property to be used to commit a crime), it doesn't seem outrageous to require the government to first obtain a conviction for a crime subject to certain exceptions when the unavailability of the defendant prevents the government from proceeding with a criminal case. Even then forfeiture should require proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime has been committed. Posted by: tmm | Feb 8, 2017 11:02:09 AM Post a comment Like artificially intelligent software that's slowly becoming sentient, the technology leaders founders, angels, CEOs that gathered to celebrate themselves last night at the would-be "Oscars of tech" appeared somehow changed this year, displaying a nearly human capacity for empathy, compassion, and responsibility. The 10th annual Crunchies Awards, hosted by the website Tech Crunch and held at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, were once again presided over by Brooklyn 99's Chelsea Peretti, but they were decidedly different this year. That wasn't just because Peretti is Beyonce-level pregnant, as she announced recently on Instagram, although that pregnancy with her partner Jordan Peele of Key and Peele may have contributed to her no-fucks-given attitude. Insouciant and political from the outset, Peretti began by asking audience members to raise their hands if they had secretly voted for Trump. No hands were raised then, but nor were they when Peretti asked, for her next question, which companies were profitable. Hailing from Oakland along with her brother Jonah, the CEO of BuzzFeed, Peretti is at ease mocking the Bay Area tech community and its fawning reporters."Fake news alert: I'm having a blast!" she announced midway through the proceedings. Alluding to recent reports of Silicon Valley doomsday preppers, Peretti asked if anyone had a "bunker couch in the end times" she could crash on. Or, she suggested "you can just fix public schools right now." Tech Crunch Editor-in-Chief Matthew Panzarino also struck a political note while presenting the night's award for Best Startup, won by messaging platform Slack. Nodding to the many entrepreneurs celebrated by Tech Crunch who have vowed to "change the world," as Panzarino put it, "very few finish the equation... which is 'for the better.'" Jeff Lawson, the Twilio CEO who was celebrated as the Founder of Year, echoed that statement. "When you change the world, and you cash the check for doing so, you have a responsibility for doing whatever comes with it." For the second year, the Crunchies presented its "Include Award," this year to the similarly named Project Include. Started by a group that includes Erica Joy Baker, an engineer at Slack, and Ellen Pao, an investment partner at Kapor Capital and the former CEO of Reddit, Project Include's goal is to educate CEOs about the benefits of creating inclusive companies. After Pao's remarks, in which she blamed the rise of the current administration on factors including a lack of inclusion at major tech and media offices, Baker minced no words. "Its hard to be up here accepting an award for work on diversity and inclusion when we have a puppet president being controlled by a white supremacist puppeteer actively working against diversity and inclusion in our country, she began. For the tech companies, tech employees and VCs working against this administration, I appreciate and am thankful for you and your efforts. We have at least four years of very hard work ahead of us. For those of you working with the administration in the name of having a seat at the table, youre on the wrong side of history. And whatever you accomplish, this will be your legacy. But if you were concerned that tech companies were, at last, woke, and had lost the breezy, self-serving, laissez-faire attitudes of yesteryear, fear not. The founders of Otto, who won an award for their self-driving big rig truck company that was acquired by Uber, showed no self-awareness whatsoever in accepting their award, which they did wearing Otto-branded trucker hats, a nod to the industry they hope to upend. Hats off, guys. Previously: Video: Chelsea Peretti Hosts, Wins, And Maybe Ends The Crunchies Tech Awards Listening to the live oral arguments in Washington State v. Trump, it seems clear that the three appellate judges of the Ninth Circuit Judges Michelle Friedland, Richard Clifton, and William Canby were somewhat confused about how narrowly to frame a fast ruling on the Trump administration's appeal, and how to address the case before them, with multiple questions raised as to whether they should treat the state of Washington's temporary restraining order as a request for a preliminary injunction. If one were to read the tea leaves of the judges' questions, though, as commentators on the New York Times' live analysis did, Friedland sounds like the clearest vote against the administration's appeal, and Clifton sounds more sympathetic to the President's order, with Canby asking fewer questions and likely serving as the swing vote. August E. Flentje, Special Counsel to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General, presented the administration's case for staying Friday's restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge James Robart, restating as they have in briefs that Trump's order was "well within the presidents power" and is constitutional. Flentje further cited that the list of seven countries here was first created by Obama however that list simply said that passport holders from those countries required special visas, and was never an outright ban on their travel. Both Friedland and Clifton question Flentje about whether there was any "irreparable harm" being caused by letting people in from these countries, with Clifton pointedly asking "Is there any reason to think something has changed to create a real risk?" Flentje simply replied that the President determined there was a real risk. Friedland also asked if the president's order was unreviewable by the judicial branch, and Flentje said "yes." Canby then quickly asked, "Could the president simply say in the order, Were not going to let any Muslims in? Turning to Noah Purcell, the solicitor general for the state of Washington, questions tended to focus on legal procedure more than merit which could be a clue as to the judges' thinking, and the likelihood they will deny the administration's stay. Judge Clifton repeatedly asked whether standards of "likelihood for success" had been met, noting that the state's case appears more to be a request for an injunction since they have already indicated that the restraining order will extend beyond 14 days. He also noted that, given the speed at which these briefs had been filed, the state's case has little evidence so far, and mostly allegations. He also questioned how much irreparable harm was actually being done to the people of Washington, including its permanent residents from the seven countries affected by the ban. At one point Clifton said by his simple "penciling" he figured only about 15 percent of the world's Muslims resided in these seven countries Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Libya, and Sudan and he questioned whether the executive order could really be interpreted as being specifically religiously biased. "I have trouble understanding why we are supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected as residents of those seven countries." Purcell argued that they had plenty of intent evidence of religious bias from President Trump and his agents in public statements, even short of the benefit of discovery seeking private statements about their intent setting the stage for many of Trump's incendiary blanket statements about radical Muslims to come back to haunt him in further court proceedings. Clifton further grilled Purcell on whether Congress had not identified terrorist threats from these same countries, and whether previous executive orders such as one signed by President Reagan regarding Cuban nationals had not singled out people from specific countries. Judge Friedland asked whether the state of Washington's claims of violation of the constitution's Establishment Clause should be considered, or if they should be considering equal protection, because aren't these claims "redundant"? Purcell replied that the states would be satisfied for a reasoned decision considering the Establishment Clause, but he felt that either held in this case. He also suggested that the judges could rule based on congressional acts on immigration instead if they did not want to rule on constitutionality. Clifton questioned Flentje about whether they should be evaluating the executive order as written, or based on the "revised" order that makes exception for green card holders and permanent residents he asked whether it shouldn't be the President himself who amends the order. In a closing statement, Flentje said, "It is extraordinary for courts to second-guess the Presidents national security decisions based on some newspaper articles," but Clifton quickly lashed back on that point, asking whether Flentje denied that the President or his staff had made any of the anti-Muslim statements that the plaintiffs claimed in their exhibits. He mostly just skirted this question, and pointed out that Judge Robart had said something about avoiding "campaign statements." Friedland, who was holding the gavel in this hearing, said that the court recognized the urgency and would issue a ruling "as soon as possible." As the New York Times notes via the court's website, a ruling is not expected tonight, but is likely "this week." The audio of the entire hearing is now archived below. Previously: Hearing On Trump Immigration Order To Be Live-Streamed And Here Are The Three Judges Involved It's a busy one in the Bay Area with IndieFest, Beer Week, Chinese New Year, and constant resistance efforts going on, so here are just a few ways to learn, unwind, and have fun throughout the week. You have to go offline at some point. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 INDIEFEST SHORT COMIC FILMS: As part of this year's IndieFest, the Roxie is screening 90 minutes of short films from American and European filmmakers. Expect quick bursts of enjoyment from shorts like "Fanny Pack," which is about an Indian-American woman whose fanny-pack clad father chases her through an airport. The Roxie Theatre, 3117 16th Street, 7:15 p.m., $12 advance, $14 at the door BEATLES KARAOKE: My favorite monthly karaoke jam is this live band Beatles bash at Rite Spot. Every first Tuesday of the month, they'll play your favorite Beatles tunes, handing you a lyrics book, and accompany you in any key you want. Rite Spot is a treasure. Advertised as "free" and "more fun that it sounds." Rite Spot, 2099 Folsom Street, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m, free but please do tip the band! WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 DIRTY LADIES BOOK LAUNCH: As the erotica writer Susan Kuchinskas, 67, explains under the psuedonym Lynx Canon in the opening to the new Dirty Old Women Anthology, I also hope that when we stand up there, with our wrinkles, gray hair and unabashed desire, we reassure young women that its not over at 30, or 50, or even 90. To celebrate the release of that volume, which KQED writes is the product of a two-year-old monthly erotica reading for women of experience," the gang is getting together for readings and cocktails at, fittingly, the Make-Out Room. As one writer, Nicky Dyal, posts on Facebook, she'll be reading from a new story of hers called "psychic pussy" so, as she says, "you know it's going to be weird." The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, 7:30 p.. to 9:30 p.m, free entry MAYA ANGELOU NIGHT: KQED presents a nigh of poetry, film, and music celebrating May Angelou including a one-hour preview of American Masters - Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise. Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Avenue Oakland, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., free THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 ANTIFASCIST BAKE SALE AND FASHION SHOW: Local gender queer feminist art collective The Degenderettes present an extremely San Francisco fundraiser against fascism benefitting Trans Lifeline, the International Refugee Assistance Project, and more. At El Rio, it's a fashion show, a bake sale (with plenty of gluten free and vegan option), and live music from Hose Rips, Forbidden Colors, Unwoman, Los Sirenas, and Shark Week, a group who promises "dangerously irreverent menstrual core by ex-folk musicians who got pushed too far and don't understand that distortion is meant to be used in moderation." El Rio, 3158 Mission Street, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., $5-20 sliding scale One day before semi-professional provocateur and campaigner for the freedom to be a complete dick Milo Yiannopoulos was set to speak at UC Berkeley on February 1, his sometime employer Breitbart published an article announcing that Yiannopoulos would be using his speech to launch a campaign against sanctuary campuses like Berkeley, and push to have their federal funding revoked. And in a letter that same day, January 31, from the campus Office of Student Affairs to Berkeley College Republicans, administrators expressed concern that Yiannopoulos was allegedly planning to "dox" or publicly out undocumented Cal students by name, holding up their photos on stage, in order to further make his point, as UCB's California Magazine is now reporting. While some on the right are going to argue that identifying undocumented immigrants on a public stage still falls within the bounds of free speech and the First Amendment, there are big ethics and decency questions here as there have been with virtually everything Yiannopoulos has said and done for attention under the guise of being a "free speech advocate." He used a similar tactic, projecting a photo of a trans student during a December speech at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, singling her out for ridicule. And the Office of Student Affairs is quick to point out the hypocrisy here, noting in their letter that members of Berkeley College Republicans had previously complained to the administration of being doxxed themselves by students on the left. "BCR has expressed their position condemning these tactics and, in fact, have been victimized themselves [via doxxing]," they write. "We are deeply concerned for all students [sic] safety and ability to pursue their education here at Cal beyond Milos speech. At the bottom of this email are campus resources for reporting incidents." According to a source close to the school administration who spoke to California Magazine, the Republican club reportedly spoke to Milo's reps and requested that he not do any such public outing of students, and they were told, "Milo was not in the habit of taking directives, and that he often did the very thing people asked him not to do." A rep from the campus says that this still would not alone have constituted a reason to cancel the event, as Yiannopoulos's speech would still be protected, but former U.S. Labor Secretary and Goldman School of Public Policy professor Robert Reich spoke out on his own blog reacting to the Breitbart story and pointing to President Trump's tweet the next morning suggesting UC Berkeley should be deprived of federal funding as a result of the night's protests. Reich said the coincidence "raises the possibility that Yiannopoulos and Brietbart were in cahoots with the agitators, in order to lay the groundwork for a Trump crackdown on universities and their federal funding." While it could be a stretch to believe that the black bloc vandals here were somehow paid for given that they're not exactly organized and they're known to show up at every East Bay protest (and some in SF) where they think they'll be able to cause mayhem without arrest Yiannopoulos nonetheless used the at-times violent protest to argue on Fox News the next night that universities like this one don't deserve federal grants, which was the same goal of the anti-sanctuary campus campaign he would have pushed had he taken the stage. In other words, regardless of whether the protest was exactly what he wanted, he won either way the goal of maligning UC Berkeley and other liberal institutions would have been reached either way, and he likely would have gotten wide press coverage either way. But if he'd been allowed to take the stage he would have also succeeded in causing personal harm to the students he allegedly intended to out and ridicule for their citizenship status. Not only that, but Breitbart quotes conservative hero David Horowitz, who is collaborating with Yiannopoulos on the sanctuary campus campaign, as saying that policies of allowing undocumented students in public universities help "cripple the efforts of the Department of Homeland security to protect American citizens from terrorist threats." So they're not just draining federal resources, they're probably terrorists too. Free speech! Berkeley sociology researcher Chris Soria spoke to Australia's Daily Telegraph following the incident, discussing how the tactic of trying to shut down Yiannopoulos only furthers his goals. Instead he suggests Milo should be confronted by people on stage who can actually debate him on the issues he mostly only has 140-character positions on. "Why not debate an actual expert in feminism, gender studies, or sociology (those which Milo constantly mocks) instead of just mocking them from a distance?" Soria says. "If Milo truly believes in the free market of ideas, why not put his ideas to the test against the very best the left has to offer? And if he refuses, itll just prove him to be a coward with no real interest in the spread of ideas, but just another troll which should not be fed." Still, would angry students on the left in the audience at Yiannopoulos's event, had it been allowed to take place as scheduled, have been able to contain their rage and disapproval had he trotted out photos of actual undocumented students, and just stormed the stage? Would they have been wrong to do so, or is that within their free-speech rights? It calls to mind the relentless, pseudo-religious idiocy of the Westboro Baptist Church, using their First Amendment rights to protest military funerals, the funeral of Matthew Shepard, and the funerals of gay victims of the Orlando shooting last year. The left needs to come up with non-violent strategies to counter that kind of hate without drawing criticism that the only free speech they like is their own. Angel wings, anyone? Previously: Video: Inside The Milo Protest That Rocked Berkeley (And Annoyed Trump) If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 At a speech at a Washington law enforcement conference Wednesday, President Donald Trump again attacked the nation's judicial system, this time for having the temerity to hear arguments on both sides of a case against his immigration ban. "I mean, it's so sad when you read something so perfectly written and so clear to anybody and then you have lawyers I watched last night in amazement and I heard things that I couldn't believe," Trump said as he addressed the Major County Sheriffs' Association and Major Cities Chiefs Association this morning. "Courts seem to be so political," the president told an assembled crowd of police chiefs and sheriffs, "and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read the statement and do whats right. And that has to do with the security of our nation which is so important." In what CNBC described as "the rambling opening to his speech," Trump quoted a 1952 statute "that gives the president sweeping authority on immigration-related matters, claiming that he acted entirely within the law," the Washington Examiner reports. According to the statute, the president, "by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary" may suspend the entry of some aliens or impose "restrictions he may deem appropriate," CNBC reports: At one point, Trump said the law should have read "he or she," adding that "hopefully it won't be a she for at least another seven years." "You can suspend, you can put restrictions, you can do whatever you want, and this is for the security of the country," Trump argued. "You can be a lawyer or you don't have to be a lawyer. If you were a good student in high school or a bad student in high school, you can understand this," he said during Wednesday's remarks. The President is certainly familiar with the travails of a "bad student in high school": According to a Washington Post report from 2015, the president: Went to the private Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills, Queens, where his father, Frederick, a very wealthy real estate developer, was on the governing board. Behavior problems led to Donalds exit from the school, at which point he was sent to the New York Military Academy at age 13 by his parents, who, according to Biography.com, hoped the discipline of the school would channel his energy in a positive manner. On Wednesday morning, Trump marveled that the courts took time to mull the case, saying that "It's really incredible to me that we have a court case that's going on so long...we're in an area where let's just say they are interpreting things differently than probably 100 percent of the people in this room." Or maybe not, as the Associated Press reports that though those in attendance "snapped photos with their phones as the president spoke" they only "clapped sparingly when he asked whether they were in agreement with his views on the immigration ban." "I have to be honest that if those judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they'd do what they should be doing," Trump said Wednesday. "Right now, we are at risk because of what happened." This isn't the first time Trump has attacked a judge or the judicial system for not blindly going along with his wishes: In 2016, he criticized Indiana-born Judge Gonzalo Curiel, for his Mexican heritage during a fraud case against Trump University. Then, this past Saturday he slammed US District Judge James Robart of Seattle, who put the immigration ban on hold, saying "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" Trump continued this morning's critique of the US court system with a tweet on the topic, saying "Big increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be EASY D!" Of course, "EASY D" is open to interpretation though some might assume the "D" is for "decision," others went the same direction as, admit it, you did: Easy D is what I find on Grindr https://t.co/U6odhACKSj Adrian Arizmendi (@arizerg) February 8, 2017 . @realDonaldTrump Who doesn't love waiting for some EASY D? Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub) February 8, 2017 During Tuesday's hearing, Judge Michelle Friedland said that the court recognized the urgency and would issue a ruling "as soon as possible," likely by the end of the week (but not today). You can listen to a full audio file of Tuesday's hearing here: Previously: Appellate Judges Question Administration's Lawyer On Trump's Public Statements On Muslims Expand Photo Credit Jesse Lirola For their new album Life Without Sound, Cloud Nothings did something theyve never done before: They took some time off. After years of nearly nonstop touring, We needed some time to return to reality and just kind of be at home with people we know, frontman Dylan Baldi says. It was either we keep touring and just fry our brains permanently, and maybe never stop touring again, or we take a break to check in with ourselves. That down time helped shape an album thats roomier and more reflective than its punkier predecessors, but hardly a huge departureits still driven by the Cleveland bands usual propulsive energy and concision songwriting. Ahead of their show at Turner Hall Ballroom on Feb. 12, Baldi spoke with the Shepherd about how politics shaped the new record and why, despite all those pieces you might have read online, rock isnt dead Cloud Nothings sound is pretty well cemented at this point. When you go in to record an album, are there unspoken parameters on what it will sound like? Theres plenty of stuff we could do thats bizarre. We all play in other very different bands that nobody knows about because we just play around Cleveland, or not at all. I do a lot of noisy stuff with people, stuff thats just hard to listen to. So we could bring that element in. And I know Jayson [Gerycz] and TJ [Duke] both make techno, and that could both pop in there, but I feel like this is a song band. It seems like a guitar song band to me. So I like working within those parameters to see what we can do every time, rather than being like, This is the synth record! We could do that, or we could try to figure out another way to play with guitars and bass and drums, which is more exciting to me. Youre doing that music as well as anybody else, but its a time when there isnt the same energy around rock anymore, at least not in the press. Youre in a guitar band at a time when theres less interest in that than ever. On a mainstream press scale, yeah. But a lot of people I know listen to a lot of people I know listen to a lot of guitary punk stuff all the time. Rock is dead is a popular interview subject at this point. I did an interview today for an article that was just about that. He did an article about how rock had died and he talked to like four rock bands, and I was like, Youre talking to four rock bands that exist and are doing OK. Maybe its fine. I think some pieces capture that narrative. Its not so much that rock is dead, or even that its damaged, its that for some reason it doesnt have the luster it had. Yeah, its not trendy anymore. Luckily we put out our big record right when rock was trendy again. Or emo. Everybody called us emo. Which, you know, whatever. But I think we happened to make a record when rock was popular for whatever short amount of time in whatever small press world that existed. And now it is less popular to write about, I guess. Its less popular with the big outlets, the Pitchforks, but theres always going to be smaller outlets writing about it, and to be honest thats preferable It just seems like now those sites are writing more about famous people and less about things I think are cool. I think theres a narrative bias behind that coverage. You look at the big records right now, and theyre really easy to write aboutthey have an established personality at the center, and a big point of view. As a writer that stuff is definitely more fun to cover than another rock record. Yeah, thats definitely true. And even our PR guy was like, Hey, I think more people would be down to interview you if you have a narrative. And I was like, sure. Because there is no huge narrative on the record, its just songs were excited to play. Are you a political person? Uh, I mean, I dont know. Not in any massively public way. But I have my thoughts. It seems like its a hard time to be a band that doesnt have those thoughts front and center. Yeah, that seems to be something that a lot of people are focused on at the moment. And with good reason. Its a frightening time. Theres a theme on the record that I think will resonate with a lot of people about looking beyond your bubble, engaging with people who dont share your views. What put that on your mind? Obviously you finished the record before November. Ive always known those people are out there. I live in Ohio! Im surrounded by those people all the time. Its like, Whoa, Im the weird one. So its not that insane to me to have to think like that. But I think this record is more just about a general awareness that the world is an uncertain place, and maybe coming to terms with that rather than me getting personally angry about it and just flipping out and not knowing what to do. Just realizing thats whats happening, that reality is going to be what it is and you have to function with it, and try your best to be decent. As an artist that must be hard to move on from, because anger can be such a good muse, especially for you guys. I think the record still has that element to it, but it maybe just encompasses a little more than just that. It didnt seem right to make a record that was just yelling and screaming again. I mean, theres enough of that. It happens on there, but maybe just not as much as it used to. Im not old, but it feels weird to be getting older and playing all these really fast, crazy songs that we wrote five years ago. It just feels weird. It feels like acting if you have to repeat yourself. Do you think theres a shelf life on this band? Is there only so long you can go on playing these kinds of songs? I dont know. At the time it seemed fine. If there is a shelf life and I sense an expiration date then well stop. But I just also think Im getting better at writing songs, and thats the only thing I can provide to the world at this point. Its the only thing Im good enough at to be like, Heres my contribution to the world. It feels good. It gives me a sense of purpose. Cloud Nothings play Turner Hall Ballroom on Sunday, Feb. 12 with Moon Bros and Dramatic Lovers at 8 p.m. Born in Guadalajara and raised in Milwaukee, Marcela Xela Garcias professional life has reflected a need to reconcile her multicultural background into a unified, coherent identity. Art has been her preferred means for doing so. Recently, Garcia assumed the post of executive director of the Walkers Point Center for the Arts at a critical time in the institutions history. As it celebrates its 30th anniversary, the WPCA finds itself catering to a Walkers Point whose demographics are shifting with the neighborhoods development. Off the Cuff spoke with Garcia about her own past, present and future as well as that of the WPCA. What is your background? My parents moved from Mexico to the South Side of Milwaukee when I was about 4 years old. I am very fortunate to have been raised in a household with a strong cultural identity. In middle school I was bussed to the North Side to attend Rufus King International High School. Being one of the few Latinas at Rufus King made me aware of my otherness and the segregation we have in Milwaukee. It was also when I started gravitating towards drawing, painting and dancing. My feeling of otherness was amplified when I went to UW-Madison, where I majored in creative writing. I was involved in radio, theater production and other activities that helped me find myself and convinced me of the role that the arts play in building confidence and constructing identity. When I returned to Milwaukee, I decided to pursue a career in non-profits. Ive worked with Milwaukee Public Schools, private charter schools, done governmental work and plenty of volunteer work. It was a combination of all these experiences that made the WPCA appointment so appealing. The position allows me to use my passion and expertise to bring arts to the people. Stay on top of the news of the day Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee's latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays. SIGN UP How is your own work as an artist related to your passion for community building and even social justice? Having creative outlets was transformative for me at a critical ageas it is for many teenagers dealing with normal doubts and questions. My own art explores how identity is constructed and deconstructed. It has been an empowering activity not only as my identity has undergone shifts, but especially considering the contemporary political climate with its anti-Mexican rhetoric. Art is a way of finding pride in ones cultural background. I pride myself on being bilingual and bicultural because its a bridge between two worlds. How would you describe the mission of the WPCA? For three decades the WPCA has been a leading proponent of the arts. We provide free afterschool art programs to thousands of youth, without regard for socio-economic status. We have also built an excellent reputation for exploratory visual and performing arts programming. Our goal is to encourage and nurture creativity in people of all ages and backgrounds. What do you see as the future of the WPCA? Very few organizations can say that theyve been in the same neighborhood for 30 years, which weve managed by being very nimble and adaptive to shifting needs. Our community is undergoing changes. The WPCA strives to provide a welcoming and inclusive place, especially for populations that are being displaced on account of development. As the demographics of the neighborhood change we cant lose sight of who we are and what we represent. But it is equally important to serve new community members and generally to build bridges instead of walls. Over the past 30 years, the WPCA has done a great job building a base of supporters. Now we are focusing on connecting with emerging artists so as to maintain their support for the next 30 years. That didnt take long. Within a week of being sworn in, President Donald Trump committed such a brazen violation of one of Americas founding principles that the judiciary quickly stepped in to uphold the Constitution and stop the president from breaking the law. Trumps immediate assault on the Constitution fulfilled the promise he repeatedly made to supporters during his campaign that he would ban Muslims from entering the country as soon as he became president. Those promises were so widely known, Trump looked even more dishonest than usual claiming a ban on citizens traveling from seven majority-Muslim nations and all refugees had nothing at all to do with their religion. Virtually everyone in America knows Trump is lying. Trumps hateful anti-Muslim supporters know it. And his appalled opponents certainly know it as well, seeing it as an outrageous violation of religious freedom in America. Its tempting to say the only people who dont recognize Trumps fundamental dishonesty are Republicans in the U.S. Senate and Congress, but, of course, thats not true either. In fact, many Republican leaders in both houses previously denounced Trump for proposing the religious ban, calling it unconstitutional and un-American. That was before their bigoted nominee won the presidency. Once again, House Speaker Paul Ryan shamelessly reversed what he claimed was a deeply held moral objection to a political position taken by Trump, whom he once identified as a textbook example of a racist. This is not conservatism, Ryan said back in December 2015, the day after Trump first proposed the Muslim ban. What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for and more importantly its not what this country stands for. But since Trump became president that Muslim ban has suddenly become what Ryan and Republicans stand for after all. President Trump is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country, Ryan now says. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE Many other Republicans no longer remember what they once found so deplorable about banning Muslims. When Ryan denounced the ban, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence tweeted: Calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional. That was Vice President Pence standing behind Trump smiling when he signed the ban. Religious Discrimination is Unconstitutional Apparently, none of the intellectual rednecks surrounding Trump in the White House realize the Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. That left it up to Acting Attorney General Sally Yates to break the news to Trump. Until Trumps own attorney general is confirmed, Yates responsibility was to provide Trump with her best legal advice and she did. She informed the president that Justice Department attorneys could not defend Trumps Muslim ban because she was not convinced it was lawful. Trumps instant reaction was essentially: Lawful Schmawful! He angrily fired Yates, a legal beheading immediately compared to President Richard Nixons infamous Saturday Night Massacre. In 1973, Nixon ordered the firing of a special prosecutor for subpoenaing Oval Office tapes proving Nixons guilt in covering up White House involvement in the Watergate burglary. The attorney general and deputy attorney general refused and resigned in protest. An underling, Robert Bork, fired the prosecutor. Republican presidents dont like being told theyre breaking the law, especially when they are. Federal courts around the country have confirmed Yates legal judgment by knocking down parts of Trumps travel ban. A sweeping order by Seattle Federal Judge James Robart, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, halted Trumps travel ban nationwide. Trump immediately belittled Robart as a so-called judge who was putting the nation in peril by allowing terrorists to pour into the U.S. unchecked. Its another outrageous Trump whopper. Those from Muslim countries with visas to enter the U.S. already have undergone up to two years of extreme vetting. Trump has never said what additional vetting needs to be done. Terrorism experts also say no one in the U.S. has ever been killed by anyone from the seven Muslim countries Trump wants to ban. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, something of an authority on stop and frisk racial profiling, bragged in a TV interview Trump asked him how to legally impose a Muslim ban. He said he advised Trump to claim it was to protect national security, not to target Muslims. But Trump himself then undermined Giulianis legal subterfuge by appearing on the Christian Broadcasting Network to say his ban would give priority to minority Christians in the seven targeted countries seeking to enter the U.S. over Muslims. Bad news for an ADHD president, the legal appeals process leading to an ultimate decision by the U.S. Supreme Court can be long and complicated. Even worse news for Trump, as Nixon learned when his own Supreme Court unanimously ordered him to release those incriminating White House tapes, even so-called Republican Supreme Court justices take a dim view of lawless presidents openly defying the countrys so-called Constitution. In front of the illuminated columns of the Supreme Court building, the Rev. Patrick Mahoney and several other Christian activists were gathered together, waiting for President Donald Trump to announce his pick for U.S. Supreme Court justicea spot left vacant for nearly a year after Republicans refused to acknowledge Barack Obamas nominee. When Trump announced Colorado judge and possible teenage fascist Neil Gorsuch, perhaps best known for his Hobby Lobby opinion that showed a willingness to treat corporations like people and allow them to refuse to provide medical treatment, primarily reproductive health care to women, based on religious belief, Mahoney and his small crowd rejoiced. Mahoney called on his followers to kneel down at the steps of the courthouse, declaring it would be the first public prayer for the new nominee. But someone beat him to the punch. God help us all! a man yelled from the back of the growing crowd of protesters. It was an appropriate first public prayer upon the appointment of Gorsuch. Rewarding White Evangelicals Thrice-married and adulterous Trump, not known for turning the other cheek, was not an intuitive choice for the religious right, which has spent the past several decades attacking the personal morality of political candidates and claiming God sends catastrophes to nations to punish their citizens for sexual deviancy. An old joke about the late, lecherous and notoriously racist South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond might capture the initial religious perception of Trumps position on their core issues. Trumps secretary calls through and says, Theres someone on the phone who wants to talk to you about the abortion bill. Just tell her Ill pay it, he replies. Trumps louche opportunism is one reason that many on the religious right backed the otherwise universally reviled Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, proving perhaps, as, uh, One Corinthians puts it, that God, or at least his followers, chose things despised by the world. But eventually they got behind Trump, even if it meant admitting their concerns with personal morality were actually nothing more than Machiavellian hypocrisy. Trump would repay them by appointing, in Mahoneys words, the justice who would help overturn Roe v. Wade. This is the reason why so many went out, passed out literature, held signs, made phone calls, Mahoney said. We knew the critical importance of this moment, and so we gather here tonight and we feel the first thing to do is to pray. We are going to ask God to lead and direct Judge Gorsuch. We are going to ask that his confirmation hearing run smoothly. The Democrats are the worst opposition party imaginable, so Jesus probably wont have to work too hard. The day after the announcement, Trump encouraged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to go nuclear and lower the number of senators required to confirm a justice and end a filibuster from 60 to a simple majority. Democrats are already counseling each other to save their political capital for the next fight, instead of trying to force Republicans to use a little of their political capital. Right now, the Democrats have so little capital that there may be no next fight. But Trump seems to know the evangelicals will fightaccording to Pew, 81% of white evangelicals voted for Trump, more than for George W. Bush, John McCain or Mitt Romneyand he is rewarding them handsomely. On the same day he announced his Supreme Court nominee, Trump named Jerry Falwell Jr. the head of a task force on higher education. He described Falwell as one of the most respected religious leaders in our nation. Falwells Liberty University may be slightly more rigorous than Trump University, but the announcement signals a shift from teaching the fundamentals of critical thinking toward teaching a fundamentalism that is critical of thinking. Libertys Center for Creation Studies aims to research, promote and communicate a robust young-Earth creationist view of Earth history based on sound Biblical interpretation. Freeing Churches to Support Trump Two days after his court announcement, the tension between Trumps personal vanity and his commitment to enacting religious policy reached its apotheosis when he spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast. Trump made headlines by using prayer to dis the current ratings of his former NBC show, The Apprentice. (The ratings went right down the tubes. Its been a total disaster, Trump told those in attendance. I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those ratings.) Trump is still listed as a producer on the show, so he likely stands to profit from improved ratings. Still, nobody at the breakfast seemed to care because Trump also promised to get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt nonprofits, like churches, from participating in political campaigns, directly or indirectly. Falwell Jr. said the elimination of this amendmentthe Johnson was LBJwould create a huge revolution for conservative Christians and for free speech. It would free churches to further support Trump so he could further support them. Such collaboration between church and state is not uncommon for authoritarian strongmen. The Punk Prayer that landed members of the Russian activist group Pussy Riot in prison was an attack on the close relationship between Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. In a final scene from last weeks apocalypse, anonymous sources told Reuters Thursday that the administration wanted to rechristen the Countering Violent Extremism program Countering Islamic Extremism or Countering Radical Islamic Extremism. Along with the name change, the program would no longer target groups such as white supremacists who have also carried out bombings and shootings in the United States. That would mean Dylann Roof, who sat and prayed with nine African Americans before he murdered them in their church, would not be considered a dangerous extremist. For nationalists, the message is clear: It is not only about Christianity. It is about whiteness and ethnic nationalism. Not everyone is blind to this. On the night of Gorsuchs nomination, at the Supreme Court building, Mahoney and his associates knelt and ostentatiously prayed the second public prayer over Trumps appointee. So father, we commit him to you and we are thankful, Mahoney said as the growing crowd around him drowned out his words, chanting Black Lives Matter. Listen to the Democracy in Crisis podcast at shepherdexpress.com or democracyincrisis.com. Follow on Twitter @baynardwoods @demoincrisis. Expand Photo Credit: Scott Billings (Flickr CC) More than 80 years ago, during the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told his fellow Americans that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. This past month, however, President Donald Trump offered a far darker view of the world and, with his proposed Muslim ban, is telling Americans that we need to fear Muslim immigrants and refugees seeking a better life in the United States. Trump laid the foundation for his Muslim banwhich is attempting to block immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from traveling to the U.S. for three months and preventing refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 dayswhile on the campaign trail as he stoked Islamophobia among his followers and called for a total shutdown of Muslim immigration to the U.S. Although Trump won election and is attempting to implement his anti-Muslim agenda, Americans of good conscience are resisting his call to fear our friends and neighbors. Janan Najeeb, founder and president of the Milwaukee Muslim Womens Coalition, said that Islamophobia is irrational and based on unfounded fears of the other. The basis for all fear is ignorance, Najeeb told the Shepherd. And ignorance promotes hatred. And hatred promotes violence. Najeeb said shes constantly speaking to groups to debunk myths and allay fears about Muslims among those who have never met a Muslim in their life. Its my belief that the only way to tackle that is by promoting understanding, by building bridges, by creating opportunities for people to interact and get to know each other, she said. Here are some of the biggest myths and pieces of misinformation about American Muslims, refugees and violent extremism. Myth: Muslims Are Taking Over Muslims are a small minority of the American population. The Pew Research Center puts the number at 3.3 million nationwide, a mere 1% of the population. In Wisconsin, about 1% of the population is Muslim, about the same number each of Jehovah Witnesses, Jews, Mormons, Buddhists and Hindus. These numbers, of course, pale in comparison to Christians in Wisconsin (71%), unaffiliated (25%) and those with religious beliefs specified as nothing in particular (17%). Although many American Muslims are first- or second-generation Americans, Najeeb argued that Muslims have a long history in America. She cited research showing that up to 30% to 40% of the African slaves brought to the United States came from Muslim areas in West Africa, many of whom were educated and literate. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE Muslims have been here for hundreds of years and Muslims helped to build this country, Najeeb said. Myth: Refugees Are Flooding Into the Country Very few refugees resettle in the U.S., and they only do so after a long, very involved vetting process that can take up to two years. According to Pew Research Center, the number of refugees the U.S. accepts fluctuates, from a high of more than 200,000 in 1980 (most from Asian countries) to almost 85,000 in 2016, which was a high point in the Obama administration. Most of the recent refugees to the U.S. are from Congo, but the U.S. has accepted 135,643 Iraqi refugees in the past decade. Nearly half of the refugees resettled in the U.S. in 2016 were Muslim. Wisconsin accepted just 1,719 refugees from October 2015 to September 2016, according to state Department of Children and Families data. More than half of these refugees (966) were from Burma, 867 of whom resettled in Milwaukee County. Of the countries on Trumps Muslim ban list, 106 refugees from Iraq settled in Wisconsin during this one-year period, 147 are from Somalia, 10 are from Sudan, 99 are from Syria and just one Iranian refugee resettled in Wisconsin. No refugees from Libya or Yemen resettled in Wisconsin during that period. Pew also found that Americans have long had mixed feelings about accepting refugees, even though many immigrants to America were fleeing persecution and hostile governments in their home nations. Pew reported that a majority of Americans disapproved of accepting Hungarians escaping communism in 1958, Indochinese in 1979, Cubans in 1980, Albanians fleeing Kosovo in 1999 and, in 2016, Syrians attempting to escape the murderous Assad regime. Myth: Muslims Are Not Like Us Trump and Bannon are using well-worn divide-and-conquer tactics to sell the Muslim ban. By trying to separate immigrants and refugees from the rest of us, Muslims and refugees can become them and targets of fear and hate. But Trump and Bannons views are not reality. Muslims are very much us. According to a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind survey of American Muslims from the Pew Research Center, Muslims are highly assimilated into American society even though many American Muslims are new to the United States. American Muslims believe that immigrant Muslims should adopt American customs and overwhelmingly agree that the best way to get ahead is to work hardin other words, they believe in the American dream. In fact, 71% of the Muslim Americans surveyed said they believe in working hard to succeed, more than the 64% who supported that sentiment in the general population. Myth: Muslims Are Radical Fundamentalists This myth is debunked by Muslims themselves. The vast majority of American Muslims feel that there is not much support for radical fundamentalism among Muslims. A Pew Research Center survey from 2011 showed that 64% of Muslim Americans say there is not too much or no support for extremism among Muslim Americans, while a very few said there was a great deal (6% of respondents). A full 60% were very or somewhat concerned about the possible rise of Islamic extremism in the U.S. Pew also found that American Muslims hold more-mainstream views than Muslims in select Western European countries. American Muslims are generally more prosperous than European Muslims, and theyre more likely to think of themselves as Americans first, before identifying as Muslims. Theyre also more likely to say that life for women is better in their adopted country than in Muslim countries. American Muslims are also more likely to have a college degree (39%) than the general U.S. population (27%), or even Methodists (37%), Evangelical Lutherans (36%), Presbyterians (33%), Mormons (33%), Missouri Synod Lutherans (32%), Catholics (26%) and various types of Baptists. Najeeb said theres a logical reason why so many American Muslims and Muslim immigrants are highly educated: That was the only way some immigrants were able to leave their home country, such as Syria. There was always this brain drain to the west, Najeeb said. Myth: Its Not a Muslim Ban While campaigning Trump called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States and the seven countries on the list are more than 99% Muslim. Trump said in January that hes prioritizing accepting Christian refugees over Muslim refugees. Myth: The Muslim Ban Will Stop Terrorism in the U.S. Trumps rationale for signing the Muslim ban is to prevent terrorist acts from occurring within the U.S. But Muslim immigrantsespecially those from the seven countries included in the Muslim banare not responsible for the vast majority of mass killings in America. According to a comprehensive survey of terrorism in the U.S. since 9/11 by New America, the large majority of jihadist terrorists in the United States have been American citizens or legal residents. Thats right83% of the jihadist terrorists in the U.S. since 9/11 were U.S.-born citizens, naturalized citizens or permanent residents. There were just 12 lethal jihadist terrorists in the U.S. since 9/11; seven were born American citizens, while the others were from countries not included in Trumps Muslim banRussia, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, Kuwait and Pakistan. And as for the national origins of those who committed the fictitious Bowling Green massacrewell, they appear to have been born only in the twisted fantasies of Trumps top advisor, Kellyanne Conway. So who is committing terror in the U.S.? The most likely group is right-wing, white Americans, according to New Americawhite nationalist terrorists like Wade Page, who murdered innocent Sikhs in Oak Creek, or Dylann Roof, who killed African American churchgoers in Charleston, N.C. New America found that white nationalists killed 48 people since 9/11, while radical Islamists killed 26 individuals in the same period. Unfortunately, it might become more difficult to track, study and combat these violent, right-wing American extremists. Trump is planning to change the Countering Violent Extremism program to focus solely on Islamic extremismnot on all forms of violent ideologies, including white nationalism. Trumps denial of the dangers posed by nationalist extremism was reflected in his total silence after a right-wing Canadian murdered six innocent individuals and injured 17 others in a Quebec City mosque in January. Yet Trump took to Twitter to tell Americans to get smart after an Egyptian man attacked a soldier in Paris. Myth: Im Not a Muslim, Immigrant or Refugee, So This Is Not My Problem Najeeb explained that the U.S. has a long history of singling out a religious or ethnic minority and targeting them with hate and ostracism, whether it was Japanese Americans during World War II or Irish Catholics fleeing the famine. Right now, Muslims are being targeted. But that doesnt mean that non-Muslims shouldnt be alarmed and resist Trumps attacks. Elana Kahn, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, said that the Muslim ban is a Jewish issue, since Jews have much in common with their Muslim neighbors. Were used to being that other, Kahn said. The story of American Jews is a story of immigrants coming, many of them refugees, and being accepted into a new place and working to integrate and to have a second chance. Kahn called on people of conscience to support those who are being targeted by Trump. Today it might be me, but tomorrow it could be you, Kahn said. We need to transcend our fears to become allies. Sign the Petition State Sen. Chris Larson and state Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, both Milwaukee Democrats, are introducing a joint resolution in the state Legislature to denounce Islamophobia, discrimination and violence. Theyve also set up an online petition at ResistHateWI.com so that you can show your support for our Muslim friends and neighbors. Not into Valentine's Day and kissy, smoochy, lovey stuff? Check out these films where couples don't always love each other. Fatal Attraction (1987) A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family. Stars: Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. Stars: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro. The War of the Roses (1989) A married couple try everything to get each other to leave the house in a vicious divorce battle. Stars: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. Leaving Las Vegas (1995) Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera. Stars: Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. Husbands and Wives (1992) When their best friends announce that they're separating, a professor and his wife discover the faults in their own marriage. Stars: Woody Allen and Mia Farrow. Kalifornia (1993) A journalist duo go on a tour of serial killer murder sites with two companions, unaware that one of them is a serial killer himself. Stars: Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis. Natural Born Killers (1994) Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media. Stars: Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis. Rush (1991) Two small-town Texas cops go undercover to catch a major drug dealer and are sucked into the drug culture, compromising their assignment. Stars: Jason Patric, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Sam Elliott. Revolutionary Road (2008) A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet. While You Were Sleeping (1995) A hopeless romantic Chicago Transit Authority token collector is mistaken for the fiancee of a coma patient. Stars: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman and Peter Gallagher. Blue Valentine (2010) The relationship of a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods. Stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Source: Fandango and IMDB SOUTH SIOUX CITY | The cost of combating noxious sewer odors and covering living expenses for the South Sioux City residents displaced by them has passed the $1 million mark. According to a report shared with the Journal Tuesday, sewer odor issues have resulted in $1,002,276.50 since the first check was written Nov. 5. The total entered the seven-digit range Monday, according to the report. Miscellaneous expenses including hotels, meals, odor control, gas testing and home remediation costs account for the bulk of the expenses, at $690,352.72. Other costs include engineering, supplies and work on the force main that now bypasses sewage from the Roth Industrial Park around many of the residents affected by the odors. In late October, South Sioux City officials had originally tied Big Ox Energy to hydrogen sulfide gas believed to be emanating from sewer lines flowing from the city's Roth Industrial Park. At their height, the odors displaced about two dozen residents. Their exact source remains unknown. Big Ox Energy, which maintains that faulty plumbing in residences was the primary contributor to the problem, has been reimbursing the city for the costs since residents were displaced in late October. That reimbursement period was set to come to a close Tuesday. City clerk and finance director Nanci Walsh said as of Tuesday, Big Ox has reimbursed the city for $700,000 of the more than $1 million in expenses. Walsh has said the city will eventually discuss outstanding expenses with Big Ox. In the meantime, funding has been coming out of the city's Combined Utility Fund. Big Ox Energy spokesman Evan Zeppos said the company is continuing to work with cooperative homeowners and will continue to cover "reasonable" expenses for them past Tuesday, but he said Big Ox will no longer fund hotel stays for those who have refused to meet with the company. "Its hard to extend that when youre looking at someone who wont talk with you about it," he said. As of last week, a dozen families were still displaced from their homes. Three of those families were working on moving back in. The South Sioux City Council on Friday voted to extend the hotel stays of the residents through Feb. 14 to allow the residents who have not met with Big Ox Energy time to begin talks with the city and work toward remediation. City administrator Lance Hedquist said in an email Tuesday that the city will cover hotel costs through Feb. 14 that are not covered by Big Ox. STORM LAKE, Iowa | A 13-year-old student at Storm Lake Middle School has been charged with making terroristic threats after police say he told another middle school student of plans to purchase a gun and "shoot up the school." According to a Storm Lake Police Department news release, the student, an eighth grader, had been researching a website that includes the sale of illegal weapons along with other students. About two weeks ago, police said, the students were viewing the website on a student's personal laptop at lunch time, when the suspect told them of his plan to purchase a gun and "shoot up the school." The comment went unreported for several days, but Storm Lake Middle School faculty heard of the threat Tuesday morning and immediately reported it to the school's resource officer. After making contact with the suspected student and his parents, searching his residence and speaking with faculty and students, police determined the threat was not imminent, the release said. Police seized a personal laptop for further investigation. The student was charged Tuesday with making threats of terrorism, a class D felony. He was referred to Buena Vista County Juvenile Courts and released to the custody of his parents. WASHINGTON -- The movement that Donald Trump's presidency has inspired against him is broad, passionate, engaged and determined. Its prospects depend upon highlighting a set of principles that can unite an American majority already appalled by what Trump is doing to our country. While almost everything in our politics these days has a strongly partisan cast, the anti-Trump forces cannot be defined by party or ideology. That's true even though, with a sadly short list of exceptions, Republicans in the House and Senate have been timid in speaking out against Trump's overturning of long-established norms and values. Over time, these profiles in meekness will regret where they stood in the early going. But they must be prodded and encouraged to break with the most egregious of the president's policies. In the meantime, many conservatives beyond the ranks of elected officialdom have spoken up courageously in defense of tolerance, openness and democracy. The concerns that bind left, center and right must stay at the forefront of efforts to stop the administration's abuses, even as those of us who are progressive will challenge the reactionary tax, budget and regulatory policies that Trump will use to buy off Republican leaders. The obligations that ideology should not encumber include speaking out against the blatantly anti-Muslim character of Trump's travel ban: Those who defend religious liberty must also fight religious discrimination. There ought to be solidarity in condemning an approach to Europe that is pushing away the United States' longtime democratic allies and currying favor with the autocrat in Moscow. A disorganized, slapdash and careless approach to policymaking that turns chaos into an achievement rather than a problem should horrify Americans regardless of whom they normally vote for. It is dangerous and also disrespectful of the responsibilities power imposes. Party loyalty should not get in the way of insisting upon a respect for fact and evidence -- or of calling out lies. Consider that when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told his department's employees that "honesty will undergird our foreign policy," his words could be seen, whether intentionally or not, as a rebuke to an administration that touts "alternative facts." And Trump's critics don't have to agree on a single policy to bemoan his crude and sloppy use of language and to see this as a genuine obstacle to honorable politics and a well-functioning government. He doesn't just want to repeal the Johnson Amendment that bars religious organizations from getting involved in elections. He wants to "destroy" it. He lightly threatens war with Mexico to go after "bad hombres" and undermines our relationship with Australia by recklessly accusing one of our very closest friends of wanting to export "the next Boston bombers." This is about more than style. As George Orwell taught us, how people talk offers a clue about how they think and what they value. Our language, he wrote, "becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts." He added: "If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought." Pretending that there is something "brilliant" or "populist" about how Trump communicates is one of the worst forms of elitism because it demeans average citizens who have always appreciated eloquence, as our greatest leaders knew. And please don't compare George W. Bush to Trump on this score. We poked fun at Bush's ability to mangle sentences, but he respected the need to find words that could move and unite the nation. Finally, we must resist a bad habit infecting political commentary that sees Trump's irresponsibility, bigotry and casual cruelty as a heroic form of "disruption" aimed at bringing down "the establishment." No. The people in the streets rallying against Trump are not the establishment. Those political and business leaders who are, for now, playing along with and enabling Trump very much are the establishment. Americans who tell pollsters they oppose Trump -- including outsiders from Bernie Sanders on the left to third-party presidential candidate Evan McMullin on the right -- are not defending some status quo. They are standing up for humane principles that Trump is threatening: democracy over authoritarian nationalism; religious pluralism over bigotry; clarity of thought, speech and action over a self-involved indiscipline; civil rights and civil liberties over their unchecked abuse; and a basic decency toward each other over a political approach devoted to disparaging and bullying adversaries. The democratic left and the democratic right will continue to disagree on many things. But these commitments should transcend all of our divides. I am confused. Republican legislators argue for reduced government spending and fewer abortions. Yet a recent decision by the Iowa Senate didnt follow either of those principles. Last Thursday, the Iowa Senate voted to reject $3 million of federal money for the Medicaid Iowa Family Planning Network. While this program has existed, teenage pregnancies and abortions have decreased. Republicans think that we are going to create a new program and pay for it by reducing other programs. When our state is already making cuts, why would our legislators make this decision that is contrary to their values? Must be politics. Republicans in Iowa score points by attacking Planned Parenthood. The proposed program would not allow family planning money to go to organizations that perform abortions. It doesnt matter that government money was not paying for abortions. I dont know anyone who wants to see more abortions. People differ on whether abortions should be legal, but we should all be able to find common ground. It is in the best interest of society to provide affordable, accessible family planning services to avoid unplanned pregnancies and reduce abortions. The existing program follows that common ground. By rejecting federal money and creating a new system, we take an unconscionable and unprincipled risk that does not align with lowering spending or reducing abortions. Our House members and governor can still vote down this legislation. Health services to Iowans, especially to our low-income neighbors, are at stake. Please, leave a successful program alone. - Kim Van Es, Sioux Center, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is attacking all public employees with his proposed IPERS task force and SF 45 bill (https://legiscan.com/IA/text/SF45/2017). Why would he want to eliminate Iowa pension systems? Consider: 1. IPERS has worked well for 64 years. 2. It ranks as one of the top 10 managed funds in the U.S. 3. Lieutenant Gov. Kim Reynolds served on the IPERS Board for five years. 4. It is good for Iowas economy as it helps insure against old-age poverty. 5. A defined-benefit system attracts and retains top quality individuals. 6. It is working well and liked by the 350,000 Iowans who it supports. 7. The state treasurer says it is working fine and to leave it alone. Could it be political payback as unions tend to vote more Democratic? When Gov. Scott Walker eliminated collective bargaining in Wisconsin, he killed the unions but it also dropped teacher pay by $8,000 and dropped enrollment in teacher education programs by 50 percent. Reynolds says she wants Iowa to be number one in education. Is this how we achieve that? Branstad wants a task force of businesses who use defined contribution instead of defined benefit. Businesses are not a state. That is comparing apples to oranges. Why are there not representatives from IPERS, police, fire, city, county, state and judicial? Is it a one-sided task force or does he really want to look at ways to improve an already outstanding system or just use his total power to eliminate something that isn't broken? - John Brostad, Storm Lake, Iowa DES MOINES | Student achievement in Iowas K-12 schools has not necessarily increased at the same rate as increases to state funding for public education since 2010. Public education advocates say, however, the impact of school funding cannot be measured solely by test scores and other metrics and that the states current assessment program does not accurately measure what Iowas teachers are teaching. State lawmakers just concluded their debate over how much taxpayer funding to send to the states K-12 public education system. In what has become an annual ritual since Republicans regained at least some portion of control at the Iowa Capitol in 2011, Democrats and public education advocates said the state needs to put more money into K-12 schools, while Republicans said they proposed an education funding level that is appropriate within the constraints of the overall state budget. In the 39 years before Republicans regained control of the Iowa House in 2011, state funding to K-12 public education increased by less than 3 percent only seven times; it has dipped below 3 percent six times in the seven years since. Nonetheless, per pupil spending in Iowa has continued to increase annually, but student achievement has been a mixed bag, according to the few metrics available. Total per pupil state funding was $7,419 in fiscal 2010 and $9,173 in fiscal 2017. Since 2010, Iowas high school graduation rates have increased 2 percentage points to 90.8 percent for the class of 2015. ACT scores, on the other hand, have hovered steadily between 22.0 and 22.3 since 2010, among the best scores in the nation each year. Results are mixed from the Iowa Assessments, which measure educational progress in grades 3-8 and 11 in reading, mathematics and science. In the states most recent condition of education report, for example, Iowa students over a two-year period showed improvement in eighth-grade reading but regression in fourth-grade math. The question of the extent that education funding translates to student achievement has been debated for years, and the answer varies depending on who is asked. Studies can be found drawing conclusions that fit ones ideology. Studies by the Albert Shanker Institute, an education think tank, and the National Education Policy Center, an education research center, concluded education funding has a direct effect on student achievement. On average, aggregate measures of per-pupil spending are positively associated with improved or higher student outcomes, the Albert Shanker Institute report said. Studies conducted by the libertarian Cato Institute and the conservative Heritage Foundation suggest there is not a direct correlation between education funding and student performance. A basic comparison of long-term spending trends with long-term measures of student academic achievement challenges the belief that spending is correlated with achievement, said the Heritage Foundation report, which compared increases in school funding nationally to stagnant reading scores. Thats how Drew Klein, with Iowas chapter of the conservative issues advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, sees it. He cited the Cato Institute report when discussing the issue Monday at the Iowa Capitol after he was one of just two people who spoke in support of Republicans K-12 school funding proposal, compared to the dozens who spoke against it. Klein supports more school choice programs that would allow parents to use state funding toward their childs education at a private school or charter school. Such funding typically comes at the expense of funding to public schools. Klein noted the piece of the Cato report that showed rising education spending and stagnant reading scores. Certainly, correlation is not causation, but we certainly dont see any link that (shows) spending is going to drive student achievement, Klein said. Right now, the system itself is failing kids, and I dont think it matters how much money you put in there, youre still not going to see significant improvement in student achievement. So lets fix the system and then figure out what appropriate funding looks like. Tammy Wawro, of the Iowa State Education Association, said the metrics currently available do not accurately measure student achievement and progress. She said that makes it difficult to prove that education spending does improve student performance, as she believes. Wawro said the Iowa Assessments do not do a sufficient job testing what is being taught in the states schools. And she said the ACT is a measurement more of college preparedness than student achievement. Its a bigger conversation when we talk about student achievement. Right now, we have a test that were using that doesnt measure what were assessing, Wawro said. When we talk about student growth, we know that we need 1-on-1, we need small group work, and that absolutely increases how that student learns. Right now, were not measuring student growth. Other public education advocates noted dips in funding can lead to schools dropping programs such as courses that enable students to earn college credit and extracurricular activities that provide more opportunities and a more well-rounded education for students. (Funding) lets us have a broader curriculum, more Advanced Placement courses, more career-tech courses, said Brad Hudson, a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association. It allows us to have smaller class sizes, which we think allows students to do better. So on many fronts, we think it does have an impact. With Gov. Terry Branstad poised to approve Republicans' plan to increase K-12 public school funding by 1.1 percent for the coming school year the third-lowest level in the 46 years under the states current education funding formula the debate over how much funding impacts student performance is not likely to go away soon. DES MOINES | Two Senate committees are traveling separate routes in dealing with cameras monitoring Iowa streets and highways for speeders and red-light violators one favoring an outright ban and the other allowing them to continue under tighter state regulation. Bipartisan members of the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill with eight supporters and four opponents that would ban electronic traffic monitoring devices on July 1, sending Senate File 3 to the debate calendar for further consideration. Before passing the measure, senators amended it to make sure the language did not adversely impact other law enforcement devices used in work zones. Its been down here for so many years I think most people are very familiar with the issue and minds are made up, said committee chairman Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, the bills sponsor. I have bipartisan support for getting rid of those traffic cameras. Tuesdays vote followed action last week in the Senate Transportation Committee where a bipartisan group of senators supported legislation 12-1 to regulate rather than eliminate traffic enforcement cameras. Senate File 196 would subject fixed and mobile camera deployments to state approval and direct profits to infrastructure improvements within the jurisdictions operating cameras that issue revenue-generating tickets. It also would require advance signage at approved camera locations, weekly calibration of electronic traffic monitoring equipment, and peace officer review of citations that are issued. It also capped civil penalties so they do not exceed the existing fine schedule for speeding violations under state law and would grandfather cameras at locations approved by the state Department of Transportation before Jan. 1 of this year. The fate of both bills now may fall to closed-door caucus discussions by majority Republicans and minority Democrats. Senate Transportation Committee chairman Sen. Tim Kapucian, R-Keystone, said he wanted to give senators an alternative to just deciding yes or no on traffic enforcement cameras. Zaun said the problem with Senate File 196 is it doesnt do away with the abuses by local communities using the cameras as revenue generators or address citizens due process concerns associated with tickets being issued to the owner of a vehicle cited for a violation. He also said he believe there was more support in the House for his bill to ban the enforcement cameras. Im hopeful that this is the bill that gets passed, Zaun said after Tuesdays committee meeting. Im going to have to do some selling to my caucus but I still feel very confident that Im going to be able to get this through the Senate, he added. Obviously, Im going to be very passionate to my caucus about why we need to remove them. DES MOINES | Labor activists anger overflowed at the Iowa Capitol Tuesday as majority Republicans unveiled legislation they described as tweaking Iowas 43-year-old collective bargaining law. I am beyond angry today. Im actually mortified (and) floored by the disrespect and animosity that drove through the authors to introduce such a punitive piece of legislation, Tammy Wawro, a Cedar Rapids teacher and president of the Iowa State Education Association, said. The source of her anger was House Study Bill 84 and Senate File 213, bills AFSCME President Danny Homan called purely a political attack on unions. Sponsor and House Labor Committee Chairman Dave Deyoe, R-Nevada, called the 68-page bill a deliberative approach to look at some changes, but at the same time still allow unions to have some of the current rights they have now. In general, the bills seek to limit the subjects that non-public safety workers can bring to the bargaining table, changes arbitration rules, alters how unions are certified and eliminates the longtime practice of gathering dues through payroll deductions. Gov. Terry Branstad is backing the legislation, which he said would accomplish changes he been trying to make to the antiquated bargaining process for years. For too long unions special interests have routinely won over the taxpayers, especially on the issue of health care, he said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference with legislative leaders. His goals is to put the taxpayers interests in a position of being treated fairly, to reward the good employees and ensure we can remove an occasional bad employee. Despite the governors rhetoric, it still sounded like union-busting to Rep. Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids. The answer is right here, he said pulling a copy of the Republican Party platform out of his pocket. It states We call for legislation that would eliminate all public sector unions. Thats what their real goal is, how theyre doing it, he said. Senate Labor and Business Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, called the bill a major update and modernization of public employee collective bargaining law. This bills recognize that its been 40 years since the Legislature addressed it and we have a different Iowa, we have a different United States and circumstances are different and I think this more-closely serves Iowa and todays needs. The bill will restore more control and discretion to local elected officials, Schultz said. We want the people who are handling tax dollars to be the ones who are most answerable to the people who elected them, he said. Im excited about this. I think this is something Iowa is going to be very supportive of and its something Im proud of. Besides, if Republicans wanted to bust public employee unions, Deyoe said what we would have done is rip Chapter 20 right out of the code book. Homan wasnt so sure thats not what Republicans, especially Gov. Terry Branstad, have in mind. He predicted that Republicans will try to fast-track the bills to get them to Gov. Terry Branstads desk before he leaves to become ambassador to China. After all, his vendetta against public employees dates back many decades, Homan said, noting Branstad voted against the Chapter 20 collective bargaining bill when he was a legislator. He representing his constituents interests then as well as now, Branstad said, and rejected the idea there is anything personal about his support for the proposals. I want to make sure that people are treated fairly and that we have a system that treats everyone fairly, he said. I am just very proud we have a Legislature that is willing to address an issue like this and that they are not going to be intimidated by Danny Homan or anyone else. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said House and Senate rules will be followed as the bills are fast-tracked. A House Labor subcommittee will get to work on HSB 84 at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and the full committee will take it up at 3 p.m. Both meetings will be in Room 103 of the Capitol. In between, the Senate Labor Committee will have a hearing on its bill from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 116. Schultz and Deyoe said the bills will be debated by both the Senate and House next week. The legislation appears to make little change to the law as it pertains to what items public safety employees, such as firefighters and police officers, can bring to the bargaining table. However, for non-public safety workers, the Republican proposal limits them to just base wages and other matters mutually agreed upon. Currently, the law lists a range of items that are subjects of bargaining, including wages, hours, vacations, insurance, holidays, leaves of absence, shift differentials, overtime, supplemental pay and transfer procedures. Those items are maintained in the proposal for bargaining units that represent police and firefighters. The House proposal also changes the rules for arbitrators, who settle disputes between labor and management. The bill says, for non-public safety employees, arbitrators, where they can, should also consider wages and working conditions in the private sector when settling disputes. Currently, the law says that arbitrators are to choose from the last positions offered by labor and management and to consider other public-sector practices. The bill also prohibits an arbitrator from considering past collective bargaining agreements or from considering the ability of government to pay for benefits by raising taxes and fees. Critics of the current system say that arbitrators have too often favored unions, and they have long chafed at the idea that governments ability to raise taxes is considered. Regardless of how Republicans choose to describe their proposals, Homan called the bills a complete and total gutting of the public employees rights. Let me assure you, the fight does not stop here, Homan promised. It wont stop until we regain the rights for working men and women across this state to have input into their jobs. Reporters Rod Boshart, Ed Tibbetts and Erin Murphy contributed to this report. DES MOINES | Iowans with disabilities or their family members are being offered a new tax-advantaged savings account that will allow them to set aside money to pay for qualified expenses without losing eligibility for federal assistance under a plan announced Tuesday by State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald. The savings plan, called IAble, was made possible by a 2014 federal act that authorized tax-advantaged investment accounts - similar to college savings programs - that allows disabled Iowans or their families to save up to $14,000 annually to cover expenses, such as assistive technology, housing, transportation, education and other costs, Fitzgerald said. In 2015, Iowa's version of the federal bill was signed into law, making the savings program possible, he noted. Iowa and 14 other states have formed a consortium that allows IAble to offer low costs and high-quality investment options to eligible individuals. Iowa taxpayers may deduct up to $3,239 in contributions from their adjusted gross income for 2017 and the earnings on investments are deferred for federal and state taxes if used for qualified disability expenses, he said. "Our new IAble program is a tax-advantaged plan designed to help persons with disabilities and their families save to achieve a better life experience," said Fitzgerald, who unveiled the program at a Statehouse news conference. Already five Iowans have gone to the IAble.gov web site and started savings plans. Accounts can be opened with as little as $25, the state treasurer said, and account owners can access their accounts online at any time as well as make withdrawals from the web site. To qualify for the plan that allows accounts of up to $100,000, the beneficiary must have been diagnosed with a disability before the age of 26 or be blind and qualify for a federal assistance program. Eligible individuals can open one account for themselves or have an authorized individual start one on their behalf, Fitzgerald said. ONAWA, Iowa | Dave and Anne Radke, of Onawa, were soooo ready to put 2016 in the past. Consider these sad developments in their lives: Dave's mother, Dorothy Radke, of Hanover, Iowa, died; Anne's mother, Jan Alderton, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died; Anne's uncle, Bill Peterson, Iowa City, Iowa, died and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In between, there were households to pack up, estates to work on. "We decided to get rid of 2016 by going on a cruise to Monaco," Anne said. "So, that's how we rang out the old year and tried to ring in 2017." The Viking cruise, a 2-week adventure through the Mediterranean, would also coincide with the couple's 39th wedding anniversary. And while the 39th anniversary might not be as significant as, say, the 40th, Anne knew that they'd celebrate that occasion surrounded by children and grandchildren next Christmas, per family custom. So, the Radkes set sail. The funny thing -- or, the not-so-funny thing -- is that the Viking cruise went nowhere. The Radkes flew into Barcelona, Spain, and spent a day seeing sights before boarding a luxury cruise liner that first hit the water in May. Just as the ship left Barcelona, trouble developed. The Radkes were both getting a massage when an urgent message crackled across the ship's intercom system. Anne laughed and said the message reminded her of a "Code blue" alert at a hospital. Both she and Dave wondered if a passenger aboard the ship was having a heart attack. "It was actually a code for a fire alert," Anne said. "A transformer blew out and the cooking vents reacted as if the ship were on fire." Luckily, it wasn't. And soon the ship churned out of port, destined for a half-dozen countries in a 14-day trek. And while many passengers watched a movie, played cards, exercised or visited that afternoon, Dave Radke kept his eyes on a monitor showing the progress of the ship. He observed that the ship was slowly turning around. The ship pulled back into Barcelona, where it docked for 14 days. The Radkes missed Rome, Florence, Monaco, Tunisia, Malta and more. Instead, they made do, feasting on daily doses of Barcelona history. "We went each day into the Barcelona area as local travel companies offered us buses and tour guides," Anne said. "Normally with Viking, one excursion per day is offered free. Well, all of ours were free and some of them were eight to 10 hours. We had our choice of many, many things each day." The couple toured Cava Freixenet, said to be the world's largest cava winery, even traveling deep into the bowels of the winery's cave. They spent many hours in a museum created by artist Salvador Dali, one he erected in a burned out building. "Dali might not have been on our itinerary had the ship not broken down," she said. The Radkes learned much about Barcelona's effort in hosting the 1888 and 1929 World's Fair and 1992 Summer Olympic Games. Spain, they learned, has some of the most preserved Romanesque structures in the world, architectural marvels not damaged by the winds of war, as have others across Europe. They joined tour groups intent on learning more about Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect, a genius said to have helped impact the Catalan Modernist movement. "Gaudi started building a cathedral (the Sagrada Familia), then got hit by a trolley and died in 1926," Anne said. "Work continues on his cathedral and it is set to be done by 2026 (to mark the 100 years since his death)." The only day the couple remained on the boat was Jan. 6. And on that day, a lighted boat parade passed, an event that highlighted the Feast of the Epiphany, the official end of the Christmas season, a day in which residents of Spain shower gifts upon one another. The Radkes already felt blessed, having been on a "tour to nowhere" that became a fantastic way to ring in 2017. Officials with the Viking line did all they could do to compensate their guests in the way of outright cash and credit for a future cruise. Anne Radke said she and Dave will take them up on the offer, gladly. "We didn't go anywhere, but we stayed on a boat that has a five-star hotel, stayed there for free for two weeks," she said. "They fed us daily and took us on an excursion each day." If she had to assign a grade to their tour on a broken boat, Anne Radke would give it an "A." "We've already signed up for two more cruises," she said. 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. Out with the old, in with the new... "We are importing Islamic extremism, Arab anti-Semitism, national and ethnic conflicts of other peoples, as well as a different understanding of society and law. German security agencies are unable to deal with these imported security problems, and the resulting reactions from the German population." "The high influx of people from other parts of the world will lead to the instability of our country. By allowing this mass migration, we are producing extremists. Mainstream society is radicalizing because the majority does not want migration, which is being forced by the political elites. In the future, many Germans will turn away from the constitutional state." Calculating the Muslim Population of Germany Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter. Germany will need to take in 300,000 migrants annually for the next 40 years to stop population decline, according to a leaked government report.The document, parts of which were published by theon February 1, reveals that the German government is counting on permanent mass migration presumably from Africa, Asia and the Middle East to keep the current size of the German population (82.8 million) stable through 2060.The report implies that Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow into the country some 1.5 million mostly Muslim migrants between 2015 and 2016 was not primarily a humanitarian gesture, but a calculated effort to stave off Germany's demographic decline and to preserve the future viability of the German welfare state.If most of the new migrants arriving in Germany for the next four decades are from the Islamic world, the Muslim population of Germany could jump to well over 20 million and account for more than 25% of the overall German population by 2060.Critics of Germany's open-door immigration policy are warning that the recent surge in Germany's Muslim population which surpassed six million in 2016 for the first time has already changed the face of the country forever.Mass migration is fast-tracking the rise of Islam in Germany, as evidenced by the proliferation of no-go zones child marriages and honor violence . Mass migration has also been responsible for social chaos, including jihadist attacks , a migrant rape epidemic , a public health crisis rising crime and a rush by German citizens to purchase weapons for self-defense and even to abandon Germany altogether.The government has not said how it plans to integrate potentially millions of additional Muslims into German society. The price for reversing Germany's demographic decline appears to be the further Islamization of Germany under the guise of multiculturalism.According to the report, which was drafted by the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis), the government had previously predicted that Germany's population would drop from a high of 82 million to 73 million by the year 2060 or even 67.6 million in the worst case scenario. That estimate is now being revised, however, based on a recalculation of forecasts regarding immigration, birth rates and life expectancy.Due to positive net migration (more people entering the country than leaving it), the German population increased by 1.14 million in 2015, and by another 750,000 in 2016, to reach an all-time high of 82.8 million at the end of 2016, according to preliminary estimates by Destatis.With a fertility rate of 1.6 births per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, Germany will require a permanent influx of 300,000 migrants per year in order keep the current population level stable through the year 2060, according to the report.The report stresses the need quickly to integrate migrants into the workforce so that they can begin paying into the social welfare system. "According to past experience, this will not be easy and will take longer than initially often hoped," the report concedes. "Successes will only be visible in the medium to long term."A recent survey by the found that the 30 biggest German companies have employed only 54 refugees, including 50 who have been hired as couriers by Deutsche Post, the logistics provider. Company executives said the main problem is that migrants lack professional qualifications and German language skills.According to the Federal Labor Office, the educational level of newly arrived migrants in Germany is far lower than expected: only a quarter have a high school diploma, while three quarters have no vocational training at all. Only 4% of new arrivals to Germany are highly qualified.For now, the vast majority of migrants who entered Germany in 2015 and 2016 are wards of the German state. German taxpayers payed around 21.7 billion ($23.4 billion) on aid for refugees and asylum seekers in 2016, and will pay a similar amount in 2017.A Finance Ministry document revealed that the migrant crisis could end up costing German taxpayers 93.6 billion ($101 billion) between now and 2020. About 25.7 billion would be for social spending, such as unemployment benefits and housing support. About 5.7 billion would be destined for language courses and 4.6 billion for integrating refugees into the workforce.Mass migration has also increased the demand for housing and has pushed up rental costs for ordinary Germans. Some 350,000 new apartments are required each year to meet demand, but only 245,000 apartments were built in 2014, and another 248,000 in 2015, according to theMeanwhile, migrants committed 208,344 crimes in 2015, according to a police report. This figure represented an 80% increase over 2014 and worked out to around 570 crimes committed by migrants every day, or 23 crimes each hour, between January and December 2015.A leaked German intelligence document warned that mass migration from the Muslim world will lead to increasing political instability in the country. The document warned that the "integration of hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants will be impossible given the large numbers involved and the already-existing Muslim parallel societies in Germany." The document added In an interview with, an unidentified high-ranking security official said A recent YouGov poll found that 68% of Germans believe that security in the country has deteriorated due to mass migration. Nearly 70% of respondents said they fear for their lives and property in German train stations and subways, while 63% feel unsafe at large public events.An INSA poll found that 60% of the Germans believe that Islam does not belong to Germany. Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed said they are worried about the "Islamization" of Germany.If the German election were held today, however, Angela Merkel would easily win another four-year term as chancellor. An INSA poll conducted foron February 2 found that Merkel's ruling Christian Democratic Party (CDU) would win with 33% of the vote, compared to 27% for the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and 9% for the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD).Germany now vies with France for the highest Muslim population in Western Europe.The increase in Germany's Muslim population is being fueled by mass migration. An estimated 300,000 migrants arrived in Germany in 2016, in addition to the more than one million who arrived in 2015. At least 80% (or 800,000 in 2015 and 240,000 in 2016) of the newcomers were Muslim, according to the Central Council of Muslims in Germany.In addition to the newcomers, the rate of population increase of the Muslim community already living in Germany is around 1.6% per year (or 77,000), according to data extrapolated from a Pew Research Center study on the growth of the Muslim population in Europe.Based on Pew projections, which were proffered before the current migration crisis, the Muslim population of Germany was to have reached an estimated 5,145,000 by the end of 2015.Adding the 800,000 Muslim migrants who arrived in Germany in 2015, and the 240,000 who arrived in 2016, combined with the 77,000 natural increase, the Muslim population of Germany jumped by 1,117,000, to reach an estimated 6,262,000 by the end of 2016. This amounts to approximately 7.6% of Germany's overall population of 82.8 million.The Muslim population of Germany could swell to 20 million as early as 2020, according to the president of the Bavarian Association of Municipalities (), Uwe Brandl. His forecast is based on so-called family reunifications individuals whose asylum applications are approved will subsequently bring between four and eight additional family members to Germany.More than a decade ago historian Bernard Lewis warned that if current migration trends continue, Europe will be Islamic by the end of the 21st century. Germany's political elites are at the vanguard of making that prediction come true. Nolan Ray "Sgt. Rollin Nolan" Scully, 4, of Leonardtown, MD passed away on February 4, 2017 at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C. in the arms of his loving family and caregivers. He was born on September 7, 2012 in Leonardtown, MD to Jonathan Patrick Scully and Ruth Rebecca Rogers Scully. From the day Nolan Ray was born, he was such a loving and happy child. He always had an infectious smile on his face no matter the circumstances. He could energize an entire room with his fun-loving spirit! He was wise beyond his years but could also put you in the floor from laughter. Throughout his treatment, Nolan endured many hardships. He never once complained or cried. He trusted his Parents and Team through it all. To him, there was no sadness, he made the best out of every situation. Nolan was just a completely perfect person, with nothing but love in his heart for everyone. Every card he received in the mail, he read and hugged. Every Facebook comment he got, he would say "Aw that's really nice of them Mommy". Nolan Ray was a fierce Protector, especially to his Mommy. It was no surprise when he became adamant that he wanted nothing more than to be a "Policeman" and he became just that being sworn in for the first time by his "Boss," Mr. Richard Ross, Police Commissioner of Philadelphia, PA. Many nights Nolan would get on his portable radio to talk to his "Boss" about any "action" that occurred that day, or just to sing him his ABC's. He was in love with Police Motorcycles and Firetrucks! Sgt. Rollin Nolan could spot Police and Fire Vehicles miles away! He would yell "Holy Shit! We got Action!!!" and sure enough, there was an emergency vehicle with lights on! Nolan Ray wanted to be a one of a kind Policeman! He wanted to drive a Police Motorcycle with a side car to carry his "Police Dog" Bruno! He was lucky enough to have an amazing ride-on Firetruck and Police Motorcycle. They were his prized possessions! In addition to being a die-hard Policeman, he also took great pride in knowing every Dinosaur that ever walked the Earth. He loved to play with his Dinosaurs and he watched the Jurassic World movie every night with popcorn before bed. Throughout his treatment, he continuously watched Jurassic World as if it was the only movie ever created! His favorite Dinosaur was the Ankylosaurus. He was a true boy at heart! He loved anything with wheels! He would astound people by his knowledge of Construction Trucks! His favorite thing was to play in his sandbox with all of his trucks that his Grandmother got him. Another one of Nolan's many talents was bringing so much happiness and smiles through his singing! He loved to pull out his Paw Patrol Guitar and Microphone and sing his family songs. Nolan was a music lover! His favorite song was "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars! He would listen to the song on repeat every day. Sometimes we think it was just to annoy his sister! His next favorite song was Miranda Lambert's "Little Red Wagon"! He watched that YouTube video over and over and then would say that she was "his Nurse Bailey". Nolan's most favorite thing above anything was his Family. He loved being with his family, even if it was just sitting in the same room. His sister, Leila was his Best Friend and they played every day, even though he would say over and over that he did not like "girl stuff!!!" Slimy Brayden kisses were his favorite! He loved to go outside and play with his Daddy, especially doing yard work! He loved to spread mulch, but it had to be red mulch! Red was his favorite color!! He never missed a chance to snuggle with his Mommy! He laid with Mommy every night and would tell me how much he loved me, which was always "More than all of my Police Cars and Firetrucks in the whole Universe!" As a family, we are so thankful for the love and care that Nolan received from the Pediatric Oncology Staff at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. These were Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Child Life Specialists/Therapists, Food Service, Housekeeping staff members that became our family and fought so hard next to us throughout his battle. In addition to his beloved parents, Jonathan and Ruth, Nolan is also survived by his sister, Leila Marie, his brother, Brayden Henry, and his Police Dog, Bruno of Leonardtown, MD; his grandparents: Burress and Diana Rogers of Leonardtown, MD and Kenneth Scully of Leonardtown, MD and his late wife, Joan Scully; his great grandmother, Teresa Lawrence of Abell, MD; his uncles: Ernest Rogers (Jessica) of Hollywood, MD and Chris Scully of Hollywood, MD; his great Aunt, Shirley Spalding of Hollywood, MD; his cousins, Alyssa and Jason Scully; his very close friends, Chris and Amy Smith; and many extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Joan Scully. Family will receive friends for Nolan's Life Celebration on Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 4-8 p.m., with prayers at 7:00 p.m. followed by Fireman and Police Prayers, at Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, 24801 Three Notch Road, Hollywood, MD 20636. For the Visitation Nolan requested that you wear your Nolan Strong shirts or the color red. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. by Reverend David Beaubien at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 22800 Washington Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will be private with Family and Close Friends only in attendance. Serving as pallbearers will be Ernest Rogers, Chris Scully, Keith Watts, and Chris Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be his siblings, Leila and Brayden Scully. Memorial contributions may be made in Nolan's honor to: The Hope for Henry Foundation, 2440 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20007 or www.hopeforhenry.org. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. Dance fans have an exciting season ahead: Miami City Ballet offers exciting world premieres, while the famed Alvin Ailey and Twyla Tharp companies make their perennial winter visits to South Florida. And, the Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth serves up an ambitious modern dance series. Program III Polyphonia Miami City Ballet Feb. 10 - March 12 Arsht Center, Broward Center, Kravis Center Dont miss the world premiere of Alexei Ratmanskys The Fairys Kiss, based on a Hans Christian Anderson tale and set to music by Stravinsky. Works by Balanchine and Wheeldon round out the program. MiamiCityBallet.org. Twyla Tharp 50th Anniversary Tour Feb. 13 Broward Center Twyla Tharp, one of the centurys most treasured artists, celebrates fifty years of dancemaking with a double bill: Preludes and Fugues, set to music by J.S. Bach, and Nine Sinatra Songs. BrowardCenter.org. BODYTRAFFIC Feb. 17 18 Duncan Theatre BODYTRAFFIC is helping establish Los Angeles as a major center for contemporary dance. Founded in 2007, BODYTRAFFIC has surged to the forefront of the concert dance world, named the company of the future. PalmBeachState.edu. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Feb. 23 26 Arsht Center The famed Alvin Ailey troupe, under the leadership of Miami-native Robert Battle, returns to the Magic City. The company will perform critically-acclaimed recent premieres, as well as Aileys masterpiece, Revelations. AlvinAiley.org. MOMIX Opus Cactus March 24 25 Duncan Theatre Opus Cactus is a visual journey into the mysteries and hidden secrets of the Southwestern desert from the unique company that is known for presenting visually-stunning work with inventiveness and exceptional beauty. PalmBeachState.edu. Safety or anti-gay bias? A sergeant of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department was accused last year of putting his personal beliefs ahead of his department when an internal investigation found he attempted to derail the Mounted Units participation in Junes Pride parade in Wilton Manors. Sgt. Hugo Fontalvo claimed he was concerned about security and safety. But the investigators werent buying it. The evidence in this case demonstrated Sergeant Fontalvos personal beliefs were pushed on everyone in the Mounted Unit regardless of whether it was wanted or not, the investigation reads. The internal affairs investigation revealed that Fontalvos actions violated several department policies including disobedience of any rule, order or directive; conduct prejudicial/disruptive to the good order of the department; and failure to supervise effectively. Several people complained of Fontalvos behavior regarding the Police Departments Mounted Units participation in last Junes PrideFest march in Wilton Manors. Some of the officers were to carry a Pride flag while riding their horses. However, Fontalvo first attempted to remove the Mounted Unit from the parade by citing security concerns, and when that didnt work, later cited safety concerns over carrying a flag while riding a horse. After it was determined there were no security or safety concerns Fontalvo showed up on the day of the parade and ordered an officer who wanted to ride and carry a flag to instead walk. When Sergeant Fontalvo realized he could not get his unit removed from the parade for security reasons, he claimed the flags would be a hindrance and attempted to get the Motor Unit to carry them instead, the report reads. According to the report former Police Chief Frank Adderley requested that anyone who was willing to carry the flag be allowed to do so. The investigation report reads Sergeant Fontalvo put his personal beliefs ahead of others and was solely responsible for his actions. The investigation details how Fontalvo, who was not scheduled to work the parade, showed up anyway without approval. When Fontalvo realized he could not convince the acting sergeant to refute the order to carry the flag he personally ordered an officer off his horse. Sergeant Fontalvos irrational decision and poor judgement embarrassed members of his Unit and portrayed the agency in a negative light, the report concludes. The investigation reveals Fontalvo went out of his way to sabotage his units participation in the Pride parade. In the hours leading up to the parade Sergeant Fontalvo became increasingly irritated and upset over the decision to carry the Pride flag, the report reads. The evidence clearly demonstrated his relentless drive to keep his Mounted Unit from participating in the parade. One captain even went so far as to tell Sgt. Fontalvo to stay away from the event. The investigation also revealed that Fontalvo attempted to operate the Mounted Unit based on his personal beliefs. Some of those practices included holding prayer sessions throughout the day and weekly prayer meetings with outside civilians at the barn. The report reads, Fontalvo created an environment where officers felt they had no choice but to participate or ignore the activities. Many officers expressed concern with the public display of religious rhetoric and voiced apprehension over speaking against it for fear of being transferred from the unit. Fontalvo though did end up getting his way at the parade because the other officers did not want to make a scene after they were not told not to ride and carry the flag. Afterwards, Fontlavo exclaimed, See. This is Jesus. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. This is Jesus. Despite his safety concerns over carrying a flag while riding two other officers were allowed to ride and carry the Florida flag and the U.S. flag. By the end of the parade Fontalvo had clearly become unhinged with the investigation revealing that he repeatedly manipulated his knife while questioning the two officers and asked them twice to state the punishment for insubordination. The investigation recommends a 20-day suspension and demotion to rank of Officer. [Update: No further actions were taken against Sgt. Fontalvo because he retired on January 2, 2017] Two Hungarian men face more than 200 years in prison after being convicted by a Miami-Dade jury of luring young gay men to the U.S. to serve as sex slaves. Gabor Acs and Viktor Berki are scheduled to be sentenced on April 7. Theyve been found guilty of human trafficking, racketeering and conspiracy because the victims were gay men forced to prostitute themselves for months in New York and Miami. Related: Fort Lauderdale Church Studies Human Trafficking Mario Balog, 25, was one of their victims. Court documents show he and two victims at the center of the case were all in their early 20s, in 2012 when they were flown to New York City to work in what they thought was a legitimate business in the U.S. Their plan was to stay for a few months, earn money and return to Hungary. Prosecutors say Balog and two others were fooled by the defendants, held against their will in virtual slavery, and forced to perform sex acts for webcams or serve as prostitutes in Miami and New York. The victims say they were particularly bullied and intimidated by Berki, who frequently reminded them he was a policeman in Hungary. According to prosecutors, the three were given little food and threatened with violence if they left. Balog told SFGN he and the other victims were held against their will in a windowless room with no air conditioning with only a mattress on the floor while in Miami. His story is in stark contrast to the portrait painted by defense attorneys who claimed Balog and the others were willing participants, who lied about being victims to avoid deportation back to Hungary. That was their defense, said Balogs fiancee Brian Suthers. But the evidence spoke for itself. Balog said testifying in this trial was difficult and hes glad its all behind him. Hes relieved that Acs and Berki were found guilty. I was crying, he admitted. And I couldnt stop. Moving forward, Balog plans to stay in Florida. Hes pleased to be in love and happy to have companionship. I have not had a good relationship before, he said. Now engaged to be married, Balog and Suthers are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together. Something good came out of all this, Suthers said. We met and Ive stood by his side. Balog also hopes to become a translator or advocate for other human trafficking victims. I know what theyve been through and I want to help, he said. A crowdfunding page has been set up to raise money for the human trafficking victims in this case. You can donate at YouCaring.com/HelpTheLGBTtraffickingVictims. He just cant stand the heat. Americas tweeter-in-chief has proven again that the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. He continues to lie, publish false statements, and recklessly disparage truth and dignity. He has reduced the White House to an Out House, and hell, at the rate hes going, he is going to be out of the house soon enough. America is patient, but we will only take so much. We wont take four years living with a spoiled little rich kid pouting every day like a child in a sandbox. We wont take it. We simply wont. Our news will be harder, our facts more fierce, our anger more legitimate. Mr. Trump has learned nothing about being presidential. He is as delusional as a duck in heat. Scott Peltey on CBS said it best last night when he opened with the line that the President is divorced from the reality of facts. Its almost difficult to track how many lies a day Trump disseminates. You wind up playing catch. No, the murder rate is not the highest it has ever been. No, the press is not covering up terrorist attacks. No, the courts are not trying to usurp presidential authority. Judges are just trying to make sure it is used legally and constitutionally. That makes them patriots to be praised, not persons to be presidentially persecuted. Mr. Trumps conduct is traitorous. Last week, the judiciary was again his target. This past week, Mr. Trump was schooled in the separation of powers. He used the authority of the executive branch to issue an order on immigration that was judicially challenged and enjoined by a federal court. Faced with a courts directive stating that his presumptive immigration ban order was unconstitutional and overly broad, Trump did what only a child would do. He attacked the person who wrote it. Unacceptable. In a series of tweets on Sunday morning, the President referred to the jurist who overturned his illegal ban as a so-called judge. If that wasnt enough, he then proceeded to state that the courts decision was so bad it placed the nations safety at risk, adding, If something bad happens here, blame him. No, Donald that wont fly. If something bad happens here, we will blame you. It will be on your watch. After all, you are the one who singled out George Bush as being responsible for 9-11. Let me share something else with you, Chief Lying Bear. The judge who entered this order against you, and the appeals court judges who backed him up, are not so called judges. They are men and women who were appointed in accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America, a document you are sworn to uphold, not to deride. How dare you suggest otherwise? What the courts are doing, Mr. Trump, is they are engaged in an extreme vetting of your extremist executive orders. They are making sure you do not corrupt the constitution or the rule of law. They are making sure you obey it. So far, we have no reason to trust you. On the other hand, the judge who enjoined you from acting illegally was a nominee of a Republican President of the United States, George Bush. Republican and Democratic senators in a 99-0 vote confirmed him to his lifetime appointment. We have reason to have faith in him. On January 20, you took an oath of office swearing to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. To do so, you dont issue orders that incarcerate immigrants illegally or publish words that disgrace jurists unjustly. Do that and you become the so-called president. You want to disagree with a courts ruling? Fine. Do so. File your appeal in the courts, not your vile attacks on twitter. You who wanted this job so much have become an ungrateful winner and sore loser. You know what? At that national prayer breakfast last week, you should not have been praying for Arnold Schwarzenegger. You should have been praying for the American people. With you in the Oval Office, we are going to need all the prayers we can get. In two weeks in office, Mr. Trump has sabotaged our judicial system, undermined the integrity of our voting institutions, and disgraced the United States in international affairs. Its shocking, and the Republican apologists who refuse to call him out today will regret it tomorrow. They have sold out principle for power and each day poison their souls with the toxic potion. Mr. Trump, you have started a war not only with the press, but also with the truth. From the podium of your press secretary to the laptop your tweets taunt from, you lie, you deceive, and you disgrace virtue and honor. Our newspaper represents one small voice in this great community. But we will join with others in standing our ground against your duplicity and denials. You will not trample over us with artificial facts, transparent lies, and astounding misstatements. You can continue telling lies about us, but we will continue to tell the truth about us. The people rising up in the streets across our nation hear the voice of democracy calling. They hear liberty bells ringing. They will not go gently into the night. They will gather loudly in the day, and their voices will resonate throughout the evenings. The LGBT community wont fall for your false praise and cheap overtures either. Go forward with that executive order on religious freedom and you will hear from us as well, from South Florida to Seattle; from seashore to seashore. We are getting ready to gather at the National Monument in Washington, D.C., on June 11. We will be there in force. Our country has recklessly surrendered too much power to the chief executive. We will have to deal with the fact that courts will legally uphold many of your executive actions and orders, but that wont ever make them socially acceptable to us in our communities. We are here, we are queer, and we are not going anywhere. We will be heard, loud and proud, at every corner and at each turn. Too many of us have fought too hard and for too long to look the other way. So, tweet away, Mr. President. You cant handle the truth we are about to deliver it right back at you. If you are so worried about protecting the United States, take a look at that book Mr. Khan offered to lend you during the campaign. Its worked for 240 years, and its called the U. S. Constitution. South Florida boasts one of the most vibrant regional theater scenes in the country. This winter and spring, audiences can enjoy classic American plays at Palm Beach Dramaworks, hit musicals at Actors Playhouse, Maltz and The Wick, LGBT-themed works at Island City Stage and world premieres by local playwrights at Zoetic Stage. But, theres more.... The First Step Diary of a Sex Addict Island City Stage Jan. 12 Feb. 12 Island City Stage Originally conceived as a short play several years ago, Island City Stages associate artistic director, Michael Leeds, has written a full-length comedy receiving its regional premiere at the LGBT-centric theater. IslandCityStage.org. West Side Story The Wick Theatre Jan. 12 Feb. 19 The Wick Theatre If you dont know the story and the score of this classic musical, you must surrender your gay card immediately. The tale of ill-fated young lovers gets a fresh production at The Wick in Boca Raton. TheWick.org. Titanic Slow Burn Theatre Company Jan. 19 Feb. 5 Broward Center This Tony Award-winning Best Musical is based on the real people who sailed on the ship of dreams in 1912. Slow Burn tackles this massive show at the Broward Centers Amaturo Theater. SlowBurnTheatre.org Sunday in the Park with George Zoetic Stage Jan. 19 Feb. 12 Arsht Center Inspired by Georges Seurats landmark painting, Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Sunday in the Park with George is the latest Stephen Sondheim musical to be tackled by the capable team at Zoetic. ArshtCenter.org. Between Riverside and Crazy GableStage Jan. 22 Feb. 19 GableStage Joe Adlers GableStage tackles this Pulitzer Prize-winning play from Stephen Adly Guirgis, author of The Motherfucker with the Hat. A retired police officer must confront questions of life and death. GableStage.org. Carousel Actors Playhouse Feb. 1 26 Miracle Theatre Richard Rodgers groundbreaking score to this heartbreaking love story includes classic showtunes, including If I Loved You, June is Bustin Out All Over and Billy Bigelows famous Soliloquy. ActorsPlayhouse.org. Xanadu Slow Burn Theatre Feb. 2 March 5 Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, Crest Theater, Broward Center Strap on your rollerskates for this optimistic, disco-infused musical about a Greek muses adventures in Venice Beach. AventuraCenter.org, OldSchoolSquare.org, BrowardCenter.org. Collected Stories Palm Beach Dramaworks Feb. 3 March 5 Don & Ann Brown Theatre Loyalty vs. creative freedom is the moral issue at the center of this play by Donald Margulies, as an established authors protegee writes a novel based on her mentors affair with a famous poet. PalmBeachDramaworks.com. Shooting Porn Ronnie Larsen Presents Feb. 9 March 12 Empire Stage Not to be confused with Ronnie Larsens Off Broadway hit, Making Porn, this new play, in its Florida premiere, takes audiences behind the scenes at a porn shoot for some good, dirty fun. RonnieLarsen.com. Disgraced Maltz Jupiter Theatre Feb. 12 26 Maltz Jupiter Theatre There are some things that you just shouldnt discuss at a party. What begins as innocent table conversation among four friends explodes when the topic turns to current events. But will their friendship survive? ArshtCenter.org Fuacata! or A Latinas Guide to Surviving the Universe Zoetic Stage Feb. 23 March 12 Arsht Center This one-woman tour-de-force performance brings more than 20 Latina women to life on stage by weaving together tales of love, marriage, immigration, and identity. ArshtCenter.org. Guys and Dolls The Wick Theatre March 9 April 9 The Wick Theatre Guys and Dolls weaves together a tale of old-time gangsters, hot-box girls, and gambling. Join high-roller Nathan Detroit, Adelaide, Sky Masterson and Sarah in this classic musical comedy. TheWick.org. Gypsy Maltz Jupiter Theater March 21 April 9 Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inspired by the memoirs of the legendary burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, this classic follows the dreams and efforts of a relentless stage mother to get her two daughters into show business. PalmBeachDramaworks.com. All the Way Actors Playhouse March 22 April 9 Miracle Theatre One man. One year. One chance to change America. For a masterful politician with towering ambition, 1964 was a pivotal year in American history and Lyndon Baines Johnson sat at the center of it all. ActorsPlayhouse.org. Arcadia Palm Beach Dramaworks March 31 April 30 Don & Ann Brown Theatre Set in a stately house and two different centuries, this comedy by Tom Stoppard explores great mysteries of science and art, and illuminates the human desire to make connections, both intellectual and romantic. PalmBeachDramaworks.org. Son Island City Stage April 6 May 7 Island City Stage Island City Stage presents the world premiere of James L. Bellers play, Son. On the morning of their wedding, the teenaged son of a lesbian couple is confronted with a shocking accusation. IslandCityStage.org. OPERA Eugene Onegin Florida Grand Opera Jan. 28 Feb. 11 Arsht Center, Broward Center Tchaikovskys monumental opera unfolds when the narcissistic young Onegin spurns the affections of a sensitive young girl, turns a pistol on his best friend,and is left only with regret. Russian with English and Spanish supertitles.FGO.org. Don Pasquale Palm Beach Opera Feb. 19 21 Kravis Center Don Pasquale tries to meddle with a young man and woman in love. They get back at him by playing the prank of a lifetimeshe marries him! Italian with English supertitles. PBOpera.org. Ariadne auf Naxos Palm Beach Opera Feb. 18 20 Kravis Center Richard Strauss combines a tragic opera with a romantic farce in lavish 18th century Vienna. When a wealthy man throws an opulent party to dazzle his guests, proverbial fireworks erupt. German with English supertitles. PBOpera.org. Before Night Falls Florida Grand Opera March 18 25 Arsht Center Based on the famous memoir of Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas by Jorge Martin, this opera follows Arenas life from childhood poverty in the Cuban countryside to his emigration to the United States in the 1980 Mariel boatlift, and his last decade in New York City. Disillusioned by the Cuban Revolution and persecuted by the Castro regime as a dissident writer and homosexual, the opera follows his trials and tribulations as a political prisoner forced to smuggle his manuscripts abroad for publication. English and Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles.FGO.org. Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. Japans HTV-6 resupply ship begins its separation after its release from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA. NASA Japans Kounotori, or White Stork, HTV-6 resupply ship completed its mission Sunday morning just over a week after its release from the International Space Station. The HTV-6 fired its engines for the last time sending it into Earths atmosphere for a fiery demise over the southern Pacific Ocean. The Expedition 50 crew is now planning for the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft later in February. The astronauts, including Commander Shane Kimbrough and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson and Thomas Pesquet, talked to ground specialists Monday. The trio then began reviewing the mission profile, training materials and rendezvous procedures. Kimbrough started his day working on life support systems maintenance before activating a combustion experiment laptop computer at the end of his shift. Pesquet wrapped up his day in the Japanese Kibo lab module preparing the airlock for the external installation of a high-definition video camera for Earth observations. Whitson began preparing communications and science gear ahead of the SpaceX CRS-10 resupply mission. On-Orbit Status Report H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-6 Deorbit: HTV-6 successfully completed all three deorbit burns over the weekend. Loss of telemetry occurred Sunday 05-February at 15:11:21 GMT at an altitude of 80 km over the South Pacific near 50 S, 142 W. Lighting Effects Vision Test: This morning the crew unstowed the Visual Performance Test hardware, then configured the Solid State Lighting Assembly (SSLA) in their Crew Quarters (CQ) to the correct mode, turning off all other light sources, then performed one Numerical Verification Test and one Color Discrimination Test. The Lighting Effects investigation studies the impact of the change from fluorescent light bulbs to solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with adjustable intensity and color and aims to determine if the new lights can improve crew circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognitive performance. JEM Airlock (JEMAL) Repress: The crew repressed and conducted a leak check of the JEMAL with the Exposed Facility Unit-5 (EFU5) adapter on the slide table. Tomorrow the crew will install the HDTV EF-2. HDTV-EF2 is a high-definition television camera system delivered by HTV-6, which will be used for earth observation from the ISS. Dragon On-Board Training (OBT): The crew participated in a conference with Ground Specialists in preparation of the start of robotics OBT for the upcoming Dragon rendezvous and capture. Following this conference, they reviewed the OBT materials and then performed computer based proficiency training on the Dragon mission profile, the Dragon rendezvous crew procedures and the crew interfaces for monitoring and commanding. Todays Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. EarthKAM. Crew conference with P/L Developer -2 end switch adjustment. DAN Experiment Ops. Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain TIMER. Battery charge Photo T/V (P/TV) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Setup VEG-03 Plant Photo Habitability Human Factors Directed Observations Subject Lighting Effects Visual Performance Tests Light Setting Subject Station Support Computer (SSC) 5 LAB Setup Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) Nitrogen Manual Valve Open Exercise Data Downlink via OCA COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) File Transfer Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS) Nitrogen Manual Valve Close COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Software Update DVD Check EarthKAM. Installation and activation of h/w in Node2 TIMER. Preparation and start of video recording of experiment ops Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis VIZIR. Experiment Ops. On-Board Training (OBT) Dragon OBT Conference On-board Training (OBT) Dragon Robotics Review On-board Training (OBT) Dragon Rendezvous Review TIMER. Video registration termination and close out ops Photo and Video Recording of Life on Station IMS Update -11. Setup. REFLOTRON h/w JEM Airlock Press Activation of Video Streaming on PWS HRF Generic Urine Collection Setup Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification JEM Airlock Leak Check Deactivation of Video Streaming on PWS Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) /Group Combustion Module (GCM) Component Activation Activation of Video Streaming on PWS CB/ISS CREW CONFERENCE Deactivation of Video Streaming on PWS Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record Completed Task List Items Structures and Mechanisms Docking Mechanism Accessory Kit Audit Food Consolidate Pt 2 EVA service and cooling umbilical dryout LAB1O5 Audit Treadmill 2 System (T2) Monthly Inspection COL1F2 Cue Card Replacement ESA Active Dosimeter Area Monitoring Mobile Unit Stow ESA PAO Recorded Message France Info Q&A Set 3 ESA PAO Recorded Message Future jobs in the EU CLPA Pack/US EVA 39 Cleanup EXPRESS Locker Prep Health Maintenance System (HMS) Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Inspection On-Orbit Hearing Assessment (O-OHA) with EarQ Software Setup and Test NanoRacks Platform-1 Module-63 Secure Photo/TV CAMCORDER MICROPHONE CHECK Photo/TV Node 3 Camcorder Swap Payloads Network Attached Storage (NAS) Vent Cleaning Dragon 10 Prepack New Food Evaluation VEG-03 Watering Space Automated Bioproduct Lab, CO2 Incubator Removal EVA Housekeeping Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. 3A1 Battery Capacity Test MCA Zero Calibration Three-Day Look Ahead: Tuesday, 02/07: HDTV Install JEMAL, Vascular Echo, Fast Neuron Spectrometer Relocate, A/L MTL Config, EVA Battery Charger Checkout, CUCU S/W Update Wednesday, 02/08: 49S EMER Drill OBT, Dragon OBT, Lighting Effects, Galley Food Warmer Relocate, Neuromapping Thursday, 02/09: SPHERES Docking Port Run, Skinsuit Measurements, Galley MERLIN transfer, Story Time Buoy Demo, EVA Safer Checkout, CIR Bottle Replace QUICK ISS Status Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [] 1 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1) Off [] 2 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Standby Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 7 February 2017 - New HD Camera to be Installed. NASA A new high-definition Earth observation video camera will be installed on the outside of Japans Kibo lab module later this week. The Expedition 50 crew is also getting the International Space Station ready for the next SpaceX Dragon resupply ship. An HDTV camera delivered aboard Japans HTV-6 cargo craft in December is being readied for its deployment outside Kibo. The video camera will be staged inside the Kibo airlock today before depressurization and leak checks begin. The HDTV camera will then be robotically installed on a platform outside Kibo called the Exposed Facility where it will be used for Earth observations. The astronauts are also getting communications gear ready to assist with the rendezvous and approach of the tenth SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply mission. Dragon is planned to launch later this month from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA is hosting a media teleconference Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST highlighting new experiments being delivered aboard Dragon. The advanced space research will include studies to fight a wide range of diseases, observe Earths climate and test autonomous rendezvous capabilities. On-Orbit Status Report Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Exposed Facility (EF) High Definition Television (HDTV) Camera Installation: Today, the crew installed the HDTV on the EFU Adapter which was then installed on the JEM Airlock Slide Table. The Slide Table was then retracted into the JEM Airlock, and the JEM Airlock was depressurized and leak checked in preparation for operations to install the HDTV Camera on the JEM EF later this week. This HDTV camera system delivered by HTV-6 will be used for earth observation from the ISS. Vascular Echo Ultrasound: The crew successfully completed two ultrasound sessions scanning the neck, areas of the torso, and back of the knee, the in the crews morning then again in the afternoon, both while wearing electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. In between the sessions, the crew wore leg cuffs. This Canadian Space Agency (CSA) investigation examines changes in blood vessels, and the heart, while the crew members are in space, and then follow their recovery on return to Earth. The results could provide insight into potential countermeasures to help maintain crew member health, and quality of life for everyone. Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit (CUCU) Software Update: Today, the crew updated the spare CUCU software to the latest version. This required the crew to demate cables from the prime CUCU and transfer them to the spare. Once connected, the spare CUCU was updated to the latest software version. The cables were transferred back to the prime CUCU, and the system was put back into a nominal configuration. Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL) Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Switchover: Today the crew reconfigured the Airlock MTL plumbing from being connected to the Lab ITCS to Node 3 ITCS prior to Node 1 Galley Rack activation. If cooling to the upcoming Node 1 Galley rack was activated while the Airlock is still plumbed to the Lab, inadequate cooling may be available for payloads being performed in the Lab. Therefore, the Airlock MTL reconfiguration to Node 3 was performed prior to the activation of Node 1 Galley Rack, which is planned later this week. During Galley Rack MTL jumper installation, the keying positions of jumper Quick Disconnects (QDs) did not fit the expected connection QDs. The mismatch in keying prevents the mating of the QDs. Crew has stood down from activity and left the ITCS QDs demated until a forward plan can be discussed. Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Valve Troubleshooting: Lab CDRA Air Selector Valve (ASV) Remote Power Controller Module (RPCM) LAD62B-A Remote Power Controller (RPC) 12 has been experiencing seemingly random overcurrent trips since March 2014. On January 31, 2017 the crew installed a new troubleshooting cable that connected to RPC 5 and moved three of the valves to be powered through that cable, with a final configuration of 3 valves on RPC 12 and 3 on RPC 5. On February 6, the Lab CDRA RPCM LAD62B-A RPC 05 tripped indicating that one of the valves on that cable is suspect. Today the crew swapped the cable connection on ASV101 to RPC 12 to continue troubleshooting. RPC 5 then tripped again. Crew then moved ASV103 to RPC 12 to further isolate the trip and RPC 5 tripped again indicating ASV102 as the likely cause of the trips. Ground teams will meet to discuss further troubleshooting before making any hardware changes. Todays Planned Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. ??-11. Blood Sample Collection XF305 Camcorder Setup JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side JEM Exposed Facility Hight Definition TV Camera Installation Payload Hardware CTB Cleanup Station Support Computer 2 Relocate Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification ??-11. Blood Biochemistry Analysis Filling (separation) of ??? (???) for Elektron or ???-?? SPHERES Battery Setup COL1O2 and COL1O3 Aft Backfill ??? maintenance PROFILAKTIKA-2. Photo/Video Ops Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification PROFILAKTIKA-2. Operator Assistance in Preparation for the Experiment JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side JEM Airlock Depressurization Ultrasound 2 HRF Rack 1 Power On Compound Specific Analyzer-Combustion Products (CSA-CP) Extended Maintenance Delta file prep Vascular Echo Leg Cuffs Ultrasound Scan 1 Subject Photo/TV Camcorder Setup Verification PROFILAKTIKA-2. Close-out ops (Operator) Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (RGN) Wastewater Storage Tank Assembly (WSTA) Fill Portable Computer System (PCS) Hard Drive (HD) Swap and Image Reminder Multi Omics FOS intake MERLIN2 Desiccant Swap Veggie Fan Alteration JEM Airlock Vent LDST Camera Setup Video of answers to the questions from ROSCOSMOS social network subscribers CUCU Video Payload NAS Photos COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Software Update Part 1 JEM Airlock Vent Confirmation SPHERES Battery Swap Airlock Moderate Temperature Loop (MTL) Internal Thermal Control System (ITCS) Switchover Recharging Samsung tablet in 48S Video Recording of Greetings MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and measurements. Multi Omics FOS Stow Multi Omics FOS Preparation Vascular Echo Leg Cuffs Ultrasound Scan 2 Subject Vacuum Cleaning ????1, ????2 Dust Filter Cartridge and MRM1 Gas-Liquid Heat Exchanger (???) Radi-N Detector Retrieval/Readout Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover MATRYOSHKA-R. Handover of BUBBLE-dosimeter detectors from USOS. COTS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU) Software Update MATRYOSHKA-R. BUBBLE-dosimeter gathering and measurements. Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Valve Power Cable (W1796) Post Installation Reconfiguration Recharging Samsung tablet in 48S end Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config LAB Setup Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) Exercise Video Stow PAO Preparation Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) Lab Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Valve Power Cable (W1796) Post Installation Reconfiguration Rodent Research Crew Conference Completed Task List Items New Food Evaluation KTO Replacement Manufacturing Device Print Removal, Clean and Stow Ground Activities All activities were completed unless otherwise noted. JEMAL Operations MSS Powerup and SPDM Diagnostics Three-Day Look Ahead: Wednesday, 02/08: 49S Emergency Drill OBT, Dragon OBT, Lighting Effects, Galley Food Warmer Relocate, Neuromapping Thursday, 02/09: SPHERES Docking Port Run, Skinsuit Measurements, Galley MERLIN transfer, Story Time Buoy Demo, EVA Safer Checkout, CIR Bottle Replace Friday, 02/10: JEM Accumulator Package R&R, PMA2 Ingress, RELL and JOTI Install on JEMAL Slide Table, FIR Rack Light Replacement QUICK ISS Status Environmental Control Group: Component Status Elektron On Vozdukh Manual [???] 1 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1) Off [???] 2 SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2) On Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab Standby Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3 Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab Operate Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3 Standby Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) Process Urine Processing Assembly (UPA) Standby Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab Off Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3 Full Up In April of 2008, journalist Michaele Weissman released her groundbreaking book God in a Cup: the Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee. Now, in a three part series on Sprudge, Weissman revisits specialty coffees effort to alter the relationship between coffee growers and buyers by introducing innovative, relationship-based sales practices known collectively as Direct Trade. Part one: Is Direct Trade Fair? Nine years ago I wrote a book called God in a Cup describing my adventures in coffee-growing countries following Third Wave coffee buyers Peter Giuliano of Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, Geoff Watts of Chicagos Intelligentsia Coffee, and Duane Sorenson of Portlands Stumptown Coffee Roasters. In addition to contributing to the myth around my trio of sources, the book gave readers a birds-eye view of the specialty industry. It did this by dramatizing scenes from the buyers work lives. Some of the books most compelling moments showcased the emergence of a new, face to face way for small roasters to buy coffee at origin from farmers they worked with year after year. The purchasing model, dubbed Direct Trade by Watts, reconceived the relationship between buyer and seller as a partnership with two goals: expanding the supply of quality beans and elevating growers who focused on quality out of poverty. The buyers had a third, softer goal. They believed respectful, non-exploitative interactions with their suppliers would go a long way towards removing the lingering stench of colonialism from the specialty business. Instead of the traditional zero-sum gamerich men reaping profits from the labor of poorthey looked to a future in which all would grow richwell, richertogether. Functionally, the program introduced the practice of farmers separating their beans into quality-rated lots. But from its inception, specialty roasters recognized Direct Trades importance as a marketing tool. By promoting their relationships with farmers and by telling the stories of the coffees they sold, they sought to add value to their products. Not only did this strategy work, it significantly upped the profile of small-scale specialty roasting companies, setting into motion the tremendous expansion that has taken place in the industry in recent years. When roasters sold and served exquisite coffees that they had helped nurture into existence at farms perched on mountainsides halfway around the world, customers were willing to pay more for the contents of their cups. As with shoppers at farmers markets paying more for heirloom tomatoes, the stories behind their purchases made a difference. Customers opened their wallets for the taste of the coffee and the meaning embedded in the taste. This is a crucial point: the value of specialty coffee is a function of both pleasure and meaning. Writing God in a Cup, I appreciated the sincere desire of many specialty coffee buyers to improve the lives of coffee farmers, but I was skeptical of a business model that relied on buyers to simultaneously pursue their own best interests and the best interests of their suppliers. What happened when those interests ceased to converge? That question went unanswered. In the intervening years as I continued to follow developments in the specialty industry, my concerns about Direct Trade grew. On the consumer end of the supply chain, things looked good. There was more high-quality coffee available in the US, and there were more quality-oriented small roasters and cafes. But what about the farmers? The challenges they faceddroughts and floods brought about by climate change, pestilence such as coffee leaf rust and coffee borer beetles, economic and political dislocation driving young people off of coffee farms and into citiesseemed downright biblical. Could Direct Trade overcome all these problems? I had my doubts. Seemed to me marketing had subsumed Direct Trades other goals. Like many lovers of specialty, I grew tired of hearing neophyte roasters describe their trips to origin to buy coffee from poor farmers who were their new best friends. (Noah Namowicz, partner and VP of sales at Cafe Imports has called these enthusiasts white Jesus saviors.) If so many roasters were saving so many coffee farmers, why were producers in so much trouble? The story might have ended there. With cynicism triumphing over hope. But then, remembering Giuliano and Watts moral seriousness when discussing Direct Trade, I decided to dig a little deeper. Which explains why I spent September researching this article, talking with a dozen and a half specialty roasters, growers, importers, and all-around coffee gurus. To my surprise, what I learned about Direct Trade was more nuancedand more hopefulthan I expected. Yes, the vast majority of coffee farmers worldwide struggle to survive. Still, there is reason to believe the Direct Trade model when pursued sincerely is a force for good, leading to improved incomes for farmers and an increased sense of producer optimism. This is the central finding of the most rigorous assessment of Direct Trade undertaken to date, the five-year Borderlands project, funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. Direct Trade isnt a panacea. But for farmers hoping to earn a better living, it does appear to be the only game in town. As Michael Sheridan, Intelligentsias newly hired director of sourcing and sustainability who managed the Borderlands project while working for Catholic Relief Services in Latin America told me: Direct Trade is the worst system for buying green coffee we have, except for all the others. Yes, there are problems, especially problems of scale, but its the best we have. Sheridan, a one-time skeptic, is eager to see Direct Trade expand. The Best Weve Got Back in 2008, Geoff Watts wrote a set of Direct Trade standards for Intelligentsia that mandated how the company would do business at origin. These standards continue to shape Intelligentsias buying program and are posted on the companys website. They stipulate first and foremost that the quality of Direct Trade coffee must always be exceptional. In addition, sellers and buyers were required to commit themselves to financial transparency, and growers were required to engage in healthy environmental and sustainable social practicesthough these words were not fully defined. In return, Intelligentsia promised that the verifiable price to the grower or local co-op would be at minimum 25 percent above the Fair Trade price. (Prices are often much higher.) And finally, Intelligentsia assured farmers that its buyers would visit their Direct Trade partners at origin at least once a year, but ideally three times a year. PTs Coffee Roasting Company of Kansas City, MO adheres to Intelligentsias standards. Counter Culture, with the industrys most rigorous Direct Trade standards, publishes an annual transparency report on its website showing how the money it pays for green coffee travels along coffees long supply chain. Two other quality-focused coffee companies, Tim Wendelboe (Norway) and 49th Parallel (Canada), publish similar transparency reports. Among other companies committed to transparent buying standards and nurturing long-term relationships with growers are Stumptown, Irving Farm Coffee Roasters of New York, Heart Coffee of Portland, Oregon, Madcap Coffee Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Stone Creek Coffee of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Verve Coffee of Santa Cruz, California. To determine how assiduously these and other companies carry out their Direct Trade programs would require close examination of their financials beyond the scope of this article. What can be said with certainty, however, is that the standards set out at the end of the last decade have had a significant impact on the specialty coffee industry. First: The Bad News Direct Trade started out as a model mixing business with philanthropy. Buyers promised to pay a quality premium to growers with the idea that this influx of cash would help coffee-growing communities underwrite projects alleviating povertybuilding wells, buying electrical generators, establishing health clinics, that sort of thing. On occasion the roasters participated hands on, playing roles in the building of wet mills, schools, and other infrastructure improvements. We thought we could use the engine of altruism to alter capitalism, says Giuliano, Senior Director, Specialty Coffee Association of America, recalling his years buying green coffee for Counter Culture. To the buyers surprise, growers didnt want outsiders intruding in their communities and telling them how to spend their money. Development is a discipline of its own, says Giuliano, adding with a laugh that coffee roasters know as much about digging wells as development professionals know about roasting coffee. Moreover, the Direct Trade quality premium had the unintended consequence of pitting specialty roasters against Fairtrade International, which had its own premium program, a social premium, based not on coffee quality, but on agricultural labor practices. A bitter turf war broke out between the specialty roasters and Fairtrade International. There were absolutist attitudes on both sides, comments Colleen Anunu, Senior Manager, Coffee Supply Chain at Fair Trade USA. Back then, Direct Trade advocates believed paying higher prices for quality would alleviate poverty, Anunu explains. But poverty turned out to be far more deeply entrenched than the buyers imagined. Learning this hard lesson was humbling. Over time, Anunu says, worlds converged, with Fairtrade International realizing farmers need to focus on quality coffee to earn more and specialty buyers realizing quality doesnt happen, without paying attention to farm conditions. Today buyers no longer see themselves as philanthropists or development officers. With globalization, we dont go to farms to save producers. We go as entrepreneurial partners, explains Andrew Daday, director of green coffee at Stumptown. As to philanthropy, when Stumptown and others roasters want to do good, they tend to work in partnership with established NGOs. The quality premium wasnt Direct Trades only problem. More fundamental was its lack of a commonly accepted definition. Without a clearly stated definition, says Kim Elena Ionescu, director of sustainability at the Specialty Coffee Association of America, Direct Trade tends to be more aspirational than programmaticand in the long run companies do less good than their customers expect. Direct Trade, at its very core, has no core, says Trish Rothgeb, co-owner and roastmaster of Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in San Francisco and former director of programs at the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). While Intelligentsia has a set of principles to followGeoff Watts is the best in the business. He really does his homeworkmost companies are pretty cavalier about what constitutes Direct Trade, Rothgeb says. A prescient observer of the industry (Rothgeb coined the phrase Third Wave, among other achievements), she believes that without foundational documents and the kind of policing mechanisms possessed by certification programs like CQI, Direct Trade more often than not is a marketing strategy wrapped in a cloak of virtue. To wit: the well-respected importer, a person otherwise known for their integrity, who ships their coffees in bags stamped Direct Trade to roasters who may or may not have visited origin. Mostly, Rothgeb says, the term Direct Trade just muddies the water. To illustrate her point, Rothgeb recalls an online exchange she had earlier in the year with a European roaster who reported with pride that he had just bought his first Direct Coffee. An online chorus of congratulations greeted his announcement. Rothgeb, who buys Wrecking Balls green coffee (2016 predicted sales: 90,000 pounds) from importers she considers partners, asked the European roaster to define the Direct Trade components of his purchase. Well, he said, he had visited the farm, and he planned to market the coffee as Direct Trade. Rothgeb askedwhat was his level of involvement with the farm? Was his contract with the importer or with the grower himself? Moreover, she questioned, if the coffee doesnt live up to expectations when it arrives, who will bear the financial burden? I wasnt being judge-y, Rothgeb insists. I just wanted to know what differentiated this purchase from any other. To have meaning, the importer Noah Namowicz offers, broadening out the debate, Direct Trade has to be about more than a three-day vacation. Visiting origin is awesome, but spending time at a cupping table in Colombia doesnt mean you and the grower are partners, he says, That alone does not add value to your coffee. Direct Trade is tricky, says Wille Yli-Luoma, the Finland-born co-owner and founder of Heart Coffee in Portland, Oregon. Yli-Luoma, who discovered coffee as a second career after a successful run as a professional snowboarder, spends three months a year visiting coffee farms and admits to having a love/hate relationship with Direct Trade. I cant tell you how many farmers in Colombia and Guatemala have complained to me about buyers who show up at the farm for a few days talking up a storm, telling them to do this and that, maybe double ferment, maybe honey ferment, says Yli-Luoma. Thats all fine and good if their experiments work, but what happens if those ideas dont pan out? And what right do buyers and roasters with no binding contract have to dictate to coffee producershow is this Direct Trade? Time after time its the grower who is left holding the bag, says Yli-Luoma, before adding with Scandinavian bluntness: The problem is, a lot of roasters dont know shit. *** Join us again in March for part two of the original reported series Is Direct Trade Fair? by Michaele Weissman on Sprudge. Michaele Weissman is the author of God In A Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee, published in 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and is a freelance journalist writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. This is Michaele Weissmans first feature for Sprudge. Algiers, February 06 2017 (SPS) - Sahrawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek said Monday in Algiers Morocco adherence to the AU Constitutive Act represented a "legal recognition" of the Sahrawi state and its sovereignty over its territory. "The adoption by Morocco of the AU Constitutive Act is a legal and clear recognition of the Sahrawi State and its sovereignty over its territory," Ould Salek told a news conference host at the headquarters of the Sahrawi embassy in Algiers. He was replying to the remarks of Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita that "Morocco will never recognize the Sahrawi Republic." The "Moroccan king was sitting alongside the Sahrawi president and the African Heads of State; everyone in his countrys official seat. This is a step forward imposed by the Sahrawi people, he added. "Faced with fait accompli, Morocco will no longer deal with the Sahrawi Democratic and Arab Republic (SADR) only but with all the African states, the AU and its bodies," Ould Salek said. "Morocco has suffered a serious failure in its attempts to legitimize its occupation of the Sahrawi territories and its denial of the existence of the SADR after having tried by all means and for more than three decades to undermine the place of the Sahrawi State (...), "said the Saharawi official. "The accession of Morocco was made in compliance with the AU conditions and in accordance with the principles of its constitution, adopted by Morocco without reservations, hence the need for Morocco to end its occupation of the Sahrawi territories, "he said. During the 28th AU Summit held on 30-31 January, the AU had decided to admit Morocco as the 55th Member State of the Union, of which SADR is a founding member. Morocco had left the Organization of African Unity (OAU-current AU) to protest against the admission of SADR as a full member. Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa, occupied since 1975 by Morocco, supported by France. SPS 125/090/700 Chahid El Hafed, February 08, 2017 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Secretary General of Frente POLISARIO, Brahim Gali warned that after the decision of the European Court of Justice reiterates that the exchanges with Morocco are not applicable to the territory of Western Sahara, which is a separate and distinct territory, Morocco is going to threaten the EU with illegal immigration and even terrorism as a weapon to push Europe to violate its laws and principles. " The President of the Republic affirmed on Tuesday in the meeting of the Council of Ministers "the entry of the Kingdom of Morocco into the African Union as a member 55 together with the Saharawi State, a AU founding member, is a Victory of the firmness and resistance of the Saharawi people, and requires the Kingdom of Morocco to comply with the requirements of the AU Constitutive Law, approved by it without restrictions, without condition or reservation. Brahim Gali also insisted on strengthening the capacities of the Saharawi People's Liberation Army in terms of human, material and scientific resources to cope with changes and to promote a culture of work and productivity. The Saharawi leader praised the firmness of the Saharawi political prisoners, in particular those of the Gdeim Izik Group, calling for further support and solidarity for their unconditional release.SPS 125/090/TRA Standardbred breeder/owner James W. Doc Johnson M.D., 82, of Knightstown passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at Middletown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born January 16, 1934 in West Williams, Ontario, the son of the late John and Catherine Johnson. Johnson was a physician for 38 years and was a Standardbred owner and breeder who loved to attend horse races. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th degree, American and Ontario Medical Associations, United States Trotting Association and St Rose Catholic Church of Knightstown. James was also a longtime director for the Indiana Standardbred Association. Doc owned horses for 56 years. He bought his first horse shortly after graduating from medical school. A 56-year career in horse ownership needs to be described in eras. Ontario (1960s & 1970s) Docs first horse was trained by neighbor and family friend, Murray Mackey. Doc often commented on Murrays work ethic as a dairy farmer. He thought very highly of Murrays horsemanship, and thought Murray would have been a heck of a horseman if he had chosen it as his primary vocation. Most of Docs horses in the era were handled by another local horseman and friend, Bill Woodburn. Similar to Murray, Bill (and his father Lyle) were very good horsemen and devoted full-time farmers. If the horses needed to leave the local racetracks of London, Clinton, Goderich, or Dresden, they were handled by Fred and Shelley Goudreau on the Windsor/Hazel Park/Detroit Race Course circuit. Michigan and Ohio (1970s) Doc and his good friend Don McIlmurray were inseparable in this era. They really had a lot of laughs together. They had some good luck together as well. Star Blend ($301,825) and Merrimac Hanover ($308,621) were products of this era. Doc was always impressed with Dons ability, and creativity, in hanging up a trotter. Ontario (1980s) Gerald Aiken, Mike Kostor, and Ray Ramsey handled Docs horses during this time period. Gerald Aiken developed J R Bright ($219,357), and Ray Ramsey developed Ellies Rebel ($104,679) and Classic Crystal ($83,526). While Gerald did a lot of driving prior to his health issues, Mike and Ray helped introduce Doc to the era of the catch driver. Special thanks to favourite drivers Terry Kerr and Bill Gale. Michigan (1990s) Ted Taylor handled the raceway horses, and Kelly Goodwin handled the colts during this time period. Kelly developed Harbortown North ($156,548), which was one of Docs all-time favourites. Indiana Some people retire to warmer climates, but Doc retired to Indiana to be with the horses. Outside of family and friends, the horse business was Docs passion and he wanted to spend his free time enjoying his passion. Doc had a special way with the horses. They enjoyed him as much as he enjoyed them. Thankfully, Joe Putnam was there to help Doc enjoy his remaining years in the horse business. Joe was both friend and partner to Doc. They had a lot of fun and success together. Some of the better known horses campaigned by them on the Indiana circuit included BL Kidswillbekids ($169,082), Jims Lucky ($101,611) and California Joe ($117,875). Doc often commented on how Joe has many of the best qualities of the aforementioned trainers and drivers all rolled into one. Good horsemanship, patience, common sense, business sense, and competitive spirit were qualities Doc admired in Joe. Joe was like a son to Doc. Doc was able to develop some great friendships in the business, but his time in Indiana was special. He was able to immerse himself in his passion. Special thanks to Dwayne and Imy Rhule, Dianne Branham, Karl Miller, Devon Beachey, Jim Smith, Jacob Smith, Trent Stohler, and the late Dave Stohler, and all the other folks that have been at the farm over the years that called Doc friend. While Doc had some very nice horses over his 56 years in the business, he never had the pleasure of owning a truly dominant horse. The closest he came was watching Phil Peavyhouse and Don McIlmurray with the great Duchess Faye and Larry Miller and Joe Putnam with the great ABC Mercedes. Doc said that the horse business was designed for optimists, and was always happy to see his friends succeed in the business. He said that you should get out of the business if you cant find joy in others success, because its frequently hard to find your own. Survivors include daughter, Anne Long of Morris, Ill.; sons, James A. Johnson of Knightstown and John Michael Johnson of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; granddaughters, Paige McKinley, Nora Johnson; grandson, Henry Johnson, three brothers and two sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 55 years Janet Johnson in 2013 and brother Ron Johnson. A memorial service was held at St. Rose Catholic Church in Knightstown with Rev John Hall officiating. Burial was held at Sacred Heart Church, Parkhill, Ontario, Canada. Memorial donations may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church P.O. Box 209 Knightstown, IN, 46148. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Condo and Son Funeral Home in Wilkinson. (Indiana Standardbred Magazine) 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. Noah Purcell who is representing Washington in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration has ties to a prominent Longview family. The state solicitor is the grandson of former Longview attorney Wayne Purcell and nephew of recent legislative candidate Teresa Purcell. The large Purcell clan has long been active in Democratic party politics. Wayne Purcell, 95, said Tuesday he was proud when he saw his grandson's photo in the national news alongside lawyer Noah Francisco, another lawyer arguing in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "(The paper) said that one thing they had in common was sterling legal pedigrees, and I said, 'Does that include grandfathers?' " Purcell said with a jolly laugh. He watched the oral arguments live with his daughter Teresa Purcell. "I'm very proud. I thought he did an excellent job." Noah Purcell has played a prominent role in state Attorney General Bob Ferguson's suit against President Donald Trump's executive order, which temporarily banned immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Ferguson credited Purcell for his idea to enlist major tech companies to file briefs supporting the state's challenge, according to the Associated Press. Teresa Purcell said she would be cheering for her nephew regardless of family ties. But it was "incredible" to see someone she loves in that role, she said. "We as a family, I don't think we could be any prouder of him," she said. "It's just really exciting. It's taking the right side and standing up for people and trying to make sure the rule of law and the Constitution is protected." Teresa Purcell describes Noah as "a wonderful mix of serious and funny," dedicated and "unbelievably smart." Noah Purcell, who grew up in Seattle, graduated with degrees from the University of Washington and Harvard. "This is a young man," she said, "who has spent his whole life just trying to continue to do the right thing." The contribution of Mark Zuckerberg for taking the social media site Facebook to the crown position is truly beyond description. But it seems, Facebook is going to miss its logically sorted and extremely practical-thinking Chief soon as some of the shareholders of the company are demanding him to walk out from the post of CEO. Alongside some of Facebooks shareholders, Consumer Watchdog Group is also forcing Mark Zuckerberg to resign from the head position of Facebook. On this context, consumer watchdog group and four shareholders also have submitted a new proposal, suggesting Mark Zuckerberg to relinquish his all control over Facebook by leaving his current position as chairman of the Facebooks Board of Directors. According to the report published by The Washington Post, the proposal led by SumOfUs, alleges that Facebook, for its future development needs a director who is independent of the company. A perfect equilibrium of control between the CEO and the board will pave new developmental paths for Facebook, which the current CEO is unable to do. The advanced proposal also claims that, only a CEO, who is independent of the company, can take actions against the ongoing issues of the company and commence new movements for advancing Facebook, without harming the shareholders and investors, which Mark Zuckerberg is not. The application for the forceful resignation of current CEO of Facebook is extremely influenced by the ongoing problems associated with the company including the promotion of fake news, odium and hate speech, so-called discrepancies in the application of companys public standards guidelines and content procedures, and much more. SumOfUss preceding petitions regarding Facebooks management and decisions was signed and endorsed by 1,500 shareholders. Of those 1,500 involved shareholders, SumOfUs asked 1,300 to conclude their concerns in filing a suit for the shareholder proposal of outing Mark Zuckerberg from the post and four of them agreed to support the proposal. As per the allegations brought up by the shareholders and activist groups, Having Mark Zuckerberg as the chairman, CEO, and highest shareholder in Facebook is creating a disagreement of interest among other divisions and investors of the company, which is deferring the company from allowing for the best interests of smaller investors. As claimed by the activist group, value of shareholder is improved by a self-governing chairperson who can maintain a flawless and neutral balance of power between the Chief Executive Officer and the board of the company and promote strong and influential leadership. But Mark Zuckerbergs current status is creating conflict in the panel of company regarding the shareholder value, which eventually leaving the best interests of small investors overlooked. The proposal also argued that the employment of an independent president will also help Facebook enhancing the awareness and credibility of Facebook in front of people and users throughout its continual efforts to onslaught on fake news promotions, counterfeit content postings and application of its service policies as well. However, thus far, Facebook has been maintaining a tight-lip on this proposal and no comments have yet been given by any officials of the company. hidden Technology giant Google is in discussions with 4-5 states across the country for including Internet safety as part of the curriculum for schools. The US-based company is already working with Goa government for educating students on being safe on Internet."We are trying to get into "We are trying to get into curriculum. Goa was one, we are trying to work with many more governments and central boards to make sure this becomes a part of regular discussion. There are 4-5 states (that are part of discussion)," Google India Director Trust and Safety Sunita Mohanty told . She, however, did not disclose the names of the states.About 460 teachers were trained in Goa, who will reach out to 80,000 students. About 460 teachers were trained in Goa, who will reach out to 80,000 students. Apart from creating the curriculum for students, Google is also working on educating women and consumers as well on the importance of staying safe while browsing and transacting on the web.Globally, tech giants are undertaking efforts to propagate the idea of secure online experience. In fact, February 7 is being celebrated as Safer Internet Day. Globally, tech giants are undertaking efforts to propagate the idea of secure online experience. In fact, February 7 is being celebrated as Safer Internet Day. According to a Microsoft survey conducted across 14 countries through its Digital Civility Index (DCI), 63% of Indian respondents reported having been exposed to an online risk.About 44% of the Indian respondents said they had experienced their most recent online risk within the past month, indicating higher frequency. About 44% of the Indian respondents said they had experienced their most recent online risk within the past month, indicating higher frequency. Interestingly, males in the country reported more risks across categories - 64% compared to 61% for females. Also, more females tightened privacy controls (61%) compared to males (50%) after experiencing online risk."Microsoft is using the Index to amplify awareness and demonstrate the need to further educate young adults, parents, educators, and policymakers about the real-world consequences of negative online interactions, which can have serious consequences," Microsoft India Associate General Counsel Madhu Khatri said. "Microsoft is using the Index to amplify awareness and demonstrate the need to further educate young adults, parents, educators, and policymakers about the real-world consequences of negative online interactions, which can have serious consequences," Microsoft India Associate General Counsel Madhu Khatri said. On intrusive behaviour like hate speech, discrimination, unwanted contact or terrorism recruiting, 79% Indian respondents reported concern levels.About 77% Indian respondents reported behavioural concerns like cyberbullying, trolling or online harassment. About 77% Indian respondents reported behavioural concerns like cyberbullying, trolling or online harassment. "Concerns on unwanted sexual solicitation, sexting, revenge porn, or sextortion was reported by 77% Indians. Concerns on unwanted reputational behaviour such as doxing and damage to personal or workplace reputation was reported by 77% Indians," it said. PTI Aditya Madanapalle Isro is going to set a new world record with the launch of 88 satellites on a single launch vehicle on 15 February, 2015. Orbital Science Corporation, now known as Orbital ATK, launched 28 satellites on a Minotaur-1 rocket, a record matched by the 28 satellites for Planet Labs that were taken to the ISS on board Orbital's Antares rocket, and the Cygnus re-supply craft, both by Orbital Science Corporation. The Russian Dnepr cluster mission launched 33 satellites. During the cold war, and before the advent of communication satellites, there was a Nasa mission in the 60s that launched millions of man made objects into orbit on board a single Atlas-Agena rocket. Orbital ORS-3 mission 2013 On 19 November 2013, Orbital launched a Minotaur-1 rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Faciltiy in Virginia, United States. On board were 29 satellites, which were successfully deployed into orbit, making it the record holder at that time. There were 28 student build nanosatellites, based on the CubeSat standard. One of the passengers on the mission was the TJ3Sat, the first satellite designed by high school students to be launched into orbit. Most of the satellites were technology demonstration satellites. Firefly, a CubeSat on board designed by Nasa was one of the scientific satellites, which would study lightning flashes around the world. The primary aim of the ORS-3 mission was to test a number of new technologies that would boost the capacity for satellite launches, as well as make them cheaper. On board was a passive payload meant to accelerate the time required for the rocket to deorbit, and reduce the amount of junk in space. The primary payload for the ORS-3 mission was the STPSat-3 by the US Air Force. There were five experiments on board STPSat-3, along with a number of sensors for taking various measurements in the space environment. More information about the record setting ORS-3 mission is available at reports of the launch in Space.com and Nasaspaceflight.com. Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares Orb-2 Mission 2014 On 13 July, Orbital launched its Antares rocket with the Cygnus CRS Orb-2 mission, with 28 satellites by Planet Labs on board. The satellites were first taken to the International Space Station (ISS) on board Orbital's commercial resupply spacecraft, Cygnus. The fleet of 28 satellites, known as Fleet 1, were deployed in pairs from the Japanese Experiment Module airlock on board the ISS. The launch is notable as the mission still holds the record for the largest number of satellites of a single constellation deployed in a single mission. This record too, will be broken by Isro's upcoming launch, with 88 satellites belonging to a single constellation, known as Flock-3p. The satellites deployed by the ISS as well as the satellites to be deployed in the ISRO PSLV-C37 mission are both CubeSats, each individually known as a Dove. The Dove satellites allowed for collection of data that lead to the development of newer and better CubeSats. The images taken from the Planet Labs satellites are available freely for anyone to use, and are particularly useful for disaster relief operations and improving agricultural yield in developing nations around the world. Below is a video of Orbital Dove satellites leaving in pairs from the ISS. Dnepr Cluster Mission 2014 The Dnepr Cluster Mission by the Russian Space Program currently holds the record for the most number of satellites launched in a single launch vehicle. The PSLV-C37 mission by ISRO will break the record currently held by the 2014 Dnepr Cluster Mission. On 19 June 2014, a Dnepr launch vehicle blasted off from Yasny base in the Orenburg region of Russia. The launch vehicle flew in a sun synchronous orbit, and successfully deployed all 33 satellites on board. The satellites were from 17 countries. The biggest passenger was the Deimos-2 earth observation satellite from Spain, weighing in at 300 kg. KazEOSat from Kazakhstan weighing 177 kg, SaudiSat-4 weighing 100 kg were also payloads on the mission, both civil space observation satellites. Japanese satellites Hodoyoshi 3 and 4 were earth observation satellites on the mission, each weighing about 60 kg. Russia launched its own Sputnix technology demonstration satellite on the rocket, which weighed 25 kg. The rest of the satellites on board were CubeSats. There were 4 CubeSats designed by universities in different countries, a pair of Canadian CubeSats that were part of the Brite constellation, which conducts experiments related to astrophysics. Two satellites in the Brite constellation were launched on a PSLV by Isro in 2013. There were 5 quadpack systems on board designed by ISIS from Netherlands, an agency that specialises in nanosatellites and CubeSats. 21 CubeSats and a nanosatellite from Argentina known as BugSat-1 were deployed by the quadpack systems. Project West Ford 1963 The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word satellite as "An artificial body placed in orbit round the earth or another planet in order to collect information or for communication." If any man made object for the purpose of communication is a satellite, then there has already been a launch of millions of man made objects on a single launch vehicle. In the height of the cold war, there were fears that Russia might cut undersea cables, which meant that bouncing signals off the unpredictable ionosphere was the only way for long distance communications. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) came up with a plan of injecting 1.5 billion needles into space, called Project West Ford, to fortify the signal bouncing capacity of the ionosphere. Each dipole was 0.7 inches long, and only 0.0007 inches in diameter. A swarm of these dipoles were put into orbit by three Atlas rockets. The needles were injected into orbit before active space communications satellites were designed or launched. Because of concerns over polluting space with garbage and interfering with the observations of astronomers, the needles were put in an orbit that would allow them to safely de-orbit by 1965. While one of the three launches failed to deploy the dipoles, two Atlas-Agena launches in 1961 and 1963 each managed to put into orbit 48 million copper needles each. There are still a few clumps of the needles from Project West Ford in orbit, tracked by Nasa which keeps account of all the pieces of orbital debris. Project West Ford was a demonstration of novel and cutting edge technologies, which required the development of new approaches even on ground. More information about project West Ford can be found in MIT lab notes (PDF). PSLV C-37 mission, 2017 Isro's PSLV-C37 mission has just been scheduled for a mid February launch, provided the weather conditions are conducive to a spaceflight. The primary payload on board is the Indian Earth observation satellite, CartoSat-2D weighing 650 kg. There are satellites on board from The United States, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Satellites from Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates were also on the record breaking Dnepr mission which is the current record holder. Isro has signed confidentiality agreements with some of the launch partners, but additional details on the satellites are expected closer to the launch date. Two Indian Nanosatellites, INS-1A and INS-1B are on board, along with 88 Dove satellites forming the Flock-3p by Planet Labs. The Doves are part of the constellation of 100 satellites which will image the Earth once every day, the other 12 have already been launched in the PSLV-C34 mission, also by Isro. More information and confirmed details about the PSLV-C37 mission is available in coverage of the announcement of the launch date by Tech2. This story is a part of a series on the world record launch of 104 satellites on a single mission by Isro. The stories in the series are: hidden The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will recover half of the total cost incurred for next weeks launch of 104 satellites from the foreign capsules mounted on its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37. Of the 104 satellites to be launched on 15 February, only three are Indian. We want to make optimum use of our capacity. We are launching our three satellites. One is of 730 kgs while other two are 19 kgs each. We had additional space of 600 kgs. So we decided to accommodate 101 satellites, Isro chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar said. Roughly half of our cost will be covered by the foreign satellites we are launching, he said, without revealing the exact amount Isro will earn from foreign customers. The space agency has earned more than $100 millions by launching foreign satellites. It also has achieved mastery on launching smaller satellites. Isro will launch a record 104 satellites through its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37 on 15 February from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. These 101 satellites are nano-satellites and belong to foreign nations, including the US and Germany. The Indian satellites are from the Castrosat series. Last year, Isro launched record 20 satellites at one go. The highest number of satellites launched in a single mission is 37, a record that Russia set in 2014. The US space agency the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) launched 29. Kumar said Isro is at present doing tests on its lander for Chandrayaan 2 at its facility in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu and Challakere in Karnataka. It is an indigenous development and tests are on. Its a control descend. So it has engines that allow a control descend, Kumar said. Chandryaan 2 mission seeks to make a landing on the moon. Isro said that all the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries, except Pakistan, have given their consent for the South Asian satellites project envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Indias gift to its neighbours. Kumar said that the manned mission project is not a top priority for the Isro, as he emphasised on enhancing space infrastructure. PTI This story is a part of a series on the world record launch of 104 satellites on a single mission by Isro. The stories in the series are: tech2 News Staff A new wave of fileless malware is going mainstream and targeting banks directly. This malware resides entirely in RAM and is virtually undetectable. The malware was discovered by researchers at Kaspersky Labs, who had earlier spotted a variant of this malware design infecting the companys own network. That malware was called Duqu 2.0, reports ArsTechnica. This kind of fileless malware owes its roots to the infamous Stuxnet worm that was designed to sabotage Irans nuclear program, which also resided solely in memory (RAM). The Kaspersky Labs blog now reveals that variations of this malware have infected the computer networks of at least 140 banks in 40 countries. Since the malware is so hard to detect, the number of infected networks might be much greater. ArsTechnicas analysis of the report tells them that the malware is usually injected into networks using professional administrative and security tools like PowerShell and MetaSploit. The malicious programs are thus, not detected by security programs. Speaking to Ars, Kaspersky Lab researcher Kurt Baumgartner explains that the money is being pushed out of the banks from within the banks. Essentially, the banks compromised networks are being used to compromise the banks ATM network. When the malware was first detected in a banks network last year, it was determined that the malware was being used to harvest administrator passwords, which could potentially be used to further compromise the banks computer network. These attacks are hard to detect for security researchers. For banks, its even harder. Sheldon Pinto The Volta Zap that has yet to go up on sale, is said to offer a mileage of 60km on a single charge even without pedaling and will cost just about Rs 7 paise per km. With the recent announcement of Indian IoT company Smartron investing in an e-bike company that has yet to roll out its first product. I got a bit inquisitive. As it turns out, theres a lot more going on here. Its not just a race to the finish line with a conversion kit on a makeshift bicycle. Smartrons IoT and software expertise are indeed expected to make Volta Motorss products a lot smarter, but theres a big story behind how they came up with the idea and where they are headed; as I found out in an interview with Volta Motors founder and CEO Anoop Nishanth. How is the Volta Zap doing in terms of demand? The product is getting good traction. And now people have already taken a test ride. The response is phenomenal. Being a product from India competing in terms of technology, design the Volta Zap makes for an interesting package. The pricing is the icing on the cake. The name Volta Motors will continue to remain Volta Motors? The name Tron is sort of a name conflict for the global market. In India we have no issues in using the name Volta. We are looking at the future plans ourselves. We are going to highlight that we will be changing our name to Tron Motors to avoid any issues. The intent with Tron Motors is going to be just e-bikes or are you looking at something bigger in the two wheeler segment? Our dreams are big. There have been companys who have been selling e-bikes in the market for 8-9 years. These were non-gearable ones, they had technology, spares and service in mind. There were about 58 manufacturers when the trend started back in 2010, today that number is down to 2 big names and this is solely because of the trading gap in the market. So we were waiting for these guys to see how the market is working and we believed that e-bikes would bridge the gap between petrol-based two-wheelers and wholly electric two-wheelers. This is because when you run out of charge, you have to look for a charging station, if something goes wrong, it shuts down automatically. Anything can go wrong on an electric two-wheeler, and even if this happens to one out of ten people, it may affect the buying decisions of new users to adopt this kind of a lifestyle. Which is why we chose a crossover with an electric bike which is also powered by the commuter. It has the health and fitness factor in it and if anything goes wrong with the bike, you can still use your gears and pedal you way to your destination. With cloud connectivity on the horizon, we will be able to know if something goes wrong with the bike, we will be notified immediately to get the bike fixed. This is an idea that is yet to be implemented but since we are soon to enter the production stage and these inputs coming from different cities will help us build a better product. Feedback that we have got from users so far are being implemented into the actual product. Different cities have different opinions. Cities like Mumbai and Pune have issues with the material used in making bikes. In Delhi cyclists had issues with speeding vehicles (the need for safety features). Every city has a small problem so we are trying to build a bike that tries to solve the problems in all these cities. Design is important when it comes to your product. So how is the Zap so different? Any e-bike you see in the Indian market is built on a conventional bicycle frame. The battery either sits like an additional box on the carrier or the downtube which appears to be more of a convertion kit. When we went to develop such a product, we worked on the core design by factoring details like downforce, the weight of the bike, even weight distribution. There were a lot of constraints and that is why we had to take a different approach. So when a customer is looking for an e-bike, I dont want that customer to look at a product that replicates the same 100-year old design. And the approach is, How does one know you are driving an e-bike? While many will buy an e-bike for health and fitness reasons, many ride it around as a style statement as well. The design we went in for is a unisex design, one that works for both men and women. Even kids and senior citizens can ride it. So where did the inspiration for this product come from? The idea for this crossover product comes not from a bicycle but from a moped (TVS Luna etc.) We thought why dont we build a product that is a mix of classic design on a modern platform. So we have a solid e-bike that has been designed from the ground up to tackle the brunt of tough roads and also be as smooth as possible on any terrain. How does Volta benefit from Smartrons investments? To develop a technology one needs a lot of manpower and capital and this always takes some time. So when you collaborate with a company that has an established base of IoT, cloud, hardware, software, apps it makes a lot more sense. More importantly, we both have similar synergies, Smartron is a company that wants to build indigenous home built products. Whether its IoT or automotive products or how we are trying to position them, our synergies and thoughts are almost similar. So we thought lets together build Indian made products for India. Whats on the agenda for Tron Motors? Its not too different from what we had with Volta Motors. I will still be frontrunning the company and we will go with our previous ideas to build a product with integrated IoT features and all of this will be designed and built in India. Israel settler law angers world powers, US silent Labourers work at a construction site in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in occupied West Bank on Tuesday. AFP , Jerusalem : Israel faced international criticism on Tuesday over a new law allowing the appropriation of private Palestinian land for Jewish settler outposts, although the United States remained notably silent. Britain, France, the United Nations and Israel's neighbour Jordan were among those coming out against the legislation passed late on Monday. The law legalises dozens of wildcat outposts and thousands of settler homes in the occupied West Bank and prompted a call by the Palestinians for the international community to punish Israel. Pro-Palestinian Israeli NGOs said they would ask the Supreme Court to strike down the law, while Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog warned the legislation could result in Israeli officials facing the International Criminal Court. France called the bill a "new attack on the two-state solution," while Britain said it "damages Israel's standing with its international partners". Turkey "strongly condemned" the law and Israel's "unacceptable" settlement policy and the Arab League accused Israel of "stealing the land and appropriating the property of Palestinians." UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Nickolay Mladenov said the bill crossed a "thick red line" towards annexation of the West Bank - the largest part of the Palestinian territories. "[The law] opens the potential for the full annexation of the West Bank and therefore undermines substantially the two-state solution," he said. Pak origin Mamas trying to get Bimans' GSA in Jeddah Business Desk : A Pakistan origin businessman in connivance with a section of derailed officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BBA) is trying to take General Sales Agent ship (GSA) in Jeddah of the national flag carrier, sources said. To this effect, the CEO of Pakistan based Mamas Aviation visited Dhaka secretly. According to the sources, this CEO is a close relative of Lieutenant General Rejwan Akhtar who is the head of a Pakistani intelligence agency. The sources also informed that this Javed Mansur had convinced the than management and finalised to taken GSA in 201-13, with the interference of Prime Minister that Ilaf Aviation got the license finally. Mamas and Mosaid, both the organisations run their business with the financial support of a Pakistani intelligence agency, the sources said. This Mansur about six months before has applied for the GSA but failed to qualify, now trying to take the license in the name of Mamas Aviation. Seventeen companies have applied for GSA this time, but only Javed Mansur had visited Dhaka on 15th January to pursue, but a detective branch of Bangladesh Police managed to know his presence at Hotel Westin and interrogated him for an hour on 24th January. But sensing the activity of intelligence agency, this Javed has left the country on the next day, according to newspaper. However, Managing Director of BBA, MA Mosaddik Ahmed expressed his ignorance about the matter. He also confirmed that no persuasion will work in allotting the task of GSA. Meanwhile, people familiar with the activities in Jeddah said that Mamas Aviation and Mosaid Aviation are the sister concern of a same company and using name of a Saudi citizen, the owner is running the business. However, GSA is presently operated by Ilaf Aviation where over 6,000 Bangladeshis are employed. If the task goes to other company, then these workers may lose their work and be forced to come back Bangladesh, the sources cautioned. New Rohingya slums at hilly areas make Ukhia people angry A Correspondent : Local people have expressed concern over the growth of new Rohingya slums after destroying forests and hills at Balukhali area of Ukhia upazila here in recent times. In this connection, they are thinking to demonstrate tough agitation if the move is not stopped immediately. Panel Chairman and Member of No. 1 Ward under Palongkhali Union Parishad Nurul Absar Chowdhury said, "With the increase of the new Rohingya slums at Balukhali area, the environment is getting polluted day by day. The Rohingyas are destroying forests and hills in a bid to make their new dwelling places. Not only that, they are getting involved in crimes at the areas. Meanwhile, we hail the government's decision to rehabilitate the Rohingyas at Thengarchar of Hatiya upazila in Noakhali district." It was known that, due to intolerable repression on and killing of Rohingyas in neighbouring Rakhain state of Myanmar by the country's army, thousands of Rohingyas have migrated to Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas in Cox's Bazar district of the country. After investigation, it was known that, more than 50 thousand Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh through different borders in the last two months. International Migration Organisation (IMO) sources said, most of the fleeing Rohingyas have taken refuge in the entire Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tract districts. Quoting the United Nations Humanitarian Aid sources, the Reuters said, around 92 thousand Muslim Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh in the last four months following intolerable torture and repression by the Myanmar law-enforcing agencies. After visiting the areas, this correspondent found new Rohingya slums being developed in hilly areas of Paschim Balukhali under Palongkhali union in Ukhia upazila. In a survey of an NGO Mukti, it was found that more than one and a half thousand Rohingya families have taken refuge in the Balukhali slum and new Rohingya families are also arriving there daily. The field level officials of IMO said, thousands of Rohingyas have arrived and taken refuge inside and outside Kutupalong refugee camp. Chairman of Palongkhali union parishad Gofur Uddin Chowdhury said, "Expressing anxiety over the large scale influx of Rohingyas and mushrooming growth of their slums, we urge the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar to settle the issue through bilateral discussion. We also urge the concerned corner to raise the issue in international level." On the other hand, the environment at Balukhali and surrounding areas has become severely polluted due to random urination and defecation by the Rohingyas. In this connection, Panel Chairman and Member of Palongkhali UP Nurul Absar Chowdhury strongly urged the concerned authority to deport the Rohingyas to Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district as soon as possible. President of Ukhia Journalists' Forum Faruk Ahmed said, "The influx of Rohingyas has turned the situation in Bangladesh insecure and polluted. It is now a demand of time to send them to their country. Besides, we hail the government's decision to rehabilitate the Rohingyas to Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district." 2nd submarine cable connection Feb 21 Bangladesh is going to connect with the second submarine cable on February 21 to get another 1500 gbps bandwidth, as the SEA-ME-WE 5 consortium is set to launch its global operation on this day. The South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 5 (SEA-ME-WE 5), a consortium of 15 leading telecom operators from 17 countries, would announce its operation at a ceremony in Turkish city of Istanbul, said officials. Talking to BSS, Monwar Hossain, Managing Director of state-owned Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) which is assigned to handle country bandwidth, said it's a great pride for the country as the consortium has decided to launch the cable on February 21, the International Mother Language Day. "The second undersea cable would be the real redundancy that might allow Bangladesh to stay online always and start full-fledged international bandwidth trade," he added. Don`t use edn as tool for profit making: President President Abdul Hamid addressing the 16th convocation of the East West University (EWU) at Aftabnagar in the city yesterday afternoon. President Abdul Hamid yesterday called upon all concerned to consider education as a weapon of development and progress of the nation and its citizens, not to use it as a tool for profit making. "Consider education as the weapon for development of the country and its people . . . Country's people expect that education won't be used for profit making business entities anyway," he said while addressing the 16th convocation of the East West University (EWU) yesterday afternoon. At the outset of his speech, the President paid respect to all language and Liberation War martyrs and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled their contribution. President Hamid, also the chancellor of the university, stressed the need for building up patriotic and educated human resources ensuring the world standard and quality education in each university. He said all universities must ensure quality of higher education to create creative and enlightened people, not the certificate-oriented education or the kind of education which rely on reading of syllabus-based textbooks. Congratulating the new graduates on the occasion of the convocation, Abdul Hamid advised the graduates to devote themselves to the task of nation-building along with their professional activities. "You, the graduates, are the future rudders of the nation. You will ensure a smooth and easy life for others as your universities have made your academic life easier," said the President. He asked the new graduates to remember this country and its contribution, saying that family, this society as well as the country have contributed a lot to bringing them to this position. He hoped that they (students) would be able to create an imitative instance of honesty, efficiency and patriotism through applying their respective potentialities. President Hamid said the 'varsity authority has the responsibility not only for teaching the students in the classes according to textbook's syllabuses, but also creating the scope of training on humanity, patience, social responsibilities, norms and values. Welcoming the expansion of the scope to higher education countrywide, he said imparting higher education can help flourish the inner potentialities, personality, thoughts, social responsibilities and social awareness in a student. But the President expressed grave concern over the recent emergence of extremism and terrorism which have posed as great threats to the human civilization. "It's really a matter of concern that a very few students of some renowned universities and children of some affluent families were found involved in fanaticism and antireligious activities," President Hamid mentioned. The President urged the teachers, students, civil society representatives and others concerned to fight unitedly and coherently against terrorism and militancy from their respective positions. Bangladesh is becoming a "Sonar Bangla" under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as per the path shown earlier by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, the President added. Looking into the Language Policy A.B.M. Razaul Karim Faquire, Ph.D : Language policy is exercised to influence the structure, function, and acquisition of languages or language variety within a speech community. Hence, it causes to influence both the languages and language behavior of its speakers. Presently, the government of Bangladesh has no language policy to influence the language behaviours and the languages used in Bangladesh. In the past, the region, now known as Bangladesh, has undergone language policy mostly in an informal manner throughout its political history. The language policy which Bangladesh experienced in three different periods- pre-Pakistan period, Pakistan period and Bangladesh period- is depicted below. During the pre-Pakistan period, the language policy was a matter of royal decree; it was not formulated to reflect the wish of common people. Therefore, all the Governments of that period used to allocate a status that gave preeminence to a particular variety of language over other variety of languages. Hence, it gave status to the speech variety of the aristocrats by ignoring varieties spoken by the common people in this land. As a part of these language policies, the languages which were accepted as languages of status in this region until the British period include Sanskrit, Prakrit (popularly known as Pali), Persian and English, three of which now have been recognized as classical languages. Throughout this period, though some particular languages-languages of the political elites- were assigned status, the corpus planning would naturally occur in the hand of the literary scholars. The corpus of a particular language would develop through the writing of literature. For example, the corpus of Prakrit was developed through the writing and compilation of the Tripithaka, which is exclusively the result of the efforts of the Buddhist scholars. Similarly, the corpus of middle Bangla evolved through the writing of Mangla Kavya's, e.g. Srikrishnakirtan. In the same way, the corpus of the standard Bangla evolved by the efforts of writing and compiling literary works in Bangla throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. After the repatriation of the British, language policy became the concern of all the post- colonial states including erstwhile united (East and West) Pakistan in South Asia. In erstwhile Pakistan, the language policy was undertaken inspired by the spirit of desperate nationalism, the main aim of which was to allocate Urdu as the national language at the expense of other languages. By this language policy, the Government of Pakistan ignored the other languages spoken in the provinces, including Purbo Bangla, Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and North-West Frontier Province. The effects of this policy have manifested in the language situation of present day Pakistan. A case in point is Punjabi-though it is the mother tongue of about 50 per cent of the citizens of Pakistan but is not taught as a subject at school level. The present day Bangladesh has no explicit national language policy. It is, however, implicit that Bangladesh has some kind of mechanism which compensates for an actual language policy. At the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the country commenced a status planning, under which the Government of Bangladesh allocated an interim status to the Promito Bangla. The Promito Bangla is a variety of Bangla which was developed by the cultural elites at the center of Bengali Renaissance, i.e. Kolkata during the period from the late 19th century to early 20th centuries. Since the independence of Bangladesh, no measure of corpus planning has been undertaken, though a kind of acquisition planning is in practice for which all the people including the minority speech communities, e.g. the Garo and the Santali inhabiting Bangladesh require to receive education through the media of Bangla. This implicit practice of acquisition planning also allows the people in Bangladesh to receive education through the medium of English. Hence, the above discussion on the language policy in three different eras-pre-Pakistan period, Pakistan period and Bangladesh period- shows that though Bangla has been a language of common people and developed in the hands of literary scholars, it took centuries to become a language of status. Though Bangla has been given a status under an official decision it did not gain preeminence over English. Hence language policy has never been initiated in favour of Bangla. Nevertheless, the present language situation that exists in Bangladesh demands a language policy to be undertaken so that Bangla receives preeminence over the foreign and domestic languages, e.g. English. (The writer is professor of Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka) Assad must be tried in ICC for crime against humanity THE terrible leakage of extermination of over 13,000 Syrian rebels by hanging in underground prison cells by President Bashar al-Assad regime as media report said is no less a serious crime against humanity that can only be compared with the killing of the Jews in gas chambers by Adolf Hitler during the Second World War. Like the German butcher, Bashar al-Asad has also to his credit the killing of another 17000 people or more starving them to death in detention camps without food and drinking water. They were left to die from routine torture and ill treatment of notorious prison guards across Syria since 2011, the time people's uprising spread to unseat tyrant Bashar al-Assad from power till 2015. The breaking of the news comes as a big shock to the global community, which could hardly believe of such cruelties are taking place under their nose. We must say we feel quite speechless how to condemn it and helpless to save the people of Syria from a murderer trying to rule his country now through a six-year civil war crushing his people's resistance. We must say the UN Human Rights Commission must open a vigorous investigation and Assad must be produced before the International Criminal Court for trial on war crime charges. We must say it could not have been possible without the military and all other support of the Russian government to murderer Assad to keep him in power. They must be equally blamed for the severe crime against humanity and we must say Russian and Iran must stop their criminal support for Assad to save the people of Syrian from extermination. We are bewildered by the self-defeating policy of the West; the USA is in uncharted territory while Europe is tired of refugee exodus. But their silence will cost them too much at a time when Russia is digging in to replace western influence in the region. Amnesty International's disclosure that at least 20 to 50 persons were hanged in a week is a terrible disclosure. Based on interview of over 81 witnesses including former prison guards and inmates of the prison cells it appears that the regime used such hangings with authorization from the highest level of the government. The chilling accounts of the prison killing say prison guards would tell inmates that they are transferring them to a civilian detention center but instead they would take them before a summery court where a sham trial that last only a minute or two would hand over death sentence to victims. Guards then take them to an underground cell blindfolded and only few minutes before being hanged, they were told about it and then tortured them till hanged to death. As per Amnesty report it is a "calculated campaign of extra-judicial execution" to terrorize the entire population and crush any dissent or uprising within the Syrian population against Bashar al-Assad. In many ways the account of prison killing in Syria resembles the Nazi extermination of Jews in gas chamber in Poland's Auschwitz town in 1942. President Bashar al-Assad is also using gas and starvation to kill his people. It can't be allowed to go unchecked but an end is not in sight either. So many NGOs but many are invisible at work IT is reported that successive government in the last 16 years gave registration to 1,445 foreign-funded Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), though many of that are not visibly working and some have become the money-making factory for ruling elites. Relatives of many powerful bureaucrats and political persons now own NGOs and get hefty allocations on political considerations. The accountability of NGOs fund has been long hyped in the country that prompted the government to formulate law aiming at establishing regulation over the NGOs but most of the NGOs termed the law oppressive to them. We have seen, over the past two decades, NGOs have taken center stage all over the world in matters pertaining to good governance, functioning of democracy, and upholding of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Bangladesh is the land where the world's leading NGOs are working to achieve several hundred goals including social, economic, political and environmental goals. In our observation, due to lack of transparency and accountability in fund management, action plan and the autocratic attitude of certain NGOs have plumed depression, they are making bad names. NGOs have supplemented the role of the government on many respects and helped in opening doors and windows all over the country, particularly in the vast rural hinterland. It has helped to empower women and fostered girl child education, non-formal education and vocational training that helped in the growth of skilled population. But the unplanned growth of NGOs has led to duplication of efforts and, sometimes, abuse of resources. Besides, moral integrity and fiscal probity have been sacrificed in the quest for funds and resources that are made available by foreign donors. In this backdrop, Parliament in last October passed the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill 2016, but the bill would not bring the NGOs accountable as the intention of the bill was to control the freedom of NGOs and the source of their funding. The NGOs concerned with human rights violations are critical to the government's policy and action against the egalitarianism and justice and so also the government is watching them from close distance. Unfortunately, the new law empowers the NGO Affairs Bureau to cancel or withhold the registration of a foreign-funded NGO or ban its activities for committing criticizing the government policy and action. Wisdom suggests that the government should form an independent commission to look after the NGOs that will help to identify shortcomings and also assist in their removal. This, in turn, will enhance the credibility and sustainability of the NGO sector. However, reform of the NGO sector and improved donor coherence, rigorous systems of accountability and audit of performance will help the NGOs to become accountable. Trump admin defends travel ban in court Syrian refugee Baraa Haj Khalaf holds her daughter as she greets people at O\'Hare International Airport with her husband Abdulmajeed (L) on Tuesday in Chicago, Illinois. Mail Online : The US Justice Department faced tough questioning as it urged a court of appeals to reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, put on hold in a legal challenge last week. The latest twist in the showdown comes four days after a federal judge suspended Trump's decree, re-opening US borders to the thousands of refugees and travelers who had been suddenly barred from the country. Three judges from an appellate court in San Francisco chaired an hour-long telephone hearing followed online by more than 130,000 people-a record, the court said-and broadcast live to millions more on television. During the high-stakes hearing, an attorney for the government argued that Trump's immigration curbs were motivated by national security concerns and that the federal judge had overstepped his authority in suspending them. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," Justice Department lawyer August Flentje argued. He said Trump had acted within his constitutional powers and those delegated to him by Congress in issuing the January 27 executive order in the interest of the United States. Tuesday's hearing was focused on whether to lift the suspension of the ban, not on the constitutionality of the decree itself-a broader battle that looks likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court. The appeals court would probably rule later this week, a court spokesman said. The three-judge panel often appeared skeptical during the hearing, with Judge Richard Clifton at one point calling the government's argument "pretty abstract." The judges questioned Flentje about the evidence connecting the seven targeted countries to terrorism, and pressed him on whether the ban amounts to religious discrimination, as its opponents claim. The White House insists the decree is in the interest of national security, giving the new administration time to beef up vetting procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Its detractors claim it violates the constitution by discriminating against people on the basis of their religion. An attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota-which brought the federal lawsuit against Trump's ban with support from numerous advocacy groups-urged the judges to keep the decree on hold while the case runs its course. "It has always been the judicial branch's role to say what the law is and to serve as a check on abuses by the executive branch," Solicitor General Noah Purcell said. "That judicial rule has never been more important in recent memory than it is today, but the president is asking... to reinstate the executive order without full judicial review and throw this country back into chaos," he added. The states' counsel also came under sustained questioning, with Judge Clifton, a George W. Bush nominee, appearing unconvinced by his arguments that the ban amounted to religious discrimination. "I have trouble understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected," he said, pointing out that less than 15 percent of the world's Muslims were affected. Purcell argued that the states were not required to show that all Muslims would be affected but only that the ban was "motivated in part by a desire to harm Muslims." Experts believe the argument to reinstate the ban is facing an uphill struggle. Arthur Hellman, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said although it is uncertain which way the judges are leaning in the case, he would be surprised if they side with the government. "He (Flentje) really had trouble with many of the questions and I don't think his answers satisfied the judges who were asking them," he said. "He just didn't seem as well prepared as I would expect a lawyer for the US government to be," he added. Trump's executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Refugees from Syria were barred indefinitely. Appearing to lay the groundwork in case of a setback, the White House earlier on Tuesday sought to play down the significance of the upcoming ruling. "All that's at issue tonight is the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. "That's why I think we feel confident." Hosting a group of American sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday, Trump hammered home the rationale for his decree as "common sense." He has lashed out at the Seattle judge who suspended his order, James Robart, as a "so-called" judge-a slur that drew criticism from his own Republican camp-and sought to pin blame on him, and courts in general, for potential future attacks on US soil. "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril," he tweeted on Sunday "If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" Strong protest to Myanmar Staff Reporter : Dhaka has registered strong protest to Myanmar against the Monday's brutal killing of a Bangladeshi national by the Myanmar's Border Guard Police. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MoFA], a 'strongly worded protest letter' was sent to Myanmar Embassy on Wednesday also condemning the killing and urging to take immediate step to check such type of incident in the future. After the incident, Myanmar state media said that BGP shot and killed a Bangladeshi national because it feared BGP members were under attack. So they opened fire for self-defense. A senior official of MoFA, however, termed the killing by BGP as 'provoking'. On Monday, BGP members allegedly opened fire and killed a Bangladeshi fisherman near the border region in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar. The victim was identified as Nurul Amin, 26, son of Kabir Ahmed of Chowdhury Para under Teknaf pourashava. Another one Md Mustafa, 24, son of Sona Mia, hailed from same area, received serious bullet wound during the shooting. As per statement given by the unhurt fisherman Md Hashim, they [three fishermen] were fishing at Moulvipara point of the Naf river near no-2 sluice gate at Nazir Para under Teknaf Sadar Union. Officials said they were inside the Bangladesh territory. Suddenly, a group of BGP came in on a speedboat and opened fire. After indiscriminate firing, the speedboat left the spot. In an instant reaction, the Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB] protested the killing through contacting the BGP officials soon after the incident, Teknaf Border Guard Battalion-2 Captain Abuzar Al Jahid said. The BGB official said: "Firing like this is against the boundary law. They could take legal actions for illegal trespassing," he said. In another incident, the Myanmar Navy opened fire on six Bangladeshi fishermen near the St Martin's Island in December last year. Against this backdrop, Dhaka had summoned Myanmar envoy and handed him a note of protest at that time. BNP urges President Reconsider appointment of CEC BNP on Wednesday urged President Abdul Hamid to reconsider the appointment of KM Nurul Huda as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) as he is a 'controversial person'. A controversial person has been appointed the Chief Election Commissioner. Even a crazy person doesn't believe that fair and acceptable elections will be possible to hold under him, said BNP vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu. Speaking at a human chain programme, he further said, Still, there's a chance for the President to change his decision as the CEC and commissioners are yet to be sworn in. We don't want to say anything about the four commissioners. So, we call upon the Honourable President to reconsider making a noncontroversial person as the CEC. Youth Forum, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding withdrawal of the 'false' cases filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and its senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman. Hours after the search panel submitted their chosen 10 names to him, President Abdul Hamid on Monday night constituted the new Election Commission (EC) making former secretary KM Nurul Huda the Chief Election Commissioner. He also appointed four new election commissioners-former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, ex-secretary Rafiqul Islam, ex-district and session's judge Begum Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury. Giving their party's formal reaction to the EC formation, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday night voiced frustration over the new EC constitution, saying the Prime Minister's choice has been reflected on it. He also questioned the eligibility of KM Nurul Huda for being appointed as the CEC saying he was secretary and additional secretary only on paper. Dudu said Huda had was involved in 'Janatar Manch' formed against the BNP government in 1996, and he removed then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's photograph from his office when had been working as the Deputy Commissioner of Comilla. He criticised the government for what he said harassing their chairperson and the senior vice chairman by implicating them in false cases out of political vengeance. The BNP leader demanded the government immediately withdraw all the cases filed against them. Hearing on 16th amendment SC appoints 12 amicus curiae Staff Reporter : The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday appointed 12 senior lawyers as the 'amicus curiae' (friends of the court) to give their opinion in the court on an appeal against the High Court (HC) verdict that declared the 16th amendment of the Constitution illegal.An eight-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by the Chief Justice (CJ) Surendra Kumar Sinha disclosed their names. The amicus curiaes are Justice (rtd) T H Khan, Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Amir-ul Islam, Barrister A F Hasan Arif, Barrister Ajmalul Hossain QC, Barrister Rafiq-ul Haque, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Advocate Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, Barrister M I Farooqui, Advocate A J Mohammad Ali and Barrister Fida M Kamal. The apex court asked the jurists to place their argument as amicus curiae as the appeal petition is involved with some constitutional and legal matters. The court also fixed March 7 for further hearing on the appeal after hearing a time-petition filed by the State. The High Court on May 5, 2016 declared the 16th amendment to the constitution that reinstated parliament's power to remove Supreme Court judges for misbehavior or incapacity unconstitutional. Later the State appealed against this judgment. Yesterday Attorney General (AG) Mahbubey Alam stood for the State in the court while Advocate Monzill Murshid represented the writ petitioners. The Attorney General said to the court that this was a very important case. There are some constitutional and legal matters in the case. So time is required for taking preparation for hearing. At this point he sought eight weeks time. Advocate Monzill Murshid said there was no law in the country to dispose allegations raised against the Supreme Court judges. So the matter should be disposed immediately. After hearing both sides, the SC bench granted only one week time to the State primarily. But the bench finally granted eight weeks time to the State after the Attorney General reclaimed it. Besides, the SC bench announced 12 senior lawyers' names as amicus curiae. The apex court asked the jurists to place their written argument on the matter. The court said that total Judiciary is going through in an uncontrolled situation. There is no guidelines for lower courts' judges. Even there is no legal way to take action against a judge of the Supreme Court. A gap is on. The High Court verdict was delivered by the three-judge bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal after hearing a petition involving public interest. The petition challenged the 16th amendment passed on September 22, 2014 by the Parliament in the absence of the opposition ignoring widespread protests from the Supreme Court Bar Association and the civil society. Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque agreed with the verdict pronounced by Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury while Justice Md Ashraful Kamal disagreed with the verdict. The original constitution of 1972 had empowered Parliament to remove SC judges. But the fourth amendment changed the constitution in January 1975 bestowed the authority on the President by abolishing the Parliament's power. During the first martial law regime, the then military ruler General Ziaur Rahman introduced the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in 1978 by amending the constitution through a martial law proclamation. In 2010, the SC scrapped the fifth constitutional amendment that validated all activities of the first martial law regime. It, however, condoned the introduction of the SJC. The then Awami League government retained the SJC and incorporated the same provisions in the constitution through the 15th amendment in 2011. But the AL changed its mind after returning to power winning the one-sided January 5 Parliamentary polls in 2014. It moved to amend the constitution again and the House passed the 16th amendment to the constitution in September 2014. On November 5 of that year, nine lawyers of the Supreme Court filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the amendment. The HC issued rule after hearing the petition. After final hearing on the rule, a large HC bench declared 16th amendment illegal by majority. The world must unite to prevent building of illegal settlements in the West Bank What was globally feared with the new ultra pro-Israeli president in the white house is finally about to turn real. Armed with US support and by audaciously defying UNSC resolution 2334 passed less than two months ago - Israel has passed a law last Monday succeeding to legalise to build nearly 4,000 settler homes on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. Not only is it a blow to the potentially peaceful two-state solution, but the newly passed law clearly breaches the very Israeli Supreme Court ruling on property rights too. This criminal attempt to grab Palestinian land clearly suggests that the current leadership in Israel don't have much respect for their legal state instrument either. Moreover, Israel's attorney-general has reportedly stated that the law backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unconstitutional and that he will not defend it at the Supreme Court. We are somewhat compelled to ask - what is the source of such treacherous power that has made the Israel PM so impudently powerful to disobey almost anything from Supreme Court rulings to passed UN resolutions? The world must immediately take stock of the recent happenings in Israel. Building illegal settlements in the West Bank is no longer a regional and religious confrontation - in fact, it is now questioning and openly challenging the global conscience. We expect the international community to right away address Israeli parliament's highly objectionable and illegal bill on building newer settlements. Furthermore, the UN Security Council along with all its general members must unite to deter Israel from tactically occupying Palestine physically. On the whole, the United Nations must prove its legitimacy and organisational credibility to safeguard and implement its goals and objectives to the world. We are perplexed whether the biggest Israel ally is able to comprehend the far reaching legal consequences of it which will completely diminish all prospects for Arab-Israeli peace initiatives. The Trump administration reportedly stated last Thursday "it did not see the existing settlements hampering peace". Like many issues ranging from climate change to immigration rules the new white house is deliberately sounding hell-bent to support a criminal cause just because of a political leader's racial and unlawful preference over race, colour and religion. That said, rest of the major global powers must realise that concerning the age old Israel-Palestine conflict they have a moral obligation too. They cannot silently escape it. If the new occupants of the white house are ignorant on this issue, it's time the rest of the world takes up the responsibility to educate and stop them from creating global confrontation. If, however, illegal settlements are to be built, they will be built because of rest of the world's fear, irresponsibility and indolence against the whims and powers of a criminal state and its accomplice super power. Act now. 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. Other possible candidates include Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte; Speaker Pro Temp Walt Leger, D-New Orleans; retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness of Mandeville; and Acadiana health care executive Gus Rantz of Lafayette. If there were any questions about state Sen. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, running for state treasurer in the fall, a few key staffing decisions he made recently should put all of that to rest. Riser said in an interview last week the he has hired Sally Nungesser as his fundraising coordinator and conservative operative Rhett Davis as his general consultant. Jonathan Johnson, the state director for former Congressman Rodney Alexander, is also Risers first official staff hire for the not-yet-announced campaign. Nungesser, for her part, is already hard at work. Risers treasurer campaign has a fundraiser scheduled for the first day of the special session. There should also be some official movement soon from Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, and Angele Davis, president and CEO of the Davis Kelley Group. Both women have been holding high-level meetings. Former House Speaker Chuck Kleckley of Lake Charles, meanwhile, is out. He let friends and family know his decision last week. Thanks to all the kind people that have contacted me about running for state treasurer, Kleckley said in a written statement. While, I enjoy public service and working for the people of Louisiana. My decision is to continue growing my governmental relations practice with the great team at Adams and Reese. Source: Wikimedia Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington, had a team in place earlier this month prior to his official announcement for treasurer. Jay Vicknair, who has consulted for former Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and former U.S. Sen. David Vitter, is serving as Schroders campaign manager. Alle Bautsch, who came up during former Gov. Bobby Jindals rise, is leading Schroders fundraising. Lionel Rainey, fresh from working for U.S. Sen. John Kennedys 2016 campaign, is Schroders senior strategist and John Diez, one of the architects behind the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, has been tapped to head up polling and research. Other possible candidates include Derrick Edwards, a New Orleans attorney and quadriplegic; Rep. Paul Hollis, R-Mandeville; Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte; Speaker Pro Temp Walt Leger, D-New Orleans; retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness of Mandeville; and Acadiana health care executive Gus Rantz of Lafayette. Guillot Parishioners inside Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Monday were unharmed when a motorist police say was intoxicated slammed into the church's front doors. The incident happened about a half hour before students began arriving at adjacent Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School. A deacon at the church tells The Advertiser the glass doors, imported from Italy and original to the 1950s-built church, were destroyed. Parishioners and staff quickly covered the damage with plywood. The driver, 47-year-old Christopher Guillot, remains in jail on several charges including OWI, aggravated criminal damage to property and resisting an officer. A Lafayette Police Department spokesman says narcotics were a factor in the crash. Victor White III New York Times Magazine contributor Nathaniel Rich's exquisitely reported and deeply sourced story about the suspicious 2014 death of Victor White III in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff's vehicle is long-form journalism at its best. It's been almost three years since White, the son of a CenLa preacher, died under improbable circumstances Iberia Parish officials ultimately wrote off as a suicide. White died from a single gunshot wound officials say he inflicted on himself while his hands were cuffed behind his back in the back seat of an Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office vehicle. White's incredulous father, the Rev. Victor White, never bought the official account and has been fighting to uncover the truth ever since, as Rich's exhaustive account of the incident reports. The story also introduces us to one of the most odious figures in South Louisiana law enforcement, Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal, who, incredibly, was cleared by a federal jury in Shreveport on charges of directing deputies to brutalize inmates charges that were corroborated by several underlings who testified against him. From "The Preacher and the Sheriff," published today: New Iberia, a small city surrounded by sugar cane 100 miles west of New Orleans, is bisected by railroad tracks. North of the tracks, where residents are predominantly white, most believed that Victor White III committed suicide. In the largely black neighborhoods south of the tracks, most residents shared the Whites conviction that their son was executed by the cops. In the months of heartbreak and rage that followed, New Iberians tended to believe the official account of the Houdini suicide to the extent that they approved of the performance of Louis Ackal, the sheriff of Iberia Parish. Ackal who declined multiple requests for comment for this article was the most powerful man in town and perhaps the most popular. A fourth-generation New Iberian, he was a southern Louisiana politician in the old mold: charismatic and irascible, given to country bromides and plain-spoken provocations, antagonistic to the regional press and civil-liberties groups, chummy with the political class, a friend to many and a bully to the rest. He smoked cigars and kicked his boots onto his desk during meetings. He had come to office as a reformer, pledging to bring integrity to the police force and criminals to justice to, as he put it in a campaign speech, clean up a terrible mess. To the satisfaction of a plurality of voters, he had succeeded. Set aside a half hour today and check it out here. It's a good read. The Independent also reported extensively on the case. Search "Victor White" at theind.com to read our past reporting. The governor is once again in the nation's capital to rally Congress and the Trump administration for an additional $2 billion in financial relief from the March and August 2016 floods. Photo Illustration The governor is once again in the nation's capital to rally Congress and the Trump administration for an additional $2 billion in financial relief from the March and August 2016 floods that devastated large parts of Louisiana. Congress has so far approved $1.6 billion in flood relief for the state. The governor's office was quick to note in a press release detailing his D.C. itinerary over the next few days that the trip is not being bankrolled by taxpayers. "Once again our state has faced another round of severe weather that has destroyed homes and communities, but we will rebuild, Edwards says in the release. The recent tornadoes throughout South Louisiana have only added to the ongoing hardships our people are suffering from following the March and August floods. Now more than ever we need Congress to make the relief dollars available to help Louisiana so that the rebuilding process can continue. I will make this case to our congressional leaders this week, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to rebuild and help the people of Louisiana." According to JBE's office: This morning, Gov. Edwards participated in a briefing with the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the severe weather that struck Louisiana on Tuesday. As of today, FEMA teams are on the ground in Louisiana and will begin their preliminary assessments of the storm damage. Gov. Edwards also spoke with the White House to discuss the destruction caused by the seven tornadoes that touched down in South Louisiana. On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Edwards will meet with the entire Louisiana Congressional Delegation to discuss the states outstanding request for $2 billion in flood recovery. Last week, he sent a letter to the delegation and President Donald Trump outlining how the additional funds would be spent. Gov. Edwards also asked the delegation for assistance in making changes to federal disaster recovery laws and regulations that currently delay the process for getting help to the people who need it most. On Thursday, Gov. Edwards will speak to the Committee of 100 to outline tax reform proposals for the upcoming regular session of the Louisiana legislature. The Committee of 100 is a private non-profit organization serving as Louisiana's Business Roundtable made up of the top CEOs of leading private and public companies in Louisiana and University presidents of Louisianas institutions of higher learning. Last month, the Task Force on Structural Changes in Budget and Tax Policy released their recommendations to the governor. Those recommendations are available here. Later in the morning, Gov. Edwards will meet staff with House Democratic leadership to discuss the states outstanding flood recovery request. He will also meet with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies to discuss the states request for additional assistance. In the afternoon, Gov. Edwards will meet with incoming senior staff of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to update the agency on our flood recovery. Gov. Edwards will also meet with U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee staff. Meetings with various other cabinet-level officials are pending, including a meeting with the Department of Transportation Secretary Elana Chao. On Friday, Gov. Edwards will deliver remarks at the Washington Mardi Gras Louisiana Economic Development Luncheon to discuss flood recovery and the states efforts to bring business to Louisiana. The former St. Luke's Hospital in Arnaudville Google Earth Supporters of an ambitious plan to convert an abandoned hospital in Arnaudville into a French Immersion campus are celebrating today and have inched closer to making their plan a reality. The St. Martin Parish Council voted Tuesday evening to abolish the First Hospital District, following the lead two weeks ago of the St. Landry Parish Council, which co-owned the defunct St. Luke's Hospital in Arnaudville with its St. Martin counterpart. Tuesday's vote turns over ownership of the hospital to St. Landry George Marks, center, celebrates with friends following Tuesday's St. Martin Parish Council meeting. Facebook Parish, which is still seeking an attorney general's opinion on what it can do with the property. But the Tuesday vote gave proponents of establishing a French immersion program on the former hospital campus hope, and they turned out in large numbers for Tuesday's council meeting. The Daily Iberian's Dwayne Fatheree is reporting today that the building is estimated to be worth about $300,000. Under terms of the deal, Fatheree reports, St. Martin Parish Government will get about 65 percent of the cash assets remaining from the First Hospital District in exchange for turning the building's title over to St. Landry Parish. George Marks, executive director of the NuNu Arts & Culture Collective in Arnaudville, the nonprofit that has been spearheading a renaissance in the small Cajun town and the chief advocate for establishing a French immersion program in the old hospital site, was effusive in his gratitude on Facebook following Tuesday's meeting: The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. CARBONDALE Mona Shehada has a mission in life one that she feels is a higher calling. I have to practice peace with all people around me, she said. This practice has become especially important in the last decade and, more specifically, in the last year. Shehada has been a U.S. citizen for the last 20 years. She immigrated with her husband, Issa Abedmahmoud, from Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, 25 years ago so he could start his medical residency. Shehada said this kind of migration is in her blood. Her grandparents moved from their native Palestine in the 1940s to Syria. Then, when she was in fifth grade, her father moved her family to Dubai. Though he could have gone back to the UAE to start a successful practice, Shehada said she and her husband felt part of the fabric of America and saw no reason to leave. We felt, ourselves, like part of the society, Shehada said. After moving from Detroit to Chicago, the two settled in Herrin, where Abedmahmoud set up his practice. The family lived in relative anonymity for their first many years in the United States. This changed in 2001. Shehada was attending John A. Logan College on Sept. 11. When she heard the news about the terror attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, Shehada remembered a teacher finding her. At the time, she may have been one of the few Muslim students at the college, she said. The instructor spoke to her in a low voice. If something happens, just tell us. We are here to support you, Shehada remembered being told. That gave me lots of, actually, comfort, Shehada said. Similarly, after the attacks, Shehada said her husband was at work and one of his co-workers put her hand on his shoulder and said, We love having you in our community. Shehada said though public opinion of Islam and its followers was changing, she and her family she and Abedmahmoud by then had two children were still seen as neighbors in their community. That is not to say they did not feel a change. Regarding the current escalating conversation about Islamophobia in the U.S., Shehada was frank: She does not always feel safe. She is scared, especially at night. Sometimes when Im driving if my car comes to somebodys car and somebody looks at me more than once, Im scared, she said. With whats going on, I say to myself, (What if he) is going to have his gun and shoot at me right now?' This saddens Stephanie Solbrig, a friend of Shehada's. Shehada comes to mind when Solbrig hears disparaging things said about Muslims. I am deeply offended, she said. Solbrig said the animosity and fear she sees toward the Muslim community seems regressive. I thought we already covered this, she said. Solbrig said Shehada sets an exceptional example for others not only as a Muslim woman, but as an American. She sets such a high bar for people, she said. However, she added that she does not like that her friend has to stand so tall. The two became close nearly five years ago after Solbrig began teaching Arabic-speaking students in her classroom in Carbondale School District 95. Shehada came in as a paraprofessional to assist these students with their English skills and to further clarify assignments. In this time, Solbrig said she has learned a lot from her friend. Our experiences as women, our journeys as women it just showed me through Mona, just the commonality that we have far surpasses whatever differences society might cast upon us, Solbrig said. Nearly two weeks after President Donald Trumps controversial executive order placing a temporary, 90-day travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries and an indefinite hold on refugees from Syria, Shehada said her mandate to be an ambassador of peace has taken on new meaning. When she heard about the order, she said she was devastated. It broke my heart, she said. It became very real that they may never be able to visit their family again Shehadas children may never get to experience the country of their ancestors. Thinking about more than herself, Shehada said her heart goes out to those parents from the war-torn country. I cant believe myself, if I am one of these parents who are looking for a place to find safety for my kids and the door will be closed, Shehada said. Shehada said she and her family respect Trump as their elected official and appreciate any efforts to make the country safer, but they hope that he might take another look at the needs of refugees. We hope he, and the people around him, can think more seriously about the people who are coming from these countries situations, she said. In spite of the fear she feels as a Muslim in America, Shehada is determined to keep her head high and embrace optimism. One day the borders between me and the people this border will be eliminated, she said. In the meantime she plans to follow the path set before her in her faith. This is what I believe my religion asks me to do. I have to be peaceful and nice with everyone around me, she said. SPRINGFIELD Illinois senators' attempt to break a budget stalemate Wednesday did not bode well for ending the nation's longest state-budget drought since World War II, but Republicans and Democrats say they will continue negotiating nevertheless. Losing patience with skittish Republicans, Senate President John Cullerton ordered up votes on pieces of legislation that make up the so-called "grand bargain" he negotiated with Minority Leader Christine Radogno. Of four called, three noncontentious measures won overwhelming approval. But support came solely from majority Democrats on legislation that's supposed to win bipartisan support. Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, noted the Senate had twice reneged on promised January votes to strike a bold stance that there's a way out of the two-year logjam between Democratic legislative leaders and GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner. He said it was time for action. Republican Radogno, of Lemont, accused Cullerton of a "breach of our agreement," arguing the whole package was supposed to be ready before counting any votes. "When are we going to do this if we don't do it today?" Cullerton asked. "Let's vote." Sen. Terry Link, a Crystal Lake Democrat, acknowledged talks will continue. And despite tense debate, Cullerton conferenced privately with Radogno on the floor after the Senate adjourned. It's unlikely there will be additional floor action Thursday when the Senate returns. It's the last work day scheduled before Rauner delivers his plan Wednesday for the budget year that begins July 1. It will be the first-term governor's third budget plan without any becoming law. The state has been without an annual spending plan since July 2015. Rauner has insisted on structural changes to improve the business climate, reduce union power and curtail politicians' influence. Democrats notably House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago have resisted, saying the state needs to increase taxes and cut spending first to drive down a multibillion-dollar deficit. The Senate package includes an income-tax increase and proposals to meet Rauner's agenda such as cost-saving changes to the workers' compensation program and a freeze on local property taxes. But Senate Republicans have balked at putting "yes" votes on a tax increase, particularly because other plans, such as the one on workers' compensation, are not yet to their liking. "There are parts of this package that are not yet settled," Radogno said. "By cutting loose parts of that package, we're basically taking the other issues off the table and saying there's no longer any way to approve those." Senators approved portions of the plan on which there's widespread agreement: eased methods for eliminating superfluous local governments, streamlined state purchasing and more flexibility for cities to use sales tax revenue to pay off specific construction projects. The lone measure that failed was a comprehensive pension-program overhaul Cullerton has pushed for years. He introduced it Wednesday as being Rauner-endorsed. He said the governor repeatedly asks him, "Where's your bill? Vote on your bill." It failed 18-29 and Radogno claimed she was blindsided. Radogno said Cullerton advised her of votes on what she described as "low-hanging fruit" but broke his word by calling for them on the pension measure. Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Democrats said they need answers for exasperated taxpayers. "We cannot sit here and not do anything anymore," Sen. Iris Martinez, a Chicago Democrat, said after the action. "I've got to go back home and explain to my constituents that we are starting the process." HERRIN After a tour of Herrin Junior High on Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Bruce Rauner applauded the increase in state funding allocated for K-12 schools this fiscal year and the recent work of a bipartisan commission on school funding reform that aims to funnel more state money where it's most needed. But he offered up little new information regarding near-term prospects for a full years budget deal, the likes of which Illinois has not seen since Rauner assumed office in early 2015. In Herrin and an interview that followed at The Southern Illinoisan, Rauner acknowledged and commended the work that is ongoing in the Illinois Senate between Senate President John Cullerton and Republican Leader Christine Radogno on whats been dubbed the grand bargain. Rauner said he has been clear on his vision for moving the state forward, but has not been highly involved in the Senate negotiations. The Senate package being worked on reportedly includes revenue generators such as an income tax hike, expansion of the sales tax to include some services and six new casino licenses, including one for Williamson County, while also proposing spending cuts and addressing some of the pro-business reforms Rauner has called for such as a property tax freeze and changes to the workers compensation system. Speaking to the City Club of Chicago on Monday, Cullerton said that a school funding reform package also is being worked on for inclusion in the deal, according to a report by CBS Chicago. On Tuesday, Rauner said he is supportive of the framework offered up this past week by the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission that seeks to provide more state support for financially struggling schools serving large populations of students living in poverty. Education Secretary Beth Purvis, in an interview this past week with The Southern Illinoisan, said the commissions proposal is for a formula that relies on best practices to create an adequacy target for each school district based on its student makeup. Then, the proposed formula would distribute any new money allocated for K-12 education first to schools that are the furthest away from that target. If there are budget cuts, those districts also would be spared to a greater degree than others. But its still unclear when, how and if such a massive budget deal with so many moving parts can be pulled off. Speaking in Southern Illinois, Rauner said he needs to see movement on at least some pro-business reforms, but wasnt specific about what exactly it would take for a deal from the General Assembly to earn his approval. He reiterated his support for term limits, a property tax freeze, and workers compensation reform, emphasizing his particular support for addressing causation standards as it relates to injuries claimed by workers. But he said that while he fundamentally opposes an income tax increase, he has made it clear hes willing to compromise on a tax hike so long as it is to pay down the state's bills and accompanied by pro-business reforms. The key long term is to have the economic growth to properly support these needs, to support SIU, to support our human services, to support our schools, Rauner said. We have been growing our government spending at a rate that is dramatically higher than our economy has been growing and its unsustainable. It just cant keep happening. During a press conference with media after his tour of the school, the governor sidestepped a question about whether he had analyzed the economic benefits the state could expect from the pro-business reforms hes held out for versus the negative fallout and costs associated with not having a complete budget for the past 18 months. Instead, he focused on the long-term structural problems facing the state and said, Weve got to change the system. There are bad consequences to not having a balanced budget and weve not paid our bills, weve not properly funded our human services and weve not properly funded our universities for years, he said. This is not a problem of the last year or two. At Herrin Junior High, Rauner spoke briefly to several classrooms and then took questions from students in the gymnasium. Students asked him a variety of questions, including about his favorite part of his job and whether he likes President Donald Trump. To the latter inquiry, Rauner told the students that as governor its to the benefit of the citizens of Illinois that he works with whoever is the president. Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office An Orangeburg man said his wifes waist-length fur coat has apparently disappeared and he thinks someone may have stolen it. Deputies responded at 7:14 a.m. on Monday to the Greenwood Avenue residence where the man told them that his wifes burgundy fur coat had been stolen from the home sometime between noon on Jan. 16 and 5 a.m. on Monday. According to the incident report, the coat usually hangs in the upstairs closet but it was no longer there. Deputies asked the man if he thought hed possibly misplaced the coat, but he responded, No, it usually hangs in the closet. The fur coat is valued at $8,000, the report states. In a separate report, a Holly Hill man said someone broke into his garage and stole several items. Deputies responded to the Unity Road residence at 11:07 a.m. on Monday where the man told them someone stole the following items: a set of four 24-inch rims and tires, a set of four 17-inch rims and tires, a set of four 15-inch rims, four vehicle batteries, 15 discharged vehicle batteries, one TIG welder, two hand drills and two torque converters. The value of the stolen items is $3,401, the report states. DENMARK -- Officials will break ground on construction of the new Denmark City Hall at noon this Friday, Feb. 10. The project is expected to cost approximately $600,000. The new facility, which will replace the current city hall that was built more than a century ago, will be located at the intersection of Beech and City Hall streets. Hired as the architect for the project is McDonald Law, who will be paid $45,000 to design the new structure. Law also worked on the design for the new Family Health Center that is being built in Denmark. The city has yet to advertise for bids for the city hall construction. We do not have a contractor yet. We will put it out for bids, City Administrator Heyward Robinson said. No date for submission of bids had been announced as of press time. Robinson said the aging two-story city hall, located at 4768 Carolina Hwy., was built in 1912. The second floor of the building is currently being used just for storage, he said. Denmark Mayor Dr. Gerald Wright said the city owns the land where the new single-story city hall will be built. Aesthetically, it should be an improvement. We are also going for the functional benefits. We are trying to have a place that is suitable for our citizens and our customers," Wright said. "We are at the point (with) the facility ... that it would just not be cost effective to do renovation. Robinson noted, The old building has been leaking. It is not as efficient at heating and cooling. Its not as efficient as a new building would be. It has roofing problems. We continue to repair those. He said economic development was another factor in the city's decision to build the new city hall. We need a place to bring people here who are interested in providing industrial growth, not a place that has been patched together, Robinson said. The convenience of the new city hall will benefit citizens, he noted. We will have a drive-in window at the new city hall, which will make it easy for people paying water bills, the administrator said. The new 4,200-square-foot brick structure will consist of three offices, the water department and a meeting room comparable to the size of the one at the Brooker Center, where Denmark City Council currently holds its meetings. A reception will be held at the gazebo in Jim Harrison Park following Friday's groundbreaking ceremony. On the Friday of his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that barred Syrian refugees indefinitely and blocked entry into the United States for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The consequences reverberated immediately, with students, military translators, and others from children to the elderly being detained and interrogated upon their arrival in the United States of America. Unprecedented protests erupted in airports nationwide. Thankfully, subsequent legal rulings and administration clarifications blunted the immediate chaos and at least saved legal U.S. residents, some of whom were caught up in the initial mess, from further embarrassment. Though these are small steps forward in a long fight to come, Trump is determined to see his executive order stand and I have a problem with that. I served as a Coast Guard officer for 10 years, including one year in the Arabian Gulf working with Iraqi sailors, marines and translators who risked their lives on a daily basis to protect our crews. Many of our generations veterans owe them our lives, and we all owe them a sacred duty to follow through on our promise to bring them and their families to America. This executive order betrays that commitment while undermining American security at home and abroad. After all, the United States has a rigorous process for vetting refugees that is tightly controlled by our intelligence community. Following an initial screening by the United Nations, the process is taken over by U.S. agencies like the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and State Department. These agencies use overlapping and repetitive methods, including extensive interviews, health checks, biometric data analysis and background checks to dive into refugees backgrounds. Syrian refugees in particular must undergo additional steps of security clearing the entire process can take an average of 18 to 24 months to complete. To state it simply, the system is exhaustive, and it works Trumps Muslim ban, on the other hand, definitively does not. The executive order uses Sept. 11 as its rationale, but does not ban those who share a nationality with any of the hijackers. The list is something of a mystery; there have been zero deaths caused by immigrants from its seven countries since 1975, and it conveniently exempts several countries where the Trump family happens to conduct business, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Instead, the ban of desperate refugees and innocent immigrants is ultimately an empty gesture that will do nothing but embarrass the United States on the world stage and alienate many of the very people we rely upon as partners in the fight against the Islamic State. And to add fuel to the fire, these policies play directly into the hands of ISIL, which argues like the Trump administration, apparently that Muslims cannot peacefully coexist in the West. With our government failing, it falls to all of us to prove that argument false. We must offer those suffering abroad another choice not radicalism or death, but safety, opportunity and prosperity. We must offer those who would come to our country, whether just for a visit or to start a new life here, that which we have always offered immigrants from around the world: A chance to succeed on their merits and live up to our values. The first step to doing so is for Trump to rescind his cruel and ineffective executive order. By choosing this American way forward over fear and hate, we will make our nation stronger as we always have through our founding values of freedom, equality and inclusivity. Last week President Donald Trump spoke to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, as his predecessors have consistently done since 1953. Called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast until 1970, the event routinely attracts 3,000 or more people to pray for the country and world and hear addresses by religious luminaries. Originally organized by Methodist minister Abraham Vereide and Republican Senator Frank Carlson of Kansas and sponsored by Fellowship Foundation, it also provides a forum for presidents to discuss their faith. Billy Graham convinced Dwight Eisenhower to address the first breakfast, where he characteristically declared that all free government is firmly founded in a deeply felt religious faith. Presidents have often used their speeches at the National Prayer Breakfast to accentuate their own faith commitments, improve their image, promote their agendas, and highlight issues about which faith communities care deeply and problems they can help combat. Donald Trumps critique of the low ratings of Arnold Schwarzeneggers The New Celebrity Apprentice and the former California governors rebuttal (offering to switch places with Trump) garnered the most media attention from this years National Prayer Breakfast. What, however, did Trump say that provides insights into his own faith? Trump said little about his faith during the 2016 presidential campaign. Unlike many other candidates for the Republican nomination, most notably Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, he seldom attends church, displays scant knowledge of the Bible or interest in prayer, and rarely uses religious rhetoric. Unlike his Republican predecessors George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, he has not been outspoken about a commitment to Jesus Christ. More than 80 percent of evangelicals voted for Trump in the 2016 election, but they did so primarily because of his position on issues such as abortion and religious liberty, his promise to nominate politically conservative Supreme Court justices, and their dislike of Hillary Clinton and her policies, not because of his religious convictions and character. So, three weeks into his already tumultuous presidency, what can we learn about Trumps faith from his remarks at the breakfast? Trump spoke briefly about his religious background. I was blessed, he asserted, to be raised in a churched home. Trump swore his inaugural oath on the Bible his mother used to teach him when he was a child, and he insisted that faith lives on in my heart every single day. Much more than in his campaign, Trump accentuated the importance of faith in God. It has inspired men and women to sacrifice for the needy, fight wars overseas, and work to ensure equal rights for all Americans. As long as we have God, Trump proclaimed, we are never, ever alone. God will always give us solace and strength, and comfort. Elected leaders must continually ask God for the wisdom to serve the public, according to his will. Like many of his predecessors, Trump affirmed the value of prayer and thanked Americans for praying for him. Your faith and prayers have sustained me and inspired me through some very, very tough times. The five words he hears repeatedly as he travels the country that continually touch my heart are I am praying for you. Trump labeled America a nation of believers and insisted (despite his frequent lauding of his own business achievements and wealth) that the quality of our lives is not defined by our material success, but by our spiritual success. Trump even noted that many of his friends who have had great material success are very, very miserable, unhappy people. Those who have great families and great faith, Trump declared, are the truly successful ones. Trump insisted that freedom is a gift from God, not a gift from government. One essential freedom, Trump asserted, is the right to worship according to our own beliefs. The president promised to repeal the Johnson Amendment to enable faith leaders to speak freely without fear of retribution. Adopted in 1954, this amendment prohibits churches and other charitable organizations from supporting or opposing political candidates. If clergy endorse or oppose candidates from their pulpits, their churches risk losing their tax-exempt status. Underscoring one of his campaign promises, Trump pledged that his administration will do everything in its power to defend and protect religious liberty in our land. He said that America must forever remain a tolerant society, where everyone is respected and where all of our citizens can feel safe and secure. This comment appears to contradict Trumps blatant disrespect of various groups in American society. Trump used his speech to defend his immigration policy. He argued that the United States has the most generous immigration system in the world. However, we must bar those who want to enter our country to spread violence and oppress others based upon their faith or their lifestyle. He promised to help ensure that those admitted into our country fully embrace our values of religious and personal liberty and love Americans and their values. The speech expressed the typical Trump bravado and bluster: The world is in trouble, but were going to straighten it out. Thats what I do. I fix things. The United States is taken advantage of by almost every nation in the world, he added. Its not going to happen anymore. So how should we interpret Trumps speech? Is this civil religion at its finest? Is it preaching to the choir? Does it truly express his heart-felt convictions? Time will tell. Thus far Donald Trumps demeanor, character, and policies seem to be little connected with the religious values he praised in his remarks, but let us hope and pray that they guide his presidency. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Azernews By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan and Iran are keen on putting on stream the Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway line project, which would connect the relevant networks of both countries. Iranian Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Saeed Mohammadzadeh said that the project, which is a part of the ambitious International North-South Transport Corridor, will be commissioned in March 2017. Mohammadzadeh made the remarks during a meeting with Javid Gurbanov, the head of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) on February 7. Along with the construction of the Astara - Astara railway, the sides also discussed the development of the railway terminal in Irans Astara, as well as the overall work on the implementation of the North-South project. The length of the railway is 10 kilometers, with some 8 kilometers falling to a share of Azerbaijan and two kilometers passing through the Iranian territory. The construction of the railroad bridge over the Astarachay River also nears completion. The construction of the bridge, which forms the border between the two similarly-named towns of Astara in Azerbaijan and Iran, was launched in April 2016. The bridge, which is funded and built jointly by the two countries under the terms of an inter-governmental agreement, bears strategic importance, as it will serve as a connector of railways of Azerbaijan and Iran. The length of the railroad bridge is expected to reach 82.5 meters, while its width will amount to 10.6 meters. The International North-South Transport Corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia, serving as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. The corridor is planned to transport 6 million tons of cargo per year at the initial stage and 15-20 million tons of cargo in the future. During the meeting, Gurbanov also pointed to the strengthening cooperation between the railway agencies of Azerbaijan and Iran, mentioning the operation of the Nakhchivan-Mashhad passenger train, which was launched on December 29, 2016. The train runs twice a week - on Thursdays and Sundays, making stops in Iranian cities of Jolfa, Tabriz and Tehran. By Azernews By Rashid Shirinov Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on February 7 on posthumously awarding Azerbaijani soldier Chingiz Gurbanov with the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan. The soldier was awarded for his outstanding achievements in the protection of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and personal bravery shown in a combat mission. On December 29, 2016, a reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, 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. After the incident, 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 Armenian side for over a month refused to return the body. Eventually, Gurbanovs body was transferred to Azerbaijan on February 5 as a result of the regular measures undertaken by international organizations, and relevant state agencies in accordance with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev. Chingiz Gurbanov was buried in the Alley of Martyrs in Gusar. The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 39 times throughout the day using 60- 82 mm mortar launchers, large-caliber machine guns and 122-mm howitzers, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry reported on February 8. The Armenian armed forces, stationed in Armenia`s Barekamavan village in Noyemberyan district, Aygepar village in Berd district and nameless hills in Krasnoselsk district subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces located in Alibayli village in Tovuz district, Gaymagli village in Gazakh district and nameless hills in Gadabay district. The ceasefire was also violated in Chilaburt village in Tartar district, Shikhlar, Bash Garvand, Yusifjanli and Sarijali villages in Aghdam district, Mehdili village in Jabrayil district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village in Fuzuli district as well as nameless hills in Goranboy, Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. By Trend Blogger Alexander Lapshin, who illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani lands, has been brought to Baku from Belarus where he was earlier detained. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Belarus rejected the complaint filed by Lapshins lawyer regarding his extradition to Azerbaijan, the press service of the court told Trend. On Jan. 26, Alexei Stuk, deputy prosecutor general of Belarus, issued a ruling on Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan. Later, the Minsk City Court upheld this decision. The Supreme Court of Belarus is the last instance Lapshin could appeal to against the ruling of the General Prosecutors Office. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. 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. By Azernews By Rashid Shirinov The story with a blogger Alexander Lapshin, who violated laws of Azerbaijan, is nearing the end. Lapshin, who is a citizen of Russia, Ukraine and Israel at the same time, was extradited from Belarus to Baku on February 7. The blogger had illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani lands in April 2011, thus disrespecting Azerbaijans territorial integrity, and also crossed Azerbaijans border once again by visiting the country in October 2012 using a different passport. Lapshin, who was aware that he became banned for entering Azerbaijan after his visit to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, inappropriately joked about the situation in his blog, and after a while again headed to Azerbaijan. He passed the control at airport in Baku by using his Ukrainian passport, where his name was written down as Oleksandr. In this way, he entered the country, as there was no such name in the "black list" of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. To promote the illegal regime created in the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories, Lapshin presented Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state in his blog. Moreover, he expressed support to the independence of the unrecognized regime on April 6 and June 29, 2016, by calls aimed at violating the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. On December 15, 2016, the law enforcement bodies of Belarus detained Lapshin in Minsk at the request of Interpol. Following that, some people, and primarily circles in Armenia, tried to save the blogger from justice by inexplicably speaking about freedom of speech. However, none of their attempts worked and justice has been served. Lapshin violated internationally recognized borders of a sovereign state, and norms of international law at the same time. Any country would act the same way as Azerbaijan. This event will be a serious lesson for everyone who doesnt or is unwilling to respect the territorial integrity and the principle of inviolability of Azerbaijani borders, and make those who intends to resort to similar illegal actions think well in advance, said Azerbaijani MP, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly vice-president Azay Guliyev commenting on the extradition of Lapshin. Another MP Aydin Mirzazade said that this is also another serious warning for Armenia. Armenian criminals who committed war crimes against the Azerbaijani civilians will also be brought to justice, he added. After the extradition of Lapshin, Vahram Baghdasaryan, the head of faction of Armenias ruling Republican Party, inexplicably said that Armenia should raise the issue of termination of Belarus membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Although Belarus as well as Azerbaijan acted fully within the international law, the story with Lapshin's extradition irritated the Armenian circles. And it is quite understandable. This story attracted much attention to the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenian armed forces. Persons, who illegally visited Nagorno-Karabakh at the invitation of Armenians, often apologized to Azerbaijan after they learned that their visit was illegal, and explained that they were deceived by the Armenian side. Now, after the extradition of Lapshin, more people will be aware of the consequences of illegally visiting occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Armenian media already state that the number of visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh will be considerably reduce after this incident. By and large, the extradition of Lapshin is an illustrative precedent. This story is an example proving that no crime will go unpunished. Now everyone, who visits occupied Nagorno-Karabakh without the permission of Azerbaijan, will understand what their actions may lead to. By Trend Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay a working visit to Ukraine on February 9-10, Turkeys Foreign Ministry reported February 8. Cavusoglu together with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin will participate in the fifth meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group. A consultation plan is expected to be signed between Ankara and Kiev during the visit. The top management of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), headed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and CEO, organised a major workshop to launch the updated Dewa 2021 strategy. The workshop, which was held at the St Regis hotel in Al Habtoor City, was attended by Dewas executive vice presidents, vice presidents, and the management team. It underlines Dewas commitment to keep up with all the latest developments. Addressing the gathering, Al Tayer emphasised the key role of Dewa 2021 to achieve the goals of the UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai Plan 2021. "For us at Dewa, strategic planning is a key component of a comprehensive system of integrated organisational work," he stated. "This puts excellence, innovation, and good governance at the forefront of our strategic priorities and ensures the integration and sustainability of all our projects and services, while enhancing its global competitiveness," he added. Al Tayer said it supports the integrated energy strategy for 2030, which was launched by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, besides the integrated gas strategy, the demand-side management strategy, the carbon abatement strategy, and the Dubai green mobility initiative. "Dewa 2021 adapts to other inputs, such as the expected growth in demand, major projects under way in the emirate, and the strategies and initiatives of other local and federal government organisations," he explained. According to him, this supports the vision of the wise leadership to develop a green and sustainable economy in Dubai and the UAE. "We do this according to a vision that is based on innovation, as a well-established approach to achieving common goals and improving overall performance," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Servcorp, a leading provider of serviced offices and business package solutions in the Middle East, continues to pioneer the workplace of the future with its virtual office offering. Since introducing the Business Package to the corporate world in the 1980s, Servcorp has offered businesses the presence, support and facilities of a fully serviced office without the cost of a full time office space. Through its seamless information technology (IT) solutions, companies of any size can operate in the Middle East while benefiting from Servcorps global corporate presence in over 150 countries worldwide, it said. Having invested over $100 million to build a one-of-a-kind communications network, Servcorp offers its first-class infrastructure to clients wherever they are in the world. Monitored 24/7 by in house IT specialists, the Business Package also includes a local business telephone number and a dedicated receptionist to manage calls. For companies that require administrative support, Servcorps skilled receptionists and personal assistants are on hand to offer their expertise. Pre-selected, interviewed and highly trained, the in-house team can tend to a host of tasks including answering the phone, welcoming guests, scheduling meetings and booking a table at the best restaurant in town. Commenting on Servcorps Business Package offering in the Middle East, Laudy Lahdo, Servcorps Middle East general manager said: The evolution of mobile communication and technology has opened up different ways of working with much higher value placed on the connectivity and flexibility of the workplace environment. At Servcorp we are continuously developing the Business Package to cater to this digital revolution. By bridging traditional elements such as providing the most sought after office addresses in the world with virtual elements in terms of our unrivalled IT capabilities, our clients are able to excel in a flexible work environment that suits the needs of their business. According to a recent report published by Cluttons, office space in premium locations across the region continues to command high rentals, despite challenges still being faced in a post-oil economy. With an increased focus on companies operational efficiencies, as well as the cost of setting up an office for newcomers to the region, the Business Packages by Servcorp offers value for money and unrivalled convenience. Servcorps Business Package has been developed to support companies who understand the significance of having a presence in an iconic address without committing to a physical office lease. This exclusive benefit not only reduces overheads, but offers businesses the added perks of access to the companys meeting room facilities, day suites and up to five hours daily complimentary usage of co-working spaces across the globe. Founded in Sydney in 1978, Servcorp now operates a growing international network of over 150 key city locations - clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small and medium-sized businesses and solo practitioners all over the globe. Prime addresses in the Middle East include Emirates Towers, Dubai; World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi; Sahab Tower, Kuwait; Beirut Souks Louis Vuitton Building, Lebanon and Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain. - TradeArabia News Service A Zulekha Hospital surgeon has become the first in the UAE to perform a coronary surgery using a unique and rare technique involving a surgical drill. Completed only six times across the globe, the rotablation angioplasty procedure was performed on a UAE resident who had been experiencing shortness of breath and upon examination was diagnosed with advanced coronary heart disease that put him at risk of a heart attack. With more than 30 years of experience in the field of coronary interventions, Dr Anil Bansal, consultant interventional cardiologist at Zulekha Hospital Dubai, said: The patient had a very tight and calcified blockage in two of the three main arteries and we couldnt perform a standard angioplasty as our tools would fail. While a regular procedure of removing arteries blockage and widening them involves the use of balloons and stents, Dr Bansal decided to use a rotablator, a surgical drill, to break up the plaque inside the patient's arteries. Dr Bansal added: Initially, we put a stent into the patients artery, but we couldnt expand it. The blockage was so hard that any balloon would break, so we decided to use a rotablator to cut through the stent and then break the hardened, calcified area. Discharged from the hospital only one day after the surgery, the patient said: I am very lucky to have undergone a procedure that is considered extremely complex and rare across the global healthcare system." Serving as a tool in the high-tech treatment options available for those diagnosed with coronary heart disease, rotablation provides patients with a feeling of relief and increased levels of energy when their newly open arteries pump enough blood to their heart and nourish their body. Administration director, Zia ur Rahman Shah, said: We are glad to have been able to resolve the worst of a cardiovascular complication in this case and make a difference to the patients life and his family. The need of expertise and equipment, alongside a capable team at the golden hour is important and we are confident our facilities are well equipped to manage such scenarios successfully. Maenwhile, in line with Zulekha Hospitals commitment to addressing the growing obesity rates across the country, the hospital recently launched a No More Excuses campaign, aimed at urging UAE residents to start taking responsibility for their health and wellbeing. The first phase of the campaign offers free appointments with one of Zulekha Hospitals specialist cardiologists in Dubai or Sharjah, who will oversee free ECG, blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol checks. All UAE residents can make appointments by visiting promise.zulekhahospitals.com or calling 600 524 442. - TradeArabia News Service Al Haddad Commercial Centre has returned to the Gulf Industry Fair for the third consecutive year, where it is emphasising that it is more than just a dealer for Mercedes-Benz in Bahrain. The Fair, which opened yesterday, run till February 9 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. Managing director Abdullah J Al Haddad said many customers are not aware that it also represents Metabo, a German power tools manufacturer. Its been five years now since we have been dealing with Metabo and we are very happy with the response. We have won customers both in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, said Al Haddad. Metabo power tools include grinders, table saws, drills, magnetic machines. It also produces high power rechargeable LED floodlights. It developed the worlds first 1,700-W compact angle grinder that sets new standards in productivity, service life and ergonomics with maximum power. Al Haddad supplies these tools to Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Gulf Equipment and Technology (GET) and Bahrain Fiberglass. Al Haddad Commercial Centre is part of the group that includes Al Haddad Motors, which has been an agent for Mercedes-Benz since 1958. Al Haddad Commercial Centre is at Stand B1a at the expo. - TradeArabia News Service Gulf Markets International (GMI), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is displaying products from its strong portfolio of international brands at the Gulf Industry Fair 2017, which opened in Bahrain yesterday (Feb 7). Gulf Industry Fair is the leading industrial expo for the GCC that is dedicated to promoting Bahrains industrial sectors, said Alain Arida, CEO of Gulf Markets International. Our balanced optimistic vision for the business future in Bahrain and our geographic presence in the GCC means that our commitment to support the Gulf Industry Fair is an integral part of our marketing strategy. GMI has expanded its business activities to include building materials, agriculture, lifts, medical equipment and industrial materials, equipment and solutions. The company has successfully built a sourcing platform hosting more than 40 companies as part of its portfolio, from around the world, in particular from Europe, Canada, the US, India, China and the GCC. GMI is at Stand B3 at the expo, which runs till February 9 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. - TradeArabia News Service Global technology leader Honeywell is set to exhibit the widest range of connected oil and gas technologies it has ever shown in Egypt, at the Egypt Petroleum Show (Egyps) 2017, taking place from February 14 to16 at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Center. The 10,000 anticipated visitors to Egyps, which is held under the patronage of Abdel Fatah El Sisi, President of Egypt, will have the opportunity to learn how Honeywells latest connected, software-enabled technologies can help Egypt unlock the full potential of its oil and gas reserves through more efficient, productive and profitable operations. Honeywells Connected Plant, Connected Worker themed pavilion (Hall 2, Booth #2B3D) will showcase cutting-edge innovation that delivers new possibilities for safety, productivity and efficiency, organizational responsiveness and profitability, by delivering meaningful information where and when it is needed most, through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). IIoT by Honeywell brings together existing and new technologies in order to drive better efficiency and agility in manufacturing industries by delivering meaningful information where and when it is needed the most, the company said. Honeywell is committed to supporting the growth ambitions of Egypts economy and delivering technology to help its industry extract maximum value from its oil and gas reserves, said Khaled Hashem, president, Honeywell Egypt. For over four decades, our leading product portfolio of hardware, software and services have helped to increase the efficiency, productivity and growth of the energy industry. We are proud to participate in the first Egypt Petroleum Show, where we are showcasing an exciting portfolio of Honeywell Connected Plant and Connected Worker solutions that leverage the power of IIoT to support the important development of Egypts oil and gas sector. The oil and gas sector continues to play an essential role in Egypts plans for economic development with its consistent growth. Energy sector reforms are a priority for the Egyptian government, which is looking to reduce its expenditure of $16 billion on oil and gas related imports. Reforms will include the phasing out of energy subsidies by 2019, and self-sufficiency in natural gas by 2020. The direction given by His Excellency Abdel Fatah El Sisi, President of The Arab Republic of Egypt is clear; Egypt must focus on capitalising on its newly discovered gas reserves and reduce its reliance upon imports. To bring these new fields online quickly and efficiently, the industry will need to make smart investments in latest processing and operational technologies for upstream facilities, said Evangelos Alepochoritis, sales director, Middle East and North Africa, at Honeywell Process Solutions. Essential to Egypts utilisation of its recently discovered fields is our gas purification technologies. Our offering provides the most advanced cleansing process right at the wellhead where gas is naturally corrosive, helping prepare the gas to be safely transported very quickly. With more than 10,000 installations around the world, manufacturers are using Honeywell IIoT-based technologies to shorten the time needed for plants to reach and maintain their peak performance targets. Honeywell has an impressive 30-year track record of working on some of Egypts most significant energy and infrastructure projects. The companys vast technology portfolio spans refining and petrochemical technologies, catalysts, process and control systems, renewable fuels and chemicals, specialty materials, industrial safety equipment, fire, gas and smoke detection products, home and industrial security, scanning and warehouse logistics solutions, cockpit controls, mechanical components and connectivity systems for aircraft, automotive turbochargers, and building management systems, it said. The company recently announced that it will award scholarships to six chemical engineering students at the University of Cairo. The scholarships are part of its investment in building engineering talent in Egypt and are funded by two of Honeywells businesses, Honeywell UOP and Honeywell Process Solutions. At the end of the current academic year, two of the students who receive scholarships will be selected for internships at Honeywell UOPs research facilities in Chicago, and at Honeywell Process Solutions offices in Houston. - TradeArabia News Service Federal judges expressed scepticism Tuesday over the need for President Donald Trump's travel ban, which has upended travel to the US for more than a week and tested the new administration's use of executive power, a report said. The US Justice Department asked the appeals court to restore Trump's order, contending that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the country, reported TIME. Several states have challenged the ban on travellers from seven Muslim majority nations, stressing that it is unconstitutional. Circuit Judge Michelle T Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked whether the government has any evidence connecting the nations covered by the ban to terrorism. August Flentje, special counsel to the assistant attorney general, said the government is aware of some foreign nationals who have been arrested in the US since Sept 11, without giving details of the evidence. He also said president has broad power to enforce national security. It was unlikely 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals would issue a ruling Tuesday, with a decision expected later this week, court spokesman David Madden said. Whatever the court eventually decides, either side could ask the Supreme Court to intervene. UAE's Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) have announced that the launch of the nanosatellite Nayif-1 will occur between February 14 and 25. The launch will take place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, on board a PSLV-C37 rocket. Nayif-1 is expected to be launched on the morning of February 15, if all logistics are intact and ideal weather conditions prevail, to ensure a successful launch into space. Currently, a team of specialists at MBRSC and AUS are working to ascertain the readiness of the ground station located at the university, from which the satellite will be operated and controlled after its launch. Nayif-1s main mission objective is to send and receive messages on Amateur Radio frequencies. The nanosatellite boasts a number of advanced features, most notably that it is programmed to transfer messages in Arabic. It also holds an Active Control System Board that has not been launched into space before. Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general of MBRSC, said that he is very proud of the Emirati students who participated in all phases of developing Nayif-1 until now, where it is ready for launch into space. He also pointed out that four of the students that worked on Nayif-1have been selected to join the MBRSC team to work on the Emirates Mars Mission- Hope mission and KhalifaSat project. Al Shaibani said that the educational CubeSat project, Nayif-1, represents an important step that is in line with the MBRSC strategy aiming to building national human capacities in the UAE universities and providing training on satellite manufacturing technology. He pointed out that the Centre will focus in the future on training other students on how to manage and operate the ground station, communicate with the satellite to transmit and receive messages, as well as using data in new scientific experiments, such as studying the motion of the satellite in space. This kind of space project is of a high priority for government and educational institutions worldwide, because it provides extensive knowledge to researchers, as well as the basics of satellite manufacturing and space system testing. Over the past two years, we began to establish CubeSat manufacturing technology in the UAE, to be used in environmental and development-related fields which are of interest to the community, he added. The Centre aspires to building a sustainable future for the satellite industry in the UAE, and we count on our youth to provide solutions and innovations that are conducive to sector growth, and lead to gaining a competitive edge worldwide, Al Shaibani concluded. Dr Bjorn Kjerfve, chancellor of AUS said: We look forward to the launch of the nanosatellite Nayif-1 with great anticipation. Developed by Emirati engineering graduates from AUS under the supervision of a team of engineers and specialists from MBRSC, this project reflects the commitment of our university towards research and innovation in fields that will play a significant role in the future of the country. Nayif-1 has been tested on ground and has successfully passed all tests on its subsystems, such as the power and control subsystems, satellite antenna and communication subsystem. These tests were followed by the full system environmental tests, including thermal and vibration tests. TradeArabia News Service Hitachi Automotive System and Honda Motor have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming to establish a joint venture company for the development, manufacture and sales of motors for electric vehicles. The collaboration aims to generate technological synergy and economies of scale that will strengthen their competitive advantage and business foundation for the motors at the core of an electric vehicle system. Environmental conservation measures and regulations increasing on a global scale, the market for electric vehicles is expected to continue to grow, the companies said. Subsidiary operations of the new Japan-based joint venture are planned for the US and China, each with manufacturing and sales functions. Together with the establishment of these operations, the new company will expand the global supply of motors by creating a robust response to demand from Honda and other vehicle manufacturers. In parallel to the efforts of the new company, Hitachi Automotive Systems will continue to promote its business operations by maintaining the business relationships it has with vehicle manufacturers that receive their supply of motors from the company. Moreover, Honda will continue to focus on the global promotion of electric vehicles by using motors from the new company as well as the motors it currently manufactures itself in Japan. The joint venture, which has yet to be named, will be 51 per cent owned by Hitachi and will be based in Hitachinaka city, north of Tokyo. The companies hope to establish the joint venture by July after signing the definitive agreement in March, a statement said. TradeArabia News Service Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) has signed a contract worth EGP 350 million ($19 million), with the Egyptian German Electrical Manufacturing Company (EGEMAC) to supply two power transmission stations, a report said. The capacity of the two planned transmission stations in Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada will reach 66 and 220 kV respectively, Medhat Ramadan, chairperson of EGEMAC was quoted as saying in the Daily News Egypt report. The projects are scheduled to be completed within 12 months, he added. Additionally, EGEMAC is establishing two transformer stations at a cost of EGP 160 million. Ramadan explained that the first station will be launched in Tanta, Gharbeya, with a capacity of 220 kV, at a cost of EGP 103m. The second would be in Mashtool, Sharqeya, with a capacity of 66 kV and at a cost of EGP 57 million. It will be completed within two months, he said. Ramadan said that his company is implementing El-Tamah transformer station for 220/66 /11 kV in Fayoum within the Ministry of Electricitys plan to develop the power supply. He added that the contract also includes the supply and installation of a 220/66 kV transformer station, in addition to civil works. The contract is scheduled to be completed within 10 months. Qatar Petroleum (QP), Total, Mitsubishi, ExxonMobil, and Hoegh have partnered to advance a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import project in Pakistan in collaboration with Global Energy Infrastructure Limited (GEIL). The consortium will seek to develop a project that includes a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), a jetty and a pipeline to shore to provide a timely and reliable natural gas supply to Pakistan. The FSRU will have a minimum regasification capacity of 750 million cu ft per day by 2018. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, president and CEO of Qatar Petroleum said: This consortium will bring together partners with a proven track record of industry-leading performance and a history of delivering projects on time and on budget, while focusing on environmental stewardship. "Forming this consortium with Total, Mitsubishi, ExxonMobil and Hoegh represents a significant milestone that complements Pakistans successful effort to meet the growing demand for clean-burning natural gas in this important market. Qatar Petroleum is proud to partner with these distinguished companies to help meet Pakistans energy needs," Al-Kaabi concluded. Pakistan has a large demand for natural gas and a well-established gas market and distribution system. The companies forming the consortium are global leaders in producing, shipping and marketing LNG with a strong track record of delivering on project execution in a very competitive global LNG market. Natural gas is a cost-competitive fuel and can deliver significant environmental benefits. This project has the potential to deliver substantial, reliable natural gas supplies to the public and private sectors in Pakistan. The FSRU has been committed, and the consortium is promptly advancing through the necessary technical and commercial milestones. TradeArabia News Service A bike-sharing station seen in downtown Beirut, Lebanon on February 7. According to the media office of Beirut Municipality which installed the first bike-sharing station in the capital Beirut in January, the project dubbed 'Lebanon Bike Sharing System, Bike 4 All,' is privately funded by Bike 4 All, launched in collaboration with the Governor of Beirut and Beirut Municipality. The plan is to develop another 25 stations across Beirut by the year 2020 and this will include 500 bikes. EPA/Wael Hamzeh The high levels of complexity and uncertainty attached to the key political and security issues for the year mean that boards will need to undertake comprehensive reviews of their approaches to risk management, a report said. Control Risks, a specialist risk consultancy, has published its annual RiskMap forecast, a leading guide to political and business risk and an important reference for policy makers and business leaders. Richard Fenning, CEO, Control Risks, said: The unexpected US election and Brexit referendum results that caught the world by surprise have tipped the balance to make 2017 one of the most difficult years for business strategic decision making since the end of the Cold War. The catalysts to international business geopolitical stability, trade and investment liberalisation and democratisation are facing erosion. The commercial landscape among government, private sector and non-state actors is getting more complex. By the end of 2017 we will know whether or not the global economy withstood the shocks and turbulence of 2016, if the US opted for a new definition of how to exercise its power and if the great experiment in globalisation remains on track, he added. Digitalisation and the internet of Everything take risk everywhere and the distinction between safe home markets and dangerous foreign ones has largely gone. The sheer mass of stored data, teetering on a fulcrum between asset and liability, has shifted the gravitational centre of risk, Fenning noted. Mena: Top five drivers of risk in 2017 The big black swan of 2017 for the Middle East region will be a potential unravelling of the nuclear deal with Iran as a result of changes in US foreign policy under President Trump. While we consider that to remain unlikely, this would have significant security and business implications for the region by pushing Iran back into aggressive foreign policy and into commercial isolation, said Fenning. Under the main scenario which provides for continuity of the nuclear deal beyond 2017, the top five likely drivers of risks to international businesses in the Middle East are: Geopolitics: Shifting global geopolitical relationships will be mirrored by a realignment of foreign policy alliances and priorities of major players in the Middle East. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Iran will look to build or consolidate bridges with China, Japan, India and/or Russia to hedge against the uncertainty surrounding US and Europes engagement in the region. Such policy realignments are likely to play out in the commercial sphere when it comes to major project awards and bilateral trade agreements. Fiscal consolidation: Efforts to reduce government spending in response to low oil prices will continue to affect economic growth and dampen public investment levels across the region. They will also drive regulatory risk particularly rises in local taxes and changes to local content regulations, as well as risks of non-payment and contract frustration. Reform efforts are also likely to trigger localised labour and/or social unrest against governments and businesses in North Africa, particularly in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Push for FDI: Most countries in the region are putting in place plans and strategic visions to increase their attractiveness to foreign investors in an effort to diversify their economies and secure growth in sectors other than oil and gas. While these efforts may be successful in non-strategic sectors such as education, healthcare and e-commerce might, they are unlikely to succeed in other major sectors, such as energy or telecommunications, where prevailing statists trends and a desire for government interference will likely limit the extent of privatisation and liberalisation. Weakening of Islamic State: The collapse of IS territory is likely to prompt a global exodus of foreign fighters. As IS falls, many will be killed in battle, some captured trying to escape and others recruited into other groups including rival al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JFS) or continuing to operate in weak governance areas, such as the Sinai in Egypt, as well as parts of Libya, Syria and Iraq. The rest will most likely return to their home countries in Western Europe, Russia, North Africa or the GCC and will try to imbue local extremist networks in their home countries with their experience and capability. While in Iran and the GCC this trend is unlikely to trigger any significant increase in the threat of attacks, countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon and Jordan may face higher challenges to contain returning IS fighters. Cyber: The conflict in Syria and the broader complex geopolitical situation in the Middle East is likely to have a significant impact on the regional cyber threat landscape in the coming year. In particular, Iran has continued to develop its capabilities and lags behind only Israel in the region in terms of its ability to conduct disruptive cyber attacks on geopolitical rivals, though other states are also seeking to develop these tools for their own arsenals. In 2017, Iran and these emerging actors are likely to use their capabilities to conduct plausibly deniable data-wiping attacks in its rivals, using activist groups to claim credit for the incidents so as to complicate the victims response. These attacks are particularly likely to target governmental bodies, symbolic targets and elements of critical national infrastructure in rival states. TradeArabia News Service Europe has been named the 'Official Partner Destination' of ITB China 2017. A corresponding agreement was signed on January 31, 2017 by David Axiotis, general manager ITB China and Eduardo Santander, executive director european Travel Commission. The three-day business to business travel trade fair focuses exclusively on the Chinese travel industry and takes place from May 10 to 12, 2017 in Shanghai. David Axiotis, general manager of ITB China, said: We are delighted to announce Europe as the first ever partner destination for ITB China. China is the driving force for growth in outbound trips and Europe as a continent remains a dream destination for many Chinese tourists. Europe as partner destination will help to better understand the needs of Chinese visitors within the European Tourism Community, especially in the view of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY). Eduardo Santander, executive director at European Travel Commission, said: European destinations acknowledge the need to remain competitive in China. It is only through deeper cooperation with the Chinese authorities and the support and commitment of the European tourism sector to engage in joint public-private marketing initiatives, like this partnership with ITB China, that Europe will succeed in fostering sustainable tourism growth from China. A dedicated Europe Pavilion at ITB China will be showcasing the multitude of European tourism products and destinations among which are confirmed national presences of Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Serbia. In addition to the Europe pavilion, ITB China will show strong individual presences of other major European destinations such as Portugal, Finland, Greece and Austria. The European presence on the show floor is flanked by The World Bridge Tourism project (WBT), which is co-located with ITB China 2017. The WBT is a project jointly organised by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) matching 150 European tourism suppliers from all over Europe with the corresponding number of Chinese travel product buyers. Besides its pure B2B character the event is supported by an extensive program of research and webinars aimed at increasing the understanding of the needs of Chinese visitors within the European Tourism Community. Tom Jenkins, CEO of The European Tour Operators Association, said: We are looking forward to working together with the European Travel Commission and ITB China. Chinas desire to travel abroad remains unbroken and European interest in accommodating Chinese visitors is growing. This initiative is designed to help European suppliers understand the needs of the Chinese market and deal directly with the main players. Both initiatives the Europe Pavilion at ITB China and the World Bridge Tourism have the support of the European Union. ITB China will take place from May 10 to 12, 2017 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center. The event, an international offshoot of one of Messe Berlins most successful trade fairs, will take place annually and focus on the Chinese travel industry. - TradeArabia News Service Oman Air recently honoured its travel agents at an event named 'Together we Succeed', thanking them for their efforts and support to the national carrier of Oman as well as introducing a new loyalty scheme for the agents. Jamal Al Azki, Oman Air country manager, Oman kick-started the evening with a warm welcome, followed by a speech of Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO of Oman Air. Travel Agents are an integral segment for Oman Air business. Last year in spite of the bleak outlook, Oman Air did relatively well in terms of generating revenues with an increase of 9 per cent on 2015. In the highly competitive environment with oversupply of seats in the GCC, this is a remarkable achievement. Unfortunately the revenues earned were still below target, as prices for tickets have fallen further. The lower ticket prices did also affect the income of the travel agencies as commissions paid have been reduced. With the newly announced loyalty scheme all have a better opportunity to achieve more sales for Oman Air. As the national airline is committed to the growth strategy as endorsed by the Omani Government, even more opportunities to sell and fly Oman Air are offered. Al Azki in his opening note said: As the national carrier of Oman, and with over 181 flights per day, Oman Air plays a key role in diversifying the Omani economy. By bridging Oman to the world, and acting as its ambassadors, we are constantly working to bring more tourists and business to the country. Around the region, weve experienced a year-long battle of the fittest, and Oman Air is no exception. Yet we stood firm through the economic turmoil, and so did you. Oman Airs new loyalty scheme for the Travel Agents was unveiled by senior vice president - Network Planning & Revenue Management, Aboudy Nasser. As per the new scheme, the best selling travel agent staff of every quarter will receive a grand prize of a Mini Cooper, apart from other attractive cash support to the agency for training and joint marketing. The new scheme announcement was followed by a Question and Answer session by senior vice president sales Mahfood Saleem Al Harthy who answered the questions by the travel agents present. Appreciating the efforts of many people in the travel industry, from agents to managers to those in the executive offices, across many levels, who work daily to turn the concept of traveling into reality, Oman Air brought the focus to awarding the efforts of the best performing travel agents for their contribution during 2016. The awards distribution was followed by a gala dinner. - TradeArabia News Service Grownup Stuff Senior Stompers meet Mondays Free only for Seniors 60+ who like to have fun, love music and like to dance, tapping and stomping to the beat. Join Joyce's Senior Stompers on Monday mornings at 10:50 a.m. and exercise your mind and body. Call Joyce for more information 237-4908. Adult Coloring Club Stop by the Natrona County Library anytime between 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 for Adult Coloring Club. Coloring books and pages will be available to turn into works of art. Colored pencils, crayons, and markers also will be provided. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information. Fun month at Mountain Plaza Mountain Plaza Assisted Living, 4154 Talon Dr., has a packed month of February planned for residents, guests and those interested. Feb. 10: Homemade soup Top Chef competition at noon. Judge Top Chef and runner-up and enjoy a wonderful lunch with wonderful company. Feb. 14: Valentine Sweetheart Party, 2 p.m. King and Queen of Valentines will be crowned during the party. Fun and chocolate -- who could ask for more? Feb. 24: International Margarita Day at Happy Hour, 2 p.m. Virgin and non-virgin Margaritas will be served. Feb. 28: Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Lively music and masquerade costumes or masks. Music will be provided by the Twang Gang. For more information, call 232-0100. Friday Melrose music Melrose Coffeehouse, 1511 S. Melrose, welcomes Steve Frame from 7 to 10 p.m., on Friday. Steve brings his guitar and he will be playing some of the new tunes which he has written, along with many old favorite covers. . As always, there is no cover charge, but tips for musicians are encouraged. Espresso drinks, soft drinks, desserts and popcorn are available for a small fee. Senior dance Feb. 11 Senior Dance schedule at the Eagles Hall, 306 N. Durbin St., this Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m., with potluck snacks at 8 p.m., and door prize drawings at 9 p.m. Bring your sweet valentine and dance the night away to SwingSounds Band, providing dance music. SwingSounds and the Eagles Lodge would like to wish a happy Valentine's Day to all sweethearts. Entrance at door in north parking lot and additional parking across the street and the entire parking lot at A and Durbin Sts. Admission $5 per person, see you there. Robbie Daniels -- 235-5130 OLLI offers hand sewing Sewable Circuits (OLLI 2052) is an exciting new class that will take hand sewing to the next level by using sewable circuit materials in sewing projects. Offered by the Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI) at Casper College, fabric creations will be spiced up using conductive thread and LED lights. The result will be two-and-three-dimensional fiber pieces with an extra flare. The class, taught by Leah Ritz, will be held on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 15 to March 15. No prior hand sewing or electrical circuits experience is necessary. Students are welcome to bring their fabric scraps, embroidery hoop, and thimble, but supplies will be available as well. For more information or to register, contact Karen Arnold at 268-2099 or karnold@caspercollege.edu. Cotherman teaches writing class The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Casper College is offering a class for writers of fiction, nonfiction, essay, and poetry beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 14. "Writing for Life" (OLLI 4021) provides writers who want to share their work with other writers a nonthreatening environment in which to share. Writers will be able to read their writings and receive gentle suggestions and constructive criticism according to Audrey Cotherman, instructor. Writers will also learn how to prepare their work for publication or inclusion in their familys historical archives. The two-hour class will continue on Feb. 28, March 14 and 28, and April 11 and 25. To register or for more information contact Karen Arnold, lifelong learning specialist at 268-2099 or karnold@caspercollege.edu. What Washington wore The Historic Bishop Home celebrates Presidents Day Weekend with a special evening on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. The early evening event will feature a presentation on What George Washington Wore. Rosalind Grenfell will share the fascinating history of the clothing and social culture of our first president, George Washington. Grenfell is an expert in apparel, fashion history, and related arts. She received her graduate degree from Virginia Tech and has taught apparel, textiles, and fashion history at various institutions throughout the United States. The lecture and light supper are Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. Salad, sandwiches, dessert and iced tea will be served. Tickets are $25 per person. Please call 235-5277 or email info@cadomafoundation.org for your reservation by Feb. 15, 2017. All reservations are confirmed upon payment. Payment should be made to the Cadoma Foundation and mailed to 220 East Midwest Suite B, Casper, Wyoming 82601. The Historic Bishop Home is located at 818 East 2nd Street on the north side of 2nd Street between Lincoln and Jefferson. Parking is available on Jefferson and Lincoln Streets or in the parking lot directly behind the house off Lincoln Street. Parking is available in the homes driveway for persons with limited mobility. Jam session Feb. 12 Jam Session at the Eagles Hall, 306 N. Durbin St. Jam session from 4 to 8 p.m., Feb. 12, all musicians, dancers, etc. are welcome to join in on stage or in the audience. The Eagle Riders will also be preparing scrumptious hamburgers with all the trimmings. Bring your Sweetheart on this Valentine's day and enjoy good music, dance or join in on stage and order a great hamburger from the Eagle Riders. All hamburger sales are for charitable fund raising. See you there. Robbie Daniels -- 235-5130 Apply for Mrs. Casper The Mrs. Wyoming Pageant is seeking applicants for the title of Mrs. Casper. Once selected, the successful applicant will advance to represent her community in the 2017 Mrs. Wyoming Pageant to be held on May 6 in Cheyenne. Local titleholders will compete to win a prize package valued at over $8,000 including an all expense paid trip to the national Mrs. America Pageant. Applicants must be at least 18 years old (no age limit), married at the time of competition and a Wyoming resident, no performing talent required. Celebrating its 41st year, the Mrs. America pageant is the only competition to recognize Americas married woman. To request the official application or for information, call Sheree Cooke, Wyomings state director, at 720-549-0440 or visit www.mrswyomingamerica.com. New member exhibit opens The Art 321/Casper Artists Guild, 321 W. Midwest, February Exhibit features the guild's newest members (three years as members or less). The New Members Exhibit will give the community a chance to get to know some new artists who may be exhibiting for the first time, as well as many already seasoned artists who have become new members of our organization. The exhibit will hang until Feb. 25. Art321/Casper Artists Guild is a non-profit organization that offers many art opportunities and experiences for the citizens of Casper and surrounding communities, offering exhibits, classes, workshops and the chance to meet fellow artists and art lovers. Please visit the gallery and see what becoming involved as a member has to offer. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 265-2655. Global conversation Feb. 11 The Center for Global Studies brings the first Center for Global Studies-Senator Malcolm Wallop Conversations on Democracy program to the Natrona County Library at 3 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 11, featuring linked presentations focusing on democracy and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The presentation features a public talk by Ambassador Gary Grappo, the University of Wyoming's Senior Visiting Scholar in Global Studies for 2016-17 on "Democracy in Transition: Lessons from the Middle East." He is followed by Eric Nigh, M.A. candidate in International Studies at UW discussing "Post Conflict US Development Policy Outcomes in Iraq." Jean Garrison, director of the Center for Global Studies will discuss "Challenges and Opportunities in US Foreign Policy," and discuss democracy promotion as a goal for U.S. foreign policy. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information. Nostalgic display at Senior Services The Senior Center, 1831 E. 4th St., is featuring a display that features nostalgic items back to the late 1800's. The display will be up through February and March. Items include baby plates and cups, antique dolls, Steiff collectibles, and many other items, thanks to Tom and Lida Volin. For more information, call 265-4678. JACKSON A wind storm is suspected of downing 17 steel utility poles along the Moose-Wilson Road on Tuesday night, causing a power outage in Teton County that could last for several days. The outage initially affected about 3,500 customers in Teton Village, the Jackson Hole Airport and three subdivisions, said Lower Valley Energy spokesman Brian Tanabe. Wind gusts of up to 90 mph were reported in west-central Wyoming Tuesday night, but Tanabe said its not clear if it was straight winds, microbursts or something else that bent some of the steel poles over like they were made of balsa wood. The downed wires are transmission lines, meaning Lower Valley Energy wont be able to just re-route power to all of the affected areas, Tanabe said. Crews from five other utilities are helping to restore electrical service, he said. Jackson Hole Airport was closed Tuesday night, stranding several hundred passengers, but flights resumed on Wednesday, airport director Jim Elwood said. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is closed through the weekend, and will open at the earliest on Monday, said spokeswoman Anna Cole. The resorts heavy equipment and some personnel will be helping to clear snow so repair crews can put up temporary wooden poles. The closure means the cancellation of skijoring and Special Olympics competitions scheduled for this weekend, Cole said. The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and Jackson Hole Central Reservation will be assisting with lodging and travel options for displaced guests. The resort will issue refunds, but Cole said they have not yet determined how they will take care of that. The Wyoming Department of Transportation has issued a no unnecessary travel order on highways in Teton County. Another storm could bring up to an additional foot of snow to the Jackson Hole valley, according to the National Weather Service. Despite a last-minute attempt to prove his innocence to a judge, a Casper man will spend up to 35 years in prison for burning down his wifes home in 2013. Natrona County District Court Judge Daniel Forgey sentenced Mark Garrison on Wednesday to between 30 and 35 years in prison for burning down the mobile home where his estranged wife was living. A jury convicted Garrison of first-degree arson and a further charge of being a habitual criminal in October. After a prosecutor and Garrisons public defender gave their recommended sentences, Garrison used his chance to speak to argue that he never committed the crime in the first place. I did not burn down that trailer that night, he told the judge. I am not guilty, I swear to God, he added later. Garrison said that witnesses in the case lied while they were testifying during the trial and that one had admitted to it in writing. The man waved crumpled pieces of paper at the judge, asking him to consider the statements written there. Forgey declined to read the papers and said that such matters could be dealt with through the appeals process. Michael Schafer, Natrona County assistant district attorney, recommended a sentence of between 44 and 48 years, citing Garrisons lengthy criminal record over the past few decades. The defendant has proven he is a danger to society and those hes in a relationship with, Schafer read from a sentencing assessment written by probation and parole staff. Schafer also said Garrisons victim, Kathe Hendricks, wanted him in prison for as long as possible so she doesnt have to live looking over her shoulder. Garrison was convicted of burning down the mobile home on Yucca Circle where he and Hendricks previously lived. Hendricks told police that Garrison had repeatedly threatened to kill her and burn down the home, court documents show. Garrison has 30 days to notify the court that he plans to appeal his conviction or sentence. CHEYENNE The Wyoming House added a sales tax Tuesday afternoon to an education omnibus bill, a levy that has appeared and disappeared in different amounts as lawmakers have worked on the legislation. Its completely fluid right now, said Buck McVeigh of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association, who watched the debate Tuesday. You know, its a battle between those who want to get something done this session and take the heat (from angry constituents) versus those who say they dont want to saddle the next Legislature with this action. On Tuesday, the House settled on a 0.5 percent sales tax increase to fund elementary and secondary schools. Then they advanced House Bill 236 to the Senate. The bill also includes cuts to save money to a number of programs, from transportation to special education. The 0.5 percent tax would go into effect only if the $1.6 billion rainy day fund, which will be used to help plug the pending $400 million a year education gap, is drained to under $500 million. The tax ends once the funding for schools reaches a certain threshold. The sales tax portion amount of HB236 has alternated in recent weeks between 0.5 percent and 2 percent, with different stipulations attached to each amount. And on Monday, the House completely repealed the sales tax portion of the bill before restoring the conditional 0.5 percent increase Tuesday. Lawmakers discussed at length their different viewpoints on taxes. Some, such as Rep. Jamie Flitner, R-Greybull, said all people need to have a stake in education funding, which is declining because of the drop in mineral revenues. Others, such as Rep. Tim Salazar, R-Dubois, argued that seniors and single mothers could not afford to pay more for goods and services through a tax increase, especially now. But arguments, such as those from Speaker Steve Harshman, R-Casper, and Rep. Mike Greear, R-Worland, seemed to sway a majority in the House. They said the time to address the looming education funding challenge is now and the state shouldnt delay. The Taxpayers Association doesnt have a position on the issue, said McVeigh, its executive director. But the education bill is compelling. This is the really the show to watch, right here, he said. CHEYENNE In the past five years, 45,000 Wyomingites have been trained to watch for warning signs of someone who might be suicidal. Thats about 9 percent of the states population, the most of anywhere in the nation. Teachers, police, nurses and others have undergone the training, said Keith Hotle, CEO of the Prevention Management Organization of Wyoming, which has been involved in the work. The best way is to do it directly, he said. Have a conversation with a person, So youre feeling suicidal. Lets talk about it. The training could be saving lives in a state that had the second-highest suicide rate in 2015, he said. Forty-four percent of the people who have gone through the classes said theyve used the skills they learned. But those programs may be on the chopping block. About $2.1 million allocated to suicide and substance abuse prevention within the Wyoming Department of Health could be cut, Hotle said. *** The Health Department uses $13 million to manage a number of programs and private sector contracts to reduce suicide, tobacco and substance abuse in the state. Money comes from a combination of state, federal and tobacco settlement funds. At this point, Health Department officials dont know how the proposed cuts in the budget would affect various programs and contracts, said department spokeswoman Kim Deti. Lawmakers are still working through the budget this week. Hotle said the Prevention Management Organizations current $5.7 million contract could be reduced by $2.1 million starting July 1. Thats assuming the Health Department awards the work again to PMO, which starting next fiscal year will be in three separate contracts. The organization will find out if it wins some or all of the contracts in March, Hotle said. If it were all applied to the stuff we do now it would be 40 percent cut, he said. If were spread apart among other programs, that number would change. But Rep. Tom Walters, a Casper Republican who sits on the committee that drafted the budget bill, said the PMO is ineffective, duplicative and has too much overhead. He said the organization is taking credit for work that was already underway in Wyomings communities. Walters proposed the cut when the Joint Appropriations Committee was crafting the budget in January. He said hes talked to social workers throughout the state. The Health Department offered suicide and substance abuse prevention money to communities until 2012, when the state decided to contract the work to the PMO. Walters would like the Health Department to oversee work in the communities again. Theres still lots of money there within the Department of Health to carry out the services in the state, he said. So people are not going to be left without services with this cut. Senate President Eli Bebout, a Riverton Republican, also questioned whether contracting substance abuse and suicide prevention was the best use of state money. I think we need to have a serious look at it now, Bebout said. Im not sure that its doing what we want it to do. Thats what I think the (Joint Appropriations Committee) is talking about. And I think we need to have a discussion, Is it the right way to go or are we spending the money in the right spot? *** Gov. Matt Mead said he was concerned about cuts. Theres an expense associated with those things, he said. And theres an even larger expense for not taking care of it. Hotle said overhead costs at the PMO run lower than when the state managed prevention. Hotle formerly worked in prevention for the state. Last summer, Mead cut Wyomings budget by $250 million. The PMOs budget was trimmed by 11 percent. Four people in administration were laid off, he said. Hotle provided forms that the PMO, as a tax-exempt organization, must file each year with the Internal Revenue Service. It showed that gross receipts have gone down from $6.2 million in 2012 to $5.6 million last year, with $5.4 million in expenses. Most of the money has come from the state, some money from local governments and other nonprofits. Hotles salary was not listed but last years executive director earned $78,750. In 2012, when the Health Department began contracting services, there was a shift in how money was used to prevent suicide and substance abuse. Instead of money going to myriad programs with different approaches to prevention, the PMO tried to offer statewide, unified training based on research, data and best practices, Hotle said. Wyomings suicide rate has not decreased since the PMO took over suicide prevention, but Hotle said that when there are only about 130 to 170 suicides a year, a reduction or increase from one year to the next can be misleading. Wyomings suicide rate has remained relatively flat in the past two decades at a time when the national suicide rate is increasing, he added. We know we are saving individual lives, he said. That may not have the same kind of statistical appeal but when you look at the fact that we have trained 45,000 people and a little under 50 percent have used that training to save peoples lives, thats compelling. The United States isnt the only country thats a complete basket case right now. Basically the entire world has reached record levels of political chaos and uncertainty. Thats according to the relatively little-publicized Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index, which just hit a two-decade high. The index was constructed by Scott R. Baker, Nick Bloom and Steven J. Davis, economists at Northwestern University, Stanford University and the University of Chicago, respectively. It tracks the relative frequency of news coverage relating to economic policy uncertainty, based on archives from major newspapers in 18 countries. These countries collectively represent more than two-thirds of the global economy. In January, the index surpassed 300 for the first time ever. For context, thats roughly three times the average number over the past 20 years as far back as the index goes. Why does this matter? Uncertainty about the policy environment leads to a lot of business decisions being put on pause. Moreover, research has found that big shocks in policy uncertainty such as what were seeing now around the world foreshadowed declines in investment, output and hiring. Reversing an investment or hire is expensive, after all. When theres more uncertainty about whether laws and political leadership will change, businesses are more likely to stand pat. Even if fully committed to hiring and expanding, they may still be less nimble because banks are reluctant to extend financing when theyre unsure what the rules of the road or economic conditions will look like. Its easy to blame President Donald Trump for sowing unpredictability (one of his stated objectives) worldwide. But surprisingly, the United States does not seem to be the primary driver of this global phenomenon, at least if you look at only the American component of the index. Uncertainty in the United States has been elevated in recent months, according to this measure, though it is nowhere near its monthly record high. That was reached in mid-2011, when a debt ceiling showdown brought the country to the brink of default. Despite the chaos and confusion of the past several weeks, the United States doesnt seem to be in economic policy crisis mode. The same cannot be said for the rest of the globe. Trumps caprices are likely battering other, smaller economies, and thereby driving up uncertainty in other countries in ways that may not be reflected in just the U.S. numbers. But other countries have also been sowing plenty of their own homegrown turmoil. Across Europe, far-right nationalism, populism and anti-establishment sentiment have unleashed great uncertainty about who will be in charge in a few months and what their economic platforms will be. Major elections coming up in Germany, France and the Netherlands have spooked financial markets and raised questions about whether the European Union will continue to exist in anything resembling its current form. Britons have already voted to exit the European Union, of course, but the country still hasnt hashed out the terms of the divorce. Indeed, its still struggling to figure out if and when Brexit will happen. Meanwhile, other jurisdictions, such as France, are trying to lure away the lucrative British banking industry, leaving that sectors employees in an uncomfortable limbo. Europe is hardly the only continent with problems. In Asia, China sees an opening to become more of a world political leader, thanks to Trumps commitment to greater U.S. insularity. But internally, China too faces record-high economic policy uncertainty, thanks to an enormous capital exodus, a regulatory clampdown and manufacturing troubles. Its neighbor South Korea is also grappling with political turmoil following a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of its president, the questioning of more than 400 individuals in that investigation, and raids of 150 companies and government agencies. On the other side of the globe, Brazil is still dealing with fallout from its own corruption scandal, which also displaced a president. And tumult and instability have roiled Turkey, too, among other countries. And so on. None of this is evidence that the United States ought to retrench. To the contrary, its a sign that the world needs us all the more to act like the beacon of stability, leadership and liberal values that we have long declared ourselves to be. There is less room than ever for incompetent governance, hissy-fit phone calls with foreign leaders, magic math and laughable press-room lies. Americans desperately need our elected officials to get their acts together and start behaving like grown-ups. So does the rest of the world. Intels Fab 42 will Target Advanced 7 nm Technology and Create More Than 10,000 Jobs in Arizona WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intel Corporation today announced plans to invest more than $7 billion to complete Fab 42, which is expected to be the most advanced semiconductor factory in the world. The high-volume factory is in Chandler, Ariz., and is targeted to use the 7 nanometer (nm) manufacturing process. It will produce microprocessors to power data centers and hundreds of millions of smart and connected devices worldwide. The announcement was made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at the White House. The completion of Fab 42 in 3 to 4 years will directly create approximately 3,000 high-tech, high-wage Intel jobs for process engineers, equipment technicians, and facilities-support engineers and technicians who will work at the site. Combined with the indirect impact on businesses that will help support the factorys operations, Fab 42 is expected to create more than 10,000 total long-term jobs in Arizona. Context for the investment was outlined in an e-mail from Intels CEO to employees. Intels business continues to grow and investment in manufacturing capacity and R&D ensures that the pace of Moores law continues to march on, fueling technology innovations the world loves and depends on, said Krzanich. This factory will help the U.S. maintain its position as the global leader in the semiconductor industry. Intel is a global manufacturing and technology company, yet we think of ourselves as a leading American innovation enterprise, Krzanich added. America has a unique combination of talent, a vibrant business environment and access to global markets, which has enabled U.S. companies like Intel to foster economic growth and innovation. Our factories support jobs -- high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs that are the economic engines of the states where they are located. Intel is Americas largest high-technology capital expenditure investor ($5.1 billion in the U.S. 2015) and its third largest investor in global R&D ($12.1 billion in 20151). The majority of Intels manufacturing and R&D is in the United States. As a result, Intel employs more than 50,000 people in the United States, while directly supporting almost half a million other U.S. jobs across a range of industries, including semiconductor tooling, software, logistics, channels, OEMs and other manufacturers that incorporate our products into theirs. The 7 nm semiconductor manufacturing process targeted for Fab 42 will be the most advanced semiconductor process technology used in the world and represents the future of Moores Law. In 1968 Intel co-founder Gordon Moore predicted that computing power will become significantly more capable and yet cost less year after year. Making a leading-edge computer chip is the most complex manufacturing process in the world, engineering magic that turns sand into semiconductors, the foundation of the knowledge economy. The chips made on the 7 nm process will power the most sophisticated computers, data centers, sensors and other high-tech devices, and enable things like artificial intelligence, more advanced cars and transportation services, breakthroughs in medical research and treatment, and more. These are areas that depend upon having the highest amount of computing power, access to the fastest networks, the most data storage, the smallest chip sizes, and other benefits that come from advancing Moores Law. Intel and the Intel logo, are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Global Innovation 1000 study and Intel 2015 annual report. Contacts Intel Corporation The Arizona Corporation Commission on Tuesday approved the Southline Transmission Project, which will add 240 miles of new high-voltage lines in Arizona and New Mexico and upgrade another 120 miles of lines from near Wilcox to a substation northwest of Tucson. Southline, sponsored by Dallas-based transmission provider Hunt Power, won approval from both the Western Area Power Administration and the Bureau of Land Management last year. It will connect with Tucson Electric Power Co.s substation near Vail. The Coporation Commission granted the project a certificate of environmental compatibility after amending the plan to lessen effects on Mountain View Ranch, a development along Interstate 10 east of Vail. The original route also was altered to avoid wine-growing areas near Willcox. Volkswagen will have to stand trial in Arizona over the sale of diesel vehicles that were sold to state residents as emitting less pollution. In an order made public Wednesday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Randall Warner acknowledged that violations of federally set emission standards can be handled only in federal court. And VW has admitted that its vehicles actually did produce more emissions than legally allowed. But Warner pointed out that the lawsuit filed last year by Attorney General Mark Brnovich is not based on the failure of the companys vehicles to meet federal air quality standards. Instead, he noted that Brnovich is charging the company deceived Arizonans into buying something that does not perform as advertised. And that claim, Warner said, falls not under federal law but the states Consumer Fraud Act. It is true that the alleged misrepresentations concerned emissions, the judge wrote. But the Clean Air Act does not pre-empt all lawsuits relating to emissions, he continued. Congress did not clearly manifest a purpose to pre-empt state law fraud claims merely because the subject of the fraud concerns emissions. Warner also rebuffed a separate contention by Porsche, which is now part of the Volkswagen corporate group and made some of the engines at issue, that Arizona courts have no jurisdiction over the company. The company acknowledged it marketed its cars to Arizona residents. But its lawyers argued that did not deliberately target Arizona consumers, pointing out this was part of a national campaign. Warner sniffed at that contention. A company that advertises with the purpose of selling its products to Arizona consumers has made purposeful contacts with Arizona, even if it also made purposeful contacts with the other 49 states, he wrote. To hold otherwise would mean no state has jurisdiction over deceptive nationwide marketing campaigns. There was no immediate response from an attorney for the defendants. The case surrounds the sale of vehicles with a special diesel engine that was advertised as having just a fraction of the emissions as similar cars. Buyers paid anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 more than comparable vehicles. But those low emissions were, in many ways, on paper only. VW engineers had programmed each vehicles computer to recognize when it was being tested for emissions. At that point, it would go into a low-power mode with sharply reduced pollution. Once the test was over, the engine returned to full power. Only thing is, that mode produced more pollutants, including as much as 40 times the maximum allowable standards of nitrogen oxides. VW has admitted what happened for the vehicles sold from 2008 to 2015. It pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Environmental Protection Agency and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties. Thats on top of $17.5 billion it is paying out to resolve civil lawsuits by customers and dealers. In discussing the litigation last year, Assistant Attorney General O.H. Skinner said any relief VW provides to buyers does not override the states interest in pursuing consumer fraud charges. The statute specifically provides that when you willfully do this theres a penalty of $10,000 per violation, he said. Based on the estimated number of vehicles sold in Arizona, the AGs office has estimated the penalty could reach $40 million. It doesnt matter if Volkswagen, years later, after the people bring lawsuits, decides to make Arizona consumers whole, Skinner explained. The point of a the civil penalty ... is to prevent people from doing this in the future, tell people that you cant just do this and then get called out and then just scurry to try to make people whole and make the case go away. This is the second time VW has been rebuffed in its bid to escape facing consumer fraud charges in state courts. Last year, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver said the states entire case is based on the contention that the German automaker knowingly and intentionally deceived Arizonans into buying diesel cars that were supposed to produce less emissions. In fact, she said, the company has admitted the engines burn dirtier than claimed. What all that means, Silver said, is it is legally irrelevant whether VW did or did not violate federal clean air standards, the claim VW is making to have the case handled by her versus some judge in Maricopa County Superior Court. We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Feb. 8 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. During her telephone town hall Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Martha McSally was ready to pounce when a woman who identified herself as Harriet from Tucson asked whether she had voted to give guns back to mentally ill people. No way, McSally argued. Its a touchy topic, of course, since McSally represents the same district that Gabrielle Giffords was representing when she was shot by a mentally ill person on Jan. 8, 2011. And McSally was clearly upset about being labeled in Tuesdays Star by a survivor of that mass shooting as someone who would not have kept guns out of the hands of the severely mentally ill shooter, Jared Lee Loughner. This bill was related to a rule that came out in the waning days of the Obama administration, that simply said that if youre a senior this is under the Social Security Administration and youre asking for assistance related to managing your financial matters, basically your name is automatically forwarded to the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check) system. And that would mean you cant buy a gun from a licensed dealer. Essentially, what it was doing was denying due process to seniors who were simply asking for assistance with their finances. This particular rule drew widespread opposition from the mental health advocates, the ACLU and others. This is classic unelected bureaucrats depriving people of their constitutional rights. So was she right, or was Suzi Hileman right, when she said on the Stars editorial page Tuesday that Your vote says that a meaningful background check is too much to ask in order to keep me safe as I participate in civic dialogue? The Obama administration described the rule that McSally and the House majority rejected as an effort to comply with the 2007 NICS Improvement Act (NIAA). Congress passed that law after a Virginia Tech student who had been judged mentally ill massacred 32 people there. It required, among other things, that federal agencies find a way to put in the FBIs NICS system the identities of people who shouldnt be allowed to buy guns and are listed in government databases. The Social Security Administrations innovation was in the way it tried to discover who might be prohibited, specifically among those who receive Social Security disability or SSI benefits not among all Social Security recipients or particularly among seniors. Heres how they explained it in the Federal Register. We will report an individuals record to the NICS based on his or her inability to manage his or her affairs due to a disabling mental impairment that meets or equals the criteria found in one of the Mental Disorders Listings. Thats the area where I find fault in McSallys explanation. She said Tuesday that it wouldnt have been simply people on Social Security who ask for assistance related to managing (their) financial matters whose names would be forwarded to the NICS system. That wasn't the case -- nor would it have applied to all Social Security recipients. As the American Civil Liberties Union, which also opposed the rule, explained, it applied to a subset of the people who get this help managing their affairs, people who, because of a mental impairment, use a representative payee to help manage their benefits. The fact that the targeted people have a mental impairment was in the rule. Heres how the Social Security Administration responded to public comments on the rule: We also are not basing our reporting of records to the NICS solely on a medical finding of disability. Rather, consistent with section 101(a)(4) of the NIAA and the ATFs implementing regulation, we are basing our report on the individuals inability to manage his or her affairs as a result of his or her mental impairment. For Hileman, who was wounded in the Jan. 8 shooting, thats good enough. She told me Tuesday evening that erring on the side of protecting her and other constituents is what McSally especially because she's in Giffords old district should do. But leaving aside whether McSally recognized this fact, its worth questioning whether the Social Security Administration is really zeroing in on the population who should not have guns. Federal law prohibits people who have been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution from buying guns from licensed dealers. The Social Security Administration rule appears to paint with a broader brush than the law does. U.S. Rep. Tom OHalleran, the Democrat representing Congressional District 1, voted with McSally against the rule, while Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, from CD3, voted for it. Former U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, the Democrat whom McSally beat in 2014, also took a mildly dim view of the rule when I asked him Tuesday night. The problem with the rule is that it had a broad sweep, said Barber, who was also shot by Loughner. People who have a mental illness and have a guardian arent necessarily prone to violence. The rule probably didnt get specific enough, he went on. What we really need to focus on are the people who have been adjudicated. Beyond that issue, theres the question of whether the people targeted by the rule have sufficient access to due process. The long story short seems to be: No. Only after they have been entered into the NICS database as prohibited buyers of firearms would they have a chance to appeal the process. We can all foresee how urgently this proceeding would occur in real life not at all. It would likely move at the leisurely pace of bureaucracy. If McSally had done nothing to try to keep guns out of the hands of people like Loughner, then I might still suspect her vote was a simple kowtow to the GOP and NRA, which opposed the rule. But she also introduced a bill in 2015, which passed last year, that wll help people identify those with mental illness and have those adjudicated reported to the NICS system. So, for me, the vote was defensible, even though McSally didnt defend it particularly well. A 25-year-old Tucson man was sentenced to 25 years to life Tuesday, in connection with a 2015 Marana shooting death, officials said. Cody Clark was arrested in March 2015, after police found 22-year-old Austin Gann dead inside of his car near I-10 and West Cortaro Road, according to Arizona Daily Star archives. The pair were drinking together in a parking lot the night before the shooting, according to a post on the Pima County Attorney's Office Facebook page. Clark was dry firing his gun in the parking lot, when he pulled out a magazine and loaded the gun with bullets before firing a shot into the desert, the post said. Gann, who was startled, ran to his car and Clark followed him, getting into the backseat, according to the post. Clark held Gann at gunpoint, forcing him to drive into the desert before shooting him in the back of his neck, the post said. Shortly after Gann's body was discovered, Marana police arrested Clark for criminal damage in an unrelated incident. He was in custody when authorities linked him to Gann's murder. Lawyers for Tucson are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to spurn a bid by Republican interests to kill the citys unique system of electing council members. In new legal briefs, City Attorney Mike Rankin said theres nothing inherently unconstitutional about having the six council members nominated by ward but then having a citywide general election. He said it ensures that each area of Tucson is represented and yet requires council members to pay attention to voters in the other five wards. The citys election system allows both ward and citywide electorates a voice, and also provides benefits to both, he argued. In a ruling last year, the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the practice. Rankins filing comes in response to a request by the Public Integrity Alliance, represented by Kory Langhofer, to persuade the nations high court to overturn the appellate ruling. Langhofer said the system illegally disenfranchises residents of any five particular wards who have no voice on who advances from the other ward to a citywide general election. Langhofer contends leaving the 9th Circuit ruling intact would vest in states and municipalities a nearly unfettered ability to deny the right to vote in the primary election. But there is partisan interest in trying to scrap the system. Republicans hold a voter-registration edge in one of the wards. But all six council members are Democrats, the result of the fact that they outnumber Republicans on a citywide basis. If the system is voided and council members have to be elected by ward at the general election, that could give Republicans a better chance of getting one or more members on the citys governing body. Rankin, in his filing to the high court, did not address the political implications. Instead, he told the justices there is precedent for concluding that the same rules and same procedures need not apply for primary and general elections. The city is free to set different residency qualifications in these two separate elections, he wrote. The case before the Supreme Court isnt the first bid by Republican interests to undermine the voting system. In 2009, Sen. Jonathan Paton, then a Republican senator from Tucson, pushed through legislation barring cities from conducting an election where the candidates political affiliations are listed on the ballot. Tucson is the only city in Arizona that has partisan elections. That same measure voided Tucsons modified ward election system. Langhofer acknowledged that the lawsuit by the Public Integrity Alliance is on behalf of several Tucson Republicans. And he said it would be GOP voters in Tucson who are the beneficiaries. But he said the litigation is not a partisan move, saying the alliance gets involved in all kinds of cases and elections where it believes there is impropriety. He said in 2014 it paid for commercials during the Republican primary attacking Tom Horne, then the states attorney general. That helped Mark Brnovich win the Republican primary before going on to defeat Democrat Felecia Rotellini in the general election. PHOENIX Unable to push through a cap on university tuition hikes to control costs, a state lawmaker wants to require universities to offer a stripped-down degree. Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, acknowledged Wednesday she cannot marshal the votes for her plan to limit year-over-year tuition increases to 2 percent. SB 1061 drew stiff opposition from the Board of Regents, which contends higher tuition is related to the cuts in state funding enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature. But Allen, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said she is now crafting other ways to cut the cost of higher education. One of those is requiring universities to provide programs in which students only need to take the courses necessary to gain a particular skill set. They make them take a lot of classes that have nothing to do with the degree theyre trying to get, Allen said. They could tighten that up a little bit so that theres less time at the university taking courses that dont necessarily apply to what it is youre trying to get your degree for. So, for example, a student wanting a degree in journalism might need only 36 hours of journalism courses and perhaps some courses in English and political science. But much of the rest that fills out the 120 hours needed for a bachelors degree, ranging from foreign language skills to math courses, would be optional. Universities position has been that a liberal arts education leads to a well-rounded individual. Ive heard the arguments, Allen said. But she said shes not convinced thats appropriate for everyone. I believe that a student should choose, she said. If they want the well-rounded (degree), great. But if a student wants to fast-track to be able to get a degree in journalism, that should be offered. Offering such a program would be another way to make higher education more affordable, she said. Allen said she doesnt intend for such a degree option to trick students or their potential future employers. The degree would say that only minimally required courses were taken, and that its not a full-blown liberal arts degree, she said. Shes not convinced, she added, that the academic courses make someone skilled in a profession. There was no immediate response from Eileen Klein, president of the Arizona Board of Regents. Despite Allens inability to get the 2 percent cap on tuition increases, she is pursuing other options this legislative session. One issue, she said, is that its not fair for a student who enters school to be priced out because of a sudden increase. Two of the states three universities have some form of a tuition guarantee. But she said legislative testimony shows these are flawed because they fail to include a host of non-optional fees, including special charges for classes a student is required to take. She is now rewriting her proposal to make the guarantee more inclusive. No date has been set for a new hearing. For the second time, the Board of Supervisors voted to delay a vote on raising county sewer rates by 4 percent. The board unanimously decided Tuesday to hold off until a draft report on sewer rates is completed by a contractor, which wastewater department director Jackson Jenkins said should be by March or April. To me it doesnt make much sense to increase rates at all until that study is completed, Supervisor Steve Christy said, adding that it will have a bearing on whether he supports a rate change. County officials say three 4 percent rate increases in coming years are necessary to address declining revenues and rising costs, as well as to stave off potentially serious financial consequences. Last year the wastewater advisory committee voted to recommend a single increase and wait on the others until the study cited by Christy was complete. Rates were last raised in 2013 when they jumped 10 percent, the last of a sustained series of sizable increases to service massive debt issued to pay for a new wastewater treatment plant and major upgrades to another work that cost around $700 million, making it the countys largest public works project ever. Jenkins said the study, which will cost around $100,000, will focus largely on connection fees and could determine that it looks like its appropriate or not appropriate for a connection fee increase. The 4 percent hike would increase the average residential customers monthly bill by about $1.63. The average residential ratepayer now pays nearly $41 per month for just shy of 6,000 gallons, according to the countys website. Thats pretty close to average for such bills among residents of the countrys 50 largest cities, according to a 2013 study commissioned by the San Antonio Water System. The countys finance director, Keith Dommer, told the board that without increases in the near future, cash reserves would fall alarmingly quickly and be nearly depleted by 2020. The wastewater departments debt service ratio, a metric used by bond rating agencies to evaluate financial health, would also fall below 1, which means that its funds are insufficient. At a Jan. 26 meeting of the advisory committee, Dommer told Christy that sewer rates could stabilize or begin falling by fiscal year 2025, though he cautioned that there is no prediction for what the future holds, according to meeting minutes. GOLDWATER APPEAL On a 3-2 vote, the supervisors also opted to appeal a recent Superior Court judges decision to void the countys deal with the space balloon company World View. The original four-count lawsuit was brought last April by the conservative Goldwater Institute, which alleged the deal violated state statute, county ordinance and the Arizona Constitutions gift clause. In October, Goldwater asked a county judge to declare (the lease) invalid for running afoul of state law regarding appraisals, auctions and rental rates and in her ruling last week, Judge Catherine Woods did just that. Christy joined Supervisor Ally Miller, a longtime critic of the World View deal, in voting against an appeal. In early 2016, the Board of Supervisors agreed to build a launch pad and headquarters worth nearly $15 million on behalf of World View and issue debt to pay for it. Those facilities were recently completed, and the company has moved in and begun operations near Tucson International Airport. Explaining his vote, Christy said he would prefer the county try to resolve the issue with Goldwater, rather than jumping right into a legal remedy, which he said would be costly and have no guarantee of resolution. I think the best thing we could do is to try to make some kind of overture to the Goldwater folks to see if there is something that we can do to remedy the situation that satisfies them and allows World View to continue, he said. Miller said she agreed with Woods and Goldwater that state law requiring appraisal, competitive bidding and minimum lease prices applied in this case. In court filings, the county acknowledges that statute but says its authority to pursue the deal with World View comes from another statute that grants counties broad economic development authority. It is a conflict between one statute and another statute, Supervisor Ramon Valadez said, adding later: I still support this deal because I still believe that nothing inappropriate was done. In response to questions about the appeal, Jim Manley, Goldwaters lead attorney, told the Star its disappointing that they are going to continue to drag this out, rather than simply complying with the law and doing right by the taxpayer. Pima County has recorded its first pediatric flu death, which is also the first in Arizona this season, officials said Wednesday. The county's health department and the Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed that a young child has died due to systemic bacterial infection complicated by the flu. "Although this flu season in Pima County has been mild compared to prior years, the risk of influenza among our vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly is very real and can have devastating consequences, said Dr. Francisco Garcia, director of the Pima County Health Department. If you have not stopped to get your flu shot, please do so today, it is not too late. As of Jan. 28, there were 2,138 confirmed cases of influenza in Arizona, according to a regular report from the state's health department. About 90 percent of the confirmed cases are influenza A, the department said. Pima County had 232 confirmed cases of influenza as of Jan. 28, the state said. However, the department said the number of actual cases of the flu are likely much higher than the confirmed cases since many sick people don't go to a doctor. Health officials recommend that everyone age 6 months and older be immunized. It's also important to take everyday preventive actions like covering coughs and sneezes, staying away from sick people and washing your hands often, officials say. People at high risk for influenza complications should see a health care professional promptly if they get flu symptoms, even if they have been vaccinated this season. Those at high risk for serious flu complications include people with underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or neurological conditions; pregnant women; those younger than 5 years or older than 65 years of age; or anyone with a weakened immune system. For more information about the flu and its symptoms or where to find a flu vaccine in Arizona, go to www.flu.gov The Spanish government will face strikes at all ports across the country later this month, according to International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Maritime Operations Coordinator Jacqueline Smith. Source: Drimi/Shutterstock The Spanish government will face strikes at all ports across the country on the 20th, 22nd and 24th of this month, according to ITF Maritime Operations Coordinator Jacqueline Smith. Spanish unions plan to implement port strikes this month in response to the governments plan to reform the countrys port system. The Spanish government will face strikes at all ports across the country on the 20th, 22nd and 24th of this month, according to International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Maritime Operations Coordinator Jacqueline Smith. The governments decree seeks to bring Spanish dock labor legislation into line with European Union single market legislation, IHS Fairplay reported. Cargo-handling activity has reportedly started to slow at some ports, including Barcelona, and some shipping companies are reportedly making plans to divert some of their vessels to French ports during the strike period, IHS Fairplay said. Unions calling on the strike say the governments decree would result in over 6,000 dockers losing their jobs due to plans to cut the Spanish labor force by 25 percent per year for the next three years, according to IHS Fairplay. The Spanish government is tearing up the rule book with a callous disregard for Spanish jobs, Spanish prestige and international conventions, ITF President and dockers section chair Paddy Crumlin said. We understand from our Spanish affiliate unions that they have been told by the government that it intends to approve a law which seeks to aggressively and destructively liberalize the port labor market, Crumlin added. Unbelievably it even seeks to dismantle the current dockers registration system in breach of Spains international obligations under ILO (International Labor Organization) Convention 137. To add to the sense of the damaging, unnecessary and aggressive intent, the proposed law furthermore ignores the agreements reached a few weeks ago between the employers association, ANESCO, and the unions. Help India! Washington, (IANS) : An US appeals court has questioned whether President Donald Trumps travel ban discriminates against Muslims, a media report said on Wednesday. Judge Richard Clifton asked whether it could be discriminatory if it affected only 15 per cent of the worlds Muslims, the BBC reported. Support TwoCircles Clifton is one of three judges on the appeals court in San Francisco, which will make its ruling later this week. There was an hour of oral arguments from both sides on Tuesday. Whatever the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals decides, the case would probably end up in the Supreme Court. Trumps executive order temporarily banned entry for all refugees and visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries, until it was halted last week. Customs officials in the United States have informed airlines that they can board passengers that have been banned from entering the United States, a federal judge in Seattle has ruled. District Judge James Robart ordered a temporary halt on President trump's travel ban on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia from entering the United States. 'Unlawful discrimination' Judge Robart granted a temporary restraining order on Friday after listening to arguments made by Washington and Minnesota state lawyers, who argued that Trump's executive order caused Muslims 'unreasonable harm' due to unlawful discrimination. On Friday evening, the White House released a statement that said it would seek an emergency stay against the judge's decision. The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said: 'On Monday, the Department for Justice will file an emergency stay of this outrageous order to defend the executive order made by the President last week, which we perceive to be both lawful and wholly appropriate given the spread of terrorism. The President's order is designed to defend the United States of America as he has the responsibility to do so'. CBP say formerly banned passengers can travel to US The Department of Justice later stated it would not immediately file for an emergency stay. Reports claimed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have told US airlines that they should board travelers that had been prevented from entering the United States last week due to Trump's executive order. The manager at San Fransisco's airport told reporters that there was no instructions given to them from the government thus far. 'We're just having to wait and see. Since Trump was elected, the law has been constantly changing and morphing. We sincerely hope that it works out good for everyone'. Since Trump announced his executive order last week, he has come under increasing pressure to change it. Trump has shown little regard for critics, but the decision made by Since Trump announced his executive order last week, he has come under increasing pressure to change it. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, condemned Theresa May for complicity supporting Trump's policy. However, the policy did have its supporters in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage, the former leader of Ukip and prominent member of the Brexit campaign, applauded Trump for taking a stance on terrorism while television personality Katie Hopkins said she was 'hand in hand with Trump' on the policy. Hitherto, Donald Trump has shown little to no regard for critics, but the decision made by Judge Robart is the first legal road bump he has encountered since he became President. european leaders have criticised President of the United States, Donald Trump, for his anti-European Union discourse and his executive order that bans citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The leaders of Europe's most powerful nations accused Trump of a lack of respect while Prime Minister Theresa May's attempts to build bridges with the new President were widely rejected. EU/US relations 'could be in jeopardy' French President, Francois Hollande, warned that Europe's relationship with the United States could be in jeopardy if 'this future isn't defined in common'. Conversely, Theresa May, at a working lunch in Malta, pleaded with other European leaders to work 'constructively and patiently' with the new President in order to build bridges between Europe and America. The European leader's comments in regard to Trump's disrespect for the European Union emanate from the President's likely pick as his ambassador to the European Union. Ted Malloch, the favourite to be giiven the role as ambassador, has likened his goal to bringing down the Soviet Union. Wryly, Dalia Grybauskaite, the Lithuanian president, stated: 'I dont think we need a bridge [to America]. We communicate with Americans on Twitter'. German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said that she had yet to speak with Theresa May personally following the Prime Minister's visit to Washington, but claimed she was pleased Theresa May expressed her belief in a strong European Union. However, a meeting between Merkel and May was cancelled at the last minute. A Number 10 spokesperson claimed May and Merkel had discussed all they needed to discuss on a 'cultural walk' in between meetings, which rendered the later discussion unnecessary. However, a meeting between Merkel and May was cancelled at the last minute. A Number 10 spokesperson claimed May and Merkel had discussed all they needed to discuss on a 'cultural walk' in between meetings, which rendered the later discussion unnecessary. Merkel reiterated her discomfort on Donald Trump's executive order to ban Muslims from seven countries from entering the United States: 'We work on the basis of shared values. Fighting terrorism is not something that could ever justify the stereotyping of a whole religion'. Similarly, the Austrian chancellor, Christian Kern, said: ' President Trumps ban on travellers from several Muslim-majority countries is highly problematic. Instead, we should be winning these countries as allies in order to combat the threat of international terrorism. We should be fighting in the corner with them. Nigel Farage has again stuck up for his buddy US President Donald Trump. A caller on his LBC radio show phoned in to defend John Bercows comments that Trump should not be allowed to address the Houses of Parliament during his state visit later this year. Listener accused Farage of making a mountain out of a molehill As Farage was speaking out against Bercow on his show, saying that he has invited tyrants from all over the world to speak at Parliament throughout his career, a listener called in to say he was making a mountain out of a molehill. And then Farage slaughtered him. Farage said that Bercow has had the Israel-condemning Emir of Kuwait and the nuke-toting North Korea over for tea. The caller then accused Farage of disliking Bercow and using the current controversy surrounding him as a platform to have a pop at him. Then Farage took the caller down by using history against him. He doesnt see a problem in having a pop at Bercow, but he does see a problem with this issue being referred to as a molehill, because he said the programmes constitutional expert Craig cannot think of any precedent in the history of our Parliament where a speaker has so overstepped the mark, and then accused his listener of only calling in for a row and said it was great fun, then hung up the call. House of Commons Speaker John Bercow attracted both cheers and backlash when he said that a Parliamentary address is not an automatic right for a world leader during a state visit, voiced his anti-Trump stance, and said that a Parliamentary address is something that has to be earned. Now hes defending his comments, including a statement that accused the United States President of racism and sexism. Bercow told MPs that all of his comments about and against President Trump were made honestly and honourably, and adds that with his title, he has the right to voice such opinions. Conservatives have criticised Bercow Since making the aforementioned comments, Bercow has attracted backlash and criticisms from Conservatives and right-wingers, with one warning that his political career might be in jeopardy for saying such things, with another saying he has tainted and spoiled the interests of the nation. The Downing Street team have also released a statement in response to Bercows comments, calling them a matter for Parliament to deal with internally. According to Conservative MP Sir Gerald Howarth, the partys reaction to Bercows comments at the time he made them had a rather subdued aspect. Trump coming to the UK on the Queens invitation The Queen herself has invited Donald Trump for a state visit to the UK later this year. Why the hell she did that is another story entirely, but anyway, said state visit is not guaranteed to, but can include an address to both Houses of Parliament. However, Bercow, speaking for the House of Commons, has made it abundantly clear that an address to Parliament is not a given right for world leaders during a state visit, and that he is staunchly against Trump addressing Parliament when he comes down in a few months. Despite the upset from the Conservative Party, our version of the Republican Party of which Trump is a real-life satirical caricature, MPs from the Labour and SNP parties loudly applauded Bercows statements. When he was taken to task about his comments the following day, Bercow simply told them the chair has a role in these matters, shaking off any trouble he might be in like a rockstar. Bercow is done with the controversy Bercow is such a rock n roller that he cant even be bothered with his own controversy. He just shrugs it off and says its time now to move on to other matters. Sir Gerald says that the Conservative Party wants full confidence that Bercows decision making will be impartial, because thats the way for the House to proceed. He added that relations between the UK and the US are extremely important. On the other hand, Bercow has received praise from the MPs of other parties, such as Paul Flynn of Labour, who says that Bercow is owed a debt of gratitude for his comments and the finality of his decision, and Alex Salmond of SNP, who has encountered problems with Trump in the past personally, who said to Bercow, If ever a statement deserved clapping, then yours did yesterday. Speaking on how this controversy and lack of impartiality puts Bercows career in jeopardy, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, who is also the chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said that his comments will have consequences, and said that as Speaker, Bercow is expected to referee all of this and keep himself above vocalising his opinions on divisive topics such as this one. Senator Elizabeth Warren, the current presumptive Democratic nominee for President in the next election, tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther Kings widow, describing voting rights violations by then State Attorney General Jeff Sessions but she was shut down by the repeated complaints of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican from Kentucky. The letter Among other things the late Mrs King said about Sessions in the letter, he has used "the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge." The letter was written 30 years ago in opposition to then Senator Sessions nomination for a Federal Judgeship which he was denied after repeated testimony about his blatant racism. It was addressed to Strom Thurmond of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a Republican Senator who served for South Carolina for 47 years. Senator Thurmond was a vocal opponent of integration. It was also copied to then-Senator Joe Biden, who just retired from politics after serving as Vice President to President Obama for eight years. Mrs Kings message to the committee which was holding hearings on the nomination, complaints that, while head of the legal department in Alabama, Jeff Sessions worked diligently to prevent black voters from getting to the polls and also keeping them from registering. After being banned from speaking again in the Senate during the confirmation debate, senator warren immediately walked to a room with video capabilities and read the entire letter onto a Facebook page where it generated millions of views in just a few hours. What rule? An obscure Senate rule banning one member from directly addressing a fellow Senator by name and also from criticising them, was used to stop Massachusetts Senator Warren from reading the letter from the civil rights icon. Senate rule, No. 19, says that fellow Senators cant "directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." Although the Senate rule is supposed to help maintain decorum and keep Senators from fighting openly on the floor of the Senate, Senator Warren spoke heatedly about how this was different because Sessions was not being discussed as a Senator, but was being opposed as the Trump nominee for the next Attorney General. Gerrymandering and other schemes What Mrs King was complaining about was how Sessions worked with the governor and the Republican party officials to keep black votes suppressed using various strategies. Those in the UK who remember what rotten boroughs are will be familiar with the effect of Gerrymandering, if not the actual concept or how it works in the US. This is the practice of the party in power redrawing the voting districts in such a manner that the opposition cant win in any district because just enough voters of the opposition to the current party are shifted into other districts which are predominantly held by the party in power. With 32 out of 50 states now held by Republican governors and legislatures, those states are now essentially locked into voting Republican, by the redrafting of districts, until or unless some major event occurs and the parties holding the state changes. All of the southern states where blacks are a large part of the population are held by the Republicans who have systematically tried to pass voting restrictions which mainly impact poor black voters, such as requiring two photo IDs, being forced to pay to vote (poll tax), or literacy tests. The latter two have been overturned by the courts as discriminatory so Republicans are now trying other strategies such as moving voting locations from black churches to police stations, or reducing the number of polling places so the poor have difficulty getting to remote locations to vote. Democrats in the Senate oppose sessions on the grounds of racism. Saying once again that courts are threatening the security of the US and saying multiple times how sad it was, apparently that there were legal checks and bounds on his actions, and he was amazed and disgusted hearing the legal arguments which took place the evening before on the Muslim ban which he now says is not a ban and which the Administration insists is not limiting Muslims. Trump didnt understand whats happening Beginning by saying, I dont like to call court's biased, but, president Trump went on to say, If these judges wanted to help the court in terms of respect for the court they would do what they should be doing the right thing [supporting the Presidents travel ban.]" President Trump read Statute 1182, the law establishing a presidents legal right to ban any immigrants but he left out the severe limitations on that right as imposed by the later 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (H.R. 2580; Pub.L. 89236, 79 Stat. 911, enacted June 30, 1968) or Hart-Celler law, which abolished the national quota system and specifically banned discrimination based on the country of origin, race, orientation, or religion of the immigrant or refugee. Repeatedly saying that the legal arguments, which were broadcast live on TV, had nothing to do with the case about his ban (President Trump didn't use that word), he demonstrated that he had no idea what the hearing was about. The judges on the appellate court are not deciding if he had a right to do what he did, nor if it was constitutional. Instead the three judge court panel was hearing technical legal arguments about whether or not to stay (halt) the Seattle-based Federal judges ruling enforcing a Temporary Restraining Order. No court is hearing arguments about legality of President Trumps non-ban ban on all Syrians from entering the country, a 120 day ban on new refugees from any place, and a 90-day ban on any new visas for anyone from six other predominantly Muslim countries. The basic arguments against the Trump Executive Order is that because it states a preference for non-Muslim applicants, it bans people based on their religion alone. You will hear this argument referred to as the Establishment argument because it centers on the Constitutions ban on the establishment of a state religion. The legal arguments for voiding the TRO revolve around two technical questions about whether there is a case which can go forward and whether the states which applied for the TRO have what is called standing or the legal right to ask for the TRO. The appellate court is not deciding if the Executive Order is legal or constitutional which is why the oral arguments were all about technical legal points, and not the actual ban. Another argument highlighted by the judge's questioning the Administrations lawyer concerned actual risk and the Administration had no rebuttal when a judge simply asked, isnt it true that no one from any of the banned countries has ever killed an American in the US? Speaking to police Just yesterday President Trump insisted that the murder rate was the highest in 47 years. The FBI reports show that it is nearly the lowest it has been since national records were kept. Today he spoke again about how dangerous the country is and how we need more police funding but he had apparently been told that his earlier statement was completely false, so he instead cited actual facts - that there was a recent small up-tick in the number of murders. What Trump didnt do was correct his completely false statement of Tuesday, but he did go on to talk about his great wall. FBI reports there were 14,196 murders in the US, a 4.4% decrease from the year before, and a 7.8% decrease from 2009, and a 12% reduction in the 2004 numbers. all of which was under the Obama administration. 2014 recorded the lowest number of murders in the US in 50 years, despite increasing population. There was a slight jump coinciding with the start of the 2016 election campaign making 2016 second lowest. Despite warnings of economic doom and gloom during the run-up to the referendum on 23rd June, 2016, the British economy is projected for positive long term economic growth post-Brexit, according to economists at Price Water House Coopers (PwC). Moreover, the British economy is projected to be one of the world's fastest growing developed economies over the next thirty years. Contrary to George Osborne's predictions The report refutes George Osborne's scaremongering tactics during the remain referendum campaign, which predicted that the United Kingdom would enter a recession post-Brexit. Although the UK has yet to technically leave the European Union, the report is good news for Theresa May and her government. In the report published Tuesday, the firm ranked 32 countries by their projected global GDP in terms of the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)-the UK ranked ninth. PPP is used by economists to decipher economic growth and standards of living. Combined, the 32 countries ranked possess 85 per cent of the world's GDP. The report predicts that the UK's economy will grow faster than some of Europe's largest powerhouses such as France and Germany. The report suggests the cause of this is the consequence of a 'favourable demographic and a flexible economy that will be able to react faster to circumstance'. Brexit economic impact between now and 2020 The report suggests that the main impact of Brexit will transpire between now and 2020. After 2020, the report predicts that the markets will no longer be volatile after Britain has left the EU. 'In 2020, UK growth is predicted to settle down and revert to its long-term trend as determined by the population growth, investment and technological progress. However, this is dependent on the United Kingdom remaining open to talented individuals from across the globe,' according to the report. To conclude, the report suggests forging trade deals with fast growing economies outside the European Union to offset probable weaker trade deals with the EU following Brexit'. The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has infuriated SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon by suggesting that the UK government could block a second Scottish independence referendum. Michael Fallon told The Herald that 'the UK government will not give Holyrood the power to hold a second referendum. 'Respect works both ways' Fallon informed the newspaper that: 'Sturgeon is constantly demanding that Westminster respects the SNP, but she continues to disrespect Scotland's decision to remain within the United Kingdom in 2014. Respect works two ways'. Despite Fallon's statement, circumstances have altered considerably following Brexit. In the aftermath of the 2014 referendum, the UK government promised Scotland a second referendum if 'circumstances altered'. The defence secretary went on to suggest that Sturgeon was bluffing about a snap referendum, citing that she doesn't have the majority support to leave the United Kingdom. Fallon softened his stance BBC Radio Scotland, urging Sturgeon to 'forget about the referendum and get on with the day job. We don't see the need for a second referendum'. Opinion polls illustrate that the majority of Scottish voters don't desire a snap independence referendum. Support for leaving the United Kingdom in Scotland is currently at around 45 per cent. Risky comments from Fallon Fallon's comments run the risk of fuelling Conservative Party resentment in Scotland. The notion of a Theresa May hard Brexit has already been used by Sturgeon to rally support for the SNP. On Monday, Nicola Sturgeon stated that she could call a snap referendum as early as next month due to Prime Minister Theresa May's unwillingness to engage with the SNP on key issues pertaining to Brexit. Nicola Sturgeon said: 'Over the next few weeks, we will find out if Theresa May's government's words have any meaning. In the next month, we will be able to see how much Scotland will be consulted on Brexit. Although the next few weeks will not resolve all Brexit issues, we will see if Scotland's voice will be listened to'. While Commons Speaker John Bercow has spoken out that he is strongly opposed to Donald Trump addressing Parliament during his state visit, saying it is an earned right and not a guarantee, plenty of other world leaders have been allowed to make the address during their state visits. Conservatives are annoyed that Bercow is bringing his own opinions and his own political agenda into the decision, when he should be thinking about the broader picture of the UKs relationship with the US. Barack Obama addressed Parliament during his state visit Trumps predecessor Barack Obama, who is now living it up in retirement, spoke to Parliament during his state visit. Beyond that, Bercow has been called out as a hypocrite by Conservative MPs, as he has allowed other world leaders with similar reputations to Trump to address Parliament on state visits, such as President Xi Jinping, who is known for abusing the human rights of the Chinese people and (funnily enough) also enforced a Muslim ban in his country, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose Government is more corrupt than Baltimore. Bercow is quoted as saying to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait who doesnt allow Israeli passport holders into his country, during his state visit, Your Highness, it is my privilege to welcome you here to our Parliament. 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. The University of New Hampshire gymnastics team won two of this week's East Atlantic Gymnastics League honors Wednesday. Sophomore(Farmingdale, N.Y.) earned Co-Specialist of the Week, while freshman(Southington, Conn.) was feted as the Rookie of the Week.Going against two EAGL opponents, Mulligan was the Bars Champion for the third consecutive meet (scoring 9.875, 9.900, and 9.900 again). After recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in high school, the Farmingdale native was limited to uneven bars all last season. She performed on the balance beam for the first time this weekend to nail a 9.850 for a third place tie.The sophomore is still the top EAGL performer on bars (9.875 avg.), and is now ranked second in the conference on the beam (9.850 avg.). This is Mulligan's third career Specialist of the Week award, after earning two last season (1/19/16 and 2/9/16).Freehling earned a score of 9.825 on the balance beam at George Washington with Towson and Ball State Sunday afternoon. She finished with a share of seventh place in the event, but only fell 0.050 points short of the first place mark. The Connecticut native has now recorded a 9.825 or better, including her personal best of 9.850, in three of the last four meets.The freshman now ranks 16in the EAGL conference on the beam, averaging a score of 9.740 per meet. This is Freehling's first career Rookie of the Week award.Following Sunday's meet, UNH will head to Bowling Green State in Ohio (Feb. 11, 2:30 p.m.), and then challenge EAGL rival North Carolina on (Feb. 17, 7 p.m.) to wrap up their road trip.The Wildcats will host their annual Stick It for the Cure meet against Temple University on Sunday, Feb. 19 (1 p.m.). Wear pink, help the 'Cats raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness while defeating the Owls at Lundholm Gym. Tickets are availableand at 603-862-4000.The 2017 UNH gymnastics season is presented by Happy Bodies. Visit them at www.happybodies.com. For more information on the UNH gymnastics team, visit www.unhwildcats.com. There has been a long history of boycotts in #US history, but on a practical level are the latest boycotts effecting change? "A #boycott is a meaningful way to up the ante when other methods have proven unsuccessful," Kelsey Cooke, Campaigns Director of GetUp, an #advocacy group says. "Governments are bound to #represent their constituents if they don't, they're often swiftly replaced. Companies, on the other hand, don't have any of the same checks and balances." The New York times recently held a debate about the issue, bringing in Americus Reed a professor of #marketing at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Reed stated that whilst #consumer outrage and concomitant #boycotts may pass in fashion, and whilst companies may experience declining sales, the business bottom line is seldom hurt in the end. He did say there was one exception to his thinking: "If the ultimate source of a boycott is constantly featured in the #24-hour news cycle say, because he is president of the United States and continues to engage in controversial and outrageous behavior, the boycott has an increased chance of living beyond its usual few days." Since taking the oath of office and being sworn in as the new president, Donald Trump has been under constant criticism for his executive orders, cabinet nominations, and other decisions he's made in the White House. His "Muslim ban" executive order has received the most backlash, which the president is willing to fight all the way to the Supreme Court. Trump on Muslim ban Heading into his first weekend as commander in chief, Donald Trump signed the aforementioned executive order. Within hours, airport officials began taking detainees who were from the seven Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East that were on the ban list. Once the news broke, protests broke out across the country, most notably outside Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Since then, a federal judge blocked the order in question, which has led to the White House filing an appeal. As seen on MSNBC on February 7, Trump is willing to take the fight to the highest court in the land. When asked if travel ban fight could go to Supreme Court, Trump says Well seehopefully it doesnt have to https://t.co/kI1SkfF3Jz MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 7, 2017 Following his meeting with a group of sheriffs, Donald Trump spoke to reporters an elaborated on the future of his executive order. "We're going to take it through the system," Trump said, before noting, "It's very important for the country." "Regardless of me, or whoever succeeds at a later date, we have to have security in our country," he continued. "Remember, ISIS said 'we are going to infiltrate the United States and other countries through the migration,' Trump said, before asking, "And we're not allowed to be tough? Explain that one." "We'll see what happens, we are well represented," he noted. SCOTUS hearing? When asked whether or not he would take the issue to the Supreme Court of the United States, the former host of "The Apprentice" confirmed that it was a possibility. "It could, we'll see," Donald Trump stated. "It's commonsense. Somethings are law, and I'm all in favor of that," the president noted. "Somethings are commonsense. This is commonsense," he concluded. Trump: I'll take legal battle over immigration ban all the way to the Supreme Court https://t.co/JxeCc8uoRI pic.twitter.com/KbXJQwvF5H The Hill (@thehill) February 7, 2017 If the case makes it to the Supreme Court at a later date, it could come done to whether or not Trump's SCOTUS nominee is confirmed. Just last week, the billionaire real estate mogul nominated right-wing Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is likely to be confirmed by a Republican-controlled Congress. If you want some #Ivanka Trump product you better move fast. Nordstrom only have three pairs of shoes for sale and they're heavily marked down. Earlier last week Nordstrom announced that they were dropping #Ivanka Trump's fashion line and digital activists on Twitter sang out in joy. "We've said all along we make buying decisions based on performance," a Nordstrom spokeswoman announced to Fortune on Feb 2. "In this case, based on the brands performance, weve decided not to buy it for this season." To add fuel to the fire, just yesterday Neiman Marcus announced they were pulling #Ivanka Trump's jewelry line. They claimed it was due to productivity measures, telling Footwear News "based on productivity we continuously assess whether our brands are carried in stores, on our website, or both. Productivity or Politics? These days, separating politics from commerce is becoming increasingly difficult. And that's exactly what a new wave of digital #consumer protestors want. Digital strategist Shannon Coulter created the #GrabYourWallet boycott when Trump made derogatory remarks about women during the election. Over the next few months the boycott gathered momentum as some lesser-known brands stopped selling trump related wares. First it was shoes.com and Bellacor, but Coulter had her eye on the big retailers Macy's and Nordstrom. Second phase of the #GrabYourWallet boycott It was Nordstrom's recent decision to part ways with the Ivanka Trump brand that moved the boycott into a more successful second phase and the big league of American consumerism. There is now pressure on Macy's to do the same. Twitter is awash with #GrabYourWallet boycott supporters hoping to see Ivanka Trump's line disappear from the well known department store, one of the biggest retailers in the United States. Why is this a big deal? Because the boycott over #Trump products and services is growing in momentum, and changing the rules of consumer engagement. Companies and corporations are increasingly being analyzed and questioned about their #political messaging, which is giving consumers a newfound power. Most of this is happening over social media, allowing protesters to respond immediately such as was the case with the recent #Uber boycott. Refinery 29 reported that a source close to #Ivanka Trump claimed that Nordstroms decision was politically motivated, and not merely financially driven: They couldn't handle the political pressure, someone new came in, and there was a change in the attitude toward the brand." Now Macy's are being asked to follow in the very steps of Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Business Insider reported a few days ago that pressure is mounting from inside the company too, with many employees feeling quite uncomfortable about marketing, promoting and selling #Trump-related products."They can't lose any more money than they already are," an employee wrote in an internal company memo, proving once and again that #politics and commerce most definitely go hand in hand. Ever since Donald Trump was elected president, he has increased his war of words against the mainstream media. On Monday, the White House continued their grudge, with the president claiming that the press was ignoring global terrorists attacks and failing to report them. Fox News on Trump On Monday morning, Donald Trump started off his day with a series of anti-media tweets. The commander in chief targeted several news outlets, including CNN, ABC, and NBC, and stated that any polls that they release are just "fake news." Hours later, Trump returned to Twitter, this time going after the New York Times, before labeling the newspaper "failing" and accusing them of publishing "fiction" about his administration. Later on in the day, Trump spoke at CENTCOM in Florida, where he claimed the media was looking the other way in regards to global islamic terrorist attacks. After the White House released a list of nearly 80 Islamic terrorist attacks that the media allegedly ignored, one Fox News host was quick to fact-check, as reported on February 7 by Mediaite. Fox News host Shepard Smith highlighted the aforementioned issue between the press and Donald Trump, and debunked the president over his allegations. "The president's assertion is false," Smith said of the list. "The White House knows that it was false or could have known that it was false with a quick Google check," he continued, before noting, "but either did not do so or decided not to tell the truth." Not stopping there, Smith continued his criticism of the billionaire real estate mogul and his team, stating, "What they're saying is not true." Shep Smith Rips WH Claim on Medias Terror Coverage: 'What Theyre Saying Is Not True. Again.' https://t.co/PWPcEHmXag (VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/1KJsXUuQDu Mediaite (@Mediaite) February 7, 2017 Trump's list On the list released by Donald Trump, it cites attacks in San Bernardino, and at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in additional to international attacks in Paris, Nice, and Brussels. While the list in question did note several attacks in the Middle East that didn't get wide reporting, the majority of the incidents were covered, either in length, or in passing. NEW: WH releases list of terror attacks, inaccurately alleging "most" didn't receive media attention they deserved https://t.co/rhRQS88LO9 pic.twitter.com/gfuILfDyK6 CBS News (@CBSNews) February 7, 2017 Next up As the feud between the press and Donald Trump continues, it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The former host of "The Apprentice" has made it a routine to bash journalists and reporters, labeling anyone he doesn't agree with as "fake news." It's unknown if the relationship will improve in the future, but it's not showing positive signs as of press time. Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. We share the most relevant information on the latest and trending news, events, people, and places in Africa. We produce contents across various categories including Politics, People, Love and Romance, Nature, Entertainment, Technology and pretty much everything else that Africans may find relevant. We aim to answer the most relevant questions about Africa in areas of entertainment, famous people, emerging technologies while we also engage with various distribution capabilities to connect with Africans in need of information who rely on our website to keep in touch with the world that is changing so fast. 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But here is where it gets confusing, the Port of Tampa already signed an agreement with Cuba and the federal office approved the notion. So why do they deny it now? Bad Timing? "We're taking a very conservative approach," said Vice President Miyagishima of the Port of Tampa Authorities to tampa bay times, "We're not going to look at an agreement without an okay from the federal agency that enforces the US embargo against Cuba." But yet as the federal office acknowledged, the Port of Tampa can do business with Cuba, but why aren't they? Maybe it has something to do with getting mushy with Maybe it has something to do with getting mushy with Gov. Rick Scott who said that there could be a cut in funds if any port in Florida tries to do business with Cuba. The Florida Governor wants to slash efforts of normalizing relations with Cuba, but yet what he doesn't know is that business deals with Cuba are not bad but maybe a great benefit for Florida and for Cuban economics as well. Smells like a mole An email was sent to Tampa public relations executive Bill Carlson, who is a supporter of improving the relationship between the United States and Cuba, namely Florida and Cuba. The email was then forwarded to the Tampa Bay Times where it showed the documentation and the conversation between two port authorities in Florida and that the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the Department of Treasury signed off on the agreement. The 2017 budget plan for Florida was released earlier this year, and the budget for Port Tampa Bay authorities has a big chunk of it missing thanks to the exposure of the leaked agreement. The document showed that Tampa Bay and Cuba's port authorities would consider building a relationship with data and technology interchange, market studies, and training to name a few. Ports of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale are wanting to sign the agreement with Cuba soon, but the matter between Ports Everglades and Tampa Bay are unresolved on who signed when. Gov. Rick Scott should allow trading and relationships between Florida's ports and Cuba's; the brutal dictator is dead, his brother is next, it is a matter of time before a new government comes along and people in Cuba want to change. If these deals are denied, then it should be on the Governor's head rather than the port authorities. Over the last 24 hours, the biggest story to dominate American politics has been Donald Trump and his allegations that the news media is ignoring Islamic terrorists attacks. After the White House released a list of incidents to back up their claim, it was disputed and easily debunked, leading to a heated exchange on CNN. Conway's CNN return In recent weeks, Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway has been absent from CNN. The rift between the network and the White House reached a fever pitch last month when Donald Trump called out the cable news channel and reporter Jim Acosta during a live press conference, labeling them "fake news." In the aftermath, Conway has come under fire for her recent blunders, including her use of the term "alternative facts," as well as citing the fake "Bowling Green Massacre" in an attempt to justify the controversial "Muslim ban" executive order. As seen during a February 7 segment on CNN, both sides are still not on good terms. (Full interview above.) Joining host Jake Tapper was former Donald Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway. Tapper quickly pressed Conway on the recent allegations, which instantly sparked a heated debate. "CNN and other media organizations cover terrorism around the world all the time," Tapper said, before adding, "Saying that we dont cover terrorism, it's just false." Conway attempted to slightly deflect and clarify, stating that the list was in reference to attacks that needed more coverage. Tapper fired back, telling Conway "that's a lovely spin," before accusing the White House of being "offensive" in their claim. .@jaketapper to Kellyanne Conway: Saying that we don't cover terrorism is just false. Its offensive. https://t.co/z792GDX8Bg CNN (@CNN) February 7, 2017 Going further, Jake Tapper then highlighted another statement made by Donald Trump where he insisted that the murder rate in the United States was increasing, while it's actually on the decline. "Facts are stubborn things. And to say were not reporting something that happens not to be true," the CNN host told Kellyanne Conway. Current status As the mainstream media continues to do battle with Donald Trump and his administration, it's likely only going to increase as time goes on. Despite evidence that has been presented to debunk many of the claims made by the former host of "The Apprentice," his core base is sticking by him, and only increasing their distrust of the press. One of the hottest topics in American politics has been, and still is, over how the country handles the health care system. During a debate over the issue on Wednesday night, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz faced off with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Debate night The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as "Obamacare," has been the law of the land for nearly seven years since it was made official by former President Barack Obama in March 2010. Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump last month, the new commander in chief has since signed an executive order to start the first steps of repealing Obamacare. Despite the vow to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have failed to produce a detailed plan to put in its place. On Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz took part in a debate, where the senators gave their best argument over the future of health care in the United States. As reported by Politifact on February 7, Cruz was on the wrong side of the facts more often than not. During the health care debate, Ted Cruz claimed that premiums have increased by nearly $5,000, though there is more to the story than meets the eye. Citing a previous statement made by Vice President Mike Pence, PolitiFact rated Cruz's claim as just "Half-True." PolitiFact also pushes back at Cruz's statement claiming Blue Cross Blue Shield "cancelled" all health insurance plans in the state of Texas, which received a rating of "Pants on Fire" false. Cruz said premium increases are going up around $5,000. We rated a similar claim Half True. https://t.co/lrnrWbOZsW PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 8, 2017 Cruz once claimed that Blue Cross Blue Shield 'cancelled' all individual health plans in Texas. Pants on Fire! https://t.co/vOVRZEMZXt PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 8, 2017 Not stopping there, Ted Cruz went on to repeat a similar stat once used by former House Speaker John Bohener that claimed six million people lost their insurance plans because of the Affordable Care Act. PolitiFact also fact-checked that statement, giving it a rating of "False." Cruz says 6 million people lost coverage because of Obamacare. That number is hard to pin down. https://t.co/RhlHu6j4WR PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 8, 2017 In the past, we've found that claims of several million losing coverage because of Obamacare are lacking https://t.co/vNvFyMASal https://t.co/zS5MgATN6Y PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 8, 2017 Another claim made by the Texas senator was that Obamacare was causing full-time workers to be knocked down to part-time, though he wasn't as clear as he should have been. PolitiFact went on to rate it "Half True." As the debate continued, Cruz focused on the most controversial aspects of Obamacare, while blaming Sanders for helping to write law, though the fact-checkers pushed back and rated the claim "False." Sanders says Texas No. 1 in uninsured residents. Mostly True as of our 2015 fact-check https://t.co/2c1Vy4B0rx PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 8, 2017 Ted Cruz in 2013: expanding Medicaid will "worsen health care options for the most vulnerable" https://t.co/7B3GlTQrc6 PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 8, 2017 More facts While Ted Cruz was hit hard by the fact-checkers, Bernie Sanders also had a few blunders, though not at many as the Long Star State senator. Sanders claimed that every other industrialized nation in the world guarantees health care as a right, though it was rated just "Half True" by PolitiFact. However, Bernie Sanders was correct when he said that the United States spends nearly "three times per capita what they spend in the U.K.," which received a rating of "True." The two went back and forth for the remainder of the evening, which only highlighted the wide political divide in the United States. Jeremy Calvert has always been vocal with his thoughts about MTV's "Teen Mom 2," and season 7B is no different. After seeing a recent clip from the show, the ex-husband of Leah Messer and the father of her 3-year-old daughter, took to his Instagram account where he shared a video about his latest disappointment. In his post to his many fans and followers, Calvert put MTV on blast for editing the show incorrectly. According to the longtime reality star and pipe layer, MTV does not edit and portrays the show as it happened in real-time. So, in turn, he will be releasing his own statement during tonight's new episode. "Stay tuned, he teased. In the caption of his video, Calvert told fans that he would be giving a play-by-play of the show as it happens, and explaining what really went down between himself and his co-stars, including Messer. "As a repercussion for deceitful editing, I will address each scene with what really happened," he concluded. Jeremy Calvert and Leah Messer were married for three years Calvert is featured on "Teen Mom 2" due to his short-lived marriage to Messer. However, while some reality stars enjoy their experience on reality television, he often speak out against it and once accused the show of ruining things for him. He's also spoken out against his now-ex-wife and at the end of their relationship, he took to Twitter to call her out for cheating on him with her ex-boyfriend (Messer denied the allegation). Jeremy Calvert is currently engaged to Brooke Wehr Following his messy split from Messer, which was finalized while the "Teen Mom 2" mom was seeking treatment for anxiety and depression in rehab, Calvert began dating single mom Brooke Wehr and at the end of last year, Calvert proposed to Wehr during a vacation to Ocean City, Maryland. Since then, the couple has stayed mum on their future plans to wed. To see more of Jeremy Calvert, tune in to "Teen Mom 2" season 7B on Monday nights at 9 p.m. on MTV, and keep an eye on his Instagram account during tonight's new episode. As the 2017 Golden Globes came to a close, actress Meryl Streep was set to given an acceptance speech for winning the Cecil B. Demille Award. However, Streep focused her entire time on stage to ripping Donald Trump, which caused an expected negative reaction from the president-elect. "The View" on Trump It was just hours after Meryl Streep exited the stage and the Golden Globes came to an end that Donald Trump issued his first reaction to the incident. Speaking to The New York Times during an early morning phone interview, Trump dismissed Streep's comments, referring to her as a "Hillary lover." On Monday morning, the billionaire real estate mogul continued his attack on Streep, this time going off on a multiple-tweet Twitter rant, where he referred to the actress as "one of the most overrated" in Hollywood. This issue was a hot topic of discussion during the January 9 edition of "The View" on ABC. (Whoopi Goldberg's comments start at 4:20 in the above video) After co-host Whoopi Goldberg introduced the segment, conservative co-host Jedediah Bila admitted that she turned off the Golden Globes because she felt "lectured" by Meryl Streep, but she was the only one on the panel who appeared to feel that way. "Of course, Donald Trump tweeted she is an overrated actress," co-host Joy Behar said, before referring to Trump as "such a baby." In a moment of sarcasm, Behar added, "Of course, shes no Scott Baio, Ill admit that." "He (Trump) is supposed to be the president of the free world," Behar continued, before adding, "He's not there to go tit-for-tat over every little slight that goes through his thin skin." .@JedediahBila says Meryl Streep's criticism of Trump "marginalizes people," because Hollywood lacks "diversity of thought." pic.twitter.com/7poLQbOnx8 The View (@TheView) January 9, 2017 In response to the criticism that celebrities should not comment about politics, Joy Behar was having none of it. "People don't like it when actors speak about politics," Behar said, before pointing out, "This country just elected a celebrity!" "The other thing is she's 'overrated' and she can back it up, you can't say the same." Whoopi Goldberg said of Trump's comments. Whoopi speaks Whoopi Goldberg then went on to defend Hollywood, pointing out its history of being run by conservatives, which then led to McCarthyism. "I can't name one right-leaning person who has ever lost their job for being a right-leaning person, but I can name you at least 15 to 20 people who lost their ability to make a living, including myself," Goldberg went on to say, as the panel sat in silence. "It's not a Hollywood thing, this is people talking about people," she concluded. Moving forward After Meryl Streep made her speech, social media quickly highlighted the wide political divide in the country. While Streep has long been regarded by liberals and conservatives as an amazing talent, she is no longer viewed in a positive light by those on the right-wing. Twitter and Facebook quickly went viral, as conservatives and supporters of Donald Trump blasted the actress, calling for a boycott due to her comments. The national prayer breakfast takes place each January as the president and fellow politicians gather together in religious unity. For Donald Trump, it was a time to highlight himself, while targeting the man who replaced him on "The Celebrity Apprentice," Arnold Schwarzenegger. Trump on Arnold Over the course of his entire campaign for president, Donald Trump would often be accused of being an egomaniac who spoke about himself ad nauseam. Despite the criticism, the billionaire real estate mogul was able to weather the storm of controversy and become the 45th President of the United States. When Trump officially became a candidate for the job, he left a vacancy for a new host on "The Apprentice," or "The Celebrity Apprentice." In time, action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger was tapped as his replacement, though the show has garnered less than stellar ratings. As reported on February 2, the new president used the National Prayer Breakfast to take a shot at his old show. Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast says he wants to pray for Arnold Schwarzeneggers Apprentice ratings pic.twitter.com/aNylJiy4UT BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 2, 2017 After touting his "tremendous success" as the former host of the show, Donald Trump then turned his attention to attacking Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We know how that turned out. The ratings went right down the tubes," Trump said, while adding, "It's been a total disaster." "I want to just pray for Arnold if we can, for those ratings," he added. Arnold responds In response, the former governor of California responded to the attack with a video of his own. "Hey Donald, I have a great idea," Schwarzenegger said, while adding, "Why don't we switch jobs." "You take over TV since you are such an expert in ratings, and I'll take over your job so people can finally sleep comfortably again," he concluded. War or words The feud between Donald Trump and Arnold Schwarzenegger has been well publicized in recent weeks, after the commander in chief fired the first shot over the show's ratings last month. The star of "The Terminator" did respond, but appeared to play it easy by not going to hard on the new president. However, after Trump signed his controversial "Muslim ban" executive order, Schwarzenegger spoke to "Extra" host Mario Lopez, and said the order in question made the United States look "stupid." Next up While it's unknown if Donald Trump will continue to be publicly critical of "The Apprentice" or Arnold Schwarzenegger in the future, it's likely considering his history. With less than two weeks into his presidency, Trump has created controversy that doesn't look to be ending anytime soon. "Days Of Our Lives" fans are divided on Deimos and Nicole's relationship. Most viewers think they are a mismatch to the extreme. However, there are a few who believe the two have a mysterious connection and bond. This week, Dario Hernandez told Nicole that Deimos was responsible for his beating. After finding out that Andre DiMera was also hospitalized after being poisoned, she broke up with him. However, he will try to win her back. Will she go back with the Salem villain or stay away? Deimos and Nicole's relationship Chloe's reason for keeping Nicole away from baby Holly was initially Deimos Kiriakis. However, nicole walker broke up with her fiance and Chloe Lane still wouldn't let her near the child. It was revealed that Chloe doesn't feel that Nicole would be a good mother to the little girl. She considers Nicole to be a criminal and mentally unstable, even though the attempted murder charges were dropped. Deimos Kiriakis went too far In his quest to have complete control and power, Deimos wants the Orwell device for himself. This started a war between the Kiriakis, DiMera, and Hernandez families. Dario tried to have Deimos killed, but Nicole Walker saved his life. Now, he has poisoned Andre DiMera and had Dario beat up. He also kidnapped Chad and Gabi, throwing the two in a locked storage unit. Before passing out, Dario told Nicole that Deimos was responsible for the attack. Nicole had hope on 'Days Of Our Lives' Once realizing that Chloe may have been right about Deimos, she broke up with the Salem madman. Then, she went to find Chloe and tell her the news. In her mind, she was hoping that the breakup would allow Chloe to soften her grip on the little girl. However, the opposite happened. Even after getting caught breastfeeding Nicole's baby on "Days Of Our Lives," Chloe refused to let go. In fact, she went as far as to call an officer over, claiming Nicole was harassing her. Will Deimos and Nicole reconcile? In a perfect world, Nicole would stay away from Deimos. However, the breakup happened too quickly on "Days Of Our Lives." There was no real drama with the actual split and Deimos didn't fight it. Many fans speculate that Deimos and Nicole are not quite through yet. It is possible that Nicole will try to use Deimos' power, control, and money in order to win her court battle with Chloe Lane. What do you think? Will Deimos and Nicole get back together on "Days Of Our Lives"? As expected, "Saturday Night Live" returned from an off week and set their sites on Donald Trump and his administration over the weekend. After several skits taking aim at the new president and his team, the new president has remained quiet, but is privately upset over how the White House has been depicted. Trump on "SNL" During the 2016 presidential election, "Saturday Night Live" made sure to take jabs at all the candidates, regardless if they were Republicans or Democrats. When Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president, it was only a matter of time before the sketch comedy show poked fun at the former host of "The Apprentice." As time went on, Trump would take to Twitter to express his frustrations at the show, accusing Alec Baldwin of being "not funny" in his impression, while calling for "SNL" to be cancelled. As reported by Politico on February 6, Trump is not pleased with what went down. White House rattled by McCarthy's spoof of Spicer https://t.co/p1T89yGQAG pic.twitter.com/ikb4mARjxG POLITICO (@politico) February 7, 2017 According to the report in Politico on Thursday night, Donald Trump is so upset over the latest episode of "Saturday Night Live" that he doesn't even know what to say about it in public. A top donor to the Trump campaign told Politico, "Trump doesn't like his people to look weak," in relation to the Sean Spicer skit, and how the show has mocked Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway in recent weeks. Politico went further, and described Trump and the White House as being "uncomfortable" over the recent "SNL" skits. "SNL" goes hard Donald Trump's silence has been a surprise, as "Saturday Night Live" roasted the billionaire real estate mogul various times throughout the show. Kicking off the program with the cold open was Alec Baldwin, as he was joined by a Grim Reaper version of Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, while they mocked the president's controversial phone calls with other world leaders. In a follow-up skit, actress Melissa McCarthy played the role of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. The segment took a shot at the administration's grudge with the media, as the satirical version of Spicer was shown a lashing out at multiple reporters. "I'm here to swallow gum. And I'm here to take names." #SNL pic.twitter.com/bS6XdX1N7i Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) February 5, 2017 Moving forward Days after he won the election last November, Donald Trump was interviewed by CBS' "60 Minutes" where he was asked about his future use of social media. At the time, the new president vowed to be "very restrained" in his use of Twitter, but has only increased his presence on social media. While he has been silent in regards to "SNL," his social media use doesn't look to be changing anytime soon. On January 9, 2017, some 23 prominent US dignitaries urged the Trump Administration to adopt and pursue an Iran policy that recognizes the interests and inalienable rights of the Iranian people, and not just the clerical regime ruling over them; signatories stressed the regimes aggressive policy is part of efforts on preserving the vulnerable system of dictatorship; calling to open lines of communication with the MEK and NCRI. MEK is a proponent of Paris's exiled coalition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), members spanning 3-generations of the social spectrum and which is seeking a meeting in Washington. Fox Newss Eric Shawn reported on the letter to Trump saying this could be: [the] opening of the door to the Iranian Resistance / MEK. A pledge for a non-nuclear weapons Iran has a lot of attraction for Americans. Nuclear weaponization concerns The letter came ahead of the mullahs' regime's aggressive move to test its medium-range ballistic missiles; which according to Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif does not impede the details of the Nuclear Agreement/Accord. But MEK who were first to bring intelligence of Irans nuclear ambitions to the International Community's attention, disagree. POTUS Trump also disagrees, and in uncharacteristic measure this week, got retweeted as saying: Iran is playing with fire they dont appreciate how kind President Obama was to them. Not me. For MEK, a prospective shift of US policy, reassessing details of the Nuclear Agreement is ripe; a feasibility which seems to be shaking the regime and its lobbies. If this agreement stalls, which many would claim it already has, then the golden era a term used publicly by the mullahs officials to promote the US on Iran under Obama is over. A precipitous unease now hitting the religious regime; in retaliation ramping up a disinformation campaign against MEK at home in Iran, using its news channels to discredit the MEK's viability as a non-secular democratic alternative to the religious dictatorship. Fake News against MEK Fake news about the MEK has been key in Iran's policy for decades. Many MEK members were driven out of Iran during a period of demonization of dissident voices, and lead to bloodbath massacres, June 1981. Pressure is mounting from the International Community to see the Iranian regime as illegitimate, and that Individuals of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) be tried for their complicity during the second massacre of the 1980s, in which 30,000 political prisoners of conscience were systematically executed in 1988 MEK members and affiliates who refused to renounce the organization. A open door to the Iran resistance MEK MEK network is a democratic force working in Iran, but also exiled in other countries and are united on point to have a firm US policy, MEK being described as a pivotal force for dealing with Iran in a POTUS Trump-era. Mohammad Mohaddessin, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), While welcoming the new sanctions on the Iranian regime said: The IRGC and its affiliated para-military forces and their commanders, including Qassem Soleimani and Iraj Masjedi (Iranian regimes ambassador to Iraq), should be expelled from the countries of the region, in particular from Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Otherwise, the region will not witness peace and tranquility. The MEK has supporters across the social spectrum but also bipartisan support from US Congress officials across the political spectrum, also extending to French National assembly and the British Parliament. Finally, in the letter the signatories conclude by recommending to the new Administration: With a more enlightened grasp of the Iranian regimes priorities and vulnerabilities, your Administration will be equipped to exert leverage enabling the US to oppose Tehrans repression and adventurism while standing for the fundamental values both our peoples share. Police in Central China's Hunan province have been praised on social media for their response to online requests for help from Chinese tourists, whose travel documents were stolen in Vietnam. A Chinese tourist surnamed Zhang contacted Hunan Provincial Public Security Department via its official account on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, on the evening of Feb 5. Zhang from Hunan province said he was robbed while traveling in Vietnam on Feb 1, and his passport and visa were lost. He said he was stranded in Ho Chi Minh City after providing his personal information to Chinese Embassy in the country. In his message, Zhang asked the police to confirm his personal information as soon as possible so that he could get a temporary travel permit to return home. The editor of the Weibo account kept in contact with Zhang while asking Hunan province's exit-entry administration bureau to check Zhang's personal information as soon as possible, which had been sent by the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam. An hour later, Zhang received a message from the Hunan police's Weibo account advising him the problem had been solved. Zhang is not the first person that Hunan police has helped through its Sina Weibo account. On Feb 3, a man surnamed Yan from Hunan province also managed to return home with his family after seeking similar help from Hunan police through Sina Weibo after their travel documents were lost when they traveled in Vietnam on Jan 30. Many social media users thanked their mother country and the police for their strong support. It's a state with the sixth-largest Chinese population in the US - 134,000 - and Chinese Americans hold just 14 of New Jersey's 5,000 public school board seats, but they are winning more seats and becoming more active in school districts. And though they are among that very small number of Chinese Americans on the state's 581 school boards, Shannon Peng, Edward Wang and George Shen see getting elected as a start to get more Asians in school leadership positions. The Asian population stands at 18.5 percent of the state's population and increased 34 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to 2010 Census data. "A lot of Chinese parents don't even know there's a school board," said Peng. "I really hope we inspire more people, especially young people, to get involved. We're setting an example for them, for the next generation." Peng is the only Asian member of the board in the township of Edison, which has a Chinese population of 7,500, and the only board member who is a parent of students in the school system, which she said is what motivated her to seek a seat. "This is a volunteer job, you don't get paid and so a lot of members are volunteers. I just think there should be some parents on the board. Not all of them [need to be], but there should be some," she said. The Edison school district's 10 public schools have 16,000 students, and for Peng the biggest priority is how to spend the school's budget of approximately $200 million. "Every year they have budgets coming for the board to approve - funds coming from taxes, and we want to make sure tax money is well spent," she said. "People argue about using the money to increase teachers' salaries, school construction or buying computers. We work with the superintendent's office, and they will bring up ideas and we as a board have to approve for those to be executed," said Peng, who is a software engineer with MetLife Inc. Her two children, ages 7 and 10, are enrolled in Edison elementary schools, and she said she wanted to motivate the next generation to participate in local politics. Peng organized her campaign on WeChat, which was built off a chat group that Chinese parents in the Edison school district use to communicate with each other. She had 100 volunteers work on her campaign, and using publicly available information, identified that there were 40,000 voters in Edison and her campaign went door-to-door to 10,000 addresses to persuade people to vote for Peng. "It was a month and a half process, with volunteers walking around door-to-door almost every weekend, many of them with children who we want to set an example for," she said. Wang is on the board in Cherry Hill where the district's 19 schools have 11,000 students, 18 percent of them Asian, the largest minority group. But there were no Asian parents or Asian members serving on the board, which is why Wang, a history professor at Rowan University, decided to run. "There's a major deficit of Asian representatives on the board and in local politics," he said. "We used to have a person who served on the City Council, a Korean American, but now there are no Asian officials. "We know that in Silicon Valley, the Chinese were not in any significant positions. In American society in general, particularly the Chinese, are not well-represented," said Wang, who has a 9-year-old attending school in Cherry Hill. The biggest issues to him include getting the school district to consider teaching Chinese, and to declare Lunar New Year a school holiday, which he said has been brought up to the school superintendent but repeatedly struck down. George Shen, a scientist with the pharmaceutical company Celgene, who won a seat on the Livingston school board, said similarly that "participating in the American democratic process is really important for Chinese. You're not just contributing to your own family's growth and even your own community but you can make not only this town - or wherever you live - prosperous." Shen, who used to be a Chinese language teacher at the Huaxia Chinese School, said he wanted to highlight the importance of education in the Chinese community to the school district.. The district has nine schools with 5,800 students and is ranked No 6 in New Jersey. "The goal isn't to do whatever it takes - spending more money and effort - into pushing the ranking up or to focus on top-performing students to make sure they become governors," said Shen, who has three children, a 15-year-old and twins aged 9, in the school system. "That's not our goal. We want to help the whole [spectrum] of students." amyhe@chinadailyusa.com ABUJA - Nigeria's government forces on Tuesday foiled a suicide attack in the country's Maiduguri city, the capital of the northern Borno State, local police said. Two female suspects were about to wreak havoc in the city early in the day when security agents arrested one and shot dead the other, said Victor Isuku, Borno State police spokesman. He said the suspects were sighted behind a petrol filling station on the outskirts of Maiduguri, trying to detonate their explosive device when agents of the police anti-bomb unit ensuring safety in the area arrested them. One of them was shot dead as she attempted to escape, he added. Terror group Boko Haram is suspected of regrouping in Maiduguri after the military dislodged them from Sambisa Forest, their last enclave in the country, last December. The Nigerian military is currently intensifying aerial and ground patrol in the country's northeast, extending its offensive mission around the Green Belt Region near Niger and Chad. Chinese bike-share startup Bluegogo, which had planned to fill San Francisco's public bike racks with rental bicycles, is seeking permits after drawing backlash from city leaders. The Beijing-based company has recently faces resistance in its first US market San Francisco, which is home to other share-economy innovations like Uber, Lyft and Airbnb. Different from other bike-share programs, Bluegogo's bikes are equipped with smart locks and GPS, which allows riders to locate and unlock the bikes using their smart phones and leave them at any public bike rack without locking. The service costs only 99 cents per half hour. The company had planned to launch the program last month, but city leaders vowed to impound their bicycles and fine the company if they go ahead without permission. The city official, who called Bluegogo a "rogue" company, were worried that the company would "dump" tens of thousands of bikes that would clutter public sidewalks. Bluegogo does not reveal how many bicycles it plans to deposit in the city. "Every single time, these arrogant tech companies ask later for forgiveness, or ask later for permission. This is the first time where San Francisco has gotten ahead of the curve," Supervisor Aaron Peskin said at a press conference on Jan 18. A month earlier, Uber faced a similar conflict with the city for its unpermitted self-driving car program. After a weeklong standoff, the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the cars' registrations and forced them off the road. "We'd still really like to come to an agreement with the city regarding the use of public racks," Ilya Movshovich, Bluegogo's vice president of US operations, told China Daily in an email. "We last met with the city on Jan 25 and are still waiting to hear back on what permits might be needed. In the next week we will be bringing out more bikes to be housed at our rented-out stations," said Movshovich. Currently, the company is operating bike-rent program with less than 200 bikes parked in rented private parking spots. Bluegogo is reported to have put 130,000 bikes on the streets of China's Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chengdu. But media reports said similar bike-share programs have caused problems in China, such as fights for limited curb space and damaged bikes that were thrown into piles and turned into dumping grounds. Peskin also said on Jan 18 that he was drafting an ordinance to make it easier to go after Bluegogo, according to media reports. Under the state's existing Unfair Competition Law, Peskin said Bluegogo could be liable for fines of up to $2,500 per day, per violation. He didn't immediately respond to request for comment. Contact the writer at liazhu@chinadailyusa.com A report released by a bipartisan task force of prominent China specialists on Tuesday cautioned the new administration in the White House not to tamper with Washington's long-standing one-China policy, and suggested US President Donald Trump meet with his Chinese counterpart early on for communications at the highest levels. The Trump administration took office at a moment when the China-US relationship stood at a "precarious crossroads", according to the report, titled US Policy Toward China: Recommendations for a New Administration, which was co-written by China scholar Orville Schell and Susan Shirk, a professor of political science at the University of California-San Diego. In his first year in office, Trump will confront six contentious, high-priority issues, including halting nuclear and missile programs on the Korean Peninsula, reaffirming US commitments to Asia and deploying tools to what it called the lack of reciprocity in trade relations with China, said the 72-page report. In addressing these challenges, the new administration should be mindful of lessons from the past, the report said. "This is especially true on the sensitive question of Taiwan, where it would be dangerous to unilaterally abandon our long-standing one-China policy'," it said. "No national interest is furthered by abandoning or conditioning the one-China policy' on other issues." Speaking of the 18 months of work, Shirk said, "We were quite worried about the state of China-US relations, because the trends were not good we might lose the chance to do this later. So we'd better act now." Less than a month ago, Trump told the Wall Street Journal, "Everything is under negotiation, including one China," which led many in China to believe that he intended to use Taiwan as a bargaining chip. In response, Beijing stressed that one-China policy is nonnegotiable. Shirk, also a former Clinton administration official, said, "Across-the-board tariffs or rejecting the one-China policy that is kind of part of the constitution of US-China relations would be a very radical action on the part of the US." She proposed maintaining the fundamental stability in the relationship, of which the one-China policy is a key component. "We shouldn't twitch from pushing back when we need to push back and we shouldn't worry about little more tension in the relationship," Shirk said. "We believe that in the end we will end up with an honest and mutually respectful relationship with China." The report also advised that Trump should meet with President Xi Jinping early on in his administration to establish the foundation for "effective communications at the highest level". As Trump endeavors to deliver his campaign promises one after another despite institutional barriers, Beijing will have to deal with a tougher Washington, said Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University. Trump has not sent a Cabinet member to visit China since his inauguration, according to Li. Instead, Trump sent his defense chief James Mattis on Feb 2 on a visit to Japan and South Korea, where he reiterated the US commitment to the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system on Korean soil. "This does not sound like any good news to Beijing, which Trump had portrayed as a currency manipulator' responsible for the loss of American jobs along his campaign trail, not least given the likelihood of escalated trade frictions between both countries," said Li. Charlene Barshefsky, former US Trade Representative, said trade with China is critical to the US economy. "Dialogues are great, results are better, and we need to see results standing from China's promises to undertake certain forms of changes and reforms," the chief negotiator of China's WTO agreement said. Cui Liru, a senior adviser to the Beijing-based think tank Pangoal Institution, said Trump's unique diplomatic approach will pose a challenge to codes enshrined in the 1970s. China-US ties now face Trump's "dual-track approach", he said. "On the one hand, he believes a China that offers education and accommodation to hundreds of millions and helps many join the middle-class club is a worthy trade partner," Cui said. "He also feels the urge to get tough with China to cut the best deal' for his country, even at the risk of disrupting long-term plans and breaking diplomatic consistency," Cui added. Norway and Russia continue to successfully cooperate at high latitudes, TASS reports quoting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in his interview with the Norwegian News Agency. "The challenges hindering cooperation between Russia, Europe and NATO have not affected the Arctic yet, which is good. Successful cooperation between Russia and Norway in the North continues," he commented. Brende stressed that in the past few months the countries completed the draft agreement on seismic data collection up to and along the dividing line on the continental shelf in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The agreement will be signed next spring. The countries also agreed to expand the near-border visa-free area. : , , , , - 28 . STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 8, ARTSAKHPRESS: An investigation is underway to determine details of the shooting. Around 12:00 on the same day, NKR soldier Koryun Kirakosyan, 28, was seriously wounded by Azerbaijani shooting in another direction (Martakert) of the line of contact. An investigation is underway. The NKR defense ministry extends its condolences to the family and friends of the fallen soldier. October 31, 2022 17:51 World wheat prices up At the opening of trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, world wheat prices jumped by almost 5 percent, trading data show. The trigger for the rise in prices was the fact that Russia announced it was suspending the grain deal, news.am informs. STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 8, ARTSAKHPRESS: The full statement reads: The reports spread by the Azerbaijani agitprop from the morning of February 8 over the developments in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact, in particular, on the losses and wounded servicemen of the Defense Army are complete absurdity. The NKR Defense Ministrys press service calls on the local media to avoid Azerbaijans information trap, thus by this filling water into their mill. At the same time, we call on our media to use exclusively the official website of the NKR Defense Ministry while reporting on the ongoing developments in the frontline." U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand won't be voting for Jeff Sessions to serve as the next attorney general, and she hopes her colleagues will do the same. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., delivered a Senate floor speech Wednesday in opposition to Sessions' nomination. Sessions, a Republican senator from Alabama, was selected by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Justice. Sessions was one of Trump's biggest supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign. Gillibrand said she's received an outpouring of letters from New Yorkers regarding Trump's Cabinet picks, including Sessions. She read from one of the letters, which cited Sessions' opposition to hate crimes legislation and the Violence Against Women Act, a law that seeks to address domestic violence. The letter writer urged Gillibrand to oppose Sessions as attorney general. "We need an attorney general who will defend our civil rights and human rights with no exceptions," Gillibrand said. "We need an attorney general who will not be afraid to challenge the president if an order is illegal or unconstitutional. "Senator Sessions has not made it clear that he would use his power as attorney general to stand up for the voiceless and the oppressed, or to stand up to the president when he's wrong." Gillibrand raised other questions about Sessions' ability to effectively serve as attorney general, including a comment he made following the release of a video during the presidential campaign in which Trump boasted about groping women. Sessions called it a "stretch" to refer to such conduct as sexual assault, then added that he doesn't "characterize that as sexual assault." "We need an attorney general who knows very clearly what sexual assault is and who cares enough to prosecute it," Gillibrand said. Gillibrand said the attorney general must fight for equal justice and equal protection under the laws, but she doesn't believe that Sessions is the right person for the job. "Senator Sessions has no record of doing that, and I have no reason to believe that he will do that as attorney general," she said. "So I oppose Senator Sessions' nomination as attorney general, and I urge my colleagues to do the same." As of Wednesday, Gillibrand has opposed or spoken out against nearly all of Trump's nominees for Cabinet and other key positions. On Tuesday, she voted against Betsy DeVos for education secretary. Gillibrand was the lone vote against Defense Secretary James Mattis and she opposed John Kelly for homeland security secretary, Rex Tillerson for secretary of state and Elaine Chao for transportation secretary. The only Trump appointee who Gillibrand has supported is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who became the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. With central New York feeling the effects of the heroin and opioid epidemic, U.S. Rep. John Katko quizzed Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on whether securing the U.S.-Mexico border will help address the problem. The short answer, according to Kelly, is yes. Katko, R-Camillus, briefly asked Kelly questions during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Tuesday. It was Kelly's first appearance before the panel since he was confirmed by the Senate. President Donald Trump has made border security one of his top priorities and called for the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Katko wondered if increasing border security would impact the ability of traffickers to ship drugs into the U.S. "We are inundated with heroin and the number of heroin deaths in our area are overwhelming, to say the least," Katko said during Tuesday's hearing. "And I know much of it is coming across the southwest border." Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general who previously served as commander of the U.S. Southern Command, offered a blunt assessment of the flow of drugs into the country. "If the drugs are in the United States, we've lost," he said. Kelly estimated that 99 percent of the heroin that makes its way into the United States is produced in Mexico. The poppies used to manufacture the drug are grown in Mexico and Guatemala, then the drug is shipped into the U.S. Large amounts of methamphetamine are also trafficked into the U.S. from Mexico, Kelly said. One way to stop the flow of drugs from Mexico is for the U.S. to partner with its southern neighbor. "If we can help them get after the poppy production, as an example, if we can help them get after the production labs, if we can help them get after the heroin, methamphetamine as it's moving in relatively large amounts before it gets to the border," he said. Kelly also recommended the implementation of a drug demand reduction program in the U.S. He noted that the problem with drugs is not so much about the supply, but the demand for the drugs in the first place. "You're never going to get to zero, but we know how to do this," he said. "We've done it before with other drugs and other things that were bad for our society. We're not even trying." The problems posed by heroin aren't new to Kelly. He told Katko that he lost friends to heroin overdoses during the 1960s and 1970s. Up until recently, he said, heroin addiction mostly affected black, Hispanic and working class neighborhoods. Now, people are dying of drug overdoses in places like Boston, New Hampshire and on college campuses. "I think we should capitalize on the fact that it's got people's attention and somehow put together a drug demand reduction strategy that works and can reduce the number of people using drugs," Kelly said. Two upstate New York members of Congress signed a letter urging House Speaker Paul Ryan to hold a vote on a measure that would permanently repeal the Affordable Care Act's medical device tax. U.S. Reps. John Katko and Elise Stefanik are part of a group of nearly 30 members of Congress who want the House of Representatives to advance legislation to repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax, which was included in the Affordable Care Act as a revenue generator. A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, would repeal the tax. The measure has 245 cosponsors 215 Republicans and 30 Democrats. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, and Katko, R-Camillus, are cosponsors of the bill. "The 2.3 percent tax on revenue, rather than income, creates some of the nation's highest marginal tax rates depending upon a company's profit margin," the members of Congress wrote in their letter to Ryan. "This is simply untenable for smaller companies where margins are the thinnest. As companies look to make cuts to offset the tax, one of the first items to go is research and development. This undermines the future of the industry." The letter is reminiscent of similar correspondence Katko and Stefanik signed as freshmen members in 2015. In that letter, the members urged then-House Speaker John Boehner to allow a vote on the medical device tax repeal bill. In June 2015, the House voted to repeal the tax, but the measure didn't advance in the Senate. Congress did approve legislation to freeze the tax for two years. The measure passed in December 2015. Medical device manufacturers, such as Skaneateles Falls-based Welch Allyn, have expressed concerns about the impact of the tax. When Welch Allyn was acquired by Hill-Rom in 2015, Katko suggested that the tax led to the sale of the company. Hill-Rom officials disagreed with Katko's view, but they were critical of the tax. "Our work to develop new technologies depends on our ability to take calculated risks and make strategic investments, efforts challenged by this medical device excise tax, which stifles innovation and reduces our ability to invest in R&D," said John Greisch, president and CEO of Hill-Rom, in December 2015. With the freeze due to expire at the end of this year, Katko, Stefanik, and other proponents of repeal want a more permanent solution to the problems posed by the tax. In the letter, the members noted that the revenue generated by the tax totals approximately $2 billion each year roughly one-half of one-tenth of 1 percent of government spending, they wrote. The members, now sophomores, called on Ryan to move the bill "as soon as possible." "Repealing the medical device tax is too important for our constituents and small businesses not to act immediately, and proves that we can come together with solutions," they wrote. Photo: Time Magazine Cover TIME magazines editors have named President-elect Donald Trump as Person of the Year for 2016. Its a fitting end to a year for Trump, since he has been dominating TV screens and front pages, for quite some time. The annual cover on which the magazine recognizes the person who for better or for worse has done the most to influence the events of the year pictures the president-elect in his New York tower with the headline, Donald Trump: President of the Divided States of America. Editor-in-chief Nancy Gibbs, wrote in the issue: So which is it this year: better or worse? The challenge for Donald Trump is how profoundly the country disagrees about the answer. Its hard to measure the scale of his disruption For reminding America that demagoguery feeds on despair and that truth is only as powerful as the trust in those who speak it, for empowering a hidden electorate by mainstreaming its furies and live-streaming its fears, and for framing tomorrows political culture by demolishing yesterdays, Donald Trump is Times 2016 person of the year. Former Managing Editor Walter Isaacson wrote in the 1998 issue that the title goes to the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse, TIMEs Person of the Year doesnt necessarily have to be a hero Adolf Hitler, for example, was Person of the Year in 1938, with a cover showing him playing an organ and a cover line which read, From the unholy organist, a hymn of hate. Stalin was chosen twice, while the selection of Irans Ayatullah Khomeini in 1979, when the magazine called him the mystic who lit the fires of hatred. Aome choices have been ambiguous; for example, Newt Gingrich, who was considered a hero to some and a menace to others. In an interview accompanying the cover of the magazine, Trump said he does not believe Russia interfered in the election, and defended his claim of widespread illegal voting, and reiterated that despite his wealth, he represents the workers of the world, who love me. But TIME Magazines editors dont get to make the final decision on their ownwith the use of online polling, the magazine also invites readers to submit their nominees for who they think has earned the title. Before the Internet, readers were invited to weigh in by mail, with their suggestions, often filling the letters-to-the-editor page in the weeks before the announcement. In the dangal of UP politics, much as Muzaffarnagar wants to leave its past, the shadows are never far behind. Rediff.com's Archana Masih visits the offices of political parties, shops and people's homes in Muzaffarnagar and Kawal to discover that even if the political parties don't want to, its people want to drop the suffix 'riots' from Muzaffarnagar. Photographs: Seema Pant IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party workers in the BJP's poll office in Muzaffarnagar. "Kawal ke babaal ne Modi ka future hi badal diya (the fracas in Kawal changed Modi's future)," says Mira Singh, bending over the railing of her house, overlooking the courtyard where two Jersey cows rest quietly. "Kawal case, didi, famous hai -- Modi PM toh ban sakte the, par itne vote se nahi jeette agar yeh kaand nahi hota (The Kawal case is famous. Modi would certainly have become PM but wouldn't have won with such a majority had it not been for the Kawal case)." Mira sits down with her mother on a charpoy beside the cows and rattles off the margins of victories of BJP candidates in UP who won with over 4 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. Her sharp political insights -- the details of the candidates in the fray, the voting pattern of the district, the trends of this election, the en masse voting by Hindus for the BJP after the Muzaffarnagar riots etc -- would put the best political pundits to shame. In her jat-accented Hindi, she holds forth with a confident ease. Listening to her punditry is a treat. More so, because she comes from a deeply conservative home and requests that no "pic" of her should be published in this article. "I wouldn't even have come down if my father was home," she says. Mira had finished her graduation in 2013 when an eve-teasing incident in her village of Kawal resulted in three killings that erupted in the Muzaffarnagar riots. Sixty people died in the riots, thousands were displaced. The direct fallout on Mira, which shows how such incidents alter lives beyond what we hear or read in the newspapers, was that her father denied her permission to enrol in a B Ed course in Muzaffarnagar or Meerapur, where the closest colleges are. It was no longer safe for her to take the one hour ride on local buses anymore. "For one year, there was dehshat (fear). Almost all the Muslims left the village, some Hindus too. But we did not leave our home. This gate remained open like it is now," says her mother Maheshi, who is called 'Bhabhiji' by the Muslim families in the village where the Hindu and Muslim vote is numerically almost the same. Hindus and Muslims stopped speaking to each other, attending each other's weddings in the first year after the riots. Then slowly, those who had left, returned. Now things are as they were before. "Hindu-Muslim mein ab pehle jaisa uthna baithna hai (We go to each other's homes and mingle like we did in the past)." Mira did not enrol for B Ed that year or in subsequent years. If there was a B Ed college in Jansath it would have been ideal, going further, is still considered unsafe. Once four boys had teased her. "Sabe badi izzat hove hai (self respect is most important)," says her mother. In that large courtyard, with fields stretching behind, the mother-daughter share their thoughts as the call of the azaan rises from the mosque. The temple is down the road. Worried about her daughter's marriage, the family has approached prospective grooms and asked them if they would allow her to pursue a B Ed after marriage. We would pay, they told them, but prospective matches have not agreed. As Mira offers us a cup of tea that she has quickly made, I ask how she spends her day. "Just think I am a housewife, without being one," she laughs. IMAGE: The temple in Kawal. The population is almost evenly divided between Hindus and Muslims in the village. On the single road that runs through the village, where the Muslims reside around the masjid and the Hindus on the other end, we had walked into the house with the open gate and started chatting with Maheshi as she came to fetch water from the hand pump. Guarded at first, she took us in and we ended up talking for an hour about Modi, the UP election and life itself. Covering the election in Western UP, it is heartening how people open their homes or talk across a shop counter or by the wayside, over a cup of tea -- the ultimate Indian unifier. The family has voted for the BJP since the Ram temple movement in the early 1990s and say that the shadow of the riots still looms large on the political equation even if it doesn't on people-to-people relations. "Never before has any candidate from Kawal been given an MLA ticket. This time many diggaj MLAs did not get a ticket, but Vikram Singh Saini from Kawal got it -- why, just because of the Kawal kand (incident)," says Mira, pointing out how the BJP is once again attempting to consolidate the Hindu vote in Western UP. IMAGE: Gopal Singh at his friend's shop in Muzaffarnagar. "Modi is the only leader in the BJP," he says. Sitting in a friend's medicine shop in main Muzaffarnagar, not far from the BJP office, Gopal Singh, a jat, who will vote for the BJP in spite of Ajit Singh's jat-centric Rashtriya Lok Dal being in the fray, is unsure of the BJP's victory. "This time the Hindu vote is divided. Aur notebandi se baniya log khush nahi hai. Par main toh Modi ko doonga. Bas Modi hi hai BJP mein, aur khuch nahi hai (Traders are unhappy about demonestisation, but I will vote for Modi. The BJP is nothing without Modi)," he says, as customers who come to buy medicines linger to listen to him. "Yeh mat sochna ki BJP se 73 candidate jeete hai UP mein, sirf Modi jeeta hai (Don't think 73 BJP candidates won in the Lok Sabha from UP, there was only one victor -- Modi)," says Singh in a booming voice adding that the one change that has happened in the Samajwadi Party government's tenure is that all housing colonies in Muzaffarnagar city have become gated enclaves. Down the road, in the banner-flag festooned BJP office, where tea and snacks are being served to party enthusiasts, Babita Gupta and Basheshwar Dayal, two district office bearers, say the contest this time is between the BJP and SP. The Bahujan Samaj Party and RLD (which was wiped out in the 2014 Lok Sabha election) are fighting a tough battle in Muzzaffarnagar. "When Chaudhary Charan Singh (the former prime minister and Ajit Singh's father) was alive, the entire jat vote used to go to him. Even the wives of jat Congress netas would vote for his party, but the BJP has taken a big share of their vote," adds Gopal Singh. "Mayawati Behenji ka vote toh koi tod hi nahi sakta, par vyapari unko pasand nahi karte hai, na woh vyaparion ko ticket deti hai (nobody can shatter Mayawati's core vote, but traders do not like her, neither does she give them tickets)," says the shop owner sitting beside him. IMAGE: A tobacco shop in Muzaffarnagar. All shops were open on a Sunday. Round the corner on a busy Sunday -- where most shops were open -- the BSP office is calm. The three men sitting in the sun are soon joined by a small group that emphasised that UP's voters wanted a return to the rule of law that existed when Mayawati was chief minister. "Muzaffarnagar has had no history of riots like neighbouring Meerut, which is a communal tinderbox," says a BSP worker in the group. "The riots were caused by the SP and BJP. The Hindu-Muslim tension exists only at a political Hindu-Muslim level. On a day-to-day basis there is no problem." The BSP and SP offices in Muzaffarnagar occupy two parts of the same building. Part of its ground had been used for a celebration the previous night and workers were wrapping up the tents and piling up the chairs. At the SP office, people say it was all a BJP sajish (conspiracy) to defame the SP. BJP office bearers say the SP pressurised the district and state administration to favour the Muslims. is there any lingering effect of the riots between the two communities in the city, I ask. "Yaha Hindu na Musalman, yaha insaan basta hai (Neither Hindus or Muslims, only human beings live here)," quips an an SP worker. IMAGE: People outside a mosque in Kawal. Almost all the Muslims had left Kawal after the riots, but returned later. All is peaceful now, they say. In Kawal, the epi-centre of the riots, which is located an hour away from Muzaffarnagar, men outside the local mosque say that relations are normal now -- historically, they add, there has never been tension between the two communities. Standing among them is Raja Abdullah. Five of his relatives are in prison for the killing of two jat boys after an the eve-teasing of a Hindu girl by Muslim youth. After the eve-teasing incident, Shahnawaz, a young man, was killed, allegedly by eight men. He was Raja's cousin. In retaliation, two jat boys were lynched by a Muslim mob in Kawal, which triggered the riots in Muzaffarnagar district and the neighbouring district of Shamli. His relatives, Raja says, are innocent and those who killed the jat boys had come from outside Kawal. "No one seems to hear us," says Raja, a door-to-door cloth salesman, who says the family's earnings have suffered after the riots. Two other friends sit beside him, one of them, Avesh Ashraf, says incidents of murder are nothing new in the district. "Lekin usko hamare UP mein itna chamka diya tha ki usme Hindu Muslim toh honi thi. Bas hamara gaon badnaam hona tha aur kuch nahin (They highlighted this so much that Hindu-Muslim tension were bound to escalate. It was all to give our village a bad name)," Avesh says. The boys blame the BJP candidate standing for election for escalating the tension, but say that the relations between the two communities are normal now. "This issue is not being fanned in this election like it was in 2014," adds Avesh. In the sparse room, the three Muslims boys say they will vote for Akhilesh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party because he has improved electricity supply and provided a good ambulance service. "Mohammedan ki apni koi party bhi toh nahin hai. Mayawatiji ka koi bharosa nahin hai. Akhileshji ne hi kaam kiya hai, woh sabne dekha hai (Muslims don't have a party of their own. Mayawati can't be trusted. Only Akhilesh has worked and we have seen it)," says Avesh. In this dangal of UP politics, much as Muzaffarnagar wants to leave its past behind, the shadows are never far behind. More than 30 U.S. senators, including U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, have sent a letter requesting answers from a pharmaceutical company that reportedly raised the price of its opioid overdose reversal medication by nearly $4,000. According to multiple press reports, Kaleo Pharmaceuticals increased the price of the drug, Evzio, from $690 for a two-pack in 2014 to $4,500 today. The senators are concerned that communities and families won't be able to access the drug at a time when heroin and opioid addiction has become an epidemic. In their letter to Kaleo Pharmaceuticals CEO Spencer Williamson, the senators said the price hike is "very concerning." "We are concerned about the impact the high list price may have for those who do not qualify for the (discount program) and for state and local entities who hope to purchase large quantities of your product," the senators wrote. The letter asks Williamson to provide information about Kaleo's pricing structure for Evzio since it received approval from the Food and Drug Administration and how many Evzio devices are set aside for the company's donation program. The senators also requested how much the company received in reimbursements from the federal government. Williamson released a statement Wednesday acknowledging that he received the letter and is communicating with the senators who signed it to "ensure all questions are addressed." "Our first priority remains ensuring that patients can access Evzio," Williamson said. "In fact, with the launch of Kaleo's enhanced patient access program, more Americans are able to obtain this life-saving product for $0 out of pocket than any time in history." The statement from Williamson also included details about Kaleo's patient access program. There are no out-of-pocket costs for individuals with insurance and a prescription or for those who lack insurance and earn less than $100,000 a year. Through the patient access program, anyone paying cash will pay $360 for a two-pack. Kaleo also noted that Evzio is donated to emergency responders, health departments and harm reduction organizations. Williams said nearly 200,000 doses of Evzio have been donated to various agencies and the donations have helped save 2,800 lives. "Our goal at Kaleo is to ensure the broadest access possible to this potentially life-saving medication," he said. While Williamson addressed some of the questions raised by senators, he didn't directly address the price increase in his statement. Evzio and other naloxone drugs have helped reverse the effects of overdoses throughout the country and saved thousands of lives. The decrease in drug overdose deaths in Cayuga County was attributed, in part, to the availability of naloxone. That's one reason why senators are concerned about Evzio's price hike and the potential impact of the increase. "Such a steep rise in the cost of this drug threatens to price-out families and communities that depend on naloxone to save lives," they wrote. Statement released by Kaleo Pharmaceuticals CEO Spencer Williamson: We received the letter from the Senators and are in communication with them to ensure all questions are addressed. Our first priority remains ensuring that patients can access EVZIO. In fact, with the launch of kaleos enhanced patient access program, more Americans are able to obtain this life-saving product for $0 out-of-pocket than any time in history. Details of how we are ensuring the broadest access to EVZIO for patients and their loved ones through our patient access program include: For the more than 200 million Americans with commercial insurance and a prescription, they can get EVZIO for $0 out-of-pocket. For patients who do not have government or commercial insurance, and have a household income of less than $100,000, they can also receive EVZIO for $0 out-of-pocket. For those paying cash, the price is $360. As the senators noted, EVZIO was designed for use by those without medical training, as most life-threatening opioid emergencies occur in the home and are witnessed by friends or family who may be in the best position to intervene quickly with naloxone. Through quick administration of EVZIO by caregivers, we can help save lives while saving significant costs to the healthcare system by avoiding long term in-patient care. No naloxone product, branded or even generic, is less expensive for commercially insured patients, or patients without insurance and incomes below $100,000 a year, than EVZIO. Since EVZIO was not designed for the bulk purchase market, which is comprised primarily of first responder agencies, health departments and harm reduction organizations, we developed the kaleo Cares Product Donation program to provide EVZIO free of charge and ensure communities in need can access our product. To date, we have donated nearly 200,000 doses of EVZIO and it has been reported to us that 2,800 lives have been saved through this program. Our goal at kaleo is to ensure the broadest access possible to this potentially life-saving medication. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. AUBURN When students shuffled into their Principles of the Biomedical Sciences class at the beginning of the school year at Auburn High School, they likely didn't expect to see caution tape, a body outline, fake blood, fake vomit and other elements of a full-blown crime scene in the back of their classroom. "We could see the caution tape, so that was interesting, and it made us want to come back there," sophomore McKayla McKeen said. The crime scene is indeed meant to draw children in, explained teacher Patrick Crawford, who has been teaching the class since 2015. The mock situation allowed students to explore the scene like forensic investigators, since the first unit of the class focused on forensics. Students have found throughout the course of the class that the fictitious character who died, named Anna Garcia, had various medical issues that could have contributed to her death so the students learned about different parts of medicine, research techniques, physiology and biology in the process. For example, students discovered that Anna Garcia had sickle-cell anemia. The class has been going through a corresponding unit on the subject for the last month. The class including the "death" is part of a series of science courses the high school began in 2015. Principles of the Biomedical Sciences serves as an introductory first course. The high school began offering the second course, Human Body Systems with instructor Christina Calarco-Lukins, at the start of the 2016-2017 school year. The third course will first be offered in the fall of 2017. The courses are parts of a program called Project Lead The Way, which relies on activities, problem-solving and different projects rather than traditional lectures. Judy Coye, the chair of the science department for Auburn high and middle schools, was the first to suggest the high school use the program in 2015. The strategies employed by Project Lead the Way allow students to work among themselves and learn by helping each other, with the teacher acting as a facilitator, assisting along the way. McKeen and sophomore Briana Muldrow were among the students working on an activity in Crawford's class Friday afternoon, deciphering a message Crawford created using paper strains of RNA molecules that transfer instructions from DNA within the human body. Muldrow has enjoyed the class, praising Crawford's teaching style. "He's not the person who yells at you and is really strict," Muldrow said. Crawford, who teaches the class to three sets of students a day, said the students have taken to the hands-off approach, as they have been able to do the work and explore the material on their own once they are given a few steps to get started. "With the project-based learning, I find that increases students' engagement," Crawford said. The Human Body Systems class helmed by Calarco-Lukins who recently won a Science Teachers Association of New York State Excellence in Teaching Award is focused on the human body. Throughout the year, students have added body parts made of clay from different sections of the brain to the urinary tract system to mannequins as they learn about each body system in the class. They are about halfway through completing their body models. Speaking in her classroom before the Friday afternoon start, Calarco-Lukins said she was thrilled that the Project Lead The Way model has let the children help each other. Calarco-Lukins is still involved in the learning process and still assists the students, but there have been many occasions in which a student would say they were confused about something and a fellow student would assist before she had a chance to step in, she said. "I love it. It's rewarding as an educator to hear them make connections and to show that they have been learning," she said. Calarco-Lukins, who has been teaching for longer than a decade, said college credit can be earned through the course. She appreciates the effort her students put into their work and she expects them to work at that level so they're prepared for further education, she said. As students walked in before the start of her class Friday afternoon, the teacher stood forward a bit. With a smile and the casual tone one might address a colleague with, she explained that the day was a general work day, so the students could work on the materials previously given to them. Many students rose from their desks to go get their mannequins, setting them on some nearby tables as they went about their work. Senior Matt Hesse said his favorite part of the class was the clay. He noted that he wants to get into the medical field and that he found the parts of the class focused on the brain to be particularly interesting. Alaina Bates, a sophomore, said she has long been interested in the human body, since her mother's side of the family is largely involved in the medical field. At one point, with a wide smile, Bates talked about red blood cells and the relative simplicity of the kidney confidently, free of pauses or hesitation. "I've just always been interested in it, and I've been involved with it from such a young age," Bates said. Calarco-Lukins said she is thrilled that her students seem to be invested in their education. "You spend so much time pulling them along and to (get them to) understand the value of an education, so it's rewarding to have students who understand the inherent value of an education," Calarco-Lukins said. Although not many people know about it, Lan Ha is one Vietnams most beautiful bays. Autumn is the best time to visit Lan Ha Bay because the weather at this time is extremely beautiful with pleasant sunshine, cool breezes, and blue sky and ocean. Linking Ha Long Bay of Quang Ninh province with Cat Ba archipelago, Lan Ha Bay is like a silk ribbon made from green mountains, blue sea and diverse fauna and flora. It is a tranquil, curved body of water featuring about 400 islands. Unlike Ha Long Bay, all 400 islets in Lan Ha are covered with vegetation with unique values, especially landscape values. Lan Ha Bay spreads more than 7,000 hectares, including 5,400 hectares under the management of Cat Ba National Park. Aside from beautiful beaches, its attractiveness also lies in limestone mountain ranges that divide the sea into smaller bays, lagoons and caves, many of which are unexplored. There are hundreds of limestone mountains in the shape of things such as clogs or bats which also give the islets their names. Stalactite caves and caverns can also be seen in Lan Ha. Some outstanding ones are Ham Rong Cave, Do Cung Cave and Ca Cave. Lan Ha Bay boasts 139 small and quiet sandbanks, many of which are located between two rocky mountains a feature bringing peace and ripples, making these sandbanks ideal bathing beaches. Under the clean and blue water are colourful coral reefs such as Van Boi and Van Ha reefs, good for diving. Calm sea areas like those off Sen Island, Cu Island and Khi Island are also place vacationers can swim and dive to see coral. Some rocky islets with favourable natural conditions have also been used to develop leisure tourism activities. To fully enjoy the beauties of limestone islets as well as the landscapes of Lan Ha Bay, tourists should travel by kayak. By the means of transport, they can explore new experiences that cannot be felt on cruise ships. Snaking through islets and small caves, kayaks can access the foot of rocky mountains, giving tourists a view of the world under the blue water. Visitors will be astonished at the nature in Lan Ha Bay and feel at peace while being here. Cat Dua Island, also known as Khi (Money) Island, is a must-visit destination in Lan Ha Bay. Many leisure tourism activities have been offered on this island, luring many foreign holidaymakers in recent years. The waters around Cat Dua harbour pearl farms are also interesting places to see. A typical tourism product in Lan Ha Bay is small fishing villages and those that farm local specialties such as Asian green mussel, clam, cobia, crab, abalone and grouper. Many of such aquaculture farms supply fresh seafood for tourists when they set foot in the bay. Two places of interest many travel companies introduce to visitors are Van Gia fishing village, which is more than 100 years old, and Viet Hai fishing village, which is almost entirely isolated from modern life. Bay ecotourism recently is focused on investment. Only taking 5 minutes to travel from Beo wharf toward the north to reach Cat Dua Island with many tourism services are being exploited. This tourism form is attracting a lot of foreign tourists to arrive for resting. Thanks to those advantages, tourism activities are flourishing in Lan Ha Bay, satisfying domestic and foreign visitors growing demand to discover the bay in the north of Vietnam./. VNA/VNP The first 10 minutes of every day at Peachtown are spent in a morning meeting with all our students. Happenings of the school day are discussed, as are mini-lessons in the arts, poetry or current events. Often, these lessons center around how to be kinder people or better citizens, with the central focus on independence, self-reliance and personal responsibility. A person who is confident, strong and comfortable with themselves and others can stand up and make good choices. They look outward to the people around them, empathic rather than self-involved, bold rather than fearful, and decisive rather than hesitant. A keen sense of personal responsibility is an all-important attribute. It implies integrity: standing by what you know to be right, what you know you should do, or the commitments you have made. Sometimes, however, otherwise responsible citizens turn their backs on people in need; the bystander effect is a troubling phenomenon. The greater the number of bystanders to an event where help is required, the less likely it is anyone will respond quickly to aid the victim. This phenomenon was the genesis of the famous studies of the Kitty Genovese case, the brutal 1964 murder witnessed by dozens but responded to by only a few. In the past decade, numerous incidences of rape and murder have occurred while others looked on. Generally, the bystander effect is framed in the context of the number of people physically witnessing an event. The bystander effect is shaped by three elements: the diffusion of responsibility, or the reduced personal psychological cost for non-intervention when others are present; the fear of making a mistake in judgement and being evaluated by others; and social influence, or the inclination in ambiguous situations to refer to the actions of others for cues (Abbate, Spoca, Spadaro and Romano, 2007). A study by Garcia (2007) found that an implicit bystander effect could be generated by imagining oneself in a crowd. This effectively primed respondents to behave as if a crowd existed. A recent horrifying Facebook version of what can be considered an implicit bystander effect involved a 14-year-old girl who carried out her own suicide on the social media platform. As reported, a thousand people watched Naika Venant prepare for over an hour to hang herself. Watchers, with the exception of one friend, not only failed to respond to the emergency or her eventual hanging on her shower door, but they taunted, and posted parody videos and laughing emojis (Leonard Pitts, The Miami Herald). Two other young children posted their suicides in the last few weeks as well. After 50 years of study on the bystander effect, social media is generating a whole new perspective on the problem; the shared witnessing of cruelty and victimization that results from cyber-bullying is a daily event. Contemplating that the bystander effect could be normalized as part of the everyday lives of children is a dismal thought, at best. Just liking something makes one part of a collective behavior without any accountability. In a situation like that of Naika Venant, the negligence is immoral, verging on criminal. While only a few states have laws that would apply in such cases, and then only for young children, clearly some action must be taken to address cases such as the Venant suicide. As with so many other issues surrounding social media, we need to wake up and catch up with our changing environment. One solution is to ensure that schools are producing confident, self-directed young adults, who can take a stand against passive and conformist behavior, and who have cultivated a sense of personal responsibility that translates into an altruistic compassion for others and an imperative to help. As I sat at my desk writing this article, a group of primary-age children were prompted by a fellow student to begin chanting. I dont even know why, but soon they were all chanting. In that classic teachable moment, I talked to them about the power of doing what was right, and the strength it takes to go against the crowd to trust themselves to know what is right. In the face of our anonymous, crowd-sourcing social media, this is a message that will need to be drilled home time and time again. Einstein said, The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Wise man, that Einstein. HA NOI The Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) has been voted the countrys best treasury and cash management bank. Global Finance, one of the leading international magazines in the financial sector, released its 17th annual Best Treasury and Cash Management Banks and Providers list by category, region and country. Vietcombank has also been listed among the worlds 55 best banks and providers 2017. It surpassed local banks in providing the best service to customers, a Global Finance representative said. The magazine selected an overall global winner as well as global winners in seven key sectors. In every region, the best banks were selected across five categories: cash management, payments and collections, liquidity, working capital optimisation and short-term investments/money market funds. Input from specialists in the sector, businesses, high-ranking banking leaders and Global Finances team of experts was used to draw up the rankings. Vietcombank aims to become the No. 1 bank in the country and among the 300 largest banks in the world by 2020. To achieve that, it has implemented many projects to improve its management capacity and meet international standards.VNS HA NOI Domestic firms should make great efforts in the competition with foreign invested firms to contribute more actively to the global value chain and participate more effectively in the worlds production network, experts said. Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) former director Le ang Doanh told Nguoi Lao ong (The Labourer) newspaper that foreign direct investment (FDI) firms had greatly contributed to Viet Nams economic growth, accounting for around 70 per cent of national export turnover while domestic enterprises had not yet deeply involved in the global value chain. According to the General Statistics Office, in 2016, Viet Nams export turnover reached over US$175 billion, up 8.6 per cent year-on-year. Of the estimate, the export value earned by FDI enterprises reached more than $120 billion, up 10.2 per cent against the previous year. Doanh said domestic enterprises had been urged to improve capacity and enhance competitiveness right when the contribution of FDI firms in the export value was standing at 50 per cent. However, until now, when the rate had risen to 70 per cent, local firms still remained passive in global value chains. Export over the years contributed greatly to the economy - if in 2001, the national export turnover reached $15 billion, then 10 years later, the number rose up to $97 billion, Doanh said, adding that this achievement was largely achieved by the FDI sector. The significant presence of FDI companies in exports partly reflected the low level of competitiveness exhibited by domestic businesses, he said, adding that a major part of Vietnamese firms were just joining in the low value outsourcing service industries. According to Ngo uc Hoa, chairman of Thang Loi Textile Garment JSC, all of Thang Lois products serving domestic use are self-designed, produced and distributed. But for the exported goods, the company just provides cut and sew services for foreign partners, meaning that the firm creates apparel and accessories out of materials owned by the foreign companies that contract them. The biggest difficulty textile exporting enterprises is facing is the lack of raw materials for production, leading to the only option of importation. In addition, Viet Nams textile and garment industry hasnt thrived yet, thus gaining low attention from customers. Due to the fact that the firm is only hired to cut and sew products for foreign partners, they have to use raw materials supplied by the partners or import the materials themselves. If an exported T-shirt costs $10, the company has to spend $8.5 to import materials and earn only $1.5 for processing services. "It is not an exaggeration to say textile enterprises pinch pennies for a living," Hoa said. Even for high-technology industries such as power, electronic and telecommunication, most of domestic enterprises are hired for providing outsourcing services for exported goods. According to Vu Thanh Tu Anh from Fullbright Teaching Program, a recent research of Fullbrights specialist group summarising the 10-year period that Intel invested in Viet Nam showed a number of sad results. Tu Anh said Vietnamese enterprises account for only 3 per cent of Intels total exporting value and are involved in some steps of meals provision, gift boxes preparation and security services, which are the services that Intel cant import. Mobilising all sources for domestic enterprises At the recent Prime Ministers roundtable conference with global specialist network on Viet Nams development, Prof. Tran Van Tho from Japan-based Waseda University said in the context that Viet Nam was actively and thoroughly integrating in the worlds economy, avoiding the outsourcing trap was a significant challenge, drawing high attention of policy makers. According to Doanh, Viet Nams economy strongly depending on the FDI sector may become alarming issue as when the economic advantages vanish, the FDI capital flow may be diverted to other countries. This is actually whats happening with our textile industry as outsourcing service orders are shifting to Cambodia and Bangladesh. In a bid to improve the situation, the countrys policies need to focus on developing agricultural production, which have already strongly contributed to the national economy, on a larger scale so that the agriculture sector can participate more deeply in the global value chain The government also needs to concentrate on the development of the supporting industry to enable private enterprises to join in production chains of big corporations such as Samsung and Intel. We must create more motivation for private enterprises to actively produce rather than gaining profit through the investment in property and resources exploitation," Doanh said. Regarding tax issue, economic expert Bui Trinh said input VAT levied on FDI enterprises were deducted. Meanwhile, many Vietnamese enterprises whose input VAT should have been deducted still has to pay for it. How are domestic industries, such as agriculture, supposed to grow and compete when they still have to pay for input VAT? Trinh said. Trinh said the governments policies assisting domestic enterprises should begin with concrete actions such as reducing taxes, reconsidering tax policy to guarantee fairness between FDI and domestic enterprises. VNS QUANG TRI South Koreas Korea Western Power Co. (KOWEPO) plans to construct a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant in the central province of Quang Tri in 2018. Provincial officials said the plant was expected to become operational in 2021. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project signed last month says KOWEPO will invest US$1.85 billion in building the Quang Tri Power Plant No 2, which will be located in the provinces Southeast Economic Zone. KOWEPO will own and operate the power plant for 25 years. It will also carry out construction management and operations and maintenance (O&M) services. We will establish a growth base in Viet Nam and make a full-scale entry into the Indochina power generation market by successfully completing this project, Jung Young-chul, general manager of the Planning and Management Division of KOWEPO, said in a statement on the companys website. The Korean firm is also preparing a basic investment prospectus for the project for completing the plant by the end of 2024. According to KOWEPO, the power plant will supply power to Quang Tri Industrial Park and Economic Zone, as well as main development projects of the province. Last year, the province granted investment licences to 15 projects worth VN10 trillion ($444 million). The province, situated on the East-West Economic Corridor and Trans-Asia road link with Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, has called for foreign investment in organic and hi-tech farming and the processing industry. In the 2011-15 period, Quang Tri attracted 262 domestic and foreign projects with a combined investment capital of about VN50.3 trillion (more than $2.23 billion). The province also plans a 14,000ha farm as a high-tech zone that will produce lotus milk and host a freshwater fish aquaculture centre. In 2015, Thai company One Asian signed a MoU with the province to invest approximately $2.4 billion in a 1,200 MW thermal power plant starting in 2017 and finishing in 2019. The Thai investor also agreed to study the development of an energy complex in the southeast economic zone that would combine power plants with the My Thuy deep water port project, and natural gas-fired power plants to take advantage of the 30 billion cubic metre gas reserves off the central coast of Viet Nam. Also in 2015, another Thai investor, EGATI, said it was planning to invest $2.26 billion in the 1,200-MW Quang Tri thermal power plant project on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The plant is expected to commence commercial operations in 2021. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue has asked the Ministry of Construction in 2016-20 to speed up the divestment of the States stake in State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in which it acted as owner representatives. Hue at a conference on Monday said the ministry must divest completely out of 10 enterprises by 2018, while the ministry proposed to reduce the States stake to just 36 per cent. Whichever enterprises still have 36 per cent of the States stake by 2018 must be reported to the prime minister, Hue said. The Ministry of Construction was acting as owner representatives of State ownership in 16 enterprises which held significant assets and land and provided jobs for dozens of thousands workers, according to minister Pham Hong Ha. 2016-20 restructuring will focus on completing privatisation and divesting following the appropriate roadmap, Ha said. The ministry proposed to maintain the States stake in Licogi Corporation JSC and transfer it to the State Capital Investment Corporation in the first quarter of this year. In the remaining five corporations - Lilama, Vicem, Song a, Viglacera and HUD - State holding would be reduced to a controlling level of 51 per cent by 2020 as these corporations had huge assets or were participating in implementing key national projects, according to the ministrys proposal. Divestments would continue to be implemented at these five companies from 2021, it added. However, Hue said the States stake in these five companies must be reduced by less than 51 per cent by 2019. According to Ha, the ministrys results of SOE restructuring were disappointing in the 2011-15 period due to a stagnant progress, failure in improving competitiveness, and therefore State stake remained high. In this five-year period, the ministry would hasten SOE restructuring, including State stake divestment and transfer ownership representative rights, to prevent losses to State assets. The restructuring of SOEs aims at building strong construction firms which would contribute to promoting economic development and security, Ha said, adding SOE restructuring would be undertaken in line with the restructuring of the construction sector. At the conference, Hue also asked the ministry to increase initial public offerings and listing on stock exchanges while tightening management of stake sale in member companies. Regarding Song Thao and Ha Long cement joint stock companies, Hue agreed with the ministrys plan of transferring them to Vicem, noting that attention must be paid to issuing stake to raise their charter capital. - VNS The HCM Stock Exchange (HOSE) has approved the listing of Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Companys 300 million shares on the southern bourse. Photo vietjetair.com HCM CITY Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company will list 300 million shares on the HCM Stock Exchange (HOSE) in late February after it managed to retain an approval for the same. The company will be listed with the code VJC at the opening price of VN90,000 (US$4) per share. With the daily trading limit of 20 per cent on either side, the aviation companys share price could range between VN72,000 and VN108,000 per share. On the opening price of VN90,000 per share, Vietjets market capitalisation is VN27,000 trillion, equal to $1.2 billion. Vietjet did not clarify the date of share listing in its financial prospectus; however, a source told local news site zing.vn late Thursday that Vietjets shares would be traded at HOSE on February 28. On January 25, Vietjet registered its 300 million shares with the Vietnam Securities Depository. According to Reuters, Vietjet Air has sold 44.8 million shares of current shareholders to institutional investors at VN84,600 per share, and 3.5 million shares to individual investors for VN86,500 per share. About 30 international corporations and investment funds have offered to purchase Vietjets shares, including Morgan Stanley, Mirae Asset, Dragon Capital and VinaCapital. According to a recent report by Vietnam Enterprise Investment Limited (VEIL) run by Dragon Capital, the investment fund on January 19 owned $43 million worth of Vietjet shares. Besides VEIL, HCM City Securities Corp (HSC) also spent VN134.5 billion to buy 1.6 million of the carriers shares. Shareholders of Vietjet Air have also approved the companys proposal to issue more than 22.3 million shares to the Huong Duong Sunny Investment Co. Ltd in the first quarter of 2017 at a price of VN84,600 per share. The share issuance will increase the aviation companys charter capital to VN3.22 trillion. In 2016, Vietjet received a net revenue of more than VN27.5 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 39 per cent from 2015. The figure includes an amount of VN15.5 trillion from passenger transportation and related activities, and an amount of VN11.7 trillion from transferring and renting of planes. The companys combined pre-tax profit reached VN2.4 trillion. The post-tax profit for the parent companys shareholders was VN2.29 trillion, equal to earnings of VN8,726 per share. Vietjet has targetted a profit of nearly VN3.4 trillion in 2017. It also plans to pay a yearly dividend of 50 per cent for the period between 2017 and 2019, including 30 per cent dividend to be paid in cash. VNS HA NOI Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Viet Nam reached US$1.42 billion from the beginning of the year until January 20, according to data from the General Statistics Office. The amount exceeded FDI during the same period in 2016 by 6.6 per cent. During this time, Viet Nam attracted 175 newly-approved projects with total registered capital up to $1.24 billion, up by 37.8 per cent in terms of project number and 23 per cent in terms of capital compared with the same period last year. Simultaneously, 76 projects from previous years had applied for capital adjustment with an added amount of $179.2 million. Estimation of capital disbursement for FDI in January 2017 alone reached $850 million, up by 6.3 per cent from the same period in 2016. The real estate business attracted $297.4 million, accounting for 23.9 per cent of total national FDI. In total, 26 cities and provinces of Viet Nam approved renewed FDI projects, in which southern Binh Duong Province had the largest amount of registered capital at $666.2 million, followed by northern Bac Giang Province at $159.5 million. In January 2017, out of 31 countries and territories with renewed FDI projects in Viet Nam, Singapore was the most significant investor with $416.7 million, accounting for 33.5 per cent of total renewed capital. The Republic of Korea was in second place with $347.8 million at 28 per cent, followed by China with $310.1 million at 24.9 per cent. Thai investment According to the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), Thailand has invested US$7.7 billion in 440 projects in Viet Nam to become the countrys tenth largest investor. So far, Viet Nam has attracted foreign direct investment from 112 countries and territories, the agency says. Thai businesses began investing right after Viet Nam introduced policies to attract foreign investment, it says. From 2006 to 2008, Viet Nam wooed the largest investment capital from Thailand amounting to $5 billion, accounting for 21.4 per cent of the total investment from ASEAN to Viet Nam worth $23.3 billion. Investments from Thailand have focussed on processing and manufacturing industries. At present, Thai investors have assured investments of $7.04 billion in 205 projects in the processing and manufacturing industries, accounting for 87.2 per cent of total registered invested capital. The largest project in those industries is the Southern petrochemical complex with a total investment of $3.77 billion. The agency says Thai investors are now turning their attention to industrial infrastructure and retail sectors. These include a joint venture project between Amata VNPCL of Thailand and Sonadezi Bien Hoa in the infrastructure sector and a project of MM Mega Market Co, Ltd in HCM City, with a capital of $36 million, reports vneconomy.vn. Viet Nam is considered an important investment destination in the region in line with Thailands policies on promoting investment in foreign countries. This is big opportunity for Viet Nam to attract investment capital from this country, FIA says. Thailand is near Viet Nam on the map and the two countries have cultural similarities. They signed an agreement on encouraging and protecting investments in 1992 and to create favourable conditions for investment co-operation. Therefore, Thai investors have not faced many difficulties while investing in Viet Nam. Meanwhile, the Thailand government has also encouraged and supported Thai investors already in Viet Nam. VNS The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has loosened its temporary suspension of the import of uncooked prawns and related products. Photo plo.vn HA NOI The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has loosened its temporary suspension of the import of uncooked prawns and related products. According to a notice issued Monday, the departments Director of Biosecurity has agreed to exempt certain goods from the suspension order that went into effect on Jan. 9, including dried prawns and shelf-stable prawn-based food products; irradiated bait for aquatic use; pet fish food and aquaculture feed; and uncooked prawns sourced from Australias exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Australian-caught prawns are not exempt if they have been exported to another country for processing, said the notice. The notice states that this exemption is a result of the departments ongoing work to resume the safe trade in uncooked prawns and prawn products as soon as possible. This work includes an assessment of the bio-security risk presented by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) on uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn products. The Director of Bio-security agreed with the conclusion of the assessment that these goods pose a very low risk of introducing prawn diseases into Australia, including WSSV. According to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia, the Australian Government suspended the import of prawn after an outbreak of white spot disease was detected in five aquaculture sites on Logan River, southeast Queensland, as well as in live shrimp in the river, in December last year. Shrimp farm owners suspected viruses entering Australia from imported products from infected areas abroad, but the cause of the outbreak has not been verified. All batches of imported shrimp were suspended as of January 9. The office said a number of Vietnamese seafood exporters were facing difficulties as a result, especially two businesses in southernmost Ca Mau Province. The names of the two businesses were not disclosed but its estimated that they may suffer a total loss of millions of dollars. The two businesses export about 100-150 tonnes of shrimp to Australia monthly. The suspension has impacted their operations. Batches that were sent back to Viet Nam resulted in losses of about $1.6-1.8 million for each firm. VNS Preschool and kindergarten registration for the Union Springs Central School District will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at Cayuga Elementary School, 255 Wheat St., Cayuga. The Cayuga County Health Department will also offer free lead screenings to students and their siblings at the event. To attend preschool, children must be 4 by Dec. 1, 2017; to attend kindergarten, they must be 5 by that date. If unable to attend the event, parents may enroll their child by sending the child's full name, address and birthdate, along with the parents' full names, address and phone number information to Jennifer Henry, Cayuga Elementary School, 255 Wheat St., Cayuga, NY 13034, or to jhenry@unionspringscsd.org. For more information, call (315) 889-4170. HA NOI The planning and investment department of Binh inh Province has issued an investment certificate to Seldat Viet Nam Company Limited to build a garment factory in An Nhon town. The US$1.2 million project will be funded by an investor from Canada. The factory, to be built in Nhon Khanh Communes An Hoa Hamlet, will have five garment lines and a design capacity of two million products a year, most of which will be exported to the US. The plant will be constructed on a 2,440sq.m site and is expected to become operational in the second quarter of this year. This is the first licence that has been given to a foreign direct investment (FDI) project in the central province this year. Currently, there are 69 FDI projects in Binh inh with a total registration capital of $783million. Investors are from countries such as the US, China, Japan, France, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Last year, the province implemented reforms and simplified administrative procedures to create an attractive investment environment. Binh inh will continue its work on conducting dialogues with firms in the province to understand their problems and propose solutions so as to improve its business environment and boost its socio-economic development. au tu (Vietnam Investment Review) quoted Nguyen Bay, director of the provincial investment promotion centre, as saying that the provinces goal is to continue building the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone as well as other industrial parks and become a hub for industry and tourism. Trade surplus with Canada Viet Nam enjoyed a trade surplus of around $3.089 billion with Canada at the end of November 2016, an increase of 24.6 per cent against the same period in 2015, according to Statistics Canada. In that period, the two-way trade value touched $3.826 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 per cent, which includes Viet Nams exports worth $3.457 billion, up 16.4 per cent, and an import value of $368 million, a drop of 25 per cent. Hoang Anh Dung, Viet Nams commercial counsellor in Canada, said the country leads among ASEAN nations in terms of export value to Canada. Viet Nam is followed by Thailand with $2.17 billion, a drop of 3.2 per cent; Malaysia with $1.789 billion, down 7 per cent; Indonesia with $1.134 billion, down 7.6 per cent; the Philippines with $934 million, down 9.8 per cent; and Singapore with $666 million, down 3.5 per cent. Canada spent $1.174 billion on Viet Nams electronic products and accessories, up 56.5 per cent; $355 million on footwear, up 15.5 per cent; $108 million on sportswear, up 25 per cent; and $54 million on toys, up 24 per cent. Among Viet Nams export goods, mobile phones recorded the highest jump of 67.9 per cent, touching $827 million. VNS HCM CITY HCM City tourism companies this year will launch a tour of Oriental medicine stores on the streets of Luong Nhu Hoc, Trieu Quang Phuc and Hai Thuong Lan Ong in the citys District 5. Representatives of tourism companies, the citys Peoples Committee, Department of Tourism and District 5s Peoples Committee on Monday held a meeting to open the tour. The three streets have more than 120 businesses, manufacturers and clinics for Oriental medicine, according to Pham Quoc Huy, chairman of District 5s Peoples Committee. He said that District 5 had not taken full advantage of its tourism potential on these streets. The district will hold Oriental Medicine Week on February 23-26 to attract tourists to the streets. Besides the Oriental Medicine Market Street, the district will establish a fashion street on Nguyen Trai Street, jewelry and precious stone street, and a night market at 100 Hung Vuong Street and a food area at Thuan Kieu Plaza trade centre. There will also be an electric bus route between District 5 and District 6 to meet needs of tourists for travelling, buying and learning about historic structures and the culture of ethnic Hoa (Chinese origin) people. Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, said the city would renovate tourism places in districts to provide services such as visits to the Oriental Medicine streets and eating seafood in Can Gio District. The city targets six million foreign tourists this year, according to the Department of Tourism. The city received 5.2 million foreign tourists and 21.8 million domestic tourists last year, an increase of 10 per cent in both categories compared to 2015. Total turnover from tourism in HCM City rose to VN103 trillion (US$4.7 billion) last year, increasing 9 per cent compared to 2015. VNS Lao Prime Minister Thoonglun Sisoulith led a delegation to Viet Nam to attend the event, which also aims to increase political trust and direct the implementation of high-level agreements to boost ties. VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien HA NOI The 39th meeting of the Viet NamLaos Intergovernmental Committee being held today in Ha Noi will reaffirm the two countries foreign policy priorities in developing friendship and co-operation. Lao Prime Minister Thoonglun Sisoulith led a delegation to Viet Nam to attend the event, which also aims to increase political trust and direct the implementation of high-level agreements to boost ties. The meeting, which will be co-chaired by Thoonglun Sisoulith and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will scrutinise the implementation of agreements and promotion of cooperation between the two countries. Viet Nam-Laos relations have been strengthened with regular delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made an official visit to Laos in November, 2016. Viet Nam supported Laos in undertaking the chairmanship of ASEAN and holding the ASEAN Summit last year. The two sides coordinated in ensuring security and defence and fighting transnational crime. Trade and investment links between the two countries also saw progress. Vietnamese enterprises have registered to invest US$5.1 billion in Laos, ranking third among foreign investors in the country. Two-way trade between the two countries in 2016 hit $801 million. Trade promotion activities were intensified through fairs and conferences. Additionally, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in transportation, focusing on completing a study on a proposed Ha Noi-Vientiane highway, and accelerating implementation of transport projects within bilateral cooperation and in the Mekong sub-region. About 100,200 Lao tourists visited Viet Nam in the first nine months of 2016, while the number of Vietnamese visitors to Laos reached 760,500 in the period, up 20 per cent year-on-year. Vietnam began construction of two hospitals in Houaphan and Xiangkhouang provinces worth about $20 million and $17.6 million, respectively. Education and training cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos have been also expanded. More than 14,000 Lao students study in Viet Nam. The two sides are also co-operating on science and technology, natural resources and environment, agriculture, telecommunications, labour, culture, museums and tourism. Viet Nam helped Laos develop agricultural and broadcasting projects in Xiangkhouang and Udomsay by providing official development assistance. The two nations closely co-operate at regional and international forums and coordinate with other ASEAN member nations in building the ASEAN Community. This year, the two sides will celebrate 40 years since the signing of the Viet Nam Laos Treaty of Amity and Co-operation (July 18, 1997) and the 55th anniversary of the two countries diplomatic ties. VNS HA NOI Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said yesterday that Viet Nam and Laos should identify concrete measures to ensure quality and progress of Vietnamese projects in Laos, and boost sustainable growth of economic ties. At a reception that he hosted in Ha Noi for visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, the latter reiterated his countrys determination to work with Viet Nam on bringing socio-economic co-operation on par with the sound political relations that the two countries enjoy. The Lao PM affirmed that his Government would also work closely with Viet Nam in directing ministries, sectors and localities to implement agreements reached by the two countries senior Party and State leaders as well as those to be signed during the 39th Meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee that he will co-chair in Ha Noi. He conveyed New Year wishes from Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounhang Volachith to the Vietnamese Party chief. He also thanked Viet Nam for its long-standing support for Laos. Party leader Trong lauded the effective co-operation between the two Governments in recent times. He said that during the 39th Meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, the two sides should actively seek co-ordination measures for realising the aims of Viet Nam-Laos Joint Statements, bilateral agreements and co-operation programmes and plans. Trong also suggested that Viet Nam and Laos strengthen connectivity in economy, transport infrastructure and energy. Both countries should effect positive and practical changes towards improving the quality of education and training co-operation, he said. Both leaders expressed their delight at developing special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries, saying it would bolster national construction and defence of each country. They also pledged to work together to maintain and further promote bilateral ties and educate younger generations on the special relationship between the two nations. VNS HCM CITY Abrupt weather changes this year have triggered several disease outbreaks, according to health experts. The HCM City Preventive Health Centre has warned that the unseasonable rains in the city since the Lunar New Year could see more people hospitalised with dengue fever; hand, foot, and mouth; respiratory ailments; and diarrhoea. Dr Nguyen Tri Dung, the centres head, said people should take preventive measures like destroying mosquitoes and larvae and maintaining personal hygiene. Statistics released by the Paediatrics Hospital 2s infectious diseases ward on Monday (February 6) showed that 22 dengue patients are receiving treatment, double the number compared to the same period last year. Of them, four are in the serious condition, including a child who is on a ventilator. According to Dr Le Tien Dung of the University Medical Centre, when the weather changes suddenly, viral fever and pneumonia often break out, with children, seniors and people with low immunity especially at risk. Tran Minh ien, deputy head of the National Hospital of Paediatrics in Ha Noi, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the weather this year had been strange. Normally after Tet the weather in the north is humid, he said, pointing out that this year temperatures had been quite high at night and low in the morning. "The difference in temperature is high, leading to increased risk of respiratory diseases," he said. On Monday his hospital admitted 1,300 patients, many of them with respiratory diseases, he said. Dr Nguyen Thanh Nam, head of the paediatrics ward at another Ha Noi hospital, Bach Mai, said on Monday the ward was filled with children, half of them with respiratory ailments. There were also children with chickenpox, which often breaks out during the transition from winter to spring, he said. The Ha Noi Preventive Health Centre warned that mumps, measles, rubella and other diseases could break out. Nam advised that parents should raise resistance for their children by feeding them sufficient nutrition, keeping them warm and in the hygiene condition in order to prevent from infecting diseases via respiratory tract. They also should bring their children to health facilities to get vaccines against chickenpox, mumps, measles and others. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has directed authorities to find the assets of suspects in corruption cases in order to prevent them from being hidden and to help in executing judgments against the accused. Photo giaoduc.net.vn HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has directed authorities to find the assets of suspects in corruption cases in order to prevent them from being hidden and to help in executing judgments against the accused. According to the PMs instructions issued Monday, the Ministry of Public Security must direct the nations investigation agencies to locate the assets and must ensure the execution of judgments in key and complicated cases related to credit, banking and corruption. Asking the judiciary to closely follow Party guidelines and State policies on strengthening legislation and justice, the Prime Minister also asked the ministry to handle corruption cases and violations of the law. The State Bank of Viet Nam was also assigned to direct credit organisations to strictly assess clients property before lending them money and to closely co-ordinate with civil enforcement bodies on cases related to credit and banking. The Ministry of Interior was required to co-ordinate with the Ministry of Justice to complete legislation on personnel management of the civil judgment execution system. Peoples Committees and civil judgment execution steering committees in provinces were also asked to closely co-ordinate with the Justice Ministry in dealing with problems on judgment enforcement in localities. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in localities has to strengthen inspections to prevent violations of law in transferring land use right and assets attached to land, especially asset dispersal to evade the enforcement of judgment. Mai Luong Khoi, Deputy General Director of Civil Judgment Enforcement under the Ministry of Justice, told Dan Tri online newspaper that the asset recovery in major and serious cases, particularly economic corruption, remained low. Execution of civil-court sentences in some cases still took a long time due to many difficulties, he said. This year, the sector would focus more on completing big cases and tasks of civil judgment execution to meet the new requirements, Khoi added. VNS HA NOI About 1.14 million hectares of rice will be planted in northern Vietnamese provinces in the 2016-17 winter-spring crop, down 18,000 hectare compared to the 2015-16 winter-spring crop, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported on Tuesday. As of Monday, most northern province authorities had secured freshwater for farming at over 515,000 hectares of agricultural land. Hai Phong City and Ha Nam Province both secured 100 per cent freshwater for farming in the winter-spring crop, the ministry said. While provinces of Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho and Hung Yen are following to reach over 92 per cent of the target. The ministry reported that Hai Duong Province has completed sowing 30,000 hectare of rice area, gaining 50 per cent of the target. Luong Thi Kiem, head of the cultivation office at the Hai Duong Provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said local farmers had completed basic preparations for farming the winter-spring crop. The average temperature from January to April will be about 0.5-1 degree Celsius higher than previous years, according to the agriculture ministry, while cold spells and deep freeze will not be long. These are the favourable conditions for the good growth of rice, however, warm weather gives an opportunity for the spread of rice-damaging insects, according to an agricultural expert. So local authorities and agricultural departments need to prepare measures for insect prevention. Kiem said that mice and yellow snails were the most rice-damage vermin, so local authorities have just launched an insect- killing campaign to prevent the spread of these crop-harmful animals. Farmers in the north are happy to hear information about this years favourable weather in order to speed up the sowing process. Vu Thi Ha, a farmer in Hai Duong Provinces Tu Ky said We made full use of warm weather in the last two weeks to finish sowing. Rice seed and fertiliser are available in the area, however, we hope local authorities ensure freshwater for farming." She said Ngoc Son Agricultural Co-operative was contracting qualified experts to kill mice in the field. VNS HA LONG Australian tourist Stephen John Scott, whose body was found in the waters of Ha Long Bay on Monday, committed suicide, the Quang Ninh police said. On Monday afternoon, Scotts body was pulled out near Ti Top Island, four hours after he was reported missing from the cruiser Bien Ngoc. As per the polices preliminary investigation report, disclosed on Tuesday, around 8am on Monday, the cruiser anchored near Sung Sot Cave, a famous tourist destination in the bay, for a group of foreign tourists to visit the cave. However, Scott, head of the tourist group, and another British tourist chose to stay behind. Around 8.30am, the British tourist and the six crew members heard a loud splash in the water and could not find Scott on the cruiser. When the rescue force and fishermen found Scotts body, they discovered that a dumbbell made of cement and metal had been tightly tied to his legs with a blue nylon rope. The dumbbell was locally made and often kept on the deck of the cruiser, while the nylon rope was the type used in the cruiser, its crew members said in their statement. An autopsy showed that there were no other injuries on Scotts body and that he had died by drowning. Based on autopsy results and evidence, the police have concluded that Scotts death is not a crime and that he had tied his legs to the dumbbell himself and committed suicide. VNS THANH HOA Police in northern Thanh Hoa Province on Tuesday said they had arrested a local for attempting to take a group of residents to China to work illegally. On Monday evening, Vu inh Bien, 41, living in Sam Son Town, was arrested while travelling in a van with 13 people to Mong Cai Town in northeastern Quang Ninh Province, from where they would leave for China. The 13 people, hailing from different localities in Sam Son Town, said they had each given Bien amounts ranging from VN500,000 (US$22.2) to some million ong to arrange for their illegal passage to China. At the scene, the police seized VN20 million, 11,000 Chinese yuan and five mobile phones. They also managed to persuade the 13 people to return home. Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that for years Bien had induced residents in the provinces coastal areas to go work in China without legal documents. The case is under further investigation. Last year, a report by Vietnam Television revealed that thousands of labourers in Thanh Hoa Province had given money to brokers who promised to help them go to China to work. However, after arriving in the country, they were forced to live illegally, hiding from local authorities to avoid being caught, with no stable jobs and often being exploited. VNS HA NOI The online poll on loudspeakers that Ha Nois Department of Information and Communication started on January 25 has been temporarily closed since Tuesday afternoon. The poll, on the continued use of loudspeakers, a public address system that was widely used when the country was at war, is supposed to close on March 10. Phan Lan Tu, head of the department, said the move was made after a sudden, sharp increase in responses was observed on Monday. Most of these responses all of them said loudspeakers were necessary were found to have originated from four IP addresses. From Monday morning to 11.25am, the responses increased from 3,000 to 178,000, and 48 per cent of the total responses said it was necessary to continue using loudspeakers. Before Monday, about 80 per cent of the responses said loudspeakers were unnecessary, Tu said. Tu dismissed the possibility that the system had been hacked and said it was because of an error in the system. The temporary closure was needed to maintain the objectiveness of the poll results, Tu told vietnamnet.vn online newspaper. She said the online poll would be up and running by Wednesday afternoon at https://hanoi.gov.vn/tham-do-y-kien. However, it was not accessible by this time. People can also email their response to pbcxbtt_sotttt@hanoi.gov.vn. The information department will report its results to Ha Noi Peoples Committee. Tied to poles or streetlights at a height, loudspeakers, or loa phuong in Vietnamese, are used to provide local people with news, songs and information at dawn and dusk. The concept is said to have originated in the 1970s during the American War when they would be used to raise an alarm before the bombing raids. Earlier this year, Ha Noi Peoples Committee Chairman Nguyen uc Chung asked concerned agencies to assess the necessity of using loudspeakers in all the communes and wards. The city has 584 commune-level administrative units, including 386 communes, 177 wards and 21 towns. Loudspeakers cost each unit a few hundred million Vietnamese ong annually. VNS ALBANY New York charter school advocates are emboldened by promises from state Senate leadership and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to increase funding for charter schools this year. About 1,500 educators, parents, and students rallied Tuesday at the convention center in Albany, calling on elected officials to commit more money for school buildings and eliminate the cap on charter schools allowed in New York City. New York has two caps, one for the state and one for New York City. The governor's proposal to eliminate the New York City cap would leave only a statewide cap and allow for more schools to open in the city, where charter operators say more than 44,000 students remain on waitlists. Only 30 charters remain available under the New York City cap, but the statewide cap allows for 126 more in areas outside the city. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan joined a handful of speakers in affirming Senate commitment to charter schools across the state. "The fact that there are waiting lists tells me the fervor and passion and dedication of people who want to do well by their children," Flanagan said to cheers from the packed room. "For our students in particular, my job is to work with the government to make sure you get everything you need." The governor's proposal also would alter the funding formulas for facilities. Janeene Freeman, CEO of Northeast Charter Schools Network, said while New York City supplies buildings for a few schools, many charters in other parts of the state do not receive public dollars for building rentals and end up using portions of their operating budgets. Cuomo's proposal would increase state aid for facility costs. "We want to ensure charters are able to flourish," Freeman said. "And governor has been incredibly good to us." Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the chamber has not begun budget discussions on education with the Senate and governor. But the position of the Democratic-controlled chamber on charter schools has not changed, he said. In previous years, Assembly Democrats have been more resistant to raising the cap. Erica Martinez sat in the front row of the crowded hall with her 6-year-old son, Luciano, who waved a sign that said "Charters Open Doors" as the Northside Charter High School choir performed "Let the Sun Shine In" from the Broadway musical Hair. Martinez, a disabled veteran, said she enrolled her son in Voice Charter School in Queens, because she wants him to have a better education than she did. "I just think charter schools care more," Martinez said. HA NOI Ha Noi City Peoples Procuracy will prosecute two Japanese nationals for allegedly smuggling seven golden statues through Noi Bai International Airport last August. The defendants are Masakazu Iwamura (born in 1971) and Takayoshi Kitada (born in 1983). Both were charged with "smuggling", according to Vietnam News Agency. According to the indictment, Masakazu Iwamura was the former director of Japans RG Innovation Company which hired Vietnamese labourers to work abroad in Japan. After several working visits to Viet Nam, Iwamura decided to buy Vietnamese gold products to sell in Japan as their price is much cheaper than those sold in his home country. Early last July, Iwamura and Kitada went to Sinh Dien Jewellery Company in Bac Ninh city to check samples and the price of handicraft gold products. They ordered seven golden statues from Sinh Dien company with a total weight of about 6.9kg including four Maitreya Buddha statues and three sets of Tam a statues, at a cost of 31.5 million Japanese yen (US$280,780). They agreed to collect the products on August, 2, 2016. Kitada received 32.3 million Japanese yen ($287,700) from Iwamura and went to Viet Nam to smuggle the statues out of the country. If the trade was successful, Takayoshi Kitada was promised 80,000 Japanese yen ($713). To avoid Viet Nams customs, Iwamura told Kitada to have seven gold statues painted silver. On August 3, officials of Noi Bai International Airport discovered the seven statues in Kitadas luggage that he had not declared to customs and seized them as evidence. A test conducted later found that the statues were 99.99 per cent gold and worth about VN6.7 billion ($297,800). The owner of Sinh Dien Jewellery Company said he bought the gold to make the statues from DOJI Jewelry Company. He claimed to be unaware of what the Japanese customers intended to do with the statues. The Peoples Procuracy does not plan to prosecute the owner of Sinh Dien company. VNS GIA LAI The Peoples Committee of Gia Lai Province on Tuesday asked local authorities to investigate and prosecute lumberjacks operating in the northeast Chu Pah forest region. The Central Highlands provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Peoples Committee of Chu Pah District have been asked to conduct investigations and submit a report by February 20. Before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays in the end of January, the northwest Chu Pah forest management board had caught two people red-handed while they were transporting timber out of the forest using two oxen. At least 73 logs that had been cut down were found in forest zone No 174. However, on the morning of February 1, 20 armed people had stolen 45 of the 73 logs. The remaining 28 logs are still there in zone 174. This is the second incident of timber theft recorded in Gia Lai Province in the past six months. The first one took place in Ia Grai Districts Ia Chia Commune, which shares a border with Kon Tum Province. However, the stolen timber was seized. The border areas between Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces have recently become a hot spot for deforestation. The two provinces forest management forces have stepped up patrol to prevent the cutting down of trees. VNS BOGOTA Colombian prosecutors said Tuesday they suspect President Juan Manuel Santos, winner of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, received a bribe from scandal-plagued Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht for his 2014 re-election campaign. Prosecutors said they were still investigating the allegation, which emerged from a probe of a former senator accused of taking and making bribes to ensure Odebrecht won a juicy government contract. The Santos administration roundly rejected the claim, accusing the right-wing opposition of fabricating it. The case is the latest spinoff from a giant scandal in Brazil involving the state oil company there, Petrobras, which was bilked for billions of dollars over the course of a decade by corrupt executives, politicians and contractors -- including Odebrecht. The many officials Odebrecht bribed around Latin America allegedly include Colombian ex-lawmaker Otto Bula. Colombias attorney general, Nestor Humberto Martinez, told a press conference that Bula oversaw two transfers to Colombia in 2014 for a total of US$1 million, "whose final beneficiary was allegedly the management of the Santos for President 2014 campaign." Bula was allegedly hired by Odebrecht to help the construction company win a 500-kilometre (300-mile) road project. Bula, who has been arrested, denies the accusation. He is close to former president Alvaro Uribe, the fiercest critic of the centre-right Santos government. The administrations transparency secretary, Camilo Enciso, accused Uribes camp of "defending itself by attacking with lies," after some Uribe-era officials were themselves named in the Odebrecht scandal. The controversy comes as the Santos government implements a historic peace deal with Colombias FARC guerrillas and seeks to negotiate another with a rival rebel group, the ELN. A corruption investigation could damage Santos as he races to end a half-century conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives. AFP VIENNA Long Hui, a giant panda feted for having fathered five cubs in captivity and who succumbed to a stomach tumour in December, will be stuffed and returned to China for posterity, the Vienna Zoo said on Tuesday. "Following a request by our Chinese partner, the body of Long Hui will be stuffed and returned to China in early summer 2018," the zoo said. The zoo added it had tasked taxidermist Peter Morass with the job. "Its quite unusual to stuff a panda -- but Im an old hand and Ill manage it," Morass told Austrias APA news agency. Long Huis skin and bones have been frozen pending the tanning of the skin, which will then be sewn around a panda-shaped model. The bones are to be preserved separately. Long Hui, who died aged 16 on December 9, arrived in the Austrian capital in 2003 and he and his companion Yang Yang thrilled zoo-goers as their frolicking in captivity produced five healthy offspring. Their births were a cause of celebration for fans of the species whose breeding programs are notoriously difficult, not least owing to the single and very short annual reproductive cycle in the female. In addition, around half of newborn cubs do not survive infancy. Last August, Long Hui and Yang Yang welcomed twins into the world -- Fu Feng (Happy Phoenix) and Fu Ban (Happy Companion), who turned six months old on Tuesday. Viennas Schoenbrunn zoo has a deal with Beijing to hand back Fu Feng and Fu Ban once they turn two. The twins brothers -- Fu Long, Fu Hu and Fu Bao, born respectively in 2007, 2010 and 2013 -- have already been sent to China. AFP GOP dignitaries push carbon tax WASHINGTON (AP) A group of senior Republican statesmen are calling for a carbon tax to combat the effects of climate change. Former Secretary of State Jim Baker is leading the effort, which also includes former Secretary of State George Shultz. The group will meet today with White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Ivanka Trump is also expected to attend. Pacemaker data leads to charges HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) Police say data recorded by a mans cardiac pacemaker helped lead to his indictment on charges of aggravated arson and insurance fraud in a fire at his Ohio home. Middletown police say Ross Compton is accused of starting the Sept. 19 fire. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday. Police say Compton gave statements inconsistent with evidence. They say he told them he packed some belongings when he saw the fire, threw them out of a window and then carried them to his car. Court records show a cardiologist reviewing Comptons pacemaker data said his medical condition made it highly improbable to have taken all of the actions he described. Twitter broadens rules against hate NEW YORK (AP) Twitter is expanding efforts to protect its users from abuse and harassment. The social media giant said Tuesday it is identifying people banned for abusive behavior and it will stop them from creating new accounts. The changes, which also include a new safe search feature, will be implemented in the coming weeks. In July, Twitter banned conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor of the right-wing news site Breitbart News, for participating in or inciting targeted abuse of individuals. Twitter subsequently suspended the accounts of other prominent figureheads of the alt-right movement. Twitter has been under fire for failing to address hate and abuse on the site since its founding a decade ago. Merriam-Webster adds new words NEW YORK (AP) Attention, word nerds: This is your bonus round, courtesy of Merriam-Webster. In addition to elevating surreal in 2016 to word of the year, the dictionary company on Tuesday added about 1,000 new words and new definitions to existing listings on its website, Merriam-webster.com. Among the latest: arancini, those stuffed, breaded and fried Italian rice balls; conlang, an invented language like Klingon; fast fashion and microaggression; and ghost, abruptly cutting off contact with someone, such as a former romantic partner, by no longer responding to calls and messages. Harambe-like Cheeto fetches $100,000 SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Someone bid nearly $100,000 on eBay for a Cheeto that bears a resemblance to slain gorilla Harambe. The seller said he found the cheese snack in a bag of Flamin Hot Cheetos. Bidding began at $11.99 on Jan. 28. It ended early Tuesday morning with a winning bid of $99,900. The listing showed a picture of the Cheeto side-by-side with a gorilla climbing a tree. Harambe has become fodder for internet jokes since his death last May. He was shot by handlers at the Cincinnati Zoo after dragging a small boy who had gotten into his enclosure. DES MOINES Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart and Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber President Steve Dust have been appointed to serve on a panel addressing disparities in Iowas minority unemployment rate. Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the State Workforce Development Board on Monday, which will be tasked to reduce unemployment in minority communities by 5 percent, or to the state average, in five years. The latest U.S. Census information found Iowas statewide unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, while African-Americans had an unemployment rate of 14.2 percent, Native Americans had a rate of 11 percent, Asian Americans had a rate of 5.3 percent (other pacific islanders had a rate of 13.6 percent) and Hispanic Americans had a rate of 8.1 percent for the same time period. Former state Rep. Wayne Ford is credited with bringing this issue to the State Workforce Development Board and helping in the development of the groups goals and agenda. Four counties have been identified as pilot communities: Polk, Dubuque, Black Hawk and Pottawattamie. Listening tours will be held in the spring, which will provide opportunities for members and leaders of the communities to gather a broad perspective and identify connections and influences within communities. Blood drive set in Iowa Falls IOWA FALLS -- There will be an American Red Cross blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Iowa Falls Alden High School. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org or call (800) 733-2767. Hearst Center to host recital CEDAR FALLS -- The Northeast Area Music Teachers Association will feature the 2017 IMTA audition winners and alternates in recital at 10:15 a.m. Friday in Mae Latta Hall at the Hearst Center for the Arts. The public is welcome to attend. NAMTA is a local association and is part of the Iowa Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association. Church to host Valentine's meal RAYMOND -- St. Joseph Parish will host a Valentine's omelet breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday in Reuter Hall. The menu will include made-to-order omelets as well as hash browns, cinnamon rolls, juice, coffee and milk. Cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-11 and free for children 3 and younger. Church to host marriage event WATERLOO -- Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, 1307 W. Ridgeway, will offer a global simulcast of the 2017 XO Marriage Conference on Friday and Saturday. The church will join with MarriageToday for the two-day event, including multiple sessions, guest speakers and a question-and-answer session with Jimmy and Karen Evans. For more information, call 233-3545, and register at www.wrbc.net. Cost is $25 per couple at the door. Country music jam set Sunday CEDAR FALLS -- The Country Good Timers will host a country music jam session from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cedar Falls Senior Center, in the 500 block of Main Street. The group meets the second Sunday of each month, and the public is welcome. AMVETS to host Valentine's party EVANSDALE -- The Evansdale AMVETS will host a Valentine's party Saturday. There will be wings or ribs with fries and slaw for $10 from 5 to 7 p.m. The Getaway City Band will perform from 7 to 11 p.m. Waterloo Hy-Vee to host wine club WATERLOO The Ansborough Hy-Vee will host a wine club from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16. A Hy-Vee chef will pair fine wines with appetizers. Register at the customer service counter or call 233-3266. CEDAR RAPIDS -- A federal judge Tuesday sentenced two leaders responsible for the largest synthetic drug conspiracy in Iowa to prison terms of 17 and 25 years. U.S. District Judge John Jarvey said Ahmad Saeed, 50, of Tulsa, Okla., and his partner Muhammad Anwar, 50, of West Des Moines, were both wholesale leaders and directed five or more co-conspirators in this long-standing, lucrative and dangerous conspiracy, spanning from 2010 to 2014. Anwar and Saeed distributed K-2, spice and bath salts to convenience store owners in Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Chatham said based on testimony from Anwars trial and other hearings in the case, more than 7 million grams of synthetic cannabinoids were sold during this conspiracy, which equates to an estimated $20 million to $40 million in profits. According to testimony at Tuesdays hearing and previous hearings, other co-conspirators, such as suppliers of the synthetics, also are being prosecuted in Missouri. At least two of the suppliers involved with Anwar and Saeed provided information to Iowa authorities during the investigation. Anwar was convicted by a jury in October 2015 for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and controlled substance analogues and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison. Saeed pleaded guilty last October to the same charges and was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison. Jarvey pointed out the dangerous synthetic drugs were marketed to kids in cellophane packages with bright labels and dressed up as something legal, potpourri or herbal incense but were hidden behind the counter at stores. Saeed received less time based on his lack of criminal history. Anwar had a previous conviction for fraud and had an enhancement in sentencing for maintaining a premises a convenience store to distribute and store the drugs. Jarvey ordered both men to jointly forfeit $750,000, which he called a conservative amount of illegal proceeds from their drug trade. Chatham, in arguing for the prison terms, said the men knew the products were dangerous when they started selling to unsuspecting store owners and users, telling them the products were legal, but they didnt care because there were vast amounts of money to be made. This was a crime of greed, he added. According to testimony during the hearing, Anwar and Saeed were partners. Saeed already had suppliers in Missouri, and he recruited Anwar to distribute drugs. Chatham said the Iowa investigation started in about 2012 when synthetics were found in convenience stores in Waterloo. Earl Ramos, 28, of Evansdale, who operated Five Star Snacks store in Waterloo, and his mother Mary Ramos, 55, who managed the former I-Wireless store, 1551 First Ave. S.E. in Cedar Rapids, sold synthetics out of those stores and were convicted in 2015. They purchased their synthetics from Anwar and Saeed. Muhammad Anwar Chaudhry of Waterloo also was charged with distributing synthetics, but he has been a fugitive since 2015. The searches that led to these prosecutions and others were conducted as a part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations Project Synergy, a global takedown of synthetic drug manufacturers and distributors. In Project Synergy enforcement actions between December 2012 and June 2014, more than 227 arrests were made and 416 search warrants served in 35 states, 49 cities and five countries. More than $51 million in cash and assets was seized. WATERLOO A hotly contested expansion of the Audubon Hills neighborhood earned construction approval this week. Waterloo City Council members debated XL Colt Farms development abutting the northeast edge of Audubon Park for the second time in six months before voting 5-2 to approve a final plat for the first 14 housing lots. Council members held a similar debate in August before narrowly approving the preliminary plat for the overall 35-lot neighborhood. Developer David Lederman said he expects to return within two years to final plat the remaining lots. Councilmen Tom Lind and Steve Schmitt voted against the plat, siding with many existing Audubon Park homeowners who contend the lot sizes and proposed homes are too small for the area. Schmitt said the current design will allow $350,000 homes to be constructed next to $700,000 homes. We love $350,000 houses, so I dont want to diminish that, he said. I dont think theres any question that if you have a $700,000 house and now were building $350,000 houses right across the street, thats going to diminish your $700,000 house. I just think thats logical. Lind said neighboring Cedar Falls has maintained the integrity of its upper-end housing projects, and they kept them fancy, they didnt dilute them with a bunch of little houses. Lederman said the lot sizes were very similar to others in Audubon Park, actually exceeding those in the new subdivisions to the south end of the neighborhood. This meets all the city ordinances and all the city codes and safety requirements, he added. Councilman Bruce Jacobs said Waterloo does not have a lot of options for the higher-end homes projected for Ledermans subdivision. We really need inventory, he said. We need more options for people to move to Waterloo and build. The more options the better. Bob Manning, executive officer for Home Builders Association of Northeast Iowa, also weighed in to support the project and argued against Schmitts suggestion one lot could be removed to expand the size of other lots. Wed much rather see one extra lot to have one more family in our community paying taxes, one more family having their kids attend school, one more family attending our churches and our retail facilities, Manning said. In other business, council members: Voted unanimously to conditionally zone the former Christ Lutheran Church and preschool at 234 S. Hackett Road so it can be used as professional offices or a daycare center. There was no opposition during a public hearing on the request from developer Chris Fischels. Voted 5-2 to approve a $130,000 payment to Merv and La Rue Hilpipre for a permanent easement across seven acres of land the city needs for a sewer construction project at the southeast corner of Wagner Road and Airline Highway. Lind and Schmitt voted against the measure, contending the amount was too high. CEDAR FALLS -- The City Council has scheduled a special public meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday to formally approve tentative collective bargaining agreements with all three of its employee unions. City Administrator Ron Gaines said the special meeting is being called so the council can have those agreements approved and in place prior to the Feb. 20 city budget hearing. He said representatives of employee unions, all of which have ratified the agreements, are being notified of the meeting and invited to attend if they choose. He said the vote was not possible Monday's council meeting because not all the paperwork had been received. Gaines said Thursday's meeting is not intended to approve the agreements in advance of any changes public employee collective bargaining now being considered by the Iowa Legislature, but did note everyone involved in the local contracts is aware of those discussions. Under the agreements slated to take effect July 1 pending ratification, some 100 city employees, including police, firefighters and parks and public works employees, would receive pay raises of 2.75 percent for each of the next two fiscal years and raises for the subsequent three years based on the federal Consumer Price Index, city and union representatives said. Those raises would be no less than 2 percent and no greater than 3 percent. Those raises would be in addition to step pay increase employees receive based on of length of service. Employees also would pay an additional $15 per month on single and family health insurance premiums. Premiums for family coverage would increase from $85 per month to $100 per month. Premiums for single coverage would increase from $30 per month to $45 per month. Its among the longest-term agreements the city and its unions have reached. The tentative agreements would allow the city to reopen the contracts to discuss wage and insurance issues after two years if necessary, beginning Jan. 1, 2019. The city also would make available a dental coverage plan if enough employees express interest, with the employees picking up the full cost of coverage. Nonunion employees would receive similar increases, based on merit, under the proposed budget set for public hearing Feb. 20. Thursday's council meeting will in the council chambers at City Hall and is open to the public. DES MOINES Thousands of Iowans would get pay cuts if legislation introduced in the Iowa House is approved. A GOP-led subcommittee Wednesday approved a bill banning local governments from increasing the minimum wage, a move that would reverse action taken by some of Iowas largest population counties. The bill, introduced by Johnston Republican Jake Highfill, will be considered today by the House Local Government Committee. The legislation would require cities and counties to abide by the state minimum hourly wage of $7.25. It would mean higher wages approved in Polk, Linn, Johnson and Wapello counties would be repealed. It also bars local governments from addressing a host of other labor and civil rights issues. The bill states it is the intent of lawmakers to increase the state minimum wage to 25 percent above the federal level, or $9.06 an hour, effective upon enactment. Supporters of the bill say Iowa shouldnt have a patchwork of wages, but others say local governments should be able to take action since the state hasnt raised its minimum wage since 2009. Business representatives Wednesday applauded the bill. We think there needs to be a clear policy across the state, not a patchwork, said Jessica Harder, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Business & Industry. She was joined by representatives of retailers, chambers of commerce and casinos. Its kind of an inconsistent policy to have, she added. The proposal disappointed Black Hawk County Supervisor Chris Schwartz, who has spearheaded efforts to study a minimum-wage hike in that county since his November election. Supervisors have approved a committee to consider the issue but have not selected members to serve on it. I think this is more than just an assault on the ability of counties and municipalities to raise the minimum wage. This is really an assault of the whole concept of home rule, Schwartz said. He noted the proposal also prevents local governments from tackling other issues like paid leave or banning plastic bags, among others. It also forbids local civil rights ordinances that afford protections beyond those in state and federal law. Schwartz also expressed surprise the bill says lawmakers intend to increase the state minimum wage to $9.06 an hour upon enactment. Increases typically are phased so businesses can plan for the adjustment. Elections have consequences, and one of the consequences now is that we have a state Legislature that seems ready to trample on the rights of local communities, Schwartz said. His sentiment was echoed by Connie Ryan, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund. For folks who believe in small government and local control this makes absolutely no sense, Ryan told the three-member House local government subcommittee. She questioned why lawmakers were pushing civil rights law pre-emptions designed to protect marginalized people in our state. Why are you messing with the Iowa Civil Rights Act? she asked. Joe Fagan, a Des Moines resident who applauded Polk County supervisors for raising the countys minimum wage to $10.75 by 2019, chastised legislators. You didnt do anything for all these years. Now they did something, and now youre here to take it away. The people who are poor, youre acting like you want to keep them that way, he said. You finally did something by doing something bad. Johnson County was the first in the state to pass a minimum wage ordinance, which brought the local rate up to $10.10 last month. Future adjustments are possible. Linn Countys minimum wage increased last month to $8.25 an hour, and is slated to increase to $9.25 next year and $10.25 in 2019. Wapello County approved an increase to $10.10 in 2019. Gary Grant, a lobbyist representing the city of Cedar Rapids, the Linn County supervisors and the Urban County Coalition, said the bill goes far beyond the minimum wage dispute. This could be viewed as a virtual elimination of home rule, Grant told the subcommittee members. Christinia Crippes of The Courier and Mitch Schmidt of The Gazette contributed to this story. DES MOINES Nearly 100 people sang and chanted outside a Statehouse committee room hoping to prevent lawmakers from taking action on legislation to curb so-called sanctuary cities policies in Iowa. Despite their efforts, which resulted in Iowa State Patrol officers removing a number of people from the meeting, the House Public Safety Committee voted to send the bill to the full House. That may not be as bad as it seems, according to one lawmaker who called the bill as crazy as it gets. If they stop this procedure, then the bill doesnt get debated and we dont get it to the floor even to get our voice heard even more, Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, said. Were with you. Trust me. Democrats were with the bills opponents on a 12-9 party line vote. The protesters included members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund, the Des Moines Catholic Worker community and the Central Iowa Democratic Socialists of America. They packed the committee room in hopes of stopping a bill that requires state and local officials to cooperate with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. However, sponsor Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, believes there is a tremendous amount of support for the bill. The people who support this effort are not the ones who are going to show up at the Statehouse, he said. They are the ones who work every day, they raise their families, they dont have time to come up here. Its really about respect for the rule of law, Holt said. As lawmakers voted, the demonstrators shouted Stop. This is a racist bill and will destroy the lives of our friends and neighbors. It greases the wheels of Trumps deportation plan. We need safe communities, integration, not night raids and deportation. They were escorted from the room by troopers. No arrests were made, according to the Patrol. Earlier, when the room was cleared while Democrats and Republicans went to caucus private meetings to discuss legislation troopers told demonstrators only 20 people would be allowed in the room when the committee reconvened. Well make it feel like 200, one demonstrator shouted. More than 20 were allowed back in the room and other demonstrators stood outside the Capitol holding signs against the windows calling for Justice 4 All, No Racism, No Hate and No Hate, No Fear. According to Iowa CCI, the bill is just one of what are sure to be many racist bills coming from the Statehouse this session, along with bills that specifically target the immigrant community. His bill targets illegal immigrants who are violent criminals in order to protect Iowans, Holt said. We all know that the vast majority of people that are not in our country legally have just come here for a better life and theyre contributing in a number of ways in our communities, Holt said. WATERLOO Old-fashioned singing valentines will be delivered by several tuxedo-attired barbershop quartets of the Proud Image Chorus. On Feb. 14, a quartet will come to the place of your choice classroom, restaurant, office, etc. within a 30-mile radius of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, delivering a Valentines Day card, a long-stemmed rose, candy and singing a romantic ballad for a significant other in your life. In addition, a photo with the quartet will be taken to commemorate the moment and emailed to the songs recipient. To arrange a singing valentine, call 291-2806. WATERLOO The Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls has concluded its seasonal fundraising campaign, falling short of the $683,000 goal by 8 percent. Of the funds raised, $228,849 was given by mail, $13,731 online, $117,541 in specialty gifts and $267,599 was given at the red kettles. The annual campaign accounts for 40 percent of The Salvation Armys budget. Services provided by The Salvation Army include one-time emergency intervention as well as ongoing support. With programs that include food assistance, financial support, emergency shelter, youth activities, disaster services, transitional housing and seasonal assistance, thousands in the Cedar Valley receive help from The Salvation Army each year. The Salvation Army accepts gifts of support throughout the year. Donations can be made in person at 89 Franklin St., by mail at PO Box 867, Waterloo, IA 50704, or online at www.sawaterloo.org. President Donald Trump has said lots of negative things about the media since he began running for president in June 2015. Hes called reporters the most dishonest people. Hes called out individual reporters for alleged bias. Hes insisted the media as a whole is failing. Heck, he even once called me one of the dumber and least respected of the political pundits. But, to my mind, all of that name-calling pales in comparison to Trumps insinuation Monday the media is purposely covering up terrorist attacks. Heres the key bit of what Trump said at U.S. Central Command in Florida: Youve seen what happened in Paris, and Nice. All over Europe, its happening. Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported. And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that. They have their reasons, Trump said. And you understand that. He didnt offer any more explanation. Just that. White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, pressed on Trumps comment on the flight from Florida back to Washington, stood up for his boss, saying terror attacks arent exactly covered to a degree on which they should be. Where to start? How about: 1. The media did cover every single one of the terrorist attacks Trump mentions. Extensively. 2. Its deeply irresponsible to suggest with no evidence the news media is ignoring news events because they dont fit some sort of hidden journalistic agenda. That second point is why what Trump is saying is so, so dangerous. Hes implying the media is allowing its own collective biases to get in the way of his efforts to keep the country safe from the threat of terrorism. That the media is, at best, downplaying these attacks because of their own ideological biases and, at worst, siding with the terrorists. Thats staggering stuff even for Trump. As the Posts Philip Bump notes, its not the first time Trump has made an insinuation like this one. In June 2016, in the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre, Trump said this of the then-president: People cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and cant even mention the words radical Islamic terrorism. Theres something going on. They have their reasons . . . and you understand that. Theres something going on. Notice the similarities? A suggestion of nefariousness without any evidence to back it up. The problem is this: For lots and lots of people listening to Trump, his suggestion the media is complicit in a cover-up of terrorist attacks will be taken as fact. They wont seek out context or evidence that, frankly, totally undermines his contention. Because they already believe the media to be bad/biased, they will simply take it as a fact the media is willfully disrupting the presidents efforts to keep the country safe. The job of a leader isnt to give people what they want especially if you know (or suspect) its not entirely accurate. If Trump has evidence the media has covered up a terrorist attack or downplayed it in any way he should come forward with it. Spicer suggested Trump will do just that, saying the administration will provide a list later. I look forward to that list. Without it, what Trump is doing is leveling a baseless allegation. And baseless allegations from the president of the United States are very dangerous things. Traffic cameras the bane of libertarian-minded motor-heads are ridingshotgun in the Iowa Legislature. Theres a sound bill running on reason and facts and another that speeds headlong into a fiery ideological crash. The motoring enthusiasts among us understand Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brad Zauns frustrations with the increasingly prevalent enforcement devices. Drivers allegedly blowing a traffic light or speeding down a highway never even get to face their accuser. Instead, a ticket shows up in the mail. So much for due process. Head to court and face the photos. Zauns bill would end all that by banning traffic cameras statewide. Theres also legitimate concerns about the purpose of traffic cameras in many instances. Cities throughout Iowa have realized they are a relatively cheap method of generating revenue without having to add more cops. There are few better ways to erode public trust in police than the monetization of law enforcement. Add to that a slew of questionable deals with the private firms that operate the systems, and Zauns general aversion is easily justified. But not every traffic camera was installed simply as a cash-grab, a fact Iowa Department of Public Transportation admits. Many are demonstrably linked to fewer crashes at problematic intersections. Its a case local police chiefs and mayors have effectively made in defense of the oft-grumblesome technology. Zaun, R-Urbandale, hopes to put the hammer down. A better competing bill authored by Senate Transportation Committee Tim Kapucian, R-Keystone, isnt so fast and loose. Kapucians legislation would finally provide state oversight over where traffic cameras are installed. Iowa DOT would approve locations presumably based on crash and safety statistics. In effect, Kapucians legislation would strip cities of the practice of setting up speed traps designed to pump money in to local coffers. Yet it wouldnt rob police of a tool data has shown to save lives and money. Police chiefs from Iowas largest cities are strongly backing Kapucians approach. The oversight the bill provides is but one piece. It also would require the more than $10 million in fines collected annually to be used on infrastructure. In so doing, speed traps would no longer be a quick and easy way to plug holes in the city budget. Kapucians bill started its journey Wednesday through the state Senate. Zauns outright ban waits for a full vetting in the Judiciary Committee. But, already, its obvious Kapucians compromise deals in the facts. Zauns is a matter of political ideology. Theres a legitimate argument about the constitutionality of traffic cameras. But theyre yet to be successfully challenged. The questions about due process are a matter for the courts. So far, traffic cameras have a middling record at state-level courts throughout the country. Federal courts have yet to render a defining blow one way or another. Kapucians legislation grapples with that reality. It correctly asserts, in too many cases, traffic cameras have been abused. But it also acknowledges the technologys upside. Zauns proposed ban lacks the legal foundation to justify the loss. A mile and a half east of Jordan along the abandoned Erie Canal is the site of the once-busy little community of California. A canal store, Knight's Hotel and mule barns were located there to serve the needs of canal boatman. It is said the settlement got its name from a man who returned there after the California gold rush. Its importance as a candler's stop-over eventually faded away. In the early 1890s, it was discovered that there were rich deposits of clay and marl there, used in the early production of cement. The American Portland Cement Co. built a plant there in 1892 that operated for eight years until more abundant sources of this material were discovered in Egypt, Pennsylvania, closer to the company's headquarters in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Several families from Allentown relocated there to supervise operation of the plant. These included the Erdells and Trexlers. This was primarily a summer operation. The main building was three stories high and was located on the Knight and Delaney farms. The Delaney house served as the office. The marl pit was on the south side of the canal across from the buildings. Marl was transported by cable across the canal to the main building. John Drumm first operated it, and when he quit, Clinton Trexler took over. The late Louis Pickard, who lived in the nearby community of Peru, said he was 13 years old when he started working there. Due to his age, he had to secure a working certificate from the local school commissioner. Along with other boys, he said, he received 50 cents a day for moving heavy loads on a large wheelbarrow. To protect his hands from being injured, he wore horsehide gloves that cost 25 cents a pair and two pairs lasted three weeks. In the first year of operation, elevators transported materials to the third floor for mixing. This material was dumped down to the lower floors in a chute, where it was spread out in muddy cakes with alternate layers of coke to dry and then cut into bricks. There was a railroad siding from which carloads of these bricks were shipped to distant places. George Zeller's father was in charge of the drying process. Pickard said he and others wheeled bricks from the floors to the drying kilns, of which there were 12. The bricks were packed in alternating layers with coke. The burned-out residue was processed into cement. Ira Earll ran the mill that crushed the cinders. Jack Earll dressed the stone, and Dwight LaDue also worked in this operation. In the last two years of operation, a specially designed machine called a griffin mill was installed for this process. Mixer operators received 70 cents a day, and a man with a team who transported 10 barrels in four trips to the railroad station got $3. Some cement was shipped by coal, and a spur from the main line of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad was built through a cut in the building. Former Elbridge Town Justice Fred Wright's father was a cooper who made barrels for the shipping. The demand was so great, it was necessary to buy barrels. At the same time as the California operation, there were cement operations in Memphis and Warners. Wheelbarrows used were specially designed to carry loads of 1,200 pounds, which was easy, according to Pickard, once the load was balanced. Doorways were narrow, he said, not much wider than the loads. If the load didn't go through the exact center, skinned knuckles resulted. That was the main reason for wearing gloves. The California operation died when it became cheaper to make cement in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A watchman was hired for several years to watch the property. All that remains today are the abandoned kilns, six in each of two blocks. These had been made from stone-drawn fences. William Erdell, superintendent of the California plant, married a Jordan girl, Minnie Peck, daughter of Smith Peck. Years after, when his wife and her father had died, Erdell contributed the cost of the Sunday school annex to the Methodist church in memory of the Pecks, particularly for Hattie V. Peck, a Jordan school teacher. Details of the California operation are revealed in New York State Museum Bulletin 44: "The materials used were marl and clay, both obtained from a marsh near the works, another bed of marl being owned by the company nearer Jordan station on the New York Central Railroad. The marl is white, and the bed varies in thickness from 8 to 15 feet. It is overlain by a thin bed of muck, and underlain with blue clay. The muck being stripped, the marl and clay were dug, and transported to the works by a wire rope way. "The clay was dried and ground separately, afar which it was mixed with the marl in pug mills. The resulting slurry was spread out on a drying poor, and cut into bricks. These bricks were then loaded on platform cars, dried in tunnels heated by coal fires, and fed to the 12 kilns of the dome type. Coke was used as fuel. The clinker was reduced, first in Gates and Mosser crushers, and finally in Griffin mills. The cement was marked as the 'Giant Jordan' brand. WROCLAW, Poland Followers of the Slavic tradition known as Rodzimowiercy announced in December that they hope to build a temple according to historically accurate plans that will also serve as a cultural center. A crowdfunding campaign has received donations totaling six percent of the money needed to make the project a reality, using a pitch video that includes lively music and images of stockade buildings. Dorota Solega, a representative of the group Watra which is behind the scheme, was pleased to answer questions about the project. Her responses were translated from Polish, and have been edited with her permission for clarity. Dorota Solega: We call each other rodzimowiercy, which can be translated as native faith believers. The reactivation of our religion has begun in 20th century, mostly in 90s, however some exhorts for the revival has existed in the beginning of last century. The direct link of pagan tradition from the medieval times until now has been broken after the spread out of Catholic religion in Poland, but folk tradition has preserved lots of beliefs such as names of gods and demons with their main features, pagan rites, and magical practices. Although is it said the Christianity came to Poland in 966 and from then our country became Catholic, the native faith stayed much longer in lesser areas, like villages, and still in the 15th century there were some places where people followed two religions at once. Slavic native faith is based on nature and its seasonal transformations, similar to other Pagan traditions. We are worshiping gods who create the nature, and who are nature themselves, and the process of how they change across the wheel of the year. Our main gods are the two divine creators Perun (the thunder) and Weles (god of the underworld), Mokosha the mother goddess and goddess of the Earth, Svarog the divine smith, Dadzbog the sun, Svarozhyc the fire, Stribog the wind, Rod the head of the tribes (gods and humans), Jarylo god of fertility, Mazhanna and Dzievanna goddesses of stars, water and vegetation, Dola fate, and several others. Our worship is based on celebration of annual festivals, like solstices (Kupala in summer, Gody in winter) and equinoxes (Jare in spring, Plony in autumn), but also few more rites between the main ones Dziady (which can be compared to Samhain), Zapusty, which is the day of Weles, as well as the day of Jarylo, day of Perun, and day of Mokosha. DS: In Slavic native faith there were no written records saved from the pagan or recent times. Our knowledge of the religion is based on many sources, such as folklore (beliefs, folk songs, folk tales, rituals), publications of religious studies, and historical studies. Many of native faith believers are some kind of scientists who are trying to investigate and rebuild the mythology by putting up together different information from different records. This type of study brought a lot of fresh air to our understanding of Slavic pagan tradition. TWH: How many people do you believe practice this same tradition today? DS: It is really hard to speculate how many native faith believers are living in Poland, as the number is changing constantly. The difficulty lays also in the way of worshiping the religion by single person not all of us are attending the public festivals or keep close bond with other Pagans. We can estimate that in Poland there may be about 5,000 Pagan believers. It can be extended much more if we add Pagans from Slavic countries like Ukraine, Russia, Czech Republic, Serbia and others. TWH: Do you use initiations in your tradition? If so, are outsiders able to participate in any rituals? DS: In the Polish native faith (and in other Slavic countries also) there are many independent regional groups that initiate believers. Each group can have their own way of doing so. The tradition does not say anything about the initiation ritual for joining the Pagan group (which is related to the fact that the religion was natural for every member of society, and wasnt secret knowledge), therefore an official rite of initiation does not exist. However, in some people rises a need of passing such a ritual as a confirmation of their personal religious transformation, and many groups conduct this ritual for them. In Watra, we are not likely to perform any initiation rite for anyone to join the group (unless it has been requested by the individual), and the rituals are open for everyone who has a will to join. However, we usually require new members to meet us before the ritual, at occasional meetings organized by our group. TWH: This will be a temple and cultural center; can you describe the different ways the space will be used? DS: The space will be used variously due to our plan of running different activities and educational programs. As youve mentioned, our purpose is to create a Slavic Cultural Centre in this building, which will be dedicated to the promotion of our traditional culture. We are planning to run different programs such as classes in traditional crafts, music, and historical lectures. We have among us many people with necessary educational background like anthropologists, historians, architects, and artists, as well as people with similar passions. The building will also become some sort of museum of Slavic native faith, and it will be playing the role of Slavic temple for educational purposes, but also for the performance of living rituals for native faith believers. We are open to any form of cooperation, so anyone who has a will and good idea related to promotion of Slavic culture could find the space there and perform his activities. DS: We hope that this place will become an attraction for more than only native faith believers. In Wroclaw there are approximately 100 people who could potentially use this space for religious purposes. We are hoping many more will attend other events. We also hope that it will be visited regularly by the native faith believers from all over the country, and maybe other lands also. TWH: I understand some officials in the Polish government are very intolerant of non-Catholics; one minister even would like them to sign some kind of loyalty oath or be deported. Are you worried that this climate will cause you any problems with this project? DS: This is very common question. It is true that our current government is pro-Catholic so, theoretically, we might expect to notice some non-supportive attitude from this side. However, we are the citizens of Poland and no one can deport us (also, this ministers statement was bit misunderstood, as how she explained later, this loyalty oath would be directed mostly to immigrants) or according to Polish law perform any other act of religious intolerance. If we would face any problems, we can always turn to the Polish constitution, where the plurality of religion in Poland has been legitimized by the law. TWH: On the other hand, some people who have commented on articles about this project have claimed that members of your organization are intolerant of others, even going so far as to characterize your beliefs as fascist. Similar accusations are sometimes leveled against people following traditions from northern Europe here in the United States. What would you say to these critics? DS: These comments are completely without foundation. This is a religious organization the purpose of which is to popularize Slavic traditional beliefs and folklore, and we have no links at all into politics and political views. Obviously, each of us can have their own views and to sympathize or not with something, and that is totally natural. Even if in the past we can find a lots of ties between the native faith and nationalism (what, for some people is considered wrongly as similar with fascism), nowadays members of native Pagan groups have various views and political plurality is not a matter of discussion. In Watra, here in Wroclaw, we have both right-wing and left-wing followers and we do not interfere with their views or opinions. I can also ensure that within our group there is no place for any political extremists. DS: Our plan is to reproduce the construction of a real Slavic temple from old times. The design is based on archaeological reconstruction of the Slavic temple from Gross Raden, Germany. Our architect analyzed the reconstructed scheme and redesigned it, adjusting it to our needs and architectural standards. TWH: Do you have any floor plans that would provide a sense of how the space will be used once it is constructed? DS: The room will have two areas; most of the space will be given over to different activities to be carried in the building, so we can say it will be given over to people. But also, there will be a sacral part with the statues of gods. Besides that, there will be also a separated place for a bonfire and the sacrifices (no worries, no animal will die ;). TWH: When do you hope to begin construction? DS: We are planning to start work in the spring. First we have to prepare the ground for the building works, which will take some time. Hopefully, we will start to build in early summer. TWH: How long do you think it will take to complete this building? DS: It depends on many factors; most of them are related to money. It also depends on our time and the people factor. Obviously, there always might be situations which we are not able to forecast, so it is really hard to give the date by when the building will be finished. If everything would go smoothly and without bigger obstacles, taking into consideration the necessary time to perform all the works, well be happy if we could finish it by the end of 2017. While there is clearly enthusiasm for this project, organizers have quite a bit of money to raise to achieve their goal. It also remains to be seen if regulatory hurdles or public sentiment will pose any barriers to the work. Those interested in supporting this effort to rebuild a native European faith community may do so by donating to the campaign. CORRECTION 2/9/17 9:20 am EST: The original article contained incorrect links to the funding drive for the project. It also contained an unrelated video. We have removed the video and corrected all links. In addition, we have corrected the word Rodzimowiercow to read Rodzimowiercy. * * * The work of journalist Terence P. 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29 (1) Oct 01 (1) Jul 29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) SUMMARY Unless the U.S. governments lies about Crimea the Russia seized Crimea narratives become acknowledged to be lies, war between the U.S. and Russia can only continue to become increasingly likely, because the world is sliding toward World War III based upon these lies, and will therefore inevitably continue that slide until these lies are publicly repudiated by the U.S. government, which is their sole source. The liar on this is clearly the U.S. and not Russia: the U.S. is the entire source for the alleged cause for war between the U.S. and Russia. The preparations for war between the U.S. and Russia continue naturally apace until the United States publicly acknowledges that Russia had not seized Crimea acknowledges that the cause for all of these war-preparations by the U.S. and its NATO and other allies against Russia is fake, a U.S. lie, and that Russia is purely Americas victim in this entire matter and acting in a 100% defensive way against Americas aggressions in this matter. Anyone who is closed-minded to the possibility that the U.S. is lying and that Russia is telling the truth about the relationship between the two countries, would therefore be simply wasting time to read here, because the solid documentation that will be provided here will prove that thats not only a possibility; it is the fact, and those widespread false beliefs will, indeed, be disproven here. Proving that, is the purpose of this article. Therefore, a warning is needed beforehand, for any reader who is closed-minded about that possibility any such person would be wasting time to read this article. Here it is: (WARNING: The following article asserts many things that are propagandized almost universally in The West to be false, and in each such instance the documentation of the assertions being true is provided in a link, so that any reader who doesnt already know its truth can easily come to know that he/she had previously been deceived about that particular matter the reader can come to know this just by clicking onto the link. This article depends upon its links, which are rooted in the most-reliable evidence on the given topic far more reliable than any of the evidence thats cited by defenders of The Wests position, lies on these matters. The links are provided so that a reader can easily connect to the actual evidence, and decide on ones own, whom the liars are, and are not. It all depends upon the evidence. Any reader who doesnt want to know the evidence, would be just wasting time to read here.) PRESENTATION OF THE CASE Obama-Trump economic sanctions against Russia are based upon the lies that are to be exposed as lies, in the links here. So too are the NATO movements of U.S. troops and missiles right up to Russias very borders ready to invade Russia based especially upon the lie of Russian aggression in Crimea. All of the thrust for WW III is based upon U.S. President Barack Obamas vicious lie against Russia: his saying that the transfer of Crimea from Ukraine to Russia was not (which it actually was) an example of the U.N.-and-U.S. universally recognized right of self-determination of peoples (such as the U.S. recognizes to apply both in Catalonia and in Scotland, but not in Crimea) but was instead an alleged conquest of Crimea by Russia. (As that link there documents, Obamas allegation that it was Putins conquest of Crimea is false, and he knew it to be false; he was well informed that the people of Crimea overwhelmingly wanted their land to be restored to Russia, and to be protected by Russia, so as not to be invaded by the Ukrainian governments troops and weapons, after a bloody U.S. coup by Obama had less than a month earlier overthrown the democratically elected President of Ukraine, for whom 75% of Crimeans had voted. Obamas own agents were behind that coup; they were doing his bidding. The aggressor here is entirely the U.S., not Russia, despite Obamas lies.) All U.S.-government-sponsored and other Western polling of Crimeans, both prior to the 16 March 2014 plebiscite in Crimea, and after it, showed that far more Crimeans wanted Crimea to be again a part of Russia as it had been until the Soviet dictator in 1954 arbitrarily transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine. U.S. President Barack Obama was actually insisting that Nikita Khrushchevs diktat on this matter must stand permanently that the people of Crimea should never be able to choose their own government, but must become ruled by Obamas coup-installed regime in Ukraine, no matter about that new governments intense hostility toward those people. And Obama instituted the economic sanctions against Russia on this basis U.S. as the aggressor, calling Russia the aggressor, Obamas lying basis for the new Cold War. Its a serious lie no mere fib. In other words: the renewal of the Cold War (and an increasingly hot war by the U.S. against Russias ally Syria, and elsewhere) this time against Russia (no longer against the Soviet Union and its communism and its Warsaw Pact military alliance, none of which even existed after 1991) is based upon Barack Obamas refusal to allow democracy for the people of Crimea. The build-up toward WW III is that simple a vicious U.S. lie, directed against Russia. And thats not the only instance where the U.S. government blocks democracy in order to conquer Russia by grabbing Russian-allied nations (first Ukraine, and then, increasingly, Syria). Twice in one day, U.N. Secretary General Ban ki-Moon said that Obamas demand that Syrias current President, the Russia-friendly Bashar al-Assad, must be prevented from being even on the ballot in Syrias next election for President, is unacceptable, and that (as Ban said) The future of Assad must be determined by the Syrian people. Why is the West allowed to dictate to Crimeans, and to Syrians, that they cannot choose their own government? This is the new, anti-democratic, United States government. This is the reality. Lawrence J. Korb, who was U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense during 1981-1985, quit the Cold War against Russia when the Soviet Union and its communism and Warsaw Pact all ended in 1991, and he wrote on 26 February 2016, headlining Dont Fall for Obamas $3 Billion Arms Buildup at Russias Door. He was on the correct side about this, against the Obama-initiated thrust toward WW III, but he understated the evilness, by saying: There is no Russian resurgence. Washington is playing on your Cold War fears to get you to pay for something the U.S. does not need and cant afford. In one of the key justifications for the new $600 billion defense spending request, the Department of Defense has fallen back on a tried-and-true Cold War boogeyman: the threat of Russian aggression against allies in Europe. While there is no ignoring the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, to interpret these events as some kind of Russian resurgence is to grossly inflate the danger Russia poses to NATO and the United States. Neither in Ukraine nor in Georgia was the U.S. guiltless to the exact contrary: the U.S. had sparked both of those conflicts on Russias borders. And Russia is not grabbing territory on Americas borders; the U.S. is grabbing territory on Russias. (Is Russia trying to overturn and replace U.S.-allied governments on Americas borders Mexico and Canada? Of course not. But the U.S. tries to do it to Russia and then blames Russia for what are actually appropriate responses to such U.S. aggressions.) Korb went on to say: Though Crimea has been a historic lynchpin of Russian grand strategy for centuries, its open use of military force and political manipulation there in the midst of the Ukrainian Revolution drew an immediate response in the form of sanctions from the West. Russia is paying a massive economic and diplomatic cost for its aggression against Ukraine. He ignored there that it was no Revolution; it was instead a U.S. coup in Ukraine, which overthrew the democratically elected government there and installed an illegal one, which was composed of fascists, who went on to do fascist things. These euphemisms the lies calling a coup a Revolution, and pretending that the breakaway of Crimea from Ukraine wasnt a direct consequence of that bloody and illegal U.S. coup on Russias border are what the buildup toward WW III is built upon; and, so, it must end now, or else civilization will. Furthermore, Korbs implicit assumption there, that post-Soviet (post-Empire) Russia, is no different from the USSR, but all just the same Russian grand strategy for centuries, is no conclusion that he supports with any evidence, but is instead his purely unsupported assumption, which would severely weaken his case if it were true. It happens to be a false assumption. A person doesnt become influential in governing circles in The West without buying into certain historical and cultural falsehoods; and Korb would not be cited at all here if he had not been such an influential person. Similarly, his reference there to Russias aggression against Ukraine is also a falsehood, which fits into the narrative that Russia seized Crimea, but repeating such lies is the price of admission into, or retention in, such governing circles. Whether the inclusion of such falsehoods is consciously intended or not, it increases the chances that an article in The West will be published. Its part of the cultural mythology (such as produces almost all wars). And, similarly, the rest of Americas Establishment trumpet such dangerous lies to the world. That too must stop, but since the U.S. press are mere stenographers for the U.S. government, the only way that it will stop, is if the U.S. governments lies stop first. Donald Trump, now as Americas new President, continues Obamas lies. He was different back on 1 August 2016 when Politico headlined Trump: Taking back Crimea would trigger World War III, and they showed video of him campaigning in Columbus Ohio saying (at 57:50-59:00 in this video) that as President he would drop the Crimea matter, because I mean, do you want to go back? Do you want to have World War Three to get it back? So, he was elected on the basis of his conveying to voters that as President he would simply end Obamas anti-Russia sanctions and NATO threats, not continue those punishments and invasion-dangers against Russians unless and until the Russian government forces Crimeans to become ruled again by Ukraines government (now even worse than before Obamas government). But once ensconced into office, Trump promptly changed his tune, in his actual follow-through, as the now-President: His agent at the U.N., Americas U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, said at the U.N. on February 2nd: I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia The United States stands with the people of Ukraine, who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention. Until Russia and the separatists it supports respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, this crisis will continue. The United States continues to condemn and call for an immediate end to the Russian occupation of Crimea. Crimea is a part of Ukraine. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine. In other words: Trumps answer to Do you want to have World War Three to get it back? is: Yes. He actually does. (Unless he quickly renounces what she said.) Trumps commitment there to continue Obamas vicious lies against Russia, instead of acknowledging that they were and are lies (which acknowledgment must be done if WW III is to be avoided), is extraordinarily dangerous. It is a commitment to WW III, because Russia is in the right here, and will never knuckle under to Americas attempts to coerce Russia to do something shameful, just because the U.S. government demands it. A matter of fundamental principle is involved here, and the U.S. government is on the evil side of it even under the new President, who had promised otherwise. Thats a fact, just as much as such a statement as that Genocide is evil is a statement of fact, not merely an assertion of opinion. The U.S. government is on the evil side of the most important matter imaginable potentially, WW III. (Thats what it will be unless Trump reverses himself yet again, this time with finality, by publicly acknowledging that Obamas allegations that Russia stole Crimea were lies. That Obamas whole basis for the new Cold War was actually bogus. That the real aggressor in the entire matter was America.) Anyone who seeks further background on the historical roots of this evil, is invited here to see the following three terrific documentaries that present the essential origins of it: Those three documentaries provide the fundamental, the most crucial, history behind Obamas escalation toward war against Russia. However, one of the essential elements of that historical background is absent from those documentaries, and its filled in by this article, which covers the post-1991 history the portion of the operation that Obama was working so hard to culminate. (Another aspect thats missing from the three documentaries is the connection to terrorism or jihadism, and thats covered in the links to this and especially to this, which latter focuses on the royal Sauds funding of Al Qaeda.) The basic excuse for this evil is as the fake-compassionate (and fake-democratic, and fake anti-invasion) Obama phrased it Theres no formula in which this ends up being good for Russia. The annexation of Crimea is a cost, not a benefit, to Russia. The days in which conquest of land somehow was a formula for great nation status is over. He had imposed these costs upon Russia, and then he possessed the nerve there to blame Russia for doing what it needed to do, and was ethically required to do, to respond to Obamas aggression against Russia (by way of Obamas prior seizure of Ukraine). If Donald Trump continues Obamas course on this, instead of publicly acknowledges that it was founded upon the lies that Crimeas becoming again a part of Russia constituted conquest of land, then were still heading toward World War III, and doing it on the basis of American lies. The only way to put a stop to it other than putting a stop to civilization if not to perhaps all animate life on Earth is for the U.S. government to acknowledge Obamas lies about Crimea and Russia, as having been Obamas lies. It means separation from the prior Administration, on the most important issue of all; and this will require Trump to say publicly that Obama was lying about Ukraine and Crimea and Russia. Trump thus faces a stark choice here. Either he will declare that Obama was lying about these matters, or else there will be war between the U.S. and Russia. Its his choice. Hes no longer just a lying and prevaricating candidate, like he was before. He is now the actual President. If he continues imposing the policy of his predecessor, it will be the end of us all. Its his choice to make; none of his advisors can make it for him. PHOENIX The sponsor of legislation to weaken "Shannon's Law'' agreed Tuesday to stop trying to allow people to fire off guns in a city within a quarter-mile of any residence. Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria, said there was too much pushback to his proposal from police and prosecutors who complained of the danger to public safety. That opposition apparently left him without sufficient votes to get the measure approved Tuesday by the House as scheduled. Rivero promised to restore the current standard which makes it a felony crime to fire a weapon within a mile of any occupied structure. In exchange, prosecutors have agreed to drop their opposition to the other key provision of HB 2287 legalizing the criminally negligent discharge of a weapon within a city. Instead, the new law would require proof that someone knowingly or intentionally fired off a round before someone could face prison time. But Deputy Pima County Attorney Kathleen Mayer said she does not think that change will significantly tie the hands of prosecutors. The current law was enacted in 2000 in the wake of the death of 14-year-old Shannon Smith, a Phoenix teen who died when she was hit a bullet fired into the air. No one was ever arrested. That law not only bars firing off a gun within a mile of any occupied structure within city limits but also makes it illegal to act with criminal negligence. That is defined as acting in a way "that the failure to perceive (the risk) constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation.'' Rivero insisted that language allows people to be prosecuted for "accidental'' discharge of firearms. But both Mayer and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery dismissed that contention, saying they have never brought charges against anyone for an accident. Mayer acknowledged that removing "criminal negligence'' from the law does increase the standard of what police have to allege and prosecutors have to prove when bringing charges when someone fires off a weapon. But she told Capitol Media Services she's not concerned, pointing out it still permits people to be charged with reckless conduct. She said police departments believe it is more important for Rivero to abandon his proposal that it would be OK to fire off guns within a quarter mile of homes, schools and other buildings. "We believe that the public will be adequately protected with the criminal reckless standard as long as we have the whole mile,'' she said. Rivero said he is crafting the agreed-to changes, though there was no immediate indication when he will bring the new version of HB 2287 to the floor. A thatched roof, facade and large glass panels are smoothly tilted towards the ground for the new Danish Wadden Sea Centre by Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter, which resembles a soft sculpture, pure and humble paper-work in one of the worlds most unique and significant natural resorts. The Wadden Sea Centre is conceived as the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site -the building conveys the traditional story of the natural resort that ensures that 15 million migratory birds are able to forage on their flight between North and South. Covering a total of 2,800 square meters area for exhibition and communication activities, the building is inspired by the local building tradition and culture with four-winged thatched farmhouses. Located in Ribe, Denmark, the materials used for the Wadden Sea Centre are all local and absorb the salt in the Wadden Sea air as is historically the tradition for buildings of the region. ''The straw we have used is harvested just around the corner in a local area. With thatching, we build on an ancient handicraft. When straw is unprocessed and recently harvested, dried and tied in place - its a very beautiful material,'' says Dorte Mandrup, Founder and Creative Director of Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter. Completed in only 18 months, the architects converted the original three-winged exhibition building into four-winged space providing shelter in the open landscape. It has been an important aspect of the project to understand and build on the local building tradition of four-winged thatched farmhouses, according to Mandrup. ''The basic idea of the architecture is a new sculptural interpretation of the existing building culture of the region. It has been our ambition to build a project that points towards the future and has its roots in local building tradition and history. In this way, we bring the Wadden Sea Centre into the 21st century,'' says Dorte Mandrup. ''The Wadden Sea Centre is located in an area where, back in the Viking Age, there were several Viking yards and just like the Viking yards the Wadden Sea Centre has been placed on a platform between sea and land. Therefore we have decided that the building should be sculptural and embedded in the environment so it appears as though it has emerged from the ground,'' he adds. The interior of the Danish Wadden Sea Centre features a number of rooms are fully integrated with the outdoor exhibition area as well as with the surrounding landscape and white-painted walls as well as concrete seatings, massive concrete exhibition spaces. Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter recently completed the Icefiord Centre in the UNESCO-protected srea of Greenland, which is a new gathering place for local residents, businesses, climate researchers, climate debaters and global tourists, meeting in a dynamic learning and exhibition space. All images Adam Mrk > via Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter Staying out of debt is easier said than done, I know. However, its something you can do, and its something you should be practicing everyday. As Christians, we are in this world, but we are Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Feb 8, 2017 | By David Personnel changes are happening at the top of California-based 3D software company Autodesk, which announced yesterday that CEO Carl Bass would be stepping down, along with two members of the board. Bass, who has held the Chief Executive position for over a decade, will be departing as of February 8, but will continue to sit on the board, and has been nominated for re-election. He garnered some attention recently for speaking out against President Trump: in an interview with Pando Daily, the outbound CEO characterised Trump as ''somewhere between a dictator and a small business owner.'' These views towards Trump's policies and character might be representative of many Americans, but Bass went further on the record than others in his position have tended to do. Non-executive chairman of the board Crawford Beveridge spoke appreciatively of Bass and the changes he had ushered in during his tenure: Carl has always been a driven and passionate change agent for the company, and under his direction Autodesk has transformed from a 2D design company into the worldwide leader of 3D design and engineering software. Bass was equally positive about his tenure at Autodesk, describing it as an "honor to lead the company through an ''exciting period of growth and change.'' ''I'm very proud of everything we accomplished, he said, ''from both a business and technology perspective.'' He went on to assert his confidence about the future of the company, stating that ''Autodesk is poised for even greater success as it enters this next phase.'' Former Autodesk CEO Carl Bass Autodesk board members Jeff Clarke and Scott Ferguson, who were appointed as part of a deal struck with new financial backers just under a year ago, are also set to resign. Both were initially nominated for their positions by activist investor Sachem Head Capital Management. Along with Eminence Capital, Sachem Head were agitating for change at the company and came to an agreement with Autodesk last March. They agreed to support the board and the company for a set period of time in a so-called standstill agreement. Under the terms of a new agreement that has been reached, their two nominees will leave Autodesk, but the standstill agreement is to remain in place until June 2018. Multinational software giant Autodesk has been at the forefront of developments in the digital world ever since the release of AutoCAD, its flagship computer aided design (CAD) application, in 1982. The company's recent contributions to 3D technology have made the design phase much more accessible to the everyday user, with Autodesk 3D software available to users of every level. Over the years, Autodesk's design products have been industry leaders, used in major civil engineering projects such as New Yorks Freedom Tower, as well as the development of visual effects for such films as Avatar and Inception. In November 2010 the company established the Autodesk Consumer Product Group, which was intended to foster interest in 3D design and hopefully nurture a new wave of designers hungry for easier access to sophisticated software. The Autodesk 123D Design tool was released in 2012 as part of this new project, allowing users interested in 3D technology to design and print their own models and prototypes without needing to learn complex CAD concepts. 123D Catch, another easy-to-use program created by the Autodesk Consumer Product Group project, gives users the ability to make 3D images of real objects using multiple photos taken on a smartphone instead of a complex 3D scanning device. More recently, the Netfabb software suite was acquired from its German startup firm, as Autodesk targeted the growing market of CAD professionals wanting to make prints of their work with limited knowledge of 3D technology. Posted in 3D Software Maybe you also like: Feb 8, 2017 | By David Weve seen several times before the incredible breakthroughs that are being made by 3D printing in the field of medicine, as it allows prosthetic body parts to be easily designed, cheaply produced, and personalized to an individual wearers needs. This month will see the introduction of the technology in one of the places where this kind of care is most urgently required. A new 3D printer, capable of producing prosthetic ears and eyes, will be installed in a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman that tends to the victims of conflicts from all over the war-torn Middle Eastern region. Jordan is one of the few stable countries that remain in the Middle East, and can function as a refuge of sorts for people affected by atrocities in neighboring Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Israel, and Palestine. The reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, run by Medecins Sans Frontieres, is the only one of its kind in the region. It provides essential care and support to people who have suffered from all manner of serious injuries and trauma resulting from the chaotic violence that continues to blight the surrounding area. The hospital has carried out at least 10,000 operations on over 4,500 patients, casualties of war both armed and civilian, as well as victims of torture. For over 10 years it has been treating patients at risk of amputation, confined to wheelchairs, or suffering from serious burns. Often artificial skin needs to be fitted, or hips and joints need to be replaced. The installation of the new 3D printer means that the scope of the hospitals treatment can be extended even further, as patients who are missing eyes or ears can now be helped out by the medical team as never before. The advantages of using 3D technology to produce prosthetics are numerous, as we have reported on many occasions. Due to the relative cheapness of the materials, 3D printed prosthetic body parts can be produced much more easily, particularly in a situation such as the one faced in the Middle East, where resources are not always easy to come by. 3D printing also drastically speeds up the manufacturing process, particularly in the case of smaller, more detailed items. This is hugely beneficial when considering the volume of patients that the MSF in Amman has to deal with, and the rate at which violence can escalate. Furthermore, the ability to manufacture something directly according to the specifications of a 3D computer design allows for a huge range of customization possibilities. A new body part can be personalized exactly as the user wishes it to be. When applied to the production of replacement eyes or ears, as the MSF are doing in Jordan, 3D printing technology enables a wearer to be fitted with something that is exactly tailored to his or her own body. The exact hue of an iris can be replicated, for example, as can the shape of an ear. This makes a huge difference to the patients life, offering some form of restoration to normalcy for these individuals who have been through unimaginable trauma, psychological as well as physical, and who may not have access to support networks or even pharmaceuticals when they return to their homes. Images: Vice As terrible as the conflicts in the Middle East are and will continue to be, it is definitely encouraging to see the possibilities for treatment being expanded through 3D printing. The progress that has been made by the MSF in Amman is an example of the way 3D technology can enable positive and productive reactions to such a tragedy. Moreover, the fact that the technology is still in its relative infancy means that victims of violence there and elsewhere can legitimately hope to see more and more options available in the future, for them to be eventually set on the path to recovery. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Feb 8, 2017 | By Tess Aurora, a Taiwanese office automation and furniture distribution company that has expanded into the 3D printing industry, has announced that in 2016 its additive manufacturing business increased by 23% in both the Taiwanese and Chinese markets. Looking towards 2017, the company says it will continue to push forward and promote its 3D printing enterprises. Aurora, not to be confused with Australian 3D printing company Aurora Labs, has been making inroads into the 3D printing industry in recent years. Known best as a provider of office automation machines and furniture, it seems fitting that the company has begun integrating additive manufacturing technologies into its portfolio. In 2013, for instance, Aurora signed an agreement with 3D printing giant Stratasys to become Chinas exclusive distributor of Stratasys Idea Series professional desktop 3D printers. Since then, the company has also launched its own desktop 3D printer models, including the Aurora F1, a material extrusion 3D printer with a build volume of 168mm x 168mm x 168mm; and the Aurora E1, with a larger build volume of 200 x 200 x 200 mm. The company also distributes MakerBot 3D printing systems, as well as the Renishaw AM 400 metal 3D printer. Aurora F1 3D printer Aurora E1 3D Printer More recently, the Taiwan-based company collaborated with the China Medical University Hospital to establish Changyang Biomedical International, which offers a range of 3D printed medical devices, such as implants, orthodontics, and dental devices. The collaboration, which was announced in October 2016, signified changing market opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. More generally, the company also reported consolidated revenues of NT$1.9 billion (roughly $37.8 million USD) for the month of January 2017. The amount marked a 10.01% decrease on the month, but an increase of 1.31% on year. Its 3D printing business, however, is reported to have grown almost 38% on year, judging by January sales revenues. Aurora Group, which was founded in Taiwan in 1965, is one of the leading brands, as well as leading suppliers, of office automation equipment in the Chinese-speaking market. As the company states on its website, The aim of the AURORA Group is to create the ideal office environment. Posted in 3D Printer Company Maybe you also like: Feb 8, 2017 | By Benedict British artist Anya Gallacio is using a clay 3D printer for her latest work, Beautiful Minds. The installation at Thomas Dane Gallery in London uses the giant 3D printer to deposit wet clay in hexagonal patterns that will eventually resemble a scale model of Devils Tower, a mountain in Wyoming. Anya Gallacio, born in the Scottish town of Paisley, is perhaps best known for her artworks that utilize organic materialsfruit, trees, flowers, ice, and sugar, are just a few substances that have featured prominently in her installations. It is therefore unsurprising that the 2003 Turner Prize nominees latest work finds her working with clay, an abundant fine-grained earth that can be used as a building material. What is perhaps more surprising, however, is the tool chosen by Gallacio to manipulate the clay. For Beautiful Minds, the new installation currently on display at Thomas Dane Gallery in London, Gallacio has set up a giant clay 3D printer to deposit wet clay in semi-precise hexagonal patterns. The huge 3D printer, unlike typical additive manufacturing machines, consists of a computer-controlled hose suspended from a ceiling-spanning metal gantry. It will be used to print a scale model of Devils Tower, a mountain in Wyoming that will be recognizable to many: the unusually shaped summit, a sacred Native American site, played an important role in Steven Spielbergs Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Anya Gallacio's Beautiful Minds (2015) consists of a giant 3D printer building a clay mountain The 3D printer at the center of Beautiful Minds was built by the Gallacio in collaboration with a group of her recent graduates from UC San Diego, where the artist works as a professor. The 3D printer, whose clay deposition process mimics the fluid layering of technology, asks questions of the observer: who is reponsible for the 3D printed mountain? Gallacio? The computer? The relatively unpredictable 3D printer? The clay itself? Gallacios recent move towards technologically informed art has been attributed to her relocation to California, where technology3D printing includedis at the forefront of local culture. The artist recently used a laser cutter for another work, a stainless steel tree, which was commissioned by commissioned by the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester, UK. Later this year Gallaccio will install a CNC-machined tree stump sculpture at the Contemporary Austin in Texas, designed using a 3D scan of a real tree in California. Devils Tower, the mountain depicted in Beautiful Minds, features prominently in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Beautiful Minds is on display at Thomas Dane Gallery until March 25, 2017. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Lovely article about my brother Syed Tasnim Raza by Sean Kirst in the Buffalo News: I reached Dr. Syed Raza by telephone last week. I was trying to find the man who saved my fathers life. Was it Raza? Neither of us could be sure. What is beyond question is that Raza extended hundreds, even thousands, of lives in Buffalo. He is a cardiac surgeon. He speaks with awe of the feeling when you operate upon a human heart, when you see a heart that was stilled for surgery resume beating again, when you watch as that beating becomes stronger and stronger. It is a miracle, the gift of life itself. Raza, 70, is with the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Most of his career was spent at what is now called Buffalo General Medical Health Center. He learned from Dr. George Schimert, his teacher and mentor, the man Raza describes as the father of open heart surgery in Western New York. I love Buffalo, said Raza, a Bills fan whose children grew up in Cheektowaga and Snyder. He was a surgeon at Buffalo General from 1972 to 2005, when he left to start a new heart program in West Virginia. He is now at Columbia, where he manages postoperative cardiac surgical patients. He enjoys the chance to learn about their everyday lives and priorities. Over the years, he met some 8,000 other patients in the most intense of ways: He caused their wounded hearts to beat again. More here. PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (AP) She tugged 13 envelopes from a cabinet above the stove, each one labeled with a different debt: the house payment, the student loans, the vacuum cleaner she bought on credit. Lydia Holt and her husband tuck money into these envelopes with each paycheck to whittle away at what they owe. They both earn about $10 an hour. She did the math; at this rate, they'll be paying these same bills for 87 years. In 2012, Holt voted for Barack Obama because he promised her change, but she feels that change hasn't reached her here. So last year she chose a presidential candidate unlike any she'd ever seen, the billionaire businessman who promised to help people like her win again. Many of her neighbors did, too so many that for the first time in more than 30 years, Crawford County, Wisconsin, a sturdy brick in the once-mighty Big Blue Wall, abandoned the Democratic Party and that wall crumbled. Some 50 counties stretching 300 miles down the Mississippi River through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois transformed in one election season into Trump Country. They voted for Trump for an array of reasons, and the list of grievances they hope he now corrects is long and exacting: stagnant wages, the cost of health care, a hard-to-define feeling that things are not getting better, at least not for people like them. Here in Crawford County, residents often recite two facts about their hometown, the first one proudly: It is the second-oldest community in the state. The next is that it's also one of the poorest. There are no rusted-out factories to embody this discontent. The main street of Prairie du Chien butts up to the Mississippi River and bustles with tourists come summer. Pickup trucks crowd parking lots at the 3M plant and Cabela's distribution center where hundreds work. Just a few vacant storefronts hint at the seething resentment that life still seems harder here than it should. In this place that astonished America when it helped hand Trump the White House, many of those who chose him greeted the frenetic opening acts of his presidency with a shrug. Immigration is not their top concern, and so they watched with some trepidation as Trump signed orders to build a wall on the Mexican border and bar immigrants from seven Muslim countries, sowing chaos around the world. They are still watching and they are waiting, their hopes pinned on his promised economic renaissance. Jim Bowman, director of the county's Economic Development Corporation, says some of the economic anxiety here is based not on measurable decay, but rather a perception that life is decaying. There are plenty of jobs, but it's hard to find one that pays more than $12 an hour. Ambitious young people move away. Rural schools are dwindling, and with them a sense of pride and purpose. "If you ask anybody here, we'll all tell you the same thing: We're tired of living like this," said Mark Berns, leaning through the service window in the small-engine repair shop that he can barely keep open anymore. Berns watched Trump's first days in office half-hopeful, half-frightened. He bemoaned what he described as Trump's quantity-over-quality, "sign, sign, sign" approach to governing. "I just hope we get the jobs back and the economy on its feet, so everybody can get a decent job and make a decent living, and have that chance at the American dream that's gone away over the past eight or 10 years. I'm still optimistic," he said, sighing. "I hope I'm not wrong." Marlene Kramer is also optimistic Trump will make good on his promises. Her priority is health care. Kramer, who voted twice for Obama, used to watch Trump on "Celebrity Apprentice." ''I said to myself, 'Ugh, I can't stand him.'" When he announced his candidacy, she thought it was a joke. "Then my husband said to me, 'Just think, everything he touches seems to turn to money.'" And she changed her mind. She's 54, and she's worked since she was 14, all hard jobs: feeding cows, standing all day on factory floors. Now she works at a sewing shop, where she's happy, and gets to sit. But there's no health insurance. Kramer said she's glad the Affordable Care Act has helped millions get insurance, but it hasn't helped her. She and her husband were stunned to find premiums over $1,000 a month. They opted to pay the penalty of $2,000 until Trump, she hopes, keeps his promise to replace the law with something better. Across town, Robbo Coleman leaned over the bar he tends and described a similar political about-face. He held up an ink pen, wrapped in plastic stamped "Made in China." "I don't see why we can't make pens in Prairie du Chien or in Louisville, Kentucky, or in Alabama or wherever," said Coleman. Coleman doesn't love Trump's moves to build a wall or ban certain immigrants, but he's frustrated that other politicians stopped listening to working people like him. "We've got to give him some time," he said. "He's not Houdini." Farmer Bernard "Tinker" Moravits is also willing to wait and see. Change is what he looked to Obama for and now expects from Trump. The price of milk and agricultural goods has plummeted, and it's getting harder to keep things running. He wants the president to reduce red tape and renegotiate trade deals to benefit American farmers. He has several choice words for Trump's move to build "his stupid wall." Moravits employs Hispanic workers who have been with him 15 years. He trusts them to do a dirty, difficult job that he says white people aren't willing to do. But unlike many transfixed by Trump's presidency, Moravits doesn't stay up-to-the-minute on the news. "The play-by-play don't mean bullshit," he said. "It's like watching the Super Bowl. What counts is how it ends." Moravits isn't sure Trump is going to "Make America Great Again" for farmers. But he feels he had to take the gamble. He laughed, then shrugged and pantomimed rolling the dice. ___ AP data journalist Angeliki Kastanis contributed to this report. Daniel Penny in Boston Review: In her 1975 New York Review of Books essay Fascinating Fascism, Susan Sontag interrogates what was then a growing trend within 1970s popular culture of reviving fascist imagery after three decades of total rebuke. Sontag begins by examining Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahls photography book, The Last of the Nuba, in light of Riefenstahls involvement in the Third Reich. Sontag tracks a set of visual sensibilities across Riefenstahls filmmaking career, arriving at a kind of taxonomy of fascist aesthetics, which she calls both prurient and idealizing. For Sontag, fascist artworks share: a preoccupation with situations of control, submissive behavior, and extravagant effort; they exalt two seemingly opposite states, egomania and servitude. The relations of domination and enslavement take the form of a characteristic pageantry . . . around an all-powerful, hypnotic leader figure or force. The fascist dramaturgy centers on the orgiastic transactions between mighty forces and their puppets. Sontag connects these obsessions with theatrical control to the rise of Nazi imagery in cinema, erotica, and fine art in the 1970s. Arthouse films such as The Damned (1969) and The Night Porter (1974) use the supremely violent but also supremely beautiful imagery of the SS to lasciviously explore the twisted psychologies of sadomasochism-loving Nazis; while films such as Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS (1975) epitomize the cresting wave of Nazisploitation, in which far-out sex has been placed under the sign of Nazism. As Sontag sees it, the unique appeal of Nazis in the context of sadomasochist fantasy is twofold: first, by the 1970s, fascism had become both novel to young people, yet also taboo; and second, fascism provides a readymade sexual fantasy that requires little imagination, a master scenario available to everyone, replete with a highly organized visual system: The color is black, the material is leather. . . . More here. The art lover's February to-do list. Claude Monet's La Grenovillere (Courtesy of The Legion of Honor) What: Monet: The Early Years Where: Legion of Honor When: Feb. 25 through May 29, 2017 Why: Because you know everything about French Impressionism and Claude Monet's Water Lilies puts you into a trance. The first major U.S. exhibition dedicated to the initial phase of Monet's career, this Legion of Honor show will feature 60 works painted between 1858 and 1872. Look for landscapes including The Porte d'Amon and leisurely depictions such as Camille on the Beach in Trouville. While you're there, don't miss the Centenary Installation of 50 sculptural works by Auguste Rodin, marking the 100th anniversary of the artist's death. // Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave. (Sea Cliff), legionofhonor.famsf.org Jimi Hendrix playing an outdoor show in SF's Panhandle. (Jim Marshall) What: Jim Marshall's 1967 Where: The San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries When: Through June 17, 2017 Why: Because San Francisco's Summer of Love (and rebellion) feels particularly relevant right now. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moment in this exhibition of 80 photographs taken by Jim Marshall, SF's own iconic rock 'n' roll lensman. Keep an eye out for Jefferson Airplane album covers, a snap of Janis Joplin posing in her home, and Jimi Hendrix onstage. // Ground Floor Exhibition + North Light Court Banners, San Francisco City Hall (Civic Center), sfartscommission.org Phantom Limb by Lynn Hershman Leeson Courtesy by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts What: Lynn Hershman Leeson: Civic Radar Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) When: Feb. 10 through May 21, 2017 Where: Because you keep wearing that We Should Be All Feminists T-shirt. The Bay Area's own Lynn Hershman Leeson has been a pioneer in feminist and media arts since 1960. This retrospective brings together her pictures, drawings, and film. Look for Lorna, an interactive story of an agoraphobic woman. Up for a party? Proceeds from opening night (Friday, Feb. 10) will benefit the ACLU. // Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. (SoMa), ybca.org Cockettes Go Shopping (1972) (Clay Geerdes) What: Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia Where: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive When: Feb. 8 through May 21, 2017 Why: Because you are all about peace and love. Learn about the impact of the 1960s and '70s counterculture movement on global contemporary art, design, and technology in this first comprehensive survey of the Bay Area's hippie movement. Be mesmerized by experimental furniture, remnants of the day's alternative press, and other radial ephemera. Don't miss the program of short films, including a 1967 documentary about San Francisco's hippie scene. // Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center SF (Berkeley), bampfa.org Heather Klein Courtesy of The Contemporary Jewish Museum What: Shanghai Angel Where: The Contemporary Jewish Museum When: Feb. 23- 26, 2017 Why: Because you're an opera buff. In this one woman operetta, classically trained soprano Heather Klein will tell the secret of her grandmother's immigration: From Austria to Shanghai and then through Angel Island, Rosa Ginsberg traveled with $2.50 in her pocket before arriving in the Bay Area, where she spent three weeks in prison. // The Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St. (SoMa), thecjm.org Dragon Dance Courtesy Of The Oakland Museum of California. What: The Year of the Rooster Where: Oakland Museum of California When: Feb. 12, 2017 Why: You are into all Asian culturesChinese, Tibetan, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Japanese, and more. Take the whole family to celebrate Lunar New Year with music, dance, and performances including a Japanese Taiko drumming performance by Jiten Daiko; martial arts demonstrations by artist Vovinam America; and a 24-Festival Drums performance along with K-pop dance and Korean drumming. There will be also food and a tea tasting. // Noon to 4:30pm; The Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. (Oakland), museumca.org/lunarnewyear-2017 Mortus Vivens Regina by D*Face Courtesy of Weinstein Gallery What: Vandals of London Where: Geary Street Gallery When: Feb. 18 through March 11, 2017 Why: Because you spend your Sundays stalking the alleys looking for the latest graffiti. London's most famous street artists will take over the gallery walls at Geary Street Gallery, a new art space specializing in street and contemporary art, connected to Weinstein Gallery. Don your Doc Martens and check out original works from Pure Evil, famous for the fanged bunny rabbit that's popped up all over London; D*Face, who worked with Banksy on the "Ten Pound Notes"; Sickboy, one of the leading artist to emerge from Bristol's infamous graffiti scene; and Ben Eine, who was commissioned by former Prime Minister David Cameron to create a painting for Barack Obamathe work was given as an official gift to the President in 2010. // Geary Street Gallery, 383 Geary St. (Union Square), facebook.com/GearyStreetGallery, weinstein.com Delicious things you should know about this week. Woods Outbound Opens in the Outer Sunset Outbound, the fifth location from craft beer company Woods Beer, quietly opened last Friday in the Outer Sunset. The indoor/outdoor beer cafe and nanobrewery features a 750-square-foot tap room as well as outdoor patio space inspired by the colors of Ocean Beach. There'll be six beers on tap, a growler machine to bottle fresh beer to-go, and El Porteno empanadas to help with the munchies. // Open daily, 4045 Judah St (Outer Sunset), woodsbeer.com Kronnerburger Pops up at Tartine Burger god Christopher Kronner is popping up at Tartine Manufactory on Monday for one night only. He'll be doing a special burger made with Tartine bread and topped with dry-aged beef. There'll also be a vegan melt, salad, and dessert sundaes to round out the menu.On Tuesday night, Kronner is back in Oakland to focus on Syrian cuisine as part of his weekly menu specials. There'll be aged beef kufa, ful with yogurt, braised leek stew, fatteh bread salad with lamb coked over coals, and beet and squash hummus. A portion of the proceeds will go to the ACLU. // Monday, February 13, 6pm-10pm, 595 Alabama St (Mission), kronnerburger.com CUESA's Library of Libations CUESA is partnering with the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and San Francisco's best bartenders for a literary-themed cocktail event that celebrates winter produce from local farmers. Bartenders from Mourad, White Chapel, 15 Romolo and more will be mixing drinks while Nopalito, Salt Pt. Butchery, Hard Water, and more will be providing small bites to help soak up the booze. All proceeds will benefit CUESA's sustainable agriculture programs. // Wednesday February 15, 5:30-8pm, One Ferry Building (Embarcadero), Get tickets here. New Chef at Calavera Oakland's Calavera has a new chef at the helm. Gustavo Romero, originally from Mexico, was previously the executive chef at Credo in San Francisco. He's shaking up the menu at Calavera, starting with a new Mexican Breakfast every Saturday and Sunday. New menu items include sope Benedicto con carnitas, a play on the classic eggs Benedict with poached eggs, refried beans, braised pork shank, and a chipotle hollandaise on crispy masa shells; chilaquiles rojos with chicken; and enchiladas suizas with a 63-degree egg. There are also some new cocktails on the menu, such as the Michelada D.F. made with tomato, Maggi, cumin, Bohemia beer, and a Oaxacan sea salt rim. // Brunch is Saturday & Sunday, 10am-3pm, 2337 Broadway (Oakland), calaveraoakland.com Bay Leaf Kitchen Beer Brunch Fundraiser Bay Area non-profit Bay Leaf Kitchen, which provides cooking classes and programs for children, is hosting a special diner with beer pairings at Laughing Monk Brewery. The program's Jr. Kitchen Chef Helpers are helping Laughing Monk's Andrew Casteel make French Belgian dip sandwiches with spicy IPA mustard, Belgian red potato and green bean salad, buttermilk coleslaw, and more. All proceeds go to support Bay Leaf's programs. // Sunday February 19, 12pm-5pm, 1439 Egbert Ave (Bayview), Event page here Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Warner thumps Harding Co.-Bison; Patriots, Wolverines to meet for title Hunter Cramer ran for 2 touchdowns, passed for 1 and returned a kick for 82 yards as the Monarchs won 63-20 in the Class 9A football semifinals. I dont know if anyones noticed this, but theres a lot of dishonesty a.k.a. falsehoods, a.k.a. lying in American politics right now. And, yes, too much of it comes from the very highest levels. Example: President Trump on Monday told active duty troops and military brass at a base in Tampa that terror attacks have gotten to a point where its not even being reported. And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that. As a clueless member of the American news media, I actually dont understand what the president is talking about here. The Bowling Green massacre? The tragic slayings of six Muslims in Quebec, which unlike other incidents around the world doesnt seem to be on Trumps radar screen? The presidents deliberate falsehood here part of his (fairly successful) campaign to de-legitimize the media is outrageous. And yet, theres a big lie making the rounds these days thats even worse: that the only people out there protesting must be getting paid. Look, its not surprising when this canard makes the uninformed rounds on conservative talk radio, but now its being adopted by elected officials who should know better and are using the dueling myths of paid protesters and outside agitators to duck their responsibility to hear from their actual constituents. It probably wont surprise you to learn that one of the propagators of this myth is Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Toomeys been deluged with phone calls and when that stopped working faxes (Faxes! Whats next, people sending Toomey 8-track tapes?) begging him not to vote for the uniquely unqualified Betsy DeVos for education secretary. Last week, he blamed people from outside of our state for clogging his offices and making it hard for actual Pennsylvanians to reach him. That prompted a predictable backlash on Twitter, with a #RealPA hashtag, from the score of local grandmothers, teachers, artists, etc., etc., whove been protesting Toomey right here in person. Other senators like Colorados Cory Gardner have been more blatant in blaming paid protesters for jamming his phone, and have faced an even bigger backlash. I just fail to see the logic in this. Why do conservatives who, for better or worse, have been insisting for decades that theres a massive 5th column of leftists in this country now suddenly believe that no one would protest their white nationalist president unless they were making a buck? Seriously? Ive been covering mass movements on both the right and the left for the last eight years; I published a book on the Tea Party in 2010, an e-book on Occupy Wall Street in 2011, and in the last year Ive been to massive rallies for Bernie Sanders and for Trump, as well as the anti-Trump resistance. Ive never met a person who received one thin dime for doing those things most (including folks in the Tea Party) probably suffered a financial hit for the personal time they invested in politics. Yes, protesters have allies the Koch brothers Americans for Prosperity on the right, labor unions on the left who offer support (buses and whatnot) and there are the everyday folks who chipped in a few bucks for things like Occu-Pies. But thats not getting paid to protest often in brutal cold or pouring rain or other unpleasant weather conditions. Its a sad commentary on the state of modern politics when we believe no one could hold an opposing viewpoint unless they are bought off. In the matter at hand Mr. Trump we have a new president who said he feels entitled to grab women by their private parts, whos banning Muslims from this country and insulting Latinos and the disabled. You honestly think people need a check for $55.17 to protest that? The thing that bothers me most about this falsehood is when politicians like Toomey and Gardner use this as an excuse to hide from their constituents. In the case of Toomey, this is a senator who hasnt held a town hall meeting since 2013. You cant really blame people from outside the state until youve met the people from inside the state. U.S. precision medicine market share was 65% of the North American revenue in 2015, mainly on account of favorable regulatory landscape. The Presidents budget has allocated USD 215 million to NIH, NCI, and FDA for development of novel solutions. Precision Medicine Market Size By Technology (Big Data Analytics, Gene Sequencing, Drug Discovery, Bioinformatics, Companion Diagnostics), By Application (Oncology, CNS, Immunology, Respiratory), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Scandinavia, Italy, Japan, China, India, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2023 Precision medicine market size is expected to grow at a rate of 10.5% over 2016-2023; with growing occurrence of chronic diseases such as cancer needing more personalized treatments and practices. Precision medicine will allow doctors to predict more accurately the medical treatment, prevention strategies and remedies. Hence, precision medicine is an apt approach that will consider individual variability in genes, lifestyles, and environment. This process allows the researcher to analyze the cause of a patient at the molecular level and then use targeted treatments. Expanding precision medicine trials in cancer genomics and technological advancements such as biomarker-based test kits and next generation sequencing will fast-track global precision medicine market growth. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.fractovia.org/request-purchase/250 Government support for these technologies will further boost precision medicine market scope over the forecast timeframe. For example, Precision Medicine Initiatives (PMI) commenced by U.S President Barack Obama in January 2015, will alter the concept of medicines, revolutionizing the medication and diagnosis perception. This was particularly initiated to expand cancer genomics to develop better prevention and treatment methods. To support the research and regulation of this initiative, US FDA will receive USD 10 million for building the database. Europe precision medicine market size, by application, 2013 2023 (USD Million) Precision medicine finds wide applications in oncology, immunology, respiratory systems, and central nervous systems. Oncology, which contributed over 30% of the global precision medicine market share in 2015, is expected to record a CAGR of 10.9% over the period of 2016-2023. To optimize the disease management, oncology is utilizing the molecular profile of an individual cancer genome. Precision medicine market revenue in Central Nervous System (CNS) worth USD 9 billion in 2015, is anticipated to grow significantly over the timeframe, owing to its wide application in brain circuitry. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.fractovia.org/request-sample/250 Based on technology, precision medicine market is segmented into big data analytics, drug discovery, gene sequencing, companion diagnostics, and bioinformatics. Drug discovery based precision medicine market worth USD 9 billion in 2015, is anticipated to grow at a rate of 8.3% over the coming seven years. Gene sequencing based precision medicine industry size worth USD 8 billion in 2015, is expected to witness a substantial growth over the timeframe owing to favorable government policies supporting next-generation sequencing research on peoples genes, lifestyles, and environment. Companion diagnostics based precision medicine market is projected to witness a high surge over the next few years, owing to favorable regulatory norms coupled with high government spending encouraging its use. North American precision medicine market is expected to grow significantly over the coming years due to favorable government regulations. U.S. is predicted to contribute significantly towards the regional share. Asia Pacific precision medicine market is projected to witness a significant surge over the timeframe, owing to growing government investments in healthcare sector & medical research. China is expected to be a major regional revenue contributor. Europe precision medicine industry size worth USD 2.4 billion in 2015, is expected to grow noticeably over 2016-2023, owing to favorable compensation policies. France and Germany are predicted to be the major regional revenue contributors. Market players will try to increase their revenue through product innovations and high R & D investments. Key precision medicine industry participants include Laboratory Genomics of America Holdings, Intomics A/S, Silicon Biosystems, Eagle Genomics Limited, Roche, Covance, Pfizer, and Quest Diagnostics. Browse key industry insights spread across 94 pages with 85 market data tables & 62 figures & charts from the report, Precision Medicine Market Size By Technology (Big Data Analytics, Gene Sequencing, Drug Discovery, Bioinformatics, Companion Diagnostics), By Application (Oncology, CNS, Immunology, Respiratory), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Scandinavia, Italy, Japan, China, India, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2023 in detail along with the table of contents: http://fractovia.org/news/industry-research-report/precision-medicine-market Global Market Insights has segmented the precision medicine industry on the basis of technology, application, and region: Precision Medicine Market Technology Analysis (Revenue, USD Million; 2013 2023) Big data analytics Gene Sequencing Drug discovery Bio Informatics Companion Diagnostics Precision Medicine Market Application Analysis (Revenue, USD Million; 2013 2023) Oncology CNS Immunology Respiratory Precision Medicine Market Regional Analysis (Revenue, USD Million; 2013 2023) North America U.S. Canada Europe UK Germany France Italy Scandinavia Asia Pacific China Japan India Singapore Latin America Mexico Brazil MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia Qatar UAE Browse Related Reports: Biosensors Market Size By Technology (Thermal, Electrochemical, Piezoelectric, Optical), By Application [Medical (Cholesterol, Blood Glucose, Blood Gas Analyzer, Pregnancy Testing, Drug Discovery, Infectious Diseases), Food Toxicity, Bioreactor, Agriculture, Environment], By End-User (Home Healthcare, PoC Testing, Food Industry, Research Labs, Security and Biodefense), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2024 https://www.fractovia.org/news/industry-research-report/biosensors-market About Fractovia.org Fractovia.org is one of Indias leading in-house and free news total admin portal. It is fully automated, and operates on a constant premise, interfacing with news sites and offering redesigned breaking features to readers all across the globe. Our mission is to offer individuals opportunities for connections with news writers and distributors which they can pursue. We operate by mapping articles pertaining to breaking news, constantly and progressively, against a pre-determined word-based theme, offering important connections to readers and clients, as well as distributers. Media Contact Company Name: Fractovia.org Contact Person: Arun Hegde Email: sales@fractovia.org Phone: 1-888-689-0688 Address:29L Atlantic Avenue, Suite L 105 City: Ocean View State: Delaware Country: United States Website: http://fractovia.org/news/industry-research-report/precision-medicine-market Update any residential or commercial space with wholesale floors in Bridgeville, PA. Add a touch of personality to any room with hardwood floors in Bridgeville, PA, from ProSource of Bridgeville. 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Their years of experience in the flooring industry ensure customers get the floors they want at the best prices. Call ProSource of Bridgeville, PA, at (412) 206-1644 or visit them online at http://www.prosourceofbridgeville.com/ to learn more about their inventory. They provide flooring for customers in Bridgeville, Canonsburg, Pittsburgh, Venetia, and Washington, Pennsylvania. Media Contact Company Name: ProSource of Bridgeville Contact Person: Dave Lubin Email: dlubin@prosourcepgh.com Phone: (412) 206-1644 Address:101 Southpointe Drive City: Bridgeville State: PA Country: United States Website: http://www.prosourceofbridgeville.com/ Save up to 5% on water-repelling Resista Plus H2O flooring in Monroeville, PA, through the month of February. Shoppers can go online at http://www.prosourceofmonroeville.com to find more great deals on high-end, affordable flooring. Spills, floods, and leaks are problems that no one wants to deal with, especially when it comes to flooring. And, come March and April, many Pennsylvania residents see several inches of water. Even the smallest amounts of water can leave homeowners and businesses struggling to pick up the pieces thats why it helps to have flooring that stands up to water damage, no matter its cause. Save on flooring that can keep up with Pennsylvania weather by stopping by ProSource of Monroeville, locals first source for affordable wholesale flooring in Monroeville. From now until the end of February, shoppers can save 5% on Resista Plus H2O flooring, a unique product designed especially for enhanced water-resistance. Resista Plus H20 flooring is a variety of vinyl tile flooring. Those that are familiar with LVT know that vinyl is already quite water-resistant however, Resistas unique take on vinyl features a thicker core. This means that Resista Plus H2O is more than water-resistant. Its also water-repellant. Bring Resista LVT home or to work and discover the difference it can make in flood and spill cleanup. A one-time investment in high quality flooring can save shoppers from purchasing replacement flooring years down the road. ProSource of Monroeville invites home and business owners to stop by its flooring showroom, where Resista Plus H2O products and many others await inspection. With help from their trained team, its easy for shoppers to find flooring that fits both their budgets and their personal tastes. To learn more about this limited-time offer and others, call (724) 519-4144 or visit www.prosourceofmonroeville.com/wholesale_flooring ProSource of Monroeville works with many residential and commercial clients throughout Monroeville, Greensburg, Murrysville, New Kensington, North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas. Media Contact Company Name: ProSource of Monroeville Contact Person: Ed Lockman Email: elockman@prosourcepgh.com Phone: (724) 519-4144 Address:1909 New Texas Road City: Pittsburgh State: PA Country: United States Website: http://www.prosourceofmonroeville.com February 7, 2017 New York, NY Readers of all ages now have the opportunity to purchase the first two parts of the world-renowned trilogy on the life of Renee Roth-Hano, a holocaust survivor who documented her childhood experiences in Nazi occupied France in the book, Touch Wood. Ms. Roth-Hanos stories have been widely circulated in the past, and were must-read books for school children studying the emotional impact of the holocaust. In the second part, Safe Harbors, the author describes her coming to America experience on the ship Liberte and how she adapted to life in America despite the trauma of leaving her homeland. Roth-Hano is forever an optimist, and this rings true in her books, which are suitable for young and adult readers. While she recollects on the impact of war, she does so with a gentle tone, interspersing delightful stories about France and life in the United States with the more emotional experiences of wartime. The third part of the series, 13 North Irregulars, was released in 2016. The entire series is available on Amazon or on the authors website: www.reneehano.com Media Contact Company Name: Frank MacKay Media Contact Person: Frank MacKay Email: Turningpointwithfrankmackay@gmail.com Phone: 212-537-9339 Country: United States Website: http://www.frankmackaymedia.com/ Awarded $2.5 Million Grant for Commercialising Perovskite Solar Cell Technology Canberra, Feb 8, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Dyesol Limited ( ASX:DYE ) ( DYSOY:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to advise that it has been awarded a $2.5 million grant under the Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) programme. The grant is administered by the Australian Department of Industry. The funding support is for an 18 month project titled, "Large Area Perovskite Photovoltaic Material Coating on Glass Substrate" and complements Dyesol's Major Area Demonstration (MAD) prototype development activities. Dyesol will lead the project and other partners are CSR Building Products, and its subsidiary, CSR Viridian, and CSIRO. We consider this is the best project team available in Australia to assist in advancing our goal of commercialising Perovskite Solar Cell (PSC) photovoltaic technology on glass substrates. This project is expected to provide valuable inputs and better outcomes for other funding opportunities currently being sought. Commensurate with this timeframe, Dyesol plans to move from prototype development into pilot line production in Australia. These are two key steps prior to planned mass production of PSC photovoltaic panels. This 3rd generation photovoltaic technology is projected to produce energy cheaper than any currently available solar energy technology. The grant by the Department of Industry (DOI) supports the broader national Science and Research Priority for the Growth Sector of 'Advanced Manufacturing'. We would like to thank the DOI for their invaluable financial support. Dyesol is disclosing the information contained in this release in accordance with its continuous disclosure obligations prescribed by the ASX Listing Rules. It will provide further project detail to the market in due course, particularly after consultation with its project partners. About PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELL TECHNOLOGY Perovskite Solar Cell (PSC) technology is a photovoltaic (PV) technology based on applying low cost materials in a series of ultrathin layers encapsulated by protective sealants. Dyesol's technology has lower embodied energy in manufacture, produces stable electrical current, and has a strong competitive advantage in low light conditions relative to incumbent PV technologies. This technology can be directly integrated into the building envelope to achieve highly competitive building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The key material layers include a hybrid organic-inorganic halide-based perovskite light absorber and nano-porous metal oxide of titanium oxide. Light striking the absorber promotes an electron into the excited state, followed by a rapid electron transfer and collection by the titania layer. Meanwhile, the remaining positive charge is transferred to the opposite electrode, thereby generating an electrical current. About Greatcell Solar Limited Greatcell Solar Limited (ASX:GSL) (OTCMKTS:DYSOY) is a global leader in the development and commercialisation of Perovskite Solar Cell (PSC) technology 3rd Generation photovoltaic technology that can be applied to glass, metal, polymers or cement. Greatcell Solar Limited manufactures and supplies high performance materials and is focussed on the successful commercialisation of PSC photovoltaics. It is a publicly listed company: Australian Securities Exchange ASX (GSL) and German Open Market (D5I). Learn more at our website and subscribe to our mailing list in English and German. http://www.ksdk.com/news/crime/vietnam-veteran-justified-in-killing-robber/397323819 An armed veteran from St. Louis killed one man and injured another during an armed robbery attempt in the metro east. But, on Friday, prosecutors said the veteran's actions are justified, and could help solve dozens of other violent crimes in Illinois and Missouri. Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons said this case should serve as a warning to criminals. If you're coming to the Metro East to break the law, you could end up staring down the barrel of a gun. Thursday morning, Venice police were called to the 200-block of Abbott Street for reports of a shooting. Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons said it happened as a 70-year-old Vietnam Veteran from St. Louis was dropping off his friend. "Two individuals rolled up next to them in a vehicle, asked for directions, and when they had their attention, took out a firearm," Gibbons said. Gibbons said the veteran responded by opening fire with a concealed weapon, killing one suspect 19-year-old Billy Dickerson and injuring the other 23-year-old Perry Richardson. "He feared for his own life, Gibbons said. He feared for the life of his friend and just took decisive action in that moment." Gibbons said both suspects were wanted for other violent crimes across the bi-state that could now see some closure. "We're able to probably, I believe, able to solve possibly dozens of other armed robberies in the area." As for the veteran, Gibbons said he was well within his rights. "This is an example of a law-abiding citizen protecting himself, exercising his right to self-defense." 33:35 But as for Richardson, he's now charged in the death of the other would be robber. "If you're engaged in a forceable felony and someone no matter who dies during the course of your crime, you are accountable for murder." ( 2017 KSDK) Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, visited here Feb. 4. Webb explained what it takes to accomplish AFSOCs priorities. His examples tied back to how significant the 919th SOW is to the command being ready today, relevant tomorrow and resilient always.The kinds of challenges that this nation faces today are tailor made for [Special Operations Forces], said Webb. Thats why SOF is so heavily engaged.Webb also shared how Citizen Air Commandos impact AFSOCs global mission.From where I sit, you are contributing mightily to the vision within AFSOC, he said. We have a good, solid mission set that you are part of, and I really appreciate the contributions you are making every day.Chief Master Sgt. Greg Smith, AFSOC command chief, accompanied Webb for the visit and echoed the generals remarks.Leaders, notice the resiliency of your force to make readiness today as we move forward and look at how were going to be relevant tomorrow, said Smith. The key takeaway for everybody is, Are we ready today?Before parting, Webb left no doubt as to how significant the 919th SOW is in accomplishing the AFSOC mission.The American Citizen Air Commando is important, he said. Im very, very proud of what you have achieved and the important engagements that you have going forward. Combat runs on BACN The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node will reach 10,000 combat missions within the next month, hitting a significant milestone just as the program office here works to expand the current fleet to eight combat-ready platforms. Considered a weapons system, BACN is an information sharing gateway providing multiple aircraft of varying generations and ground-based troops with standard, secure communications. BACN has been used almost continuously by pilots and troops to coordinate strikes in multiple theatres, across many recent operations in the Middle East, said Lt. Col. Timothy Helfrich, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center materiel leader and BACN manager. If you want to talk to fighters or bombers in the Middle East, you probably use BACN. BACN operates on two platforms. The E-11A modified Bombardier and the EQ-4B Global Hawk both operate in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, providing over-the-horizon secure communications bridges for troops and combat aircraft. The Global Hawk has executed nearly 1,700 combat missions using BACN and the E-11A has executed 8,300 missions. Recently, AFLCMC began working an urgent need for another Global Hawk capable of wielding BACN. Currently, the fleet stands at four E-11s and three EQ-4B. Helfrich said his Airmen are working to get that count up to four EQ-4Bs by fall of 2017, for a total fleet of eight BACN-equipped aircraft. With a combat air force the oldest its ever been, many disparate communications systems are built into platforms which rolled off the line across four decades. During 16 years of continuous combat, the U.S. military finds itself responding to challenges posed by providing safe, reliable communications across multiple generations of aircraft and other weapons systems. Ground troops rely on combat airpower, and clear communications enables their success. Its a common misconception that all military hardware speaks the same language. In reality, a lot of our internal components evolve over time, and they evolve at the same baseline rate as your home computers, Helfrich said. You wouldnt expect your Windows 95 system to be able to seamlessly communicate with your iPhone. And yet, thats the disparity in technology we face. The Air Force contracted Northrop Grumman to create a secure, smooth communications system allowing troops to talk to fighter and bomber aircraft during Operation Enduring Freedom. BACN was fielded in 2009. The first combat mission was flown over Afghanistan in December 2010. Now, the system executes four to five combat missions a day. AFLCMC exists to respond to the needs of the warfighter, and provide them with weapons systems capable of accomplishing many different types of missions. When U.S and coalition warfighters note increased requirements, systems such as BACN can be modified, using the urgent operational needs process. According to Helfrich, the urgent need for additional BACN airframes can be traced directly to successful use downrange in support of joint and coalition partners. Investigation complete, clears former Air Force Acquisitions, Logistics leader Air Force officials confirmed Richard Lombardi, the former senior acquisition official in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, was cleared of any intentional conflict of interest following a self-reported ethics matter in February 2016. The Department of Defense Inspector General recently completed an independent inquiry into the alleged ethics violations by Lombardi. The report concluded that Lombardi failed to report his spouse's Northrop Grumman retirement account on his [ethics] filings from 2009 through 2015, and failed to report his spouse's Northrop Grumman income earned between Aug 2008 and her resignation from Northrop Grumman in Oct 2008. However, he "did not knowingly and willfully fail to report [this information]." According to the report, Lombardi did not participate in matters involving Long Range Strategic Bomber proposal evaluations nor was he involved in selecting Northrop Grumman as the prime contractor. The inquiry found Lombardi learned of the potential violations in mid-January 2016 and reported to senior Air Force ethics officials Feb. 2, 2016. Lombardi followed Air Force ethics officials' guidance on Feb. 24, 2016, by filing ethics forms reporting his spouse's financial information. In February 2016, after being informed of the matter, then Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James removed Lombardi from acquisition duties and referred the issue to the DoD Inspector General. "Rich Lombardi did the right thing at the right time," said Joseph M. McDade, Acting Air Force General Counsel and the Designated Agency Ethics Official. "He promptly self-reported a potential ethics issue, and a full and comprehensive ethics investigation has concluded that there was no knowing or willful infraction." Lombardi is currently serving as the special assistant for the U.S. Air Force's Invisible Combat Wounds Initiative. His next assignment is pending. Around 15,000 people in the Philippines took to the streets in a slum on Wednesday after a fire, lasting for more than six hours, razed entire rows of houses, a media report said. The fire, which swept through Parola town of Tondo district, started around midnight on Tuesday and gutted some 1,200 homes. It caused roughly 6 million pesos ($120,400) in damage before the fire was extinguished by firefighters around 7.30 a.m., according to Bureau of Fire Protection, Efe news reported. Though up to 90 fire trucks were dispatched in an attempt to douse the flames, many of the displaced residents expressed anger over the alleged slowness of the response by the firefighting crews. The government has set up three temporary evacuation centres in the vicinity, but many residents say they cannot go because they need ID cards to register and their records were all burned in the fire. Though the origins of the fire are still not known, authorities suspect it could have been caused by a poorly wired power cord or an unattended gas stove. China on Wednesday defended its decision to block the USs proposal in the UN for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the conditions have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the relevant parties to reach a consensus. Last year 1,267 committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached, Lu said. As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the Committee to reach a decision, he said. China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the committee, he said. About the significance of US pushing for the ban against the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief this time unlike the last year when India pressed for his listing as terrorist, Lu said, I would like to point out that the committee has its own set of discussion rules. So, whoever submitted the request we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations, he said. To a question whether it will have an impact on China-India relations, he said Beijing and New Delhi have exchanged views on the issue. We dont hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship, he said. On criticism that China is continuously blocking the move at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said, Chinas action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures. We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community, he said. Miffed RPI suspends those candidates who were contesting election on BJPs lotus symbol in Pune and Sholapur. Even though the Republican Party of India has a tie up with BJP for contesting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Cor-poration (BMC) election but the party will go solo in nine other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The Ramdas Atha-wale led party is miffed with the BJP for not giving its nod for an alliance for contesting in other municipal corporation and instead asking the formers candidates to fight election on BJPs symbol. Already the party has suspended a candidate who was keen to contest election on the saffron partys symbol. RPI has dissolved the working executive committee of Pune. RPI was keen to have an alliance with BJP for contesting election in 10 municipal corporations and 25 district councils in the state. At a working committee meeting held at Lonavala a decision was taken to suspend those candidates who will be contesting election on BJPs lotus symbol. Those candidates who are contesting election on BJPs symbol in Pune and Sholapur are suspended. On the other hand, BJP and RPI have sealed an alliance for contesting the Mumbai civic body polls. As per the agreement RPI has been allotted 25 seats and if they fares better in the election the party will be assigned the post of deputy mayor by BJP. RPI is cosying up with Shiv Sena in Ulhasnagar. BJP candidates have filed nominations from those constituencies vacated by RPI candidates. In some places, BJP has allotted its symbol to RPI leaders. As a result of this RPI leaders are upset and hence they are planning to contest election in other constituencies single-handedly. We had asked BJP leaders to form an alliance in all the 10 municipal corporations that are going to polls. But they forged alliance only for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (polls). Hence, we have decided to go alone in rest of the 9 corporation elections, state general secretary of RPI (A) Raja Sarwade said. RPI (A) has decided to contest elections to nine municipal corporations alone and not as an ally of BJP. There will be some wards where BJP and RPI candidates will be facing each other. We have also dissolved the Pune unit of RPI with immediate effect so that no one from Pune (seat) can use our symbol, he added. Party chairman Ramdas Athawale had earlier objected to BJPs plan to field RPI candidate on its symbol and he had also made it clear that his party nominees will have to fight on RPI (A) party symbol and not on BJPs. The keenly-contested BMC and nine other municipal corporations will go to polls on February 21, while the counting will take place on February 23. There are no seats at IACC for those with severe autism. Indeed, severely affected children like mine cannot speak and require 24/7 care. Arranging time off work or paying the extra care taking required for a severely affected ASD child so a parent can travel (on their own dime) to an IACC meeting is a herculean task. Therefore, autism families rely on our leaders to speak for our children in D.C. and at IACC. It is bad enough that the NIH refuses to give public seats to NAA or TACA or SafeMinds but now they limited our tens of thousands of ASD families to no more than 2 minutes of representation a year? SafeMinds has members all over the country but few can travel. Lisa Wiederlight, our president, is our designated IACC speaker in part because she resides in Maryland. We have complete confidence in Ms. Wiederlights expertise on both the science and service issues important to our members. We do not want Lisa limited to speaking about our issues once a year. TACA is located in California. Its virtually impossible for various CA ASD Moms and Dads to appear in person at IACC. However, they can help subsidize a trip for the organization president to speak more than once if members deem this necessary. One of the most moving IACC speakers I have ever heard is NAA president Wendy Fournier. NAA members want Ms. Founier is able to communicate their needs whenever necessary. Yet Wendy should be limited to 1 two minute slot a year? To be specific Dr. Gordon decided to limit stakeholders to one public comment a year. Thats it. This move is foolish and unfair for many reasons. Number one, it only serves to reinforce the belief that IACC is completely uninterested in your family and your autism organization. As it stands, NIH leaders refuse, absolutely refuse, to appoint IACC nominees who truly represent actual large national autism interest groups (TACA, NAA...). Instead the NIH gives those few public IACC seats to members of an Aspergers comedy troupe, assistant-assistant professors (who are not ASD parents) of small colleges no one knows, numerous random people representing no organization at all who rarely show up and finally, masquerading as members of the public, NIH employees who are ASD parents but never say a word. The only chance large national groups have to be heard is during the brief public comment period. By Katie Wright No matter who you voted for in the last last election the take away message was unambiguous. Americans literally do not feel heard by our government. So guess what the new IACC Director just decided to do? In an incredibly ironic, tone deaf and boneheaded move, Dr. Joshua Gordon decided to take away the peoples right to speak at IACC public comment. Thats right. So for to those Americans affected by autism who do not feel heard or that the federal government doesnt care about your kid - youre not crazy. The federal government really, really does not want to hear from you. Listen, I know that not all public commenters are brilliant and enlightening. Ive sat through some head scratchers, I get it. They can't all be winners, but that is OK. Believe me, autism families have sat through hundreds of hours of useless IACC talk. The very least IACC can do is welcome ASD community members who make the trip to for the opportunity to be heard, however briefly. Sure, if IACC members were working for IBM they would not have to sit through live public criticisms of their job performance. No, instead almost all of them would have been fired years ago due to poor work performance. Just imagine this group having to be accountable to a private sector employer! Given the fact that IACCs performance and the NIH autism team have succeeded in alienating and angering most of the its constituents, all federal IACC members would be unemployed. This inane restriction is the responsibility of Dr. Gordon and the IACC panel. Dr. Susan Daniels and her team does an excellent job organizing all meetings and making materials accessible to the public. A detailed agenda for every meetings and bios for every presenter is available in advance of everymeeting and all earlier IACC meetings are well archived and available to all who wish to view them. The operations aspect of IACC is well functioning and transparent. The problem is the leadership. It is not Dr. Daniels responsibility to limit speakers times, it is Dr.Gordons. Rather than waving his hands and saying, its just too hard to keep public speakers to the allotted time limit, Gordon needs to do his job and make it clear to commenters that their speech will be stopped, politely, but firmly, stopped after two minutes. It is called running meeting and it is the chairs job. Lets talk about what was so very important at the most recent IACC meetings necessitating the truncation of the public comment period. First we heard from Autism Speaks President Angela Geiger. Ms. Geiger has been the CEO for one year but has kept a very low profile, I suppose because of the dormant nature of AS Science. Incredibly, it has taken Ms. Geiger 11 months to settle upon a Chief Scientific Officer! I realize AS was burned by the previous CSO, Dr. Rob Ring. Ring was promoted from within AS without even a cursory search effort and this was a gigantic mistake. Dr. Ring was temperamentally and professionally ill-suited for this critically important job and the organization suffered terribly during his tenure. Ok, so dont hire someone right away but should it take 11 months to find a qualified candidate? Would such paralytic leadership be tolerated in the private sector, absolutely not. Ms. Geiger spoke for about 15 minutes about AS direction. AS intends to focus more young adult and adult issues, which was great to hear. However, few specifics were given. AS wants to decrease the age of diagnosis. Weve been hearing about that for 13 years, but fine. Geiger spoke about AS supporting cutting edge science, absolutely no details. More talk about journeys, transformations, growth, change, evolving, access to solutions, improving transitioning, partnering, negotiating solutions, having open arms..... you get the picture. Oh, and I dont believe I am alone in not wanting hear one more promise about personalized medicine EVER. Autism families are so tired of meaningless empty promises, time to get down to earth and be specific. Ms. Geiger offered dozens and dozens of euphemisms for change but after a year in the wilderness AS leadership needs to get very specific with families about the science it intends to support. A few IACC members asked about the supposed scientific breakthroughs in the AS pipeline. Ms. Geiger replied that she is not a scientist. Ms. Geiger that is not an acceptable answer. You are an extremely high paid CEO who has had one year to educate yourself, full time, on autism science- time to be an expert. Come on, no excuses. Do you think all autism moms and dads went to medical school? No, we stayed awake night after night to read medical journals, environmental science studies, GI research, books about auto-inflammatory disease, study after study on nutrition. And you know what else? We did this while caring for ASD kids and/or having a job outside of the home. Ms. Geiger time to get busy and hit the books like the rest of us, but do not limit yourself to the stagnant and dated genes + behavior CDC /NIH science like the rest of AS Science has. You must read widely on toxicology, metabolic science, the micro biome, PANDAS, gut permeability, autoimmune disease, etc...to really understand autism science and to, most importantly, offer people suffering with autism the real help they need and deserve. Read Herbert, Deth, Jyounchi, Hertz-Picciotto, Krisgman, Van Der Water, Usman, Rossignol, J. Adams, Exley, Tomljenovic, Nevison, Dhurjati, Marabotti, Mezzelani, Mustafa. The second and more lengthy presentation ( one hour!) was given by Dr. Sam Odom of UNC, regarding ABA teaching modules. I am sure Dr. Odom is a smart and dedicated researcher but his presentation was interminable and taught us nothing new. Odom leads a multi-million dollar NIH project geared towards educating child care workers about autism teaching techniques. The presentation about the basics of ABA should have been condensed into 10 minutes. The remaining 50 minutes should have been dedicated to public comment or a speaker with relevant and NOVEL science to share. Dr. Gordon you need to know that IACC public commenters are tax payers, citizens and your equal in every way. Dr. Gordon you do not have the right to tell the autism community that their leaders can speak only once a year. It was horrible, but not surprising given the largely unrepresentative membership of IACC, that not one IACC member spoke up against this undemocratic ruling. Dr. James Battey, who has taken up space on the committee for 10 years and contributed almost nothing said that he did not like the repetitiveness of public comments because we are smart people and remember things. No, Dr. Battey the committee does not seem to remember anything the members of the public asks you to do- whether it be fund biomedical treatment research or meaningful environmental science. Dr. Battey you and your colleagues suddenly have amnesia whenever it is time to write your Strategic Plan - which reflects academias needs and wants not the autism families you should be serving. Believe me Dr. Gordon and Dr. Battey, public comment is the very least of IACCs problems. Instead of limiting the number the of comments the public may make I advise you to welcome all and take copious notes throughout in order to create better Strategic Plans. Katie Wright is Contributing Editor to Age of Autism. Web Toolbar by Wibiya When it comes to culture, America and Canada are not that far apart. We both enjoy the same sports, have similar governments, and watch many of the same movies and television shows. An American can easily travel up to Canada and fit right in, and the same goes for Canadians traveling south. While there are many similarities between the two cultures, there is one aspect in which they are rather far apart guns. Americans and Canadians have very different approaches to firearms, and this has been the case for many years. The American Approach Simply put, Americans as a whole love guns. There are more guns in America than anywhere else in the world, and there are now more guns than there are people. Gun related industries are huge in America, including the making of guns, ammo remanufacturing, and the selling of firearms. It seems that each year the number of Americans who own a gun continues to rise, and the number of guns produced climbs as well. This fondness for guns has been apparent for several decades, but the history of it goes back to the inception of this country. When the country began, it was decided that every American had the right to own a gun in order to fight for militias and provide for the common defence. At the time, there was not a large standing army, and militias were the primary source of defence for most states. As time has gone on, the part about common defence has transformed into self-defense, allowing almost every American to own a gun in their home, with the sole purpose of keeping their family safe. Guns are a large part of American culture from hunting and recreation to video games and movies. If a politician proposes a law that suggests tighter restrictions on who can purchase a gun, you can be sure they will receive some phone calls from gun owners trying to defend their right to own a gun. The Canadian Approach Canada tends to view guns differently, and this is also rooted in their history. Canada did not rebel against England like America did, so there was never a reason for an armed rebellion. On top of that, Canada has never had a civil war, meaning there was no reason for every citizen to own a gun at any point in their history. In fact, up until the 1990s. even Canada's Border and Customs agents were unarmed. Because of their different history, Canada does not view guns the same way as Americans. There are tight restrictions on who can purchase a gun up in Canada, but they still recognize the fact that some people will want to own one whether for hunting, recreation or self-defense. It is harder to get a gun in Canada, but they are still available. How The Differences Impact Each Country The differences in gun culture have led to different outcomes. One such difference is in the number of gun-related deaths. In 2011, the United States experienced gun-related deaths for every 1 in 28,000 people, while the number for Canada was only 1 in 215,000. However, there is debate at least in the United States as to whether more guns are the cause of these deaths. Some argue that in situations like mass shootings, having more firearms around would stop the threat before things escalate. While there are gun related deaths almost every day in America including suicides, homicides, the killing of police offers and the killings by police officers no consensus has been reached on how to deal with the issue. What The Future Holds Based on recent elections, the trends for each country is unlikely to change. The United States just elected Donald Trump, a man that is against more restrictions on buying guns. On the other hand, Canada recently elected Justin Trudeau, who promised more gun control laws. While there is already a large divide in how these two nations handle firearms, there are not any signs that this will change in the upcoming years. While there are many similarities between the United States and Canada, the issue of guns is not one of them. Both countries may have access to guns, and use them for similar reasons, but they are far more common in the United States than in Canada. Based on the history of these two countries, and recent events, this divide is likely to remain in place. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Date: 11 January, 2017. Place: Elizabeth City, State of North Carolina, United States. On 11 January, Elizabeth City, a small urban centre located in the State of North Carolina, was the scene of a very strange incident. According to an article published by ufologist Roger Marsh on UFO specialised website MUFON.com, a local resident affirmed to have seen a triangle UFO hovering above the town. A North Carolina witness at Elizabeth City reported watching a triangle UFO hovering under 500 feet over his vehicle, according to testimony in Case 81565 from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database, Mr Marsh wrote. The unnamed witness said he first saw the object through the window of his mothers car. On our way to town, I happen to notice what I thought at first was maybe a helicopter or aircraft, he said. But it had unusually bright, white lights, with what appeared to be red/green flashing lights, kind of like a normal aircraft might have, he continued. The North Carolinian citizen expressed that he didnt think too much of it at the time, but kept kind of looking towards it, as it moved slowly. However, the unidentified object kept hovering, but then it started to get closer to the witnesss car. This allowed him to see it in detail. So I look out the window as it slowly hovered overhead and was dumbfounded by what I saw. It was a triangular-shaped craft, unlike anything I have ever seen before, he stated. Three bright, white lights at the corners of the craft. Red lights towards the center, and orange lighting in various places. It seemed to have orange lit, engine-like vents towards the back end of the craft. It seemed to be dark gray in color, but the whole thing had this translucent bluish aura about it, he described. According to Mr Marsh, the event lasted more than one hour. An hour after the original event, the witness was still able to see the object, but further away, he said. The anonymous witness also expressed his surprise at the sighting. Ive never seen anything with this level of tech. You could just feel how powerful this thing was, he commented. Draw your own conclusions For further information: http://www.mufon.com/news/nc-witness-describes-triangle-ufo-under-500-feet NC witness describes triangle UFO under 500 feet Posted by: Roger Marsh A North Carolina witness at Elizabeth City reported watching a triangle UFO hover under 500 feet over his vehicle, according to testimony in Case 81565 from the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) witness reporting database. The reporting witness was a passenger in his mothers vehicle on January 11, 2017, as they were driving into town for a birthday dinner. The witness was first drawn to the craft because it had unusually bright lights. On our way to town, I happen to notice what I thought at first was maybe a helicopter or aircraft, the witness stated. But it had unusually bright, white lights, with what appeared to be red/green flashing lights, kind of like a normal aircraft might have. Didnt think too much of it at the time, but kept kind of looking towards it, as it moved slowly. As their vehicle moved along, the witness kept watch of the unusual object. It arrived at the edge of town, just about the time we did, and was hovering low, over trees and houses. About the time we turned to head towards town, its flight path was heading right for us, so I was like, okay, Ill see what it was for sure now, cause its about to be right over our heads. The object eventually moved toward the witness and hovered over his vehicle. The witness continued to watch the object. So I look out the window as it slowly hovered overhead and was dumbfounded by what I saw. It was a triangular-shaped craft, unlike anything I have ever seen before. Three bright, white lights at the corners of the craft. Red lights towards the center. And orange lighting in various places. It seemed to have orange lit, engine-like vents towards the back end of the craft. It seemed to be dark gray in color, but the whole thing had this translucent blueish aura about it. The witness described his encounter as brief, but life changing. Ive never seen anything with this level of tech. You could just feel how powerful this thing was. Im a bit of sci fi fan, and have kind of somewhat believe the possibility of stuff like this existing. The crazy part is, the thing was still in the area on our way home, an hour or so later. Though it didnt come close to us again. But seriously, it just made everything Ive ever seen, including fantasy, just pale in comparison. Ive actually been kind of scared to drive or even go out at night since seeing it. Its really kind of shaken me up. My mother was driving, so she never got a close look at it like I did, unfortunately. And no pictures either. I honestly was so amazed and shocked, I didnt even think to try. An hour after the original event, the witness was still able to see the object, but further away. Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, population 18,047. North Carolina MUFON Field Investigator Sanford Davis investigated this case and closed it as an Unknown. Please remember that most UFO sightings can be explained as something natural or man-made. The above quotes were edited for clarity. Please report UFO activity to MUFON.com. Five people were issued criminal citations following an investigation into a fight and disturbance at a large party where minors were consuming alcohol. The party occurred at 34998 S. 66th Road, northeast of Blue Springs last November. According to a press release from the Gage County Sheriffs Office, the party occurred at a residence outside of Blue Springs on Nov. 26, 2016. The incident was reported to the Gage County Sheriffs Office after two people from the party arrived at Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center reporting injuries sustained while at the party. Those facing criminal charges following the party include: Elizabeth Shotkoski-Jurgens, 57, of Blue Springs was cited for two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after hosting the party and being present while minors were consuming alcohol on her property. Jordan Jurgens, 19, of Blue Springs was also cited for two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for hosting the party and being present at the party while minors were consuming alcohol. Derek Veerhusen, 20, of Adams was cited for third-degree assault after he and Jacob Buhr, 20, of Holmesville were involved in the assault of another male while at the party. Buhr was also cited for third-degree assault. Devan Baehr, 23, of Blue Springs was cited for criminal mischief after damaging a side mirror on a vehicle at the party. Aiken, SC (29801) Today A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Additional housing may be in store for Beatrice thanks to a Kansas City company hoping to build housing units in Gage County. The company, Prairie Fire, presented its plan to the Beatrice City Council this week. Nick Jerkovich with Prairie Fire said the Beatrice proposal for moderate-income housing would be located at 19th and Park streets in northeast Beatrice. What we would do is essentially extend Park Street directly east and build on each side, he explained. Theres going to be a minimum of 36 two-and-three bedroom units. Those will range from 1,200-1,500 square foot. The asking rent will be from $525-$660, approximately. The development would employ at least one on-site worker once completed, and the residences would include water, sewer and trash services, while residents would pay their own electric bills. Jerkovich said the company plans to apply for tax credits from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), which will distribute $45 million in tax credits this year. The application will be submitted in March, and plans call for zoning and permitting work this summer. The development would be a $6.8 million total investment in the area. The 5.5 acre development should be completed in July 2018. Prairie fire considered several other sites in the area before determining Park Street would best met its needs. The company has around 500 units throughout nine properties in Kansas and Missouri. Prairie Fire was looking to move into the Nebraska area, and last years housing study was instrumental in the decision to build in Beatrice. When we come to town were not going to be the developer that builds something and then flips it out to somebody else, Jerkovich said. Thats why we really look at whats most needed in a community. Actually, the reason that Beatrice was on my radar to begin with was I was looking at different cities throughout southeast Nebraska that had engaged in a housing needs assessment. Results of Beatrice's housing study, released last March, defined a need for 446 housing units, including 283 owner and 163 rental units. A downtown Beatrice housing initiative included in the report targets up to 22 new housing units in the downtown area. The 145-page study also includes goals, action steps and a five-year housing action plan identifying specific housing development initiatives. The study included examination of population, income and economic data and a housing stock analysis, among other factors. Beverly J. Bowers, 77, of Beatrice. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with Reverend John Duling officiating. Private family inurnment of her ashes will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice. There will be no viewing or visitation. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Beatrice Senior Center and the Blue Valley Shrine Widows Group with the funeral home in charge. Margot Maria Korslund, 88, of Beatrice. A memorial service on Feb. 11, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Harman-Wright Mortuary Chapel in Beatrice. Cremation has occurred. Inurnment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Beatrice. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is established to the Beatrice Salvation Army or the Beatrice American Red Cross. JoAnn Pearl Kostal, 83, of Odell. Services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church at Odell, with Pastor Curt Magelky officiating. The family will greet friends at the funeral home in Odell on Wednesday evening from 6 8 p.m. Burial in the Odell Czech Cemetery. Memorials to the Odell Fired Dept. and familys choice. George D. Kropp, 87, of Wymore. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore with Lori Miller officiating. Casual attire is requested. Interment will be at the Wymore Cemetery. The body will lie in state on Thursday from 4-8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. The family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the familys choice with the funeral home in charge. Debbie L. Mick, 57, of Wymore. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore with Jon Palmquist officiating. There will be no viewing, as cremation has taken place. Mildred Peterson, 93, formerly of Humboldt. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at The Christian Church in Humboldt, with Pastor Howard Blecha officiating. Interment will be at the Humboldt Cemetery Maxine L. Salts, 80. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Wymore with Father Ferdinand Boehme officiating. A private interment of ashes will take place at a later date. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place. The family will greet relatives and friends at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore on Thursday from 6-8 -p.m. A register book will be available on Thursday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. A memorial has been established to the familys choice with the funeral home in charge. Thomas G. Scheetz, 69, Hanover, Kan. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, at St. John's Catholic Church, Hanover. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Joyce L. Spier, 79, Pawnee City. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, with Pastor Howard Blecha officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wherry Mortuary. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in the Pawnee City Cemetery, Pawnee City. Goldie "Louise" Trauernicht, 63, of Beatrice. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with Jon Palmquist officiating. Burial of her ashes will be at a later date. There will be no viewing or visitation as cremation has taken place. A memorial has been established to the family with the funeral home in charge. Gaylord G. Wehmer, 89, of Tecumseh. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 at the United Methodist Church, Tecumseh. Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 9 a.m.-8 p.m., at the Wherry Funeral Home, Tecumseh, with family greeting friends 6-8 p.m. Memorials to the family's choice. Interment at 2 p.m. Friday in the Lewiston Cemetery, with full military honors. The air cargo industry has seen a spike in demand for shipments of lettuce from North America as bad weather hit crops in Spain. Earlier today, IAG Cargo reported that retailers in the UK were looking to source lettuce and other vegetables from the Americas as a result of a shortage in Europe. Joe LeBeau, Vice President North America, IAG Cargo said: As a result of the poor Spanish harvest, we have seen volumes of iceberg lettuces and other fresh products flying from the west coast of the US to the UK double over the past week, when compared to the same period last year. "Typically lettuces are originating from Northern Mexico and Arizona and are travelling through Los Angeles or Seattle airports to London Heathrow. Early indications are that these higher than usual volumes will be sustained over the short term. The up coming edition of Air Cargo News features a special report on the perishables market and in the article Chris Connell, president of perishables specialist Commodity Forwarders, also notes a spike in demand for lettuce caused by the shortage in Spain. He says that with tight supply and prices going up sharply, retailers in northern Europe cast far and wide for alternative sources of supply, resulting in lettuce moved by air from California and Mexico Connell reckons that most of this ended up in bags of prepared mixed salad. A head of lettuce on its own would be unlikely to absorb the cost of airfreight, he says. Lettuce prices at UK supermarkets have shot up over recent days more than doubling and supermarkets have been rationing the number that customers can buy. But it is not the only vegetable to suffer and prices of cabbage, broccoli and spinach, amongst others, are also up. Share this story January 30, 2017 CAIRO Al-Azhar Mosque and the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) have been at odds over which institution should determine the content of Friday sermons. Now the tension is growing, as the ministry has officially declared itself in charge. Without consulting the mosque, on Jan. 10 the ministry officially declared that, beginning in March, it will be determining Friday sermon scripts for the next five years as part of its plan to reform religious discourse in Egypt. The ministry is responsible for organizing religious discourse inside mosques, while Al-Azhar is responsible for Islamic outreach in the world. According to the ministry's official statement, the new initiative aims to develop awareness of the different issues in Egyptian society, consolidate a national sense of belonging, correct misconceptions, uphold and consolidate moral values, and build decent and conscious personalities capable of achieving peaceful coexistence with others. Minister of Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa stressed that the outreach plan is based on diversity and imposes topics in advance. According to Gomaa, the imposed topics are more general than those currently addressed in sermons and are designed to develop positive awareness of public issues. He urged scholars, imams and other interested parties to keep an open mind while considering the plan. The new initiative includes a short-term plan with 54 topics for the first year and a long-term plan with 270 topics for the next five years. The sermon topics are based on 13 axes: morality; national values; extremism and issues related to terrorism; work and production; transactions; family building; youth; women; the role of people with special needs in community building; education; faith; religious events; and public issues. Al-Azhar scholars strongly attacked the ministry for excluding Al-Azhar from the committee that developed the sermon plans. The committee began meeting Dec. 8 and continued until the announcement of the final plan Jan. 10. The committee included representatives of various public figures, psychologists and media professors. However, the committee did not consult the Council of Senior Scholars or Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy. There is speculation that Al-Azhar was excluded to ensure the plan would pass without any objections, as Al-Azhar had already criticized scripted sermons. The ministry appointed Ahmed Ali Agiba, secretary-general of the ministrys Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, to head the committee. Members included Abdallah Mabrouk al-Najjar, former dean of Al-Azhar's Faculty of Graduate Studies; Sami al-Sharif, former dean of the Faculty of Information at Cairo University; Nabil Samalouti, former dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Al-Azhar University and a sociology professor; and Magdy Ashour, scientific adviser to the grand mufti. Samalouti did not represent Al-Azhar in the committee, as he no longer works there. He was invited to the meetings in his personal capacity. On Jan. 19, Maj. Gen. Mohamed El Shahat, a member of the Center for Islamic Research of Al-Azhar, said in a statement, The Ministry of Endowments should have briefed Al-Azhar about the nature of the committee's work because Al-Azhar is primarily responsible for outreach in Egypt and the world, and the Friday sermon topics set by the committee failed to take into account the concerns and problems of Egyptian society. The ministry's plan comes in response to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis call for the need to renew religious discourse. In his Dec. 8 speech at the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birth, Sisi called for formation of a committee of senior sociologists, ethicists, psychologists and scholars to prepare a road map for the next five years with the aim of developing religious understanding of the various intellectual issues across Egypt. This is not the first time a conflict has erupted between Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Religious Endowments over the Friday sermon, as the ministry had announced July 23, 2016, the application of a unified mosque sermon across Egypt with the aim of correcting misconceptions among Muslims. Three days later, with one voice, members of Al-Azhar's Council of Senior Scholars renounced scripted sermons. In fulfillment of Al-Azhars constitutional role as responsible for the Islamic outreach, the council unanimously decided to reject the scripted sermons as such a move only aims to freeze the religious discourse rather than develop it," the council said in an official statement. The imams need serious training to cope with extremist and anomalous ideas through science and correct ideas. Scripted sermons will only rid the sermons of their depth and ability to discuss the deviant thoughts and misguided groups that use religion as a cover. Ahmed Ban, a researcher on Islamic movement affairs, told Al-Monitor, The conflict between the Islamic religious institutions in Egypt is complex and not new. Al-Azhar is responsible for the Islamic outreach in Egypt and the world, according to the constitution, while [the Ministry of] Endowments is responsible for Islamic outreach and the religious discourse inside mosques hence the conflict. Also, they both want to control the scene and demonstrate their ability to influence citizens." He said, Before we talk about reforming the religious discourse in Egypt, we must first talk about the reform of religious institutions. Both Al-Azhar and [the Ministry of] Endowments need internal reform that rids them of the grip of the executive branch and gives them financial and intellectual independence. Everyone is aware of the executive branch dictations and insistence on the application of its agenda in the renewal of religious discourse, not to mention the Ministry of Endowments pursuit to apply them, which affects the feasibility and effectiveness of the religious discourse. Religious institutions also need to be free from the influence of "radical religious discourse adopted by other Islamic movements," he said. There is no doubt that the focus on the renewal of the religious discourse through the Ministry of Endowments initiative alone, without consulting Al-Azhar or any other institution, will lead to a growing extremist ideology within the community and to acts of violence in the street." Orators who do not respect the scripted sermons will be held accountable. Even in situations when orators feel it's necessary to address a specific topic, the ministry said it will issue instructions for a mosque orator to tackle that subject at a specific time based on its importance. February 7, 2017 If any other Republican president were running the country, Elliott Abrams' hawkish pro-democracy views would be a liability with Democrats. With Donald Trump in charge, they're a badge of honor. The president was due to meet Feb. 7 with Abrams at the White House, fueling speculation that the longtime diplomat will shortly be getting the nod to be deputy secretary of state. Senior department officials are gunning for an experienced lieutenant to help Secretary of State Rex Tillerson steer America's massive diplomatic corps, but Trump advisers such as Steve Bannon are said to be wary of a man who criticized the president throughout the campaign. Ever since Abrams' name began to be floated as a contender for a top spot, familiar complaints have emerged on both the left and right: his unwavering support for repressive right-wing governments in Central America when he was assistant secretary of state under President Ronald Reagan; his conviction and subsequent pardon by President George H.W. Bush for withholding evidence from Congress in the Iran-Contra affair; and his enthusiastic embrace of the war in Iraq as senior director of Middle East affairs in President George W. Bush's National Security Council. But Democrats who would play a key role in confirming him in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are paying especially close attention to Abrams' more recent comments critical of Trump and of undemocratic US allies in the Middle East. "In the context of President Trump's alarming or disconcerting statements," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., "having someone in a senior role at the State Department who understands the operations of the State Department, respects and values the career of foreign service and civil service employees at the State Department, and who has been actively engaged in fighting for human rights, may be of real value." "If [Abrams'] record proves out those things to be a part of his experience," Coons added, "then I may be inclined to support him." Since leaving government, Abrams has been a vocal critic of the lack of freedom of expression in the Middle East. He slammed the Barack Obama administration for its "simply ridiculous" massive delegation to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud's funeral in January 2015 and repeatedly warned of the "false" trade-off between stability and democracy as a leader of a panel of experts that sought to warn Obama about what it saw as Egypt's authoritarian drift under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the top Democrat on the committee's Middle East panel, said senators of both parties have an "existential worry" about some of Trump's advisers, including Bannon, National Security adviser Michael Flynn and senior White House adviser Stephen Miller. He said Abrams appears to have "sound judgment" as opposed to "conspiracy theorists prone to make quick and rash decisions." "We want mature people there who understand the dangers of authoritarianism," Kaine said. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told Al-Monitor he has "concerns" about Abrams' enduring support for the Iraq invasion. "I want to know from him what lessons he's learned from our misadventures in Iraq," he said. "I'm not real interested in having somebody there who is an enthusiastic supporter of mistakes we've made in the past." But he applauded Abrams for speaking up during the presidential race, during which Abrams notably criticized Trump's propensity to "insult" US allies in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. "He was very loud during the campaign, pushing back against some of the more reckless ideas coming out of the Trump campaign," Murphy said. "That certainly makes him a little bit more palatable in my eyes." Both Murphy and Kaine said Democrats may end up supporting Abrams for the same reasons they supported Trump's choice for ambassador to the UN. Nikki Haley was confirmed last month by a vote of 96-4. "I voted for Nikki Haley in part because it was important to have some members of the Cabinet who were willing to speak truth to power," Murphy said. Abrams will need that Democratic support if his nomination has any hope of clearing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 11 to 10. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the Republican Party's lead critic of military interventionism, has already vowed to oppose him. "Crack the door to admit Elliott Abrams and the neocons will scurry in by the hundreds," Paul wrote in an op-ed Feb. 7 in Rare, a libertarian-leaning website based in Washington. "While President Trump has repeatedly stated his belief that the Iraq War was a mistake, the neocons (all of them Never-Trumpers) continue to maintain that the Iraq and Libyan wars were brilliant ideas. These are the same people who think we must blow up half the Middle East, then rebuild it and police it for decades." February 8, 2017 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeated calls for the United States to ditch its alliance with a Syrian Kurdish-dominated militia in its battle against the Islamic State (IS). In a late night phone call Feb. 7 with Donald Trump, Erdogan drew attention to the close ties between the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers Party, the group that is fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey and is on the State Departments list of terrorist organizations. A senior Turkish official told Al-Monitor that the conversation went very well but declined to provide further details. Turkish officials quoted in the Turkish media reported that CIA Director Mike Pompeo will travel to Ankara Feb. 9 to discuss security issues. There was no word, however, on Trumps response to Erdogans complaints about the YPG. In a brief readout of the call, the White House stated, President Donald J. Trump today spoke by phone with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey about the close, long-standing relationship between the United States and Turkey and their shared commitment to combatting terrorism in all its forms. President Trump reiterated US support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally and welcomed Turkeys contributions to the counter-[IS] campaign. Few believe the Pentagon will abandon the YPG and its Arab allies, who have proven to be the most effective fighting force against IS on the ground ahead of a planned offensive to seize Raqqa, the jihadis capital. Still, there is growing debate over whether a predominantly Kurdish force could hold Raqqa, a mainly Arab city. For example, in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Feb. 7, James F. Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Turkey and current senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that four major Arab tribes around Raqqa are to one or another degree at odds with the Kurds, raising questions about the day after in Raqqa if the city was liberated by Kurds or Arab elements under their control. Jeffrey argued in favor of a joint effort on two fronts by Turkey and its Free Syrian Army proxies and the YPG, saying it would put more military pressure on IS and potentially calm Turkeys concerns about the YPG. Jeffrey also suggested that Erdogan would be more flexible on the YPG once a planned referendum on boosting his executive powers is behind him. To win, Erdogan is relying on nationalists who fiercely oppose engagement with the Kurds. In a related development, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference Feb. 8 that Turkish special forces should aid in the planned coalition offensive to liberate Raqqa, an offer that Turkey made to the Barack Obama administration and that was likely repeated by Erdogan in his 45-minute call with Trump, their first since Trump became president. As regional countries, as countries inside the coalition, we can put our special forces in, we need to put them in, Cavusoglu said. His statement came as Turkish troops pushed their offensive against IS into the Sunni Arab town of al-Bab, capturing the strategic Aqil Hill and al-Bab's hospital. Turkish forces had seized the hill on Dec. 20 only to lose it to IS two days later. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkish troops and their rebel allies had entered al-Bab and that they were coordinating with the Russians to avoid potential clashes with the Syrian regime and Hezbollah forces advancing on the town from the south. At least two Turkish soldiers were killed, and 15 others were wounded, raising the total number of Turkish fatalities to 58 since the launch of Operation Euphrates Shield in August. Although Turkish troops have succeeded in clearing Turkeys borders of IS, the battle for al-Bab has proved a lot tougher both militarily and diplomatically, with Turkey and the United States at odds over the mission and its conduct. Washington says Turkey launched the campaign for al-Bab without consulting the US-led coalition, while Turkey complains that the United States has refused to lend its support. Yet each time Washington has offered to conduct drone surveillance missions or to send in special forces to help out in al-Bab, Turkey has reportedly refused, insisting that the coalition carry out airstrikes based on coordinates it provides and nothing more. The impasse prevailed until late January, stemming in large part from concerns that the United States would share intelligence with the YPG, which also wants to capture al-Bab. The city is a key part of the YPGs long-running plan to link territories it controls to the east of the Euphrates with those lying to its west. Around 300 civilians, including 60 children and 35 women, have died in the battle for al-Bab, mostly in Turkish airstrikes since August, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Fighting has left the city in ruins and thousands of residents trapped without food and water. February 8, 2017 Along with moderates and Reformists, Iranian hard-liners are slamming US President Donald Trump, but the reason of their criticism is different. Moderates are worried that Trump may fulfill his electoral promise by tearing up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), while hard-liners lash out at the current US government for not destroying the deal. Hossein Shariatmadari, known for his hard-line positions, has criticized Trump for not scrapping the Iran deal. Following two years of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany), the two sides reached a deal in 2015. During the talks, and after reaching the JCPOA, Iranian hard-liners repeatedly questioned the ability of Iran's negotiation team to stand up to the West. During the US presidential election, Shariatmadari described Trumps promise to tear up the deal as the wisest decision. He said, The JCPOA is a golden document for the United States but is considered nothing except humiliation and a loss for Iran." Shariatmadari, who is the chief editor of hard-line Kayhan newspaper, told Fars News Feb. 7, Trump was unaware during his presidential campaign what a big and windfall score the JCPOA has provided for the United States. That is why he had promised to tear up the JCPOA. He added, Unfortunately, Trump has now come to his senses and has realized that his ex-pals [in the White House] swindled Iran. Therefore, not only is he unwilling to tear up the JCPOA, but he also announced that he will support [the JCPOA] completely. Since the signing of the JCPOA in 2015, the hard-liners have been attacking the nuclear deal in order to disvalue it in the eyes of ordinary people in Iran, so that in the presidential election in May the moderates and Reformists would not be able to brag about the JCPOA as an achievement. Meanwhile, Irans moderate President Hassan Rouhani addressed hard-liners concerns at the 34th Book of the Year Award ceremony on Feb. 7. Some believe that we should not talk and negotiate with world powers because they believe that they can trick us, but we heeded the political decree by the supreme leader and could continue the negotiations and reach an agreement that the new president of the United States cannot stand and calls the worst agreement in the history of the United States, Rouhani said. He added, Of course, the nuclear agreement yielded a win-win result and it is in the interest of everyone and the region. During the past few days, influential ayatollahs in the holy city of Qom, a center for Shiites, have defended the JCPOA and Iranian negotiators. In a Feb. 6 meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi praised the government for its nuclear achievements. The need for unity and solidarity inside the country especially regarding the JCPOA issue is a necessity. We should not be the first to violate the JCPOA. Moreover, on Feb. 6, Grand Ayatollah Abdullah Javadi Amoli commended the Iranian negotiation team and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for defending Irans defensive capabilities. On the same day, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Vahid Khorasani urged the government to speak to the world in a soft tone based on Islamic principles and values. February 8, 2017 With the Iranian presidential elections in May, rivals of incumbent Hassan Rouhani continue to assess possible candidates. In recent weeks and months, one new name has repeatedly surfaced in the Iranian media: Ezzatollah Zarghami. The former director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in industrial management. Born in 1959, Zarghami was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and headed the state broadcaster from June 2004 until November 2014. Zarghami, who was a member of the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line, was involved in the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran. In an interview with Fars News Agency on Nov. 3, 2015, Zarghami spoke in detail about his involvement in the takeover. Having joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, he also spoke about his experiences during the bloody conflict, saying, An important portion of my time in the IRGC was spent working in the military industry and producing military rockets needed on the front. The factory groups of Martyr Hasan Bagheri, which were launched from scratch, are today an important asset for the military industry of the country. After his time in the IRGC, Zarghami joined the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and later the IRIB. He has also served as senior adviser to the minister of culture and Islamic guidance, deputy for the provincial and parliamentary relations of the Culture Ministry, member of the IRIB Supreme Council of Policymaking and deputy defense minister. Under his leadership of the state broadcaster, the IRIB greatly expanded, adding more TV and radio stations, including foreign-language stations such as the English-language PressTV and the Spanish-language HispanTV news networks. Yet, the IRIBs viewership during this time actually decreased as more and more people started watching outlawed satellite TV channels. Zarghami has not been without controversy. In March 2012, he and 16 other Iranian officials were placed on the European Union's sanctions list. The EU explained his inclusion on the blacklist as motivated by what it referred to as Zarghami being involved in gross human rights violations related to coverage of the disputed 2009 presidential elections. The targeted officials, including Zarghami, faced the freezing of any assets in the EU and were barred from entering EU member states. In this vein, in an interview with Chelcheragh magazine published right after the 2013 presidential elections, Rouhani criticized Zarghamis approach of running the IRIB, saying, A sizable portion of our young population have boycotted IRIB since they have not found it honest and moral, as it should be. The media must address peoples needs and one of their most important needs is to have access to transparent news and information. When there is more [coverage] about foreign affairs than domestic affairs, when there is a program covering the birth of a panda bear in a zoo in China but no coverage of the workers protesting against late payments [of salaries], it is natural that people form a negative opinion of IRIB. After the end of his term as the head of the state broadcaster, Zarghami did not take on another official role and instead, as he has said himself, has spent his time on the internet and especially Instagram. In an interview with Tasnim News Agency in November 2015, he said, After [stepping down from] IRIB, different organizations invited me to cooperate with them but I rejected all of them, because I preferred to show that I am not pursuing official positions. As such, Zarghami has implicitly denied that he wants to run in the upcoming presidential elections. Indeed, in an interview with Tasnim News Oct. 4, Zarghami said, For now, I have no plans to become a candidate in the 2017 presidential elections and instead believe that my duty at this point in time is to support and strengthen the revolutionary forces. However, it is common practice in Iranian politics for politicians not to disclose their true intentions about whether to run in elections until the very last moment. As such, he has in recent months been consistently referred to in Iranian media as a possible Principlist candidate. On Sept. 13, Principlist Nasim News Agency published a list of eight possible candidates for the May 2017 vote, referring to Zarghami as a reasonably successful manager and called him fire under the ashes in the conservatives fight against Rouhani. On Nov. 11, Principlist member of parliament Ahmad Poor Mokhtar mentioned Zarghami as a potential Principlist candidate in an interview with the website Entekhab. On Aug. 2, another Principlist outlet, Tabnak, also mentioned Zarghami as a potential candidate, though it added that it would be impossible for him to succeed. Although Zarghami has denied the possibility of his own candidacy, he has behaved in a way that can be interpreted as preparing for the elections. In September, this led Rouhanis cultural adviser, Hesamodin Ashna, to write on Twitter, A friendly piece of advice for Mr. Zarghami: It is better for you to wait another four years it wont be too late. Active on Instagram and often publishing political posts, Zarghami reminded Rouhani Dec. 24 that while the incumbent had it easy in the 2013 presidential elections, as he was the attacker, it is going to be much harder for him this time around since he is now the defender of his position. Mehdi Rahimi, a political editor of Mehr News Agency, one of the major Principlist media outlets, thinks there is a good chance of Zarghami becoming a candidate. Speaking to Al-Monitor, he said, Although it is still a little too early to confirm anything, Mr. Zarghami has the potential to unify the entire Principlist movement. However, far from all agree with this assessment. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Principlist political activist and secretary-general of the Iran Green Party, Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, said, More than being a political figure, Mr. Zarghami is a cultural and media figure and we cannot be sure whether he really is a Principlist. Although he is not connected to the radical movement known as the Endurance Front, there are still doubts about him being a Principlist. In this vein, Kanani Moghaddam said, More importantly, it is possible that those who are bringing up his name are more interested in conducting a political maneuver than investing in a real potential [candidate]. In any case, the complex Principlist puzzle to find an alternative to Rouhani has yet to be solved and possible potential candidates include [Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher] Ghalibaf and [former nuclear negotiator Saeed] Jalili both of whom were defeated by Rouhani [in the 2013 elections] and new faces who are waiting for their turn as well as other already well-known political figures. February 7, 2017 Jordanians are feeling a certain sense of pride following King Abdullahs recent visit to Washington, where he conferred with key administration and congressional officials and became the first Middle Eastern leader to meet with President Donald Trump. Although Abdullah's Feb. 2 meeting with Trump was brief, taking place on the sidelines of the annual National Prayer Breakfast, it covered an array of issues of particular importance to the Jordanian monarch and the region. The White House issued a statement in which it said that Trump had conveyed the US commitment to Jordans stability, security and prosperity. It added that the president had highlighted Jordans critical contributions to defeating IS [Islamic State] and discussed the possibility of establishing safe zones in Syria. In addition, it said, Trump underscored that the United States is committed to strengthening the security and economic partnership with Jordan. These expressions of commitment signaled the success of the royal visit in the eyes of the king and a majority of Jordanians. A royal court statement quoted by the Jordan Times said the two leaders also discussed the Syrian crisis, reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and ways to boost their strategic partnership and work jointly to combat terrorism. The newspaper also reported, The two leaders agreed to hold a summit meeting during an official visit King Abdullah will make to the US soon. Local media praised the kings diplomatic breakthrough and one commentator, Fahd al-Khitan, wrote Feb. 2 in al-Ghad that Abdullah had fought a diplomatic battle in the US capital on behalf of all Arabs. He also noted that the Jordanian monarch had met the US president even before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done so. A number of Amman dailies pointed to a Feb. 2 New York Times article in which the authors credited Abdullah for a shift in Trumps policy on the construction of new Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories. In regard to the settlements, on the day of the Abdullah-Trump meeting, the White House issued a statement described by some as a warning to Israel after announcements of new approvals for settlement construction on the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. The statement read, While we dont believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal. Trump's surprising position on one of the most controversial issues impeding the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians was hailed by local observers as an important outcome of the king's visit. In fact, during his five days in Washington, Abdullah did not shy away from highlighting the risks in carrying out Trump's election promise to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A regular visitor to the US Capitol, Abdullah maintains good relations with senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle and met with chairs and members of various congressional committees Jan. 31. According to a royal court statement, The king warned that moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem will have regional consequences that will diminish the opportunity for peace and reaching the two-state solution. It may also weaken the chances for a successful war on terror. Although diplomatically unusual, Abdullahs working visit to Washington only a few days after Trump's inauguration was politically essential for Jordan. The king, who will host the annual Arab summit March 29, wanted to convey Arab concerns about key regional issues such as Syria, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, terrorism, instability in Iraq and other matters before the new administration develops policy on them. Probably even more of a priority was Abdullah's desire to receive assurances that Jordan's strategic military and economic relationships with the United States will remain unchanged or perhaps be increased, which he did. Jordan relies heavily on US economic and military assistance, which was boosted under the Barack Obama administration and in 2016 totaled $1.6 billion. The presence of more than 1.2 million Syrians in the kingdom (including more than 650,000 registered refugees), the war in Syria, the closure of the Jordanian border with Iraq and a decline in aid from Gulf states have exacerbated economic conditions in Jordan. In particular, 2017 will prove to be a difficult year for Jordanians as the government seeks to raise $643 million in additional taxes and tariffs. Another issue Abdullah underscored during his visit was Jordans pivotal role in fighting IS, which presents a threat to the kingdom through its presence in southern Syria, close to Jordans borders, as well as internally. He raised the topic in a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence Jan. 30, and according to a royal statement, The King emphasized that Muslims are [the] No. 1 victims of the outlaws of Islam, the Khawarej, who pose a global problem and do not represent any faith or nationality and target all of us who do not subscribe to their ideology of hate. His defense of moderate Islam was important in the wake of Trumps controversial Jan. 27 executive order banning entry into the United States by visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries. Amman joined the US-led anti-IS coalition in fall 2014 and paid a heavy price when the terrorist group burned alive a captured Jordanian pilot whose plane had been shot down over Raqqa in December 2014. Although not much has been said about Jordans military operations against the organization in recent months, the Jordan Times reported the Jordanian armed forces as having disclosed on Feb. 4 that its jets had destroyed various IS targets in southern Syria. This latest operation indicated Jordans readiness to launch preemptive raids against IS targets not far from its borders, something that the Trump administration, which has put the defeat of IS among its top foreign policy objectives, apparently supports. Political commentator Oraib al-Rantawi told Al-Monitor that it was important for Abdullah to hear Trumps and other top US officials views concerning the Syrian crisis, especially in regard to developments on the southern front and the presidents desire to establish safe zones inside Syria. The king had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Jan. 25 and praised Russias role in trying to resolve the Syrian crisis and in fighting terrorism. The king has managed to maintain good relations with both Moscow and Washington and followed a policy that safeguarded Jordanian interests away from regional polarizations, Rantawi said. In the eyes of former Prime Minister Taher al-Masri, the royal visit represented a triumph of Jordanian diplomacy. The king managed to secure our national interests in this volatile and complex region, Masri remarked. He told Al-Monitor that while Trumps official position on Israeli settlements and Jerusalem remain in question, the king was able to influence the new US administration on these sensitive issues. We hope the fruits of this visit will materialize soon and will spare this region further suffering, said Masri. Will Cover believes there are several benefits to being in the Boy Scouts of America. Chief among them, the senior district executive with the Seven Feathers Scout District said the skill learned in the Scouts stick with members for their entire lives. Cover and other community leaders recognized those who reached the level of Eagle Scout during a breakfast Wednesday morning at Valentinos in Beatrice. Its an opportunity to bring resident Eagle Scouts, business and community leaders and the general public together to talk a little about the benefits of scouting, in particular those things that are characteristic of Eagle Scouts, Cover said. I think its exceedingly important to recognize the Scouts. These individuals have done something that most people arent able to accomplish, even those who start out in scouts. Cover said that around one in every 10 Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest level that can be achieved. While few will reach the highest rank, Cover said his goal it to make the program available available child, and said there are several programs to become involved in. Those include the Cub Scout program for boys in first to fifth grade, lions program for boys in kindergarten, Boy Scouts for boys 11-18, venturing program focusing on high adventure activity and hobby interests for boys and girls 14-20 and the exploring program for boys and girls with a career-interest focus. During the recognition event, Joe Wright, who reached the rank of Eagle Scout last year along with his brother, spoke to those in attendance about what being a part of the Scouts has meant to him. My experience with scouts has been an extremely positive thing in my life, he said. I joined in first grade when they came to our school and showed us what Scouts was about. I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Mayor Stan Wirth also spoke at the event and commended all of the area volunteers who contribute to groups that enhance the area. While volunteers come from all walks of life, Wirth said community involvement is one defining trait of the Scouts. We could not continue on with the programs we have today it wasnt for these volunteers, people who buy into a particular program," Wirth said. "Thats what makes everything function and I think its important to note that its the leadership skills learned at different levels. Scouting is no different. Leadership skills learned in scouting go on to bigger and better things. Cover described some of the requirements to reach the rank of Eagle Scout, and why its such an honor for those who reach that level. You have a series of merit badges you must earn to achieve that, he said. Among them would be first aid, environmental science and theres a wide range of opportunities that they have to be exposed to. The culmination is the completion of an Eagle Scout service project. Thats a project that must benefit the community in some manner. It is not important that the boy himself does the work, but that he shows leadership in organizing the project, laying it all out, being the leader and seeing it through to its completion. February 7, 2017 US President Donald Trump has sparked fury across the world, especially among Muslims, with his recent attempt to prevent nationals of seven predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States. The countries affected are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Trumps executive order, signed Jan. 27, has been on hold under a temporary restraining order issued Feb. 3, but three federal judges are set to hear the governments appeal of the hold at 6 p.m. ET Feb. 7. Most Middle Eastern, Muslim-majority countries, as well as European leaders, condemn the action and consider it an anti-Islam ban. Iraqs Foreign Ministry expressed its regret and astonishment over the ban. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Iran called the order "insulting" and a "gift to extremists. Even the UK, a close US ally, described the ban as "divisive and wrong, as British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson tweeted. The ban recalls Trump's anti-Islam comments made during his election campaign, and fueled speculation that he will try to take even more strict measures against Muslims and Muslim-majority countries. There are more than 20 million Muslims living in Russia, constituting about 15% of the countrys total population. Islam is the second-largest religion there, after Orthodox Christianity. Most Russian Muslims live in the seven republics of the Russian Federation: Bashkortostan and Tatarstan in the Volga-Urals region; and Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia in the Northern Caucasus. There are also huge Muslim diasporas in big cities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Despite Russias significant Muslim population, it hasn't condemned the ban and prefers not to comment on it. It is not our business, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. There also havent been any official comments on the ban made by Muslim official representatives in Russia or the authorities of predominantly Muslim-populated regions of Russia. Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who likes to express his views on the range of political and world issues via social media, also remained surprisingly silent though he had been quick to congratulate Trump on his victory in the November 2016 presidential election. He also shared his views on the first telephone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying on Instagram, The conversation opens a new page in Russian-American relations. The results of the talks are not only important for the both countries but for the whole international society as well. Al-Monitor contacted the administrations of some of Russias Muslim-populated regions and representatives of Islamic organizations for comment on the situation. The most common response was, We have no authority to comment on that issue. However, a source in one of the most influential Islamic organizations in Russia agreed to express his views on condition of strict anonymity. "Without any doubt, any anti-Muslim ban concerns us and we are closely following the situation. But no one will make official statements on that, especially if they contain condemnation, he told Al-Monitor. Iskander Gilyazov, a historian and Tatar social activist, told Al-Monitor, Why hasnt Russia condemned the ban? I think it's part of a political game. Gilyazov, a professor at Kazan University, added, Its a reflection of the euphoria that prevails here [in the federal government] after Trump's victory. According to Gilyazov, Russian Muslim authorities have taken a cautious position and prefer to wait for Trumps next moves before reaching conclusions. Another expert told Al-Monitor, Russian Muslims, as well as the majority of Russians, are tired of sanctions and isolation from the world. They believe that with a new administration in the White House their lives will get better. Thats why Russian Muslims dont rush to comment on Trumps policy, said Rais Suleymanov, a specialist on Islam and an expert at the Institute of National Strategy. He said Russian Muslims also dont feel too much sympathy for Muslim immigrants. Its necessary to keep in mind that Russian Muslims are not immigrants in Russia and, more than that, they feel all the negative consequences of immigration, especially from Central Asia, Suleymanov explained. Vusal Kerimov, a Moscow-based political expert and a representative of Moscow's Talysh diaspora, suggested it isnt surprising that there has been no official reaction from Muslim representatives. "Why should there be? Any criticism would be controversial to the Kremlin's official line. That is why Muslim social activists preferred not to touch the American election at all. Peskov said, It's not our business. I fully understand this position, Kerimov told Al-Monitor. Russian Muslims who spoke with Al-Monitor reacted negatively to Trump's ban and anti-Islam rhetoric, but those who agreed to comment on the record about the situation dont think it will affect them or lead to the rise of Islamophobia in Russia. Gilyazov, the professor, concurred. I personally condemn Trump's anti-Muslim stance. But I understand that it is a result of prevailing Islamophobia in Western countries and an expression of the political incorrectness of the new American leader, Gilyazov said. Journalist Nasima Bokova also believes the ban and anti-Islam stance won't impact Muslims in Russia or worldwide. Russia has its own story with its Muslim population, which has been a natural part of its culture and history for many centuries, Bokova, former editor in chief of magazine Musulmanka (Muslim Woman), told Al-Monitor. She also believes there is no threat to American Muslims. "American society is tolerant enough. I used to live there and saw with my own eyes that most Americans are not Islamophobic at all. While there are still some concerns that Trump's anti-Islam stance will lead to the rise of Islamophobia in the world, there is a strong possibility it might have quite a different effect. The recent ban and Trump's anti-Islam rhetoric could lead to the rise of anti-Western and anti-Christian sentiments among Muslims. Some extremist elements could probably benefit from the situation some of them could take revenge on the USA and American citizens and this wave could spread around the world. As a result, people will say that Trump was right, Kerimov, the Moscow political expert, told Al-Monitor. February 8, 2017 ALEPPO, Syria Significant developments are taking place in northern Syria, particularly in the areas held by the Syrian armed opposition factions. Large rebel factions joined the ranks of two large entities, namely Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham (Liberation of the Levant Committee) and Ahrar al-Sham. The factions divide since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in March 2011 resulted in them recently losing many of the opposition-held areas, especially the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo city on Dec. 22, 2016, which were of symbolic, geographic and strategic importance. On Jan. 29, a number of military factions operating in northern Syria announced their integration into Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham, which includes Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra), the Nureddin Zengi Brigade, Jabhat Ansar al-Din and some of the Ahrar al-Sham battalions. In addition, factions such as the Fastaqim Kama Umirt Union, Jaish al-Mujahideen, Suqour al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam joined the ranks of Ahrar al-Sham. As a result, two large entities consisting of all of the military factions in the north are now operating in northern Syria. Other factions in Rif Dimashq, Hama countryside and Latakia joined the ranks of either Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham or Ahrar al-Sham. The rebels believe that it has become imperative for the military factions to be united at this stage, particularly since the Syrian armed opposition suffered losses in Aleppo and Rif Dimashq. In this vein, Ammar Saqqar, a commander of the Fastaqim Kama Umirt Union now with Ahrar al-Sham, told Al-Monitor, The factions unity and integration is not just an idea, but rather a necessity. Division has become illogical and would neither build a state nor establish a system of governance, which is an objective of the Syrian revolution. The fall of Aleppo city into the regime forces hands had greatly accelerated the idea of unity and integration. We believe that it is impossible to bring down the [Bashar al-] Assad regime unless one strong entity is formed, in light of the current challenges and unjustified international silence, after six years of death and destruction in Syria, and after the neighborhoods of eastern Aleppo were almost completely destroyed. Thus, the formation of a single military, political and security body is a necessity, to find an alternative for the criminal regime in Damascus. In regard to the cease-fire agreement and the integrations impact on the truce, Saqqar said, Killings and destruction are not our thing. We seek righteousness and we support the cease-fire, which depends on how honest countries guaranteeing the agreement are and on the international communitys endorsement of the agreement. Yet this has so far failed. The cease-fire was declared over by the regime forces in more than one area, the latest of which resulted in our people in Wadi Barada in Rif Dimashq being forcibly displaced. This has given us the right to respond at a time and place of our choosing, which is a right no one can deny us. Nevertheless, we are in favor of any solution, dialogue or efforts halting the bloodshed, the fighting and the regime survival, and bringing about the Syrian revolutions goals. Prior to the factions announcement, angry protests have taken place in Idlib city and Idlib countryside, Aleppo province and Rif Dimashq since early January. The protesters demand the factions to be unified in a single entity that would restore the Syrian revolutions prestige and prevent the fall of other areas into the hands of the regime forces and pro-regime militias as happened in eastern Aleppo. The protesters threatened to lead a civil disobedience in case their demands were not met. In this context, media activist Mumtaz Abu Mohammad told Al-Monitor, We have demanded that the Free Syrian Army factions be united for more than four years now. But our demands have fallen on deaf ears. The situation has become very serious now; the regime forces do not only threaten those fighting them, but also civilians, women, children and all of the residents in the rebel-held areas. We have no trust in the Syrian regimes statements on a cease-fire, talks or dialogue. The warplanes are still shelling here and there, and thus the regime only understands the language of force that cannot be expressed in light of the military factions division and weakness. Mohammad added, It is a good thing that large integrations that did not happen in the past are now taking place. The presence of two powerful entities is better than the countless divided factions. This will be reflected on the rebels military, security and institutional strength. The rebels will introduce themselves in external forums as the best, powerful and adequate alternative for the regime. Syrians are aware that the military factions integration has become an urgent need, particularly since the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo city have fallen into the hands of the regime forces. They fear that the regime and pro-regime militias will conduct potential military operations in Idlib province, where hundreds of thousands of civilians and displaced people from various areas reside. In light of this integration, an efficient military force that would prevent any further losses is being established on the ground. This is true particularly since Idlib has become the last opposition-held area, after losing the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo city in December. February 6, 2017 BAGHDAD US President Donald Trump's Jan. 27 executive order to ban nationals of Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days has caused a great uproar among Iraqis. Although the travel ban has been temporarily halted by the US judiciary, the repercussions of the event are still ongoing in Iraq. Iraqis see the travel ban as an insult and a betrayal of the people standing against and fighting to defeat the Islamic State. On Jan. 30, the Iraqi parliament voted to recommend that reciprocal measures be taken against the travel ban. The day before, Iraqi Shiite cleric and Sadrist movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr had called on Trump to tell American nationals to leave Iraq. The Iraqi parliament also recommended calling upon the United Nations, international organizations, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take stands on the issue, calling upon the US Congress to review the executive order and demanding that the US administration restudy its decision. Ibtisam al-Hilali, a member of the Reform Front, told Al-Monitor that the government and executive authorities need to carry out the parliaments reciprocal measures if the US ban resumes. Asked whether Iraq could influence the US decision, Hilali said, Adopting diplomatic approaches is the best means to force the American side to renounce this rushed decision; otherwise the government and the relevant authorities should implement the parliaments action to maintain Iraq's dignity. On Jan. 30, the US Department of Defense said it is cooperating with the White House and other institutions to put together a list of all Iraqi nationals who worked with the United States since its invasion of Iraq in 2003 to exclude them from the travel ban. These efforts, however, have not helped ease the issue in Iraq. On Jan. 31, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that his government is discussing a set of options in response and expressed his hopes of getting Trump's order changed; Abadi described it as an insult to Iraq and Iraqis. However, he said he has no intention of taking reciprocal measures. On the other hand, armed factions in the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) took a tougher stance. A senior leader of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades lamented the strong-arm policies adopted by Trump in dealing with certain Muslim-majority countries. The faction's leader even threatened to use force and start engaging in armed action against US troops in Iraq. We are observing and waiting for a unified political stance from the parliament and the Iraqi government toward Trumps exclusionary policies. Then we will have an earth-shaking response in that regard, the leader, who calls himself Abu Talib al-Saeedi, told Al-Monitor in a phone conversation. He added, We dont consider all American citizens the same, as our dispute is restricted to the US invasion and those who carry weapons around the country. Therefore, members of the Hezbollah Brigades observe and follow the movements of these troops on a large scale. This is why we have a presence near their military facilities. When something happens, we will resort to the weapons we used against them before. Saeedi said the brigades are on alert and said, If American nationals remain here in the same quantities, we will have to resort to armed action once again to remove the troops as we did before in 2011. Such statements are similar to what Aws al-Khafaji, the head of the Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade, affiliated with the PMU, told Al-Monitor. Resistance factions were and are today observing the presence of all foreign forces on Iraqi soil, he said. He continued, Factions of the resistance have always reassured their stance that aims at targeting American military personnel who came to Iraq as occupiers. However, at the same time, we insist that civilians, regardless of being American, are not the target of the Islamist resistance in Iraq. For her part, Hamdia al-Husseini, a parliament member representing the Citizens Coalition, called for moving Iraqi funds from the United States, boycotting American goods and finding alternatives to them. Such measures are considered means of reciprocity that come in response to Trumps policies against Iraqis, to restore the dignity of Iraqis who have sacrificed their souls and blood for the sake of their country, Husseini said in a press statement issued by her office. Abadi's information office spokesman, Saad al-Hadithi, told Al-Monitor that he hoped Trump's measures banning Iraqis from entering the United States would not affect the relations between the two countries. He called for addressing differences smoothly. The strategic US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement should be taken into consideration and respected so as not to harm any of the two signing parties, Hadithi said. Moreover, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal said the ministry was surprised that the executive order did not include countries that were and are today exporting terrorism and supporting extremist ideas, referring to Saudi Arabia. What is even more surprising is how no Iraqi was proven to have planned or executed any terrorist action in any of the countries of the world. The Iraqi community is peaceful, represents no security threat whatsoever and its contributions effectively support the US economy, Jamal said. The Iraqi government has many obstacles to overcome concerning the negative impact of the US travel ban. It also has its obligations and carries a heavy burden to control armed factions to prevent the targeting of American nationals and military bases where American advisers reside. February 8, 2017 Senate Republicans wrote to President Donald Trump last week urging him to quickly appoint an ambassador for international religious freedom. Former envoys say they hope Trump will heed that advice for his own sake. Two past advisers to US presidents told Al-Monitor that, since taking office, Trump has needlessly antagonized Muslims throughout the Middle East and beyond with his policies and rhetoric. While they offered varying opinions about the president's temporary ban on refugees and visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries, the former ambassadors agreed that Trump urgently needs an adviser on religious matters to help him shape his message. "He needs someone immediately to culturally translate, with sensitivity, what religion means to cultures," said Suzan Johnson Cook, a Baptist pastor who served as President Barack Obama's ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom from April 2011 to October 2013. "This is an ideological war. It's not just about sending troops and taking people out. There are extremists in every religion, and to pinpoint one above the others is not fair. It's critical to have a seasoned faith veteran, bridge-builder in that role." Robert Seiple, who served under President Bill Clinton in 1999-2000 and was the first person appointed to the position, agreed. Trump "needs a primary adviser who can do some schooling with his image-makers and the people who put together his talks," Seiple told Al-Monitor. "Because so much is religious in nature in the Middle East or at least used as a whyfor in the Middle East you need someone who understands the cultures and the religions of the Middle East to make sure he's got that in his Twitter account as he goes forward. If he doesn't get that, he'll continue to make those kinds of self-inflicted comments." The two former envoys spoke out following a fortnight of domestic and international pushback against what many perceive as the Trump administration's insensitivity or outright hostility to Muslims following his Jan. 27 executive order. The temporary ban has engendered massive protests against perceived Islamophobia in the United States. It has threatened to upend relations with key US partners such as Iraq and Turkey. And it has been used as a recruiting tool for foreign terrorist groups, including the Islamic State. At the same time, Trump and his advisers have continued to communicate in ways seen as hostile toward Islam. The president failed to comment publicly when an anti-immigrant male shot six Muslims to death in a Quebec mosque, while criticizing the media for allegedly downplaying attacks by radical Islamists. Plaintiffs seeking to overturn the president's order made note of that overall atmosphere when making their case before an appeals court on Feb. 7. "There are statements that are rather shocking evidence of intent to harm Muslims," said Noah Purcell, a lawyer for the state of Washington. Seiple said Trump needs professional help if he's going to effectively change that narrative. "Right now I don't see an adviser per se that would tell him or tell his other image-makers what absolutely has to happen," he said. "Like [not] missing out on making a comment on the mosque that was [attacked]. Making sure that what comes out of his mouth creates the balance that is needed for the kind of world in which we live. If one is not free, nobody's free. So stand up for everybody, especially when it comes to religious freedom." Seiple said he did not find fault with the president's executive order, other than the "ham-handed" way in which it was carried out, without input from Congress and with unclear rules for green card holders and other noncitizens. He denounced the "hypocrisy" of protesters who had little to say when Aleppo was being bombed and the Obama administration was only letting in a trickle of Syrian refugees. "You've had major issues in Belgium and France and Germany and Turkey. And in this country, according to our FBI director, there are active [terror-related] investigations going on in 50 states," Seiple said. "So there seems to be something afoot that we should know more about and know the people who may be about it." To do that effectively, he said, the Trump administration will have to gain a more sophisticated understanding of Islam and regional dynamics. "Today the problems of the world are taking place at that intersection of religion and politics, and we are unsophisticated and unlearned and undereducated on these points at our considerable peril," he said. "And this is true for the State Department as well as any other agency of government." While Congress created the position of ambassador for international religious freedom with the goal of promoting religious liberty abroad, Johnson Cook said the envoy also plays a role helping the US government adjust to the outside world. She opposes Trump's order, calling it antithetical to US values. "Part of diplomacy is having an opening it doesn't mean that you get the answer you want when you go for the diplomatic engagement, but there's an opening, and then the next time there's a possibility of increasing that opening even more," she said. "If you keep building walls, then there's nowhere for your ambassador to go." February 8, 2017 On March 17, 2015, Selahattin Demirtas, the co-chair of the Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), delivered the shortest speech in Turkish parliamentary history. We wont let you become an executive president, he proclaimed at his partys weekly parliamentary meeting, repeating the sentence three times. The HDP leader was addressing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose drive to install a presidential regime was already a major theme ahead of general elections in June of that year. An advocate of a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem, Demirtas led the HDP to a historic breakthrough in the elections. In the raucous campaign season, he stood out as a moderate figure with a sharp and witty intellect, often singing and playing saz during television interviews that defied Turkeys somber political culture. The peace process between Ankara and the Kurds was not yet officially dead, and the HDP, boosted by Demirtas charisma, managed to garner support from voters beyond its Kurdish base. While the HDP won 80 seats in the 550-member parliament, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its majority for the first time since 2002. Soon, however, the peace process collapsed and fighting resumed between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the security forces. In five months time, Erdogans maneuvers led to snap elections that restored the AKPs parliamentary majority and weakened the HDP. Ankaras ensuing crackdown on the Kurdish movement culminated in Demirtas arrest in November 2016. Leader of the third-largest party in parliament and once a presidential candidate, Demirtas now stands accused of being a terrorist. According to the prosecutors indictment, Demirtas serves on the political leadership wing of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a PKK-led illegal organization accused of seeking to create an independent Kurdistan in Turkeys eastern and southeastern provinces, and is also a leader in the Democratic Society Congress, which is a legal umbrella group for Kurdish organizations. The evidence the prosecutor presented includes telephone conversations between Demirtas and KCK members, an alleged KCK letter that mentions his name and a picture published in the press showing him in the company of KCK members. In remarks to Al-Monitor, Demirtas lawyer, Mehmet Emin Aktar, described the charges as ridiculous, stressing that illegally obtained wiretaps cannot serve as evidence. Neither Demirtas nor the HDP aim to create an independent Kurdistan. On the contrary, their policies aim at embracing whole Turkey and [Kurdish] integration with Turkey, he said. The bulk of the indictment pertains to demonstrations, rallies and other events Demirtas attended. He faces charges for taking part in celebrations of Nowruz, the traditional Kurdish new year, at times and places where the celebrations were banned, supporting a campaign for Kurdish-language education in schools, attending the alternative Friday prayers that Kurds held in the southeast several years ago, calling protests against curfews in Kurdish regions and attending the funerals of slain PKK militants. What Demirtas was saying in the streets was the same of what he was saying in parliament. The charges against him breach [the principle of] parliamentary immunity, Aktar said. Certain expressions Demirtas has used are also presented as incriminating evidence in the charge sheet. His description of military operations in the southeast as massacres and his referral to PKK members as guerrillas and to jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan as a peoples leader are all deemed to constitute praise of crime and criminals. The most critical accusation pertains to the 2014 events surrounding the Islamic States (IS) assault on Kobani, the Syrian Kurdish town across the Turkish border. In October that year, the HDP called on Turkeys Kurds to take to the streets to protest the assault and Ankaras failure to offer any help to the Kurds. The crowded protests degenerated into clashes between HDP supporters and Islamist Kurds, including IS sympathizers. The three-day unrest claimed 45 lives, including two police officers, and left about a thousand people injured. Yielding to international pressure, Ankara eventually opened a corridor for Iraqi Kurds to deliver assistance to Kobani. In the charge sheet, Demirtas is accused of being responsible for and even inciting the deadly street violence. His lawyer countered, During the unrest, Demirtas appealed for an end to the violence. Later, he even submitted a proposal in parliament for an investigation into the incidents. The proposal was voted down by AKP deputies. The perpetrators responsible for the deaths are yet to be found, and the cases have remained inconclusive so far. In other words, the state has failed to find the perpetrators of the murders but is holding Demirtas and other [HDP] deputies responsible for the incidents. In the 500-page indictment, the prosecutor levels a total of 12 charges against Demirtas, including leadership of a terrorist organization, spreading terrorist propaganda and incitement, demanding up to 143 years in prison for the HDP leader. Demirtas, for his part, has refused to answer the charges, holding Erdogan responsible for his arrest. I refuse to be an extra in this judicial farce, launched on Erdogans orders. Only my people and voters can question me politically over my political activities, he wrote to the prosecutor. While Demirtas and 11 other HDP lawmakers remain behind bars, Turkey is counting down to a referendum on constitutional changes designed to introduce the presidential system, to which Demirtas had vocally objected two years ago. The court has rejected Demirtas plea to be released and adjourned his trial to a date after the referendum, which is expected to take place in April. What is perhaps even more striking than the jail term sought for Demirtas is that Turkey is heading to a fateful referendum under a nationwide state of emergency, with a prominent opposition leader and lawmakers locked up in jail. February 8, 2017 Turkish-supported Syrian opposition groups met in Ankara last week at the request of the Turkish government, reportedly to determine a common position prior to the Feb. 6 talks on Syria in Kazakhstans capital, Astana, and the talks to be held under UN auspices scheduled for Feb. 20 in Geneva. Another aim of the Ankara meeting was to select members of the opposition to be sent to the Geneva talks. Staffan de Mistura, the UNs special Syrian envoy, had called for these names to be furnished by Feb. 8, failing which he said he would select as inclusive a delegation as possible. Ankara fears that the Syrian Kurds operating under the Democratic Union Party (PYD) may be given some form of representation in Geneva, and it is working hard to prevent this. Western diplomats monitoring the Ankara meeting are suggesting that this gathering seems to have essentially been an exercise aimed at bolstering Turkeys position in Syria. Ankara is alone in seeing the PYD and its military wing, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), as terrorist organizations linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara was angered last week by the news that the US had supplied the YPG which is operating under the banner of the Syrian Democratic Forces with armored personnel carriers after President Donald Trump came to power. This appeared to dash hopes that the new administration might have a different approach to the Syrian Kurds than the Obama administration. Although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did finally have a phone conversation with Trump on Feb. 7, it was unclear exactly what they agreed on. Those attending the Ankara meeting included Riad Hijab, the head of the High Negotiating Committee; Anas Al-Abdeh, who heads the Syrian National Coalition; members of the Turkmen Assembly; representatives from the Kurdish National Council, which Turkey supports against the PYD; and various members of the armed Syrian resistance, although it was not clear who they represented. The meeting held at the Turkish Foreign Ministry was hosted by Undersecretary Umit Yalcin. There were no representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar or any other country that also supports Syrian groups backed by Ankara. Looking at what came out of this meeting, it seems more like an effort by Turkey to steer the opposition against US and Russian plans for Syria, especially where these involve the Kurds, rather than trying to push the Syrian peace effort forward, a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity due to his sensitive position, told Al-Monitor. Ankara is deeply perturbed by Trump's proposal for safe zones in Syria, despite the fact that Turkey has been calling for such a zone in the north of the country for a long time. Some see Trump's proposal as a prelude to granting the Kurds their own region. Ankara is also displeased by Moscows offer of autonomy for the Syrian Kurds under a unified Syria. Turkey's Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) also reacted coldly to the draft constitution for Syria submitted by Moscow at the first Astana meeting, held Jan. 23-24 under the auspices of Turkey, Russia and Iran. Turkey's ruling party opposes this draft not only because it proposes regional autonomy for various groups in a federated Syria but also because it supports a secular future for the country. In a recent article for the pro-government daily Yeni Safak, Yasin Aktay, a deputy from the AKP and a foreign policy adviser to the government, wrote that Trumps safe zones proposal brought to mind the possibility of a zone controlled by the PYD. Referring to Russias draft constitution, he said this looked like an attempt to sabotage the positive atmosphere captured in Astana. Aktay said 90% of Syrians regardless of their allegiances would reject the Russian draft. Topics such as ridding the country of its Islamic character and an autonomous region for the Kurds are very serious matters, he said, arguing that promoting these would inflame the conflict in Syria. Although there was no official statement by Turkey after the Ankara meeting, an unnamed Foreign Ministry source told the media that all participants had pointed out that bringing up the future administrative system of Syria and attempting to start a discussion on issues such as a new constitution, autonomy or federalism risk serving the purposes of those who pursue unilateral agendas. He added that those pursuing such agendas were doing so at the expense of the territorial integrity of Syria, saying these groups should be barred from Syrian peace talks. The official was clearly referring to the PYD/YPG, which Ankara says is trying to use the confusion of the Syrian civil war for its separatist aims. An opposition source, on the other hand, was quoted in the Turkish press as saying that members of the delegation to attend the Geneva talks had been selected at the Ankara meeting. Reflecting the animosity toward Moscow, he underlined that this delegation would comprise members of the true opposition in the field, and not persons Russia wants to see at the talks. The upshot of all this is that Ankara is even more defensive today than it was in the past with regard to Russian and US plans for Syria, even though it appears to be cooperating closely with Moscow and has not allowed its anger with Washington to boil over into a serious diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Verda Ozer, a foreign policy analyst for the daily Hurriyet, argued that there is little Turkey can do against these two superpowers other than try to maintain a delicate balance between them. It might be possible to sit down at the table with Trump and work out a formula for reducing the area of influence of the PYD/YPG, while increasing cooperation with the Syrian regime and Russia, Ozer wrote in her column. She indicated that this would entail sitting at the table with the Bashar al-Assad regime and reducing support for opposition groups backed by Ankara. Ozer added, however, that even with these steps, there is no guarantee that Turkeys plans will overlap with those of the US or Russia. Soli Ozel, a lecturer in international relations at Istanbuls Kadir Has University, is even less optimistic. Turkey is unable to act in harmony with its established allies or with Russia which it is thinking of using as a card against [its allies] on a subject it considers of vital importance, Ozel wrote in his column for the daily Haber Turk. He pointed out that Washington was continuing to arm the YPG, despite Ankaras protests, while Moscow was inviting PYD representatives to Moscow even though Turkeys animosity toward this group is well-known. Given its continuing inability to alter the course of events in Syria, diplomats fear that Ankara may have decided to play a reactive and obstructive role in the Syrian peace talks, rather than a positive and proactive one. If this is indeed the case, it is not immediately evident that this will provide Ankara with what it wants. To the contrary, it could leave Turkey on the sidelines again, as the powers it is unable to match continue to determine developments in Syria. This story appears in Birmingham magazine's February 2017 issue. Subscribe today! When Del and Ginger Marsh acquired the Victoria Hotel from the city of Anniston, they had one year and a required minimum budget of $1.5 million to revamp the hotel. Eight months and $2 million later, the completely-renovated Victorian home reopened as Hotel Finial in March 2016. Now a 61-room boutique hotel, the home didn't always boast the modern vibe it does now. Built in 1888, the home was originally a private residence for a prominent Anniston family. Its owner, John McKleroy, an attorney and counselor-at-law, chose the location because it was the highest hill on the city's bustling Quintard Avenue. The McKleroy family owned it for 32 years until it was sold to the Wilson family, and later the Kirby family. In 1984, it was turned into an inn, full of antiques and Victorian charm. After multiple foreclosures, though, the property was eventually donated to Jacksonville State University before the Anniston City Council purchased it to preserve the historic site. The city could afford only to maintain, not renovate the property, so they put out a request for proposal. Ginger and her husband Del, a senator, were interested in purchasing the home, so they went to check it out. "We had seen its former days of beauty and glory," says Ginger, who is from Anniston. "But then we saw all the cracks and decay and decided we didn't want to move forward." Things changed when the city decided to give the property to Del and Ginger--but with two stipulations: they had to put at least $1.5 million into the building's renovations, and everything had to be completed in one year's time. The last-remaining Victorian-style mansion on Quintard, Ginger wanted to protect the home's original character--including its stained glass windows, ornate fireplaces, and wooden floors--but also give it a fresh feel with a modern design. She likes to refer to it as a "past-forward" vibe. As Ginger walks through the house, she points out some of its original features--glass panels with etchings of a cockatoo bird, portions of a drink bar purchased from England, and decorative metal dust catchers on the oak staircase--as well as modern pieces she brought in, including tufted chairs and beds, faux fur throws, large mirrors, and contemporary light fixtures. The main home features breakfast rooms, a glassed-in wraparound porch, meeting rooms, a large side deck, and four suites--three of them named after the home's original owners. With the suites' sophisticated decor, you might forget you're in a Victorian home and instead feel like you're in a swanky hotel in New York or London. Each suite has a different feel to it--the McKleroy has a champagne color scheme, with notes of taupe and gold; cool vibes resonate in the Wilson, with seafoam walls, a white bed, and a mirrored chest; the Kirby mixes a palette of violet and silver. On the top floor, in the home's turret, is the Grand Ballroom suite. Colors of grey and turquoise mix in this suite that features a king bed in one bedroom, separate Murphy bed, a living area, two-and-a-half baths, and an office. Behind the hotel's main room is a pool, a complex of standard king and two-queen rooms, and The Cottage--the last of the hotel's five suites. The private cottage features a spacious living room with a small kitchen and wet bar, a master bedroom with a king bed, one-and-a-half baths, and a pullout couch. All of Hotel Finial's standard rooms feature beds handcrafted by Del and his son-in-law, made of hard pine from the old Avondale Mills in Sylacauga, Alabama. Breakfast, including the signature Southern Grits Bar, is complimentary with room reservations. Ginger and Del made the decision to offer breakfast as the only meal at the hotel (there used to be a full-service restaurant) because they want to encourage guests to explore the city and experience the restaurants and activities Anniston has to offer. When asked for restaurant recommendations, Ginger excitedly rattles off a long list: Classic on Noble for fine dining and brunch; a former brothel called Peerless Saloon for updated bar food; Mata's for pizza; Brad's for barbecue. The Marshes also do their best to incorporate the city into the hotel and cater to those who come to Anniston for specific activities. A local brewery, Cheaha Brewing Company, brews two beers specifically for the hotel: Finial 8 (an amber) and Mighty Fine (a pilsner). You can try both in the hotel's bar, Spencer's, located in the carriage house. Since Anniston has become a hot spot for bikers, with the Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail and the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trail (the longest paved trail in America), Hotel Finial offers a bike cleaning station, bike racks in select rooms, and tile entryways to keep rooms clean. Ginger also has a partnership with Wig's Wheels and can set up any guest with a bike during their stay. A page on the hotel's website features local events and a list of recommended attractions. With her love for Anniston and dedication to preserving a local icon, Ginger's renovation of Hotel Finial has allowed her to both give back to her hometown and help encourage the city's resurgence. "We invested in this to save it," Ginger says. "This was our gift to Anniston, and hopefully after we're gone, someone else will come and love it as much as we do." Fall in love with Finial Just one hour from Birmingham, Hotel Finial is the perfect place for a romantic weekend or overnight escape. Rooms booked for Valentine's Day are part of a romance package that includes a bottle of wine and a keepsake crystal candy dish. Make dinner reservations at Classic on Noble or Effina's Tuscan Grill (Ginger can help arrange) and then head back to the hotel to sip on the hotel's signature February cocktail, The French Kiss, featuring cranberry, Chambord, and a Hershey's Kiss. Explore Anniston Here are some activities to check out while you're in town: Anniston Museum of Natural History Berman Museum of World History Cheaha Mountain Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga St. Michael and All Angels Church For more information on Hotel Finial, visit the website. David Murdock, 58, didn't leave downtown this past weekend even once. That's unusual for him; it might be the first time that's happened since he moved downtown about a year ago. Murdock knows he'll still have to leave the city most weekends - he has kids who have sporting events and other obligations from his 10 years in his previous residence in Mountain Brook - but he won't have to leave to just do his basic grocery shopping needs anymore. That's the big game-changer that downtown's first Publix brings, he said Wednesday at the ribbon cutting for the 20 Midtown Publix. Public officials, downtown residents and workers gathered Wednesday before the Lakeland, Florida-based chain cut the green ribbon at 7 a.m. Publix has more than 60 locations in Alabama. The store at 230 20th Street will have regular hours of 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Until now, downtown Birmingham has been considered a food desert because it lacked convenient access to fresh foods. The nearest grocery stores are Western Supermarkets on Highland Avenue and the Piggly Wiggly on Clairmont Avenue. The lack of a grocer accessible by walking has been magnified in the last few years as more and more people are moving into the downtown area. Developers announced upscale apartment project after upscale apartment project, and residents able to make these steep rents were often driving outside of Birmingham to buy their groceries. Murdock, for example, has for the last year frequented the Whole Foods and Western Supermarkets, both in Mountain Brook. Since sales tax applies to food in Alabama, that's a lot of tax dollars from Birmingham residents spent in other municipalities. He wasn't looking to move downtown - he was just looking for a comfortable, clean place to live following a divorce - and that led him to one of the apartments in 20 Midtown, part of the Publix development. "There are very few apartments in Mountain Brook that you would want to live in," Murdock said. "Here it was brand new and it doesn't feel like an apartment, it feels more like a loft." The Publix is part of the 20 Midtown development, the massive mixed-use project at 20th Street South and 3rd Avenue South. The project now sits on four different city blocks and makes up about 5.6 acres of downtown real estate, the most recent addition to the project being the Liberty National Building. The project is a mix of retail, possible future office space and more than 350 apartments at completion. Investment is estimated at more than $110 million and expected to grow. But Publix isn't just expecting downtown resident as its customers. Nikita White, 36, said she works about seven blocks from the Publix but lives in Ensley. Her normal drive to go grocery shopping - usually to another Publix - takes about 10 minutes each way. "Getting off from work and trying to grocery shopping is difficult when you have kids at home," White said. "I see lunchtime couponing in the near future." Popular ridesharing program Lyft is in the process of hiring drivers to launch in Birmingham, multiple drivers tell AL.com. Lyft is similar to Uber in that the app matches drivers to customers seeking rides using GPS. Lyft does not currently operate anywhere in Alabama. The company held several orientation meetings this past weekend, according to several people who attended them. Company representatives shared information about working driving for Lyft and took information from potential drivers. AL.com has obtained official communications from Lyft sent to a driver. All drivers spoken to for this story said Lyft plans to launch in Birmingham within 30 days. A Lyft representative said at the orientation the company has not yet finalized where in the Birmingham area they plan to offer the service, a driver said. "We've been exploring driver interest in the area, but have no plans to share at this time," Lyft spokeswoman Mary Caroline Pruitt said in an email. "We look forward to continuing our rapid growth across the country, and are optimistic that we'll be able to bring Lyft to Birmingham soon." City of Birmingham spokeswoman April Odom said Lyft has not submitted anything to the city. Ridesharing only began in Birmingham in December 2015 after more than a year of negotiations between Uber and city officials. As part of those negotiations, anyone who wants to be an Uber driver is required to apply for a license with the city of Birmingham. The license costs $30 annually, the same price paid for a taxi license. Updated 1:14 p.m. with statement from Lyft. Here are some of the top business headlines today on AL.com: Taco Mama, a Birmingham-based taco bar, will launch its second Huntsville location in mid-February at the new Hampton Inn north of SpringHill Suites at the corner of Providence Main Street and Town Centre Drive. -- Spot of Tea's new Segway tours will take riders on a two-mile trip around downtown Mobile that will take a little more than two hours. -- A tornado caused "significant damage" and minor injuries today at the massive facility outside New Orleans where NASA is building its next deep space rocket. -- Harper Avery Boutique opened in January in Prattville, selling women's clothing, plus size clothing, and boys' and girls' outfits up to age seven. -- Publix opens Wednesday just after a ribbon cutting with Mayor William Bell. The store is the first of Publix's urban stores to open in the Birmingham market. -- Alabama is among the top U.S. states that would be most affected by a trade war with Mexico, a new study finds. -- U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company - maker of popular brands such as Copenhagen, Husky and Skoal - has recalled multiple varieties of its products over concerns they could contain metal shards. -- The Mobile-based VMR Agency wants to donate marketing efforts to a nonprofit organization once again in its second annual Purpose Project. -- Visit AL.com/business for more news. Emporia, Kan. -- Freshman Bethany Aden of Beatrice, Nebraska, will be honored during the First-Year Scholars Reception on Feb. 14 at Emporia State University. The event honors more than 200 first-year students at ESU who earned a 3.5 or higher grade point average in their first semester. Another restaurant will join the mix this month at Village of Providence in Huntsville. Taco Mama will open soon at Village of Providence. (Courtesy) Taco Mama, a Birmingham-based taco bar founded by Will Haver, will launch its second Huntsville location in mid-February at the new Hampton Inn north of SpringHill Suites at the corner of Providence Main Street and Town Centre Drive. The eatery, which opened at Twickenham Square in 2014, has other locations in Mountain Brook, Homewood, Tuscaloosa and at The Summit in Birmingham. Paige Brown, who owns and operates the space with her husband, Chris, and business partner, David Weand, said the 2,000-square-foot lobby-level restaurant employs 35 and has an outdoor patio to accommodate 60 customers. "It's a different layout than Twickenham with more garage doors and a larger patio but the same great menu and vibe," Brown said. Taco Mama will open soon at Village of Providence. (Courtesy) The business is unique for Hampton Inn, which does not typically offer on-site restaurants for guests or the general public to use. Brown hopes Twickenham Square customers will venture out to the new location for a change of scenery and to take advantage of other services in the area. "We are hoping they will come out and try Providence," she said. A grand opening date has not been set for the new location. Like the restaurant on Facebook for updates. Hampton Inn by Hilton, a four-story project managed by Knoxville-based Kana Hotel Group, opened in late December on 328 Providence Main Street. The 92-room property offers a hot breakfast, 24-hour business center, food and beverage shop, an indoor heated saltwater pool, and free Wi-Fi. General Manager Edyta Hall, who was not immediately available for comment Tuesday afternoon, runs the Hampton Inn by Hilton at Village of Providence. Village of Providence marketing manager Donald Dickey said Hampton Inn is doing brisk business at the live-work-play development. He expects "another great year of events" in 2017. University Building Homewood 85 Bagby Drive in Homewood (Courtesy J.H. Berry) A Homewood office building has been sold for $1.62 million. The 40,000-square-foot building at 85 Bagby Drive has been sold to a Florida investor. The sale closed in December. Bill Smith, a local investor who is also the CEO of Shipt, bought the building - called the University Building - in September of 2013, when it had 40 percent occupancy. Smith and a team renovated the building, and it was at 88 percent occupancy at sale. Phillip Currie, John Hardin and Cooper Smith, all of J.H. Berry, represented Smith in both the purchase and sale of the building. "Our firm was glad to have the opportunity to represent Mr. Smith in both the purchase of the building and, after a number of his own creative renovations and lease up, in the building's final sale," Hardin said in a press release. An Alabama ministry that has operated orphanages in Sudan for 12 years just graduated its first high school class including children who started in first grade. Kimberly Smith Highland, executive director of Birmingham-based Make Way Partners, attended the Dec. 9 graduation ceremony. "We bought them black robes in Kenya," said Highland, who returned to Alabama on Feb. 2 from her latest trip to Sudan and South Sudan. "They didn't know what a graduation looks like." High school graduates Most of the 16 high school graduates, orphans of war, want to go into medicine. "Most of them want to be doctors," Highland said. "They've watched their families die." They will attend college in Kenya and Uganda on scholarships provided by Make Way Partners. "They can actually dream now," Highland said. "Thirteen years ago if you asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up, their faces were blank. Nobody grows up here. There was no such thing." Make Way Partners, founded in 2002, began working in Sudan in 2004 and started the first orphanage and school there in 2005 in the midst of civil war. Travel issues Highland said they haven't had any trouble specifically with Trump's travel ban, since she travels to Uganda and has to sneak into Sudan. She is routinely questioned at airports for traveling to the region, however. She avoids open travel in Sudan, believing she could be arrested there by the Sudanese government, which recently gave a life sentence to one of her friends and associates. Petr Jacek, a Czech Christian aid worker and journalist, was recently arrested and sentenced by Khartoum North Criminal Court on charges of espionage, illegally entering Sudan, and spreading false news about the country for his reporting on the conflict in the Nuba Mountains. Highland has at times brought indigenous leaders of her ministry from Sudan to the United States for meetings and fundraising efforts; their future travel could be affected by bans on travel from Sudan to the United States. Make Way Partners runs three major orphanages, one in Sudan and two in South Sudan. Alabama-based Make Way Partners runs a high school in South Sudan that just graduated 16 students, some of whom started at the school in first grade. The high school graduation was at the high school at its orphanage in South Sudan near the border of Darfur, where it cares for and educates about 750 children. The other orphanages are about 1,000 miles apart and each has an elementary school and clinic. An orphanage in the Nuba mountains in Sudan has about 500 children. One in South Sudan near the border of Uganda cares for about 300. That facility includes a 2,000-acre farm to grow food. Otherwise, food has to be trucked in from neighboring countries. 'Random Slaughter' South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, but a new civil war broke out by 2013 as President Salva Kiir, a member of the Dinka tribe, fired Vice President Riek Machar, of the Nuer tribe, after accusing him of trying to overthrow him. That latest civil war has come up to one of the Make Way Partners compounds in South Sudan. Though they are fenced and have security, Highland had to meet with a general for the South Sudan government to ask for protection from rebel attacks. "We took some mortar shells," Highland said. "It's been a bloodbath because of civil war. The fighting was intense. There was just this random slaughter." The United States sent billions of dollars in foreign aid to help establish South Sudan, but "It's not trickling down to the people," she said. "South Sudan's worse than it's ever been." In the north, the Muslim-run government of Sudan based in Khartoum has launched chemical weapons and bombing attacks on the people of the Nuba Mountains, where it wants to control the oil. "This is just a radical, power hungry, greedy group that wants power and control," Highland said. "Our Muslim neighbors should not be identified with these radicals. Anytime you get radical extremists, you have this fighting. This is not about Islam, it's about power, greed." About 90 percent of the patients treated at the Make Way Partners clinic in the Nuba Mountains are victims of chemical warfare, Highland said. The Khartoum regime is run by outsiders who look down on African Muslims, so the African Christians and Muslims in the Nuba Mountains are united in their resistance. "In the Nuba mountains, Muslims and Christians walk hand in hand," Highland said. About 20 percent of the children at Make Way Partners orphanages are Muslims, she said. "My motivation for going is the love of Christ, but I feel no need to convert Muslims," Highland said. "All I can do is share the love that God has given to me. That can work miracles. It has worked miracles." In the South, the war has between between warring tribes of people who identify as Christians. "Christians incited genocide against their own people," Highland said. "The U.S. made a mistake supporting those guys. It's not our fault they were evil and corrupt." Raising kids in 'love of Christ' In the midst of war and famine, Make Way Partners continues, steadfast in its mission. "We're raising up thousands of children, regardless of their color of skin, or their faith; we're raising them in the love of Christ," Highland said. "We are feeding them, clothing them. All they know is violence. Violence begets violence. We try to teach them the peaceful ways of Mandela, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa." Fannie Flagg may be one of Alabama's greatest ambassadors. The author, actress, comedian and Birmingham native loves to talk about her home state. She's written about us plenty of times. She talks about us in interviews. She even seeks out people with Southern accents in airports. And she also tells her friends in California that they must visit Alabama. "Everyone here, when they go on vacation, they'll go to Europe, they'll go here, they'll go there," she says, speaking on the phone from her home in California. "And I'll tell them, 'Have you ever been to Alabama? Well, why don't you try to take a vacation in your own country and go to the American South?'" But perhaps her biggest contribution to Alabama's legacy is her 1989 book, "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe," and subsequent movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes." Both the movie and book put Alabama food in the spotlight -- and put meat-and-three Irondale Cafe on the worldwide culinary map. The inspiration Fannie Flagg (born Patricia Neal) knows Birmingham. Both her father and grandfather were motion picture projector operators, working in places such as the Alabama and Lyric theaters, and she grew up in various places around the city. Her grandmother's sister, Bess Fortenberry, ran the tiny Irondale Cafe in the small town of Irondale. The restaurant had seating for about 30 people at most. And across from the cafe was a two-story house where all the Fortenberry children were raised. Fannie would often visit her aunt, even though it was a bit harder to make it to Irondale from the city in '40s than it is now. But she still has plenty of memories of making the trek to see her aunt -- and eating her delicious home-cooking (including those fried green tomatoes). But she also grew up hearing the good that her Aunt Bess was doing for the community. "I'd heard so many good stories about that cafe growing up from my mother and my grandmother," Fannie says, "And how wonderful it was for the little town and how everyone loved my aunt." Remembering Bess Decades later, Aunt Bess passed away. (She had already sold Irondale Cafe to Billy and Mary Jo McMichael.) And Fannie got a call from a lawyer. Her aunt had left her something. So she traveled back to Alabama to get the gift: A shoebox. "It was so funny because in the shoebox was little memories of her life," Fannie says. There were photos of Bess and her friends and family. Menus from the Irondale Cafe. Notes from funerals she had officiated (She would preach at the funerals of people who had worked for her). The items in the box showed her Aunt Bess' sense of humor: There were photos of her sitting in Santa's lap, and pictures of her in full regalia. "Just crazy stuff to remind me of how much of a character she was," Fannie says. But Fannie began to wonder: Why was she picked to receive that gift? "She had a lot of other nieces and nephews that she was much closer to," she says. "And so I thought, 'I wonder why she wanted me to have that?'" But she has a theory about that: "I thought, 'Maybe she wanted me to write about that and not forget her.' " So she wrote about her. The success "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" - loosely based on the Irondale Cafe - was released in August 1987 and was an immediate success. It was on the New York Times Bestsellers list for 36 weeks, and fellow Alabamian Harper Lee gushed about it. But the title was a joke at first. "(One of the things) I remember from my childhood is my grandmother and Bess made me fried green tomatoes," she said. "So when I went to write the book, I called it 'The Cross Stop Cafe' or 'The Railroad Cafe' or something like that. I was just being silly one day and was like, 'I'm gonna call it 'Fried Green Tomatoes in the Whistle Stop Cafe'' and I sent it to my editor in New York. And he said, 'What is that?' and I told him, and he got the biggest kick out of that. So that's what we called it." After the book's success, Fannie wrote a screenplay based on the book, simply titled "Fried Green Tomatoes," and it, too, was a success. The 1991 film was nominated for two Academy Awards and sparked a worldwide interest in Irondale Cafe - and fried green tomatoes. The famous fried green tomatoes at the Irondale Cafe. (File photo) Luckily, the McMichaels had already expanded the Irondale Cafe so it could seat more people - and the tourists that flocked to see the place that inspired their favorite book and movie. But the movie didn't just cause an interest in the meat-and-three diner - it also caused a fried green tomatoes craze, which Fannie finds amusing. "It's so strange because after that, fried green tomatoes were on every menu even in gourmet restaurants," she says. "When I went to Europe for the premiere of the movie, they were just so fascinated with it and had never heard such a thing." But still, despite this worldwide obsession with Southern food, she still can't find some of her favorite country home-cooking near her home in California. She complains about the grits and cornbread she gets in restaurants there. "All the cornbread they have here is like cake. Sugar, fluffy - yuck. I like that plain ole crusty cornbread." Oh, and the biscuits, too: "The biscuits are hard," she says. "They don't get it." Etowah Law Enforcement Memorial.JPG The names of two Etowah County deputies, killed in 1906 and 1929, will be added later this year to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. (William Thornton / wthornton@al.com) The names of two Etowah County deputies killed in the line of duty, one more than a century ago, are set to be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., this summer. The names will be added in a ceremony May 13 at the 29th annual candlelight vigil during National Police Week. Natalie Barton, spokeswoman for the Etowah County Sheriff's Office, said officials are trying to find people related to the two men who might want to take part in the ceremony. The name of one of the men isn't even on the local law enforcement memorial. Elbert Robert Abernathy was killed Aug. 18, 1906 in Littleton. Contemporary newspaper reports say he was shot by a prisoner he had already handcuffed during a raid on a house were gambling was suspected of taking place. He later died of his wounds. He is buried Old Providence Cemetery in Cherokee County. Barton said Etowah County authorities were unaware of Abernathy until they were informed by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund that his name would be added. His name will also be added later this summer to the county law enforcement memorial that sits outside the Etowah County Courthouse in Gadsden, she said. The other deputy is John Wesley O'Bryen, who died Sept. 1, 1929. O'Bryen was killed in a "prohibition raid" in the Hales' School House community 12 miles south of Gadsden. On a Sunday morning, according to a contemporary account in the Gadsden Times, a gallon of whiskey was found hidden in a trunk inside a home there. Later that night, O'Bryen, a 43-year-old bachelor who lived with his mother, was walking out of a church when one of the men who had been in the home walked up to him. "John, you did not treat me right this morning. Stick 'em up," the man was heard to say. The two walked to the side of the church building, where the man shot him five times. O'Bryen is buried in Ashville at Hopewell Cemetery. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was founded in 1984 to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, a monument to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The fund also hosts a candlelight vigil at the memorial each May 13 to fallen officers, and tracks officer deaths and trends. Anyone who may be related to the two deputies can contact Barton at nbarton@etowahcounty.org. After almost three years of investigation, Gadsden police have arrested a man they believe is responsible for the 2014 stabbing death of Gary Stokes. William Michael Rowe William Michael Rowe, 47, is being held in the Etowah County Detention Center on $100,000 cash bond after his arrest Tuesday afternoon on murder charges. The body of Stokes, 52, was discovered on the front porch of his home on Hartford Street on the morning of Saturday, March 8, 2014. He died of multiple stab wounds and internal bleeding. The case was the subject of a $10,000 reward offered by the governor's office last year for information, and was one of several unsolved murders in Gadsden. "These cases are not closed," Capt. Paul Cody said. "We rely on the public for help in these cases." It was a tip last Thursday to police that led to the arrest, Cody said, involving information police had not released about the case. Rowe was not an original suspect three years ago. While not getting into the specifics, Cody said the death came as the result of an ongoing dispute between neighbors. Once the tip came in, investigators worked through the weekend, reinterviewing witnesses until the arrest. "Some big lights went off when we got that information," said Investigator Mark Henderson. "When we got that information, it all fell into place." Investigators believe Stokes' body had been lying for as long as eight hours on the small porch of his home before its discovery around first light that morning. The body was slightly obscured from the street but may have lain on the porch all night. At first, neighbors thought Stokes had experienced a seizure. There was no sign of a struggle. Inside the house, police found indications that Stokes had just settled in for the night and might have been expecting someone when he was killed. Chicken was washed and salted in the kitchen sink, ready for a meal. Stokes had just gotten something to drink. Nothing was taken from inside the house. Even standing in line for four hours, Annette Peterson said those around her hoping to get into the studio for a taping of "The Price is Right" told her she would be a contestant. "I didn't see any difference in me or anyone else," she said. "I could not have had a more positive experience." Peterson, 61, was notified this week that her episode will air Friday. The Ohatchee resident taped the show in November, and according to her, was able to say "Roll Tide" on the air. The popular game show, now in its 45th season, tapes in Hollywood, Calif., at CBS Television City. Peterson, a nurse, said she and a friend were in San Diego on a job that ended earlier than expected. The friend had a ticket for the show and Peterson decided to get one online. They stayed in a hotel about two blocks from the studio. The experience began in line about 7 that morning, where she was assigned a number. The doors opened at 8:30 a.m., when she was assigned to a group of 25 for interviews and other preliminaries. Throughout the experience, would-be contestants are quizzed, shown examples of what not to do on television (don't tackle the host) and worked into the appropriate frenzy for taping. That attitude continued when they were finally let into the studio around 11:30, she said. "They're hyping you up the whole time," she said. "It's like the atmosphere during an old rock concert. They want you up and dancing." Peterson said she was entertained by host Drew Carey, who assured the crowd that his staff "puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you." "He's even better than you can imagine," she said. "Very friendly, very personable. I don't know how you maintain that kind of energy for that long." Peterson would say how her experience turned out, but that she was called as a contestant in the second half of the show. "I'm a nurse, so I'm always calm," she said, when asked if she felt any jitters to being on television. "I would actually do it every day of my life if I could. It was such a positive feeling to leave with. Everybody was cheering for each other." A man was shot in the leg and another was hit in the head with a wrench during an altercation Tuesday near Adger, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies found an adult male with a gunshot wound while responding to a call in the 4900 black of Kings Lane after 5 p.m. According to information collected at the scene, the man who was shot got into a verbal argument with another male. The gunshot victim hit the man in the head. The other male shot the man in the leg before fleeing inside the home. Deputies did find the second victim with an injury to his head. Both men were taken to separate hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. The page may have moved, you may have mistyped the address, or followed a bad link. Visit our homepage, or search for whatever you were looking for Jervoni Brown Nikara Miller Chief Deputy Charlie Rose Beaufort County Sheriff's Office On February 1, 2017 at approximately 12:15 am, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office responded to a suspicious vehicle travelling back and forth down Herring Run Rd. The caller saw the vehicle pull off the road and watched two males walking around a neighbor's house and under his car port. Deputies located the suspicious vehicle parked in a vacant, overgrown lot with a female in the back seat and the engine running. Deputies also located a male in the area dressed in black. Interviews with both the man and woman yielded conflicting stories, but at the time Deputies were unable to locate any criminal activity. Deputies identified the two individuals as Jervoni Brown, and Nikara Miller both from Maryland and staying on Victory Lane in Chocowinity. After concluding their inquiry Brown and Miller were released.Approximately 8 hours later, Deputies responded to several vehicle break-ins in the same area and found several unsecured vehicles had been entered and personal property of the owners taken. Members of the Criminal Investigations Division were called out to assist patrol in processing the numerous crime scenes. After reviewing the evidence collected and the execution of a search warrant Investigator Jason Hill charged Jervoni Brown, age 23 with six counts of Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle, one count of Attempted Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle, one count of First Degree Burglary, one count of Felony Larceny, one count of Misdemeanor Larceny, and one count of Damage to Property. Nikara Miller, age 18 was charged with six counts of Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle, one count of Attempted Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle, one count of First Degree Burglary, one count of Felony Larceny, one Count of Misdemeanor Larceny, one count of Damage to Property, and one count of Felony Accessory.Jervoni Brown was arrested and is currently being held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $50,000.00 secured bond. Nikara Miller was arrested and is currently being held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $55,000.00 secured bond. Good weather seldom lasts more than a few hours off the coast of Antarctica, and after a remarkable day of cloudless fine conditions, the next day dawns grey and cold. The research vessel, Akademik Treshnikov, moves back from its parking spot against the glacier and sails to a nearby location, where the submarine is again launched. Instead of exploring the underside of the glacier, this time the focus is on marine life on the ocean floor. As the unmanned sub reaches a depth of 900m, a giant sponge resembling an enormous gourd looms into view. A tiny fragile crinoid, or sea lily, clings to its side. READ MORE: Braving 15-metre-high waves on board Antarctica research vessel The four-man team operating the robotic sub manoeuvre it into place, and then, using a robotic arm, lift the beautiful creature from its perch and place it in one of the sampling boxes. There are relatively few fish, for these are some of the coldest seas on the planet and only a few species have the necessary anti-freeze in the blood, but krill dance before the submarines lights and cameras and on a nearby rock more than a dozen species are spotted. Bright red sponges, tiny clams, brittle stars and sea cucumbers crowd each other. Over the course of the next few hours the submarines giant robotic arms take samples from the bottom, including cores of sediment, rocks and a wide variety of the creatures they find. Normally dredging is the only way to take samples from such an environment but the $5m submarine gives the science teams an unprecedented view of the creatures in their natural surroundings, and allows them to selectively take samples. Changes to the Southern Oceans deep currents, believed to be linked to global warming, are altering the temperature, salinity and acidity of the water. This has an impact on many marine animals. A sampling expedition, using methods including DNA analysis, aims to map where these species are living and how, over time, they are adapting to the changing world. Needing to continue the journey east to stay on schedule, the ship sets sail that night for the Balleny Islands, south of New Zealand. Later in the evening we come up against thick sea ice, an enormous, densely packed sheet of white crumpled ice covering the surface of the ocean. The ship breaks its way slowly through the pack, which undulates as a growing swell from the East ripples through the ice. The vessel rides into each ice-laden swell, and crunches down on the next, producing an extraordinary chorus of groans and thumps. READ MORE: Into the wild of Antarctica Scientists, robots and pancake ice Over the next hour the pack loosens and the swell rises until the ship is no longer breaking ice, but instead cutting a course though a soupy mixture of ice and water. The next day we arrive at the Balleny Islands on the edge of the Ross Sea. These frozen islands are an impressive sight from sea level, with cliffs rising hundreds of metres into the clouds. These walls of ice and stone are hung with giant icicles up to 30m in length. Above the cliffs theres an ice cap a few hundred metres thick. At points this spills down to the sea in the form of a glacier, which fans out over the water, its divergent crevasses giving it an unusual clam-like appearance. As landing on the islands by boat is considered too dangerous, if not impossible, a team of ice core scientists are flown by helicopter on to the top of one of the islands. Here they will take the first ever ice core from this island. There is little detailed information about the three main islands in the group. This makes selecting a drilling site difficult. The Balleny Islands have never been surveyed, so as part of a project to create a 3D map Im asked to help film the islands from the open door of the helicopter. We mount a 4K stabilised camera on the side of the aircraft and then, with temperatures below -10C, we spend a freezing but breathtaking hour and a half flying around the islands filming their remarkable glaciated coastline. The resulting film will be a stunning record of a remarkable part of the world. The United States is once again debating how to pay for healthcare coverage, though a breakthrough is unlikely. New York, United States After less than a month of President Donald Trump and his team of business-friendly nationalists occupying the West Wing, his predecessor, Barack Obama, already seems like a dot fast disappearing on the horizon. Trump and his fellow Republicans have long vowed to rip up Obamas legacy. Headlining their agenda is the low-cost healthcare policy that bears his name Obamacare which looks bound for the dustbin of history. To many in the rich world, delivering reasonably priced healthcare for all is viewed as a job for government. But the US plays by its own rules. Americans are typically insured by employers or expect to pay doctors bills from their own pocket. When it was passed in 2010, Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as it is formally known, was designed to provide reasonably priced health insurance to the estimated 15 percent of Americans who were not covered. It did this by offering discounts on government-backed health insurance plans that are sold through exchanges with websites akin to online shopping and travel sites where buyers can compare prices for coverage. The law also stopped insurance firms from denying coverage to people with pre-existing health problems, let individuals stay on their parents plans until the age of 26, and enlarged the government-run Medicaid scheme for the poor. By obliging all Americans to get coverage, the ACA sought to get more young, healthy people to buy into policies and spread the cost of the medical bills being racked up by millions of older and sicklier folks. Conservatives rejected Obamacare from day one. They called it a poorly executed job killer that impinged on private businesses and individuals and sent insurance bills up. Only hours after being sworn in on January 20, Trump fired the starter pistol on ending it. That wont be easy. Some 30 million people may lose coverage when the ACA goes. Cutting benefits is harder for politicians than introducing new ones. Republicans talk of repeal and replace, but have yet to agree on the replacement. Divisions in Washington reflect those nationwide. A Pew Research Center survey from December found that 48 percent of respondents disapproved of the signature policy of Obama, a Democrat, while 47 percent approved. Two voices To help understand Washingtons political dilemma, Al Jazeera spoke with two Americans an older woman who beat back cancer, and a younger man who suffers from asthma about how they felt about Obamacare: Donna Smith, 62, and her husband, Larry, 72, live in Denver, Colorado, a blue Democratic state They had insurance at the time, but out-of-pocket expenses left them penniless. Filmmaker Michael Moore featured them in his expose, Sicko. The couple was forced to move into Donnas daughters basement in 2006 when medical bills piled up to cover treatment for her uterine cancer and his heart disease. Its terrifying to be in that position. You feel guilty for needing care, and wedded to a job and its health insurance policy when you may want to move on, Smith said. The stress from medical bills while you are trying to recover doubtless makes things worse. Now, Larry has passed 65 and qualifies for Medicare. Donna pays the outrageous expense of $875 a month for an ACA insurance policy that pays for the oxygen machine she needs for her breathing problem, among other health woes. Without Obamacare, there wouldnt be an insurance company in this country that would cover a 62-year-old, three-time cancer survivor with ongoing respiratory problems like me, Smith told Al Jazeera. She has to buy insurance for three more years before her state-funded Medicare kicks in. She does not want to be a burden on her children, and fears Republicans axing the ACA without a replacement for people such as her. If Republicans take away what Obamacare provides, I wont be able to afford my oxygen equipment out-of-pocket and will struggle to breathe. For me, its more than a policy discussion. The message Im getting is that my life doesnt really matter, she said. Trump talks a lot about being popular. But thats not very populist. Alex Popovici, 31, a freight broker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a red Republican state When he was jobless for three months in 2016, Popovici studied the Obamacare options available and found them wanting. At $300 a month, they were costly and would not fully cover his $250-per-month asthma medicines. I needed Obamacare, and it didnt do anything for me, so I opted not to get it, Popovici told Al Jazeera. Hes back in work now; his company co-pays his insurance. The introduction of Obamacare has raised the cost of his annual contributions by about $150 a year, but, he says, the burden on his employer is greater leading to fewer pay rises and smaller bonuses. He supports the idea of richer, healthier people helping the poor and frail, but does not want to shoulder too much of the burden. Obamacare works really well for low-income people and the poor, but for the middle class, it just doesnt work, he said. If Republicans came up with something that resembles comprehensive, universal healthcare, with acceptable costs, Id be more than happy, he said. You shouldnt repeal without having something to put into place. Theyre taking an irresponsible approach to a serious problem that Obama was never able to figure out. No alternative coverage It almost looks impossible for Republicans to come up with an alternative system that will please everybody. It seems that, at the very least, key parts of Obamacare will be cut, while others may remain. Even Obamacare fans see its flaws. Healthcare premiums keep rising, and insurance firms are pulling out of the exchanges. Critics talk of a death spiral in which rising premiums deter buyers, shrinking the pool and inflating costs once again. Tom Price, Trumps new head of the Department of Health and Human Services, suggests replacing the ACA with tax-credit subsidies to help buyers. Under his plan, insurers could sell across state lines and create special, subsidised pools for high-risk folks. Liberals say that Obamacare never went far enough, and look to the healthcare systems of Western Europe and parts of Asia, where people enjoy tax-funded universal healthcare or get their upfront payments reimbursed by the government. On Tuesday, former Democratic presidential wannabe Bernie Sanders made his case for a single-payer system in the US, in which the government would collect taxes to provide universal healthcare at privately run hospitals and clinics. He went head-to-head in a televised CNN debate with Ted Cruz, who similarly sought the Republican nomination in the 2016 election. The Texas senator argued that Obamacare cost jobs and that universal healthcare would hurt the economy. While there is little about healthcare on which all Americans agree, there is one area of cross-party accord. Some 69 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats say that healthcare costs are too high and should come down. The US lavishes 17.1 percent of its economy on healthcare, more than any other country, with inauspicious results. While Obamacare spread out the costs of healthcare, it failed to tackle the eye-watering prices set by providers and insurers, critics say. Even Trump has spoken out against the astronomical costs charged by drug-makers. However, the powerful US medical lobby has a solid track record in persuading congressmen not to trim its profits. There are doubtless many rows on healthcare to be had in Congress in 2017. Whatever policy emerges from the rancour, it will struggle to get a clean bill of health from politicians on both sides of the aisle. Follow James Reinl on Twitter: @jamesreinl Civilians in Avdiivka wonder if they will survive the cold nights and random, incessant shelling. Avdiivka, Ukraine Svetlana Zadorozhnyuk crunches through the new snow towards the evacuation bus, holding the hand of her 10-year-old daughter. This is the second time she has sent her little girl away from the fighting in eastern Ukraine, but that has not made it any easier. Im just so tired of all this, she says through a tear-choked voice. The girl has spent her days sitting next to her mother as she tended shop, terrorised by the sound of the incoming and outgoing artillery that has killed around two dozen and wounded many more on both sides of the frontline around the town of Avdiivka since hostilities spiked in the area on January 29. The fighting, which seems to have eased a bit in the past days, is among the worst escalations since the Minsk II ceasefire agreement was signed in February 2015. Some here speculate that the surge in violence is connected to the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president as a way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to test Trumps intentions over the war in Ukraine. Regardless of the causes, Svetlana has had enough. She gives the girls name to the organisers of the evacuation, who check it against their list of children. Then, her daughter is motioned on board. The girl waves to her mother through the glass, breathes on the window and writes, I love you in the fog. The situation now is just terrible, terrible. Right now no one knows what will happen in the next five minutes, says Svetlana. As the driver idles the engine in the -10 degrees Celcius temperatures, 76-year-old pensioner Valentina Fyodorovna stands on the other side of the bus and tearfully looks up at her baby grandson. The blue-eyed boy bounces on his mothers lap as they wait to drive to Sviatohirsk, a pilgrimage town that is now serving as a temporary home to thousands of internally displaced people. I would give my pension. I would give anything for this to stop, says Valentina, wiping away her tears. The randomness of the shelling means she and everyone else in Avdiivka fear that they will not live through the night. READ MORE: Losing everything in Avdiivka Saving the children For the past week, Avdiivka, an embattled industrial town on the frontline in the war in Ukraine, has struggled with freezing temperatures, intermittent heating, and no power or water. Now that the shelling is subsiding and the power is coming back on, the people of the town are taking stock of their ordeal and speculating on the causes of last Sundays sudden shift from a frequently broken ceasefire to outright shelling and fighting. The gathered mothers wave to their children as the bus pulls out. Artillery continues to rumble and thump intermittently in the background. An organiser says 23 were leaving that morning and that slightly fewer than 200 children had left by the service since last Sunday. More had fled with their families, though schools in the town continued to hold classes. This crisis is only the most recent since the war broke out in 2014, after pro-Western protesters deposed the pro-Russian president. Soon after, Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, the site of a large Russian naval base. Kiev and the West say the Kremlin then fomented and backed a rebellion in the east of the country, while Russia says it was not involved. READ MORE: Dam leaves Crimea population in chronic water shortage The Donald Trump factor Just across the street from where the bus was parked, Mikhail Kolodych, sweeps glass and splintered wood from his sister-in-laws kitchen floor. A shell had hit the building the night before, destroying the apartment on the floor above and shattering all the windows in this one. Everyone was already sheltering in the basement of the building as they have been since 2014 so no one was hurt. In the kitchen, a shell fragment is lodged in the wall. Surveying the destruction, Mikhail echoes the sentiments of Valentina, the pensioner at the bus stop, visible through the shattered window. Russia is unpredictable. They have awoken and wherever they turn tomorrow, they can go. Even to the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, it is possible, he says. I think the situation is connected with President Trump, he says, warning that if Trump and other world leaders do not strengthen sanctions, [the conflict] will grow just look at Syria. So far, he has seen little from the international community to make him think they will do more to help halt the fighting. But a big problem is that Trump is also unpredictable, he says, but adds, I think he cant just wake up and go do whatever he likes. Its not like in Russia. On Saturday, Trump called Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the first direct contact between the two leaders since Trump was sworn in on January 20. Trumps stated aim of improving relations with the Kremlin has sparked fears in Kiev that the US may lift sanctions against Russia, levied against the country for its annexation of Crimea and support of rebels in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. We will work with Ukraine, Russia, and all other parties involved to help them restore peace along the border, Trump said in a White House statement, after talking to the Ukrainian president. Poroshenkos office said the call with Trump particularly focused on the settlement of the situation in the Donbass and achieving peace via political and diplomatic means and that the two sides discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. Trump told Fox News host Bill OReilly on Saturday that, I respect a lot of people, but that doesnt mean Im going to get along with [Putin]. Hes a leader of his country. I say its better to get along with Russia than not. On Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence responded to the upsurge in fighting on ABCs This Week news programme, saying, Were watching and [are] very troubled by the increased hostilities. But, when questioned on sanctions continuing against Russia, he said, Thats a question that will be answered in the months ahead. That response that will do little to allay fears in Kiev. Indeed, many in Avdiivka believe that last weeks upsurge in violence was a direct result of Putin wanting to test Trumps mettle. Maybe it is that before they meet, they needed to feel each other out, says Dmytro Linko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament who was in Avdiivka observing the army. OPINION: Ukraine as testing ground for Kremlin-Trump dialogue Stocking up on emergency supplies Down the street from Mikhails sister-in-laws wrecked apartment, volunteers and Ukrainian emergency crews swarm around School Number 2. Outside the front door, a mortar had blasted frozen earth across the front yard, leaving a dark pit and a broken tree. The volunteers unload truck after truck packed with bottled water, candles, blankets, food, diapers and other humanitarian aid donated by international and Ukrainian organisations. Even with the sound of shelling a near constant in the background, hundreds of people gather to collect what they can. One young mother is intent on picking up candles, since her two young sons are as terrified of the dark as they are of the shelling. There was shelling today and my youngest slept through it, she says, rocking her stroller back and forth in the crowd outside the school. But the older one, she says, understands and feels everything. When the shells started to fall he got frightened. His heart, I dont know, must have been beating 300 times a second. Now, she is standing in line to pick up some candles, so that he is not afraid during the attacks and not scared of the dark. Gallery Israels obstinacy is leaving Palestinians with one option: Equal citizenship in one state or a horrific apartheid. Israel has just opened the floodgates, and crossed a very, very thick red line. These were the words of Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, in response to the passing of a bill at the Israeli Knesset on February 7 that retroactively legalises thousands of illegal settler homes, built on stolen Palestinian land. Mladenovs job title has grown so irrelevant in recent years that it merely delineates a reference to a bygone era: a peace process that has ensured the further destruction of whatever remained of the Palestinian homeland. Israeli politicians approval of the bill is indeed an end of an era. We have reached the point where we can openly declare that the so-called peace process was an illusion from the start, for Israel had no intentions of ever conceding the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. In response to the passing of the bill, many news reports alluded to the fact that the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House, riding a wave of right-wing populism, was the inspiration needed by equally right-wing Israeli politicians to cross that very, very thick red line. There is truth to that, of course. But it is hardly the whole story. The political map of the world is vastly changing. Just weeks before Trump made his way to the Oval Office, the international community strongly condemned Israels illegal settlements on Palestinian land occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. It is important, though, that we realise that Israels latest push to legalise illegal outposts and annex large swaths of the West Bank is the norm, not the exception. UN Security Council Resolution 2334 stated that these settlements have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law. Fourteen UNSC members voted in approval, while the US abstained, a revolutionary act by the US brazenly pro-Israel standards. The US, when still in the final days of the Barack Obama administration, followed that act by even more stunning language, as Secretary of State John Kerry described the Israeli government as the most right-wing in history. A chasm immediately emerged. Capitalising on the US-Israel rift, Trump railed against Obama and Kerry for treating pompous Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with total disdain and disrespect. Trump asked Israel to stay strong, for January 20 was not too far away. That date, Trumps inauguration was the holy grail for Israels right-wing politicians, who mobilised immediately after Trumps rise to power. Israels intentions received additional impetus from Britains Conservative Prime Minister, Theresa May. Despite her government vote to condemn Israeli settlements at the UN, she too ranted against the US for its censure of Israel. Kerrys attack on a democratically elected Israeli government was not appropriate, May charged. We do not believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case, the construction of settlements, she added. Not only did Mays words define the very hypocrisy of the British government (which committed the original sin 100 years ago of handing historic Palestine to Zionist groups), but it was all that Israel needed to push forward with the new bill. It is quite telling that the vote on the bill took place while Netanyahu was on an official visit to the UK. In a country greatly influenced by Friends of Israel cliques in both dominant parties, he was among friends. With the UK duly pacified, and the US in full support of Israel, moving forward with annexing Palestinian land became an obvious choice for Israeli politicians. Bezalel Smotrich, a Knesset member of the extremist Jewish Home party, put it best. We thank the American people for voting Trump into office, which was what gave us the opportunity for the bill to pass, he said shortly after the vote. The so-called Regulation Bill will retroactively validate 4,000 illegal structures built on private Palestinian land. In the occupied Palestinian territories, all Jewish settlements are considered illegal under international law, as further indicated in UNSC Resolution 2334. There are also 97 illegal Jewish settlement outposts a modest estimation that are now set to be legalised and, naturally, expanded at the expense of Palestine. The price of these settlements has been paid mostly by US taxpayers money, but also the blood and tears of Palestinians, generation after generation. It is important, though, that we realise that Israels latest push to legalise illegal outposts and annex large swaths of the West Bank is the norm, not the exception. Indeed, the entire Zionist vision for Israel was achieved based on the illegal appropriation of Palestinian land. Wasnt so-called Israel proper as in land obtained by force from 1948 to 1967 originally Palestinian land? Soon after Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in 1967, it moved quickly to fortify its military occupation by unleashing settlement construction throughout the occupied territories. The early settlements had a strategic military purpose, for the intent was to create enough facts on the ground that would alter the nature of any future peace settlement; thus, the Allon Plan. It was named after Yigal Allon, a former general and minister in the Israeli government who took on the task of drawing an Israeli vision for the newly conquered Palestinian territories. The plan sought to annex more than 30 percent of the West Bank and all of Gaza for security purposes. It stipulated the establishment of a security corridor along the Jordan River, as well as outside the Green Line, a one-sided Israeli demarcation of its borders with the West Bank. READ MORE: How Britain destroyed Palestinian homeland While the religious component of the Israeli colonisation scheme currently defines the entire undertaking, it was not always this way. The Allon Plan was the brainchild of Israels Labor government, as the Israeli Right then was a negligible political force. To capitalise on the governments alluring settlement policies in the West Bank, a group of religious Jews rented a hotel in the Palestinian town of Al-Khalil (Hebron) to spend Passover at the Cave of the Patriarchs, and simply refused to leave. Their action sparked biblical passion of religious orthodox Israelis across the country, who referred to the West Bank by its supposed biblical name, Judea and Samaria. In 1970, to diffuse the situation, the Israeli government constructed the Kiryat Arba settlement on the outskirts of the Arab city, which invited more orthodox Jews to join the growing movement. Over the years, the strategic settlement growth was complemented by the religiously motivated expansion, championed by a vibrant movement, epitomised in the finding of Gush Emunim (Bloc of the Faithful) in 1974. The movement was on a mission to settle the West Bank with legions of fundamentalists. Presently, by incorporating the illegal outposts (the work of religious zealots) into the strategically located, government-sanctioned larger illegal settlement blocs, Israeli politics and religion converged like never before. And between the unfortunate past and the troubling present, Palestinians continue to be driven out of their ancestral land and homes. But what is the Palestinian leadership doing about it? I cant deny that the (bill) helps us to better explain our position. We couldnt have asked for anything more, a Palestinian Authority official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, as quoted by Shlomi Elder. Elder writes: The bill, whether it goes through or is blocked by the Supreme Court, already proves that Israel is not interested in a diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Be as it may, this is hardly enough. It is absurd to argue that it was Palestinians purported inability to articulate their position that emboldened Israel to this extent. It is rather the international communitys failure to translate its laws into action that bolstered Israels militancy. The greatest mistake that the Palestinian leadership has committed (aside from its disgraceful disunity) was entrusting the US, Israels main enabler, with managing a peace process that has allowed Israel time and resources to finish its colonial projects, while devastating Palestinian rights and political aspirations. Returning to the same old channels, using the same language, seeking salvation at the altar of the same old two-state solution will achieve nothing, but to waste further time and energy. It is Israels obstinacy that is now leaving Palestinians (and Israelis) with one option, and only one option: equal citizenship in one single state or a horrific apartheid. No other solution suffices. In fact, the Regulation Bill is further proof that the Israeli government has already made its decision: consolidating apartheid in Palestine. If Trump and May find the logic of Netanyahus apartheid acceptable, the rest of the world shouldnt. In the words of former President Jimmy Carter, Israel will never find peace until it permit(s) the Palestinians to exercise their basic human and political rights. That Israeli permission is yet to arrive, leaving the international community with the moral responsibility to exact it. Dr Ramzy Baroud has been writing about the Middle East for more than 20 years. He is an internationally syndicated columnist, a media consultant, an author of several books and the founder of PalestineChronicle.com. His books include Searching Jenin and The Second Palestinian Intifada, and his latest, My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gazas Untold Story. His website is www.ramzybaroud.net . Safe zones represent a solution to the symptom and not the larger problem. In the early stages of the Syrian conflict, the Turkish government had called regularly for a United Nations-sponsored safe zone in northern Syria as a way to limit the number of refugees coming into the country and to place military and political pressure on the Syrian regime. Over the course of the Syrian conflict, the Obama administration remained hostile to the strategy and actively undermined any efforts at its realisation. Until the new US administration revived the idea, the prospect of intensified American intervention and the creation of a comprehensive, multilateral military force in northern Syria seemed unthinkable, especially given the Russian military presence in the country. Yet, today, a Syrian safe zone is closer to reality than at any other time in the conflict. Regional states, whose influence in Syria dwindled in the face of Russian intervention, have begun to declare their support for the new policy. Whether or not this is merely posturing is too early to tell, but it poses the question: What would safe zones mean for the Syrian conflict? READ MORE: Trumps real estate approach to safe zones in Syria The safe zone strategy has been a key feature of the post-Cold War military landscape. In the aftermath of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, US and British aircraft maintained a no-fly zone in the southern and northern parts of Iraq. What is needed today in Syria, more than ever, is a de-escalation of violence and a push towards real politics and a serious process to end the conflict. Similarly, the United Nations declared six areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Srebrenica and Sarajevo, safe zones and placed them under the protection of a United Nations peacekeeping force in 1993. The logic of the safe zone in both conflicts was to create secure, contained areas in which displaced people could flee and receive protection from violence. Whether through air support or ground troops, these safe zones were intended to protect civilians from violence, contain their displacement within their countries, and provide humanitarian relief. Proponents of safe zones in Syria argue that they represent the best way to stem the refugee crisis and to keep most Syrians close to their homes. Doing so would also provide the space and means to provide much-needed services to Syrians affected by the war, whether in healthcare or education. Backed militarily by a multilateral force, the safe zone would prevent regime and rebel forces from attacking civilians and would provide some semblance of protection and stability amid the chaos of the conflict. It could also foster multilateral cooperation and provide a military counterweight to the Russian presence in Syria. All of these arguments, proponents claim, make safe zones a viable and necessary strategy for Syria. But is this the kind of solution that Syria needs today? Certainly, the horrors of the last five years compel a search for ways to halt the humanitarian crisis. But the safe zone is a strategy fraught with problems. Indeed, the very idea of militarised humanitarianism that is at the core of the safe zone idea is problematic, in so far as it enhances and deepens the militarisation of conflicts. As the tragic case of the Srebrenica massacre demonstrated, safe zones can become targets, sites of extreme violence of the kind that civilians were fleeing, even in the face of peacekeeping forces. That Syrian safe zones will, somehow miraculously, be outside of the reach of regime forces contradicts common sense. Unlike the Iraqi regime after the 1990-1991 Gulf War, the Syrian regime and its allies, especially Russia, can disrupt any safe zone militarily. The safe zones idea is also flawed as it represents a solution to the symptom and not the larger problem. In containing civilians in northern Syria, the safe zones would certainly reduce the number of refugees making their way to Europe. For this reason, many European leaders support the strategy as a way of confronting the refugee crisis at its root. However, at this point, the Syrian conflict has assumed a dynamic and layered character against which a safe zone cannot provide protection. Civilians are not simply fleeing regime forces, but opposition armed groups, as well. The violence in Syria is highly fragmented and militias of different stripes exert tremendous influence on-the-ground. Russias military presence means that they must sign off on safe zones; there is no real political or military reason to believe that Russia, given its current strategy in Syria to date, would simply allow Turkish, American, and Arab forces to enter into Syria and establish contiguous territory outside of Russian or regime control. What is needed today in Syria, more than ever, is a de-escalation of violence and a push towards real politics and a serious process to end the conflict. Such a process would involve much more substantive and comprehensive talks than have been seen at Astana, so far. It may seem idealistic, but no more so than the prospect of safe zones advancing peace in Syria. Over the last few decades Colombias biggest rebel groups FARC and ELN have gained a major foothold in the country. For decades Colombia has struggled with a violent rebellion. Now, peace seems closer than ever with one peace treaty signed and negotiations for another having started again. However, the two largest rebel groups, FARC and ELN, still have large areas of influence. In November 2016, the government and the FARC rebels signed a peace deal aiming at ending half a century of war. Public opinion has been divided on the deal. Some believe the FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, should pay for crimes such as kidnappings and drug-trafficking, while others want peace to prevail. Several months later, in February 2017, the government started renewed negotiations with Colombias second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). The ELN hopes to clinch an agreement similar to that negotiated last year with the FARC, which allows the rebels to form a political party in exchange for laying down their arms. When dealing with current politics, we dont want to belittle history, but cant underplay reality either. Rachel Shabi is a journalist and author of Not the Enemy: Israel's Jews from Arab Lands. There has, lately, been a rush of interest in cultural offerings premised on the return of fascism. The Man in the High Castle, loosely based on the Philip K Dick novel, is back for a second series. In it, the Nazi regime lives in fictional Technicolor suburbia, occupying the half of the US not occupied by co-victors of World War II, Japan. A revival of the 1935 play, It Cant Happen Here, was staged in Berkeley late last year. The original novel by Sinclair Lewis charts the populist rise in the 1930s of a US fascist promising a return to American greatness. It reportedly sold out on Amazon.com the week after the election of Donald Trump. Many have revisited Philip Roths 2004 novel, The Plot Against America, in response to which its author came out of retirement to comment on his fictional works relevance to current reality. The book dramatises what might have happened if the aviator and Nazi sympathiser Charles Lindbergh, who first talked about America first, became a fascistic US president. And a German play, Winter Solstice, features a Nazi who turns up in nice, leafy suburbia, at the home of an educated, liberal family. This family never votes for right-wing parties. One of them writes history books on fascism, for heavens sake and yet they cannot recognise its hallmarks in their kindly, elderly visitor who spouts nationalism and cultural purity. Is history repeating itself? Two weeks into Donald Trumps presidency, the fascist label is invoked more frequently thereby adding to an already loud debate over the issue during his hyper-nationalist, aggressively nativist election campaign. Trumps Muslim ban, attacks on a free press, overt lying, purging of the State Departments senior staff, firing of the acting attorney general, undermining of a democratic election process by claiming voter fraud, and attacks on the US judiciary all evoke fascist hallmarks. But at the same time, we are still undergoing the same reactions that all those cultural depictions of fascism try to warn us about: paralysis over fascisms sudden, casual entry into the political mainframe, and the inability to recognise it once it takes hold. Even as these plays, books and films ask us to ponder the question, there can be a neutering, self-protective distance between our full comprehension and the horrifying reality were asked to consider. We are taught, rightly, that Nazi horrors, while uniquely heinous and specific, are premised on potentially universal causes and processes. And we know, per English novelist Michael Rosens poem, that fascism doesnt first arrive in jackboots. But still, there is an assumption that the fact of it happening historically protects against a recurrence, in any format. How could it, when we know what we know? Not now. Certainly not here. OPINION: The normalisation of Donald Trump Writers have long described a human impulse to normalise the not normal perhaps because the alternative is so irrationally horrible that it eludes full description. As one historian notes, in the 1920s and early 1930s US newspapers were downplaying Hitler, seeing him as a joke, or someone who would be moderated by the system. In 1922, The New York Times noted reliable sources confirmed the idea that Hitlers anti-Semitism was not so genuine or violent as it sounded. It is almost impossible to read this today. And it is unsettling in the context of assurances during Trumps race-baiting campaign he didnt literally mean a Muslim ban, we were told. Trivialisation of Nazism These things are separate but bound by an enduring question that we still grapple with: why do warning signs that are so easily identified in hindsight elide recognition contemporaneously? Historians have been divided over whether to describe Trumpism as fascism. As Gavriel Rosenfeld, professor of history at Fairfield University, told me by phone a few weeks ago, this is a good thing: a rigour in the face of an unfolding situation. Its also true that overuse of the term fascism undermines its effect. In understanding never again as a statement of fact, rather than as an instruction to remain on guard, it is possible we may have grown complacent and perhaps opened the door to misuse: these days, everyone is a fascist. Reaching for the term 'fascist' isn't about applying the ultimate insult, so much as preparing for the right response. It would mean not taking a government or leadership as normal. by Rosenfeld, whose book Hi Hitler! explores the trivialisation of Nazism, says the internet has played a role in this sort of neutering effect by turning Hitler into a meme, a punchline, or a series of cats-that-look-like-Hitler pics. Leaders with tendencies that can credibly be defined as fascistic may now, for some people at least, elude such description because the term has been defanged. Between normalisation and alarmism So we are caught somewhere between not wanting to belittle history, nor make inaccurate comparisons but also not wanting to underplay current realities either. We struggle to find a useful space between normalisation and alarmism. But maybe we should just accept that even an accurate invocation of fascism will sound exaggerated, in a world that doesnt believe it possible for there to be a modern-day, Western application. Reaching for the term fascist isnt about applying the ultimate insult, so much as preparing for the right response. It would mean not taking a government or leadership as normal. And, in broader terms this would be the anti-fascist argument: that fascism, once identified as a political and social force, requires an altogether different form of opposition. OPINION: America was a stan long before Trump If thats the case, judicious caution in using the term may be keeping us locked into ineffective responses. We remain in the realm of rational debate itself essential, itself in need of robust defence in a post-truth world. And yet, hate and bigotry can overwhelm societies when the reasonable are tied up in knots worrying about displaying intolerance or denying extremist haters a megaphone. Time and focus is exhausted in trying to debate a tide of violent racial superiority, while it is only ever amplified and legitimised by such encounters. It has potential to overwhelm, this urge to habituate, to be measured in the face of current reality. But sometimes this reasonable, polite response wont cut it. Sometimes the most effective tool we have is a forceful humanity one that draws a line, resists the tide to normalise and ensures that far-right hatreds do not find any space to breathe in our societies. Rachel Shabi is a journalist and author of Not the Enemy: Israels Jews from Arab Lands. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. On the Tuesday after Donald Trumps January inauguration as president of the United States, journalist Jonathan Katz tweeted in reference to the unfolding spectacle: First they came for the Latinos, Muslims, women, gays, poor people, intellectuals and scientists, and then it was Wednesday. The days continue to progress in similar fashion. On the one hand, theres been the rapidly evolving horror of the Muslim ban. And on the Latino front, it seems that not even Mexicans in Mexico proper may be safe from Trumps reach. According to the Associated Press, Trump recently informed Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto that you have a bunch of bad hombres down there whose bad behaviour is not being properly addressed: I think your military is scared. Our military isnt, so I just might send them down to take care of it. Nothing like a casual threat of invasion to keep folks on their toes. One finds oneself wondering whether a new and improved border wall might not be a fine idea indeed but as a defensive measure against US incursions. Extensions of ego As Trump tells it, the big, beautiful wall he has ordered constructed along the US-Mexico border will keep out Mexican migrants, to whom he has previously referred in characteristic antiracist eloquence as drug dealers and rapists. Fox News has reported that construction of the wall alone could cost up to $20bn. The project has met with opposition even from within Trumps own party not on account of any ethical considerations, obviously, but rather owing to concerns over the cost and likely ineffectiveness of the migrant-stopping ploy. Trump himself has made a show of insisting that Mexico foot the bill for the monstrosity, retroactively if need be. In a recent dispatch for Fortune magazine titled Trump Doesnt Really Care If Mexico Pays for the Wall, the Center for International Policys Laura Carlsen explores possible motives for Trumps determined humiliation of the southern neighbour despite not appear[ing] to actually expect Mexico to directly pay for the wall. Beyond the ever-present possibility that the American head of state is merely acting irrationally and wield[ing] executive power as an extension of his personal ego, Carlsen detects a variety of other potential explanations. These range from the pursuit of increased leverage in a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the encouragement of an enhanced Mexican security crackdown on Central American migrants entering from Guatemala, to the likelihood that Trump wants to keep Mexico-bashing in the news and mobilise his base of supporters for further measures against migrants and Mexican trade and investment. The security business Trumps ego is, no doubt, a pre-eminent contender on the contemporary world stage an arrangement reinforced by the fact that he presides over a disproportionate percentage of the earths wealth. But there are plenty of other entities that stand to turn a handsome profit from his policy of unabashed xenophobia. One of the ultimate functions of heavily fortified borders is to rally populations against a perceived enemy and thus redirect attention from national shortcomings and unsavoury behaviour. by These include but are certainly not limited to those in the business of border security itself a misleading term designed to market the US-Mexico frontier as a de facto war zone as well as an existential battlefield in which American greatness is at stake. The false advertising routine provides a convenient excuse for lucrative militarisation schemes. You wont hear any complaints from drone manufacturers, for example, with regard to what boils down to a war on Mexican dignity and the dignity of other refugees and non-elite migrants. Age of irony Meanwhile, it seems border walls have become an industry in their own right. In one of the great ironies that have come to typify the current era, the Financial Times reported on inauguration day that the biggest corporate winner of Trumps border fortification venture may well be a Mexican cement manufacturer: Cemex, whose shares had just hit an eight-and-a-half-year high. This is the same Cemex, incidentally, that as the popular Electronic Intifada website has documented has been complicit in the construction of Israels apartheid wall as well as illegal mining activity on occupied Palestinian land. When it comes to the profitability of exclusion, of course, the Israelis are masters of the trade a position underscored by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus notorious tweet of 28 January: President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israels southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea. OPINION: Israel An inspiration for Trump The tweet occasioned some backpedalling from Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who endeavoured to imply that Netanyahu wasnt really talking about Mexico. In the meantime, Bloomberg News has noted in the most sanitised language possible that Magal Security Systems, the Israeli company that fenced in Gaza (ie, helped convert the Palestinian territory into the worlds largest open-air prison), is angling for a hand in the Mexico wall. One of the ultimate functions of heavily fortified borders is to rally populations against a perceived enemy and thus redirect attention from national shortcomings and unsavoury behaviour which in the case of the US happens to entail the wanton violation of other peoples borders, both militarily and economically. If only we could look in a mirror rather than at a wall, that might indeed be a big, beautiful thing. Belen Fernandez is the author of The Imperial Messenger: Thomas Friedman at Work, published by Verso. She is a contributing editor at Jacobin magazine. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Decision follows President Trumps executive order permitting the project, but Sioux tribe say they will fight on. The US military has announced it will allow the $3.8bn Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, dealing a blow to Native Americans and climate activists who have been protesting against the project for months. The army intends to cancel further environmental study and allow the Lake Oahe crossing as early as Wednesday, according to court documents filed by the Justice Department. Construction could still be delayed because the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which has led opposition to the pipeline, said it would fight the latest development in court. READ MORE: Native Americans expect nothing good from Trump The stretch under Lake Oahe is the final chunk of work on a 1,825km pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. Developer Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) had hoped to have the pipeline operating by the end of 2016, but construction has been stalled while the Army Corps of Engineers and the Dallas-based company battled in court over the crossing. Protests during former President Barack Obamas final months in power had forced the Army Corps to order a broader environmental study, that would have taken at least two more years to complete. But on January 24, days after he took office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order telling the Corps to quickly reconsider the study and finish the project. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, have long opposed the project fearing that a leak would pollute drinking water. The tribe has led protests that drew hundreds and at times thousands of people who dubbed themselves water protectors to an encampment near the crossing. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Amy Goodman, a TV host and investigative journalist covering the environment, linked the Army Corps decision to the Trump administrations ties to ETP. When you look at Donald Trumps cabinet, the administration is extremely close to the pipeline company, she said, adding that the Energy Secretary Rick Perry served in the ETP board just weeks after leaving his post as Texas governor in 2015. Sioux tribes undaunted Details of the tribes legal challenge to the Armys decision were still being worked out, lawyer Jan Hasselman said. But tribal Chairman Dave Archambault said the tribe is undaunted by the Armys decision. Even if the pipeline is finished and begins operating, he said, the tribe will push to get it shut down. An assessment conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe also argued that under the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1888, the federal government was obliged to consider a tribes welfare when making decisions that affect the tribe. The Obama administration correctly found that the tribes treaty rights needed to be respected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations, Hasselman said. Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian tribes and violation of treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court. In a separate development on Tuesday, the Seattle City Council voted to cut ties with banking giant Wells Fargo over its role as a lender to the Dakota Access pipeline project. Wells Fargo manages more than $3bn of Seattles operating account, processing everything from payroll and vendor payments to revenues collected from city business taxes to city fines. Tribal members had urged Seattle, a major city in the US West Coast, to send a broader message to oppose the pipeline and stand with indigenous people. Contact: Attila Nemecz Attila Nemecz Attila.Nemecz@beaufortccc.edu WASHINGTON, NC As part of a yearlong celebration of its 50th anniversary, Beaufort County Community College hosted acclaimed educator and former Beaufort County teacher Ron Clark to kickoff this year's events. Clark spoke about how to motivate teachers and support exceptional ones. His energetic talk was followed by a meet-and-greet and book-signing.Clark said that our school system is losing good teachers because parents are unhappy with teachers who press their children to excel instead of just "teaching to the test".said Clark. He said at his academy, children will resist at first, because they are used to getting their way, but eventually they will succeed. His students have a 100% graduation rate vs. 40% in surrounding schools. They have also mostly gone on to college.he said. If students see that their teachers are berated for not handing out good grades or they see their teacher sitting at a desk and handing out worksheets, they will end up forgoing teaching or becoming a teacher who sits a desk. Clark's style involves engaging students in things like song and dance to help them get excited and remember lessons.he said. Clark has an example around which his book is written. He imagines everyone on a bus that is moved by foot-power. In the front there are the runners, behind them, the joggers and in the back some walkers and riders. He discussed how he has stopped putting his energy into getting riders, those who do the least they can to get through and often spread negativity, to become walkers, those who go along with the crowd but might actually be slowing the group down. Instead Clark has focused on the runners, those with the energy and work ethic to come up with new ideas and to push forward.Ron Clark has been called "America's Educator." His success with students from Snowden Elementary School in Aurora and Public School 83 in East Harlem led him to be named Disney's American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times best-selling author, and his classes have been honored at the White House on three separate occasions. Ron's teaching experiences in New York City are the subject of the uplifting film "The Ron Clark Story" starring Matthew Perry.Currently, Mr. Clark serves as a teacher and administrator at the Ron Clark Academy, an award winning and internationally acclaimed middle school in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 14,000 educators have come to the academy to his innovative and engaging teaching techniques.said Serena Sullivan, BCCC Foundation executive director.BCCC will be hosting a number of events in 2017 to highlight its 50th anniversary. The college has also created a display highlighting its history, decade by decade, in a hallway in Building 5. Life on the Pamlico, an interactive student publication will also focus on the 50th anniversary through interviews and oral history from the region. In March, the BCCC will unveil a statue built by welding students and their instructor, Ted Clayton.said President Barbara Tansey.Industrial and technical education were first offered in Beaufort County in 1962 through an Industrial Education Center. The center was first affiliated with Lenoir County Technical Institute and later with Pitt Technical Institute. Founded in 1967, Beaufort County Community College is one of 58 institutions comprising the North Carolina Community College System. Scores dead amid wave of violence since strike began five days ago, spurring calls for more troops in Espirito Santo. The Brazilian governor of a southeastern state, which has faced a major wave of deadly violence and crime since its police force launched a strike five days ago, has called for more army troops to help end the unrest there. About 90 people have been killed and 200 lootings committed amid widespread turmoil, which has forced a shutdown of public services across Espirito Santo, since police left their posts in protest over low wages on Friday night, according to a police union. Brazil vows to scale back government spending Cesar Colnago, the states governor, said on Wednesday that the deployment of about 1,000 soldiers was not sufficient to halt the unrest. We are taking steps to increase the level of the National Force, which is police, and of the armed forces so that we can have security, he said, adding that people were so fearful of being attacked on the streets that it was as if they were in prison. Andre Garcia, head of Espirito Santos public safety department, said that the violence has diminished since the arrival of the first troops this week, but that he would still like to see an additional 1,000 troops sent to the state. The deadly violence in the state capital of Vitoria and other cities erupted as friends and family of military police officers blocked their barracks over the weekend to demand higher pay for the officers, preventing patrols from cruising the streets. According to the local police union, there have been about 90 murders since the unrest started on Saturday, compared with just four in all of January. OPINION: The fight for Brazils future It also reported $29m in damages to businesses, including from mass looting of stores. The government has yet to give official crime statistics. At least two buses have been torched over the past five days in Vitoria and several stores have been looted, leading six shopping malls to close their doors. Buses that had resumed circulating on Tuesday were again off the streets on Wednesday. Schools were shut and medical services at public hospitals were interrupted. Public services disrupted Brazilian media broadcast footage of looting, carjackings and muggings in municipalities abandoned by police officers. Brazilian law bars the police force from going on strike. In Espirito Santo, however, relatives and sympathisers are blockading police stations, and officers inside are making no effort to come out effectively leaving the city unguarded. The police want better work conditions and higher salaries. A court declared the action an illegal strike and the state police chief has been replaced. The crisis reflects nationwide budget crises blamed largely on corruption in Brazil, which has faced a crippling recession for two years and is struggling to return to growth. The country is also one of the most violent in the world, with heavily armed criminals battling both on the streets and in prisons. Last month clashes inside a prison near the northern city of Natal left 26 people dead, prompting the deployment of army troops. Government and second biggest rebel group begin talks in neighbouring Ecuador after more than three years of attempts. Colombias government and the countrys second biggest rebel group have started talks to end a five decade-long conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes. The government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) began peace talks on Tuesday in neighbouring Ecuador after more than three years of failed attempts. The ELN hopes to clinch an agreement similar to that negotiated last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which allows the rebels to form a political party in exchange for laying down their arms. In November of last year, President Juan Manuel Santos government managed to seal an agreement with the FARC after an often difficult almost four-year process. Experts, though, have warned that the ELN will be a tougher negotiating partner than the FARC. READ MORE: Bullfightings return sparks protests in Bogota The governments chief negotiator, Juan Camilo Restrepo, said at the opening ceremony that the time of politics with weapons must end in Colombia. Every unnecessary delay in the search for peace means the sacrifice of lives and it is time lost to lay the foundations of reconciliation, he added. On the table are issues including political participation, disarmament and compensation for victims. Many obstacles lie ahead, starting with the fact that the presidential elections loom in Columbia, Al Jazeeras Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, said. Theyll be held in 2018, and its far from certain that the next president will be as steadfast as Santos has been. He said that during Tuesdays talks, the ELN seemed to be have a more conciliatory tone, telling both the Colombians and the international community that they will not disappoint them. Formal negotiations were delayed from November 2016 pending the release of a prominent politician the group held hostage for nearly 10 months. The release last week of former congressman Odin Sanchez removed the final obstacle to the peace process, which is expected to go on for months before showing any tangible results. Deaths, disappearances, displacement Restrepo said that if the ELN failed to give up kidnapping it would be very difficult to advance the negotiations. The ELNs chief negotiator, Pablo Beltran, said that we all have to change, and called on the government to take responsibility for its part in the conflict. We are willing to take responsibility for the events that occurred during the conflict, and we expect the other side to do the same, he said in a speech that referred to the government as a regime. Fortunately today in Colombia we are trying to develop a political solution to the conflict. READ MORE: More UN observers dismissed over FARC rebels party More than five decades of conflict involving the two rebel movements, the army and right-wing paramilitary groups has resulted in more than 260,000 deaths, the disappearance of tens of thousands, and the displacement of about six million people. The leftist ELN is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. It has extorted, bombed oil and electricity infrastructure and kidnapped hundreds of people in its 52 years of existence to raise funds for the war and put pressure on the government. Colombia is the last country to see major armed conflict in the region. Peace with the two rebel groups could allow for economic development in previously rebel-held areas. Ruling on US administrations travel ban expected soon after judges demand terrorism evidence linked to seven nations. A US federal appeals court has questioned whether a travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump unfairly targeted people from seven Muslim-majority countries. During an oral argument lasting more than an hour, a three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals pressed a government lawyer on Tuesday over whether the Trump administrations national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven nations posed a danger. The San Francisco-based 9th Circuit said at the end of the session it would issue a ruling as soon as possible, thought to be this week. The matter is ultimately likely to go to the US Supreme Court. WATCH: The media, Muslims and Trumps travel ban I actually cant believe that were having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation, Trump said on Tuesday. This is a very dangerous period of time because while everybody is talking and dealing, a lot of bad people are thinking, Hey, lets go in right now. The presidents January 27 order barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. The order sparked protests and chaos at US and overseas airports. Opponents also assailed it as discriminatory against Muslims in violation of the US Constitution and applicable laws. Minnesota and Washington states are challenging the ban. OPINION: Trumps Muslim ban is a dangerous distraction Lawyer August Flentje represented the Trump administration in court on Tuesday. When asked by the judges what evidence was used to connect the seven countries with attacks in the US, he said the proceedings have been moving very fast without giving specific examples. Im not sure Im convincing the court, Flentje said at one point. Noah Purcell, solicitor general for the state of Washington, began his argument urging the court to serve as a check on executive abuses. The president is asking this court to abdicate that role here, Purcell said. The court should decline that invitation. Trump frequently promised during his 2016 election campaign to curb undocumented immigration, especially from Mexico, and to crack down on Islamic terrorism. OPINION: The US Muslim ban and the story of my Iraqi father A federal judge in Seattle suspended Trumps order last Friday and many travellers who had been waylaid by the ban quickly moved to travel to the United States while it was in limbo. Syrian immigrant Mathyo Asali said he thought his life was ruined when he landed at Philadelphia International Airport on January 28 only to be denied entry to the United States. Asali, who returned to Damascus, said he believed hed be inducted into the Syrian military. He was back on US soil on Monday. Its really nice to know that theres a lot of people supporting us, Asali said. Michael Shure, a Los Angeles-based writer and political analyst, told Al Jazeera the legal battle was likely to be a long one for the Trump administration. This is almost new law here, so when it was handed down in such a way lawyers felt we can go to the courts with this we can go and say this is unconstitutional, which is what these lawyers are doing in San Francisco, said Shure. Two gunmen also killed after targeting hotel in rare assault in the capital of the northern semi-autonomous region. Gunmen stormed a hotel in the capital of Somalias semi-autonomous Puntland region on Wednesday, killing four guards. In a nation awash with weapons, it was not immediately clear who staged the raid in the port city of Bosasso. An official blamed al-Shabab fighters, but a spokesman for the armed group denied involvement. Three al-Shabab fighters stormed the International Village Hotel this morning. Four guards and two of the attackers died in the fighting, Yusuf Mohamed, governor of the Bari region, told Reuters news agency. He said the attackers had not managed to enter the hotel, which is popular with foreigners. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shababs military operations spokesman, said: We are not behind the Bosasso hotel attack. It is propaganda. Al-Shabab regularly launches attacks in Somalia, but tends to focus on the capital Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government. Until 2011, the al-Qaeda-linked group controlled most of Somalia, including Mogadishu. Since then it has been pushed out of the capital and slowly forced out of other strongholds by African Union troops and Somali soldiers. Fighters often stage bomb and gun attacks in the capital and other regions in their quest to overthrow the Western-backed government and impose their own strict interpretation of Islamic law on the nation. READ MORE: Somalia US accused of killing 22 troops in air strike Somalias politicians are due to elect a president later on Wednesday in Mogadishu. Fears of attacks have limited the election to the countrys legislators, who will vote at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital. Rounds of voting are expected to narrow down the 22 candidates to a winner. The Horn of Africa nation is trying to put together its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. Years of warlord-led conflict and al-Shabab attacks, along with famine, have left the country of about 12 million people largely shattered. Jowzjan governor blames ISIL for deadly assault on convoy carrying supplies to snowstorm-hit areas in countrys north. Suspected ISIL fighters killed at least six Afghan employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who were carrying supplies to areas hit by deadly snowstorms, according to government officials. Another two employees were unaccounted for after Wednesdays attack in the northern Jowzjan province, said ICRC spokesperson Thomas Glass, adding that the group did not know who was responsible for the attack. Devastated by this news out of #Afghanistan, Peter Maurer, ICRC president, said on Twitter. My deepest condolences to the families of those killed and those still unaccounted for. ICRC put its activities in the country on hold following the attack, the groups global operations head Dominik Stillhart said, because we need to understand what exactly happened before we can hopefully resume our operations. Lotfullah Azizi, Jowzjans governor, told Reuters news agency the aid workers were in a convoy that was carrying supplies to areas hit by avalanches when they were targeted by fighters belonging to ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group. Daesh is very active in that area, Azizi said, using an alternate name for ISIL, also known as ISIS, which has made limited inroads in Afghanistan but has carried out increasingly deadly attacks. Rahmatullah Turkistani, Jawzjan police chief, said the workers bodies had been brought to the provincial capital. A search operation was launched to find the two missing aid workers. Zabiullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson, told Al Jazeera the group was not involved in the attack. Al Jazeeras Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul, said the attack was one of the few incidents in the countrys north carried out by ISIL, which has been mainly active in the east. Its going to be another challenge for Afghanistan security forces, our correspondent said. They are already fighting the Taliban in that part of the country. Now, a new group is emerging in the north. Under attack Aid workers in Afghanistan have increasingly come under attack amid a surge in violence in recent years. Speaking from Geneva, ICRC spokeswoman Marie Claire Feghali told Al Jazeera that the organisation makes contact with all the groups that are active on the ground to ensure safety before carrying out humanitarian work. We do not know why our convoy was attacked, she said. Our colleagues were on a humanitarian mission to deliver assistance in Jowzjan [Our] team there would have made all the contacts and they were in clearly marked ICRC cars. In January, a Spanish ICRC employee was released less than a month after he was kidnapped by unidentified attackers in northern Afghanistan. That staff member was travelling with three Afghan colleagues between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz on December 19 when the attackers stopped the vehicles. The other Afghan ICRC staff were immediately released. In a recent summary of its work in Afghanistan last year, the ICRC said increasing insecurity had made it difficult to provide aid to many parts of the country. Despite it all, the ICRC has remained true to its commitment to the people of Afghanistan, as it has throughout the last 30 years of its continuous presence in the country, the statement said. In April 2015 the bullet-riddled bodies of five Afghan workers for the Save the Children charity were found after they were abducted in the southern province of Uruzgan. Protesters arrested after criticising corruption and rising prices freed after weeks in detention. Jordan has released several government critics jailed for nearly one month after they demanded accountability and transparency on Facebook and in statements. Jordans spy agency, the Mukhabarat, began rounding up scores of activists in early January who called for an end to corruption, family members and lawyers told Al Jazeera. Some of those detained were former members of the military and government, and many were high school teachers who had also spoken out. Those detained faced charges of trying to undermine the regime and insulting the king, according to their attorneys. READ MORE: Jordan cracks down on activists over social media posts About 20 people had been jailed. Eight were released on Tuesday night and others will be freed in the coming days, press reports said and sources told Al Jazeera. The military prosecutor told us we all will be released on bond, even though there were no formal charges against us or a court appearance, retired General Mohamad al-Otoom, who was released on Tuesday, told Al Jazeera. Zaki Bani Irsheid is a leader in Jordans Islamic Action Front, the countrys largest political party and an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. He was imprisoned for a year and a half for criticising the United Arab Emirates decision to classify the Brotherhood and Islamist organisations as terrorist groups. Irsheid had urged Prime Minister Hani Mulki to release those recently detained, but never received a response. He said the government is largely powerless when it comes to the powerful state spy agency. The Mukhabarat practically runs the country without a legal mandate, or any kind of check and balance that would guard against abuses of power, or even amassing too much power, Irsheid told Al Jazeera. Hussam Abdallat, a former high-ranking official who also was released without charge, said he was detained illegally but described his dealings with the military prosecutor as friendly. READ MORE: Weapons for Syrian rebels sold on Jordans black market Family members and supporters had protested for several weeks in front of parliament and the government house demanding the release of their loved ones. Esam al-Zaben, a retired air force lieutenant-colonel and fighter pilot, was arrested last week for after calling for a consumer boycott of products such as eggs and potatoes to protest against skyrocketing prices. He was also freed on Tuesday. Zaben also challenged mobile phone companies after the government proposed taxing users $3 for using popular social media apps such as WhatsApp. His Facebook page soon attracted 1.3 million followers. My client committed no crime, all he was trying to do was protect consumers against exploitative businesses, said Taher Nassar, Zabens lawyer. Calls made to government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani for comment went unanswered. Khaled al-Majali a retired Mukhabrat officer and member of the Military Veterans Association accused his former employer of blocking his news website, All of Jordan, after critical reporting on the detention of activists. Defence attorney Saleh al-Armouti described the episode as a serious breach of Jordans constitution, and demanded an end to the arbitrary arrests by the Mukhabrat of Jordanian citizens. Jordans ailing economy has suffered because of the wars in neighbouring Iraq and Syria and the influx of refugees. Syria and Iraq were Jordans largest trading partners before the start of the conflicts in both countries. According to the World Bank, the average income of a Jordanian citizen is about $5,000 a year. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports Three Buddhist monks arrested after authorities found about $6m worth of methamphetamine pills in car and monastery. Police in Myanmar say three Buddhist monks have been arrested after authorities found more than four million methamphetamine pills worth about $6m in a car and monastery. Arsara also known as Min Naing was stopped on Sunday as he drove in northern Rakhine state after authorities were tipped off that he was carrying an illegal haul, Maung Maung Yin, a police officer, said on Tuesday. Pyin Nyar Nanda also known as Aye Lwin and Khone Na La also known as Thein Shwe were the two other monks caught by police in the town of Maung Daw over links to the narcotics found. Myanmar vigilantes take on drug lords Maung Maung Yin said an anti-drug task force found 400,000 pills in Arsaras car. A subsequent search of his monastery turned up 4.2 million pills along with a grenade and ammunition. A statement from the office of the state counsellor for Myanmars leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said that $769 in cash was also found in the vehicle. This is not a normal case, and when we were informed that the monk was arrested, we were all shocked, said Kyaw Mya Win, a township police officer. Asked about the case, Soe Min Tun, the director-general of the religious affairs ministry, expressed surprise. It is not a very common case, but not impossible to happen, he said. What will happen to the monk is that he will have to give up his monkhood right away and face trial as an ordinary person. Major producer Myanmar is a major producer of methamphetamine, usually smuggled from the northeast to neighbouring countries. It is also the worlds second biggest producer of opium, from which heroin is derived. The meth pills are are hugely popular across Asia among everyone from wealthy clubbers to exhausted blue-collar employees working long shifts. READ MORE: Drugs and bullets in Myanmar Last year police confiscated a record 98 million stimulant tablets, nearly double the 50 million seized in 2015. Drug prosecutions also jumped around 50 percent from 2015 to 13,500, which police said reflected the growth in the local drug trade. Trafficking has particularly been on the rise in Rakhine state, home to more than a million people from the impoverished Muslim Rohingya minority. In September state media reported that two men had been arrested after 6.2 million methamphetamine tablets were found in their car in Maungdaw. Francis says community members targeted simply because they want to live their culture and their Muslim faith. Pope Francis strongly criticised atrocities, including mass killings and gang rapes, committed against Rohingya Muslims. Condemning the torture and killings committed by Myanmars security forces that according to a UN report possibly amount to ethnic cleansing, Francis said in a statement on Wednesday that Rohingya Muslims were targeted simply because they want to live their culture and their Muslim faith. In a UN report made public last week, 204 Rohingya refugees who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh were interviewed for first-hand accounts. They revealed grave violations allegedly carried out by members of Myanmars security forces, or by civilians working alongside them. READ MORE: Rohingya refugees from Myanmar tell of trauma Security forces in Myanmar reportedly burned down entire villages and opened fire at people fleeing burning homes. According to the report, the army has also been accused of massive and systematic rape and sexual violence; deliberate destruction of food and sources of food. About 65,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since October 2016, following a deadly attack on a military post that resulted in a security crackdown against the minority group. Myanmars army had launched clearance operations while searching for fighters behind deadly raids on police borders last year. Human rights groups say the military operation has been abusive enough to be categorised as crimes against humanity. Kremlin critic gets five-year suspended sentence in retrial, which bars him from running for president in next election. A court in a provincial Russian city has found opposition politician Alexei Navalny guilty in a retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which means that he cannot run for president next year. In a webcast hearing on Wednesday in Kirov, a city nearly 800km east of Moscow, Judge Alexei Vtyurin handed down a five-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of about $8,500 to Navalny for embezzling timber worth about $500,000. Navalny, 40, pledged to appeal against the politically motivated ruling and continue with his plans of challenging President Vladimir Putin in the forthcoming presidential elections even though the Russian law bars anyone convicted of a crime from running for a public office for 10 years. Igor Sutyagin, a senior research fellow in the Russian studies department at RUSI UK, says the verdict shows Putins weakness, eliminating even tiny, but realistic competition. He announced his plans to run for the presidential election, but he wouldnt have more than 10 percent, Sutyagin, speaking from Oxfordshire, told Al Jazeera. However, the Kremlin decided to get rid of any more or less realistic competition in this election, not risking even 10 percent. That is why Navalny was given this sentence. Putin is weak because he is not sure whether he can win against even the weakest opposition. Room for Navalny Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said the constitution gives some room for Navalny to still try to run in the election. The constitution of the Russian Federation says that any citizen can stand for president as long as he is not in prison, he said. Navalny said he will continue his presidential bid as the constitution allows him and he will be appealing this conviction. Authorities have accused Navalny of committing the crime while serving as an adviser to a governor of Russias central Kirov region. The previous guilty verdict was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that Russia had violated Navalnys right to a fair trial. Navalny, the driving force behind massive anti-government protests in 2011 and 2012, had announced plans to run for the presidential office in December and had begun to raise funds. Motion follows biggest protests in decades against decree that would have decriminalised some corruption offences. Romanias Social Democrat-led government has survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence after the country witnessed its largest protests in decades over a corruption decree. Ioana Bran, the parliamentary secretary, said on Wednesday that 161 MPs voted in support of the motion, short of the 232 votes needed for it to pass. The Social Democrats and their allies control nearly two thirds of the seats in parliament after winning a December election. They abstained from Wednesdays vote. Romania presidents hometown divided over crisis The necessary majority has not been met, according to the constitution, for the vote to pass, Bran said. At least 5,000 protesters gathered outside government headquarters late on Wednesday to demand the cabinets resignation, despite a snowstorm, subzero temperatures and power blackouts. We exist, we resist, they chanted. Catalin Predoiu, an opposition deputy, said of the motion: This is a warning signal that we managed to gather the votes of the whole opposition and it also shows that whenever the new government derails we will gather and sanction it. For over a week, hundreds of thousands of people have protested against the government after it passed a decree to decriminalise some official corruption. Critics decried the move as a major setback to the countrys anti-corruption drive. Bowing to pressure, the government scrapped the ordinance on Sunday as some 500,000 people protested across the country. The rallies were the largest protests in Romania since the fall of communist rule in 1989. Ugly face of politics The motion will now be debated by the parliament. Klaus Iohannis, Romanias president, said the fight to contain corruption shows the ugly face of politics. He told the Associated Press news agency that the massive street protests were successful in stopping the decree that would have eased up on public officials who abuse their power while in office. He said he was pleased that protesters cared about the future of Romania and made their feelings known. READ MORE: Romanian government under pressure as 500,000 protest I was surprised by the size of the crowd, he said. Having over 200,000 people in Piata Victoriei [Victory Square] is something extraordinary. The Constitutional Court rejected challenges on procedural grounds brought against the rescinded decree by Iohannis and by the top magistrates council. The court said it would reconvene on Thursday to consider a separate challenge brought by Romanias ombudsman against the content of the decree. Of my blood and water I wish Plenty in all the World there is It runneth in every place Who it findeth he hath grace In the World it runneth over all And goeth round as a ball But thou understand well this Of the worke thou shalt miss Therefore know ere thou begin What he is and all his kin Many a name he hath full sure And all is but one Nature Thou must part him in three And then knit him as the Trinity And make them all but one Lo here is the Philosophers Stone (?1415-1490) "Ripley adopted an allegorical approach to alchemy, and his most important writings are his 'Compound of Alchemy' in verse which describes the alchemical process as undergoing twelve stages or 'Gates', and his emblematic 'Ripley Scrowle' ". George Ripleydid not let his Augustinian monk role in Yorkshire prevent him from furthering his education in alchemy by travelling in Europe. After spending time in France and Germany, Ripley settled in Rome for about twenty years with Papal support.At the time of his return to England in 1477, it is alleged that Ripley was already in possession of the secret of transmutation. Some believed that the sizeable donations given by Ripley to help the Knights of Malta * in their war against the Turks came from his having produced gold out of base metals. This can only have enhanced his reputation and emerging fame.Ripley was one of the first to publish works by the renowned 13th century alchemist, Raymond Lull (Lully). Of his own writings, in two hundred or more manuscripts:The remarkable Ripley Scroll is, in simple terms, an alchemical manuscript that shows in pictorial cryptograms the production of the philosopher's stone (the elusive ingredient that produces incorruptible gold out of lesser metals; and/or the elixir of life).There are in fact twenty-one extant Ripley Scrolls, held in major institutions in the UK (most) and the States. Most of these - including the Yale version above - share similar graphical and layout features and are regarded as a single type. Four scrolls are so dissimilar to these that they are grouped together as a second type. They were all copied from (an) earlier, original work(s) which might date to the end of the 15th century. Although of varying size, most of the scrolls are about twenty feet long and a foot and a half or so wide.Ripley's name is associated with the scrolls because his allegorical poetry is included in many of the later versions. (There is a suggestion that the horse's hoof on the staff held by the figure at the bottom of the page constitutes his 'signature'). The twenty one scrolls were produced after Ripley's death; in the 16th and early 17th centuries. The version above dates to about 1570. Some others are uncoloured or crudely drawn, so the Yale scroll is definitely one of the best quality manuscripts in existence.I'm reluctant to delve very far into the complex symbolism presented in the scroll both because those who are most interested will find better resources than anything I might adduce by way of summary and because it is an esoteric language unto itself and is generally resistant to simplistic reduction. Interpretation requires contemplating all the visual components and the way they interact with each other in combination with the textual elements.It may well be easy, for instance, to identify the figure at the top as an alchemist (perhaps Hermes Trismegistus) and a bunch of alchemical symbols in roundels chained to a sacred book and a variation on the iconic Adam & Eve fall from grace scene and the bird of Hermes gnawing its own wing to make itself tame, or any number of other visual emblems that have possible referential meaning outside of the scroll, but it's the role they play in the cryptic totality of the work in which they are found that overrides any drive-by partial deductions. It's not so much "the feathers signify the spirit", as it's: feathers are often associated with depicting the spiritual and here they are of two colours and seemingly link the vertical scenes and their significance may well be modulated by other visual tropes and the text. Like that. Some 22 candidates are competing for the top job but, despite earlier promises, not every Somali will get to vote. Somali MPs were choosing a president under tight security on Wednesday, with roads closed and residents urged to remain indoors over fears of an attack on the capital by al-Shabab. A protracted vote began on Wednesday after 14,000 elders and prominent regional figures chose 275 members of parliament and 54 senators, who in turn now choose whether to back President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for a second term or one of 21 rivals. Fears of attacks by al-Shabab, an armed group, have limited the election to the countrys legislators, who will vote at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu. Earlier on Wednesday, gunmen stormed a hotel in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, killing four guards. READ MORE: Somalia beefs up security ahead of presidential vote Several rounds of voting are expected to narrow down the large field of candidates. One candidate dropped out on Wednesday before the voting started. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from the capital Mogadishu, said sources within the parliament had confirmed that huge sums of money were paid by some of the candidates and rival presidential candidates have accused each other of buying the loyalty of MPs, drawing furious denials. One member of the parliament told me that he received thousands from one of the presidential candidates, he said. There is lot at stake here. This election is supposed to bring leadership that heals the country but if corruption plays an important role, many doubt whether Somalia is going to be on the right road. President Mohamud, who has led the country since 2012 as it tries to rebuild after more than two decades of war and chaos, has the support of about a third of MPs, political analysts say, giving him an edge but not a guarantee of victory. The threat from al-Shabab, who regularly launch attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere, meant the government and its Western backers to go back on a promise to give each adult a vote due to what they say was the challenge of securing polling stations. We have tightened security and have confidence the new politicians will elect or re-elect a candidate they believe can save Somalia, Major Hussein Nur, a police officer, told the Reuters news agency. READ MORE: Crisis in the Horn of Africa Somalias Famine In 2012, just 135 elders picked the MPs, who chose the president. It tells us that we are in the midst of a long transition and in theory, based on the provisional constitution we should be having one-person-one-vote election this year, but that hasnt been possible because of security constraints but also because the government did not focus on preparing the ground, Matt Bryden, the Chairman of Sahan Research and Development Organization, a political think-tank covering the Horn of Africa, told Al Jazeera. This is an ad hoc political compromise agreed by Somalian political leaders, which is simply a way of continuing a transition and giving us four more years in which to consolidate architecture of the new Somalian state. The airport, where the vote is taking place, is guarded by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM and is surrounded by high concrete barriers to protect it from attack. UN agencies and foreign embassies are also located in the compound. Al-Shabab, which ruled Somalia for several years, has been slowly driven out of its major strongholds in a campaign by AMISOM and Somali troops. But its fighters continue to launch regular gun and bomb attacks in their effort to topple the government. Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concedes defeat after two rounds of voting and congratulates new leader. A former prime minister who holds dual Somali-US citizenship has been declared Somalias new president. Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo was named the new leader after two rounds of voting on Wednesday and quickly took the oath of office. Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conceded defeat. History was made. We have taken this path to democracy, and now I want to congratulate Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Mohamud said. The country is trying to put together its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. Protracted vote The protracted vote began on Wednesday after 14,000 elders and prominent regional figures chose 275 members of parliament and 54 senators, who in turn chose whether to back Mohamud for a second term or one of 21 rivals. Fears of attacks by al-Shabab, an armed group, limited the election to the countrys legislators, who voted at a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu. Al Jazeeras Mohammed Adow, reporting from the capital Mogadishu, said sources within the parliament had confirmed that huge sums of money were paid by some of the candidates and rival presidential candidates have accused each other of buying the loyalty of MPs, drawing furious denials. One member of the parliament told me that he received thousands from one of the presidential candidates, he said. There is lot at stake here. This election is supposed to bring leadership that heals the country but if corruption plays an important role, many doubt whether Somalia is going to be on the right road. In 2012, just 135 elders picked the MPs, who chose the president. It tells us that we are in the midst of a long transition and in theory, based on the provisional constitution we should be having a one-person-one-vote election this year, but that hasnt been possible because of security constraints but also because the government did not focus on preparing the ground, Matt Bryden, chairman of Sahan Research and Development Organisation, a political think-tank covering the Horn of Africa, told Al Jazeera. This is an ad hoc political compromise agreed by Somalia political leaders, which is simply a way of continuing a transition and giving us four more years in which to consolidate architecture of the new Somalia state. READ MORE: Somalia beefs up security ahead of presidential vote The airport, where the vote was taking place, was guarded by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM and is surrounded by high concrete barriers to protect it from attack. UN agencies and foreign embassies were also located in the compound. Al-Shabab, which ruled Somalia for several years, has been slowly driven out of its major strongholds in a campaign by AMISOM and Somali troops. But its fighters continue to launch regular gun and bomb attacks in their effort to topple the government. At least eight people killed in air attack on rebel-held al-Waer neighbourhood of Homs, according to monitoring group. Syrian government jets have bombed a rebel-held district of Homs city in the west of the country, killing several people, according to rescue workers and a monitoring group. A pro-government media outlet said Syrian planes targeted rebels in al-Waer neighbourhood after the fighters fired at civilian areas in government-held Homs. Al-Waer has for months been spared the intense bombardment by Syrian and Russian air forces suffered by other areas including Idlib province, controlled by President Bashar al-Assads opponents. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said at least eight people were killed in the government bombardment. The Syrian Civil Defence, a rescue service operating in rebel-held territory, did not give a figure, but said on its Facebook page that its centre in al-Waer was hit, wounding a staff member, and that there were fatalities elsewhere including women and children. An opposition media activist in al-Waer, who gave his name as Osama Abu-Zeid, said that it had been months since the last significant bombardment of the area. Yesterday it suddenly escalated, he told Reuters news agency. A military media unit run by Assads Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, said the army had fired rockets and that planes had carried out three strikes against rebels in al-Waer, who it said had violated a shaky ceasefire across parts of western Syria. The SOHR reported at least one person wounded by rockets that landed in the government-controlled Abbasiya neighbourhood in Homs. The Syrian government has tried to conclude a deal in al-Waer that would see rebel fighters and their families evacuate the district and the government take over. Under similar local agreements in other parts of western Syria, rebels have left with light weapons and headed mostly for Idlib. Assad said on Wednesday that local reconciliation agreements were the most effective way to end the war and move towards a political solution, state news agency SANA reported. Government strategy The opposition says such agreements are part of a government strategy to forcibly displace populations from opposition-held areas after years of siege and bombardment. In September, some 120 opposition fighters and their families left al-Waer in agreement with the government, but there have been no further reports of rebels leaving the area. The SOHR estimates several thousand rebels remain in the district. The ceasefire brokered by Russia, which backs Assad, and Turkey, which supports rebels fighting to unseat him, took effect on December 30. It has been fragile since the start, with the government side and rebels accusing the other of violations. The truce does not include the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group or al-Qaeda-linked fighters. On Wednesday, shells fired by rebels into Aleppo city in northern Syria killed at least two people, SANA reported. The Syrian Red Crescent said four of its volunteers were wounded, one critically, as they distributed aid in the Hamdaniya district. Government forces drove rebels from their last remaining districts in Aleppo in December in a major victory for Assad. Shell fire has hit the city on several occasions since then. Also on Wednesday, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that two Turkish soldiers died in a battle with ISIL, also known as ISIS, in northern Syria, citing the Turkish military. ISIL fighters neutralised The Turkish general staff had earlier confirmed that two other Turkish soldiers had been killed and 58 ISIL fighters neutralised during Operation Euphrates Shield. Turkish authorities use the word neutralised, meaning either surrendered, captured or killed. An operation was launched late on Tuesday to take control of Al-Bab. As a result of the operation, Free Syrian Army fighters supported by the Turkish military seized a number of strategic hills, the Turkish general staff statement said. Operation Euphrates Shield began in late August 2016. Immigration minister says Dubs programme will end in March after helping 350 children to enter the country. The British government has announced it will end a scheme to help vulnerable child refugees less than a year after it was introduced. Robert Goodwill, immigration minister, said in a statement on Wednesday evening that the UK could be proud of its efforts helping refugees as he announced the end of the Dubs programme, which will have helped 350 children resettle in the country when it ends in March. The scheme, which took the form of an amendment to immigration legislation, was introduced last May after pressure from veteran British politician Lord Alf Dubs on the government to provide sanctuary to children stuck in makeshift camps in northern France. Dubs himself arrived in Britain as a child refugee fleeing Nazi Germany during World War II. About 200 children have arrived in the UK under the scheme since it took effect in October last year, with another 150 expected before it ends. OPINION: Why doesnt Britain want to take refugee children? [The] UK has a proud history of providing protection for those in need, including some of the most vulnerable children affected by the migration crisis, said Goodwill. The governments strategy is to support international efforts to find a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the refugee crisis; we must deal with its root causes, as well as respond to the consequences. Charities helping refugees in northern France had expected up to 3,000 child refugees to be supported under the scheme. Care4Calais, one of the largest charities operating in the region, posted a status update on its Facebook page in response to the decision: We cannot let this happen. A petition launched by activists has already picked up more than 6,000 signatures. Marta Welander, director of Refugee Rights Data Project, told Al Jazeera the decision to end Dubs was deplorable. The UK governments decision is a misguided and deplorable move that appears to go against principles of human rights and child protection, she said Our research indicates that refugee children living in precarious situations on the UKs doorstep remain in critical need of protection. Completely wrong Opposition politicians also weighed in, with Labour MP Yvette Cooper condemning the decision as shameful. [The government] is completely wrong to close down Dubs scheme to help lone child refugees after less than 12 months! Refugee crisis hasnt gone away, she wrote on Twitter. US President trying to close refugee programmes altogether. Now UK Gov closing Dubs programme for most vulnerable refugees of all. Shameful. French authorities demolished the informal Calais refugee camp, known as The Jungle, in October. About 1,179 of the 10,000-plus refugees living in the camp at the time were children. The UK also operates another scheme for the resettlement of children, under which young refugees are reunited with family members already living in the UK. Zimbabwes Constitutional Court has rejected a case filed by an activist that challenged President Robert Mugabes ability to rule, saying proper court procedures werent followed. Promise Mkwananzi of a social movement calling itself Tajamuka wanted to prove the 92-year-old president was unfit to hold office given his advanced age. The court threw out the application on Wednesday, saying Mkwananzis case was filed improperly and he has 30 days to address technicalities and refile. Speaking to media outside the court in the capital, Harare, Mkwananzi said he will appeal against the decision. This is just a convenient excuse for the constitutional court to bite the bullet, so we are saying that we are going to reapply within 30 days as prescribed by the rule of the constitutional law and relaunch this issue, he said. We think that this is a very strong case to answer the overwhelming evidence against him. There are statements which the president made which are clearly not in the spirit of the constitution. In his case, Mkwananzi argued that Mugabe who turns 93 this month is to be blamed for the poor state of the economy, corruption, high unemployment, and alleged human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. WATCH: Mugabes media mastery Afraid of what? We cant be afraid. This is our country and we are citizens of this country. We are entitled to the things that we do. We have done everything perfectly above board in terms of laws of the country. We are exercising our democratic right, Mkwananzi told Al Jazeera. Opposition parties say they will form a coalition by June and choose one presidential candidate to challenge Mugabe in next years election. Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare, said the court procedure lasted only a few minutes. Many activists watching this case werent sure it would go through. They didnt know that Promise was going to win, she said. But the opposition says this case was to give a message to those activists that it is still possible to challenge Mugabe despite the high stakes and risks. Civil society groups and activists say there will be more anti-government protests this year. Mugabe has been in power since the countrys independence from Britain in 1980. He is coming under growing pressure from his opponents and some former allies, who are calling for him to step down. But members of the ruling ZANU-PF party want him to run again in next years vote. Anger over high unemployment and cash shortages has led to violent protests in the past year. Lebanese and Egyptians discover their family history through old photos and tales of the studios where they were taken. Filmmaker: Mohamed Mamdoh In the 19th and early 20th centuries, when people wanted to have a photograph taken, they visited a professional studio. Family albums were full of the resulting images formal group photos and individual portraits. In this film, Family Album, Lebanese and Egyptians look back at their family history, captured in these old studio photographs. It is part nostalgia and part personal history, as they reflect on lost moments and memories. At 120 years old, the Bela photography studio in Egypt is reputedly the oldest in the Arab world. It was opened by a Hungarian immigrant called Bela, but has now been in the Egyptian Aldein family for generations. Mohamed Ashraf Mehi Aldein or Ashraf Bela as he is popularly known runs the studio. His collection of photos date back to the 1920s and reveal the evolution in Egyptian social traditions, values and beliefs over the decades. Some liked the man to be seated, to convey his power, with the woman standing beside him with her hands on his shoulder. This was popular around 1917 to 1920, he explains. Then, they decided the man should let the woman sit, out of respect, and he should remain standing. Then, the extended family: grandparents, mother, father and grandchildren stood and the grandparents were seated. For Egyptian artist, Amina Kamil, photographs are a way to capture the present. But they also document history. Its a souvenir of people we never saw, like our grandparents, she explains. My pictures will go to the next generation. They wont see us, but theyll know us and what we did in life. Leafing through her family photographs with her father, she learns about her grandmother a doctor at a time when higher education was rare for women and her great-grandmother, who took part in the Egyptian nationalist demonstrations of 1919 and 1923. In this picture, your grandmother is wearing peasant clothes She didnt normally wear peasant clothes, but she liked to wear the clothes of her ancestors [for this photo], Aminas father explains. Heres her picture when she was a new medical graduate, and shes wearing a gown and a hat. When she took her diploma they called her effendi. She went and took her little brothers suit and wore it. And she wore a fez too because she was an effendi. It became an inside joke. Azza Suleiman is a lecturer at the Lebanese University in Beirut and says of the resonance of old photographs: There are some things that have been lost and only memories are left Its about what was and what could have been; more than just memories. She gets emotional when looking at pictures of her late mother. It makes me feel like Im there, back with my mother when she was still in our lives, she reflects. Azza believes photos are a part of Lebanese culture and says theres even a joke about it: How can you tell Lebanese people in a restaurant? Because before they order, they tell the waiter to take their picture! Mohamed Zein Aldein is a Lebanese business student who feels that photographs allow him to maintain his special connection to his late grandfather. Taking a picture with him was like an official event, he says. [They] are always posed like taking a picture with a government minister. But they also help him to know his uncle, who died in the Lebanese civil war. My only wish is to have known him, Mohamed reflects. I only knew him from pictures. In fact, photographs played an important role during the civil war as they became a way to remember the 200,000 people who were killed. Ara Keshishans Beirut photography business thrived as young men wanted their families to have something to remember them by, in case they were killed. During the war, we worked 100 times more than we did the rest of our lives. The soldiers came in 10s and 20s and 30s, saying, Take our pictures, we want pictures, Ara recalls. During the war, explosions damaged the store 10 times, but the work covered everything. We worked a lot. But in an age of mobile phone cameras and selfies, the role of these old studios has been diminished. Instead of capturing precious moments in peoples lives, they have been relegated to taking photos for government documents, passports and driving licences. Family Album offers an insight into the vital role old photography studios played in capturing the lives of ordinary people across the Middle East at a time when photography was in its infancy and the role those photographs have played during the more recent regional turmoil. They say pictures are always precious to your heart, Mohamed reflects. They make you feel nostalgic. They remind you of the beauty of something you lived before. Memories that you want to go back to. It was an unusual presidential election, with 22 candidates and no polling stations. MPs voted but not everyone else because of the threat of attack. The election was marred by accusations of bribery and political infighting among the clans of Somalia, all 135 of them. So will the new president be able to lead Somalis through the many political and security challenges? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Afyare Elmi Somali political scientist and associate professor of International Affairs, Qatar University Matt Bryden chairman, Sahan Research Institute, Kenya Hawa Hassan former government minister in Somalia One word. For the 50-person, mostly black crowd gathered Tuesday at UF, the usage and history of a single, six-letter word generated an hour and a half of discussion. Inside the Black Enrichment Center, as a part of the universitys celebration of Black History Month, the N-word was freely used as attendees grappled with its meaning and searched for a conclusion. I wanted to talk about the mentality of it, said Vee Byrd, the director of Black Affairs and the events organizer. How do we combat the mentality around being a n---- and what that means? Byrd, who has given similar discussions across the country for the past four years, began with the history of the word. Negro was a neutral term that meant black in Spanish, French and Italian. But with time, spelling and pronunciation changed and the word gained a new, derogatory meaning in the U.S. It was how slaveholders referred to slaves, how whites referred to blacks. Over time, as its general use became stigmatized, the word became a term of endearment among members of the black community. I wanted to understand why this word was so common in my own mouth, Byrd told the crowd. She said knowing the history behind the word and its immersion into past and current pop-culture makes her wonder if anyone should be justified in using it. Yeah, its complicated, she said. Dashari Kearse, a 22-year-old UF anthropology and linguistics senior, said the word may leave a nasty taste in the users mouth, but it doesnt mean people, himself included, will stop using it. The word can mean different things in the same sentence, Kearse said. I aint telling you how to say it, but proceed with caution. Those around him agreed. But the lines become blurred when someone of a different race utters the N-word. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Yeah, we use it, but we dont like it at the same time, he said. Chris Kessling, a 25-year-old UF alumnus, sat in the middle of the crowd. Even though he sat quietly, his pale skin, blue-green eyes and dirty blonde hair made his presence known. Not being African-American, the more I can learn the better, he said. Kessling works with students as a staff member with Cru, an on-campus Christian organization. He said his goal to connect with students on a spiritual level drove him to learn about the history and culture of the N-word. Its super helpful knowing where the word comes from and answering the question, Should it be used or should it not? even in the black community. Byrd, who will be leaving UF after four years next week, said she felt the discussion was a good way to end her time working with African-American students at the university. Its a way of reframing conversations and getting our campus community to start looking at things differently, too, she said. @ced0624 cdickson@alligator.org About 50 people came together to hear Vee Byrd give her last presentation at UF as the director of Black Affairs. The topic of conversation was the history and discussion of the N-word. Stephanie Schroeder braced herself as the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the secretary of education. Although two Republican senators broke party lines and voted against the nominee, the Senate vote for Betsy DeVos tied Tuesday afternoon. And for the first time in history, the vice president had to cast the tie-breaking vote on a cabinet pick, and Vice President Mike Pence confirmed DeVos, according to NPR. Schroeder, a UF education doctoral student, faxed a letter to Sen. Marco Rubios Florida and Washington, D.C., offices Friday express the discontent of more than 140 UF College of Education students and alumni. Despite receiving phone calls and letters to oppose DeVos, Rubio still voted for the nominee, along with most of his fellow Republicans. Schroeder, 30, watched the vote unfold on a livestream on her phone while rallying with about 50 other protesters outside U.S. Rep. Ted Yohos office Tuesday. Her phone began buzzing with angry messages from her peers who signed her letter. I think people were hoping, and they are disappointed, she said. She said no one she knows in the UF College of Education has expressed support for DeVos. She said some didnt agree with her stance on school choice, while others thought she wasnt informed enough about special education for students with disabilities. Even though her letter was unsuccessful, Schroeder said she doesnt regret it. She said shes glad a group of education professionals were able to inform people about the education field and DeVos. Rather than it being the end, the outrage over her nomination for the position could be a good motivation for people to view education and education policy, she said. DeVos can make calls on federal funding for schools, but state and local governments make important decisions that directly affect schools, Schroeder said. Now its time to pay attention to the local school boards and policies. Ali Unger-Fink, a Gainesville elementary school intern and UF education ProTeach masters student, had just walked home a group of fifth-grade students when she heard the news. I was very hopeful that it would not happen, the 22-year-old said. I cant say Im completely surprised. Unger-Fink said she was hoping a Republican senator would vote against DeVos at the last minute. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now She said she was concerned DeVos couldnt answer simple questions about education during her confirmation hearing Jan. 17, like the difference between growth and proficiency. It was just upsetting that she was very unfamiliar with the major education reforms and concepts, she said. There were a lot of things that she said that were disturbing. Even though shes disappointed, she said she plans to research exactly how DeVos could affect public schools to prepare herself. Im going to keep doing what Im doing, and thats putting the kids first, she said. @paigexfry pfry@alligator.org Dave Glaser came to Billings Tuesday with a compelling offer: $80 million to help developers finance projects to improve blighted neighborhoods. We have free money for projects that are eligible in Montana. You should call me, Glaser, president of the Missoula-based Montana & Idaho Community Development Corporation, told a group of about 30 lenders and business leaders. Glaser was at the First Interstate Bank Operations Center to pitch his nonprofits newest round of funding through its New Markets Tax Credits program. In November, the group learned it is receiving $90 million worth of tax credits from the U.S. Treasury, the largest award for a regional group in the country. With $10 million already committed, Glaser said hes seeking additional projects to fund. The catch is that the project must meet a strict set of standards to qualify. It must be in an area designated as low-income or blighted (parts of downtown Billings qualify) or employ low-income workers. It must be above $4 million and the developers must pass an extensive credit check. Any lender, any business that works with us, knows this is complicated stuff, but worth it, Glaser said. The development group has doled out $431 million in New Market Tax Credits for Montana and Idaho projects since 2008. It typically covers 15 to 20 percent of the total development costs. In Billings, the corporation provided about $2.5 million about one-sixth of the total for the Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel on North 27th Street in Billings. Without that financing, the developers said they likely would not have been able to raise capital to tear down the numerous dilapidated houses and buildings on the site and revitalize the neighborhood. Glaser said the community development corporation can work with developers to qualify for projects in areas that dont necessarily seem blighted. Dont automatically assume that, the way a neighborhood looks, that its not eligible, he said. When a student told Lauren Marlowe she felt alone, the eighth-grade English teacher saw herself. Marlowe, 35, went home that night and found a fictional character the student could relate to Jane Eyre. She brought back her only torn and tattered copy of the book and gave it to the Oak View Middle School student. Id like to introduce you to one of my closest friends, she wrote in the book. For the strides she has taken to make connections with her roughly 130 students spanning six class periods, Marlowe was honored Thursday as Alachua Countys Teacher of the Year. Its a little surreal, she said. Im still kind of astonished that it happened. The other two finalists for the award were Susan Surrency from Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School and Amy MacCord from Hawthorne Middle/High School. Jackie Johnson, a spokesperson for Alachua County Public Schools, said Marlowe was nominated by her fellow teachers at Oak View, and then selected by a 39-person committee made up of past winners. If you listen to her students, she is very deserving of that recognition, Johnson said. Marlowe said her secret to connecting with her students is books. Reading has always been a great escape for me, she said. In those awkward teenage years, you can always count on a book to be your friend. Three years ago, she started a peer tutoring program to help students who may be struggling. She also serves as the language arts department chair and an adviser to the art club and student government. Marlowe, a native of Chiefland, Florida, said she always wanted to be a teacher. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Ive never wanted to do anything else, she said. I loved school so much I just figured I would stay. After graduating from Gainesville High School, Marlowe graduated from UF in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and again in 2005 with a masters in education. After graduating, she worked at Kanapaha Middle School for five years before joining Oak View in 2013. Naturally, she married a teacher. Her husband, Jordan Marlowe, teaches English and history at Newberry High School. They have a 5-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. Barbara Brock, 48, an eighth-grade science teacher at Oak View, said Marlowe empowers students. She encourages them to be themselves and appreciate who they are, Brock said. I think thats why she got that award. @merylkornfield mkornfield@alligator.org English News How Thailand eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission - 8 Fevrier 2017 Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, thanks to a pragmatic multi-sector response backed by strong political commitment and heavy government investment, a study published in Paediatrics and International Child Health reports. Such an early, concerted response allowed the country to successfully address the four prongs of the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) elimination strategy. As a result, MTCT rates were reduced from 20-40% in the mid-1990s to 1.9% in 2015 (surpassing the WHO elimination target of <2%). The WHO strategy focuses on the following four prongs: primary prevention of HIV in women of childbearing age; prevention of unintended pregnancies in women living with HIV; prevention of HIV transmission from an HIV-infected woman to her infant; and provision of appropriate treatment, care and support to women and children living with HIV. In Thailand, initiatives to promote condom use, provide information about the risk of transmission and introduce testing for pregnant and post-partum women were successfully implemented. For example, the 100% Condom Programme, which promotes 100% condom use by male patrons of commercial sex workers, has played a crucial role in preventing HIV infection in women of reproductive age. The success of such initiatives resulted in part from strong political leadership the national AIDS policy of Thailand was transferred from the Ministry of Public Health to the Office of the Prime Minister in 1991 and greatly increased investment, with government spending on the HIV/AIDS programme rising from US$684,000 in 1988 to US$82 million by 1997. The high rate of antenatal care provision in Thailand is also key. A voluntary HIV test with same-day results is offered at the first clinic visit, followed by re-testing later in pregnancy for HIV-negative women. For HIV-infected pregnant women, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is provided as soon as possible. Such treatment is now available at much lower cost, thanks to legislative changes which have allowed the non-commercial production of generic ART in Thailand. Counselling services at antenatal clinics also promote the use of dual methods of contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy in women with HIV. The studys author, Professor Usa Thisyakorn of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok said: Thailand has achieved WHO elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission targets with early and concerted efforts of all sectors of Thai society. This provided numerous lessons learned in working together to safeguard children. Since children are the country's future, how the country responds to the problems created for them indicates how highly the country values its future. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China enhances efforts to promote biodiversity conservation China stress its commitment to push ahead peace and development for humanity at 20th CPC National Congress CPC's governance experience is worth learning from Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) While the angry left seems to get angrier by the day, America should make no mistake that working folk, the people who put Trump in office, remain angry, too. Their disgust with the establishment is clearly durable. It stretches at least as far back as the financial crisis of 2008-09 and finds reason in the question: why have we seen no prosecutions? For years, Obamas Washington hurled recriminations at the financial community for all the harm that it had done. That group suggested that greed and incompetence together had created a colossal lapse of standards and financial irresponsibility surrounding sub-prime mortgage losses. Yet, these same authorities put no one in the dock. Instead, Washington used taxpayer money to secure firms and by implication the individuals who run them. Few companies have faced bankruptcy. Boards of directors, those who by custom and law are ultimately responsible, have seen little turnover, barely 10 percent in fact. It does seem strange. Media discussion has floated several explanations of why no prosecutions have taken place. These depend largely on the political biases and the economic status of the speaker. Those close to the decision makers, condescendingly explain that matters are complex. They tell us that the substitution of rescue for legal action was all that kept the crisis from spinning out of control and that in any case it would have been impossible to identify which individuals were responsible. Folks without status and position -- Trump supporters on the right and Sanders supporters on the left -- tell us that politicians went easy on financial executives because they belong to the same moneyed class, that politicians wanted to protect the flow of campaign contributions. Though there is some truth in this, the real story speaks to even greater corruption. Matters indeed were and are complex but not in the way that the authorities and senior financial executives say. The problem is that the political class was and is afraid that prosecutions, even bankruptcy proceedings, would reveal how thoroughly their policies and directives contributed to the crisis. Had they attacked financial executives as thoroughly in the courtroom as they did rhetorically, those executives would have had no choice but to fight back, pointing out in the process the ways in which Washington shared guilt in the disaster. The politicians wanted to avoid such counteraccusations at just about any cost. So they talked tough in front of the cameras and while reporters kept their notebooks open, but otherwise helped those in the financial community, at least the senior executives, keep much of what they had, a kind of bribe not to reveal too much. Certainly, the authorities had plenty of material that would have supported disciplinary or even criminal action had they felt free to move. Bankers at all levels had imprudently abandoned lending standards to give loans to so-called sub-prime borrowers who were unlikely to meet their obligations. They got fees and high rates from these questionable loans but in the process put their firms and the financial system at risk. Such behavior may not be criminal, but it surely violated regulatory guidelines and warranted discipline. Worse, they packaged these dubious loans into securities that they sold to the government agencies, pension funds, and other financial institutions, spreading risk through the system and raising doubts about the financial viability of every actor in it. Credit rating agencies facilitated this unethical and perhaps fraudulent behavior by irresponsibly giving high ratings to these less than safe securities. In the teeth of this risk taking, financial institutions relied on dubious financial derivatives, such as credit default swaps, to push the unsupportable danger of loss onto others. Guilty as financial people were -- and this is only a sketch of the nonsense that went on -- they were not alone. The authorities that in a well-ordered world would have prevented such behavior were in fact encouraging it, even facilitating it. Take, for instance, the dubious mortgage loans the banks were making to the so-called sub-prime and Alt-A borrowers. Washington all but demanded that the banks make lots of such loans. For decades, the government had encouraged home ownership and sought to stop banks from disguising discrimination behind a mask of lending prudence, a practice called red-lining in which they refused to advance mortgages to buyers in certain neighborhoods. At first the moderate government pressure seemed appropriate. In 1992, however, Washington became much more aggressive. With the passage of the Housing Community Development Act, the two government agencies that supported mortgage lending, the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) commonly called Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), commonly called Freddie Mac, were effectively ordered to provide some 30 percent of their resources for such lending. Earlier in this century, the two agencies set that percentage higher to 50. However well meaning, this goal increased risk throughout the financial system and implicitly encouraged regulatory neglect and failure. Since Fannie and Freddie primarily supported mortgage lending by buying packages of loans from banks, they had to lower their standards dramatically, effectively transferring the risk the banks were taking to the taxpayer. The bank regulators meanwhile had difficulty reconciling risky government mandates with their otherwise stringent capital and reserve requirements on lenders. And since these bank regulators were eager to get the risky assets off the books of their charges, they and others in positions of oversight turned a blind eye to the easy practices of the rating agencies that so helped to transfer the risk that the banks were taking to others in the financial system who perhaps were not the responsibility of the bank regulators. For the same reasons these regulators looked less carefully at the exotic derivatives, like credit default swaps, used to spread risk. There may be little criminality in such behavior, but it was irresponsible and a dereliction of duty. It was a significant enough contribution to the mess to impel both politicians and bureaucrats to hide the record as best they could. The optics were bad, as they like to say in DC. One way to keep eyes off their record was to castigate Wall Street and the financial community very publically but not to push financial people into a position where they had to push back, especially legal actions, including bankruptcy, where both elected officials and bureaucrats would lose control of the narrative. So instead they bailed out banks with taxpayer money. They resisted bankruptcy not, as they said, because it would cause the system to seize up. Bankruptcy, after all, does not stop a firms operations and the system seized up anyway. The danger of bankruptcy was that it would cancel all contracts, including generous executive compensation and severance schemes, turning financial executives from allies in the deception into enemies. No one player bears all the blame in the 2008-09 financial crisis. There is plenty to go around. History, if it is honest, will no doubt record it as a sordid affair in which those in powerful positions used taxpayer monies and other public means to cover their poor judgement and worse behavior and secure their positions while only innocents, working men and women, paid by losing their jobs and otherwise suffering in the ensuing great recession. Similarly, all the judgements and fines since have fallen not on the executives but on the shareholders. Mr. Ezrati is a contributing editor at The National Interest, an affiliate of the Center for the Study of Human Capital at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), and recently retired as Lord, Abbett & Co.s senior economist and market strategist. His most recent book, Thirty Tomorrows, describing how the world can cope with the challenges of aging demographics, was recently released by Thomas Dunne Books of Saint Martins Press. On Jan. 27, 2017 President Trump issued an executive order called, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States. This executive order immediately provoked a nationwide, highly organized protest movement. Several states' Federal District Courts issued temporary restraining orders or stays of execution, halting efforts to implement the Trump EO. Title 8 of the U.S. Code, Section 1182, Inadmissible aliens is a 38-page list of grounds for refusing admission to any alien. The president is given broad powers by Congress to implement this federal statute through another federal law: Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. The Democratic Party has long established itself as an identity group party. It has divided the nation up into a list of groups of persons based on ethnicity and race and targeted these groups in their campaigns. Slogans such as black lives matter are intended to influence voters into believing that the Democratic Party alone sympathizes with and will act, using government control of agencies and benefits, to improve the lives of those who are members of these groups. These actions by the Democrats have a clearly defined and troubling theme in common: the manipulation of groups of human beings into regions under Democratic control so as to build up and exploit their numbers. In return, these groups support the Democratic Party and maintain its political power. The Feb. 4, 2017 temporary restraining order issued by Judge James L. Robart and judges in other states are best understood in this historical context. The Democratic Party has a 200-year history of activism with regard to defying federal law in order to control the movement of people. These efforts have always used one major strategy: to use the local power of mayors and state officials to rewrite and defy federal law. Now they are using judges sympathetic to the Democratic Party's political strategy. The state actions to create and preserve sanctuary cities are then best understood as an exercise of rebellion against federal law. This trend first began in the 1820s when John C. Calhoun and other politicians in the Southern slave-holding states defied the rising sentiment that slaves who entered free states could no longer be held as slaves. This fight eventually led to the Civil War. But the tendency of Democrats to usurp the power of federal government to establish and maintain control over groups of persons has not ended. It was first expanded to Mexican farm workers; then illegal immigrants, and now immigrants from all foreign nations. While the U.S. Constitution delegates only to Congress the power to establish an uniform rule of naturalization this power was usurped in 1942 when the Bracero program, a guest worker program that enabled Hispanics to legally work in the US, was first established. The Bracero program began as an agreement signed July 23, 1942 between President Roosevelt and President Manuel Avila Camacho and was ratified on Aug. 4, 1942 as that by the U.S. ambassador in Mexico City and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This agreement was essentially based on an Executive Order, 8802, and not passed through Congress. The Bracero program was abolished by Lyndon B Johnson in 1964, just months before he announced his Great Society federal entitlement programs. This cancellation resulted in a huge influx of Hispanic illegal immigrants to the U.S. With LBJs Great Society benefits, they could be assured that federal benefits would be made available to them. While some number of illegal Hispanic immigrants always came to the U.S., the number was so low that the U.S. Census Bureau did not even include a race/ethnic group category called Hispanic in 1970. Two more major actions, not involving Congress, were declared by cities after 1970. The first was the issuance of Special Order 40 by the Los Angeles chief of police which formally announced that it is the policy of the Los Angeles Police Department that undocumented alien status in itself is not a matter for police action. Since the LAPD is not a federal agency, an arm of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or the Department of Homeland Security, the statement is legally meaningless. It is, in reality, a public relations statement: marketing the city of Los Angeles to illegal immigrants. Today, Los Angeles has video links to Youtube on its official website, linking to speeches from the officials of five Central American countries, assuring potential illegal immigrants that they will not be harassed by LAPD if they travel illegally to Los Angeles. However, the LAPD took a step further and engaged in the practice of refusing to turn over persons of undocumented alien status when they did commit crimes. This led to the tragic Kate Steinle incident in San Francisco, another city which formally proclaims its scofflaw status. Next came Executive Order 85-1 issued by Chicagos Mayor Harold Washington, in 1985. This executive order made a similar statement, but went further and declared that all city services and employment opportunities were to be made available to all residents regardless of citizenship status. It is a violation of the 1996 Immigration Act for anyone to harbor, aid or assist illegal immigrants or promote illegal immigration. Today 47% of Chicagos public school students are Hispanic. That fall, New York Citys Mayor Edward Koch issued a memo (again, not legally binding) to city agencies effectively creating New York Citys sanctuary policy. That memo remained in effect until Koch issued his Executive Order 124 on August 7, 1989. It was reaffirmed by Mayor Bloomberg and remains in effect. Today 40% of New York Citys population is foreign-born, the highest in its history. In 2014 President Obama bypassed immigration law and used federal agencies to house illegal immigrant children at detention centers in many areas around the West. The primary goal of sanctuary cities is to build up the populations of Democrat-controlled cities, most of which are rapidly losing population. It is interesting to note that a Congressional hearing on immigration held on Feb. 27, 2003 reported a long list of the harm done to residents in New York City, caused by NYCs sanctuary policy, but now judges around the country are citing potential harm to those non-citizens carrying visas as a reason to halt President Trumps directive of Jan. 24. Judge Robarts defiance of President Trumps EO is just another chapter in the long story of how the Democratic Party has rebelled against federal authority for two hundred years. And all of this defiance has been targeted to achieve one goal: The demographic control of persons to grow their big city populations. Ah, the fear and leftist mob hysteria greeting President Donald J. Trump today! It just keeps going on. Sometimes it seems that our news mob agitation may never end, at least for this generation of leftists. I would feel genuinely sorry for them if they hadn't been so sadistically mean during the Obama years. But now we are seeing a kind of poetic justice in the shape of simple payback. This is the ancient tale of the biter bit, of mob political violence repaid in its own coin, and best of all, of the corrupt left-wing establishment getting what it so richly deserves. From the U.S., the Trump phenomenon is now visibly spreading to Europe, where genuine democratic leaders have been tarred as Nazis and fascists for decades by the usual socialist power elites. (Obama is really a Euro-Socialist, because all of Marxist socialism started in Western Europe, even before Lenin and Mao destroyed the their countries by repeated "revolutionary" mob violence. It's all there in our remaining genuine history books. You could look it up.) Shakespeare, Moliere, and Swift might have laughed themselves sick over this post-election season. It may not look funny to us, but that's because most conservatives are civilized enough not to laugh at the just deserts of the left. European satirists had seen this mob violence stirred by the power classes many, many times. Shakespeare even put the vulgar mob into his play Julius Caesar, when Marc Anthony agitated the Roman mob against Brutus and the other assassins of Caesar. In Plutarch's history of Rome, which Shakespeare had read, Marc Anthony's mob agitation in Rome started a long and bloody civil war between the legions of Anthony and Brutus, splitting the Roman Empire. Mob agitation is an extremely ancient human sin, one often seen in the Muslim world, where mobs tend to riot, burn, and kill on Fridays after mosque sermons that enrage whole congregations against any convenient scapegoat. In the "House of Peace" (the Muslim world), mob violence is often whipped up by imams, mullahs, and their hired thugs. In Iran, the regime's thugs, the Basiji, went into student demonstrations at the beginning of the Obama years to stab and maim college students demonstrating peacefully for the Green Revolution against the theocracy. Obama did nothing whatsoever at that time, leaving the young demonstrators to the tender mercies of the mullahs. Mob violence happens in Africa, Asia, and Europe. It happened in the Indonesian Civil War in the years before Obama and his folks arrived in Jakarta. At that time, the overseas Chinese became the scapegoats of the hour. At times, mob agitation also happens in the Americas, but our political culture with the major exception of American blacks has often been more peaceful. Modern Americans have no idea how lucky they are, simply because our country was founded during the brief time of the Western Enlightenment, when ranting mobs were beaten down by reasonably peaceful authorities, like Napoleon Bonaparte after the French Revolution. Napoleon rose to power at the head of the French Army when the common mob in Paris started to kill too many innocent people. Bonaparte is often seen as an Enlightenment ruler in Europe, where he brought his Code Napoleon to the lands he conquered, all the way from Spain to Sweden. To be sure, Napoleon had to kill vast numbers of people while conquering their countries, but then he had his pleasanter side, too. French leaders still take pride in the heritage of l'Empereur. A few electoral constitutions emerged from the Western Enlightenment, building political structures that claimed to govern with the consent of the governed. The United States, Canada, and many former colonies happened to emerge at the right time, before European intellectuals fell in love with militarism, Marxism, and anarchism, all of them sure formulas for building tyrannical death cults. Liberals today are the puffed up moralizers of this age, much like the Puritans of old. Contrary to their historically ignorant self image, they are not empathic, much less compassionate. The core of the real left is always totalitarian. We used to have real liberals in America, after Stalinists were driven out of most of the unions and colleges, but the Stalinists have made an obvious comeback. Today's liberals are not prone to sympathize with conservatives about the radical Obama years. Donald Trump is smart enough, but he is not an ideologue. Not many successful business people are. Donald J. Trump is a patriot, however, which is a much more profound and natural state of mind. (Edmund Burke said all that more than two centuries ago during the Scottish Enlightenment, and Burke was much read in the British Isles, Ireland, and America. But today, even "conservative thinkers" have forgotten Edmund Burke. If they had bothered to reread their college textbooks, they would instantly see the Trump phenomenon in its true light. As far as I can tell, our thinkers are as ignorant of political thought as the competition on the left.) Well, this mob hysteria is going to last a long, long time, and my prediction is that hard leftists i.e., the whole Democratic Party machine at this moment will never find their vaunted compassionate side again. Love and compassion can be seen all over the web for cute kitty-cat photos, but when it comes to a long and distinguished political philosophy like conservatism, you can fuggedaboutit. Intuitive conservatives the kind of people Burke described so well now turn out to be at half of the American voters, give or take, depending on who turned out and how many dead people chose to vote in Chicago, Boston, New York, and Philly this time around. Voter fraud? Why voter fraud has been a winning formula for all the Democratic city machines in history, starting more than a century ago. Michelle Obama is deeply versed in Chicago voter fraud, because her dad was a ward boss in Chi-City. Voter fraud was his main business in life, which is how the mob and the Democrats basically the same people kept any other parties out of power for a century or more. Voter fraud? Now you're talking Mom and apple pie to the Alinsky left. Obama himself never bothered to win a real election in Illinois, always managing to blackmail his opponents into resigning before the vote was ever taken. Obama learned his politics under the tutelage of Emil Jones, the godfather of the Illinois machine. There are hundreds of jokes about the dear departed voting for Democrats in Boston, Chicago, Philly, and New York. Today we have millions of illegal voters foreign nationals with unknown loyalties voting wherever paid Democrat thugs can intimidate the wrong American voters. All the demagogic hullaballoo about Trump's plan to purge our corrupt voter registries is meant to scare and intimidate us. The Dems are hopelessly corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. Their real ideology is revealed by the fact that the Communist Party USA endorsed a Democrat for the first time in its history. For the CPUSA, Hillary was good enough for (you might say) government work. They couldn't find anybody to her left, not even Bernie Sanders. The mass hysteria of the American left today is whipped up with ancient mob agitation methods, which were all too well known in Eastern Europe and Russia, being used by Vladimir Lenin, the Nazis, and many earlier mob leaders. The same mob methods were constantly utilized by the czars and other tyrannical rulers of Poland and surrounding countries. They were also the methods used by the KKK against blacks after the Civil War, and they are identical to Saul Alinsky's little book of agitprop methods used by the hard left both here and there. Mob agitation is a cultural universal, it seems. Even the stoic people of Iceland forced their government to resign for fiscal malfeasance a few years ago. It takes a lot to rouse a mob in Iceland. But with the rise of the web, mob agitation can now be instantly organized around the world. The elementary school teacher who pretended to kill Donald Trump's image with a vicious water pistol is just one among thousands of saner members of the teaching profession. That's how it is in America, 2017, and we'd better get used to it. Until the alternative media reach as many Americans as the fakestream, mass mob agitation will be our daily fare. In a 1675 letter to his colleague Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton observed, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Three centuries later, this historic footnote became the theme for Project Apollo's farthest reach, America's final epic scientific expedition to the Moon that was the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. This final ambitious scientific exploration of the Moon saw both men and machines pushed close to their maximum human endurance and engineering design limits and represented not an end to sailing on the cosmic ocean, but a new beginning of an awakening of mankind's future destiny in space as well as the end of the beginning that was the promise of Project Apollo. The leader of this expedition was a most extraordinary American of indomitable spirit, vision, and enlightened understanding of our universe an understanding that came from having made the mind-altering journey from the Earth to the Moon not just once, but twice. As America and the world mourn the recent passing of retired U.S. Navy captain Eugene Andrew Cernan, we remember him as a man of many accolades to include true American patriot, distinguished U.S. Navy ROTC graduate of Purdue University and naval aviator, and distinguished Project Gemini and Apollo astronaut. An American original, with the heart and soul of an explorer, Gene Cernan was fully prepared at the right time and place not only to live history, but also to make it. To witness Captain Cernan's heartfelt interactions with humanity from all walks of life, or for those fortunate to have crossed paths with him on a personal level revealed a man with a big heart and a deep caring for others. His joy, generosity of spirit, and passion for sharing his profound experiences provided a window into his soul. Gene Cernan inspired several generations of young Americans to join the U.S. Navy to pursue the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Equally extraordinary was his great enthusiasm, humility, and ability to communicate to casual observers and laypersons the world over of his unique perspectives, emotions, and wonderment from his three complex space flight experiences and explorations. Those who were fortunate to witness his journeys during Projects Gemini and Apollo never forgot the amazing accomplishments achieved and the sacrifices he and his colleagues made to forge American pre-eminence in space. He was a tireless champion for America's manned space program past, present, and future, emphasizing the strategic importance for maintaining our American leadership in manned space flight and the urgent need to expand our human settlement of the Moon and beyond. It was clear to all who crossed paths with him over the decades that he truly enjoyed the public role of "American astronaut," a glaring spotlight and crushing fame that could easily undermine individuals of a weaker personal constitution. Carrying the American torch of liberty and technical achievement for much of his life, he truly made our nation and our world a better place because he was a part of it. While each of his space missions originated as engineering test flights in the Cold War race to the Moon, which saw a free nation not a Communist one first land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth, the final Apollo 17 "J" Mission was the last in the series dedicated purely to science. With the hindsight of half a century, there should be no doubt that NASA leadership made the right decision to send Gene Cernan to the Moon twice. In comparison with some of his more reserved space veteran colleagues, Captain Cernan was a storyteller extraordinaire. At one Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum gathering in later years, he masterfully answered a young six- or seven-year-old boy's innocent question that he must have answered thousands of times previously under similar circumstances over the decades, with all the patience and joy as if he had heard the question for the first time: "Were you scared walking on the Moon?" Cernan smiled and intently replied to the little boy that no, he was not scared but he was apprehensive while walking on the Moon. He proceeded to explain "apprehension": a kind of knowledge different from "fear," or being scared of the unknown. This was the Gene Cernan that many knew and loved and he never lost the common touch communicating his adventures and incredible experiences with others, no matter how simple or complex the questions posed to him. On another occasion, while visiting his adult daughter, then a public school teacher, America's most experienced lunar voyager greeted the youngsters born decades after Apollo, learning about space travel and fundamental principles of physics, rocket propulsion, and similar topics. A young local adult news reporter was sent to cover his classroom visit. She excitedly took the opportunity to ask her subject, "When will America return to the Moon?" The old Apollo veteran looked at the reporter and then pointed over to the young children on the floor building their rocket and responded dryly, "Don't ask me. Ask them." This was the more somber side of Gene Cernan, who knew how to make an effective point. By the time he commanded America's spectacular last lunar landing expedition, Apollo 17, Gene Cernan had the equivalent of a master's degree in geology and had exhaustively studied lunar geology for nine years, along with an intensive pre-flight survey of their landing site in the Moon's stunning Taurus-Littrow Valley on the southeastern edge of Mare Serenitatis. Cernan and his Lunar Module pilot were a highly trained duo who worked exceedingly well together. Sent on the ultimate geology field trip, their destination was the Taurus-Littrow Valley, ringed by mountains, which featured all kinds of tantalizing geologic mysteries and opportunities for discovery. The second day of their human exploration of the surreal, breathtakingly beautiful valley, ringed by previously unseen vistas and silent ramparts towering above them, saw Cernan and Schmitt drive nearly 13 miles around the valley floor, at times out of sight of their Lunar Module, "Challenger." At every turn, the two American explorers noted all kinds of diverse geology scattered about them and at their feet even the soil granules glistened in the brilliant sunlight like fine precious gemstones of every color imaginable spread across the rugged terrain. Mere photographs did not do justice to what their eyes were seeing. Cernan wondered, do we stay here or press on and drive over the crest of the next hill? What will we find there? It was the greatest drive in the course of human history through a pristine, ancient wilderness with a small, jeweled blue planet hovering 11 degrees low over the horizon, hanging in a velvety black sky a scene that defied the blinding lunar daylight and their more familiar earthly frame of reference. Fortunately for America and the world, Captain Cernan never stopped talking about his incredible lunar experiences including the amazing sights that his mind at times had difficulty processing. He never stopped reminding Americans that our leadership in space is vital as we look to the future of human spaceflight and that for a brief period, that once optimistic, forward-looking, deep space-faring nation and people were we. Only a bold explorer and an American original could convey the wonderment and fascinating philosophical and descriptive details and emotions of traveling to, living, and working on the Moon. Godspeed, Captain Cernan, and thank you again for taking us along with you in spirit as you stood on the shoulders of giants. The author is a former National Air and Space Museum docent and research assistant to Dr. Farouk El-Baz at the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies from 1976-79. He has maintained a 40-year affiliation with NASM, which he helped open in July 1976. Donald Trump is the hero in a fable of his own making. In the beginning, he may not have been a true believer himself, but he was smart enough to recognize that Republicans were fed up with the Bush dynasty and business as usual on the right. Cluelessness on the left was even more manifest. The New York Times, the Washington Post, public broadcasting, and the major commercial networks were all slapped by a Trump Twitter account. Print and broadcast media have yet to adjust to the reality of mainstream menopause. Smug progressives and their press allies were at first contemptuous of a populist candidate, then confused, and now hysterical. Over time, Trump exposed Fourth Estate shills as blatant partisans, makers and fakers, not reporters of the news. He used social media to talk past the establishment, the conventional wisdom, and most of the news spinners. With ribald irony, Donald Trump hoisted press and broadcast mavens with their own petards. In colloquial French, a "petard" is a fart. Media outlets did their damnedest to cook the numbers during the primaries and during the election. None of the usual hustles, including voting fraud, worked. Pollsters are now poking their navels for exculpatory explanations. Alas, as Trump says, hate, bias, and shams are still the most obvious culprits. Now that the public square is littered with donkey scat, the explanation for civic chaos is clearly a plague of jackasses. Liberal globalists, the Democratic Party, infantile Millennials, and an American media, with precious little credibility left, were the big losers in the 2016 election. Nevertheless, professional laptops and teleprompters are doubling down on the same stupidity, incitement to violence, and vicious mendacity that lost the Congress, the Courts, and the White House in 2016. Absent any reliable touchstone for truth, Donald Trump is thus empowered to create a new political reality by communicating directly with his insurgents. Wishful thinking among Trump haters is yet a political meme, a global if not social disease. No cure in sight. Like federal civil servants and federal contractors, alas, media failures seldom get fired. The same pundits who ridiculed candidate Donald now conspire with urban street losers to unseat President Trump. Coup plots and conspirators abound. The haters still don't get it. Serial failure is the absence of humility and reflection. Excess on the American right and left makes Trump look like a good choice. If Trump is a sympathetic figure, he can thank his enemies. American media sold out for ratings while the American left sold out to "pussy" politics. In contrast, Trump, warts and all, came to represent values that sensible folks care about: pride, common sense, national security, and economic safety. Trump was able to breach the blue wall of political correctness because he understood cardinal virtues of good strategy: offense and common sense. Good offense makes defense unnecessary. When one tactic doesn't work, common sense says try another. The haters are incapable of seeing beyond Trump hyperbole and bombast to the stratagems behind every issue. Trump chums political waters for chumps, creating daily feeding frenzies. Partisan fish rise to the bait, and public humiliation, every time. Trump may have taken a page out of Rush Limbaugh's book. About twice a day, Limbaugh will say something inflammatory or provocative on air only to use anticipated media hysteria as material for subsequent shows. Some journalist naif will take that bait every time. A news cycle corrupted by bias is the gift that keeps on giving. Trump's, Limbaugh's, and even Breitbart's numbers are a function mainstream incontinence. Outliers, right and left, fail to see that Trump rules the way he ran. He does not bring a knife to a gun fight. Hit Trump with a low blow, and he will probably bloody your nose with a tweet. When Trump says the press is the enemy or fake news, he is correct. After only two weeks, all manner of trash is being laid at Trump's feet: the Muslim migrant crisis, the European implosion, and the so-called Russian "menace." In fact, Islam has been a sectarian cesspool for 1,400 years. Appeasements and open borders of late have merely allowed longstanding religious toxins to poison and assault Western culture, if not sovereignty. None of this is Trump's doing. In fact, the European Union was doomed long before Donald Trump came along. The E.U., like all previous Utopian fantasies, is dying from globalist overreach and internal contradictions, all of which are orchestrated by smug quislings. Muslim jihad in Europe is a case study in poetic justice. None of this is Trump's fault. In fact, a coherent response to the Soviet collapse has been wanting for 25 years. Instead, E.U. and NATO chauvinists have tried to turn former Soviet client states into 21st-century cannon fodder. The second Cold War was going hot long before Trump ran for office. For three decades, no one in Brussels or Washington seemed to believe that E.U. expansion or NATO imperialism was a bad idea. The Russian scapegoat might be the worst and most dangerous hoax of the 21st century, serving only venal economic and venal political masters in Brussels and Washington. The hot, steaming mess that is domestic and global politics today is not Donald's fault, not any of Trump's doing. Western media, more than any political party, are the body guard of contemporary lies, spin, bigotry, tropes, memes, shibboleths, and utopian fairy tales that make responsible citizens want to hurl or re-elect Trump. Regime change, for example, is not a rose, jasmine, or springtime at the mosque. A sponsored coup is usually a naive imperialist pedaling a dirty rag, often the burka of false hope. If the truth be told, there are few media sissies or limp arguments that are a match for Trump's candor on these matters. A man who has everything has little to lose. If legacy is the prize, he has that, too. With one campaign, Trump has undone a troika of weak sisters: the Bush, Obama, and Clinton regimes. What followed was sour grapes. Trump, or anyone like him, might have been a winner the day he sought the nomination. By disposition, Trump is neither diplomat nor politician. He might be a pirate, though. Indeed, he commandeered a ship of state not just any ship, but the global flagship. Like any buccaneer, Trump's measure will be taken now by the cut of his crew. Great men are not necessarily good men. Yet survival is still a team sport. First Mate Stephen Kevin Bannon is a recruiting poster for buccaneers: successful, pugnacious, brutally candid, and ready to brawl. Unshaven, uncoiffed, and rumpled, Bannon looks like an unmade bed or a refugee from an Irish kegger. He is as unkempt as Trump is well groomed. Still, the two are shipmates. Neither has any illusions about real enemies, and neither backs away from a street fight. Trump, Flynn, and Bannon. Nobody should confuse buccaneers with lawyers, journalists, or professional politicians. Trump hired Bannon as first mate because the ship of state needs a fighter to repel borders and a brawler to lead shore parties as necessary. As strategic adviser, Bannon will be a strong hand, along with Mike Flynn, on domestic and foreign policy. For the moment, the DOD and the director of national intelligence are excluded from regular national security meetings. Good moves both. Draining the Beltway swamp begins with an unambiguous message to entrenched national security poseurs. The DOD has forgotten how to win, becoming a dollar sieve for contractors, while the intelligence community has become a haven for apology abroad and sedition at home. If institutional demotions get their attention, reform might be possible at DOD and the I.C. Team Trump has told State and Justice Department apparatchiks to get on board or get gone. That same signal is now a standing order for Defense and intelligence. Sedition and mutiny are a clear and present danger to the Trump administration. For the moment, Washington, D.C. is still the nexus for the arrogance, the intransigence, and all the incitement to mayhem that are the American left. If you had to pick a single failing, beyond serial stupidity, that characterizes Trump-haters, naysayers, and poor losers, it would have to be poor judgment. A mature strategist should know not to underestimate an opponent or an enemy. Trump has been the beneficiary of low expectations from the very beginning. Clueless opposition makes victory possible. An estimate on the high side is simply a prudent hedge. Underestimates are fatal flaws for all losers. If pundits have learned nothing from 2016, they should know that guys like Trump and Bannon thrive on thumping the purveyors of low expectations, hate, propaganda, and violence. The only thing more satisfying than being correct is winning. G. Murphy Donovan is a former intelligence officer who writes about the politics of national security. The last time Democrats were this upset about the election of a Republican president was when America elected Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's election revealed that for many Democrats, loyalty to the Union was only provisional. "Not my president!" rapidly became "not my country!" South Carolina led the way, declaring that it was no longer one of the states in United States. Like-minded surrounding states joined in and attempted to form an alternative country. The rest, as they say, is history. It is interesting to observe that Trump's election has revealed once again that loyalty to America is for many Democrats only provisional. Secession fever is running high in California among those who voted for Hillary Clinton and who find the outcome of the election wholly and utterly unacceptable. How far do you think this will this go? Like South Carolina, California has like-minded neighboring states. Will others Oregon, Washington, New Mexico join in by declaring their desire to secede from the United States and form another country? Robert Curry is the author of Common Sense Nation: Unlocking the Forgotten Power of the American Idea from Encounter Books. You can preview the book here. The authorities in New Jersey, like those in many liberal states, feel that bail for criminal suspects discriminates against potential criminals who can't afford to post bail. Therefore, they are more and more doing away with bail, for accused drug dealers, accused rapists, and even people accused of attempted murder. Jamie Contrano squirmed at the defendant's table inside the Passaic County Court House here. She had been charged with possessing four envelopes of heroin, and, having failed to show up for more than a dozen court appearances over the years, she was a perfect candidate for a high bail and a lengthy jail stay. Ms. Contrano, who was charged with heroin possession, had the worst score, both because of her 17 failures to appear in previous court cases and because of an outstanding assault charge. "I made a bad judgment call," she said to the judge, referring to her recent arrest. "I'm sorry." Judge Ernest M. Caposela, who oversees Passaic County, noted that Ms. Contrano, 39, had a job at a carwash and was seeing a doctor specializing in addiction. He decided to let her out. "Will she fall off the wagon?" Judge Caposela said in an interview after the hearing. "She might. But sitting in jail is only going to hurt her." She had "missed," or failed to show up for, 17 court appearances, but Judge Caposela couldn't believe that Jamie could be a flight risk and thought that jail would hurt her, rather than considering that her release could hurt others. The hearing illustrated the sharply altered legal landscape after voters in 2014 supported amending New Jersey's Constitution to nearly eliminate cash bail. New Jersey's changes, which were backed by Gov. Chris Christie, closely mirror those adopted by the federal judicial system and the District of Columbia, which have long shunned monetary bail in criminal proceedings. Accused rapists and even someone accused of attempted murder have been released without bail. "There is no system that eliminates all risk," Chief Justice Rabner said. "Last year, there was a risk that anyone released on bail could go out and commit a serious crime pending trial. What we are attempting to do is evaluate the level of risk with objective measures." Still, he acknowledged: "There will be a crisis one day, where a single defendant will violate conditions and does something that grabs the public's attention." What could that crisis be? Perhaps...murder or rape or violent assault? And if it happens, Chief Justice Rabner makes it clear that any complaints will be inconsequential. After all, it's only natural that a single defendant released will harm someone. When will that become consequential to Justice Rabner? When there are ten rapes? Twenty violent assaults? Thirty murders? If you live in New Jersey, it's time to buy a gun. At least you can be protected in your home. It is obvious that your state and local governments are doing nothing to protect you from the worst criminals. Deputy Editor Drew Belsky adds: Good luck. This ex-resident knows from having lived there that New Jersey's gun laws are some of the most onerous in the nation. After one finally gets his pistol (having paid for and filled out and submitted his permit form in quadruplicate), he can enjoy taking it to and from his shooting range only, as carrying open or concealed is de facto forbidden except in one's home or business. And if you happen to repel your attacker with hollow-point rounds a great alternative to destroying your own property or harming an innocent bystander well, again, good luck. Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com. CANNON BALL, N.D. With the green light from the federal government, the company building the Dakota Access oil pipeline said Wednesday it plans to resume work immediately to finish the long-stalled project. Opponents of the $3.8 billion project meanwhile protested around the country in an action some dubbed their "last stand." The Army on Wednesday granted the developer of the four-state oil pipeline formal permission to lay pipe under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, clearing the way for completion of the disputed project. "We plan to begin immediately," Vicki Granado, a spokeswoman for developer Energy Transfer Partners, said in an email to The Associated Press Wednesday night. Work had been stalled for months due to opposition by the Standing Rock Sioux, but President Donald Trump last month instructed the Army Corps of Engineers to advance pipeline construction. The tribe fears a pipeline leak could contaminate its drinking water. ETP says the pipeline is safe. "Now, we all need to work together to make sure the project is completed safely and with as little disruption to the community as possible. This has been a very difficult issue for everyone who lives and works in the area," U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, a North Dakota Republican, said in a statement announcing that the final easement had been granted. Some members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which has been at the center of the debate for nearly a year, urged "emergency actions" via social media. The Indigenous Environmental Network told people to target fuel-transportation hubs and government buildings and to expect violence and mass arrests. Protesters posted an online list of about 50 events nationwide. There were large rallies, including one outside the White House, and smaller ones, such as in Des Moines, Iowa. A group of protesters in Chicago targeted a bank, and another group went to an Army Corps of Engineers office in New York City but was asked to leave when they started filming without a permit. Several people were arrested for blocking public access to a federal building in San Francisco. "Today begins the next phase of mass resistance to Donald Trump's toxic Dakota Access pipeline," said Dallas Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network. "This is our land, our water, our health, and our culture at stake and if Donald Trump thinks we will give all of that up without a fight he is wrong." At a North Dakota encampment that's been the focus of the pipeline battle for months, the mood was tense, with a few dozen people milling about on a frigid morning and refusing to talk about their plans. Two men at the encampment ordered an Associated Press reporter to leave. Later, Joye Braun and Payu Harris, two pipeline opponents who have been at the camp since April, said in an interview at a nearby casino on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation that there's frustration but also resolve in the wake of the Army's decision. "The goal is still prayerful, nonviolent direct action," Braun said. The tribe maintains the decision violates its treaty rights, and its attorneys have vowed to keep fighting in court. The 1,200-mile pipeline would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. Construction is nearly complete but has been stalled while the Corps and Dallas-based developer Energy Transfer Partners battled in court over the final segment. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a pipeline leak would pollute its drinking water. The tribe led protests last year that drew thousands of people who dubbed themselves "water protectors" to the encampment near the crossing. Protesters and police sometimes clashed, leading to nearly 700 arrests. The camp's population has recently thinned to fewer than 300, and the Corps has notified remaining protesters that the government-owned land will be closed Feb. 22. On Wednesday, police or pipeline security continued to monitor the camp from nearby hills, as they have done for months. In the camp, few people were outdoors, where the wind chill sank to minus 20 degrees. The tribe itself has told camp occupants to leave, though there has been no effort to remove them. A new camp is being established on private land, according to Harris. "This is not over. We are here to stay. And there's more of us coming," he said. Chase Iron Eyes, an American Indian activist who has called on people to return to the main camp rather than leave, encouraged that again in a statement and on social media. "I'll see you on the front line," said Iron Eyes, who is facing a felony charge for allegedly inciting a riot during protest action last week near the camp. An assessment conducted last year determined the river crossing would not have a significant effect on the environment. However, the Army in December decided further study was warranted to address tribal concerns. The Corps launched a study on Jan. 18, but Trump signed an executive action six days later telling the Corps to proceed with construction. Workers earlier drilled entry and exit holes for the crossing, and oil has been put in the pipeline leading up to the lake in anticipation of finishing the project. CEO Kelcy Warren has said the work could be done in about three months. The confessed murderer of a white female jogger from Queens told police in a videotaped statement that he didn't like people from the jogger's white neighborhood in Howard Beach, raising the possibility that he would be charged with a hate crime. But authorities have yet to indicate that a hate crime is even on the table despite the clear racial motivation for the killing. New York Post: "I don't like those people over there," said Chanel Lewis, 20, who is black and split time between homes in the largely impoverished neighborhoods of East New York and Brownsville, according to sources. Lewis made the statement to a black detective when asked why he killed Vetrano, whose body was found strangled in Spring Creek Park. His comment caused cops to believe race was a factor in Vetrano's slaying, sources said. A white detective initially tried twice to get Lewis to talk and he refused, according to sources. But when the black detective, Barry Brown, interviewed him, Lewis waived his Miranda rights and gave two videotaped statements, confessing he'd "hit" and "choked" the jogger on Aug. 2. Brown is known as a highly skilled officer and the "best detective in Queens for getting confessions," sources said. On Tuesday afternoon, Vetrano's grieving father, Phil, visited his daughter's murder site, spending time at the makeshift memorial he's created with rocks taken from the path of his child's final run. He expressed his relief that cops have caught his daughter's alleged killer in a Monday post on a GoFundMe page set up in her honor. "As you all know by now we have caught this piece of [s---]," the father wrote. "As we expected he is a loner loser. He will pay for his crime. I want to thank all of you who have supported us so long." Lewis had a history of threatening female students in high school, telling a teacher's aide at the HS for Medical Professions in Brooklyn in 2011 that he wanted to "stab all the girls." This is a case that shows exactly why hate crime legislation can never be applied equally. When a white person murders a black person, an investigation into any kind of racial motivation is automatically undertaken. But in this case, authorities weren't even looking at the killer as a perpetrator of a hate crime. He had to confess his racial bias before the hate crime statute was even considered. At this point, it is unknown whether the prosecutor will even apply the statute to the jogger's murderer. The main argument against hate crime legislation is that it forces prosecutors and police to become mind-readers, peering into the souls of criminals to deduce whether they acted out of racial or other biases or that their crime was a matter of opportunity, or anti-social behavior, or whatever motivates most criminals to violence. Of course, there is zero evidence that hate crime statutes deter any crimes at all, which makes their unequal application even more problematic. No doubt that passing hate crime legislation makes liberal activists feel good. But its efficacy as a tool of law enforcement has yet to be proven. During the debate over passage of Obamacare back in 2010, opponents warned that the effect on small businesses would be severe. They pointed out that businesses with less than 50 employees would be reluctant to expand, given the law's requirement that all businesses that employed more than 50 people would have to offer insurance. There were also warnings that the costs of Obamacare would prevent small business from adding necessary employees. In other words, insurance requirements would drive the great jobs engine in the American economy and not business considerations. Small businesses create 70% of jobs in the US and placing shackles on that sector of the economy would be ruinous for job creation. Flash forward nearly 7 years later and you can see the wholesale damage Obamacare has inflicted on small businesses. Washington Free Beacon: A business owner told lawmakers on Tuesday that Obamacare has prevented new hiring because health care costs at his company increased by 51 percent. Thomas Secor, president of Durable Corporation, a small manufacturing company that employs 37 individuals, testified at the House Small Business Committee hearing that the Affordable Care Act has made providing health care coverage for workers more difficult. "Health care is certainly one of the most vexing problems facing small businesses. The enormous costs and ongoing uncertainty surrounding our health insurance system is a major cause for concern," Secor said. "As a business operator, I am deeply troubled by the ongoing difficulties our health care system creates for my fellow small-business owners and their employees, and by the fact that the most recent national effort to reform the health care system has done very little to address the costs we, as small-business owners, face." Secor represents the National Small Business Association, which has more than 65,000 members. According to one of the association's surveys, one-third of small businesses said they held off hiring due to high health insurance costs. One in four small businesses have chosen not to expand as a result of Obamacare and half of the businesses surveyed said they held off salary increases. "Fewer and fewer small businesses, especially those with fewer than 50 employees, offer health insurance as an employee benefit," Secor said. "This is not because they do not want to, or cannot find an insurance carrier in their market; it is because they simply cannot afford to offer a plan." Secor said that from 2013 to 2017, the average total cost per employee for health insurance coverage has increased by 51.7 percent. The business pays 70 percent or more of the cost of employee coverage. According to the association's survey, 90 percent of businesses said they saw health insurance premium increases at their most recent renewal and 95 percent said they saw increases over the past five years. Twenty percent of firms saw premium increases of more than 20 percent. In addition to the costs of premiums, businesses are faced with high costs associated with paperwork and regulatory demands. For example, it takes a firm 13 hours per month on average to be up to date on all of the changes associated with health care. The changes coming to Obamacare - regardless of what Congress does with the law - will almost certainly unleash significant growth in the small business sector of the economy, driving economic growth and wages upward. That the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress preferred enforcing draconian requirements that had to be met by small businesses to acknowledging the potential for growth and removing impediments to job creation only proves that Democrats cared more about the politics of Obamacare than growing the economy. For many thousands of small businesses , it is too late. They were forced into bankruptcy because they couldn't make a go of it while Obamacare rules stifled their ability to grow. Those jobs lost are directly on the head of Obama and the Democrats who refused to listen to those who voiced opposition to rules that would so clearly stifle the small business sector. The infantile nature of much left-wing activism has been confirmed by a study from the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as reported by the mass-circulation Bild newspaper in Germany, picked up in English by the U.K. Daily Mail. The vast majority of left-wing protesters arrested on suspicion of politically-fuelled offences in Berlin are young men who live with their parents, a new report found. The figures, which were published in daily newspaper Bild revealed that 873 suspects were investigated by authorities between 2003 and 2013. Of these 84 per cent were men, and 72 per cent were aged between 18 and 29. ... The figures published in the Berlin newspaper said of the offences committed against a person, in four out of five cases the victims were police officers. In 15 per cent of these cases, the victims were right wing activists. The original German-language headline in Bild is quite insulting: "92 Prozent der Linksradikalen wohnen noch bei Mutti" "92 percent of left wing radicals still live with mommy" Young adults living with their mommies tend to have reduced opportunities for sexual gratification, which may have something to do with the anger levels found among lefties. Then there is the humiliation of being unable to support oneself, to launch a life separate from that of childhood. Rather than admit failure, it is much easier to project personal inadequacies onto some impersonal "system" that is then blamed for the misery of dependence and stultified adulthood. Hat tip: David Paulin American Thinker pieces by Michael Filozof ("The United States Cannot Survive as Presently Constituted"), Ed Straker ("Trump should disregard clearly unconstitutional court orders"), Selwyn Duke ("Trump could just ignore court's order halting travel ban") could be packaged together as a commentary by a freshly living Publius. They're seamlessly reasoned. Indeed, as a whole, they convincingly illustrate why the executive, in ignoring arrogations of power by the court, actually restores the Constitution to its original and much healthier balance of power between the Judicial and Executive branches rather than placing the nation, as the liberals insist it must, in crisis. But the observation should also be made that Donald Trump does not yet see it. Indeed, his lawyers out there in front of that joke panel of the joke Ninth Circuit are justifying his reasoning rather than his legitimate authority. In exactly the fashion of a parent seeking to avoid having to exert his natural authority, the lawyers are admitting a child into their council. But the point is that a parent is placed by Providence in a position of natural authority in order to exert it for the protection of the child and parent, exactly as the executive is placed in his position of constitutional authority for the protection of the nation. And just as a parent, allowing a child to decide on his bedtime, or indeed whether he should have a bedtime at all, converts a family into a free-for-all, so a president, in chasing consensus where he is not required to do so by the Constitution, only invites what Shakespeare would call the leading of apes in hell. Chaos. This is why Lincoln was exactly right in ignoring Chief Justice Roger Taney's order to release the Confederate-sympathizing governor of Maryland from military arrest. Because if the Federal Court was indulged and Maryland allowed to join the Confederacy, Washington would have fallen and with it, in all likelihood, the Union. And as Selwyn Duke notes, Thomas Jefferson reminded us that the Constitution is not a suicide pact. So wake up, President Trump. Do not share your legitimate constitutional authority with those who are not by that Constitution entitled to it. The presidents before you who have done so were wrong. And they've taken us to the edge of the precipice in doing so. Richard F. Miniter is the author of The Things I Want Most, Random House, BDD. See it here. He lives and writes in the colonial-era hamlet of Stone Ridge, New York; blogs here; and can also be reached at miniterhome@gmail.com. President Trump initially said the media didn't report some terrorist incidents, which was quickly clarified to mean that they underreported them. The New York Times released a long list of terrorist attacks they had covered in their reporting to counter Trump's claim. The Times was correct on the very narrow question but totally wrong on the underlying truth. No one questions whether the Times, and the media, have reported most terrorist attacks. They have. But they report on terrorist incidents the way they report the weather. It is brief, to the point, and usually gone the next day. Most importantly, there is never any examination of the "why" behind terrorist attacks. The Times simply reports "A man shouting 'Allahu akbar' went and killed three people. He is now in custody," expressing no greater interest in what caused the incident than what you would see about what caused rain on a particular day. The underreporting that Trump is referring to is that total lack of curiosity on the part of the media about the motivations of the attackers. From that list the Times provided, you can see there have been many, many terrorist attacks by Muslims. Why are they committing so many attacks? Is this part of some trend that should concern us? The Times doesn't know and doesn't want to know. Contrast that with the story of how a private security guard shot and killed a black man who was trying to pound his head into the pavement. The Times published literally dozens and dozens of articles exploring the possible racist motivations of the security guard. Every time a police officer shoots a black man (which, in a nation as large as 300 million people, can happen from time to time), the Times empties a well of ink trying to draw larger conclusions about the racism of the police. Not so with radical Islamic terrorist attacks. There are no days and days of follow-up about the ideology that drove an Islamic terrorist. It happened, it's over, that's it, like a passing raincloud. That's the underreporting I believe President Trump is referring to. And then there is the over-reporting that President Trump did not mention. For every story that dutifully reports a terrorist attack, there are ten or twenty stories highlighting the plights and virtues of Muslim refugees. They even fall into predictable categories: 1) The refugees who are just like Americans. They are constantly described as having Barbie dolls or wearing Disney shirts (the children too young to wear a burka) and as loving American food and supermarkets. If they like our supermarkets, they must be good, right? 2) The little things that humanize them. The story I reported on yesterday about Christians donning hijabs also showed a photo of a Muslim family eating a traditional meal. Eating food makes them appear non-threatening, like ordinary people. I remember one phrase from an NPR story where they talked about Muslim refugees who "goofed around in jerseys." Why was it important to say that Muslims "goofed around in jerseys"? It was part of the subtle propaganda to make them appear friendly. 3) The medically ill Muslims. Another class of story talks about the Muslims who need to come to America for medical treatment. Left unsaid is who is going to pay for it. 4) The split families. Another group of articles talks about some refugees who cannot feel whole until their entire extended family is in America. Left unexplored is whether the next round of refugees will want their relatives as well and where it will end. 5) The doctors, scientists, Ph.D. students. Trump's temporary travel ban has seemingly stranded an entire class of people with advanced master's and Ph.D. degrees outside the U.S. This is repeated over and over on the theory that highly educated people would not hurt anyone. 6) The feeling of persecution and victimization. Refugees in America are described as living in some Trump-inspired fear, though what it is exactly they fear is always left unclear. Presumably, they feel safer than the places they came from. When you combine the underreporting of the causes and extent of Islamic terrorism with the over-reporting of Muslims as oppressed, deserving, virtuous people, there's your media bias. So the media can smugly say they have reported every knifing, every bomb attack, and still be wedded to a pro-Islamic and anti-national security bias in their reporting. Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com. Mount Athos, located on a Greek peninsula in the Aegean Sea, is home to one of the oldest surviving monastic community on Earth. The mountain has been inhabited since ancient times and is known for its nearly 1,800-year continuous Christian presence and its long historical monastic traditions, which date back to at least the 9th century. Today, there are twenty Eastern Orthodox monasteries in this region, where over two thousand monks live an ascetic life, isolated from the rest of the world. Most of the monks live together in a monastery doing various chores such as growing vegetables, making wine, fishing, wood carving, tailoring and so on. Others choose to live in small cells called skete, where they live in complete isolation. Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Some of the most isolated sketes are located on the southern side of Mount Athos, in a region known as Karoulia. One the steep mountainside, a handful of monks have built small cabins that hang precariously on the cliff-edge with waves crashing hundreds of feet below. These cells are so inaccessible that supplies such as firewood and food need to be brought over in baskets suspended from ropes. In the old days, hermits would haul themselves up the mountain in ropes and chains passed over makeshift pulleys. Today there are steep wooden ladders nailed to the cliffs, which the hermits use to climb up and down the mountain. Some of these monks, especially those who are week and feeble, havent left their cabins for decades. Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Photo credit: Rick Findler/The Guardian Photo credit: Rick Findler/The Guardian Father Iusif inside his bedroom at his cell in Karoulia. He has not left the mountain for 64 years as he is too frail now to climb the surrounding cliffs. Photo credit: Rick Findler/The Guardian Photo credit: Rick Findler/The Guardian Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Photo credit: mountathos-eshop.com Sources: The Guardian / Wikipedia / www.johnsanidopoulos.com There are moments in Montana Repretory Theatres production of Barefoot in the Park where its still the 1960s with the beige princess phone perfect for the stay-at-home wife. But fortunately there are so many other moments that get to the heart of what makes us human. The lonely widowed mother, the adventurer trying to outrun old age, and a young couple trying to build a life are universal struggles most of us face. On a frigid Tuesday night in Billings, the Missoula-based company filled the Alberta Bair Theater with much-needed laughter. I laughed so hard, my lips were numb. The brilliant script was written by Neil Simon, a playwright so sharp at finding universal truths that director Greg Johnson called him the American Moliere, a genius of comedy and the human heart. The hometown leads, Hunter Hash as Paul and Whitney Miller as his bride Corie, had so much chemistry, it was like you had stepped into their New York brownstone with them to help make their marriage work. Hash and Miller are Billings natives who are working on their theater degrees at the University of Montana. Three veteran equity actors, Mark Kuntz in an unforgettable role as Victor Velasco, Laurie Dawn as the wonderfully frumpy Mrs. Banks, and Colton Swibold as the earnest telephone repairman, are a big part of why this production is so special. Sometimes the nostalgia made the play more fun, like when Mrs. Banks, angry at her daughter, says, Ill go back to New Jersey and give myself a Tony home permanent. Its one zinger after another, but the show doesnt lack depth. One of the most poignant moments comes during a short interchange between Corie and the telephone guy, who tells her, Sometimes a phone breaks, but it can always be fixed, referring more to a marriage than the princess phone Paul yanked out of the wall in a heated moment. From Billings, the show takes to the road on a national tour, hitting 55 cities across the country before returning to Missoula in April. Folks in Hays, Kan., and Delray Beach, Fla., and a whole bunch of other towns are in for a treat from Montana. A fire broke out at Samsung SDIs waste management facility located in Tianjin, China on Wednesday. Local emergency services reportedly have the situation under control as of a few hours ago. Samsung SDI is a battery-making division of Samsung Group but the facility in question wasnt a manufacturing operation, one of the companys representatives told Bloomberg. The authorities have only started investigating the incident earlier today and its currently unknown how long their probe will take. Samsung SDI is expected to supply the batteries for the upcoming Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. In January, the company invested approximately $129 million to implement new safety measures following the ordeal caused by the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung Electronics previously confirmed that both Samsung SDI and Amperex Technology were responsible for the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco as both companies made mistakes while manufacturing batteries for Samsungs discontinued phablet. Due to a number of oversights made by Samsung SDI and Amperex Technology, the Galaxy Note 7 was prone to catching fire, melting, and exploding under certain conditions. While its frivolous to presume those previous incidents were in any way related to the fire in Tianjin, such events certainly wont help Samsung rebuild its image that was damaged following the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco last fall. The South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer already implemented numerous expensive additions to its manufacturing and quality assurance processes to ensure that another Galaxy Note 7 never happens again. However, the company is reportedly still in the process of implementing them, which is why recent industry rumors suggested that the Seoul-based tech giants could procure batteries for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus from Murata Manufacturing, a Japanese supplier of electronic components. Regardless, Samsung made no official comments suggesting it might outsource the production of batteries for the Galaxy S8 to other companies, so it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. For the time being, its reasonable to presume that Samsung SDI will be the company manufacturing the majority of the batteries powering Samsungs upcoming pair of Android flagships. As for the recent fire in the firms Chinese waste management facility, authorities will likely provide an update on the situation as soon as their investigation into the incident is completed. Google has officially announced the launch of Android Wear 2.0 this morning after a rumor initially pegged the launch announcement for February 9th, and after months and months of developer preview releases hitting the list of supported watches, the fifth and final of which was launched back at the end of January. With it, Google aims to bring a slew of enhancements to the Android Wear platform and this includes the already obvious features that have been known about for a while, like Google Assistant and the ability to use Android Pay from your watch, so long as you have a device with NFC that supports the feature as Android Pay needs NFC to work. While not all of the Android Wear smartwatches that have been released since the platform was introduced will be getting Android Wear 2.0, as a few of the oldest devices will be passed up, most of the currently available watches will be updated and Google says the public launch will start in the coming weeks, while it will be available on the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style this Friday on February 10th. The two features mentioned above will be joined by other improvements such as the ability to download apps directly onto your watch from the Play Store on the device, instead of pushing them to the watch through a Play Store download on the smartphone. This will help expedite the installation process for apps and ensure that you dont have to wait for them to transfer from the phone before you start using them on the watch. Advertisement One of Androids biggest strengths has always been its customization and the way users could change things around to be custom fit to their own personal tastes. Android Wear 2.0 is seeing a bit of that customization come through as the new watch faces that users will get access to in this version of Android Wear will allow them to add specific information and actions from apps they use often. For example, users will be able to order an Uber ride from their watch by adding the action to a watch face, and users can custom tailor different watch faces for different uses like having one for work, one for their workout, and one for the rest of the time they arent at work or the gym. Speaking of the gym, Google Fit is getting some improvements too, as users will now be able to measure and track various other exercise activities like weight-lifting reps, squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. All of this is all well and good, but perhaps the most exciting feature for many users will be Google Assistant for Android Wear 2.0. There are a handful of things youll be able to do with Assistant from your wrist like ask it questions or update your shopping list, and accessing it is a simple task and can be done in one of two ways, which includes using the Ok Google command, or holding down the power button on the watch. At the moment Google Assistant for Android Wear is only available in English and German, but Google does note that it will be supporting more languages in the future. Android Wear 2.0 will be available starting February 10th for existing devices, with the first two watches to get it being the LG Watch Style and the LG Watch Sport which launch beside the software. After a decade with the company, one of Googles lead designers has left to join the team at Dropbox. Nicholas Jitkoff announced his departure via Twitter on January 7th, with thanks to Google and its employees for a wonderful ten years. Shortly after his tweet was posted, an announcement from Dropbox was posted on the companys blog welcoming Jitkoff to the team as Vice President of Design. Jitkoff started working at Google in 2006, where he was a user experience lead and played a role in the companys efforts to create a consistent experience across all of its platforms and services. In 2011, he moved into a position leading in the creation and implementation of Googles Material Design standards. Jitkoff is considered by many to be one of only a few key figures who is responsible for really getting that standard going, among others such as Matias Duarte. Material Design is, of course, the near flat design standard used across several of the companys offerings. It brings the experience of using any of those a level of consistency that has since become a hallmark of Google products, with the standard still being steadily brought to each platform the company operates on. As one of the tech industrys leaders in design language and unification, picking up Jitkoff as VP of Design is a great move for Dropbox. Dropbox has said that the multidisciplinary will now be leading the companys design team to define their vision for Dropbox in its continuing goal to unify its own products across several platforms. The company has also said that he will be building and growing the diverse design team at Dropbox with to cover multiple areas like UX Writing and Design Research, as well Product Design and Brand Design. Dropbox is a direct competitor to Google in several ways. In fact, the company has been competing directly with Google in the cloud backup and storage arena since Google Drive officially launched in 2012 Dropbox launched its service in 2008. More recently, Dropbox has launched its own competitor to Google Docs in the form of Dropbox Paper, which even allows documents to be imported from competing services. However, Jitkoffs departure appears to have happened on the best of terms and without any visible controversy. If anything is certain it is that Googles Material Design standard will live on and improve. Meanwhile, Dropbox is also likely to see some substantial improvement to both its user experience and its associated user interface. LeEco is still committed to VIZIO, i.e. its intentions to complete the acquisition of the Irvine, California-based consumer electronics manufacturer, a spokesperson for the company told TechCrunch on Wednesday. The Chinese tech giant was asked to reiterate its willingness to go through with the acquisition following a $2.2 million fine issued to VIZIO by the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General. On Tuesday, the TV manufacturer settled to pay the aforementioned sum after authorities found it guilty of collecting data from 11 million American households without any authorization. While it remains to be seen how big of a hit will VIZIOs brand take due to that fine, LeEco seemingly isnt particularly worried about the entire ordeal. A spokesperson for LeEco said that the acquisition of VIZIO is still a priority for the Beijing-based tech giant, adding that the deal is proceeding as planned and suggesting that more information on the matter will follow soon. Given the nature of VIZIOs transgression, its possible that the companys attempt to sell itself to LeEco may be stifled due to the fact that the transaction has yet to be approved by the authorities in the United States and China. However, LeEcos latest comment seemingly implies that wont be an issue. Regardless, VIZIO is currently facing a lot of criticism following the revelation that the company was spying on its consumers and sold their viewing habits and other information gathered by their TVs to third-party advertisers. Consumers were only able to opt out of the program which analyzed the content they were viewing by turning off the Smart Interactivity option of their TVs, which was a direct violation of the FTC Act, as well as some consumer protection laws of the State of New Jersey. While the scandal earned VIZIO a lot of negative publicity and the companys brand was likely damaged by it, it seems that LeEco will still pay the previously agreed $2 billion for the acquisition, TechCrunch claims. The Chinese tech giant is expected to complete its purchase of VIZIO at some point this year, so more details on the matter are bound to be available shortly. AMD filed a patent infringement complaint against LG Electronics, MediaTek, VIZIO, and Sigma Designs with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). The complaint was filed on January 24 and was recently obtained by the ITC Law Blog. AMD is claiming that the aforementioned companies infringed three of its patents with certain commercial products and is urging the ITC to investigate its claims. Two of the allegedly infringed patents were previously owned by ATI Technologies several years before the company was acquired by AMD, and all three are related to graphics processing technologies. The fact that AMD is suing consumer electronics and chipset manufacturers instead of developers from whom companies license technologies likely means that the Sunnyvale-based company believes it has a better chance of winning a legal battle over existing, physical products that allegedly infringe on its patents instead of suing over concepts. This is why AMDs complaint doesnt make a single mention of a developer like ARM who licenses its GPU patents. While the complaint will likely end up in court, accurately predicting its outcome is a difficult task due to an almost complete lack of valid legal precedents. NVIDIAs lawsuit against Samsung and Qualcomm over patent infringement is remarkably similar to this new dispute but that case ended with a countersuit and an out-of-court settlement, meaning it can hardly be used as a precedent. Its possible that AMD will try to adopt a similar legal tactic to that taken by NVIDIA as the Santa Clara-based tech giant initially wanted to not only win damages for alleged infringements of its GPU patents but also set a precedent over who is responsible for such infringements. AMD is claiming that the MediaTek-made Helio P10 system-on-chip and the SX7 (STV7701) chipset developed by Sigma Designs are both infringing on its GPU patents. LG and VIZIO were also accused of patent infringement due to the fact that some of their products are using the aforementioned chips. While AMDs complaint mentions a few products utilizing its patented technology without a license like the LG X Power, the filing clearly states that all of the named products are just examples, meaning that a potential trial could be far more comprehensive. Finally, AMD is claiming that these alleged infringements not only hurt its operations but also negatively affect its partners like Samsung who have legitimately licensed their technologies. As is usually the case with patent disputes, this one will likely evolve into a year-long legal battle. South Korean tech giant LG Electronics officially started construction of its new U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The company commemorated the occasion by holding a ceremony at the location on Tuesday, NJBIZ reports. The construction of the facilities that will host all of LGs companies in the United States will be completed by late 2019, as revealed by William Cho, Chief Executive Officer at LG Electronics North America. LGs new corporate campus will span over 350,000 square feet and cost approximately $300 million. The plans for the project were made public in 2012, but the company already started planning for the new campus back in 2009. LG obtained all of the necessary permissions to start the construction last June. The Seoul-based consumer electronics manufacturer would likely have started building the campus sooner had its plans not been delayed by numerous controversies. However, LG managed to work out the differences with local environmental organizations concerned about its project before proceeding to realize it. This move was praised by the New Jersey Sierra Club, as well as the current administration of Englewood Cliffs. The Mayor of the Borough Mario Kranjac said that LGs new headquarters will help bring more innovative companies to Englewood Cliffs without negatively affecting the environment. The company is apparently planning to plant over 1,500 trees on its campus and power a portion of its facilities with photovoltaic solar panels. The project is currently helmed by Turner Construction, but LG already confirmed it will organize a tender process to choose a primary construction management partner in the near future. Representatives of the company said that the project will temporarily create 2,000 construction jobs in Bergen County while also increasing local employment to 1,000 once its completed. Finally, LGs new facilities are expected to add approximately $26 million in revenue to the County. Once completed, the corporate campus is meant to focus on the premium home appliances market in North America, LGs largest overseas market. It remains to be seen whether LG will manage to finish the construction of its new U.S. corporate offices by 2019, but after all of the trouble the company went through to secure this location, its likely eager to follow through. MediaTek has just released some more info regarding their new processor, the Helio P25. This is a 64-bit octa-core processor, and it belongs amongst the companys other mid-range chips. MediaTek actually announced this SoC back in September last year, but back then, the company did not release that many details about this chip. Well, this time around we do get plenty of new info, and this SoC is aimed to be used in really thin smartphones which sport dual camera setups, read on. This is an octa-core processor, as already mentioned, it comes with either ARM Cortex-A53 cores, and it is clocked at 2.5GHz, which makes it faster than the Helio P20 which is running at 2.3GHz. This processor comes with the ARM Mali-T880 dual GPU which is clocked at 900MHz, and it offers support for Category 6 LTE, while it also supports up to 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM. MediaTek Helio P25 puts advanced camera effects at user fingertips, including shallow depth-of-field typically associated more expensive lenses and high-performance auto exposure that lets users capture the highest quality images in any lighting scenario, said MediaTek, so its kind of obvious that the company optimized this chip for camera performance. The Helio P25 is made using TSMCs 16nm manufacturing process, and it comes with MediaTeks Imagiq Image Signal Processor (ISP), which you can also find in the Helio P20, but unlike the ISP in the Helio P20, this ISP supports dual setup cameras (13-megapixel camera at the very max). In addition to that, this ISP is optimized for color + mono de-noise, and also real-time shallow DoF bokeh and video HDR with full preview, in case you were wondering. On top of all that, the Helio P25 comes with high-performance auto exposure, in other words, youre getting Turbo 3A which will accelerate AE convergence speed by 30-55%, according to MediaTek. First Helio P25-powered smartphones will probably become available by the end of Q1 2017, though we still dont know when exactly. If youd like to take a closer look at the comparison between the Helio P20 and Helio P25, along with some more Helio P25 details, check out the image down below. A man was given a chance to change his future Tuesday when he was sentenced to treatment instead of incarceration. Richard Allen Doney, 29, was given a two-year deferred sentence by Yellowstone County District Court Judge Mary Jane Knisely in exchange for his commitment to get treated for his meth addiction. Doney is the first person to be sentenced as part of the Yellowstone County Drug Intervention Program. The first program of its kind in Montana, the objective for those involved is to get low-risk and low-need felony drug offenders into individualized treatment faster than the normal court system can. When the program was explained to Doney, he said he wanted to take it right up. Its giving me a chance to get clean, to get life back on track, Doney said. Doney was arrested Dec. 31 and charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs as well as two misdemeanors. Less than a month later, Doney was already on track to get treatment. At his sentencing, Knisely dismissed Doneys two misdemeanor charges. Doney was getting an opportunity to change what your future might look like, Knisely said. Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito will fund Doneys supervision through the first six months of his treatment. This will prevent the cost of monitoring from burdening Doney as he starts to get his life back on track, Twito said. Laura McKee, a Parole and Probation officer, met with Doney soon after his arrest, getting involved in his case much earlier than she can with other clients. He will start his treatment Wednesday through New Directions Counseling. In addition, McKee wants to help Doney get housing and maintain his employment while he completes treatment. If Doney is in good standing with McKee, the court and his treatment providers at the end of the first year of his sentence, Twito will move to dismiss Doneys case. Doney will be going to treatment four times a week. McKee will keep in close contact with the people in the program as they complete treatment, she said. If clients run into problems during their completion of the program, McKee wants them to be able to come to her. We want to make the program work for them, McKee said. Twitos team of people involved with the program includes McKee, County Pretrial Risk Assessment Coordinator Lisa Ereth and Public Defender Melissa Williams. The program is a good opportunity for a select number of the public defender offices clients, Williams said. The program began Jan. 2 and can deal with up to four drug offenders per week whove been assessed and labeled by Ereth as both low-risk and low-need. Ereth screens potential candidates for the program at the courthouse every Thursday. People with either prior offenses, mental health needs or other more complex drug problems may not qualify for the program. Random drug testing will be part of the program. More people are being screened, and Twito said he hopes the program will cut down on people returning to jail because of a chemical dependency problem. One down, hopefully a lot more to go, Twito said. Global smartphone sales reached 1.41 billion in 2016, according to the latest study conducted by a market research firm GfK. This performance marked a 6.6-percent increase in comparison to 2015 when smartphone vendors recorded approximately 1.32 billion sales. The value of sales increased in a similar manner, as all 2016 smartphone sales were valued at $428.9 billion, up by 7.7 percent in comparison to the year before, the study found. All regions except for Western Europe recorded growth during the last quarter of the year in comparison to Q4 2015 as smartphone vendors made over 391 million sales from October to December of last year, thus achieving a 6.1-percent year-on-year increase. As expected, China was the largest market for smartphones as almost 120 million devices were sold in the Far Eastern country in Q4 2016 alone. After a short decline, the North American smartphone market started growing again during the last quarter of 2016, primarily thanks to numerous deals and promotions offered by wireless carriers, GfK says. Another important factor which contributed to strong Q4 2016 sales in North America is the launch of several flagship devices which isnt surprising seeing how this region is the largest flagship market in the world. Still, the North American market as a whole stagnated given how it accounted for 191.3 million sales in 2016, only 300,000 more than in 2015. The Western Europe experienced a decline despite mimicking many of North Americas promotions, primarily due to the fact that this market is already extremely saturated, the study found. GfK believes that the Western European smartphone market will stagnate in 2017, while the global market will still continue growing, albeit not by much. More specifically, the research firm projected that the global smartphone demand will reach approximately 1.48 billion devices this year. The Chinese market is also expected to continue growing, primarily due to the fact that the expansion of 4G networks in the Far Eastern country is also increasing the demand for smartphones, GfK claims. Approximately 57 percent of Chinese smartphone owners were using 4G networks in 2016 and as that percentage is bound to increase, the demand for smartphones is expected to follow suit, the firm predicted. A more detailed breakdown of GfKs findings can be seen below. Sharp may begin the construction of a new factory in the United States by mid-2017, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. While Sharps parent company Foxconn was considering the idea of building a new U.S. plant for some time now, the Taiwanese tech giant is now apparently prepared to let its Japanese subsidiary take the lead on the project. Reuters speculates that this turn of events may be connected to the upcoming visit to the U.S. that the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe is planning to make in the coming days. Its possible that Abe will announce Sharps investment during his visit to the U.S. in order to improve relations with the Trump Administration. President Trump was elected on a political platform that heavily focused on bringing back jobs to the country by any means necessary. Among other things, Trump threatened to impose high tariffs on imported goods with the goal of forcing foreign companies to open more manufacturing operations in the U.S. In that context, Foxconns decision to allow its Japanese subsidiary to go through with the project may be seen as a preemptive action made to either avoid such a scenario or mitigate its potential effects. Sharps plant is said to be just a part of Japans new investment plan for the U.S. thats said to create up to 700,000 jobs in the country. Abe is expected to unveil that plan this weekend in hopes of pleasing the newly elected President, sources told Reuters. Sharps potential U.S. plant would be focused on manufacturing display panels and would cost the company approximately $7 billion. More information on the matter should follow this weekend. While Sharps new U.S. plant has been debated for some time now, a spokesperson for the company recently said that the project still wasnt approved, while Foxconn has yet to comment on the matter. In a related turn of events, recent reports suggested that Samsung is building a new U.S. factory for reasons similar to those of Sharp and President Trump even publicly thanked the South Korean company for doing so, but his gratitude was quickly rejected. Several new images of the Sony Xperia XA2 have just surfaced in China. The second-gen Xperia XA smartphone is expected to launch soon, quite probably during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 in Barcelona, mainly considering its predecessor landed at last years MWC, along with two other Xperia X smartphones. If you take a look at the gallery down below, youll get to see four new real life images of the second-gen Xperia XA handset, and as you can see, the device seems to be quite tall, mainly due to really narrow side bezels. This smartphone actually has rather thick bezels above and below its display, which make the phone look rather odd in these images. Furthermore, theres a single camera on the back of this smartphone, and right below it, youll notice the LED flash. It seems like Sony plans to utilize on-screen buttons yet again, which is quite noticeable on these images as well. According to the source, this handset will be called the Xperia XA2, though it remains to be seen if Sony sticks to that naming, theres always a chance theyll release this smartphone under a different name, Xperia XA (2nd-gen) or Xperia XA (2017), for example. The images which you can check out down below also confirm that this handset will ship with Android Nougat out of the box, though Sonys custom UI will come installed on top of it as well, of course. MediaTeks Helio P20 64-bit octa-core processor is expected to fuel this smartphone, and you can also expect to see 4GB of RAM included on the inside of this smartphone. A 23-megapixel camera might be included on the back of the Sony Xperia XA2, while a 16-megapixel selfie snapper will also be a part of this package, at least according to leaks. The source did not mention anything about the build of this smartphone, but were guessing that the Sony Xperia XA will be made out of metal. This smartphone is expected to cost around 2,200 Yuan ($320), if the source is to be believed, and the device will ship with 64GB of native storage. That is more or less all the info we have at the moment. Sony is expected to introduce this handset before the end of this month, so stay tuned, MWC 2017 is right around the corner. Telus has taken the initiative to label four big smartphones from 2015 as end of life and remove them from active sale and support, and those are the BlackBerry Leap, BlackBerry Priv, Motorola Nexus 6, and Huawei Nexus 6P. The BlackBerry Leap is the second oldest on the list, having come out in April of 2015, and the only one to not run Android. The Motorola Nexus 6 capped off 2014, while the Huawei Nexus 6P is the second-oldest Android device on the list, having launched in September of 2015. The BlackBerry Priv rounds things out with a November 2015 release. All four will no longer appear at Telus stores once supply has run out. While support will mostly continue, further major updates for the BlackBerry Priv and BlackBerry Leap are unlikely, and even Google has let go of the Nexus 6. The Nexus 6P, on the other hand, should continue receiving updates from Google until they declare its end of life themselves. For those who currently have one of those devices, the end of life is only the end of Telus official, large-scale support, such as helping manufacturers to make and deliver updates, or developing hotfixes for bugs and update blunders. If your phone still receives updates from the manufacturer, as is the case with the two Nexus devices, you can likely just use those updates. Should your device break out of warranty, you will no longer be able to buy a new unit through Telus off the shelf. Luckily, all of these devices, as well as repair parts and services for them, are readily and somewhat cheaply available online; the BlackBerry Leap can be had around the $200 mark, the Priv can be found in the $250-ish area, the Nexus 6 can be found under $200, and the Nexus 6P can be had for around $300. Luckily for those who cling to these devices for personal reasons, they all have replacements on Telus or will in the near future. The BlackBerry devices will be looking to the upcoming BlackBerry Mercury which is supposed to be making a showing at this years Mobile World Congress, while the Nexus phones have a successor in the Pixel, a pure Google experience that may lack some of the Nexus 6 and Nexus 6Ps design flair, but more than makes up for it in experience purity, speed, and of course, custom ROM friendliness. Supporting communities through teaching has always been a priority for Edwin Cuenco of the ASU art faculty, both on campus and abroad. Edwin Cuenco Communication and design are essential human behaviors that shape the visual and social culture, Cuenco said. I believe my strength as an educator has to do with my own passion for computer graphics and the positive way in which I am able to execute my creative ideas in the classroom. A native of the Philippines, Cuenco teaches graphic design in the ASU Department of Visual and Performing Arts. He has also twice won a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Faculty Scholar Award that enabled him to take his teaching and enthusiasm overseas. His first one was in 2012 to the Philippines, and more recently he spent four weeks in Nepal during the 2016 fall semester. Fulbright Faculty Scholars are chosen based on their leadership and abilities to teach, conduct research and contribute to solutions for shared international concerns. Being selected for the 2016 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program was a great honor, Cuenco said. It promotes cooperation and relationship building between United States scholars/professionals and their counterparts at host institutions abroad. Cuenco (far right) with design students at Kathmandu University Most of Cuencos time in Nepal was spent working with students in the capital city of Kathmandu. He helped conduct visual arts training/workshops, develop a collaborative design course, and demonstrate the latest software available to help students to make a positive impact outside their campuses. The goal of the program, Cuenco said, is to develop collaborative projects on education and training to support teachers in rural communities. The country of Nepal is at an important crossroads in development, he added. Education remains essential to Nepal with a progressive urban-rural development track and rapid population growth. Collaboration with international artists helps us learn. We can create new academic partnerships, develop cultural opportunities and attract new audiences. Edwin Cuenco In addition to working with students, Cuenco was invited to participate in a unique mural art project highlighting the U.S. relationship with the people of Nepal. The mural was painted over a week by Kanjirowa National High School teachers and students, USEF staff and community volunteers under his guidance. Through illustrations, Cuenco said, we hope to foster peace, cooperation and cultural exchanges to discuss common themes that connect our two countries together. The overall theme of the project is a celebration of global cooperation and cultural understanding. The design included digital images of prominent Nepal landmarks, including the heritage sites of Pashupatinath and Swyambhunath Temples, Boudhanath Stupa, Mt. Everest and the Himalayan Range, as well as U.S. landmarks like the White House, Statue of Liberty and Las Vegas Strip. Edwin Cuenco in Nepal The opening ceremony highlight was the arrival of the honorable Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, Mr. Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, and Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe of Don Bosco College Nepal, Cuenco said. The opening ceremony also included Mr. Kapil Dev Regmi from Kanjirowa National High School and guests from the Fulbright U.S. Commission and the U.S. Embassy. In addition, Cuenco helped facilitate a two-week ASU Faculty Art Exhibition with the Kathmandu University School of Arts while in Nepal, featuring the work of eight ASU faculty members. Artwork ranged from photography and digital prints to drawings, paintings, ceramics, sculptures and video art lectures. Collaboration with international artists helps us learn, Cuenco said. We can create new academic partnerships, develop cultural opportunities and attract new audiences. Cuenco conducted several interactive workshops while in Nepal. Now back at ASU, Cuenco plans to continue working with the institutions he visited in the Philippines and Nepal to create avenues for future academic collaborations. In the near future, he hopes to bring artworks by his Nepali students to Washington D.C. for an exhibition. Now back at ASU, Cuenco knows how invaluable these cultural experiences can be, not only for him, but also his students and the entire ASU community. I firmly believe that teaching abroad increases the intellectual dynamism of our institution, Cuenco said. We encourage our students to enhance their education with a new world view while providing enriching experiences and global connection. This life experience has been truly transformational, he added. It has enabled me to better appreciate the unique difference and similarities between cultures. A road rage incident ended in Billings Heights Tuesday with the driver of a commercial truck running over another man twice after a confrontation. A passenger in the victim's pickup then held the commercial driver at gunpoint until police arrived. A man in a 2002 Ford F-150 had apparently cut off a 28-year-old Billings man driving a Chevrolet cargo truck on Wicks Lane at around 11:30 a.m. The commercial driver then chased the Ford driver west up Wicks Lane, said Sgt. Shane Winden, of Billings Police Department. The panel truck followed the Ford onto Nottingham Circle, said Winden. The driver and an occupant of the Ford got out and approached the cargo truck. The driver of the cargo truck drove at them and struck one of the men, later identified as an 18-year-old Billings man. The panel truck driver then drove over the victim a second time. The second occupant of the Ford was armed with a pistol and held the commercial driver until police arrived. Winden said the man appeared to be the legal owner of the firearm and the circumstances would allow for his actions. Montana law allows for arrest by a private person when "a probable cause to believe that the person is committing or has committed an offense and the existing circumstances require the person's immediate arrest." Reasonable force is allowed to detain the person believed to have committed the crime. State law requires the arresting citizen to immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency and transfer custody. The injured man was taken to Billings Clinic with injuries to his leg and abdomen. In a Billings Police Department press statement, the man's injuries were described as minor and he was discharged from the hospital. The Billings Police Department Detectives Division was called to further the investigation. The cargo truck driver has been detained, according to the release. After buildings at Lake Elmo State Park were vandalized over the weekend, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is "offering a reward of as much as $1,000" for information leading to a conviction of those responsible, according to an FWP press release. Spray-paint graffiti was discovered on two bath houses and a storage shop located along the north shore of the lake. Cleanup and repair of damages is estimated to cost thousands of dollars, according to the press release. Painting over the damaged surfaces will have to be delayed until the weather warms and some of the bricks that were painted over will have to be sandblasted, said Robert Gibson, an FWP communication and education program manager. The amount of reward money given out is based on the quality of information, Gibson said. "Pointing us in the right direction is one thing. A smoking gun is a whole other thing," Gibson said. "The amount of reward is going to depend on the quality of the information we get. We frequently get $1,000 information." Information and tips can be called into FWP Warden Sgt. Todd Anderson at 406-247-2945 or 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Well, the swamp keeps on getting swampier. In the first-of-its-kind move, Vice President Mike Pence, who is also president of the U.S. Senate, cast a tie-breaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as secretary of education Tuesday. The DeVos nomination was moved ahead of Sen. Jeff Sessions' attorney general nomination, so he could still vote for DeVos. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted against DeVose. Murkowski told The Hill last week that her office had been flooded with calls urging her to oppose the nomination of a private school advocate who has no personal or professional experience in public education. I have serious concerns about a nominee to be secretary of education ... who has been so immersed in the discussion of vouchers, Murkowski said. DeVos' answers in her Senate confirmation hearing revealed a shocking lack of knowledge about education law and public schools. Kirk Miller, executive director of School Administrators of Montana, said her answers showed "a lack of commitment to accountability and transparency that is the hallmark of the work in our Montana rural schools." Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., a former public school board member and music teacher, said 8,500 Montanans contacted him to oppose DeVos. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., voted for DeVos. While Pence's tie-breaking vote was the first of its kind, the politics are not. Talk all you want about draining the swamp or changing things in Washington, but politics is politics in the beltway. For those of us watching, it doesn't give much inspiration regardless of campaign trail promises. Remember last year when Senate Republicans refused to give then President Barack Obama's pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, a hearing? We chided Montana Daines for shirking his duties. We pointed out that the Constitution he swore to uphold didn't allow him the right to block a hearing on a nomination to the Supreme Court just because Obama was in his final year. Daines failed to do his job. What's even worse is he tried the lame excuse that Montanans didn't want Garland and he was simply following their wishes, like an automaton. Daines didn't seem to have any doubts about supporting DeVos, who as the head of American education, appears to have plagiarized her answers to the Senate. Remember, that Daines won his seat in part because his opponent was discovered to have plagiarized his graduate work at the War College. Daines' ideological inconsistency proves he's really not interested in anything more than the partisan politics. Watching out for Montana's school children would have meant having a secretary who understood the difference between test scores and progress. It would have meant having a secretary who doesn't believe grizzly bears are a bigger threat to our children's safety than a mentally ill person with a gun. We hope that Judge Neil Gorsuch gets the hearing he deserves. We're glad to see Tester say frankly that Gorsuch deserves an up or down vote. While we have questions about where Gorsuch stands on certain issues, there can be little doubt he is well qualified for the position and would serve honorably. Last week, we also saw Senate Democrats on the Finance Committee boycott the hearings for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Health and Human Services Secretary Rep. Tom Prince. This forced the Senate Finance committee to reschedule and ultimately, come closer to a showdown. As citizens regardless of party we must hold our leaders accountable for their actions, not necessarily holding them to a party line. Showing up is part the job, and so too is pushing for a yes-or-no vote, even if the president only has a year left on his final term. Both are dereliction of duties. Both should be anathema to citizens, regardless of parties. Republicans ran from their sworn duty months ago, and now it's the Democrats turn at turnabout, whether in boycotts or filibusters. Two wrongs and nothing seems quite right in Washington, D.C. Zakaria Bulhan: the tabloids favourite Somali-born Muslim terrorist who wasnt Zakaria Bulhan, 19, stood in the dock at the Old Bailey and admitted killing US tourist Darlene Horton and wounding five others Lillie Selletin, David Imber, Martin Hoenisch, Bernard Hepplewhite and Yovel Lewronski (all strangers to him) on 3 August 2016. Yesterday Bulhan pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and charges of wounding. Bulhan has been handed an unlimited hospital order. Mr Justice Spencer told Bulhan: It is quite clear that when you committed these dreadful crimes you were not in your right mind. You were in the grip of mental illness. These were crimes which caused enormous public concern because, from their timing, it was feared initially that they might be the work of a terrorist fanatic. As it turned out they were not, although that is no consolation to your victims. So how does the media report an unusual crime that was front-page news? Is it a tale of knife crime, broken Britain or mental health care? No. Parts of the media make Islam and otherness central to the story. The Star (page 5) says Bulhan mumbled Allah, Allah, Allah after he was Tasered by police and bundled to the ground. The Mail doesnt mention the story at all. The Sun doesnt report on Bulhan. The Mirror mentions the story on page 10. Crazed killer is locked up, runs the headline in the fourth story down in a sidebar. Bulhan is a teenager who killed a US tourist. It does not mention what the man of Somali origin with paranoid schizophrenia mumbled. The Express covers the story on page 10. Bulhan is the knife rampage killer. The story begins: A paranoid schizophrenic stabbed an American tourist to death In the third paragraph, the paper says Bulhan is a Norwegian-born Somali Muslim. You might say hes a Norwegian. But his nationality had nothing to do with his crime. So why mention his religion, which also had nothing to do with the case? Whereas the Star heard Bulhan mumbling the Arabic word for God, the Express says, They [Armed police] heard him chanting Allah! Allah! as they Tasered him and found an Islamic leaflet in one of his pockets. Mumbling or chanting? And what was on the leaflet? Were not told. The tabloids got it wrong with Bulhan. Islamic terrorism played no part in his crime. His religion, place of birth and roots all played no part in his crime. A cynic might think the Press is disappointed by this. But surely papers will get face the problem that writing about mental health lacks the punch and pull of Islamic terrorism, stick to the facts and correct any mistakes made? Surely papers wont manipulate the story to fit an agenda? But they do. And its ugly. On August 9, the Mail reported: Was devout Muslim Russell Square knifeman radicalised? Police to trawl impressionable attackers PC for links to ISIS as neighbour claims mental illness is a scapegoat Answer: no. He was not radicalised. He was not in ISIS. He was not a devout Muslim. The Mail continued: Counter-terror police will today forensically study computers belonging to the Russell Square knifeman as a neighbour claimed the impressionable teenager could have been inspired by ISIS. He wasnt. The Mail called him a migrant on its front page. The Sun called him a Somali. He isnt. Hes Norwegian. The Sun wondered if Bulhan was a jihadi who had read books. He wasnt. He isnt. Its worth looking at Justice Spencers sentencing statement in full, lest we missed the Muslim angle. Express readers get an insight into why Bulhan had Islamic literature in his pocket. 4. You are 19 years of age, with no previous convictions. Your parents emigrated from Somalia to Norway in 1994, and that is where you were born. In 2003, when you were 5 years old, your mother came to the United Kingdom and you have been living in this country with her ever since, with your brother and sister. Bulhan was five years old when he arrived in the UK. His family entered the country legally. Although your mother and father had separated you saw him regularly too. You left school at 16 but retook your GCSE examinations at college and did well in your studies. You became concerned yourself about your mental health and consulted your general practitioner from 2015 onwards. You were referred for assessment by psychiatric services and you were seen by your local early intervention service on 20th April 2016. You were diagnosed with an anxiety and depressive disorder but it was not thought at that time that you were presenting with any psychotic symptoms. Can we have a discussion abut mental health services? 5. Sadly your mental state deteriorated sharply over the next few months. You started hearing voices frequently and became convinced that you were possessed by devils, that people were conspiring against you, and that that your life was in danger. At the end of July 2016 your mother and younger brother went to Holland to visit family members which meant that you were living alone at the family home in Tooting. You became convinced that your neighbours wanted to kill you. You went to stay with your father and he tried to look after you. He took you to the mosque on successive days up to the evening of 3rd August, hoping you might receive some form of counselling. Did Bulhan pick up that aforesaid leaflet at the mosque, the one the Express delivered fully loaded? When you were at evening prayers that day and a phone rang you got up and ran out of the mosque. Your father waited for you to come back and tried to find you, and tried to contact your mother in Holland for help, but all to no avail. 6. Your movements thereafter that evening have been traced to a degree. It is clear from the CCTV clips that you were moving around the streets in a distracted and bizarre way. At some stage you acquired a large kitchen knife. You probably took it from a shop counter. At about 10.20pm you entered Russell Square. It was busy with pedestrians heading home after an evening in Londons West End. Among them were many visitors to London from overseas. 13. You were chased by members of the public. When you stopped in Bedford Place one witness described you as standing aggressively, holding the knife, uttering sounds in what appeared to be a form of incantation, although your voice and expression were not aggressive. An armed response unit attended very soon afterwards. You were told to stand still but instead you screamed and ran away. Eventually you were tasered and brought to the floor. Such are the facts. Paul Sorene Posted: 8th, February 2017 | In: Key Posts, News, Reviews, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Transport Minister Graziano Delrio said Wednesday Italy "has nothing to hide on emissions" after clearing 18 Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) vehicles of having defeat devices on diesel emissions. Delrio said no FCA Euro 6 vehicles including Fiat 500X, Fiat Doblo and Jeep Renegade have any defeat devices and all of them comply with emissions norms, contrary to what German authorities say. In all, Delrio said, 18 vehicles had been tested and all had passed the ministry's tests. Delrio denied that FCA had been "favoured" in the tests, saying that while some had been carried out in FCA's Turin plant, ministry experts carried them out. Tobruk govt says Libya-Italy migrant accord 'null and void' Memorandum inked by Gentiloni and Serraj 'non-binding' (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, JANUARY 8 - The Tobruk-based Libyan House of Representatives said Wednesday that it considers a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni and Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya Fayez Al-Serraj to be null and void. The agreement was for cooperation for development and against clandestine migration, human trafficking and smuggling. It also included measures to strengthen border control. The anouncement was made by the Tobruk parliamentary body itself in a statement through the Al-Wasat website, which said that the presidential council and its president did not have jurisdiction to make such choices on the basis of the constitution and judicial sentences. ''An issue like that of clandestine migration, '' the statement said, ''is one of the important issues linked to the choice of the Libyan people through the representatives that they elected democratically through voting, and not the interests of individuals that do not have the trust of the House of Representatives, which is the legitimate power, nor the interests of European countries, and especially the Italian Republic.'' Italy, it continued, ''is trying to get rid of the burden and the dangerous problems caused by clandestine migration at the security, economic and social level in exchange for a bit of material support that it is forced to offer to reduce the number of illegal migrants.'' (ANSAmed). Yemen blocks US special op anti-terror ground missions - NYT Permission withdrawn in anger over civilian casualities in raid (ANSAmed) - NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 8 - Yemen has withdrawn permission for US anti-terror ground missions in the country amidst anger at the civilian casualities incurred in the first commando raid ordered by new president Donald Trump last month, the New York Times reports. Several children and a US navy SEAL were killed in the operation. Yemen is one of the seven predominantly Muslim countries affected by Trump's January immigration order, which has been frozen by a Seattle court pending the outcome of a broader legal challenge. Despite grisly photographs apparently showing children killed in the raid the White House has insisted that the operation was "a success". Yemen's decision is a major step backwards for the new president's anti-terror strategy involving more action against terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda.(ANSAmed). MOSCOW - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is willing to take part in direct talks with representatives of all oppositon groups, Russian news agency Tass reported MP Dmitry Sablin, coordinator of the Duma's friendship group with the Parliament of Syria, as saying Wednesday. "(Assad) has said Syria is ready for direct talks with opposition representatives, including the armed opposition," Sablin said following a meeting with the Syrian president. "Assad supports the Astana peace talks," he added. "Events are moving rapidly in the direction desired both by us and by you, and this is happening thanks to your support," the Russian lawmaker quoted the Syrian leader as saying. Syria rejects Amnesty report on abuses at Saydnaya jail. 'Reports aim to ruin country's international reputation > BEIRUT - Syria's government on Wednesday rejected recent claims by Amnesty International of alleged human rights violations at Saydnaya prison near Damascus, saying the reports are groundless. In a statement to government news agency Sana the justice ministry said that "the news circulating in the media" based on a report released by the international human rights watchdog on Tuesday "is totally unfounded" and "intended to ruin Syria's international reputation". The Amnesty report claims over 13,000 people were executed at Saydnaya prison from the beginning of the uprising in 2011 through 2015. Groups of 20-50 people were allegedly hanged once or twice a week. Interior min. plans to open migrant repatriation centers 'Not like identification and expulsion centres (CIE)' (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 8 - Interior Minister Marco Minniti said Wednesday that Italy would be reopening center to keep those waiting to be repatriated. There will be, he said before a joint constitutional affairs committees meeting, ''one per region, with a total capacity of 1,600. A country with 60 million inhabitants can have them. They will not be like the old identification and expulsion centres (CIE)''. ''We will call them Permanent Centers for Repatriation,'' he said. Minniti added that the facilities would be ''small, preferably outside of towns, near transportation infrastructure, with transparent governance and unlimited powers of access'' for the government regulatory body for detainees. The issue of forced repatriation, the minister stressed, ''is crucial. If this works, assisted voluntary repatriation will begin to work, for which we foresee double the funds.'' ''I am not satisfied,'' he said, with simply issuing deportation orders. Minniti noted that over 90% of those who landed on Italian coasts via sea in 2016 had come from Libyan coasts, and that in the first few weeks of 2017, this percentage had risen to almost 100%. The Memorandum the Italian government signed with the Serraj government, he added, is a step forward but it must now be applied. (ANSAmed). ROME- Interior Minister Marco Minniti told parliament Wednesday that asylum seekers should be put to work doing socially useful jobs while their appeals are being processed. "It is necessary to be able to use asylum seekers for labour for the public good, financed with European funds,"Minniti told a joint meeting of the House and Senate Constitutional affairs committees. "This will not create a duplication on the labour market because the work will be unpaid." Minniti said it was important asylum seekers are not left twiddling their thumbs as they have to wait up to two years for the petitions to be processed. "It is necessary to avoid vacuums as people wait". Italy to sign migrants deal with Tunisia Thursday, Alfano On combatting illegal immigration (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 8 - On Wednesday Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano announced via Twitter that Italy will sign a cooperation agreement with Tunisia on combatting illegal immigration on Thursday. Tunisian president Beji Caid Essebsi is in Italy for a 2-days official visit. (ANSAmed). Even before Ryan Zinke starts his first day as Interior secretary, some members of Congress are pushing to throw out an important and broadly-backed rule that gives Americans a bigger voice in how public lands are managed. Thats unfair to Zinke, unfair to Montanans, and unfair to millions of public land users across the West. Last year, the Bureau of Land Management issued new rules for decision-making on the lands that the agency manages. The new rules, called Planning 2.0, provide additional opportunities, earlier in the process, for the public to provide input on how our public lands are used. This means that hunters, anglers, ranchers, hikers, boaters, coal miners, energy companies, tribes, counties, and everyone else with a stake in public land management will have more information and will be able to express their opinions how our lands should be managed. For the Montana Wildlife Federation, the rule means new opportunities to protect important fish and wildlife habitat, such as migration corridors and other large habitat areas. By identifying these lands earlier in the planning process, we can find ways to conserve them alongside energy development and other public land uses. Planning 2.0 also benefits other public land users. Early involvement means more opportunity for public land ranchers to weigh in. Loggers, miners and energy companies will have an easier time if we can get out of the react-and-regulate mode of the past and start strategically identifying areas where development should take place. Early reports show that Planning 2.0 is working. One of the early tests of the new rule is taking place right here in Western Montana. Sportsmen, conservationists, business owners, tribes, local governments, and ranchers have been showing up and participating. But now Congress is considering a resolution to throw out the new rules, cosponsored by our own Sen. Steve Daines. If the resolution passes, the BLM will be forced to go back to the old planning rule, which is more than 30 years old and well-known for keeping all public land users in the dark. Even worse, the law that Congress is using to throw out the rule the Congressional Review Act specifically prohibits any future attempt to recreate any of the good parts of Planning 2.0. Well be permanently locked into an old rule that didnt work for anybody. Congress should leave the new planning rules in place and allow the new secretary the opportunity to decide for himself how to move forward. I think he will agree with hunters and anglers, snowmobilers and skiers, ranchers, loggers, and other stakeholders who have already been working with Planning 2.0 here in Montana. Having BLM listen to the local community early in the process just makes sense. RABAT - The Superior Council of Ulemas, the highest religious authority in Morocco, has opened the possibility for conversion to other religions, as reported on the website of Morocco World News. According to rules active in all Muslim countries, apostasy is punishable by death. It's also forbidden for those from different faiths to share their faiths among Muslims. The Moroccan Ulemas' fatwa, titled "The Way of the Erudite", overcomes one of the crucial points of Islam, in line with a country that has always respected religious pluralism and that, at the behest of King Mohammed VI, has decided to wage war on extremism. (by Ugo Caltagirone) NEW YORK - US President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order "is not a Muslim ban but a provision to guarantee national security", August Flentje, the lawyer representing the department of justice, told a federal appeals court on Tuesday. "It's not true, it is a ban whose real intention is to discriminate against followers of Islam," Noah Purcell, the lawyer representing the states of Washington and Minnesota that successfully challenged the ban, replied. The sides are putting the case for and against last month's surprise executive order banning entry to the US from seven predominantly Muslim countries, which caused chaos at airports and met with global disdain. The case is being heard on appeal in San Francisco after the ban was frozen by a federal court in Seattle at the end of January. Presiding judge Michelle Friedland, who was appointed by former Democrat president Barack Obama, has said a decision will be handed down "as soon as possible". "President Trump was motivated exclusively by the existence of a real threat," said Flentje, arguing that the seven majority-Mulsim countries affected by the order "pose a serious terrorist threat". The lawyer then cited the example of the terrorist group al-Shabaab based in Somalia and insisted that "the president of the US has the authority to suspend entry of foreigners into the country in the interests of national security". Purcell instead argued that the government was effectively asking the court to "abdicate its role". "The ban has the underlying intention of penalising a religion" and its application has caused, and could continue to cause, "irreparable damage", Purcell said. "Families that are separated, long-term US residents who are unable to travel, and also losses in tax revenue," he continued. The court is expected to hand down a ruling within the week, after which both parties can appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court. West Bank settlements legalization appeal at Supreme Court From 2 Israeli NGOs with 17 Palestinian ones associated (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 8 - Two Israeli rights groups on Wednesday asked the country's Supreme Court to overturn a new law legalizing West Bank settlements. In the appeal, Adalah and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center asked the high court to block implementation of the bill passed in parliament this week that sets out to legalize dozens of settler outposts built on privately owned Palestinian land. Adalah is an NGO working for the rights of the Arab minority in Israel. The appeal states that the law is against international and humanitarian law and that it is also incompatible with the Israeli legal system. Some 17 local Palestinian bodies from the West Bank have joined the appeal and presented documentation on the presence of settlements on privately-owned Palestinian land. The daily Maariv added that Israel's attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, has said he might come to the Supreme Court to support the appeal and stand against the law. (ANSAmed). CHEYENNE, Wyo. Lawmakers are considering an overhaul of Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming, starting with a major study of the highway. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that the Wyoming Senate on Monday approved a bill that would require the Wyoming Department of Transportation to conduct a study of I-80 across the state and create a master project plan for the highway. The study would include information on traffic leads, areas that are prone to closures and crashes, and how self-driving cars could affect the road. The bill's sponsor Sen. Michael VonFlatern, R-Gillette, says new, improved data on I-80 is important. He also says the study would help Wyoming lay claim to any infrastructure efforts the federal government is planning. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. ___ Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both The airline was also part of the evolution of Etihad Aviation Group, a wider aviation and tourism business which now also includes Etihad Airways Engineering; Airline Equity Partners; Etihad Airport Services and Hala Group. The formation of Etihad Aviation Group was announced in May 2016. During the year, Etihad Airways operated more than 109,000 scheduled passenger and cargo flights spanning around 446 million kilometres and 112 destinations. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), grew by nine per cent and passenger traffic, measured by revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rose by eight per cent. The average load factor held steady at 79 per cent. Etihad Airways fleet of 119 aircraft is one of the youngest and most environmentally-friendly in the industry, with an average age of 6 years. During the year, the airline took delivery of 10 aircraft: three Airbus A380s, five Boeing 787s and two Boeing 777-200 cargo freighters. An additional 12 aircraft are set for delivery in 2017, including nine Boeing 787s, two Airbus A380s and one A330-200 freighter. Etihad holds the strongest credit rating in the aviation industry (A by Fitch), demonstrating the strength of its successful business model which is widely acknowledged by the international financial community. James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group (EAG), said: 2016 saw sustained growth in a very tough business environment. This is where Etihad Airways superior products and services show their true value and where the strength of the EAG business model comes into effect through its diversity of businesses, cost effective synergies and global spread of risk. Most importantly, in 2016 we were able to introduce our new Group structure, which positions this business for long-term growth and development. Etihad Airways launched Venice in Italy, Rabat in Morocco and Sabiha Gokcen in Turkey as new destinations in 2016. The much-admired Airbus A380 began serving Mumbai and Melbourne, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was deployed on new routes, including Perth, Shanghai, Johannesburg and Dusseldorf. The airline added a fifth daily flight on the Doha route, an extra daily flight to Cairo and Kozhikode, and increased frequencies to Dammam, Manila and Tehran. Etihad Airways carried more than 76 per cent of the total passengers who travelled to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2016. With the addition of the airlines equity partners that operate flights into the UAE capital, the combined total rises to 86 per cent of passenger traffic at the airport. The airlines codeshare and equity partnerships delivered 5.5 million passengers onto Etihad Airways flights, an increase of nine per cent over the five million passengers in 2015. The airline launched new codeshare agreements with Avianca Colombia, Avianca Brasil, Kulula, Precision Air and Montenegro Airlines. Etihad Airways existing codeshares with airberlin, Alitalia, Brussels Airlines, Flynas, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, and Virgin Australia were significantly expanded. Etihad Airways also launched new interline agreements with Lufthansa, Pegasus, Malindo and LATAM. As a result, the airline now offers a combined passenger and cargo network of nearly 600 destinations through its 188 interline and 53 codeshare partnerships. Etihad Airways equity partner network, including airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia and Etihad Regional, represents the seventh largest global grouping of airlines. In 2016, the combined fleet of 705 aircraft carried 126.6 million guests. In November, Etihad Airways Engineering dealt with a record breaking week of heavy maintenance at its state-of-the-art facility in Abu Dhabi. Aircraft from six of the seven partner airlines were worked on by the companys 3,000-strong team. During 2016, Etihad Cargo carried 592,700 tonnes, which was flat year-on-year. Etihad Cargo expanded its freighter services to several new markets, including Columbus Rickenbacker, Ohio in the US; East Midlands and London Stansted in the UK; Copenhagen; Brussels; Addis Ababa and Casablanca in Africa; Colombo; Muscat; and Zhengzhou in China. This brings the number of freighter-only destinations to 15. Strong growth was achieved within the groups loyalty businesses with over three million new members joining the Etihad Guest, MilleMiglia (Alitalia), topbonus (airberlin) and JetPrivilege programmes, which now provide benefits to nearly 20 million members. The Etihad Aviation Group workforce, as of 31 December, stood at 26,635 employees, representing 150 nationalities. The airline continued to prioritise its Emiratisation programme, and in November, celebrated the graduation of 310 future leaders from the Future Leaders Programmes, a strong indication of the companys commitment to investing in its people. There are currently more than 3,000 Emirati employees 52 per cent of whom are women, including engineers and pilots. Hogan added: 2017 will be another challenging year. We will continue to expand prudently and efficiently, reflecting the nature of the economic environment. We remain optimistic and have every belief that our robust business model will succeed and, most importantly, stand the test of time. The approval extension covers heavy maintenance for new platforms such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft, and the grant of a new B1/B3 limited approval for the Engine Shop. Jeff Wilkinson, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways Engineering, said: The new extension to our existing approval from EASA gives us the ability to maintain Boeing 787 aircraft up to the equivalent of a C2 maintenance inspection. EASA has also granted Etihad Airways Engineering Airbus A380 capability up to and including 12-year Base Maintenance, enabling us to offer a complete range of A380 engineering and maintenance services to our customers from all over the world. In addition to the A380 and Boeing 787 approvals, the Engine Shop B1/B3 approval allows its Engine Shop personnel to issue EASA Form 1s on a limited basis. These initial steps will drive Etihad Airways Engineering to develop and expand its future capability. Nayif-1 is expected to be launched on the morning of 15th February, if all logistics are intact and ideal weather conditions prevail, to ensure a successful launch into space. Currently, a team of specialists at MBRSC and AUS are working to ascertain the readiness of the ground station located at the university, from which the satellite will be operated and controlled after its launch. Nayif-1s main mission objective is to send and receive messages on Amateur Radio frequencies. The nanosatellite boasts a number of advanced features, most notably that it is programmed to transfer messages in Arabic. It also holds an Active Control System Board that has not been launched into space before. Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general, of MBRSC, said that he is very proud of the Emirati students who participated in all phases of developing Nayif-1 until now, where it is ready for launch into space. He also pointed out that four of the student that worked on Nayif-1 have been selected to join the MBRSC team to work on the Emirates Mars Mission Hope mission and KhalifaSat project. Al Shaibani said that the educational CubeSat project, Nayif-1, represents an important step that is in line with the MBRSC strategy aiming to building national human capacities in the UAE universities and providing training on satellite manufacturing technology. He pointed out that the Centre will focus in the future on training other students on how to manage and operate the ground station, communicate with the satellite to transmit and receive messages, as well as using data in new scientific experiments, such as studying the motion of the satellite in space. This kind of space project is of a high priority for government and educational institutions worldwide, because it provides extensive knowledge to researchers, as well as the basics of satellite manufacturing and space system testing. Over the past two years, we began to establish CubeSat manufacturing technology in the UAE, to be used in environmental and development-related fields which are of interest to the community, he added. The Centre aspires to building a sustainable future for the satellite industry in the UAE, and we count on our youth to provide solutions and innovations that are conducive to sector growth, and lead to gaining a competitive edge worldwide, Al Shaibani concluded. Dr. Bjorn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS said We look forward to the launch of the nanosatellite Nayif-1 with great anticipation. Developed by Emirati engineering graduates from AUS under the supervision of a team of engineers and specialists from MBRSC, this project reflects the commitment of our university towards research and innovation in fields that will play a significant role in the future of the country, he added. Nayif-1 has been tested on ground and has successfully passed all tests on its subsystems, such as the power and control subsystems, satellite antenna and communication subsystem. These tests were followed by the full system environmental tests, including thermal and vibration tests. The introduction of the system - announced at the MRO Middle East show in Dubai this morning is believed to be the first for a Middle Eastern carrier. By integrating the Wind Updates offering from Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, Etihad Airways can leverage real-time information to improve in-flight airplane performance based on atmospheric conditions. said David Longridge, vice president of sales and marketing, Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. Richard Hill, chief operations officer at Etihad Airways said that improved decision making by flight crews and reduced fuel consumption are two of the hallmark features of the programme. Being aware of real-time wind data and their related conditions will enhance situational awareness in the flight deck, enabling us to fly the most efficient routes possible, he said More current and accurate weather data is expected to reduce fuel consumption for Etihad by an average of 200-400 lbs (90-180 kgs) of fuel per flight. Overall, Boeing Wind Updates should improve in-flight performance for Etihad aircraft by providing customised, real-time wind and temperature information during every flight anywhere in the world, the manufacturer said. Helping customers drive increased operational efficiency through our integrated portfolio of flight optimisation solutions allows airlines to improve bottom line results, Longridge said. The system can work on both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Centrally located in Dubai, the 148,000 square foot facility houses over 300 employees across multiple disciplines including field engineering, finance, human resources, technical services and manufacturing. Panasonics new hub provides software development and test, media integration, harness manufacturing, repair and overhaul and real-time fleet monitoring services for customers operating in the MECSAA region. Neil James, vice president of the Middle East, Central and Southern Asia and Africa Regions for Panasonic Avionics said, The Middle East, Central and Southern Asia, and Africa regions are home to some of the worlds most innovative airlines, and our new MECSAA Hub ensures we deliver the highest levels of support to these very important and strategic customers. This is truly a momentous occasion for our company and, more importantly, for our customers. Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, director general, DAFZA: The presence of companies that acknowledge innovators and leaders in their field is integral to fulfilling DAFZAs commitment to provide high-calibre integrated solutions to the global business community. Given the rapid and dynamic evolution of todays avionics industry, establishing a base here in the Middle Easts leading Freezone enables Panasonic Avionics to pursue new levels of success and not only keep in step with market movements in the MECSAA territories, but positively impact them as well. For our part, DAFZA will ensure that the facility operates within an environment that is conducive to innovation, sustainability, and excellence. The MECSAA Hub delivers over 20,000 wiring harnesses to OEMs and airlines each month, repairs some 65,000 avionics devices per year and manages software and media integration for 33 airlines. The facility will also accommodate Panasonics MECSAA Innovation Hub (iHub), run jointly between Panasonic Avionics and its subsidiary, Tactel. James Added, The iHub was established to focus on maximizing engagement between our airline customers brand and their passengers through superior embedded, mobile and other digital experiences. Panasonic and Tactel will merge technology, innovation and design with airline business needs to develop 3, 5 and 10-year roadmaps. Every time we meet with customers in the MECSAA iHub we will be bringing fresh ideas to the table. In a landscape where every small village can be identified from afar by the silhouette of its church tower, Nieuw-Bergen was lacking such a clear landmark. Recently, this need was provided by the completion of a landmark building as part of the village renewal plan. This 'Landmark' forms the nucleus of the plan and clearly identifies the marketplace as a central collective space. The public tower offers views of the surrounding nature reserve. It is a combination of a tall, abstract tower and a low base. It accommodates a catering facility, such as a bar or restaurant; an accessible feature that provides a central meeting place in the small village. The structure is clad with a combination of green and red bricks. The tower features a Brazilian bond, with tiny openings, to allow light to shine through in the evening and thus fulfil its function as a beacon. The intention of the design is to be optimistic and approachable: it aims to be accessible and touchable. To achieve this, the building is conceived as a small object: abstract from a distance and intimate upon closer inspection. The red brick is coloured light-green by a cement wash, making patterns emerge that scale down the building and simultaneously enliven it. The decorated base has the appearance of a house, consistent with the intimacy of the surrounding buildings, on top of which, two more abstract volumes are placed. Thus it becomes embedded in the conventional and recognizable. The building is robust and clear, and functions as an emblem for this village. At the same time, it forms an illustration of this fierce ambition, because in various places the monolithic appearance is put into perspective and shown as "bekleidung. An emphatic ambivalence, which connects the worlds of Rossi and Venturi. Monadnock has studied, and was influenced by the typology of historical Dutch trade buildings. These buildings are characterized by their specific proportions and are usually found on market squares in Dutch medieval cities. This was instrumental in formulating the ambivalent status of this building: after all, the building is not a church, nor a town hall, but is intended as a representation of the collective. The planned programming of the interior will be a combination of public and commercial functions. follow following unfollow 4 Monadnock Monadnock A time-lapse film tracks the evolution of a city over a period of a hundred years, revealing the fact that the urban fabric consists of elements that alter at different rates. The buildings change very slowly. They form static structures that are able to survive several eras, uses and trends. Buildings are slow and constitute the solid material of the city. Similar to a Monadnock, the type of mountain that is formed by the disappearance of all the surrounding material through a long process of erosion. Only the hardest rock remains. Job Floris is architect and co-founder of Monadnock. He obtained his masters degree in architecture from the Rotterdamse Academie Van Bouwkunst in 2004, following on from his study of architectural design at the Academie voor Kunst en Vormgeving Sint Joost in Breda. He gained his first experience of working at an architectural firm during his internship at Christian Kieckens Architects in Aalst. While there, as assistant designer he was involved in Interieur Kortrijk and an exhibition design for the Singel in Antwerp. Floris subsequently broadened his experience in Flanders by working as designer at Architectenbureau Poulissen & Partners in Antwerp from 1998 to 2000. There, he was involved in the realization of the Tachkemonischool and two residential blocks, all of which are located in Antwerp. In 2000 Floris returned to practice in the Netherlands, working as project-architect at Rapp+Rapp until 2006. During this period he was involved in a number of projects, including the design and realization of the town centre plan in Ypenburg, a large-scale ensemble of residential and retail buildings, and the office block for Social Services in Rotterdam. Job Floris publishes in various architecture and art magazines and has been editor of OASE Journal for Architecture since 2008. He has held various visiting lectureships in the Netherlands and abroad since 2006. In 2010 Job was appointed as coordinator of the Masters degree course Architecture at the Rotterdamse Academie voor Bouwkunst. Sandor Naus is architect and co-founder of Monadnock. In 2001 he obtained his masters degree in architecture with distinction from the Academie voor Architectuur en Stedenbouw in Tilburg, having graduated from the Academie voor Kunst en Vormgeving Sint Joost in Breda in 1996. He served his internship at AWG Architecten in Antwerp, where he worked on the realization of a small-scale residential building on the Scheldekaai. After his study Naus returned to Antwerp to work as chief designer at the firm of Poulissen & Partners. While there he was involved in various projects realized in Antwerp, such as the multifunctional Hangar 26/27 on the Schelde, the residential block Cornelis-Floris on the Willemdok and the Tachkemonischool. In 2000 Naus moved to Rotterdam, where he broadened his experience by working at MVRDV until 2006. While there, as project architect he was responsible for the realization of large-scale projects including the Parkrand residential block in Amsterdam and the pop music venue Effenaar in Eindhoven. In addition to this, he worked on the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam and international design projects such as the 2004 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London and the Celosia residential block in Madrid. Sandor Naus was part of the three-man team that won the NIROV competition De woonwijk van de toekomst (The residential district of the future) in 2004. He has realized several private residences and has fulfilled various educational functions since 2001, at institutions including the Design Academy Eindhoven and the Academie voor Architectuur en Stedenbouw in Tilburg. Zaid Alazzawi waited eagerly with two employees from Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota for his elderly parents to deplane at Bismarck Airport. It had been four years since he last saw them. He and his family are from Baghdad and, in 2014, he arrived in the United States as a refugee. His parents fled to Jordan due to the turmoil in their country. At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, he was reunited with his mother, Saniya Alazzawi, 65, and father, Hasam Alazzawi, 69, exactly a week after they were scheduled to first arrive. Their plans originally were canceled when President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the refugee program for 120 days, suspending Syrian refugees indefinitely and placing a 90-day suspension on refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq. On Friday, District Judge James Robart, of the United States District Court for the Western District of Seattle, issued a restraining order temporarily halting the ban nationwide. Since then, refugees and foreigners have been racing to make it into the United States while they can. Zaid Alazzawi and LSSND employees recognized his parents, who were wearing plastic badges with their names and the International Organization for Migration logo. They waved frantically at them through glass doors. Soon, they passed through the doors and greeted one another with warm smiles and embraces. Turdukan Tostokova, site supervisor at LSSND, said she had just learned Monday morning that the family would be reunited. They flew into Chicago on Monday and spent the night there. Saniya Alazzawi looked at her son's face. "He got older," she said, through an Arabic interpreter. Hasam Alazzawi saw his son. His eyes lit up and his mouth opened wide into a smile. Through an interpreter, Saniya and Hasam Alazzawi said they are "very happy" to see their son and to finally be in Bismarck. On Tuesday night, they planned to celebrate and eat a meal together with their son and their new daughter-in-law. Saniya and Hasam Alazzawi said they were not concerned when they heard of the ban and changes to their travel plans. "No worries," they said. "We know it's temporary, the decision," Hasam Alazzawi said through a translator. The couple had sold all of their belongings in Jordan in hopes of getting a new apartment in Bismarck. Tostokova said more refugees who had their plans jeopardized after Trump's immigration ban will come later this week and next week. Another Iraqi family will hopefully be reunited Monday or Tuesday. It was deja vu on the North Dakota House floor Tuesday as proponents of the elimination of Common Core were delivered a setback for the second consecutive session when lawmakers rejected a bill that would have opted out of the standards. The defeat of House Bill 1432 comes two years to the week of the defeat of a bill to withdraw from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium during the 2015 session. The consortium is a collection of states that developed a standardized test which students take each spring to measure their ability to meet Common Core standards. Primary bill sponsor Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, divided the bill into two parts as was done two years ago with the same result. The first division of HB1432 related to two sections of the bill; the division eventually failed by a 27-62 vote. The portion of the first division dealt with barring the state superintendent from adopting, aligning or signing on with any multi-state consortium. The state superintendent also would not be able to implement new standards without legislative approval. A prohibition beginning in the 2017-18 school year of the use of state funds in support of Common Core standards was also included. It would ensure that we in North Dakota will have control of our standards, assessments and curriculum, Koppelman said. In order to rid ourselves of Common Core, it is imperative that it be removed by the roots. HB1432 would also require use of 2008-09 school year standards utilized by Massachusetts that school year and limit State Superintendent Kirsten Baeslers control in the development of crafting new K-12 standards. Several lawmakers rose in opposition to the division, with concerns over these parts of the bill as well as the potential loss of federal funding, which a fiscal note to HB1432 estimated as being more than $182 million for the 2017-19 biennium. Rep. Cynthia Schreiber-Beck, R-Wahpeton, said the governor signed on to Common Core standards in 2008 and they were implemented in 2010. The standards that occur in what is labeled Common Core existed in previous standards developed by North Dakota educators prior to Common Core, Schreiber-Beck said. Schreiber-Beck said a large amount of content in North Dakota standards pre-dates Common Core and wondered whether or not the state would be able to use certain aspects in the classroom. Rep. Mark Owens, R-Grand Forks, echoed Schreiber-Becks sentiments. Theres only so many different ways you can say teach a kid to count one to 100, teach multiplication tables, Owens said. In September 2016, Baesler signed a letter withdrawing North Dakota from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, effective June 30 of this year. Efforts are already underway in the Department of Public Instruction to craft new standards. Educators and stakeholders worked on ideas for the standards during summer 2016. A pair of drafts have been completed, with finalized standards to be submitted to Baesler in March for implementation in the fall. To give the Legislature the right to approve standards could result in eviscerating whatever the DPI comes up with in two years, according to Owens. By the time they strip it, we wont need anything but elementary school. Well only need six years to educate our kids because thats what our standards will be reduced to, Owens said. Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England, said many officials and parents in the state oppose Common Core. I look at education as 50 different laboratories of how to learn, and that is a good thing, Schatz said of each state having its own standards. The second division of HB1432 contained the rest of the bills language and failed by a 10-78 vote after a brief debate. Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, said the state has invested generously in recent sessions in K-12 education without seeing improved results. He said the state needs to raise the bar and hold educators accountable. It is a call to action. Not just for us but for the kids and for the parents, Carlson said of the bill. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. 22,9% increase in passenger flow has been registered in Armenias Zvartnots International Airport in January, 2017 compared to the same month of 2016, the General Department of Civil Aviation told Armenpress. The passenger flow in January, 2017 comprised 168.741 people. In January, 2017 the cargo in the airport comprised 965 tons of goods which is an increase by 36.2% compared to the figure of January, 2016. The passenger flow in Gyumris Shirak airport increased by 103.8% in January, 2017 compared to the same period of 2016. The passenger flow of Armenias two airports in January, 2017 rose by 24.2% compared to January of 2016. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. President of the United States Donald J. Trump accused the countrys Democratic Party in obstructing the work of his administration and delaying the confirmation of his Cabinet members for too long. Trump tweeted: It is a disgrace that my full Cabinet is still not in place, the longest such delay in the history of our country. Obstruction by Democrats! More than two weeks after Trumps inauguration, the US Congress has confirmed only 6 of 20 Cabinet nominees of the new President. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trump is ready to cooperate with Russian President Vladimir Putin in fight against the Islamic State terrorist group, Trumps adviser Kellyanne Conway told CNN, reports TASS. She denied the allegations that Trump and Putin have friendly relations, adding that the US President hardly knows his Russian counterpart. Conway said the US President is ready to cooperate with Russia in the fight against terrorism, in particular, against the IS, as well as in solving other issues of the world. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. According to data of monitoring works carried out by the State Property Management Department, the recent years results of the Yerevan Jewelry Factory OJSC is negative, based on which the factorys director Gagik Kafyan has resigned, the State Property Management Department told ARMENPRESS. The management authority of 80% shares of the factory, which are state property, have been transferred to the State Property Management Department from the Economy Ministry in 2015. Financial-economic monitoring of the company revealed the results to be very negative, thus the director filed a resignation letter. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has postponed the delivery of invitations for Syria talks in Geneva from February 8 to later date, the talks are scheduled on February 20, the Geneva office said, reports TASS. Invitations will be sent in the coming days, instead of February 8 (as earlier announced), the statement said. The reason of the delay is the ongoing consultations between the Syrian sides which relate to forming delegations. However, the statement says regardless of the date of delivery of invitations, the Special Envoy keeps his tendency to convey the Syria talks on February 20. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. 11,010 migrants and refugees entered Europe by Mediterranean in 2017 through 5 February about 85 percent arriving in Italy and the rest in Greece. This compares with 74,808 during the first 36 days of 2016, Armenpress reports citing the official website of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM has registered 4,879 more arrivals since its last report (3/2), of whom 1,596 were rescued at sea during the weekend in 15 different operations. IOM said in 2016 more than 5.000 migrants were killed by trying to enter Europe by sea, nearly 363.000 people managed to enter the European countries. The organization reports an estimated 255 deaths at sea on various routes. Photo by AFP YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The extradition of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan is a disgrace, MP Karen Bekaryan Chairman of the European Integration NGO, told Armenpress. Taking into account the behavior of Belarus, the situation of democracy in that country, the extradition decision was not unexpected. Nevertheless, this is shameful and a disgraceful act. What will be the consequences of this step? It will significantly escalate the situation and will greatly impact the possible trust measures we are talking about for years. In other words, if we regularly speak about installing trust measures in the settlement process of the Karabakh conflict, in this case we saw that Belarus not only doesnt bring its contribution to that process, but also greatly impacts that trust measures, and I dont think it acts unconsciously. This means that this is a big problem, and we will witness its global consequences. It will open a range of quite more issues, Bekaryan said. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. A news correspondent reported from the airport that Lapshin is in a serious mental condition and he didnt respond to the questions of journalists. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus. Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijans General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijans Criminal Code. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements. The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan issued a statement over extradition of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan, the Ombudsmans Office told Armenpress. The statement reads: The arrest and extradition of Alexander Lapshin cannot have any significance for the work of reporters and human rights advocates in Nagorno Karabakh. This work has been considered and will always be considered as legitimate: this is the principle. A. Lapshins extradition fact is obviously linked with the infringement on freedom of speech. After immediately being appeared under Azerbaijans control, the journalists wearing handcuffs and accompanied by masked forces, as well as the wider release of this event are already an evidence of obvious features of banned attitude towards him. Promoting the visits of international journalists, human rights advocates to Karabakh, contributing to the participation of the NKR democratic institutions in the international meetings must be one of the major directions of everyones work. There is no alternative to carry out fundamental works on this path. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Gegham Manukyan, a 38 year old soldier of Nagorno Karabakh was fatally wounded by Azerbaijani ceasefire violations at 11:00, February 8, in a military post located in the northern direction of the Defense Army, the ministry of defense of Nagorno Karabakh told ARMENPRESS. An investigation is underway to determine details of the shooting. Around 12:00 on the same day, NKR soldier Koryun Kirakosyan, 19, was seriously wounded by Azerbaijani shooting in another direction (Martakert) of the line of contact. An investigation is underway. The NKR defense ministry extends its condolences to the family and friends of the fallen soldier. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Ksenia Svetlova member of Israels Parliament (Knesset), said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman are responsible for the fate of blogger Alexander Lapshin who is extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan, reports Armenpress. The MP expressed her anger over the silence of the Israeli leadership on Lapshins case. Alexander is not a criminal, he didnt steal, didnt kill, didnt endanger the security of any country. His crime was his visit to Nagorno Karabakh, she said. Ksenia Svetlova said during the last two months she was following the developments of the case together with Lapshins family members and took steps aimed at releasing him, but she didnt succeed. She said the fact that the citizen of Israel is being arrested only for making innocent travel and writing posts in his blog is unacceptable. I especially cannot tolerate the silence of the leadership of our country, she said, recalling that Lapshin was arrested during those days when Netanyahu visited Baku. The MP said she applied to Netanyahu over Lapshins case two weeks ago, however, didnt receive any response. Today I again call on the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, who have close ties with Azerbaijan, to intervene for the sake of the innocent citizens rights as long as no misfortune happens. Alexander Lapshin must be immediately released, Ksenia Svetlova said. Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service. Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them. The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders. Arguments for taking a harder line on welfare recipients who might be on drugs were rejected Wednesday by the North Dakota Senate, which killed a bill intended to combat substance abuse by welfare program participants. Senate Bill 2279, which was rewritten via an amendment, was moved directly to the floor for debate and suffered a 20-26 defeat. Known as a hog house amendment, the re-worked SB2279 called for mandatory addiction screenings for those receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefits. People identified as a risk for substance abuse could be referred for treatment, including a drug test. A person would still be eligible for benefits under SB2279 but, if they failed to comply with a treatment plan, their benefits could be revoked. During the 2017-19 interim, data would be also be collected on the impact the bill has on children in households receiving TANF benefits. It is long overdue and time to send a tough love message, primary sponsor Sen. Tom Campbell, R-Grafton, said. The entire focus is to get the recipient to treatment. Campbell said the states drug problem is becoming worse from what hes seen while working in prison ministry among other areas of outreach and being told a high number of people are abusing the system. The original version of the bill required drug testing for TANF and for the North Dakota Department of Human Services to set up implementation. It also would have allowed benefits to be designated to an appropriate adult on behalf of a child if a parent was deemed ineligible. Lawmakers who stood to speak on SB2279 werent buying Campbells arguments. Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, said data from other states has indicated the number of drug users on TANF has been low. They have found that its in the vicinity of 2 percent of those who are tested that have been determined to have the potential for drug addiction, Lee said. From 2009 to 2014 in Arizona, a single drug abuser was found among about 87,000 people tested. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 15 states have laws requiring drug testing and screening for public assistance programs. The issue has been debated at the state level since federal welfare program reform passed Congress in 1996. Sen. Erin Oban, D-Bismarck, said a concern was that the state is experiencing a shortage in treatment services. What happens if they agree to services but there is no access to service? Oban said. Are they still sanctioned under this? Campbell said we didnt deal with treatment in the new version of SB2279, adding that he assumed DHS would have the discretion to determine that on a case-by-case basis. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. In accordance to the Prime Ministers task, the State Urban Development Committee (SUDC) presented construction investment packages to the Government, Narek Sargsyan, Chairman of the SUDC told reporters on February 8. Sargsyan said numerous discussions were held in the Government and investment packages worth around 105 million USD were found to be completely realistic for 2017, which do not include the current construction works carried out by the City Hall. According to Narek Sargsyan, the Committee is consistent regarding newly formed programs, which comprises around three dozens. He mentioned the total worth of presented programs was 235 million USD, which in his view was completely realistic, however, since there arent prepared documents and definite programs, the undoubtedly programs which were worth 105 million USD were selected. Moreover, from the planned investment programs worth 105 million we expect this number to increase rather decrease, because we had numerous negotiations with dozens of investors in the past 4-5 months, we discussed their concerns. Around 50% of these programs will comprise apartment building works, and the remaining 50% hotel and other public constructions, Sargsyan said, adding only 5% will comprise at the expense of the state budget, the rest will be provided by private investors. According to him, around 53 of the total program will be realized by local investors, while the remaining 47% by foreign investors. Sargsyan said there are some programs which dont yet have investors, for which the ministry of economic development and investments and diplomatic structures are actively working for. Weve proposed a new approach to investors, I can say they are very excited about it. The thing is, we suggest investors to sign a trilateral agreement State Urban Development Committee, City Hall and if there is need for cooperation with imports of construction material with other fields, we can agree with the ministry of economic development and investments. That is, trilateral or quadrilateral contracts starting from 500 thousand USD up to dozens of millions of dollars. We suggest to take the responsibility of supporting the investors, Sargsyan said. According to him, Armenia is an attractive country for investors in terms of construction. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II on February 8 had a meeting with Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, press service of the Mother See told Armenpress. Welcoming the PM in the Mother See, Catholicos Garegin II attached importance to the Governments efforts and programs aimed at overcoming the challenges faced by the Fatherland, as well as solving peoples issues of concern. Garegin II said with satisfaction that Mr. Karapetyan has always assisted the Armenian Apostolic Church and its structures in various circumstances of his service. In his turn, PM Karapetyan expressed satisfaction over the existing relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Government, by attaching great importance to state-church cooperation. At the meeting Catholicos Garegin II presented the PM the activity of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. They also discussed the process of ongoing reforms in the country. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II wished Karen Karapetyan success in the initiatives directed towards the progress of the Fatherland and welfare of the Armenian people. Last year the government of the town where the museum (in the composers former house) is located forbade France-TV to film there; last month a local official called the police on Charles Dutoit and Martha Argerich while they were visiting; last week the custodian, on the job for 30 years, was fired; there are concerns that objects and archives are missing. Sanjoy Roy looks into the situation and explains why losing the museum permanently would be a tragedy. Tom Rachman, writing from the Verbier Art Summit (a would-be Davos for artsy types), is not encouraged: Politics in the arts often looks more like group bonding than anything that might effect change. Svend Asmussen, the Danish violinist who thrived in eight decades of stardom, died yesterdaythree weeks short of his 101st birthday. He was one of the handful of violinists who in the 1930s proved the instrument capable of swing and emotional expression at the highest jazz level. He may well have been the only man still alive in the new century who had played with Fats Waller, Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. Asmussen and his wife Ellen were surprise members of the audience at a concert in his honor at last summers Ystad Jazz Festival in Sweden. Our first clip of Asmussen in action is with Alice Babs and guitarist Ulrik Neumann, who were known as the Swe-danes. They thrived in the late 1950s. This piece was a record, radio and television hit in Scandinavia for years. In the next video, we find Asmussen 30-odd years later at the Club Montmartre in Copenhagen. His accompanists are Kenny Drew, piano; Niels-Henning rsted Pedersen, bass; and Ed Thigpen, drums. The piece is by Duke Ellington. For a comprehensive obituary of Svend Asmussen, see this Washington Post article. A bill requiring additional items for North Dakota high school students to read in United State history classes passed Wednesday in the House when brought back for reconsideration a day after failing by a razor-thin margin. House Bill 1337 passed by a 56-35 margin following a brief floor debate. It failed Tuesday by a 47-42 vote, one vote shy of the 48 votes required in the 94-member chamber for passage. HB1337 would require that students in history courses also be taught about the Federalist Papers, the relationship between the federal government and state and local government as well as separation of powers as it relates to various levels of government. The House Education Committee gave HB1337 a 12-2 do not pass recommendation. Bill carrier Rep. Ron Guggisberg, D-Fargo, said committee members were told by educators that many of the items in HB1337 are already on the list of items in school standards that can be taught. He said there was concern over going back to past days when an extensive list of things to be taught in K-12 schools were listed in state statute. There were things like hand-washing in Century Code to make sure students learned all those things, Guggisberg said. Bill supporters, including primary bill sponsor Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England, countered with the importance of knowing ones history. We want students to understand the why we have a representative republic, Schatz said. Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, agreed, saying students should be knowledgeable of the past struggles that allowed them to have the rights they have today. I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone, anyone, would oppose this bill, Kasper said. Last session, lawmakers passed a bill requiring students take a civics test in order to graduate. Seven Mandan citizens will be serving over the next couple of months on a newly created committee to discuss ways to improve how the city removes snow in future winter seasons after the state this winter has been bombarded with multiple major blizzards. City commissioners unanimously approved the citizen members during their meeting Tuesday evening. Theyll join eight city representatives on an ad-hoc committee, the formation of which was pursued at the suggestion of a Mandan resident in December, following the first waves of snow that blanketed the area in November. We anticipate a two-month window to complete the committees work, City Administrator Jim Neubauer said. The city commission approved the formation of the committee at its Jan. 17 meeting, with a deadline for interested members of the public to volunteer of last Thursday. Originally, the board called for five public members. Neubauer said eight volunteers contacted the city but one later withdrew due to being out of town for an extended period of time. Neubauer suggested picking all seven and moving forward. Commissioner Shauna Laber said its been an unusual year for snow removal in the city. Mandan declared a snow emergency in January in order to pursue further funding for snow removal operations after being drilled by four major winter storms in about a month. North Dakota has experience more than 50 inches of snowfall this winter. What we need is robust discussion, Laber said. Neubauer agreed. Im sure therell be some good ideas that come from this, Neubauer said. The committee is expected to meet a few times in the next two months or so and provide recommendations for possible future action. Committee meetings will be public, and no date has yet been set for the group's first meeting. In other commission news, Mayor Tim Helbling told the audience to keep Deputy Police Chief Paul Leingang in their thoughts: he said Leingang had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Police Chief Jason Ziegler said further information, including information on a benefit event, would be released publicly at a later date. Former RBI governor spoke to media of University of Chicago Booth School of Business. New Delhi: Having returned to academia after a controversy-ridden stint at the RBI, former Governor Raghuram Rajan feels "great to be back" riding his bike in Chicago and hopes to "do it as long as" he can. "Taking my bike out and riding the bike path along Lake Shore Drive, that's one of the great experiences in my life. And I hope to do it as long as I can. It's great to be back," Rajan said in an interview with the media team of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Lake Shore Drive is an expressway running along the shoreline of Lake Michigan through Chicago, Illinois. "This (Booth School of Business) has been my home for 25 years. It's a great city. I have great colleagues. And it's a wonderful school. "It's different every time you come back. If it wasn't different, it wouldn't be doing its job," Rajan said. Rajan was governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to September 2016. His tenure was marked by both bouquets and brickbats but saw severe criticism from some political quarters towards the end, including personal attacks. He was accused of refusing to lower rates to boost growth, though Rajan often cited data to the contrary. Previously, he served as the chief economist and director of research at the International Monetary Fund (from 2003 to 2006). He is currently Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which he joined in 1991. Asked what he is looking forward to most after returning to academic life, the former RBI Governor noted that one of the difficulties of a job in the "real world" is that one does not really get time to shut oneself off in a room and think. "Now in academia,...if you are careful, you can spend four days in a room, sit looking at a piece of paper and struggling with a thought that refuses to come out. "At the end of those four days, sometimes, you say, 'Oh my God, how did I miss this?' and it dawns on you. And that's as close to bliss as you can get," Rajan said. Talking about focus of his research, he said, "Research never really leaves you... While I was at the Reserve Bank, I published some papers, but you don't get time to really reflect." Referring to the global financial crisis, Rajan pointed out that the crisis essentially gave us research topics for the next 30 years. "If you look at what happened, there are about 15 to 20 different stories now emerging," he observed. He also argued that more liquidity means more leverage, which in turn means more financial fragility. Immigration reform is a central tenet of Trumps push for companies to invest and hire more in the US. These programmes have no salary limits and there are no numerical limits on L visas. (Representational Image) Mumbai: The US has announced a new programme whereby an Indian entrepreneur can set up an enterprise in the US with additional investment from a US investor. Called Parole, this could come into effect by June or July. The advantage, said Mark Davies, chairman of Davies & Associates, LLC which focuses on immigration, is that it means less investment for the Indian entrepreneur and there is no need to create a certain number of jobs as required in the case of the H1-B visa. It is probably done to encourage investments in the US, he added. However he says there are several better options than the H1-B that can be used to migrate to the US, like the EB-5 and L visa programmes that are more superior to the H-1B programme which is lottery based. These programmes have no salary limits and there are no numerical limits on L visas. The EB-5 programme is an investor visa programme while the EB-1 visa is for extraordinary skilled people. Also, the current TEA investment requirement in EB-5 is $500,000. The proposed new government rule would increase that investment requirement from $500,000 to $1,350,000. This programme is being used by Indian billionaires and other high net individuals, partly because the HI-B visas will no longer be a ticket for post graduates to get jobs in the US. So they are trying to protect themselves from either the termination of the programme or a substantial increase in the required capital by filing for the I-526 before April. Immigration reform is a central tenet of Mr Trumps push for companies to invest and hire more in the US. Mr Davies said that their clients invest in regional centres in the United States in diverse fields ranging from real estate, and development projects to factories and IT businesses. Also, with the EB-5 programme expiring in April, a large number of Indian applicants are trying to protect themselves from either the termination of the programme or a substantial increase in the required capital by filing for the I-526 before April. There is a discussion on increasing the present $70,000 per worker to $1.3 million. The thriller is set to be produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures. After a four-year break, filmmaker Priyadarshan is all set to return to Hindi cinema with a remake of his 2016 Malayalam hit, Oppam. Ajay Devgn will be taking over the role of a blind liftman, who strikes up a friendship with a retired judge. Says Priyan, I am not allowed to talk about it right now, but I look forward to working with Ajay again. The two films that I did with him in the past Aakrosh and Tezz were disasters. I was in a terrible state of mind while making them. But we got along really well. And I owe him a big success. The thriller is set to be produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures . Viacom have earlier worked with Ajay in the remake of another Malayalam film Drishyam, which featured Mohanlal. Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, worked with Om Puri in Aarohan, which earned the actor one of his first National Awards. Govind Nihalani amusing at the photoshopped images of the two directors fighting in the ring. It was made by their dear friend Om Puri. Om Puri was the unlikely hero, who not only became the face of Indian Parallel Cinema, but was also one of the first Indian actors to get acclaim for his international films (My Son the Fanatic, East is East). Its been about a month (January 6) since the veteran actor gave up his ghost leaving behind wife Seema Kapoor, his son and countless of fans. On Tuesday evening, noted filmmakers and collaborators, Govind Nihalani and Shyam Bengal along with noted journalist Kumar Ketkar and actor Atul Tiwari conducted a symposium where they shared their fond memories of the man that Om Puri was. The event was orgasnied by Cine-Maa. Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, worked with Om Puri in Aarohan, which earned the actor one of his first National Awards. I remember seeing him for the first time. He had come with a wonderful reputation of an actor not just from the FTII but, also from National School of Drama prior to that. He really had a chameleon-like character where he could blend with the landscape and rises above the rest. Its not an easy feat, stated Benegal. In the 1980 classic Aakrosh, Govind Nihalani directed Om Puri. Nihalani put a context to the times that he was born. He further added that it was the anxiety of the people that Puri represented on screen. The fact that he was born right after independence and grew up during the time of aspiration and eventually see it all come down during the Emergency years, Nihalani said, had played an important role in shaping him as an artist. Puri was born in 1950, the year when India got its Constitution, pointed out Ketkar. Atul Tiwari, Kumar Ketkar, Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani The evening had other eminent actors and writers in the audience as well. Writer Shama Zaidi said, There was a serial called Yatra (1986), where we went on a train ride from South to North and from East to West. He would cook food for us in the train and would buy vegetable when we would halt at any station, and he kept us entertained. Speaking of his ways, Shyam also added instances when he would carry film equipment in Paris. He recalled, He was like that, always wanted to work. Whenever he was not facing the camera, he would either be helping someone to hold the reflector or be busy doing something else. Benegal added, While shooting for Susman (1987), Benegal recalls, He as playing a weaver in the film. We had arranged a two-hour workshop for him in the weavers village, but he insisted and stayed back for the entire period of the shoot. Every day, he would practice weaving while we were staying in a hotel. After the end of the film, he gave me a piece of cloth that he had weaved from which I made a shirt and a trouser and a sari for my wife, he said. The actor was so impressed by the craft that he got the handloom in his house and would weave occasionally. The 66-year-old actor was also fondly remembered by his friends for having a great sense of humour. As Tiwari recalled in the evening, Puri had a wall of photographs of mentors and friends oddly Photoshopped for gags. Later, Seema handed over a framed image of Benegal launching a blow on Nihalanis face juxtaposed on a photograph of two boxers negotiating in a ring, cracking the audience up. His wife also announced two scholarships that will be awarded to meritorious students, one at FTII and the other at NSD, the alma maters of the late actor. But the best analogy of the evening came from Nihalani who said, Actors should be like a great watch. It must have elegance and precision, but emit less noise of the clockwork. Om Puri was one such fine actor, whose effort would not show on-screen. Pallavi landed this role when she met Kirsty McGregor, the Australian casting director. Australian-Indian actor, Pallavi Sharda, who started her Bollywood career with My Name is Khan, has much to look forward to this year. Apart from Begum Jaan, featuring Vidya Balan, Pallavi has an international Oscar-nominated movie Lion, directed by Garth Davis, featuring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman on her list of projects. Lion, which has received six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, will see Pallavi portraying the role of Prama, a student from India. She landed this role when she met Kirsty McGregor, the Australian casting director. It made sense to play an Indian living and studying in Melbourne, as it mirrored my past reality. The irony was that I played someone from India not from Australia, explains Pallavi. Talking about the cast of the film, she further adds, It was satisfying to work alongside such a stellar cast consisting international actors. The film lends itself to a cross-cultural cast so I was able to work with actors from India, Hollywood and Australia. Doing scenes and sharing screen spaces with Rooney Mara and Dev Patel was surreal and career-altering. Comparing the world of Bollywood with Hollywood and their work cultures, she points out, I think the Hollywood film industry sticks to a structure and work ethic, which we are yet to seen on the Indian sets. Personal and professional spaces are demarcated clearly in the West, and actors are able to have a shoot life and a non-shoot life while working on a project. They are entitled to privileges such as overtime if the shift gets extended. I am yet to see this level of organised system in India. However, I do love how personal relationships are easily formed on Indian sets, which comes from a common cultural background. Her upcoming Bollywood film Begam Jaan is scheduled to release this March, wherein she will be seen playing the role of a sex worker. The film also stars Vidya Balan, and talking about her experiences with Vidya, Pallavi shares, Vidya is an exceptional person and a great actor. Her discipline in the workplace and her warmth towards fellow cast and crew complements her entire persona. She is a joy to be around. Recalling the shooting of Begam Jaan, Pallavi says, I think, shooting the climax was the most memorable moment for me. The entire cast bonded together to create drama-filled cinema with so much grit and resilience. I loved every minute on the set of Begum Jaan and am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with veteran actors such as Rajit Kapoor and Ila Arun, both of whom became dear friends of mine. It was her love for dance that brought her to Bollywood, and she says she would love to do something with a story constructed around dance: It is one of the reasons I chose to work in the Indian industry. I have just been featured in a music video in which I was able to dance, and have just completed a month of shoot on a project by Vivek Mathur for Discovery India, which was all about my love for dance, movement and open space both projects allowed me to tap into my essence, she shares. India has taken up the matter with China, and voiced its objection. New Delhi: Highlighting Indias new strategy, the United States has moved the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, but China has again opposed the move. India has taken up the matter with China, and voiced its objection. New Delhis efforts earlier to move the proposal were blocked by Beijing. The US, along with France and Britain, had earlier been co-sponsors of the Indian move, but after Beijing blocked it in December-end, India held consultations in January this year with the US, the UK and France to evolve a new strategy. It seems to have been decided then that the US will now move the proposal instead of India, highlighting the new strength of Indo-US ties. The Trump administrations resolve to go after radical organisations has further aided New Delhi, but Beijing remains a firm backer of Islamabad due to its interests arising from huge Chinese investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. We have been informed of this development (China blocking the US move), and the matter has been taken up with the Chinese government, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Suspense over Sasikala Natarajan oath grows after TN CMs open revolt. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam addressing to media after end of a meditation in front of late J Jayalalithaa's burial site at the Marina Beach in Chennai. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday rose in revolt against Sasikala Natarajan and those in support of her taking over the reins of the state administration, alleging that they forced him to resign after manipulating him to cooperate following Jayalalithaas demise, and thereafter they humiliated him. I have resigned under duress. But I will take back my resignation if people and AIADMK cadres want me to do so. I will stand alone and fight this war, Mr Panneerselvam said at Marina beach. A huge army of mediapersons gathered at the Jayalalithaa memorial after news broke that the soft-spoken CM had gone there and was sitting in meditation before the Samadhi where his mentor was laid to rest on December 6. He sat with eyes closed and got up wiping tears after more than 20 minutes. It took the police a long time to bring the screaming TV crews under some sort of control so that the chief minister could speak his mind out. After all those years of quiet politics, and those heavy minutes of silence before Ammas Samadhi, Mr Panneerselvams words rang like thunder and are sure to shake the state politics in the coming days, say political analysts. There is now no government in Tamil Nadu. They have obtained Panneerselvams resignation by coercion. This calls for action, said Opposition leader M.K. Stalin, the DMK working president. I am here now as I was driven by Ammas soul to come out and reveal the truth, Mr Panneerselvam said, before launching on the long recall of the hospital events. After Ammas condition became bad, they called me and said I should take the responsibility of the CMs post to ensure stability of the government and the unity in the party. I hesitated but they said people would only accept me as CM and there would be complications if other names were brought up. They pressured me into saying we should not pave way for those things and after a long consideration, I accepted the responsibility, he said. Even though Mr Panneerselvam did not name who they were, it is easy to guess as only Sasikala and her family were in control at the Apollo Hospitals. Mr Panneerselvam said after he took charge as CM, he had undertaken several important assignments such as handling the post-Vardah cyclone situation, the Jallikattu protests and the drinking water crisis to the best of his ability, which won all-round appreciation apart from the desired positive results. But then, even within a few days of his being sworn-in, there were orchestrated demands from his own ministers that Sasikala should take over as CM, he said. When he told them it was not proper for his own ministers to make such statements, they assured him they would speak to those ministers, but the clamour for Sasikala to become CM only grew louder, he said. New Delhi will host a meeting to finalise the Bimstec Motor Vehicles Agreement. New Delhi: In another move to corner Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, India will host the first ever meeting of national security chiefs of Bimstec nations to discuss action against terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation, with New Delhi also agreeing to host an international conference on countering radicalisation. The decision was taken during the 17th Bimstec Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) which concluded in Kathmandu on Tuesday. India is now increasingly investing its hopes for regional cooperation in the regional grouping Bimstec - which does not have Pakistan as a member instead of Saarc which has become rather dysfunctional due to Pakistans stonewalling tactics on issues such as regional connectivity. Bimstec comprises India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. With the exception of Southeast Asian countries Myanmar and Thailand, which are members of Asean, the rest of the Bimstec countries are also members of Saarc. In keeping with the high-priority BIMSTEC members attach to combat terrorism and trans-national crime, it was agreed that India would host the first ever meeting of Bimstec national security chiefs to discuss action against spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The regional grouping meeting, which began on Sunday, discussed progress in several key initiatives in trade and investment, energy, technology, fisheries, climate change, culture, people-to-people contacts and other sectors. This marked an important step forward to realise the action oriented agenda for BIMSTEC agreed by the leaders at their Retreat hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Goa in October 2016. India, as the lead country in the areas of counter-terrorism and trans-national crime, environment, transport and tourism sectors, offered several important initiatives in these areas. To boost regional connectivity, India would organise a meeting of the working group to finalise the Bimstec Motor Vehicles Agreement. An MoU on Grid Interconnection has also been finalised to facilitate electricity trade in the region. The trade negotiating committee would shortly take up trade and trade facilitation matters. Given the regions vulnerability to natural calamities, India would organise the first annual disaster management exercise, the MEA added. A Task Force on Traditional Medicine has been created that would meet in India to work on strengthening the role of traditional medicine for holistic health care. A network of BIMSTEC tour operators would be organised in India to boost tourism through measures such as composite tour packages. The Meeting also discussed progress in several other key BIMSTEC initiatives in trade and investment, energy, technology, fisheries, climate change, culture, people-to-people contacts and other sectors. In keeping with the strong commitment of Members to BIMSTEC, progress is to be reviewed in the Meeting of Foreign Ministers to be hosted by Chair Nepal in June later this year. This meeting would also make preparations for the BIMSTEC Summit to be hosted later this year. Congress leader Shantaram Naik also suggested that Parikkar should not make policy statements outside Parliament. New Delhi: Opposition parties severely criticised Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday for his statements on the surgical strike and Indias nuclear doctrine. Opposition MPs also sought a clarification from Mr Parikkar. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress leader Shantaram Naik claimed that Mr Parrikar, in one of the statements, had given credit to RSS ideology for the surgical strikes instead of the brave soldiers, while in another, he said India had never conducted any surgical strikes before. He also suggested that Mr Parikkar should not make policy statements outside Parliament. Though Mr Parrikar was present in the House, he chose not to respond. Citing certain examples, Mr Naik said the minister falsely claims that India never conducted surgical strikes in the past. Mr Parrikar never mentioned the strike that India had carried out in erstwhile East Pakistan under occupation of Pakistan dividing that country into two during Prime Minister Indira Gandhis tenure, the Congress MP said. Mr Naik said Mr Parrikar should not ridicule the country by making statements which can be construed to be in bad taste. On his statement regarding Indias nuclear doctrine, Mr Naik said Mr Parrikar had articulated a personal view which is contrary to Indias no first use of nuclear weapons. This doctrine has come for adverse comments from many strategists. If Defence Minister is making an aggressive posture, then how is that the government had failed to ensure reciprocal visit (to Pakistan) after it permitted a Pakistani delegation to visit sensitive areas in Pathankot, he asked. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma while associating with his colleague said that the Defence Minister should not have made policy statements on Indias nuclear doctrine outside Parliament. The Defence Minister must respect Parliament. He should be advised not to make policy statements when Parliament is in session. He should come to the House and respond, he added. Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Cong) and Sharad Yadav (JD-U) also wanted to air their concerns, with the latter saying these are not ordinary statements. They are of serious nature. He (Parrikar) should respond. As Opposition members sought the Defence Ministers reply, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said he cannot force the Minister to respond. Members from the Treasury Bench said flimsy issues are being raised and urged the Chair not to allow Opposition members to take others time. 'Bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on is an art only Dr Sahib (Manomohan Singh) can know of,' Modi said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made a scathing attack on former PM Manmohan Singh, mocking his scam-tainted tenure under the previous UPA govt, leading to a furore in the Rajya Sabha. For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singh ji had a lot of influence on country's economic policies. Politicians have a lot to learn from him (Manmohan Singh). So much has happened (corruption scandals) during UPA rule, but there is not a single taint on him. Bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on is an art only Dr Sahib (Manomohan Singh) can know of. Immediately after this remark, there was massive ruckus in the Upper House, with Congress members protesting against Modi before walking out. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidus agitated calls for a stop to the running commentary from the Opposition during Modis speech went in vain. Congress does not want to hear the truth, and always runs away from it, charged BJP leaders in the House as Congress members walked away. The ex-PM however, said he did not wish to reply to Modis comments. AIADMK legislators should ask why they're not being allowed by Sasikala to speak to me, said the acting Tamil Nadu CM. Chennai: Hours after AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala Natarajan moved 131 MLAs to an undisclosed location after shepherding them into a bus, caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam claimed that some of the MLAs were trying to contact him. "AIADMK legislators should ask why they're not being allowed by Sasikala to speak to me," said Panneerselvam to NDTV about the sequestering of lawmakers after this morning's meeting. Good days will return. Some MLAs are trying to meet me, talk to me, Panneerselvam added. Meanwhile, AIADMK MPs who pledged support to Sasikala, are now enroute New Delhi to meet President Pranab Mukherjee. Their intention is to complain to the President about Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Raos continuing absence from Chennai. Rao is staying put in Maharashtra even though he is charged with the responsibility of appointing Sasikala the new CM of Tamil Nadu, if he so wishes. Vidyasagar Rao is expected to return to Chennai on Thursday afternoon, said an NDTV report. Panneerselvam had late last night sounded the bugle of revolt against Sasikala, claiming that he had been 'humiliated' and forced to resign as CM earlier this week. He also alleged that while late CM Jayalalithaa was in hospital, he was not allowed to meet her even once. Panneerselvam further claimed that Jayalalithaa had told him that if anything happened to her, he would be the CM, and announced that a probe into Jayalalithaa's death would be initiated. For her part, Sasikala on Wednesday questioned O Panneerselvam's silence for about 48 hours after she was elected as leader of the legislature party on Sunday. "Please don't side with traitors who have struck a deal with DMK which was out to finish Amma's legacy. No force on the earth can break the AIADMK," she thundered before her legislators. Hitting out at O Panneerselvam, Sasikala said she could sense the acts of a Chief Minister who had "completely connived with the Opposition". Sasikala claimed "it became my responsibility to put an end to wrongdoings done by CM O Panneerselvam". She added, "Our opponents are after us and spearheading whatever is happening today, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path." Neither AIADMK nor me will be cowed down. Nobody has the power to split or divide us. Betrayal has never won, Sasikala said. "Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against. We will give a big blow to this act of betrayal and disloyalty," Sasikala Natarajan said. Sasikala said she had noticed "Panneerselvam joining hands with DMK following their conversation in the Assembly," recently and added that she is duty bound to prevent the next course of action from happening, apparently referring to a revolt. A committee was formed to give suggestions on how such regulation can be made. New Delhi: The Supreme Court, which had earlier decided to frame guidelines to regulate/ban Sikh jokes in circulation on social media, on Tuesday indicated its inability to do so, saying courts cannot lay down moral guidelines for citizens, doubting their enforceability if they were to do so. A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R. Banumathi said courts cannot pass any regulations asking people to behave in a particular manner in public, and even if they do, Who will enforce them on the streets? We are clear the courts cannot lay down moral guidelines for citizens. We cannot issue guidelines to regulate individuals, the bench said. The earlier bench headed by former Chief Justice T.S. Thakur had entertained several PILs which sought court intervention to curb or ban sardar jokes in circulation on social media and on the internet. A committee was formed to give suggestions on how such regulation can be made. During the resumed hearing, the bench made it clear that the Supreme Court cannot pass any kind of guidelines banning or curbing jokes about the Sikh community. Justice Misra asked the counsel is there any kind of guidelines for any community or any religion anywhere in the world. Dignity or reputation is always related to an individual. While some persons will laugh for a joke, while some others may remain quiet. It all depends on individuals perception. Sikhs are a highly respected community. The whole India respects them. At the outset the bench said anyone can take recourse to section 67 A of Information Technology Act or defamation provisions under the IPC to seek remedy if they feel aggrieved by such jokes. Justice Misra asked how can we lay down guidelines? What kind of guidelines and to whom we can issue them, who will enforce them. We can only regulate if anything is done by an institution or the State. If a singular grievance comes we can take it up. I dont think the court shall go into it. The bench said these are things in the domain of the legislature. It will only explore if any measure can be taken to curb spread of online jokes on the lines of ban on online advertisement of sex determination kits and clinics ordered earlier. The bench will pass a formal order on a batch of petitions alleging commercial dissemination of insulting jokes about Sikhs on the Internet and through SMS, on February 27. Advocate Harvinder Choudhry, the main petitioner submitted that perception plays a big role at various levels of decision making, be it at the level of executive, in the bureaucracy and even in the judiciary. If this circulation of Sardar jokes be allowed to continue, depicting Sikhs as naive, inept, etc. etc. then, since it creates a stereotype image of Sikhs, it is also leading to undermine the contributions made by Sikhs for the independence of India. 8 of 10 directors were present in the final November 8 meeting. New Delhi: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that a series of consultations were held between the government and top RBI functionaries on demonetisation since February last year, before the central bank board took a formal decision and conveyed it to the government which took the final call. Mr Jaitley told the House that eight of the 10 directors of the RBI Board were present at the November 8 meeting which made an independent final recommendation on demonetisation to the government. Mr Jaitley said that in May 2016, the Board had taken a decision on printing currency of higher denomination as a replacement to demonetised currency. Consultations at a very senior level with the RBI on this issue had started way back in the month of February 2016 itself. The RBI Board in May 2016, as a part of these consultations, had decided to go in for and approve the design and taken the decision with regard to the high denomination currency which was required to be printed as a replacement currency itself, he said. Thereafter, a series of meetings used to be held periodically, at times on a defined day once a week, where the seniors in the RBI as also in the government were in consultation. Because the decision had to be kept in utmost secrecy, it is for this particular reason that these were not put into public domain, Mr Jaitley informed the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. Replying to supplementaries, the minister said the formal decision in this regard with this background was taken by the RBI on November 8, but this had been preceded by a series of discussions which had started way back in February 2016 itself. The RBI Board met and independently applied its mind and made a receommendation to government, he said. Mr Jaitley said the long-drawn consultation process with the RBI was carried on issues including demonetisation and cessation of legal tender. A formal proposal to the RBI to consider this matter in the Board is sent by the finance ministry to the RBI Board and RBI independently considers it, applies its mind and accordingly makes its recommendation to the government, he said. Asked specifically as to how many members of RBI Board attended the meeting to decide on the issue, he said out of 10 members of the Board, 8 members attended the meeting. He said there are a total of 10 members currently on the board of RBI, but there are some vacancies too and the appointment process for those vacancies is at a fairly advanced stage and are likely to be filled up very soon. Asked to spell out the overall impact of demonetisation as assessed by government, he said remonetisation was at a fast pace and steps were being taken by the government to make sure that the hardship caused to the people is the least. That is why a series of steps were announced including relaxation in terms of dealing with old currency so that some of the sectors do not suffer at all, Jaitley said. The government has been making an analysis and the government is conscious of the fact that there are in the medium term and long term several advantages in term of expansion of the formal sector of the economy itself. This will lead to larger digitalisation, which will lead to curbing of black money and crime money transactions. This will lead to larger revenues coming into the coffers of the government, he said. As Shantaram Naik (Cong) expressed dissatisfaction over the reply given by the Minister, Chairman Hamid Ansari said, If you are not satisfied with the answers, you know the procedures. When T Subbarami Reddy (Congress) rose to ask a supplementary to a question on demonetisation, he was not allowed by the Chair as the maximum of three supplementaries had already been asked. I am very upset and hurt, Reddy said citing his seniority in the Upper House and walked out. Dalai Lama also advised against associating Islam with terrorism and stressed on the need to reach out even to the hardline elements. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures as he speaks on "Reviving Indian Wisdom in Contemporary India' at a public event in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Hitting out at the totalitarian government in China for immoral curbs on free speech and the press, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday said people of the Communist nation will be able to tell right from wrong once they are aware of the reality. On radicalism, he also cautioned against stereotyping communities. According to news agency PTI, he said the use of force by the United States post September 11, 2001 attacks hardened many and that reaching out to Osama Bin Laden would have made the West safer. The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, however, batted for closer Sino-India ties at the people-to-people level and went on to invoke the spirit of Hindi-Chini, Bhai-bhai. Asked about the perception of growing intolerance in India, he said a few individuals and politicians do not represent the entire population of the country and that India was the most stable country in the region. He also advised against associating Islam with terrorism and stressed on the need to reach out even to the hardline elements. Speaking at an event organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation here, he reaffirmed that Tibet was not seeking independence from China but freedom mainly in the sphere of culture and language. The (Chinese) government is unfortunately totalitarian ...No freedom of speech, freedom of religion. Once Chinese people know the reality they will able to judge what is wrong and what is right. Censorship is immoral, he said. Acknowledging that things were changing in China, he said the country must open up in its own interest. Power of truth was stronger than the power of gun, he said, alluding to allegations of Chinese repression in Tibet. India should invite (from China) people from areas such as medicine and education...In areas where it has an advantage, the Dalai Lama said, stressing on the need for enhanced people to people contact. Responding to a question on radical Islam, he said the very term Muslim terrorist was wrong and anyone practising Islam and indulging in terror ceases to be a genuine Muslim. Some Muslim countries are isolated, without any contact with the outside world. There comes the concept of one religion and one truth, he said, stressing on the need to reach out to even hardline elements of Islam. The Supreme Court bench passed the order after hearing attorney general Mukul Rohatgi in a jam-packed court. New Delhi: A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday slapped a contempt notice on Calcutta high courts Justice C.S. Karnan for his scurrilous remarks against judges of the Madras high court and the apex court and restrained him from any judicial or administrative work with immediate effect. The bench comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices Dipak Misra, J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur, Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Kurian Joseph directed the personal presence of Justice Karnan before it on February 13. This is the first time in the countrys history that seven senior-most Supreme Court judges, led by the Chief Justice of India, convened in open court suo motu contempt proceedings against a sitting high court judge. The Supreme Court bench passed the order after hearing attorney general Mukul Rohatgi in a jam-packed court. Mr Rohatgi had called for stringent action against the judge for writing very, very scurrilous letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high Constitutional dignitaries, accusing judges of corruption and caste bias as he hails from SC community. The court in its order said, Justice C.S. Karnan shall forthwith refrain from handling any judicial or administrative work as may have been assigned to him. He is also directed to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to the registrar general Calcutta high court immediately. Justice C.S. Karnan shall remain present in person on February 13 to show cause (why contempt action should not be initiated against him). The high court chief justice has been asked to relieve him of all work. In his submissions, Mr Rohatgi said, These communications are completely scurrilous, completely calculated to destabilise administration of justice whether it is against a retired judge, high court judges, sitting judge from Supreme Court; nature of allegations are very, very disparaging. Very, very scurrilous... Mr Rohatgi argued that the apex court was not only empowered to punish for contempt of itself, but also for contempt of any other court in the country. According to the AG, this was a case for summary trial as the letters purportedly addressed by Justice Karnan were sufficient enough to hold the judge guilty for contempt. The idea is the letters should be made public... This court must also set an example so that the citizen is made aware that this court will not hesitate to act even against judges, the AG said. The CJI cautioned the AG by saying whether the letters purportedly written by Justice Karnan were actually not his letters. If he denies it, then it will change the whole situation, the CJI said. In 2016, Justice Karnan, who was posted in Madras high court, was transferred to Calcutta HC after he cast aspersions on many judges and even ordered a CBI probe against Madras HCs Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. He then stayed his transfer order, forcing the Supreme Court to authorise a freeze on his functions as a judge. Later, he wrote to the Chief Justice of India, acknowledging that he had passed an erroneous order due to his mental frustration resulting in loss of mental balance. Also, the Madras high court had filed an application in the Supreme Court alleging that Justice Karnan has in his possession 12 files that have to be returned to the court. In June 2013, Justice Karnan had passed a order that ruled that if a couple of legal age indulged in sexual gratification, it would be considered as a legal marriage and they would be termed as husband and wife. Following an uproar, he passed another order putting a gag on everyone from making adverse comments. GRAND FORKS A bill described by its sponsor as a means to ensure freedom of speech in North Dakota higher education by rejecting political correctness gone crazy has passed in the state House. Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, sponsor of House Bill 1329, said the proposed legislation is a response to an attitude that free speech is not free speech on campuses where he said expression is discouraged by university policy. Though the House Education Committee gave a do not pass recommendation, the measure passed 65 to 25 on Monday. It needed 48 votes to pass the House. Becker defined the term safe space as a designated location where the rules guard each persons sense of self-respect, dignity and feelings by restricting discourse on a litany of subjects ranging from LGBT identity to political affiliation. There is an atmosphere of political correctness and social justice that will lead to safe spaces and this whole concept on every campus, Becker said. We have to put a stop to it now. HB 1329 would confirm free speech as a fundamental right while requiring the State Board of Higher Education, the governing body of the North Dakota University System, to adopt a policy on free speech to apply to all NDUS students. That policy would commit the SBHE-controlled institutions to free and open inquiry by students in all matters while prohibiting restrictions of speech except in cases in which speech would involve violations of law or disrupt institutional functions. The free-speech policy would be required to contain a bill of student rights which would bar NDUS entities from subjecting students to any nonacademic punishment, discipline or censorship for an act of lawful expression. Becker cited the University of North Dakotas Social Justice Living-Learning Community as a point where safe-space concepts have found a home in the NDUS. The Social Justice LLC is one of six residential areas located within campus residence halls. It is described in UND housing information as a place focused on inclusion and social justice issues, including bringing about positive change. Becker suggested it is not you or me who decides what positive change is. If we disagree with what they think, our ideas have no place on campus, he said. They will not be tolerated. Becker also cited the violence seen last week during protests of controversial right-wing speaker Milo Yiannopoulos at UC-Berkeley as an outgrowth of anti-speech rhetoric on university campuses. The event for Yiannopoulos eventually was canceled in light of mounting security concerns. A December presentation by the same speaker at North Dakota State University was canceled due to organizational difficulties including event security costs. Education Committee member Rep. Denton Zubke, R-Watford City, began discussion of the bill by asking the assembled representatives to support the committee by voting against the proposal. Zubke said committee members felt the right to free speech is sufficiently detailed in the U.S. Constitution. Its frequently under attack, and the courts have interpreted it on many occasions, said Zubke of free speech. One of the committees concerns was the specificity of it in this bill. Another was trying to define something already in the Constitution. Rep. Mark Owens, R-Grand Forks, said he didnt disagree with the concept of protecting speech on campuses, but deemed the bill unnecessary. You already have the right to freedom of speech, but if you dont fight for it, this isnt going to do any good in reiterating it in state law and being so specific, Owens said. In the final analysis, we believed this was nothing more than saying the same thing over again. Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, agreed the bill was reiterative but spoke in favor of it regardless. This bill does little more than restate the Constitution of the United States, Kasper said. But unfortunately, in many cases, the Constitution is not being followed and is not being protected. Kasper said the bill presented a means of enabling administrative bodies on NDUS campuses to stand up to political correctness. The Congress vice-president also took a dig at Mr Modi over his surgery remarks on economy, saying, A quack endangers life. New Delhi: Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in Lok Sabha arrogant, the Congress on Tuesday said he had mocked the tragedy in Uttarakhand with his earthquake comment. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led the charge saying the PM had mocked the tragedy in Uttarakhand, insulted the freedom struggle but has no answers to Oppositions questions on note ban. The Left also attacked the Prime Minister, saying he had shied away from answering issues raised by parliamentarians, including on demonetisation, and instead engaging in rhetoric and sloganeering. They also charged him with lowering the level of debates in Parliament by making certain remarks. Mr Gandhi tweeted: The Prime Minister mocks the tragedy of Uttarakhand and insults the freedom struggle but has no answers to the Oppositions questions. The Congress vice-president also took a dig at Mr Modi over his surgery remarks on economy, saying, A quack endangers life. Congress leader Veerappa Moily said, This was quite an arrogant reply. This was the last opportunity for him because the next Budget and Presidents address will be before the next Lok Sabha election. He should have used this window of opportunity to present his vision, with clarity and perspective, for the country. The CPI(M) said it will insist that the Prime Minister faces questions when he replies to the motion in the Upper House on Wednesday. We have taken serious objection to the fact that the sanctity of debate on the motion of thanks to the President is being hijacked into election propaganda by the Prime Minister, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said. Meanwhile, several Union ministers hit out at the Opposition for their attempts to disrupt Mr Modis speech in the Lok Sabha, accusing them of being petty minded, and targeted the Congress saying it was unbecoming of a party which has ruled and ruined the country for years. They (Congress) behaved in an immature manner. They have been in power for long. They must have the patience to hear the truth. When the truth is unpalatable to them, the way they were making personal remarks, the way they were trying to heckle the Prime Minister, it was unbecoming of a party which has ruled and ruined the country for this many number of years, urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said. 131 of the 134 AIADMK MLAs attended a meet called by Sasikala in Chennai. Chennai: Nobody has the power to split us, betrayal has never won, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala Natarajan said on Wednesday in a strong message to her party MLAs and in an attack on O Panneerselvam. The AIADMK Legislature Party seems to be strongly behind its newly elected leader Sasikala with 131 of the 134 MLAs attending a meet called by her on Wednesday where she asked them not to "side with traitors" who have "struck" a deal with the DMK. In an emotional speech at the meeting at the party headquarters, Sasikala questioned OPS' silence for about 48 hours after she was elected as the leader of the legislature party on Sunday. "That is why there is this flutter. Neither AIADMK nor me will be cowed down by this," she told a meeting of party MLAs convened here to discuss the situation arising out of Panneerselvam's revolt against her last night. "Panneerselvam not saying anything on this and his silence showed clearly that he had joined hands with DMK. His act had also infuriated the Ministers," she said. "Please don't side with traitors who have struck a deal with DMK which was out to finish Amma's legacy. No force on the earth can break the AIADMK," she thundered before her legislators. Referring to Panneerselvam's political career, Sasikala said he had been part of the AIADMK Janaki (MGR's widow) team following the death of the founder MG Ramachandran, before switching over to Jayalalithaa camp. Jayalalithaa had 'forgiven' this and provided him with various opportunities (in the party and government), she added. "Our rivals are showing their true face. We will prove our might to them. No one has the power or capacity to split or break us. I will solve the confusion arising in people's minds at the right time," she said. Though people and cadre seem to be firmly with OPS, legislators have sided with Sasikala camp. However, Panneerselvam says situation would change soon and many MLAs will support him when he seeks trust vote in the Assembly. 'I and the AIADMK won't deviate from the path shown by Amma. I have dedicated my life to Amma and I was with her for 23 years," she said at the meeting. Speaking to the media after an emergency meeting of AIADMK MLAs in Chennai, Natarajan said that after Jayalalithaas demise, she could not take up the responsibility of Chief Minister as she was very sad. Hitting out at O Panneerselvam, Sasikala said she could sense the acts of a Chief Minister who completely connived with the Opposition. Sasikala claimed that 'it became my responsibility to put an end to wrongdoings done by the CM O Panneerselvam'. She added, "Our opponents are after us and spearheading whatever is happening today, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path." "Paneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against. We will give a big blow to this act of betrayal and disloyalty," Natarajan said. TR Zeliang had called the meeting of all tribal bodies to find solutions to resolve the current impasse. Guwahati: The apex body of Naga tribes gave a three-day ultimate for chief minister T.R. Zeliang to step down, and threatened to intensify protests over the state governments move to give 33% reservation to women in municipal elections if he did not yield. No government office in Nagland was allowed to function on Tuesday. Tribal bodies also did not allow government vehicles to ply. Hoho, which is an umbrella body of all 16 Naga civil society groups, also announced to boycott a meeting called by the CM in Kohima on Wednesday, in a setback to his efforts to fight back mounting pressure to quit. Mr Zeliang had called the meeting of all tribal bodies to find solutions to resolve the current impasse. Two people were killed in police firing in the states Dimapur a week ago one more person succumbed to injuries later during protests against 33% seats reserved for women in the states urban local bodies. On Thursday, thousands of protesters went on the rampage and torched government property in Kohima, which led to the Army being called out and paramilitary forces being stationed to protect vital installations. Protesters want a rollback of the reservation as they believe the move is against their tradition and violates the right granted to Naga tribals as per the Constitutions article 371(A). Mr Zeliangs efforts, which included declaring the elections null and void and asking the Prime Minister to immediately pass an Ordinance and later amend Part IX-A of the Constitution to exempt Nagaland from holding municipal polls, have failed to convince the agitating tribal groups. In fact, Mr Zeliangs remark has invited angry reaction from the tribal groups, which are adamant on his resignation. The tribal bodies are firm in their opinion that holding elections to the urban local bodies with 33 per cent reservation for women would infringe upon Naga traditions. Though the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) has clarified on many occasions that it not against giving reservation to women, but is opposing the way in which the reservation is sought to be imposed upon it. The chief minister has invited representatives from all tribal groups to the meeting to be held on Wednesday. These include Naga Hoho, Eastern Naga Peoples Organisation, Angami Peoples Organisation, Ao Senden, Chakhesang Public Organisation and Nagaland Gaonburra Association. The problem for Mr Zeliang complicated after Naga Hoho, the apex traditional tribal body of the state, joined the NTAC, and asked the chief minister and his entire cabinet to gracefully resign. Naga Hoho has tremendous command over the Naga civil society. It would be difficult for Mr Zeliang to run the administration by antagonising the civil society. Even most legislators are opposed to the idea of going against the wish of the their respective civil society groups. The PM said that the politically crucial state can become India's 'Uttam Pradesh' if people will choose the right government. Ghaziabad: Taking a dig at the opposition for criticising government's demonetisation move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said some people have problem with his fight against black money and corruption. "Some people are in a problem because of my fight against black money and corruption, even after so many days they still talk about it," said the Prime Minister while addressing a rally in Ghaziabad. The Prime Minister further said that corruption has eaten the country like termites. "I can't fight against the corruption in Uttar Pradesh while sitting in Delhi. In order to fight against corruption, Uttar Pradesh must remove the corrupt government," he added. Launching a scathing attack at Samajwadi Party, the Prime Minister further said the Uttar Pradesh ruling party has been sheltering criminals in the state, adding that the politically crucial state can become India's 'Uttam Pradesh' if people will choose the right government. "Samajwadi Party has been sheltering criminals and goons. Today, in Uttar Pradesh, after the sun sets a woman cannot step outside confidently on the streets as they are not safe in the state," the Prime Minister said while addressing rally in Ghaziabad. He further said that rapes and murders are unaccounted for in Uttar Pradesh and the Samajwadi Party is neither worried, nor does it consider it their responsibility. "The Samajwadi Party, which has been in power for last five years, it is their duty to answer the people of Uttar Pradesh about the work they have done," Prime Minister Modi added. He further took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and said: "When Akhilesh Yadav became Chief Minister, we thought there would be development in the state since he is young and highly educated, but he destroyed the state in five years." Asserting that the upcoming state assembly election is to bring development in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi stated that if one's intentions are clear, it is not difficult to bring law and order in the state. "If Bharatiya Janata Party assumes power in Uttar Pradesh we will scrutinise the scams in employment sector and will give jobs to unemployed people," he added. Governor Vidyasagar Rao is likely return to Chennai on Thursday. Chennai: Exuding confidence that she would be sworn in as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu, AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala on Wednesday lashed out at caretaker CM O. Panneerselvam, accusing him of being a traitor who betrayed the party. On another day of fast-paced political activities, she addressed a meeting of party MLAs at AIADMK headquarters. A major part of her flock of MLAs was whisked away from there to secret locations to prevent any of them from switching loyalties. Governor Vidyasagar Rao is likely return to Chennai on Thursday. His absence triggered speculation whether he had reservations on installing Ms Sasikala, the leader of AIADMK legislators in the Assembly, as the new CM. The caretaker CM, who was removed as AIADMK treasurer by the party chief late Tuesday night, said he would prove his strength in the Assembly. We welcome all support. A government desired by the people will be formed in the state, he said. K. Manickam was the first MLA to side with OPS. Former Speaker P.H. Pandian, who attacked Ms Sasikala Tuesday, and Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan met OPS. An unperturbed party chief appeared on a Tamil channel to rebut a lot of what OPS had said in the course of his revelations at former CM Jayalalithaas memorial on Tuesday night. She asserted that AIADMK members had asked her to lead them. On Mr. Panneerselvams accusation that he was forced to resign, she said, On February 5, the MLAs elected me as their leader, the records are available. After that, in the evening, I went to the governors office. I was told that he had gone to Ooty. So all MLAs were with me at the time. We faxed a letter from all the MLAs with their signatures. He is a traitor who betrayed the AIADMK. He is being backed by the DMK, which wants to destroy the AIADMK. The manner in which Panneerselvam behaves in the Assembly, it seems he is one of them (DMK), she said in her takedown of his actions. On Mr. Panneerselvams announcement on recommending an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge to probe doubts over the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa, Ms. Sasikala said that she was not afraid of any kind of investigation. I feel deeply saddened when a person, who was there in the hospital for 75 days, was questioned. Everything went well in the hospital. On her last day, she even watched serials on Jaya TV. Jayalalithaa used to love old songs. I used to record songs for her. O. Panneerselvam has betrayed Amma. Again these people are going to their old ways. We are not bothered, she said. I have spent 33 years in this house with Amma. The party cadres know how I looked after her and worked for her. The news was deliberately planted by someone on Ammas health condition. The doctors and hospital employees will testify how I took care of Amma. Only I know the grief and pain I had to go through, she said. Arvind Kejriwal had then urged Jung to invite him and power minister Satyendra Jain for a discussion to resolve the issue. New Delhi: In a big boost to the Aam Aadmi Party governments mohalla clinics project, lieutenant- governor Anil Baijal has cleared the AAP governments ambitious proposal of setting up around 300 such clinics in government-run schools, but asked it to take NOC from civic agencies in a bid to ensure that no laid-down rules of Education Act are flouted. The LG has asked for hiring well-qualified doctors and said that no laid-down rules of Education Act should be flouted while setting up mohalla clinics on school premises. According to an official, as the proposal has been okayed by the L-G, work on setting up mohalla clinics will begin soon. In November, Mr Baijals predecessor Najeeb Jung had sent back the file relating to the proposal, citing certain clauses of the Delhi School Education Act under which school premises can be used only for academic purposes. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had then urged Mr Jung to invite him and power minister Satyendra Jain for a discussion to resolve the issue. The aim of opening mohalla clinics on school premises is to provide free primary healthcare to students as well as general public. Lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal has cleared the proposal to open around 300 mohalla clincs on premises of Delhi governments schools. The health department will now start working on setting up such clinics, a senior government official said. The proposal was okayed by the L-G in mid-January. The official also said that these clinics will have an entry point for general public from outside, restricting unauthorised entry to the school. As these (mohalla) clinics will be set up on school premises, lieutenant-governor has asked the government to ensure safety and security of students and also no unauthorised persons could enter the school. Apart from this, LG has also asked government to take NOC from concerned agencies including MCD before setting up mohalla clinics, sources said. The government has also been asked by the LG office that no rules of Delhi School Education Act should be flouted while setting up such clinics. The LG office has granted a right to use the land of government schools for setting up mohalla clinics. However, the city administration cannot build hospitals on such land in the future, sources said. The government had earlier announced that 1,000 mohalla clinics would be established by December 31 but the deadline was pushed to March this year. Mohalla clinics are being run by the Delhi government that aim to provide free primary healthcare to all. Currently, around 109 mohalla clinics are operational in the national Capital, treating almost 2,500 patients every day. 'I want Modi and Fadnavis to come together and take me head-on. I'll finish this chapter for once,' he said. Mumbai: Alleging that more people have died due to Centre's demonetisation than terrorist attacks in the country, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to come together and take him "head-on". "Less people have died in terrorist attacks and more due to demonetisation decision. Who launched this terrorist attack on the nation?" he questioned at an election rally here. "I want Modi and Fadnavis to come together and take me head-on. I'll finish this chapter for once," he said. Speaking on the election manifesto released by BJP, Thackeray said, "For last 25 years, it (manifesto) was prepared by the Sena but pictures of BJP leaders were put on it." The BJP Mumbai unit today released its manifesto designed as a stamped affidavit, promising a slew of sops ranging from right to water, gender budgeting, seamless travel across all modes of transport, health insurance cover, preserving open spaces and biodiversity, exclusive toilet blocks for women, grand memorial of late Sena chief Bal Thackeray among others. The association between two young leaders had been cultivated by both sides over the past few months. Mumbai: The Shiv Sena in a move that caught political observers off guard has picked Hardik Patel, the firebrand leader of Gujarats Patidar agitation, to campaign for its Gujarati candidate in a bid to split the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) core vote bank ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Council (BMC) elections. Mr Patel on Tuesday addressed a rally of Biren Limbachya, Senas Gujarati candidate who is contesting from Goregaon. It came as a surprise in political circles to see the influential Gujarati leader arrive in Mumbai to campaign against the BJP, a party that has traditionally enjoyed the support of Gujaratis throughout the years. Also, sources privy to the talks between Sena and Mr Patel told The Asian Age that it was Yuva Sena chief and Thackeray scion Aaditya who brought young Gujarati leader close to Sena. The Asian Age, on September 15, 2016, had reported about an alliance between the Sena and Mr Patel. The association between two young leaders had been cultivated by both sides over the past few months. It was Mr Thackeray who called on Mr Patel after the latter held a powerful rally in August 2015 in Ahmedabad demanding that the Patel community be given reservation under the OBC quota. Mr Thackeray, sensing an opportunity, established contact with Mr Patel after the latter had mentioned Sena founder Bal Thackeray as an icon of his in various interviews. Around the same time, the BJP had started flexing its muscles, indicating that it would go solo in the BMC elections with BJP Member of Parliament and prominent Gujarati voice Kirit Somaiya making allegations against the Sena related to corruption in the BMC. The Sena leadership had anticipated the BJPs plan to defame the Marathi-oriented party ahead of the BMC elections and to counter the BJPs attack, Sena started chalking out a strategy, which includes broadening its base among communities that have been close to the BJP. The Gujarati community in particular, which has been a decisive factor in 40-odd wards, is the Senas chief target. Sources said that, the BJP being a common target, Mr Thackeray and Mr Patel decided to help each other out. Using his contacts in the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, Mr Patel started influencing his friends and colleagues in Mumbai into leaving the BJP and joining Sena. Meanwhile, Sena has started establishing contact with community leaders. Sources also confirmed that Mr Thackeray had invited Mr Patel to be present for Senas campaigning in Mumbai, but Mr Patel was reluctant initially. Finally, both leaders found a way: Mr Patel would address the rally of Senas Gujarati candidate. When asked about Senas attempt to split the Gujarati votes, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, It shows the Senas nervousness. The Gujarati community will not go to Sena just because its has brought Hardik here. Our candidate, Harsh Patel, is capable of tackling Hardik Patel. Box: Poll strategies Keen observers of the Gujarati community in Mumbai dont foresee Mr Patels arrival in Mumbai as having a negative impact on the polls. Though many Gujaratis in Mumbai are Patidars, Hardik will have no impact in the BMC polls because his agitation in Gujarat has not picked up as per expectations, said senior journalist Satish Soni. Box: Senas new face Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel would be his party's face in Gujarat Assembly polls. He said that the saffron partys alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra is on its notice period. The court found that all the organisations had David as one common person in them. Mumbai: The Bombay high court unearthed a fraud by an individual, Teddy William David, who had filed a testamentary petition claiming rights to the property of a deceased Bandra teacher, Bruno DCosta. The HC caught his lie when he claimed that he had received a cheque of Rs 1.40 lakh by DCosta a month before his demise, whereas the chequebook was issued only three months after the teachers demise. The court initiated perjury proceedings against the petitioner and also asked him to return the amount to the tune of Rs 6.47 lakh, out of which some was withdrawn through the chequebook. The single bench was headed by Justice G.S. Patel. During the hearing, the court called for the bank account details of Citizen Credit Cooperative Bank Limited in which DCosta had an account. The existence of the account came to light after David deposed to the court that DCosta had given him a cheque of Rs 1.4 lakh for services rendered by him. David told the court that DCosta had issued him the cheque a month before he expired and the cheque was encashed only in November 2014. Unsatisfied with Davids answers, the court asked the bank to submit details of DCostas account and all transactions that had occurred in the account before and after his demise. After perusing the account details, the court found that the bank issued a chequebook to one Eunice DSouza, who worked as a secretary to David, three months after DCostas demise and the cheque through which David withdrew Rs 1.4 lakh was from this chequebook. The bank informed the court that it was unaware of DCostas death and issued the chequebook to DSouza as the application for the chequebook had DCostas signature. Further perusal of the withdrawals from DCostas account revealed that various withdrawals were made by different organisations by cheque leaves issued from the said chequebook. The court found that all the organisations had David as one common person in them. After the revelations, David applied for withdrawal of his testamentary petition which the court rejected and directed him to pay back Rs 6.47 till February 28. The saffron party faced flak for forming an alliance with Pappu Kalanis son Omi Kalani in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation. Mumbai: In a major embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), posters with photos of Pappu Kalani, a convicted criminal, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been mushroomed all over Ulhasnagar. The saffron party faced flak for forming an alliance with Pappu Kalanis son Omi Kalani in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC). The BJP had tried to save face saying it is going with Omi Kalani, and not his father. The BJP had made serious allegations against Pappu Kalani in the 80s for his criminal record, but the party in the last week of January forged an alliance with Kalani, an outfit to promote the leader in politics, allotting it almost 28 seats in the UMC. At the time of the tie-up, BJP minister of state Ravindra Chavan, who is the party in-charge for the UMC polls, had told the media that his party was sealing a deal with a new generation leader. It may be mentioned here that Pappu Kalani had contested the 1986 Assembly elections on a Congress ticket when then-Congress leader Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party supremo, was chief minister. Mr Kalani was booked for the murder of BJP activist Inder Bhateja and few others. In 1993 he was among the first persons who were booked under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA). The then-Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly Gopinath Munde, a BJP stalwart, had accused Mr Pawar of criminalising politics in state, citing Pappu Kalanis example. When asked about the poster, BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said, Certainly, a BJP candidate wouldnt have done that. If any candidate from our alliance used it (the picture), we will instruct them not to use any pictures apart from those of the PM and CM. GRAND FORKS A bill to repeal the state law against texting while driving and replace it with a distracted driving law has raised concerns with at least one lawmaker. I think this would be a big mistake, said Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, who sponsored the bill in 2011 that created the texting-while-driving law. Rep. Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, who introduced the bill to repeal the law, said hes not trying to legalize texting while driving, but the law, as it's written, prohibits activities that arent distracting. His bill, he said, would permit safe activities that are prohibited by the current law. Klemin said North Dakota was the 31st to ban texting while driving. Only four states have no such laws. He said the language of the law is very similar to other states, including Minnesotas law. Law enforcement says its a good law, and they use it all the time, Klemin said. He said a driving while distracted law is unconstitutionally vague and doesnt allow people to know exactly what activities are illegal. He uses, as an example, a parent handing something to a child in the back seat as an action that could be illegal under a distracted driving law. North Dakota banned texting in 2011. During that session, there were two bills in the House dealing with distracted driving. The House passed both bills, but the Senate only passed the anti-texting bill. Klemin said theres hard data from insurance associations and government agencies, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Data Administration, showing that texting while driving is a really dangerous situation. Besides thousands of deaths, these accidents result in costly vehicle damage, Klemin said. Mock agrees. Texting while driving is very distracting and dangerous, Mock said. Mock said the way the law is written, many activities that arent distracting to the driver are still illegal. The law prohibits using a wireless communications device to compose, read, or send an electronic message. This would include a driver who safely uses a hands-free device operated from his or her steering wheel to send a text messages, as some phones allow. You are technically violating the law when you use voice-activated text messaging while driving, Mock said. The bill, HB 1430, implements distracted-driving language that forbids drivers from doing anything that requires the drivers sight, unless its part of using the vehicle. It contains specific language that permits automatic transmission of data that does not require the driver to initiate it, voice-operated devices, navigational systems or any communications to obtain emergency services for an accident or to report a crime. Thats the true spirit of the law, Mock said. Klemin said enforcement of a texting while driving prohibition is easier than a general ban on distracted driving. Cell phone records can be subpoenaed to help determine if the driver was texting. You cant prove they were reaching for a dropped doughnut, but you can prove they were texting, Klemin said. Mock said he wants to work with Klemin to craft amendments that address his concerns. Hes not trying to undo the law. For me, its about getting the law right, Mock said. He said hes interested in a law that encompasses a broader range of activities that can cause accidents. He recalled an accident many years ago in which his sisters high school friend was killed while changing a CD. She didnt notice a train coming down the tracks she was crossing. It was a real tragedy. It behooves us to get the law right, Mock said. The bill goes to committee Thursday. Li Chen's obsession started while on a trip in 2010 with his then girlfriend, who also liked to dress the dolls. Beijing: Technology might soon change how we have sex with even more realistic sex dolls making it to the markets, including sex robots that are equipped with artificial intelligence and functioning genitalia. Many suggest it can promote clean prostitution while critics worry that robots will replace human partners in bed in coming years. Even as the fascination with sex dolls is getting new dimensions with celebrity look-alike sex dolls being talked about, a man in China is already living his life with seven sex dolls, which he sees as more than just pleasure devices. (Photo: YouTube) Li Chen is a 58-year-old living in Chinas Guizhou Province and is a big fan of these beautiful silicone figures. He says that he doesnt have sex with them and considers them his daughters. He even grooms them, dresses them up and takes them out for trips. Li Chen also makes music videos for the silicone dolls and has spent Rs 9.7 lakh on buying costumes for them. He says that people in China see him and other sex doll collectors as perverts, but he only appreciates their beauty and treats them as family members. But five of the dolls belong to L (Photo: YouTube)i and two others are gifts to his son who he encourages to satisfy biological needs with sex dolls, since he wants his son to be safe. Lis obsession with dolls started in 2010 when he was on a trip with his girlfriend and was stunned by the beauty of these dolls. His girlfriend liked the dolls because she could dress them. (Photo: YouTube) Li broke up with his girlfriend in 2014, but carried on the obsession as the dolls have also been a replacement for women in his teenager sons life. Melania has yet to step away from the companies that manage royalties from her name-branded products, business documents show. Washington: First lady Melania Trump expected to develop "multi-million dollar business relationships" tied to her presence in the White House, according to a lawsuit she filed. And she has yet to step away from the companies that manage royalties from her name-branded products, business documents show. Ethics watchdogs worry that Mrs. Trump seems to be inappropriately trying to profit from a high-profile position that is usually centered on public service. "The Trumps are using the White House like the Kardashians used reality TV, to build and vastly expand their overall business enterprises," said Norman Eisen, who was President Barack Obama's chief ethics counselor. Mrs. Trump is living in New York while her son finishes out the school year. She has done little hiring for her White House office and has not posted on social media since Jan. 21. She joined President Donald Trump last weekend at their home in Florida but has not returned to Washington since the inauguration last month. A libel lawsuit refiled by Mrs. Trump on Monday in New York is one of the few times the public has heard from her lately. Mrs. Trump has been suing the corporation that publishes the Daily Mail's website over a now-retracted report that claimed she once worked as an escort. While the new court documents don't specifically mention her role as first lady, an unusual passage argues that in addition to being false and libelous, the Daily Mail report damaged her ability to profit from her high profile, and affected her business opportunities. Mrs. Trump "had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world," the lawsuit reads. Charles Harder, Mrs. Trump's attorney, did not respond to a question about what was meant by the phrase "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." He said the first lady "has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so." "It is not a possibility," Harder said. "Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted." A White House spokeswoman for the first lady did not respond to a request for comment. The products referenced in the lawsuit could have included apparel, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care and fragrance, among others. The first lady is seeking compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million. An Associated Press review of business filings found that Melania Trump has not stepped away from her brand. As of Tuesday, she was listed in New York filings as the CEO of Melania Marks Accessories Member Corp, the holding company of Melania Marks Accessories LLC, both of which remain active. Those companies managed between $15,000 and $50,000 in royalties from her accessories lines, the Trumps' May 2016 financial disclosure filing shows. A third company, Melania LLC, was also still active, though the Trumps had listed it as having less than $1,000 in value and producing less than $200. Two other of Mrs. Trump's companies tied to skincare products were shut down last week, according to business filings in Delaware. Both were listed in the May 2016 financial disclosure as having little to no value or income. Scott Amey, general counsel of the Washington watchdog Project on Government Oversight, said the first lady's ongoing enterprises are "another example of the first family blurring the line between public service and private business interests." Richard Painter, who advised former President George W. Bush on ethics, said the lawsuit's language shows Melania Trump is engaging "in an unprecedented, clear breach of rules about using her government position for private gain." Painter and Eisen are part of a group of attorneys suing the president for an alleged violation of a constitutional clause that prohibits presidents from receiving foreign gifts or payments. President Trump continues to financially benefit from his global business empire, breaking from past practice. Previous presidents and their families have divested from business interests and placed their holdings in a blind trust, although there is no legal requirement to do so. Trump handed daily management of the real estate, property management and licensing business to his adult sons and a longtime Trump Organization employee. Melania Trump's marketing has drawn scrutiny before. On Inauguration Day, the official White House biography for Melania Trump originally referenced her jewelry collection, which it noted was sold on the home-shopping channel QVC. By the next day, that bio had been edited and simplified to say that she had "launched her own jewelry collection." Mrs. Trump previously sued Mail Media Inc. in Maryland, but a judge earlier this month ruled the case was filed in the wrong court. The lawsuit is now filed in New York, where the corporation has offices. Mrs. Trump also had sued blogger Webster Tarpley for reporting the unsubstantiated rumors. Trump filed the lawsuit in Maryland after both Tarpley and the Daily Mail issued retractions. On Tuesday, Melania Trump's attorneys said they'd settled the Maryland case against Tarpley after he apologized and agreed to pay "a substantial sum as a settlement." The first thing that struck this traveller was the panoply of power by the privileged. I recently worked with someone with significant clout in Western journalistic and policy circles who was preparing for his first trip to Pakistan. Having travelled the world, he had determined that one of the best data points to gauge societies and state-society relations was ones experiences at a countrys airports. He believes that management of airports, the demeanour of state officials, the type of treatment foreign versus local travellers receive, passenger behaviour, etc. give a general sense of how things operate in a country. The traveller reported back on his airport experience in Pakistan after he returned. He had walked away with a negative experience. Airports create first impressions which tend to stick. When those drawing conclusions from their experiences happen to be people whose word carries weight, they can affect a countrys international perception and image. The first thing that struck this traveller was the panoply of power by the privileged. He noticed a dozen or so people carrying name cards of passengers they were tasked to escort past the immigration and customs queues. This isnt peculiar to Pakistan so what stood out? The sense of entitlement, he said. Those he spoke to felt they deserved this privileged treatment, and did not see their willingness to bypass proper channels as undermining the rule of law. Next, he observed the normal immigration queue and recognised some individuals who had waited patiently in the long queues before boarding the flight from the United States. They were perturbed, even though the queues were far shorter in Lahore. They resorted to talking down Pakistans systems and institutions and expressing their displeasure with everything from airport staff to the countrys leadership. (I might add that the patience of Pakistani travellers irrespective of socio-economic status tends to return promptly on flights back to Western lands even though immigration procedures in these countries are seldom welcoming of green-passport holders.) The contrast prompted him to strike up a conversation with a few of these passengers, only to see their deep apathy for state authority and distrust in the state institutions they harboured. He walked away convinced what he was hearing amounted to a case of a tenuous, perhaps unsustainable, social compact between the state and society. His read-out on the states systems and regulations wasnt bullish either. First, he noticed their inertia. He was puzzled by the fact he was asked to fill out landing and health declaration cards before arriving at the immigration counter but the officer tossed out both in front of him. Landing card data has been automated, and there is no mechanism for health data management at airports. No immigration official could tell him why these forms still existed. This traveller was troubled by what he described as a bad law with incentives that encouraged rent seeking by officials. He narrated his run-in with a customs official who demanded duty payment on his personal gadgetry based on a rule that any traveller arriving with more than one laptop or mobile phone is liable to pay taxes on the second piece. He was taken to a desk where the relevant page of the customs manual was bookmarked. Customs officials will tell you that if they implemented this rule across the board, they would be rehearsing this drill constantly through the day given the large number of travellers carrying multiple phones or laptops. The logic of the rule is to prevent smuggling of such equipment. But the same customs officials would also accept that professional smugglers seldom arrive without prior rent payments that allow them to bypass inspections. As expected, this traveller was asked for chai pani ka kharcha to be let off. On his way back to the US, he noticed his porter handed over money to the security official at the airports entrance tasked to ensure that only ticketed passengers enter the check-in lounge. Turns out that this wasnt a porter but an employee of an airport authority that gave him access to the check-in lounge, but not to provide porter services. Apparently, this is a mechanism well known to those who ought to put an end to it. Finally, at one of the airports he visited, the traveller was struck by an advertisement/announcement that offered assistance to women of Pakistani origin who feared being forcibly married in Pakistan. This wasnt the ideal first impression by any stretch. It left a lasting impression, in his own words, confirming the many negative stereotypes of Pakistani society he had picked up in researching for his trip. Overall, he felt we are desensitised to obvious institutional anomalies and wrongs, and seem to lack the drive to fix them. Right on the mark, he is. By arrangement with Dawn Nagaland has never elected a woman legislator since it attained statehood in 1963. The violent opposition in Nagaland against the entry of Naga women into active politics and the state government buckling under pressure and calling off the municipal elections, where 33 per cent of the seats were reserved for women following an interim order of the Supreme Court, has raised the question as to whether the state has failed in upholding the rule of law and the Constitution. The issue has also brought to the fore the question of gender justice in Naga society. The group of influential Naga women under the banner of the Joint Action Committee for Womens Reservation (JACWR), which had filed the special leave petition in the Supreme Court in 2013 seeking 33 per cent reservation for women to contest the municipal polls, braving arguments that Naga customary laws prohibit women in active politics, has now been compelled to withdraw the petition from the Supreme Court in the past week of tumult that Nagaland has witnessed. The conflagration doesnt seem to die down with the protesters, organised under the banner of the nascent Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC), pressing with their demand for the resignation of chief minister T.R. Zeliang, who is heading the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government, of which the BJP is a partner. Backed by his MLAs, Mr Zeliang is putting up a brave front saying that his government has already called off the elections respecting public sentiments. The CM has condemned the senseless vandalism, stressed the freedom of expression and an alternate viewpoint, and said his government was bound by the Constitution to maintain order. He rejected the demand for resignation. The question now is whether all Naga men are against their women being able to enjoy gender equality and contest elections, or whether CM Zeliangs political opponents are egging on the protesters to overthrow the state government by creating a situation that reaches a flashpoint. In this backdrop, the recent statements by Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, a former Nagaland CM, is significant. He claims Nagas are not against 33 per cent reservations for women but were unhappy over the way the government has been trying to override the provision of Article 371A by invoking Article 243T. Mr Rio sees this as a bid to dilute the customary laws of Naga society. Article 371A says no Act of Parliament can change things like Naga customary laws, social or religious practices of Nagas, ownership and transfer of land, etc, unless such a law is approved by the Nagaland Assembly. Article 243T on its part simply provides for womens reservation in civic polls. It says: Not less than one-third of the total number of seats reserved under clause (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes or, as the case may be, Scheduled Tribes... A senior political leader like Mr Rio, who was once considered quite close to the BJP central leadership, can actually do a lot in defusing the situation and is expected to provide a solution to the current crisis, that, obviously, does not lie in simply calling off the civic elections. Nagaland has never elected a woman legislator since it attained statehood in 1963. In the past few years, Naga women have come up with a strong counter-narrative in favour of taking active part in politics. In a statement issued in the midst of the protests by the opponents of womens reservation, JACWR said: The aspirations of the other half of the Naga population, Naga women, our fundamental rights, the right to participate in electoral processes has been violated by bandhs, threats and use of force in the towns where candidates, including women, were unable to file their nominations or forced to withdraw their nominations. The voice of the women is being muffled by unprecedented un-Christian methods (Nagaland is a Christian-majority state) of destruction of private property of candidates, (besides) banishment and excommunication of candidates, including women candidates and leaders, by tribal organisations, the statement added. This, the JACRD said, was the situation before the polls due on February 1. As the anti-quota stir gathered steam, one was surprised to see demands for the dissolution of the influential Naga Mothers Association (NMA) formed in 1984. This was perhaps because the movers and shakers of the womens reservation demand are associated with NMA, which has, of course, rejected the demand for its dissolution. No outside forces can dictate the NMA is the refrain. A critical question arises: is it time for the government or the courts to come up with a clearer interpretation of Article 371 itself in the context of demands for greater autonomy or federal restructuring in Nagaland? After all, the situation in Nagaland clearly proves that the state is not in a position to implement even an order of the highest court due to pressure from certain groups. In fact, the Supreme Court had come up with an interim relief order on April 5 last year allowing 33 per cent reservation of seats for women based on the special leave petition, pending a final judgment. It is quite possible that only a handful of people are behind the unrest or the opposition to the quota for women, but if that is so, why has Naga civil society or the state government not been successful in going ahead with the polls after convincing different stakeholders. These are questions that require answers. Until then, it is a new front the government has to tackle in Nagaland in the days ahead. One cannot also rule out the possibility that this situation will impact the ongoing peace talks with the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM). Justice Department urged court of appeals to reinstate the travel ban -- put on hold by the courts last week. People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen in New York. (Photo: AFP) San Francisco: President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order on Wednesday faced intense scrutiny as a court of appeals grilled the Trump Administration whether the travel ban unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims and questioned the arguments that curbs were motivated by national security concerns. Asserting that President Trump was within his constitutional rights and obligations to sign the executive order that temporarily bans immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, the Justice Department urged court of appeals to reinstate the travel ban -- put on hold by the courts last week. During the hour-long hearing, conducted by phone, before a three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals here, the Justice Department lawyer August Flentje said in signing the executive order Trump struck the balance between national security and the practice of allowing people from entering the country. "The President struck that balance, and the district court's order has upset that balance. This is a traditional national security judgement that is assigned to the political branches and the president and the courts order immediately altered that," Flentje said in his hearing which was telecast live by a number of television news channels. The lawyer urged the San Francisco court to remove the halt on the executive order by a court in Seattle. "The district court's decision overrides the President's national security judgment about the level of risk and we've been talking about the level of risk that's acceptable," he said. Flentje's assertion led to a series of rapid fire exchanges with all three judges pressing him to explain the limits of his position. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism," asked Judge Michelle Friedland. The Court of Appeals is expected to give its verdict soon. The case is likely to hit the Supreme Court in coming days. The three-judge panel asked the government lawyer whether the Trump administration's national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism," asked Judge Friedland. "Are you arguing then that the President's decision in that regard is unreviewable (by a court)?" he asked another time. Another judge Willian Canby asked if the President could simply say the US will not admit Muslims into the countries. "Could he do that? Would anyone be able to challenge that?" he asked. "That's not the order. This is a far cry from that situation," Flentje replied. But said that a US citizen with a connection to someone seeking entry might be able to challenge the executive order if that were the case. President Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Pleading before the court to continue the stay on the executive order, Noah Purcell, Solicitor General of Washington State challenged the claims that there is no evidence of religious discriminatory intent behind the Trumps order. "There are statements that are rather shocking evidence of intent to harm Muslims," he alleged. "You don't have to prove it harms every Muslim you just need to show the action was motivated in part by animus," he argued. "It would not remedy the order's violation of the establishment clause which harms everyone in our state...by favouring one religious group over another. It also would not fully remedy the order's violation of the equal protection law -- denying some of our residents who are here, allowing them to receive those visits and so on," Purcell said. In his rebuttal, Flentje said the Department of Justice is not saying the case shouldn't proceed. "But it is extraordinary for a court to enjoin the President's national security determination based on some newspaper articles," he argued. During the hearing, Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the US who, he alleged, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group after judges asked for the evidence. Trump last week lashed out over a court order to block the immigration ban, saying on Twitter, "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" Spicer also voiced confidence that the administration will 'prevail...on the merits of the case.' Washington: President Donald Trump respects judicial branch and its ruling, the White House said on Wednesday his political opponents slammed him for being critical of a federal judge who halted his controversial immigration ban. "There's no question, the President respects the judicial branch and its ruling," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. Asked if Trump would accept the court's ruling, Spicer said the President will respect the ruling, but also voiced confidence that the administration will "prevail...on the merits of the case." Spicer said Trump's concern right now is national security. "I think that his concern frankly right now, is that when the law is such as it is, that anyone can interpret that any other way, I think he feels confident just like in the ruling in Boston that we're gonna prevail on this on the merits of the case because it has done so in a very lawful way," he said. He, however, asserted that the US law gives the President constitutional authority for this executive order. He pointed that the law says that "whenever the president finds the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the US would be detrimental to the interest of the US, he may issue proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants. Or impose on the entry of aliens, any restrictions which he may deem appropriate." Trump last week lashed out over a court order to block the immigration ban, saying on Twitter, "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" President Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Trump spoke of the 'close, longstanding relationship between the United States and Turkey.' Washington: President Donald Trump promised his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday that the United States is committed to NATO, the White House said, despite his past criticism of the transatlantic military alliance. In a call with the Turkish leader, Trump spoke of the "close, longstanding relationship between the United States and Turkey and their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms," the White House said. It added: "President Trump reiterated US support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally, and welcomed Turkey's contributions to the counter-ISIS campaign," referring to the Islamic State group. Erdogan had congratulated Trump by telephone after the November election, but this was the first time the two men spoke since the US president took office last month. The former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria warned Duterte that a security-centred approach do more harm than good. Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a vigorous defence of his war on drugs on Wednesday, rejecting not only allegations of extrajudicial killings, but the advice of a former Colombian leader who urged him not to repeat his mistakes. The ex-prosecutor promised to stand behind those on the front lines of his war and called Cesar Gaviria an "idiot" for a newspaper article in which the former Colombian president warned Duterte that a security-centred approach "do more harm than good". Duterte last week suspended police from anti-narcotics operations after a South Korean businessman was murdered by rogue drugs squad police. He has put the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in charge, and plans to deploy troops as reinforcements. Duterte said his campaign was about destroying the apparatus of the drugs trade, not killing, and only he would be accountable if law enforcers were accused of wrongful killings during raids and sting operations. "Those done in the line of duty I take full responsibility," he said in a speech. "If someone should go to jail, it's not police, not military, not the PDEA - It's me." Duterte's war on drugs has attracted global attention due to its high death toll in his first seven months in office and the shock factor of images in media of bloodied corpses lying in streets and slums. As at Jan. 31, some 2,555 Filipinos were killed in what police said were shootouts during anti-drugs operations. More than 7,700 deaths have been recorded overall, and the cause of many of those are much in dispute. Big fish The Catholic Church used sermons at the weekend to speak out about the drugs war, saying killings were not the solution and the poor were being worst hit. A Feb. 1 report by Amnesty International said the same, and concluded that police had behaved like the criminal underworld they were supposed to suppress, taking payments for killings. The report said many killings were "systematic, planned and organised" by authorities. Duterte rubbished those claims and said it was necessary to provide undercover police with cash to buy drugs in sting operations, referred to as "buy-busts", otherwise prosecuting dealers would be difficult. He denied his campaign was focusing on small-time users and pushers only, and he had proved local politicians were on his radar. "There is always a contention Duterte is killing the poor," he said. "So where is the big fish? We started with the mayors, they were killed along the way, so there's the big fish," he said. In Tuesday's New York Times, Gaviria, who was Colombia's president from 1990-1994, appealed to Duterte to use alternative strategies to fight drugs and explained why his country's crackdowns on cocaine cartels had failed. He hoped Duterte would avoid a heavy-handed approach and "not fall into the same trap". "Trust me, I learned the hard way," he wrote. Duterte said Gaviria was "lecturing" and the Philippine case was different to Colombia, because "shabu", or methamphetamine, was damaging to the brain whereas the behavioural impact of cocaine was less severe. The outfit has been holding rallies across Pakistan to instigate the youth towards performing `jihad' against India. India has put a proposal at the United Nations to list Jaish-e-Muhammad's chief Masood Azhar as a global designated terrorist. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad has launched a massive recruitment and fund raising drive in Pakistan to intensify its jihadi activities. The outfit, responsible for several terror attacks in India, has been holding rallies across Pakistan to instigate the youth towards performing `jihad' against India. The Jaish is proscribed in Pakistan, and its chief Masood Azhar, is in protective custody after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base in January last year in India. In 2016, JeM heavily armed militants attacked the military camp in the town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and is constantly trying to create instability in the region. The outfit has training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and act on the guidelines of Inter-Services Intelligence. The political activists from PoK have shown concern over growing threat of terrorist outfits like JeM, which has close ties with separatists based in Kashmir valley. "It is true that outfits like Jaish-e-Muhammad are promoting terrorism in the Kashmir region, especially with the collaboration of separatists like Asiya Andrabi and Syed Ali Shah Gillani," said Jamil Maqsood, leader of United Kashmir People's National Party. Another political leader and author from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Dr. Shabir Choudhry said, "This is not surprising, as militant outfits like JeM are strategic assets of Pakistan. They are free to do anything in the country". He added, "Why kill the goose which lays golden eggs. Yes, you can hide it to save it from wolves". It is believed the long leash given to the Jaish could be part of a deliberate strategy by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency to offset the recent house arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Jaish terrorists were also responsible for the December 13, 2001 attack on Indian parliament in New Delhi which almost led to a war with Pakistan. India has put a proposal at the United Nations to list Jaish-e-Muhammad's chief Masood Azhar as a global designated terrorist. Conference participants criticise China, claiming it hides trafficking in prisoners organs. Are they doing any illegal transplantation of organs in China? We cant say. But we want to strengthen the movement for change, said Mgr Sanchez Morondo. Huang was invited to the Vatican only as transplant expert. Some suspect that the Holy See wants to ingratiate itself with Beijing to continue their dialogue. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Mgr Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, defended China's presence at the international summit against organ trafficking under way at the Vatican. China has long been criticised for allegedly harvesting organs of executed political prisoners. Are they doing any illegal transplantation of organs in China? We cant say. But we want to strengthen the movement for change, said Mgr Sanchez Sorondo to calm things after the address by Huang Jiefu, former Chinese vice minister of health and current head of the National Human Organ Donation and Transplant Committee. Huang tried to reassure the international medical community that China is "mending its ways " after harvesting organs from death row prisoners without even their consent, a programme Huang said ended in 2015 Still, many medical associations, members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, and activist groups accuse China of continuing this lucrative business behind the scenes on behalf of local and foreigner recipients looking for a transplant. I am fully aware of the speculation about my participation in the summit, Huang told the conference, citing continuing concerns about the transplant activities. Huangs colleague, Dr Haibo Wang, stressed the sheer impossibility of trying to fully control Chinas transplant activity since there are one million medical centres and three million licensed doctors operating in the country. China is home in fact to a thriving black market in organs that in addition to death row prisoners also involves poor people. Chinese media often report cases of parents or young people offering a kidney to treat relatives or finish their studies. At the conference, participants called on Beijing to allow independent scrutiny, including the possibility of interviewing donors families without interference. Others pointed out that even the World Health Organisation is not totally independent vis-a-vis China. The group Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) said China's participation was compromising the conference. The group's criticism follows a 600-page report last year by the International Coalition to End Organ Pillaging in China (EOP), which said the Chinese Communist Party was behind the mass killing of innocent prisoners to meet market needs. Various activists said that the invitation by the Pontifical Academy of Science gave an "air of legitimacy" to what happens in China as a way to ingratiate itself with Beijing and boost China-Holy See ties. With respect to the latter issue, Huang told the Global Times that he had no diplomatic role and that he was invited only as "an expert in the field" of transplants. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finished its review of the Dakota Access Pipeline and will issue an easement under the Missouri River/Lake Oahe as early as Wednesday afternoon, but the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has pledged to challenge the decision in court. The decision comes two weeks after President Donald Trump asked federal agencies to speed up their review of the crude oil pipeline that tribal and environmental activists have protested for months. In a memo called "Compliance with Presidential Memorandum" and dated Tuesday, a senior Army Civil Works official said he reviewed all the corps study of the pipeline and decided the easement was warranted. "I have determined that there is no cause for completing any additional environmental analysis," wrote Douglas Lamont, senior official performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the army (Civil Works) in a court filing. Lamont said his analysis justified reversing an earlier decision made under the Obama administration to explore alternative routes and conduct a full environmental impact statement. A notice terminating the study will be published in the Federal Register, according to filings in the federal court case between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the corps. Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer notified Congress Tuesday that the corps would grant the easement and waive its normal policy of waiting two weeks after notifying Congress to do so. The $3.8 billion crude oil pipeline, meant to carry oil from the Bakken to Illinois, has been at a standstill for months due to protests and court challenges from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and its Native American and environmentalist allies. The tribe worries the pipeline puts its drinking water and sacred sites at risk. The company has said it is safe. On Jan. 18, the corps began collecting public comment for a full environmental impact statement regarding the pipeline easement. Shortly after assuming office, Trump signed a memorandum directing the agency to expedite its review. Lawyers for the company reportedly said in court Monday that construction would be completed in about 60 days and oil could be flowing in about 83. An spokeswoman for pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Tuesday. Following the decision, the Standing Rock said the tribe planned to sue on the grounds the EIS was wrongfully terminated. The Obama administration correctly found that the Tribes treaty rights must be respected and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations," Hasselman said. "Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian tribes and a violation of treaty rights." Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said, "The Trump administration yet again is poised to set a precedent that defies the law and the will of Americans and our allies around the world." The tribe also plans to hold a march in Washington on March 10 and will "seek to shut the pipeline operations down" if it is constructed, according to a release. Archambault is again asking supporters to advocate from home and not return to protest in North Dakota, where the state and tribe have been working to clean up the protest camps where several hundred people still live and protest the pipeline. "Please respect our people and do not come to Standing Rock and instead exercise your First Amendment rights and take this fight to your respective state capitols, to your members of Congress and to Washington, D.C.," he said. Protest organizers are calling for supporters to protest Wednesday in a "#NoDAPL Last Stand" at their local federal buildings, corps offices and banks financing the pipeline. "The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fight it is the new beginning," Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, said in a statement. "Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far." State leaders quickly applauded the Army's decision, heralding it as a win for energy infrastructure and expressing hope it would bring about the end of months-long protests in southern Morton County. "Our nation needs new energy infrastructure, which means we must have a process to build safe, efficient and environmentally sound projects like pipelines and power lines," Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said in a statement. Hoeven also said he supports a review of the permitting process for future projects to ensure fairness and opportunity to be heard on all sides. "For the North Dakota families, workers and tribes who have felt the impact of the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict every day todays announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brings this issue one step closer to final resolution and delivers the certainty and clarity Ive been demanding," Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said in a statement. Gov. Doug Burgum called the easement a "step toward the completion of this important infrastructure project" but said his top priority remained public safety and cleanup of the protest camps before a potential spring flood. We continue to support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes request that protesters leave the area and go home. We also continue to ask for additional federal law enforcement to assist local and state authorities in peacekeeping and provide a safe environment for all North Dakotans until construction is completed, Burgum said. The communique by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Archbishop of Canterbury came at the end of a forum held in Istanbul. States should pursue perpetrators, protect victims, and promote hope. Istanbul (AsiaNews) The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby issued a joint statement at the end of a Forum on slavery held in Istanbul on 6-7 February. In it, the two religious leaders condemn "all forms of human enslavement as the most heinous of sins inasmuch as it violates the free will and the integrity of every human being created in the image of God. They also call on state leaders to find appropriate and effective ways of prosecuting those involved in human trafficking, preventing all forms of modern-day slavery, and protecting its victims in our communities and promoting hope wherever people are exploited. The aim of this gathering was to bring together distinguished scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to discuss modern slavery and emphasise the protection of human dignity and freedom as of vital importance for the Church as well as worldwide religious and human-rights communities. This priority was clearly articulated at the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church in Crete (June 2016), where the Orthodox Primates and Hierarchs declared in their final Encyclical that The Church lives not for herself. She offers herself for the whole of humanity in order to raise up and renew the world into new heavens and a new earth. In his address, the patriarch noted that The Orthodox Church is often accused of neglecting the world for the sake of liturgical worship and spiritual life, turning primarily toward the Kingdom of God to come, disregarding challenges of the present. In fact, however, whatever the Church says, whatever the Church does, is done in the Name of God and for the sake of human dignity and the eternal destiny of the human being. It is impossible for the Church to close its eyes to evil, to be indifferent to the cry of the needy, oppressed and exploited. True Faith is a source of permanent struggle against the powers of inhumanity. Manila (AsiaNews) - A fire of devastating proportions destroyed the houses of about 15,000 inhabitants of a shantytown near the port of Manila last night. The fire was extinguished this morning. Officials of firefighters claim that about 1,000 houses were gutted by flames in Compound Word, where several families often shared little houses that run along narrow lanes. Officer Edilberto Cruz, speaking on behalf of the rescue units, assured that only seven people suffered minor injuries in the fire that broke out last night and then spread very quickly. So far, there are no victims. The authorities opened three evacuation centers, food and water have been distributed to 3,000 families who lost their homes, says the social worker Regina Jane Mata. Many people gathered in nearby streets with their personal belongings, including clothes, washing machines and electric fans. The cause of the fire remains unclear. Often shanti-towns are burned to make room for new and lucrative construction projects. by Christopher Sharma Those arrested, migrants in Dubai, detained on charges of murder. They killed two Indians who had refused to work for international terrorism. The group planted the bomb that led to the recent rail disaster in India. Open borders between Nepal and India: the activities of the militants are a threat to both countries. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - The Nepalese police arrested four citizens with links to international terrorist groups. According to authorities, they are migrant workers, who went to Dubai in search of work. There they came into contact with a Pakistani citizen, who introduced them to the Islamic Caliphate file. For now, given that in Nepal there is no anti-terrorism law, they are detained on charges of murder. The arrest took place yesterday after weeks of investigation. The four arrested are: Shamshul Hoda, Mojahir Ansari, Asish Singh and Umesh Kumar Kurmi, all originating from Bara district in the south of the country. Police officer Narendra P. Upreti, said that "the arrest was conducted successfully. Our investigations shows that they are guilty of killing two Indians who wanted to join the terrorist network. When they changed their mind refusing to work as terrorists, the four criminals have taken them into the Nepalese jungle and killed them". The bodies of Dipak Ram, 18, and Arum Ram, 28, were found in a forest Karaiya last December 28, 2016. The security forces investigations show that those arrested are part of a network of terrorist groups with bases in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Dubai and Nepal. Guided and funded by a Pakistani named Safi, who is attepting trying to expand the network in Europe and other countries. In addition to links to terrorism and the prosecution of murder of two Indian, investigators believe the group has also planted the bomb at the Ghodasahan railway station, near Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) with the aim of causing a disaster. That incident, which at the beginning was thought to be due to human error, caused the death of over 150 people. Gyanwali P. Thakur, a police spokesman, said: "This incident reveals that poor migrants are recruited by ISIS. It is a serious matter, given that the present poverty in Nepal can be an exploited by terrorists. We also have open borders, so the activist militants of the Islamic State is a threat not only for us, but also neighboring India". The Filipino bishops' conference takes a stand against President Dutertes bloody drug war. Agreeing or allowing the killing of alleged drug users makes people responsible for the latters deaths. More than 7,000 extrajudicial killings have taken place in recent months. Manila (AsiaNews/CBCP) Filipino Catholic bishops call on the faithful to speak out against extrajudicial killings, stating that silence makes everyone an "accomplice" in the rising death toll from the governments ongoing war on drugs. "To consent and to keep silent in front of evil is to be an accomplice to it, the bishops said in a pastoral letter read during Sunday Masses. Let us not allow fear to reign and keep us silent. The letter was sent to every Filipino parish after the annual plenary meeting that saw the bishops meet in Manila on the last week of January. The prelates want all Filipinos to reject the culture of death that characterises the presidents war on drugs, a major problem in the Philippines. After he took power in June 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte said that there would be many dead until drug dealers are driven off the streets. Since then, extrajudicial executions and police repression against drug users and dealers have grown dramatically, with more than 7,000 recorded deaths. The president has denied that his administration is behind extrajudicial killings, and on several occasions he has launched tirades against the bishops and human rights activists for criticising his bloody drug war. In their letter, the bishops say that they would continue to speak "against evil" in a country "shrouded in the darkness of vice and death." "We will do this even if it will bring persecution upon us, the letter goes on to say, because we are all brothers and sisters responsible for each other. We will help drug addicts so that they may be healed and start a new life. We will stand in solidarity and care for those left behind by those who have been killed and for the victims of drug addicts. Let us renew our efforts to strengthen families." Although the bishops agree that the drug trade is a problem that must be dealt with, they point out that killing alleged drug dealers and users without due process is not the right solution. Killing, like drug dealing, is a grave sin. Another cause of concern for them is the fact that the reign of terror is carried out in poor areas. Many are killed not because of drugs, and Those who kill them are not brought to account. "We cannot correct a wrong by doing another wrong. A good purpose is not a justification for using evil means. It is good to remove the drug problem, but to kill in order to achieve this is also wrong. by Gracy Rodrigues* Today marks the third international day of prayer and reflection against human trafficking, instituted by Pope Francis to fall on the liturgical memorial of St Josephine Bakhita. Sister Gracy belongs to the Asian Movement of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking. Various initiatives are set to take place worldwide against slavery. Mumbai (AsiaNews) Sister Gracy Rodrigues, an Indian nun with the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity (the Canossians), is involved in rescuing child victims of trafficking. She cannot forget her first rescue, in a place that was stinking, polluted, dark and horror. I was shocked and yet my spirit desired for light, for comfort, a comfort to my people. I saw in the eyes of those innocent three children a cry for life. They were treated as slaves. She is active with the Movement of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking (AMRAT), a network of 52 religious congregations fighting slavery. Today, the liturgical memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhitas, is also the third international day of prayer and reflection against human trafficking, instituted by Pope Francis in 2015. Pope John Paul II canonised Saint Bakhita (Lucky in Arabic) in 2000. Sudanese, she was kidnapped at an early age, sold in the markets of El Obeid and Khartoum, and victim of exploitation and abuse for years. Speaking about her, the pope today said, This enslaved, exploited and humiliated girl in Africa never lost hope, kept her faith, and ended up as a migrant to Europe. There she heeded the Lords calling and became a nun. Let us pray to Saint Josephine Bakhita for all migrants, refugees, and exploited who suffer a lot, a lot." Sister Gracy writes that Every two minutes, a child is being prepared for sexual exploitation, so that More than 200 million children today are child labourers, 73 under 10 years of age. Several initiatives on behalf of children, not slaves are set for today around the world, backed by Thalita Kum, an international network of Consecrated Life against trafficking in persons. Sister Gracys comment follows. Family and community are extremely important as they play an important role in the upbringing of the children and in the making of civilization. On the contrary, Slavery is a dehumanizing, depraved system that seeks to reduce once worth and dignity and thus leads us into the culture of death. Today every corner of the society and the country we hear the cry of the children, I am not safe. Does this prick my conscience or do my ears hear this cry? Whenever I hear a cry of these children, be it on the streets, or slums, or remand homes, or platforms, my heart speaks to me, Children they are, not slaves. Every two minutes, a child is being prepared for sexual exploitation. More than 200 million children today are child labourers. 73 million of these children are below 10 years of age. Every year 22 thousand die due to work accidents. Approximately 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years. They are trafficked for sexual exploitation, pornography production, forced marriage, illegal adoption, forced labour, and to become child soldiers. Trafficking clearly violates the fundamental right to a life of dignity. Pope Francis says, How I wish that all of us would hear Gods cry: where is your brother? (Gen. 4:9). Where is your brother or sister who is enslaved? Where are the brothers and sisters whom you are killing each day in clandestine warehouse, in rings of prostitutions, in children used for begging, in exploiting undocumented labour? Let us not look the other way. The Asian Movement of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking (AMRAT) gives me ample of opportunities to collaborate and network with 52 religious congregations who are part of this Forum. As a consecrated person, God gives us a special gift of discernment. Discernment that leads us in making a choice, a choice that will make a difference into the lives of the poor, the destitute, the marginalized, the rejected, the victims of injustice and crime. It is rightly said prophets tend to be on the side of the poor and the powerless. Every moment I think of the victims of human trafficking I feel it in my bones the cry for justice, a cry for humanity. Through the network of different organizations like International Justice Mission, Rescue Foundation, I got the opportunity of attending the rescue operation in red light areas. The first rescue operation was an experience that I cannot forget. The place was stinking, polluted, dark and horror. I was shocked and yet my spirit desired for light, for comfort, a comfort to my people. I saw in the eyes of those innocent three children a cry for life. They were treated as slaves. They pleaded and cried before us to be taken away, for they were beaten, burnt, kicked, cheated and looted by the pimp owners. I thought the process of relieving them would be faster, but it took the whole night to relieve these children. This experience has left a mark in my heart which will always move me towards justice and love for the less fortunate, the forgotten, the lost, the least and the unknown. When international police chiefs and religious figures pledged in the Vatican to work together to fight modern-day slavery, Pope Francis addressed them and described human trafficking as "a crime against humanity." Yes, it is a crime against humanity, especially the children, because their childhood is robbed and they are enslaved in the flesh trade. Do they have a right to enjoy their childhood with dignity? Children they are and not slaves. My encounters with the victims of human trafficking have challenged my life style today. It has awakened my call to work for the less advantaged and be on their side no matter what the cost. I pray that God Almighty grant each one of us the grace of carrying forward the delicate, humanitarian and Christian mission, of healing the open and painful wounds of humanity, which are also Christ's wounds. Today let us be awakened from the slumber and arise to be the voice of the voiceless and join hands with many people who work for the rescue of children from different forms of slavery. AMRAT has planned various programmes in bringing the awareness on this issue of human trafficking. For example, Seminars, visits to the Childrens homes, Meetings with the commercial sex workers, awareness session and prayer services in schools and colleges, celebration of orange day, Training of Bill on anti-Human trafficking to the members of AMRAT, street plays, trainings to the local police, opportunities for communal prayers and cultural events and networks with government organizations and rotary clubs are being planned. AMRAT members feel that our awareness must expand on the issue of human trafficking and extend to the very depths of this evil and its farthest reaches from awareness to prayer from prayer to solidarity and from solidarity to concrete action, until slavery and trafficking are terminated. As we remember our Universal Sr. Josephine Bakhita and all the victims of human trafficking we humbly prayer to our lord: O God, when we hear of children and adults being deceived and taken to unknown places for purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labor, and organ harvesting, our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry, that their dignity and rights are ignored through threats, lies, and force. We cry out against the evil practice of this modern slavery, and pray with St. Bakhita for it to end. Give us wisdom and courage to reach out and stand with those whose bodies, hearts and spirits have been so wounded, so that together we may make real your promises to fill these sisters and brothers with a love that is tender and good. Send the exploiters away empty-handed to be converted from this wickedness, and help us all to claim the freedom that is your gift to your children. Amen *Member of the Daughters of Charity (Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article) South Asians will be the largest minority group, followed by the Chinese in Canada in the next 20 years says a new report by Statistics Canada. In the same period, nearly 60% of Canadas immigrant population could be born in Asia said the the report, Immigration and Diversity: Population Projections for Canada and its Regions 2001 to 2036, states that by the latter year, between 55.7% and 57.9% of immigrants would be born in Asia mainly in China, India and the Philippines. Extrapolating from these figures, and since immigrants from India already account for the vast majority from within South Asia, they could comprise nearly 5% of Canadas population by 2036 and could be level with the Chinese in terms of being the single largest country of origin for minority groups. The report was released as Canada prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Confederation this summer. The data shows how the demographic composition of the North American nation has altered. Based on different scenarios, the proportion of immigrants as part of the population will range between 24.5% and 30%, as against 20.7% in 2011. These would be the highest proportions since 1871, the report stated. By 2036, it posits between 55.7% and 57.9% of Canadas immigrant population could have been born in Asia, up from 44.8% estimated in 2011. It also marks quite a shift over 50 years, as it notes, In 1986, 62.2% of immigrants living in Canada were born in Europe and only 18.4% were born in Asia. In 2011, the portrait was very different, with people born in Asia (Chinese, Indian and Filipino being the three main groups) accounting for most of the immigrants living in Canada (44.8%), while immigrants born in Europe represented no more than 31.6% of the total. Canadas first census was conducted in 1871, four years after the formation of the Confederation or the modern Canadian nation. At that time, only about 16% of the population was made up of immigrants and of that nearly 85% originated from the British Isles. Here are some highlights of the report; Nearly one in two Canadians could be an immigrant or the child of an immigrant by 2036 According to the report Immigration and Diversity: Population Projections for Canada and its Regions, 2011 to 2036, if current immigration levels continue in the coming years, the proportion of immigrants in Canada's population could reach between 24.5% and 30.0% in 2036, compared with 20.7% in 2011. The projected increase in the proportion of immigrants up to 2036 could affect the future proportion of the second-generation population, that is, the population with at least one parent born abroad. In all scenarios, nearly one in five people (19.7%) would be second generation in 2036, up from 17.5% in 2011. Immigrants and second-generation individuals combined, who represented 38.2% of Canada's population in 2011, could account for nearly one in two people (between 44.2% and 49.7%) in 2036. The immigrant population would continue to be concentratedin the census metropolitan areas in 2036, particularly Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver According to the results of these projections, the geographic distribution of immigrants in 2036 would be similar to the 2011 estimate. For example, in 2011, 9 in 10 immigrants lived in a census metropolitan area (CMA), a proportion that could be between 91.7% and 93.4% in 2036. At the end of the projection period, as in 2011, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver would remain the three main places of residence of immigrants. In 2036, 33.6% to 39.1% of all immigrants in Canada would live in Toronto; 13.9% to 14.6% in Montreal; and 12.4% to 13.1% in Vancouver. The projection results show that from 2011 to 2036, the proportion of immigrants in the population would increase in almost all regions of the country, although regional differences would remain. The proportion of immigrants in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec (except Montreal) and in non-CMAs would remain below the Canadian average at the end of the projection period. In 2036, the five CMAs with the highest proportions of immigrants in their populations would be Toronto (between 46.0% and 52.8%), Vancouver (between 42.1% and 48.5%), Calgary (between 32.7% and 40.8%), Montreal (between 28.4% and 34.2%) and Winnipeg (between 29.2% and 40.5%). More than half of immigrants in Canada would be of Asian origin in 2036 If recent trends in the composition of immigration remain the same throughout the projection, in 2036 between 55.7% and 57.9% of Canada's immigrant population would be Asian-born, up from 44.8% in 2011. Conversely, the proportion of European immigrants would decrease from 31.6% in 2011 to between 15.4% and 17.8% in 2036. Therefore, the arrival of many individuals born abroad affects not only population growth, but also the ethnocultural and language composition of the immigrant population. Over one-third of the working-age population in 2036 would belong to a visible minority group In 2036, among the population aged 15 to 64, often referred to as the working-age population, between 34.7% and 39.9% would belong to a visible minority group, up from 19.6% in 2011. The proportion of the 15-to-64 population who are members of a visible minority would increase in all areas of the country between now and 2036. South Asian would still be the group with the most people in 2036, as was the case in 2011. The proportion of people with a non-Christian religion would increase between now and 2036 The number of people with a non-Christian religion could almost double by 2036, accounting for between 13% and 16% of Canada's population, compared with 9% in 2011. Within this group, the Muslim (between 5.6% and 7.2% of the total population in 2036), Hindu (between 2.5% and 2.9%) and Sikh (between 2.3% and 2.7%) faiths would see the number of their followers grow more quickly because of their representation among immigrants, although they would still represent a small proportion of the total Canadian population. The number of unaffiliated people would continue to increase and could represent between 28.2% and 34.6% of all Canadians in 2036. Guest Commentary By Phil Gurski New Canadian Media If there was any doubt about what a Donald Trump presidency means for the U.S. over the next four years, and by extension for all of us, there is little doubt now. In the first week alone, a flurry of executive orders have been signed on a whole bunch of issues that Mr. Trump promised he would act on. Of interest to me is, of course, the ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The Trump administration is selling this as a national security issue a way to keep America and Americans safe. On the one hand, yes. Terrorists from those seven nations will be unable to enter the U.S. and carry out their heinous plots against innocent people. The question, however, is: how many individuals who have carried out terrorist attacks in the U.S. after 9/11 came from those countries (or from any country for that matter) to execute their plans? To my knowledge, the answer is precisely zero. Every attack has been perpetrated by either U.S. citizens or landed immigrants who radicalised almost entirely in the U.S. Hence, a ban on citizens from the listed countries would not have stopped a single incident. Fact is, immigration has zero relationship to terrorism, absolutely zero. As an aside, it is of interest that several countries are not on the list i.e. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Given that 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi, would it not have made sense to put that country on the list? Some would argue that since a few people who went on to commit terrorism in the U.S. were born elsewhere, a ban on Muslim immigration (Mr. Trumps denials notwithstanding, his act is exactly that) is justified. Perhaps, but immigration is a risk at the best of times. How do we ensure that an immigrant does not become a murderer? A rapist? An embezzler? A wife abuser? A tax cheat? As there are no guarantees, maybe we should have no immigration at all. I am kidding immigration is the lifeblood of a society and the few negatives do not measure up to the many positives. It is highly unlikely that this move by the new U.S. government will have any real effect on terrorism. Attacks will still be planned by those living in the U.S. A small number of Muslims will continue to be radicalised to violence in the U.S. Terrorism will remain a very rare tragedy. We must also not discount the propaganda bonus this gives actual terrorist groups like Islamic State. IS has long said that the West hates Islam and that Western governments do not want Muslims to live in their countries. As a result, Muslims must perform hijra (migrate) to a Muslim land. The Trump move underscores and supports what the terrorists are saying. I am happy that Canadas Trudeau government is not going down that path. Canada is proudly a nation of immigrants, including Muslim ones, and will remain so, I hope. Terrorism is real and requires real solutions. The Trump administration immigration ban is not one of them. Phil Gurski worked for more than three decades in Canadian intelligence, including 15 at Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and is the author of the Threat from Within and Western Foreign Fighters (Rowan and Littlefield). He blogs at http://www.borealisthreatandrisk.com/blog/ By Sherman Chan, Special to The Post We ordered the Chicken Satay which was quite good. There was a caramelized smokiness as well as sweetness from the marinade. The chicken itself was tender. The Roti Canai was average. The exterior was good though being well seared and crispy. On the side, the curry dip was sweet and just a touch spicy. Thai Prawn Cakes were texturally on point with a light crispiness. The buttery shrimp filling was moist and airy. There was enough seasoning. I also liked how cilantro was only in the background. We had the Thai Red Curry Chicken served with a side of rice. It had tender slices of chicken breast, peppers and onions. It was mildly spicy. I would've liked to see more brininess (more shrimp paste). The Red Wine Pork Ribs were a pleasant surprise as had deep and rich flavours. The ribs were fairly tender with a meaty chew. The best dish was the Stir-fried Seafood with vegetables in sambal sauce. The combination of dried shrimp, palm sugar and sambal made things spicy and seafoody in flavour. It had a caramelized sweetness from the wok heat and a briny saltiness. With perfectly cooked green beans and eggplant and shrimp and squid, the dish was on point. We had Deep Fried Bananas with ice cream. It is generally greasy but at the least the batter remained crispy while the banana wasn't overly ripe. I wasn't too excited about the desserts, but the rest of the dishes were actually quite acceptable. Belachan Kitchen 1128 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC The Good: Fairly large portion size Okay service Decent eats for what it is The Bad: Flavours could be more bold, but then again, they are appealing to wider market Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com. Commentary by Will Tao in Vancouver New Canadian Media Canadas international students, particularly those in major metropolitan cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, have been subject to intense criticism over the last year. The students over 363,000 of them have been blamed directly or indirectly for a range of social problems, such as overheated rental markets, unaffordable housing, burden on public services, cheating, and bizarrely, even driving pricey cars. The bulk of these criticisms are based on anecdotal accounts, in the absence of any strong statistical evidence. These accounts come from professors who study and interview as part of their work, and anonymous, retired institutional administrators who can now share stories freely, without needing to validate their assertions. These accounts also come from journalists looking to report on the latest cross-cultural phenomenon. At the end of the day, while they may capture some of the reality and part of the story, they are ultimately one-sided. What bothers me, as the Canadian-born son of a 1980s international student and as someone who is now married to an international student, is that this outsider narrative represents only one side of the story. In drawing many of our conclusions, we have not been good listeners of international students, the true insiders. In reality, we have generally have silenced their perspectives and ignored their challenges, and taken for granted our own privileges while laying blame and assigning motives. For starters, it is worth noting that an overwhelming majority of international students are bona-fide, meaning they are genuine, immigration law-abiding students. In 2014, Canadian Bureau of International Education counted 336,000 international students, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (as it was then called) estimated that 20,000 of them were considered high risk, that is, likely to violate immigration law. This accounts for only about six per cent of all international students admitted into Canada. Next, it is important to hear from international students themselves to learn about the challenges and barriers they face, and for often understandable reasons do not feel like sharing them publicly. In my own practice, I have found that there are three major barriers. Firstly, Canadas own immigration policies have made it difficult for international students. On the front end, the financial requirements are difficult to meet. International students need to show unreasonably high available funds just to be approved for study permits and seek extensions for their studies. The prohibitive cost of international tuition forces many students to take a break from their studies or resort to extreme measures (like taking up jobs in violation of their study permits or taking out private loans) to keep with the payments. Once a student is here, Canada currently has a restrictive requirement that students actively-pursue studies. Educational institutions now have two-tiered policies, under which international students are subject to excessive monitoring and reporting requirements. Depending on the institution, international students have to take a certain number of courses and maintain a certain attendance rate, while domestic students do not. Students with family emergencies, mental health episodes, poor grades, or who simply want to explore a different area, are often hamstrung. On the back end, once they are ready to graduate, these same international students have difficulty obtaining post-graduate work permits based on their study history. Without the work experience from these permits, the already difficult pathway to permanent residence is mostly closed. Secondly, there are major societal barriers against international students. I have worked with many international student advisors at universities and colleges who recount anecdotal stories of students breaking down as a result of mental health issues. Without family and often inadequate knowledge or language ability to seek professional help, these students are particularly vulnerable. Institutions, I am told by these students, have not always done the best to accommodate their cultural differences or to eliminate discriminative practices or advise without implicit biases. These issues are almost never reported in the media. Finally, there is an underbelly of inadequate (often unethical) third-party services being offered and provided to international students. Many of these purported advisors are untrained and unqualified educational consultants and agents. Inevitably, if not sooner rather than later, students advised by these individuals find themselves personally liable in situations akin to fraud or misrepresentation, for which there are severe criminal and immigration consequences. Regardless of the economic and political questions raised by student immigration, we must not forget that international students need to have a seat at the policy-making table. We have seen the example from down south about what happens when immigration law is mandated by public opinion, fear, and top-down orders. If we continue down this path of blaming and not understanding, I foresee only increased fracturing within our already increasingly fragile mosaic. Ultimately, international students can only become an important asset when we as a society stop viewing them solely as cash cows or visitors. We should be viewing as prospective future citizens. Will Tao is a Canadian immigration lawyer based in Vancouver, B.C., with a practice primary focused on complex immigration applications and refusals on behalf of educational institutions and international students. International students in BC B.C. is one of the most popular study destinations for international students in Canada, hosting almost one third of all international students living in the country. International students bring social, economic and cultural benefits to communities, schools and institutions in B.C. International education is a key sector under the BC Jobs Plan. The province is on track to meet the BC Jobs Plan goal of a 50% increase in the number of international students studying in B.C. by 2016. Here are the facts on international education in B.C.: 130,053 international students with a study permit attended public and private post-secondary institutions and K-12 schools in B.C. in 2015, up 44% from 90,037 in 2010. International students spent $3.5 billion in B.C. on tuition, accommodation and other living expenses, arts and culture and recreation in 2015, which supported 29,300 jobs and created a positive economic effect on communities throughout British Columbia. International students pay tuition fees that cover both the direct and overhead costs of their studies in B.C. The top five source countries for international students studying at all levels in B.C. are: China 51,130 South Korea 12,695 India 12,105 Japan 6,555 United States 4,780 See http://www.newcanadianmedia.ca/component/k2/40286-listening-to-our-international-students 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 Ironically, the above quote is featured on the Statue of Liberty at Liberty Island in the New York City harbour where America welcomed hundreds of thousands of new immigrants to the United States. It might just as well be featured at Canadian ports of entry, as thousands of US alien residents and asylum seekers are considering alternative immigration strategies in their futures. President Trump's executive order restricting visas to nationals from seven specified nations, has intensified concern for many currently in the US and has focussed attention on alternative immigration options to Canada. These are some of the areas affected: Corporate Instability - Canada as a safe haven for employers Trump has raised the spectre of re-negotiating trade agreements such as NAFTA. NAFTA doesn't just deal with trade of goods, but also with trade in services which means the exchange of foreign workers. While it remains to be seen how and how quickly, President Trump intends to review and/or revise NAFTA, there are other options for US employers looking to maintain a stable work force. The Intra-Company Transferee work permit It is relatively straightforward to establish a Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate corporate entity (although there may be both financial and tax implications to consider). Once a Canadian company is legally established, it is possible for employers to transfer workers to their new Canadian location whether from a US or other international location with an Intra-Company Transferee work permit (ICT). The primary considerations in transferring workers under the ICT provisions are that they must have been employed on a full time basis for one year within the last three years and have worked as an Executive, Manager, or a Specialized Knowledge worker. It is the specialized knowledge worker category that faces the greatest scrutiny and it is necessary to demonstrate that there is a unique and/or proprietary feature to the work that they are performing that necessitates their presence in Canada and couldn't be performed generally by someone in the Canadian labour market. The high-tech sector is an example of an industry that could benefit from this application category. Studying in Canada Many international students are also concerned about their ongoing status in the US. There have been reports of several Canadian universities and colleges fast tracking the application process to allow for the speedy transfer of international students to Canadian educational institutions in the aftermath of President Trump's travel restrictions. The study permit option is not only a relatively speedy way to come to Canada, but it also provides a path to permanent residence in the future. A student must demonstrate that they have the financial means to cover the cost of their education and their stay in Canada as well as demonstrate a genuine purpose for their studies. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program A joint initiative of the Canadian government and the four Atlantic provinces to deal with chronic labour market shortages in the Maritimes, this employer-driven program aims to match Canadian employers with workers and prospective immigrants. The program is open to workers in management, professional, technical and skilled trades occupations as well as to some lower skilled occupations. It is also open to international graduates who may not have any work experience. Starting next month, the program is targeting up to 2000 applicants for 2017 who have the intention of both working and settling permanently in the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Special Measures for Foreign National affected by the US Executive Order On February 3, 2017 Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship implemented a public policy to assist nationals who may be stranded as a result of President Trump's Executive Order. The public policy allows nationals from the seven countries listed, to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit to Canada or to extend their stay from within Canada, waiving the usual fee requirements. Individuals must demonstrate how they are affected by the US order and must also meet Canada's admissibility criteria, such as not having a criminal record. Increase in Refugee Claimants from the US There have been numerous reports across the country of increases of refugee claimants from the US entering in to Canada both post election and a further spike of crossings following the Executive Order. Many Canadian refugee advocates and academics are calling for Canada to cancel the Safe Third Country agreement it has with the US to ensure full and fair access to a refugee hearing for claimants from one of the seven listed countries. So far Canadas Minister of Immigration, Ahmed Hussen has yet to sever this agreement with the US, but as a former Somali refugee himself, you can be assured that he is giving this serious consideration. The Trump Presidency continues to shake things up not only In the United States but around the world. Canada has taken some immediate steps to assist those caught stranded as a result of Trump's executive order. In addition, there are ongoing features of Canada's immigration program that can provide opportunities for both US employers and individual applicants who are looking for a more secure future in the new Trump world order. Love him or hate him, there is no doubt that President Trump is a Canadian immigration practitioners dream come true! A bill that would allow licensed dental therapists to practice in North Dakota under the supervision of a dentist failed by a 32-59 vote in the state House Wednesday. House Bill 1256, sponsored by Rep. Bill Devlin, R-Finley, would allow the North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners to license dental therapists to provide preventive and routine care, such as filling cavities and other duties. Bill proponents said the measure would help alleviate dentist shortages in rural and underserved areas of the state. Theres definitely a shortage of dentists or dental providers on the reservation. Ive talked to people on the reservation in my district, and oftentimes their dental care is the emergency room, Devlin said. "Im firmly convinced that this is the solution." The bill was amended by the House Human Services Committee to require dental therapists work under the supervision of a dentist within the same facility, as well as limit five dental therapists to one facility. "This would relieve the concerns of corporate dentistry," said Rep. Dick Anderson, R-Willow City. The bill passed by a 8-6 vote in committee. Some committee members voted "no" because they indicated they wanted to talk with their own dentists, Anderson said. The North Dakota Dental Association opposed the bill due to concerns over the quality of care provided by dental therapists and because there's a lack of evidence to show how well the model is working in other states. Dental therapists currently work in Minnesota and Alaska, and legislation has been passed in Maine and Vermont. Those who criticized the bill were concerned over educational requirements and training of dental therapists. In 2015, state lawmakers considered a similar measure that would have allowed midlevel dental providers to work in the state. That bill, which also received resistance from the North Dakota Dental Association, failed in the Senate by a 6-40 vote. Several lawmakers said they were against the bill, citing concerns over fears expressed by their personal dentists and support of the bill from people living out of state. There doesnt seem to be an outcry for this, other than by the people who either want to educate these therapists or, potentially, to push this new bill into the state," said Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot. Anderson noted that 72 counties in the state do not have a dentist. Rep. Thomas Beadle, R-Fargo, then asked how the bill would improve access if dental therapists are required to work under a dentist. This isnt going to actually solve any of (dentists) problems," Beadle said. Anderson countered, stating that the Board of Dental Examiners could expand the rule to include "general supervision," which would allow them to work off-site. Still, some lawmakers rose in opposition of the measure, despite receiving support by a group of 15 organizations, including AARP and the North Dakota Dental Hygienists Association. Alibaba opens Melbourne HQ for Australian expansion Chinese online retailing giant, Alibaba, has opened an office in Melbourne. The office will serve as a headquarter for Australian and New Zealand business operations. Alibaba said the office and its team will help Australian and New Zealand businesses share their world famous products with billions of customers around the world. The office will be led by an Australian New Zealand Managing Director, Maggie Zhou, who has been with Alibaba for 17 years. A physical Alibaba headquarters is key in ensuring Australian businesses have the support and information they need to succeed in china and the rest of the world, Zhou told Alizila, a news service established by Alibaba to report on company news. More than just e-commerce Alibaba said the office will provide more than just e-commerce services to Australian business and consumers. The office will also build an operating system which will include cloud computing, online payments and logistics. Chief Executive Officer of the Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, was in Australia for the opening and met with Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull. New Australia Post partnership Alibaba also used the offie opening as an opportunity to announce an extended partnership agreement with Australia Post. The partnership will involve extending Australia Post online storefronts beyond China to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to help Australian businesses sell products across the region. The Australia Post-branded storefronts will establish the first Australian marketplace within South-East Asias leading eCommerce network Lazada, of which Alibaba has a majority shareholding. Lazada provides merchants with direct access to more than 560 million consumers in six countries and features a wide product offering in categories ranging from consumer electronics and household goods to fashion and health products. Related articles Fair Work Ombudsman issues record penalties over cafe exploitation The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has issued record penalties of $532, 000 in an employee exploitation case involving a regional NSW cafe. Two of the exploited workers were coerced into paying back part of their wages with the business owner telling one that he would kill him if he complained to anyone about having to give back money. The owner of the cafe was penalised $88, 810 for his mistreatment of the employees and his company was fined $444, 1000, amounting to the record $532, 000 fine. The Federal Court of Australia found that the cafe promised the workers, who were from overseas and on visas, salaries in excess of $50, 000 when they were first hired. The workers however received less than award wage and were made to give money back, meaning they were effectively paid as little as $6 an hour. The employees were threatened with losing sponsorship for their visas if they did not give the money back and one employee gave an affidavit stating the business owner said: If anything happens to my business, I will kill you. If you complain to anyone, I will kill you cancel your visa. Penalties send clear message other business owners Fair Work Ombudsman, Natalie James, said the record penalties send a clear message that there are serious consequences for deliberately exploiting overseas workers. These record penalties are a big bow in the fight to stamp out deliberate exploitation of overseas workers in Australia, said James. The minority of rogue employers in Australia intent on preying on the vulnerability of overseas workers should be warned that we will do everything in our power to pursue you and hold you to account, she said. Related articles Huon Aquaculture lodges court proceedings against Tasmanian government Salmon farming company, Huon Aquaculture, has lodged proceedings in the Australian Federal Court against the Tasmanian government, accusing the government of not properly regulating salmon farming at Macquarie Harbour. The proceedings claim that the government is not complying to the conditions of a 2012 decision which approved the expansion of salmon farming in the harbour. Huon says that the Department of Primary Industries, Parks Water and Environment (DPIPWE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are failing to comply with the conditions created to ensure over-fishing would not occur and that there would be no negative impacts on the world heritage area. All other avenues exhausted Huon Aquaculture Co-Founder and Executive Director, Frances Bender, said whilst the proceedings were a strong course of action to take, Huon Aquaculture believe it has exhausted all avenues. As I said in November, our actions speak to our ethos that we will not operate in a boom and bust cycle, by placing too much pressure on the environments we operate in and that exposes us to long-term reputational damage and jeopardises the job-security of our employees, Bender said. We believe that Macquarie Harbour can be farmed safely for the long-term but to do that we need to act now, act responsibly and act in the long-term interests of our employees, she said. Tassal and Petuna decline offer to join legal proceedings Huon has invited other salmon farming companies to join them in the legal action but the two other companies which farm the harbour, Tassal and Petuna, have refused the offer. Minister Rockliff defends Tasmanian government In response to the legal proceedings, Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jeremy Rockliff, said there is no greater supporter of Tasmanias iconic salmon industry than the Hodgman Liberal Government. Its an industry that supports more than 5,200 jobs in regional Tasmania and is among the best regulated in the world, Minister Rockliff said. The Government notes the proceedings brought today by Huon Aquaculture regarding the EPAs biomass decision for Macquarie Harbour made in January 2017.As the matter is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, he stated. Macquarie Harbour is located in the West Coast region of Tasmania. Both the King River and the Gordon River empty into Macquarie Harbour. Related articles Yowies set for Australian launch Yowie chocolates are expected to be available to buy in Australia and New Zealand later this month (February 2017). They were once Cadbury-produced chocolates that were one of Australias most popular confectionery staples in the late 90s and early 2000s. Despite their popularity, Yowies were discontinued in 2005 after a rights despite occurred between Cadbury and the original creators, authors Bryce Courtenay and Geoff Pike. Courtenay died in November 2012 and English-born Pike is a natural Australian novelist and cartoonist who now lives in England. By 2014, the were on the comeback, launching into the US after a Perth-based company called the Yowie Group acquired the rights to the chocolates. It was however not until this week that the Yowie Group confirmed Yowies would once again be available for purchase in Australia. The Yowie Group said the Australian re-launch represented a significant milestone for the company. Australia was a logical choice to begin our expansion outside of the US because of strong residual brand awareness and affinity for the product, said Bert Alfonso, Global Chief Executive Officer of the Yowie Group. Yowies will be distributed in Australia and New Zeland through NSW-based Universal Candy, which distributes other brands of lollies including Trolli, Zappo, Wicked Fizz, WarHeads and Push Pops. The Yowie Group says it plans to start selling Yowies in other countries by the end of its 2017 financial year. Related articles A bill that would create education savings accounts for parents wishing to use public school funding to send their kids to private schools or use it for funding will not become a law. Instead, lawmakers decided to revise the legislation to study the program's viability. The committee held two hearings on House Bill 1382, sponsored by Rep. Rick Becker R-Bismarck. The latest hearing last week was all about finances of the bill, according to Rep. Mark Owens, R-Grand Forks, chairman of the House Education Committee. Owens said Tuesday the proponents of the bill told the committee last week the bill wouldn't cost the state "a dime." The argument that you save money is a little misleading, I think," Owens said. The bill would allow parents to opt out of putting their kids in public education and instead establish debit accounts for parents to go toward homeschooling or private schools. Rather than discount the idea of an Education Savings Account, sometimes called an ESA, Owens said the committee voted to turn the bill into a study. Theres still a number of questions involving ESAs to the point that yeah, theyre still intriguing enough, but heres the problem we also wonder about: Were such a heavily rural state, if you provide ESAs, where are (families) going to go? he said. What are their options?" Thats why the committee decided to turn it into a study so we can really delve into it and maybe get those questions answered," he said. The bill cleared the House Education Committee Monday and will likely get final votes in the House next week. The Education Savings Account bill as well as a bill to eliminate regional education associations were voted on as "hoghouse" bills, Owens said, meaning they were completed revised and turned into legislative studies. The regional education associations bill, HB1318, had a hearing last week. Representatives from all the regional education associations testified against the bill, which the sponsor contends would save the state money. Owens said the responses in opposition to the bill were to not get rid of REAs. It seemed like an easy bill, to kill the bill, to be honest with you," he said. But during opposing testimony, something was revealed that caused a question about duplication of education and teacher support activities within REAs, according to Owens. "(The study is) going to follow the money where are all the education and teacher support activities that we appropriating funds for, wheres the money going? he said. "And are the REAs using that as part of their services to help expand teachers horizons, expand their abilities, expand their knowledge or are they doing something separate? If thats the case, why are they spending money on something separate if we have something that we are already funding? Owens said. And were not saying they are, were saying we want to find out. Free newsletter Subscribe to our FREE newsletter service and well keep you up-to-date with the latest breaking news, cutting edge opinion, and expert analysis affecting both your business and the industry as whole. Please enter your email address below and click on Sign Up for daily newsletters from Australasian Lawyer. "Like every major law firm, we are constantly evaluating the market for opportunities to further enhance our business for the benefit of our clients. Given our desire to support our clients with the deepest and broadest experience possible, at any given time we are likely to be in discussion with many groups of individuals and firms across the world. We do not, however, make any comment on such discussions until they are complete to protect the privacy of those involved and to ensure our clients are the first to be informed of any enhancement to our Firm." Global giant Dentons may soon get a little bigger if its merger with a Dutch law firm pushes through. Dentons is reportedly in talks with Boekel de Neree, The Lawyer reported.Dentons, the largest law firm in the world by lawyer headcount, is far larger than the Amsterdam-headquartered Boekel. On last years Global 100 published by The American Lawyer, the firm was said to have more than 6,500 lawyers in 50 countries. The business most recently generated US$2.12bn, or about $2.76bn, in revenues, according to the list.Boekel, on the other hand, lists just 64 lawyers on its site 39 of them are associates, three are of counsel, two are senior counsel, four are associate partners, and 16 are partners. In addition to its headquarters in the Netherlands, the firm also maintains an office in London.Last month, Dentons opened its second office in Mexico in Monterrey City. It also opened a new office in Barbados.Dentons sent Australasian Lawyer the following statement when asked for confirmation of the talks:Marien Glerum, Boekel's CEO, said he is "not able to confirm or comment" at the moment. By Helen Maynard-Casely, Instrument Scientist, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Carly Hagins, CC BY-SA 2017 is to be the year advocacy. In January, millions took to the streets in the worldwide womens marches. The new US presidents executive order which brought about a visa ban for citizens of a number of countries led to a number of airport protests. And now scientists are pushing back. Marches are being planned for 22nd April (Earth day). But, this move is not without its critics, some scientist would prefer for us all to keep our heads down in such times. Theres no escaping that scientist are embedded into society (whether we like it or not) and I do rather feel for my climate science colleagues who are watching as we sleepwalk into future strife. This is of course is only one issue that relies heavily on scientific endeavours, and those who think science operates in a vacuum are deluding themselves. In times such as these it can seem dangerous to put your head above the parapet, so I thought I would take a bit of a historical perspective and look for inspiration in those who have raised their voices. The two people I immediately think of, Kathleen Lonsdale and Ursula Franklin, are far from rogue Dame Prof Lonsdale was a fellow of the Royal Society and Prof Franklin held a prestigious chair at University of Toronto. But both did raise their voices against world and local events in their time. Does the police come for one or do I just have to go to prison myself? In 1943 Kathleen Lonsdale, was convicted to a month in Holloway prison for her conscientious objection to work supporting World War II activities. At this time she had already undertaken perhaps her most famous research, showing through the crystal structure of Hexamethylbenzene that the benzene molecule was flat, a controversial finding at the time. Understandably, she was reluctant to go to prison, but to all accounts it turned out to be a pivotal event in her life. Smithsonian Institution from United States Senior colleagues petitioned for her to be allowed her scientific papers while interred, and she remarked it turned out to be a most productive time. She left prison writing to the governor with suggestions on improving the lighting and cleanliness, and followed up on her points by regularly returning (as a visitor). Her experiences led her to advocate for women prisoners in later years and it cant be said that her researcher career suffered. In 1945, along with Marjory Stephenson, Kathleen Lonsdale was elected one of the first female fellows of the Royal Society. Her seniority within the field of crystallography also meant that Kathleen Lonsdale became very well connected with international colleagues, and used those connections in her advocacy against atomic weapons and to break down cultural barriers. She strove to welcome Soviet and Chinese colleagues in a time where political distrust was at its highest, visiting Moscow in 1951 and the Peoples Republic of China in 1955. One thing I find particularly inspiring was her determination that those scientists from developed countries had a duty to assist those in developing economies. Ursula Franklin, who passed away last year, was a pioneer in archeometry and the first women to be appointed University Professor at University of Toronto. But it was her experiences of being interned in a Nazi labour camp as a young adult drove her passionately to pacifism. Perhaps her biggest contribution was when she used her scientific expertise to into a strong passion for pacifism. Martin Franklin It was as a member of the Voices of Women group, that she coordinated the collection of baby teeth in Canada in the 1960s. The subsequent analysis that was undertaken of these teeth, showed that they contained radioactive Strontium 90, a result of atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. This emotive piece of research was one of the key pieces of evidence that lead to the 1963 ban on atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. Being a women researcher in the post-war period, she broke ground fighting to stay in her job after the birth of her children. They had that bloody committee, and they went on deliberating. They didnt appoint anybody, so I kept on working Even when retired Franklin kept on campaigning, joining a group of emeritus professors who filed a class action against the university of Toronto in 2001 citing that their female academic staff had been underpaid for years. They won. In 2017, as we have to stand up and make our voices heard, I find the legacies of Prof Franklin and Lonsdale incredibly inspiring. Here are two physicists who use their scientific position and research to further a cause Id be interested in finding others whove inspired you. Originally published in The Conversation. People who are concerned about their visa status in Australia because they have overstayed can access a free service aimed at helping regularise their situation.The Community Status Resolution Service (CSRS) is offered free of charge by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) for people who have overstayed their visa or have a Bridging visa E.'When you approach us with an expired Australian visa, or a Bridging visa E, you can be referred to the CSRS if you need help to resolve your immigration matter,' said a DIBP spokesman.'A Community Status Resolution officer will be able to give you information about your immigration or departure options, answer your questions and connect you with organisations for further assistance if needed,' he added.The DIBP is keen to encourage people to seek help before they outstay their visa and this can include students, temporary workers, seasonal workers and backpackers.'If you cooperate with us to resolve your immigration status, we can grant you a Bridging visa E. This lets you stay in Australia for a short time while you finalise your immigration matter,' the spokesman explained.But the DIBP is also warning that those in an irregular situation should not think that they can hide as officials regularly conduct compliance activity to locate people living in the community unlawfully.'If you are found in the community without a visa, you could be detained and removed from Australia. You could face a three year re-entry ban from visiting Australia again,' the spokesman pointed out.For those who are thinking about leaving Australia anyway they can do so at any time, even if they don't have a valid visa. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) may be able to help plan a return home.The CSRS regularly holds outreach sessions in some regional areas around Australia and those concerned about their visa status can speak to officers at these special sessions about an expired visa or a bridging visa.'The CSRS will give you clear and correct information about appropriate immigration or departure options, answer your questions and connect you with organisations for further assistance if needed,' said the DIBP spokesman.People can also phone the CSRS for information about expired visas or bridging visa and this can be done anonymously. They can seek general information or can speak to the operator in more detail about their circumstances. As a global debate rages on about immigration, including refugees, the story of how one man has been able to make a new life in Australia gives an insight into how important moving to a new country can be.Rafi Qoja, aged 31, was a highly esteemed doctor in Iraq before his home town was occupied by rebel forces in 2014, prompting his family to flee in fear of their safety. Along with his family he spent more than two years in northern Iraq and Lebanon where his second child was born.But it was being accepted for a visa for Australia that has really made a difference and just months after arriving on the country he is now sitting exams to be able to become a registered doctor.'We had lost hope but suddenly we were so excited. Our lives were saved in an instant,' he said of the moment he heard that the family would be moving to Australia. 'I like my job as a doctor because I want to help people anywhere in the world. Now, more than ever, I want to help others, just like they have helped us,' he explained.When he arrived he was given assistance from Settlement Services International (SSI) which offers help to people newly arrived to cope with a different culture and get integrated in their local community.'One of the case managers from SSI was from the same village we're from. She spoke the same language and she understood what we were going through. She helped us to start our lives here,' Qoja said.SSI also introduced Mr Qoja to a skills qualifications workshop and connected him with a local doctor who gave him practical advice to kick start his career in Australia. After sitting an initial course Qoja sat his medical exams in November with the hope of becoming a registered practitioner with the Australian Medical Council.'Our country destroyed our culture and civilisation. We feel human for the first time, and we feel welcomed. We are the lucky ones to live in Australia when other parts of the world are suffering, and we want to give back to this country that helped us when we were in need,' Qoja explained.'We want to be part of the community, but to keep our traditions. It's important for kids to maintain their culture because there are so many advantages. We don't want to isolate ourselves and we don't want to forget our background. We want to share our culture with others,' he added.SSI's Humanitarian Settlement Services program provides essential support to refugees and humanitarian entrants in their first six to 12 months in Australia. Support services including airport pickups, housing support, community orientation to help new arrivals connect with their community, and specialised case management to help them connect with essential services and support. Hi there! I'm starting to prepare my application for my de facto visa, I'm currently on a tourist visa and I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find a check list of every thing you need for the application. Like what kind of police checks, evidence etc etc Thank you ! Convertible A3 gets the A4s 150hp 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor instead of the old 1.8. As we anticipate the launch of the facelifted Audi A3 sedan and the Audi A4 diesel later this month, the German luxury brand has surprised us with the launch of an updated version of the A3 Cabriolet, a little over two years after the original was introduced in India. This soft-top car is on sale now at Rs 47.98 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). There are, as with most facelifts, a number of cosmetic changes, and these allow it to resemble the new A4 sedan more closely. They include a new design for the LED daytime running lamps a signature on every modern Audi as well as full-LED headlamps, a more pronounced hexagonal grille and more aggressive looking bumpers. At the rear, not much has changed, aside from a slight re-profiling of the tail-lamps. Like the earlier car, this one is pretty well equipped, with the likes of dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, a 7.0-inch MMI infotainment screen, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors with a camera and five airbags. Options include a Bang & Olufsen hi-fi sound system and a smartphone integration system. However, Audis high-tech Virtual Cockpit digital dial system doesnt seem to be on the cards. Under the hood is where the big change has been made, however. As with Audis controversial downsizing decision on the Audi A4 sedan, the A3 Cabriolet too has moved from a 1.8-litre TFSI petrol engine to a 1.4-litre TFSI. Power is down from 180hp to 150hp, and while those numbers might bother some enthusiasts, the torque remains unchanged at 250Nm, which should make for similar performance. The advantage, of course, is fuel economy, and with a claimed combined figure of 19.20kpl, thanks in part to 'cylinder on demand' tech that can use fewer cylinders when the engine isn't working too hard, you should be able to take your weekend sojourn a little further than before. The Audi A3 Cabriolet is available to order right now, with the facelifted A3 sedan and diesel A4 expected to be launched before the end of the month. Alliance AutoGas is partnering with the La Crosse, Wis., Police Department to convert two Jeep Wranglers in a friendly side-by-side team competition.(Photo courtesy of Alliance AutoGas) Continuing in the spirit of last years Fastest Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion of the Ford F-150, Alliance AutoGas is taking a live autogas conversion one step further at the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. On Thursday, March 16 at 11:30 a.m. at the Indiana Convention Center, Alliance AutoGas is partnering with the La Crosse, Wis., Police Department to convert two Jeep Wranglers in a friendly side-by-side team competition. The conversion techs of Alliance AutoGas of Asheville, N.C. and the conversion techs of Clean Car Conversions of Indianapolis will battle to the finish in a "Race of the Wranglers." The conversion is being sponsored by Work Truck magazine/Bobit Business Media, Greater Indiana Clean Cities, Jonathan Overly of the Clean Cities publication Fuels Fix, and the La Crosse Wisconsin Police Department. The Wranglers will be driven back to La Crosse directly from the show to join the police fleet. At the 2016 Work Truck Show, the Alliance conversion team converted the F-150 to propane autogas in 1:32:25, becoming the fastest-ever recorded alternative-fuel conversion.(Photo courtesy of Alliance AutoGas) At the 2016 Work Truck Show, the Alliance conversion team converted the F-150 to propane autogas in 1:32:25, becoming the fastest-ever recorded alternative-fuel conversion. "We are one of the very few municipal police agencies in Wisconsin to implement autogas fleet wide," said Robert Abraham, asst. chief of police for the City of La Crosse Police Department. Why did we convert to autogas and converting more of our Jeep Wranglers? This is simple- ease in conversion, ease in refueling, size of tanks, safety of product, performance of product, and cost savings." The Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition is additionally partnering in this event. We are excited to be a partner in this years Race of the Wranglers conversion challenge between our member, Clean Car Conversion, and the Alliance Autogas Team, stated Kellie Walsh, executive director of the Greater Indiana Clean Cities. By having two different certified installers doing these conversions side by side, it will emphasize that, as long as you use a certified installer, you wont be able to tell the difference when complete. The conversions feature the Alliance AutoGas simplified EPA and NFPA 58 compliant Engineered Fuel System featuring a plug-and-play single plug wiring connector. (Photo courtesy of Alliance AutoGas) The conversion will be as easy as one, two, three: One autogas conversion system, two teams battling for the finish line, and three demonstrative goals will be met: time savings, product innovation, and quality and consistency shown over time. The same results are achieved in any vehicle, at any time with the same Alliance-engineered system. , The Alliance AutoGas EPA and NFPA 58 compliant system can be installed on new or in-service vehicles in half the time of other products. All wiring is a plug-and-play no-cut install. Everything is bracketed and designed to be installed without any fabrication. By deploying these features, labor times and conversion costs are significantly reduced, according to Alliance AutoGas. For more about Alliance AutoGas, visit www.allianceautogas.com. The International Trade Commission (ITC) has upheld the tariffs on off-the-road (OTR) tires suggested by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), reports Modern Tire Dealer. The ITC voted Feb. 3 to affirm the anti-dumping and countervailing tariff investigations. The commission voted unanimously that the U.S. industry is being materially injured by imported OTR tires from the affected countries. A sixth commissioner, Dean Pinkert, recused himself from the investigation in December. The commission did not immediately issue information on why it voted one way or another. Those details will be provided by the ITC no later than March 16. The vote confirms the previous findings of the DOC, and regulates that some OTR tire makers in India will pay a 3.67% anti-dumping tariff. (Balkrishna Industries Ltd. is exempt from the dumping tariff because the government said it found no proof BKT had sold tires in the U.S. at less than fair market value.) The vote also confirms OTR tire makers in India will pay their assessed countervailing duties. Alliance Tires Pvt. Ltd. will pay a 4.9% countervailing tariff, BKT will pay a 5.36% rate, and all other OTR tire makers in India will pay a 5.06% countervailing tariff. OTR tire manufacturers in Sri Lanka also will pay countervailing tariffs to offset the subsidies they've received from that country's government. All OTR tire makers in Sri Lanka will be charged a 2.18% tariff. The agencies will forward their affirmative vote to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which will begin collecting the tariffs on shipments from India and Sri Lanka. None of the tire makers will have to pay tariffs retroactively. The commission did not find evidence of a surge of imports when the tariff investigation began, so goods that entered the U.S. prior to June 20, 2016, (the date the DOC issued its preliminary findings) will not be subject to retroactive duties. Editor's note: This story originally appeared on Modern Tire Dealer, which is a Bobit Business Media publication. Maria Diaz called police after she was held hostage at Signature Rent-A-Car in Orlando during a dispute over a bill. Clark Girges, president of Signature Rent-A-Car, and Juan Encarnacion, an employee of Signature, were arrested. According to the arrest affidavit, Diaz was returning a vehicle to Signature Rent-A-Car and had an issue with her billing statement. When discussing her billing charges, Diaz stated that Encarnacion started to argue about her keys that were still on the rental car key ring, according to the arrest affidavit. Officer Benjamin Bates, who responded to Diazs call, observed a bright red scratch on her left arm that she claimed Encarnacion caused during their struggle. Diaz said that she was forced into a room at the Signature facility and denied multiple attempts to leave, according to the arrest affidavit. Diaz stated that there were other people in the room and Encarnacion assaulted her. Encarnacion told Officer Bates that Diaz was at the business for hours and would not leave. He stated that she refused to return the rental keys and was causing commotion in the lobby, according to the arrest affidavit. Encarnacion claimed that he entered the room where Diaz was being held and grabbed the keys out of her hand. He then said that she hit him on the chest multiple times and he had to be held back by his co-workers, according to the affidavit. Girges told Officer Bates that he was reviewing the bill with Diaz for an extended period of time. Girges stated that Diaz took the rental keys from his office and was going to walk out, so he closed the door until she gave him the car keys. Officer Bates reviewed video surveillance where Girges is seen with his hand on the door not allowing Diaz to leave. According to the affidavit, Officer Bates then saw Encarnacion enter the room and snatch the keys from Diaz, striking her in the left arm as she was backed into a small corner of the room and surrounded by at least seven Signature employees. "After an extended discussion at the front counter, Ms. Diaz was invited into an interior office of the rental location to further the conversation while simultaneously allowing other waiting customers to be serviced," said a corporate representative of Signature Rent-A-Car. "Despite every effort to accommodate Ms. Diaz, she remained dissatisfied and refused to relinquish the keys to the rented vehicle. Signature Rent-A-Car denies that Ms. Diaz was a victim of any criminal conduct by its employees." Based on the evidence from the video and sworn written statements by Diaz, Officer Bates placed Girges and Encarnacion under arrest. Girges is accused of false imprisonment while Encarnacion faces charges of battery. Lightspeed has further refined its Zulu headset line with beefed-up design features and a more comfortable fit. The company unveiled the Zulu 3 on Tuesday and along with the technical refinements it added a seven-year warranty. In a news release, Lightspeed called it the most comfortable, most durable headset Lightspeed has ever made. The Zulu 3 has tapered ear seals that fit better and a 50 percent bigger cup cavity than competitors to give ears more room and avoid pinching. Surrounding those ear cavities are ear seals that are 20 percent bigger than competitors and provide a better seal around glasses. They are also designed to minimize side pressure. Cables have a Kevlar core so theyre lighter and more durable, and extensive use of magnesium in the structure of the headset makes it light and durable. With Groundhog Day behind us, springtime is not far away, and aviation events are gearing up. Sun n Fun, the traditional season opener, is set for April 4 to 9 this year, in Lakeland, Florida. Advance discount tickets are available online for a few more days, until Feb. 14. The French military team, Patrouille de France, performs during the airshow on opening day, with the Blue Angels flying Friday to Sunday. Job seekers can pre-register online for a Career Fair on Wednesday. The night airshow, with fireworks, is set for Saturday. The same week, Aero, the popular European GA show, will run its 25th anniversary event, April 5 to 8, in Friedrichshafen, in Germany. Aero promises its biggest show yet, with 660 exhibitors from 38 countries, 11 exhibition halls, plus a static display on site, for a total show area of about 20 acres. The show is also promising to debut several new electric aircraft, and on Saturday, a special anniversary airshow will feature electric aircraft and stunt planes, as well as a replica of a Junkers F13. AVweb will have staff on site at both shows to file daily reports. For fans of vertical flight, Heli-Expo is set for March 6 to 9, in Dallas, Texas, with more than 700 exhibitors and 60-plus aircraft on display, plus 100 seminars, courses, workshops and forums. On April 21-22, the Sustainable Aviation Symposium will take place in San Francisco, bringing together experts from around the world for talks about advanced new aircraft and lift devices, propellers and propulsion systems, batteries, motors and autonomous vehicles. Electric aircraft designer Tine Tomazic, of Pipistrel, will deliver the Inaugural Sustainable Aviation Keynote Lecture. Registration is discounted through March 1. And on May 18-19, the CAFE Foundation will host its annual Electric Aircraft Symposium, in the San Francisco Bay Area, scheduled for the two days before the popular Bay Area Maker Faire. More details about the show and speakers will be posted soon on the CAFE website. Uber has gotten a lot of media attention for its experiments with autonomous cars, and now its ready to explore the potential of moving people around urban areas using electric-powered VTOL aircraft, creating a new project last year called Uber Elevate. NASA engineer Mark Moore, who has been with the agency for nearly 30 years, has been hired to lead Ubers effort, Moore said this week. My position at Uber will be to knock down the barriers, Moore told AVweb in an email on Tuesday. Key among the goals is to achieve at least a 10 to 15 dB reduction in community noise from what helicopters achieve today Also achieving at least an automobile level of safety right from the start. Moore said new VTOL designs now in development will be able to operate with one-tenth the energy consumption of traditional helicopters, using distributed electric propulsion. The vehicles also will be cheap to maintain, and if they fly as part of a fleet with high utilization of up to 2,000 hours per year, they can drop operating costs to one-quarter that of helicopters. Altogether it seems clear that compared to helicopters operated today, the costs can drop by a factor of 4x and put electric VTOL into the realm of mainstream transportation when you account for the value of time saved, Moore wrote. Ubers objective is not to develop their own vehicle, Moore said, but to bring the entire urban electric VTOL community ecosystem together, to make this market real at a much faster pace than could otherwise be achieved by each of these companies working alone, he said. Its an incredible, exciting time because of the rapidly developing technologies. Moores new title at Uber will be director of engineering for aviation. AVwebs Mary Grady talked with Moore about NASAs emerging technologies last year; you can listen to the podcast here. 8 February 2017 11:03 (UTC+04:00) The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 39 times throughout the day using 60- 82 mm mortar launchers, large-caliber machine guns and 122-mm howitzers, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry reported on February 8. The Armenian armed forces, stationed in Armenia`s Barekamavan village in Noyemberyan district, Aygepar village in Berd district and nameless hills in Krasnoselsk district subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces located in Alibayli village in Tovuz district, Gaymagli village in Gazakh district and nameless hills in Gadabay district. The ceasefire was also violated in Chilaburt village in Tartar district, Shikhlar, Bash Garvand, Yusifjanli and Sarijali villages in Aghdam district, Mehdili village in Jabrayil district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village in Fuzuli district as well as nameless hills in Goranboy, Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 11:47 (UTC+04:00) By Elkhan Alasgarov The attack of the Armenian lobby on the Azerbaijani news agency Trend is not just another act of anti-Azerbaijani hysteria, but the evidence that the lobbys leaders lose their nerve. The thing is that, with election of Donald Trump as the US president, the Armenian diasporas positions have been visibly shaken. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), an organism parasitizing on the body of the US, made a strategic mistake. Betting on Clinton in the presidential election, Armenian organizations spent huge amounts of money on an uncompromising and aggressive campaign against Trump. Armenian lobbyists, sure of their impunity, used the entire set of available means starting from continuous attacks on the internet to active dissemination of disinformation and lies against Trump. But the scheme of pushing interests forward worked out for many years has malfunctioned the money is gone, funds are empty and the prospect of outcast existence for the next four years is looming ahead. There are already the first signs of this, and first of all, this is connected with the fact that Trump will not focus on such painful issue for Armenians as the so-called genocide. ANCA is putting forward the issue of recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide by the US government to make further territorial claims to Turkey and Azerbaijan and demand reparations, i.e. money, for which ANCA does its utmost, by spreading lie on the so-called genocide all over the world. But ANCA has failed. New President Donald Trump came to power, by speaking honestly with the US people and not deceiving them. Trump did not use cheap political show, like the so-called Armenian genocide comedy, to gain extra votes. In the new conditions ANCA has been defeated not only by losing the leverage over the US foreign policy, but also in many other areas. A prospect of losing the opportunities of money laundry and begging for the US budgetary funds allegedly for the population of Armenia and Karabakh separatists looms up around the Armenian diaspora. Armenian diaspora becomes panic-stricken because all attempts of ANCA leaders to meet with Trump were rejected. The Armenian Diasporas California Courier newspaper testifies to it. The prospect of a financial collapse has appeared for the Armenian diaspora of the United States that mainly consists of Dashnaks nationalist organizations. Money obtained from taxpayers to finance Armenia and separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh was spent to support Clinton. There are no funds for financing the ANCA structures with its numerous offices across the United States, branches in 25 states, representative offices in France, Italy, England and even the European Union. It is unlikely that Trump, who took the course of regulation of financial costs, will agree to support a huge staff of Armenian propagandists that exist at the expense of the US taxpayers and dont serve for US interests. The loss of the Armenian lobby to manipulate the authorities of the new administration is a bad precedent for them and an evidence of weakening leverage over Washington. The myth of the omnipotence of the Armenian lobby in the US has fallen to pieces, especially after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the newly elected US President Donald Trump during a phone conversation. The ANCA leaders, as well as the Armenian ruling elite are losing their nerves due to the prospects of increasing cooperation not only between Azerbaijan and the US, but also Israel. Warm Azerbaijani-Israeli relations, Azerbaijans cooperation with the Jewish lobby in the US, as well as increasing awareness of Bakus fair position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are a nightmare for the ANCA. Thanks to the long and painstaking work done by Azerbaijan, it becomes possible to break through the information blockade in the US. Thus, the attacks against the Trend Agency are a sign of weakness, agony of the policy of widespread lies and misinformation, which had been the main weapon of the ANCA against Azerbaijan for a long time until Donald Trump was elected the US president. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 12:38 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov A new diversion attempt by the Armenian militaries was prevented on the contact line of the troops on February 7. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry announced that the Armenian armed forces were shooting at the positions of the Azerbaijani army from different directions along the line of contact by using mortars, large-caliber machine guns beginning from 16:55 (GMT+4) February 7, the ministry said. The Armenian armed forces tried to use the ceasefire as distraction, while carrying out a diversion in the other direction in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. However, the Azerbaijani army detected Armenias actions in advance and retaliated. The Armenian side had to retreat, suffering losses, the ministry said, emphasizing that the Azerbaijani armed forces suffered no losses The situation along the line of contact is fully controlled, according to the ministry. Overall, the Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 39 times throughout the day using 60- 82 mm mortar launchers, large-caliber machine guns and 122-mm howitzers. Last days of 2016 also saw the Armenian provocation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. Then, the enemy group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while attempting to cross the borders and retreated suffering losses. Unfortunately, Azerbaijani soldier Chingiz Gurbanov was murdered while preventing the enemy provocation. 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 under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, led by Russia, the United States and France. However, it brought no convincing results so far. The Armenian side constantly violates truce and targets Azerbaijani soldiers and even civilians ever since the ceasefire agreement was reached between the parties to the conflict. The occupant country 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. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 11:09 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova Azerbaijan and Iran are keen on putting on stream the Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway line project, which would connect the relevant networks of both countries. Iranian Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Saeed Mohammadzadeh said that the project, which is a part of the ambitious International North-South Transport Corridor, will be commissioned in March 2017. Mohammadzadeh made the remarks during a meeting with Javid Gurbanov, the head of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) on February 7. Along with the construction of the Astara - Astara railway, the sides also discussed the development of the railway terminal in Irans Astara, as well as the overall work on the implementation of the North-South project. The length of the railway is 10 kilometers, with some 8 kilometers falling to a share of Azerbaijan and two kilometers passing through the Iranian territory. The construction of the railroad bridge over the Astarachay River also nears completion. The construction of the bridge, which forms the border between the two similarly-named towns of Astara in Azerbaijan and Iran, was launched in April 2016. The bridge, which is funded and built jointly by the two countries under the terms of an inter-governmental agreement, bears strategic importance, as it will serve as a connector of railways of Azerbaijan and Iran. The length of the railroad bridge is expected to reach 82.5 meters, while its width will amount to 10.6 meters. The International North-South Transport Corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia, serving as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. The corridor is planned to transport 6 million tons of cargo per year at the initial stage and 15-20 million tons of cargo in the future. During the meeting, Gurbanov also pointed to the strengthening cooperation between the railway agencies of Azerbaijan and Iran, mentioning the operation of the Nakhchivan-Mashhad passenger train, which was launched on December 29, 2016. The train runs twice a week - on Thursdays and Sundays, making stops in Iranian cities of Jolfa, Tabriz and Tehran. -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Republican leaders in the North Dakota Legislature say theyve taken off the table a proposal to have state employees pay 5 percent of their health insurance premiums, but Gov. Doug Burgum hopes it will be part of ongoing budget discussions. The decision comes as lawmakers continue to shape agency budgets for the upcoming two-year budget cycle. Legislators are working with reduced tax revenue due to slouching farm and oil commodity prices. Next week well start kicking budgets out, said Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, who serves as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Burgum, a former software executive who took office in December, suggested having employees pay 5 percent of their health insurance premiums in his budget proposal that was released last month. Historically, the state has covered all of the employees premiums, but the governor said the change would save the state $11 million. The idea drew opposition from the head of the states largest public employee union, who worried it could affect the states ability to recruit and retain employees. Burgum, a Republican, still supports the proposal as a means to reduce costs to the state and engage state employees in the rising costs of health care, the governors spokesman, Mike Nowatzki, said in an email. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said if employees arent going to get a raise, it didnt make sense to require them to cover part of their premium. Any time you make a change to benefits, you need to ensure that employees are at least held harmless, said House Minority Leader Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks. House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, left open the possibility the proposal could come back later this session. He cited changes in the Affordable Care Act that could come under the Trump administration. It doesnt mean that cant happen later, but the Senate has not accepted that proposal, he said. Tough decisions Appropriations committees in both chambers have been holding hearings on various agencies budgets in recent weeks. Among their first actions in January was to approve a more conservative revenue forecast than the one used by former Gov. Jack Dalrymple in his final budget address late last year. Burgums budget proposal, released in mid-January, included $4.62 billion in general fund spending, about $159 million less than Dalrymples recommendation. Its also well below the $6.03 billion the Legislature originally passed for the current funding cycle two years ago, but last year saw budget cuts and a special session to deal with a revenue shortfall. Were making some tough decisions, Wardner said. State agencies are playing ball with us and theyre trying to get through this just like we are. That sentiment was echoed on the other side of the aisle. Theres a lot of requests, but theres also the realization from most of our department heads that the funding isnt there, said Sen. John Grabinger, D-Jamestown, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. When were doing these budgets, there really isnt going to be much fluff in them. Lawmakers will receive another forecast in March, and Wardner is hoping there wont be any major surprises. I dont expect the revenue forecast to be a whole lot rosier than what were looking at, Delzer said. But well just have to wait and see where it comes out. 8 February 2017 18:09 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The fifth Turkey-Azerbaijan- Georgia business forum organized by Azerbaijan Export and Investments Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) will be held in Istanbul on February 17. The forum will be attended by Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Turkey's Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Georgia's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Gakharia, as well as other officials and businessmen, Azertac reported. The trilateral business forum is assessed as important event in boosting of cooperation among businessmen and overall relations among Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. The forum is traditionally followed by bilateral meetings among businessmen, during which expansion of business ties among entrepreneurs are discussed. Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia are successfully cooperating in the political, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural spheres. The three countries are connected by several important regional projects, including the Baku-Supsa, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas line and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. So far, Azerbaijan invested $7.9 billion in the Turkish economy. By 2020 the total amount of Azerbaijans investment in Turkey is expected to make $20 billion. Being the top foreign investor of Georgia, Azerbaijan invested some $434 million in the economy of the neighboring country within three-quarters of 2016. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 13:53 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova American documentary film director, producer and editor Lisa Leeman arrived in Azerbaijan. Leeman, who is a frequent moderator and panelist at filmmaking events, will stay in Azerbaijan until February 13, Report.az informed. Her visit organized as part of the U.S. Department of States American Film Showcase Program. Lisa Leeman will conduct a week long documentary filmmaking workshop for students majoring in filmmaking studies at Azerbaijan University of Culture and Arts and a "Career Building in Filmmaking" seminar at the Azerbaijan Fine Arts Academy. Moreover, the American director will meet with and provide individual, as well as group consultations to local filmmakers. AlthoughLeemans film trainings at universities are for students only, she will also lead workshops and events that are free and open to the public. Lisa Leeman believes that strong narrative and character-driven films can change the world. She has produced, directed, written & edited award-winning feature & short documentaries for the last twenty-five years. Calling her films sideways social- issue films, she specializes in illuminating contemporary social issues through character-driven stories that follow people at critical turning points in their lives. Her work has been seen on PBS, HBO, Discovery, ARTE, and in theaters and festivals worldwide. American director awarded Sundance's Filmmakers Trophy for her directorial debut, Metamorphosis: Man into Woman (POV, PBS, 1990), cited as the first American film to chronicle a gender transition. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 10:33 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Blogger Alexander Lapshin, who illegally visited Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied lands has been extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan, as a plane carrying him touched down at Baku`s Heydar Aliyev International Airport this night. Helped by his accomplices in the occupied territories, Lapshin, a citizen of several countries, paid a number of visits to Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, where he voiced support for "independence" of the illegal regime, and made public calls against Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity. He was handed over by the Belarusian law enforcement bodies to Azerbaijani special services. Lapshin violated the laws on state border and passports of Azerbaijan by visiting the country`s occupied territories in April 2011 and October 2012. With a view to promote the illegal regime internationally, on his puerrtto.livejournal.com blog, he included unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an "independent" state, together with Azerbaijan and Armenia, in the list of countries that he has travelled to. Lapshin also made public calls against Azerbaijan`s sovereignty. Given these facts, Major Crimes Investigative Committee of the Office of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General charged Lapshin under articles 281.2 (public calls against the state) and 318.2 (illegal trespass on the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan) and announced him internationally wanted. Demanded by Azerbaijan, Lapshin was arrested by the Belarusian law enforcement bodies. Deputy prosecutor general of Belarus Alexei Stuk issued a ruling on Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan in late January 2017. Later, the Minsk City Court upheld this decision. The Supreme Court of Belarus on February 7 rejected the complaint filed by the bloggers defendant regarding his extradition to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 16:51 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The story with a blogger Alexander Lapshin, who violated laws of Azerbaijan, is nearing the end. Lapshin, who is a citizen of Russia, Ukraine and Israel at the same time, was extradited from Belarus to Baku on February 7. The blogger had illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani lands in April 2011, thus disrespecting Azerbaijans territorial integrity, and also crossed Azerbaijans border once again by visiting the country in October 2012 using a different passport. Lapshin, who was aware that he became banned for entering Azerbaijan after his visit to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, inappropriately joked about the situation in his blog, and after a while again headed to Azerbaijan. He passed the control at airport in Baku by using his Ukrainian passport, where his name was written down as Oleksandr. In this way, he entered the country, as there was no such name in the "black list" of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. To promote the illegal regime created in the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories, Lapshin presented Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state in his blog. Moreover, he expressed support to the independence of the unrecognized regime on April 6 and June 29, 2016, by calls aimed at violating the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. On December 15, 2016, the law enforcement bodies of Belarus detained Lapshin in Minsk at the request of Interpol. Following that, some people, and primarily circles in Armenia, tried to save the blogger from justice by inexplicably speaking about freedom of speech. However, none of their attempts worked and justice has been served. Lapshin violated internationally recognized borders of a sovereign state, and norms of international law at the same time. Any country would act the same way as Azerbaijan. This event will be a serious lesson for everyone who doesnt or is unwilling to respect the territorial integrity and the principle of inviolability of Azerbaijani borders, and make those who intends to resort to similar illegal actions think well in advance, said Azerbaijani MP, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly vice-president Azay Guliyev commenting on the extradition of Lapshin. Another MP Aydin Mirzazade said that this is also another serious warning for Armenia. Armenian criminals who committed war crimes against the Azerbaijani civilians will also be brought to justice, he added. After the extradition of Lapshin, Vahram Baghdasaryan, the head of faction of Armenias ruling Republican Party, inexplicably said that Armenia should raise the issue of termination of Belarus membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Although Belarus as well as Azerbaijan acted fully within the international law, the story with Lapshin's extradition irritated the Armenian circles. And it is quite understandable. This story attracted much attention to the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenian armed forces. Persons, who illegally visited Nagorno-Karabakh at the invitation of Armenians, often apologized to Azerbaijan after they learned that their visit was illegal, and explained that they were deceived by the Armenian side. Now, after the extradition of Lapshin, more people will be aware of the consequences of illegally visiting occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Armenian media already state that the number of visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh will be considerably reduce after this incident. By and large, the extradition of Lapshin is an illustrative precedent. This story is an example proving that no crime will go unpunished. Now everyone, who visits occupied Nagorno-Karabakh without the permission of Azerbaijan, will understand what their actions may lead to. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 15:01 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova The extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan shows the political will and ability of the countrys leadership to take the boldest steps to defend the state interests. Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov announced about this while talking to reporters in Baku on February 8. I think this is one of those many facts proving that Azerbaijan is able to defend its state interests, noted Ahmadov. Alexander Lapshin, who has illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani territories and entered into criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied territories, was extradited to Baku. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. Ahmadov further said that Azerbaijan has always demonstrated its unequivocal position with regard to the people who violate national laws, international laws and norms. I think that thanks to this position, we can ensure that each person who commits a crime will be brought to justice, added Ahmadov. Baku has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats of unauthorized visits to its territories that are occupied by Armenia, calling them contradictory to international law. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions pay special attention to the illegal activity in the occupied areas of Azerbaijan. The work is constantly carried out to prevent such illegal actions. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 17:08 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems it wrong to politicize the criminal case against Alexander Lapshin, a citizen of several countries who was extradited to Baku, over the illegal visit to the occupied Azerbaijani territories. This issue is of legal nature and must be reviewed from a legal standpoint, according to the FM statement. Lapshin, despite warnings from foreign ministries of the countries whose citizenship he holds, illegally visited the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces and made appeals aimed at violation of Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Lapshin, knowing about the inclusion of his name in the list of people declared persona non grata, re-entered Azerbaijans territory with another passport in June of 2016. He openly stated that he committed these acts intentionally, reads the statement. Due to the fact that Lapshins actions hold open calls against the state and illegal border crossing, Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan filed a suit under the articles of 281.2 (appeals against the state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) and put him on the international wanted list, according to the foreign ministrys statement. Law-enforcement agencies of Belarus detained Lapshin on Dec. 14, 2016 and he was extradited to Azerbaijan on February 7. Lapshins case is being reviewed within the laws of Azerbaijan. Lapshins case once again indicates that Armenia fraudulently attracts foreign nationals to travel to Azerbaijans occupied territories and then tries to turn them into a tool of their political propaganda, said the statement. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry once again calls upon foreign citizens to refrain from traveling to the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia, as well as other countries to warn their citizens about legal consequences of such trips. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 17:50 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Time has come to move from concept to action in resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministrys spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev made the remark while talking to reporters, who visited the liberated Jojug Merjanli village of Azerbaijani Jabrayil region, on February 7. "Although international organizations and mediators are involved in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for over 20 years, the Azerbaijani lands remaining under the occupation have not still been released," the spokesman said. Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day. Hajiyev further added that thanks to the political will of President Ilham Aliyev, the safe return of internally displaced persons to the territories liberated from the Armenian occupation is now ensured. We believe that this project, which is carried out in accordance with the presidential decree on the restoration of Jojug Merjanli village, will be pilot in the process of returning IDPs to their homes, and will be taken into account by the international organizations, Hajiyev said. The spokesman added that the project is supported by the international community: UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other international organizations have demonstrated their resolute will in this matter. 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. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 11:22 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The issues of cooperation between Mexico and Azerbaijan in the defense industry sector topped the agenda of a meeting between Mexico's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rodrigo Labardini and Defense Industry Minister Yavar Jamalov. The parties considered possible exchange of experience in this field, as well as participation in relevant international exhibitions organized by Mexico and Azerbaijan, the Mexican embassy announced on February 8. The meeting also discussed the role of the embassies of both countries in expanding cooperation in other fields. Ambassador Labardini further informed about the development of electronics industry in Mexico, which is the 14th economy in the world. Both sides expressed interest in developing cooperation. The growing economy of Azerbaijan is attractive for Mexico, while Azerbaijan also attaches importance to the development of relations with Mexico. Relations are actively developing in all directions, including culture. The Azerbaijani State Customs Committee reported that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Mexico amounted to $19.03 million in January-September 2016, as compared to $20.76 million in the same period of 2015. Azerbaijans export to Mexico amounted to $188,100 and import amounted to $18.84 million in the first nine months of 2016. This includes the sale of equipment for the oil industry, electronic appliances. Azerbaijan domestically produces various types of small arms and melee weapons, artillery, armored vehicles, various aerial bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles, various types of ammunition for small arms, including small-caliber automatic pistols, optical devices and others. Twenty-eight military factories of Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry have manufactured 1,160 kinds of defense products so far. Azerbaijan`s defense products are exported to more than 10 countries. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 11:36 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Baku and Tbilisi are expected to discuss issues of mutual and regional importance as Georgian top officials plan to visit the neighboring country this week. Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on February 12, AzerTag reported. During the two-day visit, the Georgian FM will meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov and discuss prospects for development of the bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on the global and regional developments. Before Janelidze, Baku will welcome Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani on February 10. During the trip, the Georgian minister will meet with Azerbaijani counterpart Fikrat Mammadov and other officials. The goal of the visit is to discuss prospects for cooperation between the ministries of justice and establish direct contacts. The sides are ready to exchange experience, as well as to take proper measures for the mutual support in international organizations. Georgia and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1992. The countries are actively cooperating in trade, transport, and energy spheres. The constantly developing relations have always based on friendship and brotherhood. There is a great potential of expanding the cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan in energy, transport and trade sectors. Currently, the countries are involved in a number of regional projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, TAP, and TANAP Southern Gas Corridor. Azerbaijan is fourth among the main trade partners of Georgia and the turnover between the two countries totaled $153 million in 2016. Georgian exports to Azerbaijan include cement, locomotives and other railway vehicles, mineral and chemical fertilizers, mineral waters, strong drinks, glass and glass wares, and pharmaceuticals, among other things. Azerbaijani exports to Georgia include oil and petroleum products, natural gas, plastic wares, waste foodstuff, furniture, and building constructions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 17:57 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Baku hosted a meeting of the working groups of the National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development of Azerbaijan on February 8. Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmadov, addressing the event, noted the active participation of Azerbaijan in the UN global development initiatives. Azerbaijan is a part of the globalized world and the country is closely involved in ensuring a better life in the world, emphasized Ahmadov. The deputy prime minister said that, Azerbaijan has serious reasons to join UN Sustainable Development Goals 2016-2030. He said that the world is changing rapidly and thats why joining of Azerbaijan to the program is normal. I suppose that by 2030 we will prepare a report on participation in the project. In this regard, we have great duties. I believe that we can successfully and timely overcome these duties. In May 2017, we should offer first voluntary report. Therefore we should accelerate work on preparing the voluntary report, he said. Ahmadov further noted that the work undertaken by the UN in connection of the program in Azerbaijan is highly appreciated. The official further stressed that Azerbaijan will improve the system of compiling statistical data for the preparation of the UN report. Currently for preparation of a report on the achievement of sustainable development, Azerbaijan uses only 70 statistical indicators, while the reports should include more than 200 indicators, he emphasized. Deputy Economy Minister Sevinj Hasanova, in turn, said that Azerbaijan joins many programs and initiatives of the UN, including Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. Chief of the Secretariat of the National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development Huseyn Huseynov spoke about activities in the sphere of meeting the national priorities with the SDG and preparation of the report by Azerbaijan for a high-level political forum to be held at the UN headquarters in 2017. Deputy chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Sadagat Gahramanova provided an insight into family and women policies, and gender issues in the MDG. Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by UN member on September 25-27, 2015. In total, 17 goals and 169 targets have been determined to be implemented in the period from 2016 to 2030. To achieve the goals of sustainable development the National Coordination Council was established by a presidential decree on October 2016. Azerbaijan is the only country that created the National Coordinating Council for Sustainable Development, and this was highly assessed by the organization. The councils goal is to bring state programs and strategies covering the socio-economic sphere into line with the objectives of sustainable development. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 16:49 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Although mud volcanoes exist on all continents and in all oceans, their largest concentration is in and around the Caspian Sea. Roughly half of the world's mud volcanoes can be seen in Azerbaijan. Mud volcanoes are markers of oil and gas deposits, along being sources of hot water, natural gas, and clay. Jeyhun Pashayev, Director of "Group of mud volcanoes of Baku and Absheron peninsula" of the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, said that despite the fact that mud volcanoes are specific for Azerbaijan, eruption of mud volcanoes has already turned into a seldom phenomena. Annually, only 3-4 mud volcano eruptions can be observed in the country, he told APA. The scientist clarified that six kinds of volcanoes, including underwater, island, and active, inactive, buried and oil volcanoes, can be found in the territory of Azerbaijan. There are too many mud volcanoes in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. The number of above surface and underwater mud volcanoes reaches 360. It is easy to detect underwater volcanoes by special devices. For example, in the future while searching for oil deposits in the Caspian Sea there can be found new mud volcanoes. Theretofore, the number of underwater volcanoes varies and can increase, the expert said. Speaking about the Otman Bozdag volcano, one of the world's largest mud volcanoes, which erupted on February 6, Pashayev said that this territory is related to the Alazan-Ayrichay-Alat valley and certain activity has been reported in this area since 2011. The eruption of the Otman Bozdag volcano lasted over nine minutes. As a result of the volcanic eruption, the flame rose to the height of 350 meters. Mud waste of 100,000 cubic meters covers an area of about 10-12 hectare, he said. Mud volcanoes are a fairly widespread geological phenomenon and over a thousand mud volcanoes are known to exist in the world. Azerbaijan is a world leader, not only for the number but also for the activity of its volcanoes some 60 percent of mud volcanoes are active here. Azerbaijan's mud volcanoes definitely should be part of any tourist's itinerary. Most are located on Absheron, around Baku. There are 100 near the Gobustan Reserve alone. There are another 200 on the islands of the Baku archipelago and in Shamakhi and Shirvan regions, two hours drive from Baku. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 10:44 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Ministers from several countries have confirmed their participation in the third meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) to be held in Baku on February 23. Azerbaijans Energy Ministry reported that Italys Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda, Greeces nergy and Environment Minister Giorgos Stathakis, Bulgarian interim Energy Minister Nikolay Pavlov and Croatian Environment Protection and Energy Minister Slaven Dobrovic confirmed their participation in the meeting. The majority of the ministers are slated to meet with their Azerbaijani counterpart Natig Aliyev during their visit to Baku. Among international financial institutions, the World Bank confirmed its participation, and its delegation will be headed by Riccardo Puliti. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will also take part in the meeting, and be represented by Flavia Palanza, director of the banks Central and South Eastern Europe Department. The Energy Ministry noted that European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic was among the first ones to accept Azerbaijans invitation. The SGC Advisory Council held its first meeting on February 12, 2015, and the second meeting on February 29, 2016. The Southern Gas Corridor envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe via Georgia and Turkey. The gas will be exported through expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 17:21 (UTC+04:00) By Nigar Abbasova The World Bank and the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) signed a loan agreement within the construction of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project on February 8, BloombergHT reported. Turkeys Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, addressing a signing ceremony, said that TANAP aims to provide the regional and global energy security. For now, the implementation of the project is completed by almost 65 percent. Next year, Turkey will be able to receive gas passing through the pipeline, he said. TANAP jointly implemented by Baku and Ankara is a core pipe of the Southern Gas Corridor, envisaging the transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to Europe. Turkey will get gas in 2018 and after completing the construction of Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. The minister stressed that financing of the project by the WB is very important or Turkey. This year, we will get an additional sum of $3 billion from different financing organizations to strengthen the energy market of the country, he said. The Bank earlier approved a $400 million loan for Turkey and a $400 million loan for Azerbaijan for the implementation of the TANAP project, which will transport natural gas from the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan to and across Turkey. The WB and Azerbaijan signed a loan agreement on the project on January 16. With its vital role in the overall objective of diversifying energy supplies to Europe, Turkey spares no effort to realize TANAP, which is a backbone pipe forming the ambitious Southern Gas Corridor project. The length of the project is 1,800 kilometers with the initial capacity standing at 16 billion cubic meters. The construction work within the project is currently on track. The project is also expected to get financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). TANAP shareholders are Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR (58 percent), BOTAS (30 percent) and BP (12 percent). -- Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 13:10 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Turkmenistan's gas and gas condensate reserves can be substantially increased thanks to further geological, geophysical and drilling studies to be carried out on the countrys plain lands, as well as within the West-Turkmen cavity. This was announced by Taganguly Ilamanov, a candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Deputy Director of the Natural Gas Research Institute of the Turkmengas state concern, Neutral Turkmenistan reported. Ilamanov further said that the strategy of development of the countrys oil and gas industry requires accelerated exploration and development of new prospective areas and fields. In this regard, attention is paid to the study of geology, lithostratigraphy of gas bearing strata of the Mesozoic platform areas of Turkmenistan and Cenozoic strata of the West-Turkmen cavity, lithology and gas-bearing sediments of Jurassic period in Central Turkmenistan, research of oil and gas paleo-basins. Complex analysis and detailed processing of geological and geophysical information on the gas fields of central and southeast Turkmenistan are now being conducted. They scientifically defined the exploration in the prospective regions through 2D and 3D seismic surveys and drilling. Speaking about the Galkynysh field, the worlds second biggest gas field located in the eastern part of Turkmenistan, he said that this field is unique for its geological conditions. The drilling of the second and third stages of development is being prepared. The research will provide complete information on carbonate rocks and reservoir characterization as a whole, both in separate parts of the field and the cut. These data will be of great scientific importance in improving understanding of the geological structure of the Upper Jurassic carbonate complex and, therefore, improve the current estimates of gas reserves and refine the geological model of Galkinish field, Ilamanov said. At the time, this natural larder is at an early stage of development, therefore the estimation of reserves is limited to the area covered in the geological model. However, there is a high probability that the Galkinish field goes beyond these boundaries. The additional seismic and well surveys will allow to re-estimate gas reserves of the Galkynysh field, while the obtained results will be used for the rational exploitation of this gas-bearing territory. Turkmenistan has great opportunities for future which lie in exploration and development of oil and natural gas fields, especially Galkynysh, Osman, Minara, Tagtabazar-I, offshore blocks, and the Central Karakum group of fields and construction of gas treatment and processing units at the above-mentioned fields. According to the data collected by UKs Gaffney, Cline & Associates, reserves of the Galkynysh, together with reserves of the Yashlar field, are estimated at 26.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and reaches 27.4 trillion cubic meters together with reserves of the reopened Garakel field. Turkmenistan, which is rich with oil and gas resources, opened about two hundred oil and gas fields so far. Potential hydrocarbon resources of the country amount to 71.2 billion tons of oil equivalent, of which 53 billion falls on the land, and 18.2 billion tons - on marine areas. Currently, Turkmenistan delivers gas to Iran and China. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 11:21 (UTC+04:00) By Trend President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev by his decree has approved the action strategy on priority areas of the countrys development for 2017-2021, the Uzbek media reported on February 8. The action strategy will be implemented in five stages, and each stage provides for approval of a separate annual state program on the strategys implementation in Uzbekistan, according to the decree. The strategy includes five priority areas, and the first one envisages improvement of state and social construction, strengthening the role of the Uzbek parliament in modernization of the country, development of the institutional framework of the state administration, reduction of state regulation of the economy, strengthening the role of civil society institutions and the media. The strategy also envisages reformation of the Uzbek judicial system, it is proposed to strengthen the genuine independence of the judicial power and the guarantee of protection of the rights and freedoms of the countrys citizens, development and liberalization of the Uzbek economy, development of the social sphere. Ensuring security, inter-ethnic harmony and religious tolerance, implementation of balanced, mutually beneficial and constructive foreign policy aimed at strengthening the independence and sovereignty of the state, creation of a security belt around Uzbekistan, stability and good neighborly relations, promotion of a positive image of the country abroad is also the most important direction of the strategy. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 12:21 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on the ratification of the agreement with Ankara on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, Sputnik International reported. The lower house of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, ratified the agreement January 20, while the upper house, the Federation Council, ratified the document on February 1. Moscow and Ankara signed an intergovernmental agreement in October 2016 envisioning the construction of two underwater legs of the gas pipeline in the Black Sea. Once completed the pipeline will carry Russian natural gas to Turkey under the Black Sea, and on to Greece and Europe. The project, with an estimated total cost of $13 billion, was announced in December 2014 during Putins visit to Turkey as an alternative to the canceled South Stream gas pipeline through Bulgaria. The pipe was initially designed to involve four threads transporting a total volume of 63 billion cubic meters of gas, the amount of South Stream, but now the project envisions the construction of two underwater legs of the gas pipeline in the Black Sea. The annual capacity of each leg is estimated to reach 15.75 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Pipe-laying work for the Turkish Stream is expected to begin in 2017 and end in late 2019. The first line intends to meet Turkeys demands in the energy source, while the second is aimed to provide demand of consumers in Southeastern Europe bypassing Ukraine. The project was earlier halted in late 2015 due to sharp deterioration of relations between Moscow and Ankara when Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber with two pilots on board. The project realization became a topic of great importance following restoration of ties between the two countries. Being the second biggest consumer of Russian gas after Germany, Turkey currently imports around 30 billion cubic meters gas from Russia annually via two pipelines - the Blue Stream, which passes under the eastern Black Sea, and the Western Line through the Balkans. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 15:40 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Moscow is concerned over Iran's possible withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement, a historic deal that ended 12-year standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Tehran's possible withdrawal from the nuke deal due to the United States' anti-Iran rhetoric would signal the failure of the international community, Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Ulyanov told Ria Novosti. "There are indeed concerns because we see rather harsh rhetoric from the U.S. Administration and Tehran's reciprocal tough rhetoric, he said, emphasizing that Tehran's withdrawal would be a major failure for the entire international community. Tensions surrounding the nuclear deal escalated after Iran conducted a ballistic missile test last week, drawing criticism from the United States and the European Union. Iran, five permanent UN Security Council members, Germany and the European Union signed the JCPOA in July 2015 to ensure the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program. Then, the Islamic republic pledged to refrain from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran. Last week, Iran conducted a test ballistic missile launches purportedly in line with its defense programs. Claiming that the tests were a violation of the UN resolution, Washington imposed sanctions against individuals and entities providing support to Tehrans ballistic missile program and to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. Uliyanov further stressed that Moscow and its five partners in the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement oppose steps that put into question the agreement's viability. Moscow and its European partners urge to avoid any steps that could aggravate the situation. r, even more so, that call into question the viability of the existing agreements, he said. Uliyanov is sure that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action's (JCPOA) failure would not be in the interests of the United States, Russia, Iran and its regional neighbors including Israel. If the [nuclear] deal falls through, the issues that seem to be successfully addressed, will rise with all their acuteness, and the situation will again become unpredictable," Uliyanov concluded. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly stated that he believes that the nuclear agreement with Iran signed by the Obama administration is the worst deal ever negotiated, and in case of his election as a head of the White House, he will reconsider it. Meanwhile, Tehran announced that the country is committed to the implementation of the nuclear program agreement and intends to discuss the implementation process with Russia. "We are pleased to have an opportunity to exchange views once again. Our previous meetings were very meaningful, held in the atmosphere of trust," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov. "Today we will discuss various aspects of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, we are committed to its implementation. It is very important for us to exchange views, taking into consideration all the challenges that we have been facing." -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 17:39 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Irans Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and America Majid Takht-Ravanchi has called for expansion of the Iranian-German relations and the elimination of obstacles to banking cooperation between the two. The Iranian diplomat, during his ongoing visit to Berlin, discussed Tehran-Berlin ties, as well as major issues of international and regional issues at a meeting with State Secretary at Germans Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Markus Eder , IRNA reported. Ederer, for his part, underlined remarkable growth in Iran-Germany relations, especially after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The official voiced his countrys readiness for promoting cooperation in all fields, economy in particular, with Iran. Ederer also said that German companies are interested to invest in Iran to transfer modern technologies to the country Both officials stressed the need for finding diplomatic solutions to establish peace and stability in the region. Germany is the fifth-largest exporter to Iran, after China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Turkey. The trade relations between Berlin and Tehran are not based on buying oil from Iran but on German hi-tech equipment exports to the country. In the first half of 2016, German exports to Iran increased by 15 percent. In 2015, trade turnover between Germany and Iran was $2.8 billion. After the removal of Western sanctions, Iran needs foreign investments and advanced technologies. Despite large economic prospects, Berlin and Tehran still have to decide on a number of political issues. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 8 February 2017 18:12 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Russia and Georgia have discussed the possibility of lifting the visa regime for Georgian citizens. Moscow does not rule out further alleviating or even canceling the visa regime with Georgia, RIA Novosti reported with the reference to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported on February 8 that Prague hosted a meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Zurab Abashidze, the special envoy of the Georgian Premier on settlement of relations with Russia on Tuesday. The sides discussed Russian-Georgian Agreement on Customs Administration and Trade Monitoring signed on November 9, 2011. The parties should not delay the beginning of the practical implementation of this extremely necessary for the regional trade agreement, the Ministry reported, noting that Moscow is ready for the practical realization of the deal. Both sides voiced satisfaction with the growing intensification of humanitarian exchanges and human contacts. Due to visa liberalization for Georgian citizens carried out by Russia in late 2015, the number of visas issued by the Russian Federation Interests Section in Tbilisi, doubled and reached 40,000. Karasin confirmed the intention towards further simplification of visa regime, not excepting its cancellation in the future, the ministry said adding that this also depends on the readiness of the Georgian authorities to the important work in this direction. Tbilisi broke diplomatic relations with Moscow in 2008. The relations between Georgia and Russia have pushed all limits when Georgian troops launched military operations to retake the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions on August 8, 2008. Russian armed forces entered the regions to stop the military attacks by Georgian troops. After four days of tense fighting, Georgian forces were expelled from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire on August 12. Tbilisi immediately cut all diplomatic ties with Russia just a while after the bloody skirmish. Abashidzes first meeting with Karasin took place in December 2012. Later, the senior diplomats held meetings in the Czech capital of Prague between 2013 and 2016, with the latest of them on October 19, focusing on cooperation in trade, economy, transport, culture, humanitarian and current issues. In late 2016, the parties confirmed that they intend to continue to pursue the normalization of relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said that does not preclude the return of a visa-free regime with Russia for Georgian citizens, for this, according to him, there is every reason. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz DEAR KEVIN: Do us a solid and whisper our concerns into Trump's ear since you have it This is Barcelona BCN Life They said to us "This is Barcelona" and showed us a postcard of the Pedraforca. We didn't believe it, but just 2 hours outside Barcelona you can be in the heart of the countryside and the Pyrenees mountains. In the Pyrenees, you have plenty to do, whether it's sport, culture or gastronomy. In any season of the year, if you go to Barcelona, take a break in the Pyrenees, and discover it for yourselves. Palmetto High School senior Jackie Perez is one of around 600 students from across the nation to receive the QuestBridge Scholarship for low income students. Palmetto High senior received QuestBridge Scholarship Jack Perez will be a freshman at Duke in the fall She says she's the first member of her family to graduate high school Perez will receive a full ride at the prestigious Duke University valued at $250,000. "When we got the news Jackie received the QuestBridge Scholarship, there was a massive celebration on campus," said Palmetto High Principal Carl Auckerman. Perez says no one was be more proud of her than her family, who immigrated from Mexico 20 years ago. "As far as education goes, they didnt really get to complete high school," said Perez. "Let alone my mom didnt complete middle school." This year Perez will become the first person in her family to graduate high school. Admitting that she didn't set the bar very high for herself at first. "I know my freshman and sophomore year of high school, it was like maybe 'I can do technical college,'" recalled Perez. "Then it wasnt until last year my junior year that I was like well maybe I can be a Florida gator, and well this year Im a Blue Devil." Perez has a perfect 4.0 GPA and attends dual enrollment classes at the State College of Florida three times a week. "Obviously without my parents motivation, I probably couldnt have done it," said Perez. She'll start at Duke in the fall majoring in biology. She hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. Tampa firefighters rescued a man who became trapped inside of a garbage truck early Wednesday. Man trapped in garbage truck Tampa Fire Rescue saved man No word if man is injured According to the Tampa Fire Department, while making rounds this morning, the garbage truck driver heard the man calling for help. Sometime during his morning route, the man who was sleeping in a dumpster was deposited into the garbage truck along with the contents of the dumpster. The truck uses mechanical arms to lift dumpsters and dump the contents into the back of the truck. The driver pulled over near the Dale Mabry Highway and Hillsborough Avenue area and called authorities. Rescue personnel, who brought heavy equipment to the scene, were able to get the man out of the truck after about an hour. Crews brought in ladders and eventually were able to hoist the man out of the truck. The man was lowered onto a stretcher and rushed away by ambulance to an area hospital. Officials have not said if the man was injured. 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). The Trump administration reported that 9.2 million Americans obtained coverage on HealthCare.gov this year, The Hill reports. Here are five points: 1. This total is slightly down from last year's figure, which hit 9.6 million new enrollees. 2. The 9.1 million people represent enrollees in the 39 states that use HealthCare.gov. The number therefore does not reflect the total signup across all 50 states. 3. The Trump administration said it will release more information on total enrollment in March 2017. 4. The Hill reports Democrats said the drop is partly due to the Trump administration eliminating ACA outreach ads in the weeks leading up to enrollment's closing date. 5. In a statement, a HHS spokesperson said, "Obamacare has failed the American people, with one broken promise after another. As noted in the report today from [CMS], premiums in the ACA marketplace have increased 25 percent while the number of insurers has declined 28 percent over the past year." Richmond, Va.-based Kaleo is facing heat from Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL-Minn.) over the company's auto-injector device that carries a $4,500 price tag, CNBC reports. Here are five things to know: 1. The device aims to reverse the effects of allergic reactions and opioid overdoses. 2. In a letter to Kaleo CEO Spencer Williamson and Sen. Klobuchar said the company has an important role to play in combating the opioid epidemic and therefore should make the injector affordable for Americans. She wrote, "Your price of $4,500 for a two-pack is especially disturbing, as more competition should mean lower rather than higher prices for epinephrine injectors. We must make the market work for consumers." 3. Kaleo took Auvi-Q, the auto-injector, off the market at the end of last year for potential dosing issues. However, the injector device is set to hit the market on Feb. 14, 2017. 4. While two packs cost $4,500, Kaleo said the device has a $360 guarantee cash price for Americans lacking insurance. Kaleo will also provide financial assistance if a consumer's payer does not cover Auvi-Q. 5. When news surfaced about Auvi-Q's return to the market, Mr. Williamson said Auvi-Q will not cost a commercially insured patient out-of-pocket compared to any competing device, branded drug or generic. In a recent article, Kishore Jayablan of Istituto Acton addresses the controversy surrounding the Vaticans invitation to Paul Ehrlich, a known population control activist and the author of the 1968 book The Population Bomb. He was invited for a conference on biological extinction. Jayabalan finds this situation troubling: the Pontifical Academies for Science and Social Sciences are giving a platform not just to bad economics but blatantly anti-Catholic, immoral social policies. Ehrlich has flirted with the idea of coercion in a good cause for sterilizations and population control. For him, the world cannot support teeming hordes of (non-white) people, even if many of his claims have been debunked by other scholars. While Jayabalan does not consider an invitation, by any means an endorsement, he does consider it worrisome considering the political climate: Without having to ask, I am sure the chancellor of the Pontifical Academies defends Ehrlichs participation in terms of a spirit of open inquiry and debate. But that spirit seems to be open only toward the left and even enemies of Catholic teaching such as Ehrlich, who has called the Churchs bishops one of the truly evil, regressive forces on the planet, in my opinion, interested primarily in maintaining their power. Jayabalam concludes his article by affirming his apprehension about the Pontifical Academies for Science and Social Science and whom they choose as honored guests, but maintains hope concerning Pope Francis desire to streamline the antiquated operations of the Vatican: Despite his allergy to economics, Pope Francis has sought to reform and consolidate the antiquated workings of the Vatican. Kudos to him for that. We can only hope that something major is in store for the Pontifical Academies for Science and Social Science, which often welcome ideas and policies that have harmed those whom the Church strives to protect. To read the full article at The American Spectator click here. New York City-based Hospital for Specialty Surgery and Stamford (Conn.) Health are partnering to expand orthopedic services throughout Connecticut, according to Crain's New York Business. Here are four notes: 1. Through the partnership, HSS will staff Stamford-based Tully Health Center and begin seeing ambulatory surgery patients. 2. HSS president and Chief Executive Lou Shapiro told Crain's they expect Tully Health's ASC to see more than 400 patients by the year's end. 3. By the end of 2017, HSS also aims to occupy the fifth floor of Stamford Hospital, a 305-bed acute care tertiary facility. 4. Mr. Shapiro said the partnership falls in line with HSS' strategy to expand its orthopedic reach beyond New York City while maintaining its independence. He told Crain's, "We treasure our ability to remain a strong, independent organization, as opposed to what everybody else in the market has opted for." While many Americans travel outside of the United States to obtain specialty care, hundreds of thousands of international patients flock to the United States seeking medical treatment. PYMNTS.com Global Citizen Index published research in November 2016 detailing the number of patients traveling to the United States for care and other key statistics on the international healthcare industry. Here are eight points on the international patients seeking care in the United States: 1. The international healthcare market valuation is between $40 billion and $80 billion. 2. Nearly 300,000 international patients sought care in 2016. 3. Forty-five percent are 55-years-old and older. 4. Forty-four percent travel to the United States due to the quality of care. 5. Thirty-three percent of patients list life-threatening conditions as their primary reason for traveling to the United States for care. 6. Healthcare does not come cheap, with the average U.S. daily hospital stay totaling more than $2,000 for an admitted patient. 7. The average international patient in the United States pays between $35,000 and $50,000 in medical expenses. 8. Nearly 60 percent of these international patients hail from Asia and Africa. Following President Donald Trump's 90-day travel ban, American Medical Association CEO and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, MD, penned a letter on the organization's behalf, voicing its support for the "Bar Removal of Individuals for Dream and Grow our Economy Act." Here are five key points: 1. The legislation would provide undocumented young immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status employment authorization and temporary relief from deportation. The legislators' bill would also apply to DACA-eligible individuals. 2. Dr. Madara wrote the letter to Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who introduced the BRIDGE Act. 3. The AMA says the legislation is vital in providing both stability and protection until the government implements a permanent solution regarding DACA recipients' lawful immigration status. 4. The letter cites various statistics that show how individuals with DACA status impact the nation's healthcare system. The DACA initiative would allow nearly 5,400 previously ineligible physicians to practice in the United States in the coming years, the letter states. 5. Dr. Madara writes, "The AMA strongly supports medical students and physicians with DACA status, as well as those young people who are considering a career in medicine. These individuals help contribute to a diverse and culturally responsive physician workforce, which in turn helps benefit not only traditionally underserved patients, but all patients as well. DACA recipients should be able to continue to study and work without fear of being deported." President Donald Trump recently met with many of the nation's top pharmaceutical company executives, with meeting attendees giving a clearer picture on what the conversation entailed, according to the Washington Post. Here are four things to know: 1. The Washington Post reports executives said the president did not delve into "government intervention on drug pricing" when "behind closed doors." 2. In an investor call, Kenilworth, N.J.-based Merck Chief Executive Kenneth Frazier said the meeting's dialogue did not drive him to believe secretarial negotiations will tackle the issue of spiraling drug prices. Mr. Frazier said, "We know there'll be bills that are introduced in Congress calling for that. But I think the fact of the matter is ... that is not perceived to be the solution to the problem." 3. Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Amgen Chief Executive Robert Bradway said the conversation did not go into specifics concerning HHS' role in efforts rein in drug prices. 4. The conversation did touch on patients' ability to afford drugs at pharmacies, noted David Ricks, chief executive of Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly. Mr. Ricks said the following in an earnings call following the meeting, "We did not get into elaborate policy detail in terms of the U.S. pricing environment." In a recent research endeavor for Axios, lawyer and journalist Steven Brill set out to determine CEO pay per patient day at the nation's biggest hospital systems. Here are four things to know. 1. Mr. Brill merged American Hospital Directory data about hospital operations, including patient beds and total patient days, with Internal Revenue Service data on what nonprofit hospitals pay their heads. He writes in Axios that he ended up with a list of the reported annual payouts to the CEOs of the 20 largest hospital systems (ranked by number of hospitals in their systems) divided by the annual number of hospital patient days. Ultimately, he was able to make a list of CEO pay per patient day at the nation's largest hospital systems. 2. Patrick Fry, president and CEO of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, topped Mr. Brill's list, with $6.88 in earnings per patient day. There were 923,521 patient days at the system, bringing his salary to $6.35 million. Mr. Fry retired at the end of 2015. Sutter spokesperson Karen Garner noted to Mr. Brill that some of Mr. Fry's pay included "one-time payments associated with his retirement," and added, "The use of patient days, alone, is not a solid basis for comparison . [W]e are working hard to reduce patient days." 3. Following Mr. Fry is William Thompson, president and CEO of St. Louis-based SSM Health, with $6.06 in earnings per patient day, and then Jeffrey Romoff, president and CEO of Pittsburgh-based UPMC, with $4.99 in earnings per patient day. At the bottom of the list is Richard Gilfillan, MD, president and CEO of Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health, with 75 cents in earnings per patient day. 4. Mr. Brill notes that no metric provides a perfect measure for comparing CEO responsibilities. However, he said, "it's a good way to compare the relative scope of responsibilities of each CEO, because it's basically a measure of the number of patients served in each hospital and the extent of that service." To see the report in Axios, click here. After 50 cars were broken into over the weekend near Florida Hospital, the Orlando-based hospital plans to tighten security, according to a WESH report. The affected cars and trucks were parked in several garages in the area around Florida Hospital, and employees have been told to keep alert for anything suspicious. "The safety of our patients, visitors and employees if of utmost importance," a Florida Hospital spokeswoman told the local NBC affiliate. "We have diverse security measures in place some observable, others nonvisible and are taking additional steps to safeguard our employees and visitors, including increased security office presence in our parking garages." According to WFTV, a local ABC affiliate, the hospital will also actively monitoring its video surveillance system and adding signs to its parking garages alerting everyone they are being watched by cameras. The police have no suspects and have made no arrests in the case. From reimbursement landscape challenges to dwindling inpatient volumes, many factors lead hospitals to file for bankruptcy or close. Here are six hospitals that have filed for bankruptcy or closed since Dec. 1, starting with the most recent. 1. Louisiana Heart Hospital in Lacombe and its affiliated medical group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 30 and will close by the end of February. The hospital has faced financial challenges in recent years, as it struggled to balance shrinking reimbursements with rising operating costs. 2. North Texas Medical Center, which is owned by the Gainesville Hospital District, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy Jan. 17. The hospital's board approved a partnership agreement with King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services in December. On Jan. 24, the bankruptcy court approved a debtor-in-possession loan that will allow UHS to provide financial support to North Texas Medical Center during the course of the bankruptcy case. 3. The public trust that operates Atoka (Okla.) County Medical Center filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy Jan. 10. The critical access hospital is about $16 million in debt. 4. North Philadelphia Health System filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Dec. 30 after years of financial troubles. NPHS currently operates two facilities in Philadelphia: Girard Medical Center, a 168-bed psychiatric hospital, and Goldman Clinic, a substance abuse treatment center. 5. Marshalltown-based Central Iowa Healthcare, which includes a 49-bed acute care hospital, an outpatient center and four primary care clinics, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Dec. 20. Interested parties are bidding on CIH's assets. A hearing to approve a sale to the highest bidder is scheduled for March 17. 6. Indianapolis-based Community Health Network closed Community Westview Hospital Dec. 16 after a gradual step-down of services over the past few years. When the hospital closed, many of its services were relocated to other Community Health Network sites in the area. More articles on healthcare finance: Trump administration withdraws 340B mega-guidance: 6 things to know Indianapolis hospital closes as resources shift to outpatient care Ochsner to take over St. Bernard Parish Hospital as billing issues cause debt to mount Georgia lawmakers are proposing laws to deal with surprise billing, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Here are four things to know. 1. The practice of surprise billing, also known as balance billing, refers to a physician's ability to bill patients for outstanding balances after the insurance company submits a portion of the bill. Out-of-network physicians, not bound by in-network rate agreements, may bill patients for the remaining balance. 2. Out-of-network physicians claim they must bill patients because insurers do not pay them enough for their services, according to the report. Insurers, on the other hand, claim physicians are cashing in by surprise billing, the report states. 3. In Georgia, lawmakers are proposing legislation aimed at curbing surprise billing, particularly in the emergency room. Georgia, Rep. Richard Smith, R-Columbus, chairman of the House Insurance Committee, has proposed House Bill 71; in the Senate, Georgia Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee, is pushing Senate Bill 8, according to the report. 4. According to the report, both bills would mandate more openness with patients regarding what physicians will be participating in their care and what network physicians belong to. However, in both bills, much research regarding billing will be left to the patient. Also, neither bill would eliminate out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays. More than 11,000 organizations spent $3.12 billion on lobbying the federal government in 2016 the lowest amount spent since 2007, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group. However, spending on the Hill is expected to pick up again under the Trump administration as it grapples with controversial issues like the ACA repeal and replacement, according to a CRP blog post. Despite lower overall spending, organizations from the healthcare industry accounted for the greatest share of spending by any industry in 2016. About 16 percent of total lobbying spending or more than $509 million was paid for by healthcare organizations last year, according to CRP. This is roughly on par with spending by healthcare organizations in 2015, when they shelled out $513 million. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the way lobby data is reported, spending cannot be broken down by issue, according to MapLight, a nonpartisan research organization. This means it is not possible to see how much was spent on specific health issues. However, it is possible to approximate which organizations may have had the largest financial influence on health issues based on which lobbyists spent most in 2016 and also channeled some of those funds toward health issues. MapLight provided Becker's with the following breakdown of organizations that spent the most lobbying the federal government in 2016 and spent at least some of those funds lobbying on health issues; medical research and clinical labs; Medicare and Medicaid; and/or pharmaceuticals. Note: Dollar amounts reflect totals spent lobbying across all issues, healthcare or otherwise, by each organization in 2016. 1. U.S. Chamber of Commerce $75.52 million The U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbied on health issues in 2016. Their focus included bills to repeal the tax on payers under the ACA and repeal the tax on medical device manufacturers, as well as the 21st Century Cures Act and the World's Greatest Healthcare Plan Act, an ACA replacement plan put forth by Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, R-La., and Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas. 2. National Association of Realtors $52.72 million This trade association for real estate agents lobbied on health issues, particularly the Equity for Our Nation's Self-Employed Act, which would make health insurance premiums tax-deductible for those who are self-employed. 3. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform $27.71 million The Institute for Legal Reform, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that advocates for tort reform, lobbied on Medicare, Medicaid and health issues in 2016. These issues included the 21st Century Cures Act, regulations to strengthen Medicare anti-fraud measures and issues related to Medicare Secondary Payer reporting requirements. 4. Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America $19.62 million PhRMA, a pharma trade group, lobbied across the board on health issues, Medicare, Medicaid, pharmacy, medical and disease research and clinical labs. The issues they supported included provisions of several bills related to funding for the National Institutes of Health, antibiotic drug approval for limited populations, patient-focused drug development, drug importation issues and opioids. 5. American Hospital Association $18.83 million The AHA lobbied on the 21st Century Cures Act, issues related to oversight of surgical practices, hospital reimbursement, health IT transparency, unique device identifiers, improving care for patients with chronic diseases and a bill that would remove the 96-hour physician certification requirement for critical access hospital payments. 6. American Medical Association $18.77 million The AMA reported lobbying on meaningful use, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, Zika funding, Stark Law modernization, opioid addiction treatment and 21st Century Cures. 7. Boeing $17.02 million The aerospace giant lobbied on the Cadillac tax, an excise tax on high-cost employer health plans; the ACA's reinsurance fee for health plans; as well as employer benefit issues, transparency, delivery reform and cost containment, among other issues. 8. Business Roundtable $15.7 million Business Roundtable is a lobbying association made up of CEOs from leading companies around the country. The group lobbied on issues related to the repeal and replacement of the ACA, the Cadillac tax and the GOP-led House Health Care Task Force "A Better Way" project, among other issues. 9. Google $15.43 million Google lobbied on advanced sensor-based technologies, health IT and health data policy in 2016. 10. Dow Chemical Company $13.44 million Dow lobbied on health reform proposals like the Cadillac tax, health IT issues and employer wellness programs. It also lobbied on the Employee Retirement Security Act, which regulates employee and retiree health benefits, as well as the House Better Way plan. 11. General Dynamics $10.74 million This aerospace and defense corporation lobbied on fiscal year 2017 funding for CMS call centers and issues related to health IT for HHS. 12. Verizon Communications $10.08 million Verizon, a telecommunications company and wireless service provider, lobbied on health issues related to telemedicine, including bills to allow for interstate care for Medicare patients and veterans via telemedicine, as well as the Cadillac tax and other changes to employer-sponsored healthcare. 13. Altria Group $10.06 million This tobacco corporation lobbied last year on MACRA, Medicare Secondary Payer responsibility, the CDC's implementation of healthcare funding provisions under the ACA, fees for tobacco manufacturers that fund Food and Drug regulation costs and issues related to the predicate date for tobacco products and e-cigarettes under the Tobacco Control Act. 14. Amgen $9.86 million Amgen, a biopharmaceutical company, lobbied on issues related to former Vice President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot Initiative, proposed Medicare and Medicaid cuts, Medicare Part B pricing, the 21st Century Cures Act and provisions of other bills related to incentives for innovation to expedite the development and approval of drugs, among other issues. 15. Pfizer $9.75 million This pharmaceutical corporation lobbied on health issues, Medicare, Medicaid and pharmacy in 2016. Pfizer lobbied to increase funding for the CDC National Immunization Program, and lobbied on MACRA, 21st Century Cures and Medicare Part D reimbursement issues. 16. American Bankers Association $9.31 million The ABA, a banking trade association, lobbied on health savings accounts, high-deductible insurance plans and related issues under the ACA in 2016. 17. Biotechnology Industry Organization $9.23 million This biotechnology trade organization lobbied on a wide range of healthcare issues including Medicare, Medicaid, pharmacy, medical and disease research and clinical labs. Specifically, it lobbied on the 21st Century Cures Act, funding for CDC vaccine programs, the Medicare 340B Drug Pricing Program and other legislation related to drugs and biologics. 18. Prudential Financial $9.11 million Prudential an insurance, investment management and financial services company based in Newark, N.J. lobbied on D.C. Healthcare Exchange fees. 19. AARP $8.71 million The AARP, a interest group for retirees, lobbied on healthcare issues for seniors including Medicare and Social Security; advocated for limited age rating for private health insurance; and among other issues, supported the FAIR Drug Pricing Act, a bill that would require drug manufacturers to report price increases if they exceed a 10 percent increase over 12 months. 20. General Motors $8.5 million GM lobbied on general issues related to ACA implementation, the Cadillac tax and the Save American Workers Act of 2015, which changes the average weekly hourly requirements for a full-time employee under the ACA's employer mandate from 30 hours per week to 40 hours per week. 21. National Association of Manufacturers $8.49 million The NAM represents approximately 14,000 manufacturing companies across industries. Last year, it lobbied on ACA implementation, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, drug price transparency and a bill that called for the repeal of the ACA's Independent Payment Advisory Board, which was created to develop proposals to reduce Medicare spending growth. 22. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association $8.43 million BCBSA, which represents independent BCBS plans around the country, lobbied on an array of healthcare issues in 2016. Some of those issues included the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, legislation to address the opioid epidemic, the ACA's risk corridor program, health savings accounts, ACA reform and the GOP replacement plan, A Better Way. 23. Coca-Cola Company $7.93 million Coca-Cola lobbied on calorie transparency and obesity prevention; issues related to Nutrition Facts Panel changes; and legislative monitoring related to agriculture, sustainability, beverage industry and health and wellness. 24. Bayer $7.75 million This pharmaceutical company lobbied the FDA in 2016 on legislative and regulatory issues on product review and approval. It also monitored legislative and administrative actions on drug importation, drug shortages, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, medical supply access, women's health issues and over-the-counter drugs, among other items. 25. Oracle $7.65 million Oracle, a multinational software company, lobbied on a number of health IT issues in 2016, including those related to health information exchanges, transparency, medical privacy and HIT standards. It also lobbied on the 21st Century Cures Act, Precision Medicine Initiative and the Cancer Moonshot. More articles on finance: Indiana Hospital Association offers charge, quality data on outpatient procedures Fairview at Redstone Village taps American HealthTech for EHR software, revenue cycle solutions Centauri Health Solutions acquires Human Arc: 4 things to know Milwaukee-based Moose Moss Press, a publishing company, has filed a lawsuit claiming it has been receiving private medical faxes intended for another recipient, according to Courthouse News Service. In August or September 2015, Moose Moss Press began receiving misrouted faxes intended for Twinsburg, Ohio-based Envision RX, a pharmacy benefit management company. Since then, Moose Moss Press has received more than 120 faxes containing patients' personal health information. That number doesn't include the first few faxes Moose Moss received but immediately deleted or the faxes Moose Moss deleted after consulting an Envision RX representative. As outlined in a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel column, Moose Moss could face HIPAA penalties for possessing patient records. Moose Moss claims it attempted to sell the fax number to Envision RX, but the two companies never reached an agreement. "At no point in time, previous to the deluge of medical information, has Moose Moss Press LLC ever transacted business or engaged in communications with Envision RX," Moose Moss managing member Craig Berg, PhD, said in an affidavit. Moose Moss is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction as well as $500,000 in damages. Update: The full interview is now available online. Whats going on in North Korea? The First Issue of Religion & Liberty in 2017 will explore this question in depth. The main feature will be an interview with Suzanne Scholte, president of the Defense Forum Foundation. She has spent the last two decades fighting for the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korean People and is considered one of the worlds leading activists. Along with 20 years of experience comes a wealth of knowledge on North Korea, totalitarian regimes, and the plight of Korean refugees. Unfortunately, there wasnt enough room in the print version of Religion & Liberty to run the entirety of the interview. As a preview for this publication which will be available soon enjoy a snippet of our conversation. A link will be added as soon as the entire issue is available online. ### R&L: We are constantly seeing news out of North Korea, that isfor lack of a better phrasebizarre. Articles about Kim Jong Un feeding his uncle to dogs and that sort of thing. Do you think the regime is that sadistic and cruel? Do you think were just so fascinated by a nation completely cut off that we believe this could be going? Maybe a little of both? Scholte: I think, yes, on all that. This regime is sadistic and cruel. Just talking about recent events, Chang Song-taek, who was Kim Jong Uns uncle, devoted his entire life to that regime and was successful in helping the regime and then all of a sudden he falls out of favor and is basically publicly humiliated and then brutally killed. It just shows the level of cruelty that this regime represents. There is, unfortunately, a tendency for people to pay attention to the suffering in North Korea because of the sensationalist stories. And some of them Im not sure about. I do not believe he was fed to dogs; that report came out of China. Part of the problem with reporting about North Korea, is that we cannot go and see the political prison camps. We cannot freely go and travel the country. We can only go there under close watch of the government. So its difficult to try to corroborate some of the stories. Sometimes the media will jump on some of the more sensational stories. One interesting thing about the defectors is that theres a self-policing among them. They know that they were doubted. And therefore their credibility is always on the line. So theyre very careful, the defectors that I work with, theyre very careful to make sure that if we have a witness that comes over, that theyve been vetted, and theyre really telling their true story. We saw this happen with a terrible, terrible incident with a young man born in a prison camp, Shin Dong Hyok. It is a fact he was born in a political prison camp. It is a fact he suffered in the political prison camp. But he lied about which particular political camp he was in. I have a great deal of compassion for him, but I always was suspicious of his story because he wouldnt work with the defectors that were close to, including other political prison camp survivors. And you know that when youve had a shared experience, you tend to want to be around people that have been through your same experience. We had hosted a number of survivors of the political prison camps, but he didnt really want to be part of that. That was suspicious to me. They knew that some of the things he was saying were not true. But I do want to say that his storywhat he went through was horrifiche is the living proof that children are in these camps. Another North Korean defector that we work very closely with, he is the living proof that children are sent to these camps. Because he was in a camp from 8 to 18 years old, because his grandfather was accused of showing disfavor to the regime and doubting the regime. So three generations of the family being sent to jail. But in conclusion, because we cannot go freely to North Korea and see with our own eyes, sometimes there will be stories that will be picked up that havent really been vetted properly. As a result, we are very careful about the witnesses that we bring to testify and speak in the United States. Why do you think governments and Western journalists have put so much focus on the nuclear issue and not the human rights threat for the citizens of North Korea? This has been a deadly and costly mistake from the very beginning. I mentioned the Congressional hearing we organized in 1999 on the North Korean political prison camps. Well, a reporter from Voice of America wrote this op-ed about that hearing and the Clinton Administration spiked it. The reporter was so upset he actually leaked it to me. So this is April 1999, The Department of State does not clear the attached VOA editorial for the following reasons Number one, its not based on U.S. government verified information, only reports from defectors. Big question mark. A question of accuracy. Number two, the timing is not good. The four-party talks just completed and visit to underground construction site is upcoming, which was their nuclear site. The policy of George W. Bush was the same as Bill Clintons: we have to reach a deal on the nuclear issue first, then, we can talk about human rights. That has been a horrible mistake. During all the talks whether Four Party talks or Six Party talks, millions of North Koreans have died. And, not talking about the human rights atrocities fed into the lie that the North Korean people tell their own citizens, which is we hate them. North Koreans are told by the regime that Americans are Yankee imperialist wolves that occupy South Korea, and they want to destroy them, and so we have to build these nuclear weapons, because the United States is ready to attack us. Theyre evil people. And theyre occupying South Korea. We fed into that lie because we didnt talk about these human rights issues. We kept talking about the nuclear issue. But this was the policy up until the latter years of the Bush Administration, when Ambassador Chris Hill, who was so bound and determined to have a nuclear deal with the North Koreans, sidelined human rights concerns, even though President Bush was very passionate about the North Korean human rights situation. But during the talks, they would not address these things at all. Because Chris Hill was bound and determined to have a negotiation on the nuclear issue. That was in the most recent years. The Obama Administration has been very careful to keep the focus on human rights and the nuclear issue and give them equal importance. During this period the North Korean defectors kept telling us, They will never give up their nuclear weapons. They only use negotiation to extract aid. Hwang Jang yop (highest ranking North Korean defector and author of juche ideology) said that in 1997 when he defected, Human rights is their Achilles heel. Human rights is what you have to talk about. Theyre killing their own people. Theyre using you in these talks. And theyll never give up their nuclear weapons. Of course he said that years ago. Nobody listened to him. But we know that he was right. But at least weve come to that point now where we realize that. Regarding journalists reporting on these issues, it is hard for journalists to report on this unless theyve talked to the defectors, because Western journalists cant go see a political prison camp. So thats been part of the difficulty. They can verify the existence of the political prison camps. We have satellite images. And thats why through my work, I have put such an emphasis on bringing defectors hear, eyewitnesses, who can testify because you cant go to the political prison camps and see them for yourself. But guess what? We can bring the camps to you by having you talk to Kim Young Sun, whose entire family was sent to a camp because she mentioned that she knew Kim Jong-ils mistress. And she spent years in the camp and lost her entire family except for one son. You can talk to her and learn about the camps. I have this problem again, and again, and again. Trying to get reporters to pay attention to the story. But they want to see things with their own eyes. Its really difficult for journalists to get on-the-ground intelligence to be able to report about this because its so dangerous in the area and they cant freely go to North Korea. So thats another challenge. What is the relationship between South Korea and China? Actually its really great. South Korean culture including K-pop music is really popular in China. So they have a very good relationship. But China is very upset that South Korea wants to develop the missile defense system. So thats caused a lot of tension right now. And also the fact that China blocks the Commission of Inquiries referral of Kim Jong-un to the International Criminal Court. They wont support the human rights agenda, because China and Russias attitude is, Thats not our job to interfere in how a nation deals with its own citizens. They do not think that states at the UN and the Security Council have any right to talk about anybodys human rights issues. And of course, whats the whole purpose of the UN? Its to promote security and human rights. Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health announced leadership changes made effective on Jan. 1, 2017. The healthcare company promoted Melissa Waddey to president of ambulatory and operations services. She most recently served as senior vice president, operations strategy and integration, and she has been with LifePoint since 2010. Jeff Seraphine, previously president of the company's eastern group of hospitals, has been named chief development officer. He will now be responsible for LifePoint's ongoing growth and development strategy. Victor Giovanetti was appointed president of the company's eastern group. He was formerly president of the company's western group of hospitals. He joined LifePoint in 2013 as COO for the eastern group, before transitioning to western group president in 2015. LifePoint tapped Robert Klein to serve as western group president. Having joined the company in 2005, he most recently served as COO for the company's central group of hospitals. Seneca, Pa.-based UPMC Northwest named Brian Durniok president and successor to David Gibbons, who will become the president of UPMC Hamot in Erie, Penn., effective March 1. Here are seven things to know about the executive moves. Brian Durniok 1. Mr. Durniok has served as vice president of operations and human resources at UPMC Northwest since 2013. He will continue to serve as vice president of human resources for UPMC Northwest, UPMC Hamot and UPMC Chautauqua WCA in Jamestown, N.Y. 2. Mr. Durniok will be responsible for operational oversight at UPMC Northwest, including daily human resources activities, employee safety and wellness, talent acquisition, compensation and regulatory compliance. 3. He has more than 21 years of human resources experience and nearly 15 years of operational leadership experience. Prior to joining UPMC Northwest, he served as vice present of human resources at UPMC Horizon in Greenville, Pa. 4. He graduated from Thiel College in Greenville with a bachelor's degree in business and earned a master's degree in business administration from Flint, Mich.-based Baker College. David Gibbons 5. Mr. Gibbons has served as president of UPMC Northwest since 2009. He also served as UPMC Hamot's executive vice president and COO since 2012. 6. He has more than 25 years of hospital administration experience. Mr. Gibbons was previously COO of Kennedy Health System in Voorhees, N.J., before joining UPMC. He also served as the director of managed care for the Visiting Nurses Association of Greater Philadelphia. 7. Mr. Gibbons earned an associate degree in nursing and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Clarion (Pa.) University, and a master's degree in health administration from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. As Republican lawmakers in Washington mull over how to replace the ACA, health system leaders must continue to create and execute strategies that will enable them to thrive in the short and long term. But with the fate of healthcare reform still up in the air, this task requires as much patience as it does commitment to organizational values. A. Marc Harrison, MD, who joined Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare as president and CEO in October, told Becker's his biggest concern related to congressional Republicans' plans to repeal and replace the ACA is what could happen to the estimated 20 million low-income Americans who gained coverage under the law. As lawmakers discuss how to tear down aspects of the ACA they don't like such as the individual mandate while preserving aspects they do like such as guaranteed coverage for people with pre-existing conditions this same worry has prompted a shift in the rhetoric among many Republicans to ACA "repair" instead of "repeal and replace." However, some Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, said they are steadfast in their commitment to completely take down the ACA and replace it with something better. Here, Dr. Harrison responded to Becker's five questions on the implications of ACA repeal, what he hopes to see changed and how the future of the law could affect Intermountain down the road. Q: Congressional Republicans have undertaken the difficult and complex task of designing a replacement plan for the ACA. What is your biggest concern in this regard? Dr. Harrison: My biggest concern is less about keeping the exact same structure of the ACA than it is about making sure people don't get ejected into a no-coverage environment. My worry is that lawmakers will prematurely jettison the ACA without an adequate replacement. We need a simultaneous repeal and replacement of the ACA. It was just a few weeks ago that I read about a Harvard study that found roughly 43,000 annual deaths could be attributable to ACA repeal if they lose coverage abruptly. We have to remember that healthcare is about the patients we must do everything we can to make sure patients are not being left behind. Q: What was your initial reaction when President Trump signed the executive order aimed at immediately lessening the economic burden of the ACA? AMH: While I'm not a lawyer or a legislator I read the news of the order, not the actual language of it my awareness is that we need to keep focusing on our fundamentals. Many of these policy decisions are out of our control, so we must respond in a patient-centered way regardless of what's going on in Washington. The government hasn't spurred Intermountain to take a big left or right turn from our strategy. We're lucky our organization is already well oriented to population health management. However, I'm not cavalier. I've certainly had a couple of nights where I've stayed up thinking about this. But I think the wisest course for us is to stick to focusing on value and being extraordinarily thoughtful about how we deploy resources. Q: What do you hope to see preserved in an ACA replacement plan, and what do you hope to see changed? AMH: There are a few things that I think could work pretty well. For one, the reinstatement of high-risk pools. They existed in more than 30 states before the ACA in both traditionally Republican and Democratic states. These pools are shown to be pretty effective at managing risk for people with pre-existing conditions and chronic disease. It would also be great if we could allow insurance companies to match the cost of premiums to people's actual expenses, using demographics such as age and other factors. That's how actuarial projections really work. I also think there should be penalties for people who drop their insurance. It's hard to maintain the principles of insurance if people drop out and buy in whenever they want. Q: Are you taking any measures to prepare your health system for an ACA repeal now? AMH: It would be irresponsible to not try to understand the impacts to the organization. We've done some mathematical modeling to determine if we lose X percent of the exchanges, what does that do to revenue and other metrics? But overall we're continuing to focus on getting rid of variation, improving quality, lowering costs and creating novel approaches for contracting. We are trying to think in terms of access and affordability. Whether we're in fee-for-service or value-based reimbursement systems, the value equation always works. Q: As you look ahead to the future of healthcare in the U.S. and at Intermountain in particular, what's your general outlook? AMH: I'm not all doom and gloom. If a thoughtful repeal and replacement occurs with mechanisms that are patient centric, we could actually be OK. We could succeed in taking care of these high-risk and complex chronic disease patients. My ask and my hope would be that these decisions were made with the best interest in mind of the people who trusted the government when they entered the exchanges. If their options for insurance are eliminated, many people could be caught in a really unfortunate position. Above all else, we need to maintain our commitment to provide better value for patients. Given the right tools, we can meet the goals of coverage and care access, and providing care at reasonable costs. Suha Abushamma, MD, the Sudanese Cleveland Clinic physician who was barred from entering the U.S. and sent back to Saudi Arabia as a result of President Donald Trump's executive order on travel and immigration, returned to the U.S. Feb. 7, reports ProPublica. Dr. Abushamma, one of the highest-profile individuals affected by President Trump's Jan. 27 executive order, was given the choice of "voluntarily" withdrawing her visa application or being forcibly deported after arriving at John F. Kennedy airport in New York Jan. 28. Getting deported would have prevented her from entering the U.S. for five years. She chose to withdraw her visa application and flew back to Saudi Arabia, where her parents live, according to the report. Dr. Abushamma's return to the U.S. was the result of quiet, high-level discussions between the clinic's attorneys and outside lawyers working with officials at the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York, according to the report. The U.S. Attorney's office secured permission for her to return to the country without a problem even though her visa was cancelled, David Rowan, the clinic's chief legal officer told ProPublica. "There were a lot of behind-the-scenes activities," Mr. Rowan said in an interview with ProPublica. He said the U.S. Attorney's office spoke to the Department of Homeland Security "as far as the unique circumstances here and having the necessary paperwork ... We had to have authorization to let her board a flight in Saudi Arabia." Prior to her return, Dr. Abushamma sued the Trump administration to allow her to return to the U.S. And last week, about two dozen of her colleagues at Cleveland Clinic gathered at the clinic's Miller Pavilion to demonstrate their support. While standing in silence, the group held photos of Dr. Abushamma and signs that said "#BringSuhaBack," according to a Cleveland.com report. Of the applicants, nearly three in four osteopathic medical students and graduates matched into residency programs Monday during American Osteopathic Association Match Day 2017. "It is clear that osteopathic-focused clinical training is very important to a large number of our graduating DOs," Boyd Buser, DO, president of the AOA, said in a statement. "The values of osteopathic medicine, such as whole-person care and a tradition of serving patients in areas with physician shortages, matter deeply to our newest physicians, who have an unprecedented number of choices for their specialty training." Here are 10 statistics about DO Match Day, as presented by the AOA. Total available residencies in 2017: 3,109 Residencies matched: 2,214 Specialty residency matches: 1,026 Primary care residency matches: 1,188 Family medicine residency matches: 610 (28 percent of all matches) Internal medicine matches: 527 (24 percent) Emergency medicine matches: 306 (14 percent) General surgery matches 148 (7 percent) Orthopedic surgery matches: 119 (5 percent) Number of residencies still open: 895 Open positions can be filled post-Match Day, according to AOA. Application to osteopathic and allopathic programs is currently separate, but the AOA and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education are in the midst of transitioning to a single match process for MDs and DOs. During the transition period, DOs may participate in the ACGME match, and MDs can apply to ACGME programs with osteopathic recognition. The streamlined match program is expected to be finished by July 2020, according to the AOA. Correction: This article was updated Feb. 21, 2017 at 11 a.m. ET. It previously stated three in four osteopathic medical students and graduates matched into residency programs. However, not all graduates participated in the match, so this language has been updated to reflect that. We regret this error. More articles on integration and physician issues: 12 states with the highest & 10 with the lowest percentage of women physicians Heart physician group to leave Memorial Medical Center for HSHS St. John's Hospital University of Buffalo medical school to move to new facility in October When their two-month old son got a stomach virus, a Washington couple drove him to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, Wash., for overnight treatment. When the father, Steven Smith, decided to drive back home for a change of clothes, their car was nowhere to be found, according to a local news report from KIRO 7. Hospital security told Mr. Smith his car was parked out of sight of cameras in the garage, so the heist was not caught on tape, according to the report. Police told KIRO 7 it is not aware of other car thefts from the hospital garage, but a hospital employee told the news station there have been reports among staff of recent car break-ins in the garage. Read more here. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Judge accepts Medicare's plan to correct misunderstanding on therapy coverage Bankrupt Louisiana hospital faces lawsuit over layoff notification Dallas pharmacist pleads guilty for role in 'pill mill' operation New Orleans hospitals are working to treat the more than 31 people injured after five confirmed tornadoes caused extensive damage in east Louisiana and Mississippi Tuesday, according to an ABC News report. As of 12:18 p.m. Tuesday, New Orleans East Hospital treated six people with injuries related to the tornado, according to The Times-Picayune. A spokesperson from New Orleans-based University Medical Center said it had received seven people with tornado-related injuries. Chalmette, La.-based St. Bernard Parish Hospital reportedly received four individuals. Representatives from Touro Infirmary, Tulane Medical Center and Ochsner Health System all in New Orleans told The Times-Picayune no patients with tornado-related injuries were being treated at any of their facilities as of Tuesday afternoon. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a statement despite the 31 injured people, there were no tornado-related fatalities in the New Orleans area. According to the National Weather Service, roughly 60 houses and structures were damaged in the severe weather event, The Times-Picayune reported. According ABC News, at least five tornadoes touched down, one at each of the following locations: New Orleans; Baton Rouge, La.; Donaldsonville, La.; Ponchatoula, La.; and Killian, La. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency Tuesday. The extent of the damage at all five locations is unconfirmed. Under the leadership of CMO Irene Agostini, MD, University of New Mexico Hospital the flagship hospital of UNM Health reduced the time it took for a patient receiving care to get from the emergency room to a bed from 13.7 hours in March 2015 to 5.8 hours in October 2016. Located in Albuquerque, UNMH is New Mexico's only Level I trauma center and manages more than 93,000 emergency visits annually. To address ER overflow, Dr. Agostini implemented patient flow technology solutions from TeleTracking in August 2014 to increase her team's patient care capacity. TeleTracking automates manual patient flow processes by digitally tracking patients and beds, thereby expediting patient throughput and enhancing efficient utilization of a hospital's facilities and equipment. According to UnitedHealth Care consortium data, UNM Health was the No. 11 most improved health system for patient throughput efficiency from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2016. In January, Dr. Agostini spoke with Becker's about leadership strategy and patient flow improvements at UNM Hospital. Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Question: Prior to the implementation of the patient flow technology, what challenges were impeding care at UNM Hospital? Dr. Irene Agostini: We're literally the only Level I trauma center in the state. Before we implemented the patient flow technology, nobody really knew what was going on in the building. We were just putting fires every day. We would have to cancel elective surgeries and the emergency department was constantly in crisis. There was a sense of crisis throughout the hospital. Patients would have to be sent out of state or just not get care. Physicians were almost always angry because they couldn't take care of patients. In our building we run 95 percent or above for physical capacity for adult patients. If you include patients waiting in our ED and our transfer units, we run at more than 100 percent capacity every day. Q: Under your leadership, patient wait times have dramatically decreased. How has this been achieved? IA: Systematically we looked at everything using TeleTracking software. We looked at transport. We engaged all areas where improvements could be made, mostly in housekeeping and transport nursing. It sounds very straightforward but it's not. The housekeeping literally was working with faxes and phone calls. Now we know simple things like organized housekeeping can get beds open faster. Transporters now have iPhones, so they get jobs electronically. Every time there's a bed that is cleaned, we put a new patient in it as quickly as we can. We're very careful. Our ED had become so overcrowded it was an unsafe place for patients. Getting patients to beds quickly also improved patient safety. Q: How did you get your staff to buy in to the new patient flow process? IA: One of the things we did was make sure there was open communication. You can never communicate enough. There was also a lot of transparency about the process. We met with providers four days a week to help understanding around our reasons for making the change, bringing it back to we're not able to care for our patients and that has to change. In the past, each nursing unit owned their world and there were literally delays for hours and hours. We had to get people to understand what was happening in the rest of the hospital. When they're up on the floor they don't know about the 40 to 50 patients in the lobby. We have to keep the focus on the patient. That's still a daily thing in our culture. Q: Of all the improvements made at UNMH during your tenure as CMO, which are you most proud of? IA: I think this patient flow project and the cultural change it has facilitated are what I'm most proud of. Surgeons are now able to schedule elective surgery without a fear of canceling them. We've gone from a crazy reactive system to a proactive way of care, which supports physicians and indeed creates better care for patients. We are far from achieving best practice, but this journey is only beginning. There's no resting on our laurels here. Q: If you could sum your leadership strategy up in just a few words, what would they be? IA: My leadership strategy is very straightforward. No nonsense, be fair, and be honest. If you're honest and tell the truth people will be willing to do what you ask. I do a lot of one-on-one communicating to get to know people. I've created an army of hundreds of physicians who know me. Getting to know people is crucial. More articles on patient flow: New Orleans hospitals treat more than 31 injured by tornadoes LogistiCare, Lyft partner for patient transportation Houston hospitals are ready to rumble on Super Bowl Sunday Ian Read, CEO of New York City-based Pfizer, recently shared his thoughts on high drug prices, the Food and Drug Administration and President Donald Trump's administration in an interview with Here & Now. Here are six quotes from the interview. 1. On the future of the ACA "I do believe it does need to be reformed. The insurance is not good insurance for the average person. They get high deductibles and they don't have good access to modern medicine, so it does need reform. But I don't have a view on where it's gonna go." 2. On how the ACA's future will affect Pfizer "Well, in the sense that we have not seen a huge benefit to our business from the Affordable Care Act, there was sort of an implied promise from the government that, if we paid all these fees and all these taxes to help fund the Affordable Care Act, there would be expanded business through the people who are getting insured. Frankly, most of the expanded insurance base do[es] not use innovative products, because the insurance is not of a great quality." 3. On letting Medicare negotiate drug prices "Let me say firstly, the drug prices are negotiated every day. It's not as if you produce a new drug, and you bring it to market and you say, 'Here's my price.' You've gotta get the Uniteds and the [pharmacy benefit manufacturers] and the Humanas of the world to agree that your product has value, and to list it informally, and what position informally. And Medicare's probably one of the most successful programs since its inception. It's come 40 percent under budget, and I believe that the premiums per person have only increased on average about $6 since its inception. So that's an example of tremendous negotiation from the private sector to ensure that Medicare is a program that meets patients' needs. I think it has an 80 percent approval by the recipients of Medicare." 4. On President Trump's comments toward individual drug companies "I haven't had any firsthand experience of it. I think every president has his own personality and his own way of working. I'm enthusiastic about some of the potential changes in the healthcare arena that he's proposing both tax changes and both reducing regulations and trying to get American jobs back into America if he changes the tax code. And I'm looking forward to seeing how he works with Congress on that." 5. On Pfizer's attempted merger with Allergan "I would like to point out that, what we were attempting to do there was a direct cause of the tax code in the U.S., which penalizes U.S. companies that have overseas companies. We were just trying to get a level playing field with our European and Asian competitors. I mean it's absurd. If we bring money back that we've made abroad which is already paid taxes and we wanna invest it in the U.S., sometimes we have to pay up to an extra 30 percent of tax. Foreign companies don't do that. They can bring back all the cash they like from overseas and invest it in the U.S. without any further tax. So I was just looking for a level playing field and an ability to invest more in America." 6. On FDA regulations "Let's start with saying, clearly there's a role for the FDA making sure products are safe, and all products have a balance between their safety and how efficacious they are. So I respect that from the FDA. The problem is the FDA's [incentivized] by the nature of the organization to be totally risk averse. They never get applauded, they never get congratulated because they brought a product early to market, like Ibrance the oncology division of the FDA, which is a pretty good example of how a really good regulator should work brings products forward, accelerates them, gets them out to treat patients. But the FDA never gets applauded for that. They only get pilloried if the product goes wrong. So they're totally risk averse." More articles on supply chain: GHX names 50 best healthcare supply chains in North America Moody's: Pharma, medical device companies to continue strong M&A in 2017 Why UPS drivers don't turn left Spine surgeon, Donald Hales, MD, retired as the longest practicing surgeon at Flagstaff, Ariz.-based Northern Arizona Orthopaedics, according to the Flagstaff Business News. Here are five things to know: 1. Dr. Hales joined Northern Arizona Orthopaedics when the practice needed a spine surgeon in 1988 and retired in December after a 28-year career with the practice. 2. Known as a terrific teacher and mentor, Dr. Hales traveled around the world to train other spine surgeons. 3. Dr. Hales performed the first successful total disc replacement of minimally invasive spinal fusion using a cortical trajectory pedicle screw with Steve Ritland, MD. 4. An early believer in the coflex implant that decreases long-term complications related to solid fusion of the spine, Dr. Hales remained involved in a nationwide study of the implant's surgical outcomes. 5. Dr. Hales plans to perform spine surgeries two days a week at Phoenix's VA Medical Center. More spine-related articles: Outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion complication rates; top ASC liquidity analysis & more 7 outpatient spine stories Drs. S. Raymond Golish, Richard Francis & more: 6 spine surgeons & neurosurgeons recently receiving honors Feb. 7, 2017 Does race impact surgical approach to spinal fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy? 5 key notes This year for Color Our Collections, weve produced a coloring book with illustrations from books that represent the evolution of the art of printing. This week on our blog, well explore the books featured in the coloring book and the printing techniques used for the illustrations. You can download our 2017 Color Our Collections coloring book here. Learn more about Color Our Collections here. The Art of Intaglio Printing In the Intaglio family of printmaking, an image is incised into a surface, usually a metal plate. Intaglio includes such familiar processes as etching and engraving. In engraving, the image is physically carved into a plate using special tools like burins. In etching, an image is drawn onto the surface of a plate that is covered in wax. The stylus, used to draw the lines in the wax, exposes the metal of the image lines. The plate is then dipped in an acid bath. The acid etches the exposed image lines but does not affect the portions of the plate covered in wax. Intaglio techniques were used for book illustration by the latter half of the 15th century and became the standard for illustrating books by the late 16th century. Intaglio was used predominantly until around the mid-19th century, when lithography started gaining ground. This video from the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design demonstrates the copper plate engraving process: Catesbys Copper Plate Etchings In the early eighteenth century, English naturalist Mark Catesby set foot in a New World. After spending the better part of ten years, spread across two separate trips, exploring and documenting North Americas rich biodiversity, he would eventually publish his research and original artworks as the first fully illustrated book on the flora and fauna of North America. Eastern flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). Catesby, Mark. The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. v. 1, ed. 1. pl. 27. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40753198. Published over eighteen years between 1729-1747, The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands contains 220 plates based mostly upon Catesbys own watercolors, which he worked up based on sketches he made in the field. The final publication was illustrated with copper plate etchings produced by Catesby himself. Catesby also hand-colored (maybe not all) the prints as well. Canada lily (Lilium canadense), dung beetle (Canthon pilularis), and rainbow scarab beetle (Phanaeus vindex). Catesby, Mark.The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. v. 2, ed. 1. pl. 11. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40680431. Catesbys work was also extremely influential to the work of Carl Linnaeus, whose binomial system for naming plants and animals is still in use today. Linnaeus cited Catesby extensively in his Species Plantarum (1753) and Systema Naturae (1758). For many of Linnaeus species names, Catesby is his only reference, and thus Catesbys illustrations in Natural History serve as the type for many of Linnaeus species. Lily thorn (Catesbaea spinosa). Pictured with zebra swallowtail (Protographium marcellus). Catesby is the only source that Linnaeus cited when naming Catesbaea spinosa in Species Plantarum (1753). This engraving serves as the type for this name. Catesby, Mark. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. v. 2, ed. 1. pl. 100. Digitized by Smithsonian Libraries. http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40680398. The first edition of Catesbys Natural History in BHL, which was used to produce the coloring pages in this years coloring book, was digitized from the collections of Smithsonian Libraries. This copy is one of only a few known perfect copies of this first edition and the only one known to contain all three pieces of ephemera relating to the production of the work. Note: This post was edited on 8 February 2017. References To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below MPs have given Theresa May their overwhelming backing to formally begin Brexit in a historic House of Commons vote. The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal Bill) was approved after around 40 hours of debate during which the Government saw off a series of attempts to change it to safeguard against a "hard Brexit". The legislation will allow the Prime Minister to begin exit negotiations under Article 50 of the EU treaties, which she has promised by April, once it passes through the House of Lords. Jeremy Corbyn's decision to order his MPs to back the simple two clause Bill ensured a smooth passage in its final Commons stage, where it was passed by 494 votes to 122 - a majority of 372. But the Labour leader's authority was called into question after senior frontbencher and ally Clive Lewis quit the shadow cabinet to defy a three-line whip and vote against the Bill. As MPs passed through the division lobbies for what many saw as a momentous vote, anti-Brexit Scottish National Party MPs whistled and sang the official EU anthem Ode To Joy, before being told off by Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Another MP was heard to shout "shame" while some Tory MPs applauded the result of the vote, which the Government had tried to avoid before the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament must have a say. Following the vote, Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "We've seen a historic vote tonight - a big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states. "It has been a serious debate, a healthy debate, with contributions from MPs representing all parts of the UK, and I respect the strong views on all sides." The Liberal Democrats have vowed to continue trying to amend the legislation in the Lords to ensure a second referendum on the final exit deal achieved by Mrs May. And pro-Europe Tory and Labour peers may also try and make changes to the Bill. But a government source warned the Lords it faces abolition if peers attempt to frustrate the progress of Brexit. "The Lords will face an overwhelming public call to be abolished if they now try and frustrate this Bill - they must get on and deliver the will of the British people," the source said. The legislation passed through the Commons without being amended after the Government saw off the threat of a significant Tory rebellion over the rights of EU citizens already in the UK. Just three Tory backbenchers - Ken Clarke, Tania Mathias and Andrew Tyrie - rebelled to back a bid to make ministers unilaterally guarantee EU nationals' rights. Other pro-Remain Tories appear to have backed down after Home Secretary Amber Rudd sent them a letter offering them assurances over the issue. The Government has said it will treat EU nationals' status as a priority in Brexit negotiations and seek to strike a reciprocal agreement to also protect the rights of British expats in Europe as soon as possible. Brexit-backers such as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were ridiculed after voting against an amendment calling for their promise that quitting the EU would allow 350 million extra to be spent on the NHS every week be kept. Labour MP Chuka Umunna said Tory MPs who campaigned to leave should "hang their heads in shame". A total of 52 Labour MPs, including 11 frontbenchers and three whips, rebelled against Mr Corbyn's orders and voted against triggering Article 50. Former chancellor Ken Clarke was again the only Conservative to vote against the Bill. Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, a leading Brexit supporter, said: "I never thought I'd see the day where the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted for Britain to leave the European Union." Mrs May's immediate attention will now turn to a meeting on Thursday at Downing Street with Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni in which the pair are sure to discuss Brexit. Diversified Irish group DCC has agreed to pay 273m (234m) to buy Esso's retail petrol station network in Norway. DCC owns and operates a subsidiary in Northern Ireland. The network is the third-largest in Norway, selling about 20% of retail volumes. The acquisition expands DCC's forecourt business and will give it a total of about 1,000 retail petrol stations in Europe once the deal closes. It will also supply fuel to about 2,000 dealer-owned stations. The company operates two terminals in Belfast, importing oil and LPG into Northern Ireland. DCC already owns networks in Sweden, Denmark and France. The FTSE 100 company is also the largest supplier of home heating oil in the UK, supplies gas in France, distributes electronic equipment and has a waste management arm, as well as a healthcare products and services business. Its shares rose more than 6% to 68.15 on news of the deal and a strong trading update. Davy Stockbrokers raised its price target for the shares to 80 from 75, arguing that DCC's energy division was positioned as a "preferred acquirer" of retail assets from oil majors in Europe. Esso's retail petrol station network in Norway includes a national network of 142 company-operated sites, 15 of which are unmanned, and has contracts to supply 108 Esso-branded, dealer-owned stations. Since December 2015, the convenience retail element of the company-operated sites has been handled by NorgesGruppen, the largest grocery retailer and wholesaler in Norway, under a long-term agreement. DCC, whose chief executive is Tommy Breen, also bought its forecourt operations in France from Esso. In 2014, it agreed to pay 106m (91m) for 274 unmanned Esso stations there, as well as 48 Esso-branded motorway concessions. Last year, DCC agreed to pay about 40m (34m) to buy a Danish fuel business from Aliementation Couche-Tard, which owns Topaz in Ireland. The Danish business included 139 petrol stations. In 2013, DCC agreed to buy Qstar, a Swedish unmanned retail petrol station company. Mr Breen said the acquisition of the Norwegian chain was a "material step" in building DCC's petrol station business in Europe and that the firm is "ambitious" regarding continued expansion. In its interim management statement, DCC said its group operating profit for the third quarter ending in December was "strongly ahead" of the same period in the prior financial year. A forecast drop in the level of infrastructure activity is due in part to the completion of several major projects such as the Queensferry Crossing, the report said Scotland's construction sector is expected to experience a slight dip in the next five years, according to a new industry forecast. Overall construction output is due to contract by 0.4% annually in the five years to 2021, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) report found. This is almost entirely due to the drop in the level of infrastructure activity following the completion of several major projects such as the Queensferry Crossing, it said. As a result, employment in the sector is expected to drop by 0.8% a year on average over the forecasting period. Despite that, the sector's ageing workforce means thousands of new workers will still be needed to meet demand, with the report putting this number at 12,000. Within the construction sector, housing is set for modest growth, with public housing and private housing both on the up, with annual average rises of 1.1% and 2% respectively. In contrast, in frastructure is expected to experience falls of 6.3% on average each year. Ian Hughes, of CITB Scotland, said: "Scottish construction has had an incredible few years, with infrastructure operating at record levels. "The tapering off of output in this sector leaves the forecast for Scotland flat, but the picture for individual subsectors is brighter, with most due to experience growth. "With nearly 12,000 new workers needed over the next few years, there remain excellent, rewarding career opportunities in construction. "We want to support firms in Scotland to take on apprentices, and upskill their workforce, while encouraging young people to join the industry to help construction grow in years to come. "While we have factored Brexit into this forecast, there remain many unknowns to life after leaving the EU. "We will be working with our industry to understand what it means for our migrant workforce and what we must do to attract and grow more of our own." British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) and British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Minister) David Davis (L) shout 'aye' in the House of Commons in favour of a the bill. AFP/Getty Images MPs have backed the government's Brexit Bill with a majority of 372 allowing Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger the formal process of leaving the European Union. MPs backed European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill by 494 votes to 122. It now moves to the Lords. Mrs May wants to trigger formal Brexit talks by the end of March. The bill survived several earlier attempts to amend it. Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs to back it but the Labour leader was unable to prevent the resignation of senior shadow cabinet minister Clive Lewis, who quit the frontbench to vote against the Bill in defiance of a three-line whip. Mr Lewis said last week he would vote against the Bill at third reading if Labour amendments to safeguard against a "hard Brexit" were not passed. A total of 52 MPs rebelled against Mr Corbyn's orders and voted against triggering Article 50, up from the 47 who opposed the legislation at second reading last week. Former chancellor Ken Clarke was again the only Conservative to vote against the Bill. One MP was heard to shout "shame" after the result was announced, while there was some applause from the Tory benches. Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond bemoaned the amount of time made available for MPs to debate the Bill. Raising a point of order after committee stage, the SNP MP said: "The Government's refusal to accept a single amendment means there will be no report stage. "The programme motion means there is no debate on third reading. "I'm informed by the library that the last time that combination happened was the Defence of the Realm Act of 1914 which was about the First World War. "For this to happen in any Bill would be an abuse, to happen on this Bill is an outrage. "What is it about the procedures of this place that allow a Bill of this constitutional significance to be railroaded through in this disgraceful fashion?" SNP MPs were later told off by Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for whistling and singing Ode To Joy in the chamber as the third reading vote took place. David Black was shot dead on his way to work (PSNI/PA) A European Arrest Warrant has been obtained for a suspect in the murder of Northern Irish prison officer David Black, police said. Damien Joseph McLaughlin, 40, from Co Tyrone, was due to stand trial this month on charges that include aiding and abetting his murder but fled while on bail. Mr Black, 52, was shot dead by dissident republicans as he drove along the M1 on his way to work at Maghaberry Prison in November 2012. PSNI chief constable George Hamilton said: "Inquiries have been made with the courts and as a result a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained, bail has been revoked and an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr McLaughlin." Since his disappearance was established in December police have carried out several searches, interviewed his associates and family members, checked CCTV security camera footage and made media appeals. Detectives have liaised with law enforcement agencies across the British Isles and Europe, including the Garda in the Republic and Europol. Mr Hamilton said: "In the period between November 23 2016 and December 23 2016 there appears to have been a breakdown in the monitoring of the bail by police." A door buzzer at his bail address was faulty. The chief constable added: "Whilst the issue of the entry to the block of flats for curfew checks was being examined this was not joined up with the fact he was not now signing at the police station as required." He said a computer process was shown to be ineffective in highlighting bail breaches in a timely fashion and noted human error in the form of a breakdown in communication. The Police Ombudsman has begun an investigation to establish whether there were any failings in police conduct or in policing systems in the management of McLaughlin's bail conditions. The accused is from Kilmascally Road near Ardboe in Co Tyrone. Mr Black's family have said they feel betrayed by the criminal justice system. McLaughlin had initially been fitted with an electronic tag while on bail but he was permitted by a court to remove it in December 2014 despite strong police objections. MattGush/iStock/Thinkstock(VICTORIA, Texas) -- Authorities have determined a fire that destroyed a Texas mosque was intentional but stopped short of calling it a bias crime, an official for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said on Wednesday. On Jan. 28, the Victoria Police Department responded to a fire at the mosque just after 2 a.m. when a store clerk at a nearby convenience store noticed heavy smoke coming from the building, according to O.C. Garza, communications director for the city of Victoria. The fire fully engulfed the building and caused an estimated $500,000 in damages, according to the Houston Field Division of the ATF. It took firefighters about four hours to extinguish the blaze, which gutted the building and left only the outside facade of the mosque intact. Although the fire was determined to be intentionally set, the evidence at this time "does not indicate the fire was a biased crime," the ATF said. Houses of worship are a sacred place in this country, and ATF is committed to devoting the necessary resources to solving this crime, said Fred Milanowski, the special agent in charge of the ATF Houston Field Division. We are working closely with our local law enforcement and emergency service partners on this investigation and ask that anyone with information about this incident please report it. The ATF, along with the Victoria Islamic Center Mosque and Crime Stoppers, has offered a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest of the persons responsible, the ATF announced Wednesday. The mosque did not have insurance, the president of the Islamic center, Shahid Hashmi, told ABC News days after the fire. A GoFundMe account set up for the rebuilding of the mosque had surpassed $1 million as of Wednesday. The Islamic Center of Victoria hosted study groups for people with different religions so they would better understand Islam, a 23-year member of the mosque, Omar Rachid, told ABC News. Non-members would stop by the mosque to share a meal during Ramadan, and the mosque would also host a potluck dinner for Muslims and non-Muslims alike every Friday evening. The congregation plans to rebuild the mosque at its current site, Hashmi said. The members will congregate in a mobile home next to the site in the meantime. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Bandages, walking frames, scanners and operating equipment are among other items in the pioneering shipment to war-torn Syria The first container of medical aid from Ireland is set for Aleppo. Health trusts donated outdated equipment, and wheelchairs have been refurbished by inmates of Maghaberry Prison. Bandages, walking frames, scanners and operating equipment are among other items in the pioneering shipment to war-torn Syria put together by St Vincent de Paul in Ballymena. Charity regional president Aidan Crawford said: "Up until recently it has been impossible to get aid into Aleppo due to the heavy shelling and bombing taking place. "However, due to the current situation we now have the opportunity to reach those most in need and are working with a charity in Syria who will distribute the aid when it arrives in about 25 days." Mr Crawford said there are no working hospitals in Aleppo as every one of them has been bombed so they only have makeshift facilities to care for thousands of people. He added: "There are also very few doctors left in the city as understandably most of them have fled the area, and those that remain aren't permitted by the government to buy any medical equipment. "So the people of Aleppo really have nothing - even small things that we take for granted here like plasters and syringes are unavailable, as well as life-saving medicines which are simply non-existent." Five men have been arrested on suspicion of vehicle interference and theft in Belfast. They were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Myrtelfield Park, Belfast. It is believed this group of males may have committed crimes in the Harberton Drive and Marlbourgh Park areas of south Belfast. Constable Stephenson is appealing to anyone that may have any information regarding any of the mentioned incidents or to anyone that believes they may be a victim of a crime to contact Lisburn Road police Station on the non-emergency number 101. Or, alternatively if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111. Michelle O'Neill has asked party leaders to help tackle the waiting list crisis The health minister has contacted all political leaders asking for agreement to release 31 million to tackle the waiting list crisis. Michelle O'Neill was accused of electioneering after she published a plan to help reduce the large number of patients waiting longer than a year for treatment, despite a lack of budget. However, the minister has now written to all party leaders seeking their support for her ambitious plan to reform the struggling health service. A major part of that plan is an attempt to deal with the thousands of patients who have been waiting more than 52 weeks for a first outpatient appointment and inpatient day treatment. On Tuesday Mrs O'Neill said 31 million was needed immediately to address the problem. However, due to the crisis at Stormont no budget has been agreed and questions have been raised by opposition parties over where the money would be secured from. But Mrs O'Neill has urged all party leaders to support her proposals and help release the 31 million. She said their support would provide "clear political direction" for the Department of Finance permanent secretary should he have to take control of public finances if the political institutions are not reinstated after the March elections. "It is essential that we provide the maximum protection possible for our public services despite the current political crisis," Mrs O'Neill said. Currently, an estimated 40,000 people are waiting more that 52 weeks for a first outpatient appointment. Around 8,000 patients are waiting longer than a year for day care inpatient treatment. Outlining her vision on how to transform health and social care services in the region, Mrs O'Neill said 31 million would clear the backlog, by March 2018, of patients waiting more than 52 weeks for a first outpatient appointment and inpatient/day case at March 2017. In addition, the backlog of patients waiting more than 26 weeks at March 2017 for diagnostics would also be cleared by March 2018. Bolstering primary care is another priority, Mrs O'Neill said. On Tuesday Ulster Unionist candidate Jo-Anne Dobson accused the Sinn Fein minister of "cruelly engaging in pre-election stunts". Alliance candidate Paula Bradshaw questioned where the funding will come from. DUP candidate Paula Bradley said the proposals were "already impacted by the failure of the Finance Minister to bring forward budget proposals to the Executive and by Sinn Fein's decision to bring down the Assembly and force an election". Tthe man who tried to expose historical sex abuse at the notorious Kincora boys' home in Belfast in the 1970s has criticised a major inquiry after it redacted part of his evidence. Former Army captain and intelligence officer Colin Wallace, whose attempts to blow the whistle on the abuse of the young boys were thwarted by superiors, said the censored information undermines the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry (HIA). He refused to testify before it last year, because he said it did not have adequate powers to get answers. Instead, Mr Wallace submitted a 45-page document about Kincora. However, two sections were redacted - blacked out - before the material was placed on the HIA website. The redacted information, published by Lobster Magazine, includes details about senior figures from public life. Mr Wallace said it was "strange and disappointing" that important information was kept out of the inquiry and from the public. "This report has illustrated the weaknesses of the system, because there are lost files and material that I had in 1973 that they haven't found and the stuff that we did give has been excluded," he said. "I feel for the victims, because this is very unsatisfactory." Some of the concealed information centred around Sir Knox Cunningham, a former parliamentary secretary to former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The barrister from Northern Ireland was also an Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim. It details how there were clear links between Knox Cunningham and William McGrath, a notorious paedophile, who was jailed for child abuse at Kincora. Expand Close Colin Wallace / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Colin Wallace Part of the redacted information had already been published in the book Let The Petals Fall, by Robin Bryans. It revealed how Cunningham was a close friend of Belfast painter Sidney Smith, who was one of a group of paedophiles on both sides of the border. "Knox never hesitated to flex his legal muscles for illegal purposes as a Queen's Counsel," the book claims. "Knox could also cite chapter and verse about Sidney Smith's similar immunity from prosecution over his years of sex with unconsenting children as young as three years." Mr Wallace said that although the sexual abuse allegations relating to Sidney Smith pre-date the Kincora sexual abuse allegations, the links between McGrath, Cunningham and others make them relevant to the HIA Inquiry. "There are important witnesses that were never approached by the inquiry and having taken part in the Saville inquiry I was amazed the HIA was relying on the unsigned statements people had given back in 1982," he said. "That's not acceptable. "Knox Cunningham did have connections to John McKeague who had links to Kincora and Peter Montgomery (the gay lover of Russian spy Sir Anthony Blunt). The intelligence service must have been keeping a close eye on them. "What I find odd is that information that has been published in one inquiry has later been redacted by the HIA. "The illogical nature of what the HIA has done is something I find hard to understand. "I don't think that account fitted the HIA view, so they left it out. This undermines the work of the HIA inquiry. "The inquiry has not helped victims because it has left so many things up in the air. "Victims have been waiting for the HIA to answer their questions and they have not answered their questions - it has raised more questions. The HIA is not the full story." A spokeswoman for the HIA inquiry said: "The inquiry only redacted material that related to national security, protected the identity of those whose safety might be at risk, or had no relevance to the work of the inquiry. The inquiry does not intend to comment on the reasons for specific redactions." Liam Neeson has backed an initiative to make integrated education available in almost every school in Northern Ireland Hollywood star Liam Neeson has backed a new campaign in favour of integrated education, claiming the time has come for all children in Northern Ireland to be educated together. The Northern Irish actor has released a short video supporting an initiative from the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) to make integrated education available in almost every school across the region. The Ballymena-born star says: "We look to our children for the future, so why do we continue to educate them apart: different religions, different backgrounds, different schools? "There is another way. Most people agree that educating children together is a better way forward for our society. "It's time to turn our aspiration into reality, to believe in your children and believe in their future." The campaign, called Integrate My School - I'm In, aims to give parents the power to influence schools to transform to integrated status. At the centre of the campaign is a website - www.integratemyschool.com - where parents of children at primary and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland can register their interest in transforming their school to an integrated one. IEF chief executive Tina Merron said research has repeatedly revealed that a majority of Northern Ireland parents want their school to become integrated. She said integration is supported by the Department for Education and Government policy in Northern Ireland, and that if a minimum of 20% of parents at a school express an interest, the board of governors is required to put the matter to the whole school for consultation. "By logging on and registering their interest confidentially on the IntegrateMySchool website, parents could take almost any school in Northern Ireland on the first steps towards integration," Ms Merron said. "This is not an overnight process and schools can only transform to integrated status with parental approval and parental involvement, but this online registration is a very important first step in showing the interest of the school community, in complete confidentiality and without prejudice. "A strong expression of interest from enough parents at a school means there is the momentum to drive the school to the next stage." Baroness May Blood, IEF campaign chairwoman, said the process of bringing children together for their education is not something which relies on politicians to begin, but is in the hands of parents and schools. "The regulations are already in place, so it only takes parents to show their interest and the wheels of change can begin to turn. "This campaign marks the start of a very interesting and exciting period of change in education in Northern Ireland - and in our society as a whole." The IntegrateMySchool website features video instructions on the simple three-step registration process. All of Northern Ireland's primary and post-primary schools are listed alphabetically and through a search tool, parents can find their child's school, fill in the confidential online form to submit their details and click on a link to receive an email. Liam Neeson is on a mission to let parents across Northern Ireland know they have the power to push their children's schools towards integration. In a video backing the Integrate My School - I'm In campaign launched today, the Ballymena star said: "We look to our children for the future, so why do we continue to educate them apart, different religions, different backgrounds, different schools? There is another way. "Most people agree that educating children together is a better way forward for our society. It's time to turn our aspiration into reality, to believe in your children and believe in their future." At the heart of the campaign is the message that mums and dads have the power to trigger a move to integrated education if that is what they want for their children. Government policy already supports this, but not enough people know the power they have, campaigners claim. In fact, if one in five parents at a school expresses an interest in integration, the board of governors is compelled to put the issue to the whole school for consultation. Tina Merron, CEO of the Integrated Education Fund, said: "Research has repeatedly revealed that a majority of Northern Ireland parents want their school to become integrated. "When it comes to making it happen, however, what many people don't know is that integration is supported by the Department for Education and government policy. "As a support mechanism, the campaign website, www.integratemyschool.com will let parents of primary and post-primary children register their interest. This is not an overnight process and schools can only transform to integrated status with parental approval and parental involvement. "But this online registration is a very important first step in showing the interest of the school community, in complete confidentiality and without prejudice. A strong expression of interest from enough parents at a school means there is the momentum to drive the school to the next stage." Helen Hamilton, formerly Helen Farrimond, who has been behind integrated schools since the early days, said this was the perfect time for parents to get involved. "The policymakers, the politicians, are not doing their bit on this... they are not in tune with the people," she added. "We are in a disastrous political situation and the two parties who were in the executive have not worked for what the people want - that is diversity and the integration of cultures "It's time for parents to say, 'This isn't good enough, I want the best for my children, for their education and future'. The integrated movement started from the grassroots, and this is their opportunity to take the reins." The IntegrateMySchool website features video instructions on the three-step registration process. All Northern Ireland primary and post-primary schools are listed alphabetically, and through a search tool parents find their child's school, fill in a confidential form to submit their details and then click on a link to receive an email in order to verify their identity and prevent spamming. Of the 65 integrated schools across Northern Ireland, 25 were transformed thanks to the support of parents. The first, Lagan College, opened in 1981 with just 26 pupils. Today, more than 22,000 children are in integrated education at nursery, primary and post-primary levels. A significant haul of weapons were stashed by Ciaran Maxwell in purpose-built caches in England and Northern Ireland (Metropolitan Police/PA) There are no plans to reduce the threat level from Northern Ireland-related terrorism in Great Britain despite the conviction of Royal Marine Ciaran Maxwell, according to security sources. A significant haul of weapons - stashed by Maxwell in purpose-built caches in England and Northern Ireland - were recovered, but the security services believe dissident republican terrorists still have the arms and capability to launch a deadly attack in Britain. The threat level from dissident republicans was raised from moderate to substantial in May last year, meaning an attack in England, Scotland or Wales is "a strong possibility". Following the discovery of Maxwell's arms hides last year, police in Northern Ireland said a "major blow" had been dealt to the capabilities of dissident republicans. However fresh intelligence suggests there are still a number of individuals and small groups who have the arms, knowledge and capabilities to strike. A security source said: "The security threat remains the same. There are currently no immediate plans to reduce the threat level." Maxwell's intended targets remain uncertain. Police sources have described him as a "lone wolf". He pleaded guilty last week to preparing for a terrorist attack by stashing explosives in purpose-built caches. The 31-year-old, from Northern Ireland but living in Exminster, was arrested over the discovery of firearms, high explosives, chemicals and a range of improvised explosive devices. He had compiled a library of terrorism documents, including instructions on how to make explosives, and tactics used by terrorist organisations. He also had maps, plans and lists of potential targets for a terrorist attack and images of an adapted Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) pass card and a PSNI uniform. He had also bought chemicals and components and used them to manufacture explosives and devices. He is awaiting sentencing. In December, Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire said police in Northern Ireland and MI5 were "unstinting in their work to counter the threat of violence and numerous dissident republican attacks have been prevented". He added: "Although dissident republicans are overwhelmingly focused on carrying out attacks in Northern Ireland, there remains a need to be alert, aware and vigilant." The level for dissident republican terrorism in Northern Ireland remains severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely". Last year in the region there were four national security attacks, after 16 in 2015 and 40 in 2010. The substantial threat level in Great Britain is lower than the threat to the entire UK from international terrorism. This is set at severe, the second-highest of the five ratings. An Irish language act would remove negative politics around the issue, a community leader said. Hostile politicians have deliberately misused their remarks about the contentious demand , the director of advocacy organisation Pobal Janet Muller added. The DUP has again ruled out a Stormont law granting official protection and said more people speak Polish as the election campaign steps up a gear. Ms Muller said legislation would allow Irish services to be treated as a simple administrative matter. "We just need really to take the wind out of the sails of negative politicians and say: 'Get over yourselves. This language is for everyone, embrace it'." Ms Muller joined scores of children and activists at a protest outside Belfast High Court where a legal challenge was launched against what critics term the Stormont executive's failure to introduce a language strategy. She said: "It is extremely frustrating and it is part of the picture of negative politicking that we have seen over the last 10 years and I think has come to a head again quite recently. "We don't want the Irish language to be a contentious issue. "Part of that desire is what is behind wanting legislation, so it would take the issue of language services and recognition and status for the language out of the political arena and really make it a much simpler administrative issue. "It is very difficult but certainly I think there is a deliberate use of and misuse of very hostile and negative language about the Irish language from certain sectors of political life." Around a tenth of the population in Northern Ireland has some knowledge of Irish and Ms Muller said it brought medical and educational benefits. DUP leader Arlene Foster recently suggested more people spoke Polish than Irish. She added: "If you feed a crocodile, it will keep coming back for more." Two men in green crocodile suits joined the protest in Belfast on Wednesday. Dozens of school children educated in Irish also took park as well as Assembly candidates from Sinn Fein and People Before Profit. The 2011 census showed 189,000 people had some knowledge of Irish and Ms Muller said the total was increasing. "There is certainly not that number of people who have knowledge of any ethnic minority language." She said minority tongues like Polish deserved equal respect. "But that is not treated in the same way anywhere in the world as the rights of speakers of indigenous minority languages. "Polish is safe in Poland, if Irish is not safe in Ireland where is it going to be safe?" Conradh na Gaeilge took Wednesday's legal challenge. President Coilin O Cearbhaill said: "We are talking about simple measures relating to children, Irish at home, visibility of the language; things that will make a demonstrable difference to the increasing numbers of people living their lives through Irish. "The courts must act when the executive doesn't." Irish Language activists take part in a protest outside Belfast High Court on Wednesday morning in support of calls for the implementation of an Irish language strategy. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Irish Language activists take part in a protest outside Belfast High Court on Wednesday morning in support of calls for the implementation of an Irish language strategy. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Irish Language activists take part in a protest outside Belfast High Court on Wednesday morning in support of calls for the implementation of an Irish language strategy. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Pupils from Scoil an Droichid as activists take part in a protest outside Belfast High Court on Wednesday morning in support of calls for the implementation of an Irish language strategy. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker The Stormont Executive is breaching a decade-old legal duty to implement an Irish language strategy, the High Court has heard. Counsel for a campaign group also claimed the administration has done nothing about its ongoing obligation since rejecting a blueprint in 2015. Karen Quinlivan QC said: "The Executive has a duty to adopt, not just debate, a strategy and to this day there's no strategy of any kind in place." Conradh na Gaeilge is seeking a judicial review amid claims of a failure to comply with a pledge stretching back to the 2006 St Andrews Agreement. Read More The organisation alleges that the Executive is in breach of a statutory duty and wants a judge to order it must implement plans for enhancing and protecting the language's development. A 20-year strategy for Irish was published in 2015 following consultation by former Culture Minister Caral ni Chuilin. According to Conradh na Gaeilge's case the failure to take any further steps contravenes the 1998 Northern Ireland Act. Lawyers for the body also contend that the government is committed to implementing a European Charter for Regional or Minority Lanaguages. Ms Quinlivan insisted the Executive cannot be allowed to d nothing after rejecting that strategy. "This contention that the respondent is powerless to do anything in the face of a lack of action by the current Minister is really not a response to the central issue," she said. "They are suggesting the fact there's been a passage of nine, almost ten years since the obligation came into existence doesn't in any way inform the court whether there's been a failure to adopt a strategy." Arguing that amendments could have been suggested to the 2015 blueprint, the barrister stressed: "The Executive committee cannot simply refuse to take steps." Tony McGleenan QC, for the Stormont government, countered that there had been no "inertia" on the issue. Rejecting any suggestion of a "sham process", he contended that the draft strategy was properly assessed. Executive committee business had been entirely orthodox, with a proper, qualitative assessment of the plans, he added. Reserving judgment in the case, Mr Justice Maguire pledged to give careful consideration to the issues. The UK's biggest abortion provider has denied reports it is turning away Irish women because of huge demand. File image The UK's biggest abortion provider has denied reports it is turning away Irish women because of huge demand. A report in the Times claimed Marie Stopes clinics were being forced to prioritise women referred by the NHS. But in a series of tweets, the organisation denied it was turning away women from Ireland, where abortion is largely illegal. It said: "This is our busiest time of year for NHS appointments, so we're directing private clients to other clinics if they can be seen sooner. "This is a temporary measure. We believe getting women access to services quickly is the right thing to do when our wait times are high. "We'll always support Irish women in Belfast, in England and through our 24/7 helpline, so they can be seen as quickly as possible. Marie Stopes opened Northern Ireland's only abortion clinic in Belfast in 2012 amid significant protests. "We're still there," the tweets continued. "We are unwavering in our support for women in Northern Ireland & the Republic of Ireland who are so badly let down by their laws. "We wish we could treat every woman who needs us in Belfast, but the draconian law means only a few women meet the criteria." Tim Cook is being awarded a doctorate of science in a ceremony at the University of Glasgow Apple chief executive Tim Cook has reiterated his opposition to US President Donald Trump's travel ban, saying "if we stand and say nothing it's as if we're agreeing". Mr Cook spoke after collecting an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Glasgow on Wednesday evening. During a Q&A with students and university staff he was asked for his response to Mr Trump's order targeting people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Mr Cook said: "I wrote this letter, you probably read about it unless you're living underground, about the most recent executive order that was issued in the US. "We have employees that secured a work visa, they brought family to the US, but happened to be outside the US when the executive order was issued and all of a sudden their families were affected. They couldn't get back in. "That's a crisis. You can imagine the stress. "If we stand and say nothing it's as if we're agreeing, that we become a part of it. "It's important to speak out." Mr Cook said Apple relied on workers from around the world, telling students and staff: "Steve (Jobs) was the son of an immigrant. "It's a subject we're passionate about and we wanted to state our pain and try to end the dispute." He went on to say he understands issues of security, but added: "I don't believe you have to trade walking away from what is a deeply held American value to get there." Issues of privacy and surveillance were also topics of conversation at the university, whose students elected Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency whistleblower, as rector in 2014. Mr Cook was asked if he saw his company as an "activist". He replied: "We're not shy. Last year we came to loggerheads with the US government about privacy and security. "It wasn't that we were being activists, it was that we were being asked to do something that we knew was wrong. "So we had a choice, to either blindly do what the institutions said to do or to fight and we chose to fight." Giving advice to students coming to the end of their university studies, Mr Cook told them to ignore negativity. "The world is full of cynics and you have to tune them out, because if not they become a cancer in your mind and you begin to think that you can't or that life is negative," the 56-year-old said. "The truth is, and it might not seem like it all the time, but there has never been a better time to be alive than today." To laughter, he added: "That is my advice ... with no charge." Mr Cook had earlier made a surprise visit to company staff in Glasgow. He dropped in to the Buchanan Street store on Wednesday afternoon, where work stopped for around 15 minutes as staff and customers greeted him and took photographs. Before leaving, he was presented with two gifts - a tartan scarf and an embroidered picture. He said he loved the scarf but asked: "How are you supposed to fold this?" The embroidered picture shows Mr Cook waving and the words: "Welcome Tim." It also features saltire flags and the Loch Ness monster. He joked: "That's great. I recall looking for the Loch Ness monster in 1984. "Everything is right but the colour of the hair." Since taking the helm of the company, Mr Cook has led the introduction of new products such as the iPhone 7, iPad Pro and Apple Watch. He is also leading a company-wide effort to use 100% renewable energy at all Apple facilities. In 2015, Mr Cook became an honorary patron of Trinity College Dublin's Philosophical Society and gave a talk to students. The prolific paedophile admitted 45 sex offences against children in Britain and abroad A paedophile is likely to die in jail after being handed 13 life sentences for a "horrific" catalogue of abuse on children in Britain and abroad amid fears the full scale of his crimes have yet to emerge. Retired English teacher Mark Frost, formerly known as Andrew Tracey, 70, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 45 sex offences against nine children in Thailand between 2009 and 2012. He also admitted having sex with two pupils in Worcestershire over three years in the 1990s. On some occasions, the abuse happened on school grounds and on others, unmarried Frost's adopted son was present, the court heard. He was sentenced by Judge Mark Lucraft to serve a minimum of 16 years for each life sentence. Other determinate sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The judge told Frost he was responsible for "the most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse" and it was clear he had an "ongoing obsession" with young boys. He said: "Your conduct towards each and every one of these victims is horrific and deeply disturbing." The court heard how Frost raped impoverished Asian boys and encouraged them to engage in sex acts after he groomed them with cash, sweets, computer games and swims in his pool. He used violence to "control" his victims, hitting them around the head and with a belt, the court heard. On one occasion, he dragged a boy out of a car with a belt around his neck and threatened to throw him down a well. He skipped bail to avoid prosecution in Thailand but was extradited from Spain last year after his activities were uncovered by Dutch police on the computer of a man in the Netherlands. Frost got the boys aged between 10 and 14 to give thumbs-up signs and make love heart gestures with their hands while being filmed on a webcam engaging in sexual acts. The Dutchman they knew as Simon watched the abuse online and made suggestions for what they should do to each other, the court heard. Frost admitted a raft of charges including multiple rapes, sex assaults, inciting children to engage in sexual activity and making indecent pictures. He also pleaded guilty to abusing two former pupils of a school in Worcestershire in the 1990s. One of them has since died. Frost had sex with his late victim in a school store room, during breaks, and at his home where he lived with his adopted son. In a statement read in court, the victim said his life had been blighted by what happened and he lived in "constant fear" that the video Frost made would come out. The other vulnerable victim said he had sex at Frost's home, in a barn and during a camping holiday in Wales and was left "scared and embarrassed". The now-grown man told police he was rewarded with cigarettes, money and "nice things", but had decided to come forward to stop Frost abusing anyone else. The National Crime Agency believes Frost may have assaulted many more youngsters he had contact with through his 25-year career in schools in east London, Hertfordshire and Worcestershire and as a senior Scouts volunteer. He was brought to justice through a complex international investigation involving the NCA and authorities in Thailand, the Netherlands and Spain. In 1978, he subscribed to the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), an international organisation of people who traded obscene material. In 1986, the unmarried teacher tried to adopt a son through the Catholic Church and was turned down, only to succeed through a local authority, the NCA said. The pair are now estranged. In 1992, he was fined for possessing indecent photographs of a child and the following year was jailed for a year for allowing his premises to be used for drugs and sex with an under-age girl. Three years later he was banned from teaching by the Department for Education. In 1998, he was jailed for a year for indecent assault on a male under 16 and put on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Once he was taken off the register, he moved to Thailand. The Asian boys' mothers expressed their "sorrow" at finding out the man they regarded as a "kind and generous foreigner" had taken advantage of their children. :: The NCA and NSPCC have set up a helpline for other victims to come forward, on 0800 328 0904. In addition to the 13 life sentences, Frost was handed 10-year terms for other sex offences and five-year terms for indecent images. He made no reaction as he was sent down. An NSPCC spokesman said: "Mark Frost's vile campaign of sickening child abuse spanned over quarter of a century in the UK and abroad, and today's sentence will likely see him spending the rest of his days behind bars. "Frost was a prolific and dangerous paedophile who worked as a teacher and Scout leader for decades. We hope that anyone who suffered can now find the courage to speak out." Ruona Iguyovwe, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The harrowing evidence presented by the prosecution in this case outlined the suffering that Mark Frost caused to his victims. "Over many years, Frost repeatedly exploited vulnerable young victims, both in the UK and in Thailand, for his own sexual gratification. "His offending has caused severe psychological harm to all of the children he abused, many of whom are now old enough to realise the enormity of what happened to them." NCA senior investigating officer Matt Sutton said the 13 life sentences reflected the seriousness of Frost's crimes. He said: "It sends a message to others who think they can sexually abuse children anywhere in the world under the radar of UK law enforcement." He said Frost had been "very skilled" at avoiding detection over 30 years, always moving on when he came under suspicion. Frost was a teacher and Scout volunteer over a period of 50 years, so it was impossible to calculate how many more victims have yet to come forward, Mr Sutton said. File photo dated 01/01/97 of the Prince of Wales with his younger son Prince Harry, joined in a ski lift by left to right) Santa with her sister, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, on the way up the Gotschnabahn ski runs above Klosters, Switzerland, as socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, has been found dead at her home in south west London, sources said. John Stillwell/PA Wire PA Mexico was situated mostly in St. Stephens Parish & extended into the Parish of Middle St. Johns (containing 1450 acres more or less). This land had been purchased by Peter Porcher II from Blake Leay White. In 1796, Mexico became the home of Samuel Porcher (1768-1851), son of Peter Por Read moreHistorical account of the Mexico Plantation A bid from Pulte Homes to rezone and add 465 residences and possibly a school near Sandy Run Creek on Jedburg Road wasn't met with open arms at a Oct. 26 community meeting on the part of local homeowners seeking to preserve the area's rural characteristics. Read moreJedburg Road residents tell Pulte Homes: 'Keep it rural' ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. City Hall Moss Point.jpg (File photo) MOSS POINT, Miss. - Representative Don Levy with P&B Oil and Gas Well Inc. visited the City of Moss Point Tuesday evening to pitch his company to Mayor Billy Broomfield and the Board of Aldermen. Levy's brief presentation consisted of outlining the company's plans for the near future. According to Levy, the company has purchased an oil line in Laurel and will transport barrels of oil from Laurel to Moss Point, where it plans to build a refinery. Levy said an investor from Dubai has $3 billion ready to spend to bring the refinery to Moss Point, and that the company's goal is to hire specifically within the area. If necessary, he said, the company will hire people to train locals to perform their duties. Levy estimated that the company would start out by preparing about 350 barrels of oil per day -- compared to the Chevron refinery, which handles more than 300,000 barrels of oil per day. Levy also said that light, sweet crude oil will be transported into Moss Point from Nigeria. Looking around City Hall, a wide range of reactions could be seen. After his presentation was complete, Ward 6 Alderman Wayne Lennep asked Levy a bevy of questions to obtain a better understanding and feel for the company, investors, establishment of funds and its timetable for building the proposed refinery. "When a group says that they want to purchase 600 acres and build a $3 billion oil refinery in my city, I feel it is very important to learn as much as possible about a proposal of such magnitude," Lennep said. "I may have asked a lot of questions, but there are still many, many more to be answered." When dealing with chemicals, there are environmental risks. A retired Chevron employee who was in attendance at the meeting and did not want to be identified said he did not like the way Levy presented those risks to the aldermen and audience. "As a former Chevron employee, I didn't like the way he represented himself, specifically talking about the risk that are associated with this type of work," he said. "To say that environmental factors are not a concern is laughable and a misrepresentation of what can happen when dealing with oil. I'm very skeptical and I would be curious to see their Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) record and their environmental record with the Department of Environmental Quality." Lennep continued his line of questioning by asking Levy why the company had failed in their attempts to bring this company to Moss Point previously. According to the packet submitted by Levy to the aldermen, Tuesday's presentation is the company's fourth attempt since 1991 to attempt to place a refinery in the city and Lennep wanted to know the hold-up. Levy cited financial backing that had fallen through as a reason for delays. Levy was also asked by Lennep if he'd spoken to anyone at the state level about the company's endeavors because of its size; he responded that he had not. He was also questioned about the permitting process, to which he said he would know more about within a month. While the idea of the refinery poses the prospects of bringing more jobs to the city, Lennep said additional information is needed for this project. "The possibility for the creation of new jobs for people within our community is awesome, but we need to fully vet this project and be careful not to give our citizens any false hope," Lennep said. "Hopefully, it will be everything P&B Oil and Gas claims it will be. Them having $3 billion ready to spend is huge and could potentially be the biggest project for Jackson County since Chevron. Let's just not count our chickens before they hatch." ST. MARTIN, Mississippi -- A 55-year-old St. Martin man was found dead inside a car Tuesday night and investigators are still working to determine what happened. According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, deputies responded to a call of a single-car accident around 11:30 p.m. When they arrived at the scene, they found Derrick Van Rainey dead inside his car in a ditch along Walker Road, just off Rose Farm Road in the St. Martin community north of Ocean Springs. Rainey was alone in the vehicle and unresponsive. Medical personnel were called to the scene, but were unable to revive him. Ezell says it is possible Rainey suffered "some kind of medical issue" prior to the crash, but also noted the "extremely foggy" conditions at the time. The incident remains under investigation. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. For Immediate Release, February 8, 2017 Contact: Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org Senate Threatens Climate With Proposal to Revoke Methane Pollution Rules Oil Industry's Voluntary Efforts Won't Curb Dangerously Potent Greenhouse Gas WASHINGTON A Senate effort to repeal methane pollution standards for oil and gas operations on America's public lands will cost taxpayers millions, accelerate climate change and increase asthma and other public-health problems. Senators will likely vote later this week on a Congressional Review Act measure that would repeal common-sense protections against these outcomes finalized last year by the Bureau of Land Management. It's hard to imagine a more wasteful, ridiculous giveaway to the oil industry, said Brendan Cummings, conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Oil companies drilling on our public lands could again flare or vent natural gas into our air just because capturing it might be inconvenient. Senators should vote down this plan to let oil companies pollute our air, damage our health and climate and waste our public resources. The BLM methane rule followed a scathing Government Accountability Office report on wasted gas from public lands and a 2012 petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Air Task Force and Western Environmental Law Center. It was the agency's first small step toward controlling intentional releases, leaks and wasteful methane combustion. Although methane is a marketable fuel, oil and gas operations frequently vent this potent greenhouse gas directly into the atmosphere or simply burn it off at the well site (a process called flaring). Night-time flaring from oilfields in North Dakota is so widespread that it's visible in NASA photos from space. Over one recent six-year period, oil and gas companies operating on public and American Indian lands flared, vented or leaked about 462 billion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the Interior Department. That is enough to power more than 4 million homes for a year. Methane is a climate pollutant that heats the atmosphere 87 times more than the same amount of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Reductions of methane are essential to avoid catastrophic climate tipping points and comply with the U.S. commitment to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Methane also helps form smog, which also contributes to asthma and other public-health problems. As global warming accelerates, we've got to reduce methane pollution as much as possible in the short-term, Cummings said. And to prevent climate catastrophe, we have to leave most fossil fuels in the ground and move toward truly clean energy. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia Call for artists Vyksa-10000 invites international artists to take a part in a contest for the largest mural in the world. Deadline: 13 February, 2017 The Vyksa-10000 international contest is organized by the Art-Ovrag festival in Vyksa, Russia. The mural painting contest celebrates the 25th anniversary of the United Metallurgical Company (OMK) and the 260th anniversary of the metallurgical plant in Vyksa. ________________________________________ Vyksa city has hosted ART-OVRAG Festival since 2011. Since that time the festival has turned into a large-scale movement transforming the city space. Every year ART-OVRAG welcomes more than 10,000 participants and guests, more citizens get actively involved in the festival development. During these years around 80 mural paintings and art objects were created on the streets and gradually transformed the city into an open street art museum. Vyksa city of Nizhny Novgorod region is a significant industrial hub of Russia. The United Metallurgical Company (OMK), a 260 years old metallurgical plant is situated here. One of the plant buildings will be decorated with the biggest mural painting in the world. The area of the proposed facade is 10.000 square meters. We are looking forward to receiving applications and sketches from artists, designers and architects who are working with urban art and monumental paintings. The winner will be awarded with 1.000.000 rubles. The mural painting will be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The author of this large-scale painting will be chosen by the members of the expert council and the jury composed of renown artists, art theorists and curators who are long time working with monumental art both in Russia and abroad. The mission of the contest is to make the art forms of mural and graffiti more popular and highlight them as a contemporary direction of visual arts. The contest also aims to draw attention to the developments of visual arts in public spaces. The mural painting will be presented at the ART-OVRAG festival on 16th - 18th of June, 2017. Application submission deadline 13.02.2017. You will find the online application form and further information on our website: http://artovrag-fest.ru/enghttp://artovrag-fest.ru/eng The procedure of the contest The application period Potential contenders and general public are invited to take part in the Contest. They can send their applications from 23.11.2016 13.02.2017 (18:00 Moscow standard time). The work of the Jury The Expert Council and the Jury of the Contest will evaluate the applications and announce the winner. The announcement will take place on 28.02.2017. Implementation of the projects The winning projects will be produced in the town of Vyksa (Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia) in the period between 15.03.2017 10.06.2017. Presentation of the project at the ART OVRAG festival (16 18.06.2017) The expert council of the contest Sabina Chagina curator of various street-art projects, one of the managers of the Artmossphere Moscow Street Art Biennale. She is also the co-founder of the Artmossphere Agency that supports and promotes street-art events. Julia Bychkova producer and curator of the Archstoyanie landscape-art festival, architect, photographer, deputy-director of the National Center for Contemporary Arts in charge of strategic development. Anton Kochurkin curator of the Archstoyanie Land Art Festival, architect, artist, director of the 8 lines architecture bureau, laureate of various prizes in architecture. The jury Yasha Young director and curator of the Urban Nation street-art museum in Berlin. Irina Sedykh the president-chairwoman of the supervisory board of the OMK-Uchastie Charity Fund. She is one of the co-founders and manages of the ART OVRAG festival of the urban culture. Boris Bernaskoni architect, the director of the Bernaskoni architecture bureau, the winner of multiple architecture awards, participant of the main program at Venice Architecture Biennale 2016. Alisa Prudvikova art historian, curator, director of the Ural branch of ROSIZO-NCCA, commissioner of the Ural Industrial Biennial of Contemporary Art, the chairman of the International Biennial Association. Andrey Bartenev artist, creator of numerous installations, exhibitions and performance. He hosts workshops in USA, Great Britain and all over the world. His works are often exhibited in the most significant contemporary- art museums in Russia and abroad. Dmitry Aske Muscovite artist working in multiple genres. His works have been exhibited and printed by various institutions working with graffiti, typography, illustration and contemporary art. Alexey Novoselov curator, director of the exhibition department at Moscow Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the top-managers in charge of Moscow Biennial of the Young Art, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts. Sabina Chagina, curator of Vyksa-10000 contest: ..Street art has escaped out of the limits of American graffiti and Banksy phenomenon acquiring the legacy of Mexican muralism school. The guys who were painting walls illegally have grown up and today they are creating impressive wall-paintings in the streets of world capitals that are approved by city authorities. In my opinion the art project that has embraced Vyksa opens truly new horizons and sets the trend for monumental painting of world-class in Russia. Vyksa is already famous for its collection of works created by popular street-artists and this ambitious project propels Russian street art to another quality level. ________________________________________ OMK-Uchastie Charity Fund is the author and organizer of the Festival. The Fund was founded by OMK (United Metallurgical Company) - one of the largest Russian manufacturers for energy, transport and production industries. OMK manufactures pipes of various purposes, rail wheels, rolled stock and automobile leaf springs. OMK consists of seven large metallurgical entities located in two continents. Active social policy and charity are among OMKs priorities. Contest Founder: United Metallurgical Company (OMK) Contest Co-Founder: OMK-Uchastie Charity Fund Contest Organizer: 8 Lines Agency involved with projects in architecture, art and urbanism. Having started with exhibitions, at the moment partners of 8 Lines are working at the intersection of architecture and design, art and marketing; they are using not only architecture-and-space tools, but also extensive socio-cultural practices. 8 Lines is an expert in the development of city space and natural areas. Contest Co-Organiser: Artmossphere Creative Agency - an agency promoting street-art in Russia, the author and organizer of Artmossphere Street-Art Biennale that was first hosted in Moscow in 2014. For any additional information and details regarding accreditation and press-tours please contact: Alexandra Krolikova - sasha@artmossphere.ru NAIROBI, Kenya - Mastercard commits to supporting the roll-out of the Huduma Card in Kenya as the technology partner of choice for the local government organisation. The secure payment solution supports Kenya's Vision 2030 that calls for reforms in public services to enhance accountability, transparency and efficient service delivery, with focus on developing a cashless economy. Sicily Kariuki, Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs secretary (right) and Simon Kimutai, Matatu Owners Association chairmen (left), demonstrate the ease of using her Huduma Card to pay for services in Kenya. The Huduma Card is a prepaid card with chip and PIN technology that will connect all Kenyans to the formal financial sector by providing a secure, reliable and flexible payment option. The Huduma Card, powered by Mastercard, is currently being issued by Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), Equity Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), with no bank charges being allocated to citizens when registering for the smart card. Kenyans will be able to pay for an array of Government services, such as the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), amongst others. Citizens issued with the smart prepaid card will automatically be enrolled in vital government services such as the National Social Security Fund and the National Hospital Insurance Fund, ensuring all Kenyans benefit from these initiatives. Cardholders are assured that regardless of how they use the solution their funds will be secured by the Mastercard multi-layered approach to protecting payments. EMV chip and PIN technology is a global payment standard to ensure that funds are protected even if the card is lost or stolen. This layer of protection ensures beneficiaries can receive their funds conveniently and securely. Once funds are loaded to the prepaid card, cardholders can use their Huduma Card to pay for goods and services in store, online, by phone or to withdraw cash from ATMs - anywhere Mastercard is accepted locally or at millions of locations worldwide. The prepaid card ensures flexibility, convenience and security and is easily obtained from one of the issuing banks. Applicants do not require a credit check or bank account to apply. "Mastercard is committed to extending financial inclusion for the unbanked and under-banked in Kenya," said Daniel Monehin, division president for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mastercard. "Innovation is central to achieving our vision of a world beyond cash in Kenya and across the continent. We are committed to developing market-relevant payment solutions that enhance the adoption of cashless transactions. By working together with industry, merchants and businesses, we will achieve this, in East Africa. Talking on behalf of the Huduma Kenya Programme, Dennis Mutuku, CEO, Huduma Kenya Secretariat said, "This is Kenya's first multipurpose social payment card with payment functionality and we are excited to see the instant, substantial and positive impact that this will have on the lives of millions of citizens previously excluded from the financial mainstream." Mastercard Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Daniel Monehin said, "The Huduma initiative introduced by the Kenyan government is one of the most innovative approaches to including citizens to the financial sector. We are proud partners, and it is a real honour to have been selected to power the solution with our worldclass payment technology. We are committed to investing in Kenya, and the continent, and are eager to support the country in its widespread roll-out of the Huduma Card in 2017." Huduma Kenya is a programme by the Government of Kenya that aims to transform public service delivery by providing citizens access to various public services and information from several channels, such as one stop shop citizen service centre's called Huduma Centre's, and integrated technology platforms (E and M Huduma, Huduma Card and Dedicated Contact Centre). BPA Worldwide has announced the first B2B private digital advertising marketplace for its members in the second quarter of 2017. The company, offering business media auditing services, conducted research with publishers and marketers on their industry priorities. The Listen & Learn tour found the private marketplaces (PMP) for B2B brands was identified as an opportunity to provide buyers greater access to quality data and efficiency in the digital marketplace, explained BPA President and CEO, Glenn Hansen. BPA will continue its Listen & Learn tour and is now signing up business media members for the launch. BPAs PMP of audited member sites including assurance around data integrity will be the only industry owned, not-for-profit, tripartite membership organisation B2B advertisers, agencies and media owners to provide this service. In the case of buying ad space programmatically, BPA will establish a vertically focused PMP, comprised of BPAs B2B members audited sites. According to our findings, individual members are not able to reach scale on their own to be of appeal to the technology vendors; however, when put together, BPAs B2B membership can create a significant impact in the marketplace. The BPA PMP is a prime opportunity for smaller, niche B2B member sites, Hansen added. Private marketplaces allow interested buyers to purchase on a guaranteed basis or bid on highly qualified publisher inventory, which commands premium rates. The process is managed in real time, allowing the highest bidder to win the inventory. The top reasons publishers dont currently use programmatic selling is scale, lack of familiarity with the process and the challenge of establishing independent third-party quality differentiators... For more information, email Francis Stones at moc.wwapb@senotsf. Havas Johannesburg and Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa have created a moving tribute to South African jazz legend Thandi Klaasen, who passed away earlier this month. The tribute takes an iconic image of resistance to the destruction of Sophiatown, Thandis beloved home, and transforms its message to one of love and gratitude to for an incredible woman whose talent moved a nation. According to Managing Director, Universal Music Group, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sipho Dlamini, this acknowledgement of how Klaasen had touched the lives of so many South Africans needed to be made. For us at Universal, it was so important to pay tribute to this iconic South African artist, whose message through song moved people, touched people at a very painful time in history and gave them the will and the power to continue the fight, says Dlamini. I think the way Havas changed the line has such an important meaning, continues Dlamini, that Thandis music did not just move people emotionally, but continued to keep them moving at a time when it was easier to give up and not fight anymore. Lynn Madeley, CEO of Havas Sub-Saharan Africa, felt it was important to honour Thandi in whatever way possible. We are a creative business and therefore creative people are close to our hearts, says Madeley. Its always so important to mark what these incredible talents have done for music, culture and the arts and this is our way of doing just that. Sometimes we overlook the relevance of music at certain times in history, concludes Dlamini. These days we dont have the same issues we had back then and thanks to people like Thandi, its a whole different world now. A major cause for concern is brewing in the South African media, advertising and communication industry. A trend that was recently blown wide open in the United States by the American Association of Advertisers (ANA) is also taking place on our shores on a seemingly widespread scale. Some major players in the industry have revealed that rebates and other non-transparent business practices are 'pervasive' in the South African media advertising buying ecosystem despite agency groups persistently saying they don't take rebates or commission when pitching to clients. There has been a growing suspicion among marketers that perhaps the media costs and rebates that they receive via their media agencies are not transparent and that there are hidden costs which benefit the media agencies and media owners. In addition, these discounts and rebates are not passed on to the advertisers or clients who pay for the advertising on various platforms in the first place. In the United States, the ANA became suspicious about this trend when media agencies started opening 'trading desks' in 2011. These trading desks allowed media agencies to buy up bulk media in advance and at a low rate and keep it on hand to sell on to clients at special rates. In 2012 it was decided by the industry bodies that these special rates, incentives and media rebates needed to be fully transparent. In 2014 the apparent media buying evolution was seen as a challenge for marketers to understand and to obtain full disclosure. The ANA appointed K2 a forensic auditing firm not linked to the industry to conduct research among media owners, media agencies and marketers. This report was presented to ANA members on 7 July 2016 and their findings were as follows: There is a fundamental disconnect and it is all about the contract There is evidence of rebates either via cash, free media or service agreements Service agreements are tied to spend volumes There is problematic agency conduct due to lack of transparency and the different deals vary There are non-transparent business practices The behaviour is 'pervasive' All media types are affected Recommendations were put together by K2 and Ebiquity the latter being more knowledgeable about media and the industry and able to assist with real action. From an IAS perspective as well as looking at developments from a South African context, it is very important for marketers to establish if the media agency is acting as an agent or a principal. The significance of this is that most advertisers do not know and do not ask. Marketers also must ensure that they have good contracts in place with their media agencies and know how is these contracts are best structured. With regards to this, the ANA has since developed a contract template in conjunction with ISBA the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers so that financial benefits are clearly identified as being returnable to advertisers, conflict of interest is highlighted and contracts are updated regularly. In addition, advertisers should have robust and far reaching audit rights which allow them to fully track contract compliance and deliver media value. Furthermore, the advertiser has the right to choose their own auditors internally or externally. Contract governance is critical. Data and technology ownership must be clearly articulated and spelled out in the contracts. The debate continues in the US, UK and Australia and marketers are starting to talking about it in South Africa now. The IAS is advising its marketer clients to ensure that they are putting good contracts in place with their media agencies and is giving them tips on what should be included so that there is transparency. Given that trading desks in South Africa are a relatively new concept, the IAS believes that marketers will become more accountable for the money they spend through advertising. The scenario in 2016 is very different now compared to what it was and marketers are under greater pressure to deliver financially along with the need to watch the money. The consequences of not adhering to more stringent transparency measures can lead to a loss of trust. It could also result in marketers being uncomfortable with agencies, leading to the appointment of auditors and which will cost more money to ensure effective regulation. Having a good contract in place between marketers and media agencies is not only important for business, but it is now fast becoming an ethical obligation to ensure transparency on a greater scale. 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. Journalists face increased restrictions of access and movement during President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address. Media representatives watch proceedings in Parliament. Picture: GCIS Journalists covering President Jacob Zumas State of the Nation address (Sona) on Thursday will have to do so from a restricted media square and they cannot leave during the event, unless they are escorted by security personnel, according to new arrangements. The Press Gallery Association and representatives from the South African National Editors Forum were in a meeting late on Tuesday with secretary of Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana to get clarity on the matter. Journalists feared the new rules would impede their work and hinder their role to relay what is happening in the House to the public. Parliament fell foul of the Constitution when a signal jammer was used to prevent journalists in the media gallery from tweeting information during the 2015 address. Asked about the new conditions, Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli said even he was not familiar with the concept of a media square. "There will be no restrictions to media doing their work around Parliament. I dont know where the idea of a media square comes from. The only place I know where people will be quarantined is in the media bay because of the nature of that location," Tsenoli said. He said he would ensure that the presiding officers take the matter up with Mgidlana. "I dont know who concocted this idea of a media square. What meaning you extract from this cannot be ascribed to Parliament. It would be ridiculous to suggest such restrictions in this time in history to put that forward as a strategy," he said. DA chief whip John Steenhuisen wrote to Mgidlana, making clear his opposition to the arrangements, which he termed as "disproportionate and unnecessarily burdensome". "The proposed plan will make it impossible for some journalists to access their offices and will effectively render the Marks Building off-limits to media. We are concerned that the movement of DA support staff might be similarly curtailed on the day of Sona, despite the assurances of yourself and other parliamentary officials," he said. EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi urged reporters covering the Sona to be vigilant on the day and not to be complacent in the face of securitisation of the parliamentary precinct. SAN FRANCISCO - YouTube on Tuesday began letting popular online video personalities broadcast on the go using mobile devices, ramping up a challenge to Facebook and Twitter in the live-streaming arena. Google-owned YouTube has supported live streaming of video through computers for about six years, even broadcasting US presidential debates online ( AFP Photo/Ethan Miller Google-owned YouTube has supported live streaming of video through computers for about six years, even broadcasting US presidential debates online. The new mobile live streaming feature allows YouTube content creators whose channels have more than 10,000 subscribers to broadcast through apps tailored for mobile devices such as smartphones, according to product managers Barbara Macdonald and Kurt Wilms. "It's a launch that'll put the power of live streaming in the hands of hundreds of thousands of talented creators, giving them a more intimate and spontaneous way to share their thoughts, lives and creativity," Macdonald and Wilms said in a blog post. They promised that the feature would be available more broadly at YouTube soon. Leading social network Facebook and one-to-many messaging service Twitter have already added such capabilities to their mobile applications, getting a jump on YouTube. YouTube added a financial incentive in the form of a 'Super Chat' tool that lets online video stars make money from fans willing to pay to 'stand out from the crowd' by having their chat messages highlighted in bright colors and pinned to the top of text conversation boxes for creators to see. "Super Chat is like paying for that front-row seat in the digital age," Macdonald and Wilms said. In December, Facebook began testing a live audio streaming service that will let people essentially broadcast radio-style on the leading online social network. The new feature came as an alternative to a Facebook Live tool that lets people stream live video at the social network. An audio-streaming option promised to be useful in areas where telecommunication networks have trouble handling the larger data demands of video streaming. The Fire & Feast Butchers' Festival, being held at the Ticketpro Dome from 31 March to 2 April 2017, will be the first of its kind in Johannesburg. The festival, presented by Crown National, is a celebration of the meat industry. The trade day (31 March) presents the meat market within the retail and wholesale sector and the public component (1-2 April) explores different kinds of cuisines. The trade day, which runs from 12pm- 8pm, is free to attend for trade visitors. The public days run from 10am to 8pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Crown National has a trading history dating back more than 100 years and has become a trusted supplier of spices, food ingredients and equipment to the South African meat industry, says Dawid Muller, commercial executive. The Trade Day is open to the public as well as exhibitors, varying from associated regulators, food, beverage and lifestyle brands. Paul Edmunds, consultant at Reed Exhibitions and organisers of the festival, says, The festival will focus on the creation of interactive experiences that provides the attending public with an educational opportunity to understand the various types, cuts and varieties of meat. In addition, explaining how to buy, prepare, pairing techniques and finally, the art of cooking meat. Tickets will be available online at the following prices: Adults: R100 Pensioners and students: R80 Age 0-12: Free Since WeChat's move into South Africa in 2013, the messaging app has partnered with companies such as OrderIn, Picup and FitKey, and has now announced the addition of UCook, a Cape Town-based e-food delivery service. UCook provides fresh, gourmet food kits direct to ones door, along with step-by-step meal preparation instructions by experienced chefs. The partnership, according to the companies, aims to revolutionise the mobile commerce industry, and both parties expect to see a shared increase in customer growth. "The ever-appealing world of m-commerce is becoming more and more of a necessity in the lifestyle of modern consumers because, with smartphones, anything can be accomplished - from banking to buying electricity, and - with UCook - even planning dinner." WeChat aims to improve products and services that its customers can purchase from within its ecosystem. UCook will, in turn, deliver boxes on a once-off basis, without its original subscription element, enabling its customers' effortless meal purchasing. This is made possible with the WeChat wallet, which allows its users a variety of safe and secure transactions or purchases using their mobile phones. The system allows an easy flow of money according to the consumers preference. New and existing UCook customers buying through the UCook official account on WeChat, will receive 50% off their first box. Download the WeChat app and follow the UCook official account. Make your first purchase and get 50% cash back into your WeChat wallet. The Africa Mining Vision (AMV) has been sponsored by outside agencies and could become a model to allow corporations to continue looting Africa's resources. Executive director of Bench Marks Foundation, John Capel noted that there had been robust debate during the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) about the AMV, a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa document that was adopted in 2008. The AMI, which is in its eighth year, meets concurrently with the African Mining Indaba, at which civil society is not represented. Building community power Too many governments in Africa have become part of the problem through their political patronage, whereas they should be representing people and their needs. The revolving doors between governments and multi-national corporations conflict governments in their oversight roles, he said. Mining is therefore not working for the people of Africa and current mining practices are causing harm and damage to the health, wellbeing and survival of communities on the continent. He added that the only effective way to bring benefits to the people of Africa was to build up community power and monitoring capacity. Companies were urged to recognise that traditional leaders are not community members and therefore need to carry out proper and thorough consultation with communities. African governments should also actively shift from the export of raw minerals to domestic value addition in order to create jobs and better linkages between the extractive sector and the broader national economies. The role of electric vehicles Capel noted that the advent of electric-powered cars would open up a huge demand for new minerals in Africa. Its important to watch that this development does not lead to the developed northern countries benefitting at the expense of Africa, he said. Call to African governments A resolution at the end of the indaba was due to be delivered to the Mining Indaba following a march by delegates to its meeting place. It included the following calls for African governments to: develop an optimal land-use framework to determine whether mining should or not take place in a particular area; push harder for stronger and better regulatory institutions to ensure that the benefits of extraction are shared equitably;and employ taxation as an important strategic tool to foster linkages between mining activities and the large national economy. On environmental, artisanal and small-scale mining and social protection, the indaba resolved to urge African governments to: The French Polynesian government, earlier this year, officially signed an agreement with The Seasteading Institute to cooperate on creating legal framework to allow for the development of The Floating Island Project. The legislation will give the Floating Island Project it's own special governing framework creating an innovative special economic zone. From left: Egor Ryjikov, Thierry Nhunfat, Joe Quirk, Karina Czapiewska, Randolph Hencken, Jean Christophe Bouissou, Montgomery Kosma, Suzanne Dokupil, Greg Delaune, Marc Collins, Michel Monvoisin, Chris Muglia, and Nicolas Germineau The Seasteading Institute announced the formation of a new company, Blue Frontiers, to construct the Floating Island Project. The project aims to advance French Polynesias Blue Economy initiative, offer an opportunity to adapt to rising sea levels, and create a fresh space for pioneering social innovation. Last year, French Polynesian President Edouard Fritch invited an international delegation from The Seasteading Institute to examine several potential sites near the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti, Tupai, and Raiatea. The team met personally with Teva Rohfristch, minister for economic recovery, the blue economy, and digital policy; Sylviane Terooatea, mayor of Raiatea, and Gaston Tong Sang, former president and mayor of Bora Bora and Tupai. Economic benefits for French Polynesia The MOU obligates The Seasteading Institute to conduct an economic analysis to demonstrate the economic benefits for French Polynesia, as well as an environmental assessment to assure the health of the ocean and seabed. As soon as these studies are complete, French Polynesia will collaborate with The Seasteading Institute to develop a special governing framework to construct sustainable floating islands. The Seasteading Institute and the government of French Polynesia will draw from the best practices of more than 4000 existing special economic zones around the world to create a special economic seazone, said Hencken. The seazone will combine the advantages of French Polynesias geopolitical location with unique regulatory opportunities specifically designed to attract investors. Seasteading investors will self-fund the initial studies and the construction of the floating islands. The pilot project is expected to cost between $10m and $50m. Our sustainable modular platforms are designed by the Dutch engineering firm Blue21, who showcased their engineering ingenuity with the famed Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam, said Joe Quirk, co-author with Patri Friedman of the book, Seasteading: How Ocean Cities Will Change the World, to be published in March. Uniquely suited to seasteading After many long years of work by our staff and global network of advocates, Im incredibly excited for the chance to work with French Polynesia, which as an archipelago is uniquely suited to seasteading, said Patri Friedman, founder and chairman of The Seasteading Institutes board of directors. Businessman, and former minister of tourism for French Polynesia, Marc Collins is enthusiastic about The Seasteading Institutes vision. Polynesian culture has a long history of seafaring across the Pacific Ocean that will contribute to this ambitious project. More than most nations, our islands are impacted by rising sea levels, and resilient floating islands could be one tangible solution for us to maintain our populations anchored to their islands. For many Polynesians, leaving our islands is not an option. Blue Frontiers will create new clean-tech and blue economy jobs that will attract both international and local investment. We need to create new clean-tech and blue economy jobs for our youth, and this project has the potential to be a real game-changer locally, Collins said. This project could help us retain our bright minds, who would otherwise emigrate for work. Conservation organisation WildArk, together with guide training organisation EcoTraining, has acquired its first wildlife conservancy known as Pridelands'. WildArk is committed to securing parts of identified green belts around the world and is working with environmental scientists to restore, manage and protect the rich biodiversity of these areas as a way of conserving wildlife. At 4,500-acres, Pridelands, a former hunting farm, presents an example of intact vegetation of Combretum woodland. Habitat restoration This is a fantastic step for our organisation, and Im incredibly proud to realise our first conservancy for African wildlife, says WildArk founder Mark Hutchinson. The partnership with our close colleagues at EcoTraining, will help build ecologically sound restoration of habitat, open another 4,500-acres into a greater conservancy that includes state-owned, private and community areas, allow freedom of wildlife movement and provide local job creation. It is hopefully the first of many WildArk conservancies that adjoin existing networks of private, state or community-owned conservation areas. EcoTraining MD Anton Lategan, a passionate advocate for conservation in Southern Africa, also realised a 20-year personal dream in the acquisition of Pridelands. Our desire is to restore the farm to migrational and residential wildlife such as lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo. The property already has general plains game, leopard and hyena with excellent cheetah sightings and reports that lions came through the fence briefly! Lategan said. His father, John Lategan, has also come on board as a partner. John spent his life farming in the Northern mountains and has been travelling the Lowveld his entire life and has a depth of knowledge regarding the local ecology. WildArk ambassador Australian rugby star David Pocock, who is an ambassador for WildArk, will spend early February on the property, engaging with owners Hutchinson and Lategan on plans and experiencing the South African wilderness. He will then head to his family farm in Zimbabwe where he will be involved in various conservation and community projects. What excites me about WildArk is the bigger vision of trying to connect people to wilderness areas and to wildlife, as well as to provide a platform and vehicle to get people involved, said Pocock. I grew up wanting to identify every bird I saw and know what all the animals were. To provide a platform for people to do that and feel like they are contributing to other people learning and to the bigger story, thats pretty exciting to me. Australian rugby star David Pocock, ambassador for WildArk WildArk and EcoTraining plan to develop ecotourism and education opportunities that include establishing an EcoTraning camp on Pridelands as well as engaging local school children to connect with nature through the property on a regular basis. One of the key goals at WildArk is to make nature and wilderness areas accessible to anyone. Through its content hub for the wild, experiential learning and travel offerings, and its conservation partnerships, WildArk aims to allow anyone to become educated, engaged and involved in protecting wild places. Addressing the taboo topic of menstruation in Zimbabwe, Jenman African Safaris' Grow Africa Foundation has partnered with Subz Pads in Project Penya . The project provides girls at Dingani Primary School in Hwange with washable sanitary pads and panties. Photo by Jenman African Safaris One out of ten teenage girls throughout Africas most rural regions misses a considerable amount of school each year, as much as 25% annually, due to the humiliation and stigma related to menstruation. As they do not have access to or cannot afford basics such as sanitary pads, they are forced to improvise by using mattress foam, rags, feathers, leaves and even newspaper which is not only humiliating but ineffective. Their menstrual hygiene impacts these young girls education, health and their overall future. The shame associated with having a period is sometimes too much to bear for teenage girls and so they skip school. In extreme cases girls have been known to drop-out altogether, says Katja Quasdorf, CEO at Jenman African Safaris. A girls period should not hold her back from her future so we are getting involved to make an impact on this issue whilst joining the fight to break to the taboo of menstruation in Africa. Educational workshops and motivational talks Penya, translated from Shona, means to shine and this projects core objective is to empower entire generations of teenage girls to have a brighter future. Subz Pads will also be hosting a series of educational workshops and motivational talks to encourage these young women to focus on building their careers ahead. Jenman African Safaris is aiming to raise R75,000 to supply each of Dingani Primary Schools grade six and seven girls with a set of Subz panties and pads on an ongoing and sustainable basis, as well as providing educational workshops. Click here to help Project Penya raise funds. The challenge of preparing the requisite reports at financial year end on top of normal day-to-day activities of running a business often results in the complex and tricky issue of BEE (black economic empowerment) being put on the back burner. But relegating BEE to a more convenient time could be fatal for a business, warns Arnel Ayers, attorney and BEE specialist at Greyvensteins Attorneys. With the financial year-end of 28 February 2017 just around the corner, business owners should have planned and be well on their way towards achieving their compliance targets, she says. In a world where change is the only constant, one has to accept and work with the fact that targets in every facet of life change every year. Accordingly, now is the time for business owners to ensure that their BEE financial targets for the year will be achieved by the end of February deadline, failing which they will need to treat the situation as urgent and seek professional assistance to remedy it. She adds: Its also important to note that, as from 1 January 2017, donations made after the close of an enterprises financial year will no longer be allowed. According to Ayers, SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) is currently the countrys only accreditation body for verification agencies, which have to follow their stringent regulations. Failure to do so, she warns, could result in verification agencies losing their accreditation. Within the ever-changing BEE environment, she notes further, the validity and applicability of sector codes must be investigated in order to ensure compliance. As the DTI (department of trade and industry) website is not a reliable source for this information, the facts should be obtained from the applicable industry body, or a professional specialising in BEE compliance. Without such information, planning becomes a daunting task, she says. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has identified two pesticides it believes will conquer a fall armyworm plague ravaging maize crops. hpgruesen via pixabay The voracious larval pest has been identified throughout Limpopo and in northern Gauteng and could ruin the entire country's maize harvest if not contained. The migratory worms, native to South and Central America, also attack sorghum, soybeans, groundnuts and potatoes. "The department realises that transboundary pests and diseases, especially migratory pests, threaten food security and that coordinated efforts are important to address these risks," Minister Senzeni Zokwana said yesterday. The fall armyworm is new to South Africa, meaning no pesticide has been registered for use, and proven successful, in fighting it. An emergency process has now registered two pesticides that are likely to work if used correctly. The department is extending its programme to other provinces with awareness campaigns and tests for identifying the worm's presence. "Pheromone traps will be imported into South Africa to determine the exact extent of the spread and the specific strain of fall armyworm in South Africa." Zokwana urged the nation to remain calm, saying the pesticides identified were safe for use. "We will ensure that no residue can affect South Africans [through their food consumption]." The department met the national Treasury yesterday to ask for funding to assist the farming community. It has also started a plant pest action group - made up of provincial agriculture departments, researchers and producer associations - to evaluate its progress in curbing the worm's spread weekly. Zokwana could not say what the impact of the pest had been thus far but said the department was acting quickly to minimise damage. Source: The Times Oxfam East Africa via Wikimedia Commons But many of the stories tend to focus on the overall growth based on large scale commercial endeavours and gloss over the smallholder situation. While overall production in Africa has increased, theres been little at the smallholder level. And much of the overall production increases are due to land expansion. So, is African smallholder agriculture really in the midst of a revolution? In our recent study we tried to get a more granular understanding of the situation on the ground. Most studies frame adoption as a yes or no outcome. Instead, we proposed to view adoption as a process. Farmers learn about a technology, assess it and experiment with it. Then they act on their assessment, either dis-adopting, modifying, using on a limited area or fully utilise. What we found is that farmers are yet to fully embrace key practices that will help them increase their production. Despite many claims in the opposite, our study suggests that Africa hasnt (yet) started a smallholder agricultural revolution. The problem The problem is that there are questionable methodologies being used which distort our understanding of the number of smallholder farmers that embrace improved agricultural practices. And these numbers have painted a picture that the revolution is underway. Progress has generally been measured in terms of how many farmers have become adopters of the interventions. Little focus has been placed on how they adopt, to what extent or how use has continued over time. Indeed, the way in which adoption is measured falls short under scrutiny. When most studies estimate they tend to be unclear on what constitutes being classified an adopter. Because of this ambiguity, we can often find ourselves comparing apples with oranges. This is clearly evident when we talk of conservation agriculture, which underpins many African governments and NGOs efforts to increase smallholder productivity and improve the sustainability of farming systems. Conservation agriculture packages three principles together: minimum disturbance of the soil, using crop remains to cover and protect the soil and planting a variety of crops. Claims of its adoption have underwritten the idea that African smallholder farming is in wholesale change. But data supplied by the Food and Agriculture Organisation as well as individual studies use personal estimates from informed individuals. Such studies are hard to validate independently or replicate; they are open to accusation of bias, and they are often ambiguous in how they classify adoption. This means that theres little merit in comparing one study to another. New methods We propose new methods to understand adoption. While most study it as a binary outcome that is, you are either an adopter or not an adopter we frame it as a process. This allows us to understand issues such as: reasons for non-adoption: Do farmers not adopt because they dont know about it? Or do they simply think its not for them? Or maybe they want to but they arent able to? experimental and subsidised use: Should a farmer who is given subsidises to perform a 10m by 10m trial really be classified as an adopter? Is that farmer truly an adopter if no personal resources are invested? What about someone whos experimenting on a small area but hasnt decided to commit to it? intensity of use: Is all adoption the same? What if a farmer only practices on one of their fields? What about if they only have the resources to apply at half intensity? In our study, despite assertions of wholesale adoption of conservation agriculture, we found that only 22 of more than 6,500 farmers surveyed across five countries had fully embraced conservation agriculture and could be called total adopters. The majority of use was at low intensity in modified forms. For example, we noted many farmers were only able to practice conservation agriculture on a field close to their house. This was done in order to protect their field from roaming cattle or rodent hunters who might disturb the crop remains left in their field to protect the soil. Many also were only able to apply conservation agriculture to a small area because they lacked the financial resources to truly embrace it. Basically, if adoption occurs, its at a very low intensity, and few farmers have truly embraced these technologies. When prior estimates have been made, they tended to overestimate adoption because they grouped any use of a technology as adoption. Accounting for this, adoption was far more limited than most have estimated. We also found large pockets of dis-adoption. For example, nearly 3 in every 4 farmers who have used minimum tillage practices (a key component of conservation agriculture) in Malawi had dis-adopted, nearly 1 in 2 in Kenya and nearly 1 in 4 in Ethiopia. This highlights the risks in classifying experimentation as adoption, with few farmers continuing use. We also found half of the Tanzanian farmers in our survey who knew about minimum tillage practices had no interest in implementing it. Such issues have generally been overlooked due to previous classification methods. Implications for the revolution This leads us to conclude that conservation agriculture may not suit many African smallholder farmers. And this story reflects that it, like many technologies promoted in Africa, hasnt been locally adapted to make it relevant to smallholder farmers. It might be beneficial, but often it isnt possible or doesnt fix a problem the farmer appreciates. This means that more needs to be done to ensure that technologies being promoted to farmers are not only beneficial but relevant and feasible. However, there are some encouraging signs. Conservation agriculture comprises several elements packaged together, and we found that more than 90% of farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique are doing some element of the conservation agriculture package in some way. But conservation agriculture also requires a balance to obtain the most benefit. The challenge will be finding ways to foster that balance and match it to farmer wants, needs, and abilities. Theres hope for the future if we can build on these foundations, but it seems that African smallholder farming might be undergoing more of a slower evolution rather than a revolution. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. WASHINGTON, USA: Dozens of top tech companies - including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter - have filed a joint legal brief arguing against President Donald Trump's travel ban. The brief was filed late Sunday with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in support of an ongoing lawsuit against the ban. It charged that the ban "inflicts significant harm on American business, innovation, and growth as a result," according to a copy of the document published by US media outlets. Executives from several top Silicon Valley companies had previously spoken out against the ban, which temporarily barred all refugees and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States. On Friday, following a lawsuit filed by the state of Washington challenging the ban, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily suspended Trump's order pending a wider legal review. The Trump administration appealed over the weekend to the Ninth Circuit court, where a flurry of legal filings were flooding in early Monday. The travel ban would have a large impact on Silicon Valley firms which employ thousands of immigrants. The 97 signatories to the brief argued that Trump's ban harms recruiting and retention of talent, threatens business operations, and hampers the firms' ability to attract investment to the United States. Other tech companies that are part of the coalition include AirBnb, Dropbox, eBay, Intel, Kickstarter, LinkedIn, Lyft, Mozilla, Netflix, PayPal, Uber and Yelp. IBM today, 8 February 2017, launched its $70 million (approximately R945 million) digital education initiative, IBM Digital - Nation Africa. Aimed at building much-needed digital, cloud, and cognitive IT skills to help support a 21st century workforce in Africa, the initiative provides a cloud-based learning platform designed to provide free skills development programs for up to 25 million African youths over five years, enabling digital competence and nurturing innovation in Africa. The IBM Digital - Nation Africa initiative is part of the companys global push to build the next generation of skills needed for New Collar careers. New Collar is a term used by IBM to describe new kinds of careers that do not always require a four-year college degree but rather sought-after skills in cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, cloud, and much more. For the youth of Africa to be able to benefit from a cognitive future, there needs to be a much higher level of digital literacy. At the top of the skills pyramid are developers, who need to know how to create solutions that can leverage the power of cognitive, and entrepreneurs who are aware of the potential. IBM Digital - Nation Africa is designed to help raise overall digital literacy, increase the number of skilled developers able to tap into cognitive engines and enable entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs grow businesses around the new solutions. Free online learning environment Through a free, cloud-based online learning environment delivered on IBM Bluemix, the premier cloud platform for business, the initiative will provide a range of programs from basic IT literacy to highly sought-after advanced IT skills including social engagement, digital privacy, and cyber protection. Advanced users will be able to explore career-oriented IT topics including programming, cybersecurity, data science and agile methodologies, as well as important business skills like critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to empower African citizens, entrepreneurs, and communities with the knowledge and tools to design, develop, and launch their own digital solutions. Elementary, my dear Watson Based on Watson, the cognitive online system will adapt and learn. It will review the multiple interactions the education initiative will have with students, to help direct them to the right courses and help IBM refine the courses to better adapt the material for the needs of the users. Watson will also create a depth of knowledge using anonymous information gathered from interactions with the students. This will help entrepreneurs and developers understand which current Bluemix solutions best meet their needs and refine their idea to help them design a solution that has greatest market potential. With the aim of equipping as many as 25 million people with sought after IT skills over the next five years, the program will be launched from IBMs regional offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt. This will enable the expansion of the initiative across the continent. Driving economic vitality IBM sees effective, high quality IT education as a key driver of economic vitality in Africa. Through access to open standards, best practices, IBM tools, and course materials, the broad scope of this initiative will enable vital skills development, says Hamilton Ratshefola, country general manager for IBM South Africa. In order to find solutions to Africas challenges, industries across the spectrum need to enable the existing and future workforce to perform at the forefront of technologies such as cognitive and cloud computing. This will be the key to spurring economic growth. The initiative will provide access to thousands of resources, in English, free of charge, including: Ready-to-use mobile apps Guides - web guides, demonstrations, interactive simulations, video series, and articles Online Assessments A range of self-assessment tests to track the progress of individuals, together with industry recognized Open Badges aligned to digital competencies. The badges can then be shared with prospective employers Volunteers Creation of a volunteer program to support and promote digital literacy within their communities App Marketplace Provision of a platform on which new applications can either be made freely available or sold. The initiative will be supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which has a special focus on fostering market-driven ICT skills in Africa and the Middle East. IBM will collaborate with UNDP on opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills delivery, certification, and accreditation. UNDP will work with their network of existing government partnerships to extend the program throughout Africa. Africa Technical Academy In 2015, IBM rolled out a major initiative to expand its Africa Technical Academy and Africa University Program, providing advanced skills in cloud, analytics, and big data technologies, reaching today to over 150 academic institutions, in the continent. In September 2016, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training and IBM Morocco, for the launch of P-TECH program (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) in Morocco. P-tech is an innovative global education model, designed by IBM, in close partnership with American educators. The company is also working with dozens of start-ups in South Africa. Following a hoax news article stating that President Donald Trump waivered visa requirements for South Africans travelling to the USA to strengthen ties between the two countries, the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) is requesting that consumers verify facts about travel that they read on social media and online. Andres Rodriguez via 123RF This is a fake report: nothing has changed in terms of visa requirements for South Africans travelling to the United States, a spokesperson for the US Consulate told ASATA. The fake news website where the article was originally published - www.USA-Television.com - also states that Mauritius was shamed as the most unfriendly country in the world by the World Tourism Organisation and that Ethiopia has banned all marriages until 2018. Needless to say, neither of these articles is true. Numerous fake news articles have circulated over the past few months. The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) last year even issued an alert to readers to beware an alarming trend by fake news websites to publish inaccurate information under the guise of news. Says ASATA CEO Otto de Vries: There are ways in which to spot whether a story is fake from the outset and we would advise travellers to use these tried and trusted methods before assuming that the report they have read is true. Here are some tips consumers should use to verify if the travel news they are reading is legitimate: 1. Check the URL to see if it matches the news service and is not a variation thereof, e.g. businessday.com.co or bus1nessday.co.za 2. Read the About Us to see if it is a legitimate news service. 3. Look for quotes in a story. Any legitimate news story worth its salt will provide different perspectives and hence a diversity of quotes. Google the names of these individuals to see if they are real. 4. Look at the comments that are associated with the story. If you can see a thread of comments from readers disputing or questioning the content, take note. 5. Look at the website advertising. Is it promoting legitimate companies? Minister Derek Hanekom is currently on a working visit to Iran, to attend the 10th annual Tehran International Tourism Exhibition, at the invitation of Vice President Dr Zahra Ahmadipour who is also the Head of the Iranian Cultural, Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation. From left to right: Ambassador A Whitehead (South Africa's Ambassador to Iran), Minister Hanekom, Dr Zahra Ahmadipour (Vice President of Iran and Head of Iran Cultural, Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organisation) and Morteza Rahmani Movahed (Tourism Deputy Iran Cultural, Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organisation). During the visit, Minister Hanekom had bilateral discussions with Dr Ahmadipour on growing tourism bilateral relations between the two countries and engaged members of the tourism trade to discuss ways of increasing tourist arrivals from Iran to South Africa. We have a good base to work from and grow tourism between our countries, said Minister Hanekom. We have been very warmly received in Iran, and the government and tourism trade has responded very positively to our effort to promote further tourism ties. Iran is amongst South Africas top three source markets for inbound tourists from the Middle East. More than 4,000 Iranian tourists visited South Africa between January and November 2016. South Africa is among the most popular destinations in the world for Muslim travellers, according to the MasterCard-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index for 2016, which covers 130 global destinations. About 117 million Muslim visitors travelled the world in 2015, representing 10 percent of the entire travel market. This is expected to grow to 168 million visitors by 2020, according to the Index. South Africa and Iran already have a strategic partnership that will benefit the people of both our countries. The Department of Tourism is now working with our Iranian counterparts on finalising a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation, said Minister Hanekom. We have a great opportunity to grow tourism between our countries, and we are working together with our Iranian counterparts to do this, said Minister Hanekom. | The ITEXPO blog is where you can view the latest news and happenings at TMC's leading VoIP conference. To accommodate the State of the Nation Address and rehearsals, the National Government and the SAPS have requested that a number of roads be temporarily closed this week. Unsplash The City of Cape Town will extended road closures in the city from as early as 6am on Thursday, 9 February 2017. Some of these road closures in the CBD will also be in effect on the evenings of Tuesday, 7 February and Wednesday, 8 February 2017, when rehearsals for the event are held from 5pm onwards. The road closures will affect the normal flow of traffic in and around the city bowl, Newlands, and the M3 and N2 city-bound lanes. As such, road users are asked to plan their routes accordingly. Road users are also alerted to the closure of the M3 and N2 at 5:45pm on Thursday. The M5 will be best option as an alternative route. A detailed breakdown of the closures/restrictions and deviations is available on the Citys website. Residents are urged to please familiarise themselves with the road closure schedule and parking restrictions so as to avoid being inconvenienced. While the extended area and timing of the road closures is not ideal, the City must comply with the requirements of the National Government and the SAPS. This week, we find out what's really going on behind the selfie with Verusha Maharaj, newly promoted GM Africa at The Creative Counsel. Maharaj was recently selected as one of 20 young managers from Publicis Groupes network of agencies worldwide, the only representative from Africa at that, to assist in mapping the future for the agency. Maharaj hates that selfies dont always give context to where you are. Here she is collecting memories in Ibiza, Spain. 1. Where do you live, work and play? Maharaj: I live in the suburbs of Sunninghill, although I do sometimes miss the hustle and bustle of being deep in the city. I work wherever creativity takes me but when I do have to work from the office, its in Melrose the giant space-ship-like building that can be seen from the M1 highway. I like to think that I play around the world! Having really been bitten by the travel bug, I managed to cover six continents within 2016. 2. Whats your claim to fame? Maharaj: I cant really say that I have a claim to fame. Ive worked very hard along the way. Combine that with amazing opportunities and 'bam, here I am', just loving what I do and the people I get to do it with. 3. Describe your career so far. Maharaj: I have definitely had an interesting ride so far. I found myself in medical school after completing high school on the polar opposite end to where I am now, but I changed courses to explore my creative side. After university I started working at the largest agency in South Africa. In an age where job-hopping is the norm for millennials, my situation is more the exception than the rule. I have been with TCC for just under nine years now and staying here has allowed me to grow and become hugely skilled in my field. To a certain extent I subscribe to Malcolm Gladwells 10 000-Hour Rule that if you dedicate time to doing something you become an expert at it. I started as a junior assistant and over the years through hard work, dedication, making mistakes and invaluable mentorship I have had the opportunity to take on multiple roles. I was recently promoted to general manager of Africa, before turning 30. I can honestly say that Ive loved every step of the way. 4. Tell us a few of your favourite things. Maharaj: I love to travel. I love fashion if this doesnt work out, fashion would be the route I would take. I love music listening to it, not performing. I love to learn new things both academic and otherwise, as I believe you should never stop learning. I love trying new foods especially spicy foods. Oh, and did I mention I love to travel? 5. What do you love about your industry? Maharaj: I love the energy and innovation that comes with being a creative industry. It is always changing so youre always on the edge of your seat waiting to see what we come up with next. I also love the fact that we work across multiple industries in terms of the range of our clients. Therefore youre always exposed to different ways of doing things and always learning. 6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists. Maharaj: It really doesnt exist. In fact, what I love most about my job is the fact that Ive never had two days that have ever been similar. It usually starts around 6am, involves make-up on the go, lunch consumed in bites over a few hours, back-to-back client meetings, creative reviews and putting out fires as they arise. My day only ends when Im done and at that point therell be a glass of wine in my hand. 7. What are the tools of your trade? Maharaj: You definitely need to be tenacious and need to be able to work well with people nothing about this industry requires you to work alone. You should also be able to combine creative with the business side. A Macbook (light) and WiFi/3g is a must! 8. Who is getting it right in your industry? Maharaj: Hakuhodo year after year I am inspired by them at Cannes. I really believe theyve managed to decipher the art of creativity using technology. 9. List a few pain points the industry can improve on. Maharaj: Tough one to say, but I do think there are many ginormous egos that can be worked on. 10. What are you working on right now? Maharaj: On our first job for 2017 strategy and creative concept for a local skincare brand. 11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself. Maharaj: Innovation, integration, targeted, Uber-like, disruptive, experience. 12. Where and when do you have your best ideas? Maharaj: Usually between the hours of 1am and 4am. Usually in the comfort of my bed. 13. Whats your secret talent/party trick? Maharaj: Karaoke queen driven by me being the only person who thinks I can actually sing. Haters will hate. 14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile? Maharaj: I would have to say somewhere in-between, I love new technology but sometimes it goes way over my head. 15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone? Maharaj: A large number of pictures I love taking pictures of the places I visit and need extra iCloud storage just for these. Work email. Social media, photo editing, news and travel apps. An insane amount of memes. 16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack it in the industry? Maharaj: Love what you do passion is everything. Dont give up every setback is a learning experience. Dont be too hard on yourself there are enough critics in the industry to do it for you. Lastly, remember to work hard but also play hard this industry is nothing if not entertaining. Simple as that. Email Maharaj at az.oc.lesnuocevitaerc@jaraham.ahsurev or contact her on Instagram or LinkedIn for more. *Interviewed by Leigh Andrews. French carmaker, Peugeot, has announced a return to Kenya. Jean-Christophe Quemard, the PSA Peugeot group vice-president for Middle East and Africa, disclosed that the company will roll out its first Kenyan assembled car in June this year. "We have pumped in US$12 million (Sh1,2 billion) and are looking to employ 200 people and want to start with at least 1,000 units at a go," says Quemard. It will begin with its famous brand, the 508. Inward-looking President Uhuru Kenyatta said the move showed that Kenya's manufacturing industry was growing significantly. The President said that his government would adopt an inward-looking policy that would see firms operating in Kenya being supported by encouraging the purchase of their products. "My government will continue to enforce the 'Buy Kenya Build Kenya' policy to support companies and businesses that produce [goods] in Kenya," he says. The new deal Peugeot ceased its completely knocked down (CKD) Kenyan assembly in 2004 and thereafter severed links with its franchise holder, Marshalls East Africa, three years later. The new deal was signed with its new franchise holder, Urysia. Peugeot's re-entry comes just three months after German carmaker Volkswagen opened a new assembly in Thika, about 45km north of Nairobi. Radio Pulpit 657AM, which began its trial of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM30) medium wave (digital radio) in 2014, has released its results on broadcast quality. Andrey Tsidvintsvev via 123RF The station made history by leading the South African radio broadcasting industry into the digital era with the first live digital medium wave broadcast. It transmitted the DRM30 trial broadcast from Pretoria during the period September 2014 up to October 2015, with support from Broadcom International and Sentech. DRM30 measurements were conducted successfully on 1440 kHz, using a 10kW DRM30 transmitter with the purpose of presenting test results to ICASA. Antenna design critical Two low profile antennas were used in the trial and both were capable of providing good signal coverage. Performance differences between the antennas highlighted the importance of the AM antenna, as part of the DRM station design. Field strength measurement indicated that the propagated ground-wave does not radiate equally in all horizontal directions due to ground conductivity, nature of the topographical terrain, man-made noise, etc. The DRM30 coverage performance is not only a factor of received signal strength, but also of the signal to noise ratio in the reception area. Modulation configuration selection had a direct impact on signal coverage area and data throughput. The 16QAM modulation configuration setting provided a more robust signal resulting in a larger signal coverage area compared to the 64QAM modulated signal, which provided a higher data rate and a smaller signal coverage area. The DRM30 signal performed better than the analogue AM signal, with regard to coverage area for the same transmitter power. This means that the medium wave characteristics of DRM30 provide transmissions that can reach people in remote places where no other means of radio broadcasting could do before. With DRM30, people in difficult-to-reach areas will in future be able to listen to clear digital radio. Energy savings DRM30 demonstrated a substantial reduction in energy consumption compared to an analogue (AM) broadcast to cover the same area. The robust signal is green and energy efficient and provides up to 50% savings in energy. DRM30 demonstrated improved spectrum usage. In the study, DRM30 was capable of transmitting two good audio services on the same AM frequency and bandwidth, providing a wider choice for listeners, which will make multilingual programmes possible. Added to the audio service text messages, a Journaline service was also transmitted, which was seen on the receiver end; demonstrating the added value offered by DRM30 in addition to audio being broadcasted only. The DRM Consortium chairperson, Ruxandra Obreja, stated, National networks, regional stations and smaller commercial and community stations all would be able to broadcast their radio programme with enhanced content and excellent sound quality. The DRM global standard can be used in all radio frequency bands and is ideal for the large countries of Southern Africa. Listeners can look forward to excellent audio quality (CD quality) with stereo and 5.1 surround sound. Other enhanced DRM30 features include: Automatic tuning by station name, no longer by frequency Emergency warning and alert system, warning listeners about possible disasters Multimedia applications and text messages (visible on the receiver screen) Electronic Program Guide (EPG) providing information about what is on now and next. Listeners will be able to search for programmes and schedule recordings An option to accompany programs with images and animation via the MOT Slideshow TPEG/TMC traffic information For more information, go to www.drmsa.org. The mining industry needs a fresh start in stakeholder relationship, mostly due to a prevailing lack of trust, and this is reflected in the South Africa's low ranking in the Fraser Institute Mining Survey The country ranks low than the DRC, which is strange because the DRC is quite a risky environment, said Neal Froneman, CEO: Sibanye Gold. Individually we cannot, as stakeholders, turn our problems around. He outlined where the problems lay in the different stakeholder components. Business Mining companies must commit to investment to ensure sustainability in the right environment. In addition, most of the businesses are well established, and there were not enough new entrants in the sector. Regulation Froneman says unclear policy is part of the reason why South Africa ranks so low in the Fraser survey. The regulatory framework has impacted negatively, because investor dont know what the cost of doing business is here. We need a clear policy and partnership processes that are fair and efficient. Labour In terms of labour militancy well you cant get worse than South African, he said, and unions must focus on promoting member interests rather than chasing a political agenda. They also must recognise the need for sustainability. Employees Froneman explained that part of Sibanyes strategy is employee engagement and creating an environment where workers understand that they have to tighten their belts in tough times, so they can share in the good times. Communities Community representatives must engage constructively to speak up for the needs of the broader constituencies, Froneman said. Weve found many hidden agendas, such as local businessmen trying to promote their own interests. Mining communities also need to understand economic cycles and therefore be more supportive of a sustainable role, rather than being disruptive. In conclusion, Froneman reinforced his message that sustainability in the mining industry required a joint effort from a stakeholders, with no one sitting in the centre of the circle. The Cape Town High Court has dismissed the SABC's application for leave to appeal its order that Hlaudi Motsoeneng may not occupy any position at the public broadcaster. The court ruled in November that Motsoeneng's appointment as group executive for corporate affairs - the post he held before becoming COO - was "irrational and unlawful". It said Motsoeneng could not occupy any position at the SABC unless a 2014 report by the public protector were set aside, or new disciplinary action against him was finalised. The court said the disciplinary hearing that cleared Motsoeneng of wrongdoing was "wholly inadequate". The DA welcomed yesterday's ruling, saying it was a step towards restoring the independence of the SABC. "The DA also welcomes the fact that Motsoeneng and his toxic influence will now be removed from the SABC," DA federal chairman James Selfe said. He said it was time the SABC ended its "frivolous litigation" at the expense of the taxpayer and focused on fixing the public broadcaster and correcting the damage Motsoeneng had caused. The SABC's lawyer, Stephan du Toit, argued in the Cape Town High Court last week that its earlier ruling had set a bad precedent in that it allowed outsiders "to interfere in the employment policies of organs of the state". He said the matter should to be clarified by the Supreme Court of Appeal. Motsoeneng's appointment "constituted an internal arrangement" and was not an exercise of public power, Du Toit contended. The SABC said it was "disappointed" by the court's ruling. "Our lawyers will get a copy of the judgment today and go through it. They will advise us on how to go forward," SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said. The SABC has lurched from one crisis to another under Motsoeneng. The parliamentary committee investigating the SABC finalised its draft report last month and sent copies to those involved, including Communications Minister Faith Muthambi. The Fourth Industrial Revolution' will offer new opportunities to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth by fast tracking market integration in Africa through industrial corridors and regional integration. The Minister of Trade and Industry of South Africa, Dr Rob Davies, says that the current economic climate has forced South Africa and the majority of African countries that are commodity dependent, to refocus their attention on the urgency of economic diversification, revitalisation of manufacturing and innovation. Image by 123RF Davies was speaking during the Investment Dialogue session that formed part of Investing in African Mining Indaba programme in Cape Town, yesterday. Davies further pronounced that the Fourth Industrial Revolution the world is currently going through, will offer new opportunities to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth by fast tracking market integration in Africa through industrial corridors and regional integration. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will have an impact on manufacturing and how things are done in the economy. We need to start preparing ourselves to respond to it, said Davies. Furthermore, Davies added that the effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will not be limited to the manufacturing area, rather they would extend to service sectors, including e-commerce and the legal and accounting professions. We need to understand what the Fourth Industrial Revolution is and unpack how South Africa could benefit from it, especially when it comes to capitalising on innovation. Our country is gearing up collectively between the mining industry, government and labour in preparation of the eminent headwinds in the mining and minerals industry. Central to this are the opportunities to extend and strengthen value chains through further downstream manufacturing. Significant value chain opportunities already exist and are being operationalised as set out in the successive iterations of the Industrial Policy Action Plan, he said. Minister Davies also stated that beneficiation is no longer something we want to talk about but rather do. Windhoek Beer has launched a new integrated campaign titled Don't Compromise', it's based on historical events. The integrated campaign extends to its digital platforms and includes trade activations that reinforce the message, through a BTL innovative activation called The Pure Beer Detector'. The TVC was conceptualised and created by The Jupiter Drawing Room (CT), is currently live on the SABC channels, eTV, KykNET and Mzansi. The TVC is also available digitally on Windhoek's YouTube page as well as the official Windhoek website. To view the TVC, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d_hyvi1cys. pandemin/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- This final phase of the four-state crude oil pipeline has been the focus of massive protests in recent months. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which sued in July to block the $3.8 billion project, claims tribe members were never meaningfully consulted before construction began. The tribe also cites an 1851 treaty that it says designates the land in question to Native American tribes. That lawsuit is still pending, and the Army Corps, as well as the pipeline company, argued in court papers that they followed a standard review process. What North Dakota Lawmakers are Saying Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) said Speer informed him Wednesday of the Armys intent to issue the Congressional notification, which he said was received by the House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday afternoon. The North Dakota Republican lawmaker said the easement is expected to be issued Wednesday. After months of unnecessary delay, the Missouri River easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline is being issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, Cramer said in a statement Tuesday. North Dakota looks forward to the safe completion and operation of this modern energy infrastructure to improve Americas economy and security. Once again, I am grateful for President Trumps commitment to taking swift action on this and other issues of concern to the American people. North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, said the Armys announcement brings this issue one step closer to final resolution, adding that it also delivers the certainty and clarity Ive been demanding. What the Tribe is Saying The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has long vowed to fight any grant for the easement. In response to the Armys announcement, the tribe said it was undaunted in its commitment to legally challenge an easement announced by the Army for the Dakota Access pipeline. The drinking water of millions of Americans is now at risk. We are a sovereign nation and we will fight to protect our water and sacred places from the brazen private interests trying to push this pipeline through to benefit a few wealthy Americans with financial ties to the Trump administration, Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement Tuesday. Americans have come together in support of the Tribe asking for a fair, balanced and lawful pipeline process. The Environmental Impact Statement was wrongfully terminated. This pipeline was unfairly rerouted across our treaty lands. The Trump administration yet again is poised to set a precedent that defies the law and the will of Americans and our allies around the world. Attorneys for the tribe said they believe the permit cannot be granted legally at this time. The Obama administration correctly found that the Tribes treaty rights needed to be acknowledged and protected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations, Jan Hasselman, an attorney with Earthjustice, the nonprofit group representing the tribe, said in a statement. Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian Tribes and unlawful violation of Treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said it will challenge any easement decision on the grounds that the Environmental Impact Statement was wrongfully terminated. The tribe said it will also demand a fair, accurate and lawful Environmental Impact Statement to identify true risks to its treaty rights, including its water supply and sacred places. If the Dakota Access Pipeline is successfully completed and begins operating, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said it will seek to shut the pipeline operations down. The tribe also announced a Native Nations March on Washington scheduled for March 10, inviting Native American allies in the United States and around the world to join the event. We ask that our allies join us in demanding that Congress demand a fair and accurate process, Archambault II said. Our fight is no longer at the North Dakota site itself. Our fight is with Congress and the Trump administration. Meet us in Washington on March 10. What Has Led to This Point Thousands of Native Americans, environmental activists and their allies have camped out near the Standing Rock reservation for months to protest the project, making it one of the largest Native American demonstrations in decades. The protesters, who call themselves water protectors, argue that the pipeline will threaten the reservations water supply and traverse culturally sacred sites. Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, the Texas-based firm thats building the pipeline, has said that concerns about the pipelines impact on local water supply are unfounded and multiple archaeological studies conducted with state historic preservation offices found no sacred items along the route. In November, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it would conduct an Environmental Impact Study to address concerns about the last mile and a half of the pipeline, part of which would go underneath Lake Oahe. The pipeline would connect the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois. Within the final days of President Obamas administration, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, announced on Dec. 4 that an easement would not be granted for the pipeline to cross under the large reservoir on the Missouri River. Darcy said at the time of the decision that the Army Corps shall engage in additional review and analysis to include a robust consideration and discussion of alternative locations for the pipeline crossing the Missouri River." All these steps, Darcy determined, would best be accomplished by the Army Corps preparing a full Environmental Impact Statement allowing for public input, a process that could take years. Darcy is no longer in the position after the change in administrations. The move to deny the easement was hailed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other pipeline opponents as a major victory. But on his second weekday in office, President Trump signed a memorandum aimed at advancing the Dakota Access Pipeline, along with another one directed at the Keystone XL pipeline. Editors note: An earlier version misstated the given name of Rep. Kevin Cramer. The story has since been updated. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Ecuador, one of the smallest countries on South America with an area comparable to the state of Nevada, is located on the equinoctial line, with territories on both the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere it receives high insulation and luminosity, which gives it twelve hours of light daily throughout the year. This small place is a biodiverse, multi-ethnic and pluri-cultural country, with honest and friendly people, where you can live exceptional experiences that make it a unique destination to be visited. Due to its location at the center of the world, Ecuador concentrates in a small territory a compendium of the diversity of the planet, which are conjugated in the Andes Mountains, paradisiacal coasts, mysterious and deep Amazon jungles and a unique treasure in the world that constitutes a natural laboratory called the Galapagos Islands. Megadiverse and beautiful, Ecuador is recognized worldwide for its richness and variety in terms of plants and animals that it possesses per square meter. The privileged fauna and flora concentrates 10% of all the species of plants in the world. Giant Tortoise Galapagos marine Iguanas Nazca Booby Mating Call Ecuador has more than 17,058 species of vascular plants, the country is home to approximately 1,600 species of birds that inhabit the continental territory, in addition to another 38 species that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Between the mainland and the Galapagos, Ecuador is also home to a total of 350 species of reptiles and 400 species of amphibians. Only in snakes there are 210 species, ranging in size from the extremely small, 16 cm, to the gigantic anaconda that can reach up to 6 meters in length. It is estimated that in the waters of the region of the Amazon basin there are more than 800 species of fish, among which we can find electric eels and piranhas. In the areas with the highest biodiversity in the Ecuadorian jungle, half a hectare can contain up to 70,000 species of insects. Only the number of butterfly species is estimated to be around 6,000. Take into consideration that the total number of these species of butterflies in the world is around 20,000. Ecuadorians have stated that nature has rights. These rights have been recognized in the Constitution of the country the first in the world and such law existance where 20% of the national territory is protected in 44 reserves and natural parks, including Yasuni National Park, A jungle jewel of the Pleistocene, and world biosphere reserve. Where, in a square kilometer, there is more variety of trees than in all North America. Its great biodiversity, one of the reasons why all you need is Ecuador. If you are looking to visit Ecuador you can enjoy the beauty of the country with a variety of Ecuador tours or learn all the tips and tricks to planning your next vacation, please subscribe to our Tours4fun Newsletter below for exclusive deals. John Newmark email: jcnewmark at gmail dot com If you are related, please contact me. I may have more information than posted. Rose Kgolane has been appointed as the new account executive for public relations agency, Tribeca PR. Kgolane will be tasked with providing public relations consultancy to Epson, Tower Bridge, JenniDezigns, and the Hollard Daredevil Run 2017. Kgolane was previously employed at media monitoring company, Quick Pick, as a media analyst before joining Tribeca PR. Kgolane graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a diploma in public relations and communications. Hundreds of education organizationsfrom teachers unions, to civil rights organizations, even some charter school supporterssent letters to Capitol Hill in the past few weeks urging senators not to support Betsy DeVos nomination as education secretary or raised concerns about her. Now that shes been confirmed, by the closest margin of any cabinet official in history , can those groups and the educators they represent find a way to work with her, after expressing big concerns about her qualifications and positions? And will DeVos want to work with them? In her first public statement after being sworn in Tuesday, DeVos said that she planned on partnering with students, parents, educators, state, and local leaders, Congress, and all stakeholders to improve educational options and outcomes across America. And a department spokesman said that DeVos has worked pragmatically in the past, advancing bills that had bipartisan support and reaching out to a range of parents and educators. Her focus on day one is going to be doing whats right for kids, and that means reaching out to folks [she] doesnt always agree with. Jeanne Allen, a DeVos supporter who served in the U.S. Department of Education during President Ronald Reagans administration, suggested that DeVos take a page from Reagans education secretarys Bill Bennetts playbook and do a listening tour, meeting in small groups with educators, parents, advocates and more. (U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan did something very similar when he started at the department under President Barack Obama.) The public has mostly gotten to know DeVos through old speeches and her confirmation hearing, which was widely panned. Talking to educators directlyand listening to what they have to saycould change that. And this doesnt necessarily have to be done through through formal organizations, said Allen, who is now the CEO of the Center for Education Reform. The most important people to reach out to are not the groups but the people they claim to represent, she said. DeVos can make it clear that theres room for disagreement, but theres not really been any conversation with Betsy DeVos. That dialogue can and will be insightful. So far, its hard to tell who the Trump administration will be listening to on education in Washington. One meeting on education last month with the transition teamwhich included White House advisor Rob Goad, but not DeVosfeatured representatives from conservative think tanks, fans of home schooling and faith-based education, and representatives from big urban school districts and school boards, sources said. Also present: a coalition of Fairfax County, Va., parents, including one concerned about children reading books with controversial themes, like Toni Morrisons Beloved. But some of the usual suspects were missing, including AASA, the School Superintendents Association, which has worked closely with Republicans on the Every Student Succeeds Act and other issues. Meanwhile, some advocacy groups are already bracing for a new kind of relationship with the department. The National Association of Secondary School Principals thought long and hard before deciding to take a stand against DeVos, said Amanda Karhuse, the director of government relations in an interview before the confirmation vote. The organization has never come out for or against an education secretary nominee and knew it may have to work with her later on. The turning point, though, was DeVos confirmation hearing, in which she appeared to lack basic knowledge of key education issues, such as the fact that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law, Karhuse said. At that point, principals asked NASSP to take a stronger stance. And now? Karhuse said NASSP will try to work with the department, but will also redouble its efforts with other players, including statehouses and Congress. I think so much is now going to shift to whats happening in the states helping our folks to be advocates there, she said. And when it comes to things like a $20 billion school choice program, which Trump proposed on the campaign trail? Congress is going to have a voice on all of this, said Karhuse. NASSP is also hoping to take advantage of some already-established relationships with career staff and principal ambassador fellowsschool leaders who are spending a year at the department. The National Education Association, on the other hand, does not anticipate any kind of relationship with DeVos, its president, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, told Politico. Kati Haycock, who recently announced shes stepping down as the leader of The Education Trust, which advocates for poor and minority children and opposed DeVos nomination, said of the new secretary, I think shes a grownup. We have always managed to work with folks on things we agree on and to oppose them on things that we dont. And she added that there will be a check on DeVos power: Theres not a lot that she can do without congressional approval. And groups that didnt officially come out against DeVos nomination, but criticized some of her policy positions, are hoping for common ground. We remain concerned. Theres an opportunity to work together, but we remain concerned, said Lindsay Jones, the National Center for Learning Disabilities vice president of policy and advocacy, after DeVos was confirmed as secretary. However, Jones also indicated that her organization would do the same with an Education Department under DeVos as it has with every other administration. I hope that the attention that was paid to this [special education] continues to be bipartisan, and that we do see a Department of Education under Ms. DeVos leadership that is willing to work with us to enforce the laws and create the opportunities that we need, she said. State chiefs generally didnt take public stances for or against DeVos, either. But Pedro Rivera, the education secretary in Pennsylvania, harkened back to his teaching career in describing what it might be like to work with her. As a classroom teacher Ive worked with principals that I didnt necessarily care for and [under] school policies that I didnt like, but at the end of the day I came in knowing that I had 35 kids in front of me that had to be educated, Rivera, who was appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said at a forum this month hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the Aspen Institute. As a state chief, I may not always agree with the decisions being made every day, but at the end of the day, I have 1.74 million students that are depending on me to advocate for them and to create state policy so that they can best be educated. ... Sometimes [our work] may complement whats happening at the federal level, sometimes it may run contrary to what the belief system is there. ... At the end of the day were in this role because we care about kids, and nothing that happens above us is going to change that, he said. Assistant Editor Andrew Ujifusa contributed to this post. Vice President Mike Pence swears in Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Tuesday, as DeVos husband, Dick DeVos, watches. --Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trumps pick for Education Secretary, speaks during a rally on Dec. 9 in Grand Rapids, Mich. --Andrew Harnik/AP We seem to find ourselves in this spot again when it comes to the U.S. Secretary of Education. Dont know what I mean? We seem to be in a place where the person in charge of the U.S. education system lacks the experience to take the job. In this case, there is mounting evidence that there are countless better choices...but that doesnt seem to matter. It was interesting to watch the congressional hearings , because many of the same bipartisan group that didnt seem to care about public education a few years ago as we went through increased accountability and mandates, seemed to be less partisan this time around. Dont get me wrong, there are certain members of that group who have long been supportive of public education. However, some of the Democrats sitting on the panel seemed out of practice when it came to defending public education. I guess you never know what will unite us... The Infamous Non-Answers The rhetoric regarding Devos is not kind. Friends who are educators in Michigan have cited numerous articles to show that she has not been a friend to public education, and even her charter school operations seem to cater to a select group. Much like many of President Trumps other cabinet members, she is a billionaire (who donated millions to Republicans) because clearly billionaires know what to do with public education. Especially a billionaire who has never spent any time in public education. Can she provide innovative ideas that will help improve public education? From the start of the hearings it didnt look that way... Devos is a proponent of choice for parents. We know this is a hot button issue. John Hattie, someone I work with as a Visible Learning trainer has spent some time researching choice. In the Politics of Distraction, Hattie writes, Systems promote the language of choice, although it is usually only the more affluent who can exercise any choice offered. The choice is nearly always a choice of schools (not teachers), and the typical choice is between government-funded and private schools. As noted above, this choice between schools is despite between-school variability being, in most Western countries, small relative to the much more important 'within-school variability'. This raises the question, 'Why do we provide choice at the school level when this matters far less than the choice of teacher within a school?' Devos has not clearly defined how parents living in rural settings, who often lack other options for schooling, are going to suddenly have a choice. Its a bit disturbing to have someone in the position of U.S. Secretary of Education not be able to clearly define her plan around choice, and her record in Michigan certainly doesnt help. When most school leaders interview to run buildings or districts, they have to provide their plan for the future. Why not our education secretary? Lets take this as an opportunity to understand why there are parents who want choice for their children. Next, Devos couldnt answer the difference between proficiency and growth. In the past we have had education secretaries who preferred proficiency over growth and now we have an education secretary who doesnt know the difference between the two. If we are to provide a strong education to students we should all understand the difference between proficiency and growth. We expect our teachers and leaders to know it, shouldnt we have the same expectation for the U.S. Secretary of Education? Lets take this as an opportunity to make sure we all have a deep level of understanding between proficiency and growth. Lastly, Devos didnt realize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was in fact a law. This is probably something she should have known. Its a little more important than not knowing a student doesnt have an IEP. This is the U.S. Secretary of Education, a person who says she wants the best for all students, not knowing that this is a law. Not only does this law affect anyone who works in a public school but its been one of the most important laws to date because of the protections it offers to students and families. Lets take this as an opportunity to understand IDEA for those students in our schools and classrooms. A Better Question For Us? Why are we here...again? As I sat and watched the hearings I just kept wondering why we are once again at this point where we are watching a leader being chosen to lead us who has no experience to do so? Why are we once again in a position where the leader of public education has a distaste for public education? This does not just begin with Devos. Former U.S. Secretaries Arnie Duncan and John King were not kind to public education either. In New York State where I was a school principal, John King was the commissioner of education and he lacked experience in the job. We were pummeled by mandates and accountability, which was well documented in the media. King was following the direction of Chanceller Meryl Tisch who was a billionaire like Devos. Sure, she had experience as an elementary school teacher from decades before, but between her, the commissioner, and the Governor, public education was abused quite often. King ultimately got a promotion to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Governor Cuomo showed his softer side and Tisch stepped away. At least Tisch and King had degrees. Devos doesnt have such a degree. In the End There has been a vote of no confidence in public education by a certain group for a long time. Over and over again we find ourselves defending ourselves, and this time we have a leader who knows so little about us, that she cannot answer some of the simplest questions we have to answer in our daily lives? Are we supposed to ignore what happens at the top, say it doesnt really have an effect us, and go on with our daily lives? I do believe that we cant always control the noise thats out there but we can certainly control how we react to it. Devos is now our U.S. Secretary of Education. How do we educate her at the same time we wait for her innovative ideas? As teachers and leaders, we have to ask ourselves why we are constantly in this place where we are fighting. Is it just politics are usual? If we are so good wouldnt more people come to our defense? What is it that we have to do differently? And will Betsy Devos be worse...or just more of the same of what we have had? Peter DeWitt, Ed.D. is the author of several books including the best selling Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most (September, 2016. Corwin Press/Learning Forward). Connect with Peter on Twitter . Each review score is between 1-10. To get the overall score that you see, we add up all the review scores weve received and divide that total by the number of review scores weve received. In addition, guests can give separate subscores in crucial areas, such as location, cleanliness, staff, comfort, facilities, value for money and free Wi-Fi. 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Booking.com is a distributor (without any obligation to verify) and not a publisher of these comments and responses. By default, reviews are sorted based on the date of the review and on additional criteria to display the most relevant reviews, including but not limited to: your language, reviews with text, and non-anonymous reviews. Additional sorting options may be available (by type of traveller, by score, etc.). Translations disclaimer This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Betsy DeVos just took office and already is the object of New Yorker cartoonist Tom Torros barbs, and Andy Borowitz satire. The script played out. Vice President Mike Pence was called on to cast the tie-breaking vote, the first in history for a cabinet secretary. Given the opposition that held the Senate floor for 24 hours, kept an overnight vigil at the Capitol, and jammed switchboards and email servers in Washington and home offices, its fair to say that Betsy DeVos will take office as the most vilified U.S. education secretary in history. But its time to take Betsy DeVos seriously. Knowledgeable commentary from Peter Cunningham at the Hechinger Report and Alyson Klein at Education Week raised the question of whether and how she would be able to lead in the face of the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act that reduces the power of the U.S. Education Secretary. That statute, coupled with her obvious lack of knowledge of how the department works, are thought to portend a highly ineffectual secretary. But Betsy DeVos doesnt want to run the department of education. She doesnt want to be Arne Duncans successor, or Margaret Spellings for that matter. She, like several of Donald Trumps other cabinet officers, was chosen to fulfill chief strategist Stephen Bannons anti-institutional ideology and the Koch brothers dark money view that government should be available for purchase. Betsy DeVos wants one thing: choice, and the more privatized and unregulated the better. Thats her track record and her belief system. So, lets take the worldview she espouses, examine the politics and policies involved, and later on well contrast that with California direction. The best introduction to DeVos thought may be contained in a speech she gave in 2015 to the SXSW tech conference in Austin, Texas. Valerie Strauss at the Washington Post posted her talk, and I recommend it to you. Right at the beginning, DeVos fesses up: shes a rich Republican. Then, she lays out her argument. Its clear: we must revolutionize our education delivery system in America. Thats it--thats all Im asking for. Open education up; allow for choice, innovation and freedom. She buttresses her argument with a series of inconvenient truths, a phrase I believe weve heard before from the previous Democratic candidate who didnt become President by winning the popular vote. Our education system, she says, is antiquated and quite frankly embarrassing, its been losing ground to other countries for at least half a century, and that neither of our political parties can solve the problem because theres gridlock in Washington. Thus, Inconvenient Truth #4: government really sucks. Actually, it sucks so much that she didnt even bother to learn much about the department she will head and embarassed even Republicans at her confirmation hearing. [Unanswered questions .] She wraps this in a blanket of morality. Rich people get choices, she notes. Suburban Republicans favor choice, but not for inner city kids coming to their schools. Democrats often oppose choice (the District of Columbia voucher system for example) while exercising it for their children. Approximately 40 percent of the members of Congress send their children to private schools. Thus, the rallying cry: If you claim you are for freedom, if you claim to be an innovator or you value innovation, if you claim to be an entrepreneur, if you claim to believe in equal opportunity, if you claim to embrace social justice, then you have to embrace educational choice, and you have to embrace opening up our closed educational delivery system." Betsy DeVos, I would hazard, doesnt give a fig about running the traditional functions of the U.S. Department of Education. She wants to get federal money in the hands of private school operators as fast as she can. This includes relaxing the ban on funding scandal-ridden for profit higher education institutions. She will say that she is for states rights, but what she will mean is that is she favors of the rights of states to use vouchers, and she will offer them every encouragement to do so. Unfortunately, there are a couple reciprocal inconvenient truths. First, when put in practice, unregulated vouchers and charters, to use DeVos word, suck . These schools dont work very well, they are prone to self-dealing leading to scandal, and they harm the remaining public school system. Second, DeVos, joined by many other privatizers, fails to appreciate that education is a highly complex institution. There are many who work within it, who agree with DeVos assertion that the system is broken, but transforming it requires understanding how it works rather than simply asserting that it doesnt. Here DeVos fails, and her failure is all the more apparent to Californians who have invested the time and energy to rethink the system as a whole. The contrast couldnt be sharper. Tom Torro cartoon used by permission from the New Yorker. Its also available for purchase . A new report by the Learning Policy Institute paints a bleak picture of teacher workforce trends in California, warning of severe consequences to special education, math, science, and bilingual education. The state has wrestled with teacher shortages for some time now, and the California-based think tank says that districts have responded to the shortages by hiring underprepared teachers, relying on substitute teachers, and assigning teachers out of their fields of preparation. This is disproportionately happening in schools that serve the most vulnerable students, the report found through analyzing data from California government sources. Teachers hired with substandard credentials"meaning emergency permits that allow people who have not completed a teacher-prep program to teach for one year, intern credentials that allow people to teach while still taking courses, or permits that allow credentialed teachers to teach outside of their subject areasare twice as likely to teach in high-poverty schools than in low-poverty schools and three times more likely to teach in high-minority schools than in low-minority schools. The study points to research that shows that underprepared teachers depress student achievement and have higher attrition rates. More special education teachers are entering the classroom on substandard credentials than are entering with full teaching credentials, LPI found. Just 36 percent of special education teachers in 2015-16 were credentialed, and the restmore than 4,000 teachersentered the field as interns or with emergency permits or waivers. And California may be unprepared to meet an increasing demand for bilingual teachers, LPI predicts. In November, California voters decided to repeal English-only instruction , so now schools and families can seek bilingual education (and 1 in 5 students in California is an English-language learner). However, few state teacher preparation institutions offer bilingual authorization training programs. Theres been a steady decline in new bilingual authorizations in the state, with fewer than 700 teachers authorized in 2015-16. Math and science teachers have been in short supply across the country, and LPI found that California is relying on substandard credentials and permits to fill the gaps. Between 2012 and 2016, the number of math and science teachers entering the field with full credentials dropped from 3,200 to 2,200, while the proportion of those teachers entering the field with substandard credentials or permits doubled, from 20 percent to almost 40 percent. LPI found that enrollment in teacher preparation programs has steadily declined from 77,705 candidates in 2001-02 to 18,894 in 2013-14. There has been a slight uptick in the last couple of years, which could mean that prospective teachers are responding to the shortage. (A recent survey found that the majority of California voters would encourage a young person to become a teacher.) And the state has funded recruitment efforts and other training programs that are still in the early phases. But those efforts wont help address immediate demands. For the short-term, the LPI recommends that California offer scholarships or loan forgiveness to pre-service teachers who commit to teaching in high-needs fields and locations, utilize teacher residency models to help with retention rates, and remove barriers for retired teachers to re-enter the teaching field in shortage areas. (The last recommendation is a model that Virginia has used to curb shortages .) Graphics courtesy of the Learning Policy Institute More on Teacher Shortages: Non-Resident Tuition Cut in Half at Wyoming College of Law For three lucky students, Wyoming College of Law has cut its tuition to $16,000 a year. Wait, that's the same as all Wyoming residents pay. So what's the big deal, you may ask? The big deal is, the law school is digging deep to attract out-of-state students by offering them 50 percent off on their tuition. Otherwise, non-residents have to pay $32,590 per year. "Mindful of both the university's goal to increase enrollment and the state's goal to diversify its economy and reverse the brain-drain crisis in Wyoming, it's important to understand the economic stimulus effect and the capturing effect of getting nonresident students to come to Wyoming," said Klinton Alexander, dean of the law school. How Big of a Deal? OK, so maybe it's not that big of a deal because the discount is offered to only three students. But that's not all the Laramie-based school offers. Wyoming is a beautiful state and home to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, the most majestic mountains in the Western Hemisphere. So Laramie is about as far away from them as any city in Wyoming, but still ... Wyoming is on the legal map because of Gerry Spence, the cowboy lawyer who successfully and miraculously defended Imelda Marcus from charges that she looted the Philippines treasury to buy all those shoes. That was so long ago very few millennials know the reference, but still ... Wyoming is experiencing a brain drain serious enough that law school administrators cut tuition in half for non-residents and will help them get local jobs after law school. Alright, now we're getting somewhere. On-the-Job Learning Lisa Nunley, director of admissions and student services, said the law school offers programs to prepare students for real work. She said the legal clinics, for example, give students experiential learning credits. "To entice students to come to UW with this tuition waiver, and then being able to guarantee those kinds of programs for them is huge," she said. "Especially for their post-law school career, they'll be able to hit the ground running. It really does prepare them in a lot of ways that some schools just can't do." It may interest out-of-staters to know that the Wyoming law school reports a 71 percent bar pass rate and an 87 percent employment rate for graduates. Oh, and Butch Cassidy did prison time in Laramie. If you're interested ... Related Resources: Union Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Ministry Deputy Minister Hla Kyaw told the House of Nationalities at its session on February 7, The Presidents Office agreed to the dissolution of the Myanmar International Cooperation Agency (MICA) on December 13, 2016 and we will present this case to the Union Government to get their final permission for dissolution of this organization. After the dissolution of MICA, the lands, farms and factories under their management will be transferred to the ministries and departments concerned in accordance with rules, regulations and procedures, he added. House of Nationalities MP Naw Chris Tun aka Dr.Arkar Moe from Kayin State, No. 7 constituency moved a motion in parliament on MICA, it states, This parliament urges the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation to openly and transparently explain and expose the financial management of MICA and how the ministry will manage factories, businesses, lands and farms acquired from government departments without official approval from the Union Government after its dissolution and liquidation. Hla Kyaw told parliament, In dissolution and liquidation of MICA, we will seek advice from Union Auditor General Office for settling of accounts and financial management in accordance with financial regulations and procedures. The motion moved by House of Nationalities MP Naw Chris Tun got 140 Yes votes and 50 Nay votes and was passed. The decision was lodged on February 6 by UPDJC in Nay Pyi Taw. Following the suspension from the regional-level discussions about policies regarding national-level talks planned the CNF and ALP, the CNF is uncertain if it would join the 21st Century Panglong Conference on February 28. If we do not get to hold national political talks, the CNF is not sure it will attend the upcoming [second] 21st century Panglong conference. This is because we must hold this talk first in order to present the matters at the [panglong] conference. said Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, vice-chairman (2) of CNF. 9th UPDJC conference in Nay Pyi Taw (Photo: Hla Maung Shwe/Facebook) CNF had already planned to hold its regional talks after February 20. However, at Mondays meeting, the UPDJC, which is comprised of ethnic armed groups that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government, representatives from political parties, central government officials and military officers, decided to put the regional talks on hold due to unstable situation in the Chin State. We cannot hold the talks in Chin State yet because the locals cant accept the liaison office. Therefore, weve put these talks on hold. However, this does not mean we wont hold the talk there. We are working hard to be able to hold talks in every region, presidential spokesman U Zaw Htay, of the President Office Ministry. Presidential spokesman U Zaw Htay added that the committee also suspended the talk planned by the ALP due to the current complex political situation in Rakhine State. November 2016 saw clashes in Rakhine State between Rohingya armed militants and army troops which has forced many residents to flee the region, some into neighbouring Bangladesh. Although the CNF and ALP, who have also signed the NCA with the government, are not allowed to hold the talks, other ethnic armed groups that inked the NCA have been permitted to hold them in their respective regions in preparation for the upcoming national-level peace conference. Ethnic-level talk,regarding the national level talks, was already held in Karen State, while regional talk was also held in Tarnintaryi Region. The committee also allowed talks to be held in Pa-O area and in the area of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) in Shan State as well as in Bago Region. Since the CNF and ALP signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), according to the political talks framework, they could cooperate with respective political parties and hold ethnic based political talks in respective areas. Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo this week applauded the setting up of the Corruption Court. The Corruption court, based in Gaborone was formed to primarily deal with corruption cases. Addressing the 2017 Legal year ceremony held at the Gaborone High Court on Tuesday Dibotelo said: The setting up of this court in 2012 under the Superintendence of a High Court judge was informed by exigencies of dealing with corruption cases. When the court was set up there were about 160 cases. As I report there are 22 cases, meaning that if the judge was solely dedicated to this court he would be idle because on average a High Court judge handles 350 to 400 hard core cases per annum of all case types. Moreover, Dibotelo advised the entire nation to decisively deal with corruption to inculcate the norm into the young ones, adding that this is one of the key strategies outlined in Vision 2036, which outlines the development of human capital to transform the country into knowledge based economy that is globally competitive. The success of this court, like our other initiatives such as the special Stock Theft and Traffic Courts, is largely dependent on co-operation and co-ordination of all the key stakeholders, he said. Technology companies including Amazon, Google and Microsoft donated considerable amounts of both cash and technical services for the ceremonies and events around the inauguration and swearing in of President Donald Trump, according to reports making the internet rounds on Tuesday night. The donations were made before the current heated battle over the racist #MuslimBan, which many in Silicon Valley are opposed to. Politico broke the news, citing federal documents and multiple anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Microsoft contributed $250,000 in cash and the same amount in technology and other tools on Dec. 28 to the Presidential Inaugural Committee, federal ethics records filed last week show. The company declined to comment on its participation. Google also provided tech services, including a YouTube livestream of the inauguration, on top of an unspecified cash donation, two sources familiar with the matter told POLITICO. Amazon similarly chipped in an undisclosed amount of money in addition to tech aid, sources said. Google declined to comment for this story, and Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. Some tech giants haven't yet disclosed the total value of their contributions, which may be because they were made after the Dec. 31 cutoff date for the most recent round of lobbying reports. The inaugural committee does not have to report its fundraising activities until 90 days after the event. It's true that there's much opposition in Silicon Valley to Trump's "Muslim Ban" and the broader spectrum of attacks on free and open government. But as the New York Times noted separately today, the tech resistance isn't coming from the top. Engineers and grunts, not CEOs, are the ones using the #resist hashtag. Never forget that. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced on the Senate floor Tuesday night for surfacing critical comments about Senator Jeff Sessions, who is Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Warren, D-Massachusetts, was quoting the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's remarks from Sessions' 1986 hearing for a federal judgeship part of a series of round-the-clock speeches during the confirmation process of Trump's nominees. "He is, I believe, a disgrace to the justice department and he should withdraw his nomination and withdraw from the Justice Department Like he did, I will cast my nomination against the vote of Sen. Sessions, Warren said, quoting Kennedy. During the 1986 hearings, Sessions faced scrutiny over allegations that he made racist remarks as a U.S. attorney in Alabama. But Sessions has repeatedly said the allegations are false. "I hope my tenure in this body shows you that the caricature of me wasn't accurate," Sessions told the Senate last month. "It wasn't accurate then, and it's not accurate now." Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, the Senate's presiding officer, warned Warren that senators cannot directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator," he said. Warren took issue with Daines' characterization and continued speaking, quoting from a letter from Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, before Sen. Mitch McConnell cut her off. "The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of the senator from Alabama, McConnell said. After that, Daines told Warren to "take her seat," he said. "She was warned," McConnell said referring to Warren. "She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." A majority of senators voted to deny Warren's appeal, effectively silencing her for the rest of the session under the Senate's arcane rule XIX. Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile blasted the move: "Its a sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr.s widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate. Let Elizabeth Warren speak. The American people deserve to hear how Jeff Sessions is an extremist who will be a rubber stamp for this out-of-control Trump presidency. Republicans maintain that Warren was rebuked for quoting Kennedy, not King. "I just want the record to be abundantly clear. The language that resulted in the vote that we had invoking rule XIX was related to a quotation from Sen. Ted Kennedy that called the nominee a disgrace to the Justice Department and he should withdraw his nomination and resign his position," Cornyn said. "That was the quote. Our colleagues want to try to make this all about Coretta Scott King and it is not. I think the complete context should be part of the record." But the actual censure of Warren occurred during her reading of King's letter, and she maintains that was the proximate cause of her being silenced. "Senator Mitch McConnell and the Republicans came to the floor to shut me down for reading that letter," Warren said in a subsequent video from outside the Senate chamber that she posted on her Facebook page. "So what I would like to do, outside of the Senate, I just want to read the letter," she said, before preceding to read the letter in its entirety. The hashtag "#LetLizSpeak" was trending on Twitter after social media users rallied to her defense, while Warrens Facebook video racked up nearly 3 million views. Senator Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, defended Warren in a speech from the Senate floor on Tuesday. He said he believes that the rule that silenced her is "selectively enforced." "You see Senator Warren stood up and was speaking out with passion about this nomination and in the mist of her speaking her truth in the mist of her speaking her heart, she was stopped as she read something into the record that has been there for decades," Booker said. Warren "was stopped because of a rule being enforced that in my opinion as well as Leader Schumer is selectively enforced," he continued. ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved On the Senate floor tonight, an extraordinary event. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) led a vote in which 49 GOP Senators chose to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for reading aloud the words of Coretta Scott King, civil rights activist and the wife of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Warren was reading King's historic letter protesting the confirmation of noted white supremacist Jeff Sessions as a federal district court judge in the Southern District of Alabama. "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted," said Mitch McConnell about why Republican senators basically told Warren to shut up. Perhaps the good Senators from the party of Trump will do themselves a favor and Google the phrase, "Streisand Effect." Too late. The letter is here in full, embedded below, and is hopefully about to be shared and read aloud in many other places. Here is Senator Elizabeth Warren reading Coretta Scott King's words on Facebook Live, after Republican Senators voted to take away her right to speak. Warren's Facebook Live reading of King's letter has already topped 1.1 million views at the time of this blog post you're reading. "#LizSpoke." Here is the letter written by Coretta Scott King letter on Jeff Sessions the GOP doesn't want you or Elizabeth Warren to read. The suggestion that reciting the words of the great Coretta Scott King by @SenWarren is an attack on a Senator is outrageous. #LetHerSpeak Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 8, 2017 This is Albert Turner, who led MLK's funeral procession. Jeff Sessions prosecuted him for helping black people vote https://t.co/LjC2deRFfC pic.twitter.com/tFVAeAXrSO Ari Berman (@AriBerman) November 18, 2016 Whatever ur politics, it's amazing that 100,000+ Americans are listening online to a judicial proceeding. Great civic education tool. ?? pic.twitter.com/UbARAvgNOY Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) February 8, 2017 Going out on a limb here but shushing @elizabethforma to prevent her from reading the words of Coretta Scott King just might backfire Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) February 8, 2017 Had C-SPAN2 on in background, happily ignoring all of it, until objections began. Reaction was mostly people who weren't watching at all. https://t.co/Koxht1Qrlw Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) February 8, 2017 Here's Coretta Scott King's letter against Jeff Sessions that Warren was silenced from reading https://t.co/IJ7xOEJ4Wt via @WesleyLowery 1/2 pic.twitter.com/0HagBo1lNS Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 8, 2017 Here's Coretta Scott King's letter against Jeff Sessions that Warren was silenced from reading https://t.co/IJ7xOEJ4Wt via @WesleyLowery 2/2 pic.twitter.com/8VChRYwVIu Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 8, 2017 After being rebuked by Republicans for trying to read Coretta Scott King's letter, @SenWarren talked to @maddow. https://t.co/JN4C2hMCgx Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) February 8, 2017 GOP: "Milo Yiannopoulos has a right to speak!" GOP: "You can't read Coretta Scott King's letter!!" JZH (@JZHoodie) February 8, 2017 After Warren/Coretta Scott King silencing, head of Congressional Black Caucus (echoing King letter) compares Jeff Sessions to Bull Connor pic.twitter.com/FeVYUjshLH Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 8, 2017 A lot of folks sharing cover sheet of Coretta Scott King letter opposing Sessions. Full thing 10 pages. All are here https://t.co/U3Gbc7eDIq Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) February 8, 2017 King's 1986 letter on Sessions wasn't put into the congressional record. Strom Thurmond was judiciary chairman. https://t.co/o0sSGIfwac pic.twitter.com/xuWgACHWS6 Stefan Becket (@becket) February 8, 2017 Senators supporting prez who bragged about sexually assault now claim reading a letter from MLK's widow violates their sense of decorum Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 8, 2017 President Trump made a big deal when he kept Dr. King's bust in the Oval Office, now Dr. King's widow's words are not allowed in the Senate! Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) February 8, 2017 Cannot be more clear: every single Republican Senator present just voted that Coretta Scott King's own words can't read on the Senate floor. Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) February 8, 2017 This is unreal. Senate Republicans have ruled that any Democrat that criticizes Sessions' record will be stripped of the right to speak. https://t.co/At5fqUkVWF Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 8, 2017 Thing is, nobody would have batted an eye at Warren's speech had McConnell not shut her down. Streisand effect. Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) February 8, 2017 Silencing Elizabeth Warren for breaking an arcane senate rule was simply a more genteel way of telling a woman to sit down and shut up. shauna (@goldengateblond) February 8, 2017 it's wild that now you can leave the internet for 1h and when you come back you find out the Senate has turned into Lord of the Flies Erinn Clark (@postessive) February 8, 2017 Male chauvinists aren't even effective anymore. If you want to shut a woman up, keep her on @cspan. Don't send her to Facebook live. https://t.co/iCX2BxPei5 Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) February 8, 2017 2017: when senators who voted to give coretta Scott king a congressional gold Medal censure a member of the senate for reading her words. john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) February 8, 2017 another thing this episode shows is how leader-centric the Senate is. No one on the GOP side told McConnell, don't do this? Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) February 8, 2017 The Huffington Post reports tonight that President Donald Trump recently phoned up General Mike Flynn at 3 AM to ask him whether a strong or weak dollar is good for the American economy. The question is one thing, as you'd expect someone who managed to scam his way in to the presidency might know basic economics and civics stuff. More alarming is the report that Trump called his Secretary of Defense nominee for the economic information. "Leaks typically involve staffers sabotaging each other to improve their own standing or trying to scuttle policy ideas they find genuinely problematic," write HuffPo's S.V. Date and Christina Wilkie. But "Trump's 2-week-old administration has a third category: leaks from White House and agency officials alarmed by the president's conduct." Flynn has a long record in counterintelligence but not in macroeconomics. And he told Trump he didn't know, that it wasn't his area of expertise, that, perhaps, Trump should ask an economist instead. Trump was not thrilled with that response but that may have been a function of the time of day. Trump had placed the call at 3 a.m., according to one of Flynn's retellings although neither the White House nor Flynn's office responded to requests for confirmation about that detail. Politico cites two anonymous sources "familiar with the incident." May they keep right on leaking, as the freaky incidents continue to get weirder, darker, and more frequent. The blockbuster quote in this story: NEW DELHI (PTI): ISRO will recover half of the total cost incurred for next week's launch of 104 satellites from the foreign capsules mounted on its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37. Of the 104 satellites to be launched on February 15, only three are Indian. "We want to make optimum use of our capacity. We are launching our three satellites. One is of 730 kgs while other two are 19 kgs each. We had additional space of 600 kgs. So we decided to accommodate 101 satellites," ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar said. "Roughly half of our cost will be covered by the foreign satellites we are launching," he said, without revealing the exact amount ISRO will earn from foreign customers. The space agency has earned more than USD 100 million by launching foreign satellites. It also has achieved mastery on launching smaller satellites. ISRO will launch a record 104 satellites through its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37 on February 15 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. These 101 satellites are nano-satellites and belong to foreign nations, including the US and Germany. The Indian satellites are from the Castrosat series. Last year, ISRO launched record 20 satellites at one go. The highest number of satellites launched in a single mission is 37, a record that Russia set in 2014. The US space agency NASA launched 29. Kumar said ISRO is at present doing tests on its lander for Chandrayaan 2 at its facility in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu and Challakere in Karnataka. "It is an indigenous development and tests are on. It's a control descend. So it has engines that allow a control descend," Kumar said. Chandryaan 2 mission seeks to make a landing on the Moon. The ISRO said that all SAARC countries, except Pakistan, have given their consent for the South Asian satellites project envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "India's gift to its neighbours". Kumar said that the manned mission project is "not a top priority" for the ISRO, as he emphasised on enhancing space infrastructure. Already have an account? Log in here Police have arrested a man who they say pushed his girlfriend's head into a vehicle window during an argument. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/02/2017 (2096 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Brandon Universitys massive downtown development will bring the critical mass of people required to truly create a positive change, according to Renaissance Brandon. For years, the discussion on downtown revitalization would always come back to the idea of attracting more people to live and work in the area. The addition of a residential development of this scale will truly make an incredible difference to downtown Brandon, said Elisabeth Saftiuk, executive director of Renaissance Brandon. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun On Monday, Brandon University announced its plans for the vacant area along Princess Avenue, between Ninth and 10th streets. As reported in The Brandon Sun on Tuesday, BU announced its plans for the vacant area along Princess Avenue, between Ninth and 10th streets. City council voted to sell two properties to the university for $1 each, and in addition, there is an agreement in principle for Renaissance Brandons parcels. Discussions are underway with a private landowner to acquire two additional properties. The goal is to develop student residences and senior housing, as well as commercial and classroom space. Saftiuk said the proposed development will complement the existing academic institutions already found downtown, such as Assiniboine Community Colleges Adult Collegiate, and Neelin High School Off Campus. Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Terry Burgess said it is exciting to hear about BUs foray into downtown development. I would say that for years downtown Brandon has been looking for some community leadership, whether from the private or public sector, he said. Burgess pointed to the success of educational institutions in downtown Winnipeg. With this type of community leadership, it can have a profound effect on what downtown starts to look like, he said. From an impact perspective on downtown, it certainly changes the dynamics. Mayor Rick Chrest said a project of this magnitude will likely spark further development, such as the McKenzie Seeds residential project, which was put on hold. A project like this could certainly be a building block for them to be able to move forward, Chrest said, adding this could also bode well for potential growth across the street at The Town Centre, which is relatively empty. (There are) many other smaller properties and existing businesses that would see this as an opportunity to expand and renovate, Chrest said. So something like this can certainly set off a domino effect of many, many more positive things for downtown. The idea for the downtown campus and residence stemmed from the universitys work on its most recent academic plan, published in 2015. BU president Gervan Fearon said they looked at what could be done in terms of being a catalyst for growth in the region. Enrolment at BU grew by four per cent in 2015, and in this academic year, it has increased by seven per cent. When they began to look ahead to five or 10 years, Fearon said they projected the university could potentially see 4,500 students or more enrolled within a decade. We also then realized that our current student residences doesnt fully meet our needs, Fearon said. Currently BU only has dorm-style accommodations, while the trend for student living is more apartment-style. We quickly realized that we could need accommodation for up to 200 or more students in a residence, he said. Talks began with the City of Brandon, Renaissance Brandon as well as Servants of Service senior housing group. They decided that collaboration with the various groups would allow for a significantly transformative project for the city while meeting the universitys needs, as well as seniors needs for accessible and affordable housing. What really got the ball rolling was the purchase of the Strand Theatre last December from Landmark Cinemas for $1. Fearon said they recognized the entire location, with the adjoining vacant lots could be the location of something significant. Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun The Strand Theatre building is seen in downtown Brandon on Tuesday afternoon. We also know that this approach of universities being a part of downtown revitalization has been outstanding for cities, its been outstanding for Winnipeg, Fearon said. Its been outstanding for Toronto in terms of what Ryerson University has done. Before coming to BU, Fearon was at Ryerson University, so he saw first-hand how a school can work with the city to make a difference downtown. While the project is still in the early stages, Fearon said they would like to see space in the development for approximately 100 units. The seniors housing group is looking at a similar number of units. Its too early to provide a ballpark cost estimate, Fearon said, as they are still looking at different models and approaches for the project. Probably in a few months as we get some of those details and get a chance to talk more with different parties and partners, well get a better idea of those numbers, he said. The century-old Strand Theatre will be coming down, as an assessment of the building determined it would not be feasible to restore. There will be environmental considerations as they move forward with its demolition, Fearon noted. Well now start moving forward with looking at options for taking it down, he said. Well go through a tendering process on that. While it is unfortunate to see the historic building come down, Chrest said the writing was on the wall. I think we were feeling that was becoming the inevitable, he said. A core group of people really did put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to keep it going, and trying to keep it saved but I think its sat vacant and unheated and suffering water damage for too long. Chrest points out the historic significance is the exterior facade, which he hopes the new development will be able to recreate. With the interior renovated many times and modernized over the years, there wasnt much historical significance left inside, Chrest pointed out. Its always sad, but I think the overall outcome will overshadow that and people will be happy with the end result, he said. The university encourages the community to share ideas about the downtown development plan at brandonu.ca/downtown. jaustin@brandonsun.com Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/02/2017 (2096 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Brandon Chamber Players are blasting into the new year by offering the biggest concert ever produced in its nearly 20-year history. The concert, which takes place at 8 p.m. this Friday at Brandon Universitys Lorne Watson Recital Hall, will feature 15 professional musicians, the 25-voice Brandon University Chorale and a student piano sextet. It will celebrate the music of Juno-nominated Canadian composer T. Patrick Carrabre, often described as the guy with cool hair at BU. Submitted Pat Carrabre and wife Mary Jo Carrabre headline a concert this Friday at 8 p.m. at Brandon Universitys Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Carrabres illustrious composing career has spanned over 30 years, and has included stints with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, his own show, The Signal, on CBC Radio 2 and his day job as professor of composition at BU. Pats influence on the Canadian classical music scene has been huge, concert curator Naomi Forman said. His music has been heard not just across Canada, but around the globe, with recent performances in Mexico, Russia, China. We are also celebrating his 25th year in Brandon. For the last 36 years, his wife, pianist Mary Jo Carrabre, has not only stood by his side, but she has also premiered many of his works, including a set called CRAZY for piano, voice and electronics that will be performed at the concert. As a reticent performer throughout my playing career, Pat has been my biggest fan, she said. Despite the challenges working musicians often face, we have been one of the luckiest couples I know. The power couple have two grown children, both pursuing music at the graduate level. The shortest piece of the evening rings in at just under eight minutes, but involves the largest group of musicians, including the BU Chorale accompanied by a piano sextet under the direction of Dr. Andree Dagenais. Within the choir piece there is a short soprano solo, which will be sung by Virden native Katie Trussler. Im very excited to be performing at the concert, Trussler says. I love how dramatic this solo is with its sharp leaps. It allows me to push myself as a performer to find a deep, emotional musicality beyond a traditional sound. Additional musicians featured in this concert include award-winning pianists Alexander Telyakov, Meg Masaki and Everett Hopfner. Tickets are available at the door, and cost $30 for adults and $10 for students. For more information, call 204-727-9631. Submitted Already have an account? Log in here We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Already have an account? Log in here Police say a trio of shopliftings ended with a stop at the cop shop for the suspects. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! After the chaos of the Muslim ban, EFF activists are worried that the TSA's existing policy of invasive data-collection at the border may be getting even worse. They're looking for stories from everyone, but especially citizens and green card holders. Please let us know if a U.S. official at the border examined your cell phone, laptop, or other digital device; asked for your device's passcode or ordered you to unlock or decrypt it; or asked for your social media handles. We would like to hear from everyone, but especially if you are a citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States. Please tell us: * Your legal status in the U.S. (citizen, permanent resident, visa holder). * What airport or border crossing you were at. * What devices you had with you. * What border agents specifically demanded (including social media handles and passcodes) or what they specifically looked through. * Whether border agents recorded any information. * Whether border agents stated or suggested that compliance with their demands was voluntary or mandatory. * Whether border agents threatened you in any way. * Whether border agents stated any reasons for their demands. * You can write to us at borders@eff.org. If you want to contact us securely via email, please use PGP/GPG. Or you can call us at +1-415-436-9333. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 08/02/2017 (2096 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO For years, in Canada as elsewhere, the direction of security policy has been the aggressive expansion of the surveillance state without counterbalancing protections of our civil liberties. As new technologies have made it possible for the state to dredge and analyze endless streams of personal information, the message from government has been consistent: trust us, we wont abuse our growing power. The recent Federal Court ruling that for a decade the Canadian Security Intelligence Service illegally spied on people suspected of no wrongdoing is the latest indication that we ought to be wary. This case is particularly troubling. Data on innocent people collected in the course of the agencys investigations were kept indefinitely and analyzed, according to the federal judge, to draw specific, intimate insights into [citizens] lifestyle and personal choices. Moreover, beyond the illicit spying itself, CSIS failed to tell the courts of its activities, as is required by law the second time in three years the agency has been found in violation of its duty of candour to the judiciary. Trust us is becoming a tough sell. Yet thats essentially what the Liberal government is saying in response to the ruling. In an interview with the Star last week, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the government is taking the court decision very seriously. As proof, he pointed to two government reviews currently underway, one by the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), a watchdog agency, and the other an internal investigation of the public safety and justice departments role in the illegal program. Asked whether he would publicly release the results of this work, Goodale said when weve completed it, well have something further to say. In other words, trust us. Thats not good enough, especially in these fraught times. With the threat of terrorism in the news almost daily, internal and external pressures on government to make security a priority are unabating. The relentless buildup of the surveillance state has become the path of least resistance, while anything that limits its powers has come to be seen as politically risky. The fear that a future tragedy might be blamed on a government perceived as soft on terror too often leads to security overreach. No wonder, then, that Goodale refuses to rule out the possibility that, rather than clamping down on CSISs illegal spying, the law may be changed to allow it. Weve already seen these pressures at work. In opposition, the Liberals supported Bill C-51, the Tories draconian security legislation, but promised to undo its most egregious elements. More than a year into its mandate, however, the government has not changed a word of the law, even absent evidence it makes us any safer and despite expert consensus that aspects are unconstitutional. Instead, the government launched a public consultation as if Ottawa needs permission to do as it promised and the constitution demands and published a discussion paper dedicated largely to rehearsing arguments in favour of expanded security powers. Balance on security, it seems, is a casualty of the political moment. The recent revelations about illegal spying reinforce the need, greater today than ever, for robust, independent oversight of the security establishment. Something better, that is, than ad-hoc internal investigations. Yet in Canada, our sprawling security apparatus is monitored by three meagre watchdogs, including SIRC, each tightly leashed to its own jurisdiction. Critics have long argued that these bodies have neither the mandate nor the resources to do their job. Last year, the Liberals tabled legislation to finally give to Canada what most of our allies already have: a parliamentary committee that provides democratic oversight of our security establishment. This is exactly what is needed to ensure that agencies like CSIS cant wield their powers with impunity. But establishing the committee wont be enough. Critics have raised concerns that, as designed, it will have access neither to the information nor the expert support necessary for success. If Goodale wants Canadians to trust our expanding security apparatus, it will not be enough simply to ask. He should establish the committee as quickly as possible and give it the clout it needs. Toronto Star Nine members of a major hacking group suspected of stealing millions of euro from Russian bank accounts have been arrested, Russia's interior ministry said. The nine people were arrested last month in Moscow, St Petersburg and three other regions as part of an investigation into a group believed to have stolen more than one billion roubles (15.8m) from Russian bank accounts since 2013, a police spokeswoman said. A European Arrest Warrant has been obtained for a suspect in the murder of prison officer David Black in the North, PSNI said. Damien Joseph McLaughlin, 40, from Co Tyrone, was due to stand trial this month on charges that include aiding and abetting his murder but fled while on bail. Mr Black, 52, was shot dead by dissident republicans as he drove along the M1 on his way to work at Maghaberry Prison in November 2012. PSNI chief constable George Hamilton said: "Inquiries have been made with the courts and as a result a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained, bail has been revoked and an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr McLaughlin." Since his disappearance was established in December PSNI have carried out several searches, interviewed his associates and family members, checked CCTV security camera footage and made media appeals. Detectives have liaised with law enforcement agencies across the British Isles and Europe, including the Gardai and Europol. Mr Hamilton said: "In the period between November 23 2016 and December 23 2016 there appears to have been a breakdown in the monitoring of the bail by police." A door buzzer at his bail address was faulty. David Black The chief constable added: "Whilst the issue of the entry to the block of flats for curfew checks was being examined this was not joined up with the fact he was not now signing at the police station as required." He said a computer process was shown to be ineffective in highlighting bail breaches in a timely fashion and noted human error in the form of a breakdown in communication. The Police Ombudsman has begun an investigation to establish whether there were any failings in police conduct or in policing systems in the management of McLaughlin's bail conditions. The accused is from Kilmascally Road near Ardboe in Co Tyrone. Mr Black's family have said they feel betrayed by the criminal justice system. McLaughlin had initially been fitted with an electronic tag while on bail but he was permitted by a court to remove it in December 2014 despite strong police objections. A 29-year-old man accused of the murder of Gareth Hutch, who was shot dead getting into his car outside his home in Dublin, has been sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court. Father-of-one Gareth Hutch (aged 35), a nephew of Gerry the Monk Hutch, was gunned down outside Avondale House flats, on North Cumberland Street in inner city Dublin on the morning of May 24 last year. Thomas Fox, who has an address at Rutland Court, in north inner city Dublin, was charged last year with unlawful possession of a Makarov 9mm handgun at Avondale House on May 23, a day before the shooting. He had been initially refused bail by Dublin District Court on June 1 and was remanded in custody. Last month he was further charged with the murder of Mr Hutch while the firearms charge was struck out following submissions from defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght. The district court heard he replied not guilty when the new charge was put to him and there was an application for him to be remanded in custody. Today he appeared again at Cloverhill District Court to be served with a book of evidence. Judge Kathryn Hutton granted the DPP's request to order that he was being returned for trial to the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The district court had heard earlier that the investigation involved the examination of 5,000 hours of CCTV. Mr Fox is one of two people before the courts in connection with the shooting of Mr Hutch. Mary McDonnell (aged 43) with an address at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street is accused of withholding information from gardai investigating the murder. She is accused of failing without reasonable excuse to disclose information to the gardai, as soon as was practicable, information she knew or believed might be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of any other person for a serious offence. The charge is under Section 9 of the Offences Against the State Act and the offence is alleged to have happened at an address at Avondale House on May 24 last. She is on bail and will face her next hearing later this month. The Government is being urged to make the entire Sligo to Dublin road a fully-fledged motorway. The Revive Northwest group has said that people from the region have been promised for over 15 years that the full N4 route will become a motorway. Staff at Hewlett-Packard are facing meetings with senior staff at the Leixlip plant today. It has been reported they will be called in for updates on the future of the operation in Co Kildare. HP Inc. employs around 500 people at the site, which manufactures inkjet cartridges, and also carries out research and development for the giant multi-national. Local Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke said that people are concerned. "They're a very big employer in the area and actually a number of people locally and from within the constituency and even out of the constituency is employed at the plant," he said. "Most people wouldn't be expecting this." Siptu nurses and midwives are more than likely to ballot for strike action over recruitment and retention of staff, writes Conall O Fatharta, Irish Examiner Reporter. The threat comes just a day after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) gave health service managers given 24 hours to improve proposals on staff recruitment and retention or face the likelihood of being served notice of industrial action as early as today. Following a meeting of its National Nursing and Midwifery Committee yesterday, Siptu has now said that its 4,000 nursing members are now more than likely to ballot for strike action in an attempt to force a solution to this dispute. The unions health division organiser Paul Bell said the health service management needed to get real and treat the issue of staff recruitment and retention as a matter of urgency. We remain open to any meaningful engagement with management in our efforts to resolve this long-running dispute. However, it is now obvious to all that if this Government is serious about recruiting and retaining the services of nursing professionals the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, must become visibly involved in the talks process. There is an urgent need for the Minister to provide a focus on creating the environment necessary to bring about a settlement of this dispute, he said. Mr Bell said both the minister and the Department of Health had already accepted that there is a labour market crisis in the health service regarding nurses and midwives and that it was time to provide a solution that will end this emergency once and for all. On Monday night, talks between the INMO and management ended without agreement on the issue. Among the points of contention for the union were the refusal by the HSE and the Department of Health to allow directors of nursing and midwifery to fill all posts which become vacant in 2017; the refusal to guarantee that sufficient funding would be made available to allow the permanent employment of all Irish-trained nurses and midwives graduating in 2016/2017 and the refusal to guarantee replacement of maternity leave vacancies on a one-for-one basis. The union said the net effect of this would be that the crisis remains and will continue to destabilise the delivery of safe patient care. The INMO accused management of a total rowback on a previous commitment to a funded workforce plan for 2017. The unions executive council is scheduled to meet today to consider the current position in the context of the recent national ballot for industrial action. This story first appeared in the Read More: Irish Examiner. Three people from Ireland have been killed in a housefire in the UK. Twenty-one firefighters and four fire engines tackled the blaze in a terrace house at Laburnum Avenue, Hornchurch near the London borough of Romford in the early hours of Monday morning. Proposals to give UK Prime Minister Theresa May the power to start formal Brexit talks have cleared the House of Commons following overwhelming support from MPs. The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was given a third reading by 494 votes to 122 - a majority of 372. The text of the short Bill was not changed by MPs following three days of debate to consider suggestions. One MP was heard to shout "shame" after the result was announced, while there was some applause from the Tory benches. A series of amendments were earlier defeated by the British Government, including measures requiring Britain to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the country. The Bill will now progress to the House of Lords for further scrutiny by peers. Mrs May hopes to start the formal Brexit talks by the end of March. Meanshile, shadow business secretary Clive Lewis has quit Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet in order to defy the Labour leader's orders and vote against the Brexit Bill. Mr Lewis said last week he would vote against the Bill at third reading if Labour amendments to safeguard against a "hard Brexit" were not passed. And with the Bill coming through committee stage unamended, the senior frontbencher quit to vote against the Bill after Mr Corbyn imposed a three-line whip on his MPs to back it. Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Mr Lewis said he could not back the Bill given Norwich, in which his constituency lies, voted 56.2% to 43.8% to remain in the EU in June's referendum. "When I became the MP for Norwich South, I promised my constituents I would be 'Norwich's voice in Westminster, not Westminster's voice in Norwich'," he said. "I therefore cannot, in all good conscience, vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home. "It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the shadow cabinet. "It has been a privilege to work with Jeremy Corbyn and be part of the shadow cabinet. I will continue to support our party and our leader from the backbenches to the very best of my ability." Mr Corbyn said he was looking forward to working with Mr Lewis in the future. Gunmen have killed six employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross in northern Afghanistan, a spokesman for the aid group said. Ahmad Ramin Ayaz, the group's Kabul-based spokesman, said the attack took place in northern Jowzjan province, without providing further details. A paedophile is likely to die in jail after being handed 13 life sentences for a "horrific" catalogue of abuse on children in Britain and abroad amid fears the full scale of his crimes have yet to emerge. Retired English teacher Mark Frost, formerly known as Andrew Tracey, 70, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 45 sex offences against nine children in Thailand between 2009 and 2012. He also admitted having sex with two pupils in Worcestershire in England over three years in the 1990s. On some occasions, the abuse happened on school grounds and on others, unmarried Frost's adopted son was present, the court heard. He was sentenced by Judge Mark Lucraft to serve a minimum of 16 years for each life sentence. Other determinate sentences were ordered to run concurrently. In addition to the 13 life sentences, Frost was handed 10-year terms for other sex offences and five-year terms for indecent images. He made no reaction as he was sentenced. The judge told Frost he was responsible for "the most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse" and it was clear he had an "ongoing obsession" with young boys. He said: "Your conduct towards each and every one of these victims is horrific and deeply disturbing." The court heard how Frost raped impoverished Asian boys and encouraged them to engage in sex acts after he groomed them with cash, sweets, computer games and swims in his pool. He used violence to "control" his victims, hitting them around the head and with a belt, the court heard. On one occasion, he dragged a boy out of a car with a belt around his neck and threatened to throw him down a well. He skipped bail to avoid prosecution in Thailand but was extradited from Spain last year after his activities were uncovered by Dutch police on the computer of a man in the Netherlands. Frost got the boys aged between 10 and 14 to give thumbs-up signs and make love heart gestures with their hands while being filmed on a webcam engaging in sexual acts. The Dutchman they knew as Simon watched the abuse online and made suggestions for what they should do to each other, the court heard. Frost admitted a raft of charges including multiple rapes, sex assaults, inciting children to engage in sexual activity and making indecent pictures. He also pleaded guilty to abusing two former pupils of a school in Worcestershire in the 1990s. One of them has since died. Frost had sex with his late victim in a school store room, during breaks, and at his home where he lived with his adopted son. In a statement read in court, the victim said his life had been blighted by what happened and he lived in "constant fear" that the video Frost made would come out. The other vulnerable victim said he had sex at Frost's home, in a barn and during a camping holiday in Wales and was left "scared and embarrassed". The now-grown man told police he was rewarded with cigarettes, money and "nice things", but had decided to come forward to stop Frost abusing anyone else. The National Crime Agency believes Frost may have assaulted many more youngsters he had contact with through his 25-year career in schools in east London, Hertfordshire and Worcestershire and as a senior Scouts volunteer. He was brought to justice through a complex international investigation involving the NCA and authorities in Thailand, the Netherlands and Spain. In 1978, he subscribed to the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), an international organisation of people who traded obscene material. In 1986, the unmarried teacher tried to adopt a son through the Catholic Church and was turned down, only to succeed through a local authority, the NCA said. The pair are now estranged. In 1992, he was fined for possessing indecent photographs of a child and the following year was jailed for a year for allowing his premises to be used for drugs and sex with an under-age girl. Three years later he was banned from teaching by the Department for Education. In 1998, he was jailed for a year for indecent assault on a male under 16 and put on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Once he was taken off the register, he moved to Thailand. The Asian boys' mothers expressed their "sorrow" at finding out the man they regarded as a "kind and generous foreigner" had taken advantage of their children. Ruona Iguyovwe, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The harrowing evidence presented by the prosecution in this case outlined the suffering that Mark Frost caused to his victims. "Over many years, Frost repeatedly exploited vulnerable young victims, both in the UK and in Thailand, for his own sexual gratification. "His offending has caused severe psychological harm to all of the children he abused, many of whom are now old enough to realise the enormity of what happened to them." Rioters have again set fire to cars and rubbish bins overnight in spreading violence in the suburbs of Paris over the alleged rape of a young black man with a police baton. Police said on Wednesday morning they had made 17 arrests. The United States military is looking to rent space at Trump Tower for use when President Donald Trump returns to his longtime home in New York City. The department of defence is looking for the space "in order to meet official mission requirements", a Pentagon spokesman said. "The department of defence is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower," said Army Lt Col JB Brindle. "The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building." It was not clear how much it would cost the Pentagon to rent space in the 58-storey Midtown Manhattan tower, which is owned by the Trump Organisation. Entire floors, which run between 13,000 to 15,000 square feet, cost about $1.5m a year, according to the building's website. Mr Trump has lived in the three-storey penthouse for three decades. He has not yet returned to New York since taking office, though his wife Melania and their young son Barron have continued to reside there. His business is also based in the skyscraper. It is customary for the military to obtain space near a president's residence. Military officers, including those assigned to keep the "nuclear football", must stay near the commander in chief. The military also rented space near former president Barack Obama's home in Chicago. The Secret Service must also have space nearby - and, when needed, have rented from the person they are assigned to protect. The agency rented space at former vice president Joe Biden's home in Delaware, though that cost far less than what would be expected for space in Trump Tower. - AP A Polish court has handed one-year suspended prison terms and fined two Portuguese teenagers who wrote their names on a gate of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. A lawyer for the pair, aged 17 and 18, said they regret and have apologised for putting their names and the date on the red brick gate of Birkenau, part of the Auschwitz complex. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been found guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which means he cannot run for president next year. In a webcast hearing, Judge Alexei Vtyurin said Navalny was guilty of embezzling timber worth about US$500,000. The Big Issue is celebrating International Vendor Week from February 6 to 10 with its annual CEO Selling campaign. More than 100 business and government leaders will hit streets around Australia to sell copies of The Big Issue and help shine a spotlight on the magazine's homeless and disadvantaged vendors, who are working to improve their lives. Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury sells The Big Issue with vendor Tau while speaking to a prospective customer. The leaders will don the fluoro vest and sell the magazine in 30-minute sessions at various times and locations during the week. In Australia, more than 6500 men and women have earned an income through selling The Big Issue in the past 20 years. Vendors buy copies of the magazine for $3.50 and sell them for $7, keeping the difference. Sydney man Dac Ho, who was caught dumping cannabis waste at the Mitchell tip last year, left court on Wednesday sentenced with a good behaviour order for the crime. Ho, 55, was arrested on August 27, 2016, after an anonymous caller had tipped off police to a man taking garbage bags out from a van at the tip. He spent three months in custody after being refused bail, and had been charged with possessing cannabis, being knowingly concerned with trafficking and cultivating cannabis, and destroying or concealing evidence. On Wednesday, those charges were dismissed by Magistrate Robert Cook after the prosecution offered no evidence. Ho then pleaded guilty to one charge of accessory after the fact - that is, helping someone to cultivate cannabis by dumping the waste. The charge he faced amounted to 10 cannabis plants. A judge is considering whether to delay the questioning of Clive Palmer about claims he used his failed Queensland Nickel business to bankroll other companies and his political party. Lawyers for the company's general purpose liquidators, FTI Consulting, were set to resume grilling Mr Palmer on Thursday about how the company was run before it collapsed in January last year, with debts of about $300 million. Clive Palmer arrives at court in September to answer questions over the fall of Queensland Nickel. Credit:Bradley Kanaris But the Federal Court heard on Wednesday Mr Palmer would be attending a funeral this week and wasn't required until February 15. His lawyer, Nick Ferratt, had also filed two interlocutory applications to adjourn the questioning until after a five-day trial, which is listed to begin on February 27. Premier Investments, the retail powerhouse behind Just Jeans and Smiggle, has flagged record sales and earnings figures for the first half of the financial year. The Solomon Lew-controlled rag trader was not expected to hand down its first-half results until March 21, but on Wednesday it released key trading results for Premier Retail to keep the market informed in light of "recent press speculation around [first half] earnings risks for retailers in Australia including Premier". Smiggle is one of Premier's most successful retail brands. Credit:Adam McLean Total sales across the company's stores, which also include Portmans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Dotti and Peter Alexander, for the half are expected to come in at about $588.6 million - up 7.1 per cent from the previous year, it said. Underlying earnings before interest and tax are expected to reach $92 million to $93 million, up from $84 million in the same period of the prior year, Premier said. That means they will have grown between 9.4 per cent and 10.6 per cent. On Tuesday night, while having dinner with some friends, I received two almost simultaneous text messages. The content: the White House had listed a series of what it called under-reported terrorist attacks around the world, including the Parramatta shooting in 2015. It was so ridiculous that I could only describe it as befuddling. Dad's shooting outside the Parramatta Headquarters was a tragedy. It was clearly reported. I know, because I followed and read many of the stories and articles in the 18 months since. I know it was reported around the world because I received messages of condolences from around the world: the UK, Hong Kong, Israel, France, Russia and the US, to name a few. Vanity Fair's August 1991's cover, featuring Annie Liebowitz's photo of a seven-months-pregnant Demi Moore, caused a scandal. Moores pregnant pose has been replicated many times over the last 25 years, mainly by white celebrities. Naked pregnant celebrity portraits embody the ethos of the sexy and slender yummy mummy, a woman who is empowered by her ability to look glamorous and skinny during pregnancy and then squeeze into size 8 jeans just a couple of weeks after giving birth. I am a sociologist, and specialise in pregnant body image. These celebrity pregnancy photos had me wondering: What do everyday women feel about these images? Indifference? Anger? Sadness? Where does feminism fit into baby bump culture? This led me to one of my recent studies in Tasmania. Photos from ordinary Australian pregnancies This study is based on the idea there is a gap between the ways pregnancy is represented in the media and the way everyday women experience pregnancy. It was clear the emotional and physical experiences of fatigue, stress, anxiety, and isolation are almost never seen in the popular images of pregnancy. So how would women document their experiences of pregnancy if they were given a camera? I gave 12 pregnant Tasmanian women digital cameras and asked them to photograph whatever they felt best captured their experiences, and I interviewed them about their photos over a one year period. Some 2,000 photographs later, what did I learn? The strongest message to come through womens photos was their fear of gaining weight. In the last 15 years, we have seen the emergence of a booming pregnancy weight loss industry. There are pregnancy fitness magazines, prenatal exercise classes, and t-shirts made especially for women who are petrified about being mistaken as fat instead of pregnant in those early weeks. Thus until about 16 weeks gestation, most women had great difficulty in coming to terms with how their bodies looked or their body image. Lisa, below, represented her fear of looking like shed let herself go because her jeans would no longer zip up. The Conversation. Christine photographed a mushroom to show how unrecognisable she had become to herself bland and boring. And Julie weighed herself every day. By mid-pregnancy, women became more comfortable with their bodies. The photos are interesting because they show women as they saw themselves. The Conversation These are the kinds of photos that we rarely see in the media. I like these photos because they are unconventional; they show womens bellies from unusual angles and are about self-discovery and fun. As pregnancy progressed, some women struggled with feeling like a public spectacle. Joan, below, felt like people always talked about the size of her belly no one looked at her face anymore. It was like she had become a walking incubator. Women anxiously waited for birth while they contended with competing anxieties about losing their baby weight. Images of women after birth Ever since Heidi Klum famously strutted down the catwalk just six weeks after giving birth, losing baby weight has become a competitive sport. Australian womens photos grapple with this culture of postnatal weight loss: how did Beyonce get so slender from her first pregnancy so quickly? The Conversation Just how long would it take for them to bounce back? Would they get stretch marks? Post-birth, all of the women told me that their bodies felt unfamiliar or not me and they worried they would never return to a normal body. They hated not being able to wear their normal clothes women talked about how much they hated wearing track pants and slippers day in and day out. Why do pregnancy pictures from everyday women matter? Feminist writers have observed that Beyonce is the new black Madonna, a blessed figure of motherhood and a position that has been unavailable to women of colour historically. Her recent pregnancy photographs present this image. My research demonstrates the power of photography for revealing a world of experiences and issues in pregnancy normally concealed from view. Photography can make a real connection to people and photographs are also essential in improving maternal health care. For instance, photographs taken by pregnant women may be able to illuminate strategies that health professionals can employ to help women improve pregnant body image. They might also help in assessing women who are more at risk for developing postnatal depression. When I started this project, I had no idea what kind of images I would get. I ended this project with not just with a collection of photographs but images that tell womens stories of pregnancy. Beyonces photographs are powerful in their own right, but lets not forget what we can learn about pregnancy from those mundane images of track pants, barren wardrobes and self-portraits in a bathroom mirror. My views on most issues are not fashionable or attractive to the mainstream media, Hollywood celebrities, educators or Democrats. I am weary of lectures about what values I should have and how insensitive I am. I am tired of being "guilted" for having a job, finding a way to live comfortably and having a practical sense of priority on global warming. I make choices and decisions based on what can be done and what I can pay for, not on what is said or promised. I don't carry signs, chant, dress up in clever costumes, vandalise or wear pink hats. Trump will get into trouble as he tries to correct his economic errors. Credit:Andrew Harrer I work, and I worry about who pays the tab. My voice has not counted for years, but we have long since passed the point where that is even relevant. The injustice now is that this country has already spent so much money and incurred so much debt that the bill will fall to our grandchildren. My view is that this country does not have the right to spend future taxpayers' money without their consent. I can accept a view that women have a right to have an abortion, but I don't want government to pay for them. I understand that Democrats feel the need to atone for their party's defense of slavery before the Civil War, opposition to reconstruction immediately after the Civil War and support of Southern racial segregation until the 1960s, but I don't want my grandchildren's money spent trying to make this right. I welcome any immigrant who can contribute, pay taxes and obey our laws, but I don't want to pay to support those who can't. Imagine a business paying billions of dollars to a subcontractor without assessing whether the contract prices were value for money and without sign-off from the authorised managers. Imagine if the business failed to systematically monitor performance under the contracts and was so haphazard at keeping records that a $75 million building was uninsured when it burnt down. Then immigration minister Scott Morrison ordered that Save the Children staff be taken off Nauru, alleging they orchestrated detainee protests. A business which operated that way, you would think, was at risk of failure due to incompetence. But there's no chance of that here, because the entity in question is the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and the contracts relate to its management of detention centres on the islands of Manus and Nauru. There's no chance of a political backlash, either, given that even those rivals in the fractured conservative extreme of the Coalition Immigration Minister Peter Dutton versus breakaway Cory Bernardi agree that any end justifies the means of offshore detention. And Labor backs the overall policy, realising that most Australians want to retain offshore processing of asylum seekers, according to Fairfax Media's research collaboration the Political Persona Project. With so many invested in the policy, the billions of taxpayer dollars which the Australian National Audit Office has found were subjected to such slapdash-ery are in guaranteed supply. The Audit Office said the department's administration of contracts with private providers to run the centres, notably Transfield (name now changed to Broadspectrum) had "fallen well short" of expected standards. It's not just the money that's been badly managed. Without legal advice, on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations, the department sacked nine people working for Save the Children on Nauru and had them deported at the direction of the then-minister Scott Morrison. When an investigation found no evidence to support that drastic course of action, the department was forced to apologise for the hurt, embarrassment and reputational damage it has caused the workers and pay them and their employer compensation. The nine sacked staff were unjustly accused of political activism, making false claims and encouraging asylum seekers to self harm as a way of getting to Australia. Scott Morrison cited an intelligence report as justification for his order and said he was acting on advice. Because of the unholy rush in 2012 towards regional processing as a solution to the problem of what to do with asylum seekers, the contracts were "established in circumstances of great haste", as the Audit Office put it. In answer to the ANAO's criticisms, some of which it rejected, the department described it as a time of "immense pressure that involved simultaneously managing thousands of illegal maritime arrivals, negotiating with host governments, engaging service providers and co-ordinating the logistics for the regional processing centres". The department's handling of the detention centre contracts can be filed with the Pink Batts scandal and VET Fee-Help under the heading "multibillion-dollar government debacles caused by undue haste, insufficient planning, inadequate risk assessment or a combination". The Coalition, with the advantages of hindsight and incumbency, will crow that they all happened under Labor governments. Yet it does not come off unscathed: faulty detention centre contracts and mismanagement by the Immigration Department persisted beyond 2013, the Audit Office said, that is, into the Abbott and Turnbull terms. This is why Bernardi should resign from the Senate Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Our network Open Navigation Menu Brisbane Times Subscribe The future of one of Malcolm Turnbull's ministers is under a constitutional cloud, due to concerns one of his real estate arrangements could disqualify him from Federal Parliament. In circumstances that echo the Bob Day case currently before the High Court, experts believe Assistant Health Minister David Gillespie could have an indirect financial interest in the Commonwealth - grounds for removal from federal office under section 44(v) of the constitution. Cloud of constitutional uncertainty: assistant health minister David Gillespie. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Dr Gillespie owns a small suburban shopping complex at Lighthouse Beach in Port Macquarie, on the NSW north coast. One of the shops is an outlet of Australia Post a government-owned corporation. The Nationals MP says he and his wife, through their company Goldenboot, lease the space to a local woman who is an Australia Post licensee meaning he has no direct financial link to the postal service. The Turnbull government has moved closer to victory on its signature childcare package by watering down proposed cuts to family payments and extending the taxpayer-funded paid parental leave scheme. The government will on Wednesday introduce a bill into Parliament containing both its childcare and family tax benefit changes. Key crossbencher Nick Xenophon said the government was moving in the "right direction" and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson indicated her support. The government is pushing ahead with plans to abolish family tax benefit supplements worth up to $726 a year per child, but will soften the blow by increasing fortnightly payments for those on Family Tax Benefit Part A by up to a $20 a fortnight per child. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has doubled down on his character assassination of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, labelling him a "fake" who "doesn't have a fair dinkum bone in him". It follows an extraordinary tirade in Parliament on Wednesday in which Mr Turnbull attacked his counterpart as "a social-climbing sycophant" and a "parasite" who cosied up to billionaires. Mr Shorten has in the past week taken to calling the Prime Minister "Mr Harbourside Mansion", a reference to his lavish Point Piper home and a term coined by Tony Abbott's former chief-of-staff Peta Credlin. "Shorten is complete hypocrite," Mr Turnbull said at a press conference on Thursday. "He wants to play the politics of envy and yet he's been a sycophant to the billionaires of Melbourne for years and years - everyone knows that." For all its stupidity, Cory Bernardi's defection has already shifted the needle in Canberra, strengthening the right's grip, and ensuring that 'moderate Malcolm' is consigned to history. Superficially, Bernardi's crazy-brave gesture had two relatively benign implications for Turnbull beyond its initially poor optics: the removal of a pesky internal critic (good); and, the prospect of an even less compliant Senate (business as usual). What is more important however, is that the defection has given material form to what, until now, was just a theory. Rendered in flesh and blood, the risk to Turnbull is now very real and crucially, is more likely come in the House of Representatives where the Coalition's majority hangs on a single seat. Okay, end of the day, end of the week. What happened? Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has doubled down on his personal attacks on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten ; has doubled down on his ; the opposition spent question time focussing on who would lose out under the g overnment's welfare changes ; spent focussing on who would lose out under the g ; but the government was more interested in criticising the opposition's energy policy ; was more interested in ; part of this involved Treasurer Scott Morrison bringing a lump of coal into the chamber; bringing a into the chamber; Mr Turnbull also introduced legislation to tighten up politicians' entitlements ; but also introduced legislation to ; but government senator Ian Macdonald is opposing one of the reforms - the axing of the gold class travel pass. My eternal gratitude to Alex Ellinghausen and Andrew Meares who are always so wonderful and to you for reading and commenting. You can follow me on Facebook. Alex, Andrew and I will be back next week. Until then - stay cool. Every awards season, fashion seems to fall head over ears in love with a star. Last year, it was Alicia Vikander with her balletic grace; this year, it is Ruth Negga with her from-another-era appeal. Far from mermaid gowns and plunging necklines - a common red carpet playbook for ingenues - Negga's style has been unconventional and inspiring. Certainly the Irish-Ethiopian actress, who is nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award and for an Oscar as best actress for her role in Loving, has won over her stylist, Karla Welch, who has worked with her since the Cannes Film Festival in May, with her intrepid taste. Ruth Negga, star of 'Loving', poses at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills. Credit:CHRIS PIZZELLO "It's so interesting when you meet a true collaborator," Welch said, noting that unlike many actresses who do their best on the red carpet in a pretty gown, Negga possesses authentic style. "She grew up loving clothes and flipping through magazines. We have very little disagreement over things. It's not 100 tries to get something. She inherently knows what she feels good in." NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has said he is "no expert in matters of education" in his first school visit as the minister in charge of the state's sprawling network. Speaking in the seat of the man he replaced as education minister, Adrian Piccoli, Mr Stokes revealed he would call on the Catholic and Independent sectors to help build 12 schools a year in NSW over the next two decades. But hitting that target would require a significant statistical reversal: 29 schools have closed across the Independent, Catholic and government sectors since 2010, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Public schools have made up the largest share of closures with more than 20 shutting their gates since 2010, according to the ABS data, as the state's school aged population gets set to surge. The Catholic church is a "law unto itself" in need of serious cultural reform if it is to properly address widespread allegations of child sexual abuse within its ranks, a royal commission heard. The Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse there was a lack of transparency within the church. "We are, as it were, a law and a world unto ourselves," he said. The third day of the three-week public inquiry into Catholic church authorities is examining the factors behind clerical sexual abuse. Commuters from southern parts of Sydney will face greater crowding on trains and slower journey times to work during peak hours because some services will need to stop at inner-city stations left off the map for a new $20 billion metro line. The state government has yet to reveal how it will service St Peters and Erskineville stations once the metro line opens. The stations are on three existing railway lines but only trains on the Bankstown Line stop to pick up and drop off passengers. As part of the government's metro rail project, the existing line between Bankstown and Sydenham will be converted to carry single-deck, driverless trains. The problem for residents of the inner-western suburbs is that the metro trains will not stop at St Peters or Erskineville. Motorists with an interlock device installed in their car must blow zero before they can drive. Credit:Joe Armao, Fairfax Media. Other proposals in the paper involve beefing up the use of alcohol ignition interlocks - which stops a vehicle from starting if the driver's blood alcohol content exceeds zero. Queenslanders are currently subjected to the interlock program if they are convicted of drink driving with a reading of 0.15 or more, two or more drink driving offences within five years, failing to provide a sample or dangerous driving while affected by alcohol. Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey is calling on Queenslanders to provide feedback on a discussion paper into drink driving. Credit:Glenn Hunt Under the current rules, if they choose not to have an approved interlock fitted, they will not be allowed to drive for two years after the disqualification period ends. But if they have an interlock installed, it can be removed after 12 months. Under proposals in the discussion paper, the "sit out" would be extended from two years to five years to motivate higher risk drink drivers to fit an interlock to the vehicle, extending it to mid-range drink drivers with a BAC of 0.1 to 0.149, and also extending it to L and P platers. Another measure could be keeping interlocks installed in vehicles until offenders can demonstrate they can separate drinking and driving. The paper notes that increasing the sit out period to five years may lead to more people installing an interlock, but it may also result in more drivers getting behind the wheel while unlicensed. The current cost of an interlock to be fitted for 12 months is about $2000. The paper also suggested all first time drink drivers should take part in an online intervention program to educate them about their alcohol consumption and separating drinking from driving, before they can get their licence back. An intensive face-to-face drink driving education program was suggested for repeat offenders, who would need to complete the program with a qualified professional before getting their licence back. Costs to an offender would be $200-750. But the paper points out there would be a barrier for regional communities, and solutions such as using Skype would need to be investigated. The paper said the proposals were not current government policy, but instead designed to hear what Queenslanders thought before "considering their possible implementation". Road safety experts and representatives from road users groups contributed to the proposed measures in the discussion paper at a forum hosted by Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey. Mr Bailey said he was frustrated that one in five road fatalities in Queensland involved a driver under the influence. "Clearly this is unacceptable and I call on Queenslanders to have their say on how this can be stopped," Mr Bailey said. In 2016, there were an estimated 47 fatalities from crashes involving a drink driver, representing 18.7 per cent of the annual road toll. Between 2008 and 2015, the number of drink driving offences decreased by almost 40 per cent. But Mr Bailey said over the next five years, if left unchecked, drink driving could cause more than 2400 fatalities and serious injuries, with a projected cost to the community of $2.7 billion. Repeat offenders make up a quarter of drink driving offenders, with research showing they are much more likely than a first time offender to be involved in a fatal crash. A man has been charged with attempted murder after a drinking session in an inner-north Brisbane apartment turned almost fatal. A 29-year-old man was rushed to hospital with serious stab wounds after police believed he asked some men drinking at his house to leave. A 25-year-old Ipswich man was charged with attempted murder, to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday. EARLIER " We haven't got people sitting in an office, eavesdropping on conversations. "They're blank screens, they're set up where they're watching the video of places like, let's say Settlement Cove and if there's you know, a baddy, a creepy sort of a character that's talking and liaising with someone else and the police request that file because they think he's a paedophile and he's hanging around those areas, we pass it on and police access the audio." Queensland Law Society spokesman and immediate past president Bill Potts said the rollout appeared to breach the Invasion of Privacy Act's restrictions on recording a private conversation. "There are all sorts of private conversations, where people would expect their conversations would not be listened to, would not be potentially made public," he said. "And since when in Queensland have we allowed our state to listen to its citizens, with no debate, with no real explanation that stands up to this sort of thing." Mr Potts, who has compared the scheme to Big Brother, called on the Police Commissioner, Police Minister and Attorney-General to state whether they supported the added surveillance. Cr Sutherland defended accusations of a lack of consultation, saying a draft press release was sent to the Office of the Information Commissioner, which raised "no concerns". Mr Green's office was originally reported to have endorsed or approved the scheme but he stressed that was not the case. "I do have some concerns beyond our own legislation, not just the Information Privacy Act but the Invasion of Privacy legislation that's administered by the Attorney-General and the Queensland Police," he said. "That (scheme) seems to fall foul of that possibly as well. "So I think the council will have to seek some legal advice and work with us. It's possible their planned use of that body of recording equipment isn't lawful." Mr Green said he wasn't aware of such moves anywhere else in the country but warned other councils and private businesses would likely follow suit. He called for a public debate into what level of surveillance Queenslanders were comfortable with. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, from the neighbouring Brisbane City Council, said his council's extensive CCTV network, which numbered 126 in the CBD and Fortitude Valley, did not record audio. "We certainly don't have any plans on the table at this time to do that," he said. "What we have done, obviously, is to use CCTV cameras in the CBD and the Valley in particular, where we've been able to create intervention arrangements. "When we see an incident happening, we have amplification systems that can intervene, but also quick response linked to police iPads. "But we have never gone down the track of audio and, at this stage, it's not our intention to." When asked whether it was appropriate for a council to covertly record citizens' private conversations, Cr Quirk said: "Look, I don't want to go down that track at the moment." "I know Moreton have introduced it and I know there's been some debate around that, but at this stage all I can say to you is that we in council, here in Brisbane, haven't considered it," he said. "It's not in our plans to consider it at this time." President of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties Michael Cope said the recording devices would not act as a deterrent for crime. "CCTV is a cheap way for politicians to be seen to be doing something to reduce crime. But it creates a false sense of security for the public," he said. "Whilst we accept there is evidence that CCTV helps in the prosecution of crime, in the council's view there is no evidence to support the proposition that the use of CCTV deters crime." He said the Council for Civil Liberties was also concerned about how sensitive the microphones are, and people should be warned their conversations may be recorded. Katter's Australian Party will not be bound to any policy positions or support in Queensland's Parliament if it agrees to a deal with One Nation. One Nation plans to make an announcement on Friday outside the Queensland Parliament related to sitting MPs, and there has also been speculation of a KAP-One Nation deal. Robbie Katter says his party would not be bound by policy positions or support in the Parliament as a result of any preference deals. Credit:Melissa North KAP state leader Robbie Katter said there were no agreements yet with other minor parties, such as One Nation, but confirmed his party was having discussions with others who "want to see the power of the major parties reduced". "We believe for the upcoming election it is vital to ensure the major party duopoly is not restored," Mr Katter said. Queensland apprentices could be owed millions in back pay after the Fair Work Commission found they had been paid under the wrong award for the past three years. The FWC on Tuesday dismissed an appeal, by All Trades Queensland, against a 2016 decision in the workers' favour. Many Queensland apprentices may have been underpaid since 2014. Credit:Greg Ellis Then, the FWC determined apprentices should have had their wages measured against the nationwide modern award of $12.66 an hour, rather than the Queensland state award of $8.75, from January 1, 2014. According to the Electrical Trades Union, All Trades Queensland paid $9.75 an hour to apprentices under its enterprise bargaining agreement. The number of high-risk offenders serving sentences in the community has spiked dramatically in a system plagued with problems, a damning report by the public watchdog has found. High-risk offenders on community orders more than tripled to 3180 last year the greatest level since the orders were introduced, the Auditor-General reported. They make up almost one-third of the people placed on the orders. Credit:Lucy Di Paolo Victoria has the second-lowest rate for offenders completing community corrections orders in Australia. Community correction orders were introduced by the previous state government in 2012. Victoria's Liberals will seek to compel the Andrews government to include South Yarra station in their plans for the Melbourne Metro rail tunnel, this time through a vote in the upper house. If passed, the vote would give the inner-city council of Stonnington shared control of planning the $10.9 billion project and ensure the tunnel is built in a way that does not rule out constructing a new underground station at South Yarra. The design for Melbourne Metro will take its twin rail tunnels about 100 metres from the existing South Yarra station but will not include an interchange between the two, even though South Yarra is Melbourne's busiest station outside the CBD. Economic analysis found the case for including South Yarra in the project is weak, given it would add close to $1 billion to the project cost. A long-standing Liberal policy to put One Nation last on how-to-vote tickets is likely to be dumped by the Victorian branch of the party, amid warnings the Coalition is bleeding votes to the hard right. The impact of demographic change, high unemployment and industrial collapse has left party hardheads worried One Nation could cut as much as 10 per cent from the primary vote of the Liberal or Nationals in some seats. Michael Kroger has signalled a shift in the Victorian Liberal Party's preferencing policy. Credit:Justin McManus State president Michael Kroger said the Victorian Liberal Party was considering a policy of preferencing candidates whose values most closely aligned with the Liberal Party in such key areas as law and order, energy prices and security, budget repair and border protection. "The person whose policies are most in line with our views on those issues is likely to be preferenced," Mr Kroger told The Age. "It will be done on an individual candidate basis. Hard-left Greens candidates are extremely likely to be put last." "Appalling" and "shameful" is how police and the Road Safety Commission have described the behaviour of drivers speeding through WA school zones last week. Hundreds of drivers were pinged for speeding through the 40km/h school zones last week, as thousands of children went back to school for the first time in 2017. Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia said it was "extraordinarily disappointing" to see so many drivers putting young lives at risk. Credit:Road Safety Commission In some cases drivers caught speeding tested positive to drugs. Traffic officers vented their frustration on Twitter over some of the drivers they came across speeding through the school zones. In what can only be described as a youngster doing the 'puff, puff, pass', West Australian dolphins may be using blowfish - or 'blowies' - to get high, scientists have found. Murdoch University researcher Krista Nicholson, who monitors dolphins occupying the Peel-Harvey coastal waters off Mandurah, said there were several records of them interacting with blowfish in estuaries and coastal waters around the world. The young dolphin Huubster tosses a blowfish in the air. Credit:Mandurah Dolphin Research Project She said that in Australia, scientists had seen juveniles mouthing blowies in the Leschenault estuary in WA's South West and a sub-adult dolphin carrying an inflated blowie for a few hours in the Kimberley. Blowies have a lethal toxin called tetrodotoxin, present in their skin, flesh and internal organs. Kabul: A suicide bombing near the the Afghan Supreme Court in central Kabul during the evening rush hour has killed more than a dozen people and wounded many more, officials said. Witnesses said a suicide bomber walked up to the entrance of the court as workers were leaving and set off his explosives on Tuesday local time. Afghan villagers gather around the bodies of people killed during clashes between Taliban and Afghan security forces in November 2016. Hekmatyar called for an end to the "pointless" war. Credit:AP No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman for the Taliban said that the group was looking into whether the bomber was one of its fighters. The group in the past has claimed responsibility for many court-related assaults, including provincial courtrooms and buses carrying court employees. Washington: The fate of Donald Trump's migrant crackdown was being decided on Tuesday night, after a rapid-fire, phone-hook-up court hearing, during which the much of the skepticism from the three-judge panel was directed at the lawyers attempting to defend the President's controversial executive order. The San Francisco-based Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said a decision on a Trump application, to be released from a stay order issued by a Seattle court, would "probably" be issued in the coming days, clarifying the position of tens of thousands of travellers whose visas were revoked under Trump's order and then reinstated after the Seattle decision. Speaking for Trump, Justice Department lawyer August Flentje insisted that the executive order that restricts entry to the US by migrants and refuges from seven Muslim-majority countries was "well within the President's power as delegated to him by Congress," and that the President had determined there was a "real risk" in not halting travel to the US from those countries. "Are you arguing, then, that the President's decision in that regard is unreviewable?" Judge Michelle Friedland asked. Flentje, hesitated before responding "yes". Then another judge, William Canby, jumped in: "Could the President simply say in the order, 'We're not going to let any Muslims in?'" Moscow: A Russian judge convicted Alexei Navalny, an opposition politician and one of the Kremlin's most charismatic critics, of fraud charges on Wednesday, a move that bars him from running for the presidency next year. President Vladimir Putin - in power since 2000, having served two terms as president, then one as prime minister before returning to the presidency - is expected to seek a fourth term next year. Mr Navalny was widely regarded as the only viable rival. Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny. Credit:AP Mr Navalny was given a five-year suspended prison sentence and fined 500,000 rubles, or about $11,000. He and his supporters dismissed the accusation - that he embezzled about $650,000 worth of timber from a state-owned company - as baseless and politically motivated. The lengthy legal ruling was similar to a judgment issued against Mr Navalny in 2013, which resulted in large-scale protests and resulted in a five-year suspended prison sentence. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in that case that his right to a fair trial had been violated, and Russia's supreme court ordered a new trial. Chip Somodevilla/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, called the president's comments on the judiciary "demoralizing" and "disheartening" during a meeting with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a spokesman for Gorsuch confirmed. The spokesman did not say which of Trump's comments Gorsuch was referring to. Trump has spoken out multiple times against a federal judge who blocked his immigration order in Washington state last week. Over the weekend, he panned Judge James Robart as a so-called judge and blamed him for risking national security by issuing the temporary restraining order (which applied nationwide), calling it "a terrible decision." The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2017 What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2017 Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. A terrible decision Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2017 Speaking to law enforcement leaders Wednesday morning, Trump suggested that the courts are acting politically. He also commented on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges who could decide whether to lift the restraining order on his travel ban. The three-judge panel heard oral arguments last night. I have to be honest that, if these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they do what they should be doing, Trump said. And I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased. And we haven't had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right. He went on to tweet Wednesday afternoon that theres been a big increase in traffic into the United States from certain areas, seeming to suggest that the courts ruling should be an easy decision. Big increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be EASY D! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 Gorsuchs meeting with Blumenthal was one of six he held with senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. In an interview, Blumenthal said Neil Gorsuch's answers to questions about Trump's comments on the judiciary left him unsatisfied. "He found them to be disheartening and demoralizing I think he needs to be far stronger, and tell the American public rather than state them to me as a senator," Blumenthal said. The Connecticut Democrat says he still has "by no means reached a decision on his nomination" and said he pressed Gorsuch on whether he would respect Roe v. Wade. "He declined to commit that he would continue to uphold any specific case," he said of Gorsuch. Blumenthal said he expects these issues to come up again before the Judiciary Committee. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Latest News Mortgage stress hits Australian households Learn seven ways to ease the interest rate burden, says broker New investor strengthens Invoice Finance Group Partnership will provide funding, new products for SMEs There is a significant risk that the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) Retail Banking Remuneration Review will draw false conclusions on broker remuneration, according to the Australian Finance Group AFG ).Managing director of AFG, Brett McKeon , said the review does not have the information gathering powers or resources required to include broker remuneration within its scope. Instead, it should cede this responsibility to the review currently being conducted by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).The ABA should not risk reducing confidence in its findings by referring to, or basing recommendations on, isolated anecdotal statements, he said in a letter to Stephen Sedgwick AO, who is heading up the review.An example of how the Sedgwick review misses the point can be found in its recently released Issues Paper which highlighted the banking industry practice of increasing the commission rate of a mortgage product to increase its sales, he said.McKeon added that this emphasis failed to consider the combination of incentives that a bank may offer brokers, the consumer benefits of brokers fulfilling their responsible lending obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (NCCP Act), and negative factors such as increased processing delays caused by these types of promotions.The suggestion that a broker will chase higher commission at the risk of recommending something unsuitable or risk clawback and damage their reputation and therefore their business for a few dollars more is ludicrous.In fact, AFG has provided extensive empirical information to ASIC for the purposes of the ASIC Remuneration Review that indicates that there is no real correlation between the commission rate offered and the market share of a lender.McKeon also slammed the Sedgwick Issues Paper for alleging that third-party mortgages are likely to be larger, paid off more slowly, and more likely to be interest only loans than those provided to equivalent customers who dealt directly with bank staff.It is extremely disappointing that the above statement was included in the Issues Paper, albeit with the final acknowledge that the information that was considered is not conclusive, he said.Instead, it was important to note that the attributes of loans introduced to the banks through the broker channel directly relate to the attributes of customers who sought out the broker in the first place.For example, consumers seeking larger loans may seek the assistance of a broker in order to maximise potential savings.Finally, McKeon said there was a danger that the Sedgwick review could treat the roles, responsibilities and risks associated with mortgage brokers as equivalent to financial planners.It is important to remember that the government intentionally excluded mortgage brokers from the Future of Financial Advice reforms (FOFA), he said.This approach recognises that the regulatory failures that the government sought to address with FOFA did not include residential mortgages and that mortgage brokers were already subject to an appropriate protective regulatory regime under the NCCP Act, including the responsible lending obligations. Latest News Mortgage stress hits Australian households Learn seven ways to ease the interest rate burden, says broker New investor strengthens Invoice Finance Group Partnership will provide funding, new products for SMEs My Local Aggregator, an expansion of My Local Broker, has announced the appointment of mortgage veteran Ross Laurenson as its new national sales manager.These moves signal the companys readiness to go out and attract more brokers to the business, Laurenson told Australian Broker.The attraction will be for new entrants and brokers who might have put two or three years into their business but are now contemplating packing up pencils and doing something else because it hasnt quite worked for them.Too much emphasis has been placed on new entrants to ensure they are compliant while the essential skill of lead generation has fallen by the wayside, he said.What is the point of being the most compliant broker in the world if you havent got any business to be compliant in?After his career at Aussie Home Loans in 1996, Laurenson worked with a wide range of companies including Suncorp, Wizard Home Loans, Resimac , Buy Property Direct and Vow Financial.He also opened his own mortgage business, Home Loans by the Bay in 2005 and later sold it in 2008. In 2010, he opened a Yellow Brick Road franchise in Frankston which won the number one office in Victoria for 37 months in a row.Laurensons role before My Local Aggregator was as state manager for Vow Financial Victoria/Tasmania where he worked closely with My Local Group during its development period.In his new role as national sales manager, his first step will be to ensure his BDMs are trained so that brokers can get the same quality across the board.Were going to place as much importance on those who are struggling as everyone else does when they praise their top twenty or fifty brokers.Most aggregators will praise and invest in their number one brokers. We want to do the reverse: we want to identify a need with each individual broker and we want to create a game plan to help them.Jaci Smith, CEO of My Local Group, said that Laurenson had a great understanding or what it meant to be a good broker, how to fit into a corporate role, and how to stand out as an educator.Ross will be a great asset to the business. Leveraging his years of experience from grass roots broking to supporting brokers and assisting them with growing their businesses, we have a lot to learn from him, she said.A big focus for us here at My Local Aggregator is the focus on delivering brokers what they need and in order to do this listening is a big part. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. Sideshow impresario Dick Zigun wants Coney Island to secede from the United States and become an East Coast haven for expatriates fleeing the nations political turmoil. But dont expect to see the so-called Mayor of Coney Island on any ballots in the Peoples Republic of Coney Island Zigun plans to go old-school dictator and use his unilateral power to keep out riff raff from the likes of the Midwest and Queens, he said. Id be the unelected emperor I think Id have fun with that. And people would have to apply for a visa, of course, and wed probably do extreme vetting from certain states like Indiana. I would also do extreme vetting of anyone from Queens, like Donald Trump, said Zigun. But instead of moving to Paris, like Hemingway or Gertrude Stein, people could just escape to Coney Island as long as they go through the proper channels. Emperor Zigun would re-dig the moat that once separated the island from the mainland. Failing that, hell take a page out of The Donalds book and build a wall along the proposed nations northern border, the Belt Parkway, he said. Well I need to get my advisors to study it, but we might have to build a partial wall I suppose at the Belt Parkway so people cant just pull over and make an unauthorized entry into our great country, His Excellency said. Either way, tourists are paying for it, he said. If he seizes power, the whole peninsula everything from the gated community Sea Gate over to Manhattan Beach will come under his control, according to Great Defender Zigun, who said he already has plans to erect a Lady Liberty-esque statue in the private nabe that overlooks the New York Harbor. I dont want to let Sea Gate go, His Eminence said. The original name is Nortons Point, and thats where I want to erect a statue of Art Carney for his work in the Honeymooners after his character [Ed] Norton hell be a beacon. The militia: For years, Zigun has secretly used carnival games to train the Peoples Army of the Peoples Playground. Photo by Stefano Giovannini Such a coup would net the Invincible and Triumphant General Zigun both Sea Gates private police force and Kingsborough Community College two major institutions on which society is built. As for a hospital, the Highest Incarnation of the Revolutionary Comradeship said hed pass on Coney Island Hospital, and instead find another way to keep his subjects healthy. It would not be the first time someone tried to secede from New York 65 percent of Staten Islanders voted to detach from the citys ample bosom in 1993, but lawmakers put the kibosh on that. Rock Councilman Joe Borelli tried and failed to stoke that fire last summer after Great Britain voted to leave the European Union. Queens has twice tried to secede (and at the risk of editorializing, we wish them all the luck in the world on a third attempt). But Ever-Victorious, Iron-Willed Commander Zigun draws particular inspiration from Key Wests 1982 attempt to cleave itself from Florida and become The Conch Republic the archipelagos response to a roadblock that the Feds set up there to stop undocumented immigrants from entering the U.S. Here in Brooklyn, Islanders are already raring to shake off the shackles of their oppressors and gain their independence, said one local. Obviously the rest of the city has just been holding us back, said long-time Coney Islander Leon Watkins. Coney Island has more than enough pizazz and know-how to be its own country. Lets make Coney Island great again. Officials at Sea Gate did not return requests for comment. Reach reporter Caroline Spivack at cspiv ack@c ngloc al.com or by calling (718) 2602523. Follow her on Twitter @carolinespivack. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 62nd Precinct BensonhurstBath Beach Jilted lover A enraged woman caught her no-good-boyfriend in bed with another woman in his 63rd Street apartment on Feb. 5 and bludgeoned the pair with her fists, said police. The man told police that his jilted lover caught the pair in the heat of passion in his place between 17th and 18th avenues at 7:40 am and immediately began punching him in the face. The incensed girlfriend chased him out of the apartment and then returned to the bedroom to punch and kick his mistress, officials said. After the baddie beat the woman she swiped her boyfriends cellphone, $300, and his Jordan sneakers and stated, If he wants his s, tell him to come see me, and fled the scene, authorities said. Time to run A pair of goons mugged a man at gunpoint on 72nd Street on Jan. 31, said police. The man told police that he was leaving his friends house between 18th and 19th avenues at 1:50 am when one man approached him and asked for the time while another pressed a black firearm against his back and stated, Turn around and give me your money. The crooks searched the mans pockets, took his wallet, and fled toward 19th Avenue, authorities said. Swiped swans A opportunistic thief swiped a package of antique silver swans from a 63rd Street doorstep on Jan. 31, said police. The homeowner told police that when he returned to his home between 18th and 19th avenues at 6:40 pm he found the ripped-open package on his front porch. The man reviewed security footage and saw an unknown woman flee with the antiques, according to a police report. The woman fled toward 18th Avenue, authorities said. Cold culprits Four sniffly thieves robbed a Kings Highway pharmacy of allergy medication on Feb. 2, authorities said. A witness told police that the quartet walked into the drugstore between W. 11th and W. 12th streets at 1 pm. The pilferers swiped boxes of Claritin, Breath Right strips, and Allegra, and fled the store in an unknown direction, according to a police report. Scam artist A huckster conned a man out of $2,500 after he responded to a loan ad in a newspaper on Feb. 6, said police. The victim told police that he responded to an advertisement in a Greek newspaper to take out a loan at 3 pm and an unknown man began corresponding with him and asked that he send a copy of his social security card, identification card, and $2,500. He wired the money through Western Union to the con artist in Florida. But the victim never received his loan and the crook keeps calling him from various numbers demanding more money, according to a police report. Family feud Police arrested a man for shoving his 80-year-old mother to the ground so hard that he bruised her hip on 17th Avenue on Jan. 29, officials said. The woman told police that she opened the door to her apartment between Bath and Benson avenues at 11:45 pm when her 54-year-old son grabbed her and pushed her to the ground, causing her to have pain on the right side of her hip. Emergency responders took the woman to Maimonides Hospital, authorities said. Caroline Spivack Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Dont let my people go! A Park Slope rabbi was among 19 Jewish leaders who deliberately got themselves arrested on Monday by blocking traffic outside Manhattans Trump Tower to protest the presidents controversial immigration ban. Congregation Beth Elohim leader Rabbi Rachel Timoner says she felt compelled as a member of a faith with a long history of persecution to challenge the presidents ban on citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S., which she thinks victimizes people purely for their faith and nationality. Our people were exterminated because we couldnt get into other countries, said Timoner. As rabbis many of us feel obligated to stand up when other people are being discriminated against due to their religion and national origin. The 19 Talmudic teachers were part of a larger protest of around 200 people organized by progressive Jewish human rights group TRuah. But part-way through the picket line, the rabbis broke off and informed police of their intention to sit down in Central Park West in an act of civil disobedience. The cops gave them about 20 minutes to do their thing mostly, praying and trilling the Song of the Sea, which the ancient Israelites sang as they crossed the Red Sea in their flight from Egypt before arresting them, Timoner recounted. She feels Trumps executive order is so heinous that the act of self-sacrifice was called for. When a person is willing to but their body on the line it means he or she feels very strongly that something is wrong, Timoner said. This ban rises to this level and I think many more of us need to rise up. Were not going to be quiet. Only a few members of Timoners Park Slope congregation were present during her arrest, while the majority were engaged in a workshop on resisting Trumps policies back at the Garfield Place sanctuary She chose not to inform the majority of her flock of her impending arrest so as not to distract them from their important work, she said. Thats actually the work, thats people rolling up their sleeves and working together, Timoner said. Since The Donalds ascension as Commander in Chief, the synagogue has become a local focal point of resistance for left-leaning agitators, she says. Im really proud of my congregation really proud, Timoner said. Theyve been inspiring to me. Police gave Timoner a desk appearance ticket for a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct for her role in the protest, and she is scheduled to appear before a judge on April 4. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 88th Precinct Fort GreeneClinton Hill Bad agent Authorities arrested a man who they say pretended to be an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in order to snag free cigarettes and cash from a Hanson Place store on Feb. 1. The man entered the bodega near Ashland Place around 1:40 am and allegedly flashed a badge and handcuffs, stating he was an agent and demanding the worker hand over e-cigarettes and $2,000 or he would give the store $5,000 in summonses and take away its vending license, cops reported. The worker gave him $390 worth of cigarettes before police arrived and slapped cuffs on him, authorities said. Really petty crook A thief stole the tip jar from a Carlton Avenue cafe on Jan. 31 and threatened to gun a guy down after he chased him. The filcher entered the eatery near DeKalb Avenue at 1:10 pm, grabbed the jar containing $30, and left, police said. A witness ran after the crook, but the jerk snarled, Dont make me shoot you, and hightailed it out of there with his loot, according to a report. Blades A couple of cretins tried to mug a man with a knife and scissors at a Portland Avenue bus stop on Jan. 31. The 56-year-old victim told cops he was waiting for the bus near Flushing Avenue around 10:40 pm when the one of the goons grabbed him and put a blade to his back, hissing, If you dont give me your stuff, I will kill you, while his accomplice threatened him with scissors. But the duo didnt end up taking anything and fled empty-handed, authorities said. Spray A skunk used pepper spray on a Myrtle Avenue bodega worker after he tried to stop him from stealing snacks on Feb. 2. The jerk snagged a Guinness, a Red Bull, and a Crunch from the store between Vanderbilt and Clinton avenues at 3:50 pm and left without paying, cops said. The worker followed the guy out of the store as he was on the phone with 911, but the villain turned around, sprayed him, and fled, according to a report. Held up Cops cuffed a guy who they say stole a mans phone and wallet at knifepoint outside the Fort Greene Park visitor center on Myrtle Avenue on Feb. 1. The victim was relaxing on the steps by N. Portland Avenue at 5 pm when the suspect allegedly approached him and said, Give me your phone, then pulled out a blade. The victim handed over his cell and the man then demanded his wallet, so he relinquished that too and the suspect ran off, police said. Lauren Gill Bridget Mary's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Bridget-Mary-Meehan/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABrid A Promise of Presence Affirmations from the Heart of God Exploring the Feminine Face of God God Delights in You- A Four Week Journal Heart Talks with Mother God Inclusive Worship Aids Living Gospel Equality Now- Praying with a Passionate Heart Praying with Celtic Holy Women Praying with Visionary Women h Praying with Women of the Bible The Healing Power of Prayer-New Edition Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP Yardley Friends Meeting at 65 N. Main Street in Yardley will host the documentary Organic Roots on Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. Join director Al Johnson for a showing of this film followed by a discussion of the last 50 years of this movement. Organic foods are part of our life today and a tool in our concern for... latest news October 31, 2022 Buddy TV In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options... Relationships seem rocky in this episode of This Is Us, titled I Call Marriage Rebecca and Jack get some troubling news from Miguel that makes them question their own relationship. Meanwhile, Kevin tries to get Sophie back, Kate struggles with balancing her own needs and Tobys needs, and Randall just wont accept Williams fate. This Is Us Needs to Give Kate a Bigger Storyline Than Her Weight Loss Journey >>> Fight or Give Up On their wedding day at City Hall, Miguel gives a loving speech about passion and devotion for Jack and Rebecca. Years later, when the kids are teens, Rebecca and Jack are excited to go out for dinner with Miguel and his wife, Shelley. Its clear they need to make more time for each other, as Jack is working long hours and Rebecca is back with her band. However, things get weird when Miguel tells them that he and Shelley are getting a divorce. Rebecca understands how people can drift apart, but Jack cant shake the feeling of doubt. He confronts Miguel about it, asks what went wrong. Miguel says one day he woke up and realized that he and Shelley stopped noticing each other; they stopped trying to make each other happy. He adds that thats how he knew it was over because sometimes you have to decide whether to fight for a marriage or just give up and move on. This new information really rattles Jack. And its clear Rebecca is a little concerned too. After the band performs, her band mate Ben tells her that a booking agent wants them to go on an East Coast tour. She tells him that she has to check with Jack. Ben tells her that if Jack loves her, hell understand and let her go. She flips out on Ben, telling him how devoted Jack is and how he is an amazing man who doesnt need to prove his love by letting her go. When she gets home that night, Jack has packed a bag and is taking her on a surprise overnight trip. He brings her to their first apartment, which he has rented out for the night. He has decorated it with Christmas lights and candles for a romantic evening. Later on, he breaks out their wedding vows, which they read to each other. And then she drops the bomb that Ben wants her to go on tour with the band. Accepting Fate Randall now has nightmares of coming home and finding that William has passed. After Annie wakes him one night, he and Beth find William and Tess up late playing chess. Tess reminds them of her upcoming tournament and explains that the only time to play with William is late at night because of their busy schedules. She adds that she needs to get in all the time she can with William, which makes Randall upset since he doesnt want to accept that William wont be with them much longer. Beth and Randall seek advice from a professional, Simon, about palliative care. Its an approach to improve the quality of life of someone with a terminal illness. Simon also offers advice on how to deal with the girls. Again, Randall doesnt want to deal with it, and he runs to work, where hes still dealing with his co-worker Sanjay trying to take his accounts. At work, his boss, Tyler, tells Randall that he needs to work together with Sanjay to land a new account. Sanjay books a reservation for dinner that night, but Randall ends up not going because its Tess chess tournament. The next day, Randall not only learns that Sanjay landed the account but also that Tyler wants Randall to split all of his accounts with Sanjay. While Tyler assures Randall that this isnt a reflection of his work ethic, it seems that something else is going on, which has Randall worried. When he gets home later that day, Beth is already asleep. He takes a glass of water from the night table, and his hand is shaking a lot. What does this mean? Is it work nerves or is there something medically wrong with Randall? Or maybe its just his stress from William? Another Chance Kevin is obsessed with getting Sophie back. He arrives at the diner where she first kissed him in eighth grade on a class trip and patiently waits for her. She comes in fuming, ready to tell him off, but he lures her in with fries. She tells him shes doing well as a nurse manager, but when he tells her he wants to pick up where they left off, she storms out. He chases after her onto a train, where she reveals that she doesnt want to relive the fact that he cheated on her, which ended their marriage. The train gets stuck, and eventually Kevin switches seats with someone to sit next to Sophie. She warms up to him, and they discuss whats been going on in their lives. He tells her about his family and how Kate is getting married. When she asks about Miguel, Kevin tells her hes always hated him. When he asks about her mother, he reveals that hes secretly Facebook friends with her because he created a fake account to keep tabs on her. She eventually tells him that it was really tough for her after they broke up. She reveals that she did remarry but then divorced. However, now shes dating a nice guy and her relationship is good. Once the train starts moving, she gets off at the next stop, and he follows her. He tells her that hes been in love with her since the fourth grade and hes never stopped loving her. Before she walks away, he tells her hes going to be at the diner the next day waiting for her. And, of course, she shows up. Quiz: Who is Your TV Boss? >>> Temptation At fat camp, Kate is really enjoying herself. Shes immersed herself in all of the classes and activities. Even when Duke keeps hitting on her, she manages to ignore his advances. Things get weird, though, when Toby shows up with a care package. He suggests that she get away from the camp for a while to spend time with him, but she says she doesnt want to lose focus. While seemingly upset, Toby tells her he understands and doesnt want to distract her. However, as she walks away, he realizes she forgot to take the duffel bag he brought for her. In the parking lot, Toby runs into Duke, who thinks Toby is joining the camp. He tells Toby that the camp is a great place to meet women. When Toby reveals that hes Kates finance, Duke gets quiet and awkward. Soon, Toby shows up at the drum stick class, telling Kate he got a day pass. Throughout the class, he is joking around and isnt taking it seriously, which annoys Kate. After class, she asks whats up. He explains that while he loves her and loves supporting her, he needs her to think of him every once in a while, as he misses her while hes alone in New York. Before he leaves, he hands Kate a ring box with his grandmothers engagement ring, which was in the duffel bag. Its clear that Kate feels like a dope now. Later on, she lets off some steam on a treadmill, and Duke shows up. He spouts off a bunch of stuff and eventually tells her that at some point she needs to stop trying to be someone else and start acting like herself. He then tells her his offer still stands and his cabin number is 13. That night, it appears that Kate is walking toward his cabin! Trouble in Paradise Things dont seem to be going so well for the Pearsons right now on This Is Us. Its clear that Rebecca and Jack will disagree about her bands tour, especially because she used to date Ben. Oh, and the fact that she has three teenagers at home. And while I dont think Rebecca will fall into the arms of Ben again, I do think this could be the beginning of something with Miguel. I do hope that she doesnt cheat on Jack, though. Kevin really needs to figure out what he wants. First, it was all about Olivia. Then it was Sloane because she was the right thing to do. And now its back to Sophie. And, clearly, there were women in between Sophie and Sloane because he cheated on Sophie when they were married. However, the move to Los Angeles was probably the beginning of the end of his marriage. But what does her showing up at the restaurant mean for them now? Kate better not cheat on Toby. Hes a good guy, and he has a point that their relationship seems one-sided, with him always making the grand gestures. Its time that she step up and own herself and their relationship. She needs to put in the work. And while I agree with Duke that Kate needs to be herself, that doesnt mean she needs to hook up with Duke! Im curious whats going on with Randall. Theres clearly something else going on with him. Hes always been a quiet person who keeps his emotions to himself. And now I fear that hes keeping all of this stress to himself instead of unloading onto Beth. Also, what ever happened to him being mad at Rebecca? What did you think of I Call Marriage? Do you think Kate will really give in to temptation? Do you think Rebecca will really go on tour with her band? How will this affect her marriage and her kids? What else do you think is going on with Randall? Do you think that Kevin should just be alone for a while? Let us know in the comments section below. This Is Us season 1 airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC. Want more news? Like our This Is Us Facebook page. (Image courtesy of NBC) Iranian student returns to UB campus It is gratifying to know that we now have all of the students we expected to enroll from the seven affected countries. They should know that the university welcomes them and is committed to support their success at UB. BUFFALO, N.Y. The University at Buffalo is pleased to announce that the student who had been delayed in Iran under the Jan. 27 immigration executive order has returned to Buffalo and will resume his studies this week at UB. His return today was made possible when a federal judge in Seattle last week temporarily blocked the week-old immigration order from being enforced nationwide. A masters degree student in UBs School of Architecture and Planning, he is finishing up his final semester at UB before graduation in May. He is one of 107 Iranian students enrolled at UB under the student visa program. As the university begins its second week of classes this semester, university officials have been in touch with all 112 students affected by executive order restricting travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries. All of the students have begun classes at the university. In addition, all 20 faculty, staff and visiting scholars affected by the immigration order are accounted for and have resumed their duties at the university. The university is hopeful that a postdoctoral researcher from Iran who is awaiting a visa will soon be granted one and will join the university community. As a federal court considers reinstating the restrictions that block travel from seven countries cited in Jan. 27 executive order, UB will continue to update the university community on the situation through the website, www.buffalo.edu/immigration-update. We are very pleased that our student was able to return from Iran in time to begin his final semester at UB and stay on track to finish his degree, said Stephen Dunnett, vice provost for international education. Making this happen was a team effort, and we are grateful to our colleagues in the School of Architecture and Planning, International Student and Scholar Services, and the Law School for their perseverance in assisting our student to return to UB, despite multiple impediments. It is gratifying to know that we now have all of the students we expected to enroll from the seven affected countries. They should know that the university welcomes them and is committed to support their success at UB. Specialist health and safety consultancy Southalls and international law firm Gowling WLG, warn medium sized builders merchants (10-50m turnover) of the significant fine risks they may face on the first anniversary of the new health and safety sentencing guidelines this month. Since the new guidelines were introduced a year ago, there have been an unprecedented number of sanctions and fines for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act etc (1974). It has now become commonplace to see fines of more than 1m for non-fatal cases for example, which previously would have been dealt with in a magistrates court. Andrew Litchfield, a partner at Gowling WLG, discusses the impact of the new guidelines. He said: A major factor in the size of these sentences is the turnover of the defendant organisation. What were seeing currently is a disproportionate effect on medium sized organisations, rather than those with a turnover of excess of 50m for example. For very large organisations the sentencing guidelines do not include sentencing tables, and we have yet to see commensurate fines for the largest businesses. The highest industry fine so far was to UK leading builders merchant Travis Perkins for 2m after the death of a customer in Milton Keynes this may well encourage the courts to set even higher penalties. Mr Litchfield continued: The purpose of the sentencing is to remind offending business owners and shareholders that they simply cannot break health and safety legislation its got to hurt, thats the point of the sentence. It is our belief that it is only a matter of time before we see fines in excess of 10m. Many more individuals are also being investigated and prosecuted far more frequently for health and safety offences. According to an IOSH report published last month, in 2015-2016, 46 company directors and senior managers were prosecuted under the health and safety law, compared to an annual average of 24 in the five previous years. The intention of the new sentencing health and safety guidelines is to make sentencing more transparent; judges have a series of steps they must follow to arrive at the ultimate sentence. As it is possible for businesses to see which category they fall into based on their turnover, they can then work out what a possible fine may look like. The logical decision therefore, is for businesses to invest time and funds up front reviewing their procedures to prevent an incident occurring. John Southall, a director at Southalls, explained: When you are putting in possible outcomes in a risk assessment, say the risk of injury, if you err on the side of caution and state that an outcome is death from falling down the stairs, if the Health and Safety Executive investigate the incident, you may be setting yourself up for a significant fine. Its very difficult to argue that youre not in Harm Category 1 according to the guidelines, if your own risk assessment contains that conclusion. Mr Litchfield added: Risk assessment and safe system of work documents therefore, must reduce risk and help to prevent the accident happening in the first place. They must be practical and realistic too. Culpability is important here, making sure the control measures are actually being followed through properly. If you can show that you have discharged that duty and that you are working towards a recognised industry standard then thats even better. Failing to respond to complaints or near misses would put a business in the higher culpability bracket. If unsure you must seek professional guidance. Businesses must review the systems they have in place to identify and manage risk. Do they accurately reflect current business practice and are they being operated on the ground? Prevention is going to be far less costly than trying to deal with it once it has gone wrong. With builders merchants having to manage far more health and safety issues than most other retailers, the importance of full compliance is particularly important for both companies and individuals. So what does this mean for your business and what should be done? Mr Southall and Mr Litchfield recently met to discuss the impact of the new sentencing guidelines on the first anniversary. They consider the implications for business owners and potential fine risks if good health and safety practice is not implemented in this exclusive interview. Want to know more? visit: https://vimeo.com/202350835. The government has released a housing white paper, detailing a course of action to tackle the housing crisis in the UK. The paper has received mixed to positive reactions from across the construction industry. In the foreword to the white paper, Prime Minister Theresa May said: Our broken housing market is one of the greatest barriers to progress in Britain today. Whether buying or renting, the fact is that housing is increasingly unaffordable. The proposals in the white paper include the ability for local authorities to seize land from developers who do not fully build on sites where they have planning permission, as well as a greater demand for developers to detail the size and timing of developments. Additionally, emphasis is placed on bringing more small and medium-sized builders into the housing market, encouraging development of small sites, as well as making councils make better use of land by avoiding low-density homes and building higher in urban areas. The government will also simplify planning processes to this end, as well as exploring an improved approach to developer contributions. The current timeframe between planning permission and build is far too long, leading to stagnant projects. Councils will now need to keep all plans updated every five years and will play a vital role going forward, helping to focus efforts on a wider range of affordable housing and different delivery methods, said Sarah White, residential sector manager at British Gypsum. We were also very pleased to note that support will additionally be given to small and medium businesses and housebuilders to help increase the potential of new housing stock. A core theme in the white paper is that the housing market is diverse across the country, and while the government will put into place general schemes and changes to promote the housing market and simplify processes, it will rely heavily on the involvement and cooperation of local authorities, housing associations and private developers to make these changes on a regional basis. Naomi Heaton, chief executive of London Central Portfolio, said: Very little detail was included as to how these policies will be executed or enforced. These announcements simply do not go far enough to tackle the growing lack of private rented sector supply with a 1.8m shortfall anticipated by 2025, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. More information on the ban on letting agents fees was also absent, which now is to be subject to consultation. On the whole, the much-hyped housing white paper appears to do very little to fix our broken housing market. Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, welcomed the emphasis on bringing more smaller builders into the equation, and recognised the need to change planning processes to make this easier. There is much that is good and sensible in the white paper, so lets use it as a launch pad for a real step change in delivery. Local authorities are set to be given more resources and more powers, he said. However, the targets arising from the new housing delivery tests, against which councils will be measured, will not be met with a continued over-reliance on large developers and large sites. If a local authority fails to meet its targets, it could lose control over its own planning policy and the threat of this should provide the impetus for councils to push more small sites through the system. It is in everyones interest to see small and medium-sized businesses play a far greater role in housebuilding and small sites are key to this. Meanwhile, the Builders Merchants Federation has welcomed the governments ambitious proposals to boost housebuilding, with John Newcomb, managing director, saying: We need more homes, of all tenures, that are built to high standards, use less energy and water, are pleasant to live in, and located where people want to live. However, building new homes isnt the whole answer, we also need to make the most of the current housing stock that we have. This is why we welcome the government's attempts to encourage later life buyers to down-size, with dignity, to somewhere suitable for them. This then releases larger homes back into the market. Click here to read the housing white paper, Fixing our broken housing market, in full. Daylight saving time ends soon, but will it soon be the new normal? News / Africa by Staff reporter Tribalism has started rearing its ugly head among Zimbabweans living in South Africa.Although there are yet to be physical confrontation, the social media has witnessed shameful spats among country who are seeking a better life in the rainbow nation.The Ndebeles accuse the Shonas of hounding them out of the country and then running it down as they are "clueless".The also claim Shonas stereotype them as uneducated while in actual fact the Ndebele have a meek, keen interest to learn.A huge chunk of the estimated 3 million Zimbabweans in South Africa are Ndebele speaking.According to Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Nqabutho Mabhena, "Tribalism is a reality in our society, the regime in Zimbabwe failed to deal with this question post-independence and it remains unresolved. The split of the liberation movement in 1963 is both ideological and tribal; we have not as a country addressed this question openly to an extent that, young people are more divided than the elders on tribal lines."Tensions are high as the rift has followed Zimbabweans across the Limpopo.Said one Zimbabwean, "What is sad is that the Shona people laugh at us that we do not take education serious, they claim that once one finishes O level in Bulawayo all he knows is to cross to Egoli. These stereotypes are not fair."If you look at it realistically there are no industries in Bulawayo, our capital, so it makes no sense to take your education further. If you dig deeper you also realize that the three universities in Matebelend are not for the average person, Solusi is expensive, NUST is for top notch and Gwanda is just not there. Of course Bulawayo Polytechnic is doing wanders but this is the age of degrees."But be that as it may, there are so many Ndebeles who soldier on for quality qualifications but are still stereotyped."Now with foreigners burdening resources in South Africa, a fault line has been drawn that Shonas must go back to Zimbabwe, while the Ndebeles plan the establishment of Mtwakazi Free State.A language and culture expert has warned that the Ndebeles were developing a dangerous element of entitlement in South Africa."It's only normal because since they fall under the Nguni family they assume they must feel at home when they are in South Africa."However they must make no mistake to think that those that belong to South Africa would welcome them forever. If you ask a Xhosa or a Zulu they will tell you Ndebeles are not natives."I advise they keep good relations with their home boys so that one day when they need to return to Zimbabwe it's all cozy for them."With elections facing South Africa and Zimbabwe, ethnicity differences are likely to heighten, if this continues unchecked may have dire consequences.Zimbabweans need to unite despite race, gender and tribe as they march in watershed 2018 elections. News / Africa by Staff reporter One of the 18 prisoners who escaped from Gerald Estate Center for Illegal Immigrants in Botswana last month, has died.Gerald Estates Station Commander, Superintendent Edward Leposo told Gabz Fm news that Charlotte Ndlovu, died last week Thursday at Nyangabgwe referral hospital.Ndlovu was remanded in custody for murder.The late Ndlovu was one of the 8 prison escapees who have since been recaptured.Leposo highlighted that the process of repatriating Ndlovu's body back to Zimbabwe is ongoing. An Unsuitable Boy Karan Johar with Poonam Saxena Penguin 216 pages; Rs 699 Karan Johars, first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), was a huge hit in India and the overseas market. Before that, Aditya Chopras first film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (DDLJ, 1995), and Sooraj Barjatyas second film, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994), had found similar phenomenal success in India and overseas. Clearly, there was something that this young, new breed of directors was getting right. Their stories sneered at for being about a conservative, conformist youth, family values, song, dance and weddings found resonance across India and the world. It was to explore this non-resident Indian market for films that I met Mr Johar, then 26 years old, at his office in Mumbai in 1998. News / Africa by Staff reporter South African Home Affairs ministerial spokesperson Mr Mayihlome Tswete said his government was willing to waiver stringent requirements for Zimbabwe Special Permit holders.Mr Tswete, who was speaking on SA FM yesterday, said they would make it possible for the permits holders to apply for other options without having to go back to Zimbabwe."As a government we are willing to waiver and have a situation where they can apply for other options here in South Africa. Remember these are 200 000 people we are talking about and most of them are working. Asking them to go back to Zimbabwe at once to apply for permits would obviously affect our operations," he said.He was however quick to point out that the Zimbabwe Special Permit could not be a "perpetual" arrangement."We must remember that this has been a long journey from the days of the ZDP in 2008 and now the ZSP which expiring in December. This one will not be renewed as we are trying to avoid a perpetual structure which will obviously have a bad bearing on our Government."The reassuarance brings a sigh of relief for Zimbabweans who feared losing their jobs as they applied for permits in their homeland.Zimbabwe and South Africa have watershed elections in 2018 and 2019 respectively and this has put a strain on their demographics.An estimated 3 million Zimbabweans are living in South Africa, a situation that has disturbed voting patterns.South African political parties EFF and DA have openly called on Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe who has been for 36 years to resign.Revolutionary brother ANC has played a smart card, pushing Zimbabweans back home to sort their mess. Having re-established his sway over boardrooms of the Tata group companies, Ratan Tata will return to start-ups, in which he has invested, from February 23. On Tuesday, as a precursor to his return, he said the country should remain an open market but regulations were necessary to curb unfair competition. After a gap of five quarters, reported a consolidated net profit for the December 2016 quarter at Rs 232 crore against loss of Rs 2,748 crore in the same period last year. Bloomberg consensus estimate had pegged the figure at Rs 130.7 crore for the December quarter. Leading consulting, technology and outsourcing services provider is believed to be in the final lap of acquiring TCube Solutions, a Bhubaneswar-based IT firm. The valuation of the deal is not known. Divi's Laboratories' performance in the September-December quarter (which is the third quarter, or Q3), as well as the guidance on growth and margins, gives cause for confidence. The company's revenues grew 13.4 per cent and net profits were up 8.8 per cent as the Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) margin at 39.3 per cent expanded about 170 basis points, on a year-on-year basis, in the third quarter. is expected to grow 25 per cent and cross 130 million in financial year 2017-18 but airlines will see bigger risks to profitability because of rising costs and yield pressures, aviation consultancy CAPA said in its India outlook on Wednesday. Arch rivals Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal have formed a united front for the first time to raise concerns over the coming Goods and Services Tax (GST), which they fear could hurt their businesses. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. The services expects Japan's proposal to relax residency norms for highly skilled professionals to set a trend of new geographies welcoming Indian talent, potentially offsetting some impact of business slowdown due to the protectionist stance taken by the US. News / Local by Staff Reporter Only three silo depots out of the 12 Grain Marketing Board storage facilities countrywide are functional raising fears of a food crisis, a top government official has said.Ministry of Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development permanent secretary Ringson Chitsiko told a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture and Mechanisation Parliamentary Portfolio Committee that a food disaster is looming."We have 12 silos, but only three are intact."One of the largest silos is in Bulawayo, but has had problems because of the current rains."GMB has already gone to tender to find companies that can refurbish the silos before farmers start harvesting" he said.Farmers were expected to deliver five tonnes each to the GMB, he said.In 2014, poor storage facilities at the GMB led to the deterioration of 61 000 tonnes of maize over. Last week, an Indian government official announced that iPhones will start rolling off an assembly line in Bengaluru by the end of April, targeted at local customers. Its a big moment for Apple Inc, which is counting on Indias emerging middle class to make up for slowing sales in other markets. But dont bet on the iPhone conquering India, or any other emerging market, just yet. Amidst fundraising troubles and cost-saving measures, Snapdeals two senior executives have quit the firm. Abhishek Kumar, who was the head of corporate development and responsible for fundraising, has resigned. V K Sasikala pays tribute to late J Jayalalithaa after she was appointed as AIADMK general secretary through a resolution passed by the party's General Council, at Poes Garden in Chennai. Piling up pressure on Pakistan, the US along with the UK and France have moved the UN for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist but have run into Chinese opposition. China has put a "hold" on the US-initiated proposal, which comes barely weeks after India's bid to get Azhar banned by the UN were scuttled by Beijing last December. This has prompted India to take up the matter with the Chinese government. According to senior government sources, the US, supported by two other permanent members of UN Security Council -the UK and France- moved a proposal at the UN's Sanctions Committee 1267 in the second-half of the last month to proscribe Azhar, adding India had no role in the proposal. The proposal, which was finalised after "consultations" between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources said. It was submitted just a day before the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, according to officials. "However, China opposed the US move by putting a hold on the proposal," a source said, adding the Chinese action came just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold. Asked about India's reaction, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "We have been informed of this development and the matter has been taken up with the Chinese government." However, he did not elaborate when and where the issue was taken up with China. The "hold" remains for six months and can be further extended by three months. During this period, it can be anytime converted into a "block", thereby, ending the life of the proposal. UN Sanction Committee's listing would have forced imposition of asset freeze and travel ban on Azhar by countries including Pakistan. China has been constantly opposing efforts to get Azhar banned by the UN, which has proscribed his outfit JeM in 2001. The Chinese opposition is also seen by many here as an action taken at the behest of its "all-weather ally" Pakistan. After the attack on the IAF base at Pathankot in January last year, India in February wrote to the UN calling for immediate action to list Azhar under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. The efforts faced stiff opposition by China, which twice put a "technical hold" before finally blocking the Indian proposal in December. Reacting sharply to Chinese action, India had said that "We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar", asserting that its proposal, submitted to the 15-member 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, had received the strong backing of all other members of the Committee. Swarup had also said, "As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation. We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism. In an unprecedented order, a seven-judge constitution bench of the on Wednesday issued contempt notice to a Calcutta High Court judge and asked him to be present before it next Monday to explain his conduct. C S Karnan shall not handle any judicial or administrative work till further orders. He shall also return the files reportedly carried away by him while he was in Madras High Court and return them to the registrar of the Calcutta High Court. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced that the weekly cash withdrawal limit would be increased to Rs 50,000 on savings accounts from February 20. Just three years back, thermal producers used to cry foul over the scarce availability of fuel. But, while coal supply is abundant, demand has gone dry. All financial ties between the and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) have been cut off by order of the Centre, reported the Economic Times on Wednesday. Manoj Kucchal, a hardware vendor in Bijnors commercial hub, Sadar Bazar, looked harassed as he summoned his chartered accountant for the morning session he has been holding since the taxman knocked on his doors. News / Local by Alice Dube The Constitutional Court has today declared that the soon to be 93 year old President Robert Mugabe is fit to rule.Judge Luke Malaba made the ruling dismissing an application by activist Promise Mkwananzi, leader of a social movement calling itself #Tajamuka , Bulawayo24.com has heard.Mkwananzi had claimed that Mugabe, the only ruler since 1980 was wilfully violating the national constitution in many respects, including gross human rights abuses.He said Mugabe was no longer fit to rule.Mugabe's health is increasingly now a cause for concern as he often travelled to Singapore for treatment of an eye cataract.Mugabe has long been picked as Zanu PF 2018 election presidential candidate.More to follow Gujarat has turned its public grain distribution (PDS) system entirely cashless across the state, becoming the first in the country to do so. With this, over 37.5 million people will now be able to pay cashless using their Aadhaar cards. In mid-January, the department of consumer affairs, food and public distribution of India had organised a meeting with state food ministers, to install cashless system in PDS by end of March. However, Gujarat became the first state in India to do so by installing cashless systems in all its 17,250 centres, much ahead of the March deadline. 17th International Counter Terrorism Seminar held today Terrorists take advantage of element of surprise if we live in isolation, says Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore inaugurated the 17th International Seminar on Counter Terrorism, being organised by National Security Guard, in Manesar, Haryana today. Speaking on the occasion, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that terrorism is a global threat and the footprint of terrorism does not restrict to any border. He said that there should be proper coordination between the agencies within the country, as well as between the countries, because terrorists take advantage of element of surprise if we live in isolation The Minister said that now the focus should be more on Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). The Minister said that the outcome of the seminar should be shared among the different agencies, to develop intelligence and also use the knowledge for safety and security. He said that there should be collaboration in intelligence, strategy and technology. He appreciated the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence for keeping pace with other countries in terms of modernising the forces. The Minister unveiled the NSG annual magazine The Bombshell, which contains details of various IED explosions that occurred in various parts of the world in 2016. Earlier, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also inaugurated the Niranjan Auditorium, in memory of Lt Col. Niranjan Kumar, who laid down his life during the Pathankot attack in 2016. During the day, two sessions were held to discuss on the manifestation of IED threats in the last decade and the global cooperation to mitigate IED menace. The Minister of State for External Affairs Shri M. J. Akbar will deliver the keynote address on the second day of 17th International NSG Seminar at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi tomorrow. Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti has announced setting up of a Committee of Secretaries to speed up the implementation of Namami Gange Programme. Chairing the first First Meeting of the Empowered Task Force on River Ganga in New Delhi today, the Minister announced that Secretaries of M/o Water Resources, Environment and Forest and Drinking Water and Sanitation will be its members. The Committee will meet at least once in a fortnight. Reviewing the progress of the Namami Gange Programme Sushri Bharti said that first, old liabilities have to be completed and new initiatives should be segregated from it. She said immediately after the ensuing exams, students from Schools and Colleges located along the river Ganga should be persued to join Namami Gange Programme in their own way. Expressing dissatisfaction over the slow progress in obtaining NoCs from various states specially Uttarakhand and UP, the Minister said we have to look into it and sort it out at the earliest. She urged various states to constitute States and District level Ganga committees at the earliest. . . Giving an over view of the progress achieved, the Minister informed that presently 42 sewage infrastructure projects are under execution. These 42 projects envisage to create 327.93 MLD sewage treatment capacity. Till December 2016, 253.50 MLD sewage treatment capacity has been created. Sewer Network of 3896.55 km is to be laid under these projects. Sewer network of 1060.96 km has been laid and balance work is under progress. The Minister informed that currently, eight projects of sewage treatment plants are under execution at a total cost of Rs. 348.76 crore. These projects envisages creation of 109.40 MLD treatment capacity. Till December 2016, treatment capacity created was 33.40 MLD. . . Sushri Bharti informed that online Effluent Monitoring Systems have been installed in 572 out of 760 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) and online data is being captured at dashboard from 266 such industries. Monitoring data connectivity to MoWR, RD & GR, CPCB, State and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) is being undertaken. Also, 135 GPIs have been closed for non-compliance to stipulated norms and 17 have been exempted (ZLD achieved). Balance 36 units have been given deadline till 31st March 2017 for installation of online Effluent Monitoring System (EMS). . . The Minister said eight Real Time Water Quality Monitoring Station (RTWQMS) are operational under National Hydrology Project. A network of 113 RTWQMS has been planned. In Phase I, 36 RTWQMS is under installation and to be completed by March 2017. CPCB has proposed to install nine RTWQMS on the tributaries of River Ganga. . . The Minster informed that as of now 2789 villages have been declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages out of 4291 marked Villages on the main stem of the river. A total of 8,96,415 (54%) Individual House Hold Latrine (IHHL) have been completed out of targeted. . . Sushri Bharti said Projects for 182 ghats and 118 crematoria have been sanctioned. 50 nos. of ghats and 15 nos. of crematoria are under progress at present. The work in respect of all remaining ghats/ crematoria will commence within the next three months. Against the target of 15.27 lakh individual household latrines, approx. 10 lakh individual household latrines are expected to be completed by March 2017. Liquid and solid waste management in 25 selected villages will be started within the next three months. Pre-plantation activities will be taken up in all five Ganga states, so that plantations against the work plan of 2016-17, as well as 2017-18 are taken up during the next monsoon season. . . The Meeting was attended by Secretary M/o Water Resources, Secretary M/o Drinking Water and Sanitation and senior officials from various center Ministries and State Governments. . . Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Congratulates the Government of Gujarat on becoming the first State for establishing Cashless System for distribution of foodgrains Government of Gujarat installed Aadhaar Enabled Payment System in 17250 FPSs, much before the targeted date of 31st March, 2017 Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution congratulated the State Government of Gujarat on becoming the first State in the country for establishing Cashless System for distribution of foodgrains. Shri Paswan lauded the efforts of the State Government for installing Aadhaar Enabled Payment System in 17250 FPSs, much before the targeted date of 31st March, 2017. The beneficiaries under NFSA will need to carry only Aadhaar cards for getting their foodgrains in Gujarat. This will help in establishing the identity of beneficiaries, help in stopping the leakages of grains at shop level and above all eradicate corruption in the Public Distribution System. Gujarat State has taken a step ahead by partnering with common service centres, a Special Purpose Vehicle of Ministry of Electronics and IT by offering 30 odd digital services through the FPSs. Now a consumer will also be able to get his Rail, Air and Bus ticket reserved at the FPS itself. A beneficiary can pay his mobile bill, a farmer can deposit crop insurance premium, LIC premium etc. at these centres. A farmer can get the Soil Health Card and registration for Centrally Sponsored Schemes. It is told that the State Government is also trying to make provision for monthly bus travel pass for students and payment of electricity bill through these shops. Besides, one can use the computer and internet facility at the FPS. Twenty-two migrants fled the United States and braved bone-chilling cold to walk across the border into Canada in order to make refugee claims over the weekend, police said. Many of them -- mostly from Somalia -- had already made long and dangerous journeys to get to the United States, after fleeing violence back home. But they told local media they felt apprehensive about the United States after President Donald Trump ordered a stop to refugees, as well as nationals from seven Muslim-majority nations, including Somalia, from entering. Seeing images of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcoming Syrian refugees last year and his appointment of Somali-born Ahmed Husse as immigration minister last month reportedly gave them hope. Once in Canada the group called federal police for help, and were taken to a border outpost in Emerson, Manitoba. "They usually call us if they're cold or lost, and we find them on the side of the highway," RCMP Corporal Paul Manaigre told AFP yesterday, adding that "one or two lost fingers to frostbite in December." Typically the refugees arrive in groups of four or five, he said. The province has seen a jump in the numbers recently, but an official count was not available. The latest group -- 19 arrived on Saturday and three on Sunday -- braved blowing snow and temperatures that dipped below -20 degrees C (-4 F) during a five-hour walk. "We hear about (the deadly cold) but we don't have a choice," Mohammad Kosar, 33, told the local daily Winnipeg Free Press. They couldn't feel their fingers or toes during the walk, he said. An agreement with the United States prevents asylum seekers from claiming refuge in Canada if they first landed in the United States. But it only applies to arrivals at border checkpoints, airports and train stations. Refugee advocates this week called on Ottawa to scrap the agreement, but were rebuffed. "We sympathize, I personally sympathize with those who are seeking safety and security in our country," Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said. "I know that people go through a lot," he said, adding that Canada has a "really compassionate (refugee) system. Wall Street shows scant respect for automakers and their global manufacturing prowess: The market value of Google, which is building a driverless car, is more than double that of BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen combined. Photo: Reuters In what could be perceived as a potential challenge for those aspiring to get a green card or permanent residency in the US, two top senators have proposed a legislation to cut the level of immigrants by half. In other words, the RAISE Act introduced by Republican senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue has proposed to reduce the number of green card or legal permanent residency issued every year from currently about a million to half a million. The passage of the Bill, which is said to have the support of the Trump administration, will have a major impact on hundreds and thousands of Indian Americans who are currently painfully waiting to get their green cards on employment-based categories. Notably, the current wait period of an Indian to get a green card varies from 10 years to 35 years and this could increase if the proposed Bill becomes a law. The Bill, however, does not focus on H-1B visas. "It's time our immigration system started working for American workers," Cotton said. "The RAISE Act would promote higher wages on which all working Americans can build a future, whether your family came over here on the Mayflower or you just took the oath of citizenship," he added. The RAISE Act would lower overall immigration to 6,37,960 in its first year and to 5,39,958 by its tenth year a 50 per cent reduction from the 1,051,031 immigrants who arrived in 2015. "We are taking action to fix some of the shortcomings in our legal immigration system," Perdue said. "Returning to our historically normal levels of legal immigration will help improve the quality of American jobs and wages," he added. The RAISE Act, among other things, would retain immigration preferences for the spouses and minor children of US citizens and legal permanent residents while eliminating preferences for certain categories of extended and adult family members. It also proposes to eliminate diversity visa lottery. "The Diversity Lottery is plagued with fraud, advances no economic or humanitarian interest, and does not even deliver the diversity of its namesake. The RAISE Act would eliminate the 50,000 visas arbitrarily allocated to this lottery," it said. President Donald Trumps order temporarily banning US entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday from a federal appeals court that questioned whether the ban unfairly targeted people over their religion. Republicans in the US have axed Obama-era anti-corruption rules for energy and mining companies. The move, which is awaiting sign-off by President Trump, reverses years of progress in a sector often accused of dodgy dealings. It also threatens to kick off a global race to the bottom, as countries compete to offer firms the murkiest business environment. Paris-based financial services entity has given up its board positions in Geojit Financial Services. It says it intends to categorise itself as an ordinary investor, not part of the promoter group. This is learnt to have been done to avoid a conflict of interest from its acquisition of Mumbai-based brokerage Sharekhan. It had two board positions till November 2016. Geojit says BNP will continue to remain an investor and a new shareholding agreement has been inked between both parties. No regulation bars an institution from being the promoter of different brokerages or market intermediaries. This could be a step to avoid complications in the future. cannot be a party in the core business decision making of Geojit when it owns one of its business competitors, Sharekhan. Geojit would follow all the corporate governance norms like providing business information to its erstwhile partner on a need to know basis, said a securities lawyer. The management of Geojit said it would continue to foster a positive relationship with BNP. South India is the core strength of Geojit, while Sharekhan is strong in the west and north. So, we are not competitors. BNP will continue to be a valued shareholder in our company, said C J George, managing director of Geojit. BNP had announced the acquisition of Sharekhan in July 2015. The proposal was initially rejected by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, which finally approved in October 2016. In the Rs 2,200-crore deal, BNP bought all the equity. BNP had bought stake in Geojit in 2007 and had also lent its name for Geojits branding. Geojit has now decided to drop BNP's name from its branding, the company announced on Wednesday. The shares of Geojit ended one per cent lower at the bourses. Geojit is among the few publicly listed brokerages and is headquartered in Kochi. Its net profit was Rs 12.4 crore, on revenue of Rs 59.3 crore, for the quarter ended December. The company is valued at Rs 920 crore. News / National by Staff reporter CIVIL servants unions are still consulting their members on the proposals that the Government tabled last month in place of outstanding 2016 bonuses, an official said.A meeting between the Government and representatives of its workers ended in deadlock last month as the employees rejected any payment, which was not cash as bonus.The Government had offered unserviced residential stands, half payment of salary or funds raised from bonds, which would be floated. The parties agreed that they would return to consult their stakeholders and meet again on February 20 this year.Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander told New Ziana that consultations with Government workers were still going on with a feedback meeting expected sometime next week."Consultations with workers are at an advanced stage so we will wait for the next meeting to come up with a position ahead of the meeting with the Government on February 20," she said.But Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said teachers were insisting on cash payments."Our members insist they want to be paid in cash and Government should know that its contractual obligation is that we should get cash to meet our needs as workers," he said.Mr Ndlovu said the Government had also not been clear on how residential stands would be distributed among the thousands of its workers."All is not being said about those stands and where do workers get the money to service those stands?" He queried.Meanwhile, the Association of Rural Teachers has since given the Government notice to go strike in a fortnight unless it pays the outstanding bonuses, with members already on a go slow while waiting to go on a full scale strike to press for payment of the outstanding dues.The Government last year failed to pay its workforce annual bonuses due to cash flow challenges. The Government wage bill chews up $200 million per month, translating to about 80 percent of collected revenue. Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa last year hinted at the possibility of retrenching some of the Government workers. Prices of raw are going downhill with the Union textiles ministrys plan to go for dilution of the mandatory packaging order and dwindling crop supplies triggered by demonetisation. Days after a raid on an Al-Qaeda compound in Yemen led to the first US military combat death under United States President Donald Trump, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula released an audio message, taunting the outcome of the operation and calling it a "slap" across the face of the White House. According to CNN, in an 11-minute recording, AQAP leader Qassim al-Rimi condemned the January 29 raid, saying, "The new fool of the White House received a painful slap across his face." The message was released online Saturday and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. In the recording, Rimi also claimed "dozens of Americans were killed and wounded," a number starkly at odds with the US account, which reported the death of one Navy SEAL, Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens. Three additional SEALs also were wounded. Rimi acknowledged the deaths of 14 men and 11 women and children in the raid, a joint counter-terrorism effort between the United States and United Arab Emirates. A senior US military official told CNN on Monday that Rimi was a target of the operation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Luis Suarez struck a decisive goal as Barcelona booked their place in the finals of the Copa del Rey following a thrilling 3-2 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou here on Wednesday. Luis Enrique's side, which were leading 2-1 from the first leg, settled for a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in their second leg of the semi-finals to storm into the summit showdown. Suarez tapped on in the 43rd minute of the match to open the scoring for Barcelona before his team-mate Sergi Roberto and Atletico's Yannick Carrasco were sent off for receiving two yellow cards. Substitute Kevin Gameiro then missed a penalty corner for Atletico before equalising the score from close range seven minutes prior to the injury time,goal.com reported. Title holders Barcelona will now meet either Alaves or Celta Vigo in the finals with those sides playing their second leg of the last-four clash later today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) Secretary Parmeshwar Ram has been detained by the Patna Police in connection with exam paper leak on Monday late night. Ram was detained after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted raids and found incriminating evidences at his house. The latest development came after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed a nine-member SIT team, headed by Patna SSP Manu Maharaj, to probe the matter. As many as 27 people have so far been arrested for allegedly helping candidates cheat through electronic devices in the BSSC examination in Nawada district on Sunday. The police team got a tip off and raided a house located on Warsaliganj Bypass road from where it arrested 27 people along with electronic devices meant for allegedly helping the examinees in writing papers for BSSC inter-level (second phase) examination being held at various centres across the state. The BSSC conducts the exam for appointment of clerks in the state government. The first phase exam was held last Sunday. According to reports, the questions were leaked on an online chatting platform Whatsapp, as soon as the exams began at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Rumours of the question paper being sold for Rs. 1,000 had been doing the rounds since Sunday morning. The leaked question paper and answers soon went viral on Whatsapp as the exam began. Bihar, in the past, has been under the scanner as several cheating scams have emerged, with the recent toppers scandal where a Class 12 arts 'topper' from the state thought 'prodigal' science was about cooking and her classmate, a science topper, couldn't explain the connection between H2O and water. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union Cabinet today was briefed on the Framework Agreement between India and Vietnam on cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The agreement was signed on September 3, 2016. It will enable pursuing potential areas of cooperation between the two nations in domains like space science, satellite communication and satellite-based navigation, planetary exploration, use of spacecraft and space systems, and application of space technology. The Framework would initiate new research and application activities in the field of remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication and navigation, and exploration of the outer space. This collaboration with Vietnam would lead to a launch of joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ghaziabad Police on Wednesday arrested a man who allegedly shot his wife and was absconding with her dead body in his Santro car. He has also been held for shooting his mother-in-law, who is now in a critical condition. According the primary information, the accused name is Suresh and the crime occured due to domestic trouble. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special CBI court today completed hearing on bail applications of all 11 accused in Vijay Mallya loan default case. The court will announce its order in the case on February 10. All the accused are employees/ex employess of IDBI and KFA. This is a case were IDBI bank employees allegedly sanctioned about Rs. 900 crore loan to KFA while it was having a low credit rating. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its chargesheet that this loan was sanctioned by IDBI official by doing a criminal conspiracy by them in connivance with the KFA employees. The basic arguments were put up by defence lawyers who were replying CBI counsel 's arguments yesterday who opposed bail to all the accused. Defence Lawyer Advocate Abad Ponda, while replying to CBI counsel's arguments said, "It had been clarified by the Supreme Court time and again that court should not go into the minute merits and demerits of the case in bail pleas. We just recommend the loan...it was passed by someone else. It is a matter of argument during trial that whether we recommended right or not while we examine and cross examine the witnesses." He said nowhere in the chargesheet they say that even a single penny from Mallya or anyone else come to the accused, adding that there is no possibility of this trial getting over in near future. 'If arrest is really necessary, there should be real reason for keeping them behind bars. But nowhere in his two and half hour argument CBI counsel has pointed out the reason why they should be kept behind bars. This was an unjustified arrest and this can't be allowed to continue in the name of remand when nothing is needed from us as far as investigation is complete. And chargesheet is before this honourable court," he added. Advocate Rajiv Chavan said the IDBI officers cooperated throughout the investigation, adding that they didn't hinder any part of the investigation. "The loan amount was diverted, word is used siphoned, but it was not used for personal use , it was used for aircraft rental and Salaries etc. The CBI claims that There was a criminal conspiracy on the night of November 23, 2009. This allegation is completely ridiculous,' he added. He further stated that the CBI has not bothered to investigate this fact that whatever proposal is submitted by the credit officer, the credit committee has rights to do variations to it. "They can increase, decrease and keep the rating similar.It generally variates. The Credit Committee and rating committee are two different bodies and it is not the case of CBI that credit committee pressurised rating committee to give those ratings to KFA. 38 corporate with BB rating and 24 corporate with B+ rating have got loans so it's not the CBIs case that corporate low credit ratings," he added. Chavan said all the judgements which they have relied upon about tampering of evidence are of the cases of influential and powerful people. "Here, there is no possibility of tampering of witnesses because all are already retired," he said. Bharat Badami, CBI counsel chipped in and argued a point. He said that it is not necessary that prosecution must say that the accused have taken bribe/ money. Another Lawyer for accused Yogesh Agarwal, ex-chairman IDBI said, "There is not a single inquiry ordered in the whole carrier of my client.He sanctioned umpteen number of loans but not a single case of sanctioned was sent for inquiry. Only on the basis of a meeting he attended , he can't be hold guilty because CBI thinks that after this meeting the loan was sanctioned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kathmandu [Nepal], Feb.8 (ANI): With the delay in the announcement of the date for holding the election and doubts rising over the government's intention, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal a.k.a. Prachanda has claimed that elections will be held soon. Dahal claimed his government intends to hold the election on time. "Some of the MP's and journalists asked me about the probability of election. I have been telling time and again, that there is no need to cast doubt over it and this time I again repeat that election will be held and should not cast doubt over it and election must be held," Prime Minister Dahal said after the presentation made by the Election Commission over the use of electronic voting machine on election in its head office on Tuesday. Prime Minister Dahal further claimed that the government is poised to hold the election without any delay. "We will hold the election on time incorporating everyone. The government is clear about it, cabinet also have made the decision and also has directed the Election Commission to start the preparations with regard to it," Dahal added. The cabinet meeting last week wrote letter to the Election Commission, Nepal to make preparations for the local election but the date for election was mentioned nowhere. The electoral body now is in confusion about the structure of the election and date for holding it. Prime Minister Dahal also appealed everyone to create the favorable environment for holding the election with the hope of participation from all the sides. "Instead, the favorable environment should be created for holding the elections. I have expected help and co-ordination from all to help bring the disgruntled and opposing parties to the path of holding election," Dahal said. Though Prime Minister claimed of holding the election on time he again expressed his reservation regarding the date for holding the election in the program. The government who is pressing hard for holding three tire election before the time set by the constitution expires already have missed the deadline set by the National election commission last month to announce the date. The election commission has requested the government to announce the date by mid of Magh or January 28, 2017 to hold the election before the monsoon starts in Nepal. With the government going ahead with the passing of electoral bills the political parties has not set the structure of governance which has stalled the further processing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said the negative consequences of atomic power can not be overlooked, adding that nuclear terrorism is an international threat that should not serve strategy. "The power of the atom is wondrous and it has benefited mankind in various ways. The scientific community has also played a vital role in harnessing the nuclear energy but the negative consequences of atomic power cannot be ignored. World has witnessed immense destructive power of the atom," Jaishankar said while speaking at Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. The Foreign Secretary further said that the horrors of atomic power destruction would never be repeated and cannot overstate importance of countries with nuclear weapons to be responsible. Asserting that developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority, Jaishankar added that nuclear security will be a continuing concern. "Nuclear security will be a continuing concern especially as terrorist groups and non state actors strike deeper roots and explore different avenues to spread terror," he added. Jaishankar further said that comprehensive convention on international terrorism was proposed by India in 1996 which should be adopted soon. "Dangers of discriminating among terrorists, good or bad, and even yours and mine, are increasingly recognised," Jaishankar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comments against his predecessor Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday asserted that never in the history of the nation such language has been used for a Prime Minister. Averring that Prime Minister Modi's comments were "ugly and poor in taste", Chidambaram said the latter only liked to hear his own voice as has not heard a single leader of Opposition speaking in the Parliament. "We have taken strong exception to the language and demeanour of the Prime Minister. firstly he doesn't come to the house to listen to any of the Opposition leader. Today he was scheduled to come at five o'clock, he deliberately did not come on time and arrived in the House only after the last speaker from the Opposition had concluded and then he begins his speech. Within minute of his speech he attacks the former prime minister in the most unacceptable manner," said Chidambaram. "Translated what he said was, "50 years Dr. Manmohan Singh occupied various positions and one must learn from him to how to take a shower wearing a rain coat." It was extremely poor in taste, it is unbecoming of a Prime Minister to use such language for a former Prime Minister, and it is uncertainly unbecoming of any one to say such harsh and ugly statements about Dr. Manmohan Singh," he added. Substantiating the walking out in the Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said that the Congress vacated the Parliament as it did not want to stoop to the level of Prime Minister Modi's debate. "We are very disappointed and angry with what the Prime Minister said and we have expressed our protest by walking out. We could have stayed back in the house and created a ruckus we could have stormed the well of the house and shouted down the Prime Minister but that would have in circumstances of today brought us down to the level of the debate Mr. Prime Minister wanted," he said. "We don't want such a debate to take place, we walked out registering our protest we want the people to know that no Prime Minister before has used such language for a former Prime Minister," he added. Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day provoked a walk out in the Rajya Sabha with his scathing attack on his predecessor and veteran economist Dr. Manmohan Singh. Taking a dig at his squeaky clean record of 35 years of service as an economist, he accused the former prime minister of having a talent of 'bathing in raincoats', and getting away with the ugliest of scams. "Dr. Manmohan Singh has played a significant role in the economic system of India. In the history of India it is rare to find a man who has had a such a long relationship with the economy of India, 35 years of 70 years of independence.", Prime Minister said in reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Rajya Sabha today. He further added that in 35 years of service, so many scams surfaced, yet it marked no stain on Dr. Manmohan as an economist. "We leaders have so much to study as so much happened at the time, but there was not a single blot on him. This is a special skill Dr. Manmohan Singh excelled at and we should all learn this art of bathing in raincoat," he said. The remark stirred an instant outrage, with leaders of Congress deciding to walk out amid the futile pleas of Speaker Hamid Ansari to maintain the decorum of the house. Outside the parliament, Dr. Manmohan maintained his trademark calm and simply chose not to respond to questions over the Prime Minister's statement. Resuming his speech, Prime Minister Modi hit back at Congress saying when they used words like "loot" and "plunder", why was no second thought given. "We have the strength of paying back in the same coin and language, and yet within the confines of the Constitution. This is the exhibit of an attitude where you can't accept defeat," he said to the half empty House. Meanwhile, the Congress has warned of boycotting the Prime Minister for the rest of the Budget Session (April 12th) until he apologises for his comment on Dr. Manmohan Singh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister Theresa May smiles during a meeting with Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, October 13, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] British Prime Minister Theresa May is developing a secret strategy in the belief that Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is two weeks away from demanding a second referendum on Scotttish independence, The Courier newspaper in Dundee, Scotland reported on Tuesday. May's aides and the Conservative Party are laying the groundwork for talks with Scottish National Party ministers over a second constitutional vote, the newspaper reported. A 2014 referendum on Scottish independence resulted in a victory for the "no" campaign. News / National by Staff reporter A MOZAMBICAN safari manager has dragged authorities in Zimbabwe to court for unlawful confiscating his patrol material that includes camouflage uniforms.Stephen Boshoff and his companions were recently arrested for alleged smuggling.The Mozambican then filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing officer-in-charge CID Law and Order Plumtree, the National Prosecution Authority, a public prosecutor identified as S Chinyangangya, senior public prosecutor Matabeleland, Martha Cheda, Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, a Kanjoma, who is the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority's station manager at Plumtree, as respondents.In his founding affidavit Boshoff said he is employed as an administrator in Mozambique by a limited liability company known as Safaris de Mozambique."On September 25, 2016, I, together with Karl James Landrey, Lovemore Damiano and Kefasi Tetellelle entered Zimbabwe through the Mphoengs border post. We were travelling in two South African registered vehicles," he submitted."Contained within the vehicles were, among other items, 22 camouflage uniforms and 22 camouflage belts and 26 cases of bottled water."Boshoff submitted that the items were declared at the port of entry."My purpose in entering Zimbabwe with the said items was to travel to Mozambique, where the 22 camouflage uniforms and belts were to be used for anti-poaching activities."Despite having declared the items, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials alerted the police, who searched the vehicles, seized the camouflage uniforms and camouflage belts, arrested my companions and charged them with unlawful possession or wearing of camouflage uniforms," he said.The safari manager said the police seized letters authorising them to drive the said vehicles, temporary import permits for the vehicles, receipt for items held in respect of the vehicles, their contents and other documents pertaining to the import of vehicles into Zimbabwe.Boshoff said along with his compatriots, they were placed on remand, but were later released on bail. He said during their detention, police ordered them to surrender their vehicles and contents to Zimra in Plumtree, which his lawyer has said was illegal, as the police are the only custodians of the property seized as evidence.Boshoff said an opinion on the charges was sought by the prosecution in Plumtree, from the Harare NPA, which said the charges must be withdrawn. Charges were subsequently withdrawn on January 9, 2017 and bail money refunded.However, Boshoff submitted that Zimra Plumtree station manager refused to give them their cars and goods, demanding documentary evidence. Boshoff said it was sad that all the documents were with the police, who also refused to release their cars saying there was no order directing them to release the cars. Boshoff said Zimra and the police were violating their rights and prayed for an order compelling them to release the cars and the goods.Ordinary citizens are barred from from wearing any camouflage used by the army or any clothing related to it in Zimbabwe. Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'raincoat' barb on Former Prime Minister in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi asserted that by making such a statement, the former has demeaned his position and himself more than anyone else. Taking to Twitter, Rahul said, "When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor-years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament &the nation." "He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly; they were shameful," he added in a series of tweets. Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day provoked a walkout in the Rajya Sabha with his scathing attack on his predecessor and veteran economist . Taking a dig at his squeaky clean record of 35 years of service as an economist, he accused the former prime minister of having a talent of 'bathing in raincoats', and getting away with the ugliest of scams. " has played a significant role in the economic system of India. In the history of India, it is rare to find a man who has had a such a long relationship with the economy of India, 35 years of 70 years of independence.", Prime Minister said in reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Rajya Sabha today. He further added that in 35 years of service, so many scams surfaced, yet it marked no stain on Manmohan as an economist. "We leaders have so much to study as so much happened at the time, but there was not a single blot on him. This is a special skill Manmohan Singh excelled at and we should all learn this art of bathing in raincoat," he said. The remark stirred an instant outrage, with leaders of Congress deciding to walk out amid the futile pleas of Speaker Hamid Ansari to maintain the decorum of the house. Outside the parliament, Manmohan maintained his trademark calm and simply chose not to respond to questions over the Prime Minister's statement. Meanwhile, the Congress has warned of boycotting the Prime Minister for the rest of the Budget Session (April 12th) until he apologises for his comment on Manmohan Singh. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will hold four election rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, Bulandshahr, Hapur and Ghaziabad on Wednesday. Speaking at a rally in Meerut, Gandhi yesterday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should know that the people in Uttar Pradesh are united and cannot be divided. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocks Uttarakhand tragedy, insults freedom struggle but has no answers to questions on demonetisation," Gandhi said. He also charged the Prime Minister of spreading hate and anger among people. The Prime Minister visited Meerut to spread hate and anger. A message should be sent from the youth of Uttar Pradesh that the state stands together and it cannot be broken. We will win in Uttar Pradesh and complete the promise which the Prime Minister cannot fulfil that employment could be generated from within Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party workers and Congress workers should stand together," he added. The electioneering in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh is getting momentum for assembly seats in Kanpur. The polling will be held in third phase on February 19 for ten seats. Kanpur was known for its mills and factories, many of which have been closed now, however the city still retains the position of one of the main business centres of the state. Though hundreds of tanneries are functional in the city, ineffective implementation of environmental laws has resulted in polluting the river Ganga badly. Although all major political parties are giving emphasis on development, the farmers whose land were acquired for Ghatampur power project are still waiting for their compensation. Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Pune City surged to the top in the U-18 I-League table after settling for a 1-1 draw against Mumbai FC at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai last evening. FC Pune City's domination in the match was evident as Nijwm Muchahary scored the first goal in the 21st minute via penalty. The Pune side was able to stop Mumbai FC from scoring in the first half. In the second half, Mumbai FC forward Azfar equalized by netting the ball at 68th minute. This result means that FC Pune City qualifies for the national round with 22 points in eight games, winning seven with one draw. This unbeaten run included home and away wins over their arch local rivals DSK Shivajians, who have also qualified for the national round by virtue of finishing second in the group but FC Pune City remains undefeated in the Maharashtra zone. FC Pune City also conceded the lowest number of goals (4) amongst the 5 teams that competed in the Maharashtra Zone. The national round will comprise of 12 teams who would qualify from six zones - Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra, Kolkata, Guwahati/Shillong and Rest of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rashtriya Lok Dal (Khurja candidate) Manoj Gautam was arrested on Wednesday by Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the murder of his brother Vinod Kumar and his friend. Manoj Gautam initially worked for Bharatiya Samajwadi Party for three years and was expecting for a ticket from the BSP for this election. However, on denial of ticket, he joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal a few weeks ago. Manoj, who was attending the election rally asked his brother Vinod and his friend to see off some people after the rally. Little later, Vinod and his friend's phones got switched off and no one could contact them. Vinod along with his friend Sachin who left in a Scorpio at 8 p.m. from Bulandshahr were found dead at Khurja with bullet injuries to the head and chest. Police could recover a .32 bore pistol from a close family member which was used in the murder and the Scorpio was recuperated from the fields where their bodies had been found. Incidentally as Vinod's body returned to their village in Bulandshahr, Manoj Gautam, who was hospitalised with his brother Sanjeev was discharged and was present at the funeral of Vinod Gautam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Auraiya,(Uttar Pradesh) [India], Feb 8 (ANI): Posters with a headline 'Road nahi to vote nahi ( No roads no votes)' can be found at the entrance of Bhartaul village in Auraiya district in Uttar Pradesh. These posters have been put after residents of village decided not to vote for any candidate in the upcoming assembly elections, charging the authorities of neglect and apathy. "The reason behind the call of not giving the vote is that our village Bhartaul is deprived of basic facilities of road," Deependra Pratap Singh, a villager, told ANI. "We face a lot of problems because of this and mostly in the rainy days, the situation aggravates," he added. The villagers also said the absence of a concrete road posed difficulty for students going to schools, especially during rains. Voting in Auraiya is take place in the third phase on February 19. Sukhram Singh, 75, said the village has been keenly voting for past so many years, but is yet to get a road. "We have given been casting our votes for the candidates who promised us the road, but this time, we would bycot it, because we want the road to be constructed," he said. "We are totally out of contact from the city, during the rainy season. No doctor or ambulance can come to the village," added. Another resident said "We face uphill task to organise weddings functions in the village; who would want their groom to walk for five-kilometers for the function." "Every candidate promises us for road, but after winning the elections, they never care to pay heed to us and hence this time we are boycotting them," he added. Meanwhile, other villages in Auraiya, like Atta, Karke ka Purva and Gunthi ka Purva are also adopting similar methods to voice their demands for both roads and electricity. In Atta, the villagers have given a written application to boycot the election to the Booth Level Officer (BLO), who came for distribution of electoral rolls to the voters. "I came here for the distribution of electoral rolls, but the villagers said they won't be accepting it as they have won't be voting this time," Kiran Mishra, BLO, said. The district administration, however, said it is aware of the development in this regard and the officers have been sent to convince the villagers to participate in the polls. "We have got some reports in this regard. Our officers are also talking to them, we would also appeal the villagers to exercise their Right to Vote as this is the democracy," K. Balaji, the District Magistrate, Auraiya said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 15,000 people in the Philippines took to the streets in a slum on Wednesday after a fire, lasting for more than six hours, razed entire rows of houses, a media report said. The fire, which swept through Parola town of Tondo district, started around midnight on Tuesday and gutted some 1,200 homes. It caused roughly 6 million pesos ($120,400) in damage before the fire was extinguished by firefighters around 7.30 am, according to Bureau of Fire Protection, Efe news reported. Though up to 90 fire trucks were dispatched in an attempt to douse the flames, many of the displaced residents expressed anger over the alleged slowness of the response by the firefighting crews. The government has set up three temporary evacuation centres in the vicinity, but many residents say they cannot go because they need ID cards to register and their records were all burned in the fire. Though the origins of the fire are still not known, authorities suspect it could have been caused by a poorly wired power cord or an unattended gas stove. The ruling party of Zimbabwe is reportedly looking to spend some $2.5 million on President Robert Mugabe's 93rd birthday celebration on February 21, a media report said on Wednesday. "Each of the ten provinces is expected to raise $2.5 million towards. "They expect to raise it through provincial structures, individuals, private companies, parastatals and local authorities," Zanu PF party officials said. However, opposition parties have attacked Mugabe for wasting money on extravagant revelry while "93 per cent of Zimbabweans are wallowing in poverty caused by his incompetence and misrule", NewZimbabwe.com reported. Opposition parties said they are not surprised about the huge budget because Mugabe always "had a penchant for profligacy and wastefulness". Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) national spokesperson Obert Gutu said Mugabe and the Zanu-Patriotic Front (PF) regime "have a satanic appetite for seeing the majority of Zimbabweans live in abject poverty and penury". "Just imagine what the sum of $2.5 million can do in buying scarce drugs and other medicines for our public hospitals. "That amount of money should be diverted to the Department of Social Welfare where it can be used to buy food and other essentials that are badly needed by the poor and marginalised people in our country. "Zimbabwe needs better leadership than what we are seeing from these people," Gutu added. MDC-T party spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi said: "A normal leader cannot be so reckless and extravagant to the extent of raiding state enterprises to celebrate his own birthday while millions are starving". "Our fellow citizens should boycott Mugabe birthday celebrations in protest of the man-made crisis and excessive looting of state resources by the Zanu PF administration." --IANS sm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said over 700 Maoists surrendered after the November 8 demonetisation and that it was the biggest such decision taken anywhere in the world. He said these Maoists had surrendered in November and December last year and the process was continuing. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Rajya Sabha, Modi referred to Pakistan as "enemy country" and said it was shown on news channels that a dealer in counterfeit currency from that country had committed suicide after demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by India. Modi, who spoke at length on demonetisation, said the decision had caused a vertical divide in which people were on one side and leaders of the opposition on the other. "It led to a vertical divide. The people's mood on one side and that of leaders (of oppsition) on the other. They are so cut-off from the people. The government and the people are together," Modi said to the thumping of treasury benches. He said poor people suffered the most due to parallel economy and steps such as demonetisation were aimed at benefiting the honest. "Such a big and comprehensive decision has never been taken in the world. Economists do not have a yardstick to map its impact. It was a big decision by India and aroused people's power," Modi said. He said social scientists will also study its impact. Modi referred to a book by former bureaucrat Madhav Godbole in which he said that the suggestion on demonetisation was not accepted by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As Congress members objected to his remarks, Modi said they should have raised their concerns when the book was published. Modi said demonetisation had helped neutralise counterfeit currency. "It was shown on TV that an operator of counterfeit currency in an enemy country committed suicide," Modi said. Referring to allegations by the Congress that demonetisation had not achieved its objective of curbing terror financing and new currency notes had been found on some slain miltants, Modi said there had been attempts to loot banks in Jammu and Kashmir following demonetisation. "The notes were found on terrorists killed following bank lootings," he said. --IANS ps/tsb/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A TMC member of the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday asked the Centre to do away with cash withdrawal limit from banks and ATMs, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought time of only 50 days to normalise the situation. Raising the matter in the house soon after it met for the day, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy of Trinamool Congress (TMC) quoted Modi addressing the nation wherein he aked for 50 days time to normalise the cash flow after the demonetisation of 1,000 and 500 currency notes. "It's 90 days today (Wednesday) since demonetisation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked for 50 days. He had even said that if he fails, he could be taken out to a 'chauraha' (intersection) and be punished," Roy said. "We don't want him to be taken there, but now people should be allowed to withdraw their money without any restriction," he added. Modi government had banned currency notes of Rs 1,000 and 500 on November 8, 2016 and since then there have been restrictions on cash withdrawal from banks and ATMs. --IANS sk/sm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Caretaker Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday assured his supporters that a government wanted by the people will be formed in the state. Addressing his supporters gathered at his residence here, Panneerselvam said: "A government expected by you will be formed soon." He said the people of Tamil Nadu want the good rule of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa back. Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016, after undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals for 75 days. Earlier, speaking to a Tamil television channel, Panneerselvam said he will not seek the support of any other party to form the government. He said many legislators and party members are extending their support to him. --IANS vj/nir/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / National by Staff reporter LAWYERS representing human rights activist, Denford Ngadziore, who last year sought to effect a citizen's arrest on Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, yesterday filed an application for discharge after the State closed its case.The State's key witness, Richard Gift Chihuri, who is a Higher Education regional registrar failed to positively identify Ngadziore, as the person who stormed their offices last year.The court heard that the suspects numbered seven or more, hence, witness could not identify any of them. Chihuri allegedly also feared being recorded by journalists covering the event.Human rights lawyer, Obey Shava, argued that the State's witnesses had failed to identify the suspects, hence, his client could not be convicted on suspicion. Shava said former Harare police boss, Nesbert Saunyama, had also distanced himself from the case.Magistrate, Lazini Ncube is expected to make a ruling on Friday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that the recent Israeli bill on settlements in the West Bank is "a major setback" to peacemaking efforts. Abbas said in a letter to the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini that "the decision taken by the Israeli government is a major setback to peacemaking efforts and will undermine the two-state solution, which will have implications on the region and the world in general". He expressed hope in working together with the EU "for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2334 in order to maintain the potential for just and comprehensive peace", Xinhua news agency reported. Mogherini had warned in an emailed press statement that if this new Israeli law was to be implemented, it would cross a dangerous threshold, adding that "such settlements constitute an obstacle to peace". "It would further entrench the one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict," she added, highlighting the EU's position towards settlements in the West Bank, deeming them illegal. On Monday night, the Israeli Parliament voted in favour of legalising nearly 4,000 Jewish settlements that will be built on Palestinian-owned lands in the West Bank. --IANS soni/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) prices are expected to rise by 5-7 per cent in July-September due to growing raw material prices and the possible implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, said an industry expert on Wednesday. "Raw material prices like copper, aluminium and steel have been steadily rising for the last few quarters. The proposed GST bracket for us would be 28 per cent, which is disappointing for the industry. All these could lead to a price hike by up to 5-7 per cent in July-September," said Blue Star Ltd Joint Managing Director B Thiagarajan. Talking about sales growth projections in the next financial year starting from April, he said the company should clock a 15-20 per cent rise in revenue from the room air conditioners segment in 2017-18. "The industry grew by 20 per cent in October-December despite the demonetisation impact, so there is no reason to believe that growth in the summer season and thereafter would not be in double digits," he said at the launch of new inverter split range. Thiagarajan also said the company would invest about Rs 3.5 billion over the next three years on two new manufacturing units in Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh. Rome, Feb 8 (IANS/AKI) Police arrested 46 people in several Italian regions on Tuesday in an operation against extortion and online gaming rackets allegedly run by the Naples mafia's powerful Casalesi clan. The suspects were held in seven provinces in the southern Campania and Calabria regions, the central Lazio region surrounding Rome and the northern Lombardy region, police said. They face charges, including mafia association, extortion, intimidation, fraud, drugs trafficking and drugs dealing, illegal arms possession and receiving stolen goods, according to police. The operation targeted the Casalesi clan's Schiavone-Venosa faction based in the Agro Aversano area in the province of Caserta, north of Naples, police said. The ruthless workings of the Casalesi clan were laid bare by Roberto Saviano's best-selling book 'Gomorrah' and the award-winning film of the same name. --IANS/AKI sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran actor Anupam Kher is travelling to Cape Town for an international project and says it will be "exciting". The actor shared the news on Twitter but didn't give details about what he's going there for. "Travelling to Cape Town for an exciting international project. Shall give you the details when I reach there," Anupam tweeted on Wednesday. This will not be the first time Anupam will be associated with an international project. The 61-year-old actor has previously worked in foreign projects like Golden Globe nominated "Bend It Like Beckham", Golden Lion-winning "Lust, Caution", Oscar-winning "Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Big Sick". In Bollywood, Anupam will be next seen in "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" starring Bhumi Pednekar and Akshay Kumar. --IANS dc/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Wednesday said journalists were not being attacked too often in India. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha about attack on journalists, Ahir said that going by the figures of attacks on journalists, it is "not a large number". He said that in 2014 a total of 114 cases of attacks on journalists were registered and 32 persons arrested in this connection. In 2015, the total cases registered were 28, and the number of persons arrested was 41. "This is not a large number given that our country is so large with so much population. I don't think journalists are being attacked too frequently," Ahir said. He added that the police and public order were state subjects. "Police and public order are state subjects under the seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The existing laws are adequate for protection of citizens including journalists. The Press Council of India takes prompt action on receipt of specific complaints from affected persons," Ahir said in his reply. Although he said that all police stations readily register cases if journalists complain of any threat or attack on them (implying there was no cover up of such cases), shortly afterwards he contradicted himself when he said that Uttar Pradesh was probably not reporting all the cases. Responding to a supplementary question on the state of Uttar Pradesh -- where the cases of attack on journalists were highest (63) in 2014, but in 2015 there was only one case -- Ahir said that perhaps the state was not reporting all cases. "Going by the data provided to us, it does not seem that all cases are being registered in Uttar Pradesh," Ahir added. Earlier, raising the issue, nominated member K.T.S. Tulsi cited a report by international NGO Reporters without Borders which stated that India is the third most dangerous country for journalists, ahead of even Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ahir said that the picture is not as grim as being portrayed by some members. --IANS mak/qd/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There was pandemonium in the West Bengal assembly on Wednesday as an indisposed Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan had to be hospitalised after he was forcibly removed by the security staff following his suspension. There were slogan-shouting and scuffles between the watch and ward staff and the Congress and Left Front lawmakers, who strongly opposed the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017, brought by the Mamata Banerjee government containing stringent measures against destruction of public property. Speaker Biman Banerjee slapped a two-day suspension on Mannan for disobeying his order to remove placards and posters containing pictures of the vandalism in the assembly lobby on November 30, 2006, by the then opposition Trinamool Congress members. Defying the Speaker, Mannan continued to display the placards and posters highlighting how in 2006 the Trinamool had damaged public property like furniture, files in the assembly lobby in the presence of Banerjee over her arrest during the height of the anti-Tata Nano agitation in Singur of Hooghly district. Calling the bill a "black law", Mannan went on protesting and as soon as the Speaker suspended him, the Congress legislator sat in the well of the house. The Speaker called the marshal and other security personnel to remove Mannan from the house, leading to a scuffle between the suspended member and the marshals. The other Congress legislators also joined the scuffle. During the disturbances, Mannan sustained injury and fell sick and was ambulanced to a central Kolkata hospital, where he was detected with high blood pressure and a complete heart blockage. A temporary pacemaker was implanted in his body to keep him stable. "He has external injury on his left calf and left ankle. He has a past history of diabetes and high blood pressure, and has also undergone replacement surgeries for both knee joints," said the attending doctor. "When he was admitted, his blood pressure had shot up and he had a complete heart blockage. He is conscious. A temporary pacemaker is being fitted. And later, the cardiologist will take a decision on installing a long term pacemaker," the doctor said. Meanwhile, the Congress and Left Front legislators staged a noisy walkout from the house to protest the incident. Congress legislator Pratima Rajak alleged before the media that she was molested by security personnel who "pulled her saree and even tried to kick her..." The contentious Bill was, however, passed by the house later by voice vote before the empty opposition benches. The legislation imposes payment of collective compensation on those involved in looting, burning and damaging public property. Taking umbrage at the opposition protests against the bill, the Chief Minister said they had no faith in peaceful agitations and only tried to hog the limelight by destroying public property. "But our government is not weak. We won't let such things happen," she said in the assembly. The Speaker on his part ordered the Assembly staff to assess the damage caused to the Assembly property during the day. However, the opposition went hammer and tongs at the government. "This is a dark day for democracy in the history of West Bengal. The ruling party isn't even ready to give an iota of respect to the opposition. The way a leader like Abdul Mannan was suspended and asked to leave the assembly is shameful. "We strongly condemn today's incident. We will met the Governor by today or tomorrow to protest against this," leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front legislature party Sujan Chakraborty said. Rajya Sabha member and former state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya alleged the bill would allow the government to level baseless and mischievous charges against a person or a community and punish them. "Tomorrow, they may hold an entire village responsible for an incident of violence. The bill interferes with the democratic rights of people," Bhattacharya said. --IANS ssp-mgr/pgh/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There was pandemonium in the West Bengal assembly on Wednesday as an indisposed Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan had to be hospitalised after he was forcibly removed by the marshals following his suspension. There were slogan-shouting and scuffles between the watch and ward staff and the Congress and Left Front lawmakers. Speaker Biman Banerjee slapped a two-day suspension on Mannan for disobeying his order to remove placards and posters containing pictures of the vandalism in the assembly lobby on November 30, 2006, by then opposition Trinamool Congress members. On Wednesday, Mannan and other opposition members were protesting against the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017, brought by the Mamata Banerjee government containing stringent measures against destruction of public property. Defying the Speaker, Mannan continued to display the placards and posters highlighting how in 2006 the Trinamool had damaged public property in the assembly lobby -- furniture, files -- in the presence of Banerjee over her arrest during the height of the anti- Tata Nano agitation in Singur of Hooghly district. Calling the bill a "black law", Mannan went on protesting and as soon as the Speaker suspended him, the Congress legislator sat in the well of the house. The Speaker called the marshals and other security personnel to remove Mannan from the house, leading to a scuffle between the suspended member and the marshals. The other Congress legislators also joined the scuffle. During the disturbances, Mannan sustained injury and fell sick and was ambulanced to a central Kolkata hospital, where he was detected with high blood pressure and a complete heart blockage. A temporary pacemaker was implanted in his body to keep him stable. "He has external injury on his left calf and left ankle. He has a past history of diabetes and high blood pressure, and has also undergone replacement surgeries for both knee joints," said the attending doctor. "When he was admitted, his blood pressure had shot up and he had a complete heart blockage. He is conscious. A temporary pacemaker is being fitted. And later, the cardiologist will take a decision on installing a long term pacemaker," the doctor said. Meanwhile, the Congress and Left Front legislators staged a noisy walkout from the house to protest the incident. Congress legislator Pratima Rajak alleged before the media that she was molested by security personnel who "pulled her saree and even tried to kick her..." The contentious Bill was, however, passed by the house later with the opposition benches vacant. Taking umbrage at the opposition protests against the bill, the Chief Minister said they had no faith in peaceful agitations and only tried to hog the limelight by destroying public property. "But our government is not weak. We won't let such things happen," she said in the assembly. --IANS ssp/pgh/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazil's President Michel Temer and his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri have agreed to deepen relations with Mexico and with the Pacific Alliance in general. After a meeting with Ministers from both countries, Macri told a press conference on Tuesday that he had spoken with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on regional and international context, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. "There are various countries interested in deepening relations with us, beginning in the region, with the Pacific Alliance. This opens an important opportunity, including with Mexico," he said. Macri alluded, without referring explicitly to the US, that the policies of President Donald Trump opened new possibilities of cooperation with Mexico. "Clearly, this change of scenario means that Mexico is turning and looking South," continued the leader. "Yesterday (Monday), I spoke with President Pena Nieto...to express that we are open to dialogue, we want to cooperate." Brazil's Temer also highlighted his desire to see better regional integration with Mexico. "We discussed the topic of an ever larger Latin American integration with Mexico, including to see closer ties between Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance," he outlined. Mercosur is known as a full customs union and a trade bloc in Latin America with Brazil and Argentina both its member countries, while the Pacific Alliance, also a Latin American trade bloc, links Mexico and other three countries which all border the Pacific Ocean. The possibility of Mexico seeking better economic ties with South America's two leading economies has emerged amid tensions with the Trump administration, especially concerning the border wall and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Temer and Macri also said the new international context could create more favourable conditions for free-trade negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union. --IANS in/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Wednesday said it blocked the US' move at the UN to have Pakistani militant Masood Azhar declared as international terrorist as conditions were yet to be fulfilled for Beijing to support the proposal. Beijing vetoed the US proposal "to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community". "The 1267 Committee of the Security Council discussed the listing issue last year with no consensus reached, as members of the Security Council held different views on this issue. As for the renewed application filed by the relevant country, conditions are not yet met for the committee to reach an agreement and make a decision," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. Lu said the decision was in line with the Security Council resolution and the committee's rules of procedure. Asked if China's move would impact Sino-India ties, Lu said: "The Security Council and its subsidiary organs have their own rules of procedure. I hope and believe that all members of the committee will act in accordance with these rules in handling applications, whoever the applicant is. China and India have also exchanged views on this issue. I do not want to see it impact China-India relations." On the question of China blocking the proposal at the behest of its all-weather ally Pakistan, Lu said: "We have, more than once, exchanged views with relevant parties, including India, on this issue." "The purpose for China to place the technical hold is to allow enough time for discussion among relevant parties to reach a tenable decision widely accepted by the international community." "What matters is not how long it takes, but whether consensus can be reached based on thorough consultation," Lu said. Last year, China rejected thrice India's resolution to add Azhar Masood to the UN list of international terrorists. Azhar, the chief of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, is said to be the mastermind of the Pathankot airbase attack and Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir last year. --IANS gsh/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An US appeals court has questioned whether President Donald Trump's travel ban discriminates against Muslims, a media report said on Wednesday. Judge Richard Clifton asked whether it could be discriminatory if it affected only 15 per cent of the world's Muslims, the BBC reported. Clifton is one of three judges on the appeals court in San Francisco, which will make its ruling later this week. There was an hour of oral arguments from both sides on Tuesday. Whatever the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals decides, the case would probably end up in the Supreme Court. Trump's executive order temporarily banned entry for all refugees and visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries, until it was halted last week. News / National by Staff reporter Senators have urged the Foreign Affairs ministry to recall ambassadors, as government is struggling to pay them, and deploy low level diplomats.Zimbabwe's diplomats are living rough as the cash-strapped President Robert Mugabe administration has for months been failing to pay its embassies staff and other operational costs, including rentals.The country has over 40 embassies and five consulates around the globe.Speaking in the Upper House last week, MDC Senator for Matabeleland South, Sithembile Mlotshwa, queried why the Foreign Affairs ministry still maintained many missions and ambassadors instead of lower level diplomats, since the country was financially struggling.But Foreign Affairs deputy minister, Edgar Mbwembwe, said the issue of ambassadors is a prerogative of the president throughout the world." the reason why we maintain ambassadors is that in spite of the economic challenges that we have, we still need to be able to relate to the rest of the world.," he said."Their presence is actually in fulfilment of our national Constitution Chapter 2 that we must have a presence to promote and protect the interests of Zimbabwe," he said, adding that "the ministry has of course done everything possible to try and streamline and downsize the structures at the embassies"."However, at the end of the day, His Excellency has the prerogative to determine where we need an ambassador or where we need a charge d'affaires."Mbwebwe also said the appointment of ambassadors is determined by the function that has to be carried out and interest that the country has to pursue." it depends on what the interest is that we are actually pursuing in that particular part of the world or region. This will determine the level to which we must then be able to lift our embassy."He said this informs the decision to have an ambassador or a charge d'affaires or maybe just a consular."The level, again, depends on whether its economic interest or political interest, all those factors help us to determine what level of position we should have at the embassy," Mbwembwe said.The senators also complained about the delay by the ministry in issuing them with diplomatic passports.Mbwembwe said the president has not yet made a decision on the issue."I think the matter keeps coming up in many forums but the decision on who gets or who does not get a diplomatic passport rests with the president. The ministry cannot take this decision. I think on this matter, the position with regards to MPs would be communicated back to Parliament through the Speaker because from previous discussions, the Speaker took it upon himself to discuss the matter with His Excellency and the minister of Foreign Affairs." Tibet's exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama will lay foundation stone for new South Asia hub of Dalai Lama Centre For Ethics and Transformative Values here on Sunday. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will also attend the groundbreaking of the campus coming up over five acres of land. According to an official release, Dalai Lama will also deliver a public talk on "Ethics, Values and Wellbeing". "We are truly excited to launch the South Asia Hub as a strategic site for designing and disseminating programs that are most relevant to the issues pressing humanity and its leadership in current times," said Tenzin Priyadarshi, the Centre's President and CEO. "Since its inception 2009 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Centre has been a driving force in fostering individual and organisational ethics and value-driven leadership across diverse institutional frameworks," he said. Leaders from eight countries across North and Latin America, South Asia and Central Africa have participated in the Centre's ethics- and values-based transformative leadership programmes. "We are honoured that The Dalai Lama Centre for Ethics and Transformative Values chose Hyderabad for its South Asia Hub. "In the light of rapid transformations impacting India and the whole region, it is urgent to prepare present and future leaders for the work of serving their communities,a said state's Industry Minister K. T. Rama Rao. --IANS ms/ahm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A paramilitary trooper's complaint on social media about stale food might have gone viral last month, but a deeper malaise exists: Indebtedness, disputes relating to property and familial problems drove 60 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to suicide in 2015, according to a report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The NCRB's "Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2015" says 30 of the suicides were over familial and marriage issues while 12 ended their lives due to financial crunch or indebtedness. Four took their lives due to property-related disputes while the cause of 13 suicides could not be ascertained. One trooper ended his life from mental depression due to a service-related problem. CAPFs comprise about 944,000 personnel in the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITPB), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles (AR) and the National Security Guard (NSG). Of the total suicides in 2015, BSF registered the highest at 27 followed by 17 in CISF. The break-up for the other forces was not given. Former BSF Director General D.K. Pathak said that familial reasons were found to be a significant factor in the suicides. "Most of the suicides I noticed occurred about two-three months after a trooper returned from his leave," Pathak told IANS. He said BSF had taken steps to tackle the problem and such efforts had shown encouraging results. He said a 45-minute documentary about life in BSF was prepared in 2015 to sensitise the troopers as well as their families. "A CD of the documentary is given to the troopers before they go on vacation. They are also advised to watch the CD along with their family," Pathak said. A former CRPF officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told IANS that "lack of camaraderie" can be a factor behind suicides. "A feeling of fellowship is necessary to overcome this problem," he said. The CRPF officer said that a trooper sometimes cuts himself off from his colleagues due to problems with his family and feels isolated. "They need proper guidance and support of their colleagues and seniors," he said. Five states -- Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Punjab -- and Delhi reported 71.7 per cent of total suicides in the CAPFs in 2015. Of these, Assam reported the highest of 18 followed by six each from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. But the number of suicides in 2015 was significantly lower than in 2014 when 175 instances were reported. Fifteen of these were due to service-related problems or mental depression. Also, there has been significant reduction in CAPF personnel killed due to "accidents" in 2015 compared to 2014, according to the NCRB report. While 1,232 personnel lost their lives in accidents in 2014, the figure came down to 193 in 2015. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) --IANS rak/ps/vm/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Republican Senators voted to formally silence a Democratic colleague for impugning a peer, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, by condemning his nomination for Attorney General by reading a letter by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren had been holding forth on the Senate floor on Tuesday -- the eve of Sessions's expected confirmation vote -- reading from a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King that criticised Sessions's record on civil rights, CNN reported. Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Warren had broken Senate rules by impugning the conduct of another Senator. In an extremely rare rebuke, she was instructed by the presiding officer to take her seat. McConnell's objection to Warren's speech was put to a vote and Senators voted 49-43 in his favour. Warren described the incident on Facebook: "During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate. The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship. The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor -- so I'm right outside, reading it now." Coretta King's letter, according to the report, said that Sessions was unsuitable for that role because he had "used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters". Sessions's nomination process has been dogged by reports that he attempted to suppress black voters when he was an attorney in Alabama. The objection by McConnell raised the ire of Democrats and members of the public, many of whom shared the letter on social media using the hashtag #LetLizSpeak. Bernice King, daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you @SenWarren for being the soul of the Senate during the #Sessions hearing. #LetCorettaSpeak #LetLizSpeak" The Democratic National Committee said in a statement that it was a "sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr's widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate". Warren is now barred from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate, Mr McConnell's office said. The debate is expected to conclude on Wednesday. --IANS soni/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday called former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria an "idiot" for advising him to abandon his controversial and heavy-handed campaign against drugs. Gaviria, who headed the Colombian government between 1990 and 1994, had written an article in the Spanish edition of The New York Times, urging Duterte not to repeat the mistakes made by his country because a tough stance does not give results and comes at a huge cost. Gaviria "has been lecturing about my (war on drugs)...that idiot," Duterte retorted during a speech in Manila during the commemoration of the 115th founding anniversary of the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines. Duterte also stressed on the difference between cocaine, the product managed with by the Colombian cartels, and methamphetamine or "shabu", a potent hallucinogen very popular among impoverished communities in the Philippines, Efe news reported. The Philippines President said that cocaine and marijuana are "kind of okay" as people who ingest them can still communicate, but with shabu, just the fact that is mixed with battery water is a clear sign of its impact on mental capacity. Duterte noted that he has received much criticism over the war on drugs, but insisted the Philippines will be reduced to slavery if they do not control drugs, especially with the number of addicts totalling 4.5 million. Gaviria headed the government during the harshest years during the anti-drug war in Colombia, which for decades has been the highest producer of cocaine in the world, the report said. During his term, the then-head of the Medellin cartel, Pablo Escobar, was jailed. But he escaped and was finally gunned down by the security forces. This is not the first time Duterte has abused and insulted those critical of him. He also called former US President Barack Obama a "son of a b****", and has also used the same term to refer to bishops in the Philippines. --IANS soni/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government on Wednesday said the country has enough jails for women prisoners. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said there were 18 jails for women where over 2,000 women are lodged. Pregnant prisoners or women with children were provided good medical care, the minister told the house. The minister accepted that jails meant for males were overcrowded and said new prisons were being built. The capacity of the existing ones was being increased. --IANS sk/sm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a remark likely to court controversy, RSS chief on Wednesday said every person born in India is a Hindu. "Everyone born in the country is a Hindu-- of these some are idol-worshipers and some are not. Even Muslims are Hindus by nationality, they are Muslims by faith only," he said at an event in Baitul, Madhya Pradesh. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader is on an eight-day visit to Madhya Pradesh. "Just as the English live in England, Americans in America and Germans in Germany, Hindus live in Hindustan," he said. "It is no surprise if members of Rashtriya Muslim Manch conduct an 'aarti' of Bharat Mata because they are Hindus. They may have become Muslims by faith but they are Hindus by nationality," he added. He also called upon people to rise above caste, religion and language. Peru's Public Ministry has called for a preventive prison sentence against former President Alejandro Toledo over alleged corruption charges, a media report said on Wednesday. The Ministry took the decision on Tuesday after beginning its investigation on Monday against Toledo for allegedly using his influence in a money laundering case, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was made after a search of his house. According to Hamilton Castro, Peru's anti-corruption prosecutor, the authorities also began investigations against Josef Maiman, a businessman and close friend of Toledo, as well as Jorge Barata, a former executive for Odebrecht Latinvest in Peru. Barata paid Toledo $20 million through offshore accounts in Andorra and $11 million was found on accounts belonging to Maiman in Britain, according to the statement. These illicit payments were suspected to be linked to the contract for the Interoceanic highway linking Peru with Brazil, which was awarded to Odebrecht and other Brazilian construction firms. Speaking to the Peruvian press recently from Paris, Toledo said he was the victim of "political persecution" and that he had already been investigated without any solid evidence against him. --IANS in/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao is monitoring the political situation in the state where a war has broken out within the ruling party, informed sources said on Wednesday. "The Governor is monitoring the situation closely. When his plans are finalised, it will be announced," a source said. The development came amid a war within the AIADMK over acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and party General Secretary V.K. Sasikala. AIADMK MLAs are waiting for instructions from party leaders on the next course of action. "We don't know where we will be asked to stay," one legislator told IANS on the condition of anonymity. Governor Rao, the Maharashtra Governor who has additional charge of Tamil Nadu, has not finalised plans to go to Chennai, official sources told IANS in Mumbai. They dubbed as speculation reports that Rao was planning to call both the warring factions in Tamil Nadu to prove their majority in the assembly. Speaking to IANS, AIADMK spokesperson Avadi Kumar wondered about the continued absence of the Governor from the state. "We did not know where to reach him and give him the letter of support of legislators for Sasikala to stake her claim to form the government," he said. --IANS vj/mr/sar (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister left here for Moscow on Wednesday for talks on a series of bilateral and international issues, Tasnim news agency reported. In his one-day stay in Moscow, which takes place at the invitation of the Russian side, Abbas Araqchi will meet Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and the two sides will discuss regional and international issues, including disarmament, nuclear cooperation, and implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal, Xinhua news agency reported. Iran is one of Russia's major supporters on Middle East issues. The two countries, together with Turkey, are jointly mediating a political settlement of the Syrian civil war. Moscow, on Monday, regretted the imposition of new sanctions by the US on Iran after the latter's missile test. Last week, the US had announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's ballistic missile programme and providing support to a military force in Iran. --IANS soni/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, Feb 8 (IANS/AKI) The Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI) has condemned "vulgar" posters critical of Pope Francis that appeared all over Rome at the weekend and expressed solidarity with the reformist pontiff. The anonymous posters, written in the local working-class 'Romanesco' dialect, picture a stern-faced Francis and allege a series of misuses of papal power, with the words: "Where's your mercy?" "Probably the best reply is silence," the CEI said in a statement published on Tuesday in Catholic daily Avvenire. "But at the same time, it's hard not to react to the denigration of the successor to St Peter who has been attacked in a vulgar way," the statement continued. "We re-extend to the Holy Father the solidarity and affection of our churches...and support his commitment to reforming the Church and bringing it in line with the teachings of the Gospel," the statement added. Police have been hunting for mystery activists behind the flyposting, which continues a centuries-old Roman custom of criticisms of popes on the capital's walls or monuments. Within hours of their appearance, the city council pulled down several hundred posters or pasted over them with the message "illegal advertising". The posters were put up hours before the Vatican in announced the name of the pope's personal delegate to the ancient Knights of Malta Catholic order, whose former Grand Master resigned last week after a two-month-long, highly public feud. The Vatican did not comment on the posters. But Jesuit priest Antonio Spadaro, who is close to Francis, tweeted that they were "threats aimed at alienating the people from the Pope but which have the opposite effect". --IANS/AKI sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / National by Staff reporter Former Vice President Joice Mujuru says she "regrets" that she had not spoken out earlier against the excesses of President Robert Mugabe, Zanu PF and the government while she was still in the ruling party.Addressing civil society organisations in Bulawayo last week, Mujuru also laid the blame for the post-independence Gukurahundi massacres of an estimated 20 000 innocent civilians mainly in Matabeleland and the Midlands on Mugabe.Moving to deflect allegations that her revered late husband, Solomon - who was army commander at the time - had played a part in the killings, Mujuru said it was Mugabe who could not escape scrutiny on the matter as he was the one in charge and was allegedly hellbent on settling political scores with the late Father Zimbabwe, Joshua Nkomo."It is difficult for people to say Solomon (Mujuru) commanded the Fifth Brigade (which carried out the killings) because it was not part of the army. It was a separate unit created altogether by Mugabe. This is why it is difficult to pin this on Mujuru," she asserted."The head of government is the one who knows what programmes he wants to run and which ones he wants to work with. So, the head of State should know," she added.Revealing for the first time that Mugabe always kept a tight lid on security issues, Mujuru said even though she was a minister during the Gukurahundi era, she was never privy to the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres.The interim leader of the fledgling Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party, who was hounded out of Zanu PF on a litany of untested allegations ranging from corruption to witchcraft and trying to assassinate Mugabe, said her problems with her erstwhile comrades in the deeply-divided ruling party began when she finally decided to speak her mind.She also said when she was under pressure in the ruling party, she had not only "grabbed the opportunity and chance to leave the party" but also found her full voice."In a way, I took too long to make a decision and at the same time there were people who were expecting me as a mother to have taken a stance the only thing I can say is I am sorry."I should have done more. I should have just walked away instead of being silent. Even in a marriage, you say this is my last child but then you get surprised that you are pregnant again."But after a while, you will say enough is enough, this is the right time that people should know who Joice is. Maybe I was a lone voice, maybe my voice was being drowned. This is now the time for me to be heard," Mujuru said.Comparing herself to the biblical Saul, Mujuru said it was understandable that some people were finding it hard to believe her, considering the lofty positions she had held and had been given by Mugabe before their fallout."I am not going to say I wasn't part of the system if the Bible did not carry a lot of Saul stories a lot of us would go to hell."But there are a lot of lessons that we learn from him. This is what I want to tell Zimbabweans, I am the Saul that the Bible is talking about," she said.Mujuru also told her audience that if she were to be voted into power next year, she would let justice take its course and would not protect anyone who had dirty hands, as her own hands were clean."We are not going to protect anyone. That's why people will then find Mai Mujuru not being there to say I lifted an axe and chopped someone's head," she added - alluding to Zanu PF's post-independence atrocities.Asked about the 21st February Movement's plans to host Mugabe's 93rd birthday celebrations in Matobo in a fortnight, which will take place a few kilometres from Bhalagwe where many people were killed by the army during the Gukurahundi massacres, Mujuru said Zanu PF politicians from the region had demonstrated beyond doubt that they did not have local people at heart."I do not know why people in Zanu PF like Vice President (Phelekezela) Mphoko, Simon Khaya Moyo and Abednico Ncube agreed to that."What are they trying to do? Why are they not feeling for the people? In the first place, some of us we now know how best we can show people that this was wrong," Mujuru said.And unlike Mugabe, who has refused to apologise for his role or otherwise in Gukurahundi, only preferring to say it was "a moment of madness", Mujuru said she had endeavoured to ensure that there was closure on the subject."Personally, I have gone out of my way to show the people of Matabeleland that this was wrong, by doing my utmost. I have been pre-occupied with issues like how sincere, what confidence, what security and what peace I can give as a person so that I do not continue opening old wounds."This is why at the slightest chance that I used to get whilst in government, I would find time to come here. However, it was too little and sometimes my efforts were drowned by certain things," she said.In December last year, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was quoted by the New Statesman publication of the UK, arguing that reports linking him to the Gukurahundi massacres were being peddled by his Zanu PF enemies to soil his name."How do I become the enforcer during Gukurahundi? We had the president commander of the army and I was none of that," he was quoted saying, adding it was the work of his enemies who had been attacking him "left, right and centre, and which is what the world had bought into". Rome, Feb 9 (IANS/AKI) Italy is set to expel Libyan researcher Khadiga Shabbi after a court in Palermo sentenced her to a year and eight months in prison for inciting . The public prosecutor's office in Palermo signed an order on Wednesday authorising Shabbi's deportation at the request of Italian anti- police, Adnkronos news agency reported. Although the Palermo court handed 46-year-old Shabbi a suspended sentence last Friday, she remained in police custody as she had no valid residency permit. She planned to appeal her sentence, her lawyer was quoted as saying. Prosecutors had asked for a jail term of four and a half years for Shabbi, who was allegedly in contact with numerous foreign jihadists and had spread propaganda for Al-Qaeda via Facebook and other social media. She sent sums of money to Turkey and tried to bring a jihadist cousin to Italy from Libya who was killed in a gun battle in the chaos-wracked North African country, according to prosecutors. Shabbi denied all charges. She was arrested in Palermo in December 2015 and had arrived in Italy three years ago to complete a doctorate in economics at the University of Palermo. The academic is related to a member of a jihadist group involved in the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in the Libyan city of Benghazi in which US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died. --IANS/AKI sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Jamia Milia Islamia on Wednesday paid rich tributes to Zakir Hussain, one of the founders of the university, on his 120th birth anniversary and praised him for his humanism and egalitarian approach. "His novel and painstaking work in education opened a new chapter in the life of Jamia. The small sapling that he planted decades ago has now become a tree and is bearing fruits. His teachings and vision have become a mandate for us which we are working hard to fulfil," said VC Talat Ahmed expressing his gratitude to the former President of India. Ahmad said that it is important to remember how Zakir Hussain rose above narrow divides and taught us not to differentiate among people on the lines of religion, caste, creed, race and gender. He also demanded that the Bharat Ratna holder be "included in the category of the Saints of India" for his "extraordinary humanism". Ahmed also mentioned Hussain's role as pioneer in introducing a 'Taleemi Mela' (Education Fair), because of which the "people in the neighbourhood ... too are sensitised about the importance of education". The VC wished for lasting peace for the soul of Hussain and remarked that the university still abided by the ethos embodied by the late President. --IANS vn/qd/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "dangerous man" and cautioned people to be wary of him. Addressing an election rally in Sikandarabad for his son-in-law Rahul Yadav, who has been fielded by the Samajwadi Party, Lalu slammed Modi over demonetisation, which deprived millions of honest Indians of their own money. People had to stand in long queues to withdraw their own money from banks, and many a time, they would not succeed for one reason or the other, he added. Coming down heavily on the people who chanted "Modi-Modi" at rallies, the RJD leader said that Modi has finished the Railways Ministry, which had touched new heights when he was the Railway Minister during the UPA-I government. "Modi wears suit worth lakhs and then gives a credo of Make in India. He is doing nothing but fooling people by his tall promises and oratory," he further said. Rahul Yadav, who is Lalu's son-in-law, is a hotelier and the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav's nephew Jitendra Yadav. The Sikandarabad seat is currently held by Vimla Solanki of the BJP and in 2012, Rahul Yadav's father had tried his luck from this seat as a Congress candidate but had lost badly. The Samajwadi Party made Jitendra Yadav an MLC. Rahul married Ragini, the fourth daughter of the former Bihar Chief Minister, in 2012. --IANS md/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reacting to the current political turmoil in Tamil Nadu, actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Wednesday said there's no use blaming corrupt politicians. He suggested that people should become incorruptible. "We've wasted our freedom years gambling our franchise on wrong and corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them. Let's become incorruptible," Haasan tweeted. He also said that the entire country will fight for Tamil Nadu in a "civil war of ahimsa". "None might die but the ignorant will come alive," he added. Calling out his fellow actors to react on the stand-off between AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam and Sasikala, he tagged actor R. Madhavan in a tweet. "Madhavan, please talk on crisis in Tamil Nadu. We have a voice with decibel levels not conducive to bad politics. You can also disagree but do it loud please," he wrote. In reply to Haasan's tweet, Madhavan shared a series of posts. He said: "Sir, we have always discussed how TN should be the best state in the world, leave alone India. With the talent and potential we have, we should have been an example to the world." Madhavan highlighted that the state needs "right leadership and right intent to harness that volcanic expertise". "This is the time we nudge in the right direction. The whole state needs to believe that and make themselves heard. And I am very sure that will happen as this the right time. Speak up folks. This is your time to be heard." Haasan also clarified that his account hasn't been hacked. "Just because I'm not saying expected things doesn't mean I'm bought or hacked. Agree to disagree. I like you, I am my own man," he tweeted. --IANS hp/rb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran designer Manish Arora will visit the Buckingham Palace in London for a special reception being held to mark the beginning of the UK-India Year of Culture. The designer, who has been bestowed with the prestigious Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by France, will visit the palace of Queen Elizabeth II on February 27. Arora says it's an honour for him to represent India. "It is such an honour and privilege to be chosen by Her Majesty to represent India at the reception celebrating a wonderful initiative. India and the UK have such a deep history and this cultural exchange is a great way to strengthen the relationship between our homelands," Arora said in a statement. This year, India and Britain are celebrating a major bilateral year of cultural exchange. The veteran designer added that "this is definitely a dream come true and I couldn't have asked for a better start to the year". --IANS dc/rb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has dismissed reports that she is visiting Britain in connection with the Panama Papers leaks case. "In UK to see my son. Will Insha'Allah be back in a week or so," Maryam Nawaz, who is in the UK on a week-long visit, tweeted. Her sudden visit to the UK has fuelled speculation that the visit may be related to the Panama Papers leaks case being heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Pakistan Today reported. However, Maryam Nawaz ridiculed the report saying: "The spin being given to my benign visit by a section of media is ridiculous." The Panama Leaks case hearing is expected to resume on February 13 after it was postponed due to the ill-health of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, one of the judges on the bench. Last month, German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung daily tweeted documents purportedly linking Maryam Nawaz to Minerva Financial Services, an offshore firm. Minerva is the holding company for Nescoll and Nielson Enterprises, two offshore firms at the centre of the scandal. Nescoll and Nielson own four flats in central London that a recent BBC report said belonged to the Sharif family. Among those named in the Panama Papers are Sharif's children Maryam, and sons Hasan and Hussain, with records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies. --IANS ruwa/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Perhaps avenging former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's strident criticism of the note ban, Prime Minister on Wednesday launched a surprise attack on him, saying that politicians should learn from Singh how to maintain a clean image even after 35 long years of public life dotted with scams under his stewardship. Replying to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address to the two Houses of Parliament, Modi also chose to attack another former Prime Minister of the Congress - Indira Gandhi. In his one hour and 10 minutes speech, Modi also dismissed observations made by economists across the world about the November 8 move to demonetise higher value currency, saying the move is "unparalleled" and economists can never calculate its effects as such a massive decision "has not been taken before anywhere in the world". Modi first cast aspersions on the scholarship of Manmohan Singh, a former RBI governor and an eminent economist, saying he (Modi) recently came across a book purportedly written by Singh, but found out that only the foreword was by "Doctor sahib" (Manmohan Singh). "Looks like, even the speech Doctor Sahib delivered in the last session...," Modi said, just stopping short of saying anything further, but implying that Singh's speech lambasting the note ban was not his own. The Prime Minister continued amid aloud protests by the Congress members: "For around 35 years, he (Manmohan) has had a say or a role in India's economic policy and decisions. In these 35 years, we heard of many a scam, but he has remained free of any blemish." "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... so much happened he did not get even a taint. Only Doctor Sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing wearing a rain coat," he said in a jibe, resulting to a huge uproar from Congress benches. The Congress MPs walked out at this point, though Manmohan Singh himself did not budge from his seat. A few senior Congress MPs including P. Chidmabaram, A.K. Antony and Karan Singh asked the former Prime Minister to come along and walk out, which he did. Modi's attack comes after Singh on November 25, speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session, termed the implementation of demonetisation a case of "organised loot and legalised plunder". Singh had also described the note ban exercise as a "monumental disaster" -- which Modi had listened to quietly, without any change of expression. On Wednesday, Modi justified his attack on the former Prime Minister, saying he (Manmohan Singh) could have thought about "maryada" while using words like "loot" and "plunder" in the context of demonetisation. "We have the power to pay back in the same coin," Modi said. Earlier, the Prime Minister also targeted Indira Gandhi, saying the then former Prime Minister Gandhi never tabled the Wanchoo Committee report against black money in Parliament in the early 1970s. "(Madhav) Godbole's book mentions it. Why did you not protest against him or take any action when he came out with the book? Were you sleeping at that time?" Modi asked, looking at the Congress MPs. Speaking of demonetisation, Modi said that the economists' or the experts' opinions about the effect of demonetisation on the Indian economy being thrown around by the opposition had little weight as "they (economists) cannot give any accurate opinion about demonetisation". "They have never seen it before, so how can they judge it. This is an unparalleled move. No such huge decision was ever taken anywhere in the world," Modi said. He said the move created a "horizontal divide" in the society - that of neta versus public. "Usually it is public versus the government whenever a tough decision is taken by a government. But this time around, it was government plus public versus others," Modi said. He said that digitalisation of the economy could be difficult but to criticise this idea altogether, which he said opposition was doing, was ridiculous. The Prime Minister said that institutions like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and its Governor should not be dragged into a controversy. Modi cited an extract from a book by former RBI Governor D. Subba Rao wherein he has expressed his displeasure with then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's decision, and has accused him of treading in the exclusive territory of the RBI without even keeping him in the loop. "We have not undermined RBI's authority, we have given it greater autonomy by amending the RBI Act," Modi said. Opposition leaders including Sitaram Yechury of CPI-M and Sharad Yadav of JD-U tried to intervene at certain points while Modi was speaking but the Prime Minister told them to sit down and put their point later. After the speech when Yadav and Yechury stood up to made their point, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi objected to it saying there was no tradition of putting up a point after the Prime Minister's reply. The entire opposition walked out in protest one after the other, and the Motion of Thanks was adopted with almost the entire opposition benches vacant. The Indian Navy's maritime patrol aircraft Ilyushin 38 Sea Dragon (IL 38 SD) on Wednesday carried out a successful anti-ship missile firing on a target ship in the Arabian Sea. This was the aircraft's maiden firing post-midlife refit and modifications. The firing was conducted as part of the ongoing annual Theater level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX-17) on the Western seaboard. "IL 38 SD aircraft has undertaken its maiden firing post modification and midlife upgrade, thereby demonstrating its highly potent Anti Ship Missile (AShM) attack capability. The development ratifies the Indian Navy's ability to ensure long-range sea denial around Indian Subcontinent," a statement said. IL 38 SD aircrafts are based at Goa and is placed under the Headquarters, Western Naval Command. It is armed with KH35 anti-ship missile. --IANS ao/lok/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh knew the "art of bathing wearing a rain coat", creating a huge uproar in the Congress benches in Rajya Sabha. The Congress reacted sharply to the comment and staged a walk out from the House. Modi made the comment while responding to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. Modi said that Manmohan Singh was an economist who has been at the helm of affairs for around 30-35 years. "For the last 30-35 years, he has been directly involved with India's economic affairs in a decisive capacity... There might not be another person, in 70 years post Independence, he has been at the helm of affairs for half of the time," Modi said. "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... so much happened he did not get even a taint. Only Doctor Sahab (Manmohan Singh) knows the art of bathing wearing a rain coat," he said in a jibe, resulting to a huge uproar from Congress benches. As Congress members protested, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said: "The Prime Minister has been called Hitler and Mussolini... Don't teach us." Angry Congress lawmakers then staged a walkout from the Upper House. Singh was the Prime Minister for 10 years and headed UPA-I and UPA-II governments. During the Winter Session, he made a speech in the Rajya Sabha in which he called demonetisation a "monumental failure" and "organised loot". --IANS ao/rn (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.) Pakistan's Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday imposed a "complete ban" on Basant, a festival celebrated to mark the start of the spring season. Sharif has made it clear that the Punjab government won't allow such festivals which endanger people's lives. "Complete ban on Basant. No one can be allowed to play with the lives of people." --IANS ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / National by Stephen Jakes There is reportedly an increase in cases of a criminal syndicate who break into people's cars during the night to steal valuables such as car radios, car batteries, tools and other items they found in the vehicles.The revelations came when a number of residents this week complained of having their cars broken in during the night leading to hem losing quite substantial valuables including the damages done of their cars.The crime syndicate which seem to be using the same modus operand pounced recently at Nkulumane houses where they damaged a number of cars at houses along the same line and stole several items form those cars."I was surprised when i woke up in the morning recent to find my car's windscreen broken and discovered that some items which were in the car had been stolen," said a Nkulumane resident who preferred anonymity. "This did not happen to me alone but the who line where there are cars suffered the same fate."In a development which shows that the crime syndicate is roaming the city of Bulawayo, residents in Mpopoma today woke up to the surprise of seeing their cars windscreens broken and their belongings taken from them."It appears these criminals are in a calculated move to target cars which are parked in houses yards and they seem to be moving from one suburb to the other. This means that residents in the city must be careful and guard seriously for their vehicles because they are no the criminals' targets," said a Mpopoma resident.The concerned residents asked for intensified police patrols to stop the sprouting crime rate in the suburbs. The revolt by Tamil Nadu former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam against AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala is being opportunistic and fuelled by other forces, said a spokesperson of the ruling party on Wednesday. "Only when his Chief Minister post was taken away he is raising his voice. But that, too after he had submitted his resignation and sending a 'thank you for your cooperation letter' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao," Avadi Kumar, spokesperson for AIADMK told IANS. On Tuesday night Panneerselvam dropped the "Paneer Bomb" with his dramatic statement that he was forced to resign as the Chief Minister after meditating for 40 minutes at late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's memorial. Kumar said Panneerselvam wrote a letter to Modi after resigning his post on his own choice and there was no compulsion on him not to write such a letter. "He was acting alone, pursuing his own interests. The party did not gain any goodwill by his acts but on the other hand the party had to face the brunt of the government actions -- like the police action against the Jallikattu-bull taming sport protestors," Kumar said. Pointing out Panneerselvam's own statement that he was asked to propose the name of Sasikala for the post of General Secretary and later for Chief Minister position, Kumar said: "What prevented him from opposing the move at the first instance itself." Kumar also wondered as to the reason for the continued absence of the Governor at a time when there is only a caretaker government in the state. "We did not know where to reach him and give him the letter of support of legislators for Sasikala, who can stake her claim to form the next government," Kumar said. At a time when a political change is happening in the state, the Governor goes from Coimbatore to Delhi and then to Mumbai. He said this shows that the BJP and the Centre are fishing in the troubled waters. --IANS vj/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the agitation by a section of the Jat community gaining momentum in some districts, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said political parties should desist from taking part in agitations. Khattar's comment during a media interaction was made regarding the support extended by some political parties to the resumed agitation by the Jat community for reservation in the state. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to demonstrate peacefully and within the ambit of law, but in case anyone tried to cross his limit and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere, he or she will be dealt with sternly," Khattar said. He said the protesting Jats could approach the five-member committee led by the state's Chief Secretary and the doors of the Haryana government were always open for them for talks. Anyone can meet him directly, the Chief Minister said. Quoting precedents, Khattar defended his government's decision to have only officers on the committee. Khattar said he hoped the Jat grievances will soon be resolved. Following the resumed agitation by the Jats, the Haryana government on Tuesday set up the five-member committee "to consider the demands and resolve the problems of those agitating for reservation" in the state. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas, Principal Secretary Industries Devender Singh, General Administration Secretary Vijayendra Kumar and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mohammad Akil are on the panel. The BJP government's move came in the wake of the resumed agitation by the Jats since January 29 in support of their demands and grievances. The agitation resumed by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti led by Yashpal Malik has seen protests in 19 districts of Haryana. More protesters, including women, the elderly and children, have joined the agitation in the past week. The protesters are seeking implementation of reservation for Jats, jobs for the kin of those killed during the earlier agitation of the community in February last year and action against officials who ordered the use of force on Jat protesters. The Jat agitation in February 2016 left 30 people dead and over 200 injured. Haryana has been on high alert in the wake of the resumed agitation due to bitter memories of last year's large-scale violence. Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Jind, Fatehabad, Hisar and some other districts were the worst affected. --IANS js/tsb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Wednesday called upon the international community to clamp down on terrorism and prevent unauthorised access to nuclear material and technology. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday "while noting the grave threat posed by terrorism to international security emphasised the need to clamp down on terrorism and prevent unauthorised access to nuclear material and technology", External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Jaishankar was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day meeting of the Implementation & Assessment Group (IAG) of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) here. "He (Jaishankar) commended the work of GICNT in building a world-wide network of experts and practitioners towards a holistic approach to nuclear security," Swarup said. "He offered the services of India's Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership for training and capacity building in the field of nuclear and radiological security." According to the spokesperson, GICNT co-Chairs Russia and the US reviewed the activities undertaken by the various working groups of the Global Initiative and complimented India's contribution to strengthening global nuclear security. "IAG coordinator, The Netherlands, provided an update on the inter-sessional activities and outlined the plan for the coming period," Swarup said. "The three working groups on nuclear forensics, nuclear detection, and response and mitigation are having concurrent sessions to discuss relevant issues." GICNT is a voluntary international partnership of 86 nations and five international organisations that are committed to strengthening global capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to nuclear terrorism. It works towards this goal by conducting multilateral activities that strengthen the plans, policies, procedures, and interoperability of partner nations. Around 150 delegates from 45 GICNT partner countries and four International organisations -- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Interpol, European Union, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime -- are participating in the New Delhi event. Japan will be hosting the annual plenary of the GICNT in June this year. --IANS ab/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that decriminalises some forms of domestic violence, the media reported. Dubbed the "slapping law", it decriminalises a first offence of domestic violence that does not seriously injure the person, making it a less serious administrative offence, CNN reported. The law was signed on Tuesday and has alarmed women's rights campaigners who fear it will encourage abuse. The punishment carries a fine of up to 30,000 rubles ($507), an arrest up to 15 days, or compulsory community service up to 120 hours. In cases of repeated assaults, a defendant faces a fine of up to 40,000 rubles ($676), compulsory community service for up to six months, or being held under arrest for up to three months. More than 85 per cent of legislators in Russia's Duma approved the bill in January -- seen as part of Putin's drive to appease conservatives pushing "traditional family values". The bill's sponsors, including conservative Senator Yelena Mizulina, believe the law would simply bring family law into line with reforms passed last summer that loosened punishment for other minor assaults. Mizulina, a staunch proponent of traditional values, was also the author of Russia's controversial "gay propaganda law", which prohibits "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships", according to the report. A member of the Russian Duma Vitaly Milonov, who supported the law, told CNN: "I don't think that we should violate the rights of family and sometimes a man and a woman, wife and husband, have a conflict." "Sometimes in this conflict they use, I don't know, a frying pan, uncooked spaghetti, and so on. Frankly speaking what we call home violence is not home violence -- it's sort of a new picture of family relations created by liberal media," he said. Human Rights Watch had urged Parliament to reject the law, calling it "dangerous and incompatible with Russia's international human rights obligations". "Universally gender-based crimes are under-reported but in Russia they are hugely under-reported," Yulia Gorbunova of Human Rights Watch told CNN on Tuesday. "There is a stigma around talking about violence, physical violence at home and women do not feel that they can speak up," she said. "It is a very dangerous for the government to draw a line between 'just bruises' or serious physical violence because... the situation in Russia shows, that domestic violence very rarely ends with bruises. It usually almost always goes to the next step." --IANS soni/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia's leading opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been found guilty of embezzlement on Wednesday, the media reported. A judge was still reading the verdict in the city of Kirov, but news agencies said it was clear in his remarks that Navalny had been convicted. Even a suspended sentence would bar the outspoken critic of President Putin from running for President in 2018, the BBC reported. Navalny has denied the accusations, saying the case is politically motivated. A sentence in the retrial may take hours to be read out. Prosecutors had asked the judge to hand Navalny a five-year suspended sentence. The European Court of Human Rights ordered a retrial after it said he was not given a fair hearing in the first trial, in 2013. Navalny, 40, is known for his anti-corruption campaign, which targeted senior officials close to the Kremlin. He said the case is an effort to keep him out of . He recently stepped up his political activity after announcing plans last year to run for the presidency in 2018. Vladimir Putin is allowed by the Constitution to run for a second consecutive six-year term, but he has not said yet if he plans to run. Navalny's rise as a force in Russian began in 2008 when he started blogging about alleged malpractice and corruption at some of Russia's big state-controlled corporations. He described the President's United as "the party of crooks and thieves", a phrase that stuck among many in . He stood for Moscow mayor in 2013 and got more than a quarter of the vote, a surprise for many. In the first trial, in 2013, Navalny was found guilty of heading a group that embezzled timber worth 16m roubles ($500,000) from the Kirovles state timber company while working as an adviser to Kirov's Governor Nikita Belykh. He had described the rerun of the trial as an "exact copy" of the original proceedings and said he was sure he would be found guilty once again. Seven youths from Mumbai were killed and one injured when their vehicle rammed into a tree on the Mumbai-Goa highway here on Wednesday morning, police said. The incident occurred around 7.30 a.m. when the Xylo SUV with eight persons was proceeding from Mumbai to Sindhudurg district. The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a wayside tree near the Khanu village, killing the seven occupants instantly, said S.K. Gavkhadkar, an official from Ratnagiri police control. The occupants, hailing from Mumbai suburbs of Vile Parle, Andheri, Malad and Mulund have been identified as Sachin Sawant, Prashant Gurav, Akshay Kerkar, Nihal Kotian, Kedar Todankar, Vaibhav Manve and Mayur Belekar. Abhishek Kamble, the sole survivor, has been admitted to Ratnagiri civil hospital in a critical condition, Gavkhadkar added. The cause of the accident is being investigated and the families of the deceased youths have been informed, she said. The Mumbai-Goa highway has earned the sobriquet of 'killer highway' in view of the spate of accidents that occur there frequently and there are demands to make it wider and safer. --IANS qn/sm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Somali government on Tuesday announced a ban on flights arriving and departing from Mogadishu airport and also beefed up security ahead of the Wednesday presidential elections. Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Ali Ahmed Jama informed travel agencies of the flights suspension as well as traffic movement in the capital during the elections, Xinhua reported. "We inform travel agencies that flights at Aden Adde Airport will be suspended on Wednesday for the presidential election," Ahmed said. The minister said this will not impact other local airports in the country as the election is taking place only in the capital city. All major roads in Mogadishu will be closed for two days till the conclusion of the ballot. Mogadishu mayor, Yusuf Hussein Jimale imposed a ban on traffic movement in Mogadishu to ensure security of the presidential elections. The Horn of Africa nation which has been under near daily attacks from the Al-Shabaab terror group plans to curb disruption of the presidential elections. The terrorist group has vowed to disrupt the polls, saying it was being instigated by Western countries to impose their influence on Somalis. Somali Parliament will elect a new president from 22 candidates. --IANS sku/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The use of Devanagri numerals on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes "contravenes Constitution" and is "highly condemnable", DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Siva said the use of Devanagri script on currency notes shows a preference of the government for a particular language and linguistic group, which may alienate others. He also objected to the use of Swachh Bharat logo on the notes, saying that the government cannot promote its schemes through currency notes. "The new ... notes contain ... a script of Hindi and this is contravening ... Article 343 (1) of Constitution that says that form of numerals to be used for official purposes of the Union shall be international form of Indian numerals," Siva said. Although a Presidential Order of 1960 says that a uniform basic policy should be adopted for use of Devanagri numerals in Hindi publications of central ministries, Siva said the currency notes "are not Hindi publications of a central ministry nor do they cater to the needs of a section only". He said that as per Article 343(3) of the Constitution, Parliament by law may decide the use of Devanagri form of numerals but it was not being done. "If at all the currency notes have to use Devanagri numerals, it will be so only after the passage of law by Parliament. But it was done," Siva added. He said that in a country as diverse as India, the government's decision shows "a preference for a particular language... and the Hindi-speaking groups" though the notes are meant to be used by all linguistic groups and sections in the country. "It may alienate those who do not belong to this group," he added. Siva also called the government's move to use Swachh Bharat logo on notes as "preposterous", saying government schemes can't be promoted like this. The peremptory rejection of the shipborne variant of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) by the Indian Navy seems to have surprised most navy-watching analysts. Their confusion has been compounded by the near-simultaneous issuance of a global request for information (RFI) for procurement of "57 multirole fighters for its aircraft carriers" by Naval HQ. One can deduce two compelling reasons for this, seemingly, radical volte face by the only service which has shown unswerving commitment to indigenisation (lately labelled 'Make in India') for the past six decades. Firstly, by exercising a foreclosure option, the navy has administered a well-deserved and stinging rebuke to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for its lethargic and inept performance that has again disappointed our military. The second reason arises from the navy's desperate hurry to freeze the specifications of its second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2). The choice of configuration, size and propulsion of a carrier has a direct linkage with the type of aircraft that will operate from it. This constitutes a "chicken and egg" conundrum -- should one freeze the carrier design first or choose the aircraft first? The Indian Navy has obviously decided the latter. The IAC-2 will enter service in the next decade, at a juncture where a balance-of-power struggle is likely to be underway in this part of the world -- with China and India as the main players. It is only a matter of time before China's carrier task-forces, led by the ex-Russian carrier Liaoning and her successors, follow its nuclear submarines into the Indian Ocean. Since the Indian response to such intimidation will need to be equally robust, the decisions relating to the design and capabilities of IAC-2 (and sisters) assume strategic dimensions. Essentially, there are three options for selection of aircraft for the IAC-2. * Conventional take-off and landing types like the US F/A-18 Super Hornet and French Rafale-M that would require a steam catapult for launch and arrester-wires for recovery. The relatively large ship would need either a steam or nuclear plant for propulsion. * Types like the Russian Sukhoi-33 and MiG-29K would require only a ski-jump for take-off and arrester-wires for landing. This would mean a smaller ship, driven either by gas turbines or diesel engines. The LCA (Navy) could have been a contender in this category. * The F-35B Lightning II version of the US Joint Strike Fighter, capable of vectored-thrust, would require only a ski-jump for take-off, but no arrester wires since it can land vertically. This would result in the simplest and cheapest ship; a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) carrier. Once the navy has selected an aircraft, the ship and its operating and maintenance facilities can be designed around it, avoiding some of the pitfalls encountered on IAC-1. Reverting to the LCA saga -- as far back as the early 1990s, the navy had initiated a study for examining the feasibility of adapting the LCA to shipborne use. While confirming feasibility, the study had revealed some major problem areas, which included lack of engine thrust, requirement of an arrester hook and stronger undercarriage, and need for cockpit/fuselage re-design before the LCA could attempt carrier operations. Undaunted, the navy re-affirmed its faith in the programme by contributing over Rs 400 crore as well as engineers and test pilots to the project. The IAF accepted the Tejas into service, in July 2016, with considerable reservations because it had not been cleared for full operational exploitation and fell short of many qualitative requirements. The prototype LCA (Navy) had rolled out six years earlier, in July 2010, raising great hopes. However, it is obvious that the DRDO failed to address the problems listed above with any urgency, leading to ultimate rejection of this ambitious project. By its failure to deliver on the LCA (Navy), the DRDO has let down its most steadfast supporter amongst the armed forces -- the Indian Navy. A little introspection by those at the helm of this organisation would reveal to them three reasons for its abysmal performance despite a wealth of talent and a network of sophisticated laboratories -- an exaggerated opinion of their capabilities; a lack of intellectual honesty in denying obvious failures and an unwillingness to seek external help when required. Today, India has the ignominious distinction of being the world's biggest importer of military hardware, whereas China counts amongst the world's leading arms exporters and its aeronautical establishment has delivered aircraft ranging from UAVs to 5th generation fighters, helicopters and transports to the PLA. While one would be justified in blaming the scientists and bureaucrats responsible for defence research and production, the root cause of this colossal failure lies in political indifference and the inability to provide vision and firm guidance to our massive but under-performing military-industrial complex. (Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) is a former chief of the Indian Navy. The article is in special arrangement with South Asia Monitor/www.southasiamonitor.org) --IANS arun/ky/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gorakhpur MP and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mahant Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of protecting and patronising mining mafia in the state. Addressing a press conference in the state capital, the firebrand BJP leader asked the Chief Minister to respond to why he had given ticket to tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati despite serious charges and scathing observations on him by the courts. "Illegal mining has been taking place right under the nose of this government in 30 districts of UP; people are forced to buy expensive construction material like sand because of this. Can the Chief Minister explain what action has he taken against such people?" he asked, and added that Akhilesh Yadav will have to answer these questions. He also slammed the state government for doing nothing to improve law and order in the state and alleged that people have been forced to migrate for employment, for fear of safety. "The BJP assures the people of the state that once voted to power it will ensure that all criminals are not only behind bars but also that the rule of law is established in UP," the Mahant said. --IANS md/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / National by youtube ....corrupt police officers in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe is a beautiful country, but the police officers are the most corrupt we met in the whole south of africa. After the first bad experiences with police stops in Zimbabwe we started recording this videos.The worst experience was police officer Mr Kamela on a police stop 10 km from Mutare, the border town to Mozambique, who lost control and hit my arm and violently forced me to leave the car (his deputy was even stealing my car key, all recorded on the video). By the way, our stories about Sgt Maj Ncube and the story about beeing district officer in Switzerland were not true, but the best way to handle this corrupt officers.In the end of the video you even hear the voice of police officer Kamela asking, "if he should hit me". This unbelievable police stop, 10 km before Mutare, happened on Wednesday 7.12.2016 at around lunchtime. It is raining interventions from constitutional courts across nations. A court in the United States passed a temporary restraint order against newly elected President Donald Trumps executive order to abruptly stop the entry of individuals from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has ruled that parliament cannot abdicate its role in handling Brexit through just a referendum. A high court in Kenya has intervened to strike down laws that provide for criminal action against defamation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to the Opposition to contribute in preserving the institutional credibility of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The PM said it doesnt behove dragging the institution and its governor, whether the current Governor Urjit Patel or his predecessor Raghuram Rajan. The PM pointed out that he had defended Rajan as well. Sonia Gandhi deployed Congress veterans P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma and Kapil Sibal to launch a counter attack on PM Modi soon after he took a dig at former prime minister . In 2004 she had named Manmohan as PM of the UPA and even backed him for a second term in 2009. interim Chief Minister O Panneerselvam ruled out any possibility of floating a new party. He also said that except for AIADMK MLAs he will not accept anybody's support to form a government and become the chief minister again. Three persons were today arrested at Naaxalbari near here on charge of trying to smuggle Gecko to Nepal. A senior police officer said Bijoy Singh and Bijoy Tanti - both residents of Assam's Cachar district - were arrested from Naxalbari while they were on way to Nepal. Their local guide Tahidul Pramanik, a resident of Haldibari, was also arrested by the team of police, the officer said. The lizard, locally known as 'Takshak', was hidden in the jacket of one of the three arrested and later taken to Tukuria range, the officer said. The lizard, which was suspected to be smuggled into Nepal as confessed by the arrested persons, would have been sold in China market from Nepal for medicinal purpose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police in China have rescued 32 women trafficked from Vietnam after dismantling a human trafficking ring and arresting 75 suspects linked to the syndicate. Altogether 75 suspects have been caught, police in southwest China's Yunnan Province said. Police launched its investigation into the case after it recovered a woman in September 2015, who was unable to speak Chinese, and was accompanying a man who was acting suspicious. It was later discovered that the woman was Vietnamese and she had been sold as a bride for 80,000 yuan (USD 11,620) to a man in Yao Autonomous County of Hekou. Joint investigation by the police across seven provinces showed that a gang had been active in trafficking Vietnamese women to China. The women were sold across the country through several middlemen, state-run Xinhua agency reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least seven persons were killed and one was seriously injured when a speeding car rammed into a tree on Mumbai-Goa highway in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra's Konkan region this morning. All the victims hailed from Mumbai, police said. The speeding car was heading towards Goa when the mishap occurred at around 7.40 AM near Khanu village under the jurisdiction of Ratnagiri rural police, they said. The driver apparently lost control over the vehicle which rammed into the roadside tree. Locals ran towards the car after the mishap. Three persons died on the spot, police said. Police were informed about the incident and all the injured persons were taken to Ratnagiri Civil Hospital where four succumbed to injuries before admission. The deceased have been identified as - Prashant Gurav, Sachin Sawant, Akshay Karekar, Mayur Pednekar, Nihal Kolekar, Kedar Kolekar and Vaibhav Manave. One person injured in the mishap is undergoing treatment in hospital, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air India Express has deferred plan to launch direct flight to Tehran amid uncertainties over the current US administration's stance towards Iran as fresh sanctions could hurt the airline's operations. The carrier -- the low cost arm of national carrier Air India -- was preparing to start Tehran flight this year as part of international expansion plans. "We don't know what is going to be the policy of the Trump administration towards Iran. If sanctions are re-imposed, there could be an issue in getting permission from the US banks for operating the aircraft in that territory," a highly placed source told PTI. As of now, the plan to launch flight to Iran stands deferred, the source said. Since some Air India planes are financed through a loan from Exim Bank of the US, the latter's approval would be required before operating flights to Iran. In case there are sanctions, clearance would be a difficult proposition. The plan to launch Tehran flight was decided after the US, under the then President Barack Obama, had eased the sanctions imposed on Iran after striking a nuclear deal. However, there are concerns that the current American regime led by President Donald Trump could impose fresh sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Earlier this week, Trump described the nuclear deal with Iran as "the worst" agreement ever negotiated, calling the Islamic Republic the number one terrorist state in the world. Air India Express was expecting the thrice-a-week Tehran flight to commence from March-April this year. Currently, the airline flies to 15 international destinations including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha and Singapore. It also has domestic flights. The carrier has a fleet of 23 Boeing 737 planes. GoAir has also got approval to start flights to Iran and other overseas destinations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) National carrier Air India is likely to induct over 30 aircraft, including five wide-body Boeing 777, over two years as it seeks to add capacity in domestic as well as international markets. Air India Director (Commercial) Pankaj Srivastava said that out of the 34 planes, the carrier is looking to lease, 29 would be narrow-body Airbus A320s. The remaining five would be wide-body Boeing aircraft. "We are looking at more planes. We want to launch new flights. If the fuel price remains where it is now, we will definitely see economics of scale," he said while speaking at the CAPA India Aviation Summit here today. Some of the A320 neo planes, which are being leased would replace the old classic A320 aircraft under the phase out plan, he said. According to him, all the 34 planes would be inducted into the airline's fleet over a period of two years. As part of the international expansion plan, Air India plans to launch its flight services to Washington, Copenhagen, Toronto. Besides, Srivastava said the airline would increase frequency on routes such as Melbourne, Sydney Colombo, Kathmandu, Singapore and Bangkok. With respect to finance, he said the airline is looking at various options to reduce its borrowings, including by converting some of the working capital loans into equity. Air India is surviving on a Rs 30,000-crore bailout package, spread over a ten-year period, that was approved by the central government in 2012. So far, the airline has received around Rs 24,000 crore as part of this financial package. In the last fiscal, Air India posted an operational profit of Rs 105 crore for the first time in a decade while its total debt stood at over Rs 46,000 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / National by Moyo Roy The man behind #ThisFlag movement, Pastor Evan Mawarire, was on Wednesday granted bail at the High Court in Harare.Mawarire was arrested last week at the Harare International Airport upon his arrival from USA.He is being accused of trying to overthrow government and insulting the national flag through his #ThisFlag viral videos.In court today Mawarire's lawyer Harrison Nkomo argued that the man of the cloth was practicing his freedom of expression and is thus protected by the country's constitution.The state prosecutor however labeled Mawarire as a "celebrated terrorist" who was a flight risk.When passing judgement the High court Judge said Mawarire could have stayed away but he chose to return to Zimbabwe and that renders him not a flight risk.The Judge said the state evidence was very weak and the "applicant is a suitable bail candidate" who is likely not to abscond.Mawarire was granted $300 bail, ordered to surrender his passport and to report twice a week to police. Two Congolese working for have been freed five days after being abducted during a reporting mission, the Qatar-based broadcaster said. The two men were kidnapped last Wednesday near Nyanzale in the south of the restive Nord-Kivu province and were freed on Monday, it said yesterday. The zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo's turbulent east is notorious for kidnappings for ransom. Al-Jazeera, however, said no money was paid for their release, explaining it was secured "through the work of the local authorities". " is relieved that all men are safe and sound and would like to thank officials from the FARDC (the Congolese army) and the UN mission in DRC for their support in assisting in getting the two men released without paying for any ransom demands and assisting in escorting our staff to safety during this traumatic period." Al-Jazeera's English service staffers who were with the men said their vehicle was attacked by armed men who took the two locals hostage but left three foreign journalists a Briton, an Italian and a Kenyan untouched. One of the freed men said the kidnappers appeared to be Rwandan Hutu rebels associated with the Nyatura Mai-Mai, a local Congolese Hutu militia. The man said both he and his colleague were "severely abused" by their abductors and were hospitalised in Goma, the region's main city, on Wednesday. Nord-Kivu has been torn by violence and armed conflict for more than two decades. Amid political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who also holds charge for the southern state, today continued to stay put in Mumbai with no indication of when he will travel to Chennai. "The Governor will attend a scheduled event in Mumbai this evening. There is no information yet on his travel plans for either Chennai or Delhi tomorrow," a Raj Bhavan official told PTI. Yesterday, Raj Bhavan sources had said Rao may leave for Chennai in a day or two. Political crisis looms large over Tamil Nadu after O Panneerselvam last night dropped a bombshell, saying that he was forced to resign as Chief Minister to make way for AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala, who waits to be sworn in for the top job. The Man Friday of late J Jayalalithaa chose to break his silence on the happenings in the party ever since the death of his mentor on December 5, saying he was being "insulted" by senior ministers and leaders who sought to "undermine" him after electing him the Chief Minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the ruling allies Shiv Sena and BJP are hitting out at each other freely ahead of civic polls in Mumbai, Sena ministers today called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence 'Varsha' here late in the night. Sena ministers Subhash Desai, Diwakar Raote, Ramdas Kadam and Deepak Kesarkar met the CM. One of the ministers said later they met Fadnavis to press for a loan waiver for farmers on the lines of the scheme promised by BJP in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, according to a party source, Sena leaders are divided over whether to pull out of the BJP-led government. He added that those who are in favour of the party withdrawing its support to the BJP government may submit their resignation letters to Sena president at the party's final election rally at Bandra-Kurla Complex on February 18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's wife Amruta Fadnavis represented Maharashtra at the 'National Prayer Breakfast' forum for world peace. Senators and leaders from different nations came together to promote world peace and harmony at the global programme, held on February 2 in Washington DC where Amruta, a banker by profession, spoke on topic 'Power of Love'. "It was an honour to present my ideas regarding the importance of 'Power of Love' for well being of humanity at the National Prayer Breakfast, Washington - presided over by President of the United States Donald Trump, towards global peace and equality," she said in a press statement issued here. Amruta said it was a learning experience meeting senators and leaders from nations across the world and listening to the President of US. In her speech, Amruta spoke about the vast culture and rich heritage of India, 'Unity in Diversity - 29 States, 22 languages and 1600 dialects. She shared how happily Indians celebrate festivals of different religions like Diwali, Eid and Christmas with same enthusiasm. She also spoke about issues being faced farmers and women, drought conditions in Maharashtra. Amruta stressed the need for selfless deeds towards well-being of humanity to find inner peace and happiness. The event was attended by more than 3,000 guests, including politicians, religious leaders and other international invitees from over 130 countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Campaigners accused Britain of betraying vulnerable children today after a scheme to take in unaccompanied young migrants from Europe was limited to 350 people -- 200 of whom have already arrived. The number falls well short of the 3,000 proposed by the original advocate of the scheme, opposition Labour politician Alf Dubs, 84, who himself arrived in Britain as a child fleeing the Nazis. The government did not specify how many children it would take in when it announced the plan last year, amid widespread concern about the fate of Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe. Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told MPs today that the total number would be 350, including "over 200 children already transferred under section 67 (of the Immigration Act) from France". This refers to children brought over the Channel from the "jungle" migrant camp in Calais on the northeast French coast. "We will announce in due course the basis on which further children will be transferred from Europe to the UK... To the specified number," he said. The decision was based on an assessment by local authorities across Britain on how many children they could manage, with a government spokesman stressing their often "difficult needs". But the announcement was widely condemned, with Dubs himself warning that to shut the scheme would be "shameful". "At a time when Donald Trump is banning refugees from America, it would be shameful if the UK followed suit by closing down this route to sanctuary for unaccompanied children just months after it was opened," the peer said. "During the Kindertransport, Sir Nicky Winton rescued 669 children from Nazi persecution virtually single-handedly. I was one of those lucky ones. "It would be a terrible betrayal of his legacy if as a country we were unable to do more than this to help a new generation of child refugees." Josie Naughton, the co-founder of the Help Refugees charity, also called it "shameful", saying: "The government could do so much more." Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition party, said it was a "betrayal of these vulnerable children and a betrayal of British values". Goodwill said the government would continue to accept refugees, including 3,000 vulnerable children and their families from camps in countries bordering Syria by 2020. He said it had also taken more than 750 children from Calais who had relatives in Britain -- 50 of whom will be placed with local authorities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Auto components major Bharat Forge today reported 21.48 per cent decline in its net profit at Rs 128.62 crore for the quarter ended on December 31, 2016. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 163.81 crore for the same period of previous fiscal. Total income from operations declined to Rs 990.01 crore for the third quarter of FY2016-17, compared to Rs 1,108.52 crore during the same period of previous fiscal, Bharat Forge said in a regulatory filing. The company's board, which met today, has declared an interim dividend Rs 2.50 per equity share of Rs 2 each. Shares of the company were trading down 0.08 per cent at Rs 980 on the BSE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bipartisan group of 34 US lawmakers has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to step up pressure on Venezuela's government by immediately sanctioning officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses. The letter was partly prompted by an AP investigation, which it cites, that found corruption in Venezuela's food imports. It also calls for a thorough probe into alleged drug trafficking and support for Middle Eastern terror groups by the country's new vice president, Tareck El Aissami. El Aissami has been the target of US law enforcement since his days as interior minister almost a decade ago, and has been tied to bribes paid to officials by the nation's top convicted drug trafficker. He has denied any wrongdoing. Relations between the US and its staunchest critic in Latin America have been tense for years the two countries haven't exchanged ambassadors since 2010. And at Congress' insistence, President Barack Obama sanctioned several top Venezuelan officials for cracking down on opponents or helping smuggle cocaine to the US. But Trump mentioned the country only briefly during the campaign. And Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments during his confirmation gave little sign of whether he will depart from the Obama administration's relative restraint and call for dialogue between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and his opponents. Venezuela is mired in political gridlock, even as its economy is falling apart. Amid such uncertainty, Maduro has taken a softer tack. After blasting Trump as a "bandit" and "mental patient" during the campaign, he's remained silent since, even in the face of the Republican's promise to build a wall with Mexico and freeze immigration from close Venezuelan allies such as Iran and Syria. "He won't be worse than Obama, that's the only thing I dare to say," Maduro said last month in an appeal to supporters to withhold judgment on the new US leader. The letter, co-written by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, chair of the house Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, appears intended to force the administration's hand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP today said it would oppose the TRS Government's attempt to give reservations in jobs and education on religious lines in Telangana. Noting that there is no provision in the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar for quota on religious lines, State BJP President K Laxman alleged it is not proper for the ruling TRS to give reservation to Muslims for vote bank politics. He was referring to the TRS Government's attempt to get the Centre to facilitate 12 per cent reservation to Muslims, a key election promise of the ruling party. The BJP leader was speaking at an event organised by the party to collect mass signatures against the TRS Government's decision. The State Government had said it would urge the Centre to allow it to provide 12 per cent quota to the backward sections among Muslims. Laxman said the BJP would intensify its agitation on the issue and take it to the Governor's notice first. Laxman also condemned the criticism made against his party by TRS leaders over postponement of an appointment of an all-party delegation from the State with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on SC categorisation issue. The Telangana Government proposed to lead an all-party delegation, headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister to urge the Centre to take steps for categorisation of SCs. The state government had said an appointment with the Prime Minister has been postponed to a later date. Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari and TRS MP Jitender Reddy have expressed unhappiness over the postponement of the appointment. The SC categorisation is being sought by certain outfits saying that they are not benefiting in the existing system of reservation and others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing BJP of using black money in the assembly polls, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath today said that before asking for votes in Uttarakhand Prime Minister Narendra Modi should first give an account of his two-and-a-half years in office and 13 years of BJP rule in Madhya Pradesh. Nath, who was here to campaign for the party for the February 15 Assembly elections, accused the Centre of informing it's industrialist friends about demonetisation in advance and securing the money it needed for the polls. "Now the same black money is being used openly by the party to contest elections. BJP candidates are spending heavily in these polls which obviously they are not doing by selling their wives' jewellery," he said. Calling Modi a seasoned player of the politics of rhetoric, he said now the PM will come here, thump his chest and tell the people that he was fighting against black money. "Before asking for votes for BJP, PM should give an account of his two-and-a-half years in office and the states governed by his party especially Madhya Pradesh," the Congress leader said. Talking about MP which is his home state, Nath said BJP has been in power there for 13 years and "biggest achievements" of this long tenure have been Vyapam scam, growing unemployment and stalled development. Terming clean India and digital India as mere slogans to mislead people, he said Modi was an "expert" in the art of coining luring slogans. Nath also accused BJP of toppling democratically elected governments in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, saying people now understood this and will side with the truth. When asked how would people of the state vote for Congress which withdrew the industrial package from the state, he said the party had subsequently extended its tenure. Then posing the same question to Modi government, he asked why it had not extended the facility to the state despite being in power for two-and-a-half years. Asked about Harish Rawat's 'Bahubali and Rowdy Rawat' videos which had gone viral, Nath said they were not the party's videos as it doesn't believe in this kind of politics. On Congress's rebel MLAs who had been fielded by BJP, he said they will be taught a lesson by the people. Congress will make history by getting re-elected to power for a second consecutive term, he claimed. Sweden-based indoor air purifier maker Blueair is looking at leveraging HUL's vast sales infrastructure here to tap the Indian market. Blueair was acquired by HUL's parent Unilever last year. Besides, Blueair has also deferred plan to set up a manufacturing/assembling unit here after the change in ownership. "In the marketing side, we have enough synergy. Uniliver and HUL has been here for many many years. It is more like an Indian brand. They have a very large network in sales and other aspects and all that is going to help us as a company," said Blueair Director West & South Asia Girish Bapat. He further added: "Wherever there would be synergy, we would use it." However, Bapat declined to elaborate saying: "It's too early for us to talk about that." He further added that Bluair would maintain a separate corporate identity despite acquisition. In August 2016, Unilever PLC had announced signing of an agreement to acquire Blueair. "In terms of our restructuring and ownership change, we are reworking on those plans in terms of assembly/ manufacturing unit. But it's definitely on the cards," Bapat added. To expand its retail presence, Blueair has tied up with leading pest control and home cleaning services firm Hicare, which would take its product to 200 cities through direct to home sales and service. "We have plans to introduce Blueair air purifiers first in leading metro cities and then would take it pan India," said Hicare CEO Himanshu Chakrawarti. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / National by Staff reporter Bulawayo residents are up in arms with the city fathers after councilors passed a resolution to award themselves with state of the art phone tablets that will gobble US$40 000 at the expense of service delivery.On the 4th of last month, the Bulawayo City Council passed a resolution to replace their laptops with tablet phones that are to be purchased at a cost of around US$40 000 with the decision not received well by residents who feel that that money could have gone towards service delivery.In the council minutes in possession of ZBC News, the councilors resolved the laptops were now too heavy to carry.Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association spokesperson Mr Zibusiso Dube has hit out condemning the councilors' love for opulence at the expense of their core business.Efforts to get a comment from the city fathers over the issue were fruitless as the Bulawayo's City Council's spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu was said to be on leave while no one was responding from her office.The incident comes at the back of most councils being blamed for adopting lavish lifestyles and awarding themselves hefty salaries while service delivery continue to deteriorate. British MPs on Wednesday overwhelmingly backed a bill enabling Prime Minister Theresa May to officially trigger and start negotiations for leaving the 28-member European Union. The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to 122, and now moves to the Lords, BBC reported. May wants to trigger formal talks by the end of March. She will do this by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, but requires Parliament's permission before doing so. The bill was tabled last month after the Supreme Court ruled that MPs and peers must have a say before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty could be triggered. It rejected the UK government's argument that May had sufficient executive powers to trigger without consulting the Parliament. A friend of one of the Brussels bombers managed to flee Belgium despite having been sentenced to seven years in prison for terrorist offences, prosecutors said today. Khaled Khattab, a friend of airport attacker Najim Laachraoui, was convicted and sentenced in May 2016 for helping to recruit jihadists for Syria, a prosecutors' spokesman said. But the 26-year-old Khattab was allowed to go free while he was awaiting a further hearing to finalise the details of his jail term, and was arrested in Turkey. "Apparently he fled for Syria and the Turks arrested him. We are asking for his extradition," spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP, confirming a report in La Derniere Heure newspaper. "During the hearing we asked for his immediate arrest," Van Der Sypt said. "The court did not take us up on it and that is their right." Khattab, a dual Belgian-Syrian national, received the harshest of 26 sentences in a mass terror trial of people linked to top Belgian jihadist recruiter Khalid Zerkani. Khattab had been arrested in Belgium in October 2014 after having returned from a visit to Syria, La Derniere Heure reported. But he was allowed his freedom during the subsequent trial as he had a home in Belgium. La Derniere Heure said the court had nonetheless noted Khattab's "worrying frame of mind" after a CD glorifying the Islamic State group was found in his police cell during his initial detention. Bomber Laachraoui, 24, was also convicted at the same trial and sentenced to five years in jail in absentia. Laachraoui was one of two suicide bombers who struck Brussels airport on March 22 last year, while a third blew himself up on a metro train, killing 32 people in all. Investigators also believe Laachraoui was a bomb-maker for the November 2015 Paris attacks and that the same Brussels-based cell was responsible for both incidents, which were claimed by the Islamic State. Belgium, a country divided along linguistic and political lines, has been accused of multiple failings in keeping track of home-grown extremists in the wake of the Paris and Brussels attacks. In one revelation, Turkey said Belgium ignored warnings from Ankara after it deported Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the second airport bomber, to the Netherlands as a "terrorist fighter" in 2015 following his arrest near the Syrian border. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Voters in Roorkee constituency are a perplexed lot as the main contest here is between Congress and BJP candidates who fought the 2012 polls too but have switched sides this time. Suresh Chand Jain, who was with BJP for 15 years, is Congress' candidate while Pradeep Batra, who deserted Congress, has been fielded by BJP. Jain, who had won the Roorkee seat on BJP ticket in 2002 and 2007, lost to the then Congress candidate Batra by a margin of 801 in 2012. But, last year Batra rebelled and BJP named him party candidate for 2017 assembly election, a move which prompted Jain to switch side and he was given ticket by the Congress. "There was no provision for Roorkee in state budget. Everything was there for Haldwani, Pithoragarh and Dehradun. Budget was not acceptable to us. To protest against Chief Minister Harish Rawat, I had left the party and joined BJP," Batra said. Batra was among the nine MLAs, including former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, who defected from Congress after the flip-flop over the passage of the Appropriation Bill last year. The matter went to the courts and President's rule, imposed in the state after the defection, was revoked on May 11 after Rawat proved his majority on the floor of the house. Jain, who was upset after BJP gave ticket to Congress rebel Batra, said, "I am fighting for principles and truth. I worked with loyalty and all fairness. I had worked so much for the development of Roorkee. Was I denied ticket because of these reasons? This is injustice to the people. That is the reason I left BJP and joined Congress." The change has, however, left a section of the voters confused. Both the parties in the state have seen leaders crossing sides in the run up to the polls. BJP has given ticket to over a dozen former Congress leaders, while the ruling party in the state has fielded at least seven former BJP leaders. "Jain was a staunch BJP supporter for the last 15 years. He was advocating the policies of BJP and criticising the Congress vision. As he has joined the same Congress against whom he used to protest, it has become difficult for us to decide for whom to vote," Prakash Saini, a resident of the constituency, said. Another resident Sukhpal said, "I am a supporter of Congress. I had voted for Batra last assembly election as he was a Congress nominee. I am impressed with Batra's works during the last five years but he has joined BJP now. I have not yet decided for whom to caste vote as the situation is very complex." Batra, however, claimed that there was "no competition" for him as his tenure was "successful" with lots of development works during the last five years. "This is one sided election in Roorkee. There is no competition against me. My tenure was successful but (I) fell victim to some politics. There were some works which started that could not be completed. People have understood our vision of development and smart city," he said. Jain, however, alleged that "Batra did nothing" and those works which he had started before 2012 are "still pending" like those of flyovers and sewerages. Jain said his agenda for the state would be to set up youth hostel, easing of traffic jams by building flyovers, and provision of domestic gas pipelines, among others. Whatever may be their claims, about 96,500 voters of Roorkee assembly will decide the fate of both the leaders on February 15, the day Uttarakhand goes to polls. The Reserve Bank today said the weekly limit on withdrawal of cash from savings bank accounts will be increased to Rs 50,000, from the current Rs 24,000, from February 20, and the limit will be removed from March 13. "The limits on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts continue to be in place. In line with the pace of remonetisation, it has now been decided to remove these limits in two stages," said RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi. "Effective February 22, 2017, the limits from cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts will be enhanced to Rs 50,000 per week from the current limit of Rs 24,000 per week (and) effective March 13, 2017, there will be no limits prescribed by RBI on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts." He was speaking to the media, along with RBI Governor Urjit Patel, after the central bank announced the sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review. On the basis of remonetisation, RBI had earlier restrictions on cash withdrawal from current accounts, cash credit accounts and withdrawal through ATMs on February 1. However, the weekly withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 on savings bank accounts is continuing. Government and RBI had imposed limits on withdrawal of money from ATMs and bank branches in view of the currency shortage following demonetisation. These limits, however, are being gradually eased, with RBI pumping in new notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. The limits on withdrawal, however, are being gradually eased, with RBI pumping in new notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. To a question if fake new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 have come into circulation, Gandhi said the recent ones that have come to notice are photocopies of currency which can be easily identified by the common man. The deputy governor said the new notes have enhanced security and design features, and are not easy to copy. "The recent one that we have seen is the pure photocopy, so it is not real counterfeiting. So, this photocopy is easy for even a common man to identify. It will be possible for them not to be easily duped," he said. Last week, the government had informed Parliament that it has not come across any confirmed reports on detection of counterfeit notes of Rs 2,000. "(Neither) the government nor RBI has come across any confirmed reports of detection of counterfeit notes of the denomination of Rs 2,000 in the banking channel," Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Suspended IAS officer Rajendra Kumar, the former Principal Secretary of Arvind Kejriwal, has accused the CBI of "misusing" CrPC provisions by continuing a probe against him despite having filed a charge sheet. In a blogpost, Kumar said that while Section 173(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code permits further investigation after the filing of charge sheet, it is intended to be used when "entirely new evidence comes". "...And that too never simultaneously when charge sheet has just been filed under Section 173(2)," Kumar, who recently stated his desire to join a political party, wrote. The CBI had filed charge sheet against Kumar in connection with a case of alleged graft in December last year. "The CBI is misusing the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code to continue to put pressure on people, whom they have implicated along with me in the case. Else, they would have filed the charge sheet only after completing the investigation and after gathering all the evidence required. "It is clear that they understand that the charge sheet filed is going to fail and therefore, the only way to continue to threaten the people is to misuse the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code," Kumar said. In the charge sheet, it has been alleged that the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy and caused a loss of Rs 12 crore to the Delhi government in award of contracts between 2007 and 2015. The 1989-batch IAS officer has been charged with alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under Indian Penal Code besides provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act along with eight others and Endeavour Systems Private Limited, the CBI had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Wednesday defended its decision to block the US' proposal in the United Nations (UN) for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief as a global terrorist, saying the "conditions" have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the "relevant parties" to reach a consensus. "Last year 1,267 Committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached," Lu said. "As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the Committee to reach a decision," he said. "China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the Committee," he said. About the significance of US pushing for the ban against the Pakistan-based JeM chief this time unlike last year when India pressed for his listing as terrorist, Lu said, "I would like to point out that the Committee has its own set of discussion rules." "So, whoever submitted the request, we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations," he said. To a question whether it will have an impact on China-India relations, he said Beijing and New Delhi "have exchanged views" on the issue. "We don't hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship," he said. On criticism that China is continuously blocking the move at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said, "China's action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures." "We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the Committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community," he said. China has put a "hold" on the US-initiated proposal, which comes barely weeks after India's bid to get Azhar banned by the UN were scuttled by Beijing last December. This has prompted India to take up the matter with the Chinese government. Pakistan's Punjab province Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has imposed a "complete ban" on Basant, a seasonal festival celebrated by Punjabis of all faiths to mark the commencement of the spring season. In a message posted on his official Twitter account last night, he said that none would be allowed to play with the lives of people and concerned District Police Officer would be held responsible in case a violation is reported. "Complete BAN on Basant...No one can be allowed to play with the lives of ppl...Concerned DPO will be responsible for any violation of ban," Sharif tweeted. Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had said that the provincial government could not permit a "throat-cutting kite flying festival". There is a long established tradition of flying kites and holding fairs on the occasion. The festival was banned in Punjab in 2007 owing to deaths caused by sharply polished threads used to fly kites. However, many analysts say the festival was banned due to pressure from hardline religious and extremist groups like the Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud Dawah, which claimed the festival had "Hindu origins" and was "un-Islamic". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting back after the Congress attacked Narendra Modi for his dig at his predecessor Manmohan Singh, BJP said it still shows reluctance in recognising Modi as a popularly-elected prime minister and believes that only it has the mandate to rule the country. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Singh had called demonetisation an exercise in plunder and loot and Modi was only replying to it as the whole saga of the UPA government had been that of plunder and loot. Fun, pun and satire are part of parliamentary debate and the Congress should have heard the Prime Minister in full as per the parliamentary convention, he said, alleging "abuses" were hurled at him by the Opposition during 15 hours of debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. Congress staged a walkout from the House protesting against Modi's remarks. "There is still some lurking impression among Congress leaders that only they have the mandate to rule the country and no one else. There is still a reluctance to recognise Narendra Modi as a popularly elected Prime Minister. "The Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha has repeatedly said that he has acknowledged from the Red Fort the contribution of all prime ministers to India. Congress should have heard the Prime Minister in full as per the parliamentary convention," Prasad told PTI. "Fun, pun and satire are part of parliamentary debate. Manmohan Singh had called demonetisation plunder and loot, and the Prime Minister was replying to it. The whole saga of the UPA itself has been that of plunder and loot," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DAE has planned to develop large deposits of uranium in Meghalaya that have the potential to generate substantial nuclear fuel for atomic power plants in the country, the government said today. In written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), which looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), said it has already made a plan to develop the mineral resources at Domiasiat under the name of "Kylleng- Phendengsohiong-Mawthabah (KPM) Uranium Mining Project". "Uranium mineralisation in Meghalaya has been found over a large area around Domiasiat, Wahkyn, Lostoin. "The project has the potential to generate substantial nuclear fuel for the atomic power plants of the country," Singh said, adding that a detailed project report (DPR) of the KPM project has been approved by the Atomic Energy Commission. "Environmental clearance for this project has been obtained from the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in December 2007. An agreement has also been signed between UCIL and the land owners of the project site in May 2007 for acquisition of land on annual lease rent basis. "Approval to execute land lease with land owners, grant of mining lease and consent for establishment has been taken up with the Meghalaya state government," Singh said. At present, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has uranium mining projects in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. In response to another question, the minister said the government has accorded in-principle approval to setting up of six more reactors of 700 MW each in Haryana (2) and Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan (4). It also plans to add two reactors in Chutka in Madhya Pradesh and two in Kaiga in Karnataka, all of 700 MW each. (REOPENS DES47) In response to another question, Singh said the DAE is putting up a seawater desalination plant in Odisha's coastal district of Ganjam with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meter per day (5.0 MLD). The site in Ganjam district has been considered since it is located just 750 metres away from the shoreline of the Bay of Bengal and is a drought-prone zone facing acute water shortage. The project is being implemented through an MoU between Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a public sector undertaking under DAE. A 6,300 cubic meter per day (6.3 MLD) nuclear seawater desalination plant has already been commissioned and has been in operation at Kalpakkam in Chennai since 2002. Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik is closely monitoring the investigation of the theft of Nobel Peace Prize replica and its citation from child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi's southeast Delhi residence. He has been in touch with the Crime Branch and district police teams that are probing the matter and is keeping a close watch on the matter. "Delhi Police has taken this unfortunate burglary very seriously and commissioner of police is closely monitoring the progress in this case. He has directed the Crime Branch also to get actively associated and has instructed teams from district and Crime Branch to nab the culprits and recover stolen materials as early as possible," said Dependra Pathak, JCP (southwest) and Delhi Police spokesperson. Three men have been seen in the CCTV footage gained from the residential area and the face of one of the accused is covered. "Basis the CCTV footage, there are three-four theories that the teams are working on. Since the face of one of the accused was covered, it seems that the accused was a regular in the area and he covered his face so that he wasn't captured in the footage. There is also a possibility that he might have just covered his face as a precautionary measure to avoid detection," said another officer. Police is currently working on carving out the entry and exit routes of the accused and to decipher the exact motive and modus operandi of the accused. Through the questioning of people residing nearby and analysis of CCTV footage, it has been found that the burglary happened between 1 am and 4 am, police said. Police is also working on the 'insider theory' which means that someone who works in residential area or is a regular there might have leaked information about the houses that have been unoccupied for the last few days, they added. The burglars from the area and those who have recently been released from jail are being interrogated. Scrap and jewellery dealers of the area are being questioned in connection with the burglary. Burglars allegedly decamped with the replica of the Nobel medal and the citation along with a host of other mementos from around the world and some jewellery from Satyarthi's Kalkaji residence yesterday. Satyarthi, who along with his wife is currently in Panama on the invitation of its President, will be returning on February 10. Police had said that it appeared that the burglars had come with an intention only to rob jewellery as the other expensive items were left untouched. Two other houses in the same area as Satyarthi's have also been broken into. The child rights activist won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. He shared the prize with Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai. Satyarthi had presented his Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Pranab Mukherjee in January, 2015. The original medal has been preserved and is now on display at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum, his office said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) News / Press Release by Jacob Mafume Recent confessions by the Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, that the government is in arrears to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars in remittances for civil servants pensions, medical aid and other stop order payments is startling and betray the carefree attitude of the Zanu PF government.With regards to pensions, Chinamasa confessed that the government is in arrears of over US$170 million which has not been remitted to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) yet it claims to have deducted the money from the pay slip. For Premier Services Medical Aid Services (PSMAS), the government acknowledged arrears of over US$98 million and for other stop orders it is in debts of over US$10 million.This huge backlog was accumulated from September 2013 to date and was part of a prolonged fraudulent scheme by government to steal from workers on the back of claims of settling statutory obligations as well as stop order payments. The scandal is that the government has been focused on spending money it does not have in satisfying the unquenchable appetites of President Mugabe and his cabal who globe trot each week with no agenda for national development.What this means is that the government is deducting the money from the civil servants' salaries and unashamedly indicate on pay slips when they are not remitting. As a result, hardworking people who have served the government for a longtime find themselves one illness away from death yet they have religiously paid for their medical insurance with PSMAS.More worryingly, government greed is creating a huge social crisis as most workers would retire without any money deposited in their pension accounts by the state as required at law. Consequently all the retirees would face immediate destitution after years of honest and faithful service to the government.This is unacceptable and has to be stopped hence the government workers and their representatives must take the government to the courts on the matter as the government actions are patently unlawful and constitute an unprecedented class fraud.Moreover, the civil service unions must join together and engage in a class action in demanding remittances of their pensions as the current fraud will haunt their members when they retire.The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is of the view that social security and pension management system must be overhauled. The PDP government will put in place a modern and electronic pension management system that would give monthly updates to the members as to how much their pension is worth at each deduction.On social security the PDP has a framework for various grants to target the most vulnerable groups in our country such as orphans, the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed and the chronically ill. The scope of these policy thrusts is to create a socially just society where all citizens get equal access to life opportunities. Disney has announced that the "Star Wars"-themed lands will open in California's Anaheim and Florida's Orlando in 2019. The ambitious project will be inaugurated at Disneyland and Disney World, revealed chairman and CEO Bob Iger, reported People magazine. The 'Star Wars' attractions will each span 14 acres, which makes them the largest single-themed expansions with respect to other parks. Visitors will be transported to a remote trading port on a planet inhabited by humanoids, aliens, and droids at each location. Interestingly, one of the key attractions will let the guests to run the controls of the iconic Millennium Falcon. To magnify the success of the ninth film, "Star Wars: Episode IX" scheduled to arrive in 2019, the openings have been planned accordingly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajat Barmecha made his Bollywood debut with Anurag Kashyap's production "Udaan" and the actor says he doesn't need to go asking for an acting job from his mentor because they are like family. The 27-year-old actor, who debuted in the 2010 film directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, says if they believe that he is cut out for a particular role, they will surely approach him. "Anurag and Vikram are like family in Bombay. I don't have to go upto them and tell them let's do something together. If they think I'm suited for some role, I know they will let me know," Rajat told PTI. The actor says even if he was offered a film like Kashyap's magnum opus "Gangs of Wasseypur", he would have felt out of place. "As much as I would have loved to do a 'Gangs of Wasseypur', it was not a movie I could visualise essaying a role in. It would have been exciting for me as an actor but I know in my gut, it was not for someone like me. "It's a different genre if I keep my look in mind. There's nothing I could have done in 'GOW', so there's no point in saying that they didn't approach me or them saying that may be I could do it." The actor says that he is in constant touch with Anurag and Vikram and is eager to collaborate with them in near future. When asked why has he disappeared from the film scene post "Udaan", Rajat says he was busy pursuing his other passion which is travelling. "From the past two years, I have been solo backpacking. But I have not just been travelling, I did two films in the middle, which are slated for release this year. I started shooting for the second season of 'Girl in the City', a Bindass web series," Rajat says. The actor reprises his role as Kartik in the web series that premiered last year and says that the audience has been kind in embracing his character with so much love. "I was overwhelmed with the response. It was both unexpected and satisfying." Rajat says his avatar in season two will be completely different from the first one and is something to watch out for. "It will be a 360-degree transformation for my character and people are going to be blown away to see the new Kartik." The actor will be seen in Viacom's "Disco Valley", which has been stuck in the pipeline for a while. He will also feature in a film presented by Imtiaz Ali, tentatively titled, "Leader", which will come out in the next three-four months. "Girl in the City 2" will air in March this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson is helping to bring the life story of fellow WWE star Paige to the big screen in a new comedy drama. The "Fast Five" star will return to his ring roots for "Fighting With My Family", which will be based on the British sportswoman's rise to fame within her family of wrestlers. The project was inspired by UK TV documentary "The Wrestlers: Fighting With My Family" and will be written, directed and executive produced by "The Office" co-creator and star Stephen Merchant, reports Deadline. "Fighting With My Family" will be Merchant's first gig as a solo feature film director, after previously working with comedy partner Ricky Gervais on 2010's "Cemetery Junction." Johnson will serve as an executive producer via his Seven Bucks Productions unit, while he also plans to take on a role in the biographical movie. Paige, real name Saraya-Jade Bevis, will be portrayed on-screen by "Marcella" actress Florence Pugh, alongside "War & Peace" star Jack Lowden, who will play her brother Zak Zodiac, a fellow wrestler. Paige and Zak's parents, reformed gangster Ian Bevis and his wife Julia Hamer-Bevis, also used to grapple in the ring under the stage names Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya - and Johnson first came up with the idea of turning their story into a film back in 2012. Production on "Fighting With My Family" is due to begin filming in Los Angeles and London later this month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The EU said today it aimed to phase out anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panel imports after 18 months, ending a bitter dispute with one of its largest trading partners. Stung by US President Donald Trump's protectionist stance, the EU has touted its free trade credentials and pledged closer cooperation with China in response. The EU imposed the duties in 2013 after European panel manufacturers complained they were being forced out of business by underpriced Chinese imports. Other companies which installed solar panel systems claimed the duties harmed them by increasing their costs and should be removed. European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said: "There is no doubt we have the right to protect our industry... But at the same time we have to take into account other companies who import these products." These companies, he told reporters, provided thousands of jobs and were a key element in the renewable energy industry. "The college (of the 28 member state representatives) weighed the options, including the different interests involved and decided to maintain the measures for 18 months and an eventual phase out," he said. "We will now put the proposal to member states. The phase out is meant to make sure solar panel producers in Europe have time to adapt to the new situation," he added. It was originally proposed that the duties be maintained for another two years before being dropped but there was only dwindling support for this option. The Commission, the EU's executive arm, billed the 2013 duties as an "amicable solution" to a dispute that had threatened to become a full-blown trade war. In 2015, EU figures show bilateral trade came to some 520 billion euros (USD 551 billion), with the EU running a deficit of 180 billion euros with China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former AIADMK Minister K Damodaran and Tamil film music composer Gangai Amaran today came out in support of caretaker Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, saying he had backing of the people of Tamil Nadu and also that of party workers. Talking to reporters here, Damodaran, former agriculture minister, said Paneerselvam managed to successfully solve many problems facing the state in the past two months, after Jayalalithaa's demise. He also succeeded in getting approved some schemes from the Centre by meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. Asserting that he does not want to see a split in AIADMK, Damodaran said support of other MLAs and Ministers will depend on their mental preparedness to face party chief VK Sasikala. He said he will go to Chennai to meet Paneerselvam in person. Already an MLA from the city, V A Arukutty, has reportedly met the chief minister at his residence in Chennai. Speaking to reporters nearby Tirupur, Tamil film music composer, Gangai Amaran said people of the state and party workers were "wholeheartedly" supporting Paneerselvam. "Paneerselvam has taken a bold step, which other party MLAs and functionaries failed to take," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook addicts, take note! Using the social networking site or surfing the web may impair your perception of time, warn researchers including one of Indian-origin. Using well-established internal clock models, researchers attempted to separate the roles of 'attention' and 'arousal' as drivers for time distortion. They found that Facebook-related stimuli can lead to an underestimate of time compared to general internet use, but that both lead to a distortion of time. In the study, Lazaros Gonidis and Dinkar Sharma from the University of Kent in the UK monitored the responses of 44 people who were shown 20 images for varying amounts of time. Five of the images were associated with Facebook, five had more general internet associations with another ten as neutral 'control' images. Those taking part had to say whether the image they had just seen had been visible for a short or long time. The key finding was that people tended to underestimate the time they had been looking at Facebook-related images to a greater extent than other more general internet related images, but that in both cases time was underestimated. This suggests that Facebook-related images affect time by changing how we pay attention to them. The findings are likely to have implications for future study into addictive behaviour. The study was published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Targeting the Shiv Sena at his first rally in Mumbai for the February 21 civic polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his party's singular agenda was to ensure "transparency" in the administration of the country's richest municipal corporation. Speaking at a BJP public rally in suburban Mulund, he said, "No matter how much others try to divert our attention, we are focused and our only agenda is transparency (in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation)." Fadnavis trashed the Sena's claims of maintaining openness in the functioning of the civic body ruled by it, and claimed that he had documentary proof of "misdeeds" in BMC. The marks credited to BMC in a Central government report were due to the efforts of the state government and not the civic body, he claimed. Accusing Uddhav Thackeray's party of "destroying" the metropolis, Fadnavis claimed that in terms of development, Mumbai now stood in the same league with Patna ("Mumbai ka vikas dekho kitna hua, Patna ke sath lake khada kar diya"). "I do not want to blame Uddhavji but the problem lies with his advisors. They want to ensure that the Shiv Sena is finished," the chief minister said, adding, "Our government has initiated inquiries as regards every allegation of corruption." "We have started development projects for Mumbai which would cost over Rs 1 lakh crore, including metro, coastal road and MTHL (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link). We are not only improving the transport facilities, but coming up with end-to-end solutions like single ticketing transport system. "We installed CCTVs at public places within a few months of coming to power (in October, 2014) for the safety and security of Mumbaikars. We made Mumbai the country's first Wi-Fi city," Fadnavis told the rally. "We have done many things in just two years and the list is very long. Now, my question to them (Sena) is tell us what did you do in the last 20 years?" he asked his party's one-time ally in BMC. "The BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra have shown how the issue of development is handled. Now, give us the power of BMC to do the same for Mumbai," he appealed to the voters. Shiv Sena and BJP are separately contesting the polls to the 227-member BMC. (Reopens BOM 31) Earlier in the day, Fadnavis addressed rallies in different parts of the State in support of BJP candidates fighting the Zilla Parishad polls slated later this month. At Jawala Bazar in Aundha taluka of Hingoli district, Fadnavis spoke about how his Government is working for water conservation through Jal Yukt Shivar scheme and taking steps to increase farm productivity. "We are trying hard for betterment of farmers through the Nanaji Deshmukh Krushi Sanjivani Project in association with World Bank and creating a network of automatic weather stations for technological assistance for better planning and produce," the BJP leader said. At Rajur in Bhokardhan taluka of Jalna district, the Chief Minister listed various initiatives taken by his Government for Marathwada such as water grid and seed park at Jalna. At Bidkin in Aurangabad, also in Marathwada, Fadnavis said his Government was making education accessible to all. With the 'Pragat Shaikshnik Abhiyan', thousands of students from private English medium schools are taking admission in Government-run ZP schools which shows our success to deliver quality education, he added. A major fire broke out at Thangachimadam police station near here today forcing the police personnel to flee as the fire spread quickly due to wind, police said. No casualty was reported. Seven Sri Lankan fibre glass boats seized for ferrying the refugees illegally, besides smuggled goods, six motor bikes and an autorickshaw were gutted in the blaze, they said. However, documents and furniture inside the police station were intact. The fire has been doused, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Colombian nun has been kidnapped by gunmen in southern Mali, a Malian security source and a local official said today. The woman was kidnapped yesterday near Koutiala, a city some 400 kilometres east of the capital, Bamako, which is in the Sikasso region near the Burkina Faso border. "The Malian army is in pursuit," a security source who asked not to be identified told AFP. A local official said the kidnappers drove away in a vehicle owned by the nun's Franciscan order. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the kidnapping which follows the Christmas Eve capture of a French aid worker, Sophie Petronin, in the restive north of Mali, where jihadists have staged repeated attacks. Last month, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa released a new proof-of-life video of Swiss missionary Beatrice Stockly, who has been held hostage by the group for more than a year. The Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) video showed Stockly, who was captured in the north, saying she was in good health. The north fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012 who were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013. But the implementation of a peace accord struck in 2015 has been piecemeal with insurgents still active across large parts of the region. There have also been jihadist attacks in the south and centre of the vast west African nation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to the state government on a petition filed by a poker club after it was denied clearance by Surat police on the ground that poker is gambling and not a game of skill. Petitioner AAA Gaming Pvt Ltd told the court that it made representation before Surat Police Commissioner on January 17 to start a poker club in Umra area of the city. But on January 27, the police commissioner denied permission to the club saying that "poker is a game of chance and not skill which allows gambling in game". The single-judge bench of Justice C L Soni today issued notices to the state government, Surat Police Commissioner and Umra police inspector. Upon submission made by the petitioner's lawyer, Maulin Pandya, that his client should be provided with interim relief, the court issued notice for the same and kept the matter for further hearing on February 21. The petitioner said that the police commissioner rejected their application to start a poker club under Umra police station limits, by simply making a one-line observation that poker is a game of chance and not skill. The petitioner said that the view expressed by the authority is without legal base, and there was no detailed deposition on how police commissioner reached the conclusion when there are grounds to consider poker as a game of skill. It further said that section 13 of Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act exempts a game of skill from the purview of gambling. Notably, a similar petition was filed earlier by Indian Poker Association last year when police interfered with the club started in Ahmedabad saying it indulged in gambling. The high court is yet to give its judgement on this petition. Both the petitions have claimed that high courts in Karnataka and West Bengal have already endorsed poker as a game of skill. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opinion / Columnist "We have suffered enough as youths and as Zimbabweans and we are now ready to map our future. We are not going to allow Zanu PF to rig the 2018 elections as we are going to protect our votes and defend them vigorously," warned MDC-T youth leader, Happymore Chidziva.MDC-T must have an echo-chamber in the Harvey House where the party's hot-heads can get indoctrinated and brainwashed with the party's unique idiosyncratic nonsense.The party was warned that Zanu PF rigs elections and the solution is to implement the raft of democratic reforms designed to stop the vote rigging, the political violence and all the other election irregularities. Throughout the GNU, SADC leaders reminded Tsvangirai and his MDC friends to follow the 2008 GPA roadmap and implement the agreed reforms. MDC failed to get even one reform implemented in five years.MDC took part in the 2013 elections confident the party will stop Zanu PF rigging the vote and go on to win the elections. Zanu PF went on to blatantly rig the vote and win the elections with a landslide victory!Tsvangirai's claim that Zanu PF "stole the elections" fell on deaf SADC leaders' ears because they had warned him this would happened and he would not listen.After the lesson of the rigged July 2013 elections, Tsvangirai and his MDC-T members vowed they will never again contest any elections until the reforms are implemented to stop Zanu PF rigging the vote! We should have never allowed Tsvangirai to sleep after that resolution because he forgot the vote rigging and the resolution; MDC is contesting the 2018 elections as if 2013 vote rigging never happen."We are now ready to defend our future. We cannot allow Zanu PF to do whatever it wants with us and in 2018 we are absolutely going to defend people from Zanu PF's terror campaign," promised the MDC-T youth leader."What (President Robert) Mugabe and his party did in the Bikita West by-election does not scare us, and we are warning them that this time around they must not press this violence button again. Enough is enough."Was MDC-T not ready to defend the vote and the people from Zanu PF abuse in 2013?Yes! Yes! It is all very well MDC-T warning these Zanu PF thugs for the umpteenth time "not to press this violence button again"; what the nation wants to know is what MDC will do to stop these thugs pressing the bloody button?The only thing MDC can do is to boycott elections they know will be rigged. The only reason MDC-T will not boycott the elections is they, like all the other politicians in the opposition camp cannot resist the bait Zanu PF is offering those who contest."The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn't now do the obvious withdraw from the elections," explained Senator David Coltart in his book."The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility."The Senator was commenting on why MDC leaders contested the 2013 elections but the same can be said about the 2018 elections.We all know Zanu PF thugs will "push the violence button" again and again and many innocent Zimbabweans will suffer. MDC-T youths like Chidziva like Tsvangirai disappear in the Netherland Embassy or some such hide-out. We know the elections will be rigged and Tsvangirai will complain of "stolen elections" but a good night sleep will make him forget his "No reform, no election!" resolution and contest the next elections."Tsvangirai igudo rinokangamwa chezuro nehope!" (Tsvangirai is like the baboon that forget yesterday's bad experience after a night's sleep!) as the Shona would say. This is nothing like its favourite food to make the baboon forget the past mishaps; for Tsvangirai and his fellow opposition politicians lose their heads at the prospect of a gravity train seat!The truth is Zimbabwe is in serious economic trouble, unemployment has been 80% plus for the past 15 years, millions now live in abject poverty and basic services such as education and health have all but collapsed. Millions have left the country in search of any job, just to survive. SA is threatening to send back 200 000 Zimbabweans end of the year, as if the country does not have enough problems!The pressure on Zimbabwe to end the 37 years of Zanu PF misrule and start addressing the country's underlying economic ills is now great; it is not just a matter of life and death but the stability of the nation is now at stake. Zimbabwe cannot afford yet another rigged election, period!We must demand the implementation of the democratic reforms BEFORE an election. All promises by MDC-T to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections is just hot-air; they will do nothing to stop the rigging, as usual. The campaigning for the first phase of the high-stake Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will come to an end tomorrow in 73 constituencies spread over 15 districts including riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Polling in these constituencies will be held on February 11. BJP had won just 11 of the 73 seats in 2012, but improved its performance significantly in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The party has gone all out this time to woo the electorate. The saffron brigade was led by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah, both of whom hopped from one venue to another in a race against time. Modi asked people to "rid the state of SCAM - S for Samajwadi (party), C for Congress, A for Akhilesh (Yadav) and M for Mayawati", saying they have to choose between development agenda of BJP and those who give shelter to criminals, indulge in vote bank politics and encourage land and mine mafias. Not to take the comment lying down, Samajwadi Party President and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in his rallies told the electorate that SCAM actually stood for 'Save the Country from Amit Shah and Modi'. Hitting back at Modi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi alleged that one who is in the wrong, sees scam in everything and said "S infact stands for 'service', C for 'courage', A for 'ability' and M for 'modesty'." Both Modi and Shah slammed Congress and Samajwadi Party, saying Rahul ran a campaign against the SP government and wondered as to what happened overnight that they were embracing each other. Taking potshots at Rahul and Akhilesh, the BJP chief said "both are 'khoobsurat shehzade' (good-looking princes) who are out to mislead the public... Mother is fed up with one and father is fed up with the other. How will they help UP? One has looted the country, while the other has looted the state". In his no-holds-barred attack, Shah said, "Congress-SP alliance is an alliance of corruption and criminalisation". Rahul, on the other hand, harped on the issue of note ban and attacked Modi, saying, "Demonetisation has hurt the poor most". There would be a three-cornered fight between BJP, BSP and SP-Congress alliance in UP. Out of the 403 assembly seats, SP would be contesting 298 and Congress the rest 105. With western UP having vast agricultural land, Modi played pro-poor and pro-farmers card and reiterated his party's promise of waiving loans of small and marginal farmers and paying the dues of sugarcane growers within 14 days of coming to power. The Muslim-dominated areas in the belt will also be an acid test for BSP chief Mayawati, who is banking heavily on Dalit-Muslim vote bank. The region was once BSP's favourite hunting ground. This time, BSP is relying on Muslim support by giving them maximum 99 tickets (out of 403) and the poll outcome will reflect as to what extent Mayawati has been able to keep her Dalit support base intact amid intense wooing by BJP and also to what extent she can garner more Muslim support than last time. In her rallies, Mayawati accused the Modi government of interfering with the personal law of Muslims and ending reservations for backward communities in jobs. She promised to extend quota benefits to the poor among the upper castes. She also spewed venom at Samajwadi Party, saying the Akhilesh government had let loose a reign of terror with hooligans committing "utmost atrocities" against women. The BSP supremo cautioned Muslims time and again that if they wanted to defeat BJP, they should not waste their votes by backing SP-Congress alliance. The districts going to polls in the first phase are Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Firozabad, Etah and Kasganj. In 2012, both SP and BSP bagged 24 seats each, with Rashtriya Lok Dal headed by Ajit Singh bagging nine and Congress five. Surprisingly, in the Lok Sabha polls just two years later, none of these parties could open their account in the region. The turnout of voters, especially minorities, in this phase and in the second phase as well could give an inkling of the mood of Muslims and determine if the overall contest will be between BJP and SP, or BJP and BSP, or whether it will be a three-cornered fight. The first phase of voting in the Muslim-dominated region could also throw light on the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi. Over 2.57 crore voters including about 1.17 crore women will exercise their franchise in the first phase. Of them, 24.25 lakh are in the 18-19 age group. Dr P Raghu Ram, president of Association of Breast Surgeons of India, has won the prestigious Dr B C Roy national award for 'outstanding service in the field of socio medical relief' for 2016. The announcement was made by Dr Jayshree Mehta, president, Medical Council of India, in a letter addressed to Ram, who is also director, KIMS-USHALAKSHMI Centre for Breast Diseases, and CEO, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation. The award, the highest recognition for medical practitioners in India, would be conferred on Ram by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 1, observed as Doctors day, according to a KIMS-USHALAKSHMI Centre perss release. He is the youngest surgeon ever from the Telugu states (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh) to have been selected for this award, it claimed. The award recognises Dr Ram's significant contribution towards improving the delivery of breast health care in India, and equally, creating the much needed awareness about importance of early detection of breast cancer in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh through a number of initiatives, it said. "I am ever grateful to lord almighty for being chosen for this coveted award and I dedicate the Dr B C Roy award to my mother, Dr Ushalakshmi and to all those who have bravely fought breast cancer with courage and determination," said Ram, who was conferred the Padma Shri in 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that it wishes to have good neighbourly relations with Pakistan, the government today said it remained in touch with it through bilateral diplomatic channels, including addressing all urgent humanitarian even after cancellation of Foreign Secretary-level talks as agreed in December 2015. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the talks envisaged between Indo-Pak foreign secretaries to decide the modalities of the Composite Bilateral Dialogue, agreed during her visit to Islamabad in December 2015, could not take place due to the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase in January 2016 and other attacks last year emanating from Pakistan. She also noted that the government's diplomatic efforts in the wake of Pathankot and Uri attacks led to widespread recognition internationally that Pakistan's policy to sponsor and support terrorism against its neighbours posed the biggest challenge to peace and stability in the region and beyond. "The government was also able to effectively neutralise Pakistan's efforts to internationalise Kashmir issue, and conveyed to India's interlocutors that normalisation of India-Pakistan relations through a peaceful bilateral dialogue can take place only in a conducive environment free from violence and terrorism," Swaraj said. She, however, added that during this period, "the governments of India and Pakistan remained in touch through bilateral diplomatic channels, including for addressing all urgent humanitarian and other matters concerning people-to- people ties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian pharma exports in the current financial year may see a near double-digit growth and might end up on the lines with that of last year, a senior Ministry of Commerce and Industry official said here today. "Pharma exports have done better than many sectorial exports and we are in near double digit growth. Last month, growth has also been good it is about 8 per cent. So I see that despite overall contraction and slowdown, pharma exports doing relatively better. I don't think that it (double digit growth) would be possible," Sudhanshu Pandey, Joint Secretary, Commerce Ministry told reporters on the sidelines of BioAsia- 2017, when asked if the exports would see double digit growth this year. "We should be some way between 8 to 10 per cent. That is what is the anticipation," he Indian Pharma exports stood at USD 16.9 billion in the last financial year, growing at 9.44 per cent with USD 5.7 billion to USA and USD 3.3 billion to Africa, as per the statistics supplied by Pharmexcil. The exports stood at USD 15.4 billion in 2014-15. Pandey said there may not be much impact of Brexit on pharma exports in either Britain or Europe as the situation has stabilised with regard to exports to those geographies. "You have already seen impact on the exports but now exports have in fact stabilised and there is growth in the last month. So I think the trend would be in that direction," he said. Replying to query, he said Indian Institutes of Chemical Technology (IICT) will offer space to industry either for setting up a startup incubator or for research purpose. According to Pandey, NITI Aayog is working on model wherein the government will be able to invest in some of the risk oriented research programmes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to consolidate its position in the Middle-East market, IndiGo airlines has announced Sharjah as its 6th international and 43rd overall destination in its schedule. The new daily non-stop flights on Sharjah-Kozhikode, Muscat-Kozhikode route would come to into effect from March 20 while Sharjah-Thiruvnanthapuram from April 8, a company release said here today. These new flights will further consolidate IndiGo's position as the fastest growing airline in India, the release said. With 126 Airbus A320 aircraft, the company will operate 857 daily flights, connecting 43 destinations with effect from March 2017. Speaking on the addition of the new destination, President and Whole Time Director of IndiGo, Aditya Ghosh said, "We are extremely pleased to expand our international network with Sharjah and an additional connection between Muscat and Kozhikode. Middle-East has been an important market for IndiGo and expanding operations to Sharjah and Muscat is a testament to the growing demand from the sector. We are hopeful that these new flights will prove to be immensely popular among fliers, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Iranian infant in need of life-saving heart surgery arrived at a Portland hospital with her family after being temporarily banned from coming to the US by President Donald Trump's immigration orders. Iranian doctors told Fatemeh Reshad's parents weeks ago that she needed at least one urgent surgery to correct serious heart defects, or she will die, according to her uncle, Samad Taghizadeh, a US citizen who lives in Portland. The family previously had an appointment in Dubai to get a tourist visa. But it was abruptly canceled after Trump announced his executive order banning the entry of people from seven countries with Muslim majorities. The girl and her parents had to return to Iran. A Seattle judge issued a temporary restraining order on the ban the same day a waiver was granted for the baby. "Fatemeh looks well," said Dr Laurie Armsby, interim head of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital. "Our tests this morning have confirmed her diagnosis and the urgent need for treatment." US Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, was instrumental in getting the waiver for the baby's family, as were New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and immigration attorneys. The hospital issued a statement saying that the family "would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make their trip possible. The family would like to give special thanks to the congressional delegations and governors of Oregon and New York." Jennifer Morrissey, a Portland immigration attorney who championed the baby's cause, said "This was truly a team effort to beat the clock, given the medical and legal hurdles Fatemeh was facing." The family of the 4-month-old chose Portland because of its proximity to relatives and because of OHSU's expertise in treatment of the heart condition. Armsby said the infant's heart condition had "resulted in injury to her lungs" but there is time "to reverse this process." The hospital said treatment would begin with a cardiac catheterization, performed by Armsby, followed by a five- to six-hour surgical procedure performed by Dr. Irving Shen, a nationally respected expert on Fatemeh's condition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The special NIA court here today dropped the charge slapped under UAPA on Arif Majeed, who was arrested on his return here from Syria where he had allegedly joined the terror organisation ISIS. "Section 20 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (being a member of terrorist organisation) was dropped from the case," said an official of the National Investigation Agency. It would not make much difference as the maximum punishment under this charge as well as other remaining charges in the case is the same, which is life imprisonment, he added. "In the present matter, the ISIS was not declared a terrorist organisation prior to February 16, 2015, (when the case was registered). So the charge against the accused for commission of an offence punishable under section 20 of UAP Act cannot be framed," said judge V V Patil. The 23-year-old man from neighbouring Thane landed in Mumbai on November 28, 2014, from Turkey, following which he was detained by the security agencies, and later arrested. A case under sections of UAPA and section 125 of IPC (waging war against a country which has friendly ties with India) was registered against ISIS, Arif and three others. According to police, these four engineering students had flown to Baghdad on May 23, 2014, as a part of a group of 22 pilgrims to visit religious shrines in Iraq. Upon returning to India, other pilgrims told police that Arif, Fahad, Aman and Shaheen had gone to Fallujah. On August 26, 2014, Shaheen Tanki called up Arif's family and told them that their son had become a 'martyr' while fighting for ISIS in Syria. Arif's family even performed 'Janaza-e-gayabana' (prayers for the departed soul in absence of the body) in Kalyan. However later Arif returned and was arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A volley of rockets was fired from Egypt's Sinai peninsula at the southern Israeli resort town of Eilat, but without causing casualties, the Israeli army said. "Some of these rockets were destroyed in flight by Iron Dome batteries," a spokeswoman said, referring to Israel's anti-missile interception system. An official at Eilat town hall told Israeli public radio that three rockets had been intercepted yesterday and a fourth had exploded outside the town. The Sinai is the theatre of fierce fighting between Egyptian security forces and so-called Sinai Province, a branch of the Islamic State jihadist group. Sinai Province was set up in 2011, ostensibly to attack Israel by firing rockets across the 240-kilometre (149-mile) border or sabotaging a gas pipeline that runs between Egypt and Israel. But most of the fighting, by far, has been with Egyptian government forces and attacks on Israel have been relatively rare. Jihadists have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen since the military overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 unleashed a bloody crackdown on his supporters. In 2011, assailants who came from the Sinai killed eight Israelis in a triple ambush north of Eilat. Pursuing Israeli forces killed seven attackers and five Egyptian police. In 2013, four jihadists were killed by an Egyptian air strike as they were about to fire a rocket at Israel, according to the Egyptian military. And in 2014, two patrolling Israeli soldiers were wounded by unidentified men who fired an anti-tank weapon from the Sinai during an attempted drug-smuggling operation, according to the Israeli military. In 2015, rockets fired from Sinai landed in southern Israel, but did not cause any casualties. The Sinai Province group claimed responsibility. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There are reports of a cold war between "Rangoon" co-stars Shahid Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut but the actor has laughed it off saying "its all good". In the Vishal Bharadwaj-directed "Rangoon", Shahid will be seen romancing Kangana for the first time on screen. Gossip mills are abuzz with of both not getting along on the sets of the period romance drama film. Though the "Kaminey" actor and the "Queen" actress have time and again denied any animosity between them, reports have suggested otherwise. When asked about the same, Shahid said at an event last night, "Just take it easy bro...Take it easy...Take it easy. It is all good." Also featuring Saif Ali Khan, "Rangoon" is set to hit the screens on February 24. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan last year logged its biggest annual current-account surplus since the 2008 financial crisis, figures showed today, as the country's prime minister prepares to meet protectionist-leaning Donald Trump. The new president has assailed Japan for allegedly devaluing the yen to boost exports, grouping it with other countries he says are taking "advantage" of the United States. The surplus in the current account -- the broadest measure of Japan's trade with the rest of the world -- comes at a tricky time for Shinzo Abe, who heads to Washington this week. "I think Japan having a sizeable current-account surplus is definitely a political liability now," Takuji Okubo, chief economist and principal at Japan Macro Advisors, told Bloomberg . "It basically gives ammunition to the Trump administration that the yen is too cheap." Japan's current account surplus hit 20.65 trillion yen (USD 184 billion) last year, the highest level since a record surplus of 25 trillion yen in 2007, the finance ministry said. The indicator includes trade both in goods and services as well as tourism and returns on foreign investment. Data released by the US Commerce Department yesterday showed the United States ran its second largest trade deficit with Japan, after China. Today, Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga commented on the issue, saying the allies' economics relations were "maturing", and noted the country was a major US job creator. The comments come after Trump slammed car giant Toyota over a planned vehicle factory in Mexico. Japan's 2016 current account figure grew 26 per cent from 2015 as it posted the first annual surplus in goods and services trade since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster sent the country's energy import bills soaring. Energy prices have since fallen while record tourism has boosted the services sector. Financial income, including Japanese firms' buyouts abroad and investment in bonds and other securities, also rose by more than one third from the previous year. Japan publishes fourth-quarter gross domestic product figures on Monday. The world's third largest economy will have kept its growth pace and expanded 0.3 per cent in the three months to December, according a median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opinion / Columnist Welcome to the age of all you can eat cafeteria politics.No longer are we restricted to a set menu. No longer are we restricted to things that pair and complement each other, we can now consume ice cream with spaghetti or have beer with breakfast. We can now comfortably eat red meat and wash it down with white wine. Someone even discovered that pineapple and bacon get along together in a pizza.Maybe soon we read bible verses in the pub or serve whiskey in the church.Its possible to break the rules for our own comfort.Unfortunately politicians see the new world within the lenses of the old. No new thinking.Lets discard the era of the either or and explore the new dimension of either and.Straight jackets are what got us into the economic mess despair we are in as a country.Coalitions or mergers should be for both opposition and ruling party. Forget this credo of an opposition of like-minded political minds (ideologically alike parties).In any case the true ideology in opposition is just removal of Robert Mugabe. That cannot count as ideology anyway. What has changed from Bhasiki,Mutasa and Mujuru anyway.We are an era where pyjamas are won on a ride to shop, jeans worn to work and suits to church. And we are comfortable. The rules of engagement have to change and do so in a manner that makes us comfortable and make us progress.Unfortunately progress for politics is this thing of ideologically correct thinking. The merging or coalition of likeminded people or institutions. Unfortunately ideology doesn't win elections. Unfortunately the ruling party movers and opposition movers are all Zimbabweans. Why not just merge some opposition and ruling party members instead of creating a wedge in coalition talks.An opposition without levers of state institutions will be in the political abyss forever. The economy of Zimbabwe lead by a ruling party without international investments soothsay will not deliver a remarkable standard of living any time soon.A new reality guarantees new thinking. Politics is a win-lose proposition all the time. This dichotomy is driven because winning an election is a binary event - no matter how many candidates are in the race, only one will win, that's automatically a win-lose proposition.Is there no value proposition in which the both parties win,At least in the interim.It is possible to have a unity of purpose to change the political course.The unity of purpose will united members across the political divide.The proposition may fail but its worth a try.The people have suffered long enough to face the same economic trajectory post 2018.For years, opposition was told that ideological purity is greater than anything else - we should have a big tent. Opposition to corruption,extortinate taxes, judicial activism, government involvement in business, opposition to government spending, all that had to be on the table.It simply was not reasonable to expect opposition to believe in ideas from the ruling party and the ruling party to agree to ideas of the opposition.On the other side of the dichotomy the ruling party rode on the mantra that opposition is anti soverignity,sponsored by sworn enemies of the state,called for "illegal" sanctions and have no liberation credentials.In essence water and oil then should never mix.The new value proposition is that let us mix oil and water to have a new start.A perfect situation will be mapped later on.Lets just mix Fanta with whiskey in the interim.First let's us break the rules of engagement.Lets dicard this ideaoliogy mantra.Lets avoid opposition centered on just that one outcome of "Mugabe must go".Zimbabweans are fed up of ideology because it is not creating a new way. A new way of a country without typhoid and potholes.Coalitions in present format are strait jackets- and it's about "Us" V "Them".Soo we shall have another round of loud sounding nothing noises of rigging will be the rythm post 2018.Soon we also have a new wave of more job losses and deinvestment all blamed on sanctions.We shall be in a mess for a long time.Thus, what we want is new cafeteria politicians that have some characteristics and positions we like and some we don't. Rather than convincing people to come over their positions, we now must select what we think a majority of people will vote for - and then we can be for those things.We are going to look at the menu and try to choose most things we like because we there aren't going to be any more principled people running for office. Principles are so 18th century - nobody wins elections like that anymore.In any case the perceived principles or ideaologies are just a trap for them politicians to get into power.I just do not believe the perceived coalition is a sure thing to win elections. In fact the big tent coalition should focus also on a coalition with ruling party eleents.No doubt the ruling party controls key institutions like the army, traditional leaders, food distribution, electoral system, the election monitors etc. etc. It will be a great idea not to think of a coalition of just the opposition. A coalition of opposition and some in the ruling party is likely to change the economic course of the country. Lets have our bacon in peanut butter!!The ruling party see any opposition as a challenge. Us vs. them right off the bat. Not if we want progress. The ruling party can court opposition or elements therein.""Us"V "Them" will lead us this everlasting circles of despair.Many of the country founders warned of the danger of factions - then they were thinking of political parties - now the parties are subdivided in an infinite number of combinations of ideologies and fads - many of which are inconsistent or impossible to reconcile with each other. We now have almost a parliamentary system of government wedged sideways into a system not designed for it.This new style of politics guarantees more because there is no consistency within any "movement" any longer. The only consistency is a populist "do whatever it takes" to win attitude.It's going to get worse before it gets better. Of course until a coalition of elements of the ruling party and the opposition become viable.Brian Sedze is the President of Free Enterprise Initiative. He can be contacted on brian.sedze@gmail.com The ongoing Jat agitation in Haryana seeking reservation in education and government jobs spilt over into the national capital today, with scores of community members staging a protest in northwest Delhi's Ghevra Mod on Rohtak Road. The agitators, under the banner of Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakash Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS), raised slogans and handed over a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to the authorities. The organisation had last week announced holding a series of protests in Delhi's border areas in support of the quota agitation by Jats in Rohtak which remained peaceful so far. "We are holding peaceful protest in Delhi in support of reservation for Jats and those agitating in Haryana over the issues. Similar protests will be held in border areas of Delhi including at Loni Border (February 12) and Bawana (February 14)," said Yashpal Malik, president of ABJASS. The protests by Jats in border areas of Delhi assume significance in view of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Over 100 seats in West UP go to polls on February 11 and February 15. Municipal elections in Delhi likely to be held in April. The demonstrators have demanded the Centre and the Haryana government release Jat youths in jail for violent agitation in Haryana in February 2016, and compensation and jobs to families that lost their members in the agitation. Earlier, the Jats held protests in Narela and Mahipalpur areas in Delhi raising similar demands. The memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged "injustice and atrocities" against Jats by the Haryana government and sought his intervention for fulfilling the promises made with the community with regard to providing them benefits of reservation. "We are supporting the demands of Jats to be included in OBC category and provided reservation benefits. So far we have adopted peaceful methods expecting that the government will listen to us. The agitation will continue and we will extend support to the community members raising the reservation demand in other states too," Malik said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 100 aspirants of constable-rank jobs in central paramilitary forces today staged a protest before the CRPF headquarters at the CGO complex here alleging discrepancies in the merit list published recently. As a strong posse of young men started raising slogans and demanding senior officials to come and meet them at around noon time, a team of Delhi Police and CRPF authorities rushed in. The aspirants, who largely hailed from Naxal-hit areas of Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states, demanded that their demands should be looked into and the merit list should be reviewed as they had already written the exam. "The group of about 100 aspirants were not allowed to enter the CGO complex after they assembled at the main entry gate that leads to the headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force. They were counselled by senior Delhi Police and CRPF officials," a senior official said. The CRPF, which is the nodal agency for these exams, later issued a clarification on the issue. "The merit list of the successful candidates in the constable (general duty)-2015 examination was prepared and uploaded by Staff Selection Commission (SSC) on their website on February 2, 2017. This merit list was prepared by the SSC taking into account their category and domicile as per the existing vacancy. "CRPF being the nodal force has been entrusted with the task of intimating the successful candidates about this allotted force and their merit and in case of any doubt or objection about the final merit list, they may contact -SSC directly," the force said. The CGO complex at Lodhi Road houses the headquarters of a number of government ministries, departments, Central Armed Police Forces and agencies like the National Informatics Centre (NIC). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump's travel ban faced its toughest test as a panel of appeals court judges hammered away at the government's arguments that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears but also directed pointed questions to an attorney who claimed it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. The contentious hearing before three judges on the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday focused narrowly on whether a restraining order issued by a lower court should remain in effect while a challenge to the ban proceeds. But the judges also jumped into the larger constitutional questions surrounding Trump's order, which temporarily suspended the nation's refugee program and immigration from seven mostly Muslim countries that have raised terrorism concerns. The hearing was conducted by phone an unusual step and broadcast live from the court's website to a record audience. Judge Richard Clifton, a George W Bush nominee, asked an attorney representing Washington state and Minnesota, which are challenging the ban, what evidence he had that the ban was motivated by religion. "I have trouble understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected." Only 15 per cent of the world's Muslims were affected, the judge said, citing his own calculations. He added that the "concern for terrorism from those connected to radical Islamic sects is hard to deny." Noah Purcell, Washington state's solicitor general, cited public statements by Trump calling for a ban on the entry of Muslims to the US. He said the states did not have to show every Muslim is harmed, only that the ban was motivated by religious discrimination. Clifton also went after the government's attorney, asking whether he denied statements by Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who said recently that Trump asked him to create a plan for a Muslim ban. "We're not saying the case shouldn't proceed, but we are saying that it is extraordinary for a court to enjoin the president's national security decision based on some newspaper articles," said August Flentje, who argued the case for the Justice Department. Under questioning from Clifton, Flentje did not dispute that Trump and Giuliani made the statements. Judge Michelle T Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked whether the government has any evidence connecting the seven nations to terrorism. Flentje told the judges that the case was moving fast and the government had not yet included evidence to support the ban. Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the U.S. Who, he said, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala has registered a 5.71 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in 2016, welcoming 14.2 million visitors to the state. Provisional figures from the tourism department show that 14,210,954 tourists came to Kerala in 2016, out of which 13,172,535 were domestic arrivals and 1,038,419 foreign visitors, an increase of 5.67 per cent and 6.23 per cent respectively when compared to 2015. The month of November, a peak tourist season for Kerala, saw a significant half-percentage drop in domestic tourist arrivals following the Centre's announcement of the ban on high-value currency notes, a release from Tourism department pointed out. An 8 per cent increase in tourist arrivals was expected in November, the decline effectively resulted in an overall decrease of 8.5 per cent from the estimates. Although the visitor numbers did increase in December, the previous month's fall affected the overall figures for the year, the release said. "Had it not been for the demonetisation, Kerala would have had a commendable increase in tourist arrivals," Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said. "A setback to the tourism sector will have a significant impact on the economy. The continuous efforts by the government and private tourism partners helped Kerala Tourism withstand the demonetisation crisis, he noted. "The unique tourism products and innovative marketing strategies helped Kerala to a large extent to tide over the difficult phase," Tourism Principal Secretary Dr Venu V said. The note ban, however, did not have a large-scale impact on foreign arrivals. While the months of October and December saw increases of 8.45 per cent and 8.01 per cent respectively when compared to 2015, November saw a smaller increase of 6.98 per cent. The overall scenario was better compared to domestic arrivals since foreign visitors tend to book their holidays in advance, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The widow of a civilian, killed by Maoists, was today paid compensation of Rs 2 lakh by the police in Odisha's Kalahandi district. Jayanta Kumar Majhi, an ex-sarpanch of Trilochanpur Gram Panchayat under Lanjigath Block of Kalahandi was brutally murdered by Naxals on November 2, 2016 after being kidnapped under the suspicion of being a police informer. While the state government had sanctioned Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia for the victim's family, the central govenrment also sanctioned Rs 5 lakh, SP Kalahandi Brijesh Rai said. Rai today handed over cheque worth Rs 2 lakh to Damburani Majhi, the wife of the victim in the SP office. The SP assured rest of the amount will be paid soon. The victim had three minor children and their future will be taken care of, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz today dismissed as "ridiculous" reports that her week-long UK visit was linked to Panama Papers leaks case, a major legal battle that could alter the premier and his family's political future. Maryam's sudden departure from the country has fuelled speculation that the visit may be related to the Panama Papers leaks case being heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, the Dawn reported. However, Maryam, who arrived in London today, clarified on Twitter that she came to the UK to meet her son. "In UK to see my son. Will Insha'Allah be back in a week or so. The spin being given to my benign visit by a section of media is ridiculous," she tweeted. Last month, the German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung - the original source of the Panama Papers leaks - released documents supposedly linking Maryam to Minerva Financial Services Ltd, the company that owns the Park Lane flats in London. The family of Prime Minister Sharif has been named in the Panama Papers, one of the biggest leaks in history. The leak, comprising 11.5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, shows how some of the world's most powerful people have secreted away their money in offshore jurisdictions. Among those named are three of Sharif's four children - Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor; Hasan and Hussain, with the records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies administrated by the firm. Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing. The hearing in the case is expected to resume on February 13 after it was postponed due to the ill-health of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexico's foreign minister heads to Washington today for meetings with the US secretaries of state and homeland security as the two nations face their biggest diplomatic crisis in decades. Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray's trip comes after President Enrique Pena Nieto cancelled his own January 31 visit to Washington in protest over US President Donald Trump's insistence that Mexico pay for a border wall. Despite the row, Pena Nieto and Trump spoke on the phone and agreed that their surrogates will continue bilateral talks. Videgaray will meet with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security chief John Kelly to discuss "the protection of Mexicans in the United States, immigration, security and border infrastructure," the Mexican foreign ministry said in a statement. Yesterday, Mexican Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong spoke with Kelly on the phone and they agreed to meet in Mexico City soon, though no date was announced. In addition to upsetting Mexico with his wall plan, Trump wants to upend bilateral economic ties, demanding a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A militia chief and a church pastor were among five people killed in a clash in Bangui, Central African Republic's capital, the UN peacekeeping force said today. The clash erupted yesterday when Central African security forces backed by UN peacekeepers went into the flashpoint PK5 neighbourhood to question the leader of an armed group, known as "Big Man", said Vladimir Monteiro, the spokesman of the UN mission MINUSCA. "During the operation, Youssouf Malinga -- also known as Big Man -- and his men opened fire on the security forces and killed two passers-by, a man and a woman," Monteiro told reporters. "The security forces responded, killing Youssouf Malinga and one of his men. Three Central African security forces troops were also injured," he added. Sporadic gunfire continued until nightfall, with militia members retaliating to the operation by surrounding a local apostolic church and killing the pastor, a police source said. PK5, once a Muslim rebel bastion, is now home to several armed groups that have taken advantage of the weakness of the state since the end of a sectarian conflict pitting mainly Muslim against Christian militias. Even though relative peace has returned following the civil war that erupted in 2013, inter-communal tensions remain. As the church pastor tried to urge worshippers to leave, he was attacked and stabbed to death, a family member told AFP. The information was confirmed by a local peace activist, who identified him as Jean-Paul Sankagui, a former government adviser. "Jean-Paul Sankagui, pastor of my church in PK5, was killed and the church was torched," Lazare Ndjadder told AFP. Monteiro condemned the violence. "It is unfortunate that the civilian population were the victims of these criminals' indiscriminate fire," he said, adding that Big Man and his militia had imposed a "reign of terror" in PK5. "MINUSCA calls on the population to keep the peace and to avoid any action that might worsen inter-communal tensions," he added. One of the world's poorest countries, Central African Republic was plunged into civil war in 2013 following the overthrow of former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, by Muslim rebels from the Seleka militia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP supported nominee Nagorao Ganar has retained the Nagpur Teachers' constituency by defeating Rajendra Zade of Lok Bharti party in a closely contested election. Ganar won the seat by a margin of 4,840 votesand had polled a total of 12,039 votes. Zade could secure 5,276 votes. Biennial elections to five Graduates and Teachers constituencies in Maharashtra were held on February 3 and the counting was taken up yesterday. Result of the Nagpur teachers' seat was announced late night. This will be Ganar's second term as an MLC. In other seats, Congress and NCP retained Nashik Graduates and Aurangabad Teachers constituencies, respectively. Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil retained the Amravati Graduates seat by defeating his nearest Congress rival Sanjay Khodke. In Konkan, independent candidate Balaram Patil, supported by the NCP, won the election by defeating Shiv Sena's Dyaneshwar Mhatre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal today asked the Uttar Pradesh government to inform it about number of industries operating on the banks of Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao and total sewage generated from these units. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked the advocate general of UP to apprise it of the exact figure of industries as different government agencies were giving varying numbers having huge difference. The top law officer of the state assured the bench that he would sort out the issue and would bring before it the figure of industries as well as total sewage generated from these units. The absence of the director of industries of UP, who was asked to appear today and give details, in the hearing irked the bench which remarked, "We are highly displeased the way your officers are behaving. They are highly irresponsible. When we had specifically asked him to be present in the court today, why has he not come?" It also sought to know as to which officer could give it the figure of working industries in UP and their nature. During the hearing, the executive director of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) told the bench that there were 400 industrial units in Kanpur's Jajmau, an industrial suburb, and said the figure has been verified by a joint committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). He said the industrial units have to follow zero liquid discharge and end-pipe solution and in the last six years, this technology has been evolved. The bench has been repeatedly wanting to find out the exact number of industries operating in segment B which covers the areas from Haridwar to Unnao as there is "huge difference" in the data provided by separate government agencies. The bench, which is hearing the Ganga cleaning case on a day-to-day basis for expeditious disposal, had yesterday issued bailable warrant against Kanpur municipal commissioner for non-appearance on the matter regarding the cleaning of the river, noting that despite directions he had not appeared. It had also warned that if the departments which are collectively responsible for cleaning of the river do not stop giving illusionary answers, it may pass some strict order. It had earlier slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 each on officers of the Ministry of Water Resources and UP Jal Nigam for filing incorrect information on 30 drains joining the river Ganga in Garhmukteshwar area of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, the tribunal was told by an experts' panel that the functional sewage treatment plants in the Garhmukteshwar area of Uttar Pradesh do not operate as the domestic sewage network is not connected to the main sewerage system. A three-member committee set up by the NGT had said that the Garhmukteshwar stretch of the Ganga should receive special attention as it was the habitat of the critically-endangered Gangetic Dolphin, an indicator species for the river's ecosystem. In February, the bench had ordered a CBI probe into the execution of the Ganga cleaning project after it noted that Rs 31.82 crore was spent on two sewage treatment plants (STPs) and a 58-km long sewerage line project without due analysis and verification of the actual pollution load in the Garh drain and Brijghat drain. NGT had slammed the state's Jal Nigam for building the STPs on the drains joining Ganga without any survey and said it had wasted Rs 1500 crore since 1987 and still not cleaned "even a single drop" of the river. The Trump Administration has no plans at the moment to add any new countries in the list of seven Muslim-majority nations from where immigration to the US has been banned, the White House said on Wednesday. "As of this moment, there is no immediate desire to add to that," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters. He said the Trump Administration is currently looking at all the other countries, the procedures that the US has with them and the systems that it has in place to check them. "And so nothing is final until the end of the review period," Spicer said in response to a question. President Donald Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. The executive order has been halted by a federal court, which has now been challenged by the Trump Administration. Spicer said that President Trump is fully committed to doing everything that he can to keep the country safe. "He wants to become ever vigilant to make sure that we don't ever get lax, that we need to be reminded that places and groups like ISIS continue to seek to do us harm and that it is his job as commander in chief to do everything he can to get ahead of the curve and keep this country safe," he said. The US Government under Trump, he said, is working to put further restrictions on people, to make sure that the countries who are sending people to the US are coming here for peaceful purposes. "If we can't guarantee those countries have the proper vetting and systems in place when they are out bound of the United States, then we need to do what we can, and he will do what he has to as President, to make sure this country is safe," Spicer said. There is no shortage of barracks for women prisoners in various jails of the country as only 70 per cent of them are lodged against the available capacity but male prisoners are 114 per cent of the capacity for them, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. "There is no shortage of jails and barracks for women prisoners in the country," Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said. The Minister said against the capacity of 4,748 for women prisoners, a total of 2,985 women are kept in jails. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said against the total capacity of 3,66,781 for prisoners in various jails in the country, "a total of 114 per cent male prisoners are lodged. In case of women, only 70 per cent prisoners of the capacity are lodged in various jails." He, however, said that since Prisons is a state subject, efforts are being made to increase the capacity of jails as per needs and at some places new barracks or jails are being constructed. "Attempts are being made to increase the capacity of jails and some states are doing it also," he said. The Minister said there are 18 jails exclusively for women in the country. "As on December 31, 2015, against 17,834 women prisoners in various jails of the country, the number of women jail staff is 4,391. Therefore, the ratio of women jail staff to prisoners is aproximately 1:4," he said in his written reply. As regards children staying with women prisoners, the Minister informed the House that as per rules they are allowed to keep their children below six years of age with them, but they are free to send their children to stay with their relatives or NGOs or lawyers. "If they need, they can keep their children with them. The Delhi government has made provision of a hostel where 22 children of women prisoners are lodged there," he informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country's oilmeal exports more than doubled to 1,65,980 tonnes in January this year on sharp jump in soyabean meal shipments to Japan, Bangladesh and France, industry body SEA said today. During the April-January period of this fiscal, the shipment of oilmeal increased to 13,35,894 tonnes from 13,00,465 tonnes in the year-ago period. The country had shipped 71,890 tonnes of oilmeal, which is used as animal feed, in January last year. As per the latest data released by Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA), the country exported a significant quantity of soyabean meal in January this year, while the shipments of other oilmeals remained low. A total of 1,55,160 tonnes of soyabean meal was exported in January 2017 as against 28,400 tonnes in the same period last year. Much of the soyabean meal was exported to Japan at 47,700 tonnes, followed by Bangladesh (44,000 tonnes), France (35,700 tonnes) and Indonesia (6,435 tonnes) in the said period. Of total soyabean meal exported, 1,15,265 tonnes was shipped to South East Asian countries, 35,900 tonnes to Europe and 3,995 tonnes to the Middle East, the data showed. Export of castorseed meal also increased to 5,263 tonnes in January from 3,349 tonnes in the year-ago period. Maximum shipped to Taiwan. However, the shipment of ricebran extraction fell to 3,000 tonnes from 38,151 tonnes, while export of rapeseed meal declined to 2,261 tonnes from 1,990 tonnes in the said period. South Korea and Vietnam are the top two destinations for export of oilmeal for India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a relief to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and several others, an anti-terrorism court has rejected a plea seeking their trial in a case involving killing of 14 supporters of Canada-based cleric Tahirul Qadri. Nawaz, Shahbaz, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif were among 12 top government functionaries booked by Lahore police in the murder of 14 supporters of Qadri in June, 2014. During an anti-encroachment operation by police outside the residence of Qadri, 14 people, including two women, were killed and over 100 suffered bullet injuries. Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court rejected the plea to try the premier, chief minister and 10 ministers, observing the court cannot summon a person in a complaint unless "direct documentary evidence" is furnished by plaintiff. The court, however, summoned 125 officials, including Inspector General of Police Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera. The plaintiff presented 56 witnesses in support of the allegations. Qadri who is also the head of Pakistan Awami Tahreek criticised the ATC decision saying: "The main plea to try the rulers in the murder case is not accepted by the ATC and lower level officials have been made scapegoat. The court has summoned those who implemented the orders but ignored the authorities who issued the orders to kill innocent workers. We will not accept sacrifice of goats." He said his party will challenge the ATC decision in the Lahore High Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh. "(Pakistan) condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation on February 7, 2017," by the Indian forces on the LoC in Khui Ratta sector, Zakaria said. He said the Indian firing resulted in the death of a 25-year-old civilian who was working as a labourer for the construction of a house. "The Director General deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is a crime as well as violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws," Zakaria said. The Director General also urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding and investigate this and other incidents of "ceasefire violations". Pakistan also asked India to instruct the security forces to respect the ceasefire "in the letter and spirit" and stop "targeting" villages and civilians, the statement said. Pakistan said India should maintain peace on the LoC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today said it has briefed the envoys of foreign missions on alleged "human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Additional Secretary (UN & EC) Tasnim Aslam briefed ambassadors of foreign missions in the Foreign Office here. The briefing focused on the "continuously aggravating human rights situation" in Jammu and Kashmir in the backdrop of 'Kashmir Solidarity Day', which was observed in Pakistan on February 5, the statement said. Zakaria said the Additional Secretary highlighted that the 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' is observed every year on February 5 to express Pakistan's "unwavering diplomatic, moral and political support" to the Kashmiris in their "legitimate struggle for the realisation of the right to self- determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions." Aslam stressed that the Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council. "The Additional Secretary urged the international community to take up with India its gross human rights violations perpetrated at all levels to ensure the misery and suffering of the innocent people" of Kashmir is alleviated and to play its role in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions, the spokesperson said. It was the second briefing after a similar one was held for the envoys of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries this week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today said it airlifted 25 metric tonnes of rice for the people hit by a severe drought in Sri Lanka. The Foreign Office said in a statement that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed authorities to provide all necessary assistance to the government and the people affected by severe drought in Sri Lanka. "Consequently, an aircraft carrying 25 MT rice has left for Colombo today," the statement said. The Foreign Office said the government and the people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need. It said Pakistan will continue to provide all possible support to the drought hit people of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst drought in four decades, according to officials, with more than a million people experiencing acute water shortages. The lack of rain last year has lowered water levels in rivers in parts of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Philippines is seeking US and Chinese help to guard a major sea lane as Islamic militants shift attacks to international shipping, officials said today. Manila does not want the Sibutu Passage between Malaysia's Sabah state and the southern Philippines to turn into a Somalia-style pirate haven, coast guard officials said. The deep-water channel, used by 13,000 vessels each year, offers the fastest route between Australia and the manufacturing powerhouses China, Japan and South Korea, they added. In the past year Abu Sayyaf gunmen from the southern Philippines have boarded ships and kidnapped dozens of crewmen for ransom in waters between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, raising regional alarm. Indonesia has warned the region could become the "next Somalia" and the International Maritime Bureau says waters off the southern Philippines are becoming increasingly dangerous. "If shipowners will skirt that area just to avoid kidnap at sea activities by these terrorists, for sure, it will have an additional cost," Philippine Coast Guard chief Commodore Joel Garcia told AFP. "It's not just the concern of the Philippines or Indonesia and Malaysia, but of the international shipping community." Manila plans to ask its longstanding defence ally the United States to hold joint exercises in waters off the southern Philippines to address the problem, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told AFP on Tuesday. And Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last week urged China to launch patrols off the piracy-plagued waters, citing Beijing's dispatch of a naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden in 2009 to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates. Duterte made the comments a day after meeting a special envoy from Indonesia who wanted to know what Manila, which has one of the weakest naval forces in the region, plans to do to address the threat. Garcia said details of the possible sea patrol cooperation with China would likely be discussed at a meeting between the two countries' coast guards in Manila next week. Lorenzana said Manila plans to "talk to the ministry of defence of China on how to operationalise this joint patrol" off the southern Philippines. Garcia said rising incidents of piracy around the 29-kilometre-wide (18-mile) Sibutu Passage threaten to push up overall shipping costs, including insurance for vessels, cargo and crew. Diverting ships to Indonesia's Lombok Strait would be more expensive and voyages would take longer, said Filipino coast guard spokesman Commander Armando Balilo. The Filipino coast guard recorded 12 piracy or kidnapping incidents in the passage in the last six months alone, on top of four unsuccessful attempts by gunmen to board vessels. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six Red Cross workers were killed and two others were missing in northern Afghanistan, the international charity said today, underscoring the growing dangers faced by aid workers in the war-battered country. "We are shocked and devastated," a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross told AFP, without offering any details on the incident in Jowzjan province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nuclear Power Corporation of India which is engaged in Indo-Russian joint venture Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project near Tirunelveli today said scientist H N Sahu was elevated as the KNPP Site Director. Sahu replaces noted scientist R S Sundar who is now posted in NPCIL, headquarters, as the Executive Director, a press release said. Prior to taking upthe new role, Sahu was serving KNPP as the Station Director since May 2012. It was under his leadership both the units of KNPP became operational. At a function held yesteday, Sahu assumed the new role while scientist S V Jinna assumed the post of Station Director, KNPP 1 and 2 reactor units. Suresh Kumar Pillai was appointed Chief Superintendent. Sahu, an alumni of Muzzaffarpur Insitute of Technolgy, University of Bihar, joined Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. Later he joined the Department of Atomic Energy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary on Wednesday appeared to be having majority of MLAs with her, a day after the revolt by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam who claimed that they will back him in the trial of strength in Tamil Nadu Assembly. However, her wait to get sworn-in as chief minister was far from ending with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao still staying put in Mumbai and giving no indication of his plans to come to Chennai. After the midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of party MLAs at the party headquarters in a show of strength in the morning and later herded them in buses to undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together. There were unconfirmed reports that AIADMK would even parade the MLAs before the President if the Governor delays the swearing-in of Sasikala. In an act of defiance, Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge will be set up to probe the "doubts" surrounding the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa. Addressing the legislators, Sasikala, who had sacked Panneerselvam from the post of treasurer on Tuesday night, launched a no-holds-barred attack on him, saying he had betrayed the party and "fully merged" with DMK which Jayalalithaa had fought all her life. She claimed she had got wind of his moves a few days ago itself and asserted that the party remains united and will not be cowed down by such threats. Accusing arch rival DMK of trying to destabilise the party, Sasikala said "betrayal" will never win in the AIADMK and that no one will be able to divide the party. Panneerselvam, who was chosen by Jayalalithaa as stop-gap chief minister when she had to quit twice due to adverse court verdicts, on Wednesday maintained that he enjoyed support of majority of MLAs and would prove it on the floor of the House at an appropriate time. "The Ministers and MLAs who area now with the other side will soon realise the reality and the current extraordinary situation will change," he said, an apparent reference to the ministers rallying behind Sasikala. Former speaker PH Pandian, who attacked Sasikala on Tuesday, and senior Rajya Sabha member Dr V Maitreyan showed up at the Chief Minister's residence in a show of solidarity. Panneerselvam also dismissed accusation by Sasikala that he was colluding with DMK and by others that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP were backing him. He said he was in touch with no one and that he did not need support of either DMK or BJP. The Chief Minister said the stand he has taken enjoyed wide public support as the people want a "good and deserving" person on the post. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai rejected Panneerselvam's claims and said that the party had all the 134 MLAs with it "We are united. There is no dispute or difference," he said. On his part, DMK Working President MK Stalin said his party had nothing to with "internal squabbles" in AIADMK and accused Sasikala of making false allegations after failing to become chief minister through a "short cut". AIADMK Chief VK Sasikala has removed the party's Information Technology wing secretary, 'Singai' G Ramachandran from the primary membership. Ramachandran has been removed from post and his primary membership has been withdrawn for "going against" the party's policies and "bringing down" its reputation, Sasikala said in a statement. The removal comes after Ramachandran reportedly offered support to caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam who has raised the banner of revolt against Sasikala. In another statement, the 62-year-old leader said VVR Raj Sathyan will replace Ramachandran and appealed cadres to offer him their support. Panneerselvam yesterday dropped a bombshell by saying he was "forced" to resign on Sunday to make way for Sasikala and hinted that he may withdraw his resignation if people of Tamil Nadu and party cadres so desired. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dozens of scientists from different countries, including China and the US, are set to start an expedition to the South China Sea to explore its formation as part of the International Ocean Discovery Programme. In the first of two expeditions, 33 scientists from China, the US, France and other countries boarded the US drilling ship JOIDES Resolution today, which was docked at a Hong Kong port. The scientists will explore the lithosphere extension during the continental breakup, by drilling four sites to a depth of 3,000 to 4,000 metres in the northern area of the South China Sea. The study will contribute to understanding how marginal basins grow, state-run Xinhua agency reported. A total of 66 scientists from 13 countries will participate in the expeditions lasting four months, it said. China has 26 scientists from top Chinese universities and research institutions on the expeditions, the most of any participating country. In the last few years, South China Sea dispute has come to the fore with Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan contesting China's claims on almost of all of the area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena today "dared" BJP and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a probe into what the party has called a Rs 20,000-crore "scam" into the projects under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. "The promise of modernisation of Byculla zoo, clean up of Mithi, Oshiwara and Poisar rivers all have been allocated funds in the BMC's annual budget. I dare the CM to conduct an inquiry into the PPP projects," party's Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale told reporters here. The BJP had on Tuesday in its manifesto promised that it would initiate an inquiry into projects to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore signed by the BMC under the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the last 20 years. The inquiry will be conducted by a retired high court judge. The manifesto also assured that an Upa-Lokayukta will be appointed to address probity issues. Countering Sena charge, Mumbai BJP manifesto committee convenor Bhalchandra Shirsat labelled Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as "Virodh Purush" (anti-development) indulging in opposing development projects. Referring to the BJP manifesto promise of amending the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Act, 1888 to bring transparency in the civic administration, the Sena MP pointed out that the Chief Minister heading the Urban Development Department (UDD) has the powers to issue the orders to the Municipal Commissioner to this effect. Shewale said Fadnavis has had no time to convene the coordination committee meeting between the state government and the BMC. When asked about Sena president "reprimanding" the party's manifesto committee members over the points in BJP manifesto, the Sena MP denied that they were pulled up. He added that on the contrary they pointed out the several mistakes in the BJP manifesto which was appreciated by the Sena president. Shirsat also refuted Sena's jibe of Fadnavis being an "inefficient" Chief Minister. "In the last two years Fadnavis has initiated seven Metro rail projects, Mumbai Trans Harbour Sea Link (MTHL) and Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan," Shirsat said. Shirsat claimed the Nariman Point-Dahisar Coastal Road project which was stuck in red-tape till 2010, was revived in 2017 by Chief Minister Fadnavis. Labelling Fadnavis as "Vikas Purush" (man for development), he said the 'Vikas Purush' shall complete the Coastal Road project. Accusing the Sena president of being anti-development, Shirsat said Sena has opposed the Metro 3 project, Mumbai-Delhi Industrial corridor and Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi corridor. A septuagenarian man allegedly raped an 11-year-old school girl after showing her "porn" videos in Injapur area here, police said today. Krishna, aged 70, a carpenter, was known to the family of the victim, Vanasthalipuram Police Station Inspector S Murali Krishna told PTI. According to a complaint lodged by the minor girl's parents, the accused allegedly raped her on December 28. The accused allegedly showed the girl "porn" videos and later "sexually assaulted" her in his house, the Inspector said, adding, they registered a case under relevant sections of IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). Asked if the accused was taken into custody, the police officer refused to comment and said further investigations are on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some Pakistani nationals belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities, who came on pilgrim visa, have not returned to their country fearing religious persecution, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government in 2015 had issued stringent conditions for grant of group pilgrim visa with groups being limited to 50. The group leader was made responsible for reporting to police. "Pilgrim visa is granted to Pakistani nationals to visit religious shrines in India. It has been reported that some Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities in Pakistan, mainly Hindus and Sikhs, who came to India on Group Pilgrim Visa have not returned to Pakistan on the ground of religious persecution in Pakistan," he said. Rijiju said there were no specific inputs whether some pilgrims intentionally got lost. "The Central government has issued detailed instructions on July 28, 2015 laying down stringent conditions for grant of Group Pilgrim Visa to minority communities in Pakistan to visit religious places in India," he said. The minister said in each group the number of pilgrims is restricted to 50, with the group leader is responsible for police reporting for the entire group and also ensure that the members enter India, travel within the country and exit together. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted jurist Soli Sorabjee today said Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao should defer the swearing in of AIADMK chief V K Sasikala and wait for the Supreme Court judgement in the disproportionate assets case against her. Reacting to the current political developments in the state, he said the Governor would do be well within his powers not to swear her in immediately because it would complicate matters if the court is to uphold the lower court order convicting her in the case. The former Attorney General, however, said it was not open to caretaker chief minister O Pannerselvam to withdraw his resignation which has already been accepted by the Governor. (Reopens DEL78) However, another eminent lawyer Aryama Sundaram felt that there was nothing in the law that can stop the Governor from swearing in Sasikala, who has been acquitted of all charges against her in the case. He said that the appeal against Sasikala was not an appeal against conviction but against acquittal. If the swearing in has to be stopped, then better rewrite the Representation of the People Act providing for barring persons against whom appeals have been filed should not be made chief minister, he said. The 28-day old agitation by students of Kerala Law Academy law college here, a private institution, ended today after the government and college management agreed to the main demand of removing the Principal Lekshmi Nair. The agreement to call off the strike was reached at a meeting called by Education Minister C Raveendranath with representatives of Academy Management and agitating students. After the meeting, Raveendranath announced that classes would start from February 13. Government has assured that a new principal would be appointed as per the guidelines of the University. Jubilant students said that they were calling off the strike as their main demand has been accepted. "The government also assured that it would intervene if management violates the agreement reached today", students union leaders said. Academy Director N Narayanan Nair, who is also the father of Lekshmi Nair and a close relative of a former CPI(M) MLA, said issues have been sorted out and new principal would be appointed. Congress leader K Muraleedharan, MLA, and BJP state secretary V V Rajesh who were on fast stir in front of the Academy at nearby Peroorkada to express solidarity with striking students also ended their stir. KPCC President V M Sudheeran said it was victory for students and a setback to the CPI-M led LDF government. However, BJP state Kummanom Rajasekharan said that the party would take up the issue and continue stir on alleged mis-utilisation of land given to the academy. The college is in the eye of a storm over alleged irregularities in providing internal marks and harassment of students by Lekshmi Nair. The students belonging to ABVP, KSU and AISF had launched the strike demanding removal of Nair. Congress and BJP joined the agitation later. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who also holds charge for the southern state, will leave for Chennai tomorrow. "The Governor will leave for Chennai tomorrow afternoon," a Raj Bhavan official told PTI. The Governor has been in Mumbai, since his return from Delhi on Monday night. This evening, he attended a scheduled event in Mumbai. Political crisis looms large over Tamil Nadu after O Panneerselvam last night dropped a bombshell, saying that he was forced to resign as Chief Minister to make way for AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala, who waits to be sworn in for the top job. The Man Friday of late J Jayalalithaa chose to break his silence on the happenings in the party ever since the death of his mentor on December 5, saying he was being "insulted" by senior ministers and leaders who sought to "undermine" him after electing him the Chief Minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has spoken to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and has discussed the close, long-standing relationship between the two countries and their shared commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms, the White House said. "Trump reiterated US support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally, and welcomed Turkey's contributions to the counter-ISIS campaign," the White House said in a readout of the call that took place yesterday. Trump also spoke with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain to reaffirm the strong bilateral partnership across a range of mutual interests, the White House said. During the call, the leaders discussed shared priorities, including efforts to eliminate ISIS. President Trump reiterated the US commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and emphasised the importance of all NATO allies sharing the burden of defense spending. They agreed to continue close security, economic, and counter terrorism cooperation, the White House said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia Decriminalizes Domestic Violence Because "If He Beats You, It Means He Loves You!" Trump's best friend and Russian President Vladamir Putin has now approved the "slapping law"-- a bill to decriminalize family violence that does not cause extreme physical harm to the victim. The law, which passed through Russia's lower house of parliament 368 votes to 2 last month, officially downgrades an abuser's first charge of domestic violence from a criminal to an administrative offense, carrying (at most) a $507 fine, a 15-day arrest, or 120 community services hours. What's more, the first offense rolls over each year- so long as violence is reported less than once per year, perpetrators will never be charged with a criminal offense. Domestic violence is dangerously normalized in Russia. One of Russia's most widely-read tabloids, the Komsomolskaya Pravda, recently published a column telling women they should be proud of their bruises, alongside-- I kid you not-- a stock photo of a man aggressively screaming into his phone. ADVERTISEMENT According to Metro UK, it reads: "For years, women who have been smacked around by their husbands have found solace in the rather hypocritical proverb, If he beats you, it means he loves you! However, a new scientific study is giving women with irascible husbands new grounds to be proud of their bruises, insofar as women who are beaten, biologists confirm, have a valuable advantage theyre more likely to give birth to boys!" The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has previously stressed the inadequacy of Russian law in responding to domestic violence. Russia lacks adequate protection orders and rehabilitation programs, according to UN research, and domestic violence goes hugely underreported in Russia according to Human Rights Watch. And now? Now it's not even a crime. With little social stigma to inhibit offenders and few programs to assist victims, the deterrent of punishment should be an important tool-- but now its power has been lessened considerably. A Change.org petition calling for Russia to implement stronger, not weaker, domestic violence laws For ultra-conservative Russian lawmakers, changes such as this are all about preserving traditional family values. The bill was written by senator Yelena Mizulina, who was previously responsible for the "gay propaganda law," which criminalized exposing minors to representations of non-traditional relationships. The law should not "contradict the system of social values that society holds on to, Mizulina has been quoted as saying. ADVERTISEMENT A quick refresher: Traditional family values = 12,000 women dying annually as a result of domestic violence Love = violence. More from BUST Russia Decriminalizes Domestic Violence, Legalizing The Order Of Things How Toxic Masculinity Is Destroying Men 8 Women Who Persisted US President Donald Trump has invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida over the weekend, the White House said today. Trump and Abe would travel to Mar-a-Lago on Friday after their meeting at the White House. After the British Prime Minister, this would be Trump's second meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office. "As previously announced, he will visit the White House for meetings on the February 10th. The president has also invited him down to Mar-a-Lago and the two leaders will travel there for the weekend," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily conference. "This is a testament to the importance the United States places on the bilateral relationship and the strength of our alliance and the deep economic ties between the United States and Japan," Spicer said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also be travelling to Washington DC for a meeting with Trump on February 15, Spicer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump respects judicial branch and its ruling, the White House said today as his political opponents slammed him for being critical of a federal judge who halted his controversial immigration ban. "There's no question, the President respects the judicial branch and its ruling," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily conference. Asked if Trump would accept the court's ruling, Spicer said the President will respect the ruling, but also voiced confidence that the administration will "prevail...On the merits of the case." Spicer said Trump's concern right now is national security. "I think that his concern frankly right now, is that when the law is such as it is, that anyone can interpret that any other way, I think he feels confident just like in the ruling in Boston that we're gonna prevail on this on the merits of the case because it has done so in a very lawful way," he said. He, however, asserted that the US law gives the President constitutional authority for this executive order. He pointed that the law says that "whenever the president finds the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the US would be detrimental to the interest of the US, he may issue proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants. Or impose on the entry of aliens, any restrictions which he may deem appropriate." Trump last week lashed out over a court order to block the immigration ban, saying on Twitter, "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" President Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian-born American author-actress Padma Lakshmi dubbed American President Donald Trump's immigration ban as a direct blow to the "great American dream". "The true tragedy of Muslim ban is that it has, with a stroke of pen, annihilated the American idea...The modern American dream, where you can come to America and make a living for yourself without any discrimination. This is what made America exemplary," Lakshmi said. However, a great believer in the American democracy and its system of checks and balances, the celebrated television host says she is "ready to hit the ground running as soon she reaches back to the States". "Let the President exercise his executive power, and I'll exercise my American passport. I believe in the instrument of Congress. "I'll drop my suitcase, feed my daughter, take a bath and will do whatever is required, be it e-mailing the senators, or talking to them. I have to speak louder, and I will," she said. Lakshmi, who was speaking at a session at the American Centre here, said a "renaissance" in the American culture similar to the Civil Rights Movement is round the corner, and that the present times are "scary". "You are going to see a renaissance in American culture, which we have never seen since the Civil Rights Movement and it is exactly about civil rights. It is about women rights, the gay rights, marriage equality and what not," she said. Questioning people's decision to vote for Trump in the 2016 polls, Lakshmi said the marginalised sections of the society might have voted for him with the hope that he will get them jobs, but "the fact is that Trump can't create manufacturing jobs as they are obsolete". "There are dearth of manufacturing jobs because of the advances made in technology and also for the reason, that there is someone else ready to do the same job for less wages and less benefits. "If you see, the rich voted for Hillary, while the blue-collared ones voted for Trump. They voted for him for jobs, but they just won't be getting the jobs," she said. Lakshmi also talked about her latest book, "Love, Loss and What We Ate: A Memoir", in which writes about her fallout with former husband and Booker-prize winning author Salman Rushdie. However, Lakshmi insisted that the section on her marriage and the separation that followed was penned only because she wanted to educate people about "endometriosis" which she was suffering from, and not merely because Rushdie and she were "public figures". "I wanted to talk about endometriosis. It comes and develops as part and parcel of your womanhood. Neither of us understood it then, but the disease was a major reason for the breakdown of our marriage. "It is taxing physically and emotionally. With this, I want to aware the next generation, so they are not left undiagnosed," Lakshmi, who also runs an organisation supporting the cause, said. She also shared about her experiences from her growing up years during which she straddled between Chennai and the USA, while expressing her longing for "India Gate's street food or Bengali market's gol-gappas". "I experience the world through my palette. I can tell you what I have eaten every single day of my life. "Even now I have a laundry list of places I need to visit in Delhi to fulfil my urge for delicious papri chats and golgappas," she said. President Donald Trump's travel ban faced its biggest legal test as a panel of federal judges prepared to hear arguments from the administration and its opponents about two fundamentally divergent views of the executive branch and the court system. The government will ask a federal appeals court to restore Trump's executive order, contending that the President alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the United States. But several states have challenged the ban on travellers from seven predominantly Muslim nations and insisted that it is unconstitutional. Wednesday's hearing was to unfold before a randomly selected panel of judges from the San Francisco-based Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals. It was unlikely the court would issue a ruling on Wednesday, with a decision expected later this week, court spokesman David Madden said. Whatever the court eventually decides, either side could ask the Supreme Court to intervene. US District Judge James Robart in Seattle, who on Friday temporarily blocked Trump's order, has said a judge's job is to ensure that an action taken by the government "comports with our country's laws". Trump said that he can't believe his administration has to fight in the courts to uphold his refugee and immigration ban, a policy he says will protect the country. "And a lot of people agree with us, believe me," Trump said at a roundtable discussion with members of the National Sheriff's Association, adding, "If those people ever protested, you'd see a real protest. But they want to see our borders secure and our country secure." The same day, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told lawmakers that the order likely should have been delayed at least long enough to brief Congress about it. The Justice Department has filed a new defence of the ban. Lawyers said it was a "lawful exercise" of the President's authority to protect national security and said Robart's order should be overruled. The filing with the appeals court was the latest salvo in a high-stakes legal fight surrounding Trump's order, which temporarily suspends the country's refugee program and immigration from seven countries with terrorism concerns. Washington state, Minnesota and other states say the appellate court should allow a temporary restraining order blocking the travel ban to stand as their lawsuit moves through the legal system. The panel hearing the arguments includes two Democrat-appointed judges and one Republican appointee. The appeals court over the weekend refused to immediately reinstate the ban, and lawyers for Washington and Minnesota argued anew on Tuesday that any resumption would "unleash chaos again", separating families and stranding university students. Turkey on today claimed significant progress in the months-long battle to capture the Islamic State (IS) held Syrian town of Al-Bab, signalling it was looking to push to the jihadist stronghold of Raqa in the next stage of the operation. Ankara launched an unprecedented incursion to support rebels inside Syria in August, making rapid advances in initial stages but has been locked in a bloody battle for Al-Bab since December. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Al-Bab was now "surrounded on all sides" and the town's outer neighbourhoods were "under control". "The efforts to take it completely under control continue," Yildirim added during a press conference in Ankara with the head of Libya's unity government Fayez al-Sarraj. He confirmed two soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting, raising the death toll for Turkey's Syria campaign to at least 50 mostly from IS attacks. Fighting raged on the ground near Al-Bab on Wednesday as Turkish troops and allied rebels forces clashed with IS fighters, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said both Turkish troops and allied rebels and Syrian regime forces had advanced towards IS-held Al-Bab overnight. Anadolu agency said pro-Ankara forces had captured strategic hilltops from the jihadists. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that over the last few days, Turkish special forces, soldiers and Syrian rebels had made "serious" progress in Al-Bab. Cavusoglu suggested that once Al-Bab was captured Turkey and its allies could send special forces to take Raqa, the de-facto capital for the Islamic State (IS) group to the southwest. "The target after this (Al-Bab) in Syria is the Raqa operation," Cavusoglu said alongside his Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Ankara. "As regional countries, as countries inside the (US-led) coalition, we can put our special forces in, we need to put them in," Cavusoglu added, referring to any Raqa offensive. His comments come after US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke via telephone and discussed acting together in Turkey's battle to capture Al-Bab and also over Raqa. Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was "looking forward to working with Turkey and the Trump administration in order to intensify the efforts to eradicate Daesh (IS)". Last August, Ankara launched an ambitious military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters to clear its border of IS and pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey tomorrow in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Turkey's fight against a movement led by a US-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup, Turkish officials said. The visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late yesterday, according to officials from Erdogan's office. They provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with government regulations. The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fighters backed by the United States which Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen extradited from the United States. It is also demanding that Washington stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. Ties between NATO allies Ankara and Washington were troubled under the Obama administration, with Turkey expressing frustrations over what it perceives as US reluctance to extradite Gulen and the support provided to the Syrian Kurdish fighters. Ankara has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency and the call was being closely watched in Turkey. The officials said the telephone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere" and both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation. Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against terror groups, the officials said, without elaborating. The US president reportedly told Erdogan Washington wished to develop ties with Turkey and to engage in close cooperation with the country on regional issues. Erdogan for his part requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and not to extend support to Syrian Kurdish fighters. According to the officials, Trump and Erdogan agreed to "move together" in operations to capture Islamic State group-held strongholds of al-Bab and Raqqa in northern Syria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government on Wednesday expressed serious concern over "unusual" activities reported in the past few days, alleging that attempts were made to sabotage rail tracks and carry out explosions. Responding to a series of supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister said there had been seven "blast attempts" and three cases of attempted sabotage. He said the NIA is already investigating a case related to the derailment of a train near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. There have been "unsual" activities in the last few days and some incidents were averted due to the alertness of railway personnel, the Minister said during Question Hour. He said countries including Japan, South Korea and Italy had sent their teams after the recent derailments, "thanks to the diplomatic skills of the Prime Minister." The Railways was now in the process of putting in place latest technology like ultrasonic track detection system to find out fractures so that early warning can prevent mishaps. Besides technology, Prabhu said the Railway Protection Force has been asked to evolve a forensic strategy. In his written reply, the minister said train accidents have declined from 195 in 2006-07 to 135 in 2014-15 and further to 107 in 2015-16. The number of "consequential" train accidents remained at a level of 95 during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Accidents per million train kilometres, an important index of safety, has come down from 0.23 in 2006-07 to 0.11 in 2014-15 and further to 0.10 in 2015-16. Mexico's interior minister and the US Homeland Security chief agreed to meet "soon" in Mexico City, officials said as bilateral ties hit new lows over US plans for a border wall. In a telephone call, Mexico's Miguel Angel Osorio Chong and US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly discussed "progress that has been made on guaranteeing the safety and well-being of people on both sides of the border," a Mexican statement read. The Mexican Interior Ministry's update assessment, which declined to provide a date for the upcoming meeting in Mexico's capital, belies the fact that the North American neighbors are having their worst bilateral row in decades. After insulting Mexicans on the campaign trail, US President Donald Trump continues to insist that he will have Mexico pay to build a wall on the US-Mexican border. On the economic front, Trump also wants to renegotiate NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, governing trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States. Trump made the loss of US factory jobs to Mexico under NAFTA a key campaign, and now policy, focus. Given Trump's protectionist threats, Mexico is looking to expand trade ties with Europe and Asia, but reducing its dependence on the massive US market will be tough. Mexico and the European Union have agreed to speed up negotiations to modernize an existing free trade pact in which USD 57 billion in goods were exchanged in 2015. At the same time, the government said it planned to negotiate a free trade agreement with Britain once it exits the European Union. Some 80 per cent of Mexico's exports go to its northern neighbor, and many of those goods are made with parts from the United States, highlighting how much the two nations' industries are intertwined. Two-way trade between Mexico and the United States totals around half a trillion dollars per year, four times more than the Latin American nation's combined business with China and the EU. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking serious note of a claim by a member, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien on Wednesday asked the government to examine facts regarding whether the Nirbhaya Fund, set up after the gruesome 2012 Delhi gangrape case, has remained unutilised. Making a special mention in the House of Elders, Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M) said the Rs 1,000 crore Nirbhaya Fund set up by the UPA government in 2013 has "remained unspent". Following the gangrape of a paramedic in a moving bus the capital in December 2012 who subsequently succumbed to injuries, the corpus was set up to support initiatives by the government and NGOs working towards protecting the dignity and ensuring safety of women in India. Taking note of the Baidya's special mention, Kurien wanted to know the factual situation from the government on status of the use of the Fund. "I think it should be examined...How the Fund is not utilised? It is budgeted amount...," he said. Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the matter has been taken note of. "It is a very important issue," she added. Wansuk Syiem (Congress) in her Zero Hour mention raised the issue of prevailing law and order situation in Nagaland following protests over 33 per cent reservation to women in local bodies. "Threat (to other states) has emerged, as the protest in Nagaland over 33 per cent reservation of women in local bodies election is turning violent day by day," she said. She said violence has forced the state government to cancel local body polls to defuse the mounting tension. She said that by and large, women in Northeastern states enjoy rights and social status at par with men and Naga women are equally aspiring to adopt new ideas and economic and social changes. In his Zero Hour mention, JD(U) member Anil Kumar Sahani spoke about the problems being faced by farmers due to drought and floods. He said banks harassed farmers for recovery of loans and referred to a particular case where a farmer's family has not been able to get back orginal papers against which loan was taken, despite clearing the dues. Shambuprasadji Tundiya (BJP) sought assistance for dalits going on pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. He also said the new route via Nathula has eased the travel to the lake. Mukul Roy (TMC) expressed concern over the increasing number of train accidents and alleged that railways was not paying required attention on core activities of the public transport system. CP Narayanan (CPI-M) said the PDS kerosene for fishermen in Kerala has been reduced by 50 per cent in the past one year and they have been forced to purchase the fuel for their boats at higher prices from market. Senior Congress leader AK Antony also expressed concern over the issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the matter would be examined. JD(U) member Kahkashan Perween demanded highest civilian honour of Bharat Ratna for former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, popularly known as Jana Nayak. Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu (Cong) raised the problems faced by weavers in the country. A 73-year-old woman has separated from her husband of over 20 years after he voiced support for Donald Trump in the run-up to the US presidential polls. Gayle McCormick, a retired California prison guard, said she was shocked last year when her husband Bill McCormick, 77, mentioned during a lunch with friends that he planned to vote for Trump. "I was in shock. It was the breaking point. The Trump issue was the catalyst," she told the People magazine. It was the toughest decision Gayle, who is now living in her own apartment in Washington, said she has ever had to make. "It took us many, many months to make this decision. We went to counselling and saw a priest. This wasn't a snap decision," she said. Gayle, who describes herself as a Democrat leaning toward socialist, met Bill in 1980 while they were both working at the same prison. She said she felt like she had no voice in the relationship. "When things are 51 per cent good and 49 per cent bad, you just stay. I was tired and older and I didn't want to argue and neither of us was going to change," Gayle said. When politics would come up, she would usually walk away, she said. It was only when Trump came up that she knew she could not stay silent. "I just couldn't. I was surprised Bill could agree with Donald Trump on anything," she said. Although Bill ended up not voting for Trump in the election, Gayle knew they still had to separate. "We are just too different. It had more to do with the fact that I had not been true to myself for so long and that I had not stood up for myself for so long. I need to recapture myself," Gayle said. "It's hard and not an easy thing. I love him and I want him to be happy," she said. The about their separation comes amid stark political divide in the country over President Trump's ban on refugees and visa holders entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries. Several hundred people have protested against President Trump's immigration order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia Bans Porn Site Brazzers Trending News: Vladimir Putin Is Waging War On The Porn Industry Long Story Short As the country lurches towards more traditional values, a judge in Russia has banned the online porn streaming site Brazzers.com. Its the third such site to be banned in the country in recent months. Long Story Masturbating to online porn in Russia has just become a tiny bit more difficult, thanks to the prurience of a judge in the Samara region, in Russias European southeast, and the countrys Internet and communications watchdog Roskomnadzor. Last October, a judge in the Bolsheglushitsky District Court declared that Brazzers, a popular online porn streaming website and part of Pornhubs network of 30-plus similar sites, had a purely negative impact on the human psyche, and violated citizens rights, and impacts the psychological development of children as well, according to at least one Russian-language report. The case was brought by local prosecutors. Earlier this week, Roskomnadzor announced that the site was officially on its blocklist. This makes Brazzers at least the third website to be banned in the country in recent months. Pornhub and YouPorn were put on the blocklist last September. All three are subsidiaries of the privately-held MindGeek company. Brazzers and Pornhub are based in Montreal, Canada. As Newsweek notes, Russia is quick to impose bans on porn sites when regulators believe one of the performers may be underage, they are also uneven in their enforcement. Most porn sites have experienced temporary bans but those are rescinded when the questionable material is removed. But Russian regulators have also been cracking down on porn that it believes is illegally distributed, produced or imported, and in 2015 a law was passed demanding that foreign companies accessing Russian consumers private information store their servers in the country and allow Russian police access to them. That law is not believed to be widely enforced. The porn ban comes as Russias president Vladimir Putin pushes more traditional family values on the country, playing up to conservatives who make up much of his main base of support. But being placed on the blocklist doesnt seem to be a permanent setback. The same day Roskomnadzor imposed the ban on Brazzers, it lifted the ban imposed on YouPorn. Brazzers issued a (tongue in cheek) statement via Twitter: Disappointed to hear that on such cold winter nights the good citizens of Russia have been denied the warm embrace of Brazzers entertainment Brazzers (@Brazzers) February 7, 2017 Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Is there anything else behind this ban than a supposed desire to protect the minds and morals of the delicate Russian people? Drop This Fact On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law decriminalizing some forms of domestic violence, sparking fears that women will increasingly be put in danger. A woman faces multiple charges in two states after surrendering to authorities following a standoff at a Georgia motel that ended with another suspect in the deaths of four women fatally shooting himself. A tip called in about 2.30 pm yesterday led law enforcement to a motel in West Point, Georgia, where Mary Rice, 37, and William "Billy" Boyette, 44, were holed up in a room. Troup County Sheriff James Woodruff told reporters that deputies had set up a perimeter and the SWAT team was preparing to enter the room when Rice stepped outside and surrendered. Moments later, a gunshot was heard and deputies found Boyette dead inside the room. The pair had been on the run since Jan. 31, when the bodies of two women, Alicia Greer, 30, and Jacqueline Jeanette Moore, 39, were found at the Emerald Sands Inn in the Florida Panhandle. They also were suspected in the February 3 death of Peggy Broz, 52, across the state line in Lillian, Alabama. Authorities said they took her car, which was later found in Pensacola. Early Monday morning, Rice and Boyette went to the home of Kayla Crocker, 28, in Beulah, Florida, where they shot her and took her car, according to Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. They were spotted on surveillance video a short time later at a nearby gas station and in a Hardee's restaurant. Crocker died yesterday, according to authorities in Pensacola. Her 2-year-old child wasn't injured. Investigators are still reviewing whether Rice will be charged in connection with the shooting of Crocker, Florida First Circuit State Attorney Bill Eddins said today. A citizen yesterday afternoon spotted the stolen vehicle the two were seen driving and alerted authorities who surrounded the west Georgia motel, Woodruff told reporters, according to video posted online by WTVM-TV. Boyette allowed Rice to leave the motel room yesterday evening and she was seen crying as she was taken into custody, Woodruff said. Authorities then heard a single gunshot from inside the motel room and subsequently found Boyette dead inside, Woodruff said. Rice remained at the Troup County Jail in west Georgia today, where she was being questioned by investigators from Florida and Alabama. "Those interviews started last night and will more than likely continue today," Troup County sheriff's Sgt. Stewart Smith said today. Authorities in Alabama had issued capital murder warrants in the case earlier yesterday as the search for the pair entered its second week. Agencies across the Panhandle and southern Alabama earlier had been told to consider Rice a person of interest in the attacks. On Monday she was upgraded to an official suspect. Authorities said she had had multiple chances to flee or ask for help. Authorities have given no motive for the four killings or said how the suspects may have chosen their victims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The city-based Avinashilingam University for Women has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jeju National University, South Korea to take up joint research in areas of mutual interest. The MoU, for a period of five years will also have other objectives like exchange of students for internship programme between both the institutes and formulate joint project for international funding agencies. Min, Tae Sun, Senior Faculty of Animal Biotechnology Division, Jeju National University, who had also served as a senior adviser of National Research Foundation of Korea, has identified the growth potential of women students in India and mediated the present MoU, a Avinashilingam University release said here. Several students and faculty from the University had the opportunity to undergo short-term and long-term training on Genomics, metabolomics and at large genomics of medicinal plants. With the present MoU, the previous activities will further be strengthened, as several areas of mutual interest like animal biotechnology, nutrigenomics, plant genomics and food technology have been identified for the easy movement of undergraduate students and post graduate students along with faculty. The possibilities of having a one-year exchange programmes for ongoing undergraduate courses are also to be discussed, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No person would be treated as authorised office bearer of late Chandra Shekhar's Samajwadi Janata Party till it proves that it has held internal elections, the Election Commission has ruled. The Commission has also informed the Samajwadi Janata Party (Chandra Shekhar) that it will not accept any person as its candidate in any election, a move that comes just days before the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh assembly polls are to begin. "Since there is no authorised office bearer of the party -- Samajwadi Janata Party (Chandra Shekhar) -- on the records of the Commission, hence Form A Form B cannot be accepted from anyone on behalf of this party," the Commission told its 'president' Kamal Morarka in a letter earlier this month. The SJP (CS) is a registered, unrecognised party in EC's records. There were reports that the party could come to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's rescue in case the SP's symbol is frozen by the Election Commission. But Akhilesh had won the symbol war and his claim over the SP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yoga teacher Pratik Agarwal, arrested for allegedly raping an American woman under the pretext of giving her a "tantric massage" in Pernem taluka of Goa, is already facing a trial in a similar case involving a Russian national. "Agarwal was arrested in year 2015 for raping a Russian girl. The case was registered at Anjuna police station and he is already facing trial in the court," police inspector Rahul Parab told PTI today. Agarwal (38) was arrested by Pernem police yesterday on the complaint of the American woman (32) that he had raped her at his School of Holistic Yoga and Ayurveda at Korgao village, where she had gone for yogic massage, on February 2. The complainant had also claimed Agarwal had sexually assaulted her Canadian friend when the latter visited his place for a massage recently. However, police said the Canadian was not raped. "We have recorded statement of the Canadian girl who has claimed that she was not raped but her modesty was outraged by the accused," Parab said, adding a case is now registered against the Yoga teacher in this regard as well. Parab said both the complaints are clubbed into a single FIR and investigation is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian captain Virat Kohli today made it clear that Karun Nair's one triple hundred cannot "overshadow" the two years of consistent performance by his deputy Ajinkya Rahane who now "walks back" into the playing XI as a fully fit player. Rahane didn't have a great series against England and was out with a fractured hand but is now going to be picked ahead of Nair for the one-off Test starting tomorrow. "See, I feel one game doesn't overshadow two years of hardwork from another player. You need to understand what 'Jinx' (nickname) has done for the team over the past two years. He averages almost 50 in the format and he is probably most solid batsman in our team in the Test format," said Kohli as he ended speculation on who will bat at No.5. Young Nair is expected to go down as one of the rarest players after Englishman Andy Sandham, who scored 325 against West Indies at Kingston in 1925, to be dropped from the very next game. In Sandham's case, he was 40 at that time and never subsequently played a Test match. But Kohli made it clear that the triple century has helped Karun seal a spot in the squad which is a no mean feat. "Karun was stepping into his (Rahane's) shoes and what he did was remarkable, sealing his spot as far as the squad is concerned. That was something that Karun did. As I said you can't overlook Ajinkya's two years of hardwork on basis of one Test match. He (Rahane) deserves to walk back into the team whenever he got fit. That's my take on it," he said. One of the rare Indian captains, who does not believe in keeping things vague, Kohli also made it clear that chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav may have to wait a bit longer as they have a core set of four spinners -- Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, and Amit Mishra -- in Test format now. "In future, I don't know how will things shape up but right now our four spinners are pretty much set and Mishy has been doing really well but unfortunately he had his little injury, so Kuldeep comes in. But he will stay in our scheme of things with 2/3 other spinners whom we have targeted," said Kohli as he felt that Yadav would bring something "different" to the table. For him, it is the job of a leader to communicate the team's philosophy and thinking categorically to the players so that they are aware of where they stand. "I think communication is a big thing in that front and that's something we really do well in this team. Management and myself conveying to the players about what we want and how we look at each player in the team," he stated. "You need to back players for a long time for them to become match winners and eventually have long careers for Team India and produce consistent performances. I think bowlers can be switched according to conditions. In some places, we might want to play three spinners or in some conditions three seamers or may be one seamer, who is more effective on seamer friendly tracks. I think those things are subjected to change and adjustment," said Kohli. (REOPENS DEL 8) However specialist batsmen's position in the playing XI is non-negotiable and it's not pitch dependent, feels Kohli. "From a batting line-up point of view, you need big runs in Test cricket. To chip (chop) and change regularly doesn't let the batsmen gain confidence as such. Very important to back guys who got injured and are on a comeback trail as they have been regular feature in playing XI. They need to be given a chance as soon as they comeback." The only consideration while dropping a player should be his form other than fitness. "If form or something happens then you are subject to changing that player. Otherwise, very important to back top players who are in playing XI for a long time. At the same time, you need to keep those youngsters in the squad to groom them, nurture them and make them understand the situation." The skipper expressed his happiness that Indian team has sufficient bench strength which keeps them in a good stead even if there are injuries or niggles. "An injury should not deplete a team and that's what bench strength contributes to. We are lucky to have guys up and ready for Test cricket. Jayant (Yadav) walked in beautifully. In T20s and ODIs, you saw Chahal and Kedar stepping up. We do have a pool of players who are coming up nicely. Credit to selectors to identify the players but to players as well as they practice their skills regularly, work on fitness levels, have consistent performances at domestic levels, that's how you come into that pool. "I think it's a back and forth thing that you need to identify players but they have to put in the effort which they have. Luckily we have good bench strength going forward. God Forbid if we have any injury going forward, as you said 2-3 guys, a great thing for the team," the skipper stated. By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has proposed extending import duties on solar panels from China by 18 months, a shorter period than initially planned, and with a gradual phase-out, Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said on Wednesday. Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties have been in place on Chinese solar panels and cells since 2013 and are currently under review as to whether they should be maintained. A majority of EU countries last month opposed a proposed two-year extension. Timmermans told a conference that it was a sensitive issue. The Commission's proposal, revealed by on Tuesday, will be put to the EU's 28 member states later this month. "The phase-out is also meant to make sure that producers of solar panels in the European Union have the time to adapt to the new situation. The precise conditions are something that will be up for debate, also with member states now," Timmermans told a conference. The Commission faces a delicate balancing act between the interests of EU manufacturers and those benefiting from cheap imports, while also being concerned about the response from Beijing, seen as a possible ally in fights against protectionism and climate change. The EU and China came close to a trade war in 2013 over EU allegations of dumping by Chinese solar panel exporters. To avoid that, both sides agreed to allow limited tariff-free imports of panels at a minimum price of 0.56 euros per watt, anti-dumping duties of up to 64.9 percent for those outside the agreement and anti-subsidy duties capped at 11.5 percent. EU ProSun, a group of manufacturers including Germany's SolarWorld, said the measures had allowed EU producers to invest and had not impeded the market's development. What happened after the 18 months were up was key. Luc Triangle, general secretary of trade union federation industriAll Europe, said limiting the extension set a dangerous precedent for other industries. The EU has been particularly active in the past year on cases concerning Chinese steel. SolarPower Europe, which represents those in the solar industry opposed to duties, said reducing the extension period was positive although cells should be excluded altogether and that it was vital to determine what the gradual phase-out means. The case is due to be settled by March 3. (Additional reporting by Waverly Colville; Editing by Robin Emmott/Ruth Pitchford) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) About eight staff members who made up the London team were recently told to move to Goldman's Battery Park City headquarters or find a new job internally, said the sources. The move was triggered by managing director Nick Advani, who led the hedge fund from London and said in June he would be stepping down from his role, the sources said. Advani, now an advisory director at Goldman, did not respond to requests for comment. Advani is expected to leave the firm later this year, the sources said. Managing director Raluca Ragab, who had been formally leading the London-based team since Advani's departure, will leave Goldman once the move is complete, one of the sources said. Multi-strategy hedge fund GSIP launched in November 2008 with $7 billion in assets, making it one of the largest hedge fund launches at the time. GSIP, run globally by co-heads Raanan Agus and Kenneth Eberts, sits within Goldman's asset management division. But a focus on value investing with around 20 positions mainly in equities became more challenging in recent years, a former employee told . Goldman's Global Long Short Partners Offshore fund posted losses of 8.2 percent in the year to end-September in 2016 after small gains of 1.5 percent in 2015, according to an investor letter reviewed by . Last September, three of the fund's top five credit positions were in the Europe Middle East and Africa region, according to the letter. Assets fell in 2014 after Goldman pulled out $2.8 billion in response to the U.S. Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the Volcker rule, which restricted banks' proprietary trading. The fund now manages around $3.5 billion. Separately, Goldman may move up to 1,000 staff out of London in response to Britain's vote to leave the European Union, it was reported last month. (Reporting by Maiya Keidan in London and Olivia Oran ia New York, additional reporting by Carolyn Cohn and Simon Jessop) (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.) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Indian government has extended provisional anti-dumping duties on hot-rolled and cold-rolled flat products of alloy or non-alloy steel by another two months, a government notification said, to protect local mills and reduce overseas purchases. The Central Board of Excise and Customs imposed provisional anti-dumping duty late Tuesday on imports of the steel products from China, Japan, Korea, among others, the notification showed. Safeguard measures cannot be imposed for a longer term until an investigation by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping concludes. Indian steelmakers such as the Steel Authority of India, JSW Steel and Essar Steel had lobbied for protectionist measures to prevent cheap overseas purchases that were undercutting local mills and squeezing margins. (Reporting by Neha Dasgupta; Editing by Malini Menon) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's industry risks a capacity crunch as an expansion in landing slots and terminals fails to keep pace with the number of jets entering the market and rapid growth in demand from travellers, executives warned on Wednesday. Airlines including Interglobe Aviation's IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir have 880 aircraft on order as they tap into a market growing 20 per cent-plus per annum thanks to rising incomes and low-cost fares. Domestic passenger numbers topped 100 million last year, with most of the growth involving flights into and out of the biggest cities. "The airport infrastructure at many airports is breaking at the seams because there is no more capacity," said Sanjiv Kapoor, chief strategy and commercial officer at Vistara, an Indian airline jointly owned by Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons. "Everyone is scrambling to grab whatever little is left but what happens after that?" Kapoor told Reuters at an conference in Mumbai. Most of India's 40 largest airports will exceed their design capacity within a decade based on projected growth rates, consultancy CAPA estimates, with Mumbai and Chennai fast approaching saturation. Kapil Kaul, chief executive officer (CEO) for South Asia at CAPA, said India could run out of capacity within three to five years. "We are not ready beyond 2020-2021," he said. India's government plans to open 50 disused airports by 2020, and has given approval for 18 greenfield airports. Junior minister Jayant Sinha said this week India would need to triple capacity within 15 years at a cost of up to 3 trillion rupees ($45 billion), mostly from private sources. Delays in acquiring land, as well as the inability of debt-laden domestic airport operators such as GMR Group and GVK to invest, have stymied expansion proposals. "No one will invest in airports till you open investment in airlines," Manish Sinha at GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd said, referring to a 49 percent cap on foreign ownership of Indian carriers. Capacity constraints are most acute in Mumbai, where aircraft can wait for landing spots for 45 minutes, according to Martin Consulting. The government wants to build a new airport under discussion for 20 years outside the city but has repeatedly delayed plans, with initial bids due this year. Order Books Newer Indian carriers are set to swell aircraft order books further. Vistara could order 50 narrow-body and 50 wide-body aircraft this year, Kaul at CAPA said. AirAsia India plans to grow its fleet to 20 aircraft by mid-2018. In an attempt to lure firms, India last year allowed foreign investors to invest 100 per cent in brownfield airport projects. Operators such as Singapore's Changi Airport have expressed interest, although questions remain about the government's revenue sharing model. The looming capacity crunch adds to the worries of Indian carriers, which last year reported their first combined profit in a decade. CAPA estimates airlines will lose $250 million to $300 million this year amid intensifying competition. "There is a need to look at profitable growth and not just capacity deployment," said Amitabh Malhotra, managing director at Rothschild Global Advisory in India. Malhotra said it would be tough to maintain a 20 to 25 percent growth rate as rising fuel costs bite. funds in real estate are looking at affordable housing after the Union Budget granted infrastructure status to the segment. Kotak Realty Fund was looking at launching an affordable housing fund and was in talks with investors, said sources in the know. S Sriniwasan, managing director, Kotak Investment Advisors, which manages funds, said, In 2016, we raised a $250 million fund for equity investments in realty projects in the country. This pool of capital will evaluate investments in affordable housing projects as well. Brick Eagle, an investor in and incubator of low-cost housing companies, plans to raise a Rs 700 crore affordable housing fund by March. It recently received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India for setting up an alternative investment fund dedicated to affordable housing. There has been a flurry of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in telecom in the recent past. Vodafone and Idea are in talks to merge while small operators such as Telenor are looking at an exit. Severe pricing pressure brought on by the launch of Reliance Jios services is forcing telecom companies to consolidate. Indias gender budget spending on women-related schemes and projects rose 18% from Rs 96,331 crore ($14.4 billion) in 2016-17 (revised estimates) to Rs 113,326 crore ($17 billion) in 2017-18 in the union budget announced on February 1, 2017. The gender budget accounted for 5.2% of total government spending, an increase of 0.4% from 4.8% in 2016-17 (revised estimates). It accounted for 4.5% of budget expenditure in 2016-17, IndiaSpend reported in March 2016 but went up to 4.8% after revised estimates of the budget. Source: Union Budget 2017-18 Gender Budgeting (GB) was introduced in Budget 2005-06. The GB funds two types of government schemes. First, schemes in which 100% provision is for women. Second, schemes where the allocations for women constitute at least 30% of the provision. The rationale for gender budgeting arises from the recognition of the fact that national budgets impact men and women differently through the pattern of resource allocation, said this statement from the ministry of women and child development.Women constitute 48% of Indias population, but they lag behind men on many social indicators like health, education and economic opportunities. Hence, they warrant special attention due to their vulnerability and lack of access to resources. Only 27% of Indian women are in the labour force, the second-lowest rate of female labour-force participation in South Asia after Pakistan, 1,403 females never attended any educational institution for every 1,000 males who have not and eight in 10 illiterate children who were married before 10 in India were also girls. (Details here, here and here) India was ranked 87th in the Global Gender Gap Index 2016, according to the World Economic Forum, a jump of 21 places from 2015. In womens health, India ranked 142nd in the index, third from bottom, highlighting the need to increase funding for improving it. Apart from the central government, 17 states have adopted gender budgeting. Jharkhand increased its gender budget by 30% from Rs 5,909 crore ($0.8 billion) in 2016-17 to Rs 7,684 crore ($1.1 billion) for 2017-18. Kerala announced that it will revive its gender budgeting manual with the possibility of more than 10% of the proposed budget being allocated for gender-based schemes. GB is positive and significant for primary school enrollment equality, and can potentially improve gender equality in primary education, according to this 2016 report by the International Monetary Fund. While more young women are enrolled in higher education than ever beforeand apparently more successful in clearing 10th-standard board exams than young menthey are either marrying early or not finding or not looking for jobs, IndiaSpend reported in August 2016. The ministry of women & child development received a 20% increase in budget allocation this year at Rs 22,095 crore ($3.3 billion) as against Rs 17,640 crore ($2.6 billion) last year. Funding rises for nutrition, Beti Padhao Beti Bachao and maternity schemes The Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (Maternal Benefit Scheme) saw an increase of 326% in allocation from Rs 634 crore ($94.6 million) in 2016-17 to Rs 2,700 crore ($298 million) in 2017-18. Indias maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 178 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2011-12, which was worse than Sri Lanka (30), Bhutan (148) and Cambodia (161), and worst among the BRICS countries: Russia (25), China (27), Brazil (44), and South Africa (138), IndiaSpend reported in September 2016. However, the more than three-fold increase in funding may still not be enough. The governments own report by the standing committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public distribution presented in January 2013 puts the number of eligible women at 22.5 million every year, Kanika Kaul, senior programme officer with the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) told the Mint. This works out to Rs 14,512 crore ($2.1 billion) a year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on December 31, 2016 that Rs 6,000 would be transferred directly to the bank accounts of pregnant women who undergo institutional delivery/and vaccinate their children. The option of giving Rs 6,000 to pregnant women already existed in the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 but it just had not been implemented by the government, FactChecker reported on January 2, 2017. The budget for the National Nutrition Mission increased 28 times from Rs 19 crore ($2.8 million) in 2016-17 to Rs 550 crore ($82 million) in 2017-18. India reported anaemia among 45% of its pregnant womenthe highest in the worldeven though there has been a fall of 12% in the last ten years, IndiaSpend reported in September 2016. Modis pet project Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the girl child, educate the girl child), has been allocated four times more funds for 2017-18. Indias sex ratio at birththe number of girls born alive for every 1,000 boysdeclined over the last 65 years from 946 to 887 even as per capita income increased nearly 10 times, IndiaSpend reported in December 2016. Infosys is the original start-up success story for a generation of Indians, who grew up in 90's and the first decade of the 21st century. Infosys was feted not merely for being a financial success story but also for the high standards of corporate and ethical governance it pioneered. Driven by the founders own personal values, Infy as it is commonly called was seen - by and large at least as setting governance standards. So when media reports started emanating that the highly regarded founders of Infosys, have expressed concern about issues related to pay and governance issues, it is time for the company to come clean. The alleged concerns are fairly straight forward. That the first non-founder CEO and MD of the company Vishal Sikka, hired with much fanfare, is paying himself too much, viz an annual compensation of around $11 million. Also that executive compensation for the top management has been increasing at a fast clip, without proportionate growth in the company's business and profits. That he has surrounded himself with a clique, which followed him from his earlier employer SAP. Most damaging insinuation, of course from media reports, have been around high price of acquisitions and to what extent they have helped the company and whether the deals have all been above board. A source at the company this writer spoke to and who does not want to be identified, defends Sikka and points out that compensation is in line with global competitive benchmarks and all of this has been approved by the board. That even the $11 million compensation is mainly through restricted stock units, whose value will do well only if the company does well (and therefore share prices, thus benefiting everybody). On charges of nepotism, it is dismissed as case of sour grapes of old time non-performers, who have been weeded out or chose to go voluntarily and claims that there must be less than "30 ex-SAP employees at senior levels.' On the question of overpaying on acquisitions, the same person points out, "For years we have been paralysed not making M&A moves. If one acquisition (hinting at Skava) doesn't turn out good it doesn't mean we abandon the whole strategy. They (founders) need to try and stop micro-managing." InGovern a proxy advisory and corporate governance firm started by an ex-Infosys employee had pointed out conflict of interest, when D N Prahlad (a relative of Chairman Emeritus N R Narayana Murthy) and who is also CEO of Surya Software was brought into the board of the company as an independent director. This was seen as a move to keep a close watch on board developments by the founders. There was also talk whether this was a preliminary move for a board lead coup d'etat on Sikka, if ever it was required. In between there has been also talk of a Rs 12,000 crore worth of buyback, which the company has denied. Infosys and Indian IT in general are at a challenging phase in the evolution of the industry with threats from a protectionist Trump-led America, automation upending the traditional people heavy model as well as shifts to digital. The company and its top management needs to be fully focussed on the job at hand, rather than any kind of internal squabbles. Both Infosys and the founders need to speak up. Clarify on all the issues being raised, as the corporate governance reputation earned over the decades by both the founders and the company, is at stake. Business Today mailed a questionnaire to the company seeking comments on these issues and below is the company's response. "The Board receives suggestions and inputs from various stakeholders, including Promoters, which are evaluated with due importance. The Company will continue to be guided by the overall interests of all stakeholders. With regard to concerns on governance being discussed in the media, we would like to reiterate that all decisions have been made bona fide, in the overall interest of the Company, and that full disclosures have already been made thereon." A report brought out by the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) of the US industry and business lobby group - The US Chamber of Commerce - has ranked India as 43rd in a 45 country list on the basis of intellectual property (IP) environment. It looks at parameters like patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, enforcement, and international treaties to see how conducive they are for US companies to expand their businesses in countries that are covered in the report. India has been among the lowest rated countries ever since GIPC started off the annual exercise five years ago, as the country's IP rules are not perfectly aligned with the interests of large US corporations. GIPC prefers higher standards of IP protection than what is required to be followed by India because of its obligations under World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Agreement of Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Incidentally, the other document GIPC has relied upon, the final text of Trans Pacific Agreement (TPP), to show how trade agreements have progressively raised the bar for IP standards around the world in a 21st century global marketplace, has been dumped by Donald Trump, the new President of United States. While the report acknowledges India's National Intellectual Property Rights Policy 2016, it complains that IP-intensive industries continue to face challenges in Indian market with regard to the scope of patentability for computer implemented inventions, section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act (which denies patent protection to incremental innovations), and the Delhi High Court's decision to allow photocopying of copyrighted content for fair use. From the US companies' perspective, India's national IP policy does not address the fundamental weakness they perceive in India's IP framework. The GIPC says there is only limited framework for protection of IP in life sciences. The report finds India's patentability requirements outside international standards and opposes, what US Chambers' stakeholders consider as lengthy pre-grant opposition proceedings. It accuses India of having used the compulsory licensing provisions under the Patent Act for commercial and non emergency purposes. The report shows that India's overall score has increased marginally from 24 per cent (7.05 out of 30) in the fourth edition to 25 per cent (8.75 out of 35) in the fifth edition. This change in score reflects a relatively mixed performance in the 5 new indicators - patent opposition, industrial design, regulatory and administrative barriers and transparency and public reporting - added in the fifth edition, it said. "In India, many of the same challenges to innovation remain," said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of GIPC. "Although India has made incremental progress, the government needs to build upon the positive rhetoric of its IPR policy with the substantial legislative reforms that innovators need. Reforms can improve its reputation as a destination for doing business, foreign businesses' ability to invest in and 'Make in India', and India's own innovative industries". He stated. The top ranking countries in the index, which covers countries that account for 90 per cent of global GDP, include the US, UK and Germany in that order. The three lowest ranking countries are Venezuela, Pakistan and India. BJP's incredible wins in UP and other states have reconfirmed that Narendra Modi was able to grow out of the ill effects of demonetisation right on time. Now, with the withdrawal limit removed, the country's economy too will have a better chance at recovery from the slow down after demonetisation. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Feb 8 said that it had decided to enhance the withdrawal limit on saving accounts from February 20 and end the limit altogether from March 13. Following their promise, RBI has ended the withdrawal limit on savings accounts. Keeping up with the pace of remonetisation, the RBI had decided to enhance the withdrawal limit on saving accounts in two phases. From February 20, 2017 the limit on cash withdrawal was to be enhanced to Rs 50,000 per week and from March 13, 2017, there would be no limit on cash withdrawals. Earlier, the central bank had partially restore status quo ante on cash withdrawal limit for current accounts from February 1. The limit on cash withdrawals were brought in by the RBI after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on November 8, 2016. RBI said the currency in circulation was worth Rs 9.92 lakh crore as on January 27. While addressing the press conference after RBI announced its decision to keep the repo rate unchanged, RBI Governor Urjit Patel said, "there is still scope for lending rates of banks to come down." The Reserve Bank has officially removed all the limits on cash withdrawal from customer bank accounts. While the apex bank removed the limits on withdrawals from ATMs on February 1, it was still within the overall limit of Rs 24,000 a week from savings bank accounts. The weekly withdrawal limit was earlier set at Rs 50,000 in case of current accounts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. "All of us have to work shoulder to shoulder and create a prosperous, inclusive and corruption free India, " Modi said. A day after PM Narendra Modi took a dig at the opposition in the Lok Sabha, he was speaking in the Rajya Sabha today in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's joint address to Parliament. The PM said note ban was not targeted against any party or thought. Corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class. Supporting a tough stance on corruption, Modi said, "We will have to be tough on those who are cheating the system. When we do that, the hands of the poor will be strengthened." Referring to the scams during the Congress rule, Modi came hard on former PM Manmohan Singh and said Bathroom mein raincoat pahan ke nahana to Dr Sahab (Dr Manmohan Singh) hi jaante hain. PM Modi said Singh is associated with the system for the last 35 years and his name still did not crop up in any scam. The Congress staged a walkout from the House against Modi's attack on Dr Singh. The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) mobile app, launched on December 30, 2016, in a bid to make digital financial services available to all, has emerged as one of the fastest growing apps. Within 10 days of launch, it has seen one crore downloads, and over 20 lakh transactions across the UPI (unified payments interface) and USSD (unstructured supplementary service data) platforms. While it is a big step towards digital inclusion, how different is it really from the existing digital payments systems? One for All BHIM is a digital payments solution app, for easy and quick transactions, based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Those who have signed up for UPI-based payments on their bank accounts, which are also linked to mobile phone numbers, will be able to use the BHIM app to carry out digital transactions. One can easily make direct bank-to-bank payments instantly, and collect money using just a mobile number or payment address. It allows person-to-person money transfers, scheduled money collection, and transactions to be done through a smartphone. Payments can be made across all participating banks (35 in total). To make transactions using UPI, one does not require an account number, or bank details, all transactions can be done using the VPA (virtual payment address) created within the banking app. The highlight of the BHIM app is that all the UPI transactions are combined into a single app - people need not download different UPI-linked banking apps to make transactions. Other than sending, receiving, and requesting for money, one can also check their account balance and switch between accounts in case they have multiple bank accounts. Money can also be sent to non-UPI supported banks using IFSC code and account number. It supports only Hindi and English languages as of now unlike other mobile wallets that support regional languages, too. BHIM is available only on Android via Google Play. Those without access to data services, can use BHIM by dialing *99# (USSD-based mobile banking service) on their phones. UPI-linked apps such as PhonePe and Trupay enable transfer of money without sharing any details, using only the mobile number, provided the receiver also has the same app. People can pay their utility bills, purchase gift cards, and share expenses among friends using these apps. But when sending money using the BHIM app, the amount will go directly into the receiver's bank account irrespective of whether the receiver has the BHIM app or not. "BHIM is a skeleton of what UPI does, which is sending and receiving payments. Trupay starts where BHIM stops; it provides value-added services over and above what BHIM does," says Vivek Lohcheb, Co-founder of Trupay. BHIM vs. Mobile Wallets Level of authentication: Wallets mostly rely on a phone's locking system as their security system. Even while making a payment, wallets often don't ask for any kind of pin or password. So if the phone is stolen, anyone can make transfers using the wallet by merely unlocking the screen. The BHIM app, on the other hand, has its own app password. One needs to enter the password to access the app, to proceed with a transaction, and also to check balance. The payment gateway is blocked after three wrong tries. However, with BHIM allowing just the name or mobile number as payment address, anyone can request for money. The NPCI has cautioned people about unknown payment requests one may get. There have been a few updates and 'bug fixes', but it is not known if the issue has been resolved. Charges and limits for transferring money: To use wallets for making payments and transfers, one needs to fill them with money first. The amount sent and received stays in the wallet account itself. To make transfers from a wallet to a bank account, a processing fee of 1-4 per cent per transaction is charged. With BHIM, one can directly send, receive, and request for money to and from their bank accounts. There is no need to fill up any wallet to proceed with a transaction. For those using *99#, Rs. 0.50 is charged per transaction. It is the bank's discretion to levy charges on the customer for using BHIM; from NPCI, there are no charges levied. With wallets there is a maximum transaction limit of Rs 1 lakh per month. Transaction limit using BHIM is Rs. 20,000 per user, per day, and Rs. 10,000 per transaction. The limit for USSD has currently been set at Rs. 5,000 per day. It has come as a huge advantage for merchants who can now accept payments directly into their bank accounts, and pay no transaction charges, unlike on wallets. Bank transactions and transfers through BHIM happen 24X7. Perks: Offers, discounts, and cashbacks are what draw users towards mobile wallets. In keeping with this trend, NPCI has come up with its own lucky draw schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojna for consumers and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojna for merchants. Lucky Grahak Yojna will give out Rs. 1,000 daily for 15,000 customers, and a weekly prize of Rs. 5,000, Rs. 10,000, and Rs. 1 lakh. Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojna will give away a weekly prize of Rs. 2,500, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 50,000 for merchants. Users of RuPay Card, USSD, BHIM/UPI and Aadhaar-enabled payment services are eligible for these daily and weekly lucky draw prizes. Mobile Wallets at a Loss? BHIM app is not a mobile wallet; it is an open platform which links directly to any bank account and proves to be much more useful than mobile wallets. "UPI being a more efficient platform from a user or merchant point of view, it will overtake wallets in no time now. Wallets will exist till they keep giving cashbacks. In the long run, wallets will not exist in India," Lohcheb says. Wallets have a few shortcomings. Only a fixed amount of money can stay in a wallet app, unlike BHIM. Wallets do not allow users to send or receive money from different mobile wallets; whereas there is no such restriction within the BHIM app as it uses UPI. Bipin Preet Singh, Co-founder of MobiKwik, says, "We hope that provisions will be made for registering e-wallets on UPI, thereby enabling people to pay through bank accounts or e-wallets using the BHIM app." Japanese auto giants Suzuki Motor Corporation, 56 per cent owner in Maruti, and Toyota Motor Corporation have joined forces. The two will explore co-operation in environment and safety, IT and mutual supply of products and components. It will pave the way for the introduction of cutting edge products and technologies in India. It's Suzuki's third major partnership after its limited success in tie-ups with General Motors of US and Volkswagen AG of Germany. Both the collaborations lasted few years, but this the alliance could steer the Japanese companies to greater heights. Suzuki has been trying hard to venture into new areas of powertrain, beyond its hardcore petrol with mixed results. Its only success in diesel has been the multi-jet engine, sourced from Fiat. Suzuki's own proprietary technology in diesel, DDiS 125 engine, despite its staggering 27.62 kmpl mileage in Celerio hatchback has been almost phased out following a lukewarm response from the customers. The new partnership for both complement each others' thrust on new technologies from the futuristic world of hybrid, electric, fuel cell, bio-fuels and self driving cars that could drive next generation of passenger vehicles. Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki announced the partnership without divulging any details or the scope of partnership, "Aim to jointly contribute to resolution of social issues and achievement of sound and sustainable development of an automobile-based society," read the statement. Akito Tachibana, MD at the Indian subsidiary, Toyota Kirloskar Motors, was more specific and said that India is one of the regions to be covered by this partnership. "With an aim to jointly contribute to resolution of social issues and sustainable growth of an automobile based society, TKM's parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has signed an agreement today with Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki) to collaboratively begin examinations for business partnership in areas such as environmental technologies, safety technologies, and information technologies. This is aimed to achieve sustainable growth with mutual business interests staying independently competitive in the market," he added. But analysts covering the industry added that it should lead to further efficiencies in compact car technologies. The new partnership could prove to be quite crucial for India, where both companies have high stakes. Suzuki, in particular, has a 50 per cent share in the three million units-a-year market. "It has been a challenge for any carmaker to cut Suzuki's pie in India, which has increased despite new global players like Volkswagen and Nissan joining the league. Its latest partnership will yield rich dividends in terms of technology access to Toyota's proven prowess, which in turn may consolidate its position in the smaller car segment with Daihatsu Motors (now Toyota's subsidiary) that still leads the Japanese small car market over Suzuki," said Abdul Majeed, auto analyst with PriceWaterhouse. He added that considering the growth in the Indian automotive market, global OEM's have realised that they need to have very credible strategy (product development, distribution, after market services and export) going forward. "It will be difficult for OEM's to increase their volumes without growing in India. In addition, they are also looking at segments such as small cars and compact SUVs etc. Without strong portfolio in these segment it will be difficult to grow in the Indian market," he added. Despite the partnership Suzuki and Daihatsu Motor will continue to sell vehicles under their separate brands to avoid risks related to antitrust laws, reports the Japanese media. Daihatsu will soon enter India, with an official announcement expected soon, after Toyota failed to compete in the local market with its Etios brand of sedan and hatchback that may be eventually discontinued. Maruti may well have to compete with the boxy, but low-priced cars from Daihatsu. New data from the worlds largest job site, Indeed has shown that the number of British and Europeans searching for financial sector jobs in Ireland has dramatically increased. Job searches from the UK for senior financial sector roles in Ireland rocketed in the eight week period after the Brexit vote. UK based job search for auditor roles located in Ireland increased by (55%) during this time. Likewise, job search for accountant (46%), finance manager (36%), finance analyst (50%), finance controller (20%) and trader (38%) all surged. Furthermore, Europeans uncertain on their rights to work in the UK are also considering Ireland as an alternative destination. Job search from Europeans looking for work in Ireland surged for key financial sector roles including finance director (196%), auditor (89%) and trader (62%). Commenting on the research, Indeed EMEA Economist, Mariano Mamertino says, "Our research reveals that financial sector professionals are increasingly considering Ireland as an attractive place to work, most likely because of the uncertainties around Brexit. Ireland is seen as a natural alternative to the UK by jobseekers, because it is an English speaking country, with a flexible labour market and has one of the strongest growing economies in Europe." He added, Indeeds data highlights Irelands opportunity to attract international talent. Addressing bottlenecks in housing, commercial space and infrastructure are essential to ensure Ireland remains competitive in the global war for talent. Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Curtiss-Wrights Defense Solutions division today announced that its Ireland-based facility has been selected by Italys ELV SpA (Avio Group), the prime contractor on the Vega-C Launcher System and GPM Development and Qualification Program for the European Space Agency (ESA), to provide a COTS-based telemetry data system for the new launcher. At 4.5M, this is the largest ESA related contract ever awarded to an Irish based operation. The confidence placed in Curtiss-Wright by the award of this contract establishes the Dublin operation as one of the world leaders in the use of COTS electronics equipment in critical space applications and raises the profile of Irelands space industry in the global space marketplace. The mid-sized Vega-C is designed to deliver government, commercial and science payloads weighing three tons or less, such as small satellite constellations to low-earth orbit. As this market is especially cost-sensitive, ESAs goal is for the Vega-C launcher to serve as a next-generation launch vehicle that is able to support the same or greater mission objectives as the original Vega launcher, but at reduced cost. Curtiss-Wrights cost-effective COTS electronics systems approach was selected to support this challenging performance/cost target. This agreement represents the first use of Curtiss-Wrights groundbreaking radiation tolerant Smart Backplane technology on a European launch vehicle. Under the contract, Curtiss-Wright will provide ELV with a full telemetry system, including data acquisition, data handling, and RF transmission. The Vega-C development contract runs from January 2017 until first launch in June 2019, with a value estimated at 4.5 million. The value of the subsequent production phase is estimated at more than 10 million over the lifetime of the program. Irelands industrial and research participation in the programs of ESA is coordinated by Enterprise Ireland in collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Additional EI client companies that will support Curtiss-Wright as sub-suppliers on this program include Schivo and Realtime Technologies. Speaking today, Minister for Training and Skills, John Halligan said, "This is a significant achievement by an Irish based operation working at the cutting edge of space technologies. This contract award demonstrates how Irish operations, such as Curtiss-Wrights facility in Dublin, are developing technologies to the highest levels of performance and reliability for the European space program." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us The best businesses from Ireland were honoured at an exclusive event in the British Ambassadors Residence in Dublin for The European Business Awards sponsored by RSM. The 17 firms were chosen by a panel of independent judges, including senior businesses and academic leaders, to be 'National Champions' in Europes largest business competition. At the event, attendees had the chance to speak to leading businesses and hear from guest speakers including the British Ambassador to Ireland, Robin Barnett and Julian Caplin of RSM Ireland. All the National Champions are also currently taking part in the Public Vote which opened on 9 January at 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. 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. Speaking at the event, British Ambassador, Robin Barnett said, "I was delighted to host this event to celebrate the success of the 17 organisations selected to represent Ireland as National Champions in the first stage of the European Business Awards. The entrants from Ireland can be a good role model to other businesses through their impressive innovation, determination and success. I have no doubt that these companies will continue to grow and help foster great business opportunities, not only with the UK and Europe, but globally." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Employers across Ireland are being urged to sign up for Irelands third National Workplace Wellbeing Day on Friday, 31st March 2017. Last year, over 300 companies of all sizes from across the public and private sectors participated in the annual event which aims to improve employee wellbeing through promoting better exercise and nutrition in the workplace. This comes after new research shows that only a quarter of workers in Ireland (26%) take the recommended level of exercise for a healthy lifestyle each week. Employers are also being encouraged to enter the national Workplace Wellbeing Awards which will be announced on the day. Sponsored by Mercer, the awards recognise employers across the public and private sector that are excelling at promoting workplace wellbeing within their organisations. The Central Statistics Office and Dublin secondary school, Colaiste Bride were among last years winners. The campaign is an initiative of Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) and is supported by Ibec. Speaking at the launch, CEO of Ibec, Danny McCoy said, "We're encouraging companies across the length and breadth of the country to mark Friday, 31st March with some healthy and fun workplace initiatives. No matter how big or small the event, a fitness class, a cookery demo, or a health check for example, the important thing is that it gets employees thinking about their health." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us The Community Foundation for Ireland, one of the countrys leading philanthropic organisations, today announced the winners of the ninth annual Philanthropist of the Year awards at a luncheon hosted by broadcaster Marian Finucane in Dublin. The Community Foundation for Ireland is a philanthropic organisation which seeks just and progressive social change. The Foundation empowers people and organisations who want to make a difference through a model of philanthropy that is based on trust, effectiveness and impact. Last year, The Foundation and its donors distributed almost 6million to charitable causes in Ireland and overseas and reached the milestone of 30million in cumulative grants since its establishment in 2000. This years National, Corporate and International winners join other well-known philanthropists such as Carmel and Martin Naughton, Brendan OCarroll, Chuck Feeneys Atlantic Philanthropies, Diageo, Vodafone, Mark FitzGerald and Declan Ryan in being awarded the accolade. Congratulating the award winners, CEO of the Community Foundation for Ireland, Tina Roche said, "This years winners highlight the impact sustained long term giving can have on a specific cause or issue, as instanced by Maurice Healys support for Anam Cara, Applegreens support for numerous childrens charities and SAPs commitment to its African Coding Week. Philanthropy is from both the head and the heart; it is truly planned giving. It focuses on results, on the longer term and on the sustainable. We hope that these winners will inspire others to come forward and adopt a more strategic and sustained approach to giving." This years Philanthropist of the Year Award winners are: Maurice Healy as National Philanthropist of the Year for his significant support for a number of charities including Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI), An Cosan and Anam Cara. Applegreen as Corporate Philanthropist of the Year as they have generated over 1.8 million in support for a number of childrens charities including Barnardos, ISPCC and Debra. Bob Etchingham, Chief Executive Officer collected the award. SAP as International Philanthropist of the Year for their African Coding Week initiative which to date has supported over 400,000 young people in Africa. Collecting the award was Liam Ryan, Managing Director. Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Trinity College Dublin and the Trinity Business School have today announced the funding of the Trinity 30% Club MBA Leadership Scholarship. This initiative will provide one full scholarship worth 32,000 and six bursaries each worth 5,000 across the Trinity full-time and part-time MBA programmes. It is in partnership with the 30% Club Ireland and aims to foster leadership and greater representation of women at executive level in business organisations. This comes after data collated by the Economist on participation on MBA programmes across Europe showed many peer universities running at around 27% to 33% average ratio of women to men. Trinity Colleges MBA programme this year has 50% and 45% ratios of women on the full-time and executive MBA programmes respectively. It is anticipated that this scholarship will further build parity between women and men on the Trinity MBA and therefore make a meaningful contribution to the mission of the 30% Club and to society as a whole. The 30% Club is a global movement of international Chairs and CEOs who are committed to better gender balance at all levels of their organisations through voluntary actions. The movement seeks to gain support for gender balance in business from leaders of public, private, state and multinational companies and other interested groups. The 30% Club in Ireland is led by Marie OConnor, partner at PwC. Since its launch in 2014, CEOs and Chairs from over 120 top Irish companies have become official supporters of the 30% Club. Speaking today, Dean of Trinity Business School, Andrew Burke said, "The profile of students on the Trinity MBA has always been a great gauge of the attributes of future leaders and in this regard it is brilliant that half of both our current full-time and part-time MBA intakes are female." He added, "We can expect many more female senior executives and entrepreneurs arising from the Trinity MBA and making their mark in business in the near future. Trinity College Dublin and the 30% Club are delighted to further bolster this encouraging development by creating scholarships and bursaries for future female leaders." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us LOGAN Logan Canyon, US-89, reopened late Wednesday morning after three avalanches shut the canyon down for almost a day. Paige Pagnucco is an avalanche forecaster for UDOT and the Utah Avalanche Center. She was near the area at the time of Tuesdays slides, and said a couple hundred feet of roadway was covered with three-to-five feet of debris. Historically the Dugway has avalanched in the past under similar circumstances, where we have this sort of rapid warming event, a rain on snow event, explained Pagnucco. So we were keeping our eyes open, but its a really hard thing to time. You just dont know when its going to happen, when its going to reach that tipping point. No one was injured or caught in the avalanches. So far this year, the canyon has been closed three times for avalanches or avalanche danger. Pagnucco said she and officials from UDOT are exploring ways to try and prevent slides in the future. There is a variety of problems, depending on where you are in the canyon and we would have to take a different approach in each area. Right now, time seems to be our best friend. Letting the weather settle down, the rain stop and temperatures cool. She is hopeful that in the years to come they will be able to manage the problem more efficiently and reduce the amount of canyon closures. The recent weather is combining to create areas of unstable snow at all elevations. An avalanche warning remains in effect for the area, due to heavy snowfall, rain and strong winds that are forecast to continue. Pagnucco said even though the canyon is open, the avalanche danger is still high, and everyone who is heading into the mountains should be cautious. If they think they are going into avalanche terrain, we want them to carry an avalanche transceiver, as well as a shovel and a probe, which is standard rescue equipment. Also just be advised that this is an unusual year. Avalanche advisories are kept updated at utahavalanchecenter.org. Together or divided: Europe, a safe haven? Published on February 7, 2017 Story by Cafebabel Bruxelles Translation by: Cafebabel Bruxelles en fr de it es pl CALL FOR PROJECTS. For its second edition, Show Me Yourope's team called upon the help of the IHECS Academy students to organise their event Show Me Yourope Arts. This year, they give you the possibility to express yourself through a photographic project on a very timely theme: the arrival of migrants in Europe. More than one million migrants and refugees have crossed the European borders in 2016. Show Me Yourope wants to examine the current issues by giving the opportunity to citizens and moreover, to artists to express and illustrate their personal views, concerns, hopes and fears regarding this crisis. The objective of this art project is to show the two faces of the issue. In reaction to the arrival of refugees, European citizens develop two contradictory behaviours. On the one hand, structures of welcoming and integration are put in place in order to help the refugees and on the other hand, a feeling of fear emerges among EU citizens prompted by the rise of populism and extremism in some countries. To put it in a nutshell, Show Me Yourope, Second Edition, aims to depict through a singular artistic field, photography, the contradictory reactions of hate and welcoming towards the refugee wave in Europe. In order to illustrate this issue at best, we decide to focus on one artistic field: photography. "We believe this field to be the most adapted to illustrate such an issue. Furthermore, the candidates will be asked to write a small text in English or French telling the story of their picture" one of the member of the organising team explained. Why this event? EU citizens feel disconnected from the EU bubble mainly due to the lack of transparency, the complicated and bureaucratic vocabulary used as well as the lack of specific impact on their daily life. Furthermore, citizens are badly informed regarding the functioning of the EU institutions. They are confronted to many different sources of information which can be confusing. The recent crisis has led to a decrease in trust and there is more than ever a need to construct a public opinion about the EU in order for its citizens to be able to exchange their vision of this Europe. Show Me Yourope Arts aims to give a voice to the EU citizens in order to help create a new narrative for the EU institutions but also to elaborate a new communication strategy that could have a real impact on the citizens. The citizens will be asked to share their vision of the European Union with a focus on the migrant crisis through an artistic project limited this year to one field: photography. Share your vision of the refugee crisis. Is Europe welcoming or pushing back people arriving on its shores? Together or divided. Europe, a safe haven? How do they react? How do EU citizens react? How do European policy-makers react? Who can participate? The project is open to every EU citizen over fifteen. Young or old, amateur or professional, the competition is open to such a wide range of people because we think everybody has a precious perspective to offer. The only limitation is to be at least 15 years old. _______ For more technical details on how to participate and send your application, you can head to SMY's website. The art exhibition will take place on Monday 20th March and all pictures will be exhibit for the whole following week at the Espace culturel Senghor (Etterbeek, Brussels). Story by Cafebabel Bruxelles Translated from Ensemble ou divises : Europe terre d'accueil? Hon Gaston Komba (middle), Youth Affairs Minister and other members of EJP Jimmy Nash The opportunities and obstacles in the socio-economic and professional insertion of youth in the agro-pastoral sector will come under debate when the maiden Youth Parliament opens in Yaounde on Thursday, it has been disclosed. The joint initiative by the Network of parliamentarians for the promotion of youth policy known in French as Esperance-Jeunesse, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education aims to groom second generation agriculturalists. At a joint press conference at the National Assembly in Yaounde on Tuesday February 7, the president of Esperance-Jeunesse, Hon Gaston Komba and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou said some 180 young agro-pastoralists selected from the 58 divisions of the country are already in Yaounde. During the parliamentary session, they will raise concerns relating to the domains of agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry to members of government, Youth Affairs minister explained. The selected parliamentarians aged 20-35 years are either students reading agriculture and livestock in faculties and professional schools/institutes, experienced youth in the agro-pastoral sector or who intends to carry out an activity in that domain. We want to make them agro-pastoral entrepreneurs, Minister Foutsou stated. President Paul Biya announced the second generation agricultural concept at the 2011 Agro-pastoral Show in Ebolowa as a translation of a real agrarian revolution. Hon Gaston Komba said: the youth parliament seeks to create an institutional framework for exchange and dialogue with youths, which will articulate their aspirations and guarantee their integration in nation building. He explained that the problems the potential second generation agriculturalists face and those of the youths in general will be debated during the session and its resolutions forwarded to the government for action. A team will be put in place to follow up the implementation of the resolutions. The team will composed of representatives from (senior) parliament and the government, Hon Komba disclosed. The Youth Parliament, the senior Member of the National Assembly said, has been officially added to the calendar of activities of the youth week that usually precede the national Youth Day celebrated annually on February 11. The speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril shall preside over the plenary to take place at the House Chamber from 11am on Thursday February 9. | BY Ricki Green | Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has further boosted its digital and social offering with the hiring of Brie Stewart as head of social. Stewart joins from Ogilvy Australia, where she headed up the social campaigns for KFC, Copa, Coca-Cola and IBM and was instrumental in developing KFCs multi-award winning $1 Chips campaign, which won the Grand Prix for Behavioral Science and Social Media at MSiX Awards. Says Nick Garrett, CEO, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne: Were delighted to have someone of Bries calibre join us and are looking forward to developing great work with her. She is a force of nature, has already made an impact and will be brilliant. Prior to Ogilvy, Stewart honed her skills at Edelman PR and Big Social. | BY Ricki Green | Creative content agency Edge has lured several hand picked new hires from some high profile agencies to service its growing portfolio and continue building out a broader communications offering. Victor Marx, senior planner joins Edges growing strategy and media team reporting into executive strategy director, Richard Parker as part of the agencys integrated content, creative and media model. Marx joins from Marcel in Sydney where he was planning director after being group strategy director for Saatchi & Saatchi in Brazil. Marx will be driving the continuing development of the content marketing strategy at Lendlease. Marx is joined by Christy Chieng, junior analyst in the strategy team. In client service, Anastasia Potter joins Edge as senior account director across several of the agencys leading brands Lendlease, Petbarn, Philips, Greencross Vets and Westpac. Potter joins from Special Group and was previously an account director at Saatchi & Saatchi (NZ). Vivek Thakkar joins Edge as account manager across client brands Nulon and Volkswagen. Previously Vivek worked at Marc Edward Agency and Clemenger BBDO. Thakkars client history in FMCG and home brands included servicing Nikon, HP, Toshiba, Absolut, Snapple and Mars. After the recent appointment of Jo Giles as head of operations, Edge has also restructured the production team bringing in project managers with extensive film and digital production experience Sophia Delimihalis from Contented, and Danith Thai from Katalyst. Edge also continues to plunder mainstream publishers to fill the growing editorial team. Jillian Lewis has been hired as a senior editor from Bauer Media and Matilda Duffecy joins as an editor from News Ltd. Both work across new custom publishing wins such as Costco as well as the Suncorp Group of brands. Another Bauer departee, Annabelle Warwick joins Edge as senior travel editor, working across printed custom magazines for Rex, Cobham, Alliance and AirNorth airlines, and P&O Cruises. Increasing film work means Jake Ward joins Edge as film editor and motions graphics designer. | BY Ricki Green | The FireFlies Antipodes has moved the dates for its 2017 tour to 18th to 26th March 2017 and is making a last and final call for all Budding Flies and Virgin Flies. The ride covers 1000km+ over seven grueling days around Tasmania. Riders are dedicated to raising awareness and fundraising in the media world in aid of Beating Blood Cancers and Leukaemia. Riding with the spirit and motto For Those Who Suffer, We Ride the tour aims to raise AUD$50,000 for The Snowdome Foundation and their own fight against Blood Cancers. The FireFlies Tour was established in London in 2001 by advertising executive Sandy Watson Scott, chair, in recognition of relatives and friends battles with Cancer. Each year The FireFlies cycle 1,000km+ across the French Alps from Lake Geneva to Cannes and arrive during the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival. RSA Films is the premier sponsor of the tour, which from the outset has been generously supported by the patrons: film directors Sir Ridley Scott and the late Tony Scott. Thanks to international media sponsors, The FireFlies have to date raised in excess of AUD3 million to benefit the Hammersmith Hospital London, a world renowned leader in research and treatment of Leukaemia and other Blood Cancers. In 2007, FireFlies WEST was created, riding annually from San Francisco to Los Angeles raising money for the City of Hope Hospital in Southern California. After completing The FireFlies Tour in 2013, Wilf Sweetland, managing partner of The Sweet Shop, brought the tour to Australia and New Zealand with riders completing the inaugural tour from Christchurch to Queenstown in February 2015. Says Sweetland: The ride is both physically and emotionally punishing. Youve got to want to do it, have the strength to do it and youve got to have the heart to do it. The courage it takes to face blood cancer is unthinkable, and I can say from experience, theres no greater motivator when youre climbing those peaks. The support, community and friendships weve now grown around this event are extraordinary too. We are honoured to once again be raising money for The Snowdome Foundation. Theyre unlocking new treatments into early phase human clinical trials of next generation drugs and therapies and making hope real for the 11,500 Australians diagnosed every year with Blood Cancers. To register your interest for The FireFlies Antipodes (thefirefliesantipodes.com) please email Wilf: sweetland@thesweetshop.tv. To find out more about The FireFlies Tour (thefirefliestour.com) please email producer Laine Lindsay Law: LLL@rsafilms.co.uk. Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 8:45PM Mobile live streaming is such a ubiquitous feature on major platforms that it comes as no surprise YouTube is adding it to its service. At the moment though, it is open to creators with over 10,000 subscribers. The feature is baked into YouTubes mobile app and just like what youd see on Facebook or Instagram, you just need to hit the capture button and then you go live. Mobile live streams get the same features as usual YouTube videos. These can be searched for, found through recommendations and playlists, and protected from unauthorized us. When it was debuted back at VidCon 2016 in beta, one of the first users who got to try it out was Canadian creator UnboxTherapy. Now, its open to more users and YouTube promises itll be available to more creators soon. Launching alongside mobile live streaming is a new way for creators to earn revenue from the feature. Called Super Chat, its a monetization tool thatll allow fans watching live streams to stand out from all the commenters and grab the creators attention by purchasing chat messages. These will be highlighted in bright colors and will be pinned to the top of the chat window for up to five hours. It also helps creators earn a bit of extra money from their supporters. Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 9:14PM If you own a ZTE Axon 7, youre in for a treat. The smartphone is getting a significant update. It gets both Android Nougat and support for Googles Daydream virtual reality platform. With Android 7.0, the Axon 7 will get access to features like being able to run two apps side by side, new emojis, and better battery saving capabilities. Meanwhile, Daydream brings on the table the ability to get a great VR experience on an affordable phone. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. The new management plan envisages shooting kangaroos each year to maintain them at a density of about one per hectare on grassland - and less in woodland and forest. In open woodland, the density is 0.9 kangaroos a hectare, in woodland 0.5 kangaroos a hectare and in open forest and other forest the density will be just 0.1 kangaroos a hectare. Numbers are much higher on many reserves. By offering its services to members at the Sofia-based NetIX hub, where members can exchange traffic with more than 2,700 direct peers, the Tier-1 service will improve the coverage of and expand the customer base of Sparkles virtual network access point (VNAP) service in Europe. Leveraging its 560,000km global backbone, Sparkle will be able to attract new customers among NetIX members whilst enriching its own VNAP customer base, which will provide customers with a "virtual presence" without deploying IP equipment nor implementing and managing complex proprietary international infrastructure. Performance is guaranteed with Sparkles state-of-the-art MPLS backbone. The news comes after Ooredoo Tunisia launches a multi-service point of presence (PoP) at Sparkles Sicily Hub, which is served by Seabone. Raha presently serves more than 1,500 businesses as well as a number of smaller retail customers with fibre, satellite, WiMAX and Wifi. They also operate in over 150 hotspot locations across the country including the cities of Arusha, Moshi, Mwanza, Mbeya and Tanga. Nic Rudnick, CEO, Liquid Telecom said: We are very pleased to announce that this transaction has received its final approval. The agreement enables Liquid Telecom to expand its footprint into Tanzania, a growing and dynamic African country. The acquisition of Raha by Liquid Telecom will provide enterprises and wholesale customers with direct and faster access to networks across Africa. Tanzania becomes the latest market to be added to Liquid Telecoms large fibre network, presently the largest of its kind serving eastern, central and southern Africa. With Liquid Telecom's support, Raha can explore new ways to increase connectivity within Tanzania as well as to the rest of the region. We will also benefit from the groups skills and expertise, helping us to achieve our vision of a more connected Tanzania, says Aashiq Shariff, CEO, Raha. Our rollout plans will allow us to extend fibre coverage to thousands of new customers and create hundreds of new jobs. Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. In another eventful occurrence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a fresh announcement has been made by the college on the seats allocated for the batch of the upcoming year. JNU has cut down the student intake for MPhil and PhD courses and scrapped fresh admission in some departments. There is a possibility that this move might again kindle student protests as some students claim that proper permission was not taken from the statutory bodies to downsize the students' admission. However, the university officials claim that the student intake has been altered within the prescribed norms. The School of Social Sciences (SSS) has reduced 232 seats, followed by School of International Studies (SIS) 141 and School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies 73, according to the new announcement. Currently, SSS has 330, that of SIS 232 and School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies is 227. There will not be any new admissions into Centre for African Studies, Centre for East African Studies, Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion, and Centre for Media Studies. There are other JNU departments which have reduced the seats. They are Centre for European Studies (6), Centre for Inner Asian Studies (13), Centre for International Legal Studies (7), Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (37), Centre for West Asian Studies (11), Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies (35), Centre for Arabic Studies (24), Centre for English Studies (13) and Centre for Indian Languages (49). Sucheta De, President, All India Students Association (AISA) has also criticised the move."Students may or may not be admitted in a year. According to this formula, students will have to be admitted so that the API (Academic Performance Index) criteria for teachers are fulfilled and nd there is no need to create vacancies for teachers now," she said. A senior university official who did not wish to be named said, "The calculations have been carefully done by the evaluation department and any reduction or increase in the intake has been done within the prescribed norms." Suspended JNU Students Flash Caste Cards for their Misfortune The BMW Group announced on Wednesday that 44-year-old Slovakian Jozef Kaban will replace Karim Habib as the BMW brands chief designer. Kaban comes to BMW after holding various positions in the Volkswagen Group, including the head of Audis exterior design in 2006, before being promoted to chief designer at Skoda in early 2008, a position he held until today, overseeing the modernization of the Czech brands products. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia, Kaban has been credited for penning the exterior design of two very diverse vehicles, the VW Groups most expensive car before the Chiron, the original Bugatti Veyron EB16.4, and one of its most affordable, the VW Lupo and Seat Arosa twins. The German company said that Karim Habib, who was responsible for BMW brand design since 2012, left the company of his own accord without explaining further. We naturally respect Karim Habibs decision and wish him every success in his new business endeavours, commented BMW Group Chief Designer, Adrian van Hooydonk. As part of BMWs design division shake up, the company promoted 41-year old Domagoj Dukec to lead the BMW M and i sub-brands. Dukec has been with the BMW Group since 2010 having being responsible for the exterior design of the BMW brand and, most recently, BMW i design. Both Kaban and Dukec will work under the direction of Adrian van Hooydonk. I am looking forward to this strengthening of the BMW Group design team, said van Hooydonk. Both Jozef Kaban and Domagoj Dukec bring the experience, talent and vision we need for the future direction of our design. Photo Gallery Faraday Future has been hit with a lawsuit alleging that it failed to pay a broker for acquiring FF.com on behalf of the electric automaker. A 10-page complaint filed against Faraday in San Francisco County Superior Court alleges that Domains Cable was not paid a 15 per cent agreement after negotiating a deal to purchase FF.com from Bank of America for $1.5 million. In the complaint, viewable on Jalopnik, it is alleged that Faradays former head of corporate communications, Marcus Nelson, employed the help of Suraj Rajwani from Domains Cable to think of a name for the start-up automaker and to register an appropriate domain name. During negotiations, Nelson said that Faraday would give Rajwani a fee on top of the domains purchase price. Rajwani soon began negotiating with Bank of America to purchase the domain FF.com and put forward an offer of $150,000. Bank of America counter-offered with $2.5 million. Rajwani ultimately told Faraday that he had got the asking price down to $1.5 million. Unbeknownst to him, the electric automaker took matters into its own hands and went directly to Bank of America to purchase the domain for $1.4 million, cutting out the middle man (Rajwani). In the lawsuit, Rajwani asks for no less than $210,000 alongside miscellaneous costs and expenses of the suit. PHOTO GALLERY A report from Italys transport ministry has revealed that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was permitted to skip a number of key tests as part of the countrys emissions-cheating investigation. The report, analyzed by Reuters, includes a number of different tests for illegal engine software, all of which were completed by Volkswagen, Opel, BMW, Ford and Mercedes-Benz. However, for the Jeep Cherokee 2.0, Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.6 and Lancia Ypsilon 1.3 tested, results from the on-road measurement phase of the tests and a reversed version of the EUs NEDC lab test have been omitted. Additionally, these three FCA vehicles as well as four others, are missing data from the Artemis test, designed to adjust the EU lab regime to reflect urban driving styles. All of the three key tests skipped have been designed to uncover diesel defeat devices but no explanation has been given as to why the FCA models didnt undergo them. During comparable German and French tests, it was discovered that the aforementioned Cherokee 2.0 emitted between 5.3 and 9.9 times the legal NOx limit. Additionally, testing of a Fiat 500L with the same 1.6-liter engine as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta discovered that the powertrain emitted 5.6 times the legal NOx limit. In a statement, Italys transport ministry spokeswoman Luisa Gabbi said that a new version of the document would be released to include more comprehensive testing data of FCAs models, saying No key test has been omitted for FCA. PHOTO GALLERY An automotive industry research group has suggested that Jaguar Land Rover could suffer the most if President Trump enforces a harsh border tax on imports. According to Baum & Associates LLC, Jaguar Land Rover will have to raise the prices of its U.S. models by over $17,000 per vehicle in the United States to recoup the costs lost by import tariffs. By comparison, Ford may only have to hike up its prices by $282 per vehicle while General Motors could increase them by $995. Baum & Associates also estimates that Volvo could raise its prices by $7,600 while Volkswagen may employ $6,800 price increases per vehicle, reports The Detroit News. However, if such international automakers have any hopes of remaining competitive in the U.S., it is unlikely that they would raise prices by more than a few thousand dollars and instead accept lower profits and sales. The lead author of the report, Dan Luria, says that the proposed border tax could encourage automakers to boost U.S. production and reduce production elsewhere. The net result of this could be an additional 1 million vehicles being produced annually in the U.S. with 50,000 new jobs in the sector created. However, large companys like Toyota and Wal-Mart warn that prices of everyday consumables, including food, water and gasoline could all increase as a result. PHOTO GALLERY We live in crazy times no doubt when someone can just walk in a dealership and can walk away with the keys of a Ford Mustang capable of pumping out four digits worth of horsepower. Lebanon Ford announced the launch of the twin-turbo LFP Hellion Mustang, with LFP standing for Lebanon Ford Performance. Pricing starts from $44,499 -before taxes and fees but with labor costs included- which gets you a brand-new Ford Mustang GT with the 300A pack and a Hellion Twin Turbo System fitted, making it capable of producing up to 1,200hp with supporting mods. There is also a second pack, priced at $49,995 which adds new fuel injectors, a fuel pump voltage booster, oil pump gears and new halfshafts strong enough for 800hp. Hellions twin-turbo system is designed to operate from 5lbs of boost to over 30lbs, at which the car is capable of the headline figure. Even with just 5lbs of boost though, the LFP Hellion Mustang makes around 550hp at the wheels (over 600hp at the crank claimed) but those wishing to explore the full potential of the setup will have to spend more money in order to experience the real deal. The twin-turbo conversion is also available for existing Mustang owners. With Dodge about to reveal the Challenger SRT Demon and the new Mustang GT500 still away from hitting the roads, Ford fans with a heavy right foot and a love for ridiculous figures might be interested in the news. H/T to Jalopnik! PHOTO GALLERY In an attempt to demonstrate how their 2018 Atlas SUV can be enhanced by adding on smart accessories, VW will be showcasing the Atlas Weekend Edition Concept in Chicago. Aesthetically, fans of the brand might be able to recognize the throwback Weekender packages that were once offered on classic models such as the Vanagon and Eurovan pop-up camper models. Based on the SEL Premium version, the Weekend Edition concept features a 276 HP 3.6-liter VR6 engine, working alongside an 8-speed transmission as well as the automakers advanced 4Motion all-wheel drive system with Drive Mode Select. Features include the 18 Prisma wheels, dressed up in a custom anthracite gray, the Urban Loader cargo box (a modern variation of the pop-up roof), and base carrier bars for attaching accessories. The Urban Loader can even transform into a 17.7 cu-ft (501 liters) container whenever the driver needs more space to haul things around. Inside, the Atlas Weekend Edition comes with a cargo divider, providing a safe pet-friendly barrier behind the second row of seats which also features a universal tablet mount. Other accessories include window and hood deflectors, a heavy-duty trunk liner with seat-back coverage, a privacy cargo cover, all-weather rubber mats, splash guards and wheel locks. The German automaker says that many of these accessories will be available at VW dealers once the Atlas goes on sale this spring. PHOTO GALLERY Hao ji le (Have a Nice Day) is the first Chinese animated feature selected to screen in competition at the Berlin Film Festival. The festivals 67th edition starts later this week. The 75-minute hand-drawn film is directed by Liu Jian, who produced one of Chinas first indie animated features, Piercing I (Citong wo), back in 2010. Jians own company, Le-joy Animation Studio, produced the film in partnership with Nezha Bros. Pictures. Have A Nice Day will have its gala screening in Berlin on Friday, February 17, followed by four additional screenings. JNU bags 'Best University' award from President IANS, New Delhi | Published : 7th February, 2017 The Jawaharlal University (JNU) has been announced the winner of the third "Visitor's Award", presented annually by the President to the "best" central university. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Vice Chancellor of JNU, expressed his gratitude to the combined efforts of the students and faculty which eventually resulted in its winning the award. "This is a matter of great delight for the entire JNU community that our university has won the Visitor's Award for the best central university in the India. This recognition is the result of all students, faculty and staff, and their diligence, hard work and indefatigable efforts," Kumar said in a statement. "I am confident and has enormous faith in all of you that in coming years the University would be crowned with many more awards and recognition of achievements," he added. The award was instituted by President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015 and was given in the categories of "Best University", "Innovation", and "Research". The first "Best University" was given to the Hydrabad Central University. The award to the JNU has come following a year during which the university was agitated with hyperactivity -- be it the February 9 incident when "anti-national" slogans raised on the campus or the disappearance of a student named Najeeb Ahmed on October 15. Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions Photo: The Canadian Press White House press secretary Sean Spicer PR people in Canada are putting their own spin on Donald Trump condemning "alternative facts." The Canadian Public Relations Society is calling for a "renewed focus on ethical public relations," in light of recent political statements in the U.S. "Recent events in the U.S. have positioned 'alternative facts' as a potential function of high-level public and media relations," says Kim Blanchette, the national board president, in a blog post. The CPRS says it's joining its U.S. sister organization the Public Relations Society of America in objecting to any effort to deliberately misrepresent information by public relations practitioners. "The position of CPRS is clear: Ethical, honest, and respectful methods of communication are crucial for public relations to achieve mutual understanding, realize organizational goals, and serve the public interest," says the post. Photo: The suspect vehicle The Penticton RCMP is looking for those responsible for a break and enter at an Okanagan Falls vineyard last month. According to Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth, at about 6:20 a.m. on Jan. 29 a call was received from the Thomas Ranch Vineyard about a break and enter where a hole was cut through a fence on Oliver Ranch Road. Once on the property, suspects attempted to steal gas from the gas pumps. When they found the power was shut off due to past thefts, the suspects tried to get the pumps running by removing a car battery from a tractor to power the pumps. That didnt work, but the thieves still managed to syphon a large amount of gas. Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Phil Moses of the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300. An open letter to Minister Gould, Ministry of Democratic Institutions, on electoral reform: Minister Gould,let me try to make this subject easier to understand. People are not fixated on the method that is used to account and assign votes. What they are fixated on is that we need a paradigm shift in the way you conduct our politics. They think that you as a group conduct our business in an asinine and unproductive way, and that does not rise even anywhere near mediocrity. It is old, corrupt and misguided in this current world. It was clear from that peculiar quiz your predecessor conducted that they public wants more constructiveness, less consumptive partisanism, genuine representation of constituents in Parliament, and a much more cooperative and innovative system. And they are well aware that will not be forthcoming under this system. It is the basic driving forces of the existing system they want radically changed, to a system that will make change possible. And this is the electoral reform they look for. Your leader decided to run game on the subject because he wanted to back out of his promise, stiffed you with a phoney excuse saying there had been an amazing public transformation on the subject since his promise. Bullfeathers. Nobody believes this and you will forever be associated with this lie. So, we are stuck with a system that presides over a voter decline from apathy (in the 5th decile), that is universally disliked and disrespected, and that is unable to solve the most tractable problems of this country. It is shamefully old, decrepit, and an embarrassment to the country. Quick, name another developed country that still has the same old voting stations as the only way to vote, unchanged in the last 100 years! Uh,I didn't think so. That should tell you something. Why you as a group don't have more pride in your institution is beyond me. You rank next to the bottom of professions in public esteem and trust, but you are insular, shameless and indeed inert, when it comes to this subject. This system demands this of you, and making comprehensive change is just too much for you to contemplate. You are stuck in your rut and can't come up with the vision, initiative and collective wisdom to get you out. Your leader has just shown he has succumbed to its evils; he has already stared into its Nietzcheian abyss, and has fallen into Acton's warning of the corruptions of power. Now we get stiffed - with a government that is no bigger, or as small as, than what exists between Justin Trudeau's ears,for the system has been corrupted so as to make all real power to be held by one person. In that process your system has methodically crushed democracy to a very low level. Lastly, I personally can't get over the feeling of being ruled. You see yourself as the landlords of the country and we are the tenants. It must have been what the Brits felt 200 years ago. And I can't help feeling that I am probably wasting my time writing this letter. Roy Roope It seems here in Kelowna, if we are told to not do something, the majority does it even more! Texting, speeding, talking on the phone while driving, not signalling, jay walking, etc, etc. There seems to be such a low level of consideration for others in this town, it is disheartening. We absolutely need more police, ticketing more, pulling over speeders, and so on. We need bylaw officers that ticket jay walkers and cyclists not wearing their helmets. I have sat at the corner of Harvey and Richter, waiting to cross the highway, and watched people break bylaws right in front of the bylaw office! I almost ran a girl over at Richter and the highway, as I was heading to Westbank. She was casually strolling across the highway, with a green light on the highway! No hurrying, nothing! Patrick Bonar Photo: Dustin Godfrey Should the public be able to vote the mayor and members of council out of office? In a delegation to council on Tuesday, Elvena Slump sought to encourage just that. In her presentation, she noted a 2015 Union of B.C. Municipalities resolution that, if adopted in Provincial Legislature, would have introduced legislation to allow the electorate to eject their local government with signatures from more than 50 per cent of registered voters. That resolution, passed by the UBCM in September 2015, did not bear fruit, and there remains no avenue for residents to recall members of council or the mayor, which Slump says leaves the electorate with few avenues to shape the city at all. It also left a vacuum for the residents of municipalities as it left elected officials with the ability to make long-range plans unchecked, Slump said. Penticton city council is continuing with its plans to reform and dramatically change the city and there are no means at the disposal of the voters to change the direction of this council, other than taking the city to court and the taxpayers, effectively suing themselves. That, according to Slump, breeds distrust in the system. Over the course of three months in 2015, Slump says a petition was circulated that collected around 3,000 signatures from residents asking for recall legislation similar to the resolution put forth at UBCM. B.C. is currently the only province in Canada that offers the ability to oust a legislator, according to the Elections BC website. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit offered that with another Southern Interior Local Governments Association resolution being voted on in the Tuesday meeting, it would be an opportunity for a councillor to introduce a recall resolution to go to SILGA. No official resolution has been approved by council yet, but discussions did take place on how best to submit a similar resolution to the 2015 without submitting a resolution that has already been passed by UBCM. We may want to add something around ... tying the number of voting stations and locations to whats in provincial legislation, so its the same amount per capita, Jakubeit said. If you essentially submit the same thing that UBCM endorsed, but the province said were not going to act on, Im not even sure if it gets selected or permitted. Photo: The Canadian Press The federal government said Tuesday it will provide $372.5 million in repayable loans to Bombardier, a move that elicited criticism over concerns that the company was being unfairly subsidized. The money would be handed out in instalments over four years to support the Global 7000 and CSeries aircraft projects, the government said. Most of the loans would go to the Global 7000 business aircraft program, which is scheduled to go into commercial service next year. The rest would go to the CSeries passenger jet, which was mired in delays and cost overruns prior to entering commercial service last year. Several federal cabinet ministers made the announcement Tuesday evening at a Bombardier facility in Montreal. "The CSeries is an extraordinary plane," Transport Minister Marc Garneau told a news conference. "It started out on a piece of paper and then became the best plane in the world in its class. This is something we should all be proud about." Last year, Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) received a US$1-billion investment for the CSeries passenger jet program from the Quebec government in exchange for a 49.5-per-cent stake. The company also sold a 30 per cent stake in its railway division to pension fund manager Caisse de depot for US$1.5 billion. Bombardier had also been appealing to Ottawa for US$1 billion in assistance since late 2015. "When Bombardier came to ask the government, they had particular needs," Garneau said when asked why Ottawa hadn't agreed to the US$1 billion request. "The situation has evolved evolved in the sense that the Quebec government has since invested and so has the Caisse de Depot. There was an increase in the orders with Air Canada and Delta. The company has restructured in an important way." Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare welcomed the federal help. "To have the federal government commit to research and development, to programs that are currently in place, is important and sends a strong signal to Bombardier and to the other players in the aerospace industry that the federal government is there to support this industry," Bellemare said. From a fiscal perspective, providing loans to Bombardier allows Ottawa to offer assistance without hurting the fiscal balance, as they would be recorded on the balance sheet as an asset. Nonetheless, the support drew swift condemnation. "This government started out with some encouraging talk about 'value for taxpayers,' but it's now the same old approach of giving big taxpayer subsidies to powerful corporate interests," Aaron Wudrick, federal director for the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, said in a statement issued within minutes of the announcement. The support for the Montreal-based manufacturer could also have repercussions abroad. Brazil has said it would launch a trade challenge against Canada before the World Trade Organization over financial support for Bombardier, which competes with Brazilian-based Embraer. Bombardier has said such a move would be without merit. Brazil has complained about US$2.5 billion in investments in Bombardier, including money to "ensure the viability of the new CSeries aircraft and its placing on the market at artificially reduced prices." In December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was hopeful a deal with Bombardier could be reached before the spring federal budget, adding that all countries, including Brazil, help their aerospace sectors. Trudeau's international trade minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, had one message for any country considering a trade challenge: bring it on. "I am very much prepared to fight for what we are doing tonight," he said. Photo: The Canadian Press Yahya Samatar, a Somali man who swam across the Red River from North Dakota to Manitoba and has since been granted refugee status. An increasing number of people seeking asylum are braving the elements of the open prairie to come into Canada from the United States, says the head of one small community that is calling for federal help to deal with the influx. Last weekend alone, 22 people crossed the border from North Dakota into Emerson-Franklin, RCMP confirmed Tuesday. Nineteen were put up in a community hall where they were supervised and fed by officials and volunteers in the community of 2,000 residents. "It's starting to get overwhelmed here, and now we're starting to have concerns that we maybe need to have more security or do something different," said Greg Janzen, the municipality's reeve. "We will be sending a bill to (the federal government) because there is a cost to our ratepayers." The area has always seen the occasional border jumper due to the short walk from communities such as Pembina or Noyes in North Dakota to Emerson-Franklin, which sits right on the boundary. The numbers have increased in recent months and have shot up dramatically in the last couple of weeks following planned new restrictions in the United States on refugees. Many of the border crossers are from African nations such as Somalia who have been living in the U.S, said Cliff Graydon, who represents the area in the Manitoba legislature. They have two choices at the border go to an official entry point and be turned back under the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S., or sneak onto Canadian soil, get picked up by police and start the refugee process with the help of non-profit groups. They used to come individually or in twos or threes, but are now coming in large groups after being driven to areas near the border. "A number of the people that are refugees are coming from the Minneapolis area, for example. There's a large core of Somalis there," Graydon said. Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Tuesday that border crossings in other parts of the country have also seen an increase, but the overall numbers are not as high as they were several years ago. "The number has risen over the last three or four years, but compared to 10 years ago, the number is substantially down," Goodale said in Ottawa. He said he would consider providing more resources to Emerson-Franklin and other areas, but was noncommittal. Graydon said an aggravating factor is that the RCMP has cut some positions in the surrounding communities. The Mounties are responsible for patrolling the border outside of official entry points. One of the highest-profile crossers was Yahya Samatar. Originally from Somalia and fearing persecution from a group affiliated with al-Qaida, he came to the United States and was denied refugee status. In the summer of 2015, he made his way from Minneapolis to the border area not far from Emerson-Franklin. He got lost, saw the Red River and jumped in, hoping that Canada was on the other side. After getting out and walking for another 45 minutes or so, he came across a Good Samaritan who helped him. Photo: Contributed The tornadoes that struck southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday injured about 20 people, destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and left about 10,000 customers without power, but no deaths were reported, the governor said. Gov. John Bel Edwards took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. The worst damage was in the same 9th Ward that was so heavily flooded in Hurricane Katrina. Edwards, a Democrat, said he was heartbroken to see some of the same people suffering again, and promised that the state will provide the affected citizens with the resources they need as quickly as possible. He said seven parishes were hit by tornadoes in an afternoon of tumultuous weather across southeastern Louisiana. Hatchet-wielding firefighters walked up and down the debris-strewn Chef Menteur Highway after the storm, looking for anyone missing or trapped. Their primary search came up empty, and a secondary search was planned to make sure and to better assess the damage. Edwards said he called in the Louisiana National Guard to police and secure the area, and urged people to stay away. "This is not a time to sight-see," he said. The storm ripped apart homes, toppled a gas station canopy, snapped tall power poles and flipped a food truck upside-down. It left shards of metal hanging from trees, and trapped a truck driver as power lines wrapped around his cab. The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama. Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the White House was monitoring the weather's impact, and that President Donald Trump would be reaching out to local and state officials. Yoshekia Brown lost everything to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now she's lost everything again: Three-quarters of her home in eastern New Orleans collapsed. "Sister, your house is gone," her brother told her as she drove home. She didn't believe it until she saw it herself. "I lived in between two blighted properties. One of those would have been gone before my house," she said. "It's just gone. Like the movie Twister." Luckily her 2-year-old son and three dogs have survived, and her home was insured. She said she's not sure what to do next, but said "something good has to come from this." Outside the heavily damaged Royal Palms Motel, Malcolm Ballard, 65, was left homeless by the tornado. His room was ransacked; the furniture and carpet soaked after the door and windows blew open. Kevin Ballard, 56, came to check on his older brother, but his own injuries turned out to be worse, with cuts and bruises on his head and neck, after an auto repair shop he was in collapsed around him. Photo: Contributed A Royal Canadian Air Force pilot with Saskatchewan roots could be headed to the stars. Jason Leuschen was born in B.C., but his family moved to a farm near Bruno, east of Saskatoon, when he was three years old. He eventually earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan before joining the RCAF to train as a helicopter pilot. Now Leuschen is one of 72 candidates remaining in the Canadian Space Agency's search to fill two positions for astronauts. The competition began with 3,700 applicants. Leuschen's father, David, said Bruno is already buzzing at the prospect of being home to an astronaut. "One of his classmates already sent me a thing saying: 'I'm proud enough to say that I went to school with him, and I'm telling everybody that,'" he said. David added he's not surprised to see his son chasing a dream to go to space. "He was always into science fairs, building robots and laser beams and so on," he said. The CSA will announce its final selections this summer. Photo: The Canadian Press Sen. Elizabeth Warren has earned a rare rebuke by the Senate for quoting Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor. The Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chamber's arcane rules by reading a three-decade-old letter from Dr. Martin Luther King's widow that dated to Sen. Jeff Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. The chamber is debating the Alabama Republican's nomination for attorney general, with Democrats dropping senatorial niceties to oppose Sessions and Republicans sticking up for him. King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to "chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens." Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Sessions, though senators have said far worse stuff. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate. Still, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions' nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. Warren argued: "I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. I'm simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her." Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by former Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that labeled Sessions a disgrace. Middle Eastern Christians Feel Betrayed By American Christians On January 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting immigration from certain Muslim countries. Contrary to the mainstream media's narrative, these countries had previously been singled out by the Obama Administration as terrorist risks. The text of Trump's executive order provides for exceptions for those who are "religious minorities" in their country of origin. Trump said in an interview that he wants to make persecuted Christians a priority; he wants to help them. Many Christian conservatives I follow on Twitter were quick to cry out, "What about the Muslims?!" The New York Times jumped at the chance to tell the world that Christian leaders have denounced the president's plan to favor Christian immigrants. The reaction of American Christians betrays Middle Eastern Christians; they are exhibiting a simplistic understanding of loving your neighbor, and a disregard of one of God's commands. In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul encouraged the Christian brethren to bear one another's burdens; his instructions are for those in the family of God. He instructed them thus: "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." He revisited this command in 1 Timothy 5:8: "If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Scripture enjoins us to take care of not only our personal families, but the family of Christ; other Christians -- those called brethren. American Christians of all denominations are right to "love the sojourner" (Deuteronomy 10:19), but I would like to remind my fellow believers that Scripture tells us to especially care for those "who are of the household of faith." As Christians, we don't get to cherry-pick verses to push a particular agenda. Our duty is to God first -- taking his full counsel and staying away from simplistic attitudes that manipulate religion to fit a particular ideology. In less than a decade (2004--2011), the Chaldo-Assyrian Christian population in Iraq was reduced from more than a million to approximately 150,000 people. Michael Brendan Dougherty elaborated on that in his gut-wrenching article at The Week. If you have not already done so, I highly encourage you to spend some time ruminating on that piece. Dougherty quoted a Christian shopkeeper: "Tell the EU and the Americans that we sent you Saint Paul 2,000 years ago to take you from the darkness, and you sent us terrorists to kill us." In God's providence, we now have a leader in Trump, who seems to want to do something decent and good for persecuted Christians in the Arab world. But instead of celebrating and encouraging a better executed plan of action, their brothers and sisters in America shouted across social media, "What about the Muslims?!" There was a time when America showed itself fully capable of protecting its Christian brethren. The Barbary pirates used to capture Christians and sell them in the Ottoman slave market. America paid ransoms and used the new U.S. Navy to rescue the Christians. Elliott Abrams, in his Weekly Standard piece "Why Do We Not Save Christians?" recounted this early 19th-century conflict in the Barbary Wars. Today, American Christians have lost that sense of duty toward their brethren in other parts of the world. This is due partly to the comfortable individualistic culture in our country, and partly it is a subtle -- possibly even unconscious -- belief that it is more righteous to help those who are unlike us. Abrams wrote, Today, Christians are under special threat in the Middle East. The possibility that Christian refugees will be able to go home and reconstruct their communities and lead normal lives is far lower than are the chances for their Muslim neighbors. The level of continuing discrimination and physical threat against them is high, and in Syria and Iraq they will always constitute tiny and powerless groups. The argument for reaching out to rescue Christian refugees and those from other threatened religious minorities is clear: They are worse off than their Muslim neighbors. They face special circumstances, of which we should in all fairness take account. To turn away from them because they are Christian and we do not wish to be accused of favoritism toward Christians is a shameful position for Americans -- Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist -- to take. Christians have a special duty to care for and protect their brethren. Any opposing opinion is wrong, misguided and contrary to Scripture. Furthermore, the responsibilities of private individuals and governments differ. Understood correctly, the concept of turning the other cheek is a good practice for Christian citizens, but it is a very poor and highly dangerous foreign policy. The American project began with Christian minorities' coming to this new world; the precedence of our country's history is one showing that previous generations of Christians in this land knew they had an obligation to protect those in the family of faith. There's a sickness in the Arab world. A fury so wild and deep no one knows how to stop it. It is a desire to destroy and subject everything which is other; everything that is not itself. More often than not, it is the minorities -- especially Christians -- who are the other on which this fury is unleashed. Middle Eastern Christians feel betrayed by our Christian brethren here, and are persecuted and killed there. Is there no place on earth for us to live in peace and dignity? Will no one look with pity on us? Must we be continually cast aside for expediency, greed or political correctness? People who reject their own will not survive. In the end, it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. There are good, conscientious and robust answers to the quagmire in which we find ourselves. We must also remember that there are Christians and other minorities who want to stay in their ancestral homeland. I'm in full agreement with The Philos Project Executive Director Robert Nicholson, who said, "Any executive or legislative measure designed to get minorities out of region should be paired with a companion measure to help people stay." Ideally, there should be an ongoing and thriving Christian presence in nations across the Levant and the entire Middle East, but that is not happening right now, nor perhaps will, in this generation. We can and ought to be making plans to facilitate such a world, but in the meantime, there is a trickling genocide from which our brethren need relief. But even with Trump's executive order, Christians may not get relief. Lymon Stone, in "Here's What Trump's Immigration Order Says And How It Needs To Be Fixed," offers thorough analysis of the executive order, showing that -- as the EO stands right now -- it may effectively reduce Christian refugees even further. So all of the fuss over any kind of priority for Middle Eastern Christians may be moot. Which makes American Christians' participation in this outcry even more offensive. I plead with American Christians to stop betraying their Christian brethren in the Middle East. Your stance on this does not help anyone. No one is asking you to stop having compassion for non-Christian refugees. As an Iraqi Christian, I ask that you take pity on your fellow Christians. Begin with charity for them. Work for better immigration laws and a more thorough vetting process. Part of improving the situation for all refugees means taking the time to learn about Da'Wah, the process of Islamization, so that we can all work together to ensure it doesn't happen in our country. And finally, let us all work to heal our internal discord. February 8, Saint. Source: Catholicsaints.info Founder of the Order of Somascha Canonization date: 1767 by Pope Clement XIII SHORT BIOGRAPHY Jerome was born in 1486, the son of a noble family of Venice, Italy. He was a good soldier and was put in command of a fortress high in the mountains. While defending this post from an invasion by some troops of Maximilian I, he was taken prisoner and thrown into a dungeon. Chained in that miserable prison, he began to regret the careless way he had been living. He was sorry that he had thought so little about God. He was sorry for wasting several years in immoral living. Jerome promised the Blessed Mother that he would change his life if she would help him. His prayers were answered and he escaped to safety. It is said that Jerome, with a grateful heart, went straight to a church. He hung his prison chains in front of Mary's altar. The young man eventually became a priest. He was devoted to works of charity. His special concern was for the many homeless orphan children he found in the streets. He rented a house for them, and gave them clothes and food. He instructed them in the truths of the faith. St. Jerome started a religious congregation of men called the Company of the Servants of the Poor. They would care for the poor, especially orphans, and would teach youth. He did all he could for the peasants, too. He would work with them in the fields. St. Jerome would talk to them of God's goodness while he worked by their side. He died while caring for plague victims in 1537. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Benedict XIV in 1767. St. Jerome Emiliani was a gift to the people of his time and to all the Church. By totally turning his life around, he became an image of the love of God. He gave hope to those who were poor and abandoned. In 1928, Pope Pius XI named him the patron saint of orphans and homeless children. Photo: The Canadian Press About 15,000 residents of a shantytown beside Manila's port have lost their homes in a fire that raged overnight before being put out Wednesday morning, officials said. Fire department officials said 1,000 homes were gutted in the sprawling Parola Compound, where several families often share tiny houses running along narrow alleyways. Fire officer Edilberto Cruz said seven people suffered minor injuries in the fire that broke out Tuesday night then quickly spread. No fatalities were reported. Three evacuation centres were opened, and food and water are being provided to the 3,000 families who lost their homes, said welfare officer Regina Jane Mata. But hours after the blaze was put out, many of the people were still huddled on a nearby road with their belongings, including clothes and even washing machines and electric fans. The fire snarled traffic, blocking delivery trucks going to and from the port. Photo: Thinkstock.com Health Canada says it will be conducting random testing of medical cannabis goods made by licensed producers. The move follows voluntary recalls by two companies after their products were found to contain low levels of prohibited pest control substances. Under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, licensed producers are permitted to use only the 13 compounds that are currently approved for use on cannabis under the Pest Control Products Act. The department says corrective actions have been implemented by both companies, including an expanded testing regime that covers pest control products. Health Canada said Tuesday in a release that the random testing is designed to assure Canadians that they are receiving safe, quality-controlled cannabis goods. It says it will be providing additional compliance education and information to licensed producers to support their efforts to strengthen controls and safeguards. Photo: The Canadian Press A Tacoma resident has been charged with trying to trade marijuana for food stamps through a Craigslist ad while on work-release from prison. The News Tribune reported Tuesday that the 28-year-old suspect was charged last week with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana by a prisoner and trafficking in food coupons. Court documents say police were alerted to the suspect's online advertisement by a state Department of Social and Health Services investigator. An officer then arranged a deal with the suspect to trade 2 ounces of pot for about $500 in food stamps. The suspect was arrested when he met with the officer at a store parking lot. According to data from the department, fraudulent use of food benefits costs the state $11 million a year. Photo: The Canadian Press At the peak of the last oil boom, there were so many people living in the southeastern Saskatchewan city of Estevan that there was nowhere to stay. "We had people sleeping in trailers sleeping in vehicles, if you can believe that," recalled Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig. Then oil prices fell, drilling activity slowed to a crawl and Ludwig figures the community lost about 2,000 people, mostly transient workers. By last fall, Estevan had a vacancy rate of 27.6 per cent, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It's much the same situation in Alberta, where big-city vacancy rates were in the single digits five years ago. These days, about 37 per cent of rental houses and condominiums are sitting empty in Calgary, and the comparable rate in Edmonton is about 27 per cent, said Shamon Kureshi, president and CEO of Calgary-based Hope Street Real Estate Corp. One wouldn't know it from Wednesday's release of the first tranche of data from 2016 census, this batch focused on population and dwellings. For the second straight census period, Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon topped the list of fastest-growing cities in Canada, with double-digit growth rates of 14.6 per cent, 13.9 per cent and 12.5 per cent, respectively. Alberta remains the fastest-growing province in the country at 11.6 per cent, with Saskatchewan a distant second at 6.3 per cent. Manitoba was third at 5.8 per cent. Growth in Alberta may appear strong, but population estimates suggested a slowdown over the last two years leading up to census day, thanks to declining oil prices. Laurent Martel, director of the demography division at Statistics Canada, said Alberta has recently drawn fewer people from other provinces than it did during the oil boom. And what to make of those towering vacancy rates? It's probably got more to do with all the extra housing capacity that was built when the good times were at their peak. "There's been a huge building boom particularly in Saskatchewan, but in Western Canada in general and these builders are working on all eight cylinders or all 12 cylinders," said Kureshi. "But one of the things that's happening and causing this sort of tidal wave of rental property, is that the new homes and the new condos and the highrises that these builders are constructing, aren't selling because there's just no money and no people to take them." People flocked to Western Canada when oil prices were high. Potash and uranium prices boosted Saskatchewan's fortunes, too. Jobs were plentiful. Saskatchewan and Alberta both embarked on aggressive campaigns to attract workers from other provinces. "Five years ago, if you walked into a coffee shop in Saskatoon or Regina, it would be very difficult not to hear, 'Oh I just moved here from so-and-so, such-a-place,' and all these people are moving there for jobs and opportunity," said Kureshi. The downturn notwithstanding, many people are staying "for the simple reason that the grass isn't necessarily any greener" in other parts of Canada, he added which explains why the growth rates have continued to climb. Interprovincial migration has slowed, but the Prairies are clearly still growing, said Trevor Tombe, assistant professor of economics at the University of Calgary. Photo: The Canadian Press After Debbie Clarke's first child had reached the "terrible twos," she and her husband decided their family of three was big enough adding a sibling would be just too much. "At the time, I was working really late hours and I just didn't think it was fair to have another child when I didn't really have the time and the energy to put into another child," said Clarke of Mississauga, Ont., whose son Austin is now 15. "When he was younger, it was very hectic because I had to work nights. My husband worked days. I thought to myself, 'You know what? I have to do what I think I can handle physically, emotionally financially ... I think one is good enough for me.'" Clarke is among a growing proportion of Canadian women choosing to have only one child or none at all. And that trend towards limited child-bearing is increasingly reflected in Canada's average fertility rate, which 2016 census figures released Wednesday have pegged at 1.6 per cent, slightly higher than the 1.59 posted by Statistics Canada three years earlier. One outlier? Nunavut, which is home to the highest fertility rates in Canada: women there give birth to 2.9 children on average, fuelling the territory's growth rate of 12.7 per cent, the highest in the country. The fertility rate refers to the number of children a hypothetical woman would have over the course of her reproductive life, based on females aged 15 to 49. In Canada, that rate has been steadily falling over the last several decades: 1971 was the last year when the average number of children matched the 2.1 replacement level needed for the population to renew itself, without being bolstered by immigration. "The first thing to think about is this is an average, so we still have a few families that have five and six children, and increasingly we have families who have none," said Nora Spinks, CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family, acknowledging that smaller families are progressively becoming the norm. "One of the major reasons people are having fewer children is a combination of circumstances and biology," she said. More women are choosing to start a family later in life, compared to earlier generations. In the 1960s, for instance, the average age for a first birth was about 22. Today, that age has been pushed to 30 and beyond. Immigration has been the lifeblood of population growth since 1999. About two-thirds of current expansion is driven by the arrival of new Canadians, while natural increases make up the remaining third, according to Statistics Canada. Based on a medium-growth scenario, immigration could account for more than 80 per cent of the country's population increase beginning in 2031, the agency says. Without a sustained level of immigration, it says Canada's growth rate could be close to zero in 20 years as the population ages and projected fertility rates lag replacement level. Photo: Contributed Colin Basran is having growing pains. In some ways a victim of his own success, the mayor of Kelowna has been struggling in recent years to rein in the city as it slowly spreads, testing his ability to provide core municipal services and build badly needed infrastructure. Nor is the city's middle-aged spread at all unique, according to the 2016 census data released Wednesday: Canada's population of 35.15 million is settling in the bigger cities, ensuring they and their suburban neighbours keep growing, while small cities get smaller. The three biggest metropolitan areas in the country Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are now home to more than one-third of all Canadians with a combined population of 12.5 million, with almost one half living in Toronto and its suburban neighbours, the data shows. Canada is once again the fastest growing country in the G7, Statistics Canada says in the first of what will be seven tranches of 2016 census data to be released over the course of the year. Wednesday's release focused on population and dwellings; the next one, in May, will be focused on age and sex. The latest figures also show that the once yawning gulf in growth rates between the spreading suburbs and their urban centres has continued to narrow, with young professionals and aging baby boomers alike opting for the downtown-condominium life. The census shows that 82 per cent of Canadian population live in large and medium-sized cities across the country, one of the highest concentrations among G7 nations. Immigration has driven that change with new arrivals settling in urban centres as opposed to rural communities. "The municipalities located on the edge of the (census metropolitan areas) are growing faster than the municipalities located (in the centre) of the census metropolitan area," said Laurent Martel, director of the demography division at Statistics Canada. "Also the rural areas located outside the census metropolitan areas, but close to them, are also growing faster than rural areas much farther away, so that's also a sign of an urban spread phenomenon." Canada's rural population is aging at a much faster rate than those in the urban centres, which tend to attract younger families, said Michael Haan, a sociology professor at Western University in London, Ont. "Demographers call cities population sinks for a reason," Haan said. "Imagine you had all sorts of water on a counter and it all just runs into the sink and it never comes out again." In Kelowna, officials are encouraging people to live in areas that are already built out, as opposed to pushing the boundaries of the community further and further with new subdivisions. The city's growth rate over the last five years was 8.4 per cent the sixth highest among metropolitan areas in the nation pushing its population to 194,882, the census found. "What we're trying to do, as many communities are, is really trying to stop or limit sprawl and densify the areas that we already have because we know infrastructure is expensive," Basram said. Not all cities and towns in Canada are looking to keep their borders from expanding. Many are simply trying to hold on. Several small towns in Nova Scotia not attached to an urban centre, such as New Glasgow, Cumberland and Digby, watched their population figures drop in the census. Saint John, N.B., was one of only two metropolitan regions across Canada that saw a drop between 2011 and 2016 from 70,065 to 67,575 mirroring a larger provincial trend. New Brunswick's population declined by 0.5 per cent, the only province to post negative growth since 2006. Almost one-third of Canadians now live in the West, the region's largest share ever. Calgary and Edmonton were the fastest growing cities between 2011 and 2016, with Calgary leap-frogging Ottawa for fourth-largest overall behind the big three of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Photo: Contributed Brazil has launched a formal complaint to the World Trade Organization over Canadian subsidies to the aerospace sector, hours after the federal government announced $372.5-million in interest-free loans to Bombardier. The South American government says in a news release that it has requested consultations with Canada under the WTO dispute settlement system. Brazil says Canadian federal, provincial and local subsidies "artificially affect the international competitiveness of the sector" in a way that is inconsistent with Canada's WTO obligations. It says the timing and location of talks should be agreed upon by the two countries in the coming weeks. Bombardier rival Embraer says it supports Brazil's move to challenge what it says is US$4 billion in support from various levels of government, including US$2.5 billion last year alone. Company CEO Paulo Cesar Silva says the subsidies have helped the development and survival of the CSeries passenger jet program and allowed Bombardier to sell the plane at artificially low prices. Last year, Bombardier received a US$1-billion investment for the CSeries from the Quebec government in exchange for a 49.5-per-cent stake. The company also sold a 30 per cent stake in its railway division to pension fund manager Caisse de depot for US$1.5 billion. Canadian International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday that the government is prepared to defend financial support like the one awarded Tuesday, saying all countries, including Brazil, help their aerospace sectors. Photo: Don Gordon Kelowna has been growing by leaps and bounds. It's one of the fastest growing places in the country over the past five years, shows new figures released by Statistics Canada. Census information shows Kelowna has grown by 8.4 per cent from 2011 to 2016 that's the sixth highest percentage growth rate out of the 35 metropolitan areas recorded. Still, it's down from the 10.8 per cent rate recorded from 2006-2011. It's creating growing pains. Overall, western provinces in general experienced higher than average growth. "The four western provinces were the only provinces to record population growth rates higher than the national average," said Statistics Canada. "As a result of this growth, almost one-third (31.6%) of Canadians lived in the West in 2016, the largest share on record. British Columbia accounted for the largest proportion (13.2%), followed by Alberta (11.6%), Manitoba (3.6%) and Saskatchewan (3.1%)." Calgary had the largest growth rate from 2011-2016 at 12.6 per cent, followed by Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Lethbridge. Vancouver was 11th at 6.5 per cent. Internationally, Canada is tops in the G7 countries. "Canada led the G7 in population growth from 2011 to 2016, rising on average one per cent per year, a ranking also recorded over the two previous intercensal periods (2001 to 2006 and 2006 to 2011)." Photo: City of Vernon It's no surprise to residents but 2016 census data shows Greater Vernon has grown over the past five years. According to the survey, 61,334 people lived in Vernon, Coldstream and the BX area last year. That's up from 58,584 counted in the 2011 census. A total of 29,311 private dwellings were counted with approximately three people per dwelling. Within City of Vernon boundaries, 40,116 were counted in the 2016 census, up 5.1 per cent from five years earlier. Vernon's growth is unlike many other smaller cities in Canada which showed some shrinkage, according to the national survey. Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian intellectuals are in the thick of a global movement to protest the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump by boycotting academic conferences hosted on American soil. Hundreds of professors at universities across the country have joined more than 6,200 academics around the world pledging to stay away from international conferences held in the United States. Some Canadian groups have gone further, either rescheduling previously booked conferences or breaking ranks with counterparts in the U.S. who discourage such boycotts. Most academics say their decisions were prompted by Trump's executive order temporarily banning travellers from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. They say the executive order, which has been temporarily stayed by U.S. courts, puts intellectual freedom at risk by silencing the voices of those who cannot enter the country. They also argue that excluding some Muslim colleagues compromises the intellectual integrity of academic discourse, adding that the order helps entrench racism. The issue has triggered some passionate debate in academic circles, with one striking example playing out between a major American association and its Canadian chapter. The International Studies Association, an interdisciplinary organization focused on global affairs that purports to have 7,000 members worldwide, is holding its annual convention in Baltimore later this month. The association has expressed sympathy for those affected by Trump's executive order, but also urged people to attend in the interest of allowing academic research and discourse to continue without restrictions. The ISA's position drew a sharp rebuke from its Canadian chapter, which not only urged members to boycott the Baltimore meeting but is arranging an alternate time for people who choose not to attend the main conference to present their research in Canada. "I won't lie, I thought it was embarrassing," Colleen Bell, president of ISA Canada, said of the ISA statement. "We took a strong stand because...the subject matter that we all share in common is relations between people across nations. We're in a unique position to actually be able to speak up about the effect of the executive order on people's rights." Bell concedes that boycotts are not feasible for all, and acknowledges that many junior scholars and graduate students depend on major conferences to present papers that could advance their careers or build their professional networks. Intellectual integrity also lies at the heart of many arguments against academic boycotts, she said, citing the ISA's original statement encouraging attendance at the upcoming convention. In that statement, the association "strongly" encouraged everyone who could to attend the conference in Baltimore. "That way, we will have the opportunity to discuss how to move forward as an association in this changed reality." it said. "Otherwise, we allow further suppression of our scholarly interactions." Photo: Wikipedia An extraordinary 11th-hour government attempt to stop a judge from ruling on a bitter eight-year legal fight over the so-called '60s Scoop is under fire from the plaintiffs and observers, who denounced it Wednesday as galling and unprecedented political interference in judicial proceedings. In a blistering note to Ontario Superior Court, the plaintiffs urge Justice Edward Belobaba to reject the Liberal government's request to put his decision on ice one week before he was expected to issue it. "It is difficult to provide a measured and professional response to this request by new counsel for (Canada)," Morris Cooper, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers said in an email to Belobaba obtained by The Canadian Press. "This unprecedented, unilateral request by the defendant (amounts to) shameless audacity, impudence, gall, or effrontery." Belobaba reserved his decision late last week on whether the federal government is liable to about 16,000 at-risk indigenous children in Ontario taken from reserves and placed in non-aboriginal homes from 1965 to 1984. The plaintiffs, who seek $1.3 billion in damages in the class action, maintain they suffered a devastating loss of cultural identity. The federal government has fought tooth and nail against the plaintiffs, arguing it has no liability. However, in a major turnaround last week, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett made a vaguely worded announcement in which she said the government now wanted to negotiate a national settlement to bring a close to what she called a "dark chapter" in Canada's history. This week, Barney Brucker, a prominent Justice Department lawyer, wrote Belobaba to say the government wanted to discuss the "potential benefits to the negotiations that an abeyance of your decision might have" in light of Bennett's announcement. Brucker's note, also obtained by The Canadian Press, indicated the government was prepared to file a formal court motion to block the ruling if no agreement could be reached. The plaintiffs, however, made it clear they wanted no part of such discussions. "We have faced eight years of litigation and appeals of purely procedural matters and well over a year of effort to get this first ruling on the merits of this claim," Cooper wrote the justice. "The class members and victims of the '60s Scoop deserve a decision." Photo: The Canadian Press U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend talks with an Iraqi officer during a tour north of Baghdad Forces fighting the Islamic State group should be able to retake the IS-held cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria within the next six months, according to the top U.S. commander in Iraq. On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said "within the next six months I think we'll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude." Townsend also said he expected the fight for Mosul's western half to begin in days. Iraqi forces have retaken about half of Mosul the country's second largest city since the operation was officially launched in October, following more than two years of coalition-led anti-IS operations around Iraq clearing supply lines and partially isolating the city. Last month Iraqi forces declared Mosul's east "fully liberated" and have since largely paused the fight. Townsend, who heads the U.S.-led coalition against IS, said Iraq's military is still in the process of putting forces into place ahead of the push into western Mosul, but predicted operations would begin "in the next few days." Closely backed by U.S.-led coalition airpower, Iraqi ground forces faced months of grueling urban combat in Mosul that at times brought the front lines to a standstill for weeks. But the pace of operations increased as Iraqi forces closed in on the Tigris River which roughly divides the city. Townsend credited the quicker progress with better co-ordination and "lessons learned" on the part of Iraqi forces. But on the ground inside Mosul, Iraqi troops said as they neared the Tigris, IS fighters launched fewer car bombs and largely fled their advances unlike the heavy resistance they faced in the first few weeks of combat inside the city. Townsend said he expects that the fight for western Mosul will pose a particular challenge for Iraqi forces due to the older neighbourhoods and narrower streets. "It will be a more difficult fight, more constricted," he said. At times during the Mosul fight, Iraqi forces experienced relatively high casualty rates among some of their most elite and well-trained fighters. Iraqi medics inside Mosul said during some of the heaviest fighting, Iraq's special forces were suffering around 20 casualties both deaths and serious injuries a day. Townsend said these high attrition rates were "a concern," but he didn't believe they would hamper the forces moving forward. In Raqqa, significant ground military operations against IS have barely begun. The coalition has been targeting IS in the area for more than two years and U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters have been on the offensive in nearby areas, mostly north of the city, retaking just a cluster of surrounding villages over the past few months. UPDATE: 3:10 p.m. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran trumpeted the city's successes and challenges during his third 'State of the City' address before a few hundred business people at the Capri Hotel. "We've been one of the fastest growing census metropolitan areas since 2013. In that time, our city welcomed over 8,000 new residents," said Basran. "Continued growth over this length of time tells me that, as a city, we are managing to create a place that meets the economic and lifestyle needs that people from diverse backgrounds are looking for. We're still a great place to spend your retirement, and we're also becoming a great place to build a career, and raise a family." Basran admitted that, with that type of growth, comes several challenges. "With that comes a growing homeless population, a low vacancy rate, rising house prices, the challenge of trying to limit sprawl in our community, while trying to provide affordable housing options for people. "That is why we want to try and densify some of the neighbourhoods we already have." Basran said there are also economic challenges, such as making sure there is a strong economy that can provide people with good paying jobs. He also admitted growth makes an 'up,' not 'out' building strategy more important. "The more we densify the neighbourhoods we already have, and get people living in multi-family developments in our town centres, then it makes things like transit more viable. The investment in active transportation more viable. "It also helps with safety because when you get people living closer together, and more communally, people look out for one another. There are a number of positive aspects. However, we realize not everyone wants to live in a townhouse or a condo. Some people will want to live in single-family housing." Basran also talked about positive aspects to growth, specifically, business. The annual 2016 KPMG study found Kelowna to be the most effective city in Western North America in which to operate a business." He said business licences were up more than 60 per cent last year, and the much promoted tech industry is the third largest in the province. Basran said tech is the fastest growing economic sector in the city, attracting new businesses and investors. "The tech sector's economic impact increased by 30 per cent between 2013 and 2015, and added 1,000 jobs during that time." Overall, Basran said the city is prospering, but there are areas of concern that need improvement that the city will continue to focus on. UPDATE: 1:40 p.m. Hundreds of people came out to hear Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran's state of the city address to the Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. During the event at the Capri Hotel Ballroom, Basran spoke about the challenges in one of Canadas fastest growing metropolitan areas. Continued growth over this time tells me that, as a city, we are managing to create a place that meets the economic and lifestyle needs that people from diverse backgrounds are looking for, said Basran. We are a growing city and thats good but growth and change are not without their challenges. He talked about homelessness, housing and entrepreneurialism among other topics. ORIGINAL: 11 a.m. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran will deliver his third state of the city address this afternoon. The mayor will speak before a sold out Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Capri Hotel. Last year, the state of the city's water supply was the hot topic during the mayor's 20-minute address. Castanet will live-stream the mayor's speech shortly after 12:30 p.m.. Photo: Contributed Bollywood Bang is back. One of the most colourful and popular events of the year will be held to support the NONA Child Development Centre in Vernon. The East meets West gala celebrates diversity and attracts people from all over the Valley, while raising money for charity. Since its inception, Bollywood Bang has raised more than $106,000 for local charities including the Canadian Mental Health Association, Upper Room Mission and Vernon Jubilee Hospital. This year, funds will go to the North Okanagan Neurological Association which is fundraising $1.6 million towards its 9,800-square-foot clubhouse on 28th Avenue. NONA serves more than 700 children with special needs each year in the community. This recognition will go a long way to creating awareness about the need for a new facility in the North Okanagan to serve the growing number of children and youth with special needs and in particular those on the autism spectrum, said Helen Armstrong, NONA executive director. NONA appreciates all the support it has received from our community, which has helped to build the new clubhouse." Bollywood Bang takes place on Saturday, April 29 at Kal Tire Place and tickets sell fast. Last year, it sold out in six hours with almost 500 attendees from Vernon, Vancouver, Penticton, Kelowna and Salmon Arm. It has become so successful it has officially become franchised to Kelowna. "We are proud to have TD Bank be our title sponsor this year. As soon as we asked, they were in," said Dalvir Nahal, event co-ordinator. "I am just amazed at the response this event has received from the community. Everywhere I go that's all I am asked about." Everyone who attends has the opportunity to dress up in South Asian outfits, enjoy Indian cuisine and mix with Bhangra dancers. Nahal promises a magical evening. "We will literally transform the venue into a Bollywood scene." Tickets go on sale Feb. 18th, starting at 8 a.m. and can be purchased online or at the 27th Street Florist. For those looking for outfits, a sale will be held at Lakers Clubhouse March 18-19. Photo: WestJet A WestJet flight from Calgary to Honolulu dropped a wheel on takeoff from Calgary International Airport on Jan. 28. The Boeing 767-300, registration C-FOGT, received a cockpit brake temperature indication immediately after becoming airborne, and the control tower advised the crew a wheel was seen rolling away from the aircraft, aviation website aeroinside.com reports. There were 247 people on board the plane. The crew left the landing gear down and consulted with the WestJet maintenance centre before doing a low approach to the airfield to have the gear inspected from the ground. Ground observers reported the forward outboard left main gear wheel was missing. After burning off fuel, the aircraft landed safely and was inspected by emergency services. The Transportation Safety Board reports maintenance crews replaced the axle, brake and remaining three wheels. "The errant wheel had damaged a runway sign and was located in the grass, on the east side of the runway near the threshold of Runway 17L. The wheel bearing components have been obtained by the TSB for further examination," the TSB said. Aeroinside's report contains information from the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Report System. Transport Canada endeavours to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data contained within CADORS, however, the information within should be treated as preliminary, unsubstantiated and subject to change. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Two Germanwings flights on the same type of aircraft recently experienced incidents in which the captain was overcome by fumes. On Jan. 30, an Airbus A-319-100 en route from Hamburg to Paris, was descending toward Charles de Gaulle Airport when a strong chemical odour occurred. The pilot feared he might lose consciousness, prompting the flight crew to don oxygen masks. The plane landed safely about 14 minutes later and resumed service about 72 hours later. Then, on Feb. 1, another Germanwings A-319-100 experienced a similar incident en route from Berlin to Cologne. According to aviation website, aeroinside.com, the captain felt "dizzy and dopey." The flight crew again put on oxygen masks and continued for a safe landing. The aircraft resumed service 45 hours later. Both incidents were reported to Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, which is collecting further information. Photo: Contributed Officials suspect a Hamilton cat that tested positive for rabies earlier this week may be infected with a strain that made a surprise reappearance in southern Ontario after a decade-long hiatus. The cat, which was found dead, is the second case of domestic animal rabies the city in more than two decades, public health officials said. Hamilton Public Health Services said it was notified of the test results Monday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and is working to determine whether any humans came in contact with the cat. The agency is asking anyone who may have lost, abandoned, fed or come in contact with a male adult orange tabby cat in the rural area of Glanbrook between Jan. 22 and Jan. 30 to get in touch to see whether they need a rabies post-exposure vaccine. One person has reached out to public health officials in connection with the case, said Susan Harding-Cruz, manager of vector-borne diseases for Hamilton Public Health Services. Until last summer, no domestic animals had tested positive for rabies in the city since 1993, Harding-Cruz said. A cat found last August was shown to have the raccoon strain of the disease, which made a resurgence in December 2015 for the first time in 10 years. "We're dealing with, certainly, an outbreak of rabies in land animals and we want people to be aware that there is now a real potential for them to spread into cats," she said. People should protect their pets by not leaving them outside unattended and be mindful of their own health, she said. "The best thing is to stay away from wild animals, stay away from unknown animals, including cats and dogs," she said. Officials have said the disease made its way into Ontario from the U.S., suggesting a rabid raccoon hitchhiked from New York State, thus avoiding a barrier of vaccines set up by the province. The virus was discovered after two dogs got into a fight with an aggressive raccoon in the back of a Hamilton animal control van. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has since air-dropped and hand-delivered hundreds of thousands of vaccine baits in an effort to control the outbreak, which it aims to eliminate by the end of 2020. Last year, there were 288 confirmed cases of rabies in the province, 255 of them raccoon-strain, said Chris Davies, the ministry's head of wildlife research. Most of the raccoon strain was found in raccoons and skunks, though it was also found in animals such as a fox and a llama, he said. Thirty cases were of bat-strain rabies and three were of fox-strain, he said. Public health officials said they believe the second cat likely carried the raccoon strain as well, and test results are expected next week. Five circus performers have been seriously injured while practicing a high-wire act in Florida. The accident involved famed high-wire walker Nik Wallenda and several members of his family. Authorities say Wallenda was not injured. Sarasota Fire-Rescue Spokesman Drew Winchester said the group fell 30 or more feet, and four of the injured suffered trauma. The group was practicing a high-wire pyramid act Wednesday in a tent for Circus Sarasota, which was set to open on Friday. Local media reports said Nik Wallenda was the anchor for the pyramid when the accident happened. Officials said he managed to catch himself and was not among the injured. Authorities are investigating and said Wallenda may make a statement later Wednesday. Photo: WorkBC Young Kelowna residents will get a glimpse into what are expected to be some of the most in-demand jobs during the coming years in B.C. WorkBC is holding a Career Education Day Thursday at Mt. Boucherie Secondary school. "B.C. is the nationwide leader in job creation, and we need more skilled workers to keep pace with our growing and diverse economy," said Premier Christy Clark, MLA for Westside-Kelowna. "Through B.C.s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, and programs like Career Education Day, we are fully engaged in providing the next generation with the tools and resources theyll need so that all regions share in B.C.s prosperity." The one-day event allows students in Grades 10 to 12 to learn about careers through hands-on programs, business experts and post-secondary institutions. The Find Your Fit portion of the event is open to the public from 3:30 p.m. 7 p.m. Photo: CTV A Cape Breton judge has handed a big victory to a contest winner trying to keep a $100,000 prize despite an alleged agreement to split it with four other finalists. Darin Seymour won the cash in a car dealership contest on Jan. 6, but the other contestants claim there was a verbal agreement to split the winnings, with each finalist receiving $20,000. His wife, Kimberly Seymour, attended the draw on behalf of her husband. Darin Seymour acknowledges that his wife agreed to split the money before the draw was made, but says that she felt pressured to do so. Darin, who had to work at the time of the draw, says he would never have agreed to give away 80 per cent of his winnings. He adds that his wife suffers from anxiety and is "very shy and uncomfortable in social situations with strangers.'' In a ruling Wednesday, Justice Frank Edwards says he did not have to decide whether Kimberly was coerced into the deal, as the couple claims. Edwards says Darin Seymour's wife did not have authority to make the deal on his behalf. "The fact is that Darin won, he never agreed to share his prize, and he never authorized his wife to make such an agreement," the judge ruled. Although his ruling dealt only with temporary custody of the prize money while the issue was litigated, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge told the other finalists they should abandon any claim. "The plaintiffs have no chance of convincing a court that Darin Seymour is contractually bound to share his win," said the judge. "The plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate there is a serious question to be tried." He warned them they would likely otherwise be forced to pay the Seymours' legal bill, and pointed out: "Litigation is very expensive." He ordered them to pay $1,200 costs to the Seymours. At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, leaders from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines described the effects of short-term planning and budget cuts on troops, their equipment and training, painting a dire picture of military readiness. Rep. Scott DesJarlais is a new member of the Readiness Subcommittee, which oversees training, supplies and services for troops and their families, the largest account at the Department of Defense. Still, Admiral William Moran, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, said the U.S. Navy is its smallest in 99 years, responding to an unrelenting pace of strategic demands around the globe. Witnesses mentioned China and Russia as serious threats, as well as ISIS and Iran. General Glenn Walters, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, said, operational tempo is as high as it was during the peak of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, requiring us to sacrifice modernization to sustain current readiness. In other words, troops are undertrained and poorly equipped, said General Daniel Allyn, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. Often, they must deploy with decades-old technology in need of frequent repair. The most important topic today is our military men and women. With the high-ops tempo of our smaller force, what is the impact on staff sergeants and morale of our troops? Rep. DesJarlais asked General Allyn, who voiced optimism about soldiers willingness to re-enlist in the Army. General Walters repeated the need to hire more personnel to supplement stressed Marine re-enlistments.I know I speak for all of us here when I express our gratitude for all you and our service men and women do, Rep. DesJarlais responded. Bradley County Schools, Cleveland City Schools and Marion County Schools will be closed through the end of the week due to an influenza outbreak and other illnesses. Dr. Linda Cash, school director, said the action was taken because "the number of sick students and teachers have increased through the day." Hamilton County School officials said, "We have received many questions and concerns about the spread of the flu virus in the state. "In Hamilton County, we have noticed a small spike in student absences when compared with this time last year. We will continue to monitor this. "As a result of this increase in absences, school custodial crews have been tasked with wiping down all surfaces with strong disinfectant to discourage the spread of germs." BTI Consulting Group has recognized attorneys William P. Aiken and William H. Pickering of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. as Client Service All-Stars for 2017. The annual ranking reviews outstanding lawyers nominated by corporate counsel of Fortune 1000 companies and other major businesses. Aiken and Pickering are among an exclusive group of 319 attorneys selected nationwide for providing exceptional service and value to the firms clients. Mr. Aiken was recognized as a Super All-Star for 2017 and has been a four-year Client Service MVP, while Mr. Pickering has been a Client Service All Star for six years and has been a five-year Client Service MVP.We value client feedback and are fortunate to be recognized by our clients for this level of service, said Mike St. Charles, managing shareholder of Chambliss. Bill Aiken and Bill Pickering are uniquely talented lawyers, and it is fitting for each of them to be recognized for the exceptional advice and results they consistently provide to our clients.Mr. Aiken was recognized for his work in commercial contracts and business transactions, and his practice also includes corporate law and mergers and acquisitions. His clients include several large manufacturers and other significant businesses. Aiken is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for corporate law, health care law, and mergers and acquisitions. He has been honored by Best Lawyers three times as the Chattanooga Corporate Lawyer of the Year and twice as the Chattanooga Health Care Lawyer of the Year.Mr. Pickering was recognized for his work in labor and employment law. He serves as labor counsel for some of the Chattanooga area's largest companies and has successfully defended complex business and employment cases in multiple states. Mr Pickering is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for labor and employment law and litigation and was named Chattanooga Labor and Employment Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2015 and Chattanooga Employment Law-Management Lawyer of the Year in 2016. In recognition of his work as a litigator, Mr. Pickering has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates.Derived from in-depth, independent interviews with hundreds of corporate counsel and executives at Global 500 and Fortune 1000 organizations, the BTI Client Service All-Stars list is the only continuous, independently researched benchmark study of client expectations and needs in the legal industry. Attorneys are nominated exclusively by unprompted client submissions, and All-Star finalists are selected for their exceptional commitment to client service, including their focus on client needs, innovation, understanding of a client's business, exceptional legal skills, value, and outstanding results. FEB. 7, 2017 Today the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis issued full year 2016 U.S. international trade in goods and services data. The top five countries based on trade in goods in 2016 were China, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Germany. Trade in goods with China was $578.6 billion. Exports were $115.8 billion and imports were $462.8 billion. The top three U.S. exports to China in 2016 were civilian aircraft, soybeans and passenger cars. The primary imports were cell phones and other household goods, computers, and telecommunications equipment. The second largest goods trading partner was Canada, at $544.9 billion. Exports to Canada were $266.8 billion and imports were $278.1 billion. The top U.S. exports to Canada were automotive parts and accessories; passenger cars; and trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles. The top imports from Canada were passenger cars, crude oil, and automotive parts and accessories. Mexico was the third largest U.S. trading partner in goods in 2016, totaling $525.1 billion. Exports were $231.0 billion and imports totaled $294.2 billion. The primary exports to Mexico were automotive parts and accessories, electric apparatus, and computer accessories. On the import side, the primary categories were also automotive parts and accessories; trucks, buses, and special purposes vehicles; and passenger cars. Japan saw the fourth highest level of merchandise trade with the United States in 2016, totaling $195.5 billion. Exports were $63.3 billion and imports were $132.2 billion. The primary U.S. exports to Japan were civilian aircraft, engines and parts, followed by pharmaceutical preparations and medicinal equipment. On the import side, the top category was passenger cars, followed by automotive parts and accessories and industrial machines. Germany rounded out the list of the top five goods trading partners with the United States in 2016, at $163.6 billion. Exports were $49.4 billion and imports were $114.2 billion. The top U.S. exports to Germany were passenger cars; civilian aircraft, engines, and parts; and pharmaceutical preparations. The primary imports were passenger cars, pharmaceutical preparations, and automotive parts and accessories. No news release associated with this product. Tip Sheet only. -X- The Womens Council programming for 2017 will take the feminine concept of bossiness to a new dimension, officials said. In sessions designed specifically with women in mind, the quarterly meetings will focus on how to Be the Boss of Your . . . Health (Feb. 27), Finances (May 22), Legal Issues (Aug. 21) and Career (Dec. 4). "Womens lives have changed over the centuries. In 1900 a womans life span was about 50 years. Now average life expectancy for American women is 82 years of age and is continuing to rise. Not only are women living longer, but they also can anticipate the possibility of enjoying a better quality of life throughout their span of years," officials said. To accomplish this, it is essential that women take charge of their own bodies and learn how they can maximize their personal health, Ann Marie Brewer, chairman of the Womens Council steering committee, said. Drs. Brenda Snowman and Janet Coombs will address How to Be the Boss of Your Health at the first Womens Council luncheon on Monday, Feb. 27, at noon. They will discuss issues unique to women and then allow time for questions and answers. Brenda Snowman, MD, FACOG, currently practices at Ocoee Ob/Gyn PC, 2550 Business Park Dr. NE. She attended the University of Maine, graduating with a bachelors degree in chemistry. She worked as a research assistant in biochemistry for two years before deciding to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. She earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed her obstetrics/gynecology residency at Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, in Detroit. Dr. Snowman is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and holds a State of Tennessee Medical License. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a member of the Bradley County Medical Society, Tennessee Medical Association, and American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. Dr. Janet Coombs, MD, FACS, practices at Surgical Associates of Cleveland PC, 2253 Chambliss Ave., Suite 100, Bradley Professional Building. With the group since 1997, Dr. Coombs performs procedures in all areas of general surgery but has a special interest in evaluation and treatment of benign and malignant breast conditions. She holds a bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and received her medical degree from East Tennessee State University. She completed her general surgery residency at University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville. She too is board certified. Cost for Be the Boss of Your Health session is $15 for Chamber members and $25 for nonmembers and includes a buffet luncheon. Chamber members may use admission credits from their tiered investment if available. To register, call 423-472-6587 by noon on Thursday, Feb. 23. Chamber members also may register online at the community calendar at www.clevelandchamber.com. Former Congressional candidate Robert Doggart said he would like to use hand grenades in a planned militia raid against a Muslim community in New York, and he said he wished someone would kill President Barack Obama. The testimony came in the second day of the Federal Court trial in which the Signal Mountain man is charged with interstate communication of threats. With the lead FBI agent on the case testifying, a number of phone calls were played from the time the government had a wire tap on Doggart's phone. Most of the calls involved a confidential source who was secretly working with the government, but was posing as one of the "gunners" ready to go on the raid at Islamburg, N.Y. The owner of two assault-type weapons and a host of other guns said, "If I don't get 40 of them, then something's wrong with me. They will be running." At points he said the aim was not to kill anybody, but to burn down a mosque, school and cafeteria. At other times he talked about taking many casualties and said, "We will be cruel." He said Molotov cocktails may be used to take down the buildings, but he said, "It would be better if we had grenades." Doggart said there would be order among the gunners - "no misbehaving, no cursing, everything's Yes Sir, No Sir." He said each would take an oath to support the country. He said he had a Bible in his car for use in administering the oath. Doggart said the raid was necessary because he said members of the small Muslim community were planning to poison the water supply of New York City. He said they also planned to load 40 members into vans, go into New York City, and "kill as many people as they can before they are killed." He said the nearby town of Hancock, N.Y. had only four police officers and a volunteer fire department. He said it would likely take 35 minutes for the firefighters to arrive. By that time, he said the raiders could leave in three different directions. He said they would lay low for a day or two, then return to their homes. On the way he said he would likely dump his big guns and remaining ammunition into the Delaware River, though he said, "I hate to throw away $2,000 worth of equipment." He said one of the assault rifles in particular "is a beauty, but so be it." Doggart said he would be safe in his home area, saying he was "tight" with the sheriff of Sequatchie County and its deputies. He said he "did not want to sound racist," but he declared there was not a single minority living on Signal Mountain. Doggart said those participating in the raid will be patriots. He noted that they might face giving up their lives. He said, "You're going to die anyway. How better to die and make your family proud." He said it was necessary "to stop that crazy guy up in Washington." He stated, "I wish somebody would kill Obama. Just do it and get it over with." Doggart noted that he had been in front of the White House with a bullhorn on Dec. 10, 2014, calling President Obama "a traitor and a coward." He said he thought he could destroy the White House "with eight people and four Apache helicopters." Doggart made references to "killing people before" and to being in the military. The FBI agent said no record was found of him killing anyone or being in the armed forces. A recording was played of a conversation between Doggart and a woman identified as his sister in Florida. He laid out his plan for the attack on Islamburg. She mainly listened and at one point said, "That's cool." Another conversation was with Tom Lineaweaver, who ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2014 and has considered running for national office. When Doggart laid out the raid plans to Lineaweaver he told him it was not a good idea. He said he should just let the Muslim group carrying out raids, then let people know that the government knew about the threat and did nothing. The FBI agent said federal authorities have found no credible threat at Islamburg and the FBI works cooperatively with the religious community there. In 2014, Doggart got over six percent of the vote, losing to incumbent Scott DesJarlais in the Fourth District. Doggart got 9,238 votes. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the TN Justice Center is sponsoring an Affordable Care Act Forum at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. MLK Blvd., on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. "Join us for a panel discussion on the current status of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Learn how the repeal of the ACA will impact you, your family, your neighbors, your community, and the state of Tennessee. Hear from patients, their families, doctors, hospital administrators, and others who are concerned about the future of health care under the new administration," organizers said. UTC College Republicans and College Democrats will host the first public mayoral debate with all four candidates for mayor of Chattanooga. This event will take place on Friday, at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center Auditorium at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Current Mayor Andy Berke, City Councilman Larry Grohn, David Crockett, and Chris Long will all debate on the University Center Auditorium stage Friday night on their qualifications for Mayor of Chattanooga. The candidates will take questions from the moderators, as well as, live questions the audience will submit using the #MOCthedebate on twitter. The UTC College Republicans and College Democrats have been working together tirelessly since the end of the 2016 General Election to bring local politics to campus in hopes to create political interest among college students. Chattanoogans love their pets, and there are several ways you can show your pet how much they mean to you by incorporating certain design elements into your home. Many features will not only cater to your pets lifestyle, but they also can enhance your homes appearance and add to its value. Whether youre looking to buy a new home, remodel your existing home or just need some inspiration for how to use your current space, here are a few ideas to get started. Improving Comfort and Convenience Designing areas within your home where your pet can eat, sleep and bathe tells them that they are just as much a member of the family as everyone else. And having these dedicated locations can also help reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning up after your pet. Built-in eating areas are among the most popular designs concepts for homeowners with pets. Beneath the kitchen counter, under an island or within a pull-out drawer are all great options to help save space and minimize spills. Custom nooks provide your pet with a quiet retreat to nap or play. Look for opportunities to incorporate these nooks beneath bay windows, or convert a cluttered crawl space beneath stairs into your pets private refuge. Pet-washing stations in laundry/mud rooms can significantly improve the cleanliness of your home. An enclosed tiled area with an extended faucet can be used to give your pet a full bath or simply to clean paws after a romp in the outdoors. Selecting the Right Flooring With the appropriate flooring, both you and your pet can live amicably without pointing fingers (or paws) at one another whenever a new scratch or a spill is discovered. Flooring options today are seemingly endless, and each type comes with varying levels of durability, so youll want to do your research as well as consult with a professional before making the investment. Bamboo flooring is becoming increasingly popular, especially among pet owners, for its hardness and resistance to stains. And for those who are trying to be green, both bamboo and cork flooring are also good for the environment. Hardwood floors have long been among the most desirable options, though many different types of wood and finishes are highly prone to showing wear over time. Laminate, stone and tile floors might not be your best option if your pets comfort is a top priority. While they are much more durable and typically resist scratches better than other flooring, some pets will find them to be uncomfortably hard and exceedingly slippery. To find a home builder, remodeler or designer that can help you make the best home design choices for your pets, visit the Home Builders of Greater Chattanooga at www.HBAGC.net. February 7, 2017 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reacted to US President Donald Trumps recent string of warnings to Tehran. On Jan. 29, Iran test fired a ballistic missile. The launch raised eyebrows in Washington, with US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Trump stating in response that they have officially put Iran on notice. Moreover, in a series of tweets, Trump warned Tehran not to play with fire. Iran has, however, sought to brush off the warnings by holding military exercises on Feb. 4 in which different types of missiles and radar systems were tested. On Feb. 7, for the first time, Khamenei responded to the Trump administrations warnings. Trump says fear me! No. The Iranian nation will respond to your comments with a demonstration on Feb. 10: They will show others what kind of stance the nation of Iran takes when threatened, said Khamenei. This year, the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution falls on Feb. 10. Iranians usually march on the street to mark the downfall of the shah. Noting Trumps tweet that Iran doesn't appreciate how kind President Obama was to them, Khamenei said, The new US president says thank Obama! Why?! Should we thank him for Daesh [Islamic State], the ongoing wars in Iraq and Syria, or the blatant support for the 2009 sedition? He was the president who imposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian nation; of course, he did not achieve what he desired. No enemy can ever cripple the Iranian nation." Iran faced unprecedented unrest following the 2009 presidential election, which saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected by a landslide. Khamenei believes that foreign powers, including the United States and Britain, were behind the unrest, calling it sedition. The supreme leader, who was addressing commanders of the Islamic Republic of Iran air force, further in effect thanked Trump for making it easier for him to reveal the real face of the United States. Khamenei said, What we have been saying, for over 30 years, about political, economic, moral and social corruption within the US ruling establishment, he [Trump] came out and exposed during the election campaigns and after the elections. He added, Now, with everything he [Trump] is doing handcuffing a child as young as 5 at an airport he is showing the reality of American human rights." After Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 to ban the entry of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries including Iran a news story surfaced about the handcuffing of a 5-year-old boy at Dulles Airport, who was called a security threat by the White House. Khamenei continued, If we use wisdom and prudence along with trusting the Satan [the United States], the result will be a mirage. In any matter, including diplomacy and the countrys problems, it is true that trusting demons and the materialistic power, which oppose your essence, leads to a mirage. It is noteworthy that during the nuclear talks with six world powers, which resulted in the July 2015 nuclear deal, Khamenei repeatedly stated that he was pessimistic about the outcome of the agreement and reiterated to Iranian negotiators that they shouldnt trust the United States. In other news, on Feb. 7, an extensive interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was published in the moderate Ettelaat newspaper. Responding to a question about the destiny of the nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Zarif stated, I think the Americans neither could get a better deal nor will get a better one. In this vein, he added, I believe it is possible that Trump will try to renegotiate the JCPOA. It is clear that neither Iran nor the Europeans will accept the renegotiation. The international community will also not accept this. Mentioning Trumps description of the nuclear deal as the worst deal in history, Zarif said, We have difficult days ahead, though we havent had easy days during the past year [either]. We went to the negotiation table to get each one of our rights, and we will do the same again. Referring to the US governments policies after the 9/11 attacks, Zarif warned, If Mr. Trump tries to have the same radicalism, the Americans themselves will have to pay the ultimate price. The Chattanooga Hamilton County Branch of the NAACP is hosting a Mayoral and City Councilman Candidate Table Clinic. The purpose of the Table Clinic is to give the public an opportunity to learn more about the candidates and their platforms, give the voter an opportunity to meet the candidates and ask questions and create a more informed and educated voter prior to casting their ballot. Voters will be allowed to tour the clinic on Saturdays, Feb. 11, 18, 25 and March 4, from 1-3 p.m. and Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 13-14, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The clinic will be at the NAACP Headquarters at 756 E. MLK Blvd. Candidates will provide information on a plan to improve living conditions for African Americans and poor people in the areas of job training, affordable and low income housing, violent crimes and gang reduction, job plan for at risk youth and how to put money back into poor neighborhoods such as Alton Park, Avondale, Eastdale, Piney Woods, East Lake, East Chattanooga, Ridgedale, Lincoln Park, Churchville, and Bushtown. In line with an ambitious plan of expanding services and operating out of a new downtown headquarters, the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer has announced the appointment of five new members to its board of directors. The experienced, accomplished group represents the regions business and health care communities. Throughout 2017, the Austin Hatcher Foundation is commemorating its recently-completed first decade of operation. As part of the commemoration, the foundation is amid its Five for Ten major gift campaign. The Five for Ten campaign focuses on Building a Foundation for the Future which is all about acquiring and furnishing a permanent home for the Foundation and helping to continue and expand programs that benefit those dealing with pediatric cancer and its lasting effects. Thanks to the outpouring of support in the early stages of the campaign, the Austin Hatcher Foundation has recently moved into a new space to accommodate the Education Advancement Center program expansion . The new board members: Rogan Fry of Chattanooga, a 35-year veteran of the medical device industry where he held various executive management positions; Donna Gibson of Cleveland, program coordinator at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and a UT graduate; Ashley Guthrie of Signal Mountain, an ANCC board-certified family nurse practitioner who holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and Belmont University; Marla Moore of Chattanooga, Coker Group marketing director who was the 2012 SEMA Person of the Year; Gary Pulsfus of St. Augustine, Fl., practice manager III at Family Practice Associates in Orange Park, Florida with degrees from the University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin. "Our new appointees qualifications are impressive, to say the least, said Austin Hatcher Foundation chairman of the board Dr. Jim Osborn. The expertise each brings to the table will serve us well as we go into this important year and moving forward. We welcome their involvement and are proud to call them board members. 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 Syrian Refugees Due To Reunite With Family At O'Hare As Court Considers Ban By Stephen Gossett in News on Feb 7, 2017 9:49PM Protesters demonstrate against President Trump's immigration and refugee bans at O'Hare International Airport / Photo: Tyler LaRiviere Three Syrian refugeesa couple and their 16-month-old daughterwho were kept from entering the United States and reuniting with family in Chicago last week, are finally due to arrive at O'Hare International Airport this evening. But their flight is scheduled to land in Chicago just hours after an appeals court is set to begin hearings on whether to reinstate Trump's immigration ban. Baraa, a literature major, and her husband, Abdulmajeed, an accountant, were set to arrive in Chicago on Jan. 27, where they would join Baraa's parents and siblings, who also fled from war-torn Syria. Baraa's extended family arrived in the United States back in September 2016, but Baraa, her husband and child were kept back, even after being approved for resettlement, due to a paperwork error, according to RefugeeOne, the agency helping to resettle the family. When the family was finally approved again, they sold all their belongings and departed a refugee camponly to be held back yet again, this time by President Donald Trump's executive order that indefinitely barred Syrian refugees from entering the United States. With the window at least briefly opened again, thanks to a ruling by a Washington state judge that suspends the ban. Now, the family is scheduled to arrive in Chicago less than an hour after the appeals court begins considering the immigration ban. "We're hopeful that the family will be able to be reunited with the family that's already here," Jims Porter, communications director at RefugeeOne, told Chicagoist. "We're finding out with everybody else what will happen to the refugee resettlement program." Other Chicago residents carry a heavy emotional investment in seeing Baraa, Abdulmajeed and their young child arrive safely in Chicago. Lincoln Square Moms, the family's co-sponsors will be on hand this evening at O'Hare to welcome the rest of the family. One of those co-sponsors, Alisa Wartick, posted a heart-ripping, quick-to-become-viral photo in late January of the empty crib intended for the family's 16-month-old shortly after she learned the family was not allowed entry yet again. If all stays to plan, the bed will be filled on Tuesday night. While the family and co-sponsors count down the hours to the planned reunion, Porter expressed debt of gratitude for the flood of support that RefugeeOne and those it assists have received in the wake of Trump's executive actions. "Particularly in light of the global migrant crisis and the ongoing civil war in Syria, it's such an important time to open our doors," Porter said. "At the same time, we're completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support." "So many people have stood with refugees, and were incredibly grateful for that," he added. Chris Kennedy, Son Of RFK, Announces He's Running For Governor By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Feb 8, 2017 5:40PM Chris Kennedy (YouTube) Chris Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy, announced he was running for governor of Illinois on Wednesday. In a campaign video announcing his candidacy for 2018, he takes a swipe at a state government headed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. The political ad leads off with headlines about the state's never-ending budget crisis, and how it's affected the economy, social services and the mood of the state. "There's growing despair, there's bewilderment, the state needs change," Kennedy says. He adds, "Compromise is not a surrender." Kennedy grew up in Boston, but has spent most of his life in Chicago as a businessman. He was the longtime head of the Merchandise Mart until 2012. He was also on the board of trustees for the University of Illinois. Most recently, he started the nonprofit TopBox, which brings discounted groceries to food deserts. Like others in his bloodline, he's always been involved in politics, and he helped fundraise for Barack Obama when he was running for the senate. He has yet to hold elected office, but he's flirted with the idea of running for governor and U.S. Senate for some time. Last July, reporters were whipped up into a frenzy wondering if he was going to challenge Rauner. "Today I am announcing my run for governor because I love Illinois," Kennedy said in a statement. "But we have never been in worse shape. We don't need incremental improvement. We need fundamental change in state government." Rauner is expected to run for reelection. Chicago Ald. Ameya Pawar also announced his candidacy, in early January. Update, 1:00 p.m. Seemingly not wanting to be left out, billionaire JB Pritzker released a statement reminding people he is also "seriously considering running for Governor." "Ive listened to people throughout Illinois, and its clear that our government isnt working effectively for them," Pritzker said in a statement published by Capitol Fax. "Governor Rauner has failed to address the real needs and concerns facing our state. We need a new leader with a record of getting results, who wakes up every day thinking about improving the lives of working families and people all across Illinois. While Pritzker has not formally thrown his hat into the ring, rumors have been circulating for some time about a potential run, making the 2018 gubernatorial democratic primary already feel pretty crowded. Update, 1:30 p.m. Both the Illinois Republican Party and Governor Rauner's campaign weighed in as well, making Wednesday perhaps the official kick off of the 2018 gubernatorial election cycle. "Were here to tell you that Illinois deserves better," Rauner's campaign wrote in a fundraising email. "Why? Because Chris Kennedy is a pawn of Mike Madigan. Kennedy secretly met with Mike Madigan to get his seal of approval before announcing his candidacy. And now he wants to do Madigans bidding." Meanwhile, the Illinois GOP devoted a section of it's "Boss Madigan" website to Kennedy, accusing him of secretly meeting with Speaker of the House Mike Madigan to "get his blessing to run for governor." "The last thing Illinois needs is a Madigan lap dog in the governors office," says the page, which also features a faux rap video of Madigan, because Republicans seem to be unable to quit using things that weren't funny in the 90's. "Drop the Mike" The Hunter Museum will present Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art, a collection of modern and contemporary Latino art from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition presents the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-20th century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge, said officials. The Hunter Museum will host a special members preview on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. The exhibit opens to the public on Feb. 17. Our America presents works in all media by nearly 70 leading modern and contemporary artists. Drawn entirely from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, this exhibition showcases artists of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican descent, as well as other Latin American groups with deep roots in the United States. The exhibition is organized by E. Carmen Ramos, curator of Latino art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and explores how Latino artists shaped the artistic movements of their day and recalibrated key themes in American art and culture. We are so excited to be hosting this major exhibition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, noted Hunter Museum Executive Director Virginia Anne Sharber. We look forward to welcoming people from across the region as they come to view the artwork and are eager to engage with all our guests through our extensive roster of complementary programs which will range from artist and curator talks to dance and music. Information about all programs and events the Hunter Museum is hosting in connection with Our America can be found at huntermuseum.org. Also available is more in-depth information about the themes of the exhibit and each of the featured artists. The exhibition includes works by artists who participated in all the various artistic styles and movements, including Abstract Expressionism; activist, conceptual and performance art; and classic American genres such as landscape, portraiture and scenes of everyday life. Latino artists across the United States were galvanized by the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. They created new images of their communities and examined bicultural experiences. Many critically probed American history and popular culture, revealing the possibilities and tensions of expansionism, migration, and settlement. Other Latino artists in the exhibition devoted themselves to experimentation, pushing the limits of their chosen medium. Our America presents a picture of an evolving national culture that challenges expectations of what is meant by American and Latino. Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Generous support for the exhibition has been provided by Altria Group, the Honorable Aida M. Alvarez, Judah Best, The James F. Dicke Family Endowment, Sheila Duignan and Mike Wilkins, Tania and Tom Evans, Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, The Michael A. and the Honorable Marilyn Logsdon Mennello Endowment, Henry R. Munoz III, Wells Fargo and Zions Bank. Additional significant support was provided by The Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. Support for Treasures to Go, the museums traveling exhibition program, comes from The C.F. Foundation, Atlanta. Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art is presented in Chattanooga by SunTrust. Police said a near-naked woman tried to carry out her threat of tearing a man's house up when he would not let her inside. Felicia Shawnta Green, 31, of 4904 Woodland View Circle, was arrested for indecent exposure, vandalism, aggravated burglary, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. In the incident on Monday, police said they responded to a residence on Dorris Street and found a black female standing in front of a broken window bleeding from her hands. The woman was not wearing any pants or underwear and was holding her shirt up to expose her private area. She was yelling at Nolan Lucas that he had called police "because he didn't want any of this good crack I got in my (private area)." An officer said Ms. Green eventually complied with an order to lie on the ground, then she was handcuffed. The resident said he did not want Ms. Green in his house because she was drunk. He said she then threw a liquor bottle threw a window and tried to climb in the window. However, she was blocked by a TV set that partially covered the window. He said she then climbed down from the window and tore down his porch light fixture, breaking the glass globe and light bulb in the process. Police said Ms. Green was yelling on the way to the jail and she kicked out a window pane on the patrol car. On Wednesday, Tennessee State Rep. Andy Holt introduced legislation that targets, what he calls, predatory marketing tactics from the Tennessee Lottery. "Last month, I raised concern over the way lottery commercials were being used in predatory ways to target Tennessee's most economically vulnerable citizens by encouraging them to purchase lottery tickets rather than life sustaining goods such as food," said Rep. Holt. "I have, very publicly, asked the Tennessee Lottery to ensure me (and the countless Tennesseans who are upset over these practices) that they would no longer run these types of ads. The proposed legislation will seek to set up an independent commission to vet all lottery ads. "The legislation is still being drafted, but it will likely call for a independent commission made up of a marketing consultant, pastor, financial adviser and an addiction counselor who will vet all lottery ads to ensure they are not encouraging players, in any form or fashion, to play the lottery over the purchase of life sustaining goods/services; and must not market the lottery as a potential means to provide for financial well-being. The commission will be financed by lottery revenue," said Rep. Holt. Rep. Holt says that the legislation has strong bi-partisan support, noting that Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris is carrying the Senate version of the legislation. "I've had countless friends from both sides of the aisle approach me on this issue, and they absolutely agree that it's time for a change," said Rep. Holt. "I'm very thankful for Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris' support on the issue, and I look forward to working with him while we take a stand against this embarrassing stain on our state." When the media asked them for comment, they had nothing to say, and they've said nothing to me. So, now we're introducing bi-partisan legislation to put an end to these damaging ads."Rep. Holt said research that highlights the fact that these ads target economically disadvantaged and minorities, which he says is shameful."A study in the Journal of Community Psychology found that lottery outlets are often clustered in neighborhoods with large numbers of minorities, who are at greatest risk for developing gambling addictions," he said. "As if that weren't bad enough, a 2011 paper in the Journal of Gambling Studies conducted a thorough review of available research on lotteries and concluded that the poor are still the leading patron of the lottery. Knowing all of this to be true, the State of Tennessee finds it appropriate to use these types of marketing practices. It's shameful."Rep Holt said he takes specific issue with three commercials that were aired over the holiday season."Tennessees government protected lottery is telling people who cant afford Christmas presents for their growing family to just buy lottery tickets instead of exchanging gifts because it will provide them a way to save for their child's college education, encouraging these same cash strapped families to buy a biscuits and gravy lottery ticket rather than actually feed themselves because, hey, once theyre magically rich theyll be able to feed their families. If you cannot sell a product without encouraging people to go hungry and skip Christmas, then you clearly have a desperate product on your hands." 'This Is What I Expected Of The American People': Syrian Refugees Reunite With Family At O'Hare By Jen Chung in News on Feb 8, 2017 3:35PM As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit weighs President Trump's attempt to have his travel ban reinstated, a Syrian family was finally reunited last night at O'Hare International Airport. After she, her husband and their baby daughter emerged at the arrivals area to cheers, Baraa Haj Khalaf told reporters, "This is what I expected of the American people." Baraa Khalaf, a literature major, and her husband, Abdulmajeed, an accountant, were originally supposed to arrive on January 27the day Trump signed an executive order prohibiting foreigners from seven Muslim majority nations (Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen) from entering the U.S. The order sparked protests at airports across the country as well as multiple court challenges. Baraa Khalaf's parents and siblings managed to flee Syria last year, but, in spite of being approved for resettlement, paperworks errors stalled her, her husband and their daughter's departure. Welcome Syrian Refugee Families!!!! Happy moments at O'Hare tonight! pic.twitter.com/l6vLZPCOjQ ORDLawyersHQ (@ORDLawyersHQ) February 8, 2017 According to the Chicago Tribune, Baraa discussed the ban: "We felt like our whole dream just disappeared. But when we saw people rallying on our behalf, we were really inspired." She added, "We are excited to have our daughter grow up here. She will know the beautiful people and she will become a doctor." Jan. 27 vs tonight. The sponsors of the Hajj Khalad family werent sure this bunny would ever meet its owner. Story soon #RefugeesWelcome pic.twitter.com/e9geWwE8HE Kim Bellware (@bellwak) February 8, 2017 The family is now living in Skokie, where Baraa Haj Khalaf's parents and siblings also lived. Her brother Mohammad Haj Khalif told the Wall Street Journal that adjusting was hard at first, but the family is meeting other refugees and neighbors as well as taking English classes. He said, "So many people have supported us and helped us and made us feel welcome. Weve come to see even a smile as a gesture of help." Chicago-based Rippleshot, which uses machine learning and data analytics to help banks and credit unions spot fraudulent activity, has raised $2.6 million in new funding. The company, started by CEO Canh Tran, Yueyu Fu and Randal Cox in 2012, so far has worked with banks and credit unions to identify which customers have had likely had credit or debit cards compromised and might need a new card, and help card issuers mitigate fraud in other ways. Advertisement Now, Rippleshot plans a merchant-facing product, which will use data to help determine whether a payment method used at a retailer actually belongs to the customer. That product would help card issuers and online retailers determine whether cards have been used at merchants that have had data breaches and could be at risk of becoming fraudulent. It would likely roll into merchants' fraud detection systems, which review payment credentials and other customer information before determining whether to accept or deny payments. The company hopes to release that product later this year. Advertisement Tran said fraud-detection companies typically focus on products for either banks or merchants. Rippleshot saw an opportunity in working with both. "What we've always believed is that if both the banks and the merchants collaborate and share data with third parties like us, we're going to be able to provide a better fraud solution to both of you," he said. With data from both those parties, the company could one day zero in on where a card had been used, and whether a card had been making fishy purchases. That way, the company could help merchants and banks determine that not only a card was used at Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target but that the card purchased gift cards at each of those locations, an indicator of potential fraud, Tran said. Rippleshot employs 10 in its offices at Catapult Chicago. The funding round was led by Chicago-based venture capital firm KDWC. CMFG Ventures, the Madison, Wisc.-based venture capital entity of CUNA Mutual Group, also came on board as a strategic investor. The group focuses on early-stage investments in the credit union, financial services and insurance industries. As part of the relationship, Rippleshot will work with CMFG to develop and offer products to its 9,000 affiliated credit unions, Tran said. mgraham@chicagotribune.com Twitter @megancgraham Airline executives, such as United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, are scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Dallas With U.S. airline executives meeting this week with President Donald Trump, the White House appears skeptical about a push by carriers and their unions to block competition from a European airline. Pilot unions in particular want Trump to overturn an Obama administration decision that allows European budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle to expand service to the U.S. through an Irish subsidiary. Unions say the subsidiary would skirt labor laws and threaten U.S. jobs. Advertisement But this week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested that the country would benefit from the arrangement. He said U.S. workers would build the planes and serve them. "There is a huge economic interest that America has in that deal right now," Spicer said. While saying he did not want to get ahead of the president, Spicer added that "we are talking about U.S. jobs both in terms of the people who are serving those planes and the person who is building those planes." Advertisement Norwegian lauded the remarks. Anders Lindsrom said Norwegian has 500 crew members based in the U.S. and is the only foreign airline recruiting American pilots. The airline has 120 Boeing planes now and has orders for another 120, he said. Norwegian seeks to undercut competitors through lower labor costs, said Dan Carey, president of the pilots' union at American Airlines. Allowing it to expand "runs completely counter to President Trump's pledge to put U.S. workers' interests first" and could "destroy a great many U.S. jobs," he said. The chief executives of several airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines as well as executives from air cargo companies, were invited to a breakfast meeting with Trump on Thursday. A spokesman for American Airlines said CEO Doug Parker would not attend because he'll be at a meeting in Dallas for 1,600 employees. Other airlines declined to comment or did not immediately respond. The president held a similar meeting last month with auto-industry CEOs and told them to increase U.S. production and create American jobs. Trump's focus with the airline chiefs will also be on jobs, Spicer said. "Obviously the president is going to want to talk about economic growth, job creation, how he is enacting orders to make sure the country is safe," Spicer said the latter an apparent reference to Trump's executive order that temporarily blocked travel to the U.S. by people from seven mostly-Muslim countries. Airline officials were unhappy with the confusion surrounding the rollout of the travel order. American's Parker said in a letter to employees that the order was "divisive," created turmoil at airports, and suggested that it didn't reflect his airline's values. United CEO Oscar Munoz told Business Insider that the order should have been carried out "a little more thoughtfully" and may have made some people afraid to travel. Advertisement The executives of the biggest airlines are likely to press Trump on their complaint, shared by American, that three big Persian Gulf airlines are unfairly subsidized by their government in violation of aviation treaties. Subsidies "allow the Gulf carriers to operate without concern for turning a profit, unlike U.S. airlines, and therefore focus entirely on stripping market share and driving out competition," CEOs of American, Delta and United said last week in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The state-owned Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, both based in the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar Airways deny the charges. There are complications to the dispute. Some U.S. carriers, including JetBlue and cargo airline FedEx Corp., back the Gulf carriers and oppose shaking up aviation treaties. Several consumer groups also support the Gulf carriers, arguing that more competition leads to lower fares. And the Gulf airlines buy Boeing planes. In October, Qatar Airways announced it ordered 40 Boeing wide-body jets and planned to buy up to 60 more narrow-body planes in deals valued at $18.6 billion, although airlines usually get big discounts off list prices. Associated Press Admitting things didn't go your way is painful for any trader. For Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., one of the world's top merchants of agricultural commodities, it's becoming a bit of a habit. ADM on Tuesday revealed that its so-called global trade desk, which handles commodities such as wheat and soybeans from an office in Switzerland, posted its second quarterly loss in the space of a year. The Chicago-based company's overall earnings fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Investors may be forgiven for thinking they've heard it all before. Back in 2014, Juan Luciano, at that time the company's chief operating officer, said the preceding year had been "tough" for the trading business and promised aggressive actions to improve results. A year later, Luciano, by now ADM's chief executive officer, declared himself "unhappy" with the unit and criticized a "bloated" cost structure. The year after that, he promised to turn it around. ADM is facing the same challenges encountered by other traders of agricultural commodities. Bumper crops have reduced prices and volatility, while farmers are reluctant sellers. Furthermore, in the age of the Internet, intelligence about crops that was once the domain of traders now flows freely. But for some industry observers, the problem goes deeper. Historically, ADM has focused much more on processing than trading, unlike its largest rivals Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus. "ADM does not have the DNA of a trading house," said Jean Francois Lambert, who as former head of global commodity trade finance at HSBC Holdings dealt extensively with the sector. "ADM has built a fantastic agri-industrial business over a century, but that's far from the culture of a trading house." Although global trading is a key cog in the ADM machine, the company, with 32,000 employees, runs a far larger global business, from wheat milling to ethanol-distilling to natural-flavor products. With bumper crops and good weather conditions, the trading desk "didn't have dislocations to play with," Luciano told investors in a conference call on Tuesday. As in the past, he promised a series of "vigorous" measures to improve performance. The company has closed its small-sized energy trading operation based in Hamburg, Germany, changed staff in Switzerland and cut costs. "We are spending a lot of time and effort to improve the results of the global trade desk," said Joe Taets, senior vice president of ADM's agricultural services segment, which includes the international trading unit. "We are increasing the cooperation with other units of ADM like corn and oilseeds processing," he said in an interview. He added that the trading desk is getting "closer to clients," including through joint ventures with local companies. In Egypt, for example, ADM teamed up with domestic merchant Medsofts Group in 2015 to sell grains and other commodities. Some senior executives have already departed, according to people familiar with the matter. Victor Petzold, the company's former head of global corn -- its top commodity -- has left, as has Thomas von Rymon, its global head of grains. Frederik Groth, until recently head of trading in Asia, has also headed for the exit. While most of ADM's businesses are run out its native U.S. Midwest, the global trade desk is based Rolle, a sleepy Swiss village on the shore of Lake Leman and about a half-hour drive from Geneva, where Dreyfus, Cargill and Bunge have trading floors. It was there, surrounded by vineyards and views of the Alps, that ADM assembled a new group in 2015 to fix its perennial trading difficulties. ADM's trading problem can be traced back to 1982 when it bought a stake in Alfred C. Toepfer International, an agricultural merchant based in Hamburg. The move was intended to expand its global trading operations, which until then had been focused on the U.S. ADM bought more Toepfer shares from a dozen farm cooperatives in the following decades, eventually raising its interest to 80 percent. Toepfer, however, remained relatively independent. While it gave ADM an international presence, it also brought "a lot of volatility" to the trading house's earnings, Luciano said in 2015. Worse, Toepfer was involved in several scandals, including the payment of bribes in Ukraine. ADM's patience ran out in early 2014. On a call with analysts in February of that year, Luciano described Toepfer's performance as disappointing and promised "aggressive actions" to improve the situation. Weeks later, ADM announced it was buying the remaining 20 percent of Toepfer for 83 million euros ($89 million). It went on to rebrand the business ADM Germany GmbH, ending almost 100 years of the Toepfer name, and moved executives to Rolle from Hamburg. Despite progress in 2015, when the trade desk reported profits in each quarter, ADM once again finds itself struggling with the business. Argentine-born Luciano has warned against expecting a full turn-around this year. In early 2017, he said, the global trade desk profitability will remain muted. Bloomberg's Isis Almeida, Andy Hoffman and Shruti Date Singh contributed. Wheeling-based pet food company Evanger's has recalled some lots of its Hunk of Beef dog food over concerns it may contain a sedative used to euthanize animals. A Wheeling-based pet food-maker is voluntarily recalling some of its dog food over concerns that it might contain a sedative used to euthanize animals. Several dogs in Washington state became sick on New Year's Eve after eating the food, and one died, Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co. said. The pug, named Talula, died after consuming Hunk of Beef dog food, according to Evanger's website. A subsequent toxicology report found the drug pentobarbital, a sedative, was found in the dog's stomach. The owner's three other pugs were sick after consuming the food, but survived. Advertisement Evanger's, a family-owned business, has severed its relationship with a beef supplier and promised to guarantee the safety of its products in the future. After a social media firestorm, Evanger's corporate secretary Brett Sher and his twin sister Chelsea responded with a nearly five-minute apologetic video posted on the Evanger's website explaining what they think went wrong. They promised "transparency" as they continued to investigate and encouraged concerned customers to call them directly with questions or comments. Advertisement Brett, left, and Chelsea Sher of Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co. posted a nearly five-minute video on the Evanger's website apologizing to customers and explaining why they decided to recall five lots of Hunk of Beef. (Evanger's) Evanger's also sent random samples of all of the beef used in Hunk of Beef to be tested for pentobarbitol contamination. "We can't have bad products in the marketplace, that will come back and destroy us," said Brett Sher. "My own dog eats Hunk of Beef." The product, created 13 years ago, is essentially steak in a can for dogs a chunk of lean beef that has been cooked and canned. In the video, the Evanger's officials said that after further research, they learned that pentobarbital can be found in other dry pet foods if they are made with euthanized cow meat. Further, they said, once an animal has been euthanized, there are no regulations requiring veterinarians to tag the meat as such, allowing the meat to find its way into the animal-food chain. The supplier likely didn't know that the euthanized beef was in its supply, according Joel Sher, vice president of Evanger's. The company says it's aiming to use this experience to push for more oversight and regulation of how slaughtered animals make their way into the animal-food stream. On its website, the company also shared a 1998 FDA study that found that 50 percent of the 90 pet food brands tested contained trace amounts of pentobarbital. "They knew about it, but there were no laws and regulations to stop that happening," Brett Sher said. "We were unaware of the problem of pentobarbital in the pet food industry because it is most pervasive in dry foods that source most of their ingredients from rendering plants, unlike Evanger's, which mainly manufactures canned foods that would not have any rendered materials in its supply chain," Evanger's owners wrote on their website. "All of our raw materials are sourced from USDA-inspected facilities, and many of them are suppliers with whom we have had long-standing relationships." Results from an independent lab found no contaminants in its Hunk of Beef product, Evanger's said. But further testing should indicate in the next week or two if traces of pentobarbital were in certain lots of the food. Advertisement The Shers said they paid veterinary bills for the pugs in Washington state and made a donation to a local animal shelter. The incident highlights how pet owners increasingly are feeding pets as they feed themselves, with food that is fresh, often local and allergen-free, with few ingredients and no additives. It's lead to a stream of high-end pet food products such as Hunk of Beef, which retails for $3 to $4 per can more costly than a can of beef stew meant for humans. The market for fresh food for animals has grown in the past decade, according to Joel Sher, leading the company to produce products such as chicken thighs and chicken wings in a can to keep up with competitors who offer minimally processed kibble and straight-from-the-fridge pet food made from vegetables and meat. "People want to treat their pets like family," Joel Sher said. "It's human nature, people want to feel their pet is human." An earlier version of this story incorrectly said pentobarbitol had been found in the pet food. Testing has not yet been completed. crshropshire@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @corilyns Graduate students working as teaching and research assistants at Loyola University Chicago have voted by a modest margin to unionize, marking one of the first grad student union elections since a major federal ruling concluded they are employees. A ballot count Wednesday at the National Labor Relations Board's Chicago regional office revealed 59 percent of the 120 votes cast were in favor of joining Service Employees International Union Local 73, according to the union. About 210 graduate students who are part of the bargaining unit were eligible to vote. Advertisement The election is decided by the majority of ballots that are cast, though the union will represent all 210 in the unit, which includes all part-time and full-time grad students who work as teaching assistants, research assistants, program assistants and fellowship teachers at Loyola's College of Arts and Sciences, except those in the theology department. Yelyzaveta DiStefano, 23, a first-year graduate student in Loyola's applied social psychology Ph.D. program who voted to unionize, said she hopes it is a step toward better wages. Advertisement DiStefano, who works as a research assistant and teaching assistant, said she has run out of money between paychecks, has had to rely on her partner to buy groceries and has had her cellphone cut off three times since starting the job last year because she didn't pay the bill. She said she earns $2,000 a month before taxes for nine months of the year. "No one should be having to face the situation of not meeting their basic needs," DiStefano said. Another major concern for grad students is health insurance, which the university does provide, but DiStefano said the coverage and copays are not good. In a written statement after the vote count, John Pelissero, Loyola's provost and chief academic officer, said that "it is unfortunate that such a small percentage of the voting group determined the outcome for so many others." He continued: "While we are disappointed with the result, we will work through the NLRB's processes and procedures to bargain a contract for the represented graduate assistants through SEIU Local 73." The university had urged graduate students to consider the drawbacks of unionizing in a series of communications over the past two months. It cited union dues that could cost 1.5 to 2 percent of their compensation, SEIU's limited experience in higher education and the fact that students' individual needs could be overlooked when stipends, benefits and other terms of the working relationship are bargained by the union. "It is your right to unionize," Pelissero said in a note in January. "However, we believe that maintaining a direct working relationship with you without interference from an organization like SEIU Local 73, which may not understand our University, mission, or values gives our University, faculty, graduate assistants, and other students the best opportunity to build on the improvements that we have made and will continue to make." But DiStefano said that direct relationship, in her experience, did not exist. "I've never spoken to an administrator, I've never had the chance to air any of these grievances, I had no say in the contract," she said. Advertisement Loyola also stressed that it was committed to improving its relationship with graduate assistants, acknowledging feedback on "a number of topics, including the health insurance plan, available funding (i.e. for conferences), and the feeling that the roles and responsibilities that graduate assistants are asked to take on are not properly recognized and respected by the University as a whole," Pelissero said in another note to students posted to the university's website. "If we have fallen short, I apologize." The Jesuit university had argued at an NLRB hearing in December that it should not be under the agency's jurisdiction on religious freedom grounds because "we have the right to define our own mission and govern our institution in accordance with our values and beliefs, free from government entanglement." The NLRB rejected that position. Loyola is now among three private universities in the nation with graduate student unions and the first to be represented by the SEIU. New York University recognized its own grad student union voluntarily in 2013. A handful of union elections have been held since a major NLRB decision in August that grad students are employees covered by federal labor laws, a reversal of a prior decision from 2004. Columbia University grad students in New York, whose petition to form a union kicked off the case that led to the NLRB's decision, voted overwhelmingly in December to join the United Auto Workers, which now represents 3,500 Columbia grad students. Advertisement A vote among grad students at Harvard University in Cambridge to join the UAW was too close to call. Duke University grad students are in the midst of a mail-in election. Graduate students are the latest focus of organizing efforts in higher education. Private universities have seen a surge of union drives for part-time adjuncts and full-time nontenured faculty, much of it driven by SEIU. aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com Twitter @alexiaer It's a classic story: Two people meet, fall in love, decide to move in together. If the lovebirds are moving from one rented pad to another, it's a simple enough plan to wait until a lease is over and search for a shared abode. But if, like many young professionals in the Chicagoland area, both halves of the couple already own property, the path to domestic bliss becomes a bit more complex. When Robin Phelps Hanson, a broker with @properties, was dating the man she would later marry, she helped him purchase his condo which she took as a very bad sign for the future of their relationship. Advertisement "I actually remember thinking, 'OK. Maybe this isn't going anywhere,'" she said with a laugh. At the time, her boyfriend, Rich Hanson, a freelance operations manager, sought a small place to come home to between frequent work trips, so she helped him buy a one-bedroom condo in an amenity-packed building on Lake Shore Drive. When the couple got engaged a few years later, in 2008, he moved into her condo in East Lincoln Park, and they decided to rent out his place. "We would have liked to have sold them both and purchased right away, but I also really liked my condo," Phelps Hanson said. "It was very comfortable and large enough where he could move in. There were lots of couples in the building, so it was kind of natural. It wasn't an easy decision, because his (mortgage) was a lot lower price." Advertisement But their decision paid off when, a few years later, married with a new baby, the couple got a knock on their door from a neighbor whose parents were hoping to buy in the building. Phelps Hanson and her husband anxious for more space jumped at the opportunity to sell. They have since been renting an apartment in North Center while they look for their perfect home, taking schools into account for their 4-year-old daughter, Remy. All the while, they've kept Rich Hanson's condo, which gives them a mortgage interest tax write-off every year. "We have a great tenant in there who has renewed the last 2 years," Phelps Hanson said. "My dream would be to keep it and to keep it vacant for family, because it really does feel like a hotel." She's living out a situation she sees frequently with her clients. "Many choose to focus on their career for longer, before they get married and start a family," she said. "Part of that is a lot of times purchasing a home as a single person." According to the 2015 American Community Survey, based on U.S. Census information, over a third of all homebuyers in Chicago in 2015 were single, 55 percent were married and the other 11 percent were unmarried couples. A study conducted by the online real estate database Zillow placed the 2016 median age of homebuyers across the country at 36. Kim Wirtz, a Lockport-based real estate agent with Century 21, said she often advises couples in their 30s and 40s who want to combine homes. "What I'm finding more in the Chicago area is you'll have two maybe 30-something-year-old corporate executives who found love, but they own their own condos downtown and more than likely they're a little too small to move in together," Wirtz said. "What I usually find with that situation is one of them will sell and one of them will rent." She's also worked with clients who both want to sell one pair of clients lived in the same subdivision and met while walking in the neighborhood. They took the conservative approach, Wirtz said, and sold one property at a time, moving in together temporarily in her house while his sold, then selling hers before they bought jointly. Advertisement Wirtz recommends that type of slower, but less risky, approach for couples who can wait. She also recommends that couples find out what type of loans they qualify for before getting too excited about options. "The first step is talking to a lender," Wirtz said. Next, she noted, a couple should have their homes appraised to pin down their worth and figure out how soon they can sell. Timing could be everything, she explained; if a couple jumps into purchasing a new home together before their individual homes sell, they could be on the hook for paying three mortgages instead of one. For those itching to rent, Jeremy Wacksman, chief marketing officer at Zillow, also urges couples to rely on the math. Even before starting talks with a realty agent, a duo can equip themselves with vital information by crunching the numbers. "The first thing that you want to do is figure out the actual monthly expenses at each given property," Wacksman said. "Most people understand what their mortgage is, but their (monthly payment) also includes real estate taxes, insurance, your HOA dues." Once the actual cost of maintaining each property is determined, the next step is figuring out a reasonable rental rate for each, to determine if it makes sense to hold onto either property and rent it out. There are online tools and calculators that can help with this process. But even if a tenant would more than cover a home's mortgage and costs, Wacksman cautions that people should also think critically about whether they want to take on landlord duties. "Your phone's going to ring if things go wrong," he said, adding that landlords also have to allocate a maintenance budget. Being a landlord, even part-time, isn't for everyone. But with home values rising, more couples may see that as an attractive option. Wacksman suggests researching common landlord issues and local laws before jumping in. Advertisement Wirtz cautions her clients to get approved by a lender before deciding to hold on to a condo and also purchase a new house. "Some lenders now want to see six months of actual rental income," she said. Getting each person's financial ducks in a row is crucial, Wirtz said. She has had clients who don't get approved for a new home loan and need to live in one or the other's existing property. It helps to absorb that news if couples are prepared for all outcomes. "What is amazing and fun about buying and selling and renting is, it is an emotional and a rational journey," Wacksman said. "You fall in love and you make it a home, but then you have to make a math decision at the end of the day." Sometimes the decision isn't based on numbers, but familial needs. That was the case for Kala Callahan, a professional home stager, and Jon Hunt, a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, friends who had known each other for years and began dating about 10 months ago. Callahan owns a five-bedroom house in Wilmette, an investment she made in 2009 to ensure that her son, now a senior at New Trier High School in Winnetka, would have a nice home near his school. Hunt owns a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in south Evanston. When the couple decided it was time to live together, Callahan said it was tempting to imagine selling her house, but she couldn't envision making her son move and switch school districts. Hunt agreed; the decision was "a no-brainer" for him to move into her house and find a tenant to rent his. Advertisement Callahan plans to put her house on the market once her son heads off to college, and buy a home with Hunt after she sells. "My property taxes here are right around $30,000 a year," she said. "You could buy a serviceable new car every year for that. But I consider it tuition." Megan Bungeroth is a freelance writer. ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com RELATED STORIES: Three's company: Singles and their coupled pals share apartments Next stop, starter home When a couple that owns a condo splits, what happens to the property? Watch our latest Real Estate videos. Updated: Trump Accuses Undocumented Immigrants Of Spurring Gang Violence In Chicago By Stephen Gossett in News on Feb 8, 2017 4:20PM As it is a day that ends with a y, President Donald Trump lashed out again at Chicago violence on Wednesday morning. This time, he also partially blamed undocumented immigrants for the city's crime. You look at Chicago, and you look at other places, Trump said, according to CBS. So many of the problems are caused by gang members, many of whom are not even legally in our country. Trump did not offer any substantiation for the link he drew. The president's administration is of course in the midst of a legal challenge that attempts to lift the suspension of his immigration-ban executive order. What is going on in Chicago? Trump also asked while addressing a group of law enforcement officials in Washington D.C. The comments were the second Trump has made about Chicago crime in as many days. In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone, Trump said in his speech. And the rate so far this year has been even higher. Trump was speaking at a conference with the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Whether a child lives in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore or anywhere in our country, he or she has the right to grow up in safety and in peace, Trump added. No one in America should be punished because of the city where he or she is born. As the Tribune notes, shootings are indeed up, by about eight percent, from this time last year although homicides have fallen by more than double that figure. With all the talk and no action, you have to wonder whether the administration is serious about working with us on solutions, or if they are just using violence in this great city to score political points. Weve been clear. There are ways the federal government can help, and were happy to partner with the administration whenever they decide to stop talking and start acting, Chicago mayoral spokesman Matt McGrath said. The presidents latest Chicago-crime remark came one day after he said, Chicago is worse than some places in Middle East where there are wars going on. Trumps comments on Tuesday were made to another law enforcement group, the National Sheriffs Association. During that exchange, Trump also falsely claimed that the national murder rate is the highest its been in nearly 50 years. In January, Trump threatened to "send in the feds" if Chicago failed to stop it's "carnage." The following day, in an interview with ABC News, Trump doubled down, saying Chicago is "like a war zone" and compared the city to Afghanistan. A week ago, Ohio pastor Darrell Scott said at a Black History Month listening session that he was in touch with "top gang thugs in Chicago" on how to address violent crime, but the pastor the pastor quickly walked back his statement. Chicago violence was a frequent topic for Trump during the presidential campaign as well. This post has been updated. Chicago's Republican Party chairman filed an ethics complaint with the Chicago Public Schools inspector general Wednesday alleging district CEO Forrest Claypool improperly used taxpayer resources to deliver a "blatantly political letter" to parents this week. "It was misusing taxpayer money for political purposes," Chicago Republican Chairman Chris Cleveland said during a news conference with a small group of GOP volunteers and staffers outside Inspector General Nicholas Schuler's office. "It is not only improper; it is entirely illegal." Advertisement The school district's battle with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over education funding escalated this week with dueling letters delivered to parents of students at the financially troubled district. In a letter to parents that coincided with the announcement of a $46 million spending freeze for schools, Claypool wrote that "Governor Rauner, just like President Trump, has decided to attack those who need the most help." Advertisement The district says cuts are necessary because of a veto by the governor that cost the district $215 million in anticipated state aid. "If we are not able to win the political battles in Springfield, we will have to make more cuts," Claypool's letter said. "Those cuts will be even more painful. We need not just the $215 million first step that the Governor has stolen from your children. We need real change that is fair to your children." The Rauner administration sent its own letter to CPS parents in which state Education Secretary Beth Purvis accused CPS of trying to "arbitrarily create a crisis" with "a curiously timed and unfortunate announcement" on Monday about the spending freeze. Purvis told parents that "continued mismanagement left (CPS) with a $215 million hole in the current fiscal year," despite an annual special block grant from the state, declining enrollment within the district and increased property taxes. In his letter urging Schuler to investigate Claypool, Cleveland cited the bribery scandal that brought down former district CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. "I ask that you look into Mr. Claypool's pattern of unethical behavior to help guard against CPS finding itself with the same fate under Mr. Claypool as it had under Ms. Byrd-Bennett," the letter said. Claypool defended his letter to parents at a news conference where he continued his campaign against Rauner and the state's education funding system. He dismissed the GOP complaint as "a silly smokescreen. "It is well within my authority, and it is actually my responsibility to do something," Claypool said. Advertisement "This not partisan at all. This is about the kids of Chicago and how politics in Springfield and the actions of the governor affect them. I'm not the one who decided in the middle of the school year, when it could do the most harm to kids, to pull resources away from them. The governor chose to do that." Rauner has said he vetoed the measure that would have provided $215 million to CPS because Democrats went back on a deal that tied the aid to broader changes to the state's employee retirement system. School ethics policies generally prohibit CPS employees from engaging in a broad list of "political activity" during work time including activities such as participating in or assisting with political campaigns or organizing political demonstrations. Those prohibitions exclude activities "relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action" as defined by state lobbying laws. The policy also does not prohibit political activities "that are otherwise appropriate for an Employee to engage in as part of his or her official employment duties." Schuler's office declined comment. jjperez@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @PerezJr Students from New Triers Jazz Ensemble 1 perform at the 34th Annual New Trier Jazz Festival on Feb. 4, 2017. (Gina J. Grillo / Pioneer Press) Percussion, piano and brass played to the same rhythms at the 34th Annual New Trier Jazz Festival on Feb. 4 at New Trier High School. More than 800 student musicians attended the event, including 100 from New Trier and the remainder from 32 visiting high school and middle school jazz ensembles around the country. Students from as near as Evanston Township High School and as far away as New Jersey attended. Advertisement "This festival allows students to take on significant leadership roles, to push their own boundaries, and to experience the thrill of a group effort succeeding," said Nicholas Meyer, director of jazz ensembles for New Trier. Jazz clinicians from institutions including DePaul University, the University of North Texas and The Juilliard School held sessions throughout the day that included master classes, sectionals and concerts, giving students the opportunity to rehearse, interact and gain feedback. Advertisement "There is no shortage of talent and enthusiasm here at the New Trier festival. We are simply here to inform students of the traditions of jazz," said James Burton, jazz orchestra conductor at Juilliard. The day culminated in a 7:30 p.m. concert with an opening set by New Trier's Jazz Ensemble 1. "Walking out on that stage tonight for the first time and looking out over the audience, I felt the thrill of being a part something like this," said Griff Parry of Wilmette, who plays tenor sax in Jazz Ensemble 1. It was followed by a main event performance by Grammy winner Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. Russell Gloyd of Winnetka, whose son is a senior in Jazz Ensemble 1, said he served as a longtime conductor and manager to jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. The New Trier festival is important, Gloyd said, because jazz is now starting to find its way back into the culture's vocabulary. Gloyd said jazz is fundamentally about freedom of expression. "Jazz gives students a way of expressing themselves that goes against the culture, and since the number one right of any teenager is to rebel, jazz speaks to that sense of freedom," he said. Gina J. Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press. Preserves of some kind are often an accompaniment on cheese plates. Here the idea is borrowed for a grilled sandwich. Sweet/savory onion jam, your own or store-bought, cozies up to a soft Italian cheese. (Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune) Salty and a bit sweet, rich and a bit tangy, this grilled cheese with onion jam, adapted from "The Epicurious Cookbook," is everything we want for dinner (there are even greens!), between two slices of rustic bread. Just add wine. In this case, bottles that play well with the salty/sweet duality. MAKE THIS Advertisement Grilled cheese with onion jam Brush 4 slices of rustic Italian bread with olive oil on one side; arrange slices with the oiled side down on a work surface. Spread 2 slices with onion jam; top with slices of taleggio cheese. Mound fresh escarole, cut in ribbons, on top; season with salt and pepper. Close sandwiches with the other 2 slices of bread. Cook the sandwiches in a skillet, turning once and pressing with a spatula to compact, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese melts, 6-8 minutes total. Makes: 2 servings Advertisement DRINK THIS Pairings by sommelier Rachael Lowe of Spiaggia, as told to Michael Austin: Sorelle Bronca Particella 68 Extra Dry Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy: As an extra-dry style, this wine has slightly higher residual sugar than a brut. Notes of white peach, golden apple and tangerine are balanced by a plush ripeness on the palate. The soft bubbles and medium acidity will cut through the richness of the cheese, while the fruit notes will intermingle well with the caramelized onion in the jam. 2011 Marcel Deiss Engelgarten, Alsace, France: Five grape varieties, grown together and blended, make up this special cuvee: pinot gris, riesling, muscat, pinot blanc and a small amount of pinot noir. With rich aromas of candied orange peel, ginger, apricot skin and honeysuckle, the wine is dry on the palate but also unctuous. Its acidity will balance the fat in the cheese, while its spice notes will accentuate the onion jam. 2015 Darioush Viognier, Napa Valley, California: Grown in the cooler Oak Knoll District and Carneros region to retain acidity and structure, this wine expresses classic viognier characteristics. Fermented in neutral French barrels, its notes of vanilla, kumquat, white flowers and Asian pear come together beautifully and will complement the spices and sweetness of the jam. At the same time, they will do a good job of countering the mushroom notes of the earthy cheese. The No. 1 at Jarabe is Chicago's best breakfast taco. It features a pile of browned potatoes and crisped-up chorizo with soft scrambled eggs, a generous shower of salty queso fresco and a scoop of fresh pico de gallo. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Corn tortillas are to Chicago what imprisoned politicians are to Illinois so ubiquitous you almost forget how many exist. Thanks to a collection of top-notch tortilla factories producing piles of fragrant paper-wrapped tortillas every single day, Chicago residents can wrap pretty much anything they want in soft and supple corn tortillas. This also explains why we are blessed with one of the best taco scenes in the entire United States unless, sadly, you're in the mood for a breakfast taco. Advertisement Due to their abundant, overflowing nature, breakfast tacos tend to taste better on sturdy flour tortillas, which isn't exactly our forte. This doesn't stop people from asking me constantly for the best place to score a breakfast taco, which always sends me bumbling about, trying to sound eloquent as I admit I haven't the slightest clue. Alexis Vejar, left, and his brother Teddy at work in their restaurant Jarabe Mexican Street Food. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) But now I know. Jarabe Mexican Street Food serves the breakfast taco Chicago's been wanting. After running a food truck, brothers Teddy and Alexis Vejar opened the small shop in the West Side neighborhood of Tri-Taylor a few months ago, and they've devoted half the menu to the morning meal. Advertisement Jarabe currently has four stunning breakfast tacos on its menu. I do have a favorite. The #1 ($3) collects a pile of browned potatoes and crisped-up chorizo with soft scrambled eggs, a generous shower of salty queso fresco and a scoop of fresh pico de gallo. It's the kind of taco made for fueling a body for serious work or for reviving a hung-over one. That the warm and flexible flour tortilla, made by El Milagro, manages not to crumble immediately deserves respect. Close behind is the Machaca ($3), named for the dried-and-then-rehydrated beef traditionally found in Northern Mexico. Finely chopped and aggressively salty, the beef would be way too much if it weren't enveloped in a blanket of scrambled eggs. Thick slices of pickled jalapeno provide the heat, while avocado lends creaminess. Jarabe Mexican Street Food is a small shop in the West Side neighborhood of Tri-Taylor. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) But it's hard to go wrong with any of the options. The Steak & Eggs ($3) features nicely crisped cubes of beef mixed with scrambled eggs, all held together with a generous handful of gooey Chihuahua cheese. The biggest of the bunch is oddly the one vegetarian offering; La Milpa ($3) gets a heaping ladleful of refried black beans, along with eggs, queso fresco and creamy guacamole. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Considering Jarabe's breakfast taco chops, it's slightly disappointing that the regular tacos, all served on corn tortillas, don't work quite as well. I tried four, and while better than your average neighborhood taqueria, all were blanketed in so much watery lettuce it was hard to differentiate them. Fortunately, if you stay in the breakfast category, you can't go wrong. The plate of chilaquiles rojos ($8) could easily feed two very hungry people. Mounds of braised barbacoa fight for space with two fried eggs, handfuls of cheese and cilantro, and a generous drizzle of crema. Instead of collapsing into a soggy pile, the freshly fried chips miraculously manage to stay crackly crisp even after getting soaked in a generous amount of guajillo pepper and roasted tomato sauce. Looks as if other people are catching on to Jarabe. Each time I visited, the shop was bustling with orders and deliveries. When I talked to Alexis Vejar on the phone, he agreed that they've been a bit busy: "I don't know why or how, but we had a 30-person line within the first two weeks." While the brothers shut down the food truck to start Jarabe, they haven't completely given up on the project. Alexis Vejar would like to have a new food truck up and ready to go by June. He wants to get licensing to be able to cook on the truck, which is really the only way tacos should be served. Here's hoping it all works out. Otherwise, if you're in the mood for a breakfast taco in the Chicagoland area, there's really only one place to go. Jarabe Mexican Street Food, 2255 W. Taylor St., 312-877-5005, www.jarabechicago.com Advertisement nkindelsperger@tribpub.com Twitter @nickdk Imagine ideal partners for maple syrup, and essentially all of them are breakfast foods pancakes, waffles, bacon. But I'd like to add one more to the shortlist: limes. I realize this sounds strange. At first glance, the two sound like the liquid odd couple. One comes from up north, where you're likely to spot a flannel-clad lumberjack, while the other soaks in the sun closer to the equator, next to sunbathers. Advertisement The combo starts to make sense when you consider that limes are the most acidic citrus fruit, and that bracing sharpness helps cut through the darker, rounder notes imposed by maple syrup. But while the push and pull of sultry sweetness and high acidity are appealing, it's not even the best part. For some inexplicable reason, when you combine maple syrup and lime juice, you get an aroma and taste eerily reminiscent of tart apples. It's bizarre. As you can imagine, the combination works wonders in cocktails. Just about any classic cocktail with lime juice and simple syrup can be tweaked. A daiquiri with maple syrup tastes both richer and fruitier. Adding a small amount of maple syrup to a margarita softens some of the edges while also adding the slight apple aroma. Advertisement While those were interesting variations, I spent weeks attempting to craft a drink that simply smacked of apples. (Such a difficult job, I know.) I finally paired the odd duo with bourbon, Peychaud's bitters and a splash of soda water. It's like taking a huge bite out of a Granny Smith apple tart and only ever-so-slightly sweet and then feeling nicely buzzed afterward. But was I just imaging the connection? I reached out to Paul McGee, the innovative bartender behind Lost Lake in the Logan Square, just to make sure I wasn't completely crazy. Luckily, he assured me I was not: "When developing cocktails which contain maple syrup and lime, I also noticed a complementary apple flavor." Back when McGee worked at The Whistler, he developed a variation of the Vermont Cocktail that exploited the maple syrup and lime connection. Featuring a mix of applejack, gin, apricot brandy and Angostura bitters, the drink is bracing but also remarkably complex, with the dark notes of the maple syrup standing next to the fresh citrus acidity. And, of course, there's the green apple flavor sneaking through. nkindelsperger@tribpub.com Twitter @nickdk Vermont Cocktail Makes: 1 drink From Paul McGee of Lost Lake. Advertisement 1 ounce dry gin 1/2 ounce Laird's Applejack (or apple brandy) 1/4 ounce apricot brandy, such as Marie Brizard Apry 3/4 ounce lime juice 1/2 ounce maple syrup, grade A 3 dashes Angostura bitters Advertisement Shake all ingredients with ice; strain into a double Old Fashioned glass. Maple apple bourbon sour Makes: 1 drink Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > 2 ounces bourbon 3/4 ounce lime juice 3/4 ounce maple syrup Advertisement 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters Splash soda water Green apple slice Shake bourbon, lime, maple syrup and bitters with ice; strain into an Old Fashioned glass. Top with soda water, and garnish with green apple slice. What does protest look like? Consider the reactions these past few weeks to the statements, Cabinet picks and executive orders of President Donald Trump. There have been legal moves made in federal court. There have been direct action campaigns at places such as the Dakota Access pipeline site. Millions have marched in the streets and gathered at airport terminals, holding homemade signs and chanting. Advertisement Museums are playing their part too. James Rondeau, director of the Art Institute of Chicago, has issued a statement about the president's travel ban, noting that it "stands in conflict with the Art Institute's values and undermines the important principles of inclusiveness and diversity at the heart of our civic mission." He joins colleagues at MCA Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, MOCA Cleveland, Dallas Museum of Art and Getty Institute, all of whom have spoken out directly against the ban and the harmful effect it will have on cultural exchange. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, has reconfigured its permanent-collection galleries to highlight contemporary art from Iran, Iraq and Sudan, with wall labels boldly explaining the connection to the travel ban. Advertisement MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Two museums on the University of Chicago campus have done it through politically minded historical artworks and artifacts. This pair of shows offers a timely study in the ways that certain avant-garde artists in the late 1960s and early '70s made art that looked like art while taking protest to heart. "Vostell Concrete, 1969-1973" and "Fantastic Architecture: Vostell, Fluxus, and the Built Environment" don't announce themselves as being about protest art per se, but nearly every piece of art included in them stands in opposition to one prevailing norm or another, be it the Vietnam War or the dominance of the automobile in new city design. If ever there was a time to recognize meaningful protest in all of its forms, from the highly aesthetic to the brutally pragmatic, that time is now. The first show, at the Smart Museum of Art, conducts an intensive study into the German artist Wolf Vostell's novel use of concrete as a material and motif in sculptures, environments, prints, film and artist books. Why concrete? It's a surprisingly old material, having been extensively employed by the ancient Romans to build such grand structures as the Pantheon. It isn't the composite's history that inspired Vostell, however, but its present. After being more or less lost during the Middle Ages, concrete was repopularized in the Industrial Era and is now used more than any other man-made material in the world, for everything from fence posts and house foundations to highways and monumental dams. That was as true in Vostell's time as it is today, and it's one of the reasons that this work continues to feel forceful and relevant. What Vostell did with concrete is intensely weird. He used it to fully encase a Bofinger chair, the first mass-producible one-piece plastic seat; an Opel Kapitan, a German-made executive car; an entire shop counter from a butcher in the city of Bochum; his own artist book, rendering it unreadable and 20 pounds heavy; part of a train car; and parts of the human body. In two-dimensional prints with concrete and cement collage, he imagined a 1.5-kilometer-long concrete cloud flying over Chicago and the Swiss Alps; smothered the Alabama state trooper car parked in front of civil rights protesters suffering police action; bound a B-52 dropping a payload of bombs over Laos; and erased the entire upper-class neighborhood of Basel. The politics inherent here are more obvious in some artworks than others. Concrete airplanes can't fly and therefore can't be used to drop bombs on innocent villagers. Racist state troopers can't attack demonstrators if they can't drive to the march in "concretified" autos. But a fancy car and modern chair encased in concrete, in real life that makes the symbolic actionable. Two emblems of consumer culture are removed from the cycle of production and consumption, both literally and, because they remain on display as sculptures, figuratively. In a film in a second, related group exhibition at the Neubauer Collegium, Vostell dryly explains his treatment of the Opel Kapitan as being "one possibility of dealing with the car." The show as a whole surveys an international array of projects that took playful, critical aim at postwar urban planning. Included are Vostell's satirical proposals for running ribbons of highway through and around the Cologne Cathedral and mounting a monumental television set atop Hradcany Castle in Prague. A text piece by Rosemary Mayer suggests making a game of the postal system by issuing change-of-address cards for several blocks in Manhattan: mail for the south side of the street would go to the north side and vice versa, thereby making life a little more surreal and social for its occupants. Shigeko Kubota's video diary records a tour of SoHo given by Fluxus artists George Maciunas, Nam June Paik and friends, incomprehensibly presented in each artist's native tongue, and completely at odds with the distinguished focus of a standard guided tour. Documentation of monumental sculptures by Christo and Jeanne-Claude show how they filled a narrow street in Paris with a wall of oil barrels, creating a barricade reminiscent of the city's many revolutionary ones. The medieval tower and baroque fountain in Spoleto, Italy, which they temporarily wrapped in white fabric and rope, begs for comparison with Vostell's concretifications in terms of scale and permanence. (Not incidentally, Christo recently announced the cancellation of his project to drape a canopy of silvery fabric over 42 miles of a river in Colorado because the terrain is owned by a federal government he wants nothing to do with.) Also included are systems works by Douglas Huebler, one of which presents uncanny comparisons between shop mannequins and pedestrians, and a series of posters advertising the 10th, 11th and 13th annual New York Avant-Garde Festival, when the event repurposed Grand Central Station, Shea Stadium and the World Trade Center, respectively. Nine offset cards reveal photographs of Allan Kaprow and his buddies sitting on wooden chairs in different locations throughout Berkeley, Calif.: atop a column, on a busy street corner, in a parking lot, up a tree, on railroad tracks. What they were doing was enacting a Happening, the environmental art form pioneered by Kaprow and meant to blur the boundary between art and life, thereby protesting the artlessness of most life. Advertisement Call it what you want. Call it art, call it protest just do it, now. That means not just the individuals who make and love art but also the institutions that exhibit it. "Vostell Concrete, 1969-1973" runs through June 11 at the Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., 773-702-0200, www.smartmuseum.uchicago.edu; "Fantastic Architecture: Vostell, Fluxus, and the Built Environment" runs through March 17 at the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society, 5701 S. Woodlawn Ave., 773-795-2329, www.neubauercollegium.uchicago.edu. Lori Waxman is a freelance critic. ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com Twitter @chitribent RELATED STORIES: Advertisement MCA opens retrospective on choreographer Merce Cunningham Chicago museums set attendance records in 2016 Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) At its sporadic best, the crazy velocity and wisenheimer appeal of "The Lego Batman Movie" reminds you of what made "The Lego Movie" such a nice surprise three years ago. It was my favorite comedy of 2014, even without that insidiously satiric theme song "Everything is Awesome!" Director Chris McKay's spinoff, however, is more about expectations fulfilled than new surprises, nicely sprung. Basically a conventional superhero action movie with a constant stream of sideline heckling, "The Lego Batman Movie" goes where various franchises housed at various studios have gone before. Just as Iron Man (the target of a running gag here) fell into a narcissistic pool of self-interest and celebrity indulgence in his second movie, the lil' plastic Batman taking center stage is a raging egomaniac, all abs and no heart. Advertisement He has buried the pain of his parents' murder with a mountain of cool toys and weapons. Amusingly Bruce Wayne/Batman, voiced as he was in a choice supporting role in "The Lego Movie" by Will Arnett, isn't exactly the master of his cavernous domain; he proves somewhat clueless when it comes to working a DVR remote or programming a microwave oven. Only his faithful butler, Alfred, given just the right empathetic tones by Ralph Fiennes, knows what Bruce needs: a surrogate family, so he's not stuck on the couch watching "Jerry Maguire" another lonely night. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Advertisement Toward this end, Bruce casually adopts an orphan, Dick Grayson (Michael Cera, delightfully naive) and ventures outside his loner-vigilante sphere to join forces with Gotham City police Commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson, better than her limited material). Batman's chief nemesis remains, inevitably, the needy, whiny, malevolent Joker (Zach Galifianakis). But as Batman says, "I like to fight around," and the screenplay credited to five writers arranges for one onslaught after another. "The Lego Movie" benefited from its sweet-natured protagonist, Emmet, surrounded by a shrewdly judged degree of mayhem. "The Lego Batman Movie" offers more mayhem and less funny. It takes a cheerfully cynical buckshot approach to pop culture spoofing on the run, roping in Superman (Channing Tatum, voice), Harley Quinn (Jenny Slate), references to Batman's past (all the way back to the 1966 Adam West/Burt Ward feature, based on the TV series). Dozens of celeb voice cameos spice the action, from Conan O'Brien as The Riddler to Mariah Carey as the Gotham mayor. The value of teamwork; the importance of feelings; the peculiar, mesmerizing charm of Lego flames and fireballs, digitally animated: These are among the lessons imparted by "The Lego Batman Movie." I enjoyed it well enough. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com "The Lego Batman Movie" 2.5 stars MPAA rating: PG (for rude humor and some action) Running time: 1:46 Opens: Friday Advertisement RELATED STORIES: 'John Wick: Chapter 2' review: Keanu Reeves is back as the superassassin and dog lover 'I Am Not Your Negro' review: Baldwin's unfinished book project subject of powerful documentary 'Hunter Gatherer' review: 'The Wire's' Andre Royo plays an ex-con who aims to get his life back on track 'The Comedian' review: Laughs the only thing missing for De Niro's insult comic Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox) Playwright Young Jean Lee, shown at a rehearsal for Straight White Men at the Steppenwolf Theatre, describes the play as far and away her most naturalistic work to date. (Joel Moorman photo) Young Jean Lee looks me in the eye and smiles her most sympathetic smile. "I feel sorry for you," she says. "You don't get to have one of the big categories of oppression. You are expected to understand everyone else's experience and yet no one wants to understand your experience. Everybody is talking about race and yet nobody is talking about straight white men." Advertisement There is a pause. "It must be very difficult," she says, her smile turning into a broad grin. Advertisement I grin back, my eyes searching for the various levels of irony that must surely be at work. I mean, right? For Lee whose play "Straight White Men" opens Sunday at the Steppenwolf Theatre is one of the American theater's most progressive and complicated figures. Although perceived very much as a "downtown" kind of New York artist (more on her growing discomfort with that in a moment), the formidably intellectual Lee has been playing around for years with the intersection of text, movement, gender and politicized performance, sitting at the center of a variety of ensemble-driven, frequently acclaimed theater works. Her "Untitled Feminist Show," which toured to Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art in 2013, was unforgettable in its wordless, clothes-less evocation of the sheer joy of femininity in all its power and freedoms. Its potential freedoms. So one would not expect Lee to be a well of sympathy for the burdens of heterosexual-Caucasian-macho privilege. But here we are in the bar at Steppenwolf. And she seems genuinely sympathetic. "Straight White Men" already has been seen in New York in 2014, but Lee has rewritten the piece, which she describes as far and away her most naturalistic work to date, to the point that she has held back the published version of the script to reflect this process now coming to fruition at Steppenwolf. RELATED: MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Advertisement Although Lee never explicitly says so, you discern that the show is being teed up at Steppenwolf to interest commercial producers and other mainstream presenting entities. Lee does talk a good deal about how she has grown frustrated with the smaller audiences her work has tended to reach she usually sells out her shows, but not exactly in Broadway-sized houses. There always has been an underappreciated populism and accessibility to Lee's work, and you get the sense that this piece, brought to Chicago by the Steppenwolf artistic director Anna D. Shapiro, is in part an exercise in the rebranding of Lee as a figure who deserves a spot at the center of the American conversation. Up until this point, Lee and her dedicated theater company have been beloved and followed by those with a keen interest in cutting-edge performance, but you do not see her jockeying with John Oliver on the late-night shows. Yet. Clearly, she could be. Inarguably, she should be. And with everyone talking about race and gender, a show probing the gestalt of the straight white male would seem to be of the moment. (If only straight white males went in any large numbers to the theater. But that's another column.) At this moment I am emboldened (or is it trapped?) by Lee to ask the big question I'd been planning to ask all along. I've become fascinated by one of the staple memes on social media the declaration that straight white males should stand down, shut up, be quiet, take a supporting role, have fewer opinions (and certainly not about people other than themselves) and generally operate with less volume and fewer interruptions in the voice of others. Advertisement If you analyze race and gender, this is a reasonable argument in service of a more just society and, indeed, some straight white males frequently declare themselves in agreement with these strictures. The issue, though, is that this is a capitalist society that rewards individual effort more and more, in fact, as the safety nets fall away. So this effort requires an anti-capitalist subjugation of the straight white male self. Or does it? Is not to be a straight white male and publicly declare that you are shutting up and standing down actually a very subtle evocation of a brand: the same old privilege expressed another, savvier way? So is not the straight white male (the ones who don't want just to declare a pox on this whole debate) thus caught in a paradox? Lee listens intently. She smiles again. "If you were to carry that 'sit down, step aside and shut up' thing to its logical conclusion about straight white men," she said, "it ends up in an argument for the genocide of straight white men." That pulls me up short. Lee continues. Advertisement "Silence is not productive," she says, "Like you, I see a fundamental conflict between our increasing desire for social justice and the truth that we just are not a community-based society any more. It is indeed at odds with the capitalist imperative. In a community-based society, people put the community first and still prosper. We need to learn how to make a civil rights movement happen. And that means we have to get a whole lot better at intersectionality and fighting for cause." Chris Jones is a Chicago Tribune critic. cjones5@tribpub.com Twitter@ChrisJonesTrib MORE FROM THE THEATER LOOP: Casting announced for Steppenwolf's 'Christians' and 'Straight White Men' Advertisement How 'Fences' built 'Moonlight,' now its rival for an Oscar Tony-winner David Rabe joins Gift Theatre ensemble Watch the latest movie trailers. 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) From left: Judge Richard R. Clifton, shown in 2002; Judge William Canby, shown in 2015; and Judge Michelle T. Friedland, shown in 2014. (Associated Press) A federal appeals court panel reviewing President Trump's controversial limits on travel from several predominantly Muslim countries appeared skeptical Tuesday of the administration's arguments seeking to reinstate his order. In a hearing that lasted more than an hour, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals appeared to dismiss the administration's arguments that neither the states nor the courts have the authority to challenge the executive order, which seeks to bar travelers from seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa to protect the United States from terrorists. Advertisement The fight over the travel moratorium is being viewed as a test of whether the new and unconventional president, who has never before held public office, will be reined in by the courts as he tries to implement his controversial campaign promises. Trump's executive order suspending the admission of new refugees and blocking travelers from countries with possible links to terrorism prompted protests around the world and threw airports into chaos as at least 60,000 foreigners with valid visas saw them suddenly canceled. Advertisement A federal judge in Seattle last week issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the ban, and those potentially affected by it students who had been overseas visiting their families, engineers on work visas, relatives hoping to visit their families in the U.S. began streaming into the country again. A ruling in favor of the government by the three-member panel could reverse the situation once again. Administration lawyers said such a ruling was essential until the government can draft adequate protections to keep possible terrorists out of the country. Tuesday's hearing on the government's bid to reinstate it drew an extraordinary level of public attention. The audio feed was broadcast live on CNN and MSNBC highly unusual for a legal teleconference. Nearly 137,000 people listened in on the court's website, the largest audience "by far" of any hearing since the 9th Circuit began streaming two years ago, a court spokesman said. The states of Washington and Minnesota have challenged the constitutionality of Trump's executive order, arguing that it was motivated by a negative attitude toward Muslims, not a reasoned attempt to protect the country. They said it would prevent students from finishing their education and leave employers suddenly without needed workers. The Justice Department counters that the moratorium was not aimed at any particular religion, but at nations associated with terrorism, and is intended to apply only until new vetting measures are in place. Federal attorneys contend that the potential harm cited by the states business loss, reduced tax revenue and disruption of higher education are merely speculative. Appeals court arguments are often hard to judge; lawyers for both sides came in for pointed questioning. But two of the three 9th Circuit judges hearing the case said little to indicate they would rule for Trump. Advertisement On the other hand, Judge Richard Clifton, an appointee of President George W. Bush, directed his toughest questions to Washington state Solicitor Gen. Noah G. Purcell, who represented his state and Minnesota during the hearing. Clifton repeatedly noted that the moratorium on entry from the seven targeted nations affected only 15% of the world's Muslim population. He asked how that amounted to discrimination against Muslims. "I have trouble understanding where we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected," he said. Clifton also asked whether the administration should be prohibited, under the judge's order, from applying a ban to people in those seven countries who have never been to the U.S. or held visas. "Why isn't this over-broad?" Clifton asked, referring to U.S. District Judge James Robart's temporary restraining order. The panel seemed to agree, however, that the states had the legal right to challenge Trump's order. Advertisement And both Judge William Canby, an appointee of President Carter, and Judge Michelle Friedland, a President Obama appointee, appeared to come to the aid of the states' lawyer when Clifton pressed him for evidence that the travel order was motivated by religious bias. "You have actually supported these allegations with exhibits, haven't you?" Friedland reminded the lawyer representing Washington and Minnesota. Canby quickly added that it was the federal government, not the states, that had the burden of showing its arguments would eventually prevail. August Flentje, special counsel to the assistant U.S. attorney general, argued that Trump's order merely put a "temporary pause" on entry from the seven countries until security concerns could be reviewed. He said those nations were targeted because Congress and the Obama administration determined they posed special risks of terrorism. But Clifton said the administration had only "pretty abstract" evidence that irreparable harm would result if the temporary restraining order were not removed. Advertisement "It isn't like there haven't been processes in place" to provide extra screening of visa applications from those countries, he said. "Is there any reason for us to think there is a real risk?" Clifton asked. Friedland asked the federal government's lawyer how the administration would view an order that said all Muslims were banned. Flentje tried to deflect the question but eventually conceded that such an directive could be challenged on constitutional grounds. UC Irvine Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky said he was struck by the difficulty the federal lawyer had in providing evidence that removing the hold would cause irreparable harm. University of Pittsburgh Law Professor Arthur Hellman said he was surprised at the tone of some of some of Clifton's questions for the Washington state attorney. Advertisement "He seemed almost angry," Hellman said. "But later he was also a little hard on the federal government attorney." Legal experts caution against reading too deeply into the tone of questioning from judges, who are often pointed on both sides of a case. "The reason you can't read a lot into oral arguments is that it's the judges' job to perform a searching inquiry on both sides. I think people who haven't heard oral arguments may hear the questions for the Department of Justice and they say, 'Oh my God, these are such sharp questions, and maybe they don't agree at all with the federal government,'" said Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. What's important to keep in mind, she said, is "it's the judges' job to play devil's advocate. It's their job to help the attorneys articulate their best argument. It's their job to also try to convince their colleagues." The 9th Circuit is not expected to decide the key constitutional issues in the case immediately. The panel in its ruling this week will determine only whether the court order against enforcement of the ban should continue until the complex legal debate over executive power and due process is resolved. To reverse Judge Robart's restraining order, the federal government must show that the country would suffer irreparable harm if the travel ban is not immediately reinstated. Advertisement If the appeals court upholds the restraining order, the administration can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Once the legality of the hold is resolved, the case would return to Robart. maura.dolan@latimes.com Twitter: @mauradolan ALSO White House: Trump doesn't question judicial independence DeVos confirmed as Education secretary in razor-thin Senate vote Advertisement Trump's travel ban couldn't keep this Johnny Cash-loving Muslim college kid away from the U.S.: Meet Abdullah ... UPDATES: 8:20 p.m.: This story was updated with additional details from the hearing and for clarity. 5:45 p.m.: The story was updated with details from the oral arguments. 4:25 p.m.: This story was updated to reflect the conclusion of oral arguments. 3:15 p.m.: This story was updated with the commencement of oral arguments in the case. Advertisement This story was originally published at 2:05 p.m. Two long-eared owls were roosting along Chicago's lakefront, near the Sydney Marovitz Golf Course, on Dec. 26. (Steve Jenear) An atypically high number of long-eared owls have swooped into Chicago this winter, their presence recorded by birders in birding databases and everyday residents on social media. According to various recent Facebook reports, a couple of fluffy, long-eared owls were spotted preening in Lincoln Park. Another darted in front of a delivery truck in Cicero. One sat on a barren tree branch outside of a Kohl's on Elston Avenue. Skilled local photographers have captured these majestic, medium-sized birds on film: The distinctive patterning on their feathers, their orange facial discs and long ear tufts (not actual ears) make them look perpetually surprised. Advertisement A sudden upsurge of a single animal species in one area is called an "irruption." But what causes such a phenomenon, and how do long-eared owls adapt to city life? Pardon the irruption Advertisement It's not entirely clear where these long-eared owls flew in from, but Cornell Lab of Ornithology range maps show them breeding in the northern half of Wisconsin, northern Michigan, Minnesota and throughout Canada. "Owls are irruptive migrants, meaning that where they show up and how many individuals are spotted during the winter can be somewhat unpredictable," says Stephanie Beilke, a conservation science associate with Great Lakes Audubon who studies, among other things, avian responses to urbanization and migratory stopovers. "Not much is currently known about what triggers an irruption, but it could be related to food availability and changes in population sizes." Long-eared owls feed primarily on small mammals, specifically white-footed mice and voles, which look like chubby mice with tinier ears. "These rodents have populations that go up and down," says Douglas Stotz, an ornithologist and senior conservation ecologist at the Field Museum's Keller Science Action Center. "I think it's very likely that we might have something like that going on that where (long-eared owls) would usually be, those populations of rodents have crashed, so they've been forced to go further south." This owl "invasion" might also be the result of a particularly vibrant breeding season "meaning there are more individuals around, so when they migrate, there are simply more of them," says Joshua Engel, a Field Museum research associate and bird specialist. "That seems to be the case with snowy owls, which have been pretty well studied in the last few years." Indeed, Chicago has seen two sizable snowy owl irruptions in recent winters (2011-2012 and 2013-2014). A key difference is that snowy owls are diurnal, meaning they hunt and are active during both day and night, and favor open country, whereas long-eared owls are nocturnal hunters and roost in dense foliage. Trips to Kohl's are, in fact, rare occurrences. Such a low profile makes long-eared owls notoriously challenging birds to study. "Because they are difficult to see, it's often hard to know exactly what's going on," Stotz says. Chicago has seen two sizable snowy owl irruptions in recent winters (2011-2012 and 2013-2014). (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune) Where night owls nap During the daytime, long-eared owls like to hang out, sometimes communally, in thick groves of conifer trees quiet and camouflaged, attempting to avoid predators, such as red-tailed hawks. "These birds are resting and want to remain hidden during the day," Beilke says. "If you are lucky enough to find roosting long-eared owls, try to keep your distance, and refrain from disturbing the birds." Advertisement Activity usually begins at dusk, when they go out to search for prey in prairies, clearings and fallow fields. Engel says that due to the long-eared owl's specific habitat requirements dense vegetation with open grasslands nearby "they're definitely not your typical urban bird." Yet such habitats do exist in Chicago: along the river and lakefront, in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor, at Montrose Point. Plenty of evergreen plantings around the city entice long-eared owls to stop and stay a while. "When these owls show up in (Chicago), they're almost always in protected lands and parks where there's not a lot of disturbance," Stotz says. "The city parks are a really crucial habitat for all sorts of birds, and the owls have learned to take advantage of it." Echoes Engel: "A lot of the ones we've seen in Chicago are in areas that have had extensive habitat restoration. They've had people from the Park District teaming up with the Field Museum and other volunteers and organizations to create good wildlife habitats where there didn't used to be. That's what's really allowing them to survive better in urban environments like here." A long-eared owl sits on a tree branch in the backyard of a Wrigleyville apartment building Dec. 25. (Randi Stevenson / Chicago Tribune) Keeping threats at bay In addition to predators like red-tailed hawks and great-horned owls, long-eared owls can get mobbed pretty severely by crows if they're out flying during the day. "That's one of the ways you often find owls," Stotz says. "You hear crows going crazy." Advertisement Other dangers arise from efforts to control rodent populations. "One example is when people use these anticoagulant rodenticides (rat poison) to kill mice. Those toxins can accumulate in owls and actually kill them," says Seth Magle, director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at Lincoln Park Zoo, a research center that studies animals in cities around the world, including Chicago, to understand how humans and wildlife can coexist. "I'd like to see people using different rodenticides that aren't quite so hazardous. But, at the same time, you can't tell people not to control these rodent infestations around the home. I think it's up to us as a society to try and investigate different ways of doing that." Fortunately, he says, "owls do not have a PR problem." Quite simply, people love them. Stotz suggests it's all in the face: "Their eyes are turned forward, and have that big facial disc, which makes them look more human, wise. There really is something about them that people respond to." If you're privileged to spot a long-eared owl in Chicago this winter, go ahead and take that photo for Facebook, but be mindful not to get too close. "We like to tell people, 'Tweet it. Don't touch it,'" Magle says. Laura Pearson is a freelance writer. Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Wild Things Conference shines spotlight on otters in Chicago How to protect your dog during winter Why we love our pets, according to science You are here: Home China's customs authorities will launch a year-long smuggling crackdown prioritizing in imported garbage and natural products. Industrial waste, electronic scrap and plastics will be in the cross hairs of the watchdogs, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on Tuesday. Those convicted of smuggling could face a maximum penalty of the death sentence, according to China's Criminal Law. The counter-smuggling efforts will target gangs and well-organized operations acting illegally, GAC said. Customs investigated 2,633 smuggling cases in 2016, up 17 percent year on year, according to the GAC. In December 2016, Shanghai customs authorities seized 3.1 tonnes of pangolin scales in the biggest smuggling case of its kind to date. The scales, worth over 10 million yuan (1.45 million U.S. dollars), were reportedly bought from Nigeria. The trade in pangolin is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Dona Krystosek adjusts the tie of her 10-year-old son, Levi, as they wait to see the doctor. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Sitting on a bed at Lurie Children's Hospital, Levi Krystosek, 10, rubbed a sore spot on his foot. Levi was born with a rare disease that causes abnormal bone development, often resulting in pain as well as unusually short arms and legs. He was at the Chicago hospital that morning to see Dr. Craig Langman, an expert in the genetic disorder and head of kidney diseases at Lurie. Advertisement Levi visits Langman every six months, even though the boy lives in Ocean Springs, Miss. He flies to get to his Chicago appointments something his parents struggled to afford before finding an organization called Miracle Flights. The Las Vegas-based nonprofit provides free flights for families whose children need to see specialists far from where they live. "We were, like, how are we going to continue to do this?" said Levi's mother, Dona Krystosek, adding that the cost of airline tickets was taking a big toll on the family's savings. She and her husband also have two older daughters. Advertisement One night while searching online, Krystosek stumbled upon Miracle Flights, where she now works as a family advocate. In recent years, the 32-year-old nonprofit had come under fire in the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper for questionable spending practices. CEO Mark Brown took over the reins a little more than a year ago, promising better transparency and more outreach. Brown's goal is to provide 100,000 flights in the next decade about the same number the organization has made possible since its inception in 1985. "Many of the children we fly have rare diseases or illnesses, and there may be one doctor in the country that treats that," Brown said. "We'll fly them one time or 100 times, whatever it takes." 10-year-old Levi Krystosek waits in his doctor's office. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Levi, or "Little Levi" as he's known, has become a key player in Miracle Flights' recent publicity campaign. He starred in a Miracle Flights commercial to spread the word about the organization. Last year, he was chosen to take Miracle Flights' 100,000th trip. Levi's rare form of dwarfism has him standing at 38 inches tall, about a foot and a half shorter than most kids his age. He was born with Jansen type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, a progressive skeletal disorder that leads to "wonky" bones, as Levi and Krystosek call them. At the time he was diagnosed, Levi was one of only 17 known cases worldwide, said Krystosek, who's also a nurse. Langman is one of the few doctors to have treated patients with the highly uncommon disorder. Advertisement When Levi was just 18 months old, he started flying to Chicago sometimes as frequently as every six weeks to see Langman. "This doctor's our needle in our haystack," Krystosek said. During his most recent visit in January, Levi arrived at Lurie snappily dressed in a red tie and gray vest over a checked shirt. Fastidious about his sleeves, he kept asking his mother to button and roll them just so. They've been to Lurie so many times, he and his mom have developed a routine. First, they get biscuits and gravy his favorite in the Lurie cafeteria. He buzzes around the waiting room like a local and knows which buttons in the elevator honk like a horn. Before stretching out on the exam room bed, Levi had his height and weight checked by a nurse. Dr. Craig Langman examines 10-year-old Levi Krystosek. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) "Pure muscle!" he said, lightly beating his chest. Advertisement Medical visits are part of life for Levi. Along with his visits to Lurie, the family drives five hours to Birmingham, Ala., to see an eye doctor and a craniofacial surgeon. And with the help of Miracle Flights, they fly to Delaware to see an orthopedic surgeon. To qualify for Miracle Flights' assistance, families must provide a letter from both a referring and accepting physician. Because the children are passengers on commercial flights, they have to meet airline regulations by being medically stable enough to fly. (To request flight assistance, call 800-359-1711 or go to www.miracleflights.org.) For Levi's recent foot problem, Langman recommended a patch they could buy at the pharmacy. When Levi's mom told the doctor her son complains of pain in his thigh, Levi quickly piped up, "I don't complain!" Langman estimates that worldwide, there are fewer than 75 cases of Jansen type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. Even among that small subset, Levi is special, Langman said. Advertisement "He's the only patient I've ever had that's been out of a wheelchair at this age," he said. abowen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @byalisonbowen RELATED STORIES: Six ways to keep your kids healthy during winter Just me and the iron: Using weightlifting as meditation Advertisement A sick toddler needed a liver - so her new nanny donated part of hers KEY WEST, Fla. Chef Paul Menta is passionate about fish and rum both the subjects of colorful stories over the years in his adopted home, the Florida Keys. Menta is executive chef at The Stoned Crab, a sprawling seafood restaurant in Key West. The Philadelphia native also co-owns a distillery that last year produced about 18,000 bottles of rum, or Key West coffee, as Menta likes to call it. (He says his Key West First Legal Rum is supposed to hit the shelves of Illinois liquor stores in March.) Advertisement The boyish, 50-something Menta wears a lot of other hats, too, not to mention a bunch of tattoos and a couple of shark bites. He's a pro kiteboarder, cookbook author and proud officer of the so-called Conch Republic, which "seceded" from the U.S. in the early '80s to protest the federal government's border patrol checks in the Keys. "I'm the Administer of Rum," Menta says about his role with the satirical micro-nation. "When there's a problem, I administer rum and there's not a problem anymore." Advertisement A true character on an island full of them, Menta recently took on a new endeavor: giving visitors a literal taste of his culinary passions with a couple of new "eco-foodie" programs. One of them, called Chef Distilled, focuses on rum, while the Three Hands Experience is an in-depth look at the local seafood supply chain, from trawler to table. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 Fisherman Zane Osborn holds up the stone crab he caught. The crab appears to have caught a lobster, too. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune) "People want to know what goes into making their food, what goes into making their drinks," Menta says. "We want to show them." The roughly five-hour Chef Distilled experience begins with a tour of Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, located in an old Coca-Cola factory. It's just a few blocks away from Sloppy Joe's Bar, a onetime favorite haunt of another Key West fan of rum and fish: Ernest Hemingway. Opened three years ago, the distillery is full of Prohibition-era rum-running paraphernalia and rows of wooden barrels dated and personalized by various distillers. (A distiller from Chicago commemorated one of his barrels with a written shoutout to Blackhawks star Patrick Kane.) Menta walks guests through the rum-making process, stopping to squeeze juice out of fresh Florida sugar cane no molasses used here, thank you very much. He points to the bubbling fermentation tanks where yeast is gobbling up the sugar, turning it into alcohol. "The more vibration, the more production," Menta says. "We play music in here at night to keep the yeast moving." Guests get to label their own bottle for a sippable souvenir. Then it's off to Menta's Stoned Crab restaurant for a mixology lesson and dinner. The Three Hands Experience, while sounding more like a spa treatment than a food tour, is named after a sustainable seafood market next to The Stoned Crab. Advertisement The premise of Three Hands Fish is that only three sets of hands touch the fish you eat: the fisherman, the market's fillet master, and the individual or restaurant chef that prepares it. "In the U.S., so much of what we catch, we export, and what we eat, we import, and the quality just isn't the same," says Menta, who met his fiancee while spearfishing. "We're surrounded by some of the best fishing waters in the world. That's the seafood you want to eat when you come to the Keys." The full seven-hour tour has guests spending time with each of these sets of hands. It starts with a half-day charter fishing trip. The day's catch of grouper, snapper or whatever else you plucked from the water gets taken to the market's fillet master (the second "hand"), who teaches you how to fillet a fish. While you mosey down to your table at The Stoned Crab, Menta prepares your catch and serves it as part of a four-course dinner. On a sunny December afternoon, Menta took me out on the water for a closer look at where the area's seafood bounty comes from. Several miles off the coast, we caught up with commercial fisherman Zane Osborn as he was hauling lobster and crab traps out of the Gulf of Mexico. Stone crab season (mid-October to mid-May) was well underway, and Osborn was collecting the crustaceans' fat claws that sell for a pretty penny at restaurants up and down the Keys and around the world. In Florida, these lollipops of juicy crabmeat are typically served cold with mustard sauce or hot with butter. Wearing thick rubber gloves and bib pants the color of construction zone cones, Osborn held up one of his captive crabs as I teetered on the small boat, trying to keep my balance as the waves bounced us around. Advertisement "You turn the claw kind of to the middle and then it just pops loose," he said, yanking the appendage off with a quick, efficient pull. He then chucked the one-armed crab into the water, where its missing limb will grow back. "We'll catch him again in a year, and he'll have another big claw," Osborn said. Added Menta: "Seafood doesn't get more sustainable than that." IF YOU GO CHEF DISTILLED: Costs $280 a person, which includes the distillery tour, a bottle of rum, a mixology tutorial at The Stoned Crab's Eco Bar, followed by a four-course seafood dinner. Call 305-296-1043, or email fundesk@ibisbayresort.com to make a reservation for Chef Distilled or the Three Hands Experience (see below). Free 20-minute tours are also offered at Key West First Legal Rum Distillery, 105 Simonton St.; www.keywestlegalrum.com. THREE HANDS EXPERIENCE: The standard option (without the half-day fishing charter) costs $180 a person and includes time with a commercial fisherman, the market fillet master and a four-course seafood dinner at The Stoned Crab, 3101 N. Roosevelt Blvd.; www.stonedcrab.com. Add $450 regardless of the number of people for the half-day fishing charter. Advertisement The Blue Mojito Pool Bar and Grill is a laid-back spot to watch the sun set in Key West. (Hyatt Centric Key West) STAYING THERE: Just steps away from the distillery, the newly refurbished and rebranded Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa is tucked away in a tranquil, waterfront spot that's an easy walk to the Historic Seaport district and raucous Old Town action on Duval Street. The 120-room property overlooking the Gulf of Mexico wrapped up a multimillion dollar renovation last fall that included an expansion of its spa and an overhaul of the Blue Mojito Pool Bar and Grill, a laid-back spot to watch the sun set during happy hour if you've had your fill of the nightly circus at nearby Mallory Square. The refreshed, contemporary guest rooms all have private balconies. Rates start at $359 a night through April and $239 May to November. The $30 resort fee includes a glass of sparkling wine at check-in, Wi-Fi, two bottles of water and morning coffee, among other things. 601 Front St., 305-809-1234, www.keywest.centric.hyatt.com. MORE: For tourist info about Key West and the Florida Keys in general, go to www.fla-keys.com. lrackl@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lorirackl RELATED STORIES: Biking 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West Indianapolis pours on the love with 11 Vonnegut-inspired cocktails Advertisement 5 new Chicago hotels worth a staycation In this recent but undated photo made available by Virgin.com, former President Barack Obama prepares to kitesurf during his stay on Moskito Island, British Virgin Islands. (Jack Brockway / AP) He's barely slipped out of the Oval Office and into his surfing shorts but Barack Obama is already being feted by a pair of South Side lawmakers who want to make his birthday a state holiday. Obama's birthday, Aug. 4, would become the state's 13th official day off, and only its second state-specific day of rest, alongside Lincoln's birthday, if Democratic state Reps. Andre Thapedi and Sonya Harper get their way. Advertisement Thapedi, who pushed for a similar measure last year while Obama was still in office, acknowledged he's "ticked off some folks" with his idea and that his Obama Day bill was "by no means a top priority until we resolve this budget crisis" in Springfield. But he said an official holiday with a government shutdown and a bank holiday is "important to me and to my constituents." Advertisement Thapedi noted that California instituted a state holiday for Ronald Reagan while Reagan was still alive, though that day does not mark a state shutdown. Virginia closes government offices on Lee-Jackson Day honoring Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and Alabama holds a state holiday for the birth of Jefferson Davis all holidays that "celebrate slave-holding leaders of the Confederacy, and hardly anyone gets ticked off about that," Thapedi said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Obama, he continued, is "an adopted son of the state, a Nobel Prize winner, a two-term president and the first African-American president" and "kids are out of school in August, anyway, so it won't cause any problems there." Gov. Bruce Rauner's office said Wednesday only that it would carefully review any legislation that reaches the governor's desk, but Thapedi said his push for the holiday last year was stymied by what he described as the governor's office's unreasonable estimates of an "astronomical cost of lost productivity" if Obama's birthday was honored. A potential compromise measure, being pushed in the Senate by three state senators including Emil Jones III, the son of Obama's political godfather, would officially commemorate Obama's birthday but would not make it a holiday that closes government offices. The state already celebrates nearly 50 commemorative days, weeks and months, including Ronald Reagan Day, Adlai Stevenson Day and some lesser-known days including Mother Mary Ann Bickerdyke Day (honoring a Knox County Civil War nurse) and Great Grandparents Day (the first Sunday after Labor Day, if you were wondering). "At a time when the state is facing so many financial woes, let's start with a commemorative day," said state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, who is sponsoring the Senate bill. kjanssen@chicagotribune.com Twitter @kimjnews Even in private there's no American politician more intense than Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He's all about control. And when he doesn't have control of his message, of events he clenches his jaw and all but bites through his teeth. Advertisement Emanuel, famous for taking that steakhouse knife and stabbing the table while shouting the names of Democratic enemies, is probably the last person you'd ever think would tell angry Democrats to "take a chill pill." But that's what Rahm's doing. Telling them to chill, because, he says, Democrats won't take back power in 2018. Advertisement "It ain't gonna happen in 2018," Emanuel said Monday at Stanford's Graduate School of Business in California. "Take a chill pill, man. You gotta be in this for the long haul." And so the troubled mayor of Chicago tries to hold off the political left angry at the Democratic Party's complete failure to stop President Donald Trump. And he tells everybody to just chill. Why is this important? Rahm's call for a national chill comes just as the hard Democratic left has been using anger some might call it hysteria to wrest control of the Democratic Party apparatus away from party insiders who lost everything to Trump. The Democratic establishment lost on national and local levels. But the left is having success organizing the party's base, keeping them on message, even engaging in loud and angry theater. All of this is not just about organizing against Trump. More importantly, it's being used to drive the old Democratic establishment off the stage. And that establishment, wounded and frightened at loss of control, doesn't like it. Advertisement Democratic Party insiders those who stacked the deck against Sen. Bernie Sanders to protect Hillary Clinton are trying to do one thing: Hold onto power. But they're doing everything wrong. The Republican establishment did everything wrong too, including trying to co-opt and herd the conservative tea party movement. That backfired. It led to Trump. And Rahm is also of the establishment on the Democratic side, and rather like the Dutch boy in the old story, trying to put his fingers into the leaks in the dike and save the day. "Winning's everything," the mayor of a city riven by homicides and political cynicism told the Stanford group the other day. "If you don't win, you can't make the public policy. I say that because it is hard for people in our party to accept that principle. Sometimes, you've just got to win, OK? Our party likes to be right, even if they lose." So put principle aside and be pragmatic, he tells Democrats. Advertisement That might be smart politics but in the end, asking people to put their principles aside to let their opponents maintain power is a recipe for disaster. There is no passion to it. Democrats found this out with Clinton in November. But Rahm isn't the only one who's told party activists to put principle aside for pragmatism. If you think you've heard it before, you're right. Establishment Republicans of the Bush-McCain-Graham wing were saying it. They said it for years, offering up Mitt Romney as a savior, trying to hold onto power as their base finally, inexorably, drifted away from them. As I've said before, Trump isn't a cause of all this change. He's oblivious to history. I don't think he can see himself in context. He is his own sun and moon, but in this he is not unique among politicians. Trump is not a cause. He's a symptom, an effect, a consequence of the GOP establishment manipulation of the Republican base for decades. Finally, the Republican base had enough. Advertisement The GOP crackup was well documented, with many media references over the years to what journalists saw as an unsettling phenomenon: the angry voter. Leading up to Trump, the media narrative suggested that Republicans angry at party leadership were therefore irrational, even perhaps exhibiting a sign of group mental illness. Establishment biscuit eaters who characterized the angry voter as irrational were simply protecting their masters and their own place in the food line. But when Trump came along, they couldn't see what was happening to them. There is nonsense circulating now about a tea party of the left, but that is a dream of a Democratic establishment hoping to herd them. There is no tea party of the left. But there is an "angry voter" of the left, angry about Trump, yes, but also angry at Democratic insiders who led them into the wilderness, where, Emanuel says, the party will wander for years. And they're determined to push the party further to the left. Emanuel wants the Democratic Party to return to a time when it pretended to exist in the political center of a center-right America. But that was back when the Clintons were in the White House, cutting deals with congressional conservatives for welfare reform and more cops on the streets. There is no going back. Advertisement Rahm argues for middle-of-the-road candidates, be they athletes, veterans, and so on. But this strategy isn't about ideas. It is tactical, about selecting actors to play certain types. It is a Chicago thing, a political machine thing. And idealistic young Democrats won't see the Chicago Democratic machine as their holy grail Americans are motivated by their wallets, yes, but also by ideas. What they're not motivated by are insiders holding on. It is something the establishment Republicans were forced to learn. It cost them dearly. And establishment Democrats are learning it now. Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast with John Kass and WGN's Jeff Carlin here: www.wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway. jskass@chicagotribune.com Twitter @John_Kass Sen. Rand Paul, left, and Sen. Tom Carper prepare for the confirmation hearing for Rep. Mick Mulvaney to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 24, 2017, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) You won't be seeing Sen. Rand Paul, a bottle of fine Kentucky bourbon under his arm, paying a social call on President Donald Trump at the White House anytime soon. "You know I don't think I'm going to be invited to their Christmas party next year," Paul told me on Wednesday during an interview for "The Chicago Way," my podcast on WGN radio. "But it's sort of been that way from the very beginning." Advertisement We talked of Trump and bourbon but also about the Constitution and the need for originalist, conservative justices on the Supreme Court to check the power of this and every other president, something liberals trapped in partisan hysteria seem unable to understand. But we also talked of Paul's war with the neoconservatives the brains behind the Republican War Party wing that drove us into the Iraq War that broke open this week. Advertisement You declared war on the neocons, I said. "You interpreted that pretty well correctly," the libertarian-leaning Republican from Kentucky said. Paul, a former candidate for president, has kept Trump at arm's length, supporting Trump's talk of tax cuts and cutting government regulations, but breaking with him loudly this week over reports that the president was considering bringing leading neoconservative Elliott Abrams onto his team as deputy secretary of state. Abrams worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. He was convicted of two counts of "withholding" information from Congress in the Iran-Contra scandal and was pardoned by Bush. The neoconservatives despised Trump for his criticisms of the Iraq War and for their failed "nation building" policy. Many neocons joined the #NeverTrump movement and sought refuge with Hillary Clinton. Reports of Abrams being considered for a top Trump administration post baffled and angered Paul, and he publicly went nuclear. "One of Elliott Abrams' statements during the campaign was that the chair that Washington and Lincoln both sat in, Trump was not fit to sit in," Paul said on "The Chicago Way." "He was very anti-Trump, but he was also very anti what Trump was saying. Trump would say the Iraq War was a mistake. Elliott Abrams, (who) was one of the key architects of Iraq, would disagree. "And I hope (Abrams' appointment) won't happen. But it is somewhat unnerving that he would be considered for a post when he was viscerally and loudly opposed to most of what Trump brought that was a change in regards to foreign policy," Paul said. What's odd about all this was that at the beginning of the Republican presidential primaries, it was Paul who was condemned by the GOP establishment and neocons as something of a dangerous "isolationist." Democrats aren't the only ones who try to shut down debate about what threatens them by demonizing their opponents with alleged sins. But there is another word for isolationist: noninterventionist. Advertisement The American people don't want another war, not in the Middle East, not with Russia, not with anyone. The people aren't crazy about intervening, because they know who bleeds, and it isn't the careerist war architects in Washington. Members of our armed forces are the ones who bleed. "I've been unafraid to say that we need to have a foreign policy that's constitutional," Paul said, "that separates the powers, that understands that our Founding Fathers said that Congress shall declare war. One of my biggest pet peeves right now is that we're at war in Yemen and nobody's even talking about it. "So I will support Trump when he's against regulations and when he's for balancing the budget or lower taxes, but when he strays and he's for a foreign policy that endangers or threatens to get us involved in more war in the Middle East, I'll have to oppose him," Paul said. And so he has. But there was no way I would spend time talking with Paul and not talk about the Constitution. I had written a recent column about why originalist justices are needed on the Supreme Court to check the political appetites and impulses of a growing Imperial Presidency and that Trump's most vocal critics should understand this. Paul read it and reached out to say he liked it. "I appreciated the article I believe you wrote talking about how believing in separation of powers should be exactly what (Trump critics are) for, because that means that the executive branch doesn't get to act unilaterally on its own, if you have justices that actually believe in separation of powers," Paul said. Advertisement Paul said he doesn't think his criticisms of Abrams represent a total break with Trump. "I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of guy, so I don't purposely set out to challenge the president of my own party." So what kind of Kentucky bourbon do you pour into that half-full glass? "You will get me impeached from office if I chose one bourbon over the other, but I will make sure your listeners know that all bourbon has to come from Kentucky if it wants to be called bourbon. And so we're very proud of our bourbon trade. We welcome people from Chicago to come on down and sample our bourbon." And you're welcome to come up here and watch Mayor Rahm Emanuel begin to self-destruct. "That's bad enough from a distance," he said. "I don't think I want to see that from up close." Advertisement Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast with John Kass and WGN's Jeff Carlin here: www.wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway. jskass@chicagotribune.com Twitter @John_Kass A story in Tuesday's Business section incorrectly stated the number of women and African-Americans on the board of Chicago company ADM. An African-American female director was added to the board after ADM issued its annual proxy statement. The Tribune regrets the error. Advertisement A story in Tuesday's news section about ride-sharing companies stated that Mayor Rahm Emanuel had met recently with Uber company officials. A spokesman for the mayor clarified that Emanuel had actually met with executives from another sharing-economy company, Airbnb. Democratic businessman Chris Kennedy entered the Illinois governor's race Wednesday, assailing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner for "destroying" the state's economy and failing to lead state government out of its financial mess. "I think Gov. Rauner's taken a state government budget problem and turned it into economic chaos for the rest of the state. I don't think it needed to go that way. And I think it's fixable," said Kennedy, 53, the son of the slain Democratic liberal icon Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. The announcement came more than a year ahead of the March 2018 primary and signals a growing desire among some Democrats to begin an early and extensive campaign to decide upon a finalist to take on Rauner, a wealthy former private equity investor who has used his own resources in an effort to rebuild the state GOP. But as Rauner seeks to revitalize the Republican brand in Illinois, particularly by tarnishing veteran Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, it is the current-day value of the decades-old Kennedy legacy that could be put to a test in what's expected to become a contentious election taking place a half-century after his father was assassinated while seeking the presidency. In keeping with the governor's long-term, multimillion-dollar strategy of seeking to discredit Democrats and erode their power by linking them to Madigan, Rauner's campaign team sent out a fundraising email that called Kennedy "a pawn of Mike Madigan." The Rauner-backed GOP also referred to Kennedy as a Madigan "lap dog." Kennedy, who oversaw the family's previous Merchandise Mart ownership and now its Wolf Point skyscraper construction development along the Chicago River, called the attacks "desperate" and "pathetic." "I think it's an insult to me, an insult to the entire Kennedy family and an insult to the voters of Illinois to make a statement like that that anybody's going to believe," he told the Chicago Tribune. "I think Gov. Rauner has spent his entire time blaming others and not leading. Even now, as the state Senate tries to find a compromise on the budget, Gov. Rauner remains on the sideline. We don't know what his intentions are. And that's not right. He's in the big chair. He ought to lead. Otherwise, he's one (term) and done." Following an event in Normal, Rauner did not address Kennedy's candidacy when reporters asked about it. "I am very focused, like a laser, on getting a balanced budget with structural changes to our system, but it's broken and been broken for a long time. And we need to compromise with each other. We need to listen to each other. And I'm very focused on that. I'm really not paying attention to politics," the governor said. Kennedy, however, contended it was intransigence Rauner has shown in seeking his economic agenda that has damaged the state in a historic stalemate that has left Illinois without a full-year budget for 19 months. "Negotiation is not surrender. Compromise is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it's a show of strength," Kennedy said. The Democrat said the state's lack of a budget was a "uniquely Illinois issue and it's a uniquely Gov. Rauner issue" due to the governor's insistence on changes in laws involving workers' compensation, collective bargaining, term limits and the politically independent drawing of legislative districts. Where he fits in race Kennedy previously had considered bids for statewide office, only to abandon them. In his current effort, he put together a campaign team prior to the announcement. He's the second Democratic governor candidate to register a campaign committee, joining Chicago Ald. Ameya Pawar, 47th. Several others are weighing a bid, including another wealthy Chicago businessman, J.B. Pritzker, as well as U.S. Reps. Cheri Bustos of Moline and Robin Kelly of Matteson, and state Sens. Daniel Biss of Evanston, Kwame Raoul of Chicago and Andy Manar of Bunker Hill. Some Democrats looking at candidacies by Kennedy and perhaps Pritzker are considering potential benefits of fielding a wealthy challenger to Rauner who could largely self-fund a campaign and provide a counterbalance to the governor's deep pockets. In a show of strength shortly before the end of last year, Rauner put $50 million of his fortune into his re-election campaign bank account, and political aides said there was more money to follow. Kennedy said Rauner will need "a lot more than $50 million to paper over the mess he has made." Asked if he was willing to self-fund his campaign, Kennedy said, "I'll put my money where my mouth is. I'll have the resources to compete. "But it shouldn't be the size of somebody's wallet that determines who's the next governor of the state of Illinois. It should be the breadth of their ideas and the strength of their vision and the depth of their commitment, and Gov. Rauner fails on all three areas." State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, a top Madigan lieutenant, said there were "pluses and minuses" of having a wealthy Democratic candidate run against Rauner. Jesse Jackson Jr. and wife Sandi Jackson arrive for their sentencing hearing Aug. 14, 2013, in Washington, D.C. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) WASHINGTON Ex-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., a convicted felon who receives $138,400 a year in workers' compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, must pay temporary monthly child support of $1,529 for his two children, a judge said Tuesday. Judge Robert Okun of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia ordered Jackson to pay support for his two children with former Ald. Sandi Jackson beginning in March. The figure works out to about $50 a day. Advertisement The Jacksons are seeking to end their marriage in separate court filings in Washington and in Cook County. The couple signed a premarital agreement saying Illinois laws would govern any related litigation, the judge said. But Sandi Jackson's bid for custody of the children and child support should be decided in D.C., where she lives, he said. The judge said Jackson Jr. did not attend a hearing in the case last week and set March 15 as the next court date. He said a D.C. court does not have jurisdiction in the divorce and denied Sandi Jackson's request for temporary alimony. Advertisement The couple wed in Chicago in 1991 and have two children, 16 and 13. In 2013, Jackson Jr., a Chicago Democrat, pleaded guilty to looting about $750,000 from his campaign treasury. Sandi Jackson pleaded guilty to failing to report much of the income on tax returns. Given a one-year sentence, she left a federal prison camp in September. Earlier, he served about 22 months of a 30-month sentence in federal facilities. Jackson quit Congress in 2012 after treatment for bipolar disorder and depression. kskiba@chicagotribune.com Twitter @KatherineSkiba In an extraordinarily rare move, Senate Republicans said that Sen. Elizabeth Warren had breached Senate rules by reading past statements opposing Jeff Sessions from figures such as the late senator Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and the late Coretta Scott King. Feb. 7, 2017. (C-SPAN) In an extraordinarily rare move, Senate Republicans said that Sen. Elizabeth Warren had breached Senate rules by reading past statements opposing Jeff Sessions from figures such as the late senator Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and the late Coretta Scott King. Feb. 7, 2017. (C-SPAN) (Chicago Tribune) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, bless his heart, has coined a new feminist rally cry. "Nevertheless, she persisted." Advertisement He used it to rebuke Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who read past statements from the late Coretta Scott King and the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., during a debate Tuesday night over attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions, an Alabama senator. "He is, I believe, a disgrace to the Justice Department and he should withdraw his nomination and resign his position," Warren read, quoting remarks Kennedy made in 1986 when Sessions was nominated to be a federal judge. Advertisement McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, called foul, saying, "The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama." And that set up a vote on her conduct. Warren's fellow senators backed McConnell's rebuke by a vote of 49 to 43, which means Warren isn't allowed to speak during the rest of the debate over Sessions. RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR "Sen. Warren was giving a lengthy speech," McConnell explained. "She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." There it is. Three little words that women can draw on for decades to come, when something needs to be said and, darn it, we plan to say it. When we're being talked over in meetings. When we're fighting to be heard in male-dominated fields. When we're standing up for our values. When we're doing valuable work and people reduce us to our appearance. "Nevertheless, she persisted." One of my favorite Michelle Obama quotes is contained in Peter Slevin's excellent biography, "Michelle Obama: A Life." It's in response to the public's obsession with her looks, which all too often veered into shallow (and sometimes cruel) territory. Advertisement "We take our bangs and we stand in front of important things that the world needs to see," she said. "And eventually, people stop looking at the bangs, and they start looking at what we're standing in front of." Obama made an art out of persisting. In "Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual (For a Sexist Workplace)," author Jessica Bennett points to research showing women are twice as likely as men to be interrupted when they speak during professional meetings. Her advice? "Just keep talking," she writes. "Keep your pauses short. Maintain your momentum. No matter if he waves his hands, raises his voice or squirms in his chair, you do you." Or, she suggests, push back. "Bob, I wasn't done finishing that point. Give me one more sec." Advertisement Persist. Sometimes the floor remains yours; sometimes you get rebuked and silenced by your colleagues. But you say what needs to be said. And here and there, you inspire a rallying cry. "Nevertheless, she persisted." And we're grateful to her. hstevens@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @heidistevens13 RELATED STORIES: Some friendly pointers for President Trump's Women's History Month speech Women's March organizers plan 'a day without women.' It's happened before. Honoring women doctors, 170 years after medical school 'joke' Is the biggest chunk of vacant land on Chicago's lakefront, once home to U.S. Steel Corp.'s legendary South Works mill, finally going to get developed and become a vibrant link in the city's renowned chain of shoreline parks? As Frank Livak, a 64-year-old former machinist at the mill, fished Tuesday along the site's enormous slip, he voiced skepticism about a Spanish housing developer's nascent plan to build as many as 12,000 homes there. Advertisement "You got a hell of a lot of vacant lots" already in the neighborhood, Livak said. Anyone familiar with the litany of big plans and bigger flops for the South Works site, which sprawls from 79th Street on the north to 91st Street on the south, is likely to echo Livak's doubts. Advertisement It's been nearly 25 years since the 1992 closing of the mill, which once employed thousands of people and served as a lifeblood for the neighborhoods around it. Just about all that remains of the demolished mill are unused rail lines and massive concrete walls, roughly 30 feet high and 2,000 feet long. Cranes would lift the raw materials for making steel from ore boats docked in the slip and deposit them between the walls. The list of failures is long. A plan to build a Solo Cup factory on the site fizzled about 10 years ago. So did a $4 billion plan, by Chicago-based McCaffery Interests and Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, which envisioned more than 13,000 homes and a 1,500-slip marina. After parting ways with McCaffery, U.S. Steel put the parcel up for sale last year. Now, a joint venture led by Barcelona Housing Systems, which makes modular housing, is reportedly closing in on a purchase of the 430-acre property. The firm's website describes plans for 12,000 homes, to be built in four phases of about 3,000 homes each. Renderings show homes laid out in a hollow-square patterns with green spaces in the middle. There would be a marina along the slip, new parkland along the lakefront and plazas interspersed among the modest houses. While the bird's-eye view renderings look rough, almost mechanical, as preliminary plans often do, the local alderman insists this is no pipe dream. "I think it's very real," said Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, 10th. "It's not just going to be a big Mariano's sign in the middle of a field saying 'Mariano's coming soon.'" At this early stage, details are hard to come by. Calls to the North American office of Barcelona Housing Systems in San Francisco were not returned. Real estate brokers Cushman & Wakefield, which rebranded the site as 8080 Lakeshore after being hired by U.S. Steel to sell the parcel, also did not return calls. A spokeswoman for U.S. Steel declined to comment. Yet some details are trickling out. Advertisement Barcelona Housing Systems wants to build a factory to make the components of the houses on the site, Garza said. She was impressed by the firm's construction techniques, which do not place houses atop concrete foundations but bolt them into the ground. BHS' modular houses are put together like Legos and are expected to be relatively inexpensive. And the alderman does not expect buried residue from the mill to pose health and safety problems. "I grew up in this neighborhood. I'm OK," she said. "I don't have two heads." A visit Tuesday revealed that, despite the lack of new building construction since 1992, the site is less isolated than it once was. Cars now course through the parcel's western side, riding along a 4-year-old section of Lake Shore Drive that is an attractive boulevard rather than an intimidating expressway. Another boulevard at 87th Street extends eastward to the appropriately named Steelworkers Park, which brings visitors close to the massive concrete walls along the slip and offers expansive views of Lake Michigan. In addition, the site is less than a 10-minute drive from the planned Obama Presidential Center, which will be built in Jackson Park. Advertisement Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > In short, there's a nice collection of public spaces percolating here. But that's just a beginning. If Barcelona Housing Systems buys the site, many questions should be on the table: Will its modular houses be durable? Will they offer architectural variety or resemble the monotonous housing complexes that have proliferated in recent years in China? Will the firm make good on its promise to urbanize the site rather than turn it into a series of suburban-style enclaves? And will it make creative use of the concrete walls along the slip, putting distinctive cultural facilities like a South Works museum there, not just the usual shops and restaurants? Garza said Barcelona Housing Systems plans to save and reuse the walls. What recreational activities, like a continuation of the Lakefront Trail and new climbing walls, would be included to draw people from throughout Chicago and the suburbs? And will the new development be economically inclusive, rather than gentrified, making room for continued use by fishermen like Livak? If a marina is built, "we ain't going to be able to fish here no more," the former U.S. Steel machinist predicted. bkamin@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @BlairKamin February 7, 2017 The Jan. 8 death of Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani could change the balance at the top of Irans political establishment. Rafsanjani, who had a great influence on the Reformists and also on a large part of the conservative camp, had become an independent and moderate politician opposed to the hard-liners in recent years. Prior to his humiliating defeat in the presidential race against hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2005 elections, Rafsanjani had been seen as a conservative. But after the 2005 vote, he started keeping his distance from conservatives, so that during the protests that followed Ahmadinejads re-election in 2009, he sided with the protesters and became a popular figure among the Reformists. At his last appearance as Tehran Friday prayers leader on July 17, 2009, while the protests were ongoing, the influential ayatollah did not condemn the protests, brought up problems he believed had taken place during the voting process and called for restoring the peoples trust. This was met with harsh criticism from conservatives, who did all they could to stop him. He was ultimately barred from entering the 2013 presidential race, while losing out to rival Mohammad Yazdi in the competition over the chairmanship of the Assembly of Experts. Yet his political influence persisted. He played an important role in limiting the power of the hard-liners, chiefly by convincing the Reformists to support Hassan Rouhani in the 2013 elections, while maneuvering to prevent the conservatives from uniting behind a single candidate. Of the current figures on Irans political stage, parliament Speaker Ali Larijani is the one person who is the most similar to Rafsanjani and especially when it comes to stopping the hard-liners. Although he is not as influential as Rafsanjani among the Reformists, his moderate approach in comparison with other conservatives has already won Reformists' respect. Larijani was appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council in 2005, but resigned in October 2007 after a dispute with then-President Ahmadinejad. Larijani was subsequently elected parliament speaker by the conservative camp in May 2008, and in turn, politically supported the latter. In the aftermath of the 2009 presidential elections, he, like Rafsanjani, kept his distance from the hard-liners. He asked police to be kind to the people and stressed peoples right to vote and their freedom to express their opinions although he asked the protesters to draw a line between themselves and the troublemakers. Under his leadership, parliament appointed a committee to probe the raids on Tehran University dorms in connection with the protests, sparking harsh criticism from conservatives. Indeed, the moderate position of Larijani drew such harsh criticism that he was called a silent seditionist, meaning that he did not share Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis position on the unrest. In 2012, Larijani was re-elected to parliament and kept his speaker's post, while further distancing himself from Ahmadinejad and the hard-liners. Over time, he became a major critic of the Ahmadinejad governments policies and wrote critical letters about its unlawful actions. In response, Ahmadinejads supporters attacked Larijani as he was visiting the holy city of Qom in February 2012. Hard-liners threw shoes and rocks at him during a speech, which was particularly insulting since Qom is his home constituency. Larijanis opposition to the hard-liners became even more evident with the arrival of Rouhani to power in 2013. With Rouhani as president, Larijani vastly improved the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. He more actively confronted the previous (2012-2016) conservative-dominated parliament, as evidenced by his fierce backing of the nuclear deal. Indeed, while the parliaments special commission for examining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action opposed it, it was Larijani who convinced a majority of legislators to approve the nuclear deal in 2015 much to the chagrin of the hard-liners. In the February 2016 parliamentary elections, he declared himself an independent, largely in response to conservatives who no longer wanted him in their camp. Curiously, the Reformists seized on the latter by putting him on their ticket even though Larijani publicly announced that he had not requested it. After winning a seat, he became speaker once again notably with the support of Rouhani, and even though the head of the moderate-Reformist ticket, Mohammad Reza Aref, had sought the position. In the past 10 years, Larijani has consistently tried to remain nonfactional and interact with all sections of the political spectrum. He has great influence within the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC); the supreme leader trusts him; and he is popular among traditional clergymen. At the same time, he has maintained good relations with the Rouhani administration. Above all, he has transformed from a conservative to a moderate politician. After the death of Rafsanjani, some commentators have opined that figures such as Seyed Hassan Khomeini (the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini), Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri (the head of the supreme leaders inspection office) or Rouhani might follow in Rafsanjani's footsteps to be the person to put a brake on hard-liners when it comes to top-level Iranian politics. But the simple fact of the matter is that none of these three figures enjoy Rafsanjanis influence. They arent popular among conservatives, they are not as close as Rafsanjani to the supreme leader and dont have the influence Rafsanjani did in the ranks of the IRGC. All in all, they are only influential among the Reformists. Khomeini failed to qualify for the February 2016 Assembly of Experts elections and, as widely expected, also failed to succeed Rafsanjani as chairman of Islamic Azad Universitys Founders Committee. Instead, the supreme leader appointed his foreign policy adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, to the position. Clearly the establishment is opposed to Khomeini becoming a major political player. Nategh Nouri has been out of politics for years and was unable to play a role in recent political developments. A moderate, he has neither the necessary influence among conservatives nor Reformists. Moreover, he has repeatedly announced that he doesnt want to return to the political arena. Conservatives, the IRGC and the supreme leaders inner circle have repeatedly targeted Rouhani. His disagreements with Khamenei over various issues have been leaked to the media. In this vein, it is widely believed that the hard-liners and a large part of the conservatives are trying to prevent the president's re-election in the May vote. Larijani enjoys an entirely different position. He has played a major role at the top of Iranian politics over the past decade, though he has his weaknesses. He lacks popularity with many people, including Reformists though it seems that moderates and Reformists both desperately need him to achieve their aims. In this vein, some Reformists have reportedly proposed the formation of a council made up of Larijani, Rouhani, Khomeini and Nategh Nouri to fill the void left by Rafsanjani. While the speaker seems best suited to take on Rafsanjanis mantle of leadership, only time will tell what role Larijani will ultimately play. A senior health official has called on governments at all levels to help relieve the burden on families wanting to have a second child. Cui Li, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said on Tuesday that an array of departments need to introduce measures to help resolve issues that have arisen with the introduction of the second-child policy in January 2016. Health authorities have been rolling out policies nationwide since family planning rules were relaxed, including improvements to maternal care facilities. However, Cui warned that families will need help from other government departments to handle some problems, including increased expenses, maternity leave and a shortage of kindergartens. "We hope through the efforts of governments at all levels ... some tangible policies can be made in areas such as taxation and social security to promote the implementation of the policy so that those who want to have a second child can realize their dream," she said. "We will focus on problems that emerge as a result of the policy and work to solve them with other departments," she said, adding that the second-child policy has already yielded positive results. Cui said 18.7 million babies were born in China last year, up by 11 percent on 2015, with 45 percent born to women who already had a child. Over the same period, the maternal mortality rate fell from 201 per 1 million births to 199, according to data released by the commission last month, despite the fact half of the 90 million women who became eligible to have a second child are over 40putting them at a higher risk of complications during pregnancy. A report released in December by the All China Women's Federation and Beijing Normal University also called for more investment in public services to make having two children easier and more affordable. The report included a survey of 10,155 couples in 21 cities who already have a child that found 53 percent did not want a larger family. The biggest concerns were education resources, healthcare services, the environment and the financial burden. Cui added that the commission has received a lot of advice from the National People's Congress, the top legislature, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top advisory body, on implementation of the second-child policy, including measures to improve pediatric services. The commission received 1,512 suggestions on various healthcare issues from the two bodies last year, she said. Xi Yanchun, a spokeswoman for the State Council Information Office, added that ministries and departments under the nation's Cabinet responded to 7,873 suggestions from the NPC and 3,862 from the CPPCC last year. They included economic development, poverty alleviation and environmental protection proposals, Xi said. The battle between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Chicago Public Schools over education funding played out in dueling letters delivered this week to parents of students at the financially troubled district. In one letter, State Education Secretary Beth Purvis accused CPS of trying to "arbitrarily create a crisis" with "a curiously timed and unfortunate announcement" on Monday that outlined a $46 million spending freeze for schools. Advertisement The district says the budget trims are necessary because of a Rauner veto that cost CPS $215 million in state aid, but Purvis said the cuts are being laid out even as lawmakers work on proposals that include more money for the system. Purvis told parents that "continued mismanagement left (CPS) with a $215 million hole in the current fiscal year," despite an annual special block grant from the state, declining enrollment within the district and increased property taxes. Advertisement CPS parents also received a letter from district CEO Forrest Claypool, who wrote that "Governor Rauner, just like President Trump, has decided to attack those who need the most help." "If we are not able to win the political battles in Springfield, we will have to make more cuts," Claypool's letter said. "Those cuts will be even more painful. We need not just the $215 million first step that the Governor has stolen from your children. We need real change that is fair to your children." In addition to a $46 million spending freeze to schools, the district on Monday laid out a potential $18 million cut to independently operated schools and the elimination of $5 million in training programs. Monday's cuts and the four furlough days announced earlier this year would close only half of a budget gap CPS faces after Rauner in December vetoed a measure to send $215 million to the cash-strapped school district. Rauner said Democrats went back on a deal that tied the aid to broader changes to the state's employee retirement system. CPS officials had assumed the state aid would arrive in time to help balance this school year's operating budget, and said without it cuts would be necessary. With the spending freeze, CPS principals have to re-engineer their budgets in the middle of the school year and give up as much as half of unspent money sitting in accounts for nonpersonnel costs. Lawmakers were poised to take on changes to the state's complex education funding formula as part of a sweeping attempt to break a protracted budget stalemate. A Rauner-commissioned panel last week recommended boosting state education funding by at least $3.5 billion over the next decade. "Why would CPS arbitrarily create a crisis and hurt its students and teachers rather than work to pass the Senate's balanced budget reform package?" Purvis wrote in her letter to district parents. "Rather than cutting services and creating a crisis to help justify a campaign to raise taxes in Springfield, it would be helpful to everyone if CPS would work with all parties to enact a balanced budget package that includes comprehensive pension reform and a new and equitable school funding formula," she said. Advertisement Asked to respond to Purvis' letter, Claypool again attacked Rauner and state legislators. "In the absence of state funding, CPS must take emergency actions now to meet its legal obligation to keep revenues and expenses balanced, and cannot blithely and irresponsibly fail to do so as the governor and Springfield have done for two consecutive years," Claypool said in a statement. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Further fueling the political fight, the Rauner-funded Illinois Republican Party continued its efforts Tuesday to link Democrats to the governor's chief political nemesis, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, by sending out a missive criticizing Mayor Rahm Emanuel as "Madigan's mayor" and "junior partner." The state GOP statement labeled Claypool as Emanuel's "handpicked political fixer" and "hatchet man" and accused Claypool of ordering $46 million in "avoidable new cuts to Chicago schools." The statement criticized Emanuel for not pushing for comprehensive changes in public pensions that are being discussed in the Illinois Senate. "Madigan and the mayor are playing from the same divisive playbook, trying to create a crisis and hurt people instead of working to find common ground. It's time for Mayor Emanuel to stop playing the part of Madigan's junior partner and actually work to get results for his city," the state GOP said. Advertisement Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson contributed. jjperez@tribpub.com Twitter @PerezJr Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson at a news conference on Jan. 27, 2017. A new report found that officers assigned to Chicago Public Schools last year accumulated more than $2 million in misconduct settlements for actions that occurred on and off school grounds between 2012 and 2016. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) Chicago police officers assigned to the city's public schools lack proper training, face little accountability and often have been the subject of citizen complaints to the city's police review agency, according to a report released Tuesday by the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. The report also found that officers assigned to Chicago Public Schools last year accumulated more than $2 million in misconduct settlements for actions that occurred on and off school grounds between 2012 and 2016. Advertisement Amid ongoing concerns from the federal government and civil rights advocates over the role of police in schools, the Shriver center's conclusions add to the examination of the use of force against juveniles by law enforcement that were detailed in the scathing report on the Chicago Police Department released in January by the U.S. Department of Justice. The center's report concludes that officers should not be permanently assigned to schools, while calling on CPS to collaborate with community groups to formalize the city's school resource officer program. Advertisement "If police are going to continue to be in our schools, their role must be viewed as a resource and not as a response to address behavior which can be handled by school administrators," Jennifer Riley-Collins, the center's vice president of advocacy, said on Tuesday. The city has described the police presence in schools as an important component of a broader safety strategy. A school district spokesman on Tuesday said CPS has reduced the number of police officers and security personnel at schools. The district has also revised its student conduct code in an effort to cut down on suspensions, expulsions and discipline-related police calls. "We appreciate the recommendations brought forward by the Shriver Center, and we will seriously consider all potential opportunities to maintain our safe school environments while further strengthening school climates," CPS spokesman Michael Passman said in a statement. A police spokesman said questions on the report were being handled by CPS. The use of cameras, metal detectors, security guards and police officers in city schools grew under former Mayor Richard M. Daley's administration as part of a renewed focus on school security. The 2013 school closings and the high-profile 2009 beating death of Fenger High School student Derrion Albert are among issues that have forged a closer relationship between the police and the school district. It has been an expensive partnership for CPS. The district paid more than $100 million to the department since Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office. In 2015, the city said it would pick up the cost of officer patrols in schools. The Shriver center report argues "it's time to rethink the role of these law enforcement officers" in ensuring safety and security for schoolchildren. Advertisement Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "School is a setting that children are required to attend every day, and at this time they're at a very impressionable stage," said Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, a Shriver staff attorney and the report's lead author. "And it's scary to think that they're interfacing with officers that do not know how to engage with them in a positive manner. That further destroys the youth and police relations within this city." Of the 248 police officers assigned to CPS in April 2016, 67 percent had complaints lodged against them with the city's Independent Police Review Authority, according to a Shriver center review of disciplinary and staffing records. An additional 31 percent of the officers had three or more complaints filed with IPRA, and 11 percent of those officers had 10 or more complaints. A Shriver center review of legal settlements also concluded those officers accumulated slightly more than $2 million in legal settlements close to $1.5 million of that total was from an excessive use of force case involving a minor and $215,000 from incidents that occurred on school grounds, the center said. "It tells me that there's been very little screening put in place when assigning the officers to Chicago Public Schools," Mbekeani-Wiley said. "It can be fatal to not have a robust screening process prior to establishing a school resource officer program." jjperez@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @PerezJr A man robbed a downtown bank late Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. The man entered the Chase Bank branch, 35 W. Wacker Dr, about 5:35 p.m. and threated a bank employee, implying that he had a weapon, but did not show one, according to the FBI. Advertisement The robber was described as a black man in his mid-20s to early 30s, standing 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6, with a slim build. He was wearing a black and red knit hat, a black winter coat, gray and blue gloves and tan pants. Chicago police declined to release any further information. Anyone with information is asked to call the Chicago office of the FBI at 312-421-6700. Forest Park police have released new details of a fatal shooting by an officer last week, saying it happened when a suspect in a hit-and-run pulled up at an intersection where a squad car was waiting to turn. The officer had been on the lookout for a silver Volkswagen when a car matching the description pulled up at Jackson Boulevard and Harlem Avenue around 6:15 p.m. Friday, according to Deputy Chief Michael Keating. The driver of the Volkswagen threw the car in reverse and the officer started to back up too, but another car had pulled up and blocked him, Keating said. "So he just gets out on foot to order him to stop the (Volkswagen) and at that point the officer was able to get in front of the stolen car to get him to stop," Keating said. "And that's when the car lurched toward the officer." The car sped toward the officer, and he fired into the Volkswagen, killing Marco Gomez, 26, Keating said. "I believe the officer was standing like literally right in front of the car," he said. "His life was in danger." Neither Keating nor the Illinois State Police, who are investigating the shooting, would say whether a weapon was recovered in the Volkswagen. Authorities believe Gomez stole the car from a home on Bloomingdale Road in Glendale Heights the week before. On Friday afternoon, there was a hit-and-run crash involving the Volkswagen, which was last seen heading down Jackson Boulevard. "The last thing anyone heard was the car was last seen on Jackson toward Oak Park," Keating said. "So again, I'm surmising, but he's probably realizing Jackson would probably be the street you'd want to be on." The officer got to Jackson but thought he had missed the car, Keating said. The officer was planning to make a left turn onto Harlem, either to turn around or move on to the next call, when he noticed the Volkswagen pulling up. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary after a shooting, Keating said. The state police public integrity unit is also reviewing whether the use of legal force was justified. "The investigation is currently active and ongoing," said Master Sgt. Jason Bradley of the Illinois State Police. He declined to comment further. Jack McCullough, convicted in the 1957 killing of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph, appears in court at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore on April 15, 2016. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) A special prosecutor was formally appointed Monday to investigate allegations that a Seattle police detective perjured herself in the case of Jack McCullough, the man whose conviction for the 1957 murder of a Sycamore girl was overturned last year. DeKalb County Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert appointed the state's attorney appellate prosecutor's office to investigate the allegations brought by McCullough's family. Brian Towne will serve as the special prosecutor for the office. Advertisement The judge's appointment came in response to a formal request filed in August by then-DeKalb State's Attorney Richard Schmack, who reviewed McCullough's 2012 conviction of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph's murder and became convinced McCullough, a Seattle-area retiree, had been wrongfully convicted. The special prosecutor will be empowered to review all aspects of the McCullough case, "in the interest of justice," Stuckert said in her order. Advertisement "The court further finds that that the subject matter of this investigation involves perjury and other possible offenses related to this case," Stuckert wrote. The judge had written to numerous other state's attorneys across northern Illinois and the Illinois attorney general's office, requesting one of the outside agencies to act as special prosecutor, but all declined. The appellate prosecutor's office often is appointed when a local state's attorney has a potential conflict of interest. McCullough was arrested in 2011 and charged with being the man who approached Maria and her friend on a December evening in 1957 as they played on a Sycamore neighborhood street corner. Maria's disappearance that night sparked an intensive investigation involving local, state and federal law enforcement that failed to yield an arrest. The girl's body was found in northwest Illinois about five months after she was abducted. A half-century later, Illinois State Police investigators reopened the case and obtained a warrant based in part on the eyewitness identification of McCullough by Maria's childhood friend, who identified an old picture of McCullough as being an image of the man who approached her and Maria that night in 1957. Seattle police arrested McCullough, who lived with his family in that Sycamore neighborhood in the 1950s, and he was interviewed by Detective Irene Lau, who testified about the interview during McCullough's trial. In his August motion for a special prosecutor, Schmack, who was not state's attorney during McCullough's prosecution, said he had been informed that McCullough's family had obtained a video-audio recording of the 78-minute police interview, and that at trial, prosecutors had said no such recording existed. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Willful failure to forward a copy of the recording to McCullough's defense team would have constituted a serious breach of court procedure. And Schmack said there are discrepancies between what Lau said in court and what was on the recording. "The video appears to contradict elements of Detective Lau's narrative account prepared shortly after the interview and her testimony in the McCullough trial Sept. 10, 2012," Schmack wrote. Advertisement Lau testified that McCullough had described the murdered girl as "lovely, lovely, lovely," but McCullough's family said that statement is not included in the audio recording. Schmack, who was voted out of office in November, had requested that the special prosecutor investigate the perjury allegation and "any other allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing in connection with the investigation of the kidnapping and murder of Maria Ridulph and the prosecution of Jack D. McCullough," and to bring charges, if warranted. The Seattle Police Department did not respond to a request for a comment from Lau. A message left for former DeKalb State's Attorney Clay Campbell, who prosecuted McCullough, was not immediately returned. The matter will be back in court March 13. An April 6 hearing has been set on a separate motion filed by McCullough asking the courts to issue a certificate of innocence in connection with his vacated conviction for the murder. Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter. A man pled guilty Tuesday to shooting his ex-girlfriend and her mother, an off-duty Chicago police officer, and was sentenced to 37 years in prison, according to court records. Anthony Gates, 30, was sentenced by Cook County Judge Dennis Porter to 31 years in prison for shooting the then-49-year-old officer and six years in prison for shooting his ex-girlfriend, who was 21 at the time, according to court records. Advertisement Gates arrived at the girlfriend's home in the 2200 block of East 68th Street late on Nov. 11, 2014, "upset because he felt that he had not been seeing his (2-year-old) son as much as he wanted," according to court documents. Gates was also "agitated" because he thought the ex-girlfriend was seeing another man, prosecutors said. The officer and her daughter pulled up to the home about 9:50 p.m. to hand off the boy to the father for visitation, prosecutors said. Gates confronted his ex-girlfriend, then went back to his car for a 9 mm handgun as his son ran toward him, they said. Advertisement The boy wasn't hit, but Gates fired at least 10 times at the boy's grandmother, who was sitting behind the wheel of her own car, prosecutors said. The officer got out of the car and collapsed on the ground as Gates stood over her and kept firing, hitting her in the face, both wrists and her knee, prosecutors said. Gates then shot at his ex-girlfriend as she ran away, hitting her in the thigh. He ran up to her, grabbed her by the neck and beat her, prosecutors said. The ex-girlfriend was still able to get away and run down the street as Gates scooped up his son, got into a black Chevrolet Impala and drove off, prosecutors said. Gates was arrested about 3 1/2 hours later at a relative's home in the 500 block of West Division Street, according to prosecutors. "Did I kill her?" he asked arresting officers, according to the police report. "Are you charging me with murder?" As officers approached Gates in the front room, he said, "I didn't want this to happen, I didn't want it to go this far," according to the police report. A 9 mm handgun with a fully loaded magazine was found in Gates' car, along with 13 spent casings, prosecutors said. Gates has a history of domestic violence with his ex-girlfriend. A 19-year-old Chicago man was found shot outside a Wal-Mart in northwest suburban Palatine on Tuesday night, police said. Feb. 7, 2017. (CBS Chicago) A 19-year-old Chicago man was found shot outside a Wal-Mart Tuesday night in northwest suburban Palatine, police said. Police were called to the store at 1555 N. Rand Road just before 7:30 p.m. following a call about gunfire and found the victim in the parking lot with a single gunshot wound, according to police. Advertisement The man was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by Palatine Fire Department responders. Police said the man was conscious and able to provide information about the shooting to officers. Advertisement Initial reports from witnesses indicated that "offenders" were possibly inside the store, but when officers searched the store they determined the offenders "were no longer on the scene," according to a news release from Palatine police. Palatine police said Wednesday afternoon that no one had been charged in connection with the incident. They had no additional comment. A Wal-Mart company spokesman said Wednesday morning that the store remained open in the wake of the shooting. He said the company was assisting with the investigation and referred other questions about the shooting to Palatine police. The store first opened in Palatine in August 2004, he said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Palatine police investigators at (847) 359-9000. Freelance reporter Elizabeth Owens-Schiele contributed. Chicago police are looking for two men who appeared to be wearing police clothing during an armed robbery and a home invasion this week on the West Side. The crimes occurred about 1:05 a.m. Tuesday and about 11:10 p.m. Monday. Advertisement In Monday's attack, the victim was walking in an alley in the 200 block of South Kilbourn Avenue when two men pulled up in a four-door silver vehicle. One man, carrying a hand-held radio and wearing a blue shirt with a patch that looked like a police emblem, exited the vehicle while brandishing a gun and took money and clothing from the victim, police said. Advertisement In the second attack, the same two men confronted victims in the hallway of an apartment building in the 800 block of North Monticello Avenue and displayed a handgun, police said. One of the two men was again wearing a blue shirt with a patch that resembled a police emblem, police said. After the victims fled on foot into an apartment, the two men forced their way into an apartment and took a television before fleeing, police said. One of the attackers was described as a white man about 22 to 35 years old, 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-5 and about 170 pounds. He was wearing a blue shirt with the patch, police said. The other was described as a black man about 23 to 30 years old, but no further description was given. Anyone with information should call police at 312-744-8263. President Donald Trump gives remarks about Chicago during a conference of police chiefs and sheriffs in Washington on Feb. 8, 2017. (Photo: Chris Kleponis / Getty Images Pool | Video: C-SPAN) (Chris Kleponis / Getty Images Pool; C-Span/Chicago Tribune) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump again highlighted violence in Chicago on Wednesday, asserting that many of the city's problems are caused by gang members "many of whom are not even legally in our country." Trump, addressing a conference of police chiefs and sheriffs, urged them to "turn in" bad actors to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Advertisement "I want you to turn in the bad ones," Trump said. "Call Secretary Kelly's representatives and we'll get them out of our country and bring them back to where they came from and we'll do it fast. You have to call the federal government, Homeland Security, because so much of the problems you look at Chicago and you look at other places. So many of the problems are caused by gang members, many of whom are not even legally in our country." Trump offered no evidence for his claim that gang members in the country illegally are behind much of the violence. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, a former South Side alderman, said the president's assessment is off base. Advertisement "I don't know anyone in Chicago who believes" illegal immigrants cause Chicago's gang problems, Preckwinkle said. "Unfortunately, the difficulties that we have are homegrown. They are not a function of illegal immigrants. "Whether we are talking about African-American or Latino neighborhoods, we're not talking about illegal immigrants. We are talking about our own native-born sons and daughters, and we need to figure out how to meet the challenges they face and their communities face that diminishes the violence in those neighborhoods." Trump was addressing the winter conference of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, whose members are police chiefs and sheriffs from large cities in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. In his speech, Trump also said: "In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone, and the rate so far this year has been even higher. What is going on in Chicago?" According to the Tribune's database, shootings are up about 8 percent so far this year, but homicides are down about 20 percent. "We cannot allow this to continue," Trump said. "We've allowed too many young lives to be claimed and ... you see that all over claimed by gangs and too many neighborhoods to be crippled by violence and fear. Sixty percent of murder victims under the age of 22 are African-American. "This is a national tragedy, and it requires national action. This violence must end, and we must all work together to end it. Whether a child lives in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore or anywhere in our country, he or she has the right to grow up in safety and in peace." Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office questioned the sincerity of Trump's anti-crime remarks in a statement from spokesman Matt McGrath. Advertisement "With all the talk and no action, you have to wonder whether the administration is serious about working with us on solutions, or if they are just using violence in this great city to score political points," McGrath said. "We've been clear, there are ways the federal government can help, and we're happy to partner with the administration whenever they decide to stop talking and start acting." Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson also expressed a willingness to partner with the federal government in a statement issued by his office. "I hope the president had an opportunity today to hear from police chiefs around the country who are facing many of the same challenges Chicago is facing, including too-easy access to illegal guns, inconsistent sentencing, and a more fractured and decentralized gang structure where gunfire is as likely to erupt from a feud on social media as a battle over turf," Johnson said. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Trump's remarks represent the second consecutive day he has touched on Chicago crime and the fifth time in less than three weeks in office. On Tuesday, during a White House meeting with sheriffs, he singled out Chicago violence and repeated a debunked claim that the U.S. murder rate is the highest it's been in 45 years. The most recent annual FBI statistics available show the national rate for murder and non-negligent manslaughter in 2015 was 4.9 per 100,000 people. That was lower than every year between 1996 and 2009, when the rate fell from 7.4 killings per 100,000 people to five for the same population. Advertisement The country's worst year for homicides in the modern era was either 1980, when the homicide rate hit its peak at 10.2 killings for every 100,000 people, with 23,040 homicides or in 1991, when a record 24,703 people were killed, according to FBI statistics cited by the Los Angeles Times. The homicide rate in 1991 was 9.8 deaths per 100,000 people, FBI statistics show. After years of decline, homicides in Chicago have been on the rise and exceeded 760 last year, the worst in two decades. kskiba@chicagotribune.com Twitter @KatherineSkiba Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Topspin Gov. Bruce Rauner dismissed concerns about Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as "overblown emotion" Tuesday hours after her controversial Senate confirmation that required Vice President Mike Pence to cast a tie-breaking vote. Advertisement The Republican governor, whose 2014 campaign received donations from DeVos and her family, had praised DeVos after she was nominated by President Donald Trump as "a very talented and very passionate education advocate." Rauner and DeVos share a history of supporting charter schools and vouchers that would allow students to use tax dollars to attend private schools. Rauner's comments Tuesday came after an appearance at a school in Downstate Herrin, where he was asked by a reporter what he would say to students, teachers and parents in Southern Illinois who have concerns about DeVos' agenda for federal education policy. Advertisement "First of all, I think Betsy DeVos could be a very good secretary of education," Rauner said. "I personally believe that there should be choice of schools for all parents regardless of whether they have much money or not. Every family should be able to choose a school that fits their child the best, regardless of their income. I think that's a big principle. I think that there's probably some overblown emotion around this appointment and much that's going on in the federal government." Rauner, who has a habit of dodging questions about national politics, particularly those that relate to President Donald Trump, tried to steer his answer back to Illinois. "We don't control, I don't control what happens in Washington, D.C. We can all have our voices, and I would encourage everybody to have a voice. But we don't control that," Rauner said. "What we can do in Illinois is make sure that we support our public schools to the utmost degree. And we have not done that. And I've been fighting, working hard to get more state support for our schools so our teachers can have the resources in every district especially our lower-income districts." He continued: "And now we've not only got more resources but we've got a new approach to funding so our lower income schools will get even more. We can do this together. And we've got to focus. I don't think we should spend time getting distracted and have hypotheticals well, what could happen from the federal government. Let's focus on what we can do. Let's have the best schools in Illinois ourselves. We can control that. The federal government stuff will take care of itself." Rauner's comments came a day after Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Democrats should "take a chill pill, man" over their national political prospects in 2018. (Kim Geiger) What's on tap *Mayor Emanuel has no public schedule. *Gov. Rauner and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti will appear at a community college in Normal to discuss government consolidation efforts. *The Cook County Board will meet. Advertisement *The Illinois House and Senate are in session, with votes on the Senate budget blueprint continuing to be a daily possibility and House plans percolating to keep state workers' paychecks flowing. *A union representing thousands of CTA workers will hold a morning news conference to object to sometimes having to use portable bathrooms on the job. What we're writing *Illinois Senate tweaks budget blueprint to raise state sales tax on food, drugs (but lower overall rate). *Syrian family to arrive in Chicago as court weighs refugee ban. *CPS and Rauner administration trade barbs on budget cuts via letters. *Downstate lawsuit accuses Illinois Lottery manager of fraud. Advertisement *Northwest Side Ald. Santiago says burglary felt like 'violation.' *Infrastructure Week continues at City Hall as Emanuel administration unveils Fulton Market street redesign. *Immigration lawyers swamped in wake of travel ban. *Stalled Olive-Harvey construction project on South Side called a 'travesty.' *Trump again calls out Chicago on violence and repeats debunked murder rate claim. What We're Reading Advertisement *Settlement of another lawsuit against defrocked priest McCormack: $2.3 million. *States Attorney Foxx talks running for office, overcoming sexism in Elle magazine interview. (h/t @byalisonbowen) *Michael Jordan's Steak House is among restaurants recently hit by a data breach. From the notebook *Cook County emails measure: The Cook County Board Wednesday it is set to consider a proposal requiring county employees to use only government email accounts for official business a topic thats been highlighted recently by former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's and Mayor Emanuel's use of private email addresses. Commissioner Larry Suffredin, D-Evanston, said he launched his effort long before that stuff was swirling around. Indeed, he first proposed the idea before the Clinton controversy, but he says its been hung up amid resistance from some county officials. Im going forward, Suffredin said Tuesday. I dont care who objects. His idea is to foster transparency by making sure workers and public officials cant evade public scrutiny by using private devices to do county business. Employees and appointed officials would have to do all official, electronic business through their county-assigned email accounts, and would be barred from doing that business via text messages or social media, with an exception for the latter to broadcast information to the general public. Elected officials and their top staff would be allowed to use their own office or private email accounts for official business, but they would have to notify the board secretary and make those communications subject to public record requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Emanuel in December settled a lawsuit with the Better Government Association by releasing a set of emails from private addresses he used to conduct government business, but a Tribune lawsuit over the email issue and text messages continues. During her campaign, Clinton came under fire for setting up a private server in her home on which she conducted official government business. The County Board on Wednesday also will consider creation of a new Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership that would find construction jobs for people on projects that get county property tax breaks, as well as dueling resolutions calling on the federal government to provide more resources to combat crime. And being introduced is a plan from Commissioner Richard Boykin, D-Oak Park, to create a Neighborhood Revitalization Act Authority to help teachers and first responders buy homes in struggling areas, in addition to an a proposal that would strike many county code references to citizens, under the rationale that Cook is a fair and equal county for immigrants." (Hal Dardick) *Candidate for alderman gets a boost: One of the 4th Ward candidates in this months special election is getting a little help from a group aligned with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Activist Gregory Seal Livingston has received a pair of $2,500 contributions from the Illinois Liberty PAC, a group that counts among its contributors Citadel hedge fund founder Kenneth Griffin and Uline CEO Richard Uihlein both major backers of Rauner. Matthew Besler, who is listed as chairman of the PAC, also is president of the Illinois Opportunity Project, a free market group co-founded by conservative radio talk show host and unsuccessful GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft. The contributions arent a big shock, given that Livingston was the spokesman for the 2015 mayoral campaign of Willie Wilson, who backed Rauner in 2014. But they may not play well in the 4th Ward. More than 92 percent of its voters cast ballots for Hillary Clinton last year, and more than 88 percent went with Democrat Pat Quinn in the 2014 gubernatorial contest. This month's special election is nonpartisan. For his part, Livingston notes hes also received $2,500 from Blair Hull, a businessman and onetime Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, and $1,000 from Dr. Mohammed Sahloul, past president of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. He also said former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones gave him $500 on Monday. I have received contributions from an incredibly diverse & brave list of donors, Livingston said. Unlike the Machine, I can't control who wants to contribute to my campaign. Illinois Liberty PACs contribution, however, is relatively modest, among about $10,000 in large contributions Livingston has reported raising since Jan. 1, after having a bit more than $2,500 on hand at the end of the year, according to an amended statement he filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Thats dwarfed by the take of Ald. Sophia King, who Emanuel last year appointed after predecessor Will Burns resigned to take a job with Airbnb. This year, King a friend of former President Barack Obama has raised $66,900 in large contributions while also earning the endorsements of Obama, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. The largest contribution $5,000 came from the Service Employees International Union, but shes also received money from other unions and business owners. King already had more than $100,000 on hand at the end of last year. Also running are three attorneys: Ebony Lucas, Gerald Scott McCarthy and Marcellus Moore Jr. Each has received large contributions of $2,000 or less so far this year and none of them had more than $14,000 at the end of last year. (Hal Dardick) *Where is Rep. McClintock? The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has been promoting opposition to Republican Rep. Peter Roskam, of Wheaton, amid its announcement that it will pay for a staffer to try to help defeat him in 2018 in the GOP-leaning west and northwest suburban 6th District. But in its eagerness to point out Republicans who have been met with protests over President Donald Trump and the GOP agenda, the DCCC used a news release to give Illinois a new GOP congressman. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-IL) was escorted out his town hall by police and lashed out at the peaceful protesters, saying there was an 'anarchist element,'" the DCCC said. There is no Tom McClintock among Illinois 18-member congressional delegation. But there is a Rep. Tom McClintock in Congress. Hes a Republican with an office in Roseville, Calif., near Sacramento. According to Google, its a 2,006-mile trip to Roseville from Wheaton. (Rick Pearson) *Schneider on House Judiciary panel: Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, of Deerfield, has been named a member of the House Judiciary Committee in the new Congress. Schneider, in a statement, said the post serves as a great platform for the people of the 10th District on the important issues facing our country, from immigration and gun safety legislation to voting and womens rights to civil liberties and intellectual property. The panel has oversight over the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, as well as the administration the federal court system. Schneider is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (Rick Pearson) *How they voted on DeVos: Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth joined the rest of Democrats in voting against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. They had signaled their intentions and explained their reasoning in the days before the vote. Still, enough Republicans stuck together to confirm Trump's pick. Follow the money *Ald. Brendan Reilly reported $40,500 in contributions, including a $5,000 donation from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago's political committee. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *DeVos confirmed with Pence casting tie-breaking vote. Advertisement *The number of senators voting against appointees has risen during recent administrations. *Trump administration to approve final permit for the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. *A report says up to 13,000 people were hanged in a Syrian prison. SPRINGFIELD The mammoth budget blueprint under consideration in the Illinois Senate changed shape yet again Tuesday, with lawmakers floating the idea of applying a higher state sales tax to food and drugs. The change allows backers to shelve a proposed "opportunity tax" that would charge companies for the "privilege" of doing business in the state. That ran into opposition from business groups. But the broad nature of the sales tax expansion is likely to spawn arguments that it hits hardest those least able to afford the increase. Advertisement Some background: the state sales tax on most goods is 6.25 percent. The rate, however, is just 1 percent for many food, drugs and medical supplies think stuff bought at the grocery store. It's higher in places where local governments can impose their own taxes. In Cook County, for example, shoppers pay an additional 1.25 percent tax to the Regional Transportation Authority for a 2.25 percent total rate. Here's how the Senate plan would work: The overall sales tax rate of 6.25 percent would drop to 5.75 percent, but it would be applied to a broader range of goods including food, drugs and medical supplies. Cutting the overall sales tax by half a percentage point would drop the total sales tax in Chicago to 9.75 percent. In addition, services would be taxed at 5.75 percent, including car repairs, landscaping, laundry, and cable and satellite. Advertisement The complicated sales tax changes illustrate the Senate's struggle to craft a plan that strikes enough balance between raising taxes and cutting costs on businesses to win votes. The Senate effort comes as Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic lawmakers are in the throes of unprecedented gridlock that's left state government without a comprehensive spending plan since July 2015. Senate leaders, who have held out the prospect that their massive plan would be voted on several times already, say they're pushing for a vote this week. They acknowledge it's unlikely to end up as law even if it escapes the Senate, but they hope it will prove that bipartisan compromise is possible. The sales tax increase combined with a measure to raise the personal income tax rate from 3.75 percent to 4.99 percent would bring in an estimated $6.5 billion a year for state coffers. Facing a bill backlog expected to soon hit $15 billion, it's money the state could use to bring its books closer to balance, but politicians on both sides of the aisle are wary of raising taxes. Meanwhile, Republicans have argued that provisions of the budget proposal aimed at propping up businesses don't go far enough to make their votes for a tax increase worthwhile. They've taken particular issue with a measure to scale back costs of the state's workers' compensation program, saying it contains only minor nips and tucks. Some also have pushed for major cuts in government spending, saying Illinois has a bad habit of relying on tax increases instead of spending reductions. Supporters say it's past time for lawmakers to make some hard decisions, noting that universities, social service programs, prisons and veterans homes are scraping by now without any funding from the state. "Members still have some trepidations about the impact it's going to have on them personally," said Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago. "That's what we do. We take hard votes down here, and these are hard times, so it necessitates us doing some things that we wouldn't do under normal circumstances. But I believe the times have pushed us to that point, that something has to be done, and this is one of the ways to do it." The Senate package also calls for a major expansion of gambling, including a Chicago casino and five others. Local property taxes would be frozen for two years, but schools would get the ability to scale back state requirements such as physical education and driver's education courses to cut costs. School districts also would have more power to outsource things such as janitorial services a point of contention for organized labor, which is usually aligned with the Democrats. Other aspects would give local governments more control over consolidating various taxing bodies, and curb retirement benefits doled out under the state's employee pension system. A plan to change how the state distributes money to schools is still being worked on but could surface this week, further complicating already difficult negotiations. Advertisement Even if the package should pass the Senate there's a trigger provision that says if one of the dozen bills fails, all of them fail the prospects of it becoming law are a long shot. House Democrats led by Speaker Michael Madigan have indicated they are likely to go their own way on a budget plan, and Rauner himself has said the plan might not make all the economic changes he's made a condition of a larger budget deal. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, however, say they've got to start somewhere. "I think anything that we pass is, again, a beginning. I don't think that it's necessarily the final product," said Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry. "We're going to have weigh in from the governor, we're going to have weigh in from the House. But I think we're committed to having some type of a framework to begin those discussions and finally have a budget, certainly before the end of session. Hopefully before the end of session." Chicago Tribune's Hal Dardick contributed form Chicago. mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com hbemiller@chicagotribune.com SPRINGFIELD The alliance between Democratic and Republican Senate leaders showed fissures Wednesday after GOP lawmakers failed to support portions of a sweeping proposal aimed at resolving the state's record budget stalemate. The test votes put in jeopardy the larger budget framework Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno have pursued the last month, demonstrating the lack of trust and political gamesmanship that have crippled state government for two years. Advertisement Eager to begin voting after a series of postponements, Democrats on Wednesday pushed ahead with votes on smaller provisions of the multipronged budget proposal, measures that both sides deemed "low-hanging fruit." That included bills to make it easier for local governments to consolidate various taxing bodies and to relax rules on how the state, cities and schools buy goods and services. While the measures passed, they did not receive a single vote in favor from Republicans, who either voted against the proposals or voted "present" a move often used as a form of protest. Advertisement Republicans said they weren't ready to vote on individual parts of the budget blueprint because other portions are still being worked on, noting the evolving ideas on potential tax hikes and changes to the school funding formula that have yet to be drafted. "I think there was a little political theater and drama here," said Radogno, of Lemont. "Our caucus wanted everything nailed down before we called the first bills. We talked about a piecemeal approach, and it was the consensus of the caucus that we didn't want to do that. That request was not honored, and so that was reflected in the votes." A related bill to curb retirement benefits for public workers failed to pass. However, that one also was opposed by some Democrats closely aligned with unions who were unwilling to buck organized labor without the help of Republicans. And therein lies the issue: Democrats aren't willing to go it alone in passing budget legislation, saying it's time for Republicans who have long been out of power in the legislature to step up. For his part, Cullerton said he believed Radogno was ready to move forward, but other members of the Republican caucus were not. The Chicago Democrat said he decided to move ahead to put pressure on GOP lawmakers to stop talking about the need for a deal and start voting for one. "I think by calling these votes, in a way, I took her out of her misery," Cullerton said. "She wants to go forward; her caucus is telling her not. And we finally started calling some bills. The story though is that her caucus is not ready to vote, and that's why I called the bills, to prove that." Republicans have raised numerous issues about the budget package, from all-out opposition to tax hikes to a desire for broad spending cuts to concerns that efforts to cut costs on businesses don't go far enough. While Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has been largely left out of Senate talks, GOP lawmakers don't want to go out on a limb and vote in favor of the budget package if Rauner ends up opposing it. Rauner has long pushed for various economic changes as part of any budget deal, and they worry those contained in the Senate plan don't go far enough for his liking. Rauner repeatedly has refused to weigh in on specifics in the Senate plan. During a Wednesday appearance in Normal, he instead offered praise to the Senate for "talking about the issues that matter." "I applaud the senators for trying to come up with a structure, and I hope that they're successful. I think it's all in our interest for them to be successful," Rauner said. Advertisement But for now, it's back to the negotiating table as senators try to salvage even the possibility of approving the far-reaching changes. "What this is demonstrating today is how difficult this is," said Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields. "We're all on the edge of our seats at this point." Chicago Tribune's Kim Geiger contributed from Normal. mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com Twitter @moniquegarcia When top members of the National Sheriffs' Association met with President Donald Trump in the White House Tuesday morning, one of their chief requests was for federal assistance dealing with demonstrators at the Dakota Access pipeline site in North Dakota. Protesters have been camped there since April, and local law enforcement feels stymied by the protesters' ability to retreat to reservations -- federal land where police and sheriff's deputies have no jurisdiction, Sheriff Paul Laney of Cass County, North Dakota, told reporters Tuesday night. Now the Trump Administration has cleared the way for construction to resume on the controversial pipeline, and more conflict with protesters is expected. With the support of other sheriffs from around the country, Laney met with Trump and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to seek help from Customs and Border Patrol agents, U.S. marshals, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as well as a stronger response from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "That, we feel, would alleviate a lot of issues," Laney said. Greg Champagne, sheriff of St. Charles Parish, La., and president of the association, and Carolyn Welsh, sheriff of Chester County, Pa., were among the sheriffs who backed Laney's request for federal assistance. Laney said Trump and Kelly did not commit to additional federal help with the protesters yet but that the president was "very well aware of the Dakota pipeline. We feel very confident that our requests have been heard and are being considered." Laney said requests were made to the Obama Administration for months and were denied. The protests are occurring in Morton County, North Dakota, which Laney said has a full-time law enforcement staff of 33. Protesters have numbered in the thousands, and though most are peaceful, "a large component is very violent, very confrontational," Laney said. He said he and his deputies have been working at the protest full time since August. Law enforcement is not there "to take a side," Laney said, "just to protect life and property." He said protesters launch sometimes violent attacks, including killing of livestock or intimidation of motorists, and then retreat to the federal reservation. "We're county personnel, we can't go in there," Laney said. He said the National Guard was on the scene, and "we hopefully will see federal agents helping police." Cody Hall, a member of the Lakota tribe who has been active in the pipeline protests, said if federal agents are sent to North Dakota, "they're gonna bring trumped up charges. They're going to use this to say the 'water protectors' are illegal in every form, so they can bring the feds in, the ATF in." Water protectors are some of the leaders of the protest against the pipeline crossing under the Missouri River. Hall noted that more than 700 people have already been arrested and that police have used water cannons and dogs to respond to protesters. North Dakota is also considering a law to eliminate criminal liability for drivers who unintentionally strike protesters in the road, as well as increasing some protest violations from misdemeanors to felonies. The sheriffs said they also raised issues with Trump about those with mental illness being housed in jails, the exploding epidemic of opioid abuse, asset forfeiture, allowing local law enforcement to obtain surplus equipment from the military and the rapidity with which heroin is now hitting the streets. "He cares deeply about the safety and security of these citizens," Welsh said. "He wants to hear from the people involved. He wants to get down to the fundamental understanding and fix it." The sheriffs were present when Trump said that the murder rate in America was "the highest it's been in 47 years," which is untrue. The sheriffs did not seem troubled by the misstatement, and association executive director Jonathan Thompson said he interpreted Trump's comment to mean the rise in murder from 2014 to 2015 was the largest in 47 years, which is true. Trump also decried the high crime rate in Chicago, which Welsh thought was accurate. "It's not a place where you can raise children or even live safely," Welsh said of Chicago. Trump spoke to the full meeting of the sheriffs' association on Wednesday morning, raising many of the issues its leaders discussed with him at the White House on Tuesday. The Washington Post Abillboard along the highway near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, features an ant drawing and the Spanish slogan, "Freedom from bachaqueros." Venezuelans call people who make a living illegally reselling food "bachaqueros." (Ariana Cubillos / AP) CARACAS, Venezuela A bipartisan group of 34 U.S. lawmakers has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to step up pressure on Venezuela's government by immediately sanctioning officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses, The Associated Press has learned. The letter was partly prompted by an AP investigation, which it cites, that found corruption in Venezuela's food imports. It also calls for a thorough probe into alleged drug trafficking and support for Middle Eastern terror groups by the country's new vice president, Tareck El Aissami. Advertisement El Aissami has been the target of U.S. law enforcement since his days as interior minister almost a decade ago, and has been tied to bribes paid to officials by the nation's top convicted drug trafficker. He has denied any wrongdoing. Relations between the U.S. and its staunchest critic in Latin America have been tense for years the two countries haven't exchanged ambassadors since 2010. And at Congress' insistence, President Barack Obama sanctioned several top Venezuelan officials for cracking down on opponents or helping smuggle cocaine to the U.S. Advertisement But Trump mentioned the country only briefly during the campaign. And Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments during his confirmation gave little sign of whether he will depart from the Obama administration's relative restraint and call for dialogue between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and his opponents. Venezuela is mired in political gridlock, even as its economy is falling apart. Amid such uncertainty, Maduro has taken a softer tack. After blasting Trump as a "bandit" and "mental patient" during the campaign, he's remained silent since, even in the face of the Republican's promise to build a wall with Mexico and freeze immigration from close Venezuelan allies such as Iran and Syria. "He won't be worse than Obama, that's the only thing I dare to say," Maduro said last month in an appeal to supporters to withhold judgment on the new U.S. leader. The letter, co-written by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, the former chair of the house Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, the ranking member of the foreign relations subcommittee that oversees Latin America, appears intended to force the administration's hand. "Decisive, principled action in response to unfolding developments in Venezuela as one of the first foreign policy actions of your administration would send a powerful message to the Maduro regime and the Venezuelan people," according to the letter, which was signed by an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Specifically, the lawmakers call on Trump to sanction officials responsible for profiting from the dire humanitarian situation. That includes officials in the Venezuelan military who have been put in charge of distributing food, but the AP found that are instead making money from hunger. "An extensive investigative report by the Associated Press in December 2016 exposed what many assumed to be true, that corrupt Venezuelan officials are in fact profiting from the humanitarian struggle in the country," the letter says. It mentions the AP investigation's findings that two generals, food minister Rodolfo Marco Torres and his predecessor Carlos Osorio, are among military officials trafficking in hard-to-find food for personal profit. Neither official responded to requests for comment, but in the past, both have dismissed charges of corruption as empty accusations propagated by political opponents. Advertisement The letter also calls on the Treasury Department to issue clarifying regulations to ensure that U.S. companies don't inadvertently fuel graft and benefit from the overpayment of food contracts in violation of the foreign corrupt practices act. Finally, lawmakers are seeking increased U.S. funding for pro-democracy and civil society work in the country. Lawmakers reserved their most-stinging criticism for El Aissami, a hardliner socialist who would take over from Maduro should the president step down or be removed, as his opponents are seeking. El Aissami has been targeted by U.S. law enforcement since almost a decade ago, when dozens of fraudulent Venezuelan passports ended up in the hands of people from the Middle East, including alleged members of Hezbollah. He was also accused in 2011 by one of the nation's top drug traffickers of taking bribes through his brother to allow huge shipments of cocaine to leave from the country's main port. "Given these reports, the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, and his prominence in the regime, we urge the appropriate agencies to thoroughly investigate Tareck El Aissami's conduct and activities," the letter said. El Aissami has denied any wrongdoing and called those who speak ill of him traitors who seek to harm Venezuela. Associated Press PHOENIX A man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday on charges that he provided support to the Islamic State group by helping two followers carry through on an attempted attack on an anti-Islam event in Texas that resulted in a deadly shootout with police. Prosecutors were seeking a life sentence for Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, an American-born Muslim convert who became the second person in the U.S. to be convicted of charges of supporting Islamic State. He was convicted of conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, interstate transportation of firearms and other charges. Advertisement His friends, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, were killed in a police shootout outside a Prophet Muhammad contest in Garland, Texas, two years ago. A security guard was wounded, but no one else was injured. The contest featured cartoons that are offensive to Muslims. Authorities have said Kareem watched videos depicting violence by jihadists with the two friends, encouraged them to launch violent attack to support the terrorist group and researched travel to the Middle East to join Islamic State fighters. Advertisement Kareem kept his head down as Judge Susan Bolton handed down the sentence, calling it an "extraordinarily serious" set of crimes. He earlier told the judge he "had nothing to do with this crime." Prosecutor Kristen Brook said Kareem played an active role in assisting in an attempted mass murder. "That just doesn't make him an outside participant or fringe guy," Brook said. Authorities also said Kareem inquired about explosives to blow up the Arizona stadium where the 2015 Super Bowl was held but later set his sights on the cartoon contest after that plan fell through. Kareem testified that he didn't know his friends were going to attack the contest and didn't find out about the shooting until after Simpson and Soofi were killed. Kareem told jurors at his trial last year that he strongly disapproved of Simpson using Kareem's laptop to watch al-Qaida promotional materials. Associated Press President Donald Trump denounced arguments against his immigration order as "disgraceful" on Wednesday, a day after three federal appellate judges lobbed critical inquiries at those challenging and defending the plan, and suggested a ruling against his administration would be based on politics and not a fair reading of the law. In a speech to law enforcement officials in Washington, Trump argued his executive action is clearly legal and read aloud the relevant part of the law, which he called "so simple and so beautifully written and so perfectly written." Advertisement "I watched last night, in amazement, and I heard things that I couldn't believe, things that really had nothing to do with what I just read," he said. "And I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased. And we haven't had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right." Trump insisted the order was within his executive powers and "a bad high school student would understand this." Advertisement The panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Tuesday aggressively questioned a Justice Department lawyer about what he considered the limits on the president's power and what evidence Trump relied upon in temporarily barring refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. But the panel similarly interrogated Washington state's solicitor general, who is challenging the president's directive, over what evidence he had to demonstrate religious discrimination and whether a lower-court judge's freeze on the ban was too broad. The court said it expects to make a decision on the matter "probably this week," and Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland promised rapid consideration. The ruling could affect tens of thousands of travelers whose visas were revoked by the initial executive order, then restored after U.S. District Judge James L. Robart in Seattle put a nationwide stop to it. The issue of whether the order is allowed to remain in place while legal challenges continue is likely to end up at the Supreme Court. But it will be harder for the Trump administration to prevail at the high court if the appeals court rules that a nationwide halt is warranted. The broad legal question is whether Trump acted within his authority in blocking the entry of people from Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Syria and Yemen, or whether his order essentially amounts to a discriminatory ban on Muslims. The judges must also weigh the harm the ban imposes and whether it is proper for them to intervene in a national security matter on which the president is viewed as the ultimate authority. Earlier Wednesday, Trump added to his barrage of comments decrying the challenge to the order, and casting blame if the decision does not go his way. "If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled," Trump tweeted. "Politics!" Later, before his address to the police chiefs and sheriffs, Trump appeared to describe the legal challenges as "horrible, dangerous and wrong." Justice Department lawyer August E. Flentje argued Tuesday that the order was "well within the president's power," asserting that Congress and a previous administration had designated the seven affected countries as having problems with terrorism - albeit in a different context. Advertisement Some of the judges, though, seemed wary of that claim. Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked Flentje if the government had "pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism." Judge Richard Clifton, a President George W. Bush appointee, noted that the government already had processes in place to screen people coming from those countries and asked, "Is there any reason for us to think that there's a real risk or that circumstances have changed such that there's a real risk?" "The president determined that there was a real risk," Flentje responded. Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued that the government was essentially asking the court to "abdicate" its role as a check on the executive branch, and he asserted that reinstating the ban would "throw the country back into chaos." But Purcell, too, faced critical questions. Clifton said that he was having "trouble understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected" - a key point, as the state is trying to demonstrate that Trump's order is intentionally discriminatory and runs afoul of the Constitution. Purcell pointed to public statements from Trump and his allies. Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, for example, recently said: "So 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.' " Advertisement Flentje disputed that the order is a Muslim ban, and he said the judges should limit their consideration to the executive order itself. "It is extraordinary to enjoin the president's national security determination based on some newspaper articles, and that's what has happened here," he said. Whichever side loses is sure to take the fight to the Supreme Court. That traditionally has been solid ground for presidents. Justices often defer to a president on matters of immigration and national security, because of his constitutional powers and an additional grant of authority from Congress. The politically divisive fight comes as the Supreme Court remains shorthanded following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago; the four Democratic-appointed liberals and four Republican-appointed conservatives often split. Trump said at a White House event Tuesday that he was prepared to elevate the dispute as needed. "We're going to take it through the system," he told reporters. "It's very important for the country . . . We'll see what happens. We have a big court case. We're well represented." Advertisement Flentje did offer something of a compromise for the judges Tuesday, saying they could limit the lower-court judge's ruling to foreigners previously admitted to the country who were abroad now or those who wished to travel and return to the United States in the future. Purcell countered that officials had not explained how they would practically implement such an order. In addition to Clifton and Friedland, the case was heard by William C. Canby Jr., who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter. The hearing was conducted via telephone, with Friedland listening from San Jose, Canby from Phoenix and Clifton from Honolulu. If those judges turn down the administration's appeal and the matter moves immediately to the Supreme Court, the argument would be only on the temporary restraining order, and it would require five justices to reverse the lower court's actions. The high court faced a similar issue last term, when a Texas judge imposed a nationwide halt on an executive action from Obama that would have shielded more than 4 million immigrants who were in the country illegally, but who met certain requirements to get work permits. The justices then split 4 to 4 on the matter. If five justices could not agree, the case would return to Robart, the district judge, to decide whether Trump's order should be permanently enjoined. The fight up the legal ladder would then begin anew - possibly taking months, past when the travel ban is set to expire. Advertisement Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly predicted Tuesday that the administration would prevail in its bid to reinstate the executive order and said judges might be considering the matter from an "academic," rather than a national security, perspective. "Of course, in their courtrooms, they're protected by people like me," he said. Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee, Kelly forcefully defended the measure as a necessary "pause" so officials could improve vetting procedures. He said that it is "entirely possible" that dangerous people are now entering the country with the order on hold - as Trump has said via Twitter - and that officials might not know about them until it is too late. "Not until the boom," he said when asked if he could provide evidence of a dangerous person coming into the country since the ban was suspended. Kelly's view does not reflect the consensus of the national security community. Ten high-ranking diplomatic and security officials - among them former secretaries of state John F. Kerry and Madeleine Albright, former CIA director Leon E. Panetta, and former CIA and National Security Agency director Michael V. Hayden - said in a legal filing that there was "no national security purpose" for a complete barring of people from the seven affected countries. Kelly also acknowledged Tuesday that if he were given a second chance, he might do things differently in rolling out the order. That stands somewhat in contrast to Trump's recent assertion to Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly that the implementation was "very smooth," and it is important because - if the appeals court reinstates the ban - Kelly might get another crack at implementation. Advertisement "In retrospect, I should have - this is all on me, by the way - I should have delayed it just a bit, so that I could talk to members of Congress, particularly the leadership of committees like this, to prepare them for what was coming, although I think most people would agree that this has been a topic of President Trump certainly during his campaign and during the transition process," Kelly said. He later said, though, that most of the confusion that followed the signing of the order was attributable to court orders and occurred not among Customs and Border Protection officers but among protesters in airports. After people were initially detained and deported, demonstrators packed airports to voice their displeasure, and civil liberties and immigration lawyers filed lawsuits across the country. Many of those suits are ongoing, with lawyers keeping a close eye on the proceedings at the 9th Circuit. On Tuesday, a group of lawyers asked a federal judge in New York to force the government to turn over a list of those who had been detained or deported, as the court had previously ordered officials to do. The government has said no one is being detained and has debated what information it is required to provide. "Noncompliance of a court order is very serious, especially where people's lives are at stake," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project. "We filed this motion to enforce because the government left us no choice." John Wagner contributed to this report. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Donald Trump had their first telephone call late Tuesday, a highly anticipated conversation in which Erdogan was expected to press the new U.S. leader to reject Pentagon proposals to arm Kurdish fighters in Syria and to quickly extradite a Turkish cleric exiled in Pennsylvania and regarded by Turkey as an enemy of the state. Trump may have preferred to change the subject. Advertisement Meeting either demand could be problematic for the administration, analysts said, testing a relationship between the two men that for months has been filled with high hopes and mutual admiration. A brief White House statement said the two discussed their "shared commitment to combatting terrorism in all its forms." It said that Trump "reiterated U.S. support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally, and welcomed Turkey's contributions" to the campaign against the Islamic State. Advertisement During the U.S. presidential campaign, Trump referred in glowing terms to Erdogan's handling of a failed coup attempt that shook Turkey last summer. He spoke optimistically about the bilateral relationship, telling the New York Times that he hoped Turkey "can do a lot" about the Islamic State. In the same interview, Trump declined to criticize Erdogan for a campaign of mass arrests and dismissals that followed the attempted coup. "I think it's very hard for us to get involved in other countries when we don't know what we are doing and we can't see straight in our own country," he said. Erdogan hailed Trump's election, quickly extended an invitation to visit Turkey and even praised Trump for putting a reporter "in his place" during a news conference a few weeks ago. More recently, the Turkish president has avoided condemning Trump's ban on travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries - despite the fact that Erdogan is the Islamist leader of a Muslim-majority country who has spoken out forcefully in the past against perceived anti-Muslim bias. When it comes to Turkey's most urgent demands, however, it may be difficult for Trump to show much flexibility. The Pentagon is still weeks away from completing a Trump-ordered 30-day review of its strategy to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Top U.S. military commanders had pushed former President Barack Obama's administration for months to directly arm Kurdish fighters in northern Syria for a final assault on the city of Raqqa, the militants' de facto capital. Turkey has long warned that it considers the Syrian Kurds to be part of Turkey's own Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which both Turkey and the United States have labeled a terrorist group. Obama deferred the decision on the Kurds to Trump, while noting that such plans depended on a quick determination. Trump's advisers have not ruled out the military plan but have asked the Pentagon to explore other options, including the possibility of adding Turkish troops to an Arab force that would be aided by an increased U.S. military presence in Syria. Trump also may have difficulty with Erdogan's request that the United States extradite the exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of masterminding the coup attempt. Turkish officials were encouraged when Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, published an article on Election Day calling Gulen a "radical" and saying the United States "should not provide him safe haven." Advertisement A decision on whether Turkish evidence is strong enough to merit extradition rests with the Justice Department. Even if it recommends such a move, the final decision must be made by a U.S. federal court, where Gulen can contest extradition and appeal if he loses, a process that could take months, if not years. Gulen has denied playing any role in the attempted coup. Semih Idiz, a Turkish political analyst and columnist who writes for the al-Monitor news site, said Turkey has left "too many unanswered questions" about its proposed alternative to the Kurdish fighters, including how many Turkish troops would need to be mobilized to replace them. Even so, any demands made on Tuesday's phone call could aid Erdogan. "There is public opinion that has to be fed," Idiz said. "They have to appear to be pushing this to the limit." DeYoung reported from Washington. Adam Entous in Washington contributed to this report. President Donald Trump's escalating attacks on the federal judiciary drew denunciation Wednesday from his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who told a senator that the criticism was "disheartening" and "demoralizing" to independent federal courts. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Gorsuch made the comments during their private meeting Wednesday, and the account was confirmed by Ron Bonjean, a member of the group guiding the judge through his confirmation process. Trump on Wednesday morning declared that an appeals court's hearing Tuesday night regarding his controversial immigration executive order was "disgraceful," and that judges were more concerned about politics than following the law. The remarks followed earlier tweets from Trump disparaging "the so-called judge" who issued a nationwide stop to his plan and saying the ruling "put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system." Blumenthal said Gorsuch, whom Trump nominated to the Supreme Court just over a week ago, agreed with him that the president's language was out of line. "I told him how abhorrent Donald Trump's invective and insults are towards the judiciary. And he said to me that he found them 'disheartening' and 'demoralizing' - his words," Blumenthal said in an interview. Gorsuch "stated very emotionally and strongly his belief in his fellow judges' integrity and the principle of judicial independence," he added. "And I made clear to him that that belief requires him to be stronger and more explicit, more public in his views." The contretemps added another layer to the roiling nature of Trump's young presidency. Some historians wondered if Supreme Court nominees had ever separated themselves in such a way from the president who nominated them; others tried to recall if a president had ever given a nominee reason to do so. Less than three weeks after taking the oath of office, Trump already has a legal dispute that seems likely to arrive soon at the Supreme Court. His comments about the judiciary seem far beyond the more veiled criticism presidents usually lob at the branch, and Democrats have pointed to those comments in arguing for a close examination of Gorsuch, who has served for 10 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Within hours of Blumenthal's revelation of Gorsuch's remarks, there were questions about how Trump, famously thin-skinned about criticism, would receive his nominee's words. There was a competing theory that they were a calculated attempt by Gorsuch to assert his independence. Carrie Severino, chief counsel and policy director of the Judicial Crisis Network, a group promoting Gorsuch's nomination, said the judge's remarks simply confirmed what those close to Gorsuch already knew. "He's always been a person independent of the president, and it was shown by his statement," she said. Those on the left, meanwhile, said Gorsuch would need to do more than that. "Is Gorsuch distancing himself from Trump? As we say on the Internet: LOL," Drew Courtney of People for the American Way said in a statement. "To be clear: Donald Trump's pattern of attacks on federal judges is more than demoralizing - it's a threat to the separation of powers and our constitutional system, and it's hard to imagine a more tepid response than to call them 'disheartening.' " Trump has been on a days-long crusade against the judicial branch since U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle halted the administration's executive order temporarily halting the U.S. refugee program and barring entry to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim countries. A three-judge panel in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is deliberating whether Trump's executive order should be allowed to continue. Speaking Wednesday at the Major Cities Chiefs Association Winter Conference in Washington, Trump said he listened to the oral arguments at the appeals court and was disappointed at what he heard. "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased," Trump told the group. "But courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right." Trump said the arguments were "disgraceful" because his executive order "can't be written any plainer or better and for us to be going through this" - he paused to mention that a judge in Boston had ruled to allow the order to continue. Trump said the courts were standing in the way of what he was elected to do and that even "a bad student in high school student" would support his policies. "We want security," he said. "One of the reasons I was elected was because of law and order and security. It's one of the reasons I was elected . . . And they're taking away our weapons, one by one. That's what they're doing. And you know it and I know it." The panel of 9th Circuit judges questioned whether the administration had any evidence of increased risk that would warrant the new restrictions, and whether the restrictions violated the law and the Constitution's protections against religious discrimination. Trump's comments were the latest escalation in a worsening dispute between the executive branch and the judiciary that the president has personally carried out on social media and in public remarks. While it is not new for a president to disagree with the actions of another branch of government, Trump's crusade against the federal judiciary comes before the legal process has fully played out and is unusual for its threatening tone and use of personal invective. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday that the president is expressing his frustration with a process that he believes should be subject to common sense. "He respects the judiciary," Spicer said. "It's hard for him and for a lot of people to understand how something so clear in the law can be so misinterpreted." He added that Trump, who has a long history of punching back against his opponents both political and personal, is also speaking directly to his supporters who are looking for him to aggressively deliver on his campaign promises. "He likes to talk to his supporters, to be blunt," Spicer added. "Part of it is that people wonder - who helped elect him - what is he doing to enact his agenda." Trump's handling of the incident recalled his attacks during the presidential campaign on an American judge of Mexican descent, Gonzalo Curiel, who Trump claimed could not fairly adjudicate a fraud case against now-defunct Trump University because of his ethnic heritage. "In Trump's world there's a precedent where he believes a judge of Mexican heritage can't fairly judge his case," said longtime Republican strategist Rick Wilson, a frequent Trump critic. "It's part of the overall pattern of the Trump White House: They want to always be on the attack. It's not enough to say their ideas are wrong their policies are wrong; you've got to nuke them." A coalition of Democratic members of the House introduced a resolution criticizing Trump's attacks, and Laura Brill, a California lawyer and former clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, sent the administration's top lawyers a letter on behalf of nearly 150 lawyers who practice in the federal courts denouncing Trump's comments. "Lawyers across the political spectrum believe that the president's personal attacks on individual judges and on the judicial branch are improper and destructive," Brill said in a statement. "Because judges face ethical constraints in their ability to respond directly, the letter calls on the president to retract and end such personal attacks." Not everyone was deeply offended by Trump's words. Paul Cassell, a University of Utah law professor who served as a federal district judge from 2002 to 2007 and was nominated by President George W. Bush, said he believes Trump "stepped over the line" in his criticism of Robart. "But I would characterize it as a misdemeanor traffic ticket, not a felony," Cassell said. "Judges have thick-enough skins that they are used to being criticized. We live in a time in which strong language seems to be the order of the day." "The president certainly has a right to criticize the court," Cassell said. He said he thought then-President Barack Obama went further in his 2010 State of the Union criticism of the Supreme Court, which had just decided the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case. Cassell said Obama used "more elegant language," but also contends that Obama's analysis of the case was off-base. Besides, he added, "The president can tweet all he wants, but the final decision will be made by the judiciary." President Donald Trump accused television pundits and other critics of playing "the racist card" when they characterize him or his policies as anti-Muslim or anti-black. Fox News Channel personality Bill O'Reilly asked Trump in an interview that aired Tuesday night whether his feelings are hurt when critics "are making you into a hater." "No, because they always do it," Trump replied. "The first thing they do with the Republicans or conservatives is the racist card. They pull out the racist card. They always do that. It's not just me. I mean, they do it with everybody. And I see that - and once you know that you feel a lot better about it." Trump's comments came in an interview that was taped at the White House last Friday as part of Fox's Super Bowl coverage. Fox News has been airing new segments of the interview on O'Reilly's prime-time show. In the portion that aired Tuesday, Trump also defended himself against criticism that he makes comments without factual evidence to support them, such as his unsubstantiated claim that millions of undocumented immigrants voted illegally in the November presidential election. "Well, many people have come out and said I am right," Trump said. "You know that." "I know," O'Reilly responded. "But you've got to have data to back that up." Trump went on to claim that "many, many dead people" appear on the voter registration rolls and have voted, as well as people who are registered to vote in two states and cast ballots in each. "There's a lot of bad things happening," Trump said. "Look, Bill, we can be babies, but you take a look at the registration - you have illegals, you have dead people, you have this, it's really a bad situation. It's really bad." Trump's statement is false. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud from dead people voting, people voting in two states or undocumented immigrants voting. Trump said he has directed Vice President Mike Pence to lead a commission to investigate allegations of voter fraud. "We're going to look at it very, very carefully," Trump told O'Reilly. Asked about Melissa McCarthy's portrayal of him on "Saturday Night Live," White House press secretary Sean Spicer had some advice for the actress: "Dial it back." May I suggest the president adopt that phrase as his administration motto? So far, Donald Trump has made it a practice to obliterate every known limit and pump up every grievance. Harvard law professor and former Reagan administration official Charles Fried, marveling at the president's Twitter volleys at federal judges, said, "There are no lines for him. There is no notion of, this is inappropriate, this is indecent, this is unpresidential." Advertisement Trump may think: Hillary Clinton acted presidential, and what did it get her? He, by contrast, ran a campaign seemingly engineered to prove how unpresidential he was. But a majority of voters sorry, a minority of voters nonetheless elevated him to the White House. It would not be impossible for Trump to take his campaign themes and turn them into a reasonably workable and defensible agenda for his presidency. It would consist of cracking down on unauthorized immigrants, renegotiating trade deals, rolling back regulation, beefing up the military, reforming the tax code and fixing the Affordable Care Act. Advertisement Racking up a few accomplishments from that list and avoiding any foreign policy disasters, combined with a strong economy, would set him up nicely for re-election. Not blowing things up would be enough to assuage doubts. But Trump likes blowing things up, and he clearly figures that what worked for him on the campaign trail will work for him in the Oval Office. Campaigning, however, is theater. Governing is real life, which requires grappling with arduous practical matters. The difference is roughly akin to cheering for Tom Brady versus blocking for him. Trump's fondest admirers grant him considerable latitude. A September Washington Post/ABC News poll found that only 48 percent of his supporters actually believed his vow that Mexico would pay for a wall on the southern border. But they liked the aggressive tone of his promise and the purpose it captured. If he were to take visible measures to get rid of some undocumented workers, most of his fans would count that as vindication. After his surprise election victory, his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, said journalists had erred because they "took everything that Donald Trump said so literally." But Trump himself doesn't always seem to know when he's merely exaggerating for effect. His response to the court decisions that went against his travel ban suggests he was flabbergasted to learn he can't unilaterally do everything he wants. Nor does Trump seem to realize that what works in front of an adoring crowd may fall flat with a larger audience. Talking about banning Muslims during the campaign served him well. But formulating policy requires deliberation and care. The travel ban, implemented in haste, caused chaos and hardship that made the president look like a callous bungler. It also forced the courts to step in. Vilifying judges merely because they rule against him doesn't help. Jack Goldsmith, a high Justice Department official under George W. Bush, wrote that Trump's intemperate tweets "will make it very, very hard for courts" to grant the president the latitude on these matters that they have in the past. He'll get no benefit of the doubt from judges who feel obliged to show they can't be cowed. Nor does it accomplish much for him to blast away with abandon at anyone else who challenges him. Grown-up voters are not going to humor a leader who claims that journalists are conspiring to hide terrorist attacks. Falsehoods like that one could eventually push his credibility over a cliff. When you have the lowest approval rating of any new president on record, you need to do more than pander to your most rabid defenders. Every time Trump embarrasses his more rational allies with his over-the-top antics, he saps their willingness to work with him. Advertisement He got away with defending Vladimir Putin. But going so far as to equate U.S. policies with the Russian dictator's "What, you think our country's so innocent?" infuriated members of his own party. He gave Republicans in Congress new reason to ponder what a fine president that Vice President Mike Pence would be if Trump were impeached and removed. It can be strategically shrewd for a leader to occasionally breach boundaries and violate conventional standards. Push too far or too often, though, and you can soon become a laughingstock. Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman. schapman@chicagotribune.com Twitter @SteveChapman13 Two principal arguments have emerged for opposing the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. First, because Senate Republicans refused to provide a hearing to Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's nominee, Democrats should use whatever mechanism necessary to prevent a hearing for Gorsuch. The second argument is that Gorsuch is a judicial soul mate of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat he would assume, and thus is not in the "mainstream" of American legal thought. I have known Neil Gorsuch for almost 25 years, although we are not close. Politically, I am a lifelong registered Democrat and have been for almost 50 years. Advertisement The first opposition argument amounts to "two wrongs make a right." That is simply a continuation of the shameless schoolyard level of debate that deeply marred the presidential campaign. Tit for tat may be politically tempting, but as a principle of evaluating judicial nominees, it goes nowhere, except as an excuse for all sides to ignore principle altogether. The second argument is little more than the first argument dressed up in more theoretical terms. The logic runs like this: Merrick Garland was a moderate, the GOP stole his seat, therefore, to be legitimate, the new nominee should also be a moderate. But "moderate," like "mainstream," is entirely in the eye of the beholder. Your moderate is my radical, and vice versa. There is no definition of "moderate" that any two friends of different political parties could agree on, much less any two senators across the aisle from each other, much less any actual judge in an actual case. Advertisement Comparing these two very distinguished public servants with extraordinary credentials is difficult because their judicial records are based in two very different federal appellate courts. Garland sits on the District of Columbia Circuit with a docket that is almost exclusively administrative; he sees very few criminal cases. Gorsuch's court covers six western states inhabited by more than 17 million people. The court, based in Denver, has cases involving almost every conceivable category of federal law. Gorsuch has written a number of opinions on the scope of the Fourth Amendment, for example. In some cases, he holds that the evidence must be suppressed because of an illegal search; in others, he finds that the alleged violation doesn't require suppression as a matter of law. In other words, his decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, and not on reflex. Many other examples could be cataloged. So far, the most substantive worry that has been raised about Gorsuch's record is that he is dubious about so-called Chevron deference, a 1984 Supreme Court instruction that tells courts to accept the interpretations of laws and rules that come from the various federal agencies in charge of carrying out those laws and writing those rules. The deference doctrine was born out of suspicion that courts might otherwise meddle with agencies' work and override the agencies' superior expertise. There are two sides to deference, however. My guess is that pro-Chevron advocates will soon be begging federal courts not to defer to the interpretive findings of agencies headed by men and women whose stated goal is to undermine the mission of the very bodies they head (say, perhaps, an official Environmental Protection Agency finding that "global warming is a hoax"). And that leads to a final point that should be foremost in the minds of those considering this nomination. The greatest risk to individual freedom now is excessive executive power. And the question for judges is, who can stand up to it and who will simply ratify it? Judge Gorsuch's record is one of acute skepticism toward complacent exercises of executive power. He has demonstrated himself as someone committed to the rule of law. Cynics may scoff at the concept, but it is absolutely crucial to the integrity of the American constitutional system. In case after case, Gorsuch has asked, what is the law, how is it being applied and does it square with the constitutional basis of authority? Others will argue these points in more, and undoubtedly numbing, detail. Some will reach for poignant fact situations with strong emotional appeal but minimal relevance to legal wisdom. (John Roberts was pilloried over upholding the prosecution for someone eating a french fry on the Metro.) Others will paint decisions as boons or banes to special interests. When they do, they will be back in the moderate trap, preaching only to their own faithful. But there is a darker question hovering over the Gorsuch nomination. When someone so scrupulously formal in his treatment of the Constitution is treated as a radical, "outside the mainstream," what happens when a genuine radical is nominated? Someone who is more than happy to reinterpret the Constitution on a daily basis to vindicate his or her political convictions? Someone who thinks the rule of law is simply a matter of who has the votes? Advertisement The risk of crying wolf is a frightening children's story. It may cast a chilling constitutional shadow now. Dennis J. Hutchinson is a professor of law at the University of Chicago and edits The Supreme Court Review. President Donald Trump's nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court has inaugurated a predictable political battle. As with all such Supreme Court nominations, the public debate has been bitter and heated. Some Democratic senators have already promised to use the filibuster to fight or even block Gorsuch's appointment, just as the Republican Party blocked consideration of President Barack Obama's choice for the vacant seat. Yet there is a way to cool down the debate on this and all future Supreme Court nominations. As part of a deal between both parties allowing Gorsuch's nomination to go forward without a filibuster, Congress could pass a constitutional amendment limiting all Supreme Court justices' time on the bench to a set term of 18 years. Advertisement Individuals across the political spectrum, from liberal legal scholar professor Erwin Cherminsky, dean of the University of California at Irvine School of Law, to conservative Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, have already noted the benefits of such an amendment. Most important, this amendment will prevent justices from practicing "strategic retirement," that is, retiring only when they can hand off their seat to the president and political party of their choosing. Right now every new appointment to the court is fraught not only because of the time a single justice spends on the bench, but because, if a justice is able to hand off their seat to a like-minded justice, he or she could help shape the court for generations. Advertisement The explosive political crisis following Justice Antonin Scalia's death, one of the few deaths as opposed to retirements in recent Supreme Court history, shows what happens when the expectations of strategic retirement are upset. It provided Democrats one of their few opportunities to change the political complexion of the court, and Republicans reacted with particular vigor against the possibility of losing the "conservative" seat. A set time for retirement, by contrast, would make long-term liberal and conservative seats impossible. A constitutional amendment is necessary because the founders could not imagine our modern world of judicial retirement. This is not merely because medical advances have allowed judges to enjoy longer and healthier lives, but because the founders did not predict our system of retirement pay for judges. When the Constitution was first passed, there was no provision for judicial retirement, and most justices remained on the bench to collect their full salaries until the day they died. Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers said he did not think judicial pensions would be "expedient" in a new democracy. Yet, over the next two centuries, pensions were adopted and expanded to encourage elderly judges to leave the bench. According to professor Artemus Ward of Northern Illinois University, deaths on the U.S. Supreme Court were still the norm up until 1954 when Congress agreed to protect all judges' full pensions at the same rate as their salary. Immediately afterward, deaths on the court became the rare exception, and retirement the new normal. Scholars estimate that up to 70 percent of U.S. Supreme Court retirements since the 1950s have been strategic. Since we are not returning to an era before judicial pensions, an amendment providing limited terms for justices is the only way to prevent this new manipulation of retirement. Lifetime appointments to high courts are rare in other countries and exist in none of our states. A constitutional amendment ensuring that each appointment to the Supreme Court would have only 18 years to run, and that a death or early retirement would only allow a replacement to fill out the remaining years of the term, would defuse the more strident debates about judicial nominations to our highest court. It would also prevent the court from becoming locked in persistent ideological divides for generations. Judge Glock is a visiting professor at the College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. A Syrian refugee family was greeted with applause and joyful tears on Feb. 7, 2017 at O'Hare International Airport as a federal appeals court heard arguments on whether to restore President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) (Nuccio Dinuzzo / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Like so many Americans, I'm the product of an immigrant household. My parents came to the United States from Syria. Today I'm an orthopedic surgeon who has visited Syria several times to treat victims of the civil war there. I was among the last American doctors to leave Aleppo before it was surrounded by the Syrian government in July 2016. The vehicles that tried to follow us out of the city, along the Castello Road, were incinerated or they turned back. What ensued was a monthslong medieval siege of starvation and bombardment, and then the fall of Aleppo. Advertisement Aleppo, Syria, is what happens when terror and oppression win. People there were not terrorists, and terrorists were not holding them hostage. They were people being bombed by their own government. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 142 Syrians evacuated from the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo during the ceasefire arrive at a refugee camp in Rashidin, near Idlib, Syria, on Dec. 20, 2016. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia, Iran and Turkey are ready to act as guarantors in a peace deal between the Syrian government and the opposition. He spoke on Tuesday after a meeting of the three countries' foreign ministers in Moscow. (STR / AP) Back home our current political leaders are creating a very tense atmosphere that didn't exist before Jan. 20. They urge a grave sense of impending terror: The only thing that can save us from terrorism is a ban on immigration from seven countries. Yet no refugee or immigrant from the countries on this list has committed an act of terrorism on U.S. soil. Advertisement The threat of terrorism is real and our borders must be safe. So why is President Donald Trump 's administration alienating and ignoring the advice of experienced diplomatic, intelligence and military officials who have dedicated their lives to keeping us safe? Why is it wrong to ask our political leaders to take a composed and measured approach to security, in line with the Constitution? There are other threats to the American ideal and vision, and they are internal. Issues such as race, unemployment, health care and education should take priority. This administration's rhetoric building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, destroying alliances, banning refugees, suggesting a fantasy that envisions an apocalyptic war between Muslims and Christians only energizes the narrative of extremists on both sides. It disconnects and distracts us from the real issues at home. I remember learning in a long-ago history class that being American means believing in ideals and principles of freedom, justice and equality for all people, not just people born on U.S. soil. It means being a part of something bigger understanding that we as a nation have continued to evolve toward something better and greater than when it all started. Unfortunately, vilifying Muslims and Mexicans seems to come easier to the Trump administration than do critical analysis and self-examination. Samer Attar, a surgeon with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, is a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society and the Aleppo City Medical Council. President Theodore Roosevelt's rise to political power has some parallels with that of President Donald Trump. (Library of Congress) "By Godfrey!" Theodore Roosevelt seethed. "I'll get them on the record yet!" A young state legislator in Albany, N.Y., Roosevelt declared war against the bosses of Tammany Hall. The president on Mount Rushmore has since become more mountain than man. But how much do we really remember about how he made his mark on America? History has a way of making the future seem inevitable. Advertisement The rise of Teddy Roosevelt was strangely similar to that of President Donald Trump. There's an uncanny likeness between the two: A mythical fascination with the military, a projection of boundless energy, unique physical flair (Roosevelt's spectacles and teeth were so famous that people drew them on envelopes to write to the White House; Trump's orange skin and blond hair are the subject of memes everywhere); a throw-the-bastards-out reformist image, a disposition toward action and authority. Advertisement Both candidates transformed traditional relationships with the media. People forget that Roosevelt had a temper. He stomped, he stormed, he beat his way through opposition like a dog on attack. He snapped his teeth viciously, threw speeches like punches and understood the awesome power of media. He campaigned through newspapers and witch hunts. He pioneered the art of spin, twisted facts and blasted enemies through explosive headlines. "Speak softly and carry a big stick"? That was advice for other people. Roosevelt crusaded to right wrongs; he saw the world's injustices in black and white. When someone or something was in his crosshairs he whipped up a populist fury until public outrage carried him to victory. Sound like someone you know? A president with a terrific temperament and a big bark? A vicious counterpuncher? During the campaign, Trump transformed the traditional candidate-press relationship by demonstrating what we all know: When you are the news, your social media can reach anyone. You don't need no stinking newspapers. They're just whipping boys, foils, smaller kids who can't hit back when you beat them up to feel good. Roosevelt was the first to recognize the media's awesome power; Trump was the first to weaponize its decline. The comparison makes people uncomfortable. After all, Roosevelt the Rough Rider could back up his antics with productive public service plenty of which he delivered before ever becoming president while Trump the Draft Dodger's limited public experience has led to a broken civil discourse and an endless tide of protests across the nation. To be sure, his bluster can't be mistaken for strength. While their methods and rises to power are remarkably similar, the comparison shouldn't normalize Trump it should unnormalize Roosevelt and remind us that we've seen this before. There was a chance that Roosevelt's Bull Moose Progressive Party could have carried him to a third term and his witch hunts could have gone horribly awry. Lucky for us, they didn't. Advertisement Maybe Trump will fight for the voters in his movement, push through term limits, ban lobbying, divert money to poor white towns, make surprisingly good trade deals and get voted out or simply run out his turn. Or maybe he'll never stop grabbing power, continue to denigrate the disadvantaged, start his own party like Roosevelt did, dare the political machine to stop him from running and create an autocratic wasteland of vanquished opponents in which no one who survives can possibly challenge him when his witch hunts go too far. History has a way of making the future seem inevitable. Lucky for us, it isn't. Evan Fazio works at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Related articles: Trump's obsession with (his own) 'fake news' Advertisement Americans can't let Trump go down Putin's autocratic path Let's all hope the Boy President has a soul I am a deplorable, and I'm happy I voted for Trump Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool gives a CEO report at a Chicago Board of Education meeting at Chicago Public Schools headquarters in Chicago's Loop on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool is scrambling because the district's budget is seriously out of whack and a huge teachers pension payment looms in June. On Monday, Claypool announced a $46 million "spending freeze" that will force principals to scramble themselves to rejigger their budgets in the middle of the school year. Those cuts likely will be felt by teachers and students, not just bureaucrats in the central office. And the budget still isn't balanced. Advertisement What or whom does Claypool blame for this budget debacle? How about the district's many years of reckless fiscal mismanagement and chronic spending beyond its revenues? Advertisement No, that's not what angers him. Does Claypool blame CPS' willingness to suspend disbelief that is, his own willingness to suspend disbelief and depend on the kindness of Springfield to fork over $215 million in pension payments this year, against all evidence that state lawmakers locked in a budget stalemate would fulfill his daydream? Nah, just a minor miscalculation. Maybe Claypool regrets the district's misguided hope that teachers would cave during last year's contract talks and gradually pick up more of the employee share of their pension contributions? (None of that happened.) Nope, only a flesh wound. How about the reckless borrowing that the district indulges, year after year, pushing CPS so deep into debt that bankruptcy might be the only way out? Or does Claypool blame his fellow Democrats who've controlled the legislature since the early 2000s yet failed to fix Illinois' school funding inequities? (A just-released, bipartisan, blue-ribbon report details, for the umpteenth time, the shortcomings of the funding system.) You know the answers. Claypool isn't about to make Democrats in City Hall or Springfield wear this jacket. No, Claypool blames Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and his "Trumpian" tactics for the districts abysmal financial condition. "Just like Trump, he's attacking children of immigrants, he's attacking racial minorities, attacking the poor here in Chicago," Claypool told reporters, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "In this case, it's children, which is particularly shameful." Advertisement That drew a furious reaction from Rauner administration officials. On Tuesday, Illinois Secretary of Education Beth Purvis lashed Claypool in an open letter to district parents, calling Claypool's announcement "curiously timed and unfortunate." Purvis asserted that the district was "arbitrarily" creating a crisis to "help justify a campaign to raise taxes in Springfield." Brief history: In December, Rauner vetoed that $215 million cash infusion for CPS because it wasn't tied to the broader statewide pension reforms he had demanded in exchange. That spurred another winnerless political squabble over who had broken promises to whom. Ever since, City Hall's tactic has been blame, blame, blame. Meanwhile, reality persists: There's no dreamy $215 million infusion for CPS. And no respite from the on-again, off-again tango with insolvency. We give Claypool credit for cutting the district's overhead expenses. Yet CPS borrowing is nearly maxed out. Its bonds are deep in junk terrain. Teachers are protesting district-imposed furlough days to save money. They're demanding Claypool's resignation. At least one Chicago Board of Education member has raised the unthinkable possibility of trimming the school year to make ends meet. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who fought hard to extend the school day, should nix that idea immediately. As it twists in the wind, CPS continues to lose enrollment, continues to operate a real estate empire that is too big and too expensive, continues to hope, desperately, for a Springfield rescue and warns yet again of grim consequences if lawmakers don't direct more state tax dollars to Chicago. Advertisement "We're taking things one step at a time," Claypool said Monday. "Our main goal right now, our main fight, is in Springfield. We believe that the revenue can be secured in the current legislative session. ... The choices we have beyond that are even more painful and we are reluctant to execute those if we have a fighting chance in Springfield." To have that fighting chance, Claypool and CPS need Rauner as an ally, not an adversary. The governor has often expressed his willingness to help CPS if lawmakers deliver larger reforms that the state desperately needs if it's to grow its moribund economy. CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union should be in the faces of Democratic leaders every day to get the help they need. Painting Rauner as the villain who forced CPS cuts ignores reality on a Trumpian scale. When you build a budget on illusions, your daydreams die. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Related articles: CPS, give charter schools a chance to grow Advertisement Dueling letters draw CPS parents into battle over funding Teachers union governing body calls for CPS chief Claypool to resign CPS freezes some school spending on nonpersonnel items Flanked by fellow lawmakers, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens signs legislation to make Missouri the 28th "right-to-work" state during a ceremonial signing at the abandoned Amelex warehouse in Springfield, Mo. on Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. The law, which goes into effect on Aug. 28, prohibits unions from charging membership dues as a condition of employment. (Nathan Papes / AP) To chants from union protesters, new Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens signed legislation Monday making Missouri the 28th right-to-work state in the nation. Republican House. Republican Senate. Republican governor. Done, done, done. By comparison: When Gov. Bruce Rauner two years ago championed a scaled back right-to-work concept local, voter-approved right-to-work zones, not a statewide proposal it got no traction in the Democrat-led General Assembly. A bill introduced by House Speaker Michael Madigan to test its popularity, and to embarrass Rauner, got zero "yes" votes. No support whatsoever. Advertisement Right-to-work laws which are a threat to unions because they remove mandatory membership dues as a condition for employment are an important tool in attracting businesses and especially manufacturing jobs. Just ask lawmakers, economic development recruiters and big employers in Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and now Missouri, our neighbors who have adopted right-to-work laws. We wonder how lucrative the wagers have gotten between governors Terry Branstad, Scott Walker, Eric Holcomb, Rick Snyder, Matt Bevin and Greitens on which of their states will be next to poach an Illinois business or job or taxpayer. Here's what each of them is thinking: By right-to-work and so many other measures, Illinois is chasing away employers. Can I steal jobs there? Advertisement We aren't here to argue that Illinois should be the 29th right-to-work state. We're here instead to warn that while Illinois lawmakers deadlock on policy reforms that would attract more jobs here, including reforms struggling to get support in the Senate, the six surrounding states have positioned themselves to attract more jobs there, there, there, there, there and there. When will Illinois lawmakers recognize that the house is on fire? When will they make job creation, job retention, their do-or-die priority? With Democrats controlling the House and Senate, and even Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly preferring to duck the issue, Illinois won't be a right-to-work state any time soon. One community that tried on its own, Lincolnshire, had its right-to-work ordinance struck down by a federal judge. But right-to-work laws in every border state are all the more reason for Illinois to make itself attractive to employers. We agree with Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch that if lawmakers won't even debate right-to-work legislation, they have to get behind other pro-growth policies tougher workers' compensation laws, tax credits to encourage businesses to locate or expand here, fewer nanny-state regulations and schools that better prepare students for the workforce. Property taxes here are among the highest in the nation. And certain parts of the state aren't just jobs deserts, they're becoming depopulated deserts. More people moved away from Illinois during the last two years than from any other state in the country. Many moved to other Midwestern states. So don't repeat the lie that it's the weather. Here's what else a prospective employer sees in Illinois: No state budget in nearly two years. A credit rating nearing junk status. Inability to pay bills as they come due, a basic definition of insolvency. And political impasse in the General Assembly. An attempt at compromise legislation to get a budget passed hit a snag in the Senate on Wednesday. Senators, keep working. Iowa enacted a right-to-work law in 1947. Michigan and Indiana in 2012. Wisconsin in 2015. Kentucky in January 2017. And now Missouri. Yet which state in this region most needs a jobs rebound? The most dramatic intervention? The most ambitious pro-business reforms? Illinois. Advertisement We realize the very phrase "right-to-work" is toxic in Illinois. We wish another phrase were toxic, too: "Good jobs are leaving our state." Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. The new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, waits to address a Security Council on the situation in Ukraine at United Nations headquarters in New York City on Feb. 2, 2017. (Jason Szenes, EPA) The shelling and body counts have resumed in eastern Ukraine. After a long stretch of relative quiet, Russian-backed separatists have stoked a surge of fighting that killed at least 36 people in the last week and a half the worst violence there since 2015. We all know who the architect of this chaos is: Russian President Vladimir Putin America's new ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, reacted with tough talk. We do want to better our relations with Russia, Haley said. "However, the dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions." Advertisement The U.S. and the West should keep sanctions clamped onto the Kremlin, Haley added. Smart thinking. The separatists paint themselves as freedom fighters, but make no mistake they are backed, armed and directed by Moscow. The U.S. and Europe have kept intact sanctions against Russia because of the Kremlin's proxy war against Kiev's pro-West government, and those sanctions have taken a bite out of the Russian economy. And Haley's boss, President Donald Trump his approach to Russia? Kid gloves treatment for his bromance partner. Consider his remarks during an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly that aired Sunday. On the Kremlin's latest moves in Ukraine: "... we don't really know exactly what that is." Really? Listen to Haley and you hear exactly what "that" is: condemnable Russian aggression. Advertisement And there was this exchange: O'Reilly: "But he's a killer, though. Putin's a killer." Trump: "There are a lot of killers. We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?" That's nothing but a false equivalence a logical fallacy and Trump should know it. Having political opponents and journalists killed hasn't been a page in the playbook of previous American presidents, but it's on Page One in the Kremlin's playbook. As he lay dying in a London hospital bed in 2006, Kremlin opponent and former Russian intelligence agent Alexander Litvinenko fingered Putin as the mastermind of his poisoning with polonium-laced tea an accusation that British authorities later said was on the mark. The list of felled opponents goes on: corruption-fighting lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, opposition politician Boris Nemtsov. Now there are suspicions about what has happened to opposition politician and former journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, 35, gravely ill in a Moscow hospital with multiple organ failure. His family suspects Kara-Murza was poisoned, just as they did in 2015 when he faced similar symptoms. Trump needs to rethink ties with his Kremlin comrade. And, he needs to heed Haley's advice and keep the pressure up on Russia through sanctions. Trump's waffling tells Putin that Washington is fine with the former KGB agent's brazen trampling over the sovereignty of Ukraine's pro-West government. Emboldened, Putin could infiltrate other countries on Russia's western flank that the Kremlin covets as a buffer to the West, NATO members like the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and other eastern European nations. We don't want to be alarmists here; nobody expects Putin to provoke a broad war. That said, a Russian incursion into a NATO member risks activation of NATO's Article 5, which requires the entire alliance to defend any member against outside aggression. The West has enough crises on its hands it doesn't need a showdown with Russia. The Kremlin's motives for renewing conflict in eastern Ukraine aren't clear could Putin be testing Trump, seeing how far the fringe of his patience extends? That's impossible to know, but Putin has a penchant for poking and prodding to see how Washington responds. Nevertheless, the White House's tack should be unambiguous: Dial down talk of a Russian rapprochement and keep the pressure on the Kremlin dialed up. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Advertisement Related articles: Is it fair to call Putin a killer? Trump should push Putin on adoption ban Americans can't let Trump go down Putin's autocratic path Patriots owner Robert Kraft has won 5 rings, but 1 belongs to Vladimir Putin Any sovereign nation, wanting to remain as such, needs to regulate its borders. Not having done so sufficiently, the United States now has millions of immigrants here who followed the rules, and millions more who did not. In addition to outlining for the body politic exactly what the immigration laws are, two immigration-related questions must be addressed now: First, how do we view the millions of undocumented residents? Advertisement And secondly, how do we realistically prevent millions more from illegally entering, while others patiently wait their place in line? A fair solution exists for both questions. First, give all undocumented residents until January 2019 to pay an illegal entry fine, perhaps $2,000. This would allow them to remain as legal residents, but not citizens with voting rights. Those who do not pay the fine will have to leave or risk being deported. Given the billions of dollars currently being sent "home" by undocumented residents, most will pay the fine. Advertisement Second, require all employers to run background checks on their employees by January 2019. Those employers who are subsequently found to be employing undocumented employees, and not running the checks, would pay a hefty fine per offense. These two actions would build an economic wall with little direct cost to taxpayers. The money generated from these two proposals can be used to further secure the borders, albeit without the need to build a physical wall. While most here would pay the fine, some would not and ultimately leave, and certainly more would be discouraged from coming. With little prospects for entering and obtaining employment, the incentive to enter illegally would be greatly diminished. As a result there would be a reduced number of workers willing to work for next to nothing. The net effect would be a market-driven rise in the minimum wage, not a government imposed arbitrary number. Donald Wold, Oswego In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump stated his doctrine: "Buy American and hire American." I actually believe in this idea, although I did not vote for him. I support the creation of good-paying jobs for my fellow Americans. Advertisement So, wow, why would we want to end the ban on importing assault weapons into the United States? Surely enough of these types of guns are made in the good old U.S. of A. Wouldn't each one that we import take a good-paying job away from one of our own citizens? Yet an 11-page "white paper" by Ronald Turk, associate deputy director and chief operating officer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, dated Jan. 20, calls for a study on lifting this ban. The National Rifle Association certainly moves quickly. Advertisement Oh yeah, and while we are on the topic, has the Trump Organization started manufacturing all of its brand-name products in the U.S. now?Or is it all still coming in from China and other countries? We, as a nation, have descended into something so ridiculous, it staggers the mind. Joanne E. Zienty, Wheaton Syrians gather at the entrance of al-Ziabiyeh town, southern countryside of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb. 6, 2017. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) China has for many years now preferred to refrain from involvement in the quagmire which is the Middle East. Until now the region has been considered too distant, and not sufficiently economically rewarding (apart from, of course, the need to ensure oil supplies) to justify closer engagement. What policy there has been has been entirely pragmatic, building on the establishment of sound economic and technological partnerships with Israel without disrupting relations with the diplomatically powerful Arab world. So far, so good. But China's rise as a global economic power, fueled by the foundation of the AIIB and the launch of the Belt and Road initiative, has rendered it more difficult, not to say undesirable, for China to keep her distance from the politics and the region. And, in turn, Chinese interest in the region in the Belt and Road context is creating a new dynamic in the Middle East, with the potential of a major change to the balance of power in the region. The technology and infrastructure finance which the full flowering of the Belt and Road initiative envisages would provide great opportunities for the economies of the region; in particular, adding diversity to a regional economy over-reliant on fossil fuel exports. But there are two problems here: Firstly, the Belt and Road initiative is so wide-ranging that the future world will contain a diversity of potential trade routes. Secondly, that we are on the verge of a world in which the Middle East is no longer central to oil production and its ancillary industries. The worldwide development of larger and more diverse sources of gas, and of new energy-saving technologies, will ensure that that occurs within a very short period, and the region's significance in global affairs will necessarily decline with it. Thus the Middle East, like any other political-economic entity, must learn to compete to enjoy the fruits of the coming Asian-dominated world order. And this means addressing its intractable security problems. Infrastructure, which will always be the central plank of international trade, must be kept secure. In the entire history of war, breaking the enemy's lines of communication and logistics has been a major strategic objective. But, you will say, there is surely no need for talk of "enemies." The world is - largely - at peace: we have a functioning system in which agreements are made between sovereign states under the umbrella of established international law. This is true, but it cannot have escaped anybody's attention that the monopoly of force by sovereign states has been breached many times in the last decade, and that the epicenter of this phenomenon is in the Middle Eastern region, where there are several regions not under the control of any recognized government. Further east, China has already addressed the security issue in Pakistan, in building the port at Gwadar, in western Pakistan on the Iranian border, as a major contribution to the Belt and Road program. But there China was able to rely on a strong and long-developed friendship with Pakistan, and is confident that under no circumstances will the Pakistani authorities allow threats to Sino-Pakistani joint projects. The Middle East proper is a different matter. While keenly conscious that the phenomenon of Islamic terrorism, which has been demonstrably linked to Uighur separatist activists in Xinjiang, cannot be ignored, China remains keen to avoid any interference in the internal politics of any nation or in the balance of forces within the region as a whole. However, China must know that assurances of security from a national government can provide no real security for infrastructural projects, or for those working on them. With one exception: Israel. China has been working, with practical mutual benefits, with Israel for thirty years. Both countries have been entirely pragmatic in this cooperation; neither has called on the other to adopt a particular political position, and both have given clear demonstrations of the ability to protect vital interests on their own soil. In an ideal world Israel would be well placed to act as the regional hub for the Belt and Road program. But here politics raises its ugly head again. Clearly the basic requirement is a sustainable solution to the Israel-Palestine problem. Up to now China has stuck resolutely to the formula which became standard in the early 1990s: "land for peace." It made sense not to vary this formula while everything was in chaos: But no progress has been made on either land or peace, and even the possibility of such an exchange is beginning to fade. What effect the opportunities offered by China's infrastructural investment program will have on breaking the deadlock, we have yet to see. And then there is the question of whether minds are flexible enough to ensure that these opportunities will be taken up. This essentially means that common sense will have to establish itself in areas where it has hitherto been in short supply. Can China help? Tim Collard is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/timcollard.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Ambitious legislation in the Illinois House would restrict the hours pharmacists can work each day, limit the number of prescriptions they can fill each hour, require break time during their shifts and provide whistleblower protection if they expose safety problems. But the bill already is drawing heavy opposition from lobbyists and skepticism from Gov. Bruce Rauner. The measure represents one of the nation's most aggressive responses to concerns from pharmacists that growing pressure to work faster increases prescription drug errors. Advertisement The move comes as states beyond Illinois mandate break time. A rule is in the works in Minnesota to require bathroom and meal breaks; pharmacists there complained they are afraid to drink liquids during a shift because they may not have the time to go to the washroom. Filed last week, the House bill is the latest reaction to a Tribune investigation that found half of 255 pharmacies tested in the Chicago region failed to warn about prescriptions for potential drug interactions that could be harmful or fatal. Advertisement "It is just a matter of time before there will be a major catastrophe," said Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, the bill sponsor and longtime chair of the House Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee. The union-backed legislation began taking fire from the pro-business pharmacy lobby even before Flowers could set a date for hearings. "You might have to rent Soldier Field to hold all the people who will show up to defeat this bill," said Bob Stout, president of the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy, who said he fought the pharmacy lobby for four years in his state before he won a 30-minute break for pharmacists who work more than eight hours. Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, which includes small independent pharmacies and major chains, said his group will be "pursuing active opposition." He said that reforms Rauner rolled out following the Tribune investigation are among actions that already should enhance safety at pharmacies. The Republican governor proposed requiring pharmacists to give counseling when a person buys a medication for the first time or when prescriptions change. He also plans to deploy "mystery shoppers" to check how well pharmacies follow Illinois standards, beef up inspector oversight of drug interaction issues and form a task force to establish safety measures when consumers get multiple prescriptions and use various doctors and pharmacies. Rauner told the Tribune he wanted to study specifics before weighing in on Flowers' proposals, but he worried that limits on pharmacist hours and other restrictions could "raise up costs and don't really increase safety." Still, Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said the governor is open to reviewing the Flowers bill as it moves forward this spring. Flowers put the final touches on her proposal during a summit at her South Side office on 79th Street late last month with officials from Teamsters Local 727, which represents 130 CVS and 550 Osco pharmacists in the Chicago area, and the National Pharmacists Association-United Steelworkers Local 1969, which represents about 1,050 Walgreens pharmacists in the Chicago region. She insisted that whistleblower protections be part of the bill because pharmacists should be free to speak up if a drugstore's practices put patients in jeopardy. Advertisement "They have to add whistleblower because right now they're all afraid to speak," Flowers said, saying the pharmacists face an "amazing" fear of retaliation. "Whistleblower protection would protect the public as well as the employee," Flowers said. The bill primarily focuses on workplace issues that pharmacists believe can lead to mistakes. Interviews and studies point to an emphasis on speed as one explanation why so many pharmacies failed the Tribune tests. The Tribune's investigation, published in December, found that pharmacists frequently race through legally required drug safety reviews or skip them altogether. According to Illinois law, pharmacies are required to conduct several safety checks, including whether the dose is reasonable and whether the medication might interact with other drugs the patient is taking. But in the Tribune tests, pharmacies rarely asked what other medications testers were using. Pharmacists also told the Tribune that they felt overwhelmed by pressures at the workplace to work quickly and meet quotas. Under the proposal, pharmacists would be limited to an eight-hour workday, a provision that Flowers said would likely be adjusted to address extenuating circumstances. The bill calls for a minimum of two 15-minute rest breaks and one 30-minute meal period within one workday of at least seven hours. Advertisement The bill also would place a ban on activities that can distract pharmacists from their drug-safety duties, such as promotional requirements and productivity quotas. Flowers said she's seeking to keep pharmacists focused on ensuring prescriptions are filled correctly rather than having to meet quotas, give flu shots and juggle other issues. Chuck Zuraitis, head pharmacist at south suburban Park Forest CVS and a Teamsters union steward, said rules on hours, break times and other provisions are necessary because pharmacists have a growing number of responsibilities. "You have so many things, and you're so distracted, and you need a break mentally," Zuraitis said. "It's hard to focus if you're working for 10, 12, 14 hours." Garth Reynolds, the executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, immediately came out against the overall legislation, saying provisions like a limit of 10 prescriptions per hour for one pharmacist "don't make sense." The association represents pharmacists and independent pharmacy owners. "You could have one patient come in from the hospital who is discharged with 10 prescriptions," Reynolds said. "What are you going to do the rest of the hour while you have patients waiting for care?" Flowers acknowledged there may be problems with such a strict limit, saying that she's open to fixing that with an amendment later in the process. Advertisement Reynolds said he recognized pharmacists face workflow issues that need to be addressed, but he said the one-size-fits-all approach in the Flowers proposal "is not the solution." Flowers said she expects negotiations on the legislation but called her proposal is a "good starting point." Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat on the leadership team of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said it is "premature" to judge the ultimate position of the speaker or the rest of the caucus because the wide-ranging bill just landed in the legislative hopper. Lang supports the concept of making sure pharmacists are well-trained, get their rest and fill prescriptions properly, but he said the details of the bill first need to be vetted and analyzed. CVS, the nation's largest pharmacy retailer by store count, had no comment regarding Flowers' bill. The company had the highest failure rate of any chain in the Tribune tests, dispensing the medications with no warning 63 percent of the time. Walgreens, which had the lowest failure rate at 30 percent, also did not comment. States throughout the country vary on regulations over pharmacist working hours, ranging from having a requirement for meal or rest breaks during a full day to limiting a single shift to 12 hours. Advertisement In a move squarely aimed at reducing medication errors, Minnesota is on the verge of approving a new rule to give break time in pharmacies because people "have a breaking point," said Cody Wiberg, executive director of the state's board of pharmacy. The rule, expected to take effect July 1, would allow for a 30-minute, uninterrupted meal break for pharmacists, technicians and interns working over six straight hours and bar shifts of more than 12 consecutive hours. A worker would be allowed to use the nearest washroom within each four-hour period. Pharmacists complained they faced such heavy workloads that they didn't get time to eat or go to the rest room, leaving them lightheaded and avoiding liquids, Wiberg said. "They would deliberately not drink fluids," he said. "Throughout the day, they'd cut the intake of fluids." By the end of a long shift, Wiberg said, "you're probably not going to be at the top of your game." Rlong@chicagotribune.com Advertisement sroe@chicagotribune.com Twitter @RayLong and @SamRoe The celebration of pop music is tedious and often frustrating but sometimes wildly entertaining, and perhaps we'll hit all three notes at the 59th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. While last year's big storylines pitted Kendrick Lamar's political hip-hop masterpiece "To Pimp a Butterfly" against Taylor Swift's "1989" for Album of the Year (Swift won), this year has even bigger names duking it out for the top spot: Beyonce's "Lemonade" and Adele's "25" are the two most notable nominees. Elsewhere, this year's most welcome story rests on Chicago's own Chance the Rapper, who racked up a historic seven nominations (a first for a streaming-only artist) and looks to take home the coveted Best New Artist award. I've long been on record as unenthusiastic about watching the Grammys, but I care about the opportunity to see Chance have a fantastic showing and represent his hometown's great music community. Advertisement Though I'm still getting over the initial shock of actually being invested in the Grammys, I managed to find the time to list the top five things I'll be looking out for when the broadcast airs at 7 p.m. on CBS. The Carpool Karaoke guy hosts, unfortunately. 1. Chance the Rapper Advertisement Like I mentioned, Chance the Rapper's seven nominations are a huge deal. To put things into perspective, last year, Taylor Swift received seven Grammy nominations. This year, Beyonce leads with nine total, while Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West rounded up eight apiece. More than that, Chance's nominations are historic for an unsigned artist who releases his streaming-only music for free. His 13-song "Coloring Book" project, which he considers a mixtape, is up for Best Rap Album after making Billboard history as the first full-length to chart on streams alone. He's also up for the Best New Artist award, which features nominees The Chainsmokers, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris and Anderson .Paak. While I'd be fine with .Paak winning, I'll throw my TV out the window if "Nickelback of EDM" The Chainsmokers take home the award. On top of those nods, Chance has the opportunity to receive recognition from the Recording Academy for "No Problem," which is up for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, as well as his West collaborations "Famous" (Best Rap Song) and "Ultralight Beam" (Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration). 2. The rest of Chicago's big showing Chance the Rapper isn't the only Chicago artist looking to make a splash this year. West has eight nominations, but there's also BJ the Chicago Kid, who recently sang the national anthem at Barack Obama's Chicago farewell speech. He has nods for Best R&B Album ("In My Mind"), Best R&B Performance ("Turnin' Me Up") and Best Traditional R&B Performance ("Woman's World"). Chicago Americana hero Robbie Fulks has two nominations, Best Folk Album ("Upland Stories") and Best American Roots Song ("Alabama At Night"). Englewood native Jennifer Hudson, alongside the cast of "The Color Purple," is up for Best Musical Theater Album, while the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lurrie Bell are nominated in classical music and blues categories, respectively. While many of these categories aren't broadcast on TV, all are worth keeping tabs on during the Grammys. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > 3. Album of the year Is it going to be Adele for her chart-shattering "25" or Beyonce for "Lemonade," which also doubles as one of the best films of 2016? Or will someone like Sturgill Simpson get the "Who Is Arcade Fire?" award for his pretty stellar "A Sailor's Guide to Earth" in a surprise upset? I have no idea! I just hope it's Beyonce. Advertisement 4. Where is Kanye? There will be at least four notable absences from the Grammys this year. Topping the bill is Frank Ocean, whose excellent "Blond(e)" disappointingly missed the deadline and was snubbed. He told the New York Times last fall, "That institution certainly 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." Making good on his promise to boycott the Grammys if Ocean's album was snubbed is West. Also missing the event are Album of the Year nominees Justin Bieber and Drake, but who cares about them? 5. Barely veiled references to the Trump administration Like Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes and the cast of "Stranger Things" at the SAG Awards, there's a good chance an artist is going to address the Trump administration with a fiery and potent speech. While in a normal year we'd bet on West making headlines, his absence and bizarre recent appearance at Trump Tower truly prove that this is not a normal time. @joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com Actor Alec Baldwin will host "Saturday Night Live" for the 17th time this weekend, setting a new record for the most times a single person has hosted the late-night comedy show, according to NBC. Baldwin has been a guest on the show many times, often impersonating President Donald Trump, but on Saturday, he'll be delivering the opening monologue from the stage of Studio 8H as host. Advertisement And if that isn't enough Baldwin for you, the actor will be heading to Chicago this spring for Chicago Ideas' spring series. The event, "In Conversation: Alec Baldwin Beyond the Screen" will take place April 11 as part of the Curiosity Series, which runs Feb. 23 to May 11. Attendees will hear from Baldwin on his new memoir "Nevertheless," gaining "insight into how one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces balances his personal life and work," according to the Chicago Ideas website. Tickets for the event, being held at Athenaeum Theater, will go on sale to the general public March 2. The cost is $40 and includes a copy of his memoir. Advertisement @RianneCoale | rcoale@redeyechicago.com Latin spirits are so 2016 (just kidding, we love them!). But why not kick off the new year with a little taste of Southeast Asia at Bar DeVille on Tuesday? For one night only, the West Town spot hosts Chicago's own Annemarie Sagoi for Holiday out of Cambodia, where The Dawson vet mixes up drinks from her bar, Le Boutier, that opened last year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. With drinks inspired by Cambodian rock 'n' roll from the 1960s, Sagoi puts an American touch on Khmer drinking culture with sips such as the Cambodian Space Cocktail, rye whiskey, yellow Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters and a tincture made from kampot pepper, a rare peppercorn that's only grown in a specific region of the Southeast Asian country. It's named for a local rock revival band paying homage to Cambodia's lost legends in music, which aligns with the bar's overarching concept. Advertisement Originally only a brief consulting gig at a hotel bar, Le Boutier became a passion project for Sagoi, a managing partner at the bar. The concept is meant to take guests back to the 1960s and early '70s, a cultural "Golden Era," Sagoi said, before the Cambodian genocide that ravaged the country from 1975 to 1979. "It was their [heyday], culturally speaking, when they were the crown jewel of Southeast Asia," Sagoi said in an email. "When tourists come to Phnom Penh today, they go to the genocide museum and the killing fields. Even expats that have lived here for years sometimes don't even know how glorious it was in the '60s and early '70s." Advertisement The cocktail menu at Le Boutierborrowing its name from Sagoi's business partner's mother, who grew up near the barserves as an educational reminder of that thriving time for Cambodia and includes brief descriptions of each thoughtful cocktail name. Sagoi said she enjoys using dragon fruit, mangosteen and other regional fruits, such as longan, a tropical berry related to lychee. On Tuesday night, guests at Bar DeVille can taste it in her Don't Think I've Forgotten, with vodka, sticky rice syrup, ginger, longan and lime juice. Sagoi is also bringing a fish sauce cocktailan ingredient that throws even Le Boutier patrons offin the rum-based 1,000 Tears of a Tarantula, which also includes pineapple juice, coconut milk, curry syrup and lime juice. "It adds a little umami and saltiness to the fruit and curry flavors," she said. @OhItsHeather & @redeyeeatdrink on Twitter | Instagram For more Eat & Drink news, click here. Summer is still months away, but you can console yourself by enjoying one of Chicago's favorite warm-weather pastimesfestivals. We found 13 ways for you to shake yourself out of the winter doldrums by indulging at bashes devoted to beer, sausage, whiskey, ramen and more. With so much serious eating and drinking to do, the wait for April seems almost bearable. Some of these fests regularly sell out, so be sure to get your tickets early. Winter Brew Fest Winter Brew When: Jan. 28 | 2-5 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Where: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave. How much: $15 Tickets: lincolnsquare.org/winter-brew The skinny: Fifteen Chicago breweries each show off at least two of their beers, including some limited releases, at the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce's sixth annual bash. Tickets include one beer and additional tastings are available for purchase along with food from The Northman and cocktails from Koval and FEW Spirits. Start the party early by attending the Winter Brew VIP Beer and Food pairing event from 7-10 p.m. Jan. 27 at Artifact Events (4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.), which includes tastings from five Ravenswood breweries and food from local restaurants ($50). Chicago Ale Fest Chicago Ale Fest Winter Edition When: Jan. 28 | Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Where: Navy Pier's Aon Grand Ballroom, 600 E. Grand Ave. How much: $50-$60; $20-$25 for designated drivers Tickets: chicagoalefest.com The skinny: A spinoff of the festival that's run the past two summers at Buckingham Fountain, this inaugural bash includes beers from Half Acre Beer Co., Pipeworks Brewing Co. and more than 150 other American craft brewers. You can also grab a bite from food trucks including The Roost Carolina Kitchen and Pierogi Street and enjoy an all-vinyl DJ playlist. Cider Summit Chicago When: Feb. 11 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Where: Navy Pier's Aon Grand Ballroom, 600 E. Grand Ave. How much: $35 Tickets: cidersummitnw.com The skinny: Taste your way around the world at the fifth annual event, billed as the region's largest cider festival. There are more than 150 ciders to try, plus a cider cocktail lounge, food samples and a cider challenge where you can vote for your favorites. Polar Beer Festival When: Feb. 11 | Noon-4 p.m. Where: Rock Bottom Brewery, 1 W. Grand Ave. How much: $40 Tickets: polarbeer2017.brownpapertickets.com The skinny: Who says you can't have a rooftop party in February? Bundle up and brace yourself against the cold by tasting 50 strong ales provided by more than 25 breweries, plus an appetizer buffet. If you get too chilly, you can visit the indoor warming space and get another drink. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. SausageFest When: Feb. 11 | Noon-4 p.m. Where: Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W. Randolph St. How much: $55 Tickets: eventbrite.com The skinny: The West Town brewpub shows off 15 of its housemade sausages and five guest meats from Kimski, Links Taproom and other spots. Sausage is paired with artisanal cheeses and more than 20 beers and ciders. Expect to see some of their rare cellar beers on tap. Chicago Pizza Party When: Feb. 11 | 2-9 p.m. Where: Ravenswood Event Center, 4011 N. Ravenswood Ave. How much: $20. Tickets: chicagopizzaparty.com The skinny: This first-time bash has 19 restaurants putting their pies on the line. Eat your way through the competition, sample beers from local breweries and enjoy a party atmosphere complete with games, a photo booth and DJs. BomboBar supplies the dessert, serving bombos and hot chocolate. Chicago Whiskey & Wine Festival Chicago Whiskey & Wine Festival When: Feb. 18 | 1-5 p.m. Where: Joe's Bar, 940 W. Weed St. How much: $40-$60 Tickets: eventbrite.com The skinny: Whiskey Wine & Moonshine is back this year with a new name and venue. Try more than 40 varieties of booze and vote for your favorites. Joe's Bar will also be selling food and other drinks. River North Whiskey Festival When: Feb. 18 | 1-4 p.m. Where: Old Crow Smokehouse, 149 W. Kinzie St. How much: $50-$60 Tickets: The skinny: Whether you prefer bourbon, scotch or other forms of whiskey, you can taste your way through 50 varieties from distilleries including Jim Beam, Blaum Bros. and Chicago Distilling Co. Feb. 18 | 1-4 p.m.Old Crow Smokehouse, 149 W. Kinzie St.$50-$60 Tickets: eventbrite.com Whether you prefer bourbon, scotch or other forms of whiskey, you can taste your way through 50 varieties from distilleries including Jim Beam, Blaum Bros. and Chicago Distilling Co. Ramen Fest Ramenfest When: Feb. 19 | Noon-3 p.m. Where: Urbanbelly, 1400 W. Randolph St. How much: $75-$150. Tickets: ramenfest2017.brownpapertickets.com The skinny: The third annual competition brings together 20 chefs including Stephanie Izard and Giuseppe Tentori to vie for votes from judges and hungry ramen lovers. Admission includes a taste of every variety of ramen plus two drinks. Proceeds benefit Inspiration Kitchens. Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival When: Feb. 25 | 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Where: Halsted Street and Waveland Avenue How much: $35; $10 for designated drivers Tickets: eventbrite.com The skinny: A 5,000-square-foot heated tent hosts up to 2,000 revelers for a day of drinking featuring beer and cider from 50 producers from around the country. The third annual event also features music from DJ X-tasy so you can dance away the chill. Chicagos Best WingFest When: March 5 | 1-5 p.m. Where: UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave. How much: $50-$100 Tickets: wingfest.net The skinny: The 18th annual fest is so popular that it's coming to a larger venue this year to accommodate more wing fans and restaurants including Howells & Hood and Mahoneys Pub & Grille. More than 9,000 pounds of wings will be prepared with mild, hot, barbecue and "exotic" sauces, and you can try them all while enjoying live blues music from Cadillac Dave & The Chicago Red Hots. If your appetite for chicken is truly insatiable, you can also join a wing-eating contest. Good Food Fest Good Food Festival When: March 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road How much: Free. RSVP: eventbrite.com The skinny: Shop local, sustainable and humane food from more than 150 farmers, artisan producers, nonprofits and other vendors at the 13th annual event. Festivities include tastings, DIY workshops, chef demos and speakers offering you a chance to learn more about eating well. BaconFest Chicago (Peter Tsai ) We suffered some major losses in 2016, and Chicagos bar and restaurant scene certainly didnt go unscathed. The city saw more than 100 closings, including Feast in Bucktown after a 20-year run, Mas in West Loop and honky-tonk favorite Carols Pub in Uptown. Some were unexpected, such as Belly Shacks shuttering on Dec. 24 and Greektowns birthplace of flaming cheese The Parthenon in September. We lost a handful of old-timers, including The Cape Cod Room at The Drake Hotel, 70-year-old Sams Red Hots in Bucktown and Logan Squares Two Way Lounge after 46 years. Chef Mike Sheerin had an especially hard year with three closings: lauded Embeya, his 4-month-old dumpling shop Packed in Hyde Park and the short-lived revamped Trinity Bar. Perhaps the most shocking loss of all was beloved 24-hour joint Diner Grill, which was scorched by a fire on Christmas Eve, but owner Arnold DeMar said the Lakeview diner will reopen in March. 2017 has already seen at least eight shutters, including Bar Toma in Gold Coast; The Southern (closing Jan. 15), which will be replaced by a new concept from the folks behind Maple & Ash; and the Dana Hotels rooftop spot Vertigo Sky Lounge, taken over by The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group (Berkshire Room, The Sixth). Pour one out for these 100-plus bars and restaurants that closed last year. 25 Degrees in Wicker Park closed in October. in Wicker Park closed in October. A Baker's Tale in Wicker Park closed in September. in Wicker Park closed in September. Act One Pub at Mayne Stage in Rogers Park closed in March. in Rogers Park closed in March. Ale Syndicate lost its lease in Avondale in December. lost its lease in Avondale in December. Analogue in Logan Square closed in July shortly after a shift in ownership. in Logan Square closed in July shortly after a shift in ownership. Apart Pizza Co. in Lincoln Square closed earlier this year, but the Edgewater location remains open. in Lincoln Square closed earlier this year, but the Edgewater location remains open. Arcade Brewery , which shared space with Ale Syndicate, announced its closure in December. , which shared space with Ale Syndicate, announced its closure in December. Authentaco in Noble Square closed in July. in Noble Square closed in July. B Bim Asian Eatery in Wicker Park closed in the fall. in Wicker Park closed in the fall. Baffo , Eataly's fine-dining restaurant in River North, closed in May. , Eataly's fine-dining restaurant in River North, closed in May. The Beer Bistro North in Lincoln Park closed in August, but the West Loop location remains open. in Lincoln Park closed in August, but the West Loop location remains open. Belly Shack in Logan Square closed in December. in Logan Square closed in December. The Belmont Cafe , which took over Clarke's in Lakeview, closed in August a year after opening. Clarke's Diner reopened in the space with its original 24-hour menu. Ramenster , a Japanese eatery just across the street, also closed in the fall after less than a year in business. , which took over Clarke's in Lakeview, closed in August a year after opening. Clarke's Diner reopened in the space with its original 24-hour menu. , a Japanese eatery just across the street, also closed in the fall after less than a year in business. Bistro Dre in Lakeview closed in the fall. in Lakeview closed in the fall. Blue Frog's Local 22 karaoke bar in River North closed in January after more than 25 years. karaoke bar in River North closed in January after more than 25 years. Brasserie by LM in the South Loop closed in March for renovations and is expected to reopen in 2018. in the South Loop closed in March for renovations and is expected to reopen in 2018. BreakRoom Brewery in Albany Park closed in May after a 14-month run. in Albany Park closed in May after a 14-month run. The Brixton in Andersonville closed in August and was taken over by the now-defunct Taverna 750. in Andersonville closed in August and was taken over by the now-defunct Taverna 750. The Budlong , which replaced a short-lived Bunny the Micro Bakery in Lakeview, closed in September after just four months. The new Lincoln Park location opened in December, and the group has a stall inside Revival Food Hall in the Loop. , which replaced a short-lived Bunny the Micro Bakery in Lakeview, closed in September after just four months. The new Lincoln Park location opened in December, and the group has a stall inside Revival Food Hall in the Loop. Bull & Bear in River North will close after a New Year's Eve party. in River North will close after a New Year's Eve party. Bunny the Micro Bakery from Iliana Regan (Elizabeth) closed in April after opening in Lakeview in late January. from Iliana Regan (Elizabeth) closed in April after opening in Lakeview in late January. Cantina 1910 in Andersonville closed in August after less than a year. in Andersonville closed in August after less than a year. The Cape Cod Room at the Drake Hotel in Gold Coast will close Dec. 31. at the Drake Hotel in Gold Coast will close Dec. 31. Carol's Pub honky-tonk karaoke bar in Uptown closed for the foreseeable future in September after its liquor license was revoked. honky-tonk karaoke bar in Uptown closed for the foreseeable future in September after its liquor license was revoked. Catalpa Kitchen in Logan Square closed in July after less than a year. in Logan Square closed in July after less than a year. Chef's Burger Bistro in Gold Coast closed in August. in Gold Coast closed in August. Chili's River North location closed in the fall. River North location closed in the fall. Citizen Bar , a rooftop in River North, closed after a decade in September. , a rooftop in River North, closed after a decade in September. Columbus' Curry in Wicker Park closed over the summer. in Wicker Park closed over the summer. Costello's Sandwiches in Lincoln Square closed in January. The Roscoe Village location is still open. in Lincoln Square closed in January. The Roscoe Village location is still open. Crabbby Kim's in North Center closed and was replaced by Reclaimed Bar and Restaurant in December. in North Center closed and was replaced by Reclaimed Bar and Restaurant in December. Cy's King Crab Oyster Bar & Grill in River West closed in January. in River West closed in January. DeLux Bar & Grill in River West closed over the summer. in River West closed over the summer. Diner Grill , a beloved Lakeview greasy spoon in two converted streetcars, closed after a fire on Dec. 24, but ownership reportedly said the 77-year-old restaurant will be rebuilt. , a beloved Lakeview greasy spoon in two converted streetcars, closed after a fire on Dec. 24, but ownership reportedly said the 77-year-old restaurant will be rebuilt. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Lincoln Park closed in July. in Lincoln Park closed in July. Division Ale House in Wicker Park closed in September. in Wicker Park closed in September. Doodle's Doughnuts in Old Town closed in September after seven months. in Old Town closed in September after seven months. The Edge in Lincoln Park closed in January. in Lincoln Park closed in January. Embeya in the West Loop closed in June after almost four years. in the West Loop closed in June after almost four years. Epic in River North closed in January. in River North closed in January. Fairways in Lincoln Park closed in June, but its website says it will relocate in 2017. in Lincoln Park closed in June, but its website says it will relocate in 2017. Falafill in Lakeview closed in September. in Lakeview closed in September. Feast in Bucktown is closing at the end of the year after a 20-year run. in Bucktown is closing at the end of the year after a 20-year run. Finch Kitchen of Finch Beer Co., which opened in the BreakRoom Brewery space in Albany Park this summer, closed in December. of Finch Beer Co., which opened in the BreakRoom Brewery space in Albany Park this summer, closed in December. Fischman Liquors in Portage Park closed in July but is expected to reopen next year. in Portage Park closed in July but is expected to reopen next year. Five Guys' Lakeview location closed in September. Lakeview location closed in September. Fizz Bar & Grill in Lakeview closed in August. in Lakeview closed in August. Fornello Trattoria in Lakeview closed over the summer. in Lakeview closed over the summer. Franks 'n' Dawgs in Lincoln Park closed in June. in Lincoln Park closed in June. Gene's Sausage Shop in Belmont-Cragin closed in January after 30-plus years. The Lincoln Square location is still open. in Belmont-Cragin closed in January after 30-plus years. The Lincoln Square location is still open. George's Lounge in the South Loop closed in January to make room for a new high-rise building. in the South Loop closed in January to make room for a new high-rise building. Halsted's Bar & Grill closed in February and reopened as Lark under the same ownership. closed in February and reopened as Lark under the same ownership. Hanami Sushi in North Center closed in the fall. in North Center closed in the fall. Hard Water Bar in Rogers Park closed in September. in Rogers Park closed in September. Inspiration Kitchens , known for its social enterprise mission, closed its Uptown paid restaurant in July. , known for its social enterprise mission, closed its Uptown paid restaurant in July. Itto Sushi in Lincoln Park closed in July. in Lincoln Park closed in July. Jerry's Wicker Park closed in September, but the Andersonville and Lincoln Square locations are still open. closed in September, but the Andersonville and Lincoln Square locations are still open. Joe Fish in River North closed in March. Owned by Rosebud Restaurants, the group also took over the South Loop Artist's Cafe and renamed it Rosebuds Artists Cafe. in River North closed in March. Owned by Rosebud Restaurants, the group also took over the South Loop Artist's Cafe and renamed it Rosebuds Artists Cafe. Justin's in Lakeview closed in January after more than 30 years of business. in Lakeview closed in January after more than 30 years of business. La Cocina Mexican Grill in the Loop closed in December. in the Loop closed in December. Lao Shanghai , a Tony Hu restaurant in Chinatown, closed in summer. Hu, best known for the Lao Sze Chuan franchise, was under fire for wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced in November. , a Tony Hu restaurant in Chinatown, closed in summer. Hu, best known for the Lao Sze Chuan franchise, was under fire for wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced in November. Letizia's Fiore in Logan Square closed in April. in Logan Square closed in April. Local Root in Streeterville closed in March. in Streeterville closed in March. Loretta's Bake Shop and Cafe in the West Loop was reported closed in June. in the West Loop was reported closed in June. Lure Izakaya Pub in Lakeview closed in June. in Lakeview closed in June. M Vie in West Town closed in September with plans to move to the South Loop. in West Town closed in September with plans to move to the South Loop. Mamma Mia Restaurant in Belmont-Cragin closed earlier this year. in Belmont-Cragin closed earlier this year. Mas in the West Loop will close on Dec. 31. in the West Loop will close on Dec. 31. Mash Craft Kitchen and Patio , formerly the Bad Dog Tavern, in Lincoln Square closed in December. , formerly the Bad Dog Tavern, in Lincoln Square closed in December. Maxim's in the Loop reportedly closed in late spring. in the Loop reportedly closed in late spring. Meat in Boystown closed in spring. in Boystown closed in spring. Meatball Hero & Pasta in Lakeview closed before its one-year anniversary in July. in Lakeview closed before its one-year anniversary in July. Mercadito Kitchen inside the Talbott Hotel in the Gold Coast closed in January. inside the Talbott Hotel in the Gold Coast closed in January. Mirador in Lakeview closed in January. in Lakeview closed in January. The Monarch in Wicker Park closed in September. in Wicker Park closed in September. Mystic Celt in Lakeview closed in January. in Lakeview closed in January. Namo Thai Cuisine in North Center closed in October. in North Center closed in October. Newport Bar & Grill in Lakeview closed in July after 20 years. in Lakeview closed in July after 20 years. Noodle Zone & Sushi Bar in Andersonville reportedly closed over the summer. in Andersonville reportedly closed over the summer. Oak & Char in River North closed in August. in River North closed in August. Packed in Hyde Park closed in May after a four-month run. in Hyde Park closed in May after a four-month run. Paladinos Pizza House No. 1647 in Bucktown closed in the fall. in Bucktown closed in the fall. Panz in Lakeview closed in October after six months. in Lakeview closed in October after six months. The Peasantry closed in Lincoln Park in October. closed in Lincoln Park in October. Perennial Virant in Lincoln Park will close after New Year's Eve and reconcept next year as chef Paul Virant departs the Hotel Lincoln restaurant. in Lincoln Park will close after New Year's Eve and reconcept next year as chef Paul Virant departs the Hotel Lincoln restaurant. Perry's Deli in The Loop closed in September after more than 30 years at that location. It reopened at 162 N. Franklin St. less than a block away. in The Loop closed in September after more than 30 years at that location. It reopened at 162 N. Franklin St. less than a block away. The Parthenon , the Greektown birthplace of flaming cheese, closed in September. , the Greektown birthplace of flaming cheese, closed in September. Pi Gallery Bar in River North closed in spring. in River North closed in spring. Piggyback BBQ in the Loop closed two locations in the fall, while suburban Piggyback Tavern remains open. in the Loop closed two locations in the fall, while suburban Piggyback Tavern remains open. Pleasant House Bakery in Bridgeport closed in May and reopened in Pilsen as Pleasant House Pub. in Bridgeport closed in May and reopened in Pilsen as Pleasant House Pub. The original Pork Shoppe in Avondale closed in July, but the Andersonville location remains open. in Avondale closed in July, but the Andersonville location remains open. Q-BBQ on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview closed in the fall. on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview closed in the fall. Quay in Streeterville closed in January. in Streeterville closed in January. Red Door in Bucktown closed in December. in Bucktown closed in December. Red Ivy in Lakeview closed in April to make room for the Addison Park on Clark development near Wrigley Field. in Lakeview closed in April to make room for the Addison Park on Clark development near Wrigley Field. Red Robin closed all Chicago-area Burger Works locations in October. closed all Chicago-area Burger Works locations in October. Reza's River North location closed in January. River North location closed in January. Riques Cocina Mexicana in Uptown closed in July. in Uptown closed in July. Rose Angelis in Lincoln Park closed in October after 25 years. in Lincoln Park closed in October after 25 years. Rosebud Theater District in the Loop closed in September. in the Loop closed in September. Salpicon in Old Town closed in November after more than 20 years. in Old Town closed in November after more than 20 years. Salt & Pepper Diner in Lakeview closed in May, reportedly to make room for the Addison Park on Clark development near Wrigley Field. in Lakeview closed in May, reportedly to make room for the Addison Park on Clark development near Wrigley Field. Sams Red Hots in Bucktown closed in August after more than 70 years. in Bucktown closed in August after more than 70 years. Sarks in the Park in Lincoln Park closed in September. in Lincoln Park closed in September. Seasons 52 in River North closed in spring. in River North closed in spring. Seven, The Den and Manhole , the latest club trio that moved into the former Spin Nightclub space on Halsted and Clark streets, closed in November. , the latest club trio that moved into the former Spin Nightclub space on Halsted and Clark streets, closed in November. Shabowl in Lincoln Park closed in December after less than a year. in Lincoln Park closed in December after less than a year. Shiso in Old Town closed in September. in Old Town closed in September. The Shrine in the South Loop closed in February after two shootings. in the South Loop closed in February after two shootings. Smokey Hollow nightlife theater in River North closed quietly in late January after opening in 2015. nightlife theater in River North closed quietly in late January after opening in 2015. SpritzBurger in Lakeview closed in March. in Lakeview closed in March. Strings 2 in Lincoln Park closed in June with the possibility of reopening, but the original Chinatown location remains open. in Lincoln Park closed in June with the possibility of reopening, but the original Chinatown location remains open. Taverna 750 , which moved to Andersonville from Boystown in August, closed after only a few weeks. , which moved to Andersonville from Boystown in August, closed after only a few weeks. Tete Charcuterie in the West Loop closed in March. in the West Loop closed in March. Trattoria Isabella in the West Loop closed in September, alluding to a new location in the works. in the West Loop closed in September, alluding to a new location in the works. Trinity Bar in Lincoln Park closed in July after a revamp. in Lincoln Park closed in July after a revamp. Two Way Lounge in Logan Square closed in August after 46 years and will be replaced by Deadbolt. in Logan Square closed in August after 46 years and will be replaced by Deadbolt. Unite Urban Grill in Noble Square closed in March. in Noble Square closed in March. Veteran Tamale in McKinley Park closed in December after more than 70 years. in McKinley Park closed in December after more than 70 years. VIP Chinese in Albany Park reportedly closed in July. in Albany Park reportedly closed in July. Vivial in Lakeview closed in March after four months. Before reconcepting, it was Spencer's Jolly Posh Foods, a British grocery. in Lakeview closed in March after four months. Before reconcepting, it was Spencer's Jolly Posh Foods, a British grocery. Vivo in West Loop closed in July after 25 years. in West Loop closed in July after 25 years. Waffles Cafe, famed for the wonut, closed its Streeterville and Lakeview locations for good after reportedly losing its business license over unpaid debt. @OhItsHeather & @redeyeeatdrink on Twitter | Instagram For more Eat & Drink news, click here. Logan Square bar hoppers now have another place to keep the party going after 2 a.m. The folks behind second-floor nightclub East Room (2354 N. Milwaukee Ave.) announced in a release this morning that the bar is extending its hours until 4 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 5 a.m. Saturday. Owner Russ Grant (Boiler Room, Parts & Labor) and other partners have been working for more than a year to obtain a 4 a.m. liquor license, and DNAinfo reported last January that some neighbors were concerned about the immediate area becoming too rowdy if East Room obtained the late-night status. Advertisement East Room joins The Owl (2521 N. Milwaukee Ave.) as the neighborhood's only bars with late-night hoursthough The Owl's sister location Remedy (1910 N. Milwaukee Ave.), which opened this summer in nearby Bucktown, also has a late-hour liquor license. Since opening about three years ago, East Room has hosted DJ sets from Joey Purp and Best Coast, tattoo parties with downstairs tenant Logan Square Tattoo and bring-your-own vinyl nights. @OhItsHeather & @redeyeeatdrink on Twitter | Instagram Advertisement For more Eat & Drink news, click here. Anna and David Posey's captivating new restaurant is one to watch. Review: Elske 1350 W. Randolph St. 312-733-1314 Rating: !!! (out of four) If youve ever dated someone who uses really good-smelling shampoo, youve probably found yourself leaning in to catch a whiff. Or maybe it wasnt shampoo, but a cologne or a scent on a T-shirt or the lingering tang of lip balm after a kiss. The point is, youre kind of intoxicated or haunted by that scent depending on your experience with its wearer. I had the same reaction to the first dish I tried at Elske, a new West Loop restaurant from husband-and-wife duo David (Blackbird) and Anna Posey (The Publican). Anna and David Posey at Elske, their new restaurant in the West Loop. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) The seduction Advertisement The dish in question featured crispy roast maitake mushrooms ($17) and shaved raw chestnuts swimming in a pear cream thats poured tableside. The pear cream was sweet, fruity and redolent with spicy ginger and winey shallot. Like some kind of pheromonic bat signal, it had me sniffing deep within the earthenware bowl while dipping my fork in for a taste. Not only did the cream give off a heady aroma, but it provided a bright and light acidity that complemented the rich earthy mushroom. Though its a vegan dish, it mesmerized me just as much as any piece of perfectly seared A5 wagyu ever has. Whole roasted maitake mushroom with pear cream and chestnuts (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) This dish, however, was actually the third thing that captivated me on my visit to Elske. I dropped by on the day of Chicagos first baby polar vortex, when temps plunged below zero. The icy blue neon Elske sign in the window acted like a beacon in the night on what is still a fairly lonely and dark part of the Randolph Street strip. Once I walked past the neon sign and into the courtyard on the side of the restaurant, I spotted a fire blazing in a huge hearth surrounded by several chairs. When I first heard the name of the restaurant, I thought it sounded like the name of a badass heroine Jessica Alba might play in some kind of post-apocalyptic adventure movie. (Elske is actually the Danish word for love.) The Game of Thrones-worthy blaze didnt disavow me of this notion. Like me, almost everyone who walked into or out of the restaurant was drawn to warm themselves by the fire. Some even took selfies. Danish modern Once inside, the blaze flickered against the plate-glass windows of the dining room, mirroring the glow of real candles on the tables. I mention the candles because lately restaurants have been turning to fake flickering LEDs, which I find as romantic as the glow of a bug zapper. Bravo to the Elske crew for keeping it real. The dining room at Elske. (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) The dining room looks like a catalog set for Room & Board. Handsome light-colored wood tables featuring exposed grain are flanked by black half-moon-shaped spindle-back chairs. The walls are dotted with sconces, but are otherwise clean and free of art. Because there was very little to look at, I spent a lot of time focused on the bro at the table next to me wearing a blazer over his Cubs T-shirt and the dude at the table next to him wearing a cashmere turtleneck tucked into his jeans. While I didnt quite understand their sartorial choices, I appreciated their good taste in food. Hygge, it's what's for dinner Advertisement Youve probably noticed Ive mentioned the word Danish a few times already. David Poseys mother is from Denmark, and the Poseys got engaged in Copenhagen. Denmark has a special place in their hearts for good reason. While the food isnt particularly Nordic, Elske is inspired by a concept called hygge, the Danish obsession with creating cozy and hospitable environments, among other ideas. Collins cocktail at Elske (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) The roaring fireplace and clean dining room felt like the very essence of hygge. So did our server, who was very welcoming and knowledgeable. She guided my wife to an excellent cocktail by declaring the Collins ($12) one of her favorites. A mix of Cardamaro, Topo Chico mineral water, rosemary and grapefruit juice, the cocktail was dreamed up by Elske general manager and former Violet Hour bartender Kyle Davidson. The refreshing brew was spicy, piney and full of bright citrus, simultaneously evoking a beach vacation and a touch of Christmas. Unlike the hospitality and aesthetic, Elskes food and drink arent especially Danish. But the Poseys are putting out smart, clean dishes grounded in natural techniques and earthy ingredients including puffed cereals, mushrooms and root vegetables that remind me of the plates Ive seen coming out of the kitchen of Denmarks most famous restaurant, Noma. On a local level, the composed natural beauty I found at Elske reminds me of the stuff I see Curtis Duffy putting out at Grace. Like Duffy, the Poseys have a way with vegetables. Almost as awesome as the maitake mushroom dish is a bowl of celeriac risotto ($18). The humble root vegetable is diced to look like tiny grains of rice and glistens with hazelnut and sherry-flavored cream. The final product is more toothsome and satisfying than the most al dente rice. My only quibble: Theres a generous shaving of black truffle on top of the whole thing, but the tame truffles didnt impart as much heady funk as I would have liked. Beyond vegetables Not everything is vegan or vegetarian. A bed of soft scrambled eggs ($18) swaddled silky chicken confit slivers and chewy smoky carrots, which have concentrated in sweetness and flavor after spending days warming over Elskes oven. A thin shiny omelet dome enrobed the whole thing. The contrast of the custard-thick omelet and fluffy scramble underneath was delightful. Ironically, the graceful dish was inspired by some shitty leftover eggs at my moms house, where the eggs had hardened on the bottom, but the top was still a soft scramble, David Posey said. After that, I got this idea for an egg-like crepe over scrambled eggs that became this dish. The only savory dish I had some trouble with was grilled coppa ($22) with sunchokes and quince. The edges of the pork were cooked well-done and bursting with hay and mineral-like flavors, but the rare center was super fatty and chewy. The sunchoke puree on top was a touch gloppy, and I found that there were too many soft textures in the dish. Daring dessert Textural contrasts were strong in Anna Poseys desserts. A rye bread pudding ($12) featured crispy puffed amaranth, sorghum and rice that were as addictive as popcorn. An accompanying quince sorbet was surrounded by a tiny moat of quince vinegar, which offered a smart sharp acidic contrast to the richness of the pudding. While I would buy the sorbet by the pint at the grocery, I struggled a bit with the baby food-like pudding puree. Another dessert featured mica-like sheets of praline ($12)which ate like sweet and slightly bitter potato chipsand swooshes of black currant jelly and velvet-smooth parsnip cream. The dish evoked peanut butter and jelly vibes, but the black currant was incredibly tangy and the cream was mild. The dish needed a touch more sugar to offset the mouth-puckering black currant. Though dessert wasnt perfect, it was daring and thoughtful and a great antidote to the ubiquitous and forgettable lava cakes and creme brulees that seem to be making a comeback on dessert menus these days. Bottom line: Anna and David Posey are putting out inspired, natural and beautiful food. If you liked their work at The Publican and Blackbird, youll love the Danish-tinged evolution theyre putting forth at their own spot. If it hadnt missed my deadline, Elske would have made my best restaurants of 2016 list. Michael Nagrant is a RedEye contributor. Reporters visit restaurants unannounced, and meals are paid for by RedEye. Flash The European Union (EU) insisted on Monday that it will not recognize Crimea's incorporation into Russia and urged all parties to implement the Minsk agreements fully in light of the recent resurgence of violence in eastern Ukraine. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini Monday chaired the monthly meeting of foreign ministers from all 28 EU member states in Brussels. The situation in Ukraine, which has deteriorated significantly in the last days, was top of the ministers' agenda. "The situation in the east in the last days was definitively extremely worrying for us. So when we refer to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, we obviously restate our expectation that the fighting stops there and that a process of peace can be started effectively," the High Representative said to a press conference after the meeting. The tensions in Donetsk and Lugansk regions worsened last week as fierce fighting erupted between government troops and pro-independence insurgents in the Kiev-controlled Avdeevka town, causing dozens of combatant and civilian casualties. The warring sides blamed each other for the escalation that has killed some 10,000 people since April 2014. After discussing the situation on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush on Sunday, Mogherini called on the EU foreign ministers to maintain a united front on the issue. "First of all, the need for de-escalation of violence in the east, also our continued non-recognition policy of the annexation of Crimea," she told the ministers in the meeting. Replying to the concerns that the U.S. may take a softer line on Russia, the EU foreign affairs head said, "I cannot say where the U.S. administration stands on that but I can say where the Europeans stand on this." U.S. President Donald Trump hinted earlier that he could lift the sanctions against Russia if Moscow proved helpful in battling terrorists and reaching other goals important to the United States. However, the EU reiterated that EU sanctions against Russia are linked to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which was signed in September 2014 and renewed in February 2015. "There is no case for relaxation of the sanctions," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson stressed when he entered into the meeting, insisting keeping up pressure on Russia. 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. Last December, the European Union extended the sanctions against Russia for another six months until July 31, 2017. After drinking your weight in champagne and surrendering to astronomical surge pricing for a ride home, it's time to really ring in the new year. With brunch, of course. Put those New Year's resolutions on hold and enjoy one of these boozy brunches on Jan. 1. Appellation 5212 N. Clark St. 773-358-7181 Say hello to 2017 with fried chicken and champagne in Andersonville. The bird is served family-style with all the fixings, including black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread ($22). Visit the champagne bar for bubbles and other sparkling cocktails available for purchase. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Advertisement Bernie's Lunch & Supper Bernie's Lunch & Supper 660 N. Orleans St. 312-624-9892 All the usual brunch suspects are available, including torrija French toast with seasonal jam ($14), lox with warm pita ($16) and croque madame ($16). As a bonus, chef Ryan Sand offers a few off-menu specials, such as walnut-rum-raisin sticky buns ($7) and cider doughnuts ($7). 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for reservations. Cindy's 12 S. Michigan Ave. 312-792-3502 Allow 45s and records to serenade you into 2017 while enjoying chef de cuisine Keith Potter's best brunch dishes and spirit guide Nandini Khaund's palate-pleasing brunch bevvies. We recommend pairing the Southern Belle burgerwhich is topped with pickled relish, pimento cheese, butterkase, bacon and a fried egg ($18)with Howl at the Jun, a kombucha cocktail with gin, grapefruit juice and sparkling rose ($15). Be sure to catch part of the live Soul Sunday brunch DJ set from noon-2 p.m. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call ahead or make reservations at opentable.com. Advertisement Cochon Volant Cochon Volant Brasserie 100 W. Monroe St. 312-754-6560 On top of the Loop restaurant's usual brunch menu, chef Matt Ayala will offer up his Breakfast Royale burger, which includes two beef patties, thick-cut bacon, confit onion, American cheese, dijonnaise and house pickles on a warm English muffin ($16.95, add an egg for $3.95). 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for reservations. D.S. Tequila Company 3352 N. Halsted St. 773-697-9127 Mimosa fairies to the rescue! Servers with beverage backpacks will offer mimosa refills throughout brunch service ($16 drink package with any brunch entree purchase). Or go the savory route with $5 Texas-style bloody marys. The menu has something for everyone with monkey bread ($9.56), Betty Sue's chicken and biscuits ($12.59), Cuban veggie tacos ($4.25) and churros ($6.35). 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Estelle's 2013 W. North Ave. 773-782-0450 If you missed brunch entirely, the Wicker Park mainstay has you covered with New Year's Day evening specials including a $10 specialty burger, $7 Miller High Life with a Four Roses bourbon shot, $4 PBR tall boys and $6 Jameson shots. 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Fremont 15 W. Illinois St. 312-874-7270 It's not a walk of shame if you're heading straight to brunch. Stay in your PJs for the River North bar's brunch buffet ($35) featuring a carving station, waffle bar, omelette station, doughnut mountain, seafood tower and more. Wash it down with an optional $15 champagne package that comes with fresh housemade juices. If you don't make it on Jan. 1, return for the same deal on Jan. 2. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Reservations are recommended at opentable.com. Frontier 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-772-4322 Head to chef Brian Jupiter's West Town spot for champagne Jell-O shots and a champagne cocktail menu. Fill up on brunch favorites such as salted caramel French toast with maple-braised bacon, apples and spiced pecans ($12) or smoked boar hash stuffed with pulled boar shoulder, sweet peppers, red onion, cilantro, potatoes, fried egg and Sriracha barbecue sauce ($14). Plus, enjoy live music from the Four Star Brass Band starting at noon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for reservations. The Kitchen The Kitchen Bistro 316 N. Clark St. 312-836-1300 Treat yourself to indulgent brunch options from chef Johnny Anderes including a smoked duck hot dog with a fried egg and mornay sauce, fried chicken and waffles with caviar and braised lamb served with bucatini pasta, fried egg and harissa sauce. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call ahead for reservations. Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club 3700 N. Halsted St. 773-525-1111 Keep the party going in Lakeview with a celebratory champagne brunch. The menu includes favorites such as chicken and waffles ($16), rice crispy french toast ($12), crab cake benedict ($14) and chilaquiles ($14). Spring for a $14.95 drink package that includes mimosas, bloody marys, bellinis, sangria and specialty martinis. Then, sit back and enjoy performances by Diva Madam X. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > La Sirena Clandestina 954 W. Fulton Market 312-226-5300 The West Loop restaurant's Bossa Nova brunch features morning-friendly cocktails, live music and over-the-top entrees such as the lobster benedict with poached lobster, avocado mash, malagueta hollandaise and poached eggs ($18). 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Advertisement Mac's Wood Grilled 1801 W. Division St. 773-782-4400 The toughest choice you'll have to make at this a la carte brunch is stuffed banana Nutella French toast with cinnamon and vanilla ($9) or housemade biscuits with three-pepper Andouille sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and home fries ($9). Throw back drink specials including $5 mimosas, $10 PBR pitchers and $14 Founders All Day pitchers. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mindy's HotChocolate Mindy's HotChocolate 1747 N. Damen Ave. 773-489-1747 Roll out of bed and head to Mindy Segal's Bucktown eatery in your pajamas to enjoy one of the tastiest brunch menus in town. Nosh on quiche, buttermilk pancakes with blueberry preserves or a burger stacked with bacon, cheddar and pickles. We hear a mug of her signature hot chocolate cures most hangovers. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Old Town Social 455 W. North Ave. 312-266-2277 The Old Town spot hosts their first New Year's Day Pajama Brunch, which features a new 99-ingredient bloody mary bar, mimosas and hearty food options such as Seasonal Berry Blast pancakes and eggs benedict with housemade pork belly from Chef Jared Van Camp's outstanding charcuterie program. Get your whole group to show up in jammies and you'll score an Old Town Social gift card equal to the cost of your meal in $25 increments. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Ramen-San 59 W. Hubbard St. 312-377-9950 A piping hot bowl of ramen from the cozy River North restaurant should cure that nasty champagne hangover. Noon to midnight. Stella Barra (Anjali Pinto ) Stella Barra Pizzeria 1954 N. Halsted St. 773-634-4101 The Lincoln Park pizzeria encourages sleepy guests to raid the brunch buffet ($19.95), which will be stocked with warm brioche cinnamon rolls, egg enchiladas and more. Show up in your pajamas and receive a gift card equal to the price of your meal to use toward a future visit. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Summer House Santa Monica 1954 N. Halsted St. 773-634-4100 Warm up in the sun-drenched Lincoln Park dining room and stuff your face with the Santa Monica egg white omelette with shaved turkey breast and tomato-avocado salsa ($12.99), or indulge your sweet tooth with a stack of blueberry pancakes ($10.99). 8 a.m.-3 p.m. President Barack Obama gives his farewell address at McCormick Place tomorrow at 8 p.m. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) This weekend's frigid temperatures didn't stop thousands of Chicagoans from standing outside of McCormick Place in hopes of scoring a free ticket to President Barack Obama's farewell address tomorrow night at 8 p.m. If you didn't snag a ticket or would rather watch with a beer in hand, we rounded up seven spots around town that will be airing the speech tomorrow night. And if all else fails, stream it at home at whitehouse.gov/farewell. Advertisement Bernie's Lunch & Supper (660 N. Orleans St. 312-624-9892): Watch the speech in the River North restaurant's bar area with an extended happy hour from 49 p.m., including $5 bites, sangria, craft beer, Moscow mules and wine and $3 draft beers, Hamm's and Miller High Life. Beverage director Brian Johnston also serves up the Yes, We Can cocktail, featuring rum, raspberry shrub and lime ($8). Tavern on Little Fort (4128 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-360-1869): Sip $5 tallboys or for another $5, add a burgerpart brisket, part bacon patty topped with house sauce, bread and butter pickles and a fried egg on a brioche bun. Advertisement The Boundary Tavern & Grille (1932 W. Division St. 773-278-1919): No specials. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Old Town Pour House (1419 N. Wells St. 312-477-2800): No specials. G&O (459 N. Ogden Ave. 312-888-3367): Enjoy $6 burgers and $5 batched cocktails and Wyoming Whiskey old fashioneds. Sidetrack (3349 N. Halsted St. 773-477-9189): No specials. Volumes Bookcafe (1474 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-697-8066): Watch on the Wicker Park bookstore's large projector screen and drink discounted wine, beer and boozy coffee. R Public House (1508 W. Jarvis Ave. 872-208-7916): Get $2 off most pints. @OhItsHeather & @redeyeeatdrink on Twitter | Instagram For more Eat & Drink news, click here. Theres a famous inspirational quote about saying goodbye: Dont cry because its over, smile because it happened. Thats nice, but here at RedEye, we prefer to eat our feelings rather than smile through them. To honor President Obamas final days in the White House, we took a look back at a few of his favorite Chicago restaurants. From steak and eggs to decadent Italian fare, heres how to eat around town the Obama way. Swift & Sons (1000 W. Fulton Market 312-733-9420): While Obama was in town in October to cast an early ballot in the presidential election, he stopped by the West Loop steakhouse for a private event. As evidence, a group of 10 staffers snapped a pic with a smiley prez and posted it to Facebook with the caption Best. Friday. Ever. Thank you, Mr. President Barack Obama for dining with us! Facebook post or it didnt happen, right? Valois Restaurant (1518 E. 53rd St. 773-667-0647): When you start looking into the Obamas favorite Chicago haunts, this cash-only spot in Hyde Park is one of the restaurants that appears over and over again. And for good reason. Way back when, before he was president, Obama used the restaurants dining room to host community meetings. It's a frequent stop when he's visiting these days, too. The steak and eggs is reportedly his go-to breakfast of choice. Spiaggia (980 N. Michigan Ave. 312-280-2750): The Gold Coast Italian restaurant is a notable special occasion dining destination for the Obamas. In 2008, the year Obama was first elected president, the Chicago Tribune reported that the couple celebrated three very important moments at the restaurant: Michelle Obamas birthday, their anniversary on Oct. 3 and their first dinner out together after the election victory. MacArthurs Restaurant (5412 W. Madison St. 773-261-2316): The famed soul food spot in Austin considers Obama a very loyal customer. Topolobampo (445 N. Clark St. 312-661-1434): Like us, the president is powerless to Rick Bayless charm. Back in 2010, he reportedly made a reservation under an alias at the Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant. According to grubstreet.com, Bayless said Obama noshed on a scallop and lobster dish with tomatillo-corn sauce and sweet corn tamales. Sepia (123 N. Jefferson St. 312-441-1920): The West Loop new American restaurant is widely rumored to be one of Michelle Obamas favorites for lunch. A pro tip for all my deal seekers out there: Sepia is participating in Chicago Restaurant Week later this month with a lunch ($22) and dinner menu ($33-$44) to help you channel your inner First Lady. RPM Steak (Jeff Marini) RPM Steak (66 W. Kinzie St. 312-284-4990): Back in 2014, when Barack Obama was campaigning for then-Gov. Pat Quinn in Chicago, he made a pit stop at the River North steakhouse for a bite to eat with Marty Nesbitt, chair of the Obama Foundation, and White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. @morgancolsen | mcolsen@redeyechicago.com But is the newcomer as good as the O.G.? Mini-review: Publican Anker 1576 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-904-1121 Rating: !! 1/2 (out of four) Lately I've been thinking a lot about whether or not I truly exist. It's mostly because I recently rewatched "The Matrix," the premise of which is that the human world is a simulation created by sentient machines to distract us from the fact that those machines are farming humans to subsist on our bodies as an energy source. Normally I'd dismiss such a premise as temporary amusement or stoner fodder, but the recent launch of Publican Ankerthe newest restaurant from One Off Hospitality Group (Avec, The Violet Hour, Big Star)has me wondering if I'm actually living in a simulation. Advertisement According to the movie, a sign of the Matrix is experiencing deja vu, which is explained as a programming glitch made by machines. On the surface, Publican Anker feels like deja vu. It's an extension of a far-reaching brand that includes Publican Tavern at O'Hare Airport, Publican Quality Meats, PQM at the United Center and, of course, mothership The Publican in West Loop. But the restaurant group's name is One Off, a nod to the fact that they're not about creating soulless replicate franchises like TGI Fridays. And yet here we are, five Publicans in. Maybe there's a glitch in the system? The experience: I don't begrudge the One Off crew for building a brand and profiting. They've launched so many important first moves in this citycraft cocktails at The Violet Hour, new American sustainable and local food at Blackbird, gourmet tacos at Big Starthat I'd be fine with them buying and running all the local Red Lobsters if they wanted. At first glance, Publican Anker feels a lot like a bar version of The Publican, complete with globe lantern lighting, good beer and oysters. Maybe the most egregious repeat from the original is communal seating. No one likes communal seating. It violates human nature. I doubt even Bill Clinton, the most extroverted extrovert of all time, is like, "I can't wait to sit next to total strangers all night while food runners have no idea whether a plate should be delivered to me or the party next to me." Advertisement Throughout the night, I elbowed or was bumped by the people sitting next to me. I didn't get a chance to taste the marginal pork selection (marginal relative to the original Publican) because the pork collar we ordered was given to the group next to us by mistake. By the time I realized this, we were halfway into dessert and didn't want the pork anymore. The dudes next to us were so loud that our server couldn't hear our order and as a result brought us a half-dozen extra oysters instead of splitting the six oysters we ordered between grilled and raw, as requested. That said, you'll love the loud buzz of the room if you're kicking off or ending a night of drinking in the Wicker Park area. The food: Unlike the room, the food, which is focused on seafood and vegetables, is a bigger differentiator. "I'm from California. I joke that I have kale and avocado running through my veins," executive chef Cosmo Goss said. "People want foie gras or black truffles, but I'm yearning for plums and peaches. The other day I freaked out about these golden turnips." Fried eggplant at Publican Anker (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Goss' pull to veggies is apparent and best represented by a plate of fried eggplant ($11) with "Wisconsin halloumi," a wink and nod description of what turns out to be straight-up cheese curds. The eggplant and cheese are crusted in Parmesan tempura batter, which adds a crystalline salty lightness. They eat like fluffy savory doughnuts dripping with chili-spiked honey. Beets ($12), on the other hand, are a little more pedestrian. They're cooked well, and I appreciate that instead of being paired with tired goat cheese, they're spiked with dill and sour cream. My only critiques: The salad on top is slightly bitter and not particularly bright, and the dish would be better as a smaller portion with a bit more acidity. I almost single-handedly polished off a plate of chicken wings ($12) spiked with honey, burnt chili and fish sauce served with a cooling yogurt dip. The crust was crackling, and the swirl of sweet, spicy and funky flavors addictive. Publican devotees will be happy to know that Anker also has an abundance of oysters. The East Coast Aunt Dottys on offer the night I visited had a supreme natural salinity, so much so that I was convinced they'd been salted by the kitchen. They were not. The Anker kitchen offers them raw with lemon ($3.50 each) or grilled with yuzu koshu butter ($4 each). Mackerel ($15) cured in sugar, salt and sour beer had a lilting note of smoke. Piled on crispy grilled bread and slathered with thick tzatziki and crunchy radish salad, the combo transported me to the Mediterranean. The only bit of seafood that didn't wow me was a flat green chili fish stew ($29). The mussels were mushy, the maitake mushrooms were soggy, and while I was looking for a punchy garlicky broth that would stave off the winter chill, it never came. Blood sausage at Publican Anker (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) One advantage of being in the Publican family is that the Anker crew has access to the excellent encased meat options from Publican Quality Meats, including a transcendent blood sausage ($13). Instead of thick gamey blood custard like the French do it, the PQM link is a satisfying 50-50 blend of pork meat and blood. In size, it's more comparable to a breakfast link than a thick wurst, which is texturally more appetizing. Of course, there's also a burger ($11.50). Despite the fact that my eyes rolled into the back of my head over another fancy pub burger, I ordered it. Thank the lord. Swaddled in a pillowy brioche bun, the custom ground Slagel Family Farm beef layered with mushroom powder and something Goss calls "Ten Thousand Island" dressing featuring a touch of dashi, this thing was an umami bomb. Each bite made me want another. I couldn't stop until it was gone. Publican Anker (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) The drinks: The beer list is deep and left me desirous. I especially loved the Baba schwarzbier ($7), a black lager featuring notes of coffee and chocolate from Salt Lake City's Uinta Brewing. Menu notes about wine, written by Nico Osteria wine director Bret Heiar, are approachable and sometimes hilarious. I ordered the Melon de Bourgogne ($9) from Muscadet, France, solely because it was described as tasting "like being saved by Liam Neeson." I don't know what that means, but the melon notes were fantastic and paired well with the oysters. Warm sticky banoffee pudding at Publican Anker (Lenny Gilmore / RedEye) The dessert: My dining companion that night isn't a dessert guy. I've probably dined with him about 20 times and he's never taken more than a spoonful or two of anything sweet I've ordered. He went to town on pastry chef Dana Cree's warm sticky toffee banoffee pudding ($10) loaded with butterscotch and pecans. I don't know that I've had a sticky toffee pudding that was as moist as this one. We lightened the load with a side of velvet-smooth blood orange creamsicle ice cream ($6) that tasted like a more complex and satisfying version of the Good Humor popsicles of my youth. Bottom line: A friend once told me that although she knows that most of the music she likes was inspired by the Beatles, she doesn't particularly love the Beatles. I never really got this until I dined at Publican Anker. Something was nagging at me about the experience. The original Publican brought the beer, oyster and pork gastropub phenomenon to Chicago and has since launched a thousand imitators. As a result, dining at Anker didn't feel as original or vital as The Publican once did. In some ways, Anker was a victim of its own success. But this is me looking through the very fine lens of a professional food critic. If I look at Anker like a regular diner, someone who's just looking for great food in a rousing space, it hits all the right notes. Unlike so many imitators who serve cliche pork belly dishes and pedestrian roast chicken, the One Off crew is serving pork collar with apple and persimmons and chicken wings with a honey and fish sauce lacquer. That's the kind of deju vu I can get behind. Michael Nagrant is a RedEye contributor. Reporters visit restaurants unannounced, and meals are paid for by RedEye. Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon has given his annual report on his office's activities. (Jon Langham / The Courier-News) Kane County prosecutors saw a slight increase in the number of filings for serious crimes during 2016, the first uptick in that category in nearly a decade. In discussing his office's annual report during a press briefing this week, Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon offered his perspective on the state of serious crime in the county. Advertisement "A one-year change doesn't create a trend," McMahon said of the 2,258 felony cases initiated in 2016. That figure represents a bump of about 160 felonies compared to 2015, but still remains considerably below the nearly 3,200 felony cases filed in 2010. Holding close to recent yearly totals, the county reported 11 murders in 2016 after seeing 10 in 2015 and 11 in 2014. In addition to gang-related violence, McMahon mentioned the significance of drug crimes as a constant for prosecutors. Advertisement "We're seeing really significant drug seizures ... larger quantities of very serious drugs coming into the community and being seized in the community," McMahon said. "Drugs continue to be a significant issue." McMahon, who won a second full term in November, described Kane County as "somewhat the epicenter of this drug and gang activity" because of its proximity to Chicago and with two major interstates cutting across its boundaries. He credited county law enforcement and his staff for their work in securing convictions and significant prison sentences in drug trafficking cases. In particular, McMahon highlighted the 20 years in prison given to Jesus Montes, of Aurora, who was busted with 16 kilograms of cocaine valued at $1.6 million, as well as $200,000 in cash. Another Auroran, Gerardo Contreras-Gonzalez, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing large amounts of cocaine, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine. Yet another Aurora man, Modesto Alarcon, was convicted in 2016 for possession and distribution of nine kilograms of heroin. Alarcon awaits sentencing later this month. Other annual report details include: The state's attorney's office collected $27.3 million in child support cases, an increase of $1.5 million from 2015 and a little more than double what the office collected in 2006. McMahon said the number of child sex offense cases as a whole stood out to him, especially those involving people in positions of authority such as teachers. Last year, three men who served roles in local high schools were sent to prison for having sexual contact with teens they oversaw. "We have prosecuted those cases aggressively ... yet we continue to see these cases come into the system," McMahon said. In a similar realm, McMahon praised the collective efforts of local and federal law enforcement to combat sexual exploitation of children. Five men were convicted and sentenced to prison last year for traveling to Kane County to have sex with a minor. Advertisement Aurora police led the county in the number of felony calls to the state's attorney's office in 2016, followed by Elgin. The two cities combined for more than half of the 2,629 screenings of felony investigations conducted by prosecutors. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office 2016 annual report is available at http://saopublic.co.kane.il.us/Reports/2016.SAO.annual.report.pdf. Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News Aurora police are seeking anyone with information about a shooting late Tuesday night near Route 25 and Sullivan Road. Officers in the area heard shots fired at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and, upon investigation, found several shell casings, police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said in an email. Advertisement About an hour after the shooting, a 35-year-old Aurora man called police saying that someone inside a white Toyota Corolla fired the shots at him in the intersection, but did not hit him or anything else, Ferrelli said. The man was the only person inside his black Ford 500 when he was shot at, Ferrelli said. The man told police three men were inside the Corolla: a male driver wearing a white T-shirt; a male front seat passenger wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray pants, and red, shiny Chicago Bulls hat; and a male rear seat passenger. Advertisement Police do not know the motive for the shooting, Ferrelli said. Police ask anyone with information to call Aurora police investigators at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests. People also can submit tips through the Aurora Police Department's free My PD mobile app. hleone@tribpub.com Twitter @hannahmleone Jim Elliott's interest in Aurora runs deep. I met the founder and president of Diveheart at poolside Saturday at the Fox Valley Park District's Vaughan Center, where he and his volunteers were teaching a class from the DuPage County Veterans Center the ins and outs and unders of scuba diving. Advertisement Diveheart, founded by Elliott in 2001, has created an impressive name for itself throughout the country by helping those with illnesses and disabilities discover the therapeutic wonders that this underwater activity can provide. But Elliott's interest in Aurora goes far deeper than a park district pool. Advertisement For the past year he has been in close discussions with Shodeen Inc., the Geneva company that has been working with city officials to develop 34 acres on the east side of the Fox River in downtown Aurora. Elliott's goal: to build what he said would be the world's deepest warm-water pool 150 feet, to be exact at the corner of Broadway and North Avenue that would be used for research, rehabilitation, education and training. For those with limited mobility, the benefits of physical therapy in a zero gravity environment is well-documented. And more recent research from leading universities, including Johns Hopkins, shows that scuba diving has unique effects on the minds and bodies of those with many types of disabilities, including chronic pain, spinal cord paralysis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, PTSD and brain injuries. Elliott, whose group works extensively with Midwestern University in Downers Grove and is recently partnering with the engineering department at Northwestern University to develop scuba diving equipment for quadriplegics, said deep water not only offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy "We are only at the tip of the iceberg there," he noted but also the release of serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter that can do wonders to also combat depression. In addition to physical benefits, "the confidence and independence" this activity builds can create a "paradigm shift in their potential," Elliott insisted. "When he comes out of the water, he's no longer Johnny in a wheelchair. He's Johnny the scuba diver." Diveheart works to train those with disabilities in pools across the suburbs; and takes many of them on location to such places as Cozumel, Mexico. Saturday's training at the Vaughan Center was the first time the group worked with the DuPage vet center, and it will continue to do so in Aurora on the first Fridays of every month. Elliott's desire to build a deep warm-water pool is not new. He'd been working with the Veterans Administration to build a 44-foot pool after the VA had "mothballed its own" warm water pool decades earlier, he said. But in 2010, about the same time he and the VA were making presentations in Washington, D.C., to fund this project, he said, new research showed that in order to "get that serotonin fix" you had to go at least 66 feet. And to do any technical diving, which leads to more commercial opportunities, you have to go beyond 130 feet. Extending the plans to 150 feet was made after Elliott learned of a 137-foot facility in Italy. "Why not go deeper," he asked, in order to lay claim to the world's deepest pool. Advertisement Elliott became interested in Aurora after speaking at a Rotary meeting over a year ago. Charlie Zine, a member of the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Review Committee, pointed out some reasons Aurora would make an excellent choice. Not only is the city close to Chicago's world-class medical research institutions, it had its own airport, a train station within walking distance and a parcel of land near the river, no less that had once been a landfill, which would make that deep dig less difficult. Zine put him in touch with Dave Patzelt, president of Shodeen, who they said saw the potential of this project immediately. Elliott has also met with all four mayoral candidates, who he described as "very excited" about the project According to Aurora spokesman Clayton Muhammad, Diveheart has been engaged in preliminary talks with the city, but have filed no formal plans yet. "Once that happens," he noted, officials "will be able to have more in-depth discussions with the Diveheart team." Zine, in the meantime, is both optimistic and excited about the way this project could develop. "I'm always looking for things that make sense in downtown Aurora," he said. "And this is the spark that could really make a difference." Advertisement Not only is it a well-researched and compelling project, Diveheart already has what he described as "a world-class team" in place including architects Perkins + Will, the medical consulting firm Prism Healthcare Partners and CASE Construction to turn the dream into a reality. While Elliott's goal is to eventually offer four pools on a three-acre site near the river, the current plan is for a beginner pool that will go down 20 feet and a second pool that, for the first 33 feet will be housed "in glass above-grade" and will contain ledges every 33 feet thereafter. The bottom, he said, would be at least 20 feet wide and be able to hold eight divers. "Putting a Starbucks in downtown Aurora may be a lot easier," noted Elliott, but the payoff on this unique project could be a game-changer. "It could have a huge impact on this city," agreed Zine. "It would be a unique institution and Aurora would be uniquely qualified to make it a success." Dcrosby@tribpub.com Flash The Israeli parliament's vote to legalize settlement posts in the West Bank outraged the Palestinians on Tuesday, who warned that the vote would bring a global wrath against Israel. On Monday night, the Israeli parliament voted in favor of legalizing 4,000 Jewish settlements that will be built on Palestinian-owned lands in the West Bank. 60 Israeli parliament members voted in favor and 52 voted against the bill, which drove the Palestinians furious. Nabil Abu Rdineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an official press statement that "this is an escalation that would only lead to more instability and chaos in the entire region." He called the Israeli Knesset vote "unacceptable." He said that the Israeli decision violates the recent United Nations Security Council resolution 2,334, which condemned the Israeli settlement and called on Israel to halt it, adding that "Israel continues settlement expansion and building and neglects the international laws and resolutions." The Israeli settlement expansion and building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is the thorniest issue which obstructs the resumption of the bilateral peace negotiations. Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said in an emailed statement that legalizing settlement "is dangerous and a legalized theft of the Palestinian land properties, even if the bill contains provisions to compensate the Palestinians or give them other land in exchange." Meanwhile, the Palestinians slammed the United States position towards the most recent Israeli parliament decision. However, the Administration of President Donald Trump had stated last week that the construction of new settlements "may not be helpful" in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace. Israel was furious when the United States, under former President Barack Obama, abstained instead of vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution in December, calling the settlements illegal and demanding Israel stop building them. The Palestinians want the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which were occupied by Israel in 1967, as the lands for their future independent Palestinian state, with east Jerusalem as its capital. In Gaza, Abdulatif al-Qanou, a spokesman for Hamas movement, said in an emailed press statement that the Israeli government decision to legalize settlement "is an organized terrorism and a continuation to the endless aggression on the Palestinian people and their properties." "The new law of the Israeli occupation can never be legal," he said, stressing that American support, the silence of the world and the wrong policies of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) encouraged Israel to do so. Mohamed al-Hindi, a senior official in the less-influential Islamic Jihad (Holy War) group, said that the PNA is unable to defend the properties of the Palestinian people and their lands, adding "it should give a free hand to the Palestinian armed resistance to stop this stupidity." In Israel, one lawmaker said the measure is an "acute danger to the State of Israel" and says it goes against Israeli law. Israel's attorney general has called it unconstitutional, according to Israeli media reports. However, nationalist lawmakers said the Jewish people have a connection to the land and a right to it. They believed legalizing the settlements is in Israel's interest and denied it is a path toward annexation. Scott Redman posed as a psychologist in the south suburbs. After he posed as a psychiatrist in Chicago, he was sentenced to13 years in prison. (South Holland Police Department) Dozens of people turned to Dr. Lopez at a low point in their lives, seeking psychiatric help for disorders ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity to bipolar. The doctor spent many hours in counseling sessions at Clarity Clinic on Chicago's Near North Side, prescribing powerful psychiatric drugs for many of his patients. Advertisement But Dr. Lopez turned out to be an alias for Scott Redman, a man who not only didn't have a medical degree or license but may not have even graduated from high school, federal prosecutors said. Calling Redman a consummate con artist, prosecutors said he spent much of the past decade posing as a medical professional, but his months at the Clarity Clinic in late 2015 and early 2016 turned out to be his most brazen. On Wednesday, Redman faced his day of reckoning in federal court as U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan sentenced him to 13 years in prison for his betrayal of more than 100 patients who had put their trust in him at particularly vulnerable times in their lives. Advertisement Prosecutors ridiculed Redman for displaying a "stunning lack of remorse," noting that his lawyer in a filing before the sentencing claimed Redman "did the best anyone could for his patients." Even after a jury convicted him in November of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and other charges, Redman continued to falsely claim to court officials that he had earned a Ph.D. in just three years after writing a dissertation on sexual trauma in the adult film industry all lies, according to prosecutors. "He believes he deserves to be a doctor without the blood, sweat and tears required to be a doctor," Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Durick said. "... The defendant's only skill is being a con man." But Redman, 37, who has been in custody since his arrest a year ago, remained unapologetic and defiant while giving rambling remarks to Der-Yeghiayan before the judge imposed the 13-year, one-month sentence. The shackled Redman, is long gray hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, drew a comparison between his conviction and the life stories of Jesus Christ, Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and prompting gasps from the courtroom Bill Cosby. Redman made clear he felt persecuted and said the real victims of the case were his four children and wife. "That will teach me to challenge the United States government," he said. Living a lie Advertisement Prosecutors have compared Redman to Frank Abagnale Jr., the confidence man whose exploits as an airline pilot, a physician and a lawyer inspired the movie "Catch Me If You Can." For years, Redman has sought to act as a mental health professional, prosecutors said. At first, he was able to obtain a license in Florida, where he grew up, as a clinical social worker in 2009, but regulators soon found he had provided fraudulent information, and Redman voluntarily gave up his license. Redman moved to northwest Indiana and started practicing as a mental health counselor in Chicago's south suburbs, according to prosecutors. He opened up Catharsis Clinic in Oak Forest before moving the practice to South Holland and then Oak Lawn, all the while advertising himself on the internet and claiming to have a doctorate degree, prosecutors said. By June 2014, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation learned that Redman was promoting himself as a psychologist and issued a cease-and-desist order. Late that same year, South Holland police arrested Redman at his Catharsis office. He acknowledged knowing of the cease-and-desist order but claimed he was providing only "consultation" services to clients, prosecutors said. On the office wall, investigators saw two diplomas a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Walden University and a master's in forensic psychology from Kaplan University. Officers contacted both universities and found no record of his attendance or graduation, prosecutors said. Advertisement In October 2015, Redman pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge in Cook County Circuit Court and was sentenced to one year of court supervision for practicing without a license. A few days later, Redman applied to Clarity Clinic to be a psychiatrist, according to prosecutors. 'Real consequences' His patients weren't the only victims so were Clarity Clinic and the real Dr. Lopez, who works at Stroger Hospital, prosecutors said. A Stroger spokeswoman speaking for the doctor and an attorney for the clinic declined to comment. Redman had stolen Dr. Lopez's identity and fabricated what prosecutors called "an entire universe of paperwork" including fake diplomas, resumes and licenses to give authenticity to his claim of being a psychiatrist. Investigators later found in Redman's cellphone numerous fake driver's licenses and Social Security cards with Dr. Lopez's name and of varying quality, showing he was practicing to perfect his forgeries, prosecutors said. Advertisement A profile on the clinic's website showed a photograph of Redman using the real doctor's name and phony biographical and educational information. Beginning in November 2015, Redman maintained office hours five days a week at the clinic at 1 E. Superior St. Over the next four months, Redman treated more than 100 patients. Armed with a Drug Enforcement Administration license he fraudulently obtained under Dr. Lopez's name, Redman issued 92 prescriptions to more than 50 of the patients to treat psychiatric problems ranging from anxiety to panic attacks, prosecutors said. Authorities did not allege that Redman's recklessness caused serious injury to any patient, but the risk of that happening was real, prosecutors said. Among those he treated was a 9-year-old boy whom Redman prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity. Prosecutors said Redman's online bio claimed he had special expertise with children by "relating to them using humor and current cultural trends." Patients confided in Redman, sharing intimate and personal details about their relationships, fears and anxieties, and their sex lives, prosecutors said. Advertisement After Redman's ruse was exposed, many felt vulnerable and struggled to trust medical professionals again, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors read in court from a statement from one victim a college student who wrote she was struggling with depression and anxiety and was in a particularly vulnerable position when she sought help from Redman in part because he was located just a few blocks from her school. She said Redman misdiagnosed her and prescribed the incorrect medication, causing her depression to worsen and leading her to take a semester off at Redman's advice. Unhappy with how the clinic handled the matter after Redman's arrest, she said she felt like she was having a nervous breakdown and resigned from an internship. She ended up moving out of state. "From a young age, we are taught that doctors are trustworthy, that their offices are to be viewed as 'safe' places where we can honestly share our concerns without fear or judgment," the victim wrote. "I feel extremely violated about sharing personal things with someone who was not a doctor and only pretended to be a health care professional," she said. Advertisement "There were real consequences to the defendant's actions," said Durick, the assistant U.S. attorney. 'About the money' Redman's attorney, Gerald J. Collins, argued for leniency, citing what he called his client's "best intentions." Collins also tried to distinguish Redman's fraud from a "Bernie Madoff fraud," a reference to the Wall Street figure convicted in one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history. Collins argued Redman wanted to work, not steal people's money. "He has a genuine belief he can help the individuals he is meeting," he said. Collins also questioned that Redman took advantage of particularly vulnerable people, calling them "rather sophisticated patients" who had previously been to clinics and seen doctors. Advertisement "These patients were not vulnerable," Collins said. "They knew what they were doing." Durick called that argument "frankly ridiculous" and also disputed Redman's motivation, saying he stood to make about $200,000 a year through his fraud. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "It was about the money," Durick said. Many of those who end up in the criminal justice system "never had a shot," Durick said. But Redman, who grew up in a stable, middle-class background with a mother who was a nurse, "had opportunities," she said. Redman's mother, Valerie, reached by phone a day before the sentencing, said there were "underlying causes" for her son's behavior but she declined to elaborate. "My son is my son," she said. "Like any mother, you love your children unconditionally." Advertisement Chicago Tribune's Marwa Eltagouri contributed. gpratt@chicagotribune.com Twitter @royalpratt Tesla (left to right) guitarist Frank Hannon, bassist Brian Wheat, vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Dave Rude and drummer Troy Luccketta will perform Feb. 18, at Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville, Ind., and return for a spring/summer tour with Def Leppard and Poison, stopping June 24 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. (Photo courtesy of Tesla/Donovan Public Relations) Life just seems to keep gettin' better for Tesla. The hard rockers named after Nikola Tesla, the inventor of alternating current, and whose blue-collar appeal was a fresh alternative to the glam rockers of the '80s, marked their 30th anniversary with a live album and new single last year. Advertisement This year, Tesla is doing a month of winter gigs, including on Feb. 18, at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind., followed by a mega spring/summer tour with Def Leppard and Poison and new studio album. "It's so cool because at one time it was not cool to be '80s, and now it's totally cool to be '80s," Tesla drummer Troy Luccketta said over the phone from St. Charles two days before the tour kicked off at the Arcada Theater. Advertisement The band arrived in the Midwest unusually early for a gig so that the crew, including a member of Def Leppard's team, could familiarize itself with new video and other special effects for the first date. "We've added production value to show and have not really put a big focus on that stuff over the years. It's going to be cool to let our fans know they can expect a new revised show," said Luccketta, a renowned session drummer living in Nashville whose roster includes Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), Whitford St. Holmes (Brad Whitford of Aerosmith and Derek St. Holmes of Ted Nugent), Ronnie Montrose and Doris Day. Credited with inspiring MTV's "Unplugged" series with the 1990 live album "Five Man Acoustical Jam" with its Top 20 cover of Five Man Electrical Band's "Signs," Tesla has always been known for putting music first and not so much bothering with theatrics. But time's makin' changes and amping up its concerts is just the latest result of Tesla's longstanding relationship with Def Leppard. Tesla's ninth full-length studio album, due out by year's end, is being produced by Def Leppard lead guitarist Phil Collen, who also wrote and produced Tesla's latest single "Save That Goodness," after Collen decided the song was a better fit for Tesla than for his side project, Delta Deep, with Tesla vocalist Jeff Keith just as a guest artist. "Save That Goodness" was a bonus track on last summer's "Mechanical Resonance, Live!" on Tesla's own label, Tesla Electric Company Recordings. The video for the upbeat track was filmed in a church in Sacramento, Calif., the quintet's home base, and directed by Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon. The live album celebrates the 30th anniversary of "Mechanical Resonance," the multiplatinum release featuring "Changes," "Gettin' Better," "Ez Come Ez Go," "Modern Day Cowboy," "2 Late 4 Love," "Love Me" and "Little Suzi." While "Mechanical Resonance" introduced Tesla, and launched today's total of more than 25 million albums sold, it was a slot on Def Leppard's "Hysteria" tour and the second album, "The Great Radio Controversy" (1989), the solidified their success with such tracks as "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)," "Hang Tough," "The Way It Is," and the Top 10 ballad "Love Song." Over the years, collaborations have included Hannon's solo band playing dates with Def Leppard and Tesla writing a tribute song to late Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark titled "Song and Emotion" on 1991's "Psychotic Supper" album, which furthered Tesla's notoriety with standout cuts "What You Give," "Edison's Medicine" and "Call It What You Want." Advertisement Last year, Tesla and Def Leppard toured together with Styx. The spring/summer tour with Poison includes June 24 at Tinley Park's Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. "We're far from sick of each other," Luccketta said of Tesla's friendship with Def Leppard. "We love each other. It's very much a family. We've evolved. Back in the day on the 'Hysteria' tour, we did almost two years, all of Canada, Europe and the U.S. It seems like coming full circle. These are the golden years with Leppard and we've been so fortunate to share that with them. It's been amazing." Much has changed, of course, in the three decades since "Mechanical Resonance." "That's kind of a trip. it doesn't feel like 30 years by any means," Luccketta said. "What's different about today and yesteryear so to speak is there's so much more behind us in wisdom and what not to do and how to take care of ourselves. It's a different playing field for sure. We're all very health conscious. There's a lot sustaining us right now." Tesla Luccketta, Hannon, Keith and bassist Brian Wheat and guitarist Dave Rude (who officially replaced Tommy Skeoch in 2006) are no longer caught up in the party-hardy scene. "The band has not had an ounce of alcohol or a drug on a tour in 15 years," said Luccketta, who's been clean and sober for 23 years and in 2012 started a healthy-living foundation called A-Song4Wellness. "When you're young it goes with the territory, but before you know it you have a drug problem and people are fighting." Advertisement Substance abuse caused Tesla's breakup in the '90s. In 2000, Tesla's reunion was embraced with a sold out show at Sacramento's 10,330-seat Arco Arena (now Sleep Train Arena). Fast forward to 2017 and Tesla will tour 30,000-seat-plus amphitheaters once again. Luccketta said he's uncertain about Collen joining Tesla onstage for "Save That Goodness" as he did in 2016. But he is sure having him produce the new album is a blessing. "For Phil to have taken this on it just blows my mind," he said. "He's made such a commitment to do this. Tesla can go in and record fairly quickly. Phil has a different way of working, looking at all the factors in the song and making sure there's nothing wasted. It's in-depth on his part." Luccketta recorded drums at the studio, but much of the preproduction and recording was done on the tour bus and in hotel and dressing rooms last summer. Collen, in an interview with Classic Rock Revisited, spoke high praise of the upcoming release, saying: "If you took Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Beatles and AC/DC and mixed it all up, that's what the new Tesla album sounds like we actually tried to create the best rock album of this century." Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "He said that? Wow," Luccketta said. "We are going for that. We have a great new record because of Phil and what he's brought to it." Advertisement Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the daily Southtown. Tesla in concert When: 8 p.m. Feb. 18 Where: Star Plaza Theatre, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville, Ind. Tickets: $50 and $75 Information: 219-769-6311 or www.starplazatheatre.com Two men were shot early Tuesday morning in a home near Thornridge High School in Dolton, police said. The two victims a 24-year-old Chicago resident and a 23-year-old Calumet City resident were inside the living room of a home in the 14900 block of Langley Avenue about 1:25 a.m. when an unidentified person fired nine shots from a .40 caliber weapon into the residence from outside, Dolton Police Commander Darryl Hope said Advertisement The Chicago man was shot six times, with one bullet going through his neck. The Calumet City man in the right leg, Hope said. The shooter fled the scene on foot before police arrived. The reason for the shooting remains a mystery, he said. Advertisement Hope is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 708-201-3200. Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Fine tuning costs and designs of a new judicial complex, Will County officials also are discussing the future of the current four-story courthouse. During a Tuesday morning meeting of the county board's capital improvements committee, members asked architect Jason Dwyer, of Wight and Co., to provide costs for renovation and demolition. They also asked the architect to determine if the mechanical systems, windows and elevators needed to be upgraded in the 50-year-old building. Advertisement Dwyer, who is designing the new courthouse across the street from the current facility at the corner of Ottawa and Jefferson Streets in downtown Joliet, said if officials plan to renovate the building for long term use, it will need a "significant overhaul." "It's a solid building but needs a lot of investment to upgrade it," he said. "You need to think about more than what you need today." Advertisement He suggested that the first two floors of the existing courthouse be used for other court-related functions, such as probation and public defender's offices, which were eliminated from the new courthouse as a cost-saving measure. The third and fourth floors could be "mothballed" for future uses, or house specialty courts, he said. The county's Child Advocacy Center and its specialty courts for drug offenders, veterans, and mental health cases are now temporarily housed in the former First Midwest Bank building, along with some of the sheriff's offices. The building will be demolished and its site will be used to build the new courthouse. The offices will need to be relocated by the end of the year, said Nick Palmer, chief of staff for County Executive Larry Walsh. Officials previously discussed renting the first floor of the existing courthouse for commercial uses, which would generate revenue, but would require more renovation. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Board Speaker Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort Township, suggested a workshop session to explore all options, once they have some cost estimates. The committee also is waiting for figures on what the new courthouse will cost, based on the design recently completed by Dwyer. The county has budgeted $195 million for the 10-story, 370,000 square foot complex, and may decide to leave the top two floors as shells. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring 2018. Advertisement Court administrator Roger Holland told the committee he would like to see those floors built out for courtrooms, saying there will be a demand for courtrooms in the future. County officials previously discussed building a satellite courthouse in the northern part of the county, but on Tuesday, Moustis said that project is far into the future after the courthouse and the new health department facility are built. He also urged committee members to rethink the satellite facility, saying it should house other county services in addition to courtrooms. slafferty@tribpub.com You are here: Home Flash Ukraine may impose martial law if the crisis in the country's eastern regions deepens, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said late Monday. "Regarding the martial law -- if the security situation deteriorates further, I do not rule out its introduction," Klimkin said in a televised interview. He added that martial law is a necessary option during armed conflicts, and that some countries are dealing with wars without that option. The comments came as tensions between government troops and independence-seeking insurgents escalated this month, bringing new casualties. In the past day, two combatants from both sides were killed and two others wounded. A 15-year-old died after he was caught in the crossfire between the confronting sides. Last week, Kiev said the introduction of martial law was not under consideration. The conflict between government troops and rebels in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming some 10,000 lives. The latest Illinois credit rating downgrade from Fitch Ratings is chock full of phrases that could be used in the next campaign cycle against the governor and other incumbents. The one that's made the most headlines is "Unprecedented failure," as in Fitch's downgrade "reflects the unprecedented failure of the state to enact a full budget for two consecutive years and the financial implications of spending far in excess of available revenues, which has resulted in increased accumulated liabilities and reduced financial flexibility." Advertisement But that's just stating the obvious. Pretty much anybody paying half attention out there knows the people who run the government are participating in an "unprecedented failure." This has never happened before in Illinois, or in any other state for that matter. However, here's another Fitch phrase: "Fundamentally weakened," as in "Even if the current attempts at a resolution to the extended impasse prove successful, Fitch believes that the failure to act to date has fundamentally weakened the state's financial profile." Advertisement In other words, digging out from under this impasse is going to be a long, hard, painful slog. And the longer the impasse lasts, the more difficult that process will become. As the state's economic activity appears to slow, a third Fitch observation is worth noting here: "Illinois has failed to capitalize on the economic growth of recent years to bolster its financial position." While other states were piling up surpluses during the national economic recovery, Illinois was creating a mountain of debt mainly because Democrats allowed the 2011 tax hike to partially expire and the Republican governor wouldn't negotiate a new revenue and spending deal until he got his precious economic reforms. So, if the national economy does enter a recession in the coming months, Illinois will be in a truly horrible spot. One more phrase from Fitch: "Very weak," as in "Illinois' operating performance, both during the great recession and in this subsequent period of economic growth, has been very weak." Starting in 2002, Illinois has elected three governors in a row who can't seem to get their arms around the job. And, instead of helping them do their jobs, legislative Democrats, particularly in the House, have preferred to fight and obstruct them. Even the income tax hike turned out to be a failure because it was temporary, expiring midway through a fiscal year while a Democratic governor was heading out the door. "Very weak," indeed. And speaking of weak, Gov. Bruce Rauner indicated to the Chicago Tribune last week that he plans to propose a budget much like the one he unveiled last year. In other words, yet another punt. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Last year, the governor punted on $3.5 billion in cuts needed to put his proposal into balance. Instead of outlining the actual cuts, and therefore wearing the political jacket for suggesting those cuts, he simply said he was willing to work with the General Assembly on finding where to cut or the GA could give him the authority to make the cuts on his own without first explaining where he would cut. If cuts became necessary, the governor told his legislative audience last year, "I would ask the legislature to work with us to make these tough decisions. If you are not willing to do that, then give the Executive Branch the flexibility to reallocate resources and make reductions to state spending as necessary." Advertisement And this is what Rauner told the Tribune last week: "Either the General Assembly authorizes me to make cuts, not my first choice but I'll do that, or let's work together to do a balanced budget with cuts and, what I prefer is, a balance of cuts, some revenues and major structural change." State law forbids governors from using revenue streams that aren't currently in place to balance their budget proposals. Gov. Rod Blagojevich did that time and time again, coming up with tax or fee plans that magically balanced his proposal. But every reform has its downside, and the downside to this one is that instead of using phony revenues to balance a budget plan, Rauner has used phony cuts. The root of "leadership" is "lead," and that, by definition, means going first. Our state Constitution, however flawed, built that leadership into its two main budgetary mandates. First, the governor proposes a balanced budget, then the General Assembly passes a balanced spending plan. Neither have worked out too well of late, or for quite a while. But the state constitutional convention delegates obviously wanted governors to lead. Instead, we get six downgrades in the last two years. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. Dr. Wynn Sheade was arrested Saturday outside the Palatine Township Republican Headquarters. Sheade, who has a pediatric practice in Elgin, was with hundreds of activists protesting and calling for U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam to host a town hall on the Affordable Care Act. (Brian O'Mahoney / The Courier-News) An Elgin pediatrician arrested during a political protest Saturday morning was charged with criminal trespass to property, police said Tuesday. Dr. Wynn Sheade, 59, of the 300 block of Pondview Drive, Palatine, was arrested and charged with one count of criminal trespass to property outside the Palatine Township Republican Organization, according to Palatine Police Commander Craig Lesselyoung. Advertisement "There was a designated area where protesters could assemble, and it looks like he and a couple other individuals strayed from the designated areas and did not comply," said Lesselyoung. "He was walking on a walkway adjacent to the storefront. He was advised to go back, and he refused." The ordinance violation is not a jailable offense but if found guilty, he could face a fine or community service, Lesselyoung said. Sheade posted a $120 I-bond and was released. His court date will be 9 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse, Room 209. Advertisement Sheade did not return calls requesting an interview. Sheade, who has offices in Streamwood and Elgin, was the only arrest during the demonstration Saturday, according to Palatine Police Commander Mike Vargas, who was on the scene. More than 300 people describing themselves as concerned citizens of the 6th District of Illinois demonstrated outside of the Palatine Township Republican Organization offices while U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam spoke at a meeting inside. Demonstrators were vocal in their words and signs about Roskam not being available to his constituents who are seeking information about his plans to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and his support of President Donald Trump's immigration and travel ban. Many signs read "Keep the ACA" and "Repeal and Replace Roskam." Roskam, who declined to engage with demonstrators in the parking lot Saturday, affirmed that he is actively engaged in meeting with constituents, citing his 2016 schedule of "147 meetings, events and award presentations, 74 meetings at the district office, 30 roundtable discussions, 21 school visits, 107 other site visits to local businesses, hospitals, nonprofits, 113 different speaking engagements and 11 tele-town halls." He has meetings in the district planned Thursday and a telephone town hall scheduled for Feb. 13. Roskam is in his sixth term since being elected in 2006 to represent 800,000 constituents the 6th District of Illinois, which covers parts of Cook, Lake, Kane, DuPage and McHenry counties, representing 57 communities in the northwest and western suburbs including his hometown of Wheaton. Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelance reporter. Nearly five years to the day of his Elgin Police Department retirement ceremony, retired Sgt. Tom Linder died. He was 61. The longtime Elgin officer was remembered by his former co-workers and other city officials as a caring officer dedicated to his family, church and the Elgin community. Advertisement As a retired officer, Linder will have a full police funeral and burial, said Elgin Police Cmdr. Colin Fleury. Details for those services are still pending. Linder died Wednesday morning. His retirement ceremony was held Feb. 7, 2012, at the Centre of Elgin. Just three months later, Linder suffered a debilitating stroke at age 56. Advertisement A fundraiser for the family held in August 2014 filled Danny's Pizza with retired and active police, fire and other area officials. 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) "It was elbow to elbow, with people rolling out of Danny's," said Elgin City Council member Rich Dunne. Dunne, a former Elgin firefighter, worked with Linder across the two departments. "My memory was that he was a constant professional as a police officer," Dunne said, but that wasn't what he remembered Linder for. "He was nice to everyone. You can't find anyone as nice as Tom Linder," Dunne said. Linder was known not just as a police officer, but for many area children he was Santa Claus. For more than a decade, Linder dressed as St. Nick for the annual Caroling and Caring event at Presence Saint Joseph Hospital. Retired Sgt. Tom Olson would often read "The Polar Express" during those events. Olson was with Linder's wife, Dawn, as funeral preparations were underway. Advertisement "He would help with anything," and volunteer his time, Olson said. During his retirement ceremony, Linder said his plans were to serve with a missions trip to Africa. He and a dentist planned to teach villagers how to prescribe eyeglasses and do basic dental work. Linder often used his vacation time on similar mission trips, having gone to Sierra Leone, Brazil and the Czech Republic, Olson said. "He was Mr. Volunteer," Olson said. Linder was technically savvy, Olson added. When he couldn't find a report lost somewhere on his computer, Olson said he'd call Linder to come fish it out of the computer. "He would come over and save me," Olson said. Advertisement Jack Darr, also a retired Elgin officer, said Linder always found a way to solve problems for people. "If he couldn't solve it, he would find someone who could," Darr said. "He cared for his family and his community," Darr added. "He had a rapport with people he could just sit down and talk to people," Olson said. "He was EPD through and through." Linder started as an Elgin community service officer and as a patrolman in Carpentersville before coming to the Elgin Police Department in 1985. He was a patrol officer and on the major investigations squad before he was promoted to sergeant in 1993. As a sergeant, Linder served in special investigations and internal affairs. Just before retirement, Linder was the director of communications and emergency management and day shift patrol sergeant. Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Hinsdale officials don't want to blow "a once in a lifetime opportunity" to improve parking in their downtown. That's how they view the plan to partner with Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 and build a parking garage next to the new Hinsdale Middle School, at 100 S. Garfield St. Advertisement So the Village Board is inviting public input on the choice of two sizes for the village portion of the garage. The board committed Tuesday to paying for the second level of a parking deck. The top level will have 124 spaces for the middle school staff. Advertisement The lower level would be available to customers of Hinsdale's downtown businesses, who often complain about the lack of parking spaces close to the stores, salons and restaurants they want to patronize. The village is considering two designs for the lower level. One would have 189 parking spaces and cost an estimated $4.5 million; the other would have 118 spaces and cost an estimated $2.8 million. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning did a parking study of Hinsdale's central business district in 2014 and reported all of the spaces with parking meters were full between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The agency reported that 85 percent occupancy would be ideal, so that drivers do not have to circle through the downtown repeatedly looking for an open space. To reach that goal, and allow spaces for businesses that may move into vacant buildings, the village staff calculated the smaller deck should be sufficient. But Village President Thomas Cauley, Jr. acknowledged determining the best number of parking spaces is more art than science. He wants to hear what residents and business owners think. "This is a big enough issue we want to have it fully vetted," Cauley said. The school district was planning to issue the first set of bid documents for the project in mid-February. Village Trustee Laura LaPlaca urged the village administration to have bid documents prepared for both size decks, which would cost the village an additional $8,500. Advertisement She and Trustee Jerry Hughes said officials do not know how much business is lost due to people who give up trying to find a parking space and how many business owners choose not to locate in Hinsdale because of its limited parking spaces. The village has posted information about the parking garage options and a link for residents to comment on the issue on its website, www.villageofhinsdale.org. "We are going to have residents who never go to the downtown between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., who will automatically say 'go for the smaller garage,'" predicted Trustee Luke Stifflear. "On the flip side, business owners will want the larger parking garage because they would not have to pay for it." Brian Kronewitter, the school district's architect, said he needs the village's decision by April 1. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Cauley said. "We don't want to make a bad decision here." kfornek@pioneerlocal.com Advertisement Twitter @kfdoings Flash The international naval exercise "AMAN-17" (AMAN means peace in Urdu) will be held in Karachi, Pakistan, from February 10-14. More than 35 countries will participate in the event. A ship-borne helicopter conducted maritime search and rescue during a multi-subject drill in the east waters of the Gulf of Aden on Jan. 17, 2017. [Photo/Military.cnr.cn] The multinational exercise, themed "together for peace," has been planned by the Pakistan Navy and will be conducted in the North Arabian Sea. AMAN 17 exercise will feature harbor and sea phases where participants will witness a variety of activities including Search & Rescue (SAR) Operations, gunnery drills, anti-piracy demonstrations, replenishment at Sea (RAS) and maritime counter-terrorism demonstrations. It involves ships, aircraft, helicopters, Special Operations Forces (SOF), Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD), marine teams and observers from regional as well extra-regional navies. This exercise provides a platform for the navies involved - some of which do not work together very often - to hone their skills and build cooperation and friendship to promote peace and stability. The joint drill will bring together navies from 12 countries including Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, observers from 31 countries will also attend the event. It's the fifth time that China has participated in the joint drill. The Chinese navy fleet will include the guided-missile destroyer Harbin, guided-missile frigate Handan and the comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu. Initiated and organized by Pakistan, the "AMAN" series exercise has been held every other year since 2007, aiming to boost inter-operability and to demonstrate the allied nation's capabilities to fight terrorism and other maritime threats. A former Lake Villa man's dying words may hold a message for a Lake County jury, a prosecutor said Tuesday afternoon. "Listen to what he is saying," Assistant State's Attorney Scott Turk told jurors, after informing them they will hear a 911 call to Waukegan police in which fatally stabbed Jacob Blum can be heard in the background "moaning and screaming." Advertisement Turk had already told the jury that as Blum lay stabbed in the chest and bleeding heavily near the lobby of a Waukegan Red Roof Inn, he was asked what happened and witnesses heard him say that he was "attacked by Kevin Curtis." Curtis, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Blum, who was stabbed on the night of July 16, 2013. After a jury was selected Monday afternoon and part of Tuesday, the trial of Curtis began with opening statements and witness testimony Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Turk said that Blum, his brother and his father were temporarily staying at the motel in Waukegan while working for a Chicago meat company and seeking to establish a residence. He said Curtis knew and worked with all three men and was looking for a place to stay that evening. He was told that he could come up to their room and use the phone to try to make arrangements for the night, but that he couldn't stay there, Turk said. Turk said while Curtis was in the motel room, the father went into the bathroom to shave and then heard Jacob Blum say, "Kevin, what are you doing," at which point he came out of the bathroom and saw Jacob holding a blood-soaked pillow to his chest and Curtis holding a knife. The father told Jacob Blum, who could still walk, to go down to the lobby and Jacob left the room, Turk said. Turk said Jacob Blum ended up "half lying and half sitting" in a side breakfast room of the hotel holding pressure to his chest as a motel employee called 911. When paramedics and police arrived, Turk said Blum's father and Curtis were found struggling in the Blums' hotel room. Curtis was treated for a cut to the hand and then released to the custody of police, and Blum died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, Turk said. Turk told the jury that in addition to the 911 call, the jury will see a video and other evidence and that by the end of the trial, jurors will come to the conclusion that "the defendant is guilty of first-degree murder." Advertisement "Kevin Curtis is absolutely innocent of these charges," defense attorney Kevin Malia responded in his opening statement. "You will hear a lot of witnesses and evidence to try to convince you otherwise. Ask yourself, does that evidence show you what happened in that hotel that night? Or is it there for other reasons, to shock you, to garner sympathy." Malia said that Blum's death that night was a "terrible, terrible tragedy," but said Curtis and Blum were friends and it made no sense that Curtis would attack Blum "for no reason." He said the allegations against Curtis are "based on speculation and assumptions," and that if jurors hold the state to its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, they will find Curtis not guilty. Following opening statements, Jacob Blum's mother, a Lake Villa resident, briefly took the witness stand and was asked by Assistant State's Attorney Daniel Kleinhubert how she found out about her son's death. She said her husband at the time, Jacob's father, had called her at 2 a.m. that night but she didn't answer the phone, and was told her son was dead by a Sheriff's Office deputy who came to her door later that morning. The trial of Curtis, being heard by Lake County Circuit Judge George Strickland, is scheduled to continue Wednesday. Advertisement Curtis, who is being held in Lake County Jail with bail set at $5 million, faces a mandatory minimum of 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted. jrnewton@tribpub.com Twitter @jimnewton5 Chef Angel Rodriguez brings to life his native Puerto Rican recipes to life at El Buren Caribbean Cuisine in Highwood. (Photo courtesy of El Buren) El Buren Caribbean Cuisine in Highwood belongs to that special category of restaurant: IfImever, which translates to, "If I'm ever going to open my own restaurant, now is the time." Chef Angel Rodriguez had worked at Miramar and at Froggy's. His wife, Beatriz, who owns El Buren, said, "He always dreamed of having his own place and to see all of his own native Puerto Rican recipes come to life." Advertisement The Waukegan residents considered opening that restaurant in their hometown, but it didn't pan out. Angel knew Highwood and saw a void his dream restaurant could fulfill. "Highwood is a restaurant destination and a blend of different types of food," he observed, "but Caribbean (cuisine) was missing." A friend, Beatriz said, encouraged the couple to make the leap. He told them, "If you're ever going to do this, you need to just go in and do it." Advertisement The restaurant opened last September in the space formerly occupied by the Grill. Beatriz, whose parents were from Puerto Rico, was born and raised in Waukegan. Angel was born on the island, and first moved to the United States with his grandmother at a young age. Beatriz's family knew Angel's family, but they did not meet until mutual friends orchestrated an introduction. The first meal he cooked for her, she recalls, was Caldo Santo (it's on the menu), a seafood stew ($26). "I remember he made it as if he was going to feed an army," she said. They've been married for 17 years. She does double duty running the restaurant as well as working in the audiology department as a patient service representative at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, where she has worked for 25 years. "It's a whole new ballgame for me," she admits, "but I want this restaurant to be what he wanted it to be." Angel describes Caribbean cuisine as flavorful and distinguished by its spices. All the dishes are made fresh and in-house, from the Malanga chips that start each meal to Angel's cheesecake ($9) for dessert. In between are signature dishes from the region, including tostones rellenos ($8), an appetizer consisting of fried green plantains stuffed with shredded beef, shrimp, octopus and conch meat, the Cuban sandwich ($10), and pollo lamaiquino, or jerk chicken ($17). One of the specialties of the house is the Chuleta "Kan Kan" ($22), a Flintstone-sized Puerto Rican pork chop boasting a crispy rind, and the mofongo o trifongo relleno, a fried green banana dish that is stuffed with either shredded beef ($16), grilled chicken in a Creole sauce ($16), fried pork ($16) or shrimp in a Creole sauce ($18). In its first winter, El Buren lures patrons with the promise of exotic flavors and atmosphere. Framed on the wall are vintage travel come-ons to Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. There are retro ads for cool-looking mojitos. Blue walls suggest the ocean and piped in regional music sets a spicy mood. Advertisement For those who feel like dancing, El Buren obliges on weekends at 10 p.m. Angel has a simple suggestion to those unfamiliar with Caribbean cuisine: "Give it a try"; which translate to: If you're ever going to do it, now is the time. Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Tues.-Fri. Dinner: 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Tues.-Thurs; 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Address: 331 Waukegan Ave., Highwood. Contact: 847-780-3310 or visit the restaurant's Facebook page. Donald Liebenson is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun. Will Waukegan's proposed South Sheridan Road development create a lifestyle, as the developer has suggested, in a part of the city long ignored? (Dan Moran / Lake County News-Sun) It's been a harsh decade or so for Arthur Brumfield. First, the city of Waukegan wrecked his house. Then, they rezoned his property, over his objections. Government can be most powerful when it wants to be, especially against the powerless. Advertisement Brumfield came to this newspaper's attention in the summer of 2005 when the city spent about $6,000 to demolish his home on Kennard Street on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. The home on Waukegan's southeast side, by all accounts, was a mess. Neighbors and the Lake County Health Department complained for years about his concrete-block residence. According to a News-Sun story, the back yard was littered with detritus ranging from books to dozens of suitcases. The home didn't have running water, heat or electricity. Advertisement Before the City Council voted unanimously to raze the home, city officials said they tried for years to negotiate with Brumfield and resolve the problem. At the time, 1st Ward Ald. Sam Cunningham, who still represents the area where the home stood, said the house had to be bulldozed because it was "a state of emergency." Fast forward to January 2017, and the City Council now needs the property as part of a mostly city-owned 12-acre gentrification development package. Planners say it will bring needed retail and mixed residential housing to the area. Brumfield, now in his 70s and still living in the same neighborhood with a friend, opposed down-zoning the land from industrial to residential. Cunningham, who was happy to have the home torn down in 2005, apparently now has had second thoughts, voting last month against the rezoning. Joining him and two other aldermen was Lisa May of the North Side's 7th Ward. Both are running for mayor Cunningham in this month's Democratic primary election; May as an independent in the April election. The two mayoral candidates, despite voting against the edict, say the move will be good for Brumfield and make his portion of the development package worth more. May told the City Council: "The property is actually more valuable when it is zoned residential." I'm confused, as undoubtedly is Mr. Brumfield and his allies, for May even noted the rezoning was in his best interest. Yet, May still voted against the issue, which its supporters say will be a long-overdue injection of capital into an area considered under-utilized. Is she saying if it's OK for the property owner, does that imply it will be beneficial for the city, too? Or, it will be fine for the property owner, but not so for the city? Then again, maybe May was just being nice to a senior citizen. "I don't want to force anything on anyone," she admitted at the City Council's Jan. 2 session. If only President Trump had her understanding on how government works and had more empathy for his fellow man. More of us would be happier and calmer when he signs executive orders with a flourish in the Oval Office if he followed her practice. Advertisement Will the proposed development "create a lifestyle," as the developer has suggested, in a part of Waukegan long ignored? Will it be the renaissance near the city's lakeshore which could kick-start further projects? Or is it another exciting plan that dies an unseemly death like so many before? Whatever its future, a bare aldermanic majority vote for a long-awaited project doesn't bode well, especially for Arthur Brumfield. Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor. sellenews@gmail.com Battle-fatigued voters might not have noticed it and/or might have willfully ignored it, but the 2017 election season has slipped into the atmosphere, enticing voters to prepare themselves for action should they be into that kind of thing. Lest you think this "2017 election" is some kind of sick joke being played on everyone still digesting Campaign 2016, check out this announcement released Monday by the Lake County Clerk's office: Advertisement "Lake County residents can visit LakeCountyClerk.info and click on the 'February 28 Primary' to view the Voter Information Guide for the February 28th primary election," the announcement stated, adding that "the one-page voter guide will be printed in local newspapers as early as February 9," for those voters who still don't believe anything until they see it in print. For those who have joined the wonderful world of computers, sure enough, we find a page marked "February 28, 2017 Consolidated Primary Election" though it notes rather coldly that "this election is only for Waukegan Township and the City of Waukegan residents." Advertisement That last statement might come as a tremendous relief to everyone who reads it outside of the 60085 and 60087 ZIP codes. You mean we get to take this one off and not feel guilty about it? Oh, thank God. For those within the Waukegan corporate limits, the Feb. 28 ballot might be the smallest in the history of a city with nearly 90,000 residents: The Democratic primary features exactly two candidates for mayor (listed, in order on a sample ballot, as Wayne Motley and Sam Cunningham), and two for city clerk (Janet E. Kilkelly and Maria LaCour). For Waukegan Township voters, you have one whole race to occupy your thoughts: Victor F. Ruiz v. Arthur Craigen for highway commissioner. Whether or not any of this stirs your blood, the county clerk is rolling out all the bells and whistles, from post-deadline voter registration known by exactly no one outside of the clerking trade as "grace registration," which sounds like you're signing up for Bible school to early-voting sites. "Despite fast approaching deadlines, Waukegan Township and City of Waukegan residents still have several opportunities to register for the first time or update an existing record before the February 28th Primary Election," reads another announcement that was sent to email inboxes far and wide late last week. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 29 Waukegan mayoral candidate Lisa May talks to a voter after a forum hosted by Waukegan High School AP government students on March 22. (Luke Hammill / Lake County News-Sun) That missive added that online registration is available through the Illinois State Board of Elections website (https://ova.elections.il.gov) through Feb. 12, and two early voting sites would be open Feb. 13-27 the Lake County Courthouse/Administrative Complex and the Jane Addams Center in Bowen Park. Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday > All of this is, of course, intended to do many things, and not the least of them is to discourage apathy and encourage voter participation by making it as convenient as possible. In the case of Waukegan, as noted before in this space, voter participation in municipal elections has been on a downward slide for most of the past two decades. Looking strictly at Democratic primaries, 2013 saw Motley defeating Cunningham and Terry Link with 36.1 percent of 4,166 votes cast. In 2009, then-incumbent Richard Hyde topped Cunningham and Jose L. Guzman with 45 percent of 6,017 votes. In 2005, Hyde topped a five-candidate field with 42 percent of 6,342 votes. The picture is even less flattering when looking at the "consolidated election," as the final round is known in these off-off-year deals. In the epic 2001 mayoral race between Dan Drew and Newton Finn, more than 10,600 Waukegan voters headed to the polls. In 2013, with Motley looking to unseat incumbent Robert Sabonjian in a three-candidate field, that total was down to 6,493 or about the amount that primaries used to draw. Advertisement Not that Waukegan is alone in overlooking, if not outright ignoring, these municipal election seasons that arrive less than four months after a U.S. presidential election in that 2013 balloting, turnout countywide in races from Antioch to Zion and from Avon Township to the Fox Waterway Agency was 17.7 percent of registered voters. By stark contrast, last November, Lake County turnout for the general election was 71.2 percent. Also by stark contrast, Lake County's 2016 turnout compares favorably to national turnout in the presidential race, which came in at 55.3 percent proving once again that apathetic voters will get the government they ask for, if not deserve. danmoran@tribpub.com Twitter@NewsSunDanMoran Officials from the Barrington area described a busy 2016 filled with new business openings, increased sale tax revenues and new housing projects during a recent Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce event. The activity throughout the Barrington area could set the stage for more growth in 2017, officials said, expressing optimism for the future Wednesday at the chamber's annual "Economic Summit: State of the Barrington Region." Advertisement Other municipal leaders from smaller villages in the area talked about the desire of some residents who want to maintain the rural character of their suburban villages through land preservation and open public spaces. Barrington Village President Karen Darch highlighted notable business developments in 2016. Advertisement But she also praised fellow village board members for approving an ordinance in November that allows local businesses in Barrington to ignore a Cook County ordinance stipulating a higher minimum wage and an additional number of paid sick days for workers. "Our village board took the lead in opting out," Darch said. With Barrington located in Cook and Lake counties, village officials have said that businesses on the Cook side would face higher operational costs than Lake County-based businesses if required to pay higher wages and provide more paid sick days for workers. Darch spoke alongside other officials in neighboring villages during the chamber's economic summit, which allows local leaders a chance to highlight accomplishments from the past year and outline future issues. The White House in Barrington hosted the event with community leaders from education, business and local government in attendance. Darch also called the White House, a community center located on Main Street, as "one of our big successes," since it attracted about 7,000 visitors to Barrington in 2016. She also said 49 new businesses opened in Barrington last year, bringing more than 1,000 total new jobs to the village. Darch highlighted other projects, including village board members' approval last year of a new 64-unit apartment complex at North Hough and Liberty streets in the downtown. Advertisement The housing project is scheduled to be completed in early 2018, Darch said. In nearby Barrington Hills, local officials took steps in 2016 to address an increase in home-based businesses that have started within the village in recent years, said Daniel Wolfgram, chairman of the Barrington Hills Zoning Board of Appeals. Village officials adopted an ordinance setting guidelines for home-based businesses to conform to the character of existing neighborhoods in Barrington Hills. Those guidelines included ways to maintain low traffic and minimize noise throughout local neighborhoods, Wolfgram said. He also highlighted how 4,000 acres of public land throughout Barrington Hills have attracted numerous visitors from the region. In Kildeer this past year, village officials approved building permits for the construction of Kildeer Village Square, a new retail strip featuring 14 tenants, said Michael Talbett, chief village officer for Kildeer. Officials also have received letters of intent from a few new businesses who plan to sign leases in the coming months to do business in Kildeer, he said. Advertisement "These businesses will be opening from April to September," Talbett said. Paula McCombie, village president for South Barrington, highlighted new outreach efforts in 2016. Before board meetings, village trustees invite residents from each subdivision in the village to ask questions about local issues and learn more about municipal government, she said. The effort started in May, McCombie said. "Sometimes only a few people show up and other times 20 to 25 will be there," she said. "The meetings have never been unattended." Going forward, McCombie said she would like to see more development of the unincorporated areas around South Barrington in an effort to bring additional business and housing activity to the area. Advertisement tshields@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @tshields19 A Chicago man was charged with felony armed robbery Friday after Lincolnwood police said he stole a victim's wallet at gunpoint in the 6500 block of North Central Park Avenue. Alonzo J. Coates, 18, of the 4300 block of South Langley, on the city's South Side, is being held in Cook County Jail with bond set at $350,000, police said in a news release. Advertisement Lincolnwood police said a suspicious vehicle was seen before 9:10 p.m. Friday with the engine running and headlights turned off. According to police, the vehicle pulled out, and accelerated toward a pedestrian who was walking near his home. Advertisement A passenger in the vehicle got out, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the victim before taking his wallet, according to the news release. Police said a responding officer saw the vehicle leaving the area and tried to pull the driver over, but he fled onto the Edens Expressway. The vehicle was later located with help from neighboring law enforcement agencies and Coates was identified in connection with the armed robbery. The victim's wallet and the gun allegedly used in the incident were recovered, Lincolnwood police announced in the news release. Coates is scheduled to appear in court in Skokie Feb. 28. Lincolnwood police officials said they have been issuing public safety alerts in response to recent patterns of crime impacting Chicago suburbs including Lincolnwood. The pattern has involved groups of juveniles and men in their early 20s who travel to suburbs in stolen vehicles to commit crimes of armed robbery, motor vehicle theft and burglaries, police said. Skokie police last year said coordination among several police departments was helpful in combating car thefts and vehicle burglaries committed by suspects coming from the city to the suburbs. The effort led to a reduction of such crimes, Skokie police officials said. Advertisement The department helped identify a pattern of these crimes eventually learning they impacted some 50 suburbs and worked to create more effective enforcement, according to Skokie police officials. In each of these cases, they said, suspects came from the far South Side of Chicago to break into vehicles in the suburbs and then returned to the city. Police officials said they eventually learned the crime spree traveled as far as East Moline. misaacs@pioneerlocal.com @SKReview_Mike Javier Hurtado is a Naperville resident and executive kitchen manager for Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Naperville. His background in Asian cooking may drive his desire to eat Chinese when he goes out to eat at a place that's not his own. (David Sharos / Naperville Sun) In Chef's Choice, the Naperville Sun asks local chefs about their favorite meal in Naperville at a restaurant other than their own. This week, we speak with Javier Hurtado, 38, executive kitchen manager at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Naperville. Hurtado says when he needs a break from his American-driven menu, he heads out for something Chinese. Advertisement Question: Tell us about your background. Hurtado: I was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburbs. At the age of 15, I moved into Naperville and have lived here for many years now. I didn't go to high school. My background includes a lot of Japanese (from) when I was first doing my culinary work. Advertisement Q: What got you interested in food? Hurtado: My dad did a lot of kitchen work. He was a cook and a chef and did banquets. He did a lot of work for Holiday Inns as a head chef. It was just the food piece, having a passion for food. Q: Did he take you along? Were you his little understudy? Hurtado: Yes. I just saw the stuff that he would make at home and create his own menus for the places where he worked, and so that kind of got me interested into looking at that direction in terms of a culinary career. Q: How did you get your own career launched? Hurtado: When I worked at my first job here on Ogden Avenue at Sakura of Tokyo, I did a lot of prepping. Then I got more into tempuras and sushi and I think that was neat as my first experience. I was 18 and I worked there about six years. Q: Where else have you worked? Hurtado: I've done P.F. Chang's and Macaroni Grill and Red Stone American Grill in Oakbrook. Advertisement Q: What brought you to Cooper's Hawk? Hurtado: It was just the change. They have a very scratch kitchen, a big menu and a variety of different ingredients they use. A lot of guests whether they want a steak or a pasta or fish and also the wine club it's different, and they can get anything they want. Q: If you could cook anything you wanted all the time, what would it be? Hurtado: I enjoy doing sushi. Q: Really? Do you feel a little frustrated here not doing that? Hurtado: No, not really. I think that every cuisine is different and it's up to that individual to master it. The more you do something, the more you end up enjoying it. Advertisement Q: When do you go out elsewhere, where do you like to go and what do you order? Hurtado: I go to MingHin Cuisine here in Naperville. It's a Chinese restaurant. I call it fine dining Chinese. I like the crab Rangoon, which is an appetizer, and they also have a black pepper beef. Q: What made you order that the first time? Was it just something you saw on the menu? Hurtado: I've tried it in many places, and theirs just has a nice, spicy kick with the black pepper and a nice tender skirt steak. It's just delicious with the scallions on it and white onions. Q: How did you find out about this restaurant? Hurtado: It used to be a Mexican place before that (so I was familiar with it). For me, it's just the variety they have. They have a lot of things they do in-house and they have a great variety of appetizers and also a great lunch menu. Advertisement Q: Why is it a fine dining place? Hurtado: It's the whole way they have it set up. They have nice dining tables and a nice bar. It's just a great family place to take everybody out to eat. MingHin Cuisine is located at 1633 N. Naper Blvd. David Sharos is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. Author Veronica Roth, who spoke to students at Gregory Middle School in Naperville in 2016, will be signing copies of her new book, Carve the Mark, Thursday at Community Christian Church in Naperville. (Mike Mantucca / Naperville Sun) Wednesday Lego Mindstorms Battle Bots: Teenagers in 6th through 12th grades can compete in teams to build and program Mindstorms EV3 and NXT 2.0 robots for battle from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive. Advertisement The program requires advanced registration and is limited to 16 teen participants. For more information, go to www.naperville-lib.org. Advertisement Small business lecture: Attorney Michael Liss will help potential new business owners answer questions about franchising at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Special attention will be given to expectations of franchisers, typical legal issues, contract negotiation and more. For more information, go to www.naperville-lib.org. Lisa McMann book signing: Author Lisa McMann will sign copies of her latest book, "Dragon Captives," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave. For more information, go to www.andersonsbookshop.com. Thursday Bridge project open house: Residents can ask questions and offer their input at an open house on the upcoming downtown Washington Street bridge replacement project from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. The open house will be put on by the city's Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group and their study consultant Alfred Benesch & Co. and will take place in meeting room A. Advertisement For more information, go to www.naperville.il.us/dtwashingtonbridge. NCTV Game On taping: NCTV17 will tape its 4th episode of Game On!, Naperville's TV game show hosted by Danielle Tufano, on Thursday, Feb. 9. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Center Stage Theater, 1665 Quincy Ave., Naperville. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and a "Meet the Cast" party with cocktails and dessert will follow the taping. This episode will celebrate the 30th anniversary of NCTV17 and feature notable Naperville residents who are in their 30s. For more information, go to www.nctv17.com. Veronica Roth book signing: Bestselling author Veronica Roth will speak and sign copies of the first book of her newest fantasy science fiction series, "Carve the Mark," at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at Community Christian Church, 1635 Emerson Lane. Advertisement Tickets, which are $26 and include a copy of the book, are required to attend. For more information, go to www.andersonsbookshop.com. Friday Jazz concert: Jazz trumpeter Art Davis will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at North Central College's Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. For more information, call 630-637-7469 or go to www.northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. Saturday Advertisement Sweets from the Heart: The "Sweets from the Heart" Cookie Walk and Specialty Bake Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Fifth Avenue Station, 200 E. Fifth Ave. The event will benefit the homeless animals of Holly's Safe House for Strays. Participants can create their own selection of homemade Valentine-themed cookies, fudge and candies as well as wholesome dog treats. Cookies are sold by the pound, while specialty items are sold individually. For more information, call 847-852-0895 or email sandyhollyboston@yahoo.com. Chocolate Walk: The 2nd annual Chocolate Walk to benefit 360 Youth Services will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, throughout downtown Naperville. Advertisement Participants will receive a commemorative chocolate tin and a map of downtown Naperville noting which shops and restaurants are distributing chocolate treats. Tickets are $30 each. For more information, go to www.360youthservices.org. Stephanie Garber book signing: Young adult author Stephanie Garber will sign copies of her latest book, "Caraval," at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave. For more information, go to www.andersonsbookshop.com. Family Nature Nights: Knoch Knolls Nature Center will host a "Family Nature Night" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road. The program is designed for families with toddlers through school-aged children and includes a chance to meet animals up close. Families can learn more about the exhibit animals, see the fish being fed, touch the turtle or snake and closely observe the toad and salamander. Advertisement Cost is $7 per resident. For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org. Culinary date night: The Naperville Park District is hosting a culinary date night with a Valentine's Day theme at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the 95th Street Center, 2244 W. 95th St. The menu includes roasted breast of chicken, roasted smashed potatoes and heart-shaped Oreo cookie truffles. Recipes will be provided. Participants need to registration at least 48 hours in advance. For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org. En Vogue concert: Grammy-nominated R&B group En Vogue will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in the North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Advertisement Tickets are $85 and $75. For more information, call 630-637-7469 or go to www.northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. Sunday DuPage Symphony Orchestra: The DuPage Symphony Orchestra will present its concert, "Russian Majesty," at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, in North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Internationally acclaimed pianist Steven Lin is guest soloist. Tickets range from $38 to $15. For more information, call 630-637-7469 or go to www.northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. History Speaks lecture: Laura Keyes will portray Laura Ingalls Wilder during a History Speaks lecture celebrating the American writer's 150th birthday at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at Naper Settlement's Century Memorial Chapel, 523 S. Webster St. Advertisement Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for students and children ages 4 to 12. Members pay $8 for adults and $7 for children. For more information, go to www.napersettlement.org or call 630-420-6010. Monday Valentine crafts: Teenagers in 6th through 12th grades can use candy to make candy kabobs and leis along with a card at a craft event at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at the Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Craft supplies will be provided. For more information, go to www.naperville-lib.org. NCTV Game On premiere: Naperville residents can join the cast and crew of Game On! to watch the TV premiere from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at Aurelio's Pizza, 1975 Springbrook Square Drive. Advertisement The show premieres at 7 p.m. A percentage of the night's sales will benefit NCTV17. For more information, go to www.nctv17.com. Flamenco music: North Central College's Spanish department and student club Fusion Espanola will cohost "The Guitars of Spain, a blend of flamenco music and dance, at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St. For more information, contact Jelena Sanchez at jsanchez@noctrl.edu. Going for a master of library and information science degree at Dominican University in River Forest seemed natural enough for Michael Doherty. A library made sense as a work place, said Doherty during a stopover at the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping center in Norridge, because "I always liked learning and helping people out, and being a librarian I'd be able to continue to learn without actually being in school. And I'd be able to assist other people as well." Q. Your focus in library science? Advertisement A. I just concentrated in general public libraries so I could work with teens and adults. Q. Hobbies? Advertisement A. I like to collect lapel pins, and they're mostly from Disney and the Hard Rock Cafe. I have pins from all over the United States and a few from all over the world. Q. The world? A. I have one from the Hard Rock in Athens, Greece. Some friends brought me one back from Reykjavik, Iceland. Not many [local] people have gone to the Hard Rock Cafe in Iceland. Q. Favorite book? A. "The Time Traveler's Wife." I mainly read it for a book discussion group. Not only did I fall in love with the book [I was] the only one in the group to like it. I loved it because it was set in Chicago and its main character works at Newberry Library (as a librarian). Q. Other interests? A. I really love animated movies, especially Pixar. Q. Do you have a personal philosophy which guides you? Advertisement A. Always be mindful. [When] I have anxiety, I read the mantra on this (a pendant he wears around his neck.) Q. Can you read it? A. I am safe, I am grounded, I am centered, I am balanced. I am right where I need to be. I'm deeply connected to Mother Earth. I am grateful I have all that I need, and I'm worthy of all things wonderful. Roasted Lobster with Ginger Butter Sauce and Baby Bok Choy will be on the menu at Miramar Bistro in Highwood on Valentines Day. (Miramar Bistro) Most restaurant staff are too busy at their own restaurants to get away to celebrate Valentine's Day with their special someone. But we asked seven chefs and restaurant pros where they would go if they weren't cooking or entertaining at their place. Gabriel Viti, Owner, Miramar Bistro Advertisement 301 Waukegan Ave., Highwood, www.MiramarBistro.com Valentine's Day pick: Le Bouchon, 1958 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, www.LeBouchonOfChicago.com Advertisement Why: "If I had the chance to take my girlfriend Angela out for Valentine's Day I would spend it at Le Bouchon. My idea of romance is a small cozy bistro in Paris and (the late) Jean Claude (Poilevey) created that in Chicago when he opened (Le Bouchon) years ago. Best of all would be at the end of the meal I would have a chance to catch up with JC and have a Cognac or two and back in the day a cigarette or two just to make it really authentic French style. After graduating from the (Culinary Institute of America) in Hyde Park, New York I left for France for three weeks to work and learn and I stayed six years. When it comes to romance the French nail it." What: "I always order the kidneys to start and then for the main course duck for two. Crispy duck with orange sauce what could be better?" Valentine's Day at Miramar: "For the last 24 years since I have spent Valentine's Day in one of my restaurants in Highwood taking care of couples that would come in year after year to spend a romantic night with my staff and myself. This year on February 14 I will be with my sweetheart at Miramar Bistro working to make it special for the couples coming in. We will be serving special dishes for Miramar and Gabriel's restaurant that night. One of my favorites is the Roasted Lobster with Ginger Butter Sauce and Baby Bok Choy." A four-course prix-fixe menu at Miramar Bistro on Valentine's Day will also include entree choices like Rack of Lamb, Peppercorn-crusted Prime New York Strip and Chilean Sea Bass. Carlos and Debbie Nieto Owners of Nietos, 429 Temple Ave,, Highland Park, www.NietosRestaurant.com; Cafe Central, 455 Central Ave., Highland Park, www.CafeCentral.net; The Happ Inn, 305 N. Happ Road, Northfield, www.TheHappInn.com Valentine's Day pick: Tallgrass Restaurant, 1006 S. State St., Lockport, www.TallgrassRestaurant.com Why: "Our go-to restaurant for romance and a wonderful ambiance has to be Tallgrass Restaurant in Lockport. The food is always stellar and magical." Advertisement What: From a special five-course prix-fixe menu for Valentine's Day to Gruyere Cheese Souffle and other specials later in the month, the whole month of February is full of romantic foods. Valentine's Day at their restaurants: At their restaurants, the Nietos will offer a special three-course menu and an a la carte menu Friday through Tuesday. Tom Colvin, Manager of Westwood Bistro 950 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, www.WestwoodBistro.com Valetine's Day pick: Signature Room at the 95th (Restaurant at the John Hancock Building) 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, www.SignatureRoom.com Why: "Very beautiful view of the city while having a great glass of wine." Advertisement What: On Valentine's Day, the Signature Room will offer a special four-course prix-fixe gourmet menu. Throughout the month of February, the Ultimate Romance Dinner Package includes private dining, live music, roses and exclusive butler service. Valentine's Day at Westwood Bistro: "We have amazing dinner specials on our menu.Our chef is working on a few new items that we are going to try for the first time." Chef Eusebio Garcia, Executive Chef, Mesa Urbana 3566 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, www.MesaUrbana.com Valentine's Day pick: Libertad Restaurant, 7931 Lincoln Ave., Skokie, www.Libertad7931.com Why: "With the small plates of Latin-inspired food, you can explore many dishes with your special someone.Chef Armando Gonzalez makes it very special, I love the open kitchen and the size of the restaurant; it's a very cozy atmosphere." Advertisement What: "The Veneras Scallops are made with black rice, long beans and, yuzu-habanero-in-butter sauce.It's a very unique dish and very delicious." The Libertad menu will feature specials on Valentine's Day, but the Veneras Scallops will be on the regular menu throughout the rest of Valentine's week. Luke Johnson, Owner of Kinfork American BBQ & Tap and Rack House 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, www.KinforkRestaurant.com and Rack House, 222 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, www.RackHouseTavern.com Valentine's Day pick: Coco Pazzo, 300 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, www.CocoPazzoChicago.com Why: "It's just a River Northclassic that has incredible Italian food that always delivers a great experience. Every time we are there we leave happy. We always seem to have dessert and an after-dinner drink which means we don't want the night to end." What: "Ialways do the whole fish on the wood burning oven, but I always make sure I make my wife gets pasta so I can have some. The whole fish is just always done perfect.Sometimes simplicity like sea salt, olive oil, and not over-cooking fish is all you need for perfection." Advertisement Valentine's Day at Kinfork American BBQ & Tap and Rack House: Reduced prices on Moonshine Cocktails and special menu items by Chef Bryant Anderson and February 10-14. Anderson is planning Shrimp & Pesto Flatbread for an appetizer; Smoked Bleu Cheese-Crusted Strip Steak with whipped garlic potatoes and smoked mushrooms with leeks; and Chocolate Fudge Layered Cake. Kevin O'Malley, Owner, The Cellar at the Stained Glass 820 Clark St., Evanston, www.TheCellarEvanston.com Valentine's Day pick: Restaurant Michael, 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, www.RestaurantMichael.com Why: "This is the restaurant my wife and I went to on our first date, where she says she fell in love with me. We had already known each other for a couple of years before this date, but she tells me this is where she found out who I am and why she still loves me today. She told me right from the beginning she was in trouble when she first saw me and I was dressed well and all cleaned up. 'Damn, I was hoping you wouldn't look so good,' was her exact phrase. We came in and I pulled out her chair and stood up when she went to the restroom and then we she came back stood up to get her chair again and even told the server that was about to help her with her chair to move aside because 'I've got this.'" Advertisement What: Chocolate Souffle with Hazelnut Gelato. "Not because I like it, I don't like chocolate and don't usually eat chocolate, but because of how much my wife loves it. This dessert is a warm, slightly fallen, chocolate souffle. The interior is soft and luxurious and then the server adds a scoop of hazelnut gelato tableside. The combination of warm and cold along with the indescribably delicious taste makes it to die for." Valentine's Day at The Stained Glass: A three-course pre-fixe menu will be available on Valentine's Day. Chef A. Khammay's special menu items will be available a la carte February 10-13. Entrees will include a surf and turf option of beef tenderloin and crab galette, braised savoy cabbage, wild rice, sauce au poivre and port wine reduction. Another special, Kabocha Pumpkin Ravioli, is made with zucchini, roasted eggplant, trumpet mushrooms, sorrels, pine nuts and pecorino pesto. A third option is Chilean Sea Bass. It will be made with a sesame and white miso crust, marinated French radish and zucchini, ginger and a Chinese five-spice reduction "We wanted to offer something that is both incredibly tasty and also affordable for all of the young lovers." Valentine's Day at The Cellar: The Valentine's Week Specials will be available Feb. 10-14 for dinner only. Pascal Berthoumieux, Owner, Bistro Bourdeaux 18 Church St., Evanston, www.LeBistroBordeaux Berthoumieux.com; Patisserie Coralie, 600 Davis St., Evanston; 1512 Sherman Ave., Evanston, www.CreperieStGermain.com Valentine's Day pick: Maude's Liquor Bar, 840 W. Randolph St., Chicago, www.MaudesLiquorBar.com Advertisement Why: "It is very intimate and sexy with great cocktails and French food. Great food all around in a fun atmosphere." What: Seafood Tower. "Decadent!" Valentine's Day at Bistro Bordeaux: On very special occasions, Berthoumieux lights his dining room with 200 tiny votive candles suspended by the ceiling in glass candle holders. "It's a true candlelight dinner setting." The menu will feature items created by new Executive Chef John Slack. Monsignor Michael M. Boland, president/CEO Catholic Charities, from left, Helen and Joseph Glunz, event co-founders and wine donors, Joe Glunz Jr., event co-chairman and Michelle Glunz of Glenview, Catholic Charities board member (Lee A. Litas / Pioneer Press) The Event: It was a sweet 16th anniversary for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago's D'Vine Affair on Jan. 29. More than 400 guests gathered at the Union League Club of Chicago to enjoy premium wines, liquors and craft brews and raise critical funds for Catholic Charities' self-sufficiency programs. Catholic Charities has 150 programs and locations across Cook and Lake Counties and annually assists nearly 1 million people on their paths to self-sufficiency. To date, D'Vine Affair has raised more than $1.4 million for the programs. Advertisement Cause celebre: "This is a time that we should all be helping each other out," urged Rev. Michael M. Boland, president/CEO, Archdiocese of Chicago. "We have to be able to put ourselves in someone else's shoes, regardless of any race or religion." "That's what family self-sufficiency is," explained Kathy Donahue of North Riverside, SVP program development. "It's taking the strengths of families that maybe have had a hiccup in their life maybe a healthcare problem and we get them back on their feet." Advertisement The difference between self-sufficiency and homelessness, according to Monsignor Boland, is often just one paycheck, or $400. The program helps maintain a stable home environment during hardship to enable families to get back on their feet. "The parents might be going through a foreclosure or an eviction and often don't clue the kids in to the disaster," explained Donahue. Through the program, participants are trained in finance, child care, paying taxes, "And can even obtain a GED," said Teddi Scholz of Highland Park. "If you strengthen families, they can take care of themselves," said Donahue. Bottom line: D'Vine raised $140,000. More at catholiccharities.net A Cook County judge has ruled three Oak Park Village Manager Association-endorsed candidates can remain on the April ballot, but attorneys for the challengers said they would be appealing that decision. In a written decision released Feb. 7, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Margarita Kulys Hoffman ruled in favor of Oak Park trustee candidates Peter Barber and Glenn Brewer and village clerk candidate Lori Malinski to keep their names on the April 4 ballot. Advertisement Attorneys for both sides pleaded their cases to Judge Hoffman on Jan. 30, and the judge released her ruling to both parties in court the following week. "We're certainly happy with the decision, and we're expecting an appeal," said attorney Brian Wojcicki, who is representing the candidates. Advertisement Glenn Brewer (Village Manager Association / Handout) Attorney Burt Odelson is representing Oak Park residents Kevin Peppard and Robert Milstein in their challenge against the three candidates. "We're appealing this afternoon," Odelson said shortly after the ruling. "We'll ask for an expedited appeal, file our briefs and see what the appellate court says." Peppard and Milstein originally challenged the nominating petitions of Barber, Brewer and Malinski to the three-person Oak Park Electoral Board, which voted 2-1 on Jan. 12 to keep the three candidates on the ballot. The electoral board was made up of Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Trustee Colette Lueck and Village Clerk Teresa Powell, with Powell casting the lone no vote. In their objections, Peppard and Milstein argued the three candidates violated the election code by filing one single petition, which contained 735 signatures. Peppard and Milstein argued the three should have filed separate petitions, each with 251 valid signatures. Even if the three had gathered 251 signatures each on single petitions, for a total of 753, they would still fall 18 signatures short, the challengers argued. According to the ruling, the petition for the three candidates read "We, the undersigned, qualified voters in the Village of Oak Park in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, do hereby petition the following named persons shall be independent Candidates for election to the offices hereinafter specified to be voted for the Consolidated Election to be held on April 4, 2017." Lori Malinski (Village Manager Association / Handout) Judge Hoffman felt that language meant each person who signed the petition was doing so for each of the three candidates. "It is clear from [the petition's language] that the voters intended that their signatures stand for each of the candidates," Judge Hoffman wrote in her ruling. "While putting the candidates' names on one form may be technically deficient, the 735 signatures contained on the petitions are signatures for each of the candidates that meet the threshold requirements." Advertisement If the ruling is appealed, both attorneys expect the case to be heard again in the First District Illinois Appellate Court. sschering@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @steveschering Education Secretary Betsy DeVos smiles while greeting employees after addressing the department staff at the Department of Education on Feb. 8 in Washington. (Molly Riley / AP) Only three candidates running for four seats on the Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board of Education this spring are publicly sharing their views of the nation's newly confirmed secretary of education. Responding earlier this month to a question seeking their opinion of President Donald Trump's nomination of Betsy DeVos to lead the U.S. Department of Education, candidates Greg Bublitz, Michael Schaab and Eastman Tiu each expressed opposition to DeVos, calling her a poor choice for the role. Advertisement "She is completely unqualified to be the secretary of education or have leadership in any capacity in regard to public education," said Bublitz, an administrator with East Maine School District 63. "She does not know what the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is and how it affects education. Any educator with minimal training should know such basic information." During her first senate confirmation hearing, DeVos, a noted Republican campaign contributor and charter school advocate, said it should be up to individual states to decide whether to follow the provisions of IDEA, which ensures disabled children an education. The act is a federal law, which requires all states to provide education to students with special needs. Advertisement Bublitz also said DeVos "was unable to answer congressional inquiries about education policy and copy/pasted word for word from policy websites. She will be harmful to the 90 percent of children in the country who receive public education." Schaab said he did not believe DeVos is the best person to oversee education in the U.S. "She doesn't have any educational background, and it seems that she will not be a friend to public education," Schaab said."Her ability to answer basic questions about the position was disappointing as well. We need an advocate at the federal level ensuring our tax dollars are protected and channeled where they should be on both the K-12 level as well as the postsecondary educational level as well." Tiu, himself a high school teacher, called DeVos "the most dangerous thing public education has ever faced." He spoke of DeVos' support for charter school education and a voucher system allowing more parents to enroll their children in private schools of choice. "We have to be vigilant in protecting the best interest of our students and voters and that is to make our schools in District 64 as strong as possible," Tiu said. "If a large-scale voucher system is put into place for charter schools, the results could be catastrophic for funding for District 64 schools." There are currently no charter schools located in Park Ridge. Candidates Rick Biagi, Norman Dziedzic, Larry Ryles, and Fred Sanchez declined to comment on their opinion of DeVos. Biagi and Sanchez said their opinions were not relevant to the District 64 school board race, though Sanchez acknowledged he does not share "some of [DeVos'] views and was troubled by her performance at her hearing." Advertisement "I do believe that what happens in Washington should not distract us from the important work done here at home at the local level," Sanchez said. "As a District 64 school board member, my goal [will be] to do what is best for the district and not to interject myself into partisan, national political debates that distract from the mission of making District 64 schools the best they can be for the students, and provide the best value they can to the taxpayers," Biagi said. Dziedzic said he has "no opinion" on DeVos, while Ryles said all children "should have an equal opportunity for a quality education." "I pray that [DeVos] remembers and makes decisions representing all races and genders at all levels of income," he said. DeVos' nomination was confirmed Feb. 7 after a tie vote in the senate was broken by Vice President Mike Pence. During the confirmation process, DeVos spoke of support for guns in schools and faced criticism from labor unions for promoting school choice. Teachers and parents across the country also protested her nomination, some gathering at the local offices of Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth on Jan. 31, urging the Democrats to vote against DeVos. DeVos' confirmation did not receive support from any Senate Democrats and was opposed by two Republican senators. Advertisement jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Tribune Aldermen attempted to block acting Mayor Marty Maloney's appointment of Charlie Melidosian to the Park Ridge City Council on Monday night, but a change of heart ultimately allowed the measure to pass. Second Ward Ald. Nicholas Milissis, 3rd Ward Ald. Rick Van Roeyen and 4th Ward Ald. Roger Shubert initially said they would not support the appointment of Melidosian as alderman of the 5th Ward, but Milissis after nearly an hour of heated discussion changed his vote, and the appointment was approved 4-2. Advertisement A 3-3 vote would have caused the motion to fail. Maloney, 1st Ward Ald. John Moran and 6th Ward Ald. Marc Mazzuca voted in favor of the appointment. Melidosian, a Park Ridge native and resident of the 5th Ward for 20 years, will serve through the 2019 election. He fills a vacancy that was created in December due to the death of Ald. Dan Knight. Advertisement A committee of five, 5th Ward residents, selected by Maloney, interviewed eight interested citizens for the position and recommended Melidosian, a personal friend of Knight, Maloney and the late mayor David Schmidt, for the appointment. Milissis objected to the process that was undertaken, saying he was not allowed to provide input and could not attend the public meeting at which Melidosian was interviewed by the committee because it fell on the night of a council meeting. He said the residents who served on the committee "do not represent the 5th Ward" as a whole and suggested that the aldermen who make up the four-member Mayor's Advisory Board should recommend candidates for council vacancies instead. "This is a body made up of elected representatives who regularly interview hundreds of Park Ridge volunteers to staff city committees and commissions," Milissis said. "I can't find a good reason as to why the Mayor's Advisory Board is not qualified to handle an aldermanic vacancy." State law says only that a mayor has 60 days to fill a vacancy on a city council and does not set rules for the process of doing so, said City Attorney Adam Simon. For the past several years, when an aldermanic vacancy was created, the mayor of Park Ridge has voluntarily formed a committee of residents to interview interested candidates and recommend one of them to the mayor. The mayor has then presented that individual to the full City Council for formal appointment. Van Roeyen, who was appointed 3rd Ward alderman through this process, said he was voting against Melidosian's appointment because he felt that, based on a recording of the interview, the committee "demonstrated a bias" in favor of the candidate. "I just don't feel that's fair to the other candidates who put themselves forward," he said. Like Milissis, Shubert said he felt the Mayor's Advisory Board should recommend candidates to fill aldermanic vacancies. Advertisement Joan Sandrik and Judy Barclay, members of the interview committee, denied bias among the group and expressed anger directed at Milissis. "We deliberated over those candidates for two days, and it was not an easy decision to come to," Barclay said. "Quite frankly, I feel insulted by somebody sitting here, from another ward, saying we don't know how to select someone for our ward." Both Sandrik and Barclay asked why the aldermen who did not like the process failed to seek changes to it after Van Royen was appointed in 2015. Gareth Kennedy, one of the eight citizens considered for the 5th Ward appointment and the runner-up for the position, called the selection process fair and transparent, but acknowledged that he was "not as well-known" as Melidosian was to the group. Prior to the council's vote Monday, Melidosian addressed the elected officials, saying they could learn a lot about him by looking at the principles held by Knight and Schmidt. "If you like what Dave Schmidt brought to this city, then you'll like me as an alderman," he said. "My other close friend, who was intimately involved in Dave's election, was Ald. Dan Knight. If you like the honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability Dan Knight brought to this City Council, then you'll like Charlie Melidosian." Advertisement Milissis responded to Melidosian's comments by repeating that he had "reservations" with the process of how he was recommended, but said he would vote to approve his appointment "to show my intentions are not to stack the council or [make] a power grab." He did say that he was still interested in changing the selection process and wanted the City Council to discuss it. Maloney, who acknowledged that Melidosian is helping him with his campaign for mayor this spring, said he kept himself out of the selection process. "I would have been OK with any of the candidates," he said. jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Tribune Nearly a dozen people applied for a short-term appointment on the Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board of Education following the recent resignation of board member Dathan Paterno. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press) Nearly a dozen people applied for a short-term appointment on the Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board of Education following the recent resignation of board member Dathan Paterno, according to the district's superintendent. The board received 11 applications for the vacant seat between Jan. 24 and Feb. 3, District 64 Superintendent Laurie Heinz said at a meeting Monday night. Paterno resigned his post on Jan. 23 after he was rebuked by members of the District 64 community for a controversial tweet about the Women's March on Washington that took place the prior weekend. Advertisement Monica Wojnicki, a Franklin School PTO member and former adjunct professor of health careers at Harper College in Palatine, filed to run for a seat on the board and also applied to the board vacancy. However, according to the Cook County Clerk's website, her filing has been removed. The other individuals who applied for the appointment include Terry Cameron, Matthew Gilgunn, Chandra Kearney, Terry Krahl, Alan Martin, Denise Pearl, Ginger Pennington, Elissa A. Reiner, Joan Sandrik and Larry Woodard, according to information obtained from the district. Advertisement As of Tuesday afternoon, the district had not provided resume information for the applicants despite requests for the information. Aside from Wojnicki, none of the other candidates for the vacancy had filed papers to run for a seat on the board in April, according to the clerk's listings. Heinz said the district is obligated to fill the seat by March 9. The board is slated to interview 10 of the 11 candidates who applied for the position during open session at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 13. One of the applicants was not available the evening of the interview, Heinz said. Board members will deliberate during a closed session to follow the interview, and officials will vote on the appointment at their Feb. 21 meeting. Paterno's term is set to expire in April, and unless the chosen appointee is elected to the board during the upcoming spring election, that person will serve in the position for only a few weeks until the new member is sworn into office in May. The controversy over Paterno's use of social media, and one tweet in particular in which the former board member referred to participants in the Women's March as "vagina screechers," prompted the district's elected officials to revisit their policies. "The events of the weekend of Jan. 20 cast a harsh light on board conduct, governance and regulations," board President Anthony Borrelli said. He added that further concerns "have cropped up" regarding board member activity prior to the November election. Borrelli presented several suggestions for revisions to the board's policies. He recommended the board include the text of the Illinois Association of School Board's code of conduct within its list of policy rules in addition to several other adjustments. Borrelli also suggested the board amend one part of the IASB code to include the language: "I will take no private action that might compromise the Board or administration through speech, deed, written or social media and will respect the confidentiality of privileged information." Advertisement Borrelli said he'd like to add the words "through speech, deed, written or social media" to make clear that "through whatever means you will not impugn the board." He said legal counsel for the district had not vetted the additional language. Officials also spoke at length about potential revisions to the elected body's code of self governance, including a process by which to "censure" board members if they are found by a majority of the board to have violated their policies. In this context, board member Tom Sotos said the term "censure" refers to "a strong and vehement expression of disapproval." The proposed steps, which have not yet been vetted or approved by district legal counsel, include giving the board president explicit authority to approach a member about possible code violations, discuss the matter with the rest of the board in closed session and, if deemed necessary, deliberate on the issue and potentially censure the individual during an open meeting. "My fear is this here may stifle a board member from being who a board member would normally be," Sotos said in reference to the proposed policy change. Borrelli said it is incumbent upon officials to listen to and respect one another's opinions and ideas. Any final decisions about whether to censure a member, he said, would be made "from a consensus of the board." Advertisement "The board is elected as representatives of the community, and you'd hope and like to believe the people and the attitudes of the board are reflective of the community," Borrelli said. Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. A Jasper County man pleaded guilty Tuesday in the Sept. 6 armed burglary near Kouts where the resident was beaten and shot in the leg. However, during the plea hearing's finding of factual basis, Joseph T. Potts, 32, of the North 17300 block of County Road 700 West, said he didn't shoot the man whose safe he and others wanted opened. Three others face similar charges in Porter County. Advertisement Potts is scheduled to be sentenced to 20 years in prison on April 4, according to the timetable Porter Superior Judge Mary Harper set. Defense attorney Mitch Peters said after the plea hearing that Potts won't receive special considerations for his plea and isn't required to testify against the other three defendants. Advertisement "He has always acknowledged his responsibility and was anxious to get this over with," Peters said. According to court records, Andrea Renee Wert, 36, of the East 400 block of County Road 1000 South near Kouts, and her twin Leslie Alison Wert, 36, of the 300 block of West Division Road in Valparaiso, conspired to rob the resident's safe and had gotten Potts and Chad Bryant Kackos, 36, of the North 10600 block of County Road 1100 West near DeMotte, involved. As part of Potts' plea to the highest charge against him, Level 1 felony burglary causing serious bodily injury, the state will drop three other felonies against him: Level 2 felony robbery, Level 3 felony confinement and Level 5 felony burglary. Harper told Potts that this sentence would be consecutive with any sentence he receives in Jasper County. Potts was out on bail bond when he allegedly committed the crime, but Peters didn't know what those Jasper County charges are. James D. Wolf Jr. is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Dawn Westerfield, ex-wife of the slain officer Jeffrey Westerfield, talks with reporters after Carl Blount Jr., was sentenced Wednesday at the Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point. (Mark Davis / Post-Tribune) The courtroom was so crowded that police officers had to sit in the jury box. Police chiefs, officers and family members lined the walls and filled the seats at a sentencing hearing Wednesday in Crown Point for the man who fatally shot a Gary police officer more than two years ago. Even court employees peered through the doors on either side of the judge's seat to watch. Advertisement Carl Le'Ellis Blount, 28, peeked in through one of those doors, seeing some of his family slightly raise their hands to show him they were there among the crowd, before being led to his seat with his attorneys at Lake Superior Court. Instead of going to trial, Blount, of Gary, entered a deal and pleaded guilty last month to a murder charge in the death of Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield, 47, who was found dead of gunshot wounds in his squad car on July 6, 2014. Carl LeEllis Blount (Lake County Sheriff's Department / Handout) Following the agreement that attorneys struck, Blount was sentenced to life in prison without parole, rather than the death penalty the prosecution had previously requested. The remaining charges against him were dropped, which included intimidation, carrying a handgun without a license, battery and theft, as well as his probation revocation case. Advertisement Blount chose not to speak at the hearing, but instead had one of his public defenders, Richard Wolter, read a letter he'd written. Blount wrote about the profound effect being incarcerated has had on him, and said he's not the same person as he went in. But after Wolter finished reading the letter and went to hand it to the judge, Blount stood and asked if he would still be able to say something. "For what it's worth, I would like to offer my condolences to the family and everyone else affected by the situation," Blount said. Choking back tears, Dawn Westerfield, ex-wife of the slain officer and a Gary police lieutenant herself, said that the day Jeffrey Westerfield was killed was his 47th birthday. "He could've stayed home" instead of going out and responding to the call that led to his death, but that wasn't him, she told the court. Gary police Chief Larry McKinley leaves the courthouse after Carl Blount Jr's sentencing Wednesday in the death of Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield in 2014. (Mark Davis / Post-Tribune) "He left no call for service unanswered. He left no man behind," she said. On July 6, 2014, Gary police officers were looking for Blount after responding to a domestic disturbance with an ex-girlfriend "during which he was shot" in the 2300 block of McKinley Street, the agreement states. Blount eventually encountered Westerfield, who was in his squad car, on 26th Avenue between Van Buren Place and Van Buren Street. Blount, "fearing he would be arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Porter County, Indiana, intentionally shot Officer Westerfield," the agreement states. As a result, Officer Westerfield's four daughters no longer have their dad to walk them down the aisle, and his son doesn't have a dad to look up to anymore, Dawn Westerfield said. Advertisement "Everyone has mentioned that his life was lost. That's incorrect," Dawn Westerfield said. "His life was stolen." Westerfield's wasn't the only bereaved family in the courtroom Wednesday. By pleading guilty, the prosecution agreed not to charge Blount in connection with a shooting on June 26, 2014, less than two weeks before Jeffrey Westerfield's death, that left Daven James and Derrion Estes dead. Police found Estes, 23, and James, 17, in an alley in the 1600 block of West 5th Avenue when responding to the shooting. Charles Blount exits the courthouse after his son, Carl Blount Jr. was sentenced Wednesday in the death of Gary police Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield. (Mark Davis / Post-Tribune) Rickey James, the father of Daven James, stood throughout the hearing while holding a sign with a picture of his son. As court was about to adjourn, he shouted, "He killed my son, too!" Raising his voice, Judge Samuel Cappas, told the man to be quiet, and James complied. People filtered out of the courtroom and officers from various departments including Gary, Indiana State Police and transit police, paused to give Dawn Westerfield a hug as they exited. Cappas said that police officers "make a unique sacrifice" going to protect the community, not knowing if they'll return home to their families when their shifts are over. Westerfield "died by your hand," Cappas told Blount. Gary Chief Larry McKinley attended the hearing with his officers. Revisiting Westerfield's death, McKinley remembered the times he had dinner with Jeffrey Westerfield and the training they went through together. Advertisement "He not only was a co-worker but a friend," McKinley said. Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said she was not surprised to see so many officers at the sentencing, and that "it reinforces what we know, is that the Gary police department, law enforcement, is a family." Defense attorney Richard Wolter leaves the courthouse after Carl Blount Jr., who pleaded guilty to murder in the death of Gary police Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield, was sentenced at the Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point on Wednesday. (Mark Davis / Post-Tribune) Freeman-Wilson also expressed her condolences for the families of all three victims in the case, and she can understand where some of their frustration may come from. "I want the families to know that nothing can bring their loved ones back but this was at least a measure to know that an individual was held responsible," Freeman-Wilson said. As Blount's father, Charles Blount, of Gary, exited the courthouse, he said that his son is a man and "he's got to pay for what he's done." Wolter said he talked with his client Tuesday night, and that Blount was in a good place mentally as he prepared for sentencing and for the crowd of police expected to attend. Advertisement "He knew how it was going to go today," Wolter said. Although the death penalty was dropped, life in prison without parole is no light sentence, Wolter said, and "he's accepted his responsibility." rejacobs@post-trib.com Twitter @ruthyjacobs Lake County officials plan to tighten up security at the Government Center in Crown Point in the wake of a Tuesday evacuation prompted by a threat. Officials evacuated the government center buildings except the Lake County Jail and the consolidated E-911 dispatch operation before sweeping facilities with bomb-sniffing dogs to clear it of any danger Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said county officials are looking at their response and existing emergency procedures in the wake of the threat. "My focus this morning obviously is our action on the civilian side, making sure we did what we needed to do in making sure our people understand what was going on," Repay said Wednesday. Advertisement "I was happy this morning there was a tightened level of security when I walked through," he said. Security was more closely checking employee identification as well as checking in visitors to the building. Mark Swiderski Jr., E-911 director, said the situation was less than ideal for dispatchers who had to remain in the facility to operate the county's public safety answering point despite the threat and in the absence of a backup site in which to switch operations. Swiderski said since he came to the county in the fall the primary focus has been getting the E-911 main site properly staffed and operating the way it should. The director said he has been looking at ways to divide the county in the event something were to take down dispatch operations before a backup site could be built. Possibilities include routing south Lake County calls to the Indiana State Police, those in the eastern part of the county to Porter County and the western part to Illinois though no partnerships have been ironed out. He said there is no single backup site in Indiana or Illinois that could handle the entire flow of calls that come into the center. "Ultimately it is something myself, the commissioners and the (Lake County Public Safety Communications) commission need to get ahold of and talk about what we are going to do," Swiderski said. Between 25 and 30 employees remained in the 911 center despite the evacuation including Swiderski and deputy director Jack Allendorf. Swiderski said non-essential personal were sent home. He also worked with Sheriff John Buncich to ensure the 911 center was cleared first and then the two floors beneath it were cleared. Swiderski said the dispatchers who remained on the job handled the situation in stride. He likened the experience to firefighters and police officers who put their lives in danger to help keep the public safe. Advertisement "I think they all said to themselves it is to the betterment of the county and residents that was their job at the time. They get a bad rap, and then you have days like yesterday. People don't really understand, they literally put their lives on the line to answer the phones for residents," Swiderski said. Buncich said an investigation into the threat began immediately and is ongoing. More stringent security measures for individuals entering the various buildings has been implemented effective Wednesday. Buncich said he was pleased with how his department handled the situation, setting up a command center and conducting an orderly evacuation. It took about 30 minutes to evacuate the buildings, he said, and the jail was put on lockdown. Every available officer was called in to assist along with Crown Point police. Six bomb-sniffing dogs from various agencies were tapped to search the building. An all-clear was issued at about 4 p.m. Buncich confirmed the first area inside the complex police searched was the 911 center. "We wanted to make sure that was a secured area because of the nature of what we need them for," Buncich said. Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. The Portage City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to strip Mayor James Snyder of his position as chairman of the Portage Utility Services Board and will try again to remove the position's $30,000 salary in a special meeting Thursday. The vote, however, leaves Snyder with several options to protect his position or to demonstrate agreement with the council. Advertisement As mayor, he can sign the ordinance into law, veto it or let it pass by "pocket veto," or letting 10 days elapse without taking any action. The first ordinance prohibiting the mayor from holding a spot on the seven-member board passed easily after the council unanimously agreed to suspend the rules requiring a second reading and approve the ordinance. Snyder did not attend the meeting. Advertisement In a procedural move, Councilman John Cannon, R-4th, the sole Republican on the panel, forced the council to hold a special meeting to reconsider the salary ordinance that deletes the utility board chairman's salary. An Indiana law prohibits legislative bodies from stripping an another elected official's salary or reducing that salary in the same year as such a vote may be taken. Cannon said he is against the salary ordinance change and wants more time to determine if it conflicts with state statute, but City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-at large, scheduled a special meeting Thursday night to try to get the ordinance passed. "I think there may be some conflict with the state statute," Cannon said of the vote to delete the salary. "Some things came about in the last few days I want to look into. Now we're going to have a meeting Thursday knowing I'm going to be out of town." Cannon, who described himself as a longtime friend of the Republican mayor's, reiterated his support for the ordinance removing the mayor from the board, calling it "a sense of duty, of doing the right thing." Snyder came under fire last September when a utility services board employee sent $93,000 in checks to Portage-based law firm Dogan and Dogan and Winston and Strawn, a Chicago law firm, to pay for legal expenses related to a federal investigation of Snyder. Both firms returned the payments, indicating they represented Snyder as an individual and not the utility services board. Oprisko led the move to block any payments from the board to the law firms and threatened to order an investigation into the moves. Advertisement In November, Snyder was indicted on federal public corruption charges unrelated to anything with the utility services board. In a written statement delivered to media immediately after Tuesday night's meeting, Snyder accused the council of "behaving in a way of presumption of guilt," which Oprisko denied. "I'm not saying (Snyder's) guilty, because you're innocent until proven guilty," Oprisko said. "However, when you look at the (legal expenses) situation with the utility services board, with (Snyder) as the chairman taking it upon himself to send two checks worth almost $100,000, if he was in the private sector, he'd be fired." Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Organizers of the Jan. 29, 2017, anti-Trump immigration policy rally held at the Muslim Education Center in Morton Grove also encouraged towns to adopt sanctuary ordinances. Some Skokie residents are pushing for that village to establish a sanctuary policy. (Patrick Gorski / Pioneer Press) Some Skokie residents who said they are part of a newly-formed group called Skokie Citizens for Action are urging village leaders to pursue making Skokie a sanctuary municipality. During citizen comments at Monday's Skokie Village Board meeting, several residents said the village needs to take this step even while acknowledging Skokie has been a welcoming town to ethnically diverse residents. Advertisement Skokie resident Jessica Beverly said it was at a recent unity march held in Morton Grove where groups were encouraged to work to try to expand the sanctuary village movement. While the Skokie Village Board was meeting Monday, she noted, the Oak Park Village Board was voting on sanctuary status for its village. "It is up to us as citizens of this great nation and wonderful village to stand for something more than caring about diversity and to make ourselves heard and understood to be a sanctuary village," Beverly said. Advertisement Sanctuary cities and villages commonly refer to municipalities that provide protection for undocumented immigrants. The subject of sanctuary status for towns moved front and center recently after President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting or banning immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries a policy now being legally challenged. Trump has also threatened to withhold federal funding to sanctuary municipalities. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen said the village has had a long-standing hands-off policy regarding residents' immigration status even if it has not adopted sanctuary status legislation. "The village's policy is and always has been, and it will continue to be, that we do not ask anyone their immigration status," Van Dusen said. "We do not keep immigration records and we are not the immigration police." Whenever anyone asks for police, fire or human services of any kind, he said, they are not asked about their immigration status a policy the mayor said will not change. But Van Dusen also said that Skokie relies on federal funding of about $1.5 million annually. "This isn't change," he said. "This is real money and it effects people." According to Van Dusen, some of that money goes toward community block grant funding, which is distributed to projects and social service agencies that help low- and moderate-income residents. Federal funding has also paid for vaccinations, emergency preparedness and even for the hiring of firefighters, he said. Advertisement "What we're trying to do is strike a balance," the mayor said. Although only a few members of Skokie Citizens for Action spoke Monday, many came to support the group's position. Caroline Paulison Andrew said she formed the group after the Jan. 21 Women's March in Chicago . According to the group's Facebook page, there are currently about 150 members. "Skokie Citizens for Action consists of area women and men who are dedicated to fighting to preserve on local, state and federal levels the civil and human rights of all U.S. citizens and residents," according to the group's social media page. Some members Monday asked the village to stand with other cities and villages that have declared themselves sanctuaries. Chicago, Evanston and, as of Monday, Oak Park are among sanctuary municipalities. Under Oak Park's ordinance, no village agency or employee is permitted to accept requests by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other agencies to support or assist in any capacity with immigration enforcement operations. Should an employee receive a request to support or assist in an immigration enforcement operation, the employee shall report the request to a supervisor, who will deny the request, the ordinance states. Advertisement Unless the village is presented with a valid and properly issued criminal warrant, the village is not allowed to transfer any person into ICE custody, according to the ordinance. "Everyone in our village needs information to make an educated choice because...it's serious," said Skokie resident Janice Sackett about whether the village should adopt a similar law. "We know the background of Skokie. I've lived here for many, many, many years. But there's also the issue of put your money where your mouth is." The mayor acknowledged that the threat to take federal funding away from sanctuary cities is not a certainty. "Should the village of Skokie be taking a stand that we should be able to do these things and not risk getting funding?" Sackett asked. "Maybe we need to put ourselves out there with other cities like Chicago, like Evanston...and other cities who will all be in the same boat as we are." Van Dusen and other village officials Monday also emphasized what they considered Skokie's continued reputation for being welcoming to residents of diverse backgrounds. The village hosts the Festival of Cultures and Coming Together in Skokie, the mayor said, and a Niles Township Interfaith Dinner on Thanksgiving Eve draws hundreds of people of different faiths every year. Advertisement He called the events more than just gatherings. The mayor said they demonstrate support for all of Skokie's residents. In the wake of concerns over controversial national immigration policy, some local community leaders formed a new group, Skokie Cares, the mayor said. The group is supporting a campaign it calls "Skokie Welcomes Everyone." "We are a group of community members who are working on a campaign to welcome and support everyone who lives in Skokie," according to the organizations' website. The campaign asks people to display "Skokie welcomes everyone" signs in their windows and promises more activities in the future. Skokie Village Manager John Lockerby, a member of Skokie Cares, said the group has met only once but will hold another public meeting this month at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Van Dusen said this kind of campaign and other initiatives speak loudest about Skokie's celebration of diversity. "Sanctuary cities is a legality," the mayor said. "It's a political statement, and I think what counts as much, if not more than that, is 'what is your conduct? How do you comport yourselves all the time?'" Advertisement Beverly said she appreciates Skokie's celebration of inclusion and the importance the village places on federal funding, but her group still wants Skokie to take action with "more teeth." "This is a trying time in our nation and Skokie needs to stand up." she said. "We've always stood up for what we believe in this community. We need to have more than just a policy about it." misaacs@pioneerlocal.com @SKReview_Mike A New Trier East High School yearbook photo of Richard R. Clifton, who graduated from the school in 1968. Clifton is one of three federal judges to hear arguments Tuesday on last weeks temporary restraining order against President Donald Trumps temporary immigrant and refugee ban. (New Trier Township High School District / Handout) A 1968 graduate of New Trier East High School is one of three federal judges to hear arguments Tuesday on last week's temporary restraining order against President Donald Trump's temporary immigrant and refugee ban. Richard R. Clifton of Honolulu, Hawaii, is a senior judge for the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He and two other judges were set to consider whether a temporary restraining order against Trump's executive order, issued Feb. 3 by U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle, should remain in effect, or be lifted, while a suit against the order goes forward. Advertisement While he was a student at New Trier East, Clifton was the manager for WNTH, the school's radio station, and also took part in the school's student cabinet, its debate team and the school's Boys Honor Group, according to information from the school district. He was also a National Merit finalist. A 2016 press release from the office of the circuit executive of the 9th Circuit Court stated that Clifton was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Indianapolis and in Wilmette. He attended Princeton University, received his law degree from Yale University in 1975, and moved that year to Hawaii. He worked as an attorney in Honolulu until former President George W. Bush nominated him to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was approved by the Senate in 2002, according to the press release. Advertisement kroutliffe@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @pioneer_kathy Alexandra Marks has operated an acupuncture business for 15 years, the last year being in Winnetka. Not only does Marks work out of a downtown Winnetka location, she moved into the village with her two sons two and a half years ago. Q: How did you get interested in acupuncture? Advertisement A: I had fallen and broken my back in two places in 1998 when I was living in Los Angeles. After a year of drugs and physical therapy, nothing was taking away the pain, so I had acupuncture treatment that rendered me pain-free. Q: Why did you decide to start your own acupuncture business? Advertisement A: I had always worked in medicine, and it was a way to combine medicine with psychology of healing. Q: How long did it take to get your business started? A: I am still working on it. It is always growing. Q: What do you enjoy most about your business? A: Everything. It is an opportunity to help people heal in a variety of ways. Q: What is the biggest challenge to getting people acclimated to acupuncture? A: I think the biggest challenge is to the understanding of what benefit that anybody can derive from it. You don't have to be in pain constantly to need acupuncture. It can be something as simple as you gain weight, or you are not sleeping well. Those are all reasons to come and let acupuncture balance your body. Q: What would you be doing if you weren't operating your own business right now? Advertisement A: I do many things outside of the business. I am in the process of writing a book about connections. Connecting with yourself, connecting with your spirit, connecting with others. Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press. A job hunter talks with a company representative at a job fair in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua] Home grown Chinese companies are set to outperform their multinational rivals in winning over the next generation of Chinese executives in the coming decade, according to a report from top management consulting firm Bain. Many Chinese executives are willing to forego a perhaps more predictable career path at a multinational company and choose the steeper learning curves and career trajectories associated with local companies, the report says. James Root, a Bain partner and co-author of the report, said: "Locally owned companies have upped their game in terms of the experience, salary, and employee training and development they provide, in an effort to woo talent away from their multinational competitors." "Their fast-growing operations present opportunities for China's homegrown talent to rapidly take on leadership roles." Decades ago, it was not uncommon for many Chinese business leaders to build their careers at multinational companies in China. They were, in part, attracted by good opportunities for personal development, excellent salaries and benefits packages, and the chance to be involved in international assignments. However, the talent landscape has changed. In the past five years, only 10 percent of executives at multinational companies have come from local firms, while almost one-third of the leaders of Chinese firms used to be employed at multinational counterparts, the Bain analysis shows. This is because local companies are expanding their operations and now offer career growth opportunities that fully compete with established multinational companies. Feeling encouraged, Chinese nationals will continue to move to local employers as homegrown companies are learning from their competitors, business leaders predict. Yu Zhiwei, vice-president of LinkedIn China, said: "Some argue that top leaders are likely to go back to their former foreign employers eventually, because training and promotions at local firms are, to some extent, arbitrary. But I'm remaining positive. Local firms are learning fast from their multinational competitors in terms of culture, gender equality and work-life balance." Luo Jun, chief executive of Tujia, the five-year-old house-sharing platform based in Beijing, said: "The emergence of China as a local economic leader results in localization of human resources ... People will continue to switch jobs to local companies." However, Zhao Ruobing, senior vice-president of CreditEase, said that Chinese job seekers need to ready themselves for the challenges resulting from this change. She said: "They must overcome cultural differences, adjust to less structured organizational processes and manage an increase in workload. Executives need to understand that multinational firms and local companies are at different stages of maturity so they can adapt and succeed in the new environment." As for multinational companies, another author and a Bain partner Stephen Shih said, they had better respond with new strategies to retain managers. Shih said: "I don't think multinational companies are putting in place new plans to help retain their leaders, and they need to do that." The research, jointly conducted by Bain and LinkedIn China, analyzed 25,000 Chinese executives whose titles are directors or above. They come from 220 major corporations across 18 industries, representing both the manufacturing and service sectors. A US e-commerce company is looking to tap into the demographic of fashionable young, tech-savvy women in China by selling them top brands through mobile messaging. San Francisco-based startup, Operator, recently suspended its US service to focus on the Chinese market because of the "surging business" it has experienced since it expanded to China in November. With their mobile shopping app, Chinese users are connected with US-based "experts" who provide recommendations, and the company's team then sources and delivers the purchases. Online translation tools are available for customers who cannot understand English. Most of the app's Chinese users are women aged 25 to 35. Many are young mothers and professionals, said the company, which declined to disclose specific user numbers. "We think Chinese customers have a big appetite for authentic goods and access to good products," said Robin Chan, CEO and co-founder of Operator. The most popular categories are fashion, beauty and baby goods. The company is working with hundreds of US brands for inventory. "The demand for authentic products from the United States is very strong," said Chan. "The key thing we are looking at is the healthiness of the market in terms of overall performance." Operator features the "conversational experience". "Conversational commerce is the next big wave in e-commerce because everybody has a smart phone and the most popular platform is messagingChina has WeChat and the US has Facebook messenger," he said. The shopping experience will be more like the conversation one has in a store, rather than the e-commerce experience, which is just clicking buttons, he explained. The startup, which was founded in 2015, has so far raised $25 million in funding. It has recently closed $15 million in Series B financing to help fund its global expansion, starting with China. "Chinese consumers will accelerate the entire global platform," said Chan. "If you want to build a global company, you don't think of China as an afterthought; you must start early." You are here: Home The first two trains carrying Chinese cargo containers, launched by China COSCO Shipping Group, arrived in the Hungarian capital, the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary said Tuesday. The shipments arrived here on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, respectively, from the port of Piraeus, Greece, marking the official opening of the China-Europe land-sea fast intermodal transport route. This took place after the acquisition of the Piraeus port by COSCO Group. The goods transported by the two trains were mainly furniture, with the containers completing their routes from the Chinese Ningbo port by sea to Piraeus, and from port by rail to Budapest, in 26 days. More than 20 containerized goods will return to Piraeus with the two trains. The China-Europe land-sea fast intermodal transport route uses the same path as the planned China-Europe Land-Sea Express Route. The latter was started in 2014 by China and three Central and Eastern European countries, who agreed to build a land-sea express passage way linking the Piraeus port and Hungary to speed-up transportation between China and Europe. As a flagship project, the modernization of the Budapest-Belgrade railway is expected to achieve substantial progress this year. The completion of the project will strongly support the China-Europe land-sea fast transport, promote Chinese goods, and enable a faster access to European markets, the Chinese Embassy said. You are here: Home Two men have been arrested in eastern China's Zhejiang Province for illegally smuggling drugs hidden inside their bodies, local police said Tuesday. Police in Xiacheng District of Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou city received a tip-off on Jan. 23 about two drug-traffickers transferring via Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. They caught one of them, surnamed Jiang, at around 7 p.m. Another suspect Jia was apprehended at the airport the next day. Jiang and Jia excreted 72 and 57 plastic bags of heroin, repectively, at a local hospital, according to police. Jiang said he was forced to swallow the drugs after losing more than 40,000 yuan (5,812 U.S. dollars) at a casino in Myanmar. "People at the casino wanted me to transport the drugs to Xi'an in northwest China," Jiang said. "They bought my air ticket with my Wechat account and deleted my phone contacts." Jia said that he was asked to carry the drugs by an Internet friend in Myanmar, who promised him 15,000 yuan profit. Police warned that swallowing drugs in this manner could cause death. Further investigation is underway. You are here: Home Southwest China's Tibet has completed its water, air and soil monitoring networks and enhanced law enforcement to better protect environment, said a local official. Twenty-three automatic air quality monitoring stations have been set up in major regional cities and along the Qinghai-Tibet railway, said Cering Yangzom, deputy head of the Environmental Protection Department of Tibet Autonomous Region. The region has also selected 194 monitoring sites for surface water, 84 for air quality and 110 for drinking water sources, he added. The regional environmental monitoring station has passed the national assessment. To strengthen monitoring, the region has implemented plans for water and air pollution treatment and prevention, and will soon complete the drafting of a soil pollution prevention plan. The region has also established a four-tier environmental monitoring network to enhance law enforcement, according to the official. The plateau region remains one of the areas with the best environmental quality in the world. Projects with high energy demand, pollution and emissions are banned. February 7, 2017 BAGHDAD Iraq is fighting a tide of dissent as its lawmakers accuse the government of handing over the Khor Abdullah border canal to Kuwait in an agreement concluded by the countries joint committees. The Cabinet's decision sparked outrage Jan. 26, with some parliament members and Cabinet sources claiming the move was part of a secret deal by which Iraq handed over Khor Abdullah as a gift to Kuwait, resulting in a crisis that government clarifications have failed to end. An estuary, Khor Abdullah is at the northern end of the Persian Gulf off the shores of the Kuwaiti islands of Bubiyan and Warbah and the Iraqi Al-Faw peninsula, extending to Khor al-Zubair in Umm Qasr port. Disagreement over the rights to Bubiyan were a major reason Iraq invaded Kuwait. Following Iraqi President Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the UN Security Council in May 1993 adopted Resolution 833, demarcating the Iraq-Kuwait borders. A committee was formed of experts from 16 countries, including some former Soviet republics, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Venezuela, Pakistan and Morocco. The committee was charged with technical implementation of border demarcation between Iraq and Kuwait. According to UN documents, that committee concluded that Khor Abdullah was a vital canal for both countries. Then a joint committee was formed to draft a bilateral agreement on the organization of navigation, and in 2013 the Iraqi Cabinet ratified the agreement and delivered it to the UN. Over the past few years, Iraqi parliamentarians have strongly contested the Baghdad governments approval of the agreement, which officially recognizes Kuwaits right to establish Mubarak Al Kabeer port within the area shared by both nations, thus narrowing the ports on the Iraqi side. Theres a secret deal between the Iraqi and Kuwaiti governments concerning Khor Abdullah. The clarifications offered by the Iraqi government in this regard are not persuasive, parliament member Aaliyah Nasif of the State of Law Coalition told Al-Monitor. She maintains Khor Abdullah was not included in Resolution 833, in legal or geographic terms. According to Nasif, former foreign affairs and transportation ministers, as well as other former Cabinet members whom she refused to name, received bribes from the Kuwaiti government in return for ratifying the 2013 agreement. Opponents of the deal contend that ceding Iraqs right to Khor Abdullah compromises Iraqi sovereignty. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Khalid Al-Jarallah said in a news conference that his country did not encroach on a "single inch" of Iraqi territory. He condemned the accusations, saying there had been no new developments or changes regarding the maritime border issue. However, Dhafer al-Ajami, executive director of Gulf Monitoring Group and a Kuwaiti national, told NRT News that Khor Abdullah and Umm Qasr belong to Kuwait, arguing that Khor Abdullah was named after Sheikh Abdullah Bin Sabah of Kuwait, who died in 1813. Some Iraqi officials blame former Prime Minister Nouri al-Malikis Cabinet, which they say surrendered Iraqi territory to Kuwait. Former Basra province parliament member Wael Abdul-Latif told Al-Monitor, Malikis Cabinet made a mistake on three occasions. First, the former Cabinet accepted demarcation according to the [Security Council] resolution, handing over regional water and land in addition to the Umm Qasr port city." Second, he said, Iraq's government went along with Kuwait's plans to build the Mubarak Al Kabeer port on the disputed Bubiyan Island, impeding Iraq's access and forcing it to use the Kuwaiti port. "The third mistake was the agreement signed by the former transportation minister dividing Khor Abdullah into two and narrowing Iraqi waterways adjacent to Iran and Kuwait," Abdul-Latif said, adding that he plans to file a lawsuit in maritime court disputing the legality of the Mubarak Al Kabeer port and the Khor Abdullah agreement. As the agreement continues to fuel controversy, some maritime experts offered a different opinion than that of the politicians. One of those experts, Alaa Badran, told Al-Monitor the agreement does not impede Iraq, since it demarcates maritime borders so that navigation functions properly. Badran is secretary of the Marshes Committee of the Basra Provincial Council. He further said that only part of the border adjacent to Umm Qasr and Bubiyan Island was taken under the agreement, adding that Kuwait took a "taluk" line similar to that of Iran's, and therefore the agreement does not affect the Iraqi side. "Taluk" is an Iraqi maritime term referring to the centerline in the main waterway available for maritime navigation at the point where the water level starts to decrease upon reaching land borders. The Iraqi parliament's Foreign Relations Committee is seeking to resolve the situation to everyone's satisfaction. Committee member Mithal al-Allusi told Al-Monitor that Iraq maintains good relations with Kuwait, but Iraqis discontent with the governments decisions could harm these relations in the future. When one country controls the lands and ports of another, he added, peace is unlikely. Many observers believe Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis Cabinet will probably make the same mistake made during Malikis rule: ceding the maritime canal to Kuwait to preserve diplomatic relations and achieve short-term interests at the expense of an angry Iraqi public. Adults in Chongqing who do not live with their elderly parents should regularly visit or greet them via phone, internet or letters, according to new draft legislation released on Monday. The draft is seeking public opinion until March 6. As more Chinese seniors aged 60 and older live by themselves, they are facing a vacuum of emotions and say they often feel lonely. Those empty-nesters have become a social problem for Chinese society. The draft states that legal dependents and other family members should pay attention to the spiritual needs of the elderly, respect their religious beliefs and lifestyles, and should not neglect or isolate them. The problem of aging is obvious in this southwestern city. There were 6.77 million seniors aged 60 and older in Chongqing at the end of 2015, representing about 20 percent of the municipality's population. For the whole country, the number was 222 million, or more than 16 percent of the population. Chongqing's new draft 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". According to the latest amendment in 2015, family members are required to care for the elderly and visit them regularly. Ma Rongli, 29, a tour guide in Florida, visits her parents in Chongqing once or twice a year. She calls them every other day and keeps them updated via WeChat. "I think the draft measure is a good one, and it is necessary to require people to think more about their parents," she said. "In Chinese society, piety is the foundation of all virtues." But Liu Ting, 30, who works in Tianjin, said the government should not force people to take care of their parents by law. "Parents should first look after and educate their children with their heart and soul, then their children will naturally return the gesture in the future," she said. Zhao Wenkai, a lawyer at Chongqing Grandall Law Firm, said the draft measure blurs the boundary between law and morals. "The wording of the measure is also very ambiguous," he said. "If it is put into practice, it is very hard for the court to define a violation and hand down a punishment." Flash Foreign ministers of China and Australia called for further strengthening of bilateral ties on Tuesday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop prior to the two countries' fourth round of diplomatic and strategic dialogue in Canberra, Australia, Feb. 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] At the two countries' fourth round of diplomatic and strategic dialogue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said relations between China and Australia have maintained healthy development, adding that the free trade agreement between the two sides has yielded good results. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia, Wang said, calling on the two sides to take this opportunity to review past experience and plan for the future. He urged the two sides to expand cooperation, add new content to bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit. As the international situation is facing uncertainties, China and Australia need to strengthen strategic communication, jointly deliver to the world positive signals including building an open world economy, promoting greater inclusiveness and broader shared benefit, as well as safeguarding global trade system and combatting protectionism. He said the two countries need to promote business and trade cooperation toward a more diversified, more sustainable direction, enhance collaboration on such areas as international production capacity cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and law-enforcement cooperation. Speaking positively of the Australia-China relations, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the country is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields and coordination on global affairs. She said Australia expects to expand bilateral cooperation with China in the fields of business and trade, innovation, energy, and building closer people-to-people links. You are here: Home Flash Tens of people were either killed or wounded in airstrikes that targeted areas in the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Tuesday, a monitor group reported. Ten airstrikes targeted several areas in Idlib as at least eight bodies were removed from under the rubble, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog group said it wasn't clear if the airstrikes were conducted by Russia or the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition. It did not identify the number of civilians and rebel fighters who have been killed during the airstrikes. Meanwhile, Russia has denied claims that its warplanes carried out airstrikes in Idlib on Tuesday. Idlib is largely controlled by rebels of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, previously known as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which is branded as a terrorist group by the international community. The airstrikes on this particular group has increased in recent weeks, with many of its commanders were targeted and killed. Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for an immediate restoration of a truce in southeastern Ukraine, the Kremlin said Tuesday. The two leaders expressed serious concern during a phone conversation over the recent escalation of the armed conflict between Ukrainian government troops and local militias in the Donbass region, said a Kremlin statement. Putin told Merkel that there was "a clear desire for Kiev to disrupt the implementation of the Minsk agreements and use the Normandy format as a cover for its destructive steps." The Normany format is a group composed of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, Putin and Merkal agreed to step up diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful settlement to the crisis and hold further Normandy group meetings. A civil war broke out in Ukraine in April 2014 after local residents in the country's southeastern Donbass region refused to recognize the new pro-West Kiev authorities and sought independence. The two sides reached a peace agreement brokered by Russia, France and Germany in September 2014 in the Belarussian capital of Minsk, and a more detailed renewal of the agreement was signed in February 2015. However, the truce has not been strictly observed, and deadly conflicts have flared up in the last two weeks in Donbass, with Kiev and local militias trading accusations of undermining the Minsk deal. Flash China and Myanmar on Tuesday held a new round of diplomacy and defense consultations, and agreed to have close communication on the situation in northern Myanmar and maintain peace and stability in the border area between the two countries. The talks were co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission Shao Yuanming from the Chinese side, and Minister of State of Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Tin and Chief of the No.1 Special Operations Bureau of the Tatmadaw Tun Tun Naung from the Myanmar side. According to a press release issued by China's Foreign Ministry, China expects relevant parties in Myanmar to exercise restraint and realize a cease-fire in the northern Myanmar area as soon as possible, so as to keep peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border area. The Myanmar side expressed the will to stabilize the situation in norther Myanmar and continue to push forward domestic peace process. Myanmar also expressed gratitude to China's help in this regard, and welcomed China to play its due role in a constructive way. Data showed that the conflicts in the norther Myanmar region had impacts on border trade between Myanmar and China, as well as peace and stability. Border trade between Myanmar's northern Shan state and China dropped over 210 million U.S. dollars as of Nov. 25 in the 2016-2017 fiscal year due to military conflicts, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce. Flash The UN political chief on Tuesday warned that the extremist group Islamic State (IS) is adapting in several ways to military pressure including by using the "dark web" to communicate and recruit members. Jeffrey Feltman, UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, told the Security Council that IS is on the defensive militarily in several regions; and meanwhile the group is resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using encryption and messengers. Noting the income of the group as well as the territory under its control are shrinking, Feltman said the IS still "appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," and it might try to expand other sources of income, like kidnapping for ransom and increase its reliance on donations. He also warned that IS has expanded its area of attacks to countries neighboring Iraq and Syria and foreign terrorist fighters leaving Iraq and Syria augment the threat of terrorism in their countries of origin. To address the rising threats, Feltman highlighted the need for "the broadest possible international cooperation" in the judicial and law enforcement spheres and strengthened collaboration on information sharing among member states. He also called on member states to step up efforts to prevent and resolve the violent conflicts that both drive and are made worse by terrorism to effectively "deprive terrorism of the oxygen it needs to survive." Flash Syrian government troops supported by Russian warplanes have successfully eliminated Islamic State targets and liberated a large territory, a Russian military official said Tuesday. "Since start of the year, 4,608 terrorist facilities have been destroyed," the chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said at a news briefing in Moscow. He said Syrian government troops had expelled IS militants from 35 settlements in the northern province of Aleppo and liberated more than 300 square km of territory. Russia's Tu-22M3 long-range bombers have destroyed 34 terrorist targets near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, thus "undermining their combat readiness and demoralizing their detachments," Rudskoy said. Russia has cut the number of airstrikes and withdrawn the majority of its troops since December when it brokered a cessation of hostilities in Syria, but Rudskoy said the country's air force will continue to support anti-terrorist missions. Earlier on Tuesday, some media said that "what were believed to be Russian jets" killed at least 15 people and wounded many others in an offensive against the terrorist-held Syrian city of Idlib. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. General Igor Konashenkov denied the report, saying that no Russian aircraft has attacked Idlib since the beginning of 2017. Flash Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a cooperation between Russia and the United States would be positive, not only for Syria, but the entire world as well, state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday. Speaking to Belgium reporters in Damascus, Assad said the remarks of U.S. President Donald Trump were "promising," as Trump regarded the war on terror, mainly the Islamic State (IS) group, in his presidential campaign, while also noted that it's still too soon to judge such remarks. He said that prioritizing fighting terror as mentioned by Trump was what the Syrian government has been calling for since the beginning of the war in Syria six years ago. Assad's remarks came as President Trump has made clear in his campaign that he would cooperate with Russia in the war on terror, but that hasn't been materialized yet, at least publicly. Russia also seems to favor Trump over his processor, pertaining to the need to put an end to the growing threat of the terror-designated groups in Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that his country believes that the efforts of the Trump administration in fighting terrorism will be more efficient than that of former President Barack Obama. For his part, Assad pointed out "two components" for peace, the first is fighting terrorism and halting all support to it, and the second is the intra-Syrian talks to determine the future of the country. As for his presidency, Assad said that the Syrians can choose their president through the ballot boxes and by the constitution, adding that if the Syrian people are to choose another president, "I will be out of this post." He said the Assad dynasty, which ruled Syria for 46 years, doesn't own the country, adding that his presidency wasn't inherited, or predetermined by his late father, former President Hafez Assad. He stressed that he was elected and that "could be a coincidence." Meanwhile, the president renewed accusations of the Western countries, mainly Britain and France, for supporting the "terrorist" groups in Syria. Flash At least 20 airstrikes targeted rebel-held areas in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus on Tuesday, leaving unknown losses, a monitor group reported. Smoke rises over the rebel-held area of Ain Tarma, eastern countryside of Damascus, capital of Syria, on Feb. 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] The airstrikes targeted the rebel bastions of Jobar and Arbeen in the Eastern Ghouta region east of Damascus, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The London-based watchdog group said the airstrikes were coupled with intense battles between the Syrian army and the rebel fighters in that part of the capital. Still, the reasons behind the eruption of the battles and airstrikes were unknown, as that front has remained largely calm since a Turkish-Russian-sponsored ceasefire went into force on Dec. 30. The sound of warplanes and the strikes were clearly heard in Damascus on Tuesday, and the rebels fired many mortar shells on the capital, one of which slammed near the Faculty of Law in central Damascus, with losses remained unknown. Flash Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that the Sino-U.S. relation, nearly 40 years since its establishment, has been seeing a non-stop development progress. "The China-U.S. ties have never ceased development, overcoming various difficulties," Wang told a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop following the fourth round of China-Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue. He disclosed that Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump had "an important conversation" after the latter won the presidential election. Wang said the key of the conversation is positive, as President Xi said the Sino-U.S. ties would be on a better development path, which was totally agreed by Trump, saying the Sino-U.S. ties are the most important bilateral ties in the world. Wang noticed the tough comments on China made by some from the United States, but said the two sides have been seeing "converging interests." The two countries recorded a 500-billion-USD bilateral trade volume in 2016, said Wang. "Almost every state in the U.S. has been doing business with China, every (U.S.) university has cooperated with China and the number of personnel exchanges between the two countries has risen to more than four million last year," said Wang. No wise statesman would disagree that if the U.S. and China are in conflict, the consequence would not be unbearable for the both sides. On the China-policy of the U.S., Wang said China attaches greater importance to the formal policy statement of the new U.S. administration, which probably needs time to know more about China. He believes that as long as China and the U.S. abide by the pledges which have been made so far by the two sides, the Sino-U.S. relations would see through the break-in period and step onto a better development route, which meets the common wish of the two peoples and is in accordance with the long-term interests of both sides. Wang also expressed appreciation for Bishop's calling for more positive interactions between China and the U.S.. He said Australia could be an ally of the U.S. and a comprehensive strategic partner of China in the same time. Flash Politicians at Westminster were told for the first time Tuesday that they would have a final vote on Britain's Brexit deal before it is sent to Brussels for EU approval. Attorney General Jeremy Wright (L, front) arrives at the British Supreme Court in London, Britain, Jan. 24, 2017. The British Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled on that Prime Minister Theresa May must consult Parliament before triggering formal negotiations on Britain leaving the European Union. [Photo/Xinhua] But the government's Brexit minister David Jones told the House of Commons that if London and Brussels cannot come to an agreement, Britain will fall back on other trading arrangements. Pressed further, Jones said: "If there were no agreement at all, which I think is an extremely unlikely scenario, ultimately we would be falling back on World Trade Organisation arrangements." Politicians in the Commons are discussing details of the government bill to pave the way for Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger the Article 50 process to kickstart Britain's departure from the European Union. Opposition members of parliament (MPs) have put forward a string of amendments in the hope of winning concessions from May's government in the Brexit process. One concession announced during Tuesday's session at Westminster came from Jones who said MPs and members of the House of Lords will be given a vote covering not only the EU withdrawal arrangements but also the future relationship with Brussels. "I can confirm that the government will bring forward a motion on the final agreement, to be approved by both Houses of Parliament before it is concluded. We expect and intend that this will happen before the European Parliament debates and votes on the final agreement," said Jones. Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, said: "That is a huge and very important concession about the process that we are to embark on. What is significant is that it covers the Article 50 agreement and it covers any future relationship. That is the first time we have heard this. It is a very significant position by the Government." Starmer described the negotiations that will take place under Article 50 as the most difficult, complex and important for decades, arguably, since the Second World War. "Among other things, it is important that we ensure the best outcome for our economy and jobs, and the trading agreements. What that entails is very clear; we must have tariff-free and barrier-free access to the single market, regulatory alignment, and full access for services and goods." he said. After the Brexit bill has cleared its way through the House of Commons Wednesday night, it will go to the House of Lords for more debate. May is aiming to trigger Article 50 before the end of next month. Flash Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday shrugged off what he called the U.S. "threats" against the Islamic republic, the official website of the supreme leader reported. The Iranians are not afraid of the threats of the new U.S. President Donald Trump and his threats would not frighten Iran, said Khamenei. The United States has never ceased its enmity against the Iranian people over the past 38 years following the victory of the revolution, he said as the Iranians are preparing to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of Islamic republic on Feb. 10. "Iran would not be crippled by the enemies" and the Iranians would respond to these threats in the nationwide rallies to be held on Feb. 10, he added. The United States on Friday announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's ballistic missile program and providing support to a military force in Iran. The move came days after Iran launched a ballistic missile test, which drew a stern warning from Washington. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that the action reflects the U.S. commitment to enforcing sanctions on Iran with respect to its ballistic missile program and "destabilizing" activities in the region. The United States also announced that it officially put Iran "on notice" over Tehran's recent missile launch and an attack against a Saudi vessel by Iran-supported Houthi militants. In a reaction, Iranian officials unanimously called the missile test "inalienable right" of the country to boost deterrent power and Iran vowed to counteract the fresh U.S. sanctions. On Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said that the U.S. government has adopted "hostile and threatening" policies towards Iran. In the meantime, Russia and China opposed the U.S. sanctions against Iran. On Monday, China lodged representations to the United States over the latest sanctions against Iran which involve Chinese companies and individuals. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a routine press briefing. "China always opposes any unilateral sanctions, especially when they harm the interests of a third party," Lu said, adding such sanctions are "not helpful" to promote mutual trust and solve global issues. Besides, Moscow regretted the imposition of new sanctions by the United States on Iran after the latter's missile test, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Monday. Iran's recent missile test did not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the UN Security Council resolution urging the Islamic Republic to drop nuclear-capable missile activities, Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. He added that the existing mechanism ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program is implemented without "specific problems." In the reports released here on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also dismissed the threats by the new U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider the 2015 agreement which put an end to the disputes over Iran's nuclear issue. Zarif said that the Iranian nuclear deal, known as JCPOA, is an international deal and its renegotiation is not acceptable, Tehran Times daily reported on Tuesday. "I believe (U.S. President Donald) Trump may try to renegotiate the nuclear deal," Zarif said, adding that "It's clear that neither Iran nor Europe will accept a re-examination of the deal. So, we have difficult days ahead." Iran and six major world powers reached an agreement on the former's disputed nuclear program in July 2015, which was implemented in January last year. Based on the agreement, Iran agreed to scale back its nuclear activities to a considerable degree in return for the lift of western and international sanctions. Trump has criticized the deal, as a pact of "disaster" or "the worst deal ever negotiated" and has vowed to renegotiate the accord. Going back on the deal is impossible as it is not a bilateral agreement between Iran and the United States, Zarif was quoted as saying. Any review of the agreement, endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, will face resistance from the international community as well, he said. Flash A U.S. federal appeals court heard oral arguments Tuesday about one of President Donald Trump's executive orders but withheld an immediate decision on the travel ban imposed on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. A three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioned August E. Flentje, special counsel to the assistant U.S. attorney general on behalf of the Trump administration, and Noah G. Purcell, solicitor general of Washington State, on behalf of the states of Washington and Minnesota. As Flentje reiterated that it is the president's authority to limit the entry of foreign nationals on national security grounds, the judges asked him to provide evidence connecting those barred from entry with terrorism. The representative of Washington and Minnesota states was also grilled by judges over the two states' defiance of Trump's travel ban. One judge asked Purcell if the Seattle judge's suspension of Trump's ban was "overbroad." Purcell alleged the travel ban was unconstitutional because it was motivated to target people with a specific religious belief. Then he was asked by the judges to substantiate his claim with evidence other than the president's public statements. The hearing was streamed online and the record was posted on the court's website. The court said at the end of the hearing that it would give a ruling as soon as possible within the week. Both sides have attracted support from some groups and entities, including a number of U.S. technology companies such as Apple, Google and other top names fighting Trump's ban. In front of the entrance of the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, some people were protesting against the travel ban, with one of them covering herself with national flags of Muslim-majority countries and locking herself within a cage. Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 27, barring travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days and all refugees from entering the country for 120 days. The order has prompted widespread protests across the United States. On Feb. 3, federal judge James Robart in Seattle, Washington state, ruled to suspend Trump's travel ban nationwide, effective immediately. Then the Department of Justice appealed to restore Trump's ban before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. By Martin Evans, Harry Yorke, The Telegraph | Feb. 08, 2017 A man has been arrested after a passenger jet flying from Pakistan to Heathrow had to be diverted when police received an anonymous threat regarding the aircraft. RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight to Stansted Airport in Essex following reports of disruption on board on Tuesday afternoon. Flight PK757 had been en-route from Lahore to Heathrow where Metropolitan Police officers were waiting to arrest a passenger as part of a pre-planned operation. But sources at PIA British police had received "vague" security threats shortly after the Airbus A330 entered UK airspace, resulting in the flight being diverted in accordance with usual security procedures. It is not clear who made the alleged threats or whether they were related to the person on board who police intended to arrest. A spokesman for Essex Police said officers had attended Stansted to greet the aircraft, but stressed that the incident was not being treated as a hijack or terrorist situation. The spokesman said: "An aircraft was diverted to Stansted Airport at around 3pm on Tuesday, February 7, while over UK airspace en-route to Heathrow Airport due to reports of a disruptive passenger on board. "The plane is currently at the airport and officers are making enquiries. There is no disruption to the ongoing operation of Stansted Airport. This is not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter." A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that a passenger on board had been due to be arrested when the flight landed, but refused to give any more details. But a spokesman for PIA in Pakistan claimed the incident had been sparked by a "vague security threat" that was made in an anonymous phone call. In 2013 two British nationals were arrested after a PIA flight from Lahore to Manchester was diverted to Stansted following reports that they had tried to get into the cockpit. They were subsequently charged with threatening to blow up an aircraft but were cleared after a judge ruled that they had no case to answer. Typhoon pilots are on standby 24 hours a day to defend UK airspace. Squadrons are based at RAF Coningsby, covering the south of the country, and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, to cover the north. The Quick Reaction Alert crews can take off within minutes to intercept aircraft which have caused concern. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meet the press in Canberra, Australia, Feb 7, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi's call for "American friends" to "brush up" on World War II history may not ring any bells with Washington, because, unlike then, the two countries today are not fighting shoulder to shoulder against a common enemy. Instead, they find themselves pitted against each other in a murky, yet nonetheless increasingly touted, narrative about the transfer of global leadership. US President Donald Trump's isolationist "America First" inaugural address and Chinese President Xi Jinping's pro-globalization speech in Davos seem to have indelibly reinforced that narrative for some. And the impression that a rising China is seeking to take the United States' place at the head of the global table has lent credence to warnings the two countries will be caught in the Thucydides trap, which in turn has fueled attempts to identify potential flashpoints. The South China Sea is a popular candidate in this regard. However, while Wang's remarks on the South China Sea were not meant as a tailored response to the underlining of diplomacy first by US Defense Secretary James Mattis, their remarks together point to a shared interest in crisis prevention. While Mattis essentially excluded military moves on Washington's part, at this point at least, the core message of Wang's reference to history and emphasis on Beijing's persistent peacemaking with other stakeholders is clear: There is no reason for conflict between China and the US in or over the South China Sea. Given its indirect, informal nature, such interaction may not suffice to eliminate, or even substantially de-escalate, the tensions and worries that have arisen with the narrative of looming conflict. But it is of far-reaching significance for Beijing and Washington to exchange vows not to seek confrontation at such a critical juncture. The most sensitive part of the narrative of impending conflict is misreading China's national strength and its alleged desire to supersede the US, an allegation that defies the repeated emphasis by Chinese leaders they have no desire for global dominance. Harvard professor Joseph Nye has cautioned Trump to be wary of the Kindleberger trap, the impression that China seems too weak rather than too strong, as well as the Thucydides trap, triggered by the impression that China is too strong. His warning deserves serious attention because it reminds us of the importance of a reality check. This is something that is more imperative than ever if the emerging narrative is not to be misguided by perceptions that turn it into a self-fulfilling prophesy. A job hunter talks with a company representative at a job fair in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua] Multinationals losing ground to more agile rivals in battle for talent Home grown Chinese companies are set to outperform their multinational rivals in winning over the next generation of Chinese executives in the coming decade, according to a report from top management consulting firm Bain. Many Chinese executives are willing to forego a perhaps more predictable career path at a multinational company and choose the steeper learning curves and career trajectories associated with local companies, the report says. James Root, a Bain partner and co-author of the report, said: "Locally owned companies have upped their game in terms of the experience, salary, and employee training and development they provide, in an effort to woo talent away from their multinational competitors." "Their fast-growing operations present opportunities for China's homegrown talent to rapidly take on leadership roles." Decades ago, it was not uncommon for many Chinese business leaders to build their careers at multinational companies in China. They were, in part, attracted by good opportunities for personal development, excellent salaries and benefits packages, and the chance to be involved in international assignments. However, the talent landscape has changed. In the past five years, only 10 percent of executives at multinational companies have come from local firms, while almost one-third of the leaders of Chinese firms used to be employed at multinational counterparts, the Bain analysis shows. This is because local companies are expanding their operations and now offer career growth opportunities that fully compete with established multinational companies. Feeling encouraged, Chinese nationals will continue to move to local employers as homegrown companies are learning from their competitors, business leaders predict. A technician inspects one of China Express Air's fleet in Nantong, Jiangsu province. XU CONGJUN /FOR CHINA DAILY Chongqing-based China Express Air is on course to be the first listed Chinese regional airline with a proposed initial public offering on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange later this year. China Express said it plans to issue up to 40.5 million shares on the Shenzhen bourse and raise nearly 1.68 billion yuan ($240 million). The funds will be used to purchase aircraft and engines and establish an aviation training school, according to its prospectus released on the website of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Founded in 2006, the airline operates a fleet of 28 CRJ-900ER planes on scheduled passenger flights to more than 70 destinations across China from bases at Chongqing, Dalian, Guiyang, Hohhot and Xi'an. "The demand for fast transportation has exploded in third- and fourth-tier cities," said Professor Zou Jianjun at the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China's department of economic management. "In the next three to five years, the growth rate of the regional air market in China will be much faster than major air routes, with a growing demand for ecotourism and agricultural products in smaller cities," he said. China is making structural adjustments to air transport capacity and putting increasing efforts into developing international and regional routes, Zou said. Major domestic routes face competition from high-speed trains, he added. In the wake of the listing of budget carriers Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines on the A-share market in 2015, China Express is set to become the eighth domestically listed airlines if it receives regulatory approval for the IPO. According to its prospectus, China Express specializes in regional routes, with most of its aircraft 100-seater jets. Regional air routes account for 95 percent of its total business, with nearly 60 percent of flights having flying times of less than one hour. In the first nine months of 2016, China Express achieved sales revenues of 1.92 billion yuan, and profits of 329 million yuan. Tieni Masueger, president of China-based CHEERS Stores, and Claudia Masueger, founder & CEO of CHEERS, celebrate their achievement in wine sales in China after opening the business in April 2011. ZHAO ZHENGFA /FOR CHINA DAILY In terms of attracting the right talent, multinational companies no longer enjoy the advantage of being corporate giants while smaller domestic companies, especially the privately-owned ones, have shown more competitiveness, according to Wang Zhe, head of China recruitment business at the world's largest human resources company Adecco. For multinational companies, which have developed a complete management system and, in many cases, have more than a century of operational experience in their home countries, it was easy to attract local Chinese talent. But when the managers in these multinational companies see their personal value enhanced within the organization, they are no longer satisfied with the traditional ways adopted by their employers and may look for alternative employment. Wang Zhe said: "Since the China branch has to report to the global headquarters, local managers cannot easily make innovations which may well overturn current business models. Under the direct leadership of global headquarters, the managers cannot realize many new ideas. So, a large number of them may feel that their talents are not being recognized or nurtured and they may leave the company." On the other hand, China is the headquarters for many domestic companies. Therefore, the core talents of domestic companies, especially privately-owned companies, will help their employers to map out the company's business model and development path, according to Wang. "Many managers at multinational companies have been attracted to jobs at privately-owned ones," he said. New technology has given birth to a large number of high-tech privately-owned companies in China, with business ranging from artificial intelligence and driverless cars to virtual reality and mobile internet. Candidates with knowledge in these fields are highly sought after by the private sector. But it does not mean that multinational companies have no merits at all, stressed Wang. The brand image of these companies, together with a clear company culture, company value and reputation, are still attractive to candidates. "Domestic companies can learn from multinational companies and their competitiveness will be enhanced accordingly," he said. A worker arranges wires on solar panels at a photovoltaic plant in Yiyang county, Central China's Henan province, Aug 27, 2016. [Photo/VCG] BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) is expected to settle down the trade dispute case regarding China's solar panels on March 3, EU news website EurActiv reported on Tuesday. The EU is considering shortening the extension of anti-dumping duties after receiving resistance from member states, according to the report. The EU started imposing high tariffs on Chinese solar panels more than three years ago and extended the trade measures at the end of 2015. But appeals for fewer restrictions in the sector have been on the rise in Europe. A majority of EU countries in January opposed an initial plan from the European Commission, the bloc's executive body, of extending trade measures for another two years. Media reports said that the Commission was considering limiting the extension of measures to 18 months. China's Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the EU to end trade measures against Chinese solar exports, saying it would harm interests of both sides to extend the measures. The ministry earlier said the growth pace of clean energy has been dragged down in Europe after European countries slashed subsidies on solar panels and set minimum import price. Hundreds of European companies and environmental organizations have asked the Commission to scrap those measures as solar panel prices were driven up and the solar power sector was impeded. "It is time for the Commission to let anti-dumping duties and its 'price undertaking' on Chinese solar panels expire," said Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish member of the European Parliament. "Only that way can we have credibility in our ambitions and policies for openness to trade and fighting climate change in an effective and cost-efficient manner," Fjellner was quoted as saying by EU website Borderlex. China and the EU went through major disputes on trade measures on solar panels imported from China before reaching deals on a minimum import price and a quota set for Chinese imports in 2013. NAY PYI TAW - De Hong Chamber of Commerce from De Hong county of China's Yunnan province has opened a representative office in Myanmar's capital of Nay Pyi Taw, aimed at boosting friendship, trade, cooperation in agriculture and livestock, transportation sectors. Chinese Embassy Councilor Chen Chen told the inaugural ceremony Monday that the representative office plays the role of bridge for bilateral economic cooperation, providing better services to businessmen from both countries. De Hong county borders Myanmar with two border gates namely Ruili and Wan Ding. The De Hong Chamber of Commerce will contribute to boosting bilateral economic cooperation, said the councilor, adding that China has desire to work for the development with neighboring Myanmar. It is the fourth office of its kind of the De Hong Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar while the other three have been established in Mandalay, Myitkyina and Lashio. ADDIS - Ethiopia's parliament on Tuesday approved a $250 million loan agreement made with China's Export-Import (Exim) Bank to finance major infrastructure construction in the country. The loan agreement, already approved by the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower house, would finance supply and construction of 400-kv power transmission projects of Genale Dawa III-Yirgalem II-Wolayita Sodo II-Hawassa II in the southern part of Ethiopia. The agreement, signed in December in China, is composed of two major parts: $195 million dollars for building the transmission line and the remaining about $54 million for undertaking major substation parts of the project. The Ethiopian Electric Power and China Engineering Corporation Limited have entered into agreement for Genale Dawa III-Yirgalem II-Wolayita Sodo II-Hawassa II back in September 2014, and another supplementary contract agreement a year after the first agreement. BRUSSELS - The European Union's (EU) trade chief has outlined the opportunities from strengthening trade and investment relations with China, assuring the business community that the bloc would fight protectionism together with Beijing. "If rising protectionism from elsewhere is a threat to the Chinese economy, we stand ready to engage and fight against it together," Cecilia Malmstrom, EU Commissioner for Trade, said on Monday night to a business conference organized by BusinessEurope, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and the EU-China Business Association. With US President Donald Trump taking office, the business community is widely concerned that international trade might be hampered by the headwinds created by major economies' trade policies. But Malmstrom said: "If others are closing their doors, ours is still open." Calling barriers and protectionism "a threat" to the open societies of Europe, Malmstrom said the EU would like to build bridges, not walls. "If others around the world want to use trade as a weapon, I want to use it as a tonic; a vital ingredient for prosperity and progress," said the EU trade chief. The commissioner set out the opportunities from strengthening trade and investment relations with China, a market that accounts for one fifth of EU goods imports and one tenth of its exports. Noting that China was the EU's second biggest trading partner, and the EU is China's largest, the bloc's trade chief said EU-China trade ties could be even stronger beside the impressive trade figures. CANBERRA - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called for expediting the talks of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for the construction of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). China is open to any regional trade arrangement conducive to regional economic integration and global free trade system, Wang told a press conference after the fourth round of China-Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue. As for various regional or sub-regional cooperation mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific, some are thriving while others are faltering, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), he said. Wang stressed that practice on the ground has showed that any regional cooperation should take into consideration the needs for economic development rather than political factors. "Either the RCEP or TPP or other regional arrangements is a possible path to the broader FTAAP," Wang said. The top Chinese diplomat urged relevant parties, including Australia, to make joint efforts to conclude the RCEP negotiations at an early date so as to contribute to achieving the common goal of building the FTAAP. Launched in November 2012, the RCEP talks involve 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its six major trading partners - China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia - with an aim of facilitating expansion of regional trade and investment. DHAKA - A State-owned Chinese company has signed a 4.49-billion taka agreement to construct a major bridge which will help faster communication between Dhaka and major river port town Narayanganj, some 30 kilometers northeast of the capital city. Sinohydro Corporation Limited, one of the largest international companies, signed the official construction contract with the Bangladeshi government's Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on Wednesday in capital Dhaka. The Bangladeshi government with the financial assistance from the Saudi Fund Development (SFD) has taken up the project in view of its importance in connectivity with three national highways. "The bridge will establish an alternative route to bypass congested Dhaka city and facilitate connectivity with Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Mawa national highways," project profile mentioned. It further said construction of the bridge will also help establish a direct road communication between two commercially important Narayanganj sub-districts (Bandar and Sadar). Ebne Alam Hasan, chief engineer of Bangladesh's Roads and Highways Department and Lv Liushan, vice president of Sinohydro Corporation Limited, inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides at in capital Dhaka. Bangladeshi Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, among others, was present at the deal signing ceremony. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier laid the foundation of 3rd Shitalakhya Bridge through a video conference with Communications Minister Obaidul Qader at Narayanganj, which is one of the country's important business hub since British period. Hasina had then reportedly said the project would be epoch making steps for better connectivity between Dhaka and Narayanganj as well as development of the surrounding areas and economic condition of the people. The bridge will be four-lane. Of the total funds, the SFD will provide nearly 4 billion taka while the rest will be borne by the Bangladeshi government. RHD and SFD have already signed a contract for the construction of the 1.2 kilometer bridge over the river Shitalakhya. (1 US dollar equals 82 taka). A total of 55 Chinese companies made to a list of the world's 500 most valuable brands this year, released by United Kingdom-based consulting firm Brand Finance. Let us take a look at the top 10 outperformers from China. No 10 Tencent Brand value: $22.29 billion A worker assembles a car at the Zhengzhou Nissan plant in Henan province. SHA LANG / FOR CHINA DAILY Dongfeng Nissan's China-developed marque Venucia has evolved into an independent company, the first of its kind since the central government released a three-year guideline in 2009 to encourage joint ventures to develop their own brands. Dongfeng Motor Co announced the establishment of Dongfeng Venucia Vehicle Co on Tuesday, saying that its independence would "enhance its brand recognition and boost its development". The move makes it the seventh subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor, a 50:50 joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Corp. Others include Dongfeng Nissan, Dongfeng Infiniti and Zhengzhou Nissan. Zhou Xianpeng, vice-president of Dongfeng Motor, has been appointed to head the new company, which was registered on Jan 20 in Guangzhou, according to the city's industry and commerce administration. Zhou Xianpeng, Vice-president of Dongfeng Motor Co Dongfeng Venucia has also established its own sales company in Guangzhou, which was approved on Jan 18 with registered capital of 100 million yuan ($14.58 million). Jun Seki, president of Dongfeng Motor Co Ltd, said the new company will help facilitate the balanced development of imported and local marques. Venucia was unveiled in late 2010 as a China-only marque, starting with models built on some of Nissan's previous-generation car platforms. It has gradually developed its own features, with a design and modeling center established in Guangzhou last June. Its efforts have distinguished Venucia as one of the few locally developed marques launched around 2010 that has been performing well. Venucia has rolled out eight models since its establishment and sold 114,000 cars in 2016, bringing its cumulative sales to 480,000 vehicles. Dongfeng Venucia said it will invest no less than 2 billion yuan in product development within five years and launch at least one model a year to build a lineup composed of SUVs, sedans, MPVs and new energy vehicles. News portal Netease quoted a Dongfeng Nissan executive as saying that it would offer technological assistance to the new company. John Zeng, managing director of LMC Automotive Consulting Shanghai, said an independent status is favorable for such marques' development in the long term because they were usually positioned to be subordinate to multinationals' original ones. "The move means Venucia can now shake off the limitations it suffered in terms of product planning, and the Chinese side will have at least an equal say in the brand's development," Zeng said. "It may take time to see whether it can get established. But if it succeeds, it will signal a new direction for cooperation between Chinese and overseas companies," he said. Honda Chief Executive Officer Takahiro Hachigo (right) and his Hitachi Automotive counterpart Hideaki Seki shake hands at a photo session after their news conference in Tokyo, Japan, February 7, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] Honda Motor Co said on Tuesday it plans to set up a joint venture with Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd to develop, produce and sell engines for electric vehicles. The joint venture has plans to manufacture in Japan, the United States and China and will consider using Hitachi's existing plants in those countries, Hitachi Automotive Chief Executive Officer Hideaki Seki said in Tokyo on Tuesday. The new company will also sell to automakers other than Honda if there's demand, he said. Establishing a joint venture with Hitachi can save costs, Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo said. It will also combine the advantages of both companies to advance the competitiveness of the motors from the joint venture, he said. Tokyo-based Hitachi Automotive, established in 2009, is a subsidiary of the conglomerate Hitachi Ltd. Bloomberg The Google logo is seen on a door at the company's office in Tel Aviv January 26, 2011. [Photo/Agencies] US tech giant mulls comeback to the Chinese mainland market Google Inc's proposed partnership with a local internet behemoth is likely to help it gain a much-coveted toehold in the Chinese mainland market, experts said on Tuesday. The US tech giant is in discussions with NetEase Inc, China's second-largest online games provider, to bring its Google Play mobile app store to the Chinese mainland, according to The Information, a US news portal, which cited people familiar with the matter. Google and NetEase did not respond to requests for comment amid the buzz that Google may be mulling a comeback in the world's largest mobile internet market. Sandy Shen, a Beijing-based research director at technology consultancy Gartner Inc, said forming a partnership with local players could help Google get a green light from the Chinese government. The Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet authority, issued a new regulation in January saying app store operators need to register with the local government before rolling out services. "That's perhaps why Google is reportedly considering a joint venture. NetEase can offer lots of help in government relations," she said. Google withdrew most of its businesses from the Chinese mainland in 2010. The absence of its Google Play store encouraged local internet giants and handset vendors to offer their own Android app stores. Wang Xiaofeng, a senior analyst at Forrester Research Inc, said any relaunch of Google Play would be welcomed by Chinese users because the app store still has a strong reputation in the country. "Google Play has a bunch of new features that local products lack. The digital assistant Google Now, for instance, is likely to lure Chinese consumers and help erode the presence of local players," Wang said. The move also came after Apple Inc raked in millions of dollars from China. In the third quarter of 2016, Chinese consumers spent $1.7 billion at Apple's iOS mobile app store, more than five times what they spent just two years ago, according to app tracker App Annie. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Doctors transplant the heart from a donor in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, to a patient in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province on May 8, 2016. [Photo/IC] A 10-year reform that has shaken off China's dependence on executed inmates as the primary source for transplant organs has brought the country to the Vatican to share on the world stage its experience in combating organ commercialism. Huang Jiefu, a former vice-minister of health and now director of the National Human Organ Donation and Transplant Committee, was invited by the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Science to speak about the "China model" of organ donation and transplant management at the two-day Summit on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism that opened on Tuesday. "This is the first time that China has been invited to a summit on organ transplanting held by an authoritative international organization," Huang was quoted by the Global Times as saying on Monday. He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. Chen Jingyu, deputy director of Wuxi People's Hospital in Jiangsu province and a leading lung transplant specialist, said such an invitation is "a New Year gift for us Chinese transplant surgeons who have been gradually recognized by international peers". In response to speculation on whether the invitation marks an improvement in China-Vatican relations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday at a regular media briefing that Huang's participation "has nothing to do with the development of the bilateral relationship". China first performed a transplant in the 1970s, and Huang acknowledged in 2005 that a majority of the organs transplanted were harvested from executed prisoners. To conform with international practice, China launched a public organ donation system and announced in 2015 that the use of organs from executed inmates had ceased. By the end of last year, about 28,000 major organs such as livers, kidneys and lungs were harvested from nearly 10,000 donors who had died, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. More than 140,000 people have registered under the organ donation system, according to the China Organ Transplantation Development Foundation, an organization under the commission. "That demonstrates the great benevolence of the Chinese and an ever-increasing voluntarism," Huang said earlier. That helps China gain international acclaim and, more important, "sustain the development of organ transplantation here", said Guo Zhiyong, a leading liver transplant surgeon at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. "I consider the invitation by the Vatican a recognition and huge encouragement for China's organ transplantation field," he said. "An increasing Chinese involvement in global academic exchanges in transplants also benefits the world, since China ranks second in the world in the number of transplants, second only to the United States," Guo added. Chen, from Wuxi People's Hospital, urged more Chinese surgeons to participate in international academic communications and "inform the world of China's changes". However, there is still a long way to go before China's organ donations fully satisfy the demand, said Huang, the former vice-minister of health. Although China performs about 10,000 transplants a year, 300,000 patients are waiting for organs, previous reports said. The Chinese pangolin is said to be extinct in the wild.[Photo provided to China Daily] Animal listed as 'critically endangered' after population declined by up to 94% Conservation groups have called for governments to increase protection of the Chinese pangolin after a social media post triggered public concern over this critically endangered wild mammal. A Sina Weibo user posted four pictures from 2015 showing a pangolin meat banquet held for a business delegation from Hong Kong in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. This triggered public criticism and has led to a probe. The Chinese pangolin, one of the eight species of pangolins, has been heavily hunted and trafficked for its meat and scales, which are believed to have medicinal qualities. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna said in 2003 the population was estimated at 50,000 to 100,000, having declined by up to 94 percent since the 1960s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Chinese pangolin as "critically endangered" in 2014 on the basis of predicted continuing declines of up to 90 percent over the next couple of decades. Wu Shibao, a professor at South China Normal University, has devoted himself to pangolin protection since 1995. He said the Chinese pangolin is already commercially extinct in the wild. "There is virtually no information available on population levels of the Chinese pangolin on the Chinese mainland," he said. "The species exists, but is very rare. I talked to some hunters. Some said they haven't seen wild pangolin for three decades." Wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic and environmental organization WildAid in September released an overview of the pangolin trade in China. The report said the "illegal trade appears to be continuing unabated". Traffic China recommended that the Chinese government should upgrade the species from a second-class to a first-class national protected species and strengthen management of the animal. One of the authors of the review, who wished not to be named, told China Daily that it is difficult to protect the Chinese pangolin, unlike the giant panda or snow leopard. "The majority of rescue centers or zoos don't even know how to keep pangolins alive, not to mention encourage reproduction," she said. "One of the important ways to raise public awareness of wildlife protection is to show endangered animals in zoos. However, no zoo on the Chinese mainland has pangolins. So most people don't know this species is more endangered than the giant panda." Wu from South China Normal University is more positive about the pangolin's future. He said the first step is to conduct a national survey of wild Chinese pangolin to provide a basis for establishing reserve areas. "We have saved giant pandas and Tibetan antelope from the brink," he added. A driver checks a high-speed train before it heads from Tianjin to Beijing South Railway Station on Jan 25.[Photo/Xinhua] Beijing and Tianjin are planning a monthly pass for high-speed intercity trains linking the cities, as well as canceling expressway toll fees between the two cities, the mayor of Tianjin said on Monday. The move will facilitate the integrated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, an outline given in 2015 to improve transportation links in the area, while also moving some of Beijing's low-end industries to neighboring areas. Wang Dongfeng, mayor of Tianjin, said the plan is to build a modern transportation system. He added that a unified smart prepaid traffic card, called Yikatong, already exists in 12 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the government aims to expand its use to all cities in the area by the end of this year. In addition to universal traffic cards and expressways, the proposal of a high-speed train network in the region was approved last year, with Beijing-Binhai New Area Intercity Railway expected to be completed by 2020. The Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway was the first of its kind in China. Traveling at up to 350 kilometers per hour, passengers can commute between the cities in about 40 minutes on trains that depart every 10 to 15 minutes. Officials from Tianjin's transportation bureau said they are still deliberating the monthly pass mechanism and a timetable is not available. Potential benefactors are eagerly awaiting the implementation of the planned policies. "We are looking forward to having monthly train passes," said Xiang Nan, the managing director of a Tianjin-based investment company that has offices in Beijing, downtown Tianjin and Binhai New Area of Tianjin. He has rented offices near the train stations to save time on commuting. Xiang said that he and seven of his employees spend nearly 5,000 yuan ($730) every month on commuting. "We hope the monthly pass can help frequent passengers save money." In 2009, a prepaid express card was issued by railway authorities for Beijing-Tianjin intercity trains, offering exclusive entrance channels at stations so frequent travelers don't have to buy tickets in advance or wait in line before boarding. In 2012, the express card was upgraded into a debit card that also works on about 20 intercity rail transit lines nationwide. However, in both cases, passengers still have to pay the full price for each trip54.5 yuan from Beijing to downtown Tianjin. "If expressway toll fees were lifted, it would save us a lot of money," said Wang Rui, who drives between Tianjin, where she works, and Beijing, where she and her husband own a house. At 6 am, Wang Yingxiang carefully boards a train, her hands full with four heavy kettles of hot water. The steam from the spout fogs up the window of the old-fashioned "green-skinned train". She quickly gets to work. Her first task is to write information on the carriage's signboards. The signboards advertise goods that passengers are selling. Many people sell products during their journey on the No 8361 train, which runs deep through the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi province. Lei Shunmin paid 1 yuan ($0.15) to travel from Xiangshui town to Daijiaba market, about 8 kilometers away. Once he finds his seat, he carefully begins to calculate how much he can earn on the train and at the market. "The honey sells for 200 yuan, and five brooms will make me 50 yuan," he tells himself. The train only has three carriages, and it picks up passengers every 10 minutes from 12 stations in one of the most impoverished hinterlands in northwestern China. For locals, the clanking green train is their lifeline, taking them to relatives, hospitals, schools and markets. "When I was young, we had to leave at midnight to get to the morning fair," Lei said. China's slow, green trains, like the No 8361, have no air conditioning and are often crammed with people and huge bags bulging with goods. In the modern era of high-speed trains they are just a distant memory for many urbanites. In rural areas, however, they are the only link locals have to the outside world, and to wealth. The tradition of peddling produce on the trains, which was once a major source of income for many folks, is changing. After Lei gets off the train, the green carriages chug along to a bigger market in Da'an town, which is where Zhu Jihong, 28, is headed. Born locally, Zhu took the train to a new life 10 years ago. She never imagined it would bring her back. She is now vice-chairwoman of an e-commerce association, which was set up last year, in Dayudong village in Da'an. The aim of the association is to help villagers out of poverty through the sale of their produce, such as mushrooms, chestnuts, bacon and free-range chickens. E-commerce was identified by the central government as away to reduce poverty. However, many locals are not computer literate, so people like Zhu have been brought in to help villagers use these new tools. "We just got an order for 1,000 chickens from Beijing," Zhu said, adding that local farmers had received more than 30,000 orders last year. More than 300 of the 500-plus households in Dayudong still live under the poverty line, which means they survive on an annual income below 2,300 yuan per capita. E-commerce has helped at least six households get richer in less than a year and encouraged many more to explore large-scale farming. "There was no independent industry in the village. It was only recently that farmers started to grow produce on a large scale," a local official said. Encouraged by the accomplishments, the local government plans to eradicate poverty in the village by 2018 by helping e-commerce businesses in the region grow. China's top court issued a guideline on Tuesday aimed at severely punishing those who disturb judicial work or take revenge on legal officers, after a grassroots judge was killed by one of his litigants at the end of last month. The guideline stipulates that those found guilty of interfering in judicial affairs, including threatening, insulting or harming judges, will face severe punishment, to ensure justice is served and to protect the safety of judges. On Jan 26, the day before the Spring Festival, Fu Mingsheng, a retired judge from a court in Luchuan county, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was stabbed to death in his home by the defendant in a divorce case Fu handled in 1994. Long Jiancai, 67, the attacker, has been detained on suspicion of homicide. Fu, 63, began working as a judge on domestic dispute cases at the county court in 1978, retiring in November 2013. After a preliminary investigation, the Supreme People's Court said on its micro blog on Monday that Long's motivation was his dissatisfaction with the verdict given by Fu in 1994. "The suspect's actions touched the legal bottom line and disturbed public order. No matter how discontent he is with the judgment, he has no right to harm the safety of others," the top court said. "If judges, the last line of defense against injustice, have their safety put in danger, how can they protect litigants' rights and push forward the rule of law?" it added. The China Judge Association said on Monday that Long's actions must be criticized and penalized, "as it threatens the authority of courts and judicial credibility". "Danger posed to judges threatens the rule of law, and damages public order and social stability," it said. Guo Jie, a judge from Fujian province who specializes in cases involving divorces and children's disputes, described Fu's death as shocking, adding that the case reminded her of another tragedy in Beijing last year in which former judge Ma Caiyun, 38, was shot in the stomach and face at home. She was taken to hospital, but died. One of the suspects was a litigant who was discontent with the division of property in a divorce verdict given by Ma. "I feel increasingly unsafe, especially outside of my working environment," Guo said. Although the government issued a rule to ensure judges' safety in July, aiming to severely punish those taking revenge on judicial officers, "no severe punishments have been announced publicly," which is why lots of judges remain anxious, according to Guo. "A safe environment is crucial for us to properly handle cases," she added. Buddhists release colorful prayer flags into the wind to extend good wishes in Qinghai province, where the Sanjiangyuan National Park will be built.Wu Gang / Xinhua Construction of the Sanjiangyuan National Park to protect the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang (Mekong) rivers will start this year with the building of roads and installing of surveillance cameras to assist protection work. The park's administration bureau said on Monday that it would have a budget of 1 billion yuan ($145 million) this year for infrastructure construction. The bureau began trial operation of the management of the national park, a vast wetland and grassland area on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in April last year. It is scheduled to officially become China's first national park administered by the central government by 2020. More than 10,000 wardens will be employed to patrol more than 120,000 square kilometers, an area bigger than the US state of New York. Zhai Jinquan, a planning official with the bureau, said that this year, the park would build roads, control facilities, visitor centers, preservation stations and sewage treatment facilities. "The park is massive and sparsely populated. Most areas in the park do not have roads. Herdsmen can only ride horses to traverse the land," he said. Zhai said that in order to enhance ecological protection and law enforcement work, the park would build roads and install a network for remote monitoring. Sanjiangyuan means "the source of three rivers", and it is the water tower for all major rivers in China. However the ecology of the area has suffered degradation due to human activities such as overgrazing. The Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve was established in Northwest China's Qinghai in 2000. The decision to turn the area into a national park managed by the central government was made at a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Reform at the end of 2015. Under national park management, herders and farmers will be the central forces behind environmental protection at Sanjiangyuan. The work is expected to provide jobs, boost farmers' incomes and give them an incentive to protect the environment. The park is rich in wildlife, including endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope and the snow leopard. 'Red line' aims to safeguard soil, water, forestry and biodiversity China has issued a guideline calling for an "ecological red line" around areas where development is prohibited, with the nationwide initiative expected to be completed by 2020, the central government said in a statement on Tuesday. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and provinces along the Yangtze River will take the lead in drawing the red line to protect the environment by the end of this year. By 2030, China will see the system working effectively, with noticeable improvements in ecological functions across the country, the statement said. The regions mapped out by the "ecological red line", which are of critical importance for natural functions and the protection of water, soil, forestry and biodiversity, should be strictly protected and free from development or exploitation. "The ecological red line aims to safeguard national ecological security," the statement said, adding that the country must closely monitor it. When local governments draw the red line, they should consider natural boundaries such as rivers and mountains, as well as administrative lines like protection zones under unified standards to help form a national map. The country's top economic planner and environmental authorities will lead the "drawing" of the red line along with other governments and departments, the information of which will be made public. In addition to the principles and process of drawing the red line, China will build a new monitoring network and a platform to analyze data and assess risks in the mapped out regions by the end of this year, the statement said. The central ministries will assess local governments' performance and any official found violating red-line protection measures will be severely punished. Since the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms approved the guideline on Nov 1, provinces have been planning their red lines, with some such as Jiangxi and Hubei having already finished their plans and awaiting approval, Chen Jining, minister of environmental protection, said at the annual meeting on environmental protection last month. On Monday, Guizhou province released its "ecological red line" plan, which accounts for 31 percent of the province's total area. "I think it is appropriate for the country to keep 35 percent of its territory inside the ecological red line to better protect the environment," Ouyang Zhiyun, director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Center for Environmental Studies, said on Tuesday. Ouyang said he is confident that provinces will reach their targets for drawing the red line and environmental protection because of the growing attention the system is receiving and other supplementary policies that will support its implementation. Seeing is believing. Two things that happened at Qufu East railway station during my recent visit to Qufu, Shandong province, impressed upon me how deeply the city and its people have been influenced by the teachings of Confucius, the city's best-known son and China's most-famous ancient sage. Qufu is a tourist city thanks to the presence of the Confucius Mansion, a Confucius Temple and the Confucius Family Cemetery. High-speed trains take just 30 minutes to reach the town from Jinan, the provincial capital, and Qufu is two and a half hours from Beijing. As I got down from the train in the morning, I saw large posters bearing the words, "How happy we are to meet friends from afar. Welcome to the hometown of Confucius." I turned my ankle as I rushed to the exit. While sitting on the stairs and resting, I was frequently asked by passers-by, "Are you ok? Need any help?" which warmed my heart on that cold winter day, and let me know that I was in the home of Confucius, who advocated love and benevolence. When I returned to the station in the afternoon, I watched a number of activities in the waiting hall. Dressed in traditional costumes, students from Qufu Normal University were performing the six arts of ancient China - rites, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy and mathematics. The railway employees interacted with the passengers by reciting classic maxims from The Analects, a collection of the sage's writings. Railway stations often give visitors their first impressions of a place, but I didn't need the large statue of Confucius in the waiting hall, the teachings hung in the stations and the friendly approach of the station staff to remind me that Qufu is the home of the country's greatest educator. Beating out a rapid rhythm with a pair of bamboo clappers, Kong Fanxi spoke quickly as he related a Confucian story in the dialect used by residents of Qufu, a city in Shandong province that is famous as the birthplace of Confucius. The loud sound of the clappers and Kong's exaggerated body language quickly attracted dozens of people, who gathered around him in Lianjie square in Qianjia, a village in Qufu, on Jan 14. The audience listened intently to every word as the 73-year-old related a story about filial piety via the medium of kuaishu, a storytelling and rhythmic art form that originated in the area. "I could tell that the people were really listening to what I was saying because when I told a sad story, they looked serious, and when I told a humorous story, they smiled," said Kong, who is always delighted when the audience asks for an encore. "I like his (Kong's) performance. He paraphrases Confucian teaching in simple language and tells stories that usually leave a deep impression on me," said audience member Xue Dianjin. A 74th-generation descendant of Confucius (who is known as Kongzi in Chinese), Kong is steeped in his ancestor's teachings, and has adapted 45 stories so they can be performed in the kuaishu style. Kong learned to use bamboo clappers as a child, so after retiring from his job as a carpenter, he focused on practicing kuaishu. He has now given hundreds of free performances. "When I performed at the Hucheng River near the Confucius Temple, many people, including foreign visitors, tried to reward me with money, but I declined. As a descendant of Confucius, it's my duty to spread his teachings and help more people learn about our traditional culture," he said. Kong said his family has a history of studying the teachings of their famous forefather. His son works at the Confucian Research Institute in Qufu, while his 5-year-old granddaughter can recite many sections of The Analects, a collection of the sage's teachings. Kong hopes that he will have more opportunities to perform outside Shandong. "I once performed in Nanjing (capital of Jiangsu province), and discovered that the people there were really interested in Confucius. Confucian teachings need to move outside of Shandong to reach more people," he said. Students in traditional costume participate in a series of activities known as the 'six skills', which formed the basis of elite education in China during the Zhou Dynasty (BC 1046-BC 256), when Confucius was alive.Cai Xiaomeng / For China Daily The government is promoting the work of Confucius, the nation's most famous sage, in a bid to reaffirm traditional Chinese culture. Zhao Ruixue reports from Jinan and Qufu, Shandong province. Two years ago, a 50-square-meter room in Sandefan village of Jinan, the capital city of East China's Shandong province, was rarely visited by local residents. However, since it was converted into a base for lectures about the teachings of Confucius, China's best-known ancient sage and educator (551-479 BC), the room has become a mecca for villagers. The lectures usually feature stories that highlight Confucian beliefs, mainly those related to filial piety, loyalty, integrity and benevolence. Yan Binggang, deputy head of the Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies at Shandong University, visits the village once a week to deliver free lectures. He has made a habit of relating stories about people being punished for bad behavior, such as disrespecting one's parents and refusing to honor promises. "Your attitudes toward your parents will have an impact on your children and when your children grow up, they will tend to treat you in the same way you treated your parents," Yan said, adding that many people are unable to hold back their tears when he shares stories about filial piety. The room, known as the Confucius Classroom, is one of more than 3,000 centers in Shandong that are promoting Confucian thought, which is viewed as an important part of traditional Chinese culture. Reinforcing values Concerned that the teachings of China's best-known sage will lose ground as a result of the country's rapid development and ongoing urbanization, the government is moving to reinforce traditional cultural education nationwide. Confucian teaching rests on the belief that humans are fundamentally good, and can be taught and changed by personal and communal endeavor and self-cultivation. The sage's maxims, such as "How happy we are to meet friends from afar", "Harmony should be cherished" and "Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you", have remained popular in China for thousands of years. Although the teachings were heavily criticized during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), the country's top leaders are now stressing their importance. In 2013, President Xi Jinping visited the hometown of Confucius, Qufu city in Shandong, and made a speech after attending a discussion with Confucian experts. In his address, Xi said research into the philosopher and his beliefs should make the past serve the present, discarding the less-valuable while keeping the essential so the thoughts of the renowned philosopher will continue to exert a positive influence today. In 2014, Xi made a speech at the opening of an international conference to commemorate the 2,565th anniversary of Confucius' birth, becoming the first Chinese president to address an international conference dedicated to the works of the great sage. If a country - no matter which country - does not cherish its own thinking and culture, its people lose their souls and it will not be able to stand, Xi told the audience. Former PLA officer excels in her new role as a community policewoman After 18 years in the People's Liberation Army, former lieutenant colonel Yang Yan's change of career might seem strange to some. The computer science major joined the PLA after graduating from the China University of Geosciences in 1992, going on to help develop the country's ground-to-air missile system at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province. In 2010, Yang was transferred to the public security bureau in Wuhan, Hubei province, where she was primed for a top job with the city's 110 police hotline control center. But instead, a year later, she requested a transfer to become a community police officer. "I lacked grassroots experience and I thought I was not qualified to command the police force yet, so I decided to work in the community," she said. "Even my son didn't understand - he thought I'd been demoted for doing something wrong at work." In making the switch, Yang became the first female police officer to serve the Wuhan Economic Development Zone's Jianhua community from her base at Dunkou police station. She has since been praised for acting as a kind of "agony aunt", thanks to her work engaging with the community. Jianhua, which covers an area of 4 square kilometers, is located in the rural-urban transition zone and has a large migrant population. In an effort to get to know the place better, when she arrived, Yang conducted a door-to-door household survey that took her nine months to complete. During that time she visited all the community's 2,370 households and collected more than 3,000 telephone numbers, which she used to set up four groups on popular messaging platform QQ. Using the knowledge gained from her visits, Yang identified areas for improvement and began to work on each systematically. The result was a 75 percent year-on-year decline in the number of crimes committed in 2013, she said. She posted notices outlining the police's service commitments and contact information at the entrances to all buildings in the community and distributed business cards featuring her picture, police number and personal contact details. Huang Heqing, a resident in the community said: "In the past, we would call our friends for help instead of the police because we were afraid of causing trouble. But now, everything has changed, people prefer to consult her (Yang) for everything." Yang also applied the scientific methods she had honed in her past career to her police work. She methodically recorded the details of all the cases she dealt with in a notebook, explaining to the community's residents the importance of having a written record. "Much of what I have done is dealing with trifling matters, really. But by nipping those in the bud, you can prevent them from becoming criminal cases," she said. Li Wei, a 31-year-old from Honghu in Hubei province, runs a beef noodle shop in the community. Every day, he has a consignment of noodles delivered to the front door of his shop, but several times he found that they had been stolen by a passer-by. "I was burning with anger and would fantasize about what I would do if I caught the thief," he said. "It's true that the noodles were not expensive, but it took me an hour's drive to buy some more." It did not take Yang long to identify the noodle thief, by staking out the front of Li's shop. She asked the man to return the noodles and made him write a note of apology to Li to settle the case. "I didn't ask the person to give a face-to-face apology in case a fight broke out," she said. "The noodles were not expensive and the person who took them may have just been playing a trick. In tackling this kind of case, I think of how to balance the scales of justice and prevent further conflict." Yang makes full use of the technology at her disposal to keep in touch with the community's residents. After last year's Spring Festival, a 16-year-old girl ran away from home and couldn't be found for two days and nights. Yang went around the area's schools, asking teachers, students and parents for more information, while also keeping in contact with them through QQ groups and WeChat, before finally managing to locate the girl and sending her home. The one major downside of being a police officer is the blurring of the distinction between work and social life, Yang said. "My husband is also a policeman, he understands me," she said. A picture expressing "I'm hungry" on the "ICU Chief Complaint" app. [Screenshot from Thepaper.cn] Sheng Jinghui, a 27-year-old doctor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, has designed a special app to help ICU patients express their feelings and needs, Thepaper.cn reported on Monday. The app, named "ICU Chief Complaint," contains 28 pictures that convey ideas such as"I'm hungry," "I'm thirsty," "I'm cold" and more. Many patients in the ICU are unable to speak or write due to tracheal intubations or other serious conditions. Medical workers, lacking a reliable and universal form of communication with such patients, are often forced to guess at their needs. This method is not only time-consuming, it can also sometimes lead to a rise in patients' blood pressures and heart rates. An 80-year-old patient surnamed Lin was left severely injured after a car accident last December. The accident rendered him paraplegic, and his trachea was cut open due to a pulmonary infection. Hungry but incapable of speaking, Lin was asked by Sheng where he felt uncomfortable, whether he wanted water, whether he wanted to sit up and many more questions. In the end, Lin's son had to wrap his father's fingers around a pen so that Lin could tremblingly write the English word "meal." A picture expressing "I'm thirsty" on the "ICU Chief Complaint" app. [Screenshot from Thepaper.cn] "Most patients in the ICU are not able to write. I wanted to find a handy way to communicate," explained Sheng. As a result, the doctor searched online and found a website to design apps in early January. After four nights of work, Sheng's earliest version of "ICU Chief Complaint" was done. The app consisted of two modules to help patients express their feelings and needs through different pictures. At present, Sheng is replacing the first images she downloaded with original drawings and words to make it easier for patients to use the app. Next, she will add two more modules relating to diseases and body parts to help patients discuss symptoms they are experiencing in different areas of the body. Meanwhile, Sheng is considering how to make the app accept voice commands and recognize eyeballs positioning. "The app is still in test mode. It will be available in the application market once it is completed," Sheng promised. BEIJING - A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday urged Taiwan to improve safety across its whole tourist sector and to take measures to ensure the safety of mainland travellers. An Fengshan, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a routine press conference that Taiwan should provide a safer travelling environment and conditions for mainland tourists. A total of 21 tourists from the Chinese mainland were injured Saturday in a bus accident in Kaohsiung city, southern Taiwan. The bus, which was carrying 25 tourists and a tour guide from the mainland, hit the top of a tunnel when the driver took the wrong turn. All the injured were taken to hospital. Everyone, apart from the tour guide who remains in hospital, have returned to the mainland, according to An. An said mainland authorities had extended their sympathies to those injured and helped handle the accident through non-governmental tourism organizations on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The mainland, An said, was deeply saddened by a string of accidents over recent years that had involved mainland tourists. In July 2016, 26 people -- 23 tourists and a tour guide from the Chinese mainland, and the Taiwanese driver and tour guide -- were killed when a tour bus crashed into a barrier on a highway and caught fire near Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan. Investigation found that the driver was drunk and had deliberately set the bus on fire. He had been found guilty of rape before the accident, but was not put into prison as he had appealed. BEIJING - A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Wednesday that Beijing will issue policies to support and attract Taiwanese to work and live on the mainland. The policies are currently being drawn up, An Fengshan, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a regular press conference. An said the policies cover employment, social insurance and living needs, adding that the policies will not only facilitate Taiwanese to live and work on the mainland, but aim to boost the social and economic integration of the two sides. In response to a question concerning remarks by the Taiwan administration about Taiwanese enterprises that operate on the mainland, An said the Chinese mainland had always encouraged and supported Taiwanese enterprises and set great store by safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests. "We used to do in this way and we will continue to do it in the future," said An, asking in reply that "who on earth is disturbing and hindering cross-Strait economic cooperation and Taiwan investment in the mainland? We must see it clearly." An said huge business opportunities had been created by the reform and opening up of the mainland. The Chinese mainland will continue to encourage Taiwan businessmen to develop on the mainland, and provide more convenience and opportunities for them. Beijing issues new standards on school racetracks after poisonings Xinhua | Updated: 2017-02-08 18:34 BEIJING - Beijing will issue new standards on the quality of synthetic racetracks in primary and high schools in 2017 after children reportedly fell sick from exposure to toxic running tracks last year. Construction of new synthetic running tracks will be suspended until the enforcement of the new standards, which have been included in the top agenda of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission this year. Makeshift racetracks, such as water permeable brick or concrete ones, will be adopted with the new standards. Zhang Yongkai from the commission said the new standards would require extensive tests on chemical substances, and that the entire construction process, including raw material purchase and processing, would be under strict inspection. Last year, pupils in a primary school in downtown Beijing reported nosebleeds, dizzy spells and coughs after alleged exposure to the newly renovated tracks. Tests on the tracks in mid-June, nine months after they were put into use, showed excessive amounts of benzene substances and formaldehyde. Similar cases were also reported in other provincial regions, such as Jiangsu and Guangdong. Media reports said that some of the racetracks were made of industrial waste, such as scrap tires and cables, and were built with substandard glue. Two former top officials with the Ministry of Civil Affairs have received disciplinary punishments including demotion and early retirement for failing to supervise subordinates, China's top graft watchdog said on Wednesday. Li Liguo, former minister of civil affairs, and vice-minister Dou Yupei were held accountable for poor governance and negligence, and they also were responsible for large-scale corruption that occurred in the ministry, said a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China. The punishment of Li and Dou can be regarded as a landmark event that sends a signal that the central leadership will rule the Party more strictly regarding accountability, said Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the clean government research center at Peking University. "Li and Dou are the two most senior officials who have been punished for negligence after the CPC enacted an intra-Party accountability regulation last July," he said. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection conducted an inspection of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in February last year. It discovered that many departments abused public power to seek individual benefits, and it also found widespread problems in the management of welfare lotteries. Based on intra-Party regulations on accountability and disciplinary penalties, Li received punishment including being placed on probation in the Party for two years and demotion, according to the commission statement. Dou received a serious intra-Party warning and will retire early, it said. Neither of them any longer holds the position of delegate to the Party's 18th National Congress, the statement said. "Such punishments mean the termination of the political career for the two officials," Zhuang said. Li was removed from the minister post on Nov 7 at the age of 63. The standard retirement age for a minister in China is 65. Dou was removed on Nov 15. The commission announced probes of Li and Dou in early January. The commission also announced on Wednesday that Bao Xuequan, former director of the ministry's welfare lottery center, and Wang Yunge, its former deputy director, are being officially probed for corruption. Zhuang spoke highly of the enforcement of the Party's accountability regulation, saying the result reflects the central leadership's strong determination to strictly rule the Party. According to the regulation, 17,000 Party members received punishments nationwide last year, according to the discipline commission. Lev Dodin [Photo provided to China Daily] Russian theater director Lev Dodin's epic work Brothers and Sisters will be staged at Tianjin Grand Theater on March 4 and 5. The eight-hour-long play, which premiered in 1985 at Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg, has toured 14 countries over the past decades. Adapted from the trilogy of novels by Russian novelist Fyodor Abramov, the play is about the daily life of people living on a farm after the World War II. Brothers and Sisters is among director Dodin's best known works. In 1975, he started to work with Maly Drama Theater and from 1982, Dodin, 73, has been the artistic director of the theater. Brothers and Sisters has been in the theater's repertoire for over 30 years. Brothers and Sisters will be the opening play for the upcoming Lin Zhaohua Theater Art Festival, which will be staged in Tianjin and Beijing from March to December. In its seventh year, the festival, which was initiated by eminent Chinese stage director Lin Zhaohua, will introduce over 20 international theater productions to Chinese audiences. A scene from Brothers and Sisters [Photo provided to China Daily] Related: Beijing gets a taste of Broadway Performing group brings cultural events to local communities Students in traditional costume participate in a series of activities known as the 'six skills', which formed the basis of elite education in China during the Zhou Dynasty (BC 1046-BC 256), when Confucius was alive.[Photo by Cai Xiaomeng/For China Daily] The government is promoting the work of Confucius, the nation's most famous sage, in a bid to reaffirm traditional Chinese culture. Zhao Ruixue reports from Jinan and Qufu, Shandong province. Two years ago, a 50-square-meter room in Sandefan village of Jinan, the capital city of East China's Shandong province, was rarely visited by local residents. However, since it was converted into a base for lectures about the teachings of Confucius, China's best-known ancient sage and educator (551-479 BC), the room has become a mecca for villagers. The lectures usually feature stories that highlight Confucian beliefs, mainly those related to filial piety, loyalty, integrity and benevolence. Yan Binggang, deputy head of the Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies at Shandong University, visits the village once a week to deliver free lectures. He has made a habit of relating stories about people being punished for bad behavior, such as disrespecting one's parents and refusing to honor promises. "Your attitudes toward your parents will have an impact on your children and when your children grow up, they will tend to treat you in the same way you treated your parents," Yan said, adding that many people are unable to hold back their tears when he shares stories about filial piety. The room, known as the Confucius Classroom, is one of more than 3,000 centers in Shandong that are promoting Confucian thought, which is viewed as an important part of traditional Chinese culture. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) President Cheryl Boone Isaacs arrives at the 89th Oscars Nominee Luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, US, February 6, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] The head of the organization behind the Oscar awards on Monday called for diversity and freedom of expression, saying the United States should not put barriers in the way of artists from around the world. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, told the 165 Oscar-nominated actors and film makers there was a "struggle globally today over artistic freedom that feels more urgent than at any time since the 1950s," an apparent reference to the anti-communist blacklists of some in the movie industry at the time. Speaking at a luncheon in Beverly Hills for the 2017 nominees, Isaacs noted that there were "some empty chairs in this room, which has made Academy artists activists." Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and actress Taraneh Alidoosti, who stars in his foreign-language nominated film The Salesman, said last week they would boycott the Feb 26 Academy Awards to protest President Donald Trump's travel restrictions on Iranians and six other Muslim-majority countries. Other Oscar nominees who expect to find difficulty traveling to Los Angeles for the ceremony include those behind documentary The White Helmets about civilian Syrian rescue workers. Isaacs did not directly mention the travel restrictions, but she said, "America should always be not a barrier but a beacon. ... We stand up to those who would try and limit our freedom of expression." "When we speak out against those who try and put up barriers, we reinforce this important truth - that all artists around the world are connected by a powerful bond, one that speaks to our creativity and common humanity," she said, to loud applause. Isaacs' address followed fiery speeches at recent awards shows and rallies by celebrities ranging from Meryl Streep to Madonna and Ellen DeGeneres condemning the travel ban, supporting civil and women's rights, and criticizing Trump's behavior. Isaacs, who is African-American, also cited the Academy's efforts to improve diversity in its ranks. After two straight years in which all 20 acting nominees were white, this year there are seven actors of color among the Oscar nominees. "Wow! What a difference a year makes," she said. Some 683 new members - many of them women or people of color - have joined the Academy in the past 12 months in a bid to make the body that chooses the Oscar winners more representative. "When we reach out to be inclusive, we set a shining example," said Isaacs. Related: 89th Oscars Nominee Luncheon held in Beverly Hills Oscars change their tune with 'La La Land,' diverse nominees A model building complex constructed with biscuits is displayed at the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai, Feb 7, 2017. [Photo/VCG] Installations of a building complex have caused a ripple at an art exhibition in Shanghai, which were erected using edible materials, including biscuits, bread and pizza. The creative artwork, displayed at the Rockbund Art Museum on Tuesday, is part of artist Song Dong's Eating Cities series to encourage the public to reflect on urban life. The model structures represent the construction and demolition of modern buildings and skyscrapers. "Through these works, we can see directly how a city is built first and then vanished over time," Song was quoted by local media. "What do we actually own in the end? That's something we should reflect on about life." Since 2003, Song has been introducing the conceptual series in cities including Shanghai, London and Barcelona. Shandong artists play traditional erhu music at the Ulaanbaatar Theater on Jan 19. The Chinese New Year of the Rooster was celebrated in style by Shandong Art Troupe in Ulaanbaatar, capital city of Mongolia from Jan 19 to 22, with traditional Chinese handicrafts, folk music, artwork and acrobatics on stage. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] A ship loads containers at a terminal in Qingdao, Shandong province. China is poised to open up its market further to foreign investment. [Photo/China Daily] Some petty-minded people ruin their own opportunities by viewing their potential partners as being as mercantilistic as themselves. This is the way in which some trade war warriors in the United States see their country's trade relations with China. They see China, by selling more to the US, as being cunning or pursuing the strategic goal of eventually undoing the US. They say the US, which sells less merchandise to China, is being robbed of its jobs, and claim its economy is being raped. They refuse to see that every year China is buying a lot more services from the US, Chinese parents pay huge amounts to educate their children in US colleges, and that in more recent years, Chinese companies have begun investing more and more in US companies. In 2016, according to law firm Baker & McKenzie and research company Rhodium, China's direct investment into the US and Europe more than doubled, to a record $94.2 billion, even after almost $75 billion worth of deals were canceled for reasons that included US government objections. They also point out that in 2015, when China's total outbound investments hit a record high of $145 billion and the country overtook Japan to be the world's second-biggest cross-border investor after the US, China's investment was $15 billion in the US and $23 billion in Europe. A mere decade ago, when China was the world champion for receiving foreign direct investment, Chinese companies' outbound investments were only minimal. Facts speak louder than words and money speaks for itself. No one can reasonably think, as the US trade war fanatics claim, that by committing its hard-earned dollar bills back to the US as capital investment, what China wants is only the latter's demise. In fact, the broader picture of China's outbound direct (non-financial) investment is that, according to Chinese sources, Chinese investors made a total commitment of $170 billion to some 8,000 companies in 160 countries and regions in 2016, showing a year-on-year growth of more than 40 percent. Rational people can't call any of the above small numbers, or think they are of only a small use in creating new jobs. Should the US trade war warriors want to remain blind and continue to discriminate against China, they may ruin their own country's business opportunities, in trade, in services, as well as in investment. Doing so won't help them deliver on their promise to create US jobs. CAI MENG/CHINA DAILY Long accepted as a time of family reunions and arduous journeys back home, Spring Festival now is open to other choices. During the weeklong holiday that ended on Thursday, Chinese tourists made 6.15 million trips to overseas destinationsan increase of 7 percent year-on-year. Within the country, they made more than 344 million trips, up 13.8 percent year-on-year. While many still strive to travel back home during the Spring Festival holiday, more and more Chinese have developed an appetite for exotic cultures and outbound trips. Some travel south to warm beaches or north to ski resorts, while others choose to invite their parents to where they work and show them around. Both choices are rapidly gaining popularity, bringing yet more changes to Spring Festival traditions. This year several provinces saw record number of tourist footfalls on Lunar New Year's Day, when most people used to visit relatives and exchange greetings instead of traveling. The number of Spring Festival trips made by Chinese, be they within or outside the country, by train or by air, keeps breaking records. It reached 314 million in the first six days of the holiday. The high-speed rail network, which has greatly shortened travel time while offering more considerate on-board services, deserves much of the credit for this. Easier, fairer access to purchasing tickets is another boon for passengers, as more than 73 percent of all the train tickets sold were bought online. The internet-driven sharing economy offers not just annual online shopping galas but also more viable travel solutions. Ride sharing, for one, has become a common choice for people traveling to the same destinations during the Spring Festival travel rush because of lower costs. China's largest car-hailing platform Didi Chuxing has said its Shunfengche, or "hitchhiking" project, which includes about 2.8 million car owners, completed some 4.2 million road trips during the travel peak. So is celebrating Spring Festival away from home discarding traditional culture? Not necessarily. The way Chinese spend their Spring Festival vacation and how they travel actually mirrors the progress they have made in diversifying holiday choices. That some are breaking the tradition of staying home and embarking on high-end overseas trips also point to their growing financial capabilities and readiness to change holiday customs. And the popular overseas destinations, including those in Europe and Southeast Asia, have warmly welcomed this progress, as cities such as London, Sydney and Bangkok organize Spring Festival-themed events and parades, in the hope of attracting more Chinese tourists. Increasing personal wealth and more convenient transportation are changing Spring Festival traditions. There is no reason why one should not embrace these changes if they fit better in the modern world. The author is a writer with China Daily. cuishoufeng@chinadaily.com.cn Lijiang city in Southwest Chinas Yunnan province is a cultural center for the Naxi people. [Photo/xinhuanet.com] AFTER A SPRING FESTIVAL visit, Zheng Yuanjie, a writer known as "King of Fairy Tales", questioned the maintenance fee the local government charges visitors to the ancient town of Lijiang in Southwest China's Yunnan province. Two days later, the mayor of the city replied that the charge was approved by the provincial government. The writer thanked the mayor for his reply, but still questioned the fee. Beijing News commented on Tuesday: As a representative of the tourist-attracting ancient Chinese towns, Lijiang is in many ways different to what is advertised. Lijiang today is very commercial. In this context, it is incredible that it still charges a maintenance fee to develop its tourism industry. It can be said that how to end the old town's dependence on the "ticket economy" and secure sustainable development of its tourism industry are the most pressing issues now facing the authorities in Lijiang. Rather than continuing to rely on the maintenance fee tourists are made to pay, they should plan a transformation of their tourism model as soon as possible. In this regard, Lijiang does not lack examples it can learn from. Since Fenghuang Ancient Town in Central China's Hunan province canceled its admission tickets, the number of tourists has increased significantly. The changes in the structure of China's tourism market are a test of the wisdom and capability of the authorities in Lijiang to adapt to the changing times. Rather than continue to count on the ancient city maintenance fee, new ways of protecting the ancient city and promoting the sustainable development of its tourism industry are needed. Madrid residents sign their names on a statue of a giant panda, which is the symbol of Chengdu.[Photo provided to China Daily] Chengdu and Madrid co-host events to celebrate friendly relations and cultural heritage. Chengdu has been making a name for itself in Western countries in recent years, as the city has moved to strengthen its cultural exchanges with the rest of the world. Chengdu Week was held in Madrid in January as a major activity of the 2017 Happy Spring Festival in Spain, o' ering locals a feast of typical cultural elements from Chengdu. The Happy Spring Festival is an annual event held by the Chinese embassy in Spain to celebrate the traditional Spring Festival holiday with overseas Chinese, locals and other visitors. It was the first time that the Chinese embassy specially introduced a city to the traditional Lunar New Year celebration. During the festival, classic regional art forms such as paper cutting, shadow plays and face changing opera performances were on display at the famous Plaza Mayor in Madrid. The performances are so amazing that I want to buy a ticket to Chengdu right now, said Manuela Carmena, mayor of Madrid, during the event. Visitors could also have a taste of Chengdus local snacks, such as long wontons, zhong dumplings, dandan noodles and baked egg cake. Mayor Carmena said that the two cities share similarities in many aspects and she looks forward to deepening mutual exchanges and cooperation with Chengdu in more fields. Madrid is a city of tourism and arts, while Chengdu also boasts rich historical and cultural heritage. The two cities can have further exchanges in tourism and culture, she said. Guillermo Ospina, who traveled to Madrid from New York for a vacation, was attracted by the interesting performances at the Plaza. Its so fascinating, said Ospina, holding a Chinese papercut in one hand and a pile of tourist handbooks in the other. I havent been to China before. I want to go to China this year, and Chengdu must be my fi rst stop, he said. Ospina said he also hoped that such activities can be held in New York some day. Jose Alberto, a journalist from Madrid, said he was pleased to report and experience such wonderful activities. The traditional Chengdu arts and the giant pandas made me fall in love with the city. I would like to help more people discover the city and its charm, he said. Alberto said he is also interested in unique Sichuan cuisine. Lyu Fan, Chinese ambassador to Spain, said the cooperation between Chengdu and Madrid holds great potential in fields such as tourism, the breeding of giant pandas and automobile manufacturing. Madrids zoo held a naming ceremony on Dec 12 for its latest baby panda, a day before the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Week festivities. The 5-month-old female panda was named Chulina. It is the first female giant panda to be born at the zoo. Its parents came from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2007. Echoing Chengdu Week, the Madrid zoo held an art exhibition on giant pandas during the Happy Spring Festival. The exhibition displayed pictures and painted panda statues. Chengdu has become more closely tied to Spain since a direct fl ight connecting Madrid and Chengdu was launched on Dec 17. A one-way trip takes about 13 hours. People participate in a Yemeni protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, US, February 2, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] SAN FRANCISCO A panel of appeals court judges reviewing President Donald Trump's travel ban hammered away Tuesday at the federal government's arguments that the states cannot challenge the order. The hearing before the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges was the greatest legal challenge yet to the ban, which has upended travel to the US for more than a week and tested the new administration's use of executive power. The government asked the court to restore Trump's order, contending that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the United States. But several states have fought the ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations and insisted that it is unconstitutional. The judges two Democratic appointees and one Republican repeatedly questioned Justice Department lawyer August Flentje on why the states should not be able to sue on behalf of their residents or on behalf of their universities, which have complained about students and faculty getting stranded overseas. Circuit Judge Michelle T. Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked whether the government has any evidence connecting the seven predominantly Muslim nations covered by the ban to terrorism. Flentje told the judges that the case was moving fast and the government had not yet included evidence to support the ban. Friedland asked if the government had connected any immigrants from the seven countries to terrorism. Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the US who, he said, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group terror group after judges asked for evidence about the ban. Flentje said the president has broad powers to protect national security and the right to assess risks based on the actions of Congress and his predecessor during the last two years. The court was not expected to rule immediately, with a decision more likely to come later this week, court spokesman David Madden said. Whatever the court eventually decides, either side could ask the Supreme Court to intervene. A lawyer challenging the ban said that halting the executive order has not harmed the US government. Instead, Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell told the panel, the order had harmed state residents by splitting up families, holding up students trying to travel to study and preventing people from visiting family abroad. Judge Richard R. Clifton said he suspects it's a "small fraction" of the state's residents. Attorney General Jeremy Wright (L, front) arrives at the British Supreme Court in London, Britain, Jan 24, 2017. The British Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled on that Prime Minister Theresa May must consult Parliament before triggering formal negotiations on Britain leaving the European Union. [Photo/Xinhua] LONDON - Politicians at Westminster were told for the first time Tuesday that they would have a final vote on Britain's Brexit deal before it is sent to Brussels for EU approval. But the government's Brexit minister David Jones told the House of Commons that if London and Brussels cannot come to an agreement, Britain will fall back on other trading arrangements. Pressed further, Jones said: "If there were no agreement at all, which I think is an extremely unlikely scenario, ultimately we would be falling back on World Trade Organisation arrangements." Politicians in the Commons are discussing details of the government bill to pave the way for Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger the Article 50 process to kickstart Britain's departure from the European Union. Opposition members of parliament (MPs) have put forward a string of amendments in the hope of winning concessions from May's government in the Brexit process. One concession announced during Tuesday's session at Westminster came from Jones who said MPs and members of the House of Lords will be given a vote covering not only the EU withdrawal arrangements but also the future relationship with Brussels. "I can confirm that the government will bring forward a motion on the final agreement, to be approved by both Houses of Parliament before it is concluded. We expect and intend that this will happen before the European Parliament debates and votes on the final agreement," said Jones. Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, said: "That is a huge and very important concession about the process that we are to embark on. What is significant is that it covers the Article 50 agreement and it covers any future relationship. That is the first time we have heard this. It is a very significant position by the Government." Starmer described the negotiations that will take place under Article 50 as the most difficult, complex and important for decades, arguably, since the Second World War. "Among other things, it is important that we ensure the best outcome for our economy and jobs, and the trading agreements. What that entails is very clear; we must have tariff-free and barrier-free access to the single market, regulatory alignment, and full access for services and goods." he said. After the Brexit bill has cleared its way through the House of Commons Wednesday night, it will go to the House of Lords for more debate. May is aiming to trigger Article 50 before the end of next month. At least 20 people were killed on Tuesday in a bomb blast outside the Supreme Court in the centre of the Afghan capital, government officials said, in what appeared to be the latest in a series of attacks on the judiciary. The Ministry of Public Health said at least 20 people were killed, while 41 wounded were taken to Kabul hospitals. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, in which police said an apparent suicide bomber targeted Supreme Court employees leaving their offices at the end of the working day. "When I heard a bang I rushed toward the Supreme Court's parking lot to find my brother who works there," said witness Dad Khuda, adding that he had found his brother alive. "Unfortunately, several people were killed and wounded." Reuters reporters at the scene saw blood stains on the street and ambulances leaving the area. The bomber appeared to have entered an area where guards were performing security checks when he detonated the explosives. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as a "crime against humanity and an unforgivable act." COURTS AND JUDGES TARGETED The Supreme Court was the target of a bomb in June, 2013, when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-packed car into a bus carrying court employees, including judges. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack, and since then security near the court has been increased with large concrete blast walls. In 2015 a Taliban bomber killed five prosecutors from the Attorney General's office in Kabul, and last year Taliban gunmen stormed a legal office in Logar province, killing seven people, including two prosecutors. The same militant group killed four people at a provincial courthouse in Ghazni in 2016. Last month, bombers killed more than 30 people and wounded about 70 in twin blasts in a crowded area of Kabul during the afternoon rush hour. The Islamist militant Taliban, fighting to oust foreign forces and bring down the US-backed government, claimed responsibility for that Jan 10 attack. Afghan government forces control no more than two-thirds of national territory, and have struggled to contain the insurgency since the bulk of NATO soldiers withdrew at the end of 2014. Several thousand foreign troops, most of them Americans, remain in training and counter-terrorism roles. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini addresses a joint news conference with Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj (unseen) at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium February 2, 2017.[Photo/Agencies] The European Union's foreign policy chief and the United Nations secretary-general on Tuesday criticized an Israeli move to legalize thousands of settler homes on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The EU's Federica Mogherini said that the law, if it was implemented, crossed a new and dangerous threshold. "Such settlements constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten the viability of a two-state solution," she said. "(It) would further entrench a one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict," she said, highlighting that the EU sees Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as illegal. The Israeli parliament passed the legislation two weeks after the inauguration of President Donald Trump as the new US president. Trump has signaled a softer approach to the settlement issue than that of the previous US administration. It retroactively legalizes about 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the action went against international law and would have legal consequences for Israel. "The Secretary-General insists on the need to avoid any actions that would derail the two-state solution," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, referring to longstanding international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. French President Francois Hollande also added his voice to the condemnation, saying it paved the way for the annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories. "I think that Israel and its government could revise this text," Hollande said at news conference after meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas called the law an aggression against the Palestinian people. Other Palestinian leaders described it as a blow to their hopes of statehood. Most countries consider the settlements, built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War, illegal and an obstacle to peace as they reduce and fragment the territory Palestinians seek for a viable state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Israel disputes this and cites biblical, historical and political connections to the land, as well as security needs. Though the legislation was backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, it has raised tensions in the government. Israel's attorney-general has said the law is unconstitutional and that he will not defend it at the Supreme Court. A White House official said on Monday that, given the new law is expected to face challenges in Israeli courts, the United States would withhold comment for now. The Trump administration has signaled a far softer approach to the settlement issue than that of the Obama administration, which routinely denounced settlement announcements. Israeli lawmakers attend a vote on a bill at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem February 6, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] TEHRAN - Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned a recent legislation of Israeli parliament to legalize expansion of settlements on Palestinian lands in the West Bank, Tasnim news agency reported. Tel Aviv's settlement activities is a "serious obstacle to security and stability" in the region, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying. Such policies, which run counter to the UN resolutions, violate Palestine's right to decide its fate under the international law and would only aggravate the situation, Qasemi said. Iran calls on the international community "to take practical and immediate steps in support of the Palestinians' legitimate demands and... in rejection of the Zionist regime's expansionist policies," Qasemi said. The comments came after the so-called "Regularization Law," passed by the Israel's parliament on Monday, legalized the construction of about 3,000 housing units on the private Palestinian land in the West Bank. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a speech in a meeting with military commanders in Tehran, Iran, February 7, 2017.[Photo/Agencies] TEHRAN - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday shrugged off what he called the US "threats" against the Islamic republic, the official website of the supreme leader reported. The Iranians are not afraid of the threats of the new US President Donald Trump and his threats would not frighten Iran, said Khamenei. The United States has never ceased its enmity against the Iranian people over the past 38 years following the victory of the revolution, he said as the Iranians are preparing to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of Islamic republic on Feb 10. "Iran would not be crippled by the enemies" and the Iranians would respond to these threats in the nationwide rallies to be held on Feb 10, he added. The United States on Friday announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's ballistic missile program and providing support to a military force in Iran. The move came days after Iran launched a ballistic missile test, which drew a stern warning from Washington. The US Treasury Department said in a statement that the action reflects the US commitment to enforcing sanctions on Iran with respect to its ballistic missile program and "destabilizing" activities in the region. The United States also announced that it officially put Iran "on notice" over Tehran's recent missile launch and an attack against a Saudi vessel by Iran-supported Houthi militants. In a reaction, Iranian officials unanimously called the missile test "inalienable right" of the country to boost deterrent power and Iran vowed to counteract the fresh US sanctions. On Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said that the US government has adopted "hostile and threatening" policies towards Iran. In the meantime, Russia and China opposed the US sanctions against Iran. On Monday, China lodged representations to the United States over the latest sanctions against Iran which involve Chinese companies and individuals. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a routine press briefing. "China always opposes any unilateral sanctions, especially when they harm the interests of a third party," Lu said, adding such sanctions are "not helpful" to promote mutual trust and solve global issues. Betsy DeVos waits to be sworn-in as US Education Secretary at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's choice of billionaire Betsy DeVos to be education secretary was confirmed by the US Senate on Tuesday, but only after Vice President Mike Pence was called in to break a tie that threatened to defeat her. The tie-breaking vote, which Senate officials said was unprecedented to confirm a Cabinet nominee, followed an all-night debate on DeVos as Senate Democrats tried to pressure at least one more Republican to oppose her and defeat the nomination. Only two Republicans joined the 46 Democrats and two independents in opposition to DeVos. Critics have called her unprepared to lead the Department of Education after a rocky Senate confirmation hearing. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer immediately derided the proceeding. "This cabinet nom is so unqualified, so divisive, that @MikePenceVP had to drive down Pennsylvania Ave to cast the deciding vote," he wrote in a Twitter post after the vote. Under the US Constitution, the vice president also serves as president of the Senate, with the power to cast votes only when there are ties on nominations or legislation. Republican Trump tweeted his congratulations to the nominee and Pence praised her. "Today's vote to confirm Education Secretary @BetsyDeVos was a vote for every child having a chance at a world-class education," the vice president wrote in a Twitter post. Ultimately, only Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined the Democrats and two independents in opposition to DeVos. That left 50 Republicans supporting her in the 100-member chamber. Historically, Cabinet nominees with weak support in the Senate ask the president to withdraw their nomination, which DeVos did not do. DeVos is married to the heir and former chief executive of Amway, which sells household and personal care items. She is also the daughter of the founders of Prince Corp, a Michigan car parts supplier, and sister of Erik Prince, the founder of the security company formerly known as Blackwater USA, now called Academi. As Monday night's debate wound down, Schumer said of DeVos: "She disdains public education where 90 percent of our students are." White House spokesman Sean Spicer holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington February 7, 2017.[Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - The White House is looking for someone to take some load off of its press secretary Sean Spicer, after his performance in the briefing room disappointed President Donald Trump, local media reported Tuesday. According to CNN report, the White House is now in search of a communications director, a position now held by Spicer, along with the post of White House press secretary. CNN cited multiple sources as saying that Trump disliked Spicer's performance in the first two weeks of the administration. Spicer went off to a rocky start with the press after angrily accusing the press of covering news incorrectly and deliberately trying to paint Trump in a negative color in his first appearance as the press secretary. He tried to make good with jokes and offered more question opportunities during later press briefings, but never managed to stitch together the crevice. He was called out by the media multiple times for giving out false facts and found himself cornered in many occasions trying to defend some of Trump's controversial remarks. Saturday Night Live, a famous US comedy show, drew nationwide attention after it ran a sketch in which actress Melissa McCarthy delivered a unflattering portrayal of Spicer. The episode heightened Trump's worries that Spicer may not be well suited to be the image of the administration, CNN report said. Spicer himself on Monday shrugged off speculations that he was shaken by the satire, saying the McCarthy bit was too exaggerated. Spicer was not Trump's initial choice for the job, but secured the position with the backing of close ally Reince Priebus, Trump's chief of staff, reports said. TEHRAN - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called for mass turn out in the rallies to mark the anniversary of Islamic revolution on Feb 10, local media reported on Wednesday. It is expected that people would partake "massively" in the 38th anniversary of the Islamic revolution this year to show solidarity and unity of the nation with the revolution and the leadership. "In the rallies, people will demonstrate that their glory, independence and national sovereignty are bound to the Islamic revolution," said Rouhani. "We hope people will participate actively in the ceremonies of Feb. 10, given the current global and regional situation," he said. The 1979 revolution in Iran toppled the US-backed regime of Shah and brought the country under the leadership of Ayatollah Seyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, an event seen as a turning point in Iran's history. On Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also urged the Iranians to respond to the US "threats" in the nationwide rallies on Friday. The United States has announced sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in Iran's missile development after Tehran carried out latest medium-range ballistic missile test late last month. Iran has dismissed the concerns over its missile program, calling the tests solely for defensive purposes. SAN FRANCISCO - Inside the original Macintosh computer, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs inscribed the signatures of his team, revealing his deep concern for even the hidden features of his products. His last work - Apple Inc's sprawling new headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. - will be a fitting tribute: a futuristic campus built with astonishing attention to detail. From the arrangement of electrical wiring to the finish of a hidden pipe, no aspect of the 2.8 million-square-foot main building has been too small to attract scrutiny. But constructing a building as flawless as a hand-held device is no easy feat, according interviews with nearly two dozen current and former workers on the project, most of whom would not be named because they signed non-disclosure agreements. Since Apple unveiled its plans in 2011, the move-in date has slowly receded: Jobs' initial projection was 2015, but this spring now seems most likely, according to people involved in the project. A lengthy approval process with the city contributed to the delay. Apple has not revealed the total price tag, but former project managers estimate it at about $5 billion - a figure CEO Tim Cook did not dispute in a 2015 TV interview. More than $1 billion was allocated for the interior of the main building alone, according to a former construction manager. For all the time and money sunk into the project, some in the architecture community question whether Apple has focused on the right ends. The campus is something of an exception to the trend of radically open offices aimed at fostering collaboration, said Louise Mozingo, a professor and chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at U.C. Berkeley. Its central office building - a massive ring of glass frequently likened to a spaceship - could be a challenge just to navigate, she noted. "It's not about maximizing the productivity of the office space, it's about creating a symbolic center for this global company," she said. "They are creating an icon." An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment for this story. WORLD'S LARGEST PIECE OF CURVED GLASS Tech companies have long favored generic office parks, which allow them to lease and shed space through booms and busts. Jobs' unveiling of what's formally known as Apple Campus 2, months before his death, marked a new chapter in Silicon Valley architecture. When completed, the campus will house up to 14,200 employees, according to the 2013 project description. The main building - which boasts the world's largest piece of curved glass - will be surrounded by a lush canopy of thousands of trees. Little remains from the cement-laden campus Apple acquired from Hewlett-Packard, though the iPhone maker preserved a century-old barn that remained intact as the land passed from tech giant to tech giant. But what was most striking to those who worked on the project was Apple managers' insistence on treating the construction of the vast complex the same way they approach the design of pocket-sized electronics. Apple's in-house construction team enforced many rules: No vents or pipes could be reflected in the glass. Guidelines for the special wood used frequently throughout the building ran to some 30 pages. Tolerances, the distance materials may deviate from desired measurements, were a particular focus. On many projects, the standard is 1/8 of an inch at best; Apple often demanded far less, even for hidden surfaces. The company's keen design sense enhanced the project, but its expectations sometimes clashed with construction realities, a former architect said. "With phones, you can build to very, very minute tolerances," he said. "You would never design to that level of tolerance on a building. Your doors would jam." The project, which generated about 13,000 full-time construction jobs, took a toll on contractors. The original general contractors, Skanska USA and DPR Construction, left after work began, which construction experts called a rare development for a project of such scale. The reasons for the departures are unclear, and neither Apple nor the firms would comment. FAITHFUL TO DESIGN PRINCIPLES Apple's novel approach to the building took many forms. Architect German de la Torre, who worked on the project, found many of the proportions - such as the curve of a rounded corner - came from Apple's products. The elevator buttons struck some workers as resembling the iPhone's home button; one former manager even likened the toilet's sleek design to the device. But de la Torre ultimately saw that Apple executives were not trying to evoke the iPhone per se, but rather following something akin to the Platonic ideal of form and dimension. "They have arrived at design principles somehow through many years of experimentation, and they are faithful to those principles," de la Torre said. Fanatical attention to detail is a key tenet. Early in construction, Apple managers told the construction team that the ceiling - composed of large panels of polished concrete - should be immaculate inside and out, just as the inside of the iPhone's audio jack is a finished product, a former construction manager recalled. Thus, each of the thousands of ceiling panels had to win approval from both Apple's in-house team and the general contractor, once at the shop and then again at the construction site. "The things you can't see, they all mattered to Apple," the former construction manager said. One of the most vexing features was the doorways, which Apple wanted to be perfectly flat, with no threshold. The construction team pushed back, but Apple held firm. The rationale? If engineers had to adjust their gait while entering the building, they risked distraction from their work, according to a former construction manager. "We spent months trying not to do that because that's time, money and stuff that's never been done before," the former construction manager said. Time and time again, Apple managers spent months perfecting minute features, creating a domino effect that set back other parts of the project, former construction managers say. Signage required a delicate balancing act: Apple wanted all signs to reflect its sleek, minimalist aesthetic, but the fire department needed to ensure the building could be swiftly navigated in an emergency. Dirk Mattern, a retired deputy fire chief who is representing the Santa Clara County Fire Department on the project, estimated he attended 15 meetings that touched on the topic. "I've never spent so much time on signage," he said. LIKE A PAINTING When Apple tapped general contractors Holder Construction and Rudolph & Sletten to finish the main building in 2015, one of the first orders of business was finalizing a door handle for conference rooms and offices. After months of back and forth, construction workers presented their work to a manager from Apple's in-house team, who turned the sample over and over in his hands. Finally, he said he felt a faint bump. The construction team double-checked the measurements, unable to find any imperfections - down to the nanometer. Still, Apple insisted on another version. The construction manager who was so intimately involved in the door handle did not see its completion. Down to his last day, Apple was still fiddling with the design - after a year and a half of debate. When construction wraps, the only fingerprints on the site will be Jobs'. Workers often had to wear gloves to avoid marring the delicate materials, said Brett Davis, regional director of the District Council 16 union for painters and related crafts. "It's like a painting that you don't want to touch," he said. "It's definitely going to be something to see, if they let you in." BERLIN - Police searched homes and other properties in Britain and the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia on Wednesday for evidence on two suspects believed to have supported Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra, Germany's chief federal prosecutor's office said. They were suspected of collecting donations for the group and had supplied ambulances, medical equipment and medication through groups called "Medicine with Heart" and "Medicine without Borders", it said. "The two suspects are believed to have supported the foreign terrorist group JAN for several years," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said the searches were still going on but declined to give further details about the case or the suspects, including their gender or nationality. No arrests had been made, the spokesman said. There was no mention of any preparations for a specific attack, he said. London police had no immediate information on the searches, but said two search warrants had been issued last month at the request of the Munich prosecutor's office. A spokeswoman for public prosecutor in Munich confirmed the warrants had been issued on the office's behalf as part of "proceedings against terrorism". She gave no further details. Second in a series of columns on the situation at Standing Rock: Youre going back again, arent you Lavonne asks during a long December conversation one morning over coffee. Yes, I would like to, you ok with it? I respond. Of course, I just want you to be safe. And thus began efforts to stage a second trip to Standing Rock as a Water Protector. I would return sometime in January, now with some experience of my own. That first trip, I went out signed up as one of many military veterans. We were to stand with the first Americans in their effort to hold the line on intrusion onto sacred land. Two thousand signed up. More than 4,000 showed. And thousands of nonveterans from throughout the United States did as well. People poured into the camps at Standing Rock. When I asked my veteran brothers and sisters why they came, almost to a person the answer was my own: November 20th. That night a band of peaceful and prayerful people were tear gassed and then sprayed with water cannons in the freezing night. We vets had sworn an oath to protect U.S. citizens, and this call was no different than Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. Our citizens were under attack by the North Dakota National Guard, militarized police gathered by the governor of North Dakota from surrounding states, and mercenaries hired by the corporation wanting to move their agenda forward. I was among hundreds of other veterans who answered the call and moved to the Standing Rock staging areas. I arrived a day or two early with a newfound friend who needed transportation for his third visit to Standing Rock. His experience proved invaluable as we drove from the staging area directly to Oceti Sakowin Camp on the banks of the Cannon Ball River. Leland had brought an insulated dome tent, the kind used for ice fishing. Everybody is expected to work while at camp, and I settled into becoming a cook in a tent housing a group of military veterans and used by an ever-changing group. The tent was established back in the summer to be used by U.S. military veterans exclusively. Some came for a couple of days, a week, a month and a few for the duration. Most were younger, with me being a Vietnam-era vet and most others having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just before entering the Dakotas, I read a note Lavonne had given me a wish for me that I would make friends for a lifetime. I did ... and they are wonderful. The person I worked with at the stove and planned meals with was Casey, a retired lieutenant colonel. We worked side by side and stood side by side in a blizzard as a prayer ceremony of peace was conducted. The night before the planned veterans march there was a line-up of cars and trucks entering camp, backed up a half-mile in the dark and still arriving. The five community kitchens worked overtime to feed new arrivals. Way too many were arriving ill prepared as the camp swelled from a few thousand to 10,000 or so. The mission of the vets tent was to support those community members who worked in the elements securing our camp borders and entry gates. Our rest station wouldnt send anyone away hungry, veteran or not. And people came in hungry and not sure what to do or where to go. We made certain visitors had a place to stay and the information they needed. On the morning of the veterans march to the bridge for a peaceful gathering and native ceremony at the front lines, it began to snow. As we gathered for instructions and the order to proceed, the winds began to pick up. We marched forward never organized as we may have been in past decades, but we were mission focused. We were the allies of the native people leading us to the front. We passed the national media trucks parked along the road. I saw the KARE TV van from the Twin Cities and many others. Often a reporter would pull a veteran to the side and ask a few questions. The independent media walked with us recording what they could for Facebook and Twitter. As we walked forward with the wind to our backs, we approached the barricades that made the bridge impossible to pass. It was there that the ceremony of prayers would be conducted. I was near the front, but saw and heard little. The howling winds grew and the snow increased. I stood there for an hour with my back to the wind, head down and gloved hands clasped. I was thankful I came well prepared for winter survival. Back at camp, it was time to prepare the evening meal, absorbing my time for a number of hours. After, that I sat around the woodstove with my new friends and tried to keep warm. I hit the sack around nine or 10p.m. after a long day. Being awakened at two in the morning with the tent shaking in the wind and the sides forced into itself is unnerving. So I got dressed and decided to head over to the veterans tent. Before getting there, I had to stop and help a number of people tie their tents down as many tents were now blowing in the wind. As I trudged to my destination, I got lost. There was no city planner involved in designing this camp. People just came in and set up their tent, school bus, camper trailer, and tepee wherever they wanted. Although there were many flags mounted on poles not one single street sign could be found. The bus I spotted in the daylight as a landmark had now been moved. Or I simply couldnt see it because of the blizzard. But knowing that the Sacred Fire the center point of the camp is always lit and tended makes it fairly easy to find your way. All roads lead to it. Blown into the tent, I found a group of solemn looking ex-military people. Casey is organizing search and rescue parties of two people each. Directions are being given. All tents must be opened and people accounted for. Are they safe? Are they relatively warm? Do they have water and something to eat? What kind of equipment do they have for what kind of weather? If they need to leave the tent, bring them here for relocation. Every tent, vehicle, bus, camper and tepee must be checked. Then tie this yellow emergency tape by the door so we know its been checked. I was not assigned a team. No, that would have been 30 years ago. The time for that kind of activity for me has passed. I realized on that morning something had changed in my life. I was no longer that young man able to venture out on any and all tasks. I may still be willing to do so, but a more appropriate role for me was to fire up the coffee pot, make hot chocolate and begin reheating the soup from earlier. It would be a long, long day. That morning was a blur. Teams went out and returned, often with people needing to be fed and relocated. The teams needed to be refreshed with food and drink. One team found a woman lying on a bale of straw in the blizzard. She was escorted to the medical area. Water the purpose for us being out there in the first place is necessary on the winter plains. The winds drain you of moisture, and you can too easily become confused and make poor decisions. The light of day finds me wandering around the camp. The snow has stopped, the winds have died, and people are simply digging out. We discovered what a blizzard looks like in North Dakota. The next day, the tribal elders sent emissaries to all areas of the camp with a message. Everybody is welcome to stay, but you really need to be supplied for a harsh winter. We are expecting another blizzard in the next three days and if you were not planning on staying the winter you might want to consider leaving. By now, the federal government announced that a needed easement would not be granted to the company building the pipeline. Our mission had been accomplished. Who knows what President-Elect Trump would do. Many people began to pack up and leave. And they left behind buried tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear and food supplies. The camps supply tents were full and items were stored under tarps and in plastic bags. The camp had grown to some 10,000 people in that one week in early December. But it was not easy leaving. I had met people that would be friends for life. Even as I headed south, I had a strong feeling I would return. And so I did in early January. RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that the recent Israeli bill on settlements in the West Bank is "a major setback" to peacemaking efforts. Abbas said in a letter to the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini that "the decision taken by the Israeli government is a major setback to peacemaking efforts and will undermine the two-state solution, which will have implications on the region and the world in general." He expressed hope in working together with the EU "for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2334 in order to maintain the potential for just and comprehensive peace." Mogherini had warned in an emailed press statement that if this new Israeli law was to be implemented, it would cross a dangerous threshold, adding that "such settlements constitute an obstacle to peace." "It would further entrench the one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation and conflict," she added, highlighting the EU's position towards settlements in the West Bank deeming them illegal. On Monday night, the Israeli parliament voted in favor of legalizing nearly 4,000 Jewish settlements that will be built on Palestinian-owned lands in the West Bank. Manchester airport, Chinese airlines launch Chinese film festival across Britain Xinhua | Updated: 2017-02-08 23:12 LONDON - A Chinese film festival that will travel the length and breadth of Britain was announced Wednesday in Manchester. Manchester Airport, along with Chinese company Hainan Airlines, is launching the festival to celebrate movies and culture from China. Each event is free of charge, and everyone that attends will go into a competition to win a pair of flights to Beijing direct with Hainan Airlines. Starting in Manchester on Feb. 22, the Chinese film festival will run until April 11 and take place in 12 British cities. Films being shown include "Hero", "Operation Mekong" and "Call of Heroes." A spokesman at Manchester Airport said "Hainan Airlines started its direct service from Manchester to Beijing four times a week in June last year, and the festival has been arranged to showcase the vibrant culture of China, which thanks to the route, is much closer and accessible for British residents." The route makes Manchester the only airport outside of London with a direct service to the Chinese mainland, taking just 10 hours. Patrick Alexander, head of marketing at Manchester Airport, said "We are pleased that Hainan Airlines are headline sponsors of Manchester Airport's first ever film festival, where we will showcase Chinese culture to a range of people across the UK." "Since the start of our direct service to Beijing, China is now within touching distance of so much more of the UK population," the airport official added. The festival will extend to London, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leicester, Preston, Birmingham, Nottingham as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. Each of the screenings will be free. And there will be competitions among viewers for chances to win flights from Manchester to Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hand with British Prime Minister Theresa May before their meeting at the West Lake State House on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, September 5, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] BEIJING - China will welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May at an appropriate time, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday, providing no details about the timing of the visit. May's spokeswoman was quoted by Reuters as saying May will make a visit this year, the latest of her trips to major trading powers as she negotiates Britain's divorce from the EU. "We are willing to work with Britain to advance sustainable, healthy and stable development of the China-Britain global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century," Lu said. The spokesperson said China believes Britain and the EU will negotiate a "win-win" deal. A prosperous, stable and open Britain and Europe is in the interests of all, Lu added. This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Britain. File photo of South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua] Foreign minister also urges US to review WWII history regarding islands in South China Sea Foreign Minister Wang Yi's warning that there would be "no winner from conflict between China and the US" has sent a signal of easing tension between the two countries at a time when the new US administration's China policy has yet to take shape, analysts said. A report released on Tuesday by a bipartisan US task force of China specialists also cautioned the White House not to tamper with Washington's long-standing one-China policy, and suggested that US President Donald Trump should meet soon with President Xi Jinping. "Any sober-minded statesman would clearly recognize that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States because both will lose and both sides cannot afford that," Wang told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday when asked about the likelihood of a war, given the previous hard-line rhetoric toward China by Trump and some of his key advisers. The minister also urged the US to look back at the history of World War II while handling South China Sea disputes. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Declaration clearly state that Japan must return the Chinese territory it took during the war, including the Nansha Islands, to the Chinese people, Wang said. If both sides make joint efforts, the Sino-US relations will come through the new US administration's break-in period and step onto a better development route, he said, adding that it will take time for the Trump administration to understand China. In his Senate confirmation hearing last month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the South China Sea. The White House also vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway. Relations between Beijing and Washington have soured after Trump answered a congratulatory telephone call from Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen in December and threatened to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. "It would be dangerous to unilaterally abandon our long-standing 'one-China policy'," said a report co-written by Orville Schell, a scholar on China studies, and Susan Shirk, a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego. The report, titled "US Policy Toward China: Recommendations for a New Administration", said that "no national interest is furthered by abandoning or conditioning the 'one-China policy' on other issues". The report was sponsored by the Asia Society's Center on US-China Relations and the 21st Century China Center of the University of California, San Diego. Co-author Shirk said: "We were quite worried about the state of China-US relations, because the trends were not good." Shi Yinhong, director of the Center of US Studies of Renmin University of China, said the foreign minister's remarks came at a time when most of Trump's advisers remain hawkish toward China on issues including trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. By downplaying the possibility of China-US conflicts, Wang has sent a signal to the White House of easing tensions, he said. "However, there is no sign that Trump may take a more reasonable attitude toward China given the ugly remarks he made" during the election campaign, Shi said, adding that Beijing needs more continuous efforts to improve relations with Washington. Teng Jianqun, a senior US studies researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said military conflict between the two countries is unlikely, since both sides rely on each other in many areas. Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn Kinky Curiosities is more than just a reveal and a show, we're also hosting community tables and we have a contingent from the Leather community! New Mexico has a long history of titleholders to represent the Leather community, and one of our current titles is Corazon Leather, which happens annually at the Leather Fiesta conference. This year, Catherine and Jinx the Lynx are serving as Ms Corazon Leather 2016! Be sure to stop by and say hello. They'll be hosting a table where they can answer questions, and they'll have tickets to upcoming events and wares to delight you. They're also sharing space with Bootblack Dani, who will be available to shine your shoes, boots, leather corsets and more bring money to tip the performers and your bootblack! Albuquerque Leather Daddys Catherine has been an enthusiastic member of the New Mexico community volunteering at various events and using her skills as a pole dancer to raise money for various causes for several years. Early in 2016 she started Twizted Wax Works and began producing wax play candles in a variety of intensities, she applies her familiarity with wax play to teach popular hands-on as well as purely informational classes. In the coming year, Catherine is looking forward to growing her business and expanding on her knowledge of all things kinky as she travels the country while serving as Ms. Corazon Leather 2016.Jinx the Lynx has been playing, working and volunteering in the New Mexico community for years. She gives most of her time to a local non-profit Bully-type dog breed advocacy group that raises money for rescues and shelters in need across the state. She has used her silver tongue to talk money out of people's wallets and purses for various fundraisers in the kinky and vanilla community over the years. When not volunteering, she can be found reading and rescuing animals. Jinx teaches various classes and lectures on topics both kinky and vanilla. She is the current stand-in facilitator of education at the Wet Munch and a First Aid/CPR/AED instructor. Her favorite thing is bloodsport, but don't worry, she's not hunting Monday. In the coming year, Jinx wishes to raise money to better her local community by providing funds for non-profit groups and she plans to continue to serve as Ms. Corazon Leather 2016 for the rest of her life.New Mexico is also home to the Albuquerque Leather Daddys , a local group of Leather enthusiasts who host a monthly Gear Night the first Saturday of every month at Sidewinders Bar . What's Gear Night? It's a theme night for you to wear your favorite fetish-wear, have a few drinks amid other hot folks, maybe watch some demos (I tied some decorative bondage on a very handsome muscle bear after the Jock Strap Contest which was, in fact, a bunch of hot people on stage stripping down to their jocks while the crowd went crazy), get your boots shined and dance to an eclectic mix from the resident ( award winning ) DJ. Every year they do fundraisers for folks like Casa Q (a great local charity ) and usually enjoy a ruckus entry in the Albuquerque Pride Parade. One of the founders of the Albuquerque Leather Daddys was the first Rio Grande Leather Titleholder with yours truly back in 2004, and we still enjoy working together. The Daddys will be hosting a table and offering us two live kink demos at Kinky Curiosities Oh what wonders await you next Monday! Buy your tickets now, invite your friends, get yourself a date or three. We'll be announcing drink specials and the rest of our cast and crew of curiosities this week, so stay tuned. RSVP on Facebook, on Fetlife (for those already in the know .) Cameras and phones are allowed at the event so feel free to Tweet and post to Instagram with the hashtag #AlibiFetishEvents. BLOOMER (AP) Bill Hable was still in his 40s when he settled on a grand plan for his retirement. He grabbed a chainsaw, cut down some trees and started building a boat. Hable figured the project would take 10 years to complete. He underestimated by more than two decades. Now 78, Hable stands in the scaffolding, surveying his massive (and still unfinished) 41-foot schooner, and says: The main question that drives me crazy, Whens that boat going to be done? And my pat answer is this: Dont ask. Hable has every reason to be testy. After 32 years of building, he estimates his twin-masted schooner is now 97 percent complete. He hopes to sail it on Lake Superior by the time hes 80, but concedes it might take a little longer. And he doesnt much care what anyone thinks. If I really wanted to get this thing in the water I could have it by the end of this year, but that isnt the goal, Hable says forcefully, I want to build it the way I want to do it. Hable approached his project like a career engineer he is. Before starting construction, he built a shed in his backyard to house the boat. The structure was supposed to be temporary. I hope to get the boat done before the building collapses, he now laughs. Hable has touched every component of the massive wooden boat. Early on, he built a furnace to melt tons of lead he then poured into the keel. He designed his own sweat box to bend the wooden ribs onto which white oak planking was installed. He has a friend in Maine who reminded him probably 20 years ago that hes not building a cathedral, hes building a boat to sail in, says Hables wife, Judy. But Bill Hable has never concerned himself as much with the sailing as he has with the building. The medical profession would go broke if they had to take care of me, says Hable. He considers his three-decade project both mental and physical therapy. Years ago, Hable tried a gym but concluded it wasnt for him. The problem people have that exercise, he says, is they walk and all they get is their shoes wore outthey have nothing to show for this. Hable, instead, tells people, you should go out in the field, pick some stones, take em home and build a stone house, then you would have exercise and you would have something to show for it. To Judy Hable, her husband of 56 years may have a point. I really kind of think maybe if he finishes it hes going to wonder, Now what am I going to do? Spouses dont come much more supportive. Wouldnt it be boring to be married to somebody who didnt have a passion for something? Judy Hable rhetorically asks. Roughly a schooners length away, at the aptly named Next Place Bar & Grill, Hables boat is a regular source of conversation. We call it The Ark, laughs the bartender. Felisha Polmanter wasnt even born when Hable started work on the schooner. Everyones been anticipating it being finished. Curious bar patrons frequently wander next door to see the boat. If Hable is working he often treats them to personal tours. Theres going to be a crowd when that shed comes down, Polmanter predicts. Everybodys going to want to see it wheeled out. Most recently, Hable has been working on the schooners cherry wood interior, which includes a dining table, sleeping quarters and a shower. Hable admits to sitting sometimes at the helm of his schooner, imagining hes sailing wind in the sails, riding the swells of Lake Superior. Yet should life have other plans for the 78-year-old, Hable insists he could die happy. Im happy right now, he says adamantly. The point is the doing, the doing is the point. For 32 years, the neighbors thought Bill Hable was building a boat. Hes actually been busily crafting his perfect life. My way, he says. Thats enough. About 30 members of the public showed up for a public hearing regarding tiny houses in Chippewa Falls during Tuesday nights City Council meeting. Eight of them spoke in favor of the homes before Mayor Greg Hoffman asked for a show of hands from those who supported the project. Every member of the public in attendance raised his or her hand, including Curt Rohland of Chippewa Falls, whose family is helping build another tiny house. This is something trying to meet a need which is greater than our resources, but at least its a start, Rohland said. What were asking the city to do is not to provide something, but simply not to deny the possibility of keeping this project alive. Tom and Joy La Martina of Chippewa Falls both spoke of the importance of having resources for homeless people in the city, which currently are limited. Joy La Martina believes the homes are one piece of that puzzle. Of course theres going to be a learning curve, but its a positive experience, she said. Im proud our community has taken some action. The nonprofit organization Hope Village-Tiny Housing Alternatives filed for a special-use permit a first in the city for one or two tiny houses to be placed on Trinity United Methodist Churchs property at 201 W. Central St. in Chippewa Falls. The tiny houses are designed to temporarily house homeless people or families, depending on the size of the home, and provide the occupant resources while they get back on their feet. Mike Cohoon, pastor at Landmark Christian Church in Lake Hallie, is leading the movement with the Chippewa Falls Mission Coalition. The Lake Hallie church currently has two tiny houses of its own, each occupied by one person. Because the homes are licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles as recreational vehicles, Trinity UMC petitioned the city for a special-use permit to host the houses on their property. Rick Rubenzer, city engineer, said the church is in a great location to offer resources to these people and not affect many neighbors. His concerns for the city arise primarily out of liability and sanitation, which other Council members shared. Ive done a little bit of research, and the hardest thing is figuring out what are the codes these homes fit into, Rubenzer said. They dont seem to fit into any codes. For that reason, Rubenzer said its important the city and community share all their concerns, so any special conditions are listed on the special-use permit. Once thats passed and approved, we cant go back and add conditions, he said. Some of the concerns listed on the special-use permit include: conforming to the national electrical code; having operating smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a fire extinguisher; having no outdoor fires or smoking inside the structure; having proper sanitary facilities with maintenance and disposal and access to potable water supply; a contact person if problems arise; the church will carry liability insurance for the tiny houses; and that guests will be screened according to the agreed-upon document. There are also additional restrictions. Cohoon said the guests will primarily use the churchs restrooms and shower facilities, or volunteers will provide their homes for showers. After the public hearing, the council passed a first reading of Ordinance 2017-01, granting the special-use permit for Trinity United Methodist Church. Alderman Chuck Hull suggested, for future reference, the city look at an official ordinance for the homes, noting this seems to be a national trend. Moving forward, an ordinance beyond a special-use permit should be looked into, and some guidance on how they should be built, he said. Hull also motioned to change the wording of the special-use permit to define a tiny house as a recreational vehicle registered and licensed by the state of Wisconsin. A second reading will be held during the Tuesday, Feb. 21, council meeting, when the council will decide whether to finalize. Tiny house guests are approved after filing an application and going through a screening process. The term is for a 7-day period with options for renewal. The tiny homes can vary in size but are typically 8-by-12-feet and have one room with a bed, microwave and portable toilet. They cost about $3,000-$5,000 to build. Cohoon said much of the first four they built were completed thanks to donations. The Bloomer and Chippewa Falls school districts are each building a home in one of their shop classes this spring. Eventually, Cohoon hopes to have a permanent Hope Village, where there will be a small community of tiny houses with one central multiple-use building for bathroom facilities, resources and more. This idea is similar to Occupy Madison Inc., which has a permanent residence of tiny houses in Madison. (Photo : US Navy) Warships of the United States Pacific Fleet burn at Peral Harbor, 7 December 1941. Advertisement China's only realistic strategy to defeat the United States in the looming war over the South China Sea is to launch a Pearl Harbor-type surprise attack with ballistic missiles on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers patrolling Asian waters. It might also involve missile strikes on Guam and Hawaii -- attacks which will certainly ignite World War III. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China will rely on its medium-range ballistic missiles (those with a range from over 1,000 km to 3,000 km) and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (those that can reach over 3,000 km to 5,000 km) based on the Chinese mainland to destroy the three U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers now in Asia. Destroying all three carriers in a first strike, however, is considered an impossibility given the vulnerability of the "kill chain" necessary to secure fatal strikes on these fast moving warships, which are all protected by destroyers and cruisers armed with anti-missile systems. It's not even certain if Chinese long-range reconnaissance can locate the carriers since China has no operational high-altitude, long endurance (HALE) aerial drones that will be needed to provide targeting data for Chinese missiles. Chinese spy satellites can't do this job. This means the best option available to China will be to attack the American carriers while they're moored at Pearl Harbor. It will be 1941 all over again. Some western military analysts believe a pre-emptive strike, or an attack without a declaration of war, is the only viable option for China given her qualitative and quantitative military inferiority versus the United States. Japan was in the same situation before the Dec. 7, 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. A preemptive strike does appear consistent with what's known about the doctrine pervading the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), the service branch that controls all of China's ballistic missiles. Troubling new data and images also confirm that China might now be practicing this surprise attack. Out of sight of the Chinese public, PLARF conducted a series of training exercises involving SRBMs and MRBMs during the Chinese New Year last Jan. 28. The drills were supposed to be directed against Taiwan, but are now suspected to be part of an overall training program aimed at finding and sinking U.S. Navy carriers on short notice. On Jan. 28, separate PLARF brigades conducted combat drills involving deploying and practice firing the DF-11, an SRBM with a range of 300 km and an 800 kg high-explosive warhead; the DF-15 SRBM with a range of 600 km and a 500 kg high explosive warhead; the DF-16 MRBM with a range of 1,600 km and a 1,500 high explosive warhead and the DF-21C MRBM with a range of 2,500 km and a 500 kiloton nuclear warhead. The brigades practiced different combat scenarios, including countering satellite reconnaissance and electronic jamming. The missile crews also practiced multiple maneuvers such as rapid loading; redeployment and launch sequence. Advertisement TagsPearl Harbor, china, surprise attack, U.S. Navy, aircraft carriers, medium range ballistic missiles, intermediate-range ballistic missiles, Dec. 7, 1941 (Photo : Getty Images) A Chinese medicine seller (R) weighs traditional Chinese herbs at a medicine shop on November 23, 2006 in Beijing, China. Advertisement China will double the number of HIV/AIDS patients to be treated using traditional Chinese medicine as part of the country's five-year plan, officials said on Sunday. "The number of people living with AIDS who are treated with traditional Chinese medicine should be twice what it was in 2015," the State Council noted. The country plans a collaboration between traditional Chinese medicine departments and national health and family planning commissions "to find a therapeutic regimen which combines traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicines." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The recent move shows China's aim to promote and publicize the traditional Chinese medicine practice, which uses herbal mixtures and physical therapies like acupuncture to treat ailments. The core of the plan is to improve quality of life and reduce fatalities. China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there has been a steep increase to the number of people affected with HIV/AIDS aging 15 to 24 years old. The figure increased fourfold between 2010 and 2016, The Brics Post reported. Moreover, in the first nine months last year, over 96,000 HIV/AIDS cases have also been reported in China. An estimated 200,000 people have also died, although the timeframe is not clear, while around 654,000 are living with the disease in China. Last December, China's National People's Congress Standing Committee passed a new law to incorporate traditional Chinese medicine into the country's healthcare system. It is slated to take effect on July 1 this year and will require country-level governments and above to put up traditional Chinese medicine institutes on public hospitals as well as maternity and pediatric wards. Beijing will also require all practitioners to pass qualifying exams and obtain a license before they are legally allowed to work in hospitals, clinics, or in private. Advertisement TagsTraditional Chinese Medicine, TCM herbs, acupunture, HIV, AIDS Cure (Photo : US Navy) USS Zumwalt: ready for action. Advertisement China strongly opposes the deployment of the most modern guided-missile destroyer in the world -- the U.S. Navy's USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) -- off the eastern coast of North Korea this year as part of a joint effort by South Korea and the United States to rein-in North Korea's ballistic missile program. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The U.S. Navy announced in early January the USS Zumwalt will begin its first operational patrol in the Sea of Japan or the East Sea within the year. The Zumwalt is assigned to the United States Seventh Fleet, one of two fleets in the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) with headquarters in Hawaii. Her two other sister ships, which are still building, will also be deployed to USPACOM. The other warships in the Zumwalt-class are the USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002). China warned the U.S. it's "watching closely" the deployment of the USS Zumwalt. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs indirectly criticized the forthcoming deployment, saying "all countries concerned should work toward military cooperation for the sake of peace and stability, and tensions should not be created." The ministry said China is opposed to any measures that affect China's security interests but specified no retaliation of any kind. When she joins the Seventh Fleet, the $7.5 billion USS Zumwalt will have lived-up to the promise made by former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in April 2016 that all the Zumwalts will be assigned to the Pacific as part of the rebalance of U.S. forces to the region to counter China and promote stability. Carter said "all three of our newest class of stealth destroyers, the DDG-1000, will be homeported with the Pacific fleet' in addition to other new military equipment slated for the Pacific such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Advertisement Tagschina, USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), U.S. Navy, United States Seventh Fleet, United States Pacific Command, Sea of Japan, South Korea (Photo : Getty Images) Pontifical Academy of Sciences, a scientific academy based in Vatican, has sent an invitation to Chinese health minister Huang Jiefu to attend a two-day organ trafficking summit. Advertisement Human right activists on Tuesday slammed the Vatican for inviting a Chinese health official to attend a summit on organ trafficking as questions linger about Beijing's alleged practice of using executed inmates as organ donors. Pontifical Academy of Sciences, a scientific academy based in Vatican, has sent an invitation to Chinese health minister Huang Jiefu to attend a two-day organ trafficking summit. Huang is a controversial figure, who has been appointed by the Chinese government, to overhaul the country's organ transplant system. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Talking to journalists at the summit, Huang described the controversy over China's participation as "ridiculous" but maintained that due to country's enormous population the practice may still exist. "There is zero tolerance. However, China is a big country with a 1.3 billion population, so I am sure, definitely, there is some violation of the law," he said. Legally, the Asian giant ended the forced human organ harvesting in 2015, but the first regulation for ending the organ trade was issued way back in 2007. Numerous medical experts and human right activists apparently have less faith in Chinese law, as they have demanded a full-fledged independent inspection to ascertain the truth. "Without accountability, there is no reason to trust the government of China's claim that forced organ harvesting of prisoners has come to an end," said Dr. Torsten Trey, representative of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) group. DAFOH wants to especially know whether Beijing has completely abolished a 1980s law that allows organ harvesting. Over the decades, organ trafficking has evolved into a huge illegal business in China, with the country facing an enormous shortage of organs due to lack of human donors. The shortage of human donors apparently forced the government to use executed inmates as organ donors. However, this practice has been for a long been subjected to widespread criticism, with the US Congress and European Parliament recently condemning organ harvesting in China. Interestingly, the Vatican was also among the countries that had raised a voice against China. Advertisement TagsVatican, China and Vatican, Organ Trafficking China, china, Organ Trafficking (Photo : CIA) Competing claims to Spratlys. Advertisement China is dialing down its heated rhetoric about fighting a war against the United States over the South China Sea -- a war it knows it can't win and that might ignite a civil war in China -- choosing instead to claim there "cannot be conflict between China and the United States." China's hawkish foreign minister Wang Yi made these remarks during his current visit to Australia, where he also made other statements that seemed to contradict this conciliatory tone. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement But a war pitting China against the United States would benefit no-one, said Wang. "For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognize that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States," he said. "Both will lose and both sides cannot afford that." Wang also noted the China-U.S. relationship had survived "all sorts of difficulties" over decades, suggesting that relationship will survive this latest crisis. But Wang's message of peace was also preceded by a warning that China won't be pushed around by the United States, and the hawkish Trump administration whose leaders, including Trump, view China as an enemy to be contained. Last month. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the US "is going to make sure we protect our interests" in the South China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson earlier said China's access to the islands its built or that its stolen from the Philippines might be blocked by the U.S. Navy, a course of action China will interpret as an act of war. In Australia, Wang also said the United States needs to brush-up on its history of the South China Sea, which, he claims, clearly shows World War Two agreements mandating that all Chinese territories taken by Japan were to be returned to China. He said the 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Declaration clearly state that Japan had to return to China all Chinese territory taken by Japan. "This includes the Nansha Islands," using the Chinese name for the contested Spratly Islands also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Wang blamed these five countries for causing the South China Sea dispute. Advertisement Tagschina, war, United States, South China Sea, Wang Yi, Australia, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, spratly islands (Photo : Getty Images. ) According to Theresa May's aide, the British prime minister will visit China later this year to foster trade ties. Advertisement British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit China later this year as Great Britain tries to cement its trade relationship with the Asian giant before officially divorcing the European Union in the coming months. The news was confirmed by May's aide, who did not reveal much information about the upcoming visit. However, close sources claim that the British Prime Minister could visit China in the month of May to attend the new Silk Road summit. She is expected to also hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jingping on sidelines of the summit. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement However,10 Downing Street, headquarters of Government of the United Kingdom, is yet to confirm the visit. May visited China in September last year to attend the G20 Summit, where she also held a meeting with President Xi. But the visit did not yield any major positive outcome due to the Hinkley nuclear project controversy. May postponed the Hinkley nuclear project immediately after taking the office, citing security concerns over Chinese investment. Although she approved the project in September, the decision to postpone it casted a great deal of shadow over the bilateral relationship between both nations. The decision especially created a great deal of uncertainty over UK-China trade relations, which was already under a great deal of pressure due to the Brexit issue. Several Chinese ministers had even warned that the decision would prove detrimental to Chinese investment into the country. As part of the damage control, May wrote a special letter to the Chinese leadership in a bid to ease the tension. The letter, which was written almost a month before the deal was approved, called on both countries to improve trade and diplomatic ties. Ties between both countries, especially trade relations, have strengthened over the years. Both countries have invested a great deal of money in each other's economies, which has become a vital facet of their bilateral relationship. Advertisement Tagschina, Theresa May, Britain and China, Great Britain (Photo : Getty Images. ) Disney CEO's remark against the trade war comes just as the company announced its fourth-quarter results earlier this week. Advertisement A trade war with China and the U.S. would prove to be detrimental, according to Disney's boss Bob Iger. The possibility of a trade war between both nations has been looming since U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office last year. "An all-out trade war with China would be damaging to Disney's business and to business in general. It's something I think we have to be very careful about," Iger told CNBC. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Iger's remark assumes importance as he is one of the members of President Trump's business council. Iger was not able to express his views on the trade war at a council meeting last year, as he could not attend it due to prior commitments. Iger's warning against the trade war is not surprising, given that China is a very critical market for Disney. The Shanghai Disney Resort, which was opened in June last year, was Walt Disney's first big venture in China. Much to the company's relief, the Shanghai Disney Resort has received positive reviews from the general public and critics. During a call with investors, Iger described Shanghai Disneyland as "one of our biggest success stories in 2016," adding that the resort has welcomed more than seven million guests since opening its gates last year. However, for Disney, China's importance goes beyond the theme park business. The Chinese market is equally important for its movie and television business, both of which are growing at a stupendous pace. Disney CEO's remark against the trade war comes just as the company announced its fourth-quarter results earlier this week. The company's year ending revenue remained flat due to pressure on its advertising earnings, with its sales revenue falling to $14.8bn (11.8bn). Iger revealed during the investor's call that he is open to extending his term if it serves best for the company. Donald Trump Going all out against China Trump relentlessly targeted China's trade practices during his explosive election campaign, labeling China as a "currency manipulator" and "job theft." Trump even warned during his election campaign that China would behave under his presidency. His relentless attack left many critics wondering that will there be a trade war between the two economic superpowers, if Trump is elected to the White House. Many had shrugged off these tirades as mere election rhetoric. But they were proved wrong as Trump continued with his criticisms of China even after his election victory. Advertisement TagsDisney China, Walt Disney, china, Bob Iger, Bob Iger China (Photo : Getty Images. ) This was the first time that the US has proposed a resolution at the UN to blacklist Azhar. Advertisement China on Wednesday openly defended its decision to impose a technical hold on the US' proposal to blacklist Pakistani leader Masood Azhar at the United Nations (UN). This is the fourth time that China has imposed a technical hold on blacklisting Azhar at the UN, much to the dismay of India, which backed the three proposals. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Replying to questions on China's technical hold, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: "I would say the conditions are not yet met for the 1,267 Committee to reach a decision." He argued that the technical hold would allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. Lu also downplayed the US role in pushing the resolution for banning Masood Azhar, adding that "whoever submitted the request we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations." This was the first time that the US has proposed a resolution at the UN to blacklist Azhar. The US reportedly tabled the resolution on Jan. 19, exactly a day before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of United States of America. Britain and France are two other countries that supported the resolution. China's latest technical hold will be seen as a belligerent challenge to the Trump administration, which has publicly taken an anti-Chinese stance on several critical issues. In fact, President Trump has been vociferously criticized China since his election campaign. The US government is yet to respond to Beijing's latest technical hold on Azhar, while India's Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said that New Delhi has taken up the issue with the Chinese government. Azhar's organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) has since been banned by the UN. The ban was imposed after India piled pressure on the international community, alleging that JEM was responsible for several heinous attacks including an attack on its parliament in 2001. However, Azhar has been spared from the UN ban, thanks to the efforts of the Chinese government to shield him at the behest of its close ally Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan has refuted New Delhi's accusation that Azhar is a "terrorist," claiming that he is a social activist and enjoys popularity across the country. Advertisement Tagschina, Masood Azhar., China and US, China and India (Photo : Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the G20 Summit at the Hangzhou International Expo Center in Hangzhou, China. Advertisement The relations between China and Australia are expected to get stronger, as the two countries are reportedly committed to continuously work together to go against protectionism. Amid the "America First" policy of newly-elected US President Donald Trump, reports have revealed that Australia has been keen of being a "comprehensive strategic partner of China," while maintaining its alliance with the United States. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement On Tuesday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that he agreed with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop about strengthening their countries' bilateral ties, including free trade. With the anticipated strengthened China-Australia relations, the Chinese official was reportedly vocal in expressing his objection to the idea of protectionism. "At a time when we face an international situation that is full of uncertainties, we agree to send a clear message that it is important to firmly commit to an open world economy," Wang said. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull assured Wang, who was in Australia's capital Canberra on Tuesday that his country would be working with China closely in terms of opposing protectionism. Meanwhile, Bishop said that "Australia reassures China that we are a reliable partner and that we will continue to place a strong trade and economic relationship as one of our highest priorities." She added that the people-to-people links are now being emphasized since "we believe that there are already very positive signs that the people-to-people links are deepening as well." Following the visit of China's Wang to Australia, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang would also visit the country on March 24 to meet with Turnbull. Advertisement TagsChina-Australia relations, china, Australia, Protectionism, America First (Photo : Elliott P./Flickr/CC) Members of the Congress introduced legislation on Wednesday that would change the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)'s tax code to allow non-profit entities to endorse or oppose political candidates without having their tax-exempt statuses revoked. Under the Johnson Amendment of 1954, non-profit groups - including houses of worship, charities, and universities - are not allowed to "participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office," according to the IRS tax code. Hence, churches are allowed to have non-partisan voter drives, for example, but they aren't allowed to endorse or oppose a candidate. The law came into the limelight recently as Trump made it one of his main talking points during his presidential campaign, and at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Trump reiterated that he would "get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution." The recently introduced legislation, called The Free Speech Fairness Act, would allow non-profits to make statements in support of or in opposition to political campaigns if they are "made in the ordinary course of the organization's regular and customary activities in carrying out its exempt purpose." This means that churches and other non-profits would still not be allowed to actively participate in political campaigning, but their tax-exempt status wouldn't be revoked if they simply made political statements in the course of their regular activities. Those political statements must also not incur "more than de minimis" expenses, meaning, the minimal amount of expenses. This portion of the legislation would thus prohibit non-profits from publishing or broadcasting ads, or any other expensive endeavors, on behalf of political campaigns. "Any nonprofit institution shouldn't have to worry about the IRS watching and monitoring what they say," said Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), who introduced the act in Senate, along with Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Jody Hice (R-Ga.) who introduced the act in the House of Representatives. "When you work for a nonprofit organization, you don't lose your right to assembly, you don't lose your right to free press, you don't lose your Second Amendment rights, you don't lose your right to privacy. But for whatever reason, we have said that if you work for a nonprofit organization, you do lose your right to free speech. That's absurd," Lankford said. Though Trump has focused on pastors being unable to endorse political candidates from the pulpit when discussing the Johnson Amendment, and though all of those who introduced the act are Republican, this legislation would allow endorsements and opposition for all non-profit entities across the board. "It's not obvious that the Free Speech Fairness Act would favor Republicans," wrote Daniel Hemel, an assistant professor of law at the University of Chicago. "It would allow Planned Parenthood the same freedom to endorse candidates that it would give to, say, Samaritan's Purse." Some who are religious also say that they wouldn't want pastors to take political sides on the pulpit. Amanda Tyler, the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that doing so "would usher our partisan divisions into the pews." In a September 2016 LifeWay Research survey, 79 percent of Americans said they do not believe it appropriate for pastors to endorse candidates during church services. Meanwhile, 52 percent also said that churches should not lose their tax-exempt status for publicly taking a political stance. press@cdaily.co.kr - Copyright , #PoliticalEndorsements A group of evangelical leaders has taken out a full-page newspaper advertisement to voice their condemnation of President Trumps controversial travel ban. CNN.com reports that the evangelical leaders who endorsed the statement are from all over the country and include well-known names such as Pastor Timothy Keller, Christian author Ann Voskamp, Bill and Lynne Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church, preacher and author Max Lucado, Pastor Eugene Cho of Quest Church, and Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals. Trumps executive order on immigration affects people from Syria, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, placing a ban on their entry into the U.S. for 120 days until more in-depth vetting measures can be put in place. The order also gives priority to Christian refugees and other religious minorities who are facing persecution for their faith. Many have accused the ban of being anti-Muslim since the seven listed countries are Muslim-majority, but the Trump administration points out that there are millions of Muslims unaffected by the ban and that it is the Presidents job to protect national security. There were widespread protests of the ban at airports after it was issued and also confusion during its rollout of who to detain and how to do so. There has also been widespread condemnation of the ban within the Christian community as evidenced by the statement from the Christian leaders. "As Christian pastors and leaders, we are deeply concerned by the recently announced moratorium on refugee resettlement," the evangelicals' part of the advertisement says. "As Christians, we have a historic call expressed over two thousand years, to serve the suffering. We cannot abandon this call now." "While we are eager to welcome persecuted Christians, we also welcome vulnerable Muslims and people of other faiths or no faith at all. This executive order dramatically reduces the overall number of refugees allowed this year, robbing families of hope and a future. And it could well cost them their lives, it continues. Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com Publication date: February 8, 2017 Since the day David Lee was born, he was faced with challenges to overcome. He was born prematurely, weighing 1.8 kilograms, and had retionpathy and cerebral palsy. But at the young age of 13, he has already written 120 poems, and in 2016, published his first collection of poems called, The Child Who Walks in Wisdom. At Sanctification Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Lee recited some of the poems that he had written since he was just 8 years old. Every poem that was recited at the event was greeted with a loud applause. Lees poems, which explored various themes such as the Bible, nature, and family, made listeners cry, and at other times, laugh. The poet who chose to hope in God despite a hopeless physical condition brought hope to those who were listening to his words. I prayed about what I would become, Lee said. Through poetry, I had dreams. I wanted to become a driver who could drive ambulances and help people who have disabilities like me, or to become a doctor. But through prayer and meditating on the the Word, I decided to live the life of a preacher of the gospel who can heal the body and the soul. Lee currently lives in Gyeonggi province in South Korea with his parents and two younger sisters. His father, Rev. Geun Soo Lee, decided to homeschool rather than send his children to public school. David Lee read 10 chapters of the Bible each day, and was able to read the entire Bible dozens of times. He also has incredible command of history. At the poetry recital on Sunday, one member of the audience asked him what happened in the U.S. in 1961, and Lee was able to explain in detail the events that occurred from 1961 to 1963, much to the surprise of those who attended. Just as it says in Numbers 6, it is the responsibility of the parents to show what it looks like to love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength, and we must raise our children as equals before the Word, said Rev. Lee. I am a father, but I must honestly confess that I also have done wrong. I was challenged by David, who gained the wisdom to understand the history of the world through the Scriptures, said one attendee of the event. This article has been translated. For the original in Korean, visit kr.christianitydaily.com. I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. The trouble started last May, when several arms of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) reached out a legal hand to a Muslim community in New Jersey, publicly supporting their right to build a mosque. The International Mission Board (IMB) and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) were 2 of 18 religious groups that filed an amicus brief decrying the Township of Bernards zoning board decision that required the proposed mosque to have more parking spaces than Christian or Jewish places of worship. The towns reasoning: since Muslim services are held on Fridays, people would be coming after work instead of together as families, and therefore more spots would be needed. But when the Muslim community offered to split the services, or use ride-sharing or overflow arrangements, the board still denied their application. The amicus brief, which was also signed by the National Association of Evangelicals and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, argued that such unequal ... 1 Though it was offering a free Christian college campus with a famous nameD. L. Moodyattached, for years the National Christian Foundation (NCF) couldnt give it away. Then today, the charity announced that the Massachusetts campus will be donated to Thomas Aquinas College and The Moody Center. The Catholic and Protestant groups will take over the buildings on May 2. Its been a long time coming. The 217-acre campus was the site of Moodys first school for girls in 1879; two years later, he started one for boys on the other side of the Connecticut River. The Bible institute developed there was a forerunner of the Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago. In 1971, the two schools became coeducational; in 2005, they consolidated onto the west campus. That left the campus on the east side of the river empty and for sale. The campus is enormous, with about 500,000 square feet spread across 40 buildings on more than 200 acres. It was purchased by the Green family, ... 1 Discovery Institute Senior Fellow to Present at Wisconsin Summer Apologetics Academy GREENWOOD, Wis., Feb. 7, 2017 / Visit The two week-long academy will provide an exhaustive defense of Christianity, from multiple angles and perspectives. However, participants will also benefit from the unique experiences of its presenters, such as Dr. Richard Weikart, the author of books such as "From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics, and Racism in Germany," "The Death of Humanity: and the Case for Life," and most recently, "Hitler's Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich." The academy is an opportunity for people interact with scholars who are not normally in the upper Midwest. Richard Weikart hails from California. Another presenter, Dr. Wayne Rossiter, on the other hand, lives on the East coast. Rossiter is an atheist turned Christian who is a biology professor and critic of Darwinism. Rossiter's book, co-written with Brian Rossiter, "Mind Over Matter: The Necessity of Metaphysics in a Material World." The local region is represented by Dr. Dylan Thompson, a Chemistry professor at Concordia University Wisconsin and Dr. Anthony Horvath, the founder and director of Horvath says, "Our academy will provided more than 50 hours of lectures and presentations over a period of about 10 days. The rock bottom goal is to show that Christianity is 'true beyond a reasonable doubt.' Jesus did exist. He was God, just as He said He was. He died, and rose from the dead. He will return again. It is reasonable to put one's faith in Him. These are not 'religious' assertions. These are statements of fact, grounded in reality, and testified to in history. If you want 'religious' assertions, attend an academy put on by atheists." The final days of the academy are concurrent with ACM's Discounts and scholarships for the academy are available. Anthony Horvath is available for interviews at Share Tweet Contact: Anthony Horvath, Athanatos Christian Ministries , 202-697-4623, director@athanatosministries.org GREENWOOD, Wis., Feb. 7, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Richard Weikart, Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute, will present at Athanatos Christian Ministry's apologetics academy to be held this summer, July 24 - August 4, 2017.Visit www.academyofapologetics.com for more information about ACM's 2017 Summer Apologetics Academy.The two week-long academy will provide an exhaustive defense of Christianity, from multiple angles and perspectives. However, participants will also benefit from the unique experiences of its presenters, such as Dr. Richard Weikart, the author of books such as "From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics, and Racism in Germany," "The Death of Humanity: and the Case for Life," and most recently, "Hitler's Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich."The academy is an opportunity for people interact with scholars who are not normally in the upper Midwest. Richard Weikart hails from California. Another presenter, Dr. Wayne Rossiter, on the other hand, lives on the East coast. Rossiter is an atheist turned Christian who is a biology professor and critic of Darwinism. Rossiter's book, co-written with Brian Rossiter, "Mind Over Matter: The Necessity of Metaphysics in a Material World."The local region is represented by Dr. Dylan Thompson, a Chemistry professor at Concordia University Wisconsin and Dr. Anthony Horvath, the founder and director of Athanatos Christian Ministries , based out of Greenwood, Wisconsin, and the site of the summer academy.Horvath says, "Our academy will provided more than 50 hours of lectures and presentations over a period of about 10 days. The rock bottom goal is to show that Christianity is 'true beyond a reasonable doubt.' Jesus did exist. He was God, just as He said He was. He died, and rose from the dead. He will return again. It is reasonable to put one's faith in Him. These are not 'religious' assertions. These are statements of fact, grounded in reality, and testified to in history. If you want 'religious' assertions, attend an academy put on by atheists."The final days of the academy are concurrent with ACM's Arts and Apologetics Festival , where the academy's presenters will be presenting again. Those who enroll in the academy are able to attend the festival, along with their families, for no additional charge.Discounts and scholarships for the academy are available.Anthony Horvath is available for interviews at director@athanatosministries.org Nationwide Rallies Support Congressional Move to Defund Planned Parenthood "Taxpayers are Sickened" by Abortion Giant, Declares National Organizer of February 11 Gatherings Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333, tc@tcpr.net CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- As Congress moves forward with plans to reallocate funding from Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion business, to comprehensive health care centers, citizens across America will speak up in support of the action. Saturday, February 11, groups will gather outside over 200 Planned Parenthood facilities in 44 states and the nation's capital to #ProtestPP. There will also be overseas support with a demonstration at the London headquarters of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which was recently defunded by executive order. "The federal government has been subsidizing Planned Parenthood to the tune of more than $430 million annually," explained Eric Scheidler, national organizer of #ProtestPP. "This, at the same time that the nation's largest abortion provider holds $500 ticket fundraisers and charges a woman about $500 to abort her baby," he continued. "On top of that, Planned Parenthood is trafficking baby body parts. Taxpayers are sickened to see their money spent in support of these atrocities." WHAT: #ProtestPP rallies to encourage Congress to reallocate Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding to real women's health care providers WHEN: Saturday, February 11, 2017 WHERE: across America, find local times and locations at protestpp.com/locations WHO: concerned citizens These #ProtestPP rallies will emphasize four key points: The 34% of US abortions performed by Planned Parenthood underscores the fact that they are not a general health care service provider. Fraudulent Medicaid claims, fetal tissue harvesting, and documented health code violations show Planned Parenthood's systemic disregard for accountability to taxpayers. Planned Parenthood exaggerates their role in women's health care. The organization actually provides less than 2% of manual breast exams, fewer than 1% of pap tests, and 0% of mammograms, annually. Moving Planned Parenthood's funding to federally qualified health centers will offer women and their families a wider range of health care services and a higher standard of care. Citizens for a Pro-Life Society Director, Dr. Monica Migliorino Miller, stated, "The defunding of Planned Parenthood is a matter of moral principle. Not a single cent of American tax dollars should go to an organization that kills innocent human life." "We are closer than we've ever been to defunding Big AbortionPlanned Parenthood. Now is the time for a groundswell of grassroots efforts. We call on Congress and President Trump to reallocate those funds to health centers which help women without killing babies," commented Mark Harrington, National Director of Created Equal. "Planned Parenthood's brand is at an all-time low and their leadership reflects how disconnected they are from science and basic American values. This weekend thousands of Americans will stand in peaceful opposition to send a message that abortion is not health care and as the nation's largest abortion operation, Planned Parenthood should not get $1 of taxpayer money, much less $430 million," stated Shawn Carney, President, 40 Days for Life. #ProtestPP events, coordinated by Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Created Equal, and the Pro-Life Action League, along with 40 Days for Life and the Susan B. Anthony List, offer Americans a united chance to speak out against the nation's largest abortion chain, which kills over 300,000 babies each year. At the same time, participants will encourage Congress to strip Planned Parenthood of its nearly half-billion dollar taxpayer-funded stipend and redirect those monies to comprehensive health care centers through the budget reconciliation process. Scheidler, also serving as executive director for the Pro-Life Action League, remarked, "This is a nationwide event, but at the same time it is a local community concern. As citizens gather to encourage Congress to quit sending money to an organization that specializes in killing children, they are also declaring that they do not want Planned Parenthood to continue operating in their neighborhoods." "Americans want to end taxpayer funding of abortion that includes stopping taxpayer funding for the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, and ensuring any Obamacare replacement is pro-life, and does not allow tax dollars or tax credits to pay for health care plans that include abortion. Planned Parenthood is a profit-driven, abortion-centered business that has performed more than 300,000 abortions in the last three years for which data are available. They do not need or deserve taxpayer dollars, and redirecting their federal funding to rural and community health centers would be a victory for women's health. These comprehensive clinics outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 20 to 1 nationwide and provide far more services. The majority of Americans want taxpayer funding to go to real women's health care, not abortion. This Saturday, that majority will let their voices be heard at #ProtestPP gatherings nationwide," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. President Donald Trump has made four specific commitments to the pro-life movement, including reallocating Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding to comprehensive, whole-woman health care centers. Polling in 2018 Senate battleground states shows that voters support redirecting Planned Parenthood's funding to community health centers. About the organizers: Pro-Life Action League The Pro-Life Action League was founded by Joe Scheidler in 1980 with the aim of saving babies from abortion through direct action, and is now headed by Joes son, Eric. Not content to await a political or judicial solution to abortion, the League seeks to stop the killing of unborn children right now through all available peaceful means, including public protest, sidewalk counseling, education, youth outreach, and national leadership. Visit www.prolifeaction.org to learn more. Citizens for a Pro-Life Society Citizens for a Pro-life Society is an activist organization, founded on Catholic principles of morality and social justice, dedicated to advocacy of the sanctity of human life, especially protection of the right to life of unborn children. The goal is to work to end the culture of death and restore a culture of life, to re-establish respect for human life created in the image and likeness of God. Visit www.prolifesociety.net to learn more. Created Equal Created Equal was inspired by Mark Harringtons vision of human rights defenders uniting to achieve collectively far more than one person. The pro-life advocacy group implements creative new ways to challenge the industry of abortion. Visit www.createdequal.org to learn more. 40 Days for Life 40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, for their own friends and families. It draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program focusing on prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach. Visit www.40daysforlife.com to learn more. Susan B. Anthony List SBA List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. Susan B. Anthony List is a network of more than 465,000 pro-life Americans nationwide. Visit www.sba-list.org to learn more. Satellite TV Network to Launch Educational Channel for Displaced and Impoverished Refugee Children in Middle East and North Africa SAT-7 ACADEMY Will Teach Recognized Values to 'Lost Generation' Contact: Palmer Holt, 704-663-3303 NICOSIA, Cyprus, Feb. 8, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- A new 24/7 educational channel that will teach displaced and impoverished children from Syria and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will start broadcasting this summer. The SAT-7 ACADEMY (www.sat7education.org) will help children learn internationally recognized values and address the problem of lack of education in the region, which is creating a "lost generation." Photo: Children in this Middle East refugee community will soon be able to obtain an education via satellite TV through the SAT-7 ACADEMY channel, which will make its debut this summer. The new, 24/7 educational channel is being launched by SAT-7 Education and Development, organized in 2016 to leverage SAT-7's broadcast experience and audience acceptance to further educational and developmental initiatives. The new service is being launched by SAT-7 Education and Development, organized in 2016 as a part of SAT-7 International to leverage decades of broadcast experience and audience acceptance to advance educational and developmental initiatives. It will provide education for millions of children displaced by conflict in Syria and other nations. Even in areas not directly affected by unrest, many children aren't in school because of poverty or because they are female. The United Nations Development Program lists inadequate education as a key factor holding back the Arab World. More than 21 million Arabic-speaking children (one in five) are at risk of missing out on an education, while 13 million are out of school altogether. "We are talking about audience sizes in the millions," SAT-7 Chief Executive Officer Dr. Terence Ascott says of the new channel. "But even if we were only able to impact the lives of a few thousand children, it would be worth it. One viewer can grow up to be a real instrument of change in their society. One of these children could even be the future president of his or her country." SAT-7 ACADEMY aims to transform young lives: to bring children hope for their future; opportunities for work and further study; and the chance to participate, along with their teachers and parents, in positively transforming the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, educating children in modern viewpoints and perspectives can diffuse the appeal radical organizations hold for children from impoverished backgrounds. Large number of viewers Launched in 1996, the satellite broadcasting organization has brought quality programming in the Arabic, Farsi and Turkish languages to more than 15 million viewers in the Middle East and North Africa. Research in 15 MENA countries shows that television -- especially satellite TV -- is the most used and trusted source of information. Research by a French-based communications company in 2014 revealed that nine in 10 residents prefer satellite reception for both pay-TV and free-to-air viewing. Television viewing is almost dominant among Syrians in the country and those who have fled to other countries. Many Syrian refugees are already watching SAT-7's educational program, My School, which is broadcast on the SAT-7 KIDS channel five days a week. According to audience research carried out by the well-known research company, IPSOS, last year in 10 Arab countries more than 1.3 million children watched My School daily, or at least weekly. Since millions cannot attend school in their host countries, the SAT-7 ACADEMY will provide a life-changing opportunity for many children, parents and teachers. "If we do not invest in education that teaches not only knowledge but tolerance, based on internationally recognized values, others will invest in teaching conflicting values," says Rita Elmounayer, SAT-7's deputy chief executive officer. "We have seen the result of that -- radicalism, extremism and insurgency. We need to act now to prevent this generation from becoming truly 'lost.'" For more information about SAT-7 ACADEMY go to www.sat7education.org. Since 1996, SAT-7 has brought quality Christian television programming via satellite to more than 15 million viewers throughout the Middle East and North Africa. With international headquarters in Cyprus and six channels, SAT-7 broadcasts in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish, enabling viewers to watch within the privacy of their own homes. For more information, visit www.sat7usa.org. To schedule an interview with an official from SAT-7, contact Palmer Holt at (704) 663-3303 or pholt@paragoncommunications.net. Share Tweet British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced it will be removing Dunhill Cigar and Pipe Tobacco from its brand. The move appears to mean the end to of the oldest names in cigar and pipe tobacco. Dunhill is currently owned by tobacco giant British American Tobacco, a tobacco giant largely focused in the cigarette business. While Dunhill cigar and pipe tobacco will be dropped, Dunhill cigarette products will continue. This move by BAT comes shortly after the tobacco giant completed its acquisition of Reynolds American. Currently Dunhill cigar and pipe products are distributed in the United States by General Cigar. General Cigar also handles the production of Dunhill premium cigars. General Cigar President Regis Broersma confirmed the news to Cigar Coop that BAT had decided discontinue its cigar and pipe business. Dunhill has been a brand that has gotten a considerable push over the past few years by General Cigar. The brand has had new releases such as Dunhill Aged Maduro, Dunhill Heritage, 1907 by Dunhill, and Dunhill Signed Range Seleccion Suprema. In addition the Dunhill Signed Range line was also revamped. It is anticipated the withdrawal from the marketplace will not be completed until 2018 around the time companies are required to have FDA Approval to keep products on the market. There is no word if potentially British American Tobacco would entertain a buyer for the Dunhill cigar and pipe business. The Dunhill brand can be traced back to Alfred Dunhills tobacco shop that opened in 1907 on Duke Street in London. In 1935, the company entered into an agreement to distribute and market the Don Candido brand. Following the Cuban revolution, Dunhill maintained a relationship with Cubas nationalized Cubatabaco company and would have exclusive rights to distribute lines such as Don Alfredo, La Flor del Punto, and Don Candido. By 1982, Dunhill decided to work with Cubatabaco to produce Dunhill-branded cigars. It was at this point, the Don Candido line was retired. By 1984, the Dunhill-branded cigars started hitting the market and expanded into 30 countries. While the brand expanded, they soon started facing competition and by 1991, Cubatabaco and Dunhill went their separate ways. Dunhill did not find a new manufacturing source and eventually British American Tobacco would acquire the rights to the brand with production now occurring outside of Cuba. Following the merger of Swedish Match and Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG), production of the products as well as distribution in the U.S would be handled by General. Photo Credits: Cigar Coop home World Chinese netizens denounce opening of Christian theme park in Mao Zedong's home province The opening of a 150,000-square-meter Christian theme park in Mao Zedong's home province of Hunan has drawn criticism from Chinese netizens after it was revealed that it was funded by the local government. The Xingsha Ecological Park, located in Hunan's capital of Changsha, is said to be "the biggest Christian theme park in southern China," according to a report from What's On Weibo. China Christian Daily reported that the park is home to the 80-meter high Xingsha Church as well as the Hunan Bible Institute. The main building of the church is reportedly shaped like a huge ark floating on water, and the streamlined skirt was made to appear like waves lifting the ark. Dai Rihong, the representative of the ecological park's construction team, stated that the park was designed as a tourist attraction for citizens to shoot wedding photos. The website of Changsha indicated that the park was a government-sponsored project and was subcontracted to the Huashun Construction Project Management Co., Global Times reported. Many social media users criticized the project and stressed that China is a secular society, and the construction of the park is inconsistent with the revolutionary history of the city. One netizen wrote an article on WeChat expressing dismay at the fact that the Christian park was opened in the hometown of Mao, who was a convinced atheist. Despite the criticisms, some have expressed their support for the opening of the park. "This is freedom of religion. If you don't like it, don't go there," said one commenter. Another commenter lamented that the outrage over the theme park was unfair, saying: "When there are mosques built, nobody dares to say anything, but when other religions make something, you open your mouths. It's not right." Others have expressed their concern about the taxpayer money used to fund the project. "What on earth gave the Changsha government the right to use the taxpayers' money for a Christian project? Should it not be a public park instead of a religious place?" another netizen wrote, according to What's On Weibo. A resident who lives nearby said that the park opened during the 2017 Spring Festival, which fell on Jan. 28 this year, and many of its visitors were families. The church inside the park will be operational in June 2017. home US Donald Trump criticizes U.S. courts for being too 'political' as travel ban faces scrutiny President Donald Trump stepped up his criticism of the U.S. judicial system on Wednesday, saying courts seem to be "so political," a day after his U.S. travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries faced close scrutiny from an appeals court. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard arguments on the Trump administration's challenge to a lower court order putting his temporary travel ban on hold. The appeals court is expected to issue a ruling as soon as Wednesday. "I don't ever want to call a court biased," Trump told a few hundred police chiefs and sheriffs from major cities at a meeting in Washington. "So I won't call it biased. And we haven't had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political. And it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read the statement and do what's right. "I think it's a sad day. I think our security's at risk today," Trump said. Trump's Jan. 27 order barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except those from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. He said his directive was "done for the security of our nation, the security of our citizens." The appeals court must decide if Trump acted within his authority or whether his directive was tantamount to a discriminatory ban targeting Muslims. The appeals court judges questioned whether the directive improperly targeted people because of their religion. "If these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they'd do what they should be doing," the Republican president said. Last week Trump labelled the judge who put his directive on hold, U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, a "so-called judge." Last year Trump sharply attacked a judge who was presiding over a case involving one of his businesses. In a Twitter post earlier on Wednesday, Trump wrote, "If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics!" During an oral argument lasting more than an hour on Tuesday, the appeals court panel in San Francisco pressed an administration lawyer over whether the Trump administration's national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. At the meeting with law enforcement officials, Trump read from the law he used to justify the travel ban, quoting it in fragments and sprinkling bits of interpretation in between. He said the law clearly allowed a president to suspend entry of any class of people if he determines would be a detriment to national security. "A bad high school student would understand this," Trump said. "Anybody would understand this." Judge Richard Clifton, who was appointed to the bench by Bush, posed equally tough questions for a lawyer representing Minnesota and Washington states, which are challenging the ban. home World Egyptian court issues death sentence to man who murdered Coptic alcohol store owner The Alexandria Criminal Court sentenced a man to death for the murder of a Coptic Christian shopkeeper last month. The defendant, Adel Soliman, received the preliminary death sentence on Sunday after two consecutive court sessions. The verdict was handed over to the Grand Mufti for consultation, and the final sentence will be announced on March 9, according to Daily News Egypt. Soliman was arrested two days after a video of the attack went viral on social media in January. The footage showed a bearded man approaching liquor store owner Youssef Lamei from behind before slitting his throat with a knife. Investigators said that Soliman confessed to the crime after viewing the footage of the incident, Ahram Online reported. He said that he had warned Lamei against selling alcohol several times, but the shopkeeper continued to do so. Lamei's son, Tony Youssef, said that the defendant threatened to kill him and other Copts during the trial because "he hates them." Tony also noted that Soliman admitted committing the crime based on the extremist religious decrees he heard on television. Tony stated last month that his father had a license to sell alcohol and had operated the store for almost 40 years. In an interview with World Watch Monitor, Tony revealed that his father had been visited by conservative clerics, who asked him not to sell alcohol during Ramadan. He said that Lamei agreed to close his shop for a whole month. "They then asked him not to sell alcohol during the daily five Muslim prayer times; he also obeyed them, to avoid any trouble they might cause," he said. Lamei's brother, Nasef, expressed his belief that the attack was planned because the killer had visited the shop several times before he committed the crime, and he knew the spot where the victim used to sit. Tony contended that his father was targeted because of his faith, as there were other shops in Alexandria that sold alcohol. "There is a shop nearby that sells alcohol and is owned by a Muslim man. Why they didn't kill this man as well?" he said. "My father was a very kind and respected man and everybody loved him; he had no enemies," he added. home US Mike Pence defends Trump's decision to keep Obama's LGBT anti-discrimination order Vice President Mike Pence came out in defense of President Donald Trump's decision to keep an executive order signed by President Barack Obama that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against members of the LGBT community. "I think throughout the campaign, President Trump made it clear that discrimination would have no place in our administration," Pence said on Sunday during an interview with ABC "This Week." "I mean, he was the very first Republican nominee to mention the LGBTQ community at our Republican National Convention and was applauded for it. And I was there applauding with him. I think the generosity of his spirit, recognizing that in the patriot's heart, there's no room for prejudice is part of who this president is," he continued. Critics of the order have argued that it curbs religious liberty by barring groups and entities who have moral objections to homosexuality and transgenderism. The Liberty Counsel issued a statement denouncing Trump's decision not to rescind the order, saying it "imposes the LGBTQ agenda in the employment context for federal contractors," The Christian Post reported. According to a report from Politico, Trump's daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, encouraged the president to keep Obama's executive order intact. Obama's executive order was an amendment to a 1969 order by President Richard Nixon which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap and age." A 1998 order by President Bill Clinton added "sexual orientation" to the list and "gender identity" was added under the Obama administration, according to Christian News. Last week, reports have surfaced that Trump might issue an executive order that would protect religious liberties. The copy of the draft executive order that was leaked to the media indicated that there would be exemptions for religious organizations that contract with the federal government or receive grants. The proposal would also provide exemptions for organizations that have objections to the Obamacare abortifacient and contraception mandate. However, Pence did not confirm whether such an order is being prepared when he was asked about the matter on Sunday. He merely emphasized Trump's intent to repeal the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits churches and other non-profit organizations from speaking for or against political candidates. home US Perry Noble preaches at Elevation Church after less than a year of falling to alcohol Perry Noble, the former pastor of NewSpring Church, has returned to the pulpit at Elevation Church over the weekend after less than a year of being treated for alcoholism. Noble, who was fired from his post at NewSpring last July, revealed on social media that he preached a sermon at Elevation Church on Saturday and another one on Sunday, Independent Mail reported. The former pastor recounted how honored he was to be back at the pulpit, and he expressed his appreciation for the help extended to him by Elevation Church pastor Steven Furtick. "In July of 2016 I thought I would never preach again! I allowed myself to be deceived by the enemy and depended on alcohol more than Jesus!" Noble wrote on Facebook. "However...during this entire time Steven Furtick hasn't been someone who 'had my back' but rather has stood by my side and been a source of encouragement, friendship and has been willing to tell me what I needed to hear," he added. Noble revealed his plans to get back into the ministry back in September after he spent 30 days in a treatment facility in Arizona. He stopped posting on social media for awhile at the request of his therapist, but he later revealed a few details about his alcoholism that led to his firing. The former pastor admitted in October that he became discouraged by the challenges he faced in his marriage, and he turned to alcohol instead of seeking help. In December, he announced his plan to return to the ministry to serve as a church and business consultant. He said that serving as a pastor at NewSpring was no longer an option for him, but he said he will keep praying for the church. Noble said that he wanted to use his 16 years of experience at his former church to "encourage, challenge and advance" other ministries. Last month, Noble addressed concerns about whether he was coming back "too soon" after his struggles with alcoholism. He pointed out that the Apostles Peter and Paul have made big mistakes, but they kept preaching the Gospel. He explained that he does not want to live his life "full of regrets," and he encouraged others to not let other people hold them back from what God has called them to do. "If God has put something in your heart, don't sit around and wait for the approval of people who don't believe in you in the first place. You stay up too late, and you do what God called you to do," he said. home World Religious committee in Morocco says apostasy is no longer punishable by death Morocco's High Religious Committee has reversed its Islamic ruling that imposes the death penalty on those who decide to leave Islam. In 2012, the High Religious Committee in charge of issuing Fatwas or Islamic rulings has published a book stating its position that apostasy should be punishable by death. However, the same committee has recently issued a document titled "The Way of the Scholars," in which it reversed its position on killing Muslims who change their religion. The committee argued that apostasy should not be regarded as a religious issue but as a political stand that is more consistent with "high treason," Morocco World News reported. "The most accurate understanding, and the most consistent with the Islamic legislation and the practical way of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is that the killing of the apostate is meant for the traitor of the group, the one disclosing secrets, [...] the equivalent of treason in international law," the statement from the committee read. The reasons cited by the committee for the change in its position echoed the teachings of Sufyan al-Thawri, an Islamic scholar during the first century AH (622 a 719 A.D.). Al-Thawri reviewed the historical situations when the Islamic prophet Mohammed ordered the killings of apostates, as opposed to the times when he did not. He concluded that Mohammed's decisions were made for political purposes and not based on religion. The document pointed out that during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Mohammed himself observed the provisions stating that those who converted to Islam and renounced it later must be allowed to return to Quraich, the most powerful enemy of Muslim nations at the time. The committee further noted that the Quran only mentions apostasy and its punishments in the afterlife but not in the present life. One of the examples cited by the committee was Chapter 2 verse 217 which stated: "And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever a for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally." In July 2015, Mustapha Ramid, Minister of Justice and Liberties, stated that there is no law in Morocco that punishes apostasy. He said that citizens are free to choose their religion and argued that the law only prohibits proselytizing. According to a separate report from Morocco World News, the country's penal code does not explicitly prohibit apostasy, but "the law punishes anyone who tries to shake the faith of a Muslim and take advantage of social status (especially those of the poor) or age to convince them to reject Islam." home US Russell Moore urges Trump to sign executive order that protects religious freedom Russell Moore, the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention, has called on President Donald Trump to sign an executive order that would provide protection for religious liberty. Last week, a draft copy of the executive order titled "Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom" was leaked to the media. The draft indicated that the religious freedoms of individuals and organizations that uphold traditional beliefs on gender, sexuality and marriage will be protected. In response to the leak, Moore urged the president to issue the executive order. He noted that protecting religious liberties also require legislative action, but he stated that the executive order is a step towards the right direction. "Freedom of conscience and religious liberty are of utmost importance to us, and to millions of other religious people in the United States," said Moore. "We support an executive order making clear that people of religious conviction will not be pushed aside by the federal government as we seek to serve our neighbors, including those who disagree with us," he continued. Under the order, organizations with religious objections to the contraceptive mandate included in the Affordable Care Act would be granted accommodations. Social service organizations that receive federal funds, such as adoption agencies, will be allowed to operate based on their beliefs on marriage. Faith-based institutions and other non-profit organizations would not risk losing their tax-exempt status due to their policies and political leanings, Christianity Today reported. Critics of the draft have raised concern that it will allow discrimination against the LGBT community. Chad Griffin of the progressive group Human Rights Campaign described the order as "sweeping and dangerous" and said, "If Donald Trump goes through with even a fraction of this order, he'll reveal himself as a true enemy to LGBTQ people." However, Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation said that liberals should not be concerned with the order because it explicitly stated that it "shall be carried out ... to the extent permitted by law," and any accommodation must be "reasonable" in order to avoid potential conflicts. He also clarified that the draft order would not repeal Obama's executive order that elevates LGBT status to a protected class in federal contracts. White House officials have stated that the religious freedom order is just one among hundreds of executive orders under review by the Trump administration. The officials also noted that not all of the orders reflect the administration's views. home US U.S. senators introduce bill to redirect taxpayer funding away from Planned Parenthood Two U.S. senators have introduced legislation that aims to redirect funding away from Planned Parenthood and toward health care centers that do not perform abortions. The bill known as "Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act" was proposed by Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) with the support of 127 co-sponsors. According to Life News, the measure would place a moratorium on federal funding for Planned Parenthood, including its affiliates, until the organization certifies that it will no longer perform elective abortions or give funding for institutions that provide the said service. "For years, our nation has debated life and abortion - at a minimum we should agree that no taxpayer should be forced to fund the largest provider of abortion in the country with their hard-earned tax dollars," Lankford said on Jan. 30. He noted that Planned Parenthood receives millions in private donations each year, and the contributions have increased since Donald Trump was elected president. "There is no reason for a private non-governmental organization, like Planned Parenthood, to receive $500 million a year in taxpayer money," the senator remarked. Supporters of the legislation have said that it would ensure that there would be no reduction in federal funding for women's health, Crux reported. Lankford's office said he had proposed a similar bill with Ernst and Sen. Rand Paul in 2015 after investigative reports indicated that Planned Parenthood officials had participated in illegal procurement for sale of body parts from abortion. Meanwhile, several pro-life groups have expressed plans to gather outside Planned Parenthood facilities across the nation to support efforts to defund the abortion provider. #ProtestPP, a coalition of state and national pro-life groups, will be protesting against the federal funding of the abortion organization on Saturday. "As Congress moves forward with plans to defund Planned Parenthood, citizens will speak up in support of this action on Saturday, Feb. 11. Groups will gather outside nearly 200 Planned Parenthood facilities across the country and the nation's capital for #DefundPP rallies," a statement from the coalition read. A recent poll released by pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List has revealed that a majority of voters in battleground states are opposed to giving taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood. The results indicated that 56 percent of voters in select Senate battleground states are not in favor of taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, and 60 percent are less likely to vote for a senator who would give money to the abortion organization instead of community health centers that provide comprehensive women's healthcare. Baptists Clash With Franklin Graham Over His Support For Trump Travel Ban Baptists in Puerto Rico have withdrawn support for a major rally led by Franklin Graham in San Juan this weekend, over the evangelist's endorsement of the anti-immigration policies of Donald Trump. Baptist News reported that the executive minister and the president of the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico issued a statement saying that Graham's backing for Trump's policies is "for us contrary to the values of the Kingdom". Executive Minister Roberto Dieppa-Baez and President Margarita Ramirez said in the statement written in Spanish: "The Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico historically affirms that our standard of faith and conduct is the Bible. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God continually calls us to justice, to love, peace and mercy and, above all, to accompany the marginalized, foreigners, widows and orphans." The statement said that Trump's immigration policies "attack the life of our neighbour, and Jesus has always called us to love even enemies and to be our brother's keeper". The Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico directors have withdrawn their support for the event, which is being held at the same stadium where Graham's father, Billy Graham, preached to more than 175,000 people during the San Juan Global Mission in 1995. The Baptist leaders said individual churches and pastors remain free to make up their own mind about whether to participate, but that they could not "for reasons of conscience". Franklin Graham, who succeeded his father as CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 2002, has said that Trump's move to ban immigration, refugees and travel from seven Muslim-majority countries was, for him, "not a Bible issue". He told the Huffington Post: "It's not a biblical command for the country to let everyone in who wants to come, that's not a Bible issue...We want to love people, we want to be kind to people, we want to be considerate, but we have a country and a country should have order and there are laws that relate to immigration and I think we should follow those laws...Because of the dangers we see today in this world, we need to be very careful." The Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico is one of 34 regions affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA, and the only one that is fully Hispanic. In 2011, the region numbered 112 churches with more than 25,000 members, the Baptist News reported. The region's leaders said they do not intend to undermine the Festival of Hope but took their position in order "to affirm our testimony in favour of the poor, marginalized and foreigners, among others". They continued: "Let us continue in prayer so that the gospel of Jesus can be proclaimed and lived in all our earth." This is not the first time that Graham's controversially conservative views on issues such as homosexuality, Islam and immigration have caused church leaders to withdraw support for his events. Last autumn five pastors in Canada incouding two Baptists said publicly they would not be supporting Graham's March 2017 Festival of Hope crusade in Vancouver, saying he was a poor witness for the gospel. As well as his role with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Graham runs Samaritan's Purse, an international relief agency. Betsy DeVos: Five Reasons Christians Love And Hate Trump's New Education Secretary Typically one of the least headline-grabbing roles in the Cabinet, Trump's appointment for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, has proved one of his most controversial. Much to the President's irritation, Senate offices have received more calls urging opposition to DeVos than to any other cabinet nominee. It is a disgrace that my full Cabinet is still not in place, the longest such delay in the history of our country. Obstruction by Democrats! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 An unconvincing performance at her confirmation hearing where she failed to answer a number of questions led to a tiebreak-vote on Tuesday on whether to approve her. Vice-President Mike Pence, as president of the Senate, had to cast the deciding vote to ensure she passed the otherwise 50-50 split. Despite being raised an evangelical Christian with strong conservative beliefs, a large segment of DeVos' opposition has been from her own evangelical community. Equally a number of key evangelical leaders have voiced resounding support. So what exactly has inspired to much irritation and affection, both within and outside the evangelical community? Here are five facts to love or hate about Betsy DeVos: 1. Her roots are in Christian Reformed education: DeVos grew up in Christian schooling from the reformed tradition she graduated from Holland Christian Schools, Michigan and then from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, also Michigan. More recently she has been a member and elder at the evangelical megachurch Mars Hill under controversial and more socially liberal pastor Rob Bell. 2. DeVos supports vouchers for private schools: School vouchers allow parents to use public money allocated to their child and spend it on private education, including separate religious schools. Advanced by DeVos and a number of civil liberty projects plus some conservative Christians, they afford parents more choice in schooling other than the local publically-provided schools. But they are criticised for being a means of funnelling state money into private religious projects which can teach extreme positions on creation and sex education. 3. She has almost no experience in public schooling: Despite more than 90 per cent of America's children passing through the local public school system, DeVos has never attended, taught, or sent her children to public schools. Her experience is limited to mentoring and raises fears public schools will be sidelined in her desire to further parental choice and schools vouchers. The Expectations Project, a nonpartisan Washington based campaign group, urged DeVos to remember Jesus' command in Matthew 25 to care for "the least of these". As many as 95 per cent of Protestant pastors believe Christians should help public education and the Project's letter reflects a concern that the poorest students who have no choice but to attend public schools will not receive the funding and attention they need under DeVos' regime. 4. She wants to "advance God's kingdom" through education: An oft-quoted audio recording from 2001 has earned much of her evangelical support. The clip was obtained by Politico and was taken from a gathering of Christian philanthropists including DeVos and her husband Dick, who have donated large sums to education projects. "Our desire is to...confront the culture in which we all live today in ways which will continue to advance God's kingdom, not to stay in our own safe territories," says Betsy. Her husband adds it would be easier to work in the "safe territories" of Christian schools but they wanted to take a more holistic approach to "drive better performance across all education". 5. Evangelical support has been very mixed: Despite her promotion of Christian education and home schooling, evangelicals are decidedly mixed in their reaction to DeVos' appointment. More than 2,700 of her fellow Calvin College alumni have signed a petition to oppose her selection, saying she is not quailfied. Most of these are from the more liberal end of the evangelical spectrum and oppose her for beliefs about education rather than religious reasons, according to Politico. And many agree with The Exectations Project that her approach will leave out "the least of these". At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, PDR Cigars launched a new line known as El Trovador. This was a brand that PDR Cigars owner and master blender Abe Flores took inspiration from a couple of sources his musical roots and from a trip to Cuba. While many know Flores as a cigar maker who previously had an IT (Information Technology) background, many do not know that he was also a bass musician. On a trip to Cuba, Flores saw an old vintage cigar band with the name Trovador. The name Trovador translates to Troubadour. While a Troubadour is a French minstrel, it is also the name of the legendary night club in Los Angeles, California. Given his background in music, Flores thought it would be a good name for a cigar and the rest of history. Recently Ive had an opportunity to smoke El Trovador in the Gran Toro size. Overall I found this to be a simple, but enjoyable cigar. Over the past few years, Flores has gone all out when it has come to packaging. In addition to making the cigars, Flores is also intricately involved with package design. For El Trovador, Flores went in a different direction designing simple, classic style packaging and banding. The cigar features a simple, classic-style brown band and is packaged in plain cedar boxes. On Episode 200 of Stogie Geeks, Flores mentioned the reason why he did this was that he wanted the cigar to stand out on its own. Without further ado, lets break down the El Trovador Gran Toro and see what this cigar brings to the table. Blend Profile El Trovador is highlighted by an Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper and the use of a double binder. There is also a strong Nicaraguan tobacco influence in the blend. In addition to making up the filler, a Nicaraguan leaf is used as one of the two binders. As with all PDR Cigars, they are produced at Flores PDR Cigars Factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Rosado Binder: (Double): Nicaraguan, Corojo Filler: Nicaragua (2 parts Ligero, 1 1/2 parts Viso) Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (PDR Cigars) Vitolas Available El Trovador is available in four box-pressed sizes. Each size is available in 24 count boxes. Petit Robusto: 4 1/2 x 50 Robusto: 5 x 52 Corona Gorda: 6 x 46 Gran Toro: 6 x 54 Appearance The Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper of the El Trovador Gran Toro has mostly a medium-brown leather color with (of course) a slight rosado tint when the light shines on it. The surface of the wrapper had a decent coating of oil on it. I also found the surface to be smooth. There were some thin visible veins as well as thin visible wrapper seams. This was a firm box-press with no soft spots. The El Trovador Gran Toro has a brown colored wrapper with white trim. At the center of the band is a gold-colored leaf. Surrounding the leaf are two concentric white circles. Above the inner circle is the text EL TROVADOR and below the inner circle is the text A. FLORES both are in white font and arranged in a curved fashion. On the far right side is a gold PDR circle logo surrounded by a white circle. Preparation for the Cigar Experience Prior to lighting up the El Trovador Gran Toro, I went with usual choice of a straight cut. Once the cap was removed, I commenced with the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered subtle notes of cedar with (very) subtle notes of raisin sweetness. Overall I considered this to be a satisfactory pre-light draw. At this point I was ready to light up the El Trovador Gran Toro and see what the smoking experience would have in store. Flavor Profile The start to the El Trovador Gran Toro produced notes of dusty earth and natural tobacco. In the background I picked up a mix of cedar and raisin. I found the cedar and raisin notes to deliver some balance to the flavors in the forefront. Meanwhile the retro-hale produced an additional layer of cedar. Throughout the first half, I didnt find a lot of variation in the flavors. The natural tobacco and dusty earth notes remained in the forefront alternating in intensity. At the same time the cedar and raisin notes remained in the background with the cedar having the edge. As the El Trovador Gran Toro moved into the second half, I found the cedar notes increased in intensity. The cedar delivered a mix of sweetness and spice. I also found some additional sweetness from the natural tobacco notes. By the last third, I found the cedar and natural tobacco to be the primary flavors with the dusty earth and raisin notes secondary. This is the way the smoking experience of the El Trovador Gran Toro came to a close. The resulting nub was cool in temperature and slightly soft to the touch. Burn and Draw From a burn standpoint, the El Trovador Gran Toro performed quite well. The cigar maintained a straight burn path and had a relatively straight burn line. This was a cigar that was not in need of frequent touch-ups. The resulting ash had a salt and pepper color scheme to it. This wasnt an overly firm ash, but it was not a loose flaky ash either. The burn rate and burn temperature were both ideal. The draw performed quite well on the El Trovador Gran Toro as well. This was a draw I considered open, but not loose. Overall the El Trovador Gran Toro was an enjoyable cigar to puff on. Strength and Body In terms of both strength and body, I found the El Trovador Gran Toro started out on the upper end of mild to medium. Both the strength and body gradually increase and by the second third, this cigar was in medium territory. I found both attributes started to level off and keeping the El Trovador Gran Toro in medium strength, medium-bodied territory. In terms of strength versus body, I found both balanced each other nicely on the El Trovador Gran Toro with neither overshadowing the other. Final Thoughts As mentioned earlier, El Trovador is a less flashy PDR offering in terms of packaging. At the same time, I did find the packaging of the El Trovador to have some charm. In a lot of ways, this reflects the smoking experience of El Trovador. The El Trovador is not an overly complex cigar, nor is it a full strength / full-bodied smoke. Instead, I found this cigar to be somewhat of a throwback cigar. Its delivers a simple medium strength, medium-bodied profile and that was still enough to satisfy me. This is a cigar I could recommend to a novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, this is a cigar I would smoke again and its certainly worthy of a fiver. Summary Key Flavors: Earth, Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Raisin Burn: Excellent Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Third), Medium (Remainder) Body: Mild to Medium (1st Third), Medium (Remainder) Finish: Very Good Rating Assessment: 3.0-The Fiver Score: 89 References News: PDR Cigars Launches El Trovador at 2016 IPCPR Price: $9.20 Source: PDR Cigars Brand Reference: PDR Cigars Photo Credits: Cigar Coop Five Things You Can Pray For President Trump Every Day Regardless Of Your Politics For some he's a kind of messiah, saving America from years of leftist misery. For many others, he sits at the literal opposite end of the leadership spectrum: a disastrous appointment who could damage the country for years to come. Yet while views and feelings about President Trump differ wildly, for all Christians the response or at least part of it must be the same. As followers of Jesus we can legitimately campaign against Trump and his policies; or we can choose to support his administration. Yet while a biblical case for either of those positions is subjective, we're all called to a more fundamental act of obedience. Every Christian, regardless of their political beliefs, must pray for Donald Trump. The Bible is clear. Paul urges that we offer "petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for all people for kings and all those in authority" (1 Timothy 2: 1-2). We're specifically told to pray for the leaders of the world, not just about them. Praying they'll win mighty victories on the International stage, or suffer some sort of humiliating impeachment, is not what the Bible asks of us. Our role is to pray for them, personally, and somehow without bias. Knowing this responsibility is one thing. Understanding how to put it into practice is quite another. How do you pray for your victorious leader without veering into triumphalism, or pray for your worst political nightmare without asking God for his demise? But we must. Because the moment we make God partisan, we reduce him to the level of our own broken political systems, when he's so much bigger than that. Here then are a few things that all of us can, and should pray for President Trump, and with as little agenda as we can manage. 1. Pray for wisdom. We can all ask that if God gives one thing to the president over the next few years, it's a supernatural wisdom boost. So far, with his tendency to shoot from the hip in press conferences or on Twitter, Trump isn't currently known for being a wise ruler but we should pray that as he grasps the gravity of his office, he will yet become one. This might require a greater or lesser degree of faith from us, but that's kind of what prayer is all about. 2. Pray that he'd keep wise counsel. Whatever might be written about Trump, he isn't a dictator. He's surrounded by a team of others, many of whom have the power to impact his policy decisions. In the run-up to the election, Trump suggested that he would be a man who listened to experts in the areas in which he wasn't one. We should pray not only that this is true in practice, but also that he'll listen to a wide variety of voices and opinions and be led by God to heed the right ones. 3 Pray that he would govern peacefully. In Jeremiah 29:7, God tells his people to pray for the peace of the city to which they've been carried into exile. In other words, while they might not have liked or agreed with the ruling powers above them, the people were to pray that the nation would experience peace and prosperity. In a world full of real and potential international tensions, we should pray that whatever else the president does, he would learn to become a peace-maker, rather than a man who increases conflict. This is perhaps even more pertinent to the domestic situation in America, where many people groups now feel disenfranchised and scared by the political wind change. 4. Pray for his personal safety. One of the worst and most unacceptable trends among those who oppose Trump has been half-joking suggestions on social media about the president suffering some sort of accident or attack. To be clear, not only is this thoroughly un-Christ-like behaviour, but a real attack on the president would destabilise the US and the international community more than anything. We should pray instead that he is kept safe along with all his citizens "honouring the emperor", as Peter puts it (1 Peter 2:17), in spite of our opinion of him. 5. Pray that he would know and hear from God. Finally, since so many voices within the Church have claimed that Donald Trump is a "baby Christian" who has genuinely accepted the faith, we should pray that this is actually accurate. More than that, perhaps we should dare to pray that as the president seeks to grow spiritually, he is able to hear and understand the will of God as something greater than his own, even in his lofty role. Again, this might feel a stretch to those who vehemently oppose Trump's policies, but surely if we believe in an all-powerful God who created the universe, we also believe he has the power to change and steer even the most strong-willed of men. For some of us, approaching the list above will be easy; the hard part will be staying God-honouringly-neutral as we do. For others among us, praying through these things each day will represent a serious challenge. Yet whatever we think of the man, he's been elected to govern the most powerful nation on earth one with the capability to do unthinkable damage and the power to do extraordinary good. Whether we support or oppose the man, we should all take seriously the responsibility of praying that he'll become the kind of leader who'll steer toward the latter. Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. Follow him on Twitter @martinsaunders. Friendships, Family Relationships Are Casualties Of Divisive US Election Burning passions over Donald Trump's presidency are taking a personal toll on both sides of the political divide. For Gayle McCormick, it is particularly wrenching: she has separated from her husband of 22 years. The retired California prison guard, a self-described "Democrat leaning toward socialist," was stunned when her husband casually mentioned during a lunch with friends last year that he planned to vote for Trump a revelation she described as a "deal breaker". "It totally undid me that he could vote for Trump," said McCormick, 73, who had not thought of leaving the conservative Republican before but felt "betrayed" by his support for Trump. "I felt like I had been fooling myself," she said. "It opened up areas between us I had not faced before. I realized how far I had gone in my life to accept things I would have never accepted when I was younger." Three months after the most divisive election in modern US politics fractured families and upended relationships, a number of Americans say the emotional wounds are as raw as ever and show few signs of healing. The rancour has not dissipated as it has in the aftermath of other recent contentious US elections. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll shows it has worsened, suggesting a widening of the gulf between Republicans and Democrats and a hardening of ideological positions that sociologists and political scientists say increases distrust in government and will make political compromise more difficult. The Reuters/Ipsos poll of 6,426 people, taken from December 27 to January 18, shows the number of respondents who argued with family and friends over politics jumped 6 percentage points from a pre-election poll at the height of the campaign in October, up to 39 per cent from 33 per cent. Sixteen per cent said they have stopped talking to a family member or friend because of the election up marginally from 15 pe rcent. That edged higher, to 22 per cent, among those who voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Overall, 13 per cent of respondents said they had ended a relationship with a family member or close friend over the election, compared to 12 per cent in October. "It's been pretty rough for me," said Rob Brunello, 25, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, a truck driver who faced a backlash from friends and family for backing Trump. "People couldn't believe Trump could beat Hillary. They are having a hard time adjusting to it," he said. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the poll results. Amid the rancour, friendships bloom At the same time, many people reported their relationships have not suffered because of the election. The poll found about 40 per cent had not argued with a family member or friend over the race. The election also enabled a significant number to forge new bonds 21 per cent said they became friends with someone they did not know because of the election, though the poll question did not ask respondents to specify if the friendship was with someone from a different party. Sandi Corbin, a retired person in East Galesburg, Illinois, said she has visited some of the new friends she made because of their shared support for Clinton. "We talk all the time now," she said. "I would say that's a plus from the election." The election's fervour has spilled into the streets since Trump's inauguration on January 20. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in protest on the day after Trump took office, and there have been demonstrations against a travel ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries. Arguing over Trump has become a bitter reality for many Americans. "Once people found out I had voted for Trump the stuff started flying," said William Lomey, 64, a retired cop in Philadelphia who no longer speaks with a friend he grew up with after they clashed on Facebook over the election. "I questioned him on a few things, he didn't like it, he blew up and left me a nasty message and we haven't talked since." He said his friend is gay and worries about Trump's sometimes demeaning campaign rhetoric about minority groups including Muslims, Hispanics, immigrants and the disabled. "I think people are getting too wound up," Lomey said. Sue Koren, 57, a Clinton supporter in Dayton, Ohio, said she can barely speak to her two Trump-backing sons and has unfriended "maybe about 50" people on Facebook who support the president. "Life is not what it was before the election," she said. "It's my anger, my frustration, my disbelief. They think our current president is a hero and I think he's a nut." George Ingmire, 48, a radio documentary producer in New Orleans, said he broke off a close relationship with an uncle who had helped him through his father's suicide because of his uncle's fervent support for Trump. "We had some back and forth and it just got really deep, really ugly," Ingmire said. "I don't see this ever being fixed." Facebook fights Many personal conflicts erupt on social media. In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, 17 per cent said they had blocked a family member or close friend on social media because of the election, up three per centage points from October. LeShanda Loatman, 35, a black Republican real estate agent from Delaware, has severed ties on social media with former co-workers and old friends over their support for Trump and their criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement against violence and racism against blacks. "I haven't come across anybody who was openly belligerent about the election or Black Lives Matter movement when I was out in public. It's just on Facebook," said Loatman, who voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Eventually, McCormick's husband changed his mind about Trump and wrote in former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich in November, but by that time she had decided to strike out on her own. While the couple plans to vacation together and will not get divorced "we're too old for that" she recently settled in her own place in Bellingham, Washington. "It really came down to the fact I needed to not be in a position where I had to argue my point of view 24/7. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life doing that," said McCormick, who ultimately cast a write-in vote for Democratic US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In St Charles, Missouri, retired tour company operator Dennis Conner, who is a Trump supporter, says he has avoided confrontations with his brother, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, who were Clinton backers. His advice: "We don't have to talk about politics." GAFCON Threatens Rebellion Less Than Two Weeks After Church Adopts Conservative Line On Marriage Arch-conservative Anglican leaders are threatening disruption against the Church of England, less than two weeks after bishops sided with them by refusing to change its teaching on marriage. GAFCON, a grouping of Anglican leaders, has laid out "serious concerns" with a report published last month that announced there "are no proposals" to alter the Church's view on marriage. Although the powerful conservative lobby is "thankful" there was no change, chairman Nicholas Okoh, primate of All Nigeria, said it "the right thing for the wrong reason". In a letter published on Tuesday in response to the CofE bishops' report, Okoh says: "They have retained the Church's traditional teaching, but because they think that holding opposite views together will eventually produce a consensus, not because it represents an apostolic boundary." He goes on to criticise the report's encouragement of "maximum freedom" for LGBT couples within the existing laws and its call for "a fresh tone and culture of welcome and support for lesbian and gay people". Okoh says this marks a "relaxation of church discipline" and confuses "pastoral sensitivity with a permissive church culture" which tolerates rebellious clergy. Anglican 'primates' are Church leaders from different independent provinces across the world. Although not officially under his jurisdiction, the Archbishop of Canterbury is considered the lead primate and the "first among equals". But Okoh issued a threat to Welby's authority and said "practical challenges to Anglican doctrine in the Church of England" affected his ability to lead the worldwide Anglican Communion. Pointing to a previous statement he said GAFCON affiliated church leaders had "lost confidence in the Canterbury based institutions of the Communion". He added: "'The instruments have also sent conflicting signals on issues of discipline which confuse the whole Body and weaken our confidence in them'. Sadly, despite its merits, the English House of Bishops' report has a similar effect." Although the bishops' report was seen as largely conservative in its refusal to change the Church's teaching on marriage, a number of conservative groupings have voiced their hesitation. Susie Leafe, director of the conservative Reform grouping, welcomed the decision and said everyone should hear from the report "the gospel of radical inclusion which leads to radical transformation, offered by Jesus Christ". But she added there were concerns about the proposals to allow "maximum freedom" within the teaching. "In adopting a framework which seeks to take a middle path between biblical truth and cultural sensitivities, the bishops have ensured theological incoherence and hypocrisy will prevail for the foreseeable future, with all the hurt and confusion that will cause," she said. "In so doing they have failed in their primary pastoral duty to teach truth and drive away error." Her concerns were echoed by Ed Shaw, a trustee of Living Out and a gay Christian who believes the Church should uphold its position on marriage. He raised worries about the the "current pastoral chaos, which hurts gay Christians like us" and urged the Church to adopt a "culture of welcome and acceptance". Parents Jailed For Church 'Counselling' Session Where One Boy Died And Brother Was Badly Injured The Christian parents of an American teenager teenager who was beaten to death during a church counselling session have been sentenced to prison. Bruce and Deborah Leonard, aged 66 and 60, who are members of Word of Life in New Hartford, 250 miles north of New York, were sentenced to 10 and five years respectively. Their beating of their sons, Lucas, 19 and Christopher, 17, lasted for more than 12 hours. In an attempt to forced the boys to confess sins and seek forgiveness, the boys received multiple fist blows to their abdomen, genitals, back and thighs from their parents. A black extension cord was also used to whip them. At an earlier hearing, Christopher said the beating took place because his brother had expressed his wish to leave the church. When Lucas stopped breathing, he was taken hospital where he died. Police then went to the church to investigate and discovered Christopher, also seriously injured. Nine people have been convicted, with the boys' older half-sister, Sarah Ferguson, 33, sentenced to between 25 years and life. A lawyer told the court that Deborah Leonard had felt helpless to stop the beating. She had pleaded guilty last month to first- and second-degree assault charges in exchange for her testimony against her husband and seven others, including their pastor, Tiffanie Irwin. The boys' parents were sentenced at Oneida County Court on Monday as part of a plea deal, according to CBS News. Bruce Leonard had his sentence reduced by a judge from 16 years after pleading that he was a "changed man" who had been subjected to cult-like mind control by the church. "There's no way I would ever condone that. No way I would ever go along with it," he said, according to the Rome Sentinel. Bruce Leonard at an earlier hearing rejected a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for at least 18 years. 'Prayer Does Work And Angels Do Exist': Nanny Saves Baby's Life By Donating Part Of Her Liver Prayer does work, angels do exist, and miracles do happen. That affirmation came from a couple in Philadelphia who saw how their 16-month-old child was pulled from the brink of death when her nanny, in just her third week on the job, gave her a lifesaving giftpart of her liver, WTXF-TV reported. The baby, Talia Rosko, had a serious diseaseher liver's bile duct was not working, causing bile to build up in her liver, gradually destroying it. Her parents, George and Farro Rosko, placed her on an organ donor list before they hired the nanny, 22-year-old college student Kiersten Miles, in mid-2016. Kiersten felt sorry for the baby and wanted to help. "She was 9 months old when I started watching her. She's so helpless. She can't tell anyone what's wrong with her. She can't spread the word and ask for help," Kiersten told the local Fox News station. Doctors had told the Rosko couple that their baby might not live past two years old without a liver transplant. Kiersten later learned that she is a good candidate as a liver donor because of her type "O" blood, which makes her compatible with other blood types, The Toronto Star reported. She then made the decision, apparently with no second thoughts. "Especially for a baby who can't really ask for help, it didn't seem like that much of a sacrifice because I'd be saving a life," she told the Washington Post. Farro asked her if she was really sure about her decision, saying that "this is not like donating blood." Doctors also warned her that donating her liver could endanger her own life. Kiersten was unfazed by the warnings. She wanted to save a life, and that's all that mattered to her. On Jan. 11, Talia and Kiersten underwent simultaneous 14-hour surgeries. Doctors removed part of Kiersten's liver at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and rushed it to the nearby Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where they implanted it in Talia. The surgeries were a success, and Talia can now live normally. Kiersten has gone back to college to finish her degree in special education. Farro believes Kiersten was an angel sent by God to them. "I think people need to know that prayer does work, angels do exist and miracles happen every day," she said. "I don't know where we would be without Kiersten." Last month, a similar lifesaving gift was given by the 27-year-old daughter of Christian musical artists Amy Grant and Gary Chapman. Gloria Mills "Millie" Chapman donated her kidney to her best friend, Kathryn Dudley, on Jan. 24, giving her a new lease on life. 'President' Means 'President': Why The Speaker Of The House Of Commons Should Welcome Donald Trump Has John Bercow proven himself unfit to be Speaker of the House of Commons? In blocking Donald Trump from addressing MPs and Peers in Westminster Hall in Parliament, he has become an embarrassment to free speech and democracy. It is my sincere prayer that MPs will succeed in forcing him out. I admit to being a Zionist and a Conservative. Some of my best friends call me a "Netanyahu groupie". Yet I do have some liberal credentials. This week I've been under attack on a private email list for conservative Christians for describing Donald Trump as "supremely flawed". There was no objection to "flawed", just that he might be "supremely" so. Of course he is. We all are, though perhaps some, such as myself, more than others. We don't have to be Speaker to understand that. But he is the man that the United States chose for its president. Even though no invitation has been issued for him to do so, I believe strongly that Donald Trump should not be prohibited from speaking at Westminster during his state visit. Indeed, he should be warmly invited to do so. Bercow, whose appointment is a non-political one, explained that he would refuse to invite Trump out of solidarity with opponents of racism and sexism. He said such an invitation is not a right but an "earned honour". It would be interesting to know how exactly he thinks Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Emir of Kuwait earned this honour. As Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative MP born in Iraq, who has previously been critical of the Trump travel ban, said on BBC Radio 4 Today: "I think it is, in my book, unwise and he opens himself up to the accusation of hypocrisy." In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites ask for a king and the Samuel warns them of the consequences. He will be a tyrant, Samuel says, taking whatever he wants and living high on the hog at their expense. They don't listen, preferring to be "like all the other nations". This displeases Samuel, so he prays. God told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights." Samuel warned them of the many perils of a King - taking their male and female servants for his own use being just one. But the people refused to listen. "No!" they said. "We want a King over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a King to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." So God decided he'd better call Saul. Which turned out to be something of a mixed blessing for the people, even if it did result eventually in the extraordinary kingship of David. Authority in the Old Testament comes with a health warning and in contrast to the traditions of the surrounding nations, it's limited by law. King Ahab can't just take Naboth's vineyard because he feels like it (1 Kings 21); he is under God's eyes and subject to his rules. Alongside the respect paid to authority in the Bible is an awareness of the need to control it. Elected leaders such as Donald Trump and Kings can be rebuked if they step over the line, as we are seeing in the court battle over the travel ban. In Britain, a model of working democracy, where Brexit means Brexit and "elected president" must be allowed to mean "elected president", we need have no fear of allowing Donald Trump to speak. We need better to uphold our tradition of freedom of speech and let him have his say, on a platform far more significant than Twitter, so that the people can hear, then judge him as he deserves for better, or for worse. Stand Up For Christian Values And Issue That Religious Freedom Order, Franklin Graham Urges Trump Franklin Graham is urging Donald Trump to issue a controversial executive order protecting religious freedom, despite liberals being "up in arms" at the prospect. The evangelist and president of Samaritan's Purse wrote on Facebook yesterday that the issue was one of the reasons that millions of evangelicals and Catholics supported Trump in the election. "For years, the Obama administration, many state governments, and judicial activists attacked core religious beliefs on life, marriage and religious freedom," Graham wrote. Last week, Christian Today reported on a draft of the proposed order, 'Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom', which was leaked to the liberal journal The Nation. If enacted, the document would create wholesale exemptions for people and organisations who claim religious or moral objections to same-sex marriage, premarital sex, abortion, and transgender identity, and it seeks to curtail women's access to contraception and abortion through the Affordable Care Act. It seeks specifically to protect the tax-exempt status of any organisation that "believes, speaks, or acts (or declines to act) in accordance with the belief that marriage is or should be recognised as the union of one man and one woman, sexual relations are properly reserved for such a marriage, male and female and their equivalents refer to an individual's immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy, physiology, or genetics at or before birth, and that human life begins at conception and merits protection at all stages of life". At the time of the leak, Graham's office told Christian Today, "we like what we are hearing so far". In his post, Graham cited "numerous" examples across America where religious freedom was needed: "florists, bakers, photographers, nuns, and pharmacists who refused to act against their religious beliefs and convictions were sued, fined, and drug into court, all at great cost. Many lost their businesses and their families suffered greatly because they took a stand for their faith." He concluded: "I hope and pray that President Trump will move forward with this executive order soon despite threats from activists with their own agenda." This Pastor Feeds His Congregation Rat Poison To Show God's Power: Is This Biblical? Rat poison is the latest church trend. Well, it is if you are a stunt-pastor in South Africa. After the cheap thrills of the "prophet of doom" spraying churchgoers with pesticide and others forcing congregants to drink the antiseptic cleaning product Dettol and engine cleaning fluid, the latest "miracle prophet" has turned to rat poison. Pastor Light Monyeki, of Grace Living Hope ministry, has been pictured mixing Rattex with water and offering it to drink for "nourishment and healing". Monyeki is among a new generation of pastors looking to prove God's power, and their own anointing, by parading their miraculous prowess. But they are not just proving a worry for health and government officials concerned about the congregations being poisoned. They twist and misunderstand the Bible to such an extent they are a headache for anyone trying to teach genuine Christianity. In a revealing interview Monyeki said he was doing the stunt to prove the power of God. "When we pray over anything, its poison dies. So it can't harm people. Nothing happened, no one has been to hospital," he said. But he bases his main rationale on a couple of verses in Mark's Gospel: Mark 16: 17-18 says: "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." This is worryingly misguided. Firstly that section of Mark 16, verses 9-20, is not in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts we have and other ancient witnesses also don't have them. That is not to say we should ignore them. But it is highly likely they were added years later by another source other than the author of Mark. And so it is not wise to base any belief, especially not one as extreme as this, on these bonus verses. Beyond that the idea of testing God to demonstrate your own power directly contradicts other parts of the Bible. When he was tempted in the desert Jesus was taken to the highest point of the temple. "If you are the son of God," the devil says, "throw yourself down from here." Much like the South African pastor, Satan then quotes one verse out of context. "For it is written," he says, "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" But Jesus' answer is telling. And it provides the main problem with the South African pastor's approach. "Jesus answered, 'It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'". By feeding their congregations rat poison the pastors are doing nothing other than putting God to the test. There are plenty of examples of good people being given extraordinary powers in the Bible. The disciples healed the sick. And Paul handled a snake safely in Acts 28:5. Those are particular examples of God intervening by his power. But it does not involve testing God in order to show off your own power. It does not mean trying to tempt the laws of nature or putting ourselves in danger for the sake of it or to prove a point. Christians base their witness on Jesus, not on supernatural stunts. And the South African pastors come down the wrong side of that fence in this case. Thousands Attend Catholic Ceremony In Japan Beatifying 'Samurai Of Christ' A Japanese Christian samurai who died in exile around 400 years ago after giving up his status to follow Jesus was beatified by the Catholic Church in an elaborate mass yesterday. About 12,000 people attended the ceremony a step towards being made a saint for Justo Takayama Ukon (1552-1615) in Osaka, which was conducted by Cardinal Angelo Amato, representing Pope Francis. Pope Francis signed a decree for the beatification for Ukon, known as the 'Samurai of Christ', in January last year and the Japanese have been preparing for the event since then. Born into a family of landowners, Ukon converted to Christianity at the age of 12 after coming into contact with Jesuit missionaries. When shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi took power and banned the practice of Christianity, Ukon refused to follow the great feudal lords. As a result, he lost his properties, his position and his social status and was eventually forced into exile. With 300 other Japanese Christians he fled to Manila where, just 40 days after his arrival, he fell ill and died on 4th February, 1615. The Japanese faithful proclaimed Ukon's sanctity in the 17th century, but the isolationist policy of the country prevented the canonical investigators from collecting evidence in order to certify his holiness. The Japanese bishops took up the cause in 1965. The ceremony comes after the international release of the Martin Scorsese film Silence, which tells the story of Christian martyrs in Japan in the 16th century. The movie is based on the 1966 novel by Shusaku Endo. Christianity came to Japan in 1549, introduced by Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier, and for decades the faith made dramatic inroads before coming under official persecution in the late 16th and 17th centuries, forcing it underground. The popularity of Christianity spread and there were an estimated 220,000 to 300,000 followers in Japan in the early 1600s out of a population of 15-20 million. But powerful warlords with national influence, who were fearful after the Spanish takeover of the Philippines, began to fear the foreign faith and efforts to eradicate it began in 1587. Today, it is estimated that less than one per cent of the population is Christian. Capital One is accepting applications for its free, seven-month small business development program. "Getting Down to Business" helps Houston small businesses learn about credit, budgeting, marketing, business plans, financing, accounting, networking, insurance and other aspects of running a business. Participants receive up to $2,000 in matched savings for business use after they complete the 16-course program, according to Capital One. RELATED: Boot camp puts focus on getting fiscally fit The program will take 15 participants for this year's sessions. Applications are available online and are due March 16. For more information, contact Mark Boucree at (832) 224-6756 or mark.boucree@capitalone.com. Houston's apartment market is facing a sluggish year as demand struggles to keep up with a growing supply, panelists said Wednesday morning to members of the Houston Apartment Association. The five markets that are most concerning include Montrose, the Galleria, the Texas Medical Center, downtown and Tomball/Spring, analyst Bruce McClenny said at the association's annual State of the Industry breakfast. Rents were down last year in the Galleria, medical center and Montrose, an inner-loop neighborhood where more renters moved out of apartments than moved in. Properties on the west side of Houston, however, are beginning to stabilize, and Pearland, Baytown, Galveston and Pasadena are "doing OK," said McClenny of Apartment Data Services. Rents in high-end apartments will continue to soften this year as the supply grows, and overall occupancy is expected to be at 88 percent by year end, data shows. "2017 in Houston is going to be a lot of hand-to-hand combat," Camden Property Trust's Keith Oden said Wednesday during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. He called Houston's apartment market "vastly oversupplied." Merchant builders are offering as many as three months worth of free rent to get tenants to sign leases. RELATED: Nitya Capital buys 2 more apartment properties As many as 12,000 new apartments are expected to open this year, while job growth will be modest at best. Economist Jesse Thompson said at the breakfast event that job growth in Houston could range from 0 to 1 percent or 0.5 to 1.5 percent. "We've transferred out of the oil bust. The worst is behind us, but it's a mixed bag," said Thompson, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Houston Branch. While a strong national economy and some growth in oil and gas sector is helping this region's economy, much of the new job growth has been in the leisure and hospitality industry, which generally represent low wage jobs. "As disposable income has evaporated, discretionary spending has gone down. We see that in the retail sales data," Thompson said. Swapnil Agarwal, whose company owns older, moderately priced apartment complexes in Houston, said high-end job cuts have helped the lower-end apartment market as renters look for cheaper alternatives. "We've seen a positive effect," he said. Dear Abby: I need advice on how to deal with my 18-year-old daughter. A few months ago she was ready to go to college. Then she met this guy. He's unemployed, lives with a friend who is under house arrest, has a criminal record and has nothing to offer her. We took our car away from our daughter to keep her from driving it there. Two weeks ago, she packed her stuff and left with him. She has no job, has spent all of her graduation money and is running up our cellphone bill while living with him. My wife is a wreck, and we don't know what to do. Dad in North Carolina Dear Dad: I empathize with your concern for your daughter, but she is immature and in love. Because she's 18, you can't drag her back home. Tell her that now that she has "declared her independence and moved out," you will no longer pay her cellphone bill. I'm guessing she'll be back in no time. Dear Abby: I am a 50-year-old male who has been dating a younger girl (28) for a year now. Everything has been great with her except for one thing. I am a virgin. We recently discussed having relations and both agree that we want to. There's just one problem. I have really talked myself up. I lied and told her I am much larger than I actually am. Abby, I am terrified she'll dump me after she sees me. Please give me some advice. Needs Help Fast Dear Needs Help: From what my "sexperts" tell me, many men at one time or another needlessly worry about their size. It's very important before you embark on any adventure with this woman that you level with her. Perhaps the story of Pinocchio would be a logical place to start. Dear Abby: My 65-year-old husband has been a lifelong smoker. A year ago, he started using an e-cigarette. When his doctor asked if he smokes, he insists on telling him "no." I feel it is dishonest and detrimental to his medical records. It makes me crazy. Don't you think that medical personnel should phrase this question: "Do you use nicotine?" Please comment. Concerned Wife in Texas Dear Concerned Wife: There's a saying, "Never lie to your doctor or your lawyer." It is excellent advice. Your husband is fooling only himself by concealing from his physician that he's still hooked on nicotine. Whether medical personnel will change the way they phrase that question I can't guarantee. However, because my column is read by many people in the medical profession, I'm willing to bet that after seeing your letter, some of them will. DearAbby.comDear AbbyP.O. Box 69440Los Angeles, CA 90069Universal Press Syndicate This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Before getting married in 2009, Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism for her husband Jared Kushner, but adopting the Jewish faith and being recognized as Jewish are two totally different things. For a person to be recognized as Jewish in Israel, the rabbinic authorities have to officially declare a person as such. LOOKING FOR TROUBLE: Donald Trump offers to 'destroy' Texas state senator's career for Rockwall sheriff According to an article on USA Today, the rabbi who oversaw Ivanka's conversion had his credentials questioned, which put into question the validity of her conversion. The Washington Post reported that another conversion by that rabbi was rejected. However, due to some guideline changes after Trump won the election, Ivanka is now officially recognized as Jewish. (Story continues below.) Though chief rabbis say they guidelines were not changed because of the election results, many critics beg to differ. "It would definitely be embarrassing to the State of Israel and for the rabbinate if the Jewish family like Ivanka Trump's family was to visit Israel and for the official Jewish authorities in Israel to not recognize their Judaism," Elad Kaplan of ITIM, a group that represents Jewish converts in Israel, told USA TODAY. Despite the controversy, Trump and her husband have long been known for keeping kosher and the Sabbath. Although they received special permission to break the strict observance of the Sabbath for her father's inauguration. Take a look through the gallery above to see other things you probably didn't know about Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In a world where almost everything can be bought from getting a ride from a stranger to having your groceries delivered hiring someone to spoon you is one of the most unexpected services on the market. And one San Antonio woman is a specialist. Janet Trevino told mySA.com she is the currently the only professional cuddler in San Antonio and South Texas. The 37-year-old mother of four emphasized her services, which operate through Cuddlist.com, are completely platonic and non-sexual. As you could easily imagine, Trevino said people are usually skeptical when she tells them about her profession. "They don't believe me," she said. "They say, 'Oh no, it can't just be cuddling, it has to go to something more sexual.' But you can have a platonic and nurturing touch." RELATED: Texas cuddle therapists challenge social taboos on touch, intimacy with snuggle sessions Trevino said some customers have tried to "push the limits" of the session, but it has never gone so far that she had to cancel. Cuddling is a full-time source of income for Trevino, who said she started last September. In that time she has racked up a clientele of 50 people and more than 220 hours of cuddle time. Trevino noted that most of her clients are men, but she has worked with two women. Each session lasts an hour and costs $80. Most weeks, she says, she works 13 to 20 hours. Trevino said one session lasted eight uninterrupted hours. "It's very important that they experience touch," she said. "Touch is essential for healthy and living and they do experience a dramatic effect, I don't think we recognize how often we hold emotions in our bodies." RELATED: Cuddlr joins ranks of Tinder, Grindr as platonic cuddling app for strangers Trevino said some clients report that they have experienced well-rested nights of sleep and relief of chronic back pains as result of their visits. "We hold memories in our muscles and our bodies, those emotions are there and a lot of people don't want to go there." Aside from most of her clients being men, Trevino described some of them as being in relationships with little to no physical touch or retired military personnel who suffer from PTSD. Trevino conducts screening calls with potential cuddling customers prior their meeting to ensure they are a match and the code of conduct for the non-sexual service will be followed. "It's more than just spooning, you can sit and talk or watch a movie or dance," she said, adding that one client once requested to wrestle. "It could just be holding hands or sitting next to each other." Cuddling takes place in a neutral room in this case it's the living room of a home Trevino uses strictly for her work. Customers can opt for either the couch or a mat on the floor. "It's about creating a culture of consent, I promise I won't do anything they're not comfortable with," Trevino explained. "I'm very conscientious and I ask before I touch a client, it's baby-stepping the whole process." Trevino said she is able to maintain a relationship of her own, revealing that while her boyfriend trusts her, they do attend therapy. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye James Nielsen/Staff The Bayport Container Terminal officially opened 10 years ago to handle the region's growth in cargo, Port Houston officials said Wednesday. "We are proud of the growth of the Bayport Terminal since its opening a decade ago," Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said in a statement. "There is an amazing future ahead of us that will bring tremendous opportunities as well as challenges that we will continue to tackle and keep Port Houston and our busy waterway at the forefront of prosperity. We are ready for the future." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Paradigm Design Group has expanded to a Chicago location. The Houston-based interior design firm specializes in hotel projects but the new Chicago office, PDG Studios, will focus on "boutique and lifestyle properties," according to a company statement. RELATED: DoubleTree Hotel Galleria gets modern makeover Lisa Haude, principal and president of Paradigm, said in a statement that the company felt it was the right time to expand and that Paradigm will be able to tap into Chicago's pool of talented designers. "We've noticed an increasing need to be close to clientele in Chicago, and have experienced a higher demand for our boutique and lifestyle design services in key markets," Haude said. In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! Houston American Energy Corp. has been granted an extension to comply with New York Stock Exchange standards and to keep its listing on the exchange. Companies must meet minimum requirements to continue trading on the exchange. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Wes Anderson's sophomore film "Rushmore" once again put the city of Houston on the map in Hollywood, while also inspiring countless local filmmakers and actors. Now, years later it's become one of the Houston-bred director's most-beloved films and it ushered in Bill Murray as the hipster icon we all know him as today. RELATED: When 'Robocop 2' came to Houston 2018 will mark 20 years since the movie, filmed in and around the Montrose and River Oaks areas, saw wide-release. It made the rounds at fall film festivals and it had a limited run in December 1998 in New York City and Los Angeles and garnered the attention of Oscar voters. Now Playing: Live inside cozy, perfect nostalgia on your next trip. Video: Travel & Leisure Starring Jason Schwartzman as the precocious, oddly-mature high schooler Max Fischer and Murray as his would-be romantic nemesis, the film set the tone for the next two decades of Anderson films. It only cost around $10 million to make. (Fun note: teenage werewolf Schwartzman had to wax his chest for a wrestling scene.) Anderson's 1996 film "Bottle Rocket" with James Caan, Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson made him the darling of indie-film fans who were excited to see what else he had in him. Murray was a fan favorite before "Rushmore," but his role as the morose Herman Blume seemed to ignite a mania about him we hadn't seen before. RELATED: Houston wants to be a major film and TV production destination He would star in Anderson's "Rushmore" follow-up "The Royal Tenenbaums" in late 2001. He's now been involved in eight Anderson films in one form or another. He will next be heard in Anderson's stop-motion "Isle of Dogs". Houston kids were used as extras and nabbed bit parts in "Rushmore," making it a special one for locals. There are still stories running around about failed auditions and nuggets about the filmmaking process, which began in late 1997. Murray spent that Thanksgiving in Houston. One of the most famous extras was Alexis Bledel, then just a hopeful young Houston thespian. Audiences would later get to know her as Rory Gilmore on "Gilmore Girls" three years later. Another notable local extra was filmmaker Mark Armes, who is now a key member of the Free Press Houston and Day for Night festival and media empire. As a sixth-grader, he said he spent the shoot "drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes with Jason Schwartzman" according to a past interview. The "Rushmore" crew spent roughly 50 days in production in Houston, wrapping in late January 1998. RELATED: Director Richard Linklater needs your Houston photos, videos from the 1960s for a new movie St. John's School, Lamar High School, North Shore High School, Delmar Stadium, the Forest Club and most prominently, Doug and Don's Barber Shop in the Heights were used as locations. The cemetery where Max's mother Eloise Fischer is buried is the Hollywood Cemetery off North Main, just off I-45 North. Max's house was of course, just next door to the boneyard. Murray's character stays at the Warwick Hotel, which was later revamped and re-branded as Hotel Zaza in 2007. His industrial pipe factory was located out in Baytown. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth. The Woodlands seems to be the place for new fun foods outlets. Last week the Cake Boss announced Carlo's Bakery is coming to The Woodlands Mall. And today Chobani, the Greek yogurt brand, announced it is opening its first Chobani Cafe outside New York City, in The Woodlands. The new 2,000-square-foot Chobani Cafe, inside the new Woodlands Walmart at 25800 Kukendahl, is scheduled to open Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. After a week and a half in immigration custody, 16-year-old Katy High School student and Jordanian national Mohammad Abu Khadra is back in Texas. Mohammad flew from Chicago and landed in Houston late Wednesday morning, where his brother, Rami, picked him up. Mohammad's arrival marked the end of a chapter in a case that has raised questions about President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order on immigration and how it affects travelers from Muslim-majority countries, including those not explicitly listed in the order. Ali Zakaria, an attorney representing Mohammad and his family, said he was relieved Mohammad was reunited with his brother. BACKGROUND: Details emerge on why Katy student was detained "I have a 16-year-old myself at home, I couldn't imagine if something like that happened to my son," Zakaria said. "It's a happy day, and we want to let it sink in so they can enjoy the moment now. Then we'll come up with legal strategy and address legal issues at that time." Mohammad was flagged by Customs and Border Protection agents at a Houston airport on Jan. 28, the day after Trump signed an executive order barring all refugees for 120 days and banning all travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, including Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Iran. It included an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees entering the U.S. Mohammad's native Jordan was not on the list, and he is not a refugee, but Zakaria said the executive order also saw airport officials flag travelers from other Muslim-majority countries for extra security screenings. CAUGHT UP: Feds detain Katy High student from Jordan following Trump's immigration ban Mohammad was kept at the airport for more than 48 hours as part of his security screening the longest a minor had been kept for questioning at an airport since the order was signed, according to the Texas ACLU. During that screening, it is likely Mohammad revealed he was enrolled at Katy High School. While Mohammad's tourist visa would have allowed him to attend a private school or English-language or other enrichment courses, it does not allow him to enroll in public schools. Zakaria and other immigration attorneys compared the infraction of Mohammad enrolling in Katy ISD to a jay-walking ticket. But immigration officials decided to fly Mohammad to an immigration detention center for juveniles run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement in Chicago. It is unclear why officials did not put Mohammad in a similar facility in Houston the fourth largest city in the country or elsewhere in Texas. HELPING HAND: Resettlement groups restart travel arrangements Mohammad stayed at the Chicago facility for about a week. During that time, the Jordanian embassy in Washington, D.C., helped get necessary paperwork signed by Mohammad's parents and delivered to the shelter. Those documents allowed Mohammad to call his brother for the first time in days and allowed him to speak to his attorney for the first time since he was detained at the airport. Rami and Zakaria found out Tuesday that Mohammad would be able to return Wednesday. Mohammad's family had to pay for the plane ticket from Chicago to Houston. But Mohammad's case is far from over. He will have a hearing at an immigration court, though Zakaria said the court date has not been scheduled. Zakaria said sometimes, these types of cases can last for years. ANGRY: Pearland mom whose son was killed confronts Nancy Pelosi on television And if Mohammad were to fly back to Jordan instead of staying in Katy, that could jeopardize any future hopes of coming back to the U.S. "The problem is because he has family here, if he goes back now it could constitute self-deportation, which has a lifetime impact on immigration status. He has not made a decision, and we haven't finalized a strategy, but that's one consequence we would have to consider," Zakaria said, adding that if Mohammad leaves for Jordan, "he will be barred from coming back to U.S. for 10 years at minimum." When Deer Park resident Nelly Lopez returned from a trip in January, two important members of her family were gone. As it turned out, they were stolen. "I was out of the country on vacation and my parents were watching my dogs," she said. "When I came back on (Jan. 10), they told me both of the dogs had gotten out." The parents told her that after putting out fliers, using social media and searching the neighborhoood, they found a neighbor who had seen the male and female Maltese dogs, who are named Rajah and Luna. But the neighbor related something disturbing. "As the neighbor saw them, another person pulled up in a car and said that she knew where the dogs belonged and that she was going to take them back to their owner," Lopez said. "My neighbor told (the woman in the car) to wait and went inside to get a pen and paper so she could take down the woman's information in case anyone came around asking about my dogs. But when my neighbor came back outside, the woman in the car was gone." A worried Lopez decided to look on Craigslist to see if anyone had put out an ad to sell the dogs. She didn't see an ad for her dogs but found one ad, and then another, from prospective buyers warning people not to purchase a Maltese from a seller in Houston. The person trying to sell Lopez's dogs had posted an ad, later taken down, that included an ultrasound image as proof that the female dog was pregnant. The prospective buyers discovered the ultrasound was from the United Kingdom and put out the alerts. "It was my dog in the (warning) ad," Lopez said. "I got screenshots of everything that I had and I took that information to the police." Trying to get the dogs back wasn't easy, Deer Park police detective Frank Hart said. Because the original ad was no longer up, the police department had to subpoena Craigslist to find who posted it. The police hit another roadblock when the phone number used on the ad traced back to a phone without a provider. "So, the police had to send out more subpoenas to get the thief's real phone number," Lopez said. "After they got that, they tried calling her." Hart said that after police made initial contact with the suspect, things seemed to be moving along. "She was cooperative at first and seemed like she wanted to help but very quickly became uncooperative," Hart said. "She claimed she gave the dogs away. She claimed she didn't know who she gave them to." Several days into the investigation, the detective assigned to the case had to subpoena another phone company in an effort to retrieve the suspect's phone records. "He worked on that case a little bit every day," Hart said, "cold-calling all of those numbers to see if anyone had the dogs or knew what happened to them." After dozens of calls, there were a few numbers on the list that hadn't answered. The dogs had been missing for more than three weeks. "The detective who helped me, Detective (Nick) Thatcher, was so kind and so patient with me," Lopez said. "I know they have other cases and I know he was busy with other things, but he always answered my questions and he was so reassuring. I appreciate him so much." Eventually Lopez's story was featured on a local television news program. A couple who purchased the dogs with no idea they had been stolen contacted Detective Thatcher to return them to Lopez. "He went to go pick them up and asked for a description of the person who sold them. That description matched the description of the person my neighbor saw right after the dogs got out of my back yard," Lopez said. "Then he brought Luna and Rajah back to me in Deer Park." The person accused of stealing and selling the dogs could be charged with a misdemeanor, but as of presstime, charges had not been accepted by the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Lopez said that she is extremely grateful for the hard work put into the case by the Deer Park police. "This is a small community, and they went over and beyond to make sure I felt reassured and taken care of," she said. "I know I called a bunch. I was devastated, but they were always so nice and helpful. There is no way I'd have my dogs back if it wasn't for their hard work. My dogs were sold on Jan. 8 and police returned them to me on Jan. 29 - they worked for almost a month for me and my dogs." Hart said that effort put forth into finding Lopez's dogs is the same effort they put into all of their cases. "Not every case turns out like this, but our detectives work really hard to make sure that the people who come to us, while they might be victims of a crime, don't walk away feeling victimized," Hart said. Video: Three-legged dog up for adoption at Houston Humane Society This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If artistic ability is inherited, Alex Velasquez, 14, probably has the gene. The Reading Junior High eighth-grader, whose mother and older sisters are painters, won best of show in the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District annual art competition with her "Monroe Flower," a Prismacolor. Students worked about 2 months on their projects after choosing from the photos displayed on a counter by Monica Arratia, Reading Junior High art teacher. Alex, who worked on her artwork at home over winter break, found detailing the grass most challenging. "I loved to do the fur," she said, explaining she used different colors "to make it look real." More Information LAMAR CISD art winners Foster High School: Michael-David Archibong best of show for his painting "If Scout Could Talk;" Katelyn Clack gold medal for her painting "Watchful Eyes;" Alexander Chulzhanov gold medal for his monochromatic drawing "Flank Rider:" Dylan Rolon special merit for his colored drawing "The Dilemma;" Chloe Marcheli special merit for her colored drawing "Domino Twins;" Sonali Puri special merit for her mixed medium "Violet;" and Xienna Khim, special merit for her mixed medium "White Gold." George Ranch High School: Lauren Buchwalter special merit for her colored drawing "El Vaquo y el Caballo Bonito;" Gabriela Salazar special merit for her colored drawing "Belleza Negra;" Timmy Tran special merit for his monochromatic drawing "Play it Again Larry;" Gracie Liang special merit for her colored drawing "Picture Perfect Sunrise." Reading Junior High: Alex Velasquez best of show for her painting "Monroe Flower;" and Maria Ospina gold medial for "The New Girl." Jane Long Elementary: Rylan Ricklefson best of show for "Rooster on the Roof." Adolphus Elementary: Jared Hubbell gold medal for "Paradise in the Pasture." See More Collapse Velasquez's honor also excited Lisa Horsch, the Pink Elementary art teacher who owns Monroe and saved the mule from slaughter. "Thank you for drawing my mule," Horsch told Velasquez at the Jan. 24 district reception to recognize the student artists. "It's so beautiful." She was excited that Monroe went from the kill pen to the spotlight in the art show. "My jaw dropped when I saw my Monroe with the sunflowers It was just amazing!" wrote Horsch in an email. "I cannot believe a junior kiddo can draw like that!" Alex said she's been involved with art since elementary school where she won blue ribbons in second and fourth grades. Her mother Jennifer Lynn Richter studied art in high school and helps her focus. Prismacolor is a favorite medium for Velasquez, though now she's learning watercolor in class, too. "She definitely excels at Photo Realism via Prismacolor pencil," said Arratia. "This year she learned how to draw from a grid, by first learning how to compose her own photograph. She is also very focused and does not let others distract her from her work. She tends to be quiet during class, however, as soon as the bell rings for dismissal she still enjoys laughter and the company of her friends. I admire that she knows how to keep work and leisure separate from each other ... which is why she is probably so successful." Alex sees art playing a role in her future, and Arratia thinks it should. This is the second year Arratia has taught Alex, who is the third sister in the family that she's had in class. "In seventh grade, she drew very well. Now, she's the hardest worker in the class," said Arratia, praising her work ethic. She should be proud of her work; she doesn't know how good she is, added Arratia, who said Alex deserves to have won best of show. Also earning Best of Show honors were Long Elementary School fourth-grader Rylan Ricklefson for "Rooster on the Roof," and Foster High School junior Michael-David Archibong for "If Scout Could Talk." Ricklefson has won a ribbon each year she's entered the rodeo art competition, said Janis Knuckols, Jane Long Elementary art teacher. Because of winning Best of Show, she is able to apply for the Glassell School summer art camp, for which Knuckols wrote her a letter of recommendation. "She is always eager to try new mediums and brings an interesting perspective to her work. She knew she wanted to draw an animal for her rodeo art piece, and we looked at many books and pictures before deciding on the rooster. Mainly, Rylan says, because she wanted to use LOTS of color in the feathers," said Knuckols. Artwork by elementary and junior high students will be displayed at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Archibong's artwork again will advance to the HLS&R to compete with other student artists for scholarship funds and a place in the art show auction set to begin at noon Sunday, March 19. Visit www.rodeohouston.com/Educational-Support/School-Art-Program for more information. Archibong won best of show in the district's art contest last year, too, after winning a finalist ribbon his freshman year, said Melanie Coffee, Foster High School art teacher. Each year at Foster High School, Archibong has chosen a different medium. His freshman year, he did a monochromatic piece for rodeo art. Last year's "Three of Kind" was entered in the mixed-media class because it was a combination of Prismacolor colored pencils and chalk pastels. "Three of a Kind" sold at the 2016 HLS&R School Art Auction for $20,000. This year, he chose oil paint for his medium. His first oil painting is of a cowboy on his horse based on a photo that Coffee took on the Kokernut 06 Ranch near Fort Davis. Coffee said the cowboy's name is Randy Glover and his horse is named Scout. "Michael loved the idea of the two being constant companions who have seen and done a lot of things on the ranch, hence the title of the painting," explained Coffee. "Winning Best of Show again at the Lamar CISD level is just another step in Michael's quest to keep growing as an artist. He has a true passion for art, specifically portraits, and Michael is sought after here at Foster HS by peers and teachers alike to draw and paint pieces for them. Michael often uses the simplest materials like crayons and markers, ink pens, and old paint to bring his drawings to life." Students from Foster, which opened in 2001, have a long history of success at the HLS&R. "Nola Graham and Kimberly Henry were the art teachers at the time and they cultivated many successful high school artists over the first decade," said Coffee, who is friends with Henry. Graham has since retired and Henry is back after a four-year stint in Brenham and Katy school districts. "We share a passion for seeing kids grow their talent and experiment with different media. Of the Foster HS students recognized at our district show, four of them are in my classes and three of them are in Henry's classes, but we both have played a part in the success of all seven!" A New Orleans mother managed to hold on to her 8-week-old daughter as a tornado tossed them into the air Tuesday. Amanda Stockfelt was working at an impound lot near NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility when a storm began ravaging the area. She heard the sounds of an incoming tornado. "We heard the trailer coming apart and then we flipped over backwards and then it's like the trailer exploded and me and the baby went flying through the air and I saw the sky, the inside of the vortex, I saw her and her car seat above my head and then we hit the ground," Stockfelt told WVUE. "Don't let go, just don't let go, that's all I could think about was don't let go. I couldn't think of anything else because I knew if I let go I wouldn't be able to find her." NEARYBY : Tornado damages New Orleans NASA facility (Story continues below.) She said she's grateful that the car seat helped to keep her child safe. Stockfelt is now concerned with replacing what she's lost, but she explained she's also grateful that her daughter is safe. "It's just inconceivable. I couldn't imagine, I mean, I'm thinking my job's gone, the only car we had is gone, but she was OK, I was OK, and everything else can be replaced," Stockfelt said. At least seven tornadoes struck southeastern Louisiana Tuesday. Roughly 20 people were injured and 10,000 area residents were left without power. Gov. John Bel Edward assessed the damage and made a disaster declaration for the 9th Ward. During a meeting with the National Sheriff's Association, President Donald Trump offered a solution to an issue of concern for the Rockwall County, Texas sheriff. Concerning asset forfeiture laws, Sheriff Harold Eavenson said, "We've got a state senator in Texas that was talking about introducing legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money. And I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed." Trump responded: "Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name? We'll destroy his career." END IN SIGHT? State senator files bill to eliminate business franchise tax Eavenson was complaining about an unnamed Texas state senator's efforts to change civil asset forfeiture laws, which allow authorities to seize property that they believe has been used in the commission of a crime. But despite Trump's offer, the sheriff didn't give up the name of the senator. Story continues below... The Texas Legislature's website shows a handful of senators who have introduced civil asset forfeiture legislation this session. State Sen. Konni Burton, R-Fort Worth, State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and State Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas have each submitted bills related to either "repealing" asset forfeiture or further defining what goods and items can be seized. In 2013, the Houston Chronicle investigative team tackled the murky world of government seizures, finding a number of these operations are not disclosed in the public record or reviewed in federal court. You can read the full investigation on HoustonChronicle.com. SANCTUARY CITIES: What is it like in other states? One of the more notable asset forfeiture cases involved Osiel Cardenas Guinness, one of the leaders of the Gulf Cartel. Federal authorities were able to seize around $50 million of his assets and redistribute them among law enforcement agencies. However, there are concerns this method of seizing cash and property can be directed towards innocent civilians or those who have not been charged with a crime in the U.S. In a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon, Eavenson said he was trying to point out that the position of the lawmaker was illogical. "It was also to make the point public to possibly benefit law enforcement. My personal opinion is that such a bill if were to pass would benefit the cartels and damage law enforcement," Eavenson wrote. In an Iowa case, officers seized $100,000 from a pair of professional poker players who were driving through the state, according to CNN. The men sued and eventually recovered some of that money. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PULLOUT BOX IS BELOW What: An open house exhibit on a proposed project to widen part of Smith Ranch Road north of FM 518. When: from 5:30-7:30 Feb. 21 Where: Challenger Elementary School, 9434 Hughes Ranch Road. Details: Presented by the city of Pearland and the Texas Department of Transportation, the exhibit will include maps and photos to show what the improvements could look like. Representatives from the city and TxDOT will be on hand to answer questions and visitors can provide comments. Information: A map of the project is available at pearlandtx.gov/home/showdocument?id=14645 Pearland residents are invited on Feb. 21 to get a look at plans for a planned $5.3 million project to widen and improve a skinny stretch of Smith Ranch Road close to its intersection with congested FM 518. The two-lane asphalt roadway, which has a deep ditch on the east side, would be transformed into four lanes with curbs and gutters and raised medians north to Hughes Ranch Road. Plans include storm sewers, sidewalks and landscaping. A factor in the equation is Texas 288, which runs parallel to the west. The highway is slated to get toll lanes in its median to relieve nightmarish rush-hour congestion, and the Smith Ranch widening fits into efforts to boost local traffic circulation. A T-ramp to access Texas 288 is part of long-range plans for Hughes Ranch Road just east of where it intersects Smith Ranch, and keeping that part of Smith Ranch at two lanes wouldn't help. "What we're trying to do is provide access to those toll lanes as well as the (Texas 288) main line for more than one location," said Skipper Jones, the city of Pearland's assistant director of engineering and projects. "We're trying to take the strain off the (FM 518/Texas 288) intersection." An open house exhibit presented by the city and the Texas Department of Transportation will occur from 5:30-7:30 Feb. 21 at Challenger Elementary School, 9434 Hughes Ranch Road. The project, which has been approved for funding, will expand a 3,250-foot-long part of Smith Ranch Road from where it narrows a couple thousand feet north of FM 518 to Hughes Ranch Road. Construction is expected to begin in early 2019. The nearest residential property to the project area is several hundred feet away. Smith Ranch Road is not be confused with nearby Smith Road, which runs through residential development but is not part of the widening project. The construction will occur within the current alignment of Smith Ranch but will require additional right-of-way. "What it does is open up a great deal of property for commercial development," Jones said. State and federal funds will cover 80 percent of project costs with the city covering the rest. The public open-house format will include exhibit boards with overlay projections on existing maps and photographs. Representatives from the city and TxDOT will attend to answer questions, and visitors will be invited to share input through comment forms at this early design phase. "The idea is begin to engage the public for their thoughts and comments and to make sure we don't overlook something," Jones said. Part of the first phase will include identification of wetlands, archeological resources and wildlife concerns. A map of the project is available at pearlandtx.gov/home/showdocument?id=14645 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A new poll is reporting what many of us already know: Texas is full of smiling faces. A recent Gallup poll ranked the Lone Star State as No. 10 on its list of the "happiest states" in the nation. >>Click on the gallery above to see the four Texas cities that claim spots on the top 25 U.S. places to live ranking. Among subcategories in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Texas ranks No. 1 when it comes to "purpose," which the study defines as "liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals." At the bottom of the list is Mississippi, which Gallup calls out as a consistently low-ranked state: "Ohio, Arkansas and Mississippi join West Virginia and Kentucky as the five states that have placed in the bottom 10 in all nine years of tracking." BEST OF: U.S. News & World Report names 25 best hotels in Texas for 2017 Taking the top spot for the sixth consecutive year is, not surprisingly, Hawaii. "Hawaii residents had the highest well-being in the nation in 2016, with the state reaching the top spot for the sixth time since Gallup and Healthways began tracking well-being in 2008," the study reported. This is the full top-10 list, along with their Well-Being Index scores: Hawaii, 65.2 Alaska, 64.0 South Dakota, 63.7 Maine, 63.6 Colorado, 63.5 Vermont, 63.5 Arizona, 63.4 Montana, 63.2 Minnesota, 63.2 Texas, 63.1 "These state-level data are based on more than 177,000 interviews with U.S. adults across all 50 states, conducted from January to December 2016," the report explained. "For the nation overall, the Well-Being Index score was 62.1 in 2016, a statistically meaningful improvement from the 61.7 and the 61.6 measured in 2015 and 2014, respectively." Pete Vogel/South Texas College of Law Houston Two feuding Houston law schools are officially headed to federal mediation in hopes of resolving a bitter trademark dispute that has dragged on for months over the new name of a 93-year-old law school. U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison of the Southern District of Texas set a mediation hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 28. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two students from New Mexico State University went to a concert in West Texas. By all accounts, it proved to be a great night. Then, they vanished. McKinnah Sinclair, 18, and her roommate, 19-year-old Charlie Daniels, posted photos from the show in El Paso, Texas, on Feb. 3, 2017. In the pictures and accompanying comments, the pair appear to be having a good time, dancing, posing with each other and several musicians. What happened after that, though, is a mystery. IDENTITY MYSTERY: Found dead in Michigan, the FBI thinks he's from South Texas Police in Las Cruces, N.M,, believe the two went to Juarez, Mexico, after show. Police say the pair may be in California, but aren't saying what led to that idea or why they may have gone west.. Investigators think the students may be in danger, given the violence in Mexico in recent years. Family and friends have turned to Facebook to publicize the disappearances. Sinclair, a college cheerleader, is described as 5-feet-2-inches tall and weighing roughly 125 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. Sinclair was last seen wearing a black dress. REWARD OFFERED: Family seeks help in finding Texas man missing for three years Daniels is 5-feet-3-inches tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. She has blonde curly hair and brown eyes. Daniels was last known to be wearing a black skirt and blue denim top. The two rode a red 2012 Ford Focus. Investigators think Daniels may have been driving. The car has New Mexico license plate 533-TAC. Anyone with information about the two women may call 911 or a local law enforcement agency. >>>Scroll through the gallery above to see details about McKinnah Sinclair and Charlie Daniels, as well as other missing persons cases in Texas. Seven Texas towns have been named on Neighborhood Scout's annual list of "America's Top 100 Safest Cities" for 2017. Using FBI crime research, the data company considered factors like the number of property and violent crimes per 1,000 residents, according to the website. WASHINGTON Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn sided Wednesday with Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who cut off a speech the night before by liberal Massachusetts firebrand Elizabeth Warren opposing the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general. "This is not supposed to be a mud wrestling ring or a food fight," Cornyn said. It started Tuesday when Warren took to the Senate floor to read statements from the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., criticizing Sessions' record on civil rights. McConnell accused Warren of impugning Sessions on the Senate floor, a violation of Senate rules designed to maintain decorum. In particular, Republicans took umbrage at the use of Kennedy's words from 1986 describing Sessions as a "disgrace." The dust-up turned a late night speech to a nearly deserted Senate chamber into a national news story, elevating Warren into a Democratic hero. McConnell's complaint that Warren had been warned and that "she persisted," became a rallying cry for her supporters, including Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, some of the same passages were read on the Senate floor by other Democratic senators without objection. But Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said the party-line vote to rebuke Warren was appropriate. "Senator Warren tried to hide behind other people's words," he said, "by basically reading their words and suggesting it was them speaking and not her." He characterized Warren's speech as "a sign of the times where we have kind of a race to the bottom." Too often in the Senate, he added, lawmakers "fail to treat each other with the civility and decorum that I think goes along with the privilege of serving in the Senate." Cornyn demurred when he was asked about a 2015 floor speech in which Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz attacked McConnell's integrity, saying he was "willing to say things that he knows are false." "No one raised a point of order at that time," Cornyn noted, "and I think that's the best answer to that... As I said, we can all do better." Border officers seized nearly 4,000 pounds of marijuana, dressed up as limes, at the Texas-Mexico border last week, according to officials. On Jan. 30, U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities discovered the pot, valued at nearly $800,000, traveling as limes in a 2001 Freightliner tractor trailer, according to an agency news release. 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. The Art of Giving/The Gift of Art Exhibition Tour 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!) Ridge View to keep on sharing The Galva-Holstein and Schaller-Crestland School Districts have reached a tentative agreement that will likely reflect Schaller-Crestlands consolidation to a single... Pipeline company sought to limit required safeguards for soil Navigator CO2 Ventures wanted to reduce its obligations to sample and restore topsoil for the construction of its proposed carbon... In a decade as a federal appeals court judge, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has criticized courts for giving too much power to government agencies that enforce the nations labor and employment laws. As a lawyer in private practice, he also backed curbs on some class-action lawsuits. His conservative approach could tip the balance in labor rights cases and other high court clashes that have split the court. I think employers have a supporter with this particular nominee who is unwilling to go along with agencies just because they interpret the law in a certain way, said Gerald Maatman, a labor lawyer based in Chicago who represents employers. In a closely watched case the Supreme Court is expected to hear later this year, the justices will decide whether companies can require workers to sign away their right to pursue class-action lawsuits. The National Labor Relations Board says such waiver agreements violate the rights of millions of workers who want to sue over wage disputes and other workplace clashes. Labor union critics also hope the court will revisit a case that could threaten the financial viability of unions that represent government workers. A short-handed Supreme Court split 4-4 on the issue after Justice Antonin Scalias death. And the justices may eventually take up a dispute working its way through lower courts over whether federal law banning sex discrimination in the workplace also covers bias against gays and lesbians. The legal and public policy worlds are scouring Gorsuchs writings and record for clues to his posture toward these and other issues. What theyre finding is a lawyer, and then judge, who has lashed out against securities class-action lawsuits and frowns on agencies that, in his opinion, overreach. In a 2005 article written when he was in private practice, Gorsuch urged the Supreme Court to curb frivolous class-action securities lawsuits. He called such cases a free ride to fast riches for plaintiff lawyers. On the appeals court in Colorado, Gorsuchs opinions have taken aim at federal labor and employment agencies for going beyond their congressionally mandated missions. He has suggested that the Supreme Court should overturn a 1984 ruling that says courts must defer to government agencies when it comes to interpreting laws that define their mission. Gorsuch dissented in a 2011 case where Labor officials wanted to fine an excavating company for violating federal standards after one of its workers died in a Colorado electrocution accident. The federal appeals court upheld the $5,500 penalty, but Gorsuch wrote that the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission did not interpret the rules correctly. Administrative agencies enjoy remarkable powers in our legal order, Gorsuch wrote in dissent. Still, there remains one thing even federal administrative agencies cannot do. Even they cannot penalize private persons and companies without some evidence the law has been violated. He also chastised his fellow judges for siding with the Labor Department in a 2016 case in which a driver for TransAm Trucking Co. left his broken-down trailer on the side of the road. The company fired the driver for defying a supervisors orders to stay with the vehicle despite freezing temperatures. The Labor Department ruled that the drivers actions were protected under federal law and he was to be reinstated, and the appeals court concurred. But Gorsuch wrote in his dissent, It might be fair to ask whether TransAms decision was a wise or kind one. But its not our job to answer questions like that. Our only task is to decide whether the decision was an illegal one. In another case last year, Gorsuch grumbled in a dissent that the National Labor Relations Board had overreached when it ordered back pay for hospital employees whose hours had been unlawfully reduced. Despite those and other writings, some labor leaders have held their fire on Gorsuchs nomination, perhaps in the interest of choosing battles against the unpredictable Trump administration. But AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Gorsuch doesnt seem like a friend to employees. Hes been a very, very strong advocate for corporations at the expense of working people, Trumka said in an interview. You think corporations need more help? And that theyre not strong enough and that they should be stronger, then hes probably your guy. If you think that workers need more protection and corporations need less protection, then hes probably not your guy. Gorsuchs conservative legal philosophy has won praise from business groups that want to rein in government regulation and limit the rights of labor unions. Judge Gorsuch has been very firm on confining regulatory agencies to the text of the law, said Juanita Duggan, president of the National Federation of Independent Business. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio - An Akron man was sentenced to eight years in prison for selling carfentanil, a powerful animal sedative, to a pregnant woman who overdosed and died. Rashon Williams, 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of trafficking in heroin in the Aug. 4, 2016 death of Megan Carlson. He also pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in an unrelated case, the Summit County Prosecutor's Office said. Judge Christine Croce immediately sentenced Williams in Summit County Common Pleas Court. "This case is a horrible example and reminder of how deadly these street drugs have become," Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement. "While I am pleased to get one more drug dealer and his deadly poison off the street, I am saddened by this tragic and senseless loss of life." Carlson, 26, was six months pregnant when she was found dead in her home in Cuyahoga Falls. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office determined she died from ingesting carfentanil, and investigators traced the drug to Williams, prosecutors said. Carfentanil was linked to a strong of overdose deaths that happened last year in Summit County and has also been detected in Cuyahoga County and Lake County. The drug is not safe for human use and presents a "clear and present danger to the community," Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson said last year in a statement. Carfentanil is an analog of -- but significantly more powerful than -- the opioid fentanyl and is used in veterinary practice to immobilize large animals. It is the most powerful opioid that is sold commercially. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments section. AKRON, Ohio -- A house exploded Tuesday night in Akron, fire officials said. The first call about the explosion at the corner of Courtland and South Hawkins avenues came in at 7:30 p.m., according to Akron fire department spokesman Mike Brooks. Witnesses reported seeing a man stumble out of the house with blood and soot on his face. He was taken to Akron General Hospital, and his condition is currently unknown. Dezmond Robinson, who lives at a house near the corner of Courtland and Nome avenues, said a woman who uses an oxygen tank lives at the house, along with four children. Officials have not commented on whether they were in the house at the time of the explosion. Fire officials believe the explosion was caused by a gas leak. Crews completely extinguished the blaze just before 10 p.m., and utilities companies were on scene to shut off gas and electricity feeds to the house. Shattered glass and wood house framing scattered the streets and yards surrounding the explosion site. Nearly no trace of the house was left besides some wood framing on a side of the home, and furniture was strewn throughout the front lawn. While nearby homes and residents were evacuated as a precaution, no other houses were damaged, officials said. There have been reports that the explosion was heard a more than a mile away, Brooks said. South Hawkins Avenue between Stoner Street and Diagonal Road remained closed to traffic as of 10 p.m., and residents were asked to avoid the area. This post will be updated Tuesday night if more information is available. cleveland.com reporter Jennifer Conn contributed to this report. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. GM Solar.JPG General Motors built this 2.2-megawatt solar array at is Lordstown Chevrolet plant in 2014. The Solar Foundation, a non-profit trade group, reported this week that solar jobs are up significantly this year in Ohio and across the nation. (Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer ) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Solar Foundation's national annual solar jobs census reported Tuesday that in 2016 there were 260,077 U.S. solar workers in the nation, including 5,831 in Ohio. Ohio gained more than 1,000 solar workers, a 21 percent increase, compared with the 2015 solar jobs count, while the nation gained more than 51,000, or a 25 percent increase. The increase in Ohio occurred despite the year-long ruckus in Columbus over the state's rule requiring power companies to sell an increasing percentage of renewable power, topping out at 12.5 percent in 2027. The solar portion of that mandate is 0.5 percent. The census defines a solar worker as an employee who spends at least 50 percent of his or her time on solar-related work. The foundation has found, however, that about 90 percent of solar workers spend 100 percent of their time on solar-related work. The Solar Foundation's mission is to accelerate the adoption of solar power. portman 2.jpg Bennett Eagle, Portman and Jake Levine . On Saturday, January 14, Jacob Levine and Bennett Eagle of Chagrin Falls, along with 19 students from Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, and Wayne Counties were congratulated by U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) as the Class of 2017 Service Academy Nominees. This is a prestigious honor as only 11 percent of students who apply for the Service Academy recommendations from the Ohio Senator's office receive them. "Our nominees are among the best and the brightest from Ohio, and I would be proud to have them serve our country in the military," said Portman. "The distinguished members of the Review Board have helped me and our office guarantee that young men and women like the ones we selected this year have a chance to get into one of the service academies, and I am grateful for their tireless and selfless dedication to continuing Ohio's strong tradition of high acceptance rates." The ceremony, held at the Ohio National Guard Headquarters in Columbus, congratulated Jacob Levine for his nomination to the Merchant Marine Academy and Bennett Eagle for his nomination to the Naval Academy. Social Artist, Activist Appointed First MFA Director at CMU's School of Art February 08, 2017 By Pam Wigley Jon Rubin has been named the first master's degree program director for Carnegie Mellon University's School of Art. Image credit: Jim Judkis Artist, educator and activist Jon Rubin has been named the first master's degree program director for Carnegie Mellon University's School of Art. Rubin, an associate professor of art, is recognized as a leading artist in the field of social and contextual practice. Known as an artist, educator and activist, Rubin is among the first artists selected by the Guggenheim Museum to take part in a new Social Practice Art Initiative this spring. The appointment is the first step in the School of Art's graduate initiative, which aims to establish a core faculty, increased funding and a new studio facility. "Jon Rubin is one of the most respected artists in his field. His projects have stirred national dialogue, and his efforts have helped shape the contours of social practice in contemporary art," said Charlie White, head of the School of Art. "Having Jon enter as the director of the MFA program will be the first in a series of steps to increase faculty, facilities and funding that will further advance our intentions of providing one of the most progressive graduate programs in the country." Rubin's major projects include "Conflict Kitchen" (2010- ), which serves food from countries in conflict with the United States, encouraging public engagement with the culture, politics and issues at stake within the highlighted regions; "The Last Billboard" (2010- ), a 36-foot-long rooftop billboard located in Pittsburgh that presents text-based statements each month by invited participants; and "The Royal Danish Protesters" (2011), a three-week performance in which actors impersonating the Danish Queen and Prince Consort walked through Copenhagen carrying signs broadcasting the opinions of any Danish citizen who approached them. In addition to his public projects, Rubin has exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the Shanghai Biennial; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver; the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College; Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City; Rooseum, Malmo, Sweden; Sazmanab Center for Contemporary Art, Tehran; as well as in backyards, living rooms and on street corners. CMU's School of Art, housed within one of the most respected research universities in the United States, offers an unparalleled convergence of contemporary art, technology and critical discourse. Currently ranked as the No. 6 art school in the country and No. 1 in the area of new media and time-based art by U.S. News and World Report, the school's noted alumni include Andy Warhol, Philip Pearlstein, Joyce Kozloff, Mel Bochner, Deborah Kass and John Currin. "I think there's way too much pessimism about ESPN because ESPN is still in demand from three constituents you want to be in demand the most from," said Iger. "One distributors. Two, consumers and three, advertisers. And the reason it's in demand is the brand is still strong, the product is still good and we've invested nicely to keep that product as high quality as possible." With ESPN continuing to weigh on Disney's results , CEO Bob Iger said in an exclusive CNBC interview that concerns about the network's subscriber losses are overblown. While ESPN has seen some erosion from consumers switching to skinnier cable bundles, he says Disney's strategy of including ESPN and Disney's other cable networks on all the digital TV bundles in the works will be a game changer. Iger outlined the strategies Disney is taking to adapt to the new marketplace: keeping ESPN's programming strong, and making sure it's launching on every new digital service. "We believe that (digital TV services) is going to occupy a good part of the future. It's less expensive, easier to use, more mobile friendly." said Iger. Disney's already signed deals to include ESPN and other channels in Hulu's upcoming launch, as well as other unnamed services. (Google hasn't announced anything yet but is widely expected to launch a live TV bundle attached to YouTube.) Iger also says at some point this year those digital subscribers will be fully measured and will have some impact on Disney's bottom line. Iger wouldn't disclose how many traditional subscribers have been lost or how many are expected, but said that Disney earns roughly the same from new digital services as it does from traditional bundles. "The other thing that's important is when all these new channels launch we're in all of their homes," Iger added. "The notion of a skinny bundle that excluded ESPN is not the case in the new world order." When it comes to the future of TV, it sounds as if Iger is re-evaluating everything, even his approach to ABC and ESPN's sizable ad business. "I think in today's world we have to be mindful of the number of commercial interruptions," Iger said. Iger says ESPN may never break out as a stand-alone service, separate from digital and traditional TV bundles. Disney does intend to launch a multisports service direct to the consumer on the BAMTech platform, in which Disney has an ownership stake, some time in 2017. "That will include a number of ESPN products in it. And then we'll see where that takes us." China has invited British Prime Minister Theresa May to attend a major summit in May on its "One Belt, One Road" initiative to build a new Silk Road, diplomatic sources told Reuters. One Beijing-based diplomatic source, with direct knowledge of the invite list, told Reuters that May was among the leaders who had been invited. "China is choosing the countries it sees as friends and who will be most influential in promoting 'One Belt, One Road'," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. watch now If there is one lesson Jim Cramer has learned this time around in earnings season, it is that retail cannot be held hostage by the shopping mall. This became blatantly obvious to Cramer when Michael Kors reported what looked like good numbers on the surface, but when he dug deeper, he realized weak department store traffic led to a negative quarter and weak forecast. "The conference call took my breath away," the "Mad Money" host said. Newell Brands , which sells lots of products in stores like Target, also said the mall was a challenge. "It has gotten to the point where even mentioning the mall on a conference call is the kiss of death. They are dying shrines to spending the old way," Cramer said. A pedestrian passes a Michael Kors store in New York Scott Mlyn | CNBC As the criticisms of President Donald Trump's approach continue to pile up, Cramer reminded investors that the recent strength in the stock market is not because of Trump. Instead, it is based on earnings and the belief that companies can do even better. "There is a lot of raw emotion when it comes to Trump and when people get emotional, even really smart professional money managers, they stop being able to analyze the situation objectively," Cramer said. There may be a correction one day, and Cramer recommended maybe investors should raise cash for that event. Maybe the president will tell the Chinese he is done tomorrow and they can't sell in the U.S. anymore. That could cause a crash, Cramer said. Or maybe Trump calls for a Chinese boycott. That would bring down earnings. "As far as I'm concerned, things are better and that, not Trump, might be the real secret sauce behind this extraordinary and very real rally," Cramer said. Shares of Centene soared more than 5 percent on Tuesday after reporting a strong quarter, including revenue up 89 percent year-over-year, and robust full-year guidance for 2017. Centene is a healthcare provider that specializes in government-sponsored programs like Medicaid and Medicare. The company has done well under the Affordable Care Act, because the law included an expansion to Medicaid, which meant more business for Centene. As the healthcare environment becomes murky amid Trump's agenda to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Cramer spoke with Centene's CEO Michael Neidorff who said it could take years for that to happen. "I have said all along that it is business as usual. We have insisted on continuing to do our thing the way we do it and it is working out very well. In fact, we told the Street today in our call that we actually have over $400 million that we will be paying back in on the risk adjuster this year," Neidorff said. Donald Trump Jonathan Drake | Reuters Runaway start-up successes such as Alibaba and Uber have prompted big dreams from Silicon Valley to Beijing. But before quitting your day jobs, checkout this list of common mistakes below. Mladen Antonov | AFP | Getty Images Golden Gate Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in Southeast Asian startups, partnered with INSEAD business school to issue a report outlining some of the reasons why success eludes so many founders. Today, cash is more readily available for start-ups than before, giving many of them astronomical valuations. But that's not always a good thing, according to the report, because it breeds overconfidence among start-ups and investors. "Non-traditional investors that flood in boom times, such as (companies) and family offices, tend to accept higher valuations, following venture capitalists that may only write a small check," Vinnie Lauria, a founding partner at Golden Gate Ventures, told CNBC exclusively by phone. The report analyzed a selected group of companies in the e-commerce, fintech and software-as-a-service sectors in the U.S. and China that raised more than $5 million to outline reasons why many founders fail to follow in the footsteps of Jack Ma and Travis Kalanick. They include: Operational inefficiency An abundance of capital and overvaluation cloud the decision-making processes of many start-ups, leading them to make unwise investments that lead to excess supply, inefficiency and a failure to achieve market acquisition, the report noted. Product doesn't fit in the market The report pointed to the example of U.S. start-up Blippy, which allowed users to publicize their debit and credit card purchase information on a social media-type platform. The feature did not sit well with a lot of users due to concerns over having sensitive financial information in the public domain. Since investors back start-ups based on their future potential, instead of historical performances, many charismatic entrepreneurs can have a sway during funding rounds, said Lauria. "CEOs can oversell confidence and trust." Poor understanding of the market Chinese start-up Gaopeng, launched in 2011, was a group-buying website that offered deals to customers at local merchants. It was similar to the global group-buying company Groupon, which owned 50 percent of the shares in Gaopeng, while Tencent owned the rest. The report said one of the reasons why Gaopeng did not succeed was due to the decision-makers's poor understanding of the Chinese market. "Groupon insisted on using mass email marketing, despite being warned that Chinese people seldom read that type of email," the report said. Poor product development and competition Competition was another reason why Gaopeng struggled in China. The report said at one point in time, there were over 5,000 group-buy websites competing in China. The fierce competition wiped out most, with fewer than 10 surviving today and the majority of the market is dominated by three companies, according to the report. Misvaluation The last we heard from Craig Barratt in October 2016, he was among the high-profile leaders of Google parent company Alphabet's "other bets" to hit the exits. Four months later, Barratt has landed at Barefoot Networks, a maker of ultrafast networking equipment that's received a healthy dose of capital from his former employer. Barratt is joining as CEO, the company said on Tuesday, taking over from co-founder Martin Izzard, who's assuming the role of vice president of technology. At Alphabet, Barratt was running the Access business, which includes fiber broadband internet service. The company had aggressive plans to spread high-speed internet to a bunch of U.S. cities, but Alphabet's new emphasis on turning its other bets into real money-making businesses got in the way of that expansion. Access said in October that Barratt was stepping down and also announced that it was laying off employees and pausing its move into a number of cities, including Los Angeles, Dallas and Phoenix. He was one of several Alphabet leaders to leave in 2016, including GV's Bill Maris and Craig Urmson of the company's self-driving car business (subsequently renamed Waymo). In Barefoot, Barratt is taking over a company with plenty of Google DNA. In June, Barefoot announced a $57 million financing round led by Goldman Sachs and Google, and it previously raised money from Sequoia Capital, one of Google's major venture backers. Last year, Barefoot unveiled the Tofino chip, a programmable chip that lets clients customize their networks. It's a familiar market for Barratt, who's spent his career in the guts of technology. Prior to joining Google in 2013, he was CEO of Atheros, a maker of chips for network systems that was acquired by Qualcomm in 2011. A pedestrian walks past the Indonesian symbol of Garuda Pancasila (back), a mythical golden eagle with a heraldic shield on its chest. Bay Ismoyo | AFP | Getty Images Indonesia's highest Islamic clerical body, which last year issued a religious edict of blasphemy against the governor of Jakarta and ally of President Joko Widodo, now may offer him support, as a complex mix of politics and religion plays out ahead of a closely-watched election. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) looks set to issue a fatwa cautioning against spreading fake news online, a move that could aid the re-election of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is ethnic Chinese and a Christian, at polls on Feb. 15. The governor, popularly known as Ahok, was accused of blasphemy last year after referencing a verse from the Koran while campaigning and a trial is pending. Blasphemy laws in Indonesia are applicable to any of its six officially recognized religions. Jakarta's Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (foreground), better known by his nickname Ahok, flashes a victory sign as he appears in court for his ongoing trial in Jakarta on Jan. 3, 2017. Irwan Rismawan | AFP | Getty Images "We will issue (the fatwa) as soon as possible, because the situation is worrying," Ma'aruf Amin, chairman of the MUI, said last week, according to Reuters. The MUI is responsible for issuing fatwas, or religious edicts, and providing religious guidance, carrying moral force, but not legal. Their sights are now set on a spread of unproven stories that could incite a backlash in Indonesia, even if they appear outlandish. For example, one hot fake news items alleges China is pursuing warfare with chili seeds. News of the chili seed conspiracy emerged on social media in December last year accusing China of using contaminated seeds as a biological weapon. The false reports were based on a true news story on four Chinese nationals arrested for planting chili seeds that had been contaminated with bacteria on a farm near Bogor city. The contaminated chili seeds were destroyed by authorities, but this did not stop the a wave of anti-China sentiment on social media. Even the Chinese embassy in Indonesia was involved, issuing a statement to say that the reports were "very worrying" and that it hoped ties between the two countries would not be negatively affected. Even though slightly under 40 percent of the population owns smartphones, those that do are extremely connected to social media. Jakarta was found to be the most active city in terms of Twitter use in 2012 by the research company Semiocast. watch now The Indonesian authorities have also spoken up on the issue. "Libel, hate speech and false words on social media are increasingly troubling society," President Joko Widodo tweeted in December last year, adding the law enforcement had to come down hard on those who engaged in these online behaviors. Jokowi has experienced the repercussions of fake news first-hand when rumors on social media falsely claimed that he had ties to a local Communist group during his presidential campaign. According to one researcher, the government has tacitly sought the fatwa to stem any potential incidents as well as help Ahok win a three-way race that includes former Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedan and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the son of former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Dina Afrianty, a researcher at the Australian Catholic University, said a fatwa against fake news might be seen as a political aim to stem a religious backlash and keep the economy on track. "It is the Indonesian government who asked MUI to release a fatwa to minimize the heightened political tension in this last week of the campaign season," Afrianty told CNBC in an email, "In my view, this is very political. As a quasi-government institution, MUI is often used by the government, any political parties or interest groups for their own political purposes." "What I have seen since the first trial took place in early December 2016 (is that) the public gradually realized that Ahok's case is actually a political game, not so much about Islam," said Afrianty. A recent poll showed 24.1 percent of respondents for Yudhoyono and 22.7 percent chose Baswedan. Ahok remained the front-runner ahead of the election on Feb. 15 -- 37.4 percent of respondents indicated that they would vote for him. Police officers take security measure as demonstrators gather to protest the Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, as he attends trial in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 3, 2017. Agoes Rudianto | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Protesters marched on Goldman Sachs' headquarters in New York on Tuesday in a rally against Wall Street's involvement in President Donald Trump's administration. Activists from grassroots anti-"swamp" movements Government Sachs and Resist Here railed against Goldman and JPMorgan Chase for their role in the White House's mission to loosen federal regulations on banks. Members of New York Communities for Change, the Working Families Party and the Hedge Clippers also protested. The demonstration was organized as a part of #ResistTrumpTuesdays, a weekly event organized by Resist Here that began in December. Among those protesting was 31-year-old Harry Waisbren, co-founder of online video network Act.TV and an Occupy Wall Street veteran. "Trump has just taken the [Goldman Sachs] executives, brought them into the White House, and it's absolutely disgusting, especially considering how he won the Republican primary as well as the general election chastising the other candidates for their fealty to Wall Street," Waisbren told CNBC. "The idea of Occupy Wall Street, that we need a government that works for all of us, not just the 1 percent, lives on. It was totally visible and strengthened throughout Bernie Sanders' candidacy," he added. Marchers condemned the banks' influence on the current administration after then-candidate Trump's calls on the campaign trail to "drain the swamp," or clean the federal government of corrupt influence. Trump used the phrase time and again to signal a change from business as usual in Washington. But protesters said that very "swamp" has taken over Trump's White House. The main union at BHP Billiton 's Escondida copper mine, the world's largest, told Reuters on Tuesday that negotiations mediated by the Chilean government with the company have failed and that workers will go on strike on Thursday. Workers warn that a strike at the Chilean mine would nearly halt production and could be lengthy, potentially affecting global supplies of a metal used in everything from construction to telecommunications. "The company doesn't want to change its position, so we understand that there is nothing left to negotiate ... there is nothing left to talk about, we've already talked a lot and we are definitely going on strike," said union spokesman Carlos Allendes. The strike is planned to start at 8:00 a.m. (1100 GMT). BHP Billiton said it could not immediately comment but expected to put out a statement later in the day. Dutch payments company Adyen saw a big jump in the number of transactions it processed last year for clientele including Facebook , Airbnb, Spotify, Uber and Netflix . Transaction volume increased by 80 percent on-year to $90 billion in 2016, the company said on Wednesday. Currently, half of the transactions Adyen processes come from Europe, its CFO, Ingo Uytdehaage, told CNBC. An additional 10 percent of transactions come from Asia Pacific, he revealed, adding that he expects the region's contribution will increase. While Adyen's 2016 revenue is yet to be released, in 2015 it earned about $350 million in revenue against a transaction volume of $50 billion which means Adyen grossed about 0.7 percent of every dollar processed in 2015. The company says it's been profitable since 2011. Banks are facing a different regulatory landscape, though one that might not be so stringent under President Donald Trump, Barclays CEO Jes Staley said Wednesday. As the financial industry watches what the Trump administration will do with regulations adopted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the head of the London-based bank said he believes the changes should be directed toward providing a robust system. "The rules of the road for banks are changing dramatically, but everyone realizes finance is the oxygen of commerce," Staley said at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit in New York. "You shut off the avenue of finance and you immediately are going to have a reaction. Whether we like it or not, we are going to need the banks." Trump has directed his Treasury and Labor departments to study banking regulations, primarily those instituted by the Dodd-Frank law that was implemented as a reaction to the worst crisis since the Great Depression. Among the major reforms are greater capital requirements, changes in the ways advisors interact with clients and the implementation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to oversee the system. While Trump has talked about rolling back Dodd-Frank, Staley doesn't see it happening. "I think Dodd-Frank is going to stay in its broad architecture," he said. "The interpretation of Dodd-Frank by regulators that may be where we see a different approach by the Trump administration to the previous administration." "To a certain extent, a law like Dodd-Frank is established so regulators have a volume control," he added. "What you'll see is some change in that volume control, and also watch how markets perform and how regulators manage that performance." Staley said his bank has changed the way it does business since the crisis, putting up a wall between its consumer and wholesale operations, and is closing its retail bank branches everywhere but in the United Kingdom. "There will always be economic cycles. No matter how hard we try we will have another financial crisis," he said. "My experience is going into a financial crisis, or living through one, where you want to be, the safest place is in a large, diversified bank." The European Union (EU) must adopt a stronger oversight of banks in order to avoid a financial meltdown and cope with 30,000 finance sector jobs relocating from Britain as a result of Brexit, according to an influential Brussels think tank. Bruegel, a European economic think tank based in the Belgian capital, published a report on Wednesday which projected the City of London could lose 10,000 banking jobs and 20,000 accountancy, consultancy and law workers to EU clients. The report estimated the total loss of this business to Britain would be worth 1.6 trillion ($1.9 trillion), or 17 percent of the U.K.'s banking assets. "There is (a) risk of a regulatory race to the bottom among EU27 countries, leading to misconduct, loss of market integrity and possibly financial instability," the report said. Several U.K. based banks are poised to announce at least part of their business operations are being moved from London to another European city, with countries on the continent scrambling to attract top financial officials. Bruegel anticipated Frankfurt would be the big winners from banks moving out of London with Amsterdam, Dublin and Paris all poised to make gains. Authors of the research suggested EU cities importing banking risk from the U.K. to the continent could have a destabilizing impact on the bloc. City banks are seeking to maintain their services to EU clients as a result of the likely loss of passporting rights post-Brexit. Highly complex Attempts to relocate London-based financial markets throughout Brexit negotiations were highly complex and could ultimately pose "huge financial risk" to the financial stability of the EU, Bank of England (BoE) Governor Mark Carney warned last week. "An influential EU think-tank's view that the City of London could stand to lose up to 30,000 finance jobs will bring further unease to the UK's financial sector, which remains uncertain over the extent of Brexit's impact," Paresh Davdra, chief executive of Xendpay, said in a note. "Notably, the EU's financial sectors are not guaranteed to benefit Brexit without significant reform in the think-tank's view, echoing the BoE governor's own warnings to the EU and highlighting the fact that a move from the UK may not necessarily save companies from considerable financial risk," he concluded. The analysis is founded on the assumption the U.K. would leave the single market during its exit from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May outlined the country's plans to leave the single market in a wide-ranging speech on January 17. Britain could be set to complete the legislative process of Brexit by March 7 which would meet the Prime Minister's self-imposed April deadline to begin divorce talks with the bloc. Britons' incomes could be slashed by as much as 9.5 percent once the U.K. formally leaves the European Union, a new study released today by MIT economics professor John Van Reenen has claimed. The report points to a 6.3 to 9.5 percent reduction in GDP per capita with the U.K. outside of the EU's single market on the basis that a one percent decline in trade reduces income per capita by between 0.5 and 0.75 percent. According to per capita data from the World Bank and CNBC calculations verified by Van Reenen, this would make every U.K. citizen $4000 worse off. In 2015, U.K. GDP per capita stood at $43,875.97. The EU accounts for approximately half of the U.K.'s trade deals. Van Reenen's paper suggests that countries outside the EU, even those within the European Free Trade Association, see trade with the bloc decrease by one quarter. As such, "a Brexit-induced trade reduction of 12.5 percent ... would reduce U.K. incomes by between 6.3 and 9.5 percent", says Van Reenen. His estimates broadly align with the contribution the EU is thought to have made to the U.K. since joining the bloc in 1973. A recent study by Warwick University economics professor Nicholas Crafts concludes that EU membership has raised U.K. GDP per capita by 8.6 percent to 10.6 percent. During campaigning for Britain's EU referendum, financiers New World Wealth (NWW) estimated that continued EU membership would cost Britons over $1,000 per year and claimed that life outside the Union would see individuals more than $20,000 richer by 2020. Van Reenen's paper, the product of his time spent as director of the Centre for Economic Performance, slams euroskeptics and undermines British Prime Minister Theresa May's hopes for a 'Global Britain' with increased trading powers. Speaking to CNBC Monday, the U.K.'s shadow secretary of state for trade and industry, Barry Gardiner, said that, under a new WTO agreement, the U.K. would have to increase exports to the rest of the world by at least 37 percent "just to stand still." "Britain's GDP is less than one-fifth of the EU Single Market's GDP, it would have less bargaining power in trade negotiations than the EU does," notes Van Reenen. "Under all plausible scenarios, Brexit will mean Britain is poorer outside than inside the European Union," he says, also pointing to the drop-off in foreign direct investment and skilled workers he expects to result from May's plans to regain control of the U.K.'s borders. Van Reenen's paper also speaks to the growing swell of protectionist rhetoric in the West and fears over the potential demise of the Eurozone. He claims that "those who favor protectionist policies are the ones who are most likely going to suffer from their enactment," and warns Americans who support President Donald Trump's tough stance on trade and immigration to "consider the likely after-effects of (Britain's exit) from the EU." Van Reenen's is the latest forecast for the future of the U.K., which as yet remains unclear despite assurances laid out in a white paper last week stating that the U.K. will go ahead with a so-called 'Hard-Brexit'. British MP John Redwood told CNBC last week that the U.K. would not suffer punitive tariffs or be made to pay a divorce settlement upon leaving the EU's single market, instead reaching a "perfectly amicable solution." An Ipsos MORI poll released Sunday states that 58 percent of leaders of the 500 largest U.K. listed companies say Britain's vote to leave the EU has had a negative impact on their business. The northern two-thirds of California and even some coastal regions in the south have seen anywhere from 200 percent to 400 percent of normal rainfall in just the past seven days, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento. The heavy precipitation this month follows a string of tropical storms in January , which produced flooding and mudslides in northern and southern portions of the state. "After four to five years of drought in the state of California, it is refreshing to finally see us turn the corner, so to speak, and be on the right path towards improvement in all sectors of drought in the state," said Brian Fuchs, a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. The action comes as Northern California is essentially free of any drought conditions and key reservoirs north of the state capital of Sacramento are nearing capacity and releasing water to handle more rain that's expected. Yet other areas, including Southern California as well as portions of the central and coastal regions, are still considered to have various levels of drought intensity. The current regulations were set to expire Feb. 28. The board also plans to review the rules again in May at the end of the rainy season. The state water board voted to keep the emergency rules in place statewide through the spring, which means prohibitions against wasteful water practices such as hosing off driveways and sidewalks. It also bars local communities from taking action against homeowners trying to conserve water during the declared drought, such as letting lawns go brown. "While we're certainly well situated compared to past years, we've learned that things can change suddenly," Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, said at a hearing Wednesday in Sacramento. "Warm rains in the spring or high temperatures can quickly degrade snowpack, even though we have a pretty sturdy snowpack in many places." Despite a deluge of rain and snow this winter, California regulators on Wednesday moved to extend the state's emergency drought rules. Also, the snowpack (essentially water in storage) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is at its biggest in 22 years. The snowpack is important since it supplies about 30 percent of the state's water needs particularly in the warmer months when there's little or no rainfall. California put water restrictions in place in 2014 after Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency but officials last year lifted some strict rules, including the requirement of 25 percent cutbacks in urban areas. Last May the state adopted a stress-test approach to water conservation, meaning a more flexible approach that asked water suppliers whether they had enough water supplies for three years of dry conditions. Wednesday's vote by the board will require a conservation mandate from only those suppliers that cannot pass the stress test. The state previously indicated that 343 out of 410 water districts did the stress test, and at the hearing one official confirmed a majority of the suppliers passed. Under the extended regulation, the state also will allow urban water suppliers that didn't take or didn't pass the stress test (and have been subject to state-set standards) an opportunity to update their analysis. The U.S. Drought Monitor last week showed about 50 percent of California being designated at some level of drought intensity. Just three months ago about 75 percent of the state was listed as having some intensity of drought. While nearly 2 percent of the state is still in "extreme" drought the second worst category that's down from almost 43 percent three months ago and about 64 percent one year ago. Last week's monitor showed "moderate" and "severe" drought conditions remain in parts of Central and Southern California as well as a small patch of "extreme" drought in three counties of Southern California Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The next monitor report and California drought map is scheduled for release early Thursday and is likely to show more areas clear of any drought or dryness. The monitor is prepared weekly by several agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "With the new map that comes out [Thursday] morning, there are going to be further improvements that were made in California this week," said Fuchs, who is one of the regular authors of the monitor. Specifically, improvements are likely to show up in the southern half of the state where there's still water supply problems. Also there are aquifers that haven't fully recharged after years of drought conditions. "We may see all other drought signals improve, but we may see those aquifers and well levels still lingering for quite some time just because of how slow those deep water supplies take to replenish," said Fuchs. One area still feeling the drought effects is the state's Central Coast region between Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. For example, Lake Cachuma historically a key water supply for Santa Barbara is still under 15 percent capacity as of this week. The city of Santa Barbara this month is preparing to fully restart a desalination plant idled in the 1990s that will provide the community with drinking water. Meantime, north of the state capital, communities such as Red Bluff along the Sacramento River and tributaries experienced flooding Tuesday and conditions could worsen Thursday and Friday with more rain forecast by the National Weather Service. Flooding also is happening this week as the San Lorenzo River overflows between Santa Cruz and Felton. Also, the Russian River near Guerneville is rising again, causing more flooding in the wine growing region of Sonoma County. Portions of California's Napa wine region have experienced flooding and mudslides too, and nearly an inch of additional rain was forecast from the coming storm system. "The effects of the rain are only on erosion, which has been tackled right after the previous harvest by winterizing the vineyards by putting down hay," said Jean Hoefliger, a winemaker at Alpha Omega winery in St. Helena, a community in the heart of the Napa Valley. He also said the snowfall in the Sierra is important because it "will melt in spring and provide us with spring and summer water, which we need the most." A shopper uses a credit card to pay for her items at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Denver. Matthew Staver | Bloomberg | Getty Images America's consumer watchdog agency is sitting in the crosshairs of the White House. A D.C. court is expected to rule soon on whether the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is constitutional. But no matter the outcome, critics of the agency have begun laying the groundwork for the Trump administration to make dramatic changes to the institution at the heart of President Barack Obama's overhaul of the financial system. "The CFPB's structure is based on the idea that government is unlimited and rights are dependent on the special dispensation of the experts who know better than the American people," Republican Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mike Lee of Utah wrote in a recent letter to the White House. I'm just focused on doing my job, which is protecting consumers. The rest of it is above my pay grade. Richard Cordray director, CFPB The debate is centered on the agency's director, Richard Cordray, who is serving a five-year term that ends in 2018.The CFPB is an independent government agency that is funded through the Federal Reserve. Though Cordray is a presidential appointee, the White House has limited power to remove him. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the law that established the agency, the head of the CFPB can be dismissed only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." Cordray's protected status is now being challenged by PHH, a New Jersey mortgage servicer that the CFPB had fined $109 million. In November, a panel of judges in the D.C. Circuit Court ruled that the agency lacked critical checks on the director's power. But any changes to the CFPB's structure are on hold while the court decides whether a broader set of judges should weigh in. Industry experts say the answer could arrive any day. If the court denies the CFPB's request, Trump could dismiss Cordray almost immediately and the agency would have little recourse to appeal to the Supreme Court under a Republican administration. "I'm just focused on doing my job, which is protecting consumers," Cordray told CNBC on Wednesday on his way to Capitol Hill. "The rest of it is above my pay grade." White House already lining up a new boss Even if the court grants a broader review and the case remains in limbo, opponents of the CFPB have begun building the case for removing Cordray anyway. The White House has already begun meeting with potential replacements, such as former Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, who had proposed legislation that would gut the agency. "Dodd-Frank was a piece of massive government overreach," a senior administration official said. "Some of the rules may have even been unconstitutional in creating new agencies that don't actually protect consumers. They might have just created more additional work. We're looking to deal with those." Critics point to a laundry list of CFPB actions that they say could warrant removal under existing Dodd-Frank standards: Republicans have excoriated the agency for the cost of renovating its building, for example, and for an alleged lack of diversity among its employees. I think the president has at least a credible claim for removal. Brian Knight senior fellow, Mercatus Center They also argue the agency overstepped its authority in issuing rules intended to address discrimination in auto lending that also affect car dealers an industry that was specifically carved out from the CFPB's purview. "I think the president has at least a credible claim for removal," said Brian Knight, as senior fellow at the libertarian Mercatus Center at George Mason University. "They've been extremely aggressive, and the courts have been pushing back on them pretty consistently." watch now Still, dismissing Cordray would be virtually unprecedented, even for a White House that prides itself on jettisoning tradition. No one has been fired by a president since the Supreme Court in 1935 set those standards of inefficiency, negligence or malfeasance for removal, according to an analysis by the left-leaning Americans for Financial Reform. "The slipshod rationalizations thinly disguising an underlying desire to remove a strong enforcer surely do not justify making him the first official ever to be removed by a president for cause," wrote Brian Simmonds Marshall and Veronica Meffe. Meanwhile, House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, is about to introduce a new version of his bill to undo Dodd-Frank that is also expected to take aim at the CFPB. In an interview on CNBC on Tuesday, he said he planned to work closely with the White House on that effort. "Dodd-Frank broke all its promises," he said. "I certainly hope to do my part on Capitol Hill to return us to a healthy economy and unclog the arteries of lending." Taking on the CFPB could prove politically precarious, however. Trump's campaign was fueled by populist anger against Wall Street the same anger that helped lead to the creation of the agency in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The CFPB is the brainchild of Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, an outspoken critic of the banking industry who enjoys a 61 percent approval rating in her home state, according to Morning Consult. 'Consumers deserve to have him serve' Trucks at work in the copper mine 'La Escondida' in Chile Copper prices could rise further if disruptions at the world's two largest copper mines persist, analysts say. Futures contracts on the metal for March delivery jumped more than 1.5 percent to $2.68 a pound Wednesday after news that BHP Billiton would be halting production at the world's biggest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, ahead of a planned Thursday strike. "It's presenting the market with a bullish case for a little upside," said Vivienne Lloyd, base metals analyst for Macquarie in London. Freeport-McMoRan has also warned it will reduce output at Indonesia's Grasberg mine, the second largest in the world, as the company deals with a smelter strike and struggles to renew its mining permit. Copper 6-month performance on the New York Mercantile Exchange Source: FactSet Reduced or halted production at both Escondida and Grasberg could cut 8 percent of global copper production, analysts said. Just the perception of less supply has helped support copper's gains so far. The sustainability of higher prices "depends how long the strike is. I think it could change the long-term outlook for the market," said Dane Davis, commodities research analyst at Barclays. He said sharply reduced copper supply could potentially send prices of the metal to $3 a pound, although he maintains his forecast that prices will average $2.50 this year. Copper prices have already been on the rise, leaping more than 30 percent last fall as the U.S. dollar weakened around the election and traders took a brighter view on China. The Asian country is the largest consumer of copper in the world. Macquarie's Lloyd expects the Escondida strike to last one to two weeks, reducing global supply by as much as 45,000 metric tons. Last week, Macquarie raised its copper price forecast by 9.3 percent to $5,850 per metric ton as traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME), or near $2.65 a pound. While the firm expects oversupply in the copper market to continue weighing on the price this year and next, the market should support a rebound in the years following. Source: Macquarie "Traders were already bullish into the strike," Davis said. "This was on the radar for a while. People have watched the negotiations deteriorate." Unionized workers at Escondida have rejected a sharp bonus cut from BHP, which owns a majority of the Chilean mine. The strike is set to begin early Thursday. The last worker strikes at Escondida occurred in 2006 and 2011. Copper prices had mixed reactions in the week following, rising nearly 5.7 percent in 2006 and falling 2.5 percent in 2011, according to an analytics tool called Kensho. "The industry is still obsessively focused on unit cost reductions," Jefferies equity analysts said in a Monday note. They expect wage negotiations to be a major factor in copper prices in coming months as contracts expire for at least five mines in 2017. "The outcome of negotiations at Escondida will set the tone for other negotiations this year," the analysts said. Reuters contributed to this report. Disclosure: CNBC's parent NBC Universal is a minority shareholder in Kensho. President Donald Trump's immigration order could set a dangerous precedent for immigrants seeking to enter the United States from countries other than the seven listed in the ban, Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. chief technology officer, said Wednesday. "The executive order makes it explicit that [policymakers] may look beyond these ... seven countries. It sets the precedent with these seven. And has explicit instructions to the team to look anywhere under any circumstance. And so the problem is not just the seven countries, although they're not insignificant," Chopra told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." Chopra, the first-ever U.S. CTO, said that if followed, the order's detrimental economic effects could outweigh any protection the administration insists it provides. "The costs to the economy are far greater than the added benefits to security for this shift in how we handle immigration procedures," the former Obama aide continued. Chopra, the first-ever U.S. CTO, said that if the order is backed by the courts, it could have a "terrible effect" on what he called the country's "long-term economic dynamism." It would also make recruiting more difficult, in turn pushing technology companies that actively seek high-skilled workers to pursue that talent abroad, he said. "More research and development centers of excellence will likely locate outside of the country in this period of uncertainty," Chopra said. "You [have] to take the talent that's out there and apply the best talent to the problems. And if you can't bring the talent here, you're going to have to invest elsewhere and locate those talent centers elsewhere. And that's terrible for the country." And while technology giants may be the hardest hit, they won't be the only industries feeling the brunt of the order's effects, said AMIDEAST President Theodore Kattouf. Kattouf was also a U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates under President Bill Clinton, and to Syria under President George W. Bush. "I doubt many of your viewers know that we have about 6,000 Syrian doctors practicing medicine in this country who were born in Syria, got their medical degrees in Syria and then came here on medical residencies, and often work in areas where there are very few doctors serving the communities," Kattouf told "Squawk on the Street" on Wednesday. Beyond that, Kattouf's organization AMIDEAST gives thousands of students from the Middle East and North Africa the opportunity to study in the United States on scholarships. "They study here, they get a good education, they get exposed to American values, and I think it's a win-win. I would note that President George W. Bush and the late king of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, agreed to bring tens of thousands of Saudi students here. And let's face it, the Saudis were the prime perpetrators of 9/11," Kattouf said, noting that he meant Saudi individuals, not their government. "And yet we've had 80,000 Saudi students at one time in this country [and] nobody said anything," he added. Trump defended the order on Wednesday, saying it was made quickly to prevent terrorism. His administration has repeatedly said it was issued hastily to prevent potential threats from "pouring in" to the U.S., but has provided no evidence of heightened risk. President Donald Trump's tweets won't have any effect on the outcome of his immigration order, so he should stop, CNBC's Jim Cramer said on Wednesday. "I would say, 'Listen, you know what, let the chips fall, but we know which way they should fall," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "No more tweets, Mr. President. You're killing the case here, man," he said. On Wednesday, Trump took to Twitter to voice his outrage at U.S. federal appeals court judges, who are weighing the temporary suspension of immigration restrictions order. @realDonaldTrump If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! Trump's order barred travelers from seven mainly Muslim countries for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. A U.S. appeals court late Saturday denied a request from the Justice Department to immediately restore Trump's order. Trump denounced the "so-called" judge in a series of tweets on Saturday. On Wednesday, at a law enforcement conference, Trump took another swipe at the motives of judges, saying the U.S. is "at risk" after the suspension. The euro could be poised to extend its bullish run in spite of "existential" political risks throughout Europe in 2017, according to a UBS report. Analysts from Switzerland's largest bank suggested that investors' fears the euro/dollar would contract in the event of a eurosceptic party being elected were overpriced. Especially given the far more likely scenario in which the euro/dollar would continue to strengthen should pro-European parties emerge victorious. "(The) risk reward in the EUR/USD is asymmetric," a team of UBS analysts said in a note. "If the most likely (election) outcomes materialize and tail events are averted, euro/dollar has scope for a significant rally," the report added. Big picture standpoint Concerns over the future of the European Union (EU) have increased as a result of rising populism throughout the continent with several key elections ahead. The Netherlands, France, Germany as well as potential snap elections in Italy and Greece could all take place this calendar year. Investors appear anxious the wave of populism associated with the U.K.'s vote to leave the EU as well as the election of U.S. President Donald Trump could boost the electoral prospects of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in May. Le Pen has campaigned to take France out of the euro and while the chances of the National Front leader being able to hold and let alone win a referendum appear unlikely, many believe the future of the EU would be in serious question without its second-biggest power. "The risk of an anti-euro party coming to power is an existential one for Europe," the UBS report warned, before adding that recent developments in the EU "have not been as bad from a big picture standpoint". UBS analysts pointed to the recent political scandal of France's center-right presidential candidate Francois Fillon as one key reason to be optimistic over the euro. Fillon has been accused of improperly employing family members as parliamentary assistants and although he vowed to continue his election campaign on Monday, he has dropped behind the former economy minister and independent candidate Emmanuel Macron in the polls. The latest polling suggests Macron's chances of defeating Le Pen in the second and final round of voting in May are greater than that of Fillon's. Further to this, UBS argued a second key reason to be bullish over the euro concerned Italy's constitutional court's decision on electoral law on January 25. The amendment has raised the likelihood of snap elections this year though the decision is perceived to have lowered the chances of a eurosceptic government gaining a majority. Author Kevin Smokler discusses his book following a screening of The Breakfast Club. Feb 8 Wednesday 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 only! Dir. John Hughes - 1985 - 97m SPECIAL TOURING GUEST AUTHOR KEVIN SMOKLER WITH HIS BOOK "BRAT PACK AMERICA: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies and the Places They Happened" WILL BE IN PERSON TO PRESENT THE 6pm & 8:30pm SCREENINGS! ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT http://bratpackamerica.brownpapertickets.com/ From writer/director John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, Weird Science), an iconic portrait of 1980s American high school life! When Saturday detention started, they were simply the Jock, the Princess, the Brain, the Criminal and the Basket Case, but by that afternoon they had become closer than any of them could have imagined. Featuring an all-star 80s cast including Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy, this warm-hearted coming-of-age comedy helped define an entire generation! Hughes has a wonderful knack for communicating the feelings of teenagers, as well as an obvious rapport with his exceptional cast - who deserve top grades. - Kathleen Carroll, New York Daily News Rarely have on-screen teens felt this authentic. They bluster, bicker and trade horrible insults (hence the film's R rating), then suddenly expose their most guarded feelings. - Rafer Guzman, Newsday ABOUT BRAT PACK AMERICA: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies and the Places They Happened: From the fictional towns of Hill Valley, CA, and Shermer, IL, to the beautiful landscapes of the Goondocks in Astoria and the time of your life dirty dancing resort still alive and well in Lake Lure, NC, '80s teen movies left their mark not just on movie screen and in the hearts of fans, but on the landscape of America itself. Like few other eras in movie history, the '80s teen movies has endured and gotten better with time. In Brat Pack America, Kevin Smokler gives virtual tours of your favorite movies while also picking apart why these locations are so important to these movies. Including interviews with actors, writers, and directors of the era, and a Trapper Keeper full of interesting facts about your favorite '80s movies, Brat Pack America is a must for any fan of The Breakfast Club and Back to the Future, of Ferris Buellers Day Off, Pretty in Pink, and Dead Poets Society. Smokler went to Goonies Day in Astoria, OR, took a Lost Boys tour of Santa Cruz, CA, and in the present visited retro arcades, movie theaters and record stores. His exploration of highways and main streets of Brat Pack America remind us why we loved the teen movies of the '80s so much and, three decades later, still do. ABOUT KEVIN SMOKLER: the author of the essay collection Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven't Touched Since High School (2013), which the Atlantic Wire called truly enjoyable, and the editor of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times, A San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His work has appeared in the LA Times, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Vulture, the San Francisco Chronicle, Publishers Weekly, and on NPR. In 2013, he was BookRiot's first ever Writer-in-Residence. He can be found on twitter at @weegee. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, cat, and most of MTV's first year on vinyl. European stocks closed higher on Wednesday as the earnings season continued to be the main focus for investors. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally ended 0.32 percent higher with most sectors trading in positive territory. Construction and material stocks ended the session higher by over 1.2 percent. Vinci forecast higher revenue and profits for this year on expectations of an upturn in construction in the French market. Its shares closed up by more than 4.6 percent on Wednesday. The travel and leisure sector was also higher as oil prices whipsawed. German airline Lufthansa climbed over 3.4 percent after an upgrade from Societe Generale . Political uncertainty in Europe and America continues to dominate markets with investors rushing for gold and pressure mounting on the euro. However, earning reports were the main market drivers on Wednesday. In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq composite both continued hovering around the flatline after hitting record highs in the previous session. The Norwegian Storebrand reached the top of the European benchmark, up by nearly 5 percent after reporting its first dividend payment in six years. On the other hand, Moller-Maersk was near the bottom of the benchmark, down by almost 5 percent, after it cut its dividend and presented higher-than-expected losses. The Danish drug company Lundbeck dropped 6 percent after announcing that it was dropping its tests on an experimental drug for Alzheimer. Healthcare firm Sanofi said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter net profit more than doubled thanks to lower amortization and restructuring costs. However, it highlighted a weak 2017 ahead. U.K.-listed Rio Tinto reported full-year earnings of $4.62 billion, a return to profit thanks to a recovery in commodities. Its shares fell slightly at lunchtime. Concerns over the future of the European Union have increased as several key elections approach and issues surrounding sovereign debt remain. Italian, French and Greek government bond yield spreads over the German bund have reached new highs amid market nervousness that Europe could be back in a state of crisis. "Somehow the market is there already," Beat Wittmann, partner at Porta Advisors told CNBC on Wednesday. "We will have elections in the Netherlands, in France, in Germany, in one, two, three, four months and that's an eternity in politics, as we have seen in the last 12 months. So yes, in Europe, things will get rougher and more nervous but a lot of that is in the market already," Wittman added. The political calendar is busy, with core member states electing new leaders, but it could become busier with the possibility of snap elections in Italy and Greece. Snap Italian elections The yield on the Italian 10-year government bond rose to 201.8 basis points over Germany on Wednesday morning, the highest since February 2014. According to Alex Dryden, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, this was due to political risks. He told CNBC over the phone that investors see the possibility of snap elections being called in the near future. "We do have some concerns if they call elections," Dryden added. Italy is under a caretaker government after former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned late last year. However, President Sergio Mattarella has refused to call elections before political parties agreed on changes to the electoral law. A court ruling at the end of January upheld some changes to the constitution, supporting views that elections before the summer were possible. Investors are worried that that the Italian election would further destabilize the euro zone -- especially if the populist 5-star movement, which has promised a referendum on the country's membership of the euro, makes a strong showing in the polls. "The most immediate reason why Italian bonds fell this morning is their close connection to renewed tensions over the Greek bailout terms with new disagreements between the Eurogroup of sovereign creditors and the IMF," Jan Randolph, director of sovereign risk at IHS Markit told CNBC via email. A survey of more than 10,000 people from 10 different European countries has revealed high public opposition to Muslim immigration. The Chatham House Royal Institute of International Affairs carried out the survey, asking online respondents their views on the statement that "all further migration from mainly Muslim countries should be stopped". Over the 10 European countries surveyed, an average of 55 percent agreed with the statement. 25 percent neither agreed nor disagreed, while only one in five respondents felt Muslim immigration should continue. Poland was the country most in favor of a ban on Muslim immigration with 71 percent of respondents agreeing with the statement. Austria was close behind with 65 percent. This survey was carried out before U.S. President Trump's executive order to ban temporarily citizens of seven Muslim-majority states and freeze refugee arrivals. Taxpayers should expect to see revenue-neutral tax reform as early as this summer, Republican Sen. Rob Portman told CNBC on Wednesday. "We need to do it. It's urgent. It's one way we know we can give the economy a shot in the arm," the Ohio senator told "Squawk Box." Portman said congressional Republicans are already working to change the "inefficient," "antiquated" tax code by April or May, when Congress typically puts together a budget resolution. He said tax-reform proponents will use budget reconciliation to push through the revamp. The process allows for faster consideration of certain legislation dealing with taxes, spending and debt. Budget reconciliation also protects bills from Senate filibuster and allows them to pass with a simple majority instead of 60 votes. "I think that'll probably be necessary, honestly, to get the kind of tax reform done that we're looking at: pro-growth, pro-jobs tax reform," Portman said. He said the ultimate goal for Republicans besides passing the tax reform is making it revenue neutral, meaning no increase or decrease in federal tax revenues. Critics of revenue-neutral tax reform say the plan creates winners and losers in the tax system by lowering taxes for some and raising them disproportionately for others. They also say it can hinder the country's spending plans, which are seen as critical in areas like education. To prove that the reform will eventually start to generate revenue, the senator said Republicans will use a process called dynamic scoring, which predicts and accounts for the economic effects of reform. Static scoring assumes no changes to economic activity and analyzes proposed changes as is. Portman argued that the $2.5 trillion companies are holding in cash overseas is more likely to be repatriated if the tax rate is lowered, and that would generate revenue. "I think it should be revenue neutral because that way it can be so-called permanent tax reform, not subject to the limitations of the budget, which is what otherwise would happen," Portman said. "But we should use the kind of scoring that actually shows the dynamic nature of good tax reform." Shares of Singapore-listed offshore services company Ezra Holdings hit an all-time low on Wednesday as concerns over its debt obligations continue to mount. The company's shares were sold down to 2.6 cents Singapore the second fresh record low this week after problems with one of its joint ventures, EMAS Chiyoda Subsea, emerged. The company said in a filing to the Singapore Exchange on Friday that it could possibly write down $170 million due to issues at EMAS. Adding to concerns, Ezra said on Tuesday that it received a statutory demand from a customer for a payment amounting to approximately S$4.4 million that, if not paid up within three weeks, could lead to the company being wound up. "Debt issues for Ezra have been surfacing to the market and the latest statutory demand creates solvency concerns, fuelling the aggressive selling," said Pan Jingyi, a Singapore-based market strategist at IG. Ezra could not be reached for comment on the latest movements in its share price. Latest developments at Ezra reflect the troubles still faced by Singapore's oil and gas sector despite the recent pick up in oil prices. Another company, First Ship Lease Trust, also warned of "significant net loss" for the financial year 2016, citing impairment provisions on vessels and a loss on the disposal of two vessels. Facebook will no longer allow advertisers to target or exclude certain races or ethnic groups for ads that promote housing, employment and credit opportunities. Specifically, advertisers will not be able to target or exclude Facebook's "multicultural advertising segments which consist of people interested in seeing content related to the African American, Asian American and US Hispanic communities," the company said in a blog post on Wednesday. Facebook also updated its policies to make it clearer that advertisers may not discriminate based on personal characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual identity. The social media company was scrutinized for its advertising policy first in October 2016, when ProPublica discovered companies could ask Facebook to not show their ads to select "ethnic affinities." Barring employment or housing based on race is illegal in the U.S. Facebook argued at the time that "ethnic affinities" was not the same as race. The company said in the blog post "discriminatory advertising has no place on Facebook," and the new rules strengthen its existing position. It is also adding educational resources for advertisers so they can further understand its anti-discrimination policies. You can read the post here. watch now Gasoline purchases can be a powerful signal about the consumer economy, and last month's drop off in demand was downright recession-like. But economists don't see a recession, and energy analysts say demand picked back up in the last week to a more normal level. Now, they are waiting to see if that continues, and to see if a massive gasoline glut begins to disappear. In a report Wednesday, Goldman Sachs analysts said while they don't believe there is a recession, they noted that the implied drop of 460,000 barrels a day in January, or 5.2 percent year over year, is the kind of tumble seen only during a recession. "such a decline has only occurred in four periods since 1960, during which time PCE contracted," the analysts wrote. They note that government data on consumption personal consumption expenditures, or PCE dropped sharply at the same time in those other periods, but it is not lower right now. PCE is expected to grow by 2.6 percent in the first quarter. "Goldman doesn't think there's a recession, and I don't either," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Services. But Kloza acknowledged there was a mysterious decline in the demand for gasoline decline in January. The government data measures wholesale demand, but Kloza looked at data on drivers' actual purchases at the pump, and they were driving less. "Our own survey of about 10,000 stations across the country shows that sales gallons were down 4.4 percent in January," he said. "Those are actual sales, and it's a cross section, ranging from big box to mom and pop. I don't disagree with the notion that gasoline demand is going to be much higher in subsequent months, and it will probably be a reasonable driving season." I think people have an internal thermostat ... They're crazy when it involves gasoline. Tom Kloza Oil Price Information Services But at this time last year, the first week in February was the start of a 33-week run of gasoline demand exceeding 9 million barrels a day. The current four-week average, which analysts watch, stands at 8.3 million barrels a day, according to the Energy Information Administration's weekly report. The EIA showed a pickup on a weekly basis to 8.9 million barrels a day last week, well above the 8.3 million barrels a day of the week earlier. "Gasoline demand picked up big-time last week. On the question of gasoline demand, I'm not going to get too excited about one week. Demand numbers, in particular, can be erratic and inconsistent week-to-week," said Michael Wittner, global head of energy research at Societe Generale. Wittner also does not see a recession. The Goldman analysts say their own model for gasoline demand, which looks at growth in PCE, pump prices, efficiency and the number of holidays, shows a much shallower 0.3 percent decline. There have been a variety of possible explanations given, including winter weather and a surge in consumers upgrading to more fuel-efficient vehicles. Goldman also blamed changes in the Mexican gasoline market, and the fact that the EIA only estimates exports. There was likely lower demand from Mexico, due in part to a 16 percent price hike there. Lower exports would impact U.S. demand numbers, they noted. Kloza believes the explanation is more simple. "I think people have an internal thermostat ... They're crazy when it involves gasoline. There were a lot of parts of the country where people were paying $0.40, $0.50 or even $0.70 more in some states than they were in January of 2016," he said. "Crude oil is twice the price we had a year ago." Crude bottomed at about $26 per barrel last February. West Texas Intermediate futures were at $52.39 per barrel Thursday. According to AAA, the price of gas at the pump Thursday averaged $2.26 per gallon for unleaded nationally. That compares to $1.73 per gallon a year ago. Gasoline prices averaged $2.33 per gallon last month, compared with just under $1.91 per gallon during January 2016, according to AAA data. Last January also had the strongest demand reading since 2008 based on EIA data, Kloza said. Data from Oil Price Information Service show the average gas station sold 76,658 gallons in January, compared with 80,199 gallons a year earlier. Nick Colas, chief market strategist at Convergex, believes the drop in demand could be tied to fuel efficiency. Colas said the Department of Transportation's data on miles driven, available only through November, shows a jump in driving miles. Colas said it suggests that U.S. vehicles are getting an average of about 22 miles per gallon. watch now Intel announced a new investment in an Arizona factory on Wednesday and it did so at the Oval Office, not its Santa Clara, Calif. headquarters. The reason? To show support of the administration's "policies to level the global playing field," especially when it comes to taxes, CEO Brian Krzanich told employees in a company email. "From a tax and regulatory position we have been disadvantaged relative to the rest of the world where we compete," the email said. "That's why we support the [a]dministration's policies to level the global playing field and make U.S. manufacturing competitive worldwide through new regulatory standards and investment policies." The factory is not new it has been in the works for several years, Krzanich said, and was even used by the Obama administration "as a symbol of the future of U.S. manufacturing," before falling vacant, The Arizona Republic reported. Here's what President Barack Obama said at Intel's construction site for the factory in 2012: "We have a huge opportunity to create more high-tech manufacturing jobs in the United States, and bring some of these jobs back from overseas. But we're going to have to seize the moment. That starts with changing our tax system." But the new $7 billion investment to finish the factory reflects support of new policies, Krzanich told reporters on Wednesday. It also reflects the pressure to make smaller, faster chips despite scientific challenges, a principle that "marches on" for the company's business, he said. "We've held off doing this investment until now," Krzanich told reporters at the announcement. "It's really in support of the tax and regulatory policies that we see the administration pushing forward. That will really make it advantageous to do it in the U.S." There will be no incentives from the federal government for the Intel project, the White House said. "Brian called a few weeks ago and said, 'We want to do a big announcement,'" President Donald Trump said at the Wednesday announcement. Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk missed fourth-quarter net profit forecasts on Wednesday but said it expects a higher annual underlying profit this year. The company, the world's largest shipping company by capacity, has been one of the victims of weak global growth and trade in recent years. However, Maersk's chief executive Sren Skou is confident that the group's container shipping business, Maersk Line, is set for growth of 2-4 percent in 2017 as the balance between supply and demand evens out. "The fourth quarter of 2016 was the first quarter since 2010 where the demand outgrew supply, and actually by some margin," Skou told CNBC Wednesday. "We have hardly seen any new capacity being ordered since the third quarter of 2015, the order book of new ships being built is at a record low," he added. Research from the Baltic and International Maritime Council in September projected that 2016 would set the record for the lowest newbuilding contracts in more than 20 years. "I think the supply and demand fundamentals are looking reasonable now and for at least the first three quarters of this year," Skou said. Here are some of the key stories CNBC is following this hour: Gunmen killed at least six Red Cross workers in Afghanistan. The Afghan workers were in a convoy carrying supplies to areas in northern Afghanistan that had been hit by deadly snow storms. Two other workers were unaccounted for. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Chrystia Freeland, at the State Department. Her visit is expected to lay the groundwork for an anticipated visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. National Weather Service workers are in Scott County, Mississippi to assess damage caused by a severe storm. Preliminary reports show a tornado may have ripped through the area. The storm damaged buildings and uprooted trees. Data from the Distilled Spirits Council show the industry has taken market share from beer for the seventh-straight year. Last year, liquor sales reported a 4.5 percent bump in sales to wholesalers, with sales volume up about 2.5 percent. Senate Democrats pulled another all-nighter, this time to highlight their opposition to Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination to be attorney general. The senate vote on Sessions is expected to occur this evening. Here are some of the key stories CNBC is following this hour: A worker inspects a sinkhole that appeared after heavy rain outside a property located near Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's residence in Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2017. Seattle has become the first major city to cut financial ties with Wells Fargo over the bank's involvement in financing the Dakota Access pipeline project. In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, city council members agreed to divest $3 million from the bank. The vote prompted chants from crowds packing the council chambers. A Russian court has found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of his 2013 fraud case, disqualifying him to run for president next year. Navalny was found guilty of embezzling timber worth about $270,000 and was given a five-year suspended sentence. A sinkhole has opened up near Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's home in an exclusive Sydney suburb after heavy rain pummeled the region on Tuesday. Police cordoned off the area, less than a mile from the Turnbull residence. Thousands of families in Louisiana are picking up the pieces of their lives after several tornadoes touched down . Some in east New Orleans say the destruction was worse than from Hurricane Katrina. No deaths have been reported, but about 40 people were injured. Here are some of the key stories CNBC is following this hour: President Donald Trump holds up papers while speaking during the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. Voting started in Somalia's ground-breaking presidential election amid a security lockdown that has closed the capital's international airport and cleared major streets. Reuters just reported that former Prime Minister Abdullahi Farmajo won the presidential vote. Fears of attacks by Islamic group Al-Shabab have limited the election to the country's legislators. Pope Francis again appealed to the world to build bridges and not walls. The pope has been sharply critical of President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the Mexican border. A new survey by CreditCards.com reveals about 12 million Americans have concealed a bank or credit card account from their spouse or partner. Baby boomers were found to be nearly four times as likely as millennials to have a secret account. On Monday, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Jane Kim announced plans to offer free City College tuition to all of San Francisco's residents regardless of need. It would be the first metropolitan area to do so. San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim told local station KGO-TV , "Making City College free is going to provide greater opportunities for more San Franciscans to enter into the middle class and more San Franciscans to stay in the middle class if they currently are." Under the proposed deal, which is expected to take effect in the fall, the city of San Francisco would provide the City College of San Francisco with nearly $5.4 million annually. The two-year community college currently charges $46 per-credit. More than 28,000 students would benefit from the proposal, Kim says, and any resident who has lived in the city for at least a year would qualify. The deal would also provide full-time low-income students who already receive fee waivers from the state $250 per semester. These funds could be used towards books, transportation and other costs. Brother, can you spare $1 million for Martin Shkreli? A regulatory filing reveals that Shkreli the notorious pharma bro and accused securities fraudster is now also an executive officer and director of a new tech company that is trying to raise $1 million through a debt offering. The company, Godel Systems, is a software entity that touts its founder as "an elite entrepreneur," according to an online job-listing site. Last week's Securities and Exchange Commission filing by Godel Systems indicated the company has already raised $50,000 out of the $1 million in debt it began issuing in mid-January. The debt would be "convertible into equity securities," according to the filing. It also indicates that one of the people involved in the new company is a long-time Shkreli associate whose employment history includes stints at both the hedge fund and pharmaceutical firm where Shkreli has been accused of fraud. The SEC filing comes as Shkreli prepares to face trial in Brooklyn, New York, this summer on federal criminal charges. Shkreli is accused of defrauding the pharmaceuticals company he founded, Retrophin , out of millions of dollars in order to pay back investors in hedge funds he previously ran, and whom he was accused of ripping off. The SEC is suing Shkreli in a related civil action that claims he committed fraud by misappropriating money from the MSMB Capital Management fund, which he had founded, and by making material misrepresentations to the fund's investors about its financial performance. Shkreli, who is free on $5 million bond in the criminal case, has denied wrongdoing. On Monday, a federal judge ordered Shkreli to pay $2.6 million to a pharmaceuticals expert, Thomas Koestler, who for years had asked Shkreli to honor an agreement to transfer shares in Retrophin to him in exchange for consulting services Koestler provided to the company. CNBC contacted Shkreli's criminal defense lawyer and left a message at Godel System's voicemail box seeking comment on the debt issuance filing. Neither has replied as of yet. Godel Systems is located at the address of a "co-working" office space in Manhattan's Flatiron District, according to the SEC filing. A Google search for a website registered to Godel Systems did not return any results. However, a job-listing site for programmers contains a description of Godel Systems. "Godel Systems, Inc. is a professional software company that aims to be the leading information provider of data, workflow and communications solutions for financial, law and scientific professionals. Godel's first vertical will target the $27bill+ financial market with additional future verticals planned in law and science. We plan to revolutionize the data aggregation and communications model for millions of users across multiple industries in new and exciting ways," according to a job posting. "Godel's founder has a tremendous track record as an elite entrepreneur with the last two ventures reaching valuations of over $500mill and $1bill respectively! We are well funded with proven management, while at the same time aiming to maintain the most important elements of the start-up culture," the posting said. Godel Systems' post said it is looking to hire a "Full Stack JavaScript Developer." The company says it offers "great benefits," a "smart and ambitious team," "proven track record" and "unique start-up culture." The "Godel" in the company's name appears to be a reference to the renowned Austrian mathematician, Kurt Godel. Turing Pharmaceuticals, the company that Shkreli founded after being ousted from Retrophin in 2014, was named after the famous British mathematician Alan Turing. The SEC filing, dated Jan. 31, reveals that besides Shkreli, another executive officer and director of the Godel Systems is a Shkreli associate named Kevin Mulleady. Mulleady is identified by name several times in a pending federal civil lawsuit by Retrophin that accuses its founder and former CEO Shkreli of "repeatedly breaching his duty of loyalty to Retrophin." Mulleady, who is not a defendant in that suit, is identified as having been a Retrophin employee, but it is not clear what formal duties, if any, he had. The suit details a complicated stock swap of Retrophin shares allegedly involving Mulleady and Shkreli after the SEC opened a probe of MSMB Capital Management, the hedge fund that Shkreli and Mulleady had operated. Shkreli was chief investment officer and Mulleady was CEO of MSMB Capital. That swap allegedly had the effect of giving the SEC the false impression that MSMB Capital Management had assets under management that it actually did not possess. The federal criminal complaint against Shkreli does not mention Mulleady by name. But a section of that criminal complaint mirrors the Retrophin suit's claims that Shkreli, in late 2012, induced Mulleady and another Retrophin employee to deliver 90,000 of their Retrophin shares to him in exchange for a promise of unrestricted shares in a corporate entity being used to accomplish a reverse merger with Retrophin. Shkreli allegedly transferred 75,000 of those initial shares to MSMB Capital. In the criminal indictment of Shkreli, a grand jury describes that alleged legerdemain. The indictment says Shkreli and Retrophin's counsel, Evan Greebel, "orchestrated a transfer of shares from Shkreli from Co-Conspirator 1, as well as Corrupt Employee 1 and Corrupt Employee 2, individuals whose identities are known to the Grand Jury, and backdated them to the summer of 2012." The names of the co-conspirator and the "corrupt" employees are not given in the indictment. The indictment, in an earlier section, first introduced "Co-Conspirator 1" as someone who allegedly misappropriated funds with Shkreli from MSMB Capital. Mulleady, when contacted by CNBC on Wednesday, said, "I have no comment" when asked about his involvement in Godel Systems. Mulleady said, "I have no comment on that" when asked about whether he is a person referred to without being named in the federal criminal complaint against Shkreli, given that indictment's overlap with allegations related to him in Retrophin's civil lawsuit. Mulleady, according to campaign finance records, worked at Shkreli's new pharma company, Turing Pharmaceutical, after Shkreli was ousted by Retrophin. It was while CEO of Turing that Shkreli first gained public notoriety by hiking the price of the decades-old antiparasite drug Daraprim from $13.50 per pill to $750. Mulleady's LinkedIn page identifies him as CEO of The StoneCorner Group for the past six years, and before that as a portfolio manager for Morgan Stanley. The current LinkedIn page for Mulleady does not mention MSMB Capital Management, Retrophin or Turing Pharmaceuticals. A third executive and director of Godel Systems is identified as Akeel Mithani, Godel System's chief financial officer. Like Shkreli, Mithani is a graduate of Baruch College in New York City. Correction: The SEC suit claims Shkreli made material misrepresentations to MSMB Capital Management fund investors about its financial performance. An earlier version misstated this claim. A man takes part in a march with veterans to Backwater Bridge just outside of the Oceti Sakowin Camp during a snow fall as "water protectors" continue to demonstrate against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline adjacent to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, December 5, 2016. Activists are threatening "mass resistance" to President Donald Trump and the Army Corps of Engineers on the hotly disputed Dakota Access pipeline and it could be difficult for the White House to counter the movement. Acting on an order from Trump, the Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday said it would grant the easement that Energy Transfer Partners needs to finish the final stretch of the pipeline. It also canceled an environmental review the Corps said it would undertake while President Barack Obama was still in office. That announcement amplified alarm among Native Americans and their allies, who oppose the pipeline because it would pass beneath Lake Oahe, a drinking water source and sacred site. "The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fight it is the new beginning. Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far," the Indigenous Environmental Network said in a statement. What that resistance will look like is uncertain. The movement appears to be taking on a diffuse, leaderless structure, similar to Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter. Such movements tend to have staying power. Dakota Access pipeline route, source: Energy Transfer Partners On the one hand, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, whose reservation is half a mile south of the contested site, is mounting a legal challenge to the easement and promoting a march on Washington next month. Standing Rock Tribal Council Chairman Dave Archambault II asked protesters to return home after the Army Corps of Engineers announced it would not grant the easement in December. He repeated that request again on Tuesday. But other councils and camp organizers have sent conflicting messages, suggesting the chairman may not be able to control the flow of activists to the region. The Cheyenne River Tribal Council of South Dakota invited a limited number of volunteers from the former servicemember group Veterans Stand to return to Standing Rock, Anthony Diggs, secretary of communications for the group, told CNBC. U.S. military veterans associated with the group are on site assisting with clean up and other logistics. The group is currently forming a network that can deploy thousands of veterans to Standing Rock as needed, but stresses it will only do so in consultation with tribal leaders. "Our plan is to send support where support is needed, and in light of the easement being granted over the next few days, we'll be able to better determine where that will be," Diggs said. With the major indexes only points from record highs, one market expert warns that the unpredictable political climate could soon wreak havoc on stocks. "I think [what's keeping stocks afloat is] earnings and a dose of optimism about what policies we're going to get from this administration," Rebecca Patterson, chief investment officer at Bessemer Trust, said Tuesday on CNBC's "Futures Now." "We're definitely discounting valuations, some deregulations, some fiscal stimulus, and our base case is that we are going to get those things." According to Patterson, as long as President Donald Trump and Congress continue to press for tax reform and economic stimulus, a level of hope will remain in the market. "But anything we see that derails [those policies], a focus on the Supreme Court or Obamacare, that takes us away from stimulus for an extended period [could make the market] a little vulnerable to at least a tactical pullback," she added. Patterson is particularly interested in Trump's meeting on Friday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, especially since the president scrapped the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Patterson believes the markets could be in jeopardy, depending on how willing Trump is to build a trade partnership with countries like Japan. "If you come out of that day and the rhetoric is more aggressive, non-consensus building, I think people will get more worried about this protectionist rhetoric," she said. But ultimately, Patterson is most concerned with Trump's dealings with China, stating that a "trade war with China is going to end badly." China is one of the U.S.'s largest trading partners, and the market expert believes that butting heads with the Asian trading giant would lead her to reconsider her stance that the markets could rally higher. Rosneft oil company CEO Igor Sechin attends a meeting of the Commission for the Strategic Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector October 27, 2015 at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Sasha Mordovets | Getty Images Late on the night of November 14, Igor Sechin, the CEO of the Russian state oil giant Rosneft, reportedly summoned Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev to a meeting at the company's headquarters in a czarist-era building across the river from the Kremlin. When he arrived, Ulyukayev was handed a large amount of cash in front of Sechin and then arrested on the spot and charged with soliciting a $2 million bribe. Ulyukayev, who insists that he is innocent, was fired by Russian President Vladimir Putin the day after his arrest. The unusual sting operation that brought down Ulyukayev, the first sitting government minister to be detained by police since the Stalin era, highlighted the power of Sechin, a shadowy figure who is widely seen as second only to Putin in influence. Russian newspapers reported that Rosneft's head of security who remains a high-ranking FSB security service official organized the sting, presumably on Sechin's orders. More from Vox: How to stop an autocracy "President Bannon," explained The return of an unfettered Wall Street Sechin has been called Putin's "Darth Vader" and the "scariest man on earth" by Russian media, and a leaked US embassy cable described him as the "grey cardinal of the Kremlin."Now that his friend and business partner Rex Tillerson has become President Donald Trump's secretary of state, Sechin is poised to play an even more important role: as a point man for efforts to improve Russia's chilly relationship with the US and get Washington to lift its sanctions on the Kremlin. Sechin's power and influence could soon grow even bigger: Some have speculated that the oil magnate could be considered for prime minister if Putin is elected to another term in 2018. "Putin will count on Sechin as an agent of influence on Tillerson, as a lobbyist" for better relations between Moscow and Russia, said Stanislav Belkovsky, an analyst formerly connected to the Kremlin. watch now Belkovsky added that the Russian strongman believes Tillerson, given his oil background, is likely to have a warm view of Sechin, which "can be used" to Moscow's advantage on sanctions on other issues. Washington's relationship with Moscow is at a postCold War nadir, with the US intelligence community accusing Russia of directly interfering in the presidential election to help Trump. Trump has promised to change that, and has spent months shocking allies and officials around the world by praising Putin as a strong and popular leader and rejecting criticism of his dismal human rights record. The latest effort came Sunday, when Trump told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly that he respects the Russian president and dismissed O'Reilly's objection that "Putin's a killer." Words are one thing, actions another. Trump has hinted that he'd be willing to lift some of the sanctions the US slapped on Russia after it invaded Eastern Ukraine and annexed Crimea. Vice President Mike Pence suggested on Sunday that the administration could eliminate some sanctions if Russia helps in the fight with ISIS, and Trump has also floated the idea of removing some of the measures if Putin agreed to a nuclear arms reduction deal. And that's where Sechin comes in. He stands to gain financially if the measures are lifted because Washington had frozen some of his assets and barred him from visiting the US. That pales in comparison with the boost he would get if Rosneft were able to resuscitate a deal to invest up to $500 billion in developing energy reserves that he'd signed with Tillerson while the diplomat was running Exxon Mobil. (Tillerson opposed the sanctions when they were introduced, and Exxon estimated it has lost as much as $1 billion because of them.) Restarting the project would be an enormous win for Rosneft and for Sechin's continued influence in the Kremlin. Meet the man with the $60 million house and the $100 million yacht In the already murky world of Kremlin politics, Sechin is an especially enigmatic figure. He tries to keep it that way, suing two independent Russian newspapers last year for reports about a $60 million mansion he's allegedly building outside Moscow and a $100 million yachthis wife allegedly owns. (Rosneft also sued the independent newspaper RBC for reporting that Sechin was trying to limit BP's control on the company board.) The entire Russian political and financial systems revolve around access to Putin, which is great for Sechin, who is one of the president's oldest and most trusted allies. A 56-year-old with graying hair, a hooked nose, a slightly nasal voice, and a near-perpetual frown, he worked his way out of obscurity and poverty in Leningrad to reach the heights of politics and business. Rumored to be a former spy, he is well-connected with the security services and speaks French, Portuguese, and Spanish. He makes as much as $11.6 million a year, but even his critics admit he works nearly nonstop, powered by his favorite drink, orange juice. Sechin is not one to let friendship get in the way if a conflict arises. His reputation is that of a ruthless insider who holds only three things to be sacred: his loyalty to Putin, Rosneft's ravenous expansion, and his no-holds-barred struggle against political and business rivals. Sechin's main hobby is hunting big game an important social pastime among politicians and businessmen in Russia and he reportedly likes to give Rosneft partners sausages made out of animals he's killed. When journalist Andrei Kolesnikov, known for his access to Putin, finally convinced Sechin after seven years to write a column for his Russian Pioneer magazine, the Rosneft head waxed lyrical about his love for jazz music: "The most important thing in jazz, as in real life, is improvisation." A request for an interview with Sechin was not answered, and a Rosneft spokesperson declined to comment for this story. Analyst Gleb Pavlovsky, who formerly served as an adviser to Putin's administration and knew Sechin personally, said the Rosneft head could be useful as an intermediary between Moscow and Washington and will seek that role so he can "transform himself into a more legitimate figure in the West." Sechin has already overseen one smaller rapprochement, having forged closer relations between Russia and Latin America in the late 2000s. Sechin met frequently with Hugo Chavez and even gave a speech in Spanish at a commemoration ceremony after the Venezuelan president's death, calling him a "brilliant politician, one of the founders of the idea of a multipolar world." A Putin crony with close ties to America's new secretary of state Sechin's relationship with Tillerson dates back more than a decade. Tillerson first arrived in Russia in 1997 and oversaw the company's project with Rosneft and Indian and Japanese partners to reach hydrocarbons deep below the icy seas off Sakhalin Island, which was delayed for years by low oil prices and legal holdups. Thanks in no small part to his partnership with Sechin, Tillerson has withstood pressure from the state gas company Gazprom, which forced foreign investors out of another Sakhalin venture, and the consortium is now Exxon's flagship project in Russia, pumping more than 250,000 barrels of oil a day. Exxon and Rosneft have gone on to sign other major deals. Sechin got to know Tillerson after he became chair of Rosneft in 2004, reportedly coming to admire the Texan's tough but transparent dealings with partners. In 2015, he even spoke outin support of Exxon in its ongoing legal battle to regain some of the $500 million in taxes it said it had overpaid Russia. After Exxon and Rosneft signed agreements to explore Siberia and the Arctic in 2011, Tillerson and Sechin were said to have celebrated with caviar in the luxury Manhattan restaurant Per Se. The next year, Putin, Sechin, and Tillerson were filmed toasting another deal with champagne. Putin awarded the Russian order of friendship to Tillerson in 2013, reportedly at Sechin's request. The two seem to have become not just partners but friends: Sechin said in 2014 that before he was sanctioned, he had been planning "to ride the roads in the United States on motorcycles with Tillerson." watch now In a St. Petersburg Economic Forum appearance last June that was interpreted as a sign of support for Rosneft, Tillerson called Sechin "my friend": "As to the sanctions question, I'll use the same approach that my friend Mr. Sechin took. That's a question for government." But Sechin is not one to let friendship get in the way if a conflict arises. His reputation is that of a ruthless insider who holds only three things to be sacred: his loyalty to Putin, Rosneft's ravenous expansion, and his no-holds-barred struggle against political and business rivals. Many of these are liberals like Ulyukayev or Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who oppose his vision of an economy dominated by huge state corporations. Sechin won his most recent clash with the two men, buying the oil company Bashneft in a deal Medvedev had opposed. (Ulyukayev was accused in November of seeking a bribe to back this deal, which he also was initially against.) "Business leaders who have dealt with Sechin say he has one particular idiosyncrasy: he immediately manages to get criminal proceedings started against any potential partner as a backup, as well as to facilitate the negotiating process," wrote journalist Mikhail Zygar in his seminal book All the Kremlin's Men. A rapid rise, fueled by ruthlessness and hard work Sechin was born into a blue-collar family in Leningrad in 1960. Although his parents worked at a metallurgical factory, Sechin studied at a school that specialized in French and managed to get into a university in Leningrad, where he studied Portuguese and Spanish. According to classmate Larisa Volodimerova, the skinny young man wasn't exceptional but studied hard to escape the poverty he lived in with his twin sister and divorced mother. "He was interested in money and a career for money from the beginning to exit this nightmare," she said, remembering there wasn't much food when she came over to their apartment. After graduating with a higher degree in economics in 1984, Sechin served as a Soviet military translator in the conflicts in Angola and Mozambique. (Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said Sechin told him he had worked for Soviet intelligence in Africa.) According to another classmate, Nikolai Konyushkov, Sechin always liked military discipline and was a platoon commander when the students underwent combat training outside the city. He recalled how his friend once daringly climbed from a neighbor's apartment into a third-story window to let Konyushkov into his apartment when he forgot his keys after one such training. "He could have served in more or less peaceful places, in the capital, but Igor Ivanovich chose hot spots," Konyushkov said. "He didn't fear military service; he liked it." After his return, Sechin went to work in Leningrad city hall, where he met Putin. By 1991, the future president was chair of the city's public relations committee, and Sechin became his head secretary, taking down visitors' contacts in a black leather binder. Acquaintances often remark on Sechin's absolute loyalty to Putin: Pavlovsky called him the leader's "angry guard dog." A recently rediscovered 1996 video interview shows Sechin faithfully following Putin through the airport metal detector, duffel bag and briefcase in hand. When then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin acting president in 1999, Sechin became the deputy head of his administration, waiting for Putin at the elevator every morning and at the airport after every foreign trip. His control over Putin's schedule as well as what papers made it to the president's desk increased his clout and his willingness to mercilessly go after his rivals. Sechin's first major target was Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was discussing the sale of a blocking stake in his Yukos oil company to Chevron Texaco or Exxon. According to Belkovsky, Sechin presented Putin with a report the analyst had written warning that Khodorkovsky planned to seize power, and he's believed to have overseen the subsequent legal attacks on the oligarch. Khodorkovsky was soon imprisoned on charges of tax fraud, and Yukos was broken up. Sechin's prize was chairmanship of Rosneft, which became the largest oil company in Russia after absorbing the main components of Yukos. In subsequent years, Sechin would outmaneuver or outlast many other rivals, often with similarly underhanded tactics. Russian media linked him to the sudden arrest of Vladimir Yevtushenkov who had reportedly rejected Sechin's offer to buy his Bashneft oil company in connection with an investigation into its privatization more than a decade earlier. Bashneft was seized by the state and sold to Rosneft two years later. Bob Dudley, who was CEO of the British-Russian joint oil venture TNK-BP, claimed in a leaked US Embassy cable that Sechin was in "direct cooperation" with his partners turned enemies in their attempts to force him out. Dudley later fled Russia after reportedly surviving a poisoning attempt and a few years later, Rosneft ended up taking over TNK-BP. Sechin also served as deputy prime minister from 2008 to 2012, and he is secretary of Putin's energy development commission. Yet even his critics have to admit Sechin fulfilled his task of turning a marginal oil company into the country's state champion, combining a legendary work ethic with the zeal of a Jesuit priest. Zygar described him as a "cyborg" who can go days without sleeping and terrorizes underlings with his deceptively soft voice. According to Pavlovsky, he was the hardest-working official in the Kremlin and "read all the papers," once catching a loophole no one else had spotted in a tax accord with the popular offshore business destination of Cyprus. watch now "Right now, we are at risk because of what happened." "I have to be honest that if those judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they'd do what they should be doing," Trump told a joint conference of the Major County Sheriffs' Association and Major Cities Chiefs Association. Trump started his remarks to a law enforcement conference by reading the law his administration believes underpins the measure, which has received the most backlash of any action he has taken in his young presidency. In the rambling opening to his speech, Trump urged a federal appeals court hearing arguments on the order's halt to agree with his administration. A defiant President Donald Trump took another swipe at the judicial branch on Wednesday, saying that the courts blocking his divisive immigration order "seem to be so political." A George W. Bush-appointed federal judge in the state of Washington previously suspended the order, which restricts travelers with visas from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days. It also stops refugee admissions for 120 days and indefinitely bars Syrian refugees. Trump focused his criticism on the arguments made in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Tuesday by lawyers for the state of Washington, which sued Trump's administration, arguing that the measure would harm its economy. The court will not decide on the legality of the order itself, but whether the lower court's suspension can stand. Federal judges on Tuesday pushed back both on the administration's arguments that the measures were necessary to properly vet immigrants and the plaintiffs' contention that the order targeted Muslims specifically. Trump's order signed late last month sparked confusion at airports and protests around the country. Criticism of the rollout focused on the detention of legal permanent residents, or green card holders, and accusations that it targeted Muslims, among other issues. Trump argued Wednesday that the administration made the move hastily to prevent terrorism. His administration has repeatedly said it moved quickly to stop potential threats from "pouring in" to the U.S., though it has given no evidence to back an increased threat. At Wednesday's conference, Trump read a section of the U.S. code that the administration has used as its legal underpinning for the order, peppering it with his own commentary. It outlines the president's ability to "by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary" suspend the entry of some aliens or impose "restrictions he may deem appropriate." At one point, Trump said the law should have read "he or she," adding that "hopefully it won't be a she for at least another seven years." "You can suspend, you can put restrictions, you can do whatever you want, and this is for the security of the country," Trump argued. "Courts seem to be so political," he said. Trump's comments about the judicial branch have prompted concerns that his administration will not respect its checks on its power. However, past presidents have also made comments dinging the courts. Critics who have focused on the intent of Trump's order cite his campaign call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and Trump advisor Rudy Giuliani's comment last month that Trump wanted a "Muslim ban" and asked for "the right way to do it legally." The White House has repeatedly denied that the measure is a Muslim ban. A decision from the appeals court is expected at any time. The 7 nanometer chips will be produced there will be "the most powerful computer chips on the planet," Krzanich said in the Oval Office with the Trump administration. Most Intel manufacturing happens in the U.S., Krzanich said. The factory will be in Chandler, Arizona, the company said, and over 10,000 people in the Arizona area will support the factory. Krzanich confirmed to CNBC that the investment over the next three to four years would be to complete a previous plant, Fab 42, that was started and then left vacant. Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, where the company announced it will invest $7 billion in a factory employing up to 3,000 people. "America has a unique combination of talent, a vibrant business environment and access to global markets, which has enabled U.S. companies like Intel to foster economic growth and innovation," Krzanich said in a statement. "Our factories support jobs high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs that are the economic engines of the states where they are located." After the announcement, Trump tweeted his thanks to Krzanich, calling the factory a great investment in jobs and innovation. Tweet: "Thank you Brian Krzanich, CEO of @Intel. A great investment ($7 BILLION) in American INNOVATION and JOBS! #AmericaFirst" It comes as the technology industry has pushed back against the Trump administration, amid mounting pressure to move manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. There will be no incentives from the federal government for the Intel project, the White House said. Intel was one of more than 100 companies that joined together to file a legal brief opposing Trump's temporary travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority nations. The White House had said earlier that Vice President Mike Pence would speak on Wednesday with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a member of Trump's business advisory council, whose companies had also signed onto the brief. Intel has been criticized in conservative publications such as Breitbart, for laying off thousands of staffers, despite an influx of visa requests. Reuters contributed to this report. In less than a month, President Donald Trump has come under sharp criticism for his immigration policy and his dealings with world leaders. But one analyst says Trump runs the U.S. like a family business. Beat Wittmann, partner of Porta Advisors, told CNBC Wednesday that Donald Trump runs the U.S. like a family business leader with little knowledge, no respect for any institution, framework or rules and will create an even more divisive society. But while Trump may be facing a lot of backlash for his policies in the first two weeks of his presidency, stock markets have climbed to record highs. Wittmann told CNBC Trump is good for stocks right now. "For the time being it's good. It's good and I think that run still has some legs, because Trump is Trump, he's not a Republican, he's not a Democrat and, as he's basically a family business leader, he will not like to see the stock market down really and he would not like to have unemployment rising, so these two things will be the guiding light of his presidency." With his Twitter blast at Nordstrom, President Donald Trump sparked fresh concerns that he and his family are using the Oval Office for personal gain. Trump accused the department store chain on Wednesday of treating his daughter Ivanka "unfairly," prompting its stock to drop briefly before it recovered. The president's tweet came days after Nordstrom said it would not sell his daughter's brand in the upcoming season due to sagging performance. Trump's tweet, later distributed by the official "@POTUS" account, pulled him back into a debate over whether he did enough to distance himself from his family's businesses when he took office. The president chose not to divest from the Trump Organization, handing control to his two eldest sons and a company executive. While the Trump Organization said Ivanka Trump stepped down from her roles there, she licenses her name to merchandise manufacturers, who then sell products at stores like Nordstrom and Macy's, according to The New York Times. It's not clear if she still receives royalties from her clothing licensing. Trump's criticism of a company that distanced itself from his daughter's brand shows "un-presidential behavior and potentially much worse," said Richard Painter, a former top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush. The #GrabYourWallet campaign isn't just directing its efforts at retailers across the country, it's also targeting celebrities who have been involved with Trump family endeavors. Tyra Banks was put on the boycott list for her work on the current season of The New Celebrity Apprentice, on which President Donald Trump has retained the title of executive producer. Banks appears as an advisor promoting her makeup and skincare brand Tyra Beauty. Boycott organizer Shannon Coulter tells Racked that Banks is now being removed from the list after a phone call with the former supermodel and current beauty CEO yesterday in which she pledged not be involved with the show going forward. More from Racked: How Reddit's anti-feminist women talk about clothes Melania Trump's problematic elegance The new Tiffany & Co. needs women "We want to make it clear that Tyra Beauty is not an active sponsor of The Celebrity Apprentice series and does not plan to become one in the future," a Tyra Beauty spokesperson further clarified in a statement. "Filmed a year ago, our involvement was limited to showcasing Tyra Beauty's innovative cosmetics products." As per Coulter, "I think what we're seeing right now is consumer power acting as a direct and substantial check to a presidential administration out of step with core American values of equality and inclusivity. Fortunately, in the United States, money talks. The women of this nation are showing it walks too." Jessica Alba, who appears as an advisor on the show promoting her personal care brand The Honest Company, was also removed from the list earlier today. According to the Grab Your Wallet website, the brand will not be working with the show again either. Banks and Alba's decision comes on the heels of retailers like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Belk, HSN, and ShopStyle backing away from Trump family brands. Racked has reached out to Tyra Beauty, The Honest Company, and NBC. Donald Trump's travel ban has created a "propaganda bonanza," that threatens the lifeblood of the technology industry, said Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow . The order imposes a 90-day ban affecting citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and a 120-day bar on all refugees. A federal judge suspended the order after Washington state challenged it. Nearly 130 technology companies filed an amicus brief in support of Washington as a federal appeals court hears the challenge. Trump argued Wednesday that the administration made the move hastily to prevent terrorism. His administration has repeatedly said it moved quickly to stop potential threats from "pouring in" to the U.S., though it has given no evidence to back an increased threat. Rascoff said the order has been perceived abroad as a ban on the Muslim faith, sparking dangerous propaganda. "We think it's bad for business, we think it's bad for the country, and frankly we don't think it makes the country safer, I think it makes us less safe," Rascoff said. "It cuts at the very center of the culture of the country, which welcomes refugees." Rascoff told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Wednesday that he only speaks out on issues like housing and technology that directly affect his company, which provides technology to help in the buying, selling renting and financing of homes. He said the recent executive order is one such issue. Refugee protest resolution I got a good way to settle all this protesting about not letting illegal aliens get in. All you people that are protesting adopt a family, from anywhere, anywhere you want. Take them into your community and you are responsible for them, you, and if something happens when they blow away a night club or a shopping mall or a school or what have you, youre responsible, legally or financially. There you go, that is the answer. Canadian refugee Sound-Off reply To the caller who asked about DWI versus refugees in Canada I would like to say there were zero Americans killed by refugees since 9/11. However in 2013 there were 10,000 Americans killed by drunk drivers by Americans. Its a felony in Canada, it should be a felony here. Syracusebased Empire Brewing Company and 1911 Established, a brand of 1911 Spirits, a division of Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette, have merged their sales departments. The sales partnership involves eight people working in areas that include Central New York, Western New York, Albany, and New York City, Empire Brewing said in a recent news release. Combining their sales personnel allows both companies to increase their visibility and grow the two brands, they contend. Access to market and supporting our distribution network are two of the biggest challenges for craft-beer and craft-cider producers across the U.S., David Katleski, owner of the Empire Brewing Company, said in the release. So often we are asked by our customers as to where they can purchase our products. Combining 1911 and Empires sales team will allow us to better support our distributors and [retailers] so to provide our products to customers across our backyard in Upstate New York. This partnership allows noncompetitive synergy between our companies and I couldnt be more thrilled to have Beak and Skiff/1911 as a partner, said Katleski. Combining the two sales departments is exciting and will allow both companies to go even deeper with our street-level presence in New York, Eddie Brennan, co-owner of 1911 Established, contended. Uniting New Yorks largest farm brewery with New Yorks largest craft cidery will give us the strength in numbers that is required to support our distributor and retail partners. Tiffany Rogers, Empires former New Jersey brand manager, will now serve as the head of sales for the combined Empire and 1911 Established sales department. Rogers has worked in the craft-beverage industry for 12 years. I feel that there is so much untapped potential in our backyard, Rogers said in the release. This partnership between Empire and 1911 will enable us to make a greater impact by combining our similar values and practices. Im excited to lead our team and am looking forward to our future. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com ROME, NY. The Rome Hospital Foundation announced the addition of Louis Viviani as a member of its board of directors. Viviani is an attorney who opened the Viviani Law Firm on North James Street in Rome in 2014. Before that, Viviani was a lawyer at Costello Cooney & Fearon in Syracuse for 18 years as a partner in the firms litigation department. During his time in Syracuse, Viviani served as an attorney for St. Josephs Hospital Health Center. The Rome Hospital Foundation says it provides philanthropic support to Rome Memorial Hospital. The foundation is a separate 501 (c) (3) organization that accepts gifts on behalf of Rome Memorial Hospital and works to fund both present and future equipment and program needs. Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com During a visit to Abike Dabiri Erewa, the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari, Ralf Sanftenberg, Germanys Global Head of Programme Migration and development declared that his country intends to deport 12000 Nigerians in 2018. Sanftenberg who led a delegation from Geman Ministry of Econonic Cooperation and Development said We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers. There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year. Out of all the asylum seekers he stated that 99 percent of them will be denied asylum status as Nigeria is not listed amongst war countries. However those willing to return to Nigeria voluntarily will not be deported. What to know about daylight saving time 2022 in Missouri missouri Sometimes I yearn for the good old days where news was delivered on printed paper once a day, and information was either gleaned from one's school friends or alternatively from that huge collection of Encyclopedia Britannica your parents purchased in a moment of weakness. Those days are well and truly gone and we're all awash in information, much of it fake or -- at best -- alternative. This problem holds true within the organization where workers of today are bombarded by information from (and in) a plethora of different places. If you're a vendor in the content collaboration space that wants to really make a difference to knowledge workers' productivity, your key challenge is to collapse this complexity -- or at least find ways to obfuscate the actual complexity that exists. This is the thinking behind Egnyte's latest release of its Connect product, a release that -- in unusually bombastic style for one so modest -- Egnyte CEO Vineet Jain says will "build a 'Content Superhighway' to accelerate productivity." To explain what is going on here, Egnyte Connect has always been about bringing together content sitting in different siloed repositories. This latest release, however, includes a desktop application which gives users the ability to collaborate on any corporate content with no limits on file size, type or location. The desktop app leverages a user experience that most people are familiar with -- the Mac Finder or Windows Explorer -- and via this gives access to every piece of content a user needs. The idea is to decouple the "where is the content?" questions from anything related to user experience. The rationale behind the offering is clearly articulated by Egnyte. "As the amount of content in organizations continues to grow exponentially and is spread across many storage systems and cloud applications, it's becoming difficult for employees to figure out how to quickly and efficiently access what they need to get their jobs done," said Jain. "The new release of Egnyte Connect decouples 'content location' from 'user experience' by automatically providing users the fastest route to their content and allowing IT to modernize the content infrastructure without users ever noticing. This is the next step in taking businesses from the 'Information Age' to the 'Intelligence Age,' where they will have smarter content and ultimately smarter businesses." It is important to think about this release within the context of Egnyte's core beliefs. While Jain sees a rapid migration of data occurring from traditional storage locations to the cloud, the fact is that significant amounts of data still resides on-premises. According to Jain, "hybrid is the word." In line with this, Jain believes that this release is the culmination of the company's hybrid vision -- a desktop app that exposes an entire file system. In doing so, regardless of where the content exists -- on-premises, in the cloud and/or on the desktop -- Egnyte offers intelligence around the shortest way to the data. It is focused on delivering a global file architecture distilled into a very simple desktop app -- and hence a global file system. It is this intelligence thing which is particularly interesting. In marketing speak, Egnyte explains that the connector is "leveraging analytics to bridge content silos and intelligently optimize user experience based on location and access method." So what is a simple explanation of what is actually a pretty compelling offering? Egnyte will now contextually chose where a file should be accessed from. In the old way of working, a user would open a particular file and, hence, by default would specify which location to open it from. Egnyte is adamant that its new desktop app will have multiple benefits for users. Per the briefing materials: Working Online and Offline -- When a user has Internet connectivity, the desktop app will automatically show all the corporate content available to a user. Users will also be able to mark any files and folders for offline access, allowing them to keep working with limited or no internet connectivity. Once the internet connection is re-established, the desktop app will automatically sync the edited files with Egnyte Connect so all other corporate users can see the changes made. -- When a user has Internet connectivity, the desktop app will automatically show all the corporate content available to a user. Users will also be able to mark any files and folders for offline access, allowing them to keep working with limited or no internet connectivity. Once the internet connection is re-established, the desktop app will automatically sync the edited files with Egnyte Connect so all other corporate users can see the changes made. Intelligent Access to Cloud and On-Premises Content -- When a user is working on a file, the desktop app will automatically select the copy that is the closest to the user in order to reduce latency and optimize bandwidth cost. If a user is in the office working on a piece of content that is available via on-premises storage, Egnyte Connect will access the copy stored there. If the user is working remotely or at an office without on-premises storage, the cloud copy will automatically be selected. Meanwhile, this will all transparent to the end user. -- When a user is working on a file, the desktop app will automatically select the copy that is the closest to the user in order to reduce latency and optimize bandwidth cost. If a user is in the office working on a piece of content that is available via on-premises storage, Egnyte Connect will access the copy stored there. If the user is working remotely or at an office without on-premises storage, the cloud copy will automatically be selected. Meanwhile, this will all transparent to the end user. Global File Locking -- When multiple people on the team are working on a single piece of content, it can be tricky if multiple versions are created. With Egnyte Connect's new desktop app, if a user is working on a piece of content, the file will be "locked" and other team members notified, keeping everyone aligned and preventing a potential version conflict. -- When multiple people on the team are working on a single piece of content, it can be tricky if multiple versions are created. With Egnyte Connect's new desktop app, if a user is working on a piece of content, the file will be "locked" and other team members notified, keeping everyone aligned and preventing a potential version conflict. Working With Productivity Apps They Like -- The Egnyte Connect desktop app is backward compatible and provides cross-platform access via any productivity application. For example, when a user is using their favorite chat application, users will be able to access content from the Egnyte Connect desktop app just like they would by opening their Windows Explorer or Mac Finder -- opening, reviewing, editing and saving the content right back to where it came from. The desktop app will even enable right-clicking to create a link to post right into their chat app. -- The Egnyte Connect desktop app is backward compatible and provides cross-platform access via any productivity application. For example, when a user is using their favorite chat application, users will be able to access content from the Egnyte Connect desktop app just like they would by opening their Windows Explorer or Mac Finder -- opening, reviewing, editing and saving the content right back to where it came from. The desktop app will even enable right-clicking to create a link to post right into their chat app. Limitless Devices -- The Egnyte Connect desktop app redefines the concept of "content management," making all of their content available at their fingertips, regardless of hard drive size, file size or file type, or where it's stored in the corporate infrastructure. Users will no longer have to think about disk space, starting a VPN, or logging in to a cloud service to have all of their important content available to them at all times, creating a convenient and stress-free experience wherever they are working. MyPOV Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Personally, I'd be pretty keen to revert to those moth-eaten copies of Encyclopedia Britannica and my daily dose of news from a soggy newspaper. Time has, however, well and truly moved on, and the digital complexity within which we exist is only going to get worse (or more "fragmented," if you're of a more optimistic disposition). Given that increasing complexity, simple solutions like Egnyte's desktop app will be increasingly valuable. It may not be sexy, but it works and it delivers what it says it does: greater efficiency and productivity. Nice job. The nation's energy policies appear to be ready to change drastically under President Donald Trump's administration. The Presidents "America First Energy Plan," published yesterday, appeared to focus almost exclusively on increasing fossil fuel production and rejuvenating the coal industry. The plan called for accessing "the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own. We will use the revenues from energy production to rebuild our roads, schools, bridges and public infrastructure. Less expensive energy will be a big boost to American agriculture, as well." Another goal of the plan is to achieve "energy independence" from what the White House statement described as the "OPEC cartel and any nations hostile to our interests." The plan will also promote clean coal technology, and reviving America's coal industry, "which has been hurting for too long." Energy Information Administration The White House's energy plan came on the same day a report claimed the solar industry now employs more than twice as many as does the coal industry, slightly more than the oil industry, and five times as many people as in the nuclear energy market. [ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ] The report -- from The Solar Foundation -- claimed last year's growth in the solar industry outpaced the overall U.S. economy by 17 times. The Solar Foundation Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy published a report showing jobs in the solar field surpassed those in the coal industry. In 2016, the solar workforce increased by 25% over the previous year, to 374,000 employees, compared to 187,117 electrical generation jobs in the coal, gas and oil industries combined, according to the DOE's "Energy and Employment Report for 2017." Industry experts have also noted that the coal industry isnt likely to revive its previous output because it's simply too expensive compared with the cost of producing renewable energy. The Trump Administration's energy plan did point out that the need for energy "must go hand-in-hand with responsible stewardship of the environment." "Protecting clean air and clean water, conserving our natural habitats, and preserving our natural reserves and resources will remain a high priority. President Trump will refocus the EPA on its essential mission of protecting our air and water," the plan stated. The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Computerworld. In 2015, the average number of employees at U.S. coal mines decreased 12%, to 65,971 employees, the lowest on record since the Energy Information Agency began collecting data in 1978. Coal production decreased for the fourth year in a row, to 1,165 million tons, a decline of 6.3% from 2014 levels. Energy Information Administration By comparison, in 2015, new installations of solar power capacity surpassed both wind and coal for the second year in a row, accounting for 32% of all new electrical capacity, according to a new report from GTM Research. There is a concern, analysts said, that the Trump Administration will roll back the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar, which was passed in a bipartisan agreement and extended through 2019. After that, the tax credit will decline to 10% by 2022 in return for lifting the oil export ban. The rollback "could happen, but [is] unlikely, due to the bipartisan nature of how the extension was passed in Congress and the momentum solar has right now," said Raj Prabhu, CEO of the Mercom Capital Group, a clean energy research firm. "Solar has gone mainstream with utilities, businesses, and homeowners, not to mention that solar jobs exceed over 200,000." Former President Barack Obama focused his administration's efforts on addressing climate change and promoting renewable energy. For example, in August 2015, through an executive order Obama made $1 billion in loan guarantees available for states' renewable energy projects. The Solar Foundation The administration also made available to single-family housing Property-Assessed Clean Energy financing, which made it easier for homeowners to invest in clean energy technologies. Obama also created the Department of Defense's Privatized Housing Solar Challenge, spurring private companies to commit to providing solar power to housing on over 40 military bases across the country -- with a goal of installing 300MW by 2020. The Obama administration also made available $24 million for 11 projects in seven states to develop innovative solar technologies that double the amount of energy each solar panel can produce from the sun. Freedom Solar Power Workers prepare to install rooftop solar panels. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency created the Clean Power Plan, a policy aimed at combating global warming. Under that plan, the federal government set a goal of reducing carbon emissions in 2025 by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels and increasing the share of renewables in their respective electricity generation mixes to the level of 20% by 2030. In 2014, the United States brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy, according to a White House statement. Since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50%. In fact, distributed solar prices fell by 10% to 20% in 2014 alone, and currently 44 states have pricing structures that encourage increased use of distributed energy resources. National Public Radio noted in a news article that Trump's "America First Energy Plan" is similar to a speech he made last month before Republicans gathered in Philadelphia. "We will unleash the full power of American energy, ending the job-killing restrictions on shale, oil natural gas and clean, beautiful coal. And we're going to put our coal miners back to work," Trump said. Related video: When Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former prime minister of Norway, was temporarily detained upon arriving at Dulles International Airport on Jan. 31, international controversy ensued. The controversy was purely political, and while I do not support the executive order stopping people from seven countries from entering the U.S., Bondeviks detention had nothing to do with that issue. Instead, he was detained for additional questioning under a 2015 law that requires people who visited any of the seven countries in question to obtain a visa prior to entering the U.S., even if they are from a country that does not normally require a visa for entrance to the U.S. The law was put in place in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. Whether or not the law is just is not relevant to this discussion. Bondevik was detained because he had Iranian visas and stamps in his passport. To those who say that as a former world leader, he should have been waved through, I respectfully disagree. Such deference is a breakdown of security protocols, and we see the ugly consequences of that every day in the enterprise. There are many examples of users or security officers bypassing procedures because they are intimidated by people pretending to be dignitaries. People claiming to be the CEO contact HR and ask for employee data to be sent outside the company or money to be wired outside of the company. The companys security practitioners preach that users should be skeptical of all such claims, but people quite often want to be helpful, especially when the person asking for help is thought to be someone deserving of deference. I have written about the importance of well-defined governance, which establishes how employees should behave in various circumstances. While governance should cover how to elevate a situation, good governance does not give first-line workers the authority to bypass security procedures. When Bondevik presented his diplomatic passport to an immigration officer upon his arrival, the officer adhered to policy once he noticed the Iranian stamps in the passport. He did this despite the fact that the passport also indicated that Bondevik was a dignitary. He did exactly what he was supposed to do. I give him credit for not bypassing procedures, and I give his superiors credit for not taking action against him. Norway reportedly sent over an electronic waiver, which should have allowed Bondevik to go through without the initial detention, but that was not available to the immigration officer. This is an issue that should be looked into and addressed. But it does not change the fact that the immigration officer adhered to all governance in his actions. If the average user would demonstrate the same level of adherence to governance, many incidents would be prevented. Security professionals have strived to achieve this level of adherence, and its important that we make sure that a public example is not criticized. This story, "At Dulles, a security awareness success story" was originally published by Computerworld . Intel CEO Brian Krzanich's meeting with new U.S. president Donald Trump was followed by a big announcement: The company will invest US$7 billion over the next three to four years to complete a factory to make 7-nanometer chips. The completion of Fab 42 -- where the chips will be made -- will create about 3,000 jobs in the Chandler, Arizona, area, Intel said. The chipmaker expects to help create 10,000 jobs tied to supporting the activities of Fab 42. Trump has been pushing for more jobs in the U.S. and for bringing manufacturing back to the country. Making the announcement after meeting with Trump amplifies Intel's efforts to promote itself as a jobs creator. But just last year, the company laid off more than 12,000 employees to restructure operations. Also, this isn't the first time Intel has committed to creating jobs and investing billions to make Fab 42. It made a similar announcement in 2011 but then backed off. In February 2011, then-CEO Paul Otellini announced the company was investing $5 billion to complete Fab 42 to make 14-nm chips and create 4,000 jobs. That announcement was made during former President Barack Obama's visit to an Intel facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. Intel slammed the breaks on that plan in 2014 to keep the space available "for unspecified future technology." The construction of Fab 42 began in 2011, but its completion was delayed, William Moss, an Intel spokesman, said in an email. "We're making this investment now in anticipation of the growth of our business," Moss said. In 2011, Intel announced the factory as it expected to grow its mobile device business. But Intel has now stopped making smartphone chips and is instead focusing on growth in the internet of things, server, automotive, and other markets. The White House hailed the completion of the factory as a positive development. Trump called the announcement a "great thing" for Arizona. "We're very happy, and I can tell you, the people of Arizona are very happy," he added. Intel's announcement is the latest in a "wave of economic optimism" since Trump took office, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, said later. Outside the U.S., Intel also operates factories in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Israel, and Ireland. Many of Intel's chip design takes place in Israel, and the company is making its latest Optane memory chips in Dalian, China. Intel regularly establishes new factories to create smaller, powerful and more power-efficient chips. The 7-nm factory is a big investment and could lead toward longer battery life to smaller devices. The 7-nm chips will be made for PCs, sensors, and other high-tech devices. The chips will "enable things like artificial intelligence, more advanced cars and transportation services, breakthroughs in medical research and treatment, and more," Krzanich said in an email to Intel's employees. Two weeks ago, Intel said it was establishing a pilot 7-nm plant to manufacture test chips. Intel currently ships 14-nm PC, server, and IoT chips, and is expected to start shipping its first 10-nm PC chips code-named Cannonlake by the end of the year. The announcement also gives a time frame for when Intel will make its first 7-nm chips. Intel will likely release three or more chip architectures on the 10-nm process, like it has with 14-nm, before switching over to 7-nm. The 7-nm could also introduce new tools like EUV (extreme ultraviolet), which will help make finer chips, and materials like gallium-nitride (GaN) in chips. Call it the election that never was. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas debated the future of the Affordable Care Act during a 90-minute primetime debate on CNN Tuesday. President Donald Trump has promised to repeal and replace the health care law, often referred to as Obamacare, while Democrats have vowed to defend former President Barack Obamas landmark legislation. (Read our explainer on the potential impact of a repeal.) The two ideologues and runners-up in the 2016 presidential nominating contests went head-to-head in a preview of the one of the years most contentious political fights. Here are their claims, fact-checked and with context. Sanders: Women are considered a pre-existing condition by the insurance companies because they might have a baby. We rated a similar claim True back in 2009. Pregnancy almost always counted as a pre-existing condition in 39 states, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. In the other 11, insurers are not allowed to turn down applicants based on health risks, but theyre allowed exclusions including maternity coverage. Sanders: An overwhelming majority of the American people say do not simply repeal the ACA. Make improvements. He is likely referring to a Kaiser Health poll released in early January 2017 in which 75 percent of Americans surveyed said the Affordable Care act should not be repealed or lawmaker should wait to vote on an appeal until a replacement has been announced. Sanders: The United States is the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right. Sanders made this claim repeatedly on the campaign trail, and it rates Half True. Among the countries that belong to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States is the only one that lacks universal coverage. But thats not the same thing as a guaranteed right to health care, which some developed countries lack. Cruz: Obamas If you like your plan, you can keep your plan promise was not true. Obamas signature health care promise was rated PolitiFacts 2013 Lie of the Year. Cruz: Six million people had their insurance policies canceled because of Obamacare. We rated a similar claim that 4.7 million have lost their insurance due to Obamacare Mostly False. Independent researchers estimate that 2.6 million received notices that their health care insurance policies were being canceled, but fewer than 1 million ended up with no coverage at all. Cruz: Most of the people on Obamacare are covered by Medicaid. Cruzs Republican primary opponent, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, made a similar claim in January 2017. About 14.5 million of the 20 million who gained coverage were under Medicaid or CHIP. But somewhere between a quarter to a half of that 14.5 million were eligible for Medicaid even before the Affordable Care Act took effect. Sanders: Tens of thousands of our fellow Americans die because they dont go to the doctor when they should. This is a variation of an old Democratic talking point. Several studies have estimated that up to 45,000 people die every year because of lack of health insurance, but experts have cautioned that correlation does not mean causation. So when you see that the uninsured have higher mortality, you dont know whether it is because they are uninsured or because they are lower income, Harvard University health economist professor Katherine Baicker told us in 2013. Cruz: Obamacare premiums are skyrocketing. Premiums rose an average of 25 percent across the 39 states that use the federal exchange, with the highest increases in Arizona (116 percent) and Oklahoma (69 percent). But its important to note that 81 percent of consumers qualified for subsidies that help blunt the cost of their care. Cruz: In 70 percent of the counties in America, on Obamacare exchanges, you have a choice of one or two health insurance plans, thats it. During the debate, Cruz tweeted a map sourced to the conservative Heritage Foundation to support this point. The foundation found that about 2,200 counties, about 70 percent of the nations total counties, have just one or two insurance providers to choose from on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace. In a previous fact-check, we found that the number of insurance providers on the marketplaces exchanges shrunk in more than half of all states this year. Sanders: The United States spends twice as much on health care as the next country. Sanders has made severalversions of this claim in the past few years with varying degrees of accuracy. Its True that the United States spends almost three times on health care per capita than the United Kingdom, and about double what France pays. But European countries like Switzerland and Norway dont spend that much less. Cruz: Millions of people across this country have been forced into part-time work that used to have full-time employment because of Obamacare. There are anecdotal examples of full-time jobs becoming part-time jobs to meet certain requirements under the Affordable Care Act. However, there is no evidence of this happening en masse, as we have found in prior fact-checks. Both a 2015 study by the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute and a 2016 study published in the journal Health Affairs found little evidence of changes in part-time work as a result of the health care law. Additionally, the number of part-time workers has actually decreased since the law went into effect, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sanders: Medicare is a popular program, and it works well. A Kaiser Foundation poll found that 77 percent of people said Medicare is a very important program. Contrast that with the latest Gallup poll, in which 40 percent of respondents surveyed in January 2016 said they were very or somewhat satisfied with Medicare, compared with 55 percent who were somewhat or very dissatisfied. Satisfaction with the program has wavered around 30 to 40 percent since 2001. Cruz: Nationally, the health outcomes under Medicaid are really poor. We rated a similar claim from Cruz False in 2013. Medicaid patients tend to have worse medical outcomes than those with private insurance, but thats because they tend to be sicker and wait until the last minute for care. We found several studies that show Medicaid actually improves access and quality of life for many patients or at least doesnt hurt them. Sanders: Vermont has the second highest rate of insured, while Texas has the highest uninsured rate. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Vermont is tied with several other states as having the second-lowest uninsured rate in the country, at just 5 percent uninsured. Texas has the highest uninsured rate, with 16 percent of residents uninsured. Cruz: Over 6 million people are fined every year by the IRS because of Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act requires citizens to have health insurance or pay a penalty. The IRS collected fines, averaging about $470, from 6.5 million people in 2016, according to the agencys internal data. Sanders: Obamacare repeal would give billions of dollars in tax breaks to the top 2 percent. Congress bipartisan Joint Tax Committee estimated that the Affordable Care Acts taxes on people making more than $200,000 would generate $211 billion over 10 years so repealing the law would result in billions in tax cuts to these wealthy Americans. A household income of $200,000 puts someone in the top 6 percent of earners. Sanders: Cruzs tax plan would give the top 1 percent billions in tax cuts. Cruz advocated for a flat 10 percent tax during the Republican primary and again at the debate. As PolitiFact reported, the top 1 percent would see an average cut of around $408,000 or about 26 percent more in after-tax income under Cruzs plan, according to the Tax Policy Center. Thats about $463 billion in tax breaks for the entire bracket. Cruz: Sanders helped write Obamacare. During his primary campaign, Sanders himself said that he helped write the Affordable Care Act. We rated that claim Mostly False. He deserves credit for one provision of it worth a not-insignificant $11 billion. But overall, he was hardly an inside crafter of the bill. Ben Roback is a Senior Account Executive at Cicero Group and a member of the US Embassys Young Leaders UK programme. After two truly frenzied weeks of the unprecedented Presidency, Washington has returned to a state of reassuring consistency. All it took to bring things back to normal was a hyper-partisan fight over a Supreme Court nominee. President Trump has announced Neil Gorsuch as his nominee for the Supreme Court seat left vacant since the death of Antonin Scalia one year ago. Judge Gorsuch, 49, made his name on the 10th circuit court of appeals in Denver, Colorado. He is an originalist, meaning he seeks to interpret the Constitution with the understanding of those who wrote it not as it might be interpreted for modern America. The appointment thus earned rave reviews across the American conservative community. The nomination of a Supreme Court Justice cannot have taken the Democrats by surprise. After all, the refusal of the Republican majority in the previous Congress to grant a hearing to President Obamas nominee for the vacant seat, Merrick Garland, had guaranteed the pick to the new President. That was a huge strategic gamble, having watched their candidate spend much of the election campaign trail Hillary Clinton in the polls. Democrats in the House and Senate have struggled for a unified message around which to rally. Senator Chuck Schumer (D) must balance two major competing interests in navigating his party through the murky waters of a Supreme Court nomination that should, in theory, focus on legal qualification and not political gamesmanship. On one hand, the Democratic base, incensed by every action President Trump has taken, is desperate for any opportunity to frustrate the Presidents agenda and will encourage a filibuster. On the other hand, House and Senate Democrats in Republican states on the electoral map in 2018 must consider the optics of opposing an established conservative nominee around whom the GOP has rallied. Preparing to go nuclear After consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Republican majority in the Senate will bring the nomination to a vote. With the ball squarely in the court of the opposition, Schumer could decide to filibuster the vote. Republicans would need 60 votes to end the filibuster and for cloture to be enacted. At that point, the Republican leadership in the Senate faces a monumental decision leave the seat unfilled, or invoke the nuclear option. Extending precedent set in 2013 by former Senator Harry Reid (D) in his tenure as Senate Majority Leader, Republicans could force a simple yes/no vote which would only require a simple majority for approval. With a 52-46 majority, and with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the vote in the event of a tie, the expectation would then be a path to victory for Gorsuch. It is a useful reminder that no party is in perpetual power, and the days of returning the opposition are never too far away. The nuclear option, whilst providing an easy way out of a political problem for the Republicans, may be worth holding on to for the time being. Judge Gorsuch has been seen to almost perfectly fit the mould vacated by Scalia, meaning his appointment only reaffirms the balance of the Court if confirmed, the decisive vote on the court will be retained by Justice Anthony Kennedy, a moderate conservative. Should President Trump be afforded another Supreme Court pick owing to the death or retirement of one of the current eight Justices, the appointment of another conservative Justice would truly change the balance of the court, shifting it from a 5-4 split to a 6-3 bench in favour of conservatives. What it all means for President Trump If approved, at age 49 Gorsuch could be a conservative stalwart on the bench for decades to come, acting as a lasting pillar of Trumps legacy. C Crucially though, Gorsuchs nomination is an important concession to the wing of the traditional conservative base that voted for Trump with some reluctance, in lieu of his persona during the campaign and patchy record on core conservative issues. Had Trump appointed a more moderate judge, that sector of the base might have abandoned support for the GOP so long as he leads it. For many in the Republican Party who were unsure about Trump, the nomination of Gorsuch is validation for their begrudging support. As is so often the case in Washington, the fight now moves on to a bitterly partisan Senate. Ones to watch Ten red state Democrats Democratic Senators in Republican states face the ballot box in November 2018. Not wanting to turn their backs on the Democratic base who voted them into office, they must consider why their states voted for a Republican in the presidential election only two years previously. In key votes on the Senate floor, such as Cabinet nominees and the Supreme Court nomination, the ten are those most under pressure to break for Trump: Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Joe Manchin (WV), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Jon Tester (MT), Claire McKaskill (MO), Bill Nelson (FL), Joe Donnelly (IA), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Sherrod Brown (OH), Bob Casey (PA). How that group of Democrats respond to the Trump presidency will act as a crucial indicator for how the opposition is best placed to deal with the new White House agenda in truly competitive states. In many respects, their reactions are more worthy of political analysis than protests in metropolitan cities on Americas coasts which voted Democrat up and down the ballot in their masses in 2016 and dont serve as a bellwether for swing states in middle America. Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk. We can only welcome Education, Education, Education being back at the top of the political agenda, with fresh thinking bringing the governments long-overdue attention to practical, as well as academic, education, and the need for training to be linked to actual jobs. I am reminded of a recent Channel 4 interview with a young man in Cleethorpes, who trained as a car mechanic but couldnt find a job and, after a year of unemployment, had a zero hours contract in another type of business, wasting his qualifications and destroying his confidence. (Surely, one option would have been for the college which taught him his trade to set up a car maintenance business, creating jobs and helping to boost the local economy.) According to the Report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education, chaired by Lord Sainsbury and published last year, it is more than 100 years since failures in the technical sector were first identified, yet, despite what is described as tinkering, the shortcomings have remained unresolved. Consequently, businesses struggle to recruit people with the right technical skills, leading to critical shortages in some industries, and leaving nearly 400,000 16-18 year olds unemployed. Labours destructive realignment of educational provision in the 1950s and 1960s, in a bid for equality of opportunity, failed to recognise that some people are simply cleverer than others, whether in the sciences or sport, and we should take pride in their achievements. Unfortunately, however, the changes left many of the brightest frustrated, as teachers focused on those who struggled instead of nurturing all levels of ability, leading to a spiral of decline in achievement over ensuing decades. A decline exacerbated when education was subsumed into Childrens Services, with leadership given to social workers instead of educators, allowing complacency amongst some of the top education authorities (including Suffolk) which were subsequently stunned to find themselves poorly rated by Ofsted. Attempts to address the problems prompted a greater emphasis on university, rather than encouraging technically based learning, reinforcing a somewhat snobbish disparity in perceived value between university and technical qualifications. This is foolhardy, when the report notes research indicating that over 1,300 university courses dont lead to quality employment, being divorced from the occupations they should be preparing students for, whilst allowing them to accrue debt. Responding to one of the reports recommendations, the government created the independent Institute for Apprenticeships in 2016. Led by a panel of industry specialists, with a broad remit to agree a common framework for technical education and skills to meet demand, and to establish single, nationally recognised standards in English and Maths, it will also standardise certificates for each technical qualification. (For example, at present, plumbing offers a choice of 33 qualifications, making it difficult for both students and employers to select the best.) The Prime Ministers announcement of a revolution in technical education with 170m funding aims for parity in status between planned new institutes of technology and traditional universities, extending the same opportunities and respect for all graduates by streamlining provision and replacing low-quality courses. Designed to ensure young people develop the skills they need for the high paid, high skilled jobs of the future whatever and wherever they are it promises a UCAS style admissions system and maintenance loans. Driving this programme will be the Industrial Strategy green paper, to create growth hubs, with local government told to draw up plans to become centres of excellence for key industries, linking schools and colleges with their biggest employers, whilst Ministers commit to investing in digital, energy, construction and transport infrastructure. A high priority will be quality structured work placements, as well as opportunities to upgrade skills and qualifications through continued professional development (CPD). Many companies have long supported such engagement, building relationships with specific schools, often supported by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) through their own Skills and Economic Development Strategies, designed to enable young people to make the right decisions for their future employability. A pioneer of this approach is technology investor, Sherry Coutu, who developed a website, Founders4Schools, five years ago to send business speakers into schools. According to recent research by her ScaleUp Institute, 80 per cent of growing businesses believe they could grow faster if they found the workers they need. In response to the skills crisis, she is now launching a free app, initially in Cambridge, London and Manchester; about 1,500 businesses and 500 students have already signed up to Workfinder enabling schoolchildren to find work experience and apply for apprenticeships. The launch of a 60 million Schools Social Mobility Fund in 12 opportunity areas, combined with an emphasis on specialist Maths schools, further reinforces the governments commitment to developing world-class education for all young people. Reinvigorating Britains status as an innovative market leader in key industries, with enviable (home-grown) talent, as well as enhancing our ability to attract the best qualified people from across the globe, can only benefit our international trading ambitions in the wake of Brexit. However, all these initiatives must be grasped urgently, with careful planning to capitalise on the opportunities presented by becoming centres of excellence. Given that county elections are likely to divert councillors attention for the next four months, it would be sensible to invite Local Enterprise Partnerships to take the lead with business and further education colleges, as well as schools (including primaries). From the most casual conversations with anyone in business and education across our communities, it is clear that there is considerable enthusiasm for taking these ideas forward, but also scepticism that anything will be done, other than months of talk, consultation and report writing. Devolution for Suffolk (with Norfolk) turned out to be a damp squib, so those in power locally cannot afford another disappointment to further undermine ambitions for major economic development. Its time to prove the sceptics wrong. Mundell says Government isnt afraid of Scottish referendum rematch The Secretary of State for Scotland has said that it is pretty clear that unionists would win a second Scottish independence referendum, but is wary of one because it would be divisive and seriously unpleasant. David Mundell, currently the only Conservative MP from Scotland, intervened after Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, suggested that the British Government would block such a poll. Healso remains unconvinced of Nicola Sturgeons demand that Scotland receive special dispensation to remain in the Single Market, according to the Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, revealed that she would advise the Prime Minister to allow such a referendum. The constitution is a reserved power, so the initiative would rest with Theresa May. She could use it to good effect even without actually blocking a plebiscite. Mundell indicated this was the Governments intention when he said any new referendum would require a second Edinburgh Agreement. Elsewhere both Fallon and Michael Gove accused the SNP of using Brexit to distract from their poor record in office and thin parliamentary agenda at Holyrood. The Defence Secretary also revealed that the Clyde will host Britains entire nuclear fleet from 2020, the Herald reports. Sinn Fein launches diplomatic offensive to win special status for Ulster Mundells sceptical approach to the Scottish Governments demands for special treatment reflect the Prime Ministers broader, clearly-stated determination to extract the UK from the EU as one country. But thats not going to stop Sinn Fein from trying: the News Letter reports that theyre launching a diplomatic offensive on the continent to try to persuade other member states (including Spain?) that Northern Ireland deserves ongoing EU status. If you thought this might involve talking to London, think again. Michelle ONeill, the partys new leader, had this to say to the Northern Irish Secretary: it wont be your decision it will be the other member states who decide the terms of Brexit. Daisley attacks the SNPs one-party state Everybody should read this article by Stephen Daisley, the former digital politics and comment editor for STV, about how the SNP are slowly building something which looks worryingly like a one-party state in Scotland. Readers might have run across this story before Nick Cohen did an excellent piece on it in the Spectator last autumn but the short version is that a couple of Nationalist MPs complained to his bosses that they didnt like his coverage and they muzzled him. So-called civic Scotland was slow to come to his aid, to put it mildly, and in his Scottish Daily Mail piece Daisley sets out just how much the SNP have managed to suborn Scotlands institutions and the home rule morality play that leads people to acquiesce to them. This week provided an illustrative example when the Times () revealed that the Scottish Governments independent poverty adviser deleted criticism from a major report after showing a draft to the First Minister. Trump: welcome in Belfast, but not in Cardiff? John Bercow was not the only politician grandstanding about the President-elects visit to Britain this week: according to Wales Online Elin Jones, the presiding officer of the Welsh Assembly, has said that Donald Trump wouldnt be welcome in Cardiff either. Jones, a Plaid Cymru AM, has since come under fire from UKIP. Neil Hamilton, who leads the partys Assembly group, has called for Wales inclusion in the Presidential tour. However it seems there is (or was) a much warmer welcome awaiting Trump in Belfast: the Impartial Reporter has revealed that Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness had already invited him to Northern Ireland before their administration collapsed. Foster takes tough line against Irish Language Act Arlene Foster, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, has said that her party will never support an Irish language act, according to the Belfast Telegraph. The Democratic Unionist leader argued that the province had more Polish speakers, who are surely thus due an act first. Her party also argue that it could cost Ulster 100 million a year and dispute that they committed to supporting such a bill in the St Andrews Agreement. She also compared making continual concessions to Sinn Fein to feeding a crocodile (another analogy might be that of paying a danegeld, which Alex Massie explained last month). Meanwhile the SDLP and Ulster Unionists are pitching themselves as an alternative government, perhaps the first one to feature in a devolved election under Northern Irelands current arrangements. The two moderate parties have been on the margins for a decade since being squeezed out by the DUP and Sinn Fein in 2007. Nationalist MSP attacked for pro-IRA comments John Mason, an SNP member of the Scottish Parliament, has sparked fury by refusing to support a campaign to bring to justice the killers of three young Scottish soldiers murdered by Irish nationalist terrorists in 1971. Although insisting that hes not pro-IRA, he said they could be called freedom fighters and that hed not be taking sides on British-Irish questions. He then made some general condemnations of all murders, Corbyn-style. The Home Office is a defensive institution. This is scarcely surprising: if a departments daily business is stopping illegal migrants from entering the country and terrorist fanatics from murdering its citizens, those who work in it are unlikely to take a sunny view of the world. Theresa May was the longest-serving Home Secretary for over a century, and her former departments distrusfulness has rubbed off on her. And in any event she is not inclined to speak when silence will serve her instead. This combination of nurture and nature is often a strength her taciturn reticence helped gain to her the Conservative leadership, after all but it has proved a weakness when it came to dealing with the future of EU nationals in Britain, which the Commons will debate today as part of the Article 50 bill. On Monday, as it began its committee stage, she showered them with praise, telling MPs that: EU citizens living in the UK make a vital contribution to our society and economy. Without them, we would be poorer and our public services weaker. She said that she wants to guarantee their right to stay in the UK as soon as possible. It would have been better had she said so clearly last year, when the issue first arose in the wake of the referendum: doing so would have saved her a lot of trouble and those EU citizens themselves quite a bit of anxiety. She also seems to have misread Angela Merkels outlook on the matter. Last summer, she tried to sort the matter out with the German Chancellor. But Merkel was unwilling to move without other EU leaders, sticking to the line that the 27 must act together. The incident seems to have been a classic instance of British-German misunderstanding, mirrored on their side by the illusion in parts of the German opinion-forming class that we will call off Brexit after all. None the less, we believe that the Prime Minister is right not to have made any commitment before other EU countries do so too. Perhaps we are hard-hearted or wilfully obtuse, but ConservativeHome cannot see what a lot of the fuss has been about. There are about 2.8 million EU nationals from other countries in Britain, and there are roughly 1.2 million British nationals living in other EU countries. It makes sense for the rights and responsibilities of both groups to be settled at the same time, and none at all for May to make commitments to citizens of other countries before she has guaranteed the position of those of her own. In any event, not all those three million or so people are affected. As Christopher Howarth pointed out yesterday on this site, 84 per cent them already have the right to stay post-Brexit. This is because the majority of these citizens (according to the Migration Observatory), 64 per cent, already have the right to stay having been here for five years, eight per cent are children who have a right to stay here as they were born here or have a parent that already has a right to stay, and a further 12 per cent will have been here for five years by 2018 and so will have the right to stay. Many of these have been caused a lot of distress for no good reason, some of it by diehard Remainers who believe it their duty to stir up as much alarm as possible about Brexit regardless of the human cost. What about the remaining 16 per cent? As Christopher said, Ministers must ponder the future of newly arrived nationals, those who have not arrived yet but may by 2018, those who are here but have no right to be and those, such as criminals, who gained rights under EU law to avoid expulsion but are unlikely to be granted a blanket right. There are also the prickly questions of what status to grant (some EU states dont permit dual nationality), what access to benefits and the NHS to allow (non-EU migrants are often not entitled to the former on on arrival here), how the people in question are to be identified and, perhaps above all, what the cut-off date for granting rights to this group of EU nationals should be. For what its worth, our advice to the Government is for it to be as generous as possible without privileging EU nationals above those from other countries (there will be exceptions: for example, Irish citizens have rights that those from non-EU countries and other EU countries too do not, and these should be retained). A British Future inquiry into the future of the former recommended a cut-off date of the day that Article 50 is triggered. Jill Rutter, its secretary, wrote on this site that this is because EU nationals who arrive after this day could legitimately expect future changes to their immigration status. That seems sensible. It may well be that Ministers make concessions on some of these matters today, as they often do when in a tight spot in the Commons. But whether so or not, we hope that MPs keep a cool head. Some of the rhetoric about the future of both EU nationals from other countries and our own in theirs has been alarmist. The rights of the 84 per cent described above, for example, are protected by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. May is not going somehow to transform herself into a kind of Donald Trump on crack, and start deporting people who are entitled to be here, or stripping them of their rights, in defiance of international law. It is time for a sense of proportion. "...king of the hate left..."-- "As my friend Capper -- the best Wisconsin blogger ever -- says, there will be more. There's always more." - karoli "...the psychiatrically attuned Capper..."-- "This is really great of you! I'm so proud to know someone like you"-- "Capper, a reasonable (and maybe even likeable) Lefty..."-- "capper, the Sidney Freedman of the hate left..."-- "I love capper because, well, what's not to love. But I also hate capper for alerting me to nonsense like this."--- "Capper, you really have a knack for this kind of writing. Really."-- "Crap. I agree with capper. Can Armageddon be far behind?"-- "capper is right. OMG, did I actually say that?"-- CORNWALL, Ontario It is alleged on Feb. 6, 2017 Nathaniel Gatien, 30, of Cornwall, forced his way into a Montreal Road address all the while carrying a metal bar and hiding his identity. Once inside a scuffle ensued with the resident and the man fled the area with the residents cell phone. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. During the investigation the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. Nathaniel Gatien was arrested on February 7th, 2017 and charged with the following: robbery with violence break and enter and commit assault with a weapon weapons dangerous breach of JP recognizance ( for possessing a weapon) disguise with intent ASSAULT CAUSE BODILY HARM, POSSESSION OF A WEAPON FOR A DANGEROUS PURPOSE, BREACH CORNWALL, Ontario Steven Campbell, 37, of Cornwall was arrested on Feb. 7, 2017 and charged with assault cause bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of recognizance for being in possession of a weapon. It is alleged on Feb. 4, 2017 the man assaulted a man known to him with a flashlight causing him to seek medical attention. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. On Feb. 7, 2017 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. WARRANT Cornwall, ON Tanner Jock, 25, of Snye was arrested on Feb. 7, 2017 on the strength of a warrant. It is alleged the man failed to attend for prints and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Feb. 7, 2017 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody on the strength of the warrant and released to appear in court on March 14, 2017. Cornwall, ON Mary Garlow, 51, of Akwesasne was arrested on Feb. 7, 2017 on the strength of a warrant. It is alleged the woman failed to attend court on Dec. 12, 2016 and a warrant was issued for her arrest. On Feb. 7, 2017 a member of the Cornwall Community Police Service assumed custody of the woman from Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service as they had the woman in custody on the strength of Cornwalls warrant. She was transported to police headquarters and released to appear in court on Feb. 28, 2017. CORNWALL, Ontario Now, more than ever, Canadians are feeling the crunch when it comes to buying groceries. A survey by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) found that the average cost to feed a family of four is $841 per month, with prices of healthy food having risen 10% in SD&G, Prescott-Russell and the City of Cornwall in 2016. These costs keep increasing every year, said Lysanne Trudeau, Manager of the Chronic Diseases Program. And because of the high cost of housing and inadequate income, many families are struggling every month to meet the needs of their household. Food insecurity is defined as scarce or insecure access to food due to financial limitations. Data shows that in Eastern Ontario, one in eight households do not have sufficient funds for food. Food insecurity is a serious public health problem that impacts physical, mental and social health, said EOHU Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis. We need to work together to solve the problem, so lets start a conversation about health! Each year, Ontarios health units consider the cost of 67 food items designed to reflect an eating pattern that meets the guidelines outlined in Eating Well with Canadas Food Guide. This data helps to establish the average cost of healthy eating for families and individuals. To find out more about some of the root causes of food insecurity in Eastern Ontario and other programs available to help, contact the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or at 1 800 267-7120 and ask for Health Line. You can also visit our website at www.eohu.ca to find helpful resources. COLUMBUS Applicants for grant money generated by the county lodging tax will need to wait even longer before learning whether they'll receive funding. The Platte County Board of Supervisors tabled a decision Tuesday on the grants supported by the visitor improvement fund. It's the second time the agenda item has been put on hold. Last month, the board decided it should go before the city/county committee before a final decision is made. Now, the supervisors want to develop a better set of guidelines before awarding any grant money. About $200,000 has been collected from the 2 percent lodging tax that took effect Jan. 1, 2015, in Platte County. The money is generated at hotels, motels and campgrounds and goes into a visitor improvement fund that's supposed to enhance attractions in the county. The purpose of the fund is to improve publicly owned or nonprofit attractions with a goal of boosting tourism in the county. Some board members questioned whether all of the current applicants qualify for the grants, specifically the Columbus Area Antique Fire Apparatus Preservation Society. Dennis Hirschbrunner formed the nonprofit group and applied for funding to renovate a building he wants to turn into a museum for antique fire equipment at 2302 13th St. Whether the grant money could go toward that use was debated during Tuesday's board meeting. According to the statute, the grant funding is for expanding and improving facilities at any existing visitor attraction, acquiring or expanding exhibits for existing visitor attractions, constructing visitor attractions, or planning or developing such expansions, improvements, or construction. The Nebraska Tourism Commission also came up with guidelines for allocating improvement fund money. In those guidelines, there are some exclusions for the grant money, including general maintenance or replacement of an existing structural component in an existing facility. All of the local applications were reviewed by an advisory board before being presented to the county supervisors for final approval. Deb Loseke, director of the Columbus/Platte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the advisory board was hesitant to support the application for the fire museum because of concerns about whether it meets the state guidelines. The application requests $95,000 to renovate the former garage and turn it into a museum. Contained in this grant is numerous projects that deal with changing structural components of the building. If this was a new construction project, these questions would not be coming into play, said Loseke, who is also chairwoman of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. She said there is another issue with ownership of the building, since it's not currently owned by the nonprofit. No grant monies are eligible for property owned by a private party. It must be owned by the 501(c)(3), Loseke said. Platte County Deputy Attorney Elizabeth Lay told the supervisors they are not legally bound by the grant guidelines because it isnt administrative law. However, you need to follow something. If you dont follow something, you are going to get yourself in trouble, she said. The county has not awarded any grants from the visitor improvement fund since the lodging tax took effect. How the board chooses to award the grant money would set a precedent moving forward. Supervisor Jerry Micek said he doesn't want the boards hands to be tied down the road by a decision made today. I think the board really needs to sit down and discuss this amongst ourselves. We need to look at the state law. We need to look at what the guidelines are. Maybe as a board (we need to) sit down and give our own type of guidelines, he said. Supervisor Jim Scow agreed the best move is to develop guidelines for the county before moving forward. If we approve these right now, weve already set the standard, he said. The board voted 6-0 to table a vote on the three grant applications, with Supervisor Bob Lloyd absent. The other applications are from the Platte County Museum and Columbus Family YMCA. The museum is requesting $3,500 for a Union Pacific Railroad depot monument. That project has already been completed and grant money, if approved, would be used as reimbursement. The YMCA asked for $40,000 for a horizontal climbing wall and rope feature. The advisory board recommended denying that request. In other business, the board approved: providing road blocks for the annual Viking Venture run April 29 that starts at the Lakeview High School track and progresses around Lake Babcock. Roadblocks will be placed on 83rd Street to stop eastbound and westbound traffic in front of the high school, and another roadblock will be on Lakeview Lane. advertising for bids for asphalt materials to be opened 9 a.m. March 15 by the road and bridge committee. Close Doctors said it was only fat, but it was a 130-pound benign tumour. The so-called fat descended from his stomach and started growing 12 years ago, living on its own blood supply. Roger Logan, 57, from Mississippi has seen several physicians and was told the same thing. They said "You're just fat." The mass was too large to be examined through a CT scan or other tests. In the past, doctors determined the mass as inoperable. Logan had to spend five years living in an armchair. The large mass prohibited him to run his antique store or go fishing. Kitty, Logan's wife searched for months for a physician that could help him. Kitty discovered Vipul Dev, a surgeon at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital who had previously treated someone with a similar mass. They decided to give it a shot despite being given only a 50 percent chance. In late January, the couple went on a 40-hour road trip from Mississippi to Bakersfield. Logan had to seat in a reclining chair that was bolted to the floor in the back of a cargo van. It was only after surgery that Logan was told that it was not fat, it was a tumour. Dev said that the 130-pound mass began as an ingrown hair. It's possible the hair follicle became infected that caused the tumour to swell to immense size as new blood vessels fed into the site. Fox News reported on Thursday Logan walked for the first time in years. Logan is now looking forward to running his antique store, go fishing and his life back. According to Washington Post, the 130-pound tumour was massive but not the largest recorded. In 2014, doctors from Beijing removed a 240-pount tumour from a man's back with neurofibromatosis. In 1905, doctors from Texas treated a woman with a 328-pound abdominal cyst. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Lone Pinon Dias Felices: String Music of America's Southwest and Mexico's North ( LM Duplication ) Anyone who has the good fortune to call Northern New Mexico their home will recognize at least some if not all of the songs on Dias Felices. Though Northern New Mexico's Spanish culture may be tightly interwoven with these songs, the tunes in this collection are sine qua non for family gatherings, weddings, funerals, meals and parties in any or all of New Mexico's towns and cities; from the traditional wedding song El Canario to El Corrido de Rio Arriba which describes events of the 1968 Tierra Amarilla courthouse raid. Everone will recognize the haunting, cautionary tale of an insane woman who either drowned her kids, lost her kids, wants to drown someone else's kids or wants to scare your kids away from arroyos before they drown. BINGO! ... La Llorona. Jeremy Barnes (Hawk and a Hacksaw, Neutral Milk Hotel) proves his LM Duplication label capable of producingwith able help from Lone Pinona ethnomusicological collection that would make Folkways proud. A proposal in the Nebraska Legislature to beef up penalties for drunken driving suspects refusing to submit to a blood test wont be changing how local law enforcement officers go about doing their jobs. Officers in Platte and Colfax counties have spent recent months making the transition from blood to breath tests for suspected drunken drivers. Both counties used blood for its simplicity, efficiency and accuracy as their preferred method of testing for about 15 years. That was before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that law enforcement must obtain a search warrant before requiring a blood test. We tried getting search warrants for a short while, then we went back to breath, Columbus Police Capt. Todd Thalken, describing the departments response to the high courts decision. The switch to breath tests has been a months-long transition, Thalken said, because in 15 years of using blood tests the training and testing of officers in doing breath tests lagged. We didnt keep up with equipment (advances)," he said. The Unicamerals Judiciary Committee heard a bill last week that would make failing to comply with those warrants for blood tests a separate criminal offense and create stricter penalties. The proposal, according to an Associated Press report, would make refusing to submit to a blood test a Class I misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in the county jail, a fine of up to $1,000 and 18-month driver's license revocation. Refusing a breath test remains a violation of the states implied consent law, which requires a drunken driving suspect to voluntarily submit to a breath test to determine blood alcohol content if requested by a law enforcement officer. A conviction of first-offense drunken driving can presently cause drivers to lose their licenses for up to six months, along with up to 10 days in jail and a $500 fine. Colfax County is also in the midst of making the switch to breath tests, but can do blood tests if the drunken driving suspect voluntarily submits, according to County Attorney Denise Kracl, who estimates her office handles about a half dozen test refusals a year. Were still transitioning over to breath, said Kracl, adding that local officers now transport suspects to the Platte County Detention Facility in Columbus or Butler County Jail in David City for breathalyzer testing, since Colfax County does not have a jail. She said officers have also occasionally taken suspects to Wahoo in Saunders County or Fremont in Dodge County. Kracl currently has two pending manslaughter cases from 2016 involving accidents caused by suspected drunken drivers, one that caused the death of a 24-year-old man in April and another from June that killed a 15-year-old girl. She said the harsher DUI refusal penalties being debated by lawmakers might be a useful tool for officers to get drunken drivers off the roads. Maybe there isnt enough deterrent built in to keep people from drinking and driving multiple times. We have to do something, she said. Platte County Attorney Carl Hart said local law enforcement officers havent wasted any time reacting to the Supreme Courts judgment last summer, while noting that his office annually prosecutes about a dozen test refusals by drunken driving suspects. Almost all (suspects) consent to a breath test, Hart said. The county attorney credited the performance of local and area law enforcement for its role in his offices sinking DUI prosecutions over much of the last decade. The attorneys office has seen its DUI cases shrink from a high of 309 in 2008 to 160 in 2014 and 176 in 2015. Thats the good news, law enforcements doing its job, Hart said. SCHUYLER Every Schuyler Police officer attended a Jan. 27 hamburger feed to raise money for a new drug dog, and Schuyler City Council member Daryl Holmberg said the community noticed. I got feedback from people about the hamburger feast and how important it was to have all the officers there, said Holmberg. It was important because, as Mayor Dave Reinecke said during last week's public safety meeting, the community has a chip on its shoulder when it comes to public servants who dont live in the community. It ticked the community off that (former Police Chief Lenny) Hiltner lived in North Bend. He gets appointed chief and then because his wife was working at Columbus Community Hospital, they move to Columbus rather than Schuyler, said Reinecke. Shortly after, the city council instituted a rule requiring police officers and city department supervisors to live within 15 miles of Schuyler. But police officer retention rates were low. We've always had a revolving door over there (at the police department) and what made it worse was the residence requirement. We never got to full staff, said Reinecke. After we lifted the residency requirement, we got some really good candidates. The residency requirement for police officers was removed by the council in August 2014. One police officer and Chief K.C. Bang currently reside in Schuyler. The rest live about 15-20 minutes away, according to Bang, in communities such as David City and North Bend. Now that Bang is looking at hiring a sergeant, the council is divided on whether that officer should be held to the residency requirement for department supervisors or if it should be waived for the position. Reinecke recommended waiving the residency requirement for the sergeant position at the Jan. 17 city council meeting. Council members Jon Knutson and David Johnson were the most vocal opponents of waiving the rule. I dont understand why we cant sell these guys on moving to Schuyler, said Johnson. After reaching an impasse, the council agreed to discuss the issue at last week's public safety committee meeting. Bang started the meeting by explaining the need for a sergeant. I just have to have that No. 2, otherwise I'll burn myself out, he said. I'm a workaholic, I know that. I need to have a No. 2 I can rely on. Bang said he'd like to open the position to officers currently on the force, the majority of whom reside outside Schuyler. I am concerned about this. We have quality people internally and Id hate to say we're not going to utilize any of these people, said Bang. I hate to think that because somebody can't sell their house and move to Schuyler its going to keep them from applying for sergeant. Holmberg said he can see why an officer wouldn't want their family living in the same community where they work. Especially if a young guy's got kids, because your kids can get harassed in school, the councilman said. Especially when you live in a small community. Bang pointed out that a lot of communities' police forces are short-staffed, so theres a high demand for officers. Requiring a sergeant to live in Schuyler could limit the applicant pool. I don't know where they're getting their proposals from, but they're probably considering moving for those, Johnson responded. Councilman Ed Korth said his constituents would like to see more officers living in Schuyler. They wish they would live in town so they get to know the community, get to know the kids, he said. Bang said commitment to the community is something hes looking for in an officer, whether they live here or not. He encourages this by having officers present in the schools and at community activities. I don't want you to think that because they're not living here 24 hours a day that they're not invested in this community, Bang said. Because I can assure you they all are. Knutson said he's changed his mind about the residency requirement. I get a little bristly when I hear people dont want to move to Schuyler, he said in a phone interview. I want people to come here and see it as a place of opportunity. But I see that people have roots in other places and this is America. I decided what's best for Schuyler and is best for the police force, if we find someone on our staff and the chief wants them, I too would back that up, he said at last week's meeting. However, the council remains split on whether to waive the requirement for the sergeant position. Knutson and Holmberg support waiving the rule while Johnson and Alden Kment were in favor of keeping it. Korth was undecided and Dan Baumert was absent from the meeting. The compromise they reached is to advertise the position, which will take 30 days, before making a final decision at the March 7 city council meeting. This will allow council members to see the applicant pool before making a decision on the residency requirement. During her second debate with Donald Trump, Democrat Hillary Clinton took some serious heat for warning that the Republican's then-proposed ban on Muslims may well have found its way into terrorism recruiting material. Clinton was right at the time - but she was also prescient. The new administration's ham-fisted executive order restricting travel from seven, majority-Muslim nations is now being praised by jihadist groups as a victory. For them. "(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,'" The Washington Post reported Monday, citing a posting to a pro-Islamic State channel on a social media platform called Telegram. According to The Post, the author compared Trump's executive order issued Friday to the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, which Islamic militants hailed at the time as a "blessed invasion." The Post further reported that other 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." As I read those words, I couldn't help but be reminded of a young Muslim friend who took to Facebook Monday in a heartbreaking post giving voice to her fears about the place her adopted country had become: "I haven't had immigrant struggles for a while but being a green card holder right after 9/11 was not easy. I've been detained at an airport when I was eleven. I threw a fit and basically just wailed until they let my family out," my friend, who asked that her name not be used for this piece. "I've spent four hours in Customs trying to get back home from Canada. And I've spent countless hours standing in early morning lines in the cold ... just to get my visas. "But I've never been afraid that I won't be able to get back to my home," she wrote. "And I am crushed, absolutely crushed for all of the little Muslim children feeling like they're second-hand citizens in their own country." Trump jumped on Twitter on Monday to defend his travel ban, writing at one point 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!" Like my friend, an accomplished professional woman, who's smart and poised and exactly the kind of immigrant our nation should welcome? But, right, she's Muslim. So roll up the welcome mat. In his executive order, Trump also falsely claimed that his action was similar to one undertaken by President Barack Obama "when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months." In fact, Obama did no such thing. The former administration slowed down the processing of visas, but never stopped accepting them. As The Post's Glenn Kessler reported, the Obama administration's action also came in response to a hostile act, while Trump's blanket action came without any provocation from the affected governments. The claim came amid a growing outcry from some members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as well as U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., who called the ban "unacceptable," and demanded a "more thoughtful and deliberative policy," according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. But we already know that such niceties scarcely matter to Trump and his personal Richelieu, White House counselor Stephen K. Bannon, who have spent the last 10 days marching blindly across the countryside, leaving chaos and growing protests in their wake. Because only in Trumplandia would this kind of chaos and division be hailed as a "massive success story." And with that, the new administration finds itself in the unlikely position of being in absolute agreement with the nation's sworn enemies. Strange bedfellows, indeed. In Ancient Greece, Aristotle wrote that large-headed people were mean, broad-faced ones were stupid, and round-faced ones were courageous. His head was presumably extremely round, giving him the courage to walk around telling two-thirds of Greece that they had weird heads which made them bad people. But the "modern" version of physiognomy is largely credited to the Italian scholar Giambattista della Porta, who published a widely circulated book in 1586 called De humana physiognomia (English translation: Snap-Judging The Shit Out Of People, But Like, In A 'Sciencey' Way). Della Porta was inspired by the "science" of alchemy, and believed that any substance could be distilled into its "pure essence," including humans. Thus was it possible to deduce someone's character from observation of their physical features. His hilariously on-the-nose side-by-side drawings proved this theory: Giambattista della Porta Calling out racism wasn't big back then. Continue Reading Below Advertisement In the 18th century, natural philosophers went so far as to conclude that there was an "ideal" set of physical features, which were unsurprisingly the ones found in classical sculpture. "Others," like Asians and Africans, were deemed to be less beautiful and less moral. Scientific racism! The Trump Train is rolling on. It's going so fast and in so many directions at once that its critics can't catch up. All week long President Trump has filled the headlines with news. He's nominated Neil Gorsuch -- a great judge who understands and reveres what the Constitution says, not what he'd like it to say -- to fill Antonin Scalia's un-fillable seat on the Supreme Court. He's seen his major cabinet picks at State, Treasury, the EPA, HHS, etc., finally get confirmed, despite the whining and foot dragging of Senate Democrats. He's issued executive orders on taxes, regulations and who knows what else. And he's had tough-guy Michael Flynn, his National Security Advisor, sternly warn the Iranians that we're no longer going to stand idly by as they make trouble in the Mideast and test-rattle their ballistic missiles. By the time this column gets into print, we could be invading Yemen. Things are happening fast in Washington -- at "Trump Speed," as someone has said. It seems like a month ago that the Trump administration's so-called "Muslim ban" was announced, but it was actually only last week. The president's executive order restricted travelers from seven terrorist-breeding countries from coming into the USA for three months, and also suspended the refugee program for four months until a better system of vetting could be devised. The whole thing was a total political and public relations disaster for the president -- a textbook example of how not to communicate to the American people. What President Trump should have done was address the country from the Oval Office, fully explain what he was about to sign and then sign it. He should have pointed out that it was temporary, that it was based on national security and geography, not religion, and that the seven countries listed were the same ones that had been singled out by the Obama administration as terrorism incubators. All the problems and confusion and minor tragedies at airports for incoming travelers should have been foreseen and should never have occurred. All the liberal howlings that Trump was discriminating against the Muslim religion or that the ban was unconstitutional would not have been eliminated, but they would have been blunted. The crowds of knuckleheads who protested at airports still would have shown up with their pre-printed anti-Trump signs, but they would have been much smaller. The whole fiasco showed that Trump and his team are still rookies who have a lot to learn about planning, explaining and spinning their executive edicts and decisions. Trump got a D- for his "Muslim ban" announcement. But the media got a solid F for the sloppy, misleading and partisan way they covered it. The media didn't put the executive order in perspective, didn't explain that it was based on geography and didn't explain that the seven countries on the list came from the Obama administration. In their fervor to get Trump they didn't bother to point out that President Obama's administration had slowed down the processing of Iraqis refugees coming to the U.S. for six months in 2011 for security reasons. The most outrageous thing the media did was to fan the idea that an executive order aimed at regulating the freedom of foreign visitors was unconstitutional. It was perfectly constitutional. The U.S. Constitution doesn't apply to foreign visitors. The only people who have the constitutional right to come into the U.S. are American citizens. Every country has restrictions for its visitors. For example, you don't have a right to go into Canada if you have a DUI. It's an extreme tough rule, but I don't see the ACLU or Alcoholics Anonymous demonstrating against Canada. If anyone was responsible for all the sign-waving protestors who clogged up our airports last weekend, it was the dominant liberal media -- which is clearly interested more in bashing Trump and getting ratings than the truth. Channel programs News Cognizant Declares Truce With Elliott, Pledges To Appoint 3 New Directors, Create Financial Policy Committee Michael Novinson Share this Cognizant has reached an agreement with activist investor Elliott Management to appoint three new independent members to its board of directors and create a financial policy committee. The Teaneck, N.J.-based company -- No. 7 on CRN's Solution Provider 500 -- said the three new directors will replace three of Cognizant's existing board members who have agreed not to stand for re-election. In a November letter, Elliott Management called on Cognizant to shake up its board, pointing out that more than half of the company's directors have sat on the board for at least nine years. "Frank [D'Souza, Cognizant's CEO] and his team have been terrific partners in this process and have developed a thoughtful, balanced and highly attractive plan," Jesse Cohn, Elliott's senior portfolio manager, said in a statement. "In an evolving industry, Cognizant must continue to invest for growth and the digital transition, while further optimizing operations and returning capital to its shareholders." [RELATED: Cognizant Makes Second Deal After Activist Investor Criticism, To Buy 100-Person Insurance Consultancy] Cognizant said two of the new independent directors will be named before the company sends this year's proxy statement to shareholders, which typically happens at the end of April. The third independent director will be named in conjunction with Cognizant's 2018 annual stockholder meeting, which typically occurs in mid-June. "We are pleased to be working with Elliott and look forward to welcoming new colleagues to the board," D'Souza said in a statement. "In addition, as part of today's full-year earnings release, we announced a plan to accelerate our shift to digital, expand margin targets and launch a robust new capital return program." Cognizant shares climbed 71 cents (1.32 percent) to $54.50 in pre-market trading Wednesday. The agreement was announced before the market opened. Cognizant's board will also create a three-person financial policy committee to assist and advise the board on issues relating to the company's operating plan and capital allocation policy. It will be staffed by D'Souza, an incumbent director with previous operational experience, and one of the new directors. As part of Cognizant's plan to accelerate its shift to digital services, the company also announced that it plans to invest more organic funds in re-skilling and new technology practices, as well as strategic tuck-in acquisitions around intellectual property, industry expertise, and platform and technology capabilities. In its November letter, Elliott had called on Cognizant to use 25 percent of its annual U.S. free cash flow as well as $1 billion in foreign cash to fund a steady pace of 14 attractive tuck-in acquisitions. Since then, Cognizant has acquired 100-person Australian consultancy Adaptra and Netherlands-based digital marketing agency Mirabeau BV. Cognizant has additionally agreed to target non-GAAP operating margins of 22 percent by 2019 by streamlining its cost structure, improving operational efficiency and aggressively employing automation to optimize traditional services. Finally, Cognizant said it plans to return $3.4 billion to shareholders in the next two years through a mix of share repurchases and dividends. Specifically, Cognizant said it plans to begin a $1.5 billion share repurchase program this quarter, initiate a regular quarterly 15 cents-per-share cash dividend in the second quarter, and repurchase $1.2 billion in shares on the open market by the end of 2018. All told, Cognizant said it will return approximately three-quarters of its U.S. free cash flow to shareholders on an ongoing basis beginning in 2019. Elliott in November had called on Cognizant to buy back $2.5 billion in shares as part of what it called a value enhancement plan aimed at driving up shares by 50 percent to 69 percent over the next year. That plan would be funded with $1 billion in domestic cash and an incremental $1.5 billion in new debt, Elliott said in November. The activist investor also called on Cognizant to immediately institute a long-term capital return program that returns 75 percent of U.S. free cash flow to shareholders and offers a 1.5-percent dividend yield. Cognizant has underperformed its core IT services peers by 83 percent over the past half-decade despite growing revenue at a faster clip than the group average, Elliott Management said in November. In return, Elliott Management has promised to support the agreement, and agreed to certain customary standstill provisions. Elliott announced in November that it had taken a four percent stake in Cognizant, which represents a market value of $1.4 billion. Under the standstill provisions, Elliott has agreed not to acquire more than 4.99 percent of Cognizant's stock, seek the removal of any of Cognizant's additional board members, or participate in any efforts to merge or acquire the company. These terms were laid out in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Wednesday morning. Internet of things News Arrow Executive: IoT Is 'The Next Evolution Of Opportunity' For The Channel Lindsey O'Donnell Share this Jeth Harbinson, director of Internet of Things business development at Arrow Electronics, said he has seen the IoT market "explode" over the past 12 to 24 months and that is translating into sales for the channel. Today, 10 percent of Arrow's revenue comes from IoT, but in the next five years 60 percent of revenue will come from solution sales, Harbison said during a keynote at IoT Evolution Expo, being held this week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. But more importantly, through IoT, Arrow has evolved to become more than a distributor the company is now an engineering firm, with "hard assets that can deliver complete solutions to its customers." "To us, the Internet of Things is the next evolution of opportunity with almost every industry out there," he said. "Everything today needs to be connected because its the data and analytics coming off these products and services in the field that are becoming more valuable than the products themselves." [Related: Arrow Snags $350M of Channel Business From Competitors, Lands Dell Enterprise Portfolio] Implementing IoT is not easy, said Harbinson the technology is developing at a rapid pace, the market involves a large and complex ecosystem, and there are no pre-integrated solutions. However, solution providers can tap into the IoT market by pinpointing their own strengths and applying them to the market as a business solution. "We got into this process realizing that our bread and butter at Arrow was hardware design and one-time hardware sales," he said. "We realized that working with our customers and getting involved with the data analytics was where the real value was. We started moving in that direction with our partners and our own IP technology. We think we're one of the unique partners in the industry to provide these unique IoT solutions." The Centennial, Colo.-based distributor is focusing on key vertical markets for its IoT solutions, including industrial, retail, life sciences, transportation and agriculture. However, across these verticals, the company has common business solution targets for IoT customers, including operating more efficiently, enhancing the customer experience, and adding new revenue streams, said Harbinson. Most recently, Arrow has been working with Bella Ag, a dairy farmer in northern Colorado, to help the company monitor its cattle through a sensor device that goes into the chamber of a cow's stomach enabling the farm to grow from a few hundred cattle to a few thousand. IoT, however, requires multiple partnerships to deliver the best solution, he said. "There's not one vendor that offers everything this is where Arrow can help," he said. "IoT is not easy, but through its partnerships this is Arrow's opportunity to get involved and engaged." The company is also building out its own IoT business in addition to partnerships. For instance, Arrow is on a hiring spree, said Harbinson, employing database engineers, application engineers and IoT solution architects jobs that are tied to projects involving IoT. "Working with system integrators, our partners, we're trying to help our customers navigate this crazy network of infrastructure that's available today in the Internet of Things," he said. Security News CRN Exclusive: Veracode Names Former Kaspersky Lab Exec As New Channel Chief Kyle Alspach Share this Veracode has hired a veteran of Kaspersky Lab to be its new channel chief, as the application security company looks to bolster its partner program in the coming months. Leslie Bois officially began at Veracode in early January as global head of channel and alliances, a brand-new role for the company. Bois previously had spent nine years in channel positions at Kaspersky Lab North America, most recently as vice president of channel sales. She left the role in December to join Veracode. [Related: Kaspersky Lab's North American Channel Chief Bois Leaves Security Vendor] In an interview with CRN, Bois said she will be "taking a look at creating a strong partner program" at Burlington, Mass.-based Veracode. The current program, which includes 150 partners, is "very basic at the moment," she said. "The partners working with Veracode absolutely love them, but there's a huge opportunity to move to more of a channel-led model in the business, for exponential growth," Bois said. "Priority No. 1 for me is creating roles and responsibilities across the organization about how everyone can support us going to market with partners." Veracode, a privately held company that's raised at least $112 million in venture capital since its founding in 2006, focuses on helping developers of web applications to create secure code during the development process. Patrick Sheehan, managing director of global finance and insurance at Denver-based solution provider Optiv Security, said his company has had a "very positive relationship" with Veracode during several years of partnership. "Application security comes up all the time" with customers, Sheehan told CRN. "There are changing business models, and folks are facing competition from startups on applications. Customers are asking us for automation, helping them speed to market, while at the same time balancing security. Veracode helps in our story in that regard." As for the appointment of Bois and the channel plans at Veracode, Sheehan said that "any time one of our valued partners is investing in programs to be better aligned [with partners], that's music to our ears." Optiv's Sheehan said he's met Bois several times since her appointment, and found she has a "refreshing perspective." "I'm excited to see what she develops and what's to come, given the background that she has," Sheehan said. Bois said her hiring is just the initial step in a larger plan to boost Veracode's commitment to the channel. "Part of my next 60 to 90 days will be really digging into the program so I understand where we can optimize, and what are some additional benefits we can work into the program, in terms of training, enablement, benefits, support," she said. "We are going to be making some significant investments in technologies that will help support that, creating a much stronger partner program, deal registration program, communication, training straight across the board." Bois said she will be ready to share more specifics on the revamped partner program in coming months. She will be reporting to Mike McGuinness, executive vice president of sales for Veracode. Jacques Lopez--who manages North American channels for Veracode and has done a great job at organizing and engaging partners," Bois saidwill now be reporting to Bois. Veracode is not disclosing details on its revenue or the percentage of revenue that is currently generated through the channel. However, channel sales are "growing at a faster pace than the organization" as a whole, Bois said. Overall, she added, Veracode partners "should expect the full support of the entire organization" going forward. "We'll be bringing the partners in like they're part of the Veracode family," Bois said. "I look at the partner community as an extension of us." Security News Sophos Acquires Invincea For $100M; Partners Cheer New Next-Gen Endpoint Security Capabilities Sarah Kuranda Share this Sophos announced Wednesday that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Invincea, a move partners said would boost the company's platform strategy and next-generation endpoint security capabilities. The deal is worth $100 million in cash, with a $20 million earn-out. The acquisition does not include Invincea Labs, which operates and is managed separately. Invincea, of Fairfax, Va., uses machine learning and deep learning neural-network algorithms to detect unknown malware without the use of signatures. Kendra Krause, Sophos' vice president of global channels, said the addition of Invincea's machine learning capabilities fills out the last piece of Sophos' growing endpoint security portfolio. [Related: Sophos Adds Encryption To Synchronized Security Strategy With SafeGuard Encryption 8 Launch] "Invincea brings that last piece we have been looking for, and that is machine-based learning," Krause said in an interview with CRN. "Sophos can now deliver a full, comprehensive technology into the next-generation endpoint security market." CTO Joe Levy said the Invincea technology will expand the Sophos platform to be able to perform meaningful analysis on malware samples, leveraging machine learning for predictive analysis, and to keep pace with an increasing amount of unknown threats. Levy said Sophos evaluated other alternatives, but found Invincea's machine learning algorithms and data architectures to have better detection and lower false positives than the alternatives. He said the addition of Invincea to the Sophos platform will help the company "define what next-generation [endpoint security] means." "This is our stake in the ground as to what the essential components for a next-generation endpoint solution are," Levy said. Krause said the acquisition will be a big boost to partners as it expands the company's next-generation endpoint security capabilities and adds to its synchronized security platform. "For the Sophos partner, [the acquisition of Invincea] just provides that complete next-generation endpoint protection for them to go to market with. Sophos develops, integrates and acquires technology to bring the best of what a next-generation security solution is to customers," Krause said. Sam Heard, president of Data Integrity Services, a Lakeland, Fla.-based Sophos partner, said he was glad to see Sophos continue to buy and integrate technologies that are focused on the security market. "Theyve got a good track record of acquiring technologies and integrating it," Heard said. "I like this. I like this a lot." Heard said he particularly likes how the Invincea acquisition adds to Sophos' synchronized security platform, which he said really appeals to customers looking for integrated protection across both network and endpoint security. "I love the synchronized security message. The stronger you can make an endpoint along with the firewall platform, the better overall picture It's just going to make the product even better," Heard said. Krause said the entire Invincea team will be joining Sophos. That includes Invincea founder and CEO Anup Ghosh, who will now serve as chief evangelist for next-generation endpoint security at Sophos, and COO Norm Laudermilch. Ghosh said joining Sophos will allow Invincea's technology to reach more customers, and bring together two companies on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for endpoint security. He said Sophos is a good cultural and technical fit for Invincea. "From an engineering and cultural point of view, we are completely aligned around vision and innovation. Sophos just has a tremendous platform and an amazing channel presence. From an entrepreneur's point of view, this is what we always wanted, which was get to market in a very big way," Ghosh said in an interview with CRN. The acquisition comes at the beginning of what is likely to be a period of significant consolidation in the endpoint security market. Krause said she predicts other platform security companies will follow suit in acquiring next-generation endpoint security startups, as customers are looking for a full set of integrated security solutions, instead of pieces of the puzzle. "I would foresee continued consolidation," Krause said. "We believe we are very groundbreaking in the sense of having that compete solution. If we are first to market, I do believe others will follow." Krause said Sophos will run the Invincea partner program independently of the Sophos partner program in the near term to make sure both companies' partners and customers are fully supported. Invincea announced earlier this year that it had shifted to a 100-percent channel model, similar to that of Sophos, and launched a new partner program. She said Sophos will be working to integrate the Invincea technology into its portfolio, planning to do so in the next 12 months. As that time, she said, the company will decide how to integrate the partner programs. The closing of the deal is pending various closing conditions, Sophos said. BRIDGEPORT Five new law practices now make up the states first legal incubator. The Justice Legal Center opened recently with a team of five attorneys who will each operate independent law practices while offering legal assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence in the greater Bridgeport area served by the Center for Family Justice. The center marked its recent opening with a celebration on Wednesday. The incubator, which works like a business incubator, had been in the works for several years and was funded in part by a grant from the Leir Family Foundation. It will help victims of domestic and sexual violence receive affordable legal assistance while giving attorneys a hand in building their practice. We are proud to take the lead in bringing this innovative approach to providing legal services to our clients and the region, said Debra Greenwood, president and CEO of the Center for Family Justice. It is our hope the Justice Legal Center will serve as a model for how lawyers can provide legal services to those in greatest need of their support while making it possible for them to build a thriving law practice. As part of the incubator model, the attorneys will receive subsidized office space in CFJs headquarters and be mentored and trained by the incubator coordinator, Jennifer Ferrante, herself an attorney experienced in pro bono legal services. Each attorney has signed a two-year contract to be part of the project. The attorneys have also committed to providing their services to those victims in need of legal help. It is our mission to help our clients transform from victims to survivors, Greenwood said. Creating this incubator is part of a larger vision we have had to fill in the gaps in service victims sometimes experience in their efforts to overcome abuse, trauma and violence. Part of a growing trend, the American Bar Association estimates that some 60 legal incubators have been established across the country since the first one opened in at the City University of New York School of Law in 2007. Life (and family dynamics) can change forever in the proverbial blink of an eye, sometimes resulting in extraordinary joy, sometimes in absolute devastation or sometimes both. This is at the heart of Napoli, Brooklyn, a world premiere play focused on the women of the Italian-American Muscolino family following a horrific 1960 mid-air collision over New York City. A co-production with the Roundabout Theatre Company of New York, the Meghan Kennedy drama will debut Thursday, Feb. 16, at Long Wharf Theatres mainstage in New Haven and runs through March 12. Directed by Gordon Edelstein, the plot revolves around Friday, Dec. 16, 1960, when a United Airlines Douglas DC-8, bound for Idlewild Airport (since renamed John F. Kennedy International) collided in midair with a TWA Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation on its approach into LaGuardia Airport. The TWA plane crashed on Staten Island, while the United plane slammed into Park Slope, Brooklyn, at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Sterling Place. Killed were all 128 people on both aircraft and six people on the ground (all in Park Slope). At the time, it was the largest air disaster in history. Long Wharf describes the drama in this way: The women of the Muscolino family are desperate to find a life beyond their four walls, hiding dreams, loves and longings. Francesca, the youngest, yearns for her true love; Tina, for confidence and friendship; and Vita, for the chance to live the kind of life she pleases. Their mother Luda nurses her own quiet pains. ... Napoli, Brooklyn is a poetic and beautiful play about sisterhood, freedom and forgiveness. In the role of the oldest sister, Tina, is Christina Pumariega, a Cuban-Italian-American actor who lives, by coincidence, in the Park Slope area. Born in Nashville, Tenn., and raised in Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee, Pumariega said the play has been a joy to plumb the era in which her own Italian grandparents lived, as well as the history of her adopted neighborhood. Im so very grateful for the opportunity ... to open a window to my own family with relatives who emigrated from Palermo, Sicily, to the East Coast in the late 19th century, she said. More Information Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven. Thursday, Feb. 16- Sunday, March 12. $35-$90. 203-787-4282, longwharf.org See More Collapse Pumariega and another cast member, Shirine Babb, have done extensive research on the era, going on jaunts to the Brooklyn Historical Society and seeking out landmarks (such as the renowned Caputos Bake Shop) that were part of the 1960 neighborhood scene. Pumariega said in her role as Tina, she works at a box-making factory. And sure enough, she and Babb discovered one during an extended Brooklyn walk. For Park Slope the 1960 crash is still very much alive in their memories or from stories they have heard from older family members, she said, adding that for some, it is etched in memory much like the day when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The actor said she is thoroughly captivated by the playwrights use of language. This is a great American play in size, scope and breadth. pasboros@ctpost.com; Twitter: @PhyllisASBoros This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT - Declaring a state directive to protect immigrant students not enough, the city school board on Tuesday voted to declare its district a safe haven for all students. The resolution, approved 6-0 with two abstentions, drew cheers from a group of immigrant families and supporters who waited out a lengthy school board meeting on other matters to hear the item discussed. Board member Sauda Baraka proposed the resolutions, saying the current political climate in the nation has resulted in students and families expressing fear and concerns for student safety, I am very concerned for the well being of the children in our district, Baraka said. Our families are frightened. The resolution states that the district will protect student personal data, and not allow Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents onto school property without prior written approval of the superintendent. It also designates school board property as safe havens for students and their families. Julio Lopez, director of Make the Road Connecticut, an organization working with communities across the state to create so-called sanctuary cities, called the resolution an important first step. Even though the city has not yet passed such a resolution, Lopez said by the school district doing it, it at least creates a safe space within the borders of Bridgeport. It is a strong signal and we appreciate it, Lopez said. To make sure everyone in school is clear about the what they have to do when it comes to immigrant and undocumented students. That the vast majority of the districts students are minority students, many of the immigrants, should not matter, Dennis Bradley, another board member said. Whats right is right, Bradley said. I am voting for this resolution because it is right. Annette Segarra-Negron, another board member, spoke both in Spanish and English in expressing her support for the measure. We have to let parents know their kids are safe, she said. This is a great resolution. Board member Maria Pereira said her worry is that city police who work in the schools but take direction from the mayor might not follow the directive. We know Mayor (Joseph) Ganim is not in favor of this, Pereira said. Bradley said city cops have no authority to question residents about immigration status, which is a federal issue. Board Chairman Joe Larcheveque said there was not one thing in the resolution he disagreed with, still he worried that it might put school staff in position of being fired or being arrested in certain situations. Board members Ben Walker and John Weldon shared that concerned. Walker and Weldon both abstained in the end. Larcheveque voted yes. WASHINGTON For the third time, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., have introduced legislation to enact paid family leave. The measure, known as the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, would create a national fund to provide workers with 66 percent wage-replacement for 12 weeks per year in cases of birth, adoption, recovery from serious illness or caring for an ill relative. The program would be funded by contributions from both employers and employees, but the average employee would pay $1.50 a week, according to the proposal. Gillibrand introduced the bill in the Senate with support from other Democratic senators, including Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. She spoke on a press call with DeLauro and several paid family leave advocates. DeLauro recounted her often-told story of dealing with ovarian cancer while working as chief of staff to former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. At the time of her diagnosis in 1986, she was able to obtain leave from Dodds office. DeLauro said she didnt want paid family leave to be a benefit for just a few fortunate congressional staffers. It should be a fundamental right of all Americans, she said. Josh Elliott, who owns a business and represents Hamden in the state assembly, said businesses must help their workers because they are the ones who make it all possible. Elliott also said states that already have family paid leave have shown it does not affect the competitive edge of a small business. As a working mom, Gillibrand said she understands how the absence of paid leave presents families with an awful choice that no American family should have to make. They either quit their job and lose their income, or be by their family members side. It remains to be seen whether DeLauro and Gillibrand will get any traction with the bill this year given that both Capitol Hill and the White House are in Republican hands. But President Donald Trump talked about maternity paid leave during his campaign, and his daughter, Ivanka, has also spoken in support of the program. Gillibrand said that paid family leave is not a Democrat or Republican issue .... it affects people in all states. laura.lindarte@hearstdc.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT - A Fairfield woman Mayor Joe Ganim targeted on social media for trying to influence city immigration policy actually works daily in Bridgeport with immigrants. Yes, I do live in Fairfield, Ann McCarthy told the Connecticut Post in a statement Wednesday. But I work in Bridgeport. I serve as the Director of Development and Communications for the Child and Family Guidance Center. Our organization has provided mental health support to thousands of children and families in Bridgeport for more than 90 years. The majority of our clients are poor and from minority groups. And, McCarthy said, they are terrified of deportation, which is why she was among the 100-plus people protesting at City Hall Monday during the regular City Council meeting. Ganims post on Twitter and on Facebook referencing McCarthy was a reaction to that event. An irritated Ganim had avoided and ignored the crowd as it urged he and the council to stand up to Republican President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. It is a fight Ganim, a Democrat, wants no part of. The mayor has publicly sought to embrace the divisive Trump. They worked together in the early 1990s during Ganims first administration when the Manhattan developer wanted to build a casino in town. Now the mayor hopes he has an in to the White House. City Hall sources have said Ganim also fears losing crucial federal aid if Bridgeport joins Hartford, New Haven, New York, San Francisco and other municipalities in formally designating itself a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. But the mayor has yet to outline his concerns to constituents or outline any concrete plans to help assuage immigrants fears. He has lobbied behind-the-scenes to try to block council action on a sanctuary proposal. On Tuesday Ganim finally took a public stand, but it was to deflect the pressure off of himself. He was inspired by a Connecticut Post photograph of McCarthy at Mondays protest that identified her as a Fairfield resident. So the mayor took a page out of Trumps playbook to turn the tables on his critics, in this case casting immigrant advocates as out-of-town activists. And, also like the new President, Ganim used social media - Twitter and Facebook - to do it. Ganim and three like-minded council members crossed the border to the Fairfield Metro Train Station to mount their own counter-protest. He did not notify the press, instead posting two online photos. One was of the mayor holding up the edition of the Post featuring McCarthys picture, though he offered no explanation of her identity to provide context. The other photo was of Ganim and the council members holding signs that read, Make Fairfield A Sanctuary City! If we care about the most vulnerable, suburbans must help, not criticize us for not doing enough, Ganim wrote. The nonprofit where McCarthy works with immigrants is four minutes by foot from Ganims downtown offices. We are seeing first-hand the crippling anxiety endured by our clients around heightened fears of deportation. These are very real and serious emotional issues being experienced by our immigrant families. Mothers, fathers, and grandparents are calling us seeking help for themselves and their children, McCarthy wrote to the Post Wednesday. That is why I attended the rally. To use my individual voice to support those in Bridgeport who live in fear. ... The mental health concerns endured by Bridgeports immigrant population are real, are compelling, and must be addressed. Ganims decision to try and deflect criticism of him onto Fairfield is a symptom of the resentment Bridgeport lawmakers have long-harbored toward their smaller, more affluent neighbors. The feeling is that Connecticuts cities provide the suburbs benefits - health care, higher education, entertainment venues and, yes, safe and affordable refuge for undocumented immigrants - without much compensation to help lower urban residents high property taxes. Of course Ganim is no stranger to the suburbs. After his first administration ended in 2003 with his conviction for public corruption, he lived in Easton, moving back to Bridgeport in 2015 to run again for mayor. Ganim successfully appealed for a second chance governing Bridgeport to some of the very minority communities whose families fear Trump. And Bridgeport voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president. Fairfield Selectman Mike Tetreau, like Ganim a Democrat, said Wednesday morning that his Bridgeport counterpart hasnt asked for my support or Fairfields support (on immigration matters). I would like to learn more about his plans for Bridgeport. If he has questions on what is happening in Fairfield on any topic, I would be glad to take his call, Tetreau said. I dont follow him on Twitter so that may not be the best way to communicate. Bridgeports City Council, despite the mayors efforts, will in the coming weeks debate a proposal to offer sanctuary from Trump to undocumented immigrants. The votes - first by a public safety committee, then the full council - are likely to be close. Ganim can break a tie or issue a veto requiring two-thirds of the council members to overturn. Staff Writer Genevieve Reilly contributed to this report This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT The city needs and deserves a second train station costing $300 million. No, that money must be invested in the existing Metro-North New Haven Line infrastructure. With an occasional train rumbling past, the state Department of Transportation on Tuesday hosted a hearing on the proposed Barnum Station in the East Side neighborhood where it would be built. The event was required because of the projects impact on local wetlands and history specifically some of the existing train tracks, overhead wires and granite retaining walls. But most of the speakers from the audience of about 25 focused on whether the station was truly needed or if the money should instead be sunk into the entire rail line. In 2014, Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made an election year visit to Connecticuts largest city and one packed with Democratic voters to announce funds for a station design. That process has been slowly moving ahead, more like an old-fashioned railroad hand car than a high speed Amtrak Acela. David Wilcock, the project manager, noted the design is only 15 percent complete. He said the full design will launch later in the year. The initial $75 million budget and ambitious 2018 opening date have changed. Now the cost is around $300 million and the operational date moved to 2021. But Wilcock noted, Theres no date at this time for construction. That is dependent on availability of funding. Proponents of the new station, which will have two center platforms and a 550-space parking lot, believe it will be an economic catalyst for the rundown East Side, the city and region. Local elected officials and business leaders had been making that case to Malloy for some time before his 2014 announcement. Kevin Reed, building director for the Bridgeport Trade & Tech Center, where Tuesdays hearing was held, said the East Side for decades supported the industrial might of the nation and has since taken it on the chin with lost businesses and jobs. I appreciate in these days of hard economic times there are limited public dollars, Reed testified. (But) without making some real changes to this area, youre going to leave it behind for another 50 years. City Councilwoman Aidee Nieves said, This is my goal, seeing this station through, whether today or another 10 years. Its an integral part of the East Side rebuilding itself, as well as the city. She also said she hopes the station might eventually become a stop for the Acela, a decision state DOT officials said would be feasible, but up to Amtrak. But Jim Cameron, a longtime commuter advocate and Hearst Connecticut Media columnist, said the Acela will never stop on the East Side. If Amtrak comes to town, Cameron said, it will stop at Bridgeports downtown train station, near the bus station and the Long Island Sound ferry. As Cameron noted, he was there Tuesday to rain on your parade. Noting the actual purpose of the DOTs meeting was for public testimony about the historic rail line infrastructure that would need to be demolished to accommodate the new station, Cameron said that says a lot about the condition of this railroad. Its an historic relic that needs more investment, not a pricey second Bridgeport station, Cameron said. Matthew Hallock of Fairfield, agreed. He noted Malloys initial support came as a surprise to the DOT in 2014. Hearst Connecticut Media, after reviewing internal documents, at the time found many in the Transportation Department in the dark the governor had decided to make the second Bridgeport station a priority. I believe this is just a giant thank you for (Bridgeports) helping him get elected, Hallock said. This is a giant boondoggle. Ex-City Councilman Robert Halstead shot back, I dont like to hear people complain were getting something. We deserve something, Halstead said. We deserve this station. HARTFORD Gov. Dannel P. Malloys budget creates more losers than winners when it comes to state education aid, but at least on the surface Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford schools seem to come out ahead. Unveiled Wednesday, the plan shifts the bulk of the aid to distressed cities and towns that are less able to make up the difference through property taxes. It also carves out special education funding from the rest of the aid the state supplies cities and towns, which altogether serve 542,000 school children. Malloy called the new formula fair and honest, predictable and sustainable, in his budget address Wednesday to the General Assembly. A recent court decision deemed our school funding formula to be irrational and unfair, Malloy said. I agree. Representatives from the group that brought the school funding lawsuit against the state said Malloys plan makes things worse, not better. "It appears overall state support for K-12 public education would be reduced by close to $400 million when taking into account cuts to the ECS grant, new municipal payments to the Teacher Retirement System, and despite an increase in Special Education reimbursements," said James J. Finley, a principal consultant to the Connecticut Coalition of Justice in Education Funding case. The result: Bridgeport would seem to gain $13 million, Milford would lose $6 million. Greenwich would get nothing, Ansonia would pick up $5.1 million. Looking at the governors budget proposals, it looks like a punch to the gut for us, said Mayor Benjamin Blake of Milford. More Information Gov's proposed changes to education Increases special education aid by $10 million More seats for charter schools and magnet schools and increases the per pupil for charter schools to $11,482. Cuts higher education block grants 4.5 percent Redistributes ECS grant, giving 38 municipalities more and the rest, less. Consolidates the state Office of Higher Education into the state Department of Education. Calls for fewer mandates in the area of instruction, training and the hiring and retention of superintendents. Provides incentives for school districts that regionalize. See More Collapse Others say the numbers are not all that solvent. The new formula seems to leave out altogether the excess cost municipalities got for their most costly special education students. And beyond that, there is the issue of teacher pension costs: Malloy wants municipalities to start picking up one third of the cost of teacher pension costs. It is unclear, if that shift sticks, who would pick up the tab municipalities or school districts. It is going to take us a few days to figure it out, Av Harris, a spokesman for Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said. If the school district has to cover the shifted pension cost it would wipe out Bridgeports $13 million gain entirely. It would be break even in that case, Harris said. Several members of the Bridgeport delegation are also looking into the new school funding formula itself, to figure out how Hartford seems to gain so much more than Bridgeport. In Fairfield, First Selectman Michael Tetreau said the net lost in aid to his community would be $7 million in the next fiscal year. Mark Waxenberg, executive director of the Connecticut Education Association, the states largest teachers union, said it is hard to tell, bottom line, how much more any municipality would get. It appears the governor is trying to help poor districts but he is doing it not by adding additional money but by recalibrating the formula, Waxenberg said. He is raising the boat for poor districts by poking holes in the boats of middle class communities which is troublesome. The new proposal is bound to be changed once the legislature gets its hands on it. It was nothing Blake, from Milford, said he could have expected in his wildest nightmares. Along with other cuts the state hopes to levy, Blake said Milford will be down in excess of $10 million. He vowed to lay down on the tracks to stop Malloys train. The new education funding formula is said to be based on actual student enrollment, something absent from the school funding equation for more than a decade and counts poverty in a different way. Instead of basing need on the number of school children qualifying for school lunch subsidies, it looks to the number who qualify for HUSKY, the states medical insurance assistance program. Community wealth is also now measured by using the equalized net grand list. Because lets be honest, Malloy continued in a noontime speech before the General Assembly, if a city has a mil rate over 40, not only is that city failing its residents, but Connecticut is failing that city. The budget cuts block grants to higher education by 4.5 percent and would force the states technical high school systems to consolidate business offices. The cut to the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities in the 2018 biennium budget represents a decrease of about $25 million to the total allocation that includes fringe benefits. CSCU President Mark Ojakian said responding year after year by cutting costs and services is not viable. We must do our part to develop a long-term plan for our system that is realistic, predictable and sustainable in the future and provides our students the opportunities they need and deserve, Ojakian said. lclambeck@ctpost.com; @lclambeck This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORTThe backyards of a handful of homes turned into one giant crime scene Tuesday afternoon. One male victim was shot in the back and transported to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment, said Bridgeport Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald, in an email. The victim is stable at this time and expected to survive. The shooting occurred on the 1100 block of Iranistan Avenue at 3:40 p.m., according to Fitzgerald. That home shares a backyard with a number of homes that face Park Avenue. Detectives cordoned off four homes and the sidewalk in the vicinity of the shooting, as well as about 300 yards of sidewalk on Park. Under the downcast sky, a dozen officers and detectives worked the scene, some combing through wet dank grass in and around the homes for evidence. Shell casings were recovered at the scene, Fitzgerald confirmed. One weapon was also recovered, according to police at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. No arrests were announced in the case Tuesday. At least former President Barack Obama is having a good time. The 44th president and his wife spent time in the British Virgin Islands with billionaire Virgin Founder Richard Branson. Branson and Obama were seen goofing off, enjoying the water and kitesurfing. At the beginning of his presidency, after a close call surfing, Obamas security team reportedly told him: This will be the last time you surf in eight years. Well, it was Obama's time to get back on the board. To make things even more fun, Branson and Obama started a competition to see if the Hawaiian-born Obama could learn to kitesurf before Branson learned to use a foil board, which glides over the water. We were neck and neck until the last run on the last day, when I got up on the foil board and screamed along for over 50 metres, three feet above the water," Branson wrote in a blog post. "I was feeling very pleased with myself, only to look over and see Barack go 100 metres on his kiteboard! Related: Free of the Presidency, Barack Obama Has a Blast With Richard Branson La carta que las hijas de Bush le escribieron a Malia y Sasha Obama In Honor of His Farewell, 17 Inspiring Quotes From President Obama Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Dateline: Australia A woman called police in northern Australia to report that her drug dealer was charging far too much for marijuana. A Jan. 29 post on the Facebook page for the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services said the unidentified woman was completely offended by her local drug dealers behavior and demanded that police investigate what she called an outrageous price hike. When asked to provide further details of this illegal transaction, the woman apparently hung up. Although police said the call had to top the list of unusual, they did take the opportunity to offer their assistance to the community. If you know a drug dealer who is ripping you off, give us a call, the Facebook post said. Wed love to help. Dateline: West Virginia According to the Charleston Gazette-Journal, 52-year-old Kerry Johnson was gambling at the Mardi Gras Casino in Nitro last August when he ran out of money. Naturally, Johnson put his last $25 chip down on the blackjack table to hold his place, left the casino, drove 13 miles to Charleston, robbed a bank and returned to continue gambling. Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery late last month. According to authorities Johnson entered the City National Bank in Charleston, gave the teller a note saying he had a bomb and a weapon, and walked out with $5,000. He then returned to the Mardi Gras Casino and continued playing blackjack. Johnson was arrested the next day after detectives received an anonymous tip. After searching Johnsons residence, investigators found a yellow legal pad matching the paper used for the robbery note and a hat similar to the one worn by the robber in the surveillance video. Detectives also located a large amount of money stuffed into Johnsons couch. Some $500 worth of the banks stolen money was recovered from the table at which Johnson was playing blackjack. At first Johnson told investigators he had spent all dayfrom 10am to 4:30pmat the casino. However, security footage at the casino proved that Johnson got up and left during the time the bank was robbed. At the hearing Johnson told the judge he had taken a few drugs the day of the robbery, but recognized himself in the banks surveillance footage. Johnson faces between 5 and 18 years in prison for the crime. He will be sentenced on March 2. Dateline: Florida Scary clowns are so 2016. The Palm Beach Post reports 32-year-old Steven Charles Kirkland was arrested and charged with burglary, loitering and prowling and trespassing after being accused of breaking into a house and standing over a sleeping woman while dressed as SpongeBob Squarepants. WTSP in St. Petersburg said the victim was asleep on her couch around 7:15am on Monday, Jan. 30, when she awoke to find an unknown man wearing a SpongeBob Squarepants costume. The man ran out of the house and the victim called police. The suspect was spotted in the neighborhood about 7:35am looking through the window of a woman who was getting dressed. Police arrived and chased Kirkland, who tried to hide in a trash can but was found and arrested. Turns out Kirkland was also wanted for two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under the age of 12 and an indecent exposure charge, both stemming from incidents earlier in January. Investigators expect more victims to come forth. Dateline: Florida A Panama City fisherman thought he landed the catch of a lifetime after he reeled in a 20 kilogram bale of cocaine in the Gulf of Mexico off Floridas panhandle. This changed my life and way of thinking and also made me aware of some of the dangers that can be found offshore in the Gulf, 32-year-old Thomas Zachary Breeding wrote in a recent letter to the Panama City News Herald. I would like to let the public know the dangers and what not to do if this situation comes about. So what shouldnt you do? Quit your job as a longline boat captain and set up a drug distribution network with your friends. Which is what Breeding did last year after finding the 20 kilogramsabout 45 poundsof free cocaine back in January 2016. Breeding was one of five individuals arrested last summer on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The group was indicted by a federal grand jury in September. All five have since pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing on Feb. 16. Breeding, who has several prior convictions on his record, could get life in prison and a fine of up to $4.25 million. Page Content The members of the European Committee of the Regions met in the 121st plenary session. Sixteen opinions were on the agenda of this plenary session. On the first day, Hon. Ian Borg, MP - Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Funds and 2017 Presidency presented the priorities of the Maltese Presidency, and Mr Vazil Hudak, Vice-President of the EIB, intervened during the discussion of the opinion "Bridging the investment gap: how to tackle the challanges". On Friday, Mr Philip Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, shared its views with CoR members. The list of opinions which were adopted during the February plenary session: We must rethink the U.S. response to infectious disease. Here's why. Page Content Next steps for a sustainable European future - European action for sustainability" COM(2016) 739 final - invitation to a Stakeholder consultation by Rapporteur Franco Iacop (IT/PES) The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion on "Next steps for a sustainable European future - European action for sustainability" COM(2016) 739 final". The rapporteur of the opinion, Franco Iacop (IT/PES)(in the picture), Regional Councillor and President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Council, together with his expert, Graziano Lorenzon, would be delighted to meet representatives of local and regional associations and other stakeholders for a consultation and an exchange of views on the relevant topics of this opinion. The consultation will take place on: 9 February 2017 between 14.30 and 16.30 At the premises of the European Committee of the Regions (Rue Belliard 99-101, B-1040 Brussels) Room JDE 53 The rapporteur would be very keen to hear your views during the meeting. After a short introduction by the rapporteur, stakeholders will be invited to share their experience and exchange views with the rapporteur. At this stage it appears very important to understand whether the approach to relations of cooperation proposed by the EU Communication is able to facilitate direct relationships between civil society organizations and local authorities, stimulating capacity, for both parties, to draw socio-economic development initiatives. To shape the debate, we would suggest the following questions: Was this relationship pursued by EU policy in the past, with what results and what were the possible EU approach weaknesses? Do you think the setting of Communication confers a major (or minor) role to the local authorities? Does it identifie (or not) new tasks and responsibilities for the local institutions? Starting from the concept that the development and quality of life are closely linked to the territory and to the interaction between social and institutional actors, do you feel that the Communication (as it is articulated) is able to make a significant contribution to the construction of new partnerships based on a co-development vision in the agenda 2030? Finally, is the decentralized approach sufficiently supported by the Communication and, moreover, is the particular know-how of the local authorities fairly valued? The meeting will be held in Italian and English with simultaneous interpretation, allowing you to speak in both languages. Please note that the Rapporteur's language is Italian. You can already register to participate in this debate to shape the rapporteur's views. For practical reasons, you are kindly asked to register online before 1.00 p.m. on 8 February 2017. For more information, contact the CIVEX Commission secretariat: administrator Tatiana Dimitrova, Tel: +32 254 8381 e-mail: Tatiana.Dimitrova@cor.europa.eu Please note that in order to reduce paper waste, the CoR will not provide paper copies of documents for the meeting. In his first weeks as president, Donald J. Trump has sparked many different opinions among American people through his tweets, executive orders and his promises to Make America Great Again. While many supporters are pleased with the president, there are also some who are critical of his actions. Republican Party of Shelby County Chairman Lee Mills said he feels that the Trump administration is off to a good start, but that the man himself isnt perfect. Nobody is perfect, Mills said. We all have our faults. For example, Mills said he believes that the travel ban is the safest course of action at the present time and that other presidents have also limited immigration from certain parts of the world. President Trump's first responsibility as president is to keep America safe, Mills said. However, Mills said that something might need to be done about the presidents Twitter habits. While I like the fact that he uses Twitter, he might think of putting a trusted advisor between himself and the send button, Mills said. A second opinion on some of his tweets might not be a bad idea. Trumps unique relationship with the media often creates interest among students who support Trump and members of Republican organizations on college campuses. University of Memphis College Republicans treasurer Amber McCollum likes Trumps tweets against the media. It's refreshing to hear Trump call them out for their often skewed agenda and unfair bias, McCollum said. Still, there are some who voted for Trump, like 22-year-old history junior Thomas Hall, who said Trump could handle the media differently. I think he feels attacked by the media, Hall said. Hes definitely handling the media in the wrong way, but he just wants people to invest their trust in him. In addition, Hall also said that he feels that Trump's stance on immigration needs revising. The immigration policy needs improvement, Hall said. I think hes taking an extra stance because he feels pressured. Hall said the president forgetting that there are immigrants who have their familys best interest at heart, but they do not have the correct means to enter the United States in the proper way. There are too many people like that who should be able to come to the United States to have one specific immigration policy that stops all immigrants from coming, Hall said. Hall said that the president should work with other countries in order to come up with an immigration policy that is fair. Hall said he feels that building a wall to keep out illegal immigrants is not the best way to go about dealing with the immigration issues at hand. I know its probably complicated and difficult to hash out, but a fair policy seems right, Hall said. Jake Gray is an 18-year-old history and genealogy major who voted for Trump. He said that President Trump is fixing the immigration problem with the southern border, but the executive order that bans travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries goes a bit too far. President Trump needs to work on timing, the Olive Branch, Mississippi native said. It has just been one thing after another. Its just too much. On the other hand, some Trump supporters are not at all disappointed in the presidents performance. Miller Coleman, 18, president of the U of M College Republicans said that all he can do is support the president. Hes doing what he promised to do on the campaign trail in the first 100 days, which is a good attribute, the political science freshman from Union City, Tennessee, said Josh Albert watches Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz debate the future of the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday. Albert was one of a few students that showed up to the College Republicans and College Democrat debate watch party in the UC fountain view room. Former presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Ted Cruz debated the future of the Affordable Care Act Tuesday. At the University of Memphis, less than a dozen students showed up to the College Republicans and College Democrat debate watch party hosted at the University Center, a stark contrast from the past presidential debates that packed UC conference rooms with nearly 100 students. Nonetheless, members of both college political sects said the future of healthcare was important enough to host the watch party. True Merritt, 21, criminal justice and political science senior from Chicago and vice president of the U of M College Democrats said she agreed with Sanders when he said we need a system that works with the rest of the world. I think that most people agree that it needs to be fixed, but entirely doing away with it also wont be good, Merritt said. We need a revision that allows for pre-existing conditions to be covered, so you wont be dropped from your insurance if you develop a condition. I think that would bring people together. Miller Coleman, 18, the president of the U of M College Republicans, said that while Obamacare was made with good intentions, it hurts more than it helps. The Affordable Care Act looks good on paper, but it doesnt work well in real life, Coleman, a political science freshman from Union City, Tennessee, said. As a party, ever since the ACA was thought of, weve always supported the repeal of it. As long as the president supports the repeal of Obamacare and doesnt support government mandated health care, we will support him. One of President Trumps big campaign promises was that everyone will be insured, Medicaid or Medicare will not change and he will repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with something better in a short amount of time. After taking the Oath of Office, President Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the current health care system. Trumps promises could lead to a disagreement between Republicans even those potentially in Trumps cabinet. The details of Trumps plan will not be revealed until his health secretary nominee, Tom Price, is confirmed. Price, a Georgia Republican congressman, is a firm critic against the Affordable Care Act, and he has introduced legislation to let people out of Medicare and Medicaid in favor of private plans. Josh Albert watches Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz debate the future of the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday. Albert was one of a few students that showed up to the College Republicans and College Democrat debate watch party in the UC fountain view room. Page Content Local and regional decision-makers from all five political families in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), led by its President, Markku Markkula and First Vice President Karl Heinz Lambertz, engaged yesterday in a "youth citizens' dialogue" on populism and cities of the future. The two topics were chosen by young people from across Europe as a focus for their discussions with CoR members and the main European youth parties. The conclusions will feed into a CoR official contribution for the process of reflection on the European Union, launched by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. The dialogue took place in the context of the Youth Opinion Festival (YO!Fest) , the annual political youth-led gathering organised by the European Youth Forum, which brought together thousands of young people, including the trainees from the CoR who actively joined the debate on Europe's future. The event is a key highlight of " Europe Calling ", a year of events organised by the Dutch province of Limburg and the city of Maastricht to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Maastricht treaty - which paved the way for a deepening of European integration, including the creation of the CoR. Addressing the young people, President Markkula said: " To restore citizens' trust in the European Union, regions and cities are depending on you the young people! We are happy to engage with you in these bottom-up movements and it is encouraging to see that Europe still represents the best option in your eyes. But I also understand your worries about the lack of jobs, what is happening at our borders, and the state of the planet. I welcome your enthusiasm, which demonstrates that the EU citizenship created, like the Committee of the Regions, with the Maastricht Treaty - is a part of your DNA in a way that my generation could only have dreamed of. We will make sure that your concerns and ideas are taken seriously and heard by the top EU leaders. " CoR First Vice-President Lambertz insisted on the role that the young generation has to play in the debate about the future of Europe: " What we have learnt from the UK referendum was an urgent need to listen, in particular to our young people, in these debates. We must ensure that their voice matters ", he said. Carina Autengruber , Youth Forum Vice-President, stressed that 2017 is an important year during which the new EU Youth Strategy will be shaped at EU level. She urged the CoR members to continue engaging with the young people so they can contribute to the success of the new Strategy. Populism and cities of the future were voted as the two most relevant topics for the debate with CoR members. Young people shared their views on the means to combat populism, including investing further in education, narrowing the poverty gap, delivering real solutions and communicating at the grassroots about current pressing challenges (e.g. immigration, climate change, energy poverty). Participants were also eager to reflect on how they envision the cities of the future, especially given the fact that, by 2050, it is estimated that about 80% of the world population will be living in urban areas. Inclusiveness, innovation, embracing new technologies, e-democracy, more self-government initiatives, sustainability and energy transition were among the main ambitions put forward by the participants. To round off discussions with youth, representatives from the Yo!Fest will also actively take part in the CoR Plenary Session taking place on 9 February in Brussels on the occasion of a debate on the future of Europe and the ensuing adoption of a resolution on the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty . They have been given the opportunity to formally submit a "youth amendment" to the text so as to strengthen the CoR position from a youth perspective. *** The CoR events in Maastricht kicked off with a visit to the Limburg's government building where the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992. As the Treaty provided for the creation of the CoR as a mean to provide local and regional authorities with a direct voice in EU affairs, CoR members took the opportunity of the visit to celebrate, take stock and reflect on Europe's future. Welcoming the CoR delegation, King's commissioner for Limburg and CoR member Theo Bovens referred to the importance of the regions in the development of Europe: For the first time, the Maastricht Treaty gave a role to the regions in advancing European integration. My experience is that regions can connect so much better than nations, and that international problems cannot be solved without looking at them from a regional perspective. By way of example, he referred to the close cooperation between Aachen in Germany and Liege, Eupen and Hasselt in Belgium, in the field of cross-border police enforcement. Annemarie Penn-Te Strake , Mayor of Maastricht, emphasised the fact that, 25 years ago, when the Maastricht Treaty was signed, the event gave rise to much optimism and positivism, but that since then, such optimism has diminished. In this context she welcomed the active role the CoR is playing in encouraging debates on the future of Europe. Notes to the editors The CoR members who took part in the debate included: - Tony Buchanan, Councillor East Renfrewshire Council, UK (EA) - Luis Gomes, Mayor of Vila Real, Portugal (EPP) - Rob Jonkman, Member of the Executive Council of Opsterland, Netherlands (ECR) - Kata Tutto, Representative of Local Government of District 12 of Budapest, Hungary (PES) - Jean-Noel Verfaillie, Member of the Nord Departmental Council, France (ALDE) The youth's concerns and ambitions about the future of Europe will feed into the CoR's recommendations to the European Council President Donald Tusk, who asked the CoR to draft an opinion on "Reflecting on Europe: the voice of regional and local authorities to rebuild trust in the EU" . The aim is to get a clearer perception of the reality from the ground in the context of the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. Page Content Securing basic access to high-speed broadband must be recognised as a universal service, argues the European Committee of the Regions, and universal service obligations should get full recognition. "This is particularly relevant for areas where the market does not deliver and where public investment is crucial", said rapporteur Mart Vorklaev (EE/ALDE), Mayor of Rae Municipality in Estonia. The opinion , which was adopted unanimously in the plenary session on 8 February, suggests setting aside funds for developing access networks in rural areas, in addition to the funds earmarked for developing a basic network. Financial assistance should seek to attain a geographically balanced distribution to the EUs economic, social and territorial cohesion by taking particular account of the needs of local communities. Meanwhile, having indicators to compare the connectivity prices could provide useful insights into competition and efficiency levels in communication markets. Particularly important is that the development of the 5G network takes place at the same time and at the same speed throughout the EU, because it will be the most critical building block of the digital society in the next decade, serving a wide range of applications for instance remote surgery, smart factories and robotics - and sectors such as eHealth or energy management, to name but a few. "The EU-wide introduction of these kind of products and services depends on the whole EU enjoying full wireless high-speed internet coverage", recalls rapporteur Vorklaev. The opinion also welcomes the quick deployment of the WiFi4EU initiative, which aims to equip every European town with high-quality WiFi connection free of charge. However, this scheme should remain limited to new, complimentary access points and not compete with existing private schemes. The European Commission should also provide assistance to local authorities, especially smaller towns in rural areas, so that they are able to develop modern, fast, safe and user-friendly networks. MEP Carlos Zorrinho (PT/S&D), rapporteur of the European Parliament report on the WiFi4EU initiative, highlighted the need for partnerships with local and regional authorities. "In a moment when we need to connect citizens with the European project and show the positive impact of the Digital Single Market in their daily lives, WiFi4EU is an initiative which brings tangible benefits to everyone and contributes to the creation of technologically inclusive and participative cities", he said at the plenary session. The European Commission is setting up in cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions a participatory broadband platform to ensure that public and private bodies cooperate and firmly commit to investing in the development of the broadband network. The first meeting of the platform, which consists of CoR members and Commission representatives, will be held later this spring. "The Broadband Platform should contribute to a faster, better and more sustainable deployment of high-speed broadband in rural and sparsely populated areas in the EU and thus support their economy via digital services", Mr Vorklaev said. Completing the Digital Single Market is one of the priorities of the Estonian presidency of the Council in the second semester of 2017. These topics will be discussed on Friday in a meeting between Markku Markkula, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, and the Prime Minister of Estonia Juri Ratas. Read also: EU looks to regions and cities to lead the way in building a smarter, more sustainable Europe Contact: Lauri Ouvinen Tel. +32 22822063 lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu One of these two men is an unstable egomaniac with smallish hands and a trophy wife. The other is Donald Trump. One is vain, scornful of convention and reacts to criticism with an intolerance so wild you (wrongly) think he must have had one shandy too many. The other is teetotal Donald Trump. Given how much they have in common, it may seem odd that the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow thinks so little of the American President. But in his basic character, Mr Bercow is a mini-Donald. Scroll down for video Given how much they have in common, it may seem odd that the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, pictured, thinks so little of the American President, writes Quentin Letts He is as greedy for attention and has the same, inflated self-regard. He boils with it. Worst of all, both men appear to calculate that maximum advantage can be had in politics by creating division and hatred. When asked about her relationship with Trump, our stolid Prime Minister, Theresa May, observed that opposites can attract. By the same measure, people with similar characters often repel one another, as is plainly the case here. Mr Bercow, in an unprecedented Commons attack on Monday night, flew into a tirade about Mr Trump being racist, sexist and an opponent of the Speakers politically correct definition of equality. With his red-eyed rant, Speaker Bercow has done several things. He has plunged his high office into controversy and has created an international row which has probably damaged our prospects of doing a post-Brexit trade deal with the Trump White House. He may also have irked the Queen, who invited Mr Trump in the first place and who expects people at the top of our public life to show better manners to visiting heads of state. Mr Bercow delighted one side of the Commons (his remarks won a round of applause from the Scots Nats and there was similar partisanship during proceedings yesterday). Such creation of division along party lines is unhealthy for, if not deadly to, the supposedly impartial post of Speaker. Most of all, Mr Bercow has secured himself publicity. He has even made it on to the TV news in America. This, for him, will be richly satisfying, possibly in a literal sense. For, due to step down next year, he may be on the hunt for a big international post. This weeks events may in some way have been a job application. The greatest Speaker in history was William Lenthall, who occupied the Chair during the English Civil War. The Speaker sparked controversy after openly opposing Donald Trump, pictured, addressing Parliament Parliament was in open conflict with the Monarchy and Lenthall was a diplomatic and level-headed presence. Had the Speaker at that time been of a more excitable temperament, the Civil War might have been even bloodier than it was. It was Lenthall who blocked Charles I as he tried to enter the Commons with some heavies, demanding to know the whereabouts of some MPs who had criticised him. He clearly intended those men harm. Lenthall, with dignity and bravery, knelt before the furious Monarch and said: May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here. That moment encapsulated not only the independence of the Commons from the Crown, but also the limitations of the Speakership. Parliamentarians had their own power; the Speaker, as an individual, had none. He was merely the servant of the peoples representatives and they, in theory, were the servants of the electorate. It is hard to read Mr Bercows conduct as a continuation of that vital tradition. What we saw was a politician ambitious for attention and driven by childish anger. He had seen Michael Gove (who he has long despised) secure a major interview with Mr Trump in New York. He had seen Mrs May (whom he little likes) then triumph in Washington. Did he decide to plunge a stick in their wheels? The words he spoke were not the dry, calm verdict of a semi-judicial veteran assembling the facts of the matter or seeking to reduce the public temperature. They were markedly more personal and incendiary. Mr Bercow, pictured enjoying a day out at Wimbledon, claimed that he was within his rights to speak out against Mr Trump Yesterday, Mr Bercow claimed that he was within his rights to speak out against Mr Trump. That is questionable. At very least he snubbed Buckingham Palace. More seriously, he failed to represent the settled will of the Commons. He was off-piste, blatantly so, and it was not just Tory MPs who were appalled. Some Labour Members were queasy about his behaviour. Perhaps Labour sensed that he has become unhealthily close to their sworn foes, the Scottish Nationalists. Of course, this is not the first scrape the Speaker has landed himself in. The surest way to analyse John Bercow has always been through the prism of his character. If his Speakership is remembered chiefly for its rancour and rudeness, that will only be a reflection of his unhappy, politically rootless, itchy personality. High-minded commentators sometimes lecture us that it is wrong to make too much of the personal in politics, but in the case of men so vivid and unpredictable as Mr Bercow (and, for that matter, Mr Trump), that becomes impossible. This is a creature driven by molten moods and door-kicking tantrums. Philosophy really has little to do with his politics. Having observed Mr Bercow closely since he became an MP in 1997, I was not surprised by his performance on Monday. Throughout his career, John Bercow has happily exploited sulphurous disagreements to buttress his personal position. He did that in his early days as a Tory activist, when he was an objectionable oik in the racist Monday Club. Young Bercow was a Uriah Heap-like hanger-on to Right-wing grotesques. These men taught this taxi-drivers son to speak with a plum in his mouth something that accentuates the impression he is a fake. It has been said that the youthful Bercow once led a Hang Mandela campaign. Having entered the Commons as an unpleasant Rightie, Bercow (whose Buckingham seat is in the Tory heartlands) saw his prospects were limited and realised he needed to change his uncouth views to prosper. But throughout his career, John Bercow has 'happily exploited sulphurous disagreements to buttress his personal position' Views yes, character no. Shedding pretty much his whole Conservative persona would certainly help him win Labour support for the Speakership. He did this by mocking MPs on his own side and by sucking up to the politically-correct wing of the Labour Party. His posturing would have put a peacock to shame. Harriet Harman, Ed Balls, Ed Miliband & Co. saw what was going on and shrewdly went along with it as a way of destabilising the Tories. His chance came when Labours Michael Martin was drummed out of the Speakership in 2009 as the highest-profile victim of the MPs expenses scandal (thanks not least to manoeuvring by Bercow). Subsequently, Bercow swept into the job thanks to the Labour Whips. Some of us had warned that he was a wrong un, but we were ignored. Lo and behold, he was soon being criticised for bias against the Tories and there were horror stories about his nastiness to his staff. Thus has it continued. Mr Bercow has been extravagant with public money, spending thousands on foreign travel and on taxis. He has inserted his little favourites on committees. He has shown extraordinary tolerance of the disgraced Labour MP Keith Vaz and has treated less favoured MPs with lacerating rudeness. His marital life with the lurid Sally, who is just as addicted to self-promotion as him, has also been a dreadful mess. And, with his ban on Trump, hes unprecedentedly involved the Speakership in foreign policy, and an area linked to the most controversial domestic policy of all, Brexit. Alas, this will leave White House officials seeing that their new President, already besieged by the shrieking international Left, has now been insulted by the Speaker of the British House of Commons. All the good vibes of Theresa Mays Washington visit may have been forgotten. Vital diplomatic work may have been trashed. All because this vicious, careerist, small-minded martinet felt like getting something off his preening chest. John Bercow, pictured with wife Sally, went too far by insulting President Donald Trump This time, he has gone too far. Out of respect for his office, this column has long observed restraint in its criticism of the Commons Speaker. But by insulting the newly elected President of the United States, John Bercow has made it impossible to maintain our silence. Indeed, this egotistical publicity-seeker has broken the most sacred rule of his job that he should be scrupulously neutral and at all times serve the House. In banning Donald Trump from addressing Parliament, without any authority from MPs or consultation with the Lords, the exhibitionist Mr Bercow has set himself up as the master of the Commons, not its servant. Eaten up by self-regard and a lust for headlines, shared with his wife Sally he has single-handedly created an ugly diplomatic incident, which threatens to undermine the work of Prime Minister Theresa May in promoting Britains interests and bringing the maverick President into line. Leave aside Mr Bercows hypocrisy in welcoming visitors from totalitarian North Korea and China, while snubbing the elected representative of our freedom-loving ally, the US. Forget his lavish expenses claims and persistent bias against the Conservatives, whose far-Right he supported before his conversion to political correctness. It is time for the Speaker to accept that his love of the sound of his own voice is not shared by the House he purports to represent or a public to whom he is, frankly, an embarrassment. By jeopardising the Special Relationship in this way, this arrogant, self-promoting pipsqueak of a man has done a massive disservice to his office and his country. BETRAYAL OF THE BRAVE As this paper has long argued, ministers treatment of our troops interpreters in Afghanistan is a stain on our nation. The full depth of that disgrace was highlighted yesterday, when MPs heard that only one of these heroic men has been allowed to settle in Britain under a scheme to rescue those who have suffered intimidation for helping our country. Meanwhile, two more of our interpreters have been murdered by the Taliban, while in the words of one MP, others are left to twist in the wind. Afghan interpreters, like this man pictured second right with Prince Harry in 2008, deserve better treatment than the UK currently provides them Last year, Britain took in 650,000 migrants most with no special claim on our hospitality. How can we welcome so many, while turning away those we owe most? If this is how we treat our friends, God help our troops when they need local support in future conflicts. SEVEN WASTED YEARS DEPRESSING FACT (1): In its pre-Budget number-crunching, the Institute for Fiscal Studies finds that on current plans the tax burden is set to rise to its highest level in 30 years, threatening growth, while more spending cuts will be needed until well into the next decade. After almost seven years of so-called austerity Budgets, this hardly says much, does it, for George Osbornes stewardship of the economy? DEPRESSING (AND MAD) FACT (2): In the same report, the IFS finds spending on adult care has fallen more than six per cent since 2010 while the overseas aid budget has risen by 40 per cent. How much longer can this lunacy go on? Interest rates at rock-bottom for eight years... buy-to-let investors hammered by tax raids... Now even premium bond prizes are to be hit, with nominal returns for 21million savers slashed from 1.25 per cent to an even more risible 1.15 per cent. Are ministers determined to kill off every incentive to save and condemn the whole country to an impoverished old age? Hello, says Melvyn Bragg and without further ado, we are off For me, and I suspect for millions of other Radio 4 listeners all over the country, Thursday mornings always begin the same way. The trill of the alarm clock, the rushed breakfast, the mad panic of the school run and all this against the droning patter of the Today programme, as though somebody is slowly but mercilessly drilling deep into your soul. Then, at 9am, comes salvation. The politicians fall silent, there is a brief pause and then you hear an urgent, enthusiastic voice, still with the vowels of his Cumbrian childhood. Hello, says Melvyn Bragg and without further ado, we are off. So begins In Our Time, which this week marks its 750th edition. It is not just the best thing on radio, it is simply the best thing the BBC produce at all. Yes, better than The Archers, better than Strictly, better than Doctor Who and even better than The Proms. For three-quarters of an hour, Melvyn and his three or four guests transport you to another world. Last week they were discussing the great German Jewish writer Hannah Arendt, who did so much to raise awareness of the Holocaust and coined the phrase the banality of evil. The week before, they were talking about parasites not politicians, but hookworms, mistletoe, cuckoos and head lice. Tomorrow, they are going to be talking about the 19th-century poet John Clare, who began life as a farm labourer and ended it in a Northamptonshire lunatic asylum. Amid the intellectual aridity of so much radio output, here is an oasis not so much of seriousness as of enlightenment. You dont need to be a brainbox to enjoy In Our Time; you dont need a degree; indeed, you dont need to know anything about the subject at all. Melvyn Bragg and guests will do all the heavy lifting for you. Their job is not to lecture you; it is simply to spend 45 minutes chatting with learned enthusiasm. It is a mark of their success that once I start listening, I almost never switch off, even when the subject seems almost preposterously arcane. If you asked me whether I was interested in the astronomer Johannes Kepler, the ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, the invention of photography, the ancient Greek muses or the Dutch East India Company, I would normally say a very firm No. Yet when In Our Time covered all five, I listened to every syllable, enthralled from start to finish. That is the best tribute I can pay to a programme that has been running almost every Thursday since October 1998, delighting some two million listeners a week with a podcast audience of 3.5 million and glittering like a diamond amid so much radio dross. Much of its success, of course, is down to one man. Yes, I know Melvyn Bragg is not everyones cup of tea. There is something about the luxuriant hair and achingly liberal views that gets peoples backs up. It was Bragg, now 77, who came up with the idea of In Our Time. For ten years, hed been at the helm of another BBC flagship, Start The Week, the Monday morning live discussion of arts, science and politics It was Bragg, now 77, who came up with the idea of In Our Time. For ten years, hed been at the helm of another BBC flagship, Start The Week, the Monday morning live discussion of arts, science and politics. But having been made a Labour peer in 1998, Bragg was considered at risk of breaching the BBCs strict guidelines on impartiality, and so found himself stuck in the so-called Thursday death slot instead. As he later told an interviewer, he said to himself: Well, Im just going to do what Ive always wanted to do. His dream was to convey the span and complexity, the grandeur and diversity of our world, in a series that would be pure pleasure and paradise for an autodidact. So, in collaboration with his BBC producers, he chose random topics that interested him, invited some academics to come and chat about them and simply pressed record. And that, in effect, is the formula that has endured so well for the last 749 episodes. Although the academics are supposed to be the stars, it is really Braggs show. He often knows little about the subject himself, but swots up in the week beforehand. In this setting, he is the perfect presenter. Although he usually seems fascinated by the subject, he has no patience for pretension or showing off. If hes annoyed by his guests or worse, bored youll know it. As the writer Will Self, who listens to it while walking his dog, acutely remarks, one of Braggs great strengths is his readiness to puncture the academics self-inflated balloons. Bragg gives short shrift to pretension of any kind, while remaining stalwart in his search for knowledge, Self once wrote. His method is like a man throwing a stick for a dog: he chucks his questions ahead, and if the chosen academic fails to bring it right back, he chides them. The result is a programme that steers just the right side of being an Oxbridge seminar without ever descending to the level of a chat show. The academics are given a chance to talk, but are never given their head unchecked. As the programme draws on, they invariably become more and more excited, but Bragg is always there to steer them back towards sanity. The cast list is often spectacular, reading like a Whos Who of the English-speaking worlds best-known intellectuals, from the scientists Steve Jones, Steven Pinker and Jocelyn Bell Burnell to the philosophers John Gray and A. C. Grayling. Indeed, the programme often throws up combinations that even students at the worlds finest universities would never get to hear. In an early programme on Hitler in History, for example, we got both the Nazi dictators greatest biographer, Sir Ian Kershaw, and the U.S.-based Professor Niall Ferguson, one of the worlds most controversial historians. To hear one would be a treat; to hear them together, sparring and swapping ideas, is, for anyone who loves history, priceless. The real stars of the series, though, are the subjects themselves, which Bragg still chooses in league with his producers. Merely to scroll through the shows online archive a digital monument to the love of learning is to find yourself in a wonderland of the strange and the fascinating. Have you ever wanted to find out about the Baltic Crusades, or wondered what became of the Sikh Empire? Do you ever wonder why we always feel so guilty, or what on earth dark matter is? What do we mean by free will? How does gravity work? Why did the French build the Statue of Liberty? On paper, perhaps some of those questions dont grab you. But the joy of the series is that it can spark a fascination with something you never even thought about before. Once you start listening, I bet you wont stop. And by the time the programme ends, youll be glad you didnt. Theres one subject that In Our Time has never done, but it ought to: the life of John Reith, the austere Scottish Presbyterian who founded the BBC back in 1922. It was Reith who said that the BBCs mission must be to inform, educate and entertain, and who urged his staff to introduce the British public to all that is best in every department of human knowledge, endeavour and achievement. Does our public broadcaster always live up to those fine words? I think we all know the answer. Too often in recent years, driven half-mad by its obsessions with ratings, diversity and the cult of youth, the BBC has lost sight of Reiths vision. In Our Time, however, stands apart. No programme, either on radio or TV, tries harder to fulfil Reiths mission, or comes closer to bridging the gap between the highbrow and the popular. To have chalked up 750 episodes is an achievement in itself. But I doubt I am alone in hoping that Bragg goes on to make 750 more. And now, if youll forgive me, I really ought to catch up on a couple of old episodes more than 500 are available as podcasts. The Icelandic Sagas to start with, I think, and then perhaps the life of Frederick the Great. Sheer bliss. The world's most identical twins are not shy about sharing the details of their lifestyle. But on Tuesday, the 'world's most identical twins' Anna and Lucy DeCinque took a more serious tone as they recounted their experience with drink spiking on YouTube. The Perth-based girls said they wanted their experience - which left them in hospital and 'lucky to be alive' according to one doctor - to serve as a warning to other women. Survivors: The girls say a doctor told their mother they were 'lucky to be alive' Traumatised: Anna and Lucy DeCinque recounted the petrifying experience they had with drink spiking 10 years ago After deciding to go out clubbing together about 10 years ago, the now-31-year-old women had met and were chatting to a man. He offered to buy the pair a drink, to which they readily agreed. Looking back - they wish they had not. Safe and sound: While the experience turned the Perth twins off clubbing, they were still open to dating, and now share a boyfriend (pictured) 'We left our drinks, which you shouldn't, and went back to dancing,' they explained. 'Then we blacked out. We don't remember about 12 hours of the night.' Upon leaving the club, the girls were taken to hospital and thoroughly examined. Anna and Lucy told their online audience when they woke up, a doctor called their parents to advise them to come to the hospital. No memory: The 31-year-old women say they cannot remember anything from the night after a man they met earlier bought them a drink The girls say he told their mother they were 'lucky to be alive' after their experience. 'We were naive and young - what we learn now is completely different,' the twins said. Looking back, they both admitted not knowing what had happened to them had continued to plague them. 'I don't know if someone took advantage of us,' one twin said, with a distressed look on her face. She's the whimsical Married At First Sight bride who has baffled viewers with her bizarre outbursts and particular tastes in men. And on Tuesday night, Debbie was slammed after lashing out at her TV husband John over a number of minor issues - from snoring to leaving the toilet seat up. Debbie, who had hoped to be matched with a Polynesian man on the reality show, was a jet-setting model in the Eighties and said she has been in 64 TV commercials, three movies and been photographed 'thousands of times.' Scroll down for video She's the whimsical Married At First Sight bride who has baffled viewers with her bizarre outbursts and particular tastes in men And on Tuesday night, Debbie was slammed after lashing out at her TV husband John over a number of minor issues - from snoring to leaving the toilet seat up But it seems the 53-year-old Queensland-based yogi has also made a name for herself a little closer to home. For 17 years, Debbie became a household name at the famed Eumundi Markets on the Sunshine Coast as 'The Indian Fairy' - a face painting, story-telling character. According to a number of event posts from 2013 and earlier, Debbie was a regular at the markets where she would do special effects make up on children in her makeshift bohemian tent. For 17 years, Debbie became a household name at the famed Eumundi Markets on the Sunshine Coast as 'The Indian Fairy' - a face painting, story-telling character A review left for the self-confessed 'creative' in 2009 raved about her imaginative space and 'magical' setup. 'On any given Wednesday or Saturday at Eumundi markets the Indian Fairy sets up her magical world for your children in a forest scene (boys are catered for too),' the review reads. 'She sits and paints their faces and tells them a magical story my girls loved it.' Debbie was a regular at the markets where she would do special effects make up on children in her makeshift bohemian tent Not only that, but Debbie was so popular as 'The Indian Fairy' that she went to Singapore to represent the Eumundi Markets at the 'Best of Queensland' VivoCity event in 2010 Not only that, but Debbie was so popular as 'The Indian Fairy' that she went to Singapore to represent the Eumundi Markets at the 'Best of Queensland' VivoCity event in 2010. 'Meet some of the favourite artisan stallholders from the Sunshine Coast's famous Eumundi Markets, including fairy gifts from The Indian Fairy,' the event description read at the time. Countless snaps show Debbie in her glittering face paint and enormous flower crowns as she poses with her happy clients - many of them taking to social media to praise her skills. Debbie then hung up her wings in 2013. Deborah and John wed in a beautiful beach ceremony, with the bride making a dramatic entrance atop a throne carried by a number of Polynesian men. Speaking about her wedding ceremony, she said: 'Why did we have to do that Polynesian theme if there was no Polynesian?' But Debbie hasn't made quite the same impact on Married At First Sight viewers after voicing a number of concerns about her carefree and easygoing 'husband', John. After Debbie's latest disagreement with her new beau, who is a father-of-two from Melbourne, it all became too much for her. The unhappy bride stormed off in tears and said the reality show had given her nothing she had hoped for - including a Polynesian groom and a gluten-free cake at the wedding. Speaking about her wedding ceremony, she said: 'Why did we have to do that Polynesian theme if there was no Polynesian?' 'All they had to do was put an ad out and they would have got them - interviewed about 100 of them and they would have found one,' she said Fans on social media widely criticised Deborah and jumped to John's defence 'All they had to do was put an ad out and they would have got them - interviewed about 100 of them and they would have found one. 'I got nothing I wanted. I got orange cake. It wasn't even gluten free. Everyone knows what I wanted.' Fans on social media widely criticised Deborah and jumped to John's defence. 'I'm starting to realise now why Deb has been single all this time... Not by choice,' one Twitter user wrote. 'Deb lived alone with a dog and was a spinster for a reason. We are now finding out why,' another commented. 'I'm starting to realise now why Deb has been single all this time... Not by choice,' one Twitter user wrote The unhappy bride stormed off in tears and said the reality show had given her nothing she had hoped for - including a Polynesian groom and a gluten-free cake at the wedding Deborah and John wed in a beautiful beach ceremony, with the bride making a dramatic entrance atop a throne carried by a number of Polynesian men. But when she laid eyes on her husband for the first time, he was not what she had in mind. Deborah had asked the shows matchmakers for a Polynesian man from the islands, and was initially confused when she saw John. 'I didnt know whether he was my husband or not,' she said. I was expecting a Polynesian person from the islands and so I was sort of a bit taken back that it wasnt that.' Andrew Marr (pictured) said his relationship with his wife became 'warmer' following his stroke Clever of the BBC to broadcast Andrew Marr's documentary, My Brain And Me, next Tuesday aka Valentine's Day. Because while the programme promises a fascinating insight into Mr Marr's road to recovery after a stroke in 2013, there's a romantic dimension to the story, too. The fact that Marr's wife, journalist Jackie Ashley, not only stood by him following the revelations of an extra-marital affair, but also forgave him a subsequent drunken clinch with a colleague would have been proof enough of her devotion. That she then nursed him back to health, taking nine months off work to care for him, is practically the stuff of Mills & Boon. Marr, who has said their relationship became 'warmer' following his stroke, is a very lucky man. But then, in marriage, as in so much else in life, the old saying is true: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. In Andrew Marr's case, quite literally. There is something about confronting adversity together that creates a unique bond. Provided the experience doesn't break you, it adds to the general grout of a shared existence, joining the broken bits to create some-thing new, yet at the same time recognisably true to the original. I've no idea whether this matches the Marrs' experience, of course, but it certainly matches my own. Before last year's EU referendum vote, in which my husband made the decision to stand on the opposite side of the debate to David Cameron, I had never appreciated the extent to which serious upheaval can bring two people closer even though the nastiness it provoked still haunts me. I wouldn't, of course, compare the experience to serious illness, nor would I wish to repeat it, yet it was, in many ways, one of the best things that's happened to our marriage. That kind of thing facing the music together and not only surviving, but thriving is, ultimately what love is all about. Knowing when to leave a thing unsaid; telling someone things they would rather not know about themselves, and accepting the same in return; and, above all, learning to listen and forgive. Before last year's EU referendum vote, Michael Gove (pictured) made the decision to stand on the opposite side of the debate to David Cameron The trouble is, no one teaches you any of this in school. We're very good at explaining to children the mechanics of sexual relationships, but they receive not a single word of advice about one of the most important challenges of all: staying together. Be happy, we tell them and then wonder why their relationships fail. Because no one can possibly be happy all the time, and yet somehow that has become the modern expectation. So many couples go through life doing their best to ensure that everything looks peachy on top, but never daring to delve too deep beneath the surface. And then they're surprised when, over time, their paths slowly diverge. They still live together, eat together, even sleep together but neither is truly present in the other one's life. Conflict, whether through illness or otherwise, can change that. Under stress conditions, your antennae become super-attuned to each other in a way that perhaps they haven't been since you first met and sat up all night setting the world to rights. You are alive more than ever before to the subtle changes in mood, the tiny ripples in the air that signal danger. This is a new kind of connection, one that perhaps, after years of familiarity, you haven't felt for a while. It can be unexpectedly thrilling. It can cast the person with whom you may have shared a sofa and a curry on a Sunday night for the past ten years in an entirely different light. What could be more romantic than that? If you ask me, this whole broccoli shortage is just a scam by growers to create a panic and get more people to buy the world's most disgusting vegetable. He's a child with a beard, Kylie I'm sad for Kylie Minogue that her hopes of marriage have once again been dashed. But anyone looking at Joshua Sasse, with his snappy suits and pumped-up ego, could have seen that he was going to be a hard one to keep on the porch. And then, of course, there's the age difference. He's not yet 30; she's 48. And while your average fortysomething woman tends to be a fairly well-rounded, emotionally stable individual, men under the age of 30 are, in my experience, quite the opposite. Sasse may look like a grown-up, but at 29 he's basically just a child with a beard. I'm sad for Kylie Minogue (pictured with Joshua Sasse) that her hopes of marriage have once again been dashed, writes Sarah Vine The problem is that in EQ (emotional quotient) terms, man years are just not the same as women years. By the age of 30, most women are ready for long-term commitment, but men don't reach emotional maturity until they are pushing 40 if they ever do. Last week, Diane Abbott claimed she was unable to attend the Article 50 vote because of 'a migraine'. Yesterday, Nicholas Boles, MP for Grantham, who is halfway through his third round of chemotherapy for a brain tumour, left hospital to register his vote. It makes you wonder how committed to the process of democracy Ms Abbott really is. Tinker Tailor Soldier... Geek According to Elizabeth Debicki, willowy star of The Night Manager, women in spy stories are just a male fantasy. I have news for Ms Debicki: so are the men. Sad to say, but these days your average spy is more likely to be an acne-ridden geek tapping away at a computer keyboard in Cheltenham than a Martini-swilling Lothario trawling the casinos of Monte Carlo. According to Elizabeth Debicki, (pictured) willowy star of The Night Manager, women in spy stories are just a male fantasy We've had the Golden Globes, the SAGs (Screen Actors' Guild) and the National Television Awards. Still to come are the Baftas this Sunday and the Oscars on February 26. I don't know about you, but I'd say we've reached saturation point in award ceremonies. After all, when you've seen one glamorous celebrity in an expensive dress, you've seen them all. Though if that were the only issue, it wouldn't matter so much. Oscar predictions used to be all about who would take home the coveted statuette. Now the only thing that anyone seems to care about is who can most convincingly signal disapproval of U.S. President Donald Trump. Next year they should just have it as a category: the John Bercow Award for Pointless Leftie Virtue Signalling. Why is it that every time a male steps down from virtually any job, from James Bond to Dr Who to pretty much everything at the BBC, automatically the cry goes up for the replacement to be a woman? First, the same is not true in reverse. For example, you wouldn't dream of replacing Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) in Call The Midwife with, say, Ross Kemp, would you? And second, what woman wants to get ahead purely on the basis of anatomy (well, apart from Kim Kardashian)? The job should simply go to who is best at it, be they male, female or as people increasingly tend to be these days anything in between. Carry-on bag curse Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced it is reviewing its carry-on bag allowance because 'abuse' is contributing to flight delays. Not a moment too soon. The curse of the carry-on bag is as much to blame for the misery of air travel as all that extra security. Departure lounges are so clogged with wheeled cases that they have become unnavigable; security takes for ever as staff are forced to rifle through everyone's knickers in search of contraband; and on board, grown men elbow aside small children and grannies in pursuit of the last space in the overhead lockers. Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced it is reviewing its carry-on bag allowance because 'abuse' is contributing to flight delays What makes the whole farrago even more absurd is the fact that airlines charge you less for not checking in luggage. It should be the other way round. Travellers should get a discount for putting their clutter in the hold and be forced to pay extra for the convenience of carry-on luggage. As if parading her naked bump wasn't enough, Beyonce has filed legal documents trademarking her daughter's name, Blue Ivy, presumably so she can turn the five-year-old into a 'brand'. Someone should tell her children are people, not cash cows. I've never been quite sure about the website justgiving.com. It strikes me that half of the appeal for donors is to brag about their generosity via its message boards. Now it turns out the site makes more than 20 million a year from donations and that its boss takes home a salary of 200,000. What makes it worse is that the site is best known for raising cash for cancer sufferers whose treatment cannot be funded by the NHS and so need help to pay for drugs. Sick? Just a touch. A rape survivor and her rapist have come together 20 years after the event to tell their story. Thordis Elva, from Iceland, was just 16 years old when she was sexually assaulted by her then-boyfriend, an Australian foreign exchange student, Tom Stranger, 18, in 1996. Now, after co-authoring a book on the rape together, the pair have teamed up once more on the TED stage. In a 19-minute-long talk filmed late last year, Mr Stranger and Ms Elva discuss the impact the rape had on both of their lives. Scroll down for video Rape survivor, Thordis Elva, from Iceland, and her rapist, Tom Stranger, from Australia (pictured), have teamed up 20 years after the event to tell their story The pair had been dating for a 'month or so' when the assault took place in Ms Elva's home after the school's Christmas ball. Ms Elva had tried rum for the first time, and she describes thinking that Mr Stranger was her hero after he took her home to put her to bed: 'It was like a fairy tale, his strong arms around me, laying me in the safety of my bed,' she remembered. However, soon her gratitude turned to horror 'as he proceeded to take off my clothes and get on top of me. 'My head had cleared up, but my body was still too weak to fight back, and the pain was blinding. I thought I'd been severed in two. 'In order to stay sane, I silently counted the seconds on my alarm clock. And ever since that night, I've known that there are 7,200 seconds in two hours,' she said. The pair had been dating for a 'month or so' when the assault took place in Ms Elva's home after the school's Christmas ball (Thordis Elva, pictured) Mr Stranger speaks in the TED talk about the fact that he didn't consider the act to be rape at the time - 'I disavowed the truth by convincing myself it was sex and not rape,' he said Mr Stranger responded to Ms Elva's words in the video by saying that he didn't consider the act to be rape at the time. 'I have vague memories of the next day,' he said. 'The after effects of drinking, a certain hollowness that I tried to stifle. Nothing more. But I didn't show up at Thordis's door. It is important to now state that I didn't see my deed for what it was.' I was raised in a world where girls are told they get raped for a reason. Their skirt was too short, their smile was too wide, their breath smelled of alcohol. And I was guilty of all of those things, so the shame had to be mine 'To be honest, I repudiated the entire act in the days afterwards and when I was committing it. I disavowed the truth by convincing myself it was sex and not rape. And this is a lie I've felt spine-bending guilt for.' The couple broke up a couple of days later, Mr Stranger returned home to Australia and Ms Elva says she struggled to label what had happened to her as rape: 'I was raised in a world where girls are told they get raped for a reason,' she said. 'Their skirt was too short, their smile was too wide, their breath smelled of alcohol. And I was guilty of all of those things, so the shame had to be mine.' In fact, it wasn't until nine years later - when Ms Elva was on the edge of a nervous breakdown - that she wandered into a cafe only to find herself writing an extensive letter to Tom. After writing 'I want to find forgiveness', Ms Elva said she 'realised that this was my way out of my suffering. 'Regardless of whether he deserved my forgiveness, I deserved peace,' she said. The pair began writing to each other and eventually agreed to meet up in person some 16 years after the rape. Settling on a point in between Iceland and Australia, they agreed on Cape Town, and when they met for a week they shared their life stories and talked about what Tom had done when they were teenagers: 'All I wanted to do for years is hurt Tom back as deeply as he had hurt me,' Ms Elva said. But, she said, speaking together and discussing the tumultuous event was cathartic: 'Light had triumphed over darkness... There is hope after rape.' Nine years later, Ms Elva wrote a letter to Mr Stranger, and they later met up in Cape Town to discuss the rape - they have since co-authored a book together on the subject Now, Ms Elva and Mr Stranger have co-authored a book, called South of Forgiveness. 'Something you've done doesn't have to constitute the sum of who you are,' Mr Stranger said. 'Don't underestimate the power of words. Saying to Thordis that I raped her changed my accord with myself, as well as with her. 'But most importantly, the blame transferred from Thordis to me. Far too often, the responsibility is attributed to female survivors of sexual violence, and not to the males who enact it.' Ms Elva echoed this thought by concluding: 'It's about time that we stopped treating sexual violence as a women's issue'. To watch the TED talk in full, click here. You can also pre-order a copy of the book, which is released in March 2017, here. Forget limp ham sandwiches and warmed-up cartons of orange juice. Data from OpenTable has revealed that the most popular gourmet children's dishes are sushi and macaroons. It comes as a third of children surveyed also revealed they preferred fine dining to takeaway. Feeling fancy: Sushi has been rated as the favourite gourmet food of Australian children in a recent survey of more than 1250 people Coconut water, scallops and almond milk were also popular with young foodies. The survey showed that children are enjoying an increasingly luxurious lifestyle. It claimed the average child has dined in a Michelin-starred restaurant more than once in their life - and 20 per cent of them are eating out at least once a week. Sweet treat! Macaroons came in second on a list which also contained scallops, coconut water and lobster Lisa Hasen, vice president of OpenTable, APAC, said she's not shocked at the gourmet list of Australian children's favourite foods - which lists lobster as the tenth most popular food. 'Australians are known for being daring when it comes to their dining choices so it's no surprise that our youngsters are too,' she said. Kids from New South Wales appear to have the most advanced palates, with 46 per cent of parents surveyed describing their child as a foodie. Dining out: According to the survey, the average Aussie kid has visited a hatted restaurant more than once TOP TEN FOODS AS RATED BY AUSSIE KIDS Sushi (49 per cent) Macaroons (38 per cent) Smashed eggs on toast (38 per cent) Coconut water (30 per cent) Scallops (29 per cent) Veal (27 per cent) Creme brulee (26 per cent) Wagyu beef (25 per cent) Almond milk (24 per cent) Lobster (24 per cent) Advertisement Those from Western Australia might be happier with some nuggets and a soft drink though. There, only 24 per cent of parents seeing their children as lovers of fine cuisine. John Fink, the creative director for fine dining restaurants Quay, Bennelong and OTTO, in Sydney told Hospitality Magazine it was becoming more and more common to see families in his establishments. 'It's fascinating to see mature palates from such a young age,' he said. 'Across the board, our young diners are open to new delicacies and are becoming connoisseurs in their own right.' A woman has called her macabre hobby of dangling in the air using metal hooks that are attached to her skin 'art'. Samantha Churchwell, 24, from Chicago, admits she's 'hooked' on the gruesome - and often bloody - pursuit, despite the fact that it's painful to do. The tattooed trainee mortician first became interested in body suspension, which involves creating a fresh piercing every time, after watching a television show about it when she was just 13. Not for the squeamish: Samantha Churchwell, 24, from Chicago, smiles through the pain barrier as she shows off her interesting hobby - using hooks attached to her body to suspend in the air The 24-year-old mortuary school graduate enjoys hanging in the air from the hooks, which she attaches to holes burrowed into her skin using piercing equipment Through the pain barrier: Churchwell says her favourite pursuit can be painful but that she enjoys the sense of satisfaction it gives her Right: safety pin style hooks attached to Churchwell's chest Samantha says she was always interested in body modifications, but thought she would never be able to go as far as hanging from holes in her skin - but has now done it 35 times. Her interest heightened when a friend spent her summer touring the US selling body jewellery. She came across a group that specialises in suspensions and told Samantha about it. A few months later, the 24-year-old decided to join the team and was quite literally hooked the first time she tried it. 'I realised it was possible and I could do it,' she said. 'I watched videos online and it appealed to me because it just looked like so much fun.' Samantha, who lives with her partner retail worker Eywa Freyre, 26, said: 'It's pretty simple, really. The human body is amazing. I always get questions of "How is it possible?" or "Won't your skin rip?" She continues: 'People don't realise just how strong our skin actually is. With each suspension, the person facilitating the suspension will not only assess the person who is suspending, but also the type of suspension they want to do. High fliers: Churchwell, pictured with her brother, says the strange hobby garners interesting reactions from those who watch Rewards: Suspension is a way of getting you to trust your body, says Churchwell, who adds that people underestimate just how strong the skin is A pair of clamps, which puncture through the soft skin around the knees, help elevate the legs Suspended selfie: Creswell is seen suspending using the skin on the back of her calf muscle 'Depending on the person and the suspension, they will choose the best choice of hooks and rig to use, and then they will also go over placement choices for the piercings themselves.' But she urged a note of caution to people attempting to suspend their bodies. 'That being said, suspension is a serious thing,' she explained. 'I would go as far as saying that you are trusting someone with your life. You have to make sure you do your research and find people that are knowledgeable in the suspension world and that are going to do things correctly.' Although Samantha is now experienced in the art of body suspension, she says she does still feel pain from the piercings. The tattooed trainee mortician is seen swinging from her arms and knees while a fellow fan of suspension keeps her steady Those who partake in it admit that some people find their favourite hobby 'disgusting' She said: 'Different people who suspend always say different things, but I always say of course it hurts! 'Every suspension for me feels different, even if I'm doing it in an area that I have suspended from before, like my back, which I have suspended from the most. Sometimes it's a dull pain, sometimes it pinches, and sometimes it just sucks completely.' She tries to get through the pain by thinking about the thrill she has once she is up in the air and that is the reason she keeps going back for more. 'Once you are off the ground, flying through the air, the pain is the last thing on your mind,' she said. 'It eventually becomes dull and then fades away and that's when you know you're in the moment.' For Samantha, one of the most challenging moves is the resurrection suspension, which involves placing hooks only in her stomach and pulling her upwards. Ouch! A pair of hooks are connected to her upper abdomen. Right: Churchwell says she does it for the love of her art She said: 'I have to get out of my head in order to do it. The more I think about it, the longer it takes for me to get off the ground. You get past that initial pain, and you feel such an accomplishment. It is rewarding to say the least. You have to push yourself to just let go, to trust that your body is amazing and can handle it, and when you do, it's such a beautiful thing.' Samantha has experienced some negative reactions but is determined to carry on because of her love for the art. She said: 'I've had all types of reactions. From huge smiles and comments of 'That's amazing', to looks of disgust. I even had a former coworker say to me, 'You know you can talk to me if you feel like you need to hurt yourself.' 'While it would be great if everyone was supportive of my hobbies and what makes me happy, I understand that it just isn't practical and I am okay with that. The people that matter most to me in life and that I am close to all support me and that's all that ever really matters, right?' Many students worry about the rising cost of college. But this 20-year-old earns enough to cover her fees - and has enough leftover to treat herself to holidays, jewellery, and even a $500 crystal-encrusted bra. Emily Bulea, from Goleta, California, is paid by wealthy men, also known as sugar daddies, for her company on dates and at social events. Without the money she would struggle to stay in college, she said. It also allows her to splash out on luxuries like designer dresses and meals at expensive restaurants. The unorthodox job even has the support of her boyfriend, Jack, 20, who said: 'We are all in college, like it's very expensive, everyone is trying to eat.' Sugar baby: Emily Bulea, from Goleta, California, pictured, uses money from sugar daddies to cover the cost of college. She has also used the money to buy this $500 Swarovski crystal bra Paying for company: The 20-year-old, pictured, said she only goes on dates in public places and does not allow any physical contact with the sugar daddies - not even a kiss Support: Miss Bulea said her boyfriend Jack, pictured together, agrees that sugaring is a good way to make money but he said he doesn't see the job as a long-term career Emily signed up for seekingarrangement.com after joking with friends but immediately received so many messages that she decided to give it a go. The benefits extend far beyond financial rewards. 'I have gotten invites to exclusive clubs, artist passes to events, music festivals, things like that,' she said. 'With the money I've bought a drone, I have a lot of dresses and they are usually around $300 a dress. I bought a $500 bra made from Swarovski crystals.' She added: 'If I want to go on a vacation, I can do whatever I want because that financial stability helps me.' Emily had only been on a few dates with Jack when she decided to start 'sugaring' and initially kept her unusual job a secret. But as her commitments as a sugar baby became more regular, Emily told Jack, 20, about the other men in her life. 'It was getting difficult to explain why I was never free to go out on a Friday,' she joked. 'He was really shocked when I first told him. We had just gone to the gym and I sat him down on the bench and I told him that I had a date that day. Extra cash: Miss Bulea said being a sugar baby gives her the financial stability she needs Luxury lifestyle: The money also pays for high-end dresses and meals at expensive restaurants 'At first he wanted to come with me to sit in whenever I go on the dates. But he realised that might be a bad idea.' Jack said: 'It's not really something that you go and tell your mom - you know, "My girlfriend is going on dinner dates with other people". 'I don't really think that they'd care though, I'm sure they'd understand.' However Jack admitted he doesn't see sugaring as a long-term career. He said: 'If we continue dating I wouldn't want this to be a lifelong career path for her. But in college, it just doesn't bother me that much, everyone needs the money.' Proud: The student, pictured, said she is happy with her decision to become a sugar baby Honest: Miss Bulea, left at her high school graduation, told Jack, right, about her lifestyle Popular: She was inundated with responses within minutes of signing up as a sugar baby The rules for sugaring differs between each baby and daddy. Some have sex and others develop full-blown relationships. However Emily only agrees to meals and drinks in public places and says even a kiss is strictly off-limits. She said: 'I think it's okay to have a friendly hug or your hair touched. I think that's okay. I think that is about the extent of it for me.' And she has strict consequences for men who overstep the mark. 'Guys have tried to coerce me to their homes or they've grabbed my butt or something, and those guys I don't ever talk to again,' she said. Close: Some sugar babies start relationships with their sugar daddies. Pictured, Miss Bulea Rules: Emily, pictured in her $500 Swarovski bra, said she only offers men companionship Emily is also careful to draw a line between what she does and prostitution. She said: 'People speculate when they see how much help you get from these older men. They will often assume you are a prostitute or they'll just ridicule you because they don't understand or they don't respect it. 'An escort is paid to do sexual favours. A sugar baby or a sugar companion can be a wide variety of things: like satisfying emotional needs.' Understanding: Miss Bulea at lunch with her boyfriend Jack, 20, who supports her decision However she admits she has occasionally lied about how she earns her money. 'I usually just lie a little bit because I don't want to explain it thoroughly,' she said. 'So I'll just say I work at a restaurant, or I'm a hostess. 'When I'm talking to friends and family who I'm close with I do tell them that I essentially go on dates for money.' Shes not even a member of the royal family yet but the Meg effect has already taken off thanks to Prince Harry's girlfriend's thrifty taste in jewellery. While the 'Kate effect' is familiar to all of us, with items the Duchess wears often selling out, Miss Markle may just come to rival her popularity thanks to her comparatively frugal taste in jewellery. Just hours after the actress was photographed wearing a stack of pretty rings on a flower shopping trip close to Kensington Palace, the small London brand which made them found its phones were ringing off the hook. Though pretty, Meghan's affordable Missoma pieces are a far cry from Kates eye-wateringly expensive Asprey jewellery on Sunday she debuted a new pair of 2,950 earrings from the brands Button range to match the 3,150 pendant she already has. Miss Markle is a fan of jewellery brand Missoma, which designed her 125 necklace (pictured left), while the Duchess favours brands like Asprey, which made this 3,150 pendant (right) The actress' ring comes from jewellery brand Missoma and comes in at a snip at just 59 for the 18ct gold band. The Suits star has previously posted Instagram pictures of her wearing other pieces from the brand, including an 18ct gold vermeil engraved Bar necklace with inset diamond , costing just 125, engraved with her name. The sudden worldwide surge in interest in whatever Prince Harrys new girlfriend is wearing echoes the effect that her potential sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, has. Websites have even been known to crash if Kate decides to wear something new. But thanks to her less pricey style there is a new girl on the royal block and if the last day is anything to go by, labels will be queuing up for US actress Meghan, to wear their goods. Missoma saw a surge of 5,000 visitors to its website within hours of the photographs of the actress wearing their rings being published. MEGHAN'S PREFERRED PIECES... Prince Harry's girlfriend has made no secret of her penchant for affordable pieces from Missoma, which she can often be spotted wearing in her Instagram selfies Earrings: From 19 Necklaces: From 59 Rings: From 29 Advertisement ... AND THE DUCHESS' DIAMONDS Avid royal style-watchers will find Kate Middleton's accessories game tougher to emulate, as the price of her sparklers from her favourite brand Asprey runs into thousands of pounds Earrings: From 2,750 Necklace: From 3,150 Ring: From 2,300 Advertisement Snaps of Meghan in her Missoma pieces, like this gold bar neclace (left), have seen a surge of visitors to the brand's website. On Sunday Kate sported Asprey earrings worth 2,950 (right) In the pictures Meghan was wearing four of their stacking rings, which are designed to be worn randomly together, including the 49 Pyramid Ring and a 45 Interstellar Ring. A spokesman for the brand confirmed to the Mail: Meghan has been wearing Missoma for a few years now and has long been a fan of the brand. It was founded by Marisa Horden ten years ago and makes a variety of jewellery from 18ct gold vermeil or sterling silver, starting at a modestly priced 39 and going up to a maximum of 250. Meghan has also been spotted wearing a Maya Brenner 14K Gold Asymmetrical Initial Necklace (197) with the brand reporting that their website crashed after she was spotted in it And it's not just jewellery: Meghan's 13 Basic Slouch from Canadian brand Kootenay Classics has already sold out It is stocked by Harvey Nichols and Selfridges and has been worn by stars including Jennifer Lopez, Claudia Schiffer and Cheryl Cole, but it considered to be quite a cool, under the radar brand. According to sources Meghan likes the range because it is so delicately pretty but is largely comprised on pieces that you can easily treat yourself to without feeling guilty. Its certainly a huge boost for the label as when she was spotted late last year wearing a delicate 200 necklace bearing a the initials H and M presumably a gift from the besotted prince - by the LA-based designer Maya Brenner, the firms website crashed due to the unprecedented level of interest. People love her style because it is relaxed, elegant and chic but also quite funky, much more streetwise than the Duchess of Cambridge said one industry insider. Meghan has been spotted shopping in Kensington on a couple of occassions (pictured in November) in designer clothes such as Hunter wellies with sources claiming she has more 'high end' taste when it comes to clothes Her appearance on the scene is good news for the British fashion industry, if she chooses to champion it. Indeed, in the photographs taken of her at the weekend she was wearing a number of British brands, including Hunter wellies and a Barbour coat, and recently she sported a pair of blue stack Burberry boots. Her clothes are definitely more high end than High Street, said the source, but that inevitably filters down to what the average female consumer will start to buy. The fact that Meghan has been buying flowers to add a feminine touch to Harrys Kensington Palace bachelor pad is a sure sign that she has no plans to head back to Canada any time soon. Last week the Mail told how she had been staying with him in Nottingham Cottage, the quaint two-bedroom home he occupies a stones throw from William and Kates lavish 20-room palace apartment, since the beginning of the year. Meghan, 35, is said to be keen to settle down and start a family and Harry, 32, has apparently fallen head over heels for the beautiful, whip-smart and cultured divorcee. In recent days she has been getting to know William and Kate, who are both staying in London as they have official engagements, and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Dressed in a sequin-festooned gown, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands rounded off a busy day in Germany with a glittering banquet. Maxima, 45, and her husband King Willem-Alexander made a stunning arrival at the dinner held at Leipzig's Congress Hall on Wednesday evening as part on day two of their state visit to Germany. The Argentinian-born queen consort ensured she looked every inch the glamorous royal, teaming her show-stopping dress with a velvet blazer and diamond earrings, while her husband looked smart in a dapper blue suit. Queen Maxima and her husband King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands rounded off a busy day in Germany with a glittering banquet at the Congress Hall in Leipzig on Wednesday night Mother-of-three Maxima teamed her show-stopping dress with a velvet blazer and diamond earrings, while her husband looked smart in a dapper blue suit After a jovial visit to Wartburg Castle, Wednesday marked a more sombre outing for the Dutch royals. The couple, who are on a four-day tour of Germany, visited the Buchenwald memorial on the grounds of the former Nazi concentration camp. Mother-of-three Maxima, who was dressed in an understated grey and black ensemble, accessorised with a wide-brimmed black hat for the occasion. She and her 49-year-old husband carried white roses as they visited the historical site in eastern Germany, which they placed on the memorial for the thousands who lost their lives there. The couple appeared sombre as they visited the Buchenwald concentration camp in eastern Germany The royals spent time in contemplative silence as they visited the historical site Maxima looked sombre as she and her husband toured the site of the concentration camp Maxims and Willem-Alexander lay white roses at Buchenwald. The memorial is just outside of the region of Weimar in eastern Germany Sombre occasion: Buchenwald was one of the first and largest concentration camps in Germany Opened in 1937, Buchenwald was one of the first and largest concentration camps on German soil. Today, the site serves as a memorial and permanent exhibition and museum. Earlier today, Maxima, 45, and her husband arrived in the city of Erfut, where they were greeted by Prime Minister of the state of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, and his wife Germana Alberti vom Hofe. Mother-of-three Maxima was presented with flowers in the town, where crowds had gathered to greet the high-profile guests. The Dutch royals (centre) with Prime Minister of the state of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, and his wife Germana Alberti vom Hofe A smiling Maxima was presented with flowers as she arrived in Erfut The Dutch queen had last night turned heads in a mustard coloured jump suit as she arrived at Wartburg castle with her husband King Willem-Alexander. Never afraid to colour clash, she paired her eye-catching ensemble with a tear coat complete with a pussy bow neckline. The royal couple joined the deputy prime minister of the Thuringia Heike Taubert and the major of Eisenach Katja Wolf in Eisenach, state of Thuringia on Tuesday. Maxima appeared to be enjoying the evening, sharing a laugh with her husband as they explored the inner courtyard of the castle. The Queen of the Netherlands turned heads in a mustard coloured jump suit and teal combination paired with matching accessories During their tour of the castle the couple looked on in awe at the impressive mosaics that can be seen on the interior of the monument. They finished their tour this evening by each signing the golden book of the city as is tradition with a royal visit. The Dutch Royal couple are on an official four-day visit to Germany with today marking the second day of their visit. Whether they went on Blind Date to find love or merely to bask in the temporary glow of fame, the contestants who outlined their romantic wish-list to Cilla Black captivated Saturday night audiences for nearly two decades. The news that the show, which dominated weekend viewing in the eighties and nineties, is to make a come back has left those who watched it the first time around tweeting about their love for the dating show and it's late host. Blind Date first hit screens in 1985 and proved an instant success with viewers. The combination of eccentric guests, Cilla Black's Liverpudlian charm and a 'lorra lorra' terrible jokes made it compulsive viewing for families While those who managed to make fame stick - including Amanda Holden, Jenni Falconer and Ed Byrne - have been well documented, what happened to the more pedestrian contestants... who left the show with a 'lorra lorra' nothing at all, and certainly not love? Here, FEMAIL trots down memory lane and unearths a handful of the more memorable characters who found themselves sat in one of the famous daters' chairs. Scroll down for video THE UNDERCOVER JOURNALIST WHO GOT CAUGHT OUT BY CILLA When Nicola Gill, then 27, told the Blind Date team she was a secretary, she strolled through the auditions and onto the set to pick date Paul Mankelow... But not much got past Cilla...and Gill - actually a journalist for Cosmopolitan - was sniffed out by the Blind Date team...and humiliated live on air When Cosmopolitan journalist Nicola Gill, then 27, was tasked with going under the radar to report on the show's inner workings, she came undone in front of a live audience. Gill pretended she was a secretary and plucked innocent Paul Mankelow out for a date. However, when the couple regrouped with Cilla on the sofa following their rendez-vouz, the veteran entertainer revealed the show knew what exactly she was up to. Cilla said: 'Well Nicola, I have to say I've got more than a little surprise for you. 'Cause I know what you're at and I feel awfully, deeply saddened by this. You don't work as a temporary secretary. 'I know for a fact that you're actually an undercover journalist and you've robbed somebody of coming on a proper Blind Date. You work for Cosmopolitan magazine... Gill, still a journalist, wrote a piece about her strange television encounter after the event and described the awkward moment Cilla revealed she knew her real job as 'TV hell' 'It's just a shame you tried to pull the wool over our eyes... but you didn't!' Gill wrote after the show aired in 1998: 'Paul looks stunned. I feel sick. The studio is spinning. The audience is booing. [...] All I can do is keep smiling, mumble about the fantastic time I've had and wait for this TV hell to end. Twenty years on and now a mum, Nicola is still plying her trade as a journalist. THE GAY COUNT WHO PLAYED IT STRAIGHT In 1994, flamboyant Count Roberto Luigi Michieli, then 29, wowed Cilla - and viewers with his red coat-tails, deep tan and perfectly coiffured hair. The right show, the wrong sex: Aristocrat Count Roberto Luigi Michieli admitted he was actually gay after appearing on Blind Date in 1994 Still partial to a regal coat! Count Roberto gave a twirl of his colourful tails in 1994 The jet-setting count from Venice still leads a charmed life according to his Facebook profile The aristocrat from Venice later confirmed that he was in fact gay and continues to enjoy a privileged life living in London; his Facebook page carries his family crest and under the header: Work, are the words: 'What's that mean "Work"?' THE MAN WHO TOOK A SOOTY PUPPET ALONG Geoff from Cheshire brought along a little friend...and a unique pair of trousers when he appeared looking for love in 1989 Brummie Cheryl was left wide-eyed when she clapped eyes on Geoff's interesting atttire The 'tash has gone but Carter still looks partial to a zany expression - and describes himself as a traveller and film-maker now When Cheshire's Geoff Carter arrived on screen wearing patchwork trousers and accompanied by a Sooty puppet, 1989 audiences couldn't get enough of his colourful charm. When asked what he was looking for in a woman, he said: 'Same as me with long hair.' Neither could Birmingham-based contestant Cheryl...although she was more than a little shocked by the watching crowd's reaction when she plumped for 'number three'. Nearly 28 years later, Carter clearly thinks of his time on Blind Date fondly, even reappearing, this time wearing a more sober outfit, in 2013 on a celebration of Cilla Black's career, hosted by Paul O'Grady. His Instagram account is littered with images from his travels in South East Asia and his Twitter bio sees him describing himself as an: 'International Traveller, film maker for youtube (Geoffcarter) Cook, Artist. Dj. and all round top banana.' THE ONLY CONTESTANT EVER TO WIN A DATE TWICE Jon Wiltshire impressed Cilla first time around with his unique leather hat - covering his billiard ball-smooth bonce - in 1996. When the celebration show aired in 2013, he was back in the chair...and won the chance of a romantic tete-a-tete again. Jon Wiltshire (pictured in 1996) can hold claim to a unique title...being the only contestant to win a date more than once. He appeared in a show celebrating Cilla Black's career in 2013 and found himself behind the screen of love once more Still partial to unique headwear, Wiltshire describes himself now as a writer and lecturer Clearly a fan of popular television shows, he also cooked up a storm on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me. Now working as a children's author, artist and lecturer, the quirky three-time television star also has his own YouTube channel. THE WOMAN WHO SANG HER WAY THROUGH THE SHOW Girl can sing! Claudia Patrice became memorable for belting out lines during her appearance on the 1989 show Patrice kept on singing and has worked with some of the music industry's biggest names Claudia Patrice was determined to use her 1989 appearance to show off her pipes and sang her way through much of the show. She's still singing and lists an illustrious set of names she's worked with on her website including Kylie Minogue, Chaka Khan and Jocelyn Brown. THE TRENDY VICAR Perhaps not the first place a vicar might look for love, Simon Gatenby unsurprisingly didn't find it in a London television studio. What he did find was ex-kissogram Polly Anderton - who turned into a lasting friend. Vicar Simon Gatenby appeared on the show hoping for romance; he found a long-term friendship with former kissagram Polly Anderton Still a man of god, Gatensby shared that he had chatted to his one-time date Polly when Cilla Black died in August 2015 The trendy man of god continues to wear the dog collar and describes himself on Twitter as a lover of; family (enthusiastically), God (doggedly), soul & funk (passionately), Bolton Wanderers (religiously), malt whiskey (experimentally) & life generally. When Cilla Black died in August 2015, he tweeted that he'd been in touch with his former date, writing: 'RIP Cilla! Polly and I had a good phone chat last night reminiscing!..."another make up job after the break"' A 661lb woman whose father once cruelly called her 'Godzilla' lost nearly 200lbs despite her initial claims that her nutritionist was wasting her time cleaning out her cabinets because she could just order more food. On Wednesday night's episode of the TLC reality series My 600lb Life, Erica Wall, 44, from Lompoc, California, was so desperate to have a second weight loss surgery after a failed stomach stapling that she flew to Houston, Texas, to meet with obesity specialist Dr. Younan Nowzaradan. Although Erica was warned about the dangers of air travel for someone her size, she took the risk and eventually went from 661lbs to 471lbs after having gastric bypass surgery. Scroll down for video Struggles: Erica Wall weighed 661lbs when she started her weight loss journey on the TLC reality series My 600lb Life Transformation: The 44-year-old from Lompoc, California, went from 661lbs (left) to 471lbs (right) after having gastric bypass surgery 'Food has always been a big part of my life. There was really no control over our eating. My parents never told us to stop when we were really young, so I just ate what I wanted,' Erica explained at the start of the episode. Not only did Erica's classmates tease her about her weight, but her dad did as well. 'They would say things and call me names, but nothing would hurt as much as when my father would tease me,' she recalled. 'He would say some really hurtful things. He always said, "What happened to my beautiful little girl? She went to sleep one night, and she woke up Godzilla."' Her father frequently taunted her about being overweight, and when she reached 300lbs, he forced her to have stomach stapling surgery even though she was only 16 years old. Later that year, Erica was gang raped and she turned to food for comfort. Addiction: Erica lived alone in a house full of junk food, and she often relied on her niece to take care of her Five years after her surgery, she gained weight so rapidly that her staple line burst and her weight continued to spiral out of control. By the time she was in her 30s, she weighed 375lbs, and her eating had only increased. When she was 42 years old, her mother was left on life support after a car accident, but Erica was so large that she couldn't make it to the hospital to say goodbye before she died. The heartbreak led her to even more extreme binging, and she gained 200lbs in just two years. 'Every time I close my eyes to go to sleep I don't know if I will wake up,' she told the cameras. Erica reached out to Dr. Nowzaradan and made the decision to fly to Houston despite warnings that she should have a medical team with her. Feeling trapped: Erica found everyday tasks such as bathing incredibly difficult Start of it all: Erica explained that growing up her parents never told her to stop eating, noting that she could have whatever food she wanted 'I know the risk I am taking right now because the doctor told me it is not a good idea to travel with medical care or to fly right now because of my legs and the possibility of blood clots,' she said. 'But this is my only chance. I have no other options,' she adds. 'I am doing this so I have a chance to live.' Erica's sister Molly and her brother-in-law Ryan took her to the airport, and she admitted she was mortified by the attention she was getting. 'Now that I am here, it is so much scarier. It feels like everyone is watching me and this is so embarrassing,' she said of being pushed through the airport in a wheelchair. 'How did I get to this point where I am a side-show to people?' she asked. 'They have to cart me past everyone, just to make sure I can fit.' Cruel words: Although she was teased for her weight by her peers, Erica was devastated when her father called her 'Godzilla' because of her size Out of control: Erica's father forced her to get her stomach stapled when she was 16, but she put on so much weight after being gang raped a year later, that the staple line eventually burst Erica desperately hoped she would fit on the plane because she couldn't stand the idea of having to walk back out in front of all those people. 'They already made me buy a whole aisle of three seats because of my size. That alone is humiliating,' she said. 'I am just so happy I fit, but I still have the whole plane ride to get through and I am terrified.' Once she was settled in her seat, she realized she was risking her life and that frightened her. 'It is going to be over three and a half hours and I know it is dangerous for someone my size to travel in the air, so I am just so afraid right now that something is still going to happen,' she said. Last chance: Erica made the decision to risk her life and fly to Houston, Texas, to meet with weight loss surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan Embarrassed: Erica had to purchase an entire aisle of three seats for herself in order to fit on the plane Close call: Erica was was rushed to the hospital where she was treated for dehydration after she landed in Houston Although she made it through the flight, she became sick and saw blood in her urine after landing in Houston and she was rushed to the hospital where she was treated for dehydration. After two weeks in the hospital, she had lost 27lbs, but the doctor insisted that she needed to lose 50lbs in a month in order to qualify for weight loss surgery. Despite what he said, Erica returned to binging junk food, and she refused to be weighed for the next three months. Dr. Nowzaradan ended up sending nutritionist Susan Swadener to Erica's home to help her with her diet. Erica explained that the doctor had put her on a 1,200 calories per day diet that was high protein and low in carbohydrates and sugars. Defiance: After she met with a nutritionist who threw out her junk food, Erica said it was a waste of time because she could just order more Made it: After she lost enough weight to qualify for surgery, Dr. Nowzaradan removed her stomach staples and gave her a gastric bypass Next step: At the end of the episode, Erica had lost 190lbs, although she admitted she was still hungry all of the time The two agreed go through her kitchen to see what foods she could eat, and while Susan praised her for the Greek yogurt in the refrigerator, she also threw out plenty of junk food. 'I know you aren't happy about it,' Susan told her, and while they agreed not having the foods in the house would help, Erica wasn't be honest with the nutritionist or herself. 'I can't believe she just wasted all that food. I am so frustrated right now, but I could just order more and there is nothing she can really do to stop me from doing that,' she told the camera. 'So, she completely wasted her time.' Erica's family refused to move to Houston to help her, and she struggled for another couple of months on her own. However, her sister Molly made trips to Houston to see her, and she was there for Erica when the doctor removed her stomach staples and performed gastric bypass surgery on her. Despite losing 190lbs, Erica was still unhappy about her diet, explaining that there wasn't a lot of her to eat and she felt 'hungry all of the time'. She's been making headlines as the first ever transgender contestant to appear on Britain's Next Top Model. But for Talulah-Eve Brown, who yesterday admitted she 'never thought' someone like her would get the chance to compete in a mainstream modelling contest, the rise to fame has been a bumpy one. The 22-year-old beauty queen, who will be competing against 11 other girls for a coveted contract with Models 1, once revealed her hopes of becoming a single mother by freezing her own. Scroll down for video Talulah-Eve Brown has just been announced as one of the 12 contestants competing to be crowned Britain's Next Top Model. The transgender beauty queen was born a boy, right Born Aaron, Talulah-Eve, from Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, came out as gay at 13 before being diagnosed with gender dysmorphia in her teens and later decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Inspired by public figures like Caitlyn Jenner and Big Brother winner Nadia Almada, Talulah-Eve, who grew up playing with Barbies, started hormone treatment in 2015 to widen her hips and soften her voice. She later paid 800 to freeze her sperm so that she could have babies once her transition was complete. Calling herself a 'strong, independent woman, Talulah-Eve said she was prepared to one day raise a child on her own just like her own mother had done. But her transition has been fraught with difficulties, with Talulah-Eve, who holds a black belt in karate, once admitting to receiving 'daily' death threats and being 'fetishized' by men. Talulah-Eve came out as gay at 13 before being diagnosed with gender dysmorphia in her teens and later decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery Changing: Inspired by public figures like Caitlyn Jenner and Big Brother winner Nadia Almada Talulah-Eve, who grew up playing with Barbies, started her hormone treatment in 2015 Talulah Eve's transition has been fraught with difficulties, with Talulah-Eve, who holds a black belt in karate, admitting to receiving 'daily' death threats and being 'fetishised' by men The 5ft 8in model and blogger, who competed in the UK's first transgender beauty pageant, first revealed her plans to crack the modelling industry and become a role model for young girls in 2015. A self-styled trans activist, Talulah-Eve, who has never been in a relationship, has spoken out on discrimination including one 'disgusting' incident when she was thrown out of a bar for using the ladies' toilets in 2016. 'The trans community is where the gay community was 10 to 15 years ago we need to be celebrated not tolerated and this pageant is a massive step forward,' she said in an interview with the Burton Mail. Ambitious: The 5ft 8in model and blogger, who competed in the UK's first transgender beauty pageant, first revealed her plans to crack the modelling industry in 2015 Talulah-Eve, who has never had a boyfriend, has spoken out on discrimination including one 'disgusting' incident when she was thrown out of a bar for using the ladies' toilets in 2016 Talulah-Eve yesterday took to Instagram to say: 'I never thought a girl like me would find a place on a show like this and compete against such beautiful girls' Talulah-Eve added: 'I understand people may not be sure but it is only because being transgender is considered a taboo but I want to break that and be a role model which can empower people who may feel trapped. 'People are talking openly about transgender issues now and hopefully some of the stigma attached to trans people will fade.' It is perhaps for this reason that appearing on BNTM holds such a special significance for Talulah-Eve, who yesterday took to Instagram to say: 'I never thought a girl like me would find a place on a show like this and compete against such beautiful girls. 'But I guess all you have to do is believe! Life isn't about finding a label that fits you best. Life is about finding you! And it's that journey that is incredible. Appreciate the bad just as much as the good!' Well, I hate to say this, but Miriam Clegg might be a bit sensitive. The wife of our former Deputy Prime Minister has gone off the deep end on social media after being invited to an event to mark International Womens Day in her married name. The lawyer, known professionally as Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, posted on Instagram the offending missive with its handwritten Dear Mrs Clegg, and added a withering caption bemoaning the irony that the event was a celebration of womens success. It was clearly a mistake on the part of the organisers, but did she need to be so cross and make such a fuss? Well, I hate to say this, but Miriam Clegg might be a bit sensitive. The wife of our former Deputy Prime Minister has gone off the deep end on social media after being invited to an event to mark International Womens Day in her married name Here we have a successful 48-year-old glamorous mother of three boys with a fulfilling, lucrative career in commercial law, and a happy marriage. So why the grand-standing and public humiliation of the event organisers over what was, in all likelihood, an error made by some unpaid intern? Shes not the only feminist making a fuss about the insult of being referred to by her husbands surname this week. Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry, complained to the Speaker when the Prime Minister referred to her in a Commons debate as Lady Nugee, which is her married name as the wife of High Court judge Sir Christopher Nugee. Mrs May was forced to apologise. In this latest case, Id say the one who needs to apologise is Miriam Clegg. Instead of dealing privately with a clerical error, in a letter which said the organisers would be honoured if she took part, she chose to act with breathtaking rudeness. She might have been at a feminist boot camp as they handed out good manners. She claims to be independent, and made noises when her husband was in office about being too busy to accompany him on official engagements. Then last year she published her cookbook, Made In Spain, in which, incidentally, she was photographed on the front cover resplendent in Liberal Democrat yellow. It was a clear case of wanting her paella and eating it too. No publisher would have been remotely interested in her book if she hadnt been able to mix a sprinkling of spice in with her recipes, slagging off Samantha Cameron for putting Hellmans on the table rather making her own mayonnaise and telling how she refused to cook for George Osborne when he came to dinner. The only reason she was able to meet SamCam and the former Chancellor was through her husband. The lawyer, known professionally as Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, posted on Instagram the offending missive with its handwritten Dear Mrs Clegg Whether she likes it or not, it was their marriage that gave her professional profile a boost. Are we supposed to believe that International Womens Day would have been interested in Miriam Gonzalez Durantez if she wasnt also Miriam Clegg? There are hordes of clever, successful female commercial lawyers in City of London firms like hers. I know because I was once a lawyer, too, a criminal barrister. While never in Miriams league, Ive met plenty of women who are. I doubt any of them get the same invitations and opportunities that she does. Feminists used to campaign under the slogan that women were entitled to have it all. Miriam Clegg wants to have it both ways as the wife of a powerful man when it suits her, but her own woman when dealing with fellow feminists. And I do wonder why it is such an unforgivable crime to take your husbands surname? I did, though I never think of Perrins as my husbands name. For me it is now our name as a family unit that includes our three children. If there was any loss for me in becoming Perrins, it was losing my identity as a single woman and gaining an identity as a married woman, which I was happy to do. In our wedding vows, my husband pledged to protect and provide for me. It didnt seem like a lot to ask me in return to take the name Perrins. Another lawyer, Amal Alamuddin, had no problem in taking her husbands surname when they married but then he IS George Clooney. Now, the once little known human rights lawyer is feted around the world. The kind of aggressive feminism displayed by Miriam Clegg and Lady Nugee does them no favours. Instead of making them appear stronger, it turns them into victims; women who are so brittle they mistake even the smallest slight for an outrageous attack. Take Emily Thornberry, again. I have never been a Lady and it will take a great deal more than me being married to a Knight of the Realm to make me one, she complained to the Speaker on Monday after the Prime Minister had insulted her and demanded an apology. This minor infringement of parliamentary rules led to an absurd spectacle, in which the most powerful politician in Britain, a woman who has risen to the top in spite of having taken her husbands name 36 years ago, was compelled to say sorry to someone who was throwing her toys out of the pram. Perhaps if Miriam, Emily and their ilk werent wasting so much energy feeling outraged at perceived slights, then they might one day aspire to the heights of Mrs May, and a certain Margaret Thatcher (nee Roberts) before her. Their agenda is entirely self-serving. In the real world, the rest of us are too busy getting on with it to care. Male circumcision has long been topic for debate. But now a new study has found the controversial practice can be as beneficial as a vaccination in protecting boys against severe infection. Australian researchers found the benefits of the procedure outweighed the risks 200 to one, and uncircumcised males faced an 80 per cent risk of developing a foreskin-related condition requiring medical attention. A leading Australian researcher has found the benefits of circumcision far outweigh the risks 'Over their lifetime more than one in two uncircumcised males will suffer an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin,' the study's lead author, University of Sydney professor emeritus Dr Brian Morris, said. By comparison, the risk of an 'associated adverse event' from the circumcision procedure is about one in 250, or less than one per cent. Also, no evidence of an adverse effect on penile function, sexual sensitivity or pleasure was found, Dr Morris said. A new study has found the controversial practice can be as beneficial as a vaccination in protecting boys against severe infection (stock image) The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and several teaching hospitals. The study focused on how male circumcision worked to prevent conditions such as urinary infections, inflammatory conditions, sexually transmitted infections and genital cancers, as well as the level of risk posed by the circumcision procedure in infancy. Cosmetic circumcision is currently banned at Australian public hospitals, although the surgery can be carried out privately. The procedure is considered 'generally safe' but there are some risks of minor complications and some 'rare but serious' complications. Cosmetic circumcision is currently banned at Australian public hospitals, although the surgery can be carried out privately Dr Morris said circumcision was a desirable public health intervention and called for it to be introduced in public hospitals. 'The enormous benefit but low risk makes early infant circumcision akin to childhood vaccination,' Dr Morris said. According to The Royal Australasian College of Physicians the most important conditions to benefit from circumcision is recurrent urinary tract infections in children, and HIV plus some other sexually transmitted infections in adults. San Francisco and New York City regularly jockey for the title of 'most expensive' in a whole bunch of categories, from real estate to cost of living and now, New York has stolen the dubious honor of selling the country's most expensive cup of coffee away from its fiercest competitor. When it opened last week, the Alpha Dominche Extraction Lab in Sunset Park, Brooklyn made waves, not just for its new state-of-the art machines, but it's high-price cup o' Joe. At $18, the serving of coffee is now the priciest one in the US, beating out the previously title-holder from Blue Bottle in San Francisco, which cost $16. Splurge: Alpha Dominche Extraction Lab in Sunset Park, Brooklyn will sell and $18 cup of coffee The shop also sells cups for as little as $3; the $18 cup will be made with high-end beans Not every cup of coffee at the shop costs so much in fact, their are options for as little as $3, and most orders cost $5 or less. But the Extraction Lab does serve several types of coffee, including Panama Geisha, which is considered by experts to be one of the best types meaning a cup of it will run you $14.75 to $18, when it eventually hits the menu. The coffee shop tells Daily Mail Online that the Geisha variety 'is one of the most rare coffees grown in the world'. 'Most people don't realize that every coffee we drink today is originally from Ethiopia. Travelers began to take these coffee plants found in Ethiopia and grew them in their home countries,' they went on. 'The Panama Gesha is one of the only coffees that came straight from Ethiopia, and didn't pass through anywhere on it's way to Panama. It has a DNA unlike any other on earth, and this is what makes it so special and rare.' The shop has eight of these Steampunk machines, which are worth about $7,000 each 'It's like a wine shop. You have your $5,000 dollar bottle of wine, but it doesn't mean everything is $5,000,' Alpha Dominche CEO Thomas Perez told Gothamist. It's not just about the type of coffee, though. The allure of the Extraction Lab is its state-of-the-art machines, which come with a hefty price tag of their own. The Steampunk machine, 'which looks like a cross between a French press and a draft beer tap', according to Bedford and Bowery, combines drip, French press, and espresso brewing. A set of two of these fancy machines cost $13,900 so it seems like the cafe will have to sell quite a few of those $18 cups of coffee to make their investment worth it, since they have eight in total. Previously, Blue Bottle in San Francisco had the priciest cup, at $16 The devices are operated by iPad and go through a six-step process. First, water is heated with steam to a precise brewing temperature. Then, ground coffee is added, and 'gentle pulses of steam' infuse the drink. The grounds are then fully immersed, and the brewed coffee drips into a lower chamber. Finally, once all the liquid is in the lower chamber, a barista can open the tap to pour the drink. The machines are also manned by top baristas, including Jeremy Zhang, a former Barista Champion from China. Ten to 15 coffee roasters will be available each day and will rotate regularly. There will also be up to 50 tea brands will be on display at any one time. Milk drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos, are not available, though there are pastries by Meyers Bageri. Health bosses spent more than 5billion on a failed scheme to keep elderly patients out of hospital, a scathing report warns today. The Better Care Fund was launched in 2015 to try to save the NHS money by ensuring patients with long-term conditions were treated properly at home. This was meant to reduce the numbers who were admitted to A&E and ensure that if they did end up in hospital, they were discharged very quickly. The number of emergency admissions involving elderly patients actually went up by 87,000 from 2014/15 to 2015/16 despite the Better Care Fund But a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) found the numbers of emergency admissions involving these patients actually went up by 87,000 from 2014/15 to 2015/16. Similarly, the number of bed-blocking incidents, where patients have to stay in hospital because there is nowhere else to care for them, also rose over the same period, costing the NHS an extra 311million. This meant the Health Service spent vast amounts of money looking after these patients in hospital even though it had already invested 5.3billion trying to treat them at home. The spending watchdog said there was no compelling evidence the plans were ever going to work, and MPs described them as flawed and a pipe dream. The report added: The Fund has not achieved the expected value for money, in terms of savings, outcomes for patients or reduced hospital activity, from the 5.3billion spent through the Fund in 2015/16. Labour MP Meg Hillier, chairman of the public accounts committee, said MPs had warned of flaws in the Fund two years ago Under the Better Care Fund, councils and NHS trusts were given additional money to reduce the numbers of over-65s going to hospital. Some areas recruited additional nurses or care workers to help look after the elderly at home, to prevent their health deteriorating. Ministers said they wanted councils, hospitals and GPs to work more closely together and to share expertise. The Fund was meant to save 511million a year, but todays report concludes that it actually cost taxpayers an extra 457million. This included 311million on emergency admissions to hospital and 146 million on bed-blocking patients unable to go home. Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: So far, benefits have fallen far short of plans, despite much effort. It will be important to learn from the over-optimism of such plans when implementing the much larger NHS sustainability and transformation plans. Labour MP Meg Hillier, chairman of the public accounts committee, said MPs had warned of flaws in the Fund two years ago. The committee warned that the focus on reducing emergency admissions to hospital without enough investment in community-based services would increase pressure on adult social care services, she said. In fact, the number of emergency admissions continues to increase, as does the number of people unable to leave hospital when they are ready to; increasingly because they need homecare or a place in a care home, which are simply unavailable. She said plans to roll out the Fund even more widely by 2020 were nothing but a pipe dream. A Department of Health spokesman said: The Better Care Fund is just one element of this Governments programme to integrate health and social care for the first time and as the report recognises, it has already incentivised local areas to work together better, with nine out of ten places saying their plans are improving services for patients. We will build on this for the future. Electronic cigarettes are a one-way bridge to smoking tobacco among teenagers, experts have claimed. The study, by scientists at the University of Michigan, last night fuelled a growing row over the benefits and dangers of e-cigarettes. The US team said using the nicotine gadgets desensitised teenagers as to the harms of tobacco, meaning they were four times as likely to go on to smoke cigarettes. But British researchers criticised the design of the study and dismissed its findings as trivial. A study by the University of Michigan has claimed electronic cigarettes 'desensitise' teenagers to the harms of tobacco, making them four times more likely to smoke the real thing (file picture) Just yesterday a major study by University College London reported e-cigarettes were significantly safer than tobacco and would help people quit cigarettes. The senior author of that study, Professor Robert West, said it was frustrating that research which highlighted the danger of e-cigarettes are given so much publicity. He said virtually all users of e-cigarettes were past smokers not the other way around. And he accused US researchers of waging a moral crusade against e-cigarettes, claiming many scientists exaggerated their findings to achieve publicity and recognition. E-cigarettes contain a liquid form of nicotine that is heated into vapour to be inhaled, avoiding the harm caused by tobacco smoke. Nearly three million adults in Britain have used e-cigarettes in the decade they have been on the market. Health experts agree that the devices are much safer than smoking tobacco and the gadgets are thought to have helped 22,000 people quit smoking each year. But many are concerned about unresolved safety concerns, while others are worried they provide a gateway for teenagers to go on to smoke tobacco. The latest study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, examined data from American pupils in their final year of high school in 2014 and again a year later. Questioning 17 and 18 year olds, the researchers found that those who had used e-cigarettes but had never smoked tobacco, were more than four times as likely to try cigarette smoking in the next year. Those who tried vaping were also more likely to move away from the perception of cigarettes as posing a great risk of harm, the authors added. They said this finding was consistent with a desensitisation process. But a major study by University College London reported e-cigarettes were significantly safer than tobacco and would help people quit cigarettes (file picture) These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting vaping as a one-way bridge to cigarette smoking among youth, the scientists wrote. Vaping as a risk factor for future smoking is a strong, scientifically-based rationale for restricting youth access to e-cigarettes. But the findings were criticised by UK scientists. Professor Peter Hajek, director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London, said: This paper just shows that teenagers who try cigarettes are more likely to also try e-cigarettes - and the other way round - compared to teenagers who do not do such things. This is trivial. People who read sci-fi novels are also more likely to watch sci-fi movies than people who do not like sci-fi. There is no reason why these activities should be performed in one order only. Professor Linda Bauld of the University of Stirling added: If trying an e-cigarette causes regular smoking, then we should be alarmed. However, this study and previous American studies which have made similar assertions have not found this, and so we must be very cautious about jumping to such a conclusion on the basis of this study. A British family have been forced to emigrate to Australia after their son developed a severe allergy to the cold weather. Finley Mitchell, 10, from Birmingham, developed an angry, red rash all over his skin every time he stepped outdoors. Doctors diagnosed his constant agony as cold urticaria, a rare condition that can prove to be deadly. His parents, Rebecca, 36, and Martin, 39, made the drastic decision to move half way across the world so he could enjoy life. And after arriving in the hotter climate of Queensland, Australia, just six months ago, the family haven't looked back since. He is finally able to enjoy life in the sunshine without developing an itchy rash that left his skin red raw. Finley Mitchell developed an angry, red rash all over his skin every time he stepped outdoors as a result of his rare condition - cold urticaria Mrs Mitchell, who works as a freelance photographer, said: 'Finley couldn't walk outside in freezing conditions in Birmingham without his body growing these weird bumps. 'His arms would have rashes which I knew straight away were not normal. I always saw him itching himself which was heart-breaking as his mum. 'His skin couldn't cope with the British winter, and he had to avoid cold water as it would cause his hives to come up. 'His face used to look like it was burning, and I couldn't bare looking at my son in so much pain. 'His condition was so worrying that it could have been fatal, so we had a serious think as a family and we decided to move away.' Finley was given a swine flu jab in 2009 - but his family believe this is what caused him to develop the unusual allergy. His parents, Rebecca, 36, and Martin, 39, made the drastic decision to move half way across the world so Finley could enjoy life free from his allergy to the cold weather The evening after he had the vaccine, he had started to become physically sick and suffered from hallucinations. Then his cold allergy began. After eating an ice lolly, his face swelled so badly that he looked like he had 'fish lips', according to Mrs Mitchell. 'It's not certain that the jab brought on his condition, but as his mother, I'm positive that it was,' she added. His condition was so worrying that it could have been fatal, so we had a serious think as a family and we decided to move away Rebecca Mitchell, 36 The family then took Finley to see a doctor who jokingly suggested moving abroad. They initially thought he was suffering from an extreme case of goose bumps, but Mrs Mitchell was determined to prove this wasn't the problem. She began to take him to various doctors as his condition became so bad that he was unable to sit on a cold pavement without getting hives on his bottom. Eventually an allergy specialist assisted him and put an ice cube under his arm to test his reaction. They immediately noticed that a bump was starting to grow - allowing them to make the correct diagnosis. After arriving in Queensland, Australia, just six months ago, the family haven't looked back since (Finley pictured surfing) Mrs Mitchell said: 'His skin couldn't cope with the British winter, and he had to avoid cold water as it would cause his hives to come up' When his symptoms began, the family took him to see a doctor who jokingly suggested moving abroad. But a few years later they made the leap (pictured with a kangaroo) Finley was given a swine flu jab in 2009 - but his family believe this is what caused him to develop the unusual allergy (pictured playing football) But a few years later, they were preparing their visas before they finally made the jump to Australia. Mrs Mitchell added: 'I knew then that moving away was the best thing for us, we were told that if Finley was still suffering by the time he turned 7, it was likely he would have hives forever.' WHAT IS COLD URTICARIA? Cold urticaria is a skin reaction to cold that causes red, itchy hives - but the severity varies widely. Swimming in cold water is the most common cause of a whole-body reaction. But temperatures lower than 4C (39F) and wind can also trigger reactions in sufferers. It can lead to very low blood pressure, fainting, shock and even death. Cold urticaria occurs most frequently in young adults - but it tends to clear up within a few years. Experts are unsure how it is caused, but many assume it is due to them having sensitive skin cells from an inherited trait. Treatment usually includes taking antihistamines and avoiding cold air and water. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement Upon moving to Australia, Finley has come on in leaps and bounds and his condition has improved. When the family first moved, he was kept away from any cold objects and liquids to prevent an outbreak. But his body has become so much better, with only the cold water causing him to develop an outbreak. He has joined a local soccer club and is settling in well, according to his family. And he hasnt needed his inhaler or antihistamine medicine to ease the allergy. Mrs Mitchell said: 'In England he would miss play time, and wouldnt be able to socialise with friends. 'He was on constant medication in the UK, whereas now were in Australia he is drug free, its amazing.' But many people in Australia are often bemused by his condition. She added: 'My Australian friends dont believe me when I tell them about his condition. 'Its such a rarity here due to the heat. Im hoping that after time his body will get to a point that it fights off the condition completely. 'Though theres no guarantee that will happen because even doctors dont know much about it. 'Id like to try and do all I can to raise awareness for hives, being allergic to the cold is a real condition which can cause serious harm.' Upon moving to Australia, Finley has come on in leaps and bounds and his condition has improved (pictured with his mother Mrs Mitchell) You may not think there's anything wrong with how you cook rice - but there probably is. If you're not using enough water then you're at risk of heart disease and cancer, a scientist has warned. Cooking the grains in excess water helps to flush out arsenic, preventing any possible chemical poisoning. While soaking rice overnight slashes levels of the industrial toxin by around 80 per cent, a contamination expert claims. Cooking rice in excess water flushes out arsenic - which has been linked to a range of health problems, a contamination expert says Arsenic gets into the rice as a result of industrial contaminants and pesticides that were used in the past. It can remain in the flooded paddy fields where the rice is grown for decades, research has suggested. Professor Andy Meharg, a leading expert on rice contamination from Queens University Belfast, tested chemical levels after cooking rice three different ways. He first used a ratio of two parts water to one part rice, whereby the water was absorbed or evaporated during cooking. Increasing the ratio to five parts water halved arsenic levels and soaking it overnight cut the toxin levels the most. It comes after the Food Standards Agency warned against overcooking potatoes and toast because of increased levels of the cancer-causing chemical acrylamide. Arsenic gets into the rice as a result of industrial contaminants and pesticides that were used in the past and can remain in flooded paddy fields for decades Acrylamide, which is also found in tobacco smoke, has been shown to cause cancer in animal tests. The evidence suggests that all age groups, but particularly children, are consuming more acrylamide than they should. HOW TO LIVE LONGER Eating brown rice could prevent an early death, research suggested last year. Experts at Harvard University found just one 16g serving per day of whole grain cuts the risk of dying from any cause, heart disease or cancer. And, they argued, the more whole grains people eat, the bigger the benefits. Their analysis of studies showed that for every single serving (16g) of whole grains, there was a 7 per cent drop in risk of death from any cause. Advertisement Typically, rice has ten times more inorganic arsenic than other foods and the European Food Standards Authority has reported that people who eat a lot are exposed to worrying concentrations. Chronic exposure can cause a range of health problems including developmental problems, heart disease, diabetes and nervous system damage. However, most worrying are lung and bladder cancers. Professor Meharg has previously suggested that cooking rice in a coffee perculator would stop any arsenic from binding to the rice. By allowing steaming hot water to drip through the rice, contaminants will be washed away. In previous experiments, there was a 57 per cent reduction in arsenic with a ratio of 12 parts of water to one of rice and in some cases as much as 85 per cent. The latest investigation will be shown on tonights episode of the BBCs Trust Me, Im a Doctor. When her son started uncontrollably flailing his arms at the dinner table six years ago, Amanda Prested Batterbee knew something was wrong. At first, doctors thought six-year-old Reece had an autoimmune disease. It turned out to be a neurodegenerative disorder so rare it doesn't have a name - and doctors couldn't even estimate a prognosis. In October 2016, after years of fighting to understand - and treat - his illness, Reece passed away at the age of 12. The devastating loss crushed Amanda and her younger daughter Romy, who are based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. And now, amid that pain, the family is faced with the little-discussed but insurmountable burden of administration, debt and legal fees that follow a death. In just four months since Reece's passing, Amanda has been sent $61,000 in medical bills, which she has fought (unsuccessfully) in court three times. She has two more hearings to go. Now the grieving mother is speaking out about the lack of help and services offered to parents as they try to cope with a the loss of a child. Tragic: Reece Batterbee, 12, passed away in October 2016 from a rare genetic disorder. The cost of his care left his mother Amanda with $61,000 of debt Until his symptoms came on, Amanda says, Reece was a laid back, happy child who hit all his developmental milestones. She told Daily Mail Online: 'I noticed a radical personality change. He started raging all the time, and he wasn't sleeping. He once went 72 hours without sleep.' This happened for about a month until one night, at the dinner table, Reece began making involuntary arm movements. 'I was laughing at first because I thought he was just joking,' Amanda said. 'But I saw that he was really starting to freak out because he couldn't stop.' She took Reece to the hospital where doctors at first diagnosed him with an autoimmune disease. But little by little, Reece began declining. First came the loss of abilities such as riding a bicycle and tying his shoelaces. Then he started to fall behind in school. This was followed by urinary incontinence and an inability to eat. In the last year of his life, Reece had dropped from 117lbs to 67lbs. He was constantly throwing up and eventually lost his motor function. Amanda said her son went through incredibly expensive and intensive genetic testing where they found a spontaneous genetic malformation - two copies of the gene that turned off its function. After being entered into a worldwide gene bank, it was discovered that only four other people in the world had the same genetic deficiency. Grieving: Following Reece's death, Amanda has tried to negotiate the debt down to no avail. She has appeared in court three times and has two cases set to go to pretrial hearings THE MYSTERY BEHIND REECE BATTERBEE'S ILLNESS Reece's gene variant was called heterozygous, de novo variant in TNRC5B. This meant he had two copies of the gene that turned off it's function. Doctors first thought he had an autoimmune disease and then Sydenham's chorea (a neurological condition categorized by uncontrollable jerking movements). It is unknown what exactly Reece was suffering from besides a neurodegenerative disorder. Only four other people in the world are known to have this genetic deficiency. Symptoms: Radical personality change: unexplained anger Loss of appetite Involuntary muscle movements Loss of abilities (i.e. tying shoelaces) Urinary incontinence Constant vomiting Loss of motor function Advertisement Reece received oral chemotherapy for three years and then medication for Sydenham's chorea (a neurological condition categorized by uncontrollable jerking movements) for another three years. Eventually, doctors told Amanda that there was nothing more they could do for her son and he would have to go into hospice care. Amanda said: 'I wasn't ready for that. You're basically saying at that point, 'Your child is going to die'. 'It took about six months after they told me before I made the call to move him into hospice care.' Four months later, in October 2016, Reece passed away. Though the grieving process was difficult, Amanda had to return her to work as self-employed nurse practitioner, take care of her daughter Romy, and begin making calls. There was Reece's nurse care manager from Medicaid to inform, letting the insurance company know of his passing, and canceling personal accounts and doctor's appointments. Amanda attempted to reclaim the money that was leftover in her son's Pay-For-It account a third-party system her school district uses to manage funds for expenses such as lunch money and field trips. Two weeks after contacting the company, she received an email telling her refunds are not given under any circumstances not even in the event of death. 'I was in shock and disbelief. I knew it came from a person because they signed the email, but there was no 'Sorry for your loss', nothing about what I could if I needed help,' she said. 'It wasn't about the money. I had just wanted to shut it down because it was attached to my bank account. But it was the impersonality of it.' This wasn't the only bureaucratic situation Amanda dealt with either. The day after Reece passed, she contacted his nurse case manager from Medicaid to notify her, and she was sad to hear the news. Two months later though, Amanda received a letter with a very different tone from Medicaid. Amanda says the letter read: 'Dear parent/guardian of Reece Batterbee, we are notifying you that your child is no longer eligible for services as the dependent is deceased.' Unknown: Reece first began experiencing symptoms of the illness when he was six. A rapid personality change was soon followed by an inability to sleep and a loss of motor skills Devastating: Amanda says that doctors knew Reece (pictured with his sister) had a genetic deficiency but it was unknown what in particular he was suffering from She says reading those words felt like a punch to the gut and brought tears to her eyes. Again, nothing personal or words of condolence. For most parents of children with terminal illnesses, the cost of medical care is a huge concern. Since her son's death, Amanda's debts have amounted to $61,000 - and she receives weekly letters from debt collectors and attorneys. There's a kind of shameful feeling that comes with this. You feel as a parent you should be able to pay off these kinds of things even when you can't. She has even made three separate court appearances against one lawyer due to lawsuits against her for outstanding debts. On top of that, Amanda has had to pay $22,000 out of pocket for Reece's hospital stay and $10,000 for his medication because her insurance left her with a 20 percent copay. Amanda said: 'There's a kind of shameful feeling that comes with this. I have a good job and I'm lucky I've been able to pay as much as I have. 'But with that, I've had to take a lot of time off. You feel as a parent you should be able to pay off these kinds of things even when you can't.' Amanda has said that she has tried negotiating to lower the cost of some of her debts. While the hospital has offered her a 10 percent discount on her outstanding bill, other lawyers have said 'no way'. There are currently two cases that are set to go to pretrial hearings and three other collection companies that will likely go the same way. Sad: Amanda says there are no monetary or emotional services set up to help grieving parents following the loss of a child and says it's a sign the healthcare system is broken Amanda says it's a sign that the healthcare system is broken. 'Towards the end, Reece was covered by two policies and a Medicare waiver and we still ended up with so much debt,' she said. 'There's no help for people who have suffered the loss of a child. You're trying to regain emotional stability, and get back to work, and cover your daily financial bills. And there's no time you can take off to focus on your own mental health. 'And to not even be willing to negotiate seems crazy to me.' It isn't uncommon for parents of deceased children to be burdened with unaccounted expenses following death. In 2010, a Seattle couple was forced to pay a 'death tax' after the death of their baby. But even with the heartache, Amanda says she would do it all over again. 'Even if we would have known how much it would cost, we wouldn't have done anything different, because you always want to give your child a fighting chance,' she said. A grandmother recorded a video from her hospital death bed to describe how she had been 'failed' by the NHS when her fatal spinal cancer went undiagnosed. Patricia Whitehouse, 62, visited her GP seven times in two months complaining of back pain. She was also seen by nurses, a physiotherapist, paramedics and hospital doctors but was repeatedly sent away with painkillers for a twisted spine. The former charity project manager who ran her own crafting business, described on the video how she had asked a locum GP for an X-ray to get to the root of her back pain, but was dismissed with an explanation that 'X-rays don't show everything'. The bed-bound patient added: 'The doctors have failed me, the NHS has failed me.' Scroll down for video Patricia Whitehouse, 62, visited her GP seven times in two months complaining of back pain (pictured in her death bed video) She was initially twice diagnosed with a urinary tract infection after going to her GP suffering from abdominal and back pain. The divorced grandmother-of-four was given two courses of antibiotics, before doctors finally realised she had suffering from multiple and terminal tumours on her spine and right lung almost eight weeks later. The 22-minute film was released by her devastated family on YouTube on Tuesday night, just hours after her death. It had been filmed at Haywood Community Hospital - where she had been moved for end-of-life palliative care following her diagnosis - near her home in Stoke-on-Trent 11 days earlier. Her son Christopher, 36, said: 'My mum wanted this video released because we don't want what happened to her to happen to anyone else. 'We are not angry with the NHS, we are just angry that not everything was done that could and should have been done to help Mum. She was also seen by nurses, paramedics and hospital doctors but was repeatedly sent away with painkillers for a twisted spine (pictured a year before her ordeal began) 'Her spinal compression was caused by the cancer, meaning she couldn't walk properly. But the GP took a look at her spine and thought it was merely misaligned. 'She was seen multiple times by multiple clinicians but nobody seemed to understand how serious the problem was, despite the pain that my mother was in. 'She was given paracetamol, co-codamol and other painkillers and spent three weeks drugged up, until they stopped working and we took her back to hospital. 'We feel she was let down and I just want them (NHS staff) to stand up and admit their failings.' Mr Whitehouse, a college student who is married to Zoe, 37, a cleaner, said he called an ambulance five weeks after his 'strong' mother first started suffering from abdominal and back pain. He added: 'I found her sat on the floor at home, in so much pain she was only able to eat from a box of cornflakes she had taken from the kitchen.' The former charity project manager who ran her own crafting business, described on the video how she had asked a locum GP for an X-ray to get to the root of her back pain Mrs Whitehouse spent nine hours on a trolley at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where she was examined by a doctor. She said on the video: 'The doctor said the pain was too difficult to diagnose as any one thing.' Mrs Whitehouse was discharged with painkillers. She described the service she received then as 'appalling', adding: 'You are given to believe the NHS is there from cradle to grave for those who need it. (The doctor) didn't offer any other diagnosis.' Christopher took his mother back to the hospital on November 5, where she was given an X-ray after he insisted that further investigations such as an MRI scan needed to be carried out. Doctors said the X-ray was clear, but referred Mrs Whitehouse to a physiotherapist in the Clinical Decision Unit, who recommended an immediate MRI and CT (computed tomography) scan. Mrs Whitehouse was diagnosed with three tumours. Within days, she underwent an operation to fit rods in her back - which the family understand was to strengthen her weakened vertebra - and was admitted to the hospital oncology ward. She was then moved for physiotherapy at Bradwell Hospital, Newcastle-under-Lyme, in order to help her walk after the operation, but was left paraplegic after a fall. Mrs Whitehouse's brother, Tony McKenzie, who uploaded the video on his sister's behalf, said: 'Pat always complained that the staff were driving her too hard. She fell and a nurse couldn't get her back up. Pat never walked again.' The 22-minute film was released by her devastated family on YouTube on Tuesday night, just hours after her death The bed-bound patient added: 'The doctors have failed me, the NHS has failed me' (pictured before her entire ordeal began) The paraplegia made her ineligible for further treatment due to the risk of contracting an infection, the 63-year-old company director said. Mr McKenzie added. 'If Pat wasn't paraplegic, she could have had more treatment which may have extended her life by up to a year. MRS WHITEHOUSE'S TIMELINE OF EVENTS September 9, 2016: Mrs Whitehouse first visits Trent Vale Medical Practice in Stoke-on-Trent October 13: She waits for nine hours on a trolley in Royal Stoke University Hospital A&E before being sent home with paracetamol November 5: Her son Chris finds her sitting on the floor at home eating cereal because she could not move so they return to A&E November 6: Mrs Whitehouse has an operation after two CT scans and an MRI discovered two tumours on her right lung and one on her spine February 7, 2017: The 62-year-old dies, after saying she had been failed by doctors Advertisement 'She was a strong, proud woman. She spent a week in agony at home eating out of a box of cornflakes before she went to hospital the first time because she didn't tell anybody what pain she was in.' Mr McKenzie added: 'The NHS is not all bad, but I look upon it as a machine. Unfortunately in this case, each module within that machine had a problem.' On the video, a weak Mrs Whitehouse described the Haywood Hospital and its staff as 'pure magic', adding: 'I really feel that they have shown me what nursing care and nursing standards ought to be like. 'This is exactly what the rest of the NHS should be like. They are superb.' Mrs Whitehouse also praised the day staff on the oncology ward at the Royal Stoke Hospital, but described the night staff as 'horrendous'. University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said it would 'immediately investigate'. Paula Clark, chief executive of the trust, offered her 'sincere condolences' to the family who would be supported throughout its investigation. Trent Vale Medical Practice said it was unable to comment on the case 'due to patient confidentiality' but it had been a 'tragic and complex case' and offered its 'deepest condolences'. Operating on children with acute appendicitis may be unnecessary in many of cases, a landmark British study suggests. Removing an appendix is the most common form of emergency surgery performed on children in the UK. One in 12 people develop appendicitis at some point in their life, and it is most likely to strike between the ages of ten and 20. The problem occurs when the appendix, part of the digestive tract, becomes infected and inflamed. Removal has been the standard treatment for appendicitis for more than a century. Removing an appendix is the most common form of emergency surgery performed on children in the UK - but it could be a waste of time But experts at Southampton Children's Hospital have now found simply treating the problem with antibiotics can be just as effective. They found that among children with a common forms of acute appendicitis, called an 'appendix mass', three quarters could be safely treated without surgery. Avoiding an operation would mean children could avoid the pain of surgery, would not have to undergo general anaesthetic, and might not even need an overnight stay in hospital. And although it is a relatively straightforward operation - and has become safer over the decades - any invasive procedure carries risks. The researchers found severe complications occurred in 6 per cent of cases. Currently most doctors treat an appendix mass with antibiotics, but then remove the organ to ensure the infection does not return - a procedure known as an 'interval appendicectomy'. But the researchers, writing in the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal, said this 'surgical dogma' should now be changed in light of their findings. Study leader Nigel Hall, a consultant paediatric surgeon at Southampton Children's Hospital, said: 'Up until now more than two-thirds of surgeons were routinely recommending interval appendicectomy. Experts at Southampton Children's Hospital have now found simply treating the problem with antibiotics can be just as effective 'Yet the justification for this surgical intervention has never been prospectively challenged.' He said experts had previously assumed roughly a fifth of cases of appendicitis would return if the appendix was not removed. 'But we have shown that figure is much lower,' he said. HOW TO PREVENT BACK PAIN Suffering from childhood appendicitis may protect people from suffering crippling back problems in later life. Many joint and back conditions - including most forms of arthritis - are caused by the immune system over-reacting to a bug or virus and attacking the joints. Experts think appendicitis - which exposes the body to a severe bacterial infection - effectively primes the body's immune system early in life, meaning it does not over-react years later. Approximately 7 per cent of the population will have appendicitis in their lifetime, with most cases occurring between the ages of 10 and 30. Advertisement 'This calls into question the justification for surgery as standard practice.' The team studied 102 children at 17 hospitals in UK, along with one in Sweden and one in New Zealand. Fifty patients underwent initial interval appendicectomy and 52 were closely monitored without surgery, between 2011 and 2014. The team found only 12 per cent of those who did not receive initial surgery saw proven appendicitis return. And only 23 per cent ended up having an operation within a year. The findings also revealed severe complications in 6 per cent of patients related to interval appendicectomy, compared with 3 per cent recorded in earlier studies. Mr Hall said: 'After successful non-operative treatment, present surgical dogma is that interval appendicectomy should be done to avoid future recurrence of acute appendicitis. 'But although the risk of complications after interval appendicectomy is low, they can be severe.' He added: 'Adoption of a wait-and-see approach, reserving appendicectomy for those who develop recurrence or recurrent symptoms, results in fewer days in hospital, fewer days away from normal daily activity and is cheaper than routine interval appendicectomy. The problem - which affects one in 12 children - occurs when the appendix, part of the digestive tract, becomes infected and inflamed 'This study will allow clinicians, parents and children to make an evidence-based decision regarding the justication for interval appendicectomy and, in many cases, remove the need for surgery completely.' The research echoes a similar study carried out among adults in Finland in 2015, in which 73 per cent recovered fully after receiving antibiotics, and the remaining 27 per cent had their appendix removed later. French expert Professor Corinne Vons of the Jean-Verdier Hospital in Paris has called for routine appendectomies to be stopped. Writing in the JAMA medical journal two years ago, she said: 'The time has come to consider abandoning routine appendectomy for patients with uncomplicated appendicitis. 'The operation served patients well for more than 100 years. With development of more precise diagnostic capabilities like CT [scans] and effective broad-spectrum antibiotics, appendectomy may be unnecessary for uncomplicated appendicitis, which now occurs in the majority of acute appendicitis cases.' NICE - the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - which gives the British doctors guidance about best medical practice does not currently issue guidance on the best way to treat appendicitis. Mr Hall said appendix mass is a particularly complicated form of appendicitis, which makes up about one in ten acute cases. His team is embarking on further research to find out whether surgery could also be avoided for children with less complicated forms of acute appendicitis. He added: 'I think there will always be a role for surgery for the management of appendicitis. 'But we are investigating whether an alternative approach is realistic for people who do not want an operation, and that may be particularly the case for children and their parents.' A man is suing a hospital for allegedly halving the length of his penis in a botched surgery that removed three inches of his manhood. Zeljku Nosicu, 57, was meant to have corrective surgery after a tissue disease left his penis with a lump that made it curve when erect. When Nosicu woke up in the Zagreb hospital ward, the lump had gone. But the Croatian artist says he was horrified to see his anatomy had shrunk by three inches. 'I went in for the procedure because I needed help. I came back with half a penis,' Nosicu told Croatian newspaper Provjereno. Zeljku Nosicu, 57, (pictured) was meant to have corrective surgery after a tissue disease left his penis with a lump that made it curve when erect. His penis is now three inches shorter WHAT IS PEYRONIE'S DISEASE? Peyronie's causes a build-up of plaque in the penis, that can make it curve up or sideways. CAUSE: There is no known cause. In many cases it is caused by an injury that triggers bleeding inside the penis. In rare cases it can be genetic. SYMPTOMS: Lumps: When flaccid, the penis looks exactly the same. The lumps are visible when erect. The penis will likely bend in a different direction. Pain: Most men can still have sex with Peyronie's disease, though it may be painful or logistically complicated. TREATMENT: Leave it: In most cases, the disease will go away on its own, and the curve will disappear. Doctors suggest waiting one to two years before treatment. Step 1: Pills Those who require treatment will first be offered pills to boost blood flow, such as pentoxifylline (sold as Trental), or a skin treatment to dissolve plaques, such as Potaba. Step 2: Injections For those who do not respond to that treatment, they will be given a shot of Xiaflex - a collagenese injection to breaks down collagen in the lump. Step 3: Surgery The two avenues for operations both carry significant risks for damage. OPTION 1: Remove the plaque and get a tissue graft in its place. SIDE EFFECT: Can leave the patient with troubles getting an erection. OPTION 2: The so-called Nesbit procedure - only recommended in extreme cases. It removes or alters the tissue on the side of the penis opposite the plaque to stop the bending effect. SIDE EFFECT: It carries the significant risk of shortening the penis. Advertisement The operation, in September 2015, was meant to be Nosicu's final step to recovery from Peyronie's disease. Though it does carry a risk of penis-shortening, he claims he was never told about that. And, regardless, he believes it was down to negligence on the part of the surgeons, rather than a routine side effect. The condition, though known to disappear on its own without treatment, can be complicated to treat in severe cases. Peyronie's causes a build-up of plaque in the penis, that can make it curve up or sideways. It is usually caused by some kind of impact trauma or injury, that triggers bleeding inside the penis. In rare cases it can be caused by a genetic mutation. When flaccid, the penis looks exactly the same. However, the lumps are visible when erect, and the penis will likely bend in a different direction. Most men can still have sex with Peyronie's disease, though it may be painful or logistically complicated. In most cases, the disease will go away on its own, and the curve will disappear. Doctors suggest waiting one to two years before seeking corrective surgery. Those who do require treatment will first be offered pills to boost blood flow, such as pentoxifylline (sold as Trental), or a skin treatment pill to dissolve plaques, such as Potaba. For those like Nosicu who do not respond to that treatment, they will be given a shot of Xiaflex - a collagenese injection that breaks down the collagen causing the lump. Only after that fails do doctors recommend getting surgery. But the two avenues for operations both carry significant risks for damage. First, the could remove the plaque and get a tissue graft in its place. This, however, can leave the patient with troubles getting an erection. The second option is to perform the so-called Nesbit procedure - something doctors only recommend if the patient's life has become severely hampered by their condition. This procedure removes or alters the tissue on the side of the penis opposite the plaque to counter the disease's bending effect. It carries the significant risk of shortening the penis. Once free from Peyronie's disease, the sufferer will likely lose all their symptoms. However, in some severe cases the sufferer will be left with a permanent lump or curve. Some men may also suffer plaque build-ups in other parts of their body as a result of the infection. Despite becoming the poster girl for rising female power in India's armed forces, Wing Commander Pooja Thakur is fighting to continue serving the country and faces eviction from her government accommodation. The officer, who shot to fame after leading the Guard of Honour during former US president Barack Obama's 2015 visit, is currently battling for a permanent commission in the Indian Air Force through the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). She claims that the IAF's decision to deny her full service following her short service commission is 'biased, discriminatory, arbitrary and unreasonable' and is calling for her position to be reinstated. US President Barack Obama inspects the Guard of Honour during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. To his left is Wing Commander Pooja Thakur of the Indian Air Force In the meantime, Thakur has also been ordered to vacate her government accommodation in southwest Delhi - but managed to secure a stay order on the eviction last Monday, in a separate case taken before the AFT. 'The eviction proceedings taken against the officer shall be kept in abeyance and she should be allowed to continue in her present accommodation on usual terms till the disposal of her case (seeking reinstatement into services),' an Armed Forces Tribunal bench headed by Justice Babu Mathew said. IAF officials, who did not wish to be named, said the force had no role in the eviction notice as Thakur's accommodation came under the central government pool. The former officer is fighting to be reinstated into the India Air Force after her short service commission ended The officials said as per the rule, IAF officers are supposed to vacate their houses after retirement and due process must have been followed by the authorities concerned at the Ministry of Defence. The military court asked the Defence Ministry's joint secretary (training) and chief administrative officer for details on the necessary action and implementing its order. Officials in the defence department declined comment, saying they were not aware of the details of the case. While Thakur and her counsel declined to speak to Mail Today in relation to the judgment or eviction notice as the matter is sub-judice, sources in the IAF said the officer was allotted a government accommodation from the air force quota in New Delhi's Dwarka residential cluster. But the IAF claims that she had turned down an earlier offer of a permanent role In September, soon after her short service commission tenure ended, Thakur was served an eviction notice. The officer approached the tribunal, where her counsel Major S S Pandey contended that she should be allowed to retain her house until her case for getting reinstated into the force was decided. The military court ruled in her favour and ordered the government to halt the eviction process. Thakur, arguably the most widely known face in the Air Force due to the famous 2015 event, has been engaged in a legal battle with IAF since July 2016 after she was denied a permanent commission like her other counterparts. Permanent commission allows a woman officer get an opportunity to rise to the rank of lieutenant general and retire at 60 with the full benefits that the men officers get. In her petition, the officer stated that the IAF decision was 'biased, discriminatory, arbitrary and unreasonable'. Over a month after filing the case, Thakur's tenure came to an end and she retired with her case still pending for a final decision. The IAF's stand in the court was that Thakur had rejected being absorbed into the force earlier and cannot be given a choice again. This has been challenged by her counsel, who said: 'At that time, her personal situation was such that she could not decide and that is why she requested the Air Force to change her option. 'They denied it to her and that is why we have filed a petition.' Stressing that Thakur was entitled to a permanent commission, her counsel submitted: 'The Air Force has on the basis of a policy stated that she is not entitled for permanent commission. 'The policy is their own local policy as the government did not give any decision about it. They did not offer her permanent commission in 2006 which they should have, but when the High Court passed the order in 2010 they offered her the same.' Thakur was the first woman officer to lead an Inter-Service Guard of Honour when Obama visited India as the chief guest for the 2015 Republic Day parade. Acid attacks are most often seen as a crime against women. The majority of victims are young women who face the ire of jilted lovers and even law commissions have reported that it is a gender-based violence. But increasingly, a significant share of acid attack victims are men. Little Aditya Raj, aged two-and-a-half, is Delhi's youngest known acid attack survivor Their cases generally go unreported, simply because most of the victims are women and there is a gross underestimation of the numbers. But there are many like Aditya, a toddler who was left to die on roadside after his mother's jilted lover poured acid on his face and body or Firoz, 42, who was watching TV casually when an altercation between his brother and neighbor turned ugly. Meet the male acid attack survivors of Delhi: Two and a half-year-old Aditya Raj is Delhi's youngest acid-attack survivor. The toddler was allegedly kidnapped by his mother's jilted lover on December 13, when he was playing right outside his house. His parents said their son is now unable to shut his left eye and is 'inconsolable' when he sees a stranger Jamuna Prasad, Aditya's father, said: 'I went inside to get money to buy him corn but when I came back, Aditya was missing. I ran to check with every neighbour but we could not spot him until the next morning.' 'Aditya was found by police next morning with burnt skin, which had almost turned black. But he was in a conscious when cops spotted him near a drain. 'From that day till now, we have visited four hospitals for his treatment and we don't know how many more visits are in store for us. 'He will undergo another surgery next month which will rectify his air passage from the left nostril.' Upendra Kumar was 14 years old when he fell prey to a neighbourhood rivalry acid attack Soni, Aditya's mother, rued how the incident changed the toddler. 'If he sees a stranger now, his first instinct is to run inside the house or simply break down. He grows inconsolable,' said Soni. As parents, the couple has given up their hopes to let him go outside the house, let alone send him to school. 'His left eye doesn't shut anymore. He sleeps with his left eye open,' Soni told Mail Today. And then there's Upendra Kumar, who is just 14 years old and fell prey to a neighbourhood rivalry attack borne out of a petty fight where a family opposed their kids' friendship with him. Firoz Khan, 42 now, was 27- years-old when a neighbourhood scuffle scarred him for life One day, when he was coming home after playing with them, two unidentified men poured acid in Upendra's eyes, leaving him blinded and both corneas damaged. 'My son's education has come to a halt for two years now. I am struggling everyday after work to teach him braille so that he can pick up studies but there is no help extended from the government so far for his education,' said Upendra's father Rajveer Singh. Firoz Khan, 42 now, was 27- years-old when a neighbourhood scuffle scarred him for life. Female acid attack victims, from left, a 30-year old who remains anonymous, Laxmi, and Chanchal, in the office of the Indian NGO Stop Acid Attacks, in New Delhi, India While the physical pain continues to hurt, the mental agony is perhaps even worse as he takes on the courts to prove that he was in fact the victim and not the attacker. Khan, speaking to Mail Today, said that he was watching TV inside his house on a cold January winter evening in 2002 when an altercation intensified between neighbours and his younger brother. 'I ran outside as it did not sound like just another neighbourhood scuffle. I saw my brother arguing with our neighbour and naturally came to his rescue. I asked him to go inside and within a second, the neighbour fetched a bucket full of acid and with a mug, started to throw it on us.' Firoz saved himself from grave injuries by rushing towards a community hand pump. But the damage was already done. 'I sat under running water but it did not stop the fumes rising from my body. My skin melted and started peeling off within seconds,' Firoz said. Fifteen years on, despite being the victim, he is being made to go to for hearings at the Tis Hazari court every month after the accused, one Kaushal Kishor, filed a complaint against him. 'I have spent money for 15 years now on my medication. I could not lie down for a year on my back, infected with pus. Now I have to to prove my innocence.' 'We have decided to move to High Court now but it will easily take five to six years for the verdict,' said Manoj Bhandari, Firoz's lawyer. Acid attack victims have long argued for the government to do more in preventing the heinous crime. A 2013 Supreme Court order prohibited the sale of acid unless the seller maintains a record of the buyers and forces states to pay acid attack victims more than Rs 90,000 in compensation. The law was among a wave of changes implemented after the New Delhi rape case, including a provision that called for stiffer prison terms - a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment - and no bail for those who carry out acid attacks. But highly concentrated acids are still readily available in India for use as household and industrial cleaners. The liquids are often produced locally and are dirt cheap. Political drama in Tamil Nadu continued on Wednesday, as its outgoing chief minister staged a midnight rebellion while Governor C Vidyasagar Rao was said to be heading to Chennai to - potentially - swear in his successor. O Panneerselvam refused to give way to his anointed successor, hours after warning that he may revoke his resignation if there was enough support for him to stay. The move threatens to plunge the southern region state into chaos months after the death of popular leader and former film star Jayalalithaa Jayaram. Sasikala gestures to supporters at her party's headquarters after attending the MLAs' meeting in Chennai Panneerselvam took over as chief minister after her death in December but, on Sunday, the ruling AIADMK party unexpectedly announced that he had resigned and that Jaya's former aide, VK Sasikala, would take over. But just days later, Panneerselvam told journalists he would not stand down, insisting that he was 'forced' into the move but still had grassroots support in the party that Sasikala heads - raising the prospect of a split in the AIADMK. 'I will prove the majority at the state assembly floor. I am discharging my duty as the chief minister now, as per the wish of the party workers and common people,' he told reporters. V K Sasikala is due to be sworn in as the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister any day now Sasikala, a one-time video cassette seller who has never held political office or stood for election, has responded by sacking Panneerselvam from all party positions and accusing him of betrayal. And the current AIADMK general secretary on Wednesday mustered an overwhelming majority of party MLAs against a rebellious O Panneerselvam. Meanwhile Rao, who has kept away from Chennai for the past three days - triggering speculation on whether he had reservations on Sasikala's appointment - was expected to reach Chennai on Thursday. But there was no word on what he plans to do. Jurists are divided on whether Sasikala, who - together with Jaya - was jailed for corruption in 2014, can be sworn in. Although both women were later acquitted on appeal, the case is still going through the courts and the Supreme Court is likely to deliver its verdict next week. Outgoing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam sitting in a meditation in front of late J Jayalalithaa's burial site at the Marina Beach in Chennai on Tuesday After Panneerselvam's midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of party MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters in a show of strength on Wednesday morning and later herded them in buses to an undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together. There were unconfirmed reports that AIADMK would even parade the MLAs before the President, if the Governor delays the swearing-in of Sasikala. In another act of defiance, Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge will be set up to probe the doubts surrounding the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa. Addressing the legislators, Sasikala, who sacked Panneerselvam from the post of treasurer Tuesday night, launched a no-holds-barred attack on him. She said he had betrayed the party and fully merged with DMK, which Jayalalithaa had fought all her life. She claims to have got wind of his moves a few days ago itself and asserted that the party remains united and will not be cowed down by such threats. Accusing arch rival DMK of trying to destabilise the party, Sasikala said betrayal will never win in the AIADMK and that no one will be able to divide the party. Panneerselvam, who was chosen by Jayalalithaa as stop-gap CM, on Wednesday maintained that he enjoyed support of majority of MLAs and would prove it on the floor of the house at an appropriate time. 'The ministers and MLAs who are now with the other side will soon realise the reality and the current extraordinary situation will change,' he said, an apparent reference to the ministers rallying behind Sasikala. Tamil Nadu's late Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa died in December Former speaker P H Pandian, who attacked Sasikala on Tuesday, and senior Rajya Sabha member Dr V Maitreyan on Wednesday showed up at the chief minister's residence in a show of solidarity. Panneerselvam also dismissed the accusation by Sasikala that he was colluding with DMK and that he did not need support of either DMK or BJP. The chief minister said the stand he has taken enjoyed wide public support as the people want a good and deserving person on the post. Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai rejected Panneerselvam's claims and said that the party had all the 134 MLAs with it. 'We are united. There is no dispute or difference,' he said. Sasikala was running a video parlour and Jayalalithaa was a budding politician when the two met, which marked the beginning of a decades-long friendship dogged by corruption scandals. The death of Jayalalithaa, a three-time chief minister, sparked a mass outpouring of grief across Tamil Nadu, with huge crowds lining the streets to pay tribute to her. FAST JOBS Supercar maker McLaren is creating 200 jobs in the UK by shifting production of its carbon fibre chassis from Austria to a new 50million factory in Sheffield its first UK base outside Woking. SALES BOOST Renault-Nissan is close to joining the ranks of the three biggest automakers by sales. The alliance, which includes Nissan Motor, Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, delivered a combined 9.96m vehicles last year just 4,000 short of General Motors' deliveries in 2016. Volkswagen is the industry leader. RECORD YEAR Shareholders at packaging company Smurfit Kappa will get a dividend boost after it reported record earnings for 2016. FILM FEAST Blockbusters including Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them drove a bumper year for Time Warner. The US media giant posted revenue of 6.3billion, up 2.2 per cent on the previous year. LEAVING LIDL The chief executive of Lidl, Sven Seidel, has resigned, forcing it to replace its boss for the second time in less than three years. RSA DEAL Insurer RSA has clinched a deal to sell 834million of UK legacy insurance liabilities to Enstar Group. BT SWOOP BT's vehicle management business BT Fleet has snapped up a maintenance and servicing firm for an undisclosed sum. It will add SEV Automotive and Plant to its own network of 64 garages. AMAZON MOVE Amazon is ramping up its fledgling grocery business by expanding its fresh food offer into parts of the Home Counties. FASHION BOOM Silk, ready-to-wear and leather helped French luxury fashion group Hermes to a 6.6 per cent boost in sales to 4.4billion. BANKS SHUT TSB is shutting 29 branches to save cash. The bank said there would be no job losses. PROFITS UP Swedish lender Handelsbanken has boosted UK profits by 6 per cent to 181.2million as its British operation continues to grow. FCA CRACKDOWN Property funds overwhelmed by an investor panic after the Brexit vote are facing a crackdown from the City watchdog. The Financial Conduct Authority is set to tighten the rules. TULLOW LOSS Tullow Oil posted its third straight annual loss, 602million in 2016, from 873million the year before. OIL CHARGES Shell is facing corruption charges in Italy over drilling in Nigeria. Prosecutors are also seeking to try Italian oil firm Eni, along with its boss Claudio Descalzi and ten other individuals. The AA has warned that it may need to drive up prices after being slapped with sky-rocketing taxes. The insurer and breakdown service highlighted that the government has doubled insurance premium taxes from 6 per cent to 12 per cent in less than two years, in an attempt to plug a shortfall in the UKs finances. Until now the AA says it has absorbed the cost of IPT and not passed it on to customers, however, if the tax keeps rising it warned that costs may need to go up. Feeling the hit: The AA has warned that it may need to drive up prices after being slapped by skyrocketing taxes Other insurance companies have also been hit by the price hikes and LV warned last year that customers should be prepared for bill increases of up to 10 per cent as a result. The AA said it has been able to shoulder the extra costs to date but it cautioned it may need to review its pricing over the coming year. 'We have managed to protect our members by absorbing some of this price rise, but this is an industry-wide challenge and we will need to review our pricing policy in the context of any future increase in IPT,' a spokesperson said. The Treasury has previously claimed this the tax is on insurance companies, not motorists. But rather than bear the extra cost themselves, many insurers have simply passed on the burden on to customers in the form of higher premiums. The AA claims that it has not done this and instead absorbed the cost. AA hopes to offset any problems caused by a possible price rise by boosting the quality and range of services offered to members The Association of British Insurers revealed the tax rises have added more 100 to the annual costs for a family with two cars combined contents and building cover, pet and health insurance. AA hopes to offset any problems caused by a possible price rise by boosting the quality and range of services offered to members. The AA has already been investing in new technology, such as a breakdown app for members, which is now being used in more than a fifth - 22 per cent - of breakdowns. The group cheered an 'important milestone' as it halted the long-standing decline in membership numbers, with a 0.4 per cent rise in paid personal members to 3.3 million in the six months to January 31. This came after it signed up new customers, with a 19 per cent rise in new business year-on-year in the second half, and also held on to more existing members, with its retention rate improving to 82 per cent. The AA said it saw a 5 per cent rise in the number of breakdown call-outs over the year to January 31, which has reversed a trend of gradual decline. It said while this was 'unhelpful for costs in the short term, it nonetheless underscores the continued demand for our services and enhances a customer's likelihood of renewing their membership'. The AA added its recently launched in-house underwriter notched up a better-than-expected 115,000 motor insurance policies in its first year. Patent expired: Asthma treatment Advair is one of GSK's most profitable medicines The looming threat of cheap generic copies of one of its major drugs cast a shadow over GlaxoSmithKline's full-year results. The company posted profits and sales that beat expectations but warned that earnings, stripping out currencies, could slip in 2017 if copies of its leading asthma medicine were to arrive in the United States. Asthma treatment Advair is one of GSK's most profitable medicines with sales of more than $1billion (800m) annually since 2001, but its patent protection has expired. Cheap versions are available in Europe and countries such as South Korea and Mexico, but there is no generic equivalent in the US. The US Food and Drug Administration decides whether to approve a first Advair generic in March, while a rival has an approval decision date in May. Chief executive Sir Andrew Witty, 52, said that if a generic alternative was to arrive, he would expect around 70pc erosion in the first few months. He said: 'We don't know whether or not there is going to be a generic this year. It is obviously possible. 'So what we have aimed to do here is to give people a range. At the upper end of the range there is no generic and we have guided that we would continue to expect to see a good strong earnings growth momentum in the range of 5 per cent-7 per cent. 'If there were an introduction of a generic in the middle of the year and it was a pretty fundamental generic scenario so 70 per cent erosion in the first few months of the arrival then we would expect to be around flat to maybe slightly down.' GSK posted full-year revenue of 27.9billion for 2016 and its core earnings per share grew 12 per cent to 102.4p, at the top end of the company's 11 per cent-12 per cent target. New product sales more than doubled to 4.5billion, driven by HIV and respiratory treatment and meningitis vaccines. Witty, who is to be replaced by Emma Walmsley, 47, said he was confident keeping the firm as a conglomerate was the right move. It has been plagued by rumours its three businesses pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare could be broken up after he leaves. No deal: Shares at publisher St Ives crashed 14% yesterday Shares at St Ives crashed 14 per cent yesterday after the marketing group revealed its deal to supply books for Harper Collins would not be renewed. St Ives failed to reach an agreement with the publisher over the volume and price of printing monochrome books, so the contract ends on June 30. Harper Collins represents about 3 per cent of St Ives' sales and the firm said non-renewal would not materially affect its performance in the current financial year. Instead, the group will cut costs in its books division to mitigate the impact. Following the contract loss the group said it expects a reduction of approximately 11million in sales and 3.5million in earnings before interest and taxes in the financial year to August 2018. It also expects there to be a 3million non-cash impairment charge in the current financial year. Matt Armitage, chief executive, said: 'Although we have recently seen some increase in demand for book production overall, the market remains competitive and we are not prepared to chase volume at uneconomic prices. 'We will be taking decisive action to ensure that the cost base of our books business reflects the future level of volumes we now expect.' Families whose businesses were wrecked by criminal bankers at HBOS could be in line for compensation after an independent review was announced yesterday. Lynden Scourfield was jailed along with five others last week for stripping the assets from successful firms while he ran the lender's turnaround unit in Reading. The proceeds were spent on a 2million superyacht called Powder Monkey, sex parties with prostitutes, luxury holidays and designer watches. HBOS scandal: Lynden Scourfield was jailed along with five others last week for stripping the assets from successful firms while he ran the lender's turnaround unit in Reading It cost the bank 245million and at least 50 small businesses were ruined as a result landing their owners with a bill estimated at 1billion by some sources. There has been growing pressure for Lloyds, which bought HBOS during the financial crisis, to compensate the entrepreneurs whose lives were ruined by the gang. Yesterday the bank announced it was working with regulators on an independent review of the crimes, which were committed between 2003 and 2007. Lloyds pledged to contact the business owners known to have been affected, while others who believe they took a hit can get in touch through customer services. Bosses said that cases would be considered in a fresh light now that criminal proceedings had concluded. COST OF THE CON An independent reviewer, such as a retired judge or law firm, will be appointed to examine each case. 'The group deeply regrets that the criminal actions have caused such distress for a number of HBOS business customers,' the bank said. 'Lloyds will contact all those customers it has identified as potentially affected by the criminal activities and provide redress if appropriate.' Victims and campaigners gave the plans a cautious welcome but warned that the lender must ensure its review was sufficiently detailed and truly independent. Nikki Turner owned a music publishing business with her husband Paul that was destroyed by the gang. The 61-year-old, who set up pressure group SME Alliance to help others facing the same plight, said: 'We're cautiously optimistic. It's brilliant news now let's see how it goes forward. We're hoping this is a genuine offer and not just a whitewash.' SNP MP George Kerevan, who runs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Business Banking and is a member of the Treasury Select Committee, wrote to Lloyds earlier this week calling for a compensation scheme. He said: 'It is my intention to press Lloyds to create a full, fair and adequate compensation scheme for those defrauded in the HBOS Reading affair, especially as I believe Lloyds itself was partly to blame for the long delay in bringing this fraud to court. 'Lloyds cannot expect to be judge and jury in deciding the levels due to customers who have had to wait a whole decade for justice.' An Ohio man has been charged with arson after police used electronic data from his pacemaker to claim he was too calm to have fled his burning home in fear. Ross Compton, 59, is charged with felony aggravated arson and felony insurance fraud after police say he purposely set his Middletown home on fire on September 19. A cardiologist told the police that Compton's story of waking to find his home ablaze and then frantically rushing to escape was 'highly improbable' due to his heart condition. Authorities have also said gasoline was found on Compton's clothing and that the blaze started in multiple places at his home. Lt. Jimmy Cunningham told WLWT-TV the medical data from Compton's pacemaker represented some of 'the key pieces of evidence' in the case that led to Compton's arrest. Ross Compton (above in court Tuesday), 59, is charged with felony aggravated arson and felony insurance fraud after police say he purposely set his Middletown home on fire on September 19 Authorities have said gasoline was found on Compton's clothing and that the blaze started in multiple places at his home (scene above) The 59-year-old man told authorities that when he saw the fire inside his Middletown home, he packed some belongings in a suitcase and bags, broke a window with his cane and threw the items through the window before carrying them to his car, according to police. He also said he had a cardiac pacemaker, authorities said. Court records show that police got a search warrant to retrieve electronic data stored on the heart device. The data included Compton's heart rate, pacer demand and cardiac rhythms before, during and after the fire, police said. A pacemaker monitors the heart and helps control irregular heart rhythms. The information is recorded and can be retrieved for analysis. Police were able to charge Compton (above in arrest photo) with two felonies based partly on data collected from his pacemaker A cardiologist determined that it was 'highly improbable,' due to his medical conditions, that Compton could do all the collecting, packing and removal of items from his house and then carry them in the short period of time he indicated, according to court records. Police have said statements they received from Compton were 'inconsistent' with the evidence they gathered. They also have said that he gave statements conflicting with what he had told a dispatcher, the Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reported. Compton previously told WLWT that the investigation had 'gone way out of control' and that he had 'no motive whatsoever to burn down my house.' Compton, who is not working and on full disability, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Butler County Common Pleas Court to aggravated arson and insurance fraud charges. Fire officials have said the blaze at Compton's home (above) caused about $400,000 damage The case has raised privacy concerns from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on defending civil liberties in the digital world. Stephanie Lacambra, a criminal defense staff attorney with the San Francisco-based foundation, said in an email Tuesday that Americans shouldn't have to make a choice between health and privacy. 'We as a society value our rights to maintain privacy over personal and medical information, and compelling citizens to turn over protected health data to law enforcement erodes those rights,' Lacambra said. Fire officials have said the blaze at Compton's home caused about $400,000 damage. The conditions which Sgt Blackman (pictured) faced when he shot an injured Afghan fighter were a 'breeding ground' for mental health problems, his appeal heard Poignant footage from the frontline illustrating the 'unimaginable stress' faced by Sergeant Blackman when he killed an injured Afghan fighter was today shown at the soldier's appeal. The footage, from the same 2011 tour Sgt Blackman was serving on, was shown as his legal team told the court that the Royal Marine had been exposed to an environment that was a 'breeding ground' for mental illness. It was shot by acclaimed documentary maker Chris Terrill who was embedded at an outpost in Nad e Ali district, only three miles from Blackman's own. The marines could not tell the locals apart from the Taliban and the area was described as 'the most dangerous square mile on Earth.' The court saw soldiers living in primitive conditions and patrolling in fifty degree heat, while being engaged in furious gun battles with Taliban insurgents. Outside their base they were also constantly threatened by death or life changing injury by IEDs. One likened the experience of patrols to five men driving in a car down a road, knowing they were heading for an accident in which one of them would be killed, another maimed and the rest slightly wounded. 'Eventually we will set patterns and as sure as s*** they (the Taliban) will get lucky,' another young marine said in interview with Terrill. Three weeks later the same soldier stepped on an IED which left 300 pieces of shrapnel in his body. He had to have a leg amputated and is now living with brain damage and a heart condition. The district was descibed as 'IED central' with a device being discovered or detonated every 16 hours on average for the entire six months of the tour. A marine recalled being on patrol 15 metres behind a friend when the friend stepped on an IED. 'It was a difficult day.' He then had to 'get over it and and go back on patrol.' In the end, one said, they were only '10 per cent' concerned with stabilising Afghanistan. The most important issue was looking after each other. The court heard how Blackman was a 'superb soldier' but had a harrowing brush with death, was living in an 'austere' environment and had 'endured' the loss of a close colleague when he came across the bloodied insurgent in Helmand province in 2011. Scroll down for video Footage of the kind of 'unimaginable stress' faced by Sergeant Blackman was today shown in court on the first day of his appeal The footage, from the same 2011 tour Sgt Blackman was serving on, was shown as his legal team told the court that the environment that was a 'breeding ground' for mental illness The video, hot by acclaimed documentary maker Chris Terrill, shows how the soldiers have no way of knowing if people are Taliban insurgents of ordinary villagers The court saw soldiers living in primitive conditions and patrolling in fifty degree heat (pictured), while being engaged in furious gun battles with Taliban insurgents During the first day of his appeal today, Jonathan Goldberg QC said the near-death incident with a grenade before he came across the bloodied Taliban soldier had left the Royal Marine with 'mental scars'. Explaining how the 'impact' of fresh psychiatric evidence lay at the heart of the appeal, Mr Goldberg added: 'Only those who have been on the front line can know what it is really like.' One medical expert later told the court how 'everyone has their breaking point' and there was 'no such thing as a Rambo type or an Arnold Schwarzenegger soldier'. The court heard that the stress of isolation, poor leadership and daily attacks from the Taliban had turned the sergeant into a 'husk' of his former self. As Blackman's QC outlined the case to five judges in the packed courtroom, the 42-year-old, from Taunton, Somerset, watched proceedings via video link from prison. Blackman's wife Claire and dozens of veterans sat in the public gallery, while several supporters thronged The Strand in London, holding flags with the words 'Justice for Marine A' in solidarity with the jailed Royal Marine. 'Eventually we will set patterns and as sure as s*** they (the Taliban) will get lucky,' a young marine (pictured) said in interview. Three weeks later he stepped on an IED which left 300 pieces of shrapnel in his body Sergeant Alexander Blackman was facing 'unimaginable' stress when he killed an injured Afghan fighter after being exposed to an environment which was a 'breeding ground' for mental illness, his appeal has heard. He is pictured in a court sketch appearing via video link Meanwhile, a special bench was reserved in the public gallery of Court 4 for former top brass, including a retired brigadier, one vice-admiral, a general, two major-generals and three lieutenant-colonels. The hearing was told how, at the time of the 2011 incident, Blackman - who was known as Marine A throughout his original Court Martial - was serving in Afghanistan's Helmand province with Plymouth-based 42 Commando. Mr Goldberg told the Court Martial Appeal Court that the conditions were 'austere' and a 'breeding ground' for mental health problems. Describing the Taliban as 'ruthless and cunning', he said there were shooting incidents on a regular basis, sometimes daily. At the time, Blackman was living in a 122F (50C) heat with no running water or basic toilet facilities and had become 'burnt out' due to 'stressors' such as poor leadership and isolation. He said Blackman had also suffered after the death of a young company officer 'with whom he had been on very close terms' and had mentored. The QC added that it was a many people suffering with mental illness do not 'recognise symptoms in themselves'. Blackman's wife Claire (pictured) arrives at court today to support her husband's appeal on the first day of the three-day hearing at the Court Martial Appeal Court in London Frederick Forsyth is pictured arriving today (left) ahead of Sgt Blackman's appeal. Campaigners with flags saying 'Justice for Marine A' were also outside court Mr Goldberg added that there were three experts who agreed that Blackman was suffering from a recognised mental illness - an adjustment disorder - at the time of the killing due to operating 'under chronic unrelenting stress'. Blackman's lawyers say the disorder substantially impaired his ability to form a rational judgment or exercise self-control at the relevant time which would have affected his ability to know whether the insurgent was alive or not. Blackman has always said he believed the fighter was already dead when he shot him. Mr Goldberg told the court: 'This was a superb soldier. He had been described so in report after report. 'The doctors are saying that if a man like that behaves in a way like this, you have to wonder if something wrong was going on in his head, and here the evidence indicates it was.' This afternoon, Professor Neil Greenberg, of King's College London - who has been deployed in Afghanistan as a doctor and psychiatrist - said every member of the armed forces could at some point 'break' in such an environment. 'It is fair to say that everybody has their breaking point,' he told the court. 'There is no such thing as a Rambo type, an Arnold Schwarzenegger soldier, who can face all sorts of stresses and appear to be invulnerable. That sort of person only exists in the cinema.' several supporters thronged The Strand in London , holding flags with the words 'Justice for Marine A' in solidarity with the jailed Royal Marine (pictured) He said that, in 2012, adjustment disorder was the most common diagnosis seen by military mental health professionals and it was common for people to 'mask' their symptoms and carry on. Prof Greenberg said resilience came from the bonds between an individual and their immediate leadership. But those who perceived they were poorly supported suffered more mental health problems, he added. 'THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS RAMBO': DOCTOR TELLS COURT THAT 'EVERYBODY' HAS A 'BREAKING POINT' A medical expert today told the court that 'everybody' has a 'breaking point' and 'invulnerable' characters such as Rambo 'only exist in the cinema'. Professor Neil Greenberg of King's College London said it was unrealistic to expect military personnel to face 'all sorts of stresses' without it affecting them. He made the comments as he described how he believed Blackman was suffering from an adjustment disorder when he killed the Afghan fighter in Helmand province in 2011. He told the court: 'It is fair to say that everybody has their breaking point. 'There is no such thing as a Rambo type, an Arnold Schwarzenegger soldier, who can face all sorts of stresses and appear to be invulnerable. 'That sort of person only exists in the cinema.' Advertisement The medical expert said that, when Sgt Blackman was on a period of rest and recuperation, he was described by a friend as a 'husk' of his former self. After the grenade incident, a colleague noticed a marked change in his behaviour, he said while Blackman's wife described him looking at the ground a lot as though he was checking for explosive devices. The court heard how, on previous deployments, Blackman was part of a much larger unit where he could have spoken freely to a padre or a medical officer. But, at the time of the killing, he did not have such access. Blackman had also reported drinking heavily after returning from an earlier tour in Iraq in 2003 and later revealed he had thought about suicide. Today, the court was shown two videos of the insurgent being dragged from the middle of the field to an area of corn where he was shot. In the first clip, Blackman is heard asking: 'Anyone want to do first aid on this idiot?' before telling a fellow marine he shouldn't shoot him in the head because it would be 'f****** obvious'. In the second clip, Sgt Blackman is heard asking where the helicopter is, before being told it 'went south'. The insurgent is then seen being shot in the chest and convulsing. Giving evidence on the video, Prof Greenberg said the footage - captured on a camera mounted on another Royal Marine's helmet - demonstrated how Blackman was suffering from a disorder which 'substantially impaired his ability to exercise self-control'. He said an adjustment disorder could exhibit no symptoms to the outsider but could still 'end in lethal consequences'. He told the court that Commandos were trained to enter combat situation 'thinking they could save the world and come back a hero', but that he did not demonstrate that leadership or qualities in the footage. 'It is clear to me that the symptoms of his adjustment disorder had led him to the point where he was in survival - he had to get his team through the next few weeks and get home,' he said. 'He didn't care, he was numb to the kind of emotions and difficulties he encountered.' Stills of footage captured by a camera mounted on the helmet of a Royal Marine showing Sgt Alexander Wayne Blackman during a patrol in Afghanistan Mr Goldberg added: 'The doctors are saying that if a man like that behaves in a way like this, you have to wonder if something wrong was going on in his head. 'Here the evidence indicates it was.' The judges also heard from Richard Whittam QC, for the Crown, who told the court that the appeal was confined to the question of diminished responsibility. He said that, even if there was evidence to show that a mental condition must have caused or been a significant contributing factor in the killing, the court would have to consider the video evidence. Prof Greenberg, during questioning by Mr Whittam, said Blackman told him the insurgent was moved from the middle of the field because they 'thought there was a threat on them from other insurgents'. But Mr Whittam suggested Blackman had waited until the helicopter had gone before shooting him. FOOTAGE PLAYED IN COURT SHOWS INSURGENT'S FINAL MOMENTS Two video clips were played in court which showed the bloodied insurgent being dragged across a field to an area of corn, and later being shot. In the first clip, Blackman is heard asking: 'Anyone want to do first aid on this idiot?' Another marine says: 'I'll put one in his head if you want.' Blackman replies: 'No, not in his head 'cause that'll be f****** obvious.' In the second clip, Blackman is heard asking where the helicopter is. He is told by another soldier that it 'went south, mate'. The insurgent is then seen being shot in the chest and convulsing. Advertisement Prof Greenberg replied: 'This was a man with a mental health problem. That mental health problem had been increasing in intensity. 'He was suffering with an adjustment disorder which substantially impaired his ability to exercise self-control.' Blackman's case has been referred to the court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the independent body that investigates possible miscarriages of justice. The CCRC announced it had concluded that a number of new issues, including fresh evidence relating to Blackman's mental state, 'raise a real possibility' that the Court Martial Appeal Court 'will now quash Mr Blackman's murder conviction'. The conviction challenge is being heard by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, Sir Brian Leveson, Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Sweeney. Blackman was convicted in November 2013 by a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years. In May 2014, the Court Martial Appeal Court rejected a conviction challenge, but reduced the minimum term to eight years because of the combat stress disorder he was suffering from at the time of the shooting. Blackman shot the insurgent, who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter, in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol before quoting a phrase from Shakespeare as the man convulsed and died in front of him. He told him: 'There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***. It's nothing you wouldn't do to us.' He then turned to his comrades and said: 'Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.' The shooting was captured on a camera mounted on the helmet of another Royal Marine. During his trial, Blackman, who denied murder, said he believed the victim was already dead and he was taking out his anger on a corpse. He was 'dismissed with disgrace' from the Royal Marines after serving with distinction for 15 years, including tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. At the start of the proceedings the judges lifted reporting restrictions which had previously been in place. Yesterday, Falklands veteran Lieutenant Colonel Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE sad there were several people who felt 'very strongly' about the case. He said: 'Blackman has huge support among the officer class. 'Not all officers back him, it is true, but large numbers feel he has not been treated well. Not all of them will be able to turn up, because some are infirm, but there is a tremendous feeling that this appeal is a watershed moment. 'In the field, Blackman was let down by some of his officers. We feel strongly he should know that we're not all like that.' Blackman, was originally sentenced to life in prison but many felt he had been made a scapegoat for failings by senior officers, and a campaign was launched to get him a fresh appeal. Thanks to generous Daily Mail readers who funded a new legal team, he presented fresh evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission which investigated and concluded there was a 'real possibility' the Appeal Court could quash his murder conviction. The judges will hear how three eminent psychiatrists now agree Sgt Blackman was suffering from 'combat stress disorder' at the time he pulled the trigger. The Appeal Court could commute his sentence from murder to manslaughter with diminished responsibility, order a retrial, or decide to uphold his murder conviction. Last night John Davies, a former Marine who has run the campaign for justice, said: 'We have been campaigning for nearly three and a half years and this week we will hopefully see justice prevail and lessons learned. 'We have a strong case and are all feeling extremely positive of a good outcome this week. Al and Claire are holding up well, all things considered, and the legal team just don't seem to sleep. It really has been great to see so much positivity.' 'No, not in his head 'cause that'll be f****** obvious': Sgt Blackman's appeal hearing watches clips of marine discussing where to shoot a bloodied Afghan insurgent before he is dragged to a corn field and shot Sergeant Alexander Blackman discussed with a colleague where to shoot an injured Afghan fighter, saying they should not aim for his head because it would be 'f******' obvious', his appeal heard today. Footage played in court showed the bloodied insurgent - who was later killed by Blackman - being dragged across a field in Helmand province to a secluded area of corn. There, in graphic scenes played to the court, the fighter was seen being shot in the chest with a 9mm pistol. As he convulsed and died in front of him, Blackman recited a passage from Shakespeare's Hamlet, saying: 'There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***.' The scene came just moments after Blackman was captured on camera asking his colleagues if 'anyone wanted to do first aid on this idiot'. The 42-year-old was then recorded asking where the helicopter was, before pulling the trigger when a colleague replied that it had 'gone south'. He later told his colleagues: 'Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.' Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. has been poisoned for a second time A Russian opposition activist who survived being poisoned two years ago has fallen into a coma after he was poisoned for a second time. Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr, 35, a journalist and a close associate of the murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, was taken to a hospital last week with a sudden illness reminiscent of a mysterious poisoning he suffered two years earlier when he nearly died from kidney failure. No cause for his kidney failure was determined, but in light of the fatal poisoning of defector Alexander Litvinenko and the mysterious deaths of other Russian opposition figures, many believed that Kara-Murza could have been deliberately poisoned. The Russian activist's wife said on Tuesday that her husband had been poisoned again after he was rushed to hospital after being struck down with a sudden illness. He has been put into a medically-induced coma and is currently fighting for his life in a Moscow hospital, where he is on life support. Kara-Murza, an outspoken critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, lives in a suburb of Washington with his wife and children, and was about to travel back home to the US when he was suddenly taken ill. His lawyer Vadim Prokhorov said in a Facebook post later on Tuesday that the police had confirmed the diagnosis as poisoning by an unidentified substance. Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr is a journalist and was a close associate of the murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov Kara-Murza's wife, Yevgenia, told The Associated Press doctors have told her that her husband, who has been in a medically induced coma for several days, has now been diagnosed with an 'acute poisoning by an unidentified substance.' He has been on a ventilator and undergoing renal dialysis since he collapsed in Moscow on Thursday. 'His condition is critical but stable,' said his wife Yevgeniya. 'The official diagnosis is acute poisoning by an unidentified substance.' She said the family sent blood, hair, and fingernail samples to a private laboratory in Israel to determine the toxin. She would not speculate on the nature of the poisoning before those results are available. His Washington-based wife also warned US president Donald Trump not to consider Vladimir Putin to be a friend. '[Trump] must know that such people as Vladimir Putin are not friends. And they cannot be dealt with on friendly terms,' she said in an interview with ABC News. Trump has faced criticism for refusing to condemn Putin as killer. Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr was a prominent ally of murdered Nemtsov, a critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin On Sunday, Fox News Host Bill O'Reilly asked the US president if he respects his Russian counterpart, to which to which Trump replied saying he did but added 'that doesn't mean I'm going to get along with him.' When O'Reilly responded by saying: 'Putin's a killer,' Trump replied with: 'Lot of killers. We've got a lot of killers. What, you think our country's so innocent? You think our country's so innocent?' The Kremlin said on Monday that it wanted an apology from Fox News over what it called the 'unacceptable' comments. 'We consider such words from the Fox TV company to be unacceptable and insulting, and honestly speaking, we would prefer to get an apology from such a respected TV company,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. Kara-Murza was previously taken ill in May 2015 at the offices of a state-owned legal news agency and rushed to hospital. At the time his condition was said to be critical, but he later recovered from his injuries. Family friend and opposition activist Andrei Bystrov said at the time: 'Doctors have just confirmed that he was poisoned. As to what with, they can't say yet. It could be anything.' Speaking after his recovery, Kara-Murza said that it was difficult to 'believe this was an accident', suspecting he had been intentionally poisoning, but said there was no way to be certain. The Kremlin and its security forces deny involvement in a long line of political killings, from the high-profile poisoning of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 to the assassination of Mr Nemtsov in February 2015. Mr Kara-Murza worked on the release of an opposition report into the presence of Russian troops in east Ukraine. Nemtsov was killed in February 2015 by drive-by shooter in the Russian capital Moscow The report was begun by Mr Nemtsov before his murder, and alleged Russia had lost at least 220 soldiers since the start of fighting in east Ukraine in April 2014. Mr Kara-Murza was also involved in the production of a documentary film about Chechnya's strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. The 30-minute documentary alleged the involvement of Mr Kadyrov, a former rebel fighter who went over to the Kremlin in 2000, in widespread murders and torture in the volatile North Caucasus republic. The documentary was produced by Open Russia, a pressure group funded by Mikhail Khordokovsky, a former Russian oligarch and bitter critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Brazilian teen born with microcephaly has become the first person in the world with the condition to be signed-up by a modelling agency. Ana Victoria Lago, 17, who lives with her family in Manaus, north Brazil, has a smaller than normal head and an under-developed brain because of a genetic abnormality. When she was born doctors told her family she would never be able to walk, but she has surpassed all expectations. She was snapped up by BM Model's Agency based in the city on Saturday and hopes to make history by debuting on the runway at the Rio de Janeiro Fashion Week in June. Scroll down for video Ana Victoria Lago, 17, who lives with her family in Manaus, north Brazil, has been signed up by a modelling agency The aspiring model, who has speech and learning difficulties and the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, wants to prove that her condition will not hold her back Mum, Viviane Lima, 36, was invited by the Beleza Manauara (BM) Model's Agency, to send in her daughter's portfolio after fashion scouts spotted her pictures online. Viviane had posted images on social network from a professional photo-shoot to mark Ana Victoria's up-coming eighteenth birthday. Now the aspiring model, who has speech and learning difficulties and the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, is poised to confound her doubters by becoming a role model for other children with the 'shrunken head' syndrome. Next month Ana Victoria stars in a new photographic exhibition, 'Arte sem preconceito' (Art without prejudice) which is being staged by the model agency in the Amazon city. The event is about challenging discrimination using images of children with disabilities. Ana Vitoria pictured as a baby. Defying doctors predictions she started walking at 14 months and today even roller skates Ana Victoria pictured as a toddler with her mum Viviane. When she was born doctors told her family she would never be able to walk, but she has surpassed all expectations. Model scouts said they were blown away by 'how natural she was in front of the camera and how her personality shone through with her smile' Show organiser and BM Model's Agency boss Creusa Rodrigues, said: 'When I saw Ana Victoria's photos I was blown away at how natural she was in front of the camera and how her personality shone through with her smile. She shows, with simplicity, a beauty in her disability and why we should not judge. 'I signed her up straight away. I'm aiming to get her on television and bookings for magazine and poster ads.' Cruesa added: 'I saw the potential in Ana Victoria as soon as I met her. 'I have decided to put her name forward for the Rio Fashion week as I believe she will be the stand-out star in the parade if she is chosen to take part.' According to the World Health Organisation, children born with a head size of 32cm or less suffer mild to severe symptoms of microcephaly and other health complications She is the first person in the world with microcephaly to be signed-up as a model Ana Victoria's mum was invited to send in her daughter's portfolio after fashion scouts spotted her pictures online At least 50 designers will be showcasing their work at this year's event and 20 models with disabilities will be selected to wear their creations. Mother-of-three, Viviane, said: 'Ana Victoria is an amazing young girl. When she was born, her little body was so rigid and doctors said she would never have the flexibility to walk. 'Today she loves to dance and has the rhythm and fluidity of a normal healthy person. She is forever strutting along an imaginary catwalk in the front room. So, I organised a special photo session in a studio as a treat for her eighteenth birthday which is next month.' Friends donated their services for free to do Ana Victoria's hair and make-up for the shoot, giving her designer clothes to wear and taking the photos. 'She was so excited. She posed up a storm and kept on saying how much she loved it and wanted to do it again and again. Now it looks like she will be able to live her dream,' said Viviane, who also has a younger daughter with microcephaly. Ana Victoria was born with a head circumference of 30.5cm and her 15-year-old sister Maria Luiza had a head measurement of 27.5cm at birth. Ana Victoria was born with a head circumference of 30.5cm and her 15-year-old sister Maria Luiza had a head measurement of 27.5cm at birth Ana Victoria, 17, pictured left with her 15 year old sister Maria Luiza who also suffers from the condition, hopes to inspire other children with the 'shrunken head' syndrome According to the World Health Organisation, children born with a head size of 32cm or less suffer mild to severe symptoms of microcephaly and other health complications. Ana Victoria's breakthrough step towards the fashion runway comes as Brazil continues to deal with the aftermath of the devastating microcephaly outbreak which has been linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Since 2015 the South American nation has had 2,289 confirmed cases of babies with microcephaly with a further 3,144 under investigation. Ana Victoria and Maria Luizas's microcephaly is not Zika related but was caused by a genetic defect at birth. Ana Victoria Lago, with her 15-year-old sister Maria Luiza (left) and her 10-year-old half sister Julia Fernanda Ana Victoria is set to join a small band of catwalk pioneers, such as Madeline Stuart, 20, from Australia and American-born Jamie Brewer, 32, who both have Down Syndrome Viviane, whose third daughter, Julia Fernanda, 10, was born healthy following her second marriage, said: 'I was 18 when I had Ana Victoria and doctors said she would be in a wheelchair all her life, she wouldn't talk and her motor skills would be severely compromised.' Physicians also predicted the same crippling disabilities for Maria Luiza. But Viviane said as a teenage mum she 'was too young and naive to fully understand the implications of what was ahead' and refused to believe the doctors' prognosis. Instead she set about stimulating her children's movements. Physiotherapy and speech therapy are essential for babies with microcephaly as this helps promote valuable life-long learning skills. Viviane set up a self-help support group, Maes do Anjos Unidos, two years ago, and shares her experiences online with over 300 mothers of children with microcephaly Ana Victoria's microcephaly is not Zika related but was caused by a genetic defect at birth Viviane said: 'Every time I bathed my baby daughters I stimulated their muscles, massaging their limbs and stretching out and moving their little arms and legs in the water. 'When I was breast-feeding, I got them to feed by tickling their feet with a feather. It sounds simple but these activities contributed to 60 per cent of what my daughters can do today. Ana Victoria started walking at 14 months and today she even roller skates.' With the shocking spike in the numbers of babies born with microcephaly in Brazil, Viviane set up a self-help support group, Maes do Anjos Unidos, two years ago, and shares her experiences online with over 300 mothers of children with microcephaly. Ana Victoria's breakthrough comes as Brazil continues to deal with the aftermath of the devastating microcephaly outbreak which has been linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus Doctors predicted that Ana Victoria would be in a wheelchair all her life, that she wouldn't talk and her motor skills would be severely compromised, but she has surpassed expectations Ana Victoria pictured with her mum Viviane, her half sister Julia Fernanda, 10, who was born healthy following Viviane's second marriage, stepdad Carlos, and sister Maria Luiza She said: 'I never imagined that Ana Victoria would become a runway model and role model. But throughout her life she has proved to everyone that microcephaly is not a death sentence.' Ana Victoria is set to join a small international band of catwalk pioneers, such as Madeline Stuart, 20, from Australia and American-born Jamie Brewer, 32, who both have Down Syndrome. They have been pushing back the frontiers in the fashion industry and modelling since 2015 as they lead the fight for social inclusion. Viviane her said: 'Ana Victoria is really looking forward to a new chapter in her life that will bring her respect and recognition as a normal member of society. 'I believe she will make a real mark in the modelling world because of her beautifully infectious and unforgettable personality,' the proud mum said. For further information or to book Ana Victoria contact Revista Beleza Manauara. The Senate's top Democrat on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick of avoiding answering questions 'like the plague' and dodging efforts to gauge his judicial independence during a meeting that deepened his concerns about the nominee. Neil Gorsuch, the federal appeals court judge from Colorado who the Republican president nominated last week to a lifetime job on the high court, met privately with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York as he continues to try to build support for his confirmation by the Senate. 'I thought there was a deliberate strategy to duck the hard questions. And he has an obligation to answer them, not simply to the Senate but to the American people,' Schumer told reporters afterward, referring to Gorsuch. Question time: Neil Gorsuch (right) met Senator Chuck Schumer at his Washington D.C. office in the Capitol to press his case for confirmation. But Schumer seemed unimpressed No answers: Schumer said Gorsuch declined to answer questions such as whether a ban on Muslim immigration would be constitutional Schumer said Gorsuch declined to answer questions such as whether a ban on Muslim immigration would be constitutional or comment on what is known as the Emoluments Clause in the U.S. Constitution that bars officeholders from accepting money from foreign powers. Supreme Court nominees routinely avoid weighing in on pending legal disputes they could end up casting a vote on if confirmed to the job. But Schumer said he was seeking Gorsuch's views on broader principles, rather than specific cases, that he believed a nominee should be able to answer. 'The judge today avoided answers like the plague,' Schumer told reporters. Schumer said Trump is testing the fundamental underpinnings of U.S. democracy and its institutions. 'These times deserve answers, and Judge Gorsuch did not provide them. I have serious serious concerns about this nominee,' said Schumer, who added that he had not yet made up his mind on whether or not to support Gorsuch. The shorthanded Supreme Court currently has four liberals and four conservatives, meaning Gorsuch's confirmation would reinstate a conservative majority. Trump's fellow Republicans control the Senate 52-48 but Schumer insisted that Gorsuch would need to win 60 votes, rather than a simple majority, to move toward confirmation. Democrats can seek to use a procedural maneuver to block a confirmation vote if Gorsuch's supporters cannot muster 60 votes, although Republicans could change the Senate rules. Schumer's questions to Gorsuch followed Trump's directive to temporarily ban people from seven Muslim-majority countries and any refugees from entering the United States. The ban, which Trump said was needed to protect the United States from Islamist militants, was suspended by a federal judge, pending an appeal by the Trump administration. Warmer reception: Ben Sasse, the Republican senator from Nebraska, said of the Democratic delegation: 'If they keep working to paint Judge Gorsuch as a mouth-breathing bald eagle hunter, they'll embarrass themselves.' His questions about the Emoluments Clause come in light of a lawsuit filed by ethics lawyers accusing Trump of allowing his businesses to accept payments from foreign governments, which is prohibited under that constitutional provision. Democrats argued that it is more important than ever for a Supreme Court nominee to demonstrate judicial independence, citing Trump's harsh criticism of federal judges who have issued rulings against him. But Republicans belittled Democratic efforts to discredit Gorsuch. 'If they keep working to paint Judge Gorsuch as a mouth-breathing bald eagle hunter, they'll embarrass themselves,' said Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who also met with Gorsuch on Tuesday. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah told Reuters the Democratic questioning of the nominee's potential independence 'flies in the face of everything I know about Judge Gorsuch.' Lee described Gorsuch is 'fair, decent, impartial.' President Donald Trump's alarming messages about the 'peril' the country is in and the terror attacks he says are going unnoticed are not meant to strike 'fear' in the hearts of Americans, the White House says. The president just wants Americans to know that he's a step ahead of the terrorists. 'He wants to become ever-vigilant, so we don't ever get lax,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday. 'We need to be reminded that ISIS and groups like ISIS continue to seek to do us harm and that it is his job as commander-in-chief to do everything he can to get ahead of the curve and keep this country safe.' Scroll down for video President Donald Trump's alarming messages about the 'peril' the country is in and the terror attacks he says are going unnoticed are not meant to strike 'fear' in the hearts of Americans, the White House says An attack could be imminent, President Donald Trump stressed, urging a federal court in this tweet to lift an injunction on his seven-nation travel ban Trump told the troops yesterday that that terror attacks are happening all over Europe but the media is ignoring them. He suggested in a Monday night tweet that the United States is next. An attack could be imminent, he stressed, urging a federal court in his message to lift an injunction on his seven-nation travel ban. 'The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is very real, just look at what is happening in Europe and the Middle-East. Courts must act fast!' he said. Trump said in previous tweets that Americans should blame the federal judge, James Robart, who ordered the stay if anything does happen. 'Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!' Another tweet said, 'The judge opens up our country to potential terrorists and others that do not have our best interests at heart. Bad people are very happy!' The president had previously blasted Robart as a 'so-called judge' and accused him of issuing a 'ridiculous' opinion. The White House says it's confident Robart's ruling will be overturned. Robart's injunction could be removed as soon as tomorrow. The Ninth Circuit Court heard arguments from two states and the Department of Justice today. The president just wants Americans to know that he's a step ahead of the terrorists. 'He wants to become ever-vigilant, so we don't ever get lax,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday Trump's spokesman said Tuesday afternoon, during his daily press briefing, that the president wants to ensure that an attack doesn't happen, and 'we're not looking back and saying, you know what we should have done, we should have had stricter vetting in place from those seven countries.' 'He took immediate and decisive action to make sure this country and its people are protected. That's what he's talking about. Is making sure we don't have a regret that a month from now, two months from now a year from now we haven't done something to protect people,' Spicer said. The White House official told a reporter asking about Trump's dire warnings 'there's a big difference' between what the president said in his messages and and how they, and his speech to the troops, are being interpreted. 'I think the point that he was making was not to put fear in anybody, but to reassure them, that as President of the United States he is taking every single step to do what he has to to get ahead of the concern so we're not looking in the rear-view mirror saying what should we have done,' he said. Anna Nicole Smiths mother warned her daughter to be wary of those around her, months before she overdosed on a cocktail of prescription drugs. Virgie Arthur, 65, spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com in a poignant interview on the tenth anniversary of her daughters death. She recalled the wild antics of her beautiful, funny child, who she calls by her birth name Vickie Lynn, and who she believes the world never really knew. The grandmother broke down as she spoke of the devastating loss of Smiths son, Daniel, who also died of a drug overdose five months before his mother. The 20-year-old overdosed on drugs in Smiths hospital room in the Bahamas while visiting after she had given birth to his half-sister, Dannielynn. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Virgie Arthur, 65, spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com in a poignant interview on the tenth anniversary of her daughters death. She recalled the wild antics of Anna Nicole, who she calls by her birth name Vickie Lynn, and who she believes the world never really knew Arthur's last visit with her granddaughter Dannielynn - Smith's second and only surviving child was in 2010 Arthur remains suspicious about her grandsons death and said it led her to warn her daughter about the entourage she had surrounded herself with. I told Vickie Lynn, Something has happened to Danny and you should be very careful about yourself, Arthur told DailyMail.com. It doesnt seem right that a 20-year-old would die. Danny did not do drugs but they found enough drugs in him to kill ten people. So how does that happen? If he had done drugs, you would see that on TV, it would be some news especially about her child. But you never saw that. Arthur finds it hard to believe that a decade has passed since both their deaths. Ill be crying all day, she said, speaking of of tenth anniversary of Anna Nicole's passing. I cry on Dannys death day and I cry on Vickies death day. It is very hard and it brings up such terrible, terrible memories of her death and what happened to her. Virgie Arthur smooches up granddaughter Dannielynn in 2010 She was very young, very beautiful and very funny when she was Vickie Lynn. People wont know her as Vickie Lynn like we do. Her family knows her because they were raised with her. Other people dont, they just know her as Anna Nicole. Vickie Lynn was a great kid and now shes gone. She added: People say that you get over it but you never get over it. You never forget and you never get over it. God just makes a way for you to accept it. I was totally devastated. My little Danny. Totally devastated. No one has been charged with Dannys death nor her death. Nobody. Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28, 1967 in Houston, Texas and her parents divorced before her second birthday. Her mother remarried and she grew up with five half-siblings in the small oil and gas town of Mexia, near Dallas. She dropped out of high school in sophomore year and took a job as a cook at a fried chicken shop where she met her first husband, Billy Wayne Smith. Her mother said that her daughter was mad because at first Smith showed no interest in her. He was a sweet young man, very timid and shy, Arthur said. It made her mad because he didnt pay attention to her. She told me, Im going to get that boy, just watch, hes going to marry me. Anna Nicole marrying her first husband, Billy Wayne Smith, before a justice of the peace at his mothers home in Texas. The couple met while working at a fried chicken shop as teenagers and later had a son, Daniel Anna Nicole while pregnant with Daniel. For the first six years of his life, he was raised by his grandmother, Virgie Arthur Arthur said: 'They got a little house behind the chicken place. I called down to check on her and she was huffing and puffing like shed been running. I asked her what was wrong and she said, Momma, me and Billy are trying to have us a baby."' When Smith's son Daniel was six months old, she got tired of working a job at Red Lobster and got a stripping gig at the Executive Suite in Houston - much to the chagrin of her police officer mother who was forced to drag her from the club And I said, Why? Because he doesnt pay you any attention? and she said, Thats right. A few months later, they got married. The newlyweds had Daniel in 1986, and her mother recalled being a little more involved than she wanted to be in the family planning. They got a little house behind the chicken place. I called down to check on her and she was huffing and puffing like shed been running, Arthur said. I asked her what was wrong and she said, Momma, me and Billy are trying to have us a baby. And I said, Oh god, dont tell me anymore, just dont answer the phone, Ill call back. When Daniel was six months old, Smith tired of working a job at Red Lobster and got a stripping gig at the Executive Suite in Houston much to the chagrin of her police officer mother who was forced to drag her from the club. [My partner and I] went over to the Executive Suite and the manager walked over when he saw us in there in uniform, Arthur said. I was adjusting my eyes to see if I could see her. Sure enough, there she was with her G-string on in some mans face, dancing. I said, Thats my daughter and I want her out of here and I want her out now. If you ever hire her again...Ill come through here and check your liquor license every night. He put her out and shut the door. She was so mad. I said, Vickie Lynn, youre not going to do that kind of work. Youre supposed to be working at Red Lobster. She said, Momma, I know you dont understand this but I work at Red Lobster all night long and my back and my feet are killing me. I can go work at the Executive Suite one night and make $1,000 dollars. I said youre not going to be working at no Executive Suite as long as Im a cop. The next morning, she packed her stuff and said she was leaving, one of the girls was going to let her stay. I asked, what about Danny? She said, You keep him, you take care of him. Daniel grew up in rural Texas, as his mother shot to stardom as a Playboy centerfold Anna Nicole Smith and her son Daniel in the 1990s. He died aged 20 in her hospital room But until he was six years old, Daniel was taken care of by Arthur while Smith left and worked as a stripper, trying to become famous She longed to be taken seriously as an actress but she was pigeon-holed in small roles as the ditzy blonde in comedies like Naked Gun 331/2: The Final Insult Three days after she gave birth to her daughter, Dannielynn Danny died in her hospital room of a drug overdose. His grandmother says he was never known to do drugs. Those close to Smith believe she spiralled out of control with prescription drugs following her beloved sons death Arthur looked after Danny for the next six years until Smiths career took off. She got her big break in 1992, after sending naked pictures to Playboy magazine. She was featured on the cover and became Playmate of the Year in 1993. She went on to model for Guess Jeans where her striking resemblance to Fifties star Jayne Mansfield made advertisers take notice. It led to a modelling contract for H&M and magazine spreads in Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harpers Bazaar. She longed to be taken seriously as an actress but she was pigeon-holed in small roles as the ditzy blonde in comedies like Naked Gun 331/2: The Final Insult. Smith found the notoriety she desired when in 1991, she met octogenarian billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall while performing at a Houston strip club and embarked on a relationship with him while still married. Her mother described Marshall as a sweetheart but admitted that she was shocked by the age difference. One time, when we all went to dinner together at his club, he said to me, You dont have to worry about Vickie Lynn or Danny, I will take care of them for their whole lives. He was in a wheelchair and he was really old. Vickie and I went to the bathroom, and I said Vickie, how old is that man? and she told me. She said, But momma he helps me. Smith divorced her first husband in 1993 and a year later, she married Marshall. She was 26 and he was 89. Her name became synonymous with gold-digger but the Playboy pin-up insisted that she had married Marshall for love. Smith found the notoriety she desired when in 1991, she met octogenarian billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall while performing at a Houston strip club and embarked on a relationship with him - while still married She told talk show host Larry King: I wasnt physically, Oh my God, you hot, hot body, you know like that. I was just - I love him for so much of what he did for me and my son. I mean, I just loved him Ive never had love like that before' Arthur describes how when she was a cop she found her daughter at the Executive Suite in Houston with her G-string on in some mans face, dancing In the late 90's, after Marshall's death, Smith was a tabloid staple due to her wild lifestyle and a red-carpet favorite with her buxom blonde looks, low-cut dresses and penchant for flashing paparazzi The model posing in lingerie in one of her many raunchy photos. Smith finally found fame when she sent naked pictures of herself to Playboy in the early 90's and went on to be featured on the cover and be Playmate of the Year in 1993 She told talk show host Larry King: I wasnt physically, Oh my God, you hot, hot body, you know like that. I was just - I love him for so much of what he did for me and my son. I mean, I just loved him - Ive never had love like that before. The couple reportedly never consummated the marriage but a set of exclusive images shared with DailyMail.com revealed the bond between them. In one image, Smith, wearing a gold bikini, and her son Daniel cuddle up to Marshall who is lying in a hospital bed. In another, Smith and Marshall are pictured fishing on a riverbank. After 13 months of marriage, Marshall died of natural causes in August 1995. Smith embarked on a lengthy legal battle against Marshalls family to access his estate, claiming that her late husband had orally promised her half of his wealth. The case continued beyond her death but was eventually thrown out. In the late 90's, Smith was a tabloid staple due to her wild lifestyle and a red-carpet favorite with her buxom blonde looks, low-cut dresses and penchant for flashing paparazzi. In the early 2000s, her reality series, The Anna Nicole Show, launched on the E! Network but was canceled after two seasons in 2003 due to declining viewership. Smiths drug use spiraled out of control and her mother believes the celebrity persona of Anna Nicole began to take over. She had a big problem with drugs and the more she took, the more she wanted, Arthur said. You could tell the difference between Anna Nicole and Vickie Lynn. Anna was very mean, I dont know how to explain her. On drugs, she was a terrible person to be around. She added: It was hard to approve of anything Vickie did because she was so different from any of my other children. She didnt explain things well, I couldnt understand being naked and throwing yourself at men. Arthur once confronted her daughter over the outlandish stories she told about her apparent penniless upbringing. She said, Momma, please try and understand. I want to make money and I want to be noticed. So these stories that I tell, momma, but its not about you, its about me. Arthur laughed as she recalled one particular story that Smith had told where she claimed that she was raised by her aunt in Mexia, Texas and they were so poor they had to steal toilet paper from gas stations. She said, Momma, the worse the story, the more pitiful the story, the more money I make. Smith had a slew of various cosmetic surgeries, including lip augmentation, a breast lift, a facelift, liposuction and a tummy tuck. Here she is recuperating from lipo Her liposuction procedure looked especially painful, with gauze taped to her back and blood staining her clothes and mattress Anna Nicole Smith on a modelling shoot in the 1990s. 'I can be good and still make money but Ill make much more money if Im bad,' Smith reportedly told her mother I can be good and still make money but Ill make much more money if Im bad. If things are pitiful, Ill make a whole lot more money than I would if it was a normal life like Ive had. Nobody wants to hear about a normal life, marrying a millionaire. But a dirt-poor, pitiful child, that now momma, is a story. Dont take it so hard that Im doing this. Its not about you, this is my life and I want to live it. Arthur denied that she and her daughter were estranged in the years before she died. We were never estranged, I didnt even know that word until I heard it on TV, Arthur said. She always called, she might not have come to see me but she called and she wrote me letters, she sent me pictures of her and Danny. I went down there and visited her a couple of times in California. Smith announced she was pregnant in 2006, kicking off a paternity battle when four of her alleged lovers came forward claiming they could be the father: Smiths boyfriend, photographer Larry Birkhead; her lawyer Howard K Stern; a previous boyfriend Mark Hatten and, most bizarrely, Zsa Gabors husband Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, who claimed to have had a ten-year affair with her. A lot of men stood up and said it could have been theirs, her mother said. While pregnant, Smith moved to the Bahamas with Birkhead, her entourage and her lawyer and later partner Howard K. Stern. She exchanged vows with Stern at a commitment ceremony in the Caribbean. Smith gave birth to daughter Dannielynn on September 7, 2006. Arthur said: She was a beautiful little girl and Vickie always wanted a girl. When Danny was born, she was a little disappointed because he wasnt a girl. She had a big problem with drugs and the more she took, the more she wanted, Arthur said. You could tell the difference between Anna Nicole and Vickie Lynn. Anna was very mean, I dont know how to explain her. On drugs, she was a terrible person to be around' Smith and her ex-convict, bodyguard lover Pierre DeJean. In 1995, she took a restraining order against him claiming he had threatened to kill her She wanted a girl that she could dress up in the finest clothes and teach her how to be a girl. For years she bought clothes, pacifiers, hairbrushes and bottles. She had a whole chest she put that stuff in for when she had a little girl. Her mother added: I have a letter she wrote me, saying One day Im just going to have sex with somebody and Im going to have me a baby girl. I wont tell them that Im pregnant and theyll never know and then Ill just have my little baby girl. It wasnt long after that she called and said she was pregnant. Three days after Dannielynn's birth, Smiths happiness was destroyed by the shocking death of her 20-year-old son Daniel who died in her hospital room. The 20-year-old suffered an accidental overdose of methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro. During his funeral, a distraught Smith even tried to jump in his coffin. Many of those close to her believe that her beloved sons death set her on a disastrous path of unfettered drug use. In early February 2007, she checked into the Hard Rock hotel in Seminole, Florida. She was suffering from stomach flu and fever brought on by a pus-filled infection on her buttocks from repeated injection of other drugs. On February 8, she was found unconscious in her room. Her staff gave her CPR and dramatic footage, shown here, was taken of last moments as paramedics continued to work on her as they wheeled her to an ambulance. She was pronounced dead in the hospital that afternoon. She was 39. Three days after her daughter Dannielynn's birth in 2006, Smiths happiness was destroyed by the shocking death of her 20-year-old son Daniel who died in her hospital room Months later, Smith checked into the Hard Rock hotel in Seminole, Florida and was found unconscious in her room. She later died in the hospital and was buried in the Bahamas. Her mother bemoan the fact she was not buried near her home in Texas Arthur found out about her daughters death on TV while recuperating from an illness at home. I was recovering from an aneurysm and I still didnt have all my senses correctly, she said. When I saw it on TV that she had died, I couldnt believe it. I didnt want to believe it. My husband and son came running in to keep me from seeing it but I had already seen it. I said, its a lie. It didnt really happen. It didnt. Dannys gone and now Vickies gone? And I told her to be ever so careful about her friends that were about her - because they are not all friends. Arthur immediately flew to the Bahamas because she was worried for her granddaughters safety. I was scared to death that Dannielynn would be the next one that died. I was scared to death so I went to the Bahamas to see if there was any way I could stop it and it not happen to her, she said. Smiths cause of death was found to be combined drug intoxication of at least nine prescription drugs including the powerful sleeping medication chloral hydrate. Police found no apparent signs of foul play, and the medical examiner also ruled Smiths death probably was not a suicide because people who take their own lives typically use much more lethal drugs than chloral hydrate. The stars sudden death rocked the world of showbiz and sparked conspiracy theories. Photographer Larry Birkhead was found to be Dannielynns father after a DNA test. She now lives with him full-time. The two are pictured here last May Arthur says that although Birkhead has called to tell her about her granddaughter and sent pictures, she has been unable to see her. She begged Birkhead to allow Smiths family to build relationships with the ten-year-old Various court cases followed her death as those close to her battled over her burial place and the paternity of her daughter. Smith was buried in the Bahamas next to Daniel against her familys wishes. I wanted her to come home to Texas where she belonged, her mother said. This was her home, this was where she was from and this was where Danny was from and they both needed to be buried together in Texas. She added: I didnt understand why she had to be buried in the Bahamas. Nobody can afford to go over there. My family most of them dont have passports to go over there. So how can we visit with her and sit and cry and understand what in the world could have happened? There are strangers paying to look at her grave but none of her family can go look at her grave. In a dispute with Stern, photographer Larry Birkhead was found to be Dannielynns father thanks to a DNA test. At the time of the birth, Smith had insisted the child's father was Stern and had his name placed on the birth certificate. Birkhead took Dannielynn to live with him in Louisville, Kentucky where he raises her alone. Arthur says that although Birkhead has called to tell her about her granddaughter and sent pictures, she has been unable to see her. She begged Birkhead to allow Smiths family to build relationships with the ten-year-old, who she hasn't seen since 2010. Arthur made an impassioned plea to her granddaughter: Dannielynn - meemaw loves you with all her heart. You have a lot of your momma in you and you have a lot of family here in Texas - uncles and aunts and cousins that youve never got to see' She said: I want to be part of Dannielynns life. She is my daughters child and the only one left in that line of lives. Vickies daddy is dead, her husband is dead and her first husband is dead, his parents are dead. They have all passed away. [Dannielynn] never has got to know any of them. Its not fair to her not to know her mothers side of the family. She told Birkhead: She needs to know and one day, she will. One day, you will have problems with her and shell find where were at and she will come to find us to talk about her mother. Thats something you need to know, one day, shell come look for her mothers people. Although youve never let us be a part of her life, were still here. And one day she will come to find us. She added: Vickie Lynn was very curious and Dannielynn will be too. Every daughter wants to know their mother. Birkhead told Inside Edition last week that he had no rift with Arthur. He said: 'Ive never talked about that before, but I get hurt by that headline. Annas mom has seen Dannielynn, shes seen her a few times. I say that only because I want the story to stop. 'If Annas mom wants to see Dannielynn, she knows how to get a hold of me and she can call me anytime.' Arthur is desperate to share memories with Dannielynn of how much her mother loved her. I would tell her how much I love her and how much her mother loved her even before she was born, Arthur said. She bought her clothes and toys and anything that a little baby girl could wear, she had it. She anticipated having that baby. The grandmother appealed to her granddaughter directly. Dannielynn - meemaw loves you with all her heart. You have a lot of your momma in you and you have a lot of family here in Texas - uncles and aunts and cousins that youve never got to see. I hope that one day you will come find us, baby, and you can see how your momma lived and what fun she was. You can meet her brother, David, and her other brother, Donald Jr, and see what a great family she has. And thats who she grew up with. Crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie is set to reignite the debate on banning the burqa, after she hoped to introduce legislation to imprison parents for 'forcing' children to wear the face covering. Senator Lambie has given notice she will move to introduce a private bill on Wednesday prohibiting full face coverings in public places. Her move echoes a similar ban in 2014, proposing fines of up to $68,000 for anyone unlawfully wearing identity concealing garments in public. Scroll down for video Crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie (pictured) is set to reignite the debate on banning the burqa She hoped to introduce legislation to imprison parents for 'forcing' children to wear the face covering in 2014 (Pictured during an TV interview at the time) The controversial draft Private Members bill was submitted by the senator three years ago. It would have seen adults who 'forced' children to wear a burqa in public receive fines of up to $68,000 and face 12 months in prison. Fines of $34,000 or six months in prison would have been imposed for 'forcing' and adult to wear the covering. In the 2014 bill, the Crossbench senator wrote: 'For basic security reasons and the need for assimilation, identity-concealing garments should not be allowed in Australian public or Parliament house.' She proposed that on the spot fines should be issued to members of the public who breach the laws. The draft Private Members bill submitted by the senator (pictured in the Senate at Parliament House in 2016) three years ago would have seen adults who 'forced' children to wear a burqa in public receive fines of up to $68,000 In the 2014 bill, the Crossbench senator wrote: 'For basic security reasons and the need for assimilation, identity-concealing garments should not be allowed in Australian public or Parliament house' She said the only exception for wearing facial coverings was in private places of worship, for reasons of anonymity and on health or professional grounds 'Any person who is deemed by a police officer to have worn any identity concealing garments in public unlawfully, will be issued with an on the spot fine or charged with an offence which carries a maximum fine of $3,400,' she said. Ms Lambie added that the system would be 'very simple and similar to way traffic infringements are handled by police'. She said the only exception for wearing facial coverings was in private places of worship, for reasons of anonymity and on health or professional grounds. Australia's peak halal certifier is suing a former Senate candidate for defamation after she suggested it was funding terrorism. Australian Liberty Alliance campaigner Kirralie Smith has made a series of videos for the anti-Islam Q Society alleging the halal certification of foods had funded religious and extremist activity. This has angered Halal Certification Authority president Mohamed El-Mouelhy who launched legal proceedings against the Q Society in January 2015. Scroll down for video Halal Certification Authority president Mohamed El-Mouelhy is suing the Q Society over online videos it says implied it funded terrorism Kirralie Smith (centre) was an Australian Liberty Alliance Senate candidate last year and is being sued over videos she made for the anti-Islam Q Society The New South Wales Supreme Court case is beginning later this month against Ms Smith, who has received support from right-wing federal politicians Cory Bernardi and George Christensen. But Mr El-Mouelhy declined to confirm if the money from certifying food funded mosques or education programs. 'What I do with my money is my business,' he told the ABC's 7.30 programme on Tuesday. 'The same like everybody supports their own faith so why is supporting my faith wrong and supporting other faiths is right?' Kirralie Smith in a video for the Q Society which is the subject of the legal proceedings Ms Smith, who ran as a New South Wales Senate candidate last year for the Australian Liberty Alliance, said most halal-certified foods were not clearly labelled and consumers could be unwittingly supporting Islam. 'It's the certification, the fees, where they go, who is benefiting from these things and whether consumers need to be a part of that process or not,' the founder of the Halal Choices website said. Slater and Gordon lawyer Jeremy Zimet said the case would test how defamation laws applied to online content. 'What he does take issue with is the fact that she refers to instances of him being suspected of engaging with terrorist organisations,' he said. 'There are consequences for posting publications online whether it's on social media or review sites and at the extreme end of those consequences is court.' Slater and Gordon lawyer Jeremy Zimet said the case would test potential online defamation National Party MP George Christensen (left) will speak at a fundraiser for Kirralie Smith (right) Mr Christensen, a National Party MP from Queensland, will speak at a fundraiser for Ms Smith to cover her court costs. 'I'm backing Kirralie Smith because she is raising legitimate concerns that many members of the public share around halal certification, what the money behind halal certification actually goes to,' he said. Former Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson, who ran as Ms Smith's running mate at last year's federal election, said the case was about free speech. The legal proceedings were against Ms Smith, a farmer from Northern NSW, and Q Society national president Debbie Robinson and fellow board members Peter Callaghan and Ralf Schumann. Western Sydney is bracing for what could be the hottest three February days on record as temperatures are expected to reach a sizzling 46C. A heatwave will bring 'exceptionally hot' temperatures to New South Wales from Friday until Sunday in what meteorologists say is the 'final big hurrah for heat in the Sydney area'. It follows two days of intense thunderstorms and downpours with 85mm of rain recorded in inner Sydney in 24 hours, Weatherzone Meteorologist Rob Sharp told Daily Mail Australia. Scroll down for video Temperatures may rise above 45C in western Sydney this weekend as a heatwave is expected to set a new record for the hottest three days in February ever on recorded Sydney temperatures will begin to climb into the late 20s on Thursday before reaching 35 in the city and at least 43 in the western suburbs on Friday Meteorologists said temperatures on Saturday could rise above 46 in Richmond and Penrith - breaking at least 20-year-old records Rainfall will begin to clear on Wednesday night, making way for temperatures to climb into the late 20s on Thursday before reaching 35C in the city and at least 43C in the western suburbs on Friday. Mr Sharp said there is a good chance temperatures in Richmond and Penrith will break records during the heatwave. 'For Richmond the current record is 43.7C and Penrith is 45C. The current forecasts are for 43C on Friday and Saturday but on Saturday in particular we believe it could be a hotter than that,' Mr Sharp said. The records for Richmond and Penrith were set in 1977 and 2004, respectively. 'The three day run from Friday to Sunday for western Sydney is likely to be the hottest three consecutive days in February on record,' Mr Sharp said. 'It's not the hottest summer run on record, although that cannot be ruled out yet.' Weather tracker Higgins Storm Chasing called the impending heatwave 'hell on earth in Australia.' 'It's not the hottest summer run on record, although that cannot be ruled out yet,' Meteorologist Rob Sharp said Meteorologists said the heatwave is the 'final big hurrah for heat in the Sydney area' Weather tracker Higgins Storm Chasing called the impending heatwave 'hell on earth in Australia' It follows an intense two days of thunderstorms and destructive downpours, during which the inner city saw 85 millimetres of rain in 24 hours The heatwave will bring warmer temperatures to South Australia and Victoria first on Wednesday and Thursday, before it moves north to NSW. 'Today and tomorrow in Adelaide are both likely to get over 40C and that heat will linger around, but sea breezes will cool it off a little bit on Friday and the change will arrive during the day on Saturday,' Mr Sharp said. Melbourne will temperatures of 34C on Wednesday and 37C on Thursday. A cool change will arrive in Sydney on Sunday and push the heatwave into western Queensland, Mr Sharp said. 'Once we get past Sunday the worst of summer is definitely gone,' he said. It comes as Sydneysiders are mopping-up after half a month's worth of rain pelted the city in one day, with the SES responding to 250 calls. Sydneysiders are mopping-up after half a month's worth of rain pelted the city in one day Floodwaters at Randwick tunnel (pictured) after unprecedented rain fell across Sydney on Tuesday Sydney's inner city received the most rain earlier in the week More rain is expected in the city on Wednesday with showers easing through the day, but Wollongong could be hit by thunderstorms during the morning, according to the weather bureau. Overnight the Illawarra region copped the heaviest rainfalls, with the SES carrying out two flood rescues in the area with people trapped in cars. Since 8pm on Tuesday the SES has received 80 calls for help around the area after more 120mm of rain fell in the past 24 hours. Sydney was pelted with rain on Tuesday morning, with the inner-west suburb of Marrickville receiving 53mm of rain falling in just one hour between 10am and 11am as the storm cell hit. Group of women protect themselves from the rain under colourful ponchos during Sydney's wet weather on Tuesday Cars are pictured engulfed in flood waters during the unprecedented rain episode A white and black car are seen sitting in floodwaters which engulfed parts of Sydney on Tuesday A drain gave way on Crown Street in Surry Hills on Tuesday, trapping a car's tyre and causing traffic chaos Tuesday's showers measured half the average rainfall for February. The SES carried out 19 flood rescues mainly in Sydney's innerwest and received 250 calls for help, a spokeswoman said. Flooding was also reported in Penrith, Parramatta, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Port Kembla and inner-city suburbs. Cars were engulfed in the floodwaters and homes were damaged after the heavy downpour collapsed roofs. Four more retailers have dumped Ivanka Trump's fashion brand just days after it was dropped by Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus following an online boycott started in response to her father's election victory. The first daughter was seen taking a phone call on Tuesday at the White House as she held her 10-month-old son Theodore, while her husband, Jared Kushner, accompanied President Donald Trump to a listening session. Following Nordstrom's lead, Belk, Jet and ShopStyle have washed their hands of the first daughter's fashion line following the widespread #GrabYourWallet campaign to boycott businesses the Trump family profits from. Nordstrom denied partisanship in the decision to drop Ivanka's brand, insisting the move was made as a result of poor sales months after it was hit by the grassroots boycott started by a marketing specialist and a grandmother. Scroll down for video Ivanka Trump shared a sweet photo of her and her 10-month-old son at the White House on Instagram as more retailers dumped her fashion brand after it was dropped by Nordstrom Following Nordstrom's lead, Belk, Jet and ShopStyle have washed their hands of the first daughter's fashion line following the widespread #GrabYourWallet campaign The Grab Your Wallet campaign was launched on October 11 by Shannon Coulter and Sue Atencio after they 'simultaneously realized they could no longer in good conscience shop at retailers that do business with the Trump family'. The campaign compiled a list of businesses that sell Trump family goods. The extensive list also includes companies that advertise on Celebrity Apprentice or executives that have raised money for the president. The campaign name was direct reference to the president's infamous 'grab them by the p***y' remark from a 2005 leaked audio tape that led to numerous allegations of sexual assault. In November, Nordstrom responded to a shopper's letter calling for the company to stop selling the brand, tweeting: 'We hope that offering a vendor's products isn't misunderstood as us taking a political position; we're not.' ShopStyle no longer showed any of Ivanka's items for sale as of Tuesday. A representative from Belk also said their removal of the merchandise was based on 'the performance of the brands we carry' Jet has also stopped selling Ivanka's fashion line and her father's Success fragrance (pictured). However, the company is still selling pro-President Trump merchandise Nordstrom said the cut was based on the 'brand's performance' and that they decided 'not to buy it for this season' By Thursday evening, Nordstrom had completely taken off the first daughter's merchandise from their website (above) A representative from Belk told the site that their removal of the merchandise was based on 'the performance of the brands we carry'. Jet has also stopped selling Ivanka's fashion line and her father's Success fragrance. However, the company is still selling pro-President Trump merchandise. On Tuesday, Ivanka shared a sweet photo of her and her son Theodore on Instagram as she held him while on the phone at the White House. 'Taking a call in the White House with my personal assistant Theodore,' she wrote in the caption of the photo. An adorable Theodore appeared to be flashing a wide smile as his mother handled business. The photo was captured just a day after it was revealed that Nordstrom presidents, Peter, Erik and Black Nordstrom, sent an email criticizing President Trump's ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations entering the US. The Seattle-based retailer were among the first to announce that they would no longer carry Ivanka's line of clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories. That decision was due to poor sales of Ivanka's merchandise they said at the time. Meanwhile, Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, was spotted hurrying from the family's home Tuesday morning to attend a listening session at the White House Kushner, who is the senior White House adviser, accompanied Trump to a listening session in which the president met with county sheriffs Meanwhile, Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, was spotted hurrying from the family's home Tuesday morning to attend a listening session at the White House alongside his father-in-law and president, Trump. Kushner, who is the senior White House adviser, accompanied the president to the session in which Trump met with county sheriffs in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. The Trump administration returned to court on Tuesday to argue it has broad authority over national security and to demand reinstatement of a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries that stranded refugees. Justice Department attorneys made the case for Trump's contested travel ban to be reinstated, in a high-stakes hearing before a federal court of appeal in California. The Trump administration returned to court Tuesday to demand reinstatement of its travel ban on 7 Muslim-majority countries that stranded refugees The latest twist in the legal showdown comes four days after a federal judge suspended Trump's decree, opening US borders back up to refugees and travelers from the seven mostly-Muslim nations it targeted. Three judges from the appellate court in San Francisco began hearing an hour of oral arguments to determine whether to lift the injunction, or uphold it. A court spokesman said a ruling would likely come later this week. Trump's January 27 executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. The White House defends the decree as essential for national security, giving the new administration time to beef up vetting procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the country. An eight-year-old girl who broke her neck in a quad bike crash was sent home from hospital with painkillers by doctors who failed to notice her horror injuries. Ava Amato was seriously injured when she came off the quad bike in Cervantes, Western Australia, last month and was driven 200km to a hospital in Perth. Ava, whose neck was kept in a head brace in the back of an ambulance, was given an x-ray at Joondalup Hospital but was astonishingly sent home with Panadol and Nurofen. The little girl's neck was broken in four places but doctors told her family that she just had 'muscle damage', her mother Nicole Amato said. Scroll down for video Ava Amato broke her neck in a quad bike crash but was sent home from hospital with painkillers by doctors who failed to notice her injuries Ava was seriously injured when she came off the quad bike in Cervantes, Western Australia, last month and was driven 200km to a hospital in Perth 'They pretty much said they couldn't find anything in the x-ray that would alarm them,' Mrs Amato told 7 News. It was only two days later that a consultant radiologist phoned the family and told them to return to the hospital urgently. The Amatos rushed Ava back to the ward, where they were told she had broken four fractured vertebrae and a severed ligament in her neck. 'I was a mess, I was angry, I was sad. If she had any more trauma to her neck she could have potentially ended up in a wheelchair,' Mrs Amato said. 'If someone comes in with spinal damage it needs to be (diagnosed) straight away, not two days later.' Joondalup Hospital wrote to the family explaining that Ava was sent home because she had not consciousness and her helmet was not broken. Ava's neck was broken in four places but doctors told her family that she just had 'muscle damage', her mother Nicole Amato said. Ava is pictured with her father and the helmet she was wearing A hospital spokesman insisted that 'multiple' doctors studied Ava's x-ray, but the family claims no radiologist was on hand to assess the scan. The hospital has apologised for 'the distress this has caused', but said 'this was a complex and unusual case'. Ava was discharged from Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday following spinal surgery and is now recovering. A Joondalup Health Campus spokeswoman said: 'The hospital apologises again for the distress this has caused the family. We invited them to meet with the hospital's Director of Medical Services, although this offer was declined. 'This was a complex and unusual case, with the injury particularly hard to detect in the initial x-ray, which was assessed by multiple emergency doctors, including the most senior on duty. 'As a result of this case, the hospital is reviewing its procedures around spinal injury imaging.' A Western Australian man has made a desperate plea to help find his missing wedding ring after he severed his finger on a razor wire while trying to sneak into a nightclub. Busselton man, David, told the Bunbury Mail had his finger sliced off when he tried to jump the outer wall of a licensed Bunbury venue on Friday night for a thrill. 'It wasn't until I got out that my friends came up and said 'here's your finger mate' and handed me my ring finger but minus my wedding ring,' he told the Mail. David's wedding ring (pictured) was lost when he had his finger severed on a razor wire The owner of the nightclub told the Mail that they weren't aware of the situation until thirty minutes later when David's friends returned looking for the lost ring. David, who is recently married, said he had done the act many times before and accepted responsibility for the incident. 'It really wasn't about trying cheating them out of money, I'd have spent over a $100 with them at the bar that night,' he said. 'I just did something for fun that I've done a million times, and it went very wrong.' The Busselton man tried to jump the outer wall of a licensed Bunbury venue on Friday night for a thrill when the accident happened David is now appealing to the public to help him find his ring and return it to him or hand it into the police. 'I hadn't done anything like this since I got married and the finger wasn't able to be reattached,' he said. 'But I'm not so concerned with the finger, I'd just like my wedding ring back.' Organisers of a controversial Islamic conference in Melbourne have sparked outrage for publishing a promotional flyer with the faces of female speakers blacked out. Australian Islamic Peace Conference planners came under fire for putting out the flyer advertising speakers at their conference to be held next month. The pamphlet featured the often smiling faces of 12 male speakers, including controversial Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman and prominent community spokesman Keysar Trad. But critics were furious the faces of three female speakers - psychologist Monique Toohey, social worker Nina Trad Azam and Islamic teacher Umm Jamaal ud-Din - had been replaced with shadowy veils. 'It's backwards and inappropriate,' said a person with knowledge of the conference planning. The faces of psychologist Monique Toohey, social worker Nina Trad Azam and Islamic teacher Umm Jamaal ud-Din were each blanked out in the promotional flyer 'These are knowledgeable and professional women - this reduces them to faceless beings'. The source said some prominent Islamic women in Melbourne had protested the flyer to organisers. Several people in the Islamic community were scathing in their criticism on Facebook. 'When Muslim women are made further invisible by our community bloody oathe,' wrote psychologist Hanan Dover. 'This flyer is wrong on so many levels,' said another Facebook commenter. A third said: 'This is unbelievable'. A spokesman for organisers the Islamic Research and Education Academy (IREA) apologised for the upset the 'faceless' flyer had caused. Wasseem Razvi told Daily Mail Australia they had been trying to protect the women from right-wing extremism. 'Muslim women are particularly (being) humiliated and targeted in our streets, threatened and abused on social media,' he said. 'Due to the growing Islamophobia our campaign team wanted to be extra cautious with female guests so they wouldn't be targeted in the streets.' So the organisation decided to put their first flyer out without images of the female speakers. 'We didn't want to make it so easy for them to get abused,' Mr Razvi said. Mr Razvi said the organisers apologised if people believed the poster had been inappropriate. 'We apologise for that, we never wanted anybody to feel this was inappropriate.' He said the women had since given their permission for their pictures to be put in campaign posters in the future and they were forthcoming. In a statement, Mr Razvi added: 'IREA would like to assure the community of the respectful nature of the event and its organisers. The faces of Monique Toohey (left) and social worker Nina Trad Azam (right) were inexplicably not included in the poster - instead replaced with blacked-out faces in veils 'Indeed, IREA welcomes any members of the community who may have misgivings or misunderstandings about Islam, Muslims or even this event to attend any relevant session and seek clarification from the many qualified Islamic & faith speakers present. 'As with all of IREAs events, the conference is being held in good faith and with genuine intentions. 'All are welcome to attend, and we look forward to greeting you on the day. ' Ms Azam and Ms Toohey declined to comment. Umm Jamaal ud-Din was also approached for comment on Wednesday. A man has been caught keeping a snake as a pet while imprisoned in a maximum security prison. The carpet python was discovered slithering in the exercise yard of Woodford Correctional Centre, where he was adopted by the inmate. The reptile was kept 'for a period of time' by the inmate before he was discovered by prison officers on Tuesday. This carpet python was discovered slithering in the exercise yard of Woodford Correctional centre, where he was adopted as a pet by an inmate Snake Catcher Lewis said the discovery 'was not your average call out'. 'Nothing dramatic really happened, the Sunshine Coast snake catcher told Daily Mail Australia. 'The officer met me out the front with it [the snake] already secured inside a pillow case. 'The inmate came clean about the animal before the officers started a cell check.' Lewis wasn't sure how long the snake was kept as a pet, but guessed it was 'not long as the snake was still in great condition'. The carpet python, also known as a carpet snake, was released into some nearby bushland after his time in prison. The species is non-venomous and found throughout northern, eastern and southern Australia. The reptile was kept 'for a period of time' by the inmate before he was discovered by prison officers at the centre on Tuesday The carpet python, also known as a carpet snake, was released into some nearby bushland after his time in prison (stock image) A similar discovery was made in a Victoria jail in 2015. A deadly brown snake was discovered in a moving box during a Fulham Prison cell check in Victoria's south-east, before Christmas. The inmate also came across the reptile in the exercise yard and tried to keep it as a pet. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woodford Correctional Centre for commented. Two Afghan interpreters who worked alongside UK troops during the war have been murdered by the Taliban in the past few months, MPs heard yesterday. Interpreter Rafi Hottak told the Commons defence select committee that one translator was dragged from his car and shot twice by insurgents after being branded a spy. The other translator who risked his life to help British soldiers was killed after a UK unit set up to help desperate interpreters failed to answer his calls for help. Details of the horrific killings emerged as defence minister Mike Penning admitted Britains policy towards Afghan interpreters is not as generous as the US. Two Afghan interpreters who worked alongside British troops in Afghanistan have been killed by the Taliban (file picture) He also revealed that the UK is considering sending more troops back to Afghanistan, saying the war-torn country, including its capital Kabul, is still a very unstable situation. Nearly a dozen Afghan interpreters including at least three who face being deported back to Kabul attended the two-hour hearing into the UKs treatment of interpreters in London yesterday. MP Madeleine Moon, who sits on the committee, said: The war is still being fought and our presence still has serious repercussions for those that weve left behind. Committee chairman Dr Julian Lewis said it was quite extraordinary that only one interpreter had been allowed to settle in Britain under one Government scheme. He cited a disturbing report in the Daily Mail of an Afghan interpreter who had committed suicide because he faced deportation from the UK. He said he had been failed by Britain. Mr Hottak, who was blown up during the war and was forced to flee from Afghanistan, warned the group of cross-party MPs that interpreters faced being killed. Revealing the two deaths, he said: One was going from home to meet a relative. He was taken from the car and shot twice and they found his body a few weeks later. Another interpreter who made it to the UK, his brother, who was also an interpreter for the British forces, he has been killed. Questioned about the help given to interpreters by the UK Government, he criticised a unit that had been set up to examine claims of intimidation in the country. MPs have heard that the UK is 'not as generous' towards its interpreters as the US is. Pictured is a masked interpreter with Prince Harry in Afghanistan He said: The unit is so difficult to contact. The interpreter from Kandahar, this interpreter was attacked, his brother was killed. He couldnt contact the LSU [the Labour Support Unit], he tried to get hold of anybody in the LSU a number of times, nobody was answering. The LSU is a body concerned with the recruitment and retention of local people to support the Army, and deals with reports of intimidation. He said the Government policy of relocating interpreters to safe areas in Afghanistan was a failure. He added: A dead man is no good to anybody. They will be killed. The enemy looks at the interpreters as the eyes and ears of infidel forces. 'For an Afghan interpreter the risk is there until he is dead, killed by the Taliban, or he is moved to a safe location. The Daily Mails Betrayal of the Brave campaign to give sanctuary to the men who were the eyes and ears of UK frontline troops has revealed how interpreters have been targeted by the Taliban. A staggering 178,000 former generals, military commanders, MPs, soldiers and members of the public have signed a petition calling for interpreters to be given sanctuary in the UK. Defence Minister Mike Penning, pictured, has revealed Britain is considering sending more troops to Afghanistan Colonel Simon Diggins, the former British defence attache in Kabul who also gave evidence to the committee, said the UK policy towards interpreters was inadequate. He said: In my view it is in inadequate and it does not recognise the degree of danger that is there or the continuing threat in Kabul. He said there was an instance in July 2010 when an interpreter had three limbs blown off while he was on patrol with UK troops. Tory MP Dr Lewis expressed concern that interpreters were being left to twist in the wind as only one interpreter had been allowed to settle in the UK under one scheme. He said: It is the intimidation scheme that we are most worried about because our main concern has to be that people who helped us are now being left to dangle and twist in the wind. 'It is quite extraordinary that we have only allowed, apparently, a single person, and possibly his family, into the UK under the intimidation scheme. Some 300 Afghan personnel who worked with the British, and their 600 dependants, have been granted residency in the UK as part of a separate redundancy scheme. Minister Mr Penning described the security situation in Afghanistan as difficult, and joked that he was probably going to get shot for revealing more personnel may be sent there. He said: We have no plans to draw-down, actually there is a possibility that we might uplift because of what we are being asked to do. The current favourite to become the next president of France has been forced to deny rumours that he is enjoying an extra-marital gay affair with a high-profile media chief. Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old former economy minister, has been rumoured to be seeing Mathieu Gallet, the 40-year-old boss of Radio France. This is despite Mr Macron being married for the last decade to Brigitte Trogneux, who is 20 years older than him. French Presidential election favourite Emmanuel Macron, pictured, 39, has been forced to deny he is having a 'gay affair' Mr Macron, who was alleged to be having an affair with Radio France boss Mathieu Gallet, pictured, 40, said he had 'nothing to hide' Addressing the rumours head on during a presidential campaign rally on Monday night, Mr Macron said: I am who I am I have never had anything to hide. I hear people saying that I have a secret life or something. Its not nice for Brigitte. Because I share all my days and nights with her, she asks me how I manage it. On Sunday, Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of Mr Macrons rivals to become president in May, used a hologram of himself at a rally in Paris. Mr Macron said: If they say I have a double life with Mathieu Gallet, it must be my hologram, but it cant be me. The Russian state news agency Sputnik has made allegations that Mr Macron is backed by a homosexual lobby. They quoted French MP Nicolas Dhuicq, of the conservative Republican Party, saying: Concerning his private life, it is becoming known.He is supported by a rich, gay lobby. The interview has prompted fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to interfere in the French election. Mr Macron, right, has been married to Brigitte Trogneux, left, who is 20 years older than him, for a decade Putin is a friend of Francois Fillon, the conservative Republican candidate who is currently at the centre of sleaze allegations involving setting up fake jobs to family members, including his Welsh-born wife, Penelope. Mr Macron, who served in Frances current Socialist government, has become increasingly popular as the Fillon scandal deepens. He is now predicted to make the second round run-off against Marine Le Pen, of the far-right National Front, and then win by a landslide. The boyish Mr Macron has particular appeal to young people in France, who are impressed by his modern, anti-establishment image. He is a former tax inspector and Rothschild banker whose business activities saw him become a multi-millionaire. He met Ms Trogneux as a 15-year-old when she was his teacher at La Providence high school in Amiens, northern France. His parents tried to split the couple up, but they stayed together until he was 18, and they married in 2007. The couple now live with Ms Trogneuxs three children from a previous marriage. Miriam Durantez with her husband Nick Clegg. She has always used her maiden name Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, lawyer wife of former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, goes by her maiden name professionally and is a proud feminist. But she has publicly shamed the organisers of International Womens Day for having the temerity to send her a letter addressed to Mrs Clegg. Miriam, 48, was invited to take part in a Q&A session for the annual global day in early March, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. She posted a picture of the missive on social media with the withering caption: The irony of being invited to speak at an International Womens Day event to celebrate womens success addressed to me as Mrs Clegg. What makes the situation even more embarrassing is that this years special theme is a call to action for generating gender parity. The glamorous mother-of-three has complained in the past about being called Nick Cleggs missus. She shamed the organisers of International Women's Day for calling her Mrs Clegg, a name she has never used Its just not on, she has said. We are not defined by who we have married or who we sleep with. She also insisted on Spanish names for her children if they were to have the family name Clegg. Their three sons are called Miguel, Antonio and Alberto. A law graduate of the University of Valladolid, after a masters at the College of Europe in Bruges (where she met fellow student Clegg), Miriam worked for the EU for 12 years, first with Leon Brittan, then trade commissioner; later with Chris Patten, then EU external relations commissioner. She has often been compared with Cherie Blair. Both refused to give up a career in law to play political spouse, both are feminist, working mothers and Cherie also went by her maiden name, Booth, in her professional life. However Cherie was called Mrs Blair in her role as prime ministerial consort. Perhaps Miriam should take the matter up with International Women Days commercial partner, U.S. soft drinks giant Pepsico. Pepsico paid her husband 44,500 to make two speeches shortly after he resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, even though he had previously campaigned against junk food. Brexit minister David Jones, speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, referred to Deputy Speaker Natascha Engel as Miss Engels. Oops! Engels is, of course, the surname of 19th-century Marxist, Friedrich. The demure Natascha is a public school-educated Labour MP who once had her bottom pinched by a Tory knight of the backbenches. Kate Winslet is under fire for shooting her latest film in a hospital Winslet hit by hospital row Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet is under fire in Canada for shooting her new film, The Mountain Between Us, in a hospital. Photos taken the day after the production arrived appear to show patients waiting on beds in the hall of Port Moodys Eagle Ridge Hospital, some allegedly for up to 36 hours. The hospital has welcomed the film crew as a way to reinvest in our site and our staff members and insists patient care isnt being disrupted. I was quite honestly appalled, says Val Avery, president of Canadas Health Sciences Association union. Is that revenue stream worth it? It clearly is for Winslet. A timely visit for the Queen. She will be spending Valentines Day opening the National Cyber Security Centre in London. Perhaps David Beckham could go along to the Queen's Valentine's Day engagement, as she opens the National Cyber Security centre Perhaps David Beckham could be invited along? The former England captain has brought in lawyers over leaked emails that revealed his desperation to receive a knighthood from the Queen. The foul-mouthed peacock tried to help his cause by posting a stream of grovelling messages online to the monarch. A teenage marine animal trainer claims she was trolled online by Olympic silver medallist Taylor McKeown and called an 'animal user' for her work with dolphins - which saw the swimmer's animal activist followers bombard her with abuse. Xanthe King, 19, worked at Dolphin Marine Magic in Coffs Harbour, NSW for three years and helped care for and train the five bottle-nose dolphins born in captivity at the park. Although Ms King no longer works at the facility, McKeown made multiple comments on her Instagram account last month and told her she has 'no respect for animals'. The Olympic silver medal winner in the women's 4X100 medley relay is also known for her passionate activism against the slaughter of dolphins and whales - and even has a dolphin tattoo. 'Your work is a piece of s**t, I don't give a f**k about how you weigh fish and pretend you're doing the right thing. 3 years is f*** all experience and you're a joke,' McKeown wrote. Xanthe King, 19, (pictured) worked at Dolphin Marine Magic in Coffs Harbour, NSW for three years and helped care for and train the five bottle-nose dolphins McKeown (pictured), who is known for her passionate protests against dolphin and whale slaughter, contacted Ms King her through Instagram to say she was an 'animal user' 'Your work is a piece of s**t, I don't give a f*** about how you weight fish and pretend [sic] your doing the right thing,' McKeown wrote 'Mate, I have dignity for people who have respect, and you have no respect for animals therefore I have no respect for you. 'You're so sheltered into buying the whole bull**** the company sells you that you actually believe dolphins are ok in captivity'. Ms King told Daily Mail Australia she often receives abuse from protesters, but when McKeown told her tens of thousands of followers she had 'abused animal' she was viciously trolled. The 19-year-old said the Olympic swimmer started tagging her in her Instagram story and commenting on her photos, saying she was an 'animal user'. 'I messaged her to ask her to stop harassing me but she kept tagging me incessantly and all her followers were doing it too,' Ms King said. When she sent messages to McKeown telling her to stop the abuse, she called the teenager a 'hypocrite' and denied bullying her. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, McKeown said she had 'done nothing wrong'. Ms King told Daily Mail Australia she often receives abuse from protesters, but when McKeown 'used her tens of thousands of followers to call her out' she was viciously trolled Screenshots of private messages between the pair show McKeown denying she had 'bullied' the teenager and calling her a 'hypocrite' The 19-year-old said the Olympic swimmer started tagging her in her Instagram story (pictured) and commenting on her photos, saying she was an 'animal user' McKeown, a passionate advocate for marine animal freedom, said dolphins at the marine park in Coffs Harbour are essentially held as 'prisoners' for tourist pleasure Ms King left the park after three years to pursue a university degree, but said she would happily return to Dolphin Marine Magic, despite the trolling 'If you don't want your name to be on the internet, don't have social media and furthermore don't have your profile on public,' McKeown said 'If you don't want your name to be on the internet, don't have social media and furthermore don't have your profile on public,' the swimmer said. 'I targeted (employees) because they need to know what they are doing. 'They are supporting animal cruelty! And it's my job as a role model to speak out when something isn't right, and what they do to those dolphins isn't right'. Ms King said the trolling from animal activists continued for several weeks until she put her Instagram on private to avoid further public comments. Over the past three years, Dolphin Marine Magic has been slammed by conservationists, who claim the five captive dolphins are overworked and unfairly forced to 'kiss' visitors. Activists are furious that Bucky, one of the six dolphins who is still alive at the park according to its website, is still forced to perform, despite being 47 years old. But CEO of Dolphin Marine Magic, Paige Sinclair, said the animals 'need enrichment'. 'The work that they do is what gives our guests the greatest pleasure; the ability to inspect, connect and touch and then possibly change their behaviour at their homes when they go home,' she said. McKeown, a passionate advocate for marine animal freedom, said dolphins at the marine park in Coffs Harbour are essentially held as 'prisoners' for tourist pleasure. 'I targeted (employees) because they need to know what they are doing,' McKeown said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia Pictured are posts made on Ms King's photos from Taylor McKeown's Instagram account McKeown (pictured) said dolphins at the marine park in Coffs Harbour are essentially held as 'prisoners' for tourist pleasure McKeown is known for being passionate about marine animals and even has a dolphin tattoo 'The science demonstrates that dolphins suffer stress, anxiety and early death in captivity,' she said. 'They display behaviours such as chewing on parts of the tank, circling, aggression towards humans and other dolphins, beaching themselves and logging, all of which aren't displayed in the wild'. Ms King said she has been attacked by protesters on many occasions, the worst ending in rocks being hurled at her and human faeces smeared over her car in the shape of a dolphin. She told Daily Mail Australia despite what the animal activists believe, the dolphins are 'happy' in their home at the North Coast marine park. Ms King left the park after three years to pursue a university degree, but said she would happily return to Dolphin Marine Magic, despite the trolling. 'The harassment never made me want to leave it just made me more passionate about educating these people about how we do treat the dolphins at the park,' she said. McKeown (second from left) won a silver medal 4x100 medley relay at the Rio Games Ms King was trolled online after McKeown called her an 'animal user' and a 'joke' Over the past three years, Dolphin Marine Magic has been slammed by conservationists claiming the five captive dolphins are overworked and unfairly forced to 'kiss' visitors. The parents of a teen who was beaten to death during a meeting at a secretive cult-like 'church' were sentenced to prison for their role in his death. Bruce and Deborah Leonard, members of a small cultish 'church' in a rural part of New Hartford, near Syracuse, New York, were sentenced to ten and five years in prison respectively in Oneida County Court on Monday, according to CBS News. Their sentences were part of a plea deal. Bruce had his sentence reduced by a judge from 16 years after entering an emotional speech in which he said he was a 'changed man' who had been under the mind control of the church's cult-like tactics. 'Theres no way I would ever condone that. No way I would ever go along with it,' he said of the beatings that resulted in one son's death and another's severe injury, according to the Rome Sentinel. Bruce Leonard, 66, and his wife Deborah, 60, were sentenced to 10 and five years in prison respectively in the death of their teenage son, Lucas, who died during a 'church counseling session' Teen brothers Lucas, left, and Christopher, right, were beaten for hours during a supposed 'church meeting' that ended with Lucas dying and Christopher severely injured Daughter Kristel pleaded for leniency for her father, saying he was controlled by the church. The judge, County Court Judge Michael L. Dwyer, didn't reduce Deborah's agreed-upon five year sentence, saying he felt she was 'still brainwashed' by the church. Bruce, 66, and Deborah, 60, had been charged with first-degree manslaughter, kidnapping, assault and gang assault for the attacks on Lucas Leonard, 19, and his 17-year-old brother, Christopher, who was severely injured during what was described as a gang attack on the brothers during an emergency church meeting on October 11 and 12, 2015. The Word of Life religious sect in New Hartford was the site of the beating death of Lucas Leonard, and the severe beating of his brother, Christopher, in October 2015 Bruce and Deborah Leonard were arraigned in October 2015 in Oneida County Court (left to right) Also arraigned in 2015 were Sarah Ferguson, Linda Morey, Joseph Irwin, and David Morey The attack lasted over 12 hours, testified Christopher Leonard, according to the New York Times. The meeting had been called because Lucas wanted to leave the church, which at its peak had about 40 members but was currently down to about 20, reports the outlet. Christopher Leonard testified that he was beaten with fists and whipped with an electrical cord over his torso and genitals. He said he was then taken to a side room and had his ears blocked with ear plugs and ear muffs. Also arrested: David Morey, 26, and Joseph Irwin, 26, son of the founder, Jerry Linda Morey, 54, and Sarah Ferguson, 33, were also arrested: Ferguson is the half-sister of Lucas and Christopher He said when he was finally released he saw his brother lying on the church sanctuary floor, not breathing. Christopher and another church member drove Lucas to the hospital around noon, where he was later pronounced dead. His injuries were so severe that, at first, cops thought he'd been shot. Pastor Tiffanie Irwin, above, took a plea deal and was sentenced to 12 years in prison - cops say she convinced church members she could personally speak to God Also arrested were church members David Morey, 26, of Utica; Linda Morey, 54, of Utica; Sarah Ferguson, 33, who is the brothers' half-sister; Tiffanie Irwin, who is the pastor, and Joseph Irwin, 26, who lived in the church building and is the son of the church's founder, Jerry Irwin, who died in 2012. His widow, Traci, is said to be the church's leader. The pair bred and sold Yorkie puppies, according to the Times. Church members tried to say the beatings were in retaliation for the brothers 'practicing witchcraft' and molesting younger members of the church, something the police say was made up by members, according to the Times. Seven children under the age of 15 were taken from the church and placed in foster care. Linda and David Morey pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January. They were sentenced to five years each, according to WKTV. Sarah Ferguson was sentenced to 25 years to life in September, according to Syracuse.com. She did not enter a plea deal and was found guilty of first-degree assault and two counts of gang assault. In December, pastor Tiffanie Irwin was sentenced to 12 years and Joseph Irwin to eight. Several family members testified that Tiffanie Irwin used 'mind control' on them. She had convinced members she could personally speak to God, said police, according to Utica Observer-Dispatch. Traci and Daniel Irwin were sentenced to one and two years respectively. A young Queensland mother who killed her seven-week-old daughter will be sentenced in April after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Michelle Catherine Leask, 24, appeared at a brief hearing at the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday morning. 'Guilty, you honour', she calmly said when arraigned over the April 2012 death of her baby, Lili Cataldo. Michelle Catherine Leask pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her seven-week-old baby A charge of murder was withdrawn following the plea. Leask left court holding the hand of a young man and did not comment. Lili sustained severe head injuries, broken ribs and a fractured arm up to 10 days before she was taken to Redcliffe Hospital where she died. Leask's then-partner and Lili's father, Rick Cataldo, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year and is yet to be sentenced. Police believe she was injured at the former couple's home in Deception Bay. Leask left court on Wednesday morning holding the hand of a young man and didn't comment She calmly said 'guilty, you honour,' when arraigned over the April 2012 death of her baby A murder charge was withdrawn following the plea and she is to be sentenced at a later date Black, bank robber-style beanies and caps are being handed out in a bid to protect Australia from terror threats. Public servants in Canberra are giving away head wear to promote a national security hotline. This includes black, bank robber-style beanies emblazoned with an Australian Border Force number to report suspicious behaviour. Public servants are handing out these black beanies to promote national security Caps are also being handed out to inform the public about the national security hotline Taxpayers have also forked out $16,790 to promote border security. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection defended the spending to promote its Australian Border Force agency, which is charged with watching Australia's airports and wharves. 'The distribution of promotional material ... is part of a broader communication strategy for "Border Watch" - a key ABF initiative that encourages industry stakeholders and community members to report suspicious behaviour or activities that support detection and seizure of prohibited weapons and goods,' it said. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's department in Canberra ordered 1,000 acrylic beanies for $6,350 and 1,500 cotton caps with a velcro strap for $10,440. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's department ordered 1,000 beanies and 1,500 caps Tasmanian Labor senator Catryna Bilyk asked the department questions last year in a Senate hearing. In 2002, the Howard government distributed fridge magnets with the slogan, 'Be Alert, but not alarmed' to promote its national security campaign. Armed policeman gather near Martin Place in Sydney in December 2014 during the Lindt Cafe siege Former Royal Logistics Corps officer Peter Atilla is accused of raping a woman after returning from a tour in Afghanistan. He says he was asleep A soldier who served alongside the SAS is accused of rape but claims he was sleepwalking at the time and can't remember having sex. Peter Atilla, 46, denies attacking the woman ex-soldier the day he got back from six months in Afghanistan. A court heard the munitions expert told police: 'I have a bad recollection of it - maybe I was sleepwalking.' The pair already knew each other and agreed to spend the night together on his return to the UK. Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas said: 'She said he could sleep in her bed and was happy to have a cuddle. 'But she made it clear they were not going to have sex. She fell asleep with Atilla cuddled up behind her. 'She was woken and realised she was naked with Atilla on top of her. His eyes were open, he was biting his lower lip and he was sweating.' The jury heard the soldier had managed to remove the woman's pyjamas and have sex without her waking up. Dr Chris Idzikowski, a consultant psychiatrist, today explained Atilla could have been suffering from parasomnia - defined as unwanted behaviour during sleep. He said one if the symptoms of parasomnia is sexsomnia, a type of 'confusional arousal' which can lead to sexual behaviour from a person while in deep sleep. The court heard Atilla had just returned from a warzone and was drinking heavily Dr Idzikowski said Atilla, who had served 'with distinction' in the First Gulf War, Kosovo, Iraq as well as Afghanistan, may have been triggered by something as simple as a 'sound' while he was laying next to the woman. He admitted the evidence the disorder did in fact lead to Atilla having sex with the woman while asleep was 'weak'. But he said he could 'not exclude' it from being possible. Dr Idzikowski said: 'If he arrived back in action mode it's potentially something that would come through in his sleep. 'I've experience of other soldiers coming back off tour and experiencing things such as untoward behaviour (while asleep). Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard yesterday that the victim went to police three years later after the alleged rape brought back memories of her being sexually abused as a child. Mr Thomas said: 'Atilla was arrested and raised the issue of whether he's been sleeping at the time. Sleepwalking is really a very weak assertion in this case. 'He told police: 'If she said it happened, it happened, but I can't remember'.' He claimed he raped the female ex-soldier in his sleep and had no memory of it The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said in a police interview: 'I woke up to see him looking down at me like he was doing press-ups. I was so shocked, it felt like hours but it was seconds.' Before the sex attack, Atilla told the woman he was suffering from combat stress from his experiences in Afghanistan. She told the jury: 'He had just flown back from six months with the SAS. He came back angry and was drinking and smoking heavily.' When she confronted Atilla the next day he told her: 'I was asleep, I don't remember any of it.' She told the jury: 'I felt like I was a piece of scum.' Atilla - of Northampton - denies rape. The trial is ongoing. Pictured: Stock photo of a soldier Atilla, of Northampton, spent 26 years in the Army and saw action in both Gulf wars, Iraq and Kosovo. The Warrant Officer left the regular Army in 2006 but stayed on as a reservist, volunteering to go on secondment with the SAS to Afghanistan at the end of 2012. He denies the rape and the trial continues. Nicola Blackwood (pictured) said tackling Britain's addiction to sugar will require a revolution and generational change Britain is suffering from a sugar addiction that will require a revolution to break, the public health minister warned last night. Nicola Blackwood, who is in charge of the Governments childhood obesity strategy, said British childrens consumption of sugary food and soft drinks is among the highest in Europe. We have developed in the UK an addiction to sugar, she told the Commons Health Committee. But she said tackling it will require a revolution and generational change that cannot be achieved by the Government alone. During a fiery hearing, MPs on the select committee demanded to know why the long-awaited obesity strategy had been watered down before it was announced last summer. They asked why a planned ban on junk food advertising before 9pm had been shelved, and why stronger rules forcing companies to reduce sugar had not been introduced. Labour MP Luciana Berger said: Why didnt you fight harder to ensure we had the best possible obesity strategy for the future of our country? We are not going in the right direction, our children are getting bigger. Mrs Blackwood insisted the current strategy is one to be proud of, with firms asked to reduce sugar by 20 per cent by 2020 and a sugar tax planned for soft drinks. We should be very proud of what we have done as a country, she said. No country elsewhere has come up with a reformulation plan like we have, no other country has introduced a producer-led tax like we have. This is genuinely a world-leading programme. We do recognise it has taken generations to build up the obesity challenge which we face in the UK - that is why this is the beginning of the conversation, not the end. Labours Heidi Alexander said in most shops people feel surrounded by offers on cheap sweets and confectionery. She added: For people to say that were moving in the right direction doesnt feel that way at all. Labour's Heidi Alexander said people are surrounded by cheap sweets and sugary products Mrs Blackwood said the sugar tax and sugar-reductions targets will effectively reduce the intake of soft drinks and sugar, which is among the highest intake of anywhere in Europe for our children in the UK. She added: But we have developed in the UK an addiction to sugar. When I look at this as a minister, I know there is no way I am going to achieve this as a Government top-down strategy imposed on everyone. The only way we are going to achieve this is by partnership working, between Government and industry and schools and health select committee working together to try to deliver this. It is genuinely a generation change we are after, I hope this is the beginning of a revolutionary change. But it is a large-scale change we are after. Professor Paul Dobson of the University of East Anglia, also addressing the committee, poured scorn on the voluntary nature of the strategy. Those measures will fail, he said. They will fail because they are not targeted, they are relying on one-to-one agreements over it as opposed to industry requirement to do it. There is no stick here. What is the threat if you dont comply? Public health experts last night called for the Government to go further. I dont want us to have the same relationship with food in ten years time as we have now Nicola Blackwood, Public Health Minister Professor Russell Viner, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, commenting after the hearing, said: With one in five 5-year olds and one in three 10-year olds overweight or obese in the UK, and the figures showing no signs of improving, tackling childhood obesity has never been more urgent. It was encouraging to see robust questioning by committee members on the lack of new marketing restrictions in the plan a glaring omission. We want to see a ban on all advertising of junk food and drink prior to the 9pm watershed, not just those programmes targeted at children. Mrs Blackwood added: I want us to break our addiction to sugar and high-calorie foods. I dont want us to have the same relationship with food in ten years time as we have now. I hope this obesity strategy is our first step on breaking that addictive relationship we have with high-sugar, fatty, high-calorie foods. A real estate developer who demolished the Minnesota home of the man who killed Jacob Wettlerling in 1989 says he is giving the vacant lot to the city of Annandale. Developer Tim Thone said Tuesday the city has agreed not to develop the quarter-acre lot for at least a decade. He stipulated that any proceeds from the sale of the land be donated to the Annandale Police Department. Real estate developer Tim Thone (pictured) bought and demolished the Minnesota home once owned by the man who killed 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling, whose 1989 disappearance haunted Minnesota for nearly three decades. The lot, now empty, has been gifted to the city Danny Heinrich (left) led authorities to the field where he buried Jacob's remains. Heinrich later admitted to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing the boy (right) The cost to buy and demolish the house was $74,000. Mr Thone believes it is great value In December, Thone bought Danny Heinrich's former home in Annandale, about 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis, so he could destroy it. In total, it cost about $74,000 but Thone believes the effort was worth it. 'We don't want a memorial on this site. We don't want an ice cream parlor or a park with somebodys name on it. 'We want the memory of the predator not to be there,' he told TwinCities.com. Late last year, Jerry and Patty Wetterling found peace in their lives after the mystery to their son's kidnapping and murder was finally solved This October 2015 photo shows the home of Danny Heinrich in Annandale, Minnesota although the house plot of land is now completely bare The home of Jacob Wetterling's pedophile killer was torn down in Annandale, Minnesota, at the end of last year Jacob's mother Patty was among those who watched the property be destroyed last December. She is pictured above with property developer Tim Thorne (right) who bought it then demolished it Mrs Wetterling celebrated in the crowd as the house was torn down 27 years after she last saw her son Last September, Heinrich admitted to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing the 11-year-old boy and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child pornography. As part of his plea bargain, prosecutors agreed not to charge Heinrich with murder. Thone tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press he hopes donating the land will help the Wetterling family deal with the crime. Thone said the idea came to him last December as he watched a news story about the case that broke open when Heinrich led authorities to the field where he buried Jacob's remains. The news report included a brief shot of Heinrich's house, which was up for sale. Thone said the house reminded him of the emotional scars left by the case. 'I thought, 'That house just can't be there,'' he said. Investigators found the site where 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted in 1989 and buried. The authorities dug for evidence in 2010, pictured This photo shows the area where 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted in October 1989 Thorn and his wife were young parents when Jacob was snatched from his bike by a masked gunman and disappeared. 'After that, we didn't let them play in the front yard,' he said of his four children. 'As parents, and as Minnesotans, it had a profound effect.' Jacob's 1989 abduction led his parents to launch a national center to prevent child exploitation. Chairman Meg Hillier urged ministers to do more to show the value for money of schemes to cut greenhouse gases Rampant green subsidies have sent household energy bills rocketing, MPs said last night. Ministers significantly underestimated how much investment in wind farms and solar panels would cost landing consumers with higher bills. The failure means the subsidies add at least 110 a year to the average household dual-fuel bill 17 more than expected. In a damning report, MPs on the public accounts committee found the Governments management of the subsidies suffered from a lack of transparency, rigour and accountability. The cross-party panel said problems with forecasting the cost of the schemes resulted from a culture of optimism bias in Whitehall. Chairman Meg Hillier urged ministers to do more to show the value for money of schemes to cut greenhouse gases. She added: Bill-payers deserve to know whether or not the energy schemes they fund represent good value. The Government expects the cost of levies to continue to bust the budget meaning customers will pay more than expected. This is a result of poor forecasting and further evidence of excessive optimism in the implementation of energy policy. Government must take action to address this and also ensure customers can see clearly what they are paying towards existing and future schemes through their bills. Environmental schemes are funded through levies on energy companies and are ultimately paid for by consumers through their bills. Ministers had promised to cap the amount they spent on schemes to cut greenhouse gas emissions to ensure families did not end up paying too much. MPs on the committee criticised Whitehalls running of the levy control framework, which sets yearly caps on estimated costs for the renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs and other schemes. But because of poor financial forecasting the cap has never been met. Last year the National Audit Office found that ministers had rushed to give long-term subsidies to wind farms when the cost of electricity from them was high. Whitehall also underestimated how much electricity would come from wind turbines. The spending watchdog said it would have been more cost effective if the Government had delayed spending on the schemes which have swallowed up billions of pounds in subsidies because electricity costs from wind farms have fallen over the past year. The levy control framework was set up by the Tory-LibDem Coalition to limit the amount spent on wind and solar power that could be added to customers bills. The cap is 7.6billion. But the NAO expects the schemes to exceed the cap and cost 8.7billion by 2021. This is equivalent to 110 around 11 per cent added to the typical household dual-fuel energy bill in 2020, 17 more than if the schemes stayed within the cap. The committee said a Government review of the levy control framework should act to stop it becoming increasingly ineffective at controlling costs to consumers. In July 2014, Government agreed to provide Parliament with an annual report on the impact of policies on energy bills, but has not done so since 2014, the MPs report said. Environmental schemes are funded through levies on energy companies and are ultimately paid for by consumers through their bills. David Cameron supported the subsidies as part of his attempt to burnish his green legacy. But even he tired of the environmental agenda after a while, telling his ministers in private to get rid of the green c**p. Last month Theresa May signalled her intention to slash the subsidies. Her industrial strategy suggested that they should be reduced to help steel plants compete overseas. This help for industry would have the knock-on effect of bringing household bills down. The subsidies have paid for a massive increase in the number of solar panels on peoples roofs. Many farmers have turned over entire fields to the panels. They also subsidise inland or offshore wind farms. Last year, geographer Nicholas Crane argued that Britains green spaces had been massively degraded by the proliferation of wind farms and solar panels. The University of Sydney has sparked outrage among students after offering a scholarship that gives preference to male applicants. The university last week announced a new $27,000 scholarship for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students. Veterinary students received an email advertising The Professor Marsh Edwards AO Scholarship which reads: 'Preference will be given to applicants who are male.' The university last week announced a new $27,000 scholarship (pictured) for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students The University of Sydney (stock image pictured) has sparked outrage among students after offering a scholarship that gives preference to male applicants Veterinary students received an email advertising The Professor Marsh Edwards AO Scholarship (pictured) The eligibility requirements of the scholarship horrified female recipients and prompted a response from student group The University of Sydney Women's Collective. A female Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked upon reading the email. 'When I read the scholarship, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought it had to be a mistake,' she said. 'It makes me think that they care more about money than my right to equal opportunities.' The University of Sydney Women's Collective is calling on the university to remove 'male' from the eligibility requirements and send a clear message to all students that 'sexism and discrimination on campus is unacceptable'. University of Sydney Students' Representative Council co-women's officer Imogen Grant said there was 'no excuse for the university to be complacent about discrimination.' 'Making gender a deciding factor between applicants illustrates a woman's right to an education is not as important as her male counterparts,' she said. The eligibility requirements of the scholarship horrified female recipients and prompted a response from student group The University of Sydney Women's Collective (Facebook) Sydney University has (stock image pictured) been slammed after offering scholarship giving preference to male students 'The fact that the university has no problem with offering a scholarship that excludes women calls into question whether they are truly committed to combating sexism on campus.' The University of Sydney told Daily Mail Australia, the scholarship includes preferences requested by the donor, Marcia Edwards who is Professor Marshall Edward's wife. 'The terms of the scholarship, which are to support students to undertake studies at the University of Sydney in the field of veterinary science, include a preference, requested by the donor, that the scholarship recipients be from rural or regional areas, male, interested in large animal practice and intending to work in rural veterinary sciences,' the university said. 'Of this year's graduate entry for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students over 90 percent of the intake is expected to be female. This is a trend seen over the past five years along with an increasing trend away from rural practice. 'Female applicants are eligible and a high level of academic achievement and merit will be important considerations in the awarding of the scholarship.' Britain could reap a Brexit dividend of up to 8billion, experts suggested yesterday. In its annual Green Budget, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned Brexit could have a negative impact on the economy - depending on the trade deal the UK secures with Brussels. But it also pointed towards a significant potential boost for the public finances. It said that if Britain were to leave the EU and cease all contributions overnight, the government would have around 13.4billion extra to spend. Britain could reap a Brexit dividend of up to 8billion, experts suggested yesterday (stock photo) Ministers have suggested many of the programmes funded by the EU - such as agriculture payments - are likely to continue in the short term. But even after those are subtracted, ministers would still be left with around 8billion extra, the IFS suggested. Thomas Pope, Research Economist at the IFS said: 'There is actually one quite positive risk on the spending front. 'The current forecasts assumes that when we stop making the EU contribution we will continue to spend all that money elsewhere in the public sector. 'However, we could replace all the EU funding that currently takes place in the UK and still have about 8bn left over which we could use to reduce the deficit.' During the referendum campaign, the official Vote Leave campaign suggested there would be 350million more every week to spend once Britain left the EU. That is the equivalent of around 18billion a year. A dividend of 8bn would equate to around 150m a week. Theresa May (pictured) indicated in her Brexit speech that significant contributions to the EU will not go on post Brexit Theresa May indicated in her Brexit speech that significant contributions to the EU will not go on post Brexit. However, ministers have said spending on individual EU programmes - such as Europol, the policing agency, or research , will continue after we leave. There is also likely to be a Brexit 'bill' to cover future costs such as pensions liabilities. Senior EU figures have demanded 50 billion - a number dismissed as 'absurd' by cabinet minister Liam Fox. During the referendum campaign the IFS was accused of supporting 'Project Fear' after suggesting Brexit could extend austerity by two years. The 'Green Budget' stated: 'It is quite possible that the government will choose to spend less than 13.4 billion not least because the UK pays more into the EU budget than the EU spends in the UK so there is some upside risk here. In recent years, the amount the UK contributes to the EU budget, net of both the rebate and the spending done by the EU in the UK, has been running at about 8 billion a year.' Health authorities are urging residents to watch for measles symptoms after a young adult with the disease frequented Sydney hot spots. The young adult visited popular spots in Sydney's CBD, inner west and Baulkham Hills while infectious. The sufferer contracted the disease overseas but did not become infectious until returning to Sydney. The young adult visited popular spots in Sydney's CBD, inner west and Baulkham Hills while infectious (stock image of Pitt Street) Popular shopping centres Norton Plaza in Leichhardt and Stockland Mall in Baulkham Hills were visited at the end of January and early February. The young adult later went to a food court in Martin Place, burger joint Mary's in Newtown, the University of Sydney and PACT centre for emerging artists in Erskineville. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases NSW Health, said the person frequently used inner west train services and travelled on buses between Town Hall and Baulkham Hills. The sufferer was unknowingly infectious. AREAS FREQUENTED WHILE INFECTIOUS The measles case was infectious while visiting the following locations in Sydney between 31 January and 4 February: Norton Plaza, Leichhardt 31 Jan Stockland Mall, Baulkham Hills 1 Feb Martin Place food court 2 Feb Mary's (restaurant and bar) Newtown 2 Feb (evening) University of Sydney 3 Feb PACT centre for emerging artists Erskineville 4 Feb (evening) Source: NSW Health Advertisement 'Measles is highly contagious and is spread in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone who is unwell with the disease,' Dr Sheppeard said. Symptoms of measles include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash spreading from the head and neck to the rest of the body. 'This latest case highlights the importance of getting vaccinated to protect against the disease,' Dr Sheppeard said. 'Those people who have not received two doses of measles vaccine are at particular risk of contracting the disease and should be alert to symptoms in the coming days and weeks.' The scare comes after four people were diagnosed with measles following an outbreak across Sydney in December. A woman travelling from Bali to Sydney in January also contracted the disease in an unrelated case. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases NSW Health, said the case highlights the importance of getting vaccinated to protect against the disease Theresa May will visit China later this year as she continues her efforts to build trade links around the world ahead of Brexit. The Prime Minister, who met President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Hangzhou in September, will return to the country for talks, a Number 10 source confirmed. The visit marks the latest effort to strengthen the relationship with Beijing, which suffered a setback shortly after Mrs May took office when she delayed a decision on the Chinese-backed Hinkley Point power plant. Prime Minister Theresa May met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China in September but may return there in May in a bid to boost Anglo-Chinese trade She finally approved the deal, but there are fears that the delay soured relations. The trip will be the latest stage in her attempts to secure a trade deal to come into effect after we leave the European Union. Since the beginning of the year, the Prime Minister has visited the US and Turkey as well as hosting the Israeli and Italian premiers this week in the UK. She also visited Bahrain just before Christmas. Downing Street would not confirm if Mrs May would attend Chinas One Belt, One Road summit in May. Mrs May, who was invited by President Xi when she attended the G20 meeting last year, will seek to revive the golden relationship between the two countries. Relations with the Chinese have been on the wane in recent months following George Osbornes departure from government. Last month a train arrived at Barking rail freight terminal in Essex, having pulled freight carriages for 16 days and 7,456 miles all the way from Yiwu in China The former Chancellor had made increasing commercial ties with Beijing a centrepiece of his six-year tenure at the Treasury, with insiders saying his absence had been sorely missed by Chinese officials. Lord ONeill, the former Treasury minister and Golden Sachs chief economist brought into government by Mr Osborne to build relations with China, said Mrs May had to make visiting China a priority. He told Sky News: We need to keep working on the golden relationship. It wasnt that long in existence and it came on the back of some previous challenged relationship with China, so it is something that I think needs to be given more attention that it probably currently is. She should prioritise going to China. Women who work night shifts may find it harder to become pregnant, experts have found. Shift work and inconsistent working patterns could be linked to lowered fertility, according to a study led by Harvard Medical School. Women who have physically demanding jobs with lots of heavy lifting may also struggle to conceive, they found. The researchers suspect this is linked to hormone levels which fluctuate according to the wake-sleep cycle and physical exertion. Women who have physically demanding jobs with lots of heavy lifting may also struggle to conceive (stock photograph) Scientists examined 473 women, aged 35 on average, who were undergoing fertility treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. They found women who regularly worked night shifts were found to have 24 per cent fewer 'mature' eggs - those which are capable of turning into a healthy embryo. And women whose job involved heavy lifting had 14 per cent fewer mature eggs. The process of turning an 'immature' egg into a 'mature' egg is the natural action by which the female body prepares an egg for ovulation. When a girl is born she has millions of immature eggs which are stored until they are ready to be released into the womb. These immature eggs have too many chromosomes - 46 rather than the 23 required to form an embryo. From the onset of puberty, every month a surge of hormones 'matures' a certain number of these eggs, cutting their chromosomes down to the correct number, meaning they are ready for ovulation. But if something interferes with this hormone surge, not enough eggs are matured, lowering the chance of conceiving a child. Experts believe lifestyle factors such as not receiving enough sunlight or undertaking too much physically demanding activity may interfere with this hormonal activity. The Harvard researchers, whose work is published in the Occupational & Environmental Medicine journal, artificially triggered the ovulation of several eggs, ready for IVF treatment. They found women who worked during daylight hours produced an average of 9.3 mature eggs, but those who worked night shifts had only 7.0 - 24 per cent fewer. Women whose jobs involved no manual labour produced an average of 9.7 mature eggs, but those who had to do heavy lifting had only 8.3 - 14 per cent fewer. This reduction would not mean a woman could not conceive, but might mean it takes longer or may require IVF treatment. The authors wrote: 'These findings have clinical implications, as women with fewer mature oocytes [eggs] would have fewer eggs which are capable of developing into healthy embryos. Women who have physically demanding jobs with lots of heavy lifting may also struggle to conceive, experts found (stock photo) They said their study was merely observational - so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. But British scientists last night said the results confirmed theories about how lifestyle patterns influence hormones. One of the strongest influences on hormone production is the circadian rhythm or body clock - which synchronises bodily functions to the 24-hour pattern of the Earth's rotation. The human body clock is regulated by the bodily senses, most importantly the way the eye perceives light and dark and the way skin feels temperature changes. The mechanism rules our daily rhythms, including our sleep and waking patterns, and hormone levels in our body. For women who work at night this cycle is disrupted, which may influence fertility. Professor Alastair Sutcliffe of University College London said: 'When sunlight hits our retinae, the serotonin 'happy hormone' goes up instantly in the brain. 'Hence we love sunny winter days, but not dank overcast ones. So shift work is not a biologically good way to work and folks who have to do this are known to get many ill health risks such as hypertension.' Physical exertion, meanwhile, is tied to greater testosterone production, which may also impact on fertility. Professor Sutcliffe added: 'So what does this study mean? If trying to optimise fertility, stick to the day job and leave the lifting to their partner.' Professor Darren Griffin of the University of Kent, however, urged caution, warning that the conclusions were 'perhaps a little over-stated' since the study had not directly examined the mechanisms at play. But he added: 'That said, women who are trying to start a family may wish to take the study into account, perhaps avoiding heavy lifting and unsociable work hours as much as is possible during this time, especially if they are not falling pregnant within the first year of trying.' A father has praised a 15-year-old student for walking his lost nine-year-old son home after his school bus crashed. Joseph Zhao told the Canberra Times his son Alvin Zhao was on a bus travelling home to Higgins from Brindabella Christian College when it crashed. 'The bus driver apparently asked all the students to walk home by themselves,' Mr Zhao claimed. A father has praised 15-year-old student Jordan King (left) for walking his lost nine-year-old son Alvin Zhao (right) home after his school bus crashed 'That point is five kilometres from home. And he has never been that way before.' Mr Zhao said Alvin was wandering through the streets of Macquarie when 15-year-old Jordan King found him. Jordan told the Canberra Times he saw Alvin walking by himself and wondered where he was going. 'When he said his house was in Higgins, I knew he wasn't going to be able to walk all the way back there,' Jordan said. Jordan found Alvin walking in the Canberra suburb of Macquarie after the bus crashed on Redfern Street (pictured). The driver reportedly told students to 'get off and walk' Jordan's mother Rowena said she was very proud of her son, and commented he had always been good with younger children. Mr Zhao said he couldn't thank Jordan enough and labelled him as 'a local hero'. Both parents questioned why the bus driver allowed the student to walk off after the accident while unsupervised. A spokesperson from Transport Canberra said there had been an incident with school bus number 624, and they were investigating the circumstances regarding the student A spokesperson from Transport Canberra told Daily Mail Australia there was an incident with school bus number 624 on Monday at Redfern St in Macquarie. 'The students on the bus at the time were allowed to disembark due to the incident causing a total power failure (resulting in no air-conditioning or circulation). 'ACTION Operations immediately organised for a replacement bus and Transport Officers to attend which is normal practice during these situations. 'Some students chose to have their parents pick them up from the location whilst some others that lived close by, chose to walk home. 'The safety of students is of the highest priority for ACTION.' The spokesperson also said ACTION is currently investigating the circumstances around the student in question. Five hoteliers were arrested yesterday over their alleged involvement in a people-smuggling network that charged illegal immigrants up to 9,000 for a guaranteed passage to Britain. French police surrounded three hotels in Calais in a series of dawn raids and arrested managers and workers who have allegedly been assisting people traffickers. The gang had reportedly been using the hotels to house migrants before they were smuggled aboard lorries and on to ferries to the UK, French media reported. Calais remains a magnet for migrants trying to get into Britain and people smuggling networks are still working out of the town The arrests came after a surveillance operation over the past three weeks, public prosecutor Pascal Marconville said. They had been offering migrants a guaranteed passage to England for between 5,000 and 10,000 euros per head (4,300 to 8,600), depending on the form of transport used to get them across the Channel. The French and Algerian nationals remain in custody in Boulogne and are due to appear in court in the next few days. Lorries, vans and private cars were all used in the scam, with those waiting to travel staying in the three hotels, it was alleged. Those arrested were allegedly hiding would-be asylum seekers in filthy conditions within the budget hotels. Many of the migrants were reportedly living seven to a small room. Investigators said none of the hotels around the central Place des Armes in Calais were owned by Albanians suspected of running the people-trafficking gangs, but the owners and managers allegedly co-operated with the smugglers. The arrests follow reports from French authorities that hundreds of migrants have returned to Calais following the closure of the Jungle refugee camp last October. Some 8,000 men, women and children from countries such as Afghanistan and Syria were displaced to other parts of France when the shanty town was razed. Now police estimate there are up to 400 migrants hiding in Calais and 15 more are arriving each day. After more than two decades of Calais being at the centre of Europes migrant crisis, the French are determined to maintain a zero tolerance approach to new arrivals. Security has been stepped up around the Channel Tunnel, and in the port area, where ferries head to the South Coast ports of England night and day. Last month police union spokesman Frederic Baland said dismantling the Jungle had not stopped migrants from making the trip to the French port. Police union spokesman Frederic Baland said dismantling the Jungle (pictured) had not stopped migrants travelling to Calais Weve gone back to the same situation we had here three or four years ago, with small groups scattered in the town, he said. We estimate the number of daily arrivals at between 30 and 50. Francois Guennoc, vice-president of the Auberge des Migrants aid group, told a French newspaper that migrants returning was a growing problem. The migrants are coming back, and government is in denial about the current situation in Calais, he said. Last year Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart blamed the UKs black market economy and cushy benefits system for the thousands of migrants in her town. Calais is a hostage to the British. The UK border should be moved from Calais to the English side of the Channel because were not here to do their jobs, she said at the time. Energy watchdogs have urged families to boycott rip-off suppliers amid rumours British Gas is about to hit millions with a price hike. The UKs biggest supplier is said to be working on plans to raise bills for its 11 million customers by as much as 9per cent. That would add almost 100 a year to the cost of heat and light for millions of households on its expensive standard variable tariff (SVT). Just last week, rival power giant Npower announced a price rise that will add 109 a year to bills. The UKs biggest supplier is said to be working on plans to raise bills for its 11 million customers by as much as 9per cent Industry rumours of the move by British Gas emerged as the boss of the official energy watchdog, Ofgem, effectively advised customers to boycott firms imposing unfair increases. The organisations chief executive, Dermot Nolan, said his view is that there is no justification for any rise in the cost of gas and electricity. We looked at the market and we said that on balance we didnt see significant reasons why prices should go up and I still, I think, very much say that, he said. Referring to Npower, he said: One particular company has raised its prices more than expected, that is one company out of nearly 50 in the market. It seems to me, I must say, to be a lot. He urged customers to switch away and suggested they could save 200-300 by doing so. The strongest message I would give to that particular companys customers are that you dont have to bear the cost of their decision, that the easiest thing for you to do if youre not satisfied with what the company is offering you, you can switch easily, he added. You can switch, you can save 200-300 and look at all the many other companies that are there. Mr Nolans advice would also apply to customers of British Gas and the other major suppliers, SSE, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power, if they push through increases. The increases are being imposed despite warnings last week from Downing Street that Theresa May views tackling unfair tariffs as a key priority. Similar warnings were made in the past by David Cameron and successive energy ministers, however nothing has changed. The campaigning group Switched On, which wants the Government to establish new local publicly owned energy firms, condemned the latest round of price rises. Spokesman Laura Hill said: We are disgusted to hear that British Gas are again planning to hike up prices in order to maximize their bottom line. This will really hurt hard pressed households, many of whom spent the winter months shivering in their homes. People need a genuine alternative to these rip-off merchants. Just last week, rival power giant Npower announced a price rise that will add 109 a year to bills The British Gas average dual fuel bill for gas and electricity for those on the expensive SVT now stands at 1,044, according to figures from regulator Ofgem. A 9per cent rise would add 94. The latest round of increases come a week after MPs on the business select committee accused the big energy firms of behaving like violent partners and beating customers black and blue. Chairman of the committee, the Labour MP Iain Wright, suggested the big energy firms are exploiting beaten and confused customers. Its like an abusive relationship. I cant believe that customers are getting beaten black and blue all the time and yet they are staying with their providers, he said. The chief executive of the small energy firm, Octo Energy, Greg Jackson, agreed saying: The sector is dire for customers. It is a sector in which many people are essentially in the equivalent of an abusive relationship and are trapped there. Research suggests families do not trust energy firms on prices or that switching to a new provider will go through smoothly. Last year, an investigation by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) found a lack of competition means families are overpaying by 1.4billion a year. It called for the setting up of a database of customers who have been on an expensive SVT tariff for three years. Energy firms will then be able to target them with mailshots offering cheaper deals. However, consumer groups feel this will take time to implement and is unlikely to increase the number of people shopping around or reduce bills. Head of campaigns at the consumer group Which?, Pete Moorey, said: Energy prices remain consumers number one financial concern this winter. Energy as a sector is distrusted almost more than any other. The only sector that is distrusted more is used car dealers. British Gas is expected to blame the price surge on rising wholesale energy and the 11 billion cost of the Governments plan to install a smart meter in every home and business. However, just over a month ago, the companys owner Centrica told the City to raise profit expectations for this year. In 2016 it made a profit of 1.46 billion. A spokesman for British Gas said: We never speculate on future pricing decisions. In a separate development, Ofgem has announced a new price cap for the four million households with pre-payment meters. The cap should cut the bills of this group, many of them among the poorest people in the country, by around 80 a year. Jailed Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was not Rambo and was suffering from the trauma of war when he shot a wounded Taliban fighter, a court heard yesterday. Three top psychiatrists said his abnormality of mind was a recognised mental illness which had numbed his moral compass. This adjustment disorder in Sergeant Blackman unnoticed and undiagnosed substantially diminished his responsibility for killing the insurgent and renders his murder conviction unsafe, the Court Martial Appeal Court was told. Expert witness Dr Philip Joseph said the new psychiatric material went to the very heart of the controversial case, telling the judges: I am saying it is more likely than not that the killing was manslaughter rather than murder. Scroll down for video Supporters of Sgt Alexander Blackman have been out in force outside the High Court in London for his appeal over his conviction for murdering an Afghan insurgent And Jonathan Goldberg, QC, for Sgt Blackman, said his nature was very reserved a sort of John Wayne character. Dozens of ex-Marines were yesterday among supporters packed into Court 4 of the Royal Courts of Justice for the start of his long-awaited appeal, presided over by five of Britains top judges led by the Lord Chief Justice. Sgt Blackman, also known as Marine A, is believed to be the first British serviceman to be convicted of murder on the battlefield. The Taliban fighter he shot on September 15, 2011, had already been badly wounded by an Apache helicopter gunship as he approached a remote British outpost in Afghanistan. Sgt Blackmans patrol found his blood-soaked body in a cornfield, with a grenade and an AK-47 by his side. The commando fired a bullet into the mans chest, quoting from Hamlet as he said, Shuffle off this mortal coil, adding: Ive just broken the Geneva Convention in a scene captured on a fellow Marines helmet-worn camera. The veteran commando, 42, appeared via video link from HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire yesterday as his loyal wife Claire sat in the public gallery surrounded by supporters, including several retired top brass. The court heard that Sgt Blackman was suffering from burn-out towards the end of a hellish tour of Afghanistan. Professor Neil Greenberg, a specialist in military mental health at Kings College London, said: Everybody has their breaking point. 'There is no such thing as a Rambo type, an Arnold Schwarzenegger soldier, who can face all sorts of stresses and appear to be invulnerable. The Royal Marine, right, has been supported by his loyal wife Claire, left, and several of the Army's top brass He said Blackman had been described as a husk of his former self by a colleague shortly before the shooting. When he was back in the UK his wife noticed him instinctively scanning the pavements for hidden bombs. On a trip to the theatre, he leapt under his seat when there was a bang. The new evidence shows Blackmans self-control had been hampered when he pulled the trigger, as was his ability to judge if the insurgent was alive or dead when he shot him, the court heard. The appeal is expected to last two to three days. If successful, it could result in his conviction being commuted to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, which carries a lower prison term, or a retrial. Sgt Blackmans appeal hinges on evidence that he was under great strain at the time of the killing. Faced with a ruthless and cunning and inhumane enemy who know no rules, his undermanned unit had lost seven men with 40 more injured as they struggled to fulfil their mission brief to win the hearts and minds of Afghan locals, said Mr Goldberg. THE JUDGES WHO HOLD HIS FATE IN THEIR HANDS In a sign of its importance, the appeal is being presided over by Britains top judge, Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, and four high-ranking colleagues. They are: MR JUSTICE OPENSHAW: The Harrow-educated judge, 70, has jailed numerous murderers, including date-rape serial killer Stephen Port. LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: The third most senior judge in England and Wales, Sir Brian Leveson, 67, is the President of the Queens Bench Division. He is best known for his inquiry into Press standards. Pictured with Sgt Blackman on a video-link from prison yesterday, the judges are, from left: Mr Justice Openshaw, Lord Justice Leveson, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Sweeney LORD THOMAS OF CWMGIEDD: The Lord Chief Justice, 69, heard Sgt Blackmans application to be freed on bail, pending his appeal, just before Christmas. He did not grant bail but said it was important for the case to be heard soon. He previously heard the Brexit case about whether the Government could trigger Article 50 without a Commons vote. LADY JUSTICE HALLETT: The 67-year-old daughter of a policeman was widely applauded for her compassionate handling of the inquests for the 52 innocent people killed in the London bombings of July 7, 2005. MR JUSTICE SWEENEY: The 61-year-old has presided over high-profile cases including Rolf Harris, former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, and the killers of fusilier Lee Rigby. Advertisement Blackman himself was nearly killed by two grenades a few weeks before the incident, leaving him with mental scars. Mr Goldberg said the conditions in Helmand were austere and a breeding ground for mental health problems. He played the court a film made by documentary maker Chris Terrill who had been embedded with a unit of Marines three miles away from Sgt Blackmans, to show the harsh conditions. Only those who have been on the front line can know what it is really like, said Mr Goldberg. Blackman has always maintained he thought the insurgent was dead and he shot him in anger, believing he had desecrated a corpse, to explain his comment about the Geneva Convention. Professor Greenberg said Blackmans moral compass had been numbed. He said: There is no other explanation for his behaviour to what is seen on the video other than adjustment-disorder impairing his ability to form a rational judgment. A second psychiatrist, Dr Michael Orr, backed up Professor Greenbergs findings, and then Dr Joseph was hired to critique their work. Dr Joseph, brought in by the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission when it was investigating a possible miscarriage of justice, gave strong backing to the other two experts. They agreed that Blackman consistently rated a superb soldier in his appraisals behaved so out of character as on the day of the killing to suggest there was something going wrong in his head, it was said. Sgt Blackman was proud of the Marines macho image and his mental problems went undetected and untreated. The Crowns QC Richard Whittam, representing the Director of Service Prosecutions, said the murder conviction was safe. He said the psychiatrists reports were not capable of showing Sgt Blackman had an adjustment disorder, and even if he was, it was not substantial enough to cause the killing. The case continues. Dogs can recognise when their owners are being badly treated and may even hold a grudge, new research shows. Scientists from Kyoto University tested dogs social cognition following evidence that children and monkeys can take badly to those who mistreat them. According to the Times, researchers tested to see how dogs felt about actors who gave food to the homeless, versus those who didn't. Research show the dogs who saw the actor refuse their owner help then did not want to accept a treat from them Although initial tests in 2011 indicated dogs preferred those who gave out food, a later test indicated they would also like those who gave 'food' to an inanimate box. In new research, 54 dog owners were told to struggle to open a tin, and then ask an actor for help with the task. Some assisted, while others turned away, and scientists monitored how the dogs then reacted when an actor who had refused help offered them a treat versus a neutral person. Most dogs who had seen the actor refuse help opted for the treat from the neutral person. Those who had seen the actor help, took the treat from them. The dogs were happier to take treats from the actors who they had seen help their owners The paper reports this could be a dog showing 'social eavesdropping' skills. The study said: 'Pet dogs are not merely passive observers of other individuals' interactions. 'Instead, in some circumstances at least, they pay attention to the outcome of the interaction, evaluate how the actors behave and make use of that information in reaching a decision about which individuals to interact with or avoid.' There is more work to be done to establish if the skill would only work if the dog's owner is involved. A four-month-old Iranian girl in need of life-saving surgery has safely arrived in the US with her family after they had been banned from coming to the US under Donald Trump's immigration orders. Iranian doctors told Fatemeh Reshad's parents weeks ago their little girl needed at least one urgent surgery to correct serious heart defects, or else she would die, according to her uncle, Samad Taghizadeh - a US citizen who lives in Portland. Fatemeh's parents had scheduled an appointment in Dubai to secure a tourist visa, however it was abruptly canceled after Trump announced his travel ban on people from seven predominantly-Muslim countries. As a result the baby and her parents were forced to return to Iran, before a Seattle judge issued a temporary restraining order on the ban the same day a waiver was granted for the baby. Four-month-old Iranian girl Fatemeh Reshad (pictured) and her parents have made it to the US so she can receive life-saving treatment - after they were initially stopped from entering the country under Donald Trump's travel ban After she arrived at the hospital on Tuesday, doctors immediately set about trying to same Fatemeh's life. Officials at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital said early tests results proved the dire need for the young girl to be helped - as they confirmed she was suffering from transposition of the great arteries. 'Fatemeh looks well,' the hospital's interim head of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr Laurie Armsby said. 'Our tests this morning have confirmed her diagnosis and the urgent need for treatment.' Armsby added Fatemeh's heart condition had 'resulted in injury to her lungs' but said there is time 'to reverse this process.' The hospital issued a statement saying the family: 'would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make their trip possible. Fatemeh arrived at the OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital (pictured) in Portland on Tuesday 'The family would like to give special thanks to the congressional delegations and governors of Oregon and New York.' WHAT IS TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT ARTERIES? About one in 5,000 children are born with transposition of the great arteries. According to Stanford Children's Health, it is a condition where: 'the large vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs, and to the body are improperly connected. 'Babies with transposition of the great arteries will not have enough oxygen in the bloodstream to meet the body's demands for long.' Advertisement Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, was instrumental in getting the waiver for the baby's family, as were New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and immigration attorneys. Jennifer Morrissey, a Portland lawyer who championed the cause, said: 'This was truly a team effort to beat the clock, given the medical and legal hurdles Fatemeh was facing.' Fatemeh's family chose to travel to Portland for treatment as it is close to where the youngster's grandparents live in Oregon, and because of OHSU's expertise in treatment of the heart condition. The hospital said treatment would begin with a cardiac catheterization, performed by Armsby, followed by a six-hour surgical procedure performed by Dr Irving Shen, a nationally respected expert on Fatemeh's condition. OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital's interim head of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr Laurie Armsby (pictured), said tests they have done on Fatemeh proved how urgently she needs treatment New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (left) and Senator Jeff Merkley (right), an Oregon Democrat, were instrumental in getting the waiver for the baby's family About one in 5,000 children are born with transposition of the great arteries. According to Stanford Children's Health, it is a condition where: 'the large vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs, and to the body are improperly connected. 'Babies with transposition of the great arteries will not have enough oxygen in the bloodstream to meet the body's demands for long.' Trump's travel ban is currently being challenged in court after it was put on hold last week. Three judges from an appellate court in San Francisco chaired an hour-long telephone hearing on Tuesday followed online by more than 130,000 people - a record, the court said - and broadcast live to millions more on television. Tuesday's hearing was focused on whether to lift the suspension of the ban, not on the constitutionality of the decree itself - a broader battle that looks likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court. Joe Biden wasn't unemployed for long. The former Vice President has announced he is taking a teaching gig at the University of Pennsylvania, which is Donald Trump's much bragged about alma mater. 'At Penn, I look forward to building on the work that has been a central pillar of my career in public office: promoting and protecting the post-WWII international order that keeps the United States safe and strong,' he said in a statement, according to the university. Joe Biden, the 47th vice president of the US, will take a professor position at the University of Pennsylvania; right, with UPenn president Amy Guttman Biden will head up the new Penn Biden center which will focus on global affairs and foreign policy 'The Penn Biden Center and I will be engaging with Penns wonderful students while partnering with its eminent faculty and global centers to convene world leaders, develop and advance smart policy, and impact the national debate about how America can continue to lead in the 21st Century.' The Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement is a new center focused principally on diplomacy, foreign policy, and national security, says the university. Donald Trump graduated from the Wharton undergrad program in 1968; above, on graduation day with his dad, Fred Biden will have an office in Washington, DC., where the center will be located, and also on the Penn campus in Philadelphia. He will hold joint appointments in the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Arts and Sciences with a secondary affiliation in the Wharton School. 'Joe Biden is one of the greatest statesmen of our times,' said president Amy Guttman. Biden meets with staff at the University of Pennylvania School of Medicine Biden will have an office at the Philadelphia campus, left; and the Wharton School (right) The former VP will hold joint appointments at Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Arts and Sciences, above, and the Wharton School Trump graduated from Wharton in 1968, where he transferred in his junior year from Fordham University in the Bronx. He is the University of Pennsylvania's first president. Trump has famously bragged about his Wharton diploma. 'I went to an Ivy League school,' he told a rally last December, according to Politico. 'I went to an Ivy League school. I'm very highly educated. I know words, I have the best words.' He also tried to use his Wharton connection to deny charges that he'd mocked a disabled reporter. Trump's daughter, Ivanka, graduated cum laude from Wharton Business School in 2004, above with dad Donald and brothers Eric and Donald Jr. 'Who would mock a disability' he told Jake Tapper. 'I would never. Im a smart person. I went to the Wharton School of Finance.' Trump did not attend the prestigious MBA program, but it's undergraduate program for two years, which was then known as the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, according to Salon. The press repeatedly described him as having graduated first in his class, when he never made Dean's List. It's unclear where the idea that he graduated first in his class originated from. While Trump has in the past said that Barack Obama should release his university transcripts, he has not released his own. He is also absent from the yearbook, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian. David Cameron escorted his mother, Mary, to yesterdays Oldie of the Year lunch at Simpsons-in-the-Strand where she received the Mother Knows Best award. Without wishing to detract from Mrs Camerons new distinction, the point was to get the ex-Prime Minister there. David Cameron escorted his mother, Mary, to yesterdays Oldie of the Year lunch at Simpsons-in-the-Strand where she received the Mother Knows Best award Why did they bother? He had nothing to say for himself, except that he has only got as far as becoming Prime Minister in the memoirs he is writing. Considering how it ended, is there much more for him to say? The late Jimmy Youngs 1979 interview with Margaret Thatcher confirmed him as a serious broadcaster and endeared her to more voters. How did it come about? The story involved Chariots of Fire star Nigel Havers, then a BBC trainee working for Sir Jimmys producer, Mike Hollingsworth. According to Hollingsworth, Havers was about to be fired. But he saved his job by persuading his father, Attorney General Michael Havers, to secure Sir Jimmys encounter with Mrs T. In return for my reinstating young Nigel, his dad set up the interview with the new PM, recalls Hollingsworth. Former Goodies star Bill Oddie, 75, is seen trying to boost his flagging libido with the help of a special potion while filming a new BBC 1 documentary in India. Father of three, Oddie, who is married to second wife Laura, takes an external application called Fortoil, explaining to viewers: You have to massage it well into the affected part. Who says the licence fees no bargain? Former Goodies star Bill Oddie, 75, is seen trying to boost his flagging libido with the help of a special potion while filming a new BBC 1 documentary in India The memorial service for the Earl of Snowdon in April is to be held in St Margarets, Westminster rather than the much larger Westminster Abbey next door. It appears that the Queens former brother-in-law isnt expected to draw a big enough crowd. Surely this is being unduly pessimistic. A major turnout by the Royal Family is expected, which is bound to raise numbers. The abbey was packed for Terry Wogans service in 2016, Richard Attenboroughs in 2015 and Sir David Frosts in 2014. They expect a big demand for tickets for comedian Ronnie Corbetts in June. What Donald Trump really wants is an honorary knighthood like those awarded to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush. Non-presidential Americans such as former defence secretary Caspar Weinberger, ex-Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, and former New York mayors Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg got honorary Ks. Actress Angelina Jolie became an honorary dame. Even Henry The Fonz Winkler, of TVs Happy Days, was given an honorary OBE. Delighted by the Tate Britain retrospective of his lifes work, for which 19.50 tickets are required, artist David Hockney, 79, says: It has been a pleasure to revisit works I made decades ago. Happily for him, his arch critic Brian Sewell is no longer with us. His considered view: Hockney is a vulgar prankster. A Brazilian woman desperate to find her Australian father with just the name 'Kennedy' and a grainy picture has turned to Facebook for help. Abelly de Oliveira dos Santos, 28, from Manaus in the heart of the Amazon River, was told her mother Maria, then 23, spotted a 'tall, blue-eyed, blonde' tourist during a night out in 1988 and the couple had a 'summer romance'. As his visa was due to expire, Kennedy promised he would return, but Maria said he never did and she was unable to tell him she was pregnant as a phone was a 'luxury' in Brazil at the time. However, years later neighbours later told the devastated mother they saw a tall, blonde man searching for her. Abelly de Oliveira dos Santos, 28, from Manaus in the heart of the Amazon River, is desperately searching for her Australian father with the help of social media Ms Santos' mother Maria (far left) told her about her 'summer romance' with a 'tall, blue-eyed, blonde' Australian tourist (second from left) during a night out in 1988 Kennedy was in the Amazon at the time with two friends, one from England and another from France. None of the women spoke English and Maria and Kennedy relied on a Portuguese-English dictionary to communicate. Maria, now 51, and her friends snapped a photo with the trio during their night out in Iranduba and it remains Ms Santos' only clue in finding her father. Ms Santos, a video editor at the local cultural centre, has started learning English and turned to social media to help find her Australia father, using the hashtag 'find Kennedy'. Ms Santos, a video editor at the local cultural centre, has started learning English and turned to social media to help find her Australia father, She only has the name 'Kennedy' and this faded photograph as clues Ms Santos has started the Facebook page 'Finding Kennedy' with the faded picture of her father and hopes someone who recognises the photo will get in contact 'Social media is the only way I can do it, she says. There must be someone out there in Australia who recognises him, who could pass on some tips or clues,' Ms Santos told Now To Love. 'I would love to hear from them.' Ms Santos has started the Facebook page 'Finding Kennedy' with the faded picture of her father and hopes someone who recognises the photo will get in contact. A toddler has received second-degree burns on his feet after walking on a playground's rubber matting during an outing at a north Queensland beach. Jessica Mead said she took her son, Jackson, to Townsville's The Strand to play with his cousins on January 29, but a day of fun ended in tears when he accidentally ran onto the rubber ground with no shoes on while temperatures soared to 32C. 'I had put Jackson down on the grass to play with a scooter and next minute he raced out to the playground and started screaming,' the 29-year-old wrote on a blog she shares with her sister. Townsville mum Jessica Mead, 29, said her 15-month-old son, Jackson, received second-degree burns to the bottom of his feet after walking on a playground's rubber matting 'He had no shoes on and the surface was boiling. Instead of moving, because after all he's still only a little toddler, he just stood there screaming, it was like his feet were glued to the surface.' Ms Mead said she ran to pick up Jackson and poured water on his feet as they hid under a shady tree. Just minutes later he continued to wail again, the mum-of-one said. 'We came back to the shady tree and I tipped water on his feet and gave him a feed and he calmed down momentarily and then started screaming again,' she said. The 29-year-old (right) said she quickly ran over and picked Jackson up off the floor but minutes later his feet had already begun to blister Ms Mead said she ran to pick up Jackson and poured water on his feet as they hid under a shady tree Doctors classed Ms Mead's son's burns as 'second-degree' 'I looked at his feet and one foot had blistered immediately, it explained why he was so hysterical. I ran to a nearby tap and let it run on his feet for a while but couldn't calm him down.' Ms Mead said she kept Jackson cool in a family pool for the rest of the day and waited for a house doctor to come around. Although the doctor initially told her the burns to his feet were first-degree, the GP noticed the large blisters on Jackson's feet at the follow up appoint the next day and classified them as second-degree, superficial burns, Ms Mead told The Courier Mail. Ms Mead said her son ran from the grass to the rubber matting (pictured) before she had the opportunity to put his shoes on Jackson's (pictured) feet are now recovering and have almost healed Ms Mead said she has been feeling 'mum guilt' after the incident but it is important to 'remember hindsight is a wonderful thing and we all make mistakes.' 'I felt pretty stupid,' Mrs Mead said. 'Other kids had run onto the playground as well, but Jackson must have run onto the hottest part. 'As a new mum it was probably my realisation that things can happen in 10 seconds.' Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton appeared in court for running a red light on Wednesday, where he was told he needs to learn patience. The 20-year-old was caught on camera running a red arrow at 2.50pm on Nicholson Street in Carlton, Melbourne, on June 11 last year. Months later, he beat China's Sun Yang to win gold in the 400m freestyle at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. But his sporting achievements werent mentioned during his hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court, according to the Herald Sun. Horton (pictured with his girlfriend Ella Walter) appeared in court on Wednesday for running a red light in Melbourne last year Horton won gold in the 400m men's freestyle at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro What you need to learn is patience, the magistrate told Horton in court. Agreed, your honour, he replied. In a statement shared on his Twitter and Facebook pages, Horton said he took the matter seriously and urged other young Victorians to comply with the rules of the road. 'Earlier today I attended Melbourne Magistrates' Court as a result of a traffic infringement last year,' he wrote. 'I take the matter seriously and as a young driver and a role model I realise the importance of setting a good example. In a statement on his Twitter and Facebook pages, Horton said he took the matter seriously Horton's sporting achievements werent mentioned during his hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court Horton (centre) made headlines during the Olympics for calling out his rival Sun Yang (right) as a doper 'I would like to stress to all, especially to young Victorians, the importance of complying with the road rules, of being patient and driving responsibly.' Hortons case only came to court because the swimmer was planning to contest the charge because he believed he ran an amber light. The black and white pictures provided by police werent clear. And by the time the colour photos - which clearly showed the arrow was red at the time came through, the case was set to go ahead. Hortons case only came to court because the swimmer was planning to contest the charge because he believed he ran an amber light Police said the light had been red for 0.8 seconds. Hortons lawyer told the court his client had been waiting to turn and continued through the red light when the vehicle in front slowed down traffic by doing a U-turn. This is really mistaken judgment in going through a red arrow, he said. Horton pleaded guilty to the charge and was released without conviction on a six-month good behaviour bond. The swimmer was also ordered to pay $150 to the Smith Family Charity. A mother has been flooded with support after speaking out about her teenage daughter who was relentlessly bullied and then gang raped by two older boys before committing suicide two years later. Cassidy Trevan was the target of severe bulling by a group of girls at her Melbourne high school and raped by two teenage boys after being led to a house in Springvale in February 2014. The event caused Cassidy to suffer 'nightmares, insomnia, separation anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD and subsequent worsening mental illness,' her mother Linda Trevan told 9 News. After two years of suffering, Cassidy committed suicide aged 15. 'I wish she could have seen this beautiful caring supportive side of humanity instead of experiencing all the abuse that was inflicted upon her for no reason other than jealousy,' Ms Trevan posted online. Linda Trevan opened up on how her teenage daughter Cassidy (pictured together) took her own life after relentless bullying and a horrific gang rape by her tormentors Cassidy Trevan was forced to miss out on her fourth term of Year 7 at school after she was targeted by a group of bullying girls Thousands of people around the globe were touched by Cassidy's horrific story, where the group of girls would slap her on the face, leave banana peels at the front door of their family home and regularly abuse her on social media. The young girl was forced to miss out on her fourth term of Year 7 due to the extent of the bullying. Cassidy finally returned to school two days a week - where she was met with an apology from the girls, who asked her to be their friend and invited her to a festival. But instead of going to the festival, the very same girls led her to a nearby house where she was subjected to a horrific gang rape that savaged her innocence. 'They were older boys that Cass didn't know. Two girls who sat and waited. Two boys who shared her and timed each other. One boy stood guarding the front door,' Ms Trevan told 9 News. 'Cass was scared to make a formal statement for fear of retaliation from the gang, and she also was worried reliving it would 'push her over the edge.' Ms Trevan wished Cassidy 'could have seen this beautiful caring supportive side of humanity instead of experiencing all the abuse that was inflicted upon her' After making a recovery and returning to school, the bullying girls apologised to her and asked to be her friend. They asked her to go to a festival, but instead of taking her there she was led to a house where two older boys raped her, her mother claimed The event caused Cassidy to suffer 'nightmares, insomnia, separation anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD and subsequent worsening mental illness,' Ms Trevan said. After two years of suffering, Cassidy committed suicide aged 15 Linda Trevan opened up on how her teenage daughter Cassidy (pictured together) took her own life after relentless bullying and a horrific gang rape by her tormentors In a heartbreaking open post on Facebook, Ms Trevan said she spent the next two years 'desperately doing everything' she could to keep Cassidy alive. 'I had to watch my baby suffer for the next 22 months from these demons,' she wrote online. 'She worried you would find her and get her again, she went through continued bullying from some of you who managed to get to her by phone or social media, via others, even after what you'd done to her.' The suffering teenager moved schools to escape the bullying, but was subjected to further verbal abuse by the main bully online. 'I had to get an intervention order on the main bully girl when she physically assaulted Cass at the shops, after the rape, and she was even calling my mobile demanding to talk to Cass,' Ms Trevan told 9 News. Cassidy and her mother met with Detectives from Victoria Police's Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) over 20 times during a two-year period. But because Cassidy never made a formal statement to Dandenong police, afraid of the social repercussions, authorities were never able to lay any charges. Tragically, after years of torment, Cassidy committed suicide on December 12, 2015. Cassidy never made a formal statement to police so they were never able to lay any charges on the alleged rapists Cassidy had begun writing a letter about the rape and warning about the impact of bullying to students at her former school in the months before her death. The unfinished letter was found by Ms Trevan on Cassidy's laptop days after she died. 'I just wanted to finish off what Cass started and wasn't able to finish, and I've realised she couldn't have coped with all this attention, it's overwhelming even for me, Ms Trevan posted online. The brokenhearted mother said she was having trouble keeping up with all the support she was receiving. 'Thank you beautiful people, for all your kindness and support. I'm getting an average of 200pm [personal message] requests per day and 100 new friend requests. 'Just please keep sharing to raise awareness about the devastating effects bullying can have.' A spokesman for the Victorian Department of Education told Daily Mail Australia in a statement that 'the death of any young person is an absolute tragedy and our sympathies are with Cassidy's family. 'Schools have a range of ways to help students who may be experiencing bullying or mental health issues, including by providing qualified counsellors. School staff work hard to identify and support students who need support and we would encourage any students who need help to talk to staff at their school.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cassidy's school and Linda Trevan for comment. For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14. Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide can contact Lifeline. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation their trained volunteers are ready to listen, provide support and referrals. An Oklahoma daycare operator will go to trial for the murder of a four-month-old girl who was left in her care, a judge ruled on Monday. Melissa Dawn Clark, 46, of Noble, called 911 on July 19 last year, saying that little Braelyn Zachary was having trouble breathing. But after the child died in hospital, doctors discovered that Braelyn had blunt force trauma to her head. And when questioned about the injuries over the course of a three-hour interview, Clark gave detectives four different reasons, News9 reported. Scroll down for video Trial: Melissa Clark (left) of Noble, Oklahoma, will stand trial for the murder of four-month-old Braelyn Zachary (right), it was decided Monday. An expert alleged Braelyn was shaken to death Clark appeared in shackles in front of Cleveland County Special Judge Michael Tupper, as the court heard how her story had changed during her three-hour interview with police. Among the four stories she gave them were that she dropped the child while getting coffee from the kitchen and that she tripped while carrying the baby in her arms. She also said that she became frustrated when Braelyn - and the five other children she was tending to - refused to stop crying, and threw the child into a bouncy seat, where she hit her back on the seat's bar. Clark said she put the baby in the bouncy seat and then laid her on the floor after she fell asleep. A short time later, she said, she noticed the child was breathing only every ten or 15 seconds, and was making a noise like she was drowning. It was then, she said, that she called 911. But Dr Sarah Passmore, who specializes in child abuse, told the court that while those events may have occurred that day, they didn't explain Braelyn's injuries, KFOR reported. 'Monster': Clark told police four different versions of how the child was injured, and wept after the interview, saying she didn't want to be thought of as a monster Instead, she said, the damage - which included 'subdural hematoma, severe retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes and a bruise on her forehead, which is consistent with impact' - were likely caused by being shaken. She said that 'this is a child abuse case - the baby was shaken and, due to the severity of the injuries, the symptoms would have been immediate.' Special agent Lynda Stevens, who interviewed Clark, told the court that the woman cried at the end of the nearly three-hour interview and worried that she would be seen as a 'monster' by the public. The date for Clark's formal arraignment has not yet been announced. Australia Post managing director Ahmed Fahour is believed to be the highest paid post office boss in the world, earning more than the top executives in the UK, US and Canada combined. It was revealed Mr Fahour was paid $5.6 million last year after a parliamentary committee released the salaries of top Australia Post executives, insisting there are no compelling reasons for them to be hidden from public scrutiny. He is the highest paid man in the Commonwealths service, earning significantly more than his counterparts. Documents published on Tuesday showed managing director Ahmed Fahour (pictured) received a $4.4 million salary and a $1.2 million bonus last financial year A parliamentary committee has revealed the salaries of top Australia Post executives, insisting there are no compelling reasons for them to be hidden from public scrutiny (stock image) Since the privatisation of the Royal Mail the chief executive Moya Greene earns $1.529 million pounds ($AUD 2.5 million) a year The US Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan (pictured) pockets $US 415,219 ($AUD 543,616) Canada post chief executive Deepak Chopra is paid $CAN 500,000 ($AU 497,000) a year to service a population of 35 million people, ABC News reported. Since the privatisation of the Royal Mail in the UK the chief executive Moya Greene earns $1.529 million pounds ($AUD 2.5 million) a year. Britain has a population of 64 million. The US Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan pockets $US 415,219 ($AUD 543,616). Documents published on Tuesday showed Mr Fahour received a $4.4 million salary and a $1.2 million bonus last financial year, committee chairman James Paterson said. The documents - which do not include names - show another five executives earned between $1.8 million and $1.3 million. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the chairman of Australia Post after Mr Fahour's pay was revealed. Mr Turnbull said while pay was a decision for the board, he did speak to chairman John Stanhope on Wednesday morning about Mr Fahour's package. 'I think that renumeration is too high,' the Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra. Mr Turnbull acknowledged Mr Fahour had a big job overseeing a large government-owned entity, which had improved its operating business. 'In my view, I say this as someone who spent most of his life in the business world before I came into politics, I think it is a very big salary for that job,' Mr Turnbull said. In a chain of correspondence since a Senate estimates hearing in October, Australia Post argued the individuals may become targets for unwarranted media attention and it may lead to brand damage for the government-owned business. It was happy to release the information confidentially, but did not want it to be released publicly. But Senator Paterson wrote to the company on Tuesday informing them the documents would be publicly released. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Fahour's renumeration was too high Australia Post was urged to consider ways to increase transparency about its operations and expenditure (stock image) Australia Post managing director Ahmed Fahour (pictured) was paid $5.6 million last year 'Any potential issues of personal safety and security do not appear to be compelling reasons to withhold publication,' he said. The committee also urged Australia Post to consider ways to increase transparency about its operations and expenditure. It noted NBN Co, another wholly-government owned business enterprise, publishes detailed information about the renumeration paid to senior executives as part of its annual report. Senator Paterson said Mr Fahour's salary makes him effectively the nation's highest paid public servant. 'We think that's not information that should be withheld from taxpayers,' he told ABC radio. Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon praised Senator Paterson for insisting the salaries be disclosed. He noted his package was more than 10 times the $507,338 salary paid to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. 'I think a lot of people will scratch their heads on that one,' he told ABC TV. An Australian stepmother who was caught by her new husband having sex with his 15-year-old son has been jailed for more than six years. The woman was in her mid-20s when she first seduced the boy, then 13, ordering him to perform sex acts on her while they were watching television 30 years ago, the Herald Sun reported. She continued to abuse the boy when he visited his father over the next two years, the County Court heard. But the father discovered the pair having sex late one night in 1988 when the boy was 15. An Australian stepmother who was caught by her new husband having sex with his 15-year-old son has been jailed for more than six years. Stock image 'Did you seduce my wife? Or did she seduce you?' he asked his son that night, according to the Brisbane Times. He then threw his son out of his home and remained loyal to his new wife. Despite being caught in the act by her new husband, the woman maintained she was innocent for three decades. But in 2013, the victim made a complaint to the police leading to her arrest. She was found guilty of two charges of incest gross indecency and acquitted of a further seven charges. The woman had pleaded to be spared jail, citing serious medical conditions and mental health problems. But Judge Jane Campton jailed the woman on Wednesday for six years and three months, saying the offenses had been prolonged and a serious breach of trust. The woman was found guilty of two charges of incest gross indecency and acquitted of a further seven charges She also ordered that the woman must serve at least three years and three months before she is eligible for parole and she will also have to be on the sex offender's register for life. 'He was a child, you were the adult,' Judge Campton told the woman, who cannot be named as it would identify her victim, as she was sentenced last month. 'When you were discovered by [the boy's father] in a compromising position with the complainant, you left him to take the blame for what happened.' The court heard that on one occasion, the stepmother had sent her victim's siblings to buy fish and chips so they could have sex but were interrupted when the children returned. The judge said that he had written to his father in 2012, asking for him to acknowledge the abuse, according to the Times. But the court heard that his father refused to accept that it had occurred, while his stepmother continued to deny it. Last year, her victim now in his 40s told the court of the impact the abuse had on him and how he had suffered through years of drug abuse and emotional trauma. This is the gross moment a family found maggots wriggling around in beef they bought from Aldi. The family claim they found the maggots inside the meat after cooking it and sitting down for dinner. A video filmed by the disgusted Aldi customers shows several larvae crawling around the beef. A spokesman for Aldi has insisted that the matter is an isolated issue. They said they launched an investigation after becoming aware of the video, which features Brannans Butchery Butterflied Beef with BBQ Mustard Sprinkle that was bought from a store in Victoria. The family claim they found maggots inside the meat after cooking it and sitting down for dinner The spokesman added that the vacuum-sealed product was purchased on February 4 and refrigerated and cooked the following evening. Upon being notified of the matter, we immediately contacted the customer and commenced a high-priority investigation with our supplier, the spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. We can confirm that this is an isolated issue, with no other complaints received by our customer services department. Aldi said its meat products are produced in industry-leading facilities with a high-level of quality assurance processes in place. This includes a processing room refrigerated to approximately 4 degrees, a temperature level which does not support fly/larvae development, the spokesman said. A video filmed by the disgusted Aldi customers shows several larvae crawling around the meat Aldi insist that the matter is an isolated issue and said they launched an investigation The spokesman added that the video has been examined by Skye Blackburn, an independent Entomologist and Food Scientist. Ms Blackburn believes it is unlikely that the contamination occurred during the manufacturing or distribution process. By viewing the video supplied and noting the fly larvae are freshly hatched, it is most likely that the eggs had been laid after this meat had been cooked, and the heat of the meat has accelerated the hatching of the eggs, she said. Heat allows eggs the potential to hatch within minutes of being laid. Due to higher than average temperatures were experiencing at the moment, it is common for the lifecycle of insects to occur more quickly. She added: If the meat had been contaminated before cooking, it would be very unlikely that the eggs and larvae would have survived the cooking process. She explained that fly larvae generally cannot survive temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius. The revolting discovery comes just days after a woman found live maggots inside chicken tenders she bought from Aldi. Tooradin man Bill Johnson told 3AW that his daughter and her friend were eating the tenders bought from the supermarket giant when they found the fly larvae crawling inside their meal. A Victorian woman was left traumatised after discovering live maggots in her chicken tenders during her meal Mr Johnson's daughter made a video as the cooked chicken tenderloin was split open, and small yellow specks could be seen wriggling inside. 'This was what was found inside a chicken tender,' Mr Johnson says. 'They are still moving as you can see'. Mr Johnson said they had recently purchased the Farmwood brand of chicken tenders from the Casey Central Aldi store in Victoria. An Aldi spokesman confirmed to Daily Mail Australia at the time that this was an isolated incident with no further complaints made. 'Upon being notified of this matter, we immediately contacted the customer and commenced a high-priority investigation with our supplier,' he said. And Ms Blackburn said it was extremely unlikely that the contamination occurred during the manufacturing or distribution process. 'I have taken a look at the video supplied and believe it would be extremely unlikely that the larvae of the fly would survive the cooking and freezing process associated with producing this product,' she said. 'Furthermore, the larvae of the fly in the video looks to be approximately just two days old and given this product was manufactured on 12th December, 2016, it would be almost impossible that this would have happened during the manufacturing process. 'The larvae also appear to be moving very quickly, which indicates they are quite warm and therefore have not been in a fridge or freezer previously.' Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has launched a scathing attack on Bill Shorten, branding him a 'parasite' and accusing him of 'sucking up to millionaires'. In an extraordinary attack at Prime Minister's Question Time, Turnbull accused the Opposition Leader of being in the pocket of the Melbourne elite. 'There was never a union leader in Melbourne that tucked his knees under more billionaire's table than the Leader of the Opposition,' Turnbull said, to cheers from the Liberal benches. He also called the Labor leader a 'social climbing sycophant'. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has launched a scathing attack on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, calling him a 'parasite' Shorten looked decidedly unimpressed during the grilling in Parliament on Wednesday During the heated session, Turnbull also joked that the Labor Party thinks 'manual labour is a Mexican bandit', adding: 'Most of them have never done a day's work in their life.' He went on to accuse Shorten of 'sucking up to millionaires'. 'He likes harbourside mansions, he's yearning to get into Kirribilli House - because somebody else pays for it,' the prime minister said. 'Just like he loved knocking back Dick Pratt's Cristal and looked forward to living at the expense of the taxpayer, this man is a parasite and has no respect for the taxpayer.' He claimed Shorten craved to live 'in luxury at the expense of the Australian taxpayer', adding: 'This man is a parasite.' The heated exchange was prompted by a Labor motion condemning Mr Turnbull for 'being so out of touch that his hopelessly divided government punishes family, pensioners, carers and new mums while giving a $50billion handout to business and big banks'. In an extraordinary attack at Prime Minister's Question Time, Turnbull accused Shorten (pictured) of being in the pocket of the liberal elite in Melbourne Turnbull claimed Shorten craved to live 'in luxury at the expense of the Australian taxpayer' During the heated session, Turnbull also joked that the Labor Party thinks 'manual labour is a Mexican bandit' Shorten had quizzed Turnbull on tax changes for working families while cutting business taxes when the prime minister came back swinging. 'How can the Prime Minister stand there and pat himself on the back for attacking the living standards of one million Australians?' he had asked. Shorten later added: 'Mr Harbourside Mansion is attacking the living standards of more than one million Australians. Tough on pensioners, soft on banks'. But Turnbull shot back: 'There was never a union leader in Melbourne who tucked his knees under the tables of more millionaires than Bill Shorten.' The prime minister labelled Mr Shorten a 'social-climbing sycophant if ever there was one'. 'There has never been a more sycophantic leader of the Labor party than this one, and he comes here and poses as a tribune of the people.' He went on to accuse Shorten of selling out union members by allowing employers to bring in cheaper, foreign workers. 'This bloke has no consistency or integrity. He cannot be believed,' the prime minister said. 'He said he is against 457 visas, well he knows more about them an anyone. He is the Olympic champion.' An Oregon mother-of-three died while sliding on a homemade zip line with her boyfriend when a tree holding them up was uprooted and fell on the couple. Tami McVay, 34, was killed when a tree supporting the zip line she was riding struck her in the skull and caused severe head trauma in northwestern Oregon on Saturday. McVay, a mother of three children, was pronounced dead at the scene after her boyfriend Joshua Jackson made the 911 call to Tillamook County police around 6am. Tami McVay, 34, (left) was killed when a tree supporting a zip line she was riding with her boyfriend Joshua Jackson, 38, (right) was uprooted and struck her in the skull, causing severe head trauma. The mother-of-three died in northwestern Oregon on Saturday McVay was originally from Petersburg, Alaska, and attended school in Tillamook, Oregon. Her obituary tribute said: 'She loved life in the beautiful outdoors' Jackson, 38, escaped major injury but was arrested on an outstanding warrant in connection with a 2012 conviction for fourth-degree assault, reported Oregon Live. The couple took a trail near the Nehalem River, normally used by experienced hikers, according to the paper. They were so far along that rescuers used all-terrain vehicles and had to hike two miles to reach them. Her friends and family started a GoFundMe to help with McVay's funeral costs. The couple were on a zip-line that crossed the Nehalem River (pictured) in rural northwestern Oregon. They took a trial that is used by experienced hikers. They were so far in the wilderness that rescuers used all-terrain vehicles and hiked two miles to reach them McVay was pronounced dead at the scene after her boyfriend Joshua Jackson made the 911 call to Tillamook County police around 6am The page said in a tribute: 'She loved life in the beautiful outdoors. 'Tami was a beautiful little girl growing up and as a young lady, she still carried that beauty inside and out.' McVay was born in Petersburg, Alaska, and attended school in Tillamook, Oregon, and later received a college degree in culinary art, according to her obituary. John Michael Haskew of Lakeland, Florida, said he had God on his side when he tried to bilk a bank of billions A man who tried to steal $7 billion said it was because Jesus wanted him to be rich. John Michael Haskew of Lakeland, Florida, said the Lord was on his side when he fraudulently transferred $7 billion in over 70 wire transfers on December 9 and 10 from a bank only identified in documents as Bank A, according to WFTV. He then called upon a higher power for his defense. When asked why he'd made the transfers, authorities said he stated, 'That Jesus Christ created wealth for everyone. Using this scheme, Haskew believed that he could obtain the wealth that Jesus Christ created for him and that belonged to him,' according to the criminal complaint. Haskew, above, said he was 'self-taught in the banking industry' and figured how to transfer billions in fraudulent funds It's unclear where the money was transferred to, but investigators said that Haskew bragged that he was 'self-taught on the banking industry' and had figured out how to make the fraudulent transfers through experimentation. Haskew is reportedly unemployed and owed money to the government. As part of a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the federal government on Thursday. He could serve up to five years in prison and get slapped with a $250,000 fine. Thousands of chickens were found living in 'inhumane' conditions on a poultry farm and its owner faces years in prison. Authorities in San Bernardino County said that Hohberg Poultry Ranches and the owner, Robert Hohberg, 70, have been charged Tuesday with 39 misdemeanor counts of violating Californias Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, according to the Los Angeles Times. At least 28,000 chickens were found stuffed inside of cages so tiny they couldn't spread their wings, they were laying eggs on top of dead chickens, and the farms weren't properly safeguarded to prevent salmonella contamination, said the outlet. Scroll down for video The abused chickens were stuffed into tiny wire cages so they couldn't turn around or spread their wings and were pecking at each other Chickens were found in 'cruel' conditions and were pecking at each other, said the district attorney The farm was filled with dirt, debris, cob webs and even a cat living in a cage, said authorities The conditions the chickens were forced to live in were called 'inhumane,' 'deplorable,' and 'horrible.' Authorities began an investigation after a complaint to the Inland Valley Humane Society in 2016. 'The overcrowded conditions these animals were forced to live in were cruel. It was a horrible existence,' said District Attorney Mike Ramos. 'Its a very inhumane situation. If you are going to harm animals here in the Inland Empire, we are going to hold you responsible.' Ramos said the distressed chickens were tearing each other apart. The farms were dirty, filled with cobwebs and leaky water; a cat was living in a cage, and eggs meant for human consumption were being laid on top of dead and dying chicks, said authorities The chickens were in cramped cages where they could barely move and were pecking each other Eggs meant for human consumption were being laid in 'deplorable' conditions 'They start trying to get out and they start pecking one another. It's just a horrendous situation,' he told KABC. The three farms are located in Ontario, California. Owner Robert Hohberg, 70, faces faces up to 180 days in jail for each cage size violation and a year for each animal cruelty count. Inspectors said they found at least one cat living inside of the cages, wild birds in the houses, clutter, debris, cobwebs, leaking water, and eggs meant for human consumption being laid on top of dead and dying chickens. California voters approved the animal welfare act that should have prevented this in 2008. Ramos said charges were filed in part as a warning to other ranchers that this kind of thing wouldn't be tolerated. 'One of the reasons we filed this case was not only for this individual to make the changes and stop the suffering, but for prevention. For other people, other ranchers, if you're going to do this business, do it right,' he said. A 21-year-old woman has drowned after floodgates were opened, sending water surging down the river where she was swimming with friends. Three other swimmers made it to the shore of Waikato River, on New Zealand's North Island, but Auckland student Rachael Louise De Jong tragically did not survive the sudden onslaught of water. Her body was recovered from a rockpool by police on Monday night, stuff.co.nz reported. Two German tourists, Katrin Taylor and Kevin Kiau, were on a viewing platform in the Aratiatia Dam area and could see four people standing on a submerged rock Rachael Louise De Jong, 21, drowned after the Aratiatia Dam floodgates were opened, sending water surging down the spillway where she was swimming with friends Two German tourists, Katrin Taylor and Kevin Kiau, were on a viewing platform in the Aratiatia Dam area and could see four people standing on a submerged rock. They had heard five minute warning siren sound before the floodgates at the dam are opened. As the waters began rising, the two tourists watched as the girls tried to jump to a nearby rock where a man was standing. 'We saw the first girl made it. The guy pulled her in. The second girl jumped and made it safe as well the guy pulled her in,' Ms Taylor told stuff.co.nz. 'The third girl, she jumped but the water was washing her away so the guy grabbed her.' Ms Taylor said the man and the third woman were washed away. 'There was still one girl left in the middle of the river. I'm not sure if she tried to jump, or the water was already too high, but she was gone pretty quick without making it to the safer rock, to the larger one,' she said. Two women were left stranded on the rock, left to fear the fate of their friends. Touching tributes from devastated friends and family describe a constantly smiling, bubbly woman who was loved by many 'You can live a lifetime and never meet another person that has such a profoundly positive effect in your life,' just one of the dozens of hearfelt tributes for the 21-year-old Tragically, 21-year-old Rachael Louise De Jong did not survive the accident. Touching tributes from friends and family describe a constantly smiling, bubbly woman who was loved by many. 'I am honestly lost for words hearing yesterday that we have lost you. The most beautiful girl inside and out I have ever met, just gone like that,' one friend wrote. Another added: 'It is so rare that you meet someone so Beautiful inside and out like Rachael. You can live a lifetime and never meet another person that has such a profoundly positive effect in your life.' Ms De Jong's heartbroken brother also expressed his grief over the loss of his beloved sister. 'Not only was she an inspiration to us all, she was my best friend, and the most perfect sister I could ever have asked for. I can't even begin to describe how much I'm going to miss you, and how incredibly unfair it is that you have been taken far, far too soon,' he said. 'You never spoke a bad word of anyone, and you had such an infectious smile that could cheer anyone up. There's not enough words in the world I could use to describe you. I love you so much Rachael, rest easy.' The Aratiatia Rapids pictured when the spillway is open. As the waters began rising, the two tourists watched as the girls tried to jump to a nearby rock where a man was standing Mercury Energy, the company that operate the spillway, confirmed there was a warning siren before the dam's gates were opened at midday The Vice Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology where Ms De Jong studied expressed sadness over the young woman's passing. 'Rachael De Jong was a student in our Physiotherapy school and was known as a bright, cheerful, kind and diligent member of the student community and was well respected by her lecturers and peers,' Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack said. 'Our thoughts are with Rachael's family and friends at this extremely difficult and sad time. AUT extends our sincere condolences.' Mercury Energy, the company that operate the spillway, confirmed there was a warning siren before the dam's gates were opened at midday. During summer, the gates open four times a day at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, Stuff reports. 'Mercurys thoughts and condolences are with the De Jong family during this difficult time, they told Daily Mail Australia. 'The drowning is a real tragedy and Mercury is working with relevant organisations to review safety processes in the area.' 'The spillway is opened approximately 1,200 times a year, for operational management on the Waikato River and for tourism viewing purposes.' There are signs around the area warning people not to swim as well and fences and harsh terrain to prevent swimmers from accessing various areas. 'There are safety mitigations warning of the dangers of entering the active spillway area and a bylaw prohibits people from being in the spillway and downstream vicinity.' Ms De Jong's death has been referred to the Coroner. A male 'sex witch' who used hypnotism and mind-altering techniques on teenage girls is free to live back in the community after his supervision order was revoked. Robin Fletcher, 60, who is legally blind, was jailed in 1998 for eight years after he prostituted, raped and enslaved two 15-year-old girls. The supervision order has been in place since the end of Fletcher's jail term and saw him placed at a Victorian sex offender's facility. In the Victorian Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Phillip Priest, in revoking the order, said he was 'unable to conclude that (Fletcher) poses an unacceptable risk' to the community. Convicted rapist Robin Fletcher (centre) leaves the Victorian Supreme Court on Wednesday after his supervision order was revoked Fletcher was jailed in 1998 for eight years after he prostituted, raped and enslaved two 15-year-old girls (file image) The Victorian State Government had asked the court to extend Fletcher's supervision order last year. Justice Priest dismissed the move on Wednesday and ordered the supervision order be revoked. Fletcher used mind-altering techniques on the teenagers in 1998, telling them it was necessary to fulfill their destiny as 'high priestesses of the dark covenant,' and forcing them into prostitution. His offences included one count of sexual penetration of a child and three of committing an indecent act with a child. Fletcher had been under supervision at the Corella Place sex offenders facility in south west Victoria. A man is lucky to be alive after enduring hours trapped in a dam with his head barely above the water. Daniel Miller, 45, became stuck after his excavator rolled in Charlotte Bay, New South Wales following heavy rain on Wednesday, 9 News reported. He spent two hours with his nose just above the muddy water before he managed to arch his back and get his mouth out to call for help. A neighbour heard his cries at about 2.30pm, Westpac Rescue Helicopter air crewman Graham Nickisson said. 'It pinned him inside the open cabin... his airways were only a couple of centimetres above the water,' Mr Nickisson said. Harrowing images show Daniel Miller with his nose only centimetres above the waterline as he anxiously waits for authorities Mr Miller became stuck after his excavator rolled in Charlotte Bay on the New South Wales north coast following heavy rain on Wednesday A Fire and Rescue crewman has opened up about the moment he dug Mr Miller out of the mud with his bare hands. Simon Black, 43, told Daily Mail Australia Mr Miller was 'inches from drowning' when he arrived. 'He was very close to going under, he's a very very lucky man,' he said. 'He pretty much only had part of his head sticking out of the mud, he looked like a turtle, that's the only way I can describe it.' Mr Black said he and his colleague jumped into the muddy dam as soon as the three tonne excavator was declared stable, and started to 'remove as much mud as possible by hand'. Mr Miller was pulled from the mud, where he struggled to free his mouth to call for help Fire and Rescue crews from Forster were first on the scene to free Mr Miller from the mud 'We could tell he was very scared and cold and had hypothermia setting in,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'He was in shock as well.' Mr Black said he and fellow crewman Steven Howard were almost as bogged down in the mud as Mr Miller. 'We were up to our chest in mud,' he said. Simone Black (right) and Steven Howard (left) are responsible for pulling Mr Miller to safety After about 20 minutes of digging the mud away by hand, Mr Black said it was time to pull. 'Steve and I thought, 'let's have a crack' and so we checked his neck and spine, could feel all his legs, and the ambulance was happy for us to try,' he said. 'An arm each, we braced our feet and pulled him out. 'It was a bit of an effort, but it's the first time I've ever pulled anyone out of a dam who was stuck under an excavator so I can't compare it to anything really.' He said Mr Miller was 'stoked' when he was finally freed. 'He just yelled out "yes",' he said. The fire and rescue crew said the machine needed to be pulled off Mr Miller before he could be freed He spent two hours with only his face above the muddy water before a neighbour heard his cries for help Mr Miller was taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering hypothermia and back injuries Mr Black said he was happy to hear Mr Miller was safe and well following the terrifying rescue. But he admitted there could easily be a different outcome. 'The excavator's bucket arm landed on a rock, if it didn't it could've sunk down further and pushed him down with it,' he said. 'Lucky was definitely on his side.' Ambulance and fire rescue crews were all on scene at the Charlotte Bay property Water was pumped out of the dam by fire crews before Mr Miller was pulled free Police agreed MR Miller was 'lucky to be alive' after his excavator slid down the side of the embankment. 'It pinned him inside the open cabin his airways were only a couple of centimetres above the water,' Westpac Rescue Helicopter air crewman Graham Nickisson said on Wednesday. 'He was trapped such that only just a part of his face was above the water, just his nose and his forehead was above the water,' Inspector Neil Stephens said. Mr Miller was taken to John Hunter Hospital via helicopter suffering hypothermia and back injuries. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Bill Shorten and his Labor colleagues of having 'never done a day's work in their lives' in a fiery exchange in Parliament. And it seems he is not the only one who considers the Opposition Leader vastly underqualified to hold such a high office. Defending Mr Turnbull's rant, MP for Reid Craig Laundy described Mr Shorten as a 'private school boy from Melbourne' that the Coalition was 'prepared' to call out. Other commentators pointed to Mr Shorten's career path - distinctly lacking in any hard labour in opposition to his party's roots of representing the working class. Scroll down for video Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Bill Shorten of having 'never done a day's work' in his life. MP for Reid Craig Laundy agreed, describing Mr Shorten as a 'private school boy' Bill was born to an academic mother and union official father, and sent to an ultra-private Jesuit Catholic school in Melbourne (pictured left, at Xavier College, and right, at university) Bill was born in Melbourne alongside his twin brother Robert, the only children of a union official father and lawyer mother who also came from a family with union ties. Sent to a Catholic primary school in upmarket Malvern East as a young boy, Shorten then moved to ultra-elite Xavier College, a private Jesuit Catholic boarding school. It was there he first got his taste for politics as a student with the Labor party, but it wasn't until he started studying law at Monash University that things heated up. Alongside a group of university friends Shorten helped form a Young Labor group called Network with the party's Right faction. After graduating with a double Bachelor in Arts and Laws in 1992, Shorten had a brief stint working in a law firm but soon found himself drawn back to the unions. Just two years after finishing tertiary education, Shorten joined the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and quickly worked his way up the union ranks. Commentators pointed to Mr Shorten's career path - from running a union without any real work to parliament and Opposition leader (pictured as the Australian Workers' Union national secretary in 2003) No hard labour? Mr Shorten studied law at university, and two years after graduating began working his way through the union ranks before transferring to politics in 2007 (pictured speaking to media during the Beaconsfield mine disaster in 2006, which boosted his profile) Mr Shorten lives in a modest home just north of Melbourne's city with his second wife Chloe and four children - three from Chloe's previous marriage (all pictured). Chloe is the daughter of former Governor General Quentin Bryce By 1998 he was the Australian Workers' Union Victorian state secretary, and just three years later he earned the title of the union's national secretary. The Beaconsfield mine disaster in 2006 boosted his public profile, and within a year his political experience saw him nominated as Labor Member for Maribyrnong. Then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd shot him straight to the outer ministry, and by 2010 he was promoted again to the Cabinet as Minister for Financial Services. And in the Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday, Mr Turnbull chose to attack Mr Shorten's union-heavy upbringing and lack of 'hard work'. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has launched a scathing attack on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, calling him a 'parasite' who had 'never done a day's work' Shorten looked decidedly unimpressed during the grilling in Parliament on Wednesday 'There has never been a more sycophantic leader of the Labor Party, than this one and he comes here and poses as a tribune of the people,' he said. Mr Turnbull asserted that he was 'old enough to remember' when the Labor Party's benches were filled with union officials 'who had actually worked.' 'Nowadays, look at the serried ranks of apparatchiks and political hacks. That is totally out of touch with the men and women they claim to represent,' he added. Mr Shorten lives in a reasonably modest home in Moonee Ponds, just north of Melbourne's city, with his second wife Chloe and four children - three from Chloe's previous marriage. His wife Chloe is the daughter of Michael and former-Governor General Quentin Bryce, who was the first woman to hold the position and also spent five years as Governor of Queensland prior. He married Chloe just one year after splitting from his first wife Debbie Beale, who was the daughter of former federal MP Julian Beale. A 71-year-old volunteer claims he has been banned from winding up the railway station clock made famous in the classic film Brief Encounter because of alleged racist remarks. A family made a complaint about timekeeper Jim Walker when they overheard him speaking about refugees in Carnforth Station, Lancashire. He has been 'banned' from entering parts of the station where he has been volunteering for 14 years and features in the 1945 romantic drama. Jim Walker has been keeping the clock ticking in Carnforth Station, Lancashire, since it was reinstated 13 years ago Mr Walker has been 'banned' from entering parts of the station, which features in the 1945 romantic drama after a member of the public made a complaint Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard in the 1945 classic film Brief Encounter The former train driver said he was overheard discussing a newspaper article which compared Jewish children arriving in England in 1933 and the refugees entering the UK from Calais. The 71-year-old, husband to Betty, said the migrants were 'incomparable' with the six-year-old Jewish children arriving on Kindertransport trains fleeing the Nazis. Mr Walker claims the Carnforth Station Trust later decided to move the tools he needs to access the clock to an outbuilding not in the trust's control to enable him to continue his duties. But Mr Walker has refused in protest against how he claims to have been treated. The father-of-two said: 'I'm a supporter of free speech - it's part of our democracy. 'But now I'm the only man in Carnforth who's been told where he can and can't walk. 'They banned me from certain areas of the station but where the clock lies isn't one of them but you still need a ladder to get to the clock - it's 10ft off the ground. 'They were going to put the ladder in an outhouse for me and give me the key so I can still wind the clock - they can bu**** off.' The Brief Encounter clock at Carnforth Station with Celia Johnson walking beneath The 71-year-old, husband to Betty, said the migrants were 'incomparable' with the six-year-old Jewish children arriving on Kindertransport trains fleeing the Nazis The clock was installed in the station in 1895 and was made by Joyce of Whitchurch. It needs to be wound using a large key twice weekly. When filming took place in 1945, the threat of air-raids hung over London so film crews moved up to the far north. Mr Walker added: 'What they are doing is outrageous and all for expressing a point of view and quoting an editorial from a newspaper. 'It's absolutely unbelievable. The first I knew about this was a letter from a solicitor put through my letterbox one night. 'I thought all these people were friends of mine but none of them have come to see me. 'I have been winding the clock twice a week for 13 years - now it is no longer possible.' Centre manager John Adams later investigated the incident - without speaking to Mr Walker - and reported back to the board, who agreed to exclude Mr Walker from areas of the station under the control of the heritage centre. The station is still an active railway station operated by Northern Rail and the clock hangs above one of the platforms. Mr Walker, from Carnforth, said: 'Carnforth Station Trust received a complaint from a visitor who wasn't happy about me speaking to somebody about the issue.' The solicitor's letter sent to Mr Walker said the 'serious complaint' followed a family cutting short their trip to the heritage centre due to 'loud offensive remarks' which used 'inflammatory and highly abusive' language. The letter said: 'It is clear the visitor's version of events was a true and factual picture of what went on.' Carnforth Station Trust chairman Peter Crowther said he did not wish to comment further until after the meeting, but added that it was 'a very serious incident which could have involved the police'. New details have emerged surrounding the mysterious disappearance and death of a Texas student, courtesy of a newly released police affidavit. Robert Fabian, 22, told cops he planned a romantic dinner and back massages at his home for Zuzu Verk, 21, on the night of October 11, but she left after an argument about an ex-girlfriend. He says he never saw her again - but the affidavit claims that his story changed under questioning by police, and that he acted suspiciously in the days afterward. Those suspicious acts including getting friend Chris Estrada, 28, to help him buy plastic sheets like those found wrapped around her skeletal remains, Chron reported. Arrested: Robert Fabian (left) has been arrested in connection with the death of Zuzu Verk (right), who disappeared on October 11, and whose skeleton was found on Friday Charged: Fabian had planned a romantic evening for Verk, but it descended into arguments. Police have charged his friend Chris Estrada (pictured) with helping him hide Verk's body Verk's skeleton was found by a US Border Patrol agent in the Sunny Glen area northwest of Alpine, the Texas town where Verk was last seen. She was identified using dental records; investigators have not yet determined how she died. Fabian, who reported Verk missing on October 14, initially told police that she left his apartment between 2am and 3am on the morning of October 12. According to the affidavit, however, when police told him that a neighbor had seen Fabian leaving his apartment that morning, he amended his statement. He told them he'd left Verk behind in the apartment while he went to a Dairy Queen to reconsider their relationship. He then returned before escorting her to the door. Neighbors also told police that Fabian had played a movie loudly between 1am and 2am, and had then driven off alone at around 4am. Verk's car remained parked outside his apartment until October 14, they said. Search warrants found that Fabian called his friend, Chris Estrada, twice during the early morning of October 12 and later borrowed a Ford F-150 pickup for an unknown reason. Estrada told police that he drove Fabian to a store on the evening of October 12, and let the man use his card to buy three plastic drop cloths, like those used by artists to protect a floor from paint. Those drop cloths are similar to the ones wrapped around Verk's remains when they were found, police said. Discovery: Her corpse was found on Friday in a shallow grave, wrapped in plastic. An affidavit says Fabian's story changed as police questioned him, and that he bought plastic sheets Estrada's computer details also show that he was at Fabian's apartment on October 12, from 10:40pm until midnight, the affadavit claims. It also says that in the days afterward, Fabian stayed at his sister's place rather than his own apartment - something friends noted was odd. And one friend told police that he had said: 'If I know a really big secret and two people know it, then the other has to be dead.' The friend said Fabian had noticed a frightened look on his face, and then said he was joking. Fabian and Estrada now stand charged with second-degree felony evidence tampering by concealment of a corpse. John Franco, who lives in the apartment directly below Fabian, told The Dallas Morning-News that the couple made dinner around 9pm on October 11. 'You could smell their food, and you can hear their conversation and then laugh a little bit. Then it got quiet like after 11pm', Franco said. Franco and his girlfriend heard 'shut the "F" up' and then nothing else. 'Odd': Fabian slept at his sister's place rather than his own apartment after the disappearance, which friends say was odd. Verk had been studying in his town of Alpine, Texas The couple often fought, but Franco said that night Fabian kept pacing across his apartment. Then Franco's girlfriend heard a loud thump around 3am. 'She wanted me to go check, so I went to go check, and it was just Robert', Franco said, adding that he saw Fabian get into his car alone. Estrada also tried to get his Ford Mustang cleaned three times at a local auto shop in the days following Verk's disappearance. Verk, who is originally from the Fort Worth area, studied conservation biology at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Fabian is being held on $500,000 bond in Brewster County jail in Alpine. Estrada was arrested in Arizona and is being returned to Texas having waived extradition. One of Australia's most senior Catholic priests believes it is inappropriate to ask priests about their sex lives before they are accused of abuse. Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge has told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that a bishop's relationship with a priest is 'delicate'. When asked how the church allowed more than 4,000 Australian children to be allegedly abused, he said there are 'certain things' the head of the diocese are not entitled to know about the clergy. Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge believes it is inappropriate to ask priests about their sex lives before they are accused of abuse 'How would I justifiably inquire of a priest what his sexual behaviour was when it hadn't emerged into the public forum and become a problem in the community which he was supposed to lead?' he said in Sydney on Wednesday. 'I have no right to ask those questions or, if I do, to expect an answer.' This week the scale of the problem was laid bare with data showing seven per cent of Australian priests are accused child sex abusers. The opening address of the hearing found 7 percent of priests in Australia between 1950 and 2010 were accused of sexually abusing children. Royal commission chairman Peter McClellan said a skilled person might notice a priest not functioning effectively without asking straight away about his sex life. 'So when you find a problem with the way someone is functioning, the question maybe should be asked: what is their personal life really all about?,' Justice McClellan said. The top Catholic priest told a Royal Commission into into Child Abuse a bishop's relationship with a priest is 'delicate' Archbishop Coleridge replied: 'That is something that would pertain to someone providing professional supervision or spiritual direction rather than something that would pertain to the bishop.' People in the public gallery were asked to stop making comments during the archbishop's exchange with the chairman, who said some people might think a bishop's inability to ask about a priest's personal life might indicate a management flaw. The discussion arose after Archbishop Coleridge said he was not naive enough to think all priests remained celibate. This week the scale of the problem was laid bare with data showing seven per cent of Australian priests are accused child sex abusers Shocking statistics of child abuse have come to light this week at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse He said he was not persuaded celibacy caused people to become child sexual abusers but said the idea it might be an aggravating factor was still 'on the table'. The scripture's message on sexuality had previously been poorly communicated in seminary teachings, he said. 'It's (the appropriate teaching that) human sexuality is geared to love and not power. In other words, the exact opposite of what happens in the case of sexual abuse or violation of any kind,' Archbishop Coleridge said. The hearing continues. After Trump's first military order ended in a 'botched' raid that left children dead, Yemen withdrew permission to let the United States run Special Operations ground missions in its country on Tuesday After Trump's first military order ended in a 'botched' raid, Yemen has withdrawn permission to let the United States run Special Operations ground missions in its country. Just five days after taking the White House, President Trump signed off on the Navy SEAL team mission targeting al-Qaeda leaders and intelligence that President Obama had previously passed on. Indeed, according to White House insiders Trump reportedly agreed to the operation after he was told the former president 'wouldn't have been bold enough' to go for the 'game-changer',CNBC reported an official saying. The raid - which Trump labeled a 'success' - left a SEAL Team 6 member and an eight-year-American old girl dead on January 29 and caused outrage in the Middle Eastern country. Although the White House has not publicly announced the news, Yemen's ambassador to the US said the country's cooperation should not come 'at the expense of the Yemeni citizens and the countrys sovereignty'. The White House has not publicly announced the news and neither has President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi (pictured). Yemen's ambassador to the US has said in an interview the country's cooperation should not come 'at the expense of the Yemeni citizens and the countrys sovereignty' Trump flew to Delaware to be present and honor the first military casualty of his presidency, Chief Special Warfare Officer William 'Ryan' Owens, as the SEAL's body was returned to U.S. soil on February 1. Despite the Trump's administration labeling the mission as a 'success' on Tuesday U.S. military officials told Reuters, however, that Trump approved his first covert counter-terrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparation. He ordered the attack after Obama had deferred the decision to the 45th president. Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens (left), a 36-year-old from Illinois, was killed along with eight-year-old Nawar al-Awlaki (right), also known as Nora, in the botched raid on January 29 The purpose of the mission was to recover laptops, cell phones and other intelligence that would help battle Al Qaeda groups in the region. Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the operation gained 'an unbelievable amount of intelligence' in the raid 'that will prevent potential deaths or attacks on American soil.' The Defense Department denies allegations that the day's true purpose was aimed at the high-ranking terrorist and Al Qaeda leader Qassim al-Rimi. In the attack, U.S. Navy SEAL William 'Ryan' Owens was killed in the raid on a branch of al Qaeda, in al Bayda province, which the Pentagon said killed 14 militants. The White House denies that the secret target of last week's Navy SEAL raid was al-Qaeda's head operative in the Arabian Peninsula, Qassim al-Rimi. He is still alive and has taunted Donald Trump in an audio recording released Sunday Al-Rimi said: 'The White House's new fool has received a painful blow at your hands in his first outing on your land.' Pictured: Debris following the raid The 8-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, a militant killed by a 2011 U.S. drone strike, was also one of the dead. Medics at the scene said about 30 people, including 10 women and children, were killed. The president of Yemen voiced concerns about the raid according to the country's ambassador to the United States, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, reported the New York Times. He said in an interview with Al Jazeera: 'Yemens government is a key partner in the war against terrorism. He also said Yemen's willingness to work with America should not come 'at the expense of the Yemeni citizens and the countrys sovereignty'. Pauline Hanson has voiced her frustration after learning the Australia Post CEO was paid a total of $5.6 million last year. The Queensland senator has claimed managing director Ahmed Fahour 'donated $2.6 million of his wages to an Islamic museum'. It's unclear where her claims have come from but a report in 2014 said Mr Fahour donated more than $2 million in lieu of a bonus to the Islamic Museum of Australia. On Wednesday afternoon, the One Nation leader took to Twitter to accuse Mr Fahour of earning his income through taxpayers' money. However, Australia Post says it takes no taxpayer dollars. Scroll down for video Pauline Hanson has vented her frustration after learning the Australian Post CEO was earning $5.6 million last year Documents published on Tuesday showed managing director Ahmed Fahour (pictured) received a $4.4 million salary and a $1.2 million bonus last financial year 'Well the cat is out of the bag and I'll tell you what? I am mad,' she said in the video. 'I'm absolutely seething over this, to think that the head of Australia Post - the CEO - is getting paid $5.6 million. 'Last year, he donated $2.6 million of his wages to an Islamic museum.' The outspoken politician said she agreed with Malcolm Turnbull after the Prime Minister said he believed the salary was 'too high'. 'Well the Prime Minister has come out and said 'it's too high'... darn right it's too damn high. It's absolutely unjustified and it's ridiculous,' Ms Hanson continued. She accused Mr Fahour of getting 'taxpayers dollars'. 'Something better be done about it and it should be done about it because I'm calling for it,' she said. 'And I'm sure every other Australian, everyone in this country would be calling for exactly what I'm saying.' Ms Hanson claimed she believed the post office boss should be paid 'no more than $250,000 a year because that's all he's worth'. But despite her claims of where his income was coming from, Australia Post says on its website the organisation does not 'receive any taxpayer funding'. On Wednesday afternoon, the One Nation leader took to Twitter to accuse Mr Fahour of earning his income through taxpayers' money A parliamentary committee has revealed the salaries of top Australia Post executives, insisting there are no compelling reasons for them to be hidden from public scrutiny (stock image) Australia Post insists its executive team's remuneration is set by the board and not management. 'Mr Fahour's total remuneration package takes into account the size and complexity of the organisation, which has an annual turnover of more than $6 billion,' it said in a statement. His remuneration in the previous financial year included a performance-based bonus in line with the company returning to profit and he did not receive a bonus in the year before that, it said. 'Since 2007 Australia Post has paid more than $6.3 billion in dividends and taxes to the federal government,' Australia Post said. It noted the company did not receive taxpayer funding. Ms Hanson's remarks comes after it emerged Mr Fahour is believed to be the highest paid post office boss in the world, earning more than the top executives in the UK, US and Canada combined. It emerged Mr Fahour is believed to be the highest paid post office boss in the world, earning more than the top executives in the UK, US and Canada combined It was revealed Mr Fahour was paid $5.6 million last year after a parliamentary committee released the salaries of top Australia Post executives, insisting there are no compelling reasons for them to be hidden from public scrutiny. He is the highest paid man in the Commonwealth's service, earning significantly more than his counterparts. Canada post chief executive Deepak Chopra is paid $CAN 500,000 ($AU 497,000) a year to service a population of 35 million people, ABC News reported. Since the privatisation of the Royal Mail in the UK the chief executive Moya Greene earns $1.529 million pounds ($AUD 2.5 million) a year. Britain has a population of 64 million. The US Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan pockets $US 415,219 ($AUD 543,616). Documents published on Tuesday showed Mr Fahour received a $4.4 million salary and a $1.2 million bonus last financial year, committee chairman James Paterson said. Since the privatisation of the Royal Mail the chief executive Moya Greene earns $1.529 million pounds ($AUD 2.5 million) a year The US Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan (pictured) pockets $US 415,219 ($AUD 543,616) The documents - which do not include names - show another five executives earned between $1.8 million and $1.3 million. Mr Turnbull called the chairman of Australia Post after Mr Fahour's pay was revealed. Mr Turnbull said while pay was a decision for the board, he did speak to chairman John Stanhope on Wednesday morning about Mr Fahour's package. 'I think that renumeration is too high,' the Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra. Mr Turnbull acknowledged Mr Fahour had a big job overseeing a large government-owned entity, which had improved its operating business. 'In my view, I say this as someone who spent most of his life in the business world before I came into politics, I think it is a very big salary for that job,' Mr Turnbull said. In a chain of correspondence since a Senate estimates hearing in October, Australia Post argued the individuals may become targets for unwarranted media attention and it may lead to brand damage for the government-owned business. It was happy to release the information confidentially, but did not want it to be released publicly. But Senator Paterson wrote to the company on Tuesday informing them the documents would be publicly released. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Fahour's renumeration was too high Australia Post was urged to consider ways to increase transparency about its operations and expenditure (stock image) Australia Post managing director Ahmed Fahour (pictured) was paid $5.6 million last year 'Any potential issues of personal safety and security do not appear to be compelling reasons to withhold publication,' he said. The committee also urged Australia Post to consider ways to increase transparency about its operations and expenditure. It noted NBN Co, another wholly-government owned business enterprise, publishes detailed information about the renumeration paid to senior executives as part of its annual report. Senator Paterson said Mr Fahour's salary makes him effectively the nation's highest paid public servant. 'We think that's not information that should be withheld from taxpayers,' he told ABC radio. Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon praised Senator Paterson for insisting the salaries be disclosed. He noted his package was more than 10 times the $507,338 salary paid to Mr Turnbull. 'I think a lot of people will scratch their heads on that one,' he told ABC TV. Parents at a primary school have been banned from speaking to teachers when they pick up their children at the end of the day. Headteacher Fiona Donnelly said staff at Sandwood Primary School in Penilee, Glasgow, had faced 'inappropriate behaviour' from parents. She responded with a strongly worded letter, asking the parents to make an appointment to speak to staff instead. Headteacher Fiona Donnelly said staff at Sandwood Primary School in Penilee, Glasgow, had faced 'inappropriate behaviour' from parents The letter states: 'Staff will no longer be available at the end of the school day at dismissal to speak with parents/carers. 'Any parent/carer wishing to speak with a member of staff is required to make an appointment via the school office. 'This is due to a rising number of incidents where family members have behaved inappropriately towards members of staff, shouting, using offensive language and causing significant stress to staff. 'It is with regret that these procedures have been put in place as we recognise that many parents welcome a catch-up at the end of the day. 'However, I am not prepared for staff to face this at the end of a school day and for my pupils to witness this behaviour.' From Monday, parents and carers have been asked to wait in designated parent zones to ensure the safety of pupils at the end of the day. If parents do not behave in the correct manner, they have been told they could be issued with a warning that could prevent them from entering school grounds. A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: 'Inappropriate behaviour towards staff is unacceptable, will not be tolerated and action will be taken to set a good example to our children and young people.' Susan Quinn, local association secretary at the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: 'Generally, teachers will work as hard as they can to promote good relationships with parents and carers. It would be an unusual situation when that becomes broken down.' Scottish Tory education spokesman Liz Smith said: 'It is very disappointing to see the breakdown in this relationship but the safety of all individuals has to be paramount. 'Ultimately, it's the school's decision as to how much access parents are granted to staff, but I am sure everyone is wanting to bridge the communication gap as quickly as possible.' The move received online support from local residents. Walter Brown commented: 'What chance have children got when the parents can't behave at school?' Eileen Prior of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council said: 'We have been assured that the letter does not mean parents cannot speak to teachers but the school wants discussions and updates to take place at the right time and place.' President Donald Trump is considering adding Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard to the list of prohibited terrorist organizations as part of a wave of new executive orders. The move against the Islamic republic's most powerful security institution would deal a further blow to relations with Tehran. Trump has also been warned it could have implications on the fight against ISIS, because Iran is one of the countries opposing the terror group. But members of his administration have been pushing for him to increase sanctions against the state since his first day in the White House. The US already has restrictions on individuals and organizations linked to the IRGC. Iran was also one of the seven Muslim-majority countries part of his immigrant travel ban. US President Donald Trump, sitting in the Oval office along with National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (center) and chief strategist Steve Bannon (right), is considering designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization by an executive order The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is the most powerful security and political organization in Tehran and placing it on a terror list could impact the United States' fight against ISIS The White House is also considering placing the Muslim Brotherhood on the terror organization list, although this decision may be delayed. Naming Iran's single most powerful military and political institution as a terrorist group could inflame regional conflicts involving the country. It would also complicate the US fight against ISIS in Iraq, where Shi'ite militias backed by Iran and advised by IRGC fighters are battling the Sunni jihadist group. After tightening sanctions against Iran last week in response to a ballistic missile test, White House officials said the measures were an 'initial' step. US Gulf allies have long favored a tougher US stance against Iran, whom they blame for regional interference. Donald Trump is believed to be preparing a range of new executive orders in the near future Trump is considering imposing a range of new sanctions on the Iranian regime But officials said the process for issuing controversial orders has slowed in the wake of the political and legal uproar over Trump's order to ban entry to the United States from seven majority-Muslim countries, which is now the focus of a court battle. The United States has already blacklisted dozens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC. In 2007, the US Treasury designated the IRGC's Quds Force, its elite unit in charge of its operations abroad, 'for its support of terrorism', and has said it is Iran's 'primary arm for executing its policy of supporting terrorist and insurgent groups'. A designation of the entire IRGC as a terrorist group would potentially have much broader implications, including for the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and the United States and other major world powers. The nuclear deal, which has been criticized by Republicans for giving Iran too much and not placing tight enough restrictions on the country, granted Iran relief from most Western sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Reuters reported last week that the IRGC designation is among the proposals being considered as part of an Iran policy review in the Trump administration. The objective would be to dissuade foreign investment in Iran's economy, because of the IRGC's involvement in major sectors including transportation and oil. In many cases, that involvement is hidden behind layers of opaque ownership. One senior official told Reuters: 'The new administration regards Iran as the clearest danger to US interests, and they've been looking for ways to turn up the heat.' The official said that rather than tearing up the nuclear agreement, a step he said even Israel and Saudi Arabia oppose, the White House might turn instead toward punishing Iran for its support for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and some Shiite forces in Iraq. But sanctioning the IRGC could backfire, this official warned. It could strengthen the hardliners and undercut more moderate leaders such as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and encourage Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria to curtail any action against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and perhaps even sponsor actions against US-backed or even American forces battling Islamic State in Iraq. The Revolutionary Guards answer to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose power far surpasses that of Rouhani. The official warned: 'The Iranians will not take any US action lying down. They may not act quickly or in the open, but there is a danger of an escalating conflict.' Current US sanctions include penalties for foreign companies which knowingly conducting 'significant' transactions with the Revolutionary Guards, or other sanctioned Iranian entities. However, many companies in which the Revolutionary Guards have an interest in or own are not blacklisted, and have been able to sign foreign deals. A motorist has died after a crash involving several vehicles saw one car burst into flames. The fatal collision occurred at Unanderra, on the NSW south coast, after a chain-reaction crash led to one driver getting trapped inside their car as the vehicle set ablaze. Emergency services were called to the scene after the a car struck a telegraph pole about 3.50pm on Wednesday, becoming engulfed in flames and colliding with several other vehicles. A motorist has died after a crash involving several vehicles saw their car burst into flames Police have been unable to identify the sex of the body, which was badly burned in the collision. Images from the scene show thick plumes of black smoke pouring from the blazing vehicle, with wreckage strewn over the road. Officers from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. A truck and another car were also hit by the car, but there were no other injuries. A crime scene has been established and Five Islands Road is closed in both directions. Images from the scene of the fatal crash in Unanderra show wreckage strewn over the road Frightened passengers jumped from a London Overground train in terror today after a workman's faulty drill overheated and filled the carriage with smoke. Firefighters raced to Dalston Kingsland station in East London to extinguish the drill's battery after it started smoking at the start of this morning's rush hour. Commuters on the service told of their 'terror' after a bang was heard, the station was evacuated and the drill's battery was placed in a bucket of sand. Four people were taken to hospital - and two fire engines, paramedics and police were called after the drill being carried to work by the passenger malfunctioned. British Transport Police released this photograph of the overheated battery from a workman's drill led to the evacuation of a commuter train at Dalston Kingsland station in East London Passengers jumped from their carriages after 'a bang' on a London Overground train today London Overground at first told passengers that it believed a customer's battery pack had exploded, and later clarified that a faulty drill was the culprit. Video footage taken at the scene shortly after 7am shows people standing alongside the tracks and along the platform. A man in a high-visibility jacket can be heard telling commuters 'it was a small fire' - and Deejay Robert K, who posted the clip, said smoke was causing 'chaos'. Londoner Aaron Webb tweeted: 'Highest praise to the Met Police and London Fire Brigade this morning for rapid response... Sheer terror and panic onboard.' The electrical issue happened at Dalston Kingsland station in East London this morning Those on the service told of their 'terror' after a bang was heard as the train neared the station Firefighters raced to Dalston Kingsland station in East London to extinguish the drill's battery Another witness said: 'I was on the train and everyone jumped onto the tracks it was horrific.' It was claimed there was a bang and passengers 'panicked' and evacuated. Duncan Cross, deputy director of London Overground, said: 'At around 7.14am today there was an incident involving a faulty drill that was being carried to work by a customer at Dalston Kingsland. 'The train was evacuated and the emergency services attended. We would like to apologise to customers who were on board and to our customers whose journeys have been disrupted.' A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'We were called at 7.10am today to Dalston Kingsland to reports of smoke on a train. 'Several passengers left the train as a result of the smoke. Fire service also attended and established that a workman's drill had overheated and was smoking. Commuters on the London Overground service told how they were shocked by the bang London Ambulance Service treated 'a small number of patients at the scene for minor injuries' 'A number of people have sustained minor injuries and were treated by the ambulance service at the scene. This incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time. A tweet by London Overground said it was believed a customer's battery had 'exploded' but a spokesman said this was under investigation. And a London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: 'Firefighters have dealt with a small incident on a train at Dalston Kingsland station this morning. 'A workman's drill had overheated and started smoking. Firefighters extinguished the battery and placed it in a bucket of sand. The station was evacuated.' A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 7:36am today to reports of an incident at Dalston Kingsland railway station. Two fire engines, paramedics and police were called to the station in East London this morning Dalston Kingsland station was closed this morning following reports of the electrical issue Passengers are said to have jumped from the train after an electrical fault on board 'We sent four ambulance crews, a single responder in a car, an incident response officer and our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart) to the scene. 'We treated four patients for minor injuries, including head, leg and arm injuries, and took them to a hospital in east London. 'We also checked over three patients at the scene but they did not need hospital treatment.' The Metropolitan Police in Hackney tweeted that there had been a 'reported issue with electrics on the train in the station' but it has since been declared safe. The incident caused severe delays on the Stratford to Richmond line this morning. Were you on the Overground train? Please email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk A man accused of murdering New York jogger Karina Vetrano has allegedly told police he strangled her because she came from a white neighborhood. Chanel Lewis, 20, who was arrested in connection with the August 2 murder told one officer 'I don't like those people over there.' Lewis, who is black, has admitted killing Vetrano, whose body was discovered in Spring Creek Park, near Howard Beach last year. Chanel Lewis, the 20-year-old accused of murdering Karina Vetrano, (pictured in court on Sunday) allegedly made a videotaped confession to police which his lawyers say they weren't present for According to the New York Post, Lewis refused twice to talk to a white detective, but when Barry Brown, who is black, entered the interview room, the suspect waived his Miranda rights. He said he had 'hit' and 'choked' the 30-year-old jogger from Howard Beach. He was arraigned at Queens Criminal Court on Sunday night for second degree murder. Sexual assault charges are to be decided by a grand jury later this month. NYPD detectives say Lewis made 'detailed' descriptions of how he attacked Karina during her evening jog after being arrested at his family home in Brooklyn. Once in custody, he told them that he 'lost it' and choked her after venturing to the park while angry about how many people were in his crowded home, ABC reports. While Lewis admitted to killing the jogger, sources told the network he denied raping her in interviews that were captured on film. The NYPD claims he made 'detailed' descriptions of how he attacked Karina Vetrano on August 2 The suspect's father Richard revealed on Monday he took him to hospital for cuts and bruises the following day but maintained his son was innocent. Lewis's legal aid attorney Robert Moeller told DailyMail.com neither he nor his colleague Julia Burke were present when he made the apparent confession. They are yet to see the video and are urging the public to 'keep an open mind' so that Lewis may be granted a fair trial. 'We are spending this critical time getting to know our client and his family and reviewing all the facts associated with this case. 'We caution everyone including the media not to rush to immediate judgment. 'As our judicial system affords, Mr. Lewis is entitled to fairness and due process,' a statement issued by the Legal Aid Society read. The Queens District Attorney's Office has refused to discuss what exactly Lewis said during interviews but told DailyMail.com the taped comments were admissible and could be used at trial. There has been no official comment on Lewis's mental condition. A confession made by a suspect without a lawyer present can be used in court by prosecutors so long as it is proven to be voluntary. Richard Lewis, the suspect's father, revealed he took him to hospital with cuts and bruises on his arms the day after the attack and did not give an alternative explanation for the injuries but said he still believed his son was innocent Involuntary confessions are statements that are coerced by police or given without a suspect's full receipt and understanding of their Miranda Rights which includes their right to an attorney provided by the state. Lewis's attorneys have not yet suggested whether they believe the statement was voluntary or not and there has been no official comment on his mental state. He is a graduate of Martin De Porres School in Queens which teaches 'marginalized' students with emotional and behavioral problems. Students who attend the school are classified as having emotional disturbances which can include poor impulse control, poor regulation of emotions and frustration, a source told DailyMail.com. Others are aggressive, anxious, depressed or a combination. Lewis is currently facing one count of second degree murder but sexual assault charges are likely to be brought by a grand jury. He will reappear in court in Queens on February 21 and has not yet entered a plea to the second degree murder charge he faces. Richard Lewis, his 70-year-old father, revealed he took him to a hospital on August 3, the day after the murder, with cuts and bruises to his arm. Mr Lewis gave no alternative explanation for his son's injuries. He could not tell New York outlet Pix 11 if his son is mentally disabled, telling the network cryptically: 'Only the doctors would know.' Lewis is one of five of his mother's children and seven of his father's. His family is of Jamaican descent. Lewis attended Martin De Porres school for emotionally and behaviorally troubled teenagers between 2011 and 2015 but graduated with a clean record. He earlier attended Brooklyn's High School for Medical Professions in Canarsie where he allegedly threatened to stab female students in 2011 when he was 15. No one from the school could verify The New York Post's report of the incident and that he was diagnosed a paranoid schizophrenic afterwards on Tuesday. Police marched Lewis out of the 107th Precinct on Sunday (above) after heralding his arrest as a 'great day for New York law enforcement' Lewis was arrested at his mother's house (center) in East New York, Brooklyn, on Saturday at 6pm after stepping outside voluntarily. He lives in the basement apartment In 2011, Lewis threatened female students at the Brooklyn High School for Medical Professions (above) Lewis later attended Martin De Porres High School which he graduated from in 2015 with a clean record. The school prides itself on educating students with emotional and behavioral problems Dr Edward Dana, director of Martin De Porres School which he later attended: 'During his time at the school, there is no disciplinary record against him, nor are there any reports that he made threatening statements against other students. If travelling from Lewis's mother's house in East New York to the school, the quickest route is through Howard Beach. Lewis has three summonses for behavior in the area dating back to 2013 including one for public urination and two others for violating park rules. His family describes him as quiet, humble and unassuming. His father, retired elementary school principal Richard, rushed to the 107th Precinct on Sunday after news of his arrest to tell reporters that he was a 'wonderful' and 'humble' kid who wasn't capable of such violence. 'Chanel would never have gone to do what they say he has done. Lewis went to Spring Creek Park angry about the number of people in his crowded home and 'lost it' when he saw Karina, police sources claimed. Above, the scene in marshes near where her body was found four hours after she went for jog Karina and her attacker had never met before. Her murder occurred moments after this surveillance footage of her running towards the park was captured 'Hes never had a fight in his 20 years,' he told The New York Post. Lewis's half-sister Theresa Forbes claims he is the victim of a racially charged set-up. 'I think the cops framed him because hes a black person. 'They couldnt find anyone else to pin this on, so they pinned it on my brother. 'My family, we are God-fearing people. The Bible tells us Do no killwe do not kill,' she told the same newspaper. Lewis was arrested at his mother's house in East New York at 6pm on Saturday, two days after being questioned by police for the first time about the murder. Cathy Vetrano (center) screamed at Lewis as they came face to face for the first time at Queens Criminal Court on Sunday NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce (center) said on Sunday at a press conference that Lewis had made 'detailed' statements about the killing Detectives honed in on him after combing 911 calls about the area surrounding the Queens park as they frantically searched for leads. It had been cold for six months when they happened upon a report made by one of Karina's neighbors in Howard Beach about him trying to break in to a house with a crowbar. Local sergeant Lt. John Russo had also seen him the day before acting suspiciously. Queens NYPD Lt. John Russo (above) recalled seeing Lewis acting strangely in the park in May. His hunch and a 911 call from a neighbor describing the suspect from the same month led police to Lewis last week They visited Lewis at his mother Veta's home where he gave a voluntary cheek swab which matched DNA found under Karina's fingernails. Karina's parents have been generous in their praise of the department which Mrs Vetrano described as the 'best in the world' after Lewis's arrest. Lt. Russo was congratulated by New York City mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference on Tuesday. 'This was an extremely tough case to crack when it came to the murder of Ms. Vetrano, and youve done an amazing job,' he told Chief Detective Boyce. The Vetrano family watched Lewis's s arraignment on Sunday. The couple maintained an active public profile during the search for her killer and have vowed to attend Lewis's trial in its entirety. Mrs Vetrano unleashed on him as they came face to face in court for the first time, shouting in his direction: 'Now your nightmare begins' and labeling him a 'savage' and a 'demon'. A tourist who was filmed trying to take a selfie with a shark on a Brazilian beach has been slapped with a 5,000 fine, it was reported on Wednesday. The woman, who has not been publicly named, grabbed the shark pup from the sea as she walked along the beach in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, off the coast of Brazil. But as she wrestled with the shark it bit into her hand, leaving the 35-year-old holidaymaker needing stitches. Video of the Brazilian woman's frantic attempts to get the writhing animal to release its grip was shared online on Tuesday. The woman, who has not been publicly named, has been fined after grabbing a shark pup from the sea as she walked along the beach in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, off the coast of Brazil As the 35-year-old Brazilian wrestled with the shark, it bit her in the hand and she struggled to release its grip Eventually a friend, who was standing by ready to take the picture, helps her remove the creature before she tosses it back into the water. On Tuesday night, the woman and her boyfriend, who had filmed the incident,were charged with animal cruelty and ordered to pay a fine of around 2,500 each. The archipelago's Chico Mendes Biodiversity Institute stipulated the penalty after it emerged the animal was an endangered lemon shark and the beach was in the Marinho national park, a conservation area. Signs in the 69-square-mile park warn visitors not to kill, catch, disturb or feed the animals. Following the incident on Monday, the woman was admitted to the island's Sao Lucas Hospital where she received four stitches on her hand, according to reports. Eventually, a friend, who was standing by taking a photo, had to help the woman release its jaws from her hand The pair are finally able to loosen the shark's grip and free the woman's hand. She was left needing stitches after the incident The video was met with harsh criticism from social network users after the couple, from Brazil's northeastern state of Paraiba, posted it online. One, Joao Quinto, wrote: 'Why? To put a photo on Facebook? Isn't it enough that animals have their own habitats destroyed, we have to harass them in their refuges? I hope she's learned her lesson.' Another user wrote: 'We've become such strangers to nature that casually grabbing a shark for a selfie now seems like a good idea.' The incident comes just a year after a dolphin died on an Argentinian beach because onlookers took selfies with the animal instead of putting it back in the water. And in June last year a blue shark was left dead after a group of tourist pulled it out of the water to take a selfie in the Dominican Republic. On Tuesday night, the woman and her boyfriend, who had filmed the incident,were charged with animal cruelty and ordered to pay a fine of around 2,500 each A woman who was accused of faking a four-year relationship by Photoshopping her face into a stranger's social media pictures says she has been set up and is happily in a real relationship. Jill Sharp was accused of taking pictures from social media of a man she'd never met called Graham McQuet and doctoring the images so she could pretend they were a couple. But today, speaking at her home, Ms Sharp, 31, flatly denied any wrongdoing, saying the whole thing 'simply isn't true and that the photos had been put online by someone else. Police have investigated the allegations and say there is no criminality and are taking no further action. Jill Sharp was accused of taking pictures of a man she'd never met called Graham McQuet (right, with his fiancee) on social media and doctoring the images so she could pretend they were a couple. But she said the images (one of which is left) was put online by someone else She said: 'If I had been stalking someone for four years they surely would have known - but the bottom line is that I haven't. 'Why would I have a boyfriend that all my friends meet regularly but try and say I'm going out with someone else? None of this makes sense. 'I live a quiet life and have no interest in leading any kind of double life. I'm not even on Twitter and always use Facebook so I'm just in disbelief at it all. 'This story isn't true and I want everyone to know that. I have no reason to lead a double life.' According to the Daily Record, pictures of Mr McQuet were posted on a Twitter account which appeared to be connected to Ms Sharp. One photograph showed her smiling happily alongside him, while another post showed pictures of them on a day out at Westminster Abbey in London. But the pictures were faked and the pair had never met. At the same time, messages were sent from that account to another profile which seemed to belong to Mr McQuet. But, according to the paper, Mr McQuet had not set up the account, already had a fiancee named Marianne Stirling and did not know who Ms Sharp was. Friends accused Sharp of sending romantic messages between the two accounts and posting the fake photographs of her she and Mr McQuet in London together. Ms Sharp said that fake photographs of her and Mr McQuet on a romantic weekend in London together (pictured) were posted from fake accounts by someone else Mr McQuet has declined to comment but he previously tweeted: 'I'm apparently getting married to her in June? First I knew' His fiancee posted that Mr McQuet had been connected to a fake account and that he did not know Ms Sharp (pictured) But today Ms Sharp said she had not set up the accounts and had not sent the messages. She insisted that the photographs had been put on Twitter by someone else trying to frame her. Referring to the pictures which falsely show Ms Sharp and Mr McQuet together in London, she wrote: 'Clearly they've followed my movements online and matched them up with his. 'I was down in London in December with my own boyfriend for the Christmas markets and wasn't there to follow in anyone's footsteps.' She added: 'If I ever met this Graham then I'd apologise because of all of this. Somebody is clearly out to cause chaos in my life and has set me up by creating these fake profiles. 'I can't be 100% sure who it is that is behind this but I have a fair idea. It would just be difficult to prove it now the accounts have been deleted.' Mr McQuet has declined to comment but tweeted: 'I'm apparently getting married to her in June? First I knew.' Ms Stirling posted that Mr McQuet had been connected to a fake account and that he did not know Ms Sharp. Cumbernauld Police investigated the allegations. A spokesman said: 'Following further inquiries, no criminality has been established and no further police action is to be taken.' Bernadette McCormack was caught when a drugs package was intercepted A mother-of-two who calls herself 'The Devil's Princess' was unmasked as a drug smuggler after she tried to import 40,000 worth of cannabis in Christmas wrapping paper. Bernadette McCormack was caught when a drugs package due to be shipped to her Manchester home from Spain was intercepted by customs officers. The 30-year-old, who takes flamboyant selfies, claimed she was innocent and that the package was full of steroids. Yesterday she was jailed for 15 months after she admitted being knowingly concerned in the importation of cannabis. Customs officers at Coventry Airport investigated the package which was wrapped in bright red and gold Christmas wrapping paper. McCormack calls herself 'The Devils Princess' on Instagram and 'Tinkerbell' on Facebook. She has been pictured pouting in front of her mobile phone camera in a range of dresses and tops and sporting false eyelashes and scouse brows. The 30-year-old, who is a keen taker of flamboyant selfies, claimed she was innocent and that the package was full of steroids Yesterday she was jailed for 15 months after she admitted being knowingly concerned in the importation of cannabis Hailing herself as a 'full time mummy,' her selfies and accompanying messages portray her as a doting mother. Prosecuting, David Lees told Minshull Street Crown Court: 'On the 6th January 2016 a package addressed to Ms McCormack was intercepted by customs in Coventry. 'Customs picked up a parcel wrapped in red and gold merry Christmas wrapping paper which was sent from Spain was found to have four kilograms of cannabis in it. 'After police unwrapped the cannabis they estimated a street value of approximately 40,000. 'Police then went to her house in Manchester and arrested her. The only other person that lived at that address was her sister. Evidence suggested that Ms McCormack was fully aware of what the drugs were. Despite her initial protests she later pleaded guilty. Neil Usher, defending, said: 'The defendant is worried about the impact on her children if she went to prison. She has been referred for mental difficulties.' Passing sentence, Judge Angela Nield told McCormack said: 'You had agreed for a parcel to be delivered to your address which contained a quantity of cannabis of around 20,000. Evidence suggested that Ms McCormack was fully aware of what the drugs were. Despite her initial protests she later pleaded guilty Hailing herself as a 'full time mummy,' her selfies and accompanying messages portray her as a doting mother 'This quantity would have found its way onto the street of a value of around 40,000. 'I do not doubt that you were used by the bigger leader invested in this offence. But you nevertheless provided assistance in this case and without the help of people like you in this case makes it very difficult for those high up the chain. 'For this reason and because supply of drugs is a very serious offence only immediate custody can apply. I accept from what I have read that you have not had an easy life and you have had a number of difficulties. 'You have struggled with your life and this case is likely as a result of those struggles. But in the present circumstances and having heard all that I have heard it is my view that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.' The Pentagon has failed to disclose thousands of potentially lethal airstrikes by the US in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan over the course of several years, an investigation has found. The Military Times reports that public summaries of operations in Iraq and Syria, current as of the end of January, exclude nearly 6,000 strikes dating to 2014 when Obama gave the go-ahead for action against ISIS. It also discovered that in 2016 alone at least 456 US airstrikes on militants, conducted by drones and helicopters, in Afghanistan were not documented in a US Air Force database. In 2016 alone at least 456 US airstrikes on militants, conducted by drones and helicopters, in Afghanistan were not documented The Pentagon recorded 615 coalition airstrikes in Afghanistan meaning the revised number should be 1,071. The US Central Command says the army and coalition members have conducted 13,989 strikes in Iraq and Syria (7,458 in Iraq, 6,531 in Syria) from the end of 2016 to January 31 2017. The unreported airstrikes opens up the very real possibility that scores more civilians and militants died at the hands of the US military, than previously reported. The incomplete data could go back to October 2001, the year the war on terror started, according to the Military Times. The news source also says the unreported figures casts into doubt the truth of war statistics disclosed by the Pentagon and the expense of the military action taken in the Middle East. The Military Times reported: 'Most alarming is the prospect this data has been incomplete since the war on terrorism began in October 2001. 'If that is the case, it would fundamentally undermine confidence in much of what the Pentagon has disclosed about its prosecution of these wars, prompt critics to call into question whether the military sought to mislead the American public, and cast doubt on the competency with which other vital data collection is being performed and publicized.' Airstrikes from AH-64 Apache attack helicopters are unreported by US Central Command's (CENTCOM) data collection The extra airstrikes were not reported in a US Air Force open-source database that is 'relied on by Congress, American allies, military analysts, academic researchers, the media and independent watchdog groups.' An army official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the US is not trying to cover up the number of airstrikes it conducts, saying the military doesn't record bombings from certain aircraft such as from AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. He said: 'It is really weird. We don't track the number of strikes from Apaches, for example. 'I can tell you, unequivocally, we are not trying to hide the number of strikes. That is just the way it has been tracked in the past. That's what it's always been.' Despite the official's claims, an Air Force official told Military Times in December that its monthly airpower summary of activity in Iraq and Syria specifically represents the entire US-led coalition 'as a whole, which is all 20 nations and the US branches.' The Air Force's open-source database says it includes all such missions as part of its airstrike totals. The media and others have depended on these figures for years believing they are a comprehensive tally of all American and coalition activity. However no one from the military ever has come forward to clarify that the statistics are incomplete. The Pentagon and Army did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ted Cruz was mocked during a debate with Bernie Sanders on the future of health care in America after he congratulated a woman for 'dealing with' multiple sclerosis. Cruz is a staunch opponent of Obamacare, while Sanders defended the Affordable Care Act as a crucial measure that provides millions of Americans with care. During the CNN debate Cruz was chided for his awkward exchange with patient Carol Hardaway, from Maryland. The senator from Texas was also slammed online for comparing access to birth control to driving a luxury car. Ted Cruz (left) was mocked during a debate with Bernie Sanders on the future of health care in America after he congratulated Carol Hardaway (right) for 'dealing with' multiple sclerosis She had asked Cruz how she was going to remain insured if the Senate got rid of Medicaid, which she and millions of other low-income Americans depend on. He replied: 'Congratulations on dealing with MS. It's a terrible disease' She had asked Cruz how she was going to remain insured if the Senate got rid of Medicaid, which she and millions of other low-income Americans depend on. Cruz went on to tell Hardaway, pictured, that doctors are refusing to take on patients on a low-income provision under He replied: 'Congratulations on dealing with MS. It's a terrible disease and congratulations on your struggles dealing with it.' He went on to say that while Medicaid might work for her, it's 'profoundly troubled' on a national scale, with '54 per cent of doctors' refusing to take on new patients covered by the low-income provision. MS is a chronic illness that disrupts communication between the brain and the body, causing symptoms such as vision loss, pain, fatigue and impaired coordination. The awkward exchange led to Cruz being mocked by viewers on social media. One, Sarah Jones, wrote: 'I don't know a single person with a chronic illness who wants to be congratulated for living with it.' Another said: 'Congratulations Ted Cruz on your struggle with being a human being.' Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz debated the future of Obamacare during a face-off live on CNN The awkward exchange led to Cruz being mocked by viewers on social media. Hardaway is seen standing up in the front row During the debate Cruz said: 'The last election was a referendum on Obamacare, and the American people decided, quite rightly, that it wasn't working.' He added: 'It was government control that messed this all up. Instead, we're going to give you choice.' However Sanders defended Obamacare and said: 'The overwhelming majority of the American people say, "Do not simply repeal the ACA, make improvements."' The Democrat added: 'The United States is the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right.' To that, Cruz shot back: 'You have a right for government not to mess with you. So what is a right? It's access to health care.' Sanders fired back: 'Access to what? You want to buy one of Donald Trump's mansions? You have "access" to do that as well.' Cruz, who lost out to Trump in the Republican presidential election, is a staunch opponent of Obamacare Sanders also pointed out how the 'very rich' can get the best healthcare in the world and pointed out that 'Scandinavian countries, Canada and the UK ensure health care to all its citizens.' Cruz criticized Sanders' international comparisons, claiming those countries have long waiting times and inferior quality care. He thinks other countries have it better than America,' Cruz said. 'Well there's a reason we pay more than those countries. We got a lot better and a lot more than other countries.' President Donald Trump has already signed an executive action which is meant to 'ease the burden of Obamacare.' Mark Frost has been jailed following a life of abusing children in the UK and overseas One of Britain's worst ever paedophiles has been jailed for life after he spent decades abusing children in the UK and around the world. Mark Frost worked as a teacher for 20 years but was finally banned from the classroom after 20 years in the mid-1990s after abusing a number his pupils. The now-70-year-old, who had also worked as a scoutmaster, then took his sickening campaign of sex attacks abroad, abusing boys in Sweden, France, Spain and Holland before moving to south-east Asia. Frost, who also used the name Andrew Tracey, lured impoverished boys in Thailand to his home with sweets, money, computer games and his swimming pool, before abusing them, between 2008 and 2013. He broadcast the abuse via webcam to other paedophiles around the world. He admitted 45 child sex offences nine Thai boys, aged between 11 and 15, and two former pupils in the UK. Handing Frost 13 life concurrent sentences and ordering he serve a minimum term of 16 years, Judge Mark Lucraft QC told Frost: 'Your conduct towards each and every one of these victims is horrific. 'You are someone who continues to present a very real risk to children of serious sexual offending and deeply disturbing.' This was the moment Frost was arrested in Spain after fleeing Britain, Holland and Thailand Frost, wearing glasses and a grey sweater over a white shirt, showed no emotion as the judge told him: 'It is clear you have an ongoing obsession with sexually abusing young boys. 'This is a most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse by you and in some cases you and others.' Frost was also handed concurrent sentences of five and 10 years for other offences. He is likely to die behind bars as he will only be able to apply for parole in 2033, when he will be 86, and will only be freed if he can convince a parole board he is no longer a danger to children. Frost was a member of the notorious Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) who campaigned in the 1970s and 1980s to lower the age of consent to 10 and even legalise incest. Despite his links to PIE, a council allowed him to adopt a son in 1986 - after a previous attempt through the Catholic Church failed. He was eventually tracked down to Alicante in Spain in 2015 and was extradited back to the UK. He later admitted a catalogue of charges, including 39 involving young boys in Thailand, six counts of historic abuse against British school pupils. Frost was a member of the notorious Paedophile Information Exchange, which campaigned to legalise child sex. He joined the organisation in 1978 using his real name of Andrew Tracey Prosecutor Ruona Iguyovwe told the Old Bailey: 'This case ranks as one of the most serious I have dealt with as a prosecutor.' A spokesman for children's charity the NSPCC said: 'Mark Frost's vile campaign of sickening child abuse spanned over quarter of a century in the UK and abroad and today's sentence will likely see him spending the rest of his days behind bars. 'Frost was a prolific and dangerous paedophile who worked as a teacher and Scout leader for decades. We hope that anyone who suffered can now find the courage to speak out. 'The NSPCC has worked with the NCA to set up a helpline 0800 328 0904 for anyone who thinks they may have been affected by this case.' A young mother who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing her seven-week-old daughter in 2012 has left court wearing a crucifix necklace. Michelle Catherine Leask, 24, pleaded guilty during a brief hearing at the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday morning. She will be sentenced in April. Leask refused to answer any questions as she was leaving court holding hands with a young man, both of them wearing a crucifix around their neck. Michelle Catherine Leask leaves court wearing a crucifix on a gold chain after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of her seven-week-old baby 'Guilty, you honour', Leask calmly said when arraigned over the April 2012 death of her baby, Lili Cataldo. A charge of murder was withdrawn following the plea. Lili sustained severe head injuries, broken ribs and a fractured arm up to 10 days before she was taken to Redcliffe Hospital where she died, reports Courier Mail. Leask's then-partner and Lili's father, Rick Cataldo, pleaded guilty to manslaughter 2016 and is yet to be sentenced. Police believe she was injured at the former couple's home in Deception Bay. Leask was charged over Lilis death in 2013, but has been on bail since then. Leask left court on Wednesday morning holding the hand of a young man , also wearing a crucifix She calmly said 'guilty, you honour,' when arraigned over the April 2012 death of her baby A murder charge was withdrawn following the plea and she is to be sentenced at a later date Leading analysts have warned Islamist computer hackers linked to ISIS are deliberately targeting confidential NHS data. The sites which have been attacked include ones dealing with childcare and NHS funding. Horrifying images from the war in Syria were reportedly posted on the NHS sites by a group based in North Africa. Horrifying images from the war in Syria were posted on the NHS sites by a group based in North Africa According to Kim Sengupta of the Independent, the 'Tunisian Fallaga Team' said it was carrying out the attack 'in retaliation for the West's aggression on the Middle East.' While patient data could have been at risk, none is reported to have been compromised in the hacks. Khaled Fattal, the head of cyber-threat intelligence and security firm, MLi Group, said the attacks were not random and exposed the vulnerability of institutions. He told Kim Sengupta of the Independent: 'They appear to be deliberately targeted at a British public institution and in particular at an institution dealing with something which affects every member of the public, their health. 'So of course, this is very worrying.' The group the Tunisia Fallaga Team targeted NHS groups in the south-west of England Recently, hackers had brought down the trust's computer system at three North Lincolnshire hospitals, forcing the cancellation of all appointments for two days. Even car park barriers were affected, and the hospitals had to resort to pen and paper. The network had been taken over by a malicious virus which encrypted files: the hackers demanded a ransom to unlock them. Two asylum seekers have been charged with molesting five girls between the ages of 12 to 14 at a German swimming pool. A local police report from the Ratzeburg force states the suspects were two 'southern-looking' men who molested them under the water. The men are 23 and 34 years old and are said to be asylum seekers living in Bad Oldesloe in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein. The town centre of Bad Oldesloe, where the two men were said to be living as refugees A flyer containing bathing rules seen in a swimming pool in Munich, Germany, pointing out women may not be sexually harassed The men are 23 and 34 years old and living in Bad Oldesloe (pictutured) in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstei The incident was reported to the lifeguards, according to the report, who kicked them out of the pool before calling the police. It is not the first problem at swimming pools in the area. Last year, a secret police document was leaked in Duesseldorf voicing the 'grave concern' of police chiefs about soaring sex crimes carried out by refugees at public swimming baths. A month later, the professional swimming association in Germany wanted to reduce escalating sex attacks by refugees at public baths by training migrants to become pool lifeguards. The Federal Association of German Swimming Professionals (BDS) said in July it would be 'an inclusive measure that would benefit everyone'. There were several reports of rape and other sex attacks committed against women and children at public pools both in Germany and neighbouring Austria last year. Many municipalities, including Munich, displayed charts in numerous languages aiming to teach migrants to respect women and children at the local pool. A member of the Islamic State was found dead from an apparent smothering in western Mosul, putting the extremist organization in high alert, according to local reports. The group put curfews in place in three residential areas in Tal Afar after the man was found dead, and ten people were arrested and sent to an unknown location as they searched for the alleged assassin, who's been dubbed the 'Mosul strangler'. The Jihadi's death comes just a day after a civilian stabbed a jihadi after refusing to pay a false tax, witnesses say. The Islamic State put curfews in place in three residential areas in Tal Afar after the man was found dead, and ten people were arrested as they searched for the person who smothered one of their members to death (file photo) A witness of the incident told The Express that the civilian refused to pay the caliphate support tax, which 'was imposed by the Islamic State group on shops' owners in Tal Afar market, west of Mosul'. After the man stabbed the member of the Islamic State, the group shot the civilian, the witness said. Some 30,000 people have returned to Mosul since Iraqi forces launched a massive operation in October to retake the country's second largest city from the Islamic State group, the UN said on Tuesday. The number of returnees has increased since Iraqi forces drove the militants from the eastern half of the city last month, according to UN. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid. IS still holds western Mosul, home to an estimated 750,000 people. At times, the crowds have overwhelmed checkpoints outside the city, where security forces are screening those who want to return. Meanwhile, the Islamic State has lost at least 3,300 members since the recapture of eastern Mosul, Iraqi military officials told IraqiNews.com. Some 30,000 people have returned to Mosul since Iraqi forces launched a massive operation in October to retake the country's second largest city from the Islamic State group, the UN Tuesday (file photo of Iraqi forces near armored vehicles) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told France 24 that the Islamic State's head commander, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been located. He said that the leader was left isolated after several of his commanders were killed. 'ISIL is militarily on the defensive in several regions, notably in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and the Syrian Arab Republic,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report on Tuesday. The Islamic State has struggled with finances since the Iraqi forces launched its operation to retake Mosul last year. An Iraqi soldier said that the military was leaving rotting Jihadi corpses to be 'eaten by dogs'. The corpses are left on view as a psychological weapon to deter ISIS sleeper cells, which Iraqi officials say are highly effective and distributed across the country. ISIS executed thousands of Iraqi soldiers and policemen in cold blood and their comrades are eager for revenge. Soldier Asaad Hussein said: 'We leave them in the street like that so the dogs eat them. We also want the citizens to know there is a price for supporting terrorists.' Danika France (pictured), 20, began tormenting 18-year-old Molly Burrows at work and in the street after she started dating her ex-boyfriend Matthew Shackley A jilted ex-girlfriend subjected her former partner's new teenage lover to an 18-month campaign of harassment by threatening her at work, following her in the street and pursuing her on her driving lesson. Danika France, 20, began tormenting 18-year-old Molly Burrows after she started dating her ex-boyfriend Matthew Shackley. France would turn up so frequently to the Boots store in Macclesfield, where Ms Burrows work as a shop assistant, that she was banned from the store. She also threatened her, posted a message about her on social media and even intimidated the victim by following her on a driving lesson. The court was told how the 'sustained' harassment left Ms Burrows 'scared' and 'constantly on edge' and put her relationship with Mr Shackley under 'strain'. France, of Macclesfield, denied harassment but was found guilty after a trial. It later emerged that France had already been spared jail in 2015 after posting a revenge porn video of a friend on social media. Magistrates sentenced her to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. Issuing the sentence, the bench said that the offence was 'sustained and prolonged'. During the trial, prosecutor Kate Gaskell told Stockport Magistrates' Court how the victim had never met France until their paths crossed on New Year's Eve in 2014. She said: 'Ms Burrows and Mr Shackley were at Pizza Hut in Macclesfield when France walked past. France (pictured) would turn up so frequently to the Boots store in Macclesfield, where Ms Burrows work as a shop assistant, that she was banned from the store 'France came into the restaurant and said: "Don't look at me or I will batter your pretty little face".' The court heard that France then strated visiting Ms Burrows at work. Initially she would laugh at her but the visits became more frequent and more serious, the court heard. Ms Gaskell said: 'On one occasion France called her a 'f****** s****' prompting customers to challenge her. 'After a visit in May 2016 the manager decided to ban France from the store.' The court heard that, in April 2016, Ms Burrows was learning to drive with her sister when France appeared in a car behind. Ms Gaskell told the court how France followed her and was holding up her phone as though she was videoing her. 'She was repeatedly flashing her lights in an attempt to intimidate her,' she told the court.' The court heard that Ms Burrows later found her car 'keyed' in her drive, but France denied being responsible. Ms Gaskell said: 'Looking at previous convictions there is a pattern that suggests she "gets back" at people. This victim was caught in the cross fire.' Saskia Abbot, defending France, an out-of-work carer, apologised to the court for the anxiety Ms Burrows suffered. She said: 'Ms France believes she is a good person, but sometimes finds it difficult to act in the right manner.' France was also ordered to carry out 40 hours unpaid work. Advertisement The man who was arrested after a passenger flight was escorted to Stansted Airport by RAF fighter jets yesterday has been charged with fraud, Scotland Yard has said. The Pakistan International Airlines plane, on its way from Lahore to Heathrow, was diverted after an anonymous phone call sparked a major security alert on Tuesday afternoon. Police said Khalid Baqa, of Barking, east London, was due to be arrested on arrival at Heathrow but was instead detained at Stansted. The 52-year-old, a UK national, has been charged with committing fraud by false representation and has been bailed to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London on February 23. Police said Khalid Baqa, of Barking, east London, was due to be arrested on arrival at Heathrow but was instead detained at Stansted (Pictured: Video footage of police arriving on the plane and escorting a man off) It is not believed he had any involvement in the cause of the diversion. The plane was accompanied by Typhoons to the Essex airport, with photos posted on Twitter showing several fire engines and a number of ambulances waiting on the ground. An airline spokesman said UK authorities had 'received some vague security threat through an anonymous phone call'. Passenger Naz Amin said the flight landed 'in the middle of nowhere' and was quickly surrounded by police. 'I realised it was surrounded by police and the police came on the plane about 45 minutes to an hour later and they took a gentleman off the plane,' he told LBC Radio. 'He wasn't being disruptive at all, he was just sitting down... there was no-one being disruptive on the plane.' Essex Police said the incident is 'not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter'. Stansted is a designated airport for dealing with hijacks and major security alerts. Incidents are dealt with in a remote part of the airfield to the north west of the terminal building. The officers detained one passenger who was due to be arrested upon arriving at its original destination of Heathrow The flight had been due to land at Heathrow but was diverted to Stanstead following a 'security threat' made by 'anonymous phone call', according to Pakistan International Airlines A passenger on board the plane told BBC Radio 5Live 'medics had boarded the plane'. The passenger said: 'We've been here for the last 3 hours. They're scanning luggage and medics are on the plane.' Photos posted on Twitter showed several fire engines and a number of ambulances waiting on the ground at Stansted. The plane is pictured here after landing at Stansted, with Essex Police officers boarding to conduct an investigation The aircraft, pictured, stayed at Stansted for more than two hours while police carried out inquiries and it was refuelled Stansted is the default airport for any security threat. Such incidents are dealt with in a remote part of the airfield to the north-west of the terminal building. The RAF confirmed that the incident was handed over to the police once the plane landed. A Stansted spokesman had previously said the aircraft was 'likely to continue its journey onwards to Heathrow today pending inquiries that the police are making into the individual on the aircraft.' An RAF Typhoon jet was scrambled in May 2013 in response to reports of disruption on board a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Pakistan to Manchester. The Boeing 777 was escorted to Stansted. Two men were arrested and went on trial accused of threatening to blow up the plane, but were cleared when the judge ruled they had no case to answer. Typhoon pilots are on standby 24 hours a day to defend UK airspace. The diverted plane was this Pakistan International Airlines flight flying from Lahore, which landed just before 3pm Once the plane landed, Essex Police were called. Officers said the diversion was due to reports of a disruptive passenger on board and was 'not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter' Squadrons are based at RAF Coningsby, covering the south of the country, and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, to cover the north. The Quick Reaction Alert crews can take off within minutes to intercept aircraft which have caused concern. This can be because they are Russian military aircraft, or civilian planes which have stopped communicating with air traffic control, are not following their flight plan or have sent an emergency signal. On some occasions pilots are given permission to fly at supersonic speeds, which may result in a sonic boom, to reach the aircraft as soon as possible. Ministry of Defence figures show that QRA were launched on 12 days in 2015, eight in response to Russian aircraft and four to investigate other planes. NOW THAT'S ONE VERY FAST JET: THE TYPHHOON - THE RAF'S MULTI-ROLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT The Typhoon is a multi-role combat aircraft used by the RAF and deployed in a range of operations, including high intensity conflict. The jet, which can break the sound barrier with ease, is extremely agile and is also used in air policing operations as well as peace support missions. Recently, Typhoons have been involved in the campaign against Islamic State in Syria, with jets dispatched from the British military base of RAF Akrotiri. They have also been sent out on multiple occasions to intercept Russian bombers flying in or near UK airspace in the past two years. The RAF Typhoon, pictured, can break the sound barrier with ease and is used in a variety of missions from combat to escorting foreign aircraft from UK airspace They are scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincoln, the UK's main base for Typhoons and would have reached the airline flight in a matter of minutes. Engines: 2 Eurojet EJ200 turbojets Thrust: 20,000lbs each Max speed: 1.8Mach (1,381mph) Length: 15.96m (52.36ft) Max altitude: 55,000ft Span: 11.09m (36.38ft) Aircrew: 1 Source: RAF Advertisement Hilarious footage of a hapless street brawl where topless fighters barely land a single punch has left viewers in hysterics. Throwing wild punches, while on a night out in Dalston, east London, the gang battle it out in the middle of a road in front of bemused spectators. The crew are certainly enthusiastic, but their fighting skills leave a lot to be desired, with one brawler launching an audacious flying kick - only to miss his opponent completely. The hapless fight erupted onto the streets in Dalston, east London, with topless men swinging wild punches at each other (left) and another fighting launching a flying kick - only to miss completely (right) The video does not make clear why or how the fight kicked off, but the clash is introduced with two topless men furiously grappling with each other. Friends then try to quickly intervene, only for the drama to erupt even further with flurries of flailing arms. It does not appear that anyone was injured during the melee, apart from perhaps a few bruised egos. Rich Jones posted the fight footage on Facebook and it has been viewed more than 240,000 times. Alongside the clip, he wrote: 'When someone attacking your friend but you can't fight.' Viewers have also been amused, with Qadirah Asata Rasheed writing: 'This the funniest.' Throughout the brawl the men continue to throw punches, but none of them seem to land a single punch Pictured: A brawler in a black t-shirt launches himself onto the back of another fighter Pollyanna Craig posted: 'Good laugh of the day, well needed thanks.' ColdAs February wrote: 'I almost dropped my phone when he fell the first time. He went mad hard for no reason.' Advertisement Eerie images of former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin's summer home show the extensive lengths he went to to hide away from the public while on holiday. Hidden deep in a forest off of Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia, an autonomous region of Georgia - the modest property is hard to find. Built in 1947, the holiday home or 'dacha' as it's known in Russian was home to the communist dictator and his family during the warm summer months. Historians believe up to 20 million people perished as a result of Stalin's actions - more than the six million killed during Hitler's genocide of the Jews. Built in 1947, the holiday home on Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia an autonomous region of Georgia, was home to former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin and his family during the summer Photographer Ioanna Sakellaraki , 26, took the eerie images during her travels around the little known region of Abkhazia Floor-length curtains cover many of the walls of the holiday home, perhaps a sign of Stalin's paranoia and desire to be discreet A telephone that was likely used by Stalin during his summer holiday months still sits on a table in one of the home's many rooms Many of the rooms in the holiday home feature two twin beds with elaborate bed frames side by side instead of a single, larger bed In the 1920s millions were shot, exiled to Siberia, or died of starvation after their land, homes and meagre possessions, were taken to fulfil Stalin's vision of massive 'factory farms.' In the 1930s millions more whom he considered or suspected a threat to the USSR were executed or exiled to Gulag labour camps in remote areas of Siberia or Central Asia, where many also died of disease, malnutrition and exposure. In buying the holiday home Stalin ensured he had a place to escape and relax in, hidden away from the places where his brutal crimes were committed. The Soviet Union leader had five holiday homes he would regularly frequent, but he reportedly would not tell officials which one he was going to stay at. All five would always be prepared for his visit. While his favorite was a villa in Gagra, Abkhazia, which overlooked the Black Sea, he often frequented the other four as well, including one near Sochi. A living testament to Stalin and his renowned paranoia, the Lake Ritsa dacha is surrounded by thick trees and is painted green to make it pretty much invisible from the air. Photographer Ioanna Sakellaraki, 26, took the images of his holiday home during her travels around the little known region of Abkhazia. Ioanna said: 'Such conspiracy is a tribute to the Stalin's paranoia. There is only one way to get here, and that is by a mountain road that winds through the thick forest. 'It is interesting that Stalin would never say exactly which of the many Abkhazian dachas he was going to stay at; so all five of them would be prepared for his stay.' A living testament to Stalin and his renowned paranoia the dacha is surrounded by thick trees and is painted green to make it pretty much invisible from the air The property sits on Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia and features a dock that gives residents a stunning view of the lake and surrounding mountains and foliage Outside the holiday home four national flags are still flown on tall flag poles on the former Soviet Union leader's property A corridor in the home shows several doors leading to various rooms of the house, and another leading outside to the back patio of the home Stalin's holiday home is designed in a modest fashion despite it boasting a library and games room equipped with a billiards table. Fortunately for visitors to the historic house many of the original fittings are still in place and have been well maintained by the Abkhazian government. Ioanna said: 'In the dacha you can see the interiors and furniture of those times. It boasts reception rooms, three bedrooms, huge library, and a separate house for protection, which consisted of 300 people. 'In the distance is a playground, pier, park and decorative stone bridge across the creek, where you can stroll.' The location of Stalin's dacha on Lake Ritsa was a popular holiday spot for the Soviet establishment and was regularly visited by elites within Stalin's regime. The dacha remains one of the last remaining positive legacies left behind by the divisive leader. Ioanna added: 'The dacha is popular among tourists as it is one of the five summer cottages he spent most of his time.' Stalin's modest three-bedroom holiday home was likely used by the Russian leader as early as the 1930s. The original decor, including the above radio, is still in the home A game room in the home features a wooden billiards table, wall-to-wall windows and a wrap-around couch that covers two walls Known for his simple taste Stalin's holiday home is designed in a modest fashion. The home does, however, boast a large library (not pictured) Fortunately for visitors to the historic house many of the original fittings are still in place and have been well maintained by the Abkhazian government A tiled bathroom in Stalin's former holiday home features unique decor and a pink bathtub and soap dish. The dacha remains one of the last remaining positive legacies left behind by the divisive leader The location of Stalin's dacha on Lake Ritsa was a popular holiday spot for the Soviet establishment and was regularly visited by elites within Stalin's regime A furious Russian businessman took his axe to a new Range Rover, claiming he paid 147,000 for 'broken British s**t'. The bizarre footage shows 32-year-old Rinat Iskakov filming himself as he smashes the window of the specially adapted 4.4 D model, bought eight months ago, in the snow outside his home. Wearing a red tartan jacket, the man gives a running commentary of his destruction, which he says was due to the vehicle locking his keys inside. Scroll down for video Rinat Iskakov takes the Finnish axe made by Fiskars to the window of his 147,000 4x4 Russian businessman Iskakov, left, was not happy with his custom Range Rover, right A gaping hole is left in the driver's side window of the luxury car after the keys were locked in Rinat Iskakov poses in front of a Christmas tree with his family for an Instagram post The bizarre play-by-play on his car rage starts with: 'Well, here is this car. It is a piece of s**t worth 11million roubles.' 'Yesterday it blocked all the electric equipment itself. 'Today I started the engine to warm it up and to take the car to the repair shop. 'The keys were inside when it blocked all the doors. I stopped the engine via the satellite, but still I can't get into the car. 'So here is the scene for you (he shows the axe). 'We are going to open this car right now. I send my best wishes to the dealers and other representation offices.' At this point the bearded tycoon questions the cost of the vehicle, and starts hammering at the window with the axe, but the sturdiness of the 4x4 means it takes him 11 attempts to crack the glass. 'I hate this car. It's a piece of s**t,' he rants. 'I am so happy now. Now I can open my car. Yes, I have lost the money. 'I will probably dump this car soon.' The custom interior of the car covered in glass Holding up the brand name of the axe, he says: 'Some advertising for Fiskars now. 'Guys, you make the best tools to crash Range Rovers. 'I am so glad, now I can get into my car.' Moving the camera to show his face, he continues his tirade, aiming abuse at car dealers. A spokesman for Land Rover Russia replied to the video by saying: 'We would recommend that he should have used his second key. 'We have watched this video. 'Unfortunately, we have to admit that the client never came for an official service to his dealer since the moment of purchase. ' 'He may also have installed a non-standard alarm system causing his problems in being locked out of his vehicle.' The angry car-owner, who is believed to be married with one child, said: 'And we would recommend you to stop selling broken British s**t. We have got enough here already.' He uploaded the footage calling his vandalism: 'What you should do if your Range Rover is a piece of s**t?' A British bride and her guests were buried under debris when the roof of the hotel booked for her wedding caved in around them. Sarah and John Wenham had saved for years for 'the wedding of their dreams' in Cuba, costing more than 25,000 for themselves and 24 guests. But they were left fearing for their lives when the lobby roof at Sol Rio De Luna y Mares Hotel, in Cuba, suddenly buckled and collapsed - trapping them underneath and injuring many members of the wedding party. The aftermath of the collapsed roof in Cuba which trapped the British wedding party Bride Sarah Wenham was one of the people trapped under the collapsed roof and required stitches Rubble was left strewn across their wedding venue after the couple paid 25,000 for their dream big day What the luxury Sol Rio De Luna y Mares Hotel in Cuba usually looks like from reception Sarah, 35, said: 'We were just about to meet with hotel staff to discuss our wedding plans in the lobby, when John pointed out the ceiling as it started to move. 'A loud bang followed as the roof then suddenly collapsed and fell upon us, trapping us underneath. 'The roof debris knocked us clean to the ground. 'It was so heavy that I couldn't move under it, and I was terrified because I couldn't get to my daughters who I could hear screaming from somewhere beneath the debris. 'I saw the blood start to gush from my head and I genuinely thought in that moment that I was going to die.' John, from Gravesend, Kent, says he looked up after they had been in the lobby for around ten minutes to find the ceiling moving. He shouted at Sarah and their nine-year-old daughter Mia to run, pushing them out of the way. But as the ceiling fell, he leaped in front of baby Penny, 20-months, to shield her from the debris, taking the brunt of the weight. The devastation at the Sol Rio De Luna y Mares Hotel, in Cuba after the roof collapsed on Sarah and John Wenham and their wedding guests Sarah Wenham patched herself up and carried on with the her wedding day in Cuba with John John and Sarah Wenham on their wedding day in Cuba, as the bride's wound is concealed John and Sarah Wenham were expecting this to be the scene of their happy day at the hotel John added: 'It was horrifying - sheer fright. 'When we eventually found Sarah, it took two people to lift the debris off her and I had to crawl underneath and drag her out. 'After the incident, we were all traumatised. 'We didn't know what to do for the best. 'In one split-second everything we'd planned and saved for so long was gone.. 'We felt terrible that so many people had spent so much money and had travelled so far to be with us for our special day and then this happened. 'So when we were told that the wedding could still go ahead at another venue at the last minute, we felt we had no option but to go ahead with it. 'Unfortunately, we'll now always remember the wedding as being a distraction from the horrifying events of the day before. 'We couldn't enjoy it and we just wanted to go home. 'That's not how we should remember our wedding day.' John was left with two fractured ribs, an injured spleen and severe bruising. Sarah Wenham sporting a nasty cut with father-in-law Colin on her wedding day in Cuba Workers assess the damage at the Sol Rio De Luna y Mares Hotel, in Cuba after the collapse Mangled metal and broken roof panels are left strewn across the floor inside the hotel Wedding guests Ruth Ricketts (left) a wedding guest with stitches in her head and Sharon Broyed (right) a suffered a broken leg after the ceiling collapsed on top of them Sarah suffered head and eye injuries and required ten stitches to a deep laceration on her face, which is now likely to leave a permanent scar. Several other members of the wedding party suffered serious injuries, including head and spinal injuries, a leg fracture and a deep head laceration, with one guest requiring 19 stitches across the top of her scalp. John said: 'The only way we could get over it was to have the wedding, to try and mask what had happened. 'Sarah won't look at the pictures because she's got stitches on her face - it shouldn't be like that. The battered ceiling which fell on guests 'I couldn't walk properly, I couldn't lift her over threshold and I couldn't even pick the kids up for five to six weeks.' When the couple did have their ceremony at a different hotel, Playa Pesquero, it was in the foyer, and not the beach wedding they had planned. But this was far from the end of the couple's problems. Even before the roof collapse, on just the second day of their disastrous holiday, Sarah and John's hotel room was flooded with sewage, damaging clothes, their children's toys and un-opened wedding gifts. The couple say despite their bags and clothing being ruined, their belongings were never replaced. In other rooms there were exposed wires which John, an electrician, described as looking 'deadly'. John and many of the other guests, including Mia and Penny, also suffered from diarrhoea and sickness throughout the holiday - later confirmed to be salmonella. The couple have now instructed personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to take legal action against tour operator, Thomas Cook. A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: 'Clearly this is totally unacceptable and we are in close contact with the hotel to understand how it happened. 'We are very sorry and disappointed that this occurred on what should have been such a happy occasion. 'We did everything we could to support the Wenham family and all those affected after the accident, and we continue to take this matter very seriously.' Sarah and John Wenham from Gravesend in Kent, have now dusted themselves off Sarah, Penny, Mia, and John Wenham from Gravesend, Kent after their Cuban ordeal Jennifer Lund, a partner in the specialist international personal injury team at Irwin Mitchell, representing the group, said: 'Sarah, John and their closest family and friends should have been overjoyed on what was supposed to have been an incredible holiday, centred around a magical wedding day. 'Instead, the whole trip ended up being a terrifying ordeal that will forever be etched in their memories for all of the wrong reasons. 'We are investigating the cause of the roof collapse at the Sol Rio De Luna y Mares Hotel as well as the group's other complaints. 'We are seeking to recover a settlement to help each of our clients with their recovery and to compensate them following the dreadful ordeal they have suffered. 'Our thoughts are with all of those injured, and we wish them a speedy recovery. 'We would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the roof collapse or its aftermath or who can provide information about illnesses suffered by guests during stays at the Sol Rio De Luna y Mares Hotel, as they may be able to help with our inquiries.' The hotel has been approached for a comment. Support for Scottish independence has soared to a six month high of 49 per cent after Theresa May set out a path to a hard Brexit. A BMG survey for The Herald found the Union has been left on a knife edge by the Prime Minister's declaration Britain would leave the single market. Excluding Don't Knows, the poll found just 51 per cent of Scots now support staying part of the United Kingdom - a drop of three per cent since December. But crucially, there is little support for a snap referendum held before the Brexit negotiations complete and Britain actually leaves the EU. Former first minister Alex Salmond today claimed the numbers meant it was 'game on' for a new referendum. Excluding those who don't know, the latest BMG poll on Scottish independence shows the Union on a knife edge, as 49 per cent now say they would back separation BMG Research Director Michael Turner told the Herald Brexit was 'undoubtedly having an effect on support for the principle of independence'. He said: 'However, although the results do show a clear rise in support since May's speech, which suggested that the UK may go for a harder form of Brexit than first thought, they also suggest a majority of Scots may not have the appetite for another referendum before the Brexit negotiations are concluded. 'Although these results suggest that opposition to independence is by no means an insurmountable task for Nicola Sturgeon's SNP, they do imply that she is a fair way off from her 'red-lines' of clear and consistent support.' First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly warned Scotland should not be dragged out of the EU or the single market on the back of English votes. She used her party conference speech in October to threaten a snap referendum before the Brexit talks end in 2019 if she was not given guarantees about single market membership. Polls have generally given the SNP little hope of success in a second referendum but any shift will embolden the nationalist position. The Scottish Parliament last night held a symbolic vote against Brexit and Ms Sturgeon's administration has produced a blue print of how it thinks Scotland can stay in the single market while England and Wales leave. The poll will be a boost for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pictured during a Brexit debate in the Scottish Parliament last night The surge in support for independence comes after Theresa May, pictured with Angela Merkel at an EU meeting in Valetta last week, said Britain would quit the single market after Brexit SNP MPs have been furiously pursuing their position in the Commons this week during debate on the Article 50 legislation but with no success. Late on Monday night, former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond clashed angrily with the deputy speaker in a heated exchange over whether he had cut off an SNP MP while speaking. The disagreement came as deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle tried to move on from SNP's Joanna Cherry, who used her speech to move devolution amendments to accuse the Government of 'hubris and contempt' in its attitude to Scotland. Mr Salmond said the deputy speaker had cut her off while speaking and demanded she be allowed to continue, to jeers and shouts from MPs. Ms Cherry then walked out of the chamber. The SNP has been furiously pushing its position in the Commons this week but making no progress. Former first minister Alex Salmond was embroiled in a furious row shortly before midnight on Monday, pictured Raising a point of order, Mr Salmond told Mr Hoyle: 'It is quite clear that the honourable member had not resumed her seat, Sir. Being in the chair accords you many privileges but you cannot reinterpret the wishes of an honourable member who is on her feet.' Mr Hoyle responded: 'As the chair I have the right to make decisions on this House. What I would say is quite rightly when I wanted to bring her in, which I did ... I certainly don't expect advantages to be taken of the chair on the agreements that I make.' Referring to the Brexit Bill, he said: 'It is a very serious matter, it is so serious that I want to hear what the minister has to say.' A daily opinion poll has suggested that Marine Le Pen will WIN the first round of voting when France goes to the polls. However, the publication continued to show the far-right leader ultimately losing the French presidential runoff on May 7. Even though Le Pen looks certain to reach the head-to-head second round, all opinion polls show she will be soundly beaten by whoever she faces, with independent centrist Emmanuel Macron currently in pole position to defeat her. This year's election will take place in two rounds on April 23 and May 7, and although Le Pen is expected to top the first poll, anyone facing her in May's runoff is expected to cruise to an easy victory with about 60 to 70 percent of votes. A daily opinion poll has suggested that Marine Le Pen will WIN the first round of voting when France goes to the polls Marine Le Pen is currently the most popular politician in France, but the way the French presidential election works, she is unlikely to end up in the Elysee Palace Francois Fillon (pictured, right) is a former prime minister who is married to Welsh-born Penelope Clarke (left) but he has questions to ask about the 7,000 euros a month salary he paid her to be his parliamentary assistant The Opinionway poll showed Le Pen scoring 25 percent in a first-round vote set for April 23, with independent Emmanuel Macron on 22 percent and conservative Francois Fillon on 20 - scores that would put Macron into the runoff against Le Pen. Under the French system, only two candidates make it into the second round of the presidential election, and Ms Le Pen is expected to be defeated ultimately by her rival. Macron would beat Le Pen 66 percent to 34 percent in the two-way runoff, the opinion poll suggested. Macron, an ex-member of the Socialist Party and a former economy minister who is running as an independent, is seen as a fresh face with new ideas who is appealing to many voters. Fillon, were he to make it instead of Macron, would beat Le Pen with a score of 62 percent versus her 38 percent. The maverick: Emmanuel Macron (pictured, right, with Germany's Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel) is aiming to become the first independent to be elected France's President since 1920 Benoit Hamon (pictured), was only chosen to be the Socialist candidate at the end of January and may have too much ground to catch up Le Pen, Fillon and Macron and make it into the second round If Fillon, who has been hit by allegations that he paid his Welsh wife Penelope a handsome salary to be his parliamentary assistant, makes it through to the second round most Socialists are expected to vote for him as the lesser of two evils. A second IFOP rolling poll of voting intentions showed Le Pen garnering 26 percent of the vote in the April 23 first round, up 0.5 percent since Monday, while Macron would get 21 percent, also up 0.5 percent. Le Pen, has promised to dump the euro and hold a Brexit-style referendum, and one of her senior aides has admitted the far-right leader would consider imposing a Donald Trump-style travel ban if elected. In 2002 Ms Le Pen's father Jean-Marie, who founded the National Front, made it into the second round, pipping the Socialist Lionel Jospin, but was thrashed by 82 percent to 17 percent by conservative Jacques Chirac, who garnered support from many on the Left. The severe heatwave sweeping Australia has caused blackouts in Adelaide and forced 40,000 people to swelter through 42 degree heat without air conditioning. Overwhelming demand for electricity forced South Australian Power Networks to start 'load shedding' in order to conserve power, plunging parts of the state into darkness shortly before 7pm on Wednesday. SA Power Networks said the blackouts only lasted half an hour, but affected about 40,000 customers. Meanwhile, Sydney will again be battered by the heat following two days of torrential rain. Scroll down for video Meteorologists said temperatures on Saturday could rise above 46 in Richmond and Penrith - breaking at least 20-year-old records SA Power Networks announced the Adelaide blackout on Twitter on Wednesday Western Sydney is bracing for what could be the hottest three February days on record as temperatures are expected to reach a sizzling 46C. A heatwave will bring 'exceptionally hot' temperatures to New South Wales from Friday until Sunday in what meteorologists say is the 'final big hurrah for heat in the Sydney area'. Temperatures are predicted to climb to 39C in the city and to 46C in the western suburbs on Saturday. WHAT IS THE 5 DAY WEATHER FORECAST FOR AUSTRALIA? Sydney Thursday: Max 29, increasing sunshine Friday: Max 36, sunny Saturday: Max 39, sunny Sunday: Max 38, mostly sunny Monday: Max 26, possible shower Melbourne Thursday: Max 37, mostly sunny Friday: Max 26, mostly sunny Saturday: Max 28, late shower Sunday: Max 19, possible shower Monday: Max 19, clearing shower Brisbane Thursday: Max 30, possible shower Friday: Max 32, clearing shower Saturday: Max 36, mostly sunny Sunday: Max 38, sunny Monday: Max 37, late shower Adelaide Thursday: Max 41, sunny Friday: Max 39, mostly sunny Saturday: Max 37, mostly sunny Sunday: Max 25, mostly cloudy Monday: Max 25, cloudy Advertisement Sydney to sweat through the weekend - as record heat is predicted for Sydney Much of Adelaide was plunged into darkness when power supplies were cut due to overwhelming demand Social media took to Twitter to complain about the Adelaide blackouts on Wednesday 'Blackouts when it is 41.6C aren't ideal,' one Twitter user posted online on Wednesday Back in Adelaide, Wednesday's blackouts sent much of the city into chaos, forcing drivers to navigate the roads without working traffic lights. Demand for electricity reached its peak on Wednesday afternoon when temperatures soared to 46 degrees in parts of South Australia. Adelaide itself reached 42 degrees. Scorching temperatures are only expected to drop on Saturday or Sunday, until then forecasters predict humidity will continue to rise making the hot weather even more unbearable. Temperatures may rise above 45C in western Sydney this weekend as a heatwave is expected to set a new record for the hottest three days in February ever on recorded Sydney temperatures will begin to climb into the late 20s on Thursday before reaching 39 in the city and at least 43 in the western suburbs on Friday Wednesday's blackouts come just months after the state last saw a widespread power outage. The state's power supply was out for 24 hours in September 2016, following storm damage. Adelaide was hit with 80,000 lightening strikes during the storm which plunged the state into darkness. Climate Council issues diagram comparing heatwaves between 1950-1980 and 1981-2011 Wet weather at the start of the week contributed to the high humidity levels, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Australia's extreme weather conditions will only worsen, according to a report released by the Climate Council. The council predicted a rapid rise in extreme heat right across the country. The report suggests Darwin will experience 265 days a year of 35 degree heat and Brisbane will suffer through two months of 35 degree temperatures by 2090. Twitter users flocked online to complain about the impending heatwave Meteorologists said the heatwave is the 'final big hurrah for heat in the Sydney area' 'As much as stepping into the sun and instantly burning to a crisp reminds me of home, can it stop now?' Caz wrote on Twitter The report also issued a map comparing heatwaves between 1950-1980 and 1981-2011. A drastic change in the number of hot days was predicted. Extreme weather conditions span the country as both floods and fires threaten Western Australia this week. The western coastline has been lashed by wet weather since the beginning of the week, forcing the Perth metropolitan to issue a flood warning on Wednesday. The Swan River and Avon River are both expected to flood on Thursday, prompting the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to warn people to stay out of the rivers and avoid floodwaters. Scorching temperatures have seen people flocking to the sea to seek a reprieve from the heat People are flocking to the water to escape the extreme heat - as temperatures soar to record highs Twitter user plans to leave her house and book into a hotel room to escape the heat with air conditioning Cars are pictured engulfed in flood waters during the unprecedented rain episode Drivers are also urged to be careful on the roads. Marble Bar Police released footage of a truck being swept away in the flood waters in Telfer on Saturday. It comes a week after a campervan was swept away by flood waters in the middle of the night, sending two tourists fleeing to safety, scrambling to the roof of a toilet block in the middle of the night. While heavy rainfall and floodwaters threaten parts of Western Australia, a bushfire emergency warning has been issued for the outer south-east of Perth. The warning was issued for part of Bedfordale in Armadale on Wednesday. Weather tracker Higgins Storm Chasing called the impending heatwave 'hell on earth in Australia' 'It's not the hottest summer run on record, although that cannot be ruled out yet,' Meteorologist Rob Sharp said It follows an intense two days of thunderstorms and destructive downpours, during which the inner city saw 85 millimetres of rain in 24 hours Sydneysiders are mopping-up after half a month's worth of rain pelted the city in one day Meteorologists said temperatures on Saturday could rise above 46 in Richmond and Penrith - breaking at least 20-year-old records Weatherzone Meteorologist Rob Sharp told Daily Mail Australia temperatures in Sydney will continue to climb. Rainfall will begin to clear on Wednesday night, making way for temperatures to climb into the late 20s on Thursday before reaching 39C in the city and at least 43C in the western suburbs on Friday. Mr Sharp said there is a good chance temperatures in Richmond and Penrith will break records during the heatwave. 'For Richmond the current record is 43.7C and Penrith is 45C. The current forecasts are for 43C on Friday and Saturday but on Saturday in particular we believe it could be a hotter than that,' Mr Sharp said. The records for Richmond and Penrith were set in 1977 and 2004, respectively. 'The three day run from Friday to Sunday for western Sydney is likely to be the hottest three consecutive days in February on record,' Mr Sharp said. 'It's not the hottest summer run on record, although that cannot be ruled out yet.' Weather tracker Higgins Storm Chasing called the impending heatwave 'hell on earth in Australia.' The heatwave will bring warmer temperatures to South Australia and Victoria first on Wednesday and Thursday, before it moves north to NSW. 'Today and tomorrow in Adelaide are both likely to get over 40C and that heat will linger around, but sea breezes will cool it off a little bit on Friday and the change will arrive during the day on Saturday,' Mr Sharp said. Sydneysiders are mopping-up after half a month's worth of rain pelted the city in one day, with the SES responding to 250 calls Melbourne will see temperatures of 34C on Wednesday and 37C on Thursday. A cool change will arrive in Sydney on Sunday and push the heatwave into western Queensland, Mr Sharp said. 'Once we get past Sunday the worst of summer is definitely gone,' he said. It comes as Sydneysiders are mopping-up after half a month's worth of rain pelted the city in one day, with the SES responding to 250 calls. Floodwaters at Randwick tunnel (pictured) after unprecedented rain fell across Sydney on Tuesday Sydney's inner city received the most rain earlier in the week More rain is expected in the city on Wednesday with showers easing through the day, but Wollongong could be hit by thunderstorms during the morning, according to the weather bureau. Overnight the Illawarra region copped the heaviest rainfalls, with the SES carrying out two flood rescues in the area with people trapped in cars. Since 8pm on Tuesday the SES has received 80 calls for help around the area after more 120mm of rain fell in the past 24 hours. Sydney was pelted with rain on Tuesday morning, with the inner-west suburb of Marrickville receiving 53mm of rain falling in just one hour between 10am and 11am as the storm cell hit. Group of women protect themselves from the rain under colourful ponchos during Sydney's wet weather on Tuesday A white and black car are seen sitting in floodwaters which engulfed parts of Sydney on Tuesday A drain gave way on Crown Street in Surry Hills on Tuesday, trapping a car's tyre and causing traffic chaos Tuesday's showers measured half the average rainfall for February. The SES carried out 19 flood rescues mainly in Sydney's innerwest and received 250 calls for help, a spokeswoman said. Flooding was also reported in Penrith, Parramatta, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Port Kembla and inner-city suburbs. Cars were engulfed in the floodwaters and homes were damaged after the heavy downpour collapsed roofs. A soldier who survived a fatal army truck crash has told a court the driver had 'deliberately' targeted potholes before he lost control. Alexander Gall, 24, is on trial at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court over the horrific crash at Holsworthy Barracks that claimed the life of Sapper Jordan Penpraze, 22. The then 20-year-old was behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog with 18 people on board when it rolled, injuring six in October 2012. Sapper Dylan Williams, who was seriously injured, told the jury Gall had attempted to make the six-tonne troop carrier 'slide' around a corner, ABC News reported. 'Gall was trying to deliberately get the vehicle to drift,' Sapper Williams said. Sapper Jordan Penpraze, 22, (pictured) died after the army truck he was travelling in rolled He also told the jury he could 'feel' that Gall was aiming for the potholes when they were heading back to base from a training exercise. Sapper Jarrod Robinson, who was also riding in the back of the truck, told the jury he felt they were travelling 'way too fast'. He recalled seeing another sapper bang at the driver's cab before the crash, and he was pretty sure he heard someone tell the driver to slow down. Former ADF lieutenant Sean Mulligan confirmed on Wednesday he believed the speed limit at a Sydney training range to be 40 km/h, but he did not tell that to new driver Gall. He also said he didn't know Gall had only held his automatic learner's licence before he started his course to drive Unimogs and Land Cruisers a month earlier, and he didn't know the course included a total 14 hours of Unimog training. Alexander Gall, then 20, was behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog with 18 people on board when it rolled, injuring six and killing one, in October 2012 The driver is on trial at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court (file image) over the 2012 crash Sapper Robinson's testimony on Wednesday was challenged by Gall's defence barrister, David McClure SC, who said he gave different evidence the day after the crash, and in 2013. 'I believe what I say is truthful,' Sapper Robinson replied. The Crown is alleging that the crash occurred because Gall was driving too fast. But Mr McClure previously told the court there were no speed limit signs on the unsealed gravel road, and Gall had received 'hopelessly inadequate' training from the army. Gall has pleaded not guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death and six counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. The trial continues. Theresa May has crushed the Remain resistance to Brexit in the Commons, successfully defeating every amendment to her historic Article 50 bill. Brexit moved a step closer tonight as new laws enshrining the Prime Minister's powers to launch the two year Brexit process were passed to the Lords. Mrs May saw off a potential rebellion on the rights of EU nationals after Brexit, defeating a dangerous amendment 332 to 290 with a promise any changes to their citizenship in future will be subject to a separate vote. After a marathon series of nine separate Commons votes, the legislation was granted a third reading by a landslide, agreed by MPs 494 to 122, majority 372. Most Labour MPs backed the legislation - including shadow home secretary Diane Abbott who backed the Bill despite disappearing with a migraine last week. But Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron vowed the party's peers would seek to amend the Bill in the Lords. The Government passed Brexit legislation by a landslide tonight, easily seeing off a rearguard action by Remain rebels who wanted to constrain the negotiations. The third reading result was read out by Government whip Jackie Doyle Price, pictured Prime Minister Theresa May (right) and British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Minister) David Davis (left) shout 'aye' in the House of Commons in favour of a third reading of the EU Notification of Withdrawl Bill After a marathon series of nine separate Commons votes, the legislation was granted a third reading by a landslide, agreed by MPs 494 to 122, majority 372 Theresa May, pictured at PMQs today, was successful in forcing the legislation through the Commons un-amended and she will now be hoping for a smooth ride through the Lords Clive Lewis resigned as shadow business secretary to vote against the bill, defying a three line whip from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Passing the Article 50 laws to peers without a single amendment is likely to discourage the Lords from disrupting the plans, which are due to be law around March 7. Mr Farron hopes to ensure a referendum on the final Brexit deal. He said: 'Over the next few weeks, Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords will seek to make changes to the Government's plans,' he said. 'Our goal will be to protect Britain's membership of the single market, protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK and to give the people the final say on Theresa May's deal.' But Government sources warned the Lords faced 'abolition' if it stood in the way of Brexit. A source said: 'The Lords will face an overwhelming public call to be abolished if they now try and frustrate this bill - they must get on and deliver the will of the British people.' Labour's Diane Abbott said: 'The Shadow Cabinet agreed this week that we would vote for triggering Article 50 and obbviously I did that. 'I think the Tory Brexit is going to be quite disastrous. I don't believe we've given them a blank cheque. We are going to be holding them to account.' British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves the Houses of Parliament in a car after the vote Most Labour MPs backed the legislation - including shadow home secretary Diane Abbott who backed the Bill despite disappearing with a migraine last week A total of 52 MPs rebelled against Mr Corbyn's orders and voted against triggering Article 50, up from the 47 who opposed the legislation at second reading last week. Former chancellor Ken Clarke was again the only Conservative to vote against the Bill. The simple two clause Bill was passed without any changes after around 40 hours of debate in the Commons. Mrs Rudd insisted the government was 'committed' to striking a deal ensuring reciprocal rights after we cut ties with Brussels. 'I'd also like to reassure colleagues that parliament will have a clear opportunity to debate and vote on this issue in the future,' she wrote. The commitment is evidence that minister are not yet certain they can emerge victorious in the latest spat over the Brexit Bill. An amendment tabled to the historic legislation authorising Article 50 calls for the government to say now that people will be allowed to stay. The change will be the focal point for Tory rebels, Labour, the SNP and Liberal Democrats who have been looking to restrict the Prime Minister's negotiating stance. This is the text of the Bill at the heart of the 'hand to hand combat' in parliament - sparked by the Supreme Court's ruling that Theresa May cannot use executive powers to invoke Brexit But it could also attract support from Eurosceptics who have made clear they do not want to punish EU nationals already in this country. Theresa May earlier promised to 'prioritise' a deal on residency rights and said she wanted to seal it as early as possible in the looming talks. However, she insists it is not possible to fix the position earlier as Germany and other states in the bloc want it dealt with in the wider negotiations. Ministers won a series of votes tonight as the marathon committee stage drew to a close. Just 33 MPs backed a Liberal Democrat call for a second referendum while the Government majority was around 40 in all other divisions. Ministers clarified that the final Brexit package will be put to the Commons before it is ratified by the European Parliament. Despite seven Remain-supporting Tory MPs favouring the change, the Prime Minister won a clear majority of 33 in favour of her plans to keep the final Commons showdown a 'take it or leave it' vote. Jeremy Corbyn is facing a tricky time tonight with the prospect of MPs defying his order to vote in favour of the Bill at third reading Despite seven Remain-supporting Tory MPs rebelling against the Government, the Prime Minister won a clear majority of 33 in favour of her plans to keep the final Commons showdown a 'take it or leave it' vote As well as Mr Clarke and Ms Soubry, the other five Tory rebels tonight were: Heidi Allen, Bob Neill, Claire Perry, Antoinette Sandbach and Andrew Tyrie. Minutes before rebelling against the Government, Ms Perry, a former rail minister, branded her hardline Brexit-supporting MPs as 'jihadis'. THE SEVEN TORY REBELS Seven Tory MPs rebelled against the Government last night and today and voted in favour of Labour MP Chris Leslie's amendment that demanded Parliament be given a vote on Theresa May's final Brexit deal. They were: Ken Clarke, former chancellor and MP for Rushcliffe. Bob Neill, chairman of the Justice Select Committee and MP for Bromley and Chislehurst. Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee and MP for Chichester. Claire Perry, former rail minister and MP for Devizes. Anna Soubry, former business minister and MP for Broxtowe. Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury Heidi Allen, MP for South Cambridgeshire. There were also several Tory abstentions, including former Chancellor George Osborne. He broke the three-line whip to deliver a speech on Brexit in Antwerp, Belgium. Ben Howlett, MP for Bath, also abstained. Advertisement Remarkably, in the same speech she also urged colleagues to end the 'hysterical' language in the Brexit debate. The Government's move to quell the Tory rebellion was initially hailed as a 'huge concession' by shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer. But ministers have pointed out that it will still be a 'take it or leave it' vote - meaning Britain would merely quit the bloc without new terms if MPs reject them. The Government was helped to victory by six Labour MPs who voted to defeat demands for a final showdown in Parliament over the final Brexit deal. They were chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee Frank Field, Ronnie Campbell, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins , Graham Stringer and Gisela Stuart. All six backed the Brexit campaign last year. Some 312 Tory MPs voted against the amendment along with seven DUP MPs. Ukip's Douglas Carswell also voted against the move. The developments came on another day of hand-to-hand combat in the House of Commons the government pushes through legislation to trigger Article 50. After a first round of trouble-making amendments was seen off last night, the debate focused on calls for a 'meaningful' vote on whatever Mrs May agrees with Brussels. There were fears that would raise the prospect of MPs sending the premier back to renegotiate a new package - weakening her hand in the talks - and potentially triggering a second referendum. As the second day of the committee stage of the Bill got under way, Mr Jones told the Commons: 'We intend the vote will cover not only the withdrawal arrangements but also the future relationship with the European Union. George Osborne broke the three-line whip to deliver a speech in Antwerp last night, pictured While George Osborne - who gambled his ministerial career as the architect of Project Fear during last year's EU referendum - was speaking in Antwerp, his Tory colleague Nick Boles, pictured in the wheelchair, left his hospital bed to vote with the Government 'Furthermore, I can confirm that the Government will bring forward a motion on the final agreement to be approved by both houses of Parliament before it is concluded and we expect and intend that this will happen before the European Parliament debates and votes on the final agreement.' But he then insisted the Commons vote would still be 'take it or leave it'. Meanwhile, the premier was given a major boost today when Jeremy Corbyn announced he will order Labour MPs to vote in favour of the Bill tomorrow even if none of the party's amendments are passed. The decision by the Opposition leader to impose a three line whip on the third reading tonight is likely to fuel deep divisions in the party. Senior figures including shadow business secretary Clive Lewis have threatened to quit rather than back the legislation. Some 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the leader last week, and he has yet to decide whether to sack 13 frontbenchers who were among their number. Brexit minister Davis Jones made clear last night that the Government had no intention of accepting any of the hundreds of pages of amendments that have been tabled to the two clause Article 50 bill. The seven Tory rebels included Heidi Allen, MP for South Cambridgeshire (left) and Anna Soubry, a former business minister and MP for Broxtowe (right) Tory MPs Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury (left) and Claire Perry, former rail minister and MP for Devizes (right) also rebelled against the Government The Tory rebels included Ken Clarke, former chancellor and MP for Rushcliffe (left), Bob Neill, chairman of the Justice Select Committee and MP for Bromley and Chislehurst (middle) and Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee and MP for Chichester (right) The Government won a clear majority of 33 in the latest Commons showdown on Brexit tonight In the Commons today, Brexit minister David Jones said MPs would get a vote on any deal with the EU before it was ratified by the European parliament Dismissing Mr Corbyn's amendments, and a slew of others tabled by pro Remain backbenchers, Mr Jones said they were unnecessary. CORBYN ORDERS HIS MPs TO BACK BREXIT BILL IN FINAL VOTE Jeremy Corbyn is facing a tense showdown with his own MPs after confirming he will order them to back the Brexit Bill. The Labour leader is imposing a three-line whip to support the crucial legislation tonight. The decision - made at a meeting of the shadow cabinet yesterday - comes despite threats from senior figures including shadow business secretary Clive Lewis to quit. Mr Corbyn was defied by 47 of his own MPs when he ordered them to back the Bill last week. He has been ridiculed for failing to sack 13 frontbenchers who voted against, saying at the weekend that he was a 'lenient person'. Mr Corbyn's key ally Diane Abbott failed to take part in the vote, claiming that she had developed a headache hours before it took place. There had been mounting speculation that Mr Corbyn would allow his MPs to abstain on the third reading of the Bill tomorrow in a bid to stop the party's divisions becoming even more catastrophic. Advertisement During the debate, former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie claimed that doubts over post-Brexit arrangements for Britain's financial services mean there is a 'clear and present danger' to the economy. Among Mr Leslie's many amendments to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill are demands for more information on how the UK wants to work with EU agencies and bodies, including Europol. He also wants two reports published each year to explain how the Government is aiming to 'defend and promote' access to European markets for the UK financial services sector. Speaking during the Bill's committee stage, Mr Leslie said of the sector: 'You could say merely a small corner of Britain's GDP but it provides 67 billion of revenue for all of our schools, for all of our hospitals. 'If we mess around with that particular sector in the wrong way, we're all going to be poorer and our public services will be poorer as a result.' In other debates tonight, MPs demanded a unilateral commitment to allow EU nationals currently living in Britain to stay after Brexit. Mrs May has insisted she wants this to be final outcome but has refused to do so without similar guarantees for British expats on the continent. Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, said EU nationals living in Britain should not be used as 'bargaining chips' in the Brexit negotiations. Labour MP Harriet Harman and Vote Leave co-chair Gisela Stuart also called on Theresa May to 'set the tone' by giving the guarantee before formal talks with Brussels kick off. The Opposition is seeking to amend the Bill allowing the Prime Minister to start formal Brexit talks by including the pledge. Boris Johnson has urged MPs not to try to undermine the legislation going through the House Cabinet ministers including Justine Greening (left) and Liz Truss (right) gathered for a meeting in Downing Street today ahead of more hand-to-hand combat in the Commons Chancellor Philip Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis were among those at the Cabinet meeting in No10 today Intervening on Conservative MP Mark Harper in the Commons during discussion on the Bill, Mr Tyrie said: 'Other nationals should not be treated as bargaining chips. 'And he would also, I'm sure, be aware that the Treasury Committee has heard a good deal of evidence to suggest that the failure to guarantee the rights of EU nationals is now beginning to damage the economy.. 'Given that, and the overwhelming ethical case, doesn't he agree, on reflection, the time has come now, just to protect these citizens' rights? But Mr Harper warned giving the guarantee risks 'throwing overboard the interests and concerns of UK citizens living elsewhere in the European Union' who have not received the same promise from the 27 EU member states. Debates and votes on the fine details of the bill - which was agreed by a landslide last week - are due to be held until Wednesday evening. The most dangerous moment for the Government is expected to be tomorrow evening when Tory rebels could back a Labour amendment on the need for a 'meaningful' final vote on Brexit. A father-of-six was filmed being busted by a paedophile-hunting group after he groomed an '11-year-old girl' for a week online. Richard Wood, 33, told his victim he wanted her to lie on his bed so he could kiss her breasts, lips and stomach. During lengthy chats the sick paedophile invited her to come to his flat and meet his cat and even purchased a thong with love hearts on it. Richard Wood, 33, groomed his victim for a week before he arranged to meet up with her outside a Tesco But the girl he was in contact with was actually a member of the group Internet Interceptors who had been posing as a girl called Gemma. Guildford Magistrates Court heard that the he had chatting to the girl over several days using chat app Waplog and Whatsapp and arranged to meet her at a Tesco. Prosecutor Ross Talbot said: 'The defendant used an online chat app, Waplog, and whilst he was talking to a number of individuals struck up a conversation with a child named Gemma, aged 11. 'The owner of the profile was actually a woman who runs a vigilante-style internet group with the express aim of uncovering paedophiles. 'The conversations were investigated and he quickly established her age, that she was at school and lived at home with her mother. 'The conversations started on December 1 and continued over a number of days where the defendant suggested that she came to see him and his cat and spend time at his house.' During their steamy chats he sent messages saying he wanted the girl to lie on his bed and told her of the things 'he wanted to do with her'. But the 'girl' turned out to be a group called Internet Interceptors, who rumbled him and filmed his immediate reaction Wood was then searched by officers after Internet Interceptors flagged down a police car Mr Talbot added: 'These included kissing her on the lips, breasts and stomach and making love to her although he was worried about getting into trouble or being arrested.' Wood was picked up by the paedophile vigilantes outside Tesco on December 10 at around 11am and in a video published online he admitted he was there to meet Gemma. A passing police car was flagged down by the interceptors and cops later searched Wood's flat where they found a gift bag containing the thong. Mr Talbot added: 'They arranged to meet three days later on Saturday, December 10 outside Tesco at 11am. 'At 11.40am, the group attended the meeting place with two other adults, two grown men. One was using a camera to film what happened. 'They showed the defendant a picture she had used for the fake profile and he said that he didn't know who the photo was and was there to buy a new TV. 'Police found a gift bag in the flat containing a thong which was size small, that had been recently purchased and had love hearts on it. 'Mr Wood was interviewed twice by police and remained silent both times. 'The first interview took place immediately after the arrest and the second when the web chat logs were obtained.' Wood's details being taken. He was picked up by the paedophile vigilantes outside Tesco on December 10 at around 11am Another officer searches through his belongings. He was interviewed twice by police are remained silent on both occasions Wood, who pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming at an earlier hearing on January 9, was handed a 10-month suspended prison sentence. Defending Wood, from Horley, Surrey, Gary Russell said that his client attended a special needs school and is vulnerable but not likely to repeat the offence again. He added: 'He is 33 now but one wouldn't know it in terms of his maturity, He seems to live a hermit life. There was no guile in the offence.' Judge Peter Moss branded Wood, who relies on benefits and has had a series of cleaning jobs, a 'socially inept' and 'sad individual'. He said: 'You have struck up a number of conversations with a girl you thought was 11 and arranged to meet the 11-year-old after a number of days of conversations. 'You have expressed a desire to have sexual contact with her.' 'You gave your right name and age and didn't seek to use any subterfuge which seems quite naive. 'There have been an enormous amount of issues for you in your life.' Wood is to pay 300 prosecution costs and a 140 victim surcharge which will be deducted from his benefits. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order for ten years which means he is banned from communicating or being alone in the company of a child under 16. The alleged killer of author Helen Bailey was assaulted by a stranger on the day she vanished and told 'Helen is with us', a court has heard. Ian Stewart claimed he was attacked on his doorstep by a tattooed thug named Nick, who said: 'If you tell anyone, you won't see Helen again.' Her 56-year-old fiance told a jury the Electra Brown writer was subject to a campaign of harassment over past business dealings by two men named Nick and Joe. He is accused of slowly drugging his partner over the course of weeks and murdering her in a financially motivated plot last year. Stewart told his trial at St Albans Crown Court that he was set upon on the morning of April 11 last year. Ian Stewart, accused of murdering his writer fiance Helen Bailey, has told a court he obtained the sleeping pills allegedly used in the plot to kill her 'As I opened the door, he (Nick) pushed me back into the hall and he must have tripped me at some point,' he said 'He said: 'Helen is with us, she is helping us solve a problem, don't tell anyone'.' Asked who he thought he meant by 'us', Stewart replied: 'I assumed it was Joe. 'He said: 'Sorry, we have taken Helen and Boris with us', he said 'we will be back, we will see you Friday, if anyone asks tell them she's gone Broadstairs (Kent), don't tell anyone in any way'. 'He then said: 'If you tell anyone you won't see Helen again'.' Ms Bailey was said to have been concerned in the weeks leading up to her death that she was feeling unnaturally sleepy. The jury in her trial has been told she Googled 'Why do I keep falling asleep' and 'I'm so tired' in the weeks before her death. In the witness box for the second day this morning, Stewart said the tablets were something he obtained, but his fiancee refused to let him take them. Defence barrister Simon Russell Flint QC asked Stewart: 'It was suggested by the prosecution that Helen had been someway poisoned by the secret or hidden administration of Zopiclone. Did you do that at any stage?' Stewart answered: 'No.' Stewart said he went to get the pills because he feared he had cancer and was having difficulty sleeping. He said: 'I went to get Zopiclone because I wasn't sleeping and Helen wasn't either.' Ms Bailey, a writer of children's books, was the subject of a long-running police search Stewart told the jury Ms Bailey had researched the drug and they shouldn't be given to him because of other health conditions he had. He said: 'She took the tablets off me and said 'you're not taking those'. She said 'this is something I might take' because she was having problems sleeping as well.' He added: 'Helen didn't like taking drugs but she did when necessary. She sometimes took anti sickness pills when we had a long drive.' Stewart was also asked whether Helen would have noticed if he had tried to disguise the drug in her food or drink. He answered: 'Yes, she would have noticed instantly as Zopiclone apparently has a bitter taste.' Stewart is also accused of changing a standing order from her account into a joint account he shared with Ms Bailey on the day she disappeared from 600 to 4,000. Police at the couple's Hertfordshire home during the investigation into the author's death This came after two attempts to set up a new standing order from Helen's bank account failed. When asked about this today Stewart said: 'No, this was nothing to do with me.' He added: 'I assume Helen did this, she was the only person at home. 'I don't understand why she'd amend a standing order. I can understand the 4,000 amount in some way, the 4,000 she'd allocated on spending on a spare room. 'She was talking about putting this in the joint account.' He confirmed he knew her pin number, adding: 'We had no secrets.' Widower Stewart yesterday told the court that he and widow Ms Bailey met at a group for people grieving the deaths of their partners. Police had to dig up the property's garage to find Ms Bailey's body below the building He said today that he had later given Ms Bailey an eternity ring he had previously bought his wife Diane in Greece. He told the court: '[Helen[ really liked it. I said 'Would you like it?' Maybe some people wouldn't understand that. She said yes.' Ms Bailey's body was found in an underground cesspit beneath the garage of her home in Hertfordshire. Stewart is accused of killing her so he could get his hands on her fortune. He denies murder, preventing a lawful burial, fraud and three counts of perverting the course of justice. The trial continues. 1. AUSTIN, TEXAS The Texan capital was nominated the best place to live according to a new survey, with 50 people moving to the city every day. The city has a population of almost 1.9 million people and an average salary of $49,560. House prices work out on average $262,000 and there is around 32 inches of rain a year, with temperatures normally ranging between 55F-80F. With an unemployment rate of just 3.2 per cent and a 26-minute average commute it is proving very popular. Renting in the city works out around $1,044 a month. 2. DENVER, COLORADO Denver has dropped one place in the rankings this year which is probably unrelated to the state's decision to legalize marijuana. The city has a population of approximately 2.7 million who have an average salary of $54,450, which is higher than Austin, but the median cost of houses works out around $314,000. But for those who want to rent, can find a home for $1,049 and will get into work in only 27 minutes. Temperatures in Denver range from an average of 65F in the summer to a bracing 36F. 3. SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA Located in the middle of Silicon Valley, San Jose is home to the technical heart of America and a large number of very well paid professionals. The city's population is almost 1.3 million whose average salary is $78,000 a year. With average temperatures ranging between 72F and 51F with rainfall just shy of 15 inches, it has a very pleasant climate with 300 days of sunshine a year. Unsurprisingly, the city's high wages mean the median home price is $830,000 and rent works out around $1,700 a month. Getting to work isn't too stressful either with an average commute time of 26 minutes. 4. WASHINGTON DC The nation's capital has been described as a 'swamp' during the recent presidential campaign by Donald Trump but it still remains one of the best places in the United States to live. Almost six million people live in the city which has an average salary of almost $66,000. Climate would not be a reason to move to DC, which averages between 67F and 49.5F and boasts almost 40 inches of rain a year. The 34.5 minute commute is higher than the national average. For those who cannot afford the $372,000 average house, rent works out around $1,500 a month. 5. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS The area surrounding Fayetteville is known as the home of Wal-Mart and scores very highly on the cost of living indexes. There are 493,000 people living in the city although this figure is rapidly increasing with homes costing less than the national average. Homes in Fayetteville cost on average $182,500 while rent is far less than the other cities at the top of the list costing $738 a month. The area has to contend with an average of 48 inches of rain a year. The city boasts an unemployment rate of just 2.9 per cent while the commute to work takes 21 minutes. Rain aside, temperatures in the city range on average between 68F during the summer and 45F in winter. Advertisement Snow is forecast to hit Britain tonight with temperatures dropping below freezing as Britain braces itself for the mercury to plunge to -5C by the weekend in the second wave of this year's big freeze. Temperatures in the next few days will be up to 5C colder than expected at this time of year, and the Met Office has issued warnings for ice in parts of South West England as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. London could see snow tonight and temperatures could drop as low as -3C in the Midlands, while there will be widespread frost this weekend, with showers and more than two inches of snow in the Grampians. The City of London skyline is covered in thick mist this morning ahead of possible snow flakes falling tonight Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. Age UK has urged older people to take precautions in the cold weather to keep themselves 'safe and well'. Met Office meteorologist Emma Sillitoe told MailOnline: 'Over the weekend we're going to see further sleet and snow showers coming in from the east - it's over the Grampians we're going to see 5cm and 6cm fall. 'Further south you could see a centimetre too. Even tonight the temperature in London could get down to freezing and there are a few light showers around so we could see a few flakes. 'As we head into the weekend, especially overnight in London, temperatures Friday night into Saturday morning are -2C. We could see down to -5C around Glasgow and Aberdeen. 'Saturday day itself we've still got mostly light showers coming in from the east and by daytime on Saturday temperatures in London are getting up to 5C and, in the Midlands, 4C. Temperatures will start to 'struggle' from tomorrow, dropping in London from 7C today to 4C. The North East coast, including Newcastle, will see temperatures of 3C with rain and sleet. Tomorrow night, some parts of the UK will be between -3C and -4C. Friday will also be cold, with widespread frost overnight into Saturday. There may be snow on Sunday, with higher ground seeing as much as 6cm (2.4in). The Met Office said the colder spell was due to easterly winds from Scandinavia. 'It's going to be on higher ground that we see any of the showers turn into show,' Ms Sillitoe added. Age UK said cold weather can have a 'devastating impact' on the health of older people, causing increased blood pressure and raising the risk of chest infections. A farm building in Teesdale, County Durham, was surrounded by snow yesterday after wintry showers fell over higher ground A motorist carefully drives along a snow lined road in Teesdale yesterday as temperatures dropped below freezing again Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: 'The cold weather can be really challenging for older people, particularly those who are more vulnerable because of pre-existing health conditions or who are living in housing that is difficult and expensive to heat. 'It can also be an especially lonely time, if older people feel it is too cold to go out and about. With the weather set to take a turn for the worse, we are urging people to check our advice to make sure they are doing everything they can to protect themselves against the cold weather. 'We'd also urge people to keep an eye on their older family members, friends or neighbours when the weather is particularly bad. Picking up some shopping for them or just popping in to check they're okay and having a friendly chat can be a real help at this time of year.' Monday of last week was the coldest night of the year so far, with -10.1C recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. The coldest UK temperature of 2016 was -12.4C at Kinbrace, while in 2015 it was -13.7C at Loch Glascarnoch. An op-ed in The New York Times by Dr. Peter Hotez: How the Anti-Vaxxers Are Winning. Excerpt: HOUSTON Its looking as if 2017 could become the year when the anti-vaccination movement gains ascendancy in the United States and we begin to see a reversal of several decades in steady public health gains. The first blow will be measles outbreaks in America. Measles is one of the most contagious and most lethal of all human diseases. A single person infected with the virus can infect more than a dozen unvaccinated people, typically infants too young to have received their first measles shot. Such high levels of transmissibility mean that when the percentage of children in a community who have received the measles vaccine falls below 90 percent to 95 percent, we can start to see major outbreaks, as in the 1950s when four million Americans a year were infected and 450 died. Worldwide, measles still kills around 100,000 children each year. The myth that vaccines like the one that prevents measles are connected to autism has persisted despite rock-solid proof to the contrary. Donald Trump has given credence to such views in tweets and during a Republican debate, but as president he has said nothing to support vaccination opponents, so there is reason to hope that his views are changing. However, a leading proponent of the link between vaccines and autism said he recently met with the president to discuss the creation of a presidential commission to investigate vaccine safety. Such a commission would be a throwback to the 2000s, when Representative Dan Burton of Indiana held fruitless hearings and conducted investigations on this topic. And a documentary alleging a conspiracy at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, has recently been shown around the country. As a scientist leading global efforts to develop vaccines for neglected poverty-related diseases like schistosomiasis and Chagas disease, and as the dad of an adult daughter with autism and other disabilities, Im worried that our nations health will soon be threatened because we have not stood up to the pseudoscience and fake conspiracy claims of this movement. The Danish Miss Universe has reportedly been dethroned over 'links to a criminal organisation' after her ex-boyfriend's $100million yacht was seized in a money laundering probe. Christina Mikkelsen was allegedly fired following the controversy surrounding her former partner Teodorin Obiang, the vice president of Equitoreal Guinea and the president's son. Mr Obiang's boat was seized by Dutch authorities in December, at the request of the Swiss government. But her dismissal comes amid accusations that she has made about staff at her agency demanding that she lost weight. Christina Mikkelsen, pictured left as Miss Universe Denmark, has been fired due to the controversy surrounding her former partner Teodorin Obiang, right Christina Mikkelsen struts her stuff on the catwalk at the Miss Copenhagen competition last year Mr Obiang, 42, has reportedly been the subject of a long investigation by the Swiss over claims he has spent Government money on himself, according to Forbes. On top of his sea vessel, the Ebony Shine, several supercars were also seized from Mr Obiang, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, an Aston Martin and a Bugatti. The boat was delivered in 2008 for Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, who then sold it to Mr Obiang, according to SuperYachtFan.com. The pair met in 2013 after she was invited to an event in Equatorial Guinea through her beauty organization. She told tabloid Ekstra Bladet at the time, the following year: 'We soon fell into conversation, and there was good chemistry from the start.' However, there is further scandal surrounding Ms Mikkelsen, as she accused her employers of trying weight shame her. Miss Mikkelsen recently represented Denmark at this Miss Universe pageant in Pasay City, The Philippines She is seen posing here with Miss Universe Guam, Muneka Joy Cruz Taisipic, ahead of this year's Miss Universe event She accused John Paul Hamilton de Voss of telling her to lose eight kilograms before a pageant, despite her weighing only 54kg (8st5lbs) and standing at 174cm (5ft 7in). Mr de Voss acknowledges that he has sent a message that she should lose weight, but that he meant to say 8lbs, which is slightly less than half 8kg. He explained to Good Morning Denmark: 'I am no longer associated with Miss Denmark and do not live in Denmark, and I have not lived there for quite some time. 'I was never 'National Director', and these text messages are blatantly taken out of context, and some of them are pure fabrications.' The model took to Facebook to post a message to her followers. She said: 'Hi everyone. I gotta admit the last few days have been overwhelming. I just wanna take the time to say thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your sweet messages. Miss Mikkelsen is pictured here on a trip to Equitoreal Guinea with her ex-boyfriend, giving out toys to disadvantaged children The 24-year-old has hit out at her agency, The Face Of Denmark, over allegations staff tried to weight shame her 'I am very sorry that I didn't get the answer you all, but know that I've read them, and they'll warm [a heart emoji]. 'A big thank you to and especially My family, without them I wouldn't be able to get through the last few months. I regret absolutely nothing, even though I obviously had to lose my title and crown to speak my mind. 'We grow throughout their lives, and I must say that I have learned so much here lately. No one should ever tell us we're not good enough. We are good enough just as we are.' MailOnline has contacted Miss Universe for comment and made efforts to contact The Face Of Denmark, which has since taken down its website. The grieving family of an Australian woman who died in a jet-ski crash in Thailand have refused to let her boyfriend be charged over her death. Tommy Keating, 22, will face charges of careless driving, causing death following a tragic weekend jet-ski accident that claimed the life of Emily Jayne Collie. The 20-year-old Melbourne woman was killed when their two jet-skis collided on Sunday afternoon near Kata Beach in Phuket. Mr Keating is expected to hand himself into police on Thursday for a formal interview where he will be charged. However, the young woman's parents have pleaded they do not want to press murder charges against their daughter's boyfriend. Scroll down for video Tommy Keating, 22, (right) will face charges of careless driving, causing death following a tragic weekend jet-ski accident that claimed the life of his girlfriend Emily Jayne Collie (left) The 20-year-old Melbourne woman was killed when their two jet-skis collided on Sunday afternoon near Kata Beach in Phuket Ms Collie's parents have arrived in Thailand to bring their daughter's body home - as they urged authorities not to charge her boyfriend over her death Mr Keating, who will have to stay in Thailand for up to a month, could face a two-year suspended sentence - meaning he will escape jail, 7 News reported. As the young man faces charges, Ms Collie's family have arrived in Phuket to bring their daughter's body home. The tragic news comes after the grief-stricken boyfriend paid tribute to his 'beautiful girl' in an emotional Facebook post. 'I love you so much Emily and I wish I could just bring you back into my arms,' Mr Keating wrote in his heartbreaking Facebook post. 'I'm so broken and I know I'll never never be able to mend. 'I'll always be your boy and you'll always be my girl! We had so many plans for our future Emmy.' Mr Keating described his girlfriend as 'My beautiful girl' and said Ms Collie was 'taken too soon'. 'I love you to bits baby and I promise I'll never stop and you'll always have my heart!' he wrote. 'You where such an inspiration to myself and many others! The most beautiful girl I've ever met! Inside and out! 'Fly high up there Emmy I know you'll always be looking down on me and everyone you loved. 'Rest easy Emily I'll never forget you.' Mr Keating suffered minor injuries and broke down in tears in the ambulance on Sunday A photo of Tommy Keating and his girlfriend Emily Jayne Collie, which he posted to his Facebook page along with an emotional tribute Tommy Keating described Emily Jayne Collie as the most beautiful girl he had ever met Part of Mr Keating's emotional Facebook tribute to his girlfriend, Emily Jayne Collie In a statement, Ms Collie's family paid tribute to their 'princess'. 'Emily was our princess, everything shined bright when she was around,' the statement said. 'She was the most caring person and deeply loved her family more than anything in the world. 'She was looking forward to celebrating her 21st birthday this year and completing her pharmacy degree. 'The family would like to thank everyone for the love and support during this difficult time. 'She left a hole in our hearts.' Ms Collie was pulled unconscious from the water and was treated by lifeguards on the beach before she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Mr Keating said strong sunlight reflected off the sea and made it impossible to see her jetski, leading to the crash just off Kata Beach in Phuket. Ms Collie was pulled unconscious from the water and was treated by lifeguards on the beach before she was pronounced dead Ms Collie is pictured being treated by lifeguards on the beach at Phuket in Thailand Ms Collie is pictured being taken to the ambulance by lifeguards on Sunday Two jet skis are pictured parked in front a police station in Phuket, Thailand She and Mr Keating crashed into each other about 4.45pm local time on Sunday, local media reported. Ms Collie died after suffering severe neck and shoulder injuries, The Age reported. Mr Keating suffered minor injuries and broke down in tears in the ambulance. An onlooker, Prapai Navarak, said the boyfriend was crying but there was nothing anybody could do. 'It was so sad to see. Nobody could do anything. The woman's husband was crying. I am shocked,' Mr Navarak said. Mr Keating's cousin, Sean Lyon Smith, said the couple had been in a relationship for about two years and had gone to Thailand on a 'dream holiday'. Ms Collie, of Victoria, was a student at Charles Sturt University and went to Goulburn Valley Grammar School in Shepparton, according to her Facebook page. A spokesperson confirmed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was providing consular assistance to Ms Collie's family. Mr Keating's cousin, Sean Lyon Smith, said the couple had been in a relationship for about two years and had gone to Thailand on a 'dream holiday' Ms Collie of Victoria was a student at Charles Sturt University and went to Goulburn Valley Grammar School in Shepparton, according to her Facebook page The 20-year-old and her boyfriend Tommy Keating crashed into each other about 4.45pm local time on Sunday An aspiring New Zealand rapper is facing a possible death sentence after being charged with first-degree murder in a maximum security U.S. prison. Auckland-born Clinton Thinn, 29, was arrested in San Diego, California, in June after an alleged botched bank robbery using a flare gun and a hammer. He has since been held at the George Bailey Detention Facility in San Diego, home to nearly 1,800 prisoners. Former school friends told Daily Mail Australia that Thinn had pledged allegiance to the notorious Aryan Brotherhood gang in prison before a fatal incident. Clinton Thinn, 29, is facing a possible death sentence after being charged with first-degree murder in a US prison He is charged with attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a loaded firearm and first-degree murder, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Thinn has not entered a plea and is not eligible for bail. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 25 years in prison or the death penalty. A friend, who asked not to be named, said Thinn had been 'picked on' in prison because of his accent and pledged allegiance to the white supremacist prison gang before his murder charge. 'It's shocking a fellow student at a prestigious school has ended up there,' he said. 'I wish him the best. Hopefully he can be deported back home and get the help he needs.' Thinn was arrested in San Diego, California, in June after allegedly attempting to rob a bank using a flare gun and a hammer Former school friend say he pledged allegiance to the notorious Aryan Brotherhood gang in prison He is being held at the at George Bailey Detention Facility in San Diego, which houses nearly 1,800 prisoners The friend said Thinn had posted a series of videos of himself rapping on social media before suddenly jetting to the US. He believes Thinn moved to the US to pursue his career as a rapper. In June, Thinn allegedly stormed a bank with a flare gun and hammer, fired two shots and tried to shatter a bullet-proof divider that six workers were hiding behind, reports NBC. No one was injured and police reportedly arrested him at the scene. Pam Smart, 59, received a cheque for 33.38 more than a decade after her mother died A woman charged 300 by British Gas for heating used in her late mother's empty property has received a cheque for 33.38 - more than ten years later. Pam Smart, 59, claims British Gas held up the sale of her mother's home by three months after she died in November 2006 - alleging they issued bills despite no gas being used, retained a 300 overpayment and threatened to break in to take meter readings. The distressed mother-of-one sought compensation from the company and said she was 'disgusted' to receive a cheque for 33.38 out of the blue more than a decade after her mother passed away. British Gas said the compensation was sent to the bank managing the winding down of her mother's estate, Lloyds Private Banking, in 2008 when the case was closed. The retired social services worker from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, said: 'After my mum died British Gas issued a 300 bill despite being notified the heating system had been drained - a legal requirement for empty properties. 'This subsequently held up the sale of the property. The whole thing was a mess. 'I kept telling them my mum was not using any gas, she was dead. To have to say that to someone about your own mother is very distressing. 'Sometimes I would come off the phone and be so stressed I would be in tears. At one point I even said to them "the last gas my mum used was at the crematorium for god's sake". Ms Smart claims the issues - which also included her being issued with seven different account numbers from British Gas - caused a three-month delay on the sale of the house Ms Smart sold her mother Muriel Cairns' three bedroom semi-detached house in Gateshead in November 2007. The widowed grandmother-of-one had lived in the property for more than 30 years and died of breast cancer in November 2006 aged 72. Ms Smart, who paid Lloyds Private Banking four per cent of the value of her mother's estate to put her affairs in order, claims British Gas initially held 300 after issuing a bill for surplus gas after Muriel's death - despite her account being about 100 in credit. She claims the issues - which also included her being issued with seven different account numbers from British Gas - caused a three-month delay on the sale of the house. In 2008 Ms Smart received a letter of apology from British Gas offering her 15 compensation, which she received but challenged as she did not feel it was adequate. The distressed mother-of-one sought compensation from the company and said she was 'disgusted' to receive a cheque for 33.38 out of the blue more than a decade later She added: 'I couldn't believe people dealing with grieving families could be so incompetent. 'The compensation was never about the money, it was about the upset caused. I couldn't believe it when I got the cheque after all this time - more than 10 years after mum died. 'It is disgraceful that is the amount of money offered for the stress involved. It feels like it is not worth the hassle. After all this time it is a derisory sum, it is laughable. 'Interest has been added, so the original sum must have been even more derisory - it must have only been about 10. It let me know what they think about me. It is absolutely disgusting. 'I would rather not have the 33 - all it has done is open up old wounds - and there was no explanation at all as to why it has suddenly turned up a decade later.' Muriel Cairns (pictured) had lived in the property for more than 30 years and died of breast cancer in November 2006 aged 72 On January 26 she received the cheque for 33.38 along with a letter from Lloyds Private Banking stating they had received the compensation payment from British Gas. Ms Smart said: 'It is ridiculous British Gas didn't send the compensation direct to me. 'The compensation was for the distress caused but also for ink from printing and sending for letters and the cost of calling dozens of times. 'At the time I even offered to come down to the British Gas offices at the other end of the country. 'Now even if British Gas serviced my home for free I would not take it. I would not do business with them for any reason.' A spokesperson from British Gas said: 'We were sorry to hear there was a delay in the compensation reaching Mrs Smart. We closed this case in 2008 and at that time we sent the compensation to the bank who were managing her mother's estate.' A spokesman for Lloyds Private Banking confirmed they were investigating but said they could not comment on individual cases. Theresa May slammed the disgraced lawyer Phil Shiner for hounding Iraq veterans today and promised to crack down on others who chase after former soldiers. She said it was 'absolutely appalling' that the likes of Mr Shiner, who was struck off last week, could 'make a business out of chasing after our brave troops'. And the PM promised to reduce the number of cases being pursued by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which has been heavily criticised for leading a 'witch-hunt' and is estimated to have cost 36.3million to date. Theresa May, pictured at PMQs today, slammed the disgraced lawyer Phil Shiner for hounding Iraq veterans today and promised to crack down on others who chase after former soldiers It was set up in 2010 to probe claims of abuse of civilians following the 2003 invasion. Professor Shiner made his name suing the Government at taxpayers' expense but last week a disciplinary tribunal found he acted dishonestly in bringing murder claims against British troops. Today the PM was pressed by Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who is leading a parliamentary inquiry into Ihat, to 'get a grip' on the process, which led to many more claims than the Government expected, 'so that never again will our servicemen and women be exposed to the likes of Phil Shiner'. Mrs May responded: 'In relation to Ihat, we are committed to reducing its case load to a small number of credible cases as quickly as possible. I recognise that the action that has been taken in relation to the individual that he has referred to. I think it is absolutely appalling when people try to make a business out of chasing after our brave troops.' Earlier this week MailOnline revealed that the disgraced lawyer was part of a group of conspiracy theorists that plotted legal action even before the Iraq War started. Lawyer Phil Shiner was struck off last week Professor Shiner, 60, was a member of the Legal Inquiry Steering Group (LISG), which was set up in August 2002 to plan court cases and threaten the Government. British troops went into action in March 2003. A damning report by MPs into Ihat set to be published next week is expected to call for the 60million probe to be scrapped immediately. Mr Mercer said he believed a 'rotten core' of civil servants had warped the purpose of the process. The report is set to blame the Ministry of Defence for creating a system that allowed Professor Shiner to bring criminal cases against former soldiers on an 'industrial scale'. The MoD has said it is obliged to investigate criminal allegations and the existence of Ihat keeps British soldiers from being hauled through international courts. The Defence Sub-Committee's report on the support given to former and serving personnel who face legal proceedings is due to be published on February 15. Since its launch there have been 3,392 cases lodged with Ihat, two thirds of which were brought by Shiner and his firm, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL). The allegations against British military personnel have ranged from low-level mistreatment of civilians to claims of torture and murder. Mr Shiner was finally struck off last week after a string of misconduct charges against him, including five of dishonesty, were found proven following a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing. There have been calls for the lawyer to face criminal prosecution and the National Crime Agency is said to be reviewing evidence from the Legal Aid Authority. Today the PM was pressed by Tory MP Johnny Mercer, pictured at PMQs today, who is leading a parliamentary inquiry into Ihat, to 'get a grip' on the process, which led to many more claims than the Government expected, 'so that never again will our servicemen and women be exposed to the likes of Phil Shiner' The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) was established in 2010 to probe claims of abuse of civilians following the 2003 invasion Among its findings, the parliamentary report is expected to question why PIL was paid by Ihat to help it with its inquiries. It will also criticise the MoD for paying the firm more than 200,000 after Mr Shiner had been reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Mr Mercer, a former Army captain, told the newspaper: 'I have made my distaste for the methods and behaviour of Ihat - and the MoD's complicity in it - very obvious over the last year. 'The evidence has been clear and I look forward to publishing our report a week Wednesday. I am pretty clear where the problems lie. 'There is a rotten core of civil servants in the MoD who have made decisions without ministers or military input, and have in the process demonstrated a disturbing lack of understanding or respect for the more subtle qualities that bind an army together and make men fight for each other or a cause. 'Things have improved this year but, prior to my investigation, there was no heed whatsoever paid to how this process has affected our people. That is a deep regret of mine.' The report is expected to call for Ihat, which is made up of mostly civilian investigators, to be replaced by a team from the military police. An MoD spokeswoman said: 'The Government is legally obliged to investigate criminal allegations and the courts are clear that if Ihat did not exist, British troops could be dragged through international courts. 'We're committed to reducing Ihat's caseload to a small number of credible cases as quickly as possible. 'We are determined to stop spurious legal claims against our troops and tackle the likes of Phil Shiner, who have abused our legal system. 'The Defence Secretary insisted that the MoD submit evidence on Shiner's actions due to the distress he caused to soldiers. That led to Shiner being struck off. Now we are taking steps to ensure this abuse cannot happen in the future.' The parents of Madeleine McCann have branded last night's controversial TV drama about the fake kidnap of Shannon Matthews 'appalling' and 'insensitive'. Kate and Gerry McCann thought the BBC's screening of The Moorside - which alluded to their ordeal - was in 'poor taste and bad timing', a close friend said. It comes as the parents from Rothley, Leicestershire, face the heartbreaking 10th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance from Praia da Luz in Portugal. Kate and Gerry McCann thought the screening of BBC series The Moorside was in 'poor taste' Comparison: Madeleine McCann's favourite soft toy Cuddle Cat had been left lying on her bed when she vanished, and Mrs McCann was photographed carrying the toy everywhere (left). In The Moorside, Gemma Whelan played Karen Matthews similarly clutching a cuddly bear (right) [From left] Natalie Brown (played by Sian Brooke), Julie Bushby (played by Sheridan Smith) and Karen Matthews (played by Gemma Whelan) in the controversial new series The Moorside The mini-series follows the story of nine-year-old Shannon who 'vanished' from the Moorside council estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February 2008. The schoolgirl's own mother Karen Matthews - played by Gemma Whelan in the series which debuted on BBC One yesterday - had callously made it all up. Inspired by the huge Maddie police hunt nine months before, she wanted to cash in with a relative by grabbing the reward and any media interview fees. Matthews was eventually arrested, charged and jailed for eight years. She had been an accomplice in her daughter's drugging and kidnapping. Shannon's shocking 'disappearance' after failing to return home from a school swimming trip bore a chilling similarity to that of three-year-old Maddie. She was snatched from her bed in a holiday apartment in Portugal in May 2007 and her plight was highlighted at least three times in the first episode of The Moorside. Karen Matthews holds her daughter's favourite teddy bear as she makes an emotional appeal for her safe return in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, March 2008 Mrs McCann holds her daughter's Cuddle Cat soft toy outside a church in Portugal in 2007 In one scene Matthews's friend and search co-ordinator Julie Bushby, played by Sheridan Smith, discusses a candelit vigil after the mother's TV appeal. A friend, viewing the papers the next day, says: 'It must be working all this, they are offering a reward of 20,000.' Bushby's young son chips in: 'They are offering 2.5million for Maddie McCann. Is that because they're posher than us?' His mother replies: 'It's not a contest.' In another clip while discussing how best to launch the media plea with a detective, Matthews says: 'I've got my cuddly bear that you wanted, like Maddie's mum wants her Cuddle Cat.' The police officer asks: 'Is that Shannon's favourite' and her mother takes a long pause before answering 'Probably!' Matthews's appearance before cameras clutching the toy was a near carbon copy to Mrs McCann's genuine pleas to her daughter's abductor. Search co-ordinator Julie Bushby is played by Sheridan Smith in the new BBC mini series Smith stands with the character of DC Alex Grummit, played by Steve Oram, in The Moorland Shannons shocking disappearance after failing to return home from a school swimming trip - as featured in The Moorland (above) - bore a chilling similarity to that of three-year-old Maddie Maddie's favourite soft toy Cuddle Cat had been left lying on her bed when she vanished. In the early days Mrs McCann kept the grubby pink animal which she later recalled was dirty and 'smelt of suntan lotion' close to her. The grief stricken mother was photographed carrying the toy everywhere. During the show's appeal, Matthews shed crocodile tears as she echoed some of Mrs McCann's words, begging: 'I need her home. If anyone's got my beautiful princess, bring her home.' A source close to the McCanns said: 'The whole Shannon Matthews saga only came about because of Madeleine's disappearance and what the family wrongly thought they could claw through rewards and interviews. 'The BBC have been trailing it for a few weeks. Kate and Gerry think the whole thing is appalling, and in really poor taste and bad timing. The mini-series follows the story of Karen Matthews (left) and her daughter Shannon (right) who vanished from the Moorside council estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in 2008 Plot: Shannon was eventually discovered drugged inside the wooden base of a double bed at the home of Michael Donovan (left), the uncle of stepfather Craig Meehan (right) 'They may not sit down and watch every minute of these programmes but they are aware of them and references to their family. 'They feel is very insensitive and the show tries to glorify a terrible crime involving a young girl.' Neither Shannon, now aged 18, nor her family say they were asked to co-operate in the prime time programme and even tried to ban it being aired. The drama, which continues next week, describes the frantic 3.2million police search for the schoolgirl. Hundreds of neighbours joined in the 24-day hunt unaware that her mother, inspired by the outpouring of grief and huge public donations to help find Maddie, was an elaborate hoax. Shannon was eventually discovered just a mile away, drugged inside the wooden base of a double bed at the home of Michael Donovan, the uncle of stepfather Craig Meehan, Matthews's boyfriend at the time. Matthews arrives at Wakefield Police Station in handcuffs after being arrested in 2008 West Yorkshire Police search for Shannon in 2008 following her apparent disappearance They had orchestrated the plot to bag the 50,000 reward money. As well as re-telling the search, the two-part series deals with the fallout of the community after they discovered they had been lied to. The Moorside writer Neil McKay defended not making contact with Shannon's family, insisting he didn't want to put Matthews back in the public eye. He said: 'We don't defend her or condemn her, and we don't make an apology for her crime.' Maddie's mother, a former GP, and heart doctor father, believe their daughter who would now be 13, could still be alive. The couple, both 48, are hoping 'a miracle' reunites them with their daughter soon. Scotland Yard are working on one last 'throw of the dice' lead which the McCanns are praying could solve the mystery. Episode one of The Moorside was shown last night and is now available on BBC iPlayer. The second and final episode will air next Tuesday at 9pm. Ivanka Trump was one of five people on a board tasked with overseeing the trusts of Grace and Chloe Murdoch, the two daughters of her friend Wendi Deng and Rupert Murdoch. The Financial Times revealed Ivanka's role in looking after the estimated $300million in shares that the two teenagers have in their father's company companies 21st Century Fox and News Corp. A rep for Ivanka later confirmed this, stating that she was a part of the trustee board both during and after the election, stepping down from her role at the end of December. This example of the close ties between the Trump and Murdochs comes one month after New York reported that Rupert 'requested restrictions on AT&Ts proposed purchase of Time Warner' to President Trump. Murdoch had previously made an attempt to purchase Time Warner. Scroll down for video Looking out: Ivanka Trump was part of a five-person board who oversaw the $300m trust of Grace and Chloe Murdoch (Chloe and Grace above in March) Pals: The daughter of President Trump has always been close to Wendi Deng (aboive at a pre-inagural dinner last month) , the mother of Chloe and Grace, who are 13 and 15 respectively White party: Ivanka was one of the select guests who attended the girls' 2010 baptism ceremony in the River Jordan (front row l to r: Ava Jackman, Anneka Mudoch, Grace Murdoch, Chloe Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch. second row l to r: Deborah Lee Furness, Wendi Deng, Queen Rania of Jordan, Nicole Kidman. third row l to r: Bert Sugarman, Kathy Freston. fourth row l to r: Ivanka Trump, Hugh Jackman. fifth row l to r: Jared Kushner, Larry Page, Tom Freston) Iavnka and husband Jard Kushner were also part of the select group invited to Jordan in 2010 for Chloe and Grace's baptism, who are now 13 and 15 respectively. They attended the event alongside Queen Rania and the girls' godparents Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The two girls were baptized in the River Jordan at the same site where Jesus Christ is said to have undergone the sacred ceremony. Others who attended the baptism ceremony included Google co-founder Larry page and his wife, Lucy; former Viacom head Tom Freston and his then-wife Kathy; and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Blair, another of the of the godparents to the girls, was not featured in a Hello spread of the baptism. Guests at the event all wore white for the ceremony. Ivanka wrote on Twitter at the time about how much she was enjoying the trip. 'Just landed in Jordan...heading to the dead sea for the day,' wrote Ivanka in March 2010 just before the festivities. She later shared a photo of the sunset, along with a fun fact. 'Fun Fact: The Dead Sea is 1,385 ft (422 meters) below sea level making it the lowest elevation on the earth's surface on dry land,' wrote Ivanka. Fun day: Ivanka tweeted after landing in Jordan for the baptism in 2010 (above) She's out: Ivanka (left with Deng in May 2016) stepped down from her position on the trust in late December (Deng and her daughters in September 2015) Family outing: It was reported last month that Rupert Murdoch 'requested restrictions on AT&Ts proposed purchase of Time Warner' to President Trump (Murdoch and Deng with their daughters in 2007) Pals: Ivanka and Murdoch in the lobby of Trump Tower a week after the election (above) Wendi and Ivanka have been incredibly close for years, and just before Ivanka left for DC Murdoch's ex-wife hosted a dinner for her at her $34m penthouse. It was at that dinner that Ivanka spoke about how she planned to work on women's issues once she entered the White House. Soon after she stepped down from her role in the Trump Organization and overseeing her eponymous fashion line. It is also Wendi who is said to have reunited Ivanka and her now-husband after the two split early into their relationship. Camryn Zelinger, 32, was taken into custody at work at the Encore High School for the Arts in Riverside, California on Monday A teacher at a performing arts high school has been arrested after allegedly having a months-long inappropriate relationship with a female student. Camryn Zelinger, 32, was taken into custody at work at the Encore High School for the Arts in Riverside, California on Monday. The mother of the girl, aged 14 or 15, contacted police over the weekend and reported the relationship, which the teen said had taken place over the past few months. Zelinger has been charged with suspicion of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and annoying or molesting a child under 18. Police said their investigation found there had been inappropriate physical contact and communications between Zelinger and the student. One of the ways they had been communicating was via text message, police said. Zelinger, who was recently married, has been charged with suspicion of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and annoying or molesting a child under 18 Police said their investigation found there had been inappropriate physical contact and communications between Zelinger and the female student Authorities said Encore High School for the Arts has fully cooperated with the investigation. Zelinger is no longer employed at the school, which serves students grades 7-12. Parents said Zelinger, who was recently married, said she would send requests to other teachers to remove the female student out of class so the pair could spend more time together, KTLA reports. Zelinger posted bail and was released. Leanne Fallow kept Serbian Mastiff puppies in such bad condition that their fur fell out A grandmother who left puppies in an appalling state of neglect was caught out by her own Facebook page after a picture showed a Mastiff with mutilated ears. Mother-of-five Leanne Fallow, 39, from Thorntree in Middlesborough, has been banned from having animals for five years after keeping a litter of Serbian Mastiffs in such a poor condition that their fur fell out. The pups and their mother had suffered so badly that their skin had turned red raw, with the pain causing them to bite their own flesh. John Ellwood, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA at Teesside Magistrates' Court, said: 'Two vets have certified that animals in this case have been suffering substantially. 'They were suffering from mange and had been self-traumatising themselves (by) scratching themselves and biting themselves and had thereby suffered secondary bacterial infection.' Mr Ellwood explained that one puppy was in a 'very bad condition', adding: 'She had areas of skin that were open and sores and lots of crusty areas on her face. 'Her paws were swollen and inflamed - the inspector was very concerned about the way the animals were being kept.' The court also heard the puppies' mum, Sheba, was 'underweight' and along with her litter had an untreated 'terrible skin condition.' However, the prosecution claimed Fallow used Sheba to breed several puppies, a process Mr Ellwood said was 'highly suspicious'. RSPCA officers found that the puppies had been 'self-traumatising' by scratching and biting themselves as they found their skin condition unbearable (pictured) He said: 'The defendant claims not to know how her bitch became pregnant and who the father of her puppies was.' Fallow had also claimed she gave away 'a number of' puppies to strangers by the time the investigation launched. The RSPCA say she allowed the dog to breed to sell the dogs on, with the court hearing she had spoken on Facebook with a banned dog dealer to sell the pups. Mr Ellwood said: 'The defendant's account appears to be that a large dog became pregnant and she does not know where or why and that she gave away some of the puppies to people she does not even know or remember. Pictured: The head of one of Fallow's puppies shows areas of red raw and crusty skin as it is cradled by an RSPCA officer 'This appears to be a lie. 'She has on her Facebook a photograph of the mother of the puppies in her outhouse with a large male Serbian mastiff with mutilated ears.' The court heard that mutilation was often carried out with Stanley knives on the breed to make them look 'fierce'. This was first noticed by kindly Glynn Dack who helped raise the alarm after believing to have seen the 'mutilated' puppies mate with Sheba. He took one puppy home last August after spotting their awful condition to try to nurse it back to health, despite having no intention of keeping it. The puppies suffered from mange and had lots of areas of raw skin and crusty areas as a result of their declining condition (pictured) The pups were also severely underweight and vets certified that they had been 'suffering substantially' But Fallow, who her solicitor claimed was an 'animal lover', came around to take it back. However, he was concerned enough to raise the alarm to the RSCPA, who also received reports from others, including a Middlesbrough Council officer, with police seizing the animals, who have since recovered. In January, Fallow admitted four offences of causing unnecessary suffering, with Mr Elwood adding she caused 'prolonged neglect' for commercial gain. However, he was concerned enough to raise the alarm to the RSCPA, who also received reports from others, including a Middlesbrough Council officer, with police seizing the animals, who have since recovered. In January, Fallow admitted four offences of causing unnecessary suffering, with Mr Elwood adding she caused 'prolonged neglect' for commercial gain. Pictured: One of Fallow's puppies sleeps on a flight of stairs. The mother-of-five was said to 'love animals' despite letting the litter suffer in such a poor state of health In mitigation, Fallow from Thorntree in Middlesborough, was said to have had a family Staffie for almost a decade, which had become 'one of the children' since a tragedy struck. Solicitor Daniel Burke said: 'She's desperate to keep that dog. 'It is part of the family since the death of her husband. 'She does love animals - she's not a callous woman.' However, magistrates sentenced her to 12 weeks' custody, suspended for a year. They also ordered her to pay 250 costs, 180 vet costs and a 115 charge while the RSPCA will now seize her family dog. A property lawyer who fired off letters to relatives of her husbands mistress describing the womans love of bizarre sexual practices could be facing the end of her career today. Katherine Simpson, 49, detailed husband Jonathan, 48, and his former lovers antics in letters to the victim's brother, sister-in-law and her former partner. Mrs Simpson described her as a chavvy woman from Southampton with fake boobs before firing off the letters. Solicitor Katherine Simpson (left) fired off letters to relatives of her husband Jonathan's (right) mistress describing the womans love of bizarre sexual practices The solicitor, a partner at Pemberton Greenish since 1993, was convicted of stalking alongside her barrister husband following a trial at Southwark Crown Court last June. She was handed a curfew and a restraining order after being described as more of a victim because of the affair. Mr Simpson was given six months in jail suspended for a year, along with a year-long restraining order and a mental health treatment requirement. Mrs Simpson is now facing a misconduct hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in central London. She appeared in all black and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue as the case was formally opened today. Andrew Bullock, for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, said: What had happened, in essence, was that Mrs Simpsons husband had an affair which has ended and he has persisted in contacting the other woman, resulting in a restraining order being made against him. What Mrs Simpson is doing is contacting third parties associated with the other woman in the hope of desisting the other woman from making a complaint that her husband has breached the restraining order. Mr Bullock told the tribunal: The trial and her behaviour has attracted extensive publicity and that publicity has referred to her status as a solicitor. He also read from one of the letters Mrs Simpson sent to an associate of the woman, which said: She must have known that, as a lawyer, I would take this matter in my own hands. I am not impetuous like my husband. I strike at the right moment. Mr Bullock said: You may think that the fact that Mrs Simpson was deploying her status as a lawyer in one of the letters which ultimately led to her conviction is a matter relevant to your deliberations. He added that her conviction was for disreputable conduct in the most literal sense of the word, which was apt to make her look ridiculous in the eyes of the world at large. Mr Bullock added that she was well known in the field of leaseholding and enfranchisement. Mrs Simpson is now facing a misconduct hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in central London Mark Milliken-Smith QC, representing Simpson, said the tribunal 'should not take the course today in its sanction which involves any form of immediate suspension.' He said Simpson's conduct was 'wholly unrelated to the performance of her professional duties, which have remained at all times to be of the highest standard. 'This is not a case which involves any suggestion of dishonesty on the part of the respondent. 'Her conviction doesn't demonstrate offending which poses serious risk to others. The communications did not contain any threats of violence.' He said Simpson's early admissions 'demonstrated her genuine remorse and contrition for all that has led her to this hearing. He added: 'Her shame in doing so [appearing before the tribunal] is palpable.' But he conceded: 'As a matter of principle, the offence of stalking can never be regarded as a trivial offence.' Mr Milliken-Smith told the panel that Simpson had been suspended by Pemberton Greenish Solicitors for three months and noted that she was 'a long way from where she was.' He added: 'The primary motivation for the misconduct is plainly in order to protect the respondent's family from the very real threat that she perceived. 'This case could not be further from those of selfish personal gain which I know this tribunal will have experience of. 'We would invite the tribunal to view the misconduct as a single course of conduct which occurred when the respondent was at the very end of her tether.' Mr Milliken-Smith said the past reporting of the case was 'primarily in relation to the conduct and actions of her husband.' He concluded: 'Had it not been for the actions of her actions of her husband in the 18 months beforehand, this offence would not have happened.' Mr Simpson sent his mistress flowers after being told by police not to contact her while his wife was ringing her to repeatedly shout c*** down the phone. After the affair ended abruptly, he attempted to contact the woman and was given a harassment notice and restraining order after trying to call from a pay phone. Mrs Simpson then sent graphic letters to the womans family as part of a fact-finding mission in order to see an end to the restraining order. The solicitor, a partner at Pemberton Greenish since 1993, was convicted of stalking alongside her barrister husband (pictured together) following a trial at Southwark Crown Court last June The letters claimed the woman had scooped sperm from the kitchen floor to try and get pregnant after sex with Mr Simpson and said her orifices were penetrated without protection'. Mrs Simpson explicitly wrote that she wanted the woman to drop the restraining order and that she stay out of Winchester. If she agrees or chooses to meet these requests she will find all her problems over, the letter added. In a rant covertly recorded by police, Mrs Simpson described her as a chavvy woman from Southampton with fake boobs and labelled her boyfriend a thug who should be kept in a cage. In the footage, Mrs Simpson could be heard saying: We shouldnt be mixing with people like that. Lying to the police is something we do not do, certainly not in our echelon of society. Passing sentence, Judge Alistair McCreath said: You did it, I accept, because you were worried that he would be the subject of complaints in respect of the restraining order and you sought to protect him and to support him. But what you did was utterly misguided. Mrs Simpson described herself as more victim than offender and claimed she had endured an 18-month period of living hell. Mrs Simpson, from Hampshire, has admitted professional misconduct. The hearing continues. Thanks to Greg Folkers for sending the link to this report in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases: New evidence for endemic circulation of Ross River Virus in the Pacific Islands and the potential for emergence. The abstract: Objectives An epidemic of Ross River Virus (RRV) occurred in the South Pacific in 1979-1980, but it was not believed to occur endemically outside Australia and Papua New Guinea. We conducted a seroprevalence study to determine whether RRV has circulated in American Samoa after 1980. Methods RRV ELISA IgG were performed on 200 serum samples collected in American Samoa in 2010, and seroneutralisation tests on 60 representative samples. Results Of 196 results available for ELISA IgG, 145 (74%, 95% CI 67-80%) were seropositive. Of 60 samples subjected to seroneutralization, none of the 15 ELISA IgG-negative and 16 of the 45 ELISA IgG-positive samples neutralized RRV. ELISA IgG seroprevalence was higher in persons born before/during the 1979-1980 RRV outbreak (78.3%), but was also high (63.0%) in people born after the outbreak and had lived their whole lives in American Samoa. Conclusions Our study provides serological evidence that RRV circulation is likely to have occurred in American Samoa after 1980. Considering there are no marsupials in American Samoa, our findings imply that other species are capable of acting as reservoir hosts, and the potential for RRV to circulate in a much wider area than the currently recognised locations. 'Captor' arrested: Gary McNair, 52, was arrested in North Carolina on suspicion that he kidnapped a woman and tied her up in a shed against her will A North Carolina man has been charged with kidnapping after deputies found a woman chained up in a shed outside of Fayetteville. Hoke County deputies responding to a disturbance call Tuesday heard a noise coming from an outbuilding behind a trailer home in the 200 block of Quick Wilkerson Road in Raeford. When officers peered inside the cluttered shed, they found a woman who was tied up with rope and a chain. Deputies say the victim told them she had been bound and locked in the shed against her will. She had been held captive for about an hour, reported ABC11, leaving her with bruises on her arms and wrists. Scroll down for video Deputies responding to a disturbance call heard a noise coming from an outbuilding behind this home in the 200 block of Quick Wilkerson Road in Raeford When officers looked inside the shed, they found a woman who was tied up with rope and a chain Captive: The victim told officers she had been bound and locked in the shed against her will for about an hour Gary Alen McNair, 52, who lives nearby in the 600 block of Ray Street, was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping. McNair's mother, Verdell McNair, told the station WNCN she made the 911 call Tuesday summoning the deputies after hearing noises coming from the shed on her property. She said she went inside the house to retrieve her loaded gun because she was alone and did not know what was going on. McNair added that her son was 'a good boy', as far as she knew. A desperate mother has revealed she is having to sleep rough on the streets of Los Angeles because of the mounting hospital bills to keep her son alive. Charlotte Caldwell and her 11-year-old son Billy, from Castlederg, in Northern Ireland, are living in LA so he can receive pioneering treatment for his life-threatening form of epilepsy. Billy is taking cannabis oil containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, to reduce the frequency and severity of his seizures. The treatment is illegal in his native country. However he took an unexpected turn a fortnight ago and was placed in an induced coma. He survived but he and his mother are now having to sleep rough as she cannot afford the mounting medical costs. Charlotte Caldwell and her 11-year-old son Billy, from Castlederg, in Northern Ireland, are living in LA so he can receive pioneering treatment for his life-threatening form of epilepsy Billy was diagnosed with epilepsy as a baby and suffered up to 100 seizures a day. His mother said that at eight months, he was sent home to die by doctors in Belfast. After researching the internet, she found a form of treatment on offer in the US not available in Northern Ireland. She raised enough money to take him to the US eight years ago under Chicago-based epilepsy specialist, Dr Douglas Nordli, and he spent another two years in Oxford. During that time, Billy learned to walk and his seizures were brought under control and so he returned to Northern Ireland. Billy's mother described their situation as 'horrendous' - saying we're isolated from friends and family...we're like refugees' However, after almost eight years, the seizures returned in summer. Ms Caldwell tried to access treatment for her son in Northern Ireland, Britain and France, but the waiting lists were too long and so they went back to the US. Two weeks ago Billy's condition became critical and he was rushed to hospital after suffering three seizures in a day. He survived but with medical bills spiraling, Billy's devoted mother could no longer afford the cost of their accommodation in LA. Billy and his mother are now living on the streets because they cannot afford the medical bills Writing on the Facebook page 'Keep Billy Alive', she said: 'Me and Billy went and bought a tent, camping cooker and sleeping bags to equip ourselves for the unthinkable...being homeless in LA.' She added: 'We're in a horrendous situation. We're isolated from friends and family here. We're like refugees.' Describing the latest setback she said: 'He had three seizures and he was in a terrible state. I took him to the doctor and they told me to get him to A&E. 'They did all the tests and think that the seizures had just taken so much out of his wee body, he had nothing left.' She added: 'I hate, hate Epilepsy, the brutal condition that has caused my wee man to fight for his life again. 'It's that horrible heart wrenching frustration, even though the medical team here in LA are world ranking specialists, I can pray my heart out for his healing, but his wee body and soul must fight it on his own. I would not wish this on any parent.' Doctors in the US believe Billy needs surgery to become seizure-free but the operation could affect his memory and ability to speak. Ms Caldwell said: 'Billy's medical bills are mounting here in Los Angeles and we desperately need help so Billy can have the treatment to keep him alive. We are in desperate need of help.' But she revealed today the North's health minister Michelle O'Neill is due to make contact, adding: 'Praying she will help! The family have set a goal of raising 300,000 ($375,000) through the Keep Billy Alive Facebook page. They have so far raised 62,000 ($77,000). Kimberly Bonn is suing El Jalisco for negligence after falling off a donkey statue in one of its Tallahassee restaurants A woman is suing a Mexican restaurant in Florida after she fell off its plastic donkey statue and broke her back. Kimberly Bonn, 58, has accused El Jalisco restaurant in Southwood, Tallahassee, of negligence for 'encouraging' customers to climb on to the statue for photos. She blames the restaurant for fracturing her spine 18 months ago when she fell off the statue. Ms Bonn is seeking $15,000 in damages for the incident. In a lawsuit filed in Leon County Circuit Court, her lawyer claimed the restaurant did not provide adequate safety equipment or precautions while encouraging diners to climb on the donkey. There was no 'ladder or step' to help her on and off the statue, nor was there a saddle on the donkey's back to stop diners sliding off the slippery, hard plastic surface, Florida Politics reports. El Jalisco, which has restaurants across the country, has not responded to the lawsuit. The donkey is a popular attraction for diners who often pose on it wearing a sombrero Others pose with bottles of liquor on the donkey while some double up for portraits. Ms Bonn says should have been equipped with a saddle to stop diners' sliding off its slippery, hard plastic surface The lawsuit claims the restaurant is negligible for not providing steps or a ladder to help people on and off the donkey (seen above in another fan photo) Fans of the franchise created a Facebook page to shift blame from the beloved donkey statue to Ms Bonn. 'Just because you are an a*s doesn't mean you should be treated like one! 'Join us in standing up for this poor donkey as he prepares for the fight of his life against a powerful legal entity who is "for the people,"' a post on the page read. Scores of other diners have posed on the donkey and shared their proud photographs on social media. Many borrowed the donkey's sombrero to have their picture taken. A New Jersey boy has become the first openly transgender member of the Boy Scouts. Just one week after the Boy Scouts of America changed its policy to allow transgender children to join, Joe Maldonado donned his uniform as the newest member of Pack 20 in Maplewood. 'I am accepted,' said the nine-year-old on Tuesday night, as his mother fought back tears. The youngster had previously been banned from Pack 87 in Secaucus because his birth certificate stated that he was born a girl. Joe Maldonado, (left and right) of New Jersey, has become the first openly transgender member of the Boy Scouts In recent years, Boy Scouts had overturned bans against gay scouts and scouting leaders but said in December that they would continue to use the gender stated in birth certificates to determine eligibility for membership. But on January 31, the organization reversed its position after considering Joe's case. 'For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual's birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs,' Rebecca Rausch, a spokeswoman, said. The Boy Scouts of America announced January 31 that it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys only programs 'However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state.' The scout's mother, Kristie, said she was 'proud of the fight' she had put up against the Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts. On Tuesday night, the Boy Scouts said in a statement that the organization 'is pleased to welcome Joe and the Maldonado family back into the Scouting community. Moving forward, the BSA will continue to work to bring the benefits of our programs to as many children, families and communities as possible.' Joe joined Pack 20 in Maplewood after his mother said they weren't comfortable returning to the Secacus group after parents complained about his presence. Maplewood scout leader Kyle Hackler taught Joe the Cub Scout salute and oath when he joined the pack on Tuesday. 'This means you're the same as Scouts all over the world,' Hackler told the nine-year-old. 'This is fun; I'm so proud,' Joe said during the meeting. Parents of members have welcomed the new member with open arms, NorthJersey.com reports. The youngster had previously been banned from Pack 87 in Secaucus because his birth certificate stated that he was born a girl Jessica and Robert Breen said they had wanted to reach out to Joe after hearing his story - and were surprised but happy that the Scouts had changed their minds so quickly. Advocacy group Scouts for Equality applauded the decision to allow transgender members. 'This is another historic day for the Boy Scouts of America,' they said in a statement. '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. A 37-year-old woman faces new charges as a fourth victim dies hours after her partner in crime killed himself in motel shootout. Police had cornered William 'Billy' Boyette, 44, and Mary Rice, 37, in the West Point motel after a week-long manhunt that began with the death of Boyette's ex-girlfriend, Alicia Greer. Rice - whose relationship with Boyette is not yet clear - was taken into custody by police after the siege while Boyette was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The body of Greer, 30, was found shot dead alongside fellow victim, 39-year-old Jacqueline Jeanette Moore, at the Emerald Sands Inn in Milton, Florida, on January 31. Police say Boyette and Rice also killed hospital worker Peggy Broz, stole her car and later abandoned it. Their final victim was a young mother, Kayla Crocker, who was shot Monday morning during a home invasion and her car was also stolen. She died in hospital on Tuesday afternoon hours after Boyette shot himself. William 'Billy' Boyettte (left) shot himself after he and alleged accomplice Mary Rice (right) were holed up in a Georgia hotel Rice now faces charges of accessory after the fact to capital murder in the deaths of Moore and Greer. She also faces a capital murder and robbery charge for allegedly killing Broz in Lillian, Alabama. And charges are still pending for the attack on Crocker, who died a day after she was shot during a home invasion near Pensacola. The pair were tracked down to the motel by police on Tuesday after the stolen car they were driving was spotted outside. Rice also used her own name when they checked in. The pair were tracked down to this motel in West Point, Georgia, where a stand-off took place. That stand-off ended with Rice in handcuffs and Boyette dead Boyette was suspected of murdering his ex-girlfriend and another woman on Jan 31, killing a woman for her car on Friday, and hurting a fourth woman in a home invasion on Monday The hunt for the suspects spanned Florida, Alabama and Georgia, ending with Boyette's death and Rice's capture on Friday Police surrounded the motel at around 6pm. Rice came outside the room and surrendered and moments later deputies heard a single gunshot and found Boyette dead inside the room The entire ordeal was over in just 20 minutes. Sheriff Bob Johnson of Santa Rosa County in Florida told HLN that Rice was 'a willing participant' in the murders and had previously been spotted buying bullets in Walmart. It is believed that Boyette decided to embark on his killing spree after police issued five charges against him for attacking Greer, putting her in the hospital in need of scalp stitches and an MRI. Greer's family told WEAR-TV that she had been in a relationship with Boyette since Thanksgiving, but that it had grown increasingly violent. The body of 39-year-old Jacqueline Jeanette Moore (left) was found next to Greer on January 31, while the next alleged victim of Boyette's spree was Peggy Broz, right, who was found dead outside her home Kayla Crocker, pictured, was attacked during the spree and died on Tuesday in hospital Her father, Wayne Lane, said that two weeks before her death, Boyette 'choked her down to the ground, kicked her in the face, hit her in the head with an unopened two liter bottle of soda, so bad she had to have stitches in the top of her head, had to have an MRI of her skull'. Greer, 30, was later found shot dead with Moore. The pair are believed to have split up and five warrants were issued for Boyette's arrest after that incident, which Mr Lane believes sparked the start of the murder spree. He explained the charges, saying: 'Assault, kidnapping because he kept her in a hotel room against her wishes, wouldn't let her leave over in Milton at the Blackwater Inn for two days, crushed her phone so she had no contact with the outside.' Mr Lane said the last contact he had with his daughter was a text message conversation in which he asked her if she was back together with Boyette - to which she never responded. The first victim, Alicia Greer (pictured right with Boyette) had been in a relationship with him since Thanksgiving. He had previously put her in the hospital after savagely beating her Mother of three Greer, was discovered dead with another woman, Jeannette Moore, at the Emerald Sands Inn in Milton, Florida on January 31. It's believed he knew Moore as well This Cobalt car was being tracked by police after Boyette and Rice were believed to have stolen it, but it has since been recovered in Escambia County It is not known what Greer's relationship was with Moore - but authorities believe that Boyette knew her as well. Greer, 30, was a mother of three children under ten, and had been staying with a relative two days before her death to evade Boyette, though despite please from family members to stay away from him - she agreed to see him. Her mother, Kim Lane, told Fox 10: 'This man murdered my daughter so bad, and shot her so bad, that we cannot have an open casket for her. 'I can't even see my daughter one more time ever again.' The next alleged victim of Boyette's spree was 52-year-old Peggy Broz, a respiratory therapist, who was found dead by a family member in her front yard in Lillian, Alabama on February 3. Authorities believe Boyette stole Broz's car, a 2003 Chrysler Concord, and later abandoned it in Escambia County, Florida near the intersection of I-10 and Nine Mile Road. The most recent victim Kayla Crocker, 28, was discovered by a family member around 8am on Monday morning suffering from gunshot wounds inside her home, pictured here Crocker's white Chevrolet Cobalt was stolen, but she and her two-year-old son survived the attack Video surveillance confirmed Boyette and Rice took Crocker's car to a nearby Shell station and ate at a Hardee's restaurant a short time after the attack The most recent victim Kayla Crocker, 28, was discovered by a family member around 8am on Monday morning suffering from gunshot wounds. Her two-year-old son was unharmed. Agencies across the Panhandle and southern Alabama were searching for Boyette and Rice until the fatal stand-off Crocker's white Chevrolet Cobalt was stolen and Sheriff David Morgan told local news outlets that video surveillance confirmed Boyette and Rice took the car to a nearby Shell station and ate at a Hardee's restaurant a short time after the attack. The Cobalt has also since been recovered in Escambia County, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help support her and her son. A Florida Panhandle sheriff's office has doubled the number of deputies on patrol as the search for the two enters its second week. Agencies across the Panhandle and southern Alabama are searching for Boyette and Rice, who had previously been considered a person of interest in the attacks. On Monday she was upgraded to an official suspect. Police say the driver of a speeding Tesla electric car that crashed and burst into flames, killing her and a passenger, was too drunk to drive. Casey Speckman, 27, was behind the wheel of the 2015 S-Model electric car, with her boss, 44-year-old Kevin McCarthy, when she smashed into a tree in Indianapolis on November 3. Today police have released a report which revealed that Speckman, a bride-to-be, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.21 percent, compared to Indiana's legal limit of 0.08 percent. McCarthy, the owner of the Model S, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17. Palo Alto, California-based Tesla Motors has said it's unlikely its semi-autonomous Autopilot system was engaged when the car crashed, because Autopilot would have limited the vehicle's speed to less than 35 miles per hour on the street where the crash occurred. McCarthy died of burns and smoke inhalation, investigators told the Indianapolis Star, while Speckman died instantly of crash-related injuries. Scroll down for the video Casey Speckman (right), 27, and 44-year-old Kevin McCarthy (left) died when the Tesla they were driving slammed into a tree and burst into flames The car that was being driven in the deadly crash was a 2015 S-Model Tesla (stock image) Witnesses said the car 'bounced around' after crashing into the tree before it exploded. Al Finnell, who was driving near the Tesla, said he had to speed up to avoid debris and flames. 'It hit that tree and it bounced around and all of a sudden it just exploded,' Finnell told WTHR. 'I had to accelerate my vehicle, because all the car parts went up in the air and I had to accelerate just to get away from it.' He went on to say the car exploded into a 'big ball of fire'. The car hit the tree with such force its wheels where ripped from the chassis. The electronic batteries were also damaged, which police say caused the fire. A picture from the scene of the crash shows the car after it burst into flames Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Kevin Jones said the exploding battery cells on the electric car delayed rescue efforts. 'Some of those smaller cells that had broken apart were firing off almost like projectiles around the rescuers,' Jones told reporters after the crash. 'Lithium ion batteries, they burn really hot. To extinguish that fire takes copious amounts of water.' It took crews around 20 minutes to rescue McCarthy from the burning vehicle. He was rushed to a local hospital where he later died. Speckman was pronounced dead at the scene. The pair were coming back from a company event just prior to the cash, according to a post on Case Pacer's website. Speckman was due to marry her fiance, Brandon Seniff, this year. Friends of the young couple said they were shocked by the devastating news. 'It's all very, very sad,' Cody Rivers said. 'My heart breaks for Brandon; I can only imagine what he's going through.' The 27-year-old graduated from Indiana University in 2011. She met her fiance while studying at the college, and the two had spoken about how they planned to spend their future together in a letter on their wedding website. 'We have experienced and supported each other through all the great times, traumatic and sad times. We have graduated college, graduated law school, obtained first and second jobs ... living together and living apart, got a sweet puppy, bought a condominium in Indianapolis ... and did it all together!' the letter reads. Speckman (right, with a friend) was behind the wheel of the S-Model electric car when it crashed Police say the car was traveling at a high speed, and that Speckman was pronounced dead at the scene Speckman was due to marry her fiance, Brandon Seniff, this year. The couple is pictured together 'We have been through nearly a decade of our lives together and are so excited to see what the future decades hold!' McCarthy was the president of Express Software & Services, and a former FBI special agent. The electric car maker said it's cooperating with Indianapolis police's investigation into the crash. The car sustained so much damage that it didn't transmit data to the company's servers. But Tesla said it was unlikely the car's semi-autonomous Autopilot system was engaged when the crash occurred. The car sustained so much damage in the resulting blaze that it didn't transmit data to the company's servers Damage from the car crash is seen strewn across the road after the accident took place on November 3 Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after the accident took place in Indianapolis 'We are deeply saddened to hear that this accident involved fatalities,' the Palo Alto, California-based company said. Investigators were initially looking into whether Autopilot had played a role in the accident. The system, which was introduced last year, can automatically drive the car at a set speed and keep it within its lane. Drivers need to touch the wheel at certain intervals or the system will turn off. The luxury electric sports car, which costs around $70,000, is powered by a 1,200-pound pack of lithium batteries and has a top speed of 155 mph. Top-tier models can accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds in Tesla's 'insane' mode. Police are still investigating how fast the car was going at the time of the crash as typical methods are not applicable to the electric vehicle. But they believe that, from the size of the crash and debris, it was going fast. Tesla Motors said the evidence is clear that the car was speeding when it crashed. President Donald Trump told police Wednesday that his administration would work with them to stop the flow of drugs coming into the country and end gang violence - offering up his border wall as a down payment. Singing Department of Homeland Security Chief John Kelly's praises, Trump said, 'He 'will be the man to do it, and we will give him a wall. And it will be a real wall and a lot of things will happen, very positively for your cities, your states, believe me. 'The wall is getting designed right now. A lot of people say, "Oh, oh, Trump was only kidding with the wall." I wasn't kidding. I don't kid,' he informed law enforcement officers. 'Nah. I don't kid. I don't kid about things like that, I can tell you.' President Donald Trump told police Wednesday that his administration would work with, and not against, them to stop the flow of drugs coming into the country and end gang violence - offering up his border wall as a down payment The president insisted that the divider will get built - and 'it will be a great wall.' 'Just ask Israel about walls. Do walls work? Just ask Israel. They work, if it's properly done,' he said. Trump's spokesman said later in the day that the president, a billionaire who made his fortune in real estate, plans to be personally involved in the design and construction of the wall. 'The president's a builder,' Sean Spicer reminded reporters. 'He's gonna stay in close touch with Secretary Kelly, and make sure that it fits his specs.' President Trump pays 'enormous attention to detail,' Spicer said, 'and he wants to make sure it gets done right. 'So I would expect that a project of this magnitude, and one that is this high on his priority list, will get the necessary attention from the president.' In addition to the border wall, Trump promised cops that a 'new beginning' at the Washington, D.C. conference of major cities police chiefs, a snub to the previous administration and former President Barack Obama. The new office holder told men and women in the law enforcement community that he would have a zero-tolerance policy for violence against police. 'You have a true, true friend in the White House... I stand with you. I support our police. I support our sheriffs.' Trump said he would build bridges with police officers and continue to hold listening sessions with them, like the one he hosted yesterday at the White House. Americans have so much respect for the badge, he said. 'You don't even realize it, but I will tell you.' 'And don't let anyone ever tell you differently,' he added. 'Don't let the dishonest media try and convince you that it's different than that, because it's not,' he said to applause. Many communities in America are facing a 'public safety crisis,' Trump told them, citing increases in the 2015 and 2016 homicide rates. He held up Chicago as an example of a major city struggling to control crime. 'What is going on in Chicago?' he asked. 'We cannot allow this to continue. We've allowed too many young lives to be claimed. And you see that you see that all over.' Trump said that 60 percent of murders under the age of 22 are of African-Americans. 'This is a national tragedy, and it requires national action,' he stated. Trump said he would build bridges with police officers and continue to hold listening sessions with them, like the one he hosted yesterday at the White House The president said he would be be 'ruthless' about keeping drugs from coming into the country and 'poisoning' America's citizenry. 'We have no choice.' He directed attendees to contact Kelly about gangs of illegal immigrants in their neighborhoods whose members should be deported. 'You know the illegals. You know them by their first name. You know them by their nicknames,' he said. 'You know the bad ones. You know the good ones. I want you to turn in the bad ones, call Secretary Kelly's representative.' The federal government will send the criminals back to their home countries and do it fast, he stated. 'You look at Chicago, and you look at other places, so many of the problems are caused by gang members,' Trump said, 'many of whom are not even legally in our country.' As a candidate for office, Trump ran on a law and order platform. He told police today that he was beginning a 'great national partnership' with them, and they would 'always find an open door at the White House.' 'Let today serve as a great call to action. And let this moment represent a new beginning in relations between law enforcement and our communities,' he said. 'The American public totally stands with you.' Trump began his speech by trashing the previous day's oral arguments in the West Coast case concerning his stymied travel ban. Trump walks to the Oval Office at the White House after returning from speaking at the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriff's Association Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. At the top of his remarks to law enforcement, he trashed a group of judges reviewing his travel ban The president said they were 'disgraceful' and suggested the court was biased after judges danced around the plain meaning of a 1952 federal law he says gives him the broad discretion to bar America's door to any group of foreigners he sees fit to exclude. 'A bad high school student would understand this. Anybody would understand this,' he said, following a dramatic reading of a portion of the law. 'It just can't be read any plainer or better. And for us to be going through this!' he fumed. Trump criticism of the judges comes as they are deliberating the case. A decision on whether to uphold a temporary restraining order could come at any time on Wednesday. 'And I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased, and we haven't had a decision yet, but courts seem to be so political,' he said. 'It would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read the statement and do what's right.' Advertisement An amateur photographer has snapped an adorable collection of photographs that capture life inside a working fox safari in Japan where animals are free to roam the frozen forests. The Fox Village is home to a leash of more than 100 foxes, composed of six different species, that are allowed to wander free in a large forested area. Guests are invited into what is effectively a safari park with the warning the animals are not domesticated and could therefore bite or urinate on belongings. A healthy-looking fox squints to protect its eyes from the sunlight in this adorable picture taken by a fanatic of the animal A young cub leaps up into the air from the snow as the rest of the leash of foxes watch on in apparent amazement The Fox Village is home to 100 foxes, who sleep in these hand-made huts above which keep them off the frozen ground The skulk's stunning coats glow a burnt orange - or a smokey black-grey thanks to one fox - as they all look up towards the sky One fox looks like a cross between a badger and a skunk with its black and white coat, but it is the same shape as its pack Four foxes lie curled up on a thick, wooden bench cut from the trunk of a tree and wrap their fluffy tails around their faces An inquisitive-looking fox with a long, bushy tail looks up towards a person at the Fox Village in Japan Natasha Puente, a trainee English teacher from Mexico, photographed the usually-friendly mammals who live at the Japanese attraction in Miyagi Prefecture. Her pictures show the foxes curiously gathering around her or curled up in the snow. The teacher in training was in Japan to acheive her teaching certificate and, being a fox fanatic, could not let slip an opportunity to visit the attraction for a mere 6 entrance fee. 'Foxes are my guide animal,' she said. 'Whenever Iim struggling the most, they always show up somehow. 'I have several fox tattoos and Iim probably going to get get more.' A red fox with a big, bushy tail stands in the snow and almost looks as if it is happily basking in the bright sunshine This fox, clearly not put off by the snow, buries its face into its bushy tail as it curls up into a ball to catch up on some sleep Two foxes show it's not all fun and games at the Japanese Fox Village as they scrap in the snow, with one baring its teeth A stunning red fox stares straight at the lens of Natasha Puente's camera, who captures the vibrant colours of the fox's coat Two foxes look menacing as one stands and one sits in the snow at the farm that is home to six different species of the animal A white fox (picture here bottom right) almost blends into the snowy ground as its golden brown and grey comrades look up A fox lies down on the snow-covered ground in the Fox Village in Japan in a photo captured by the trainee English teacher She travelled last month, and visited Tokyo to get a TESOL teaching certificate. 'I live in Mexico,' she said, 'So being in Japan is one of those once in a lifetime opportunity. 'That's why I couldn't let go the chance of paying a visit to the Fox Village. "It was a two hour ride on the Shinkansen bullet train to get to Shiroishi, Miyagi. 'The entrance fee is only $8 and they explain to you in English how to behave yourself inside. 'If a fox gets too close you are supposed to show dominance. 'Don't lean down cause they might approach behind you and try to bite. 'Be careful with your backpack and belongings cause they are territorial animals which mean they are probably gonna pee on your stuff. 'And most importantly, under any circumstances do not attempt to touch them.' Guests are welcomed to the Fox Village to interact with foxes like this one, who is caught sleeping in the bright sunshine The black fox stays close to the ground int he farm where they are free to roam the large, forested area all day The 23-year-old Columbia University graduate from New York whose body was found on an island off the coast of Panama over the weekend was likely strangled, an autopsy has revealed. Officers with Panama's National Police, aided by FBI agents, raided unspecified locations on Bastimentos Island hoping to gather additional information that would help them piece together what happened to backpacker Catherine Johannet, who was found dead on Sunday in a wooded area near a popular beach. Preliminary results of Johannet's autopsy conducted by officials with Panamas Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences of the Public Ministry indicated that Johannet's probable cause of death was strangulation, reported the Panamanian newspaper La Prensa. Experts were conducting additional tests hoping to shed more light on the circumstances of Johannet's death. Scroll down for video Final post: American tourist Catherine Johannet, 23, was likely strangled on an island off the coast of Panama, just days after posting on Instagram this selfie and gushing that she 'found paradise' on Isla Ina This screenshot from a video shot by Bocas TV shows Johannet's body being transported from the crime scene to the morgue Grief-stricken: Johannet's family members are pictured arriving in Panama Monday after learning of her death The young woman's relatives, among them her older brother, Paul, are seen in the back of a vehicle Monday Heartbreaking task: Johannet's loved ones are pictured wearing protective masks outside a Panama morgue Adventurer: Johannet had been staying at a hostel in the village of Bocas del Toro on Colon Island (pictured in file photo) during a backpacking trip Final destination: Johannet had been planning to spend half the day Thursday on Red Frog Beach on Bastimentos Island (pictured), a popular travel destination in Panama The local TV station Nex Noticias reported that Johannet was strangled with a pink swimsuit cover-up, which she had been wearing at the time. On Monday, the young woman's family members, including her two older siblings, arrived in Panama to help identify her body and eventually bring her home for burial, reported Pulso Informativo. Another local station, Bocas TV, captured how Johannet's body was being transported by airplane to the morgue for identification. Johannet had been staying in a hostel in Bocas del Toro village on Colon Island, part of the same archipelago popular among tourists for its clear water, coral reefs and wildlife. Homecoming: A memorial service will be held for Johannet in her hometown in Westchester County Saturday morning The US Embassy in Panama said that local authorities and the FBI had searched for Johannet throughout the weekend and will continue investigating the case. Her last Instagram post, shared a week ago on the account 'catastrophe93,' included a selfie showing a beaming Johannet in an orange bikini and a pair of sunglasses with a picture-perfect tropical beach in the background. The caption read: 'I found paradise and it's called Isla Ina.' Johannet's older sister, Laura, and brother, Paul, posted on Facebook that a memorial service will be held for Catherine Saturday morning at Scarsdale Congregational Church. Catherine Johannet was last seen alive at around 10am on Thursday on Colon Island, where she had been staying during a backpacking vacation, reported LoHud.com. That morning, she traveled to the nearby Bastimentos Island, a popular travel destination off the northern cast of Panama, where she had been planning to spend the day on Red Frog Beach. Staff at Johannet's hostel on Colon Island reported her missing after she failed to return from her day trip, according to Newsroom Panama. Johannet's decomposing body was discovered by police on a hiking trail Sunday afternoon, three days after she had left on a trip to the beach This is a screenshot from a video recorded by a Panama TV station showing police officers scouring a wooded area in search of Catherine Johannet last weekend Tragic outcome: Officers found her decomposing body, pictured above being carried on a guerney, on a hiking trail near a beach Gone: Staff at Johannet's hostel reported her missing after she failed to return from her beach excursion This map shows locations off the coast on Panama where Catherine Johannet had visited and where her body was found on Sunday Police and volunteers scoured the islands in search of the missing tourist until her decomposing body was discovered by an officer on a hiking trail near the beach on Bastimentos at 2.11pm on Sunday. Adrienne Bory, press attache at the US Embassy in Panama offered condolences to Catherine Johannet's family in New York. Paul Johannet, Catherines brother, paid tribute to his deceased sister in a touching Facebook post on Monday. 'She was a world traveler - by the age of 23, she had already visited six continents and innumerable countries, including a recent 18-month trip to Vietnam where she taught English Literature to local students,' he wrote. 'She was cheerful, adventurous, thoughtful and warm - all qualities I strive towards. 'I'll always look up to my youngest sister.' According to her LinkedIn profile, Catherine graduated from Columbia University in 2015 with a Bachelors degree in comparative literature. From July 2015 to October 2016, she was employed as a teacher with the organization IvyPrerp based out of Hanoi, Vietnam. Attorneys for a Minnesota police officer accused of fatally shooting Philando Castile during a traffic stop say the 32-year-old black man was reaching for his gun when he was killed. In a memorandum filed on Tuesday, defense attorneys for officer Jeronimo Yanez argued his actions were 'intentional and justified' because Castile reached for his gun, which they said was 'accessible'. The memo contradicts prosecutors' claims that Yanez, who is charged with manslaughter and two felony counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm, didn't see the weapon and made conflicting statements about it. Castile, a school cafeteria employee, was shot seven times during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, on July 6, 2016, the aftermath of which was livestreamed on Facebook by his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds. In a memorandum filed on Tuesday, defense attorneys for officer Jeronimo Yanez argued his actions were 'intentional and justified' The memo accused Philando Castile (above) of reaching for his gun. Castile was shot seven times during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota in July 2016 The police officer had pulled over the couple because they 'looked like the people that were involved in a robbery' at a nearby convenience store, and because of a non-working brake light, according to the criminal court filing. After Yanez approached and asked for identification, Castile 'calmly, and in a non-threatening manner informed officer Yanez: Sir, I have to tell you that I do have a firearm on me,' according to John Choi of the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. The officer asked Castile not to pull out the handgun, and the man affirmed that he was not doing so, Choi said. Moments later, authorities said Yanez shot Castile seven times, while he was still buckled into his seat. Reynolds said that Castile had been trying to pull out his wallet, not his gun. Authorities said his last words were 'I wasn't reaching for it'. Castile had a legal permit for the firearm. But in Tuesday's memorandum, Yanez's attorneys said: 'The gun was accessible, and Mr. Castile reached for it.' 'The State's claims that Yanez 'never saw a gun' is not supported by the video and resulting facts. 'The phrase the State quotes from Officer Yanez's subsequent conversation at the scene 'I don't know where the gun was' doesn't prove the gun didn't exist.' The officer had also told investigators that Castile moved in a way that concealed his right hand, causing him to fear for his safety and that of the other officer at the traffic stop, authorities said. Castile's girlfriend Diamond Reynolds filmed the aftermath of the shooting on Facebook live. The video showed Castile bleeding and slumped over Yanez's attorneys filed a motion in December to dismiss the charges against him, but prosecutors replied saying the cop's actions were a 'gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable officer would have observed.' In Tuesday's memo, Yanez's defense attorneys argued for his innocence, claiming he followed standard procedures in stopping Castile's car and requesting that he not reach for the gun. The defense attorneys also added Yanez's description of Castile's gun the day after the shooting matched the one that was in the 32-year-old's right pocket. Yanez's attorneys pinned the blame on Castile, saying he introduced risk into the situation by disobeying Yanez's orders and having marijuana in his system. Yanez's lawyer Earl Gray had previously said autopsy results showed Castile was 'stoned' and was found to have high levels of THC in his system. A judge will hear arguments and issue a decision February 15. A University Challenge contestant accused of raping a fellow student told police he could not have attacked her because he did not have a full erection. Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere, 21, denies raping and sexually assaulting the undergraduate at York University in June 2014, and claims the sex was consensual. The woman told a jury at York Crown Court how Joly de Lotbiniere came into her room in the halls of residence, after they had been on a night out, and then had sex with her as she tried to push him off. Scroll down for video Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere has gone on trial accused of raping a woman at York University in June 2014. Pictured, he arrives at court for his hearing yesterday She went to the police more than a year on from the alleged offence after Joly de Lotbiniere had appeared on University Challenge. The defendant, from Kensal Rise in London, told detectives he kissed the woman in the corridor and then they went on to have sex in her bed. However, he did not have a strong erection and the encounter was cut short. He told police: 'We fumbled around for a bit but it didn't amount to anything. 'She said 'You are not very good at this'.' It was the second time he had sex, he said in his interview, having lost his virginity two or three months before. He denied saying, 'pretend this never happened' as he left her room. He told the police: 'No. I could see it was not working out. I didn't say anything, I just left the room realising it was not going to work out. Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere appeared on the programme as part of the York University team in 2015 - more than a year after the alleged incident occurred in June 2014 'My penis was not working, she was disappointed. 'I didn't say that.' Joly de Lotbiniere also denied telling the student he had fantasised about her. He said to officers: 'I didn't have any sort of attraction to her before, it was just a spur of the moment thing because of the kiss.' The jury has heard how, two days after the incident, the woman texted Joly de Lotbiniere and said: 'I thought I'd let you know I wasn't overly comfortable with what happened on Thursday night.' The prosecutor said that Joly de Lotbiniere replied: 'Neither am I. I was a disgrace, I did a very stupid thing and I am very sorry for what I did. 'I just hope you can forgive me at some point. Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere (centre) leaves York Crown Court following his hearing yesterday 'I'll try not to act like a bloody 14-year-old again and start acting my age. Sorry.' He explained to police that meant he 'felt ashamed because I was so inexperienced, that I couldn't properly have sex with her.' After he was charged he told police: 'These are horrible, horrible lies. 'I'm willing to co-operate with anybody who wants to ask any questions at any time, as I have done from the start. This is wrong.' Earlier, the complainant's best friend told the jury the student was 'really upset' the morning after the alleged incident. She said: 'I have never seen her like that before. 'Because this was only eight hours after, she was obviously still processing it. 'She was just very upset and very anxious.' The trial continues. Elias Cadoza was implicated in a drive-by shooting, but he was cleared after his unusual alibi was verified by paramedics A 21-year-old man was held in custody for two months until an unusual alibi about his sister's vaginal pain cleared him from a murder case. A drive-by shooting broke out in Miami, Florida, on October 27, 2016, and a witness told police Elias Cadoza was the man who shot dead Carlos Rodriguez Martinez, the Miami Herald reported. Cadoza was arrested in November and jailed for two months before prosecutors finally dropped the case on Tuesday after he proved to be at home during the shooting. Paramedics remembered Cadoza, who has a speech impediment, in part because of the unusual 911 call regarding his sister's vaginal pain, his defense lawyer Jean-Michel D'Escoubet told the Miami Herald. Cadoza waited outside their Little Havana apartment until the ambulance showed up, and asked paramedics if he could accompany his sister to the hospital. Cadoza ended up walking about one mile to the Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he waited until his sister was treated and discharged the next morning. But the 21-year-old was arrested after an 18-year-old woman named Adela Santos implicated him in the murder of Rodriquez Martinez, in what may have been an attempt to cover for her boyfriend, Cadoza's lawyer told the Miami Herald. Carlos Rodriguez Martinez was killed in Miami, Florida (pictured, general view) during a drive-by shooting. Adela Santos admitted she was in the car and pinned it on Cadoza But Cadoza was cleared on Tuesday and Santos (pictured) is now charged with being an accessory to murder Rodriquez Martinez was walking with a friend along Northwest Eighth Avenue and Third Street when a Chevrolet drove by and an argument broke out between the two parties. Shots broke out from inside the car, and Rodriguez-Martinez died. Santos, who was a friend of Cadoza's family, admitted to being inside the car and pinned the murder on the 21-year-old. Cadoza was arrested in November, although he was never formally charged. He was finally released and cleared after a private investigator tracked down the paramedics who provided a sworn statement verifying his alibi. Prosecutors concluded Santos lied about Cadoza's involvement, and she has been charged with being an accessory to murder. This is the heart-warming moment a six-year-old boy celebrated the end to his chemotherapy treatment by doing an energetic dance in front of his jubilant family and doctors at hospital. Jimmy Spagnolo has been battling an inoperable brain tumor since he was just a few months old and the youngster had just finished a gruelling year-long round of chemotherapy, that could be his last. After being told that his tumor had shrunk so significantly that he may not require any more treatment at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center the boy, who was wearing a Superman outfit, jigged to music and rang the center's bell enthusiastically. Celebration: Jimmy Spagnolo has been battling an inoperable brain tumor since he was just a few months old and rang the hospital's bell after his last treatment In-between dance moves he slapped his belly and dashed into his mother's arms for a few fleeting moments. Ringing the bell is in keeping with local tradition and signifies the passing of a major life event at the hospital. The hospital posted the video last week with the comment: 'The bell signifies so many emotions it can signify the sound of tears, strength, fear, courage, doubt, satisfaction, relief and happiness all coming through as one as people around them cheer this accomplishment. 'The sound of that bell resonates in more ways than one. The emotion in the room is just unbelievable.' Jimmy, from Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy in six years after being diagnosed with optic pathway glioma, an inoperable brain tumor, when he was just four months old. Jimmy completed treatment in 2014, according to his Facebook page, but tumor spots started to reappear, so he resumed treatment last year. Jimmy Spagnolo and his family last week University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Over the past 12 months he has undergone rigorous chemotherapy treatments, although he still has the tumor it may not grow any more meaning he might be able to live a full life with it. Jimmy's mother Lacie Spagnolo posted the video on the 'I'm praying for Jimmy Spagnolo' Facebook page where she outlined her relief. She wrote: 'To share moments like these and feel the connection in the room with everyone is electrifying!! 'We all came alive in that moment to share with Jimmers is ending to something hard and his beginning to new hope for his future!! 'There are no words to truly describe the feeling we felt today so we will show you instead!!' The video, shared on both on Jimmy's Facebook page and the hospital's, has been viewed by more than 200,000 people over the past several days which Lacie described as 'humbling to say the least.' One Facebook user commented: 'Brings me to tears watching him jump up and down with that smile... amazing! Congratulations little guy! My son has one more year to go!' And another simply wrote: 'Congratulations Superman.' 'Goldilocks burglar' was 'found asleep in bed after a home invasion' Alleged 'Goldilocks burglar' will remain behind bars after a magistrate denied him bail for a second time. Isaac Henderson, 18, allegedly broke into Melanie and Tony Christensen's home in Melbourne's Donvale on December 29, before he reportedly fell asleep in their bed. It is alleged he sprang out of the bed when the couple came home. His mother has argued for his bail in the Supreme Court, saying her son was battling depression at the time of the alleged intrusion, reports Herald Sun. Scroll down for video Isaac Henderson, an 18-year-old from Melbourne who has been dubbed the 'Goldilocks' burglar by police, has been denied bail for a second time 'I will always believe in my son and hope this time in jail has finally taught him he had to change his life,' Mr Henderson told the court. The troubled teenager has been offered a chance at freedom after his bail application was adjourned so he can have a psychiatric assessment prepared. 'On what I've heard so far, I must say, I'm not terribly impressed,' Justice Lex Lasry said. Police allege he had wanted a place to eat and sleep after running away from home following a fight with his dad. Last month he appeared in Ringwood Magistrates' Court on Thursday where he was charged with burglary, criminal damage, assault with a weapon and making threats. Magistrate Marc Sargent refused bail because he was concerned the accused was still a danger to the community because he was on probation for armed robbery. Mr Henderson is accused of breaking into Mel and Tony Christensen's home in Donvale, east Melbourne, on December 29 He allegedly threatened the couple after they woke him The FBI has launched a hate crime investigation after a Colorado home has been smeared with dog feces, covered in racial slurs and hit with 40 eggs. Agents are looking for the suspects who targeted the home in Peyton, just outside Colorado Springs, on Saturday night while the owners were inside sleeping. The homeowner - who only wanted to give his first name Saravanan - said neighbors woke him and his wife up on Sunday morning after coming across the horrific vandalism. The FBI are looking for the suspects who targeted a home in Peyton, Colorado on Saturday night smearing it in dog feces, racial slurs and at least 40 eggs in an apparent hate crime 'We saw more than 50 papers stuck everywhere on our door, window, car. They smeared dog poop everywhere and they had thrown at least, like, 40 eggs on our walls, on our ceilings, everywhere outside,' Saravanan told 11 News. 'About 10 percent of the messages were racial slur on us... So it was frightening.' He said the notes stated that the couple were 'brown or Indian' and shouldn't be here but they have no idea who could be behind the attack. They suspect a group of at least 10 people had to have been responsible given the extent of the vandalism. The family have lived in the home for about two years. The home was smeared with dog feces and had about 50 racist notes taped all over it on Saturday night while the owners were inside sleeping About 50 notes containing racial slurs were found outside the home and on the family's car The El Paso County Sheriff's Office gave the case to the FBI given it is a hate crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said there has been an unprecedented spike in hate incidents targeting Muslims and other minority groups since Donald Trump was elected in November. The group issued a statement condemning the attack on the Colorado home. 'Our nation's leaders - at the highest levels - need to address the growing bigotry we are witnessing around the country in the post-election period,' CAIR's Ibrahim Hooper said. The boyfriend of Towie star Cara Kilbey used her white Porsche to meet criminal associates to organise drug deals, a jury was told. Daniel Harris, 33, is accused of being a ringleader in a multi-million pound operation which dealt cocaine and heroin between 2012 and 2016. Some of the gang members posed as trainee cabbies learning the 'knowledge' test on mocked up mopeds while selling drugs across London, it is alleged. Daniel Harris (left, with Cara), 33, is accused of being a ringleader in a multi-million pound operation which dealt cocaine and heroin between 2012 and 2016. Some of the gang members posed as trainee cabbies learning the 'knowledge' test on mocked up mopeds while selling drugs across London, it is alleged (Daniel and Cara pictured together) Pictured is Towie star Cara Kilbey (right) leaving Wandsworth Prison after visiting her partner The court has heard that they had sold 45 kilos of cocaine, at 31,500 a kilo - worth 1,417,500. Harris is also accused of being part of a conspiracy to sell heroin in May 2015. The Old Bailey heard on Wednesday that Harris would meet his conspirators in pubs across Essex and London. DS Martin Groves, the case officer, gave evidence of the surveillance carried out on Harris and the others. He said: 'A deployment would range from just one officer seeing what cars were outside, right up to the scale of an entire surveillance team following an individual.' In February 2015, cops saw a Porsche belonging to Harris's partner parked outside the Railway Bar and Grill in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, along with a Mercedes belonging to another gang member. Inside the pub they saw Harris and the other man talking in front of a TV drinking beer, the court was told. DS Groves said: 'They were in a pub, and normal events were going on. The telly was on, and they were drinking.' Reading the police notes, Peter Clement, prosecuting, said: 'A white Porsche, it is in fact registered to Mr Harris's partner Cara, and a Mercedes was seen by officers parked outside Railway Bar and Grill, Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill. The prosecutor told jurors that Ms Kilbey was Harris's girlfriend and that they lived together The court has heard members used encrypted Blackberry phones to avoid detection (Harris and Cara together) 'No evidence as to what they were talking about. It was not, as it were, audible. 'They were, in fact, in front of a television screen, and they did have glasses of beer.' Harris was later seen leaving in the Porsche, it was said. A few weeks later, he was seen in the George and Dragon pub in Epping, Essex with another associate, and the Porsche was seen parked in the pub car park, the court was told. He was also tracked meeting someone in a cafe in Canada Water, east London, it was said. Jurors heard that on May 7, 2015, police swooped and arrested some of the heroin conspirators after tracking them throughout the evening. Using automatic number plate recognition evidence, they had tracked one member driving towards Kent in a Ford Fiesta. They later saw another conspirator in a white Citroen van in Gravesend, Kent, who was joined by the Ford Fiesta driver. Cops arrested them and seized two kilos of heroin, with a street value of 198,000 and a purity of 57 per cent. However Harris was not arrested and had not been seen for about six hours on that day, the court was told. Later that month, on May 21, Harris was seen at Euston station at about 8.45am where he met an associate who later admitted being involved in the heroin conspiracy. Mr Clement said: 'He was observed outside Cafe Rouge, the front area of Euston Station. 'They both walked around the forecourt and exterior area in a large circle, all of the time both in conversation.' They spent 40 minutes before leaving separately, jurors were told. The court has heard members used encrypted Blackberry phones to avoid detection, and kept all of the operation 'in house' - from multi kilo deals down to street corner sales. The group used the anaesthetic benzocaine to cut the cocaine to maximise their profits, the court heard. Although Harris did not 'dirty' his hands, he was a leader of the enterprise, and police found large amounts of cash when they searched his home last March, jurors were told. Other members have pleaded guilty to their roles, thereby proving the conspiracy existed, the prosecutor said. Harris, of Theydon Bois, Essex, denies conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply heroin, and possessing criminal property. The trial continues. Danielle Reading, 42, was seriously injured The heartbroken family of a woman who was struck during an alleged police pursuit in Melbourne on Monday night has spoken of its anguish. Danielle Reading, 42, was seriously injured after a male driver being chased by police slammed into her car while allegedly running a red light in Melbourne's north-east, police said. She suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung after alleged driver Robert Wilson, 31, T-boned her car. Ms Reading's mother Jillian Reading said she was devastated for her eldest daughter. 'I've squeezed her hand, but we're not getting anything,' she told 9 News on Wednesday. Ms Reading's sister said she believed her sister would survive, but described the situation as 'awful'. 'I don't want any family to ever have to go through it because it's so awful, and it just happens like that. She will pull through though, she's too tough,' she said. A CAT scan at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday revealed Ms Reading - who was placed in an induced coma - suffered bleeding on the brain. She is expected to spend six weeks in hospital before requiring extensive rehabilitation. A teenage passenger driving with the female driver was not injured in the collision but was seen by witnesses screaming for her mother as she lay injured, according to 9News. A florist said he was one of the first on scene after racing from his nearby shop. 'I just held her hand until the ambulance got here,' he told 9 News. The alleged driver, 31-year-old Robert Wilson, was in a white truck with alleged false number plates on Bell Street around 11.20pm on Monday when police tried to pull him over for his erratic driving, officers said. Police said officers followed the vehicle on Be A 41-year-old female driver has been seriously injured after a male driver being chased by police on Melbourne's Bell Street on Monday night slammed into her car while running a red light, police said. The 31-year-old man was driving a white truck (pictured) with alleged false number plates when police tried to pull him over for his erratic driving, officers said ll Street before it went onto the wrong side of the road, through a red light and ultimately t-boning the victim who was driving through a green light. 'This didn't have to happen, all he had to do was stop and now he's looking at a really long jail term,' Insp. McGregor said. Mr Wilson is being treated for minor injuries and is under police guard at hospital. He has since been charged with endangering life, driving while disqualified and evading police. Mr Wilson lives with anxiety and schizophrenia, the Heidelberg Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday. He chose not to appear in court. He didn't stop and allegedly drove onto the wrong side of the road and through a red light, slamming into the 41-year-old female driver's car as she crossed the street on a green light (pictured) Prosecutors say the New Jersey teen who strangled his high school friend and then dumped her body in a river planned the murder for six months. Earlier this month, 19-year-old Preston Taylor confessed to helping his friend Liam McAtasney, also 19, dispose of Sarah Stern's body after his roommate robbed and murdered her. Prosecutors revealed more details about the dark plot in court on Tuesday, as they successfully blocked Taylor's request to be released on bond while awaiting trial. Prosecutors on Tuesday said that Liam McAtasney (pictured February 2, left) planned the murder of his former high school classmate Sarah Stern (right) for six months Assistant Monmounth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle said that McAtasney planned the attack for at least six months. She says that McAtasney brought Taylor into the plans the night of the murder, calling him before hand and telling him what he planned to do. All three attended Neptune High School together and Taylor even took Stern to junior prom as his date. 'I'm at the bank. I'm going to do it now. I'm going to take her out,' McAtasney allegedly told Taylor. Alleged conspirator Preston Taylor was denied bail on Tuesday (pictured above). The 19-year-old is accused of helping his roommate dispose of the body of his former prom date, Sarah Stern McAtasney reportedly later called back saying 'Dude, I did it'. He then asked Taylor to help him out by going over to Stern's house to hide her body and find his cellphone, which he left behind. Taylor reportedly followed his roommate's orders, and Doyle says he hid the victim's body in some bushes in her backyard and searched for the phone but couldn't find it. The two left Stern's body in the bushes for eight hours, before returning to dispose of it. Doyle says that on the second visit, Taylor's job was to act as the lookout while McAtasney threw Stern's body over a fence and put her in the front passenger seat of her car. McAtasney then drove the car to the Route 35 bridge in Belmar where he proceeded to throw her body down into the Shark River. Taylor followed in his own car to help. Taylor and Stern are seen in this undated photo from 2014. The two went to junior prom together. Taylor is charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution At the hearing on Tuesday, Taylor's attorney argued that he should be released because he tried to talk McAtasney out of the killing - but Doyle said there was no evidence of that. Prosecutors previously said that they wanted Taylor to stay in jail because he posed a threat to a witness who went to police about his suspicions on the two. Taylor's attorney said the witness was afraid of McAtasney, not Taylor. But the judge sided with the prosecution, ordering that Taylor remain behind bars for the trial. McAntansey has his own detention hearing scheduled for next week. Earlier this month, Taylor confessed to his role in covering up the murder - providing information that led investigators to two buried safes in Sandy Hook and Sandy River Park. One safe contained cash and the other contained pieces of Stern's clothing. Her body has not been recovered. McAtasney is charged with murder, felony murder, conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disposal of human remains. Taylor faces charges of conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disposal of human remains. A tense interaction between a store manager and customer who wanted to buy a 12-gauge shotgun resulted in the manager losing her job, according to a lawsuit. Delilah Rios resigned from the Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Downey, California, after company officials overruled her decision not to sell an 'erratic' man a weapon. In a lawsuit, she alleged wrongful termination and violation of labor laws, among other claims, according to the Los Angeles Times. Delilah Rios resigned from the Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Downey, California (pictured), after company officials overruled her decision not to sell an 'erratic' man a gun, and releasing the weapon to the customer Rios said the problem began January 21, 2015, when she assisted a middle-aged man to purchase a firearm. He passed a safety test, but then stormed into the 'restricted area' of the store while she processed his payment, took his identification and credit card and left. Later that week, he returned for another gun. He said he would take 'any crappy old gun' and selected a 12-gauge shotgun, according to the Times. He had a friend helping him fill out a federally required form documenting the sale, but Rios told him it was legally required to be completed alone. After she said that, he grew agitated and later accused her of selling him the wrong weapon. After the required 10-day waiting period to pick up his firearm, he returned to the store on February 4. Later that week, the same customer returned for another gun. He said he would take 'any crappy old gun' and selected a 12-gauge shotgun - similar to the one pictured above in the stock image Rios was working the cash register for an employee on break, and the store was incredibly busy, so she did not have time to release the firearm to the customer, reported the Times. According to the lawsuit, he said: 'I paid for it, and you need to give me my ******* gun,' before leaving and threatening to call police. That evening, she found unused ammunition on the floor of the aisle that the customer had lingered, and it was not a type that the store carried. The suit said she became concerned that the man had brought in live ammunition for the firearm he wanted to pick up. She reported the incident to Big 5 corporate management, who told her to call him and ask if he brought in the ammunition, reported the Times. The customer returned the next day, irate and yelling loudly 'You again, I hate people like you. People like you should not exist, I hope you get fired,' according to the lawsuit. Rios said she was afraid and that she told him she would not hand over the firearm, offering him a refund. He refused to leave, and two off-site supervisors questioned why she could not just release the gun. A manager, who was on his day off, eventually came and handed over the gun along with a $25 store giftcard. Police were present. Rios reported the incident to Human Resources, hoping to work at a different store. Her request to move was denied, so after eight years working with the company she resigned, reported the Times. The lawsuit says: 'She feared for her safety and felt that money meant more to Big 5 Corporation than public safety or employee safety. 'She felt she could not work at a company where she would be forced to release firearms to people who should not have guns.' The daughter of a man who murdered his friend in a meth-fuelled rage has penned an emotional letter to a judge A young girl has penned a heartbreaking plea for leniency after her father murdered his friend in a meth-fuelled rage. The girl wrote the emotional letter to a judge after her father pleaded guilty over the death of the man, whose body was found in the boot of a car in 2014. The decomposed body was discovered nearly two weeks later at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney's west. In the handwritten letter to Justice Peter Garling, the girl revealed her heartbreak of how the deadly drug crystal meth had torn her family apart, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'Dearest Justice, I strongly believe without drug [sic] my (dad) was a good person,' she wrote. 'The drug damaged him, damaged my family.' The girl begged for mercy, urging the justice to give her 38-year-old father another chance so he could see his daughters grow. The young girl has written an emotional letter for leniency to Justice Peter Garling (file image) 'Please give him a chance to let my five-years-old sister have some dad's love before she grows up,' she said. The child opened up about the moment her mother made the confronting admission of her father's drug use after she found a glass bottle beneath a couch. The girl said she has not mustered up the courage to tell her sister about their father's whereabouts. The letter was tendered in the NSW Supreme Court for the first time during a sentencing hearing last week. During his trial, the court heard he was high on ice when he killed his friend. The man, who migrated to Australia from China, is expected to be sentenced in court next month. The decomposed body was discovered nearly two weeks later in the boot of a car in 2014 US tanks arrived in Latvia on Wednesday ahead of NATO's moves to expand defense troops on eastern Europe's border with Russia. Fifteen M1 Abrams tanks, six Bradley fighting vehicles and other military equipment has arrived in Garkalne, along with the US Army's 3rd Brigade 225 soldiers on Wednesday. The soldiers will replace those from 173rd Brigade and will serve in Latvia as part of the Atlantic Resolve operation. In moves agreed last year under former President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels unprecedented since the Cold War, prompted by Russia's annexation of Crimea and accusations - denied by Moscow - that it is supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. Workers prepare to unload U.S. M1 Abrams tanks that will be deployed in Latvia for NATO's Operation Atlantic Resolve in Garkalne, Latvia Fifteen M1 Abrams tanks, six Bradley fighting vehicles and other military equipment has arrived in Garkalne, along with the US Army's 3rd Brigade 225 soldiers on Wednesday In moves agreed last year under former President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels unprecedented since the Cold War The German-led battle group of 1,000 troops in Lithuania will be joined this year by a US-led deployment in Poland, British-led troops in Estonia and Canadian-led troops in Latvia. They will add to smaller rotating contingents of US troops. US soldiers will stay in Latvia until the arrival of the Canadian led multinational NATO battalion. Doubts about the US commitment to NATO have surfaced since the election of President Donald Trump, who has described NATO allies as 'very unfair' for not contributing more financially to the alliance. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Europe realized it needed to strengthen defense cooperation and was doing more to solve its own problems. The expansion was prompted by Russia's annexation of Crimea and accusations - denied by Moscow - that it is supporting a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. The German-led battle group of 1,000 troops in Lithuania will be joined this year by a US-led deployment in Poland Battle groups will add to smaller rotating contingents of US troops. US soldiers will stay in Latvia until the arrival of the Canadian led multinational NATO battalion. She also said US Secretary of Defense James Mattis reassured her about Washington's commitment to NATO in a recent telephone call. 'After what we discussed, I have no doubt about his deep conviction in the importance of NATO and the commitment of the Americans within NATO to what we have agreed,' she said at a welcoming ceremony at Lithuania's Rukla military base, 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Russian border. Von der Leyen is due to hold her first meeting with Mattis in Washington, DC, on Friday. In a phone call on Sunday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump agreed to meet alliance leaders in Europe in May. Doubts about the US commitment to NATO have surfaced since the election of President Donald Trump Trump has described NATO allies as 'very unfair' for not contributing more financially to the alliance Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite said the German battalion was arriving '(at) the right place and at the right time,' adding she hoped the troops' stay would be peaceful. A NATO official said the NATO forces would participate in a major exercise in eastern Europe in June. A second official said it would include a simulated nuclear attack. There are no end dates for stay of the new contingents, which will rotate every six months partly to comply with NATO's 1997 promise to Russia to avoid 'permanent stationing of substantial combat forces' in Central and Eastern Europe. German officials said the battalion in Lithuania, which includes over 200 tanks and other ground vehicles, will be fully formed by June 2017, including troops from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Luxembourg. German officials said the battalion in Lithuania, which includes over 200 tanks and other ground vehicles, will be fully formed by June 2017, Troops from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Luxembourg will be joining the troops who are already at the border A presenter accidentally flashed her bum on live TV when her mini-dress rode up. Aracely Ordaz Campos was performing a stunt on a variety programme called 'Es Show' on Multimedios Television in Mexico. Wearing a thigh-skimming red dress she leapt from a trampoline to a mattress on the floor. A presenter accidentally flashed her bum on live TV when her mini-dress rode up Aracely Ordaz Campos was performing a stunt on a variety programme called 'Es Show' Her dress scooted half way up her backside giving viewers an eyeful. Realising that she was exposed she shouted: 'It's just ridden up to my ****,' and covered her bottom with her hands. She quickly stands up and pulls down her dress. Wearing a thigh-skimming red dress she leapt from a trampoline to a mattress on the floor The variety show is aired on Multimedios Television in Mexico The presenter, famed for her weight loss, came under fire for the incident with viewers claiming she wasn't wearing underwear. However she insists she did have pants on. The clip went viral one social media with one tweeter accusing Miss Campos of 'baring all again'. The starlet also has her own YouTube channel. The presenter, famed for her weight loss, came under fire for the incident with viewers claiming she wasn't wearing underwear The clip went viral one social media with one tweeter accusing Miss Campos of 'baring all again' Last month Joanne Barr, a lifelong Republican, attended the Women's March on Washington to protest the inauguration of President Trump. Soon after she returned home to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, she went to her mailbox and collected a stack of letters - words of encouragement from people across the country who were 'inspired' by her story. As she flipped through the letters, she noticed one in particular. It was from Hillary Clinton. 'I read your profile with great interest and wanted to applaud you and your daughter for taking part in the Women's March on Washington,' it read. The Washington Post followed Barr, 54, to the march and reported on why a 'white, lifelong Republican', from 'rural' Pennsylvania would protest Trump. Scroll down for video Joanne Barr, a lifelong Republican from Pennsylvania says she feels at odds with the current administration. She attended the Women's March last month to protest President Trump The Washington Post reported her story and Hillary Clinton sent a letter of support 'applauding' her efforts to 'make a difference'. Clinton pictured with supporters and the cast of a Broadway musical earlier this month Barr's son struggles with mental illness, her ex-husband was a drug addict, and she had been the victim of domestic abuse. So a campaign that The Post claims 'mocked a disabled man' and 'demeaned women' did not sit well with her. Above, President Trump at the inauguration Barr had only ever been to Washington once and said that big cities intimidate her. Back home in Williamsport, a town of 30,000 in central Pennsylvania, she manages a hardware store and told The Post that while she normally loved her job, she had begun to feel 'claustrophobic' in her town. Williamsport, an economy supported by lumber, manufacturing and natural gas, is 92 per cent white and 71 per cent voted for Trump. And while Barr, a divorced mother of three, once considered herself a Republican, she said she now feels at odds with the current administration. LETTER FROM HILLARY CLINTON January 25 2017 Dear Joanne: I read your profile in The Washington Post with great interest and wanted to write to applaud you and your daughter, Ashley, for taking part in the Women's March on Washington. I was so inspired to see women - and men - from all walks of life, every background, and every corner of our country coming together to stand up for our shared values. Your engagement in that effort and in our nation's civic life is so important, even if it may be difficult or uncomfortable at times, because it is precisely how we can make the change we want to see and build the future that our children deserve. While I know that we are disappointed and heartbroken by the outcome of the election, I am heartened to know that the experience of this campaign has also been empowering for you. Indeed, hearing from women and girls about how much our campaign meant to them and how it has changed their lives has been incredibly gratifying to me. I hope you and Ashley had a wonderful and rewarding time at the march in Washington, and that you will continue getting involved and speaking out. Never forget that you are powerful and valuable, and that one person can make a difference. I am honored to have had your support and to now stand with you as we face the future with renewed hope and determination. With best wishes and warm regards, I am Sincerely yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton Advertisement Her son struggles with mental illness, her ex-husband was a drug addict who died of a heart attack at 52, and she had been the victim of domestic abuse. So a campaign that, according to The Washington Post, 'mocked a disabled man' and 'demeaned women' did not sit well with her. Barr decided to switch her voter registration from Republican to Democrat and went with her daughter, Ashley, to protest Trump the day after his inauguration. Clinton allegedly read The Post's profile of Barr and then wrote to her saying that while she is 'heartbroken by the outcome of the election' she is also 'heartened to know that the experience of this campaign has been empowering'. She added: 'Never forget that you are powerful and valuable, and that one person can make a difference.' Activists descended on downtown Washington for the rally and march, the day after President Trump took office Barr marched with her daughter, Ashley (pictured middle holding a baby) who is also disillusioned with the Trump administration The women pictured above with friends drove by bus to the capital for the 162-mile trip Clinton has kept a relatively low profile since her election loss in November. But this week, she recorded a video for the MAKERS Conference - focused on womens leadership - saying 'the future is female'. And a number of Clinton allies told Politico that she is waiting out the Democratic National Committee chair election in February, which is shaping up to be a rematch of the Clinton versus Bernie Sanders Democratic primary war. A number of Clinton's allies say that she is plotting a political comeback. Above with her husband Bill earlier this month She is also working on a collection of personal essays that will touch on the 2016 presidential campaign, The Associated Press reported last week. The book, currently untitled, is scheduled for release this fall and will be inspired by favorite quotations she has drawn upon. Clinton will also return to her old stomping grounds at Wellesley College to give the commencement address. Although none of the fees for the engagements and book deals were disclosed, Clinton and her husband Bill made themselves multi-millionaires on the back of their previous contracts. She has also has received near-record advances for her previous books. In 2003, Simon & Schuster paid her an $8 million advance for her book Living History. And on the speaking circuit, she made about $200,000 to $225,000 per speech. Records show that she earned over $11 million for the fifteen months ending in March 2015, and is also estimated to be worth $30 milllion on her own, and $45 to $53 million with her husband. President Donald Trump has found a work-around that allows him to keep in touch with his sprawling network of associates while still using the secure phone that the Secret Service requires him to use. The president continues to get messages from his old cell phone, which is believed to be an Android-design device. His network of friends and associates are able to ring him at this number and leave a message. When Trump wants to talk to someone, he calls them back on a secure line from the White House, Axios reported. Trump associates provided an update on the system, and say the president continues to consult widely as he seeks out a range of opinions on issues. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he arrives to speak to the Major County Sheriffs' Association and Major Cities Chiefs Association. A new report claims Trump's old network leaves messages on Trump's old cell phone They told the publication Trump still has his old phone number. The 'secret system' they describe allows longtime associates to leave a voicemail on Trump's old phone number 'or at night, perhaps Trump sees the number pop up on caller ID.' If Trump wants to talk, 'he calls back from his new, Secret-Service-approved secure phone savoring his small triumph over a bureaucratic and security apparatus designed to rein in this lifelong kibitzer,' according to the publication. DON'T CALL ME, I'LL CALL YOU: Under a reported system, longtime associates to leave a voicemail on Trump's old phone number, and he calls them back on a secure line The president is believed to still be using the Android-style phone he has had for several years President Donald Trump speaks to the Major County Sheriffs' Association and Major Cities Chiefs Association, Wednesday The New York Times reported late last month that Trump still has his 'old, unsecured android phone, to the protests of some of his aides to keep him company.' It then referenced a 9:25 pm tweet Trump sent out about 'carnage' in Chicago at the same time Fox News' Bill O'Reilly was doing a show about violence there. The Times had earlier reported Trump had traded in his cell phone 'for a secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess.' Trump continues to tweet from his personal Twitter account, which some experts warn could be vulnerable to hackers who could try to move markets or otherwise create havoc with a fake tweet. I think there will be people that will do their best to try to hack his account, social media expert Jason Mollica, told FoxNews.com One security analyst, Isaac Yeffett, a former Israeli foreign ministry security director, didn't believe the unusual method would put Trump at any great risk. 'He can use it. You can build a security system in cell phones like on your phone at home,' he told DailyMail.com. 'If somebody's listening, the system can catch him,' he said. Asked whether other U.S. government entities would be able to track whom the president was speaking with, Yeffett said there was no doubt about it. 'If the authorities want to know with whom you are talking, believe me once they know your number, you do whatever you want, nothing will help you. They will get every word you say,' he said. President Brack Obama also chafed at some of the security impositions the Secret Service placed on his communications. He pushed hard to be able to use a Blackberry device. The government required him to use a specially secured version to avoid penetration that could put him or the nation's secrets at risk. Trump raved about the phones that came with the White House in the Times piece. 'These are the most beautiful phones I've ever used in my life,' he said while conducting a phone interview. 'The world's most secure system,' he said with a laugh. 'The words just explode in the air.' During the campaign, Trump regularly blasted Hillary Clinton for her security practices, which included using a private email account, a private email server, and multiple devices even pouncing on a revelation that an aide destroyed old phoens with a hammer. A Texas teacher's aide who posted a picture of a seven-year-old student with learning difficulties online along with the caption, 'She devil' has been fired A teacher's aide who posted a picture of a seven-year-old student with learning difficulties on Snapchat and added the caption, 'She devil', has been fired. The aide at Martha Reid Elementary School in Arlington, Texas, was let go after the student's mother was forwarded a screen shot of the shocking picture. In it, the special-needs girl is seen sitting at a desk. Across the middle of the image is the caption: 'She devil'. The distraught mother of the young girl, who chose not to identify herself publicly,told CBSDFW she was hurt by the post. 'Its very disturbing to have your daughters photos be exploited on social media without your consent,' she told the network. 'Its more hurtful to me than my daughter because she doesnt understand.' She went on to express her anger at the aide, saying she might have taken similarly insensitive photos of other students. 'If she did it to me, how many other students has she done it to?' the mother asked, according to the network. The school released a statement to the Star-Telegram after news of the incident spread. 'Mansfield ISD takes these types of situations very seriously and does not tolerate unacceptable behavior,' it read. The aide at Martha Reid Elementary School (pictured) in Arlington, Texas, was sacked after the student's mother was forwarded a copy of the shocking picture The girl's mother (pictured, with her back to the camera), who did not want to be named or identified, said it was 'disturbing' to see the image of her daughter being mocked 'After an investigation into the matter, the teacher in question no longer works for the district.' Accoding to CBSDFW, the seven-year-old student has Williams Syndrome, which is a, 'is a genetic condition that is present at birth... characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning disabilities', according to WilliamsSyndrone.org. The seven-year-old's condition means her learning level is that of a three-year-old. About one in 10,000 people suffer with the condition, including some 30,000 in the US. A man has slammed a court ruling ordering him to financially support his ex-wife for life despite them divorcing 15 years ago. Graham Mills is furious that a judge at the court of Appeal upped his maintenance payments to ex-Maria Mills, from 1,100 a month to 1,441, after a two-year legal battle. Mr Mills gave the part-time beautician, 51, a 230,000 lump sum when they split in 2002. But since the divorce she has invested the money 'unwisely' in a series of London properties, landing herself in debt because of her 'poor' decisions. Mr Mills, a surveyor, said that he has been made to pay for his wife's financial errors and is 'furious' at the 'grossly unfair' decision. 'Reliable' husband Graham Mills (left) has been ordered to increase maintenance payments to his wife Maria (right) because she has spent every penny on 'unwise property investments' He told the Evening Standard: 'It's like I am insuring her decisions. I shouldn't be held responsible. It feels like it goes against you if you're successful. If I hadn't bothered in life I wouldn't have those liabilities. 'I think it's grossly unfair. I'm not entirely sure what my options are but it gives me no incentive to work because it feels like the more I do the more I possibly will have to pay. 'It's more stress, more money going out and it's out of taxable income, so I need to earn even more before I get more for myself. It's money I'd have had for my new child. Sitting at London's Appeal Court, Lord Justice Longmore and Sir Ernest Ryder heard how the couple, who have a grown-up son, married in 1988, before separating in 2001. They divorced a year later, after reaching an agreement on how their wealth should be split. The court heard how Mr Mills, a surveyor, agreed to give his ex-wife 1,100 a month in personal maintenance. He also offered to give her almost all their 'liquid capital', while he agreed to keep his businesses. Mrs Mills 'unwisely invested in a series of properties', each time 'moving upmarket'. Her first home was this house in Weybridge, Surrey (pictured) Later, however, Mrs Mills 'unwisely invested in a series of properties', each time 'moving upmarket' from a house in Weybridge, Surrey, to a smart three-bedroom flat in Wimbledon. She then moved to a two-bedroom apartment in a luxury Victorian mansion block in Battersea. The court heard how Mrs Mills 'over-financed' each of her homes, increasing her mortgage liabilities. But she failed to offset them with enough profit from the sale of the properties, the court heard. She is now living in a rented home, back where she started in Weybridge, and works two days a week as a beauty therapist, the court heard. The judge said the pair both went before a family judge last year, with the wife asking for more maintenance because she could not manage financially. Her husband - who has since remarried and has another child with his new wife - went to judges in a bid to get a clean break, the court heard. Judge Mark Everall QC - who heard the original case - threw out both their challenges, but both parties then each instructed QCs to renew their battle before the Court of Appeal. She then took out a bigger mortgage and moved to this three-bedroom flat in Wimbledon Philip Cayford QC, for Mr Mills, told the judges that he is desperate to 'move on' with his life and that a decision in favour of Mrs Mills went against 'the tide towards seeking independence'. 'This is a case where the wife leaves the marriage with all, or almost all the liquid capital, then says she needs maintenance for another 50 years, despite proving herself capable of working to a high standard,' he said. 'It is the husband's case that he should not be the insurer against the wife's poor financial decisions, taken over the course of the 15 years that have passed since the original ancillary relief order. 'The time is long overdue for the wife to terminate her financial dependency on the husband. 'Since 2002, the wife's management of her finances has been so poor that she appears to have exhausted her entire capital, and seeks to continue and now increase the periodical payments element of the order.' He added: 'The husband has done all that could be reasonably expected of him in his reasonable wish to move on post-divorce.' But Frank Feehan QC, for Mrs Mills, pointed out that the original judge did not find Mrs Mills was 'profligate or wanton in her approach to her finances.' Although she was 'not a good businesswoman' and 'did not manage her finances wisely', the judge accepted that her finances and ability to work had been 'hindered' by health problems. Mr Feehan also defended Mrs Mills's 'credit card debts, run up over many years as a single parent having health difficulties'. Asking for an increase in maintenance, he said Mrs Mills is currently 'unable to meet her basic needs'. Mrs Mills later moved to a two-bedroom apartment in a luxury Victorian mansion block in Battersea (pictured) Sir Ernest, giving the court's ruling, said Mr Mills had been regarded as 'reliable, truthful and frank' by Judge Everall, who had been 'less impressed with the wife.' Referring to Mrs Mills, he said: 'She had unwisely invested in a series of properties, each time moving upmarket, with the consequence that she is now without any of the capital she was given in 2002. 'She is not a good businesswoman. The wife now says the judge left her unable to meet her basic needs,' he added. Judge Everall had calculated the wife's 'needs' at 1,441 a month, but had gone on to order that her monthly maintenance should not be increased from 1,100. But Sir Ernest said that 'shortfall' was unexplained and left Mrs Mills out of pocket. 'He concluded that the wife would not be able to move towards independence,' he said. 'It is impossible for the court to ascertain how the 341 a month difference was to be saved by the wife. He didn't make the findings to justify the lower figure,' he added. 'The judge made an error of principle. The order should have been that the husband pay maintenance in the sum of 1,441 a month until further order of the court. 'The husband has and had the ability to make the maintenance payments asked for.' No value was put on Mr Mills's business interests, but the court was told that he had previously been able to draw dividends from them of up to 200,000 a year. Businessman Chris Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F Kennedy, has announced he will run for Illinois governor in 2018. In an email and video sent to supporters, Kennedy, 53, said he's running because Illinois is heading 'in the wrong direction.' It will likely be a sharply contested race to unseat Republican Governor Bruce Rauner. The Democrat, who is also the son of former attorney general and Senator Robert Kennedy, he will bring instant name recognition because of his family's political legacy. Scroll down for video Democratic businessman Chris Kennedy, pictured, has said he will run for Illinois governor in 2018 in what will likely be a sharply contested race to unseat Republican Governor Bruce Rauner Chris Kennedy is the son of former Senator and Attorney General Robert F Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy. Pictured are the two parents at Chris Kennedy's baptism in 1963 'I moved to Illinois thirty years ago with an enthusiasm for business and a commitment to serve. Today, I am announcing my run for Governor because I love Illinois, but we have never been in worse shape,' he said in the video. 'We don't need incremental improvement we need fundamental change in state government.' Kennedy is pictured in 1968 with his family, under his father Senator Robert Kennedy. It will likely be a sharply contested race to unseat Republican Governor Bruce Rauner Chris Kennedy is also the nephew of late President John F Kennedy The former chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, Kennedy founded and now leads Top Box Foods, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable, healthy food to Chicago neighborhoods. He also serves as chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises Inc., the Kennedy family's investment firm. He previously managed a real estate company whose holdings included Chicago's Merchandise Mart. If he gets the democratic bid for governor, Kennedy could run against current Illinois Governor Rauner (pictured), a republican. He would be looking to unseat the current governor Kennedy, who lives in Kenilworth with his wife and four children, has flirted with running for public office before including a bid for U.S. Senate but didn't follow through. He surfaced as a top contender for governor after he spoke to the Illinois delegation to the Democratic National Convention last summer. Kennedy ripped Rauner's pro-business legislative agenda and blamed him for Illinois' more than one-year state budget stalemate, saying he's inflicting 'suffering and chaos' on Illinois. House Speaker Michael Madigan (pictured), who leads the Democratic Party of Illinois, said at the time Kennedy would make an 'excellent candidate' House Speaker Michael Madigan, who leads the Democratic Party of Illinois, said at the time Kennedy would make an 'excellent candidate.' That drew an attack from the Illinois GOP, which has worked to link any potential rivals to Madigan, Rauner's staunchest opponent at the Illinois Capitol. 'Mike Madigan endorsing a run for governor by Chris Kennedy tells you everything you need to know about Chris Kennedy,' Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe said. 'Chris Kennedy secretly kissed Mike Madigan's ring months ago because he knows Madigan is the real boss.' Kennedy has considerable personal wealth that could help fund a campaign against Rauner, who late last year put $50million of his personal fortune into his re-election fund. But first Kennedy could face a difficult Democratic primary. Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar already has announced he's seeking the nomination, and other Democrats are considering bids, including billionaire businessman JB Pritzker, state Senator Andy Manar and US Representative Cheri Bustos. Kennedy could face a difficult Democratic primary. Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar already has announced he's seeking the nomination. Billionaire businessman JB Pritzker is also considering a bid An asylum seeker has been detained after he allegedly launched a string of sex attacks on 18 women during a single two-hour train journey. The 23-year-old migrant is suspected of groping the women on a suburban S-Bahn German train line between Munich and Herrsching on January 29. The Eritrean-born attacker is said to have gone from one carriage to the next touching female passengers. The sickening spree was exposed after two victims reported their ordeal to the police. Police identified the attacker after studying CCTV footage - when they found that a total of 18 women had been assaulted (file photo) One 18-year-old victim told police he stroked her face and tried to force his hand between her thighs before she fled. Another woman, aged 20, also told how he touched her legs until she ran to another compartment. But when police viewed security CCTV from the train they realised that there had been 16 other sex attack victims on the train who had not come forward. The 23-year-old migrant is suspected of groping the women on a suburban S-Bahn German train line between Munich and Herrsching The attacker was on the train with an accomplice - who had watched him grope the victims but was not directly involved in the sexual assaults. Police traced the man to a migrant camp in Starnberg, near Munich, where they found clothes resembling those worn by the man caught on CCTV. The attacker, who was not named in reports, was arrested and held in custody, but police were not able to trace the second man, Focus Local reports. The police investigation also identified the 23-year-old as a suspect in another attack in the city area of Munich Police have appealed for witnesses and the remaining 16 victims to come forward. The police investigation also identified the 23-year-old as a suspect in another attack in the city area of Munich on January 22, in which a man suddenly grabbed a woman's legs. The clothes worn by the suspect in the Munich attack matched those worn by the attacker on the train. Sabine Stein, Head of the Investigation Service of the Federal Police Inspection in Munich said: 'The rapid success of the investigation is due, among other things, to the good cooperation and the rapid exchange of information with the PI Herrsching and the K15 of the police department Munich, and the women who came forward.' The levels at which China appears to be planning a missile attack on US military bases in the Pacific have been detailed in a new report. An investigation of satellite imagery comparing China's missile testing grounds and US military bases shows a pattern - all of the missile tests have been aimed at destroying US carriers, destroyers and airfields in East Asia, the report said. The images show that the test areas have been designed to look like the military bases, according to the report by Thomas Shugart on War on the Rocks. Earlier this week, a highly accurate Chinese ballistic missile capable of threatening US and Japan bases in Asia made its latest appearance at recent Rocket Force drills. Scroll down for video Earlier this week, a highly accurate Chinese ballistic missile (pictured above) capable of threatening US and Japan bases in Asia made its latest appearance at recent Rocket Force drills China's missiles can reach ranges of approximately 1,500km, which is a further distance than many US military bases A possible PLA Rocket Force ballistic missile impact range shows mock military bases that could be compared to US military bases An investigation of satellite imagery by the War on the Rocks shows parts of parts of the Rocket Force range appearing to look like Patriot Batter, Kadena in Japan The medium-range DF-16 featured in a video posted last week on the Defense Ministry's website showing the missiles aboard their 10-wheeled mobile launch vehicles being deployed in deep forest during exercises over the just-concluded Lunar New Year holiday. While the Rocket Force boasts an extensive armory of missiles of various ranges, the DF-16 fills a particular role in extending China's reach over waters it seeks to control within what it calls the 'first-island chain'. First displayed at a Beijing military parade in 2015, the missile is believed to have a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), putting it within striking distance of Okinawa, home to several US military installations, as well as the Japanese home islands, Taiwan and the Philippines. The two-stage DF-16 replaces the older, shorter range DF-11, with a final stage that can adjust its trajectory to strike slow moving targets and evade anti-missile defenses such as the US Patriot system deployed by Taiwan. An area on the mock airfield shows an aircraft target in almost the same position as an aircraft on Kadena Air Base Possible test fuel tank targets appear to look similar to above-ground fuel tanks in Hachinohe, Japan A satellite image dating back to 2012, according to the War on the Rocks, shows craters in a test target A possible electrical substation target is seen in a satellite image from July 2013. There are no electrical lines, however, running to or from the target It also carries up to three warheads weighing as much as a ton and carrying conventional high explosives or a nuclear weapon. Further increasingly its lethality, the missile is believed to be accurate to within as little as 5 meters (16 feet) of the target, similar to that of a cruise missile. China has the most active ballistic missile development program in the world, according to CSIS.org. Before taking office, President Donald Trump's questioned Washington's 'one China policy' that shifted diplomatic recognition from self-governing Taiwan to China in 1979. He said it was open to negotiation. But former US officials and scholars said in a report that such an approach could destabilize the Asia-Pacific and leave Taiwan more vulnerable. Possible shelter or bunker targets resemble hardened aircraft shelters at the Misawa Air Base in Japan Possible mock moored ship targets resemble the US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Inset is a comparison of the ship and mock ship's sizes An area at the Rocket Force test range in western China resembles the layout of a US Naval base in Yokosuka, Japan US-China relations are at a 'precarious crossroads' and the two world powers could be on a 'collision course,' it said, describing a rivalry that is growing amid Beijing's assertion of territorial claims in the disputed South and East China Seas. China has bristled at the 'one China' comments by Trump, who wants to pressure Beijing to narrow its huge trade surplus with the United States. Beijing also warned of instability in East Asia after Trump's defense secretary, Jim Mattis, said last week on a trip to the region that a US commitment to defend Japanese territory applies to an island group that China claims. The Trump administration has cast its China policy as part of a 'peace through strength' approach. Marc Mezvinsky quietly shut down his hedge fund Eaglevale Partners back in December. Bloomberg reports that Mr. Chelsea Clinton and his partners are now working to return money to investors, including Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein. The decision to shutter the fund came just a few weeks after Mezvinsky's mother-in-law Hillary lost the election to president Donald Trump. Mezvinsky has kept a low profile ever since Hillary's loss in the election, but was photographed by DailyMail.com heading out for a weekday jog in the middle of the afternoon last week. He and his wife are now both without a full-time job. Scroll down for video Out of work: Marc Mezvinsky (above last week) shut down his hedge fund Eaglevale Partners back in December On the run: Mezvinsky was seen going for a weekday jog in the middle of the afternoon last week It was revealed last May that Mezvinsky suffered a huge loss after trying to bet on the revival of the Greek economy, forcing him to shut down one of his hedge funds. He and his partners, former Goldman Sachs colleagues Bennett Grau and Mark Mallon, raised $25million from investors to buy up bank stocks and debt from the struggling nation. That fund however has lost 90 percent of its value, investors with direct knowledge of the situation told The New York Times, and was closed. Eaglevale Partners was started in 2011 by Mezvinsky and his partners, with their former boss, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein, one of the first investors. Another is leading financier, Marc Lasry, co-founder of $13 billion hedge fund Avenue Capital, where Chelsea worked after graduating from Stanford. 'I gave them money because I thought they would make me money,' Mr Lasry told The Times last year, after investing $1 million in Eaglevale and urging a relative to do the same. Mezvinsky was long gone from his job at Goldman in October 2013 when his mother-in-law Hillary was paid to give a speech to executives at the company during a technology conference in Arizona. She was reportedly paid $225,000 for that appearance. Mezvinsky and his partners had written to clients in 2014 to declare confidence in their 'Hellenic Opportunity' fund, predicting that Greece was on the path to a 'sustainable recovery'. By that point they had collected $25 million but stopped taking money by the end of that year when it became clear the country's economy would collapse without a massive Eurozone bailout. Family time: Chelsea and Marc with daughter Charlotte and son Aidan (above) outside their Manhattan apartment last September The Wall Street Journal reported in February 2015 that Eaglevalle said in a letter to investors that year that they had been 'incorrect' to bet on Greece and that is why the company had lost money two of the three years prior. The main fund dropped 3.6% in 2014, fained just 2.06% in 2013 and lost 1.96% in 2012. But good news for the people working at the hedge fund, as most funds collect management fees meaning money comes in even if funds lose money. The failure is a huge personal blow to Mezvinsky, who is also the son of political figures, albeit less well known that his wife's famed parents. His father, Edward Mezvinsky, represented Iowa's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms in the 1970s and his mother, Marjorie Margolies, represented Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1995. Ed Mezvinsky pleaded guilty to 31 charges of felony fraud in 2001 and spent five years in federal prison after he admitted scamming his friends and family out of $10 million in a Ponzi scheme. Nanny diaries: Marc takes his daughter Charlotte to her first day of nursery school with one of the couple's nannies last September (above) His son met Chelsea Clinton at a political retreat when the pair were children and they became lifelong friends. They became romantically involved after her 2005 split from ex-boyfriend Ian Klaus, when Mezvinsky became 'a shoulder to lean on', according to Chelsea's chief of staff, Bari Lurie. The pair married in July 2010 and two years later Chelsea revealed their desire to start a family, with Mezvinsky telling Vogue his wife was 'the yin to my yang'. They welcomed their first child, Charlotte, in 2014, and announced last December that Chelsea was pregnant again with their second son Aidan. Shortly after starting Eagleville, Mezvinsky and Chelsea moved into a $10million New York City apartment opposite Madison Square Park. The four-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot apartment is one of only four residences in the building, which despite the low occupancy rate still has a full-time doorman. The apartment, whose hallways stretch a full city block, also has two dishwashers, two washer and dryers, dressing rooms with double-sided vanity mirrors, and two massive walk-in closets. The bedrooms meanwhile face right into Vera Wang's bridal design studio, who designed Cheslea's dress for her wedding day. Famous neighbors in the building include NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and jennifer Lopez, who paid $22million for the two-floor penthouse. The apartment's current value is closer to $15million. A stress therapist who repeatedly punched her elderly mother in the face and dragged her sister along the floor by her hair has been thrown out the profession. Nurse Amanda Burns launched an attack on the defenceless 87-year-old after arguing with her at her home in January last year. At the time of the attack, Burns was employed by South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust as a community learning disabilities nurse. Burns specialised in using relaxation techniques and behaviour modification to help patients deal with pain or stress. Nurse Amanda Burns has been struck off after attacking her mother. She was convicted at South Cheshire Magistrates Court last year (pictured) of the assault But the hearing was told how, during the argument, she flew into a rage and slammed her vulnerable mother onto a sofa, before shaking her violently by the shoulders. Burns then gripped her mother's so hard she drew blood. She then bent her thumb back and hit her in the face three or four times, the hearing heard. When her beaten and desperate elderly mother tried to call her other daughter for help, Burns snatched her mobile phone from her. Her mother then fled and locked herself in the toilet. The sister then called back and rushed around to her mothers home when she realised Burns was there and arrived to find Burns shouting and screaming and blocking the door. When she tried to enter the house and help her stricken mother, Burns grabbed her sisters hair with both hands and pulled and shook her until she collapsed on the floor. The elderly mother then bravely came out of the toilet to help her daughter, where she saw her lying on the floor in tears as Burns dragged her along by her hair. As the mother approached and the sister tried to scramble away, Burns again grabbed her sisters hair and slapped her around the face. Burns was arrested and pleaded not guilty at Macclesfield Magistrates Court, claiming self-defence. But, in May last year, she was convicted at South Cheshire Magistrates Court of two counts of assault by battery. She was ordered to pay costs of 620, a victim surcharge of 60 and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid community work within 12 months. She has not provided the panel with any assurances that she is remorseful for her actions Panel chair Andy Thompson Burns was also issued with a restraining order forbidding her from contacting her mother and sister for 12 months. Today, an NMC conduct panel found her current fitness to practice impaired by reason of her conviction. Panel chair Andy Thompson said: The panel has received no evidence of insight or remediation from Ms Burns. She has not provided the panel with any assurances that she is remorseful for her actions and her not guilty plea indicates a lack of ownership for her actions. Furthermore, the restraining order granted to the two victims shows that Ms Burns poses an ongoing threat. The panel directed that Burns name be struck off the NMC register. Mr Thompson said: Ms Burns conviction is for a serious, violent offence. One of the victims was an elderly vulnerable woman. Ms Burns has not expressed any remorse for her actions, has not demonstrated any remediation and has not engaged with her professions regulatory process. There is a high risk of repetition due to Ms Burns lack of remorse, remediation and insight. Burns, who did not attend the hearing in Stratford, east London, was banned from nursing for good. She has 28 days to appeal the decision. A provincial dry cleaners is facing a lawsuit from the cult favorite fast-food restaurant In-N-Out Burger who accuse it of ripping off its name and logo. The burger chain filed charges against In-N-Out Cleaners in Wichita, Kansas after consumers pointed out that they use very similar logos on social media. Like the In-N-Out Burger chain In-N-Out Cleaners employs near-identical fonts and colors of red and yellow in its signage. In-N-Out Cleaners in Wichita, Kansas launched in September. It owners posted this picture of how the store would look when open A typical In-N-Out Burger restaurant. There are six counts in the lawsuit including trademark infringement and trademark dilution However, In-N-Out Cleaners feature a yellow coat hanger as oppose to a yellow arrow in the design. According toTMZ there are six counts in the lawsuit including trademark infringement and trademark dilution. In-N-Out Burger seeks punitive damages and requests In-N-Out Cleaners 'to deliver for destruction any and all signs or other advertising material that use the words IN-N-OUT.' The legal documents said the dry cleaner's name and logo was brought to their attention by angry customers who drove to the cleaners thinking it was the famous fast-food restaurant. A recent advertisement for the cleaners. The logo uses similar fonts and colors to In-N-Out Burger and has a nigh identical name A typical meal from In-N-Out Burger. The chain is based in 313 different locations, mainly in the US One Facebook user said: 'I saw this place from far away and thought it was the In-N-Out burger place.' While another said: 'Nice logo. Looks oddly familiar.' The business started in September last year and they claim to offer the lowest dry cleaning service in Wichita starting at $2.25 per shirt. Whereas, In-N-Out Burger was formed in 1948 by businessman Harry Snyder, has a presbce in 313 different locations, mainly in the US, and has a market value of around $1.1billion. Ex Tory minister James Duddridge, pictured on the BBC this week, was poised to raise a vote of no confidence in John Bercow in the Commons today A former Tory minister drafted a question to Theresa May about a no confidence vote in Commons Speaker John Bercow but was not called to ask it. James Duddridge planned to press the Prime Minister for a 'free vote' for all ministers should a challenge to Mr Bercow emerge. The Speaker enraged many on the Conservative benches with a tirade against Donald Trump on Monday, branding the US President 'racist and sexist' and ruling out giving permission for him to make a speech in Westminster Hall. Conservative MPs were quick to go on the record to condemn the speech and rumours have spread a no confidence vote could be called. Such a vote being called at all would be highly dangerous to Mr Bercow and defeat would end his time as Speaker. A scribbled note of Mr Duddridge's question was passed to ITV's Robert Peston after today's Prime Minister's Questions. It said: 'There is a good tradition of the government not interfering in House matters. WHY DID DUDDRIDGE NOT GET HIS PMQ? Each week, 15 MPs are listed on the Commons order paper to ask the Prime Minister a question. They are chosen by ballot and have to enter week. In addition, the Speaker can choose other MPs who are trying to get in - allowing him to ensure similar numbers of questions come from both sides. Mr Duddridge was 'bobbing' today to catch his attention but was not picked. He has already been successful twice in the current session of Parliament. Advertisement 'Will my right honourable friend therefore give me the assurance that the government will not interfere and will give minsters a free vote in any vote of no confidence in the Speaker?' Mr Duddridge was not on the order paper listed to ask a question but was 'bobbing' during the session in a bid to catch Mr Bercow's eye and make his point. Had his question been aired it would certainly have caused uproar in the Commons chamber. The MP wrote to the Prime Minister with his question tonight. Mrs May's spokesman refused to answer a 'hypothetical' question when asked about Mr Duddridge's note after the weekly session. Mr Duddridge today told the Mail: 'I think he should resign I think he will end up resigning and the sooner he goes the more likely it is to be in a dignified way. 'People are baying for a change and his position wiil become harder and harder. 'His position is not sustainable in the long term.' If Mr Duddridge had asked his question, pictured, been aired it would certainly have caused uproar in the Commons chamber Commons Speaker John Bercow, pictured in the chair today, has faced a storm of criticism since slamming US President Donald Trump on Monday He said Mr Bercow was 'running scared' for not calling his question. The MP added: 'He has overstepped the mark by talking about his public views and taking a decision for Parliament. His Trump outburst was appalling. 'It has left him unable to do his job. He can he possibly be independent? 'Eventually it will reach a tipping point and he will be relieved of his position or he will stand down.' A spokeswoman for Mr Bercow said the Speaker did not know what Mr Duddridge planned to ask. He was not called because he was not listed on the order paper and got into Prime Minister's Questions as recently as last week. The row was triggered by Mr Trump's controversial executive order on immigration, banning people from seven majority Muslim countries, that has since been suspended by the US courts. More than 160 MPs have signed a motion calling for him to be denied the honour of speaking to both Houses of Parliament. And responding to the plea, Mr Bercow told MPs on Monday: 'What I will say is this: an address by a foreign leader to both Houses of Parliament is not an automatic right, it is an earned honour. Mr Duddridge was not called to ask his question of Theresa May, pictured in the Commons today, by the Speaker 'Moreover, there are many precedents for state visits to take place to our country which do not include an address to both Houses of Parliament. 'Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. 'After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.' Mr Bercow concluded: 'We value our relationship with the United States; if a state visit takes place that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker. 'However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.' Mr Bercow defended his incendiary intervention as 'honest' and 'honourable' yesterday as the use of Westminster Hall falls directly within his role as Speaker and 163 MPs had raised concerns about it. But Tory backbencher Alec Shelbrooke said Mr Bercow's position was 'untenable' after he engaged in 'grandstanding' and 'student politics of the worst kind'. The Speaker enraged many on the Conservative benches with a tirade against Donald Trump on Monday, branding the US President 'racist and sexist' He told MailOnline that the Speaker had effectively validated human rights abuses in other countries such as China - because they had been welcomed to Parliament. Mr Bercow has also entertained dignitaries from North Korea and Vietnam at Westminster in the past. Fellow Conservative Nadhim Zahawi - another opponent of the US travel ban - said Mr Bercow should 'think about his position'. Ministerial aide David Morris insisted: 'The Speaker does not speak for me.' Former Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said the remarks had been 'regrettable'. A video a terrified hiker took of a Yeti-like beast has resurfaced online. Posted on the website Reddit the clip shows a 'Big Foot' hurtling through the woods in Ukraine. Filming was a petrified walker who didn't know what to make of what he was witnessing. Posted on the website Reddit the clip shows a 'Big Foot' hurtling through the woods in Ukraine You can hear him whimpering as he cowers in the forest. It is believed to have been filmed in Yalta on the Crimean peninsula that is contested by Russia and Ukraine. The filmer captioned the YouTube clip: 'I don't know who or what it was.' It is believed to have been filmed in Yalta on the Crimean peninsula that is contested by Russia and Ukraine The video was first uploaded online six years ago and has since resurfaced on social media site Reddit But others argue the walker stumbled across the set of a film and the 'Big Foot' was nothing but an actor in costume. The video was first uploaded online six years ago and has since resurfaced on social media site Reddit in a discussion over the worlds most convincing sightings of Bigfoot. One wrote: 'Best part about this video is that the guy sounds genuinely scared.' Another said: 'Even if it is fake that's really good acting on that dude's part.' The biological mother of a three-year-old girl who could be forced to live with her convict father says she should remain with her adoptive parents. The custody battle involving little Braelynn made headlines after a South Carolina court ruled the three-year-old belongs with her biological father Andrew Jack Myers who was released from prison three months ago. Braelynn started living with Tammy and Edward Dalsing in 2013 when she was just three weeks old. They legally adopted her in 2015. But the couple are now fighting to keep her after the girl's father successfully appealed the adoption order and had his parental rights reinstated. The girl's biological mother Erica Smith spoke out for the first time in an interview with WBTV saying she wants her daughter to remain with the Dalsings. 'Please just listen to Braelynn's voice. And give my baby a shot at a normal, fulfilling, happy life that she deserves,' Smith said. Scroll down for video Erica Smith (pictured), who is the biological mother of Braelynn (left as a baby), believes she should stay with her adoptive parents in South Carolina Braelynn, now aged three, has been living with South Carolina couple Tammy and Edward Dalsing since she was just three weeks old A South Carolina court ruled last month that the three-year-old belongs with her biological father Andrew Jack Myers (above) who was released from prison three months ago Smith said Braelynn was initially taken from her when she tested positive for drugs but went to rehab in the hope of regaining custody. When she realized that wouldn't happen, Braelynn said she decided to give up her parental rights so her little girl could be adopted instead of being raised in foster care. 'It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. But I just wanted the best for Braelynn,' Smith said. She said the Dalsings allow her to visit Braelynn but she fears that will soon end if the girl is reunited with her father. 'I can't fathom the thought of Braelynn being jerked away from this family,' she said. Braelynn's biological father has never met the girl because he was already in jail when she was born. Myers had criminal charges pending prior to Smith's pregnancy, according to court documents. He turned himself into authorities when Smith became pregnant so that he could serve his prison sentence before their child was born. Smith gave up her parental rights while Myers was incarcerated and due to that, his rights were also terminated by a judge during the adoption proceedings, according to court documents. Myers claims that should have never happened and a judge agreed with him last month and vacated the Dalsing's adoption order. Three-year-old Braelynn has lived with Tammy and Edward Dalsing (above) since she was a newborn in Rock Hill. Despite legally adopting her in 2015, a court recently ruled that she belongs with her biological father, Andrew Myers, after he appealed the adoption order Braelynn's (above) biological mother gave up her parental rights while her biological dad was incarcerated and due to that, his rights were also terminated, according to court documents Tammy said Braelynn was a beautiful loving, trusting, happy, and healthy child. She said she is as much a part of them as their biological children The Dalsings, who are registered foster parents and have seven children of their own, claim Myers never tried to be part of his daughter's life while he was in jail. They fear taking her away from the family she has only even known will have a devastating impact on the girl. 'Our family loves Braelynn tremendously and she is as much a part of us as our biological children,' the couple said. 'To take Braelynn from her home and family would be devastating to her, her sisters and brothers, and of course, us as her parents. Braelynn has never spent even a night away from home. 'Please tell me how to explain to a three-year-old that you are no longer a part of our family. That we are no longer your Mommy and Daddy. That your sisters and brothers are no longer your sister and brothers. 'This is impossible and incomprehensible. We dont feel that the South Carolina Court of Appeals decision to overturn our adoption is at all in the best interest of Braelynn.' The couple has requested a re-hearing in the case with the state court of appeals. The little girl is still living with them, as she has never met Myers. He was jailed in Virginia in 2013 on two contempt of court charges, two fraud, bank notes or coins charges and one probation violation. The girl's adoptive father Edward said he was 'stunned' when the court sided with her biological father in their case The three-year-old's (above) biological father claims that should have never been adopted and a judge agreed with him last month Myers disagrees with the couple. His attorney sent the following statement to WBTV on his behalf: 'Mr Myers is very pleased with the outcome in the Court of Appeals,' it reads. 'He has tried to remain positive throughout this ordeal. In defeat, he quietly persevered through the appellate process. 'In victory, he patiently awaits the next step. It is extremely unfortunate that a case that should have been kept so private to protect this young child has become so public at no fault of Mr. Myers or this young child. 'The social media footprint that has been created by the defeated party in this case will forever haunt this child and be available for all to see for years and years to come. It is extremely selfish and will never be in the best interest of any child.' South Carolina Department of Social Services had no comment on the situation. The Dalsings have launched an online petition and created a website titled Save Braelynn to bring awareness to their plight. Sally Chidzoy, Home Affairs Correspondent for the BBC in the East, made the claims during an employment hearing A veteran BBC reporter claims she was 'bullied' by bosses after raising concerns that the corporation's editorial independence was being compromised. Sally Chidzoy, Home Affairs Correspondent for the BBC in the East, made the claims during an employment hearing where she is claiming sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation. The 56-year-old told the panel she became concerned when researching a story about the wages of the former East of England Ambulance Service CEO Anthony Marsh. She became aware of a late night email sent by former Health Minister Norman Lamb to her then editor Steve Silk raising issues with her piece. She claims her story was subsequently spiked - or killed off - by Silk. Speaking at her tribunal in Cambridge Magistrates' Court today she said: 'I was concerned that the BBC's editorial independence was under attack. 'I read [the email] as a direct attempt to impact the output of the BBC. It is not fair to say I was annoyed [at the story not being run], I was disappointed.' 'I felt I was starting to build a file on Norman Lamb and his emails. I had quite a few and not just from within the BBC.' Following Lamb's message Ms Chidzoy claims Silk went out of his way to prevent her from running her story. She said in court today she sent a text to Silk stating she was 'not going to be gagged by Lamb and co.' In response Silk and the BBC claim Ms Chidzoy's story was not run due to factual discrepancies which could not be agreed upon. The 56-year-old told the panel she became concerned when researching a story about the wages of the former East of England Ambulance Service CEO Anthony Marsh Despite this a number of stories about Marsh similar to what Chidzoy had been working on were run in the national press. Ms Chidzoy denies that a lack of research from her was an issue, and said Silk forced her to make a Freedom of Information request to back up information the Ambulance Service had already given her. She said: 'I was very upset to the point, I went off with stress. The attack on me for alleged breaches of editorial standards cut very deeply. 'I was terribly upset. In fact, I cried at that.' The email in question from Lamb to Silk was consequently leaked to a freelance journalist Paul Cahalan, who at the time was working for the Mail on Sunday. He gave a witness statement in the tribunal today and categorically denies that he received the email from Ms Chidzoy. He refrained from making further comment and said: 'It would mean me having to disclose information about sources. I would never normally do this. No journalist wants to be in this position.' The BBC launched an investigation into Ms Chidzoy - in which she states that former Metropolitan Police officers followed her and made her 'feel like a criminal'. She believes the investigation purely focused on her and was set up to pin the release of the email on her. The conclusion of this search also found there was no evidence Ms Chidzoy was the source of the information to Mr Cahalan. No story regarding the leaked email was ever run by the Mail On Sunday. Chidzoy further claims to have been submitted to an 'ambush meeting' while being suspected of the leak. In this she was not allowed to leave a room and her phone was demanded from her, and claims this amounted to 'false imprisonment'. She refused to hand over her phone, as she felt a duty to protect her contacts on the device. Describing this meeting, in September 2014, Chidzoy claims she was led down to a room by Peter Cook, managing editor of BBC Radio Suffolk. She states that she asked Peter 'is this some sort of ambush?' Ms Chidzoy claims she was the victim of discrimination, victimisation and sexual harassment by BBC management Ms Chidzoy said: 'As soon as I walked in an attempt was made to seize my phone. It was designed to surprise me. They wanted my phone and they told me I could not leave the room.' She then used the phone to call John Barsby, her National Union of Journalists representative, and following discussions with him was permitted to leave. He is set to appear as a witness on her behalf. A witness for Ms Chidzoy, Emma Corlett, a registered mental health nurse and former Communications Officer for Unison, spoke at the tribunal regarding supposed interference from Lamb on another BBC story. Following an interview she did in June 2014 for the BBC's Sunday Politics East Show Lamb contacted Deborah McGurran, the BBC's Political Editor for the East of England. Lamb stated his concerns that Ms Corlett 'deliberately and cynically' politicised the issue of mental health service cuts. Ms Corlett said: 'I was surprised by that level of interference from a minister.' She claims she was the victim of discrimination, victimisation and sexual harassment by BBC management. The BBC said it was contesting the tribunal. The hearing continues. Shocking photos show the damage done to a young student whose mother claims she viciously attacked by a bully while walking to class. Lanny Turpin suffered a concussion and two black eyes at L.E. Wilson Elementary School in Sheffield, Alabama, on Friday. Kelly Turpin told Alabama.com her nine-year-old daughter was set upon by a bully after an argument over another one of her friends. But when she was called to the school, she was initially told her daughter had 'fell and was hurt accidentally'. Lanny Turpin (pictured) had to be rushed to hospital after she was allegedly attacked by a bully at school last week 'The nurse started telling me my daughter fell and was hurt accidentally, but my daughter said "No mom, it wasn't an accident",' Turpin told the website. She then said her daughter had been walking to an art class when another child grabbed her and jumped on top of her. Lanny told her mom the girl who attacked her, 'did not want her being friends with another person,' Alabama.com reports. Lanny Turpin (pictured) suffered a concussion and two black eyes in the attack at L.E. Wilson Elementary School in Sheffield, Alabama, on Friday, according to her distraught mother Kelly Turpin posted a series of pictures on her Facebook account showing the injuries her daughter (pictured) suffered The girl allegedly apologized and asked for Lanny not to tell anyone she did it after the attack, which saw the nine-year-old hit her head on a pole while falling to the ground. The nine-year-old was rushed from school to a nearby hospital for a CT scan. It had initially been feared some bleeding behind her eye could be problematic, but she has since been given the all clear. Kelly Turpin posted a series of pictures on her Facebook account showing the injuries her daughter suffered. They show her with scrapes above her left eye, and dark red swelling around her eye. Turpin provided an account of the incident she said on Facebook, saying it took place after her daughter: 'was being nice to a mentally challenged child and the other girl didn't like it' L.E. Wilson Elementary School (pictured) Principal Tony Willis did not comment specifically on the incident Turpin provided another account of the incident as well, which she said on Facebook took place after her daughter: 'was being nice to a mentally-challenged child and the other girl didn't like it'. L.E. Wilson Elementary School Principal Tony Willis did not comment specifically on the incident, but he provided a statement to Alabama.com. 'With any incident, we're going to look into it and follow our code of conduct to the letter,' he said. 'We try to be proactive rather than reactive and make sure students are comfortable enough to talk with us when they encounter problems.' Turpin claimed the school has a problem with bullying, and that other parents have alleged the same, according to Alabama.com. A man had to have his testicles reattached after his girlfriend bit them off his body after an argument when she returned late home from church. The eye-watering attack happened in Botswana, where the victim, 33, required emergency services to sew his privates back on. The couple were said to have fallen out after the 32-year-old woman arrived home a day late from church. Shakawe Police Commander Superintendent Goitsemodimo Molapisi who said the woman will be facing charges of GBH Officers arrested her in Samuchima, Botswana, after they were tipped off by medics treating the man in hospital. Shakawe Police Commander Superintendent Goitsemodimo Molapisi said she would be brought before court when paperwork on her lover's medical condition was finished He said: 'Currently she is facing a grievous harm charge and the doctor's report will determine the final charge. 'It can be lesser or remain as it is.' The man is recovering after an operation to reattach his testicles at Gumare Primary Hospital. The 33-year-old victim is still recovering in hospital after surgery to reattach his testicles A senior policeman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'They exchanged harsh words with the man demanding to know where she had been. 'She tore and left the testicles hanging. 'He is very lucky because she nearly cut them off from the body.' Apple boss Tim Cook has made a surprise visit to staff in Glasgow during a visit to pick up an honorary degree from the city's university. The chief executive stopped for around 15 minutes this afternoon and was presented with two gifts - a tartan scarf and an embroidered picture - at the store. He said he loved the scarf but asked: 'How are you supposed to fold this?' Scroll down for video Staff photo: Apple boss Tim Cook has made a surprise visit to staff in Glasgow during a visit to pick up an honorary degree from the city's university Local trinkets: Mr Cook was presented with two gifts - a tartan scarf (left) and an embroidered picture (right) Mr Cook, with University Chancellor Kenneth Calman (left) and Principal and Vice Chancellor Anton Muscatelli (right) was awarded a doctorate of science at the University of Glasgow later The embroidered picture shows Mr Cook waving and the words 'Welcome Tim', also featuring Saltire flags and an image of the Loch Ness monster. He joked: 'That's great. I recall looking for the Loch Ness monster in 1984. Everything is right but the colour of the hair.' Mr Cook was awarded a doctorate of science in a ceremony at the university later, where he re-iterated his opposition to US President's Donald Trump's travel ban. During a Q&A with students and university staff he was asked for his response to Mr Trump's order targeting people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Mr Cook said: 'I wrote this letter, you probably read about it unless you're living underground, about the most recent executive order that was issued in the US. 'We have employees that secured a work visa, they brought family to the US, but happened to be outside the US when the executive order was issued and all of a sudden their families were affected. They couldn't get back in. Big boss: Apple chief executive dropped into the company's Buchanan Street store in Glasgow to surprise staff Good times: Since taking the helm of the company, Mr Cook has led the introduction of new products such as the iPhone 7, iPad Pro and Apple Watch 'That's a crisis. You can imagine the stress. If we stand and say nothing it's as if we're agreeing, that we become a part of it. It's important to speak out.' It's the first UK university to offer him an honorary degree, although he accepted one at the George Washington State University and is a patron of Trinity College Dublin. It is not thought that he has links to the city although he has previously spoken out about privacy and security issues, which the students have also campaigned about. The students elected whistleblower Edward Snowden as rector in 2014 after he revealed widespread phone and internet surveillance done by US security agencies. Mr Cook has taken a strong stance on user privacy and clashed with US intelligence agencies last year over the issue. He took part in a 'fireside chat' and a Q&A session with students and university staff. Tickets for the event sold out in under an hour. He was given a doctorate of science and used the opportunity to re-iterate his views on the Trump travel ban in a speech A spokeswoman for the University of Glasgow said: 'The event was greeted by a huge amount of excitement on campus, with tickets snapped up within an hour of becoming available. 'Mr Cook received his honorary degree in front of approximately 1,000 students and staff, after which he took part in an engaging fireside question and answer session with the audience.' Since taking the helm of the company, Mr Cook has led the introduction of new products such as the iPhone 7, iPad Pro and Apple Watch. He is also leading a company-wide effort to use 100 per cent renewable energy at all Apple facilities. In 2015, the 56-year-old became an honorary patron of Trinity College Dublin's Philosophical Society and gave a talk to students. President Donald Trump will put the moves on Senate Democrats who could help to move his agenda at a Thursday luncheon. Trump invited four friendly Democrats to dine at the White House, as well as some Senate Republicans, reports USA Today. Senators Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana are confirmed. Senator Jon Tester of Montana was also asked to attend. The purpose of the pow-wow is to discuss 'judicial issues' - namely Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch. President Donald Trump will put the moves on Senate Democrats who could help to move his agenda at a Thursday luncheon. The purpose of the pow-wow is to discuss 'judicial issues' - namely Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch Eight Senate Democrats must join with their Republican colleagues to prevent a filibuster of Gorsuch's confirmation. The vote doesn't require them to approve the judge - Republicans hold enough seats to accomplish that - it simply requires their consent to end the debate. If they don't, and the motion fails, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will have to choose between forcing through the president's agenda and the traditions of the legislative body. Should Republicans fall short of the 60 votes they need to overcome a promised filibuster, McConnell could embrace the 'nuclear' tactic and say as Senate leader that Gorsuch and future judicial nominees can be approved with 51 votes. That would give Republican, who have a majority in the Senate with 52 seats, the authority they need to put their party leader's high court nominee on the bench. Many don't favor the permanent rule change, however. Democrats in states Trump conquered could come to their rescue. Ten senators who represent states that went red last November are up for reelection in 2018. Heitkamp, Tester, Donnelly and Manchin are four of them. Trump won Montana, West Virginia and North Dakota by 20 or more points. He won Missouri, base to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Indiana by almost as much - 19 points. Trump initially considered Heitkamp and Manchin for his cabinet, though he decided to go another way, and has met with them both at Trump Tower before taking office. Both Democrats have showed a willingness to cross party lines, voting last week to confirm Trump's controversial pick for secretary of states, Rex Tillerson. Senator Heidi Heitkamp is a confirmed attendee of Trump's lunch. She's seen above meeting with Gorsuch in her office earlier today Senators from states in which Trump narrowly claimed victory may prove more difficult to recruit. Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bill Nelson of Florida and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania are also up for reelection in 2018. The swing state senators are, however, more likely to vote along party lines than their colleagues. So far, Trump has had little success in corralling Democrats. Several of his critical cabinet nominee are awaiting votes from the full Senate, including attorney general pick Jeff Sessions, Treasury appointee Steve Mnunchin, would-be Labor Secretary Andy Puzder and suggested Health and Human Services head, Congressman Tom Price. 'It's all politics,' Trump said Tuesday from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. The slow-walking appeared to frustrate Trump long after the remarks. Hours later, he said on Twitter, 'It is a disgrace that my full Cabinet is still not in place, the longest such delay in the history of our country. Obstruction by Democrats!' A Salvadoran TV and radio presenter who was arrested on Monday as part of a police raid insists she was not part of an international drug smuggling ring linked to the infamous Sinaloa cartel. Pamela Posada, whose real name is Claudia Marcela Martinez Posada, was one of 26 people arrested on Monday on suspicion that they helped smuggle cocaine from Ecuador into Central America and the United States. Twenty-four of those arrested are fishermen, and police also seized 14 boats and 10 outboard motors. Posada, 26, is accused of assisting a drug gang by laundering money through two beauty product companies, police said. Salvadoran TV presenter Pamela Posada was one of 26 people arrested on Monday on suspicion that they helped smuggle cocaine from Ecuador into Central America and the United States Posada (pictured after her arrest) is accused of assisting a drug gang by laundering money through two beauty product companies, police said The gang is accused of smuggling up to 500kg of cocaine every week from Ecuador up to Guatemala. Justice and Public Safety Minister Mauricio Ramirez Landaverde said Monday that the fishermen were responsible for providing fuel, food and lodging to smugglers carrying drug shipments from South America through El Salvador's waters to Guatemala for the Sinaloa cartel. Once the drugs arrived in Guatemala they continued north by land through Mexico to the United States. National Civil Police director Howard Cotto said in an interview with local television that the fishermen also alerted smugglers to the movements of Salvadoran authorities. Posada, who presented on a youth program in El Salvador and a show on Radio Urbana, recently began importing cosmetics from China and selling hair extensions for two companies in her name. Posada is a 26-year-old El Salvador native. She presented on a youth program in El Salvador and a show on Radio Urbana Posada recently began importing cosmetics from China and selling hair extensions for two companies in her name Police investigators suspect that Posada used the companies as a front to launder illicit funds for the drug smuggling ring. But Posada insists she's innocent and says she would 'fight for everything to be cleared up', according to the BBC. 'My life won't be affected by any of this. I've been in front of the cameras before, but obviously under different circumstances, but I'm not having a bad time. Everything will be fine,' she said. Police believe that the drug smuggling ring is led by Guatemalan former military officer Marlon Francesco Monroy Meono. Monroy, who was extradited to the United States last year on drug-trafficking charges, is better known as 'The Goast'. He has been accused of being a key link for the Sinaloa Cartel in Guatemala. Police investigators suspect that Posada used the companies as a front to launder illicit funds for the drug smuggling ring The Sinaloa Cartel is a longstanding criminal organization that was led by the now-imprisoned Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. Guzman, 59, who has escaped two maximum-security jails in Mexico, is on 23-hour lockdown in a special unit in the federal jail in Manhattan, according to his lawyers, and has been prevented from seeing his wife, Emma Coronel, and his Mexican attorney. Guzman's cartel allegedly smuggled hundreds of tons of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines to the United States while waging war with other cartels, carrying out thousands of murders and kidnappings and bribing officials. Prosecutors have said that after Guzman was extradited to face indictments in California and Texas, the Mexican government approved a US request to prosecute him New York. Soap star Les Dennis pledged to 'slow down' as he narrowly avoided a driving ban for speeding after he told a judge that he needed his licence for acting work. The ex-Coronation Street actor and Family Fortunes presenter was spotted driving his Audi at 38mph in a 30mph zone in Liverpool on March 29 last year. He pleaded guilty to speeding at Wirral Magistrates Court in November and already had nine points on his licence so another three would have meant an instant ban. Les Dennis, pictured leaving Coronation Street Studios, was fined and give three penalty points after being caught going 38mph in a 30mph zone But Dennis, who was charged under his real name Leslie Heseltine, argued that a ban should not be imposed because it would cause him exceptional hardship. His barrister Michael Neofytou argued the ban would be exceptionally difficult because of his domestic commitments and career as a self-employed actor. A district judge imposed three penalty points on his licence, fined him 100 and ordered him to pay costs of 85 - but he avoided a ban. Dennis, 62, said afterwards: 'I thought as it was a dual carriageway as it comes up to Edge Lane, as I believe a lot of people did, and that it was 40mph. Dennis, pictured in Coronation Street with co-star Helen Worth, argued that his family and acting commitments mean that a driving ban would cause him exceptional hardship 'It's not in my defence that I'm saying that, what I am saying is that I admitted to the offence and the judge was absolutely, really straightforward and very professional with me. 'I found everyone in the court really delightful and I'm sorry for wasting the court's time. 'I've got a big tour of The Addams Family coming up for six months, so I certainly have to slow down.' Dennis, who finished filming for Coronation Street in October after returning to the show in 2014 following a long absence, will play Uncle Fester in the musical touring the UK this year. The court heard how three of his penalty points - imposed for minor driving offences - were due to expire in September. Donald Trump said Wednesday that he never meant to surprise the world with a sudden travel ban on January 27, but 'law enforcement people' persuaded him to make the move without any advance warning. 'I said, "Let's give a one-month notice",' the president recalled in a speech to a group of police chiefs and sheriffs from large U.S. metropolitan areas. 'But the law enforcement people said to me, "Oh, you can't give a notice. Because if you give a notice, you're going to [find it] really tough in one month from now or in one week from now".' 'I suggested a month. Then I said, "Well, what about a week?"' Trump continued. 'They said, "No, you can't do that, because then people are going to pour in before the toughness goes on".' Donald Trump said Wednesday that he never meant to spring his travel ban on the world as a surprise but law enforcement convinced him not to provide any notice The president said on Twitter that the U.S. has seen an increase in arrivals of travelers from 'certain areas' while a panel of three federal judges deliberates whether to let him proceed Trump claimed his law enforcement advisers told him that America would see 'a whole pile of people perhaps perhaps with very evil intentions coming in' if they knew travel restrictions were pending. Instead, he now says the United States faces the same kind of exposure to terrorism after a federal judge put his plan on hold. Trump tweeted Wednesday afternoon that there has been a '[b]ig increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be [an] EASY D[ECISION]' from an appeals court. Trump's unheralded move just a week into his presidency threw American international airports and Homeland Security enforcers off-balance as they scrambled to cut off immigrants, visa-holders and refugees traveling to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries. Massive protests swallowed up airport terminals in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas, and the restraining order against the White House came one week later. The Trump administration appealed that injunction to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel heard oral arguments on Tuesday and could render a decision soon. 'We are at risk because of what happened,' the president declared, referring to the judicial process that has put his plan in limbo. Trump told a group of sheriffs and police chiefs that he asked his advisers about whether it was better to give a 1-week or 1-month heads up, but they told him he shouldn't do either Pictured: The seven countries that were previously subjects of temporary travel bans in Trump's executive order; travelers from those nations are currently free to enter the U.S. On Wednesday in Washington, the president asked his badge-wearing audience if he had done the right thing by springing the executive order on the world without a heads-up. 'Do you people agree? I mean, you know more about law than anybody, law enforcement,' he asked no one in particular. Trump praised Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly for accepting some of the blame a day earlier for the public-relations train wreck that resulted from the travel ban's rollout. Kelly fell on his sword during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, saying the fallout would have been more manageable if he had thought to tell leaders on Capitol Hill what was simmering in the Oval Office. 'In retrospect, I should have this is all on me, by the way I should have delayed it just a bit so that I could talk to members of Congress, particularly the leadership of committees like this, to prepare them for what was coming,' he said. Kelly tossed the ultimate responsibility for the measure's concept to Trump's transition team, saying that it was 'developed before I ever became secretary of Homeland Security, before my confirmation.' But he conceded that he knew Trump about the president's executive order and hurried ahead out of concern for public safety. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly testified Tuesday on Capitol Hill that the botched rollout of President Donald Trump's travel-ban executive order was largely his own fault 'We knew it was going to be released that day. The desire was to get it out,' Kelly said. 'The thinking was to get it out quick so that, potentially, people who might be coming here to harm us would not take advantage of some period of time that they could jump on an airplane and get here, or get here in other ways.' Trump, agreeing with Kelly's reasoning, acknowledged the retired Marine Corps general's moment of honesty during the lawmakers' grilling. General Kelly was so great because he said, "We totally knew about it",' the president said. 'We knew about everything. We do things well. We did things right.' A child molester who disappeared after he was discharged from federal prison has been captured after a mugshot was circulated asking for people to look out for the heavily tattooed convict. Matthew Stager, 45, was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia on Tuesday, and was order to show up that same day to a transitional center in Texas. But Stager never showed, and U.S. Marshals begun scrambling to find the convicted sex offender. A manhunt was launched after Matthew Stager, 45 (pictured), failed to show up to a halfway house in Texas The convict's (pictured above in Myspace photos) past offenses include taking liberties with a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina A mugshot was circulated showing his heavily tattooed face and strawberry colored hair that he had in braids. Within hours of his pictured circulating he was detained in Washington DC. Stager's prior offenses include a conviction for taking indecent liberties whit a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. Marshals say he has a history of mental health and drug abuse issues. In the past he has used the aliases Jesse Crew and Moon Black. Oprah Winfrey has sold a Gustav Klimt painting to a private buyer in China for a staggering $150 million - earning herself a $63 million profit in a decade. The billionaire bought the Austrian painter's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II for $87.9 million back in 2006 at Christie's in New York. Oprah was approached last year by art dealer Larry Gagosian who had a Chinese buyer interested in purchasing the 100-year-old painting, Bloomberg reports. The sale was one of the most expensive private art deals in 2016. Oprah Winfrey has sold a painting from Austrian artist Gustav Klimt to a private buyer in China for a staggering $150 million - earning herself a $63 million profit in a decade The painting was originally found as part of a collection of paintings stolen by the Nazis in WWII. It was given back to surviving members of the Bloch-Bauer family in 2006. The talk-show queen had anonymously loaned the 1912 painting to New York's Museum of Modern Art for five years in 2014 where it was including in the gallery's fifth floor collection. Before Oprah agreed to the sale, she had also loaned the portrait to the Neue Galerie New York for its 'Klimt and the Women of Viennas Golden Age 19001918' exhibition, which ended on January 16. Oprah's painting is one of two formal portraits that Klimt made of Adele Bloch-Bauer - a wealthy Jewish society woman from the twentieth century. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I and the painting Oprah recently sold both appeared in the exhibition at Neue Galerie. The billionaire bought Gustav Klimt's 1912 Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II for $87.9 million back in 2006 at Christie's in New York Oprah's painting is one of two formal portraits that Klimt made of Jewish woman Adele Bloch-Bauer. The first - Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I - became the subject of Hollywood film The Woman in Gold starring Helen Mirren Billionaire Ronald Lauder, who owns the German and Austrian art museum, purchased the first Adele portrait for $135 million in 2006. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I became the subject of Hollywood film, The Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren as Adele's niece. She fought for decades to regain the portrait from the Nazis who had renamed it because they didn't want people to know the woman was Jewish. Another of Klimt's paintings - Water Serpents II - was sold privately by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev to an Asian buyer for $170 million in 2015. Oprah was approached last year by art dealer Larry Gagosian (above) who had a Chinese buyer interested in purchasing the 100-year-old painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II As protests against the repeal of Obamacare gain steam, Republican lawmakers are huddling to talk about best practices to keep lawmakers and aides safe. Politico is reporting that House Republicans held a closed-door meeting yesterday, with House GOP Conference Chairwoman, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers inviting a fellow Washington State Republican, Rep. David Reichert, to speak. Reichert is a former sheriff. Scroll down for video Rep. David Reichert, R-Wash., addressed his fellow Republican lawmakers and gave them tips on how to safety hold a town hall and how to secure their congressional offices Rep. David Reichert (right), walking with Rep. Paul Ryan (left) in 2013, talked to House Republicans about certain safety measures they can take in the wake of protests Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (pictured), the GOP Conference Chairwoman, invited Rep. David Reichert to speak to House Republicans, as he's a former law enforcement officer The ex-law enforcement officer, who was named Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs' Association in 2004, recommended that lawmakers plan out a physical exit strategy at every venue they speak, sources told Politico. He also recommended that congressional offices have back doors, as another means for lawmakers and staff to escape. Glass front doors should be replaced with ones made of a heavier material and dead bolts should be installed. Additionally, sources told the web publication, Reichert recommended installing an intercom system, so that guests coming into congressional offices are forced to identify themselves and their purpose before they can come inside. 'The message was: One, be careful for security purposes. Watch your back. And two, be receptive. Honor the First Amendment, engage, be friendly, be nice,' Republican Study Committee Chairman, Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., told Politico. 'Because it is toxic out there right now,' Walker continued. 'Even some of the guys who have been around here a lot longer than I have, have never seen it to this level.' Speaker Paul Ryan also spoke to House Republicans about how to engage with constituents in a 'congenial' way, reported Politico Speaker Paul Ryan reportedly also stood up at the closed-door meeting and spoke about how to engage with constituents in a 'congenial' way. Democrats are suggesting that the GOP belly-aching over safety is to serve as a distraction, as polls show support for the Affordable Care Act is growing in the wake of repeal threats. 'I think what you're seeing is Republicans trying to use security to try and hide themselves from their constituents because they have no plan for a replacement and very little support from Donald Trump,' Rep. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, told Politico. 'They're going to use so-called security to keep people away,' Gallego added. The protests against Republicans aimed at keeping Obamacare in place mirror those that occurred in 2009 and 2010 when Democrats were pushing for the law. As the Tea Party movement was gaining steam in the aftermath of President Obama's election, activists would show up at town halls hosted by Democratic lawmakers and often shout them down over healthcare reform. In a way those efforts worked, as the Affordable Care Act passed Congress with zero Republican votes. The split remains today, but now the protests are coming from voices across the aisle. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., had to be escorted out of a town hall by police after protesters took over the venue. They followed him out shouting, 'Shame on you!' Arizona Republican, Rep. Marth McSally, had 125 protesters outside her office yesterday, according to the Arizona Daily Star, as they encouraged her to hold a town hall meeting Last weekend, hundreds of progressive activists showed up at a town hall meeting hosted by California Republican, Rep. Tom McClintock, forcing the lawmaker to leave the scene with a police escort. Organizers of the protest told the Los Angeles Times they were associated with the group, Indivisible. Created by former Congressional staffers and launched in December, the organization promotes using Tea Party tactics against Republicans and Trump. Yesterday, 125 protesters showed up at the offices of Arizona Republican, Rep. Marth McSally, according to a reporter from the Arizona Daily Star. McSally told the paper Tuesday that she would not be attending a town hall thrown by progressive grassroots groups, despite a petition asking her to do so reaching 1,000 signatures. By Wednesday the petition had reached 2,000 signatures. '[The forum] is about trapping people in a political ambush for political theater,' the congresswoman said. A group called 'McSally Take a Stand,' was leading the efforts alongside Nasty Women and Bad Hombres of the East Side, Pantsuit Nation Tucson, Progressives of Southern Arizona and Indivisible Tuscon. The local county Democratic party also encouraged Democrats to attend. An RAF pilot who competed in Prince Harry's Invictus Games described how he heroically crawled along the ceiling to wrestle back control of a nose-diving plane with 187 personnel on board. Flight Lieutenant Nathan Jones, 34, left the cockpit of the Voyager aircraft to make a cup of tea when the plane was sent into a 4,400 feet nosedive in 29 seconds. He was left with a fractured back, a prolapsed disc and nerve damage after the 2014 incident. Flight Lieutenant Nathan Jones (left) was left with a fractured back, a prolapsed disc and nerve damage after a Voyager plane he was co-piloting fell into a nosedive in February 2014. Pictured, Flt Lt Jones with Prince Harry at the 2016 Invictus Games The co-pilot was pinned to the ceiling by the sudden dive and had to be extremely careful as he pulled back the controls for fear of 'snapping the wings off', the court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, heard. Aircraft captain, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Townshend, 49, had jammed the controls with his DSLR camera as he moved his seat forwards, sending the plane plummeting. The plane was previously cruising at 33,000ft over the Black Sea as it flew from the UK to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Flt Lt Andrew Townshend, 49, was flying the plane from the UK to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, when his DSLR camera jammed the controls. The plane was sent into a 4,400 feet nosedive in 29 seconds Flt Lt Jones told the court: 'It felt like a rumble, a bit of turbulence, and then suddenly I hit the roof. 'There had been turbulence throughout the flight, so you would initially think that but when you're pinned to the roof you know it's not turbulence. 'When you're on the roof, you know it's going to be nose down. I remember there being lots of sounds, the main sounds felt like a rush of wind on the outside of the aircraft.' He went on: 'I then crawled along the ceiling, and as you have seen the doorway into the cockpit is lower than the ceiling. 'So I had to climb through the opening. Then when I got into the cockpit, that was when I saw everything was pitch black. 'I could see we were going into the sea, or something very dark. 'There were a lot of flashing lights in the cockpit, everything was stuck to the ceiling and Flt Lt Townshend was shouting 'get back into your seat, I can't get the auto pilot out'.' He continued: 'The aircraft was violently shaking. I had never experienced anything like that before.' This year Great Britain will compete at the Invictus Games in Canada - an event created by Prince Harry which sees injured servicemen and women from 17 allied nations compete against each other in a range of adaptive sports. Townshend is being tried at the Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire. Flt Lt Jones was pinned to the ceiling of the Voyager aircraft but managed to fight his way back into the cockpit. He had to be extremely careful as he pulled back the controls for fear of 'snapping the wings off' In the 2016 games, he won a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke race. Amazingly, he recovered the aircraft from the dive by pulling back on the side stick - but did it gently as he was 'aware that if I pulled back hard it would most likely snap the wings off'. With one hand he gripped on the cockpit overcomb, and with the other he pulled the joystick. Eventually, he was able to regain control, and the plane levelled out as he fell into his seat. The plane then diverted to the nearest airfield at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, so casualties could be treated and the cause could be diagnosed. Flt Lt Townshend was at the helm of the Voyager aircraft when he took 28 pictures with his DSLR camera. His camera jammed between his chair's armrest and the side-stick control unit, which works like a joystick. After Flt Lt Jones levelled the plane, they diverte to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey He is still getting treatment today after undergoing surgery and other lengthy procedures, and has been medically downgraded since the incident. Flt Lt Jones said at the time he believed it to be an auto-pilot malfunction - and even thought it appeared to be a 'perfectly functioning aircraft'. After landing, the pilots spoke about what Flt Lt Townshend was doing prior to the dive, and he said he was 'looking out at the stars'. It was only after the service enquiry found out about the camera that Flt Lt Jones quizzed his co-pilot, who told him he couldn't remember how it all happened. Flt Lt Jones said he first found out about the camera jamming the controls at a service panel enquiry weeks later - and was threatened to keep quiet. Flt Lt Jones first thought the plane had taken a nosedive because of an autopilot malfunction and Townshend lied in a tech log in, when he blamed the incident on a technical error. Pictured, a reconstruction of how the camera jammed the side-stick unit As he was preparing to give evidence, he told the court martial that Squadron Leader Nathan Giles - one of those investigating the incident - switched off the tape, grabbed him by the collar of his flying suit and said: If you tell anyone about this I will break your fucking legs. The trial heard that after diverting to an airbase, 49-year-old Townshend lied when filing a tech-log in which he attributed the cause of the incident to a mechanical fault. He allegedly then lied days later while under oath at a service inquiry, by insisting the incident was a result of a technical error. Flt Lt Townshend denies two counts of perjury and making a false record in relation to lying, but admits negligently performing a duty in relation to causing the camera to collide with the side-stick. Flt Lt Townshend denies two counts of perjury and making a false record in relation to lying, but admitted that his actions caused the camera to jam the side-stick. Pictured, a reconstruction of the incident. The court heard how he deleted the pictures after the incident The court heard he deleted photos he took in the cockpit after the incident. Flt Lt Jones recalled Flt Lt Townshend, based at RAF Northolt, taking photos on the flight, and occasionally showing him the screen of his Nikon DSLR to show off his pictures. The court today also heard a recording of the terrifying moment the plane went into its dive as Flt Lt Townshend screams: 'S**t. Jesus Christ.' After a few seconds, he's heard yelling at Flt Lt Jones: 'Get into your seat!' An alarm started sounding as the autopilot is disengaged and there were audible yells of 'Mayday. Mayday.' Eventually, the aircraft begins to level out, when one of the pilots is heard saying: 'Holy S**t. What the hell just happened.' After a minute or so passes, Flt Lt Townshend says over the speakers: 'Ladies and Gentlemen, we're not quite sure what happened there. If you could remain in your seats with your seat belts tightly fastened.' He claims the camera fell from a shelf to block the controls, but the prosecution said the camera had been place in front of an arm rest and wedged against the joystick as he moved his seat. Pictured, a Voyager plane (file photo) Yesterday, the board went on a site visit to explore a Voyager aircraft and the evidence resumed today. The court has heard Flt Lt Townshend was 'bored' and 'practicing taking photos' when his camera jammed the controls, causing the plane to dive in a matter of seconds and leaving those on board fearing for their lives. While flying, he took photos of the views, passing aircraft, the inside of the cockpit, instruments used by pilots and the speed and altitude dials. He claims the camera fell from a shelf to block the controls, but the prosecution alleges the camera had been place in front of an arm rest and wedged against the joystick as he moved his seat. White House press secretary Sean Spicer says he hopes Coretta Scott King would have supported President Trump's choice of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General after Republicans voted to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren when she read a letter during a floor speech from MLK's late widow bashing Sessions. Spicer addressed the simmering controversy just hours after the GOP-led Senate voted to rebuke Warren by finding her in violation of a rarely enforced rule that prohibits speakers from impugning another senator after she quoted a letter King wrote in opposition to Sessions for a federal judgeship in 1986, when he was under fire for alleged racism. The late Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has said his vote against Sessions, who later got elected to the Senate from Alabama, is a vote he regrets. 'Like the late Arlen Specter, I can only hope that if she was still with us today, that after getting to know [Sessions] and to see his record and his commitment to voting and civil rights, that she would share the same views that Sen. Specter did,' Spicer told reporters Wednesday. 'We have a lot of respect for her and the sacrifices that she made and the sacrifices that frankly she endured in her life,' Spicer said, when asked about the floor fight over sessions and the political tumult that followed the decision to silence Warren. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says he can only hope Coretta Scott King would have supported the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be attorney general. The GOP Senate voted to silence Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren when she read from a pointed letter from King during a debate over Sessions He said he 'respectfully disagree with her assessment of senator Sessions then and now,' calling his record on civil and voting rights 'outstanding.' He added: 'I would just hope if she were still with us today that she would share the sentiments of former Senator Specter.' King wrote a letter to the Senate in opposition to Sessions, saying: 'Mr. Sessions' conduct as a US Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicated that he lacks the temperament, fairness and judgment to be a federal judge.' Warren read from that letter, only to be stopped by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and rebuked by a vote of the Senate. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has made the most of her situation after Republicans rebuked her for impugning a fellow senator racking up online views of her speech that got shut down and rallying fellow Democratic senators to her cause. Warren earned a rare rebuke by the Senate when the Republican majority found her in violation of a rarely enforced rule that prohibits speakers from impugning another senator when she quoted Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor. Sen Elizabeth Warren earned a rare rebuke by the Senate for quoting Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor After Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky interrupted her and the Senate voted to shut down her speech on a party line vote, Warren took to other means to get her view out. Her speech had been viewed 3 million times online Wednesday morning. A new hashtag, #LetLizSpeak, was trending online as the late-night speech and the rare rebuke got broadcast and rebroadcast on cable TV. Warren, who is considered a 2020 presidential contender after sitting out the 2016 race, also took to the airwaves for TV interviews, where she was able to air her criticisms of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump's pick to be attorney general, for his record on voting rights. She delivered remarks outside her Senate office door, and appeared on ABC's 'The View,' and did a Capitol interview with CNN, where she rejected the idea that her actions had anything to do with her own potential political ambitions. Asked about Sessions' denial that he was a bigot, Warren told 'The View,' 'Talk is cheap, actions are what matter,' earning applause from the studio audience. Asked what she would say to critics, Warren told CNN: 'I say I'm doing my mob. It is my constitutional responsibility to debate Jeff Sessions as attorney general of the United States.' IN FULL VIEW: Warren was blocked from participating in the remainder of the debate over Jeff Sessions' nomination, but that didn't keep her from appearing on 'The View' Warren's speech, which earned a rebuke on a party line vote, got frequent airplay on CNN and other networks DON'T IMPUGN ME FOR GOING ON TV: Warren participates in a TV interview Wednesday after getting silenced on the Senate floor Pressed on whether she was open to running for president, she responded: 'I am open to doing my job and that is to debate whether or not Jeff Sessions should be attorney general of the United States, and that's why I wanted the opportunity to read Coretta Scot King's letter it is a powerful letter I urge everyone to go and read it,' she said. King's letter criticized Sessions' record on voting rights when he was up for a federal judgeship that he failed to get. She also quoted the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, who said of Sessions at the time: 'He is, I believe, a disgrace to the Justice Department and he should withdraw his nomination and resign his position.' Democrats have also been making hay out of the way Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shut her down. 'She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted,' McConnell said. #ShePersisted became another trending topic on Twitter. Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile weighed in as well. 'It's a sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate,' she said. 'Let Elizabeth Warren speak.' Senators sent out supportive tweets, and some of them read the same words that Warren did on the floor, this time without getting shut down. 'I sincerely hope this anti-free speech attitude is not traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue to our great chamber,' said Senate minority leader Charles Schumer of New York. During the CNN interview, Warren got to read a portion of the Coretta Scott King letter that brought her rebuke. 'Mitch McConnell said that I was out of line and shut me up,' she said. Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico was among some of Warren's male Democratic colleagues who read from the letter on Wednesday without getting the same rebuke. The Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chamber's arcane rules by reading a 30-year-old letter from Dr Martin Luther King's widow that dated to Sen Jeff Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. The chamber is debating the Alabama Republican's nomination for attorney general, with Democrats dropping senatorial niceties to oppose Sessions and Republicans sticking up for him. Warren ran afoul of the chamber's arcane rules by reading a 30-year-old letter from Dr Martin Luther King's widow, Coretta Scott King (right) that dated to Sen Jeff Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago King wrote in 1986 that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to 'chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens.' Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for 'impugning the motives' of Sessions. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate. Still, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up. 'She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted,' McConnell said on the Senate floor. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions' nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. 'They can shut me up, but they can't change the truth,' Warren later told CNN's Don Lemon. Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell (pictured) invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for 'impugning the motives' of Sessions, though senators have said far worse stuff. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions' nomination. A vote on Sessions (pictured) is expected Wednesday evening Warren argued: 'I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. 'I'm simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her.' Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by former Sen Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that labeled Sessions a disgrace. Democrats pointed out that McConnell didn't object when Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. The episode was followed by lamentations by Senate veterans, including its most senior Republican, Orrin Hatch of Utah, about how the Senate is too partisan. Tara Palmer-Tomkinson had not been seen for a week prior to her death, a shop owner whose store she frequented has revealed. She was last pictured two weeks before her death on January 17, outside her West London home. But a corner shop worker where the socialite regularly bought fruit and vegetables who wanted to be named as Mr Patel said he hadn't seen her for a week. He said: 'She was quite nice, she came in here quite regularly. 'She was happy and very polite, she would buy fruit and vegetables. Tara was last pictured two weeks ago going back into her flat in Earls Court having spent time earlier in the year in Thailand Having been caught up in the flooding in Thailand, she tweeted about the disruption she saw, which was one of her last messages on the platform 'On special occasions she would buy alcohol, her favourite was Sambuca - Fernet Branca. 'Sometimes she would come in with friends, men and women she was always very nice.' She spent the last weeks of her life in Thailand, where she saw in the New Year, and touring Net A Porter. Her body was stretchered out of her flat after it was discovered. Police remain at the flat this evening Tara had been interacting on social media with a few fans and was keen to tell people she considered herself lucky even as she faced brain tumour treatment She thanked a fan who had found her twitter account barely a month ago and commented that she 'still looks stunning' The last picture Tara Palmer-Tomkinson tweeted, from Net-a-Porter's offices The tragic It Girl was seen less frequently on social media in the last days of her life but had tweeted to encourage people to vote in the National TV Awards on January 11. Three days earlier she had posted about witnessing the flooding devastation that had hit the Thai island Koh Samui. She tweeted on January 8: 'I'm home! The floods, disruptions in Koh Samui, beyond horrendous. What I witnessed, experienced at the airport, disruption, chaos, trauma. 'However, it was SO emotionally overwhelming, the kindness of everyone helping everyone, and my prayers are with those still stuck.' Hundreds of families on the holiday island were left homeless, bridges were down and many roads became impassable beneath the floodwater. She had also recently thanked a fan for their 'divine' tweet expressing their shock at finding her on social media and commenting how good she looked. And the last picture she posted of herself was at the Net-a-Porter offices in London on November 29. She captioned it by saying: 'Honoured to be the first person to experience backstage tour! Thank you to all at Net-a-Porter, aka 'The eighth wonder of the world'!' The light inside Tara's flat was still as police remained at the property. Wolfgang Ballinger, 22, admitted forcible touching on Tuesday in a plea deal after being originally accused of attempted rape A former Cornell fraternity president pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Tuesday a year after being accused of trying to rape a female student at an on-campus party. Wolfgang Ballinger from Ghent, New York, admitted forcibly touching the girl at a party at the Psi Upsilon fraternity house in the university's campus in Ithaca last year. The 22-year-old was originally accused of three felony sexual abuse charges but had them reduced to the misdemeanor count in a plea deal. He faces up to a year in prison and will be sentenced at the end of March, The New York Post reported. Ballinger was the president of Psi Upsilon when he led the girl to a bedroom at a frat party and tried to force himself upon her. She told police he tried to force her to perform oral sex, that he sexually abused her with his hands and tried to force intercourse despite her protests. She also claimed she told him she was too drunk to have sex and that she 'wasn't interested' in him but he ignored her. At the time he was studying hotel administration at the Ivy league school. A female student claimed he locked her in his bedroom at the Psi Upsilon fraternity house on Cornell's Ithaca campus (above) where he sexually abused her The hotel administration student denied the felony charges and sued Cornell for banning him from campus before he was convicted of a crime Ballinger grew up in upstate New York and previously attended a $45,000-a-year Columbia preparatory school on the Upper West Side. His father owns bars in the city and he himself claimed to have previously worked in a string of hotels. He was arrested in February last year on attempted rape and sexual abuse charges after the student identified him to police. Psi Upsilon was suspended from Cornell and Ballinger was banned from campus after being released on bail. He sued the university claiming he was not given fair treatment in its independent investigation of the case. The student said the university was in breach of policy by stopping him from pursuing studies before he was convicted. That lawsuit was put on hold pending the outcome of his criminal case. A young man who was kidnapped as a toddler has finally been reunited with his family after an incredible 22 years. Emotional footage has captured the moment his mother threw her arms around her estranged son. Zhang Jinhua, 24, was a victim of human trafficking and abducted by an unknown man in October 1995. A young man who was kidnapped as a toddler has finally been reunited with his family after an incredible 22 years Emotional footage has captured the moment his mother threw her arms around her estranged son and he was presented with flowers He was taken from his hometown of Guangzhou, in southern China, while he was wandering around outside with his sister, Zhang Xuemin. He was sold to another family and his name changed to Xu Hui. Xuemin, who was just four-years-old at the time, says she still regrets taking her little brother out that day because he might not have been kidnapped if he had stayed at home. Jinhua does not recall the face of the man who adbucted him and was clueless when he was sold to the couple in Guangdong's rural Lufeng city. Despite having a good childhood and caring foster parents, Jinhua said he started dreaming about being reunited with his biological family after his foster mother told him the truth about where he came from when he was 10. Following his disappearance, the Zhang family spent years searching for him, until they finally turned to China's now famous NGO, Baobei Huijia - Mandarin for 'baby come home' - in 2009. He was taken from his hometown of Guangzhou, in southern China, while he was wandering around outside with his sister, Zhang Xuemin. Pictured: Jinhua as a baby Xuemin, (right( who was just four-years-old at the time, says she still regrets taking her little brother out that day because he might not have been kidnapped if he had stayed at home. (Left - Jinhua's mother_ Following his disappearance, the Zhang family spent years searching for him, until they finally turned to China's now famous NGO, Baobei Huijia - Mandarin for 'baby come home' - in 2009. Pictured: Zhang Jinhua's dad Zhang Shunli The long-lost family was brought back together this week in a tearful meeting, with Jinhua's identity confirmed by a birthmark on his neck He assured his parents that his foster parents treated him as if he were their own son and is overjoyed to now have two loving families to come home to Jinhua's dad, Shunli, and mum, Dai, gave samples of their DNA as well as all the information they could provide about their son. However, it took a step from Jinhua himself to find his family again. After hearing news about successful reunions arranged by Baobei Huijia, Jinhua registered with the NGO and volunteers working with police across China were finally able to find a data match last month. The long-lost family was brought back together this week in a tearful meeting, with Jinhua's identity confirmed by a birthmark on his neck. He assured his parents that his foster parents treated him as if he were their own son and is overjoyed to now have two loving families to come home to. The Australian government has proposed new immigration laws that could subject people coming to Australia to stricter measures that may reject entire religions or races. Labor has likened amendments to the Migration Act to U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary immigration ban on nationals from seven Muslim majority nations. A section of the bill would give Immigration Minister Peter Dutton the power to require a 'specified class of persons' to undergo visa revalidation checks if it's in the public interest. However Mr Dutton has responded to the reports, saying they would be put in place to protect Australia from threats such as the Ebola or bird flu crisis. The government are trying to pass amendments to the Migration Act which would give Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (right) power to reject the visas of entire races or religions That group could be identified based on whether they hold a particular passport, live in a particular state, province or country, may have travelled through a particular area or applied for a visa during certain dates. Mr Dutton can then refuse to revalidate the visa if there is 'adverse information' relating to the person. Labor's immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said the Opposition couldn't support a bill that could see whole groups of people targeted on the basis of their place of birth, passport or religion. 'The measures ... will give the minister unfettered power to target whole groups of people for extra scrutiny and visa suspension through the revalidation process,' he told the Lower House on Wednesday. That group could be identified based on whether they hold a particular passport, live in a particular country, or may have travelled through a particular area (stock image) 'Labor cannot give Trump-like powers to a minister who has such a high desire to see a divided Australia.' Labor MP and counter-terrorism expert Anne Aly told Parliament's Lower House on Wednesday night it was not smart, prudent, nor effective to grant the minister 'disproportionate' powers to execute what is effectively 'travel bans' to a group of visa holders without necessary parliamentary oversight. She said in times of growing discontent around the world, populist politics and immigration bans, Australia needed to be vigilant of the country's bipartisan commitment to a non-discriminatory immigration program. President Donald Trump holds up signed executive orders to establish new vetting procedures for some people seeking to enter the U.S '(The bill) could potentially ... exclude entire groups of people and visa holders on the basis of ethnicity or on the basis of country of origin or on the basis of some other tenuous characteristic without scrutiny and without accountability,' she said. Mr Dutton, when introducing the bill last October, said the measure was being introduced to help manage the risks of a proposed new 10-year visitor visa. Mr Dutton defended the bill, saying the new measures were designed to be used in extreme cases - such as an Ebola or bird flu crisis - to protect Australia's national interest. He has criticised Labor for raising concerns only in the past day and not during a Senate inquiry last year or when his Opposition counterpart rang him on Sunday. 'I've seen some mendacious acts in my 15 years in parliament - this would be one of the most mendacious acts by a shadow minister desperate for attention,' he told ABC radio on Thursday. Two other changes to the Act are also being debated, including one that will enable the use of contactless technology to clear travellers through Australia's SmartGate immigration clearance system. Labor supports the other two amendments, but - unless they are split up - will vote against the bill as a whole. A mother was forced to give birth on the floor of a jail cell while in custody for a first time driving offense because prison guards didn't believe she was in labor. Jessica Preston delivered her son Elijah at Macomb County Jail in Detroit, Michigan, on March 20 last year after being denied a trip to hospital by staff who didn't think she was about to give birth. The 27-year-old was eight months pregnant when she was charged for driving on a suspended license which had been revoked over an unpaid parking ticket. She was put behind bars because she couldn't afford her $10,000 cash bond so decided to spend five days in jail while she awaited her court date. After five days in custody, she went into labor at 7am and told medical staff she was about to give birth but they didn't believe her. Seven hours later, she welcomed her son a month early on a dirty mattress pad. They were then taken to hospital to be checked over and Ms Preston was sent back to jail for another week. Jessica Preston gave birth on the floor of a cell in the medical ward of Macomb County Jail after being told she couldn't go to hospital by staff who didn't believe she was in labor She told DailyMail.com on Wednesday how staff accused her of faking her symptoms when she told them she was having labor pains in the morning. 'The first time I told them I was in labor was 7am, the 2nd time I told them was around 11:30 and the 3rd time I came to the medical staff, bleeding, around 1:30 and I had him at 2:40pm,' Ms Preston said. Prison officials told The Detroit News medical staff 'didn't believe' she was in labor when they looked her over. 'She was sent back upstairs,' Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. He claimed they were on the phone to a doctor when she began giving birth, by which point it was too late to move her to a hospital. 'Medical staff helped deliver it. The ambulance was called and she went to the hospital,' he said. It's not clear how long it took Elijah to arrive after Ms Preston's first complaint but her family is outraged by the way she was treated. The 27-year-old told staff she was having contractions but was ignored three times before being placed in a medical cell when she began bleeding (right) Ms Preston was forced to give birth on a mat on the floor which she said was still dirty from the previous inmate's use. She is seen above while in labor, alone in the cell as she lies on one side When she began delivering, medical staff jumped in. But Ms Preston says they were all untrained She is now at home with her healthy son Elijah but had to spend another week in jail after his birth before she was released by a judge for time served She said the medical staff were not qualified to deliver a baby and that one cried and told her how she'd never seen it before. The baby's father Thomas Chastain said he was upset he missed the birth and that he'd been hoping to cut his umbilical chord. Ms Preston is considering launching legal action against the prison but none has yet been taken. 'Right now, I just want to tell anyone who wants to listen about it in the hopes of getting the inhumane treatment to stop. 'There are several other incidents from this jail, including a couple deaths all under similar circumstances. We just want change,' she said. The baby's father Thomas Chastain said he was upset he missed the birth and that he'd been hoping to cut his umbilical chord Macomb County Jail has been accused in the past for denying medical treatment to two inmates who died while in custody. Jennifer Meyers, 37, died of sepsis while serving a 30-day sentence for failure to pay child support fees. David Stojcevski, 32, died in the same prison from from severe drug withdrawal symptoms which caused him to rapidly lose weight and suffer hallucinations. His exact cause of death is not known. An FBI investigation cleared the prison of any wrongdoing in the latter case. It's not clear when Ms Chastain appeared in court or what the outcome of the suspended license charge was. Ms Preston had a previous drug possession charge which the judge noted as he set bail. Shocking footage shows a killer hit and run driver mounting the pavement and speeding through red lights after mowing down a father-of-three. Shahid Tarafdar, 45, had to be rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary by ambulance after being struck by the silver Peugeot 306, but died later that night. The driver of the car failed to stop at the scene on Stockport Road, in Longsight, on Tuesday at around 3.45pm. Shahid Tarafdar, 45, had to be rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary by ambulance after being struck by the silver Peugeot 306, but died later that night Police have released shocking footage of the moments immediately after the crash. It shows the driver racing down Stockport Road and stopping to let a hooded passenger out His devastated family have paid tribute to the devoted family man from Longsight. In a statement they said: 'Shahid was a loving husband and a father to three young children. He was a devoted family man who was loved by his family and respected by the whole community. 'He spent most of his life in Southampton before moving to Manchester five years ago with his family.' Tarafdar's eldest brother, Shabuddin, said the family have been left in shock. He said: 'We have lost our brother at a young age due to a hit and run incident. 'We as a family are in total shock and devastation at the loss of a young brother, husband and father and are appealing to anyone who has knowledge of the collision to contact the police' Police have released shocking footage of the moments immediately after the crash. It shows the driver racing down Stockport Road and stopping to let a hooded passenger out. The car then speeds off down the main road towards the junction and turns right. Footage shows the offender driving through red lights at a junction, close to several other vehicles. Shahid Tarafdar's (pictured) eldest brother, Shabuddin, said the family have been left in shock. He said: 'We have lost our brother at a young age due to a hit and run incident' The car speeds across a junction with one of its doors flapping open His devastated family have paid tribute to the devoted family man: 'Shahid was a loving husband and a father to three young children. He was a devoted family man who was loved by his family and respected by the whole community' The driver then mounts the pavement, narrowly avoiding pedestrians, before speeding away from the scene. Detectives investigating the case say the Peugeot was later discovered on fire at Rimmers Close, in Beswick. Senior Investigating Officer, Sergeant Lee Westhead, of Greater Manchester Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said a major investigation is underway to identify the driver. He said: 'I am releasing CCTV images of the vehicle involved and of people we are keen to speak to as our enquiries continue. 'If you recognise any of the people in the images, if you know who the driver was at the time of the collision or if you have any information about the movements of the Peugeot on the day of the collision then I would ask that you contact my team or the independent charity Crimestoppers immediately. 'This collision has led to the death of a 45-year-old man, his family are devastated and it falls to me to provide them with the answers they deserve. 'My team and I will not rest until we find the driver, we will be relentless in our search and we will use every possible means available to us to identify them. Footage shows the offender driving through red lights at a junction, close to several other vehicles. The driver then mounts the pavement, narrowly avoiding pedestrians, before speeding away from the scene 'It is only a matter of time until we find you. Come and speak to me before we come knocking on your door. This will not go away, the investigation will not end until this is resolved. 'For those who have helped or who are considering helping this driver, this is not the time for false loyalties, a man has died. The police will identify and prosecute anyone who is found to have committed offences in relation to this collision.' A tribute was placed on the mosque's Shahjalal Mosque Facebook page on Tuesday night. It read: 'Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi raaji'un' - 'Jonab Shohid Torofdar of Longsight, (brother in law of Showgatul Imam Tuton and Gowsul Imam Shujon) has passed away today in a tragic road accident. 'Please make du'a for him, that Allah grant him Jannah and grant his family sabre jameel. May Allah have mercy upon his young kids to bear this tremendous loss. 'Time and date for Janazah Prayer will be announced soon.' Part of Stockport Road was sealed off for several hours on Tuesday night while police gathered evidence from the scene. A cordon was placed between Slade Lane and Dickenson Road causing long delays to traffic in the area. Anyone with information about the collision should call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 quoting log number 1376/February 7. Undercover officers purchased $46,080 worth of pills from Gotti during 11 undercover buys in the span of three months, the most recent on July 28 The long-term investigation was referred to as Operation Beach Party, and revealed that John's business generated $1.6million more than 850 Oxycodone and Xanax pills, drug ledgers and $240,000 in cash from his home, tattoo parlor and cars John Gotti, one of the namesake grandsons of the infamous mob boss, will be spending eight years behind bars for his role in a drug ring after accepting a plea deal on Wednesday. Gotti entered a guilty plea on three drug-related charges in Queens Supreme Court on Wednesday, and will serve time behind gars while also being forced to forfeit $259,996 in seized money. That sentence will be followed by five years probation, at which point Gotti will be a free man. The 23-year-old has been behind bars ever since his arrest back in August on $2million bail. Scroll down for video Locked up: John Gotti (above in August) will serve eight years in prison and forfeit $259,996 in cash for his role in a drug ring Legacy: John is one of the namesake grandsons of the infamous head of the Gambino crime family (above in 1987), and the son of Peter Gotti Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in August that John was one of seven people taken in after a year-long drug string that ended with police seizing $240,000 in cash after executing search warrants on John's business, his two cars and his home, along with the homes of two of the other men who were arrested. More than 850 Oxycodone and Xanax pills, drug ledgers and records were also discovered and seized by authorities during their searches. Speaking at a press conference shortly after the bust, NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce referred to the infiltration and take-down of the alleged drug ring as Operation Beach Party. Undercover officers allegedly purchased $46,080 worth of Oxycodone from John over the summer, with their last buy happening on July 28 according to Brown. A listening device was also installed in one of John's cars, and authorities claim that during one conversation they listened to him say he sold 4,200 pills a month generating $100,000 in revenue, before later noting that the entire business generated $1.6million. Justin Testa, Shaine Hack, Steve Kruger, Edward Holohan, Michael Farduchi and Melissa Erul were also arrested back in August and are all facing a number of different charges. John, Kruger and Testa are also facing an additional charge for operating as a major drug trafficker, meaning they could ultimately be looking at 25 years behind bars. Brown said that John would sell the pills for $23 or $24, which were supplied to him by Kruger and Testa. The first search back in August occurred in John's home, which has been in the Gotti family for over 50 years and is where John and Victoria raised their six children. It was the first time that members of law enforcement had successfully executed a search warrant on the residence. The search of John's home also led to the arrest of his girlfriend Eleonor Gabrielli while the search of Testa's home led to the arrest of his wife Dawn Biers both on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. In the system: A look at the seven others who were involved in the alleged drug ring that was busted back in August Caught up: John's girlfriend Eleonor Gabrielle (above in 2015) was also arrested on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance The third residence searched back in August was Hack's apartment. Hack had been heard claiming to have $200,000 of John's money during a conversation that was intercepted during the investigation, while John said that his records and ledger were also kept at the apartment in another exchange picked up by investigators. He is not facing any charges directly related to dealing drugs, but rather second-degree money laundering and second-degree conspiracy for his alleged role in the operation. Erul, 23, of Lynbrook, Long Island, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; Farduchi, 24, of Ozone Park, Queens, is charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; Holohan, 50, of Glendale, Queens, is charged with second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy. 'The drug in which the defendants are alleged to have primarily trafficked Oxycodone is especially popular with club patrons despite the fact that it poses serious health risks,' said Brown in a statement. 'In recent months, we have seen a significant rise in the use and abuse of prescription painkillers. Drugs such as Oxycodone are extremely potent and have a high potential for abuse and death. 'Todays arrests not only cut off the suppliers of these drugs, but the distributors as well.' Former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton also released a brief statement congratulating those involved in the investigation at the time. 'As alleged, John Gotti and the other defendants peddled prescription painkillers from Howard Beach to Ozone Park, contributing to the rampant supply of these potent drugs,' said Bratton. 'I commend the Queens South Narcotics detectives for their work on this case and my thanks, as always, to the Queens District Attorney, Richard A. Brown.' Bust: Police discovered and seized over 500 oxycodone pills and $50,000 in cash after they executed a search warrant at the Howard Beach home where John lives with his father Peter (above) Impound: One of John's cars that was taken in by police back in August (above) and had been bugged Possible problem: John was out on bond at the time of his arrest in August (above in 2014) The arrest came a little over one month after John was discovered with 205 Oxycodone pills, 18 methadone pills, marijuana, a testosterone bottle and close to $8,000 in cash in his car after police searched the vehicle on June 30 following a traffic stop. John, who was driving on a suspended license, was pulled over close to his home in Howard Beach because of his vehicle's tinted windows.ecords. John was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, four felony counts of criminal possession of a narcotic drug, four misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, two infractions for driving with tinted windows and on a expired license and an additional misdemeanor count of aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree. He was released after posting $25,00 bond. John's passenger at the time, Hack, was arrested on the same charges and released as well after posting the same bond. The officers who arrested John had no idea of the investigation that had been underway at the time, but their action did aid in the operation after it was determined that $7,000 of the cash found in the car had been given to Gotti by one of the undercover officers. John's run-ins with police began when he was just a teenager, with officials first taking him in after a 2010 incident in which he tried to flee the scene of a crime after his friend fired a pellet gun into a crowd. Two years later, a then 18-year-old John was busted near his home and collared by law enforcement officials when he was found with a small amount of steroids. In the end, he was given just a desk appearance ticket because authorities found so little of the substance. Prior to his arrest, John owned a tattoo shop in Queens called Rebel Ink Tattoo and, according to his Facebook page, was a personal trainer and fitness model. Problems with police and time behind bars was a big part of John's grandfather's life. Business: John is a personal trainer, fitness model and owns a tattoo parlor in Queens, Rebel Ink Tattoo (above) Family affair: John with his father Peter (left) and his uncle John Gotti Jr (right) in September The notorious head of the Gambino crime family turned to a life of crime at a young age, a profession that allowed him to escape the poverty of the Bronx, where he was one of 13 children born to John and Philomena. Gotti joined a street gang before he was a teenager and eventually dropped out of school before becoming a part of the Gambino family, where he quickly rose up the ranks until he ultimately became head of the massive organized crime syndicate. He first made inroads by running errands for members of the family as a teenager, and by his twenties was a key player in many of the biggest burglaries and heists. Gotti landed in jail for the first time in 1965 after being convicted of attempted burglary, spending a year behind bars. Three years after his release he once again found himself locked up after being charged with hijacking a Northwest Airlines warehouse and a United Airlines warehouse at what is now John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City along with a truck of cigarettes on the New Jersey Turnpike. The $50,000 cigarette heist came two months after his arrest for the United hijacking, while Gotti was out on bail awaiting trial. He pleaded guilty to the warehouse hijackings, and the charges relating to the New Jersey incident were dropped by prosecutors. Reality stars: John's aunt Victoria Gotti with her sons Frank Gotti Agnello, John Gotti Agnello and Carmine Agnello Jr Gotti was out again in 1972 after three years spent in the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary. And just a year later he was again locked up, sentenced to two years following a manslaughter conviction for his role in the death of James McBratney, a man believed to have killed the nephew of Carlo Gambino. That move endeared him to the family though and Carlo, who was boss at the time. It was not until 1986 that Gotti was named boss however, being passed over following Carlo's death in 1976 in favor of Paul Castellano. He was then passed over for underboss in 1985 when Castellano gave that role to his chauffeur Thomas Bilotti following the death of the acting underboss. Castellano and Bilotti were found shot dead soon after, and in January of 1986 Gotti was named boss of the family. He served in that role for four years before his arrest in 1989 for murder, and in 1992 he was sentenced to life in prison. Gotti died behind bars in 2002, one year after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He was survived by his wife and all of his children with the exception of Frank, who died in 1980 at the age of 12 when a neighbor accidentally hit the boy with his car while he was riding a motorbike. The neighbor, John Favara, disappeared soon after and has never been found. Donald Trump's most controversial executive orders have proved to be his most popular, according to a new poll, suggesting that protests and their attendant media coverage aren't reliable indicators of what Americans expect of their new president. Fifty-five per cent of registered voters support Trump's travel ban affecting seven Muslim-majority countries. The same number approve of his plan to deny federal funds to cities that shield illegal-immigrant criminals from deportation. The numbers come from a new Morning Consult poll conducted for the Washington, D.C.-area Politico newspaper. Also winning the approval of an American majority is the president's demand that bureaucrats freeze new federal regulations until his administration can review them and assess their impacts. That measure has 54-percent approval. President Donald Trump's two most controversial and protest-generating decisions so far have turned out to be his most popular, according to a new national poll of registered voters The president's travel-ban order affecting people from seven Muslim-majority countries and his plan to de-fund 'sanctuary' cities both have 55-percent backing nationally Trump's national security and border-control orders have generated lawsuits and mass protests, but those points of view appear to be in the minority The travel ban, which Trump signed a week after taking office, led to immediate airport protests as refugees and would-be immigrants from some nations were questioned at U.S. airports and stopped from boarding planes overseas. The order suspended the entry of all refugees for 120 days and made the pause 'indefinite' for Syrians. It also paused the entry of nearly all travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for 90 days. Trump's executive order on 'sanctuary' cities makes them ineligible for most federal grants. It also promises a weekly list of 'criminal actions committed by aliens and any jurisdiction that ignored or otherwise failed to honor' federal requests for help holding them for immigration proceedings. That move, too, has created outcry, with San Francisco's municipal government vowing to stand its ground and some California officials talking about turning the Golden State into a giant sanctuary jurisdiction for illegal immigrants. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a sub-agency of the Department of Homeland Security, can issue 'detainer' orders to city and county jails, directing them to hold people on behalf of the federal government for up to 48 hours past the time when they would otherwise be released. Sanctuary cities disregard those orders. Some go further, refusing to tell ICE who their illegal-immigrant prisoners are. Trump himself tweeted a graphic from the Morning Consult poll on Wednesday, crowing that what pollsters are calling an 'immigration ban' is more popular than previously thought On Wednesday a pair of Boston-area suburbs sued the federal government, saying Trump's order can't be enforced. 'It's an unconstitutional effort to commandeer local resources to do the job of the federal government,' attorneys for Chelsea and Lawrence, Massachusetts wrote in their lawsuit. The towns say they can choose to ignore federal law, in the interest of setting policies that lower tensions and increase cooperation between local police and people who are in the U.S. illegally. Despite the visible uproar, however, the Morning Consult poll shows only 33 per cent of Americans oppose that measure. The travel ban has attracted the disapproval of just 38 per cent. Trump's signature on the 'travel ban' order led to a long weekend of protests like this one at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport The remaining eight executive orders in the new poll won support from between 46 and 49 per cent of registered voters. None of them is 'under water' political-speak for having more disapproval than approval. Those measures include Trump's moves to complete the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and his decision to end the use of taxpayer dollars to support overseas groups that perform abortions. Near the top of that pack is the president's much-heralded move ordering Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to start work on a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Morning Consult poll found 48 per cent of registered voters approve of the wall order, with 42 per cent opposed. A Quinnipiac University poll released later on Wednesday came to a dramatically different conclusion, finding the wall loses voters' support by a 38-59 margin. On Friday a CNN/ORC poll determined that six in 10 Americans oppose the wall and half don't like Trump's travel ban. Trump fired back on Twitter, writing: 'Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting.' On Wednesday morning the president told a police convention that 'the wall is getting designed right now.' 'A lot of people say, "Oh, oh, Trump was only kidding with the wall." I wasn't kidding. I don't kid,' he said. 'Nah. I don't kid. I don't kid about things like that, I can tell you.' An 'outstanding' young Oxford University chemist poisoned herself with cyanide after telling her family that she was transgender, a coroner heard today. Erin Shepherd, 27, was working as a post-doctoral research assistant at the prestigious university, when she was found dead in her bed. She had sent a suicide note via email to her mother and sister, despite apparently pleased with the result and her life as a woman. The fatal incident caused an entire street to be evacuated as police, firefighters and paramedics were called to deal with the deadly fumes Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter described her suicide on January 20 as a 'tragic case', adding: 'This was a great shock. 'Those closest to her did not foresee this. Things seemed to be going in the right direction. Very sadly, something caused her to decide to take her own life,' he said. The promising young chemist was found by firefighters who forced their way into her flat, after shutting down the whole street alongside police and paramedics. She was discovered with a container of white powder sat nearby, which was confirmed as cyanide. Mr Salter read evidence from Miss Shepherd's Oxford doctor, Richard Baskerville, who said she registered in 2015 under her former name, David Shepherd. He said: 'She had recently come out as transgender. She had an extensive circle of friends and was pleased with her progress in transitioning. Her death was a sudden and tragic event.' Erin Shepherd was working as a post-doctoral research assistant at the prestigious university, when she was found dead in her bed Miss Shepherd had completed her DPhil in chemistry at Corpus Christi College and had just started as a paid academic in the chemistry department. She had changed her name and was taking speech therapy to adopt a new identity. Detective Sergeant Kevin Parsons, of Oxford CID, said Miss Shepherd accessed the university labs at 6am on the day she died; likely to be when she took the cyanide. Speaking at the inquest, he said: 'She had struggled with her gender identity for most of her life. 'She was doing well and showing no signs of unhappiness.' He told the court how Miss Shepherd was unable to attend school as a teenager after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, but worked hard to achieve. Police were called to Miss Shepherd's home by her sister Sophie Shepherd, after she received an email entitled 'I am so sorry'. The court heard she rang her sister urging her to flush the cyanide down the toilet, to no avail. The university released a statement that said Miss Shepherd was 'an outstanding chemist' whose death 'greatly saddened' her friends. Mr Salter concluded Miss Shepherd died of suicide. Advertisement Steve Cohen's net worth is 13 billion dollars, he plans to built a massive family compound in Greenwich Village Billionaire Steve Cohen's plans to build an enormous family compound in Greenwich Village have been approved. New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission gave the hedge-fund boss's proposals for a four-story mansion and an adjacent six-story apartment the go-ahead. The move has caused a backlash in the historic neighborhood. Campaigners have accused the city of being influenced by wealthy applicants. 'It's surprising,' said Andrew Berman, head of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, speaking to the DailyMail.com. 'It seems like they can be dazzled by important or wealthy applicants. 'I know the applicant (Steve Cohen) hired a well-connected lobbyist, though I don't know if that had anything to do with the decision. Describing the decision as inconsistent for the commission, he said: 'It's disappointing and somewhat inexplicable. 'Usually they will ask people to make slight changes so that their designs fit in with the surrounding.' He also described it as an 'imposing and out of character' addition to Greenwich Village, and that it is like a 'fortress' and a 'moated castle' that alienates passersby. Cohen shut down his firm SAC Capital Advisers in 2013 during to an insider trading investigation, paying $1.8billion in fines. New York's Landmarks Preservation Commission gave the former hedge fund boss's plans (above) for single family mansion and an adjacent six-story apartment the go-ahead A computer rendering shows a photo of how the house will look based on all of the proposals The new development plans to replace a smaller building that is already there. According to Andrew Berman of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, the current building has no historical significance He owns a penthouse at One Beacon Court, that was originally listed for $115million, then lowered to $67.5million before it was taken off the market. Berman said that the designs 'look like a high end retail store in Rodeo Drive or Miami.' 'In fact,' he added, 'I saw a Louis Vuitton store in Miami that looks like its twin separated at birth.' Steve Cohen's net worth is 13 billion dollars. Campaigners also said it was 'imposing and out of character' addition to Greenwich Village, and that it is like a 'fortress' and a 'moated castle' that alienates passersby The new compound is in the historic Greenwich Village neighborhood of the city. Plans show the proposed floorplan of the mansion The plans that were approved show a single family mansion and adjacent six-story apartment for his children Tammy L. Felbaum (pictured) was arrested on Monday after threatening to shoot a judge at a Pennsylvania court house A transgender woman who served jail time for killing her sixth husband in a botched castration found herself arrested again this week. Tammy L. Felbaum, 58, was detained after threatening to shoot a judge at the Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Courthouse Monday morning. Authorities say Felbaum was going through security when she made a comment that she 'had guns and an Uzi and a rocket launcher' in her purse, which she sent through the X-ray scanner. As she walked through another scanner, she allegedly told a cop that she 'came here to shoot a judge'. Police proceeded to search Felbaum, but didn't find any weapons. She later said that she was only kidding about shooting the judge, but nonetheless she was arrested on charges of making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. This isn't the first time that Felbaum has found herself on the wrong side of the law. In February 2001, Felbaum reportedly conducted a botched castration of her husband James, 40, in their mobile home in Marion Township. Scroll down for video CCTV footage shows the moment Felbaum (right) went through security and made her threatening comments to officers James, her sixth husband, died a day or two later, after choking on his own vomit while overdosing on pain medication he took for the unlawful surgery. A state trooper who interviewed Felbaum after the incident said she told him that she had argued with her husband after he returned from a drug rehab clinic recently and that she thought he was cheating on her. At the trial in December 2001, Felbaum maintained her innocence, saying her husband castrated himself. But the judge found her responsible, convicting her of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and unauthorized practice of medicine. She was sentenced to 5.5 to 11 years in prison. Felbaum (right, in an photo from that time) was previously incarcerated for killing her husband James (left) in a botched castration in 2001 Felbaum has maintained her innocence, saying her husband castrated himself and died of a accidental drug overdose a few days later. Above, the trailer their shared, where the castration took place After she was released from prison, Felbaum continued to say she was not to blame. 'My husband died from complications of a drug overdose, not complications of any surgery. I did not kill my husband. ... Its a minor surgery,' she told Chanel 11, adding that she helped castrate her first husband. Felbaum was born male and her birth name was Thomas Wyda. She underwent a sex change operation in 1980 after self-castrating herself. Records show she petitioned to change her name in August 1978. Felbaum was due in court for a civil hearing on Monday, related to a complaint by the township sanitary authority. Sanitation claimed that she failed to connect her home to sanitary sewer lines, as is required. Her next hearing for making threats at the courthouse will be on February 23. She is being held on $100,000 bail. A man was forced to give a demonstration of how his Tesla's backseats work after he was held at gunpoint for 'kidnapping' a child. A passerby called police on the man, who has not been identified, after seeing him load a child into what they thought was the trunk of his car in Newhall, California - about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. When cops arrived on the scene - with guns drawn - they were quick to realize the mix-up after the man explained what was actually going on. A man was forced to give a demonstration of how his Tesla's backseats work after he was held at gunpoint for 'kidnapping' a child. Pictured are the rear-facing seats in a Model S This picture from a Tesla demonstration video shows one child sat in one of the seats as another is loaded in by a woman Rather than kidnapping a child, he was putting them in the backseat of his Tesla Model S. The Model S has 'rear-facing seats' in the trunk of the car, designed to add two more seats when needed. They fold out from the floor, and can fit two people. The feature has been available since 2013. Local police who responded to the call-out on February 4 explained the mishap from their point of view. 'It was not a kidnapping,' Santa Clarita Valley Police Department Lt. Rob Hahnlein told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. 'The new Teslas have a weird back seat and when they put the (child) in the back seat it looked like they were putting them in the trunk.' Hahnlein would not apologize for the role police played in the incident, saying the officers were doing their job. 'Were going to investigate (a kidnapping) and detain whoever until we figure out that it is not a crime,' he said. 'Were not Tesla experts.' The Tesla Model S has had the rear-facing seats as an option since 2013. The California man was strapping the child into the seat when police were called The rear-facing seats fold out from the floor of the trunk and can fit two people As bizarre as the incident sounds, it is not the first time a driver found themselves in a similar situation. In 2015, police were also called after a man saw his neighbor putting his daughter in the back of the car - but mistook it for a kidnapping or form of child abuse. When police arrived on this occasion they did not draw their guns, and the man was able to demonstrate his daughter was simply sat in a seat and not being abducted. The rear-facing seat feature is an optional extra available to drivers. Siobhan Theresa Egnot, 36, was arrested for driving while intoxicated with her two children in the car. Egnot called her husband to who drove drunk to pick them up A couple was arrested after a woman, who had been driving drunk with her children, called her husband to pick up their children and he arrived intoxicated. Siobhan Theresa Egnot, 36, of Hamburg, Michigan was charged for driving while intoxicated with occupants under the age of 16, the Detroit Free Press reported. She had been driving with her five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. Hamburg Township Police stopped Egnot around 3pm on January 29 after reports that a 2016 Ford Explorer had run off the roadway near Bass Ridge Road and Bass Court. Chief Rick Duffany said police conducted field sobriety tests after she appeared to be intoxicated, but the woman failed. Egnot called her husband to pick up their children, but when he arrived at the scene in a Pontiac G6, police noticed the 39-year-old was also drunk. The woman was freed on $5,000 bail, and the husband has not been charged. Duffany did not disclose the results of the breath test for Egnot or her husband because an investigation is still ongoing. The children were temporarily in custody of Child Protective Services before they were passed over to their maternal grandmother. A Melbourne man is facing charges after mistaking a police helicopter for a UFO. The 42-year-old, from Brighton, was surprised by a visit from police early on Thursday morning. Police said he allegedly shone a laser into the aircraft that was flying over the Brighton area at about 1.25am. A Melbourne man is facing charges after mistaking a police helicopter for a UFO. File photo The man was arrested at a home in Bay Street, a short time later, police said. He was interviewed and expected to be charged by summons with conduct endangering person and interference with crew or aircraft. The incident comes a week after a 23-year-old man was arrested in a Melbourne suburb for the same thing. A police air wing had been flying over the Heidelberg area on February 2 when a laser was shone into the aircraft, Victoria police said. The young man was arrested and charged with conduct endangering life, possessing a prohibited weapon and interference with crew or aircraft. A woman who murdered her mother and stuffed her body in a suitcase in Bali has claimed she was forced to read a video confession by her accomplice ex-boyfriend. Heather Mack, 21, is serving a 10-year sentence for killing socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack in 2014 alongside her then-partner Tommy Schaefer. The 62-year-old woman's body was found inside a suitcase at the St Regis Hotel in Nusa Dua. Last week a YouTube account purportedly run by Mack posted a series of videos in which she confessed to the murder and claimed Schaefer had not killed her mother. After the video was released, furious prosecutors considered seeking a tougher sentence to Mack - but now she claims she was forced to make the video by Schaefer, who she alleges wrote the confession himself. Scroll down for video Heather Mack, jailed for killing her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase at a hotel in Bali, claims she was forced into recording a confession video (pictured above) by her ex-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer Balinese prosecutors said they were reviewing the videos during which Mack said coldly 'I killed her myself' and 'I don't regret killing my mother'. 'If Mack is indeed the mastermind of the murder, the video can be used as evidence in the case, and the sentence should be heavier than it is now,' Ashari Kurniawan, a public relations official in the Bali prosecutor's office, said. Mack was jailed for 10 years in 2015 - five years less than Schaefer - because she had recently given birth to her daughter while in custody. In a statement seen by News.com.au, Mack and her lawyer Yulius Benyamin Seran said the videos were 'fake' and that they 'recorded under pressure'. Adding the video was recorded in June 2016, the lawyer claimed that Schaefer wrote the confession by hand himself and that Mack did not upload the footage herself. 'Heather Mack is a victim of such fake video and allegedly there is the motivation behind the video published on the YouTube page to affect the ongoing trial in Chicago as well as efforts interfere the process of transition (of) Stella's guardianship,' the statement says. Heather Mack (left with Schaefer), 21, is serving a 10-year sentence for killing socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack (right) in 2014 alongside her then partner Tommy Schaefer Mack (above in 2015) is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the suitcase murder Stella is Mack's young daughter who lives with her behind bars at Kerobokan Prison. The statement adds that the video is not 'new evidence' and says that the case should not be reopened. In the videos, posted on YouTube last Thursday, Mack details how she plotted to kill her mother after learning that she was responsible for her father's 2006 death. James Mack, a Chicago composer, died in Athens, Greece, from a pulmonary embolism during a holiday with his wife and daughter. Mack believes he was murdered by her socialite mother and that the Bali killing was her revenge. Schaefer and Mack stuffed her mother's body in this suitcase which they left at the hotel before fleeing in a taxi 'I don't regret killing my mother and as evil as that may sound, that's my reality,' Mack says in one of the videos. 'When I was 10, my mother killed my father in a hotel in Athens, Greece. 'Two weeks before I came to Bali, I found out that she killed my father and I made it up in my heart, in my mind, my soul, in my blood, in the oxygen running through my body, that I wanted to kill my mother,' she said. She made the videos out of remorse for dragging Schaefer into the murder plot, she said. 'I got this whole new savage idea in my head that I wanted to kill her in a hotel room because she had killed my father in a hotel room,' she says. Mack claimed she forced Schaefer into joining her and her mother on the trip, booking him a ticket with her mother's credit card. Once they had arrived in Indonesia, she said she told him of her plan and forced him to help her dispose of her mother's body. When the pair were arrested, Mack said she and her lawyers convinced him to take the fall for the killing so that she could keep her inheritance. 'My lawyers and I, because of the fact that if I get money, if my article that I was charged with was not that I'm the one that killed her, I'm still entitled to the money and therefore I can pay the lawyers more. 'So we told Tommy together, my lawyers and I, that if he didn't take the blame in the court, that he would get the death penalty.' They said Schaefer bludgeoned von Wiese-Mack to death after she launched racial slurs at him. In the videos, Mack said he had chosen to speak out because she was 'tired of living in a lie'. Mack gave birth to the pair's daughter Stella while in custody and now lives with the infant behind bars, regularly sharing photographs on Instagram of their prison life Through tears, she told Schaefer that she was sorry and that she loved him before signing off. 'I'm sorry you won't be able to get a job, I'm sorry everybody thinks that you're some crazy killer. This is the truth and whoever is watching this, don't hate Tommy. 'He's innocent. I'm not. I love you Tommy.' Mack gave birth to Stella while in police custody for the murder. She now lives with the baby in Bali's notorious Kerobokan Prison where Schaefer claims she drinks, smokes and has sex with female inmates. Mack enjoys preferential treatment at the prison and has a phone which she uses to upload selfies on Instagram. Lisa Granville (pictured) is one of three midwives are accused of a series of blunders in the care of the expectant mother and child in 2012 A baby's death in a scandal-hit hospital 'may have been prevented', a hearing was told. Maria Patterson, senior midwife for south west England, said the deaths were not even notified to the proper authorities for two years. She told the Nursing and Midwifery Council that nothing was done to change procedures after the deaths of two babies on the Loveridge Ward at Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Lisa Granville is one of three midwives are accused of a series of blunders in the care of the expectant mother and child in 2012. Granville, Tuija Roussel and Antonia Manousaki were working on the Loveridge Ward at Princess Elizabeth Hospital (PEH), Guernsey when the child, referred to only as Baby A, was born just after midnight on 30 January 2014. The desperately ill baby required resuscitation and died on the afternoon of 30 January 2014. A subsequent investigation revealed concerns about a similar case of another child, referred to only as Baby B, who died in September 2012. The NHS England South West Guernsey Extraordinary Review found that standards relating to how midwives practice was being supervised at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital on the island had not been met. Granville reviewed both cases and wrongly concluded no further action was necessary. Representing Ms Granville, Charles Elton said Ms Patterson that 'she was not in a position to label hospital management as poor'. Ms Paterson said: 'I would disagree with that. By August 2014 it was clear there were systemic problems in relation to the supervisor. 'It became clear that there were systemic concerns and there was a lack of supervisory investigation into the deaths. 'It was clear that the safety net was not working.' Ms Patterson said the death of a baby in 2012 was not investigated until two years later. Ms Patterson said: 'I think that this case should have been investigated in by the LSA (Local Supervising Authority) in 2012. 'But the LSA was unaware of a baby death in Guernsey.' Pictured is Tuija Roussel (left) and Antonia Manousaki (right), a midwife from Princess Elizabeth Hospital, Guernsey The tribunal has heard Granville spent 'barely any time' reviewing the notes of one death before declaring that the care provided was adequate. The tribunal also heard that midwives regularly gave patients the drug Syntocinon during birth without speaking to a consultant, a practice described as part of a culture called 'The Guernsey Way'. Following the death of Baby A on January 30 2014, a subsequent investigation revealed concerns about a similar case of another child, referred to only as Baby B, who died in September 2012. Ms Granville reviewed both cases and wrongly concluded no further action was necessary. The NMC claim that, had the death of Baby B been adequately investigated, the death of Baby A 'may have been prevented.' Baby A's father has told the panel that Syntocinon, a synthetic form of naturally-occurring hormone oxytocin used to facilitate childbirth, was administered without his partner's consent. Granville, who is present and represented, admits failing to identify inadequate midwifery care in relation to the administration of syntocinon and management of the CTG trace. She also admits her investigation into the death of Baby A was inadequate, but denies all other charges. Manousaki, who is present and represented, admits administering syntocinon to Patient A without a written prescription and in the presence of mild fetal heart rate distress. She also admits failing to appropriately question the rate at which syntocinon was administered and failing to seek a review from a consultant after a 'suspicious' CTG trace, but denies administering it without patient consent and denies failing to challenge a culture of midwives acting outside the scope of their practice. Roussel, who is present and represented, admits administering syntocinon without a written prescription or medical review and admits those actions increased the risk of harm to Patient A and/or Baby A. She also admits participating in inappropriate working practices, such as midwives accepting verbal orders and seeking to avoid contact with obstetricians at night, but denies all other charges. The hospital has since been revisited by the NMC who, in November 2015, reported they were seeing major improvements. The hearing continues. President Donald Trump teased Twitter with the phrase 'EASY D' today and Twitter teased the president right back. While waiting for a three judge panel from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule on his controversial travel ban, the president tweeted, 'Big increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be EASY D!' A number of political commentators, celebrities and even a Democratic congressman tweeted about the president's phrasing, which likely was short for 'easy decision.' Scroll down for video President Donald Trump again pushed for an appellate court to rule in his favor on the controversial travel ban, using Twitter today to promote his agenda President Donald Trump tweeted that it should be an 'EASY D!' for the three judge panel, a term that Twitter had a lot of fun with Liberal commentator Keith Olberman called the president a 'dum-dum,' for not seeing if 'EASY D' had a meaning From the liberal journalism world, former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann snickered at Trump's for not looking up the meaning of 'EASY D' before using it in a tweet. 'Hey, Dum-Dum. Ask a grownup to show you what "EASY D" means at the urban dictionary websites. #ClownPresident,' the loud-mouthed liberal wrote. Urban Dictionary says an Easy D is a 'girl that is very easy to get with and has Double Ds.' Business Insider's Josh Barro, also an MSNBC contributor, pointed out an alternative definition for 'EASY D,' that of a promiscuous male in the LGBT community. 'Dude, if you want easy D, you can find it on Grindr,' he remarked. Grindr, the gay hookup and dating app, weighed in as well. Retweeting Trump's tweet, Grindr added an emoji that seemed to be pondering what the president could mean. Journalist Josh Barro floated that 'EASY D' was a slang term for a promiscuous gay male and suggested to the president that 'easy D' could be found on the gay hookup app Grindr Twitter user @Delrayser simply tweeted out a picture of a youthful, lounging President Donald Trump, using the term Gay dating app Grindr retweeted what President Donald Trump said about 'EASY D!' but added a perplexed emoji Hollywood got in on the action with Scrubs star Zach Braff also making an Easy D Grindr joke Actor Kevin McHale, who played Artie on the hit show Glee, also chimed in about President Donald Trump's tweet Actor Justin Long, who campaigned for Sen. Bernie Sanders last year, asked 'patriotic nerds' to hack the president's phone so his tweets sounded more presidential Congressman Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut, said he jokingly asked his staff to call him 'Easy D' for the duration of the week Barro also retweeted a photo from the Twitter account @Delrayser, which showed a young Trump posing in a bathrobe. The tweet simply said 'Easy D.' A handful of celebrities also couldn't help themselves, with Scrubs star, and Democratic activist Zach Braff writing, 'Grindr; when you want that Easy D.' Glee's Kevin McHale commented, 'If I had a nickel... #EASYD,' as he retweeted Trump's tweet. Actor Justin Long, who went on the campaign trail last year for Democratic hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, addressed a tweet to the 'patriotic nerds.' 'Please hack Trump's phone + start tweeting things that are, at least, VAGUELY presidential,' he wrote. He signed off 'sincerely, #EasyD #Nordstrom.' Trump also took to Twitter today to denounce the Nordstrom department store for dumping his daughter Ivanka Trump's clothing line. Finally, Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, floated another definition for the 'EASY D' term a swell nickname for a rapper. 'I've instructed my staff that I expect to be called "Easy D" for the remainder of the week,' the congressman wrote, adding the hashtag 'chillin.' Heatwave to arrive on Friday and run until Sunday when a cold change moves in All of Victoria will feel like a 'furnace' on Thursday as the severe heatwave sweeping Australia sends temperatures soaring to 45C. The temperature rose to 31C overnight in Melbourne and is expected to hit 37C in the city by the end of the day, making it one of the state's hottest days yet this summer. Mildura and other rural towns in north-west Victoria will take the brunt of the heat as the temperature reaches a scorching 45C, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Scroll down for video Temperatures in north-west Victoria are expected to tip 45C on Thursday as the severe heatwave moving across Australia makes its way east The temperature rose to 31C overnight in Melbourne (pictured) and is expected to hit 37C in the city by the end of the day A heatwave (pictured) that began in Adelaide on Wednesday has made its way to Melbourne before heading to Sydney on Friday The heatwave is the result of hot air being pushed south from central Australia by a wind shift, senior BoM meteorologist Dr Chris Godfred told the ABC. 'We've had this fairly stagnant mass of air over the interior of the continent the winds have turned northerly so some of that very hot air is now going to move across Victoria,' he said. 'The entire state gets a bit of a taste of the furnace.' Portland and Warrnambool in the state's south-west will dodge the heatwave's intensity with temperatures only reaching the mid to late 20s thanks to a cool change. The heatwave will continue to move north on Thursday night and areas of Victoria'sa northwest and northeast will see simmering temperatures in the low to mid 40s until Saturday, Dr Godfred told ABC. Thursday will be one of the state's hottest days yet this summer for Melbourne Mildura and other rural towns in north-west Victoria will take the brunt of the heat as the temperature reaches a scorching 45C The heatwave is the result of hot air being pushed south from central Australia by a wind shift The heatwave will continue to move north on Thursday night and areas of the north-west and north-east will see simmering temperatures in the low to mid 40s until Saturday The state has issued burn bans in central regions, including Mallee and Wimmera, and a health alert was released on Thursday morning, encouraging people to stay cool by drinking water and avoid being in the sun for long periods. The heatwave hit South Australia on Wednesday before moving east, causing blackouts in Adelaide and forcing 40,000 people to swelter through 42C without air conditioning. Overwhelming demand for electricity forced South Australian Power Networks to start 'load shedding' in order to conserve power, plunging parts of the state into darkness shortly before 7pm on Wednesday. SA Power Networks said the blackouts only lasted half an hour, but affected about 40,000 customers. Meanwhile, Sydney will again be battered by the heat following two days of heavy rain. Much of Adelaide was plunged into darkness when power supplies were cut due to overwhelming demand on Wednesday SA Power Networks announced the Adelaide blackout on Twitter WHAT IS THE 5 DAY WEATHER FORECAST FOR AUSTRALIA? Sydney Thursday: Max 29, increasing sunshine Friday: Max 36, sunny Saturday: Max 39, sunny Sunday: Max 38, mostly sunny Monday: Max 26, possible shower Melbourne Thursday: Max 37, mostly sunny Friday: Max 26, mostly sunny Saturday: Max 28, late shower Sunday: Max 19, possible shower Monday: Max 19, clearing shower Brisbane Thursday: Max 30, possible shower Friday: Max 32, clearing shower Saturday: Max 36, mostly sunny Sunday: Max 38, sunny Monday: Max 37, late shower Adelaide Thursday: Max 41, sunny Friday: Max 39, mostly sunny Saturday: Max 37, mostly sunny Sunday: Max 25, mostly cloudy Monday: Max 25, cloudy Advertisement Western Sydney is bracing for what could be the hottest three February days on record with temperatures expected to reach a sizzling 46C. A heatwave will bring 'exceptionally hot' temperatures to New South Wales from Friday until Sunday in what meteorologists say is the 'final big hurrah for heat in the Sydney area'. Temperatures are predicted to climb to 39C in the city and to 46C in the western suburbs on Saturday. Weatherzone Meteorologist Rob Sharp told Daily Mail Australia there is a good chance temperatures in Richmond and Penrith will break records during the heatwave. 'For Richmond the current record is 43.7C and Penrith is 45C. The current forecasts are for 43C on Friday and Saturday but on Saturday in particular we believe it could be a hotter than that,' Mr Sharp said. Sydney to sweat through the weekend - as record heat is predicted for the western suburbs Social media took to Twitter to complain about the Adelaide blackouts on Wednesday 'Blackouts when it is 41.6C aren't ideal,' one Twitter user posted online on Wednesday The records for Richmond and Penrith were set in 1977 and 2004, respectively. 'The three day run from Friday to Sunday for western Sydney is likely to be the hottest three consecutive days in February on record,' Mr Sharp said. 'It's not the hottest summer run on record, although that cannot be ruled out yet.' It comes as Sydneysiders are mopping-up after half a month's worth of rain pelted the city in one day on Tuesday, with the SES responding to 250 calls. Temperatures may rise above 45C in western Sydney this weekend as a heatwave is expected to set a new record for the hottest three days in February ever on recorded Sydney temperatures will begin to climb into the late 20s on Thursday before reaching 39 in the city and at least 43 in the western suburbs on Friday Australia's extreme weather conditions will only worsen, according to a report released by the Climate Council. The council predicted a rapid rise in extreme heat right across the country. The report suggests Darwin will experience 265 days a year of 35C heat and Brisbane will suffer through two months of temperatures at 35C by 2090. Climate Council issues diagram comparing heatwaves between 1950-1980 and 1981-2011 The report also issued a map comparing heatwaves between 1950-1980 and 1981-2011. A drastic change in the number of hot days was predicted. Meanwhile, Australia's western coastline has been lashed by wet weather since the beginning of the week, forcing the Perth metropolitan to issue a flood warning on Wednesday. Twitter users flocked online to complain about the impending heatwave Meteorologists said the heatwave is the 'final big hurrah for heat in the Sydney area' Scorching temperatures have seen people flocking to the sea to seek a reprieve from the heat People are flocking to the water to escape the extreme heat - as temperatures soar to record highs 'As much as stepping into the sun and instantly burning to a crisp reminds me of home, can it stop now?' Caz wrote on Twitter The Swan River and Avon River are both expected to flood on Thursday, prompting the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to warn people to stay out of the rivers and avoid floodwaters. Drivers are also urged to be careful on the roads. Marble Bar Police released footage of a truck being swept away in the flood waters in Telfer on Saturday. Cars are pictured engulfed in flood waters during the unprecedented rain episode It comes a week after a campervan was swept away by flood waters in the middle of the night, sending two tourists fleeing to safety, scrambling to the roof of a toilet block in the middle of the night. While heavy rainfall and floodwaters threaten parts of Western Australia, a bushfire emergency warning was issued for the outer south-east of Perth. The warning was issued for part of Bedfordale in Armadale on Wednesday. Weather tracker Higgins Storm Chasing called the impending heatwave 'hell on earth in Australia' Leeann Lapham, 30, was last seen leaving Innisfail's Riverside Motel in April 2010 The partner of a north Queensland mother who went missing nearly seven years ago has been charged with murder. Leeann Lapham, 30, was last seen leaving a room at Innisfail's Riverside Motel in April 2010 with her son, Bradley, who was just three weeks old. Her disappearance left investigators baffled and it was believed the 30-year-old had met with foul play. It is understood Graeme Evans, 42, was taken into custody by detectives on Wednesday and charged with murder and interference with a corpse, The Courier-Mail reported. It's alleged the 42-year-old was the last person to see the mother-of-one at the motel. The breakthrough in the cold case comes after it was reopened a number of times over the years. One investigation uncovered a major drug and weapons ring that led to the arrest of 25 people. Northern Region police detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said the arrest o on Wednesday of the 42-year-old comes after a prolonged, seven-year-long investigation. 'It has taken a lot of effort and tenacity by investigators from the Innisfail, Ingham and Cairns Criminal Investigation Branches and the Brisbane homicide unit,' he told The Courier-Mail. It's understood Ms Lapham's partner Graeme Evans, 42, was taken into custody by detectives on Wednesday and charged with murder and interference with a corpse The most recent development into Ms Lapham's suspected murder was in November last year, when authorities excavated a tow truck yard in Mundoo on the outskirts of Innisfail following a tip off from a member of the public. 'We can confirm we have received information and for this reason, we have commenced the excavation at this location,' Detective Sergeant Matt Bauer told the ABC at the time. It is unknown whether any items of significance were discovered during the excavation. Leeann's mother Kerry with baby Bradley who was just three-weeks-old when his mother disappeared 'We owe it to Leeann's children, family and friends to bring closure to her disappearance,' says Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh Police say efforts to find Ms Lapham's body remain active and Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh will make a public appeal for information Ms Lapham was last seen alive at Innisfail's Riverside Motel (pictured) in April 2010 with her son Bradley The most recent development into Ms Lapham's suspected murder was in November last year, when authorities excavated a tow truck yard in Mundoo on the outskirts of Innisfail THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LEEANN LAPHAM 2010: Leeann Lapham, 30, last seen leaving an Innisfail motel around 7.30pm on April 19. She was reported missing two weeks later 2010: Three months after she went missing, police interview a man known to Ms Lapham, suspecting foul play 2011: An appeal for new information is launched by Ms Lapham's family and friends 2014: Probe into Ms Lapham's case uncovers a major drug and weapons ring that led to the arrest of 25 people, 2016: Authorities excavate a tow truck yard in Mundoo on the outskirts of Innisfail in November following a tip off 2017: Graeme Evans, 42, was taken into custody by detectives and charged with murder and interference with a corpse Advertisement The investigation is ongoing and Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh continues the appeal for information about the whereabouts of Ms Lapham's remains. 'This is just another phase in a long, protracted investigation and we will not stop until we have located Leeann's body,' Det Insp Marsh said, according to The Courier-Mail. 'We owe it to Leeann's children, family and friends to bring closure to her disappearance.' Bradley is now six-years-old and is in the care of extended family and friends in Innisfail. Evans is due to appear in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Thursday. It is unknown whether any items of significance were discovered during the excavation of the Mundoo property Three Malayan tiger cubs are being cared for in the Cincinnati Zoo's nursery after their mother rejected them when they were born on Friday. First-time mother Cinta's maternal instincts 'didn't kick in', according to the zoo's website. Now, nursery staffers are keeping the cubs warm and feeding them so the their body temperatures won't get too low without their mother's warmth. Three Malayan tiger cubs (pictured) were born on Friday at the Cincinnati Zoo. The adorable cubs are currently being cared for by staff in the zoo's nursery after their mother rejected them at birth First-time mother Cinta's maternal instincts 'didn't kick in', according to the zoo's website. Nursery staffers (pictured) are keeping the cubs warm and feeding them so the their body temperatures won't get too low without their mother's warmth Zoo officials said it's not 'uncommon' for first-time tiger moms to reject their young and sometimes the mothers can be aggressive and even harm or kill the cubs 'It's not uncommon for first-time tiger moms not to know what to do,' said Mike Dulaney, curator of mammals and vice coordinator of the Malayan Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP). 'They can be aggressive and even harm or kill the cubs. Nursery staff is keeping them warm and feeding them every three hours.' The cubs will be moved to Cat Canyon when they're weaned and no longer require constant care. Visitors should be able to see them in their outdoor habitat in early spring. 'The three will grow up together. They will not be re-introduced to their mom as she would not recognize them as her own after a prolonged separation,' said Dulaney. Three-year-old Cinta is the second most genetically-valuable female in the zoo population, according to the zoo's website. The cubs' dad, 15-year-old Jalil, is the third most genetically-important male. Zoo officials hope the endangered Malayan tiger babies someday will contribute much-needed genetic diversity for species survival efforts. Their combination of lineage gives these cubs the opportunity to contribute much-needed genetic diversity when they eventually receive breeding recommendations from the SSP. The cubs are being fed by staffers every three hours. They will be moved to Cat Canyon when they're weaned and no longer require constant care Visitors should be able to see them in their outdoor habitat in early spring Zoo officials hope the endangered Malayan tiger babies someday will contribute much-needed genetic diversity for species survival efforts Jalil sired four male cubs at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2009. They were raised by their mother, Hutan, and are now living at other zoos. There are fewer than 500 Malayan tigers left in the world. Major reasons for population decline include habitat destruction, fragmentation and poaching. Cincinnati Zoo is committed to ensuring the survival of endangered tigers. Zoo staffers are also caring for a baby hippo born six weeks early on Jan. 24. There are fewer than 500 Malayan tigers left in the world. Major reasons for population decline include habitat destruction, fragmentation and poaching Sarah Palin's name been making the rounds for weeks as a prospective ambassador to Canada, and today the White House suggested that it's not outside the realm of possibility. Palin gave President Trump a shock endorsement last year as the first state, Iowa, prepared to hold its caucus. And she once worked with Canada to construct an oil and gas pipeline in her state. At the White House's daily briefing Wednesday, a reporter asked if Palin was under consideration to represent the United States' interests north of the border. 'We have no additional ambassador nominations or announcements to make on that front. I'm sure at some point we will have, soon,' press secretary Sean Spicer said. Sarah Palin's name been making the rounds in the rumor mill for weeks as a prospective ambassador to Canada, and today the White House suggested that it's not outside the realm of possibility. She's seen with Trump at a campaign event in April Spicer notably did not deny that Palin was in talks with the Trump administration about the position, leaving the conversation open-ended. Ambassadorships are often presented to cronies of the president, regardless of whether or not they have a connection or ties to the country they're seeking to represent. As the Ottawa Sun has reported, 13 of the last 18 U.S. ambassadors to Canada were not career diplomats. Peter Teeley, for instance, became George H.W. Bush's ambassador to Canada after a stint as the vice president's press secretary. Palin, a former vice presidential candidate, campaigned with Trump throughout the election, giving him an early endorsement that helped solidify his status as the Republican Party frontrunner. An aide to the former Republican governor told ABC in late November that Trump was thinking of putting Palin, who's son Track served in Iraq, forward for veterans affairs secretary. She didn't get that gig or any other cabinet position, but the president could be thinking about rewarding her in the form of an ambassadorship. Palin has at least some experience working with America's neighbor to the north. She negotiated the pipeline her state awarded to TransCanada when she was governor of Alaska. Still, Teeley, the former Bush ambassador, told the Sun in early January that he doesn't see it happening. 'Forget it,' he said, responding to a suggestion that the plum appointment could go to Palin or another Trump ally such as Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie. 'Its possible that somebody like Christie could get in there but I dont think Sarah Palin has any credibility really. I cant see that occurring.' Palin is pictured making the rounds on behalf of Trump at the Las Vegas general election debate in October. Palin, a former vice presidential candidate, also campaigned with Trump in the GOP primary, giving him an early endorsement that helped solidify his status as the party's frontrunner The position has been vacant since Barack Obama's final ambassador to Canada resigned two days before Trump's inauguration to make way for the new administration. Ambassador or no ambassador, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due for a White House visit sometime 'soon' both governments have said. Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the U.S. president, suggested Tuesday on CNN that Trudeau was coming next week. She clarified later, to the network, that she meant to say he would be visiting in the next several weeks. Spicer promised 'further updates on the prime minister's schedule either later today or tomorrow' at his Wednesday afternoon briefing. On a call Trump and Trudeau talked about 'trade and security and commerce,' Spicer said, addressing an inquiry about NAFTA, 'and I think all of that's going to be discussed at the time, when the president and him...further meet or discuss this.' As of early Wednesday evening the White House had no new information to offer on the timing of Trudeau's visit President Trump's choice to serve on the Supreme Court said in a private meeting that he finds Trump's Twitter attacks on a federal judge 'disheartening,' after Trump went after a judge who ruled on his immigration order. Gorsuch made his views known in a private meeting with Connecticut Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal. 'He said very specifically that they were demoralizing and disheartening and he characterized them very specifically that way,' Blumenthal said following his meeting with Gorsuch, who is in the midst of a round of courtesy calls. 'I said they were more than disheartening and I said to him that he has an obligation to make his views clear to the American people, so they understand how abhorrent or unacceptable President Trump's attacks on the judiciary are,' he added, CNN reported. 'DEMORALIZING': A Democratic senator who met with Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch says President Trump's court pick criticized Trump's tweet against a federal judge Pick: U.S. President Donald Trump nominates Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court during in the East Room of the White House last month Trump blasted judge James Robart after a ruling that put a temporary stop to his immigration order Trump this weekend went after a district court judge who issued a stay of his immigration order setting up a process that could land the order before the Supreme Court. 'The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!' Trump tweeted. Senator Richard Blumenthal says Gorsuch told him Trump's Twitter attacks on judges such as US District Judge James Robart (pictured above)- the 'so-called' judge who halted his immigtaion order - were 'disheartening' The comment was confirmed by the Supreme Court nomination team. Federal district judge James Robart, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a stop to Trump's immigration order last week while it is being adjudicated. The order had the effect of reopening immigration from a group of seven majority-muslim nations that were deemed a threat. The issue is certain to arise in Gorsuch's confirmation before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Top Democrats are already making an issue of whether he can be independent from Trump. Trump also drew widespread criticism during the primary for going after judge Gonzalo Curiel, who had ruled against him in a Trump University fraud case he ultimately settled after paying $25 million to students who claimed they were defrauded by the offer of real estate classes. Blumenthal said he brought up Trump's attacks on judges and that Gorsuch 'didn't disagree with me on that point.' 'I said to him if a litigant before your court and the President of the United States is in fact a litigant right now in the immigration ban cases said what President Trump said, you would hold him in contempt of court,' he added. Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch (R) arrives with former Senator from New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte (L) at the office of Democratic Senator from Connecticut Richard Blumenthal Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said judge Neil Gorsuch said Trump's attacks on the judiciary were 'demoralizing and disheartening' Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said that he never meant to surprise the world with a sudden travel ban on January 27, but 'law enforcement people' persuaded him to make the move without any advance warning. 'I said, "Let's give a one-month notice",' the president recalled in a speech to a group of police chiefs and sheriffs from large U.S. metropolitan areas. 'But the law enforcement people said to me, "Oh, you can't give a notice. Because if you give a notice, you're going to [find it] really tough in one month from now or in one week from now".' 'I suggested a month. Then I said, "Well, what about a week?"' Trump continued. 'They said, "No, you can't do that, because then people are going to pour in before the toughness goes on".' Trump claimed his law enforcement advisers told him that America would see 'a whole pile of people perhaps perhaps with very evil intentions coming in' if they knew travel restrictions were pending. Instead, he now says the United States faces the same kind of exposure to terrorism after a federal judge put his plan on hold. Gorsuch also met with Senate Demoratic leader Charles Schumer and reportedly gave similar assurances. But after his meeting with Gorsuch, Schumer said, 'The judge today avoided answers like the plague.' GOP Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas publicly criticized Trump for the twitter attack Wednesday. 'Judge Robart, like every other judge in the federal system, is confirmed by the Senate after having been appointed by the president. He's a judge. He's not a so-called judge,' he said bluntly, appearing on CNN. 'I would say he wrote a so-called opinion, that didn't offer a single legal reason for his conclusion,' he added. 'And again I think it's best not to personalize these disputes. I understand the president is frustrated that this judge in Seattle has stayed his order. I don't think that was the right decision. But I would probably focus on the merits of the case itself, and have confidence in his victory on appeal because I think he should have confidence in his victory,' he added. Trump also criticized a federal Ninth Circuit Appeals Court that took up the immigration order Tuesday night. 'A bad high school student would understand this. Anybody would understand this,' he said, following a dramatic reading of a portion of the law Wednesday. 'I listened to a bunch of stuff last night on television that was disgraceful. It was disgraceful,' Trump fumed. 'Because what I just read to you is what we have. And it just can't be read any plainer or better. And for us to be going through this!' Survivor Daniel Miller is pictured here with his wife Saimaa - who praised his 'legendary effort' The man who was trapped in a dam for five hours with his nose barely above the waterline was motivated to stay alive by a solemn promise to his wife - and the thought: 'I'm not dying in an effing dam!' Daniel Miller, 45, became stuck in the pool of muddy water after his excavator rolled at Charlotte Bay, on the north coast of New South Wales. He was pinned down by the vehicle and his feet were slipping on the dam's muddy floor. The builder's relieved wife, naturopath Saimaa Miller, laughed as she told Daily Mail Australia: 'The funny thought which made him survive was - "I'm not dying in an effing dam".' Mr Miller was pictured on Wednesday in extraordinary photographs barely keeping his nostrils above the muddy waterline of dam. Every so often, Ms Miller said, he would arch his back in a position where he could scream for help in the hope neighbours would hear. Thankfully, one did around 2.30pm - hours after he became submerged. And when he finally emerged from the water hours later he told his wife he was motivated by a solemn promise he had made to her when they married. 'I promised you that I was going to die after you.' Ms Miller - who said he made the vow because her mother, Ruffi, died of breast cancer when she was a teenager - said: 'He was thinking, I need to be there, I want to be there for my wife and children'. Harrowing pictures showed Daniel Miller with his nose only centimetres above the waterline as he anxiously waited for rescuers to arrive His wife, Saimaa, has shared extraordinary pictures of him being lifted from the water by Fire and Rescue officers '(He said), darling that's the only thing I thought to keep alive, I promised you,' Ms Miller said. 'He wants to live. He loves his wife and children and he's got a good life... I wasn't going to cop another death!' Ms Miller described how her partner had the 'weight of the excavator on his back' and the 'boggy dam ground below him' was slowly slipping away. She said he was trying to remove himself from the excavator for about an hour after it toppled over, around quarter to 12 on Wednesday. 'And then he kinda realised, "s***, I'm really stuck,' she said. He couldn't extricate himself and the water had started to lap at his nose. Mr Miller realised he had to stay calm because otherwise he would drown. His back was arched and he was standing on his tippy toes. The vehicle stank of diesel and only every so often could tilt his head back enough to bellow for help. A neighbour, Mel, found Daniel around 2.30pm and called over another neighbour, Julie. At first, the neighbours couldn't even tell whether he was still alive. 'I had to ask them is he breathing, is he talking, is he moving, you know,' Ms Miller said. The neighbours called for help and Mr Miller was able to speak to them. In a Facebook post earlier, Ms Miller said: 'It was literally sheer mental strength and determination to survive that got him through. 'As well as being fit, strong and healthy. Nothing to do with luck. Legendary effort from a legendary man'. A neighbour first heard his cries at about 2.30pm, according to Westpac Rescue Helicopter air crewman Graham Nickisson. 'It (the excavator) pinned him inside the open cabin... his airways were only a couple of centimetres above the water,' Mr Nickisson told local media. A Fire and Rescue crewman opened up to Daily Mail Australia about the moment he hauled Mr Miller out of the mud with his bare hands. Mr Miller is seen swaddled in a blanket and being placed gently onto a stretcher Rescuers are seen debriefing and helping Mr Miller onto a stretcher following his remarkable ordeal Simon Black, 43, said Mr Miller was 'inches from drowning' when he arrived. 'He was very close to going under, he's a very very lucky man,' he said. 'He pretty much only had part of his head sticking out of the mud, he looked like a turtle, that's the only way I can describe it.' Mr Black said he and his colleague jumped into the muddy dam as soon as the three tonne excavator was declared stable, and started to 'remove as much mud as possible by hand'. Mr Miller became stuck after his excavator rolled in Charlotte Bay on the New South Wales north coast following heavy rain on Wednesday Mr Miller was pulled from the mud, where he struggled to free his mouth to call for help Fire and Rescue crews from Forster were first on the scene to free Mr Miller from the mud 'We could tell he was very scared and cold and had hypothermia setting in,' he said. 'He was in shock as well.' Mr Black said he and fellow crewman Steven Howard were almost as bogged down in the mud as Mr Miller. 'We were up to our chest in mud,' he said. Simone Black (right) and Steven Howard (left) are responsible for pulling Mr Miller to safety After about 20 minutes of digging the mud away by hand, Mr Black said it was time to pull. 'Steve and I thought, 'let's have a crack' and so we checked his neck and spine, could feel all his legs, and the ambulance was happy for us to try,' he said. 'An arm each, we braced our feet and pulled him out. 'It was a bit of an effort, but it's the first time I've ever pulled anyone out of a dam who was stuck under an excavator so I can't compare it to anything really.' He said Mr Miller was 'stoked' when he was finally freed. 'He just yelled out "yes",' he said. The fire and rescue crew said the machine needed to be pulled off Mr Miller before he could be freed He spent two hours with only his face above the muddy water before a neighbour heard his cries for help Mr Miller was taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering hypothermia and back injuries Mr Black said he was happy to hear Mr Miller was safe and well following the terrifying rescue. But he admitted there could easily be a different outcome. 'The excavator's bucket arm landed on a rock, if it didn't it could've sunk down further and pushed him down with it,' he said. 'Lucky was definitely on his side.' Ambulance and fire rescue crews were all on scene at the Charlotte Bay property Water was pumped out of the dam by fire crews before Mr Miller was pulled free Police agreed MR Miller was 'lucky to be alive' after his excavator slid down the side of the embankment. 'He was trapped such that only just a part of his face was above the water, just his nose and his forehead was above the water,' Inspector Neil Stephens said. Mr Miller was taken to John Hunter Hospital via helicopter suffering hypothermia and back injuries. He and his wife are from Bondi, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, but run a hobby farm at Charlotte Bay where the accident happened. Saimaa runs wellness retreat courses at the farm. Just in time, Jeremy Corbyn did the business at PMQs. A milky Wednesday sun had risen over Westminster amid rumours (denied) that the Labour leader was contemplating resignation. Shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis (young, muscular, snazzy) was plotting to do in his ageing patron. Labour frontbenchers were behaving like characters in Shakespeares Julius Caesar. And Diane Abbott was absent, possibly attending sickbay for another Vicks VapoRub. Or is hot toddy more her thing? Some say so. Victory: Jeremy Corbyn is seen at PMQs, where he put the Prime Minister on the backfoot with details of a leak about the Government doing favours for its chums in hard-pressed Surrey By lunchtime much of the gossip had cooled after an unusually assured Corbyn produced a corker in the Chamber. He had come up with a leak about the Government doing favours for its chums in hard-pressed Surrey the county where both the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, and Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, are MPs. As Mr Corbyn produced his humdinger, Mr Hunt turned scarlet and Mr Hammond discreetly ground his jaw. Sajid Javid, the relevant Cabinet minister for this policy, stood nearby, all but whistling as he examined the ceiling. Wot, me, guv? Mr Corbyn could have blurted out his scoop immediately. Instead he waited until his third allotted question, having used the first two to describe problems in the National Health Service and in social care. Mrs May may have been lured into a false sense of security. Then Mr Corbyn having established councils need for money sprang the Surrey story on her. He had obtained telephone text messages allegedly sent by the Tory leader of Surrey council to somebody called Nick high up in Whitehall. Mrs May went into problem-deflection mode, declining to give a straight answer. Mr Corbyn repeated his query, with the twist, Will such sweetheart deals be on offer to every council? These messages suggested that Surrey would be given more cash if its Tory councillors eased off the political pressure on ministers. It did sound distinctly whiffy. The council leader apparently sent his text message to the wrong person. You beauty! What gumbies our politicos are. How can they run a county, or a country, if they can not even send a text message to the right Nick? Mr Corbyn: Was there a special deal for Surrey? Mrs May went into problem-deflection mode, declining to give a straight answer. Mr Corbyn repeated his query, with the twist, Will such sweetheart deals be on offer to every council? Mrs May had no less difficulty answering the question a second time. Beside her Mr Hammond adopted the expression of a man who, in the middle of a Buckingham Palace banquet, realises that his gold front tooth has just fallen out. Labour MPs being the disloyal swine that they are, Mr Corbyn received less support than he deserved from his own benches. Mr Lewis at least murmured a few hear-hears more than some of the Blairite Remainers were doing. Mrs May had the last word in the exchanges, as a Prime Minister always does, and she finished with some rhetorical stuff about how Labours policies would bankrupt Britain. This gained rather less cheering from her own side than she might have expected. A solid and rare win for Mr Corbyn, definitely. Beside her Mr Hammond adopted the expression of a man who, in the middle of a Buckingham Palace banquet, realises that his gold front tooth has just fallen out As Question Time ended, Mrs May lingered a little longer than normal. With her were Mr Hammond and Mr Hunt. They were having a tight little conflab. Surrey? Or sorry? Elsewhere in PMQs we heard from Ronnie Campbell (Lab, Blyth Valley), who has been off recently owing to cancer. When Mr Campbell last spoke in the Commons he looked terribly frail and some of us wondered if we would see him again. Yesterday he was back to something approaching his old robust self. He held open his jacket to show how slim he had become and told the House his life had been saved by an ace surgeon in Newcastle. And yet some parts of the NHS were not so good. He sought greater NHS spending and did so with quiet grace (Open your purse, he urged Mrs May gently). It was the most effective spending plea heard for years and that was because it was put without political aggression but with a sense of the mercy that successful medical care can bring. As Question Time ended, Mrs May lingered a little longer than normal. With her were Mr Hammond and Mr Hunt. They were having a tight little conflab. Surrey? Or sorry? A man from China has had a dead cockroach pulled out from his ear after it got stuck there for more than three days. The cockroach crawled into the man's ear while he was sleeping and the man sprayed insecticide into his ear to kill the bug, according to Huanqui, an affiliation to People's Daily Online. A doctor from Chengdu, south-west China, pulled out the dead cockroach from the man's ear canal in one minute on February 3. Doctor from China, used an endo-otoscope to locate and pull out the dead cockroach The dead cockroach which was pulled out from Li's ear is about 8mm (0.34 inch) long The report used a pseudonym, Li Qiang, to identify the man. He is reported to be 60 years old. The man said the cockroach had burrowed into his ear on January 31. He tried various methods to remove the insect by himself, such as picking his ear with his fingers, using a ear wax scoop and hitting his head with his hands. Apparently, none of the method worked and the cockroach was pushed even further into his ear. Otoscopic images show that Li Qiang's ear canal has become swollen after he sprayed toxic chemical into it Li Qiang said he had tried various methods himself in a bid to remove the cockroach, but the bug got pushed even further into his ear Feeling desperate, Li Qiang sprayed insecticide into his ear. The cockroach was killed instantly, according to the man, but it remained stuck deep inside his ear canal. The man was unable to remove the dead cockroach and his ear became swollen. Three days later, Li Qiang went to the No.3 People's Hospital of Chengdu for medical attention. Doctor Wang Jin, an ear, nose and throat specialist, used an endo-otoscope to pull out the dead insect. The operation took just one minute. The cockroach is about eight millimeters (0.34 inch) long. Doctor Wang Jin explained why the cockroach would crawl into Li Qiang's ear in the Huanqui article. He said: 'Cockroaches tend to move towards warmer locations, so they will always go indoors during winter. The sticky earwax also has a mild odour, which is the cockroaches' favourite.' The doctor advised the public to pour oil into the ear to kill insects if any similar incident happens. Spraying and picking ears would only cause irritation and bring damages to eardrum, the doctor said. An old baby: A doctor from Zhongshan, China, held the newborn boy after his 46-year-old mother had given birth to him A 46-year-old mother in China who longed for a second child has given birth using an embryo frozen 16 years ago. When Ms Luo was 29, she decided to freeze 18 of her embryos in the hope that a two-child policy would be introduced in the future, reports the People's Daily Online. Following the implementation of the two-child rule at the beginning of 2016, Ms Luo had the embryo implanted, giving birth just a few days ago in China's Guangdong province. The woman who chose to go under the name of Ms Luo was declared to be infertile by her doctor at Zhongshan University First Affiliated Hospital. The hospital has been offering fertility treatment and the option to freeze embryos since 1994. In 2000, she managed to give birth to her first child through IVF treatment. She also asked the hospital to freeze her remaining 18 embryos. Professor Xu Yanwen told reporters: 'The patient developed infertility due to poly-cystic ovary syndrome and gave birth to a son by means of assisted reproductive technology in 2000 before freezing the rest of the embryo.' Ms Luo found out that she was infertile and froze 18 of her embryos in 2000 (File photo) In 2016, China announced that it was allowing families to have a second child (File photo) Ms Luo was still desperate to have a second child however due to China's one-child policy she was unable to. She hoped that in the future the policy would change. In 2016, the Chinese government announced that it would be allowing people to have a second child. She went back to the hospital in May last year to have another embryo implanted and gave birth to the child just a few days ago. The baby boy weighed eight pounds. Wang Zilian, a doctor at the hospital said that the woman's age was a challenge: 'At 50 years old, the embryo survival rate is low, less than five percent.' A spokesperson from the hospital said: 'We have been storing embryos for patients since 1994. 'This is recently the second case of "thawed embryos" and so far the oldest. Last year we also thawed an embryo for nearly 16 years.' With 130 volcanoes both active and inactive - Iceland is one of the most intensely volcanic places in the world. An expert has now warned that four of the country's biggest volcanoes are priming to erupt, which could lead to travel chaos. The volcanoes in question are Katla, Hekla, Bararbunga and Grimsvotn three of which have already erupted in the last 20 years. The warning follows the 2010's explosive eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which caused more than 10 million air passengers to be stranded and cost the European economy an estimated 4 billion ($4.9 billion). Scroll down for video With 130 volcanoes, Iceland is one of the most intensely volcanic places in the world. Pictured is the Bardarbunga volcano during its last eruption in 2014 Pall Einarsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik told Iceland Monitor: 'Four of Iceland's volcanoes are showing increased amounts of activity in preparation for another eruption.' Katla Katla is the least recently-active volcano of the four, which last erupted in 1918. But according to the Global Volcanism Program, Katla has been showing signs of restlessness recently, with tremors in September exceeding the magnitude three mark. This level of tremor could be enough to send magma upwards through the crust, and cause it to burst through the surface. KATLA'S 1918 ERUPTION Katla is among the most frequently erupting volcanoes in Iceland, averaging about two eruptions each century. The volcanic massive is partly covered by the glacier Myrdalsjokull which fills a caldera depression and covers the eruptive vents. The eruptions are accompanied by enormous laharic floods which have formed a vast sandur plain. The last eruption in Katla occurred in 1918. The Southern coast was extended by 5 km by the laharic flood deposits. Advertisement Speaking to Iceland Review, Kristin Jonsdottir, natural hazard program director at the Icelandic Met Office said: 'It's been a long time since Katla erupted, and this could just as well end with an eruption. It's just impossible to tell right now.' Another concern is melting under the ice cap of Myrdalsjokull glacier, where Katla sits, which, if it occurred, would cause a glacial outburst flood. Ms Jonsdottir added, 'This could just as well die down, and nothing would result. We simply can't say at this stage.' Katla has been showing signs of restlessness recently, with tremors in September exceeding the magnitude 3 mark The volcanoes in question are Katla, Hekla, Bararbunga and Grimsvotn three of which have already erupted in the last 20 years Despite the fears of Katla erupting, Ms Jonsdottir added: 'I think we're all ready for her when she comes. This is well organized.' Hekla Hekla, otherwise known as the 'Gateway to Hell', erupted in 2000, sending a cloud of ash up to six kilometres high Hekla, otherwise known as the 'Gateway to Hell' is located in the southern part of the country and has been quiet for sixteen years. But data collected in June last year revealed it is building up magma, and its internal pressure is currently higher than before its last two previous eruptions. The volcano has erupted approximately once every 10 years, from 1970 to 2000, but has remained dormant ever since. Professor Einarsson told Icelandic news agency Visir, that people should stop visiting the volcano, which is a popular tourist destination, due to an increased risk of eruption. 'Hekla is a dangerous volcano,' said Professor Einarsson. 'We could be looking at a major disaster when the next eruption begins if we are not careful.' Hekla is located in the southern part of the country and has been quiet for sixteen years. But data collected in June last year revealed it is building up magma The 4,892-foot (1,491-metre) mountain last erupted in February 2000. 'Hekla is ready at any moment,' Professor Einarsson said. 'There are also 20-30 planes full of passengers flying right over the top of Hekla every day,' he warns. Bararbunga Bararbunga is the most recently-active volcano of the four. In 2014, a record-breaking volcanic eruption spewed lava and ash over Iceland's Highlands for nearly six months, leaving behind the largest caldera formation ever observed. THE RECORD-BREAKING BARDARBUNGA ERUPTION Iceland's Met Office issued a 'red alert' at the end of August 2014 after the Bardarbunga volcano, which lies underneath the Vatnajokull glacier, experienced a 'small' eruption. The aviation threat was reduced months later, though scientists at the time warned there was still gas contamination in the area around the eruption site. The researchers say the subsidence was spurred by the intrusion of underground magma, 12 kilometers below the surface Bardarbunga is a large central volcano lying underneath Iceland's Vatnajokull glacier, in the centre of the country. It contains a 2,296ft-deep (700 metre) caldera, hidden beneath ice, covered in extensive flank fissures, from where the majority eruptions take place. The most recent eruption began in August 2014, and lasted until February 2015. The Veidivotn fissure extends for over 62 miles (100km) to the south west, almost reaching Torfajokull volcano, while the Trollagigar fissure extends 31 (50km) to the north east, towards the Askja volcano. Advertisement The Bardarbunga eruption was the strongest of its kind in Europe in more than 240 years, and released two cubic kilometres of volcanic material. The volcano has been showing signs of restlessness once again, with several earthquakes measuring magnitude three or over. This suggests that magma could be building up below the surface, which could lead to another eruption soon. Grimsvotn Grimsvotn is very near Bardarbunga, and is likely to be fuelled by the same source of magma. In 2011, Grimsvotn erupted, sending a huge plume of ash into the skies, that led to several flights being grounded. Like its neighbour, Grimsvotn has seen seismic activity steadily rising, which suggests that it could erupt again in the near future. While all four volcanoes are closely monitor by geophysicists, it is very hard to predict which will erupt, exactly when and the extent of the eruption. In a move that could be lifted straight from science fiction, workers at a Belgian marketing firm are being offered the chance to have microchips implanted in their bodies. The chips contain personal information and provide access to the company's IT systems and headquarters, replacing existing ID cards. The controversial devices raise questions about personal security and safety, including whether they may allow the movements of people with implants to be tracked. Scroll down for video Belgian marketing firm NewFusion is offering its staff the chance to replace their existing ID cards with RFID chips implanted under their skin WHAT ARE RFID CHIPS? Radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are about the same size as a grain of rice. They store personal security information which can be transmitted over short distances to special receivers. They can already be found in contactless cards - including the Oyster system in London. They are also similar to the chips implanted in pets. It is believed there are 10,000 people across the world using microchip technology inside their bodies. Advertisement NewFusion, a marketing firm in Belgium, is offering the chip to its employees. The radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are about the same size as a grain of rice and store personal security information which can be transmitted over short distances to special receivers. RFID chips can already be found in contactless cards, including banks cards and the Oyster system which is used by more than 10 million people to pay for public transport in London. They are also similar to the chips implanted in pets. The ones used at NewFusion cost around 100 each (85 or $106) and are inserted between the thumb and index finger. A growing number of people and businesses are choosing to adopt the practice, known as biohacking. Implant kits can be bought online, and include a sterile injector with a pre-loaded chip and gauze for wound care. The chips can be used for a range of applications, from allowing access to properties to logging into computers or even starting motor vehicles. It is believed there are 10,000 people across the world using the microchip technology inside their bodies. The chips used at NewFusion, which cost around 100 each (about 85), are inserted between the thumb and index finger as shown on this x-ray scan NewFusion is not the first company to offer RFID implants to its staff. In 2015, a Swedish company implanted microchips in its staff which allowed them to use the photocopier, open security doors and even pay for their lunch. Hannes Sjoblad, the chief disruption officer at the Swedish bio-hacking group BioNyfiken, which implanted the chips into the Epicenter workers, told The Times: 'We already interact with with technology all the time. 'Today it's a bit messy - we need pin codes and passwords - wouldn't it be easy to just touch with your hand? 'We want to be able to understand this technology before big corporates and big government come to us and say everyone should get chipped - the tax authority chip, the Google or Facebook chip.' First-born children are smarter than their younger siblings, according to new research. Economists at the University of Edinburgh have waded into the age-old debate and concluded that first-borns have a higher IQ test score than their siblings as early as age one. Researchers said the findings could be explained by first-born children receiving more mental stimulation and support in developing thinking skills from their parents during their early years. Economists at the University of Edinburgh have concluded that first-borns have a higher IQ test score than their siblings as early as age one (stock image) The findings, published in the Journal of Human Resources, could help explain the so-called birth order effect when older siblings in a family enjoy better wages and more education in later life, according to researchers. The study, conducted in partnership with Analysis Group and the University of Sydney, examined data from the US Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth collected by the US Bureau of Labour Statistics. Almost 5,000 children were observed from pre-birth to 14 years old on their family background and economic conditions. Every two years they were assessed on skills including reading and picture vocabulary. The tests included reading recognition, such as matching letters, naming names and reading single words aloud. Researchers applied statistical methods to the economic data to analyse how parental behaviour such as smoking and drinking during pregnancy was related to their child's test score. It was found that mothers took 'higher risks' during the pregnancy of latter-born children. The findings, published in the Journal of Human Resources, could help explain the so-called birth order effect when older siblings in a family enjoy better wages and more education in later life (stock image) Parents also offered less mental stimulation to younger siblings and took part in fewer activities such as reading, crafts and playing musical instruments. The findings showed that advantages enjoyed by first born siblings start from just after birth to three years of age. Parents changed their behaviour as subsequent children were born. Dr Ana Nuevo-Chiquero, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Economics, said: 'Our results suggest that broad shifts in parental behaviour are a plausible explanation for the observed birth order differences in education and labour market outcomes.' They are the world's oldest biblical manuscripts, yet researchers believe that many Dead Sea Scrolls lie undiscovered. In the hunt to find the precious relics, researchers have discovered a new cave near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Although the cave does not hold any scrolls, it contains many hints that it once did, including broken jars and iron pickaxe heads, which suggest looters may have stolen the manuscripts. Scroll down for video Researchers have discovered a new cave near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Although it does not contain any scrolls, it does have hints that it once did, including leather binding (pictured) The cave lies on the cliffs west of Qumran, near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology discovered the cave, which is the first found in over 60 years. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology discovered the cave, which is the first found in over 60 years Two of the researchers working in the excavation are pictured sifting through dirt and rocks at the site During an excavation of the site, the researchers discovered numerous storage jars and lids hidden in niches along the walls, which date back to the Second Temple period. Fragments of scroll wrappings, a string that tied the scrolls, and a piece of leather that was part of a scroll were also found. The jars were all broken and their contents removed, and the discovery of a pair of iron pickaxe heads from the 1950s suggests the cave was looted. THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS: THE GREATEST FIND OF THE 20TH CENTURY Discovered between between 1946 and 1956, the Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 ancient manuscripts containing parts of what is now known as the Hebrew Bible, as well as a range of extra-biblical documents. They were first found by shepherd Muhammed Edh-Dhib, as he searched for a stray among the limestone cliffs at Khirbet Qumran on the shores of the Dead Sea in what was then British Mandate Palestine - now the West Bank. The story goes that in a cave in the dark crevice of a steep rocky hillside, Muhammed hurled a stone into the dark interior and was startled to hear the sound of breaking pots. Venturing inside, the young Bedouin found a mysterious collection of large clay jars, in some of which he found old scrolls, some wrapped in linen and blackened with age. The texts are of great historical and religious significance and include the earliest known surviving copies of biblical and extra-biblical documents, as well as preserving evidence of diversity in late Second Temple Judaism. Dated to various ranges between 408BC and 318AD, they are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Nabataean, mostly on parchment, but with some written on papyrus and bronze. The scrolls are traditionally divided into three groups. 'Biblical' manuscripts, which are copies of texts from the Hebrew Bible comprise 40 per cent of the haul. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a caves in the limestone cliffs at Khirbet Qumran (pictured) Other religious manuscripts, including known documents from the Second Temple period like the books of Enoch, Jubilees, Tobit, and Sirach, that were now included in the Bible comprise 30 per cent of the identified scrolls. The so-called 'Sectarian' manuscripts - previously unknown documents that shed light on the beliefs of Jewish groups of the time - like the Community Rule, War Scroll, Pesher on Habakkuk, and the Rule of the Blessing, make up the remaining 30 per cent. While some of the writings have survived as nearly intact scrolls, most of the archive consists of thousands of parchment and papyrus fragments. Advertisement Until now, experts believed that there were only 11 Dead Sea Scroll caves. Dr Oren Gutfeld, who led the study, said: 'This exciting excavation is the closest we've come to discovering new Dead Sea scrolls in 60 years. 'Until now, it was accepted that Dead Sea scrolls were found only in 11 caves at Qumran, but now there is no doubt that this is the 12th cave. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology discovered the cave, which is the first found in over 60 years During an excavation of the site, the researchers discovered numerous storage jars and lids hidden in niches along the walls, which date back to the Second Temple period The finding of pottery and of numerous flint blades (left), arrowheads, and a decorated stamp seal made of carnelian, a semi-precious stone (right), also revealed that this cave was used in the Chalcolithic and the Neolithic periods 'Although at the end of the day no scroll was found, and instead we "only" found a piece of parchment rolled up in a jug that was being processed for writing, the findings indicate beyond any doubt that the cave contained scrolls that were stolen. 'The findings include the jars in which the scrolls and their covering were hidden, a leather strap for binding the scroll, a cloth that wrapped the scrolls, tendons and pieces of skin connecting fragments, and more.' The finding of pottery and of numerous flint blades, arrowheads, and a decorated stamp seal made of carnelian, a semi-precious stone, also revealed that this cave was used in the Chalcolithic and the Neolithic periods. Fragments of scroll wrappings, a string that tied the scrolls, and a piece of leather that was part of a scroll were also found The researchers believe the findings indicate beyond any doubt that the cave contained scrolls that were stolen The excavation was part of a larger project, called 'Operation Scroll', which launched last year. Israel Hasson, Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said: 'The important discovery of another scroll cave attests to the fact that a lot of work remains to be done in the Judean Desert and finds of huge importance are still waiting to be discovered. 'We are in a race against time as antiquities thieves steal heritage assets worldwide for financial gain. 'The State of Israel needs to mobilize and allocate the necessary resources in order to launch a historic operation, together with the public, to carry out a systematic excavation of all the caves of the Judean Desert.' The findings include the jars in which the scrolls and their covering were hidden, a leather strap for binding the scroll, a cloth that wrapped the scrolls (pictured), tendons and pieces of skin connecting fragments The cave lies on the cliffs west of Qumran, near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea It appears that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 fiasco is not over yet. A minor fire broke out at the factory that manufactures the malicious batteries, which caused numerous handsets to explode. The event occurred at a Samsung SDI plant in the Chinese city of Tianjin, in an area of the facility used for waste - firefighters reported it was a batch of lithium-ion batteries that triggered the fire. Scroll down for videos A 'minor fire' broke out at a Samsung SDI plant in the Chinese city of Tianjin. Officials said the fire has since been extinguished and no casualties or significant damages to the factory have been reported BATTERY FLAWS Samsung revealed the results of its own investigation to the issues surrounding the Galaxy Note 7 handsets last month. The firm blamed two separate battery issues for the fires that hit its devices. The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Advertisement Officials announced that the fire has since been extinguished and no casualties or significant damages to the factory were reported. The fire comes just a month after Samsung revealed 'irregularly sized' batteries were the issue that caused dozens of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire. The firm said the batteries did not properly fit in the devices and manufacture issues from a second battery supplier were also to blame. Not only did this blunder force the South Korean firm to recall 2.5 million smartphones, but some of its customers were also injured. And now it seems the South Korean firm is being haunted by their mistake. Pictures showing plumes of black smoke rising from what is said to be a plant operated by the affiliate of Samsung in Tianjin were first spotted on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, reports Bloomberg. However, spokesman Shin Yong-doo told Bloomberg that the fire did not affect production and only occurred at a waste depository. The local fire department, that was present on the scene, said on its blog that the fire was caused by batteries inside the facility. The material that caught fire was lithium batteries inside the production workshops and some half-finished products, the Wuqing branch of the Tianjin Fire Department said in a post on its verified Sina Weibo account. Pictures showing plumes of black smoke rising from a plant operated by the affiliate of Samsung in Tianjin Firefighters at the scene told reporters it was a completed batch of lithium-ion batteries that triggered the fire. And it took 110 firefighters and 19 trucks to put out the fire A Samsung SDI spokesperson said that the fire did not affect production and only occurred at a waste depository SAMSUNG'S RETURN POLICY Samsung started sending out special fire resistant boxes for customers to return their Galaxy Note 7 handsets - just hours after the company announced it was stopping production of the faulty device and was offering everyone their money back in October. The kits contained a series of boxes and protective bags, including one with a special fire resistant coating, and protective gloves. How to return your Galaxy Note 7: Samsung is shipping out kits with a series of boxes, and protective bags, including one with a special fire resistant coating. The inner box has a ceramic fiber lining, and Samsung says gloves must be used around it They also contained a special warning that the handset can only be shipped by ground due to fears it could explode in the air. The inner box has a ceramic fiber lining that is about a quarter-inch thick, which covers the entire interior. To protect users from these fibers, Samsung provides the blue gloves so that users who are sensitive to such things would not suffer some type of reaction. 'Supplied safety gloves should be worn throughout as 'some individuals might be sensitive to the ceramic fiber paper lining the Recovery Box' the instructions read. Tech site xdadevelopers was one of the first to receive the kit, and posted a 'reboxing' video. 'We received this package from Samsung at XDA HQ to use to return our Note 7. It contains gloves, a thermal-insulated box, and detailed instructions,' the site said. Advertisement The statement also noted that it took 110 firefighters and 19 trucks to put out the fire. SDI is set to start supplying batteries for Samsung's upcoming flagship smartphone Galaxy S8 in the first quarter of this year. However, the fire on Wednesday may have some consumers questioning the safety of the batteries and wonder if the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 curse will continue. Within a few days of the launch on August 2, 2016, reports surfaced that Note 7 smartphones were bursting into flames. SDI is set to supply batteries for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S8 handset in the first quarter of this year. However, the fire on Wednesday may have some consumers questioning the safety of the batteries and wonder if the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 curse will continue SDI is set to supply batteries for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S8 hadnset in the first quarter of this year. However, the fire on Wednesday may have some consumers questioning the safety of the batteries and wonder if the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 curse will continue Just a month after the launch, mobile chief D.J. Koh held a press conference in Seoul, South Korea where he announced the recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 devices that would eventually be replaced with a new and safe Note 7. In the end, the problem that plagued the handsets batter cost the firm at least $5 billion. When Samsung took the stage in New York to unveil the Galaxy Note 7, it used the opportunity to take a stab at Apple's upcoming iPhone 7. Within a few days of the launch on August 2, 2016, reports surfaced that Note 7 smartphones were bursting into flames GIRL, 13, SUFFERS MINOR BURN FROM NOTE 7 REPLACEMENT A Minnesota father says his daughter suffered a minor burn to her thumb when her replacement Samsung smartphone melted in her hand last week. Andrew Zuis of Farmington, Minn., said his daughter, Abby, was holding the Galaxy Note 7 in her left hand Friday when it melted. Zuis saidthat the family had acquired the new phone on the day the replacement phones were released. There had been no problem with the original phone, he said. 'It's very fortunate Abby was not injured and was holding the phone,' Zuis said. 'If it was in her pocket, I think it would have been a whole different situation. I'm just very disappointed in Samsung and their product.' Zuis provided KSTP-TV with receipts showing that the family bought a Galaxy Note 7 in August and then exchanged it Sept. 21 after Samsung announced the recall. Andrew Zuis, of Farmington, Minn., showed the replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone belonging to his 13-year-old daughter Abby, that melted in her hand 'She's done with Note 7s right now,' Zuis said of his daughter. A Samsung representative told KSTP that an investigation is underway. 'We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter,' the representative said in a statement. Advertisement 'Want to know what else it comes with?' teased Samsung's vice-president of marketing, Justin Denison. 'An audio jack. I'm just saying.' The major blunder has somewhat tarnished the Samsung brand and has sparked many concerns among government and regulatory officials. Another leak of the highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S8 has surfaced and it confirms multiple rumors that have been circling the web for months. The handset in the photo is designed with a curved display, a 3.5mm audio jack, a Type-C USB and one speaker poking out of the bottom right corner. Also keeping in-line with previous speculations, the image suggests that Samsung has tossed out the physical home button in order to make room for a larger screen. Scroll down for video Another leak of the highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S8 has surfaced. The handset has a curved display, a 3.5mm audio jack, a Type-C USB and one speaker poking out of the bottom right corner. And the physical home button has been removed SAMSUNG LEAK The latest Samsung Galaxy S8 leak confirms many rumors that have been circling the web for months. The alleged smartphone is designed with a curved edge-to-edge screen, which means Samsung has tossed out the home button. It shows a the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, which was rumored to have been removed from the design. There is also a USB Type-C port, a single speaker at the bottom and two antennas running along the sides as well. Advertisement For many Samsung customers, the Galaxy S8 is not just the firms next phone, but a chance for the smartphone maker to redeem themselves for the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco - 2.5 million devices were recalled after reports that some were exploding. And although other rumors speculate the handset wont be out until mid-April, it has been one of the most talked about devices for the past few months. The new leak was first reported on by Android Headlines, which noted that the source really did not share a lot of info along with this image. However, the details in the image are clear and give the public an idea of what to they could expect with the Samsung Galaxy S8. The handset has a curved edge-to-edge display, which is said to be the largest smartphone screen Samsung has yet to produce. And this isnt the first time a leak has shown a gold-colored phone. There are some ports placed at the bottom and the entire handset appears to be made of metal and glass. In December, rumors surfaced that suggests the South Korean firm had plans to remove the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, but the new leaks point to just the opposite. SAMSUNG'S GALAXY S8 RUMORS New renders of what could be Samsung Galaxy S8 have surfaced and they suggest the device will incorporate a dual-lens camera design and remove the home button for an edge-to-edge screen. It's speculated that Samsung could design a fingerprint-sensing display or place the feature behind the tempered glass. Because levels of concentration will be increased with a 'full screen', pictures and videos should be much clearer and even go so far as to produce a 3D effect. Rumors suggest that pixels of the dual-cameras will support 16 megapixels and 8 megapixels. Another new addition to the Galaxy S8 could also be an upgraded Application process (AP) that corresponds to handset's brain. Sources say Samsung is going to start mas-producing 10-nano Snapdragon 830s, which will be used for Galaxy S8, at the end of this year at the earliest. The artist impression also shows the handset in four vibrant shades of red, blue, purple and yellow - another feature yet to be seen by Samsung users. Advertisement It was also speculated that the flagship phone would be equipped with reversible USB Type-C port for easy connectivity including hassle-free charging and this port is shown in the real-life photo. There is also a visible microphone positioned to the right of the charging port and two antenna lines can also be spotted on the sides of the leak. A similar photo was posted to Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, last month that also shows the home button has been removed suggesting a fingerprint scanner is either on the back or embedded under the glass. A similar photo (pictured) was posted to Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, last month that also shows the home button has been removed suggesting a fingerprint scanner is either on the back or embedded under the glass TWO MAJOR FLAWS The first issue was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second round affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Advertisement However, because of these missing features SamMobile questions if the photo is a product of some Photoshop wizardry. Typically, when you head into settings, they dont automatically hide, reports Josh L. On the other hand, Samsung could have developed a full-screen mode that manually activates, which allows for an end-to-end screen. If this is in fact true, then users would simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen and the keys will appear. In addition to what the Galaxy S8 could look like, other rumors reveal Samsung is anticipating a high demand once the handset hits the market in mid-April, which was first revealed by The Investor. Some outlets have claimed that the exact date has been set for April 18. But, Samsung has not confirmed any of the rumors. We cannot confirm the details of the Galaxy S8 launch, a Samsung spokesperson said. According to the report, the firm is working toward a 60-million shipment goal much higher than some of its more recent Galaxy S devices. The report says Samsung will begin mass production of the S8 in March after receiving the parts from its main vendors in February, including camera iris scanner module maker Partron and camera lens firm Sekonix. As the release date of the S8 has been postponed to mid-April, Samsung seems to have set a more ambitious goal than before to make up for the loss caused by the Note model, a source told The Investor. The days of being anxious about your body odor are over. A Japanese copier maker has unveiled a pocket-sized device that senses everything from smelly feet to under arm odor - and alerts you about unpleasant smells via an app. Called KunKun, or 'sniff,sniff' in Japanese, the gadget detects specific chemicals that cause greasy smells or are associated with the scent of rancid cooking oil and a sweaty-locker room. Scroll down for videos Konica Minolta designed a pocket-sized device that can sense everything from smelly feet to under arm odor. Called KunKun, or 'sniff,sniff' in Japanese, the gadget works by detecting chemicals associate with bad smells and warns users via their smartphone HOW DOES IT WORK? KunKun, or 'sniff,sniff' in Japanese, is a pocket-sized device that is designed to detect certain chemicals that cause body odor. The gadget connects to the user's smartphone in order to calculate its findings and report if they are giving off an unpleasant smell. KunKun uses its built-in sensors to search for ammonia and isovaleric acid, which can create that sweaty locker room smell. It also picks up 2-nonenal, which produces a greasy odor and diacetyl a chemical that makes you smell like 'rancid cooking oil'. Advertisement KunKun was developed by Konica Minolta, but is the brainchild of Hiroshi Akiyama, 43, who brought the idea to the firm after he began to worry about his body odor as it becomes a problem for a lot of men in their 40s, reports The Wall Street Journal. 'It's difficult to recognize your own smell,' said Daisuke Koda, 42 years old, who had a hand in making the hand-held device. 'We can give relief by telling people how smelly they are and freeing them from the anxiety of not knowing.' KunKun is small enough to fit in the coat pocket, which lets users take with them on the go and discretely. Users simply place KunKun on their body and the device goes to work by sniffing out specific chemicals. Konica Minolta explained that the device is capable of picking up chemicals that cause three types of body odor, which includes the sweaty-locker room smell. The device uses its built-in sensors to search for ammonia and isovaleric acid, chemicals that cause this smell, then reports back to the user via an a companion app. It can also detect 2-nonenal, which produces a greasy odor and diacetyl a chemical that makes you smell like 'rancid cooking oil'. The 'sniff, sniff' product is a joint effort with researchers at the Osaka Institute of Technology. And the firm is working to advance the product to detect pet smells, cigarette odors and when you are wearing too much perfume. The device is set to go on sale this summer and is expected to be a few hundred dollars. The Japanese view on cleanliness is taught to them at an early age and in a way that makes it seem like a virtue. Some firms in Japan have even gone so far as to crack down on 'smell harassment' by ordering employees to brush their teeth at lunch and use deodorant so it may not be surprised the country has a new device to pick up smells. The device is capable of picking up chemicals that cause three types of body odor, which includes the sweaty-locker room smell, a greasy odor and a rancid cooking oil scent Glasses manufacturer Owndays Co has put such an emphasis on odour care, it is included in its dress code and employee appraisals. After receiving a complaint from a customer about store staff smelling like cigarettes as they adjusted glasses, bosses set about stamping the problem out. Store staff members are instructed to brush their teeth after lunch or a break, to refrain from using perfume - but not deodorant - and to avoid eating strong-smelling food before or during work. TEENS IMMUNE TO THEIR SMELL Adolescents are less likely to notice the smell of sweat, cigarette smoke and soap, according to a new study. However, youngsters so often content to live in fetid bedrooms with overflowing washing baskets have quite sensitive noses when it comes to picking up the scent of junk food and ketchup. Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark tested dozens of common odors on 410 people aged under 50. The study published in the journal Chemical Senses provides a possible explanation for why teenagers are seemingly immune to the smell in their rooms. It claims that youngsters may need to become accustomed to odours over many years before they begin to register prominently. Lead author Alexander Fjaelstad assistant lecturer at the universitys Flavour Institute said: Our findings in adolescents are in line with the hypothesis that children may lack odor-specific knowledge which accumulates throughout life. Though odors are potent triggers of autobiographical memories from as far back as the first decade of life and in a way closely linked to memory the ability to name odors is an acquired skill that takes years to master. Justine Roberts, chief executive of the parenting website Mumsnet, claimed the findings were unlikely to resolve long-standing stand-offs between mother and fathers and their offspring. She said: This seems like a deeply unfair distribution of talents. When it comes to untidy bedrooms, surely parents would benefit more from the superpower of being unable to smell. Meanwhile, teenagers could perhaps usefully develop the ability to ferret out ancient tortilla chips from under a pile of mildewed bedding. Advertisement 'Smells can worsen the impression of our stores,' a company official told Mainichi. 'There are many positive sides to the measures, too, such as an increase in employees who, concerned about cigarette breath, are trying to quit smoking.' Another tactic used by employers is sending staff to seminars like the one put on last month by men's cosmetics company Mandom Corp where 40 workers from SoftBank went along. The aim was to teach employees about the causes of body odor and how to use deodorants properly. Advertisement Mankind had taken a major step towards leaving the orbit of Earth for the first time since 1972. The European Space Agency says it will contribute key components for a future NASA mission to take humans around the moon within the next few years. Astronauts haven't gone beyond a low orbit around Earth since 1972, when NASA ended its Apollo program. Scroll down for video The mission will use NASA's Orion capsule to carry up to four astronauts around the moon the first time humans have left low orbit since 1972. The mission is set for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, as early as 2021 and will include up to four astronauts ORION'S NEXT TEST Nasa's Orion stacked atop a 70 metric ton Space Launch System rocket will launch from a newly refurbished Kennedy Space Center in November 2018. The uncrewed Orion will travel into Distant Retrograde Orbit, breaking the distance record reached by the most remote Apollo spacecraft, and then 30,000 miles farther out (275,000 total miles). The mission will last 22 days and will test system readiness for future crewed operations. Advertisement The European Space Agency and aerospace company Airbus have already delivered a propulsion and supply module for an unmanned flight of NASA's new Orion spacecraft next year. The agency said today that it and Airbus have now agreed with NASA to build a module for a second, manned mission that will fly around the moon as early as 2021. The Service Module provides propulsion, electrical power, water and thermal control as well as maintaining the oxygen and nitrogen atmosphere for the crew. The mission is set for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, as early as 2021 and will include up to four astronauts the first time humans have left low orbit since 1972. Crew size and composition will be determined closer to launch. The mission will see Orion follow three progressively elongated orbits to reach past the Moon and return to Earth, faster than any manned spacecraft has reentered our atmosphere before. ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight, Dave Parker, explained the mission when it was first revealed last year, saying, 'We are excited to be a part of this historic mission and appreciate NASA's trust in us to help extend humanity's exploration farther afield into our Solar System.' The first Orion with the service module will be launched in late 2018 on NASA's new Space Launch System. The month-long mission will be unmanned and will orbit the Moon before returning to Earth, testing the spacecraft and rocket before carrying astronauts. The European Service Module is designed, built and assembled by a team of companies from 11 countries led by Airbus Space & Defence, based on proven technology from ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle that flew to the International Space Station five times with supplies. HOW THE HISTORIC MANNED MISSION WILL WORK The mission plan for the flight is built around a profile called a multi-translunar injection (MTLI), or multiple departure burns, and includes a free return trajectory from the moon. Basically, the spacecraft will circle our planet twice while periodically firing its engines to build up enough speed to push it toward the moon before looping back to Earth. After launch, the spacecraft and upper stage of the rocket will first orbit Earth twice to ensure its systems are working normally. Orion will reach a circular orbit at an altitude of 100 nautical miles and last 90 minutes. The move or burn to get the spacecraft into a specific orbit around a planet or other body in space is called orbital insertion. Following the first orbit, the rockets powerful exploration upper stage (EUS) and four RL-10 engines will perform an orbital raise, which will place Orion into a highly elliptical orbit around our planet. The mission will send crew around the backside of the moon where they will ultimately create a figure eight before Orion returns to Earth. Instead of requiring propulsion on the return, the spacecraft will use the moons gravitational pull like a slingshot to bring Orion home, which is the free return portion of the trajectory. Crew will fly thousands of miles beyond the moon, which is an average of 230,000 miles beyond the Earth. This is called the partial translunar injection. This second, larger orbit will take approximately 24 hours with Orion flying in an ellipse between 500 and 19,000 nautical miles above Earth. For perspective, the International Space Station orbits Earth from about 250 miles above. Once the integrated vehicle completes these two orbits, the EUS will separate from Orion and any payloads selected and mounted inside the rockets universal stage adapter will be released. The payloads will then fly on their own to conduct their unique missions. After the EUS separation, the crew will do a unique test of Orions critical systems. They will gather and evaluate engineering data from their day-long orbit before using Orions service module to complete a second and final propulsion move called the translunar injection (TLI) burn. This second burn will put Orion on a path toward the moon, and will conclude the multi-translunar injection portion of the mission. Advertisement The mission and collaboration with NASA is part of ESA's vision to prepare for future voyages of exploration further into the Solar System, and continues the spirit of international cooperation that forms the foundation of the International Space Station. Earlier this month NASA engineers simulated what it will be like inside of the Orion spacecraft during launch when it takes off on its first manned mission as early as 2021. The mission plan for the flight is built around a profile called a multi-translunar injection (MTLI), or multiple departure burns, and includes a free return trajectory from the moon. Subjects in the simulation were fitted with advanced crew escape suits as they carried out tests to determine how well they could see the display and controls as the craft vibrated atop the Space Launch System rocket. The first mission is set to launch in 2018, and while this will be uncrewed, the space agency has plans to send astronauts aboard Orion just four years from now. The first Orion with the service module will be launched in late 2018 on NASA's new Space Launch System (pictured). The researchers at NASA are working to understand how Orion's launch vibrations will affect an astronaut's ability to see the displays and operate controls. In the simulation, subjects sat in the latest design of the seat, atop the crew impact attenuation system. According to the space agency, the achievement marks the first time this hardware was brought together for this type of assessment. These efforts will help to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its first manned mission, which could come as soon as 2021. In November, NASA and the US Navy revealed the success of a recent test in which the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego recovered the capsule from water. Known as the Underway Recovery Test-5, it was part of a U.S. government interagency effort to safely retrieve the Orion crew module, which is capable of carrying humans into deep space. This marks the second time a URT has taken place aboard San Diego, and comes amid final preparations for the Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) in 2018. 'For me it was a lot of fun being part of the testing because I was onboard this ship when we did the first URT and took the test capsule out to sea in February 2014,' said San Diego Commanding Officer Capt. Carl W. Meuser. 'On that trip, these smart folks from NASA were able to collect data and understand the environment much better, and they designed systems accordingly. 'So it's been fun for me to see the progression of NASA's project from the first time we went to sea together, to this very successful testing that we just finished.' With their main role of conducting amphibious operations, San Antonio-class ships have many unique capabilities that make them an ideal partner to support NASA. The most important capability was the ability to recover the test capsule using the ship's well deck, which was originally designed to launch and recover amphibious craft. San Diego also has the ability to carry and deploy multiple small boats which aid in the recovery process and contains an advanced medical facility for the returning astronauts. Subjects in the simulation were fitted with advanced crew escape suits as they carried out tests to determine how well they could see the display and controls as the craft vibrated atop the Space Launch System rocket URT-5 testing consisted of launching the test capsule from the well deck, then carefully maneuvering the ship alongside the capsule at slow speed. Then, divers attached lines from the small boats to steady and guide the capsule toward San Diego, where a NASA-designed winch hauled the capsule into the well deck. The test allowed NASA and the Navy to continue to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in real, open ocean environment before conducting actual recovery operations for EM-1 and with additional coordination, subsequent exploration missions. According to Jones, the next test will take place aboard another seasoned NASA recovery ship, USS Anchorage (LPD 23). Future tests will eventually get NASA and the Navy to arrive at a safe and more efficient way to recover the capsule for the 2021 mission involving a flying crew. The Orion spacecraft is designed to meet the evolving needs of our nation's deep space exploration program for decades to come. It will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. Look to your right: There's the Pillar of Light, a towering monument shaped like a vanilla wafer cookie. A company was allegedly allowed to overcharge the equivalent of millions of dollars for steel used in its construction. Look to your left: A sculpture commemorating 43 teachers' college students who were 'disappeared' in 2014 in the southern state of Guerrero, by police officers allegedly in league with drug cartel thugs and corrupt local officials. This is the newest addition to the ubiquitous open-air tour buses crisscrossing Mexico City each day: The Corruptour, which instead of taking folks to historic plazas and churches, shines an unflattering spotlight on the murky world of graft. The tour bus Corruptour runs through the streets in Mexico City. This is the newest addition to the ubiquitous open-air tour buses that crisscross Mexico City each day: The Corruptour, which instead of taking folks to historic plazas and churches, shines an unflattering spotlight on the murky world of graft 'The goal is to awaken Mexicans' consciousness about the problem of corruption, which is so serious and seems to be getting more and more expansive,' said Tania Sanchez, a 44-year-old volunteer guide. 'It's about informing the people who ride about practices of corruption, illustrating it with the places we visit only in a fun way.' Mexico ranked 123rd out of 176 countries on Transparency International's 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index, released last month, and people here commonly cite graft as a major concern along with other issues like security. Corruption in Mexico runs the gamut from daily annoyances a police officer shaking you down for a few bucks to avoid a traffic ticket, a city inspector demanding a bribe not to shut down a business to shocking scandals involving government contracts worth billions of dollars. 'The goal is to awaken Mexicans' consciousness about the problem of corruption, which is so serious and seems to be getting more and more expansive,' said Tania Sanchez, a 44-year-old volunteer guide The Corruptour first launched in 2014 in the northern city of Monterrey. A week ago it began offering free, twice-every-Sunday runs through the capital, financed entirely by private donations and with what organizers say was an initial $5,000 budget. During the 90-minute tour, recordings piped through speakers mock the seamy histories behind each of 10 stops. Guides invite passengers to share their own experiences with graft, and to discuss strategies to fight back. They also engage with bemused bystanders along the route, coaxing pedestrians and taxi drivers to join in chanting 'No more corruption!' Stephanie Montero, a 34-year-old medical worker from Cuernavaca, recalled how during her social service, 'you saw how they gave us medicines that perhaps were not necessary, because some deal had been done with some company'. Those ended up spoiling, while medicines in daily demand were in short supply, she added. 'I think (this bus tour) makes it more visible so that people know about it, and maybe it makes the politicians and the businesspeople who make these sorts of deals feel just a little bit bad,' Montero said. Corruptour's most notorious element the so-called White House, a mansion provided to President Enrique Pena Nieto's wife by a construction company that landed lucrative public works contracts isn't actually on the trip. Guides say it's too far from the starting point outside the National Museum of Anthropology; instead the bus goes to the neighborhood's edge so passengers get a taste for its fancy homes while they hear about the case. Other 'lowlights' include the Social Security Institute, where alleged malfeasance in medical spending is discussed; the national Senate; the Mexico City prosecutor's office; and the headquarters of the country's largest TV empire. Many Mexican media outlets rely heavily on government advertising, and critics say that makes them tame entities uninterested in holding the wealthy and powerful accountable. During the 90-minute tour, recordings piped through speakers mock the seamy histories behind each of 10 stops The concept has also been tried outside of Mexico. In London, a 'Kleptocracy Tour' was launched last year to take people to opulent estates owned by Russian oligarchs. In Curitiba, Brazil, there's a four-hour walking tour dedicated to a corruption scandal swirling around state oil company Petrobras. And for years, tourists have been shuttled around Medellin in Colombia to visit the former stomping grounds of the late drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Organizers of the Corruptour say they are in a three-month pilot phase to gauge interest and hope to continue beyond that. On Sunday both scheduled tours were full with dozens turned away. According to Corruptour's reservations webpage, the next trip with available space is April 2. Adrian Emigdio, an 18-year-old college journalism student, was among the few who scored a spot last weekend. 'I think this is a great idea because many people don't know the places that are emblematic' of corruption,' Emigdio said. 'I think this is a very agreeable, very fun tour with lots of information... Above all, we have to raise awareness about what is going on in our country.' Advertisement Spectacular drone footage has captured the incredible beauty of Game of Thrones locations from above. The stunning aerial views show a geyser shooting water high into the air in Iceland as well as the intricate patterns the land makes when looked at from a dragon's eye view. It's no small wonder that James Bond films, Prometheus and Oblivion were all also filmed in this spectacular landscape. Scroll down for video Spectacular drone footage has captured the incredible beauty of Game of Thrones locations from above The stunning aerial views show a geyser shooting water high into the air in Iceland as well as the intricate patterns the land makes when looked at from a bird's eye view The video and pictures were taken in Norway and Iceland by Russian photographer and videographer Dmitry Bubonets, 26, from Moscow Bubonets said: 'In Norway, you may see stunning fjords, beautiful one-thousand-year-old stave churches and mountains. In Iceland, you would have a jaw-dropping experience watching black sand beaches, nature without any trees at all and stunning waterfalls. You can visit places where Prometheus, Oblivion, Game of Thrones and James Bond were filmed' This incredible image shows the contrast of the ash-grey volcanic land against the lush green countryside Other incredible images show the contrast of the ash grey volcanic land against the lush green countryside. The video and pictures were taken in Norway and Iceland by Russian photographer and videographer Dmitry Bubonets, 26, from Moscow. 'The locations are extremely beautiful,' he said. 'In Norway, you may see stunning fjords, beautiful one-thousand-year-old stave churches and mountains. 'In Iceland, you would have a jaw-dropping experience watching black sand beaches, nature without any trees at all and stunning waterfalls. You can visit places where Prometheus, Oblivion, Game of Thrones and James Bond were filmed. A scene from Game of Thrones season five, which was shot on location in Iceland. It shows Kit Harington as Jon Snow The photographer explained that there are more volcanoes in Iceland than the population of the country 'The landscape is not totally from this Earth. There are seemingly more volcanoes in Iceland than people! And that moss is so green compared to the gloomy cloudy weather outside that you may think that everything is Photoshopped.' Bubonets, who used a DJI Phantom 4 drone to shoot the footage, ran into some problems due to the bad weather in Scandinavia. 'The weather in Norway and especially in Iceland is very windy,' he said. 'When you rent a car in Iceland there are stickers everywhere in the car that you should hold the door otherwise a sudden blow of the wind can tear it away. Bubonets said that the wind in Iceland and Norway was so strong that it almost stopped his drone from flying 'As for piloting, you should be careful because of the wind once again. It won't turn your drone upside down, but once the wind was so strong that full throttle on my drone was only 0.2 meters/second when it should be around 24. 'So, the way home was almost impossible until I decided to increase the altitude. The wind was much stronger near the ground and I successfully returned to the starting point.' Bubonets hopes his footage can inspire people to travel to parts of the world they wouldn't otherwise consider. 'Don't sit at home or visit the same places,' he said. Bubonets hopes his footage can inspire people to travel to parts of the world they wouldn't otherwise consider Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams recently revealed on Radio 1 that she lives in constant fear of spilling the show's secrets Iceland and Norway are dream locations for TV and movie directors, with dramatic scenery as far as the eye can see 'Travel. There are new countries to see, new people to meet and new problems to encounter, which will only broaden your horizons and make you better.' Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams recently revealed on Radio 1 that she lives in constant fear of spilling the show's secrets. Although the British actress, 19, has starred in the hit HBO series since 2011, she is often left in the dark about her future storylines, but that doesn't stop her from speculating. Chatting to Nick Grimshaw on the Breakfast Show, the teen screen star admitted that she often had to monitor what she says in public for fear of being overheard. Game of Thrones season seven is set to premiere mid-2017 - and will introduce new characters Maisie explained: 'We go out for a drink and discuss (what's going to happen) but we have to watch what we're saying because you don't know who is listening to your conversation. 'Because we've been on this show since the beginning you forget that it's become so popular. 'So when you're sat chatting about possible storylines you're like, "Oh we better keep this quiet because people might actually think we know what's gonna happen even though we are speculating."' Game of Thrones season seven is set to premiere mid-2017. by NATALIE CLARKE, Daily Mail Stella McCartney has been reflecting bitterly in the past week on the cruel hand the fates have dealt her. Here she is, a star couturier in the full flow of creativity, and all people can do is snipe because her father is a multi-millionaire superstar. If her dad was just an ordinary bloke, so Stella's reckoning goes, her grand fashion empire would be able to flourish unhindered by the carping remarks that it was her parentage, not her talent, that got her where she is today. This, of course, is the bone of contention between Stella and a mounting chorus of critics, who feel that had it not been for the golden McCartney name she might not have been catapulted to the top of her profession at such a terrific speed. Stella begs to differ, and puts all criticism about her clothes down to simple jealousy. At 32, she heads her own glittering empire, Stella McCartney Ltd. There are three grand stores in the most fashionable locations in London, New York and Los Angeles. Is Stella's empire crumbling? Unfortunately, these mini-cathedrals to high fashion, adorned with artwork and chic sofas, are often bereft of customers and have the atmosphere of a mausoleum. So is Stella's empire crumbling? Her company's latest accounts certainly suggest all is not well, showing a 4.5 million deficit for 2002-2003, following a loss of 2.7million the year before. Sales in the UK were just 434,611. Unfortunately for Stella, these latest figures for her eponymous label have given further ammunition to those who say she isn't up to the job. In recent weeks, she has been criticised in public by designer Jeff Banks and model Elizabeth Jagger, daughter of Sir Mick and Jerry Hall. Banks, who has twice been British Designer of the Year, said: "Stella's clothes are very amateurish but then because of who her old man is, it doesn't seem to matter. "I don't wish Stella any harm, but I would still say, unequivocally, that she would not be in the position she is in if it hadn't been for her father." Earlier this week, it was the turn of 19-year-old Elizabeth Jagger to take up the cudgel. Miss Jagger, surely the epitome of the wealthy young "rock chick" to whom Stella's designs are targeted, said: "I think Stella is lazy in her designs. It's not enough just to rehash trouser suits." So how has Stella responded to this onslaught, which has been given credence by her company's dismal accounts? She is defiant. "She's basically saying her critics can get lost, although she sometimes expresses her feelings in stronger language than that," a friend told the Mail. In an interview given yesterday to defend herself, Stella refused to get into a public slanging match with Banks and Miss Jagger. Criticised by Lizzie Jagger "It's a human reaction to be hurt but I don't want to have any negative response. I wish them all the best." But she had this to say about the pros and cons of having such a famous father: "I'm not going to ask for sympathy and I'm not going to apologise for it. It's the product that counts." The product, though, is not selling as well as it might and, despite her bravado, the figures will be a great embarrassment to Stella, who is determined to "make it" on her own in the world without any help from the legendary McCartney name. She refuses to acknowledge that it has helped her. She thinks she's victimised "She thinks everyone's envious, especially journalists. She thinks she is being victimised simply because of who she is," says a source. "She says she has done it all on her own and gets angry when people suggest otherwise. "Her view is she can't help being born a McCartney and wishes people would just get over it. "She is very proud of the fact that she has learned her trade and can make a skirt out of a piece of cloth. "She says her bosses are not unhappy with her and she thinks she can do what she likes. As far as she is concerned, there isn't a problem." As Stella points out, she can always get her A-list mates such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow - whose fulsome figure in a McCartney creation in New York last week revealed her pregnancy - and Kate Moss to wear her clothes. So who cares about the hoi-polloi? Stella, it emerges, is firmly of the belief that Madonna was unaware of her identity when she first came to her studio. "She says she didn't even know who I was, so it was purely on my work that that relationship was founded," says Stella. The trouble is, her wealthy friends wear her clothes free of charge, which doesn't improve the balance sheets. So what has gone wrong? Some commentators think Stella's ideas can be rather odd and that she is prone to self-indulgent nostalgia trips. There was, for example, a recent regrettable homage to the Eighties - a notorious fashion decade - which brought with it an unfathomable penchant on Stella's part for leggings. Then came the boilersuit. Stella thinks it hip to revive such crimes against style, but it would seem few would agree with her. She currently has a thing for culottes. "Her mother used to wear them so she thinks they're really cool, but they haven't taken off," says a friend. Perhaps these styles might appeal to younger women, but they can't, as a rule, afford Stella's price tags - around 1,000 for a dress. Stella insists her clothes aren't that expensive and has said: "You can buy T-shirts or lingerie for 75 and shoes for 190." And so the Stella McCartney stores, all of which opened amid great fanfare this year - Madonna and Sadie Frost were at the West End opening; Demi Moore and Cate Blanchett brought film-star glamour to the LA party - are often wanting customers. Earlier this week, the West End store was practically empty. Over in Los Angeles, it was a similar story. "The shop assistants hang dejectedly around the windows looking desperately for people to wander in, which they don't," says one shopper. A newspaper which kept watch on Stella's three boutiques counted just seven sales in the course of a day - three in London and New York and one in Los Angeles. Stella's defence of the poor sales figures is that they are only represenative of the UK. But given the scarcity of customers, can there be much optimism that the sales figures in the States will be any better? Stella, as befitting the daughter of a multi-millionaire, says she does not lose sleep about when her company will go into the black. 'I don't lie awake at night worrying about money," she admits. But perhaps her bosses at Gucci do. One of Stella's problems, says a fashion insider, is that her "gigantic ego" stands in the way of her listening to advice. "Stella refuses to take anyone's opinion on board. She believes so much in her own talent that she will stick with her ideas because she has to be seen to be strong." But some friends think that behind the aggressive self-belief is a deep insecurity. "Stella has a vulnerable side," says a source. "She doesn't think she's very pretty. As a young girl she was quite chubby with red hair and freckles and she's convinced she's not attractive. "If you see her at a party and say she looks nice, she'll often say things like: 'Are you sure, do you really mean it?' And she's always going on about having been bullied at school. "She needs a lot of reassurance." That reassurance now comes in the form of Stella's new husband, publisher Alasdhair Willis, whom she married on the Isle of Bute in August - guests included Madonna and Guy Ritchie, Pierce Brosnan, Sting and Trudi Styler, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Stella's wedding dress, which she designed with her Gucci boss Tom Ford, was modelled on her late mother Linda's wedding outfit. Friends say the newlyweds are very happy and keen to start a family. "They've been trying for a baby although they're in no rush," says one. "Stella is pretty relaxed about the fact that nothing has happened yet." Another friend thinks that Willis is "under the thumb' and rarely contradicts his opinionated wife. 'What Stella wants Stella gets, and he agrees with her on everything. "They're very happy. She gets all the reassurance she needs from Alasdhair." Willis, says the friend, also appeals to the "essential middleclass core of Stella" who - ridiculously - likes to consider herself working class and takes celebrity friends to working men's cafes in Notting Hill and Primrose Hill, where they all hang out and feel agreeably "edgy" together. While Stella has found happiness with her new husband, she has finally accepted that her father's wife will always be part of his life. Before Sir Paul and Heather's marriage last year and the birth of baby Beatrice, in October, Stella had clung to the hope that the relationship would run out of steam. But she has begrudgingly had to concede that he is happy. When she returned from her honeymoon in America recently, she went straight round to see her baby sister, bearing the gift of a 95 cashmere blanket. "Since Beatrice came along Paul has been so happy and Stella can see that," says a friend, "and she is happy for him." Do we take it that Stella and Heather have made up and are now the best of friends? Hardly. Stella loathes Heather The loathing on Stella's part seems to be as strong as ever, but these days she appears not to show it as much. "Stella still thinks Heather is manipulative," says one who knows her. "Stella doesn't like her but the iceberg is melting a little. "She can see how happy her dad is and has to acknowledge that. And Paul has made it clear that he chose Heather as his wife and she has to respect that." Heather's view of Stella is similarly unambiguous. "She thinks Stella has been cushioned from real life and needs to grow up. "Heather thinks if Stella has a problem she should come out and say it. She can't be doing with icy glares and brooding silences. "Stella can be quite sulky, but Heather doesn't give a damn. She's not remotely in awe of her, as some people are, because Stella can be very off with people she doesn't know. "Heather's not interested in her and her trendy friends, which annoys Stella. Paul is a bit wimpish about the situation. He sees Stella on her own a lot to keep the peace." It is doubtful whether Heather will defend Stella regarding her designs, having once let it be known she thought her creations "tarty". So what now for the Stella McCartney empire? At present her parent company, Gucci, is giving her handouts to keep the company afloat. To date, the Italian fashion house - which paid 6million to Stella to entice her away from Chloe, which she joined from St Martin's School of Art - has made payments of 9million to keep her in business. Her graduation show made the front pages because she got pals Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to grace the catwalk, a move from which sprang the accusation that Stella is only where she is today due to her connections. Yesterday, Stella indicated that she now regrets getting the supermodels involved. "I was naive and I wish I hadn't done it on one level," she says. On another level, one assumes, she doesn't regret it because it brought maximum exposure and a job at Chloe shortly afterwards. At the weekend a spokesman for Gucci insisted that the company is "1,000 per cent behind Stella McCartney", adding without a hint of irony that it was "natural to lose money in the beginning". However, a few days ago, another source said: "At some point we are going to have to decide whether this is throwing money down the plughole." As for Stella, she said recently that if the design business didn't work out, she might follow in her father's musical footsteps, no doubt a sentiment Gucci executives - currently several million pounds out of pocket - will be interested to hear. Frustrated musician "I confess to being a frustrated musician. For me, singing is the most natural thing in the world. I've grown up with it and I know I've got that gift. At times I make music, but in private. If people stop liking my clothes, I'll make a record." She has also been telling friends that she would like to "take time out", bemoaning the fact that she has worked solidly without a break since leaving school. "She's saying she has never had a gap year and has always worked and could do with a rest," says the source. Certainly she is full of tough talk about her wobbling empire, but is Stella finally feeling the pressure? She arrived in Australia on Wednesday for the first time in a decade. And Cindy Crawford looked as fit and fabulous as she did in her supermodel prime during the 1980s and 1990s. The 50-year-old sauntered through Sydney International Airport in preparation for her scheduled promotional duties for luxury watch maker OMEGA. Scroll down for video Still got it! Cindy Crawford sauntered through Sydney International Airport on Wednesday in preparation for her scheduled promotional duties in the city for luxury watch maker OMEGA The statuesque stunner smiled as she strolled through the airport in black ankle boots, skinny jeans, a black v-neck t-shirt and a black leather jacket. She accessorized with a black choker-like scarf, small hoop earrings and designer sunglasses, with her luscious brunette mane cascading around her shoulders. The long-time ambassador for OMEGA will be toasted at a formal black-tie dinner in the Harbour City. Stylish: The statuesque stunner smiled as she strolled through the airport in black ankle boots, skinny jeans, a black v-neck t-shirt and a black leather jacket 'Sydney is incredibly beautiful and we have friends here,' she told The Daily Telegraph on her last visit, referring to her husband Rande Gerber and children Kaia and Presley. 'Both my kids are into Australian wildlife; it would be great to spend time here with them,' she added. Her husband nor her children were spotted with her as she arrived in the country. Selfie! She accessorized her look with a black choker-like scarf, small hoop earrings and designer sunglasses, with her luscious brunette mane cascading around her shoulders Duties: The long-time ambassador for OMEGA will be toasted at a formal black-tie dinner in the Harbour City The Illinois-born beauty revealed she is worried about Kaia, 15, following in her footsteps and becoming a model in the March issue of Vogue Australia. 'The only concern I have for her, and it isn't an issue, is that in the modelling world I hit the top and if she doesn't it might be a lot of pressure for her,' she explained. 'If you have a successful parent and you go into the same business but you're not successful, then what?' she added. He was cleared of domestic violence charges against his ex-girlfriend Jessica Peris last year. Now, Sydney NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall has sparked romance with Big Brother alum Lisa Clarke after the pair were spotted on the red carpet this week. A friend of the pair confirmed their relationship this week, telling Confidential: 'They have been seeing a lot of each other for the last eight or so weeks.' Hot new couple? Now, Sydney NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall has sparked romance with Big Brother alum Lisa Clarke, with the pair were spotted on the red carpet at Nova's Red Room on Tuesday 'They are very well suited and I think the relationship will work, but they are taking things very slowly.' Attending Nova's Red Room to watch Ed Sheeran play live this Tuesday, the pair beamed as they posed arm-in-arm ahead of the event. They have also made appearances on social media together in recent weeks, with Lisa sharing a Boomerang video of them posing together at the Sheeran concert on Tuesday. Keen: Lisa posted a video of the pair on her Instagram page Blonde beauty Lisa also appeared on the Sydney Roosters player's Instagram page a month ago, posing in a Polaroid photo alongside the hunky sportsman and his pal Daniel Yacoub. 'So creative @iamlisaclark relaxing arvo down at icebergs w the gang #polaroid #icebergs #Bondi,' wrote Shaun in the caption. Romance rumours: The duo have also made appearances on social media together in recent weeks, with Lisa sharing a Boomerang video of them posing together at Tuesday's Ed Sheeran concert Kicking back: Blonde beauty Lisa also appeared on the Sydney Roosters player's Instagram page a month ago, posing in a Polaroid photo alongside the hunky sportsman and his pal Daniel Yacoub Lisa responded in a comment: 'First photography course completed, killed it.' Early last year, Shaun was found not guilty of 11 domestic violence charges over the alleged abuse of former partner Jessica Peris, the daughter of Olympian and senator Nova Peris. In July 2015, he had been charged with stalking, intimidating, destroying or damaging property, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and six counts of assault, according to NSW Police. Police said the incidents were believed to have taken place between October 2014 and June 2015. She knows how to take a good photo! Instagram model Lisa responded in a comment: 'First photography course completed, killed it' Court: Early last year, Shaun was found not guilty of 11 domestic violence charges over the alleged abuse of former partner Jessica Peris, the daughter of Olympian and senator Nova Peris (pictured) In June last year, Shaun and former Neighbours actress Yasmin Kassim sparked romance rumours after they were spotted getting cosy in Bondi. 'It is apparently early days so they didn't want to make a fuss,' a source told The Daily Telegraph of Shaun and Yasmin's relationship. Just two months later, they called time on their relationship however, with a source telling Daily Mail Australia that the pair hadn't been seen together in weeks. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Lisa Clark and Shaun Kenny-Dowall for comment. Former flame: In June last year, Shaun and former Neighbours actress Yasmin Kassim sparked romance rumours after they were spotted getting cosy in Bondi She's made a name for herself as one of the world's most sought-after models. And now, Gigi Hadid is being immortalized as a Barbie. On Tuesday, the 21-year-old star revealed the doll version of herself in a series of selfies with The Barbie on Instagram. Pretty in plastic: On Tuesday, Gigi Hadid and Barbie revealed they've created a doll version of the international superstar which will debut at tomorrow's Tommy Hilfiger fashion show in Los Angeles Brand beauty: The 21-year-old model has been the international brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger. Here she is seen in 2016 A thrilled Gigi made sure to thank collaborators Tommy Hilfiger and Mattel toy company in the Insta pictures' captions. 'Can't believe that's me !!!!!!! Thank you for this honor #Mattel @tommyhilfiger' The supermodel also shared how excited she was for her mini-me to be at tomorrow's Tommy x Gigi fashion show. Two of a kind! Barbie and Gigi took a selfie together where both look timeless in Tommy Hilfiger shirts and jean shorts '[I] can't wait to have #BARBIE join us at the #TOMMYxGIGI show tomorrow!' she said, while finishing the post by tagging the @barbiestyle and @tommyxgigi Instagram accounts. Gigi previously collaborated on two capsule collections with the American fashion house, under the banner of TOMMYxGIGI. The plastic Hadid looks great in an classic Tommy Hilfiger shirt and jean shorts as the doll version of herself roller skates with Barbie on the Venice, California boardwalk. Miniature Gigi looks as cool as the real deal, slinging a leather backpack with cute furry charm over her shoulder in the shot. Style sisters! Both American icons love putting a modern spin of classics like stripes and leather, as you can see in the above comparison first pointed out on BuzzBug Another shot of the doll buddies shows Barbie and Gigi stopping to take a selfie in from of the palm trees. The pic is captioned 'Great minds think alike.' A keen observed at BuzzBug pointed out that this isn't the first time Barbie and the five-foot ten-inch model have shared the same style. Both ladies have a penchant for putting tiny twists on American classics like stripes and motorcycle jackets, as you can seen in the above comparison of the star's British Vogue cover and this stylish shot of Barbie. The Gigi Hadid Barbie doll will certainly be a collector's item, but there are no details yet about where fans can snag their own. With just six weeks to go before the launch date, competition is hotting up for the latest batch of girls vying for the crown of Britain's Next Top Model. Producers have warned that sparks are set to fly in the upcoming series, which sees 12 aspiring catwalk queens taking part in a series of gruelling tasks in a bid to land a lucrative modelling contract with Models 1. Dubbed the 'most outspoken models the series have ever seen', among the group is BNTM's first ever transgender contestant, a tattooed waitress and a Liverpudlian who describes herself as 'an English rose with great boobs'. The latest batch of Britain's Next Top Model hopefuls have been revealed, including the series' first ever transgender contestant, a self-confessed 'geeky' gamer and a hippy henna artist The show, which launches on March 16, will see the bevvy of beauties judged by an elite panel of judges including former contestant Abbey Clancy and supermodel Paul Sculfor. They are joined by fashion guru Hilary Alexander OBE and photographer to the stars Nicky Johnston, and each week will see one or more of the aspiring models eliminated. As they prepare to hit the runway for the show of their lives, FEMAIL offers a first glimpse of the girls competing for the most sought-after modelling contract. THE TRANSGENDER BEAUTY QUEEN Talulah-Eve Brown, 22, is the first transgender contestant to compete in BNTM and describes herself as a 'sugar-coated bitch that likes the finer things in life' BNTM's first ever transgender contestant, 22-year-old Talulah-Eve Brown has a black belt in karate, moonlights as a blogger, and currently holds the title of Miss Transgender, Birmingham. The 5ft 8in Brummie beauty, who works as a bar supervisor, describes her look as 'instantly recognisable and versatile'; believing she can win the competition on the basis that there is no one like her. Talulah-Eve, a trans rights campaigner, hit headlines last year when she revealed plans to freeze her sperm before transitioning so that she could one day have a baby. On her Instagram, she describes herself as a 'sugar-coated bi**** that likes the finer things in life'. Advertisement THE NEW-AGE HIPPY Also vying for the crown is Anastasia Ellis, 20, from Crewe, who loves hula-hoop, pole dancing and yoga. She works as a henna artist and loves to travel At 5ft 9in, towering brunette beauty Anastasia Ellis, from Crewe, is a henna artist who loves to travel and describes herself as a former 'blue-haired hippy'. The 20-year-old sees fashion as 'an art that enables you to be a new character in a new body'. A keen painter, Anastasia's hobbies include the hula-hoop, pole dancing and yoga. Advertisement THE BRIT SCHOOL ECCENTRIC Artist and Tracey Emin fan Tallulah says she can't stand people who are 'two faced' BRIT school attendee Tallulah Bluebell, 19, is an artist and student who says she despises 'body shaming and backstabbers'. The 5ft 8in Londoner loves going to exhibitions, idolises Tracy Emin and loves painting. Tallulah, who also describes herself as a singer/ songwriter on social media, often gets 'obsessed' with people and says she can't feel 'normal' again until she paints them. Advertisement THE 'ENGLISH ROSE WITH GREAT BOOBS' Victoria Clay, 23, from Liverpool, works in admin and holds a first-class degree in print design. She loves David Bowie and often runs into A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio With a first-class honours in Print Design under her belt, 23-year-old Victoria Clay is now turning her attention to modelling. The straight-talking Liverpudlian claims she runs in the same circles as the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and is a huge fan of David Bowie. Victoria, who works in admin and design, stands at 5ft 10in and describes her look as 'an English Rose with great boobs'. She seems to have a knack for pushing people's buttons - which Victoria says the other girls 'will have to just deal with'. Advertisement THE TATTOOED TOMBOY Bianca Thomas, 22, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, works as a waitress at a holiday resort and says she's keen to inspire other tattoo-adorned women to get into modelling Tattooed tomboy Bianca works on a holiday resort for the elderly and wants to inspire more women with inkings to get into modelling. Bianca, 22, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, loves to do her hair and makeup, but also has a penchant for football and adores McDonald's. The budding model, who is 5ft 10in, says her family are very supportive and have always encouraged her to be a model. But she's not the only aspiring model in the family; her sister Natasha also applied for Britain's Next Top Model after being spotted by producers. Advertisement THE ROCK 'N' ROLL-LOVING FARM GIRL Rock 'n' roll fan Abigail Heaton, 19, from Manchester, practices her catwalk strut in beteen shifts as a barmaid near her home in Manchestser Currently working as a waitress in a bar, 19-year-old Abby uses her spare time wisely by practicing her catwalk strut during shifts. The 5ft 8in Mancunian, who grew up on a chicken farm, is a big fan of Alexander McQueen and anything leather, and loves all things rock n' roll including Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper. Advertisement THE VEGAN CHEERLEADER Proud vegan Simone Murphy, 22, from Edinburgh, is the only Scottish contestant to make the final 12 - and says she has a crush on KUWTK star Scott Disisk Simone Murphy, an events manager from Edinburgh, is heavily influenced by the Flower Power movement in the '70s. A cheerleading vegan, Simone has done three seasons in Ibiza and has a crush on Kourtney Kardashian's on-off partner Scott Disick. The 22-year-old self-confessed party girl, who is 5ft 10in, is the only Scottish contestant to make the final 12. She describes her look as 'strong and androgynous' with a symmetrical face, big eyes, big brows and high cheekbones and her favourite feature is her eyebrows. Advertisement THE 6ft 1in A-LEVEL STUDENT Olivia Wardell, 18, from Bath, is the youngest contestant in this year's line up and works as a waitress in a cafe. She has recently completed her A-levels Statuesque cafe waitress Olivia Wardell, 18, from Bath, shares a love of fashion with her 82-year-old grandmother and is the youngest in the competition. At just 18, the 6ft 1in aspiring model will stop at nothing to get to the top and make her modelling dream a reality. She has just finished her A-Levels in English, Textiles and Photography and hopes to become a role model for women in the fashion industry just like her idol Kendall Jenner. Advertisement THE 'GEEKY' GAMER Psychology student and gamer Chloe Lockley-Middleton, 20, from Huddersfield, prides herself on her friendly attitude and will bring this with her when competing on BNTM Teased as a teenager for liking 'boy stuff' and being a 'geek', Chloe Lockley-Middleton now has over 20,000 followers on gaming platform Twitch. Her boyfriend is a professional gamer who also has a big online following. Psychology student Chloe, 20, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, prides herself on her friendly attitude and says she will bring this with her when competing on Britain's Next Top Model. She believes that every woman should be proud of their body. Chloe is a fan of the 'classic' fashion houses and prefers a natural look. Her dream night out includes dressing up and going to a 'posh ball'. Advertisement THE GIGI HADID LOOKALIKE Assistant pub manager Alannah Beirne, 22, from Naas in County Kildare, is an outdoor enthusiast and a keen painter who often gets compared to famous supermodels Often compared to Gigi Hadid and Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Alannah Beirne, from Naas in County Kildare, learned to catwalk from her mother at a young age. The 6ft Irish beauty comes from a family full of musicians and often plays the flute in front of crowds. Alannah, 22, an assistant manager at a pub, is also an outdoor enthusiast and a keen painter with an eye for visual merchandising. Advertisement THE STRAIGHT-TALKING ZOO WORKER Eleanor Sippings, 18, from Colchester, Essex, adores fashion and shopping - and modelling clearly runs in the family as her grandmother was a beauty queen too Straight-talking Eleanor Sippings, 18, has watched every episode of Britain's Next Top Model and thinks she has what it takes to steal the crown. This Essex girl, who comes from Colchester, loves shopping and researching all the latest fashion trends - but works as a caterer at a zoo. With her best friend, her grandmother, being a former beauty queen, Eleanor aspires to be a Victoria's Secret model and has no qualms with doing a nude shoot. Advertisement THE COLLEGE STUDENT College student Jennifer Malengele, 18, who suffers from camptodactyly, has her own YouTube channel and aims to promote diversity within the modelling industry Londoner Jennifer wants to push the boundaries of the fashion industry and inspire women of colour to pursue their dreams of modelling. Pokemon-loving Jennifer, 18, is a keen vlogger with her own YouTube channel. The college student has a condition called camptodactyly, where one or more fingers are permanently bent; in Jennifer's case it's her little finger. She has mastered how to pose with her camptodactyly, proving that if you have what it takes nothing can hold you back in the world of modelling. Advertisement The new series of Britain's Next Top Model starts 16 March 2017 at 9pm, exclusively on Lifetime She's always impeccably turned out for every public occasion. And Queen Letizia of Spain was once again immaculately put together when she attended the Expansion newspaper's 30th anniversary at the Palace Hotel in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday. The 44-year-old royal looked incredible in a simple and sophisticated black dress with pretty lace detailing on the sleeves. Scroll down for video Elegant: Queen Letizia of Spain was once again immaculately put together when she attended the Expansion newspaper's 30th anniversary at the Palace Hotel in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday The demure, knee-length skirt boasted a subtle applique pattern and was set off with simple stilettos. Letizia ensured her hair and make-up took centre stage, sweeping her brunette tresses up into a slick braided updo. She completed her glamorous look with a striking pair of chandelier earrings, and a slick of shimmery red lipstick. Classic look: Letizia ensured her hair and make-up took centre stage, sweeping her brunette tresses up into a slick braided updo Royal outing: Letizia was flanked by her husband King Felipe VI of Spain at the celebrations King Felipe VI was also in attendance, joining his wife to celebrate the publication's landmark anniversary. The Spanish royals have had a whirlwind few weeks of official engagements. Letizia, who is mother to Princess Leonor, 11 and Princess Sofia, nine, wed Felipe, 49, in 2004. Braided beauty: Letizia ensured her hair and make-up took centre stage, sweeping her brunette tresses up into a slick braided updo Striking: She completed her glamorous look with a striking pair of chandelier earrings, and a slick of shimmery red lipstick She married into the Spanish monarchy following a successful career as a journalist and newsreader. She was previously married to Alonso Guerrero Perez, a writer, but the pair divorced after just a year and by 2003 Letizia had announced her engagement to Felipe, then the Prince of Asturias. King Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 in favour of his 48-year-old son, now King Felipe VI. Joint outing: Letizia, who is mother to Princess Leonor, 11 and Princess Sofia, nine, wed Felipe, 49, in 2004 Smart: The monarch led the way as they arrived at the Palace Hotel in Madrid Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. was named the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in an announcement from the school on Tuesday morning. Biden will take the lead at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, which opens later this year in Washington, D.C. The center will focus on diplomacy, foreign policy and national security. Joe Biden is one of the greatest statesmen of our times, university president Amy Gutmann said in the statement. His unsurpassed understanding of diplomacy and far-ranging grasp of world issues make him an ideal fit to further Penns global engagement. Rumors about Biden joining the Ivy League school as a faculty member began swirling before President Barack Obama left the Oval Office in January. The former vice president has many ties to the university: His late son Beau, daughter Ashley and granddaughter Naomi are all graduates. Also, Biden received an honorary degree from Penn in 2013 after he delivered the commencement address. He has made several campus appearances in the past. At Penn, I look forward to building on the work that has been a central pillar of my career in public office: promoting and protecting the post-WWII international order that keeps the United States safe and strong, said Biden, who served 36 years in the U.S. Senate before he was tapped as Obamas running mate in 2008. The Pennsylvania-born politician will have an office on the Penn campus in Philadelphia, but he is not currently scheduled to teach any classes. A Penn spokesperson said Biden would engage with students in a variety of activities on the Philadelphia campus. Ezekiel Emanuel, vice provost for global initiatives, said Bidens ability to teach foreign policy from his first-hand experience with international relations will set Penn apart from rivals. The Penn Biden Center and I will be engaging with Penns wonderful students while partnering with its eminent faculty and global centers to convene world leaders, develop and advance smart policy, and impact the national debate about how America can continue to lead in the 21st century, Biden said. At age 29, Biden became the youngest person elected to the U.S. Senate in representing Delaware and served as the nations 47th vice president for two terms. His government experiences have provided a depth of knowledge about foreign affairs and national security. One of Obamas last acts in office was awarding Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with Distinction, the highest civilian honor in the United States. To know Joe Biden is to know love without pretense, service without self regard, and to live life fully, Obama said during the ceremony. Nicole Kidman has a new project lined up. Headed to TV: Nicole Kidman has a new project lined up based off bestselling book The 49-year-old has optioned the television rights for bestselling novel Janice YK Lee's The Expatriates. Alice Bell has signed on to adapt the book for serial format with Kidman as a potential lead cast member, according to Deadline. The show has yet to secure a network or streaming service. The book centers on three women in New York recovering from recent traumas. Meanwhile, Kidman is now rumoured to be lifting the lid on her well-guarded private life by penning a 'tell-all autobiography'. According to Woman's Day, the Lion actress could earn up to $11 million in sales after releasing the supposed memoir. Nicole's account of her husband Keith Urban's drug struggles would no doubt also spark the interest of readers. Country musician Keith has made no secret of how instrumental Nicole was to him kicking his drug addiction, telling Woman's Day that his wife 'saved' him by staging an intervention in 2006, just months after their nuptials. 'You can't save somebody, they've got to save themselves,' Kidman said during an appearance with The Jess Cagle Interview last year. 'Which is a very big thing for people like me who go, 'I can take care of you. I can do it'. It's a massive lesson because as much as I thought I can do all the work for him, I can make him better, I can take it away, I can help,' she continued. 'At some point you just have to say, 'I love you and I'm here when you decide to do the work. And if you don't, then that's it'. Kyle Richards launched a polemic against Lisa Rinna on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills on Tuesday for badmouthing her sister Kim. She was first annoyed with Eden Sassoon for questioning Kim's sobriety, but became incandescent when she learned the rumors originated with Rinna. The show opened with newbie Eden visiting Lisa Vanderpump to discus Kyle and Kim Richards. Getting angry: Kyle Richards was incensed at Lisa Rinna for spreading rumors about her sister Kim's sobriety on Tuesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills 'Why do you have to be that involved?' asked Vanderpump frostily, as Eden said that she had 'never' doubted Kim's sobriety. 'It was Rinna [that] said to me ''I don't think she's sober'',' protested Eden, who is the daughter of hair mogul Vidal Sassoon. 'Kyle's guilt came upand the fact that she ''enables her'',' added the 33-year-old actress. Big mouth: Rinna told Eden Sassoon that she believed Kim was not sober and alarmingly said she was close to death Adding: 'She said that she's near death'. 'How could she say that?' balked Vanderpump, noting that Rinna has 'a big mouth'. 'I am going to defend you now,' Vanderpump told Eden resolutely. Cleared up: Eden told Lisa Vanderpump that she got her information on Kim from Rinna Meanwhile, Kyle told Rinna that Eden 'could be as annoying as f***' for meddling in her family business too often. Vanderpump soon informed Kyle that the rumors had stemmed from Rinna's gossip. 'Lisa Rinna is creating her own story, knowing f***ing nothing,' raged Kyle, 48. Loyal friend: Vanderpump immediately told Kyle that Rinna was spreading the rumor Candid conversation: Kyle grew angry as Vanderpump gave her the details 'Lisa Rinna needs to sew her f***ing lips shut,' she added. 'You'd need a lot of thread,' joked Vanderpump, 56. The trouble was percolating in the idyllic setting of Punta Mita, Mexico. Sewing job: The RHOBH veteran said that Rinna needed to sew her lips shut Idyllic setting: The drama went down as the ladies were relaxing together in Punta Mita, Mexico Ocean view: Kyle's husband Mauricio Umansky was opening a new real estate office in Punta Mita and they invited friends down for the grand opening The crew had taken a margarita-fueled trip to Casa Cuixa Mauricio Umansky's luxury rental villa. During dinner on the first night Dorit Kemsley told everyone that Rinna likes to 'pop Xanax in her smoothies'. 'She took out a ziplock bag with all these pills,' she divulged. Dinner time: The group gathered for dinner before Rinna arrived Bag of pills: Dorit Kemsley told the others about Rinna's bag of pills and how she puts Xanax in her smoothies New office: Mauricio was opening a new office for his expanding real estate company in Mexico Hungry gal: Erika Girardi was looking forward to burritos on the way to Mexico and was the first to ask about the dinner menu She also threw Eden under the bus for taking anxiety medication. During their downtime glamorous Erika Girardi was the fastest on the jet ski. 'There's only one way to ride a jet ski, open it up!,' she squealed before falling off. Jet skis: Kyle and Dorit rode on a jet ski together while Erika went solo Slower pace: Dorit complained that Kyle was going fast enough Speed demon: Erika opened it up and gained as much speed as she could Star overboard: Speed demon Erika fell of her jet ski and into the water She's fine: Erika said that she was 'of course' fine and swam back to her jet ski Meanwhile, Rinna's 18-year-old daughter Delilah had a fashion shoot. 'She knows how to work it now too, doesn't she,' said Rinna, who was about to watch Delilah in her first fashion show in NYC. 'I'm in a show with Gigi [Hadid],' said Delilah proudly. Mother and daughter: Rinna meanwhile was in New York City as her daughter Delilah prepared to walk in a runway show Family meal: Dorit Kemsley held her daughter Phoenix during a family lunch outing Cute son: PK sat next to their son Jagger who has been attending speech therapy 'I'm really excited to meet her but I'm just hoping there's no weird vibes, because of that little feud,' she fretted, referring to the argument her mother had with Gigi's mother Yolanda Hadid. Rinna had insinuated that Yolanda had faked her Lyme disease, causing much upset. 'My mom has more drama than I do,' said Delilah, begging Rinna to 'be civil' to Yolanda when they met. Therapy session: Eileen Davidson was seen during a therapy session with her therapist Kelly as she continued to cope with the recent death of her mother Work in progress: The soap star admitted she was a work in progress Major show: Delilah was excited to be in the Tommy Hilfiger show with Gigi Hadid Rinna tried to offer advice for the catwalk, but it was rejected. 'That's a little too much,' frowned Delilah as her mother strutted around. Rinna then met with Camille Grammer, whose daughter was also in a fashion show. Practice makes perfect: Rinna practiced walking in the hallway with Delilah Proud mothers: Camille Grammer and Rinna talked about their daughters modeling Camille said that after 'six, seven years' her ex husband Kelsey Grammer still would not talk to her. 'Kelsey refuses to speak to me,' she said. 'I would like to co-parentand for him to communicate,' she said. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills continues next week on Bravo. She's used to having all eyes on her as she struts her stuff on the runway. And on Tuesday night, Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) was still the centre of attention as she left the Sydney Opera House among a star-studded crowd there to see Ed Sheeran's Nova Red Room. The model paraded her trim pins in a thigh-skimming black slip as she appeared to rush home to her new husband Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who wasn't seen at the event. Rushing home! Jesinta Campbell paraded her trim pins in a thigh-skimming black slip as she appeared to rush home from the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday to her new husband Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who wasn't seen at the Ed Sheeran Nova Red Room She added black ankle boots with a pointed toe and block heel to the fitted dress for the wet summer's night ensemble. But the heels appeared to be comfortable ones as she appeared to bolt away from the event with a black and yellow bomber jacket in hand. The newly brunette beauty had her locks out in a centre part and loose waves at the ends. And her off-duty style included a minimal and natural make-up look. These boots were made for walking! The model added black ankle boots to the fitted dress for the wet summer's night Girl's night out: Seen leaving with a female friend, Jesinta kept her head down as she watched where she was treading on the cobble stones Jesinta added a think black choker tied in a bow around her neck, paired with a chunky short necklace. The David Jones ambassador recently revealed her AFL husband is already in pre-season training mode and has lots of early starts, which is perhaps why she attended solo. The 25-year-old also appeared to leave her handbag at home, as she was seen holding her phone in her hand. Seen leaving with a female friend, Jesinta kept her head down as she watched where she was treading on the cobble stones. Hands full: The 25-year-old had her black and yellow bomber jacket in hand, as well as her phone Also at the event flashing her toned legs in a short dress was Kate Ritchie. The soap star-turned-radio host donned a frilly floral frock with a cold shoulder cut out and high neck, with the short hem ensuring all eyes were on her toned legs. The brunette beauty flashed a smile for the waiting photographers as she strolled away from the work event in strappy navy heeled sandals. E! Australia host Ksenija Lukich also flashed the flesh in a black and white off-the-shoulder frill mini dress by Rebecca Vallance. Toned, tanned and terrific! Kate Ritchie also flashed her toned legs in a short dress Floral: The soap star-turned-radio host donned a floral frock with a cold shoulder cut out and high neck, with the short hem ensuring all eyes were on her trim pins Frilly and flirty: E! Australia host Ksenija Lukich also flashed the flesh in a black and white off-the-shoulder frill mini dress by Rebecca Vallance The statuesque beauty opted for comfort by adding white leather sneakers to her ensemble instead of heels. She also slung a black long-strap handbag over one shoulder. Meanwhile, Megan Blake Irwin and Laura Dundovic both opted to suit up for the event. Model Megan donned a black two-piece with flared trousers and without a top underneath, with the blazer top giving her a plunging neckline look. Plunging: Megan Blake Irwin donned a black two-piece with flared trousers and without a top underneath, with the blazer top giving her a plunging neckline look Suiting up! Laura Dundovic opted for a very fitted burnt orange suit, leaving the well-heeled model flashing a glimpse of her chest as the jacket moved up Meanwhile, Laura did the same in a very fitted burnt orange suit, leaving the well-heeled model flashing a glimpse of her chest as the jacket moved up. The blonde beauties also both opted for for glamorous hair and make-up looks for the evening. Similarly Sylvia Jeffreys opted for black jeans with a loose-fitting maroon top, beaming as she left the intimate concert. Her Today Show colleague Richard Wilkins also attended the event, as did rugby league star George Burgess. Keeping it casual: Sylvia Jeffreys opted for black jeans with a loose-fitting maroon top, beaming as she left the intimate concert He's an English pop-star in his twenties, who could be friends with almost anyone he chose. But Ed Sheeran, 25, has revealed he's close mates with Russell Crowe who is more than twice his age. Asked whether or not fame had made it harder to make genuine friends, the British crooner cited his Australian actor mate and their friendship based on a common interest - they like to get drunk together. Scroll down for video Unlikely friendship! Ed Sheeran revealled he is friends with Russell Crowe, and loves heading out and having a drink with the Hollywood superstar (pictured together in 2014) The red-headed pop star discussed his friendship with the 52-year-old in an intimate interview with Nova's Kent 'Smallzy' Small on Tuesday night, ahead of his performance at the Sydney Opera House. 'I've started hanging out with Russell Crowe because he loves getting drunk and I love getting drunk,' Ed revealed. 'We don't get anything from each other other than just a night out,' the star continued, explaining his friendship with the Oscar-winning father-of-two. 'We get an enjoyment of hanging out rather... There is no boost in either of our careers from our association,' the musician stated. The beginning of a beautiful friendship: Ed and Russell met for the first time at the BRIT Awards in February 2015 The pair reportedly met for the first time when Russell presented Ed with the British Album of the Year gong at the BRIT Awards in February 2015. At the time, Ed was overwhelmed by his meeting with the Hollywood superstar, confessing to press backstage, 'I really wanted to start quoting Gladiator!' The English musician then performed a hilarious impression of Russell in his Oscar winning role. Common interest: Despite the differences in occupations, ages and nationalites, Ed said, 'He loves getting drunk and I love getting drunk' It seems the pair have been partying privately on their nights out since, with no pictures taken of the duo together in the two years since the BRIT Awards. However, Russell was spotted sneaking into the Sydney Opera House to watch Ed perform for NOVA's Red Room gig, shortly after Ed wrapped his interview with Smallzy. Tell-all: Ed was interviewed by NOVA'S Kent 'Smallzy' Small Another A-List friend: Ed is close with Taylor Swift, and performed a duet with her on her 2012 album 'Red' Russell is one of Ed's few famous friends, with the pop star claiming he keeps an tight circle of pals, that is primarily made up of people from his high school days. In addition to Russell, Ed is friends with fellow musicians Taylor Swift and John Mayer. Close: Ed is also good friends with Taylor Swift Radio shock jock Steve Price has garnered his fair share of controversy during his time on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! And on Wednesday night's episode, the veteran journalist took a swipe at Australia's Indigenous welfare, branding it as a 'stain' upon the country and its government. During a heated debate with Indigenous songstress Casey Donovan, Steve said he believed that a welfare card system should be put in place for Aboriginal people. Scroll down for video Controversy in the jungle: Radio shock jock Steve Price took a swipe at Australia's Indigenous welfare, branding it as a 'stain' upon the country and its government on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this Tuesday He told Casey: 'The idea of the card being non-grog, non-gambling specific is good.' He later went on to add that: 'I have witnessed for far too long in my life the way that indigenous Australians have not been able to be helped to drag themselves out of what amounts to third world poverty.' 'I think it is a disgrace and a stain on the whole country and all governments. It is a tragedy and someone needs to come up with an answer.' 'The idea of the card being non-grog, non-gambling specific is good': During a heated debate with Indigenous songstress Casey Donovan, Steve said he believed that a welfare card system should be put in place for Aboriginal people Not impressed: His comments hit a nerve with Casey, who retorted in part: 'White man brought grog and flour- you can't just take everything away and go, here's a f****** card' His comments hit a nerve with Casey, who retorted in part: 'White man brought grog and flour- you can't just take everything away and go, here's a f****** card.' 'That is nasty, unless you do that to everyone else.' Also in the episode, fans saw Steve take a stab at the AFL's newly-created women's league, calling it a 'joke' and a 'waste of money.' Unimpressed: Steve Price alsocalled the AFL's creation of a women's league a 'waste of money' 'I mean good luck to them, I think as an amateur pursuit it's great but don't try to turn it into something it's not.' The conversation began when retired AFL star Dane Swan told Price that on a normal weekend in Melbourne he would be at the AFLW - much to the broadcaster's dismay. 'Oh yeah right. That's a joke and a waste of money,' Price loudly proclaimed. Eva Mendes is one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood. And now we know her secret. The 42-year-old actress was seen leaving celeb hot spot Epione in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. Quick visit: Eva Mendes was seen leaving celeb hot spot Epione in Beverly Hills on Tuesday The actress and mother went for double denim for her visit to the clinic. She wore a pair of baggy boyfriend style jeans and a denim coat with white fur lining, which she simply teamed with a grey tee. The brunette beauty added a pair of brown boots and a brown handbag to complete her casual chic look. She accessorized with a pair of cat eye sunglasses as she tied her luscious locks back into a high bun. Casual chic: The actress and mother went for double denim for her visit The talented actress was seen visiting the store without her husband Ryan Gosling. The 36-year-old Crazy Stupid Love actor is no doubt busy gearing up for the Oscars. He scored a nomination in the best actor category for his performance in La La Land, which has garnered the most attention this awards season. Camera ready: The brunette beauty added a pair of brown boots and a brown handbag to complete her casual chic look The dreamer story is about a jazz pianist who falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles, played by Emma Stone. The film has won countless accolades already but the film actually made history breaking the record for most Golden Globes won by a single film after scoring all seven of the awards it was nominated for. The film was awarded 14 nominations at this years Academy Awards also. Jimmy Kimmel will be hosting the Oscars which will take place February 26 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Selena Gomez puckered up for a mysterious dressing room selfie on Tuesday while clad in a white halter dress. The 24-year-old pop diva - who boasts an eye-popping 216.9M followers - had just caught a flight out of LAX Airport that same morning while rocking $449 Frame cropped jeans. The 'Texican' beauty spent Monday night on a hot dinner date with her new boyfriend The Weeknd at WeHo hotspot Sunset Tower. Scroll down for video Xox: Selena Gomez puckered up for a mysterious dressing room selfie on Tuesday while clad in a white halter dress 'They seemed to be celebrating something,' a source told Hollywood Life. 'He gave her a small gift before they had dinner. It was some kind of bracelet. They were very affectionate with each other. They came in holding hands and left holding hands. 'A couple of times while they were eating, Selena reached over and gave him a kiss. It was very sweet and they both seemed very happy and completely into each other.' Selena and the two-time Grammy winner (born Abel Tesfaye) - who turns 27 next week - were first spotted kissing January 10 at Italian eatery Giorgio Baldi. Jet setter: The 24-year-old pop diva - who boasts an eye-popping 216.9M followers - had just caught a flight out of LAX Airport that same morning while rocking $449 Frame cropped jeans 'They both seemed very happy': The 'Texican' beauty spent Monday night on a hot dinner date with her new boyfriend The Weeknd at WeHo hotspot Sunset Tower Sharing the VS catwalk in 2015: Selena and the two-time Grammy winner (born Abel Tesfaye) - who turns 27 next week - were first spotted kissing January 10 at Italian eatery Giorgio Baldi The Canadian crooner kicks off his 46-date Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour beginning February 17 at Sweden's Ericsson Globe in Stockholm. Meanwhile, Gomez teased a new track called It Ain't Me from her upcoming third studio album on Instagram last Friday. The Fundamentals of Caring actress will also play young mother Lisa in James Franco's In Dubious Battle (hitting VOD on February 17), and she executive produced Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (streaming March 31). Hitting the road! The Canadian crooner kicks off his 46-date Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour beginning February 17 at Sweden's Ericsson Globe in Stockholm (pictured December 30) New music! Meanwhile, Gomez teased a new track called It Ain't Me from her upcoming third studio album on Instagram last Friday Lena Dunham joined forces with her business partner Jenni Konner for an emotional evening. The Girls actress and creator was in New York to attend Growing Up With Anxiety: Lena Dunham and Dr. Anne Marie Albano in Conversation With Jenni Konner. She wore a knee length orange printed silk dress, which she teamed with a black blazer and a beaded choker necklace. Dynamic duo: Lena Dunham joined forces with her business partner Jenni Konner for an emotional evening in NYC Her short mousy brown locks were styled in a side part with a patterned hair clip placed by her fringe. She went for a natural make-up look and opted to wear a pair of printed flat shoes. The author of Not That Kind of Girl is at the event to talk about her experience with anxiety and OCD, which began at a very young age. Close to her heart: The Girls actress and creator was in New York to attend Growing Up With Anxiety: Lena Dunham and Dr. Anne Marie Albano in Conversation With Jenni Konner Simple and classy: She wore a knee length orange printed silk dress, which she teamed with a black blazer and a beaded choker necklace The 30-year-old is joining Dr. Anne Marie Albano for the discussion. The talented actress has always been vocal about her struggles as a child and regularly writes articles on her website, Lenny Letter, discussing the issue. She wrote a very candid article for The New Yorker about growing up with anxiety. Cute: Her short mousy brown locks were styled in a side part with a patterned hair clip placed by her fringe 'Every morning when I wake up, there is one blissful second before I look around the room and remember my many terrors,' she said. She said her anxiety got so bad she was scared to even eat food as she thought she was going to die: 'My parents are getting worried. Its hard enough to have a child, much less a child who demands to inspect our groceries and medicines for evidence that their protective seals have been tampered with.' Reese Witherspoon has long been one of Hollywood's golden girls, but it looks like her daughter Ava might be ready to give the Southern belle a run for her money. On Tuesday, the mother-daughter duo dazzled at the premiere of HBO's Big Little Lies held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The 40-year-old star and her 17-year-old mini-me both stunned in metallic frocks that brought out the best in both of them. Scroll down for video What a pair! Reese Witherspoon brought her daughter Ava to the premiere of her series Big Little Lies on Tuesday Reese looked positively thrilled to be accompanied by her eldest daughter, who was the spitting image of her mom on the event's grey carpet. The Oscar winner styled her golden blonde hair at the back of her head while Ava's hair was slightly rosy and worn in a messy up-do. The daughter of actor Ryan Phillipe looked lovely in the golden floral HANEY number with a high pussybow collar and a thigh skimming hem. Mini me! Reese's 17-year-old daughter was the spitting image of her mom at the event Sequined stunner: The Oscar winning actress showed some leg in a short sequined dress with a flirty slit in the skirt The teen completed her look with gold lame heels while mom sported simple black Louboutins on her feet. Mama Reese showed some leg alongside her young double, wearing a sequined number with a short skirt and a flirty slit. Reese - who produced and starred in the David E Kelly created series - also spent time with her Big Little Lies costars at the event. Smooch between starlets: The mother of three took a second to greet her friend Nicole Kidman at the event Lying ladies: The female cast of Big Little Lies all looked lovely in their premiere attire. Here actresses Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz and Reese Witherspoon can be seen (R-L) The Walk The Line actress stopped to kiss longtime friend Nicole Kidman before she and the Hawaii-born talent took a pic with their castmates Big Little Lies stars Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz all stunned in their premiere attire. Shailene Woodley took a cue from Reese's style, embracing metallics in a cleavage baring gold gown that skimmed the floor. Zoe Kravitz kept things classic in a structured black mini with off the shoulder sleeves on top, while Ms Laura Dern got colorful in an asymmetrical magenta and merlot number. Golden goddess: Shailene Woodley also dazzled in a long metallic number with plunging neckline Short and sweet: Miss Zoe Kravitz wore a structured black frock that showed off her great legs The highly anticipated HBO series follows the lives of three seemingly perfect mothers whose lives start to spin out of control after a suspicious death at their children's elementary school. The series also stars Alexander Skarsgard, Adam Scott, James Tupper and Iain Armitage, among others. Big Little Lies premieres Sunday February 18 on HBO. It's been one of the most exciting seasons of My Kitchen Rules so far, with the first round delivering three record-breaking scores and a steamy instant restaurant kiss. But the dream of being crowned 2017's champion and taking home the $250,000 prize money slipped from the hands of Perth-based flatmates Bek and Ash, as they were eliminated on Wednesday night. As quickly as her feelings for Kyle blossomed, Bek's new-found romance with the bearded bartender has come to a tearful end as she hugged him goodbye, saying she 'wasn't ready Scroll down for video Say it isn't so! Bek (left) has said goodbye to her time with Kyle (right) on MKR after being the first to be eliminated, along with her cooking partner Ash The girls scored a total of 31 points out of 60 in a sudden death cook-off against New South Wales BFFs David and Betty. Having received the lowest score in the instant restaurant rounds - and in MKR history - Bek and Ash were hoping to reclaim a spot in the competition with their 'old school' menu. But despite their best intentions and gruelling efforts in Kitchen HQ, judge Colin Fassnidge labelled the pair's mushroom crepes entree as 'just a bit of a beige dish'. Booted: The Western Australia-based flatmates received a score of 31 out of 60 in the sudden death cook-off against David and Betty Saved: Social media enthusiasts David and Betty came close to going home, but beat their opponents by three points to stay in the competition The Irish chef revealed in the deliberation process: 'You had some good elements on every dish. But not every dish was good,' before handing out a score of just four points for the girls' menu. Earlier in the episode, Bek admitted she wasn't ready to go home from the competition and say farewell to her crush Kyle. 'My romance with Kyle is just beginning. I'm sort of not ready to say goodbye to him yet,' the blonde vet surgeon said on camera. Going old school: Bek and Ash decided to serve up a 'retro' menu during the cook-off, starting with an entree of mushroom crepes with brie sauce Felling game? For mains, the girls served up a venison dish with a cumberland sauce Traditional: Their dessert consisted of a traditional Italian biscotti with pistachio ice cream and lemon curd But her abrupt exit from the show might not spell the end of romance for what would be MKR's first ever couple. Following her elimination, Bek said: 'I'm going home but when Kyle comes to Perth, he'll have some nice venison waiting for him.' For their sudden death cook-off Bek and Ash decided to serve up a 'retro' menu, which included: a mushroom crepe with brie sauce for entree; venison on black rice pilaf with Cumberland sauce for main; and finally a biscotti with pistachio ice cream and lemon curd. Not impressed: Judge Colin Fassnidge labelled the girls' entree a 'beige' dish Deliberating: Judges Guy Grossi and Liz Egan were also critical of Bek and Ash's dishes The pressure of serving a crepe dish to French chef Manu dawned on the girls, who acknowledged that 'the pressure's on'. When it came time to serve, judge Karen Martini said: 'It's a pancake as opposed to a crepe.' Meanwhile, judge Liz Egan was critical of the overuse of nutmeg in the brie sauce, and the overall simplicity of the dish. Not ready to go home: Before the cook-off began, Bek admitted she wasn't ready to 'say goodbye' to Kyle, as their romance 'is just beginning' Feeling sad? Kyle was visible upset after it was revealed that Bek was going home, seen wiping his brow from the sidelines Their mains were better received by the judges, as well as the contestants. Judges Liz and Manu both complimented the girls on their perfectly-cooked venison, while Tim said their dish was the winner over David and Betty's mains. And finally, all the judges had mixed emotions about the dessert, with Pete Evans saying it was too 'bitsy' and Guy Grossi saying it didn't 'sing' to him. Saying goodbye: Bek said that if Kyle decides to visit her in Perth, 'he'll have some nice venison waiting for him' Close call: Betty and David's Lao raw beef salad was a hit with the judges, but it needed more dressing Traditional: The BFFs' main of fish wrapped in banana leaf was a let down, as it was unevenly-cooked Outstanding: Betty and David's dessert was a huge hit with all the judges, with Liz Egan calling it 'intriguing' Betty and David's menu was the first to be scored, with the pair gathering 34 points out of 60 for their Laotian-inspired dishes. Karen described their raw beef salad as 'tasty and textural,' while Guy said he was 'excited' by the dish. Pete however, said he would've liked 'more dressing'. More sauce: Pete was delighted by Betty and David's salad, but wanted more dressing 'Wow. It was intriguing. It was challenging. It was exciting. It was like nothing I'd ever had before': Liz said of the dessert However, their unevenly-cooked fish in their mains let the social media butterflies down. The stand-out dish of the day was the pair's dessert of chilli salt fruits with green mango and pineapple sorbet. Judge Liz said: 'Wow. It was intriguing. It was challenging. It was exciting. It was like nothing I'd ever had before.' ANNVILLE Messages of love not hate echoed throughout Annville on Tuesday. A little over 50 protesters marched from the Lebanon Valley College campus to the square in Annville, demanding change after a racial slur was reportedly directed at an LVC student last month. Today is all about healing, Ricky Bugg Sr. said. Bugg, whose son reported being called a racial slur by the founder of Just Wing It, Chris Behney, told demonstrators that Tuesdays event was not about him or his son. He also said truth still needs to be revealed and that racism has no place in the community. Were just catalysts, if you will, for something that needs to happen thats long overdue, he said. Gavin Kolaric, a senior at LVC, said he marched on Tuesday to show that students promote change. Its important because were all one race, he said. Were all human. So it does not matter the color of your skin, who you go to bed with at night, it doesnt matter your religion. What matters is were people and need to be treated as such. LVC President Lewis Thanye also stopped by Tuesdays protest. He said the school supports the Bugg family as they talk about race. We want Annville to be a place where our students feel safe, welcome, and our students want that, he said. The Bugg family has said it intends to file a lawsuit against Just Wing It. Employees of Just Wing It did not return phone calls for the story. The owner of a Lebanon County restaurant refused to apologize Monday for using a racial slur toward a black customer. Behney said last month Bugg and his friend were acting rowdy in his restaurant. He said when the student used a slur, he only repeated it. Annville Police Chief Bernard Dugan said the incident at Just Wing It is concerning, but it doesnt warrant criminal charges. Police had investigated Bugg for disorderly conduct and the owner for ethnic intimidation. Behney blamed LVC for what he called a smear campaign. They've been married for less than two months after secretly tying the knot at a Byron Bay ceremony in December. And newlyweds Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley have already begun building their brood together. Margot, 26, took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal the happy couple had adopted an adorable rescue puppy. Scroll down for video The next step? Newlyweds Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley ADOPT a new member to their adorable brood in the form of a rescue puppy named Boo Radley, as Margot posts adorable picture to Instagram on Tuesday New Ackerley addition! They've been married for less than two months after secretly tying the knot at a Byron Bay ceremony in December and have now added a new member to their little family The actress shared a black-and-white image of the tiny dog sitting patiently in the middle of an oversized dog bed. She revealed the pup's name in the caption, which read: 'Our little rescue pup, Boo Radley.' Seemingly named for the To Kill A Mockingbird character, the fluffy canine appeared to have dark-coloured fur as it stared cutely at the camera. Adorable! While Margot has been non-stop filming for her latest movie, 'I, Tonya', the pair have willingly taken on the responsibilities of looking after the loveable new pet While Margot has been non-stop filming for her latest movie, 'I, Tonya', the pair have willingly taken on the responsibilities of looking after the lovable pet. Still in their honeymoon period, Margot and Tom recently uploaded a romantic beachside snap to social media relishing in the joys of wedded bliss. The Suicide Squad star shared the throwback loved-up snap with her husband Tom enjoying the summer sun from their time in Australia. Honeymoon bliss? Newlyweds Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley recently shared a throwback beachside snap from their holiday in Australia Flashing the bling! Margot confirmed they had been married on Instagram with an image showcasing her wedding finger to the camera as she kissed her beau Laid-back bride: Reports revealed at the time the couple hosted a low-key wedding after party, with Margot hosting a hen's do at local Bam Bam Bakehouse a few days before walking down the aisle The pair were spotted arriving back in Los Angeles in early January looking refreshed and as smitten as ever. The British assistant film director first caught the eye of the Aussie stunner while working on war drama Suite Francaise in 2013. The pair become a couple soon after, and kept their engagement and pending nuptials private. Margot confirmed they had been married on Instagram with an image showcasing her wedding finger to the camera. Happy couple: The British assistant film director first caught the eye of the Aussie stunner while working on war drama Suite Francaise in 2013, with the pair becoming a couple soon after and keeping their engagement and pending nuptials private until the wedding reveal in December, 2016 While Tziporah Malkah is cut-off from the real world in the South African jungle, her publicists have taken control of her social media accounts. And the 43-year-old's Instagram was used to mock fellow I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Ash Pollard as she tearfully confronted the Viper Room tucker trial, in Wednesday night's show. A photo of Tziporah, formerly known as Kate Fischer, comforting the ex-My Kitchen Rules star appeared on her account on Wednesday beside an amusing caption that suggested she was concerned about her nails. Scroll down for video While the cat's away: Tziporah Malkah's Instagram was used to mock fellow I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant Ash Pollard on Wednesday, as she tearfully confronted a tucker trial The post read: 'When the jungle totally trashes your cuticles.' In the photo, both women were looking at Ash's outstretched hand as though she were checking the state of her fingernails. Controversial celebrity agent Max Markson represents Tziporah, and according to her Instagram bio, publicist Milo Elder has been posting on behalf of the former model. The moment in question sees Ash breaking down as she prepares to undertake the 'Viper Room' challenge on the reality show, alongside Tziporah. Terrified: Ash broke down in tears, and crew members rushed in to calm her, as she prepared for the infamous 'Viper Room' challenge, which will screen on Wednesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity Crew members had to rush in to stop Ash from hyperventilating as the challenge was outlined and safety precautions were detailed. The trial requires Ash and Tziporah to enter a small underground chamber, and lie in complete darkness as 100 snakes are unleashed into the confined space to slither around. 'Are you okay, Ash?' the show's host Dr Chris Brown asked. 'No,' the star replied as she wiped away tears from her eyes. 'I'm just trying to keep it together.' Not okay: Ash responded 'no' when asked if she was okay, as she broke down in tears as the terrifying challenge was outlined Crew called in: Crew had to prevent Ash from hyperventilating as she panicked before the start of the task According to The Daily Telegraph, I'm A Celebrity producers have slightly revamped the challenge, adding water to make it 'bigger, better and scarier than ever before'. Water will slowly fill around Tziporah and Ash for 12 terrifying minutes. The longer the pair last inside the chamber, the more meals they will earn for their fellow contestants. Terrifying task: Ash (left) and Tziporah (right) looked less than impressed when it was initially revealed they were chosen to complete in the infamous I'm A Celebrity challenge known as the 'Viper Room' Twelve minutes of terror: Laurina Fleure managed to last the entire time in the snake-filled chamber Snakes released into the coffin-like chamber include red-tailed boa constrictors, Burmese pythons and carpet pythons. Last year, model Laurina Fleure - who rose to fame on The Bachelor - survived the entire 12 minutes, as she endured the challenge solo. However, she was confronted with just 45 snakes, and no running water. Intense: Last year, Laurina was chosen to enter the 'Viper Room' Jungle allies: Tziporah has kept close with shock jock Steve Price, after Tuesday night's episode saw her clash with Ash over kosher meals, before a disagreement with Nazeem and Tom Making headlines: Tziporah broke down in tears after clashing with Nazeem and Tom over geopolitics The new 'Viper Room' challenge will no doubt make for explosive television with Ash and Tziporah, who clashed on Tuesday night's episode of the show over the cooking of kosher meals. Ash, who prides herself on her culinary skills, was tasked with cooking kosher for Tziporah - who is an Orthodox Jew. However, when Tziporah complained that Ash would give her 'cold greasy meat' rather than something palatable, Ash stormed off and told the camera: 'We're not in a bloody 6-star restaurant. She should put a bra on too.' Selma Blair took a somber stroll through Beverly Hills wearing head-to-toe black attire on Tuesday. The 44-year-old Grammy nominee showed a little leg in a maxi-skirt, which she paired with a matching knit sweater and sensible flats. The American Crime Story actress was mourning her 'everything creature' Wink on the sixth anniversary of the one-eyed pup's tragic passing. Scroll down for video Funerial: Selma Blair took a somber stroll through Beverly Hills wearing head-to-toe black attire on Tuesday Back in black: The 44-year-old Grammy nominee showed a little leg in a maxi-skirt, which she paired with a matching knit sweater and sensible flats 'I think of her every day': The American Crime Story actress was mourning her 'everything creature' Wink on the sixth anniversary of the one-eyed pup's tragic passing 'My son was in my belly and I carried [Wink] out of the vet, said a prayer and buried her in her favorite guarding spot,' Selma - who boasts 443K followers - wrote. 'I think of her everyday and feel so damn lucky I had her as company for the years I did. I could never forget this girl and hope I see her in my dreams again. #wink #angel #rescuedog #myfurgoblin #truelove.' It's been an emotionally overwhelming week for the University of Michigan grad, who was in tears Friday after accidentally breaking a $500 gas pump. Despite her bad day, Blair - born Beitner - has said she and her family have 'fully recovered' from her 'total psychotic blackout' aboard a June 20 Delta flight after mixing alcohol with medication. 'Can I have someone say this will pass?' It's been an emotionally overwhelming week for Selma, who was in tears Friday after accidentally breaking a $500 gas pump 'You are a star!' The University of Michigan grad put aside her stresses to support stylist-turned-designer Rachel Zoe at her FW/17 presentation in West Hollywood Monday night Shade of choice: Blair - born Beitner - looked sensational at the Sunset Tower Hotel in a plunging black belted gown crafted by the 45-year-old former reality star The Sex, Death and Bowling actress put aside her stresses to support stylist-turned-designer Rachel Zoe at her FW/17 runway presentation in West Hollywood Monday night. Selma looked sensational at the Sunset Tower Hotel in a plunging black belted gown crafted by the 45-year-old former reality star. The Mothers and Daughters stunner has an adorable five-year-old son Arthur with her ex-partner, fashion designer Jason Bleick. Father-son outing: The Mothers and Daughters stunner has an adorable five-year-old son Arthur with her ex-partner, fashion designer Jason Bleick Daytime Emmy nominee: And MailOnline exclusively confirmed the identity of Selma's silver fox beau Ron Carlson on January 22 after speculation dating back to February 2015 And MailOnline exclusively confirmed the identity of the brunette beauty's silver fox beau Ron Carlson on January 22 after speculation dating back to February 2015. Ron is a Daytime Emmy-nominated producer, who acted in the 2015 Alaskan horror flick Unnatural and just directed the upcoming glam-metal comedy Dead Ant. Actingwise, Blair teamed up with Oscar winner Nicolas Cage to play parents that attack their daughter (Anne Winters) in this year's mass hysteria horror-thriller Mom and Dad. On Wednesday, American supermodel Cindy Crawford touched down in Sydney, commencing her first visit to Australia in ten years. And later that same day, the mother of two was seen strutting her stuff around town like a ravishing local. Showing off her long and lean pins, Cindy cut a casual figure in tight white jeans with a denim shirt. Scroll down for video White hot! American supermodel Cindy Crawford strutted her stuff in Sydney on Tuesday, just hours after arriving in Australia She added a light blue scarf to compliment her outfit and wore a beige leather belt, with gold sandals. Slung over her shoulder was a snake-skin look bag, and she had her long and luscious locks out. The brunette beauty covered her face with sunglasses and wore accessories including a large watch. Taking in the views? Cindy appeared to have a bounce in her step despite the long haul flight and was smiling Cindy appeared to have a bounce in her step despite the long haul flight and was smiling. The star is in Australia to promote the luxury watch brand Omega. 'Sydney is incredibly beautiful and we have friends here,' she told The Daily Telegraph on her last visit, referring to her husband Rande Gerber and children Kaia and Presley. Jet-setter: Earlier on Wednesday, Cindy touched down in Sydney Riding solo! Her husband nor her children were spotted with her as she arrived in the country 'Both my kids are into Australian wildlife; it would be great to spend time here with them,' she added. Her husband, but nor her children, was spotted with her as she arrived in the country. She also took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce her arrival, sharing a shot from what is believed to be her hotel room overlooking Sydney Harbour. Cindy captioned the shot: 'Not bad, Sydney.' David Vu has talked up a potential romance with his My Kitchen Rules partner Betty Banks. But after she dismissed the chances of taking their friendship to the next level, it appears both contestants have turned their attention to two of the guest judges. On Wednesday night's episode of the Channel Seven show, David took a liking to Liz Egan, branding her 'a babe', while Betty revealed she has a 'love heart' for Colin Fassnidge. Scroll down for video Love is in the air: On Wednesday night's episode of My Kitchen Rules, David Vu (L) takes a liking to Liz Egan, branding her 'a babe', while Betty Banks (R) reveals she has a 'love heart' for Colin Fassnidge As hosts Manu Fiedel and Pete Evans unveiled the four guest judges, who also include Karen Martini and Guy Grossi, the eyes of David turned immediately to Liz. 'Liz, she's a babe,' the 32-year-old gushed to camera, before the cameras showed him with a broad smile on his face as the chef walked out to greet the contestants. Meanwhile, his partner Betty revealed a soft spot for curly-haired Colin, known as the show's bad boy for his cutting comments and hard demeanor. 'Liz, she's a babe,' David gushes to camera, before the cameras show him with a broad smile on his face as she walks out to greet the contestants Crush: Betty reveals a soft spot for curly-haired Colin, known as the show's bad boy for his cutting comments and hard demeanor The look of love: 'I've got a little love heart for Colin. I love how brutal he is,' the 27-year-old eulogised 'I've got a little love heart for Colin. I love how brutal he is,' the 27-year-old professed. Betty and David have been friends for eight years after meeting when she gave him a piercing at a body piercing parlour. And the pair, who are both single, have been asked on air about the possibility of romance blossoming between them since appearing on the show, offering conflicting answers. On a promo for the show, the duo's differing feelings were clear-cut. Friend zone: The pair, who are both single, have been asked about the possibility of romance blossoming between them since appearing on the show, offering conflicting answers Piercing blow: Betty and David have been friends for eight years after meeting when she gave him a piercing at a body piercing parlour 'We're both single now so we'll see what happens,' David smiled, at exactly the same time Betty scoffed: 'Yeah, it's not going to happen.' David, who recently saw his marriage breakdown, told TV Week that he still holds out hope of getting together with the tattooed beauty. 'The MKR producers asked me [if we would ever date] when we first auditioned,' the amateur cook said. 'I said, "You know what? I'm single now and Betty's hot... and it might happen one day".' She's been touring New Zealand and Australia with Natasha Hamilton and Michelle Heaton. But Kerry Katona was forced to pull out of the Atomic Kitten reunion gig in Perth on Tuesday after being struck down with a mystery illness. With the trio reduced to a double act, the show still went on, with Kerry apologising profusely and insisting she'd be back on the stage the next night. Scroll down for video 'Feeling poorly': Kerry Katona was forced to pull out of the Atomic Kitten reunion gig in Perth on Tuesday after being struck down with a mystery illness Taking to Twitter, the 36-year-old songstress praised her bandmates for going on without her as she revealed she was feeling 'poorly'. She posted: 'Wow I hear the girls did a great job at the gig! Sooo gutted at how poorly I feel and i wasn't there to see you all!' She now appears to be on the mend, however, as when asked by a fan if she would be back on the stage for Wednesday's show, she responded: 'I sure am my darling feeling a wee bit better xxx' The show must go on! Natasha Hamilton and Michelle Heaton - who is filling in for Liz McClarnon on the tour - still performed for the crowds She added: 'To everybody in Perth I can't apologise enough for letting you down!! I'm so upset with myself as I've never missed a gig before! #sick.' Sharing a sad selfie, she wrote: 'I am on the mend!!! But my god... really wasn't a pretty site last night!' Despite being reduced to a two-piece of Natasha - and Michelle filling in for Liz McClarnon on the tour - the pair still impressed. Under the weather: Taking to Twitter, the 36-year-old songstress praised her bandmates for going on without her as she revealed she was feeling 'poorly' Feeling Whole Again: Kerry now appears to be on the mend, however, as when asked by a fan if she would be back on the stage for Wednesday's show she insisted she would be Apologies: She apologised to her fans for letting them down as she said she was so 'upset with herself' Feeling blue: Sharing a sad selfie, she wrote: 'I am on the mend!!! But my god... really wasn't a pretty site last night!' Taking to Instagram after the show, Natasha shared a video of the pair performing which she captioned: 'So....thrown in at the deep end tonight but me & Michelle loved tonight's gig in #Perth, the crowd welcomed us with open arms:) 'thank u all so much for making such a memorable night x' Born to perform: Natasha Hamilton shared a clip of herself on stage performing to the packed out stadium without her bandmate Kerry at her side Working the crowds: Natasha and Michelle still put on a killer show for the crowds Despite storming the stage, Michelle revealed that she too wasn't feeling 100 percent, as she shared a sad selfie from her bed on Tuesday. Taking to Twitter, she posted a picture of herself snuggled up in bed and sipping on a cold and flu remedy. She wrote: '1.20am in Perth .. can't sleep .. up at 5am to fly to Adelaide.. have a bit of a sore throat & cold.. lemsip time..' Feeling feverish: Despite storming the stage, Michelle revealed that she too wasn't feeling 100 percent, as she shared a sad selfie from her bed on Tuesday Overdone it: Their night was tamer than Thursday where after a daytime drinking session, the trio were spotted in a cab, which was forced to pull over so Michelle could be sick The ladies' night appeared to be far tamer than the wild day they had on Thursday. Following a daytime drinking session on Auckland's Waiheke island, the trio were spotted in a cab, which was forced to pull over so Michelle could be sick on the street. The trio are touring alongside B*Witched, S Club 3, East 17 and Liberty X this month. Leading up to the viper room reloaded challenge on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Ash Pollard said she was nervous and anxious. And competing in the tucker trial on Wednesday's show, the former My Kitchen Rules star became absolutely hysterical as came face-to-face with a bunch of snakes. Ash and camp mate Kate Fischer - now known as Tziporah Malkah - had to lay down in a chamber as water and snakes came around them, with Ash swearing even before they hopped in. Scroll down for video 'Oh f**K': On I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! on Wednesday, Ash Pollard erupted into tears ahead of doing the viper room challenge with Kate Fischer 'Oh f**k,' Ash said, before erupting into tears as she heard about the challenge, which was double the competitors and double the snakes. She had to be comforted by host Dr Chris Brown and an onset doctor before going in. The pair had to stay in the chamber for 12 minutes, and would win a star for every minute they lasted. Breaking down: She had to be comforted by host Dr Chris Brown and an onset doctor before going in (seen with Kate Fischer, now known as Tziporah Malkah) 'Crying on the inside': Tziporah began counting the time in the chamber, getting a snake on her crotch and around her neck Hating it: In a moment of desperation, single Ash joked: 'If some burly man doesn't sweep me off my feet because I've done this I'll be pissed off!' Tziporah began counting the time in the chamber, getting a snake on her crotch and around her neck. Ash and Tziporah kept asking each other if they are okay, and held hands with snakes slithering over them. In a moment of desperation, single Ash joked: 'If some burly man doesn't sweep me off my feet because I've done this I'll be pissed off!' Snakes included a Burmese python, with Tziporah saying she was 'crying on the inside.' Ash added: 'This is the most petrifying thing.' The girls spent 12 minutes in the pit and won 12 stars. 'This is the most petrifying thing': The girls tried to keep their eyes closed during the challenge Afterwards, Ash looked relieved, and said: 'That was actually torture. I feel like I can do anything now...I am woman hear me roar!' Tziporah said she knew Ash was freaking out and wanted to keep her calm. She joked that a snake crawled near her crutch, and it was 'the best action I've had in six years.' The stress was high all round and even when Ash and Tziporah were heading to the trial, Tom Arnold told the pair to not come back if they don't go well, with Kate yelling: 'F**k off Tom.' They soon got back to the camp and left their camp mates impressed with their achievement. Relief! They soon got back to the camp and left their camp mates impressed with their achievement Steve Price said he'd take Ash out to dinner for the feat. At one point at camp, the stars had to compete in a mouth-to-mouth game, sitting at a table as they used their mouths to pass on some disgusting items, including a chicken foot, lard, and an oesophagus. Ash was sitting at the end and seemed to enjoy being next to her crush, Kris Smith. 'My technique was spot on with Kris,' Ash said to camera. Getting close: At one point at camp, the stars had to compete in a mouth-to-mouth game, sitting at a table as they used their mouths to pass on some disgusting items Not for the faint hearted! Chicken foot, lard, and an oesophagus (seen, with Lisa Curry), was passed around In her element? Ash was sitting at the end and seemed to enjoy being next to her crush, Kris Smith Other items passed down the group was Shane Warne's sock, with Shane having appeared on the last series of the show, an entire raw octopus, and a century-old egg. Nazeem Hussain and Tom were sitting next to each other and accidentally kissed when passing on the slippery egg. 'I pashed Tom Arnold!,' Nazeem said to camera, disgusted. The celebrities got to enjoy some treats afterwards, including an array of drinks. Meanwhile, clashing at camp during the episode, was Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Tziporah, after Tziporah accused Natalie and camp leader Jay Laga'aia of talking about her and Tom. Tziporah heard the pair saying that she and Tom were 'privileged' and weren't pulling their weight around camp. 'I pashed Tom Arnold!' Nazeem Hussain (centre) and Tom (left) were sitting next to each other and accidentally kissed when passing on the slippery egg Feuds: Meanwhile, clashing at camp during the episode was Natalie Bassingthwaighte (seen) and Tziporah, after Tziporah accused Natalie and camp leader Jay Laga'aia (seen) of talking about her and Tom 'Every single day you have a little fight with someone. It's hilarious,' Natalie told Tziporah. Tziporah said that Natalie, 'always picks on me.' Lisa Curry chimed in and told Natalie that Tziporah can 'overreact' at things. Natalie also at one point, threatened to quit the show, with the pressure of it all. She eventually sought out Tziporah, so that they could put aside their feud. Tziporah and Lisa then clashed after dinner, when Tziporah wanted to relax on her bed, when Lisa wanted her to do her chores, being the deputy camp leader. Nazeem went to wash the dishes, when Lisa wanted Tziporah to help. Not happy! Tziporah and Lisa then clashed after dinner, when Tziporah wanted to lie on her bed and relax when Lisa wanted her to do her chores, being the deputy camp leader Lisa walked away when Tziporah got annoyed, before Tziporah did her chores and vented to Nazeem and Jay. 'I'm just f**king sick of it. I want to go home,' Tziporah said, bursting into tears. 'I'm f**king sick of these b**ches that don't understand me,' she added, about Lisa and Natalie. 'I've had a very, very strange life with lots of ups and downs. I know everyone has had their ups and downs but my life has been like that,' she said, moving her hand up and down. 'And I'm sick of people like f**king Lisa, you know.' Lisa came over to help out and Tziporah told her to go away, so that she wasn't called 'lazy.' 'I want to go home': Tziporah had had enough after clashing with Natalie and Lisa Tziporah added to camera: 'I'm so glad I stopped being a celebrity for 10 years and got into a low paid job and had to learn about the real world for a while because otherwise I could be just shitheaded as some of them are.' Jay meanwhile also vented to camp at the start of the episode, about people instructing others about their chores, telling them not to. Meanwhile, at the end of the episode, it was revealed that competing in the next tucker trial would be Kris Smith and Tziporah. The task is called: 'A trip down memory pain,' and will test their memories. He is no stranger to being sued. But now Tyga is being sued by the guy who informed him he was being sued. A process server has filed a lawsuit against the rapper after claiming he was attacked by his entourage while handing him a summons for another case, TMZ reported Tuesday. More legal woes: Tyga is being sued again - this time by a process server who claimed he was 'attacked by the rapper's entourage' while handing him a summons for another case Kylie Jenner's boyfriend was handed court papers while walking into his 27th birthday party at The Penthouse in Weho in November. The man who handed it to him - as personal delivery of notice is required by law - has claimed he was subsequently grabbed, yanked, pulled and choked' by Tyga's posse Indeed a video of the incident published by the site clearly shows the man getting yanked backwards with an arm around his neck immediately after serving the Rack City hitmaker. According to the site, the lawsuit lists Tyga as 'a minor celebrity... known more for his social life than his music'. High profile defendant: Tyga, 26, is dating reality star Kylie jenner, 19, and is described in the latest legal documents as 'a minor celebrity... known more for his social life than his music' The same week he was served, Tyga reportedly paid off the remainder of a separate $200k jewelry debt he had been sued over. According to TMZ, the rapper completed a final $100k payment as well as some interest to jeweler to the stars, Jason of Beverly Hills, after he won a judgement against Tyga. The site also claims Jason's lawyers had planned to make girlfriend reveal details of her finances as part of their debtor's exam before the outstanding payment for a watch and chain bought in 2013 was resolved. Ongoing issue: Tyga has been battling several lawsuits the past year or so, mostly for failure to keep up payments on luxury auto leases and complete payment for jewelry In September, it was reported that Tyga's mother was at risk of getting her Range Rover repossessed after the rapper failed to keep up the $1,000-a-month repayments on the $60,000 Evoque model. Previously, Tyga's own Ferrari was seemingly repossessed. Tyga's repayments were due to be settled in debtor's examination in October. However, after just two hours of grilling, the 'Ayo' rapper asked for the questioning to end because he felt he was too sick to proceed. Jeremy McConnell slammed ex Stephanie Davis and accused her of 'manipulating the public against him' amid their ongoing paternity battle, during an explosive interview. The 26-year-old Irish model finally took a DNA test live on air on This Morning on Wednesday to determine whether or not he is the father of Caben-Albi George. 'I'm upset. She's puppeteering the public,' he told hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby,' as he spoke about the debacle for 'the first and last time.' 'She's manipulated the public against me' Jeremy McConnell slammed 'toxic' ex Stephanie Davis on This Morning on Wednesday as he FINALLY takes a DNA test live on This Morning All over: Stephanie, 23, has always maintained that the baby is Jeremy's - they split a month before she announced she was pregnant - (pictured on Celebrity Big Brother) Jeremy claims Stephanie, 23, wanted him to sign an 'unreasonable contract' in order to get the DNA results done - the contents of which cannot be discussed for legal reasons. The former Hollyoaks actress, has always maintained Jeremy is the father, but still has to agree to have her newborn swabbed by the nurse at ITV to get the results. Jeremy said: 'No man in their right mind would sign that. It's disgusting. She's puppeteering the public. I'm sorry, I just can't' Phillip agreed, saying: 'I've read it and I wouldn't sign it. It would have an impact on your entire life.' Swabbing: The 26-year-old finally took a DNA test live on air on This Morning on Wednesday to determine whether or not he is the father of Caben-Albi George Jeremy also claimed he had never stated he wasn't the father, but said he needed to be sure as Stephanie had told him she had been intimate with someone else. Phillip said: 'We can mention Joshua Ritchie as he has claimed he was worried he could be the father.' Jeremy said: 'If he is my flesh and blood then I will step up to my responsibilities. I want to step up to the plate but I'm not being given that opportunity at the moment, my hands are tied. 'She banned me from the birth. There was no contact though. My responsibility as a father starts when the baby is born. Jeremy claims Stephanie, 23, wanted him to sign an 'unreasonable contract' in order to get the DNA results done - the contents of which cannot be discussed for legal reasons. Phillip agreed: 'I've read it and I wouldn't sign it. It would have an impact on your entire life' I don't owe anything to Steph. If she had asked me to be at the birth then I would have been there 100 per cent. I hope I am the dad,' he said. 'I 110% could be. 'I didn't want any of this. She's made everything so public so now I feel like I have to defend myself. Maybe my silence has been taken as weakness but that's not the case. 'I've always wanted to do the right thing. I would never let my own flesh and blood get away like that.' Defending herself: Shortly after the show, Stephanie posted her side of the story on Twitter Refuting claims: She also hit back after he claimed he had never denied paternity, posting tweets he had previously sent to fans Jeremy said that Stephanie told him she had been intimate with another man shortly after they split. He claims: 'She said herself that she was with someone else shortly after we broke up. 'The reason I didn't get back with her and supported her through the pregnancy was because the relationship was so toxic and I just wasn't putting myself, her and the baby at risk of anything.' 'So much went on behind the scenes. Stephanie would agree things had to end. We tried so many times to fix things but we couldn't. It was so toxic. 'Cape Verde was the final straw. Everyone said we should break up. I know I wasn't perfect and I'm sorry for that but she had her issues too.' Honest: Jeremy said he hopes he is the father and '110% could be' but added he was keen to clear up any doubt as he claims Stephanie had told him she had been with another man He said: 'I've always wanted to do the right thing. I would never let my own flesh and blood get away like that' The heavily-inked star has continuously denied cheating on Stephanie throughout their four-month relationship but he has now revealed he did sleep with a number of girls while they were arguing towards the end of their romance. He said: 'Yeah there was some girls. There were incidents where I felt like I did and I held my hands up to that. 'There was more than one time, which I don't feel great for but there was reasons. We were on and off. The arguments were too much. I think Steph was faithful when we were together.' This Morning asked DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs (also used by The Jeremy Kyle Show) to collect a sample from Jeremy during the show. While Stephanie was not present for the collection, it shows Jeremy is keen to finally clear up the truth about whether or not he is the father. Hitting back: Jeremy also said that he would have been at the birth had he been asked, although Stephanie said in a statement that she never banned him from being there Conflict: Stephanie said Jeremy never asked to be at the birth but he claims she banned him, saying: 'She said in an interview I was banned' If Stephanie agrees to testing, AlphaBiolabs will be able to deliver results within 24 hours. Phillip said: 'ITV use a very reputable company so we've acted as a mediator here. 'We don't want to know the results, we don't want anything to do with it other than the fact you can say you've had the DNA test. The nurse came in this morning, that will now be sent off to the lab and will be held there securely." Holly said: 'We just want you to be able to say that you've done your part in a controlled environment.' Jeremy agreed: 'Now is the time for us to put our differences aside. This could all have been dealt with in private from the start.' Swab: This Morning asked DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs (also used by The Jeremy Kyle Show) to collect a sample from Jeremy during the show Holly said: 'We don't want to know the results of the test. We just want you to be able to say that you've done your part in a controlled environment.' Soon after the show ended, Stephanie took to Twitter to hit back at her ex. She shared a post which read:' Stephanie has felt humiliated by Jeremy denying his own son and foolishly announcing publicly his request for a DNA test. 'Jeremy has caused Stephanie massive amount of stress, pressure and upset throughout her pregnancy, ruining what for most women is one of the most special time of their lives. 'Jeremy has at no point throughout the pregnancy or after the birth been in contact directly with Stephanie. Jeremy was categorically not banned from the birth nor did he ever ask to attend.' 'Stephanie confirmed to Jeremy that she was pregnant 10 days after they split, any suggestion that she was unfaithful to him is to detract away from his numerous infidelities whilst in the relationship. 'Jeremy has been given the option at all times to take part in a DNA test because of past behaviour Stephanie has requested that this is handled via the correct channels and managed by her solicitor. Happy times... Jeremy met Stephanie when they entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, where they struck up a turbulent romance despite her taken relationship status with model Sam Reece on the outside 'Jeremy to date has continually refused the terms of the agreement that Stephanie has proposed which he was given the right to make his own amendments to suit him. 'This confidentiality agreement was made to ensure the privacy and protect Caben Albi. Stephanie as a single mother reserves the right to undertake any work she sees fit to provide for their son, her priority. 'It is upsetting to think that Jeremy would stoop so low to challenge the mother of his child to a DNA test live on TV when it was already in hand. 'This shows how little concern he has for Caben and this is already being dealt with privately. 'Caben and Stephanie have only been out of hospital for a few weeks however after spending nine months denying that he is the babys father we cannot believe that Jeremy has the audacity to turn the situation around and bring all of this very much into a media circus on his terms only.' Jeremy said: 'I did love her, of course. We met in a confined space and it was a whirlwind when we got out into the big bad world. I wasn't used to it' He continued: 'There was so much pressure. She would agree that we had to end it. We tried to make it work a few times but we couldn't' Making his own rules: Jeremy showed off his inkings wearing a casual vest and skinny jeans for the big interview After the show, Stephanie's ex Sam Reece tweeted about the appearance, sarcastically writing: 'Been a loverly morning hasn't it?' and a cry face emoji. [sic] Jeremy met Stephanie when they entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, where they struck up a turbulent romance despite her taken relationship status with model Sam Reece on the outside. Their meet and subsequent love affair saw the couple descend into a toxic romance, marred with accusations of infidelity and violent fights from both sides. Having fun? Stephanie's ex Sam Reece seemed rather amused by Jeremy's This Morning appearance Sarcastic: Stephanie's ex Sam Reece had something to say following Jeremy's appearance on the show Jeremy said: 'I did love her, of course. We met in a confined space and it was a whirlwind when we got out into the big bad world. I wasn't used to it. 'There was so much pressure. She would agree that we had to end it. We tried to make it work a few times but we couldn't.' In May, after the couple split amid mud-slinging from either sides, the former Hollyoaks actress announced she was expecting Jeremy's child - claims he vehemently denied throughout her entire pregnancy. Awkward: Stephanie had vowed to undergo a paternity test upon her baby's arrival and in a recent interview with OK! magazine she stated: 'The paternity tests in the process of being arranged, but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately' He explained: 'We broke up at the end of April and it was closer to the end of May that I found out she was pregnant. 'She called me and said she'd just done a blood test and found out she was pregnant. 'There was a lot of mixed emotions going through my head at that point but obviously when you break up with someone you have lingering feelings and you're texting and you're calling them and there was certain activity I wasn't happy.' Stephanie had vowed to undergo a paternity test upon her baby's arrival and in a recent interview with OK! magazine she stated: 'The paternity tests in the process of being arranged, but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately.' After she gave birth, Jeremy 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.' Went well then? Jeremy looked pretty pleased with himself as he made his way to his car following the interview Advertisement Bella Hadid and Joan Smalls travelled in style to Tommy Hilfiger's Fashion Show on Tuesday. En route to Los Angeles' Venice Beach, which has been transformed into 'Tommyland' for the show, the models were in great spirits as they jetted out of New York's LAX airport. But whilst they may have been excited to get up in the air, the pair were no doubt feeling a sense of deja vu, as the Air Tommy Jet bore a striking resemblance to the one used for the Victoria's Secret shows. Scroll down for video Seeing double! Bella Hadid and Joan Smalls travelled in style to Tommy Hilfiger's Fashion Show on Tuesday via Air Tommy. But the pair were no doubt feeling a sense of deja vu, as the Jet bore a striking resemblance to the Victoria's Secret one Traditionally, models travel to Victoria's Secret's annual shows via private plane, ensuring the festivities and hype begins whilst they're still in the air. And it appeared to be working just as well for the models in the Tommy Hilfiger show as they looked full of life as they posed for snaps from inside the jet. As both Bella and Joan have been passengers on the Victoria's Secret jet before, the novelty of the flight itself may have worn off, although Bella would have been desperate to land in LA to see her sister Gigi. Jet set style: Yasmin Wijnaldum, Alanna Arrington, Maartja Verhoef and Blanca Padilla looked in great spirits as they ascended the stairs to the glamorous Air Tommy jet Spot the difference: The Tommy Hilfiger models posed for snaps in the same way that the Victoria's Secret show models did en route to Paris in November Looking effortlessly glamorous for the flight, Bella donned a printed white T-shirt beneath a black hooded cardigan, layering up with a glamorous faux fur coat. Slipping her model pins into bleached skinny jeans, she accessorised with a black baker boy cap. Joan looked equally as stylish for the flight, teaming a plunging black Metallica T-shirt with jeans and a beanie cap. Flying fur-st class: Looking effortlessly glamorous for the flight, Bella donned a printed white T-shirt beneath a black hooded cardigan, layering up with a glamorous faux fur coat All together now: Tommy Hilfiger was also on the jet with the models and happily posed for snaps with the glamorous group Travelling in style: As both Bella and Joan have been passengers on the Victoria's Secret jet before, the novelty of the flight itself may have worn off, although Bella would have been desperate to land in LA to see her sister Gigi Whilst Bella's elder sister Gigi was not on the plane, she will be playing a big part in the show. The 21-year-old model will be debuting her capsule collection Gigi by Tommy Hilfiger on the runway, her second line with the American fashion house. Clearly a proud sibling, Bella shared a clip of herself and Joan blowing kisses from the plane which she captioned: 'So excited to see my sister @gigihadid 's new @tommyxgigi collection tomorrow in LA!!!!! So proud!!!! Tommy Land with my joaney @joansmalls.' Runway ready: The tarmac proved to be the perfect photo spot for both the Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria's Secret show They've got a ticket to ride: The models (Yasmin Wijnaldum, Alanna Arrington, Maartja Verhoef, Blanca Padilla) were giggling with glee as they took their seats on the private plane, proudly brandishing their customised novelty tickets As part of her work with the fashion house, Gigi has been immortalised as a Barbie doll and was quick to thank collaborators Tommy Hilfiger and Mattel toy company in the Insta pictures' captions. 'Can't believe that's me !!!!!!! Thank you for this honor #Mattel @tommyhilfiger' The supermodel also shared how excited she was for her mini-me to be at tomorrow's Tommy x Gigi fashion show. '[I] can't wait to have #BARBIE join us at the #TOMMYxGIGI show tomorrow!' she said, while finishing the post by tagging the @barbiestyle and @tommyxgigi Instagram accounts. Bon Voyage! The models donned matching skinny jeans and Tommy Hilfiger bomber jackets for the flight. The Victoria's Secret models had also coordinated their looks, sporting branded pink T-shirts with their denim Flying sky high: The models spirits were lifted as they prepared to board the jet, messing around for the cameras Kiss it better: The group were in jovial spirits, posing up a storm and blowing kisses for the camera ahead of the flight Loving life: The models pulled a host of shapes and poses as they showed off their novelty tickets for the airplane ride Gigi previously collaborated on two capsule collections with the American fashion house, under the banner of TOMMYxGIGI. The plastic Hadid looks great in an classic Tommy Hilfiger shirt and jean shorts as the doll version of herself roller skates with Barbie on the Venice, California boardwalk. Miniature Gigi looks as cool as the real deal, slinging a leather backpack with cute furry charm over her shoulder in the shot. Carlisle Area School District recently received a $50,000 grant to purchase strength training and other equipment for the fitness centers at Lamberton and Wilson middle schools. The grant from the Partnership for Better Health was made possible with help from the districts Bison Foundation. Each school received $25,000 the bulk of which was used to purchase a Synrgy360 system for each building, said Bonnie Kirk, a physical education teacher at Wilson. The system allows for up to 16 students at a time to participate in a variety of fitness activities, Kirk said. We can keep the kids from getting bored because their workouts keep changing. They cant outdo what the machine will offer to them. Synrgy360 was chosen because it gives staff the flexibility to tailor fitness training to a variety of needs from light workouts for students just starting off to more challenging routines for athletes and students with more experience, Kirk said. One goal of the grant was to enhance the fitness center of each building to counter the growing problem of childhood obesity, said Brett Livingston, a physical education teacher at Lamberton. We have a large population of students that dont have the money or facilities outside of school to maintain a healthy lifestyle, he said. Through the use of the grant, we can utilize our facility both during and after school as a step for students to maintain a healthy lifestyle through the use of good choices. Each student is required to take a Lifetime Personal Fitness class during one semester of the eighth grade, Livingston said. Recently the district expanded this program to include a follow-up fitness class where students can train in the fitness center during their resource time. They can come here and work-out on their own under teacher supervision, Livingston said. The number of students involved in this expanded opportunity has grown from two to 18 after the newly purchased equipment was installed in November. Its something to take time out of their day, said Livingston, adding that each student has to keep a training log showing the progression of exercise sets and reps. The concern is kids are less active these days, Kirk said. Many dont have the opportunity to get a gym membership. Some families are uncomfortable letting kids play safely outside. There was a need for physical education to adjust. We cant be just a team-based curriculum in the middle school anymore. The result has been a shift in emphasis toward addressing individual fitness goals in the hope that skills and habits learned in middle school carry on to high school and later into adulthood, Kirk said. It is valuable to do it in middle school because bodies are still developing and going through many growth changes. Every person has a different avenue to fitness, Livingston said. Fitness is fun if you are learning it in a fun way. Every year, school nurses weigh students and calculate their body-mass index based on the ideal weight for their height. About 601 students are enrolled at Wilson Middle School. Of those, 101 or about 16.8 percent are overweight while another 123 or 20.5 percent are obese, according to statistics from the school nurse. The same statistics show another 349 students or 58.1 percent are at normal weight while 27 or 4.5 percent are below normal weight. One parent declined to give permission to have her student weighed by the nurse, Kirk said. Students wishing to work-out in the fitness center must follow guidelines that put the priority on academics, Kirk said. This means keeping up with homework and monitoring their grades. Both schools used the grant money to purchase additional cardio and strength training equipment. The fitness centers at Lamberton and Wilson came online with the completion of projects that expanded and renovated each school building. Georgia Love and Lee Elliot put on an amorous display at the premiere of Fifty Shades Darker on Wednesday. Taking to the red carpet at Crown Melbourne, The Bachelorette couple engaged in a passionate kiss in front of the assembled press. Sporting all-black ensembles for the occasion, the pair looked very much in love as they attended the advanced screening. Scroll down for video Love story: Georgia Love and Lee Elliot put on an amorous display at the premiere of Fifty Shades Darker on Wednesday A glamorous-looking Georgia gripped her partner's t-shirt as they locked lips for a photo shoot. The newsreader wore a shoulderless black top, a flowing skirt and a black choker necklace as she graced the red carpet. A stylish pair of heels added to the 28-year-old's look as she posed beside Lee, who had his arms around the brunette. Loved-up: Taking to the red carpet at Crown Melbourne, The Bachelorette couple engaged in a passionate kiss in front of the assembled press 50 shades of black: Sporting all-black ensembles for the occasion, the pair looked very much in love as they attended the advanced screening The mechanical plumber cut a more casual figure, opting for a t-shirt and skinny jeans. Lee, who also attended The Book Of Mormon premiere alongside Georgia on Saturday, completed his outfit with a pair of Nike trainers. The Bachelorette winner later took to Instagram to share another photo of the pair from the event. In the picture, Lee appears to be walking away from the red carpet beside a bemused Georgia. Breaking news: The newsreader wore a shoulderless black top, a flowing skirt and a black choker necklace as she graced the red carpet Leaked: The mechanical plumber cut a more casual figure, opting for a t-shirt and skinny jeans He captioned the snap: 'Fifty Shades Darker premiere??? I thought you said we were of to see the new X Men movie!! (sic)' Lee's Instagram story also showed him filming Georgia as she addressed the crowd before the movie began. The Victoria native had earlier posted a picture of the duo's masquerade masks, in line with the theme of the raunchy film, on her Instagram. She captioned the pic: 'It's hot today but tonight's going to be hotter.' It's the dark romantic movie based on a bestseller book series. And Australian celebrity fans of the Fifty Shades trilogy were out in force on Wednesday for the premieres of Fifty Shades Darker in Sydney and Melbourne. Starlets such as Brynne Edelsten and DJ Tigerlily did their best Anastasia Steele impressions in an array of slinky black ensembles. Scroll down for video Mr Grey will see you now! Celebrities don slinky black outfits at Fifty Shades Darker premieres in Sydney and Melbourne The 34-year-old ex-wife of Geoffrey Edelsten wore a figure-hugging black dress with scalloped edging that revealed her toned pins. The American styled her blonde locks poker straight, wearing understated eye makeup and a nude lipstick. Brynne accessorised her outfit on the Melbourne red carpet with a pair of towering platform heels and black handbag. Bubbly look: The American styled her blonde locks poker straight, wearing understated eye makeup and a nude lipstick At the Sydney premiere, DJ Tigerlily appeared to take the movie's sensual theme to heart, wearing a see-through lace dress. The 24-year-old looked stunning in the racy ensemble, with the sheer design flaunting her cleavage and exposing her knickers. Tigerlily, whose real name is Dara Hayes, sported statement gold jewellery and styled her hair in a messy up do with bronzed makeup. Revealing: DJ Tigerlily appeared to take the movie's sensual theme to heart, wearing a see-through lace dress Golden girl: Tigerlily sported statement gold jewellery and styled her hair in a messy up do with bronzed makeup All black fan: The musical beauty kept her accessories black with pointed pump heels and a YSL handbag The musical beauty kept her accessories black with pointed pump heels and a YSL handbag. Former Australia's Next Top Model contestant Abbie Weir also embraced a sheer outfit. The leggy blonde's bra was visible through a see-through spotted top, which was tucked into a leather miniskirt. Model of perfection: Former Australia's Next Top Model contestant Abbie Weir also embraced a sheer outfit Beautiful in black! The 20-year-old model paired the outfit with knee high boots and a simple clutch bag Fancy seeing you! While on the red carpet, Abbie caught up with a another reality TV star - former Big Brother contestant Tim Dormer The 20-year-old model paired the outfit with knee high boots and a simple clutch bag. While on the red carpet, Abbie caught up with a another reality TV star - former Big Brother contestant Tim Dormer. The likeable 2013 winner, who recently revealed he was in a same sex relationship with best friend Ash Toweel, wore a satin black suit with a white button down shirt. Suiting up: The likeable 2013 winner, who recently revealed he was in a same sex relationship with best friend Ash Toweel, wore a satin black suit with a white button down shirt Breaking away from the black dress code was former Miss World Erin Holland and Real Housewives Of Melbourne star Susie McLean. The blonde beauty looked chic in a fitted white dress, which featured corseted waist detailing and a satin high neck. Erin kept her makeup simple, pulling her golden locks back from her face into a sleek ponytail. White hot! The blonde beauty looked chic in a fitted white dress, which featured corseted waist detailing and a satin high neck Natural beauty: Erin kept her makeup simple, pulling her golden locks back from her face into a sleek ponytail Ravishing red! A bubbly Susie wore a red maxi dress which showed off her ample cleavage and lithe figure A bubbly Susie wore a red maxi dress which showed off her ample cleavage and lithe figure. Models Hannah Perera and Tori Levett went for a boho take on the black theme, baring their tanned physiques in black gowns. Home And Away star Philippa Northeast stood out in a metallic dress whileX Factor's Jacinta Gulisano and actress Kat Hoyos used sequins to give their outfits extra sparkle. Boho babes! Models Hannah Perera (left) and Tori Levett (right) went for a boho take on the black theme, baring their tanned physiques in black gowns Striking in silver: Home And Away actress Philippa Northeast stood out in a metallic dress She is rumoured to be expecting a baby with her boyfriend Bradley Cooper. But Irina Shayk gave nothing away on Tuesday as she headed out for a shopping trip in Los Angeles. The 31-year-old model dressed in a loose fitting black top, leather jacket and black leggings for her spree on hip Melrose Avenue. Scroll down for videos Shop til I drop: 'Pregnant' Irina Shayk shopped on Melrose Avenue on Tuesday while dressed in a casual black top and leather jacket Comfy flat lace up black boots and an oversized burgundy bag added to the look while the stunning model wore her hair in a loose parted style. She was without Bradley but was joined by a female pal for their day out. The couple have been dating since around April 2015, and according to E! News' source, Bradley has been doting on his beau, 'taking her to her doctor visits.' Low key: Comfy flat lace up black boots and an oversized burgundy bag added to the look while the stunning model wore her hair in a loose parted style In love: Irina and Bradley have been dating since April 2015 but the stunner was without her beau for the trip The website's source also said that the 44-year-old actor 'has been there for her and is loving seeing the baby grow inside her.' E!'s insider added that Irina 'can't wait to be a mom' and wants 'more kids after this.' Rumors of a possible pregnancy ignited after she walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Paris wearing a knotted duster coat over her lingerie. She's so beautiful: Rumors of a possible pregnancy ignited after she walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show; seen on November 30 in France at the lingerie company's fashion show Covering up: The gorgeous brunette recently shared a behind the scenes shot from her Missoni Summer 2017 campaign while wearing a white robe The stars have yet to comment on the pregnancy rumors. Irina, who started dating the movie star in early 2015, has been seen on numerous occasions wearing an oval-cut diamond and emerald ring on her wedding finger. The gorgeous brunette recently shared a behind the scenes shot from her Missoni Summer 2017 campaign. The runway star, who covered up her stomach with a white robe, wrote: '#BTS moment on set with my @missoni family!' Tim Robards left Anna Heinrich behind when he jetted off to America in January. But The Bachelor made a triumphant return from his business trip on Wednesday, sharing a photo of his reunion with his partner on Instagram. The 33-year-old appeared delighted to be home as Anna planted a kiss on his cheek. Scroll down for video He's back! Tim Robards made a triumphant return from his business trip on Wednesday, sharing a photo with his partner on Instagram He captioned the pic: 'Back home to ma baaaaaaby! (sic)' Tim, who fell for Anna on the debut season of the reality show, appeared to have a rewarding trip to the States. The hunky entrepreneur modelled for Men's Health magazine, taking part in a shoot in Malibu, California on Monday. Business or pleasure? Tim, who fell for Anna on the debut season of the reality show, appeared to have a rewarding trip to the States Day job: The hunky entrepreneur modelled for Men's Health magazine, taking part in a shoot in Malibu, California on Monday It's not the first time that fitness guru team has modelled for the publication and he was thankful to be a cover star once again. On Tuesday, he wrote on Instagram: 'I live to inspire people... to have a crack and be the best you can be, enjoying the journey...for me there's nothing better than hearing... because of you, I didn't give up... today was great recognition shooting another cover for @menshealthmag in the US in Malibu! 'For many of us our body is a reflection of our lifestyle. No guilt trips... no perfection... just start with the little things that show that you love the most important person in the world... yourself... because if you don't love yourself it's hard for anyone else to... one small step at a time...' Happy days: Tim's return is likely to be well received by Anna, who recently told Daily Mail Australia she was missing her man Tim's return is likely to be well received by Anna, who recently told Daily Mail Australia she was missing her man. While attending the David Jones Autumn/Winter Launch Party in Sydney by herself last week, the blonde also dismissed rumours that the pair will soon become engaged. She said: 'We've had it (marriage rumours) for three years and circumstances haven't changed. We're still happy and well and that's what matters.' Stephanie Davis has hit out at Jeremy McConnell after his explosive claims that she had 'manipulated the public against him' amid their ongoing paternity battle. The 23-year-old actress took to Twitter on Wednesday to blast her ex for 'stooping so low' after he took a DNA test live on air to determine whether or not he is the father of Caben-Albi George. She shared a post which read:' Stephanie has felt humiliated by Jeremy denying his own son and foolishly announcing publicly his request for a DNA test. Scroll down for video Fuming: Stephanie Davis has hit out at Jeremy McConnell after his explosive claims that she had 'manipulated the public against him' amid their ongoing paternity battle 'Jeremy has caused Stephanie massive amount of stress, pressure and upset throughout her pregnancy, ruining what for most women is one of the most special time of their lives. 'Jeremy has at no point throughout the pregnancy or after the birth been in contact directly with Stephanie. Jeremy was categorically not banned from the birth nor did he ever ask to attend.' 'Stephanie confirmed to Jeremy that she was pregnant 10 days after they split, any suggestion that she was unfaithful to him is to detract away from his numerous infidelities whilst in the relationship. As seen on screen: Stephanie, 23, took to Twitter on Wednesday to blast her ex for 'stooping so low' after he took a DNA test live on air to determine whether he's the dad of Caben-Albi 'Jeremy has been given the option at all times to take part in a DNA test because of past behaviour Stephanie has requested that this is handled via the correct channels and managed by her solicitor. 'Jeremy to date has continually refused the terms of the agreement that Stephanie has proposed which he was given the right to make his own amendments to suit him. 'This confidentiality agreement was made to ensure the privacy and protect Caben Albi. Stephanie as a single mother reserves the right to undertake any work she sees fit to provide for their son, her priority. Defending herself: Shortly after the show, Stephanie posted her side of the story on Twitter Refuting claims: She also hit back after he claimed he had never denied paternity, posting tweets he had previously sent to fans 'It is upsetting to think that Jeremy would stoop so low to challenge the mother of his child to a DNA test live on TV when it was already in hand. 'This shows how little concern he has for Caben and this is already being dealt with privately. 'Caben and Stephanie have only been out of hospital for a few weeks however after spending nine months denying that he is the babys father we cannot believe that Jeremy has the audacity to turn the situation around and bring all of this very much into a media circus on his terms only.' All over: Stephanie, 23, has always maintained that the baby is Jeremy's - they split a month before she announced she was pregnant - (pictured on Celebrity Big Brother) The former Hollyoaks star also picked up on his claims that he had 'never denied being the father', and shared a tweet where he had done just that. She posted screenshots of Jeremy tweeting a fan: 'she's not pregnant with my child come on. 'it's all lies iv been told by her friends [sic].' 'She's manipulated the public against me' Jeremy slammed 'toxic' ex Stephanie on This Morning on Wednesday as he FINALLY takes a DNA test live on This Morning Stephanie's statement came after Jeremy told This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that he would be speaking about the debacle for 'the first and last time.' 'I'm upset. She's puppeteering the public,' he claimed. Jeremy claims Stephanie, 23, wanted him to sign an 'unreasonable contract' in order to get the DNA results done - the contents of which cannot be discussed for legal reasons. Swabbing: The 26-year-old finally took a DNA test live on air on This Morning on Wednesday to determine whether or not he is the father of Caben-Albi George The former Hollyoaks actress, has always maintained Jeremy is the father, but still has to agree to have her newborn swabbed by the nurse at ITV to get the results. Jeremy said: 'No man in their right mind would sign that. It's disgusting. She's puppeteering the public. I'm sorry, I just can't' Phillip agreed, saying: 'I've read it and I wouldn't sign it. It would have an impact on your entire life.' Jeremy also claimed he had never stated he wasn't the father, but said he needed to be sure as Stephanie had told him she had been intimate with someone else. Jeremy claims Stephanie, 23, wanted him to sign an 'unreasonable contract' in order to get the DNA results done - the contents of which cannot be discussed for legal reasons. Phillip said: 'We can mention Joshua Ritchie as he has claimed he was worried he could be the father.' Jeremy said: 'If he is my flesh and blood then I will step up to my responsibilities. I want to step up to the plate but I'm not being given that opportunity at the moment, my hands are tied. 'She banned me from the birth. There was no contact though. My responsibility as a father starts when the baby is born. Phillip agreed: 'I've read it and I wouldn't sign it. It would have an impact on your entire life' I don't owe anything to Steph. If she had asked me to be at the birth then I would have been there 100 per cent. I hope I am the dad,' he said. 'I 110% could be. 'I didn't want any of this. She's made everything so public so now I feel like I have to defend myself. Maybe my silence has been taken as weakness but that's not the case. 'I've always wanted to do the right thing. I would never let my own flesh and blood get away like that.' Honest: Jeremy said he hopes he is the father and '110% could be' but added he was keen to clear up any doubt as he claims Stephanie had told him she had been with another man Jeremy said that Stephanie told him she had been intimate with another man shortly after they split. He claims: 'She said herself that she was with someone else shortly after we broke up. 'The reason I didn't get back with her and supported her through the pregnancy was because the relationship was so toxic and I just wasn't putting myself, her and the baby at risk of anything.' 'So much went on behind the scenes. Stephanie would agree things had to end. We tried so many times to fix things but we couldn't. It was so toxic. 'Cape Verde was the final straw. Everyone said we should break up. I know I wasn't perfect and I'm sorry for that but she had her issues too.' He said: 'I've always wanted to do the right thing. I would never let my own flesh and blood get away like that' The heavily-inked star has continuously denied cheating on Stephanie throughout their four-month relationship but he has now revealed he did sleep with a number of girls while they were arguing towards the end of their romance. He said: 'Yeah there was some girls. There were incidents where I felt like I did and I held my hands up to that. 'There was more than one time, which I don't feel great for but there was reasons. We were on and off. The arguments were too much. I think Steph was faithful when we were together.' This Morning asked DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs (also used by The Jeremy Kyle Show) to collect a sample from Jeremy during the show. While Stephanie was not present for the collection, it shows Jeremy is keen to finally clear up the truth about whether or not he is the father. Hitting back: Jeremy also said that he would have been at the birth had he been asked, although Stephanie said in a statement that she never banned him from being there Conflict: Stephanie said Jeremy never asked to be at the birth but he claims she banned him, saying: 'She said in an interview I was banned' If Stephanie agrees to testing, AlphaBiolabs will be able to deliver results within 24 hours. Phillip said: 'ITV use a very reputable company so we've acted as a mediator here. 'We don't want to know the results, we don't want anything to do with it other than the fact you can say you've had the DNA test. The nurse came in this morning, that will now be sent off to the lab and will be held there securely." Holly said: 'We just want you to be able to say that you've done your part in a controlled environment.' Jeremy agreed: 'Now is the time for us to put our differences aside. This could all have been dealt with in private from the start. Swab: This Morning asked DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs (also used by The Jeremy Kyle Show) to collect a sample from Jeremy during the show Holly said: 'We don't want to know the results of the test. We just want you to be able to say that you've done your part in a controlled environment.' Happy times... Jeremy met Stephanie when they entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, where they struck up a turbulent romance despite her taken relationship status with model Sam Reece on the outside Jeremy said: 'I did love her, of course. We met in a confined space and it was a whirlwind when we got out into the big bad world. I wasn't used to it' He continued: 'There was so much pressure. She would agree that we had to end it. We tried to make it work a few times but we couldn't' Making his own rules: Jeremy showed off his inkings wearing a casual vest and skinny jeans for the big interview Jeremy met Stephanie when they entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, where they struck up a turbulent romance despite her taken relationship status with model Sam Reece on the outside. Their meet and subsequent love affair saw the couple descend into a toxic romance, marred with accusations of infidelity and violent fights from both sides. Jeremy said: 'I did love her, of course. We met in a confined space and it was a whirlwind when we got out into the big bad world. I wasn't used to it. 'There was so much pressure. She would agree that we had to end it. We tried to make it work a few times but we couldn't.' In May, after the couple split amid mud-slinging from either sides, the former Hollyoaks actress announced she was expecting Jeremy's child - claims he vehemently denied throughout her entire pregnancy. Awkward: Stephanie had vowed to undergo a paternity test upon her baby's arrival and in a recent interview with OK! magazine she stated: 'The paternity tests in the process of being arranged, but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately' He explained: 'We broke up at the end of April and it was closer to the end of May that I found out she was pregnant. 'She called me and said she'd just done a blood test and found out she was pregnant. 'There was a lot of mixed emotions going through my head at that point but obviously when you break up with someone you have lingering feelings and you're texting and you're calling them and there was certain activity I wasn't happy.' Stephanie had vowed to undergo a paternity test upon her baby's arrival and in a recent interview with OK! magazine she stated: 'The paternity tests in the process of being arranged, but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately.' After she gave birth, Jeremy 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.' Went well then? Jeremy looked pretty pleased with himself as he made his way to his car following the interview Scott Disick has been hanging out with several hot models this year, including Jessica 'J Lynne' Harris and Amber Davis. And on Wednesday Bella Banos claimed to InTouch Weekly she was the beauty he had sneaked into his hotel in Costa Rica during a vacation with the Kardashians. Now UsWeekly is alleging the bad boy of reality TV went on his model bender because ex partner Kourtney Kardashian - who he has three children with - rejected his secret proposal of marriage while in the lush Central American destination. A source has said the 37-year-old reality diva is 'done' with him. Not the best idea: Scott Disick proposed to the reality starlet while on the tropical holiday with the Kardashian/Jenner clan, according to Us Weekly; seen on February 1 in Miami The magazine reported that Scott didn't have a ring and simply told her 'let's get married,' to which she responded with 'no;' seen on January 31 in Calabasas, CA Their insider said that after she rejected his marriage proposal, 'Scott was embarrassed, upset and angry,' and that Kourtney is 'over being with him.' Us Weekly's source said that after Kourtney's proposal rejection, Scott flew in a woman (who InTouch claims to be Banos) to Costa Rica and stayed with her at the same hotel the Keeping Up With The Kardashians production team was staying at. After security told Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian where he was and that he was with a woman, the duo confronted him and his actions. Interesting choice: Scott then jetted off to Miami, where he was seen canoodling with a bevy of models, including Jessica 'J Lynne' Harris (far right); pictured on January 31 in Florida Another young beauty: The Lord has also been having fun with Amber Davis Another new face: On Wednesday Bella Banos claimed to InTouch Weekly she was the beauty he had sneaked into his hotel in Costa Rica during a vacation with the Kardashians While Kourtney is 'not upset he's seeing other women,' she is mad that he 'disrupted' the holiday with their children. Adding that if he's in a new relationship with someone important, then 'don't hide her,' Us Weekly's insider added. Scott then jetted off to Miami, where he was seen canoodling with a bevy of models, including Harris, after meeting her at Liv nightclub. No care in the world: Meanwhile, Kourtney appeared to be having a blast for the remainder of her vacation; she enjoyed a swim session with pal and Kim's assistant Stephanie Sheppard He 'made out' with her at the Setai Hotel pool before moving on to fellow model Davis; Scott and Amber had their arms wrapped around each other on a lounge chair by the pool. UsWeekly spoke to Mark Behar, a security guard that was with Scott in Miami; he said that Scott 'went through girls like crazy,' adding that he 'was out of control and drinking.' While this was a ''f*** you' to Kourtney,' she just 'doesn't care' and is 'done with all of it,' according to Us Weekly's source. Happier times: The twosome are parents to three children together: Mason, seven; Penelope, four; and Reign, two; pictured with Mason and Penelope; seen in October in Calabasas While in Costa Rica, they were staying at the 30,000 square feet Villa Manzu, which costs about $16,500 a night, according to Us Weekly. Kourtney and Scott were in a relationship for nine years before they parted ways in July 2015. Since then, Scott has been trying to win back Kourtney's heart, even heading to rehab. The twosome are parents to three children together: Mason, seven; Penelope, four; and Reign, two. Not in the best of moods: Kourtney looked sad as she took Mason to art class in LA on Tuesday Kim was in Costa Rica with her two children North and Saint, and Khloe Kardashian was also there. Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Corey Gamble, Kylie Jenner and her beau Tyga and his son King Cairo were with them as well. Meanwhile, Kourtney appeared to be having a blast for the remainder of her vacation; she enjoyed a swim session with pal and Kim's assistant Stephanie Sheppard. Cameras were rolling the whole time for their TV series. He was seen professing his love for on-off girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian in a recent trailer of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. But it seems Scott Disick has another brunette beauty on his mind as bikini model Bella Banos claims the 33-year-old is 'in love' with her and asked her to join him on a Costa Rica getaway on February 3. 'Scott calls me his girl and we have said "I love you,"' Bella told In Touch, who met the reality star almost two years ago through one of her exes. 'Scott calls me his girl': Model Bella Banos, 20, claims she was the woman staying with Scott Disick in his hotel room during a recent KUWTK family trip to Costa Rica, according to In Touch The 20-year-old stunner continued: 'Scott will call and say, "I miss you. I want to see you." He always flies me to wherever he is. We spend so much time together.' Bella revealed that she joined the self-proclaimed 'Lord Disick' on a recent trip to Costa Rica with Kourtney, 37, and the rest of the Kardashians clan. It has been alleged that Kourtney's sister Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner were upset with Scott - who raises children Mason, seven, Penelope, four and Reign, two, with Kourtney - and left the holiday early following a blistering row. The womanising reality star reportedly felt the full wrath of Kim and Kris after inviting a woman - who Banos claims was her - to stay with him at the same hotel where Keeping Up With The Kardashians was being filmed. 'She's the love of my life': Meanwhile, Scott professed his affection for ex Kourtney Kardashian, 37, in a new trailer for Keeping Up With The Kardashians Bikini babe! Bella wore a pink bikini top with white barely there bottoms as she hung in Miami the same time as Scott Cheeky! The genetically-gifted stunner showed off her pert posterior as she took a dip in the ocean by The Setai hotel, the same hotel Scott was staying at Bella the beauty: The stunner claims she met the 33-year-old reality star almost two years ago through one of her exes and says, 'We have said "I love you"' The momager found his actions disrespectful, but her disdain wasn't anything to do with her daughter Kourtney, who has long been separated from Scott. Disick has since been spotted surrounding himself with a bevy of beautiful bikini-clad girls on the beach in Miami, Florida, in an apparent show of defiance against the KUWTK stars. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Kim, Kris and Scott and is awaiting comment. 'At first, Scott was just my friend. But he got to know me on a different level. Were super connected,' the 5ft 10in beauty explained. 'I miss you': The bikini model also said her and the father-of-three 'spend so much time together' Flawless! The stunner posed in a provocative lingerie shoot for a black and white snapshot while wearing Calvin Klein panties 'Theyre just good friends': Bella also said she 'trusts' Scott when it comes to his on-off relationship with Kourtney In the newly released sneak peek of the hit E! reality show - which returns March 5 -Scott and Kourtney are seen getting cosy next to each other on a couch. 'I will never be over her, shes the love of my life,' he tells 32-year-old Khloe Kardashian. When the Strong Looks Better Naked author inquired if he and 'Kourt' kissed, the father-of-three smiles coyly and replies: 'We didnt kiss.' 'You told me you kissed?' Khloe quipped as Scott grins before the short preview ends. 'Nothing sexual has gone on': Meanwhile, Scott Scott Disick continued his partying ways while stepping out with another gaggle of blonde bombshells in Miami, Florida last week But Bella also said she 'trusts' Scott when it comes to his on-off relationship with Kourtney. 'He tells me theyre just good friends,' she explained. Meanwhile, Scott Scott Disick continued his partying ways while stepping out with another gaggle of blonde bombshells in Miami, Florida last week. 'Nothing sexual has gone on between [those girls] and Scott,' Bella said. The model added: 'Scotts definitely not a sex addict. He wouldnt just have sex with any girl. Scott is just drinking and having fun.' 'Scotts definitely not a sex addict': The brunette beauty added: 'He wouldnt just have sex with any girl. Scott is just drinking and having fun' - pictured February 1 Ex-Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy has admitted he 'always had a drink near' as he battled alcoholism during his time on the soap. The 55-year-old actor, who played Curly Watts on the cobbles from 1983 to 2003, told Good Morning Britain that he only quit drinking when he realised he 'was going to die' if he continued. Appearing via video link on Wednesday's show, the actor discussed his battle with the booze, revealing he 'maintained a certain level of being drunk through the day.' Scroll down for video Battle with the booze: Former Coronation Street actor Kevin Kennedy told Good Morning Britain on Wednesday that he regularly had a drink nearby during his time on the soap He said: 'I was known as a maintenance drinker where I maintained a certain level of being drunk right through the day and that balance is quite hard to find. 'Sometimes if you went too far, you were visibly drunk but if you didn't drink enough then you went into involuntary detox which is not very nice at all. So yeah, I always had a drink near or around me somewhere.' The star, who has now been sober for 18 years, said he quit drinking after a 'moment of clarity'. 'The moment for me was a moment of absolute clarity where if I knew if I carried on I knew I was going to die,' he told presenters Ben Shepherd and Susanna Reid. No more drink: The star, who has now been sober for 18 years, said he quit drinking after a 'moment of clarity' Soap veteran: Kevin appeared as Norman 'Curly' Watts on Coronation Street from 1983 to 2003 'I wasn't worried about losing my job or losing my wife. It was mortality,' he confessed. 'I knew I was going to die and for me that was the moment I knew I had to do something about that.' Before entering rehab back in 1998, there had been many occasions where Kevin resolved to quit, but the disease would rear its ugly head again. 'There were many times that I hit rock bottom but with this disease its all about denial,' he admitted on the show. 'Id say I was never going to do that again but three days later and suddenly the disease hits you and you want to drink again. Id always find an excuse to go back drinking.' Happy together: Kevin pictured with his wife Clare two years ago Kevin said he 'grieved' for drink whilst in rehab as he detailed his struggle for sobriety. 'I was grieving drink because I had a long and successful relationship with it,' he said. 'I was in love with it. When I wasn't drinking, I was thinking about it.' But far from being over, Kevin's battle is ongoing - last month he detailed how he stays in the house when he feels 'unsafe' against his urges after his many years of sobriety. Speaking to the Mirror, the 55-year-old actor discussed the ongoing restraints he feels at the hands of his addiction yet admits he has shunned the 'insanity and obsession' he once felt with alcohol. Back in the day: The Coronation Street recently admitted he stays in the house when he feels 'unsafe' against his urges after 18 years of sobriety Kevin, who is currently starring as Jimmy's Da in the stage show of The Commitments, was a beloved member of the Corrie cast while playing the hapless character before his departure in 2003. Despite the often light-hearted nature of his role, the actor was battling demons behind the scenes as his fight against alcoholism raged on. After 18 years without a drink, the Mancunian star told of his methods of staying sober - including staying in when he feels 'unsafe' against his demons. He said: ' I am long enough down the road to know my trigger points and where it's not safe for me to go. It's not easy but I am 18 years down the road and I know how to protect myself and keep myself safe. If I am feeling a little bit unsafe, I won't go out.' Way back when: Kevin, who is currently starring as Jimmy's Da in the stage show of The Commitments, was a beloved member of the Corrie cast Ongoing: Kevin struggled with alcoholism during much of his time on Coronation Street, here pictured with Philip Middlemiss as Des Barnes and Sarah Lancashire as Raquel Wolstenhulme Kevin explained little details can trigger his urges, such as small frustrations yet he proudly admitted to his determination to fight against the feelings. He revealed: 'Thank God it doesn't happen that often. I don't get that insanity and obsession with alcohol that I used to have. 'If I am not in the right mood, I won't go into a pub...Now the bright lights of pubs and parties have to a certain extent worn off.' In November, Kevin spoke on Lorraine Kelly about his battle and how his second wife Clare, also a recovering alcoholic, has helped keep him strong. Staying strong: In November, Kevin spoke on Lorraine Kelly about his battle and how his second wife Claire, also a recovering alcoholic, has helped keep him strong His addiction led to his first wife Dawn leaving him and later Clare doing the same, yet they reconciled and share two daughters - Katie May, 12, and Grace, nine. He said: 'My wife has been incredible through the tough times. While I've been playing dress-up, she has been at home making a difference with charity work.' Speaking to The Irish Times around the same time, he said: ' The moral of the story, if there is one, is to anyone out there who is struggling, there is an answer. You can do this you've just got to ask for help... 'My daughters have never seen me take a drink and that's good. I live a very good and full and happy life. Of course it's not perfect, but you know I can deal with stuff and it's alright' Beloved: Kevin was one of the favoured cast members on the show In his 2013 autobiography, Kevin admitted that he secretly drank in his Coronation Street dressing room to help him get through filming. He got through a small bottle of vodka before shooting the soap, going on to drink more by 4pm, and collecting 30 or 40 empties out of his dressing room when he was sober. Her death at the age of 45 has stunned fans and London society alike. Tara Palmer-Tomkinson was found dead at her home on Wednesday, three years after she revealed how she had almost passed away from an overdose in a heartbreaking TV interview. Prince Charles' goddaughter, who struggled with cocaine addiction for years, was a guest on a celebrity special of The Jeremy Kyle Show when she revealed that she had timed her heart waiting for it to stop after a binge. Scroll down for video Tragic: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson was found dead at her home on Wednesday, three years after she revealed how she had almost passed away from an overdose in a heartbreaking TV interview Breaking down in tears, the star - then 42 - revealed: 'I remember timing my heart because I knew it was going to stop. 'I remember my telephone was there [points] and I remember crawling on my hands and knees to pick up the phone and call, and then I woke up in hospital. 'I remember saying my prayers. I knew my heart was stopping.' She went on to confess that drugs had given her 'psychosis' and that she become 'devious'. Battle: Prince Charles' goddaughter, who struggled with cocaine addiction for years, was a guest on a celebrity special of The Jeremy Kyle Show when she revealed that she had timed her heart waiting for it to stop after a binge Sad: Breaking down in tears, the star - then 42 - revealed: 'I remember timing my heart because I knew it was going to stop Emotional: She went on to confess that drugs had given her 'psychosis' and that she become 'devious' Wild past: The star had a 400 cocaine addiction at the height of her issues Help: Tara - who became a reality show favourite - was sent to a 35,000 rehab in Arizona by her family to try and beat her demons and after getting clean, Tara insisted she had no desire to every take them again She was sent to a 35,000 rehab in Arizona by her family to try and beat her demons and after getting clean, Tara insisted she had no desire to every take them again. The brunette explained: ''I dont have any temptation to take drugs any more. No, no, gosh no. Drugs absolutely terrify me.' She also said that she had become a recluse, preferring to stay at home alone due to anxiety. 'I get terribly anxious going out, Ive only been out three times this year. I dont go out to public events. For the last two years I havent worked."I've seen a therapist every single week for the last nine, ten years of my life.' Such are her problems that she told Kyle she visited a therapist every weekday for the last nine years. She also once admitted having a 400-a-day cocaine habit, underwent reconstructive surgery on her nose in 2006 after it collapsed because of her drug use. She required a further operation on it in 2011. He's eagerly awaiting the results of a paternity test to prove whether or not he is the father of his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Davis' son. And Jeremy McConnell has now branded it 'disgusting' that the Hollyoaks star has named little Caben-Albi after a 'random' guy she met at a nightclub. The 26-year-old Irish hunk's comments come as he vowed to fight for joint custody and be the best dad possible for the little boy, who was born three weeks ago. Scroll down for video Hitting out: Jeremy McConnell has branded it 'disgusting' that the Hollyoaks star has named little Caben-Albi after a 'random' guy she met at a nightclub Speaking to The Sun Online, he said: 'Regardless of the name, if she met a fella on a night out and named the baby after him then it's disgusting and hurtful. 'I wish she could have waited until after the DNA test. It doesn't matter what the name is, it's the principle.' Stephanie - who split from Jeremy mere weeks before discovering she was pregnant last April - revealed she'd chosen Caben's name before he'd been born after she met someone with the unusual moniker while holidaying in Jersey over the summer period. She said at the time in her OK! magazine blog: 'I'm going to keep it a secret for now but I will say it's something different - I've not heard it before! 'It's like a movie star name. We got it when a guy started talking to me while I was with my friends recently and he said his name when he left - we just all looked at each other and knew, so thanks to him! Quirky name: Stephanie - who split from Jeremy mere weeks before discovering she was pregnant last April - revealed she'd chosen Caben's name before he'd been born when she met someone with the unusual moniker while holidaying in Jersey 'My mum loves it but my brothers weren't so sure to start with - but I think they want a proper lad's name.' In the same interview, Jeremy insisted he was 'serious' about being a hands-on father to the little boy should he turn out to be the father, and was hoping to be 'amicable' with Stephanie. The star told The Sun he would fly out to Liverpool every weekend from Dublin in a bid to spend time with the little boy, and would be furious if another man ended up raising his son. Just a few hours earlier, Jeremy slammed ex Stephanie and accused her of 'manipulating the public against him' amid their ongoing paternity battle. The Irish model finally took a DNA test live on air on This Morning on Wednesday to determine whether or not he is the father. 'She's manipulated the public against me' Jeremy slammed 'toxic' ex Stephanie on This Morning on Wednesday as he FINALLY took a DNA test All over: Stephanie, 23, has always maintained that the baby is Jeremy's - they split a month before she announced she was pregnant - (pictured on Celebrity Big Brother) 'I'm upset. She's puppeteering the public,' he told hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby,' as he spoke about the debacle for 'the first and last time.' Jeremy claims Stephanie, 23, wanted him to sign an 'unreasonable contract' in order to get the DNA results done - the contents of which cannot be discussed for legal reasons. The former Hollyoaks actress, has always maintained Jeremy is the father, but still has to agree to have her newborn swabbed by the nurse at ITV to get the results. Jeremy said: 'No man in their right mind would sign that. It's disgusting. She's puppeteering the public. I'm sorry, I just can't' Phillip agreed, saying: 'I've read it and I wouldn't sign it. It would have an impact on your entire life.' Swabbing: The 26-year-old finally took a DNA test live on air on This Morning on Wednesday to determine whether or not he is the father of Caben-Albi George Jeremy also claimed he had never stated he wasn't the father, but said he needed to be sure as Stephanie had told him she had been intimate with someone else. Phillip said: 'We can mention Joshua Ritchie as he has claimed he was worried he could be the father.' Jeremy said: 'If he is my flesh and blood then I will step up to my responsibilities. I want to step up to the plate but I'm not being given that opportunity at the moment, my hands are tied. 'She banned me from the birth. There was no contact though. My responsibility as a father starts when the baby is born. Jeremy claims Stephanie, 23, wanted him to sign an 'unreasonable contract' in order to get the DNA results done - the contents of which cannot be discussed for legal reasons. Phillip agreed: 'I've read it and I wouldn't sign it. It would have an impact on your entire life' I don't owe anything to Steph. If she had asked me to be at the birth then I would have been there 100 per cent. I hope I am the dad,' he said. 'I 110% could be. 'I didn't want any of this. She's made everything so public so now I feel like I have to defend myself. Maybe my silence has been taken as weakness but that's not the case. 'I've always wanted to do the right thing. I would never let my own flesh and blood get away like that.' Defending herself: Shortly after the show, Stephanie posted her side of the story on Twitter Refuting claims: She also hit back after he claimed he had never denied paternity, posting tweets he had previously sent to fans Jeremy said that Stephanie told him she had been intimate with another man shortly after they split. He claims: 'She said herself that she was with someone else shortly after we broke up. 'The reason I didn't get back with her and supported her through the pregnancy was because the relationship was so toxic and I just wasn't putting myself, her and the baby at risk of anything.' 'So much went on behind the scenes. Stephanie would agree things had to end. We tried so many times to fix things but we couldn't. It was so toxic. 'Cape Verde was the final straw. Everyone said we should break up. I know I wasn't perfect and I'm sorry for that but she had her issues too.' Honest: Jeremy said he hopes he is the father and '110% could be' but added he was keen to clear up any doubt as he claims Stephanie had told him she had been with another man He said: 'I've always wanted to do the right thing. I would never let my own flesh and blood get away like that' The heavily-inked star has continuously denied cheating on Stephanie throughout their four-month relationship but he has now revealed he did sleep with a number of girls while they were arguing towards the end of their romance. He said: 'Yeah there was some girls. There were incidents where I felt like I did and I held my hands up to that. 'There was more than one time, which I don't feel great for but there was reasons. We were on and off. The arguments were too much. I think Steph was faithful when we were together.' This Morning asked DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs (also used by The Jeremy Kyle Show) to collect a sample from Jeremy during the show. While Stephanie was not present for the collection, it shows Jeremy is keen to finally clear up the truth about whether or not he is the father. Hitting back: Jeremy also said that he would have been at the birth had he been asked, although Stephanie said in a statement that she never banned him from being there Conflict: Stephanie said Jeremy never asked to be at the birth but he claims she banned him, saying: 'She said in an interview I was banned' If Stephanie agrees to testing, AlphaBiolabs will be able to deliver results within 24 hours. Phillip said: 'ITV use a very reputable company so we've acted as a mediator here. 'We don't want to know the results, we don't want anything to do with it other than the fact you can say you've had the DNA test. The nurse came in this morning, that will now be sent off to the lab and will be held there securely." Holly said: 'We just want you to be able to say that you've done your part in a controlled environment.' Jeremy agreed: 'Now is the time for us to put our differences aside. This could all have been dealt with in private from the start.' Swab: This Morning asked DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs (also used by The Jeremy Kyle Show) to collect a sample from Jeremy during the show Holly said: 'We don't want to know the results of the test. We just want you to be able to say that you've done your part in a controlled environment.' Soon after the show ended, Stephanie took to Twitter to hit back at her ex. She shared a post which read:' Stephanie has felt humiliated by Jeremy denying his own son and foolishly announcing publicly his request for a DNA test. 'Jeremy has caused Stephanie massive amount of stress, pressure and upset throughout her pregnancy, ruining what for most women is one of the most special time of their lives. 'Jeremy has at no point throughout the pregnancy or after the birth been in contact directly with Stephanie. Jeremy was categorically not banned from the birth nor did he ever ask to attend.' 'Stephanie confirmed to Jeremy that she was pregnant 10 days after they split, any suggestion that she was unfaithful to him is to detract away from his numerous infidelities whilst in the relationship. 'Jeremy has been given the option at all times to take part in a DNA test because of past behaviour Stephanie has requested that this is handled via the correct channels and managed by her solicitor. Happy times... Jeremy met Stephanie when they entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, where they struck up a turbulent romance despite her taken relationship status with model Sam Reece on the outside 'Jeremy to date has continually refused the terms of the agreement that Stephanie has proposed which he was given the right to make his own amendments to suit him. 'This confidentiality agreement was made to ensure the privacy and protect Caben Albi. Stephanie as a single mother reserves the right to undertake any work she sees fit to provide for their son, her priority. 'It is upsetting to think that Jeremy would stoop so low to challenge the mother of his child to a DNA test live on TV when it was already in hand. 'This shows how little concern he has for Caben and this is already being dealt with privately. 'Caben and Stephanie have only been out of hospital for a few weeks however after spending nine months denying that he is the babys father we cannot believe that Jeremy has the audacity to turn the situation around and bring all of this very much into a media circus on his terms only.' Jeremy said: 'I did love her, of course. We met in a confined space and it was a whirlwind when we got out into the big bad world. I wasn't used to it' He continued: 'There was so much pressure. She would agree that we had to end it. We tried to make it work a few times but we couldn't' Making his own rules: Jeremy showed off his inkings wearing a casual vest and skinny jeans for the big interview After the show, Stephanie's ex Sam Reece tweeted about the appearance, sarcastically writing: 'Been a loverly morning hasn't it?' and a cry face emoji. [sic] Jeremy met Stephanie when they entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, where they struck up a turbulent romance despite her taken relationship status with model Sam Reece on the outside. Their meet and subsequent love affair saw the couple descend into a toxic romance, marred with accusations of infidelity and violent fights from both sides. Having fun? Stephanie's ex Sam Reece seemed rather amused by Jeremy's This Morning appearance Sarcastic: Stephanie's ex Sam Reece had something to say following Jeremy's appearance on the show Jeremy said: 'I did love her, of course. We met in a confined space and it was a whirlwind when we got out into the big bad world. I wasn't used to it. 'There was so much pressure. She would agree that we had to end it. We tried to make it work a few times but we couldn't.' In May, after the couple split amid mud-slinging from either sides, the former Hollyoaks actress announced she was expecting Jeremy's child - claims he vehemently denied throughout her entire pregnancy. Awkward: Stephanie had vowed to undergo a paternity test upon her baby's arrival and in a recent interview with OK! magazine she stated: 'The paternity tests in the process of being arranged, but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately' He explained: 'We broke up at the end of April and it was closer to the end of May that I found out she was pregnant. 'She called me and said she'd just done a blood test and found out she was pregnant. 'There was a lot of mixed emotions going through my head at that point but obviously when you break up with someone you have lingering feelings and you're texting and you're calling them and there was certain activity I wasn't happy.' Stephanie had vowed to undergo a paternity test upon her baby's arrival and in a recent interview with OK! magazine she stated: 'The paternity tests in the process of being arranged, but any tests that happen will be dealt with privately.' After she gave birth, Jeremy 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.' Went well then? Jeremy looked pretty pleased with himself as he made his way to his car following the interview After successfully delivering the secret knock and password, a beleaguered, unshaven older man walks into the bunker, stomping out the cold from his feet on the way in. He walks over to one of the garbage-can fires, where his younger yet battle-hardened comrades are gathered, strategizing about the fight to come. As the grizzled veteran rubs his hands over the flames, his eyes glinting in the firelight, he says to them, wistfully, You know, Supreme Court nomination fights werent always like this. Its not quite that bad yet in Washington, but the year is young and the fight over Neil Gorsuch, President Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, has just begun. Whenever there is a Supreme Court vacancy, a preemptive wave of exhaustion comes over me. Its the same arguments every time. Some process arguments migrate from one party to another depending on which side is on defense or offense. The nominee deserves a speedy hearing and confirmation, each side yells when their guy is in the White House. We have an obligation to take the advise-and-consent role seriously and cannot rush the process, each side insists when the other team controls the White House. Each party has an endless supply of quotes to throw at the other, proving their hypocrisy. For instance, under Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, respectively, Democratic Sens. Joe Biden (back when he chaired the Judiciary Committee) and Chuck Schumer argued that the Senate must not consider any appointments during a presidential campaign. Under President Barack Obama, Republicans took that advice and refused to consider Obamas nominee, Merrick Garland. But when it comes to ideological arguments my favorite kind the team jerseys never change. Republicans, rightly by my lights, argue that the Supreme Court should not act like an unelected legislature, making up laws and Constitutional rights as it pleases. Democrats argue, wrongly in my opinion, that the Constitution is a living document that must be reinterpreted and given new meaning with every generation. I think this is a garbage argument and have explained why I think so in countless columns. No doubt Ill have to again sometime soon. But theres another argument worth dealing with. Many conservatives myself included argue that the rejection of Robert Bork is what poisoned the Supreme Court nominating process. On one level, I think that is right. Bork, whom I knew, was one of the great legal minds of the 20th century. Even Biden admitted before Borks nomination that, barring some unforeseen skeletons in his closet, Bork was simply too qualified to be rejected. Say the administration sends up Bork, Biden told the Philadelphia Inquirer in November 1986, and, after our investigations, he looks a lot like [earlier Reagan nominee Antonin] Scalia. Id have to vote for him, and if the [special-interest] groups tear me apart, thats the medicine Ill have to take. Scalia, recall, had been confirmed unanimously, 98-0. It turned out that Biden would balk at taking his medicine. With the help of a vile, demagogic attack from Ted Kennedy and left-wing interest groups, Biden helped tank Borks nomination. And thus began the process of scorched-earth warfare over Supreme Court confirmations. While I think the Bork bitterness interpretation explains a lot, it also misses an important point. Such battles are inevitable when the Supreme Court becomes another legislative branch. People balk at all the money special interests now spend on these fights, but that money pales in comparison to what is spent by lobbyists on congressional elections. So why should it surprise anyone that when the Supreme Court acts like another Congress, special interests will act likewise? If forced to fix blame on the primary cause of this mess, it was the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which invented a constitutional right to abortion. Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg has conceded that the case short-circuited the democratic process and prevented a national consensus from forming on how to deal with the issue. My criticism of Roe is that it seemed to have stopped the momentum on the side of change, she said in 2013 on Roes 40th anniversary. Whatever you think of Roe v. Wade, the decision is emblematic of the courts evolution into a lawmaking body. Once that happened, it was inevitable that the process would be Borkified. Whats remarkable is not that it happened, but that it took so long. Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. You can email him at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com. She has peppered her Instagram account with revealing swimsuit selfies while holidaying in Bali. And Skye Wheatley has uploaded more sexy snaps over the last couple of days. Once again she showed off her tan lines in a high-cut one-piece before flaunting her cleavage in a low-cut two-piece bikini. Scroll down for video Babe watch: Skye Wheatley has uploaded more sexy selfies from her holiday in Bali Skye has been modelling her sexy swimwear from the comfort of her own villa, posing up a storm by the pool or in the gardens of the luxury abode. Her swimsuit of choice appears to be Baywatch-inspired one-pieces that are so high-cut they show off her bikini tan lines. In another snap, Skye also flaunts her cleavage in a low-cut orange bikini top teamed with mismatched crochet bottoms. Mismatched: Skye has been modelling an array of bikini while relaxing at her luxurious Bali villa With her wet hair slicked back, the blonde Big Brother bombshell revealed she had just finished getting a massage. In early 2017, Skye was slammed for saying she wanted to look like a 'naturally tanned Aboriginal'. And it seems she is dedicated to the cause despite the controversy her comments caused. Stunner: The 22-year-old showed off her sunkissed body and crazy bikini tan line on Tuesday On Tuesday, the 22-year-old former reality star shared another snap of her sunkissed body and bikini tan line, wearing an unmissable orange swimsuit. However it wasn't her doubled-D breasts that caught the attention of her 286,000 fans, but rather her striking bikini tan line. Having clearly spent plenty of time in the sun on her tropical getaway, Skye's tan was almost as unmissable as her orange bathers. 'I don't even tan like that in the first place. That tan line is insane,' one follower wrote. But the professional make up artist wasn't done putting her dedicated tan line on display, sharing two more photos from the final day of her Asian escape. 'Sad to leave @thecolonyhotelbali it was so breathtaking,' Skye captioned the image. In one image the buxom blonde showed off her pert derriere as she sat poolside outside her luxurious hotel. Bombshell: Former Big Brother contestant Skye Wheatley shared racy photos of herself on Monday, posing in lingerie in one image on Instagram Belfie queen: The 22-year-old also shared a bikini clad shot of her pert derriere while posing on a swinging lounge Racy: The racy holiday snaps were well received by fans, who complimented her on her figure Later, this time wearing a black bikini, Skye leaned back over her hotel balcony and pushed out her double-D breasts as she posed for the camera. Skye made headlines last year after her botched 'Bangkok boob job' that saw her breast implants fail to stay in shape. But having since had the problem rectified with further surgery, she seemed keen to use Instagram to show off her body on her trip. Posting a number of other photos over the past week, she flaunted her curves in a wide variety of lingerie and swimwear. Holiday: Skye is on currently on a Bali getaway with her friend Brooklyn Kelly Transformation: 'I feel like there is a bit of pressure to be perfect on Instagram cause you look at all these models on Instagram and their life is perfect' Pert derriere: Since arriving, the pair have been busy sharing snaps of their delicious meals and racy pictures by the pool Her often busty posts received plenty of likes and comments that complimented her on her good looks and impressive display. From kneeling on top of a swinging lounge to taking selfies in the mirror, Skye put her recently slimmed down figure on display on dozens of occasions. The blonde bombshell traveled to Bali a week ago with her friend Brooklyn Kelly for a little rest and relaxation. Donald Trump isn't the only one making new appointments. Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott are set to join the cast of season five of House Of Cards, EW reported. Oscar-nominated Clarkson had recurring roles in Frasier, Parks & Rec and twice won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress - in 2002 and 2006 - for her appearances in Six Feet Under. New appointments: Campbell Scott and Patricia Clarkson are set to join the cast of season five of House Of Cards She picked up Best Supporting Actress Oscar and SAG nominations in 2003 for Pieces Of April, and that same year landed a second SAG nom for her lead role in The Station Agent. Stage veteran Scott meanwhile had recurring roles in Damages and Six Degrees, and played Peter Parker's father Richard to Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man. The political drama dropped a menacing new trailer on America's Inauguration Day, heralding the arrival of its fifth series on May 30. The Netflix show tweeted the 28-second advert an hour and a half before Donald Trump was sworn in as President Of The United States. Incoming: The political drama dropped a menacing new trailer on Friday, America's Inauguration Day, heralding the arrival of its fifth series on May 30 Captioned: 'We make the terror,' on Twitter, the preview opens with a close-up of an American flag flying upside down against an overcast sky. As ominous music roils underneath, a group of children can be heard emotionlessly intoning the Pledge Of Allegiance. The camera slowly pulls back from the flag, revealing it's flying in front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Against a percussive thump, the May 30 release date appears onscreen, and a brief snatch of the programme's theme tune closes out the video. Leading man: Kevin Spacey stars as Frank Underwood, a boundlessly ruthless politician who at the end of the second series becomes President Of The United States The darkly cynical tone of the trailer matches that of the series, and of its Twitter page, which opens its bio: 'Democracy is so overrated.' Its avatar is of an animated American flag with the stars missing, set upside down against a solid black backdrop. Adapted from a BBC miniseries of the same name, the American version of House Of Cards' debuted its 13-episode first series on Netflix all at once in 2013. Second in command: Robin Wright plays opposite him as his wife Claire , who in the fourth series becomes her husband's running mate as he vies for reelection on the Democratic ticket Kevin Spacey stars as Frank Underwood, a boundlessly ruthless politician who at the end of the second series becomes President Of The United States. Robin Wright plays opposite him as his wife Claire, who in the fourth series becomes her husband's running mate as he vies for reelection on the Democratic ticket. Last February, Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese succeeded creator Beau Willimon as House Of Cards' showrunners starting at the fifth series, per Variety. Louise Thompson has shared her most racy Instagram post to date, slipping into an S&M-style PVC dress. The Made In Chelsea star, 26, sizzled in the skintight LBD with its raunchy low-cut showcasing her cleavage. She combined the sexy number with a gold choker and a plunging silver necklace which fell between her breasts. Scroll down for video Body confident: Louise Thompson, 26, has shared her most racy Instagram post to date, slipping into an S&M-style PVC dress The petite beauty tied back her brunette tresses and decorated her face with a smokey bronze eyeshadow and bubblegum pink lipstick. The star wrote beside the image: 'I always wanted to own a pvc lbd' On Tuesday night Louise and her boyfriend Ryan Libbey attended the launch of new student lifestyle brand Monkey vs Owl at Lola Lo's, Derby. Night out: On Tuesday night Louise attended the launch of new student lifestyle brand Monkey vs Owl at Lola Lo's, Derby Louise opted for a more reserved look than her latest soical media post, covering her shoulders with a baby blue overcoat and teaming it with a white tee and navy jeans. She finished her ensemble with a pair of heels and an array of delicate necklaces, while she tied her hair back and allowed two loose tendrils to frame her face. The pair stayed at The Kedleston Country House and looked to be having a blast as they posed for a relaxed snap. Stylish: Louise opted for a more reserved look than her latest soical media post, covering her shoulders with a baby blue overcoat and teaming a white tee with navy jeans Louise and Ryan spent the majority of January on holiday in Sri Lanka, collectively uploading 108 videos/pictures from their trip. The pair began dating just months after Louise split from her American beau Alik Alfus in May. Louise admitted she kept her relationship with Ryan a secret for five months to stop people judging her 'for moving on so quickly.' Speaking in last week's issue of OK! Magazine, the Made In Chelsea star revealed that Ryan joined her in the South of France while filming last summer, but stayed in a separate hotel. She said: The production team found out I had a secret boyfriend while we were over there and were pretty annoyed at me! But they said theyd forgive me if I got Ryan to join the show. They're the dating show contestants who ditched last year's Bachelor Richie Strahan and found love with one another instead. But Tiffany Scanlon and Megan Marx have faced claims that their lesbian romance is staged from another fellow contestant, Keira Maguire. Now the pair have hit back at their former friend, warning her 'not to get in touch' with them any time soon. Scroll down for video Faking it? Tiffany Scanlon and Megan Marx have faced claims that their lesbian romance is staged from another fellow contestant, Keira Maguire 'I haven't heard from Keira since we were both filming and I probably don't recommend her trying,' Megan said in an interview in this week's OK! Magazine. She added that she has the same advice for Keria that she does for online trolls, and that is: 'if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all'. Girlfriend Tiffany was slightly more forgiving, but told the publication Keira should, 'refrain from publicly commenting on things you know nothing about'. Keria made the accusations in a Instagram Live video, during which she answered a series of questions from viewers. Warning: 'I haven't heard from Keira since we were both filming and I probably don't recommend her trying,' Megan said in an interview in this week's OK! Magazine Don't speak: Tiffany was slightly more forgiving but told the publication Keira should, 'refrain from publicly commenting on things you know nothing about'. Posers? Former reality TV star Keira told her fans, 'Yes they are faking their relationship' and called it a 'publicity stunt' One person asked: 'So Tiffany and Megan are faking their relationship?' To which to the former reality TV star replied: 'Yes they are faking their relationship' and called it a 'publicity stunt'. Keira is not the only Bachelor alum who has claimed the pair's romance is not all above board. Be nice! Megan added that she has the same advice for Keria that she does for online trolls, and that is, 'if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all' Doubters: Keira is not the only Bachelor alum who has claimed the pair's romance is not all above board Rachael Gouvignon has claimed Tiffany and Megan were both seeing men around the time they went to Bali and fell in love. 'I'm not sure about the girls saying they fell in love after their first visit to Bali (in June) as when I caught up with Tiffany (in October) when we went skydiving she told me about a guy she was seeing,' Rachael said. 'Megan has also spoken to me about a guy she was seeing ... Maybe their status should be along the lines of an open relationship or bisexual!' Open relationship? Rachael Gouvignon has claimed Tiffany and Megan were both seeing men around the time they went to Bali and fell in love The 27-year-old says accusations that they are faking their relationship have become 'standard accusation'. Her 30-year-old girlfriend Megan recently fired off about those rumours in an emotional Instagram post. 'I am actually so tired, so very very tired, of the accusations and slander from ignorant and narrow minded people,' she wrote in the post last week. Leave us alone! 'I am actually so tired, so very very tired, of the accusations and slander from ignorant and narrow minded people,' Megan wrote in the post last week. Megan told trolls: 'How does your criticism make you any better than the person you believe me to be? Go live your life and leave me alone to live mine!' 'My relationship is a publicity stunt, I should prove my relationship by making a porno. These are all actual comments that I've seen,' she ranted. She concluded, 'How does your criticism make you any better than the person you believe me to be? Go live your life and leave me alone to live mine!' They've got one of the strongest marriages in showbiz but tend to stay out of the public eye. And Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis made a rare outing together on Wednesday night, attending the The Spotlight with Martha Kearney event at The Old Bailey in London, a fundraiser in aid of the Sheriffs' and Recorders Fund. Helen, 48, dared to be different in a hot pink and orange dress, showcasing her bold flair for fashion in the eye-catching attire. Scroll down for video Date night: Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis made a rare outing together on Wednesday night, attending the The Spotlight with Martha Kearney event at The Old Bailey in London, a fundraiser in aid of the Sheriffs' and Recorders Fund Her ensemble was cinched in at the waist with a thin metallic belt, and she matched her rosy blusher to her vibrant outfit. Damian, 45, also smartened up for the occasion, lacing an arm around his wife's waist as the pair posed with event host, broadcaster Martha. The pair have been married since 2007 and raise daughter Manon, 11, and son Gulliver, nine, together. Bold and beautiful: Helen, 48, dared to be different in a hot pink and orange dress, showcasing her bold flair for fashion in the eye-catching attire Terrific trio: Damian, 45, also smartened up for the occasion, lacing an arm around his wife's waist as the pair posed with event host, broadcaster Martha Their outing comes after Damian opened up about the impact being sent off to boarding school aged just eight has had on him. The Homeland actor attended the revered prep school Ashdown House School and later Eton College, where previous alumni include the likes of Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston - and Damian admits the experience shaped him as a person. He explained to the Evening Standard newspaper: 'I do have a temper. There is a latent anger in a lot of people that went to boarding school at an early age.' Out and about: Damian, 45, also smartened up for the occasion, lacing an arm around his wife's waist as the pair posed with event host, broadcaster Martha 'I was eight and I loved it over the five years. But I think the adjustments for eight-year-olds are a lot. And I think it informs who you are for a long, long time.' The star has previously been adamant that his own children won't be sent away to school. 'You go through something which, at that age, defines you and your ability to cope,' he told the Sunday Times Magazine last year. 'There's a sudden lack of intimacy with a parent, and your ability to get through that defines you emotionally for the rest of your life.' He's the My Kitchen Rules judge known for his love of sauces. And Manu Feildel, 42, appears also to enjoy saucy social media accounts, having followed several scantily clad women on Instagram. Among the sultry ladies followed by the French gourmand is blogger Sydney Food S***, who recently shared a racy, cleavage-baring snap of herself slurping down a piece of pasta. Saucy! Manu Feildel, 42, follows several scantily clad women on Instagram, including blogger Sydney Food S*** Also followed by Manu is Australian Playboy model Simone Holtznagel, who recently stripped naked for the Free The Nipple campaign during a girls night out. He also follows a ladies' underwear page titled Juju Loves Lingerie and another called Those Bae Goals, both of which often share pictures of underwear-clad women posing suggestively. It comes after the reality TV star recently admitted to KIIS FM's Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson that he followed 'beautiful bodies' on Instagram. Delicious! Sydney Food S*** also recently shared this cleavage-baring image of herself tucking into dinner Kicking loose! Manu was seen partying with mystery ladies at Morris Jones nightclub in Melbourne, Australia, in 2015 Bombshell! Also followed by Manu is Australian Playboy model Simone Holtznagel, who found fame while competing on Australia's Next Top Model Brunette beauty: He also follows model Sophie Van Den Akker Appearing on the show, he was quizzed by a curious Kyle as to why he followed glamour model pages on the popular app. 'Why not? I've got a pair of eyes,' he responded. Earlier this week, Manu revealed that he will not marry his fiancee of three years Clarissa Weerasena anytime soon, mostly due to his busy work schedule. Pizza, anyone? He also follows a steamy account called Those Bae Goals, which often share pictures of underwear-clad women posing suggestively Ladies in lace! Manu follows underwear page titled Juju Loves Lingerie Smouldering: This image also appears on the Those Bae Goals Instagram page The My Kitchen Rules judge told WHO magazine: 'The marriage is not happening' and that while the wedding is important to their loved ones, it's just not a priority for the couple, who share a nearly two-year-old daughter Charlee Ariya. 'The marriage is not happening because our lives are just too busy - I've got too much bloody work and I need to take the work.' He added: '... Marriage would be nice for Mum and Dad - For me? I love her, she loves me and that's where it stops.' Manu is also father to an 11-year-old son Jonti from his previous relationship with Ronnie Morshead. 'The marriage is not happening': Earlier this week, Manu revealed that he will not marry his fiancee of three years Clarissa Weerasena anytime soon, mostly due to his busy work schedule He incited rumours that his fairy tale romance with The Bachelorette's Georgia Love was in jeopardy when he DELETED mentions of her from his Instagram bio. And Lee Elliott has now explained the reason behind culling his lover's handle and accompanying heart emoji from his visible profile. Speaking to OK! Magazine on Thursday he reassured readers that the loved-up pair were still going strong and the decision to remove the name was agreed upon. 'She doesn't define me': Lee Elliott reveals why he DELETED Georgia Love's name from his social media bio in an interview with OK! Magazine... after claims the pair were ready to call it quits 'Georgia's name was indeed on my bio, but although she is a woman I love with all my heart, respect beyond belief and admire to no end, she doesn't define me,' the mechanical plumber said. Lee added: 'So it was a mutual decision to just remove it.' Lee's account is now similar to that of his journalist girlfriend's, who regularly posts snaps together but has never written his handle in her bio. 'It was a mutual decision to just remove it' Lee said the couple both came to the decision to make both of their accounts void of a bio mention, while he added he still loves her with all his heart Now you see it: According to a cached version of Lee's Instagram account found on an Instagram mirror site , Lee's bio used to include Georgia's Instagram handle next to a love-heart emoji Now you don't! Georgia's name no-longer appears in Lee's Instagram bio, however Insisting the move was not an indicator of relationship woes, the hunk said: 'If you listen to anyone who is close to us, they will tell you what is gospel - we can't get enough of each other!' Added fuel to the fire was the fact that Lee and Georgia recently hadn't been pictured together on social media for a week - something Daily Mail Australia understands their team was suggesting they rectify immediately. The duo returned in a shot together last Thursday night, in acrobatic mode, as they attended Kooza by Cirque du Soleil in Melbourne. Did they end it? Over the past few weeks, rumours have been swirling that The Bachelorette's newest couple have split 'Date night beKOOZA we're very much still together!' Lee uploaded a shot of the pair together to Instagram on Thursday as they went out to Kooza in Melbourne 'Date night beKOOZA we're very much still together!' Lee captioned the photo uploaded to his Instagram account. Prior to that, the last picture of the pair on Lee's page was from their sushi dinner date a week prior. Trouble in paradise? It comes after Woman's Day quoted a source revealing Georgia and Lee had a 'blazing row' at a dinner It comes after Woman's Day quoted a source revealing Georgia and Lee had a 'blazing row' at a dinner recently. Georgia became so agitated that she apparently stormed off mid-meal. Lee was said to have been overheard shouting: 'Maybe you should have chosen Matty J' after becoming irritated with Georgia 'filming herself on Snapchat'. The showdown is said to have taken place at Sydney's Da Orazio restaurant and Lee was left 'sipping his Aperol Spritz' alone before 'making a dash for the door'. The couple 'can't stop bickering' and 'tensions have been building between them the past few weeks,' the report alleges. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Lee and Georgia for comment. China says both sides will lose from conflict with US Beijing has played down the prospects of conflict with the United States over the South China Sea in the wake of aggressive rhetoric by Donald Trump's administration, saying both sides would lose. China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich region despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. The islands are considered a potential flashpoint and recent comments from White House spokesman Sean Spicer and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have raised the temperature. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit to Australia that war between China and the United States over the South China Sea would benefit no-one STR (AFP/File) But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit to Australia that war would benefit no-one. "For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognise that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States," he said in Canberra through an interpreter late Tuesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. "Both will lose and both sides cannot afford that." Spicer last month said the US "is going to make sure we protect our interests" in the South China Sea while Tillerson said China's access to the islands might be blocked -- raising the prospect of a military confrontation. Wang said the US-China relationship had defied "all sorts of difficulties" over decades and pointed to more recent statements by US Defence Secretary James Mattis that it was important to give priority to diplomatic efforts, ABC said. On a trip to Japan last week, Mattis said Beijing "has shredded the trust" of regional countries with the military fortification of islands it controls, but balanced the message with a call for disputes to be settled through arbitration and diplomacy. - Deep engagement - After scheduled strategic dialogue talks with Wang, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday said Beijing was keen for a close relationship with the Trump government. "Beijing certainly welcomes a deep engagement with the United States," she told Sky News. "They are looking forward to an era of cooperation, they see opportunity with the new administration to deepen the connections and as he (Wang) said, the United States and China have too much to lose for there to be conflict between them. "My impression was that China is looking forward to engaging positively with the United States," she added. Under President Barack Obama's administration, Washington insisted it was neutral on the question of sovereignty over the South China Sea islets, reefs and shoals. But, while calling for the dispute to be resolved under international law, the US supported freedom of navigation by sending naval patrols through Chinese-claimed waters in a move supported by Canberra. "We did discuss the South China Sea," said Bishop. "China is now deeply engaged in negotiations, discussions, consultations with the other claimants. "Hopefully we'll continue to see both sides working very hard for peace and prosperity in our region." China's island building programme in the South China Sea has irked neighbours -- many of whom also have claims to parts of the sea -- and caused global concern. The Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday Manila expects China to try to build on a reef off the coast of the Philippines, adding this would be "unacceptable" in the flashpoint waterway. Bishop urged Beijing to "play a responsible role, committed to the international rules-based order which has provided so much opportunity for peace, prosperity and stability" in its dealings in the South China Sea. Senators clash bitterly over Trump attorney general pick Tensions over confirming President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees erupted in the US Senate, where a lawmaker's criticism of attorney general pick Jeff Sessions led to the very rare reprimand of a senator. Senate Democrat Elizabeth Warren was told to sit down for reading a 1986 letter critical of Sessions written by Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The chamber's Republican leader Mitch McConnell interrupted Warren to accuse her of having "impugned" Sessions, a fellow senator. A 1986 letter critical of Jeff Sessions written by Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was read out in the Senate SAUL LOEB (AFP/File) "The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, as warned by the chair," McConnell said, taking the extraordinary step of invoking Senate Rule 19 that prohibits highly critical remarks against a fellow senator. "The senator will take her seat," said the presiding officer, Senator Steven Daines. When Warren challenged the ruling, the Senate voted along party lines to uphold it. It was a rare and powerful rebuke in the body where decorum is a cherished tradition. But tensions have soared in the few weeks since Trump took office, particularly over the process of confirming his cabinet nominees. During debate over education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos, Democrats held the Senate floor Monday through the night as a protest against her nomination. She was eventually confirmed Tuesday, but only when Vice President Mike Pence was brought in to break a 50-50 tie. Pressure built during debate about Sessions, whose record on civil rights ultimately doomed his nomination to a federal judgeship in the 1980s. At the time King wrote the Senate Judiciary Committee warning that Sessions used to "intimidate and chill" voters, and that confirming him as a judge would have "a devastating effect" on the US justice system. "Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters," she wrote. Warren, a potential 2020 presidential candidate, was reading the King letter when she was blocked from continuing, a move that astonished Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. With the ruling decided, "I don't know how we go about doing our duties," he said. "Are we supposed to simply blind ourselves to derogatory information?" An exasperated Senator Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican currently in the Senate, called for a more dignified debate of Trump's nominees. Senators must treat one another with respect, "or this place is going to devolve into nothing but a jungle," he said. A confirmation vote for Sessions as attorney general was expected for Wednesday. Repatriation and displacement overwhelms war-torn Afghanistan Marooned in a tent billowing in the winter wind, Gul Pari's family is among thousands of war-displaced Afghans crammed into settlements alongside a flood of returning refugees, in a double-pronged humanitarian crisis engulfing the country. Conflict-torn Afghanistan is struggling to reabsorb large masses of refugees and failed asylum seekers being sent back from Pakistan, Europe and Iran, joining more than half a million others uprooted by war. Clutching meagre household possessions, often with small children in tow, unprecedented numbers like Gul Pari seek refuge in crowded cities such as eastern Jalalabad, straining public resources that are already near breaking point. Conflict-torn Afghanistan is struggling to reabsorb large masses of refugees and failed asylum seekers being sent back from Pakistan, Europe and Iran, joining more than half a million others uprooted by war NOORULLAH SHIRZADA (AFP) "We are praying our tent does not fall down in the winter rain," the mother-of-four said, as her children huddled around a kettle inside the fragile shelter cobbled together from rags. Gul Pari's family was forced to flee the badlands of Pachiragram district in Nangarhar, bordering Pakistan, where the Islamic State group has ushered in a new age of barbarity with beheadings, arson attacks, and by blowing up some enemies with explosives buried beneath them. More horrifying, Gul Pari said, was their diktat in some areas to families with unmarried daughters or widows to raise white flags over their houses, marking the women as wives for new IS recruits. "It is better to live in misery like this than to become a victim of Daesh," Gul Pari said, using the Arabic acronym for IS which is common in the area. Officials say IS is on the retreat owing to a sustained campaign of US airstrikes, but the UN has documented an alarming increase in attacks by the groups on civilians, perhaps evident in the steady number of people fleeing areas with their presence. - 'Returnees becoming IDPs' - As violence spiked last year across Afghanistan, about 1,700 people were displaced every day from their homes, hitting a record annual figure of more than 600,000, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of thousands of refugees separately have returned from Iran and, particularly, Pakistan, a regional nemesis cracking down on undocumented Afghan refugees. Many of them are stuck in limbo as their home districts are torn by insecurity. In a perfect storm, the European Union last year signed an agreement with Kabul to return Afghans whose asylum appeals are rejected, which could result in tens of thousands of repatriations. "2016 was a record year for both displacement and returns, and together these challenges are having a serious impact on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan," said Matt Graydon, spokesman of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "In addition, there is the compounded challenge of returnees becoming IDPs (internally displaced persons) because they are unable to go back to their area of origin due to fighting." The numbers are expected to rise this year, forcing the UN to appeal for $550 million in emergency aid, though after decades of war and the competing crisis in Syria, donor fatigue has set in. A staggering 9.3 million people, or a third of the population, will need humanitarian assistance this year, a 13 percent increase from 2016. The Afghan government, heavily reliant on foreign aid, has promised refugees parcels of land and cash grants, but is struggling to deliver. - 'No dignity' - The growing influx of people has sent living costs soaring and daily wages falling in many areas. Laurence Hart, IOM's chief in Afghanistan, told AFP there was evidence returnees were moving to unsafe provinces such as Laghman, Kunar and Kunduz in search of a more affordable refuge. Safe options are decreasing as the government is steadily losing territory to insurgents. Only slightly more than half of the country's districts are under government control or influence, according to US watchdog SIGAR. As such, said Swedish ambassador to Afghanistan Anders Sjoberg, humanitarian aid is no longer a short-term solution but a "band-aid" for the unresolved conflict. Abdul Qadir, 38, returned to his homeland with a sense of foreboding after 27 years in Pakistan. Living in a mud-brick home on a barren desert plot near Jalalabad, with hundreds of other returnees, frequent clashes have erupted with local residents who accuse them of usurping their land. "My children are sick from the untreated water from the village pond. There are no schools here, no hospitals, no mosques, no dignity," Qadir told AFP. "We went to Pakistan to flee war and we have come back to war." Displaced Afghans Gal ROMA, Laurence CHU (AFP) Internally displaced women with their children sit inside a tent on the outskirts of Jalalabad, Afghanistan NOORULLAH SHIRZADA (AFP) CET : ; Indian cops arrest US businessman over idol smuggling Indian police have arrested an American businessman accused of involvement in an international smuggling ring that illegally trades in artefacts believed looted from temples, officers said Wednesday. They detained Vijay Nanda, a US citizen of Indian origin, after finding antiques including terracotta figurines more than 2,000 years old at his premises in Mumbai. The idols, which investigators suspect were stolen from Hindu and Buddhist temples in southern and eastern India, were destined to be sold for vast sums to private collectors abroad, police said. In India looters and smugglers target ancient temples, many located in remote areas and left abandoned without any security ARUN SANKAR (AFP/File) Art theft is big business in India where looters and smugglers target ancient temples. Many are located in remote areas and have been left abandoned without any security. Officers said Nanda was linked to the same syndicate as octogenarian art dealer G Deenadhayalan, who was arrested in Tamil Nadu state last year for possessing hundreds of allegedly stolen artefacts. "Vijay Nanda is a prime player in the international art smuggling syndicate with extensive connections in the US, Europe and Hong Kong," India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said in a statement. The DRI said the terracotta sculptures were found at Nanda's home alongside bronze figurines of Hindu deities Ganesha and Mahishasura dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. They also found six large stone statues in crates at a warehouse he owned. These included sculptures of Hindu god Vishnu and Buddhist idol Padmapani. "These statues appear to be reliefs stolen/vandalised from various temples in eastern and southern India and belong to the 10th-11th Century A.D," read the DRI's statement, detailing the ring's modus operandi. It said stolen idols were generally smuggled out of India under fake documentation and concealed in furniture or garment consignments. Police said Nanda would arrange their sale in the US and Hong Kong. India is on a drive to bring back some of its most valuable antiquities. Last year the US returned more than 200 statues and other artefacts that were taken from Indian temples. Former Manhattan art dealer Subhash Kapoor is currently on trial in India accused of conspiring in the theft, trafficking and sale of religious artefacts. Pakistanis condemn ban on Bollywood blockbuster 'Raees' Pakistan's ban on Bollywood thriller "Raees" sparked a social media backlash Wednesday, after the film featuring Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan was denounced for portraying Muslims as "terrorists". The government decision to bar the 2017 action film came after Pakistani cinemas lifted their own ban on Indian films. Bollywood movies and Khan in particular are immensely popular in Pakistan and the film also stars a leading Pakistani actress, Mahira Khan. Indian Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan poses during a promotional event for the Bollywood film 'Raees', in Amritsar, on January 31, 2017 NARINDER NANU (AFP/File) But the industry has become a political battleground amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed states in the disputed Kashmir region. The film "portrays Muslims as terrorists and violent people", Mubahsar Hassan, chairman of the Pakistan Film Censor Board, told AFP. A second official complained about the comparison between Muslims and Hindus. "This film gave a message that all Muslims do bad things and are involved in crimes while Hindus are gentlemen and they stop them from the dirty work," he told AFP on condition of anonymity. But fans dismissed the concerns, with many arguing that art can be about politics but politics should have no place in art. "This ban on is an example of the kind of absurdities Pakistan's moral crusaders and grovelling bureaucrats can attain on their own," tweeted Pakistani film maker and journalist Hasan Zaidi. "Ban on Indian movie Raees is a ban on for her barely acting debut. Why Pak censor boards hate Mahira so much?" said writer Haji S Pasha. Some, however, backed the censors. Yasmeen Ali, a lawyer and univeristy professor, wrote: "I support the ban on owing to showing muslims of a particular sect of Islam conducting heinous crimes & being terrorists". Pakistani cinemas last October announced a ban on Indian films following strained relations between Islamabad and Delhi, lifting it only last month. For its part, the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association banned Pakistani actors and technicians from working on Bollywood sets after last year's tensions. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain seven decades ago, two of them over Kashmir. Pig bristles in brush with Malaysian law Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have seized some 2,000 paintbrushes labelled as "halal" but suspected to have been made with pig bristles, an official said Wednesday. Officials from the domestic trade ministry conducted raids on shops throughout the country after some brushes previously sent for testing at a laboratory showed they were made with pig bristles. Muslims consider pigs to be unclean and pork and its by-products are "haram" or forbidden. Paintbrushes made with pig bristles but mislabelled as "halal" or acceptable to Muslims have been seized by Malaysian authorities Philipe Huguen Photographer (AFP/File) Goods marked "halal" -- meaning "permissible" in Arabic -- are acceptable to them. "We will send the (2,000) brushes to a lab for testing and verification," Zarif Anwar, a ministry official, told AFP. It is against the law to sell products made from any part of a pig unless the items are labelled and stored separately. The paintbrushes would not have been seized had they been correctly labelled and separated from halal products, domestic trade minister Hamzah Zainudin was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency. Halal standards also apply to products such as cosmetics. Polisario on alert along W.Sahara sand barrier Behind a long sand wall winding through the disputed Western Sahara, leaders battling for the independence of the former Spanish colony say they are on alert. Morocco insists the territory is an integral part of its kingdom, but the Algeria-backed Polisario Front demands a referendum on self-determination. "There are 25,000 Sahrawi fighters and any other Sahrawi is recruitable," whether man or woman, says Polisario defence chief Abdullahi Lehbib. A mural in Tindouf calls for the demolition of the wall separating the Western Sahara and Morocco Ryad Kramdi (AFP) His comments come after the president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Ghali, on Sunday said "all options remain open" to resolve the dispute, hinting at a possible return to armed struggle. Morocco fought the Polisario from 1975 to 1991, gaining control of most of the territory before a UN-brokered ceasefire took effect. It has built six mostly sand barriers along roughly 2,700 kilometres (1,675 miles) to cordon off this land. On the other side is the Polisario-run SADR. Since the 1991 ceasefire, the United Nations has maintained peace keepers in the vast desert territory where around half a million people live. A referendum on independence was set for 1992 but was aborted when Morocco objected to the proposed electoral register, saying it was biased. "Despite the ceasefire we have continued recruitment and conscription," Lehbib tells AFP. Tensions flared last year after the Polisario set up a new military post in the district of Guerguerat near the Mauritanian border, within a stone's throw of Moroccan soldiers. The move came after Morocco last summer started building a tarmac road in the area south of the buffer zone separating the two sides. - 'Resistance Museum' - "The stalling of the peace process, and especially the situation in Guerguerat, mean that we are on alert along the wall," Lehbib says. Trenches, barbed wire and mine fields flank the Sahrawi side of the wall near El-Mahbes. Cheikh Bechri Mhame, the sector's commanding officer, describes how his men patrol the area in four-wheel-drives, looking out for any movement near the barrier which is two to three metres high. Dressed in military fatigues and armed with automatic rifles, his soldiers are also tasked with cordoning off land peppered with anti-personnel mines. Around a hundred kilometres from there, in one of the refugee camps in the Tindouf area in southwest Algeria, the director of the "Resistance Museum" tells visitors the army was able to adapt to life along the wall. Built between 1980 and 1987, Morocco's "defence wall wasn't efficient in defending the Moroccans," Mohamed Ouleda says. "The (Sahrawi) army chose certain spots to carry out incursions, even if at the time there were only 12,000 fighters to face a Moroccan armada." He said Sahrawis captured "511 Moroccan prisoners of war between the wall's construction and the ceasefire", citing Red Crescent documents that AFP was not able to obtain. In his museum, Ouleda shows off "spoils of war... retrieved on the other side of the wall": weapons, armoured vehicles and Moroccan military documents. Polisario chief Ghali says the wall's construction in fact led to a "war of attrition" for the Moroccans, not the Sahrawis. "The Moroccans built the wall thinking it was insurmountable," he says. "But it became an economic, psychological and moral burden for the Moroccan army instead of a solution." "That's when Morocco started the negotiations that led to the UN peace plan and ceasefire." Mourners pray over the coffin of Polisario Front leader Mohamed Abdelaziz at his funeral in Tindouf, on June 3, 2016 Farouk Batiche (AFP/File) Trump, Erdogan agree Syria cooperation, CIA chief visit: Ankara President Donald Trump and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed to cooperate in the fight against jihadists in Syria, in their first phone call since the new US leader took office, Ankara said Wednesday. The leaders of the two NATO allies also agreed that the new CIA chief, Mike Pompeo, would visit Turkey this week, a Turkish presidential source said. In their eagerly awaited phone call late Tuesday, the presidents discussed acting together in Turkey's battle to capture the Syrian town of Al-Bab from Islamic State jihadists and taking the main IS stronghold of Raqa. Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey this week after Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to cooperate Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP/File) "Both leaders agreed to act together in Al-Bab and Raqa" in Syria, the source said. A member of the US-led coalition against IS, Turkey in August launched a unilateral incursion in Syria, backing Syrian rebels to clear its border from IS jihadists and also pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia. However, the battle for Al-Bab has proved the toughest yet of the Turkish incursion, with the army suffering increasing casualties and Erdogan complaining Ankara has been left alone. Meanwhile a joint US-Turkey operation to take Raqa was mooted before but never developed further. Erdogan has high hopes of Trump after expressing disappointment in the past with the former US administration of Barack Obama. Turkey was particularly enraged by US support for Syrian Kurdish militia which Washington regards as the most effective group in the fight against IS. Turkey sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG), a terror groups and branches of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. In their phone call, Erdogan stressed the importance of the fight against the PKK and said that Washington should not support the PYD and YPG, according to the Turkish presidential source. Erdogan also said Turkey expected Washington to stand by Ankara in the fight against the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who it accuses of staging the failed July 15 coup against Erdogan. Ankara charges Gulen runs a group called Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO), something he denies. The source also said that Central Intelligence Agency director Pompeo will visit Turkey Thursday which will be his first trip overseas since being sworn in January. "He will consult with Turkish authorities' agenda items particularly the PYD and FETO," the source said. The White House said in their phone call Trump spoke of the "their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms", saying Trump reiterated US support to Turkey as a "strategic partner and NATO ally." Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim speak in Ankara on February 7, 2017 Adem Altan (AFP/File) Somalia's ex-PM elected president Former Somali prime minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who holds joint American citizenship, was elected president on Wednesday, vowing to crack down on corruption and Al-Shabaab militants. The 55-year-old former premier, whose hails from the Darod clan and who goes by the nickname "Farmajo", won after incumbent president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud acknowledged defeat in a second round of voting by lawmakers. "This is the beginning of unity for the Somali nation, the beginning of the fight against Shabaab and corruption", a triumphant Farmajo said after being declared the winner in a long, drawn-out election process in the conflict-wracked nation. Newly elected President of Somalia and former prime minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo gestures as he makes an address on February 8, 2017 MUSTAFA HAJI ABDINUR (AFP) Civilians took to the streets and soldiers fired celebratory gunfire in the capital Mogadishu which had been near-deserted for two days with roads and schools closed and residents urged to stay indoors for fear of a strike on the capital by Shabaab militants. And Somali refugees in Dadaab, the world's biggest refugee camp in eastern Kenya, also erupted with joy and sang the national anthem when hearing Farmajo had won, according to an AFP correspondent. "Time has come for us Somalis. I thank God. This is the man we need, he cares for us, he cares for the poor men and women," said 60-year-old Anfi Kassim who has lived in the camp since 1992. The United States said it regretted the numerous reports of electoral fraud, but urged Farmajo to use his new mandate to "deliver good governance" to the needy Horn of Africa state. After six hours and two rounds of voting, a crowded field of 21 presidential candidates was whittled down to the two veteran politicians. Farmajo failed to win the required two-thirds majority, but had 184 votes to Mohamud's 97, prompting the incumbent to drop out to avoid a third round. The father of four served as prime minister for only eight months between 2010 and 2011 and was ousted in a deal to form a new government and postpone elections that year. However several of his moves, such as implementing regular payments of soldiers, were well received and many supporters took to the streets of Mogadishu to protest his removal. Farmajo was born in the capital to a family from the southern Gedo region, and moved to the United States where he studied history and political science at the University of Buffalo. He went on to work in the foreign ministry and as a diplomat in Washington before the collapse of Siad Barre's military regime in 1991 which led to civil war and decades of anarchy in Somalia. - Limited vote - Farmajo also ran for president in 2012, in the first election inside the country since 1991. In that election only 135 clan elders picked the lawmakers who went on to elect the president. In 2016 Somalia had been promised a one-person, one-vote election. However political infighting and insecurity saw the plan ditched for a limited vote running six months behind schedule. Although the election is billed as its most democratic in nearly five decades, only 14,000 delegates were able to vote for the lawmakers who went on to elect the president. The long, drawn-out election has largely consisted of horsetrading between different clans, with widespread allegations of vote-buying and corruption, leaving it a distant process to the average Somali. The internationally-backed government still has limited control over a country where swathes of countryside are controlled by Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants who regularly launch deadly strikes against Mogadishu. - 'Most expensive election' - If Farmajo is serious about cracking down on corruption, he has his work cut out for him in a country listed as the most corrupt in the world by Transparency International. Mogadishu-based anti-corruption NGO Marqaati in a report released this week described rampant vote-buying, and alleged that civil servants had gone unpaid for seven months and public lands sold off to fund lobbying for MP positions. "When delegates refused to take money and vote a certain way, they would be replaced, intimidated, harassed and, in some incidences... shot," read the report. The report said some delegates were paid up to $30,000 each to vote for MPs, while presidential candidates seeking to sway MP votes were reported to have to fork out $50,000 to $100,000 per lawmaker. "The electoral process has been subject to serious allegations of fraud and corruption, some of them clearly substantiated," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The US State Department said that it regretted "numerous credible reports of irregularities in the electoral process", but that it would work with Farmajo "to advance reconciliation, drought relief, security, and build the strong institutions to deliver good governance and development for the Somali people." Francisco Caetano Madeira, chair of the African Union Mission for Somalia, which has been helping the country to combat the Shabaab, also urged the new administration "to use the next four years in office to enhance reconciliation and unity". Somali lawmakers cast their vote to elect a new president inside Mogadishu airport on February 8 Mustafa HAJIABDINUR (AFP) 4 detained over deadly massage parlour fire in China Four people have been detained over a foot massage parlour fire that killed 18 and injured 18 others in eastern China at the weekend, state media reported. The individuals, who were in charge of the facility, were taken into police custody on suspicion of "very serious dereliction of duty", Tiantai county police in Zhejiang province told the official Xinhua news agency late Tuesday. The fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the Zuxintang Foot Massage and Bathing Parlour, which is located on the first and second floors of a six-storey building. A fire broke out at a massage parlour in Taizhou, in China's Zhejiang province killing 18 and injuring 18 others STR (AFP/File) The flames were extinguished less than two hours later. Eight people were found dead at the scene and 10 others passed away in hospital, Xinhua said. The cause of the blaze is still being investigated. Fire safety procedures are routinely ignored in China, with exit doors often locked and escape passages blocked in buildings. Ivory Coast govt in bid to end elite troops' mutiny The Ivorian government on Wednesday pressed a bid to defuse a revolt by special forces, as fears of renewed unrest spread following weeks of protests over pay by security forces. The authorities went into talks with protesters from the elite special forces -- the latest troops to mutiny in recent weeks -- while sharply condemning the soldiers who fired in the air in the army barracks town of Adiake. The elite troops, who are in charge of the president's security, appeared to be angling for a deal with the government along the lines of one struck in January that offered some soldiers large one-off lump sum payments. A soldiers' mutiny has raised security fears in Ivory Coast SIA KAMBOU (AFP/File) "The government ... condemns and deplores these violent forms of protest," Information Minister Bruno Nabagne Kone said, criticising "an attitude that has unfortunately been recurrent in recent weeks". Earlier Wednesday, a resident of Adiake told AFP that elite troops based there were shooting in the air for the second consecutive day. "Today, it's market day, and they (the troops) told the women to return to their houses. Everyone is terrified, and holed up in their homes," he told AFP by phone. The shooting ceased in mid-afternoon, another resident said, but tension remained high, with elite troops manning the entrances to Adiake and barring entry to journalists. Meanwhile a group of mutineers headed from Adiake to the commercial capital Abidjan, where they were due to meet Defence Minister Alain Richard Donwahi. Asked why they had fired shots in the air, one said: "The authorities know what we want." Tuesday's gunfire in Adiake, located to the east of the commercial capital Abidjan, was the first protest action by special forces since other soldiers and members of the security forces mutinied in January. The government says two people have been injured in the latest wave of protests. Adiake also is home to a maritime base that trains marine commandos and provides coastal surveillance in an area that shares a border with Ghana. - Political link? - Troops first launched a mutiny over pay on January 5. Those protests subsided when the government reached a deal with 8,500 mutineers, agreeing to give them 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros, $19,000) each. However more soldiers have since taken to the streets demanding similar bonuses. Last year Ivory Coast approved an ambitious military budget to modernise the army and buy new equipment. But the 1.2-billion-euro pot would be insufficient to offer similar payments to all of the country's 23,000-strong security forces. The mutiny led to President Alassane Ouattara ordering major changes in top security ranks -- the armed forces' chief of staff, the senior commander of the national gendarmerie and the director-general of the police. The revolt came as a constitutional reform saw former prime minister Daniel Kablan Duncan sworn in as vice president -- with some analysts saying he could well be placed to step into Ouattara's shoes in future. But some analysts wonder whether another former premier, ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro, may have harboured presidential ambitions of his own, seeing a possible link between the army mutiny and the reshuffle. - 'Pandora's box' - Soro, who was elected parliament speaker in January, attended Kablan's swearing-in ceremony and has consistently backed Ivory Coast's constitutional reform. "The situation is worrying because the army is still under the control of ex-rebel chiefs," said Ivorian analyst Jean Alabro. Ouattara, he said, "opened a Pandora's box" by initially agreeing to the demands of the mutineers. The International Monetary Fund said in December that Ivory Coast was on track towards becoming the continent's fastest-growing economy. The mutinies, however, have raised fears the country might slip back into deadly unrest. A rebellion in 2002 sliced the former French colony into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south, triggering years of unrest. Turkey targets IS-held Raqa, claims progress in Al-Bab battle Turkey on Wednesday claimed significant progress in the months-long battle to capture the Islamic State (IS) held Syrian town of Al-Bab, signalling it was looking to push to the jihadist stronghold of Raqa in the next stage of the operation. Ankara launched an unprecedented incursion to support rebels inside Syria in August, making rapid advances in initial stages but has been locked in a bloody battle for Al-Bab since December. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Al-Bab was now "surrounded on all sides" and the town's outer neighbourhoods were "under control". Children in Bir Saeed on the outskirts of Raqa on February 7, 2017, after Syrian Democratic Forces retook control of the village from Islamic State Delil Souleiman (AFP) "The efforts to take it completely under control continue," Yildirim added during a press conference in Ankara with the head of Libya's unity government Fayez al-Sarraj. He confirmed two soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting, raising the death toll for Turkey's Syria campaign to at least 50 mostly from IS attacks. Fighting raged on the ground near Al-Bab on Wednesday as Turkish troops and allied rebels forces clashed with IS fighters, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said both Turkish troops and allied rebels and Syrian regime forces had advanced towards IS-held Al-Bab overnight. Anadolu news agency said pro-Ankara forces had captured strategic hilltops from the jihadists. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that over the last few days, Turkish special forces, soldiers and Syrian rebels had made "serious" progress in Al-Bab. - Raqa next up? - Cavusoglu suggested that once Al-Bab was captured Turkey and its allies could send special forces to take Raqa, the de-facto capital for the Islamic State (IS) group to the southwest. "The target after this (Al-Bab) in Syria is the Raqa operation," Cavusoglu said alongside his Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Ankara. "As regional countries, as countries inside the (US-led) coalition, we can put our special forces in, we need to put them in," Cavusoglu added, referring to any Raqa offensive. His comments come after US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke via telephone and discussed acting together in Turkey's battle to capture Al-Bab and also over Raqa. Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was "looking forward to working with Turkey and the Trump administration in order to intensify the efforts to eradicate Daesh (IS)". Last August, Ankara launched an ambitious military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters to clear its border of IS and pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia. Cavusoglu warned against working with the militia to retake the city. "It is necessary to conduct the Raqa operation not with terror groups but the right people," he said. Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said a "concrete plan" to clear IS from Raqa was being discussed with Washington. Trump had a "positive attitude" on the Raqa issue, Kalin added during an interview with NTV broadcaster. - 'Russia-Turkey coordination' - Al-Bab has been besieged since Monday, when government forces of President Bashar al-Assad advancing from the south severed a road leading into the town. Turkish forces and allied rebels meanwhile have advanced from the east, north and west, the Observatory told AFP in Beirut. This has created a delicate situation for Ankara, which has opposed Assad since the onset of the almost six-year civil war. But relations between Turkey and Assad's chief ally Russia improved markedly in the last months and the two sides worked together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo. Kalin said Turkey was coordinating with Russia to avoid any risk of contact with Syrian regime forces. According to the Observatory, six civilians were killed overnight and 12 injured in Turkish bombardment. Turkish forces regularly carry our air strikes in support of its ground operation in Syria but officials insist that the utmost is done to avoid any civilian casualties and have vehemently denied claims civilians have been killed in previous strikes. The Turkish army said 254 targets were hit and 58 "terrorists" were killed in the latest strikes in Al-Bab. A Syrian boy stands near rubble in Bir Saeed on February 7, 2017 Delil Souleiman (AFP) Drugmaker Teva says Israel probing kickback allegations Pharmaceutical giant Teva said on Wednesday it is under investigation by Israeli police for suspected bribery of foreign officials just two months after it paid $519 million to settle US charges. The news came a day after the world's biggest manufacturer of generic drugs said in a surprise announcement that its CEO was quitting after just three years at the helm. "An investigation is being conducted in Israel regarding the same issues which led to a settlement with American justice authorities," a company statement said. Israeli police are probing Teva for suspected bribery Fred Dufour (AFP/File) In December, Teva agreed to pay US authorities $519 million to settle charges that it paid bribes to foreign officials to win business in Russia, Ukraine and Mexico. It promised to enhance its compliance programme after its Russia subsidiary pleaded guilty to one count of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and it signed off on a deferred prosecution agreement, the US Justice Department said at the time. That case included bribes by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to a "high-ranking Russian government" official who used his authority to boost sales of the Teva multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone, resulting in more than $200 million in profits for Teva and about $65 million for the Russian official, the Justice Department said. US law permits anti-corruption sanctions against any company listed on Wall Street. "The settlement referred to events that occurred between 2007-2012 and none of the people involved in the improper payments is currently employed at Teva," the company said on Wednesday, without commenting further on the Israeli investigation. Police contacted by AFP had no comment on the case. Israel's Haaretz newspaper said, without citing sources, that the country's biggest business was suspected of earning "hundreds of millions of dollars" as a result of paying kickbacks and then falsifying documents to conceal its actions. "According to the Israeli allegations, bribes in Russia and Mexico were concealed as discounts to clients. Bribes in Ukraine were allegedly concealed as marketing and sales expenses, or as consultation fees," the paper said. Announcing CEO Erez Vigodman's resignation on Tuesday Teva said its chairman Yitzhak Peterburg would serve as interim chief executive. It gave no reason for the change but Israeli media said the company took action after a series of recent decisions prompted investors to lose faith in Vigodman's leadership. Trump slams courts as judges mull travel ban President Donald Trump renewed his attack on the courts, describing them as "so political" as a panel of judges weigh his executive order barring refugees and visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries. The contentious ban has been frozen by the courts and has embroiled Trump in an arm wrestle with the judicial branch, less than three weeks into his presidency. Speaking to police chiefs and sheriffs, Trump condemned as "disgraceful" a hearing Tuesday in which three federal appeals judges heard arguments appeared skeptical about the government's case to reinstate the ban. US President Donald Trump condemned as "disgraceful" a hearing in which federal appeals judges appeared skeptical over the government's case to reinstate a travel ban SAUL LOEB (AFP) "Courts seem to be so political," he said. Trump's comments have sparked a firestorm in a country where such personal and vitriolic attacks by a president on another, independent branch of government are rare. The uproar extended to Trump's own Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. He described Trump's attack on the Seattle judge who froze the ban as "disheartening" and "demoralizing," according to spokesman Ron Bonjean. Trump's ban was suspended nationwide on Friday, after two US states sought to have it overturned on grounds of religious discrimination and because it had caused "irreparable injury." - New attorney general - The agency tasked with defending the ban in court amid the legal standoff got its new chief, after the US Senate overrode fierce opposition to confirm Jeff Sessions as attorney general. His nomination process saw fierce debate about his civil rights record and Democratic concern over whether he serves as the top US law enforcement officer independent from President Donald Trump. In the hearing before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, a Justice Department lawyer argued that the president had clear authority to order the ban on national security grounds. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," August Flentje said. Critics of the ban claim it violates the US Constitution by discriminating against people on the basis of their religion. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism?" asked Judge Michelle Friedland, who was appointed by Barack Obama. Flentje said the government had not had an opportunity to present such evidence, given the speed at which the case had moved. The court must decide whether to maintain the lower court's suspension, modify it or lift it. The ruling by the judges -- two were appointed by Democratic presidents and a third by a Republican -- is expected before the end of the week. The case is likely to eventually wind up on appeal in the US Supreme Court, which currently is short-handed and evenly divided between liberal and conservative justices. A tie there would leave in place the appeals court decision. Should Trump's nominee to fill the vacant seat be confirmed by the Senate, he could break the tie. - 'Horrible, dangerous and wrong' - Trump vented his frustration in tweets, referring to the ban's suspension as "the horrible, dangerous and wrong decision." He went further in a rambling speech to the law enforcement chiefs, which at points drew polite applause. "It's really incredible to me that we have a court case that's going on so long," he said. Trump then read out the text of a law -- interspersed with his commentary -- that confers on the president authority to suspend entry to any alien or class of alien deemed detrimental to the interests of the United States. His decree summarily denied entry to all refugees for 120 days, and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely. Top administration officials have argued it is needed to keep out Islamic State and Al-Qaeda fighters migrating from Middle East hotspots, insisting time is needed to implement stricter vetting procedures. Travel analysis firm ForwardKeys says travel bookings to the United States fell 6.5 percent the week after the ban, compared to last year, with a sharp drop in numbers from the targeted countries. - Blame shifting - The sudden rollout of the restrictions, and their blanket nature, sparked protests and international condemnation. Polls now show eroding public support for the move in the United States, amid jubilant scenes at airports of returning immigrants. Shifting the blame to his security advisers, Trump said he had proposed giving a one-month notice, but his law enforcement experts told him "people will pour in before the toughness." "I think it's sad, I think it's a sad day," Trump said. "I think our security is at risk today, and it will be at risk until such time as we are entitled and get what we are entitled to as citizens of this country, as chiefs, as sheriffs of this country. We want security." Trump's Immigration Ban in Court Christopher HUFFAKER, Kun TIAN (AFP) People gather at Copley Square on January 29, 2017 to protest US President Donald Trump's executive order, which restricts refugees and travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries Ryan McBride (AFP/File) Turkey says targeting IS-held Raqa, claims progress in Al-Bab battle Turkey on Wednesday claimed significant progress in the months-long battle to capture the Islamic State (IS) held Syrian town of Al-Bab, signalling it was looking to push to the jihadist stronghold of Raqa in the next stage of the operation. Ankara launched an unprecedented incursion to support rebels inside Syria in August, making rapid advances in initial stages but has been locked in a bloody battle for Al-Bab since December. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Al-Bab was now "surrounded on all sides" and the town's outer neighbourhoods were "under control". Rebel fighters queue to enter an armoured vehicle near the town of Bizaah northeast of the city of Al-Bab on February 4, 2017 Nazeer al-Khatib (AFP/File) "The efforts to take it completely under control continue," Yildirim added during a press conference in Ankara with the head of Libya's unity government Fayez al-Sarraj. He confirmed two soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting, raising the death toll for Turkey's Syria campaign to at least 50 mostly from IS attacks. Fighting raged on the ground near Al-Bab on Wednesday as Turkish troops and allied rebels forces clashed with IS fighters, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said both Turkish troops and allied rebels and Syrian regime forces had advanced towards IS-held Al-Bab overnight. Anadolu news agency said pro-Ankara forces had captured strategic hilltops from the jihadists. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that over the last few days, Turkish special forces, soldiers and Syrian rebels had made "serious" progress in Al-Bab. - Raqa next up? - Cavusoglu suggested that once Al-Bab was captured Turkey and its allies could send special forces to take Raqa, the de-facto capital for the Islamic State (IS) group to the southwest. "The target after this (Al-Bab) in Syria is the Raqa operation," Cavusoglu said alongside his Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Ankara. "As regional countries, as countries inside the (US-led) coalition, we can put our special forces in, we need to put them in," Cavusoglu added, referring to any Raqa offensive. His comments come after US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke via telephone and discussed acting together in Turkey's battle to capture Al-Bab and also over Raqa. Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was "looking forward to working with Turkey and the Trump administration in order to intensify the efforts to eradicate Daesh (IS)". Last August, Ankara launched an ambitious military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters to clear its border of IS and pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia. Cavusoglu warned against working with the militia to retake the city. "It is necessary to conduct the Raqa operation not with terror groups but the right people," he said. Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said a "concrete plan" to clear IS from Raqa was being discussed with Washington. Trump had a "positive attitude" on the Raqa issue, Kalin added during an interview with NTV broadcaster. - 'Russia-Turkey coordination' - Al-Bab has been besieged since Monday, when government forces of President Bashar al-Assad advancing from the south severed a road leading into the town. Turkish forces and allied rebels meanwhile have advanced from the east, north and west, the Observatory told AFP in Beirut. This has created a delicate situation for Ankara, which has opposed Assad since the onset of the almost six-year civil war. But relations between Turkey and Assad's chief ally Russia improved markedly in the last months and the two sides worked together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo. Kalin said Turkey was coordinating with Russia to avoid any risk of contact with Syrian regime forces. According to the Observatory, six civilians were killed overnight and 12 injured in Turkish bombardment. Turkish forces regularly carry our air strikes in support of its ground operation in Syria but officials insist that the utmost is done to avoid any civilian casualties and have vehemently denied claims civilians have been killed in previous strikes. The Turkish army said 254 targets were hit and 58 "terrorists" were killed in the latest strikes in Al-Bab. Israel's top court petitioned to strike down settler law Israeli and Palestinian rights groups petitioned the Supreme Court on Wednesday asking it to strike down a new law allowing expropriation of private Palestinian land for Jewish settlers. The law has sparked an outpouring of condemnation from around the world since it was passed in the Israeli parliament late Monday, although the United States has remained tight-lipped. The act, which legalises dozens of wildcat outposts and thousands of settler homes in the occupied West Bank, now faces a legal challenge, however. A new Israeli law legalises dozens of wildcat settlement outposts such as Kfar Tapuah West Jaafar Ashtiyeh (AFP/File) Israeli group Adalah said that it and the Palestinian NGO, Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC), sought to overturn the "dangerous" law. "We have very strong arguments against the law," Adalah's lawyer Suhad Bishara said outside the court. "We definitely hope that the Supreme Court will declare that the law is unconstitutional and thus cancel it." The law is seen by critics as promoting at least partial annexation of the West Bank, a key demand for parts of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. Its backers want to prevent a repeat of last week's traumatic forcible eviction of the wildcat settlement outpost of Amona, in the northern West Bank. International law considers all settlements to be illegal, but Israel distinguishes between those it sanctions and those it does not, dubbed outposts. Before the new act became law, the Supreme Court ordered Amona, built on privately owned Palestinian land, to be dismantled. - White House silence - Adalah and the JLAC are representing 17 Palestinian local councils in the West Bank upon whose lands Israeli settlements covered by the legislation have been constructed. The new law allows Israel to legally seize Palestinian private land on which Israelis built outposts without knowing it was private property or because the state allowed them to do so. Approved by 60 members of parliament to 52 against, it was slammed by the Palestinians as a means to "legalise theft" of land. "This sweeping and dangerous law permits the expropriation of vast tracts of private Palestinian land," said Bishara. "It violates the property rights both of resident and refugee Palestinians." Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has himself warned the government that the law may be unconstitutional and risks exposing Israel to international prosecution for war crimes. He has said he will not be able to defend it before the Supreme Court, and Israeli newspaper Maariv said on Wednesday that he may even testify against it. The United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League strongly criticised the legislation on Tuesday, although the new administration of US President Donald Trump remained silent. "Prime Minister Netanyahu will be here on February 15. I don't want to get ahead of that now," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said, referring to the Israeli premier's planned visit to Washington next week. The US State Department said President Donald Trump's new administration "needs to have the chance to fully consult with all parties on the way forward". - 'War crime' - Israel's attorney general has said the law is unconstitutional and could open the country up to prosecution at the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague. The UN Security Council passed a resolution in December stating that settlements have "no legal validity" and demanding that Israel stop building in the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem. Bishara said the new law flouted that resolution. "The transfer of the occupying power's civilian population into occupied territory is a war crime," she said. But Israel's deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely insisted the territory was not occupied. "The underlying premise behind the critics of Israel is that this is occupied Palestinian land. This premise is incorrect," she wrote in an English-language statement. "Israel has both historic and legal rights to this land and the (new) law reaches the right balance between the rights of the Jewish families to their homes and the right of the owners of these plots of land to get compensation," she added. Under the act, Palestinian landowners whose property was taken for settlers would be compensated with cash or given alternative plots. "The legal principle of compensation is known in all western legal systems," Hotovely said. "This principle that Israel adopted this week creates the right justice between the Palestinians and the Jewish families." The Israeli separation wall dividing Israel from the West Bank Jack Guez (AFP/File) Prefabricated houses are removed from the Israeli Amona wildcat outpost on February 6, 2017 Thomas Coex (AFP) Trump paints bleak picture as he rallies police chiefs President Donald Trump played up the threat from terrorism, drugs, violent crime and immigration Wednesday, as he sought to rally US police chiefs around his uncompromising law-and-order agenda. He claimed that spiraling murder rates and assassinations of police officers were developments that support a tougher line on security, in an address to the chiefs of police and sheriffs from major US cities. "In many of our biggest cities, 2016 brought an increase in the number of homicides, rapes, assaults and shootings. In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone," Trump said. "This is a national tragedy." US President Donald Trump called on local law enforcement officers to report gang members to the Department of Homeland Securit SAUL LOEB (AFP) Trump's law and order agenda suffered a major blow last Friday when a district court froze his temporary travel ban on migrants from seven predominantly Muslim nations and all refugees. Since then, Trump has gone on the offensive -- blaming the courts for hampering counterterrorism and holding a series of high-profile events with police, county sheriffs and military personal at US Central Command. He has promised personnel more equipment and support, while talking up the threat from terror and other violence -- unusually political comments for a president speaking to uniformed personnel. On Wednesday, Trump received scattered polite applause from around 400 officers during his speech, which included a suggestion that consignments of drugs and scores of people "with very evil intentions" were trying to make their way into the country. According to researchers at the Rand Corporation, Americans spend $100 billion on cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. As in previous days, Trump also underscored the threat from terrorism. "I've learned a lot in the last two weeks, and terrorism is a far greater threat than the people of our country understand," Trump said. "But we're going to take care of it. We're going to win." Trump called on local law enforcement officers to report gang members to the Department of Homeland Security. "You have that power because you know them. You're there, you're local. You know the illegals, you know them by their first name. You know them by their first name. You know them by their nicknames, you have that power," he said. "I want you to turn in the bad ones -- call Secretary (John) Kelly's representatives and we'll get them out of our country and bring them back where they came from and we'll do it fast." Libya talks on new unity government gather pace: UN Talks on changes to Libya's unity government could yield results in the coming weeks, putting the north African country on a path to stability, the UN envoy said Wednesday. The UN-backed government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj was installed in Tripoli last year but has failed to assert itself further east, where strongman General Khalifa Haftar holds sway. UN envoy Martin Kobler told the Security Council that talks on "possible amendments" to the political agreement, and notably on Haftar's future role, had made progress in the past two months. UN envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, speaks during a press conference in Tripoli, on January 8, 2017 MAHMUD TURKIA (AFP/File) "I am confident that a format will be found in the next weeks within which these questions can be decided upon and recommendations can be put forth for approval to the relevant institutions," Kobler said. Any changes must be endorsed by the Libyan House of Representatives, which has refused to back the Sarraj government. "2017 must be a year of decisions and political breakthrough," said Kobler. The United Nations brokered the Libyan political agreement that was signed in Morocco in 2015 and Western countries had been adamant that the Sarraj government was the only legitimate voice. Security Council members Egypt and Russia have offered support for Haftar, whose self-declared Libyan National Army has had success in battling jihadists in Benghazi, the country's second city. Following the meeting, the council declared that it "recognizes the growing concern among Libyans for a more inclusive political settlement within the framework of the Libyan political agreement," said Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, this month's council president. - Bring in all the actors - Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations vying for power. "What we need is a genuinely inclusive government that brings in all of the key actors in Libya, and we need that because that is the best way to restore stability," said British Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson. Kobler admitted that opening up the hard-fought political agreement to changes was risky, and stressed that there should be "very limited" amendments. "It's also a risk to leave the agreement as it is, because it doesn't work," the envoy told reporters following the council meeting. Sarraj has reportedly offered to meet Haftar in Cairo to try to come to agreement. "General Haftar must have a role in the chain of command of the army, and we encourage talks," said Kobler. Despite the political deadlock, Libya has boosted its oil production to over 700,000 barrels a day, providing the state with much-needed revenue. "It's a wealthy country, it's a rich country, it has the largest proven oil reserves of Africa," said Kobler. "That's why it's important that the insecurity ends because the Libyan people need it." IS bastion in Syria soon to be isolated: coalition Islamic State's self-proclaimed capital, the Syrian city of Raqa, will soon be isolated from the rest of the world, a spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting the jihadist group. Although it will not be completely encircled, "it will be very difficult to get into or out of the city," Colonel John Dorrian said in a video conference from Baghdad." "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks the city will be nearly completely isolated," Dorrian said. Arab-Kurdish forces backed by the coalition have launched an offensive on Raqa, advancing on the city from the north DELIL SOULEIMAN (AFP/File) The coalition has been gradually tightening a vice on IS in Iraq and Syria. US-backed Iraqi forces have recovered part of the Iraqi city of Mosul, although the city's western districts have yet to be retaken. Raqa is the coalition's next big objective. Arab-Kurdish forces backed by the coalition have launched an offensive on Raqa, advancing on the city from the north. But the issue of who exactly will assault the predominantly Arab city has not yet been worked out. Turkey has expressed interest in taking part in the operation, with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicating that his country is ready to deploy special forces to take part in the battle. Turkey opposes giving added weight to the Syrian Democratic Forces, as the Arab-Kurdish coalition is called, regarding it as little more than a front for the Kurdish YPG militant group, which Ankara considers a terror organization. "We have said for many months the US would be opened to a Turkish role," Dorrian said. Turkey already has troops in northern Syria, having launched an offensive in the area in August against IS and Kurdish militants. Mali arrests two over kidnapping of Colombian nun Mali's security forces on Wednesday arrested two suspects in their search for a Colombian nun kidnapped the night before from a church in the southern part of the country. The woman, identified by Colombia's foreign ministry as 56-year-old Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoti, a Franciscan nun, was seized by armed men in the Karangasso village close to the Burkina Faso border. A total of four armed men told those inside the church they were jihadists before taking the Colombian away, a security source said. Mali's security forces arrested two suspects on February 8, 2017 in their search for a Colombian nun kidnapped the night before from a church in the southern part of the country STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (AFP/File) Another security source told AFP that two Malian suspects were stopped and taken into custody Wednesday while driving a vehicle belonging to Narvaez's church. "The abductors initially threw her into the ambulance of the church, which led to their arrest," the source told AFP. The kidnappers were heading towards Burkina Faso, where authorities were on alert for signs of the gunmen. The nun was one of four Franciscan nuns living in the village of Karangasso, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital, Bamako, a worker at the church told AFP by telephone. "She was the only one taken by the armed men," the worker said. Edmond Dembele, secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Mali, said bishops were seeking more information about the kidnapping, which took place around 2100 GMT on Tuesday, he told the Vatican's missionary news agency, Fides. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the kidnapping, but attacks in the south of Mali by jihadists, a threat that was once confined to the restive north, have become increasingly common. On Christmas Eve last year a French aid worker, Sophie Petronin, was seized in Gao, in the north. Last month, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in North Africa released a new proof-of-life video of Swiss missionary Beatrice Stockly, who has been held hostage by the group for more than a year. The Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) video showed Stockly, who was captured in the north, saying she was in good health. The north fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. They were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013. Suicides among Afghan teens in Sweden after tougher asylum rules A wave of suicides among teenage Afghan migrants in Sweden after it introduced stricter asylum rules has sparked concern among refugee workers and volunteers, they said Wednesday. In the past two weeks, seven asylum seekers, all unaccompanied minors, have tried to kill themselves at different refugee housing centres across Sweden. Three of them died, all Afghan teenagers aged under 18, said Mahboba Madadi, who works closely with unaccompanied asylum seekers for a non-profit group. Refugees sleep outside the entrance of the Swedish Migration Agency's arrival center for asylum seekers at Jagersro in Malmo, Sweden, in November 2015 STIG-AKE JONSSON (TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP/File) "They're afraid of being expelled and have no hope," Madadi told AFP. In a revised security assessment published in December, the Swedish Migration Board deemed some regions of Afghanistan "less dangerous" despite "increasing violence" in the war-torn country. The assessment has made it easier for authorities to expel rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan. "There are parts of Afghanistan where one can return," a spokesman at the Swedish Migration Board told AFP. He said rejected asylum seekers under 18 will not be sent back to Afghanistan if they do not have family members or acquaintances to take care of them. Sara Edvardson Ehrnborg, a teacher who also volunteers for a non-profit group helping refugees, said unaccompanied Afghan migrants were increasingly worried their asylum applications would be rejected. Loneliness and lack of affection in asylum homes could also trigger the teens to end their lives, according to Madadi. "They're not happy in the homes. They're kids who need someone who shows them love," she said, expressing concerns that more asylum seekers would attempt suicide. "We are extremely worried and we want the Swedish government to do something about this," she added. Sweden took in the highest number of refugees per capita in Europe in 2015, registering 160,000 asylum applications. Last year, the Scandinavian country granted 2,100 Afghan minors asylum and rejected 600 others. Plotter in attack on Texas Mohammed art contest jailed for 30 years The ringleader behind a 2015 armed assault on a Texas exhibit of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that left two attackers dead was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday. Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, 45, had been found guilty of supporting the Islamic State group, of conspiracy to commit murder, and other charges in what the US Justice Department said was its first jury trial involving an IS-inspired attack on the United States. US-born and raised Kareem was alleged to have chosen the target, supplied the weapons and encouraged friends Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi to undertake the attack in Garland, Texas on May 3, 2015. FBI investigators work a crime scene outside of a "Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest" in Garland, Texas in May 2015 Ben Torres (GETTY/AFP/File) Carrying assault weapons and wearing body armor, the two were intercepted by security personnel and, as a gunfight erupted, were shot dead before they could enter the event. A security guard was wounded. "Over the course of the conspiracy, Kareem, Simpson and Soofi considered attacking military bases, individual military service members, shopping malls, the Super Bowl and the 'Mohammed Art Exhibit and Contest,'" the Justice department said in a statement. Al-Jazeera says two abducted staff freed in DR Congo Two Congolese working for Al-Jazeera have been freed five days after being abducted during a reporting mission, the Qatar-based broadcaster said Wednesday. The two men were kidnapped last Wednesday near Nyanzale in the south of the restive Nord-Kivu province and were freed on Monday, it said. The zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo's turbulent east is notorious for kidnappings for ransom. Two Congolese working for Al-Jazeera have been freed five days after being abducted during a reporting mission, the Qatar-based broadcaster said Charly Kasereka (AFP/File) Al-Jazeera however said no money was paid for their release, explaining it was secured "through the work of the local authorities". "Al-Jazeera is relieved that all men are safe and sound and would like to thank officials from the FARDC (the Congolese army) and the UN mission in DRC for their support in assisting Al-Jazeera in getting the two men released without paying for any ransom demands and assisting in escorting our staff to safety during this traumatic period." Al-Jazeera's English service staffers who were with the men said their vehicle was attacked by armed men who took the two locals hostage but left three foreign journalists -- a Briton, an Italian and a Kenyan -- untouched. One of the freed men said the kidnappers appeared to be Rwandan Hutu rebels associated with the Nyatura Mai-Mai, a local Congolese Hutu militia. The man said both he and his colleague were "severely abused" by their abductors and were hospitalised in Goma, the region's main city, on Wednesday. White House says Yemen raid critics dishonor slain SEAL The White House said Wednesday that any criticism of a US special forces raid in Yemen in which civilians were killed is an insult to the memory of the Navy Seal who died. Spokesman Sean Spicer defended last month's raid that resulted in the death of around 14 suspected Al-Qaeda operatives, several civilians including children and Navy SEAL William Owens. The January 29 raid -- the first major counterterror operation of Trump's presidency -- also has prompted Yemen to rethink its cooperation with Washington. US commando raid in Yemen "It's absolutely a success and anyone who suggests it's not does a disservice to Ryan Owens," said Spicer. Questions have been raised about whether the Trump administration adequately planned the raid -- with the president reportedly approving the action over dinner. Senator John McCain, a member of Trump's Republican party, has called the raid a "failure." "The action that was taken in Yemen was a huge success," said Spicer. "American lives will be saved because of it... future attacks will be prevented." "I think any suggestion otherwise, is a disservice to his courageous life and the actions that he took, full stop." Spicer said valuable intelligence was gleaned from the operation and has rejected Al-Qaeda's mocking that the US missed its target. He avoided questions about Yemen's reported decision to bar US ground operations. "Yemen, more than most countries, understands the fight that we have with ISIS and I think we're going to continue to work with them to strengthen our diplomatic relationship to understand our fight against terrorism," said Spicer. He was referring to the Islamic State group, which has a small presence in the country, but is eclipsed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. "We're going to continue to work with them to combat ISIS and make sure we do that. I'm not in a position to go any further," said Spicer. Travel to US down 6.5% after Trump travel ban: report Travel bookings to the United States fell 6.5 percent in late January compared to last year in the wake of President Donald Trump's travel ban, according to a report Wednesday. The travel restrictions apparently deterred travelers from outside the seven Muslim-majority countries hit by the ban, according to data from ForwardKeys, a travel analysis firm. The executive order, signed January 27 and suspended by the courts since February 3, blocked the arrival of travelers and refugees from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. People arrive at the international terminal of Los Angeles International Airport on February 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California Frederic J. Brown (AFP) Arrivals from those countries from January 28 to February 4 were down 80 percent from the same period of 2016, the report said. But bookings from Western Europe and the Asia Pacific region each fell about 14 percent, while those from Northern Europe were down 6.6 percent. (The data excludes China and Hong Kong due to the Chinese New Year holiday impact.) "The data forces a compelling conclusion that Donald Trump's travel ban immediately caused a significant drop in bookings to the USA and an immediate impact on future travel," ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager said in the report. "As inbound travel is an export industry (it earns foreign currency), this is not good news for the US economy." While he cautioned that the data represents just an eight-day snapshot, the report said the period represents the first consistently long run of declines from the corresponding year-earlier period since before the presidential election in November. Syrian man leads Pledge of Allegiance at citizenship event CHICAGO (AP) Rohi Atassi was among 117 immigrants to become the newest American citizens during a Chicago naturalization ceremony Tuesday, but the Syrian dentist stood out among his peers. The 29-year-old was unexpectedly asked to lead immigrants from 37 countries in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Federal Judge Sara Ellis, who oversaw the ceremony, asked for a Syrian volunteer after delivering an impassioned speech about the difficulties immigrants face. While she never specifically mentioned President Donald Trump's executive order barring immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries including Syria, Atassi said her words resonated with him. Rohi Atassi, right, from Syria, leads new US citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance after Atassi and 116 others from 37 countries took the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, left, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. Atassi has not returned to Syria since his last visit in the fall of 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) "I'm very happy that a Syrian who just became an American had a chance to lead the pledge," he said. He and his family have been on edge the last few weeks as he's had friends detained at airports because of the executive action, which is undergoing legal challenges. He was left wondering if his citizenship would be approved and questioning how he'd travel. His family members have mixed citizenship status: His mother is a naturalized U.S. citizen, his father has a green card and his fiancee is U.S. born with Syrian roots. Atassi, who's had a green card for a decade, has watched his birthplace of Aleppo destroyed by years of war. "The Syrian people are already victims," he said. "All these people are running from terrorism." During the ceremony, Ellis talked about her own experiences of becoming a U.S. citizen and judge. Her family is from Jamaica and she was born in Canada. Ellis was nominated to the post in 2013 by former President Barack Obama. Her office declined to elaborate on Tuesday's ceremony, saying only that she usually asks a new American to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. As for Atassi, his first orders of business were to register to vote and apply for a U.S. passport. "I'm allowed to participate in a democracy. I'm excited to experience it," he said, adding that he was encouraged by the supportive atmosphere of the ceremony. "When I was leaving, a few people told me, 'Congratulations, welcome home.'" ___ Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sophiatareen . Rohi Atassi, right, from Syria, leads new US citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance after Atassi and 116 others from 37 countries took the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. Atassi has not returned to Syria since his last visit in the fall of 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Mirna Araceli Contreras, right, from Honduras, takes a selfie with U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, after Contreras and 116 others from 37 countries became citizens during a Naturalization ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Many of the 117 immigrants from 37 countries take the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Hamdi Mohamed, from Libya, waits to take the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony where 117 immigrants from 37 countries became citizens Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Hamdi Mohamed, from Libya, takes the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony where 117 immigrants from 37 countries became citizens Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) The right hand of Syed Naqvi, from Pakistan, is raised as he takes the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony where 117 immigrants from 37countries became citizens Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) The right hand of Aseel Jan, from Iraq, is raised as she takes the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony where 117 immigrants from 37 countries became citizens Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Nida Wahab, from Pakistan smiles as she takes the oath of citizenship from U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, in the Northern District of Illinois, during a naturalization ceremony where 117 immigrants from 37countries became citizens Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Mary Yoo, from Korea, poses under the American flag after joining 116 immigrants from 37 countries in becoming US citizens during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Judge bars police from identifying officer in fatal shooting HERNDON, Va. (AP) A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order barring Fairfax County police from publicly identifying an officer involved in a fatal shooting. Court documents show the judge in U.S. District Court in Alexandria granted the order Monday. The police officer was identified in court papers as John Doe. Police say on Jan. 16, Mohammad Doudzai barricaded himself in his house in Herndon after shooting his two brothers. Authorities say he went to the door with a knife and was shot by an officer. Police Chief Col. Edwin Roessler Jr. said in a statement that he had not decided about releasing the officer's name. He says he will comply with all legal orders. GOP senior statesmen making push for a carbon tax WASHINGTON (AP) A group of Republican senior statesmen are pushing for a carbon tax to combat the effects of climate change, and hoping to sell their plan to the White House. Former Secretary of State Jim Baker is leading the effort, which also includes former Secretary of State George Shultz. In an opinion piece published Tuesday night in The Wall Street Journal, they argued "there is mounting evidence of problems with the atmosphere that are growing too compelling to ignore." The group will meet Wednesday with White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, senior adviser Jared Kushner, and Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council. Ivanka Trump is also expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the plans. The person was not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly and insisted on anonymity. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with county sheriffs in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Carbon taxes are designed to raise the cost of fossil fuels to bring down consumption. Baker and Shultz detailed in the opinion piece their plan for a gradually increasing carbon tax, with dividends being returned to people, as well as border adjustments for the carbon content of exports and imports and the rollback of regulations. According to an outline of the plan, the group will call for a gradually increasing carbon tax that "might begin at $40 a ton and increase steadily over time." It would raise $200 billion to $300 billion annually. They would then redistribute tax proceeds back to consumers on a quarterly basis in what they call "carbon dividends" that could be approximately $2,000 annually for a family of four. Their plan would also set "border adjustments" based on carbon, which would result in fees for products from countries without similar carbon pricing systems. And they would seek to rollback regulations enacted under Obama, including the Clean Power Plan. So far, Trump has sent mixed signals on whether or how he will try to slow Earth's warming temperatures and rising sea levels. During the transition, Trump met with prominent climate activists Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ivanka Trump, a close adviser to her father, has indicated interest in working on the issue. But the president has also hired oil industry champions who want to reverse President Barack Obama's efforts to rein in emissions. The White House press office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Also supporting Baker's effort are Hank Paulson, treasury secretary for former President George W. Bush; Greg Mankiw, who chaired Bush's Council of Economic Advisers; and Marty Feldstein, chairman of President Ronald Reagan's Council of Economic Advisors, according to the person familiar with the plans. Also on the list are former Walmart chairman Rob Walton; Thomas Stephenson, a partner at the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital; and Ted Halstead, founder of New America and the Climate Leadership Council. The vast majority of peer-reviewed studies and climate scientists agree the planet is warming, mostly due to man-made sources. Under Obama, the U.S. has dramatically ramped up production of renewable energy from sources like solar, in part through Energy Department grants. Some environmental activists support a tax on emissions to help transition off fossil fuels. Sen. Bernie Sanders advocated for a carbon tax as part of his bid for the Democratic nomination last year. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, never supported a tax, though she offered a slew of proposals to deal with climate change. Trump's Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was the longtime chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil. Exxon was long considered a leading opponent of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. But under Tillerson's leadership, Exxon has started planning for climate change and even voiced support for a carbon tax. Trump's choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency is Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who denies climate change science. And Trump's nominee to run the Energy Department, former Gov. Rick Perry, also has questioned climate science while working to promote coal-fired power in Texas, though he also oversaw the growth of renewable power in Texas, which became a leading wind-energy producer while he was governor. Warren raking in millions in campaign donations BOSTON (AP) U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is raking in millions in campaign donations as she looks ahead to a re-election bid next year. According to an Associated Press review of Warren's latest campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts Democrat took in a hefty $5.9 million in campaign contributions from January 2015 through the end of 2016. Contributions to Warren spiked in the final three months of last year, when she took in more than $1 million. That period from Oct. 1 through the end of December included the election of Republican President Donald Trump. FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2017 file photo, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos on Capitol Hill in Washington, at DeVos' confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Warren is raking in millions in campaign donations as she gears up for a re-election bid next year. According to Warren's latest campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts Democrat took in a hefty $5.9 million in campaign contributions from January 2015 through the end of 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Nearly all of Warren's contributions came from individual supporters, with just $34,000 from political action committees and other groups. Warren ended 2016 with $4.8 million left in her campaign account. She began the two-year period with just over $1.6 million in cash on hand. Warren has been a top Democratic foil to Trump. She assailed Trump during the 2016 campaign, calling him "fraudster-in-chief," among other things. Trump responded via Twitter, labeling her "goofy Elizabeth Warren" and referring to her as "Pocahontas," a reference to Warren's claim to have Native American ancestry. Warren has used Trump to help spur donations to her campaign. She sent out a fundraising email to supporters last week saying that deep-pocketed conservative groups were already running ads against her. "I will never stop fighting against a right-wing system hell-bent on stripping the rights of working people and tilting the law to favor big business and billionaires like Donald Trump," Warren said in the email. Massachusetts Republicans have dubbed Warren a "hyperpartisan bully more interested in scoring political points than delivering actual results." Potential GOP opponents in 2018 include former Boston Red Sox pitching star Curt Schilling, a strong Trump backer. Schilling has yet to say whether he will run or not. Warren, a former Harvard Law School professor, won the Senate seat in 2012 by beating incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown in her first political contest. Warren, 67, hasn't ruled out a future White House run but has said she is focused on the 2018 senate race. Media fact-checking more aggressive under Trump NEW YORK (AP) These days of alternative facts, phantom terrorist attacks and fake news are changing the way news organizations do their jobs. Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements a function often pushed into the background when campaigns end finding innovative new formats and seeing keen interest among consumers. An administration that views that the press as the opposition is reinvigorating it. Someday, presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway's invocation of "alternative facts" on NBC's "Meet the Press" may be cited as a galvanizing moment for journalism. FILE - This Dec. 1, 2016 file photo shows Kellyanne Conway prior to a forum at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Mass. Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements. A separate fact check on Conway's false claim of a Bowling Green "massacre" on Thursday was the most-read story on the APNews.com web site Friday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) "We're writing about a president who makes quite a number of misstatements," said Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post reporter whose regular fact checks award "Pinocchios" based on the magnitude and brazenness of false claims. "This has increased our workload and increased the level of interest in fact-checking." The number of unique visitors to Kessler's web page in January was 50 percent higher than in October, its previous busiest month, and 15 times greater than in January 2013, he said. The Associated Press routinely publishes AP Fact Checks on political discourse. Last week, the AP premiered an aggregation of disputed political statements under the headline, "A week's supply of baloney." A separate fact check on Conway's false claim of a Bowling Green "massacre" on Thursday was the most-read story on the APNews.com website Friday. Similarly, on Monday, readers spent more time with a story examining President Donald Trump's claim about the media underplaying incidents of terrorism than they did with any other news item that day. "People are really paying close attention to the news and they want a tough-minded journalist to ... give them an impartial report about whether a story is true, false or somewhere in between," said John Daniszewski, the AP's vice president for standards. The New York Times also does regular fact-checking: It took a microscope Tuesday to Trump's claims about his immigration order and titled an earlier story: "White House pushes 'alternative facts.' Here are the real ones." An NPR team annotates claims made during speeches or debates. CNN succinctly corrects political misstatements through onscreen graphics. After reporting President Donald Trump's claim about underreported terror attacks, anchor Scott Pelley said on the "CBS Evening News" on Monday that "it has been a busy day for presidential statements divorced from reality." It remains to be seen how much impact these efforts have on public opinion. If you don't believe stories in mainstream media anyway, are fact checks believable? Duke University professor Bill Adair, who helped start the PolitiFact.com website, noted the growth of fact-checking during the fall campaign and, in a column printed on Election Day, challenged journalists to keep it up. Since then, "we've seen tremendous fact-checking by national news organizations in a period when they would not typically do it," he said. Examining the truth of political statements is relatively new, first applied nationally to campaign ads in 1992, said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the American Press Institute. FactCheck.org, Snopes.com and PolitiFact, with its "pants on fire" designation for egregious lies, do it regularly. "Given the traction this is getting, I do not see this abating," Rosenstiel said. "To the contrary, I see people who do this work saying, 'How do we do this in a more complete way?'" None of the ideas NPR tried clicked like its annotation feature, rolled out during last year's campaign. Up to two dozen journalists and producers worked on debate nights, for example, adding links to transcripts and allowing website visitors to judge the accuracy of statements. The process is constantly being refined, said Beth Donovan, senior Washington editor. Others are following: Adair said Duke is experimenting with a "pop-up" feature that allows real-time fact-checking. "This was always a key part of our job, but it's more central now," said Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president for news and editorial director. "In the old days, we'd write a story and somewhere in the story we might say, 'Oh, by the way, he said this but it isn't true.' Now ... it is in a sense the story itself." Kessler said the Washington Post is looking to add video to its fact-checking unit. The Times is looking into creating its own fact-checking unit, said Matt Purdy, deputy managing editor for news and investigations. Times ads for online subscriptions urge people to "give the truth." The AP is involved in another aspect of fact-checking, working with Facebook to flag dubious stories shared on the popular social media platform. Fact-checking isn't immune to persistent political efforts to undermine the authority of mainstream journalists, however. Knocking down Trump administration claims may even make his supporters more determined. "What we think is debunking Donald Trump turns out to be supporting Donald Trump," media critic Michael Wolff said on CNN last weekend. Don't forget: the presidential candidate judged to have the biggest problem with the truth won. "Are we in a post fact-check world?" Rosenstiel wondered. "There's a difference between facts and knowledge. I can tell you your facts are wrong but not change your belief." The very phrase "fact-checking" was considered too toxic when Dallas' WFAA-TV named its clever new "Verify" segment. In the periodic stories, reporter David Schechter takes viewers on fact-finding missions. For instance, a viewer who supported Trump's plan to build a wall along the Mexican border was taken to the border to see what it was like. Schechter discovered that challenging assumptions doesn't necessarily change views. The polarization just makes the effort more important, journalists say. Gorsuch would be 8th man to hold 'Justice Scalia's seat' WASHINGTON (AP) On the night Judge Neil Gorsuch was nominated to fill Justice Antonin Scalia's seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, he was thinking about history. "The towering judges that have served in this particular seat on the Supreme Court, including Antonin Scalia and Robert Jackson, are much in my mind at this moment," Gorsuch said in the East Room of the White House following his nomination by President Donald Trump. In the year since Scalia's death last February, the court's empty spot has often been referred to as "Justice Scalia's seat." But as Gorsuch suggested, the seat's history actually goes back more than 150 years. The lineage includes seven men, all but one nominated to the seat by Republican presidents. FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2016 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's courtroom chair is draped in black to mark his death as part of a tradition that dates to the 19th century, at the Supreme Court in Washington. In the year since Scalias death last February, the courts empty place has often been referred to as Justice Scalias seat. But as Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch suggested, the seats history actually goes back more than 150 years. The lineage includes seven men, all but one nominated to the seat by Republican presidents. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) The group includes Jackson, the chief U.S. prosecutor at the post-World War II Nuremberg trials, and two men who went on to become Chief Justice: William Rehnquist and Harlan Fiske Stone. Jackson and Scalia are considered among the best writers to have served on the court. John Q. Barrett, a law professor at St. John's University in New York, said being nominated to the court is like moving into a historic house. "It's sort of like ending up the tenant or the owner of a house that once was occupied by some great person," said Barrett, an expert on Jackson, the fourth man to hold the seat. Jackson, who took a year off from the court to prosecute Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg, was one of three justices to dissent in Korematsu v. U.S., a case that upheld Japanese internment during World War II. Barrett said each spot on the court has a distinguished history and the seat's former occupants provide "cachet" or "a bit of an aura." But they're also happenstance. Justice Scalia loved that he wound up in the seat formerly held by Jackson, Barrett said, and citied Jackson as one of his heroes. "I'll tell you who I like a lot. I like one of the predecessors in my seat on the Court, Robert Jackson ... I liked about him that he was usually on the right side of the case, which meant that he was usually adhering to the text," Scalia told Charlie Rose in 2012. The seat Gorsuch would occupy if confirmed was created by an act of Congress in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War. The idea was to increase support for the Union on the court by creating a tenth seat, though later acts of Congress returned the court to its current nine members. For the seat's first occupant, Republican President Abraham Lincoln chose Stephen J. Field, a Democrat he thought would be sympathetic to his reconstruction plans. Field went on to serve the longest in the seat, 34 years, making two unsuccessful runs for president while sitting on the court. Paul Kens, a political science professor at Texas State University who wrote a book about Field, said Field saw the law as malleable. "He was pretty good at molding the language of the Constitution to fit his own personal philosophy," Kens said. Later occupants of the seat included Joseph McKenna, who served four terms in Congress as a representative from California and was the first justice to own a gasoline-powered car, and John Marshall Harlan II, who wrote a Vietnam-era opinion that said the First Amendment protected a person who wore a jacket with a phrase that used an expletive to curse the draft. Harlan Fiske Stone was the first occupant of the seat to be promoted to chief justice but served only five years in the new post. He had fatal a cerebral hemorrhage while announcing an opinion in 1946. More recently, the seat was held by William Rehnquist, a former Jackson law clerk. Known for his dissents while an associate justice, he worked to build consensus after becoming chief in 1986. Like Gorsuch, who earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, other occupants of the seat have also had ties to the school. McKenna, the seat's second occupant, got further legal training at Columbia following his confirmation. And Stone, the seat's third occupant, was dean of the Columbia law school for more than a decade. Gorsuch may be encouraged that most of the justices who have occupied the seat have spent a long time on the court an average of about 25 years. Not all justices feel a kinship with their seat-holders or even like their work. There seems to be no love lost between Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to join the court, and her successor Samuel Alito, whose appointment in 2006 moved the court to the right. Critiquing the court's Citizens United campaign finance ruling in 2010, O'Connor said: "Gosh, I step away for a couple of years and there's no telling what's going to happen." Barrett, the Jackson scholar, cautioned against reading too much into the legacy Gorsuch might join. "It's a nice talking point," he said of the significance of assuming another justice's seat. "It's kind of cool to imagine that person in their time, where you now are." ___ Follow Jessica Gresko on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jessicagresko. Visa changes could stunt budding US-India ties under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. and India seem like a natural fit in the Trump era: rambunctious democracies, led by populists, focused on economic growth and fighting radical Islam. It's a budding partnership that could be set back by a nuts-and-bolts dispute over employment visas. As President Donald Trump looks to help American workers, his administration is considering a broad review of a visa program used heavily by India's massive technology and outsourcing industries to send programmers and other computer specialists to the United States. Speculation about tougher rules on so-called H-1B visas sent tech stocks tumbling in India last week, and compounded concerns about the protectionist direction of U.S. policy after Trump temporarily suspended immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2013 file photo, employees of Infosys Technologies, the Indian technology outsourcing giant, move inside the company headquarters during a break after their quarterly financial results were announced in Bangalore, India. Speculation about tougher rules on so-called H-1B visas, used heavily by Indias massive technology and outsourcing industries to send programmers and other computer specialists to the United States, sent tech stocks tumbling in India early February, 2017, and compounded concerns about the protectionist direction of U.S. policy after President Donald Trump temporarily suspended immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File) The technology sector is vital for India's economy and creating jobs for a fast-growing, young workforce a top priority for Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. America is the main customer: It accounted for more than 60 percent of India's $108 billion in foreign tech and outsourcing sales last year, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies, an Indian industry lobby group. "There is a general sense of anxiety in the industry," said Dipen Shah, an IT analyst at Kotak Securities in India. He said it seemed likely that the cost of hiring people on H-1B visas would increase, hurting tech companies' bottom lines. A draft executive order prepared by Trump's team is short on specifics. It calls for a report within nine months on the injury caused to U.S. workers by several working visa categories, including H-1B, and a re-consideration of how to allocate the visas to ensure they go to "the best and the brightest." The U.S. government grants up to 85,000 of these visas each year. They're open to a broad range of occupations and recipients who can stay in the country for up to six years. First Lady Melania Trump, who comes from Slovenia, had one as a fashion model in the 1990s. The top occupations, however, are tech-related and about 70 percent of the recipients are Indian. Critics say the program is abused, with many companies contracting out jobs to consulting firms that bring in lower-paid workers from overseas. Employees on H-1B visas are unable to change employers. Critics say that leaves them with little leverage to negotiate their salaries. Trump's nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has long opposed the program, and there's bipartisan congressional support for reform. Advocates say the visa program allows companies to fill skills shortages and encourages students with hi-tech degrees to stay in the U.S. and set up companies of their own. Vinson Palathingal, who runs a mid-sized, U.S.-based IT consulting company, said the administration's priority should be training American workers to address skills shortages, and developing a quicker path to permanent residency for Indian talent. Without those steps, he said, restricting H-1B visas would mean tech jobs leaving the U.S. India's government wants more of the visas to be issued, not less. After visa fees were hiked in late 2015, India challenged the U.S. at the World Trade Organization a rare instance in which one WTO member contended that another's immigration laws violated international trade rules. "Limitations on this visa are sure to cause of a lot concern in Delhi and that will be conveyed in fairly strong terms to Washington," said Rick Rossow, an India specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The question is how much is the Indian government willing to put on the table to represent corporate interests in its discussions with the U.S.," said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director of the South Asia program at the Atlantic Council, another Washington-based think tank. "I don't think they will bet all their chips on this." Over the past decade, India shifted from a Cold War-era foreign policy of non-alignment to become more comfortable as Washington's partner. Its military, long reliant on Russian weaponry, is being modernized with U.S. help. Modi has called the U.S. an "indispensable partner." India hopes Trump's vow to take a harder line on Islamic extremism will mean a tougher stance on Pakistan over militants that India blames for launching attacks on its territory. It also shares Washington's concern about a rising China and would favor an effort by Trump to improve ties with Russia. But economic interests are paramount. India's Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said last week that it had raised the visa issue with Trump's administration and Congress at "senior levels." The heads of India's biggest IT companies plan to visit Washington this month to make their case to U.S. officials and lawmakers. N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of the Indian tech giant Infosys, cautioned that the Indian software industry's role in building and maintaining the information infrastructure of major U.S. corporations is critical to their success. "Tampering with it is not going to be easy," he said. He said Indian tech businesses will have to adapt by depending less on visas for Indian workers and hiring more Americans. ____ Associated Press writer Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi contributed to this report FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2016, file photo, an Indian vendor who sells snacks and chewable tobacco reads a Gujarati language newspaper that has the headline "this time Trump Government" in Ahmadabad, India. The U.S. and India seem like a natural fit in the era of President Donald Trump: rambunctious democracies, led by populists, focused on economic growth and fighting radical Islam. Its a budding partnership that could be set back by a nuts-and-bolts dispute over employment visas. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File) 15 nations focus on keeping Balkan migrant route shut VIENNA (AP) Interior and defense ministers from 15 European countries agreed Wednesday to come up with new measures to ensure that the overland route from Greece remains shut for migrants seeking new lives in other EU nations and those trying to bring them in illegally. Increased controls along the so-called West Balkans route have sharply curtailed the inflow of migrants since the tougher security measures were instituted along the overland path from Greece to the rest of the EU almost a year ago. But Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said that human smuggling along the so-called West Balkans route continues. New measures, to be drawn up by April, were meant in part to counter such activity, he said. A migrant from Pakistan, center, talks with another while making tea on a fire in an abandoned warehouse where they took refuge in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. Hundreds of migrants have been sleeping rough in freezing conditions in central Belgrade looking for ways to cross the heavily guarded EU borders. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) "We're sending a signal to the traffickers with this conference that there will be no illegal migration to Europe," Sobotka told reporters. He spoke of new "border control measures" as part of the plan, but did not elaborate. Austrian Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil said preparations also were needed should the European Union deal with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants falls apart amid persistent bilateral tensions. Participants said the plan includes focusing on identifying the most prevalent routes used by human smugglers, a projection of alternative routes should the present ones be shut down, and an estimate of how much additional manpower is needed for extra border security. Wednesday's meeting included counterparts from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Greece. Some of the countries became arrival or transit points for the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants who started flooding Europe in 2015. Others oppose resettling migrants already in the EU on their territories. Austria was instrumental in coordinating last year's shutdown of the West Balkans route. A migrant cooks on a fire outside an abandoned warehouse where he and other migrants took refuge in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Hundreds of migrants have been sleeping rough in freezing conditions in central Belgrade looking for ways to cross the heavily guarded EU borders. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) A migrant sleeps on the ground under a window of an abandoned warehouse where he and other migrants took refuge in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Hundreds of migrants have been sleeping rough in freezing conditions in central Belgrade looking for ways to cross the heavily guarded EU borders. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) Two migrants watch a Bollywood movie on a mobile phone inside an abandoned warehouse where they took refuge in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Hundreds of migrants have been sleeping rough in freezing conditions in central Belgrade looking for ways to cross the heavily guarded EU borders. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) A St. Louis man wanted for murder was located and arrested in Bonne Terre Tuesday evening after officers received an anonymous tip. Bonne Terre Police Chief Doug Calvert said at 9 p.m. his officer arrested Jordan Demetrious Stuckey, 18, of St. Louis. He is a black male who was wanted by Metro St. Louis Police for homicide, said Calvert. The officer received some tips from people who want to remain anonymous and he was apprehended at 815 Blue St. in the city of Bonne Terre. Calvert added the suspect was inside the house and he and another male, who lived at the home, took off running when approached by Bonne Terre officers. The other man has not been arrested at this time and they are looking at charges on him, explained Calvert. They still dont know what part he played in all this, but they are still trying to figure that out. Calvert said its not confirmed, but they believe Stuckeys father lives in the 100 block of Dover St. in Bonne Terre and that was why he was in the area. The arrest was made, nobody was hurt, there was no force used and (he) was taken into custody without incident, said Calvert. He was outside, they identified him and there was as short foot pursuit into the house. Stuckey is being charged in St. Louis with a class A felony of murder in the first-degree and felony armed criminal action. A warrant was issued on Feb. 1 and he has a $250,000 cash-only bond. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Stuckey fatally shot Phabion Harshaw, 29, of Evanston, Ill., on Jan. 18 inside a building in the 1600 block of Pine Street. Charges say the building's security cameras captured the shooting and that witnesses identified Stuckey as the gunman. Stuckeys ex-girlfriend who lives in a downtown building called Harshaw for help because her boyfriend had been abusive. While Harshaw was at her apartment, Stuckey returned for his belongings. The woman told police the two men were talking in a hallway outside her apartment when she heard a shot. Harshaw died at a hospital It was good detective work by all the officers involved and they did a great job, added Calvert. Nobody was injured, the suspects or us, and none of the public was injured. The officers got information he was wanted and in the area. Stuckey is being held in the St. Francois County Jail and will most likely be extradited to St. Louis. Court bars Russian opposition leader from presidential race MOSCOW (AP) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was convicted Wednesday in a retrial of a 2013 fraud case and given a suspended sentence, a ruling that bars him from running for president next year and appears to reflect the Kremlin's reluctance to let President Vladimir Putin's most charismatic foe into the field. Navalny vowed to keep campaigning while he appeals. "What we have just seen is a telegram of sorts from the Kremlin, saying that they consider me, my team and people whose views I represent too dangerous to be allowed into the election campaign," he said. "We do not recognize this verdict, it will be overturned, and ... I have the right to run in the election." Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gestures while speaking to journalists as leaves the court in Kirov, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. A Russian court on Wednesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced in December. (AP Photo/Sergei Bonurin) Navalny was the driving force behind massive protests of Putin's rule in 2011-2012 in Moscow, electrifying crowds with chants of "We are the power!" and saying at one point that the protesters were numerous enough to take the Kremlin. Even after the protests fizzled amid the Kremlin crackdown, Navalny came in a strong second in Moscow's mayoral election in 2013, with 27 percent of the vote. Shortly before that vote, Navalny was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, but was freed the next morning and allowed to run pending appeal. The abrupt about-face was widely seen as the result of lobbying by those in the government who believed that Navalny's participation would help legitimize the incumbent's victory. The 2013 guilty verdict in the fraud case was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that Russia violated Navalny's right to a fair trial, prompting the Russian Supreme Court to order of a retrial. It sparked speculation that the Kremlin was considering the same tactic in the 2018 presidential race, letting Navalny compete to help revive public interest in the vote and boost turnout without any real threat to Putin. The president hasn't said yet whether he will seek another six-year term, but he's widely expected to run. The 70-year old ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and the 64-year old liberal Yabloko party leader Grigory Yavlinsky, who ran unsuccessfully in the past elections, both have voiced their intention to run, but their involvement would hardly encourage interest in the campaign. If Navalny is allowed to run, he would be unlikely to unseat Putin, who has remained widely popular with approval ratings topping 80 percent. The Kremlin, however, might have thought that letting Navalny enter the race would be too risky, given his charisma and the plummeting economy. Maria Lipman, an independent political analyst, said the verdict has proven the government's intention to keep Navalny from running. "The Kremlin is demonstrating that he does not have a political future," she said. Navalny, who rose to prominence by blasting official corruption in his blog, has continued to badger senior officials relentlessly by exposing their lavish mansions and other assets. His critics have charged that he has effectively become a weapon for rival government clans feeding material to him, but Navalny rejected that, arguing he's serving the public interest and doesn't care about Kremlin infighting. During a hearing in Kirov, a city nearly 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of Moscow, Judge Alexei Vtyurin found Navalny guilty of embezzling 16 million rubles ($270,000 at the current exchange rate) from a timber company and gave him a five-year suspended sentence. Including the suspended sentence he has served since 2013, it leaves a year and a half left to serve. Navalny dismissed the new verdict as a mere "copy and paste" of the previous one, a "cynical trampling" of the European Court's ruling. The German Foreign Ministry voiced concern about the verdict, pointing at the European court's ruling that the previous verdict was politically motivated, and to doubts about whether the right to a fair trial had been upheld in the new proceedings. It added that Navalny must "have the opportunity to take part in political life in Russia." The verdict keeps Navalny from competing in the presidential election because of a legal provision barring anyone convicted of grave crimes from seeking public office. He countered by citing the Russian constitution, which says that anyone not serving a prison sentence can run for office. "I will continue to represent the interests of those who want to see Russia as a normal, honest and corruption-free country," Navalny said. ___ Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, left, enters the courtroom in Kirov, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. A Russian court on Wednesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced in December. (AP Photo/Sergei Bonurin) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks in the court in Kirov, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. A Russian court on Wednesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced in December. (Sergei Shistarev/Komsomolskaya Pravda via AP) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, left, poses with his former colleague Pyotr Ofitserov in the court in Kirov, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. A Russian court on Wednesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced in December. (Sergei Shistarev/Komsomolskaya Pravda via AP) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks at a news conference in his campaign office in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, has opened his first regional office for a presidential bid, despite an imminent court verdict that could bar him from running.(AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks with his supporters at the opening of his campaign office in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, has opened his first regional office for a presidential bid, despite an imminent court verdict that could bar him from running.(AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny takes a selfie with his supporters at the opening of his campaign office in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, has opened his first regional office for a presidential bid, despite an imminent court verdict that could bar him from running.(AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva) FILE - In this file photo taken on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gestures at a news conference in his campaign office in St. Petersburg, Russia. A court in a provincial Russian city has found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which means that he cannot run for president next year. (AP Photo/Elena Ignatyeva) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, right, and his former colleague Pyotr Ofitserov, left, speak to journalists in the court in Kirov, Russia, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. A Russian court on Wednesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced in December. (AP Photo/Sergei Bonurin) Indian fire kills Pakistani laborer in Kashmir ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan says "unprovoked" Indian fire has killed a civilian in the disputed Kashmir region, calling it the latest violation of a 2003 cease-fire agreement. The Foreign Ministry said it summoned an Indian diplomat Wednesday to protest the shooting by "Indian occupation forces," which took place the day before across the Line of Control dividing the Himalayan region. Pakistan and India each administer part of Kashmir while claiming the entire region. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of backing insurgents who have been fighting for Kashmir's independence or its merger with Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies. Austrian deputy mayor invites constituents join him in sauna VIENNA (AP) The deputy mayor of an Austrian town is inviting constituents to strip down and join him in the sauna. Saunas in Austria are traditionally mixed, and most guests are naked. Deputy Mayor Gerhard Kroiss says the main idea behind his initiative is to discuss improvements to the facility, run by his municipality of Wels in Upper Austria province. He also says there's no sweat if those taking him up on the invitation want to discuss other issues. Dow, DuPont try more divestments in seeking merger approval NEW YORK (AP) Dow Chemical and DuPont say they're willing to make more business divestments as a way to nudge European regulators who remain wary of their proposed merger. The companies plan to join in a $62 billion deal and then break apart into three separate, publicly traded companies. The companies would focus on agriculture, material science, and the production and sale of specialty products, respectively. Antitrust regulators remain hesitant, however. Dow spokeswoman Rachelle Schikorra said Wednesday that among the concessions the companies are willing to make are the sale of part of DuPont's crop protection business along with its associated research and development and the sale of Dow Chemical's acid copolymers and ionomers business. FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2015, file photo, the company names of Dow, left, and Dupont, right, appear above their trading posts on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Dow Chemical and DuPont propose selling some businesses in order to get approval from European Commission for their merger. The companies still expect their merger to close during the first half of 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Schikorra says the deadline for the European Commission to review the proposals has been extended to April 4. She says Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont still expect the merger to close during the first half of the year, with planned spinoffs occurring about 18 months later. Officials: 1 dead after metro train hits workers in Miami MIAMI (AP) Authorities say a metro train crashed into a boom lift in downtown Miami, killing a 43-year-old construction worker and injuring another. Miami-Dade police tell local news outlets the Metromover crashed about 1 a.m. Wednesday. No passengers were on the train, which runs from 5 a.m. to midnight. Emergency crews took Luis Perez and Oscar Cabrera to the hospital. Cabrera died. Perez was treated and released. Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Ignatius Carroll told reporters one man was dangling from the side of the crane and was helped to the ground by co-workers. Metromover officials say they'll run buses in the areas affected by the crash. Another section of the train's loop through downtown isn't affected and is running as normal. The Latest: Trump wishes China a prosperous new year WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EST): 8:40 p.m. The White House says President Donald Trump has written Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) to wish the "Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival and prosperous Year of the Rooster." White House press secretary Sean Spicer speaks during the daily press briefing, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The White House says Trump wrote Xi to thank him for a congratulatory letter and to express his hopes of developing "a constructive relationship that benefits both the United States and China." Before taking office, Trump questioned the "one-China policy" that shifted U.S. recognition from self-governing Taiwan to China in 1979. He said it was open to negotiation. Trump also wants to pressure Beijing to narrow its trade surplus with the U.S. ___ 6 p.m. First lady Melania Trump has named Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd as White House social secretary, putting her at the helm of the White House's social events, state dinners and other high-profile gatherings. Mrs. Trump says Niceta Lloyd who goes by Rickie brings "solid diplomatic, political and social entertaining experience" to the job. The White House says Niceta Lloyd has worked with both Republicans and Democrats in planning events for the last five presidential inaugurations. She's also assisted the State Department's Office of Protocol with events with several secretaries of state. Mrs. Trump has yet to move to Washington, but she is starting to fill out her staff. She's said she plans to stay in New York while the president's 10-year-old son, Barro, finishes the school year. ___ 5:30 p.m. Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee has told a Democratic senator that he found the president's attacks on the judiciary "disheartening" and "demoralizing." Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut disclosed the comments from Judge Neil Gorsuch after meeting with the nominee Wednesday. Trump referred to a Seattle judge who put a stay on his immigrant travel ban as a "so-called judge." Gorsuch's confirmation team confirmed that Gorsuch was referring to that comment and described it as disheartening. Gorsuch is making the rounds in the Senate, drawing praise from Republicans but skepticism from many Democrats, including Blumenthal. ___ 4:30 p.m. Republican Sen. John McCain isn't budging from his assessment that the U.S. raid in Yemen wasn't a success after he was criticized by the White House. McCain says any operation where a $75 million airplane is lost, a Navy SEAL is killed, and there are multiple casualties, including women and children, "cannot be labeled a success." His remarks came after White House spokesman Sean Spicer said anyone who questions the success of the Yemen operation is doing a "disservice" to the life of Navy SEAL Ryan Owens. McCain recalled a failed 1970 mission to rescue U.S. service members held in North Vietnam. He says, "Any connection between success or failure and the heroism of men and women who serve, there is none." ___ 2:50 p.m. White House press secretary Sean Spicer says those who question the success of a deadly U.S. raid in Yemen are doing a "disservice" to the life of a Navy SEAL who was killed in the raid. The comments come after Arizona Sen. John McCain said Tuesday that he wouldn't describe the raid as a success, given the loss of American life. Spicer says the action taken in Yemen was a "huge success" and that any other characterization does a disservice to the life of Ryan Owens, the Navy SEAL who was killed in the assault. Innocent civilians, including children, were also killed in the raid. Three other U.S. service members were wounded. ___ 2:15 p.m. A White House spokesman says President Donald Trump was standing up for his daughter when he posted a tweet criticizing Nordstrom. Trump tweeted that Ivanka Trump was treated "so unfairly" by the department store, which decided to stop selling her clothing and accessory line. White House spokesman Sean Spicer says Trump was responding to an "attack on his daughter." Spicer says Trump is president and "for people to take out their concern about his actions or executive orders on members of his family, he has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities, their success." Nordstrom did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about Trump's tweet. ___ 1:10 p.m. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is at the White House and bringing the kind of economic news that President Donald Trump likes to trumpet: a $7 billion investment in an Intel factory in Arizona. The CEO says in an Oval Office visit with Trump that Intel will be completing the factory and making "the most advanced" chips on the planet." The CEO says the factory will employ about 3,000 workers directly and 10,000 workers in Arizona in support of the factory. Krzanich says the announcement comes partly in response in part to Trump's tax and regulatory policies. Trump calls the product that Intel will be making is "amazing." ___ 12 p.m. The U.S. military is looking to rent space at Trump Tower for use when President Donald Trump is working in New York City. Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. J.B. Brindle says the Department of Defense is looking for the space "in order to meet official mission requirements." It's not immediately clear how much it would cost the Pentagon to rent space in the 58-story midtown Manhattan tower owned by the Trump Organization. Trump lives in the three-story penthouse. He hasn't returned to New York since taking office on Jan. 20. His wife, Melania, and their young son, Barron, are living there for now. It's customary for the military to obtain space near a president's residence. ___ 11:50 a.m. Organizations opposed to President Donald Trump's executive order on government regulations are suing to block it. The order required federal agencies to identify at least two existing regulations to repeal for every new regulation proposed or issued. The suit contends the order exceeds the president's constitutional authority and directs agencies to unlawfully repeal rules intended to protect the health and safety of Americans, and the environment. Filing suit are Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, the Communications Workers of America and the Natural Resources Defense Council. ___ 11:25 a.m. President Donald Trump isn't happy about Nordstrom's decision to stop selling Ivanka Trump's line of clothing and accessories and he's tweeting his criticism. Trump says his daughter has "been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom." The president says she's "a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Nordstrom said last week that it would stop selling Ivanka Trump merchandise. The Seattle-based department store chain said the decision was based on the sales performance of the first daughter's brand. Nordstrom hasn't immediately responded to an email seeking comment. Ivanka Trump has formally stepped down from her leadership role with the brand. ___ 9:57 a.m. President Donald Trump is promising "zero tolerance" for violence against law enforcement officers. He tells a group of police chiefs that his administration will give their departments the resources to recruit and retain officers. Trump also says "no one in America should be punished" simply for growing up in a place where violence may be prevalent. And as he has done before, he's singling out Chicago, saying the level of violence in the city cannot be allowed to continue. He says "we've allowed too many young lives to be claimed." When it comes to people who may be living illegally in the United States and involved in criminal activity, the president wants law enforcement and the public to report them to the Department of Homeland Security. In his words "I want you to turn in the bad ones." ___ 9:40 a.m. President Donald Trump is asserting that had the right to enact his travel ban. He tells a group of police chiefs that his immigration order was "done for the security of our nation." He says the provision supporting the order was written "beautifully" and was within his executive authority. Trump says "a bad high school student would understand this." A federal judge has put the ban on hold, and an appeals court is considering an appeal from the Trump administration. The order includes a temporary travel ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries. While awaiting a decision, Trump says "courts seem to be so political." ___ 7:55 a.m. President Donald Trump is expected to have lunch Thursday with a group of moderate Senate Democrats who could play a key role in his legislative agenda. The lunch is expected to include Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Jon Tester of Montana. Trump faces a narrow Republican majority in the Senate and hopes to secure some support among Democrats for his agenda and the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. All four Senate Democrats face re-election in 2018. The lunch was first reported by USA Today and confirmed by the Senate offices. The White House did not immediately provide details on the lunch, which is also expected to include Republican lawmakers. __ 7: 24 a.m. President Donald Trump is tweeting that if he loses the pending court case over his travel ban, the country "can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled." The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing the appeal of Trump's executive order on immigration, including a temporary travel ban on those from seven Muslim-majority countries. The appeals court challenged the administration's claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears, but it also questioned an attorney's argument that it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. The president tweeted early Wednesday, "If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics!" President Donald Trump looks at Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, holding a silicon wafer, during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) FILE - In this March 16, 2016 file photo, Trump Tower is seen in New York. The U.S. military is looking to rent space at Trump Tower for use when President Donald Trump returns to his longtime home in New York City. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2016 file photo, Ivanka Trump, daughter of President-elect Donald Trump, arrives at Trump Tower in New York. Nordstrom shares sunk after President Trump tweeted that the department store chain had treated his daughter so unfairly when it announced last week that it would stop selling Ivanka Trumps clothing and accessory line. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File) Russian police arrest 9 hacking suspects MOSCOW (AP) Russia's interior ministry says it has arrested nine members of a major hacking group suspected of stealing millions of dollars from Russian bank accounts. Police spokeswoman Irina Volk said in a statement on Wednesday that the nine people were arrested last month in Moscow, St. Petersburg and three other regions as part of an investigation into a group believed to stolen more than 1 billion rubles ($17 million) from Russian bank accounts since 2013. The interior ministry said the hackers have also managed to penetrate Russia's "critical infrastructure" including military plants. It did not provide details. Dutch royal couple pays tribute to Buchenwald victims BERLIN (AP) The Dutch royal couple has visited the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, placing white roses in memory of the victims. Some 280,000 people were deported by the Nazis to Buchenwald, near the city of Weimar in Thuringia. They included some 3,000 from the Netherlands, many of whom were in the Dutch resistance. A total of 56,000 people died in the camp by the time it was liberated by American forces in 1945, including 700 from the Netherlands. King Willem-Alexander, right, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visit the memorial of former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, near Weimar, Germany, Wednesday Feb. 8, 2017. ( Jan Woitas/dpa via AP) On Wednesday, Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima paid tribute to the victims in a ceremony held on the camp's former muster ground, where inmates were formed up for roll call. The two were to travel later in the day to the state of Saxony, then further on to Saxony-Anhalt. Pennsylvania fire company turns to 'naughty bingo' for cash HOMETOWN, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania volunteer fire company is turning to titillation to raise money. The Hometown Volunteer Fire Company in Schuylkill (SKOOL'-kil) County is getting ready to host its second adults-only naughty bingo night. Winners don't get money, they get "adult toys." The first event last year drew a standing-room crowd with people from several surrounding counties and even New Jersey. Hometown is a tiny village in Rush Township, about 70 miles northeast of Harrisburg. The next naughty bingo night is March 11. The fire company is selling 160 tickets at $20 each. Pennsylvania bail bondsman jailed on bigamy, weapons charges SHAMOKIN, Pa. (AP) A bail bondsman has been jailed on charges he was simultaneously married to a 43-year-old woman and her 18-year-old daughter, and illegally possessed weapons by working in Pennsylvania under an alias. The suspect is charged under the name Christopher Hauptmann, though authorities believe his real last name is Buckley and he has a felony drug conviction in New Jersey. That conviction prevents him from legally owning guns, which prompted the 44-year-old bail bondsman to be arraigned Tuesday on four counts of illegal weapons possession in addition to the bigamy count. Online court records don't list a defense attorney, but the suspect told a judge at his arraignment that hundreds of criminals he's posted bond for would run "buck wild" if he weren't allowed to remain free to check on them. "I have always been on the side of the law, and I have had police back me up several times," he told the judge. But Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Matulewicz convinced a district judge to jail the suspect unless he posts $300,000 bond. That hadn't happened by Wednesday, court records show. He also told the judge that the investigation was continuing and he expected additional unspecified charges will be filed. Matulewicz couldn't immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. Hauptmann/Buckley's dual identity became known when he applied for a concealed weapons permit over the summer. That's when a sheriff's deputy noticed Hauptmann looked just like Buckley and further checking showed Hauptmann's fingerprints matched Buckley's, according to a criminal complaint. In checking the suspect's background, they also determined he was married in Florida to Shannon Deitrich-Durovick in November 2015. That woman has told investigators there's never been a divorce filed for or granted to dissolve the marriage, according to a criminal complaint. Nonetheless, the suspect married that woman's daughter, now known as Kaylee Hauptmann, in September. She lives with him in Shamokin and co-owns PA Bail and Recovery in Coal Township, where they also work as bounty hunters. "We are still operating," Kaylee Hauptmann told The (Sunbury) Daily Item on Tuesday. "I will not comment on this case or my mother's claims." Kaylee Hauptmann declined additional comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Wednesday. On Monday, Congressman Jason Smith (R. 8th District) filed H.R.824, the No Transportation Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act, to block Federal Highway Trust fund dollars from being awarded to states and local governments if they fail to obey federal immigration laws and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests. Before Congressman Smith introduced the bill, he said, Over 300 cities and counties employ policies to stonewall the federal government and prevent the Department of Homeland Security from effectively enforcing our immigration laws. We are a nation of law and order, and cities that actively work against the law of the land should face consequences. Thats why I introduced the No Transportation Funds for Sanctuary Cities Act to cut off the spigot of federal funds to cities and counties that fail to work with us to Make America Safe. As President Trump and Congress begin work on policies to enable new and robust investments into our nations roads, rails, tunnels, waterways and airports it is important that municipalities across the country know that unless they observe and follow U.S. immigration laws and policies, they will no longer be eligible for federal infrastructure investments in their communities. Smiths goal is to codify the prohibition of taxpayer funds released to sanctuary cities in order to secure our borders and make local communities safer. Smith noted after he filed the bill, When cities fail to adhere with federal law enforcement requests our citizens are put in danger. The American people spoke in November and support President Trumps no-nonsense plan to enforce existing laws to protect our citizens. Because states, counties, and cities have failed to comply with Federal law, we have to use Congressional power of the purse to require these cities to abide by Federal immigration laws. If cities fail to comply with DHS requests, they shouldnt receive Highway Trust Fund dollars or any highway grants, period. Smith's office said Highway Trust Fund dollars have been successfully used three times in the past to encourage states to comply with Federal Standards. Most notably, Louisiana complied with the Federal requirement to lift their drinking age to 21 years-old after the Federal government pulled part of their Highway Trust Fund dollars for failure to comply. Man guilty of covering up teenager's slaying for 31 years MORRISVILLE, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to hiding information about a 14-year-old girl's murder for 31 years. Fifty-three-year-old Robert Sanders pleaded guilty Tuesday in Bucks County to two counts of hindering the apprehension of 56-year-old George Shaw Jr. Shaw was living in Geneva, Florida, when he was charged in October 2015 with the 1984 rape and killing of Barbara Rowan. She was a neighbor who babysat Shaw's daughter when he lived in Bucks County in the Philadelphia suburbs. She was drugged, raped and killed. Her whose body was found in the woods. Authorities allege that Shaw was high on methamphetamine at the time. He's awaiting trial and has pleaded not guilty. Germany slams Ukraine lawmaker's stunt at embassy in Kiev BERLIN (AP) Germany's Foreign Ministry has criticized a Ukrainian lawmaker who defaced a part of the Berlin Wall in the grounds of its Kiev embassy. Oleksiy Honcharenko, a member of President Petro Poroshenko's bloc, sprayed red paint on a fragment of the wall Wednesday after German ambassador Ernst Reichel suggested in an interview that local elections could be held in eastern Ukraine despite the presence of Russian troops in the region. Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Honcharenko's actions constituted "wholly inappropriate behavior." Schaefer said Germany considers a Ukraine a "close partner" and was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Kiev 25 years ago. He said Germany is working to host a meeting of foreign ministers from Ukraine and Russia next week. German, Uruguayan leaders hope to advance EU-Mercosur talks BERLIN (AP) The leaders of Germany and Uruguay say they hope to push forward talks on a free-trade deal between the European Union and South America's Mercosur group amid uncertainty about the new U.S. administration's approach to trade. German Chancellor Angela Merkel noted Wednesday that political changes in Brazil and Argentina which make up Mercosur along with Paraguay and Uruguay have revived chances of the trade pact. Mercosur suspended Venezuela in December. Merkel said after meeting Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez: "We as the European Union, if we perhaps don't advance or advance more slowly with a view to the United States we will have to see of course will continue to negotiate other trade agreements quickly." German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and the President of Uruguay, Tabare Vazquez Rosas, left, shake hands during a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) She cited talks with Japan, India and Australia as well as Mercosur. Gunfire as Ivory Coast tries to end special forces revolt ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) Residents reported gunfire for a second straight day in a southeast Ivory Coast town on Wednesday as officials tried to end the latest mutiny by security forces over pay. Businesses and schools were closed after a short burst of gunfire in the morning, said Monique Yao, a hospital worker in Adiake. The town is nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of the country's commercial hub, Abidjan. Defense Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi said discussions were ongoing between the special forces in Adiake and their commander, Gen. Lassina Doumbia. Members of the elite unit on Tuesday fired into the air and blocked roads to demand a payoff similar to one awarded soldiers who mutinied in the city of Bouake last month. The mutineers in Bouake have said they were promised nearly $20,000 for more than 8,000 soldiers, though the government has not confirmed that figure. Since the deal was announced, other soldiers and elements of the security forces have staged revolts of their own. Two civilians were injured in the unrest Tuesday, government spokesman Bruno Kone told reporters Wednesday. Yao, the hospital worker, said they had been hit by stray bullets. Ivory Coast has enjoyed strong economic growth and peace since a postelection conflict ended in 2011 with President Alassane Ouattara coming to power, but Kone warned that the mutinies would hurt the country's image and reduce state resources. Russia deploys air defense missiles for massive drills MOSCOW (AP) The Russian military has deployed its air defense missiles around Moscow as part of massive drills, to practice response to an air attack. The Defense Ministry said S-300 and S-400 air defense missile systems were involved in the drills Wednesday. Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin told foreign military attaches that the maneuvers launched Tuesday involve 45,000 troops, about 150 aircraft and 200 air defense missile systems. Fomin said that that air defense missiles were also airlifted to the southern shooting range of Ashuluk for target practice. 7 Russian sailors, 1 Ukrainian kidnapped in Nigerian waters WARRI, Nigeria (AP) Seven Russian sailors and a Ukrainian have been kidnapped from a cargo ship in Nigerian waters, the Russian embassy in the West African nation said Wednesday. The kidnappings come less than three months after three Russians were taken hostage off a ship in Nigerian waters and freed weeks later. The Russian embassy posted messages on social media saying Nigerian authorities have been asked to help locate the victims. It did not give the day of the kidnapping, saying only that the men were taken off the BBC Caribbean, a cargo vessel owned by Dutch company Briese Shipping B.V. and flagged in Antigua and Barbuda. Nigeria's navy and police refused to comment. Ship hijackings and crew kidnappings are common off Nigeria's southern Atlantic coast. Hostages usually are released unharmed after a ransom is paid or crude from oil tankers is stolen. Last year, the navy rescued several hostages in dangerous attacks on hijacked ships. Also Wednesday, Nigeria's navy reported "another major feat" in rescuing two oil tankers attacked by pirates. A statement said its sailors saved the Mt Gaz Providence oil tanker on Tuesday, reacting to a distress call after the ship with a crew of 21 was attacked off southern Bonny Island. The navy also said it twice repelled pirates trying to hijack the oil tanker Mt Rio Spirit after the vessel had loaded petroleum at ExxonMobil's Qua Iboe terminal, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Bonny Island. The tanker was attacked even though it was escorted by a Navy vessel. ___ 110 pounds of African drug khat seized at Pittsburgh airport IMPERIAL, Pa. (AP) U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have seized 110 pounds of an African drug being shipped through Pittsburgh International Airport. The dried khat (KAT) plants were hidden among wigs sent from Kenya and were addressed to someone in McKees, Pennsylvania. There is no such place, but McKees Rocks and McKeesport are both Pittsburgh suburbs. The plants are legal in Africa, but illegal in the United States. People chew the plant's leaves for a stimulant effect similar to that caused by cocaine. EU, US experts oversee vetting of Albania's judiciary TIRANA, Albania (AP) The European Union and United States are sending five experts to Albania to assess how the country evaluates the personal and professional backgrounds of judges and prosecutors. A statement from the EU office in Tirana on Wednesday said an International Monitoring Operation with three Europeans and two Americans will oversee the creation of panels that will vet some 800 sitting judges and prosecutors. Reforming its justice system is key to Albania's effort to become an EU member. A reform package approved last year will launch a legal overhaul meant to restructure the system to ensure that judges and prosecutors are independent from politics, and to root out bribery. Germany arrests Russian accused of joining IS in Syria BERLIN (AP) German authorities have arrested a Russian national accused of undergoing military training in Syria with the Islamic State group. Federal prosecutors said the 19-year-old man, identified only as Suleym K. in keeping with German privacy rules, was arrested in the Cologne area on Tuesday. He is accused of membership in a terrorist organization. To declaw cats or not? New Jersey could be first with ban TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Cats would keep their claws under a bill that would make New Jersey the first state to prohibit declawing. The measure, which cleared the lower chamber of the Legislature last month, bans onychectomies and flexor tendonectomies on a cat or any animal unless a veterinarian deems them medically necessary. Sponsors in the state Senate are reviewing possible changes, and it's not clear when it will move forward. The practice, often undertaken to prevent cats from shredding furniture or injuring humans or other pets, is already banned in several California cities and in nearly 20 countries. A similar bill died in New York last year. FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, file photograph, a black cat lounges on a small bed in Morristown, N.J. New Jersey could become the first state to prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. The bill's sponsor said declawing is a barbaric practice that more often than not is done for convenience. The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes the law and said declawing is a last option if behavior modification fails. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) "Declawing is a barbaric practice that more often than not is done for the sake of convenience rather than necessity," the bill's sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Troy Singleton, said in a statement. An onychectomy involves amputating the last bone of each toe. A flexor tendonectomy involves severing the tendon that controls the claw in each toe, so that the cat keeps its claws but cannot flex or extend them, Singleton said. Under the bill, vets who declaw cats other than to address a medical condition would face a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both. A violator would also be subject to a civil penalty of $500 to $2,000. The American Veterinary Medical Association, which represents more than 89,000 veterinarians, does not support having lawmakers tell doctors what to do and does not agree onychectomies are barbaric. However, the group said it's not medically necessary in most cases or even that frequent these days. "It's a surgical procedure that has complications that go with it," said AVMA animal welfare division director Dr. Cia Johnson. The group believes declawing should be considered only if the claws pose a risk to the owner and attempts to modify behavior have failed. Scratching is part of a normal feline behavior, and owners can positively reinforce it by providing them with posts, boxes and carpets. Cat owners should frequently trim their cats' nails, and veterinarians can also place nail caps on to minimize damage, Johnson said. The AVMA does not recommend tendonectomies. Cat owner Laura Goode, of North Bergen, thinks a ban on declawing would be amazing. "At the end of day, it's like removing the tips of their fingers. Cats use them as tools to stretch and to climb," she said. Goode, who volunteers at Only Hope Cat Rescue, said she has cared for cats that have been declawed. Usually, the nails were removed from the front paws, but she once cared for a cat that lost nails on all four. The cat was aggressive and had a difficult time using the litter box because its feet hurt, she said. Declawing is not as frequent as it once was, said Dr. James Nelson of Ewing Veterinary Hospital, who has been a vet for 35 years. When he has performed the procedure, it was usually because a cat was hurting another animal or tearing up furniture. He performed the operation on his own cat when the cat "scratched my own 1-year-old son down to the eye." "Cats wake up from the pain medication, and they're not crying or acting crazy," Nelson said. "They're fine." The AVMA worries a declawing ban could lead some cat owners to relinquish their pets to shelters, where the animal risks being euthanized if it's not adopted. "If the problem behavior can't be resolved," Johnson said, "we feel declawing is better than relinquishment." 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe US commander: Mosul and Raqqa should be retaken in 6 months CAMP TAJI, Iraq (AP) Forces fighting the Islamic State group should be able to retake the IS-held cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria within the next six months, according to the top U.S. commander in Iraq. On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said "within the next six months I think we'll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude." Townsend also said he expected the fight for Mosul's western half to begin in days. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend talks with an Iraqi officer during a tour north of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. Forces fighting the Islamic State group should be able to retake the IS-held cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria within the next six months, according to the top U.S. commander in Iraq. On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, Townsend said within the next six months I think well see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude. (AP Photo/ Ali Abdul Hassan) Iraqi forces have retaken about half of Mosul the country's second largest city since the operation was officially launched in October, following more than two years of coalition-led anti-IS operations around Iraq clearing supply lines and partially isolating the city. Last month Iraqi forces declared Mosul's east "fully liberated" and have since largely paused the fight. Townsend, who heads the U.S.-led coalition against IS, said Iraq's military is still in the process of putting forces into place ahead of the push into western Mosul, but predicted operations would begin "in the next few days." Closely backed by U.S.-led coalition airpower, Iraqi ground forces faced months of grueling urban combat in Mosul that at times brought the front lines to a standstill for weeks. But the pace of operations increased as Iraqi forces closed in on the Tigris River which roughly divides the city. Townsend credited the quicker progress with better coordination and "lessons learned" on the part of Iraqi forces. But on the ground inside Mosul, Iraqi troops said as they neared the Tigris, IS fighters launched fewer car bombs and largely fled their advances unlike the heavy resistance they faced in the first few weeks of combat inside the city. Townsend said he expects that the fight for western Mosul will pose a particular challenge for Iraqi forces due to the older neighborhoods and narrower streets. "It will be a more difficult fight, more constricted," he said. At times during the Mosul fight, Iraqi forces experienced relatively high casualty rates among some of their most elite and well-trained fighters. Iraqi medics inside Mosul said during some of the heaviest fighting, Iraq's special forces were suffering around 20 casualties both deaths and serious injuries a day. Townsend said these high attrition rates were "a concern," but he didn't believe they would hamper the forces moving forward. In Raqqa, significant ground military operations against IS have barely begun. The coalition has been targeting IS in the area for more than two years and U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters have been on the offensive in nearby areas, mostly north of the city, retaking just a cluster of surrounding villages over the past few months. On Saturday, the fighters known as the Syria Democratic Forces announced the launch of the "third phase" of the Raqqa operation, which aims at isolating the city from the rest of IS-held territories before attacking the city itself. The announcement came a day after aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition destroyed two bridges on the southern edge of Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS' self-declared caliphate. Iraqi and coalition officials have warned that the extremist group is still expected to pose a security threat in Iraq and beyond, even after it is defeated territorially. Townsend said he hopes U.S. forces can remain inside Iraq even after the Islamic State group is territorially defeated, unlike the withdrawal of forces that occurred in 2011. "ISIL morphing into an insurgent threat, that's the future," Townsend said using an alternative acronym for the group. On a helicopter ride back to his Baghdad base Wednesday afternoon, he pointed to streets in the Iraqi capital below where he fought the predecessor to IS al-Qaida in Iraq and the landmarks targeted by the group with insurgent bombings. When asked if he thought Iraqi forces would be capable of fighting IS when the group returns to its insurgent roots, he replied: "I don't know. We would have to refocus training in those areas." U.S.-led coalition spokesman Col. John Dorrian, speaking to reporters from Baghdad during a weekly teleconference said he had not seen Townsend's remarks and declined to comment on the timing of the anti-IS operations. Regarding the looming battle for Raqqa, Dorrian said, "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks the city will be nearly completely isolated, and then there will be a decision point" to launch an assault to retake the city itself. ___ Associated Press writer Ali Abdul-Hassan in Camp Taji, Iraq, Zeina Karam in Beirut and Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend during a tour north of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. Forces fighting the Islamic State group should be able to retake the IS-held cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria within the next six months, according to the top U.S. commander in Iraq. On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, Townsend said within the next six months I think well see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude.(AP Photo/ Ali Abdul Hassan) Spinal Tap bandmates join lawsuit over film's profits LOS ANGELES (AP) Spinal Tap has reunited this time in a Los Angeles court to challenge the French studio Vivendi S.A. for millions in profits from the classic mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap." Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Rob Reiner on Tuesday joined a federal lawsuit filed by bandmate and Spinal Tap co-creator Harry Shearer. Shearer, who also voices numerous characters on "The Simpsons," sued Vivendi S.A. and its subsidiary StudioCanal in October alleging the companies fraudulently withheld profits and the rights to the characters from the 1984 film. Reiner directed and narrated the classic satire of a fictional British rock band on the decline, whose hits included the songs "Sex Farm" and "Stonehenge." FILE - This June 2, 2016 file photo shows Michael McKean at the Television Academy's 70th Anniversary at The Television Academy in Los Angeles. McKean, Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner joined a federal lawsuit filed by "This is Spinal Tap" co-creator Harry Shearer against Vivendi S.A. and its subsidiary StudioCanal in October alleging the companies had fraudulently withheld profits and the rights to the characters from the 1984 film. Reiner directed and narrated the classic satire of a fictional British rock band on the decline. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File) Guest and McKean have teamed up on other satire films, including "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind," in which they were joined by Shearer. "What makes this case so egregious is the prolonged and deliberate concealment of profit and the purposeful manipulation of revenue allocation between various Vivendi subsidiaries - to the detriment of the creative talent behind the band and film," Reiner wrote in a statement. "Such anti-competitive practices need to be exposed. "I am hoping this lawsuit goes to 11," Reiner wrote, borrowing a line from the film. "This is Spinal Tap was the result of four very stubborn guys working very hard to create something new under the sun," McKean wrote in a statement. "The movie's influence on the last three decades of film comedy is something we are very proud of. But the buck always stopped somewhere short of Rob, Harry, Chris and myself. It's time for a reckoning. It's only right." Vivendi declined comment, citing a policy against discussing pending litigation. The lawsuit also seeks certain rights to the film, including trademarks on the band's name and the name of Shearer's character, Derek Smalls. His lawsuit initially sought $125 million in damages, but the amended complaint seeks $400 million. A jury would determine the amount of any judgment. The four co-creators have been told that their share of Spinal Tap profits were $81 in merchandise profits between 1984 and 2013, and $98 in music royalties for the same years, the lawsuit states. It contends Vivendi hasn't produced detailed figures since 2013. The film earned $4.5 million in theaters when it was released, and its re-release earned $193,000, according to figures from box office analysis firm comScore. Those figures do not take into account money the film earned on the home video market, which would include VHS tapes, DVDs, Blu-Ray and its airings on television and cable. ___ Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP Attorney: 911 caller shot her ex in head in self-defense MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) An attorney for an Ohio woman who called 911 to report shooting her ex-husband in the head during an argument says she acted in self-defense. The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News (http://bit.ly/2lkBk8t ) reports that a defense attorney says 46-year-old Dawn Shearer shot her ex-husband after he chased her outside their home in Middletown. Police say the 45-year-old man died at a hospital after the Monday night shooting. Shearer has been jailed on a murder charge. A judge set her bond at $250,000 on Wednesday. Shearer told a dispatcher that she had moved back in "to work things out" with her longtime spouse and that she shot him while they were arguing. Police say no one else was at the home when the shooting occurred. ___ Hungary: Bronze antiquities found in truck date to 900 BC BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Some objects in a trove of Persian, Sumerian, Assyrian and other antiquities found last year in a truck could be from as early as 900 B.C., and the whole collection may be worth up to $690,000, Hungarian police said Wednesday. Bronze artifacts, including a helmet, small bells and horse tack, were likely from the grave of a high-ranking military officer from Urartu, also called the Kingdom of Van, corresponding mostly to parts of modern Armenia and Turkey, the Bacs-Kiskun County police department said in a statement. The 115 objects, also including 14 Roman gold coins and some high-quality forgeries, were found during a routine search on Sept. 29 of a truck going to Lithuania. None of the recovered objects was found to be from a museum or private collection. Experts said that that such a large assortment of objects had never been recovered before from an Urartu grave and speculated that other artifacts also taken from the grave, such as the officer's weapons and shields, may have been sold separately by the finders. Police have recommended that the 50-year-old Turkish driver, who said a man in Istanbul paid him 300 euros ($320) to take the loot to Poland, be charged with receiving stolen goods. Virginia woman to serve 5 months for dumping stillborn baby ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (AP) A young woman who gave birth to a stillborn child and disposed of its body in a dumpster is headed to jail in Virginia. Media outlets report 25-year-old Katherine Dellis of Rocky Mount was sentenced Tuesday to five months in jail, with a little over 4 years in suspended time. She pleaded guilty in December to one count of concealing a dead body. Police said Dellis denied giving birth when she was hospitalized with severe bleeding in February 2016. An infant was found dead in a trash container shortly thereafter, and a medical examiner determined it had been stillborn. Judge rejects Zika argument, rules dune project can proceed MARGATE, N.J. (AP) A federal judge has decided not to block a protective sand dune project along part of the New Jersey shoreline, ruling that "the parade of horribles" feared by opponents of the plan including transmission of the Zika virus is not a realistic concern. Citing the mosquito-borne illness that has caused birth defects in tropical areas was the most far-reaching of the many tactics used by property owners trying to prevent Gov. Chris Christie's administration from carrying out its dune project four years after Superstorm Sandy ravaged parts of the Jersey shore Seven oceanfront homeowners in Margate, just south of Atlantic City, are suing the state and federal governments seeking to block their portion of the dune project, which opponents are battling up and down the New Jersey shoreline. This Dec. 2, 2016 photo shows a flat, wide beach in front of homes in Margate, N.J. A federal judge has refused to grant an injunction blocking a protective sand dune project, ruling that fears raised by seven oceanfront homeowners, including transmission of the Zika virus from flooding that the dunes might cause, are not realistic threats. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry) And while their lawsuit remains active, Friday's ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Renee Bumb casts doubt on whether they will be able to prevail. A lawyer for the homeowners said they are reviewing their legal options. They are one of at least four groups of Jersey shore property owners who are battling the dune proposal in court. This week, homeowners in Bay Head are trying to convince a judge that the $5 million they spend on a privately built rock wall provides better and more economical protection than the dune project. But that judge is the same one who last year upheld New Jersey's right to use eminent domain to seize strips of beachfront land for the dune project. In the Margate case, Bumb ruled that the worst fears expressed by the homeowners either weren't likely to happen, or could easily be fixed by engineering solutions or, failing that, cash compensation. In debunking a report prepared by an engineer for the homeowners, the judge wrote that his "conclusion that the project would result in Margate's beach turning into a 'junkyard,' complete with a lagoon full of garbage and feces over which residents would have to wade, is directly contradicted" by more credible evidence. "While the court understands plaintiffs' fears in light of the dismal picture painted by (the homeowners' engineer), the record simply does not support (his) opinions," she wrote. The judge also wrote that the storm protection offered by the dunes to the public is a worthwhile goal, and noted that significant construction delays would expose the state and federal government to fines from the contractor. In their lawsuit, the homeowners claim that puddles or ponds that would collect behind the dunes would allow water to stand for days, providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can carry and transmit Zika. Several scientists said the possibility of the dune project causing a Zika outbreak is remote at best, noting that the type of mosquito that typically carries it isn't a problem in New Jersey. The only cases spread by local mosquitoes so far have been in Florida and Texas. And the argument has not been raised by any of the other Jersey shore towns seeking to block the project. The judge ruled that any puddles or ponding that might occur following construction of the dunes are not likely to be worse than what is already there without the dunes. And the state Department of Environmental Protection has promised to fix any drainage problems that might result from the work. __ Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC The Latest: NASA: New Orleans facility closed after tornado NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Latest on severe weather on the Gulf Coast (all times local): 5:30 p.m. NASA says its Michoud (MEE-shoo) Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans remains closed while security and emergency operations crews assess damage from Tuesday's tornado. Workers put a tarp on the roof of a damaged home in the aftermath of Tuesday's tornado that tore through the New Orleans East section of New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. Officials say tornadoes that struck in southeastern Louisiana destroyed homes and businesses, flipped vehicles and left thousands without power. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A news release says there's some electrical damage to a substation at the building where major hardware is welded for a rocket designed to explore deep space. NASA notes that the most recently welded Space Launch System part had been moved out of that building last week. The statement says about 40 percent to 50 percent of the facility's buildings were damaged, and four or five buildings have severe damage. It says Wednesday's work concentrated on finishing damage assessments and restoring power to buildings in the best condition. It says those include the main NASA administration building, boiler house and U.S. Coast Guard facilities. ___ 5 p.m. The National Weather Service has confirmed that a small tornado touched ground just outside New Orleans, making at least five that hit Louisiana on Tuesday. A storm report says an EF0 tornado hit Jefferson, about 5 miles west of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish. It says that tornado knocked down big branches and did minor roof damage, with estimated winds around 80 mph. It left a mile-long path, with a maximum width of 25 yards. The one that hit New Orleans had 140-mph winds and left a track a half-mile wide and about 2 miles long. ___ 4:30 p.m. The National Weather Service says Tuesday's tornado was the first EF-3 twister ever to hit New Orleans. Ken Graham, meteorologist-in-charge of the local weather service office, says it had winds about 140 mph. He says other EF-3 tornadoes have hit southeastern Louisiana. They include two on Feb. 25, 2016, in Convent, about 45 miles west of New Orleans. ___ 4:15 p.m. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says he has not spoken with President Trump about getting a federal disaster declaration for New Orleans, but Trump's office called his on Tuesday, the day an EF-3 tornado hit the city. Landrieu says city officials think the damage is severe enough for a federal disaster declaration. That would open the way for federal money to help people and public agencies, and for cleanup money. Landrieu told a news conference that a preliminary assessment indicates that about 300 buildings were destroyed and another 640 seriously damaged. He says the storm's path was two miles long and a half-mile wide. Landrieu says search and rescue crews checked more than 5,100 buildings to be sure nobody was inside and in danger, and then checked them all again, to be sure. ___ 4 p.m. The president of a parish north of New Orleans has declared a parish-wide disaster in response to the tornado that hit Tuesday. A news release from St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister asks any homeowner, business, church or school with damage to report it to the parish. He says the disaster declaration is "a procedural process" that lets the local government better coordinate resources for public safety and recovery. St. Tammany Parish was among seven hit by tornadoes Tuesday. The National Weather Service says at least four tornadoes hit Louisiana, and there may have been more. ___ 3:30 p.m. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says a tornado that hit New Orleans injured about three dozen people and damaged about 300 properties along a 2- to 2 1/2-mile path. He says in a news release that two people remain hospitalized but the rest have been treated and released. Landrieu says 78 people spent Tuesday night in a shelter. The news release says 10,400 Entergy customers lost power but it has been restored to about 6,700 customers. Entergy says it could be several days before everyone has power. ___ 1 p.m. A woman who lives in eastern New Orleans credits God and her best friend for her survival as a tornado struck her house. Rocqueisha (rock-EE-shuh) Williams says she was sitting on her bed and it wasn't even raining outside when the friend called her Tuesday, warning that a tornado was in her neighborhood. While hauling a mattress into the bathroom to hunker down, she looked out her front window at a world gone grey, shot through with turquoise lightning. When the storm passed, she found all her bedrooms damaged and her bed covered with glass. She ran to a nearby school and found it damaged, but her two sons there were safe. Her other two children also were safe at other schools. ___ 11:45 a.m. A New Orleans man had just finished restoring a blighted house for sale in the city when a tornado hit. Dwight Powell parked his 2014 Lexus in the garage to avoid hail damage, but then garage fell onto it. He figured his truck was safely being repaired 60 miles away in Donaldsonville, but then his friend called that truck also was hit, by another tornado. The twisters were among at least four that hit Louisiana on Wednesday, injuring about 40 people, destroying homes and businesses and flipping cars and trucks. Another twister hit in Mississippi. Powell says at least his wife and daughter were not home, and he and an employee escaped unharmed. He says he has to pick up the pieces and walk in faith. ___ 11:10 a.m. National Weather Service teams are out getting information about at least four tornadoes that hit Louisiana and one that hit Mississippi on Tuesday. Meteorologist Christopher Bannan says there may have been more than four in Louisiana, but it may take a day or two to check everything out. He says crews confirmed that at least an EF2 tornado hit eastern New Orleans, and are checking to see if it was more powerful. A second crew is in Killian, east of Baton Rouge, where a tornado hit and headed north into Tangipahoa Parish. A third crew is near Donaldsonville, southeast of Baton Rouge. Bannon says a fourth confirmed tornado hit near Watson, northeast of Baton Rouge. In Jackson, Mississippi, meteorologist Shannon Hefferan says a tornado hit Scott and Jasper counties. ___ 2:30 a.m. Officials say tornadoes that struck parts of southeastern Louisiana injured about 40 people, destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and left thousands without power, but no deaths were reported. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. The worst damage was in the same 9th Ward that was so heavily flooded in 2005's Hurricane Katrina. Edwards says he was heartbroken to see some of the same people suffering again, and promised that the state will provide the affected residents with the resources they need as quickly as possible. He says seven parishes were hit by tornadoes. The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama. Dwight Powell recovers mirrors from the bathroom of his master bedroom a day after a tornado touched down in eastern New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Dwight Powell clears rubbish from his yard a day after a tornado touched down in eastern New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Max Becherer) Destroyed and damaged homes are seen in this aerial photo after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, including the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A destroyed church and homes are seen in this aerial photo after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Lisa Carruth reacts as she surveys the damage after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) People react to damage after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Lisa Carruth hugs her granddaughter Juayonna Carruth after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Eshon Trosclair holds her son Camron Chapital after a tornado tore through home while they were inside Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in the eastern part of New Orleans. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Gregory Rugon looks for his glasses at the spot where he took cover in his home after a tornado hit his Warren Drive home, in the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Lisa Carruth reacts as she surveys the damage after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man looks at a destroyed home after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) People hug after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man walks down the street past destroyed homes after a tornado tore through the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Artie Chaney reacts to her damaged home after a tornado struck while she and family members took cover inside, in the eastern part of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. The National Weather Service says at least three confirmed tornadoes have touched down, including one inside the New Orleans city limits. Buildings have been damaged and power lines are down. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Lisa Carruth hugs her granddaughter Juayonna Carruth after a tornado tore through the New Orleans East neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A boy holds his dog after a tornado tore through the New Orleans East neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Eshon Trosclair holds her son Camron Chapital after a tornado tore through home while they were inside the New Orleans East neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Gregory Rugon climbs out of his home after failing to find his glasses that he lost taking cover after a tornado hit his Warren Drive home, in the New Orleans East section of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Gregory Rugon looks for his glasses at the spot where he took cover in his home after a tornado hit his Warren Drive home, in the New Orleans East section of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Linda Pierre, left, and April Williams look around the east New Orleans neighborhood after a tornado touchdown, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. At least three tornados touchdown causing damage to buildings. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Destroyed and damaged homes are seen in this aerial photo, after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A destroyed church and homes are seen in this aerial photo after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Destroyed and damaged homes are seen in this aerial photo after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, including the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man with a bicycle walks past debris from destroyed homes after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, including the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Claire White sits in a chair and talks on the phone next to her husband Roy White and dog "JD" across the street from their destroyed home after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, including the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Destroyed and damaged homes are seen in this aerial photo, after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Claire White sits in chair and talks on her phone across the street from her home, which was destroyed by a tornado tore through the New Orleans East neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) People walk amongst debris from destroyed homes after a tornado tore through the eastern neighborhood in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, including the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Police: Officer fatally shoots armed DUI suspect MOUNT PLEASANT, Tenn. (AP) Authorities say a Tennessee police officer has fatally shot a suspected drunken driver who brandished a weapon after a pursuit. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that the shooting Tuesday night occurred as the Mount Pleasant officer made a traffic stop. Police say the suspect, 35-year-old Bradley Ross Nelson, led the officer on a brief pursuit before stopping and exiting his vehicle with a weapon. Police say the situation escalated, resulting in the officer firing at Nelson. The officer wasn't injured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation did not release Nelson's race or any information about the Mount Pleasant officer. The Mount Pleasant Police Department referred inquiries to the state agency. Brazil's jailed ex-speaker submits evidence of aneurism SAO PAULO (AP) Lawyers for a former congressional leader jailed in a corruptions case submitted evidence of their client's brain aneurism Wednesday after the politician refused to undergo medical exams. Former House of Deputies Speaker Eduardo Cunha told a court Tuesday that he has a brain aneurism, noting it was the same affliction that led to the recent death of ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's wife. An aneurism is a weakening of the wall of an artery or vein that can cause death in the event of a rupture. But on Wednesday, Cunha "categorically refused" to undergo medical tests, according to a statement from prison official Luiz Alberto Cartaxo de Moura. He added that Cunha had complained of an aneurism in December, but said his family and lawyers had not yet provided any documentation of the problem. FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2016 file photo, Brazil's former President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha takes a break during the presentation of his defense at the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, Brazil. Cunha, who's in custody awaiting trial in a corruption case, has told a court that he has a brain aneurism. But on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, prison official Luiz Alberto Cartaxo de Moura says Cunha refused tests. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File) On Wednesday evening, Cunha's legal team submitted several such documents to the court, including notes from doctors and copies of scans of Cunha's brain. In one note dated Jan. 8, a doctor wrote that the aneurism was detected in 2015 but that surgery wasn't recommended. Instead, Cunha was told to have it checked regularly. Another dated Wednesday from a different doctor confirmed this diagnosis. Cunha's announcement came the same day his lawyers filed a petition for his release on legal grounds. They didn't mention his health. Cunha is one of the most prominent figures arrested so far as part of the massive corruption probe into a kickback scheme at the state-run oil company Petrobras. He's accused of money laundering and tax evasion related to Petrobras' 2011 purchase of an oilfield in the west African nation of Benin. He denies the charges. Airline CEOs inbound for White House DALLAS (AP) With U.S. airline executives meeting this week with President Donald Trump, the White House appears skeptical about a push by carriers and their unions to block competition from a European airline. Pilot unions in particular want Trump to overturn an Obama administration decision that allows European budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle to expand service to the U.S. through an Irish subsidiary. Unions say the subsidiary would skirt labor laws and threaten U.S. jobs. But this week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggested that the country would benefit from the arrangement. He said U.S. workers would build the planes and serve them. "There is a huge economic interest that America has in that deal right now," Spicer said. While saying he did not want to get ahead of the president, Spicer added that "we are talking about U.S. jobs both in terms of the people who are serving those planes and the person who is building those planes." Norwegian lauded the remarks. Anders Lindsrom said Norwegian has 500 crew members based in the U.S. and is the only foreign airline recruiting American pilots. The airline has 120 Boeing planes now and has orders for another 120, he said. Norwegian seeks to undercut competitors through lower labor costs, said Dan Carey, president of the pilots' union at American Airlines. Allowing it to expand "runs completely counter to President Trump's pledge to put U.S. workers' interests first" and could "destroy a great many U.S. jobs," he said. The chief executives of several airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines as well as executives from air cargo companies, were invited to a breakfast meeting with Trump on Thursday. A spokesman for American Airlines said CEO Doug Parker would not attend because he'll be at a meeting in Dallas for 1,600 employees. Other airlines declined to comment or did not immediately respond. The president held a similar meeting last month with auto-industry CEOs and told them to increase U.S. production and create American jobs. Trump's focus with the airline chiefs will also be on jobs, Spicer said. "Obviously the president is going to want to talk about economic growth, job creation, how he is enacting orders to make sure the country is safe," Spicer said the latter an apparent reference to Trump's executive order that temporarily blocked travel to the U.S. by people from seven mostly-Muslim countries. Airline officials were unhappy with the confusion surrounding the rollout of the travel order. American's Parker said in a letter to employees that the order was "divisive," created turmoil at airports, and suggested that it didn't reflect his airline's values. United CEO Oscar Munoz told Business Insider that the order should have been carried out "a little more thoughtfully" and may have made some people afraid to travel. The executives of the biggest airlines are likely to press Trump on their complaint, shared by American, that three big Persian Gulf airlines are unfairly subsidized by their government in violation of aviation treaties. Subsidies "allow the Gulf carriers to operate without concern for turning a profit, unlike U.S. airlines, and therefore focus entirely on stripping market share and driving out competition," CEOs of American, Delta and United said last week in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The state-owned Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, both based in the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar Airways deny the charges. There are complications to the dispute. Some U.S. carriers, including JetBlue and cargo airline FedEx Corp., back the Gulf carriers and oppose shaking up aviation treaties. Several consumer groups also support the Gulf carriers, arguing that more competition leads to lower fares. And the Gulf airlines buy Boeing planes. In October, Qatar Airways announced it ordered 40 Boeing wide-body jets and planned to buy up to 60 more narrow-body planes in deals valued at $18.6 billion, although airlines usually get big discounts off list prices. ___ Mom pleads guilty in son's birthday cake beating death HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) A Maryland woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree child abuse in the 2015 beating death of her 9-year-old son over a missing piece of birthday cake. Oriana Iris Garcia was at work when her son Jack was handcuffed by her brother and beaten by her boyfriend, but she permitted the abuse and sent an ambulance away afterward, delaying medical care for hours, prosecutors said. Meanwhile, Garcia searched online for information about head injuries and child abuse, checked her email and Facebook accounts, watched pet videos and played video games, data from her computer suggest. She wore a T-shirt to court Wednesday featuring the Nintendo game character Samus. Oriana Garcia is seen in an undated photo provided by the Hagerstown, Md., Department of Police. Prosecutors say they expect to strike a plea deal with a Garcia, whose 9-year-old son was fatally beaten over a missing piece of birthday cake. Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Gina Cirincion says she anticipates that Garcia will plead guilty Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 to first-degree child abuse resulting in death. (Hagerstown Department of Police via AP) Garcia, 27, speaking barely above a whisper, acknowledged the plea deal during a 45-minute hearing in Washington County Circuit Court. Prosecutors said they would seek a 20-year prison sentence, with 10 more years suspended, at her sentencing on March 31. The maximum penalty is 30 years. Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Mollett-Gaumer and defense attorney David Harbin declined to comment outside of the court. Garcia is the last of three defendants convicted in the case. Her boyfriend Robert Leroy Wilson, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in March and is serving a 30-year sentence. Garcia's brother Jacob Barajas, 25, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in September to first-degree child abuse. They all lived together in Wilson's apartment in Hagerstown, 70 miles west of Baltimore. Garcia, a high-school dropout, had moved her family there from Goleta, California, several months earlier after meeting Wilson online, according to court records. Wilson had been charged in 2010 with abusing a former girlfriend's daughter, but the charge was dropped and a related assault conviction was expunged in a plea deal, leaving him with no criminal record when he befriended Garcia. Jack was never enrolled in Maryland schools. Garcia left him home with Wilson, a restaurant cook, and her unemployed brother while she worked a retail job, according to court records. Prosecutors have portrayed Wilson as a controlling brute who sometimes boxed with Jack, ordered food withheld if the boy failed an exercise regimen and beat him with a bamboo sword for taking food without permission. In the week before the deadly assault, Jack was handcuffed for up to three hours a day because Garcia "was trying to teach Jack not to steal," according to charging documents. On June 30, 2015, Wilson accused Jack of eating a piece of cake meant for Wilson's visiting, 2-year-old daughter, according to court records. Barajas told police he handcuffed Jack to a wooden chair and watched Wilson repeatedly hit the crying, pleading boy with "palm strikes" to the abdomen. William Christopher Gibbs, 27, drove himself to a hospital saying he had ricin on his hands A Georgia man who drove himself to a hospital saying he had been exposed to ricin has been arrested as the FBI says his car tested positive for the deadly toxin. William Christopher Gibbs, 27, drove himself to a hospital in Morganton last week claiming that he had ricin on his hands, Fannin County Sheriff Dane Kirby told WAGA. A field test conducted by the FBI of the car driven by Gibbs found traces of the toxin inside his vehicle. Kirby said Gibbs has been jailed on reckless conduct and probation violation charges. It's not clear whether he has a lawyer. On Friday about 100 law enforcement officers in HAZMAT suits swarmed the Morganton neighborhood. 'All of the sudden a whole host of law enforcement vehicles showed up in our parking lot, somewhere between 30 to 40 vehicles. And around 100 law enforcement individuals,' said Morganton Mayor Mike England. A field test conducted by the FBI of the car driven by Gibbs (above) found traces of the toxin inside his vehicle. Kirby said Gibbs has been jailed on reckless conduct and probation violation charges U.S. Attorney John Horn said the 4th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team of the Army National Guard and the Cherokee County Fire Department were in Fannin County to make sure everything was safe. Prosecutors say the FBI has 'identified no evidence that any poisonous or toxic substances have been dispersed or that the public is at risk' in the case. Ricin is found naturally in castor beans. When purified, even a very small amount of it can kill, as there is no antidote to treat ricin poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control, effects from ricin exposure usually show up within a day. 'The major symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure and the dose received, though many organs may be affected in severe cases,' the CDC says. The deadly toxin has been used in acts of terrorism and weaponized in war for decades. Ricin is found naturally in castor beans (file above). When purified, even a very small amount of it can kill. It's unclear how Gibbs came in contact with toxin, but the FBI is investigating. According to Gibbs' Facebook profile, it appears as though he is a member of the Georgia Church of Creativity C.A. and is a self-identified 'White Racial Loyalist.' A caption on one of his profile photos from his Facebook account reads: 100 years from now when someone finds one of these trees thay (sic) will know that there was once a White Race. Creativity is a white separatist, white supremacist movement that was originally known as the Church of the Creator. It was founded in 1973 by Ben Klassen, a former one-time state legislator in Florida, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The basis of the group was to promote 'what it sees as the inherent superiority and 'creativity' of the white race.' The Creativity Alliance is categorized by the SPLC as an active neo-Nazi group in Georgia. With 'love and joy,' Jake Gyllenhaal opens Broadway theater NEW YORK (AP) Broadway welcomed a new theater Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Jake Gyllenhaal. The "Brokeback Mountain" and "Nightcrawler" star was on hand with a pair of oversize golden scissors to reopen the Hudson Theatre with "Sunday in the Park with George," the venue's first theatrical production in nearly 50 years. "I can't stress enough how important it is to have joy in this world and that's what this space is and that's what this show is all about," Gyllenhaal said. "It's all about love and joy so I hope people will come and experience that with us." Jake Gyllenhaal participates in Broadway's "Sunday in the Park with George" media day and Hudson Theatre grand re-opening ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Gyllenhaal helped cut a green ribbon with co-star Annaleigh Ashford, and his name will adorn a plaque commemorating the event. The ornate, refurbished theater wasn't quite ready for its close-up, with garbage cans still in plastic in the lobby and signs still needing to be hung. Opened in 1903 a week before the New Amsterdam Theatre the Hudson becomes both Broadway's oldest theater and its newest. It's the first new Broadway theater in almost 20 years and becomes the 41st such venue. The Hudson sits just off Times Square east of Broadway on 44th Street. The theater opened in 1903 with a production of "Cousin Kate" starring Ethel Barrymore. It was built by producer Henry B. Harris, who died aboard the Titanic. It was lost to foreclosure in 1933 and sold at auction for $100,000. The Hudson changed hands many times and was a studio for CBS Radio. It was the home for the first nationwide broadcast of "The Tonight Show" starring Steve Allen and was home for a time to "The Price Is Right." It later became a house for burlesque and then a movie house in 1968. As a theater, it hosted Andy Warhol's "My Hustler" in 1968, Lillian Hellman's "Toys in the Attic" with Maureen Stapleton and Jason Robards Jr. It ceased being a home for legitimate theater in 1968. Gyllenhaal and Ashford will share the stage that once was used by performers such as Laurence Olivier, Louis Armstrong, Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand, who made her first televised performance from the Hudson. "We are outrageously honored to be reopening this special space with this special piece of art," said Ashford. "We feel the ghosts of those that were before us, living and breathing and inspiring us." The revival of "Sunday in the Park with George" starts previews Saturday. The Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical imagines what the 19th-century French painter Georges Seurat went through to create his pointillist masterpiece, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." ___ Mark Kennedy is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits Jake Gyllenhaal, left, and Annaleigh Ashford participate in Broadway's "Sunday in the Park with George" media day and Hudson Theatre grand re-opening ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) WTO: Brazil accuses Canada of unfairly supporting Bombardier SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization accusing Canada of providing unfair subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Bombardier. Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that government subsidies to Bombardier have created distortions in the international aeronautical market that are incompatible with WTO rules and that negatively affect Brazil's interests. Brazil's Embraer is a competitor of Bombardier. The ministry said that in 2016 alone, Bombardier received around $2.5 billion in Canadian government support. The Canadian government said this week that it would give Bombardier $285 million in loans to support its Global 7000 and CSeries programs. The Brazilian statement singled out the CSeries program, but it did not mention the latest loan. Man gets life for fatally shooting Indiana police officer CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) A judge sentenced a man to life in prison without parole Wednesday for fatally shooting an Indiana police officer sitting in his patrol car. Carl Le'Ellis Blount, 28, pleaded guilty to murder last month for killing Gary Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield on July 6, 2014, the officer's 47th birthday. In court, Blount offered condolences to Westerfield's family, which includes four daughters and a son. "Remember how he lived, and honor him, by continuing that life of service," said the officer's ex-wife, Dawn Westerfield, a lieutenant with the department. This undated photo provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Department in Crown Point, Ind., shows Carl Le'Ellis Blount, who was sentenced Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, to life in prison without parole for fatally shooting July 6, 2014, of an Indiana police officer sitting in his patrol car. (Lake County (Ind.) Sheriff's Department via AP) Before the shooting, Westerfield, who had served 19 years with the department, had been dispatched to investigate reports Blount had been involved in an altercation with an ex-girlfriend. Blount was on probation at the time. Blount feared he would be arrested on an outstanding warrant from nearby Porter County, Indiana, and "intentionally shot" Westerfield, according to the plea agreement. Prosecutors in Lake County agreed under the plea deal to not seek the death penalty and to drop other charges against Blount, including theft and battery. The state also agreed not to prosecute Blount in connection with the shooting deaths of 17-year-old Daven James and 23-year-old Derrion Estes on June 26, 2014. The plea deal said the circumstances of those killings "are a contested issue between parties," but provided no details about them. Police found Estes and James dead in an alley. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said family members of those victims were told about the plea deal. Utility to pay $8.5 million to settle suit over gas blowout LOS ANGELES (AP) The Southern California Gas Co. agreed Wednesday to pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit over a well blowout that spewed natural gas for nearly four months and drove thousands of residents from their Los Angeles homes. The utility signed an agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to fund a study about health impacts from the leak, which San Fernando Valley residents have blamed for headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, rashes and other ailments. AQMD had ordered the utility to fund the study when it issued an order to abate the public nuisance created by the foul-smelling odor that led to hundreds of complaints from residents. It also sued the utility. "We are pleased to have worked with AQMD to settle this and other matters," the utility said in a statement. The leak was discovered in October 2015 in one of 115 underground wells in the immense Aliso Canyon gas storage facility. Before the well was capped in February 2016, the well had produced the largest-known release of climate-changing methane in U.S. history. Some 8,000 families in and around the Porter Ranch neighborhood fled their homes because of health concerns. The entire storage field has stopped receiving new gas supplies, but state regulators are looking into reopening it. Less than a third of the wells have passed rigorous inspections ordered after the blowout. The remaining ones have been taken out of service and must pass state-mandated tests within a year or be permanently sealed. Homeowners want the storage field closed permanently, and they have angrily offered that view at recent public meetings. A hearing was scheduled for Thursday before a state Senate committee on SB57, a bill that would block reopening the facility until state regulators complete an investigation to determine what caused the well leak. Under the settlement, Southern California Gas will provide $1 million for the health study; $5.65 million to pay for emission fees related to the leak, with $1 million of that earmarked to fund a renewable natural gas production project; $1.6 million to reimburse the regulatory agency for air monitoring costs and $250,000 for the AQMD's legal fees. The amount budgeted for the health study was criticized by a group that wants to shut down the Aliso Canyon storage field. Randy Travis advocates for stroke victims in Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Country star Randy Travis met with Tennessee lawmakers to raise awareness for stroke victims following his near-fatal stroke in 2013. Travis was at the state Capitol on Wednesday, hours before he was to be feted at a tribute concert in Nashville, featuring Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers and others. Travis lost the use of his right side, as well as the ability to read, write and speak. But his wife, Mary, told a Senate Health Committee that he has improved greatly following years of rehabilitation. Country singer Randy Travis, center, sits with his wife, Mary, left, and Dr. Blaise Baxter, right, of Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., before a meeting of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013, attended the hearing for Stroke Awareness Day at the legislature. Dozens of country stars, from Garth Brooks to Kenny Rogers, are scheduled to perform at a tribute show Wednesday night in Nashville to honor Travis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) The Grammy winner went through two brain surgeries and was in the hospital for five and a half months, but Travis surprised everyone at his Country Music Hall of Fame induction last year when he sang "Amazing Grace." She said last week her husband read the word "Nashville" on a highway sign, the first time since the stroke that he indicated he could read again. "We've come a long way now," Mary Travis said. "I guess I speak to the family members and the medical field who are challenged with stroke patients to not ever give up." Travis' multi-platinum debut album, "Storms of Life," in 1986 made him a star with his deep baritone voice. He had hits with songs like "Forever and Ever Amen," ''Three Wooden Crosses" and "On the Other Hand." Country singer Randy Travis, left, walks with his wife, Mary, center, as they leave a meeting of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013, attended the hearing for Stroke Awareness Day at the legislature. Dozens of country stars, from Garth Brooks to Kenny Rogers, are scheduled to perform at a tribute show Wednesday night in Nashville to honor Travis. At right is Dr. Blaise Baxter, right, of Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Country singer Randy Travis, center, listens as his wife, Mary, left, tells of her husband's battle to survive a stroke during a meeting of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013, attended the hearing for Stroke Awareness Day at the legislature. Dozens of country stars, from Garth Brooks to Kenny Rogers, are scheduled to perform at a tribute show Wednesday night in Nashville to honor Travis. At right is Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Country singer Randy Travis, center, and his wife, Mary, left, attend a meeting of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013, attended the hearing for Stroke Awareness Day at the legislature. Dozens of country stars, from Garth Brooks to Kenny Rogers, are scheduled to perform at a tribute show Wednesday night in Nashville to honor Travis. At right is Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Guatemala arrests supreme court justice on corruption charge GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Prosecutors in Guatemala say a Supreme Court justice has been arrested on a charge of influence peddling for trying to help her son in a corruption case. Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Julia Barreda said Wednesday that Blanca Stalling was arrested by National Civil Police. The arrest occurred a month after another judge accused Stalling of meddling in a case involving her son and a week after Guatemala's Congress removed her immunity from prosecution. Otto Molina Stalling is among 20 businesspeople and public officials charged with involvement in a scheme to solicit bribes for government health contracts. Lower court judge Carlos Ruano recorded a conversation with Blanca Stalling, reported it to authorities and then left the country for his own safety. The City of Los Angeles agreed Wednesday to pay $1.5million to the family of a mentally ill black man who was shot and killed in 2014 by Los Angeles police during a struggle over an officer's gun. The settlement in a civil rights lawsuit brought by the family of Ezell Ford, 25, came two weeks after prosecutors said the two Los Angeles Police Department officers acted lawfully and in self-defense when they shot and killed Ford in August 2014. In 2014, a group of people at Paradise Baptist Church discuss the police shooting of 25-year-old Ezell Ford. The city of Los Angeles will pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Ford Ezell Ford, above, was said to have schizophrenia and other mental illnesses and was unarmed at the time of the shooting More than a year ago, a police oversight board found the officers had no legal reason to stop Ford, violating department policy. The Los Angeles City Council approved the settlement with Ford's family on Wednesday with a 10-2 vote. Federico Sayre, an attorney for Ford's family, said they were relieved the settlement was finalized after significant opposition from the officers' union. Protesters (pictured in August 2015) chant for Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck's firing during a Los Angeles Police Commission meeting in downtown LA Civil rights activist Najee Ali bites his lips while holding a portrait of Ezell Ford Los Angeles prosecutors said Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas were in fear for their lives when they shot Ford on August 11, 2014, as Ford struggled with Wampler over the officer's holstered gun. The shooting happened days after that of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and led to a series of Black Lives Matter protests in Los Angeles. Authorities said the officers had approached Ford, whose family has said he struggled with an array of mental illnesses, after seeing him in a known gang area, but said Ford walked away and the officers believed he was trying to discard an illegal substance. Ezell Ford's mother, Tritobia, sheds tears while speaking at a news conference about her son A mural and memorial for Ezell Ford, a mentally ill black man who was shot in August 2014 Prosecutors said Wampler had placed his hands on Ford's shoulders before Ford spun around and grabbed the officer at the waist. Ford fell to the ground with the officer and the two started tussling as Ford tried to grab Wampler's gun from the holster on his waist, prosecutors said. Villegas shot Ford twice during the struggle, but Ford continued to fight with Wampler, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said last month. Wampler was eventually able to retrieve his backup weapon, which was affixed to his bulletproof vest, reached around Ford's body and shot him once in the back, she said. After prosecutors reached their determination in the case, Ford's mother, Tritobia Ford, told reporters there would 'be no justice' for her son. She said the officers 'just got away with murder.' The officers' union decried the city council's decision to settle the case, arguing the city should have fought the 'baseless civil suit.' 'This fiscally irresponsible pattern of settling civil claims, in spite of legal and investigative findings supporting police officers' actions, is sending the wrong message to trial lawyers that the city's treasury is nothing more than an ATM,' said Craig Lally, the president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. 'I don't think the police union ever believes police officers do anything wrong,' Sayre said in response to the union's statement. The shooting took place only a few days after the shooting of Michael Brown in Missouri and sparked BLM protests The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled in June 2015 that the officers had no reason to stop and question Ford, and that violation of department policy led to an altercation that ended with Ford's death. The commission found that Wampler was unjustified in shooting Ford and Villegas was wrong to draw his weapon but acted appropriately in firing it because he believed Wampler's life was in danger. The officers have been on administrative duty since the shooting. During the state's decision not to press charges against the officers, District Attorney Lacey said: 'This was not some officer who deliberately took out a gun and said, 'I'm going to shoot Mr Ford.' 'This was a struggle on the ground, for a couple of minutes, that was very tense.' She said one of the most compelling witnesses told investigators they heard an officer shouting, 'Let go of my gun!' Lacey said she called Ford's mother on Tuesday morning before her office released the report on the shooting. She said Ford's mother was very upset when she informed her they would not be bringing criminal charges against the officers. Influence-peddling case begins against former Utah official SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Former Utah Attorney General John Swallow was enmeshed in a power-and-greed scheme that brought in thousands of dollars and luxury trips from businessmen facing criminal charges, prosecutors said Wednesday during opening statements in his influence-peddling case. Swallow is charged with 13 counts, including bribery and evidence tampering, in one of the highest-profile scandals in state history. The allegations include illicit gifts of gold coins from a now-deceased payday loan titan, stays on luxury houseboats and a trip to a high-end California resort with a businessman who prosecutors say got a sweetheart plea deal in a fraud case. Former Utah Attorney General John Swallow arrives to court Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Salt Lake City. A corruption trial for Swallow is expected to get underway with opening arguments Wednesday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) "You have this power-greed-corruption triangle here," prosecutor Chou Chou Collins said. "That's the basis for this story." Swallow's defense attorney Scott Williams contended the case is a smear campaign against a successful politician, and that prosecutors are twisting the facts to fit the story they want to tell. "It's not cloak and dagger. It's not criminal," Williams said. He acknowledged that Swallow was willing to hear out people from scrutinized industries such as payday lending, multilevel marketing and health supplements but said that was a matter of fairness, not corruption. "Everybody should be listened to on all sides of the political spectrum, including individuals that weren't popular," Williams said. Swallow's predecessor Mark Shurtleff, who served in the state's top law enforcement office for more than a decade, also faced allegations, but the charges against him were dropped. The prosecutor cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a corruption case out of Virginia and the refusal of federal investigators to share information about their past investigation into the two former Utah lawmen that ended without charges. Prosecutors on the Swallow case are expected to call dozens of witnesses in the trial. Developer Marc Jenson testified Wednesday that he bankrolled posh California vacations for Swallow and Shurtleff, who has denied the allegations of wrongdoing. Jenson said he was shaken down for the favors after the Utah attorney general's office charged him with securities fraud. He pleaded no contest in what prosecutors called a sweet deal, though he later served prison time after failing to pay restitution. Defense attorneys call Jenson a con man and say parts of his story aren't true. Spanish league taking legal action over threats to Zozulya MADRID (AP) The Spanish league will take legal action against 17 people who allegedly threatened Ukraine striker Roman Zozulya after his transfer to second-division club Rayo Vallecano. League president Javier Tebas said Wednesday that the league has decided to file a criminal lawsuit because the incident could harm the image of the Spanish league and of Spain. The group had allegedly insulted and threatened Zozulya when he appeared at the team's training center last week, prompting the clubs to call off the transfer. Rayo fans had already protested against the transfer on social media, claiming that Zozulya had links to radical right-wing groups back home. Mexico official: US Secretary of State Tillerson to visit WASHINGTON (AP) Mexico's foreign secretary says U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to travel to Mexico in the coming weeks. During a visit in Washington, Luis Videgaray also said Wednesday that Mexico's government was not working to reschedule a visit to the U.S. by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. He did not say when Tillerson would visit. Relations between the two countries have gotten off to a rocky start under President Donald Trump. After extradition of El Chapo, US prosecutors seek a rival FARGO, N.D. (AP) With notorious drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman now behind bars in New York after he was extradited from Mexico last month, federal prosecutors in North Dakota have their sights set on bringing one of his organization's onetime rivals to the United States to face charges. In court documents unsealed Tuesday, authorities say Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha was a top lieutenant for the Arellano Felix cartel, which smuggled cocaine, marijuana and other drugs into the United States and competed against the Sinaloa cartel led by Guzman, once considered the most wanted man in the world. Authorities have described Sillas-Rocha as a prolific hit man responsible for killing 20 to 30 people a month during the cartel's heyday in Tijuana. Sillas-Rocha was arrested six years ago in Mexico, but his federal case in the U.S. had remained sealed from public view until this week. Tim Heaphy, former U.S. attorney from Virginia, said it's common to seal such cases to preserve an investigation and protect witnesses. Those fears tend to evaporate when a defendant is in custody for a long time. U.S. Attorney Christopher Myers, the lead prosecutor, declined to comment on the case. Court documents in Mexico listed no attorney of record for Sillas-Rocha. Sillas-Rocha, known as "Ruedas," or "Wheels," is charged with three counts, including conspiracy to commit murder for a continuing criminal enterprise. He has been fighting extradition to North Dakota, where federal officials a decade ago began gathering incriminating evidence on the Arellano Felix cartel after one of its members killed a Minnesota man over a drug debt. Sillas-Rocha was arrested in Mexico in November 2011 and paraded in front of reporters by police in riot gear and masks. He remains in jail there. The case wound up in North Dakota after Jorge "Sneaky" Arandas, a member of the Arellano Felix gang, set up shop in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota. Investigators say Arandas ordered the killing of Lee Avila, of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, in June 2005 for failing to pay for five pounds of methamphetamine that Arandas originally received from Sillas-Rocha. Arandas told police he feared that he would be killed for not paying Sillas-Rocha, so he had Avila murdered to show strength. The indictment filed against Sillas-Rocha in March 2011 said that in addition to drug trafficking, Sillas-Rocha was involved in the supervision of crews that "participated in murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, public corruption of government officials, money laundering and other illegal conduct" meant to make money for the cartel. The document accuses Sillas-Rocha of attempting to arrange the killings of two California residents. He allegedly offered a San Diego street gang $25,000 to kill them, paying $4,000 in advance. When the gang couldn't find his targets, Sillas-Rocha upped his offer to $50,000 if the killings could be done quickly. He later ordered another man to kill an entire family inside their home, investigators said. Mexican authorities say Sillas-Rocha participated in the 2010 kidnapping of three women in the family of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who was at the top of the Sinaloa cartel at the time alongside Guzman. Sillas-Rocha allegedly was retaliating for the disappearance of his sister that year. Heaphy said he believes Mexican officials wanted the extradition of Guzman just before Trump took office to be "an Obama victory, not a Trump victory." He said the extradition process will likely become more difficult under Trump, who has riled Mexicans with his pledge to build a border wall and deport people living in the U.S. illegally. "I would worry about the potentially acrimonious relationship between our new executive and the Mexican government," Heaphy said. "Extradition is one of the few chips that they have to use in this game of international relations." ___ This version of the story corrects the first name of Guzman to Joaquin in first paragraph. ___ The Pentagon says two US airstrikes in Syria killed 11 al-Qaeda operatives, including one with ties to Osama bin Laden and other senior al-Qaeda leaders. A spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, said a single airstrike on February 3 killed 10 operatives in a building used as an al-Qaeda meeting site. A second strike the next day killed Abu Hani al-Masri, identified by the Pentagon as an al-Qaida operative who oversaw the creation and operation of al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1990s. Davis said al-Masri had ties to bin Laden and to Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became the top leader of al-Qaeda when bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2011. The Pentagon said Abu Hani al-Masri had ties to Obama bin Laden (left) and to Ayman al-Zawahiri (right), who became the top leader of al-Qaeda when bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2011 Both US airstrikes were near Idlib in northwestern Syria. In a statement, the Pentagon said al-Masri was 'a legacy al-Qaeda terrorist with ties to the group's senior leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden.' 'Al-Masri oversaw the creation and operation of many al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan in the 1980s and '90s, where he recruited, indoctrinated, trained and equipped thousands of terrorists who subsequently spread throughout the region and the world,' the Pentagon said. 'He was also one of the founders of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the first Sunni group to use suicide bombers in their terror attacks.' 'EIJ is responsible for multiple attacks against US and allied facilities and personnel, including a 1998 attempt to blow up the American embassy in Albania,' the Pentagon said. 'These strikes disrupt al-Qaeda's ability to plot and direct external attacks targeting the US and our interests worldwide.' Prosecutors drop charges for 3 arrested on Inauguration Day WASHINGTON (AP) Prosecutors have dropped felony rioting charges against three more people who were arrested after protesters broke windows and torched a limousine in Washington on Inauguration Day. That brings the total number of dropped cases to twelve. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia made the announcement in a statement Wednesday. The office did not say why the cases were dismissed but prosecutors have said they're working with police to review evidence related to the Jan. 20 arrests. Some of the dismissed cases have been journalists arrested while chronicling the actions of a group of self-described anarchists. Civil rights groups changing tactics following Sessions loss WASHINGTON (AP) After failing to prevent Attorney General Jeff Sessions' confirmation, civil rights groups are now shifting their attention to monitoring his actions at the Justice Department and challenging President Donald Trump's other actions in areas of concern. Sessions was sworn in at the White House Thursday despite furious opposition from civil rights activists who lobbied, marched and sometimes were arrested trying to slow down or stop the Alabama senator's confirmation. But now that Sessions runs the Justice Department, civil rights groups are pivoting to monitoring the department and Sessions' actions. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is greeted by employees as he arrives at the Justice Department in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool) "Should Sessions prove to be anything but a fair and impartial defender of liberty and justice, our community will hold him fully accountable," National Urban League President Marc Morial said. The NAACP, whose leaders have been arrested protesting Sessions' nomination, said in a statement it would ask Congress to monitor Sessions carefully "to ensure that the senator does what he is supposed to do to protect the vote and to end voter suppression and police brutality." The League of United Latin American Citizens said it would also be watching. "At a time when the Latino community feels increasingly under threat from the policies of the Trump administration, Sessions' confirmation offers little comfort," said Brent Wilkes, the group's national executive director. "LULAC will continue to hold Attorney General Sessions accountable to the law he has sworn to uphold." The GOP-controlled Senate confirmed Sessions on a nearly party-line vote on Wednesday evening. But the congressional lobbying does not end with Sessions' confirmation, said Rashad Robinson, Color of Change's leader. For example, Robinson said he would put pressure on Democrats to make sure funding for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is not eliminated. That is the division charged with fighting discrimination and upholding civil and voting rights across the United States. Senators should "refuse to surrender funding for the DOJ's Civil Rights Division," he said. "We will tell Attorney General Sessions this: when it comes to our fundamental rights, there are no hostage negotiations." Other groups are stepping up in different arenas. People for the American Way, another advocacy group, plans to turn toward the confirmation fight over Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. "It's more important than ever that we have an independent Supreme Court that will stand up for the rule of law," said Marge Baker, the group's executive vice president. And the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has sued the Trump administration over his executive order temporarily barring people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from coming to the United States. The lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C. federal court. Other federal courts are also hearing challenges to Trump's executive order. "By singling out particular groups, the executive order stands as an open invitation for illegal profiling of minority and religious communities on the basis of race, national origin and religion right here in the United States," said Kristen Clarke, the Lawyers' Committee's president and executive director. Sessions' confirmation doesn't mean that the battle has ended, said Marbre Stahly-Butts, director of partnerships with Law for Black Lives and member of the Movement for Black Lives Policy Table. "We will continue doing what we've always done," Stahly-Butts said. "We will resist, fight and build our communities with dignity and a vision for the future that includes thriving communities for our people, and freedom from systemic racism and oppression for all people." ___ Jesse J. Holland covers race and ethnicity for The Associated Press. Contact him at jholland@ap.org, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jessejholland or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessejholland Alleged 9/11 plotter blasts Obama in letter from Guantanamo MIAMI (AP) The man who says he was the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack seeks to justify the plot as a "natural reaction" to U.S. foreign policy in a blistering letter sent to then President Barack Obama from the Guantanamo prison. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, one of five Guantanamo prisoners facing trial by military commission for their alleged roles in the hijacking plot, also writes in the letter released Wednesday that it does not matter to him if he receives a life sentence or the death penalty from the tribunal. "If your court sentences me to life in prison, I will be very happy to be alone in my cell to worship Allah the rest of my life and repent to him all my sins and misdeeds," Mohammad wrote. "And if your court sentences me to death, I will be even happier to meet Allah and the prophets and see my best friends whom you killed unjustly all around the world and to see Sheikh Osama Bin Laden." In this undated photo taken by the International Red Cross and released by lawyer Marine Corps. Maj. Derek Poteet, his client Khalid Shaikh Mohammad poses for a photo at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay detention center on the military base in Cuba. Mohammad, the man who says he masterminded the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, condemned Barack Obama and the U.S. in a letter sent from the Guantanamo prison and released on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017. (Marine Corps. Maj. Derek Poteet via AP) Mohammad sought to send the letter in 2015 but was prevented by prison authorities and later by the military judge presiding over his case at the request of prosecutors, who labeled it "propaganda." After litigating the issue, the tribunal allowed the letter to go through last month just as Obama was leaving the presidency. The letter also condemns Obama, saying the former president's hands are "still wet with the blood of our brothers and sisters," a reference to the deaths of Palestinian civilians in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces as well as those killed by U.S. drone strikes in Yemen and elsewhere. "The two blessed attacks in Washington and New York adhered to all universal laws and were a natural reaction to your destructive policies towards the Islamic world," Mohammad wrote. The contents of the letter were first published by The Miami Herald. A copy was provided to The Associated Press by lawyers for the prisoner. They expressed doubt Obama saw it since it reached the White House only days before the end of his administration. Marine Corps Maj. Derek Poteet, a military lawyer appointed to represent Mohammad, said his client started the letter in 2014, prompted by civilian deaths in Gaza and said it echoes arguments he has made throughout his time in confinement. "It appears to be a continuation of a consistent theme that he believes Americans do not count the casualties experienced by others around the world, perhaps especially Muslims, as being valuable," Poteet said. Mohammad and his co-defendants face charges that include hijacking, terrorism and nearly 3,000 counts of murder in violation of the laws of war in a case that remains in the pretrial stage. In a closed 2007 appearance before a panel of military officers, he said he planned the Sept. 11 attacks "from A to Z" and had been involved in many other plots. He said he personally beheaded Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl with his "blessed right hand," according to a transcript. At his first public court hearing in 2008, he chanted verses of the Quran and said he would welcome becoming a martyr for his Sept. 11 role. The following year he released a written statement calling the attacks a "noble victory." A man who was arrested after a passenger flight was escorted to Stansted Airport by RAF fighter jets has been charged with fraud, Scotland Yard said. The Pakistan International Airlines plane, on its way from Lahore to Heathrow, was diverted after an anonymous phone call sparked a major security alert on Tuesday afternoon. Police said Khalid Baqa, of Priory Road, Barking, east London, was due to be arrested on arrival at Heathrow but was instead detained at Stansted. A plane at Stansted Airport after being intercepted by the RAF The 52-year-old, a UK national, has been charged with committing fraud by false representation and has been bailed to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in London on February 23. It is not believed he had any involvement in the cause of the diversion. The plane was accompanied by Typhoons to the Essex airport, with photos posted on Twitter showing several fire engines and a number of ambulances waiting on the ground. An airline spokesman said UK authorities had received some vague security threat through an anonymous phone call. Passenger Naz Amin said the flight landed in the middle of nowhere and was quickly surrounded by police. I realised it was surrounded by police and the police came on the plane about 45 minutes to an hour later and they took a gentleman off the plane, he told LBC Radio. He wasnt being disruptive at all, he was just sitting down there was no-one being disruptive on the plane. Essex Police said the incident is not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter. Stansted is a designated airport for dealing with hijacks and major security alerts. Incidents are dealt with in a remote part of the airfield to the north west of the terminal building. Senator Elizabeth Warren has earned a rare rebuke by the US senate for quoting Coretta Scott King on the senate floor. The Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chambers arcane rules by reading a three-decade-old letter from Dr Martin Luther Kings widow that dated to senator Jeff Sessionss failed judicial nomination at the time. The chamber is debating the Alabama Republicans nomination for attorney general, with Democrats dropping senatorial niceties to oppose Mr Sessions and Republicans sticking up for him. Senator Elizabeth Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Jeff Sessions's nomination (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs King's voice on the Sen floor - & millions who are afraid & appalled by what's happening in our country. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017 Mrs King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Mr Sessions used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Quoting Mrs King technically put Ms Warren in violation of senate rules for impugning the motives of Mr Sessions, though senators have said far worse. And Ms Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Mr Sessions was even elected to the senate. These are the 49 Senators who just voted to silence Elizabeth Warren for QUOTING CORETTA SCOTT KING https://t.co/LHxUtftS1u pic.twitter.com/KmdN1YOeW3 Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 8, 2017 But top senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the Republican-controlled senate voted to back him up. Now Ms Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Mr Sessionss nomination. Democrats seized on the incident to claim that Republicans were muzzling Ms Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. I will not be silent about a nominee for AG who has made derogatory & racist comments that have no place in our justice system. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017 I will not be silent while the Republicans rubber stamp an AG who will never stand up to the @POTUS when he breaks the law. Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017 Ms Warren argued: Im reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. Im simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her. Ms Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by former senator Edward Kennedy that labelled Mr Sessions a disgrace. .@SenatorSessions will continue fighting to protect the rights & freedoms of all Americans as he defends the safety & security of our nation Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) February 7, 2017 Democrats pointed out that Mr McConnell did not object when Republican senator Ted Cruz called him a liar in a 2015 dust-up. The episode was followed by lamentations by senate veterans about how the senate is too partisan. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been found guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which means he cannot run for president next year. In a webcast hearing, Judge Alexei Vtyurin said Navalny was guilty of embezzling timber worth about 500,000 dollars (400,000). (Elena Ignatyeva/AP) The previous guilty verdict was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that Russia violated Navalnys right to a fair trial. The judge has to yet to deliver a sentence. Navalny, the driving force between behind massive anti-government protests in 2011 and 2012, had announced plans to run for office in December and had begun to raise funds. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. US President Donald Trump could be a very effective leader, Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has claimed. The chief executive of the low-cost airline urged people to wait to see what the president achieves during his time in the White House. Mr Trump has come under fire for a number of policies, including the imposition of a travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries and plans to build a US-Mexico border wall. Michael O'Leary (PA) The #A4ESUMMIT in Brussels begins with airline bosses holding press conference pic.twitter.com/9MItyUorg9 Neil Lancefield (@NeilLancefield) February 8, 2017 Speaking at an aviation summit in Brussels, Mr OLeary said: If he implements some of his stated policies reducing taxes, promoting fracking, lowering the price of oil it would be very good not just for the US economy but for the world economy generally. Some of the other stuff I dont understand. Why you care how many showed up to your inauguration is beyond me. Youre already the president. It shouldnt matter. If he carries out some of the sensible policies he could be very effective. The media dont like him but then they didnt like (president) Ronald Reagan either. They all thought he was some mad cowboy when he got elected. We should wait to see what Trump does over the next two years and if its successful, great. The Prince of Wales joked with one of the stars of the fictional epic of royal intrigue, Game Of Thrones, as he visited Hull with the Duchess of Cornwall to help celebrate the citys tenure as UK City of Culture. Charles was introduced to Mark Addy, who played King Robert Baratheon in the worldwide-hit TV series, after watching the Full Monty star in rehearsal for a major new play in the city. The Prince appeared to thoroughly enjoy watching rehearsals for The Hypocrite, despite its bawdy comedy content and English Civil War vintage digs at royalty. Charles laughed throughout the 10-minute scene, which included gags like Did you know he had a priests hole? No, our only intimacy was a handshake, as well as sword-fighting. Addy plays Sir John Hotham, who was the governor of Hull who refused to let Charles I and his forces into the city in 1642. As the pair met afterwards, the actor said: Its exhausting. Im losing weight by the day. Its tough playing men who bar the King of England from the city. The dilemma that he is in is a trauma. The rehearsals for The Hypocrite a co-production between the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hull Truck Theatre and Hull 2017 are the first to take place at Holy Apostles Church, which has been bought as a community performance space for various projects throughout Hulls year as UK City of Culture. The Duchess of Cornwall meets companions in Hull It is sold out ahead of its opening in Hull in March and will later transfer to the Royal Shakespeare Companys Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. When Charles and Camilla arrived in Hull earlier, they embarked on an impromptu walkabout outside the newly refurbished Ferens art gallery. Many people in the crowd said they had been waiting for three hours in the sleety rain for the royal couple to arrive. The Prince and Duchess were given a tour of the Ferens, starting with a rare 14th century panel painting by Pietro Lorenzetti, which is one of the highlights of the opening programmes of Hull 2017. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit Ferens Art Gallery in Hull as part of the city's #CityofCulture celebrations @PA pic.twitter.com/BxOfP4aYRx Rich McCarthy (@VJRichMcCarthy) February 8, 2017 Charles and Camilla took different routes around the gallery, which reopened three weeks ago after a 5.2 million refurbishment. At one point, in a collection of work by local artists, the Duchess asked if she could buy one of the pieces but was told it was not for sale. The royal couple joked with each other as they sat to sign the visitors book, with the Prince having to ask the date, saying he could never remember it. The Duchess of Cornwall watches a game of pool in Hull Charles left the gallery, where the Turner Prize will be presented at the end of the year, to continue his visit to Hull at Holy Trinity Church while Camilla moved on to Emmaus Hull and East Riding. The Duchess finished her visit at The Deep tourist attraction where she celebrated the charity First Storys partnership with Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and the launch of its writing residencies in five Hull secondary schools. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has reiterated his opposition to US President Donald Trumps travel ban, saying if we stand and say nothing its as if were agreeing. Mr Cook spoke after collecting an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Glasgow on Wednesday evening. Tim Cook who collected an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow (Martin Shields/PA) During a Q&A with students and university staff he was asked for his response to Mr Trumps order targeting people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Thank you, and congratulations to UofG's new DR @tim_cook pic.twitter.com/qSZQXUa86k University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) February 8, 2017 What a gent - @tim_cook hanging around to take a selfie or two! pic.twitter.com/wMcCn5nHXq University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) February 8, 2017 Mr Cook said: I wrote this letter, you probably read about it unless youre living underground, about the most recent executive order that was issued in the US. We have employees that secured a work visa, they brought family to the US, but happened to be outside the US when the executive order was issued and all of a sudden their families were affected. They couldnt get back in. Thats a crisis. You can imagine the stress. If we stand and say nothing its as if were agreeing, that we become a part of it. Its important to speak out. Tim Cook stops for selfies as he leaves @Apple store in Glasgow ahead of collecting an honorary degree from @UofGlasgow pic.twitter.com/PT8ffykHwP Paul Ward (@paulward21) February 8, 2017 Mr Cook said Apple relied on workers from around the world, telling students and staff: Steve (Jobs) was the son of an immigrant. Its a subject were passionate about and we wanted to state our pain and try to end the dispute. He went on to say he understands issues of security, but added: I dont believe you have to trade walking away from what is a deeply held American value to get there. Issues of privacy and surveillance were also topics of conversation at the university, whose students elected Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency whistleblower, as rector in 2014. Thanks Apple Buchanan Street for a warm welcome on a cold day in Glasgow! pic.twitter.com/FJLeBNi29V Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 8, 2017 Mr Cook had earlier made a surprise visit to company staff in Glasgow. He dropped in to the Buchanan Street store on Wednesday afternoon, where work stopped for around 15 minutes as staff and customers greeted him and took photographs. Before leaving, he was presented with two gifts a tartan scarf and an embroidered picture. Mr Cook holding one of his gifts (Andrew Milligan/PA) He said he loved the scarf but asked: How are you supposed to fold this? The embroidered picture shows Mr Cook waving and the words: Welcome Tim. It also features saltire flags and the Loch Ness monster. He was also given a scarf in the store (Andrew Milligan/PA) He joked: Thats great. I recall looking for the Loch Ness monster in 1984. Everything is right but the colour of the hair. Yemeni officials say warships shell al Qaeda positions, U.S. denies involvement ADEN, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Warships shelled suspected al Qaeda strongholds in a mountainous region of southern Yemen on Thursday, government officials said. The officials, wh asked not to be named, said they believed U.S. forces carried out the operation, though Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis quickly denied any U.S. involvement. The strikes come less than a week after a covert U.S. Navy SEAL raid, also in Yemen's south, the first ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump as commander in chief. The naval attacks appear to be part of an intensifying campaign against one of the most active branches of the Islamist militant network. "Ships fired several missiles towards the al-Maraqisha mountains, where al Qaeda elements are based. The ships are widely believed to be Americans," said one official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. "We have received no information on the outcome of the shelling." The United States regularly uses drones to hunt suspected al Qaeda militants in Yemen's barren hinterlands. The al-Maraqisha mountains are a key al Qaeda stronghold in southern Yemen. Militants took refuge there last year after Yemeni government forces, backed by Arab coalition aircraft, drove them from the cities of Zinjibar and Jaar. The militants have exploited a civil war between Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the internationally-recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to regroup in the impoverished country, which shares a border with Saudi Arabia. Hadi's forces have made gains against the Houthi rebels in past months, advancing north into al-Mokha and Dhubab last week in a bid to deprive the Houthis of strategic Red Sea ports. Hamburg ease past Cologne into German Cup quarters BERLIN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Hamburg SV beat Cologne 2-0 on Tuesday to ease into the quarter-finals of the German Cup and underline their improving form. Gideon Jung tapped the ball over the line after Cologne keeper Thomas Kessler palmed a shot into the 22-year-old's path in the fourth minute. Hamburg, who are in the Bundesliga's relegation playoff spot, hit the woodwork through Luca Waldschmidt before Bobby Wood made it 2-0 in the 76th after a powerful run. Hamburg have won their last two matches, having also beaten Bayer Leverkusen in the league on Friday, and notched their fourth consecutive home victory in all competitions. Netanyahu, Trump align on Iran ahead of Israeli leader's visit By Jeffrey Heller and Matt Spetalnick JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and new U.S. President Donald Trump, seizing on an Iranian missile test, are nearing common ground on a tougher U.S. policy towards Tehran ahead of their first face-to-face talks at the White House. But people familiar with the Trump administration's thinking say that its evolving strategy is likely to be aimed not at dismantling Iran's July 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers, as presidential candidate Trump sometimes advocated, but tightening its enforcement and pressuring the Islamic Republic into renegotiating key provisions. Options under consideration, they say, would include wider scrutiny of Iran's compliance by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, including access to Iranian military sites, and seeking to remove "sunset" terms that allow some curbs on Iranian nuclear activity to start expiring in 10 years and lift other limits after 15 years. In a shift of position for Netanyahu, all signs in Israel point to him being on board with the emerging U.S. plan, though it may prove impossible to get other world powers and Iran to consider revising the landmark nuclear deal. Two years ago, Netanyahu infuriated the Obama White House by addressing the U.S. Congress to rally hawkish opposition to a budding Iran pact he condemned as a "historic mistake" that should be torn up. As Trump and Netanyahu prepare for their Feb. 15 meeting, focus has shifted to Iran's ballistic missile test last week. The White House said the missile launch was not a direct breach of the nuclear deal but "violates the spirit of that". Trump responded by slapping fresh sanctions on individuals and entities, some of them linked to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). A U.N. Security Council resolution underpinning the nuclear pact urges Iran to refrain from testing missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear warheads, but imposes no obligation. However, Trump tweeted, "Iran is playing with fire" and "they don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me!" Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, warned that Washington "would no longer tolerate Iran's provocations." Netanyahu "appreciated" the comments. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, on Tuesday dismissed the U.S. decision to put Iran "on notice" over its missile tests and called Trump the "real face" of American corruption. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying Iran would not renegotiate the nuclear deal. MEETING OF MINDS OVER MISSILE TEST Beyond the rhetoric, the missile test gave the new Republican president and the conservative Israeli leader - who had an often acrimonious relationship with Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama - an early chance to show they are on the same page in seeking to restrain Iranian military ambitions. Netanyahu wrote on Facebook last week: "At my upcoming meeting with President Trump in Washington, I intend to raise the renewal of sanctions against Iran in this context and in other contexts. Iranian aggression must not go unanswered." In London for talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday, Netanyahu said "responsible" nations should follow Trump's imposition of new sanctions as Iran remained a deadly menace to Israel and "threatens the world". But he stopped short of any call to cancel the nuclear accord. Israeli officials privately acknowledged that he would not advocate ripping up a deal that has been emphatically reaffirmed by the other big power signatories - Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - since Trump's election victory. Russia said on Monday it disagreed with Trump's assessment of Iran as "the number one terrorist state" and a Russian diplomat said any move to rework the nuclear pact would inflame Middle East tensions. "Don't try to fix what is not broken," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. Trump's stance could weaken the hand of pragmatists in Tehran who have been willing to negotiate a detente with the West after decades of volatile confrontation, a former senior Iranian official said. Under the accord, Tehran received relief from global economic sanctions and in return committed to capping its uranium enrichment well below the level needed for bomb-grade material, cutting the number of its centrifuge enrichment machines by two-thirds, reducing its enriched uranium stockpile and submitting to a more intrusive IAEA inspections regime. Diplomats close to the IAEA consider the deal a success so far, voicing little concern with overall Iranian compliance - despite Netanyahu's insistence that it will only pave the Islamic Republic's path towards nuclear weapons once major restrictions expire 15 years after its signing. PRESSURE POINTS OTHER THAN SCRAPPING DEAL With German, French and British firms busy cultivating new business with Iran, Washington's peers in the six-power group almost surely would rebuff any U.S. thrust to reopen the deal. Daniel Shapiro, who recently ended his tenure as U.S. ambassador to Israel under Obama, told Reuters he would be surprised if Trump and Netanyahu "determined so early in the time working together that they would rather scrap that agreement than try to enforce it in a tough manner and put other pressures unrelated to that deal on the Iranians". Some foreign policy experts say U.S. efforts to tighten the screws on Iran could seek to goad it into ditching the nuclear accord in hopes that Tehran - and not Washington - would then have to shoulder international blame for its collapse. According to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, an Israeli intelligence assessment recently presented to Netanyahu said revoking the pact would be an error, causing a chasm between Washington and other signatories like Russia and China. Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence, said there were many areas outside the deal where pressure could be applied on Iran to change what he called its negative behaviour of "subversiveness, supporting terrorism". But beyond new sanctions and sharpened rhetoric, analysts say, it is unclear how far Trump could go. Arguments for restraint would include the risk of military escalation in the Gulf, out of which 40 percent of the world's seaborne crude oil is shipped, and strong European support for the nuclear deal. Though the new U.S. strategy is in the early stages of development, the Trump administration, the sources say, is considering a range of measures, including seeking "zero tolerance" for any Iranian violations. Trump's aides accused the Obama administration of turning a blind eye to some alleged Iranian infractions to avoid anything that would undermine confidence in the integrity of the deal. Obama administration officials denied being "soft" on Iran. Water scarcity tops list of world miners' worries By Barbara Lewis CAPE TOWN, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The world's top mining companies warned on Tuesday that assets will be stranded and investors will walk away unless they deal with water scarcity in key mining regions such as Africa, Australia and Latin America. After the hottest global year on record in 2016, water has shot up the agenda at mining board meetings. "Investors say to us: 'don't talk to us about returns'; they want to know how we're managing water," Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields, said at an international mining conference in Cape Town. Mining requires water at almost every stage of the process and the bulk of the assets of major mining companies are in water-stressed regions mostly in the southern hemisphere. Anglo American has said it is striving to use as little water as possible. It has limited water consumption by using 65 percent recycled water and its goal is to reach 95 percent over the next decade. "Water is one of the greatest constraints to new supply of mined products across the industry," Anglo American Chief Executive Mark Cutifani said. "Investors can see there's a risk that if regions are running short of water, there's a good chance miners will have to divert those resources. What are we doing to anticipate that?" Mining companies cite examples where water has caused conflict. For instance, Barrick Gold Corp mining operations in Peru were disrupted in 2012 because of protests over water supplies. With its biggest mine in the Mexican desert, Canada's Goldcorp, the world's third-biggest gold miner, is investing $60 million in new technology to slash the amount of water it uses to store mine tailings, or waste. "To draw on wells to sustain your operations could be a source of potential conflict down the road," Goldcorp CEO David Garofalo said in an interview late last month, calling water the mining industry's "number one" challenge. The International Council on Mining and Metals, which groups 23 firms including BHP Billiton , Rio , Anglo American and Glencore, in January published a position on water stewardship to enforce best practice. The industry body quotes research showing increased levels of conflict because of water and the financial cost of water issues, saying water-related infrastructure accounts for approximately 10 percent of the industry's capital expenses. Trump reiterates U.S. support to Turkey in call with Erdogan -White House WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump reiterated "U.S. support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally" during a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, the White House said. Islamic State sees chance to revive fortunes in Trump presidency By Samia Nakhoul BEIRUT, Feb 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has set out to crush Islamic State when it is already at a low ebb, but Islamists and some analysts say his actions could strengthen the ultra-hardline group by creating new recruits and inspiring attacks on U.S. soil. IS has been weakened in recent months by battlefield defeats, the loss of territory in Iraq, Syria and Libya, and a decline in its finances and the size of its fighting forces. Trump's pledge to eradicate "Islamic extremism" looks at first sight to be yet another blow to Islamic State's chances of success. But Middle East experts and IS supporters say his election triumph could help revive the group's fortunes. They also believe his move late last month to temporarily ban refugees and bar nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries could work in the group's favour. The executive order, on which IS has been silent, is in limbo after being overturned by a judge. But whether or not it is reinstated, it has angered Muslims across the world who, despite Trump's denials, see it as evidence that he and his administration are Islamophobic. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusations of Islamophobia. But White House spokesman Sean Spicer said last week: "The president's number one goal has always been to focus on the safety of America, not the religion. He understands that it's not a religious problem." Denying the travel ban would make the United States less safe, Spicer has said "some people have not read what exactly the order says and are reading it through misguided media reports." Yet such comments have not silenced the criticism. "The ban on Muslim countries will undoubtedly undermine the global effort to discredit extremists," said Hassan Hassan, a writer on Islamist radicalism and co-author of the 2015 book "ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror". The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which comprises 57 member states, said such "selective and discriminatory acts will only serve to embolden the radical narratives of extremists." Jihadists are still celebrating Trump's election triumph in online forums, saying it vindicates their argument that his views show the United States' true face and that his policy will polarise communities, one of the militants' goals. "It is a blessing from Allah to the Muslims who lost their loyalty and faithfulness and preferred to choose the worldly life with all its luxuries that exists in the apostate land over the land of belief," one jihadist wrote on the Islamist website al-Minbar. DECLINING FORTUNES IS has in recent months been significantly weakened on many fronts, with the caliphate it has created in parts of Iraq and Syria -- where it has also imposed its ultra-hardline rule on residents -- shrinking. In Iraq, the group has lost territory in and around its northern stronghold of Mosul since U.S.-backed Iraqi forces last October began the biggest ground operation in the country since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. A growing number of disillusioned local Sunnis are now cooperating with the Iraqi army and helping in the fight against Islamic State and its financial resources have been badly hit. Turkey has also sealed its border, denying IS a route for bringing in foreign fighters and smuggling in other goods. Islamic State's presence in Iraq is mostly concentrated in the north, but it still has significant strongholds such as Tal Afar, to the west of Mosul, and nearby areas such as Al Qaem near the Syrian border. Even so, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said IS will be driven out of the country by April. IS still holds swathes of Syrian territory and is putting up fierce resistance in Raqqa, its capital in eastern Syria. It still holds around 90 percent of the province of Deir Ez-Zor near the Iraqi border, along with Raqqa and some parts of the eastern countryside of Aleppo in northern Syria. It also controls Palmyra and some pockets in Deraa in the south. Its opponents in Syria include the Turkish army and Syrian rebel groups northeast of Aleppo. On several fronts it is fighting Syrian government forces supported by the Russian air force and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has indicated he sees Trump's views on Islamic State as promising. In Libya, IS has lost control of the Mediterranean port city of Sirte to Libyan forces backed by U.S. air strikes. This defeat deprived the group of its main stronghold in North Africa, though it retains an active presence in other parts of Libya. The number of IS fighters is now estimated by analysts and experts to be at 20,000 in Iraq and Syria compared with 36,000 in 2014. Since then, a large number of fighters and IS leaders have been killed in air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition and others have been captured by the Iraqi army or fled the country. STRIKING BACK Despite the setbacks, Islamic States is putting up fierce resistance and remains a deadly threat to the United States and its Western allies. IS has started developing lethal alternatives to its caliphate, ranging from rural insurgencies in Syria and Iraq to carrying out attacks in Europe and targeting Western allies across the Middle East from Turkey to Egypt. Now, some Islamist experts believe, IS may redouble its efforts to strike inside the United States, and replicate the fatal attacks carried out in the last 15 months in Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin and Istanbul. Like al Qaeda before it, IS has long said the West has deep-seated hostility towards Muslims. Over the past decade, this narrative has been a factor in the steady growth of a radical audience in the Middle East and beyond. Trump's policies will make it a lot easier for the jihadists, says Mokhtar Awad, Research Fellow in the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. "They will simply double down on the strategy (of attacks) and instead of investing totally in the battlefields they use, they will try even harder than they have already to activate cells in different Middle Eastern and Western countries," Awad said. "An attack in the U.S., as horrific as it may be, is the perfect thing that will work in their favour to show Trump is weak, and embolden the most exclusionary and xenophobic attitudes that some in this (U.S.) administration may have." BUILDING COMMUNAL DISTRUST An important aim of IS strategy is to polarise societies and cause distrust of Muslim neighbours. Experts say IS believes that even if a Muslim does not join the group, he or she will be less inclined to oppose the militants if society is polarised. Many analysts say the most urgent fight for Islamic State's opponents is a political battle -- how to make the group irrelevant to those who support it now. Under Trump, who was inaugurated on Jan. 20, Washington has signalled it is looking for partners in the Middle East to take on IS. In Iraq, U.S. forces, at the forefront of the Mosul campaign, are in practice aligned, though not allied, with Iran, whose influence with Baghdad's Shi'ite-dominated government could increase if measures such as the U.S. entry ban go ahead or are reinstated. In Syria, U.S. forces are relying on Syrian Kurdish fighters to encircle Raqqa. But this has upset NATO ally Turkey, which sees the Syrian Kurd militia as identical to Turkish Kurd insurgents it regards as terrorists. The United States and European Union list them as terrorist groups. Trump's overtures to President Vladimir Putin suggest Russia and the United States could become closer in the fight against IS, though many of their goals and allies are different. This potentially budding relationship could also be an opportunity for IS. Analysts say it has already come to see Russia's alliance with Shi'ite Iran as a recruiting tool because it has caused such anger among some Muslims. Power, sex and slaves: Nigeria battles beliefs of Boko Haram brides By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Feb 8 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - C hanging her son's nappy, a wry smile flickered across Aisha's face as she recalled the power she wielded as the wife of a leading Boko Haram commander, living in the jihadists' forest stronghold in northeast Nigeria. "I had many slaves - they did everything for me," the 25-year-old said, explaining how women and girls kidnapped by the Islamist militants washed, cooked and babysat for her during the three years she spent in their base in the vast Sambisa forest. "Even the men respected me because I was Mamman Nur's wife. They could not look me in the eye," Aisha said in a state safe house in Maiduguri, where she has lived for almost a year since being captured by the Nigerian army in a raid in Sambisa. Aisha is among around 70 women and children undergoing a deradicalisation programme - led by psychologists and Islamic teachers - designed to challenge the teachings they received and beliefs they adopted while under the control of Boko Haram. Thousands of girls and women have been abducted by the group since it began its insurgency in 2009 - most notably the more than 200 Chibok girls snatched from their school in April 2014 - with many used as cooks, sex slaves, and even suicide bombers. Yet some of these women, like Aisha, gained respect, influence and standing within Boko Haram, which has waged a bloody campaign to create an Islamic state in the northeast. Seduced by this power, and relieved to escape the domestic drudgery of their everyday lives, these women can prove tougher than men to deradicalise and reintegrate into their communities, according to the Neem Foundation, which runs the programme. With more women likely to be freed from Boko Haram or widowed as Nigeria's military strives to defeat the militants, experts say insults, rejection and even violence towards them as they return to their communities could hinder efforts to repair the social fabric of a region splintered by Boko Haram. "There is a possibility of violence (when these women go home) because they were married to Boko Haram militants," Fatima Akilu, the head of Neem, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "There is still a lot of anger and resentment from communities that have been traumatised for years, and subjected to atrocities by the group," she added. NEWFOUND POWER While other women huddled around the communal television in the safe house in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, 22-year-old Halima recalled the 'beautiful home' built by her Boko Haram husband in the Sambisa, and the easy life she enjoyed. Trucks arrived regularly with food and clothes, a hospital staffed with doctors and nurses tended to the ill, and Halima was given her own room in the house she shared with her husband. "Anything I requested, I got," said Halima, sitting under a tree in the yard and lazily picking her toenails. Life in the Sambisa for women like Halima was a far cry from the deep-rooted patriarchy in the mainly Muslim northeast, where rates of child marriage, literacy among girls, and women in positions of power are far worse than in the rest of Nigeria. The escape from reality, and taste of freedom and autonomy afforded to the wives of Boko Haram militants, highlights the challenge facing Neem to deradicalise the women. Many are not ready to relinquish their newfound power. Despite being kidnapped by Boko Haram when they attacked her town of Banki four years ago, Aisha was not forced to marry Nur, the suspected mastermind of a suicide bomb attack on U.N. headquarters in Abuja in 2011 that killed 23 people. Aisha was courted for months and showered with gifts by Nur, who has a $160,000 state bounty on his head, before agreeing to become his fourth wife. When she told Nur to divorce his second wife - because she did not like her - he did so right away. After arriving at the safe house, Aisha complained about being separated from Nur, and asked the staff how they would feel if they were suddenly deprived after years of regular sex. "That's when she threatened that she would soon rape one of the male staff," said one of the support staff. "For almost two weeks, the men didn't come to work ... they were all afraid." GOING HOME The aim of Neem's programme is to change the mindset of the women and girls, make them think more rationally, and challenge the beliefs instilled in them over several years by Boko Haram. Neem employs psychologists who treat trauma and provide counselling, while Islamic teachers discuss religious and ideological beliefs, and challenge interpretations of the Koran. The women and girls in the safe house were subjected to nine straight hours of Koranic teaching a day by Boko Haram during their time in captivity in the Sambisa forest, Akilu said. "You can treat a person's emotional state ... but if you don't change the way they think and just release them into society, you perpetrate a vicious cycle," said Akilu, who used to run a state deradicalisation program for Boko Haram members. Akilu said she had seen huge improvements over the past nine months in the women and girls in the safe house, with most now believing that the actions of their former husbands were wrong. "I laugh at what he (Nur) was saying," said Aisha. "I now realise that he is not doing the right thing." However, with the nine-month-long deradicalisation programme drawing to a close, the staff at Neem were anxious about how the women and girls would be received upon their return home. Female former Boko Haram captives, and their children born to the militants, often face mistrust and persecution from their communities, who fear they will radicalise others or carry out violence, said the U.N. children's agency (UNICEF). But Aisha is not worried about rejection or stigma. Her only fear is returning to an ordinary life - one without power. Turkish army, Syrian rebels escalate assault on IS-held city ISTANBUL/BEIRUT, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Turkish army and allied Syrian rebels have captured the western outskirts of the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab, a rebel official and war monitor said on Wednesday, escalating their assault as the Syrian army also advanced on the city. "With last night's assault, Islamic State's defences have been broken through and the advance is now continuing," said a Turkmen Syrian rebel official, speaking from the Turkish city of Gaziantep. Syrian government forces have advanced to within a few kilometres (miles) of al-Bab, which is located 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo. The separate campaign by the Syrian army has raised the risk of a clash with the Turkish military. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation that reports on the war, said the Turkish forces and their Free Syrian Army rebel allies had captured a hill on the western periphery of the city. "We don't know if Daesh (Islamic State) will be able to recover it, or if it is in a state of collapse," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said. The rebel official said Turkish reinforcements had been sent to the area a week ago. U.N. seeks $2.1 billion to avert famine in Yemen GENEVA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed on Wednesday for $2.1 billion to provide food and other life-saving assistance to 12 million people in Yemen who face the threat of famine after two years of war. "The situation in Yemen is catastrophic and rapidly deteriorating," Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said in the appeal document. U.N. needs $2.1 billion to avert famine in Yemen By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Wednesday that 12 million people in Yemen faced the threat of famine brought on by two years of civil war and the situation was rapidly deteriorating. It appealed for $2.1 billion to provide food and other life-saving aid, saying that Yemen's economy and institutions are collapsing and its infrastructure has been devastated. "If there is no immediate action, and despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, famine is now a real possibility for 2017. Malnutrition is rife and rising at an alarming rate," U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien told a news briefing. "A staggering 7.3 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from," he said. Yemen has been divided by nearly two years of civil war that pits the Iran-allied Houthi group against a Western-backed Sunni Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia that is carrying out air strikes. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Nearly 3.3 million people - including 2.1 million children - are acutely malnourished, U.N. figures show. They include 460,000 children under age five with the worst form of malnutrition who risk dying of pneumonia or diarrhoeal disease. About 55 percent of Yemen's medical facilities do not function and the health ministry has no operational budget, said Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen. "Many of the people never make it to the feeding centres or the hospitals because they can't afford the tranport," he said. "Many people die silent and unrecorded deaths, they die at home, they are buried before they are ever recorded." In all, nearly 19 million Yemenis - more than two-thirds of the population - need assistance and protection, the United Nations said. "Ongoing air strikes and fighting continue to inflict heavy casualties, damage public and private infrastructure, and impede delivery of humanitarian assistance," it said. "The Yemeni economy is being wilfully destroyed," it added, saying that ports, roads, bridges, factories and markets have been hit. Yemen's main port at Hodeida is badly damaged and lacks cranes for offloading, leaving 30 ships offshore at any time and delaying deliveries, McGoldrick said. The Saudi-led coalition imposes strict restrictions on the ports which it controls. An estimated 63,000 Yemeni children died last year of preventable causes often linked to malnutrition, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week. "In Yemen, if bombs don't kill you, a slow and painful death by starvation is now an increasing threat," Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement as the U.N. plan was launched. Cambodia promises harsher drug crackdown as arrests soar PHNOM PENH, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen pledged on Wednesday to intensify a campaign against drugs after the arrest of more than 2,400 people for drug-related offences in a month. The campaign since January in the Southeast Asian country has drawn parallels with the drug crackdown in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte, but Hun Sen said that in Cambodia it would not lead to bloodshed. More than 7,000 people have been killed in the Philippines in the seven month-old drug war under Duterte. "In the Philippines and other countries, they ordered for the killings of people right on the spot," Hun Sen told a ceremony at a pagoda. "Cambodia won't allow this to happen." Over the past month, 2,428 people have been arrested in Cambodia for drug-related offences, with 1,243 arrested for using drugs, according to official data. In the whole of last year, 9,800 people were arrested in drug cases. Hun Sen appealed to the public for help with the campaign, saying that parents with children who are addicted to drugs should keep them at home. "The issue here is whether you must have your children in prison or educate them not to use drugs," Hun Sen said. "The good choice is that parents must control their children well." Armed men kidnap Colombian nun in southern Mali BAMAKO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Armed men have kidnapped a Colombian nun from the town where she worked in southern Mali, officials said on Wednesday. The woman was taken late on Tuesday evening from Karangasso, where she had been working in a health centre, about 300 km (186 miles) east of the capital Bamako, security ministry spokesman, Baba Cisse, said. They also stole an ambulance and then abandoned it for a motorcycle, Cisse said. Army spokesman Colonel Diarran Kone said the men had not yet been identified and that the army was searching for them. Myanmar says it killed Bangladeshi fisherman in self-defence By Simon Lewis and Mohammad Nurul Islam YANGON/COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, Feb 8 (Reuters) - A Myanmar patrol boat opened fire on Bangladeshi fishermen, killing one, because it feared it was under attack, Myanmar state media said on Wednesday, in a report on the latest violence on the countries' troubled border. But Bangladesh called the early Monday shooting an "act of unprovoked aggression" against unarmed fishermen, in a comment likely to increase tension on a border that has been unsettled since attacks on Myanmar guard posts on Oct. 9 in which nine policemen were killed. Myanmar blamed insurgents from the Rohingya Muslim minority for the October attacks and, in response, its security forces launched a crackdown that has tested the already strained relations between the neighbours, who both see the stateless Rohingya as the other side's problem. Bangladesh has complained about a new wave of almost 70,000 refugees from Myanmar since Oct. 9, who have followed hundreds of thousands of Rohingya already in Bangladesh, having fled previous unrest and discrimination. Many of the refugees have given accounts of extrajudicial killings, beatings, rape and arbitrary detention to U.N. investigators, journalists and human rights monitors. The Myanmar government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected the reports of abuse, saying many were fabricated. It insists strife in the area near the border with Bangladesh, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter. The government-run Global New Light of Myanmar, said the Myanmar patrol boat came across eight "illegal" Bangladeshi fishing boats, five of which were in Myanmar's waters. "The illegal boats surrounded the marine patrol boat in manoeuvres that suggested they were going to attack," the newspaper said, citing unidentified officials. "To ensure security and the lives of the soldiers, the patrol team fired two shots, causing the boats to abandon the area." The newspaper did not suggest the Bangladeshi fishermen were armed. 'ACTS OF AGGRESSION' Bangladeshi police, residents and fishermen in the Bangladeshi district of Teknaf said fisherman Nurul Amin, 26, was killed when a Myanmar navy vessel approached his boat at speed in the Naf river which forms the border in that area. The Myanmar boat chased the small wooden fishing boat toward the Bangladeshi bank of the river before opening fire, they said. One fisherman was being treated for a bullet wound and another went overboard but swam to safety, said the sources, including Colonel Anisur Rahman, Border Guard Bangladesh commander for Cox's Bazar. Rahman said the Myanmar vessel had "crossed into Bangladesh's body of water". Bangladesh had "strongly protested the act of unprovoked aggression" to Myanmar's government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "The ministry expressed deep concern at the repetition of such acts of aggression that do not contribute towards building up of an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding among neighbours," it said. Bangladesh officials said in late December four Bangladeshi fishermen were injured by Myanmar's navy in an incident on the border. [nL4N1EN35G A spokesman for the office of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, said the information in the newspaper report came directly from the navy and he could not give any more details. The man behind the fiscal fiasco in Illinois By Dave McKinney SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Feb 8 (Reuters) - As speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Michael Madigan has outlasted five governors and is now on his sixth. This year, the Chicago Democrat will become longest-serving state or federal House speaker in the United States since at least the early 1800s. Madigan is to Illinois what his late mentor, Mayor Richard J. Daley, was to Chicago, the state's great metropolis - a city the political boss once controlled down to the last garbage truck. As speaker for all but two years since 1983, Madigan has directed the fate of key pension, labor and tax laws. As state Democratic Party chairman since 1998, he has shaped the fortunes of his allies and stymied opponents. But if Daley's Chicago was "the city that works," a nickname coined during his tenure, Madigan's Illinois is the state that doesn't work. The speaker is one of America's most powerful politicians, presiding over arguably its most dysfunctional state capital. Illinois is beyond broke. It is the first state in at least eight decades to go without an annual budget, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Its bond ratings, the lowest of any state, are near junk status. It is projected to have a budget deficit this fiscal year of $5.3 billion and owes vendors about $10.8 billion in unpaid bills. Its pension system, serving more than 815,000 public employees and retirees, was tied with Kentucky's system for the lowest funding ratio among states, at 37.6 percent, according to a 2014 ranking by Pew Charitable Trusts. Unfunded liabilities stood at $129.8 billion last June, up from $2.5 billion in 1971, the year Madigan joined the legislature. Pension obligations are now projected to consume about a quarter of state operating revenues every year through 2044, raising the specter of steep tax hikes or deep cuts to public services. The state's unpaid bills could reach $47 billion by 2022, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner's administration has predicted. Hundreds of Illinois politicians share a measure of blame for the fiscal fiasco. Still, as speaker, Madigan has sponsored or voted for every major state law affecting pensions over his three decades in the job and is a leader in budget deliberations every year. No one in modern Illinois politics wields as much legislative power, said David Axelrod, the Chicago-based Democratic political consultant who helped put Barack Obama in the White House. "In his domain - in terms of the art of keeping and exercising power within that building - he's incomparable," Axelrod said, referring to the state capitol in Springfield. "Whatever his complicity in helping to create the problem, he's also going to be essential to its solution." Madigan declined to be interviewed for this report. In the fall of 2015, he shrugged off criticism during rare public comments about his role in the fiscal crisis. "If you wish to be a critic of me, then you would blame everything that's happened in the state for the last several years on me. Some do that," he told reporters. "I don't choose to be so negative." Madigan's spokesman, Steve Brown, said past governors, fellow House members and state senators, often from both parties, all signed off on the same laws and budgets that Madigan supported or sponsored. "There is shared responsibility for all," Brown said. As the latest governor to tangle with Madigan, Rauner has said the speaker needs to own up to his outsized role in the state's crisis, given Madigan's long tenure and unique clout. "He controls the government of Illinois. That's a fact," Rauner said in May 2015, after the legislature failed to pass a budget and shot down key Rauner proposals. "We've been driven into a ditch." Rauner declined requests for an interview about Madigan. Madigan emerged relatively unscathed from an epic battle for power with Rauner and the Republican Party in the 2016 elections, amid record campaign spending. Between January and November, the governor, his wife and his campaign fund gave at least $37.5 million to candidates and groups, many of which targeted Madigan in a torrent of television attack ads, state records show. The speaker's Democratic majority lost four of its 71 House seats in the 118-member chamber. But Madigan scored a victory by helping engineer the defeat of the governor's choice for comptroller, the office that disburses state funds. In 2013, Madigan took credit for passing a landmark fix to the pension system. But the state Supreme Court invalidated the law two years later, citing a clause in the Illinois constitution that prohibits existing state pension benefits from being "diminished or impaired." Before it was overturned, Madigan's attempted pension overhaul angered his union-heavy base. Now, Madigan is appeasing those longtime allies by fighting off Rauner's efforts to weaken collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions and workers' compensation protections. Two weeks before the Illinois legislature adjourned without passing a budget last May, Madigan spoke to a crowd estimated at 10,000 supporters outside the state capitol. "Governor Rauner wants to change collective bargaining!" he yelled. "How do you feel?" "Noooo!" came the rowdy response. BREAKFAST IN CHICAGO Soon after Rauner's 2014 election, Madigan met the governor-elect for breakfast at the Chicago Club, an old private institution catering to the city's business elite. As they talked, the speaker handed Rauner an index card listing the seven governors with whom Madigan had served, according to three people with direct knowledge of the meeting. The message was clear, these people said. Madigan aimed to outlast Rauner, too. Brown, Madigan's spokesman, said he was not aware of the episode with the index card. In the two years since that breakfast, Rauner has yet to enact a single piece of his "Turnaround Agenda." Madigan has blocked the governor's proposals to weaken collective bargaining and workers' compensation rights, portraying Rauner as an enemy of the middle class. The speaker also has stopped the governor's attempt to impose term limits for legislative leaders and to change how legislative district boundaries are redrawn every 10 years, a process Madigan has used to help elect Democratic allies. Rauner's predecessors can relate. It is difficult to point to any major state law that has passed without Speaker Madigan's blessing. In 1989, Republican Governor James R. Thompson had tried and failed for two years to pass a 20 percent increase in individual and business income taxes, along with a new sales tax on services, through Madigan's House. Madigan undermined the governor by passing a substitute plan in less than six hours. His top aides called the maneuver "Operation Cobra," because Madigan had kept it secret even from close allies. It raised rates 18 percent, but only temporarily. Desperate for revenue, Thompson signed Madigan's package into law. "Mike is one smart guy," Thompson told Reuters, admiring Madigan's legislative acumen decades later. UNDERSTUDY TO "THE BOSS" Early in his career, Madigan's political connections got him a job on the back of a garbage truck, the speaker said in a 2009 interview for a University of Illinois at Chicago oral history project documenting the life of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who served as mayor from 1955 to 1976. He got the patronage job because Madigan's father worked as a ward superintendent, an unelected position dedicated to monitoring neighborhood garbage pickup and street-cleaning. Later, when Madigan was a law student at Chicago's Loyola University between 1964 and 1967, the mayor got Madigan a job in the city's law department as a clerk. By 1969, Madigan was giving out jobs himself as a ward committeeman under Daley, rewarding people who helped hustle Democratic votes, the speaker told historians. He quickly learned about party discipline. After Madigan ran against a Daley-backed candidate for a higher party post, Daley refused to speak with him for nine months. "He was a boss. He should be," Madigan said in the interview with historians. "Everywhere in life, everywhere in the world, there has to be bosses." Daley ultimately backed Madigan's first run for the state legislature. Madigan said he keeps a mass card from the 2003 funeral of Daley's wife on his office desks in Springfield and in Chicago. The card shows the mayor and Eleanor "Sis" Daley at their 35th wedding anniversary. "When I'm sitting there and trying to make a tough decision, I'll look over at him and just ask myself, 'What would he do?'" Madigan said. MODERN MACHINE POLITICS Madigan has continued to apply Daley's lessons in patronage. People with connections to Madigan, for instance, regularly have landed jobs at two transportation agencies serving the Chicago area, according to a task force appointed in 2013 by then-Governor Patrick Quinn to investigate political influence on such hires. In 2011, the Regional Transportation Authority hired Madigan's son-in-law, Jordan Matyas, as a $130,000-a-year lobbyist. The agency denied at the time that the family connection played any role. Matyas declined a request for comment. Alex Clifford - the head of Chicago's commuter rail agency, Metra - alleged in a 2013 memo to the agency's board that, in 2012, Madigan used an emissary to lean on the agency to give a pay raise to a Madigan campaign worker and donor and to hire another unidentified staffer. Madigan acknowledged in a 2013 statement that he tried to get his campaign worker a raise, but he said he backed off when Clifford balked. Clifford contended his job was threatened by two board members aligned with Madigan. He ultimately agreed to leave the agency when the board gave him a controversial $718,000 severance package. Quinn, a Democrat, created the task force in 2013 to "restore trust" at Metra. Its final report detailed an additional 26 alleged instances in which Madigan or a lawyer acting on his behalf recommended people for public-transit jobs. "In some cases he did not recommend people to be hired - he in effect decided they were hired," the report said about Madigan's influence. The additional 26 hires came between 1983 and 1991. The task force discovered them in records the agency kept to track the hiring recommendations of politicians. Such political hires were common and considered legal in Illinois until 1990, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that patronage hiring by Illinois Republicans violated the constitutional free speech rights of public workers who did not support the party in power. The task force did not investigate the hiring of Madigan's son-in-law as an RTA lobbyist, but noted that it created a "perception" problem. Brown, the Madigan spokesman, said of the task force report: "Most of the claims made concerning Metra were unsubstantiated and the speaker disputed the claims." Clifford, now a transit executive in Santa Clara, California, described Madigan as a throwback. "He's built a machine," he told Reuters. "Some of us thought those kinds of political godfathers went away in the '30s and '40s. Obviously, not in Illinois." 'ILLINOIS MATH' Public jobs, salaries and benefits have been central to the mounting fiscal crisis. Laws and budgets passed on Madigan's watch have added tens of billions of dollars to the state's pension underfunding. In 1989, Madigan supported a law that permanently awarded compounding 3 percent annual increases in pension payments, which can make a retiree's yearly payout double over 25 years. Some retirees praise Madigan for his hand in the pension perk. "Certainly, anybody who voted 'yes' did a great thing for us," said Dave Davison, a 78-year-old retired teacher and school administrator who heads the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. "I do not feel bad, or feel like we're abusing the situation." In 2002, Madigan sponsored legislation that allowed thousands of state workers to retire as early as age 50 with full pensions. Initially, the state projected that about 7,400 workers would take advantage of the one-time offer. But more than 11,000 workers signed up, at a projected cost to the state of $2.3 billion through 2045. The state has made efforts in the Madigan era to control unfunded pension liabilities. But some of these merely shifted billions of dollars to the state's general obligation debt, which skyrocketed from $7.62 billion in 2002 to $27.8 billion in 2016. The state borrowed a total of nearly $17 billion to make pension contributions between 2003 and 2011 under legislation sponsored or supported by Madigan. In 2010, Madigan teamed with Quinn, the Democratic governor, to pass a law that cut pension benefits for employees hired after 2011. That will save the system substantial money once those workers retire. But for decades to come, the state will continue to shoulder higher costs of pensions for workers hired before 2011. And a little-known provision of the law allowed the state to slash pension contributions immediately, using the projected long-term savings as the rationale. The law was cited as a textbook example of the legislature's habit of pushing urgent obligations far into the future in a 2015 analysis commissioned by the Teachers Retirement System, or TRS, the state teachers' pension. "The state has systematically underfunded TRS using Illinois Math," the report stated. In an interview, Quinn said the law would eventually save billions of dollars and that Madigan played a key role in passing it. A DOWNHILL RAMP Pension legislation Madigan helped draft decades ago continues to haunt Illinois. An example is the 1994 overhaul known as the "Edgar Ramp," after Governor Jim Edgar. The politics of the law were unique. As the 1994 election approached, Edgar faced a reelection challenge from Democratic Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch. Madigan had backed a rival to Netsch in the Democratic primary race. Netsch was planning to use the pension crisis against Edgar. Madigan came to the Republican governor's rescue by helping him pass a pension change in an election year. Madigan was trying to shore up his own power, Edgar said later. The speaker needed to protect the reelection prospects of his Democratic allies in the House from public employee unions angry about their underfunded pensions. "Madigan was always looking out for his members," Edgar said in an interview with Reuters. The surprising alliance helped keep Edgar in office. It didn't work so well for Madigan, who lost his Democratic majority - and his speakership for the only term since 1983 - as Republicans made sweeping gains nationwide. The resulting law contributed to a meteoric rise in unfunded obligations. The "ramp" promised bigger pension contributions - but phased them in slowly until 2011. In the intervening years, unfunded liabilities shot up by $57 billion. Those phased-in increases were the "primary driver" of the added liabilities, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2013, the SEC accused Illinois of understating the risk of pension shortfalls and misleading the holders of $2.2 billion in state bonds between 2005 and 2009. The 1994 Edgar Ramp law "enabled the state to shift the burden associated with its pension costs to the future," the SEC wrote in its complaint. The state settled by agreeing to better disclosure but admitted no wrongdoing. Edgar, in an interview, praised Madigan for working with him. He faulted his successors for passing laws that weakened pensions and for failing to recalibrate contributions during economic downturns. "Nobody foresaw the recession we saw or the fall of the market or the lack of fiscal discipline we saw in state government, discipline that we had in the '90s but that disappeared in the 2000s," he said in an interview with Reuters. BRONZE-PLATED LEGACY In a hallway near Madigan's statehouse office, four bronze wall plaques list the 59 House speakers who have served since Illinois gained statehood in 1818. Madigan's entry takes up far more space than that of anyone else. By August, Madigan will have outlasted the longest-serving house speaker in modern U.S. politics, the late Solomon Blatt, who ran the South Carolina chamber for 32 non-consecutive years between 1937 and 1973. Last month, Madigan celebrated his tenure by giving each of the members of his Democratic majority a crystal clock that retails for $150. Omitted from the gift list was Scott Drury, the only Democrat who did not vote for Madigan's reelection as speaker. Instead of a gift, Drury said, he got stripped of his committee leadership position in retaliation for stepping out of the party line. Brown, Madigan's spokesman, said Drury had become "a difficult person to work with." The 65 Democrats loyal to Madigan now have clocks bearing the inscription: "The Honorable Michael J. Madigan. Longest-serving speaker of a state House of Representatives in United States history. 2017." Germany mulling meeting with Russia, Ukraine, France on Ukraine crisis BERLIN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Germany is in talks with its partners about organising a meeting between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany on the Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Bonn next week, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. "We are conducting talks in the Normandy format with our partners in Paris, Moscow, Kiev about the usefulness, political usefulness and logistical feasibility of such a meeting. It is too early for me to confirm it, but it is possible that it could come to that," said the spokesman. He added that Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel believed it would be a good idea to organise a meeting of the four foreign ministers soon to give new impetus to the implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement and to calm down the violence in eastern Ukraine. Brazil challenges Canada at WTO over Bombardier loans By Alonso Soto and Brad Haynes BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Brazil opened a formal complaint against Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Wednesday, accusing the country of distorting the global aerospace industry with subsidies for planemaker Bombardier Inc . Brazil has threatened for months to open the WTO process, arguing that support for Bombardier's new CSeries was undercutting the market for commercial jets made by Brazilian rival Embraer SA. The latest support for Bombardier came on Tuesday in the form of interest-free loans worth C$372.5 million ($283 million) from the Canadian government. Canadian Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the loans complied with WTO rules and the government would defend itself against litigation. Brazil's Foreign Ministry cited news of additional subsidies for Bombardier in a statement on Wednesday, criticizing "at least $2.5 billion in government support" for the Canadian planemaker. "It is the understanding of Brazil that these Canadian subsidies artificially affect international competitiveness," the Brazilian ministry said in a statement. "New support that has been announced could further deepen the distortions in the aeronautical sector in detriment to Brazilian interests." The province of Quebec, where Bombardier is based, injected $1 billion into the company's CSeries program. The province's largest pension fund invested $1.5 billion in the company's rail unit last year. Embraer Chief Executive Paulo Cesar Silva said in a statement that the ongoing subsidies "have not only been fundamental in the development and survival of the CSeries program, but have also allowed Bombardier to offer its aircraft at artificially low prices." Bombardier representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both countries now have up to 60 days to try to settle the dispute before the creation of a panel of experts to help the WTO make a ruling in the case. The latest WTO standoff follows nearly a decade of sparring between Brazil and Canada over state financing for Embraer and Bombardier's exports. However, the current dispute is closer in substance to the clash between the United States and the European Union over allegedly unfair government loans to Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE. The WTO found government loans from EU member states to support Airbus aircraft development constituted unfair subsidies, prompting the threat of U.S. sanctions. The case has still not completed a lengthy WTO legal and compliance process. Cameroon's pygmies ensnared in charity giants' rainforest feud By Katy Migiro NAIROBI, Feb 8 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - In the remote Central African rainforest, two major charities are battling over the future of some 50,000 pygmies, beset by poverty, hunger and alcoholism after they were evicted from their lands to save iconic elephants and gorillas. As wildlife populations shrink at an unprecedented rate, conservation groups are pouring millions of dollars into efforts to protect their habitats - which critics say often put animals before people. In Cameroon, Survival International, a group campaigning for the rights of tribal people, has accused the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) of funding anti-poaching guards who have beaten and killed Baka pygmies with impunity. The charity also says WWF violated international guidelines by supporting the creation of three national parks on Baka land a decade ago without their consent - charges WWF denies. Since being moved off their ancestral land, most of the largely-illiterate Baka live in huts made of leaves, bamboo and mud-baked bricks alongside southeast Cameroon's roads, just outside the protected areas that they need permits to enter. They divide their time between camping in the forest, particularly during fishing, caterpillar and mango seasons - where they often come into conflict with guards - and the villages, where they farm plantain and peanuts. "If WWF can't prevent this abuse and can't get the Bakas' consent, then it needs to get out," said Michael Hurran, Africa campaigner with London-based Survival International. Worldwide, a surge in wildlife poaching, including the slaughter of elephants for ivory, is pitting conservationists, trying to save endangered species, against tribal people, unable to secure rights to land they have depended on for centuries. Government authorities in Switzerland, where WWF is based, agreed in December to mediate in the Cameroon dispute. In its formal complaint, Survival International submitted more than 20 redacted statements, including handwritten letters by a Baka rights group, detailing allegations of abuse by "ecoguards". "On paper, (WWF) supports indigenous people's rights... but in reality, they don't," said Hurran. "Behind the scenes, they support this very repressive human-free idea of what national parks should be." WWF's Africa director Fred Kwame Kumah told the Thomson Reuters Foundation none of the allegations of abuse had been substantiated. HUMAN ZOOS The Baka are one of the ethnic groups that make up Africa's half a million pygmies, the continent's largest group of nomadic hunter-gatherers who are usually less than five feet (1.5 metres) tall. Pygmies have long faced discrimination and mistreatment, from being displayed in human zoos in Europe to enduring enslavement and cannibalism in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some regard the term as derogatory. "I personally see the Baka as the solution, and not a problem," said WWF's Kumah, pointing out his was the first international conservation group to adopt principles on the rights of indigenous peoples. "That's the only way we can secure these places." WWF is working to win more rights for the Baka, Kumah said, such as creating Cameroon's first Baka-managed forest. An official with Cameroon's forest ministry said an influx of poachers and criminals from neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) forced it to boost security in the area - leading to what rights groups said was abuse of the Baka by guards. At the height of CAR's civil war in 2013, poachers massacred almost 30 elephants at a world-famous watering hole in the Dzanga Sangha World Heritage Site on Cameroon's eastern border. "If enquiries show there are abuses of Baka, the (guards) will be severely punished using the law," the official said, declining to give his name. LOST What no one denies is that the transition from forest life to the money economy is proving difficult for the Baka. "We are losing our culture," said Messe Venant, who heads Okani, a Baka rights group in Cameroon. "The Baka and the forest are inseparable." Exiled from their ancestral lands, Cameroon's 50,000 Baka people are rapidly losing their culture and traditions, he said. "In the forest, people were more relaxed, they had everything they needed," Venant said in a phone interview. "Now, people want to find somewhere to drink alcohol and then the day is ruined... They are totally lost." Venant wants the Cameroonian government, led by veteran President Paul Biya, to let the Baka move back into some national parks to resume their traditional way of life. Millions of people across Africa have been expelled from their land to create protected areas like national parks, according to Charles Geisler, a sociologist at Cornell University, who dubs them "conservation refugees". Protected areas have doubled since the 1990s, according to the World Bank, covering 15 percent of land globally, often displacing indigenous people who lack political clout to resist. "They will often be regarded as subhuman," said Rosaleen Duffy, a professor of politics at the University of Sheffield. "They... are left in this almost destitute situation." POACHING With few other options, the Baka often hunt illegally in the forests for bushmeat to eat and sell or for poaching gangs. "They probably get 50 to 80 percent of their calories from the forest," said Terry Sunderland, principal scientist with the Centre for International Forestry Research. "If you look at wildlife offtake from the Baka community, it's tiny in comparison with the other poaching that goes on." The Baka and other indigenous peoples would benefit if Cameroon's laws were amended to allow them to hunt and gather in the forest, he said. Efforts to crack down on commercial poachers, who are often well-connected and rich should also be stepped up, experts said. Africa's elephant population fell around 20 percent between 2006 and 2015 because of a surge in ivory poaching, conservationists said in a report last year. The illegal wildlife trade is one of the world's most profitable criminal enterprises, worth up to $20 billion a year, the United Nations says. Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said it will publish any final agreement in the dispute between the two advocacy groups. But it is unclear where talks would take place. Brazil challenges Canada at WTO over Bombardier funding By Brad Haynes and Alonso Soto SAO PAULO/BRASILIA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Brazil opened a formal complaint against Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Wednesday, accusing the country of distorting the global aerospace industry with subsidies for planemaker Bombardier Inc . Brazil has threatened for months to open the WTO dispute, arguing that support for Bombardier's new CSeries was undercutting the market for commercial jets made by Brazilian rival Embraer SA. The case builds on decades of antagonism between the two regional jet makers and echoes arguments in the world's largest trade dispute, a transatlantic spat over government support for Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE. Brazil's action came on the heels of fresh support for Bombardier on Tuesday in the form of interest-free loans worth C$373 million ($283 million) from the Canadian government. Canada's Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the loans complied with WTO rules and the government would defend itself against litigation. Brazil's Foreign Ministry criticized "at least $2.5 billion in government support" for the Canadian planemaker last year and a senior official said the complaint would include the loans announced on Tuesday. "It is the understanding of Brazil that these Canadian subsidies artificially affect international competitiveness," the ministry said in a statement. The province of Quebec, where Bombardier is based, injected $1 billion into the company's CSeries program last year. The province's largest pension fund also invested $1.5 billion in the company's rail unit. Embraer Chief Executive Officer Paulo Cesar Silva said in a statement that the ongoing cash injections "have not only been fundamental in the development and survival of the CSeries program, but have also allowed Bombardier to offer its aircraft at artificially low prices." STEEP DELTA DISCOUNT Last year, Bombardier scored an order from Delta Air Lines Inc for 75 CSeries jets, worth some $5.6 billion at list prices, beating out Embraer's competing E-Jets with below break-even prices, according to the Brazilians. Two sources familiar with the deal said Bombardier offered a roughly two-thirds discount to win the order, its biggest to date for the fledgling CSeries program. Bombardier booked a $500 million "onerous contract" charge related to that Delta order and a separate deal with Air Canada . Carlos Cozendey, undersecretary for economic affairs at Brazil's Foreign Ministry, said that subsidies had been key in helping Bombardier win the Delta contract and could influence more sales campaigns this year. Bombardier pushed back on Wednesday, calling the government support a standard practice in the global aerospace industry. "All forms of support provided to Bombardier, including the repayable program contributions announced by the federal government yesterday and the investment from the Quebec government...are fully compliant with Canada's international trade obligations," Bombardier said in a statement. The company compared that funding to loans for Embraer from Brazil's state development bank BNDES and an investment by the Brazilian Air Force in Embraer's new military cargo jet. "The aerospace industry is heavily subsidized around the world," said lawyer Renata Amaral, head of the international trade practice at Brazilian firm Barral M Jorge & Associates. "The problem is when subsidies reach a degree that starts creating distortions in the market." Amaral, who has advised Brazil on previous WTO cases, said that a decision on the current dispute was likely to stretch into 2018. Both countries now have up to 60 days to try to settle the dispute before the WTO convenes a panel of experts to help make a ruling in the case. BUILDING ON PRECEDENT The latest WTO standoff follows nearly a decade of sparring between Brazil and Canada over state financing for Embraer and Bombardier's exports in the 1990s. However, the current dispute is closer in substance to the clash between the United States and the European Union over allegedly unfair support for Boeing and Airbus. Brazil will aim to build on a partial U.S. victory in that case, which focused on comparing public financing for aircraft development with private-sector benchmarks to determine whether the loans constituted improper subsidies. The WTO ruled that loans to Airbus were unfair but stopped short of putting them in the worst category of "prohibited" aid. The dispute, which started more than a decade ago, has still not completed a lengthy WTO compliance process. Cozendey, of Brazil's foreign ministry, said that precedent strengthened the argument against Canadian subsidies. Brazil will argue that some of Canada's measures are "prohibited" under international trade law, while others are not illegal per se but are "actionable" because the scale of the subsidies are disrupting competition, Cozendey said. ($1 = C$1.32) Pirates kidnap seven Russians, one Ukrainian in Nigerian waters LAGOS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Pirates have kidnapped seven Russians and one Ukrainian after attacking the cargo ship the BBC Caribbean off the coast of Nigeria, the Russian embassy said on its official Twitter account. The embassy has asked Nigerian authorities to assist in locating the abducted people, it said late on Tuesday. The Nigerian navy and police were not immediately available for comment. The general cargo vessel BBC Caribbean is managed by Briese Schiffahrts. "The armed pirates approached (the vessel) in a boat, captured the crew and left on the boat at the direction of the Nigerian shores," said Pavel Fedulov, the director of a Briese Schiffahrts subsidiary in St Petersburg, according to Russian news organisation RBC. No firearms were used during the attack, he was quoted as saying. Security experts class West Africa's waters, especially off Nigeria where most of the pirates originate, as some of the world's most dangerous, with attackers often targeting oil tankers as well as hostages to ransom. As oil prices have dropped, pirate gangs have taken to abducting crew for ransom as a way to make more money. Caixabank gets 84.5 pct stake in Portugal's Banco BPI in takeover By Sergio Goncalves LISBON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Spain's Caixabank successfully completed the takeover of Portugal's second-largest listed lender, Banco BPI, paying 645 million euros ($690 million) to raise its stake to 84.5 percent from 45 percent, the two banks said on Wednesday. "This acquisition has a lot of financial logic, we're talking about two institutions that complete each other perfectly," CEO of Caixabank, Gonzalo Cortazar, told a news conference, adding that the Portuguese market "has potential". The takeover took nearly two years to complete and was designed to boost Caixabank revenues outside Spain, where it faces stiff competition for lending. The Barcelona-based lender was one of Spain's most acquisitive banks during the financial crisis, and has struggled to offset falling profitability at home by buying smaller savings banks. It launched its first bid for BPI in 2015 at 1.329 euros per share, but opposition by some shareholders, notably Angolan investor Isabel dos Santos, forced it to withdraw that bid last year, only to make a lower final offer of 1.134 euros a share. Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola's president, had a stake of about 20 percent in the Portuguese bank. It was not immediately clear whether she was fully bought out. BPI CEO Fernando Ulrich will step down, but Caixabank proposed that he be elected chairman of the board at BPI, which will keep its decision-making centre in Portugal. Caixabank has said it expects savings of up to 84 million euros a year from merger synergies, including up to 45 million euros from 900 layoffs as businesses are combined. Caixabank ended 2016 with a fully-loaded capital ratio - a measure of a bank's strength under the strictest capital rules - of 12.4 percent and expected the ratio to fall by up to 80-140 basis points, depending on the take-up of the BPI bid. Although not immune to problems affecting Portugal's notoriously fragile banking sector, BPI has long finished paying off its state loans, while its larger rivals Millennium bcp and state-owned CGD still owe money to the state. BPI had a 33 percent rise in 2016 net profit as net interest income rose while impairments for bad loans fell sharply. Its fully-loaded capital ratio at the end of 2016 was 11.1 percent. Before the completion of the takeover, BPI handed control of its lucrative Angolan unit BFA to Angolan telecoms firm Unitel to meet requirements by the European Central Bank on risky exposure to the Angolan economy. Dos Santos also indirectly controls Unitel and the BFA deal was seen as a way of winning her approval for the takeover. Mexico's Jose Cuervo IPO at least 4 times oversubscribed- sources By Roberto Aguilar, Christine Murray and Alexandra Alper MEXICO CITY, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The initial public offering for tequila maker Jose Cuervo is at least four times oversubscribed, four sources said on Wednesday, pointing to a high-end pricing for the first Mexican IPO since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency. Two of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said pricing of the 476.6 million share offer was expected to be at the upper end of the 30 to 34 peso guidance range. A 34 peso pricing, combined with a 15 percent "overallotment option" could allow the oldest continuously-producing tequila company to rake in upwards of $900 million. The official pricing is due to be released later on Wednesday. Jose Cuervo, which is also the world's biggest tequila maker, could not immediately be reached for comment. The company, officially known as Becle, put its IPO on hold twice last year, as Trump's march to the White House gathered strength, sending the peso currency to a series of record lows. The real estate mogul has threatened to slap a hefty tax on products Mexico sends to the United States to pay for a border wall, as well as tear up a joint trade deal with Mexico. U.S. protectionist measures against Mexico could hurt Jose Cuervo, which generates 64 percent of its $1.165 billion in sales from American and Canadian consumers. But investors have expressed strong interest in the IPO, citing Cuervo's strong dollar-based earnings and saying demand for tequila is not heavily dependent on prices. Started by Jose Antonio de Cuervo in 1758 before Mexican independence from Spain, Cuervo says it is North America's oldest continuous producer of spirits. Boasting 30 percent of the global tequila market, the business is now controlled by the Beckmann family, which will remain the majority shareholder after the IPO. Aranda, a subsidiary of Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings Ltd, has said it will take a 20 percent stake in the listing, helping to put a floor under the IPO. Shares of the company should begin trading on Mexico's bourse on Thursday. Former Minister, and former Chairman of the COPE and leader of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, DEW Gunasekara discussed the current political situation in the country, the Bond scam and US policy on Sri Lanka under Trump administration. When the Dailymirror spoke to him, he shared the following: You requested during a recent media briefing that President Maithripala Sirisena appoint a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate the Central Bank Bond scam. Your views on this.... Yes, it is correct that I demanded to have a Presidential Commission appointed to inquire into the Central Bank Bond scam. In my view, a normal judicial process via the Attorney General (AG) as suggested by the Prime Minister would make the COPE report finally a dead duck. The Bond scam was a complex issue and an inquiry by a Commission will undertake a forensic investigation. Courts simply cannot find time and energy to undertake such an assignment. It needs a full time investigation at least for three months. According to the terms of reference of the COI appointed by President Sirisena, though the COI is not mandated to impose punishment, the scope of the inquiry is wider enough ot any viable alternative process within the provisions of the Constitution. Why must a probe on the Bond scam not take the normal legal process and the AG file a case in a court of law? Our judicial history shows that a normal legal process via the AG would take years and that too may finally reach a dead end. So, Do you think COI is the ideal answer? Unless a new legislation is framed within the provisions of the existing Constitution, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry is what is feasible, practical and desirable. In the national interests, this is the only available alternative judicial mechanism the people of the country can keep hopes on. You were the chairman of the COPE sub committee that investigated the Bond scandal in the first half of 2015 before the dissolution of Parliament. Do you think there is a prima-facie case here? As the chairman of COPE in the 7th Parliament, I was mandated by the Parliament to undertake the first investigation. It was tasked by a special committee of 13 members of the COPE as directed by the speaker. I commenced investigation on May 22, 2015 in response to a request by Parliament. I attempted to present a parliamentary report without recommendations. Due to the sudden dissolution of parliament, I was not able to comply with that request. So, the final phase of the investigation had to be undertaken by the new COPE of the 8th Parliament. By then, I had concluded collecting oral evidence from 42 witnesses which ran into 449 pages. Those evidence was given on oath and hence admissible. The new COPE committee has accepted that those evidence was admissible. The new COPE committee has also questioned a further 23 witnesses including those who were re-summoned for cross-examination. On the face of my evidence report, there is already a prima-face case. The Joint Opposition vows it would topple the unity government before the end of 2017. Do you think the JO is capable of doing this? Toppling a government in a democracy simply means defeating a Government. I believe it may happen easily with crossovers. Otherwise it may be possible through an insurrection or in a military coup d etat unconstitutionally. In my assessment, even though the contradictions between the Government and the people have been sharpened due to various factors, conditions have not matured enough for a change in the balance of social forces. Political forces are so much divided and no such realignment of forces in the opposition has taken place as yet. So, both subjective and objective factors are not yet matured, in my view. Wishes alone are not sufficient for changes. However, the SLFP is in total chaos and split to three factions in legally accepted SLFP led by President Sirisena, SLFP group in the JO led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the SLFP splinter group in the SLPP. The UNP does not have a significant challenge from within and has a better chance to emerge as the winner in any future election. Do you agree? I agree. The UPFA is sharply divided; horizontally and vertically. As far as the Communist Party is concerned, though we were a part of the UPFA government, we were never a constituent member of the UPFA. At the elections, we entered into an MOU between the SLFP and CPSL. Prior to that of course we were a part of the Peoples Alliance (PA). The UPFA was formed at the instance of the JVP in 2004. We were not prepared to subscribe to the UPFA programme. That was why we entered into an MOU for the purpose of winning the general election. We dont hear much about the UPFA these days. Is it history now? The UPFA is now in a disarray. The JVP is in the official opposition. Part of the SLFP is in the Government and the other half in the JO. Some are aligned with the UNP. The CPSL is functioning as an independent in the opposition. We align ourselves with the JO on the basis of issues. In fact the it is neither a party nor an alliance. As it is, the UNP remains undivided despite contradictions within. To that extent, the situation may be favourable to them just at the moment. This is precisely what the two factions of the SLFP do not comprehend, absence of a self critical assessment of its 20 years in power has placed the SLFP in this predicament. I have already set out the situation. I do not know as you suggest whether it has become history already. As I see it, it is all subjective factors that have pushed them into this situation-not policies at all. Subjective factors do not permit them to produce a correct strategy. While the entire world is turning to open market policies, the newly elected US President Donald Trump has resorted to a policy of protectionism. He is to build a protective wall along the boarder of USs southern neighbour Mexico and threatens to abrogate Trans Pacific Treaty. How do you see this? Donald Trump is a political novice. He had never been in politics prior to his nomination as Presidential candidate of the Republican Party. So, he is under test. Donald Trump being that, he faces unprecedented and formidable challenges both domestically and globally. Some challenges are legacies of course left behind by his predecessor Barack Obama. He is also called upon to face new challenges as well. Firstly, the emergence of China as the second economic power of the world, the emergence of Asian economy leading to world economy and the divisions within the three poles of world capitalism the US, EU and Japan. Secondly, the decline of US economy which accounts for only 22% of worlds GDP where it was 50% under President Ronald Reagan. Insurmountable debt problems cause a negative effect on its aggressive foreign and defence policies. Thirdly, USAs isolation from Asia, Africa and Latin America despite rapid globalization. Fourthly, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the US, EU and other Pacific rim countries are in jeopardy and the Brexit has further aggravated the situation. The TPP has already been abandoned by Trump himself. As a result, American influence both in Atlantic and Pacific regions is threatened. Fifth, Trumps electorates high expectations would pose a greater challenge from within if clashed. Sixth, the US is fast leaving its closer friends such as Mexico, Turkey and the Philippines. As regards to protectionism, how could Trump run to counter globalization, the existing reality. Late Ronald Reagan was the President who accelerated the pace of globalization through neo liberalization. Trump seeks isolation through protectionism at the expense of the current world order. What is your view on Trumps positive rhetoric on Russian President Vladimir Putin? I dont see Trumps moves to woo Russians as a strategic move. It is only a tactical shift. Perhaps, Trump unlike Obama, sees China as a bigger challenge. This is the main contradiction between Trump and EU. EU and Obama considered Russia as an immediate threat. They wanted to bring NATO forces closer to Moscow. Is Sri Lanka at a disadvantageous or advantageous situation with Trump as the US President? Basically, in my view, the US policy on Sri Lanka remains unchanged whether Obama or Trump. The Republican Party the grand old party in the US is less sensitive to issues like Human Rights. To that extent, Trump administration may perhaps be more advantageous to Sri Lanka short term of course. Under Trump, would there be a major policy change on SL by the US and what would be the US governments attitude on allegations against SL on alleged violation of the International Humanitarian Law at the final phase of the Humanitarian Operation in 2009? There would be no major policy change towards Sri Lanka. As I said earlier, Trump may be less sensitive on Human Rights issues. If there is any difference, it would not be significant. The world community keeps watching the US under Trump with much interest as US policies are becoming interesting than ever before. When President Maithripala Sirisena stressed at a top level meeting last Friday that he should take some action to eliminate corruption, it was construed as a reference to a Cabinet reshuffle. It proved to be correct later, but the President did not move on it. The unity government has appointed a committee comprising representatives from both the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to discuss issues cropping up in the execution of tasks by the two sides. It met last Friday with the participation of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. According to government sources, a survey had been conducted as an initiative by the President to assess the standing of the current rule in the public arena. Findings do not augur well for the government. The President wanted to step in to restore its image. Referring to research findings, the President emphasized that corruption should be rooted out at any cost. To restore the image of the government, he said that he wanted to take some action. Why are we digging our own grave otherwise? he asked. The phrase some action communicated the intended meaning. It was a reference to a change of certain portfolios. Nonetheless, the UNP was not in favour of such action to be done at this juncture. It said the government had to respond to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) later this month and early next month. Alongside, it said a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was due here next month for the evaluation of economic performance and to decide on the next form of financial assistance based on it. Ahead of such important engagements, a Cabinet reshuffle is not advisable in the UNPs perspective. Amaraweera compelled to retract his position on Cabinet reshuffle Before that, Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, a close confidante of the President, announced in public the need for a change in certain portfolios. His remarks received wide publicity in the media, eventually infuriating some of his colleagues fearing the possible stripping of their positions due to corruption allegations being framed against them. Minister Amaraweera received numerous inquiries in this regard. Finally, it dawned on him that his remarks should not have been timed at this moment. For whatever reason, he had to retract on some of his words saying it was a matter for the party leadership to decide. I am the party secretary. I do not have the power to decide on rearranging the Cabinet portfolios. It is the prerogative of the President to do so, he said. These political developments suggest that though a section of the present rule wants to rearrange the Cabinet portfolios, it is impossible due to resistance by the other segment fearing possible ripple effects in a political sense. UNP complains against SLFP Chief Ministers It has now become a common phenomenon that the members the UNP and the SLFP take on each other publicly, even giving one the impression that the unity government is rocked to its foundation. Political favouritism is the main allegation being hurled to and fro. The UNP Ministers grumble that they could not deliver much to their own people because of the involvement of SLFP in the governmental affairs in a big way. The SLFP also has the same grouse against the UNP. Against this backdrop; the governments parliamentary group meeting was conducted on Monday evening with the President and the PM in the chair. After a long time, the UNP and the SLFP MPs assembled at one place to discuss issues of mutual concern. This time, the UNP complained against the Chief Ministers. Out of the nine Provincial Councils, seven are controlled by the Chief Ministers representing the SLFP. The UNP accused them of ill-treatment of its people in the discharge of duties. It happens mostly in giving jobs and carrying out development works. President Sirisena, who is the leader of the SLFP, responded with humour to this complaint initially before he suggested a serious response. You are the ones always asking for further power devolution to the Provincial Councils. In case, the UNP takes control of the PCs next time, it will do the same. Then, the SLFP will bemoan, he said. He also called upon the UNP and the SLFP members serving the respective councils to act together to iron out such issues, citing limitation for the centre to intervene in their affairs. In addition, the Ministers such as Rishad Bathiudeen found fault with Chief Minister of the Eastern PC Nazeer Ahmed who represented Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). Nazeer Ahmed was faulted for his alleged arrogance in transacting with people. Govt. tries to re-evaluate Divineguma Project Tuesdays Cabinet meeting discussed the current status of Divineguma project. This was done amidst plans for renaming the project as Samurdhi again. It was stressed the need to reassess the scheme with focus on re-identification of those eligible for benefits. The UNP, once again, lamented that Divineguma officials did not collaborate with them enough at village level. Though it initiated as a poverty alleviation project, the Samurdhi scheme, introduced by the 1994 Peoples Alliance Government, served as the virtual political apparatus of the SLFP-led alliances in executing their political work at grassroots level. During the time of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, its scope was widened along with the change of name as Divineguma. The public base built around the project is politically advantageous to the MR Camp. In that context, the UNP and the anti-MR group of the SLFP probably wants to efface the current political colouring of it to be replaced with theirs. Kiriella wants sovereign guarantee; not letter of comfort Another matter discussed was related to the issuance of loans to the Road Development Authority (RDA) for the implementation of road projects. The National Savings Bank has sought a sovereign guarantee from the government to issue such loans for road projects. However, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake agreed to give only a letter of comfort. In respect of a sovereign guarantee, there is a legal binding on the part of the government. Yet, there is only a moral binding in respect of a letter of comfort. This was referred to the Cabinet. Public Enterprises Reforms Minister Kabir Hashim asked for more time to study the whole aspect of it before agreeing at once. Highways and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella said the Banks had offered to grant loans to the RDA for road projects, and they should be facilitated. Finally, a committee headed by Ravi Karunanayake, Kabir Hashim and Minister of Special Assignments Dr. Sarath Amunugama was appointed to look into and report to the Cabinet. Huge build-up against SAITM After the court ruling for the recognition of medical degrees offered by South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), commonly known as Malabe Private Medical College, a new build-up has emerged against it. Medical students of State universities, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and medical teachers are up in arms against SAITM medical degree. In the course for the formulation of its opinion, the Joint Opposition also engaged with these bodies. The GMOA has taken the toughest stance that it should be abolished. However, some medical lecturers have taken the moderate position that it should be made a semi-government degree awarding institutions offering courses under the strict supervision of the Sri Lanka Medical Council. The anti-SAITM protest was simmering during the previous rule. It never reached the point of explosion. However, it is now blown out of proportion. The government or Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella for that matter considers this court ruling as a blessing for promotion of private investment in the higher education sector. However, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, who spoke on behalf of the JO, said, This is not a matter that can be resolved in court. The court decides individual cases. This is a matter concerning the formulation of national policies across the board. The proper forum is Parliament. The government must take the initiative in addressing the issue seriously and laying down the policy in this regard. In our opinion, the main element of that policy is to give full responsibility and authority to Sri Lanka Medical Council. The conferment of degrees by universities and other educational institutions is a matter under the Universities Act. But, whether a particular degree is adequate or not for a profession is a different matter. As far as medical education is concerned, that authority to decide whether a person is entitled to practise medicine is within the purview of Sri Lanka Medical Council. This is not a matter related to the privileges of doctors. This is a matter that touches the rights of the public. Under the existing law, Sri Lanka Medical Council has the authority to evaluate courses of study, and on the basis of that evaluation to make a recommendation to the Minister of Health. MR refuses kiri kos with wevmaalu due to religious observances Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in Anuradhapura recently. He was seen walking about one km up to Mirisawetiya while talking to people on the way. As per his habit, he accepts invitation for meals or tea at the residences of MPs in Anuradhapura whenever he is on a visit to the area. However, he had to abstain from taking a meal at MP S.M. Chandrasenas house this time. The former President was to attend some religious observances at Kebilitta Devale in the South. For that, he had to refrain from consuming animal flesh for a period as a ritualistic requirement. At Chandrasenas residence, a meal with Kiri Kos (Jak curry cooked with coconut milk) was prepared with wev malu (freshwater fish), a cuisine unique to Rajarata. Sir, I prepared Kiri Kos with WevMalu. How would you like it? asked Chandrasena. Given his commitment to attend the event in Kebilitta Devale, MR declined to accept his invitation this time. I would have loved to have Kiri Kos. But today, I cannot. Lets bring something later and eat! he said. PROJECT SYNDICATE: If there is one thing at which Chinas leaders truly excel, it is the use of economic tools to advance their countrys geostrategic interests. Through its US$1 trillion one belt, one road initiative, China is supporting infrastructure projects in strategically located developing countries, often by extending huge loans to their governments. As a result, countries are becoming ensnared in a debt trap that leaves them vulnerable to Chinas influence. Of course, extending loans for infrastructure projects is not inherently bad. But the projects that China is supporting are often intended not to support the local economy, but to facilitate Chinese access to natural resources, or to open the market for its low-cost and shoddy export goods. In many cases, China even sends its own construction workers, minimizing the number of local jobs that are created. Operating exactly as needed Several of the projects that have been completed are now bleeding money. For example, Sri Lankas Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which opened in 2013 near Hambantota, has been dubbed the worlds emptiest. Likewise, Hambantotas Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port remains largely idle, as does the multibillion-dollar Gwadar port in Pakistan. For China, however, these projects are operating exactly as needed: Chinese attack submarines have twice docked at Sri Lankan ports, and two Chinese warships were recently pressed into service for Gwadar port security. In a sense, it is even better for China that the projects dont do well. After all, the heavier the debt burden on smaller countries, the greater Chinas own leverage becomes. Already, China has used its clout to push Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand to block a united ASEAN stand against Chinas aggressive pursuit of its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Forced to sell to stakes Moreover, some countries, overwhelmed by their debts to China, are being forced to sell to it stakes in Chinese-financed projects or hand over their management to Chinese state-owned firms. In financially-risky countries, China now demands majority ownership up front. For example, China clinched a deal with Nepal this month to build another largely Chinese-owned dam there, with its state-run China Three Gorges Corporation taking a 75 percent stake. As if that were not enough, China is taking steps to ensure that countries will not be able to escape their debts. In exchange for rescheduling repayment, China is requiring countries to award it contracts for additional projects, thereby making their debt crises interminable. Last October, China canceled US$90 million of Cambodias debt, only to secure major new contracts. Some developing economies are regretting their decision to accept Chinese loans. Protests have erupted over widespread joblessness, purportedly caused by Chinese dumping of goods, which is killing off local manufacturing, and exacerbated by Chinas import of workers for its own projects. Alleged Chinese bribery New governments in several countries, from Nigeria to Sri Lanka, have ordered investigations into alleged Chinese bribery of the previous leadership. Last month, Chinas acting ambassador to Pakistan, Zhao Lijian, was involved in a Twitter spat with Pakistani journalists over accusations of project-related corruption and the use of Chinese convicts as labourers in Pakistan (not a new practice for China). Zhao described the accusations as nonsense. In retrospect, Chinas designs might seem obvious. But the decision by many developing countries to accept Chinese loans was, in many ways, understandable. Neglected by institutional investors, they had major unmet infrastructure needs. So when China showed up, promising benevolent investment and easy credit, they were all in. It became clear only later that Chinas real objectives were commercial penetration and strategic leverage; by then, it was too late, and countries were trapped in a vicious cycle. Though small, the country is strategically located between Chinas eastern ports and the Mediterranean. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called it vital to the completion of the maritime Silk Road. China began investing heavily in Sri Lanka during the quasi-autocratic nine-year rule of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and China shielded Rajapaksa at the United Nations from allegations of war crimes. China quickly became Sri Lankas leading investor and lender, and its second-largest trading partner, giving it substantial diplomatic leverage. It was smooth sailing for China, until Rajapaksa was unexpectedly defeated in the early 2015 election by Maithripala Sirisena, who had campaigned on the promise to extricate Sri Lanka from the Chinese debt trap. True to his word, he suspended work on major Chinese projects. It was too late Sri Lankas government was already on the brink of default. So, as a Chinese state mouthpiece crowed, Sri Lanka had no choice but to turn around and embrace China again. Sirisena, in need of more time to repay old loans, as well as fresh credit, acquiesced to a series of Chinese demands, restarting suspended initiatives, like the US$1.4 billion Colombo Port City, and awarding China new projects. Sirisena also recently agreed to sell an 80 percent stake in the Hambantota port to China for about US$1.1 billion. According to Chinas ambassador to Sri Lanka, Yi Xianliang, the sale of stakes in other projects is also under discussion, in order to help Sri Lanka solve its finance problems. Now, Rajapaksa is accusing Sirisena of granting China undue concessions. By integrating its foreign, economic, and security policies, China is advancing its goal of fashioning a hegemonic sphere of trade, communication, transportation, and security links. If states are saddled with onerous levels of debt as a result, their financial woes only aid Chinas neocolonial designs. Countries that are not yet ensnared in Chinas debt trap should take note and take whatever steps they can to avoid it. (Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research and Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin, is the author of nine books, including Asian Juggernaut, Water: Asias New Battleground, and Water, Peace, and War: Confronting the Global Water Crisis) The decolonisation of church architecture in Sri Lanka needs to be understood within the context of nationalist movements that emerged in the late 19th century. It is noted that the reformist movements, particularly the Buddhist revivalists, radically influenced the process of indigenisation of the colonial church. For instance, there have been some genuine efforts, especially on the part of the Anglican Church, to become an indigenous faith as early as the 1930s when the word Anglican was dropped and it began to call itself as The Church of Ceylon as an autonomous local church. According to Anoma Peiris, since the architectural dimension of colonial period church buildings had been neoclassical in style with no pretensions of a context or identity of the country, the rising challenge of Buddhism during the early years of anticolonial nationalism produced an exemplary shift towards an indigenised expression in church architecture. The pressure against Christianity led to the adaptation of Buddhist architectural forms for both Protestant and Catholic churches. On the other hand, the pressure of criticism against the Christians in Sri Lanka had increased with the growing strength of the nationalist discourse and an effort needed to be made in support of their endeavour. As a result, the influence of nationalism came in the 1930s in the form of religious architecture. The very first structures that chose to make this statement were the chapels of Teacher Training College (1920) in Peradeniya and Trinity College (1935) in Kandy. The specific form that inspired for the Trinity College Chapel was a colonnaded hall that existed in several examples of traditional architecture of historic eras. The forest of fifty stone pillars standing on a high stone podium closely resembled the kings Audience Hall in Kandy. In doing so, it created a building that was far closer to the pre-colonial cultural experience of the society. The entire wall behind the altar is transformed by a life-size mural of the crucifixion. The theme of the murals, though biblical in inspiration, was always represented in a localised context with local people as its models which further indigenised the interior. Anoma Peiris writes whereas previously stained-glass windows had been imported from Europe, from this period onwards, local artists began to paint scenes based on indigenous themes inside churches. They used local fisherfolk or indigenous plants and landscapes for their inspiration. Moreover, the use of local material such as timber and brass, particularly for the tabernacle, and the application of motifs typically found in Buddhist temples, further indigenised the churches. The sway of post-political independence The initiatives taken by the Christian nationalists with the authority of priests greatly influenced the church architecture of the island. It can be noticed that during this period, indigenisation of colonial expression had become a necessity; many of the new churches deliberately adopted the forms of Buddhist and Hindu aesthetics. As Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi points out, these attempts to become indigenous ecclesial communities rather than churches planted in the manner and style of their mother church in Europe or elsewhere, developed a praxis that led to relations with other national movements. Once again, the Anglican Church led the process of indigenisation as an ecclesial priority in several projects. The continuation of preceding architectural experiments of the Anglicans were demonstrated in their cathedrals of Christ the King (1960) in Kurunegala and Christ the Living Saviour (1973) in Colombo. Most of the architectural details of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Kurunegala have been inspired by the traditional architecture of the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandyan periods. The main feature of the superstructure of the building is the Buddhist Octagon. Another noteworthy detail is the arches found in the building as in the Lankathilaka Temple. Following the Hindu concept of Vimana, the altar of the cathedral is placed within the highest part of the building. The roof of this sacred area has been constructed as an octagon structure to resemble the form of Paththirippuwa of the Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy. The apex of architectural experiments of this movement is seen in the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour in Colombo. Although the architectural form of the cathedral is reminiscent of a Buddhist temple, it goes a step further and attempts to give a contemporary statement of Christian sacred space and a rationale for the process of indigenisation within the context of architecture. An effort has been made to make the building an open place. The slope of the floor downwards towards the sanctuary suggests the glory of God who came down to earth to dwell among the people. Therefore, the bishop, priests and people are all seated at the same level. The communion table has been placed in a central position to receive a great prominence in the building, suggesting the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the midst of the people. The entire building looks unfinished. It is by design in order to constantly remind the faithful of the unfinished task accomplishing the journey of the mission. The renewal of Second Vatican Council The decolonisation of church architecture in Sri Lanka also coincided with the rejuvenation of the Second Vatican Council in the 1970s, and created more opportunities to the Catholic Church to extend and continue architectural experiments like their counterparts in the immediate pre-Vatican period. The council recommends that the Church should everywhere become a native Church integrated into the national cultures and it also advocates a wholesome feeling for the country, while it warns of excessive nationalism. In terms of re-modelling and re-furnishing of church interiors, from this period onwards traditional arts and crafts like colourful Lacquer and Batik work have adorned the wooden facets on crosses, communion rails and candlesticks. The Votive Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka (1974) in Ragama can be seen as a precedent for the architectural programme which was sandwiched between the post-colonial Sri Lanka and the world of Vatican II. In that sense, the dedication of the Basilica is significant; it was consecrated under the title of Our Lady of Lanka. Na flower (Mesua ferrea), another national symbol of Sri Lanka, was incorporated to the statue of Our Lady of Lanka. From an architectural perspective, it was intended to meet the requirements of combining ecclesiastical tradition with oriental architecture. However, the original plan tended to be more weighted on the side of Indian traditions, particularly the Chaitya Salawa model. As an ending note, the decolonisation process of church architecture in Sri Lanka must be viewed as a history of a marginal tradition with colonial origins and relations. It can be perceived that these cross-cultural architectural adaptations occurred without much awareness and reflection on these Hindu-Buddhist symbolisms. Post-colonial critics like Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi reasons Christian thinkers and leaders of that period had no pre-colonial perception of the self-understanding of Christianity, except to accept a colonial construction of Christian expression. It is for this reason that a process of indigenisation was imperative as the churches lacked a pre-colonial body of knowledge and a possibility of an indigenous Christianity, as in the case of Indian experience of an indigenised Christianity of the St. Thomas tradition. It is regretted that during this period, local churches in Sri Lanka had lost the opportunity to experiment with a local style of Christian architectural tradition, more importantly to situate the Christian understanding of sacred time and space within the context of building techniques which have been evolved to suit local environmental conditions. Uncomplimentary language, allegations and counter allegations were the order of the day during the initial part of the parliamentary sessions yesterday when Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake and joint opposition MP Indika Anuruddha were trading words on Divulapitiya incident. It happened when the deputy minister rose to answer an oral question asked by the MP regarding the Divulapitiya electorate. The opposition MPs attempted to raise objections saying it is the Leader of the House, the Chief Government Whip or the subject minister who has to answer the question. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his response said he had permitted the deputy minister to answer the question as per Standing Order 27. However Speaker Karu Jayasuriya overruled him and directed Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunatilleke to answer the question. Matters hotted up when the deputy minister attempted to explain saying the MP and his family were engaged in illegal sand mining in the area. "The whole of Divulapitiya has been destroyed because of illegal sand mining in the area," he said. The MP then showed a letter written by deputy minister to Minister Kabir Hashim asking him for an an access road to a quarry. "The deputy minister has made this request on behalf of his henchmen who are engaged in a business of supplying rock stones for the port city project," he said. Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera who joined in the verbal tussle said the document which was tabled by the MP should be sent to the government analyst because Mr. Ramanayake has denied signing any such letter. The matter came up again when when Padma Udayashantha Gunasekera raised a supplementary question. Minister S.B. Dissanayake to whom the question was directed said the MP's question had nothing to do with the original question. "Learn to raise oral question in the proper manner he said while using an uncomplimentary word. The MP raised the matter again a little later with Mr Ramanayake raising a point of order. This was despite repeated requests made by the Speaker that the two MPs should allow the proceedings to continue. "Raising points of order has become a joke," the Speaker said. (Yohan Perera) Three Swedish trade experts will be arriving in Colombo next week to meet and help Sri Lankan exporters striving for the Swedish market. The Department of Commerce (DoC) has made arrangements to bring in experts from the Swedish National Board of Trade to meet Lankan exporters in Colombo on Wednesday, February 15. Sweden-Sri Lanka bilateral trade was at US $ 64 million in 2015. This shows that there is strong unrealised trade potential for both countries, said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. He added, DoCs presentation to our exporters is a great first step to open new trade and diversify present trade. The DoC information session in collaboration with the Swedish National Board of Trade for Lankan exporters will be held at World Trade Centre, Colombo 1 on February 15 from 10:00 a.m. Among the topics of presentations are info on the Swedish market for food products for private label industry (with special focus on dried coconut products, fruits and vegetables, spices including cinnamon, tea, organic food products), rules and regulations when exporting food products of non-animal origin to Sweden and the EU, the EU GSP+ and sustainable development, services by the Swedish National Board of Trade to the exporters of Sri Lanka and the potentials of Sri Lankan food exports to Swedish and Nordic markets. The registration details for the forum could be obtained from DoC Commercial Research Officer Devika Mendis by contacting her on 112436114 or by email via devika@doc.gov.lk on or before February 10. Currently, apparel, rubber and transformers are Sri Lankas main exports to Sweden while telephone sets, kraft paper and paperboard and gold are the leading imports to Sri Lanka from Sweden. Heres a US president in his first telephone conversation with the prime minister of a top American ally a New York Times survey this week tells us that, among Republicans, Australia is rated as the United States most trusted alliance partner, above the United Kingdom and Canada telling him that the conversation was the worst hed had by far that day The furore that erupted around President Trumps truncated telephone call with Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last week underlined the problems that not only Australia but partners from Berlin to Tokyo are now being forced to confront. How will these major partners, Beijing included, fare in dealing with the Trump administration and navigating the change that its advent brings to the established rules and global order? The threats to peace and security across East Asia are multiplying. The challenges of a nuclear-armed North Korea and Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea are both pressing issues. Tellingly, Secretary of Defence James Mattis has been in Asia on a mission to reassure Japan and South Korea that the United States remains a reliable ally and is not turning its back on the region. Mattis assured Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday that the United States would stand by its mutual defence treaty, despite statements by President Trump during last years campaign that suggested he might pull back from American security commitments in Asia. I want there to be no misunderstanding during the transition in Washington that we stand firmly, 100 percent, shoulder to shoulder with you and the Japanese people, said Mattis at the start of a meeting with Abe. Mattis mission was about restoring confidence in Americas alliance partnerships after the pounding theyd received from Trumps own questioning of the contribution they were making to Americas global security purchase. Mattis keep calm and carry on mission got no help from the fracas that erupted with Australia, perhaps Americas closest regional ally. All this played out to the background of Trumps ordering a covert special forces operation in Yemen that went disastrously wrong and national security adviser, Michael Flynn, threatening war with Iran. This has not been a week of reassurance. The TrumpTurnbull episode has impact far beyond the AustraliaUS alliance relationship. It was headline news around the world because of the line of sight it provided into whats going on in the minds of Trump and his closest deputies in the White House. (including one with Russian President Vladimir Putin) and terminating the one-hour call 25 minutes in when Turnbull had an announced agenda on global security issues still on the table. Trumps rant was prompted by him being called to honour the dumb deal Australia had done with the Obama administration to swap refugees caught in Australias Pacific solution bind. Its a deal, it needs to be said, that delivered indirect reciprocity to the United States refugee problems in its own backyard. And how do we know this? Because Trumps own White House team leaked the insults to the Washington Post. The intelligent Australian press have cast Trump as treating Australians and the partnership like dirt. Tough calls Tough calls between Australian and world leaders are nothing new. There have been times in the past when there was hard talk within the framework of the AustraliaUS alliance relationship. But there has been nothing quite the same as this exchange or its treatment in the public domain. Turnbull has insisted that the USAustralia alliance relationship is very strong. The fact we received the assurance that we did [on the refugee deal], the fact that it was confirmed, the very extensive engagement we have with the new administration underlines the closeness of the alliance. Dozens of prominent Americans on both sides of politics have provided public testament to the value they place on ties with Australia and extended support to Australias representatives in Washington. There is a genuine sense of public horror that Trump has done damage to its relationship with an ally as valuable and as loyal as Australia. The Australian Labor opposition has locked in behind Turnbulls handling of the affair. But this is not business as usual and we cannot pretend that nothings changed. In this weeks lead essay, Michael D. Swaine from the Carnegie Endowment in Washington warns that: Any serious effort to implement the proposals or ideas for dealing with these security challenges confronting the United States in Asia from Donald Trump or his advisers could lead to disastrous consequences. Doubling down on US and allied military capabilities directed against China, the overturning of longstanding and still highly relevant foundational understandings between Beijing and Washington, and bombastic posturing and threats that neglect the interests and views of US regional friends and allies do not constitute viable options for the United States. Such proposals or ideas are based on a serious misunderstanding of the attitudes, assumptions and interests motivating China, South Korea, Japan and other relevant actors. Far more effective and less dangerous alternatives to such actions exist that do not simply amount to a continuation of the status quo in every instance. This is true, we need hardly add, both in the United States and in our region. The hardening reality is that this is more than less likely to require what Swaine describes as a mind-clarifying collision of Trumpian notions with reality, in the form of the actions or reactions of China and other Asian powers, including US allies. Australia and its partners in the region need to prepare for this at every step in their dealings with Trump and keep the big, constructive global goals in frame. To Australia, Andrew Shearer, a security adviser to former Australian prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, offers the wise advice that whatever calls Trump might make as a payoff for honouring the refugee deal must be firmly resisted. Not to do so would simply play into Trumps rough-house negotiating tactics and set [Australia] up to have it done time and again. Now is the time for national consensus and firmness in managing the big threats that loom over Asia Pacific economic and political security. Australia is the location of strategic assets critical to the management of the United States global security system. Australia needs to be prepared to remind our friends in Washington, privately but forcefully, of this critical US dependence on its allies, including Australia, in projecting American power, not least through the joint facilities in Australia so central to the partnership together. Above all, Australia like other regional partners must be absolutely clear that it will not be party to using these assets randomly or ill-advisedly. (The EAF Editorial Group is comprised of Peter Drysdale, Shiro Armstrong, Ben Ascione, Ryan Manuel, Amy King and Jillian Mowbray-Tsutsumi and is located in the Crawford School of Public Policy in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific) The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday said a national front would be launched with regard to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe by making the political parties of the country aware of the matter. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge told a media briefing that they have discussed the matter with the Joint Opposition members including former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) during recent days. We have already written to President Maithripala Sirisena on the effects of the ruling directing the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to register SAITM's MBBS graduates. We have also written to the general secretaries of the SLFP and UNP on the matter, he said. He said the GMOA had conducted several discussions with state university students, parents and several unions including the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF). He said the reason behind this open discussion of the matter was Health Minister Rajitha Senaratnes irresponsible behaviour and his SAITM-biased stand; Our aim is to create a strong force against the SAITM and secure the patients' lives as well as the medical field. We are taking every possible step to do so, he added. (Kalathma Jayawardhane) Video by Wickrema Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella, in an interview with Daily Mirror, stresses the need for promotion of private investment in higher education in Sri Lanka to create more and more opportunities for students. He says a Court Order regarding SAITM should be respected by all. The excerpts of the interview: How do you see the future of private education in the backdrop of the court ruling in recognition of degrees obtained from the SAITM? This is a court order. Whether you agree with it or not, you have to follow the court order. The Court of Appeal has gone deep into the matter. Both the judges have retained a unanimous verdict. The court order has to be followed. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) is giving an ultimatum to the government on the court order. How can they do it? If they are educated people, they should understand that the government cannot defy a court order. Asking the government to change the court order is ridiculous. As the Higher Education Minister, how can you make medical education a success in our country without the cooperation of the GMOA and the Sri Lanka Medical Council? If you go through the judgment carefully, you would know SAITM was created by the previous government in 2011. Up to now, there has not been a single protest or an application to court. Why were they silent all this time? The court is asking that. When it was started, the GMOA did not protest. The Medical Council did not protest. The Deans of medical faculties did not protest. Lecturers did not protest. Why? This issue has nothing to do with doctors. This is entirely a political campaign. Up to January 8, no one protested. Why? They were not in a position to protest during the last government. We know what happened during the last government- tying public servants to trees, killing journalists and torching media houses etc. All these people are scared. This is not the only private medical college. The Kotalawala Defence University started a medical faculty. What right do they have to form a medical college? The Defence Academy started it due to pressure by the former Defence Secretary. Only now, they have started protests. Urges SLFP to submit proposals on constitution making What will be the future of private education in Sri Lanka? The policy of the UNP government is different from the policy of the Joint Opposition. We encourage private education. It is the need of the hour. Even the previous rule supported private education. SAITM was started by Mahinda Rajapaksa. Then, Minister S.B. Dissanayake was there. They facilitated the Rs.600 million loan to the SAITM hospital. How can they oppose it now? UNP for power devolution beyond 13th Amendment What are the future projects in the pipeline for the higher education sector? Several foreign universities are keen to come and invest in Sri Lanka. They remain hesitant because of the pending court decision on SAITM. Now, it has been resolved. There are several inquiries about investment here. Now, Manipal University of India has signed an MoU with us to start a branch campus in Kalutara. That is the first big one. Already, talks are underway to start one in the Northern Province. Tamil doctors, living abroad, are very keen to start one in the North. It has to be gradual. Why was SAITM created by the previous government? Now, we have an admission system tilted towards the rural areas. For example, students are admitted on the all-island merit system. So, they are the brightest in the stream. It is not the case with the Science Stream. There, only 40 percent of students are taken on the all-island merit system. The rest are taken in terms of the quota allocated to each system. Students from areas like Colombo, Kandy and Galle cannot enter the medical faculties even after passing the exam with distinctions in all the subjects. However, from the underdeveloped areas, students with three passes enter the medical faculties. For the last 40 years, this has been there. They were discriminating the students from the big cities. During the period, nearly 4000-5000 students have been shut out from admission to the medical faculties. What are we going to do with them? How can we help them? The government gave thought to this. The previous government also thought about it and decided to open private universities. Then, students can pay and study in their own country. Is it wrong? We spend Rs.7000 million per year for students going abroad. The country loses this amount. If we start private universities, we can save a lot of money. The Sri Lanka Medical Council recognizes third grade degrees from foreign countries. It had become a big business for them. They recognize degrees from Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Baluchistan. They do not recognize degrees conducted and offered by a homegrown private university. Well, we are carrying out a quality assurance programme at all the universities. It is aided by the World Bank. We want to improve the quality of lecturers . The World Bank is helping us. The UNP approach is different. We believe in autonomy for the universities. The Vice Chancellors and the Senates must run the universities. They must be accountable as well. If there is unrest among students, they should be held responsible. The universities should compete with each other for excellence as in other countries. Lectures have to be advanced with modern knowledge. When Singapore gained Independence, they did not have a university. Today, they have some of the best universities in the world. Our universities date back to the 1940s. But, we are nowhere near the top. Those universities developed as they had autonomy and political independence. Are you planning to change the current admission criteria based on the Z-score? That is not on the cards. Confident of making constitution making a success this year Apart from plans in the higher education sector, there is talk about a Cabinet reshuffle. How true is it? I do not know anything about it. I have seen some media reports. That is it. The President and the Prime Minister have not talked about it. What do you feel about the necessity for a Cabinet reshuffle? Well, I personally feel it is premature. Three expressways lead to three most sacred places of Buddhist worship The government has assigned you to talk about the Constitution making process. There seems to be a stalemate. Why is it? It was Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa who first talked about the need to introduce a new Constitution. He was the first leader to say it. The UNP devolved power under the 13th Amendment. He said devolution under the 13th Amendment was not enough. No leader has said that before. He said it to get the support of India. He talked about the 13th Amendment plus. Once the Tigers were crushed, he was asked about it.He declined, saying it was a matter for Parliament to decide. That is what we are doing now. How can you oppose this? When he was in power, he could not gather a Select Committee. No one had faith in him. All thought he was trying to bide time. The committee in Parliament is now functioning. But the process looks stagnant. Why is it? The UNP stand is very clear. We are for devolution. We got a mandate for it. No other political party has it. The President won the Presidential Election, and the UNP the parliamentary election. There is a mandate for devolution. We are asking the other parties. There is a kind of stalemate because the SLFP has not put forward its point of view. We are urging the SLFP to put forward its view on devolution. The SLFP must respond to the mandate the UNP got. The President and the Prime Minister openly talk about devolution. We got an overwhelming mandate from the North and the East. That has to be respected. We urge the SLFP to put forward its proposals without any delay. What are the contours of power devolution you advocate? It is based on the 13th Amendment. What is your position on the concurrent list? As I told you, not a single section of the Constitution has been drafted yet. We are gathering ideas. Some say the concurrent list should be abolished. Some say no. We are only gathering information. Has the UNP taken a position on the concurrent list? We are for consensus with other parties. We do not have hardline positions. We believe in devolution beyond the 13th Amendment. We are asserting what Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa mentioned. How confident are you that this process will reach a successful conclusion? It will. The President recently reiterated in the East that he is committed to a new Constitution and further devolution of power. I am very confident. It will happen this year. I am confident that we could win a referendum. If the SLFP and the UNP work together, we can win a referendum. How are you proceeding with your road projects? At this moment, in every electorate barring the North and the East, Uva and Colombo, we are constructing roads under ADB assistance. We will cover the other areas at the end of this year. We are building three expressways. These are leading to the three most sacred places of Buddhist worship. The central expressway is to go to worship the Dalada Maligawa, the Dambulla Highway to worship the Jayasirimaha Bodhi and the Ruwanpura expressway to Sripada. How far have you progressed regarding the Ruwanpura expressway? We will start work on the Dambulla expressway on February 27. Who is the contractor? It is a Chinese firm. The Ruwanpura expressway will be built again by a Chinese company. Everyone is asking why Chinese. That is because they are the only ones coming up with money for investment. De-criminalising is de-colonising. Repealing Article 365 and 365 (A) of Sri Lankas Penal Code is not just supporting the de-criminalising of same sex sexual conduct between consenting adults, it plays a key role in erasing archaic colonial attitudes which are still residual in our country. The recent rejection by the Government of certain clauses that were included in the National Human Rights Action Plan recommending the repeal of Articles 365 and 365 (A) of the Penal Code, was not just another blow to the homosexual community. It is a blow to all communities as it clearly shows that our Government is not yet ready to fully embrace minority rights and accept that this, the de-criminalisation of homosexuality, plays a major part in protecting the human rights of all citizens of this country. The media carried many views and analysis, expressed, and written on this decision by the GOSL to drop the de-criminalisation of Homosexuality from the National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights. While being a shocking decision and a heavy blow to the LGBTIQ community, it nevertheless, brought forward a vibrant dialogue on the rights of the LGBTIQ -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning -- community. The action plan was described as a prerequisite laid by the European Union to award Sri Lanka the GSP+ facility. Additionally, the Human Rights Action plan was also a result of an obligation Sri Lanka holds as a UN member state. However, the question is, should a Government formulate its actions to settle the requirements of the international community? Isnt it the responsibility of a Government to ensure protection and promotion of human rights of all its citizens and be sensitive towards minority rights even in the absence of international pressure? Arent minority rights human rights too? If a part of the international political community must intervene and remind the Government about its obligations, that itself shows a huge failure on the part of the Government to do its duty towards its citizenship. As the LGBTIQ community has become more visible in Sri Lankan, the moves to silence them seem to be getting more insidious, and this time with state patronage. It is obviously a failure of any government when it does not accept its overall responsibility to fulfil constitutional obligations to respect, secure and advance fundamental rights of all citizens irrespective of their differences. Including sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected characteristic in the constitution is essential to end marginalisation of citizens belonging to the LGBTI community. The existing Sri Lankan constitution already has a strong statement -- Article 4(d) of the Constitution states: The fundamental rights which are by the Constitution declared and recognized shall be respected, secured and advanced by all the organs of government and shall not be abridged, restricted or denied, save in the manner and to the extent hereinafter provided While the existing Constitution (as amended up to May 15, 2015) confirms the right to equality stating that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law and that no citizen shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex, political opinion, place of birth or any one of such grounds, it does not specifically state LGBTIQ persons. One can argue that the terminology used in the current constitution should mean ALL citizens however, it seems that because sexual orientation and gender identity are not specified, there is room for misinterpretation and discrimination. Therefore, the best amendment to the Constitution would be to include sexual orientation and gender identity explicitly. Despite its obligations, the GOSL has decided to keep alive the endless discrimination and injustice to a minority of our population with different sexual orientations and gender identities (the LGBTIQ community). Thus, homophobia and transphobia continue and the rights of the LGBTIQ community continue to be violated. Isnt 134 years of marginalisation, discrimination and violence enough? It should be a commitment of the Government to its citizens and not to please the international community. Citizens security and welfare should be a prime concern of any Government. The interventions from international political communities is a sign of the failure of any Government unable and unwilling to perform its prime duty to protect human rights of all its citizens. Further, regarding the states obligation to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Sri Lankan Government is a signatory to; it is mandatory for the Sri Lankan Government to recognise the right to self-determination and freedom of all individuals to pursue economic, social and cultural development, right to protect oneself against inhuman or degrading treatment and protect the right to liberty and security of all persons. The ICCPR in its Article 26 state that, All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons, equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It is quite astounding therefore that the request to de-criminalise the homosexual community continues to get branded as a concept imported from the West or against Sri Lankan culture. In reality, loving or liking another human being of your own sex is not an alien concept in Sri Lanka. Numerous historical chronicles and records are evidence to prove that homosexuality was a given within the culture, within society and certainly within the ranks of power in those days. Frankly, the Sri Lankan Government has not yet effectively and meaningfully dealt with the discriminatory and unequal treatment towards people of diverse sexual and gender identities. By giving shallow excuses and continuing to hide behind culture and Buddhism, it continues to show the dysfunctionality of those who are elected to serve the people.ALL people. The writer is a veteran LGBTIQ activist with national and international recognition. In 2004 Flamer-Caldera founded EQUAL GROUND, the only mixed-gender queer organization in Sri Lanka, with the ultimate goal of changing the Sri Lankan constitution and federal laws to no longer criminalize queer peoples lives. EQUAL GROUND/Flamer-Caldera currently chairs The Commonwealth Equality Network, a collective of civil society organisations working in solidarity challenging inequality based on sexual orientation and gender identity within Commonwealth countries. When avarice takes the lead in a State, it is commonly the forerunner of its fall. ~ Alexander Hamilton Mahinda Rajapaksa along with the national media, the so-called free media, which was nowhere to be seen during Rajapaksas regime, the media that was under siege time after time under the cruel determinations of the regimes virtual second-in-command, Secretary of Defence, has assumed dimensions disproportionate to the actual, now seems to be controlling the national conversation. Not the government. The so-called joint opposition, the dregs of the last regime, the group of opposition MPs, some of whose financial and social integrity have come under a barrage of accusations, allegations and investigations and whose integrity is very much under scrutiny and question have taken the fight to the governments front door. They have managed to set the government on the defensive and each and every time, in the parlance of sports, the ball has belonged to the opposition. It is certainly not a very pleasant situation for those who replaced the Rajapaksas. On the other hand, the platform that the present government, Maithri/Ranil combo and party carried out the campaign on, seems to be crumbling down. The very charge of the then opposition, corruption and nepotism, has crept into the new personalities of the new government. It is time that the government of Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe strapped their boots and took the ball into their own hands, so to speak. Addressing the Progressive Congress Annual Strategy Summit on Saturday, Massachusettss Senator Elizabeth Warren began thus: we are all gathered here in a moment of crisis; a crisis for progressives, a moment of crisis for Democrats and a moment of crisis for America. There is an eternal truth about politics and people. People like Mahinda Rajapaksa dont come to power when things are going right. The voters, the victims, who put them in power must hold themselves accountable as much as the culprits. The voters simply cannot let themselves off the hook. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Common Mans Party, which embraced bigotry and extremism, which embraced the uncommon rich man and his ugly avarice, was hijacked by the Rajapaksas and their loyal henchmen. The Bandaranaikes and Kobbekaduwas are forgotten. The Rajapaksas treated them like yesterdays trash. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, with all his political weaknesses and expedient tendencies, kept the party at least away from the political imposters and charlatans. What happened to the SLFP after S.W.R.D.s demise is another story altogether, yet the Rajapaksas have to be taken into account for the destruction of the image of the Common Mans Party. At least for the time being, Maithripala Sirisena appears to have wrested the party away from these political hooligans. But if President Sirisena continues to dilly-dally taking stern disciplinary action against those SLFPers who continue to disregard the party line and go astray, the dissolution of the Common Mans Party is imminent. This crisis in the SLFP has indeed slowed down Maithripala Sirisena. But he must not allow that predicament to be built up to the level of a national crisis by abdicating his obligations to his voters in particular and his country at large. Failure of the current government will be seen as a landmark failure of the current system of governance. Yahapalanaya or whatever one might call it, it should not be allowed to fail. Accountability and transparency on the part of those who are vested with governmental power cannot be sacrificed for political expediency and administrative convenience. The corrupt practices that have been entrenched in a system for the last three to four decades, particularly the last twenty years will take over the system and overwhelm the national character. It may have already happened and if not, it is on the threshold of happening. History is our witness. Time after time it has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt that a lethargic, apathetic public is the first cause of national decay. In this regard, the responsibility of the United National Party (UNP), the main coalition partner of the current political administration, cannot be overstated. As a political party which has been maligned and disparaged by its opponents, especially the traditional SLFP, after coming to a historic partnership with the SLFP, today willy-nilly is feeding the urban gossipmongers with enough material to keep its own head above the water level. The ugly image that is being attributed to the UNP and the resulting ill-effects of a politically-explosive financial swindle, such as the so-called Bond-Scam could be devastating both in the short and midterm runs. Making tactical adjustments, changing talking points, while embracing the same old barren policies and stinking principles would not help the UNP. Ranil and his cohorts must realise that when the gauntlet tightens, it does not differentiate between the UNPers and SLFPers. Racial extremism stirred up by the Rajapaksas was tolerated by the UNP because they feared the backlash from the Buddhist clergy. It tightens all and sundry - it includes anyone close to the current coalition. The voters will not show any mercy. At the same time, the voters must be continuously reminded of what they are enjoying today and the negatives of the past regime that they would gladly miss. The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@ gmail.com Following is a catalogue of such alleged misdeeds: Computer purchases for Mahindodaya labs in excess of Rs. 5.87 billion. Issue of 1,000 diplomatic passports during nine years of rule. Three PSD officers: Brig. Capt. and Major in money laundering during the MR regime. Transactions of Tourist Board officials: Rs. 5.7 million. SL Insurances re-involvement of a Doctor and ex-Minister. State Engineering Corp.: Rs.4.7 million transaction. Diary printing by an ex-Minister: Rs. 1.4 million. D. A. Rajapaksa Museum construction: Rs. 110 million under Def. Secy. Signature, undertaken by the Navy. Purchase of Gower Pvt. Ltd. by a Parliamentarian. Forty luxury vehicles rented by State Eng. Corp. (Visit: http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1840/en). Fraud of Rs. 91,635,591/- million in Fort Magistrate Case No. B/3088/216 with W. Weerawansa remanded. (Visit - http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2017/01/22/fcid-to-file-further-b-reports-in-courts-against-the-renegade-wimal/). Rs. 3,117 million paid by a Chinese Engineering Co. into six banks A/cs. Commonwealth Games Trip of 140 persons and exp. of Rs. 358 million thereof. Rs. 12,500 million found dumped in Temple Trees during Dec. 2014/ Jan. 2015 (see 54 below) Prof. S. Wijeyasooriyas allegation re the sale and distribution of 40 kg. Gold, also Siriliya A/c. Air Force Commanders dealings in the hire of Helicopters to Crain Ltd. J.C. Weliamuna Committee Rpt. on Lanka Airlines still in the hands of the PM of Sri Lanka. An ex-CJ admitting corrupt (?) verdict on Helping Hambantota Case! (Read - http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/08/28/helping-hambantota-appeal-to-a-fuller-bench/). An MR Coordinating Secy. holding multiple jobs arrested with 10 Gold Biscuits (1106 gm.) by FCID. CICT paid Rs.19.41 million to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation on 21-5-12 before Colombo South Terminal Contract commenced. JVPs petition filed in Supreme Court re 193 charges against K.P. and his assets disposed during the MR regime. Min. Rambukwellas Rs. 20 million ex-Presidents Fund plus insurance obtained over med. treatment in 2012. Illegal renting of the Fishery Harbour by the then Fisheries Minister R. Senaratne, under previous govt. One man Commission Report by ex- S.C Judge Nimal Dissanayake on Elephant Robbery. Rs. 372 million fraud by Diplomat U. Weeratunga in 2006 in MIG purchases under the then Defence Secretary. (See latest - http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170108/columns/udayangas-16-bank-accounts-frozen-total-balance-rs-225-million-223301.htm). White vanning by the past regime (Visit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgn0k-V31Q0&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1). Vithanage Rpt. Re Security Forces Hdqrts. Bldg. and overpayment of Rs.173 million by D. Secy. 11 Dept./Com./Board/State Secretaries for corruptions, as detailed hereunder - http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1423/en Auditor Gen. Rpt. on SLBFE under Dilan Perera spending Rs.925,309/- on balloons ex-Mattegoda. The real value of Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium estimated at Rs. 852 million by valuation officers though the previous government claimed to have spent a staggering Rs. 4,500 million on the project, says Ravi K. Over-valued rice purchases by K. Attapattu of Sathosa and related malpractices. FCID updates No. 64/15 Basil R. Rs. 396 million in three property purchases. FCID No.17/15 Yoshita R. in eight transactions totalling Rs. 707 million. FCID 138/15 Namal R. in 16 transactions totalling Rs. 347 million. FCID 82/15 Champika Karunarathna Rs. five million involving extortions. Dr. P.B. Jayasundera questioned over an allegation of importing 100,000 metric tons of rice from an Indian company against the Cabinet decisions, incurring a loss of Rs. five billion. Ministry of Agriculture building rent of Rs. 21 million a month and Rs. 402 million sought now for furniture and conversions, owned by Jayasinghe Tours & Transp. with an mishandled Agreement? (See details - http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20160701CT20161030.php?id=3940). Rs. 315 million of government funds spent on the Grand Hyatt Hotel construction in Hambantota, but with no construction! The Rajapaksa regimes two visits to Seychelles costing Rs. 100 million, using three charter flights with 97 members and hiring of 68 luxury vehicles etc. etc. Tiran Alles and others in approx. Rs. 650 million misappropriation of 2004 Tsunami (RADA) Housing Funds - Colombo H.C 5.No.8377/16. (Details here - http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1669/en by its Courts Correspondent and updated here - http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/11/27/investigators-helpless-over-alles-deal/) The COPE report on CB Rs. 1, 396 million for three foreign consultation firms, Rs. 6,100 million lent to failed financial institutions and Rs. 122 million building purchased in Brazil etc. during previous regime. Charges by COPE on Media Secy. Bopage involving Rs. 100 million of corrupt transactions at NHRDC in 2014. Sathosa rice imports worth Rs. 17 billion from India by the previous govt. and present govt. as reported here - http://lankanewsweb.net/news/item/4040-rishard-educates-with-a-technique-to-consume-an-enhanced-meal-from-rice Encashment of 18 cheques totalling Rs. 218 million by the Presidential staff during MRs rule (10/9/16 LankaTruth). Two CEB Deputy General Managers in-charge of Uthuru Wasanthaya under investigation in approx. Rs.40 million fraud. C. Ratwatte and four others in alleged financial frauds of Rs. 10,720 million under the Public Property Act, under arrest by the FCID. (Details - http://www.lankaenews.com/news/1630/en). Diyawadana Nilame FCID fileno. CR5/27/2015.M. C of Kandy Case No. E 34983/15 re selling of lands belonging to the Maligawa etc., (http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/09/26/fcid-hands-tied-on-allegations-against-dela/) Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nimal Lanza is alleged to have accumulated a large sum of wealth during a short period and hence been accused under the money laundering Act. Daisy Forrest (94 yrs.) aunt of Shiranthi re purchase of lands for Rs. 49.52 million from nine others (See - http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/10/10/probe-on-how-yoshitha-grand-aunt-built-palaces-in-mt-lavinia/) The Rajapaksas are not in power. This nasty minority mindset must be done away with, youre in power. The character of this nation is not the character of the Rajapaksas. And that is the truth. The Islamic State group is completely besieged in Al-Bab after forces loyal to Syrias regime cut off a road into the jihadists last major stronghold in Aleppo province. Syrias army and its allies advanced towards the northern Islamic-State held city on Monday, cutting off the last main supply route that connects to militant strongholds further east towards Iraq. Islamic State militants are now effectively besieged in the area, by the army from the south and by Turkish-backed rebels from the north, as Damascus and Ankara race to capture the largest IS stronghold in Aleppo province. Al-Bab is now completely besieged by the regime from the south, and the Turkish forces and rebels from the east, north and west, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It came after the regimes forces and allied militia seized the only and last main road used by the jihadists between Al-Bab and Raqqa, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, referring to the jihadists de facto capital in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group monitoring the war, said the army and the Lebanese Hezbollah group made gains southeast of al-Bab overnight. Backed by air strikes, government forces and their allies severed the main road that linked the city near the Turkish border to other ISIS-held territory in Raqqa and Deir al-Zor provinces. Daily mail/6 February 2017 By William Booth (c) 2017, The Washington Post JERUSALEM - Israels parliament passed a contentious law late Monday that allows the state to seize land privately owned by Palestinians in the West Bank and grant the properties to Jewish settlements for their exclusive use. The measure is designed to protect homes in Jewish settlements, built on private Palestinian property in good faith or at the states instruction, from possible court-ordered evacuation and demolition. Thousands of homes in dozens of settlements and outposts may now be protected, at least temporarily. The bill is likely headed for a high court challenge. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the legislation and has told his constituents that no government had done more for the settlers. On Monday, the Israeli leader said he had informed the Trump White House that a vote on the legislation was imminent. Israeli legislators in the opposition condemned the bill as reckless and warned that it would turn the world against Israel while goading prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague to take action against the Jewish state. The bill passed on a vote of 60 to 52. The private Palestinian land would be seized by the government and held until there is a final resolution of the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian landowners could apply to the state for annual rents or be given another parcel. A member of parliament in Netanyahus own Likud party, Benny Begin, son of the former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, speaking before the vote, labeled it the robbery bill. Another Likud legislator, former justice minister Dan Meridor, condemned the bill as evil and dangerous. Meridor, a lawyer, warned the Israeli parliament that the West Bank remains under a belligerent occupation, 50 years after Israel won the territory from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Palestinians who live in the territory are not Israeli citizens. They dont vote in Israeli elections. They live under a military authority. If Israels parliament legislates for the Palestinians - rather than control them by military rule - then Palestinians would have the right to become citizens and vote in Israel, Meridor argued. Dont cross a line weve never crossed before, Meridor pleaded with his fellow legislators in a newspaper column. No government in Israel has applied its sovereignty to the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority said the measure was an illegal land grab. Former Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat compared the Israelis to looters. The Joint Opposition (JO) today defended the awarding of full scholarships to students to study medical degree offered by SAITM during the previous governments tenure. Addressing the weekly news briefing Prof. G.L. Peiris said awarding a scholarship to study a degree was different from recognizing the degree as an authenticated profession. He made these remarks as a response to a question whether it was appropriate to award scholarships to study in a university when the medical degree was not accredited by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). On Tuesday, a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two medical students of SAITM was fixed for support on March 27 by the Supreme Court. The students including one who was recommended by the former government for a full scholarship to follow the MBBS Degree at SAITM had sought a declaration to null and void a Medical Service Minute issued in 2014 by the Public Service Commission recommending that only graduates of State universities and foreign universities are eligible to join the government service. The then Higher Education Minister gave the scholarship on two conditions. The conditions made to improve the quality of the university have not been fulfilled so far by SAITM. The SLMC repeatedly said the SAITM medical degree was not accepted. Even the then Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the ministry doesnt accept the private universitys medical degree, he said. He said awarding scholarships was not a measure of hoodwinking anyone as both the government and the scholarship recipients were aware the fact that the SAITMs medical degree was not accepted by SLMC. The Professor said a 10-member committee was appointed by SLMC in 2015 to look into the standard of the private university at Malabe and the committee had recommended that the training offered throughout the degree programme was insufficient. He said Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne who is liable to implement the SLMC recommendations, had not taken any steps with regard to the recommendations so far. The Minister is bound to implement the recommendations on the SAITM made by the SLMC. All he has to do is to take the matter in Parliament and then issue an order to implement these recommendations. Parliament cant move away from the responsibility as this is a matter which has an impact on the entire health sector and the country, he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla) Munchee, the flagship brand of Ceylon Biscuits Limited recently celebrated the completion of its 100th milestone project at Wavegama Kanishta Vidyalaya in Sooriyawewa, Embilipitiya. The company donated a state-of-the-art mathematics lab at the school, which was equipped with desks, computers, books, learning tools and materials that will now aid the students in their efforts to become more confident young learners and mathematicians. The lab is also the most complete and well-resourced facility of its kind in the Sooriyawewa area, and is part of Munchees long-term efforts to support the needs of local communities and the education of youth across the island. As pioneers in corporate social responsibility, Munchee and CBL take great pride in implementing sustainable business practises across the groups operations, which provide local communities with basic needs and support at a grass-roots level. The Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana project was initiated in 2010 and in just six-years; the project has successfully completed 100 need-based initiatives that have uplifted the lives of children, youth and community members across the nation. Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana is a continuous village outreach and community development initiative that carries out activities in all parts of Sri Lanka every year. Commenting on the completion of the schools math lab, W.A.K Wijenayaka - Principal said We are extremely grateful that Munchee and CBL filled this void in the local community, by helping us to build a mathematics lab for our students. Mathematics is an important subject, yet many of our students find it challenging and lack confidence when it comes to independently solving sums and problems. We have no doubt that this lab will encourage our students to embrace mathematics lessons and it will enable them to become more confident learners. We would like to thank the Munchee team for all of the on-the-ground support they provided and all of the hard work that they put into this initiative to make it a success. Commenting on the project Theja Peiris - Group General Manager Marketing, Ceylon Biscuits Limited said: The Munchee team recognized the importance of this project as mathematics is an important GCE O-Level subject. We were really touched as parents, students and school teachers all came together and did whatever they could to ensure that the project was completed on time. We are truly proud to have successfully completed our 100th project since Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana was launched. The entire team puts in a great deal of effort into implementing these activities and projects under the Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana banner and we have received very positive feedback about the impact that these initiatives are making. The Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana project model is unique, it provides funding but not necessarily labour, this in turn urges the community to come together and rally behind a cause that will benefit them in the short-term and the long-run. This model ensures that the community feels a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the project. We were also delighted to receive additional support from government officials along with village elders who all collaborated with us to complete the lab. The Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana projects, which are conducted by the Munchee sales team with the participation of local officials and community members, strengthen stakeholder relationships and help Munchee to forge lasting bonds with multiple communities. The initiative and projects supported by the programme, promote economic and social value creation by raising standards of living and providing tools, infrastructure and funds that help to uplift and empower communities at large. From building drinking water facilities and systems, to the construction of school buildings, labs and libraries, to the donation of computer labs and the provision of electricity to schools, to the construction of mini bridges and community centres, this programme has enabled communities to become complete, happy and fulfilled. The project has invested Rs. 34 million to date in communities across Sri Lanka, helping over 100,000 people in need. The first project was launched in Walagama, Kegalle where Munchee built a secure bridge over a deep stream to replace a make-shift log bridge that school children were using and elders were struggling to cross. The new bridge offered a safer option for the community and both school children and elders in need of medical treatment were able to travel over the stream with ease. Another similar bridge was constructed over a railway line in Ratnapura, to ensure that young students could travel to school safely. Munchee and CBL have a dynamic sales force and they have served as the key drivers of the MGSG project, taking the passion, commitment and spirit of the Munchee brand to Sri Lankans young and old, across the entire expanse of the island. It is through this project that the Munchee team has strengthened the brands legacy as a leader in CSR, sustainability and consumer care and engagement. Munchee Samaga Gamata Sarana stands as a symbol of goodwill, it reminds Sri Lankans across the nation that Munchee is invested in their well-being and happiness and reiterates Munchees commitment to always remain a trusted social and economic partner as well as a source of support, compassion and care. Experiencing two years of Yahapalanaya, those who brought forth the change in government seem to be anxious over a few of its practices, so much so, the Peoples Intellectual Assembly (PIA), at a recent press briefing, severely criticised the administration of failing to keep up with its promises. Postponing LG polls an anti-democratic act - Srinath Perera - PIA Secretary Commenting on the local government elections, Presidents Counsel and PIA Secretary Srinath Perera said the ruling party was giving excuses to postpone the polls. We have been denied the right of selecting politicians. This is absolutely anti-democratic. As far as we understand, this is done to fulfill the necessities of the ruling party. We request the government to restore Law and Order, and hold local government polls forthwith. It will be a good opportunity to test if the public accepts this government. The government has not met the expectations of the public. We urge the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet and other government entities to stop postponing the election, he said. Yahapalanaya was not elected to bust up peoples money - Azath Salley - PIA Treasurer Former MP Namal Rajapaksa allegedly built the Namalgama in Wilpattu after uprooting and cutting down all the Karuwala trees there, and farmed cashew nut employing Navy personnel; nobody was there to voice out. Now, when the Muslims are rehabilitated in Wilpattu, people have labelled it a racial issue. The President pledged to wipe out the white van culture, bribery and corruption, and we worked hard for it, but to no avail. Now the Yahapalanaya has completed two years and we still wait for those promises to come true. We couldnt convict Lasanthas murderer or those who kidnapped and murdered Eknaligoda. What about the doctor who stole Wasim Thajudeens body parts? How many TV channels were attacked? People waited for two long years, hoping the government would charge the guilty, but those issues have not been resolved yet, he declared. It doesnt mean we speak only about the ill deeds of the government; we note its good qualities too. People are happy about the price reduction of medicine. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake had said the revenue had risen from 25% compared to last year. On the other hand, what happened to SriLankan Airlines that was making profits? What action was taken by this government? Did they bring MR to court? It is going to cancel what was paid a whopping Rs. 98 million. I have a question; Who gave Minister Kabir Hashim the power to do that? Yahapalanaya was not elected to bust up peoples money, he added. Speaking about the drought, he said this government had no plans in preparing for the drought and that they should have made preparations earlier. He questioned as to why people would need a Yahapalana administration if any of those critical issues were unresolved. Further, he pointed out that people voted with great hope for a change and that President Sirisena was responsible for this. It is his responsibility to make this a good country for future generations, he said. Commenting on the elections, he said it was pointless to postpone the elections as this system would be challenged and changed in future. Govt. has failed to make any progress - Keerthi Thennakoan - PIA member Yahapalanaya has completed two years and it is evident that the words are yet to become actions. The government has failed to make any progress in resolving issues of the former government including bribery, corruption and bringing those who stole public funds to book. By now, the Bribery and Corruption Commission, FCID and other related institutions are conducting more than 180 inquiries about these frauds, and there are 46 files at the Attorney Generals Department lacking the wherewithal to proceed further. The 13 proceeding cases are very minor ones with little financial issues like the misuse of vehicles. It is clear to everyone that large quantity frauds are kept hidden while minor ones are being exposed. As a result, the accused are protesting, challenging and accusing the government thereby making counter-accusations. The President and Premier should take the responsibility of any inability to punish those responsible for corruption, bribery and crimes, he said. We have some questions with regard to the jury trial conducted into the murder of our friend Raviraj. Cases of Prageeth Eknaligoda, Lalith and Koogan too seem to be heading in the same direction, he added. Speaking about the bond issue, he critiqued that there were no other crimes in Sri Lankan history with this much evidence and the balance sheet of Perpetual Treasuries belonging to his son-in-law was hard evidence. Yesterday, the President appointed a special committee to investigate the bond scam and we are grateful for that. The investigations should be done thoroughly with a scientific background, paying attention to EPF and ETF investments, the glitches in the system, conniving officials and political sponsors. And the process should ensure that this kind of occurrences do not repeat. A transparent commission is necessary, he said. Regarding the coal issue in Sri Lanka, Keerthi Thennakoan said according to the Auditor Generals report, the coal deal was a fraud which caused a loss of Rs. 4,135 million to the country. He emphasized that they have sent a letter to the President regarding this issue. Everybody knows that Maithri Guneratne is not the prime suspect of the coal fraud. The only viable accusation against him is for criticizing the Prime Minister while being a Director of a government office; but thats an indirect matter. If other directors in government entities can use their political freedom, why make an exception of Guneratne? Anyway, he has filed a human rights petition against Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and his Secretary Dr. Suren Batagoda. The open market value of coal is 78 dollars per metric tonne and Sri Lanka imports coal at 90 dollars per metric tonne. Buying coal from these ships is a loss of nearly 120,000,000 rupees. The Supreme Court, Auditor General and the procurement committee appointed by the President said this decision was erroneous. If we could stop imports, those twelve hundred million rupees would have been saved. They are ready to bring 18 other ships here. In the 10th paragraph of Yahapalana agenda, large scale bribery and corruption are said to be stopped. The best start for that is to stop this tender scam happening in broad day light. In a democratic country, the public should have power - Chrishmal Warnasuriya - Lawyer and PIA member We are here to look back at the past two years of Yahapalanaya. We took to the streets at a time when we were followed at night and the white van culture was active. We wanted the change for the sake of freedom of speech, and we eventually did succeed. It is true that all people of the country have the right to speak about citizens rights. Yet, the public may have to rethink - is freedom of speech alone sufficient for the country? People have to think if we replaced a rule by a cheating family for one that is a royal friendship. If our efforts have not become fruitful, if the public are dissatisfied and feel this just doesnt seem right, what is the point of keeping them in power anymore? We saw social media playing a pivotal role in appointing Yahapalanaya as a large pack of first voters and floating voters voted for Yahapalanaya during last years elections. If those voters do not trust politicians anymore, give up their feeling for what is right, keep away from politics and attempt to change this system, then the country is heading towards a disaster. Pix by Jayamal Chandrasiri Geographic facts do not change, but their meaning for foreign policy will. -Nicholas J. Spykman A new world order has begun with roles interchanging. The US, as the leader of the free world and the architect of globalization, is advocating nationalism in a close of its borders, while China, which earlier spoke about national values, is now praising globalization. President Xi during his visit to Davos clearly gave leadership toward the case of globalization. According to Xi, There was a time when China also had doubts about economic globalization and was not sure whether it should join the World Trade Organisation. But we came to the conclusion that integration into the global economy is a historical trend. To grow its economy, China must have the courage to swim in the vast ocean of the global market. If one is always afraid of bracing the storm and exploring the new world, he will sooner or later get drowned in the ocean. Therefore, China took a brave step to embrace the global market. We have had our fair share of choking in the water and encountered whirlpools and choppy waves but we have learned how to swim in this process. It has proved to be a right strategic choice. Back in the 60s, the US position on boundaries was explained clearly by President Kennedy in Berlin in his remarkable oration ich bin ein Berliner there should be one Berlin, the iron curtain that divided nations will fall one day and it did fall in 1989. It took 30 years for the US to change its position to build a wall and confine to its boundary. Back in ancient history, China exercised its power and developed a wall Great Wall to secure the country from outside invaders. Today, the US is revisiting what China did several thousand years ago and China has evolved as a nation in this regard In geopolitics, it is vital to understand the politics of borders and frontiers. According to Robert Kaplan, The ability of states to control events will be diluted, in some cases destroyed. Artificial borders will crumble and become more fissiparous, leaving only rivers, deserts, mountains and other enduring facts of geography. Indeed, the physical features of the landscape may be the only reliable guides left to understanding the shape of future conflict. Yale Professor Nicholas Spykman explained in his Rimland theory the arc surrounding the heartland of Halford J. Mackinder is where tectonic shifts will occur and nations will use their military power in this important crescent. In the 20th century, most wars, from Korean war, Vietnam, India-Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Balkan wars were fought on this Rimland. The next possible war could also trigger from South China Sea, an area of the Rimland. It was the capture of the Greater Caribbean by the US Navy after the Indian wars that unlocked the power of the US from Panama Canal, the most significant strategic project. The two oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific, were controlled with the US military strength and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was the platform to take forward the liberal democratic values as a coalition. Technocracy concept In the same manner, one could examine the case of China, which is seeking a historical claim of the South China Sea to unlock its power in the Indian Ocean. Like in the past, in the Greater Caribbean region, the US held Panama. Today China has OBOR (One Belt One Road) with a US $ 890 billion investment with 900 projects along the belt and road, a revival of what China had during the past. The North Atlantic power Axis is clearly turning towards the East. While the newly elected President Trump, who has mentioned NATO is obsolete, challenges its values. China will gain a better control and win more allies in the East. Liberal democracy will be seen by Asians as a model that does not deliver efficient results. Asia could drift towards a technocracy, a model operated by technical experts and expert government servants, which delivers quick results. China has proven clearly that more than the 100 liberal democracies around the world, 625 million people were taken out of poverty from this model. Singapore has proven as an East Asian miracle performing through a meritocracy at its highest value delivering results to the public. Public health, water safety, education, infrastructure and all economic indicators are at the highest level. The Corruption Perception Index, which was release a few weeks ago, indicates Singapore at the seventh place while Sri Lanka is at the 95th place, worse than last year. The concept of a technocracy will be something to look at to improve on many sectors of the nation. Senior Research Fellow Parag Khanna from LKY school says, Increasingly, Asians favour pragmatic, outcome-oriented governance and prefer to be ruled by civil servants rather than politicians, a prediction that Asia could turn to technocrats and depart western democracy. A significant factor in erupting the course of glory of the western empire was duality and double standards. It happens within the nation and not from outside. The double standards on human rights, democratic values and much more are clear indicators that people have lost trust with their own systems. Waterboarding is not torture; its one step below torture, says Trump, who wishes to be the core member of the NATO, which is against torture. A nation like Sri Lanka is accused by a group (ICTJP) Executive Director Yasmin Sooka for abduction and torture. UKs Sir John Chilcot report, which created much noise about British soldiers committing war crimes in Iraq accusing the prime minister at that time, has gone completely silent. Certain western experts accuse the Sri Lankan military and suggest foreign judges in a hybrid court. Stratfor Global Intelligence, one of the leading US security think tanks in the world, recently published an article about Sri Lanka which explained, Despite its small size Sri Lanka holds a substantial strategic value by virtue of its geographic position: it is at the centre of Asias busiest maritime routes and has a wealth of natural deep harbours. It further points out Sri Lankan government owes Beijing US $ 8 billion, more than 12 percent of its US $ 64.9 billion debt. Upon celebrating Sri Lankas 69th year of independence, it is important to clearly identify our internal and external geopolitical threats as a nation, with the hope of charting our path towards a developed nation. (Asanga Abeyagoonasekera is a visiting lecturer in international political economy (IPE) and Director General of INSSSL, the national security think tank of Sri Lanka) The Appeal Court on January 31 ruled that a petitioner, an MBBS graduate student of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Management (SAITM) had the legal right to be provisionally registered by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) on the basis that she had fulfilled the necessary requirements laid down by the Medical Ordinance. This has resulted in the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and university students protesting against SAITM claiming they are protesting against the Health Ministry and not against the Court Ruling, because the ministry had not expressed its stance clearly during the court proceedings. Meanwhile, SAITM students and their parents point out that these protests in the wake of the Court ruling are tantamount to protesting against the ruling and that it amounts to contempt of court. It is not clear whether the incident where SAITMs CEO Dr. Sameera Senaratnas vehicle had been shot at near SAITM on Monday has got anything to do with SAITM or the court ruling. If it is a manifestation of the protests against the private medical college, it could be interpreted as a challenge to the Court verdict and points to a dangerous turn of events. Despite several doctors working in government hospitals engaging in channel practice or compelling patients to go to private hospitals by way of prescribing various tests for reasons only known to themselves, they seem to think that they have the right to oppose SAITM or for that matter private medical colleges. Students, who are agitating not only against SAITM but also against private medical colleges have the right to do so despite not fighting for an higher intake to the medical faculties in state universities. However their struggle must be waged within the legal framework and not by causing inconvenience to the people who are paying for their education. Despite the GMOA and the university students claiming they are protesting against the Health Ministry or against SAITM in general and not against the court ruling, the new wave of agitation has been triggered by the court ruling which gives legitimacy to the private medical college in Malabe. Only another ruling by a higher court, namely the Supreme Court can reverse the ruling. Hence, all agitation against the Neville Fernando Hospital would amount to a rejection of the court ruling outside the judicial process and a slur on democracy. Those against SAITM in particular or private medical colleges in general are not deprived of challenging the court ruling through the judicial process. Ignoring the court decision by way of agitation instead of resorting to due judicial procedures is a dangerous trend. We do not say this is a bad or dangerous precedence as the precedence had already been set by former leaders of the country. For instance, thugs of the UNP stoned the houses of the judges who gave rulings against the wishes of the rulers during President J.R. Jayawardenes tenure. President Mahinda Rajapaksa ignored a judgment by the apex court of the country to reduce the oil prices and went ahead with his price hikes. It is no secret or part of this countrys history that in the past courts acted subservient to the then rulers.We do not want to reinvent that dark era in respect to judicial freedom. SAITM has now become a political issue rather than a matter pertaining to free education or quality healthcare. This point is vividly evidenced by the opposition to it by the leaders of the former government during whose tenure the private medical college was launched and continued to function. Against that backdrop, challenging the Appeal Court ruling means challenging the judiciary by certain political parties. If this trend is allowed to continue or if courts are compelled to give in to these pressures, only judgments against the poor will be implemented. Hence, we reiterate that those who are against the court ruling can petition a higher court to annul the present court ruling, rather than encouraging the former trend of pressuring the judiciary by acting outside the law. Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM), the three-month course launched by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in 1988 was aimed at bestowing a basic knowledge in marketing toyoung executives, school leavers who yearn to venture into the philosophical world of marketing and non-marketers who realize the value in marketing. PCM having completed 30 years in the mentoring sphere had its anniversary celebrations that coincided with the first intake of students for 2017. The event was held at the Sri Lanka Institute of Hotel Management auditorium on 15thJanuary 2017. Marketing could be described as a Way of Life. A marketer who thinks ahead of his/her peers will brighten up his/her life by securing solid careers which come with fringe benefits and perks. SLIM as the national body for marketing is the fully fledged local marketing institute where they could confidently enroll with for their quest towards becoming marketing oriented individuals. The 2017 inauguration of PCM was themed as My Determination. The event saw the participation of school leavers, parents, people from the business fraternity and entrepreneurs. An introduction to the PCM course was done and awareness was created on the reputation SLIM has made over the decades as a credible mentoring institute. Educating budding marketers on the basic and fundamental theories of marketing is the core object of PCM. Fundamentals of marketing which involves the four Ps or the marketing mix; relationship marketing, stakeholder marketing, marketing orientation and sales orientation plus much more is in the curriculum. Students will also be provided with the knowledge on the Sri Lankan context in marketing and sales, vital for practitioners. PCM, a three-month certificate course in marketing is held at SLIM Business School in Colombo. SLIM Vice President Pradeep Edward who is the Director/CEO of GAP Holding, gracing the occasion endorsed SLIMs Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) as the ideal foundation course for those who aspire to pursue a career in marketing and sales. He said the professional career path led by PCM will open new vistas in ones thinking pattern and expose him/her to a whole new world of marketing. PCM will bestow you with practical aspects of marketing and secure a career path with the highest growth rate. It is the shortest route to an MBA.Plus, PCM lays thefoundation for obtaining the Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing (PgDip). Hence without curtailing your marketing studies to PCM, move forward, he urged the new batch of students. The occasion was also graced by Senior lecturer, marketing consultant, trainer, tutor and Chairman Education Reforms Committee of SLIM, G S Sylvester. He said the PCM course is designed to be in line with the latest global trends in marketing and PCM students are groomed to be future marketers who could rub shoulders with the global marketing fraternity and the corporate sector. PCM focuses on the importance of marketing to the current world, he added. In the opinion of SLIM CEO/ Executive Director Sanath Senanayake, Professional career path led by PCM will open new vistas in an individuals thinking pattern exposing him/her to a whole new world of marketing.PCM will also grant you with practical aspects of marketing and secure a career path with the highest growth rate. Thus practicality and quality of this qualification is unparalleled to other similar courses. February 6, 2017 marked the opening of the 24th ProdExpo International Exhibition, which will be held in Moscow until February 10, 2017. It is the largest annual specialized exhibition in Russia and Eastern Europe focused on food, beverages and raw materials. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia organised three colourful stands with the support of the Sri Lanka Tea Board and Sri Lanka Export Development Board. On the first day of the exhibition, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda and Sri Lanka Ambassador to Russia Dr. Saman Weerasinghe officially opened the Sri Lankan stands and met with the representatives of Sri Lankan companies participating in the exhibition in the tea, fisheries and exports sectors. The exhibition is known to be a great and efficient platform to establish direct business connections between Russian and Sri Lankan companies and to improve bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries in general. By Chandeepa Wettasinghe The Central Bank already has plans to raise up to US $ 2.5 billion in debt through a syndicated loan and an international sovereign bond to build the countrys foreign reserves to US $ 7.5 billion by the end of this year, the Central Bank officials said yesterday. We should end the year with US $ 7.4-7.5 billion in reserves, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. The country currently has approximately US $ 6 billion in foreign reserves, equal to four months of import protection. Sri Lanka is an import-based economy. In order to meet the targets, the Central Bank has received the cabinet approval for a US $ 1 billion syndicated loan and a US $ 1 billion sovereign bond, according to Dr. Coomaraswamy. But we are requesting to raise up to US $ 1.5 billion through the sovereign bond, he said. While noting that this years foreign debt repayment is relatively high compared to the recent years, Dr. Coomaraswamy said that there is nothing to worry about. Sri Lanka is required to have US $ 7.04 billion in net foreign reserves by the end of this year to remain eligible for the US $ 1.5 billion Extended Fund Facility of the International Monetary Fund, which is crucial to meet the countrys balance of payments. Central Bank Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri noted that import pressure on foreign reserves is now easing due to the new loan-to-value ratios on motor vehicle financing. Further, despite the expectations to the contrary, global fuel prices are not increasing in the short term due to stronger supply from American shale producers, which would likely help, since fuel is Sri Lankas main import. Meanwhile, Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said that the country has to meet US $ 2.6 billion in foreign debt repayment during 2017. Since Sri Lankas foreign debt repayment is expect to spike above US $ 3.9 billion and US $ 3.4 billion in 2019 and 2020, respectively, Dr. Coomaraswamy said that now would be the best time to restructure the countrys liabilities, hinting at further debt issuances this year. Analysts have also said that the government should go for rollover of foreign debt now, while Sri Lanka is able to obtain lower rates from international markets, since the rates would rise if the government goes to markets in desperation in 2019. Dr. Coomaraswamy said that even though the local policy rates were kept unchanged this week, the government going for debt this year would result in the local market tightening, a fact which also contributed to keeping the rates steady. However, he expressed some displeasure over the country not being able to raise non-borrowed financing through exports, foreign direct investments and portfolio investments to meet the deteriorating foreign reserves. We would get US $ 1 billion from China Merchant if the Hambantota agreement goes through and its not impossible to raise another US $ 1 billion by selling non-strategic investments. If we raise that money, we can do some liability management, he added. However, the sale of non-strategic investments has now been delayed for over one year and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake recently said that such sales cannot be rushed. Further, the Hambantota port sale agreement to China has also been experiencing numerous delays. By Thomas Penny Bloomberg President Donald Trump must not be allowed to address the U.K. Parliament during a state visit to Britain, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said. Prime Minister Theresa May invited Trump to visit the U.K., but there have been calls by lawmakers not to give the president the honor of addressing both houses of Parliament after he introduced a ban on people from some majority-Muslim countries travelling to the U.S. Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall; after the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump Im even more strongly opposed, Bercow told lawmakers. I feel very strongly our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons. Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, and world leaders including Nelson Mandela, Angela Merkel and Pope Benedict XVI have all been invited to speak to members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Bercow said he has a veto over a speech in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament, and would block one. And it would be a breach with tradition if Trump spoke in the Royal Gallery behind the Lords without his name on the invitation, he said. An address by a foreign leader to both houses of Parliament is not an automatic right, it is an earned honor, Bercow said. There are many precedents for state visits to take place to our country that do not include an address to both houses of Parliament. Bercows announcement was greeted with cheers and -- rare in the House of Commons -- applause from the opposition benches. A motion arguing that Trump shouldnt be invited to speak has been signed by 163 out of Parliaments 650 members. Bercow made clear he wasnt going to comment on the merits of inviting Trump to the U.K., something that will be getting its own debate in Parliament on Feb. 20. We value our relationship with the U.S. he said. If a state visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker. Estonia, (RT.COM), 6 Feb, 2017 - US military hardware, including M1A2 Abrams battle tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, have arrived in the northern Estonian town of Tapa as part of continued US efforts to counter the alleged Russian threat. More than 50 units of US military equipment, including four battle tanks and 15 infantry fighting vehicles, were delivered to Tapa, the Estonian Defense Forces said in a statement. The personnel of the Charlie Company of 68th Armored Regiments 1st Battalion from the US Army 4th Infantry Division arrived in the town two days earlier, on January 30. Since 2007 one of the Health Ministrys most enlightened operations, has been the Vision 2020 Mission, where up to now more than 40,000 cataract operations have been done virtually free of charge, for poor people in different parts of the country. Those who could afford were required to pay only about Rs. 2,500 for a quality lens and about Rs. 2,000 for other basic surgical costs. For those who could not afford even this, the lens was provided free of charge through donations provided through generous individuals and companies. This charity or social justice mission was streamlined by President Maithripala Sirisena, when he was the Minister of Health in the Rajapaksa administration. After being elected President Mr. Sirisena was the chief guest at a Vision 2020 ceremony and highly commended the work of the movement, which had virtually restored the sight of some 40,000 impoverished people, while reports indicate there are more than 100,000 other poor people who are losing their vision and need to get the cataract operation done free of charge or at nominal cost. Tragically, the Daily Mirror learns from one of the leading donors, that Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne has for some reason or eyewash purposes decided to change the vision and mission of Vision 2020. This comes after the appointment of his close friend Dr. J.M.W. Jayasundara Bandara as the Director General of Health Services. According to a donor the Minister had told the College of Eye Surgeons to appoint a new national steering committee to operate the Vision 2020. This is to be headed by Dr. Mrs. Muditha Kulathunga, Senior Eye Consultant. It means that from now on impoverished Cataract patients would be forced to pay Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 for the lens, even when the surgery is done at a public hospital. There are allegations that the expensive lens importers have worked out some kind of deal with those involved in the cataract surgeries and kickbacks ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500 are given. Up to now Eye Surgeon Dr. Asela Abeydeera has been heading the Vision 2020 unit and has been widely acclaimed for the noble manner in which he helped to save the vision of more than 40,000 poor people suffering from cataract. But now it seems that business interests are being given priority over the interests of poor patients. It is a sad ugly wound on the Minister, who claims in highly paid newspaper advertisements that he is committed to the implementation of the Senaka Bibile policy of providing quality healthcare to all people at affordable prices. One of the main donors and a former Vision 2020 steering committee member told the Daily Mirror yesterday they were seeking an appointment with both Dr. Senaratne and with President Sirisena to reconsider this move to turn the social justice Vision 2020 movement into a business operation. We hope that the national government which claims it is committed to good governance, accountability and social justice, will heed this appeal and not allow business interests to stop or sabotage the mission to help save the vision of tens of thousands of impoverished people. The overall aim of vision 2020 had been to reduce avoidable blindness in Sri Lanka through the development of a sustainable and equitable national programme for prevention and control of blindness as a part of the National Health Service. Vision 2020 was operated fully on the donor funds for its activities except the salaries paid for the focal persons, coordinators, all the government employees involved in eye care and the utilities of eye units and Vision 2020 offices. Vision 2020 had handled around Rs. 50 million every year in its projects and more than Rs. 600 million during the past 10 years. Now, the Government or the Health Ministry will make an allocation for Vision 2020 and the voluntary donors will be left out. What is worse there is a danger that the social justice mission will gradually turn into a business operation with medical personnel and lens importers making money while poor cataract patients are left to go blind. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekaras recent comments on Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran contained valid observations, old news delivered as though it was new, half-truths and some uncalled for insults. Wigneswarans response was, in contrast, quite sober though not unproblematic. In Jayasekeras opinion, Wigneswaran is nothing but a bhoothya. An evil ghost instigating disharmony between the Sinhalese and Tamils, to be precise. He took issue with what he considers racist remarks by Wigneswaran which, he claims, are making it difficult for the Government to sell the idea of devolution to the Sinhalese. He also said that Wigneswaran was cosy with the LTTE (Meaning probably whats left of it and of course its sympathizers) and NGOs. It is a strange statement for several reasons. The TNA was the principal apologist for the LTTE in the democratic political space. Wigneswaran is a member of that political coalition. Jayasekara is not making any startling revelations, therefore. The comment on NGOs is vague. It is a silly generalisation. Theres nothing wrong with NGOs per se. Youve got to mention names and explain whats so pernicious about them that warranted a reference that sounds dismissive. However, its the question of ethnic harmony thats problematic. Jayasekera, on the one hand says, He (Wigneswaran) is trying to convey a message to the international community, saying that power devolution is not an option for Sri Lanka because of the Sinhala people. In other words, Wigneswaran contends that the Sinhalese are opposed to power devolution. Jayasekera then acknowledges that the idea of devolution has not been embraced by the Sinhalese. In other words, it has to be sold to the Sinhalese. He is in fact endorsing Wigneswarans position and ironically also the position of devolution-fixated NGOs, but contends that Wigneswarans racism is scuttling well-meaning efforts. So, in effect, the two are on the same page with regard to devolution, but are at odds when it comes to the best way to get to destinations they both prefer. Wigneswaran, for his part, has said that the Tamil peoples issues cannot be solved by chasing him away. He claimed that even if he was banished his successor would say the same thing. He adds the reason, as we always speak the truth. He is correct. Absolutely. On this issue, let me qualify. What is This issue? Lets discuss it. The issue is that the Sinhalese are opposed not to devolution per se but to the kind of devolution that Tamil chauvinists have been touting for almost a century now, beginning with Ponnambalam Ramanathans communalism, G.G. Ponnambalams 50-50, the Vaddukottai Resolution, the Thimpu Principles and the various other separatist proposals, either in the form of Eelam or those following the Chelvanayagam Principle (A little now, more later). The Tamil issue wont go away as long as Tamil politicians consider it their political bread and butter to whip up communalism even to the point of conflating politically aspirations so grand that they are politically inexpedient. Wigneswarans predecessors used that talk, he talks it, and his successors will continue to talk it as long as it serves narrow political objectives.To such proposals, the Sinhalese will object, this is true. Wigneswaran is correct. When he says the Sinhalese are not interested in devolution, he is correct. The Sinhalese have no reason whatsoever to agree to the kind of devolution that Wigneswaran proposes, his predecessors have proposed and his political/ideological successors would in all probability propose. And why should they? Theres absolutely nothing in all the Tamil grievances pertain to discrimination that cannot be resolved in ways other than devolution of power. The claim of traditional/historical homelands is a load of balderdash, unsupported by any kind of evidence. There are no archaeological props, theres no subaltern history and even the literary kind of evidence is at best weak and easily debunked. But we need not go into all that. Just the fact that the Tamil Homeland Map is essentially a pick off a set of lines arbitrarily drawn by the British is enough to pinch that part of the truth-claim which the likes of Wigneswaran trot out now and again. Add the fact that they blur the truth with multi-ethnic talk but indulge in navel and toe gazing when asked about numbers and percentages and its actually pretty sad. Throw in the fact that almost half the Tamil population live outside the homelands and the bottom falls out of the argument. Issues are reduced to slow implementation of the Language Act, nothing more and nothing less. Want to tell the Sinhalese that you need devolution to sort out that little tumour and you are bound to run into Are you kidding? The uncomfortable truth that confronts Jayasekara and others touting devolution along Eelamist lines, is not that they are getting tripped by the racist statements issued by the likes of Wigneswaran but the sheer mismatch between grievance and solution. Sure there are ghosts. Evil ones. Theres the evil ghost of misrepresentation, the evil ghost of exaggeration, the evil ghost of painting fiction as fact and myth as history, the evil ghost of silence on demographic realities, the evil ghost of a flawed colonial map, and the evil ghost of bullying Sinhalese into thinking that submitting to Tamil chauvinism is equal to a solution that satisfies all communities. Too many ghosts. Way too many. No wonder people are not buying it. Wigneswaran is not a ghost. Hes a politician who, like his predecessors, is puppeteering with such spectres. Jayasekara seems to have been mesmerized. The principle issue of both is that its a very hard sell as far as the Sinhalese are concerned. It serves Wigneswarans political purposes, but wrecks Jayasekaras. Thats why the latter rants and the former are smug. Malinda Seneviratne is a freelance writer. Email: malindasenevi@gmail.com. Twitter: malindasene. Blog: www.malindawords.blogspot.com WISTA Sri Lanka beckoned the new year by organizing a guided Port tour for its members and their children. The aim of the port tour was to educate the future generation about port operations and to create awareness about the capabilities of the Port of Colombo (POC). On 28th January morning, the WISTA double decker bus picked up the children and their mothers from Gate 01 and proceeded to the newly constructed break water, this was the first part of the Port tour; Catriona Jayasundera Assistant General Manager Commercial and Marketing of Colombo International Container Terminals outlined to the children the significance of the break water and its purpose. Thereafter the children were introduced to tug boats, dredgers, container vessels and cruise ships. The second session of the port visit consisted, a drive through the container yard, with an introduction to types of containers and a picturesque moment near MSC vessel. The informative video session and the quiz refreshed and enhanced the childrens knowledge further. Speaking at the event President WISTA Sri Lanka Shehara Jayawardena said, I am proud that WISTA Sri Lanka invested in the future generation today. This is the first step of creating diversity in the shipping and logistics industry, which is still amale dominated industry. She observed, I firmly believe that experiential learning is the most effective method to teach and inspire children. Forming lasting memories keep children engaged and is the channel to route talent to the industry In a challenging maritime landscape the Port of Colombo has yet again shown growth. This year POC grew by 10.6 percent and is poised to be among the highest ranking ports in terms of growth, this is indeed remarkable. A member observed The excitement of the children is overwhelming, and the smiles on the mothers faces are indeed a testament to a very well organized port visit. I am indeed happy to be part of the WISTA Sri Lanka. The inspired children walked away with a corporate gift bag with the compliments of SAGT; but most of all with a greater knowledge of Sri Lankas valuable resource, its Ports and its significance to the global maritime industry. WISTA Sri Lanka expresses its gratitude to the Port of Colombo, for the contribution from all three terminals Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) , the main sponsor of the Port tour. Just a month ago, the UP Assembly poll seemed like the BJP's to win. On the back of its 2014 success, a divided Opposition and infighting within the Samajwadi Party, the BJP was the hands-on favourite for victory. A month hence, the BJP seems to have squandered its lead and is working to catch up to the combined might of the Congress-Akhilesh Yadav alliance. The BJP's gamble of shooting from wily SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's shoulder seems to have come undone, with the father-son clash only helping Akhilesh remain in the news and strengthening his leadership credentials, along with freeing himself of any anti-incumbency by shifting the blame to his rival fraction. Also, in the end Akhilesh managed to stop Mulayam from fielding rival candidates. Moreover, Akhilesh has stolen the march in garnering media limelight. He has continuously managed to be the centre of public discourse and projected himself as the person to beat in this election. Slowly but steadily, the vitally important election seems to be slipping out of BJP's hand and the party has no one but itself to blame for its troubles. It has committed a number of follies that have seriously undermined its campaign and pushed it off the top position. A party without a coherent message Voters look for a convincing narrative from the party they are voting for. In UP, the BJP seems lost about what its message actually is. Is its focus improving law and order? Then why has it given tickets to the maximum number of criminals in the first phase? And why should a voter choose it over Mayawati's BSP, whose tight grip over law and order is acknowledged across party lines? Is its focus providing development? But what about Akhilesh, who has carefully cultivated a development image by admirable deliveries on development works such as the Agra expressway and Lucknow Metro, which have been implemented in record time. Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi have stolen the march in garnering media limelight. (Photo: India Today) And if the BJP seems sure of it development pitch, why does it keep raising communal issues such as the Ram Mandir and Kairana exodus? Moreover, how does making rioters like Suresh Rana and Sangeet Som its face in crucial western UP regions help the party highlight its development message? The BJP seems to be falling between the two stools of development and communal polarisation. Its act of running with the hare and hunting with the hound has allowed Akhilesh to play protector to the Muslims who feel vulnerable under the BJP, and also steal the development agenda by harping on the BJP's communal intent. A ship without a captain The BJP has kept its supporters in suspense about who is leading its ship in UP. While voters loyal to the party's rivals are clear that Akhilesh and Mayawati will be CM (in case they win), BJP's votebank has been left guessing as to who will be CM if it pulls off a win. This has made the BJP lose out on voters looking for strong leadership. It has also prevented any local party leader from having unity of command and the ability to take decisions and run a coherent campaign, as well as presented the opposition a chance to play the local-versus-outsider card. As the campaign is heating up, the absence of a CM face is proving costly and a fatal mistake for the BJP. Infighting woes - poor management of dissent The BJP in UP is a house hopelessly divided. Its topmost eastern UP leader Yogi Adityanath has fielded six rebel candidates through the Hindu Yuva Vahini, of which he is president. Another popular local face Varun Gandhi has held back from campaigning for the BJP; his name was missing from the list of star campaigners and his protegees have been singing tunes of dissent. Besides that, various local units of the BJP are revolting against tickets being given to outsiders and turncoats. Such is the discontent over the questionable ticket distribution that many senior officerbearers of the party, including its state president, have faced angry workers. In fact, angry workers held hostage local BJP MP Lallu Singh in the local party office. Tickets have also been given to the sons and daughters of leaders (Rajnath Singh, Hukum Singh and Kalyan Singh are just some of the leaders who have managed to get tickets for their kin). No wonder the list of long-time BJP leaders contesting as rebel candidates has gone up. BJP's Achilles' heel - reservation It is said that once bitten is twice shy. Instead, the BJP seems to be in the mood to commit harakiri again and again. It has always had a difficult relationship with reservation. Its upper caste base would like to see the end of it, while the social reality of India makes it hard for the BJP to win elections on an anti-reservation plank. So after initially opposing reservation, the BJP has come around to supporting it for political expediency. But from time to time, its aversion to reservation gets revealed with catastrophic political impact. Perhaps, the party is afraid that a very active campaign by Modi may strengthen the emerging backlash against demonetisation. This happened in Bihar, where RSS's anti-reservation remarks led to strong voter backlash, and now the same folly is being committed in UP. RSS publicity chief Vaidya has sparked a controversy by raising questions over reservation. The opposition, especially Mayawati, has lashed out at the BJP for stealing the rights of the lower castes and the BJP will have a hard time convincing the hurt and suspicious lower castes now that it means no harm. Not playing its strongest hand fully For good or bad, the BJP today revolves around Narendra Modi. He is the biggest crowd-puller that the party has and still carries a lot of credibility. But it seems to strangely be in no mood to play its strongest hand fully in UP. After the announcement of the UP polls, the BJP's plans include only 14 rallies of Modi (compared to 31 in Bihar which has around half of UP's population). This reluctance of Modi to campaign in UP has seriously impeded the BJP because, in comparison, Akhilesh is holding multiple rallies every day. Also, the BJP doesn't have anyone in UP who can match Akhilesh or Mayawati's crowd-pulling ability. Perhaps, the party is afraid that a very active campaign by Modi may strengthen the emerging backlash against demonetisation. The day before yesterday, on February 6, I was gheraoed and prevented from entering the School of Languages building at Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Students Union had called for a strike, cordoning off the buildings. Neither a strike nor blocking entry to buildings is unprecedented in JNU. However, faculty members are not debarred from going in. Karamcharis and non-teaching staff also often enter. Even students, who dont wish to strike, can be permitted to pass after some negotiations and arguments. Demonstration What was different this time was that not a single person was allowed inside. When I reached the building, the dean and her staff had retreated, in face of the blockade. Even the JNU security looked on, ineffectual if not incompetent spectators, as our building was taken over. I asked them, Why arent you clearing the way for those who wish to enter? Are we to surrender our university to those who had taken the law into their own hands? I believe that while we should not break up a peaceful strike or demonstration, we should also not allow a small section of students to hold the university to ransom. There were around 20-30 protesters at the steps, several not even from my School, some not even JNUSU representatives. Neither a strike nor blocking entry to buildings is unprecedented in JNU. (Representative image.) When I moved towards the door, a group of them advanced towards me. You cannot go in. I asked, Why? They said in a chorus, No one will be allowed in today. We are on strike. But I am not on strike, I answered, How can you stop me for discharging my duty, which is to teach, read and write? They said, We are fighting for social justice. I said, I support social justice too. But how is your cause served by debarring me from going to my office? We are opposed to the UGC notifications, they said. I may agree with you on that, but that does not mean that you can force me to join you or prevent me from going in. We are not using force, they said. Okay, then let me go in. No. Then how are you not using force? They tried to change the topic, You gave a lecture on nationalism, now give one on social justice. Right now! Yes, I will do so, but not zabardasti. Just now I want to go inside. They shouted slogans, resorted to namecalling, and veiled threats: We are 20, you are only one. Yes, I said, but you cant impose your views on me. We have the right to dissent. Of course, but I have a right to dissent with your mode of dissent. You are not supporting the JNU culture. Dont tell me about JNU culture; I have been teaching before you were born and have been a Professor here for more than 16 years. They had no answers, really. Not on a single issue could they offer a logical, reasonable argument. Stand-off The stand-off continued for nearly a quarter of an hour. There was one other faculty member who wanted to go inside too; I held his hand and said, Lets protest against these anti-democratic students. But soon, he was nowhere to be found. If we were 10 teachers standing against them, they would surely have failed. But I was all alone. Finally, I said, I myself will offer satyagraha. I sat down, held the feet of two of the ringleaders and pushed them away from the door. At that point, some of the seniors stepped in and said, Usko jaane do. I said, Move aside; let me enter with dignity. This is my own building; I come here to work even on a Sunday; so how can you stop me from entering during working hours on a Monday? Cynicism Much of such student politics in Indian universities is run by so-called radical groups, which, though a minority, rule the roost. If one looks at their manifestos and the party journals, one senses how regressive, undemocratic, irrational and, in todays times, irrelevant they are. With the failure of the revolutionary ideology all over the world, these groups have a limited cache, which is in Indian universities, where young, impressionable and socially sensitive minds fall prey to them. These are captured, if not brainwashed, and mobilised against all forms of authority. But now even the misplaced idealism of such romantic revolutionaries lies exposed as a mask of ugly opportunism. Their slogan, which they used in their strike at JNU, was Social Justice. But it was only an excuse to target the Modi sarkar, the UGC and the JNU administration. The Left and ultra-Left are now using the OBCs as their shields, as they earlier used SCs and Muslims. But their cynicism, even evasiveness, is evidenced by the fact that not one of them divulged his or her identity, academic programme, or year of study, though I asked them repeatedly. How can we have a dialogue if you dont tell me your name you are just like any of my students, I said. They replied, We are Najeeb, after the missing Biotech student. I said, I am Najeeb too, but you cant stop me from entering my office. Several of them were probably too old to be actively enrolled in a programme in JNU. The whole protest, I surmised, was orchestrated to bring the university to a standstill on the eve of the first anniversary of the Azaadi protests, which falls on February 9. Dont be surprised if there is more trouble and turmoil in JNU. Sadly, if this happens, it is the institution and the ordinary students who will suffer the most. That is what I deeply regret. A video clip is being widely shared on social media in which Rajya Sabha member and senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is attacking Congress president Sonia Gandhi. This video doesn't seem to be new, but it has created a buzz on internet for the last two-three days and has received wider attention. However, there has been no mention of it (video) in mainstream media despite a lot of whining about the fast deterioration in public discourse, particularly the vile misogynistic statements by other political leaders. Sonia Gandhi has been at the receiving end of the sexist and racist abuses by her political opponents for several decades. Gandhi has been at the receiving end of sexist and racist abuses by her political opponents for several decades. None other than Prime Minster Narendra Modi, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat in 2004, had called Sonia Gandhi a "Jersey Cow". Modi keeps referring her as madam and it is not out of respect, but as a jibe for her Italian origin. In the past, the late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan had likened Gandhi to Monica Lewinsky, saying if Sonia was fit to hold public office, Monica Lewinsky could also be considered eligible. Modis friend turned foe and VHP leader Pravin Togadia had called her an Italian kutri (Bitch). Gandhis refusal to be the prime minister of the country after leading the Congress party to a surprise victory in 2004, had a brought a temporary halt to these vicious attacks from her rightwing opponents, but not for long. The rise of social media and its anonymity gave opportunity to many racists and misogynists to viciously target her with despicable personal attacks. Even political leaders, particularly Modi, targeted Gandhi and her son, Rahul personally in the campaign for the general election in 2014 again. Less than two years back, Union minister Giriraj Singh had made a dreadful racist and misogynist comment on her, saying, "If Rajiv Gandhi would've married a Nigerian and Sonia Gandhi wasn't white-skinned, would the Congress have accepted her?" No one from his party or the government took him to task for this. Few months back, BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri, Chaudhary Babulal questioned the character of the Congress president by demanding the proof of Rahul Gandhis parentage. Personal attack against Sonia Gandhi by BJP leaders has almost become a norm rather than the exception. The approach of new BJP leadership, unlike the Vajpayee- and Advani-era, seems to provide encouragement to these vile attacks of racists and misogynist nature. Voices against these attacks, even from the Congress Party, are also gradually getting muted due to its increasing frequency. Even mainstream media has accepted it as a new normal. Among all the BJP leaders, someone who has made it almost a full-time profession to personally target Gandhi and her family is Subramanian Swamy. This recently nominated member to Rajya Sabhas personal animosity towards her is reflected frequently in the use of his gutter language against her. Besides playing his diabolic Hindutva card, Swamys only other source of political sustenance is drawn from overt advertisement of antipathy for Gandhi. He has not won an election for nearly two decades. Swamy has taken Gandhi and others to court accusing them of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate of funds and properties of the National Herald newspaper. As a citizen of the country and being an opposition leader, there is nothing unusual about this judicial activism. However, he also repeatedly accuses Gandhi of involvement in the VVIP AugustaWestland copper deal without any hard evidences, but only because of her Italian origin. Swamys diatribe against Gandhi is not only limited to accusation of corruption or confined to courtrooms, Parliament or press conferences only. Swamy has made a sickening habit of targeting Gandhi with vicious personal attacks in worst possible language in media and in selected gatherings of faithful. He regularly uses his Twitter handle with 3.7 million followers to slander Gandhi. His massive following on Twitter is primarily due to his open hostility to Sonia Gandhi. Initially, he used to refer to Sonia Gandhi as vishkanya (poisonous girl) and in short VK. Then, he changed the name to Tadaka (demoness in the epic, Ramayana) and in short TDK. Last year, he had also repeated his old accusation against Gandhi of helping her sister to sell stolen Indian antiques in Italy. He has not only made wild accusation against Sonia Gandhi, but also targeted many of his political opponents, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of getting drunk at an official function, but never been able to substantiate his charges. He hurls abuses against adversaries without evidences. He is a habitual muckraker to say the least. However, the video clip of his slander of Sonia Gandhi, which has come out recently to wider notice not only clearly shows the filthy and misogynistic view of Swamy towards a female politician of foreign origin, but raises serious questions about the state of his mind. It is not expected from any ordinary person, even if we live in the era of Modi, (Donald) Trump and (Rodrigo) Duterte. Over and above, Swamy is not a commoner or an anonymous internet troll, he is one of the 12 members of the Rajya Sabha, nominated by the president as he is considered to have special knowledge or practical experiences in literature, science, art and social service. LEBANON Lebanon to Blue Zones Project Oregon: Never mind, thanks, well do it ourselves. A local steering committee that had been lobbying for Lebanon to become a Blue Zones demonstration community has withdrawn the city from consideration following a Feb. 1 meeting at which potential supporters balked at the projects $800,000 price tag. We will be rebranding as Live Longer Lebanon to continue improving Lebanons health and well-being, the group said in the statement issued Tuesday. Thank you to all of our dedicated community members who attended meetings, asked questions, and got involved, as well as those who pledged to donate towards the effort. Blue Zones, a healthier living research effort, is owned by Healthways, a national community health company. In Oregon, it is funded by the Cambia Foundation, part of Cambia Health Solutions, the parent company for the insurance company Regence BlueCross BlueShield. Currently, Klamath Falls is the only other Blue Zones demonstration community in Oregon, but Lebanon was working to become the second. Initially, Lebanon backers believed the city was in the running to receive a three-year, $1.2 million grant to develop programs for healthier living. Last fall, program representatives clarified the proposal, saying demonstration communities did not receive dollars but instead a three-year funded program, to which they would be expected to contribute between $200,000 and $400,000 a year to offset costs. At an update meeting last week, Blue Zones representatives told the steering committee and its supporters that Lebanon was one of three finalist communities, and that all three needed to be able to pledge $200,000 for 2017 and $300,000 for the next two years to receive the demonstration community designation. Shelly Garrett, president of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, said her feeling was that Lebanon was not winning a title but being asked to buy one, and she didnt think that was the best choice for the city. Every dollar pledged to Blue Zones is one no longer available to help existing nonprofits, even though they might already be committed to helping the community achieve healthful objectives, Garrett said. Also, she said, Lebanon already has a strong track record of partnerships that contribute toward the community's health and well-being, such as funding new fire stations, building bicycle and hiking paths and welcoming a veterans' home and the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest. These people know how to move forward and invest in their community," she said. Why would we pay for this when we have all of these skilled people in our community? Blue Zones had said Lebanons three-year contribution would pay to hire up to five people to manage a local Blue Zones effort. That team would work with a steering group and subcommittees of community volunteers to assess needs and opportunities, then use the results to set priorities and plans. National policy experts and marketing officials would help develop strategies and assess results. Lebanon resident Raleigh Henshaw III* was among potential supporters who said the payback was just too vague. It felt like, 'Congratulations, you won a sales presentation.' Like they hype it up, they get you in the door and get you interested, and oh by the way youre not going to get anything back. Its going to cost you $800,000 over the next three years and were going to provide you specialists," he said. Henshaw also said he had concerns about the project's transparency. In an eight-page research report he wrote following Wednesday's meeting, he said he found Blue Zones works through key individuals to influence policy changes in everything from governments and schools to grocery stores and restaurants. "By working with individual people, businesses and schools, they can influence policies and avoid large scale attention. No votes are usually needed from the public, school board or city council," he wrote. If Lebanon had gone through with the designation, it stood to undergo a multitude of assessments related to health and wellness, Henshaw said. He's unclear about where that data would have gone, who would control it and how it would have been used. If it led to a healthier Lebanon, Henshaw added, "Thats good, and thats the direction health care should take: lower cost through healthier living. But there's no discussion of that savings, through current or past projects, being directed back into the community." Lebanon is still committed to healthy living, but it will focus on the city's "2040" strategic plan as its foundation, members of the new steering committee wrote. "The Blue Zones program is based on sound philosophy and represents a great opportunity for the right community. The backbone of support it and similar programs offer communities is a valuable tool to foster cohesion and collaboration among a communitys various efforts and causes," the statement reads. "However, Lebanon has an established vision and a plan for making it a reality, and Lebanon should not compromise or redirect our efforts towards completing our plan." *Editor's note: Raleigh Henshaw was misidentified as his father, Raleigh Henshaw Jr., in the print version of this story. March 13, 1924 Jan. 14, 2017 Arnold Alfred Hahn passed away peacefully after a short illness at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis on Jan. 14, 2017. He was 92. He was born on March 13, 1924, in Blodgett, the last of five children born to Inga Jacobson and Emil Hahn. After graduating from high school in Philomath, Arnold worked briefly in Tillamook before joining the navy. During World War II, he learned signal corps duties and served on a ship in the Mediterranean. After World War II, Arnold moved to Enterprise, Oregon, where he met his future wife, Maxine Anderson. He began working as a truck driver for a dairy picking up milk from the surrounding farms. He married Maxine on Dec. 21, 1947, at her mother's home in front of the Christmas tree. Together they had four children, Marv, Mel, Julia and Nadine. They moved from Enterprise in 1956, first to Portland, then Grants Pass, finally settling in Fremont, California, in 1960. He continued to drive a truck until he started his own contracting and demolition business in the late 60s. Arnold was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont. Arnold liked to take the kids on spur of the moment trips. He would ask the kids, "Are you coming or what?" and head for the station wagon. There would be a mad scramble for shoes and sweaters and lots of asking, "Where are we going?" that he refused to answer. These trips usually occurred on Sundays after the ritual of church, dinner and watching the Lutheran Hour. At least once the whole family ended up in the mountains in snow wearing lightweight clothing the girls were in sandals. These spontaneous day trips became something of a family game for him. When Arnold started his business in the late 60s, Maxine became his partner, doing the bookkeeping and record keeping. The business occasionally required travel and they enjoyed touring the western United States together. When the family farm, where Arnold was born and raised in Blodgett became available, Arnold and Maxine purchased it. They remodeled the farmhouse, and moved into it in 1980. After their retirement they spent summers in Blodgett and winters in Arizona. They also traveled to England, Ireland, Russia, the Mediterranean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, the Midwest and eastern coast of the United States. Arnold was predeceased by his wife, Maxine, who passed away on Dec. 22, 2016, after 69 years of marriage; his parents, his sister and three brothers. He is survived by his children, Marv and Birgit Hahn, Mel and Karen Hahn, Julia Boone, and Nadine and Micheal Partridge; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, and close friends Jerry and Tammy St. Clair and their family. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Philomath and enjoyed the fellowship and friendship he found there. A celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Peace Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Arnolds name can be made to Peace Lutheran Church. Please leave your condolences at www.mchenryfuneralhome.com. Forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Portland have issued a new flood watch for the mid-valley, stretching from 4 p.m. Wednesday through 4 a.m. Saturday. Area rivers of concern include the Marys in Benton County, the Luckiamute in Benton and Polk counties and the Siletz in Lincoln County. Heavy rain is scheduled to return to Western Oregon Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. Some rivers in low-elevation basins, especially those draining the hard-hit Coast Range, already are running high from recent heavy precipitation. In addition to the rainfall, rivers that have basins in the 1,000-3,000 foot elevation in the Coast Range will be receiving additional runoff from low-elevation snow melt as snow levels rise dramatically to 7,000 and 8,000 feet Wednesday afternoon and night. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected in the north and central Coast Range. Forecasters said totals of 2 to 3 inches are expected along the coast and 1.5 to 2.5 inches inland. A flood watch is issued when forecasters believe there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. People living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. Landslides and debris flows are possible. People, structures and roads located below steep slopes, in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk from rapidly moving landslides. Here are your updated local forecasts: Albany Wednesday: Rain. High near 50. South southeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Wednesday night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 55 by 5 a.m. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Thursday: Rain. Temperature rising to near 57 by noon, then falling to around 52 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Corvallis Wednesday: Rain. High near 50. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Wednesday night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 55 by 4 a.m. South wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Thursday: Rain. Temperature rising to near 57 by noon, then falling to around 52 during the remainder of the day. South southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Lebanon Wednesday: Rain. High near 51. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Wednesday night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 54 by 4 a.m. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Thursday: Rain. High near 57. South southwest wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for New York Community Bank. New York Community Bank is the nations 47th-largest financial institution and its largest thrift. As a thrift, the bank specializes in real estate and consumer accounts specifically real estate loans and savings accounts and has limited exposure to other forms of business banking. Among the benefits to consumers are interest-bearing checking and saving accounts that come with higher-than-average interest rates. New York Community Bank was founded in 1859 to serve Queens County, New York. It operated under that name, growing all the while, until 2000 when it changed its name to better reflect the business. The company IPOd in 1993 and has made multiple acquisitions in the time since. As of 6/30/2022, the bank had $63.1 billion in assets and $41.2 billion in deposits. New York Community Bank operates in greater New York City, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, and Arizona. The company provides deposit products ranging from interest-bearing checking and money market accounts to savings accounts, IRAs, and CDs. Brands under the companys umbrella include AmTrust in Florida and Arizona, Ohio Savings Bank, Garden State Savings Bank, and Atlantic Bank. The bank offers a wide range of real-estate-related loans including but not limited to multi-family loans, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, and consumer loans and mortgages. Investment products include annuities, mutual funds, and life insurance. Customers include individuals, small businesses, and organizations and are served through a network of more than 230 branches, and 300 ATMs, online, mobile, and by phone. Many of the locations are open 24 hours and 6 days a week although those hours are not available at all branches. Clients can access their accounts digitally 24/7. New York Community Bancorp and its underlying business carry investment-grade credit ratings from all the major rating agencies. The credit outlook in the 4th quarter of 2022 was stable as it had been for some time. In New York, it is a leader in the multi-family market specializing in lower-cost housing in rent-controlled areas. As of June 30, 2022, the multi-family loan portfolio accounted for more than 75% of all investments. The company has a stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan that help to sustain a high level of ownership. If you've been following the proposal in the Legislature to create a public records advocate, there is good news to report: Gov. Kate Brown has said it doesn't matter to her precisely where the advocate is placed in state government. At a session in January with reporters and editors from throughout the state, Brown gave what she called the "Rhett Butler" answer, which roughly translates to "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" where in state government the position is located. And Brown's counsel on governmental accountability issues made a similar statement on Monday, during a hearing on Senate Bill 106, which would create the advocate's position. The counsel, Emily Matasar, said that Brown was open to housing the advocate in the Secretary of State's office instead of in the Department of Administrative Services. It's an important distinction, and here's why: The Department of Administrative Services reports to the governor. The Secretary of State's office, of course, is under the direction of Dennis Richardson, the Republican who won election to the office in December. The idea is that the public records advocate helps mediate disputes between state agencies and members of the public requesting public records. The proposal came from a public task force that has been laboring for more than a year on overhauling the state's records laws. It's been challenging work; the task force had hoped, for example, to examine the 500 or so exemptions to the public records law that have cropped up in the decades since 1973, when Oregon enacted a law that was at the time considered among the best in the nation. That work, however, has proven to be very delicate, and it will take more time. In the meantime, the task force has focused on some smaller ideas, including creating the records advocate. Brown generally has been supportive of the idea, as you might expect: One of the themes of her administration and election campaign was to increase government transparency. But she showed some signs of wavering in December, when she proposed that the governor appoint the records officer leading to concerns that the advocate wouldn't have sufficient independence in records cases that involved the governor's office. The speculation at the time was that Brown, a Democrat, was worried about handing over the position to an office that recently had been won by the Republican Richardson. Nevertheless, it makes a certain amount of sense to move the position to the Secretary of State's office; Stephen Elzinga, the Secretary of State's governmental and legal affairs director, told legislators Monday that the advocate needs to work closely with the public records work being done by the state archives office. What would make the most sense, of course, is to set up the advocate in a stand-alone office but with the state staring down a $1.8 billion budget shortfall, that prospect seems unlikely. Now that Brown has signaled that she's more interested in making sure the advocate position works than where it fits on the state's organizational chart, that should help clear a potential hurdle for the proposal. And, in fact, the chair of the Senate Committee on General Government and Accountability, Chuck Riley of Hillsboro, said the bill is one of his priorities this session. "It's going to take most of session to get it ironed out," Riley told The Oregonian. "We'll get something out. I don't know what it's going to look like." Well, it won't be the big breakthrough Oregon citizens need and deserve on public records. But it could be a step in the right direction and, at this point, that counts as progress. (mm) AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of prescription medicines. Its marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, and Xigduo/Xigduo XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tudorza/Eklira/Bretaris for respiratory and immunology; and Andexxa/Ondexxya, Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases. The company's marketed products also comprise Synagis for respiratory syncytial virus; Fluenz Tetra/FluMist Quadrivalent for Influenza; Seroquel IR/Seroquel XR for schizophrenia bipolar disease; Nexium, and Losec/Prilosec for gastroenterology; and Vaxzevria and Evusheld for covid-19. The company serves primary care and specialty care physicians through distributors and local representative offices in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. It has a collaboration agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to research, develop, and commercialize small molecule medicines for obesity; Neurimmune AG to develop and commercialize NI006; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop eplontersen, a liver-targeted antisense therapy in Phase III development for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis; Proteros Biostructures GmbH to jointly discover novel small molecules for the treatment of hematological cancers; Sierra Oncology, Inc. to develop and commercialize AZD5153. The company was formerly known as Zeneca Group PLC and changed its name to AstraZeneca PLC in April 1999. AstraZeneca PLC was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom. Aviva plc provides various insurance, retirement, investment, and savings products in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and internationally. The company offers life insurance, long-term health and accident insurance, savings, pension, and annuity products, as well as pension fund business and lifetime mortgage products. It also provides insurance cover to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses for risks associated with motor vehicles and medical expenses, as well as property and liability, such as employers' and professional indemnity liabilities. In addition, the company provides investment management services for institutional pension fund mandates; and manages various retail investment products, including investment funds, unit trusts, open-ended investment companies, and individual savings accounts for third-party financial institutions, pension funds, public sector organizations, investment professionals, and private investors. It markets its products through a network of insurance brokers, as well as MyAviva platform. The company was formerly known as CGNU plc and changed its name to Aviva plc in July 2002. Aviva plc was founded in 1696 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. 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Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Read More Senator Elizabeth Warren voiced her opinion on Facebook late on Tuesday to end her speech that was formally silenced by Republicans on the Senate floor after she quoted Coretta Scott King while criticizing President Trumps attorney general nominee Senator Jeff Sessions. The drama unfolded when the Democrat from Massachusetts overstepped the arcane rules of the chamber by reading a letter dated three decades ago from the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King that dated to the failed judicial nomination of Senator Sessions nearly thirty years ago. Get Warning: Undefined variable $CompanyName in /home/acctdp/public_html/wp-content/themes/responsalambre/single.php on line 65 alerts: King in her letter wrote that when Session was a federal prosecutor he used his power to chill the exercise of the vote by citizens who were black. Quoting King was technically a violation by Warren of rules in the Senate for impugning the motives of the senator, although the letter had been written close to 10 years prior to Sessions becoming a member of the U.S. Senate. Chuck Schumer the minority leader of the senate called the formal silencing of Warren totally unnecessary. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said both sides ought to be ashamed over the atmosphere on the senate floor. Although Warren was silenced in the Senate, she later posted her thoughts on Twitter, criticizing the AG nominee. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was who invoked the rule and following a few moves by the Republicans, a GOP controlled Senate decided by a vote of 49 to 43 to formally silence the Massachusetts senator. Warren now cannot speak again on the senate floor about the nomination of Session. A vote on his nomination is expected for Wednesday evening and it is expected that he will receive confirmation. Warrens supporters quickly took to social media in her defense. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott Kings daughter Bernice King posted on Twitter thanking Warren for being the soul of the U.S. senate during the hearing on Sessions. Others said it was a sad day for the U.S. when the words of the widow of Martin Luther King are not allowed on the U.S. Senate floor. Warren finished the letter by King on her Facebook page, which attracted over 2 million views. The audience was likely much larger than it would have been if she had continued on the senate floor that was televised by C-SPAN. Warren has not yet ruled out running for the White House in the future, but has said her focus now is being reelected to the senate in 2018. Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Citing a 1984 Supreme Court case, an Albemarle County judge has ruled that the search warrant that instigated charges against a former University of Virginia associate professor is not valid but nonetheless admissible at trial. Walter Francis Korte Jr., the 73-year-old former director of UVas Film Studies program, was arrested in August and charged with two counts of possessing child pornography. Kortes arrest came days after investigators conducted a search of his Albemarle County home, as well as his Bryan Hall office on UVa Grounds. Months before his scheduled trial date, Korte and his attorneys went before Judge Cheryl Higgins on Wednesday to request that evidence gleaned from the search warrant which led to his arrest be excluded from trial. Kortes attorneys contend that the magistrate who initially signed off on the warrant was not provided sufficient evidence to establish probable cause for the search. While details were scarce, it was implied that authorities began seeking a warrant for the search after finding numerous images that had been disposed of in a public dumpster and somehow linked to Korte. Two images found in that group were of juvenile boys. According to characterizations by Higgins, one was of a juvenile who was asleep and had his hands down his waist band, although his genitalia was not visible. The other was of another boy but, per Higgins, it does not involve a sex act, thus exempting it from the legal definition of child pornography. Copies of the two images were not included in the evidence handed over to the magistrate for a warrant, Kortes attorneys said, nor were any detailed descriptions. A prosecutor agreed that forgetting to include the images was not in keeping with best practices but said that the detective seeking the warrant was not intending to mislead the magistrate by failing to provide copies or detailed descriptions of the images. Higgins noted that the defendant could argue that the images used to attain the search warrant did not actually depict sexual acts or anything that might qualify as probable cause, and therefore the warrant was unduly signed off on. After taking a couple of hours to review the images herself, Higgins ruled that the search warrant in the case was invalid because the images used to bolster it were not illicit a conclusion that a magistrate may have drawn had the images been available. That said, Higgins denied the motion to exclude evidence gained from the search due to the Leon exception. The Leon exception comes from the 1984 Supreme Court case of the U.S. v. Leon, which decided that even if a search warrant is found to be invalid because of a lack of probable cause in attaining it, the evidence found in that search can still be upheld if the police performed the search while acting in good faith. In this instance, good faith implies the officers believed their actions were lawful. Because the officers executing the search of Kortes office and home were not doing so with reckless disregard for the law, Higgins asserted that the evidence taken during that search was admissible in court. A trial in the matter is scheduled for May 19. Korte, who was instrumental in creating the Virginia Film Festival in 1988, retired from UVa on Nov. 1. The Albemarle County School Board adopted an unbalanced funding request Tuesday during a budget work session, with one additional expenditure added during the meeting. The board voted 6-1 to approve adoption of a $181 million funding request, which includes $215,000 in reserve funds related to bus driver pay. All other aspects of Superintendent Pam Morans original funding request of $180.8 million were included in the boards adoption. Jason Buyaki, board member from the Rivanna District, was the one vote against the adoption of the request. The funding request includes one new major initiative from Morans request aimed at addressing the needs of at-risk students in the elementary schools in the urban ring and working to close achievement gaps. At the start of the meeting, Chief Operating Officer Dean Tistadt and Jackson Zimmermann, director of finance for the county schools, introduced the $215,000 in reserve funds. During recent School Board meetings, as well as the public hearing for the funding request at the end of January, several county school bus drivers spoke out about the need for higher pay. Currently, the starting salary for a newly hired county schools bus driver who has no prior bus driving experience before training is $11.62 an hour, according to data provided by the division. The Human Resources Department will soon do a classification study of the Transportation Department for the county schools, focused primarily on bus drivers, Tistadt said after the meeting. When that is completed around April or May, he said the results will likely show what the school division already knows about bus driver pay and working conditions. So what the board has done is set aside the money, saying, if that study does in fact have that outcome, well have the money in the budget that was necessary to pay for it and then we can implement it right away, Tistadt said after the meeting. The funding request also includes $2.4 million for a 2 percent salary increase for both teachers and all other school employees, bus drivers included. And $497,355 has been requested for salary compression, which is the difference in pay between experienced employees and newly hired employees in the same job, for classified employees who have not had pay increases in recent years. Another major aspect of this funding request is a $1.28 million initiative known as Equity and Access. Part of the push to move forward with Equity and Access has been in response to increases in specific student demographics. In the last 10 years, the division has seen an overall 8 percent increase in the student population, but also a 67 percent increase in economically disadvantaged students and a 37 percent increase in those who are learning English as a second language. These demographic shifts are highest at Agnor-Hurt, Cale, Greer and Woodbrook elementary schools. On top of funding for areas such as professional development in the initiative is a request for $493,600 for a Social-Emotional-Academic Development, or SEAD, team that would provide support and services to at-risk students. After the request was approved, Steve Koleszar, board member for the Scottsville District, said he supports this initiative, adding that it helps the schools mission of addressing the needs of all of its students to prepare them for life after graduation. Thats our charge, thats our mission, and we have to do whatever it takes in our power to make that happen, he said. Dave Oberg, board member for the White Hall District, also voiced his support for the Equity and Access initiative, partly because of the work by Matt Haas, deputy superintendent, to put the initiative together. I support it because I trust Dr. Haas, he said. And [if] Dr. Haas says this is what he wants to do, then Im going to support that. Currently, based on the School Boards adopted funding request, there is a projected revenue gap of $906,261, which includes the latest expense added during Tuesdays meeting. At the moment, the projected revenues with this request come out to $180.2 million. Both Zimmermann and Tistadt said there appears to be a projected increase in local and even state revenues coming soon, but those numbers are not finalized yet. We may still have a gap to go look at, Tistadt said. What are we going to do about it? Maybe some local revenues come up, some state revenues come up, so we may get that gap closed painlessly. But we may still have a little bit of work to do, so well see. The School Boards funding request will now go to the Board of Supervisors. A recommended budget request from the county executives office will be made to supervisors on Feb. 17. Other aspects of the School Boards adopted funding request includes mandated costs in addition to the pay increase, such as $1.5 million in increased contributions to the Virginia Retirement System and $1.2 million to cover rises in health care costs. More information on the 2017-18 budget process can be found at k12albemarle.org under the School Board page. Moments after the Charlottesville City Council voted 3-2 to relocate the citys statue of Robert E. Lee, as people celebrated or stewed over the decision, the council unanimously agreed on two other measures that could bring even more change downtown. Councilors voted to rename Lee and Jackson parks and tasked staff to begin the process of hiring a professional design firm to redesign them, as well. The recommendations came from a panel the council convened last year to explore what the city should do about its statue of Lee, as well as one of Confederate Gen. Thomas Stonewall Jackson. In November, the panel recommended the city keep the statues in the city, though two options were presented: move them to McIntire Park or re-contextualize them in their current locations. The explicit and final recommendation to the council was to consider both options, but seven of the nine panel members voted in favor of relocating the Lee statue. Staff members are expected to recommend to the council within 60 days new names for Lee and Jackson parks, and to provide direction on how and where the city can move the Lee statue. I have put forth before you today ... another resolution to pretty much complete the recommendations that were made by the Blue Ribbon Commission [on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces] for the other parts of the North Downtown Historic precinct, Councilor Kathy Galvin said before publicly introducing the motion Monday night. The hired design team, which will create design plans for the Historic North Downtown and Court Square districts, also will be responsible for replacing a plaque that recognizes the former slave auction block near the Albemarle County Circuit Courthouse. The team also will create a new marker for the site of the former Freedmens Bureau downtown. Particularly in Jackson Park, where the statue of Jackson will remain, the resolution calls for the commissioning of a new monument to honor the citys enslaved population. The point of this resolution is to acknowledge the fact therell probably be a delay in actually relocating the [Lee] statue because of the litigation that will ensue, Galvin said, alluding to threatened lawsuits over the proposal to remove the Lee statue, which many consider to be a war memorial thats protected by Virginia statute. Having that status quo remain in those parks I dont think is acceptable to anybody. So this was an opportunity to begin moving in that direction to get some tangible change in the parks to begin telling that clearer, more honest narrative of racial history in the city of Charlottesville, she said. Thats why I feel theres a need to act on this at the same time as were acting on the statue relocation. This will probably come out of the gate quicker and sooner. Altogether, the council agreed to allocate up to $1 million for the development, design and implementation of whatever master plan it adopts. Once a project contract is signed, the city or the design firm will provide a timeline to finish the project within 12 months. Before voting on Galvins resolution, Mayor Mike Signer said landscape architects have told city officials that the city can utilize approximately $1 million to complete the entire project and build a modest memorial. If it goes over budget, the resolution says the city could seek private donations or grants to complete the project. The $1 million pegged for the project is twice the amount the council has resolved to put toward implementation of whatever it decided to do on the matter. In December, the council decided it would use up to $500,000 of a $6 million surplus the city ran in the last fiscal year for implementation of the project. City officials have estimated that moving the Lee statue could cost about $330,000. This is real dollars toward a real serious commitment to transform downtown, Signer said about that allocation and the estimated cost of the redesign project. While the future home of the Lee statue is not yet known, councilors expressed confidence in Galvins plan. I want to highlight that Lee Park would be redesigned, independent of the Lee statue, Signer said, alluding to explicit language in the resolution. He said the redesigned park has to have its own integrity and has to retain its ability to function as a community gathering space. In addition to all of the resolutions that the council passed Monday, Councilor Wes Bellamy read a proclamation announcing that the city will now recognize March 3 as Liberation and Freedom Day to recognize the day in 1865 when the Union Army entered Charlottesville. The Albemarle County Planning Commission has recommended a plan for a new community youth center to be built in the Southwood neighborhood on Old Lynchburg Road. Currently, the Boys & Girls Club has about 100 students on their waiting list, said Craig Kotarski, a civil engineer with the Timmons Group. This would nearly eliminate their waiting list. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia currently operate a center along Hickory Street within the mobile home development owned by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville. A special-use permit caps enrollment at 120 students but that will be expanded to 200 if the Board of Supervisors signs off on the idea. Dr. Charles H. Gleason, whose pediatric medicine practice spanned four decades and his community dedication a lifetime, died at his home Tuesday. He was 92. Gleason was born in Charlottesville and spent most of his life in his home town with the exception of a year in Iowa to complete a medical internship and his time as a gunner on a U.S. Marine Corps dive bomber during World War II in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he returned to Charlottesville, received his medical degree from the University of Virginia and joined the medical staff of the Martha Jefferson Hospital in 1960. He was active in the Sabin On Sunday anti-polio campaign effort in 1963 to provide vaccines to as many local children as possible and also supported tuberculosis testing for children. He was named a fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1965. He worked as a private-practice pediatric physician, and in 1971 was a founding partner of Charlottesville-based Pediatric Associates. He also served as president of the Martha Jefferson Hospital medical staff and chief of the pediatrics section, and he was a member of the hospitals board of directors. Gleason remained active in the community throughout his life. He was a founding board member for Offender Aid and Restoration, served on the board of ReadyKids and helped to start Camp Faith, a camp for underprivileged children in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. He and his wife, Elizabeth Betz Gleason, donated time and money to many causes in the community and in 2006 received a Drewary J. Brown Bridge Builder Award in recognition of their lifetime of service. RICHMOND Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly took initial steps this week to give the legislature more power over the executive branch by allowing elected lawmakers to override rules and regulations adopted by state agencies. The Senate and House of Delegates advanced proposed constitutional amendments that would give the legislature oversight of executive rulemaking, the largely technical process covering the nuts and bolts of how state government works. Republican proponents said the amendments would allow lawmakers to ensure that their legislative intent is carried out by the state bureaucracy. Democrats, and one outspoken Republican defector, called the proposals an overreach that would upend Virginia's longstanding separation of powers. The Senate passed its version of the amendment, SJ 295, Tuesday on a 21-19 vote. The House version, HJ 545, passed Monday night on a 54-40 vote. In the House, seven Republicans broke with their party and opposed the amendment, along with the chamber's 33 Democrats. Five House Republicans did not vote. If the two chambers agree to reconcile differences in the proposed amendments, the resulting proposal would have to pass a second time next year before going to voters for a final decision on the 2018 ballot. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, opposes the measure but cannot veto proposed constitutional amendments. During the House debate Monday, Del. Christopher T. Head, R-Botetourt, the amendment's patron, argued on the House floor that some state agencies haven't been receptive to bills passed by the General Assembly that dictate how government business should be performed. "I would submit to all of you that the separation of powers has been violated simply because the executive branch now legislates," Head said. "And it renders us neutered. I don't like that." Head pointed specifically to legislation he sponsored in 2014 that directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services to take steps to reduce wait times for preadmission screenings for elderly Virginians to enroll in care through the PACE program. Head said he felt the screenings were taking too long and could be done more efficiently if contracted out to a third party. The bill directed the agency to enter into such contracts in areas where wait times for screenings exceeded 30 days. McAuliffe signed the law, which required the agency to comply within 280 days. Without calling out DMAS by name, Head said state officials "still haven't done it." DMAS officials disputed Head's characterization, saying the 2014 directive came with no funding attached, though the bill's fiscal impact statement indicated no budget appropriation was necessary. When DMAS received additional funding in 2015, officials said, the agency reduced screening wait times to an average of 14 days. New regulations were adopted last fall. "We did follow through and we do take that seriously," said Karen Kimsey, deputy director of complex care services at DMAS. Head acknowledged that DMAS has made progress, but said he believes the screening process could be made even more efficient if contracted out as the law specified. "They chose to accomplish it in their own way and not in the way they were directed to by the law," Head said. Across the hall, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, argued the amendment she's co-sponsoring would not be a major departure from how the finer details of state policy are handled now. She noted that the General Assembly can already alter regulations through legislation. Sen. David W. Marsden, D-Fairfax, however, said, Were messing with the balance of power here Its very dangerous. During debate on the House floor, lawmakers opposed to the proposal argued Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would not approve. Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, said on the floor that the longstanding philosophy of keeping the legislative and executive branches distinct "may be crumbling tonight." Marshall quoted Jefferson's observation that "173 despots would surely be as oppressive as one." After quoting from one of Madison's Federalist Papers that warned legislatures tend to suck all power into their "impetuous vortex," House Minority Leader David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, noted that the amendment would allow General Assembly committees to nullify executive rules and regulations when lawmakers are not in session. The exact makeup of those committees, Toscano said, is unclear. "But rest assured, it's not going to be all of us," Toscano said. Undeterred, Head told his colleagues they should have no fear of putting the question to voters. Constituents, he said, want their legislators to be empowered to act on their behalf. "If you believe in the power of the people, pass the resolution," Head said. Sugar Shack Donuts is coming to Charlottesville. According to Charlottesville's Office of Economic Developments Facebook page and Twitter account, representatives from the doughnut shop dropped by with a teaser of the deliciousness we can look forward to when they open here in #Cville. The original Sugar Shack Donuts location opened in June 2013 in Richmond. Theyve been talking about opening a Charlottesville location since 2014. While a specific location and opening date have not yet been announced, a page on the Sugar Shack website cached Jan. 27 since removed but still listed as a Google search result listed a summer 2017 opening. Requests for confirmation by Sugar Shack have not been returned. There are currently eight locations open across Virginia and two in Florida, and they operate a mobile doughnut truck. A Washington, D.C., location is opening in the spring, according to their website. Recently in the Charlottesville area doughnut scene, Krispy Kreme announced they are opening in 5th Street Station, and The Spudnut Shop closed at the end of 2016. Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer called Republican gubernatorial candidate Denver Riggleman "inexperienced" on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. Signer wrote, "Newby Gov candidate @Denver4Governors inexperience is showing. Doesnt he know I voted AGAINST moving Lee statue?!" Newby Gov candidate @denver4governors inexperience is showing. Doesnt he know I voted AGAINST moving Lee statue?! https://t.co/dCtliHIeYj Mike Signer (@MikeSigner) February 8, 2017 The tweet was prompted by a press release from Riggleman that read in part, "And if Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer wants to keep poking the rest of Virginia in the eye with this sort of nonsense with our statues and making statements about Charlottesville being the "capital of resistance," he is going to wish that he would be allowed to make Charlottesville a sanctuary city, because I am coming. The Denver for Governor Twitter account responded writing, "@MikeSigner I lead men. I was responsible for their success or failure. You failed... I won't. I'm not all talk no action #realexperience". @MikeSigner I lead men. I was responsible for their success or failure. You failed... I won't. I'm not all talk no action #realexperience Denver for Governor (@Denver4Governor) February 8, 2017 Signer accused the account of trolling, "Love getting trolled by a Gov candidate! Come visit & learn about our 3.9% unemployment & AAA bond rating. Didn't happen thru rhetoric. Thx." Love getting trolled by a Gov candidate! Come visit & learn about our 3.9% unemployment & AAA bond rating. Didn't happen thru rhetoric. Thx. https://t.co/kCo4tkSeVt Mike Signer (@MikeSigner) February 8, 2017 Then the candidate's account blamed Signer for starting the spat. @MikeSigner you tweeted us.. classic example of #hypocrisy of the left. Arent you like the Tsar of the "capital of resistance" or something? Denver for Governor (@Denver4Governor) February 8, 2017 The account followed up with, "@MikeSigner get your apparatchiks in line". The mayor retweeted that saying, "Just re-tweeting this, oh, for the heck of it:" Just re-tweeting this, oh, for the heck of it: https://t.co/n1xxcVfmbG Mike Signer (@MikeSigner) February 8, 2017 It is time to get real about our democracy. Democracy is under siege. Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer was on the Coy Barefoot show recently and rightfully stated that American democracy is constantly in a process of tests and responses. What are your values and beliefs? What do you do? How do we resist threats to democracy and demagogues? The threats to democracy are not just happening in Washington, but they are occurring right here in Charlottesville. In February 2016, right after the City Council election the new majority on Council instituted new rules for Council procedures and public input. This was done quickly, with no real public input. These rules were really targeted at quelling the increased level of dissent coming from citizens in Charlottesville about issues like substandard public housing, disproportionate stop-and-frisk incidents and disproportionate contacts by juveniles with the justice system, among other issues. The changes in rules included: limiting the amount of time an individual councilor could speak; limiting the amount of time the Council could spend on any item; increasing the discretion of the mayor to determine what is appropriate speech; allowing the mayor to turn off the public access cameras; preventing councilors from responding to comments by the public by transferring that responsibility to the city manager; barring a single councilor from taking something off the consent agenda (a move apparently targeted at minority voice Bob Fenwick); and changing the public comment system, which had worked for decades, into a lottery system. These changes, taken together, undermine free speech, the ability to dissent, and our democracy in Charlottesville. The way they were implemented smacks of demagoguery. These procedures have been resisted by many in Charlottesville, including the Rutherford Institute, which stated that the new procedures violate the letter and spirit of the First Amendment and impose obstacles to transparency and citizen engagement (rutherford.org/publications_resources/tri_in_the_news/controversy_over_new_council_rules_continues). In addition, the Charlottesville Human Rights Commission and the Cavalier Daily resisted. Several current and past city councilors have come out against the new rules. A group of over 1000 citizens signed a petition submitted to Council asking that the rules be rescinded. This is the type of resistance the mayor was encouraging at his recent rally on immigration policy. These are the tests and responses that democracy faces. But the problem remains: What happens when citizens resist and councilors ignore the resistance? Call or write your city councilors and demand that they rescind the rules and procedures imposed last February. We deserve better. Walter Heinecke Charlottesville These have not been kind times for Virginias coalfields. The schools there face an unprecedented exodus of students and the state funding that is tied to enrollment. As the coal economy collapses, people are simply leaving in search of work elsewhere. However, the cost of operating those schools remains the same, leaving school systems there struggling in ways that would be considered intolerable in Virginias urban crescent. Before the General Assembly session began, the Democratic leader in the state Senate famously vowed coal is not going to save that regionwere going to have to get involved. Unfortunately, state Sen. Richard Saslaw hasnt been heard from since, at least not on that issue. Gov. Terry McAuliffe went before the Virginia Association of School Superintendents and said nothing. Technically, he said that Southwest Virginia needed more economic developmentwhich is sort of like a doctor telling a man with a bleeding head wound that he needs to exercise more. That may be true, but not particularly helpful at the moment. This is the kind of political lip service weve seen from the Democratic Party in recent years, particularly when it comes to the state and nations less populated areas. And Democrats wonder why they dont win in rural Virginia anymore? Fortunately, there are two parties in the General Assembly and the Republican leaders of both houses have made more favorable noises about finding at least a temporary solution to the school funding crisis in the coalfields. As to a long-term solution to the plight of the coalfields, there is one ray of sunshineor, to be more precise, perhaps several thousand megawatts of sunshine. Theres a fascinating bill moving through the General Assembly that could lay the groundwork for building a new economy there. We refer to HB 1760, sponsored by Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott County. It would add just 26 words to a mind-numbingly long section of the state code that deals with state-regulated utilities. Anytime legislators re-write the laws dealing with utilities its always wise to be, umm, skeptical. This, though, is a change thats both innocuousand importantwhich is why its sailed through the House of Delegates without a single no vote and ideally should do the same in the Senate. The law currently allows utilities to build coal-fired plants; these 26 words would add to that or one or more pumped hydroelectricity generation and storage facilities that utilize renewable energy as all or a portion of their power source and are located in Virginias coalfields. In plain language, it would allow a utility to build whats commonly called a pumped storage projectmeaning one where water is pumped from a lower pond up into a higher pond, and then allowed to flow down through turbines to generate electricity. What makes a prospective pumped storage project in the coalfields different is two things. One, it could use underground water in coal mines as its water supply; no need to dam up a creek. Two, it could use solar energy or wind energy to generate power for the pumpingthats really the key part of Kilgores bill. When was the last time you saw a legislator from the coalfields introducing a bill in favor of renewables? This is historic. Dominion is keenly interested in what Kilgores bill would allow. So, too, are those interested in building a new economy in southwestern Virginiaan economy that would no doubt reap dividends for the Shenandoah Valley and the rest of the commonwealth. Transcription 1 Factors Affecting M-commerce Adoption in Oman using Technology Acceptance Modeling Approach Syed Jafar Naqvi 1, Hafedh Al-Shihi 1 Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman Abstract - The advancement in mobile technologies has influenced many countries to adopt mobile services in their private and public organizations including Oman. M-commerce services are growing rapidly with the exponential growth of mobile devices, technologies and networks. Hence, many business organizations private or public use them to improve revenue, reduce costs, maintain their competitive edge and achieve a level of high efficiency. Although there were many M- commerce services introduced, it was hard to find evidence of any study conducted to determine their successes or failures. This study is an attempt to explore the factors affecting the adoption of M- commerce services in Oman using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) approach. Keywords - M-commerce services, Mobile technology, TAM, Oman 1. Introduction Today s fast pace world demands efficient modern technology to enhance productivity in our personal or business life. This trend of existence has revolutionized our traditional commerce to electronic commerce known as E-commerce. The term E- commerce is the process of buying and selling goods, products and services over electronic systems such as the Internet [1]. With the exponential growth of mobile device technologies and wireless networks, a new version of E-commerce has taken shape. It has continuously gained popularity and is now known as Mobile commerce. Mobile commerce or M- commerce is a subset of E-commerce and has been in implementation for quite some time while M- commerce services are still relatively new. Both of these kinds of services have different requirements but the basic aim is the same which is to facilitate the business process for users much more rapidly and efficient [2]. M-commerce, much like its E-commerce counterpart, also has the process of buying and selling products through wireless handheld devices such as smart phone, tablets and even PDAs. Compared to M-commerce, E-commerce has constrains as it requires the use of a computer and an internet connection, whereas mobile devices work on technical standard known as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) [3]. This allows users to connect to the internet without the need of any desktop or laptop computer. M-commerce however is costly compared to E-commerce for roaming as wireless internet charges progressively increase[4]. In any household, a computer is typically shared while mobile devices are considered to be extremely personal possessions thus increasing the number of mobile users. In a recent survey in Oman, 80% of computer users have access to the internet through the use of a computer, whereas only 91% have access to the internet through their mobile devices[4]. M-commerce allows businesses to reach its clienteles on the go as compared to E-commerce, which requires having a computer available. M- commerce allows users to carry out financial transactions, bill payments, buying tickets, transferring funds, ordering products and receiving messages from private or public organizations [5]. More and more mobile applications are making their way into the marketplace and will soon be available for widespread use. These qualities have made M- commerce instantly popular among all ages of the society [6]. Background to the study The Sultanate of Oman is located on the south east of the Arabian Peninsula and is an important member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. According to (National Centre for Statistics and Information-NCSI, 2014), the latest estimates Oman had a population of 4 million people. A total of 2,232,949 Omanis were recorded, while expatriates comprised 44.2 percent of the total population with 1,767,396. Oman s currency is the TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 2 Rial which is equivalent to $2.60 USD to one Omani Rial [7]. Oman is one of the world s biggest oil producing countries and oil and natural gas extraction account for 51 percent of the country's GDP. The country s economic status was substantially enhanced by rising oil prices. According to (Trading Economics Oman GDP, 2013), Oman s 2013GDP reached about OMR billion, compared to OMR 104 million in 1970 [8]. Sultanate of Oman enjoys a stable political, economical and social system under the leadership of SultanQaboos and achieved a remarkable progress in both economical and social fields [9]. Overview of ICT in Oman Recently, the Sultanate of Oman has introduced the country s digital strategy to promote e-oman as a state-of-the-art solution in implementing the new initiatives. It has embarked on several projects, the most important being: streamlining government services to citizens, residents and public and private sectors businesses as well. Yet, despite the governments growing investment in electronic services sector, the commitment to educating users by offering training programs and awareness campaigns makes citizens reluctant to adopt e- Services due to a lack of trust in the security of online business transactions [10]. According to (Global Information Technology Readiness Report-GITR, 2014), Oman has retained its competitiveness position as 40th in the world in technological readiness, which showed that countries with a strong vision to develop their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capacity have a dominant economic presence [11]. The report also shows 62.7% of Omani households have access to a personal computer with 60% using the internet. Oman ranks 12th in the world for government procurement of advanced technology, 13th in the importance of ICT in the government s vision and 15th in government success in ICT promotion shows. The report indicates that private sector investment in ICT is increasing as Oman ranks 14th in the world for available venture capital [11]. Overview of M-commerce services M-commerce services,according to(turban &Volition, 2010), have two distinguished characteristics like mobility and broad reach. M- commerce services are based on the fact that users carry mobile devices any where they go and users can be reached at any time. We get additional attributes such as ubiquity, convenience, instant connectivity, personalization, localization of products and services [2]. Mobile devices create an opportunity to deliver new services to existing customers and to attract new ones. Oman has capitalized these opportunities and started offering many new M-services[12]. The following section outlines the major M- commerce services offered in Oman are categorized in two groups; Push and Pull services. Push services are passive in nature where clients or end-users usually receive notifications about certain activities or events. On the contrary, Pull services ask users to play a more active role in either initiating the service or responding to queries via SMS using mobile devices. M-commerce Pull Services There are many M-commerce Pull services have initiated in Oman including The Royal Oman Police (ROP) traffic violation offences where the service allowing the drivers to inquire and receive information about their traffic offences. The drivers may know the fines and payment can be made [13]. The Ministry of Education in Oman have recently started the mobile commerce service to send the final general certificate results to students via SMSs. Alternatively, students can inquire about their results by messaging their seat numbers to and receive their final grades. In addition, the Higher Education Admission Center now informs students of their admission status in different institutions via SMSs allowing them to accept or reject the offer by messaging back their choices [13], [14]. Muscat Municipality and Oman mobile have introduced a new M-commerce service for paying the parking fee in their business district and its surrounding areas. The motorist can pay the parking fee through an SMS service and get the alert for expiry of the time and additional parking time can also be requested and payment could be made for the additional time[13], [14]. M-commerce Push Services Besides Pull Services, Oman is also offering many M-commerce Push services such as Muscat Securities Market which now provide investors to receive updates on market and stock alerts via SMS [13]. The service also enables users to get a SMS every 30 minutes on market movers - top winners, losers and most active companies. The Meteorology and the Civil Aviation departments with Oman Mobile cooperation have introduced a weather forecast service for most towns in Oman that allows users to receive weather reports on their mobiles [14]. 316 TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 2014. 3 Most banks in Oman are now offering M- commerce services to their clients where they can receive updates on their bank accounts activities for amount deposits and draws out of their accounts[15]. Major shopping Malls in Oman are now utilizing M-commerce services by sending their ads and promotional incentives to the local clients via SMSs. Many other organizations have also started to send bulk messages to clients informing them about their activities and eventsvia SMS to all residents in Oman. Several barriers have been attributed to the slow adoption of e/m-commerce in Oman. For example, (Zhu and Thatcher, 2010), argue that the lack of government support is a major issue to this slow adoption [16]. Other factors like trust-related issues, ICT infrastructure and IT skills were also highlighted in the literature [17].This led to a question what reasons are behind the users lack of enthusiasm in using M-commerce services and what Oman can do to win their trust in the bid to ensure the success of the country s shift to a digital era. If the causes are technical, then what is wrong with Oman s digital strategy even that could not motivate the people to adopt these services offered in the country [18].It appears that the barriers are not entirely technical. Several studies are done on mobile banking, mobile commerceand e-government, but hard to find any M-commerce adoption framework on the issues related to slow adoption of M-commerce in Oman [15], [19], [20]. This study is an attempt to investigate the reasons and to identify the factors which are serving as irritants in swift adoption of M-commerce services offered by private and public organizations of Oman.This paper explores the factors affecting the adoption of M-commerce services in the light of Technology Acceptance Model as briefly described in the following section. Technology Acceptance Model The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was introduced and developed by Fred Davis in TAM is a model derived from a theory that addresses the issue of how users come to accept and use specific technology [21]. (See Figure 1) The model suggests that when users are offered or presented a new system or software package a number of variables influence their decisions about how and when they will use it, specifically perceived and usefulness variables [21]. TAM is designed to apply only to computer usage behavior, but it can be readily extended to apply to any other type of technology to study its users acceptance or adoption. Perceived usefulness and Perceived ease of use are the two major determinants of users attitudes which lead to users intention to the actual technology usage. The usage if not corresponding to the attitudes then the irritants is needed to be explored, which is studied and presented in this paper. This model (Figure 1) is used in to examine the users attitudes and their adoption of M-services and study the factors which are contributing to the slow or serving as irritants in the adoption of the M- commerce services in Oman. Users Perceived Usefulness Factors Affecting External Factors Attitudes towards Intention to Use Actual Usage Users Perceived Ease of Use Figure 1. Technology Acceptance Model M-Commerce Adoption TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 4 2. Research Methodology A questionnaire survey was developed to collect the data on accessibility of the M-commerce services, users' attitudes towards these services, security, privacy, trust and their preference on using these services over the traditional modes.the confidentiality of the respondents was maintained and no identification were requested form them in the survey. The responses to each question were based on a scale of 1 to. 5, where 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Uncertain, 4 = Agree, 5 = Strongly Agree. The questionnaire was administered in the same way to all and only the questionnaires which were responded and filled up completely were taken into consideration. This questionnaire survey instrument was used to collect data from M-commerce services users or its potential users between the ages of 18 to 25 years. The data was collected in year 2013 and 2014 from 89 respondents of which 61% were male and 39% female. A simple analysis was conducted through computing and comparing the percentages of the users responses. 3. Data Analysis and Results Accessing M-commerce service: The feedback on accessing the Pull Mobile services by users indicated that 87% of the total 89 users responded in agreement that M-commerce services are accessible at any time of the day with comfort. However near about 16% disagree as shown in Figure 2. As we know the Mobile services depend on the network availability, signal strength and moreover they have regional scope. Hence the reasons for not accessing the M-commerce services could be either technical or the users inability to correctly following the procedure to initiate the services. The service providers are continuously improving and putting their efforts to provide mobile services efficiently and effectively from all regions of the country. Figure 2. Accessing M-Service/s Attitudes towards M-commerce Service adoption: There were five questions on attitudes to investigate the users' feedback on M-commerce services in the country. Figure 3 shows that more than fifty percent of the users have positive attitudes toward the services offered. They consider the services are easy to use and fast. They are friendly and the users feel at ease while using them it. The most users like 68% have recognized that the M- commerce services are very useful and similar number of respondents feels as they are easy to use. 318 TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 2014. 5 Users Feel Towards Mobile Commerce 80% 70% 60% 57% Agree Disagree Neutral 53% 54% 57% 68% 50% 40% 30% 41% 44% 45% 41% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2% 3% 1% 2% 2% Fast Feel at ease Friendly Easy to use Useful Figure 3. Users feeling towards M-Commerce According to TAM the users' perceived usefulness and the ease of use of these services should motivate the users to its usage and in turn to more adoption of these services. But this is not as shown in Figure 4, where only 26% have indicated their preference in using M-commerce services while 70% have no intention to use these services. It appears that there are some inhibiting factors which are very much dominating in the usage of M- commerce services like security, privacy and trust deficit on business transaction conducted wired or wireless media. Figure 4. Users Preference adopting M-commerce Vs. Traditional mode Factors to M-commerce services Adoption: Security of online transactions is a major concern worldwide and Oman is not an exception [9]. Security basically offers a degree of protection against criminal activity, danger, and/or loss of business transactions [22]. It is now more difficult to secure organizational information resources because of: Today's interconnected, interdependent, wirelessly networked business environment Smaller, faster, cheaper computers and storage devices Decreasing skills necessary to be a computer hacker International organized crime taking over cybercrime Lack of management support TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 6 Figure 5 shows that a large number of respondents 71% have concerns related to the security of business transactions which appears as one of the major factor in adoption M-commerce in the country. A similar number of respondents 75% have mentioned their concerns over the privacy of 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 71% Factors Affecting M-commerce Adoption Agree Disagree Neutral 81% 75% 24% 22% business transactions. In general privacy is the right to be left alone and to be free of unreasonable personal intrusions [1]. Threats to privacy are easily violated when information are held in databases or transmitted over the networks, which is very much alarming to business organizations using M- commerce services. 17% 5% 3% 2% Security Privacy Trust Figure 5. Factors Affecting M-commerce Adoption These two issues security and privacy appear as a contributing factors to the trust as majority of the respondents 81% have indicated that they have no or lack of trust on the M-commerce services. The trust is considered as one of the most important factor in business transactions. The trust does not build instantly. It is built on completing a series of successful transactions in a real or virtual environment where buyers and sellers get the satisfaction over their business interactions. The majority of the respondents indicated their concerns on security, privacy of transactions and importantly trust deficit. They are very much alarming on the adoption issues of M-commerce services. This finding may lead to some other factors which may be contributing to swift M-commerce adoption in the country such as lack of clear regulatory framework, legislations, awareness,risks and uncertainties of other side of the business partners which are not been investigated in the study. 4. Findings and Discussions In Oman the M-commerce services are easily accessible and the users have positive attitudes, but still they do not prefer to adopt them. Figure 5 shows that only 26% of the users preferwhile 70% do not ready to adopt in their businesses, which is quite a big number. The common concerns as suggested are the business transactions security, privacy, risksas the transactions occur in virtual setups where the buyers and sellers are anonymous. These factors contribute in building users' trust. The trust appears as one of the major inhibiting factor for adopting M-commerce services. The people appear to have doubts over business transactions security and its confidentiality and the lack of firm legislations in the country. Exploring more on these issues and to understand the possible reasons for a slow adoption of these services, informal interviews were conducted with the users and the following observations were made. Many mobile users were unaware of these M- commerce services initiatives as there were no or very little publicity and marketing campaigns to promote them. Many individuals were unaware of the benefits of using M-commerce service. Hence they were 320 TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 2014. 7 reluctant to change from the traditional ways of doing business to the newly offered services. Many users were not fully comfortable in using their mobile devices and were not so keen to try the new services. Many users experienced sometimes slow responses from the mobile networks or its unavailability. Such incidents may contributed negatively towards users attitudes, trust, satisfaction, and the services credibility Many users felt the costs of SMS and MMS were high which limit the adopters of these services. 5. Summary and Conclusion The Sultanate of Oman is continuously taking many initiatives to promote Oman to e-oman by adopting the country's digital strategy based on modern technology. This study is an attempt towards understanding and high lighting the issues related to the adoption of M-commerce services recently offered in Oman. The results of this study showed that majority of the mobile users have easy access to these services and had positive attitudes towards them. They felt that the services were useful, easy to use and friendly. The ATM transmutes that the user's attitudes determine the intention which lead the users to the actual usage of the system.the results indicated that besides users' positive attitudes not many users were willing to adopt the services offered. The users had shown their concerns on issues related to business transaction security, privacy and the most important is the trust between the users and services offered. The finding suggests that all positive attitudinal attributes such as speed, user friendly, easy to use and usefulness lagged far behind and the factors like security, privacy and trust prevails affecting on the swift adoption of M-commerce services offered in Oman. There is a need to educate and create more awareness among the users on the services offered and address their concerns. The implication of this study for the decision makers and technical experts is to enhance the security, confidentiality and privacy of business transactions over the wired or wireless media to give more trust to the users of the M-commerce services. The main limitations of the study are the sample size and robust analytical model. There is a need for further exploration to see the impact of each individual M-commerce service offered to its users. The outcome of this research work may provide a background for further investigations and explore other factors as well on the M-commerce services offered in Oman or elsewhere. References [1]. Rainer R and Cegielski, G (2013), Introduction to Information Systems 4 th edition, John Wiley & Sons. [2]. Turban, E and Volonino, L. (2010), Information Technology for Management-Transforming Organizations in the Digital Economy, John Wiley & Sons. [3]. Turban, et. al. (2010), Electronic commerce: A managerial perspective. NJ: Prentice Hall, pp [4]. Telecommunication in Oman (accessed on Aug 9, 2014) [5]. Naqvi, S. and Al-Shihi, H. (2009), M- Government Initiatives in Oman, Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, Vol. 6. [6]. M-Commerce in Oman, (accessed on Aug 9, 2014) [7]. 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(2010), An empirical study of customers perceptions of security and trust in e-payment system, Electronic commerce Research and Applications, Vol. 9 No. 1. pp Corresponding author: Syed Jafar Naqvi Institution: Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman E-mai: 322 TEM Journal Volume 3 / Number 4 / 2014. Transcription 1 INTER AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE CONTROL COMMISSION C I C A D Secretariat for Multidimensional Security FORTY EIGHTH REGULAR SESSION December 6 8, 2010 Washington, D.C. OEA/Ser.L/XIV.2.48 CICAD/doc.1832/10 3 December 2010 Original: English NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE CHANDRA ALGOE Presenter CHANDRA ALGOE 6 December, 2010 2 Introduction Definition of Security Impact of Threats to Security National Strategic Plan Nation Building Security of the Government System Security against Criminality Bringing it into practice Conclusions 3 The Republic of Suriname with capital Paramaribo is a Constitutional Democracy. It has a population of 481,267 (2008) on an area of 63,037 square miles. Official language is Dutch, but Sranang Tongo (Creole), Hindustani, Javanese, Chinese and English are spoken together with 15 other languages. Suriname has the highest percentage of tropical forest cover of any other country in the world. Almost 95% of Suriname is forested. Suriname is the 17 th richest country regarding to its natural resources. (source: Suriname Geography 2010) 4 3 Exports of natural resources, especially timber, gold, nickel, and silver, as well as rice, bananas, shrimp, and other fish, dominate the economy. Bauxite deposits are among the world's richest, and alumina accounts for nearly half of exports. Prospects for the onshore oil industry are positive. Suriname is independent since 25 November Since independence, the country has experienced political and economic threats. The democracy has been restored and several government institutions are strengthened and pending improvements 5 Security is an universal concept; it is applicable to State, city, community, individuals, on food, health, fire but also on natural disasters. The security is affected in different ways by traditional threats and new threats, concerns and other challenges such as organized crime, corruption, man-made disasters, HIV/AIDS and other health risks. The responsibility for security is divided: on world level, on a regional level, on the level of a nation, and also on the individual level. Security should not be based on statistics only but also on security feelings in the society. 6 4 Political (international) Drugs business to sponsor organized crime and terrorism Association between drugs organization and terrorist organizations Globalization Unification of economical markets Disappearance of borders Free movement of persons and goods Communication Is fast and easy Modern and secure Data communication Very often uncontrollable 7 Transport Easy and fast Cheaper Liberalized Policy [national] Developing legislation Lack of resources to combat Capacity problems Criminal factors Presence criminal factors and motives in the country Greed Attitude to become easily and quickly rich Power Deriving of power through money Can be utilized in several sectors 8 5 Source: Report on Crime, Violence and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean, March 2007 (UNODC). 9 Year Country Number of homocide per Suriname 9, Jamaica 59, Guyana 20, Brazilie Trinidad and Tobago 39, Venezuela Argentinie 5, Bolivia 10, Chili 8, Colombia 38,8 10 6 11 Is essential condition for the healthy development of mankind, community and nation. A community that live in fear will not unfold mentally. Security should guarantee a stable society for future generations. The developments of the nation and the investment climate shall depend on the existence of a sustainable security. What is threatening the security? Drugs Corruption Money laundering Organized crime Trafficking in person Environmental threat Health threat 12 7 We need to have an integral approach; A comprehensive approach A sustainable approach And effective approach Therefore we need to analyze all the threats. We need to identify the causes, the factors and circumstances of the threats. Based on that we need to design a National Strategic Plan. 13 The first Action Plan for control of the interior dated December 2005 and came from a multidisciplinary Task Force. In 2008 and 2009 a Working Group produced several reports to give body to the NSP. In December 2009 the NSP was presented to the government and was approved by the Council of Ministers in July The implementation is now in process and will be subjected to the new insights and priorities of the new Government. 14 8 The following security fields were identified in the NSP: 1. Security of the government system; 2. Security against criminality; 3. Security of energy supply; 4. Security of nature and environment; 5. Security of food supply and food insurance; 6. Security of health; 7. Security against fire; 8. Security in and around schools; Security in traffic; 10. Security in aviation. To create sustainable security as a main goal: The Strategy of this NSP is to improve integrality, it shows involvement and continuing partnership between the community, the government departments and non-government organizations and its aim is on implementation. To built the future that we all want requires changing the present. 16 9 The NSP is based on the idea of nation building by: Strenghtening the institutional base of the government; Proactive implementations of measures; It regards all ministeries; And a great number of private and social organizations; This gives the NSP the body of a NATIONAL PLAN. The NSP is also meant for improvement of the living standard: Improvement of security means better international status; A better international status means more business on the international level; and this means a growing economy. 17 The NSP is proposing 77 actions/measures based on 3 sources: The documents of the past years; Interviews with many internal and external stakeholders; Own knowledge and views of the Working Group and the Projectteam. 18 10 Institutional, legislative and capacity imperfections in the government system create threats to security; To fight against these threats 16 actions are recommended. The most important ones are the proposal to install a Thematic Commission on Security in the National Assemble of Suriname and the implementation of an Institute for Security. There is also need for proper laws to enhance security on state level. 19 To fight these threats 10 actions are recommended. Within these actions new measures to tackle the drug problem are mentioned; an integrated and comprehensive method to fight the criminality threat from the interior of Suriname, that has its impact on the capital city and also measures to create more jobs and better living standards. A survey carried out by the IMWO, a scientific institution under the framework of the University of Suriname concluded that 80% of the population say they feel safe in their home and 60% stated that they feel safe on the street (source; IMWO). 20 11 Threat for coups and political warfare and the replacement of Civilian government by military government. Terrorist attack at the international airport, sea ports and utility factories. Sabotage at strategic junctions in infrastructure and energy supply. Natural disastersearthquakes, flooding, landslides. Dambreaking of the reservoir. Flooding of the capital city. Increase of the sealevel. Fire in important government buildings. Fire in hospitals; Collapse of the bridge over the Surinameriver. Outbreak of diseases. Mercury poisoning in the interior. 21 POLICY Policyplan on Legal Protection and Security ; this plan has a expanded analyses of the criminality issues and mentions specialized projects/measures (e.g Opa Doeli; Security Project Latour; Bureau for Human Rights). The National Drugs Masterplan ; with integral and structural measures to tackle the drug problem in Suriname (e.g. Detox clinic). National Strategic Plan ; implementation of integral measures are pending. 22 12 Structure The national security policy will be structured at the highest political level. The department of National Security will imbedded in the structure of the Cabinet of the President. The national security policy will be coordinated by this department. The NSP is the basic input to develop a national strategy. 23 The spearheads of the policy will be: Inter-agency cooperation Inter-agency cooperation Coordinated intelligence and operations Drugs control Firearms control Combat organized crime Combating Human trafficking and smuggling Combating terrorism and threats against the state Combating corruption Immigration and border control International cooperation 24 13 Better control of green borders and territorial sea by the Marine and the implementation of a Coast Guard is in progress. Investment in intelligence to tackle organize crime, potential acts of terrorism and border disputes and border crime. The installation of a Thematic Commission on Security in the National Assemble of Suriname. The implementation of an Institute for Security on the highest level in the future. 25 Local solution to local problems; Creation of the Community managers (policeman as vocal point for the community Special focus on drug addiction; Comprehensive prevention and intervention, which address the drug, the person and the environment. The Governments approach recognizes the likelihood of drugs being supplied, misused and causing harm Increase of control (JAP Team; roadblocks) prevent drug from leaving the country. Evaluation of the lessons learned on drugs prevention and implementing these methods on other security issues. 26 14 To control the security effectively, structurally and sustainable: We need to have an integral and comprehensive national security strategy; Based on country s reality; Within the framework and spirit of the Declaration on security in the Americas ; We need to have the security institutions and mechanisms in place and strengthened; The implementation should be based on priority and policy matrix; The implementation should be evaluated periodically; The results and effects should be measured regularly; We need to have a proper budget. 27 I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. More on who I am is here. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com DWT if we didn't take down our Melania-was-a-hooker post-- so we did. Oddly enough, the DWT still has it up, something we don't understand, although, as that O'Reilly character on Fox said-- and Trump tacitly acknowledged-- "Putin is a killer." In any case, this week all the papers were reporting that Melania is suing UK newspaper, the Daily Mail again. It's her third suit against them for the prostitution accusations. This one though, has Trump's lawyers threatened to sueif we didn't take down our Melania-was-a-hooker post-- so we did. Oddly enough, the Russian version ofstill has it up, something we don't understand, although, as that O'Reilly character on Fox said-- and Trump tacitly acknowledged-- "Putin is a killer." In any case, this week all the papers were reporting that Melania is suing UK newspaper, theagain. It's her third suit against them for the prostitution accusations. This one though, has a distinctly Trumpian twist Daily News report starts with a paragraph Daily Mail wrongly smeared her as an 'elite escort' in an article last August, a new $150 million lawsuit alleges. Melania claims the Aug. 19 article titled 'Naked photoshoots, and troubling questions about visas that won't go away: The VERY racy past of Donald Trump's Slovenian Wife,' contained bogus and defamatory claims-- hurting both her reputation and many business interests." The New Yorkreport starts with a paragraph reminding readers about the controversy : "Melania Trump's 'fitness to perform her duties as First Lady of the United States' has been undermined because thewrongly smeared her as an 'elite escort' in an article last August, a new $150 million lawsuit alleges. Melania claims the Aug. 19 article titled 'Naked photoshoots, and troubling questions about visas that won't go away: The VERY racy past of Donald Trump's Slovenian Wife,' contained bogus and defamatory claims-- hurting both her reputation and many business interests." The new series of newspaper reports wasn't about her exploits as a hooker in Slovenia or as a high priced call girl once she left her homeland, but about how the Daily Mail ruined her business opportunities. No, not the call girl business, obviously-- everyone acknowledges she doesn't do that since marrying Trumpanzee-- but the business she intended to set up selling garbage and trinkets to fans of President Trump. "Melania Trump," reported the New York Post, "filed her third defamation suit against the Mail Online over an August 2016 article that accused her of having once been a prostitute, arguing for the first time that it ruined her 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to cash in on the presidency. Can you imagine a story like this about Nancy Reagan, Barbara or Laura Bush or Michelle Obama? This is the kind of garbage milieu that Trump brings with him to the presidency! The suit, filed in a Manhattan court by her attorney-- Charles Harder, who won Hulk Hogan a $140 million verdict against Gawker in a Florida case financed by billionaire Trump supporter Peter Thiel, the guy who recommended Jim O'Neill to head the FDA-- states that "Mail Onlines conduct was extreme and outrageous in falsely making the scurrilous charge that the future First Lady of the United States worked as a prostitute... Plaintiff had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. These product categories would have included, among other things, apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care and fragrance." Originally, The Mail reported-- and then, in the face-off a law suit retracted-- that "the future First Lady masqueraded as a model in New York in the 1990s, when she really worked for an escort agency that catered to wealthy men." she denies she was ever a prostitute. As a result of defendants publication of defamatory statements about plaintiff, plaintiffs brand has lost significant value, and major business opportunities that were otherwise available to her have been lost and/or significantly impacted, the suit says. As for Thiel's pick to run the Food and Drug Administration, Jim O'Neill, he's as loony as the rest of Team Trump-- maybe more so. First, take a look at this report from Rachel Maddow on this freak Monday night: The Boston Globe was as concerned about the FDA pick as Maddow was, although less about the quirkiness of the prospective head and more about the quirkiness of the prospective head's dangerous ideas. O'Neill's claim to fame-- aside from being a crony of Thiel-- is that he insists "companies should not have to prove their drugs work in clinical trials before selling them." You know how hypocritical Republicans in the pockets of Big PhRMA are always opposed to drug re-importation from Canada because they claim it wouldn't be safe for American consumers? Check this out: If the most significant proposals are adopted-- many would require an act of Congress-- they would reverse decades of policy and consumer protections dating to the 1960s. Congress toughened drug approvals after a worldwide crisis over thalidomide, which caused severe birth defects in babies whose mothers had taken the drug in pregnancy. Since then, the FDA has come to be viewed as the worlds leading food and drug safety watchdog. Trumps most recent statements have reverberated in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Supporters of deregulation have long wanted to reduce bureaucracy and lessen oversight of drugs and devices, while critics say the market for drugs could be destabilized and the door opened to unproven products. Everyone depends on the agency, from the drugs in our medicine cabinet to the food on our dinner table, to our blood supplies, said Dr. David Kessler, FDA commissioner during the presidencies of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. We are the envy of the world because our honey is our honey. Our foods are not laced with pesticides. Our drugs work. Trump said he was close to naming a fantastic person to lead the agency. In addition to ONeill, candidates whose names have surfaced include Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA official with longstanding ties to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and Dr. Joseph Gulfo, a former biotech and medical device executive. All three have called for streamlining drug approval, but ONeills stance has drawn the most attention. He is a managing director of Mithril Capital Management, an investment firm Thiel cofounded, and previously led the Thiel Foundation, Thiels philanthropic organization. In the George W. Bush administration, ONeill held roles at Health and Human Services including principal associate deputy secretary, where he worked on policy, according to his LinkedIn profile. In 2014, ONeill advocated something he called progressive approval, in which drugs that were proved safe-- but not effective-- could be allowed on the market. Let people start using them, at their own risk, ONeill said. Lets prove efficacy after theyve been legalized. Companies have been required to prove that their drugs work since 1962. Laws force companies to rigorously test their products, running them through a gantlet of clinical trials whose results are then vetted by the FDA. Ninety percent of drugs that enter clinical development fail these trials. (The FDA also regulates medical devices, but they undergo a separate approval process.) As a result, drugs can take years to reach the market. When you have a drug, you can actually get it approved if it works, instead of waiting for many, many years, Trump told pharmaceutical executives. Were going to be cutting regulations at a level that nobodys ever seen before, and were going to have tremendous protection for the people. Were not selling Coca-Cola and Pepsi, where patients can taste the Coca-Cola and decide if they like it, said John M. Maraganore, CEI of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a Massachusetts biotech firm. Our products are lifesaving medicines. Resist! Trump isn't making America great again; he's already turning the country into a hellhole in his own perverse, tawdry image. In which we learn it's far more satisfying to eat noodles than to think about them. Way back in 1952, Vu Bang crowned pho Hanoi's fundamental food after thinking about the dish and the space it occupied in his beloved city for far longer. Vietnamese scholars started waxing poetic about pho when it entered the Vietnamese lexicon, about two decades before Bang weighed in. They have continued to do so, ever since. One of Bang's contemporaries, essayist Nguyen Tuan, described the noodles as a kind of currency, during wartime. The homeless dealing at black markets count their commission in bowls of pho, he wrote. If a deal turns out right, they'll pocket a hundred bowls of medium-rare pho. In his book Hanoi Delicacies, Vu Bang noted that some stalls had taken it upon themselves to improve pho. Thirty years before his book dropped, Bang had taken a shining to a family on Hang Chieu Street who offered a version of the noodles dressed in sesame oil and tofu. Another shop, on Phu Doan, began adding oil squeezed from the ass of a waterbug. Bang did not approve of additions of duck, chopped carrot or pickled papaya. But he did approve of experimentation, in general, which brought Hanoi chicken pho, fried pho and other perversions that survived the test of time. Find this 1923 Citroen ZX Deluxe Drophead here on eBay bidding for $3,550 reserve-not-met located in San Clemente, CA. From the eBay listing: Up for grabs is a very rare Citroen B13 393 drophead coupe convertible. This car was imported from Spain to the USA over 50 years ago. It has been stored in a covered garage since it was imported. This car appears to have been custom made in Son Sardino. Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands of Spainmechanicals by Citroen of France. Please look at photo #2 to see this information. We purchased this car and others from the estate of the famous Citroen collector Don Runnels. The previous owner, Dons wife. Claims the she and Don drove this around their desert estate about 10 years ago before parking it. We have not tried to start it .but do know that the motor does turn over. We transported the vehicle on our own open trailer to San Clemente CA and decided to remove most of the fabric from the top. We did save this for patterns for the new top. This car is very complete but does not have the correct hub caps. We do have two which may fit that were given to us at the time of purchase. This is an important car and deserves to be restored. We are rapidly scaling back our collection and sadly this one has to be sold. We did take the wheels off and had them media blasted and powder coated semi gloss black. We also purchased new from Coker tire 5 new tires and tubes and gad them installed. Since we brought the car from the desert to the beach the wood steering wheel deteriorated and will have to be reglued or remade. This car is over 90 years old and is being sold with a current California title on non-op status. We do have a registered pair of 1923 California YOM plates that are available separately for an additional $300.00. This vehicle is sold as-is where is with no warranties expressed or implied. The new owner is responsible to transport the vehicle. Terms of the sale are cash in person or bank cashiers check. The vehicle will not be released until all funds have been paid in full and clear my bank. Here are the approximate dimensions of the car: Wheelbase 94 Overall length 134 overall width 55 Overall height at windshield 63 Please ask any questions through ebay or call me at 949 492-8702 Thanks for your interest Brian The United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, known as IFAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 27th that solidifies the two agencies partnership and commitment to support of the Royal Government of Cambodias Agricultural Strategic Development Plan. The agreement will oversee the development and enactment of policies with the Royal Government of Cambodia to improve Cambodias agricultural sector as a critical part of the countrys economic growth. It will also help businesses from the farmer to the trader to the local store owner work better together so that Cambodias agricultural products can compete in the local market and earn the greatest price. USAID (through the U.S. Governments Feed the Future program) and IFAD (a specialized agency of the United Nations) will also share expertise and lessons learned among the wide variety of people and organizations working in agriculture. Finally, the agreement will help to enhance the skills of extension professionals those who help farmers increase their yields by improving their methods meet the demands of Cambodias increasingly competitive agricultural system. Through the Feed the Future program, USAID plans to invest approximately $40 million to support Cambodias agricultural sector development over the next five years. IFAD provides both grants and loans to support the Royal Governments agricultural development plan totaling $118 million over five years. For over two decades, we have been helping rural Cambodians rise out of poverty by increasing opportunities to improve their livelihoods, added Benoit Thierry, IFADs Country Program Manager for Asia and the Pacific Division. Coordinating our support with other development partners like USAID will translate into more effective investments and important gains for Cambodias agriculture and we are calling for more agencies to join this effort. The USAID-IFAD Memorandum of Understanding goes into effect immediately and covers the two agencies activities for the next five years. A vibrant and growing agricultural sector is critical to Cambodias future growth, noted USAID Cambodia Mission Director Polly Dunford. By working more closely together, we hope that USAID and IFAD can help Cambodias farmers contribute more effectively to the national economy while helping their families and communities. Reddy said efforts have been made to strengthen ICAI's regulatory mechanism which will act as a deterrent for erring members as well as help maintain the credibility. New Delhi: Chartered accountants' apex body ICAI will approach the government amid concerns over certain proposals under which action can be taken against members for certain violations. The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has discussed the issues. "There are different provisions whereby action can be taken against chartered accountants... We are going to represent (to the government)," ICAI President M Devaraja Reddy said here today. He was speaking at the 67th annual function of the institute. As per the latest Budget memorandum, Rs 10,000 fine would be imposed on chartered accountants in case of filing of incorrect returns. "Under Section 271J (of the Income Tax Act) we have entrusted responsibility with chartered accountants, valuers and merchant bankers who files audit, valuation reports and other things... So, if they file any incorrect information in the returns, they are also liable for a token penalty of Rs 10,000," CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) Chairman Sushil Chandra had said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Reddy said efforts have been made to strengthen ICAI's regulatory mechanism which will act as a deterrent for erring members as well as help maintain the credibility, integrity and image of the accountancy profession. Speaking at the ICAI event, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said this is a turning point in the country's economic history as the whole economic architecture is getting built up and digitisation is under way. "If CA profession rides this wave, they can emerge as leaders of new economic architecture... with the support of ICAI, a massive programme of accounting reforms in Indian Railways in under way," he added. Among others, ICAI Vice-President Nilesh S Vikamsey was also present. New Delhi: In a strong criticism of demonetisation, noted American economist Steve H Hanke has said that the Indian economy is in a 'cashless crisis' post ban on high currency notes. "Demonetisation is for losers. Foregoing cash is never the answer. Just look at India - cash economy in a cashless crisis," Hanke, an American applied economist at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, said in a tweet. Hanke had earlier said that demonetisation has been bungled from the start and no one, not even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "knows where India is heading". A Senior Fellow and Director of the Troubled Currencies Project at the Cato Institute in Washington, Hanke had also said that "India simply does not have the infrastructure to adapt to Modis demonetisation...he should have known." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 had announced demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes in a major assault on black money, fake currency and corruption. The Economic Survey for 2016-17 had said, "demonetisation will have significant implications for GDP, reducing 2016-17 growth by 0.25 to 0.50 percentage points compared to the baseline of 7 per cent." New Delhi: Having returned to academia after a controversy-ridden stint at the RBI, former Governor Raghuram Rajan feels "great to be back" riding his bike in Chicago and hopes to "do it as long as" he can. "Taking my bike out and riding the bike path along Lake Shore Drive, that's one of the great experiences in my life. And I hope to do it as long as I can. It's great to be back," Rajan said in an interview with the media team of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Lake Shore Drive is an expressway running along the shoreline of Lake Michigan through Chicago, Illinois. "This (Booth School of Business) has been my home for 25 years. It's a great city. I have great colleagues. And it's a wonderful school. "It's different every time you come back. If it wasn't different, it wouldn't be doing its job," Rajan said. Rajan was governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to September 2016. His tenure was marked by both bouquets and brickbats but saw severe criticism from some political quarters towards the end, including personal attacks. He was accused of refusing to lower rates to boost growth, though Rajan often cited data to the contrary. Previously, he served as the chief economist and director of research at the International Monetary Fund (from 2003 to 2006). He is currently Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which he joined in 1991. Asked what he is looking forward to most after returning to academic life, the former RBI Governor noted that one of the difficulties of a job in the "real world" is that one does not really get time to shut oneself off in a room and think. "Now in academia,...if you are careful, you can spend four days in a room, sit looking at a piece of paper and struggling with a thought that refuses to come out. "At the end of those four days, sometimes, you say, 'Oh my God, how did I miss this?' and it dawns on you. And that's as close to bliss as you can get," Rajan said. Talking about focus of his research, he said, "Research never really leaves you... While I was at the Reserve Bank, I published some papers, but you don't get time to really reflect." Referring to the global financial crisis, Rajan pointed out that the crisis essentially gave us research topics for the next 30 years. "If you look at what happened, there are about 15 to 20 different stories now emerging," he observed. He also argued that more liquidity means more leverage, which in turn means more financial fragility. New Delhi: Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd today said its board will meet this week to consider approval of a refinancing scheme with the lenders of the company. The board will "consider approving a refinancing scheme with the lenders of the company and consequent issuance of equity shares, compulsorily redeemable preference shares and secured non-convertible debentures and convening of an extraordinary general meeting for the said purposes," the company said. The refinancing "shall be subject to all permissions, sanctions and approvals as may be necessary under the applicable provisions of law," it said. On the completion of the process of refinancing, the company would exit from Corporate Debt Restructuring Scheme, it said in a BSE filing. Mumbai: Social media pundits went into a frenzy when both commercially and critically successful Akshay Kumar-starrer Airlift went unnoticed at awards shows this season. Things aggravated when a certain, well-known Awards show did not even mention the film in any of its categories. Akshay, who many believed deserved a nod in the Best Actor category, if not win an award, has kept mum on this issue. But when he was asked if he felt wronged about the awards drought this season, he reportedly said, Thats okay because maybe I dont deserve it. There are many people who have done much better so they get it. Last to last week, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan had revealed on a chat show that Akshay had advised her against worrying about awards and to emphasise more on rewards. When Akki learned about this revelation made by the actress, who has co-starred with him in eight films, he jokingly said, She said that? I thought it was a secret. I told her to never say about it. I have to have a word with her. I just said keep on working, dont think so much. If you dont get any award, just think that youve got the reward and carry on He sure loves to work without expecting recognition in return. Next level dedication! This will be Ranbir and Ayan's third collaboration. Mumbai: Director Ayan Mukerji has revealed that his upcoming romantic-fantasy film with Ranbir Kapoor will see the actor in the role of a man with special power in the form of fire. This is the third collaboration between Ayan and Ranbir after the duo worked together in Wake Up Sid and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. The upcoming film, also starring Alia Bhatt, has been tentatively titled "Dragon". "I have not locked the title yet. 'Dragon' is just the tentative title. It was called Dragon because in the film, the boy has a connection with fire. It is his power. The guy has a mystical connection with fire. So, I called it 'Dragon'. There's something I like about the word," Ayan told reporters last night. Ranbir, who is currently shooting for Sanjay Dutt's biopic, is expected to start filming Ayan's film in August. The director said that the actor will have to go to extra lengths for Dragon. "Ranbir will have to put a lot of extra efforts for the movie. There's so much stuff in the film like action, dance, movements... I hope he is going to do a lot in the film." He was speaking at the Indian premiere of Moonlight organised by Jio MAMI Film Club with Star in association with Vkaao and PVR Pictures. The screening was also attended by Kiran Rao, Kabir Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Sayani Gupta and Shruti Seth among others. Kendall and Sushant were recently spotted in Jaipur. Mumbai: Sushant Singh Rajput recently teamed up with ace supermodel Kendall Jenner for an exciting photoshoot in Jaipur. The two stars were photographed by an all-time famous photographer Mario Testino, whose iconic work resonates with the royals. His most notable portraits are with the late Princess Diana and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate's engagement. The photo shoot was a royal outing with the duo dressed as a prince and princess, a daily reported. Now, that sounds like a royal affair! Sushant will next be seen opposite Kriti Sanon in 'Raabta' and is currently prepping for his space adventure film, 'Chanda Mama Door Ke'. Mumbai: Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Kangana Ranaut are all set to set the big screen ablaze, in Vishal Bhardwaj's highly anticipated directorial, 'Rangoon'. And if the latest promos are anything to go by, the three have some exemplary acting chops on display in the film. The Casablancaesque love triangle, set to the backdrop of the second World War, already has a highly acclaimed soundtrack to its credit, and the quirky song videos have been mesmerising the audience. The film has also been in the news for its sensational casting coup. 'Rangoon,' is set to release on February 24. Watch the videos here: A few years ago Saif decided to quit smoking due to health issues. His doctor advised him to kick the butt with immediate effect and the actor has been following that religiously. He however, made an exception for Rangoon. A source close to the actor reveals, While Saif was shooting for Rangoon, his character Rustom Rusi Bilimoria, a filmmaker, had to be seen smoking cigarettes in a few scenes with his international co-star Rebecca. Saif was off cigarettes for a long time but picked it up only on camera for his role. The actor had to take a few puffs for some scenes and he was fine with making this exception because the script demanded it. Facebook-related images affect time by changing how we pay attention to them (Photo: AFP) London: Facebook addicts, take note! Using the social networking site or surfing the web may impair your perception of time, warn researchers including one of Indian-origin. Using well-established internal clock models, researchers attempted to separate the roles of 'attention' and 'arousal' as drivers for time distortion. They found that Facebook-related stimuli can lead to an underestimate of time compared to general internet use, but that both lead to a distortion of time. In the study, Lazaros Gonidis and Dinkar Sharma from the University of Kent in the UK monitored the responses of 44 people who were shown 20 images for varying amounts of time. Five of the images were associated with Facebook, five had more general internet associations with another ten as neutral 'control' images. Those taking part had to say whether the image they had just seen had been visible for a short or long time. The key finding was that people tended to underestimate the time they had been looking at Facebook-related images to a greater extent than other more general internet related images, but that in both cases time was underestimated. This suggests that Facebook-related images affect time by changing how we pay attention to them. The findings are likely to have implications for future study into addictive behaviour. The study was published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. Guwahati: The Assam Police on Wednesday arrested two students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G), for allegedly raping three girls in the campus during the annual festival of the college on February 4. The incident allegedly took place during the institutes annual cultural extravaganza Alcheringa, which saw the attendance of more than 20000 people. Sources in the IIT (G) told this newspaper they are yet to get the full report on the incident from the police. The girls who were shifted to a hospital after mid-night by the security guards of IIT-G in an inebriated condition accused the boys of drugging them by lacing their drinks with sedatives. They said they were raped when they went to the campus to see the festival. Kunal Kumbhakar, student of civil engineering department, and Ajay Dey, student of electronics engineering department of the prestigious institute were arrested by Amingaon Police under sections 352, 354 and 34 (case no. 14/17). Alcheringa is hosted by IIT-G every year and is one of the largest festivals of Northeast as thousands of students and youths from hundreds of schools, colleges and other educational institutions come to attend it. Pointing out that this years turn out in the festival was highest; sources in the IIT-G said that the institute doesnt have sufficient infrastructure and manpower to scan each and every visitor during the festival. We are waiting for the police report. Police had taken our students for investigation. We have asked the students to cooperate in the investigation, the IIT-G authorities said. New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday detained a man, who resembled missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, but he turned out to be someone else and was later released. Police on Tuesday evening received a call from a retired CBI officer claiming that he had seen Najeeb in Kapashera area. "We were informed that a man, who resembles Najeeb, has been spotted near Kapashera. The caller said he has grown a beard in order to hide his identity and also looks dishevelled," a senior police officer said. A team was dispatched to get the said person back but after verification, he turned out to be a vagabond. "The man was identified as Manohar, a vagabond hailing from Maharashtra. His features resembled Najeeb," he added. Najeeb has been missing since October 15, 2016 after a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with ABVP students on the night of October 14. A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced by Delhi Police on any information about him. Ramanathapuram: In a murder for gain, a teenaged girl allegedly killed a toddler and dumped the body in a well after relieving her of a jewel here on Wednesday, police said. The body of the three-year old girl was retrieved by Fire and Rescue service personnel, they said. The 16-year-old girl was arrested and further investigation was on, police said. New Delhi: Around 700 Maoists have surrendered post-demonetisation and funds to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir have been choked, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, while insisting that the note ban has had a direct impact on naxalism and terrorism. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, he said cash as well as fake currency is used in promoting terrorism and naxalism. "In the last 30-40 days (after demonetisation), over 700 Maoists have surrendered in the country. The process is on," he said. He went on to add: "It cannot be that nobody in the House is satisfied with the surrender of Maoists. How can it be? But if it is not, then there is some other meaning to it." The Prime Minister said some people are "jumping up and down", saying Rs 2,000 notes were found on terrorists. "We should know that in the post-note ban period in the country, there were attempts to loot banks and take away new currency notes, especially in Jammu and Kashmir because they (terrorists) were facing difficulties in carrying out day-to-day activities post demonetisation," he said. He said terrorists killed a few days after banks were looted in J&K, were found possessing new currency. "This has a direct link. We should understand," he said. He said the counterfeit currency used in the economy could not reach banks due to demonetisation. "When the decision (of demonetisation) was taken on November 8, there was no question of fake currency coming back. Fake currency was neutralised there and then. Therefore, if somebody has a record of it, I wonder how. The fake currency was neutralised at that time itself," he said. To press his argument, Modi also made a mention of TV reports about suicide by a trader engaged in fake currency notes business in an "enemy country", an apparent reference to Pakistan. "You must have seen a television report. People in our enemy country running fake currency business had to commit suicide," he said. Modi also noted that today black money, terrorist organisations, fake currency business, drugs trade, hawala trade have entered various streams of life and thus their reach has widened. He said it is correct that cash is essential for the country's formal economy and the Rs 1,000 Rupee notes were not going into the formal economy and a less number of 500 rupee notes were going. "Now since such a big amount of currency has come to the banks, it will increase their capacity to lend to the common man," he said. Chennai: Immediately after AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajans press conference denouncing caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, party legislators were moved to an undisclosed location, purportedly to stop them from being poached by other parties or influenced by Panneerselvam. According to an NDTV report, AIADMK MPs will fly to New Delhi on Wednesday night to meet President Pranab Mukherjee, to complain about Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Raos unwillingness to return to Chennai. Raos presence in Chennai is required for Sasikala to be sworn in as the Chief Minister. The Governor's absence has afforded a window of opportunity for Pannerselvam to make his move against her. While Panneerselvam resigned as the CM earlier this week, Rao advised him to stay on in a caretaker capacity until further events unfolded. In an emotional speech at the meeting at the party headquarters, Sasikala questioned O Panneerselvam's silence for about 48 hours after she was elected as leader of the legislature party on Sunday. "Please don't side with traitors who have struck a deal with DMK which was out to finish Amma's legacy. No force on the earth can break the AIADMK," she thundered before her legislators. Hitting out at O Panneerselvam, Sasikala said she could sense the acts of a Chief Minister who had "completely connived with the Opposition". Sasikala claimed "it became my responsibility to put an end to wrongdoings done by CM O Panneerselvam". She added, "Our opponents are after us and spearheading whatever is happening today, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path." Neither AIADMK nor me will be cowed down. Nobody has the power to split or divide us. Betrayal has never won, Sasikala said. "Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against. We will give a big blow to this act of betrayal and disloyalty," Sasikala Natarajan said. Sasikala said she had noticed "Panneerselvam joining hands with DMK following their conversation in the Assembly," recently and added that she is duty bound to prevent the next course of action from happening, apparently referring to a revolt. She referred to the remark of Deputy DMK Leader Durai Murugan who had last week in the Assembly favoured Panneerselvam to continue as Chief Minister for the rest of the term of the current government, i.e till 2021. "Panneerselvam not saying anything on this and his silence showed clearly that he had joined hands with DMK. His act had also infuriated the Ministers," she said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, flamke by supporters, addresses a press conference at his residence in Chennai on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: Hours after AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala Natarajan moved 131 MLAs to an undisclosed location after shepherding them into a bus, caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam claimed that some of the MLAs were trying to contact him. "AIADMK legislators should ask why they're not being allowed by Sasikala to speak to me," said Panneerselvam to NDTV about the sequestering of lawmakers after this morning's meeting. Good days will return. Some MLAs are trying to meet me, talk to me, Panneerselvam added. Meanwhile, AIADMK MPs who pledged support to Sasikala, are now enroute New Delhi to meet President Pranab Mukherjee. Their intention is to complain to the President about Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Raos continuing absence from Chennai. Rao is staying put in Maharashtra even though he is charged with the responsibility of appointing Sasikala the new CM of Tamil Nadu, if he so wishes. Vidyasagar Rao is expected to return to Chennai on Thursday afternoon, said an NDTV report. Panneerselvam had late last night sounded the bugle of revolt against Sasikala, claiming that he had been 'humiliated' and forced to resign as CM earlier this week. He also alleged that while late CM Jayalalithaa was in hospital, he was not allowed to meet her even once. Panneerselvam further claimed that Jayalalithaa had told him that if anything happened to her, he would be the CM, and announced that a probe into Jayalalithaa's death would be initiated. For her part, Sasikala on Wednesday questioned O Panneerselvam's silence for about 48 hours after she was elected as leader of the legislature party on Sunday. "Please don't side with traitors who have struck a deal with DMK which was out to finish Amma's legacy. No force on the earth can break the AIADMK," she thundered before her legislators. Hitting out at O Panneerselvam, Sasikala said she could sense the acts of a Chief Minister who had "completely connived with the Opposition". Sasikala claimed "it became my responsibility to put an end to wrongdoings done by CM O Panneerselvam". She added, "Our opponents are after us and spearheading whatever is happening today, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path." Neither AIADMK nor me will be cowed down. Nobody has the power to split or divide us. Betrayal has never won, Sasikala said. "Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against. We will give a big blow to this act of betrayal and disloyalty," Sasikala Natarajan said. Sasikala said she had noticed "Panneerselvam joining hands with DMK following their conversation in the Assembly," recently and added that she is duty bound to prevent the next course of action from happening, apparently referring to a revolt. Patna: Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) Secretary Parmeshwar Ram has been detained by the Patna Police in connection with exam paper leak on Monday late night. Ram was detained after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted raids and found incriminating evidences at his house. The latest development came after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed a nine-member SIT team, headed by Patna SSP Manu Maharaj, to probe the matter. As many as 27 people have so far been arrested for allegedly helping candidates cheat through electronic devices in the BSSC examination in Nawada district on Sunday. The police team got a tip off and raided a house located on Warsaliganj Bypass road from where it arrested 27 people along with electronic devices meant for allegedly helping the examinees in writing papers for BSSC inter-level (second phase) examination being held at various centres across the state. The BSSC conducts the exam for appointment of clerks in the state government. The first phase exam was held last Sunday. According to reports, the questions were leaked on an online chatting platform Whatsapp, as soon as the exams began at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Rumours of the question paper being sold for Rs. 1,000 had been doing the rounds since Sunday morning. The leaked question paper and answers soon went viral on Whatsapp as the exam began. Bihar, in the past, has been under the scanner as several cheating scams have emerged, with the recent toppers scandal where a Class 12 arts 'topper' from the state thought 'prodigal' science was about cooking and her classmate, a science topper, couldn't explain the connection between H2O and water. New Delhi: Hitting back after the Congress attacked Narendra Modi for his dig at his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it still shows reluctance in recognising Modi as a popularly-elected prime minister and believes that only it has the mandate to rule the country. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Singh had called demonetisation an exercise in plunder and loot and Modi was only replying to it as the whole saga of the UPA government had been that of plunder and loot. Fun, pun and satire are part of parliamentary debate and the Congress should have heard the Prime Minister in full as per the parliamentary convention, he said, alleging "abuses" were hurled at him by the Opposition during 15 hours of debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. Congress staged a walkout from the House protesting against Modi's remarks. "There is still some lurking impression among Congress leaders that only they have the mandate to rule the country and no one else. There is still a reluctance to recognise Narendra Modi as a popularly elected Prime Minister. "The Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha has repeatedly said that he has acknowledged from the Red Fort the contribution of all prime ministers to India. Congress should have heard the Prime Minister in full as per the parliamentary convention," Prasad told PTI. "Fun, pun and satire are part of parliamentary debate. Manmohan Singh had called demonetisation plunder and loot, and the Prime Minister was replying to it. The whole saga of the UPA itself has been that of plunder and loot," he said. New Delhi: The Centre or BJP has no role in "internal matters" of crisis-ridden AIADMK, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said and asserted that Governor Vidyasagar Rao will take a decision in line with the Constitution to resolve the issue. Fissures widened within the ruling AIADMK after caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam yesterday claimed he was forced to resign from the post to pave the way for party General Secretary VK Sasikala's elevation to the post. "I don't want to comment on what is happening internally in AIADMK. And Centre and BJP doesn't have any role in it. "Secondly, the allegations against the Governor too are wrong. He will take the right decision at the right time in line with the Constitution and after seeking opinion of legal experts," he told reporters. Asked about allegations levelled against him by some of his opponents that BJP was behind him, Pannerselvam today said, "They (his opponent) don't have any strong ground against me. They can't level any allegation against me." Ghaziabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tore into the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, alleging it was "sheltering" and "nursing" crime and corruption and asserted that this UP election was about ending the 14-year "exile of growth" in the state. Addressing 'Parivartan Sankalp Rally' in Ghaziabad on the penultimate day of campaigning for the first phase of polls, Modi said Akhilesh has disappointed those who had high hopes of him and has "destroyed" the state in last five years. He also took a dig at SP-Congress alliance, saying, Samajwadi Party had stepped in a "sinking boat". "Is this poll about choosing a new government, or about electing a new CM? This election is about ending 14 years of exile of growth (vikas ka vanvas) in UP and replacing it with growth and prosperity," he said alluding to Ramayana. In his nearly 45-minute address, Modi, who represents Varanasi in Lok Sabha, attacked the Akhilesh-led government on several fronts, including law and order, even as he made promises of "rectifying the wrongs" committed by the state government. "When Akhilesh came, we felt he is young and educated and will try to do some good. 'Par nirash kar dia, paanch saalo ke andar UP ka vinash kar diya (But he has disappointed us, destroyed UP in five years." "They keep attacking me, and accuse that I have not kept promises. I tell you, I will give answer to the public in 2019, but Akhilesh government must answer to the people as it had ruled it for the last five years. "If you do not answer in Uttar Pradesh, how will you make it Uttam Pradesh," Modi said. The Prime Minister also accused the SP government of "sheltering crime" and nursing "goondas" and "sitting blindfold" over corruption in the state. "Today, women fear to venture out after dark in the state. Young girls are scared of going to schools. "This evil has been sheltered by the ruling party leaders in the state. It is nursing the criminals. The law and order has failed as powerful people with protection of the ruling party are controlling police in their areas," Modi alleged. "There is corruption in jobs, poor farmers and middle-class people's lands have been snatched away. There are 40,000 complaints registered under the Arms Act," he said. If BJP forms government in UP, Modi said, "I promise you we will form a special task force to ensure that lands looted from farmers and middle-class people would be restored." "We have also been asking for CAG audit of irregularities in GDA but the UP governance has not agreed. Once we form a government in UP, we will ensure that GDA and other development authorities are audited," he said. Chennai: The AIADMK legislature party seems to be strongly behind its newly elected leader V K Sasikala with 131 of the 134 MLAs attending a meet called by her on Wednesday where she asked them not to "side with traitors" who have "struck" a deal with the DMK. In an emotional speech at the meeting at the party headquarters, Sasikala questioned O Panneerselvam's silence for about 48 hours after she was elected as leader of the legislature party on Sunday. "Please don't side with traitors who have struck a deal with DMK which was out to finish Amma's legacy. No force on the earth can break the AIADMK," she thundered before her legislators. Hitting out at O Panneerselvam, Sasikala said she could sense the acts of a Chief Minister who had "completely connived with the Opposition". Sasikala claimed "it became my responsibility to put an end to wrongdoings done by CM O Panneerselvam". She added, "Our opponents are after us and spearheading whatever is happening today, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path." Neither AIADMK nor me will be cowed down. Nobody has the power to split or divide us. Betrayal has never won, Sasikala said. "Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against. We will give a big blow to this act of betrayal and disloyalty," Sasikala Natarajan said. Sasikala said she had noticed "Panneerselvam joining hands with DMK following their conversation in the Assembly," recently and added that she is duty bound to prevent the next course of action from happening, apparently referring to a revolt. She referred to the remark of Deputy DMK Leader Durai Murugan who had last week in the Assembly favoured Panneerselvam to continue as Chief Minister for the rest of the term of the current government, i.e till 2021. "Panneerselvam not saying anything on this and his silence showed clearly that he had joined hands with DMK. His act had also infuriated the Ministers," she said. However, responding to Panneerselvam's charge last night on Ministers speaking against him and that she had not taken action against them, the party chief said she had actually pulled them up, giving him his due respect. She recalled she was "not in the frame of mind" to accept the leadership of AIADMK following Jayalalithaa's demise, although Panneerselvam was one of the proponents of the idea. Referring to Panneerselvam's political career, Sasikala said he had been part of the AIADMK Janaki (MGR's widow) team following the death of the founder MG Ramachandran, before switching over to Jayalalithaa camp. Jayalalithaa had 'forgiven' this and provided him with various opportunities (in the party and government), she added. "Our rivals are showing their true face. We will prove our might to them. No one has the power or capacity to split or break us. I will solve the confusion arising in people's minds at the right time," she said. Sasikala had called a meeting of party MLAs on Wednesday to counter the political turmoil triggered by the revolt of sacked treasurer and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Senior ministers and party functionaries attended the meeting. Pannerselvam has said Sasikala had no powers to sack him as treasurer. He said Sasikala was elected party general secretary on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation faced by the party (after Jayalalithaa's demise). "This is the party's norm. As per the party's constitution framed by founder M G Ramachandran when he floated AIADMK, legal sanction for the post is given only when all primary members elect the general secretary. Such a general secretary alone has the powers to appoint or remove party functionaries," he said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday targeted his predecessor Manmohan Singh for describing demonetisation as "loot" and "plunder" even as he asserted in the Rajya Sabha that the fight against black money is not a political one or against any party. He tore into Congress and took on Singh who had described demonetisation as "organised loot" and "legalised plunder", saying "the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on" is known only to the former Prime Minister as there is "no blot on him" despite "all the scams". This provoked an angry reaction from Congress members who staged a walkout in the midst of the reply by the Prime Minister to a debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address which was later adopted by the House after negation of all the 651 amendments. Members of Left, Trinamool Congress and JD(U) also staged a walkout after the reply, complaining that they were unhappy with Modi's statement and wanted to ask questions which was disallowed. Modi, in his over one-hour speech, focussed his attack on Congress and other opposition parties for criticising the demonetisation decision and his push for cash-less economy. He also slammed the Congress for finding faults with lack of proper infrastructure in the country, saying by doing so, they were only presenting their "report card" of 70-year rule. Targeting Singh, he said, "in this country, perhaps there will be hardly anyone from the economic field who has had dominance on the country's financial affairs for half of the country's 70 years of independence. Out of 70 years, for 30-35 years, he has been directly associated with financial decisions. "So many scams occurred... We politicians have a lot to learn from Dr Sahab. So much happened, there is not a single blot on him. Dr Sahab is the only person who knows the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on." As Congress members created uproar and staged a walkout, an angry Modi said, "if you cross the limits of decorum, then you should have courage to listen to the response. We have the capacity to pay in the same coin. We do so within the limits of decorum and boundaries of the Constitution. They (Congress) don't want to accept the defeat in any form. How long will it continue? He went on to add, "the person who held such a high post, used the words 'loot' and 'plunder' in the House. Then they (Congress) also should have thought 50 times (before using those words)." Singh, while speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the last Winter Session, had castigated the Prime Minister over demonetisation, saying its implementation was a "monumental management failure" and a case of "organised loot and legalised plunder." Responding to those comments today, Modi also took a swipe at Singh using the pretext of a book. "Manmohan Singh ji had delivered a speech here...Recently a book was released in which Manmohan Singh ji had written the foreword. Initially, I thought he is a renowned economist and it (the book) will have his contribution. But then I realised that the book was written by somebody else and he had only written the foreword. In his speech also, I felt the same," the Prime Minister said. This triggered an uproar from the Congress members. To this, Modi took a dig, saying, "the word I did not even utter, that too they (Congress members) have understood." As Congress members shouted slogans, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu took strong objection, questioning why the opposition members were so agitated when terms like "Hitler" were used against Modi in the same House. "I request you to go through the records. Prime Minister was called Hitler. Prime Minister was called Mussolini," Naidu said. The Prime Minister, whose speech was interrupted a number of times due to opposition uproar, also took on the Congress for quoting economists to denounce demonetisation. "You are quoting economists. If you quote 10, I can quote 20. Economists have never seen such a step anywhere in the world as this has happened for the first time... In fact, this can become a case study for them," he said. Taking on Congress at another point, Modi quoted a book authored by former Home Secretary Madhav Godbole, which he said, contained criticism of Indira Gandhi for not undertaking demonetisation in 1971 when there was an opportunity. This evoked an uproar from Congress benches. At this, Modi took a dig at them, saying, "you should have shown behaviour when the book was published. What were you doing when it was published? Were you sleeping all this while? When such allegations were levelled, why were you silent? Had I been in your place I would have filed a case against Godbole." The Prime Minister said while 125 crore countrymen are making efforts to come out of "inner malaise" of black money and corruption, Congress and other opposition parties are standing against it. Defending his demonetisation decision announced on November 8 last year, he said, "to fight against black money and corruption is not a political fight. It is not to harass any political. It is the responsibility of everyone to fight against it... We did what our wisdom suggested." He said the maximum impact of black money is on the poor who have been exploited. "There is need for more efforts (to fight black money). How long will we keep it brushing under the carpet? Even if this attempt is to be taken forward, it will be taken," he said. "We need to fight as one. Honest person will not get strengthened, till the dishonest are not dealt with strongly.... The ultimate benefit of these steps is going to be to the poor," he said. Modi said he did not mean to say that attempts would not have been made earlier. On contention by opposition members that people were facing hardships because of demonetistion, the Prime Minister said there will be "problems while finding a way out of vices". "There is a horizontal divide in the country...The public sentiment is on one side, while the sentiments of leaders is on the other side. They are cut-off from the public sentiment," he said, attacking the opposition. "Usually government and public are face-to-face on issues but this is such a decision where government and people are together. Some people are on the other side...You may have faced problems," Modi said. Chennai: O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday said he was first manipulated into accepting the post of Chief Minister despite his reluctance and was insulted and humiliated at every stage by his own cabinet colleagues and senior leaders like M. Thambidurai and K. Sengottaiyan who questioned his position by propping up Sasikala's name every time. Dropping bombshells after bombshells at the memorial of late J. Jayalalithaa at the Marina beach here, Mr Panneerselvam traced the events that led him to speak his conscience out because he wanted to protect the party, which should be headed by someone who is acceptable to all. At around 9 pm, the Chief Minister arrived at the Marina beach and was seen meditating for more than 40 minutes after which he spoke to the waiting media. Beginning with how he was manipulated into believing that he would be the Chief Minister, while party presidium chairman E. Madhusudhanan will be the general secretary after the death of J. Jayalalithaa. I told them I was happy to have stepped aside for Amma when she was alive. I told them they could appoint whomever they want. I accepted the post only after they told me if I don't accept it will bring disrepute to the party, the Chief Minister told the impromptu press conference. However, the senior AIADMK leader said, two days after he was sworn-in as the chief minister, Health minister C. Vijayabhaskar came to him and told that Dhivakaran (Sasikala's brother) wanted her to be made the general secretary of the party, else they were planning to take her to her home town. When most of the cabinet colleagues spoke in the same vain, Mr Panneerselvam said he also decided to back her as the head of the party. When the Government of Hon'ble Amma (headed by him) did good work in the aftermath of Cyclone Vardah, it caused heartburn to some. Likewise, I went to New Delhi to ensure that an ordinance is brought to ensure conduct of jallikattu. But, AIADMK MPs led by M. Thambidurai also went to meet Prime Minister. I felt humiliated, he said. After the general council meet where Mrs Sasikala was elected as general secretary, Mr Panneerselvam said he began working with utmost dedication to fulfill Amma's dreams but revenue minister R. B. Uthayakumar spoke against my leadership and said Chinamma should take over as CM. I protested against the move to Chinamma and I was told this would not happen again. But this continued with Sellur K. Raju (cooperatives minister) also making the same demand. I don't know why I was humiliated and insulted at every stage? I don't have answers for that, he said and claimed he was not aware of the MLAs meeting that was convened. After the MLAs had assembled at the party headquarters, Mr Panneerselvam said he was forced into give his consent for his resignation as Ms Sasikala pleaded with him with folded hands to make way for her and later said if I don't agree it would amount to rebelling against the party. Questioning the move to replace him, the Chief Minister said, I want to know what was the need for a change in the leadership. There was no need and I was upset with this decision. I was forced into giving my resignation, he said. New Delhi: Asserting that nuclear security remains a continuing concern, India today said terrorism, especially nuclear terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy and pitched for a global response in this regard. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, who was speaking at the Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, also hoped that the horrors of atomic power destruction would never be repeated as the negative consequences of atomic power cannot be overlooked. "Events that have unfolded around us, more so in the past couple of decades, have highlighted that terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security. If access to nuclear technology changes State behaviour, it is only to be expected that it would also impact on non-state calculations. "Nuclear security, therefore, will be a continuing concern, especially as terrorist groups and non-state actors strike deeper roots and explore different avenues to spread terror. Developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority," he said. Maintaining that nuclear energy will continue to play an important role in tackling challenges of inclusive growth and climate change, he said, "On the other hand, the negative consequences of atomic power also cannot be ignored. The world has witnessed the immense destructive power of the atom. "We hope that such horrors will never be repeated and cannot overstate the importance of countries with nuclear weapons to be responsible." Jaishankar also warned of the dangers of discriminating among terrorists - good or bad or even yours and mine are increasingly recognised. "Terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy. Nuclear terrorism even more so," he said. During his address at the meeting, which is being attended by delegates from over 100 countries including the US, the UK, France and Pakistan, he also referred to the strong credentials of India, which is looking for a membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Advocating a two-pronged strategy, Jaishankar said the first is to clamp down on terrorism in general and the second to restrict unauthorised access to nuclear technology and material. "Responsible States provide political commitments to assure each other that they will protect nuclear material under their control from falling into the wrong hands... "However, political commitments alone cannot ensure the safety and security of nuclear material," the foreign secretary said while referring to several treaty instruments which provide a firm basis for translating broader political commitments into legally binding measures. The treaties include the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment, he said. Talking about history of nuclear technology, he said, "The power of the atom is wondrous. It has benefited mankind in myriad ways. The scientific community has played a vital role in harnessing nuclear energy and radiological sources for societal needs. The ancient Indian philosopher and sage, Kanada, propounded the concept of 'atom' in the sixth century. "Today, two-and-a-half millennia later, as a country possessing advanced nuclear technologies, India is at the forefront in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We have actively associated with and contributed to the IAEA and other multilateral forums dealing with all aspects of nuclear material." Talking about international obligations adhered to by India, he said every year at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, India co-sponsors a resolution on "measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction" that has been adopted by consensus since 2002. As a State Party to these instruments, India has demonstrated its faith in these instruments and believes that their universalisation is a global good, he said, adding effective implementation of the obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 and 1373 is another important pillar in the fight against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Chennai: An online petition seeking President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention in ensuring that V. K. Sasikala is not sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu citing pending cases against her has gone viral with more than 1.64 lakh people signing it in just 36 hours. The petition on Change.Org started by Tamil Arasan PSR on Sunday evening, hours after Ms Sasikala was chosen as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party, is addressed to the President of India, Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Election Commission of India. With O. Paneerselvam becoming CM, TN people got some hope (that) things would be better for them as he actively coordinated for jallikattu issues. But the recent Sunday announcement of his stepping down as CM for giving way to Sasikala seems to be a conspiracy, the petition said. Sasikala with many old money laundering cases should not be allowed to lead an Indian state. Moreover, she has no political experience and has been (the) reason (behind) many corruption activities while Jayalalithaa was CM, the petition firther reads. At last count, the petition had received 164,982 supporters within 36 hours of its launch. Arasan, who launched the petition, also says state government should not used like anything by a particular group for their personal interest. Almost the entire Tamil Nadu public hate Sasikala from becoming their CM, she is not a elected person, he said, asking the President to intervene and stop this stupid move. Either OPS should continue as CM or the current government dissolved and reelection conducted, the petition concluded. I signed the petition because I feel Ms Sasikala does not deserve to be the Chief Minister. She was actively involved in corruption and had encouraged it. So I vent my feelings by signing the petition, Santhosh Kumar, software professional, said. New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modis reply to the Presidents Motion of Thanks, after Modi made some remarks about former PM Manmohan Singh. For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singh ji had a lot of influence on country's economic policies. Politicians have a lot to learn from him (Manmohan Singh). So much has happened (corruption scandals) during UPA rule, but there is not a single taint on him. Bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on is an art only Dr Sahib (Manomohan Singh) can know of. Immediately after this remark, there was massive ruckus in the Upper House, with Congress members protesting against Modi before walking out. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidus agitated calls for a stop to the running commentary from the Opposition during Modis speech went in vain. Congress does not want to hear the truth, and always runs away from it, charged BJP leaders in the House as Congress members walked away. The ex-PM however, said he did not wish to reply to Modis comments. O Panneerselvam and AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala at the party MLA's meeting in which she was elected as AIADMK Legislative party leader. (Photo: PTI) Chennai: After O Panneerselvams revolt against AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajans claim to becoming the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, several questions have arisen as to the future course of events. Here are some answers: Though Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao has already accepted Panneerselvams resignation, he may ascertain whether Panneerselvam enjoys a majority in the House, if the latter says his resignation was sought under duress. The acting Chief Minister requires 117 of the 233 MLAs with him to stake claim to form a government. As of now, Panneerselvam remains the acting CM because the Governor has asked him to continue until alternative arrangements are made. However, if Rao feels that the government machinery has broken down, he can request the Centre to impose Presidents Rule in the state. The Governor can swear in Sasikala as the Chief Minister since the AIADMK legislature party has already elected her. But given Panneerselvams revolt, he will have to first ascertain as to who holds the majority of MLAs. Though Panneerselvams assertion that Sasikala has no right to expel him from the AIADMK does not stand ground, his position as caretaker CM is in the Governors hands. Vidyasagar Rao may adopt a wait and watch policy before appointing Sasikala as the CM. He could also choose to appoint another face, if he feels that person commands support of a majority of MLAs. An anti-defection law is in place to prevent legislators from switching parties on a whim. Under the present law, a legislature party cannot split. However, if 2/3rd of the members of the AIADMK legislature party, i.e. 90 members, were to split, they could merge with another party. Meanwhile, the DMK is watching the drama unfold from the sidelines. While it could back Panneerselvam, whether it can do so for the next 4 years until the next Assembly polls remains to be seen. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed the pleas of the Tamil Nadu government and one convict seeking review of its judgement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case in which was ruled that the Centre has "primacy" over states' right to grant remission. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar dismissed the pleas on the ground of delay in filing the petition and also on merit. "The instant petitions have been filed by the petitioners for review of the judgement dated December 2, 2015 rendered by this court in the writ petitions and criminal appeal. The Review Petition Nos.560-564 of 2016 is barred by 208 days, whereas Review Petition (Crl.) No.27 of 2017 is barred by 358 days. There is no satisfactory explanation for condoning of such huge delay. "Thus, though the present petitions are liable to be dismissed on the ground of delay itself, yet we have carefully gone the petitions for review, the judgement impugned and the papers connected therewith. We are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record of the case, warranting reconsideration of the judgement impugned. The instant petitions are without any merit," the bench also comprising Justices P C Ghose, S A Bobde, A M Sapre and U U Lalit said. The verdict, which was passed by the bench yesterday, was made available on the apex court website today. "The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed on the ground of delay as well on merits," the bench said. The apex court had also rejected the prayer of the Tamil Nadu government and convict A G Perarivalan alias Arivu for open court hearing of the pleas. The Tamil Nadu government had on July 28 last year moved the apex court seeking review of its judgement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The petition had sought review of the apex court's verdict given in December 2015, virtually overturning the state government's clemency decision. A five-judge bench had in 2015 said that the state governments must secure "concurrence" of the Union government before freeing convicts in certain cases. Chennai: Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Tuesday declared revolt against Sasikala Natarajan and those who are in support of her taking over the reins of the state administration alleging that they forced him to resign after manipulating him to cooperate after Jayalalithaas demise and thereafter they humiliated him. I have resigned under duress. But I will take back my resignation if the people and the AIADMK cadres want me to do so. I will stand alone and fight this war, Mr Panneerselvam said, virtually triggering a second revolution on the sands of the Marina, after the jallikattu upsurge that ended barely a fortnight ago. A huge army of media persons gathered at the Jayalalithaa memorial after news broke that the soft-spoken CM had gone there and was sitting in meditation before the Samadhi where his mentor was laid to rest on December 6. He sat with eyes closed and got up wiping tears after more than 20 minutes. It took the law enforcing agencies a long time to bring the screaming TV crews to some sort of control so that OPS could speak his mind out. After all those years of quiet politics and those heavy minutes of silence before the Ammas Samadhi, Mr Panneerselvams words came like thunder which are sure to shake the state politics in the coming days, say political analysts. There is now no government in Tamil Nadu. They have obtained Panneerselvams resignation by coercion. This calls for action, said Opposition leader M. K. Stalin, the DMK working president. I am here now as I was driven by Ammas soul to come out and reveal the truth, Mr Panneerselvam said, before launching on the long recall of the hospital events. After Ammas condition became bad, they called me and said I should take the responsibility of the CMs post to ensure stability of the government and the unity in the party. I hesitated but they said people would only accept me as CM and there would complications if other names were brought up. They pressured me saying we should not pave way for those things and after a long consideration, I accepted the responsibility, he said. Even though Mr Panneerselvam did not name who they were, it is easy to guess as only Sasikala and her family were in control at the Apollo Hospital. Mr Panneerselvam said after he took charge as CM, he had undertaken several important assignments such as handling the post-Vardah cyclone, the Jallikattu protest and the drinking water crisis to the best of his ability, which won all-round appreciation apart from the desired positive results. But then, even within a few days of his being sworn-in, there were orchestrated demands from his own ministers that Sasikala should take over as CM, he said. When he told them it was not proper for his own ministers to make such statements, they assured him they would speak to those ministers, but the clamour for Sasikala to become CM only grew louder, he said. Chennai: Dropping another bombshell on Wednesday morning, caretaker Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam announced that an inquiry commission will be formed to probe 'doubts' regarding Jayalalithaa's health. Government has responsibility to clear doubts. A sitting Supreme Court judge to head the inquiry commission, said Panneerselvam, who was accompanied by Rajya Sabha member V Maitreyan and former Assembly Speaker P H Pandian. Jayalalithaa had died in the Apollo Hospitals here on December 5 after 75-days of hospitalisation. The announcement came within hours of Panneerselvam revolting against Chief Minister-designate V K Sasikala, who later sacked him as the party treasurer. Addressing mediapersons outside his residence in Chennai, Panneerselvam said he was willing to take back his resignation and would meet governor C Vidyasagar Rao on his return to Chennai. I will withdraw my resignation if needed. I have always fulfilled my responsibility towards the party and will never abandon the party. Amma (Jayalalithaa) remained CM for nearly 16 years, I happened to become CM twice and always followed Amma's path, said Panneerselvam. My strength will be known on the floor of the Assembly. I would soon request the Governor to convene the House to facilitate the move, Panneerselvam asserted. Panneerselvam also tore into Sasikala Natarajan terming her as temporary General Secretary of the AIADMK. Election will be held soon for the 'permanent' General Secretary post of AIADMK, Panneerselvam declared. Contending that many legislators are scared to openly support him, the CM said more MLAs would vote in his favour during the trust vote in the Assembly. I will meet Tamil Nadu people in each and every city to make my point. He also dismissed the allegations that hes backed by BJP. It is a blatant lie to say that BJP has any role to play in my actions. I have not betrayed AIADMK and I am not doing anything at BJP's behest, said Panneerselvam. Panneerselvam said if Deepa Jayakumar approaches him, he would give her the respect and support what Amma's niece deserves. Chennai: An emergency meeting of the AIADMK MLAs got underway in Chennai under the leadership of party General Secretary V K Sasikala amidst a political turmoil triggered by the revolt of sacked Treasurer and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. The meeting at the party headquarters is likely to chalk out the future course of action as a section of leaders, including some MLAs, have already extended support to Panneerselvam. Senior Ministers and party functionaries are participating in the meeting. Pannerselvam has said that Sasikala has no powers to sack him as Treasurer. He said the General Secretary was elected on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation faced by the party (after Jayalalithaa's demise). "This is the party's norm. As per the party's constitution framed by founder M G Ramachandran at the time floating the AIADMK, legal sanction for the post will come only when all primary members elect the General Secretary. Such a General Secretary alone has the powers to appoint or remove party functionaries," he said. Hyderabad: The famous Sadar festival (Buffalo carnival) celebrated by the Yadava community will be officially organised by the state government in Hyderabad and other parts of the state. The buffalo carnival is famous in Hyderabad and held the day after Diwali with pomp and gaiety. Members of the Yadava community take out decorated bulls as part of Dunnapothula panduga and parade them before gatherings, mostly in Narayanaguda, Chintal Basti, Yellareddyguda, Ghasmandi, Old Bhoiguda, Madhapur, Kacheguda and other places. Animal husbandry minister T. Srinivas Yadav, who participates in the festivities annually, said the festival will henceforth be organised by the government. Hereafter, Sadar festival will be organised under the auspices of the Telangana government.. It is a prominent festival of Yadavas and has been organised since ages, Mr Srinivas Yadav said. He also asked the community members to organise Krishna Asthami in a big way and promised all support. We will soon have a big public meeting of Yadavas and Kurma community at Nizam College Grounds soon, Mr Srinivas Yadav said. At the festival, prizes are given to the best bulls with their horns painted in vibrant colours, and also for acrobatics by the bulls and their trainers, and for display of swordsmanship and dances by local Yadava celebration committees. In 2015, a bull named Yuvaraj valued at a whopping Rs 7 crore was brought from Kurukshetra in Haryana. It was the star attraction at the festivities in Yellareddyguda. Last year, another bull valued at Rs 11 crore was on display. New Delhi: Government today expressed serious concern over "unusual" activities reported in the past few days, alleging that attempts were made to sabotage rail tracks and carry out explosions. Responding to a series of supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said there had been seven "blast attempts" and three cases of attempted sabotage. He said the NIA is already investigating a case related to the derailment of a train near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. There have been "unusual" activities in the last few days and some incidents were averted due to the alertness of railway personnel, the Minister said during Question Hour. He said countries including Japan, South Korea and Italy had sent their teams after the recent derailments, "thanks to the diplomatic skills of the Prime Minister." The Railways was now in the process of putting in place latest technology like ultrasonic track detection system to find out fractures so that early warning can prevent mishaps. Besides technology, Prabhu said the Railway Protection Force has been asked to evolve a forensic strategy. In his written reply, the minister said train accidents have declined from 195 in 2006-07 to 135 in 2014-15 and further to 107 in 2015-16. Number of "consequential" train accidents remained at a level of 95 during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Accidents per million train kilometres, an important index of safety, has come down from 0.23 in 2006-07 to 0.11 in 2014-15 and further to 0.10 in 2015-16. A student from Hyderabad is stranded in the United Kingdom as the cash-strapped Telangana States minority welfare department has not released the money for his scholarship, saying the budget is not yet out. Hyderabad: A student from Hyderabad is stranded in the United Kingdom as the cash-strapped Telangana States minority welfare department has not released the money for his scholarship, saying the budget is not yet out. Mohammed Haseemuddin got admission for a Masters in Business Management course in the UK five months back. As the minorities' commission is not releasing the scholarship funds, he cannot pay his fees and stands in danger of being deported. A government order of the Telangana government (GO. 24) specifies that a student should have passed GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL tests. Mr Haseemuddin said, In order to pursue higher studies I took money from people and now I have to repay nearly `7 lakh. I took this bold step only on the basis of the minorities scholarship, but I am stranded here as the authorities say that the budget is not yet allotted and it may take time. When I applied for the university it clearly said that the university does not need GRE, TOEFL or other exams. They selected me on the basis of my merit marks. He says application for a scholarship can be filled only after the student lands in the chosen country. If after landing we face problems, then we can be deported and our entire career will be spoiled. Amjadullah Khan said, There is a big scam in the scholarship section. The committee formed for issuing the scholarships is favouring students with a political background. A common student is made to wait for a longer time. There are also chances that he/she may be deported if the fee is not paid on time Omer Jaleel, minorties welfare department secretary said, Admissions in foreign universities take place in the months of January, February, July and August. The minorities' welfare department issues notification around the same time. Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao may be justified in waiting for the impending verdict in the Supreme Court and internal fight in the ruling AIADMK to settle down before arriving at a decision on resolving the political crisis, legal and constitutional experts said on Wednesday. Former Lok Sabha Secretary-General Subhash Kashyap told Deccan Chronicle that the Governor may be cautious in handling the situation since he may be accused of acting in haste if he administers oath of office to V. K. Sasikala and in case the SC sets aside the Karnataka HC judgement acquitting her in DA case. Kashyap, a veteran in constitutional affairs, said no one should doubt the non-partisan character and dignity of the Governors post. As soon as he is satisfied that a particular leader commands majority among legislators, the Governor should invite that leader to form the government. If there is only one leader in a party, then there is no problem. But in TN, the majority is beset with some internal party problems and he might wait for the party to resolve the problems, he said. He also said the Governor might be waiting for the judgement of the court because there will be allegations raised that he acted in haste without waiting for court verdict which is expected in less than a week. The Governor may be waiting for the legal and political hurdle to settle and then take a decision, Mr Kashyap said. Echoing with Mr Kashyap, noted jurist Soli Sorabjee said the Governor should wait for the Supreme Court judgement in the disproportionate assets case against her. The Governor would do be well within his powers not to swear her in immediately because it would complicate matters if the court is to uphold the lower court order convicting her in the case, he said. Questions are being raised whether the Governor is delaying the swearing-in of Ms Sasikala as Chief Minister since he has not visited Chennai even three days after she was elected as the leader of the legislature party. Bengaluru: Speculation is rife that BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad will be transferred soon and he is likely to be succeeded by senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta, who is now the commissioner, Industries and Commerce. Mr Prasad took charge from Mr Kumar Naik on April 25 last year. It was then said Mr Naik was shunted out as he had differences with Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George over crackdown on hotels that had not paid the property tax. But this time, there is no provocation to transfer Mr Prasad. Will this sudden move affect presenting of the BBMP budget is the question haunting Bengalureans. The BBMP is expected to present the budget a week or ten days after the state governments budget. The BBMP commissioner plays a crucial role in preparing the draft budget by holding meetings with Heads of the departments. When Deccan Chronicle contacted them, both Mr Prasad and Mr Gupta denied any such move. Mr Prasad said that he did not that he was being transferred as he had not received any orders. Although getting things done in the BBMP is tough, being a Bengalurean, I would like to get things delivered for my city, he said. Mr Prasad is said to enjoy the support of Mr Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha. Also, he has been handling issues like the anti-encroachment drive, cracking down on commercial establishments in residential areas and collecting the property taxes from defaulters. Mr Gupta said that the rumour on his transfer has been doing the rounds for a long time, but he has not got any confirmation. The remotely controlled day/night imager, hand-held thermal imager (HHTI) sights, complete with a laser range finder, will help commanders spot anyone moving about near the border from as far away as 5-10 km and tip off patrols through radio communication, thus providing advantage of time and distance to counter incursion or insurgency. BENGALURU: While the Indian Army has access to thermal imaging devices, courtesy the Israeli defence forces, the Indian Army, looking for a mobile, hand-held thermal imager will get its first look at just such a gadget at the Aero India 2017, which commences on February 14. The remotely controlled day/night imager, hand-held thermal imager (HHTI) sights, complete with a laser range finder, will help commanders spot anyone moving about near the border from as far away as 5-10 km and tip off patrols through radio communication, thus providing advantage of time and distance to counter incursion or insurgency. These systems will undergo field trials in border areas soon, Col. (Retd) H.S. Shankar, chairman & managing director of Alpha Design Technologies Ltd, Bengaluru, told Deccan Chronicle. Each unit costs Rs 30 lakhs. He said his firm has also developed advanced LORROS (Long Range Observation and Reconnaissance System) with remotely controlled pan/tilt/focus features for surveillance along the borders. This, too, will be on display for the first time at the air show. These new systems will help prevent infiltration of militants and recurrence of attacks witnessed on the armed forces at Uri and other parts of north India. Besides, for the 'Smart City' project, a host of gadgets and technologies for round-the-clock surveillance, identification of terror suspects, a constant watch on their movements or their vehicles, including details recognition of the number plates, all of which will be coordinated from a central observation post, designed by this firm which specializes in defence and space related equipment, will be put on show at Air Force Station, Yelahanka. "These systems will help monitor any number of terror suspects or their vehicles through networked cameras," Col (Retd) Shankar added. He said Alpha Design Technologies Ltd will upgrade MI-17 helicopters in collaboration with Elbit of Israel and equip as many as 90 choppers with smart displays, missile launch detection systems, digital voice recorders, transponders and new cockpit. And Cheetah helicopters flown by the army aviation corps, which lacked protection from shoulder-fired missiles, will also be fitted with missile launch detection systems, he added. In addition, an upgraded version of the Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV), complete with a thermal imager-based fire control system to support operations at night, will also figure among armaments and systems on view at Aero India 2017. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. New Delhi: A seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday slapped a contempt notice on Calcutta High Court judge Justice C.S. Karnan for his scurrilous remarks against judges of the Madras High Court and the apex court and restrained him from discharging his judicial and administrative work immediately. This is for the first time that a sitting High Court judge is facing contempt of court proceedings. The bench comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices Dipak Misra, J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur, Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Kurian Joseph slapped the notice and directed the personal presence of Justice Karnan before it on February 13. In 2016, Justice Karnan who was initially posted in the Madras High Court was transferred to the Calcutta HC after he cast aspersions on many judges and ordered a CBI probe against Madras HC Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. The Bench after briefly hearing Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, in a jam-packed court hall, passed the order after the AG called for stringent action against the judge for writing "very, very scurrilous" letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Constitutional dignitaries accusing them of corruption and caste bias as he hails from SC community. The court in its order said: Shri Justice C.C. Karnan, shall forthwith refrain from handling any judicial or administrative work as may have been assigned to him. He is also directed to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to the Registrar-General, Calcutta High Court. Shri Justice C S Karnan shall remain present in person on February 13 to show cause (why contempt action should not be initiated against him). AG says Supreme Court must act even against judges The order was communicated to Justice Karnan during the course of the day and the High Court Chief Justice to relieve him of all work. The unprecedented order was passed by the Constitution Bench which took suo motu cognizance of the various letters purportedly written by Justice Karnan to Prime Minister, CJI, law minister, judges of various high courts and the Supreme Court registry. In his submissions, Mr. Mukul Rohatgi said, In my view these communications are completely scurrilous, completely calculated to destabilise administration of justice. The communication which I have gone through whether it is against a retired judge, high court judges, sitting judge from Supreme Court; nature of allegations are very, very disparaging. Very, very scurrilous and therefore, a time has now come that this court must take action under Article 129 of the Constitution (power to punish any person for contempt). Mr Rohatgi said the court should also exercise its other extraordinary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to do substantial justice and secure the attendance of any person, the discovery or production of any documents, or the investigation or punishment of any contempt of itself. He argued that the apex court was not only empowered to punish for contempt of itself, but also for contempt of any other court in the country. According to the AG, this was a case for summary trial as there was no need to examine any facts as the letters purportedly addressed by Justice Karnan was sufficient enough to hold the judge guilty for contempt. The idea is the letters should be made public to bring complete disrespect to the system. This court must also set an example: so that the citizen is made aware that this court will not hesitate to act even against judges. Your lordship shall issue a notice of contempt, the AG said. The CJI cautioned the AG by saying whether the letters purportedly written by Justice Karnan were actually not his letters. If he denies it, then it will change the whole situation, the Chief Justice said. Mumbai: Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao is likely to meet AIADMK MLAs on Thursday evening at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai, triggering speculation whether he will swear-in V.K. Sasikala after she mustered an overwhelming majority of AIADMK MLAs against a rebellious O. Panneerselvam, who claimed he has their backing. Sources from the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai said that the Mr Rao will reach Chennai by Thursday afternoon. The Governor is likely to call all the MLAs to Raj Bhavan to know their views on the current division in the party, said sources close to Raj Bhavan. Jurists were divided on whether Sasikala, against whose acquittal in DA case the Supreme Court is to deliver its verdict next week, can be sworn-in. After Panneerselvams midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of party MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters in a show of strength this morning and later herded them in buses to undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together. The complaint was filed by V. Nagamani, wife of Uma Venkata Rao, a resident of Khammam town, against Dr Muvva Lakshmi Rajeshwari of the Rohit Test Tube Baby Centre in the town. Hyderabad: The Khammam District Consumer Forum has awarded compensation of Rs 1 lakh to a woman who alleged medical negligence in a case of in-vitro fertilisation that led to her developing a heterotrophic pregnancy (where one foetus develops in the fallopian tube and another in the uterus). The ruling was given after nine years. The complaint was filed by V. Nagamani, wife of Uma Venkata Rao, a resident of Khammam town, against Dr Muvva Lakshmi Rajeshwari of the Rohit Test Tube Baby Centre in the town. The complainant alleged that she was admitted to the test tube baby centre on September 4, 2007 for IVF treatment. The doctors told her that she had no capacity to release proper eggs and if she can obtain eggs from a donor, she would have a chance to become pregnant. The procedure was accordingly done and in time, her pregnancy was confirmed. But one day, she experienced giddiness and was shifted to Rohit Test Tube Centre and after being advised by doctors there, she was shifted to Mamata General Hospital who diagnosed an ectopic pregnancy (where the embryo attaches outside the uterus). Due to the rupture of the fallopian tube, Ms Nagamani began bleeding. After a week the foetus in the uterus was also dead. The complainant had spent Rs 1.7 lakh on IVF treatment and Rs 25,000 for bills at Mamata Hospital and Rs 30,000 over transportation and other charges. Rohit Test Tube Centre argued before the Forum that the scan report did not reveal that the complainant had a heterotrophic pregnancy, which is very rare, and they were not to blame. But the Forum said Dr Rajeswari of Rohit Test Tube Centre did not clarify why she did not provide treatment in her hospital, particularly in an emergency. Any failure to render medical help is against ethics of a medical practitioner. The Forum also quoted medical journals as saying that most heterotrophic pregnancies occur as a result of IVF. Expert speaks Heterotrophic pregnancy is definitely a rare development. Women with pelvic inflammatory disease also develop it at times. This is one of the associated complications of IVF. When embryo develops in the fallopian tube, it is dangerous to the health of the woman and leads to emergency situation. It is true that it is difficult to diagnose. I dont think doctors of the test tube centre were negligent in this aspect Dr B Uma Devi, fertility specialist, and retired professor from Gandhi Hospital Bhopal: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that there was nothing wrong if Muslims worshiped Bharat Mata since all Indians were bound together with one culture of Hindustan. Muslims may follow a different religion but all Indians irrespective of their caste, creed and religions are bound together by one culture of Hindustan, the RSS supremo said while addressing Hindu Maha Sammelan in district headquarters town of Betul in Madhya Pradesh. What is wrong if Muslims perform aarti to Bharat Mata, he asked. Every Muslim in Hindustan may be follower of Islam but in core of their hearts they are Hindus, he added. The citizens of England are known as English, the inhabitants of America as Americans and similarly, people of Hindustan are identified as Hindus, he said, adding, Bharat Mata should be worshiped in every house in India. Mr Bhagwat also spoke against the caste system in the Hindu society saying that it has only divided the Indian society. He said that the RSS would launch a drive in the country in coming days to remove caste divide prevailing in the society. We should unite the society. If we stand divided, then hostile forces will take advantage of it and subject us to repression, he said. The RSS chief also took a potshot at those who claimed tribals were not Hindus. Hindus have 33 crore deities and new deities also take birth. Some people may not believe in idol worship. They are all part of diversified Hindu culture. We should accept the diversities in the society. We will then realise true happiness in diversity, he added. Chennai: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday announced that he would order an inquiry headed by a Supreme Court Judge into the treatment and subsequent death of his mentor and late AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa. I feel it is the duty of the Government to pay heed to the request of the people on their concerns about the treatment provided to Amma. I assure you that an inquiry will set up under the aegis of a Supreme Court Judge (to probe the treatment and subsequent death) of Amma, Panneerselvam told reporters at his official residence on the Greenways Road here. His comments came just two days after British consultant intensivist Dr Richard Beale, who led the team of doctors who attended on the late Chief Minister at the Apollo Hospitals, clarified that she indeed died of heart attack and there was no conspiracy in her death. He also alleged that he could not meet he late mentor J. Jayalalithaa even once when she was hospitalised for 75 days. For 75 days I went to the hospital every day. But I could not meet her even once. Even my family members used to ask me every day whether I met Amma. At one stage, I even thought of lying that I had met her. But I did not do so, Panneerselvam said, adding that he was always told then she was fine. The girl died on the spot while the driver escaped from the scene immediately after the mishap to slip away from the mob fury Chennai: In a tragic incident, a two and a half-year-old girl died under the wheels of the school bus of her 6-year-old sister in Gowrivakkam near Selaiyur when she went to bid goodbye to her sibling on Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Samiksha, daughter of Sudhakaran and Eswari residing at Vembuliamman Koil street. Police said that Samiksha ran on to the road to say bye to Thithiksha, a Class I student, who had got into the bus at around 8.45 am. Samiksha reportedly ran across the road and came under the front wheel of the moving school bus. The girl died on the spot while the driver escaped from the scene immediately after the mishap to slip away from the mob fury. The vehicle belonged to Trileaves International school, Raja Kilpauk. The school bus was not painted yellow, which is mandatory in the state, police noted. It appears neither the van driver nor the victim's mother Eswari noticed Samiksha and the driver fatally knocked her down, police said. Samiksha's father Sudhakaran works in a private company while the mother is a homemaker. A case has been registered with the Chromepet Traffic police. The driver was arrested later. Chennai: A 40-year-old man from Chennai who was arrested along with three others while trying to smuggle Rs 1 crore worth gold bars from Rajamundhry on Saturday morning at Arambakkam near Chennai was picked up for questioning by central agencies for his suspected links with ISIS. Mohamed Iqbal has been picked up after he was found donating generously to ISIS. He had made three donations to ISIS and a team of IB officials from Rajasthan had come to trace him based on evidence of his transactions. A team of Intelligence Bureau officials on Saturday nabbed four people with 3.3 kg of 20 gold bars worth Rs 1 crore, in an omnibus coming from Rajahmundry to Chennai at Arambakkam near Gumudipoondi in neighboruing Thiruvallur district. All the four were later handed over to DRI for further action with regard to smuggling while Mohamed Iqbal was taken for further questioning him on money donation to ISIS. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP delegation led by State president Kummanam Rajasekharan and former State presidents V. Muraleedharan and P. K. Krishnadas have called on union Home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi seeking his intervention in the murder politics being practiced by CPM. Rajnath Singh appraised the delegation that the central Government is closely monitoring the scene. BJP State delegation met the union Home minister at his residence where he assured them that the central Government will consider their memorandum within the powers of the Constitution. They had given a memorandum stating that two dalits were killed in Thiruvananthapuram, two people which includes a woman, were torched to death in Palakkad and another man was killed in Kannur which all had happened in a span of three months time. This is the second time in a span of four months that the State BJP delegation had called on Rajnath Singh raising the atrocities of CPM being unleashed against the BJP supporters. We raised the issue of the breach in law and order situation in the State. Innocent BJP supporters are facing the wrath of the CPM supporters, said Kummanam. BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao who accompanied the Kerala delegation criticized the CPM leadership. He said the Indian Constitution gives the right to live where it is the responsibility of the State Government to protect the citizens which is not happening. Apart from Kummanam, former BJP State presidents P. K. Krishnadas and V. Muraleedharan also was also there in the delegation. They also called on National Womens Commission chairman Lalitha Kumaramangalam and National Commission for Minorities Naseem Ahmad. National Womens Commission representatives are expected to arrive in the State in the next few days. On Wednesday, the Kerala BJP delegation will also visit the National Human Rights Commission chairman Justice H. L. Dattu and raise the Marxist partys atrocities. Lucknow: Taking objection to BJP including the triple talaq and Ram Temple issues in its election manifesto, Congress on Wednesday demanded that the Supreme Court and the Election Commission initiate action against the saffron party in this regard. "BJP is raising disputed issues with the aim to polarise votes in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state," AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged while replying to a query on BJP raising triple talaq issue during campaigning in Uttar Pradesh. "BJP has included triple talaq and Ram temple in its manifesto and as both these issues are pending in the Supreme Court, Congress has objections over it...the party demands that Supreme Court and Election Commission take note of it and initiate action against BJP," he said after releasing partys election manifesto here. To BJPs demands that Congress make clear its stand on triple talaq, Azad said his party will not speak on any contentious issue in these elections. When his attention was drawn to over ten seats where candidates of both SP and Congress have filed their nominations despite forming an alliance, he said SP candidates had filed their papers when it appeared that the alliance will not come through and though at some places they wanted to withdraw, they could not do so due to uncertainity. He, however, said the matter would be sorted out in a couple of days and leaders of both the parties will campaign in support of candidates declared by the alliance on the seats where nominees of both the partners have filed their papers. New Delhi: A bill, under which specified industrial units will have to pay salaries and wages to workers only either through cheques or by electronic transfer to their bank accounts, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. "The initiative is aimed at promoting the welfare of workers," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said, adding that the legislation was aimed at bringing transparency, promoting digital economy and timely payments of wages to workers. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2017, which was passed by a voice vote, enables the Centre and states to specify the industries which will come under the ambit of the new provision for which the Government had brought an Ordinance in December, he said, observing that the bill was a tribute to the memory of Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Asked why the government had brought an ordinance on the issue, the minister said it was an extraordinary situation. "If you will give more support, we will do more for workers...we need to further improve the situation of workers," he said, adding more and more bank accounts of workers would help them get full wages. During a discussion on the bill, MPs from almost all political parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress and TDP supported the measure but came down hard on the government for taking the ordinance route to bring the provision, saying it was the result of "post-demonetisation syndrome". As per the bill, employers will have to pay wages to workers through cheques or credit their bank accounts without obtaining written authorisation of the employees. It replaces the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2016, which was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 15, 2016 and also seeks to repeal the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 promulgated on December 28, 2016. The Minister said the ordinance was promulgated because the bill introduced on December 15, 2016 could not be taken up for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha. The decision to adopt ordinance route to amend the Act was taken by the Union Cabinet on December 21. "The legislation will benefit the workers who are vulnerable to exploitation. It will also help them get minimum wages, provident funds and other benefits," he said. Participating in the debate, N K Premachandran of RSP slammed the government for promulgating the Ordinance saying such a route is taken in an extraordinary situation. He also accused the government of encroaching on the law-making domain of Parliament. "This government has taken the Ordinance route 26 times and 11 times, Ordinance was repromulgated...It is a fraud on the Constitution," he said. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) also attacked the NDA government for the promulgating the Ordinance and cited certain loopholes in the current legislation. He also demanded that adequate infrastructure be put in place to implement the provision. Jan. 18 Angela Lynn Mack was bound over on one count of possession of a controlled substance. Jan. 20 Kayleigh Lynn Estrella was bound over to district court on one count of possession of a controlled substance. - Jason Ray Scherer was bound over to district court on one count of buying, possessing or receiving stolen property or firearm and one count of grand larceny. Jan. 30 Gary Solis Salais was bound over to district court on one count of possession of a controlled substance. - Taylor Patrick Walker was bound over to district court on one count of escape or attempted escape by a prisoner. Jan. 31 Samantha Ray Buckingham was bound over to district court on one count of possession of a controlled substance. - Cassidy Wayne Carson was bound over to district court on one count of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance. - Christopher Pierre Estella was bound over to district court on one count of selling or attempting to sell a controlled substance, one count of trafficking in a controlled substance, and one count of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance. - Troy Dwayne Hoover was bound over to district court on two counts of conspiracy to make, utter, possess or attempt to utter or possess a fictitious bill, note or check. - Braxton Sainsbury was bound over to district court on three counts of possession of a controlled substance. Feb. 1 Joshua Jimmy Juarez was bound over to district court on two counts of owning or possessing a firearm by a prohibited person. - Traid Vernon Robbins was bound over to district court on one count of carrying a concealed pistol, revolver or other firearm. Feb. 2 Bryant Wayne Donahue was bound over to district court on two counts of possession of a controlled substance. - Damien Perkins was bound over to district court on one count of trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance. - Megan Snow was bound over to district court on one count of making, uttering, possessing or attempting to utter or possess a fictitious bill, note or check and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Feb. 3 Tharon Blaine Abel was bound over to district court on one count of battery by a prisoner. - Kyle Steven Fink was bound over to district court on one count of assault with a deadly weapon. - Juan Rodriguiez-Ordaz was bound over to district court on one count of crimes against property. New Delhi: Hitting back at Narendra Modi, Congress on Wednesday said the words used by him in the Rajya Sabha against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were extremely poor in taste and unbecoming of a Prime Minister and demanded that he apologise to the House. The Congress also dubbed Modi as arrogant and charged him with bringing the debate to the lowest level. Within minutes of his speech, he attacked the former Prime Minister in the most unacceptable manner. He said Manmohan Singh occupied various positions and one must learn from him how to take a shower wearing a rain coat." It was in extremely poor taste. It is unbecoming of a Prime Minister to use such language against a former PM. We are very very disappointed and angry (with) what the Prime Minister said. We expressed our protest by walking out (from the House), senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said. The former Finance Minister said it was certainly unbecoming of anyone to say such harsh and ugly words against Singh. Accusing Modi of arrogance, another Congress leader, Kapil Sibal, said that the Prime Minister has insulted the House with his remarks and he must apologise. This is an insult of the Housewe have never seen such arrogance. The Prime Minister should think that there is a stature to the post he holds and he does not know what words should be usedWe will not tolerate this. We condemn the Prime Ministers remarks. He should apologise to the House for this, he said. Targeting Modi, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said, He is behaving in an arrogant and insulting manner against the opposition. He also insulted the former late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He has dragged the debate to the lowest level. Replying to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address in the Rajya Sabha, Modi tore into Congress and took on Singh who had described demonetisation as organised loot and legalised plunder, saying the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on is known only to the former Prime Minister as there is no blot on him despite all the scams. This provoked an angry reaction from Congress members who staged a walkout in the midst of the reply by the Prime Minister. Chennai: At 6.50 pm, @CMOTamilNadu, the Twitter handle maintained by close aides of O. Panneerselvam, removed V.K. Sasikala's picture and restored a photograph of the Chief Minister along with his late mentor J. Jayalalithaa. Mr Panneerselvam seems to have decided to make public his banner of revolt against Ms Sasikala and the AIADMK two hours before he made a quiet visit to memorial of Jayalalithaa on the Marina Beach. Around the same time, the AIADMK also sensed that all was not well between the party and the chief minister. At 6.54 pm, @AIADMKOfficial, the official Twitter handle of the ruling party, sent out a tweet that @CMOTamilNadu, now @Panneerselvam_O, was not the official handle of the Chief Minister. None understood the undercurrent in the change of profile picture and the tweet by AIADMK handle. And the CM's visit to Marina Beach, his meditation at the Jayalalithaas memorial and his subsequent address to the media was well choreographed. The Twitter handle was sending out updates every now and then by even announcing that the Chief Minister will speak to the press outside Jayalalithaa memorial. At 8.40 pm, 10 minutes before Mr Panneerselvam's arrival at the Marina Beach, the Twitter handle posted another tweet saying, "Only intention of the handle is to spread the good work of Amma`s government." And what happened after Mr Panneerselvam's arrival at the Marina beach is history. After declaring that he would reconsider his resignation if people and cadre want him back, the Chief Minister took to Twitter again, asking people to express their views whether he should take back his resignation. The poll, the Twitter handle says, will close at 10 pm on Wednesday. And the result is anyone's guess. Lucknow: It is more the merrier for the BJP as whenever the saffron party is challenged by a number of Muslim rivals, a split in votes on communal lines helps turn the tide for its candidates in UP. Going by the past record, BJP was the major beneficiary of division of minority votes and polarisation during polls. While BSP has given ticket to 99 Muslims, SP-Congress are claiming to be the real "sympathiser" of the community to seek their votes. Besides, AIMIM has also fielded its candidates at a few seats. In 2012 polls, there were at least 26 seats where Muslim candiates lost due to division of votes due to fight between them. Among these seats, there were many where the margin of victory was very thin. In Nakud seat of Sahranpur, Dharm Singh Saini of BJP emerged victorious due to division of Muslim votes between Imran Masood of Congress and Firoz Aftab of Samajwadi Party. As Firoz secured over 30,000 votes, Imran lost by about 4,000 votes to Saini. There was an interesting contest on Thana Bhawan seat won by BJP's Suresh Rana, infamous for his alleged role in Muzaffarnagar riots. He scraped through by 265 votes only, while RLD candidate Ashraf Ali Khan and BSP's Abdul Waris secured 53,000 and 50,000 votes respectively. Former BJP state president Lakshmikant Bajpai won Meerut seat due to split in votes among Muslim candidates. Same was the case in Saharanpur City (BJP), Gangoh (Cong), Kairana (BJP), Bijnor (BJP), Noorpur (BJP), Asmoli (SP), Meerut South (BJP), Sikandaraband (BJP), Agra South (BJP) and Firozabad (BJP) seats. This time too, division of Muslims votes might help BJP turn the tide in its favour in the high stakes UP polls. At Swar seat, there is interesting contest between Nawab Kazim Ali, the sitting Congress MLA who recently joined BSP, and SP leader Azam Khan's son Abdullah Azam. Both known for their political rivalry are leaving nothing to chance to ensure victory. BJP has given ticket to Lakshmi Saini on this seat. At Meerut South, there is a tough fight on cards with BSP candidate Haji Yakoob Kuraishi taking on SP-Congress alliance candidate Azad Saifi and both are trying to woo minority community to ensure their success. BJP candidate Somendra Tomar is also eyeing the seat and is banking on the division of Muslim votes for his victory. At Aligarh City seat, polarisation seems to be the key for victory of BJP candidate Sanjeev Raja, having image of a Hinduwadi leader. On this seat, BSP has fielded Arif Abbasi while SP has given ticket to sitting MLA Zafar Alam. Another seat, Agra South, has three Muslim candidates -- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is contesting on BSP ticket, Congress has given ticket to Nazir Ahmad and Idrish is contesting as AIMIM candidate. BJP has given ticket to Yogendra Upadhyay, who seems confident of victory as division of minority votes appears palpable. In Firozabad, BJP has fielded sitting MLA Manish Asija, who will be fighting BSP's Khalid Nasir, SP's Azim Bhai and AIMIM's Aithasham to retain his seat. Similar is the situation in Loni seat in Ghaziabad, where BSP's sitting MLA Zakir Ali has locked horns with Rashid Malik (SP), while RLD has given ticket to Madan Bhaiya. BJP has fielded Nand Kishore Gurjar. In seats like Badaun, Kanpur Cant, Khalilabad, Lucknow (West) situation is same with Muslim candidates challenging each other giving advantage to rival political parties. Chennai: Refuting AIADMK's allegation that it was aiding Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in his revolt against his party's leadership, DMK on Wednesday said its support to him was issue-based. "We had never extended our support to Chief Minister Panneerselvam. We supported the Panneerselvam-led government on certain people's issues, on certain policies and Bills," DMK working president M K Stalin said. Stalin, the opposition leader in the state assembly, was responding to reporters' queries about his party's "support" to Panneerselvam, as alleged by AIADMK including its general secretary V K Sasikala. Sasikala has blamed arch rival DMK for trying to destabilise AIADMK. In the recent Assembly session, DMK, the main opposition, had supported government on the Jallikattu and NEET issues. While a bill was tabled to replace an ordinance for conducting the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu, the government also took the legislation route to apparently circumvent the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses. DMK had supported the government on both issues. On Panneerselvam's announcement recommending an inquiry commission to probe "doubts" regarding Jayalalithaa's health and subsequent death, Stalin said it was a welcome move, albeit delayed. "We have been seeking constitution of an inquiry commission (since Jayalalithaa's death) as there was doubts in people's minds. A proper probe should be held in this matter," he added. BENGALURU: With his sight set on next year's elections to the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly assured ruling party legislators here on Wednesday that he would take steps to increase the quantum of food grains provided to beneficiaries of Anna Bhagya scheme while increasing supply of milk to school children from three days to five days a week. Mr Siddaramaiah, who made the announcement at a meeting of the Congress legislature party (CLP), also disclosed his plans to increase the quantum of rice from 5 kg a person to 8 kg for each BPL card besides reintroducing supply of kerosene for all BPL card holders with LPG connections. A senior leader told the media after the CLP: "The next budget in March-April will be Mr Siddaramaiah's 12th budget as finance minister and 5th as Chief Minister, so, he wants to leave his imprint on the minds of the people. He is planning to dole out as many populist programmes instead of keeping economic position in mind. Apart from this, he will be the first Chief Minister who started off with budget outlay of more than Rs 1.35 lakh crore in 2013, and will cross the barrier of Rs 2 lakh crore budget this year. Therefore, he is planning many more populist schemes." The leader added that the main intention of presenting such a budget loaded with populist schemes was to mock at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who did not do much for the poor despite demonetisation policy. "It looks like Mr Siddaramaiah wants to drive home a point that Anna Bhagya scheme has come to the rescue of the poor at a time when Mr Modi's demonetisation rendered them jobless," the leader added. Meanwhile, some legislators expressed their ire at social welfare minister H. Anjaneya and few other ministers for failing to tackle the drought. "Almost 150 taluks are declared as drought hit, but some of our district in-charge ministers have not even toured the district twice during the last three months. If the same situation continues, then we (ruling party MLAs) will have a tough time convincing the electorate in the days ahead. As far as Mr Anjaneya is concerned, he has not released funds to sink bore-wells under Ganga Kalyana scheme," the leader quoted MLAs as telling the Chief Minister but declined to disclose their names. Action sought against poojary, Jaffer Some Congress legislators, led by chief whip in the Legislative Council, Mr Ivan Dsouza and Madhugiri MLA K. N. Rajanna, criticized senior leaders C. K. Jaffer Sharief, A. H. Vishwanath and B. Janardhan Poojary who have been issuing statements against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader quoted the MLAs as saying that senior leaders have been making baseless and meaningless statements against you (Mr Siddaramaiah). So, you should take steps to convince party central leaders to initiate action against these leaders. Had Mr Sharief not insisted on fielding his grandson, Abdul Rahman Sharief, the party would have own the seat. But now, he is making baseless allegations, so he needs to be taught a lesson. Textbooks can foster a spirit of unity or fuel divisions. They are not just founts of knowledge. They help shape social values, an understanding of ones history and the world. How do you teach prejudice to young people? Perhaps the easiest and most effective method is to have content in school textbooks that prejudice impressionable minds. Children instinctively trust textbooks. They believe what is written there. In most classrooms worldwide, textbooks also play a key role in what and how teachers teach. Which brings me to a little story that popped up in the news last week and has fallen off the radar already amid exciting twists and turns in Tamil Nadus politics and in election-bound Uttar Pradesh. A chapter in a Class 12 sociology textbook in Maharashtra cites ugliness and physical handicap of a girl as one of the reasons behind the persistence of dowry in India, alongside the caste system, social prestige, compensation principle, etc. The exact words, as reported in the media, are: If a girl is ugly and handicapped, it becomes very difficult for her to get married. To marry such girls, a bridegroom and his family demand more dowry. Parents of such girls become helpless and pay dowry as per the demands... It leads to a rise in the practice of the dowry system. The story went viral on social media; activists and many enlightened citizens raised a stink; reporters questioned officials about the case. Last heard, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education had said the matter would be looked into. We have been here before. Here is a randomly selected sample of troubling lessons in Indian textbooks that grossly undermine efforts at building a more inclusive and gender-sensitive society. In 2006, a textbook for 14-year-olds in Rajasthan compared housewives to donkeys. In 2012, a textbook for Class 6 students used all over the country created a ruckus when it was found it said people who eat meat easily cheat, tell lies, forget promises, are dishonest and tell bad words, steal, fight and turn to violence and commit sex crimes. Cornered by reporters, the then director of the Central Board of Secondary Education said: We only recommend books for Class 9 onwards. Books are chosen by individual schools. There is no monitoring of the content of school books. The book happened to be published by a reputed firm, which also prints textbooks used in hundreds of schools in the country. In 2015, a teacher in Chhattisgarh drew public attention to a textbook for 15-year-olds that attributed growing unemployment in India after Independence to women taking to the job market. When quizzed by the media, the director of the State Council For Educational Research And Training said: Its a matter of debate. It was a writers view out of his experience. Its the teachers job how they explain things to students and ask students for their view on whether they agreed with it or not. If it had not been for the alertness of the teacher, the matter would not have reached the state womens commission. So where does the buck stop and who takes the rap for poisoning the minds of young children? After the initial brouhaha, the stories fade from public memory. In a country with a myriad faultlines, how serious are we in rooting out prejudice from textbooks? How does one undo the damage that has already been done to young girls and boys who have been reading such textbooks? There are more questions than answers at this point. Arguably, the public discussion around curriculum in India is an old one. Textbook controversies are not confined to Maharashtra nor to gender issues. States ruled by the Left and the Right have come under attack from their critics at various points for trying to foist their ideology on young children by tweaking textbooks. In 2005, academics across the country had expressed concerns about textbooks printed by private publishers. But no action was taken. The National Council of Educational Research and Training has been tasked to weed out gender bias from textbooks. Its efforts have met with partial success. The first report on a gender audit of textbooks of Classes 1 to 5 was published in 2013-14. That report showed progress was made but stereotypes remained in some textbooks. Women continued to be shown in the all-too-familiar nurturing role or in traditionally acceptable professional careers of a nurse or teacher. Men, on the other hand, were shown in multiple professional roles. It is perhaps not a coincidence that this week the principal of a Bandra-based government-run polytechnic college was also in the news for remarking that when women dress like men, they start thinking or behaving like them and their ovaries suffer as a result! The lady plans to introduce a suitable uniform for girl students who currently wear shirt and trousers, as the boys do. Clearly, the gender bias that seeps into the school curriculum ends up giving credence to gender stereotypes. It took a brutal rape case in New Delhi to highlight the urgency for a curriculum based on gender equity. The committee set up to reform the anti-rape law in the wake of this savagery recognised the need to examine what was being taught to young people right from early years. It recommended gender equality be integrated into the school curriculum. But in 2017, we are still fighting gender bias and many other types of prejudices instituted in early childhood. Textbooks can foster a spirit of unity or fuel divisions. They are not just founts of knowledge. They help shape social values, an understanding of ones history and the world. If we want young people to grow up gender-sensitive, tolerant and inclusive, we have to teach them young. The entry point has to be school textbooks without stereotypes and prejudices. It is a gross injustice to Muslim women: Ashok Goel Triple talaq is a widely practised policy in Muslim community. According to this practice, a Muslim man may divorce his wife by speaking the word talaq, which means I divorce you, three times in quick succession to her. The practice has been stopped in many Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, but is permitted in India under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1937. A couple which underwent triple talaq cannot remarry unless the female marries another man truly and then her second husband dies or divorces her. In this case the marriage (nikah) of the woman with her second husband is called nikah halala. This is a social and human rights issue and women must get their rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. The fundamental rights are defined as the basic human rights of all citizens. These rights, defined in Part III of the Constitution, apply irrespective of race, place of birth, religion, caste, creed or gender. The fundamental rights include the right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights and right to constitutional remedies. Triple talaq is a gross injustice to Muslim women and many are raising their voices against this practice from the Muslim community itself. There is no legal, moral, cultural or even religious justification behind continuing to let a few patriarchs of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and vested political dispensations deny the fundamental rights of Muslim women. While the AIMPLB acts as self-appointed custodians of faith and interpret Sharia law in a way that extends their hegemony, political parties are reluctant for change for perceived electoral benefits. The AIMPLB started its own signature campaign to gauge if Muslims wanted amendments to the practice. It is not getting the kind of support it got in 1980 in Shah Bano case. There is huge awareness and Muslim women have started asserting their rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. We have moved well beyond idle debates on this subject. Anecdotal evidence, empirical data, court observations and Law Commission findings suggest that there is little support for triple talaq among even the members of the community. It seems ironic that Indians are still debating the merits and demerits of abolishing a regressive social custom such as triple talaq when several Islamic countries have discontinued the practice. Formed in 2007, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) started a debate on reforming the Muslim Personal Law, which governs matters such as marriage and divorce. The BMMA claims that the AIMPLB and the clergy have misinterpreted the Quran by allowing practices such as triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala. It has filed a case in the Supreme Court asking for a ban on triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala. The BMMA says instant oral triple talaq must end and proper procedure of divorce in three months, with prior efforts of reconciliation, should be strictly followed. The fate of India as a truly modern, secular nation or a repository of regressive customs that tramples on the rights of its citizens will rest with all of us. Triple talaq should have been abolished long back and it has been delayed because of no political will at the cost of basic dignity to women belonging to the Muslim community. The pride and self-respect of Indians will be achieved only when a uniform civil code comes into force and everybody enjoys basic human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of India. (Ashok Goel is a Delhi BJP spokesperson) Call for ban votebank politics by Centre, BJP: Chatter Singh In my opinion triple talaq is not a human rights issue at all. It is a religious practice followed by the Muslim community. Such religious matters should not be dragged into the courts and the state should also not interfere in religious practices of any community. The Centres stand on banning triple talaq is simply votebank politics. The BJP is politicising the issue to woo voters in the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. We need to understand why the BJP-led government is talking only of triple talaq. Except for certain matriarchal societies, such as those in parts of the Northeast, most women still have no right to agricultural land. A large number of women still defecate in open fields for want of proper toilet facilities. We are not talking about core issues concerning women in our country. All we are talking about is triple talaq. It would be better if the saffron brigade starts looking at gender justice in all aspects. I once again reiterate that the State should not interfere in anyones religious practices. It should rather focus on governance and welfare measures for its citizens. Even the rights bestowed by religion should not be questioned in any court of law. In fact, the Delhi high court had earlier ruled that a couples divorce is invalid if the husband pronounces talaq in anger or fails to communicate it to his wife, leaving no scope for reconciliation. In any developed country, the law is made after consultation with stakeholders. But the BJP-led Centre has joined the debate on triple talaq with infectious belligerence to ensure a Hindu-Muslim divide. In Islam, marriage is a social contract with clear conditions to be noted down in a nikahnama (marriage contract). It also provides for affirmative provisions for a bride such as mehr (dower). The holy book gives equal rights to both husband and wife to seek divorce. The Sachar Committee Report has established that Indian Muslims are marginalised and they live in poverty and socio-economic backwardness. It is very important that ordinary Muslim women and men are educated about the Quranic principles of justice and fairness concerning divorce. Muslim women can get justice through a comprehensive reform in Muslim personal law based on a Quranic framework. This is permitted by the Constitution as well. Studies suggest that talaq-related issues are far less in Muslims in comparison to other communities. Every now and then we hear about married men having live-in relationships with other women. We need to address such issues on a priority basis as they are not only eating into our social fabric but are also denying married women their legitimate, legal and emotional rights. It is high time we stop talking about beef politics, Babri Masjid and triple talaq and focus more on development activities for the welfare of our citizens. Our voters are mature enough to understand the nefarious designs of right-wing extremists who want to divide communities simply to wrest power in the coming elections. Instead of promoting communal harmony, the BJP is simply spreading hatred by raking up contentious issues. The triple talaq issue has already united Muslims in poll-bound UP. Several Muslim bodies have criticised the Centres stand, calling it a violation of a citizens right to freedom of religion. Some Muslim leaders have even appealed to their community members to follow the example of pro-Jallikattu protesters in Tamil Nadu to support the Islamic practice. At the end of the day, the triple talaq issue is going to cost the BJP dearly in the coming polls. (As told to Sanjay Kaw) (Chatter Singh is a Delhi Congress leader) Hindu socio-religious reformers like Swami Vivekananda and Gandhiji remind us of the importance of Daridra Narayana Seva: loving service of the poor synonymous with devotion to God. Elections in India often assume a spiritual shade with politicians visiting places of worship for blessings from sadhus, mullahs and priests. Eventually, they result in the boldest, loudest and wealthiest being elected. By sharp contrast, election in biblical terminology refers to Gods choice of coworkers. Contrary to human expectations, God chooses the youngest and the weakest to accomplish extraordinary tasks. Biblical heroes Abel, Jacob, Joseph and King David are the youngest of their families. Braving elder sibling envy, deception, slavery and imprisonment, Joseph becomes governor of Egypt. Shepherd-boy David is chosen king over and above seven hefty, handsome sons of Jesse. Prophet Samuel whom God delegates to choose a king is instructed: Do not look at the appearance or height or stature, for God does not see as men do; they look at outward appearance, but God looks within the heart. The story of young David and gigantic Goliath is well known. Divesting himself of the arms and armour that King Saul heaps upon him, David says: I cannot walk with these; for Im not used to them. Armed with faith in God alone, this aam aadmi challenges Goliath: You come with sword and spear, but I come in Gods name, and slays him with a sling and stone. Biblical heroines like Ruth, Esther, Judith and Mary, mother of Jesus, are archetype of the aam aurat who collaborates with God to accomplish mammoth missions. Widowed Ruth refuses to desert her mother-in-law and another widow Judith delivers her people. Likewise, Esther is elected queen out of the hoi polloi and gets King Ahasuerus to save her people. Marys everyday heroism lies in her single-minded devotion to God and her son, Jesus. Gods election is not only confined to the little ones individually. But, three groups widows, orphans and migrants enjoy Gods special favour since they are spouseless, parentless and friendless, respectively. Divine predilection for these lesser ones stems from the lack they experience, which God fills up with maternal love and paternal protection. Jesus love for societys little ones is striking. Born in the little town of Bethlehem, he reiterates Gods option for the weak by teaching us that our salvation depends on our love and service of the last and the least of Gods children, the poor. Hindu socio-religious reformers like Swami Vivekananda and Gandhiji remind us of the importance of Daridra Narayana Seva: loving service of the poor synonymous with devotion to God. Tagore writes: Here is your footstool and there rest your feet where live the poorest, the lowliest and the lost. Election time, while we might vote for the wisest and wealthiest to govern us, lets not forget our responsibility towards the aam aadmi whom God loves. Karachi: In the 1870s, Sir Alexander Cunningham, who founded the Archaeological Survey of India, published some findings excavated at Harappa. Among them was a curious object, a one inch by one inch piece of smooth inscribed clay, buried in the ruins. The piece was not polished and seemed to show the figure of a bull. Cunningham initially thought that the seal was a foreign object. In the years to follow, however, a vast number of such seals were found; some were believed to be attached to grain stores, showing what was in them; others were engraved with fabric inscription patterns. All of them are believed to belong to the Indus Valley Civilisation, whose beginnings are dated to 8,000 years ago by some. In recent days, two controversies have brought the Indus Valley seals, forgotten and neglected for some time by all but archaeologists, back into the public discourse. First, the entrenchment of Hindutva in India, and its sometimes fanciful and politically expeditious reconstruction of Indian history, has redefined the role of the seals. Adherents of Hindutva are eager to claim the seals as precursors of Vedic/Sanskrit, allowing them to situate themselves, and not the Dravidan/Tamil peoples, as true Indians. One recent iteration of this squabble took place a few weeks ago, when Tamil nationalists clashed with police over the ban on the sport of Jallikattu. Hindutva supporters have argued that one of the seals shows a man and a bull and establishes bullfighting (which was banned by the Indian Supreme Court in 2014) as a Hindu sport. For their part, rioting Tamil nationalists argue that it shows several men and a bull and establishes the sport as Tamil. To bolster their claim, they point to the supposed depiction of the sport in rock paintings in the region that date back 3,000 years. The intellectual debate, which expectedly is influenced by the politics surrounding the Indus seals, focuses on whether the script on them constitutes a lost and as yet undeciphered language. With the advent of computers, complex statistical techniques and algorithms are being used to search for patterns in the pictorial depictions on the seals. Two researchers, Nisha Yadav at the Tata Institute in India and Rajesh Rao at the University of Washington, have run different models that look for just these patterns. In 2009, Rao published his findings, which revealed that the arrangements of the symbols is not incidental but intentional, suggesting that the symbols may constitute a script, one of the last lost languages. Rao then moved on to map the position of certain symbols on the seals to create a predictive model. Yadav used a similar technique, which she likens to the suggested searches within search engines like Google. The results revealed that certain symbols recurred in the same places, suggesting the existence of a particular syntax. They also found that the script varied based on the location where it was found, with seals found in the Mesopotamian region differing from those found in the subcontinent. This, they suggested, might imply that the same script (like alphabet) was being used to write a different language. Other researchers, notably non-Indian, have been reticent to accept the claims that the inscriptions on the Indus seals constitute an actual language, implying that it may well be the current Indian political climate rather than data that is pushing Rao and Yadavs findings. As Melanie Locklear points out in an exhaustive article on the subject, comparative historian Steve Farmer, computational theorist Richard Sproat and philologist Michael Witzel have all argued that the script does not constitute a language at all. As early as 2004, before Indian historians were scrambling to establish that the seals made up a language, the trio had even taken the unusual step of offering a reward of $10,000 to anyone who would find a lengthy inscription beyond the two or three grouped symbols. They never had to pay up. Locklears article quotes Farmer as holding to that position to view the Indus symbols as part of an undeciphered script isnt a view anyone outside the highly politicised world of India believes. The politics of Hindutva are not the only brand of politics implicated by the seals. With a good number of around 3,500 seals found in Pakistan, the frayed relationship between the two countries has played a role in the estimation of the seals and of whether they constitute a script. It is notable that the published volumes depicting the seals are separated into two, not owing to what they say or any characteristic that is peculiar to them, but rather based on whether they were found in Pakistan or India. There is great irony in this, the hatreds of the present determining the flavour and meaning of a very remote past. Wishful historians, or even just those curious about the character of the country that is now Pakistan, cannot help but hope that Pakistan too would spearhead inquiry into the meaning of the seals. With the story of Pakistan as rife with squabbles and contestation as the battle over Jallikattu and the Indus scripts next door, this wish is unlikely to be granted anytime soon. As for the Indus Valley Civilisation, it went into decline around 1,900 BC. Likely starved by the disappearance of the monsoon for almost two centuries, the population moved elsewhere, diseases proliferated, natural catastrophes eliminated. The people gave up, abandoned the cities and their seals and what they had sought to say was lost forever. By arrangement with Dawn. Bengaluru: Government school children across the country can soon discover the wonders of space in a bus, Moonshot Wheels, introduced by TeamIndus Foundation. The bus was flagged off by Mr Ratan Tata, former chairman of the Tata Group, on Tuesday at the TeamIndus campus in the city. The vehicle will cover 11 states in 12 months, aiming to impact over 36,000 students in rural and semi-urban areas. Each child will witness 16 science experiments, live satellite tracking, Moon Rover, spacecrafts scaled model and an experience zone. We are trying to redefine the impossible. We hope to land our spacecraft on the surface of the Moon next Republic Day. However, prior to that, we want to educate our government schoolchildren about space, said Ms Sheelika Ravishankar, head of marketing and outreach programs, TeamIndus. The program aims to take STEM (Science, Technology, Education, Math) and space education to the government schoolchildrens doorstep. We are building an ecosystem to inspire youth of the country, she said. The TeamIndus Foundation has partnered with Agastya International Foundation, which is dedicated to provide STEM education through real-like examples. Mr Ramji Raghavan, founder and chairman, Agastya International Foundation, said, We hope to help empower underprivileged children and inspire them to think beyond their schools, districts and states. We are happy to associate with the team that is going to put a robot on the Moon. Moonshot Wheels will begin in Karnataka with two trained teachers to explain the experiments to kids. Kids who grasp the concept and outperform will be recognised and their photos along with the names will be sent to the Moon when TeamIndus launches its mission. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. ELKO Emergency personnel in Elko County are warning citizens to use caution when driving when there is standing or running water on roads after first responders rescued people stuck on washed out highways. U.S. Highway 93 from Wells to Lages Junction is closed, according to Nevada Department of Transportation. The highway was underwater Tuesday. Some of the flooding has receded, but NDOT is afraid the road may have been damaged, said Elko County Sheriff Jim Pitts. The road to Montello, State Route 233 from Interstate 80 at Oasis to Montello is closed. Weve set up a direct line into the sheriffs office for sandbags for any people that need some help. (For calls) that are a non-emergency that number is 777-2520, Pitts said. Call us there, we can help with sandbags. We can help with manpower. Anyone who is available to volunteer to help fill sandbags should also call the non-emergency number. Pitts and Elko County Fire Protection District Chief Linda Bingaman also warn people not to drive through water on a road, especially if it is running water. Sheriff's deputies had to rescue people from vehicles caught in the flooding. "It doesn't take a lot of water to wash away a vehicle," Bingaman said. ISRO will recover half of the total cost incurred for next week's launch of 104 satellites from the foreign capsules mounted on its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37. ISRO will recover half of the total cost incurred for next week's launch of 104 satellites from the foreign capsules mounted on its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37. Of the 104 satellites to be launched on February 15, only three are Indian. "We want to make optimum use of our capacity. We are launching our three satellites. One is of 730 kgs while other two are 19 kgs each. We had additional space of 600 kgs. So we decided to accommodate 101 satellites," ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar said. "Roughly half of our cost will be covered by the foreign satellites we are launching," he said, without revealing the exact amount ISRO will earn from foreign customers. The space agency has earned more than USD 100 millions by launching foreign satellites. It also has achieved mastery on launching smaller satellites. ISRO will launch a record 104 satellites through its workhorse rocket PSLV-C37 on February 15 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. These 101 satellites are nano-satellites and belong to foreign nations, including the US and Germany. The Indian satellites are from the Castrosat series. Last year, ISRO launched record 20 satellites at one go. The highest number of satellites launched in a single mission is 37, a record that Russia set in 2014. The US space agency NASA launched 29. Kumar said ISRO is at present doing tests on its lander for Chandrayaan 2 at its facility in Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu and Challakere in Karnataka. "It is an indigenous development and tests are on. It's a control descend. So it has engines that allow a control descend," Kumar said. Chandryaan 2 mission seeks to make a landing on the moon. The ISRO said that all SAARC countries, except Pakistan, have given their consent for the South Asian satellites project envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "India's gift to its neighbours". Kumar said that the manned mission project is "not a top priority" for the ISRO, as he emphasised on enhancing space infrastructure. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The protest has been going on since a week and Romanians are still gathering at Victory Square to seek justice. (Representational image) Romania witnessed one of the largest protests over the past week wherein more than half a million Romanians took to the street to express their discontent against an executive order issued by the government towards the end of January. The proposed coalition essentially decriminalised abuse in office by officials, as reported by Time. The countrys ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu of the left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD), argued that the changes were needed as some laws required alignment. However, the mass observed the move as an attempt to allow allies of Grndeanu caught in the countrys anti-corruption efforts to escape condemnation. The protest has been going on since a week and Romanians are still gathering at Victory Square to seek justice. The most memorable of these events remains the night of Febuary 5th wherein nearly 250,000 people gathered at Victory Square with their smartphones as a form of symbolic gesture that literally lit up the sky. Softpedia described Romania as being among the most civilised and digitised countries across the globe. Digital literacy turned the recent protest into a non-political rally, as people are more interested in having the right laws issued rather than supporting certain political ideologies, the report read. Needless to say, the mass protests seemed to have worked positively. After almost six nights of protests across the cities in Romania , the coalition withdrew the controversial executive order on Sunday, 5th Feburary as reported by Time. However, the protest didnt end after the order was withdrawn. The protestors wish to send a message to the government to refrain from retreating against the countrys fight against corruption. Some protestors told the New York Times that they wanted to see ministerial resignations or the entire government felled. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The Tesla CEO, Elon Musk is hoping to enter the Indian market in the coming months. In response to a Twitter query on Teslas plan to launch in India, Musk said that he is hoping for summer this year. In July last year, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highway and Shipping Nitin Gadkari visited Tesla factory in San Francisco, USA and proposed an offer to promote joint venture with the Indian automobile companies in an attempt to introduce pollution free road transport in India, especially commercial and public motor vehicles. Gadkari proposed Musk to consider India as their Asia manufacturing hub, further offering land near major Indian ports to facilitate export of their vehicles to South and South East Asian countries. According to a government press release, Musk admitted the need to have a manufacturing hub outside the US and appreciated Indian offer for the same, which they said will certainly be considered at the appropriate time in future. They (Tesla) said India will definitely be a market for their next generation low cost sustainable model-3, the government press release reads. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Samsung Galaxy S8, the next, most-awaited flagship from the Samsung kitchens is all ready to make a grand unveiling in a few weeks from now. However, before the unveiling event, the photos of the said smartphone are already been leaked. OnLeaks, a famous leakster on Twitter released the photos of the Galaxy 8 and the 8 Plus, which is to launch sometime in April. The Galaxy S8, according to the leaked information, shows a wider display that extends to the sides of the phone and the chassis has been made even thinner in comparison to the one on the Galaxy S7. As for the specifications, the display on the Galaxy S7 will be a 5.7-inches (probably a 5.8 inch instead), while the S8 Plus will sport a 6.1-inch or a 6.2-inch display. Both handsets, as usual, will be Super AMOLED with 2K resolutions. The image also does reveal that Samsung will be adding in the iris scanner on the front. The images do reveal elegant-looking handsets with a large display that makes for a thinner forehead and chin, eliminating the physical home button altogether. The two handsets are rumoured to be 8mm thick, will feature the USB Type-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. Another unique feature noted from the image is that the two models will sport an additional physical button on the left or right side. While one would be the power button, the other new button could be the dedicated voice assistant activation for Samsungs own AI assistant called Bixby. The Bixby button could probably the one on the right as it is the most convenient place to reach the index finger/thumb. The rear panel speaks about a different layout as compared to earlier models in the Galaxy series. The camera seems to have a tiny bump instead of the older protruding one or a completely flush lens. The fingerprint sensor is now pushed to the right of the camera instead of the standard position below the camera, where every other smartphone has it. The fingerprint sensor is also not a rounded one, but longer, rectangular, as seen on the ASUS Zenfone series. As for as the insides are concerned, earlier rumours confirm a power-efficient Qualcomms 10nm Snapdragon 835 chipset for the international handsets and an Exynos 8895 chipset for the Indian/Asian variant. Storage options speak of two variants again 4GB and 6GB RAM with 64GB internal storage as common between the two. Both variants (all four handsets) will have expansion slots for memory cards with support of up to 256GB micro SD cards. Connectivity options are the usual Wi-Fi ac, 4G LTE, BT, GPS and NFC. Fast charging and wireless charging options are also included. Lastly, the two phones will be powered by a 3250mAh and 3750mAh battery and will run Googles Android Nougat out of the box. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. A section of the Dakota Access Pipeline under construction near the town of St. Anthony in Morton County. (Photo: AP) Washington: The US Army will grant the final permit for the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline after an order from President Donald Trump to expedite the project despite opposition from Native American tribes and climate activists. In a court filing on Tuesday, the army said that it would allow the final section of the line to tunnel under North Dakotas Lake Oahe, part of the Missouri River system. This could enable the $3.8 billion pipeline to begin operation as soon as June. Energy Transfer Partners is building the 1,170-mile (1,885 km) line to help move crude from the shale oilfields of North Dakota to Illinois en route to the Gulf of Mexico, where many US refineries are located. Protests against the project last year drew thousands of people to the North Dakota plains including Native American tribes and environmental activists, and protest camps sprung up. The movement attracted high-profile political and celebrity supporters. The permit was the last bureaucratic hurdle to the pipelines completion, and Tuesdays decision drew praise from supporters of the project and outrage from activists, including promises of a legal challenge from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Its great to see this new administration following through on their promises and letting projects go forward to the benefit of American consumers and workers, said John Stoody, spokesperson for the Association of Oil Pipe Lines. The Standing Rock Sioux, which contends the pipeline would desecrate sacred sites and potentially pollute its water source, vowed to shut pipeline operations down if construction is completed, without elaborating how it would do so. The tribe called on its supporters to protest in Washington on March 10 rather than return to North Dakota. As native peoples, we have been knocked down again, but we will get back up, the tribe said in the statement. We will rise above the greed and corruption that has plagued our peoples since first contact. We call on the Native Nations of the United States to stand together, unite and fight back. Former president Barack Obamas administration last year delayed completion of the pipeline pending a review of tribal concerns and in December ordered an environmental study. Less than two weeks after Trump ordered a review of the permit request, the army said in a filing in District Court in Washington DC it would cancel that study. The final permit, known as an easement, could come in as little as a day, according to the filing. There was no need for the environmental study as there was already enough information on the potential impact of the pipeline to grant the permit, Robert Speer, acting secretary of the US Army, said in a statement. Trump issued an order on January 24 to expedite both the Dakota Access Pipeline and to revive another controversial multibillion dollar oil artery: Keystone XL. Obamas administration blocked that project in 2015. At the Dakota Access construction site, law enforcement and protesters clashed violently on several occasions throughout the fall. More than 600 people were arrested, and police were criticized for using water cannons in 25-degree Fahrenheit (minus 4-degree Celsius) weather against activists in late November. The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fight, said Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, one of the primary groups protesting the line. It is the new beginning. Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far. Legal challenge tough Any legal challenge is likely to be a difficult one for pipeline opponents as presidential authority to grant such permits is generally accepted in the courts. The tribe said in a statement the decision wrongfully terminated environmental study of the project. Deborah Sivas, professor of environmental law at Stanford and director of Stanfords Environmental Law Clinic, said a challenge by the tribe would likely rely on the reasons the Army Corps itself gave for why more review was needed in December. The tribe will probably argue that an abrupt reversal without a sufficient explanation for why the additional analysis is not necessary is arbitrary and should, therefore, be set aside, she said in an email. Supporters say the pipeline is safer than rail or trucks to transport the oil. Shares of Energy Transfer Partners finished up 20 cents at $39.20, reversing earlier losses on the news. Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at the federal judges mulling whether to reinstate his controversial travel ban, calling them "so political" and saying even a "bad high school student" would see the law was on his side. "I think our security is at risk today," Trump told a meeting of sheriffs from around the nation, as he defended his executive order, which was blocked nationwide by the federal courts a week after it went into effect. Trump's executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and Syrian refugees are blocked indefinitely. Travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are barred from entry for 90 days. "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased and we haven't had a decision yet," Trump said. "But courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right." The Republican president, now in his third week in office, said even "a bad high school student" would think he was right about his reading of the law which he read out loud with comments interspersed. "If these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they'd do what they should be doing. It's so sad," said Trump, who noted he had listened to the hour-long appeals court hearing on Tuesday. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule by week's end on whether or not to reinstate the travel ban, which created chaos at airports both in the US and abroad, and prompted large protests. The measure was suspended last Friday in a lower federal court, re-opening US borders to the thousands of refugees and travellers who had been suddenly barred from the country. The Justice Department has argued that the federal court in Seattle overstepped by suspending the measure, and that national security is at stake, a position hammered home by Trump. But the three-judge appeals court panel often appeared skeptical during Tuesday's hearing, with Judge Richard Clifton at one point calling the government's argument "pretty abstract." The White House insists the decree is in the interest of national security, giving the new administration time to beef up vetting procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Its detractors claim it violates the constitution by discriminating against people on the basis of their religion. As President Donald Trump looks to help American workers, his administration is considering a broad review of a visa program used heavily by India's massive technology and outsourcing industries to send programmers and other computer specialists to the United States. (Photo: AP) Washington: The US and India seem like a natural fit in the Trump era: rambunctious democracies, led by populists, focused on economic growth and fighting radical Islam. It's a budding partnership that could be set back by a nuts-and-bolts dispute over employment visas. As President Donald Trump looks to help American workers, his administration is considering a broad review of a visa program used heavily by India's massive technology and outsourcing industries to send programmers and other computer specialists to the United States. Speculation about tougher rules on so-called H-1B visas sent tech stocks tumbling in India last week, and compounded concerns about the protectionist direction of US policy after Trump temporarily suspended immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. The technology sector is vital for India's economy and creating jobs for a fast-growing, young workforce - a top priority for Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. America is the main customer: It accounted for more than 60 percent of India's $108 billion in foreign tech and outsourcing sales last year, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies, an Indian industry lobby group. "There is a general sense of anxiety in the industry," said Dipen Shah, an IT analyst at Kotak Securities in India. He said it seemed likely that the cost of hiring people on H-1B visas would increase, hurting tech companies' bottom lines. A draft executive order prepared by Trump's team is short on specifics. It calls for a report within nine months on the injury caused to US workers by several working visa categories, including H-1B, and a re-consideration of how to allocate the visas to ensure they go to "the best and the brightest." The US government grants up to 85,000 of these visas each year. They're open to a broad range of occupations and recipients who can stay in the country for up to six years. First Lady Melania Trump, who comes from Slovenia, had one as a fashion model in the 1990s. The top occupations, however, are tech-related and about 70 percent of the recipients are Indian. Critics say the program is abused, with many companies contracting out jobs to consulting firms that bring in lower-paid workers from overseas. Employees on H-1B visas are unable to change employers. Critics say that leaves them with little leverage to negotiate their salaries. Trump's nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has long opposed the program, and there's bipartisan congressional support for reform. Advocates say the visa program allows companies to fill skills shortages and encourages students with hi-tech degrees to stay in the US and set up companies of their own. Vinson Palathingal, who runs a mid-sized, US-based IT consulting company, said the administration's priority should be training American workers to address skills shortages, and developing a quicker path to permanent residency for Indian talent. Without those steps, he said, restricting H-1B visas would mean tech jobs leaving the US India's government wants more of the visas to be issued, not less. After visa fees were hiked in late 2015, India challenged the US at the World Trade Organization - a rare instance in which one WTO member contended that another's immigration laws violated international trade rules. "Limitations on this visa are sure to cause of a lot concern in Delhi and that will be conveyed in fairly strong terms to Washington," said Rick Rossow, an India specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The question is how much is the Indian government willing to put on the table to represent corporate interests in its discussions with the US," said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director of the South Asia program at the Atlantic Council, another Washington-based think tank. "I don't think they will bet all their chips on this." Over the past decade, India shifted from a Cold War-era foreign policy of non-alignment to become more comfortable as Washington's partner. Its military, long reliant on Russian weaponry, is being modernized with US help. Modi has called the US an "indispensable partner." India hopes Trump's vow to take a harder line on Islamic extremism will mean a tougher stance on Pakistan over militants that India blames for launching attacks on its territory. It also shares Washington's concern about a rising China and would favor an effort by Trump to improve ties with Russia. But economic interests are paramount. India's Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said last week that it had raised the visa issue with Trump's administration and Congress at "senior levels." The heads of India's biggest IT companies plan to visit Washington this month to make their case to US officials and lawmakers. N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of the Indian tech giant Infosys, cautioned that the Indian software industry's role in building and maintaining the information infrastructure of major US corporations is critical to their success. "Tampering with it is not going to be easy," he said. He said Indian tech businesses will have to adapt by depending less on visas for Indian workers and hiring more Americans. David Pearce and his daughter Crissy Pearce hold signs outside of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. (Photo: AP) Los Angeles: The Justice Department faced tough questioning Tuesday as it urged a court of appeals to reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- put on hold by the courts last week. In an hour-long telephone hearing, an attorney for the government argued that the immigration restrictions were motivated by national security concerns and that a federal judge had overstepped his authority in suspending them. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," said the Justice Department lawyer, August Flentje. He said Trump acted perfectly within his powers in issuing the January 27 executive order in the interest of the United States. The three-judge panel from the court of appeals in San Francisco often appeared skeptical, with Judge Richard Clifton saying at one point that the government's argument was "pretty abstract." They questioned Flentje about the evidence connecting the countries targeted to terrorism, and pressed him on whether the ban amounts to religious discrimination -- as its opponents claim. An attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota -- which brought the federal lawsuit against Trump's ban -- also came under sustained questioning as he urged the judges to keep the decree on hold while the case runs its course. "It has always been the judicial branch's role to say what the law is and to serve as a check on abuses by the executive branch," said Solicitor General Noah Purcell. "That judicial rule has never been more important in recent memory than it is today, but the president is asking... to reinstate the executive order without full judicial review and throw this country back into chaos," Purcell added. The hearing does not touch on the constitutionality of the decree itself, which is challenged in court by Washington and Minnesota, with support from numerous advocacy groups. A court spokesman said a ruling would likely come later this week. Trump's executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Washington: The Trump Administration has no plans at the moment to add any new countries in the list of seven Muslim-majority nations from where immigration to the US has been banned, the White House said on Wednesday. "As of this moment, there is no immediate desire to add to that," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters. He said the Trump Administration is currently looking at all the other countries, the procedures that the US has with them and the systems that it has in place to check them. "And so nothing is final until the end of the review period," Spicer said in response to a question. President Donald Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. The executive order has been halted by a federal court, which has now been challenged by the Trump Administration. Spicer said that President Trump is fully committed to doing everything that he can to keep the country safe. "He wants to become ever vigilant to make sure that we don't ever get lax, that we need to be reminded that places and groups like ISIS continue to seek to do us harm and that it is his job as commander in chief to do everything he can to get ahead of the curve and keep this country safe," he said. The US Government under Trump, he said, is working to put further restrictions on people, to make sure that the countries who are sending people to the US are coming here for peaceful purposes. "If we can't guarantee those countries have the proper vetting and systems in place when they are out bound of the United States, then we need to do what we can, and he will do what he has to as President, to make sure this country is safe," Spicer said. Authorities allege that Shaw was high on methamphetamine at the time. He's awaiting trial and has pleaded not guilty. (Photo: Representational Image) Morrisville: A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to hiding information about a 14-year-old girl's murder for 31 years. Fifty-three-year-old Robert Sanders pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Bucks County to two counts of hindering the apprehension of 56-year-old George Shaw Jr. Shaw was living in Geneva, Florida, when he was charged in October 2015 with the 1984 rape and killing of Barbara Rowan. She was a neighbour who babysat Shaw's daughter when he lived in Bucks County in the Philadelphia suburbs. She was drugged, raped and killed. Her whose body was found in the woods. Authorities allege that Shaw was high on methamphetamine at the time. He's awaiting trial and has pleaded not guilty. Sanders acknowledged helping Shaw dump the body and keeping that secret from police. He faces up to 14 years in prison. ELKO Warmer weather plus rain and wind has resulted in winter flooding across much of Elko County. The National Weather Service has been tracking reports of flooding through social media, emergency personnel and trained weather observers. A flood warning is in effect until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The most affected areas have been Elburz, Osino and Ryndon. The Weather Service also has unconfirmed reports of the road to Montello being impassable, said Jeremy Michael, National Weather Service spokesperson in Elko. There are a lot of problems in Spring Creek, he said. Michael said the town of Wells and U.S. Highway 93 are affected by flooding. The rain we had definitely did not help, he said. The highway was shut down two weeks ago by heavy snow. Two vehicle accidents were reported on the highway near Wells Tuesday evening, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. There were also reports of water covering Interstate 80 halfway between Elko and Wells. Kings in Spring Creek was closed because of water pouring into the store. Manager Yvonne Radabaugh estimated a crew of employees and Nevada Division of Forestry volunteers had put down about 1,000 sandbags as of 5 p.m. She said flood waters have affected the parking lot in the past but this is the first time it entered the store. Weve got ruined carpet. The whole store is underwater, she said. When asked when the store might reopen, Radabaugh said I have no idea. Corporate is in Idaho so theyll have to come down here with a crew to get it cleaned up. Michael advised people to avoid Boyd-Kennedy Road. The ground is still frozen so there is nowhere for the water to go, he said. There are a lot of issues across northern Nevada. Michael said people should expect flooding issues for a few days. Wind also can speed up the melting process, he said. Any stream that is coming out of higher terrain will cause problems, he said. Elko County Manager Rob Stokes said he didnt have specific information on what roads were affected because crews were out working. Elsewhere, the storm dumped more than a foot of new snow in the Sierra Nevada, unleashed heavy rain that triggered mudslides in the valleys around Reno and Carson City, and pushed potentially damaging winds across much of western Nevada. The National Weather Service issued avalanche, flooding and high wind warnings up and down the eastern front of the mountains. A 147 mph wind gust was reported over the ridgetop at Alpine Meadows southwest of Tahoe. Classes were delayed two hours at some schools around Lake Tahoe, where more than a foot of snow was reported at ski resorts. Tire chain controls were lifted early Tuesday on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, but a rock slide temporarily closed part of the highway near the California-Nevada line. The Mount Rose Highway between Reno and Tahoe remained closed. In Carson City, heavy rain flooded some streets and caused a mudslide that closed southbound U.S. Highway 395 at the U.S. 50 on-ramp. A mudslide also blocked part of Highway 89 north of Reno. In Fernley, high winds downed a tree and a power line closing a stretch of State Route 828. Nearly 5 inches of rain was reported near Alpine Meadows southwest of Lake Tahoe, and more than 4 inches at Californias Plumas Eureka State Park north of Reno. Washington: The US and India seem like a natural fit in the Trump era: rambunctious democracies, led by populists, focused on economic growth and fighting radical Islam. It's a budding partnership that could be set back by a nuts-and-bolts dispute over employment visas. As President Donald Trump looks to help American workers, his administration is considering a broad review of a visa programme used heavily by India's massive technology and outsourcing industries to send programmers and other computer specialists to the United States. Speculation about tougher rules on so-called H-1B visas sent tech stocks tumbling in India last week, and compounded concerns about the protectionist direction of US policy after Trump temporarily suspended immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. The technology sector is vital for India's economy and creating jobs for a fast-growing, young workforce, a top priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. America is the main customer: It accounted for more than 60 per cent of India's USD 108 billion in foreign tech and outsourcing sales last year, according to the National Association of Software and Service Companies, an Indian industry lobby group. "There is a general sense of anxiety in the industry," said Dipen Shah, an IT analyst at Kotak Securities in India. He said it seemed likely that the cost of hiring people on H-1B visas would increase, hurting tech companies' bottom lines. A draft executive order prepared by Trump's team is short on specifics. It calls for a report within nine months on the injury caused to US workers by several working visa categories, including H-1B, and a re-consideration of how to allocate the visas to ensure they go to "the best and the brightest." The US government grants up to 85,000 of these visas each year. They're open to a broad range of occupations and recipients who can stay in the country for up to six years. First Lady Melania Trump, who comes from Slovenia, had one as a fashion model in the 1990s. The top occupations, however, are tech-related and about 70 per cent of the recipients are Indian. Critics say the programme is abused, with many companies contracting out jobs to consulting firms that bring in lower-paid workers from overseas. Employees on H-1B visas are unable to change employers. Critics say that leaves them with little leverage to negotiate their salaries. Trump's nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, has long opposed the programme, and there's bipartisan congressional support for reform. Advocates say the visa programme allows companies to fill skills shortages and encourages students with hi-tech degrees to stay in the US and set up companies of their own. Vinson Palathingal, who runs a mid-sized, US-based IT consulting company, said the administration's priority should be training American workers to address skills shortages, and developing a quicker path to permanent residency for Indian talent. Without those steps, he said, restricting H-1B visas would mean tech jobs leaving the US. India's government wants more of the visas to be issued, not less. After visa fees were hiked in late 2015, India challenged the US at the World Trade Organization, a rare instance in which one WTO member contended that another's immigration laws violated international trade rules. "Limitations on this visa are sure to cause of a lot concern in Delhi and that will be conveyed in fairly strong terms to Washington," said Rick Rossow, an India specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The question is how much is the Indian government willing to put on the table to represent corporate interests in its discussions with the US," said Bharath Gopalaswamy, director of the South Asia programme at the Atlantic Council, another Washington-based think tank. "I don't think they will bet all their chips on this." Over the past decade, India shifted from a Cold War-era foreign policy of non-alignment to become more comfortable as Washington's partner. Its military, long reliant on Russian weaponry, is being modernised with US help. Modi has called the US an "indispensable partner." India hopes Trump's vow to take a harder line on Islamic extremism will mean a tougher stance on Pakistan over militants that India blames for launching attacks on its territory. It also shares Washington's concern about a rising China and would favour an effort by Trump to improve ties with Russia. But economic interests are paramount. Aid workers in Afghanistan have increasingly become casualties of a surge in militant violence in recent years. (Photo: Representational Image) Kabul: Six Red Cross workers have been killed and two others are missing in northern Afghanistan, the international charity said on Wednesday, underscoring the growing dangers faced by aid workers in the war-battered country. They were killed in the volatile province of Jowzjan, the charity added, without revealing their nationalities or who was behind the incident. "We can confirm that six of our colleagues were killed and two are unaccounted for in Jowjzan province," a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross told AFP, adding that a statement would be released later Wednesday. "We are shocked and devastated," he added. The killings come after a Spanish employee of the ICRC was abducted on December 19 when workers from the charity were travelling between the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif and the neighbouring volatile Taliban hotbed of Kunduz. He was released nearly a month later, but ICRC and local officials did not say how he was freed or who was behind the abduction. "Devastated by this news out of #Afghanistan," ICRC president Peter Maurer said on Twitter about the latest incident. "My deepest condolences to the families of those killed and those still unaccounted for." Aid workers in Afghanistan have increasingly become casualties of a surge in militant violence in recent years. In April 2015 the bullet-riddled bodies of five Afghan workers for Save the Children were found after they were abducted in the strife-torn southern province of Uruzgan. Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a vigorous defence of his war on drugs on Wednesday, rejecting not only allegations of extrajudicial killings, but the advice of a former Colombian leader who urged him not to repeat his mistakes. The ex-prosecutor promised to stand behind those on the front lines of his war and called Cesar Gaviria an "idiot" for a newspaper article in which the former Colombian president warned Duterte that a security-centred approach "do more harm than good". Duterte last week suspended police from anti-narcotics operations after a South Korean businessman was murdered by rogue drugs squad police. He has put the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in charge, and plans to deploy troops as reinforcements. Duterte said his campaign was about destroying the apparatus of the drugs trade, not killing, and only he would be accountable if law enforcers were accused of wrongful killings during raids and sting operations. "Those done in the line of duty I take full responsibility," he said in a speech. "If someone should go to jail, it's not police, not military, not the PDEA - It's me." Duterte's war on drugs has attracted global attention due to its high death toll in his first seven months in office and the shock factor of images in media of bloodied corpses lying in streets and slums. As at Jan. 31, some 2,555 Filipinos were killed in what police said were shootouts during anti-drugs operations. More than 7,700 deaths have been recorded overall, and the cause of many of those are much in dispute. Big fish The Catholic Church used sermons at the weekend to speak out about the drugs war, saying killings were not the solution and the poor were being worst hit. A Feb. 1 report by Amnesty International said the same, and concluded that police had behaved like the criminal underworld they were supposed to suppress, taking payments for killings. The report said many killings were "systematic, planned and organised" by authorities. Duterte rubbished those claims and said it was necessary to provide undercover police with cash to buy drugs in sting operations, referred to as "buy-busts", otherwise prosecuting dealers would be difficult. He denied his campaign was focusing on small-time users and pushers only, and he had proved local politicians were on his radar. "There is always a contention Duterte is killing the poor," he said. "So where is the big fish? We started with the mayors, they were killed along the way, so there's the big fish," he said. In Tuesday's New York Times, Gaviria, who was Colombia's president from 1990-1994, appealed to Duterte to use alternative strategies to fight drugs and explained why his country's crackdowns on cocaine cartels had failed. He hoped Duterte would avoid a heavy-handed approach and "not fall into the same trap". "Trust me, I learned the hard way," he wrote. Duterte said Gaviria was "lecturing" and the Philippine case was different to Colombia, because "shabu", or methamphetamine, was damaging to the brain whereas the behavioural impact of cocaine was less severe. It is reported that the ship was attacked by pirates on a motor boat in the Gulf of Guinea who were repelled in a firefight and later proceeded westward. (Photo: Representational Image) Moscow: A crew of seven Russians and a Ukrainian have been taken hostage off the coast of Nigeria after their ship was attacked, diplomats in Moscow and Kiev said on Wednesday. "According to the information of the Russian embassy in Abuja, there has been an armed attack on the cargo ship BBC Caribbean which belongs to German company Briese Schiffahrt," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. "Seven Russian citizens who are members of the crew have been taken hostage," it said, adding that Russian diplomats are in contact with Nigerian authorities who are searching for the vessel. A Ukrainian consular official said there is also one Ukrainian national on the ship. "At this time the kidnappers have not made any demands and we don't know the location of the kidnapped sailors," said an official with the consular department of Ukraine's foreign ministry, Vasyl Kyrylych. The BBC Caribbean is a multipurpose vessel intended for dry cargo and flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, according to the company's website. Ship monitoring website Marine Traffic said the BBC Carribean last departed the port of Douala in Cameroon on February 4, headed for Spain's Las Palmas. It reported that the ship was attacked by pirates on a motor boat in the Gulf of Guinea who were repelled in a firefight and later proceeded westward. Under Islamic States guidelines, women are banned from stepping out of their homes without male members of the family accompanying them. (Representational Image) Mosul: A ten-year-old Iraqi girl was bitten to death by female ISIS militants who used a poison-laced torture device as her helpless mother watched in horror. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the victim identified by her first name Faten, was brutally punished for accidentally stepping out of her house while cleaning. Under Islamic States guidelines, women are banned from stepping out of their homes without male members of the family accompanying them. Before the punishment was carried out, the victims mother was given a choice as to who would take the punishment she or her daughter to which she chose her daughter. A report stated that the victims mother chose her to endure as she thought that the punishment would be carried out by women and would not be very harsh. However, things turned ugly when the militants chose their torture device named The Biter. The Biter is a claw like device with pointed spikes that used to rip off human skin as a form of punishment, especially of those accused of adultery and similar crimes. In a similar incident last year, a 15-year-old girl who fled Islamic State, revealed how ISIS militants used to squeeze womens skin with pliers for not wearing gloves. She also revealed that Islamic State had more ways of enforcing one of the many rules of its moral code - that women must not show their bare hands in public. The other penalty was we (women) would be whipped for not wearing gloves, she added. Ankara: US Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Turkey's fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup, Turkish officials said. The visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Tuesday, according to officials from Erdogan's office. They provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with government regulations. The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fighters backed by the United States which Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen extradited from the United States. It is also demanding that Washington stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. Ties between NATO allies Ankara and Washington were troubled under the Obama administration, with Turkey expressing frustrations over what it perceives as U.S. reluctance to extradite Gulen and the support provided to the Syrian Kurdish fighters. Ankara has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency and the call was being closely watched in Turkey. The officials said the telephone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere" and both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation. Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against terror groups, the officials said, without elaborating. The U.S. president reportedly told Erdogan Washington wished to develop ties with Turkey and to engage in close cooperation with the country on regional issues. Erdogan for his part requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and not to extend support to Syrian Kurdish fighters. According to the officials, Trump and Erdogan agreed to "move together" in operations to capture Islamic State group-held strongholds of al-Bab and Raqqa in northern Syria. India has put a proposal at the United Nations to list Jaish-e-Muhammad's chief Masood Azhar as a global designated terrorist. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad has launched a massive recruitment and fund raising drive in Pakistan to intensify its jihadi activities. The outfit, responsible for several terror attacks in India, has been holding rallies across Pakistan to instigate the youth towards performing `jihad' against India. The Jaish is proscribed in Pakistan, and its chief Masood Azhar, is in protective custody after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base in January last year in India. In 2016, JeM heavily armed militants attacked the military camp in the town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and is constantly trying to create instability in the region. The outfit has training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and act on the guidelines of Inter-Services Intelligence. The political activists from PoK have shown concern over growing threat of terrorist outfits like JeM, which has close ties with separatists based in Kashmir valley. "It is true that outfits like Jaish-e-Muhammad are promoting terrorism in the Kashmir region, especially with the collaboration of separatists like Asiya Andrabi and Syed Ali Shah Gillani," said Jamil Maqsood, leader of United Kashmir People's National Party. Another political leader and author from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Dr. Shabir Choudhry said, "This is not surprising, as militant outfits like JeM are strategic assets of Pakistan. They are free to do anything in the country". He added, "Why kill the goose which lays golden eggs. Yes, you can hide it to save it from wolves". It is believed the long leash given to the Jaish could be part of a deliberate strategy by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency to offset the recent house arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Jaish terrorists were also responsible for the December 13, 2001 attack on Indian parliament in New Delhi which almost led to a war with Pakistan. India has put a proposal at the United Nations to list Jaish-e-Muhammad's chief Masood Azhar as a global designated terrorist. China on Wednesday defended its decision to block the US' proposal in the UN for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the "conditions" have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Beijing: China on Wednesday defended its decision to block the US' proposal in the UN for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the "conditions" have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the "relevant parties" to reach a consensus. "Last year 1,267 Committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached," Lu said. "As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the Committee to reach a decision," he said. "China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the Committee," he said. About the significance of US pushing for the ban against the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief this time unlike the last year when India pressed for his listing as terrorist, Lu said, "I would like to point out that the Committee has its own set of discussion rules." "So, whoever submitted the request we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations," he said. To a question whether it will have an impact on China-India relations, he said Beijing and New Delhi "have exchanged views" on the issue. "We don't hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship," he said. On criticism that China is continuously blocking the move at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said, "China's action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures." "We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the Committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community," he said. China has put a "hold" on the US-initiated proposal, which comes barely weeks after India's bid to get Azhar banned by the UN were scuttled by Beijing last December. This has prompted India to take up the matter with the Chinese government. Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz on Thursday dismissed as "ridiculous" reports that her week-long UK visit was linked to Panama Papers leaks case, a major legal battle that could alter the premier and his family's political future. Maryam's sudden departure from the country has fuelled speculation that the visit may be related to the Panama Papers leaks case being heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, the Dawn reported. However, Maryam, who arrived in London today, clarified on Twitter that she came to the UK to meet her son. "In UK to see my son. Will Insha'Allah be back in a week or so. The spin being given to my benign visit by a section of media is ridiculous," she tweeted. Last month, the German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung, the original source of the Panama Papers leaks released documents supposedly linking Maryam to Minerva Financial Services Ltd, the company that owns the Park Lane flats in London. The family of Prime Minister Sharif has been named in the Panama Papers, one of the biggest leaks in history. The leak, comprising 11.5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, shows how some of the world's most powerful people have secreted away their money in offshore jurisdictions. Among those named are three of Sharif's four children, Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor; Hasan and Hussain, with the records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies administrated by the firm. Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing. The hearing in the case is expected to resume on February 13 after it was postponed due to the ill-health of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed. Lahore: In a relief to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and several others, an anti-terrorism court has rejected a plea seeking their trial in a case involving killing of 14 supporters of Canada-based cleric Tahirul Qadri. Nawaz, Shahbaz, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif were among 12 top government functionaries booked by Lahore police in the murder of 14supporters of Qadri in June, 2014. During an anti-encroachment operation by police outside the residence of Qadri, 14 people, including two women, were killed and over 100 suffered bullet injuries. Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court rejected the plea to try the premier, chief minister and 10 ministers, observing the court cannot summon a person in a complaint unless "direct documentary evidence" is furnished by plaintiff. The court, however, summoned 125 officials, including Inspector General of Police Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera. The plaintiff presented 56 witnesses in support of the allegations. Qadri who is also the head of Pakistan Awami Tahreek criticised the ATC decision saying, "The main plea to try the rulers in the murder case is not accepted by the ATC and lower level officials have been made scapegoat. The court has summoned those who implemented the orders but ignored the authorities who issued the orders to kill innocent workers. We will not accept sacrifice of goats." He said his party will challenge the ATC decision in the Lahore High Court. Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh. "(Pakistan) condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation on February 7, 2017," by the Indian forces on the LoC in Khui Ratta sector, Zakaria said. He said the Indian firing resulted in the death of a 25-year-old civilian who was working as a labourer for the construction of a house. "The Director General deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is a crime as well as violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws," Zakaria said. The Director General also urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding and investigate this and other incidents of "ceasefire violations". Pakistan also asked India to instruct the security forces to respect the ceasefire "in the letter and spirit" and stop "targeting" villages and civilians, the statement said. Pakistan said India should maintain peace on the LoC. The Energy department has assured that it has surplus power and there will be no power crisis in the summer. This is despite the fact that there have been unscheduled power cuts in the state. P Ravi Kumar, additional chief secretary, Energy department, told DH that they have shut down a few units of thermal power stations because of a dip in demand. According to him, two units of Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS), one unit of Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) and one unit of Ballari Thermal Power Station (BTPS) remained shut. For the first time, the state has excess power, he said, referring to the 900-MW purchase. Another 300 MW is coming from Maharashtra, Kumar said. The power generation from hydel sources per day is 2.63 million units, while 402 MW of solar power has been added to the grid. Another 800 to 1,000 MW solar power will be added soon, he said. The state is using just 57 MW of the 198 MW available from the central grid. He pointed out that the department was ready to meet the peak demand of 10,500 MW, but the present peak demand was hovering between 9,300 MW and 9,400 MW. We have stored sufficient water in the dams for hydro electricity. The demand from the industrial sector has come down, which has saved the power for the people, he said. The department has chalked out plans to procure 1,200 MW from Kudgi (Vijayapura). Two units of Yeramarus (Raichur district) will start functioning in September and the BTPS will supply 700 MW. Power from the National Thermal Power Corporation in Tamil Nadu will also be available. Work orders have been issued to start generation of 500 MW of solar power during the summer. The department has signed agreements for expanding the UPCL plant to generate 1,200 MW by 2022. The Karnataka Power Corporation will set up a 300-MW hydel plant in Shivanasamudra and generate 1,600 MW from Chhattisgarh thermal plant. K G Prabhakar, power expert from FKCCI, said data from the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Company and their assessment shows agriculture consumes the maximum power of 33%, but there is a decline this time. Industrial power consumption has come down because of less industrial production and unfavourable tariffs offered by the state. DH News Service The Legislative Assembly witnessed headed arguments between the Treasury and opposition benches on whether the state government or the Centre should take the onus of waiving crop loan availed by farmers. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said 80% of farmers had availed loans from commercial banks which come under the jurisdiction of the Centre. Let the Centre waive 50% of the farm loans provided by commercial banks and we will waive 50% agricultural loans taken from cooperative societies to bail out farmers, he said. Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar objected to the remark and said the government should focus on its responsibilities rather than blaming the Centre. A heated argument ensued and the BJP members staged a walkout raising slogans. Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the government would book sexual offenders sexually assaulting women and children under the Goonda Act. Replying to JD(S) MLA K Gopalaiah in the Assembly, he said cases under the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum-Grabbers Act, popularly called the Goonda Act, will booked and stringent action will be taken against them. He also said a police patrol vehicle, Abhaya, will be launched exclusively to ensure safety of women and children. As many as 303 cases of assault on women, 1,423 cases of atrocities, 923 cases of sexual abuse and 255 cases of chain snatching related to women were reported in Bengaluru last year. Parameshwara said reservation for women in the police department has been increased to 20% from 5% and a separate womens battalion in KSRP would be established. He told the House that Bengaluru city would get another 500 CCTV cameras. The Minister said the government has already initiated steps to dismiss an assistant sub-inspector who is charged with raping a mentally challenged woman in Tumakuru recently. He said the government has handed over a case pertaining to the lockup death of a truck driver in Laksmeshwar in Gadag district to the CID. CID DIG visits Lakshmeshwar Sonia Narang, the DIG of the CID, on Tuesday visited Lakshmeshwar, Gadag district, in connection with the investigation into the death of a lorry driver in police custody, reports DHNS. The officer gathered information about the case from lorry driver Halesh Bhandari and others. She also questioned those transporting sand. She later visited the nearby Battur village and collected details from the relatives of the deceased youth. Anxiety prevails in the taluk as 10 H1N1 cases were reported at Jayachamarajendra general hospital in Thirthahalli town on Tuesday. The hospital authorities said, of the 24 persons tested, 10 cases turned out to be positive for H1N1. So far, 36 people in the taluk have been infected by the virus. District health officer Rajesh Suragihalli said H1N1 cases were reported in Agumbe, Aralasurali and Maluru. However, people need not panic over this, he said. At least four children suffered side effects on the first day of the single shot Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign in Karnataka on Tuesday, prompting some parents to withdraw their wards from the drive. Three students at Nirmala Convent School in Pandavapura town, Mandya district, were hospitalised after complaining of dizziness following the vaccination. The students identified as Varadaraj, Manoj and Karthik, all in Class VIII were discharged later. In Bengaluru, a nine-year-old girl fainted at a private school in Rajajinagar and developed fever soon after being vaccinated against measles and rubella. Her mother, who accompanied her, had a panic attack. The mother and daughter were taken to hospital where doctors told them that it was a known side effect of the vaccine. At Yelandur town in Chamarajanagar district, the drive had to be stopped midway when a Class V student at ASDVS School complained of illness after the vaccination. Though doctors clarified that the illness was not related to the vaccination, anxious parents thronged the school in the afternoon and demanded that the drive be stopped. Health Department officials tried to allay their fears but had to oblige them eventually. Parents said they would like to wait for a few days. Meanwhile, some private schools in Bengaluru have given parents forms to be filled with details of the children. A few schools have made the vaccination optional. Nikitha, a parent, said, We have to put a tick in a corner of the card if we consent to the vaccination and a cross if we dont. Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, acknowledged that there had been a few cases of fainting and vomiting. It is a common reaction to injection in school-going children, which is mostly due to anxiety. Sometimes, it could be due to vasovagal attack. Immunisation sessions are tagged with medical officers who are trained and prepared to manage such situation, she said. The campaign aims to target 1.65 crore children in the age group of nine months to 15 in Karnataka and will go on till February 28. DH News Service Fifteen primary health centres (PHCs) in six districts of Karnataka are set to get eLAJ smart clinics that will be equipped with multi-parameter monitors that enable multiple diagnostic tests and generation of electronic medical record (EMR) of patients. Biocon Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Family Welfare to set up these clinics in order to provide affordable healthcare services in rural areas. The first eLAJ clinic was opened at Mallathahalli in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The eLAJ model has been designed to deliver data-based healthcare on the basis of socio-demographic and health indicators obtained from community-based screenings. Doctors, technicians and pharmacists who are trained to handle diagnostic equipment and clinic management software would be posted at these clinics. The eLAJ model has been implemented at several clinics run by Biocon Foundation in Karnataka. It has also been deployed at a few PHCs in Rajasthan as part of a public private partnership (PPP) to build smart health centres. Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar said, Through this initiative, we aim to address the myriad healthcare challenges associated with the poor public health infrastructure. I strongly believe that technology can help transform the public healthcare system in India, particularly in rural and remote areas of our state. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon, said, Our aim is to strengthen the present public healthcare system in Karnataka by providing solutions around primary and secondary healthcare by using technology. Biocon Foundation and its partner, PacketBIO, will provide training to government doctors at PHCs and enable them to run the clinics optimally. In addition, Biocon Foundation will employ 30 technicians to support data entry and laboratory services. Taluk JD(S) president Kalale Keshavamurthy on Tuesday announced that he will officially join the Congress in a few days. Speaking to reporters here, Keshavamurthy said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has invited him to join Congress. I have held discussions with my supporters and have taken a decision in this regard, he added. He said he had met the chief minister in Bengaluru recently. The chief minister first enquired whether I have informed JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and state president H D Kumaraswamy about leaving the party and then extended invitation to join the Congress, he said. Keshavamurthy said that he had met Gowda after the bypolls became certain in Nanjangud, following the resignation of minister V Srinivas Prasad, who left the Congress and joined the BJP. Deve Gowda told me about the lack of resources to contest the election for just 10 months. So, I had told Gowda about the invitation from the Congress. He assured me of not fielding a JD(S) candidate and wished me good luck. I have also spoken to Kumaraswamy and explained about the aspirations of the people , he added. The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would consider if the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal should have gone into river water agreements between the then Madras Presidency and erstwhile ruler of the Mysore State in 1892 and 1924 in determining the quantum of water for Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and others. A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra started final hearing on civil appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry against the final decision of the tribunal of 2007. As senior advocate F S Nariman, representing Karnataka made his preliminary submission including background of the water sharing dispute, the bench also comprising Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar said, We will decide whether the tribunal should have gone into those agreements and if those agreements still survived after the Constitution came into force. The question is if the agreements between Mysore ruler and Madras Presidency could be relied upon even after the (new) states came into existence by an Act of Parliament in 1956, the bench said. The bench also said it would look into legality of the tribunals reliance on the Cauvery water sharing practice started since 1799 between the provinces. We would consider if the tribunals decision was based on the principles of common sense, equity and justice, the bench said, indicating that they would take three weeks time to deliver the judgement in the pending dispute. The court, which put the matter for further hearing on March 21, said it would wish the counsel from states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry to wrap up their advancing of arguments by April 11. Meanwhile, the court refused a plea made by senior advocate Shekhar Naphade on behalf of Tamil Nadu, for deciding its application against Kerala's move to build check dams across the Bhavani river and its tributaries. In a related decision, the court decided to de-tag an original suit filed by Andhra Pradesh in connection with the dispute after the counsel of different states agreed for it. Andhra Pradesh has raised the issue of sharing water of tributaries of the Cauvery river as the state was part of the erstwhile Madras Presidency. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, set up on June, 2, 1990, announced its final order in 2007 allocating 419 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu and 270 tmcft to Karnataka. Kerala was given 30 tmcft and Puducherry got 7 tmcft. The tribunal had come to a conclusion that total availability of water in Cauvery basin stood at 740 tmcft. DH News Service In his first public comments on Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today said he could not meet her even once during her 75 days of hospitalisation. He also said that no political leader could meet her in the Apollo Hospitals where she died on December 5. "For 75 days I went to the hospital. But I could not meet her even once. Even my family members used to ask me every day whether I met Amma. At one stage, I even thought of lying that I had met her. But I did not do so," Panneerselvam told a Tamil TV channel. Panneer, who was allocated the portfolios held by Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation, said he explained to his family that visitors were not allowed since she was in the intensive care unit and there was a possibility of infection. "We were informed that Amma was recovering. We were confident. When we came to know that Amma has passed away, we felt we have lost all our powers," he said. Replying to a question whether anyone other than Sasikala met Jayalalithaa, he said: "I do not have information about any political leader meeting her. Only the Governor went inside twice. I neither saw nor heard of any other leader meeting her." His comments assume significance as a host of leaders including BJP President Amit Shah, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Chief Ministers of neighbouring states had visited the Apollo Hospitals during Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation. On whether Jayalalithaa wanted to meet him since he was a loyalist or he took any effort to visit her, the senior AIADMK leader said he tried several times. "But thought may be I was unfortunate and a sinner not to have seen her in the hospital." To a question on recent resignation of some key state officials in the Chief Minister's office, he said there was no compulsion from him and it was a decision taken by them on their own. Addressing the legislators, Sasikala, who had sacked Panneerselvam from the post of treasurer last night, launched a no-holds-barred attack on him, saying he had betrayed the party and "fully merged" with DMK which Jayalalithaa had fought all her life. She claimed she had got wind of his moves a few days ago itself and asserted that the party remains united and will not be cowed down by such threats. Accusing arch rival DMK of trying to destabilise the party, Sasikala said "betrayal" will never win in the AIADMK and that no one will be able to divide the party. Panneerselvam, who was chosen by Jayalalithaa as stop-gap chief minister when she had to quit twice due to adverse court verdicts, today maintained that he enjoyed support of majority of MLAs and would prove it on the floor of the house at an appropriate time. "The Ministers and MLAs who area now with the other side will soon realise the reality and the current extraordinary situation will change," he said, an apparent reference to the ministers rallying behind Sasikala. Former Speaker P H Pandian, who attacked Sasikala yesterday, and senior Rajya Sabha member Dr V Maitreyan today showed up at the Chief Minister's residence in a show of solidarity. Panneerselvam also dismissed accusation by Sasikala that he was colluding with DMK and by others that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP were backing him. He said he was in touch with no one and that he did not need support of either DMK or BJP. The Chief Minister said the stand he has taken enjoyed wide public support as the people want a "good and deserving" person on the post. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai rejected Panneerselvam's claims and said that the party had all the 134 MLAs with it. "We are united. There is no dispute or difference," he said. On his part, DMK Working President MK Stalin said his party had nothing to with "internal squabbles" in AIADMK and accused Sasikala of making false allegations after failing to become chief minister through a "short cut". AIADMK spokesperson claimed 131 MLAs attended today's meeting chaired by Sasikala. Referring to Panneerselvam's political career, Sasikala told the legislators he had been part of the AIADMK-Janaki (led by MGR's widow) that was against Jayalalithaa following the death of the founder MG Ramachandran, before switching sides. Jayalalithaa had "forgiven" this and provided him with various opportunities, she added. "Our rivals are showing their true face. We will prove our might to them. No one has the power or capacity to split or break us. I will solve the confusion arising in people's minds at the right time," she said. The opposition so far unseen but emerging now was a proof that "certain developments our rivals don't desire are happening in the party," she said in an apparent reference to her elevation. "That is why there is this flutter. Neither AIADMK nor me will be cowed down by this," she said. The caretaker Chief Minister had yesterday claimed he was forced to resign from the post to pave the way for Sasikala. After her election as leader of legislature party on Sunday, Sasikala had claimed that Panneerselvam had pressed her to assume the post. Sasikala today said she had noticed "Panneerselvam joining hands with DMK following their conversation in the Assembly," recently and added that she was duty bound to prevent the next course of action from happening. She referred to the remark of Deputy DMK Leader Durai Murugan who had last week in the Assembly favoured Panneerselvam to continue as Chief Minister for the rest of the term of the current government till 2021. "Panneerselvam not saying anything on this and his silence showed clearly that he had joined hands with DMK. His act had also infuriated the Ministers," she said. "All these years, I have lived for Amma and would spend the rest of the life fulfilling her dreams," she said. "For 33 years, how many happenings, how many shocks. I have faced the many betrayals along with Amma. We had won those, we will win this," she said and invoked MGR's legacy to face the situation with grit. "Even if betrayal and rivalry join hands, we will defeat them," she said. Meanwhile, Congress alleged that BJP is trying to fish in troubled waters of Tamil Nadu and instructing the Governor to not go to the state. "I must say it is extremely wrong, unconstitutional and patently illegal on the part of BJP and the Central government to fish in the troubled waters of Tamil Nadu," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. However, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu asserted that Centre or BJP has no role in "internal matters" of AIADMK and that the Governor will take a decision in line with the Constitution to resolve the issue. As the political drama unfolded, AIADMK supporters from across the state thronged the residence of Panneerselvam to express solidarity with him. Several cadres were seen visiting his house at Greenways Road, a prominent location in the city, where several Ministers and government officials stay, since last night. They raised slogans hailing 'Amma' (Jayalalithaa) and vowed they will never call anyone as 'chinnamma' (referring to Sasikala). Posters and placards with messages like "Save AIADMK party. Make OPS as CM," donned the area. Another poster read "with blessings of Amma, let's make OPS as the General Secretary." Whenever there was an entry by a prominent person, the supporters would break into slogans "OPS vaazhga, OPS vaazhga" (long live OPS)." Former Electricity Minister 'Natham' Viswanathan, actor and director K Bhagyaraj were among those who met Panneerselvam. AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala today appeared to be having majority of MLAs with her, a day after the revolt by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam who claimed that they will back him in the trial of strength in Tamil Nadu Assembly. However, her wait to get sworn-in as chief minister was far from ending with Governor Vidyasagar Rao still staying put in Mumbai and giving no indication of his plans to come here.After the midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of party MLAs at the party headquarters in a show of strength this morning and later herded them in buses to undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together. There were unconfirmed reports that AIADMK would even parade the MLAs before the President if the Governor delays the swearing-in of Sasikala. In an act of defiance, Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge will be set up to probe the "doubts" surrounding the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa. India will be able to pull off a 7 per cent plus growth rate next fiscal as the Budget for 2017-18 has come up with several measures to provide a fillip to various sectors, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das today said. "Our sense is that the kind of momentum the Budget has given in various sectors, we will be able to reach a growth of 7 per cent plus in the next year," Das told reporters. "Obviously now, as far as the government is concerned, the agenda for 2017-18 have been very clearly spelt out in the Budget speech of the finance minister. And the government's focus is now on implementing all the Budget announcements," he added. The secretary's statement comes hours after RBI Governor Urjit Patel announced a cut in the growth forecast to 6.9 per cent for the current fiscal, from 7.1 per cent estimated earlier, even as he said the economy will bounce back to 7.4 per cent next fiscal. In its previous policy review in December, the central bank had lowered the GDP growth forecast to 7.1 per cent from 7.6 per cent. On RBI's monetary policy, Das said, "The monetary policy committee has unanimously recommended retention of the current rates of interest." Das hoped that banks will step up lending with focus on SMEs, housing and individual loans. "One would now expect the banks to step up their lending to various sectors of the economy and also focus on individual loans, i.e., housing loans, consumption loans as well as meeting the requirements of SMEs, other corporates and other business entities," he said. "These are the kinds of things which will give momentum to growth and the expectation that the finance minister has also projected in the Budget that the growth should revive." The economic affairs secretary noted that after the exchange of old notes, banks have already started reducing the rates, which have been reduced "considerably". In the Budget also, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has announced several measures to give a boost to the housing sector in general and affordable housing in particular. Das also inaugurated a Solar Roof Top Power Plant in Ranchi and said that solar power would be provided in 230 villages which are not linked to the grid. The goal of the government is to generate 2650 MW solar energy by 2019-20, the Chief Minister said. So far 3830 MW capacity of solar energy panels were installed on roof tops on 68 government buildings, an official release said. Das said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would soon lay foundation stone for the 4000 MW thermal power station at Patratu and a bridge over the Ganga in Sahibganj. He said Ranchi would be made a solar city and a new policy has already come. Under this policy, any individual can set up roof top solar power plant and supply to the grid through net metre. Those having barren land could do the same there and could it to the grid to earn money, Das said. Jharkhand had remained in darkness despite having 40 per cent of country's coal reserve and the curse was being eradicated, the chief minister said. Congress was today livid at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stinging attack on his predecessor Manmohan Singh that despite so many incidents of corruption no taint had stuck to him. Hitting back at Singh, who had called demonetisation an "organised loot" and "legalised plunder", Modi said," He (Manmohan) had perfected the art of bathing under a shower with raincoat on" and so there was no blot on him despite all the scams that occurred during his tenure. This provoked an angry reaction from Congress members who staged a walkout in the midst of the reply by the Prime Minister to a debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Rajya Sabha. Members of Left, Trinamool Congress and JD(U) also staged a walkout after the reply, complaining that they were unhappy with Modi's statement and wanted to ask questions which were disallowed. Mounting a scathing attack on Modi for his comments, Congress said those were in "extremely poor" taste and "unbecoming of a Prime Minister". The party also demanded an apology from the Prime Minister in the House. The Congress also dubbed Modi as "arrogant" and charged him with bringing the debate to "the lowest level". "Within minutes of his speech, he attacked the former Prime Minister in the most unacceptable manner. He said Manmohan Singh occupied various positions and one must learn from him how to take a shower wearing a rain coat. "It was in extremely poor taste. It is unbecoming of a Prime Minister to use such language against a former PM. We are very very disappointed and angry (with) what the Prime Minister said. We expressed our protest by walking out (from the House)," senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said. "This is an insult of the House...we have never seen such arrogance. The Prime Minister should think that there is a stature to the post he holds and he does not know what words should be used...We will not tolerate this. We condemn the Prime Minister's remarks. He should apologise to the House for this," he said. Eearlier, targeting Manmohan Singh, Modi said,"in this country, perhaps there will be hardly anyone from the economic field who has had dominance on the country's financial affairs for half of the country's 70 years of independence. Out of 70 years, for 30-35 years, he has been directly associated with financial decisions. "So many scams occurred... We politicians have a lot to learn from Dr Sahab. So much happened, there is not a single blot on him. Dr Sahab is the only person who knows the art of bathing in a bathroom with a raincoat on." As Congress members created uproar and staged a walkout, an angry Modi said, "If you cross the limits of decorum, then you should have courage to listen to the response. We have the capacity to pay in the same coin. We do so within the limits of decorum and boundaries of the Constitution. They (Congress) don't want to accept the defeat in any form. How long will it continue?? He went on to add, "If the person who held such a high post, used the words "loot" and "plunder" in the House, they (Congress) also should have thought 50 times (before using those words)." Modi also came in for sharp criticism from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who said," When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor-years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament &the nation. "He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly, they were shameful," Gandhi tweeted. The proposal of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to include a column for organ donation in driving licences is well conceived. It is intended to promote the idea of organ donations and give a fillip to them. An applicant for a licence will have to state whether he is willing to donate his organs, and the licence will mention this. This is to make harvesting of organs easy and hassle-free in case of death. Though the idea may sound odd to many, it is a worldwide practice to incorporate this pledge in driving licences. It could have been thought about earlier. The ministry is also planning to include the option for organ donation in m-parivahan, a citizen-centric app, and is exploring ways to include the pledge in existing licences too. This makes sense in the light of the very low number of organ donations in the country and the obvious need to increase them. The medical expertise in organ transplantation has grown and spread in the country but the infrastructure and facilities are far short of requirement. Most of those who need transplants are unable to get organs both from living and deceased persons. According to the 2014 data given by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), a government body, there were only 1,917 kidney transplants while the requirement was for over two lakh kidneys, 803 liver transplants while the requirement was for 80,000 and only a few heart transplants against the need for many thousands. The position is not better in the case of eyes and pancreas too. The organ donation rate is 0.26 per million in India while it is about 26 per million in the US and higher in some other countries. There is also the need for many more hospitals equipped with facilities for organ transplantation. Many steps have been taken to encourage organ donations, like easier rules and regulations, provision for faster transportation and setting up of regional centres for NOTTO and call centres. Lack of awareness among the people and inhibitions and superstitions are the most serious problems to be addressed. Sustained campaigns are needed to remove these blocks. Because of the high population, the need for organ donations is high, but the potential is also high. Scarcity leads to malpractices which even well thought out regulations are unable to prevent. For many, organ donations mean the difference between life and death. So any step that promotes them is an important public health initiative. The effort should be to make it a popular movement and to bring down the costs. A day after the city police conducted raids on the houses of reformed gangster Agni Sridhar and his aide Bachchan in south Bengaluru, the case was handed over to the Northeast division police on Wednesday. Police Commissioner Praveen Sood ordered the transfer of case registered under the Arms Act in the Kumaraswamy Layout police station to the Northeast division police. The Sampigehalli police station inspector will be the investigating officer, he said. The Northeast division police during the course of investigation into businessman Tata Rameshs intimidation complaint discovered that he was an associate of Dasanapura APMC president Kadabagere Srinivas who was shot at recently. Police sources said Rohit alias Onte Rohit who was arrested on Tuesday, was also found in a car at the spot near Kogilu cross, off Yelahanka where Srinivas was shot at. The Northeast division police are probing all these cases together, said a senior police officer. On Wednesday, Bachchan, Rohit, Silent Sunil and six others were produced before a court, which remanded them in police custody for 14 days. Bachchan and six others were arrested from his house in Isro Layout on Tuesday. Rohit was arrested when he came to see Sridhar at the hospital while Sunil surrendered before the Yelahanka police on Tuesday night. A team of police has been deployed at the Sagar Hospital in Tilaknagar, waiting for the recovery of Sridhar to take him into custody. He is the accused number one in the case. He was hospitalised as he complained of chest pain when raids were on at his house in Kumaraswamy Layout on Tuesday. Sources said Sridhars lawyer has moved a bail petition. Following the firing incident, the police are contemplating booking rowdy elements under the stringent Goonda Act if they resort to such crimes. Hemanth Nimbalkar, Additional Commissioner of Police (East) said that strict action would be taken against whoever tries to disrupt law and order. The police have been directed to conduct regular rowdy parades and keep a watch on movements of habitual offenders and their sources of income. If anyone is found to be involved in illegal business, we will take stringent action as per law, he said. Nimbalkar appealed to the public to share information about illegal activities and advised them to file complaints without fear. Kidney ailment puts test on hold According to doctors, Agni Sridhar has kidney-related illness due to which his cardiac investigation had to be put on hold on Wednesday. Dr Kishore K S, chief cardiologist, Sagar Hospitals, said that Sridhar has been diagnosed with nephrology illness as a result of diabetes. Though he was scheduled to undergo angiogram on Wednesday, the test could not be done due to the associated complication. Sridhar is diabetic and has undergone angioplasty twice in the past. Ultrasound revealed that one kidney is smaller than the other. This is usually damaged for reasons such as uncontrolled diabetes. However, he is stable, Dr Kishore said. One of the first things Ole Harms did after taking over Volkswagens new ride-hailing startup was leave town. Staid Wolfsburg, Volkswagens home, was not the best place for the automaker to mount a defense against Silicon Valley challengers keen to upend the car industry, and he needed to move. Nobody knows how the world is going to look in the coming years, said Harms, a bearded 41-year-old dressed in a gray cardigan over a crisply pressed white shirt. The biggest skill you have to have is the ability to change. So he packed up and took his team to new digs in Berlin, where increasingly urgent attempts to tap into a growing tech scene are part of German carmakers efforts to ride a digital wave sweeping the industry before it rolls straight over them. Autonomous driving, electric cars and ride-hailing apps from Silicon Valley, like Uber, are reshaping transportation. Young people no longer feel as compelled as previous generations to own cars. And Wall Street shows scant respect for automakers and their global manufacturing prowess: The market value of Google, which is building a driverless car, is more than double that of BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen combined. At stake is the fate of the German economy, Europes largest, at a time when the region is only beginning to emerge from a decadelong economic malaise. Germany, in particular, is as dependent on its carmakers as Michigan is on Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. Non-German carmakers have readily embraced Silicon Valley through partnerships and investment deals. Fiat Chrysler, for instance, is working with Google on self-driving cars. General Motors has poured $500 million into Lyft, the ride-booking service. And Volvo, the Swedish automaker owned by Geely of China, provided the chassis for Ubers recent driverless car tests. By contrast, Germanys automotive giants have favored a more confrontational approach. That has been backed by many locals, who have so far rebuffed Ubers aggressive local expansion plans that have often run roughshod over domestic regulation, and by German politicians eager to please some of the countrys biggest employers. BMW, for example, is working with the chipmaker Intel and Mobileye, an Israeli tech company, to develop a self-driving car of its own by early in the next decade. It has also formed a partnership with IBM to use artificial intelligence to allow vehicles to automatically adapt to their owners preferences. To combat the likes of Tesla, the California electric automaker, BMW is planning to expand its i Series line of battery-powered and hybrid vehicles. Since 2014, it has sold 1,00,000 of the i3 model, which runs on batteries and has a lightweight carbon fiber body. Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks, has similarly been investing in digital alternatives. Of the three automakers, it has also been the only one so far to become an active partner with Uber, albeit in a limited deal where it provides a set of its autonomous vehicles to the ride service. Daimler also owns Car2Go, a short-term car rental service; Blacklane, an upmarket ride-hailing app; and MyTaxi, Europes largest taxi-hailing service. Andrew Pinnington, chief executive of MyTaxi, said the automakers backing had allowed it to expand rapidly across Europe, where it has often teamed up with local taxi associations to combat the rise of Uber. This is a game that requires deep pockets, Pinnington said. The German carmakers digital plans have led to increased collaboration between what have long been staunch rivals. In 2015, BMW, Daimler and Volkswagens Audi unit joined forces to buy Here, a digital mapping unit of Nokia, for around $3 billion. While not a household name, the Berlin-based company provides about 80% of the built-in navigation systems for cars in North America and Europe, and is the only large-scale competitor to Google Maps. The future of Germany as an industrial nation depends on how companies succeed in bringing the manufacturing and digital worlds together, said Frank Ridder, research leader for Germany, Austria and Switzerland for Gartner, a technology research firm. Taken together, the carmakers digital reboot is aimed at rejuvenating Germanys vaunted industrial base. About one-fifth of jobs in Germany are in manufacturing, double the portion in the United States. But factory jobs as a percentage of total employment have been declining for years, prompting the government to dole out hundreds of millions of euros in research and development funds to meld traditional manufacturing with the latest technology. The initiative, called Industry 4.0, reflects a dawning realization that Germanys historic success may not necessarily help the country thrive in a smartphone-centric world. The experience of Volkswagen is a case in point. The company, which is still dealing with its emissions cheating scandal, is the worlds biggest automaker, but was the slowest of the three to embrace the digital age, and is now trying to catch up. That is where Harms comes in. A former consultant at Capgemini, he joined the carmaker in 2008 and is now chief executive of MOIA, a new Volkswagen service that sits somewhere between ride-hailing services and traditional city bus networks. Unlike Uber, which has often run into resistance from officials in Europe, MOIA plans to cooperate with local governments and act as an extension of existing public transportation networks. Instead of lumbering buses following fixed routes, Harms said, MOIA shuttles will adjust their destinations and schedules according to customer demand. The vehicles will be electric, and in the future, some may be self-driving. MOIA has yet to sign any deals, but it is negotiating with cities including Ha mburg and Berlin. It hopes to expand quickly into the United States and China. In smaller cities, Harms said, MOIA could offer an inexpensive form of public transportation, even though rivals like Uber and Didi Chuxing, a Chinese ride-hailing service, are already well established in many of these locations. The whole mobility market transportation as a service is just at the beginning, Harms said. Two prospective fighter aircraft deals are likely to hot up Aero India 2017, beginning in Bengaluru a week from now. While the navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to purchase 57 carrier-borne fighter aircraft, the government is exploring the possibility of buying close to 100 single engine combat jets for the air force in a government-to-government contract. The RFI for 57 multi-role carrier-borne fighters were released last month after Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba made it clear that the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) would not be considered for Indias next aircraft carrier likely to be named INS Vishal which is expected to be operational around 2030. Because of its dwindling squadron strength, the air force, too, requires more fighter aircraft as only 36 (two squadrons) Rafale fighters would not make up the shortfall in the wake of the cancellation of a previous global tender to buy 126 medium multi-role fighter aircraft. In October, the Indian embassies in the US and Sweden contacted aviation majors Lockheed Martin and Saab to find out if they can meet Indias requirement in case of a government order for a large number of fighter aircraft. Both companies assured the officials that they could shift their F-16 and Gripen assembly lines to India, if there is a minimum assured order. While officials remained tight-lipped on the progress, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar added fuel to the fire when he stated that the final selection for a western partner to provide a single-engine fighter for the air force would depend on the transfer of technology terms and the pricing proposed by the original equipment manufacturer. Top officials from the aviation companies would now get an opportunity to take the discussions forward when they meet Indian officials at the Aero India show between February 14 and 18. More than 750 companies have confirmed participation in the biennial show that has grown in size over the years. Gripen aircraft, flown by the Swedish Air Force, will be participating in air displays on all days of the show. A full-scale model of the latest generation Gripen-E would be on display, while the US Air Force will fly the F-16s. Nevadas newly elected U.S. senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, has already taken up the cudgel against the First Amendment previously wielded by her predecessor, Harry Reid. She put out a press release recently announcing that she has joined with other congressional Democrats to reintroduce a constitutional amendment that would overturn Supreme Court rulings that have held that it is a violation of the First Amendment to restrict the amount of money corporations, nonprofits, unions and other groups may spend on political campaigns and when they may spend it. In its current incarnation it is being called the Democracy for All Amendment. In previous years it bore the unwieldy acronym DISCLOSE Act Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections. Reid frequently took to the floor of the Senate to pound the table for the amendment and disparage the Koch brothers political spending as the embodiment of evil. The U.S. Constitution puts democratic power in the hands of the American people not corporations or private companies, the press release quotes Cortez Masto as saying. Since the Citizens United decision, big corporations have gained unprecedented influence over elections and our countrys political process. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation; its critical that we end unlimited corporate contributions if we are going to have a democratic process and government that will truly work for all Americans. In the 2010 Citizens United decision, a 5-4 Supreme Court struck down the part of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that prohibited organizations such as Citizens United, a political action committee, from expending funds for electioneering immediately prior to an election. In this case the Federal Election Commission blocked the 2008 broadcast of Hillary: The Movie, which was critical of Hillary Clintons presidential bid. During the arguments in the case, the Justice Department attorney defending the law admitted the law also would censor books critical of candidates, though newspapers and other media, most owned by large corporations, were exempted from the law and may criticize, editorialize and endorse or oppose candidates freely. Some corporations are more equal than others. Cortez Mastos statement concluded, The Democracy for All Amendment returns the right to regulate elections to the people by clarifying that Congress and the states can set reasonable regulations on campaign finance and distinguish between individuals and corporations in the law. The problem is that free speech is not free if the incumbent government satrapy can curtail its dissemination. Justice Anthony Kennedy explained this in his majority opinion in Citizens United v. FEC: As a restriction on the amount of money a person or group can spend on political communication during a campaign, that statute necessarily reduces the quantity of expression by restricting the number of issues discussed, the depth of their exploration, and the size of the audience reached. Were the Court to uphold these restrictions, the Government could repress speech by silencing certain voices at any of the various points in the speech process. (Government could repress speech by attacking all levels of the production and dissemination of ideas, for effective public communication requires the speaker to make use of the services of others). The fact the expenditure is coming from a group instead of an individual does not negate the First Amendment guarantee of the freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely, because it also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government. An assembly is not just a crowd of people on the street, it is also an organization. Reid in one of this many diatribes on the subject said: But the flood of special interest money into our American democracy is one of the greatest threats our system of government has ever faced. Lets keep our elections from becoming speculative ventures for the wealthy and put a stop to the hostile takeover of our democratic system by a couple of billionaire oil barons. It is time that we revive our constituents faith in the electoral system, and let them know that their voices are being heard. This implies the voters are too stupid to hear an open and free-wheeling debate and not be influenced by the volume or frequency of the message. Lest we forget, in the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump was outspent by Hillary Clinton by two-to-one $600 million to $1.2 billion. Censorship is unAmerican and unnecessary. Cortez Masto should abandon this assault on free speech. Terrorism should not be a national strategy of any country, India said on Wednesday, even as it subtly underlined the danger of terrorists getting access to the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan. The dangers of discriminating among terrorists good or bad or even yours and mine are increasingly recognised. Terrorism is an international threat that should not serve national strategy. Nuclear terrorism even more so, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said, inaugurating the meeting of the Implementation and Assessment Group of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT). The GICNT, which came into existence in 2006, emerged over the past 10 years as a voluntary international partnership of 86 nations and five international organisations, which are committed to strengthening global capacity to prevent, detect and respond to nuclear terrorism. The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea by the special public prosecutor against the release of properties worth Rs 750 crore of former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran and others following their discharge by a trial court in the Aircel-Maxis case. A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice J S Khehar also turned down a plea by senior advocate Anand Grover, who was appointed special public prosecutor in 2G spectrum cases, for clarification if the appeal in the matter would lie with the HC or the apex court. Why should we tell you what you should do? You go where you want to go. We cannot tell you where to go. Should we tell every litigant that you go to that or this court? Is that the work the Supreme Court should do from morning to evening, the bench, also comprising Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, questioned the senior advocate. Grover, in a special leave petition filed in his personal capacity, sought direction to the 2G special court not to release the attached properties of the accused till their appeal in the matter was decided. As the bench indicated its mind, the prosecutor preferred to withdraw his petition. A day after discharge of Maran, his brother Kalanithi and others on February 2, the prosecutor had sought similar direction from the apex court. Disagreeing with his plea, the bench had then questioned the prosecutor as to why he approached the apex court directly. Though he, along with NGO CPIL advocate Prashant Bhushan, submitted that the court had in 2011 restrained HCs from entertaining any plea relating to the 2G case, the bench said, the discharge order passed by the special court was final and could be challenged in the HC. The West Bengal state Assembly turned into a scene of chaos on Wednesday over the passing of a Bill, which would make people damaging public property during protests in Kolkata and elsewhere pay mandatory compensation. Even though the government eventually passed the Bill, Opposition parties got down to loud demands, asking for compensation for past cases, particularly against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) during its days in the Opposition. Angry scenes unfolded inside the House as Opposition parties tried to put the treasury bench in a corner, to remind the Trinamool MLAs of how they had unleashed violent protests inside the Assembly premises on November 30, 2006 as part of its protests against police action at Singur. Trinamool MLAs had vandalised the House, breaking and dismantling furniture dating back to the days of the British Raj, besides injuring a number of Assembly staff. No sooner had the discussion on the Bill started, than the Congress and Left Front MLAs, who had come armed with posters with photographs showing TMC violence, raised slogans against the ruling party. When Opposition MLAs refused to stop their agitation even after Speaker Biman Banerjee urged Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Abdul Mannan to calm down, the speaker ruled that Mannan is suspended from the House for wearing a similar poster around his neck. As Mannan refused to leave the House despite the speakers orders, security personnel tried to force him out but got into a scuffle with the Opposition MLAs, who formed a cordon around Mannan. In the fracas, 61-year-old Mannan fell ill and had to be admitted to hospital, causing Congress and Left MLAs to stage a walkout in protest. While the Bill was passed unopposed on voice vote, with no Opposition MLAs in presence, the speaker directed the Assembly staff to assess the damage to Assembly property during the day. Mahesh Shah, the Ahmedabad-based nondescript property dealer who was in the limelight for declaring Rs 13,860 crore under the Income Declaration Scheme (IDS), may not face any criminal proceedings. A source said Income Tax officials in Ahmedabad, who had earlier threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against Shah, have now realised that they have no case against him. As far as the department is concerned, the case has reached a dead end. The department has limited legal recourse available. Even the IDS clause reads that in case of non-payment of tax on amount declared, the disclosure is nullified and is deemed never to have been made, the source said. The declaration in form thus holds no value and to the best of our understanding, no action can now be initiated against him, the source added. Shah had declared an unaccounted income of Rs 13,860 crore under IDS and disappeared without paying the first installment of Rs 1,560 crore tax on the amount. He later reappeared before the media and made a statement that the amount he disclosed did not belong to him, but he was a tool in the hands of some big fish who had promised him a hefty commission. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed any move by the Income Tax (I-T) department to not pursue the case against Shah. This proposed move by the I-T department is not just laughable, but sad and painful. It is the same department that approached the Election Commission to derecognise AAP...This is the same department that conducted over 1,100 raids and sent 5,100 notices to small businessmen and harassing them, an AAP spokesperson said. The party has also threatened to hold a protest at the Income Tax office in Ahmedabad on Thursday evening. People still suffering due to note ban People across the country continue to suffer three months after the unexpected implementation of demonetisation on November 8, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, DHNS reports from Kolkata. Mamata, a vocal critic of the government move to abolish Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes, has dubbed demonetisation an acute economic crisis. Today, three months over. Restrictions and sufferings not over. #DeMonetisation, Mamata said in a series of five tweets on Wednesday. Citizens have lost economic freedom. When economic freedom is lost, a main freedom is lost #DeMonetisation, she added. DeMo-ReMo derailed the nation. Visionless, missionless, directionless. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a dig at his predecessor Manmohan Singh for his criticism of demonetisation. Modi said that politicians should learn from the former prime minister for avoiding any black marks despite scams during his regime. The left-handed comment by the prime minister, who also said only he (Singh) knows how to take a shower with a raincoat on, prompted an angry Congress to walk out from the Rajya Sabha after registering protest. The face-off between Modi and Opposition benches took place during the prime ministers reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address after which the Upper House adopted the speech without any changes as the CPI(M), CPI, JD(U) and Trinamool Congress also walked out in protest, dissatisfied with the government response. Modis reference to Singh came as the latter had during Winter Session said that demonetisation was monumental mismanagement, organised loot and legalised plunder. Referring to the foreword he wrote for the Congress booklet on economic situation in the country, Modi said Singh is one of the biggest economists in the world who played a crucial part in shaping the countrys economic policies for the past 30-35 years. So many scams occurred. We politicians have a lot to learn from Doctor Saheb. So much happened, there is not a single black mark on him. Only he knows how to take a shower with a raincoat on. Learn from him, Modi said as Congress members protested and later walked out. Congress hits back Sources said the party will seek Modis apology and if it does not come by the way, they will ensure the Parliament does not function. I do not want to speak, Singh evaded reporters when asked about his comments, while Congress leaders jumped into his defence. Party MP and former finance minister P Chidambaram said they walked in protest as such harsh and ugly comments were not acceptable. No prime minister in the past made such comments about a former prime minister, he told reporters. Look at his arrogance, he chooses to speak when everyone else is done and then makes unsubstantiated allegations, MP and former Union minister Kapil Sibal said. Barely two days after doctors asserted that there was no conspiracy in the medical procedure adopted for J Jayalalithaas treatment, caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said a commission headed by a Supreme Court judge will be constituted to investigate her death. There is a series of doubts in peoples minds about Ammas death and it is the duty of the government to clear it, he said. Therefore, a commission of inquiry led by a Supreme Court judge will be definitely constituted to probe the death of Amma, he added. He said the commission would investigate thoroughly and submit its report. The commission will also announce the outcome of the investigation to the people, he added. Panneerselvam said he was not allowed to see Jayalalithaa during the 75 days of her hospitalisation. I went to the hospital every day. Though the governor was allowed twice, I was not permitted to see Amma, he charged. In a bid to steer the Centre away from the political crisis in Tamil Nadu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said it is the governors prerogative to invite a political leader to form a government. I have not said anything to the governor. No BJP leader is behind this. It is the AIADMKs internal matter, Singh said. The home ministers remarks, along with that of other Union ministers, indicated that the Centre did not wish to be seen as playing a role in the crisis. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, is said to be biding his time while seeking a legal opinion on swearing-in Sasikala as the chief minister. The Supreme Court had indicated that it would pronounce by next week its judgement in the disproportionate assets case against her and others. But senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said a few members from the party had orchestrated the current crisis. Swamy lashed out at the governor, asking, What kind of a governor leaves the state? He is in charge of the state... when it is in a crisis. Swamy also questioned how Chief Minister O Panneerselvam could withdraw his resignation as it was unconstitutional. The Congress stated that the BJP is trying to fish in troubled waters by instructing the governor to stay away from Chennai. I must say it is extremely wrong, unconstitutional and patently illegal on the part of the BJP and the central government to fish in the troubled waters of Tamil Nadu, said party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi. There is nothing in the Constitution, practice, tradition or convention that requires the governor to delay the swearing in, he added. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, however, asserted that neither the Centre nor the BJP has a role in the internal matters of the AIADMK, and that the governor will take a decision in line with the Constitution. Sasikala, for her part, has blamed the governor for failing to act against Panneerselvams machinations, saying the governor is duty bound to swear her in once she claims majority. A tour for support Panneerselvam said on Wednesday that he would tour the state extensively and meet people in every village and district to seek support. I will meet people in every nook and corner of the state to seek their support, he said. He also said the late J Jayalalithaas niece Deepa Jayakumar, who entered politics recently, should be respected, and extended her an open invitation to join him. Meanwhile, Panneerselvam also insisted that he continued to be AIADMK treasurer and wrote to two banks in Chennai not to allow anyone else to operate the partys accounts, reports PTI. Guv to reach Chennai by noon Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, is expected to reach Chennai by Thursday noon, reports DHNS from Mumbai. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao would be reaching Chennai on Thursday afternoon, a source in the Raj Bhavan said, adding that he was keeping a tab on the emerging situation in Tamil Nadu. Nurturing hopes to return to power in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the SP, the Congress on Wednesday released its election manifesto, promising 50% reservation for women in the panchayats elections . They also ensured a better law and order situation in the state. The manifesto, which was released here in the presence of senior leaders, including general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, also promised free education to girls and free cycles to the girl students in Intermediate and high school. It also promised financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh for the marriage of poor girls. The party said that it would provide employment to 50 lakh youngsters in the next five years, if voted to power. Azad said the party would exert pressure on the government to waive of farmers loans and reduce their electricity bills by half. The manifesto promised to set up three women police stations in every district, and also undertake effective police reforms. It also assured to protect the interests of cane farmers and set up skill development centres across the state. The manifesto said the government will initiate a project to clean the rivers in the state. In an apparent bid to woo the minorities, the party promised loans for the members of these communities to start their own business. State Congress president Raj Babbar said that the manifesto has tried to address issues from all sections of the society. He said that maintaining social harmony and communal amity would be the partys priority. The party, which is contesting 105 seats, hopes to form a government after remaining out of power in the state for 27 years. If the wave-crashing sea change in national politics that has arrived with the Trump Administration isnt strange enough for you, take a look at the Bizarro World known as the Nevada Legislature. The 2016 election put Republicans in control of D.C. but the opposite happened in our state, where Democrats took control of both houses of the Legislature. The only difference here is that we still have a Republican governor although some would argue that fact. Its odd that the same dynamic responsible for putting Trump into office had the opposite result in Nevada, but then our state has always marched to a different drummer. The service-industry dominated economy in Clark County turned voters out in force to support Hillary Clinton, and they voted on party lines for state candidates as well. Opening day of the 79th legislative session began with talk of working together but ended with power struggles bubbling to the surface. Republican Sen. Michael Roberson accused Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford of unconstitutionally stripping Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison of his right to vote as the tiebreaker on legislation. Thats the Bizarro World version of what happened Tuesday in Congress, when Vice President Mike Pence made history with the first tie-breaking vote on a Cabinet nomination in confirming school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as Education secretary. School choice is also a key issue facing Nevada lawmakers, who approved a program last session. It failed to take off, however, because of legal challenges to the funding mechanism. Democratic leaders in the Legislature will battle with Republicans who side with our governor, attorney general and state treasurer on the issue. Lawmakers will also address the governors only proposed tax increase an additional 10 percent retail tax on top of the statutory 15 percent wholesale tax on marijuana sales. Money is needed to implement the program that voters approved in November, but higher taxes could make marijuana in our state the most expensive in the country. That would have a negative impact on tourism in the Las Vegas area as California prepares its own recreational sales. Here in the rural part of our state, lawmakers are expecting a tough haul under the Democratic leadership. Assemblyman John Ellison and Sen. Pete Goicoechea have more pull due to their seniority but they still expect to face obstacles. Rural legislation to be considered this session will have a heavy focus on water issues, as it often does. One bill specifically related to mining would change state water law to allow for more lithium exploration. This mineral is mined in a much different manner than the hard-rock minerals we are familiar with, and Nevada is lagging in exploration at a time when it would benefit operations like the Tesla megafactory. Under the governors leadership Nevada has rebounded to the number one spot in job growth nationwide. The expanding economy should fund his budget goals of improving education and keeping Nevada poised for the future. Still, it will take Superman powers for rural lawmakers to pass expensive measures like bridge funding for Great Basin College or air-service subsidies for Elko-Reno flights. When the dust from this power shift settles we hope they can develop a give-and-take working relationship that benefits both ends of the state. Karnataka Power Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday met former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and sought his help to resolve the crisis in the Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha, Bengaluru. Shivakumar was closeted with Gowda at his residence here for more than half an hour. Emerging out of the meeting, Gowda told reporters, "Shivakumar requested me to take a lead in resolving the present crisis in the sangha. I have asked him to discuss the issue after the Parliament session." Agreeing that Shivakumars meeting with him was the first in recent times, Gowda said political issues were not discussed during the meeting and it was limited to sangha activities. The sangha was in the news recently after some of its officers-bearers were ousted and the issue went to the court. The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday ordered notice to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner in a petition by a bar owner seeking compensation of Rs 2 lakh for being forced to shut his shop for two days. The petitioner, Mookambika Bar and Restaurant, represented by its owner Krishnamurthy, moved the court contending that he had suffered loss in his business for two days after he was asked to shut his shop during Rathasapthami festival. The police commissioner, along with DCP South East division and Adugodi police had ordered closure of liquor shops around Adugodi. The petitioner challenged the order and sought compensation of Rs 2 lakh. Justice A S Bopanna ordered notice and adjourned the hearing. In a swift action, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached Rs 3.82 crore siphoned off from the Karnataka State Board of Wakfs. The original case about transfer of money from the boards bank account to some accounts in Kerala and Pune was registered at Chintamani Town police station. In December 2016, the board, which has its office on Cunningham Road in Bengaluru, received a letter from the manager of Vijaya Banks branch in Chintamani, Chikkaballapur district. The letter, which later turned out to be forged, stated that the boards CEO had approved a proposal to invest Rs 4 crore in a fixed deposit in the bank. The letter further stated that the board had passed an office order on the proposal in November 2016. Subsequently, two cheques, one for Rs 1.71 crore and another for Rs 2.29 crore, were cleared from the boards account at Indian Banks Benson Town branch. When the board enquired with the bank about receipts for fixed deposit (FD), it emerged that the money was transferred to the account of Ajay Sharma Trading Corporation, owned by one Vijay Pulijala, based on another letter (dated December 5, 2016) by the board, which too turned out to be forged. Following a complaint by the boards chief accounts officer, Tulasidas, the Chintamani Town police registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC. The ED, too, swung into action and started an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The probe showed that the cheques were encashed on December 21, 2016, and that the entire amount Rs 4 crore was immediately transferred to other accounts, in the name of Verkeys Realties Private Limited, at HDFC Banks Edapally and Kochi branches. The company splurged Rs 1.10 crore on a Mercedes-Benz car. The money was transferred to a dealer of used cars in Kalyan Nagar, Pune, the same day. The car dealer has an account at ICICI Bank. The ED has managed to bring back Rs 2.72 crore lying at HDFC Banks Edapally and Kochi branches to the account of Ajay Sharma Trading Corporation at Vijaya Bank, Chintamani. It also brought back Rs 1.1 crore from ICICI Banks Kalyan Nagar branch. An official said, It was strange that the board evinced interest in keeping the FD in Chintamani, which is 70 km from Bengaluru, when there are many banks near its own office. The board did not care to verify the authenticity of the letter from Vijaya Bank. The bank officials also did not get back to the board before transferring the money to Ajay Sharma Trading Corporation. Police have arrested the Vijaya Bank branch manager, Susheela, and assistant manager Murukannappa. A senior police officer said a local court had rejected their bail applications. Syed Siraj Ahmed, a first division assistant in the board, is a suspect, too. The officer said many people were involved in the case and that special teams had been formed to track them down. A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam revolted against AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala, her supporters claimed on Wednesday that 130 of the 134 MLAs were with her. A source in the AIADMK said Sasikala had convened a meeting of MLAs at the party headquarters in the morning. Of the 134 MLAs, 130 turned up to show their support to Sasikala, the source said. Panneerselvam, whose resignation as chief minister was accepted by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Sunday, claimed he would withdraw it if the need arose. I will meet the governor once he returns to the city and ask him to give me a chance to prove the majority on the floor of the House, he said. The big question now is whether Panneerselvam can take back his resignation. Legal experts say resignation cannot be withdrawn once the governor has accepted it. The law says Panneerselvam has to continue as the caretaker chief minister. However, the governor at his own discretion can direct him to prove his strength on the floor of the House, a senior government advocate said, seeking anonymity. Guv to return today The governor is expected to return to Chennai on Thursday afternoon. A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said, According to his itinerary, he will be here on Thursday afternoon. According to the official, the AIADMK, led by Sasikala, has already sought an appointment with the governor to stake a claim to form the government. The governor is likely to meet AIADMK representatives tomorrow (Thursday), he said. Legislators ready During the meeting, the AIADMK will hand over a letter to the governor about the unanimous resolution of MLAs electing Sasikala as the legislature party leader and nominating her for the post of chief minister. We are waiting to give the resolution copy once the governor comes to Chennai, Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar said. In her address at the party headquarters, Sasikala said, Our enemies have started showing their true colours. We will prove who we are. No one has the strength and ability to divide us. Sasikala said she would clear the confusion created by Panneerselvam at the right time. All MLAs are like a single family and therefore, there is no problem, she said. Meanwhile, DMK chief M K Stalin said Sasikala was unnecessarily blaming his party after her attempt to become the chief minister through a shortcut failed miserably. Rejecting her allegation that DMK was behind Panneerselvams revolt in the AIADMK, Stalin said his own party had not extended support to the caretaker chief minister, except to pass bills in the Assembly in the interest of peoples welfare. Demanding severe action against those who threatened a chief minister into resigning, Stalin said the governor should order a CBI probe into the charges. He was referring to Panneerselvams sensational claim on Tuesday night that he had been forced to resign to make way for Sasikala. Hailing Panneerselvams announcement that he would order a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge to look into Jayalalithaas death, Stalin said though it was delayed, his party welcomed the move. Governor Vajubhai Vala has cited violation of right of citizens while returning a Bill, which proposed to reduce open spaces in urban areas, to the state legislature. The Bill along with the remarks of the governor was placed before the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday by Assembly secretary S Murthy. Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the legislature requires that the reasons cited by the governor for returning a Bill should be made known to the legislators. The Bill was returned in October, 2016. Vala in his remarks has stated that reduction in area reserved for public parks, playgrounds and civic amenities affects the essential basic rights of citizens. Such reductions may lead to various problems such as air pollution, traffic congestion and the proposed amendment is not in the interest of society at large, Vala has stated in his message to the legislature while seeking reconsideration of the Bill. The state Cabinet recently decided that the Bill will be passed again in the legislature and sent to the Raj Bhavan. Both the Houses of legislature had passed the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in July last. The Bill seeks to reduce the area to be reserved for public parks and playgrounds in layouts from the present 15% of the total area to 10%. It also seeks to reduce the area to be reserved for civic amenities from the present 10% of the total area to 5%. Samaja Parivartana Samudaya chief S R Hiremath on Wednesday said the state government is trying to hand over forest land at Machohalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru to different organisations. Proposal to transfer land A proposal has been prepared to transfer land from the Forest Department to Revenue Department and then allot it to different organisations. This file would come before the Cabinet for approval. If this is done, chief minister, forest minister and several officials will go to jail, Hiremath told journalist here. Hiremath said 96 acres and 12 guntas on Survey No 81 at Machohalli was declared as forest land way back in 1896. In 2016, the government issued a circular making it a reserved forest. The Law Department has clarified that this land cannot be alloted to any organisation or individual. Finance Department has also expressed the same opinion. But, Forest Department has stated that it has no objection to land allotment, saying that the land has already been released to the Revenue department. The governments plan is to allot 28.20 acres for colleges, hospitals and government offices and 40.20 acres for private organisations. Forest land cannot be handed over to anybody, and therefore, a legal battle would be launched to in this regard, he added. Kappatagudda stir Hiremath said a day-and-night hunger strike would be staged at Gandhi Circle in Gadag from February 13 to 15, demanding the state government that re-declare Kappatagudda as a conservation reserve. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister H K Patil, who is incharge of Gadag district should ensure that the demand is fulfilled before February 15. Tontada Siddhalinga swami and members of various organisations would take part in the protest, he stated. The inclusion of chapters on Basavanna, Sangolli Rayanna and Savitribai Phule are among the changes to be effected in the state textbooks based on the recommendations of the textbook revision committee headed by writer Baragur Ramachandrappa. Ramachandrappa had sent the recommendations to Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait. Class VIII Sanskrit students will study about Akkamahadevi and Class VII Sanskrit students will study about Basavanna. Class VII Tulu textbooks will have one unit on the life of Narayana Guru. A unit on Hajabba, a fruit and vegetable vendor who built educational institutions, for Class VIII students is among the other suggestions. Class VII social science textbooks will have a topic on Sufi movement, in addition to the existing Bhakti movement. Class VIII students will have a chapter on human rights in social science textbooks, besides lessons on the selection process and administration in state and central public service commissions. Language textbooks should have an introduction on the best writers in Kannada, English and other languages, the committee has recommended. For instance, the previous textbooks did not have any piece penned by noted writer Masti Venkatesha Iyengar. This time, a part of his play Yashodhara will be included. The books will also have lessons on Siddaiah Puranik, Shantarasa, Simpi Linganna and other writers from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Blade Runner dropped The committee has recommended that the chapter Blade Runner on Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius be removed from the textbook as it will set a negative example for children. He has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. Students will learn V K Gokaks poem The Song of India in one of the non-Kannada textbooks. Other recommendations Class X Tamil students to have chapter on Adikavi Pampa Bhasha Bandhavya chapter to be added in Marathi books Apna Karnataka chapter to be added in Class VII Hindi textbook Urdu textbooks to have a chapter on national integration Images in maths textbooks of Class I to VII have been revised Complex chapters have been removed from primary and high school maths books With elections to the state Assembly just a year away, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been spending liberally on his pet Bhagya schemes. The chief minister on Wednesday announced a hike in the quantity of rice being given under the Anna Bhagya scheme from April from five kg per beneficiary per month to eight kg. Similarly, school children will get milk five days a week, instead of three days a week from April under Ksheera Bhagya scheme, he said. The announcements were made at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting chaired by the chief minister at Vidhana Soudha. Besides, he assured his party legislators that supply of food grains under Anna Bhagya will be restored to the below poverty line families which have not submitted Aadhaar details. Two months time will be given to these families for sharing the details, he added. Sources in the CLP said many legislators took exception to the Food and Civil Supplies Departments decision to discontinue supply of food grain to those who had not submitted Aadhaar details. Siddaramaiah had recently trashed a proposal by the department to introduce the direct benefit transfer system under Anna Bhagya. The sources said Siddaramaiah asked legislators to approach him if they need any assistance in implementing any scheme in their constituencies. He also assured them he will look into the demand for increasing the annual legislators area development fund to Rs 3 crore from Rs 2 crore. Resolution for disciplinary action The sources said the CLP passed a resolution, urging the party to take disciplinary action against those openly criticising party leaders, including AICC president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah. The resolution was passed after many legislators demanded that the party should act against Janardhana Poojary, Jaffer Sharief and A H Vishwanath. KPCC president G Parameshwara said he will forward the resolution to the party high command. Besides, Parameshwara directed all district in-charge ministers and legislators to chalk out programmes to protest against demonetisation. The party in the state is regularly sending reports to the high command on the protests being staged across the state. The high command will take action if anybody fails to take steps in this regard, he warned. A legislature committee has recommended that the state government constitute an agency on the lines of Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs to redress the grievances of non-resident Kannadigas in India and abroad. The committee on Welfare of Backward Classes and Minorities headed by the Congress MLA J R Lobo has pointed in its report that Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) set up in 1996 is successfully functioning as an interface between the non-resident Keralites and the Kerala government. A similar department should be set up by the Karnataka government for addressing the problems of non-resident Kannadigas (NRKs) besides safeguarding their rights. The panel has suggested that the proposed department should open centres in major cities across the country, providing attestation facilities of educational qualification documents, certificates of birth and death, residence, marriage certificates of NRKs among others. The committee has suggested that a job portal be set up providing details of employment opportunities abroad. Other suggestions include setting up of a relief fund for rendering immediate assistance to NRKs in need, issue of photo ID cards to NRKs and promotion of regional development with their participation. The panel has recommended that the government set aside Rs 50 crore in the forthcoming budget for the proposed department. The Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed a heated exchange of words between BJP and Congress members over the merits and demerits of demonetisation of high value currency notes. Participating in a motion of thanks to the Governors address, K N Rajanna (Congress) said the demonetisation move has failed to arrest corruption and black money. But it has increased unemployment rate in the country, he charged. Rajanna said demonetisation had a negative impact on the economy. Farmers have stopped getting loan. Retrenchment of employees is on the rise, he said and wondered what happened to Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise of bringing black money stacked aboard back to the country. K G Bopaiah (BJP) said Rajanna was speaking on an issue that came under the jurisdiction of Parliament. Who is here to answer to the points raised by you? he asked. Industries Minister R V Deshpande said demonetisation has affected every sector, including the states resources and the member has every right to raise the issue. Aravind Limbavali (BJP) said Rajanna, who is also the president of Karnataka State Cooperative Apex Bank, should also inform the House about the large-scale cash deposits in state cooperative units after demonetisation. This remark led to arguments and counter arguments between Congress and BJP members, and Speaker K B Koliwad had to intervene several times to bring the House to order. For Sale: Hitzer Amish built woodstoves. JHMW Plastic sled runners. 543-2379. (11)(3/1-cnx) FOR SALE 300 Gallon Plastic Water Tanks in stock. Call Shorty at Shortys Shop for pricing. 543-3158 or 545-3157 (19)(9/18-cnx) 18 SSV Lund with 60 hp high thrust Yamaha 20 inch shaft. About 150 hours on motor, maintained well with no problems. In excellent condition. Lund boat reinforced side and motor mount, no leaks. Minor dents. Asking $11,000. Email me at [email protected] (42)(12/23-cnx) FOR SALE 24 X 56 4PLEX MUST BE MOVED CALL 545-0929. (11)(2/24-cnx) For Sale: 10 x 20 Walk In cooler/freezer, unassembled. Complete with 6 floor, ceiling, wall panels & foundation beams. 4 door, 240V compressor, evaporators. Make an offer. Ron Kaiser 545-4936. (30)(6/8-cnx) House for Sale 2424, freshly remodeled, 1 bedroom. Must be moved. 545-1890. (12)(9/21-cnx) Association of Village Council Presidents is selling Speed Queen Commercial Washer/Dryer Stacks. The units are located at the former Allanivik Hotel, 1220 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, Bethel, AK 99559. All sales will be completed on a First come, first served basis. Sale price is $2,500, or best offer. Considerations: Each unit is sold as is, where is, with no warranty expressed or implied. Each unit new is approximately $4000 new, without shipping. Each unit is approximately three (3) years old. Each unit is considered to be in good condition. The purchaser is responsible for the immediate removal and transportation of each unit upon sale. Please contact John at 907-545-2538 for more information. (112)(3/22-29) For Rent OUTSIDE STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT. EQUIPMENT, BOATS OR VEHICLES. NEAR BOAT HARBOR. FENCED IN AREA. 543-2402. (16)(3/17-cnx) Small Apartments available. Some utilities paid. 543-2750. (7)(9/1-22; cnx) FOR RENT 1,350 sq/ft office/commercial space for rent. Excellent space in very nice well-maintained building located next to Arctic Chiropractic at Alex Hately on Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway. 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House is 1,369 sq. ft; lot is 20,384 sq. ft. toyo stove + wood stove. 2001 appraisal @ $156k; owner moved & doesnt want to be distant landlord, $76,000. Home for Sale: 135 Ptarmigan 2 bdrm, 1 bath, piped water; VERY well maintained, laundry room, computer room, shed. $155,000.00 Call for showing 907-545-1944 REMAX Dynamic Properties (133)(3/29-cnx) Invitation to Bid INVITATION TO BID BULK FUEL DELIVERY Yupiit School District is accepting sealed bids for delivery of bulk grade #1 diesel fuel oil and bulk gasoline for Akiachak, Akiak, and Tuluksak schools. All schools are located in remote rural Alaska and none are accessible by road. The scope of work will include the purchase, transport, delivery, pumping and transfer of bulk fuel to the Yupiit School Districts bulk tanks. Sealed bids will be accepted at the Yupiit School District Office. Sealed bids shall be addressed to: Yupiit School District Attn: Director of Maintenance & Operations P.O. Box 51190 Akiachak, AK 99551 Bids will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. Alaska time on Friday, April 21, 2017. All bids will be publically opened on that date. Bid review and notice of award shall occur within 7 days of the bid opening date. Bid instructions are available from the Yupiit School District and may be requested by calling (907) 825-3600 or by downloading from the Yupiit School District website at www.yupiit.org. (167)(3/22-4/19) STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES (DOT/PF) CENTRAL REGION INVITATION FOR QUOTES Project Bid Title: Napakiak Airport (WNA) Maintenance Re-Bid Project Bid No.: 17-25A-1-020 Estimated Cost: Between $10,000 and $20,000 Bid Opening: 1:00 PM on April 13, 2017 Telephone: (907) 269.0767 TTD: (907) 269.0473 TTY: (800) 770.8973 Copies of the Contract bid documents may be obtained at the Napakiak Post Office or the M&O Bethel Station Airport Managers Office. Up to date and additional information is available on the web at (http://dot.alaska.gov). Under the Section called Find it Fast!, select DOT&PF Public Notices. Look through the section called Procurement for the Invitation for Quotes. (107)(3/29-4/5) Public Notice VFW MEMBERSHIP Freedom isnt free, and millions of Americans have paid the price for the freedom we enjoy today. Since 1899, the Veterans of Foreign Wars has served those who served America. From writing veterans legislation and then leading the fight to get it through Congress, to community projects that benefit all Americans, the VFW is an opportunity for veterans to continue to serve. Contact the VFW Robert V. Lindsey Post #10041 at 543-2241 and ask what you can do for your community. (83)(3/26-cnx) IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT BETHEL In the Matter of the Estate of: SETH GRANT FAIRBANKS, Deceased. Case No. 4BE-17-6PR NOTICE TO CREDITORS You are notified that the court appointed DEBORAH FAIRBANKS as Personal Representative of this estate. All persons having claims against the person who died are required to present their claims within four months after the date of first publication of this Notice or said claims will be forever barred. Claims must be presented to DEBORAH FAIRBANKS, Personal Representative of the Estate of SETH GRANT FAIRBANKS, or filed with the Court. DATED this _22nd_ day of March 2017 at Bethel, Alaska DEBORAH FAIRBANKS Personal Representative (115)(3/22-4/5) Share this: Tweet Email The regional government of the Balearic Islands says Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium that kills fruit-bearing plants such as olive trees, is now threatening its agricultural sector. In a bid to control its spread, authorities have destroyed some 2,000 fruit trees so far. At the same time, a ban has been imposed on the export of fruit or cuttings from susceptible species such as olives, cherries, grapes and almonds, as well as ornamental fruits. Police impound olive trees in Palma de Mallorca. EP The Balearic Islands, which include Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera, have been declared a containment area while authorities try to stop the spread of the blight, which first attacks leaves, then the stem, and finally kills the roots. There are more than 20,000 hectares of almond trees, 10,000 hectares of olive trees and 2,000 hectares of grapevines. These plots are much smaller than they are in mainland Spain, where agriculture is a primary sector, but some of the trees are a key part of the islands landscape, including some centuries-old olive trees. One year ago, the bacteria devastated olive plantations in the Italian province of Lecce. In the end, more than a million specimens were destroyed, either by the disease itself or by the authorities in the attempt to prevent the bacteria from spreading. The authorities are trying to contain the plague by only killing infected trees Alarm bells first rang in the Balearics in October, when the official laboratory of plant health detected the first case of Xylella fastidiosa in a cherry tree in Porto Cristo, Mallorca. The office immediately applied the protocol of prevention established by the European Union, which obliges authorities to destroy any at-risk species that are located within 100 meters of the infected plant and to take samples of trees located within 10 kilometers. They pulled out more than 1,900 trees. Despite the containment measures, on January 12 three new cases were detected in Ibiza, along with others in Inca and Algaida, Mallorca. Eventually authorities found hundreds of infected trees. For now the Balearic government has decided to apply a containment protocol in which only infected trees will be destroyed. Andreu Joan, head of agricultural services for the Balearic regional governments environment department, says activating the EUs protocol throughout the islands would practically provoke the destruction of the primary sector. The plague has devastated olive plantations in Italy The Balearic regional government is now waiting for Brussels to authorize the contamination protocol by which only infected trees are destroyed. Meanwhile, police are controlling the movement of trees and plants throughout the islands to contain the further spread of the bacteria. But the measures taken so far have not satisfied the Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA), which has called on the authorities to combat the mosquito that spreads the bacteria. I cant imagine a situation similar to what happened in Italy because it would be extremely serious, said ASAJA President Joan Simonet, who thinks that a program of massive elimination of trees would be even worse than the bacterial infection. Apart from the value of fruit trees to the agricultural sector, says Simonet, one shouldnt forget about the consequences for the landscape, adding that the majority of infections have occurred in old trees, which are less resistant to the bacteria than younger specimens. English version by Alyssa McMurtry Celebrate our Native identity, our relationship with our homelands, and living our Ways of Life. Our identity as indigenous peoples is informed by our deep connection to our lands and waters, no matter where we live and no matter which indigenous cultures we are blessed to be part of. Our 2017 FAI Elder & Youth Conference theme Part Land, Part Water Always Native, recognizes that Alaska always was and always will be a Native place. The keynote speakers for the 34th Annual FAI Elders & Youth Conference live and work in that truth. Elder Keynote Denaina Athabascan Elder Clare Swan of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula. Clare has been married to her husband, Van, for 67 years, and they have four grown children, eleven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. She has long worked to preserve and protect the Native fishing rights of the Kenaitze. Clare spent two decades immersed in research and litigation, culminating in the Kenaitze Indian Tribe receiving state regulations and rights on the eve of open fishing in June 1989. Clare also worked to establish the Cook Inlet Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. She was Chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe from 1980 to 1995, and was instrumental in establishing the Denaina Health Clinic and youth and community agricultural programs. She served on the CIRI Board of Directors from 1991 to 2006, and the Board of Directors of Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) starting in 1998, leading as Board Chair since 2000. Her contributions to the Alaska Native community has long been appreciated and recognized. In 2009, Clare was honored with the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Presidents Award for Elder of the Year, and she was inducted into the Alaska Womens Hall of Fame in 2011. CIRI presented her with the 2013 Shareholder of the Year Award for over 40 years of community work. This year, she was honored by CITC with the naming of the Clare Swan Early Head Start Child Care Center. She is a bundle of energy and a lighting force for our peoples. Clares values are based in the strength of family, service to community, and the belief in achieving the greatest potential for our peoples. Youth Keynote Siberian Yupik youth Chris Agragiiq Apassingok is from Gambell, a village located on St. Lawrence Island. At 16 years old, he loves hunting, whaling and practices Siberian Yupik language every day. Chris is a student at Gambell School and loves playing basketball. Chris parents are Susan and Daniel Apassingok. His paternal grandparents are Anders and late Luceen Apassingok, and maternal grandparents are Mike and Debbie Apatiki. Chris grandfathers were successful whaling captains in their time as captains. His father, Daniel, landed three whales with Chris serving as a striker and co-captain. Chris started hunting seals with his father as a toddler, and by the age of five he was on his dads crew for walrus hunting and whaling. Chris struck and killed a whale at the age of 11 and struck another at the age of 16. In addition to whale and walrus, Chris hunts seals, birds, polar bear and reindeer. He brings food to his Elders and has great respect for them. In 2016 he was honored with the Young Providers Award by Bering Straits Native Corporation for contributing to the health and well-being of his community on a daily basis. One morning, Chris had breakfast with his mom before going whaling and she advised, Always pray while youre out there and God will hear you. Chriss response was, Mom, I pray and ask God to finish my story of hunting every day. Additional Conference Highlights The annual Elders & Youth Conference is a one-of-a-kind convening that works to lift up the faces of our peoples while connecting youth to our Elders. We engage in critical dialogues on issues to amplify the voice of our Elders and our youth. Through presentations, discussions, and hands-on activities, we encourage positive change and cultural action within our Alaska Native community. We focus on building relationships, sharing and strengthening our knowledge, and celebrating who we are as culturally distinct, diverse and beautiful Alaska Native peoples. The 34th annual statewide conference starts with a special Warming of the Hands Pre-session and Welcome Dinner. The next two days are filled with interactive, hands-on cultural workshop sessions to celebrate who we are as Native peoples and utilize that knowledge to enhance our engagement in all other offerings of the conference. Activities, such as weaving, beading, working on hides, making drums, and the like, promote and strengthen our ways of life through transference of knowledge between Elders and youth. Relevant community issues-based and content-themed workshops take place in leadership and education, culture, values and language, health, wellness and safety, and land, law and policy. Mens and Womens Houses honor our peoples ways of sharing through dialogue, creating healing spaces, and utilizes our peoples rites of passage knowledge. Throughout our conference there are cultural performances, as well as an opportunity to showcase the talents of our participants during the 6th Annual Chinan Night taking place on Monday, October 16th from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Denaina Center. Tickets will be sold at registration and at the door for $5 a ticket. Chinan is a public event. On Tuesday night, a special private event for our registered participants is a dance concert featuring A Tribe Called Red, an incredible First Nations DJ group made up DJ NDN, Bear Witness, and 2oolman who use electronic music to blend instrumental hip hop, reggae, moombahton and dubstep-influenced dance music with elements of indigenous peoples music, particularly vocal chanting and drumming. They also utilize their platform to advance a strength-based social justice message using their music, imagery, and Native dancing to create a thriving, dynamic sound that brings everyone to the dance floor. We could not put on the conference without the love and support of our community, of our volunteers, and of our sponsors! We thank everyone for working with us in partnership to help bring the most important people in our community together our Elders and our youth! Broadcast and Webcast Those not able to attend in person are invited to watch the conference live on GCI channel 1, 360North, and via our website: www.firstalaskans.org. Registration Registration is available online until October 16th at www.firstalaskans.org and onsite registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 16th at the Denaina Center. The registration fee is $45.00 for youth, chaperones, and other adult participants, while the fee is waived for Elders. Share this: Tweet Email by Dolly Faulkner Wilderness Retreats For Vets is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Our mission is the enhance the lives of veterans who served our country. In 2017 we provided home cooked meals, clothing, household items and food to 49 vet families in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region. Four veterans enjoyed retreats at our wilderness homestead. Twelve individuals were given transportation to or from outlying villages. We also donated to burial expenses for 5 vet families in their time of sorrow. Once again, WRFV donated wild roses and tundra roses for master gardener, David Trantham to plant at the Bethel Veterans Cemetery to create a restful place to visit our dearly departed. Thank you Dave for honoring our vets in this way. WRFV donated spruce seedlings for veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. WRFV was excited to offer an essay contest for round trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. The prize was awarded to a service disabled vet who wanted to visit his family. Wilderness Retreats For Vets extends boundless thanks for all public donations and personal donations from Yukon Aviation, Eileen and Bruce Krenz, Gerry Faude, June Gempler, Larry Wright and proceeds from books by Dolly Faulkner. WRFV thanks all the many veterans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for their selfless service to our country. Dolly Faulkner is the Treasurer for Wilderness Retreats For Vets at the White Bear Homestead. Share this: Tweet Email Hi there, Im just writing to thank our Kalskag donators who donated for the K300 this year. To the ANICA Store of Kalskag, they donated $400 worth of goods, they donate every year, which we are really grateful for that. To Bossman Pitka for the 20 pounds of flour and Steven Gregory for the 20 lbs. of pancake mix. Thank you Maybelle S. Hoffman for the food you donate and the food you made and all your help during that time. Thank you Dawayne Hoffman and Andrew Maud for your help also. Was a great turnout again. What we would do without such great help. Thank you very much, you all were repeatedly mentioned about how great we all did. Yah hoo Thanks. Loreen J. A. Steeves, K300 VolunteerKalskag Checkpoint K300 VolunteerKalskag Checkpoint Hi again, Happy New Year everyone I sincerely hope you all will use the extra clothing as it is pretty darn cold out there, and you can always take them off, but you cant put them on if you dont have them. Just like, you can use stinkweed, willow, chatha for many different illnesses. Even wild celery root is good for your throat. When the willow first sprouts its leaves, we pick them and store in seal oil or bags to eat. We call them surra. There are different edible beach greens also. The more I look at things, the more I believe we Alaskans should form our own Nation. As it is they are trying to exploit Alaskan resources, NOT for Alaskans but for their own pocket. If they do that, they will introduce more toxins into our Lands and Seas/Water. As if they havent already done enough damage. You wonder why the sea mammals/fish are getting cancerous sores remember the US agreed to hand over missiles, as long as Russia put them into the Sea. Our Sea, we are next door. Are you all going to just stand by and let that happen? Lets do whats best for us Alaskans. We have enough smart people to pull it off. Like, they are letting tons of people into our State, yet say they have no money to even help Our Homeless and Helpless people. Or, even have the money to help the Veterans, much less give us proper health care. Help stop the ambush and help our State/people instead. We did not put you into office to steal our money by giving it to foreign countries, or to line your pockets. We put you in office to help the people of Alaska. Darn people, youre not supposed to be telling other people to go harm themselves, youre supposed to look at each other and say I love you. Its so simple. Every single person is worth something. You were not put on this Earth to be funny to each other, you were put here to help each other out. It is not up to us as to when a person dies, it is up to God. We are put here for a reason, and its not to be put down, or told to kill ourselves. If you came from a family that hurt you, you can change it so your children/grandchildren didnt have to grow up the way you did. You you have the ability to change that. You look at the prices of everything now-a-days and it shocks you. You buy something like a twin blanket and think it might fit, but it may only go from your neck to your toes, and thats only if youre short. They make us buy things from foreign countries, send the jobs to foreign countries, because of whatever kind of deals they made for money that did not even benefit Americans, for which we are short-changed all the way around. I miss American-made products, at least Americans took pride in their work. A shame, I say. I also think if some people are willing to go back into making clothes sturdy clothes at a reasonable price they could make a living. So, as TSA says, we need to update our IDs to travel out of state. I think we should be able to bring the current ones (that are due to be updated in a few years) and swap them out. Why should we have to pay to get it again, are they going to update the due dates on like the drivers license to 2024(5) too? Dont forget to tell people which way youre traveling if you decide to go somewhere. That way they know which direction to go if they have to go looking. No fun when they have to go in all directions. Take care you all. Be safe. As always Karen Nanouk Unalakleet, AK Share this: Tweet Email Akiak, Alaska August 1, 2022 Today Mike Williams, Sr., announced his candidacy for President of the Yukon Kuskokwim Regional Tribal Government (YKRTG). Elections for the new YKRTG will be held on November 8, 2022, and all enrolled tribal members 18+ years of age in the YK region are eligible to vote. Williams, currently the Tribal Chief of the Akiak Native Community, made this announcement after a concerted effort by friends and colleagues asking him to run. I feel as if I have been preparing for this historic position as RTG President for the last four decades of work as a tribal leader and leading advocate for indigenous rights in Alaska, said Chief Mike Williams. It has been a long-standing goal of our Elders, who have gone on to the other side, for our people to come together, organize ourselves, work together and fight to provide a better future for our children. A future where our people move forward as strong sovereign tribes living in healthy, safe, family communities. Communities that are centered in our traditional culture and values while opening new economic and educational opportunities. I will continue their legacy of hard work and Assircaarturluni Yuuyaraq (trying to live a better life) as President of the YKRTG. First established on an interim basis in February of 2021, the YKRTG is a new constitutional Tribal government open to the 56 federally recognized sovereign Tribal Governments in the YK region. The RTG will centralize collective tribal government activities across an area larger than Washington State. The YKRTG divides 56 Tribes into 11 Districts with an elected representative for each District on the RTG Council. The Interim RTG Council selected November 8, 2022, for YK region-wide elections to establish a permanent YKRTG. All enrolled members of the 56 YK Tribes who are over the age of 18 are eligible to vote in the November 8, 2022, election. Chief Williams, LLD was recently honored by the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a Doctor of Laws, PhD for his lifetime achievements and advocacy of indigenous peoples rights, tribal sovereignty, and self-determination. The Yukon Kuskokwim region needs a leader who understands what our people facesomeone who will work as hard as I will to make things better, said Williams. I will work to increase public safety in each community, I will call on tribal non-profits and consortiums, like the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Association of Village Council Presidents, and Kuskokwim River Intertribal Fish Commission to work with us to address critical housing needs, to address lack of adequate health care professionals and programs, to improve education for our children with investments in safe and secure spaces, create good paying jobs and preserving a healthy and clean environment for future generations of Yupiaq peoples. Chief Williams decades of strong nationally recognized leadership in Akiak, the YK region, Alaska, and the country make him an ideal candidate for YKRTG President ready to make an immediate impact on day one. His past and current leadership positions in virtually every aspect of YK regional life from School Board to Fish Commission and Tribal Chief to NCAI VP for Alaska means he knows whats needed and how to get things done. He is leading the way in the YK region to promote economic development for tribal communities establishing the first Small Business Administration (SBA) certified tribal owned 8(a) company in western AK which will bring new jobs and revenue into the community from federal contracting dollars. I support sustainable economic development including creation of tribal-owned small business that can lead to SBA 8(a) certifications to reap the benefits of federal contracting opportunities, said Chief Williams. The Akiak Native Community was the first to create a tribal-owned business in western Alaska that went on to become SBA 8(a) certified. More of our YKD tribes should do the same to inspire entrepreneurship, encourage business ownership and generate new revenues that support citizen-centric services by their tribal governments. Chief Williams plans to expand the creation of revenue-generating tribal small businesses throughout the YKD to strengthen tribal autonomy, provide new sustainable revenue streams for Tribes, and diversify the economies of tribal communities. Chief Williams will be a President who leads the way forward for YKD people by bringing affordable broadband, telecommunications, and digital education to all communities. All YKD tribal communities lack access to high-speed internet. Many more cant afford it or dont know how to use it. The divide between those who have internet access and those who dont is stark. To create an equitable economy, we all need access to reliable and affordable highspeed internet. I will work with our Alaska Native Corporations, tribal organizations, village governments, commercial partners, and the Alaska government to help bring affordable broadband infrastructure, services, and the education needed to safely access all the benefits of broadband internet, said Williams. Williams concluded, Overcoming poverty, while honoring our Yupik traditions and strengthening culture, is achievable but securing tribal economic security and prosperity will require a sustained commitment. I put ideas and ideals into action. I share your values. I have the expertise the YK Region needs to get things done. Mike Williams, Sr. Mike is an enrolled Tribal member of the Alaska Native Community, and Alaskas Regional Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians. Mike has been serving the Tribal people of Akiak and the YK region for nearly four decades a tribal leader and advocate for substance abuse prevention, improving education and champion for indigenous rights. He resides on Tribal Boards as the Chairman of the YKD Tribal Broadband Consortium and Chairman of The Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. www.mikewilliamssr.com Share this: Tweet Email by Thom Leonard Calista Corporation opens nominations for the 2017 Shareholder Awards. The Calista Awards are focused on the Calista Region, Calista Shareholders and Descendants. Nominations are open to Shareholders and Descendants living in and out of the Calista Region. Each award recipient will receive a plaque and $1,500. There are five different categories. The award categories are as follows: Calista Culture Bearer, Axel C. Johnson Distinguished Shareholder, Calista Elder of the Year, Calista Youth/Educator of the Year, and Raymond C. Christiansen Business of the Year. Nominations forms are posted on Calistas website, www.calistacorp.com. Nomination forms can also be requested via fax (907-275-2920) or by email ([email protected]). Forms must be received by Calista no later than 5pm on April 14. Winners will be announced before the annual meeting, scheduled this year to held on July 7 in Sleetmute, Alaska. Calista recently announced the largest dividend in its corporate history. Calista has distributed two dividends each calendar year since 2014. The spring dividend is based on Shareholders Equity for the prior three years. The fall dividend is from the Akilista investment portfolio, which made its first distribution in 2014. This is an investment account created to provide a perpetual source of dividends not reliant on business operations. The Elders Benefit Program made its first distribution in 2008. The second largest of the original 13 Alaska Native Corporations, Calista Corporation was established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 and represents approximately 13,000 Shareholders. The Calista Region encompasses more than 6.5 million acres and includes 56 villages, which are incorporated into 46 individual village corporations. Since 1994, Calista has provided more than $4 million in scholarships to its Shareholders and Descendants. Since inception, Calista has declared more than $47.1 million in dividends and $5 million in Elders Benefit Program distributions to Shareholders. Calista Corporation is the parent company of more than 30 subsidiaries in the following industries: military defense contracting, construction, real estate, environmental and natural resource development, marine transportation, oil field services and heavy equipment sales, service and rentals. Share this: Tweet Email by K.J. Lincoln Mask-sewers in Bethel have been working hard to mass-produce face masks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A dedicated group of ladies have been getting together every weekend for the past four weeks to sew cloth facemasks. Each weekend they mass produce approximately 100 masks to be donated to businesses and to where they are needed. We can give them away for free, if anybody needs them, said Teddi Worrock, a founding member of the sewing group. A few weeks ago the Bethel Search and Rescue group opened their doors to provide the sewers a safe space to sew with lots of room, which they were very appreciative for. The cloth they use are from donations, some is purchased from local shops. Thank you to Bethel Search and Rescue for letting us safely sew to produce these masks for our workforce that is still going to work every day, wrote Worrock on an online post. This BSAR motto on the wall is exactly what this project is all about. Working together so others may live. What started as a three-person project to sew masks for City of Bethel employees has now grown to a team of several volunteers, said Worrock. Now they are sewing and giving them away for free in hopes that people will continue to use them in the midst of this pandemic. We were hoping to get the word out, so people can know these are available, she said. And they have a message. You have to keep wearing your masks. Now is not the time to let up, said sewer Carolyn McLaurin. When this pandemic started everybody was wearing masks and really being on top of the guidelines of wearing masks. But lately it seems like in the last few days, especially when the Governor spoke with some of the restaurants opening, seems like people are getting more and more lax. We are seeing more and more people not wearing masks, McLaurin said. I dont think that should be happening. Everybody still should be wearing masks, we are having a pandemic. People are dying. People should continue to keep wearing masks, whether they are going to the store, in public. We have elders and children we have to protect. Last Saturday the ladies were busy again. Each person was sewing at their own pace at their stations and all were doing so with practiced precision, their hands and fingers creating something that could save lives. If anybody does have a sewing machine and wants to continue helping, we have this huge area so everyone could set up safely spaced apart, Worrock said. For those who would like to learn more about using a sewing machine and also how to sew face masks with a sewing machine, the Kuskokwim Consortium Library and the UAF Cooperative Extension Service have teamed up to present a series of sessions via Zoom on a variety of different hobbies. Intro to the Sewing Machine taught by Sharon Chakuchin (Thursday, May 5th from 12-12:30pm) is coming up and also Sewing Face-masks 101 taught by Teddi Worrock (Thursday, May 7th from 12-12:30pm). We just want to really get the word out that these masks are freeif you can save money by not buying mask and just picking them up from us, wed be happy to sew them and make them, said Worrock. Mask dimensions, courtesy of Teddi Worrock: We make our masks 10 wide by 7 for adults and 7 wide by 5 tall for kids. The easiest way to cut is to measure a 10 by 14 piece or 7 by 10 for kids and cut. Then fold the fabric over long ways so that its doubled without having to cut out two separate pieces and sew together. Thank you for your service! Share this: Tweet Email During a conversation with Donald Trump on Tuesday evening, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy offered to act as interlocutor in Europe, Latin America, and also in North Africa and the Middle East. Rajoy also told the US president that despite the United Kingdoms exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, that in the coming months the process of European integration will be strengthened, a goal that the Spanish government will be working toward. Spanish Prime Minster Mariano Rajoy during a recent trip to Malta. ANDREAS SOLARO (AFP) More information Rajoy se ofrece a Trump como interlocutor en Europa y America Latina The Spanish prime ministers official residence, the Moncloa Palace, said in a statement that Rajoy had spoken with Donald Trump for 15 minutes through translators, as part of the round of calls the US president is making to the leaders of close allies. After talking to Rajoy, Trump spoke with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Moncloa, Rajoy said he was prepared to develop a good relationship with the new US administration and explained to Trump that Spain, with a stable government and an economy that is growing at more than 3%, is in the best condition to be an interlocutor for the United States. The press statement does not say whether Rajoy expressed any criticism of Trumps decision to build a wall along the US-Mexican border or his travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim majority nations. It is not known whether Rajoy expressed concern over the travel ban or the wall with Mexico A statement released by the White House is much briefer and does not refer to either of these decisions, which have prompted international criticism. It notes that Trump and Rajoy reaffirmed their bilateral alliance on a series of matters of joint interest and does not go into further detail, beyond citing a number of shared priorities, particularly efforts to eliminate ISIS, as the presidents spokesman, Sean Spicer had already mentioned. The only topic explicitly mentioned in both press statements is the Atlantic Alliance. Madrid said that both leaders had mentioned they would be at the NATO summit due to be held in May in Brussels and had addressed questions of security and defense. The Spanish press release highlights the importance of the US military bases at Rota and Moron, in southern Spain, along with the participation of Spanish soldiers in training the Iraqi armed forces and close intelligence collaboration between the US and Spanish security forces. The White House said that Trump had reiterated the United States commitment to NATO and emphasized the importance that all NATO allies share the burden of defense spending. Trumps conversation with Frances President Francois Hollande on January 28, and with the Italian Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, on Saturday also mentioned this. In his conversation with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, also on January 28, he reiterated the message that Europe will have to increase its contribution to defense spending. Following Tuesday evenings telephone call, Rajoy tweeted that the conversation with Trump had been cordial and that it was aimed at strengthening relations to the benefit of our peoples, adding: We are allied nations. Spain is aspiring to become a privileged interlocutor for Washington within the EU once the United Kingdom has left, as well as making use of its links to Latin America, although it remains to be seen whether Trump, who has sparked a crisis with Mexico and clashed with France and Germany, would find it useful to assign Rajoy that role. Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis told the Spanish Senate on Tuesday afternoon that the government is seeking to establish a frank and constructive communication channel with the new US administration that would allow deeper cooperation on shared questions and to address in a frank manner disagreements. Dastis declined to comment on the first measures taken by Trump, such as the wall with Mexico or the travel ban, but said that Spain will not renounce the free movement of people and goods, and would try to convince Washington that the best way to fight against illegal immigration is to work with the countries of origin and transit for migrants. Trump reiterated to Rajoy that Europe must contribute more to NATO defense spending Andres Gil, a senator for the Socialist Party (PSOE), called on Rajoy to demand respect and dignity for the Mexican people when speaking with Trump, and described as particularly painful and humiliating the Spanish governments wall of silence in the face of the wall of shame that the US administration wants to build along the border with its southern neighbor. Dastis pointed out that he spoke last week with his Mexican counterpart, Luis Videgaray and that Rajoy had talked with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, expressing to him his undoubted solidarity and to tell him he could count on Spain for any initiative to re-establish good relations and trust with the United States. Trump and Rajoy held a 20-minute telephone conversation on December 12, but their talk on Tuesday evening was the first since Trump was inaugurated on January 20. Dastis still hasnt spoken with the new US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, but hopes to do so at the meeting of G20 foreign ministers to be held on February 16 in Bonn. English version by Nick Lyne. By Michael Mann and Christopher Wright 6 February 2017 (The Guardian) Its been a bad couple of weeks for the worlds climate and environment. The inauguration of billionaire property developer and reality TV star Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States has presaged a new Dark Age of climate politics. In an opening fortnight of controversial executive orders, President Trump has decreed the expansion of major fossil fuel developments including the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, and the neutering of long-standing environmental protections. In addition, he and his leadership team have made it plain they intend to dismantle many of the Obama administrations climate initiatives and withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. All this runs in direct counterpoint to the rapid decarbonisation required to avoid dangerous climate change. For Australian fossil fuel interests, President Trumps war on climate appears particularly opportune. Just last week, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his senior ministers floated the idea of government backing for new coal-fired power stations as part of the governments response to Australias energy security and expressed reticence over the countrys Renewable Energy Target. For a country that has nurtured world-leading innovations in solar photovoltaic and other renewable energy technologies and that is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change be it in the form of record heat, devastating floods, more widespread drought, coastal inundation from sea level rise combined with stronger tropical storms, or the demise of the Great Barrier Reef doubling down on the traditional fossil fuel energy path is particularly short-sighted. Of course this hostility to climate action and the decarbonisation of our economies is not new. The attacks on climate action by the Trump presidency and the Turnbull governments embrace of the discourse of clean coal reflect the toxic, partisan political war that has engulfed US and Australian climate policy over several decades. Sound policy has been held hostage by the same vested interests of a large and powerful fossil fuel sector and a traditional vision that jobs and economic growth can only come from the extractivism that has defined 19th and 20th century economics. [more] The ongoing confrontation between Barcelona city officials and the homesharing website Airbnb over illegal apartment rentals has just moved to a new level. After the Catalan capital became the first city in the world to fine Airbnb for advertising and renting out apartments to tourists without a license, the companys head of public policy in Europe, Patrick Robinson, said the site will limit the number of ads in the central district of Ciutat Vella to one per homeowner. A protest against tourist apartment rentals in Barcelona. M. MINOCRI But the citys reply has been swift and scathing. This is a mockery. Airbnb is making a mistake, it is not possible to advertise unlicensed apartments. Weve already said that we will crack down on illegal tourist accommodation, said Agusti Colom, head of the Barcelona department of tourism. Airbnb admits that Barcelona poses greater challenges than other cities Ciutat Vella comprises four of the citys most popular neighborhoods for tourists, including Barceloneta, El Raval and Barri Gotic. In some of these, half of the residential buildings contain apartments being used for tourist rentals a practice that authorities say pushes up prices and creates other problems for permanent residents. The US-based homesharing company has 4,500 apartments listed in the area. Robinson said that only licensed professionals will be allowed to advertise more than one apartment, and that this restriction could be extended beyond the district of Ciutat Vella in future. The company representative also offered the local executive, which is headed by the leftist mayor Ada Colau, the option of collecting the tourist tax, which would bring city coffers an additional 6 million a year. But the Colau administration has repeatedly rejected this offer because it would be tantamount to legitimizing what it sees as Airbnbs illegal practices. Only platforms advertising legal rentals will be allowed to collect this tax, said tourism chief Colom. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau has pledged to find a balance between tourism growth and sustainable living in the city. TONI ALBIR (EFE) Airbnb, which insists that it has reached deals with 300 governments and cities all over the world, admits that Barcelona poses greater challenges than other cities. We share a desire to have a responsible, sustainable kind of tourism in Barcelona, and we are convinced that we are part of the solution, said Robinson and Angel Mesado, head of institutional relations for Spain. A pledge to curb tourism Ada Colau, a social activist with no prior experience in politics, won the May 2015 mayoral election on a promise to create a balance between tourism industry growth and quality of life for the locals. Warning that Barcelona did not want to end up like Venice, she introduced a temporary moratorium on new licenses for tourism accommodation shortly after taking office. Barcelona received over eight million tourists in 2015, in a city with a population of 1.6 million. Tourist accommodation in the city has been growing at an exponential rate that not even the economic crisis was able to slow down: from 23,719 hotel beds in 1991 to 69,128 in 2013. English version by Susana Urra. Anybody who doubted that machismo was alive and well in Argentina need only have visited central Buenos Aires on Tuesday afternoon. Around a dozen women who had taken their tops and bras off as part of a protest to demand the legalization of topless bathing were attracting an ever-growing crowd of goggle-eyed men, some of whom were going to extreme lengths to get a view of the womens naked torsos, even climbing up flagpoles. Amid the chaotic scene, the women shouted: Machos keep away! More information Centenares de mujeres exigen la legalizacion del topless en Argentina con un tetazo en Buenos Aires The situation was soon out of control, with one of the women setting upon a man who was trying to take her photograph, while fighting broke out between men supporting the women and those intent on staring at them. One man approached the women and exposed himself, prompting further outrage. Eventually more women turned up, and pushed away all the men around them, including journalists. All this in 2017 in one of Latin Americas most advanced nations, and in one of the worlds most culturally active cities. The protests were in response to an incident on January 28, when police were called to Necochea, a popular beach in Buenos Aires, by some bathers who were outraged that a group of women had taken their bikini tops off. Society still cant deal with tits as something natural Carolina, a protester at the demonstration The incident was filmed and later went viral on social networks. It shows police initially trying to persuade three women to cover themselves up and eventually calling in reinforcements as more and more people gathered round, with some expressing their support for the women and others calling for them to be arrested for indecency. Eventually, some 20 officers arrived at the scene, and, threatened with arrest and handcuffs, the women left the beach. But when the three appeared before a magistrate a few days later, the judge not only threw the charges of offending public decency out, he said that the legislation in Buenos Aires province that had been cited dated back to 1973 and was anti-constitutional, and called on legislators to overturn it. Meanwhile, the case had generated huge interest on the social networks as well as in the media, and a so-called tetazo (literally, big tit) protest march was arranged for Tuesday at the Plaza de la Republica in central Buenos Aires. Initially, there were more men gawping than women protesting. Silvina Frydlewsky Dozens of women gathered around the squares landmark Obelisk and took their tops off, demanding the same rights as men to sunbathe topless. In Argentina, as in much of Latin America and the United States, half-naked women are a permanent feature of advertising and television, but any kind of female nudity is taboo, even on beaches. We demand our right to decide about our bodies. This demand isnt just about going topless, but about the bigger issue of inequality between men and women, said Julieta, a university student at the demonstration who had painted The pleasure of breaking macho ties across her chest. Society still cant deal with tits as something natural, added Carolina. It is incredible that a topless woman on a beach or a mother breastfeeding her baby causes a scandal in this day and age. It was logical that men were going to come, half of them are peeping Toms, and that is why so few women are prepared to take their tops off, she said at the beginning of the demonstration, when there were more gawping men than female protesters. Some women painted their bodies with messages such as "I decide." EFE But an hour later, hundreds of women had taken over the area around the Obelisk and even some of the surrounding streets, where they danced and sang, painting their bodies with slogans. The only men allowed into the womens midst were those prepared to put on a bra to cover themselves up. In the run up to the protest, several women posted videos on social networks attacking what they see as Argentinas archaic laws and deep-rooted male dominance, as well as traditions about the role of women in society. Congresswoman Victoria Donda, whose parents were disappeared by the military dictatorship that ran the country between 1976 and 1983, said she would be attending the tetazo. If a law is passed preventing women from going topless on beaches, I will propose a law obliging men to wear a bra, she said. But this merely prompted speculation as to whether Donda would also go topless in public. The issue has certainly divided Argentinean society, and has sparked a long-overdue debate. But even some of those who support a change in the law have pointed out that in a country mired in economic crisis and with rising poverty levels not to mention an alarmingly high murder rate of women, one every 30 hours going topless on the beach is arguably one of the countrys least-pressing priorities. English version by Nick Lyne. Rodrigo Rato, a veteran Spanish politician who served as an International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief and senior government official with the governing Popular Party (PP), evaded 6.8 million in taxes between 2004 and 2015, according to a report by the Tax Agencys fraud investigation unit to which EL PAIS has had access. Rodrigo Rato at the time of his arrest in April 2015. B. perez In a 634-page report filed in court on January 23, the National Fraud Investigation Office (ONIF) details the alleged unlawful activities by the network of companies owned by Rato in Spain and abroad. The report is the result of a nearly two-year investigation into the former ministers activities, following his brief arrest in April 2015 while his home and office were raided by police in search of incriminating evidence. Rato received an average of 36,136 per talk between 2007 and 2014 The analysis concludes that Rato had undeclared income of slightly over 14 million between 2004 and 2015. This represents tax fraud of close to 6.8 million over the period. On every one of those years except for 2005, the evaded amount was higher than the 120,000 threshold that represents a tax crime under Spanish legislation. Between 2009 and 2015, the years for which the crimes have not yet prescribed, the amounts were close to 5.4 million, according to the report. Investigators found several methods used by Rato to divert these funds, including failing to declare payments for speaking engagements and claiming expenses that were non-deductible. Rato (center) was also head of Bankia, which had to be nationalized in 2012. Carles Francesc Rato, who was once Spains deputy prime minister and economy minister, has told this newspaper that the report originated from an accusation of asset stripping that was used for my arrest, even though it was proven false within two weeks. The report contains false or erroneous data that the Tax Agency had the ability to detect a long time ago, since it was in its files, he added. I am analyzing the report and I will issue a reply. According to the ONIF report, Rato used the Panama-based firms Red Rose Limited and Westcastle, the British company Vivaway and the Spanish concern Kradonara to conceal income that escaped the tax authorities and whose effective beneficiary was Rato. The undeclared amounts are slightly over 7 million. The risk countries used were Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland, Britain and Gibraltar. The report says that Rato worked as an advisor for Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica in 2013, 2014 and 2015, making 730,000 in the process. Yet none of this income was declared; instead, Telefonica paid Kradonara, a firm controlled by Rato, and Kradonara in turn was invoiced by Arada, another Rato firm that does not pay taxes because of its accumulated losses. The report contains false or erroneous data that the Tax Agency had the ability to detect a long time ago Rodrigo Rato Arada is considered by investigators to be a key element in Ratos corporate network. The company has also received payments from tax havens and from Ratos speaking engagements. It has enough tax credit to ensure that owed taxes are reduced to 0, notes the report. Following his tenure as IMF chief between 2004 and 2007, Rato returned to Spain and delivered 39 speeches, which he charged through Arada. Between 2007 and 2014 he invoiced 1,409,334.38, representing an average of 36,136 per talk. Fall from grace Once a powerful figure within the PP, Rato has since fallen from grace and has become entangled in three criminal investigations. Besides the alleged tax irregularities committed by the former politician in his private business dealings, the courts are investigating kickbacks he allegedly accepted to favor specific firms while he headed Bankia, a Spanish lender that had to be nationalized in 2012. Rato is also being investigated in connection with the black credit cards secretly issued by Bankia and its predecessor, Caja Madrid, to its top executives. The monthly credit on each card, which beneficiaries used for personal purposes, was not counted as part of their wages and the money went undeclared. English version by Susana Urra. Anti-terrorism laws have prompted operators in Poland to disconnect around 12 million SIM cards across the country. The legislation was introduced by the Polish parliament last year, with the countrys ministry of digitalisation imposing a deadline of February 1st for prepaid SIM owners to register with their operators. Subscribers were warned that any SIMs not registered by this deadline would be disconnected. Regulator UKE confirmed that data provided by the countrys operators showed that 68.7% of Polands prepaid SIMs had been registered before the deadline, with around 12 million being disconnected. These figures are estimates generated from data gathered by the Polish electronic communications office. Data submitted by Virgin Mobile Poland was also used to calculate the estimates, with the operators president Grazyna Piotrowska-Oliwa confirming that it had disconnected 59,000 prepaid SIM cards, amounting to roughly 14% of its user base. Registering a SIM card provides the operator with the subscribers name and social security number for Polish nationals. Foreign nationals must disclose their passport or residence numbers. The new registration laws are aimed at making it harder for criminals and terrorists to use mobile phones anonymously. Similar measures have been introduced in several markets globally, with Nigerias one of the most prominent due to the dispute that arose between the countrys government and its market leader MTN. After being ordered in 2015 to disconnect unregistered SIM cards on the pain of financial penalties, the market leader was hit with a $5.2 billion fine after it failed to do so. It eventually managed to negotiate the fine down to $1.67 billion but has since complained of its harassment by the Nigerian government. The bribery scandal involving Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht continues to rock Latin America, with Colombias government demanding more information and asking the attorney generals office to move forward with an investigation. Odebrecht's offices, guarded by police. ERIKA SANTELICES (AFP) On Tuesday, the attorney generals office said that part of a bribe paid to a former senator arrested at the beginning of the year ended up in the electoral campaign fund of President Juan Manuel Santos in 2014. On January 14, Otto Bula, a former Liberal Party congressman, was arrested. At the time, the deputy attorney general, Maria Paulina Riveros, said Bula was hired by Odebrecht in August 2013 to help it secure a contract to help build part of a major road network in Colombia. Bula was accused of receiving a $4.6 million commission. On December 22, Odebrecht agreed to pay US, Brazilian and Swiss prosecutors $3.5 billion It has been established that of that amount, Bula organized two transfers toward Colombia that were monetized for a total of $1 million, the beneficiary of which was the Santos Presidente-2014 campaign, reads a statement issued by the attorney generals office released on Tuesday, adding that of the $1 million, a 10% commission had been discounted in favor of third parties already identified by the attorney generals office. Roberto Uribe, Santoss campaign manager in 2014, has rejected the accusations, releasing a statement saying he has never met Otto Bula and that no donations were received during the campaign and that the countrys electoral commission subsequently audited the campaign accounts. Tuesdays events are the latest accusations involving alleged bribes by Odebrecht in Colombia. On January 12, Gabriel Garcia Morales, a former transport minister under the government of Alvaro Uribe between 2009 and 2010, was detained by prosecutors. He was accused of taking $6.5 million from Odebrecht to guarantee that the company won a bid to build part of the so-called Ruta del Sol, a major highway project. Odebrecht is accused of bribing another politician to secure construction contracts On December 22, Odebrecht agreed to pay US, Brazilian and Swiss prosecutors $3.5 billion for bribing politicians and other officials in pursuit of lucrative construction contracts throughout Latin America. Otto Bula was arrested two days after Garcia Morales. He has been linked to a number of corruption investigations over recent years in Colombia. It has since emerged that Bula has mentioned 14 people, including former ministers, that he says are involved in Odebrechts web of corruption. Over recent weeks, an investigation has been underway into the possible involvement of Brazilian consultant Duda Mendoca, who was arrested in relation to the Lava Jato Petrobras corruption case in Brazil, in the election campaign of Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who was backed by Alvaro Uribe, and who lost to Santos in the 2014 elections. Odebrecht is believed to have paid $1.6 million to Mendoca to advise Zuluagas campaign. Uribe has asked the Colombian state attorneys office to investigate the allegations. English version by Nick Lyne. One of the many aspects that the drastic rise in smartphone usage has contributed to can also be found in cars - the infotainment consoles. Today, cars ranging from the most affordable price range include Bluetooth as a standard mode of connectivity, and as you rise up the order, you come across multiple features that relay much of a phones content on to a cars central console. These features typically include voice- and graphic-based navigation assist, voice control to activate personal assistants, audio settings, calling and messaging abilities, and in certain situations, photo and video playback from phone. With the rising number of smartphones and almost every carmaker opting for its own, customised infotainment console, the world called out for unified platforms that will combine all of these features, under one window. Enter, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, each designed to replicate your phones screen on the infotainment window and provide you access to calls, contacts, messages, music and navigation. Once reserved mostly for select cars in the higher price ranges, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now being included in less expensive cars as well. However, after having driven around for a week in the top-of-the-line Hyundai Elantra featuring both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Im finding it hard to really appreciate either as the absolute, one-stop in-car infotainment software that I would ever need. The Elantras own infotainment software actually seemed more up for the task, and although each have their own strengths, the weaknesses are quite glaring too. Apple CarPlay On this note, we begin with Apple CarPlay. Straight off, connecting your car with Apple CarPlay is much simpler. You do not need additional apps or tinker with settings of either your phone or of the car - simply plug in your Lightning cable to the USB deck here, and tap on Apple CarPlay on your central touchscreen unit to activate it. CarPlay also seems to be smoother and more responsive than Android Auto, just like the persistent difference between iOS and Android. After a weeks usage of both the systems, Apple CarPlay was consistent in connecting more swiftly, and even the overall infotainment system was also more responsive and faster in switching between options than Android Auto. The interface is typically iOS, with a single, ever-present Home button, and five main icons - Phone, Messages, Music, Now Playing and Back to Main that shows up as an icon with the cars logo - in our case, Hyundai. You may also see more apps on your CarPlay interface, depending on the compatible apps that you have installed on your iPhone. All of this leaves a gaping absence in India, at least as of now - navigation. The Apple CarPlay ecosystem does not support Google Maps, and Apple Maps is not supported in Indias versions of CarPlay, at least for now. As a result, if you would need navigation while using Apple CarPlay, you would need to separately use Google Maps (or any other navigation app) from your iPhone, or exit CarPlay altogether and use the infotainment systems default satellite navigation. This makes Apple CarPlay largely handicapped in India, seeing that a large section of drivers and chauffeurs nowadays rely on navigation assistance. You can access your contacts and recent numbers either through graphic, touch input, or via Siri. This makes it fairly easy to make calls on the go. However, when it comes to Messages, you can only see the list of the last 10 messages that you have received, but cannot see them being displayed on the infotainment screen. Instead, if you tap on a received message, Siri reads it out for you. This is possibly done to ensure your on-road safety and not let you keep your eyes off the road for too long. However, it would have been more proficient if there were speed-sensing restrictions, so that the driver could have accessed messages on the screen when the car was stationery. Apple Music, though, mostly works as intended, giving you views of Now Playing, downloaded songs on Library, a separate tab for Playlists, and a Browse section that includes new album suggestions and Apples own curated lists. Here, too, there is no keyboard input mechanism to search for new songs, and you rely on Siri for the same. Other compatible apps in India for Apple CarPlay include Audiobooks, and third party services such as Spotify, Stitcher internet radio, Pandora, CBS Radio News and other similar apps are not compatible in India. To sum up, despite being responsive and swift, Apple CarPlay is extremely restricted in India. You can essentially only make calls, hear up to the last 10 received messages and play your music. Most cars right now already support calling and music from phones via Bluetooth (even without graphic displays), and seeing how much of your personal conversations are held via WhatsApp and Messenger nowadays, it is practically only a cosmetic presence in your car, and not really functional. Android Auto On to Android Auto, then. To connect your Android phone to a car, at first you connect your phone via Bluetooth with the system, and then plug it in via USB. Prior to this, download Android Auto from the Play Store. Once you are paired with Bluetooth on the carousel, connecting your phone and switching on Android Auto from both the phone and the infotainment unit initialises a first-time setup, followed by a short tutorial and finally, the Home screen. In comparison, all you do for Apple CarPlay with iPhones is connect via USB and tap on Apple CarPlay from the head unit. See the difference? It is important to note that while Apple CarPlays interface is exactly as of iOS set against a dark background (you may or may not like it, depending on personal taste), Android Auto looks more lively, with buttons marked at the bottom of the touch interface and an abstract Android wallpaper governing the screen. It looks quite dated and low resolution, though, and noticeably less shiny as against CarPlay. It is also slower than both CarPlay and in our case, Hyundais own infotainment system, and tapping on any of the options leads to significant loading time. It is here that Apple CarPlay outdoes Android Auto, fair and square. However, Android Auto does seem to be the more useful of the two. For instance, you get access to your contacts and recent numbers, which you can tap on or use OK Google to access. You get messaging support as well, and here too, like CarPlay, Android Auto does not let you really read your messages. Incoming messages are shown as cards, and tapping on them will see Googles assistant reading it out to you. You can use voice assistance to dictate a short response, or even start a new conversation. Android Auto also proves more versatile here, and as against CarPlays SMS/iMessage support, reads out incoming message cards from third party services like WhatsApp, WeChat, Google Hangouts and Telegram (FB Messenger misses out here as well). This already makes it more useful than CarPlay, covering more essentials than Apples counterpart. The biggest boon, however, is Google Maps. Seeing that I still havent mastered the Delhi roads and resort to navigation help, having Google Maps around at the touch of a button on the head unit or the steering wheel was really helpful. You get a familiar layout, and Google Maps works as well on Android Auto as it works on any Android phone (it somehow tends to work better on iPhones). You also get comprehensive route details including traffic, and this hands Android Auto a major advantage over Apple CarPlay, although you will have to deal with the overall sluggishness of the entire system. When it comes to music playback, none of the services compatible with Android Auto work in India. These include Google Play Music, Deezer, Spotify and more, and seeing that you cannot stream audio with any app on Android Auto, you are left to synchronising your local music on your phone as playlists on Play Music, and then playing it via the Android Auto interface. However, we faced inconsistencies all through our music playback attempts, as the head unit often refused to play local tracks and played them via the phone (we used a OnePlus 3 to pair with the unit), and even updating all apps to the latest version did not seem to help. You get all your views here as cards, which you can swipe through vertically. Android Auto, in short, retains every essence of an Android smartphone, even including the lags and increased response times. Verdict While Apple CarPlay does have the cleaner, more responsive interface and better music playback, it is Android Auto that is more relevant and useful in India, at least for now. It is considerably slower than CarPlay, but makes up by being compatible with calling and contact access, messaging including WhatsApp, WeChat and more, and crucially for India, Google Maps. Voice commands work well on both setups, with both Siri and OK Google performing similarly in terms of taking dictation, commands and contact names. Googles voice assistant seemed a tad better at recognising the Indian accent, although it may vary with how you speak. We found Apple CarPlay the better system when we did not need navigation and most of our conversations were done via iMessages. However, seeing that such section of users in India would be much lesser than those using WhatsApp and Google Maps, it is Android Auto that takes the cake here. Neither are perfect, or close to being so, but it is Android Auto that has the larger dose of practicality here. As far as arrests related to Cyber crime are concerned, only 315 persons were convicted in 2014-15, of the 8,348 arrested during the same period. As per information shared by Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, over 700 different central and state government websites were hacked in a three year period between 2013 and 2016. Ahir shared information on these attacks with the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, through a written letter. Incidentally, Tuesday was also marked as the Safer internet Day. Ahir also shared some statistics on Cyber attacks accumulated by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), which recorded 199 website breaches of central and state ministries and departments in 2016. This number ballooned from 164 government website hacks in 2015 and 155 in 2014. As far as arrests related to Cyber crime are concerned, only 315 persons were convicted in 2014-15, of the 8,348 arrested during the same period. Indian governments online properties have been facing frequent cyber attacks, the most recent one being that on the NSG website. The paramilitary forces website was defaced with profane messages against the Prime Minister, along with anti-national messages. The hack was claimed by 'Alone Injector', believed to be affiliated with Pakistani operatives. Hacker group Legion, the outfit behind breaches of Twitter accounts belonging to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Journalists Barkha Dutt and Ravish Kumar, had also recently threatened to attack Sansad.nic.in, the website that provides email services for various departments under the Indian government. However, Legion never carried out that threat, which was made back in December. Attacks on Indias government websites have only been increasing over time. A microsite of the Railnet page of the Indian government was found hacked by terror outfit al Qaeda back in 2016. The hacked page belonged to the Personnel Department of Central Railways and was used for administrative purposes. Ahir said that the government is taking several steps to address the cybersecurity problem, including policy, legal and technical measures. The government has initiated an audit of its networks and systems. It will also share threat related information with stakeholders and will issue advisories through CERT and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPS). On Safer Internet Day, Google talks about adding Internet Safety to school curriculums in India As the globe celebrates Safer Internet Day - 2017 on Tuesday, 7th February 2017 with a theme Be the change: Unite for a better internet, Google talked about internet safety in India and how we can simplify ways by which Indian users can be safe online. The US-based technology giant is reportedly in talks with 4-5 state governments across the country to include internet safety as a part of curriculums in schools. Although, Google has yet to disclose the state names. We are trying to get into curriculum. Goa was one, we are trying to work with many more governments and central boards to make sure this becomes a part of regular discussion. There are 4-5 states (that are part of discussion), said Google Indias Director Trust and Safety Sunita Mohanty to reporters. As more and more users in India come online for the first time internet safety has become a necessity. For many years now, Google has been working on their Safe Browsing diagnostic Tool which works to warn and safeguard users against malicious websites and other such harmful content on the internet. Google has also developed an app analyser that is specifically designed to hunt for harmful apps in the Play Store, other apps and content on the web, that warns users about any unsafe applications. Microsoft's International Digital Civility Index score On the other hand, Microsoft released a survey conducted in 14 countries gauging the different attitudes and perceptions of teens and adults about the state of digital civility today through its Digital Civility Index. And it showed that 63% of Indians have reportedly been exposed to different online risks out of which, interestingly, males in the country reported more risks across different categories as compared to females. More than 77% Indian respondents reported concerns regarding unwanted sexual solicitation, pornography, cyberbullying and other online harassment which is causing a lot of damage to personal as well as workplace reputations. We can interrupt harassment, report it and reach out to the affected person. We could eradicate most cruelty, bullying and humiliation that occurs online if every bystander became an upstander, says Sean Kosofsky, executive director of the Tyler Clementi Foundation. Thankfully, no production lines were harmed, although that hasn't hampered the trolls in any way. A "minor" fire reportedly broke out earlier yesterday at the manufacturing facility owned by Samsung SDI in Tianjin, Northern China. Reported by Bloomberg, SDI spokesperson has been said to have confirmed that the fire was a minor incident, and broke out at the plant's waste depository area, leaving production lines unaffected. Samsung SDI, an affiliate of Samsung Electronics, was the company behind the infamous battery flaw that led to serial explosions and eventual global recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note7. Seeing that the company has already faced much ridicule owing to the manufacturing and design flaws that led to the exploding Note7s, any trace of fire or explosions, particularly at the same company's manufacturing hub, were bound to be noticed. With much of the world chuckling to the turn of events, SDI has since clarified that nobody was hurt in the fire, and no lines of production of batteries were affected. Following probes into the Note7 fiasco confirming the root cause as the battery flaw, SDI has reportedly invested $129 million in safety procedures to avoid any such mishap, ever again. That, though, probably did not include incidental fires at the very basic level of infrastructure the manufacturing plant. Despite Samsung SDI playing it down, The Guardian has reported that the one of the main components of the latest wasteland fire at SDI were discarded faulty batteries. Despite being played down as "minor", the fire took 19 trucks and 110 firefighters to finally be extinguished. The incident comes just as the entire world was beginning to forget about the Galaxy Note7, and look forward to the soon-to-launch Galaxy S8 lineup. Samsung Electronics has chosen mostly to stick with SDI for batteries of the Galaxy S8. Reassuringly, no harm was inflicted upon anyone in this fire, and we hope for similar reassurance with the Galaxy S8's eventual performance as well. Source The Samsung Galaxy S8 is not going to be announced at Mobile World Congress this year. But call us obsessive compulsive, it feels like rumour roundup time for Samsungs 2017 flagship, doesnt it? The Samsung Galaxy S8 is reportedly going to be launched on March 21, and will start selling almost a month later, from April 21. While Samsungs flagships have always been important, this years Galaxy S8 has much more riding on its seemingly rounded metallic shoulders. The Galaxy Note 7 was a flaming wreck (sorry, we just cant stop the puns on this one), and while Samsung still posted huge profits, it needs the next flagship to be a hit. To its credit, both the Galaxy S7 and S6 series were well received, so theres still reason to expect...umm...fireworks? Lets start with build and design To be perfectly honest, Evan Blass latest leak had us a little disappointed. The smaller Galaxy S7 was one of the last compact but powerful smartphones out there. Based on recent reports, the Galaxy S8 series seems to be going the big-phone way. There will apparently be 5.8 inch and 6.2 inch versions to this new device. They will still have glass and metal designs and for the first time, theres no home button on the front. While thats a good thing, Samsung is reportedly also planning to drop the bezel size, making the phones more compact than what you may expect with their screen sizes. However, this means the fingerprint sensor is now on the back, particularly, next to the camera sensor. Thats another change that were not very sure about. Nevertheless, we shall wait for the device to be launched before we say more. A new Super AMOLED display Those huge Super AMOLED panels will also sport Quad-HD resolutions and RGB pixel arrangement. This is actually a big change for Samsung, which has so far used a Diamond Pentile matrix on its displays. This means a diamond shape arrangement for sub-pixels on the display. Samsungs diamond pentile matrix had RGBG pixel arrangements so far. There are double the number of green pixels as compared to red and blue. In addition, the red and blue pixels are larger and diamond shaped. Such an arrangement allows higher pixel densities, but many dislike how images look on such a display. Some rumours even suggest Samsung will choose a 4K panel, but we don't have much hopes for that. It doesn't make much sense any way. So, the choice of an RGB matrix this time could mean better and more true-to-source colour reproduction, at the expense of some pixels. If you ask us, were really interested in what Samsung has to offer this time. Brains and brawns It seems Samsung has been hogging Qualcomms new Snapdragon 835 SoC, leaving no chance for others to use it. Reports say there will be no Snapdragon 835-powered devices at MWC 2017 just because Samsung had first dibs at the SoC. Now that could mean this years Samsung flagship will be Snapdragon 835-powered even in India. Over the last two years, the company has only announced its in-house Exynos run variants here. While the Exynos 8890 was quite close to the Snapdragon 820, it did offer slightly lesser performance. However, given how much it has on line this year, Samsung may launch the Galaxy S8 in India running on the Snapdragon 835. You can also expect the companys super fast UFS 2.0 storage on the device and 4/6GB LPDDR4 RAM. Camera Lets face it, Samsung did an absolutely stellar job with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edges camera technology. The company focused on low-light last year and it should do so this year as well. Evan Blass recent report confirms that the company isnt going to join the dual-camera bandwagon. Were not quite sure thats a very good choice by Samsung, but we also dont see much reason to complain if it can substantially improve last years camera. Artificial Intelligence You didnt expect Samsung to ignore the AI trend did you? Apple has Siri, Google has the Google Assistant, Amazon has Alexa and now Samsung is rumoured to be working on Bixby. It purchased AI firm Viv recently, which sparked rumours about a voice assistant on its next flagship and recent rumours say its going to be named Bixby. However, Samsung is no stranger to voice assistants in the first place. It has had the S Voice assistant on almost all of its devices so far. S Voice, though, is nowhere close to the other assistants mentioned above. Bixby should also take over voice support on Samsungs wearables as well. Now, while that does sound good, Google Assistant is integrated directly into Android, which means Samsung has its work cut out to make Bixby competitive. In addition, the company needs to improve on the existing options mentioned above. And thats all folks! Were of course interested in finding out how Samsung bounces back from last years debacle, but lets face it, the Galaxy S flagship is interesting nevertheless. Theres a lot left to find out, but these initial rumours do paint a picture of what Samsung has coming. We shall keep updating this story as and when we find more. Aura Energy announced on Wednesday that drilling of its two under-explored mineralised greenstone belts in Mauritania will commence shortly. The AIM-traded company said a group of shareholders opted for early exercise of unlisted options, unlocking $1.84m for the company, which will be dedicated to the exploration of those gold and base metal prospects. As such, the exploration project was now well-funded, and the company said it will soon begin an aggressive drilling program on its highly prospective gold tenements. It said the tenements, covering 175 square kilometres, lie along strike from Kinross giant +20 million ounce Tasiast Gold Mine and Algold's Tijirit gold tenements, which recently returned exceptional drilling results. The two areas were currently held under exploration permit applications and were expected to be granted soon. Aura is very excited to be a position, with the help of key shareholders, to commence exploration on its gold and base metal tenements in Mauritania, said executive chairman Peter Reeve. Auras strategy of focussing on development of its near term Tiris uranium project, despite the past weak commodity environment, and expanding into a very prospective gold and base metal package has been a great success and has the potential to transform the company and provide great returns to shareholders. Reeve said considering the large Tasiast Gold Mine was on the same belt just north of its project, and Algolds recent strong drilling results on its adjacent tenements, the potential for technical and commercial success in the eyes of Auras technical people was very conceivable. With serious interest finally coming back into the uranium sector, gold gaining strength again and economic growth driving base metals Aura is very well placed to make solid gains on both a technical and commercial basis across its projects. We are a different company from two years ago, and we plan to capitalise on that. Bowleven updated the market on Wednesday, saying that following the requisition of a general meeting on 24 January, Monaco-based private investment vehicle Crown Ocean Capital had continued to purchase Bowleven stock. The AIM-traded firm said in view of that, and ahead of the more detailed response within the circular convening the GM, it wanted to advise all shareholders of its view of the proposals and why it will unanimously be recommending shareholders vote against all resolutions. In the meantime, shareholders are urged to support their board and take no immediate action with regard to their holdings, Bowlevens board said in its statement. It said COC's intent was to take control of Bowleven without paying fair value, and it had no credible strategy to maximise the value from the company's key assets, Etinde and Bomono. COC's stated intention, according to Bowleven, would be to convert Bowleven into a holding company, stripping the cash from Bowleven's balance sheet, and leaving it in a precarious position potentially unable to fund the investment necessary to realise any or all value from its Cameroon assets. It alleged COC intended to remove the existing board and appoint their own representatives, placing the management of the company in the control of a single minority shareholder, with no remaining independent directors representing the interests of shareholders . This is exceptionally poor governance, delivering stewardship of the company into the hands of unvetted COC appointees and removing all governance safeguards for other shareholders. The board will lose vital relationships with the Cameroon government, key to progressing the assets and realising value, and lose its entire relevant oil & gas experience and industry relationships, the board explained. It explained that throughout its near-year long involvement with the company, COC had displayed utter inconsistency, with its first approach, in August 2016, to advocate an MBO. It desisted when management made it clear the offer price must be at a level the board could recommend, Bowleven said. COCs second approach was to support the existing management team, chairman and strategy, and to impose new non-executive directors, but Bowleven said the legal procedures were defective. Its third approach was to dismiss all board members, except the chief operating officer, who they reportedly had previously sought to dismiss. Ahead of our formal response, we wish to give timely advice to shareholders that COC's proposal has absolutely no merit, commented chairman Billy Allan. It is self-evidently, and solely, a means to turn Bowleven into a cash dispenser for themselves, by taking control of the board. Allan said, by contrast, the company was progressing exciting plans at Etinde and Bomono that had the potential to deliver material upside. We see a clear choice for shareholders between losing control of the company, or retaining substantial upside in an E&P company at a favourable point in the market cycle. Natural resource exploration and development company China Africa Resources announced on Wednesday that it has signed an Investment Agreement with US Lithium , a private Australian company, to acquire up to a 47.5% shareholding in USL. The AIM-traded firm said USL has interests in lithium exploration licences in Arizona and New Mexico, held through a 100% owned subsidiary company registered in the US. Its board claimed the transaction would not constitute a reverse takeover under the AIM rules, and as a result China Africa would need to continue to seek to complete a reverse takeover or face suspension from trading on AIM. I am pleased to announce this second investment which continues to build the China Africa business model, this time with the addition of lithium exploration and development interests in the secure operating environment of the United States, said CEO Paul Johnson. The funds from the initial investment by CAF will be used directly to fund a follow-up exploration programme which the US Lithium team are currently finalising. This planned work will generate systematic exploration data to further the knowledge of the four projects and will seek to qualify the exploration targets in advance of any future drilling programme. Johnson said the historic exploration data from all four projects was encouraging, and the presence of the historical lithium and tantalum workings in the New Mexico Project were particularly interesting. We look forward to relaying the findings from the US Lithium programme and related material developments as they occur. China Africa will continue to investigate further opportunities and has a number under advanced review. There of course can be no certainty that any commercial transactions will be undertaken until crystallised and published via regulatory announcement. Westmount Energy's shares are up 2% as it acquired a stake in Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd (EOG) to obtain a low-cost exposure to the Orinduik block in the Guyana basin. The company subscribed for about 3.13m shares Eco at 16p each, funded from Westmount's existing resources and a loan of 250,000 from chairman Gerard Walsh. EOG is a Canadian oil and gas exploration company with interests in the 1800 sq km Orinduik offshore block in Guyana and four offshore petroleum licenses, covering more than 32,000 sq km in the Walvis and Luederitz Basins in Namibia. Walsh said the motive for the investment in EOG was to offer Westmount shareholders a low entry cost for exposure to the Orinduik block. "The Orinduik block is operated by Tullow Oil Plc and is adjacent to the Stabroek Block operated by Exxon Mobil that contains the world-class Liza discovery," he said. The Liza discovery was estimated by Exxon to have recoverable resources of about 1.4bn barrels of oil equivalent, together with the recently announced Payara discovery. At about 13:20 GMT, shares in AIM-listed Westmount were up 2% to 6.38p each. British real estate investment trust Shaftesbury was under the cosh on Wednesday after Barclays downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight and cut the target price to 820p from 870p, saying it has seen more attractive valuations elsewhere. Barclays said the valuation spread between Shaftesbury and other London-focused companies is significant. Shaftesbury trades on a 2% premium to net asset value with a portfolio valued on a 3.6% equivalent yield, giving the stock an implied yield of 3.5%, compared to London peers Derwent at 5.7% and Great Portland at 5.4%. Shaftesbury was the second best performing stock of our UK REITs coverage last year, which is unsurprising given the tumultuous year of political and macro events, Barclays said. We believe Shaftesburys unique offering is a relative safe haven and the steadiest of crutches for REIT investors to lean on, but having seen its share price hold up well we see more attractive valuations elsewhere in the sector. The bank reduced its target price based on expected slowdown on rental growth due to rising occupancy costs. There is also a lack of external growth opportunities, Barclays said. But in our view, current stock pricing seems to be attributing negative value to external growth opportunities. Looking through the current uncertainty in the London market, we would maintain a strong preference for business models with the optionality of potential development opportunities and external growth. Shares dropped 3.5% to 869.50p at 0925 GMT. Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT Google Ad The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Tell us more You are seeing these quotes based on previous browsing related to sectors such as New York-based investment bank Moelis & Co has reportedly been chosen by Saudi Aramco to advise it on its massive initial public offering. The boutique bank had previously been shortlisted by the Saudi Arabian oil company to help in its selection of underwriting banks for its public share sale. The company is hoping to sell less than 5% of its operations, which was expected to fetch around $100bn, easily making it the world's largest flotation. Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group holds the position as the current largest IPO, after raising $25bn in 2014. Several other deal-makers were reported to have been in the running to take on the job as a key advisor to Saudi Aramco, but the boutique investment bank appears to have won out. The IPO is thought to be a significant step towards the restructure of the economy in the country, as part of its long term plan known as Saudi Vision 2030. It hopes to reduce its dependency in oil revenues during the next 13 years. Oil prices have fallen from more than $110 per barrel in 2014 to below $30 in 2015, before its current level of around $55 per barrel. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries recently agreed to reduce oil production in an attempt to drive prices higher. JPMorgan Chase has already been chosen as an advisor for the IPO, which will list the company initially in Riyadh, but also in London, New York and Hong Kong to gain more access to investors. The chief executive officers of three of the biggest airlines in the US are due to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday, after sending a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urging action against government subsidies given to its competitors in the Gulf. The CEOs of Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines wrote the letter to Tillerson last week, putting forward their opposition to subsidies given to the likes of Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways. They will now meet with Trump in Washington for the first time, hoping for his administration to put the pressure on to allow their companies to compete with their Gulf rivals. "The Gulf carriers have received over $50 billion in documented subsidies from their government owners since 2004," the CEOs said in the letter to Tillerson. "If left unchecked we will continue to see the Gulf carriers expand in the U.S. market, causing further harm to hard working Americans." Open Skies agreements currently dictate that carriers can fly freely from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to the US, something the airline bosses have also taken issue with. They said that the aforementioned airlines are "abusing the agreements, and our government has done nothing to stop them." Gulf carriers have always rejected the assumption that they are given preferential treatment however, with Etihad CEO James Hogan telling CNN that it will have to see how Trump's policies will affect its business. "In regards to how that's addressed moving forward we will have to wait and see. At the end of the day you can only work with the issues that are in front of you. If those issues are raised again, we will tackle them," Hogan said. Guy Verhofstadt , the chief negotiator for the European Parliament in upcoming Brexit negotiations, has said the EU is in danger of disappearing as it comes under pressure from populist movements. Verhofstadt, the former prime minister of Belgium and head of the Liberal and Democrat Alliance in the EU, told the BBC World Service that the bloc must reform in the very near future. He cited various factors which are putting pressure on the European project in the aftermath of Brexit, including those from further afield such as the foreign policies of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. "Then there's also the threat of jihadism and then internally we have enormous pressure by nationalists, populists, the whole question of Brexit, so it's an existential moment for the European Union," he said. Verhofstadt added that it was "now the time to reform, otherwise it could disappear." The Belgian is expected to lead a team of stern negotiators from Europe as Theresa May's government prepare to invoke Article 50 and formally begin the process for Britain's departure. He has previously criticised May for creating an "illusion" that Britain will be able to reap benefits of the EU such as access to the free market, without allowing free movement of goods and people. "I think it creates an illusion that you can go out of the single market and the customs union and you can cherry pick and still have a number of advantages," he said. Greece required debt relief in order to ensure the long-run sustainability of its debt, the IMF said in its latest annual review of the country's economy, potentially setting the stage for a repeat of the 2015 Greek tragicomedy. In its so-called Article IV consultation with Greek authorities, the Fund also revealed that a split had developed on its board about if the country's current budget surplus targets were too ambitious. Combined, this recommendation and a petition to officials in Athens to fully implement the reforms Greece has signed up to, means Europe would need to pony up more funds to help the beleaguered nation, it said. This might prove anathema to Germany, especially ahead of upcoming elections in September. "Most directors considered that, despite Greeces enormous sacrifices and European partners generous support, further relief may well be required to restore debt sustainability. They stressed the need to calibrate such relief on realistic assumptions about Greeces ability to generate sustained surpluses and long term growth," the Washington-based lender said. The split on the IMF board also meant it was less likely that the Fund would participate in a third bail-out, as the German Parliament required in order for Berlin to be able to participate as well. Without those funds, risks were that summer 2017 would see a repeat of the Greek crisis seen in 2015, threatening a disorderly exit of the country from the euro. "The IMF has not yet ruled out participating in the bailout, but there is a growing risk that it will do so. If that happens, the Bundestag will need to vote on a new bailout involving bigger guarantees from Germany to make up the shortfall. There is a strong risk that this would not be passed, particularly not ahead of Septembers elections there. "And since Greece is reliant on bailout payments to cover its debt redemptions, the risk of default and possible Grexit has risen yet again. A flash-point will come this summer when large repayments are due to be made to the ECB and private investors," Jennifer McKeown, chief European economist at Capital Economics said in a research report sent to clients. McKeown also took aim at claims from Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem that the IMF had not accounted for Greece's recent economic performance and fiscal progress. Athens had managed to hit its fiscal targets thanks largely to the build-up of arrears, McKeown said. Furthermore, the research shop's 2017 Greek GDP forecasts were calling for a rate of expansion of only 0.5%, versus the 2.7% which the Fund had penciled in. In its latest annual report, the IMF said Greece's sovereign debt and gross financing needs (GFN) were expected to hit 160% and 20% of GDP by 2030, respectively, and to become explosive thereafter. The latter was because of the large proportion of debt then on a concessional basis which would need to be replaced by market financing at much higher rates - eventually rendering the debt unsustainable. Such a GFN framework better captured Greece's burden versus a stock-of-debt analysis, the IMF's economists said. Britain's departure from the European Union could lead to 30,000 financial sector jobs being lost, according to Brussels-based thinktank Bruegel . The thinktank, which has close ties with the European Commission, said that 10,000 positions in the City of London could be moved to other European cities or lost completely, with a further 20,000 coming from related jobs in law, accountancy and consulting. The cities most likely to benefit from the slowdown in London include Frankurt, Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam, but Bruegel warned in its report that banks across the continent would be vulnerable due to the shift. "Brexit involves risks for market integrity and stability, because the EU including the UK has been crucially dependent on the Bank of England and the UK Financial Conduct Authority for oversight of its wholesale markets," Bruegel's report says. "Without the UK, the the EU27 must swiftly upgrade its capacity to ensure market integrity and financial stability." Bruegel's report was entitled "Making the best of Brexit for the EU27 financial system" and deals with the financial impact on the remaining EU countries, providing suggestions on how it could be managed. A clear majority of those in London voted to Remain in last June's referendum, signalling the City's belief that the UK would be better off inside the EU and the free market. The capital's financial muscle is showcased by Bruegel as it suggests that more euros are traded in London than in the 19 countries where the currency operates, and its departure would represent a significant challenge for financial sectors across the continent. "Losing even partial access to the efficient London financial centre could entail a loss of efficiency for the EU27 economy, especially if financial developments inside the EU27 remain limited and uneven," the report added. Copper futures jumped early on Wednesday morning amid news that talks between BHP Billiton and workers at its Escondida mine had broken down. According to reports, that opened the way for industrial action of indefinite length starting on 9 February. As of 1025 GMT three-month copper futures on the LME were rising to $5,888 a metric tonne, up from $5,809 during the previous session. BHP Billiton owned 57.5% of the deposit and Rio Tinto another 30.0%. Local reports cited a letter from the union to its workers, sent on 7 February, according to which "unfortunately this strike means the company will stop producing, bringing output almost to zero." The main sticking point in the negotiations was workers' demand that no distinction be made between new and existing staff. Miners at Escondida had asked for a 36-month contract including a 7.0% wage increase and a 25m peso 'end-of-conflict' bonus, whereas management had offered a 48-month contract, no salary increase and a 8m peso bonus. Residential landlord Grainger has welcomed the governments recent white paper on housing, while it has made a good start to 2017 with progress on lettings and rental growth. On Tuesday, the government published a white paper with measures to build more affordable homes such as councils having to plan for their own needs and to give local authorities the ability pressure property developers to start building on land that they owned. It was also a pivot to help renters more, with the already announced ban on lettings fees. Chief executive Helen Gordon said that the company welcomes the white paper as it represents a significant shift in focus, rebalancing government housing policy toward a broader, more holistic approach, which moves away from primarily focusing on home ownership and recognises that the UK needs homes to rent, as well as homes to buy, to solve the housing crisis. She said that this should underpin Grainger's strategy to invest 850m into the private rented sector by 2020. Meanwhile, Gordon said that the company had made a good start to the year with positive progress on lettings and rental growth as it develops its secured private rented sector build to rent schemes, a market where the company's sees strong potential for growth. We are seeing the benefits of the actions taken to reduce our operational and financial costs. Our sales pipeline is building well and provides good earnings visibility for the full year We continue to be very active on the private rented sector acquisitions front and are appraising, reviewing and moving forward with a number of exciting opportunities. Last year the company made moves to reduce overhead costs and are on track to achieve its 27.5m overheads target, while the cost benefits are also coming from recent financing activity, with a cost of debt at around 3.7%, which is helping enhance returns as it reinvests into new private rented sector assets. The total sales pipeline for the 2-017 financial year are unchanged from last year to 83m, and completed sales fell slightly to 49m from 47m. Its sales performance is in line with expectations and the company expects first half volumes to return to normal levels this year, compared to the prior year where its saw increased activity ahead of the changes to stamp duty land tax. Like-for-like rental growth rose 3.4% for the year to date, including regulated tenancies and private rented sector homes, while there was a 2.8% LFL rental growth on private rented sector homes, with a strong pickup in rental growth in January following a seasonally slower Christmas. There was also a 4.2% annualised rental growth on regulated tenancy rental reviews. The FTSE 250 company also announced that Mark Clare who will be joining as chairman. Shares in Grainger were up 0.87% to 248.24p at 0842 GMT. Independent oil and gas exploration and production group Tullow Oil announced its full year results for the year to 31 December on Wednesday, with sales revenue falling 21% to $1.27bn and gross profit down 8% to $546.9m. The FTSE 250 company said its administrative expenses were 40% lower during the year at $116.4m, with restructuring costs down 70% at $12.3m and losses on disposals narrowing 94% to $3.4m. Its goodwill impairment was 205% wider, however, coming in at $164m. Tullows exploration costs written off totalled $732m for the year, 3% smaller, with impairment of property, plant and equipment improving 59% to $167.6m. Its provision for onerous service contracts was $114.9m, a 38% improvement. Tullow Oil said its operating loss for the year was $754.7m, an improvement of 31%, while its loss after tax improved 42% to $597.3m. Operating cash flow was 20% lower at $774m. The clear highlight of 2016 was delivering Ghana's second major oil and gas development, the TEN fields, on time and on budget, commented chief executive Aidan Heavey. Production from TEN, alongside our other West African oil production, has provided Tullow with positive free cash flow and enabled us to begin the important process of deleveraging our balance sheet. Heavey said as the company focussed its free cash flow primarily on reducing debt, capital discipline remained critical. We have made excellent progress with our East African developments and are building a high quality exploration portfolio to grow our business. As I move to become chairman of the group and hand over to Paul McDade, Tullow has the right assets and expertise to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead. BHP Billiton was the top faller following reports workers at its Escondida copper mine in Chile vowed to start an indefinite strike on Thursday after the miner failed to produce an agreement following weeks of negotiations. The company said production would stop due to the strike. Rio Tinto, which has a 30% interest in the Escondida mine, was also on the back foot. Shares were higher earlier in the session after the miner said it swung to a profit in the year to the end of December thanks to a recovery in commodity prices, while announcing a better dividend than expected and a $500m share buyback. Royal Dutch Shell was under the cosh as it submitted a comprehensive decommissioning programme to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for the Brent oil and gas field in the North Sea, kicking off a 60-day public consultation. Meanwhile, a slump in oil prices put pressure on producers after data showed a build in crude inventories last week. The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday said crude inventories rose by 13.8 million barrels to 508.6 million. Analysts had estimated a build of 2.5 million barrels, a fifth consecutive weekly increase. Earlier, the American Petroleum Institute revealed late on Tuesday a 14.2m barrel build in its crude oil inventory last week, compared to a 5.8m barrel rise the week before and expectations for a 2.5m build. Brent crude fell 0.53% to $54.76 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate edged down 0.81% to $51.75 per barrel at 1558 GMT. Hargreaves Lansdown was sitting lower as a broker downgrade offset improved half-year profits and a 10% increase in the dividend. Numis cut its rating on the stock to 'hold' from 'buy' due to its recent strong run. Going the other way, housebuilders continued to rally a day after the government released its housing white paper. The white paper outlined the governments strategy for solving the housing crisis, including measures to support more affordable homes for the rental market and accelerating construction. One of the most striking points we found in the white paper was the governments view that, in its view, those developers offering more modern methods of construction (mmc) should be favoured over those that dont when planning is given/govt land is sold off, HSBC said. HSBC reiterated its buy rating on the sector and said it believes Persimmon and Berkeley will benefit most from the drive to favour factory built homes while Bellway and Crest Nicholson also offer value. The sector also benefitted from well-received updates from Redrow and Grainger. Housebuilder Redrow added 50% to its dividend after enjoying strong growth in the first half of its financial year and beginning 2017 with a record order book and strong sales momentum. Residential landlord Grainger said in a trading update that it has made a good start to the year with positive progress in lettings and rental growth. The companys chief executive Helen Gordon also welcomed the governments white paper on housing, saying represents a significant shift in focus, rebalancing government housing policy toward a broader, more holistic approach, which moves away from primarily focusing on home ownership and recognises that the UK needs homes to rent, as well as homes to buy, to solve the housing crisis. FTSE 100 - Risers Persimmon (PSN) 2,025.00p 3.47% Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 177.90p 3.37% Capita (CPI) 513.50p 3.15% Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 718.50p 2.57% Barratt Developments (BDEV) 508.00p 2.36% Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,499.00p 2.08% Next (NXT) 3,934.00p 2.05% Hammerson (HMSO) 565.50p 1.98% United Utilities Group (UU.) 943.50p 1.89% Severn Trent (SVT) 2,319.00p 1.89% FTSE 100 - Fallers BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,341.00p -3.42% Glencore (GLEN) 310.20p -2.41% Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,356.50p -2.29% Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,355.00p -2.24% Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,107.50p -2.16% Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,200.50p -2.16% Pearson (PSON) 653.00p -2.10% London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 3,081.00p -1.85% Antofagasta (ANTO) 821.50p -1.73% Anglo American (AAL) 1,312.50p -1.72% Armenian MFA: Lapshins extradition is gross violation of fundamental human rights Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement condemning the extradition of famous blog writer Alexandr Lapshin to Azerbaijan. The persecution and his extradition of Alexandr Lapshin to Azerbaijan is a gross violation of fundamental human rights, a restriction of freedom of speech and free movement which once again shows the deep chasm between dictatorship and democracy. That will not stop the flow of political, social and cultural figures, journalists and tourists to Artsakh, rather, it will increase and even multiply visits to Artsakh, the Ministry said. Belarus extradited blog writer Alexandr Lapshin to Azerbaijan on Tuesday, February 7. Lapshin, 40, was arrested by Belarusian authorities on December 15, 2016 in Minsk, at the request of the Azeri authorities, who demanded his extradition because of his visits to the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic. The journalist visited the Artsakh Republic in April 2011 and in October 2012, and later in his blogs called for international recognition of Artsakh. In its December 16 statement, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor Generals Office said Lapshin illegally visited Azerbaijans breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh without asking permission from Azerbaijani officials. On January 20, the Belarusian Prosecutor Generals Office granted the request of the Azerbaijani authorities to extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan. Russian and Israel were against the decision but all diplomatic efforts were futile. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. A look at how U.S. trade gap could obstruct Trump's economic vision By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON The U.S. trade deficit hit a four-year peak in 2016 and is posing a tough challenge to President Donald Trump's drive to shrink the deficit, accelerate the economy and create many more jobs. Trump's combative stance toward America's trading partners may not help. The president has threatened to slap punitive tariffs on imports from China, Mexico and other nations deemed to be trading unfairly. If those frictions were to fuel a trade war, it could actually worsen the U.S. trade gap. Here's what's at stake. Q: What is America's trade deficit? A: The deficit measures how much the value of the goods and services the nation imports exceeds the value of its exports. For 2016, the deficit totaled $502.3 billion the gap between $2.711 trillion in imports and $2.209 trillion in exports. Q: Was the 2016 deficit unusually large? A: Not by the standards of recent history. But higher and higher U.S. trade gaps have become a long-running trend. (The last time the United States enjoyed a trade surplus was 1975.) The deficits shrank somewhat after the Great Recession of 2007-2009, which cut Americans' appetite for both domestic and foreign-made products. But as the U.S. economy has regained momentum, the deficit has widened again. A key reason: More financially secure American consumers have grown confident enough to spend more on imports. Yet the same time, weak economies abroad have kept a lid on U.S. exports. So has a more highly valued dollar, which makes U.S. products more expensive overseas. Q: Why can't the world's biggest economy run trade surpluses or at least smaller deficits? A: That's a question Trump posed repeatedly during the campaign. He heaped blame on misconceived trade deals, which he said have exploited the United States while rewarding other nations. Private economists say the answer is hardly so simple. A nation's trade surplus or deficit, they note, reflects diverse factors, including how strong consumer spending is at home and abroad and the value of, say, the U.S. dollar against other currencies something the United States can't easily control. What's more, the United States, as a highly advanced economy, pays higher wages than many developing nations do a potential disadvantage on trade. Q: How does Trump plan to address the trade deficit? A: One complaint he lodged during the campaign was that other nations, notably China, were cheating the United States by manipulating their own currency to keep it undervalued. By doing so, these nations could make their goods less expensive abroad than similar American products. Trump also attacked the North American Free Trade Agreement, which two decades ago created a free trade area covering the United States, Canada and Mexico, as a catastrophe which he would renegotiate to better protect American workers and goods. Trump has also proposed imposing punitive tariffs as high as 45 percent against such countries as China and Mexico if they don't stop what he calls unfair trading practices that he says have cost millions of American manufacturing jobs. Doing so, however, would likely make countless goods that the United States imports from those countries think avocados and tomatoes far more expensive for Americans. Q: Do economists generally think Trump's policies would succeed in shrinking the trade deficit and restoring many American factory jobs? A: Many economists are worried. They say they fear that Trump's threats would not only fail to produce more favorable trade terms for U.S. companies and workers but also trigger tit-for-tat trade wars with other nations. Other nations could retaliate by raising the tariffs they impose on U.S. goods. Q: Has this ever happened before? A: Yes. Congress approved the Tariff Act of 1930, known as the Smoot-Hawley Act, to fight the effects of a deepening downturn. The law raised tariffs on imports in an effort to protect American jobs. Instead, it led other countries to retaliate, and global trade shrank. Eventually, a severe recession turned into a global Great Depression. Q: Could that happen again? A: Most economists don't think Trump's efforts will trigger anything like what happened in the 1930s. But there's concern that the president could incite a trade war that would harm the U.S. economy. A more optimistic view is that Trump will use tough talk to gain trade concessions from other nations and give the United States a more advantageous playing field. Q: Could this approach significantly shrink the chronic trade deficits? A: Few think so. But if Trump could manage to forge better trade agreements, and if those deals helped increase U.S. exports while holding down imports, the U.S. trade gap would narrow as a result. The economy would accelerate, too. Trade is again expected to be a drag on the economy in 2017, but economists have forecast that other factors, including solid consumer spending, will lift the economy to growth of around 2.5 percent. Even stronger expansion is expected next year if Trump succeeds in winning Congress' approval of his stimulus program of tax cuts, deregulation and increased infrastructure spending. Most forecasters think those initiatives would deliver a bigger economic boost than Trump's efforts to shrink the trade deficit. A Biomedical Science student is helping to fight a disease that threatens millions of people in some of the poorest countries in the world. James Cooper has been contributing to vital De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) research after being awarded a grant by the Wellcome Trust. The 22-year-old has joined a team that is developing drugs to combat neglected tropical diseases, namely Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, caused by a parasite carried by the tsetse fly. This is in line with the World Health Organisation's efforts to eliminate the disease by 2020. James said: "The work, led by Dr Avninder Bhambra, is vital because the drugs used to treat the disease are outdate and have unwanted side-effects, in some cases even death. "It feels good doing something to benefit others - and it's great to know the research will be taken forward." James spent eight weeks helping create a potential new treatment after receiving the Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholarship, aimed at providing promising undergraduates with hands-on research experience. He said: "I was thrilled to receive such a competitive grant. "The experience I gained was invaluable. In a short space of time I learned new methods, how to use a variety of laboratory equipment, and became proficient in completing tasks to deadline. "I got the opportunity to meet and work alongside international students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, and attend guest lectures. "It was a really fun experience and has provided me with skills I can take forward." RELATED NEWS NHS placement gives employability boost to DMU Biomedical Science graduate Vivian bounces back to be voice of Biomedical Science students Find out more about DMU's Biomedical Science student at our next Open Day James is continuing to contribute to the programme through his final-year project. He said: "The drug discovery research was based around what we expect to be toxic to parasites. The next stage is to test compounds against human cells." James is currently applying for a PhD, with his eventual career goal to become a research scientist - something he'd never even thought about before coming to DMU. He said: "I was looking to study something in the field of biology and DMU's Biomedical Science course looked interesting and had the Institute of Biomedical Science accreditation." James has found studying at DMU "inspiring" and there is no doubt about his favourite course feature or university highlight - the Research and Innovation module and two final-year #DMUglobal trips! He said: "The first was to Copenhagen to attend the annual congress for the European Society of Medical Oncology. I had the chance to attend talks from world-leading medical professionals, which was inspiring for someone with my desire to pursue a career in research. "The second trip involved me giving scientific presentations to public and private schools in Bermuda, as part of Dr Carika Weldon's #ScienceWithScientists 2016 tour, and focused on developing my presentation skills for employment and my final-year project." Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that he's grateful to President Donald Trump for showing "the true face of the US". Khamenei told a gathering of Iran's air force commanders in Tehran that the new US administration has shown the world "the depth of corruption in US government", according to quotes published by Iran's semi-official MEHR news agency. Khamenei reportedly told the commanders: "We however thank this new guy in the White House, since he largely did the job we had been trying to do in the past decades: to divulge the true face of the US. We had been working to show the world the depth of corruption in US government and ranks and files of the ruling elite; Trump did it in few days after coming to the White House." He added, "Their claims to human rights are no longer tenable." Khamenei also made an apparent reference to the five-year-old son of an Iranian mother who was detained at a US airport following Trump's ban on visas for seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. According to Iran's official news agency, IRNA, the Ayatollah said, "Presently, too, by embarking on such actions, like putting handcuffs on a five-year-old kid, he [Trump] is demonstrating the reality behind the American human rights." Khamenei's comments come amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US since Trump became president. The travel ban and sanctions enacted by the Trump administration, coupled with missile testing by Iran, have contributed to the deteriorating relationship. Concerns have been raised over the future of a deal, brokered by the Obama administration, which requires Iran to heavily restrict its nuclear program. Trump has frequently criticised the deal. On Saturday, a day after the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions over an Iranian ballistic missile test, US Defense Secretary James Mattis called Iran "the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world". Two days earlier, Trump had tweeted that "Iran has been formally PUT ON NOTICE" and should have been "thankful" for the "terrible deal" brokered by the Obama administration. He declined to rule out military action against Iran. But a senior Iranian adviser to the Ayatollah, Ali Akbar Velayati, dismissed Trump's remarks as "baseless ranting". And this is not the first time that the Ayatollah has spoken in such terms about the US President. In November, during the election race, Khamenei lambasted both Trump and Hillary Clinton for revealing what he called the moral shortcomings of the US. After several years of major thematic architectural exhibitions Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is taking up the monographic exhibition once more focusing on a new generation of pace-setting architects in the series The Architects Studio. The ambition is to shape a versatile showcase of developments among contemporary architects and in their work from the prestige projects of the star architects at the beginning of the millennium to a more sustainable and socially conscious architecture of today taking on the challenges of globalization. View gallery Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Zhongshan Road Renovation, Hangzhou, 2009. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, China Academy of Art Xiangshan Campus, Hangzhou, 2007. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Ningbo History Museum, Ningbo, 2008. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Ningbo History Museum, Ningbo, 2008. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Wa Shan Guesthouse / China Academy of Art Xiangshan Campus, Hangzhou, 2013. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Wa Shan Guesthouse / China Academy of Art Xiangshan Campus, Hangzhou, 2013. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT From Norman Foster, Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel shown earlier at Louisiana, to Wang Shu, Alejandro Aravena and Tatiana Bilbao. The first exhibition focuses on the Chinese architect Wang Shu (b. 1963), who together with his wife Lu Wenyu stands at the head of Amateur Architecture Studio based in Hangzhou in China. The name of the studio underscores the vision of letting spontaneity, available materials and local culture and building traditions form the basis for an architecture which in Wang Shus own words should be a a house rather than a building. The innovative practice that typifies Amateur Architecture thus emphasizes simple functionality over spectacular form, restoration over new construction, local traditions over global standardization. Amateur Architecture Studio, Wa Shan Guesthouse / China Academy of Art Xiangshan Campus, Hangzhou, 2013. Photo Iwan Baan At a time when Chinas explosive urbanization is undermining the rural areas leaving marks of cheap concrete construction everywhere, Wang Shu works against this tendency by re-using materials from the buildings that are systematically demolished and rebuilt after western models by the Chinese authorities. With projects like the Ningbo History Museum and the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Amateur Architecture insists on directing attention towards Chinese history, philosophy, landscape and culture and thus distancing itself from the influence of western culture, which also in China is a clear consequence of globalization. View gallery Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Author Photography Published 08 February 2017 SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Regeneration of the Wencun village, 2016. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Hangzhou, 2016. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Ningbo History Museum, 2008. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Amateur Architecture Studio, Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art, 2007. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT The City of Hangzhou, 2016. Photo Iwan Baan SHARE PIN IT Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu Amateur Architecture Studio at the exhibition SHARE PIN IT The exhibition is organized in close collaboration with Amateur Architecture Studio and will present a number of selected projects as well as a more general introduction to traditional Chinese culture and philosophy as declared sources of inspiration for Wang Shu. In addition Amateur Architectures installation At The Parallel Scene from the 2016 Venice Biennale will form part of the exhibition. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Ayanna Nneka Smith has been missing since Jan. 21 and is feared to be dead. Smiths family held a vigil Monday night in honor of their daughter. The vigil was held around the flagpole at Hillcrest Elementary School where Smiths seven-year-old son attends. Smith also attended the school, making the vigils place significant. Since her disappearance on Jan. 21, the family and friends of 26-year-old Smith have been seeking her return home. She would have celebrated her 27th birthday on Feb. 5. The Enterprise Police Department arrested Malcolm Theotis Hunter, 29, of Enterprise on Feb. 2 on the charge of murder. The department has not said what led them to believe Hunter killed Smith. Annette Whitton Director of Childrens Ministry Hillcrest Baptist Church spoke during the vigil reminding those in attendance that even through the pain has been great since Smiths disappearance, the power of God is greater. God has a plan and we pray something good will come out of this, said Shirley Dear, a teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School. WEST POINT, Ga. -- A man wanted in the deaths of three Florida women died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday evening and his female companion was captured after a standoff with Troup County sheriff's deputies at a west Georgia motel, according to Georgia's Troup County sheriff's office. After being surrounded by deputies and U.S. Marshals at the West Point Motel Tuesday afternoon, William "Billy" Boyette, 44, allowed hius companion, 37-year-old Mary Rice, to leave the motel room where they were trapped. Shortly after she was taken into custody, sheriff's deputies heard a single gunshot around 6 p.m. Eastern time and later found Boyette dead of single gunshot wound inside the motel room. Boyette and Rice had been on the run for days and were suspects in the deaths of Alicia Greer, 30, and Jacqueline Jeanette Moore, 39, whose bodies were found at the Emerald Sands Inn in nearby Milton, Fla., on Jan. 31. Investigators say the two drove across the state line and fatally shot Peggy Broz, 52, in Lillian, Alabama, on Friday, before taking Broz' car. That same car, according to Dominic Guadagnoli of the U.S. Marshals Service, was seen at the motel in West Point on Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. by a resident who called sheriff's deputies. After deputies confirmed the car was the same one reported stolen, additional law enforcement from the U.S. Marshals Office and the Georgia State Patrol SWAT squad joined in the standoff. Authorities in Alabama had issued capital murder warrants Tuesday as the search continued across two states for Boyette and Rice who had been spotted on numerous surveillance cameras over several days. Agencies across the Panhandle and southern Alabama earlier had been told to consider Rice a person of interest in the attacks. On Monday she was upgraded to an official suspect. Authorities said she had multiple chances to flee or ask for help. She also has been spotted on surveillance video entering stores on her own. In Alabama, sheriff's investigators named the two in the capital murder warrants and said in a news release that Rice was with Boyette when Broz was shot and killed during the early morning hours of Feb. 3. They also had warned that the two should be considered dangerous and advised anyone who might see them to call 911. Belarus blackmails Russia (video) Last week, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made a speech that further strained the countrys relations with Russia. Lukashenko said his country can get by without Russian oil and will not sacrifice its freedom and independence for the sake of that oil. Clearly, we will get by without Russian oil. It will be very difficult for us," Lukashenko said at a meeting with journalists in Minsk. But freedom and independence "cannot be valued by any amount of money, not any figures," he said. "It is absolutely incompatible, to have independence on one side of the scale and Russian oil on the other. Unfortunately, this is not understood in Russia," he said. That is not the first time that the Belarus president has accused Russia in such a context. Political analyst Alexnader Markarov says Lukashenkos statements reflect the problems that his country is facing and his speeches are not directly addressed to Russia or the European Economic Union; he simply wants to obtain additional benefits [for him] through blackmail. Against the background of such speeches, even specialists cannot imagine that Belarus might leave the EEU since it depends on Russia both economically and politically. Daniel Ionnisyan, Chairman of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO, says, In this way, Lukashenko is trying to tell Putin to value his country. He [Lukashenko] does not say that they will leave the EEU otherwise, but he demands that Putin appreciate them as he might cause problems otherwise. Not only Belarus, but also other members of the EEU are very dependent on Russia. However, none of them has protested [Russia] like Belarus. Joesph Brackins always had his dad to help him tie a tie, and didnt master the skill himself until he was an adult. I learned to tie a tie on my wedding day in 2013, he said. If I had learned to do it when I was 16 or 18, it would have benefited me. Brackins, a local credit union employee, spent his afternoon Tuesday helping Northview High School students learn the art of tying a tie and evaluating their efforts for a tie tying contest sponsored by the schools Future Business Leaders of America chapter. According to Google, How to tie a tie is one of the most frequent How to topics entered into the companys search engine. Northview teacher Johnny Faulk sponsored the event to help young men at the school master a skill theyll need as they enter the professional world. Faulk said quite a few students dont know how to tie a tie, as many jobs require them, and this deficit could be a barrier to their professional development. Lauren Woodham is the president of Northviews FBLA chapter. She tried her own hand at tie tying Monday. She said professional attire is just as important for women as men, and that women have many fashion hoops of their own to jump through in the professional world. Woodham said female FBLA members often help out their male counterparts at FBLA events, where professional attire is required. We see them making errors all the time, she said. Joseph Houston was one of the students participating in the tie tying contest Tuesday. He said hes a pro at the skill, having learned at an early age. If you want to be successful, you have to know how to tie a tie, he said. Its something every man should know how to do. We obviously have a problem with basic civics knowledge in this country, and it leads to a lot of unnecessary conflict. A Jan. 29 Eagle editorial led the column with a quote from our constitution regarding lotteries and gift enterprises then went on to discuss gambling. Our constitution was specific in this matter prohibiting two forms of risk games. It does not use the generic term gambling, so the legislature has no authority to make laws about the other forms like casinos and race tracks. As written in our constitution, lotteries are quite clear. Gift Enterprise is also common in legal terms and is a form of lottery like raffles and bingo this is particularly clear since our constitution describes the selling of tickets to participate. I am indifferent on the subject of all these forms of gambling, and quite comfortable if it were in the hands of the people. However, I am against constitutional ignorance, allowing anyone to claim or inflate powers and disturb our system of government where the people are the source of power. The government is not the sovereign in this country and we should never encourage them to take action outside of power granted. It is irresponsible to propagate general ignorance in the populace. To be clear, the people of Alabama granted power to our legislature to make law prohibiting gift enterprises and lotteries this does not include poker or dog tracks. Only the people should be re-defining this via constitutional amendment. Our government is wrong in that it has banned all forms of gambling without authority. Glen Woodard Enterprise The town of Dothan has been growing for some time and that growth drives businesses to our small city. People come from small parts of Florida and Georgia to Dothan to get their shopping and eating, but why are we growing and shrinking at the same time? Dothan is growing in the restaurant industry, but that is about how far it goes. Restaurants are popping up everywhere, but the actual shopping plazas are empty. The Dothan Pavilion has stayed fairly empty with its lots in front of the Carmike 12, but other little spots like beside Publix on 84 are being built. Why not use the existing places that are already built instead of building new ones? Is the lease cost too high or is it not a profitable place to have a business? Not only in the Pavilion are the spots vacant, but Wiregrass Commons Mall is feeling it, too. There are more closed businesses in the mall than I could remember. Is the mall possibly charging too high of prices to be there as well? It hurts people when they cannot jump-start their business because of high leasing costs. Maybe that is why there are other places being built than using one giant pavilion or mall space. Nikki Harris Dothan Two people from Florala were killed Tuesday night when the vehicle they were riding in struck a tree in the road in Geneva County. According to information from Alabama State Troopers, the crash happened at 7:15 p.m., two miles east of Samson along Alabama Highway 52. Karen Lynn Creech, 55, and Roy Thomas Creech, 68, were killed when the 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck driven by Mrs. Creech hit the tree. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by Geneva County Coroner Robert Ward. Home Four wheelers Kia Motors May Set Up Its First India Plant In Andhra Pradesh oi-Sreejith South Korean car manufacturer Kia Motors Corp has been offered 600 acres of land by Andhra Pradesh government in the district of Anantapur for its first factory in the country. The manufacturer is speeding up its efforts to get a breakthrough in one of the largest car market in the world. {photo-feature} Most Viewed Car Photo Gallery Armenian lawmakers urge to stage protest action near Belarusian Embassy in Armenia (video) At the start of the four-day sitting of the National Assembly, Armenian lawmakers expressed their opinions on the extradition of famous blogger Alexandr Lapshin to Azerbaijan. Lawmaker Khachatur Kokobelyan said this is not an ordinary case and the National Assembly as a political body should express its position on the move. Speaker of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov said that as the chairman of the Armenian-Belarusian Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Commission, he officially announced that it was a shameful step. It is directed against Russian, against the settlement of the Karabakh issue and against Armenia. This is a dirty deal, Sharmazanov said. Nikol Pashinyan from the Armenian National Congress (HAK) said Lapshin was extradited to Azerbaijan by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) for his visits to Artsakh and positive opinion about the country. This is a matter of political importance equal to the extradition of murderer Safarov by Bulgaria. I urge everyone to gather in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Yerevan at 3.00 today to express our tough stance. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign affairs must recall Armenian Ambassador to Belarus and take tough measures, the lawmaker stressed. Republican lawmaker Khosrov Harutyunyan said Lapshins extradition was a blow to the CSTO system. I call on you to participate in the action but remember that Armenia has one strategic partner, it is Russia," he said. Leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) faction, Naira Zohrabyan, said this is unprecedented audacity and cynicism. I propose that Armenia freeze its membership to the CSTO until the issue is regulated on the legal sphere, she said. Don Johnston, President of the Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, gave the following address at this years AGM in Drogheda last week: Now that the first half of my presidential term has been completed, it is perhaps opportune to reflect on aspects of the work of the Society that are frequently overlooked. The annual series of lectures, excursions etc., are usually well advertised but many other activities are quietly undertaken and as a result often go unnoticed. Last year the Society assisted financially in the recording of the hitherto unmarked grave in Glasnevin Cemetery of the well-known landscape artist Henry ONeill (1798-1880). For several years from the mid-1860s the artist lived in Dundalk working towards a major unfinished publication devoted to castles. Although ranking with such luminaries as du Noyer and Petrie who did pioneering work on Irish antiquities, ONeill, a Dundalk native, is now sadly-neglected. He did more than anyone else to champion the presence of the Celtic cross in the Irish landscape and it is fitting that his final resting place now has a Celtic cross on it. The Society in recent years ago made a substantial contribution to the county archives to purchase the papers of the Taaffe family of Smarmore. If it wasnt for the efforts of the Society this archive would not have been purchased and maybe lost to the county for ever. Perhaps Louth County Council should make special provision for the purchase of such exceptional items. The Society along with the Drogheda Borough Council and the Old Drogheda Society also purchased nine drawings of Drogheda in the 1950s and 1960s by Thomas Markey. These are now in the Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda. We are now well into the decade of centenaries of the events from 1913-23 in Co Louth. The Society is co-operating with DkIT in producing a volume of essays on this period. A number of members of the society have written articles for the book which is due for publication in May. Donal Hall a member of the Council is co-editor of the production along with Martin Maguire of DkIT. Donals book dealing with Frank Aiken is due to be published by the Society in the near future. Jumping Church The 300th anniversary of the jumping church took place in 2015 at Kildemock, just outside Ardee when the churchs walls mysteriously relocated some two or three feet from its foundations. The jumping church holds a special place in the fertile folklore of Irelands smallest county. Contemporary accounts in 1715 mention a severe storm when the wall was lifted and deposited where it now stands. The story that a wall of the church once jumped from its original resting place has remained in the locality but there was no visible evidence of this extraordinary event until the ruins were excavated more than fifty years ago. A report has recently been completed and council member Conor Brady will in a future journal address all the issues raised in this case. Edward The BRuce 2018 is the 700th anniversary of the death and burial of King Edward the Bruce at Faughart. A study commissioned by Louth County Council some years ago suggested a number of improvements for the Faughart site, including the repair of the old church, the cleaning and tidying of graves and perhaps most interestingly, the erection of an interpretative feature showing the long history of the site. Having gone to the trouble of compiling a report last year, the County Council has been very slow to outline its programme in this matter. With 2018 drawing ever nearer and many expressions of interest from overseas in this anniversary, it is sad to see an opportunity like this to promote the tourist potential of north Louth/south Armagh neglected. Carstown House The Society is hoping that steps will continue to be taken by the authorities to preserve Carstown House, a rare example of a 16th-century Elizabethan manor house and one of the few such houses in the county. It is designated a building of national importance on the County Louth Record of Protected Structures. The fact that a late 15th/early 16th-century tower house was incorporated into the building gives it the added status of a National Monument (buildings of significance that predate 1700). The Society is actively engaged in trying to save the building and has received funding from the Heritage Council for a conservation architect to carry out an architectural survey. One of the highlights of the past year was the presentation, after the monthly meeting of the Council in June, of a series of essays written as a tribute to Noel Ross for his work over the past forty years as the longest-serving editor of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal. This annual journal began its life in 1904 and has since become one of the countrys most renowned historical and archaeological publications. Under Noels careful hand, a work of the highest standard has appeared year after year, its arrival being the highlight of the year for many of the Societys members. Apart from his role as editor, Noel has also penned articles in nearly every journal for almost fifty years. Forty years of service in any role deserves more than a passing mention, but forty years of patience and generosity dealing fairly but firmly with many eccentric and often highly-opinionated contributors to the journal was, we felt, worthy of more permanent recognition. Paddy McCourt has confirmed he will not be signing a deal to stay at Dundalk. But the ex-Derry and Celtic man does want to return to the League of Ireland this season. McCourt, 33, has been training with the Lilywhites for the last two weeks and went away with the side for a training camp in Spain. But boss Stephen Kenny brought the wide-man in as a favour rather than with a view to signing him, as he already had cover in the same position. McCourt who played for Irish league outfit Glenavon last term told the Irish Daily Star: I met Stephen a couple weeks ago. We are friends and live beside each other, and he asked me what we were doing. We were in his house having a coffee and it just came up, if you want to come in and train, keep ticking over, youre more than welcome. Thats how it came about. I know the papers then, they thought I was going to sign there. But I think in my preferred position they are well covered. In fairness to Stephen, he made that clear pretty quickly. But McCourt wants to sign for a club in the league and could come up against Dundalk this season. He added: Im hoping to find a club and get back playing full-time in the League of Ireland, or as close to full-time as I can. One hundred per cent, if the right offer was to come in, I would definitely be keen to have a chat with whoever was interested. Top Irish musicians The David Munnelly TRIO are coming to the Oriel Centre in Dundalk this Friday for what looks set to be a great gig. David Munnelly (accordion) from Mayo is widely regarded as one of the most influential Irish accordion players of his generation: he has played with legendary Irish bands De Dannan and The Chieftains, and for 15 years fronted The David Munnelly Band. In recent years, his skills as a composer and arranger have come to the fore and David now works on a wide variety of music projects, ranging from the multi-award winning pan-European accordion five-piece Samurai, and duo McGowan Munnelly through his experimental solo compositions, to the high-energy traditional Irish band Morga. Shane McGowan (Guitar) comes from an area in south Sligo known as lavagh. He comes from a musical family and started at an early age, giving his first public performance at the age of 5. His father, Harry is a well-known flute player from the area and was a big influence on him teaching him whistle and flute. Shane started playing guitar in his teens and was very interested in playing Irish music as well as rock, swing and Jazz. He joined Dave and the band in June 2010. Other bands he has guested and toured with are Lunasa, Zakir Hussain, Sean and Dolores Keane, Blas, Slide, Geraldine Mc Gowan, John Carty, At the Racket, among others. Joseph began to play traditional Irish music at a competitive level at a young age and by the age of 14 had won 5 all-Ireland tittles and 4 world titles. Most recently Joseph Joseph has toured with Ragus in mainland Europe and has spent time working in the National Folk Theatre of Ireland. He also teaches both fiddle and bodhran and spends much of the summer teaching in summer schools passing on his love and understanding of Irish music. Concert details: Friday 10th February | 8pm | Adm 15 Concession 12 Tickets available at:Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol. Tel. 042 9328887. Email: events@orielecentre.ie Taken on their own, sticks can be snapped. Bundled together, they are not so easily broken. This analogy appears to underpin the operations of The Marketing Group, which seeks to unite SMEs in the marketing and advertising industry so that each can punch above their weight on their own terms. The Marketing Group was launched in June 2016 as a holding company for a quartet of marketing and advertising agencies from the UK and Singapore led by Chris Reed (Black Marketing), Laurent Verrier (One9Ninenty), Ross Anderson, (Nice & Polite) and Aaghir Yadav (Creative Insurgence). While the entrepreneurs retained operational control of their own agency, grouping together under a publicly-listed umbrella enabled each to pool expertise, gain share liquidity and achieve the scale necessary to compete with multinationals. Since it went public on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, The Marketing Group has grown to become a collective of 17 agencies with 30 offices in 8 countries, including Australia, and EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) of 8 million. Callum Laing, co-founder and non-executive director of The Marketing Group, spoke to Dynamic Business about the growing collective and how SMEs can compete with multinationals by pooling together with industry peers. Dynamic Business: What problem is the group addressing for SMEs? Laing: Although Australia boasts more than one million SMEs, they attract less than 20% of total private investment, which makes it tough to transition from exciting, entrepreneur-led business to grown-up multinational company. Often theyre considered too small to warrant investment or too risky to attract it. Also, the lack of share liquidity with privately-owned SMEs can deters investors, who wonder how they will get their money back. The notion that you need to be big to get big, otherwise known as the scale paradox, is another challenge for SMEs seeking to scale. Its the idea that to land the biggest margin contracts, companies need to be perceived as big enough to handle them, regardless of talent or expertise within the business. One way to overcome these challenges is a agglomeration, which is a new collaborative approach we are pioneering at The Marketing Group. It involves a number of small businesses, within the same fragmented industry, grouping together under a central holding company which then goes public on a major global stock exchange. Each entrepreneur swaps private stock for public stock in the holding company but continues running their business just as they were before. Their brand, their hiring and investment decisions remain under their control and each year they contribute profit to the group they earn more shares in the public vehicle. Not a traditional M&A (mergers & acquisitions) earn-out but an earn-in. Dynamic Business: What extra muscle do SMEs gain from agglomeration? Laing: The agglomeration model offers entrepreneurs immediate scale and the benefits of being part of a much larger group, including a bigger consolidated balance sheet and access to a network of similar, like-minded small businesses offering products or services that can be offered to their own clients. Consequently, an entrepreneur immediately transforms their company from a small business into a large multinational public company, now able to compete for the largest and juiciest contracts and achieve better procurement deals. As a large public company, an agglomeration also provides share liquidity which opens the door to public market capital and investors that would otherwise shy away from the SME sector. For the entrepreneur, this liquidity offers the possibility of taking some cash off the table and provides a viable currency with which to fund tactical acquisitions or attract senior talent. The Marketing Group is an agglomeration of marketing and advertising agencies and will continue to focus on this sector, where we see significant growth opportunities. However, the beauty of the agglomeration approach is that it can be applied by entrepreneurs in any fragmented industry and across national boundaries. Where ever there are large numbers of small, independent companies there is the potential to roll those businesses together into an agglomeration. Dynamic Business: Does the group drive collaborations between its members? Laing: Unlike with traditional M&A roll-ups, we do not force collaboration and operational synergies on member companies but instead seek to empower entrepreneurs and their senior team to continue to run their own business successfully. Weve found that since the interests of all the entrepreneurs in the group are aligned, collaborations and synergies occur naturally which creates a more cohesive client offering and reduces costs. Just try and stop entrepreneurs from working together when theyve got a vested interest to do so! Dynamic Business: How many Australian agencies are in the group? Laing: We currently have two Australian companies in the group, Lead Generation Company based in Melbourne and Channel Zero in Sydney. Australia is an attractive market for us where we see significant growth opportunities. In November, the group announced plans to acquire several new of Australian companies. The Australian marketing and advertising industry is highly fragmented and comprises numerous small and successful agencies. This creates significant opportunity for them to grow through agglomeration model by joining The Marketing Group. The industry fragmentation together with the strong forecast growth of the sector in Australia, with add spend expected to increase 4.7% annually over the next five years, makes Australia a particularly attractive market for the group. Dynamic Business: What is the selection criteria for potential members Laing: Companies are often referred to us by entrepreneurs who are already part of the group. In any case, we have a preliminary discussion to find out more about the business, ensure the ambition of the founders matches ours and make sure they match our financial criteria. We have a due diligence team that carries out a stringent financial and legal audit, including a review of the companies audited accounts. Each business that joins The Marketing Group must be doing at least SGD 0.5 million in profit and be run by a leader in its field. Further, the founders must be committed to continue leading and growing their business and not just looking for an exit. Ultimately, the other founders have the final say on whether a new company can or cant be brought into the fold. Dynamic Business: What plans does The Marketing Group have for 2017? Laing: The Marketing Group has a strong pipeline of mature, profitable and debt-free marketing and advertising business ready to join the group which will be accretive to EBITDA and which will broaden our service offering and strengthen our position in important geographical markets. Ultimately, our ambition is to create a global digital and marketing agglomeration offering a full suite of services and able to compete internationally with the existing major players. The current market leader has 2,600 subsidiaries, so that may be a nice target for us to have. The Coalition has been urged to follow the example set by the UK Government and introduce legislation to deter big business from making late payments to SME suppliers. From April 2017, large companies and limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) in Britain will be required by law to publicly report twice a year on their payment practices and performance, including the average time taken to pay supplier invoices. Failure to do so will be a criminal offence. The regulations were tabled in UK parliament by Small Business Minister Margot James, who said in a statement that Britains 5.5 million SMEs were collectively owed 26.3 billion in late payments and this was impeding their ability to scale up. She added that the new legislation will address bad payment practices and lead to improved standards. Alan Osrin, the Managing Director of Sage Australia, told Dynamic Business that the accounting software company was encouraging Federal Government to consider similar legislation due to the prevalent corporate culture in Australia where late payment by big business to small business is seen as acceptable. Not being paid on time affects cash flow, profitability and ultimately a small businesss chance of survival, he said. It also has wider flow-on effects to the economy as hiring decisions are delayed and investment in innovation stalls. Our small business customers across the country tell us that late payment is still one of their biggest barriers to competing with larger suppliers. We know it affects their ability to invest and innovate. It is time for large businesses to stop habitually using smaller suppliers as a line of credit and to follow Sages lead by committing to paying small businesses in a timely fashion. Colin Porter, managing director of commercial credit reporting bureau CreditorWatch queried the utility of the UK legislation, noting that information on the payment performance of companies is already available in Australia. If big businesses were required by law to publicly report on how they pay suppliers in the way proposed, this wouldnt necessarily produce accurate reports, as it may lack integrity and would require regular auditing and process compliance he explained. As a bureau, CreditorWatch already collects payment data between businesses to accurately predict how they pay each other, be that corporates or small businesses. There is obviously greater integrity with an independent third party receiving mass information on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Sage Australia is not alone in calling for the government to take steps to address the impact of late payment culture. Cloud accounting provider MYOB has previously called for the introduction of a national prompt payment protocol to ensure small businesses are paid on time. MYOB CEO Tim Reed told Dynamic Business that his companys proposal involved Australian government and big businesses voluntarily signing up to protocol. He explained, For businesses and governments that do sign-up to the protocol, but fail to abide by the principles, a penalty would be incurred. See also: Big businesses can help eliminate barriers to SMB owners growing their super, says MYOB, Late payments impacting 3 in 4 small businesses EaP CSF Azerbaijan National Platform becomes instrument of official propaganda of Baku EAP CSF ARMENIAN NATIONAL PLATFORM STATEMENT ON THE PROPAGANDA INCREASING TENSION IN ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS February 07, 2017 Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Civil Society Forum (CSF) expresses its deep concern over the intensification of propaganda and lobbying activities by the Azerbaijani authorities aimed at paralyzing the negotiation process over the settlement of Karabakh conflict and ruling out any opportunity of peaceful dialogue. In this connection we should mention the glorification at the official level of Ramil Safarov, sentenced by the Hungarian court to life imprisonment for murder and extradited to his homeland, violent persecution of journalists and representatives of civil society, engaged in peace-building activities together with Armenian partners, constant provocations in the media, bribery of foreign public officials and MPs with the aim to involve them in propaganda campaign, obstruction to the operation of the OSCE Yerevan Office, which is the only one in the South Caucasus, the initiatives by the parliamentarians from the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party to recognize Yerevan as part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, etc. Under the threat of suffering the same fate as their fellow human rights advocates, non-governmental organizations of that country get more actively involved in the destructive activities of their authorities. In particular, it is a matter of concern that EaP CSF Azerbaijan National Platform not for the first time becomes an instrument of the official propaganda of Baku. On January 25, 2017 EaP CSF Azerbaijan National Platform came up with accusations against the establishment of joint Russian-Armenian Air Defence System, which allegedly bears a negative impact on peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, as well as on the statement by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov regarding the speculations about military solution to the problem. We, the representatives of Armenian civil society, are no less concerned about further militarization of the region during the last years and the hampering of its civilized development. However, if we are to protest against it, the point of departure should be the multibillion supply of heavy offensive weaponry to Azerbaijan by Russia, rather than hypothetical threats from the joint air defence system. That arms deal has already had its concrete consequences - numerous casualties on both sides in the April 2016 four-day war, provoked by Baku, throwback of the negotiation process to the 1992-1993 state It became a significant factor having determined Yerevans U-turn from signing the Association Agreement with the European Union towards the countrys bleak membership to the Eurasian Economic Union, and having damaged not only the European perspectives of Armenia, but also the entire EUs Eastern Partnership initiative. As for Sergey Lavrovs recent statements on Nagorno Karabakh, not being big admirers of the methods of Russian diplomacy and regardless of the dissatisfaction these statements caused in Baku or Yerevan, it should be acknowledged that they were in no way contrary to the principles of conflict settlement, underlying the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We consider it pointless to dwell on the incompetent interpretation of the documents of international organizations and ideas regarding the conflict settlement, which have nothing to do with reality, and are, inter alia, found in the statement by Azerbaijan National Platform. They just repeat word for word the official propaganda of Baku. Instead, we suggest returning to constructive initiatives - aimed at establishing dialogue and restoring trust between the peoples of our countries and the whole region - which have been supported by all our colleagues from the Forum, except the representatives from Azerbaijan. We would like to hope that Azerbaijan National Platform will demonstrate enough independence, civic courage and common sense for that. The endless exchange of confrontational statements, draining us of time and energy, diverting attention from the pressing challenges of the European integration and the progress of our countries, can never meet the joint interests of the Forum participants. Nevertheless, the position of the EaP CSF Armenian National Platform is that any provocation that may mislead, distort the true state of affairs cannot be left without response. Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders Google Ad PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT Google Ad The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Just make it stop! The Way I See It When you walk up the stairs in my house, you arrive at a landing on the second floor. To your right is an antique chest of drawers. Above it is... A true legend, if ever there was one Other Voices I once told Vince Dooley that two great things happened in 1964. I was born and he came to Georgia. He laughed at my attempt at humor. But I was... President Donald J. Trump has continued to use his personal Android smartphone despite security concerns, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Trump was concerned about losing access to his personal phone even prior to taking his oath of office, the Times reported last fall, citing unnamed aides who told reporters he worried about how isolated he could become in the White House without his phone to keep in touch with friends. The president told a friend he had given up his phone as security officials urged him to do, the AP reported last week. It was unclear whether he would be using a heavily modified BlackBerry like the phone President Barack Obama carried, however. Trump nevertheless has continued to use his personal Android to tweet, according to multiple reports. Mic Hijacking If the president were to limit his personal phone use to tweeting and its not clear whether he has it still could pose a threat to national security. Even if he isnt using the device for storing or sending classified information, having the device in the presidents presence still raises security concerns, maintained Andrew Blaich, a security researcher at Lookout. We have discovered sophisticated spyware that when successfully deployed can remotely access the phones microphone and camera, he told TechNewsWorld. Think about the impact an attacker could have if they could access the POTUS phones microphone during key briefings throughout the day. Telemetry features, such as GPS tracking, also pose a risk. Tracking the physical movement and geographical location of a target is classified information for high-value targets, said Israel Barak, CISO of Cybereason. Its also valuable information for an adversary. Using a commercial off-the-shelf smartphone by a high-value target like the U.S. president is an unacceptable risk, he told TechNewsWorld. When it comes to a corporate executive, balancing risk with functionality might lean towards using a commercial device, Barak said, but when it comes to a high-value national target, where the threat actors are sophisticated military-grade adversaries, thats a risk that cant be balanced in favor of a commercial phone. Safety vs. Convenience Obamas BlackBerry mobile phone was specially modified to be extra secure, even though BlackBerry devices, in general, are considered more secure than other phones. Thats because BlackBerry isnt just a phone. Its also a network. Traffic from the phone is encrypted and sent to BlackBerry servers operated by the enterprises or government agencies. The traffic also is encrypted when it goes from the server to the Internet. The tradeoff for all that security, though, is performance. The reason that BlackBerry isnt as popular as it used to be is all that encryption slows things down, explained Slawek Ligier, vice president of engineering for security at Barracuda Networks. Using a browser on a BlackBerry device has always been painfully slow, he told TechNewsWorld. The good news for the president, though, is that text-only tasks, such as tweeting, dont take much of a performance hit. Resistant to Change When it comes to their phones, many consumers resist change, and it appears presidents arent any different. Where Trump is concerned, usually the most banal explanation is the correct one hes used to it, it seems convenient, and hes stubbornly digging in his heels against the advisors explaining its a bad idea, said Julian Sanchez, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Hes also clearly not terribly technically sophisticated, and so probably doesnt grasp how risky it is, he told TechNewsWorld. If the president insists on using an insecure phone, can anyone stop him from doing so? Federal laws and regulations prohibit the communications of classified information, observed Michael Harris, chief marketing officer for Guidance Software. Even the president of the U.S. is required to comply, he told TechNewsWorld, but enforcing laws on the president is in the hands of the U.S. Congress. 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His stories and his story. Then Peruvian climate activist and feminist Maria Alejandra Rodriguez Acha adds another fresh perspective. Download or listen to this Radio Ecoshock show in CD Quality (56 MB) or Lo-Fi (14 MB) What happens when a behind-the-lines war reporter tackles climate change? This Radio Ecoshock. Im Alex Smith. Welcome to the journey. DAHR JAMAIL ON THE CLIMATE HUNT We are on the track of the climate truth-tellers. Our guest Dahr Jamail is one of them. Dahr is a journalist, and in the past, a war-reporter. Hes the author of 3 books. Dahr has been published in major newspapers in Europe and appears on TV. More recently, especially in the popular blog truthout.org, Dahr Jamail publishes deeply researched articles about our climate unwinding into dangerous territory. Dahr penetrated into Fallujah during the 2004 seige, and reported from Iraq without military protection. We discuss how his resistance to the establishment story shaped his work on climate change. Then we cover a half dozen big climate change stories you need to know. Download or listen to this 29 minute interview with Dahr Jamail, using these permanent links for CD Quality or Lo-Fi. SOIL BREATHING OUT MASSIVE GREENHOUSE GASES We get right to some of Dahrs most recent stories, and they are big ones. For example, he wrote We have released a monster: previously frozen soil is breathing out greenhouse gases. A few weeks ago, I interviewed the lead author of that soil study, Thomas Crowther. He told us this big soil feedback, every year as large as the emissions of the United States, was left out of the climate models used by politicians at the Paris climate talks. Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change dont include this soil feedback either. You can read about my interview with Thomas Crowther here, or listen to the interview here. THE ARCTIC In December, in truthout.org, Dahr wrote The Arctic Is Unravelling. Its well researched, with handy links. The unravelling of the Arctic is even more apparent now. This year sea ice in the Arctic hit the lowest level ever for January. Plus, a strange storm in the North Atlantic is expected to push another mass of warm air up into the Arctic. Temperatures will go as much as 50 degrees F. above normal! SHRINKING ICE Related to that unravelling Arctic, but not limited to the Arctic, Dahr also found 2016 was the Year of Shrinking Ice. Canadian scientist Paul Beckwith mentioned this on Radio Ecoshock, but we need to hear more, to grasp the enormity. Dahr talks to us about what he found. TRUMP AND CLIMATE We are talking about huge physical signs of abrupt warming that can be seen from space. In the face of this evidence, the incoming regime of Donald Trump will pump out even more greenhouse gases, while denying there is a problem. Who is behind it? It seems like the Koch brothers are getting everything they want. And yet even they are publicly worried about Trump instituting too many changes too fast. TV personality Bill Maher thinks our only hope to limit Donald Trump may be Republicans in the Congress. Are we that desperate? STANDING ROCK AND DIRTY OIL Dahr Jamail recently wrote about one of the battles to stop expanding fossil fuel madness, still happening in North Dakata right now. Im talking about Standing Rock. What is that really about? THE LONG GAME: CHANGING OCEAN CURRENTS All this frenetic activity out of Washington has stunned and worried the world. Its put my reporting in a bind. Let me give you an example. Dahr wrote about how an essential ocean current in the Atlantic could collapse within 300 years. Part of me says, I cant think anything matters beyond 300 days! Does the long-game really matter? Our guest Dahr Jamail is author or co-author of 3 books: Beyond the Green Zone, Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq, and The Will To Resist, Soldiers Who Refuse To Fight In Iraq And Afghanistan (forward by Chris Hedges), and The Mass Destruction Of Iraq, The Disintegration Of A Nation: Why It Is Happening, And Who Is Responsible. The last was co-authored with Willam Rivers Pitt. Find all of Dahr Jamails past articles at his web site here. A FEW NOTES FROM ALEX Im sad to see film-maker and ocean activist Rob Stewart has died, in the seas that he loved. We had Rob on Radio Ecoshock in October 2012, talking about his movie Sharkwater and his newer film Revolution. Its a real loss for defenders of the sea, and everyone who loves marine creatures. You can find my blog about that interview here. Meanwhile, January 2017 continued to be radically warmer in the Arctic. The sea ice there is again at record lows for the month, as reported by the National Sea and Ice Data Center in Colorado. We are witnessing one of the greatest geophysical events of the last few million years. Its possible Noahs great flood in the Bible records the moment when the land bridge at the Bosphorus gave way. Water poured in from the Mediterranean to create the Black Sea. It drowned many early human settlements in what is now Northern Turkey. As far as I know, thats the most recent geophysical event of a scale that could be seen from space. Now we have a new one: the ice of the great white Arctic is turning deep blue as the Polar Sea is revealed for longer and longer periods, within a single human lifetime. Thats a lot to cover-up, deny, or explain away, but some fools will try. Well see plenty more extreme weather, record precipitation events, fires and storm surges. But personally, I think the climate breaking point that will reach most humans first is likely crop failure. Not this year maybe, or the next, but this decade. This Spring Im planning to build a sunken greenhouse, a sort of hybrid Walipini. Ill record the process and let you know. Get to know our local farmers, and learn to grow what you can, even in containers on a balcony. We need to build resilience systems. Theres a whole online community for that, at resilience.org. MAJANDRA ACHA We hear lots of senior male scientists, politicians and experts from the big polluting countries talking about climate change. But the first and maybe the worst impacts will hit women who did little to cause the problem, especially in the global south. Women are taking the lead in climate activism all over. In this Radio Ecoshock program were lucky to connect with Maria Alejandra Rodriquez Acha. Shes a young anthropologist, teacher and activist who co-founded and co-leads an environment group in Peru. Known as Majandra, shes attended several key climate conferences, including the Paris COP21 meeting. You can download or listen to this 25 minute interview with Majandra Acha in either CD Quality or Lo-Fi, using these permanent links: I found Maria through this article she wrote in the Huffington Post: How Young Feminists are Tackling Climate Justice in 2016. She listed some upcoming meetings in that article. She gives us an updated list below. UPCOMING EVENTS RE WOMEN AND CLIMATE (submitted by Majandra Acha) CSW 61: http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw61-2017 Intersessional climate negotiations: http://unfccc.int/meetings/bonn_may_2017/meeting/10076.php COP23: http://unfccc.int/meetings/bonn_nov_2017/meeting/10084.php Allied Media Conference: https://www.alliedmedia.org/amc Young Feminist Leadership Conference (US): http://feministcampus.org/ You can also watch and listen to Majandra in this You tube video, posted in 2015 at the COP21 meetings, produced by Neongreen Network. BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT WEEK Next week from Australia, feminist, activist and Professor Petra Tschekert talks to us about climate on the ground in Africa and India plus the new IPCC report on 1.5 degrees C of warming. Well top that up with a vat of plankton. Its new science about a neurotoxin washing into the seas as the climate shifts. Be sure to join me next week, on Radio Ecoshock. If you can help keep this radio program going, find out how here. DAVID ROVICS: THE AGE OF ROBBER BARONS At the end of this program, I play a song by activist/artist David Rovics -a song for Trump times: Age of the Robber Barons. David recorded this one quickly for You tube. I worked on the audio a bit for radio, to improve delivery of the lyrics. It was posted on January 30, 2017 on You tube here. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will grant Energy Transfer Partners the final easement to finish the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), according to a court filing Tuesday. The permit will allow construction for a tunnel under Lake Oahe, a reservoir that is part of the Missouri River. Breaking: Dept. of Army statement announces approval of DAPL easement #noDAPL #DeFundDAPL pic.twitter.com/2o1DhGeLnQ Indigenous Environmental Network (@IENearth) February 7, 2017 This news comes just two months after the Obama administration ordered the Army Corps to conduct a full environmental review of the 1,170-mile pipeline and two weeks since President Donald Trump signed two executive actions to advance DAPL and the Keystone XL. Trump to Sign Two Executive Actions to Advance Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines https://t.co/RSzVormaWR @EARTHWORKS @earthisland EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) January 24, 2017 According to CNBC, the move is almost certain to spark a legal battle and could lead to clashes at camps near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, where hundreds of protesters are still camped out in opposition to the project. Donald Trump will not build his Dakota Access Pipeline without a fight, Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, said. The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fightit is the new beginning. Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far. This announcement comes after thousands of environmental and indigenous activists spent months living in camps near the Standing Rock reservation and pipeline construction site. Just last week, 76 water protectors were arrested following a clash with law enforcement at the reservation. The arrests came a day after federal officials claimed that the final controversial easement for DAPL had been granted. More recently, thousands of U.S. military veterans said they are readying their return to Standing Rock. We are committed to the people of Standing Rock, we are committed to nonviolence and we will do everything within our power to ensure that the environment and human life are respected. That pipeline will not get completed. Not on our watch, Anthony Diggs, a spokesman for Veterans Stand, said. In addition to granting the permit to Energy Transfer Partners for the $3.8 billion project, the Army Corps said it will no longer prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, which the Obama administration ordered early December. The ongoing Environmental Impact Statement process was deemed a necessary step forward by both the Standing Rock Tribe and the Army Corps of Engineers, Mary Sweeters, Greenpeace USA climate campaigner, said. The Dakota Access Pipeline poses a significant threat to the water supply of Standing Rock and to millions of other people downstream. Its construction has already desecrated sacred burial grounds and other historical sites nearby. Robert Speer, acting secretary of the Army, said in a statement that Todays announcement will allow for the final step, which is granting of the easement. Once that it done, we will have completed all the tasks in the Presidential Memorandum of January 24, 2017. Outrage from the environmental community on todays announcement is immense. Trump thinks hes getting what he wants, but the people whove been emboldened by the worldwide fight against the Dakota Access pipeline wont quietly back away, 350.org Executive Director May Boeve said. Indigenous leaders, landowners and climate activists are ready challenge this decision in the courts and in the streetsas we have each time the fossil fuel industry steamrolls over human rights for their own profits. Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune concurred. By putting corporate polluter profits above the peoples well-being, future and access to clean, safe drinking water, Donald Trump is once again showing where his priorities lie, Brune said. Trumps dangerous and legally questionable attempt to ignore the environmental review will be met with fierce resistance by a broad coalition of 300 tribes and millions of Americans. Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica called the announcement sickening as it is predictable. We stand behind them in the #NoDAPL fight and will put financial pressure on the banks financing this destructive pipeline project. The peoples resistance to keep fossil fuels in the ground will not disappear. By Kelly Levin and Rhys Gerholdt The climate denier engine is revving up again. Last weekend an article in the Mail on Sunday attempted to cast doubt on the strength of climate science. Its now been taken up by the U.S. House Science Committee, which has been prone to promoting more climate denial than sound science in recent months. The news article doesnt just misinform; it is not grounded in facts. Why we should never get over the U.S. House Science Committee's Breitbart tweet: @EcoWatch https://t.co/uhNh24yRCF #climate climatehawk1 (@climatehawk1) December 6, 2016 At issue is a ground-breaking 2015 article in the journal Science by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that showed the alleged pause in global warming during the first years of the 21st century never happened. The peer-reviewed article by NOAAs Thomas Karl and colleagues found the so-called warming slowdown was not substantiated by updated data. In fact, temperatures continued to rise after the year 2000 at about the same rate as they had since 1950. The article in the Mail on Sunday was based on a blog post by retired NOAA researcher John Bates and claimed the Science article was rushed into publication to influence the December 2015 Paris agreement and that it was based on research that had not gone through a proper vetting process. The author of the Mail on Sunday news article, David Rose, has a history of publishing sensationalized articles that respected scientists have found to be false and misleading. In the following, we summarize three main reasons that the Mail on Sunday article is inaccurate: 1. Multiple Lines of Evidence Confirm There Was No Pause in Global Warming The Science article builds on a large body of research, including many other datasets that validate the main finding that there has been no pause in global warming through the latter part of the 20th and early 21st century. Zeke Hausfather and colleagues published an article in Science Advances which verifies the NOAA datasets, comparing them to independently collected records created from high quality instruments (buoys, satellite radiometers and Argo floats). Other researchers have come to the same conclusions. While the Chairman of the House Science committee cited Bates blog post as proof that NOAA played fast and loose with data, Bates flatly refuted that in an interview with E&E, saying this is not an issue of tampering with data. 2. The News Article Itself Manipulates Data Comparisons The Mail on Sunday article includes a chart that appears to show a differential in data between NOAA and the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research in the United Kingdom. However, as Hausfather points out, this effect is almost entirely due to using two different baselines to create the appearance of inconsistency. When this discrepancy is corrected, the difference in recent yearsthe core of Roses argumentvanishes. Hilarious screw up by @DavidRoseUK and #FailOnSunday 1st picture is 'evidence' of misconduct, 2nd shows diff when baselines are correct. pic.twitter.com/R5VsqqlNHr Gavin Schmidt (@ClimateOfGavin) February 5, 2017 3. The Science Article Was Not Rushed and the Paris Agreement Was Not Dependent on Any One Study The article in Science met the publications rigorous review requirements and the authors made their data available to other researchers. Of course, the scientific community has a long-established process for disputing published findings. If there are really issues with a scientific study, they should be explored through the peer review process. In this case, multiple peer-reviewed studies independently validated the articles findings. The editor-in-chief of Science has made it clear that publication of the study was not rushed and he calls this accusation baseless and without merit. Moreover, the Paris agreement on climate change was not based on one study. It was built upon years of negotiations, drawing on a mountain of research from the scientific community. To say that achieving the Paris agreement was due to one scientific article being published months before the negotiations commenced is to discount decades of work by thousands of scientists and policymakers around the globe. By the time negotiators reached Paris, 188 countries had already submitted national climate plans. The idea that this study prompted countries to overcome lingering doubts about the science defies logic. Today the media outlet Climate Home reached out to 10 climate envoys and ministers involved in the Paris climate summit and found that no one said this report made an iota of difference to its result. The foundation of climate change science is built on a large body of work and our understanding of the basics of climate change goes back more than 150 years. Climate deniers will continue to spread misinformation, but we cannot run from the fact that the world is warming. Without a sustained response, the impacts will undoubtedly get far worse. Kelly Levin is a senior associate with the World Resources Institutes major emerging economies objective. Rhys Gerholdt is the communications manager for the Global Climate Program at World Resources Institute. By Ariana Lopez Pena Costa Rica was the most environmentally advanced and happiest place on Earth last year, followed by Mexico, Colombia, Vanuatu and Vietnam. So concluded the Happy Planet Index, which recently released its 2016 ranking of where in the world people are using ecological resources most efficiently to live long, happy lives. That neither the U.S. nor any European nations make the top ten may be surprising, but Costa Ricas winning position is not; this small Central American nation also topped the 2009 and 2012 rankings. The Happy Planet Index measures life expectancy, well-being, environmental footprint and inequality to calculate nations successall areas where Costa Ricas government has made significant effort and investment. Less War, More Health In 1949, Costa Rica took a big gamble eliminating its army and investing military funds into health and education. The decision has paid off on numerous fronts. By 2016, education comprised 8 percent of Costa Ricas national budgetup from 2.6 percent in 1994 and 5.9 percent 2014, according to a 2014 study. By comparison, nearby El Salvador spends 3.42 percent of GDP on education, the U.S. spends 5.22 percent and Colombia allocates 4.67 percent. In the environmental realm, Costa Rica has long been a pioneer. In the 1990s, the country passed a series of green culture laws including the tax-funded National Forests law that protects forests, waters, biodiversity and natural beauty as both tourist attractions and scientific resources. It also developed a financing system, supported by both the government and by international organizations, such as the World Bank, to pay for environmental protection programs. Other green initiatives include the Eco-Marchamo, which is a voluntary complementary tax that allows drivers to offset 100 percent of the emissions generated by fuel consumption for one year and the Carbon Neutral Framework that incentives good environmental practice by Costa Rican companies. Under President Luis Guillermo Solis, Costa Ricas national health policy also now includes the explicit goal of achieving environmentally sustainable socio-economic development, based on the theory that such growth will better position the small country to face big international challenges, such as health crises, increasing violence and climate change. In short, Costa Rica has built into its whole governance model the ability to face the major environmental and health challenges facing the world. As a result, in addition to its top ranking on the Happy Planet Index, Costa Rica also does very well on the Global Index of Happy Workers (at number three), in Doing Business 2017 (at number five) in the region Latin American and on the Individual Liberties Index. Costa Rica is also a leader within Central America in labour rights and ranks among the most competitive economies in Latin America. (Theres more, tooyou can find it here). This reveals a key issue highlighted by the Happy Place Index: public policies have a great impact on the well-being of a populace. https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/773820743897538561 Limits to the Rankings But theyre not the only factor and such rankings, while perhaps a point of pride for a tiny Central American nation, have serious limitations. First, global indexes inevitably include certain indicators and exclude others. This can lead to certain cognitive dissonance. It is notable that among the WEFs top ten happiest places are two highly under-developed nations, Vanuatu and Bangladesh. Both not only have low global competitiveness but also do badly on the UNs Human Development Index (134th and 142nd, respectively). How is it possible for a country to be eco-happy but underdeveloped? Well, the Happy Planet Index does not look at such indicators as education, income, access to water and electricity or poverty rates. Accounting for those facts would create a more complete, and probably very different, perception of happiness. Vanuatu, which the Happy Planet Index ranks fourth happiest in terms of sustainability, comes in 134th on Yale Universitys Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which examines how countries protect human health and the ecosystem. Costa Rica, first on the 2016 Happy Planet Index, ranks 42 place on the EPI. Meanwhile, Ecuador, tenth on the Happy Planet Index, is 76th in global competitiveness, according to the CDIs 2016-2017 rankings, and 103rd on Yales EPI. According to the UNs Conference on Trade and Development, the worlds least-developed countries are characterized by having deficient per capita income and economic vulnerability. That is, at least 50 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty. Theyre also the countries that are most exposed to climate change and its consequences. So is a country thats green necessarily a happy place? What is Happiness? The Happy Planet Index is useful in reconceptualizing happiness in terms of environmental well-being and sustainable practices, but it needs fine-tuning. In underdeveloped countries, a low carbon footprint clearly has more to do with the lack of industry than with environmental policy. These countries simply didnt undergo the same economic growth processes that the rich world did, from the Industrial Revolution through to the second world war. And it is confusing to talk about happiness in countries where life conditions are not even minimally acceptable. Even the authors of the report on the Happy Planet Index note when discussing Costa Rica that despite its environmental commitment, Costa Ricas ecological footprint is not small enough to be totally sustainable and that its income inequality remains quite high. The same could be noted of the other top countries in the Happy Planet Index, Mexico and Colombia, whose 2014 GINI ratings of 48.2 and 53.5, respectively, reflect starkly uneven wealth distribution. In fact, Colombia is the second-most unequal country in Latin America, a region characterized by its wealth gap. Costa Rica has achieved a lot since it turned away from war and toward national well-being a half century ago. But many challenges from preventing violence to increasing income equalityremain for it to become both green and truly happy. To create the kind of sustainability that fundamentally links human, environmental and social development, policy, science, education and citizen activism must all work together. Thats how well redefine the meaning of happinessin Costa Rica and beyond. Ariana Lopez Pena is a professor at the School of International Relations, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. Reposted with permission from our media associate The Conversation. By Deirdre Fulton The Trump administration will be held accountable in court for its decision to grant the final easement on the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), Indigenous people and environmental allies vowed Tuesday. And with actions planned nationwide on Wednesday, the administration wont get off in the court of public opinion, either. The drinking water of millions of Americans is now at risk, said Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, following the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announcement that it would give the official go-ahead within 24 hours. We are a sovereign nation and we will fight to protect our water and sacred places from the brazen private interests trying to push this pipeline through to benefit a few wealthy Americans with financial ties to the Trump administration. https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/829105575631978500 was wrongfully terminated. Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian tribes and unlawful violation of treaty rights, added Jan Hasselman of Earthjustice, lead attorney for the tribe. They will be held accountable in court. Other next steps, according to the Standing Rock statement, include asking the court for DAPL-operator Energy Transfer Partners to disclose its oil spill and risk assessment records for full transparency and review by the public and, if DAPL is successful in constructing and operating the pipeline, the tribe will seek to shut the pipeline operations down. The tribe is not alone in its outrage. Multiple environmental groups voiced their opposition to the decision, while Democratic members of the House and Senate natural resources committees wrote a letter to President Donald Trump expressing their own dismay. This blatant disregard for federal law and our countrys treaty and trust responsibilities to Native American tribes is unacceptable, the lawmakers wrote. We strongly oppose this decision and any efforts to undermine tribal rights. We urge you to immediately reverse this decision and follow the appropriate procedures required for tribal consultation, environmental law, and due process. Signatories included Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), as well as Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Donald Beyer (D-Va.). Grijalva, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, also issued a separate statement: Before the Womens March and before thousands of people protested at airports, the Standing Rock Sioux and their allies were camping in the freezing cold to defend their rights, he said. The Obama administration heard those concerns and agreed to take a step back; this administration is ignoring them. In his first few weeks in office our new president has built a resume of discrimination, falsehoods and sloppy work, and now the decision to trample the sovereignty of our First Americans is the latest entry on a growing list of shameful actions. A protest in front of the White House is planned for 5 p.m. Wednesday, along with more than 30 actions taking place around the country on what the Indigenous Coalition at Standing Rock has dubbed an international day of emergency actions to disrupt business as usual and unleash a global intersectional resistance to fossil fuels and fascism. This is the #NoDAPL last stand, the group declared online. Find an action near you here. Donald Trump will not build his Dakota Access Pipeline without a fight, said Tom Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental Network. The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fightit is the new beginning. Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far. Goldtooth continued: The granting of this easement goes against protocol, it goes against legal process, it disregards more than 100,000 comments already submitted as part of the not-yet-completed environmental review processall for the sake of Donald Trumps billionaire big oil cronies. And, it goes against the treaty rights of the entire Seven Councils Fires of the Sioux Nations. Donald Trump has not met with a single Native nation since taking office. Our tribal nations and Indigenous grassroots peoples on the frontlines have had no input on this process. We support the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and stand with them at this troubling time. In addition, a Native Nations March on Washington is in the works for March 10. Our fight is no longer at the North Dakota site itself, said Archambault. Our fight is with Congress and the Trump administration. Meet us in Washington on March 10. An energetic divestment campaign, urging banks to pull their funding for the controversial project, is also gaining steam. On that front, the Seattle City Council voted 9-0 on Tuesday to cut banking ties with Wells Fargo because of its role as a DAPL lender. People might argue that Seattles $3 billion account is just a blip on the radar for Wells Fargo, but this movement is poised to scale up, Hugh MacMillan, a senior researcher at Food & Water Watch, told YES! Magazine. I think youll see more cities following Seattles lead. https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/829353358985199616 Reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams. According to reports from Inside EPA, the Trump Environmental Protection Agency is considering shutting down the EPAs Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), a move which would echo the presidents nominee Scott Pruitts move to close his own environmental enforcement unit as Attorney General of Oklahoma. Scott Pruitt endangered the health and welfare of Oklahomans when closed his own environmental enforcement unit there, and now it looks like he wants to do the exact same thing at the EPA, imperiling families across America, said Liz Perera, Sierra Club climate policy director. Corporate polluters are not going to wake up and suddenly start policing themselves simply because Donald Trump and Scott Pruitt dont care what happens to our air and water. (Photo: Courtesy Radio Vatican)Philippines' bishops Philippines' Catholic bishops have rebuked President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, marking their toughest challenge yet to his policy that has led to the deaths of more than 7,000 people in the last seven months. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines in a pastoral letter read out in Sunday sermons called Duterte's antinarcotics campaign a "reign of terror in many places of the poor," reports The Wall Street Journal. They called for resistance to a wave of apparent executions by police and vigilantes and said that not speaking out on the matter is tantamount to complicity, Vatican Radio reports. While acknowledging that illegal drug trafficking needs to be stopped, "the solution does not lie in the killing of suspected drug users" and dealers said the bishops. Duterte, who has been likened to U.S. President Donald Trump in the way he responds to his critics, dismissed the accusations with his customary bravado. "You Catholics, if you believe in your priests and bishops, you stay with them. If you want to go to heaven, then go to them," he said. "Now, if you want to end drugs ... I will go to hell. Come join me," Duterte added. The Catholic bishops wrote in their Jan. 30 letter that you "cannot correct a wrong by doing another wrong. A good purpose is not a justification for using evil means." This pastoral letter was seen an effort to move public opinion in the southeast Asian archipelago a country where more than 80 percent of the population identifies as Catholic, Crux News said. Many are killed not because of drugs, the bishops wrote. And those who kill them are not brought to account. 'INDIFFERENCE OF MANY' The bishops added: An even greater concern is the "indifference" of many to what is going on. "To keep silent in front of evil is to be an accomplice," they said. There have been more than 7,000 recorded killings in only seven months, since President Duterte launched a campaign against drug pushers and users. There have been reports of bounties paid to police officers who kill, and last week Amnesty International accused police of hiring contract killers. Philippine police, "acting on instructions from the very top of government," gunned down and enlisted others to kill thousands of alleged drug offenders in a wave of extrajudicial executions that may amount to crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a report released Feb. 1. AI's investigation is entitled, "If you are poor you are killed:" Extrajudicial Executions in the Philippines' "War on Drugs". It details how police "have systematically targeted mostly poor and defenseless people" across the country while planting "evidence," recruiting paid killers, stealing from the people they kill and fabricating official incident reports. Quoting a police officer involved in the war on drugs, AI reported that police received from 8,000 Philippine pesos ($160) to 15,000 pesos ($300) as incentive for every drug personality they killed. "This is not a war on drugs, but a war on the poor. Often on the flimsiest of evidence, people accused of using or selling drugs are being killed for cash in an economy of murder," said Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International's Crisis Response Director. "Under President Duterte's rule, the national police are breaking laws they are supposed to uphold while profiting from the murder of impoverished people the government was supposed to be uplift. "The same streets Duterte vowed to rid of crime are now filled with bodies of people illegally killed by his own police." (Dell website)Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15 Windows 10 laptops now offer fingerprint readers, which fully supports "Windows Hello." Buyers have been given more reason to purchase two of the current best laptops on the market with Dell's announcement of its fingerprint reader option to both Dell's newest XPS 13 and XPS 15. Initially, the product listings on Dell's website did not display fingerprint scanner specification on February models. It turned out that the fingerprint reader option was on its way but was still unavailable on the earlier configurations. Even though it was unclear how much the additional option costs when Dell revealed the upgraded XPS 15 (9560), it has been confirmed that Dell will only charge $25 for the sensor, which is strategically located below the arrow keys for convenient everyday use. The fingerprint reader features a full "Windows Hello" support, the Windows 10 operating system's more personal and sophisticated way to get instant access to consumers' devices using fingerprint or facial recognition. Customers also have the option to add a fingerprint sensor to the new Dell XPS 13 (9360), a notebook that hit the market a couple of months ago. Similar to XPS 15, the additional feature will only cost $25. The Dell XPS 13 comes with a 13-inch display enclosed in an 11-inch frame. It is powered by Core i5-7Y54 processor and costs $999 for a full-HD touch screen. It comes with 4 GB of random access memory (RAM) and 128 GB solid-state drive (SSD). Its upgrade, which is a whopping $1,199, adds the seventh-generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, with a battery capable of keeping the system running for up to 22 hours and a much stronger WiFi function. It has 8 GB of RAM and a bigger space of 256 GB SSD. XPS 13 can be configured up to 512 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM, with a faster Core i7-7Y75 central processing unit (CPU). The polished Dell XPS 15, on the other hand, comes with a 15.6-inch UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD display with 3840x 2160 resolution. There are not many modifications, but it has been refreshed to include the latest Kaby Lake processors and a 4 GB GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card. Price ranges from $999 to $2500 depending on the specifications. The fingerprint reader is available on all versions of the XPS 13 and XPS 15 Windows 10 laptops from the Dell website. The newly confirmed U.S. secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, will take office during a tumultuous time in American education. As a school-choice advocate, she is well-positioned to put her stamp on the expansion of charter schools and other effectivebut often controversialeducation reforms. DeVos has invested millions of dollars in the school choice cause and in inner-city charter school initiatives. If the grilling DeVos endured in last months confirmation hearing is any indication, any push from within the Trump administration for greater diversity of elementary and secondary school options will end in an acrimonious public vs. private debate. But it need not be that way. In fact, one can advocate for a much more expansive definition of public education: one that offers greater parental choice in a system that is responsive to local community and parental demand, while absolutely shunning for-profit elementary and secondary schools. One can believe that public schools should not be uniform, but that in receipt for their fundingwhether through vouchers, tax credits, or charter modelsthey should be properly regulated and held fully accountable. If all of that sounds like having your cake and eating it too, then I would like to issue an invitation from Canada to take a look north of the 49th parallel. The Ontario-based public-policy think tank Cardus, for which I serve as an education program director, urges DeVos to check out the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia in particular. These provinces have moved past the public-private split, forgone off-the-shelf privatization, and embraced models of education diversity by providing partial funding to independent schoolsthose with no ties to provincial governments. These schools have a documented history of providing high-quality education to the provinces diverse population of students. In both provinces, these schools consistently perform on par with the top 10 nations in the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, rankings. In Alberta, public and charter schools are fully funded by the government, while independent schools receive partial funding of up to 70 percent of the per-student operating grant that government schools receive. In British Columbia, independent schools receive between 35 percent and 50 percent of the per-student funds provided to government schools in return for varying levels of accountability and accreditation. The political rhetoric will subside, and DeVos will be able to get to work." These education systems reflect the unique population and history of each province by providing academic approaches that represent religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity, as well as diverse pedagogical approaches, including Montessori, Waldorf, and home-schooling models. While these systems are not identical, both use key principles of subsidiarity: devolving autonomy to parents, communities, and education professionals while also holding the schools accountable for educational excellence. Now its not all sweetness and light in Canada. Its worth remembering that there is unequal provision of parental choice from province to province and that some forms of regulation pose unnecessary obstacles to the range and quality even public education can offer. For example, the province of Ontario has repeatedly refused to modernize its education policies. Even the discussion of minor measures that would ensure equity for all of Ontarios students, such as funding the textbooks required to teach the provincial curriculum or paying for transportation to schools, is entirely off the table. In Ontario public schools, enrollment has declined by 4.6 percent over the last decade, while spending per student increased by 57.3 percent in the same period. Its public education system suffers the bureaucratic bloating that is the hallmark of the American education system. And in Alberta, the provincial government has reintroduced excessive oversight on hot-button issues, including Bill 10. The bill gives students the legal right to form a gay-straight alliance when school boards already have an existing responsibility to create welcome places for all. Religious schools feel that this subjects them to exceptional levels of scrutiny to ensure compliance, given that they already affirm anti-discrimination legislation under the provinces human rights law. Though some troubles persist, independent schools in Canada continue to produce excellent citizens. A 2016 Cardus survey on the outcomes of Canadian high school graduates, which was partly funded by the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation (operated by Betsy DeVos in-laws), confirms this. The survey found that graduates of Catholic, evangelical Protestant, and nonreligious independent schools were more likely than public school graduates to give blood, to donate to charity, and to report feeling responsible for the welfare of others. At some point the cameras and lights will be turned off, the political rhetoric will subside, and DeVos will be able to get to work. She will have the opportunity to enact reforms without blowing up the public education system and can look north of the border at a neighbor that, since its founding 150 years ago, has maintained a common school system that isnt synonymous with one-size-fits-all uniformity. Even in provinces that have some ways to go, parents do have choices, whether it is separate Catholic or French-speaking schools. So, lets add parental choice in education to the list of things that Canada invites its southern neighbor to explore anew. President Donald Trumps nominee to head the U.S. Department of Education is a major backer of a company claiming its neurofeedback technology can fix problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and has proven and long-lasting positive effects on children with autism. Current scientific evidence does not support such claims, according to the clinical guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics and three leading researchers Education Week consulted. Its misleading the public to say neurofeedback is effective in treating kids with ADHD and autism, said Nadine Gaab, an associate professor of pediatrics at Boston Childrens Hospital and a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Its still an experimental treatment that needs more rigorous research. Launched in 2006, Neurocore is based in Grand Rapids, Mich. Thats also the hometown of billionaire school choice advocate Betsy DeVos, Trumps pick to become U.S. secretary of education. DeVos sat on Neurocores board from 2009 until November, when she resigned the position to avoid potential conflicts of interest should she be confirmed. As part of her divestiture plan, which has been approved by the federal Office of Government Ethics, DeVos and her husband, Richard DeVos, Jr. , will maintain an indirect financial interest in the company. On her disclosure forms, DeVos valued that stake at between $5 million and $25 million. The full Senate is expected to vote on DeVos nomination early this month. A spokesman for the DeVos family declined to respond to Education Weeks inquiries about the investment in Neurocore. The Trump administration did not respond to Education Weeks request for comment. Neurocore CEO Mark Murrison defended his companys work and marketing. He pointed to an emerging body of research in which neurofeedback in general has shown promise, as well as information Neurocore collects from its clients. What we provide to our clients truly makes a difference, and our internal outcomes data and testimonials bear that out, Murrison said in an interview. Over the past two years, the Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on a number of other companies for making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about brain training products and services, such as digital learning games. That work is ongoing, said Michelle Rusk, a lawyer in the FTCs division of advertising practices. Rusk declined to comment on whether the commission is looking at companies promoting neurofeedback treatments as part of that effort. Neurocores service is based in part on analyzing clients brainwaves and other biological signs, then providing neurofeedback sessions through which users can ostensibly train their brains to function better. A complete 30-session cycle costs $2,200. The company says it has worked with more than 10,000 children and adults at eight centers in Michigan and Florida. Neurocore has no plans to work with K-12 schools, Murrison said. Research Still Emerging On its website, Neurocore made a number of claims about how its technology can help individuals, including children, with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, anxiety, depression, memory loss, migraines, and sleeplessness. With regard to ADHD, for example, the company repeatedly described its treatment as proven and approved, saying that 76 percent of users achieve nonclinical status, and 90 percent report improvement. The company made similar claims with regard to autism, presenting itself as a drug-free solution to curb the negative behaviors associated with the condition. There is currently no cure for autism, but the symptoms can greatly improve through Neurocores proven, natural autism-treatment program, the website says. Research shows that biofeedback can be an effective treatment. A Why It Works page purports to help potential customers explore the science and research behind our brain-based program and life-changing results. But many of the links direct readers to preliminary studies or popular news articles. The rigorous, independent, peer-reviewed studies referenced are about neurofeedback and biofeedback more generally. Murrison, Neurocores CEO, acknowledged that there have to date not been any such high-quality studies conducted about Neurocore specifically. The first peer-reviewed study of the companys outcomes, for clients with anxiety and depression, should be going to press in the next few months, he said. Another peer-reviewed study of Neurocores impact on clients with ADHD is in the works, according to Murrison. When asked why his company would make direct claims of effectiveness prior to such research being completed and published, Murrison cited internal company data. Neurocore administers surveys to clients in which they self-report on their conditions before and after treatment. Weve been in business for 10 years, Murrison said. If we werent able to make a difference in peoples lives, we wouldnt be able to keep serving communities and expanding. Neurocore also points to a document from a third-party company called PracticeWise, which indicates that biofeedback has been rated by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a high-quality support for treatment of ADHD. But that document is not accurate, according to a letter sent by the academy to other companies making similar claims. The letter, which had not previously been sent to Neurocore, states that the academys official position is that more research is needed on neurofeedback as a treatment for ADHD. A Step Back for Science? As states, districts, and schools across the country seek to implement and adjust to the new Every Student Succeeds Act, the question of what kind of evidence companies can use to justify claims of effectiveness will continue to grow in importance. The federal education law requires states and districts to provide evidence to support their approaches to school intervention and turnaround. Given that, its worrisome that the countrys new education secretary nominee would remain closely tied to a company that has apparently made exaggerated and misleading claims about its service, said Ken Koedinger, a professor of psychology and human-computer interaction at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The Department of Education has made a lot of progress in the last 10 years or so in trying to help people in the field distinguish snake oil from the real thing, Koedinger said."Id hate to see a step backwards with respect to the importance of scientific evidence in improving education. As schools work to implement the Next Generation Science Standards, practicing scientists are also rethinking how they work with schools to advance understanding of their field. The National Board on Science Education, part of the National Academies of Science, brought together science educators and members of professional science groups like the American Chemical Society last month to discuss guidance for developing partnerships between scientists and teachers. Almost all practicing scientists were trained in a system designed to keep people out, said David Evans, the executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, noting that during the first week of class, college science lectures often include grim predictions of how many students will drop out. Now we know [science education] is much more important than just who will get a job in a STEM field. Everyone needs to know how to look at evidence and engage in the practices of science, he said. The encouraging thing is there has been a real movement in recent years among young scientists to really participate more and give back to the community in K-12. The discussion comes as several winners of this years Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers plan projects to draft curriculum and materials for the science standards, which were developed by 26 states based on a framework by the National Research Council. The awards are the highest federal honor for scientists at the start of their careers, and they have recently given particular weight to researchers who partner with educators to improve STEM education. Physical-Science Progression The next-generation standards widen opportunities for science-educator partnerships because they represent new approaches to scientists working with schools. They call, for instance, for better integration of teaching scientific concepts with the daily procedures and practices of science. Alicia Alonzo, an associate professor of physics education at Michigan State University and a 2017 early-career-award winner, has been working with teachers to reimagine learning progressions for a traditional 9th grade physical-science course. In general, the teachers [I work with] are wrestling with how to incorporate practices into what they are teaching, she said. They are used to teaching content, with labs happening on a separate day to demonstrate content that has already been taught. Instead, Alonzo and a group of seven teachers are reshuffling the progression for learning about force and motion, so that students will explore the concepts on their own and then build on their findings. As the teachers work through their lessons, Alonzo interviews their students and assesses them every other week, passing feedback to the teachers on how students are thinking about the concepts and what they do in class. In the process, Alonzo said she has also moved from prescribing how teachers use learning progressions in class to helping teachers use them explore student learning. Cultural Connection Shawn Jordan, an engineering researcher at Arizona State University and a director of the STEAM Labs Center for K-12 Research and Engagement, is working with teachers in a local Navajo community to develop a curriculum for tribal middle schools that ties science and engineering to students cultural history and community problem-solving. (STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.) The curriculum has evolved out of summer camps in which students wrote epic stories about simple tasks and then worked as a class to create Rube Goldberg-style machines to act them out. Its trying to flip and put culture on the front end and make that the design constraint for the product, rather than having the technical side drive the lesson, Jordan said. One unit to be piloted in schools this spring, for example, teaches size and scale by exploring four sacred mountains and finding ways to measure and model them. From there, students design and test scale models to solve community problems, such as creating portable corrals for managing livestock. It lets students learn content related spiritually to their culture and use engineering to improve their quality of life at home, Jordan said. The first units of the middle school curriculum will be tested in three schools next month, then evaluated and eventually built out into a full physical science and engineering course. Working with Navajo educators and students has made Jordan reflect deeply on what my role should be ethically and morally as a researcher, he said. Often, researchers and engineers will approach working with communities as a helicopter-drop model. We will come in and think we can make a huge difference by bringing in our knowledge and giving them all the answers. But that is a cultural disrespect. At the end of the day, this is a partnership, exploring the intersection of Navajo culture and engineering design. Though theres a long tradition of scientists reaching out to schools before these newer pushes, its not always been a happy history, the NSTAs Evans said. Scientists are often enthusiastic about their fields, but many are not skilled at communicating to a nonscientific audience, particularly young students, he said. And scientists working with schools can go astray if they try to make the new standards fit the areas they want to teach, rather than working with teachers to craft lessons systematically. Growing a Partnership Inviting a teacher to be part of her lab has helped Andrea Sweigart, an assistant professor of genetics at the University of Georgia in Athens, become a better teacher herself, she said. Mary Bradley-Bailey, a veteran biology and physical-science teacher at the nearby Cedar Shoals High School, has worked for the past two summers at Sweigarts genetics lab as part of Georgias science internship program for teachers. The lab lesson was designed to study a genus of wildflower capable of growing in harsh environments, including salty beach sand and soil contaminated by heavy metals. Sweigart and Bradley-Bailey are writing a curriculum to use hybrid lines of the flowers to teach high school students about both botany and plants adaptation to environmental pressures. Teachers and scientists need to lay out clear expectations for what each wants students to learn, and how those relate to the larger science framework, Sweigart said. The reality is a lot of students have never really looked at a plant before, dont know what a control group is, she recalled. My original plan for activities was more like something for an advanced-biology class. Ive learned a lot more about what students need to learn basic scientific design. Even in the best of times, educators put in a tremendous amount of effort to make students feel safe in their classroomsgreeting students at the door, joking around about a potential snow day, asking about a recent swim meet, offering a shoulder to cry on after a family tragedy. Over the past 15 years of teaching at Arlington High School in Lagrangeville, N.Y., Ive gotten better at figuring out when a student felt out of sorts. I offered cough drops, granola bars, a quiet talk in the hallway, and whatever else helped my students feel at home in my classroom. The day Donald Trump won the presidential election, I knew that my high school students represented the entire political spectrum. At the beginning of each class period, I distributed paper and asked them to write President Donald J. Trump and how they felt about that phrase. I asked them to write down the comments they heard from other students and how they felt about those reactions. Several students confessed that they cried when they heard the news. Others were jubilant that changes were finally happening after eight years of former President Barack Obama. Others were fearful that life would become far more difficult for them and their loved ones after hearing other students chant things like, Build that wall! in the hallway. No one really knew what to expect. Responding in the Classroom As their teacher, I talked to kids when they seemed anxious or angry. As my sophomores read the Young Adult novel All American Boys by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds, we discussed the dangers of echo chambers and fake news. When my seniors started reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy, about a father and sons journey in post-apocalyptic America, we talked about what the country would look like in 2117 and what shaped our predictions. I tried to navigate each days news events by making sure that my kids knew that they could come to my classroom and feel valued and safe. But the headlines blared from my phone as the days progressed. As the daughter of South Korean immigrants who overcame tremendous odds, my own anxieties grew as palpable changes went into effect from one executive order after another. I tentatively became more politically active outside the classroom, contacting local representatives and participating in the Poughkeepsie Womens March Over the Walkway. I talked to family members, friends, and colleagues and tried to understand different perspectives. I felt like America was becoming unrecognizable. But in my classroom, I kept quiet about my opinions because I didnt want my kids to feel uncomfortable. Some relished all of the changes that were happening. Some were disengaged and didnt know or care about what was happening around them. Others grew far more anxious. I knew about the sharp increase in hate crimes in schools across the country and heard about isolated incidents of racism and anti-LGBT rhetoric, as well as heated ideological arguments from my own colleagues and students. Then Trump implemented a travel ban on January 27, which prevents refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, indefinitely halts refugees from Syria, and keeps immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen out for 90 days. It was implemented without warning and stranded thousands. Although the ban was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, its fate is still up in the airthe 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is deliberating on the case now , but it is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. The uncertainty surrounding the ban has repercussions that hit my own students. Voicing Support for Students Initially, I was an observer. I saw pictures and videos of people flooding into John F. Kennedy International Airport, holding signs declaring Refugees Welcome and I Love Immigrant NY and chanting, No ban, no wall! I witnessed families reuniting with their confused and shaken loved ones after they were detained for hours, even those with green cards, student visas, or after honorably helping the U.S. military. The next day, I worried about my students, many of whom were already anxious about what was going on in the world. After a week filled with unpredictability, I could no longer stay silent. Many of my students had family members in other countries and a few were immigrants themselves, and I wanted to encourage my colleagues and fellow parents to offer support to those who needed it. After much thought, I shared the following on social media: Teacher friends and parents, Tomorrow, children will go to school and be told by their peers to go back to their country because they deserve to be deported. They might be Muslim, Mexican, Jewish, black, Asian, or from another beautiful culture (or two or more). They will hear jokes about microaggressions, trigger warnings, safe spaces, the LGBT community, people of color, Nazis, the economically disadvantaged and morein the cafeteria, on their way to school, under the breaths of classmates, or online in their social media feeds. They will be told that they are too sensitive if they take offense. What are you going to do about this? Everything that is happening in America today affects my children and my students. They come first. Even if you know that your students or that your children are thoughtful and compassionate individuals with a deep understanding of what it means to be a kind person in America, talk to them anyway about how they are feeling these days. What do they hear? What do they see? How are they navigating this world of ours? A conversation never hurts. Watching the repercussions of the travel ban really shook me. Even though I was a little nervous about potential backlash, I stepped outside of my comfort zone as a teacher and wrote the message. Sometimes students like it when they can immerse themselves in the days lesson and forget about the world outside, but this news affected relatives and friends. A Balancing Act When I went back to school that week, I told my students that I wanted to share my perspective with those who were afraid in light of recent events. I tempered my opinion with the acknowledgement that there was a plethora of different opinions in the classroom, and I didnt want to offend or silence anyone. But as a human being, I also felt a certain way about how many of my students, or those they knew, were being treated. In my students writing that day about where they saw America in 100 years, they all shared their hopes for a better world, their optimism about the human spirit, and their acknowledgement that even though we didnt know what was going to happen, we needed to continue doing our part in whatever capacity we could. After sharing my own feelings with them, my students writing about their view of the future was also more honest. It was gratifying to be a participant in the conversations that ensued with my classesnot just an observer or a facilitator. One of my students who was personally affected by the travel ban invited my senior classes to participate in a solidarity rally for Muslims and refugees . Another student invited her peers to participate in a postcard writing event to local representatives and politicians. When I marched at a solidarity rally against the temporary immigration ban in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and saw some of my students giving voice to their thoughts, chanting, Love, not hate, and smiling at the hundreds of people that gathered that evening, I was so proud of them. We need to reassure the most vulnerable students in our school districts that we will support them in their time of need, especially given that the fate of the travel ban, which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge , is now up in the air as a case against it goes to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. However, we also need to have difficult conversations with all of our students, especially when there is so much uncertainty in the world. Sometimes, in appropriate ways, that also includes the voices of educators. But there should be no echo chambers in our classrooms. All of our students have unique perspectives that deserve to be heard. Let us continue to build our classroom communities one shared moment at a time. Photo provided and taken by author at the Mid-Hudson Solidarity March in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on February 1. Beaver County preparing for robust Election Day turnout As the Nov. 8 midterm election approaches, nearly 114,000 people are registered to vote in Beaver County. President Trump says he has discussed aiding Mexico's fight against local drug cartels with his counterpart, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We have to do something about the cartels," Trump said Monday while discussing the relationship with Mexico on Fox News's "The O'Reilly Factor." "I did talk to [Nieto] about it. I want to help him with it. I think he's a very good man. We have a very good relationship, as you probably know." "We've got to stop the drugs from coming into our country. And if he can't handle it - maybe they can and maybe they can't or maybe he needs help - he seemed very willing to get help from us because he has got a problem and it's a real problem for us." Trump declined further comment when asked if Pena Nieto is open to U.S. forces helping Mexico combat drug cartels. "I would rather, as a very nice man that he is and somebody I respect, I'd rather have him respond to that," he told host Bill O'Reilly. "But I will tell you I certainly offered him help on knocking out the drug cartels because we have got a problem." "Don't forget these cartels are operating in our country and they're poisoning the youth of our country. And, by the way, countries all over the world, just so you understand - this is a cartel all over the world, the cartels. But I certainly would help him if he needed help." Trump added he respects Pena Nieto's administration but said, "they have problems controlling aspects of their country, no question about it." "And I would say the drugs and the drug cartels, number one," he said. "Well, it's a country that's got difficulty." The U.S. and Mexico denied reports last week Trump told Pena Nieto that U.S. forces would handle the "bad hombres down there" if Mexican authorities could not. "Reports that the president threatened to invade Mexico are false," a White House official said on Feb 1. "Even the Mexican government is denying these reports." "The assertions that you make about said conversation do not correspond to the reality of it," Mexico's foreign relations department said in a statement, adding that the conversation between the leaders was "constructive." 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reportedly became the most popular Android smartphones available in the market. Apparently, Google has been finding it difficult to manage the increasing demand for the two smartphones. This is said to be because evidently, there is always a sell-out of the handsets in online stores. As Google appears to keep pace with the supply and demand for the Pixel XL and Pixel, rumors according to Techtimes, started to circulate online stating that the company is apparently contemplating to terminate the production of the two smartphones. The rumors apparently started when some of the customers who have placed orders for either Pixel XL or Pixel with the Canadian carrier Telus received mails that advised them that the network operator will not be able to take any more orders. It is said that the reason cited is because Google would already terminate the production of the devices. According to 9To5Google, it is not surprising that Google will definitely deny these rumors and reiterate that these rumors are false. The story was reportedly quickly picked up by at least one publication. It is further reported that Google further confirms that production of the Pixel is not discontinuing just barely four months after the phone's release. In a statement reportedly released by Google, the company said it is excited by the high demand for the Pixel XL in Canada. It just so happened that Telus is currently out of stock of the Pixel XL, but the company will work capably with its partners to restock the inventory in their retail channels. Undoubtedly, it is confirmed by Google that despite a lot of confusion generated by that erroneous email, production of Google's popular flagship phones will not be stopping in the near future. "Tokyo Ghoul" Season 3 is one of the highly-anticipated anime series to be released this year. However, fans of the anime series are reportedly not having a pleasant time waiting as cancellation news and production difficulties haunt the project. According to Stars Post, fans and followers of "Tokyo Ghoul" had to endure several cancellation issues, one of which happened when the production studios for the series had to transfer from Madhouse to Pierrot. The said transfer of production studios was one of the reasons why the development of the anime series got delayed. From the name itself, "Tokyo Ghoul" follows the journey of Kaneki Ken, a survivor of a ghoul attack and ended up being a half-human, half-ghoul. The anime series is set in a modern era and entertains the viewers with the adventures and struggles of Kaneki Ken as he tries to find a common ground and harmony among the ghouls and humans. Fans were brokenhearted with the ending of Season 2 as Kaneki is seen holding his dead best friend while marching in a funeral parade. The tragic ending of the series was a poignant point of discussion for the fans as different "Tokyo Ghoul" season 3 spoilers and predictions surfaced. Some predict that Hide is not really dead and will be returning to season 3 either as a spirit or a half-human, half-ghoul hybrid like Kaneki Ken. Another "Tokyo Ghoul" season 3 spoiler reveals that a new character by the name of Haise Sasaki will be part of the new season. However, according to Vine Report, Haise and Kaneki are actually one entity. Haise Sasaki came to life when Kaneki's memories were erased after a grueling battle with Arima. As of writing, "Tokyo Ghoul" season 3 air date remains to be announced although it was initially slated to be released by summer 2017. Fans of Elena and Damon might be overjoyed about the return of Nina Dobrev on "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 but Ian Somerhalder's wife Nikki Reed is supposedly upset with her comeback. Even the actor has not said anything about Nina and many believe that it is because of Reed. Nikki Reed is said to have reservations about the return of Nina Dobrev aka Elena on "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8. She is not happy that her husband's ex would be shooting with him again and she might be thinking that their old romance could be reignited. According to reports from E! News, Dobrev had announced her return to "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8 on Instagram. And, ever since she announced her return, Nikki has kept a low profile. Even Ian Somerhalder has not spoken on Dobrev's comeback on "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8. A few days back, creator Kevin Williamson shared a photo of Nina and her co-star Paul Wesley from the sets of on "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8. The very next day, Ian came up with a selfie featuring him and Paul on his Instagram account. All these acts have sparked doubts that the actor is keeping his distance from Nina because of his wife Nikki. In related news, Nina Dobrev said goodbye to the crew after finishing shooting for the series finale, claims Mail Online. The actress took to social media to share her sentiments with her fans and wrote that she shot her last scene of the series "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8. She said that coming back for the series finale has been a whirlwind of emotion, nostalgia, love, tears of joy and bittersweet endings. The Bulgarian actress further noted that it felt like the beautiful closure all needed, herself included and she could not have been happier to come home to be with her TVD set family and friends. Expressing gratitude, she said that she grew up on the show and is eternally grateful for all the opportunities it has given her. It is worth mentioning here that Nina Dobrev became a household name after starring in "The Vampire Diaries" and though she left after Season 6, she announced last month that she is back to shoot "The Vampire Diaries" Season 8, which is also the series finale. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz will face off in a live debate about health care in America on CNN tonight. Sanders and Cruz, the respective biggest challengers to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, are engaging in a debate Tuesday night. The debate will focus on Obamacare and the Republicans' fight to remove and replace it under Trump's presidency. CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate, which is set to take place at George Washington University. "President Donald Trump has made repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act one of his top priorities while Congressional Democrats are opposed. Sanders, an opponent of repealing Obamacare, and Cruz, a supporter of the President's healthcare agenda, will join Tapper and Bash to debate the fate of former President Barack Obama's signature legislation and the GOP's approach to healthcare," says CNN. Both Sanders and Cruz have been hyping up the debate on their respective social media accounts: Sen. Sanders will debate Sen. Ted Cruz tonight on the future of the Affordable Care Act. Tune in at 9 ET! #DebateWithBernie pic.twitter.com/mIvHPDsNXt Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 7, 2017 The event is called Sanders vs. Cruz: The Future of Obamacare and airs Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on CNN. The debate will be available to stream on the various CNN apps and the CNN website. To live tweet and follow along with others watching the Sanders vs. Cruz debate, use hashtag #CNNDebateNight on Twitter. "Pacific Rim: Uprising" confirmed one of the hottest stars of today as part of their cast. But the particular celebrity did not leave the fun to the higher authorities, as he took matters into his own hands and posted a picture of the character he is about to play. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" actor John Boyega revealed his newest outfit for "Pacific Rim: Uprising" via social media, The highly interesting plot that makes the story of the film worthwhile is that Boyega is playing Jake Pentecost, the son of Stacker Pentecost played by Idris Elba from the original "Pacific Rim" title-as he captioned his post "I am Pentecost. 2018." According to Slash Film, his newly posted image signifies how the actor will indeed be a jaeger pilot as his father was. Despite the photo's questionable clarity, as some may have seen, the image is either a painting or just a blurred picture, but shows the identical outfit that the actor wore in a different picture on-set while shooting for "Pacific Rim: Uprising." Comic Book reported that Boyega shared artwork for "Pacific Rim: Uprising" in the past, specifically for one jaeger. The same concept will be carried on from the first film, namely the battle for mankind's survival against the kaiju menace, using the aforesaid jaegers to lead them to victory. Such odds was said to be going through the mind of Boyega's Pentecost as shown in the picture, following the "cancelling of the apocalypse" line by his father on the first film. Boyega is only one of the new stars to enter the cast of "Pacific Rim: Uprising." Scott Eastwood will be in it as well, with Cailee Spaeny and Jing Tian. Those who will be returning include Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day and Burn Gorman, playing significant parts from their first appearance. The second installment is set to grace the screens on February 23, 2018. Donald Trump once again surprised everyone with his new claim that the media is covering up reports about terrorist attacks. The 70-year-old host-turned-politician delivered his shocking remark while speaking at the U.S. Central Command on Monday. "You've seen what happened in Paris, and Nice. All over Europe, it's happening," Donald Trump told the military leaders, Washington Post reported. The POTUS also accused the media that the real happenings were not even being reported and the press has no intention to report it. He even called these journalists "very dishonest." "They have their reasons, and you understand that," Donald Trump added. The newly-elected president's claims might be ignited by senior adviser Kellyanne Conway's previous remark on MSNBC. The counselor to the president unveiled "brand-new" information to the public when she said that the former president Barack Obama had a "six-month band on the Iraqi refugee program." Kellyanne Conway then revealed that only a few people know this since the media didn't cover this report. Hence, this gives Donald Trump an idea that not everything is being reported by the journalists and reporters. Meanwhile, Donald Trump recalled the moment of his winning and said that the United States had a wonderful election. The husband of Melania Trump proudly said that he saw the numbers of votes and believed that people really liked him. And as he does like the public too, he said that everything is going to work out just fine, according to The Atlantic. Donald Trump then introduced Governor Rick Scott and gave his gratefulness for endorsing him. But, this came with a little indirect threat. The business magnate then told the people in front of him that if these politicians didn't endorse him, everything will never be the same, especially if they are in his position. He then assured them that they can still talk, but it won't simply mean the same. This proposal is textbook good (PDF): Hoping to jump-start the debate on climate change, a group of high-profile Republicans that includes three former Cabinet secretaries is calling for a substantial new carbon tax, and then to offset the pain higher prices cause the middle class by returning all money raised to American taxpayers. The plan, set to be released in Washington, includes a direct challenge to Republican politicians who have denied or played down the idea that human behavior is a significant factor in climate change. President Donald Trump, of course, is on that list. ... The group is meeting Wednesday morning at the White House with Gary Cohn, the former Wall Street executive who is Trump's top economic adviser. Among the key White House advisers tentatively scheduled to join or at least drop by that meeting are Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner, and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Additional meetings with Trump Cabinet members and key congressional players also are scheduled beginning Wednesday. They also hope to meet with Vice President Mike Pence. The group, which is releasing its plan under the auspices of the Climate Leadership Council, includes James Baker, the only person to have served as White House chief of staff, treasury secretary and secretary of state. "We have a Republican administration now -- a Republican administration that could show leadership on this issue and present to the blue collar workers who were so important to Trump's victory -- something that does not increase, build government, that is conservative, that is free market -- let the market determine -- and there is some support out there for that now and from some quarters that normally didn't support this kind of thing," Baker told CNN. Baker believes returning the carbon tax proceeds in checks to families would have appeal with Trump's blue collar base. The logic behind a carbon tax is that it makes polluting the atmosphere -- such as by burning coal, oil and natural gas -- more expensive. And it creates an incentive for companies and people to move toward cleaner, renewable sources of energy. The idea of a major carbon tax -- the group suggests an initial rate of $40 a ton and then escalation from there -- is at first glance a non-starter in a Washington now run by a GOP president skeptical that climate change is real and a Republican Congress looking to cut taxes. But Baker and others in the group believe they can at least change the conversation by adding new ideas and new pressure for Republicans to use their power to act. ... Some of the specifics: *An Escalating Carbon Tax: Starting the tax at $40 a ton, with an understanding it would eventually have to be raised to $50 or more to have the desired impact on consumption and emissions. At $40 a ton, the group estimates its carbon tax would raise $300 billion annually. At $40, the tax would add an estimated 36 cents per gallon to gas prices. *Carbon Dividends: All revenue from the new tax would be rebated back to American taxpayers. The plan calls for the Social Security Administration to administer the plan and estimates the typical family of four would receive $2,000 a year. Conservative critics of the carbon tax, including the Koch brothers organizations, have criticized carbon tax proposals as unfair to working families. The dividend idea in the new plan is designed to address that and to keep the proposal neutral from a government revenue perspective. *Border Adjustment Fee: High carbon imports would be subject to a tariff adjustment similar to the proposal House Republicans are considering as part of their broader tax reform proposal. *Regulatory Rollout: The plan calls for the repeal of the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan and a host of other Environmental Protection Agency regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions. To make this politically palatable, the authors call for an initial carbon tax rate high enough to guarantee emissions reductions that exceed those forced by current regulations. Mara Delta, the only listed Africa focused distribution fund to offer international property investors direct access to immediate high growth opportunities on the African continent outside of South Africa, today reported strong interim financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2016. We are very pleased with declaring an interim dividend of 6.12 US$ cents per share despite some challenging geopolitical and economic headwinds. Our focus on counter party strength as well as our US dollar based leases has mitigated these risks to a large extent, commented Bronwyn Corbett, Chief Executive. Mara Deltas declared interim dividend of 6.12 US$ cents per share is in line with managements guidance of between 2% and 4% on the prior years total distribution. Our business model is based on structured investments underpinned by property assets. Debt is a major lever in this equation and the team successfully reduced our average weighted cost of capital by 0.42% to 5.80%, in line with our strategy to further diversify our sources of finance, continued Corbett. The Company is in the process of obtaining new funding mechanisms that are anticipated to further reduce the cost of debt during the financial period to June 2017. Mara Deltas loan to value increased to 51.0% from 48.9% in the prior reporting period. During the reporting period, Mara Delta increased its rental income by 24% from US$ 10.7 million to US$ 13.2 million on the back of asset acquisitions in the second half of the prior financial year. The Company currently has a yield accretive pipeline valued at US$ 244 million under transfer, which management says will increase revenue further as they come on stream. These subsequent events include: Acquisition of Tamassa Resort from Lux A binding sale agreement with Nereide Limited (Nereide) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lux Island Resorts Limited (Lux) for the acquisition of the Tamassa Resort in Mauritius for a total consideration of the Euro equivalent of US$ 40.0 million. Subsequent to the sale, Tamassa Resort will be leased back to Nereide, guaranteed by Lux for an initial period of 10 years. The Euro denominated lease agreement will be on a triple net basis, meaning the tenant is responsible for the maintenance, the insurance and the utilities/municipal charges of the premises. The transaction is expected to be concluded in February 2017. Acquisition of an interest in an entity owning three hotels in Mauritius from NMH, the holding company of Beachcomber Negotiations with New Mauritius Hotels Limited (NMH) were concluded during the reporting period for the acquisition of a 44.4% interest in an entity owning three hotels in Mauritius, namely Le Victoria, Le Canonnier and Le Mauricia for a total consideration of 50 million. Similar to the Tamassa acquisition, the transaction will be on a sale and leaseback basis and will generate Euro denominated earnings from a 15-year triple net lease from NMH. Mara Delta will assume no operational risk. Acquisition of Imperial Warehouse Mara Delta entered into an agreement to acquire the Imperial Health Sciences logistics warehouse in Nairobi, Kenya. The facility will be leased back to Imperial on a ten year triple net basis, denominated in US$ and guaranteed by Imperial Holdings Limited. The transaction is expected to be concluded by March 2017. Acquisition of Mall de Tete On 7 December 2016 Mara Delta announced that it has concluded negotiations to acquire Mall de Tete, an 11 571 m2 newly opened retail centre located in Tete, Mozambique for a purchase consideration of US$ 24.9 million. 95% of the malls rentals are US dollar underpinned, with strong multi-national anchor tenants in the form of Shoprite and Choppies under long leases. Other major tenants include Pep, Jet, Woolworths, Studio 88 and KFC. The transaction further diversifies our portfolio in Mozambique and is in line with our strategy of acquiring high quality rural retail centres in under-serviced markets. In addition to the above, the transfer of the Vale accommodation compound in Tete, Mozambique as well as the Cosmopolitan Mall in Lusaka, Zambia are pending subject to regulatory approvals. Mara Delta is in the process of raising additional capital, following shareholder approval to allot and issue up to 125 513 408 additional ordinary shares at a minimum price of US$ 1.54 per share. 11 080 471 of this issue was successfully placed in December 2016. The proceeds of the capital raise will be utilised to secure the above acquisitions. Going forward, our focus will remain on expanding our asset base in current countries of operation as well as growing into targeted jurisdictions. Based on our first half performance, our current assets under transfer and our pipeline, we are confident that with continued shareholder support, well reach our full year distribution forecast growth of 2% to 4%, concluded Corbett. The article Does Untouchability Exist among Muslims? Evidence from Uttar Pradesh (EPW, 9 April 2016) by Prashant K Trivedi et al ably demonstrates the presence and practice of untouchability among Muslims by using empirical data from 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh (UP). This study is different from earlier studies on caste and Muslim societysuch as by Nazmul (1959), Zarina (1962, 1972), Ali (1965), and Imtiaz (1967)which were written either from the accounts of personal experiences of scholars, or from small-scale surveys. While the study under consideration claims to fill the gap, regrettably it fails at both methodological and policy levels. Caste and Islam International Hotels Group (IHG) recently began notifying guests who used their payment cards at 12 IHG properties between August 2016 and December 2016 that their names, card numbers, expiration dates and verification codes may have been accessed. Late last year, the company received word of unauthorized charges appearing on credit cards that had been used at IHG properties in North America, and hired cyber security firms to conduct an investigation. The investigation found that malware was installed on servers used to processed payment cards at restaurants and bars at 12 IHG properties, though cards used at the front desks of those properties were not affected. An investigation of other properties in the Americas region is ongoing, the company said. IHG has been working with the security firms to review IHGs security measures, confirm that this issue has been remediated, and evaluate ways to enhance IHGs security measures, the company said in a statement. IHG has notified law enforcement and is working with the payment card networks so that the banks that issue payment cards can be made aware and initiate heightened monitoring on the affected cards. The affected hotels are the Crowne Plaza San Jose Silicon Valley, the Holiday Inn San Francisco Fishermans Wharf, the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, the InterContinental San Francisco, the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, the InterContinental Chicago Miracle Mile, the InterContinental The Willard, the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville, the InterContinental San Juan Resort & Casino, and the Holiday Inn Nashville Airport. Moshe Ben-Simon, co-founder and vice president of TrapX Security, told eSecurity Planet by email that cyber criminals are moving aggressively to access as much credit card data as possible before EMV is fully implemented in the U.S. Between now and 2020 the window of time required for EMV deployment card fraud using current methods could cost just the retail industry alone an additional $10 billion, he said. It is quite clear today that cyber thieves will get into your network, Ben-Simon added. The issue becomes how quickly you can discover them. New technologies and the best practices that support them can give the hospitality industry better visibility into their internal networks so that they can quickly identify an attack, stop it before data is breached, and return rapidly to normal operations. A recent Javelin Strategy & Research survey of 5,028 U.S. consumers found that 6.15 percent of respondents became victims of identity fraud in 2016, a surge of more than 2 million victims and a 16 percent increase over the previous year. In response to a steady increase in the deployment of EMV cards and terminals, the research found, card-not-present (CNP) fraud surged by 40 percent in 2016. After five years of relatively small growth or even decreases in fraud, this years findings drive home that fraudsters never rest and when one area is closed, they adapt and find new approaches, Javelin senior vice president Al Pascual said in a statement. The rise of information available via data breaches is particularly troublesome for the industry and a boon for fraudsters. To successfully fight fraudsters, the industry needs to close security gaps and continue to improve, and consumers must be proactive too, Pascual added. CyberScout chairman and founder Adam Levin told eSecurity Planet by email that the Javelin report highlights the fact that breaches have become the third certainty in life. In 2017, consumers must become better informed as to the risks inherent in this dangerous digital world, be more alert to the signs of individual compromise and know what to do to contain and reverse the damage or take advantage of identity theft protection services offered by their insurers, employers or financial services firms, he said. The ESRF User Organisation has awarded the title of Young Scientist 2017 to Amelie Juhin for her experimental and theoretical studies of resonant X-ray scattering and X-ray dichroism. The prize was announced during the 27th ESRF annual User Meeting in Grenoble, on 7th February 2017. The Chairman of the jury, Dr Andrei Petoukhov, declared: Amelie Juhin is awarded the 2017 ESRF Young Scientist Award for her experimental and theoretical studies of resonant X-ray scattering and X-ray dichroism. She has matured into an independent scientist whose contributions are marked by a deep and thorough understanding of the physics and mathematics behind the interactions of X-rays with different substances, including minerals and magnetic materials. I am very honoured and pleased to be awarded the Young Scientist Award 2017, said Amelie after being congratulated by members of the ESRF management and User Organisation during the award ceremony. At the award ceremony. From L to R: F. Wilhelm (ID12), F. Sette (Director General), P. Glatzel (ID26), Amelie, A. Rogalev (ID12), J. Susini and H. Reichert (Directors of Research). Amelie checks the beamline set-up on ID26. Amelie Juhins research is focused on probing the electronic and magnetic properties of nanoparticles and molecular magnets. She explores both the experimental and theoretical aspects of soft and hard X-ray spectroscopies with a particular focus on dichroisms (natural and magnetic). Amelie is currently working as a researcher at the Institute of Mineralogy, Physics of Materials and Cosmo-Chemistry (IMPMC - CNRS/Universite Pierre et Marie Curie-Sorbonne-Universites/ Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement/Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle). She has been a regular user of the ESRFs ID12 and ID26 beamlines for more than 10 years. ESRF triggers scientific vocation Amelie didnt always know that she wanted to be a scientist. In fact, after studying at the Ecole Normale Superieure, she successfully qualified as associate professor in physical sciences and taught physics and French in Cambodia during a humanitarian mission in 2004. But her mind kept coming back to research and she started having doubts about a teaching career. She opted for a Masters in material sciences and nano-objects at the prestigious Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. After graduating top of her year, she pursued these studies with a PhD on the subject of electronic and structural properties of chrome impurities in crystals. The real trigger, however, to fully adhere to a scientific career came during her PhD work when she was sent to the ESRF to carry out some experiments. It became obvious then that I wanted to be a scientist, says Amelie. For my PhD, I worked on the French CRG beamline, FAME, with Olivier Proux and Jean-Louis Hazemann, and I started to do experiments on ID26 beamline. I chose X-ray spectroscopy because it is a very diverse field of study, I can do different experiments and calculations. Its very stimulating. I also find it fascinating that the measurement of X-ray dichroisms at the atomic scale allows to shed light on macroscopic properties such as colour and magnetism. Amelie on beamlines ID12 (left) with Andrei Rogalev, and on ID26 (right) with Pieter Glatzel. During a post-doctoral fellowship at the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, at the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands, Amelie strengthened her collaboration with ESRF scientists, Pieter Glatzel and Mauro Rovezzi. She developed a novel magnetic spectroscopy (photon-in, photon-out), the RIXS-MCD, and explored its complementarity to existing XMCD measurements such as those performed on ID12 with Andrei Rogalev and Fabrice Wilhelm For the magnetism community as well as for other scientific disciplines such as earth sciences, this new magnetic spectroscopy opens new paths of investigation. It has produced a number of original results which have been the subject of international publications. For Prof. Philippe Sainctavit, Director of Research at CNRS, Amelie was the tenacious driving force connecting international teams of experimentalists, theoreticians as well as chemists that made RIXS-MCD possible. She has a profound scientific maturity and, as an easy-going, young scientist, she brings her force, enthusiasm and scientific skills to colleagues, pulling everyone together to work on well-defined objectives. A succession of recognition and new projects in preparation Amelies talent was recognised at an early stage and her list of awards and prizes is impressive. Not least, Amelie can boast first prize from the ESRF in the Best Poster Award at the 2010 annual User Meeting. Her contribution to the field of dichroism and X-ray resonant inelastic scattering has already earned recognition from her peers as demonstrated by the Farrel Lytle Young Scientist Award from the International X-ray Absorption Society that she received in 2015 and a Bronze Medal from the CNRS in 2016. Amelie also has a busy life outside the laboratories, juggling a fulfilling family life with a successful career. Now a mother of two young children, I try to combine both scientific and family lives, which are two exciting adventures! Says Amelie, who also added: Being a scientist has not meant Ive had to put on hold starting a family. Amelies fruitful collaboration with the ESRF is not set to end any day soon. With the ESRF-EBS project, she has her sights set on new projects and the novel opportunities that will be made available with the greatly improved X-ray source. Im interested in materials whose magnetic properties can be switched through the application of pressure, and in textured magnetic liquids With ESRF-EBS, the gain in resolution and brilliance opens up very nice prospects in measuring in even better conditions than today. Read the press release in English (pdf). Lisez le communique de presse en francais (pdf). About the Young Scientist Award Each year since 1995, the Young Scientist Award (YSA) is presented to a scientist aged 37 or under in recognition of outstanding work carried out at the ESRF. The ESRF Users Organisation chooses a chairperson for the YSA. The chairperson then forms a selection committee composed of distinguished scientists whose expertise covers the most important areas of synchrotron science. The panel calls for nominations from institutes around the world and evaluates nominees on the basis of the following criteria: Significant and personal contribution to either a novel method or technique, or to the advancement of a particular field based on ESRF measurements Quality and quantity of publications, conference contributions and responsibilities Importance of the specific field for synchrotron science research For the 2017 YSA, the jury was chaired by Dr Andrei Petoukhov, Associate Professor at the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands. Who else has won the ESRF User Organisation Young Scientist Award? The European Union has promised to take the necessary measures to implement the existing Free Trade Agreement with Morocco for processed agricultural and fishery products and thus protect the achievements made by both parties in this area. This commitment was voiced during the Brussels meeting of the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Moroccos Deputy Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita (7 February). The meeting was held only a day after Morocco issued a strong-worded statement following attempts to block some Moroccan products from entering the European market. The statement specifically warned that any attempt to sabotage the Morocco-EU farm deal would have negative repercussions. Acts aiming at blocking access of some Moroccan products to the European market should be sanctioned and treated firmly by our European partners, the statement released on Monday (5 February) read and especially stressed that any impediment to the implementation of this agreement threatens thousands of jobs on both sides and constitutes a real risk for the resumption of migratory flows. While most migrants from sub-Saharan African heading north to Europe have been travelling through war-torn Libya, scores of others have managed in recent years to enter Spain through Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish enclaves located on Moroccos Mediterranean coast. Moroccos agriculture and fisheries ministry also warned that if the deal with the EU created obstacles in the implementation of the trade deal, Morocco would have no other choice but to turn to other countries including Russia, China, India and Japan as well as African and Arab Gulf nations. Mrs. Mogherini and Mr. Bourita used the occasion of their meeting to stress, according to a press release, that both parties remain committed to defending, preserving and strengthening their partnership in its various dimensions. The two sides also recognized the importance of maintaining stable trade relations and agreed that the technical teams would meet soon to set the details of the way forward, the press release said. Both leaders also reassured that the discussions between the EU and Morocco would continue in a climate of serenity and mutual trust, in order to agree on the necessary arrangements to continue and develop their relations, particularly in the field of agriculture. Mrs. Mogherini also took the opportunity of the meeting to personally congratulate Morocco on its rejoining to the African Union and added that the EU would work with Morocco to strengthen the mutual synergies of their partnership on regional and pan-African issues. Illustration: Pete Ellis Illustration: Pete Ellis Roberto Sallouti was running on his treadmill at his home in Sao Paulo in the early morning of Wednesday November 25, 2015, when his mobile phone buzzed, out of his reach. The then senior vice-president and board member of BTG Pactual maintained his pace. It was only when the phone continued to buzz angrily over the next minute or so that he looked at it. There were many missed calls, including quite a few from the banks front desk. He returned the call. The federal police are here, lots of agents, he was told. Sallouti assumed the unannounced visit was in regards to a client matter as the leading bank for Brazils richest families, legal issues tended to crop up from time to time. He switched off the treadmill, hoping to be able to resolve the matter and clear the banks reception of police agents before the office began to get busy for the day. But before Sallouti had been able to leave for the banks headquarters in Sao Paulos Faria Lima district, he got a call from one of the banks lawyers. The arrest of BTG Pactuals CEO Andre Esteves at the end of 2015 (on still-unproven charges of obstruction of justice in Brazils seemingly never-ending corruption enquiry Lava Jato) sparked a run on the bank that very nearly led to its collapse. Esteves was not just the public face of the bank, he was its founder, the dominant partner and its controlling shareholder. As such, key-man risk was baked into the banks governance model from the very start. So when police seized him at his house in Rio de Janeiro, they kickstarted a severe reputational stress test that BTG came dangerously close to failing. However, while it passed, the banks wider governance model gave it the rigidity to survive the flight of assets caused by Esteves incarceration. And, as originator of this model, Esteves can paradoxically take a large amount of the personal credit for offsetting the risks that the centralization of his leadership had created. In the 2012 IPO, the shares of the banks partners were not placed directly into the listed vehicle but rather into a holding company that was 100% owned by the partners. If partners want to leave the bank or cash out a little they cannot sell their shares on the open market. Instead they have to sell their shares back to the partnerships holding company at book value, with those shares reassigned to the remaining partners (also at book value). Tying employees equity holdings up in this way and requiring employees to invest their wealth in funds managed by the firm clearly worked against any impulse to desert a sinking ship. BTG Pactual marketed this innovative share-scheme design heavily in the IPO because it believed that it created an innovative and powerful incentive structure for investors and contrasted it with IPOs by US investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, which made a lot of senior bankers very rich by enabling them to sell their positions at the listed price. And, come the stress test, BTGs model proved solid. There was no exodus of key talent. Usually in similar situations, a banks competitors circle and tempt away or, at least, distract the talent required to pull the bank through the crisis. No doubt Huw Jenkins, who has seen a catastrophe first hand at UBS, is under no doubt that the partnership model gave BTG an edge in surviving the mess: If I look at the speed at which a classic joint stock bank reacted [to a crisis] versus a partnership where all the senior traders have all their capital tied up in the shares of the company then it is very different. The speed of response was one of the couple of real plusses [that came out of the BTG crisis]. Stronger alignment also seemed to help. With the bank in an existential crisis and scrambling for liquidity, there were no reported examples of bankers trying to protect individual P&L. The bank achieved its goal: survival. There is one potential flaw in the governance structure: Esteves had to relinquish control voluntarily. The passing of his voting rights to the seven partners who owned the next largest block of shares in the bank only came into force if he was no longer an employee of the firm. This condition was designed to provide for a smooth transfer of power should he die or become medically incapacitated it had not envisaged him being sent to prison. But his personal economic alignment (he remains a large shareholder) means that it would have been a strange decision if he had not passed control to those still free to fight for the banks survival. BTG Pactual provides an interesting case study. Regulators continue to grapple with complicated formulas to strengthen banks capital levels and tweak risk-weighted asset requirements. They have spawned new contingent convertible instruments that have changed the dispersion of risk when banks become illiquid but arguably have not done much to make these banks more stable during real-life stress tests. Perhaps a simpler solution lies in trying to replicate the durability of partnerships tying senior managements long-term economic interests once again to the viability of the organization that is rewarding them so handsomely and in doing so better aligning their interests with those of shareholders. As Esteves said in an interview with Euromoney in 2012, bankers in the US and Europe seem to expect the level of rewards reaped by entrepreneurs without accepting any of the personal liability if those banks fail. BTG Pactual shows this old-fashioned partnership model can be better replicated through innovative executive compensation structures. And it is high time that they were. President Trump clearly feels Europeans must do more for their own defence. He is not alone among Americans. Many think the US has got a bad deal. So how far will Trump go to put America First? Americas European Allies say they aim to increase their defence spending to 2% of national GDP by 2024. But how many of them mean it? Defence burdensharing is a toxic battleground in the United States new relationship with Europe. It will dominate when President Trump eventually meets NATO and the EU in Brussels. And the worse US-Europe relations get, the more sour the issue will become unless all sides grow more realistic about what they give and what they get in Europes defence. NATO data illuminate the debates lack of balance. Americans focus on defence spending inputs, arguing that worldwide US defence effort counts. On this basis, NATO input figures show that over 70% of total defence spending by NATO Allies is US, that only some 21% of it will be by EU Allies after Brexit, that only four other Allies (out of 27) spend more than 2% of their GDP on defence, and that six Allies spent less on defence last year than the year before. Apparently slam dunk proof that Europeans dont really care about their own security and that the US has to do all the heavy lifting. Europeans tend to focus on defence outputs. NATO is actively trying to reduce its reliance on the US for the pool of military forces and capabilities that NATO leaders have agreed the Alliance needs. This is an effort for the next 20 years. And initial NATO output figures already suggest that the US provides less than its 46% share of NATOs total GDP. Apparently evidence that the United States is not fully pulling its weight in an Alliance where fair shares are measured by economic strength. The truth lies somewhere in between, in other measures of defence effectiveness and security self-interest. For the 21 areas of defence capability where NATO judges that it falls short things like air-to-air refuelling and strategic lift Allies have a sensible rule of thumb that the US should be expected to provide at most half. On this, Europeans are clearly falling down, having coasted for decades on higher US investment in capabilities. Only nine European Allies currently meet the agreed 2024 target of spending 20% or more of their defence budgets on equipment and research. But the fight is as much about geopolitical perceptions as actual numbers. More than 70 years after the Second World War why should the US contribute to defence of the richest economy and some of the richest societies on the planet? Why shouldnt Europeans just look after their own security? The answers depend on how isolationist Trumps America wants to be and how far the EU is serious about the pursuit of strategic autonomy the ambition to which EU leaders recommitted at their European Council meeting last month. Its easy to see trouble looming if the burdensharing debate shifts to this emotive political level. So all sides need to hang onto the facts. We could talk about the interdependencies of the transatlantic economy. Or the way in which in the last century the United States got sucked into European wars against its first instincts. But lets just focus on some defence points. Provisional NATO figures suggest that, even in the unlikely event that European Allies deliver all the extra military capability that NATO is asking of them, the US share of the NATO capability burden would still be more than one third in 2036. So its a safe bet that, for several more decades, well beyond 2036, even if they make a very considerable effort, Europeans are set to remain significantly dependent on the US for their own security. And both sides are basically stuck with that. President Trump is certainly stuck with that, even over a second term. By 2024 European Allies will have struggled to meet even the 2% target. For the 13 Allies like Germany who spend 1.2% of GDP or less, defence budget increases every year from now to 2024 of more than 6% on top of GDP growth would be necessary. And it would be hard to spend the extra money well: it takes time to grow equipment rather than personnel, pay or pensions; military procurement and delivery are slow. For President Trump the choices all look bad. US pullback or withdrawal would reduce leverage for deals with Russia, weaken the Alliance and constrain NATOs ability to do either collective defence in the Euro-Atlantic area or counter-terrorism on its periphery. A US climbdown would mean continuing burdensharing recrimination. A downwards redefinition of Europes defence needs, would take the pressure off underperforming Allies and perhaps permanently deprive the US capable partners. So what should the meet-Trump NATO mini-summit (and the back-to-back EU-US leaders summit) later this year actually do? The answer is traditional. But that doesnt make it wrong. Americans and Europeans must get real about defence interdependence. Practically, NATO must do better collectively in addressing its identified capability shortfalls. Credibility demands that it should show it knows how to address these. EU Member States should protect their credibility by making good on EU security pledges. Realistically, all non-US Allies should demonstrate that they are serious about boosting both their defence capabilities and their defence spending. The EU should accelerate its partnership with NATO. And both organisations need good news for Trump about the coherent, complementary and interoperable capability development to which their members committed in their conclusions last month on implementing the 2016 EU-NATO leaders Joint Declaration. Politically, Europeans need to hear from President Trump himself, and not just from Theresa May or General Mattis, that he is indeed 100% committed to NATO. He needs to explain to Americans that NATO Allies are the best friends America has. But Europeans in return must wake up. They must acknowledge that allies and national security must be constantly earned by their own efforts and increased investment. European leaders need to explain to their publics that Europe is not the safe place they have dreamt of since 1989, that Europes defence will remain dependent on US military capabilities for a long time to come, and that this is not just a necessary but a good thing. The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges of our time. Note: This article has been authored for the 2017 edition of Security Times, which will appear on the occasion of the 17 19 February 2017 Munich Security Conference. The European Leadership Network are grateful to the Security Times for authorising its pre-release. Update: Darwin Day is also Academic Freedom Day. Be sure to check back in here after midnight to find out who our 2017 Censor of the Year will be! This year, Darwin Day falls on a Sunday tomorrow, February 12. Of all the Darwinist talking points, the most transparently false may be the claim that this 19th-century materialist theory of origins poses no challenge whatsoever to serious, sincere religious belief. Oh, please! Do they really think were that gullible? Well, maybe they are not wrong about that anyway. As Tom Bethell (thats him in the video above) points out over at The American Spectator, many churches and synagogues, pastors, priests, and rabbis, have been captivated by the idea that they can have their cake and eat it too: enjoy the prestige and regard that come with assenting to evolutionary theory, while retaining the authority and regard that come with their clerical position. February 12 is Darwin Day, and this year the international celebration falls on a Sunday. Look for theistic Darwinists to reassure churches that Charles Darwin believed in God, or at least that his theory of evolution harmonizes beautifully with Christian theology. The reality is more complex. In The Origin of Species, Darwin suggested the idea of a God who created a few original forms and then let the laws of nature govern the outcome. It is just as noble a conception of the Deity to believe that He created a few original forms capable of self-development into other and needful forms, he wrote, as to believe that he required a fresh act of creation to supply the voids caused by the action of his laws. But later he wrote privately to friend Joseph Hooker, I have long regretted that I truckled to public opinion, and used the Pentateuchal term of creation. And in 1862, he told Harvard botanist Asa Gray there seemed to be too much misery in the world. He could not accept, for example, that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created [digger wasps] with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of caterpillars, or that a cat should play with mice. Darwin was careful to conceal his own loss of faith, and his surviving family members kept up the tradition. [R]ealizing that a thoroughgoing materialism wasnt an easy sell, [Darwin] actively concealed this aspect of his thinking. In one notebook he reminded himself to avoid stating how far, I believe, in Materialism. One doesnt hear much about the materialism of Darwin and Darwinism, likely because there has been a longstanding effort to ignore and suppress it. Many of todays theistic Darwinists play this game, but they are hardly the first. So, for instance, Darwins mounting hostility to Christianity was suppressed by his widow, who removed some inflammatory comments from his Autobiography. Read the rest here. Veteran journalist Bethells new book is Darwins House of Cards: A Journalists Odyssey Through the Darwin Debates. As a writer, he is a delight, praised by Tom Wolfe as one of our most brilliant essayists. The tragedy of the clergy and their mass surrender to evolutionary thinking is that it is so unnecessary. Yes, it requires some homework and independent thinking to realize this, but the cogency of evolutions main claim that blind churning produces brilliant novelties rests on remarkably little evidence. Bethell, as Ive pointed out, has put to the rest Im not a scientist dodge beloved by clergy, journalists, and other professionals unwilling to do that homework for themselves. Im on Twitter. Follow me @d_klinghoffer. Sterling was shored up by a positive raft of UK trade and production data, although the Greenback also strengthened in response to comments regarding Donald Trumps planned tax changes. Pound Sterling fell from its best daily levels before European markets closed on Thursday, as the Bank of England (BoE) confirmed that Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) hawk Kristin Forbes would be stepping down in June mere days after she stated she would support tighter UK monetary policy if inflation continued to rise. While the Article 50 bill passed through the Commons without amendment the Pound US Dollar exchange rate remained on a stronger footing on Thursday morning as was seen at the 1.2558 level. The appeal of the US Dollar faltered in the absence of any fresh supportive data, particularly as the afternoons jobless claims figures are forecast to show some degree of weakness. Lack of Support for Pound Stems from Concerns over Governments Brexit Stance Concerns about a potential US-China trade war weakened the US Dollar on Wednesday afternoon after the American currency was also sold from its highs in a bout of profit-taking due to the days quiet economic calendar. In the middle of a busy week for the House of Commons, the Pound has been flat against the US Dollar, though this is suspected to be the calm before the storm. The main focus has been on the Article 50 bill, which has so far avoided being amended due to majority rejection votes by MPs. The biggest development on Tuesday came from Brexit Secretary David Jones, who announced that both Houses of Parliament would be getting a vote on the final Brexit deal. Jones caused significant alarm among investors after revealing this concession, however, as he also stated that if the final deal was rejected, the Government would press ahead and leave the EU anyway, regardless of the economic damage. This concept of deal or no deal to decide how the UK parts from the EU has set alarm bells ringing among GBP investors, who remain on edge about the prospect of the Government hitting the self-destruct button just because the EU isnt offering something that it wants. Pound Predicted to Slump Today if Commons Vote Goes in Favour of Article 50 Bill As well as more amendments being tabled today, the Pound is also expected to be moved by the more impactful evening vote on the Article 50 bill following its third reading. Having been approved with ease in the initial reading, this is also forecast to result in a majority yes vote, which could soften the Pound as it will be another step closer to Brexit in its entirety. If any amendments get attached to the bill, a later approval is expected to be less GBP-damaging, though the general outlook is that investors will lose confidence rather than gain it after an approval vote. US Dollar Flat against the Pound as Trump Remains at Odds with State Officials The US Dollar Pound exchange rate has been close today, owing to a lack of support for USD due to the apparent instabilities of Donald Trumps administration. The latest news has been that despite fierce senate opposition, Trumps pick for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been approved, following a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence. Additionally, efforts are still being made to overturn a block placed on Trumps controversial travel ban, which promises to see a high-profile Supreme Court tussle regardless of which side proves to be in the right on the deeply-divisive matter. US Dollar Demand Expected to Rise if Oil Stock Drop Forecasts Prove Accurate The next US news to watch out for will come this afternoon, when crude oil stock figures for the start of February are expected. Given that a decline in stocks is expected, the price of crude oil could rise on such news, which would boost demand for the US Dollar. As ever, Trump and his cabinet remain limiting factors on the US Dollars performance, with any unexpected executive orders or policy announcements expected to soften the US Dollar due to added uncertainty. Looking further ahead, the US Dollar could be moved by Thursdays speeches from Fed officials James Bullard and Charles Evans, along with the wholesale inventories figure for December. This is due to remain at 1% on the month. GBP USD Data Releases 08/02/2017 GBP Article 50 Amendment Session and Third Reading Vote 15:30 USD EIA Crude Oil Stocks Change (FEB) 09/02/2017 14:10 USD Fed Bullard Speech 18:10 USD Fed Evans Speech Two British lawyers, one living in Germany and one in Italy, have drafted a document representing the views of British expat groups across Europe calling for the UK Government to take their concerns into account over Brexit negotiations.There are already a number of groups set up by expats in countries like France and Spain but now they have joined forces to make sure their concerns are taking into account when the British Government formally triggers the exit process which is due to be before the end of March. The Alternative White Paper represents the views of British expats living in Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy and calls for their rights as European Union citizens to be preserved after the UK leaves the EY.It points out that the referendum held last June on leaving the EU gave no mandate to alter the rights of British citizens living in EU countries. It was no part of the (pro-Brexit) Leave campaign that their rights should be torn up, quite the contrary, it says.It is therefore essential that whatever steps are necessary to protect these rights are taken, and taken as a matter of urgency to bring an end to the anxiety that they are feeling about their personal futures and those of their families, it adds.The document, drawn up by lawyers Jane Golding and Jeremy Morgan, calls for expats' pre-Brexit rights to be included in the EU withdrawal negotiations and explicitly guaranteed in a final agreement so as to give it the force of international law.Some of the main concerns of British expats in the EU include pensions, healthcare, the right to work, the right to study and residence status. They want to know what their rights will be and whether there will be an EU wide negotiation or a separate one with individual nations.The document also points out that other issues need to be addressed such as how qualifications will be recognised. This is likely to affect a number of professions including plumbers and builders whose British qualifications count towards them getting professional status when they work abroad and even insurance.Other professions like nursing, architecture, photography and teaching could be affected with potential issues around whether British qualifications are recognised or if they would have to seek new qualifications in the country where they are working.It's very important to speak with one voice. These are real people, real lives, real problems we're facing, said Golding, a member of Germany's Brits in Europe association. Some foreign patients seeking non urgent treatment in hospitals in the UK will be refused unless they pay up front from April this year, it has been announced.The move is in response to overseas patients costing the countrys National Health Service millions of pounds in free treatment. Many are supposed to pay but leave the country without doing so. Now the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced that those eligible to pay, mostly patients from outside of the European Union, will be asked for payment in advance as hospitals will have a legal duty to charge them.Emergency treatment will continue to be provided free and the foreign patients will then be invoiced afterwards. They will be told at the time that they will need to pay once their treatment is finished.Hospitals are already supposed to charge patients living outside the European Economic Area for care such as hip operations or cataract removal, but if they have left the country it can be hard to collect the money.Details of treatment given to visitors from EEA countries should be forwarded to the Department of Health so the costs can be recouped from their Governments.We have no problem with overseas visitors using our NHS as long as they make a fair contribution, just as the British taxpayer does, said Hunt.The NHS hopes to recover up to 500 million a year under the new system, but critics have said that the current system of recovering costs also needs to be reviewed. Indeed the Public Accounts Committee has described it as chaotic.It will be up to individual hospital trusts to work out how best to check the eligibility of patients. It could mean that foreigners are asked for identification which shows how long they have been in the UK and proof of their address.According to the Department of Health free NHS hospital treatment is provided on the basis of someone being ordinarily resident. It is not dependent upon nationality, payment of UK taxes, national insurance contributions, being registered with a GP, having an NHS number or owning property in the UK.Anyone from outside of the European Economic Area must now pay a health surcharge when applying for a visa from staying in the UK for more than six months. People with indefinite leave to remain in the UK are not liable to pay the surcharge as they are regarded as ordinarily resident and entitled to free NHS healthcare on that basis.Payment of the health surcharge entitles the payer to NHS-funded healthcare on the same basis as someone who is ordinarily resident, from the date their visa is granted and for as long as it remains valid. They are entitled to free NHS services, including NHS hospital care, except for services for which a UK ordinary resident must also pay, such as dentistry and prescriptions in England. Exxon Mobil Corp. and a Dallas businesswoman have settled litigation over the 2011 sale of 63 gas stations in the San Antonio and Austin areas. Acilia Acosta, CEO and president of Carcon Industries & Construction, had alleged in a 2013 lawsuit that Exxon Mobil recruited her and other minorities to each bid on the stations but then sold them to an Anglo businessman. She added the negotiations with her were just a public relations charade. Exxon Mobil disputed Acostas allegations, calling the sales process fair and unbiased. The case had been set to go to trial this week in Bexar County District Court, but the parties reached an out-of-court settlement, said Frank Herrera Jr., Acostas San Antonio lawyer. They paid money, but its confidential, Herrera said of Exxon Mobil. I cant tell you how much. Herrera indicated that he had said if the case didnt settle, he might want to take the deposition of former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who became secretary of state last week. I dont even know if that was a persuasive factor or not, Herrera said with a laugh. Tillerson served as the companys boss from 2006 until December. Exxon Mobil didnt respond to a request for comment. But in a November court filing, the company said Acosta was simply outbid fair and square. Documents filed in the case show Acosta teamed with Sir Kyffin Simpson, an Exxon Mobil franchisee in Barbados and Cenral America, to bid $133.3 million for the 63 stations $75.8 million for 39 San Antonio-area stations and $57.5 million for 24 Austin-area stations. Exxon Mobil said in its November filing that the bid was 60 percent less than the average of the three highest bidders. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Bexar County property records show the San Antonio-area stations were sold in individual transactions to Victoria-based Speedy Stop Food Stores, which is owned by Clifton L. Thomas Jr. He is Anglo. The prices paid for the stations werent disclosed. Acosta asserted in an affidavit filed with her lawsuit that the winning bidder obtained the stations not as a result of the bidding process but while traveling to a hunting trip with ExxonMobil executives in South Texas. In 1999, to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that Exxon Corp.s $81 billion acquisition of Mobil Corp. violated federal antitrust laws, the merged company agreed to sell 2,431 stations. The figure included 319 in Texas, including the stations involved in the lawsuit. Acosta alleged that Exxon Mobil launched a program to recruit qualified minority businesspeople to bid on stations. Acosta, a Hispanic, and 11 African-American men were recruited. pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Shoppers at some H-E-B stores in San Antonio may notice some private security guards walking on all-fours. Canine patrols began patrolling parking lots at seven area H-E-B locations in January, officials with H-E-B and Houston-based S.E.A.L. Security Solutions said. Both companies hope potential thieves and other troublemakers will see the dogs along with their human security officers and think twice about committing an offense. Our primary function with this partnership is to bring in what we feel is a visual crime deterrent and to hopefully prevent crime before it even starts, H-E-B spokeswoman Julie Bedingfield said. The supermarket chain hired S.E.A.L., short for Strategic Executive and Logistical Security Solutions, some time last year, she said. The companies said none of the seven San Antonio stores picked for the pilot program have seen an uptick or rash of crime incidents. The stores include the companys two-story market at 1601 Nogalitos St. on the citys South Side, the Alon Market store at 8503 NW Military Hwy on the citys Northwest Side and the companys Plus store at 1150 N. Loop 1604 on the citys North Side. Increased crime was not a rationale for bringing them to San Antonio, Bedingfield said. Were using them at seven stores across the city just to really see if this kind of new innovative approach is something thats effective for us in San Antonio. More Information H-E-B stores with canine patrols in San Antonio 108 N. Rosillo St. 1601 Nogalitos St. 368 Valley Hi Drive Las Palmas Mall 999 E. Basse Road, Suite 150 Alon Market: 8503 NW Military Hwy H-E-B Plus: 1150 N. Loop 1604 See More Collapse Bedingfield said H-E-B first partnered with S.E.A.L. to provide canine security at five Houston stores last year and liked the results, but did not provide specific figures. James Alexander, director of operations at S.E.A.L., said the number of incidents and calls to law enforcement involving H-E-Bs Houston stores decreased after the security contractor began patrolling store parking lots alongside pooches. Theres no way to know what you deterred as far as deterring crime, Alexander said. If it didnt take place, then its hard to gauge. H-E-B is the first retailer to hire S.E.A.L. Security for its canine services, Alexander said. The security firm which largely employs former law enforcement officers trains dogs to patrol and sniff out bombs and drugs. S.E.A.L. contracts with shopping centers, management districts and neighborhoods notably the Sharpstown Civic Association in Houston. The neighborhood association hired S.E.A.L. to patrol the master-planned community after ending its contract with Harris County constables in 2012. The firm first got its start 15 years ago securing cargo ships against pirates, Alexander said. Employing dogs as security officers is unusual for retailers, Alexander said, which typically rely on security cameras and officers who report incidents to law enforcement among other measures. Its worked in a lot of other areas so why not retail?" Alexander said. They (H-E-B) kind of stepped outside of the box and separated themselves from the other retailers. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Each of the seven San Antonio stores will have one human and one canine security officer, Bedingfield said. H-E-B contracts with other security firms to watch over other stores, Bedingfield said. But, the company will monitor results from the San Antonio pilot program before deciding whether to expand canine security to other area stores and other markets like Austin and the Rio Grande Valley. I think were really wanting to make sure that we do our due diligence in piloting this program to make sure that it is the next kind of innovative way to provide the safety and security of our shoppers and provide a good shopping experience, Bedingfield said. In the meantime, Bedingfield said she hopes shoppers see the dogs as a customer service aspect and feel free to approach them. Theyre trained to be in the environments theyre in which are obviously these highly populated areas," Bedingfield said. Theyre working canines, but theyre incredibly friendly and well socialized. I dont think we wouldve employed anything beyond that because we want a customer with a child to feel safe around the animals. Bedingfield later said, Theyre just like my goofy two-year-old golden retriever, except much better trained than mine is. jfechter@express-news.net Twitter: @JFreports H-E-B has sold three former Sun Fresh Market grocery stores in North Texas it purchased in a buying spree last year to a California grocery chain and a Dallas commercial real estate firm, the company said Wednesday. The San Antonio-based supermarket chain purchased six Sun Fresh Market stores in August four in Dallas, one in Grapevine and one in McKinney in a move laying apparent groundwork for expansion in the Dallas area. But it never operated the three stores under its flagship H-E-B brand or more upscale Central Market. The company doesnt currently operate any H-E-B supermarkets in Dallas, but does have stores in at least seven neighboring cities. H-E-Bs upscale Central Market brand has been the companys preferred model in Dallas, where the company currently operates two stores. The company sold the two Sun Fresh Market stores in Grapevine and McKinney to California supermarket chain Safeway Inc., a subsidiary of Albertsons, and one in Dallas to commercial real estate firm Lincoln Property Co., H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said. Campos would not give the selling price for the Grapevine and McKinney stores. She said the company is moving forward with plans to renovate two former Sun Fresh Market stores in Dallas into Central Market stores. H-E-B plans to open one Central Market store in early 2018, but has not set a time frame for opening the second. H-E-B does not have plans to bring its flagship stores to Dallas, Campos said. The (Sun Fresh Market) stores were never being considered for H-E-B stores, Campos said in an email. Buying and selling property is very common in our industry. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Safeway did not respond to requests for comment. The chain currently has two Central Market stores in Dallas and one in Fort Worth, Plano and Southlake. H-E-B also operates stores in Waxahachie, Ennis, Burleson, Cleburne, Granbury, Corsicana and Stephenville jfechter@express-news.net Twitter: @JFreports Just three months after Rackspace Hosting Inc. was taken private in a $4.3 billion leveraged buyout, the managed cloud company is axing about 6 percent of its U.S. workforce including about 200 at its headquarters in San Antonio. Pink slips went out to at least 275 of Rackspaces more than 4,600-person U.S. workforce on Tuesday. Somewhat smaller reductions will occur in Rackspaces international offices, CEO Taylor Rhodes wrote in a blog post. Rhodes called the layoffs personally painful but added they are necessary and manageable. He said Rackspaces expertise and customers service wont be sacrificed as a result of the reductions. Rackspace spokesman Brandon Brunson said in an email the cuts are a one-time event and no second wave of layoffs is expected. The company is offering severance and outplacement services to the workers. The cuts disproportionately impacted senior-level employees rather than front-line workers, who Brunson described as the key to delivering its fanatical support to customers. Cost cuts have been foreshadowed at Rackspace since the summer when New York private equity firm Apollo Global Managements $4.3 billion leveraged buyout of the company was announced. The transaction closed in November. Apollo had targeted $100 million in annual reductions in operating expenses and capital expenditures at Rackspace, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing in October. Apollo has substantial experience in implementing cost-savings at companies it has acquired. Since that time, its my understanding that (Rackspace) worked to try to reduce their costs through cutting programs and not people, said David Heard, a founding member and volunteer CEO of Tech Bloc, a San Antonio tech advocacy group sponsored by Rackspace and other companies. But (Rackspace is) at a point now where I think that their salaries for their workforce is more than half of their cost structure. So some layoffs are required to meet their overall goal for cost reduction, added Heard, who is part of SecureLogixs management team. Bexar County officials have been bracing for cutbacks at the managed cloud company ever since Apollos acquisition was finalized. Ive been worried the last several months what might happen, but I was thinking it could be more than this, County Judge Nelson Wolff said. Its not good. But he added that he believes that other employers will be able to absorb the displaced Rackers given the shortage of local tech talent. In response to the layoffs, Bexar County commissioners on Tuesday earmarked $20,000 to Tech Bloc to assist those workers in finding new employment. Rhodes, in his blog post, said that technology and customer needs change rapidly in the managed cloud industry. Rackspace routinely finds itself with more expertise than it needs in some areas and not enough in others. The post was titled Hard Things: Cutting Current Costs to Invest in Our Future. We dont always have the luxury of making gradual changes to our workforce, Rhodes said. Sometimes more decisive action is required to seize the opportunity to invest in areas where our customers want our help. Thats where we find ourselves today. The layoffs are concentrated in areas where the workforce has grown more rapidly than revenue, he added. He didnt single out those areas, however. Apollo shares our determination to make Rackspace bigger and stronger, not smaller, over the next few years, Rhodes said. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. Apollo is known as a seasoned corporate turnaround player, breathing new life into faltering companies like Hostess Brands. Apollo bought the Hostess Brands cake business out of bankruptcy in 2013 with financier C. Dean Metropoulos for $410 million. They brought in new management and restarted operations that had gone dormant, putting the iconic Twinkie back on grocery store shelves. Hostess has since gone public, and has a current market value of about $1.85 billion. Its common in leveraged buyout transactions for the acquiring company, which often takes on a lot of debt to complete the deal, to restructure operations and reduce expenses. Rhodes noted that parts of companys business has been growing annually in the high double digits, including its Rackspace Managed Security offering, OpenStack and VMware private clouds, and managed services for Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. They hope to be able to hire back that many people maybe by the end of the year, but these would be people with different skills, Wolff said of Rackspace. We believe that the company is going to continue to grow and prosper. pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON In January, days before President Donald Trumps inauguration, his daughter Ivanka Trump declared that shed be stepping away from her management role at the clothing and shoe brand that bears her name. And yet, on Wednesday, the president lashed out on Twitter at department store Nordstrom over its decision to stop carrying Ivanka Trump products, saying his daughter has been treated so unfairly by the retailing giant. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Posted first on his personal account, it was retweeted more than 6,000 times in less than an hour. It was also retweeted by the official @POTUS account. The social media missive adds to a cloud of confusion swirling around the Trump administration about how the familys business interests are colliding with Trumps job at the White House. Sean Spicer, Trumps press secretary, defended Trumps tweet to reporters during a briefing Wednesday, saying He has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities, their success. More Information Trump Twitter focus President Donald Trump has singled out a number of companies individually before and after winning the U.S. presidential election. Here's a quick rundown of the businesses he's mentioned and what he has said. Nordstrom: "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person - always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Tweeted Wednesday Toyota Motor Corp.: "Toyota Motor said will build a new plant in Baja, Mexico, to build Corolla cars for U.S. NO WAY! Build plant in U.S. or pay big border tax." Trump incorrectly identified Toyota's planned new manufacturing plant as being in Baja; it's being built in Guanajuato, Mexico. Tweeted Jan. 5 General Motors Co.: "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!" Tweeted Jan. 3 Lockheed Martin Corp.: "Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!" Tweeted Dec. 22 Amazon: "If @)amazon ever had to pay fair taxes, its stock would crash and it would crumble like a paper bag. The @)washingtonpost scam is saving it!" Tweeted Dec. 7 Boeing Co.: "Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!" Tweeted Dec. 6 Rexnord: "Rexnord of Indiana is moving to Mexico and rather viciously firing all of its 300 workers. This is happening all over our country. No more!" Tweeted Dec. 2 Carrier: "Big day on Thursday for Indiana and the great workers of that wonderful state. We will keep our companies and jobs in the U.S. Thanks Carrier." Tweeted Nov. 29 Ford Motor Co.: "Just got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky - no Mexico. I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!" Series of tweets on Nov. 17 Macy's Inc.: "Good news, disloyal @)Macys stock is in a total free fall. Don't shop there for Christmas!" Tweeted Dec. 4, 2015 T-Mobile US: ".@)JohnLegere @TMobile John, focus on running your company, I think the service is terrible! Try hiring some good managers." Tweeted Nov. 15, 2015 See More Collapse Spicer also said, This is a direct attack on his policies and her name. Nordstrom on Wednesday doubled down on its earlier remarks on the matter, saying the move was based on sales results, not politics. In a statement, a spokeswoman said: To reiterate what weve already shared when asked, we made this decision based on performance. Over the past year, and particularly in the last half of 2016, sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didnt make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now. Weve had a great relationship with the Ivanka Trump team. Weve had open conversations with them over the past year to share what weve seen and Ivanka was personally informed of our decision in early January. Shares of Nordstrom dipped after Wednesdays tweet was posted, though they quickly recovered. The stock closed up 4 percent at $44.53. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down less than a percent while the Standard & Poors 500 index and the Nasdaq composite index were up less than a percent. Trumps reproach of the company comes as a growing slate of retailers appear to be backing away from the Ivanka Trump brand. Neiman Marcus is no longer offering fine jewelry from the label on its website. Belk said on Wednesday that it is no longer selling Ivanka Trump merchandise on its website, though it continues to carry it in stores. But his reproach of the company comes as a growing slate of retailers appear to be backing away from the Ivanka Trump brand. Neiman Marcus is no longer carrying fine jewelry from the label on its website, while Belk also no longer features Ivanka Trump clothes and accessories online. The TJX Cos., the parent company of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, told employees not to display Ivanka Trump merchandise separately and to throw away Ivanka Trump signs, according to a note to employees last week, a copy of which was obtained by the New York Times. Effective immediately, please remove all Ivanka Trump merchandise from features and mix into the runs, the note read. Runs refers to the normal clothing racks where the majority of products hang. All Ivanka Trump signs should be discarded. A spokeswoman for TJX Cos., Doreen Thompson, confirmed that the message had been sent to stores. The communication was intended to instruct stores to mix this line of merchandise into our racks, not to remove it from the sales floor, Thompson wrote in an email. We offer a rapidly changing selection of merchandise for our customers, and brands are featured based on a number of factors. Thompson did not respond directly to questions about whether instructing stores to discard signs was unusual. But a worker at one of the companys stores, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said she had not received such a request during her several years at the company. Ivanka Trumps clothing is still sold at Macys, the nations largest department store, as well as its sister company Bloomingdales, where her shoes and handbags are available online. What we are seeing is that we are living in a world with a different kind of chief executive in the White House, said Matthew Shay, CEO and president of the National Retail Federation trade group. He has a strong opinion on issues. We are learning to work in the environment. Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics counsel under George W. Bush, called President Trumps tweet about Nordstrom a misuse of public office for private gains. I have never seen a senior administration official lash out at a particular company based upon a strictly personal grudge, Painter said in an email. Painter is a professor of corporate law at the University of Minnesota and is part of a team that has filed a lawsuit which alleges that President Trump is violating a constitutional provision known as the emoluments clause, which forbids him from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments. Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert, said it was especially disturbing that Trump retweeted his message on the official White House account. The implicit threat was that he will use whatever authority he has to retaliate against Nordstrom, or anyone who crosses his interest, said Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. But Clark defended the presidents right to use his personal Twitter account to express his views, pointing out that government workers at the EPA recently set up alt-EPA accounts to criticize the presidents policies. A government employee, even a president, is allowed to tweet in his personal capacity. A campaign called Grab Your Wallet has been urging shoppers to boycott retailers and other companies connected with the Trump family business empire. It encourages consumers to stay away from retailers that carry Ivanka Trump products as well as businesses such as Trump wineries and golf courses. Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. I think they all have probably been looking closely at Ivankas sales numbers and weighing whether theyre worth all the problems shes brought them, said Shannon Coulter, who helped found the Grab Your Wallet campaign. President Trumps adult children have been visible figures in the early days of their fathers administration. Ivanka Trump was at the table last week for a gathering of the presidents Business Advisory Council, a meeting that was attended by chief executives of corporate behemoths such as Walmart, Pepsi and IBM. Her brothers, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., appeared recently at the event announcing Neil Gorsuch as President Trumps pick for an open seat on the Supreme Court. Moves like these have had critics asking how much distance there is between the president and his familys business empire. His sons are running the Trump Organization during his presidency. And while Ivanka has taken a formal leave of absence from the Trump Organization, its not clear that she has relinquished her financial interests in it. President Trump has declined to divest his own stake in his business. Ivanka Trump had nothing to do with the presidents decision to tweet about Nordstrom, according to a person close to the first daughter who asked not to be identified. First lady Melania Trump, meanwhile, is in a legal battle over her own brand. Shes suing the Daily Mail, saying a defamatory article deprived her of the chance to sell clothing, shoes, jewelry and perfume. The $150 million suit said the London tabloid, which later retracted the story, made it almost impossible to take advantage of major business opportunities. The presidents criticism of Nordstrom exemplifies the uncharted territory that corporate America finds itself in during the Trump era. During his campaign and since his election victory, Trump has not shied away from ripping into specific companies. He has criticized General Motors for making cars overseas, and suggested that an order from Boeing for a new Air Force One jet should be canceled because of its costs. Perhaps as part of an effort to keep out of Trumps crosshairs, big names such as Walmart and Amazon.com have touted their plans for creating thousands of jobs in the United States catnip for a president who has pledged to be the countrys greatest jobs president. (Jeffrey P. Bezos, the chief executive of Amazon, owns the Washington Post.) Meanwhile, the fractious political climate has lit the fuse on several consumer boycotts, leaving big companies to try to unravel what these outcries actually mean for their reputations and bottom line. For example, days after President Trump signed an executive order that barred refugees and others from seven majority-Muslim nations from coming to the United States, Starbucks announced that it planned to hire 10,000 refugees. On social media, calls quickly bubbled up for consumers to boycott Starbucks. Uber, the ride-hailing company, saw more than 200,000 users delete the app from their phones after a #DeleteUber campaign sprang up on social media. It arose after the company said it was dropping its surge pricing during a protest at John F. Kennedy International Airport over Trumps travel ban. And while Grab Your Wallet had encouraged shoppers to boycott Nordstrom for carrying Ivanka Trump apparel, now a new round of boycott talk is simmering that targets the department store chain, this time from shoppers who are outraged with the retailer for dropping the line. The New York Times, Associated Press and Bloomberg News contributed to this report. In Spanish, the phrase que padre means something is cool, excellent, awesome. Substitute madre for padre or mother for father and it all goes to hell: That sucks. Artist Julia Barbosa Landois always has been interested in language and the subtle undercurrents of meaning that reveal social and cultural attitudes, particularly in regard to women. In M*dres, a new series of text-based silkscreens on display at Blue Star Contemporary, she explores English and Spanish phrases that employ the words mom, mother and madre. The phrases she chose include everyday expressions and curses. One Thats not a mom body is a backhanded compliment that Landois herself, the mother of two young children, has had the dubious honor of receiving. My interest in these phrases is what they connote for the large social framing of motherhood, as well as my own paradoxical existence as a caretaker in a profession that lionizes the unattached individual living only for the work, she wrote in an artist statement. An alum of Blue Star Contemporarys Berlin residency program, Landois spent three months at the Kunstlerhaus Bethanien last year. She took her family with her and immersed herself in performance art observing the differences between European and American practices from both performer and audience perspectives. Shortly after Landois returned to San Antonio, she began working on the print series. Though known primarily for her work in performance, installation and video, Landois started out as a painter. I totally love color, and printmaking is a way for me to connect back to that, she said. And my work always has a political-feminist edge, but with dark humor, and so I think the humor is in here, but not so dark. Im more thinking about it in a funnier and sort of absurd way. The series is well-timed, said Blue Star executive director Mary Heathcott, when theres so much talk in politics and in our social sphere about womens rights and theres the womens march on Washington. It seems to be themes that are on everybodys mind. Many of the phrases Landois chose to feature in the prints use mom as an adjective one that functions like a wet blanket, instantly dampening the appeal of the noun that follows. In a pair of prints, the text Thats Not a Mom Body is superimposed over a what looks like abstract flower-like patterns. Closer inspection reveals one of the designs is a doubled image of back-to-back mudflap girls. The other is a daisy wheel of Virgen de Guadalupe silhouettes. One of the paradoxes of motherhood is that a woman uses her sexuality to become pregnant and have a child, but as soon as they take on the title of mother, that part of their life is negated, Landois said. In Spanish, Landois chose to steer away from the more vulgar phrases. I left those out on purpose because I didnt want the negativity to come from the obvious vulgarity, she said. I wanted it to come actually from just the word madre. Ni madres roughly no way features a woman working at a computer and talking on the phone as she pumps breast milk with the help of a hands-free pumping bra. Theres this idea that you can go out an grab it and have it all, but its all up to you and its not up to your employer to provide paid parenting leave and its not up to our society to think about things like subsidized childcare and all of the things that support caretaking that are outside of individual choices, she said. In conjunction with the exhibition, Landois did a performance titled Serious Work in January. During the performance, which was videotaped and is on view at the Blue Star, she put her mom body on view and confronted the audience with her gaze. She said the 30-minute piece was structured to look like a 70s style endurance performance with (an artist in the nude) doing something very serious and extreme. Over the course of the performance, the structure broke down into absurdity as Landois exchanged texts with her partner and friends, which were projected on a screen behind her. In one exchange, her partner asks her to pick up diapers on the way home. In another, she and a friend discuss how her breasts look onstage. All these things that you wouldnt expect, but also performance artists are people and theyre thinking about these things, particularly if theyre women, Landois said. M*dres continues through May 7 at Blue Star Contemporary, 116 Blue Star, 210-227-6960, bluestarart.org. lsilva@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate VON ORMY Amber Simpson went to a school-wide assembly on Tuesday thinking it would be about one of their teaching programs. But as the Barrera Veterans Elementary School assembly went on, it became clear it wasnt really about the program. For one, Gary Stark, a representative from the Santa Monica-based Milken Family Foundation, spoke at the assembly. For another, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and Governor Greg Abbott were in attendance. It seemed to be about one individual in particular. Know this: You have one of the best teachers. Not just one of the best teachers at this school, not just one of the best teachers in the state of Texas, Abbott paused, urging the dozens of children to pipe down. But you have one of the best teachers in all of the United States of America. The crowd, from the teachers and staff to the little kindergartners, roared. And then Abbott announced that Simpson, a teacher at the Von Ormy school for 14 years, had won the prestigious Milken Education Award and $25,000 to spend however she chooses. The gym became a deafening feedback loop of raucous cheers, hollers and echoes. Its the first time Somerset Independent School District has won the national award and the only district in Texas to win this year. I dont normally cry. But I just immediately, I started crying, said Simpson, her eyes still glistening some 20 minutes later. I couldnt believe it. In fact, as I was walking up I was like Oh my God, what if they didnt call my name? I couldnt believe it. I just dont do it for the praise. I do it because I love each and every one of these students. Known as the Oscar of teaching, only about 35 educators nationwide are winning the Milken Foundations award this year. Out of the 30 years since the award began, Simpson is the seventh winner from a San Antonio area school district. Last year, San Antonio ISDs Laura Servin was the only Texan to receive the award. The last time before that was 2008, when Joanna Bacon of North East ISD won. Never once would I have thought Id be standing here today doing this, said Simpson. Even as they were introducing the teacher it never once occurred to me itd be me. I was looking around saying Who could it be? At Barrera, she is one of two master teachers who help train their colleagues to improve their quality of teaching through TAP, a program designed to promote teacher and student advancement. The school has been using TAP for three years through a partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. Every week, Simpson holds professional development meetings for teachers and tutors students one-on-one. She received her bachelors in interdisciplinary studies from Texas State University in 1999 and a masters in education leadership from Concordia University in 2003. Somerset ISD is a rural district and Barrera serves a largely low-income and Latino student body. This year, it met standards in state accountability and is performing better in achievement growth compared to other similar schools, according to the Milken Foundation. The future of our republic depends upon a highly-educated citizenry, and that depends upon an excellent teacher. And we have to, as a state, as a country, recognize and award our educators, Morath said. These are brain surgeons except when they walk into the operating room, theres not one brain asleep on the table. They walk into the classroom and theres 30 brains very much awake. Simpsons son Jake, 7, said he hopes his mom spends the $25,000 on getting him a new puppy. Yes, all $25,000. Simpson said shes not sure how shes going to spend it, but shes happy the award can draw attention to the important role all teachers have in communities. (This award) brings value to what youre doing and it also brings recognition, to let the community know that we have so many people in our schools that are dedicated to the education and well-being of our own students, she said. We love them like our own children they become part of our family. Its a huge honor to bring recognition to our school, because weve done so many great things and were just a little country school. sfosterfrau@express-news.net A labor attorney with a long history of civic service is the apparent front-runner in the race for the open District 8 seat, but residency questions could disqualify him from the ballot. Manny Pelaez says he, his wife and their children live with his parents at their home in the Dominion neighborhood, but social media posts indicate he lived in his District 9 home as recently as the winter holidays well past the six-month residency requirement under the City Charter. Pelaez, 42, is considered the heir-apparent for the seat being vacated by Councilman Ron Nirenberg, whos challenging Mayor Ivy Taylor in the upcoming municipal election. Pelaez denies the allegation and insists he moved to the Dominion last summer after his father fell and broke his hip, saying he wanted to help care for him. His opponents in the race, Tony Valdivia and Pat Stout, have called for an inquiry into Pelaezs residency but havent officially filed a complaint with City Clerk Leticia Vacek, whose office would investigate the allegation. A district judge also could issue an injunction preventing Pelaez from seeking the seat, Vacek said. Since Pelaez filed his ballot application Jan. 20, that meant he needed to be living in District 8 by July 20. Property records show he and his wife own a house on Mesa Run in District 9. Neighbors said they saw the family at the home as recently as the Christmas holiday. The house went on the market Dec. 26, listing records show. The sale of the home is expected to take place later this month. Pelaezs residency is further called into question based on the sellers disclosure that is part of the sale of the Mesa Run house. Provided to the San Antonio Express-News by Valdivia, the document states the seller is occupying the property. Pelaez initialed the page and signed the document. Semi-annual campaign finance reports that posted last month show Pelaez is the only candidate in the race who raised significant contributions. But he could be disqualified from running if hes found to have violated the residency requirement. The Express-News sought several types of documents and other information to determine whether Pelaez lived in the Dominion dating back to last summer. But Pelaez only has offered a computer-generated estimate from a moving company that he sent four days after receiving the Express-News request. It was dated June 16, but bears no signature, time stamp or other indication that it was produced on the date it shows. Pelaez, 42, a socialite who often mingles with the citys political elite, has a long history of civic involvement, including serving on the boards of the San Antonio and Hispanic chambers of commerce, the San Antonio Water System, the Brooks City Base Development Authority and VIA Metropolitan Transit. Hes also a prolific user of social media. Several photos posted to Facebook between August and December when he says he and his family were living with his parents in their Dominion home depict their life unfolding in the house they own in Stone Oak, which is in District 9. Still, he insists otherwise: Sometime in April or May of last year, my father, who lives in the Dominion, fell down and broke his hip. So my mother and my dad, since they live in this gargantuous (sic) home invited us to move in with them, he said in an interview last week. So, in June, we moved out of our home. I leased it out to a tenant, and we moved back to the Dominion. I live in the west wing of the house. My parents live in the east wing. And well probably be living there until my father passes away. On Tuesday, pressed for more details, Pelaez contradicted himself in a written statement about where he lives and when he moved there. In May of last year, I moved into my familys home located in District 8 to help care for my elderly father. He had sustained a serious injury from a fall, and I decided to step up and be there for him and my mother, he wrote. Since June, I have resided in District 8, and I even set up my office across the street from our neighborhood so that I can be there quickly if the need arises. Pelaez didnt provide any documentation proving that he moved to the Dominion when he says he did. The San Antonio Water System confirmed last week that Pelaez is the account holder for the Mesa Run address in District 9. Pelaez said the CPS Energy bill for that address is in his name as well. He said his tenant at Mesa Run, which is in a gated community, had a credit situation that makes it easier if I pay for it and he passes it on. Pelaez said his tenant, whom hed met through a potential business deal after last years historic hail storm, has moved out. That tenant confirmed he had poor credit because of a bankruptcy, but that he was in the process of moving out. Asked to produce a piece of mail that shows his name and the Mesa Run address, the tenant said all of his mail was sent to his office and provided no proof that he actually lived in Pelaezs home. Pelaez changed his voter registration address from the Mesa Run house to his parents Dominion home on Sept. 12, well after the date at which he needed to be living in District 8. His wife still lists Mesa Run as her current address on her voter registration. His wife made a $500 contribution to her husbands campaign Oct. 9, just days after Pelaez appointed a campaign treasurer. The home address listed on the campaign finance report for his wife is also on Mesa Run. Valdivia, one of Palaezs challengers, said he had heard the allegations about Pelaezs residency. It was something that I had started to uncover and some people had told me, said Valdivia, a product management manager at USAA. Stout, too, said said she is looking into all of this. There needs to be a review. Several sources, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said they told Pelaez months ago that his residency would be an issue. One source said Pelaez initially responded that he had a District 8 office, which should suffice. The source told him otherwise. Meanwhile, Pelaez refused to answer questions Tuesday about several photos on Facebook that appear to show that he and his family were living on Mesa Run until as late as December. A Dec. 22 photo posted to the social media site shows his daughter standing in the front room of Mesa Run, near a wine rack, which also appears in Multiple Listing Service photos connected to the sale of the home. A Dec. 6 photo shows the same wine rack, above a wine refrigerator. On top of the small fridge is what appears to be a pewter dish, a land-line telephone and an Elf on the Shelf. A second elf is wedged inside the fridge. The caption Pelaez posted with the image reads: These elves are crossing the line. NOBODY touches my wine without my permission!! Yet another photo, dated Nov. 27, shows his daughter sitting at a kitchen table. Pelaezs reflection can be seen in the window behind her. Also behind her is a kitchen counter, which appears to be the same counter and backsplash tiling shown in the listing photos. But unlike in the listing photos, which show a completely clear countertop, the Facebook image shows a familys belongings. An Oct. 31 photo shows his family, dressed in Halloween costumes in the front yard of the Mesa Run home. His Facebook page is populated with photos of his wife and kids and their life at Mesa Run, all posted during the time he said they were living on Daventry Lane in the Dominion. He requested that the Express-News not name his children, and he declined to say where they attend school, though he did say his children never attended the North East Independent School District campuses to which the Mesa Run address are assigned. Meanwhile, the Northside Independent School District, which covers the Dominion, has no record of children from the Pelaezes Daventry Lane address. After Pelaez sent the statement saying he moved his family to his parents house to help his father, the Express-News asked him to respond to questions specifically about the social media posts. He declined. Im done discussing this, as it seems were not getting anywhere, he said. That's all I'll be saying on the subject. Thanks for your time. jbaugh@express-news.net Twitter: @jbaugh This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly on Tuesday blamed himself for confusion surrounding the hasty rollout of President Trumps temporary ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, but he disputed claims that the ban had caused chaos at airports across the country. In his first hearing before Congress as secretary of Homeland Security, Kelly defended the presidents executive order as constitutional, and a necessary pause to address security concerns from nations he described as nearly failed states, yet he should have delayed implementation, he said. This is all on me, by the way, I should have delayed it just a bit so I could talk to members of Congress to prepare them for what was coming, Kelly said. The temporary 90-day suspension of visas for travelers from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen includes four countries that don't have U.S. embassies, Kelly said. But the administrations top security official insisted the travel pause was not a Muslim ban, which he said would be illegal. Kelly denied that hundreds of refugees, families and legal permanent U.S. residents who were detained at airports, sparking nationwide protests, werent treated humanely by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If you talk to the men and women of CBP there was no chaos, Kelly said. If you then look out to where the demonstrators were, and with all due respect, some public officials, there was some chaos. Several committee members challenged Kellys assertion that bad people may have been allowed into into the country since a federal judge temporarily blocked the travel ban. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard arguments Tuesday afternoon on whether to reinstate President Trumps travel restrictions. When Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, pressed Kelly to back up his claim with proof the secretary responded that he had none, at least not until the boom, Kelly said, referring to something being blown up. The urgent border security crisis facing our nation is not occurring at our southern border, but rather is one of President Trumps own making, Thompson said. No amount of fearmongering via Twitter or alternative facts will change the fact that on January 27th, with the stroke of a pen, President Trump changed this nations standing both at home and abroad. Kelly was roundly praised by House Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, who said the secretary had inherited a porous border, overrun by drug trafficking and human smuggling operations. After visiting the Rio Grande Valley a week ago, Kelly said, border agents told him that a barrier in strategic areas across the Southwest border, which he described as a gaping wound, is necessary, saying that some areas could be targeted for immediate construction. Were not going to be able to build a wall everywhere all at once, Kelly said. They very definitely said, yes, sir, we need a physical barrier backed up by people like us. To that end, Trump has ordered the addition of 5,000 border patrol agents and 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to curb illegal immigration, but not at the expense of lowered hiring standards, Kelly said. Meanwhile, Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, criticized the administrations push to build additional barriers along the Southwest border, a region that already has 650 miles of fencing. I forcefully reject the idea of building a wall along the southern border, Vela said. The fact is Mexico is an ally. Later in the day, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. testified alongside Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw and Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, each casting the border in starkly different terms. The claims of lawlessness and rampant violence in our border communities is just wrong, Trevino said, and nothing more than an attempt to paint it as something that its not in order to support the misguided rhetoric against border communities, Mexico and its people, and the immigrant, both legal and undocumented. But Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez urged House committee members to visit his county, which comprises the Border Patrols Del Rio sector. Dont show up when they have all the manpower and resources, Martinez said. Visit us in our natural state and you can see all the deficiencies we have. anelsen@express-news.net Twitter: @amnelsen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When President Donald Trump signed an executive order that imposed a temporary ban on travelers entering the U.S. from Iraq and six other predominantly Muslim nations, the move reminded Alex Almanza of another presidents fateful decision. In 2008, five years into the Iraq War, President George W. Bush declared U.S. forces would withdraw from the country by the end of 2011. The news came during Almanzas second tour in Iraq with the Army and elicited a bemused reaction from Iraqi soldiers. I remember them feeling a sense of betrayal, said Almanza, 48, who retired from the military in 2013 and lives in Edinburg. You could see it in their eyes: Everything weve been doing is for nothing. Military veterans in South Texas who trained Iraqi troops warned of similar and potentially lasting effects from Trumps actions, even after a federal judges ruling last week suspended the travel order. (An appeals court heard arguments Tuesday and will decide whether to keep or lift the injunction.) Those who served in Iraq contend the ban and the presidents anti-Islamic rhetoric could erode the resolve of Iraqi troops, deter civilians from cooperating with government forces and supply fresh recruiting fodder for terror groups. Almanza, who first deployed to Iraq in 2003, recalled the early efforts of U.S. troops to build up the countrys military during the eight-year war. The Americans taught Iraqi soldiers how to fire artillery, set up checkpoints and conduct raids, and the daily interaction forged a kinship born of common purpose. The Iraqis who fought beside us were just as important to me as my guys, he said. They were willing to die right beside us. Thats the kind of commitment that can only come from hope. But if were now telling them that theyre not welcome in our country, it gives them more reason to doubt our commitment. It will dampen their hope. Messing with their trust The U.S. military has 5,000 troops in Iraq to assist the countrys armed forces fighting Islamic State, or ISIS, with most acting as advisers. Cesar Gutierrez, a Marine veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, asserted that Trump has disregarded the sacrifices of Iraqi soldiers, interpreters and civilian personnel and the hazards they continue to face working with U.S. troops. They chose to fight alongside us to defeat the enemy, said Gutierrez, 31, who lives in San Antonio. They were very nervous about patrols not because they werent willing to fight, but because they were alongside Americans. That alone put a price on their heads. Training Iraqi forces required Americans to confront cultural and language barriers. Discussions with soldiers and local civilian leaders gave Gutierrez an understanding of the country and its people, and he criticized Trumps travel order as rooted in ignorance. You have to earn their trust and respect. Once you do, theyre with you all the way, he said. But what the ban does is label all Iraqis as the same. Were now messing with their trust with an entire nations trust, a nation that weve fought for for many years and thats going to undo a lot of what weve been trying to accomplish. A desire to bridge the divide between Americans and Iraqis motivated Ibrahim Eesa, a native of Baghdad, to serve as an interpreter for U.S. troops from 2007 to 2009. He received refugee status a year later and arrived in San Antonio, where he now works as a medical support assistant at the Audie Murphy Veterans Affairs Hospital and belongs to the Texas National Guard. I wanted to educate Americans about the Iraqi people, and I wanted to explain to Iraqis what the soldiers were doing so they would know what was happening in their neighborhoods, said Eesa, 29, who became a U.S. citizen four years ago. I wanted to be that connection. Given that he risked his life on behalf of Americans in Iraq, Eesa finds Trumps harsh attitude toward Muslims at once insulting and frustrating. I feel betrayed. Not by the American people; by the new president, he said. Muslims are tired of being labeled terrorists. We want the same things as everyone else: a safe life, jobs, a good economy. Makes us go backward The U.S. military invoked a Vietnam-era mantra of winning hearts and minds in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mike Allen served two tours in Iraq during a 20-year Army career, and he insisted that the perils of the mission remain unchanged under Trump. Theres no way to make the job any more difficult, said Allen, 44, the coordinator of the Crossroads Area Veterans Center in Victoria. Terrorists are driven by ideology, not some silly policy the U.S. puts in place. But Eddie Rodriguez, who deployed to Iraq with the Marines in 2007 as part of the troop surge that reversed the gains of insurgent groups, faulted Trump for further endangering American forces in combat zones. Its easy for politicians to do this kind of thing because theyre not the ones who are shaking hands with the people who live in these countries, said Rodriguez, 30, a social worker and veterans advocate in San Antonio. The troops have to do that. What hes doing is contradicting everything weve been trying to do, and it feeds into the propaganda of radical terrorist groups. Trumps blunt statements about Islam, as much as his executive order, stoke a perception of Americans as hostile toward Muslims. Navy veteran Jeff Hensley, who deployed to Iraq in 2006 as part of a civil affairs team, predicted the presidents tone will dissuade civilians there from aiding U.S. and Iraqi forces. The biggest effect may be on the ordinary people who have been watching the war for years, said Hensley, 53, who runs an equine therapy program for veterans in Wylie. They may not become jihadists. But theyre definitely not going to trust us or work with us. In addition to Iraq, Trumps executive order named Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, a former undercover CIA officer assigned to the Middle East and South Asia, pointed out that American forces need the support of local populations to combat radical Islamist groups. Trumps order makes us go backward, and it erodes trust, said Hurd, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. And you need trust in your friends and allies, especially against a threat like Islamic terrorism. Postings on pro-ISIS social media accounts in the wake of Trumps order called it a blessed ban and suggested it would bolster the groups recruiting. Paul Miller, associate director of the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin, noted the fallout could complicate U.S. intelligence gathering in the seven countries. Virtually anything the U.S. does is twisted for jihadist propaganda, said Miller, a former Army and CIA intelligence analyst. In this case, the Trump administration made the jihadists job a little easier by announcing a poorly written and hastily developed policy with obvious and glaring flaws and rolling it out in an especially hack-handed way. During his two tours, Almanza recalled, Iraqi troops withstood pressure from insurgent groups to shed their uniforms. He expects the coercion to intensify even if the travel ban remains suspended. The soldiers we worked with got recruited by terrorist groups, but they did not turn, partly because they trusted us, he said. But now, al-Qaida and ISIS and other groups will come after them harder than ever. And if they go to the other side, then in a sense well have been training ISIS fighters. mkuz@express-news.net Twitter: @MartinKuz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Lavoin Keith Allison drove up to his home on Jan. 14, he saw a rush of water flowing down his driveway and through the house. There was water four inches, five inches deep going down the driveway, down the street, he said. A section of 24-inch San Antonio Water System main made of PVC pipe had broken, sending water into his home near Boerne Stage Road, entering through a door to the backyard. Contractors have said the damage may approach $100,000, said Allison, who goes by Keith, and now he is sparring with SAWS for compensation. The break affected six homes on the Autumn Sound cul-de-sac, according to neighbors, but Allisons house had the most damage. None are SAWS customers since the subdivision has its own small water system. For three weeks, Allison, 68, and his wife, Juanita, 66, have been living at a nearby bed-and-breakfast. Allison has a sense of urgency about getting his wife back home. Juanita Allison is in advanced stages of Alzheimers disease and becomes agitated when she sees the floorboards and carpet ripped out, sheetrock being replaced and belongings packed in boxes, Allison told the SAWS board of trustees at its meeting Tuesday. This issue needs to get resolved and it needs to get resolved now because my wife is at the point where she doesnt recognize her house, Allison said before breaking down and crying. So far, SAWS has said it will only pay the roughly $49,000 bill for drying out the house with industrial blowers, plus $2,500 to cover other damages. We are making this offer as a business decision and not because SAWS has any liability for this incident, a SAWS claims coordinator told Allison in a Jan. 20 email. SAWS has governmental immunity for the type of incident involved here and does not waive that immunity if this offer is rejected. SAWS officials did not respond to emailed questions about utilitys assertion of governmental immunity and the cause of the break, though it did confirm that the same line broke nearby in December 2015. SAWS is currently in discussions with Mr. Allison concerning his damage claim, SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said in an email. Some documents just recently arrived in our office. We will continue to investigate the issue and resolve it as quickly as possible. Allison said his homeowners insurance company has rejected his claim, saying the damage was caused by off-site water. Almost all of Allisons help has come from his next-door neighbor, Gary Schraer, 53, who also spoke at the SAWS board meeting Tuesday. As a construction contractor, Schraer and his crew have been working on repairing baseboards, replacing sheetrock and insulation, fixing cabinets and painting water-stained walls at the Allisons home for free. Nobodys stepped up right now, Schraer said. No insurance company, no SAWS, and you have to do something. You cant just leave it sitting here for a month. bgibbons@express-news.net Twitter: @bgibbs A prominent photographer from San Antonio appeared briefly in court Tuesday on a charge of receiving child pornography, as area schools informed parents he had taken pictures of some students, though no inappropriate conduct was found in those shoots. Christopher Alexander Reilly, 46, photographed dancers and students around the country, and was arrested last week by the FBI. AUSTIN President Donald Trump offered to destroy the career of a Texas state senator pitching a civil asset forfeiture bill, sparking a legislative resolution asking the president to back off Tuesday. The spat came about after Rockwall Sheriff Harold Eavenson told the president Tuesday about a lawmakers plan to require a conviction before law enforcement can seize cash and property believed to have been used in the commission of a crime. Weve got a state senator in Texas that was talking about introducing legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money. And I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed, Eavenson told the president in the Roosevelt Room of the White House alongside fellow representatives from the National Sheriffs Association. Can you believe that, Trump said as the sheriff explained. Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name? Well destroy his career. The White House later said the president was joking and the sheriff said he was trying to make a point about the lack of logic behind changing the asset forfeiture laws. However, the episode quickly sparked a scramble to figure out who the unnamed legislator was and led to the drafting of a resolution on the floor of the Texas Senate condemning the presidents remarks. Eavenson declined to name the senator during his meeting with Trump, or in later phone interviews with reporters. Three senators have pending bills on civil forfeiture: Konni Burton, R-Fort Worth; Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Don Huffines, D-Dallas. Eavenson identified the sheriff as male. Hinojosa and aides to Huffines said they were not the ones. I dont pay any attention, really to things like that, what (Trump) says, Hinojosa said. I dont think its me, but it really doesnt make any difference. Sen. Bob Hall, an Edgewood Republican whose district includes Rockwall County, had in the past supported the change to require a conviction before civil forfeitures become official and had indicated to Senate leaders he may file a bill like that this session. To date, Senate bill records show he has not filed such a bill so far. Hall shrugged off suggestions that Eavenson, whom he said he knows well, was referring to him. Instead, he insisted to reporters that it could be any one of the 31 Texas senators. I couldnt care less, he said. Nonetheless, soon after news of Trumps comments filtered across the Senate floor Tuesday, as the upper chamber was debating an ethics reform bill and a controversial ban on so-called sanctuary cities, other senators Republicans and Democrats expressed outrage at Trumps comment. By evening, Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, was circulating a resolution demanding Trump adhere to the civility and decorum that are essential to a functioning democracy. Seven senators, all Democrats, had signed on to sponsor the resolution. When the President of the United States threatens any member of the Texas Senate, it must be considered a threat to all Texas Senators, the resolution reads. Menendez said he does not intend to file the resolution, or seek a vote on it, unless he can get enough signatures to pass it a majority of the 31-member Senate. Even then, its chances appear dicey. That is because Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Senates presiding officer who decides which resolutions come up for a vote, was Trumps Texas campaign manager and remains a top supporter. Reporter Mike Ward contributed to this story. andrea.zelinski@chron.com twitter/andreazelinski This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN After a six-hour debate, the Texas Senate on Tuesday evening approved the so-called sanctuary cities bill on a party-line vote, putting it on track to arrive in the House by the end of the week. The controversial bill passed with 20 Republicans in support and 11 Democrats in opposition. It is scheduled to get a third, mostly ceremonial hearing Wednesday. Prospects for final passage of the measure, which Gov. Greg Abbott made an emergency item this session, appear better this year than at any time in recent sessions, according to two House Republicans who spoke on the condition of anonymity. House Speaker Joe Straus has yet to release his committee appointments, meaning it is unclear which House lawmaker will chair the panel that will consider and could revise the Senate bill. At issue is whether local law enforcement should honor every federal immigration request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold on to immigrants in the country illegally until federal officials give further instructions or take them into custody. As noted by several of the bills opponents, the decision to honor ICE requests, known as detainers, is voluntary. Should the bill become law, violations could cost cities millions of dollars, according to a legislative analysis of the legislation. Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican who authored the bill, said it will provide an across-the-board standard that would not allow local officials to decide which ICE detainers they will comply with and which they will not. Whats at stake here is the rule of law, Perry told his colleagues as the debate began. Whats at stake here is consistently applying law across the country as well as this state. It has very little to do with immigration. The bill would cut off state grant funds to a local entity for the following year if a court finds that they adopted a policy in violation of Senate Bill 4. It also would ban local law enforcement agencies from enacting policies prohibiting their officers from asking about someones immigration status if they have been stopped with probable cause. To enforce the measure, the bill would allow any citizen living in a jurisdiction he believes is not in compliance with SB 4 to file a complaint with the Attorney Generals office, which can go to court. Much of the floor debate concerned the degree of legal liability that local authorities, including county and city officials, would face if a court found that they violated the proposed law. Passing on a party-line vote, Perrys amendment would make it a Class A misdemeanor for an elected or appointed official to intentionally or knowingly ignore SB 4. The charge carries a penalty of not more than one year in a county jail and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000. The move was aimed at Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, who announced earlier this year that she would honor detainer requests only in certain cases. In response, Abbott blocked $1.5 million in grant money from his office that was going to Travis County and promised to remove her from office. Democrats objected to the proposal, arguing that it could turn Texas sheriffs into criminals. The DA of those particular counties can use their discretion not to prosecute, Perry said to Sen. Carlos Uresti, a Democrat from San Antonio. Perry added that the misdemeanor clause would not apply to rank-and-file law enforcement officers, but only to department heads, such as sheriffs and police chiefs. The bill also would penalize a local entity that violates its enforcement provision, including a fine up to $1,500 for the first violation and up to $25,500 for each subsequent violation. Therein lies the problem with your bill you give discretion to some and you dont give discretion to others, Uresti responded. Your bill is inconsistent. Democrats offered nearly 40 amendments to Perrys bill. They ranged from proposals to require police officers to pass an immigration law exam before enforcing SB 4, to mandate that police do not have to honor expired detainer requests. Each failed as Republicans voted as a bloc against them. Last week, hundreds of protestors and opponents showed up to the Senate State Affairs Committee, where more than 500 people testified on the bill. The vast majority were opposed to the measure, which the committee passed in an early morning party-line vote after 16 hours of public testimony. Many recounted personal, often emotional accounts of the bills potential impact on immigrant communities. Perry said that while he did not want to discredit the fears of undocumented immigrants and others who oppose the bill, he was concerned about what he called misinformation. We have a golden opportunity. Rather than discounting the narrative, we have to go out to our communities and say now you have statutory protection not to be in these situations, he said. I think its a plus. Sen. John Whitmire, a longtime Houston Democrat, pressed Perry on who the bill is targeting. If the perception is there that were only going after criminals, we need to be real clear who we consider a criminal, he said, asking Perry whether undocumented students would qualify as criminals under SB 4. If you carry that definition forward, there are millions of Texans, documented and undocumented, who are scared to death. To Whitmires concerns that the bill will lead to racial profiling by police, Perry said he believed law enforcement officers are better than that. Discretion doesnt give officers the right to break the law, Perry said, adding that they already are constrained by federal anti-discrimination legislation. Donald Trump wasnt wrong. The United States isnt so innocent. That was the point the president made during an interview with Bill O Reilly that Fox aired on Super Bowl Sunday. Trump backed up his assertion by recalling the most obvious recent example of U.S.-engineered regime change: the 2003 overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Of course, he also could have referred to the covert 1953 overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, and the installation of a brutal U.S. puppet, the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, for the next 26 years. He could have blasted the 1954 CIA-led coup which ousted democratically elected Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz, in favor of a repressive military regime. He could have focused on the U.S.-backed overthrow (and assassination) of South Vietnamese leader Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963, an action which filled then-President John Kennedy with immediate regret. Trump could have cited Richard Nixons 1973 ouster of Chilean President Salvador Allende, whose primary sin, in Nixons eyes, was his insistence that Chile no longer have more than 80 percent of its exports in the hands of a small group of large foreign companies. In other words, Allende, like Trump, pushed for a nationalistic trade policy. Chile First, if you like. In his interview, Trump could have gone much further back and addressed the way the U.S. used the Spanish-American War to seize Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, or the way this country occupied Nicaragua and Honduras in the early 20th century. Trump has never given any indication that hes aware of these sordid details, but he deserves credit for acknowledging a historical dark side that American political leaders usually pretend doesnt exist. The problem with Trumps flippant critique of America wasnt what he said (which was true), but his intention. His aim was not to push for a foreign policy based around human rights as Jimmy Carter did in his groundbreaking 1977 Notre Dame commencement speech but to defend the indefensible actions of despotic Russian leader Vladimir Putin. When OReilly stated that Putin is a killer, Trump shot back: We got a lot of killers. What, you think our countrys so innocent? It was not only a classic case of false equivalency, it suggested that there are no limits to Trumps willingness to play the role of Putin apologist. Trumps remark met with pushback from a few of his fellow Republicans, namely U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, and former presidential rival Marco Rubio. But the GOP response was remarkably muted, given how aggressively Trump flew in the face of Republican doctrine. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, prefaced his tepid reply by saying, Im not going to critique the presidents every utterance. If only McConnell and the rest of his party had offered the same consideration to Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama. Obama would have never uttered a phrase as crass as What, you think our countrys so innocent? But if he had, you could have heated the nations capital for a year with the steam coming out of Republican ears. Trump got a pass, however, because conservatives see his critiques of America as mere verbal blunders, whereas Obamas were defined as confirmation that he didnt love his country. Consider that back in April 2015, Trump responded to a question about American exceptionalism by saying, I dont like the term. He called the phrase insulting to other countries, adding, Essentially, were saying were more outstanding than you. I agree with Trump on this. Ive always disliked the notion of American exceptionalism, not because I dont view this countrys founding principles as exceptional. I dislike the term because it suggests that we consider ourselves the chosen people, who can do anything we want, or flout international opinion, because, after all, were special. During his presidency, Obama took pains to embrace the concept of American exceptionalism, even while acknowledging some of our less-than-admirable historical chapters. Republicans inevitably complained that he was apologizing for America. On February 9, 2015, then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal bashed Obama as the first president who truly doesnt believe in [American exceptionalism]. Actually, that wasnt true. Trump, based on his own words, is the first. But Republicans dont seem too worried about it. ggarcia@express-news.net Twitter: @gilgamesh470 One producers bill jumped by more than $20,000 in one month By Diego Flammini Assistant Editor, North American Content Farms.com A group of farmers from Leamington, Ont., want a meeting with Premier Kathleen Wynne to discuss the provinces new cap-and-trade program. Sit down with us, thats all I ask, do the right thing, Tony Mastronardi, a greenhouse grower with Mastro T Farms, told CBC. Mastronardi, along with a group of seven other greenhouse growers from the Leamington area, feel the new cap-and-trade program could spell the end for smaller greenhouse operations due to higher natural gas bills. "We are established here and we don't know if we are going to survive, I would consider very strongly searching elsewhere to start up again because I don't see a future in Ontario the way it stands," Gerry Mastronardi told CBC. Another grower, Jamie Diniro, told CBC his gas bill in December 2016 was around $19,000. But after the cap-and-trade program came into effect, his bill for January 2017 skyrocketed to more than $41,000. Diniro said Ontario is getting taxed more heavily than other provinces. "Alberta is settled and British Columbia is settled and we are getting hammered ... we are all Canada here, but we (in Ontario) seem to be getting the brunt of the high tax," Diniro said. Diniro told CTV News if things dont change, he may move his operation to the United States, where natural gas prices are cheaper. Ive lived here for 46 years, but on the other hand, I need to feed my family, Diniro told CTV. "It is almost embarrassing - I am a farmer who is good with figures and passionate about a few things and CBH is one of them but this agro-politics I can't believe it has turned into some sort of animal and what is embarrassing is these guys are directors of our $2.5b company and is this how they cope under pressure when they are making decisions?" It pointed out DFES did not provide a breakdown of "how all ESL funds have been allocated to specific services, or to specific regions", nor did it "undertake activity-based costing" to allow it to accurately report the amount spent on various types of "non-fire related, non-frontline activities". Given the roadblock to these technologies is the immense cost of bringing new products to market, the party wants to invest $50m to target the critical "post proof of concept" stage of the R&D pipeline help the most prominent research projects to commercialisation. "After the election we will continue to have discussions with the government - I don't let an opportunity like this go by, so we will speak to the minister after the election." "When I was on the farm I did some research trials for the department and as a farmer, in my header, in my paddock, I couldn't see how the trial I was doing had any relevance to what I was doing in my business it was ridiculous," he said. "We are proud we came up with Water For Food, it's our policy idea, after the 2013 election we formed an alliance with the Liberal Party, had them agree to it, put it in the budget and rolled it out. "The difference is that we have been approaching those markets and asking what they wanted, instead of trying to sell a product to them," Ms Franceschi said. Manassas, VA (20110) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Pitts: Before voting, take a look at your sample ballot in Cumberland County and NC The late General Sani AbachaA civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has sent an open letter to U.S. President Donald J. Trump urging his Administration to attach and release to Nigeria some $500 million worth of U.S.-based proceeds of corruption traced to former Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha. The organization said these proceeds are separate from the $480 million of Abacha-origin funds that have been forfeited to the U.S. under an August 2014 US federal district court order. SERAPs request is fully consistent with the UN Convention Against Corruption, which both the US and Nigeria have ratified. SERAP in the letter dated February 3, 2017 and signed by the organizations U.S. Volunteer Counsel Professor Alexander W. Sandy Sierck and executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, told Mr. Trump that the U.S. Department of Justice must promptly initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings against these proceeds so as to fulfill several non-controversial commitments by the US to assist Nigeria in recovering assets looted by former Nigerian government officials. The letter, a copy of which was sent to the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington, and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, reads in part: SERAP urges your new Administration to initiate discussions with the Nigerian government to fulfill these objectives within an agreed framework and timeline. Simultaneously, the Administration should instruct the Justice Department to initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings in regard to the above-referenced $500 million in assets described above. Any bilateral discussions between the U.S. and Nigeria concerning these assets should include clear acknowledgement of the significant role that civil society plays in asset recovery matters. To that end, the respective governments ought to commit to promptly sharing information with relevant civil society organizations on stolen assets of Nigerian origin located in the US or otherwise subject to U.S. jurisdiction. This proposed commitment is similar to one between the US and Kenya as well as consistent with Articles 46(4) and 56 of the UN Convention Against Corruption. SERAP notes that Article 51 of the UN Convention against Corruption provides for the return of corrupt assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle. Article 43 provides likewise. Similarly, under Articles 47(3)(a) and (b) states parties have an obligation to return forfeited or confiscated assets in cases of public corruption, as here, or when the requesting party reasonably establishes either prior ownership or damages to the states. In SERAPs judgment, some or all of these requirements have been met with respect to the $500 million in proceeds described above. A resolution adopted by the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption in Panama in November 2013 reaffirms this obligation, by requiring state to make every effort to return such proceeds. to the victim state. Nigerias Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption has recently informed SERAP that the U.S. Government has identified another $500 million or so proceeds of Nigerian corruption subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Last month the Chairman of Nigerias Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, raised the alarm that Nigeria risked losing another $550 million recovered from the Abacha family to the government of United States. Sagay said that the amount represented a separate tranche from the earlier $480 million forfeited to the United States following a court judgment. According to him, Nigeria presently stands to lose another $550 million recovered from the Abacha family to the U.S., contrary to the earlier promise by the U.S. to return same to Nigeria. _____ Sandy Sierck is an adjunct professor at Georgetowns law school, co-teaching a course on international white collar crime. He does international trade litigation and compliance work at Cameron LLP, where he is senior counsel. Adetokunbo Mumuni is currently the Executive Director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in government through the framework of human rights. Before this, Mumuni worked briefly as Attorney with the Nassarawa Local Government Secretariat in Plateau State, and was senior counsel in the law firm of Bisi-Olateru-Olagbegi & Co. Chris Evans has split from Jenny Slate. Chris Evans The 'Captain America: Civil War' star and the 34-year-old comedienne and actress have reportedly called time on their romance after nine months together. A source told Us Weekly magazine: "It was completely amicable and a mutual decision due to conflicting schedules and they remain very close friends." The pair had kept their romance largely under wraps during the time they were dating but Jenny once confessed Chris was her "dream boyfriend". She said at the time: "It's kind of like I got my dream seventh grade boyfriend. We didn't know each other growing up, but we grew up about half an hour away from each other. We've been friends for a while, and, yeah." The pair happily posed on the red carpet together at a number of events including Jenny's movie 'The Secret Life of Pets' last summer where she admitted it was lovely to have someone there who "knows" how premieres work and understands the demands of her job. Speaking about having Chris along to support her at the premiere, she said: "I haven't really had a large premiere before, so it's nice to have someone who knows how it goes." Meanwhile, Chris previously opened up about his ideal woman. Asked if he'd prefer a woman to send him a picture of her breasts, bottom or face, he said: "I'm way, way, way more of an ass man, clearly more of an ass man. Just so everyone knows. I like butts. [So] I guess a butt pic ... "I would probably ask for her number at first. But let's say we met at 10, and I left the bar at 11 and I sent her a text at 11:30 saying, 'Hey, it was great to meet you.' And she responds, 'Yeah, you too.' And at 3 a.m. there's another text [from her], right away it's a little bit of a bummer." After producing the crime thriller NH10 in 2015, Anushka Sharma and her brother Karnesh Sharma are set to release new film, Phillauri. Set in the Phillaur town of Punjab, Sharma plays a friendly ghost bride who lives in a tree accidentally marries a human being. She confides in her human groom about her unrequited love story with handsome Diljit Dosanjh (of Udta Punjab fame). Our aim as producers is to entertain with unusual stories and characters, the actor-producer told Femina. Watch the trailer here: It was the winter of 2003. We sold out our big ancestral home in posh South Calcutta location due to some unavoidable reasons and purchased two flats in a not-so-posh locality in Calcutta. Understandably we were sad since our distinguished forefathers who were a part of Bengals history enjoyed almost a century of residing in that posh locale. But one incident that happened to me in that time etched a deep memory. That morning, I was going to see our new property. I came out from our three-storied building to the street in front and hailed a cab. The taxi driver looked at me quizzically and then gave a long stare at our ancestral house. The moment I hopped in and told him my destination, he asked me Is it your house? Does this place belong to you? while starting his taxi. I was perplexed and became a little uneasy because many-a-times when you sell out a big property a lot of people in locality get to know somehow and become extra-inquisitive about the deal and its paraphernalia. And ours was a disputed property. So I had reasons to be alert. Anyway I said a curt Yes and kept mum through rest of the journey except while giving directions. When I reached my destination after half an hour or so I asked him how much should I pay? His reply baffled me more. He said, Babu, I will not take a single penny from you. This ride is for free. Even I can offer you a free ride every time you or your family member boards my taxi. I am forever grateful to your family. My father survived because of your ancestors kind refuge. You do not expect this kind of answer from a cab driver who generally minds business. I was clueless. I asked him the reason for such kindness. Then he told me a true-story that shows loyalty and humanity is not all lost in these days. Hold your breath dear readers; I am going back to 1946! 16th August 1946 is a black day in Indian history. On that fateful day Muslim League launched their demand for a separate Islamic nation (Pakistan) strongly across India. Calcutta was the worst hit. History says at least six thousand people were butchered in Calcutta alone due to Hindu-Muslim riot. The said taxi driver is a Hindu whose father was young in 1946. Their family was disturbed in the said riot. Our family with the leadership of late Sri Kushi Prasun Chatterji ( my paternal grandfathers eldest brother), a noted lawyer and Congress patron of his time in Calcutta offered refuge to many riot-stricken Hindu families including this said taxi drivers family in our big ancestral mansion. Angered by this the local Muslim League leaders barged in and demanded Kushi babus intervention in supporting riot-afflicted Muslim families also. Kushi babu showed exemplary courage that day which is still remembered by old-timers in Bhowanipore locality of Calcutta. He immediately wrote a pact with Muslim League leaders that innocent Muslims will also be given refuge in our home given that they should not fight at any cost with the Hindu refugees. Realizing the graveness of the situation the said leaders signed the pact; the Muslim victims of riot too came in our house. For next seven days or so until the riots and hostilities subsided, until the communal hatred ebbed away the Hindu and Muslim riot-afflicted victims stayed in our house peacefully with their food and shelter completely taken care of by our family. This taxi driver was not even born then, his young father took our refuge. Then they went back to their own homes after situation improved. And Kushi babus benevolence became folklore in Bhowanipore, Calcutta. Now recounting his tale, the cab driver told me with tears in his eyes, Babu, once your forefathers saved mine. And my father always told me showing your house that anybody from that house is my guest and saviour. Your house is our temple, babu! How can I forget that you stay in that house and come from that family which saved our family from perishing for sure? Babu, my father is dead. But as long as I am alive I will follow what he said. I will not take a single penny from you, babu. Please tell this to your family also. Now my eyes moistened as I heard his story. He left. But he left an indelible impression on me. I understood it is not a building that a man resides makes a man. It is not money that makes a man. It was Kushi Prasun Chatterjis life-saving measures and good deeds that saved so many families from perishing away. And this extra-ordinary loyalty of an ordinary cab driver restituted my faith in humanity. (By Dr Biswa Prasun Chatterji) Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma inaugurated a new office in Melbourne, Australia that will serve as headquarters for the Chinese internet giants operations in Australia and New Zealand. The new Melbourne office is expected to help Australian and New Zealand businesses share their products with billions of customers around the world.ANZ managing director Maggie Zhou will lead the team at the new office. Zhou is a 17-year veteran of Alibaba, who recently served as deputy general manager of cross-border B2C shopping site Tmall Global. Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma inaugurated a new office in Melbourne, Australia that will serve as headquarters for the Chinese internet giant's operations in Australia and New Zealand. The new Melbourne office is expected to help Australian and New Zealand businesses share their products with billions of customers around the world.# The Melbourne office team will support the current 1,300 Australian and 400 New Zealand businesses selling on Tmall and Tmall Global, while also working to bring new merchants onto the platforms.A physical Alibaba headquarters is a key step in ensuring Australian businesses have the support and information they need to succeed in China and the rest of the world, Zhou said.According to Alibaba, it wants to deliver more than just ecommerce services to Australian businesses and consumers. The goal is to build the entire operating infrastructure needed to enable local businesses to expand globally. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has suggested that apparel stitching factories be set up in Ponnakyun, Sittwe in a bid to create job opportunities for local people and also stop migration.MIC has recommended several fiscal incentives for companies interested in starting projects in Sittwe, to encourage investment in a less developed region. The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has suggested that apparel stitching factories be set up in Ponnakyun, Sittwe in a bid to create job opportunities for local people and also stop migration. MIC has recommended several fiscal incentives for companies interested in starting projects in Sittwe, to encourage investment in a less developed region. # A MIC statement informed that these incentives include an income tax exemption for seven years and exemption on customs duties and local taxes, on import of raw materials and partially manufactured goods. The relaxation of duties and taxes would be for those companies, who import raw materials to export finished goods.The statement also said that since the region was underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure; the investors should be allowed to use the land free of charge, which will help attract investors.The state owned investment body also recommended that an apparel manufacturing facility be built by a public company, in cooperation with an existing garment factory. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Uzbekistan, a major cotton producing country has set a task to process all cotton produced in the country into textiles by 2020, as against 40 per cent of the cotton that is processed currently, and just 7 per cent in 1991. As of date, the country exports textiles to over 50 countries and more recently has begun exports to Nigeria, Croatia, Chile and Brazil.According to Uzbek media reports, of overall textile exports, yarn shipments account for nearly 50 per cent, which will be gradually replaced with value added textile products. Uzbekistan, a major cotton producing country has set a task to process all cotton produced in the country into textiles by 2020, as against 40 per cent of the cotton that is processed currently, and just 7 per cent in 1991. As of date, the country exports textiles to over 50 countries and more recently has begun exports to Nigeria, Croatia, Chile and Brazil.# In order to achieve the goal, the country plans to invest around $2.2 billion, half of which the country expects to come from foreign investments. There is also a plan to build textile complexes, which will house facilities beginning from spinning till processing of fabrics.The plan is to also create 27,000 new jobs through these investments, while also upgrading 10 existing textile mills. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Intimate Scenes Are The Most Difficult To Shoot 'I don't like intimate scenes in a film. They are the most difficult to shoot. You have a formal equation with someone and suddenly you are into each other's mouth.'' Shahid Had A Runny Nose And... 'That big moustache of Shahid is horrible. It was such a tragedy of different level. When I asked him about it, he said he applies wax and has a running nose! It was getting messy and he was teasing me. I have intimate scenes with Saif too, but they aren't that many.'' Shahid Kapoor Is Suspicious 'Shahid is very friendly on certain days but extremely suspicious on other days. Maybe that's again because of my intense expression. But even I can be like him. There are days when I get zoned out. But he is essentially a nice guy, I must say.'' Saif Is Extremely Charming 'Saif is extremely charming. Let me tell you an incident. Once during a shoot, I was freaking out. It was a night shoot and the light was less, We were using real swords and I was practising very hard. Saif took me aside and said: 'Why you looking so scary? Why such an intense expression?' I couldn't help laughing. If he doesn't like something about you he will tell you upfront and want it changed according to his way, like a true Nawab.'' Saif Is A Rockstar 'He is a rockstar, he is not just charming but good looking as well. He is cracking the best jokes, having the best arguments, takes centre-stage- and goes home. Perhaps that his philosophy of life, and I quite like that.'' Rangoon Is The Best Script I Have Heard 'Rangoon is the best script that I have heard till date. One look at the script and I could see the work that must have gone into it- dialogues, plot, characters. I was floored. Julia is essentially a lover. That's her arc. She is not someone you would look up to. She is very insecure, stuck in a group of people. What she turns out to be is amazing.'' On Vishal Bhardwaj 'There are certain passionate filmmakers who want certain things only in a certain way, and they get labelled as hard taskmasters. But Vishal sir is also so child-like. There are so many amazing things about him. He gets excited about small things. He is a great director.'' On Not Attending The Award Shows 'Have you seen award functions? They're all yawning there. At one time before social media came into effect, it was a big thing to get a glimpse of your favourite star at the commercial awards. But now with the advent of social media, you can see him/her dancing and even get into their bathrooms.'' My First Priority Is My Child ''I do only one film at a time. My first priority is my child. So it's a lot of hard work. But it can be done. It's all about choices. Many times, I have to let go of good work. Fortunately, the work I've done has worked for me." So Does She Feel Guilty Like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan? When asked, ''Like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, do you feel guilty when you are not with your child?'', To which she replied, ''That's a mother thing. I could be anywhere. But I am thinking of my child. Even now as I talk to you.'' Mahira Is Blessed With A Son Named Azlaan Read more about Mahira's son, her ex-husband and her divorce below. Mahira Khan is a single mother and has a cute son named Azlaan and here's is one adorable picture of the yummy mummy with the apple of her eye. Keep on reading to find out whom she married and why the relationship didn't work. Mahira Khan's Marriage As per reports, Mahira Khan met her husband Ali Askari while studying in Los Angeles. Soon they fell in love and decided to get married. The couple tied the knot in 2007. When The Problems Started... According to a daily, the problem started between the couple after the success of Mahira's drama serial Humsafar. Many say that her husband didn't want her to make a career in showbiz. When She Got Divorced... Mahira Khan got divorced from her husband Ali Askari in 2012. But even after the divorce, the actress stayed in touch with her ex-husband. What Happened Next? Later, the actress moved to her mother's house with her son but she did not leave acting. And now not just in Pakistan but she is a well-known name in India too. Bombshell For A Reason There's no denying that Sonakshi looks bombshell in her latest picture and she is getting fitter with each passing day. She captioned the pictures as "To infinity and beyond... thats what Maldivian mornings feel like can i just never leave please @coco_resorts!!! #sonastravels #islandgirl #waterbaby #cocomoments #beautifulmaldives." Sona With Her Travel Companion "With my perfect travel companion in #beautifulMaldives!!! The new #Zenfone3SMax is here so I can now recharge my batteries in peace without worrying about my phones (perks of a long lasting battery) and what better than a stylish gold model for aslisona," captioned Sonakshi. You can also check out a few more stunning pictures of Sonakshi Sinha below.. Beautiful If this picture doesn't make you go gaga over Sonakshi's jaw-dropping transformation, we don't know what will! The actress looks like a million bucks in this pretty outfit. Bewitching In Black "Denim by day, leather by night!#sonastylefile #fridaynightfever," wrote Sonakshi, while sharing this picture. When She Was In Chennai "Denim on denim and a dash of pink for the launch of @forever21 in Chennai today! #F21Chennai#sonastylefile," captioned Sonakshi. Sona's Style File "Photos like this by a team like this @abheetgidwani @mohitrai@niluu9999 @sheetalfkhan?#photoshoot #sportyswag#sonastylefile," captioned Sonakshi. Sona's Casual Look "All set to kill a few zombies#residentevil style! Styled by @mohitrai(tap for creds)! Special mention for my lovely neckpiece by @anueninde! Hair and makeup @niluu9999 and@shefali_hairstylist.81 #sonastylefile," wrote Sonakshi. Awww! How sweet does the Dabangg actress look in this picture! Kunchacko Boban, the romantic hero is all set to team up with film-maker Ranjith Sankar, for the upcoming love story Ramante Edanthottam. In a recent interview, director Ranjith revealed some interesting facts about the movie. Interestingly, Kunchacko Boban is playing the titular character Ram Menon aka Raman, a 40-year-old resort owner in the movie. The actor is playing a character of his age, for the first time in his career. Edanthottam is the name of Raman's resort, which is situated near to a forest. Unlike the usual posh resorts, Raman's resort has very limited facilities and is situated in an area without mobile or internet connection. A girl named Malini who hails from metro city visits to resort, and Raman soon falls in love with her. According to director Ranjith Sankar, the movie depicts the love story of two matured individuals, in a different manner. The director assures that the movie will be totally different from Kunchacko Boban's highly celebrated romantic films. Anu Sithara will essay the role of Raman's love interest in the movie, which is scripted by Ranjith himself. Ramante Edanthottam will also have stars Aju Varghese, Ramesh Pisharady, Joju George, Muthumani, etc. in the other pivotal roles. Madhu Neelakandan handles the cinematography. Bijibal composes the music. Beyhadh actors were shocked with an unfortunate incident that happened yesterday (February 8). The sets caught fire while shooting for a wedding sequence. We had already reported about the incident and how Kushal Tandon dragged Jennifer Winget out of the mantap to save her from the fire. (BREAKING! Watch: Fire On Beyhadh Sets; Kushal Tandon Jumps Out Of Mantap With Jennifer Winget) Jennifer, who plays the role of Maya on the show, took to social media to thank her co-actor for saving her. She wrote, "@KushalT2803 I owe you biiiig time .. you saved my life ." She further shared a post that said, "Completely unforeseen turn of events on set last evening but Accidents happen and grateful that no one was hurt." "To my fans, I'm ok, skimmed with a minor burn on the back, healing soon. Thank you for your wishes and prayers." Beyhadh is one of the popular shows of Sony TV that has managed to impress the audiences with its unique content. Jennifer plays the negative role in the show and has impressed the viewers with her amazing performance. Currently, on the show, Maya and Arjun are all set for the marriage. Arjun is unaware of Maya's obsession. Saanjh tries to reveal the same to Arjun, who is in no mood to listen. Also, Vandana gets to know from the pandit about Arjun and Maya's compatibility. She will be shocked to know from the pandit that Arjun would face problem because of Maya. It will be interesting to watch how Arjun would react when he gets to know about Maya's truth. Stay locked to this space for the latest updates of the show... Star Plus' trending soap Ishqbaaz has been entertaining its viewers with the new-age bromance between the O'bros Shivaay, Omkara and Rudra. The show is a huge success and has a huge fan following. Now, that the show is coming up with its spin-off, titled 'Dil Bole Oberoi', fans couldn't be more happier! The spin-off will throw light upon the love stories of Omkara (Kunal Jaisingh) and Rudra along with their girls, Shrenu Parikh and Nehalakshmi Iyer, respectively. In the first promo, we saw Omkara bumping into a runaway bride (Shrenu) who will straight away fall into his arms in a true filmy style. The second promo of the show is out. Check out the glimpses of the latest promo below... New Promo The new promo begins with Omkara's dashing entry. He gets out of the car in style, echoing his thoughts about love. He tells that love is nothing but 'sauda', in which one suffers from a lot of pain and he is not all ready for it. Shrenu's Entry The screen shifts to Gauri Sharma (Shrenu), who believes that love is world's biggest form of worship and she will worship it with complete belief. Stark Opposites Omkara, who once had faith in love and relationships has completely lost faith in them. On the other hand, Gauri believes in love completely. With this, can we say opposites attract? Will Gauri change Omkara's perception of love? Wait and watch. Omkara & Gauri Cross Paths The promo ends with Omkara and Gauri crossing paths. We are eagerly waiting for their love story to begin. Omkara's New Look Omkara's long hair look became a rage. In Dil Bole Oberoi, Omkara will be sporting a ponytail. It looks like he will perfectly nail it, with his new avatar. Shrenu's Look Shrenu will be sporting a simple salwar kameez look on the show. Reportedly, she will play Gauri, a chirpy girl who is always full of life. Shrenu perfectly fits the bill as Omkara's love interest, doesn't she? Many actors such as Sushmita Mukherjee, Bigg Boss 10 contestant Rahul Dev and a few others have been roped in to play pivotal roles in the show. The new show looks refreshing and different compared to Ishqbaaz. Although both the shows will have the same characters, viewers will get to watch different stories. The show is all set to air from 13th February, 2017 at 10.30 pm. Also read: OH NO! Star Plus' Trending Soap Ishqbaaz To Air Only 5 Days A Week! We can't wait for the show to begin... Click to watch the new promo. Pricing and Availability INTARFRM Product System Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ TOKYO, Feb 8, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced that it has enhanced features of the Professional Edition of FUJITSU Software INTARFRM, an application framework(1) that supports customer system development. Sales of INTARFRM Professional Edition V16 in Japan began February 7.INTARFRM is an application framework that can manage development resources across the whole lifecycle of software, from design to development, operations, and maintenance. Now, with the addition of continuous integration (CI)(2) support functionality that makes it easier to connect with commonly distributed CI tools to improve the efficiency of web application development, it is possible to automate the building (creating executable files), deployment (creating a situation where they can be used), and testing (testing how it looks and operates on the screen) of web applications, which previously had to be done manually. This makes it possible to automatically repeat tests for applications in development, enabling users to find bugs faster, improve quality, and shorten delivery times.With this product, customers can carry out web application tasks, from design to maintenance, more efficiently than ever before, enabling them to start their services sooner.BackgroundWeb application development involves many difficult issues, such as shortened development times to allow customers to start using the service earlier, support for all sorts of devices, such as PCs and smartphones, and the increasing number of testing man-hours due to greater complexity of system configurations. In order to respond to these issues, attention has been focused on CI methods, which automate building, deployment, and testing during application development and speed up the development cycle, for earlier discovery of bugs and less repetition of tasks. Numerous CI tools exist to automate building, deployment, and testing, but because the preparations to use CI tools are cumbersome, it has not been easy to deploy them.From the INTARFRM product system of three products, Fujitsu is now offering INTARFRM Professional Edition V16, which makes it easy to connect to a variety of CI tools, thereby supporting customers in shortening development times and improving quality.Features of INTARFRM Professional Edition V161. Offers CI support functionality that makes it easy to use CI toolsThis software offers CI support functionality that can manage settings, execution scheduling, execution, and results for a variety of CI tools. With this functionality, for example, the test script(3) necessary for an automated test with CI tools can easily be made on a screen while referencing design information in a repository(4), enabling an automated test based on design information. Even if customers do not have the skills to handle CI tools that can write a test script, they can easily make use of CI tools to seamlessly carry out tasks from web application design to testing.2. Expands the design information that can be managed in repositoriesFujitsu has doubled the design information that can be managed with repositories. The software is newly capable of managing design information about visual elements, which it could not handle before, such as screen transitions, screen layouts and table association charts. With this software, errors-such as inconsistent element names-caused by information being managed outside the previous repository can be reduced through unified management in a repository, improving design quality.3. Design tools can be used on a browserFujitsu has made it possible to use design tools that input design information and automatically create programs from a browser. Previously, it was necessary to install and set up design tools on each PC, but with this product, it is now possible to use design tools from anywhere as long as the user has a browser.Pricing and Availabilityhttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuPricing28.jpgINTARFRM Product Systemhttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_FujitsuINTARFRM28.jpg(1) Application FrameworkUsed to increase standardize and reduce development work when developing applications. Narrowly defined, application frameworks are collections of classes and libraries used in application development. Broadly defined, application frameworks may include application control structures, application-development methods and documentation, work systems, development tools, etc. INTARFRM can be considered an application framework in the broad sense.(2) Continuous integration (CI)A method where programmers, when creating an application, repeatedly build, deploy, and test their application numerous times, finding bugs and other problems sooner, improving quality, and shortening development time.(3) Test scriptProgram that writes the steps of a test.(4) RepositoryA database that preserves system and application information, which are development resources, in one place.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/07/17 -- Nexperia, the former Standard Products division of NXP, today announced the formal completion of its launch as a separate entity. Headquartered in Nijmegen, Netherlands and backed by a consortium of financial investors consisting of Beijing Jianguang Asset Management Co. Ltd and Wise Road Capital Ltd, Nexperia is a stand-alone, world-class leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFETs, retaining all the expertise, manufacturing resources and key personnel of the former NXP division, while bringing a new focus and powerful commitment to these product areas. Nexperia, which will produce around 85 billion devices a year and in 2016 had revenues exceeding US$1.1B, addresses three key trends: power efficiency; protection and filtering; and miniaturization. The Automotive sector is very strong for Nexperia and most of its products are AECQ101 qualified. Other important markets include portable devices, industrial, communications infrastructure, consumer and computing. A significant portion of the company's revenue is delivered through distribution channels. Nexperia CEO Frans Scheper, formerly EVP and GM of NXP's Standard Products Business Unit, comments: "Our history ensures that Nexperia is already regarded as a strong industry leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFETs, which consistently delivers highly reliable and innovative products to our global customers. Under the new ownership and with a renewed sense of vigour we will invest in product development and best-in-class manufacturing practices and facilities to ensure that Nexperia becomes the byword for efficiency and quality. Together with our engaged and motivated employees this will enable us on a daily basis to exceed the needs and expectations of our customers." Nexperia has two front-end manufacturing facilities, in Manchester, UK and Hamburg, Germany, and three back-end packaging plants in Guangdong, China, Seremban, Malaysia and Cabuyao, Philippines. It currently employs about 11,000 personnel worldwide including an established and successful leadership team. Scheper continues: "Because Nexperia will continue to source its front end and back end production from its current manufacturing sites, there will be no disruption in our supply chain or other processes, so customers and partners can be fully assured that they will continue to receive excellent products and exceptional service." The company has an extensive IP portfolio and is certified to ISO9001, ISO/TS16949, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001. About Nexperia Nexperia is a dedicated global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFETs devices. We became independent at the beginning of 2017. Focused on efficiency, Nexperia produces consistently reliable semiconductor components at high volume: 85 billion annually. Our extensive portfolio meets the stringent standards set by the Automotive industry. Industry-leading, miniature packages, produced in our own manufacturing facilities, combine power and thermal efficiency with best-in-class quality levels. Built on over half a century of expertise, Nexperia has 11,000 employees across Asia, Europe and the U.S. supporting customers globally. Nexperia: Efficiency wins. About Beijing Jianguang Asset Management Co., Ltd. (JAC Capital) Beijing Jianguang Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("JAC Capital") is a subsidiary of JIC Capital which is part of JIC Group (China Jianyin Investment Ltd). JAC Capital was established for the purpose of investing in the high tech industry including semiconductor, information technology, networking, data service, cloud computing and telecommunications. By taking advantage of the abundant resources of its shareholders in the international financial market, JAC Capital partners with industrial leaders in various sectors and makes investments in the focused high tech industry and the global semiconductors market to support its continuous development. About Wise Road Capital LTD (Wise Road Capital) Wise Road Capital is a global private equity fund that is focused on investing into solid high tech companies by identifying opportunities in enabling technologies for global urbanization and smart/green life through close cooperation with leading companies along several main themes, including smart city, intelligent manufacturing, renewable energies, etc. Wise Road Capital is striving to build a healthy international eco-system around those key themes through its investments and its international management team with a combination of industry and investment background. For press information, please contact: Nexperia Petra Beekmans Head of Communications & Branding Phone: +31 6 137 111 41 Email: Email Contact Agency: Text100 Hong Kong Mandy Lo Account Executive Phone: +852 2534 8713 Email: Email Contact Hotelbeds Group and Tourico Holidays combine forces to drive innovation in the B2B Bedbank space. Deal will combine companies with complementary geographic footprints. Hotelbeds Group, a global bedbank and business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry, has announced today plans for Tourico Holidays to merge with its Bedbank business unit. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006641/en/ (From right to left) Joan Vila, Executive Chairman of Hotelbeds Group and Uri Argov, CEO of Tourico Holidays (Photo: Business Wire) Commenting on the news, Joan Vila, Executive Chairman of Hotelbeds Group said: "With the backing of Cinven and CPPIB we are entering the next phase of our development since becoming an independent company back in September. "Therefore it gives me great pleasure to announce that Tourico Holidays will join Hotelbeds Group. Tourico Holidays has a well-deserved reputation for excellence and innovation that I have respected for many years. I look forward to working with its experienced leadership team. "The proposed deal will enable us to enhance our footprint, especially in Tourico Holidays' home market of North America whilst they will benefit from belonging to Hotelbeds Group's global network. Together we will combine our best in class technology and distribution expertise for the benefit of both our hotel partners and clients. "For the time being, both businesses will continue as usual, focusing on our top priority: providing the best possible service to our hotel partners and clients." Tourico Holidays' CEO, Uri Argov added: "We're very excited about what this deal can mean to the B2B travel industry. Tourico Holidays' management team looks forward to bringing together these two great businesses in order to better serve our combined supplier and client base. At a cultural level, this deal is strong because our two organisations are both entrepreneurial, dynamic and high energy and just like Hotelbeds Group, we're passionate about what we do and focus hard on execution." Tourico Holidays will continue to operate as an independent business while a long term strategy is developed to find the most appropriate way to combine the businesses. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and anti-trust approvals. About Hotelbeds Group: Hotelbeds Group is the world's number one bedbank and a business-to-business provider of services to the global travel industry. Operating mainly under the Hotelbeds and Bedsonline brands, the company connects, 35,000 travel intermediaries across more than 120 source markets globally with travel providers in over 180 countries representing more than 120,000 hotels, 20,000 transfer routes and 12,000 activities. In September 2016 the company became independent under the ownership of Cinven and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). The company is headquartered in Palma, Spain and has 6,150 employees working across 150 offices globally. In the financial calendar year of 2014 15 Hotelbeds Group sold around 26 million room nights and achieved a Total Transaction Value (TTV) of 3.8 billion. About Tourico Holidays: Tourico Holidays is a leading global travel distribution company that contracts directly with travel providers, such as hotels, flights, cruise lines, attractions, car rentals, vacation homes and more. The company works on a high volume, wholesale model to broker this inventory to over 4,900 clients in 100 countries using proprietary technology. 1 This includes the top holding company of the Tourico Group and indirectly all its entities, including its holding subsidiaries, Tourico Holidays, Inc., Travel Holdings, Inc. and Tourico Holidays Spain, S.L., and the technology development Israeli subsidiary, T.G.S. Israel Development Ltd. The deal will be legally structured via the merger of the top holding company of Tourico Group ('Travel Holdings Parent Corporation') and Hotelbeds US Holdco, Inc., Hotelbeds Group Holding's legal entity in the United States. The merged entity will be 100% owned by Hotelbeds Group. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006641/en/ Contacts: Hotelbeds Group Roman Townsend, +34 619 988 580 Head of Media Communications, Social Media Corporate Affairs rtownsend@hotelbeds.com HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Joe Kainz Tel: +852 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org HONG KONG, Feb 8, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) presented a Fashion Hong Kong runway show that featured four leading Hong Kong designers - Kenax Leung, Dora Chu, Kay Li and Vickie Au during the stunning Copenhagen Fashion Week (AW17) and Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF) from 31 January to 3 February 2017.For the first time, the Fashion Hong Kong show (31 January) was held at Thorvaldsens Museum, a historic venue built in 1848 and surrounded by world-class art and sculptures unique to Copenhagen. Together with the inspiring fashion designs, the show created a distinctive and refreshing visual experience blending fashion and art.Reflecting the Scandinavian market's appreciation of sustainable fashion, the Fashion Hong Kong show infused innovative eco-friendly elements, creating a buzz in the local fashion community.As the only Asian fashion show, Fashion Hong Kong recorded a full-house of around 400 buyers, media and fashionistas. Among those in attendance were ELLE, WWD and Hong Kong-born Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Denmark's National TV (TV2) also aired a live prime time broadcast of the show including interviews with members of the audience.All four designers commented that the show was significant and especially meaningful in Copenhagen since it merged Hong Kong designs with local historic art and architecture. Designers applied eco fashion elements not only on apparel pieces but also in other fashion accessory items, such as brooches and handbags.Show highlights and photos were uploaded on blogs and various social media platforms by attendees and media, many of whom commented that the show illustrated a new style. They were also impressed by the use of vibrant colours on the pieces, giving buyers wider choices beyond the more traditional tones. KENAXLEUNG's expressive collection "waste isn't just waste" presented the contrast between a jolt of energy and a sense of familiarity and comfort. HOUSE OF V by Vickie Au showcased the geometry and architecture-inspired collection "Sensuous Illusion", which heralded a new type of re-sculpted simplicity for cosmopolitan ladies. KAY LI's "The Great Expectation" evoked the mixed feelings of independence and candor of a bride in an arranged marriage, with exceptional detail in tassel earrings and laser-cut traditional Chinese window patterns. Maison Vermillion's "Eternal Empress" introduced the cultural elements of western royalty and ancient Chinese imperialism, as well as the elegance and allure of women through the use of romantic and textural elements.Apart from the Fashion Hong Kong group show (31 January), the "Fashion Hong Kong Gallery" was set up (1-3 February) at the concurrent trade show Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF) to facilitate networking and business opportunities. More fashion accessory brands were also displayed to show a wider spectrum of Hong Kong's fashion industry, including BIG HORN, FRANCO Y., Pack n' Go, TAT, Wingki Kwok Illustration and the celebrity eyewear brand LUISA LEITAO by Maria Luisa Leitao. Many journalists, editors and bloggers engaged the designers at the "Meet the designers of Fashion Hong Kong" networking event.Acknowledging the "eco fashion" elements, the event received strong backing from supporting and collaborating partners - the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) arranged sponsorship of eco-friendly fabrics from the mills to designers; delicate paper sponsor Acumen Paper provided environmentally-friendly materials for a lifestyle-magazine-style show brochure and fashion tags; fashion illustrator Wingki Kwok created thematic "Go Green" illustration for an advertisement in a local fashion magazine and fashion tags introducing the application of new textile technologies.The HKTDC supports Hong Kong's fashion design industry by creating marketing and business opportunities for emerging designers. In addition to Copenhagen Fashion Week; the HKTDC joins hands with designers to explore other fashion markets, including by taking part in New York Fashion Week in mid-February. In Hong Kong, Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer and CENTRESTAGE will be held in July and September respectively.For more information regarding the designers and their collections, please visit the websites below:Designer: Dora ChuBrand: Maison Vermillion www.maisonvermillion.comCollection: Eternal EmpressDesigner: Kay LiBrand: KAY LI www.kay-li.comCollection: The Great ExpectationDesigner: Kenax LeungBrand: KENAXLEUNG www.kenaxleung.comCollection: waste isn't just wasteDesigner: Vickie AuBrand: HOUSE OF V www.house-of-v.comCollection: Sensuous IllusionCampaign Details:Event: Fashion Hong Kong at Copenhagen Fashion Week (AW17)Event Page: http://www.copenhagenfashionweek.com/designer/fashion-hong-kongWebsite: www.fashionhongkong.com.hkInstagram: hktdcfashionhkPhotos: http://bit.ly/2kpyUUuTo view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tcAbout HKTDCEstablished in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdcTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdcLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2017 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. STOCKHOLM, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Munich-based investment manager Catella Real Estate has taken advantage of the current favourable market conditions in the Netherlands by selling an office building in Amsterdam and reinvesting in a modern residential and retail property in Utrecht's city centre for the Sarasin Sustainable Properties - European Cities fund. The office building at Middenlaan 14-16 in Amsterdam has 5,490 square metres of office space and 1,090 square metres of storage space. Due to the dated quality of the space in the building, constructed in 1972, Catella took the decision to sell the property above market value. "The Dutch real estate market is on course for recovery. Its good performance is also reflected in the favourable market conditions, which have benefited this sale," says Henrik Fillibeck, Managing Director of Catella Real Estate. The capital has been reinvested in a residential and retail property at Oudegracht 152-156/ Vinkenburgstraat 17 in the Binnenstad district of central Utrecht. The property has almost 3,500 square metres of usable space and stands on a 1,200 square metre piece of land. Residential space takes up 1,455 square metres, while 1,250 square metres are allocated to retail and 789 square metres to food and drink outlets. "The Dutch recovery is filtering through to the retail sector. All the indices suggest that the Dutch have regained their appetite for spending more money on consumption. Reinvestment in a residential and retail building is an excellent way to further diversify the portfolio and spread risks. By selling a dedicated office building and buying a mixed-use property, the diversification in retail and residential space can be further expanded. Oudegracht is the city's best-known canal and a prime retail location, with a large number of restaurants, cafes and bars, and helps to make the city, byopening a new location in the area of Randstad, a metropolitan area in Europe," says Henrik Fillibeck. Catella's Sarasin Sustainable Properties - European Cities fund focuses on sustainable investments in fast-growing major European cities. For more information, please contact: Dr Tim Schomberg Head of Business Development Institutionals +49-89-189-16-65-25 E-mail: tim.schomberg@catella.de Press contact: Ann Charlotte Svensson Head of Group Communications +46-8-463-32-55, +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---property-investment-management/r/catella-sells-and-reinvests-in-the-netherlands-for-its-sustainable-property-fund,c2181813 The following files are available for download: Appointment of new management board of AUGA groupOn 7th of February, 2017 the Supervisory board of AUGA group appointed new members of the management board.Marius Zutautas, Vladas Bagavicius and Domantas Savicius, who sold their shares to the controlling shareholder in December 2016, resigned from the management board. Kestutis Juscius, Linas Bulzgys, Marijus Bakas and Linas Strelis were reappointed. One new member of the board was appointed - Agne Jonaityte, attorney at law, having more than 12 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and banking and finance law.On 7th of February, 2017 the new management board of AUGA group was appointed by the decision of Supervisory board. The following members of the board were reappointed: Kestutis Juscius, controlling 88.13 percent of AUGA group shares through Baltic Champs Group and other companies, Linas Bulzgys, CEO of the company, Marijus Bakas, head of Sirvintos unit of Baltic Champs, and Linas Strelis, investor and member of AB Umega and AB Vilkyskiu Pienine management boards.Marius Zutautas, Vladas Bagavicius and Domantas Savicius, who sold their shares to the controlling shareholder in December 2016, resigned from the management board. Domantas Savicius temporarily remains in the position of Chief Financial Officer at the company.Agne Jonaityte, attorney at law, having more than 12 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and banking and finance law was appointed as new member of the management board. Before joining the management board of AUGA group A. Jonaityte was associate partner at law firm Valiunas Ellex, and previously worked in other biggest law firms in Lithuania."Joining the management board of AUGA group Agne will strengthen the team with experience, accumulated while working with major local and international mergers. Her expertise in corporate governance and financial regulations will be of great importance for successful development of our business and management of the company", - claims Kestutis Juscius, chairman of the management board."I would like to thank the previous shareholders and members of the management board for their input in the development of business model of AUGA group. Together we have accomplished a lot and laid the foundation for the future development of our business", - said K. Juscius.Kristina Karnickaite UAB "Integrity PR" Sv. Ignoto g. 5, Vilnius 01144, Lithuania M: +370 616 89310 T: +370 5 268 5135 Skype: kristna1 kristina@integrity.lt www.integrity.ltAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=613778 OSTERSUND, Sweden, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska invests EUR 33M, about SEK 310M, in the second phase of the office complex Mill Park in Budapest, Hungary. The second phase will offer a total leasable area of about 17,700 square meters on seven floors above ground and three underground parking levels. 100 percent of phase 2 is currently pre-leased. The Mill Park office complex, located on the Pest side of the Danube, will offer 36,000 square meters of leasable office space. In addition to its user-friendly aspects and the quality of the building, Mill Park is attractive due to its easy accessibility. The complex, which is going to be LEED Gold certified, features various sustainable solutions to minimize the building's environmental footprint and significantly reduce its operating costs. Construction work has already started and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2018. Skanska is one of the leading development and construction companies in Europe. Outside the Nordics the company has european operations in building construction and civil engineering in Poland, Czech Republic & Slovakia and UK. Skanska develops commercial properties in select home markets, also in Hungary and Romania, while the residential development is limited to Prague and Warzaw. Skanska also offers services in public-private partnerships. Skanska had sales of 36 billion SEK and about 16,500 employees in its European operations in 2016. For further information please contact: MaAgorzata Kubica, External Communication Manager, Skanska in Poland, Tel: +48-502-747-454 Andreas Joons, Press Officer, Skanska AB, Tel +46 (0)10-449-04-94 Direct line for media: +46-10-448-88-99 This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/skanska/r/skanska-invests-eur-33m--about-sek-310m--in-second-phase-of-an-office-project-in-budapest--hungary,c2182823 The following files are available for download: WORBLAUFEN (dpa-AFX) - Swiss telecommunication services firm Swisscom AG (SWZCF.PK, SCMWY.PK) reported Wednesday that its fiscal 2016 net income rose 17.8% to 1.60 billion Swiss francs from last year's 1.36 billion francs, largely due to non-recurring items. Swisscom increased its consolidated operating income before depreciation and amortisation or EBITDA by 4.8% to 4.29 billion francs, while adjusted EBITDA fell 1.2%. Consolidated net revenue edged down 0.3 percent to 11.643 billion francs from 11.678 billion francs a year ago. In the Swiss core business, revenue fell 1.1% to 9.44 billion francs, primarily as a result of falling revenue from telecommunications services and included roaming services. Further, the company said payment of an unchanged dividend of 22 francs per share will be proposed to the Annual General Meeting. Looking ahead, for 2017, Swisscom expects a net revenue of around 11.6 billion francs, EBITDA of around 4.2 billion francs and capital expenditure of around 2.4 billion francs. If the targets are met, Swisscom will propose to the 2018 Annual General Meeting payment of an unchanged dividend of 22 francs per share for the 2017 financial year. CEO Urs Schaeppi, said, 'For 2017 I am expecting a continued high level of pressure on prices. . We will be investing around CHF 1.75 billion in Switzerland, more than CHF 500 million of which will be going to the expansion of our fibre-optic networks.' The company also said by the end of 2017, it expects to have a headcount of around 17,900 FTEs in Switzerland, around 500 fewer than at the end of 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de ANNOUNCEMENTA.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S - Change of Chairman of the Board of Directors and proposal for election of members of the Board of DirectorsChange of Chairman of the Board of Directors effective 28 March 2017Michael Pram Rasmussen has informed the Board of Directors that he will step down as Chairman of the Board of Directors of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S effective at the Annual General Meeting which will be held on Tuesday 28 March 2017.Michael Pram Rasmussen will remain member of the Board of Directors until the Annual General Meeting at which time his current election period expires. Michael Pram Rasmussen has informed the Board of Directors that he will not stand for re-election.The Board of Directors of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S intends to elect Jim Hagemann Snabe to succeed Michael Pram Rasmussen as Chairman following the Annual General Meeting.Vice Chairman Ane Mrsk Mc-Kinney Uggla says: "Since 1999 Michael Pram Rasmussen has served A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S as a Board member, 14 years as our Chairman. I am very grateful for his many contributions and relentless commitment to our Group, during good as well as hard times. Michael has anchored the ongoing transformation of the company, with solid business insight as well as loyalty to our name. I look forward to welcoming Jim Hagemann Snabe to take the torch that will lead us into the future."Chairman Michael Pram Rasmussen says: "In 2016 we took a decision to change the direction of the company. With a new structure accomplished and a new leadership team established led by Soren Skou, we are ready to implement the new strategy focusing on developing Transport & Logistics and for the next generation to take the lead and respond to industry opportunities. Timing is right for me as well as for the company to retire as the Chairman."Jim Hagemann Snabe says: "I am honored to be nominated as new Chairman of the Board.A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S is a very strong company, with an impressive history and impact on global trade and it has enormous potential in a world of constant change. I look forward to working with the board and the management team on the transformation that lies ahead of us, as well as securing a strong future platform for our oil and oil related businesses."Proposal for election of members of the Board of DirectorsAt the Annual General Meeting, Michael Pram Rasmussen, Niels Jacobsen, Arne Karlsson, Dorothee Blessing and Niels Bjrn Christiansen will stand down from the Board of Directors in accordance with the company's articles of association.The Board proposes re-election of Niels Jacobsen, Arne Karlsson, Dorothee Blessing and Niels Bjrn Christiansen.Information on the proposed members of the Board of Directors will be provided in the notice convening the Annual General Meeting.Copenhagen, 8 February 2017.Contact person: Executive Vice President, Lars-Erik Brene, tel. +45 3363 3607Page 1 of 1Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=613923 LIDKOPING, Sweden, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Handheld Group, a leading manufacturer of rugged mobile computers and tablets, today announced the all-new Algiz 8X ultra-rugged tablet computer. The new Algiz 8X is built for modern field workers who require a powerful, portable computer for mobile tasks. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8030651-algiz-8x-rugged-tablet-tough-handheld The Algiz 8X offers communication features such as LTE and dual-band WLAN, along with an 8-inch projective capacitive touchscreen that is ultra-bright and built for outdoor use. Enabling glove mode or rain mode allows for seamless operation in changing weather. The chemically strengthened glass can take a beating - it survives an impact test in which a 64-gram steel ball is dropped on the screen 10 times from a height of 1.2 meters. The Algiz 8X also comes with an optional active capacitive stylus. "The new Algiz 8X is the most compact and ergonomic Windows tablet we have ever developed. We've pushed the limits of modern field technology with this product, fulfilling customers' needs for powerful computing, mobility, outstanding screen performance and battery life. We made no compromises," says Johan Hed, director of product management. Built-in features The fully featured Algiz 8X comes standard with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB, demonstrating Handheld's commitment to the needs of enterprise customers who value long-term stability. The powerful Algiz 8X also features: u-blox GPS and GLONASS WLAN a/b/g/n/ac BT 4.2 LE A rear-facing 8 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash 4G/LTE Expansion options The Algiz 8X offers LAN port, COM port or barcode scanner options. It also features a "backpack" system that allows users to add custom features and electronics. Tested for ruggedness The Algiz 8X is rigorously tested for use in tough outdoor and industrial environments. It's IP65-rated for dust and water ingression and meets stringent MIL-STD-810G military standards for: Operating temperature: -20C to 60C (-4F to 140F) - Method 501.5, Procedure II Storage temperature: -40C to 70C (-40F to 158F) - Method 501.5/502.5, Procedure I Drops: 26 drops from 1.22 meters (4 feet) - Method 516.6, Procedure IV Vibration: Method 514.6, Procedures I & II Humidity: 0-95% (non-condensing) - Method 507.5 Altitude: 4,572 meters (15,000 feet) - Method 500.5, Procedure I Orders and availability Orders can be placed immediately; units will be available in March. Helpful links ALGIZ 8X PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS PRESS IMAGES FREE Product iwebinar Product PRESENTATION Video Request a price quote HANDHELD PRODUCT LINEUP Tweet this Handheld introduces new ALGIZ 8X rugged tablet computer http://www.handheldgroup.com/8X About Handheld The Handheld Group is a manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, handhelds and tablets. Handheld and its partners worldwide deliver complete mobility solutions to businesses in industries such as geomatics, logistics, forestry, public transportation, utilities, construction, maintenance, mining, military and security. The Handheld Group of Sweden has subsidiaries in Finland, the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia and the USA. http://www.handheldgroup.com (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/447146/ALGIZ_8X.jpg ) Video: http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8030651-algiz-8x-rugged-tablet-tough-handheld HALMSTAD, Sweden, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Arise AB (publ) has entered into an option agreement with Bergvik Skog AB giving Arise the right to acquire all the shares in Svartnas Vindkraft AB, a company that holds the rights to the wind project Svartnas (the "Project"). All permits relating to the Project have gained legal force and the grid connection is secured. Arise will continue to develop the Project with the purpose to sell it on to an investor when it is ready for construction. In connection with signing of the option agreement, an option premia will become payable. The consideration for the shares will become payable if and when Arise finally acquires the Project from Bergvik Skog. The Project is located in the proximity of Arise's co-owned Jadraas wind farm in the municipality of Falun. The potential installed effect of the Project is estimated to approx. 100 MW. The aim is to commission the project at the turn of the year 2018/19. Final size and realization of the Project is dependent on a successful optimization of the Project as well as a successful sales process. Securing the right to acquire Svartnas is in line with Arise's strategy to acquire and develop attractive wind projects for on-sale to external investors. In addition to securing the right to acquire Svartnas, an agreement has been made with Bergvik Skog on the extension of the right to acquire the wind project Skaftasen, which Arise since previously holds the right to. "We are happy to have secured the right to acquire the Svartnas Project. The project has come a long way in the development process and we hope to be able to successfully sell it on to an investor. We look forward to working together with Bergvik Skog in realising the Svartnas wind project", says Daniel Johansson, CEO, Arise. ARISE AB (publ) For further information, please contact Daniel Johansson, CEO Arise AB, Tel: +46-702-244-133 Linus Hagg, CFO Arise AB, Tel: +46-702-448-916 This information is information that Arise 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 8 February 2017. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/arise-ab/r/arise-ab--publ--enters-into-an-option-agreement-to-acquire-svartnas-vindkraft-ab,c2182655 The following files are available for download: VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (AMKAF.PK, AMKBF.PK) reported a fiscal 2016 loss from continuing operations of $1.9 billion compared to profit of $925 million, prior year. The company said its fiscal year loss was negatively impacted by post-tax impairments of $2.8 billion primarily relating to Maersk Drilling of $1.4 billion and Maersk Supply Service of $1.2 billion. The underlying profit was $711 million compared to $3.1 billion, last year. Full year revenue decreased to $35.5 billion from $40.3 billion, prior year, across all eight businesses, predominantly due to lower average container freight rates and lower oil price. Operating expenses decreased by $2.6 billion mainly due to lower bunker prices and focus on cost efficiency across all businesses. The company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $2.7 billion compared to a loss of $2.5 billion, previous year. The company noted that its fourth-quarter loss was negatively impacted by impairments of $1.5 billion in Maersk Drilling and $1.1 billion in Maersk Supply Service. The result for prior year was impacted by post-tax impairments of $2.5 billion on oil assets. The underlying loss was $63 million compared to a loss of $9 million, prior year. The underlying loss was mainly due to lower underlying profit in Maersk Drilling due to more idle rigs, and higher net financial items due to higher debt and negative currency effects, partly offset by higher underlying profit in Maersk Oil. Maersk reported fourth-quarter consolidated revenue of $8.89 billion compared to $9.12 billion, previous year. The Group CEO, Sren Skou, said: '2016 was a difficult year financially, with headwinds in all of our markets. However, it was also a year when we decided to substantially transform A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S for the future. We have set a new course that over the next few years will lead A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S to become a focused container shipping, logistics and ports company with the aim of growing revenue again.' For 2017, A.P. Moller - Maersk expects to deliver an underlying profit above 2016, mainly driven by an improvement in underlying profit in excess of $1 billion in Maersk Line compared to 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Hargreaves Lansdown plc. (HL.L) reported that its profit before tax for the six month period ended 31 December 2016 rose 21% to 131.0 million pounds from 108.1 million pounds last year. The key contributors to profit growth were sustained significantly elevated equity trading volumes since the 23 June 2016 'Brexit' vote; higher levels of stock markets generating additional revenue from asset based charges; new revenue from new assets and clients; and continued cost control. Profit attributable to owners of the parent for the period was 106.07 million pounds or 22.4 pence per share up from 86.71 million pounds or 18.3 pence per share in the prior year. Net revenue for the period rose by 16% to 184.8 million pounds from 158.8 million in the prior year. Net new business added during the period was 2.34 billion pounds, down 16% from the prior year. The Directors recommended a 10% rise in the interim dividend to 8.60 pence per share. The interim dividend will be paid on 30 March 2017 to all shareholders on the register at 10 March 2017. This amounts to a total interim dividend of 40.7 million pounds. Ian Gorham, Chief Executive, said, 'We are also pleased to confirm that Chris Hill, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer , and, in line with our plans for an orderly handover, I will step down from the Company's Board and as CEO following today's Interim Results, subject to regulatory approvals. I will remain an employee of the Company until 30 September 2017.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Adulthood officially starts at 26 in the north west of England as life's Biggest Moments kickoff, draining our finances as life's Biggest Moments kickoff, draining our finances People in the north west get engaged and have a baby (aged 26), get married (aged 27), and buy their first home (aged 28) Financial bottlenecks 'worth the hassle' to enjoy life The typical North West resident faces the most financial pressures in life in their 20s, with five of the nine biggest (and most expensive) life moments landing within a matter of years. From getting engaged and having a baby at 26, to getting married at 27 and buying the first family home at 28, our 20s are one of the most stressful, expensive times in our lives. Those hoping for a respite in their 30s may be disappointed. That's when we'll be taking our first big family holiday, building an extension and possibly even changing career. The Royal Bank of Scotland, as part of its Biggest Moments Report, has revealed these 'financial bottlenecks' in a poll of Brits, as the bank offers lowest ever loan rate for its customers' biggest moments. It's easy to see why these bottlenecks can cause financial strife - the average wedding costs over 30,000, an overseas holiday costs 1,074 per person and even the cheapest new cars cost 8,000 - 9,000*. Paul Fox, Retail Managing Director (England and Wales), The Royal Bank of Scotland said: "People come under various different financial pressures in life, and with so many happening within a matter of years, it can cause quite a strain. That's why we've launched our lowest ever loan rate for such big moments. We encourage customers to come in and talk to us for help getting through this financial bottleneck - even those who think that these big moments are beyond their reach." While this bottleneck may sound unappealing, most agree that it's better to stretch ourselves financially in our younger years when we can still enjoy the fruits of our labour, with 92% of those who took out a loan for a house extension and 83% who took out a loan to buy a car saying it was worth it. Life ' s Biggest Moments in the North W est Getting engaged - mean age of 26 Having your first baby - mean age of 26 Getting married - mean age of 27 Buying your first family car - mean age of 28 Buying your first house - mean age of 28 Taking your first big family holiday - mean age of 30 Making a career change/retraining - mean age of 31 Starting your own business - mean age of 33 Extending your home / similar building work - mean age of 36 Methodology Opinium Research LLP conducted research on behalf of Royal Bank of Scotland among 1,296 residents of the north west. The polling was carried out 15-17 October 2016 online. Footnotes Average cost for wedding, overseas holiday, and new car: http://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/planning/general/planning-service/2013/01/average-cost-of-wedding http://press.giveasyoulive.com/129707-british-families-fork-out-more-than-two-and-a-half-months-salary-on-summer-break http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/recommended/best-cheap-cars PARIS, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- - Alliance sales reach 9,961,347 vehicles in 2016 - one in nine cars sold worldwide. - The Alliance confirms its zero-emission* leadership; cumulative sales reach 424,797 electric vehicles worldwide. - 18-year old partnership sees boost in innovation for the vehicle of the future. The Renault-Nissan Alliance delivered significant growth in 2016, with global sales of 9.96 million vehicles. The car group also reinforced its leadership in zero-emission vehicles with cumulative sales of nearly 425,000 electric vehicles since the introduction of the Nissan LEAF in 2010, followed by the Renault ZOE. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140130/666713-a ) The Alliance sales figures include Mitsubishi Motors sales of 934,013 vehicles globally. Mitsubishi Motors joined the Alliance last fall with Nissan's acquisition of a 34 percent equity stake in the company. "The combination of Groupe Renault, Nissan Motors and Mitsubishi Motors creates a new force in the global auto industry," Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said. "The strength of this innovative partnership that began 18 years ago has allowed us to improve our competitiveness, boost our growth and engage in the race for the vehicle of the future." The Alliance brands accounted for about one in nine cars sold worldwide last year. Groupe Renault's sales were up 13.3 percent to 3,182,625 vehicles in 2016 for the last year of the "Drive the Change" plan. This marked the fourth consecutive year of sales growth with a record year-on-year increase of 374,000 units. Both Renault and Dacia brands had a record year in terms of sales volumes and Renault Samsung Motors volumes were up by 38.8 percent. Market share and sales volumes are up in all regions, with the Renault brand becoming No. 2 in Europe. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. sold a record 5,559,902 cars and trucks worldwide, up 2.5 percent. In the U.S.A. and China, the company achieved sales growth of 5.4 percent and 8.4 percent respectively, setting new records in both markets. Infiniti sold over 230,000 vehicles in 2016, a 7 percent increase from the previous year. In December alone, Infiniti sold 27,200 vehicles, an 18 percent increase versus the prior year. Mitsubishi Motors sold 934,013 cars worldwide, down 13 percent. Sales grew in the United States and Australia, but were offset by lower sales in Brazil, Russia, and the Middle East. Japan sales were also affected by lower consumer confidence following the fuel consumption issue. For the entire Press release please click here: http://www.media.blog.alliance-renault-nissan.com/news/6541 WARSAW, Poland, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The General Directorate for National Roads and Highways, Branch in Wroclaw, Poland, awarded CH2M a contract for the feasibility study for the expansion of National Road No.8 between WrocAaw and KAodzko along with construction of bypasses. This contract, signed on Dec. 29, 2016 is the largest design project tendered by the General Roads Directorate in Lower Silesia region in 2016. As part of the contract, CH2M will develop a corridor study, feasibility study (STEAs), conceptual design for the selected best option, and adjusting the model Functional and Utility Program for this more than 70-kilometers-long roadway. The feasibility study will compare variants based on technical, economic and environmental factors throughout the project location, and will include traffic analysis to reach the most optimal design version of the route. "With this new work for National Road No.8, we're proud to be driving the future of Poland's roadways," said Artur Mazurek, CH2M's Highways Sales Manager. "Not only are we strengthening our relationship with the National Roads Directorate, we're also contributing to some of the most crucial infrastructure improvements in the region." The expansion will upgrade National Road No.8, resulting in a better user experience and improved travel times for the 30,000 daily vehicles using the heavily-trafficked portions of the road. CH2M is currently developing similar corridor and feasibility studies for potential reconstruction on National Road No.75. In Poland CH2M is the No. 1 Architectural (engineering design) and the No. 2 Construction Management Project company as ranked by The Book of Lists. Supporting both its global and local portfolio of projects, CH2M operates a Global Design Production Center and a Global Shared Services Center in Krakow. About CH2M CH2Mleads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients in water; environmentand nuclear; transportation; energyandindustrial markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programmes like the Olympic Games. Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and programme management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honoured with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook. Contact: Lori Irvine CH2M, Corporate Marketing and Communications 720-286-3137 Lori.Irvine@ch2m.com Elvir Kolak (46) is supporting the management team of BELFOR Europe starting now. As the Managing Director, he will also be responsible for the markets of Poland and the United Kingdom. Kolak had previously already headed business activities for BELFOR in Germany and Denmark. "By designating Elvir Kolak Managing Director, we are taking the next step in implementing our growth strategy. We wish to extend our market advantages and strengthen our proximity to clients", says Conor Roche, Managing Director of BELFOR Europe. BELFOR is the global leader in damage restoration, the European headquarter is located in Duisburg, Germany. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005078/en/ Elvir Kolak, Managing Director, BELFOR Europe GmbH (Photo: Business Wire) BELFOR offers both high-performance and reliable assistance for private people and custom-tailored solutions for large-scale industrial damage. BELFOR is the only provider of fire and water damage restoration who has experts at its disposal being specialised the restoration of machines, hazardous substances and the development of restoration chemicals. The company's proximity to its clients and its success through innovation as well as dedicated staff constitute central drivers of the BELFOR growth strategy. With Elvir Kolak, a renowned, international expert in management, change and sales is advancing ranks within the company. The 46-year-old has been the CEO of BELFOR Deutschland GmbH since 2011. Previously, the BA degree-holder occupied senior positions for various international damage restoration companies in the areas of management and sales. Furthermore, Kolak has experience in cross-cultural management and change management. "Together Conor Roche and I truly believe Elvir Kolak is the right choice for us", says BELFOR CEO Sheldon Yellen. "Together with him, the Management Board and the support of our experienced, international team of experts, we will manage to drive forward our growth in an optimum manner and thus create long-term added value for our clients." About BELFOR BELFOR is the global leader in damage restoration and technical reinstatement. In its activities, BELFOR relies upon over 35 years of experience, state-of-the-art technological equipment, 7,000 employees at over 300 branches in 28 countries and readiness to operate 365 days a year, round the clock. If you want to get to know BELFOR better, visit us at http:///www.belfor.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005078/en/ Contacts: BELFOR Europe GmbH Cornelia Meyer von Bremen Head of Corporate Marketing Communications Tel.: +49 (0)203-75640-300 Fax: +49 (0)203-75640-6300 Mobile: +49 (0)170 930 64 22 cornelia.meyervonbremen@belfor.com LJUBLJANA (dpa-AFX) - Slovakia foreign trade gap widened at the end of the year, as imports grew faster than exports, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic said Wednesday The trade deficit rose to EUR 119.8 million in December from EUR 83.6 million in the corresponding month last year. In November, the trade balance ended in a surplus of EUR 305.7 million. Exports climbed 6.2 percent year-over-year in December and imports grew by 6.8 percent. For the whole year 2016, total trade surplus of the country was EUR 3.7 billion versus EUR 3.3 billion in 2015. Both exports and imports increased by 3.6 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively. 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. NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - ASCAP, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the world leader in performing rights and advocacy for music creators, today announced that senior London membership executive Simon Greenaway has been promoted to Vice President, Membership, focusing on the European territory. In his new role, Greenaway will lead the ASCAP Membership division based in the ASCAP UK office, which continues to expand its roster as ASCAP adds more services for members across the globe. He will report to ASCAP Executive Vice President, Membership, John Titta. Greenaway, who had considerable success earlier in his career as a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, joined ASCAP in 2011. He has been influential in affiliating successful writer/performers such as MYKL (Zayn Malik "Pillowtalk"), MNEK ("Never Forget You" Zara Larsson), and Ed Drewett (One Direction). Greenaway also plays a key role in ASCAP relationships with UK and continental European-based composers Max Richter, Daniel Pemberton (The Man from U.N.C.L.E) and Steven Price (Gravity), among others. Prior to ASCAP, Greenaway was a songwriter, composer and producer for over 20 years. He enjoyed four top 20 UK hits and three #1 UK/Europe dance hits, selling over three million records with Charlotte Church, for whom he wrote and produced. Also a prolific composer, he worked alongside Patrick Doyle on movies such as Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire and Nanny McPhee, Hans Zimmer on Muppet Treasure Island, David Arnold on the Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies, and John Powell on Ice Age 3. "Music has no borders and ASCAP supports music creators in Europe and all over the globe," said ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews. "Simon has been a key figure in expanding our European presence and building trusted relationships with creators and our society partners within these vital global markets." "Simon is a fantastic asset for ASCAP," said John Titta. "Under his direction, some of Europe's best songwriters and composers have become ASCAP members. Having someone with Simon's background leading our Membership team in Europe is invaluable, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to deepen our relationships with the global music community in the years to come." About ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With over 600,000 members representing more than 10 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter @ASCAP and on Facebook. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/6/11G129552/Images/SGHeadshot2-5a4e56c06d4489ec967a65d2725047be.jpg SAO PAULO, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- From April 4-8, the Sao Paulo Expo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will host the 23rd Feicon Batimat. Divided into 18 sectors and considered to be the most important trade show in the sector in all of Latin America, Feicon Batimat attracts nearly 90,000 participants and more than 300 exhibitors. The event promises to bolster the country's entire construction industry. This 23rd edition boasts some new things: for the first time it will be held at the Sao Paulo Expo, the country's most modern facility for trade shows, with space of 100,000 m2 and easy access to Sao Paulo city. In addition, for the first time Feicon Batimat will have a floor plan that is completely divided by sectors and organized in a manner that should encourage business. "The meetings between professionals that the trade show engenders is helpful in encouraging networking among companies that wish to expand their businesses," said Alexandre Brown, Director of Feicon Batimat. Reed Exhibitions Alcantara Machado believes that trade fairs are drivers of the economy. In Brazil, it is estimated that more than R$ 16 billion in business is transacted in Sao Paulo during trade shows, according to a survey done in 2013 by Fundacao Instituto de Pesquisas Economicas (Fipe) [Economic Research Institute Foundation]. In April, Feicon Batimat provides the ideal environment to develop the sector in the country. Large companies also confirm the importance of the event for creating business and professional networking: "Lorenzetti meets with its clients, exchanging information and learning more about their needs," said Alexandre Tambasco, the company's Marketing Manager. At the 2016 Feicon Batimat, the composition of the participants was the following: 27% owning partners, 21% directors, 18% managers, and 3% presidents. The high-level qualifications of the professionals reflect the trade show's reputation for driving business. "This growth also reflects the relevance of Feicon to the market and the entire value chain," said Elisangela Duraes, Marketing Manager for Vonder. Side by side with the Salao Internacional da Construcao e Arquitetura, Feicon participants may go to the Expo Arquitetura Sustentavel, which exhibits sustainable construction methods. The event displays models and certification rules for the market, and includes the entire industrial chain, with presentations of innovations, technologies, concepts and sustainability solutions in construction. Service 23rd FEICON BATIMAT Date:April 4-8, 2017 Time:Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location:Sao Paulo Expo - Sao Paulo/SP - Brazil Address:Rod. Imigrantes Km 1.5 s/n Information:www.feicon.com.br Contact: +55 11 3897 4122 STOCKHOLM, Feb. 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The new Catella Market Tracker concludes that start-up numbers and the development of appropriate infrastructure are highly important to property market competitiveness - especially for cities that want to benefit from Brexit. Start-ups seem to be an increasingly dominant factor when we examine different indicators of sentiment regarding the outlook and dynamics of real estate locations, or regions globally. Catella has identified 3,515 start-ups in six European investment locations, and has analysed their role in local and international markets. "The number of start-ups and the development of appropriate infrastructure are very important in the current location competition in Europe," explains Dr. Thomas Beyerle, Head of Group Research at Catella. While large property markets like Paris (718 start-ups), Frankfurt (289), Berlin (708) and Stockholm (236) have limited numbers of these entrepreneurial companies, the smallest market, Dublin (1,220), has the most. This is important, especially with the ongoing discussion of who will benefit from Brexit out of London, because the innovation capacity to become the fintech centre in these cities matters in this beauty contest. A functional start-up ecosystem forms a foundation from which a potential property area can develop in subsequent years. This foundation will determine decisions on relocation. Soft factors like quality of life and career opportunities will also play an important role, but are difficult to quantify. "Despite the current euphoria, start-ups themselves are a sufficient, but not mandatory, market mechanism for the future viability of functional office markets in Europe. As a boost for innovation, they are no doubt hugely important, as they can lead to significant change in service industries and in each city," concludes Dr. Beyerle. The extensive implementation of mixed-use concepts demonstrates a change of mind-set in the modern working environment, with the lines between work and private life becoming increasingly blurred. Flexibility is also evident, with the increasing use of new office concepts, including pay-per-use. This is particularly relevant for start-ups since they can occupy office space without expensive long-term commitments. The complete Catella Market Tracker Report "Innovation, start-ups and real estate locations in the 21st century" is available at catella.com/research. For more information, please contact: Dr. Thomas Beyerle Head of Group Research +49 69 310 19 30 220 thomas.beyerle@catella.de Press contact: Ann Charlotte Svensson Head of Group Communications +46 8 463 32 55, +46 72 510 11 61 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--start-ups-and-the-european-real-estate-industry---a-boost-for-innovation,c2182928 The following files are available for download: KRAKOW, Poland, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This year Krakow will host the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, the European Lotteries Congress and the European Congress of Transplantology Nurses. Adding prestige to Krakow are industry awards, with no other venue receiving the Meetings Star Award two years running. This year's event schedule will determine the fortunes of Krakow in years to come. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8035651-krakow-host-unesco-world-heritage-committee/ According to a Polish Tourism Organisation study, Krakow is the #1 location in Poland in terms of the number of congresses and conferences. At the heart of the meetings industry is the ICE Krakow Congress Centre, which has just won its second consecutive title of best congress centre of New Europe. "The meetings industry in Poland generates new profits for the economy and jobs in local communities. It not only economically stimulates new areas, but also increases the potential of regions based on intelligent specialisations," said Dr Krzysztof Celuch, head of Poland Convention Bureau. "Thanks to the work of ICE Krakow, the city is a European leader and takes full advantage of its opportunities. The venue plays an important role on the market," he added. In 2016, ICE Krakow saw 250000 business tourists during 177 events (venue capacity: 3000 people). Poland remains relatively inexpensive and safe for foreign organisers, which in the context of the prevailing geopolitical unrest is a key factor in selecting locations for congresses. "Krakow's successes wouldn't have been possible if not for the Krakow Network, a pioneering initiative in our country," said Izabela Helbin, director of the Krakow Festival Office, operator of ICE Krakow. "Our project has allowed the creation of a coherent business group, which includes the operations of both private businesses (hotels, restaurants, transport) and institutions (Krakow Convention Bureau and the City of Krakow). The multi-stakeholder platform for discussion of so many institutions and companies we've initiated, as well as our business openness, allow us to work more efficiently than other MICE locations. We're not afraid of comparisons to Barcelona or Prague," Helbin added. Michal Zalewski Spokesperson Krakow Festival Office ICE Krakow Congress Centre T: +48-513-099-671 @: Mzalewski@biurofestiwalowe.pl / mzalewski@icekrakow.pl (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/465568/ICe_Krakow.jpg ) Video: http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8035651-krakow-host-unesco-world-heritage-committee/ CHARLOTTE, N.C., 2017-02-08 11:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barings, one of the world's leading asset management firms, announced today that it acted as mandated lead arranger of a senior secured credit facility to support Battery Ventures' portfolio company Forterro.Forterro is a group of European specialized enterprise resource planning (ERP) software companies serving a diverse set of small- to medium-sized enterprises across a variety of sectors. The company will use the credit facility to refinance existing debt and to fund the acquisition of BPSC, a Polish provider of ERP software solutions for manufacturing, wholesale and retail customers."Battery Ventures appreciates the contributions of Barings' European private finance team in supporting Forterro on these strategic growth initiatives," said Morad Elhafed, partner at Battery Ventures. "The experience and depth of the Barings team enabled it to deliver a complex multi-currency credit facility on a tight timetable.""Barings is very pleased to partner with Battery Ventures to help Forterro optimize its financing structure and continue to execute its growth strategy with the investment in BPSC," said Mark Wilton, a managing director at Barings. "Forterro represents an attractive risk/return opportunity based on the highly integrated and mission-critical nature of its software products within its customers' businesses, its strong recurring revenue and profitability model and its high cash generation. We are confident that the company will continue to benefit from Battery Ventures' expertise in software and technology and strong record of value creation."About Battery VenturesBattery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area and Israel. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures and visit www.battery.com to learn more.About Barings LLC Barings is a $271 billion* global asset management firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients. We build lasting partnerships that leverage our distinctive expertise across traditional and alternative asset classes to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service. A member of the MassMutual Financial Group, Barings maintains a strong global presence with over 1,700 employees and 600 investment professionals across 41 offices in 17 countries. Learn more at www.barings.com.*As of December 31, 201617/104Contact: (U.K.) Ali Dyson, Barings, +44 (0) 20 7214 1093, alison.dyson@barings.com (U.S.) Brian Whelan, Barings, 704.805.7244, brian.whelan@barings.com Letter of Credit facility supports renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa Azuri Technologies Ltd. announces today it has agreed a $5m financing facility with Standard Chartered Bank to support renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa. The facility will enable the manufacture of Azuri's PayGo solar home systems for deployment in sub-Saharan Africa, where 600 million people live without access to a reliable power grid. The system allows users to pay for solar power on a pay-as-you-go basis, simply using their mobile phones. Access to debt finance is increasingly seen as a key enabler of the market's continuing growth. This is the first facility of its type to date for the growing off-grid solar market, allowing stock of manufactured product to be built before being transferred to Azuri's distribution partners in country. As such it eliminates the need for working capital to be tied up in stock prior to product shipping to partners. Simon Bransfield-Garth, Chief Executive of Azuri commented: "As the PayGo industry matures, access to innovative debt finance mechanisms becomes an increasingly important part of being able to deliver continued market growth. We are delighted to have partnered with Standard Chartered Bank to deliver this innovative facility Sean Hanafin, Head of Corporate Coverage, UK European Sectors at Standard Chartered said: "Azuri are pioneering affordable energy which is having an ongoing impact not only on the environment but on the lives of those that need it most. Sustainability is a key driving force for us as a business and we aim to continue to support similar initiatives in the future. "This facility is aligned with our 'Banking the Ecosystem' strategy, deploying innovative solutions to finance clients' ecosystems of international suppliers, distributors and customers, driving global trade and commerce." The revolving fund will support sustainable renewable energy access in sub-Saharan African countries and will help Azuri to leverage new and existing opportunities to accelerate its growth. Since 2011, the company has sold some 90,000 solar home systems, reaching approximately half a million people. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005471/en/ Contacts: Azuri Technologies Ltd Wanda Carlin +44(0)770 9928961 wanda.carlin@azuri-technologies.com or Standard Chartered Lauren Verner +44 (0) 20 7885 7479 lauren.verner@sc.com MOLNDAL, Sweden, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Extraordinary General Meeting gathered some 40 people representing about 87% of the shareholders of Arcam AB (publ.). The following decisions were made: The number of Board members The Meeting approved GE Sweden Holdings AB's proposal that the Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) Board members and no deputy Board member, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. Determination of remuneration to the Board The Meeting approved the GE Sweden Holdings AB's proposal that Board members who are employed by companies in GE shall not be entitled to any remuneration by the company. For the period up until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, remuneration to the Board members who continue as Board members of the company shall be paid with an amount in proportion to the time they serve as Board members up until the Annual General Meeting 2017 based on an annual remuneration of SEK 750,000 to the chairman and SEK 450,000 to each of the ordinary Board members. Further, SEK 25,000 shall be paid to each Board member per year for committee work. Election of Board members The Meeting approved the GE Sweden Holdings AB's proposal that the Board members Jan-Olof Bruer, Henrik Hedlund, Anna Malm Bernsten, Malin Ruijsenaars and Joakim Westh are dismissed as Board members and that Carlos Hartel, Riccardo Procacci and Vandana Sriram are elected new Board members for the period up until the end of the next Annual General Meeting Hence, the shareholder GE Sweden Holdings AB proposes that the Board of Directors shall be composed of Goran Malm (Chairman), Lars Bergstrom, Carlos Hartel, Riccardo Procacci and Vandana Sriram. Arcam AB The Board of Directors For further information: Magnus Rene, CEO and President, Arcam Cell: 46-702-79-89-99 or 1-781-266-6957 E-mail: magnus.rene@arcam.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/arcam/r/information-from-the-extraordinary-general-meeting-february-7--2017,c2183114 The following files are available for download: IRW-PRESS: Astorius Resources Ltd.: Astorius erhalt Kaufoption auf das Goldkonzessionsgebiet Rainbow Canyon Astorius erhalt Kaufoption auf das Goldkonzessionsgebiet Rainbow Canyon Vancouver (British Columbia), 8. Februar 2017. ASTORIUS RESOURCES LTD. (TSX-V: ASQ) (Astorius oder das Unternehmen) gibt bekannt, dass es die Option auf ein Kaufabkommen (das Abkommen) mit Alba Minerals Ltd. (AA.H) (Alba) hinsichtlich des Erwerbs einer 100-Prozent-Beteiligung am Goldkonzessionsgebiet Rainbow Canyon in Nevada (das Konzessionsgebiet) erhalten hat. Das Konzessionsgebiet Rainbow Canyon besteht aus 28 nicht patentierten Erzgangschurfrechten, die ein 214 Hektar groes Gebiet im Bergbaugebiet Olinghouse, etwa 40 Kilometer ostlich von Reno in Washoe County (Nevada), umfassen (Abbildung 1). Aus geologischer Sicht ist Rainbow Canyon ein Golderkundungsgebiet mit geringer Sulfidation im Norden des strukturellen und metallogenen Gebiets Walker Lane. Der Untergrund des Konzessionsgebiets enthalt grotenteils Andesite, Basalte und Rhyolithe der Formationen Alta und Old Gregory aus dem Miozan. 40 Kilometer sudwestlich von Rainbow Canyon beherbergt die Formation Alta die weltweit bekannte Mine Comstock John, D. A., Garside, L. J., Wallace, A. R., Magmatic and Tectonic Setting of Late Cenozoic Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposits in Northern Nevada, with an Emphasis on the Pah Rah and Virginia Ranges and the Northern Nevada Rift und Kizis, J. A. Jr., 1999, Low Sulfidation Gold deposits in Northern Nevada, Geol Soc. Nev. Spec Publ. Nr. 29, S. 65-168. , eine Erzganglagerstatte mit geringer Sulfidation, die 8,4 Millionen Unzen Gold produzierte Diese Pressemitteilung enthalt Informationen uber geologisch zusammenhangende Konzessionsgebiete, fur die Astorius keine Explorations- oder Abbaurechte besitzt. Die Leser werden darauf hingewiesen, dass Minerallagerstatten in geologisch zusammenhangenden Konzessionsgebieten nicht auf Minerallagerstatten in den Konzessionsgebieten des Unternehmens hinweisen. . Die Goldmineralisierung wurde an zahlreichen Standorten im gesamten Konzessionsgebiet identifiziert, vor allem in Form von bis zu 20 Zentimeter breiten Quarzerzgangen, die Schurfproben von 0 bis 79 Gramm Gold pro Tonne (ppm) ergaben (Abbildung 2). Die Erzgange kommen in machtigen Zonen (bis zu 30 Meter) einer starken argillitischen Alteration auf einer nordostlich verlaufenden Streichenlange von uber einem Kilometer vor. Der Groteil der Erzgange fallt steil in Richtung Sudosten ab. Die einzige bestehende Schlitzprobe der argillitischen Alteration (RCKB06) ergab ein Gramm Gold pro Tonne (ppm) auf vier Metern. Die verbreitete propylitische und eingeschrankte Quarz-Serizit-Pyrit-Alteration kommt im Konzessionsgebiet ebenfalls vor. Es stehen keine Daten uber die Tiefe der Erzgange zur Verfugung. Trotz des Vorkommens vereinzelter historischer Schurfergruben im Konzessionsgebiet gibt es keine Beweise, weder in historischen Dokumenten noch im Boden, dass im Konzessionsgebiet jemals Bohrungen durchgefuhrt wurden. Die Zonen mit der hochsten Alteration stimmen mit einem magnetischen Tiefstwert im vulkanischen Muttergestein uberein, was auf das Vorkommen eines relativ umfangreichen entmagnetisierenden Alterationssystems hinweist. Astorius plant, das Konzessionsgebiet Rainbow Canyon sowohl hinsichtlich einer niedriggradigeren, tagebaufahigen Goldmineralisierung, die zurzeit bei Comstock abgebaut wird, als auch hinsichtlich hochgradigen Goldes, das fur einen Untertageabbau geeignet ist und fruher bei Comstock abgebaut wurde, zu erkunden. Diesbezuglich wurden Genehmigungsprozesse fur die Bohrung von sechs bis zehn geneigten, jeweils etwa 100 Meter tiefen RC-Bohrlochern in die Wege geleitet, um die Machtigkeit und die Beschaffenheit der Goldmineralisierung in den strukturellen Zonen zu erproben, die vermutlich die mineralisierte Alteration und die goldhaltigen Quarzerzgange an der Oberflache begrenzen. Art Brown, President von Astorius, sagte: Wir freuen uns, ein Aktivum zu erwerben, das bohrbereit ist und unserer Meinung nach betrachtliches Potenzial aufweist. Wir werden das Projekt so schnell wie moglich weiterentwickeln und gehen davon aus, im Fruhling mit den Bohrungen zu beginnen. Die grundlegenden Bedingungen des Abkommens lauten wie folgt: A) Barzahlungen in Hohe von 30.000 C$ an Alba B) Emission von insgesamt 450.000 Aktien von Astorius in mehreren Tranchen an Alba Das Konzessionsgebiet unterliegt einer NSR-Lizenzgebuhr in Hohe von drei Prozent, die an einen fruheren Besitzer zu entrichten ist, wobei zwei Prozent davon fur 1.000.000 US-Dollar erworben werden konnen. Qualified Person Clinton Smyth, MSc., P.Geo., der Berater des Unternehmens, ist die qualifizierte Person (Qualified Person) gema National Instrument 43-101, die die Erstellung der technischen Daten in dieser Pressemitteilung gepruft hat. Uber Astorius Astorius Resources Ltd. (www.astoriusresources.com) beschaftigt sich zurzeit mit der Mineralexploration, um Mineralkonzessionsgebiete in Nevada und Ecuador zu erwerben und weiterzuentwickeln. Uber Alba Alba Minerals Ltd. (www.albaminerals.com) ist ein Unternehmen, dessen Hauptaugenmerk auf die Lithiumexploration und -erschlieung in Nord- und Sudamerika gerichtet ist. Alba ist nicht von Astorius unabhangig. Dieselben drei Personen machen den Groteil der Directors beider Unternehmen aus. Beide Unternehmen haben auch ein gemeinsames Management. Herr Smyth, die qualifizierte Person des Unternehmens, ist ein Director von Alba. Die TSX Venture Exchange und deren Regulierungsorgane (in den Statuten der TSX Venture Exchange als Regulation Services Provider bezeichnet) ubernehmen keinerlei Verantwortung fur die Angemessenheit oder Genauigkeit dieser Meldung. Die Ausgangssprache (in der Regel Englisch), in der der Originaltext veroffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle, autorisierte und rechtsgultige Version. Diese Ubersetzung wird zur besseren Verstandigung mitgeliefert. Die deutschsprachige Fassung kann gekurzt oder zusammengefasst sein. Es wird keine Verantwortung oder Haftung: fur den Inhalt, fur die Richtigkeit, der Angemessenheit oder der Genauigkeit dieser Ubersetzung ubernommen. Aus Sicht des Ubersetzers stellt die Meldung keine Kauf- oder Verkaufsempfehlung dar! Bitte beachten Sie die englische Originalmeldung auf www.sedar.com , www.sec.gov , www.asx.com.au/ oder auf der Firmenwebsite! http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/38838/pr020817 _DE_PRCom.001.jpeg Abbildung 1: Standort des Konzessionsgebiets Rainbow Canyon http://www.irw-press.at/prcom/images/messages/2017/38838/pr020817 _DE_PRCom.002.jpeg Abbildung 2: Goldanalyseergebnisse von Schurfproben, die im Konzessionsgebiet Rainbow Canyon entnommen wurden Die englische Originalmeldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=38838 Die ubersetzte Meldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=38838&tr=1 NEWSLETTER REGISTRIERUNG: Aktuelle Pressemeldungen dieses Unternehmens direkt in Ihr Postfach: http://www.irw-press.com/alert_subscription.php?lang=de&isin=CA04629 61099 Mitteilung ubermittelt durch IRW-Press.com. Fur den Inhalt ist der Aussender verantwortlich. Kostenloser Abdruck mit Quellenangabe erlaubt. ISIN CA0462961099 AXC0121 2017-02-08/13:13 8 February 2017 Daily Mail and General Trust plc ('DMGT') Result of 2017 AGM At DMGT's Annual General Meeting held this morning, all of the resolutions set out in the Notice of Meeting, included in the Circular to Ordinary Shareholders dated 9 December 2016, were duly approved. In accordance with paragraph 9.6.2 of the Listing Rules, a copy of the resolutions passed by Ordinary shareholders, concerning special business, have been submitted to the UK Listing Authority. They will shortly be available for inspection on the National Storage Mechanism website. The results of the voting at the Annual General Meeting are available on DMGT's website at: www.dmgt.com/shareholder-services/agm-information Enquiries: Fran Sallas, DMGT Deputy Company Secretary, 020 3615 2904 HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, today announced that it is leveraging its newest capabilities of XGen security, including machine learning, to better protect networks and hybrid cloud environments. XGen security, which powers all of Trend Micro's solutions, is a unique blend of cross-generational threat defense techniques that is continually evolving and optimized for each layer of security -- user environments, networks and hybrid clouds -- to best protect against the full range of known and unknown threats. Organizations today are still dealing with a massive volume of known bad files, URLs and spam; and, they are struggling to defend against stealthier, unknown threats like targeted attacks, zero days, business email compromise and ransomware. Classic techniques, such as anti-malware and content filtering, remain the most efficient way of eliminating the high volume of known threats. In fact, Trend Micro blocked more than 80 billion such threats for our customers last year alone.(1) However, with over 500,000 new, unique threats created every day(2), newer, more advanced techniques are also needed. That's why XGen security includes a blend of proven and advanced threat defense techniques and intelligently applies the right technique at the right time. This smart approach to security leverages techniques such as web and file reputation, intrusion prevention and application control to efficiently handle the large volume of known bad and known good. Then, more advanced techniques such as behavioral analysis, machine learning and sandbox analysis are freed to more quickly and accurately handle the harder-to-detect, unknown threats. And all of these capabilities are fueled by the market-leading, cloud-based global threat intelligence of the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network, which helps to ensure faster protection for customers around the world. This delivers maximum protection and efficiency. "Our business requires us to be protected from the high volume of known and unknown threats occurring every day," said William Crank, chief information security officer of MEDHOST. "We also sought a security solution that is focused on protecting our business from future targeted attacks. Trend Micro was the right choice for us as their cross-generational approach to security helps us protect our organization today and tomorrow. It is good to know that our investment is protected for the future." "While some 'next gen' offerings rely solely on one technique, such as behavioral analysis or machine learning, we believe that when it comes to defending your organization against the full range of known and unknown threats, there is no silver bullet," said Eva Chen, founder and chief executive officer for Trend Micro. "As an industry leader helping to protect over 500,000 organizations, we believe that continual innovation with a range of purpose-built threat defense techniques is needed to stay one step ahead of the bad guys." In today's rapidly evolving IT environment, organizations are not only challenged by the types of threats, but also by the ability to deploy and manage security seamlessly across the enterprise. For example, deploying security for endpoints is very different operationally than securing highly scalable cloud workloads or high traffic segments of the network. XGen security is optimized for each security layer and specifically designed for and integrated with the platforms and applications that matter most to customers. It also enables a connected threat defense for customers by seamlessly sharing threat intelligence across layers while providing centralized visibility and control to speed time to protect, detect and respond. "Today's threats evolve constantly, to take advantage of shifts in user, network and cloud environments," said Doug Cahill, senior analyst for Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). "Trend Micro's XGen approach to security, bringing to bear a broad combination of threat detection and prevention techniques that are tuned for the environment, is an effective means to protect the enterprise from both existing and emerging threats." Trend Micro is continually enhancing its range of threat defense techniques and optimizing these for each solution. In October 2016, Trend Micro announced endpoint security, powered by XGen, highlighting the infusion of high-fidelity machine learning into its blend of threat defense techniques. Today, it is announcing enhancements to ways in which it is further leveraging XGen security capabilities to enhance its Network Defense and Hybrid Cloud Security solutions. To learn more about XGen security, please visit https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/business/products/all-solutions.html. About Trend Micro Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cyber security solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud environments, networks, and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 5,000 employees in over 50 countries and the world's most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro enables users to enjoy their digital lives safely. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com.hk. (1) Trend Micro Smart Protection Network statistics, 2016 (2) Trend Micro Threat Research, 2016 MEDIA CONTACT: Claudius Lam Trend Micro + 852 2866 4362 (Office) + 852 9022 0876 (Mobile) Email Contact STOCKHOLM, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- January - December 2016 compared with January - December 2015 Stadshypotek's operating profit increased by 6%, or SEK 650m, to SEK 11,366m (10,716). Net interest income grew by SEK 606m to SEK 12,362m (11,756). This increase was primarily due to higher lending volumes to the private market in Sweden. Of the net interest income, SEK 577m (875) was attributable to the branch in Norway, SEK 377m (417) to the branch in Finland and SEK 345m (276) to the branch in Denmark. The decrease in net interest income at the Norwegian branch was attributable to lower margins for both the private and corporate markets, although this was offset slightly by an increase in lending volumes. The decrease in net interest income at the Finnish branch can mainly be explained by lower margins, while net interest income at the Danish branch rose due to an increase in lending volumes to the private market. Excluding the branches, net interest income increased by SEK 875m. Net gains/losses on financial transactions increased to SEK 82m (29). Expenses decreased by SEK 18m to SEK -1,047m (-1,065), mainly due to a lower level of sales compensation paid to the parent company for the services performed by the branch operations on behalf of Stadshypotek in relation to the sale and administration of mortgage loans. Net loan losses totalled SEK -2m (2). Lending Loans to the public increased by 6%, or SEK 68bn, to SEK 1,151bn (1,083). In Sweden, loans to the public increased by 5%, or SEK 46bn, to SEK 983bn (937). Loans to the private market in Sweden increased by 7%, or SEK 46bn, to SEK 670bn (624). The credit quality of lending operations remains very good. Impaired loans, before deduction of the provision for probable loan losses, decreased by SEK 6m and totalled SEK 103m (109). Of this amount, non-performing loans accounted for SEK 41m (66), while SEK 62m (43) related to loans on which the borrowers pay interest and amortisation, but which are nevertheless considered impaired. There were also non-performing loans of SEK 328m (338) that are not classed as being impaired loans. After deductions for specific provisions totalling SEK -32m (-32) and collective provisions of SEK -4m (-5) for probable loan losses, impaired loans totalled SEK 67m (72). Funding Issues made under Stadshypotek's Swedish covered bond programme totalled SEK 112.7bn (112.8). During the year, a nominal volume totalling SEK 82.7bn (115.3) matured or was repurchased. In Norway, bonds to the value of NOK 10.2bn (1.5) were issued during the year and bonds to the value of NOK 200m were repurchased. Issues of covered bonds under the EMTCN programme totalled EUR 2.75bn (1.25), of which EUR 0.5bn related to the first issue using the cover pool that was established in Finland during the year as collateral. During the year, bonds to the value of EUR 1.5bn, CHF 225m, GBP 350m and SEK 4.7bn matured. Capital Adequacy The total capital ratio according to CRD IV was 67.4% (67.8) while the common equity tier 1 ratio calculated according to CRD IV was 39.2% (40.2). Further information on capital adequacy is provided in the Own funds and capital requirement section on page 19. Rating During the year, Fitch upgraded Stadshypotek's long-term rating from AA- to AA. Stadshypotek's other ratings remained unchanged during the year. Stadshypotek Covered bonds Long-term Short-term Moody's Aaa - P-1 Standard & Poor's AA- A-1+ Fitch AA F1+ Ulrica Stolt Kirkegaard Chief Executive Stadshypotek discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. Submitted for publication on 8 February 2017, at 11.00 CET. Contact: Ulrica Stolt Kirkegaard Tel: +46 (0)8 701-54-00 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/stadshypotek/r/highlights-of-stadshypotek-s-annual-report-january---december-2016,c2182815 The following files are available for download: Australia's Biggest Telco Extends Digital Market Leadership, Grows Digital Sales, ARPU MATRIXX Software (http://www.matrixx.com/) today announced that Telstra, Australia's leading telecommunications provider, has received the IDG Enterprise Digital Edge 50 award for the Telstra 24x7 customer self-care app, powered by MATRIXX Digital Commerce. Telstra customers are empowered through the 24x7 app to select their own on-demand service mix, control their mobile account in real-time, and easily manage budgets and data consumption. This allows Telstra to service its customers in the same way as big digital brands, and is a result of Telstra's early adopter strategy to become one of the world's first digital service providers. In 2011, Telstra launched their 'Digital First' strategy, priming the business for the on-demand economy by providing customers the Telstra 24x7 for personalized shopping, customer support and account management. Since the launch of the strategy, data ARPU has grown several percentage points1, and 58% of all customer transactions are now conducted through digital channels2. In addition, Telstra continues to make impressive steps with data service monetization and improving NPS scores through greater customer satisfaction. MATRIXX enables real-time customer engagement so Telstra can deliver a superior experience to all their customers by enabling the purchase of products and services, account management and support features on-demand, 24-hours a day. The result is a new brand of customer service that has turned neutral consumers into brand advocates. Across the industry, these customers are happier, more loyal and have a deeper trust in their service provider. They are worth more in terms of net spend, buy more products, and recommend Telstra to their family and social networks. "Telstra continues to be ahead of their market because they aggressively challenged themselves to reinvent the customer experience," said Jennifer Kyriakakis, Founder and VP Marketing at MATRIXX Software. "They now own some of the most satisfied customers in the market, growing revenue for the company and pointing the way to further digital dividends." The Digital Edge awards are judged by a premier panel of IT and business executives, based on innovation. Global winners are selected based on highly significant projects, impressive business results and superior collaboration among stakeholders. Award recognition will officially take place at the AGENDA17 conference and awards gala from March 20-22, 2017 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. 1Source: Telstra annual report, 2014. 2Source: Telstra annual report, 2016 (PDF page 10). Read more about Telstra's Digital First strategy here (PDF). To learn more about MATRIXX Software, please visit www.matrixx.com. About the Digital Edge 50 Award The Digital Edge 50 Award is a recognized honor of digital innovation. Through digital technologies such as mobile, analytics, AI, the Internet of Things and cloud, award winners see business results that indicate a true 'digital edge.' Selected by a panel of industry experts and business and technology executives, winning applications are driving greater customer engagement, higher sales conversions and new products, as well as revenue and profit growth. About CIO CIO is the premier content and community resource for information technology executives and leaders. The CIO portfolio -- CIO.com, CIO Forum on LinkedIn, events, strategic marketing services and research -- provides business technology leaders with analysis, insight and an understanding of IT's role in achieving business goals. CIO is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of IDG. Company information is available at http://www.idgenterprise.com. About MATRIXX Software MATRIXX Software delivers an innovative digital commerce solution that enables always-on customer engagement. Our patented approach makes it possible for Digital Service Providers to simultaneously serve millions of customers, and process billions of customer interactions precisely and instantly. MATRIXX enables DSPs to build long-term strategic value through high-touch, digital customer relationships. Follow MATRIXX Software online: Website: www.matrixx.com Vimeo: www.vimeo.com/user17468378 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/586602 Twitter: www.twitter.com/matrixx_sw View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005037/en/ Contacts: Mercury Global Partners for MATRIXX Software Mindy M. Hull, +1 415-889-9977 CEO and Managing Director matrixx@mercuryglobalpartners.com or MATRIXX Software Simon Marshall, +1 307-439-9000 Senior Manager, Marketing and PR simon.marshall@matrixx.com VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Copper Fox Metals Inc. ("Copper Fox" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: CUU)(OTC PINK: CPFXF) is pleased to report the final results of the 2016 rock sampling program on its 100% owned Mineral Mountain property, a Laramide age copper-molybdenum-gold project, located in central Arizona. Elmer B. Stewart, President and CEO of Copper Fox, stated, "The final results from the sampling program has expanded the interpreted dimensions of the mineralized area to 1,100m by 900m. The increase in average copper concentration from that stated in our last news release on Mineral Mountain is due to a significant number of the samples from the final results containing copper assays in excess of 1% and up to 6.6% copper. The next step will be to compile and interpret the results of the work completed on this project over the past two years." Highlights: a. The distribution of the additional sample results have expanded the area of mineralization from 800m by 600m to 1,100m by 900m. The mineralized area remains open in two directions. b. The copper content in the 35 samples that assayed over 1% copper is due to the presence of chalcocite. c. The mineralized area is located within the previously reported historical chargeability anomaly. The shape of the mineralized area and that of the chargeability anomaly are similar. Mineral Mountain Project: The Mineral Mountain project is located in a northeast trending structural lineament that hosts the porphyry copper deposits at Casa Grande, Resolution and in the Miami-Globe district in Arizona. 2016 Sampling Results: The copper-molybdenite-gold mineralization occurs in quartz veins, quartz veinlets, sheeted quartz veins, and in potassic altered Laramide age granodiorite that has been intruded by a series of northeast trending hornblende diorite dikes and north-south trending aplite dikes. The vein-controlled mineralization exhibits three prominent trends being 10W to 015 NE (gold rich), 045NE to 060NE, and 070NE to 080NE. The mineralization is hosted in steeply dipping classical "A" veins with potassic +/- chlorite +/- hematite envelopes and exhibits a rhenium-tellurium-bismuth geochemical association, features typical of a porphyry copper system. The main copper minerals are chalcocite and chrysocolla along with rare chalcopyrite and covellite. Gangue minerals observed are goethite after pyrite (forming boxwork texture) and jarosite. The range of analytical values for the samples located within the mineralized area are shown in the following table: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analytical Values ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Element Minimum Maximum Average ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copper (%) 0.021 6.6 1.21 Molybdenum (%) 0.0002 0.11 0.01 Gold (g/t) 0.005 3 0.16 Silver (g/t) 0.2 334 35 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The average gold value for this zone is influenced by the sample that contained 2.640 g/t gold. Assigning a zero value to this sample, the average gold content of the zone is reduced by 28% to 0.112 g/t. Analytical and Sampling Procedures: Outcrop and trench and pit sampling (where applicable), as well as mapping lithologies, alterations, and vein assemblages, was completed. Rock chip samples (approximately one kilogram) were collected from outcropping material to characterize the metals present in veins and other mineralized structures. Outcrop exposures within the sampled area are estimated to 10-15%. The samples were transported and delivered in person to Skyline Laboratories in Tucson, Arizona. Samples were crushed to plus 75% -10 mesh, split and pulverized to plus 95% -150 mesh. Pulps were subjected to a multi-acid digest (HNO3, HF, HClO4) followed by analysis by ICP/OES. Gold was analyzed on a 30-gram charge by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish. Fluorine was analyzed by an ion-selective electrode. The Skyline's package code TE-5 was used to analyze the samples for the base and other trace elements. Skyline has an ISO/IEC 17025/2005 accreditation. Quality Control: The first sample of each batch was a field blank. One certified standard pulp was inserted into the sample stream for each laboratory batch of twenty samples. A total of 5 field blanks and 12 certified reference standards were inserted with the sample batches for which analyses have been received. All standards were within +/-5% of accepted value for the standard. Elmer B. Stewart, MSc. P. Geol., President of Copper Fox, is the Company's non-independent, nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approves the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release. About Copper Fox: Copper Fox is a Tier 1 Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX VENTURE: CUU) focused on copper exploration and development in Canada and the United States. Copper Fox and its wholly owned Canadian and United States subsidiaries, being Northern Fox Copper Inc. and Desert Fox Copper Inc. hold the assets listed below: 1. 25% interest in the Schaft Creek Joint Venture with Teck Resources Limited on the Schaft Creek copper-gold-molybdenum-silver project located in northwestern British Columbia. 2. 100% ownership of the Van Dyke oxide copper project located in Miami, Arizona. 3. 65.4% of the shares of Carmax Mining Corp. who in turn own 100% of the Eaglehead copper-molybdenum-gold project located in northwestern British Columbia. 4. 100% ownership of the Sombrero Butte copper project located east of Mammoth, Arizona. 5. 100% ownership of the Mineral Mountain copper project located east of Florence, Arizona. On behalf of the Board of Directors Elmer B. Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and forward-looking information within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the dimensions, shape, and location of the mineralized area; the samples that assayed over 1% copper containing chalcocite; and the average concentrations for copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Copper Fox and its subsidiaries have made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the geological, financial and economic advice that Copper Fox has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards; the reliability of historical reports; and the stability of economic and market conditions. While Copper Fox considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Copper Fox's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the dimensions, shape, or location of the mineralized area may not be as estimated; and the average copper, molybdenum, gold and silver concentrations may not be accurate. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. Contacts: Copper Fox Metals Inc. Lynn Ball 1-844-464-2820 1-403-264-2820 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Rubicon Minerals Corporation (TSX: RMX)(OTC PINK: RBYCD) ("Rubicon" or the "Company") announces that it has retained Golder Associates Ltd. ("Golder Associates") to assist with the structural geology review, the geological and mineral resource modelling, and to provide an updated mineral resource estimate on the F2 Gold Deposit and associated technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (the "Technical Report"). The Company has also retained T. Maunula & Associates Consulting Inc. ("Maunula Consulting") to provide a peer review of the exploration work programs that will be undertaken over the next 18-to-24 months. "We are pleased to engage Golder Associates to assist us in advancing our understanding of the F2 Gold Deposit at the Phoenix Gold Project," commented George Ogilvie, P.Eng., President and Chief Executive Officer of Rubicon. "The Golder Associates team brings invaluable experience and technical capabilities, particularly in the areas of structural geology and mineral resource estimation, that we believe is a good fit with what we would like to accomplish over the next 18-to-24 months with our exploration work programs. We are also pleased to have Tim Maunula and his seasoned team provide a peer review of our exploration work programs and of Golder Associates' deliverables." Structural Geology Review Golder Associates will collaborate with Rubicon to perform a structural geology review of the F2 Gold Deposit. Part of this review involves assisting the Company with the 10,000-metre drill core re-logging program and providing both a technical memorandum outlining Golder Associates' findings and recommendations, and an updated structural geology report on the F2 Gold Deposit. The goal of this review is to refine and update the Company's current understanding of the structural controls on the gold mineralization of the F2 Gold Deposit. Geological Modelling, Block Modelling, and Mineral Resource Estimation Golder Associates will work closely with the Rubicon team throughout the exploration program planned over the next 18-to-24 months. Golder Associates will continually update the Company's current geological and mineral resource models as it receives information from the structural geology review and from Rubicon's drilling and development program. Golder Associates will provide feedback throughout the exploration program that will help optimize the Company's drill activities. At the end of the exploration program, Golder Associates will deliver the Technical Report associated with an updated mineral resource estimate of the F2 Gold Deposit. Peer Review of the Planned Exploration Work Programs Maunula Consulting will provide technical assistance and will review Rubicon's exploration work programs. This work will include a continuous review of the structural geology analysis, geological and mineral resource modelling, and the Technical Report. External Consultant Experience Both Golder Associates and Maunula Consulting (together, the "External Consultants") bring a wealth of technical experience in structural geology, block modelling and mineral resource estimation in similar gold deposits. The External Consultants will provide their most experienced technical staff to assist the Company and have worked on the following projects: Golder Associates -- Dawson (Zephyr Minerals) - mineral resource estimation -- Summit Gold (IDH Gold) - mineral resource estimation -- Cerro Blanco (Goldcorp) - mineral resource estimation -- Silvertip (Silvercorp Mines) - mineral resource estimation -- Santander (Trevali Mining) - mineral resource estimation -- Tamarack North (Talon Metals) - mineral resource estimation Maunula Consulting -- Tasiast (Kinross Gold) - resource modelling -- Rouyn Project (Kinross Gold) - peer review on mineral resource estimation -- Dvoinoye Zone 1 Project (Kinross Gold) - audit/update mineral resources -- Black Fox (Primero Mining) - peer review and mineral resource estimation -- Curraghinalt Project (Dalradian Resources) - updated mineral resource model 2017 Site Cost Estimates and Current Cash Balance For 2017, the Company estimates spending between C$14 million to C$15 million (including contingency) on total site costs including exploration program expenses, fees for work conducted by the External Consultants, equipment leases, utilities and environmental obligations. Expenditures on site are subject to change depending upon exploration results. Rubicon estimates spending C$4 million in corporate, general, and administrative expenses in 2017. Rubicon currently has an approximate cash balance of C$27 million. RUBICON MINERALS CORPORATION George Ogilvie, P.Eng., President and CEO Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other Cautionary Notes This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "intends", "may", "will", "should", "plans", "anticipates", "potential", "expects", "estimates", "forecasts", "budget", "likely", "goal" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results may or may not be achieved or occur in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding the anticipated mandates and deliverables of the External Consultants as part of the Company's exploration work programs, certain of the Company's anticipated costs and expenses for 2017 and the Company's estimated cash balance. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and represent management's best judgment based on facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable. If such opinions and estimates prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed in the forward-looking statements. The material assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based include, among others, that: the demand for gold and base metal deposits will develop as anticipated; the price of gold will remain at or attain levels that would render the Phoenix Gold Project potentially economic; that any proposed exploration, operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by operational issues, title issues, loss of permits, environmental concerns, power supply, labour disturbances, financing requirements or adverse weather conditions; Rubicon will continue to have the ability to attract and retain skilled staff; and there are no material unanticipated variations in the cost of energy or supplies. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rubicon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery or throughput rates; uncertainty of mineral resources, inability to realize exploration potential, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of reclamation activities; uncertainty of future operations, delays in completion of exploration plans for any reason including insufficient capital, delays in permitting, and labour issues; conclusions of future economic or geological evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to operations; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals; the ability of Rubicon and other relevant parties to satisfy regulatory requirements; the ability of Rubicon to comply with its obligations under material agreements including financing agreements; the availability of financing for proposed programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms; the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; risks associated with the ability to retain key executives and key operating personnel; cost of environmental expenditures and potential environmental liabilities; dissatisfaction or disputes with local communities or First Nations or Aboriginal Communities; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions; the implementation and impact of the Restructuring Transaction; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or obtain adequate financing to fund our capital expenditures and working capital needs and meet our other obligations; the volatility of our stock price, and the ability of our common stock to remain listed and traded on the TSX; our ability to maintain relationships with suppliers, customers, employees, stockholders and other third parties in light of our current liquidity situation and the CCAA proceedings. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Rubicon disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Readers are advised to carefully review and consider the risk factors identified in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for period ending December 31, 2015 under the heading "Risk Factors" for a discussion of the factors that could cause Rubicon's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Readers are further cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors is not exhaustive and it is recommended that prospective investors consult the more complete discussion of Rubicon's business, financial condition and prospects that is included in this news release. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Qualified Person The content of this news release has been read and approved by George Ogilvie, P.Eng., President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ogilvie is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Contacts: Allan Candelario Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Development +1 (416) 766-2804 ir@rubiconminerals.com www.rubiconminerals.com MANCHESTER, England, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EDM, a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation and defence sectors, announced today that it has won the Greater China Business of the Year Award 2017. The Newton Heath based company beat a host of other businesses to the prestigious award at an evening ceremony held at The Lowry Theatre on Friday, 3rd February. Organised annually by the UK Department for International Trade, the award recognises the achievements of businesses that have been successfully exporting products or services to the Greater China region for over 3 years. Having won orders in excess of 25m since 2008 and establishing itself as the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of cabin crew training simulators to airlines in Greater China, EDM was again successful having last won this award in 2012 and coming runners up in 2013. Earlier in the day, EDM's Sales and Business Development Director and Department of Trade Export Champion, Mick Bonney, gave a presentation to over 100 delegates looking to learn more about how to enter the Greater China market entitled: 'More Cooperative Success With Greater China'. EDM counts Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines amongst its client base in mainland China as well as Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. EDM has doubled in size over the past 3 years and is forecast to achieve further growth in 2017. Philomena Chen, North West Head of Asia Pacific Business for the Department of International Trade said: "EDM has demonstrated innovation, drive and long term commitment to the Greater China aviation market over many years now and their award win is very much deserved. Everyone at the Department of International Trade is committed to ensuring the Year of the Rooster is the most successful twelve months yet for North West businesses operating in Greater China." "It's an honour to win the 2017 Greater China Business of the Year Award," said Tony Bermingham, Managing Director of EDM. "We will continue to focus on this region to help support our ambitious growth targets and retain our position as the number one manufacturer of cabin crew training simulators in the world. We hope that our success in Greater China will encourage other UK companies to explore this exciting market." For information about EDM visit: www.edm.ltd.uk About EDM EDM is a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation, defence, rail and other industries. Combining the highest engineering standards with leading-edge technologies, EDM providesairlines withDoor Trainers, Cabin Service Trainers, Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers andFull SizeMockups and defence organisations withProcedure Trainers, Maintenance Trainers, Ejection Seats, Simulators and Full Size Replicas. Serving organisations worldwide from its UK headquarters, EDM is committed to delivering exceptional quality and value to its clients to help them enhance safety and operational efficiency. TOKYO, Feb 8, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) commented on the captioned matter as follows.Hitachi has been discussing with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) a transfer price adjustment regarding certain boiler construction projects in the Republic of South Africa that involves Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd., the joint venture company that integrated the respective thermal power generation system businesses of MHI and Hitachi, and such discussion is still ongoing. Hitachi hereby explains in this press release the status on the discussion.On March 31, 2016, MHI requested Hitachi to pay ZAR 48,200 million (approximately 379.0 billion yen when ZAR 1 = 7.87 yen) as a portion of transfer price adjustment, etc. Hitachi replied to MHI on April 6, 2016 that the request lacked legal grounds under any agreement and thus Hitachi cannot accept it.On January 31, 2017, MHI increased the amount above and requested Hitachi to pay ZAR 89,700 million (approximately 763.4 billion yen when ZAR 1 = 8.51 yen). While Hitachi cannot accept the request since it lacks legal grounds under any agreement as well as the request of March 2016 does, Hitachi intends to continue further discussion with MHI.Hitachi has prepared its accounting properly based on reasonable estimates, in light of how the discussion regarding the Projects has been going on.About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges with our talented team and proven experience in global markets. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes power & infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, construction machinery, high functional materials & components, automotive systems, healthcare and others. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at www.hitachi.com.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Contact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Eurasian Minerals Inc. (NYSE MKT: EMX)(TSX VENTURE: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the receipt of a payment of US $601,825, the cash equivalent of 500 troy ounces of gold, from Ciftay Insaat Taahhut ve Ticaret A.S. ("Ciftay "), as part of the payment schedule for the Akarca gold-silver project (the "Property") in western Turkey. The Akarca Property was transferred to Ciftay in August, 2016 for a combination of cash, future payment streams denominated in gold bullion, and a royalty interest. See EMX news release dated August 8, 2016 and www.eurasianminerals.com for additional information. Payment terms. As part of the sale of Akarca to Ciftay, in addition to receiving a US $2,000,000 cash payment at closing, EMX is scheduled to receive payments of 500 ounces of gold (or cash equivalent) every six months commencing on February 1, 2017, and continuing until receipt of a total of 7,000 ounces. Further, Ciftay will pay any remaining amount due within 30 days after the commencement of commercial production from the Property, if the total of 7,000 ounces has not yet been paid at that time. Receipt of the initial 500 ounce payment leaves a total of 6,500 ounces of gold to be paid to EMX. Additional terms of the sale include a sliding scale royalty for gold production (subject to certain deductions): 1.0% on the first 100,000 ounces of gold; 2.0% on the next 400,000 ounces of gold; 3.0% on all gold production in excess of 500,000 ounces produced from the Property. For all other mineral production other than gold, the royalty rate is 3.0%. Certain bonuses will also be paid upon achievement of production milestones. Exploration Update. Ciftay has also informed EMX that it has completed an initial 49 hole diamond drill program comprising 6,032 meters on the Akarca Property in the 4th quarter of 2016. In addition, Ciftay is undertaking various metallurgical and engineering studies on the Property. Project Overview. Akarca is a low sulfidation, epithermal gold-silver district located in the Western Anatolia mineral belt that was discovered by EMX in 2006. Exploration programs at Akarca, principally funded by partners, have included 300 core and reverse circulation holes totaling approx. 32,800 meters of drilling, environmental studies, geologic mapping, geochemical sampling, and geophysical surveys. Akarca is an excellent example of EMX's execution of the prospect and royalty generation business model. After EMX's discovery and early exploration, partner funded work delineated multiple zones of near-surface gold and silver mineralization on the Property. This led to the agreement with Ciftay, a leading Turkish construction and mining company that conducts mining operations at the Copler gold mine in Turkey. Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and employee of the Company. Dr. Jensen has reviewed, verified and approved disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. About EMX. Eurasian Minerals leverages asset ownership and exploration insight into partnerships that advance our mineral properties, with EMX retaining royalty interests. EMX complements its generative business with strategic investment and third party royalty acquisition. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metals, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause Eurasian's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the 20-F and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Contacts: David M. Cole President and Chief Executive Officer (303) 979-6666 dave@eurasianminerals.com Scott Close Director of Investor Relations (303) 973-8585 sclose@eurasianminerals.com www.eurasianminerals.com TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Beleave Inc. (CSE: BE) (CSE: BE.CN) (CNSX: BE) is pleased to announce that it will begin a collaborative research project with Dr. Lesley Campbell, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology at Ryerson University, with the goal of developing new Cannabis sativa breeding tools for Beleave, Inc. This research project aims to expand existing work on Campbell's quantitative genetic models into new precision breeding efforts in Cannabis. These advanced genetic models have already identified novel genetic traits involved in the expression of cannabidiol (CBD). This project will further solidify the collaborative industrial-academic partnership between the Campbell lab and Beleave. By combining proteomic and genetic tools, this new project aims to further identify and characterize the genetic traits in Cannabis that control the inheritance and production of cannabinoids including but not limited to CBD, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has been shown to display tremendous potential for several clinical indications. Once models of cannabinoid inheritance have been fully characterized, this will allow Beleave to design breeding programs that make use of these newly identified molecular factors to more tightly control cannabinoid production. "This tool provides an exciting and unique way of generating product IP for plant strains developed and commercialized under the Beleave brand, which can be protected by patenting newly identified genetic and proteomic markers," commented Beleave CEO, Roger Ferreira. Whereas Beleave's expertise in Cannabis growing will be employed to produce plants, the Campbell lab will assess and analyse the plant material, identifying plants with unique chemical signatures. "Allowing scientists and researchers to observe and participate in the development of essential technical skills and in the practice of discovering new intellectual property will be incredibly important for this emerging industry", remarked Dr. Campbell. A $72,000 Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) grant has been awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) will help cover research salaries and laboratory materials for the project. About Beleave Beleave, Inc. is a biotech company committed to becoming a licensed producer under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (the "ACMPR"). Beleave's wholly-owned subsidiary First Access Medical Inc. ("FAM") has applied for a license to cultivate and sell medical marihuana pursuant to the ACMPR. As of the date hereof, FAM has successfully advanced past the review stage, and has been issued an affirmation letter from Health Canada prior to a request for a pre-licensing inspection. Beleave's purpose-built facility is located near Hamilton, Ontario. About Ryerson Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 41,500 students, including 2,400 master's and PhD students, 3,200 faculty and staff, and nearly 170,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca About NSERC NSERC invests over $1 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries -- valuable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect industry with discoveries and the people behind them. Researcher-industry partnerships established by NSERC help inform R&D, solve scale-up challenges, and reduce the risks of developing high-potential technology. NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada. For more information contact: Sebastian de Kloet Phone: 1 (905) 979 - 5173 Email: Sebastian@beleave.com DUBAI, UAE, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The New agreement aims to support DHA's development of a comprehensive, integrated health system and achieve goals of Dubai Health Strategy 2021 Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, have agreed to collaborate on the DHA's strategic goals for developing a comprehensive and integrated health service system and improving the health sector operations and information systems. His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of the DHA, and Jacqueline Duvoisin, Regional Director for Clinical Solutions MEA Turkey, Iran & Central Asia, Elsevier, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Commenting on the MoU, Al Qatami said DHA's developmental drive depends on constantly updating its information and data-supporting systems to ensure that the best tools and information are available for decision-making. He added that utilizing the best technology and state of the art systems helps the authority achieve its healthcare goals that are in line with Dubai's developmental drive, be it in its medical affairs, services technology or state-of-the-art equipment. The MoU's objective is to enhance cooperation between both parties through various evidence-based projects to support DHA's organizational transformation and innovation goals of the Dubai Health Strategy 2021. "We have been collaborating with DHA since 2010, and we are pleased to build upon our long-standing relationship with DHA to support its effort to achieve its five-year plan and beyond," Duvoisin said. "This agreement demonstrates that Elsevier, the largest medical and scientific content provider globally, leads the way in the region's evidenced-based solutions that improve patient care, decrease variation of care, and reduce of hospital costs." Key projects that DHA and Elsevier will embark on together include establishing Dubai as a center of scientific research and scientific publications in the medical and health fields based on the procedures and systems at DHA. Supporting the goal of innovation through Elsevier's evidence-based content solutions: integrated decision support related to the unified Electronic Medical Record system; patient engagement systems aimed at raising patients' awareness, safety and satisfaction; integrated clinical decision support through patient-specific pathways; and telemedicine and patient self-care advice and triage services. The MoU also aims to support DHA in conducting research, identifying risks and building internal competencies in research and quality, as well as building continuing medical education through various solutions. About Dubai Health Authority The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority. The DHA's aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA's mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector. In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai. The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff. Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery. About Elsevier Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Research Intelligenceand ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.www.elsevier.com Media contact Christopher Capot Director, Corporate Relations, Elsevier +1-917-704-5174 c.capot@elsevier.com 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. STOCKHOLM, Feb 08, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- During 2012, Swedish Match initiated a standardized labelling system in its own snus coolers placed in stores at no cost to the retailers. The ambition with the labelling system was to make an orderly and transparent presentation of snus products in the coolers. Such practice is commonly used for other consumer goods. Both Swedish Match's and the competitors' products were to be presented in Swedish Match's coolers in a standardized manner communicating brand, taste, format and price. Swedish Match's intention was that the retailers were free to decide themselves whether to use the labels or not. Several international cigarette companies, active also in the snus market, decided to raise a complaint against the labelling system with the Swedish Competition Authority. The authority carried out an investigation, and decided in 2014 to file a claim with the Swedish Patent and Market Court. The Swedish Competition Authority claimed that the labelling system was in breach of the competition rules and asked the Court to impose fines on Swedish Match. Throughout the process, Swedish Match has vigorously contested the claim. According to Swedish Match, the labelling system has not had any effect on competition in the Swedish snus market, and neither customers nor consumers have suffered any damage. Today, the Patent and Market Court announced its judgement. The court considers Swedish Match to have acted in breach of the competition legislation when designing and implementing the labelling system and Swedish Match is fined approximately 38 MSEK. This despite the fact that the court found that the labelling system did not have any effect on the market. - We do not share the court's assessment and we intend to appeal the judgment to the Swedish Patent and Market Court of Appeal. It should be noted that this case essentially concerns whether Swedish Match had the right to introduce labelling guidelines for 73,5 x 39 mm labels in its own coolers. Standardized labels are common practice for almost all product categories in stores, says Swedish Match General Counsel, Marie-Louise Heiman. - Our ambition has been to create an orderly labelling system which would help our customers and consumers to get an overview of the wide assortment of snus in our coolers and at the same time ensure that the very strict tobacco legislation is adhered to. We have noticed that marketing of snus in our coolers by other companies often challenges the legislation. We believe that it is both in the interest of Swedish Match and our customers that other manufacturers do not use material in our coolers that is in breach of the tobacco legislation, concludes Marie-Louise Heiman. Contact: Johan Wredberg, Director Communications & Media Relations Mobile +46730-27-93-43 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/swedish-match/r/swedish-match-intends-to-appeal-the-decision-by-the-swedish-patent-and-market-court,c2183321 The following files are available for download: MANCHESTER, England, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The aviation industry will gather in Las Vegas next week (14 and 16 February) at the 10th annual Routes Americas conference to plan new flights in North and South America. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150730/250177LOGO ) Routes Americas brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to develop new air services. It moves to a new city every year to highlight the diverse aviation markets across the Americas. The Las Vegas event will be the largest to date with 820 delegates taking part in 2,700 meetings. Las Vegas is the ideal destinationfor Routes Americas because the tourism and convention industries are the bedrock of the local economy. Nearlyhalf of Las Vegas' 42.9million annual visitors travel by air and the airport generates$30 billion in local economic impact. The city held more than 21,000 meetings, trade shows and conventions in 2016 which supported 65,000 jobs. McCarran International Airport and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) will host Routes Americas 2017. The leading airlines that will attend include American Airlines, Air Canada, Aeromexico, Delta Air Lines, jetBlue, Latam and United Airlines. Around 100 airlines, 260 airports and 40 tourism authorities are expected in total. The latest issues and challenges facing the aviation industry will be debated at the event's Strategy Summit. The high profile speakers include Brian Hedberg, director of the Office of International Aviation at the US Department of Transport; Roger Dow, president and CEO of US Travel Association; and Peter Cerda, Regional Vice President of International Air Transport Association. This willbe the second time that LVCVA and McCarran International Airport have broughta Routes event to the city - the benefits of hosting WorldRoutes 2013 led to the decision tobid for Routes Americas. Las Vegasgained more than 120 weekly flights with anestimated annual economic impact of$440 million in direct visitor spending in the year after the event. "The US aviation market is the busiest in the world and it is expected to grow to 904 million passengers a year by 2025. Hosting Routes Americas will help Las Vegas to attract more airline capacity and achieve its growth targets," said Steven Small, brand director of Routes. "We are excited to welcome yet another Routes event to Las Vegas. World Routes 2013 was an exceptional opportunity for airline executives and high-level decision-makers to experience first-hand the features and benefits of McCarran International Airport," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation. "As a result, we increased air service and visitation to our community, but McCarran hasn't rested on those laurels. Routes Americas attendees will see how we have continued to evaluate airport infrastructure and operations and implemented ways to enhance customer service, maximize efficiencies and increase flexibility." "Tourism is the driving force of the Las Vegas economy and ample and efficient air service is crucial to maintain and grow our tourism base," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. "Hosting industry-leading events such as Routes Americas allows us to showcase the destination and the business activity taking place to those who impact future. Routes is a critical component in reinforcing to airline carriers that they can grow market share and fill all sections of their planes with routes to Las Vegas." More information about Routes can be found at routesonline.com Routes Americas 2017, 14-16 February, ARIA Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. Notes to Editors A press conference will be held at the ARIA Resort and Casino at 9am on 15 February. Please contact Karen Reeves for more details. on 15 February. Please contact for more details. Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of new air services. Five 'regional' route development forums are held between February and June in the Americas, Asia , Europe and Africa , with the flagship World Routes event taking place in September. http://www.routesonline.com , and , with the flagship World Routes event taking place in September. http://www.routesonline.com The events revolve around pre-scheduled meetings and an exhibition and conference which are delivered in partnership with host stakeholders. Hosts tend to be a collaboration between airports, tourism authorities and investment partners (the bidding process takes place two to three years before the event takes place). Routes was founded in 1995 and is part of the EMEA division of UBM plc. For further information contact: Karen Reeves Communications & Content Marketing Manager Routes, UBM EMEA T: +44-(0)-1612-342-721 M: +44-(0)-7966-405 105 E: Karen.Reeves@ubm.com FRAMINGHAM, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Terrence Norchi, MD, CEO of Arch Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: ARTH) ("Arch" or the "Company"), developer of novel liquid, gel and solid hemostatic and wound care devices, will present at the BIO CEO & Investor Conference and the Source Capital Disruptive Growth & Healthcare Conference, both held in New York City. Dr. Norchi is scheduled to present at the 19th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference on Tuesday, February 14 at 2:30 PM ET at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. He will be available to participate in meetings with investors who are registered to attend the conference. If you are an investor and wish to attend the Company's presentation or schedule a meeting, please click the following link: https://www.bio.org/events/bio-ceo-investor-conference. Dr. Norchi is also scheduled to provide a company update during a live webcast at the Source Capital Disruptive Growth & Healthcare Conference on Thursday, February 16 at 10:45 AM ET at the Convene Conference Center located at 730 Third Avenue, New York City. If you wish to attend the presentation or schedule a meeting, please click the following link: http://disruptnyc.com. You may access the live webcast by visiting: http://www.investorcalendar.com/event/11170. The presentation will be available for download at: http://ir.archtherapeutics.com. About Arch Therapeutics, Inc. Arch Therapeutics, Inc. is a medical device company developing a novel approach to stop bleeding (hemostasis) and control leaking (sealant) during surgery and trauma care. Arch is developing products based on an innovative self-assembling materials technology platform with the goal of making surgery and interventional care faster and safer for patients. Arch's flagship development stage product candidates, known as the AC5 Surgical Hemostatic Device and AC5 Topical Hemostatic Device, are being designed to achieve hemostasis during surgical, wound and interventional care. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, references to novel technologies and methods, our business and product development plans and projections, or market information. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company, our ability to retain important members of our management team and attract other qualified personnel, our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans, our ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, our ability to develop and commercialize products based on our technology platform, and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov. Terrence W. Norchi, MD Arch Therapeutics, Inc. Integration of blockchain technology with Thales Hardware Security Module addresses key distributed ledger risks for financial services, government, healthcare and other sectors Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has unveiled a patent-pending solution that simplifies the ability of blockchain technology to integrate with the industrial-grade security systems that support sectors including financial services, healthcare and government. The solution creates a developer-friendly interface between emerging blockchain platforms and widely used hardware security technology. Accenture cooperated with Thales whose hardware is currently used by most major banks globally to secure records and assets from cybertheft to develop the solution. Hardware security modules (HSMs) are crypto-processors that securely generate, protect and store digital keys. Keys stored in the Thales HSM architecture cannot be extracted or used except under a highly controlled protocol. The new solution is based on the widely used nShield HSM developed by Thales and creates a simple path to large-scale commercial use of blockchain technology. "Blockchain is quickly maturing across industries and is set to profoundly change how businesses operate," said Simon Whitehouse, senior managing director and head of blockchain technologies at Accenture. "But current applications cannot meet the high security standards of most mission-critical IT infrastructure. That is because the digital keys used to secure and validate messages and transactions historically have proven vulnerable to network attacks. Our solution provides the same kind of physical security that banks have relied on for decades to keep money and transaction records safe from cyberthieves. It will clear a wider path not only for banks but for governments, insurers, healthcare providers and others to do real-world deployments of blockchain technology." Currently, blockchain-based systems typically rely on "cyberwallets" to store digital keys for blockchains. But because those keys typically reside on software servers, they can become vulnerable to network breaches of the kind that have occurred on cryptocurrency exchanges in recent years. The solution makes it extremely difficult if not impossible for digital keys to be misappropriated because they are stored in physical isolation from IT networks and are architected with highly sophisticated, deterministic security mechanisms. In addition, the platform need only be installed once, allowing companies to secure each of their blockchain applications using the same solution regardless of which blockchain software or application they use versus crafting a code interface for each solution. Jon Geater, Chief Technology Officer at Thales e-Security said, "The possibilities for blockchain are endless. In the financial sector everything from transactions to contracts and deeds could use a blockchain to legitimize and simplify the settlement process, and industries such as healthcare and federal government also stand to benefit from this technology. However, in order for blockchains to work, we need to believe and trust them, which means every participant must agree and anticipate how they will take part in the chain. Unfortunately innovation and vulnerability very often go hand-in-hand. Accenture has built trust and security into the technology of the chain itself, using Thales HSMs to protect the chain and prevent any nefarious activity. Thales continues to invest in blockchain delivering the 'root of trust' to this emerging technology." "The opportunity to benefit from blockchain technology within sectors like financial services and healthcare depends on an ability to protect digital keys using conventional standards of security," said David Treat, managing director, financial services blockchain lead at Accenture. "While there have been bespoke blockchain integrations with HSMs before, this solution offers a simpler and more flexible standard to connect blockchain platforms with the leading HSMs. We are committed to delivering these types of real-world innovations that will serve as the stepping stones to make blockchain technology a reality for large-scale enterprises." The solution used Fabric, a Hyperledger technology and can be adapted for other leading blockchain technology platforms. Hyperledger is a global, open source collaborative effort of more than 100 major companies focused on advancing cross-industry blockchain technologies. Solution highlights Many security-conscious institutions rely on HSMs to safeguard and manage their digital keys and protect things like ATM machines, mainframe operations, point-of-sale (POS) machines and to verify and sign SWIFT messages they are used in virtually any application that requires secure, verified digital signatures. While most people have no idea of the role of an HSM in securing sensitive information, it's a technology used every day. For example, HSMs in a bank's data center are used to validate your PIN when you withdraw cash from an ATM, or validate the transaction cryptogram when your purchase goods at a merchant POS terminal in both cases only the HSMs under the bank's control have access to the correct keys to perform the secure processing. Some of the benefits of an HSM include: Keys are stored within secure HSM boundary: the keys always live inside the secure, certified HSM boundary vs. in software or on a hard drive where they are vulnerable to attacks. the keys always live inside the secure, certified HSM boundary vs. in software or on a hard drive where they are vulnerable to attacks. Tamper-resistant hardware: FIPS 140-2 Level 2 and 3 certified HSMs are tested to stringent standards and are extremely difficult to access by unauthorized users. FIPS 140-2 Level 2 and 3 certified HSMs are tested to stringent standards and are extremely difficult to access by unauthorized users. Sophisticated cryptography: HSMs use a certified, cryptographically secure random number generator to create keys, providing superior quality keys than a typical computer system. About Thales e-Security Thales e-Security is the leader in advanced data security solutions and services, delivering trust wherever information is created, shared or stored. We ensure that company and government data is secure and trusted in any environment on premise, in the cloud, in data centers and in big data environments without sacrificing business agility. Security doesn't just reduce risk, it's an enabler of the digital initiatives that now permeate our daily lives digital money, e-identities, healthcare, connected cars and with the internet of things (IoT) even household devices. Thales provides everything an organization needs to protect and manage its data, identities and intellectual property and meet regulatory compliance through encryption, advanced key management, tokenization, privileged user control and meeting the highest standards of certification for high assurance solutions. Security professionals around the globe rely on Thales to confidently accelerate their organization's digital transformation. Thales e-Security is part of Thales Group. www.thales-esecurity.com About Thales Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Transport, Defence and Security markets. With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of 14 billion in 2015. With over 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design and deploy equipment, systems and services to meet the most complex security requirements. Its exceptional international footprint allows it to work closely with its customers all over the world. www.thalesgroup.com 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. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005336/en/ Contacts: Accenture Sean K. Conway, +1-917-592-5744 sean.k.conway@accenture.com or Erfan Hussain, +44-7557866901 erfan.hussain@accenture.com or Lara Wozniak, +85-2-2249-2370 lara.wozniak@accenture.com or Thales Liz Harris, +44-1223-723612 liz.harris@thales-esecurity.com MUNICH, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Infinite Convergence Solutions, a global leader in messaging and mobility and the creators of NetSfere, today announces it has partnered with Deutsche Telekom, one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies, to jointly offer NetSfere through T-Systems to its worldwide customers. The partnership will enable all Deutsche Telekom Group entities to resell NetSfere. "Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems segment was the ideal partner for NetSfere, as both are committed to providing a level of data security that is superior and market leading," said Franz Obermayer, Regional Vice President Europe of Infinite Convergence Solutions. "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with T-Systems to expand NetSfere's international presence in order to bring secure enterprise communication to organizations worldwide." T-Systems, the largest German and one of the largest European IT services companies, is focused on bringing ICT products and solutions to mid- to large-sized international enterprises and organizations in industries such as automotive, finance and transportation in both the commercial and private sector. T-Systems and NetSfere are both ISO 27001 certified, which means they adhere to standards that help organizations keep information assets secure. Additionally, the NetSfere Application Server is hosted securely at T-Systems in Germany for enhanced security. "NetSfere's robust and secure messaging service is a great addition to our T-Systems portfolio, because it provides a unique solution to our international customer base," said Marco Hofmann, Senior Manager Business Development Cloud at T-Systems. "We're looking forward to combining forces and bringing the power of secure enterprise messaging to global organizations." NetSfere, an award-winning, secure mobile messaging service, offers an industry-leading solution for internal communication that enables the convenience of consumer-facing messaging apps with enterprise-grade security. Boasting end-to-end encryption, NetSfere also gives IT departments complete control, ensuring that all company policies and regulatory compliances are met. Recently, NetSfere introduced a new Guest User Feature that enables NetSfere users to communicate and collaborate with external users via NetSfere. This new feature, with NetSfere's unique level of industry-leading security and IT controls, extends its highly secure mobile messaging to an organization's ecosystem of outside vendors, partners and clients. With the new Guest User Feature, NetSfere users can invite guests into a new or existing conversation, which is clearly noted and identified in a conversation list and in chat view. All conversations are encrypted by default, with additional controls provided to the organization's IT administrator. For more information about NetSfere, visit www.netsfere.com. For information about Infinite Convergence Solutions, visit www.infinite-convergence.com. To learn more about Deutsche Telekom and T-Systems, visit www.telekom.com/company and www.T-Systems.com. About NetSfere NetSfere is an internal enterprise messaging service from Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc. NetSfere provides industry-leading security and message delivery capabilities, including global cloud-based service availability, device-to-device encryption, location-based features and administrative controls. NetSfere leverages Infinite Convergence's experience in delivering mobility solutions to tier 1 mobile operators and is also compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protocols. For more information, visit www.netsfere.com. About Infinite Convergence: Infinite Convergence Solutions, Inc. provides next-generation messaging and mobility solutions to carriers and enterprises globally, including an Enterprise Messaging Services suite, secure messaging through its standalone app NetSfere and SMS, MMS and RCS solutions. The company's technology supports more than 130 million subscribers by sending nearly one trillion messages per year. Infinite Convergence Solutions is a subsidiary of Infinite Computer Solutions (BSE: 533154) (NSE: INFINITE) with offices in the United States, Germany, India and Singapore. About T-Systems: With a footprint in more than 20 countries, 46,000 employees, and external revenue of 8.2 billion euros (2015), T-Systems is one of the world's leading providers of information and communications technology (ICT). T-Systems offers a range of integrated solutions for business customers, including the secure operation of legacy systems and classic ICT services, the transformation to cloud-based services (including tailored infrastructure, platforms and software) as well as new business models and innovation projects for the business fields of the future, such as data analytics, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and Industrial Internet. T-Systems can provide all this thanks to its global reach in fixed-network and mobile communications, its highly secure data centers, a comprehensive cloud ecosystem built around standardized platforms and global partnerships, and the ability to offer top levels of security. DUBLIN, Feb 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of Jain PharmaBiotech's new report "Pain Therapeutics - Drugs, Markets and Companies" to their offering. The worldwide analgesic markets were analyzed for the year 2016 and projected to 2026. This report describes the latest concepts of pathomechanisms of pain as a basis for management and development of new pharmacotherapies for pain. Major segments of the pain market are arthritis, neuropathic pain and cancer pain. Because pain is a subjective sensation, it is difficult to evaluate objectively in clinical trials. Various tools for pain measurement are described, including brain imaging. Most of the currently used analgesic drugs fall into the categories of opioids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs such as COX-2 inhibitors. Non-opioid analgesics include ketamine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. Adjuvant analgesics include antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs used for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Management of pain is multidisciplinary and includes both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods such as acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and surgery. Various pain syndromes require different approaches in management, for example, the main category of drugs for migraine are triptans such as sumatriptan. Drug delivery is an important consideration in pain treatment. Controlled release preparations provide a steady delivery of analgesics. Well-known non-injection methods such astransdermal, pulmonary and intranasal application have been used. Topical analgesics and local anesthetics are also available. Devices such as implanted pumps are used for delivery of drugs such as opioids intrathecally (introduction into spinal subarachnoid space by lumbar puncture) in patients with cancer pain. The wide variety of drugs in development includes opioid receptor ligands, bradykinin antagonists, mPGES-1 inhibitors, glutamate receptor antagonists, substance P and neurokinin receptor antagonists, norepinephrine transporter inhibitors,P2X2 neuron receptor antagonists and nitric oxide-based analgesics. A number of cannabinoids are also in development for pain. Fish-derived tetrodotoxin was initially focused on indication of opiate addiction withdrawal but is found to have an analgesic action as well. Cone shells contain therapeutically useful peptides including the conotoxins, and one such peptide, ziconotide, has been approved. Various cell and gene therapies are also being developed for the management of pain. Advances in molecular and biological techniques are markedly advancing our undestanding of pain. Understanding the pathophysiology of pain is an important factor in discovery of rational therapies for pain. Advances in pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics are enabling the development of personalized approaches to the management of pain. Over 500 companies have been identified to be involved in developing or marketing pain therapeutics and 173 of these are profiled in the report along with 151 collaborations. These are a mix of pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies. Key Topics Covered: 1. Basic Aspects of Pain 2. Assessment of Pain and Analgesics 3. Pharmacotherapy of Pain 4. Management of Pain 5. Drug Delivery for Pain 6. Drug Development for Pain 7. Safety, Regulatory and Legal issues of pain management 8. Pain Markets For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/v66f37/pain_therapeutics Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 BSD Crown Ltd. (LSE: BSD) (the "Company") Ramat Gan, Israel, 8 February 2017 Company's shares in public hands The Company refers to the "Notification of Major Interests in Shares" announcements of 2 and 6 February 2017 as well as to its announcements of 22 and 28 September 2016 regarding the tender offer for shares in the Company by Yossi Willi Management and Investments Ltd (the "Tender Offer"). Following the acquisition (directly and indirectly) by Mr. Yossi Williger of 7.94% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital pursuant to the Tender Offer, and in light of the clarification provided by Mr. Zwi Williger as to the fact that he holds (directly and/or indirectly) 9.996% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital, the Company believes that the number of shares of the Company currently held in "public hands" for the purposes of Chapter 14 of the listing rules made under section 74 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the "Listing Rules") has fallen to approximately 12.6%, which is significantly below the 25% threshold required (subject to certain exceptions) under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules . The Company has informed the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") of such development and is considering its future actions. Shareholders should be aware that under the Listing Rules, in the event that the percentage of shares in public hands falls below 25 per cent., the FCA has the power to cancel the Company's listing.If the listing is cancelled there will no longer be an exchange on which the Company's shares can be readily traded. Trading in the Company's shares remains currently suspended pending the Company filing its audited accounts. The Company will provide further updates in due course. Enquiries: Gregory Gurtovoy, Chairman of the Board: office@bsd-c.com CLARK, NJ -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- CaroTrans, a leading global NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier) and ocean freight consolidator, today announces a new, direct weekly LCL service from Milan to Miami which provides logistics service providers with an efficient, dependable supply chain option. Miami serves as an ideal hub for Italian goods bound for Central American and Caribbean destinations. The Milan-Miami service, a 14-day transit, is CaroTrans fourth direct service from Milan to the U.S. Service is also offered to Chicago, Charleston and New York. Milan is the main freight hub for products manufactured in the north and all of Italy, as well as cargo moving from Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Main U.S. imports from Italy include: beverages, industrial machinery and engines, autos, pharma and footwear (U.S. Census Bureau). Euro Italian Freight Systems in Milan, CaroTrans dedicated partner in the region, has been serving the area for over 30 years and is one of Italy's NVOCC pioneers. EURO Italian Freight has its own customs bonded import/export CFS and operates a comprehensive global import/export network. In North America, CaroTrans has 13 local offices and 25 strategically positioned CFS (container freight stations) to serve the transportation needs of shippers in local markets. "The current global containerized shipping market is marked by ongoing changes that impact today's supply chains. As a global NVO, we're able to offer a broad range of secure, direct services that provide our customers with transportation solutions they can rely on," said Greg Howard, CaroTrans, CEO. "Our new Milan-Miami service, in partnership with Euro Italian Freight Systems, is another excellent service option that further expands our offerings." Carmen Ronzoni, Director, Euro Italian Freight Systems, said "We provide broad coverage of Italy origins with an efficient truck service network that offers dependable pick-up and transits. Our partnership with CaroTrans continues to grow to support supply chain flexibility and the need for efficient transportation alternatives." About CaroTrans Established in 1979, CaroTrans International is one of the world's leading NVOCCs providing global LCL (less-than container load) and FCL (full container load) services. CaroTrans has a network of offices in Asia, Europe, South America, Oceania, and the United States, along with strong local partners in global markets, offering a global reach that is truly unique. The CaroTrans suite of Web-based and EDI-enabled e-commerce tools include booking, ocean and inland rates, sailing schedules, and tracking. They are an essential part of CaroTrans' commitment to delivering faster, more efficient freight management solutions. For import shipments, CaroTrans Online Freight Release solution provides logistics service providers with direct control of the release of their customers' cargo. CaroTrans is a people driven company with dedicated and knowledgeable team members who engage customers with passion and experience on a local level. For additional information, visit: www.carotrans.com Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn Contacts: CaroTrans Greg Howard 732-540-8121 Email Contact CKL Communications Carol Lerner 973.635.6923 Email Contact FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- VPR Brands, LP (OTC PINK: VPRB) is proud to announce the Company will be participating in the Cannabis Investing Event at the 2017 Orlando MoneyShow booth #111 on February 8th-11th. The MoneyShow connects investors, financial advisors, and traders with information and education from the world's leading investment and trading professionals. VPR Brands will be the only exhibitor, focused on the emerging cannabis concentrate industry and it will showcase its best-in-class products. The Company's product line is comprised of several elite cannabis oil consumption devices and its state-of-the-art products are some of the highest rated products available. Dan Hoff, COO of VPR Brands will be attending as well as speaking on the topic of The Importance of Value Add M&A in the Cannabis Industry. Mr. Hoff is scheduled to speak on the 3rd day 2/10/17 from 3:45 PM-4:05 PM. This year's special focus on cannabis at The MoneyShow Orlando is a great opportunity to learn the best ways to capitalize on this incredible growth sector. During this four-day event, you will hear from top cannabis experts representing many public and private cannabis companies who will share their expert insights and guidance. "The MoneyShow is a great forum to provide more insight on VPR Brands to the investor community. It is a great platform for networking with other businesses and speaking to management teams through various sectors. There is a great roster of speakers and presenting companies taking part. I am looking forward to meeting everyone," says Dan Hoff COO of VPR Brands. About the MoneyShow: Founded in 1981, guided by the belief that "knowledge is power" and recognizing the desire of independent minds to rely on self rather than an institution, MoneyShow has been empowering individuals with a passion for investing for over three decades. The company pioneered the investment tradeshow field in the early 80s, creating the concept of a "Money Show" and developing a business model which gathers qualified investors, traders, and financial advisors together with top financial experts, business and media professionals, offering all participants unparalleled opportunities for profitable interactivity, idea exchange, relationship-building, and learning. For more information about The MoneyShow, please visit the company on the web at www.moneyshow.com. About VPR Brands, LP: VPR Brands is a technology company, whose assets include issued U.S. and Chinese patents for atomization related products including technology for medical marijuana vaporizers and electronic cigarette products and components. The company is also engaged in product development for the vapor or vaping market, including e-liquids. Vaporizers and electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) are devices which deliver nicotine and or cannabis through atomization or vaping, and without smoke and other chemical constituents typically found in traditional products. For more information about VPR Brands, please visit the company on the web at www.vprbrands.com. Forward-looking statements: This news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions, and other factors discussed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. Contact Information: VPR Brands, LP Kevin Frija CEO and CFO (954) 715-7001 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Eurotin Inc. ("Eurotin" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: TIN) is pleased to announce that the Company intends to complete a private placement of up to 20,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000 at a price of $0.05 per Share (the "Offering"). In conjunction with the Offering, Eurotin is also pleased to announce a proposed shares for debt transaction (the "Shares for Debt Transaction") in which the Company proposes to issue 24,000,000 Shares at a price of $0.05 per Share. The funds raised pursuant to the Offering will be used by the Company for further development of its Oropesa tin deposit ("Oropesa") in southwestern Spain including ongoing metallurgical work and the completion of a feasibility study. Pursuant to the Shares for Debt Transaction, Mark Wellings ("Wellings"), the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President, has agreed to convert up to $1,200,000 of debt owed to him by the Company in exchange for 24,000,000 Shares. All amounts to be converted by Wellings represent indebtedness for cash advances previously made by Wellings to the Company over the last year for working capital and to advance the development of Oropesa. Upon completion of the Shares for Debt Transaction, Wellings will hold, directly and indirectly, 33,040,000 Shares or 68.9% of the issued and outstanding Shares and, upon completion of the maximum amount of the Offering, 48.6% of the issued and outstanding Shares. Currently, Wellings holds 9,040,000 Shares or 37.7% of the issued and outstanding Shares. In accordance with Multi-Lateral Instrument 61-101, disinterested shareholder approval is required for the issuance of the Shares to a related party. Disinterested shareholder approval will be sought at an Annual and Special Shareholders Meeting (the "Meeting"), which has been scheduled for March 24, 2017. In addition to the shareholder approval described above, completion of the Shares for Debt Transaction and Offering is conditional upon obtaining TSXV approval. Any Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Shares for Debt Transaction and all Shares issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period. Wellings has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire common shares of the Company either on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell the Shares on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Consolidation and Shares for Debt Transactions, 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will only update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law. 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: Eurotin Inc. Mark Wellings President and CEO (416) 616-0345 www.eurotin.ca CHARLESTON, SC--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Southeast-based fractional Chief Marketing Officer Paul Sparrow has been promoted to the role of partner at Chief Outsiders, one of the nation's leading Executive-as-a-Service firms. In his engagements at small- and mid-market companies across the U.S., Sparrow has earned praise from his client partners for providing guidance and strategies that have driven measurable growth. "Paul Sparrow and Chief Outsiders helped us understand where to place our time and effort, enabling us to move forward with confidence and a sound strategic plan, changing the way we work as a company," said client Brad Hermann, President and Co-Founder of Call-Em-All. When Chief Outsiders like Sparrow engage with clients, they quickly become embedded with the senior leadership team, using Chief Outsiders' acclaimed "Growth Gears" approach in developing unique selling propositions, creating product roadmap strategies, and advancing digital marketing plans that drive sustainable growth. Sparrow joined Chief Outsiders after spending more than 25 years honing his expertise as a marketer for a variety of healthcare, technology and early-stage companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Benefitfocus, and WebMD, among others. While at Chief Outsiders, Paul has helped a variety of companies in the healthcare and technology markets build and execute strategic growth plans. For Sparrow, the opportunity to apply his marketing insights and skills in fractional engagements with mid-market and growth-oriented companies, has been extremely rewarding and motivating. "Paul has spent his entire career delivering business growth in a diverse variety of industries and stages, including start-ups, early-stage, and emerging growth companies," said Tom McCrary, Managing Partner of Chief Outsiders' Southeast region. "As a Chief Outsider, he is effective in using his experience while working as a key member of a clients' leadership team. "In so doing, Paul is able to recognize unique market conditions and opportunities, build a solid corporate strategy and leverage that plan for effective execution," continued McCrary. "His keen eye for breaking down complex business issues, both internal and external, serves him well. Coupled with his creative marketing strategies and a driven commitment to client success, Paul is a solid resource for any business seeking growth. I am pleased to welcome Paul as a Partner in our firm, and I congratulate him on his contributions and achievement." About Chief Outsiders Chief Outsiders, LLC is a nationwide "Executives-as-a-Service" firm, with more than 40 part-time, or fractional, Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) engaged from coast-to-coast. Unlike other strategic marketing and management consulting firms, each CMO has held the position of VP Marketing or higher at one or more operating companies. Chief Outsiders have served on the executive team of over 300 client companies to drive growth strategy and execution plans for a fraction of the cost of a full time executive. Because of its market-based growth plans, quality of leadership, and experienced team, Chief Outsiders was listed by Inc Magazine as one of the 1,000 fastest growing privately held companies in the US (in the top 25 in Houston), and was recognized in the Houston Business Journal's Fast 100. Chief Outsiders' CEO Art Saxby and Principal Pete Hayes are the co-authors of "The Growth Gears: Using a Market-Based Framework to Drive Business Success," an Amazon #1 best-seller for business owners and CEOs. For additional information about the companies who trust Chief Outsiders as their premier source for business growth acceleration, click here. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/7/11G129643/Images/cmo-Paul-Sparrow-ded66ad77a779e18a46838759474da68.jpg CONTACT: Sterling Wilkinson SWilkinson@ChiefOutsiders.com VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or "the Company") (TSX: AMM) (NYSE MKT: AAU) is pleased to announce further assay results from Almaden's ongoing exploration and development program at the Company's Tuligtic project, Mexico. Results reported today are from drill holes TU-16-487, 489, 491 and 493 drilled on sections 10+600 and 10+775 East. The holes intersected significant mineralisation and veining inside or immediately outside of the Amended PEA pit including the previously defined subvertical Ixtaca North vein zone, as well as potential new zones of veining. Highlights from these drillholes include the following intercepts: Hole TU-16-487 SECTION 10+600 EAST Az. 330, Dip -68 41.45 meters @ 1.52 g/t Au and 117.3 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 4.60 meters @ 6.68 g/t Au and 565.4 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone And 9.50 meters @ 1.86 g/t Au and 137.8 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 11.30 meters @ 1.56 g/t Au and 132.4 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 5.15 meters @ 3.16 g/t Au and 273.7 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 32.55 meters @ 0.72 g/t Au and 17.4 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Hole TU-16-489 SECTION 10+600 EAST Az. 330, Dip -60 18.45 meters @ 1.66 g/t Au and 58.9 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 8.50 meters @ 1.89 g/t Au and 97.9 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 8.05 meters @ 3.59 g/t Au and 329.3 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 1.10 meters @ 17.20 g/t Au and 920.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone And 0.50 meters @ 16.85 g/t Au and 3120.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 0.75 meters @ 17.70 g/t Au and 1350.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 17.90 meters @ 1.62 g/t Au and 162.6 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 2.00 meters @ 12.80 g/t Au and 1136.5 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Hole TU-16-491 SECTION 10+600 EAST Az. 330, Dip -40 33.80 meters @ Ixtaca North Zone Including 0.65 meters @ 4.53 g/t Au and 295.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Hole TU-16-493 SECTION 10+775 EAST Az. 330, Dip -65 61.00 meters @ 0.53 g/t Au and 81.9 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 38.30 meters @ 0.76 g/t Au and 120.6 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone And 19.60 meters @ 0.82 g/t Au and 206.5 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 4.20 meters @ 0.19 g/t Au and 115.3 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone www.moosemmc.com. KP is an international consulting firm and recognized leader in providing engineering and environmental services. KP's expertise has been applied to hundreds of surface and underground mining projects in all stages of development and a broad range of environmental settings. KP provides industry leading services in water and waste management, tailings disposal, heap leach pads, rock mechanics and environmental services, and has been recognized for innovative services that meet high standards of reliability, security and cost effectiveness. About the Ixtaca Drilling Program and the Ixtaca Zone The Ixtaca Zone is a blind discovery made by the Company in 2010 on claims staked by the Company. The deposit is an epithermal gold-silver deposit, mostly hosted by veins in carbonate units and crosscutting dykes ("basement rocks") with a minor component of disseminated mineralisation hosted in overlying volcanic rocks. The Ixtaca deposit is located in a developed part of Mexico in Puebla State, the location of significant manufacturing investments including Volkswagen and Audi plants. The deposit is accessed by paved road and is roughly 20 kilometres from an industrial park with rail service where significant manufacturers such as Kimberly Clarke have facilities. Any potential mining operation at Ixtaca would be located in an area previously logged or cleared with negligible to no current land usage. The Company has access to the entire project area and works closely with local officials and residents. The Company has employed roughly 70 people in its exploration program who live local to the Ixtaca deposit. For example, local employees have made up virtually all the drilling staff and have been trained on the job to operate the drill rigs being used at the project. The Company has implemented a comprehensive science based and objective community relations and education program for employees and all local stakeholders to transparently explain the exploration and development program underway as well as the potential impacts and benefits of any possible future mining operation at Ixtaca. The Company regards the local inhabitants to be major stakeholders in the Ixtaca deposit's future along with the Company's shareholders. Every effort is being made to create an open and clear dialogue with our stakeholders to ensure that any possible development scenarios that could evolve from the anticipated PFS are properly understood and communicated throughout the course of the Company's exploration and development program. To better explain the impacts of a mining operation at Ixtaca the Company has conducted numerous tours for local residents to third party operated mines in Mexico so that interested individuals can form their own opinions of mining based on first-hand experience. The Company invites all interested parties to visit www.almadenminerals.com to find out more about our community development, education and outreach programs. Technical Details of the Ixtaca Drilling Program The Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones of veining are interpreted to have a north-easterly trend. Holes to date suggest that the Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones are sub vertical with local variations. This interpretation suggests that true widths range from approximately 35% of intersected widths for a -70 degree hole to 94% of intersected widths for a -20 degree hole. The drilling completed to date has traced mineralisation over 1,000 meters along this northeast trend. The Chemalaco (Northeast Extension) Zone strikes roughly north-south (340 azimuth) and dips at 55 degrees to the west. This interpretation suggests that true widths range from approximately 82% of intersected widths for a -70 degree hole to 99% of intersected widths for a -40 degree hole. The orientations of the new vein zones intersected in the holes reported today are not well understood and true widths cannot be calculated at this time. Mr. Norm Dircks, P.Geo., a qualified person ("QP") under the meaning of NI 43-101, is the QP and project manager of Almaden's Ixtaca program and reviewed the technical information in this news release. The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Chemex Laboratories of North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. Silver is first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy ("ICP-AES"). Samples that return values greater than 100 g/t silver by ICP-AES are then re analysed by HF-HNO 3 -HCLO 4 digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Of these samples those that return silver values greater than 1,500 g/t are further analysed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Intervals that returned assays below detection were assigned zero values. Blanks, field duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream as part of Almaden's quality assurance and control program which complies with National Instrument 43-101 requirements. Cautionary Note concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources This news release uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and certain estimates are made in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes Canadian standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and mineral resource information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies. This news release uses the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" to comply with reporting standards in Canada. We advise United States investors that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in such categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves under SEC definitions. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Therefore, United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" exist. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" cannot form the basis of pre-feasibility or other economic studies. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. About Almaden Almaden Minerals Ltd. is a well-financed company which owns 100% of the Tuligtic project in Puebla State, Mexico, subject to a 2.0% NSR royalty held by Almadex Minerals Limited. Tuligtic covers the Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit, which was discovered by Almaden in 2010. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Morgan Poliquin" Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng. President, CEO and Director Almaden Minerals Ltd. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE MKT have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/7/11G129668/Images/Ixtaca_Plan_30Jan2017_Draft-177bbee71659818db54805169da4eae9.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/7/11G129668/Images/IXTACA_Section_10600_31Jan2016_draft-c966223e8c749a76bfe80ef8c64f2a28.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/7/11G129668/Images/IXTACA_Section_10775_26Jan2016_draft-b0e9730ef3acb7919443f92282e7f307.jpg Contact Information: Almaden Minerals Ltd. Tel. 604.689.7644 Email: info@almadenminerals.com http://www.almadenminerals.com/ VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Advantage Lithium Corp. (the "Company" or "Advantage Lithium") (TSX VENTURE: AAL) announces that, further to its news release of January 24th, 2016, it has closed the book at $20,000,000 for its private placement financing. All funds are expected to be received by February 15, 2017. Funds will be held in escrow and released to the company upon the satisfaction of conditions precedent which is currently expected on or before the end of March 2017. Please see January 24th news release. Further information about the Company can be found at www.advantagelithium.com. About Advantage Lithium Corp. Advantage Lithium Corp. is a resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of lithium properties and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The common shares of the company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "AAL". The company has signed an LOI, subject to definitive agreement, with lithium producer, Orocobre, to acquire 100% interest in five projects in Argentina and a 75% interest in a sixth, called Cauchari. Cauchari is host to a near-surface resource of 470,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and 1.62 million tonnes of potash (KCL), and a large exploration target of 5.6mt to 0.25mt of LCE and 19mt to 0.9 of KCL. Cauchari is located just 20 km south Orocobre's flagship Olaroz Lithium Facility. The Company is also earning an interest from Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp., in a portfolio of five lithium brine projects in the Clayton and Lida Valley regions of Nevada, USA, including 70% in Clayton NE. In addition, the Company has acquired 100% of the Stella Marys lithium brine project, immediately adjacent to Orocobre's Salinas Grandes project that hosts an inferred, near-surface resource, in Argentina's Lithium Triangle. ADVANTAGE LITHIUM CORP. David Sidoo, President Cautionary Statement: Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Advantage that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release 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 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: Advantage Lithium Corp. David Sidoo President 604.685.9316 604.683.1585 (FAX) info@advantagelithium.com www.advantagelithium.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren was forced to stop reading a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday after Senate Republicans voted to formally silence her for impugning a peer. The incident, a set back for Democrats, took place during the debate on whether to confirm Jeff Sessions as the next Attorney General. She tried to read on the floor of the Senate a letter from 30 years ago by Coretta Scott King. The letter, written in 1986 to oppose President Reagan's nomination of Sessions as a federal judge, criticizes his record on civil rights. Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell objected to Warren's recital of the letter saying that she had broken Senate rules by impugning the conduct of another senator. Senator Steve Daines, who was in the chair, interrupted Warren's speech. McConnell's objection was put to vote, and it passed in a party-line 49 to 43 vote, forcing Warren into silence. The Senator from of Massachusetts is now banned from speaking on the Senate floor until the showdown over Sessions' nomination is complete. Jeff Sessions cleared a key procedural hurdle Tuesday after the Senate voted 52 to 47 in favor of limiting debate on his nomination. The vote in favor of the cloture motion sets up a final vote on Wednesday, with the Alabama Senator likely to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. 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. LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Her Imports (OTCQB: EZJRD), a leading retailer of human hair extensions and related beauty products, today announced that it has retained KCSA Strategic Communications, a leading New York-based communications firm, to lead the Company's strategic communications and investor relations programs. KCSA intends to deploy an investor relations campaign designed to increase awareness of Her Imports among the investment community through a comprehensive communications strategy. KCSA's objectives include, among others, communications, strategy and introductions to the institutional investment community. Since KCSA's inception nearly fifty years ago, the firm has developed a strong reputation for its work representing public companies. Barry Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Her Imports, stated, "We are eager to begin working with the entire KCSA team on strategic communications and investor relations. Management and the Board of Directors believe that now is the right time to engage a top tier communications firm to assist us in presenting our opportunity to the investment community. Her Imports is gaining more traction everyday with our products and services and we want to proactively communicate this story on a national scale." Todd Fromer, Managing Partner of KCSA Strategic Communications, commented, "With an extensive history of providing expert strategic communications and our established network of investors, we believe KCSA is the right firm to focus Her Imports' communication strategy and help tell this compelling story to key institutional investors. We are pleased to implement this communications plan based on best practices for Her Imports." About KCSA Strategic Communications: KCSA is a fully integrated communications agency specializing in public relations, investor relations and social media, with expertise in financial and professional services, technology, healthcare, digital media and energy. Since 1969, the firm has demonstrated strategic thinking and program execution that drives results for its clients in the ever-changing communications and digital landscape. The firm's clients are its best references. For more information, please visit www.kcsa.com. About Her Imports: Her Imports sells human hair extensions and related hair-care and beauty products at retail locations throughout the U.S. and on our Website, www.herimports.com. Additionally, by way of our proprietary eCommerce platform and strategic leveraging of social media buys, we convert prospects into customers while developing long-term personal relationships and loyal customers. Forward Looking Statements: Statements in this document contain certain 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, as amended. These statements are based on many assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of future performance. These statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of EZJR, Inc. to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. EZJR, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information, please refer to EZJR, Inc.'s financial statements as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor Contact: Valter Pinto / Allison Soss KCSA Strategic Communications Phone: (212) 896-1254 / (212) 896-1267 Email: Email Contact / Email Contact TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Tokyo Smoke, Canada's leading premium cannabis-oriented lifestyle brand, has acquired Van der Pop, a like-minded cannabis product and experience brand based in Seattle, WA. Run by acclaimed designer and serial entrepreneur of consumer lifestyle brands April Pride, Van der Pop was created in response to a lack of sophisticated product for female marijuana connoisseurs. Women represent a rapidly growing segment of the cannabis market, underserved in cannabis despite being responsible for 85 per cent of overall consumer spending. Van der Pop has focused on creating a unique product line with a design aesthetic targeted directly to women, complemented by a carefully constructed shopping experience. The full line of Van der Pop products will be sold at all Tokyo Smoke retail locations, and the brands will also collaborate on a limited line of new products. The teams from each enterprise will support one another with creative and marketing projects; April Pride assumes the role of Chief Creative Officer for both companies. The acquisition combines one of the leading and highest visibility female-focused cannabis brands with Tokyo Smoke's expertise in retail, international partnerships, and the curation of leading cannabis experiences. The combined companies will focus on providing a better, more thoughtful cannabis experience to an even broader community and will offer a myriad of new opportunities for consumers to approach cannabis. "Van der Pop is an incredibly important and rare contribution to the consumer landscape, a brand that is, at its core, authentic and truly speaks to people," says Alan Gertner (co-founder and CEO, Tokyo Smoke). "April and I share the same values when it comes to the normalization of cannabis and the appetite for design driven thinking within the industry. Together, we are natural partners to offer the best experiences to the burgeoning marketplace." Pride created Van der Pop in the spirit of Mies van der Rohe's design adage of "less is more," combined with the 'joie de vivre' sound of corks popping. Van der Pop's thoughtful product line places equal importance on form and function, and strives to infuse each item with a fun first, fashion forward focus. Best-selling items include stash jars, lockable stash bags, grinder cards and rolling papers. "I feel empowered to help shape the messaging around responsible cannabis use," says Pride. "Brands like Van der Pop and Tokyo Smoke are more than lifestyle purveyors, we want to help the global community engage with cannabis for the best possible results. This partnership combines our knowledge of the industry and presents customers with the most considered products and experiences. All while emphasizing design and creativity. That is the point." Van der Pop's unique shopping experience targets the desire to discreetly enjoy cannabis while making informed purchasing decisions in consultation with like-minded friends and experts. Community members can become hosts for Van der Pop's private shopping concept SESSION, or join scheduled parties where guests are educated about products in a social setting. SESSION has been hailed by Vice and reflects modern cannabis culture and offers discretion, education and style. Van der Pop products have been highlighted by Forbes and are now available at Tokyo Smoke retail locations and online at www.tokyosmoke.com. About Tokyo Smoke: Tokyo Smoke is an award-winning lifestyle brand that brings sophistication and design to the cannabis space. With immersive experiences and designer retail spaces with coffee, clothing and designer products, Tokyo Smoke is developing an international reputation as the go-to destination for luxurious, creative offerings within the industry. With the recent completion of Series A funding, resulting in $3 million in raised capital, Tokyo Smoke will release four branded cannabis strains in the first quarter of 2017 in collaboration with Aphria Inc ("Aphria"), one of Canada's largest licensed producers of medical marijuana. Tokyo Smoke will also expand into the U.S. market in spring 2017. Instagram: @tokyosmoke / @vanderpop Facebook: /tsmokecoffee / sessionobsessed Twitter: @tokyo_smoke / @van_der_pop Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/8/11G129712/Images/IMG_1149-f16367d7f9a7962898110c2e0baf26ee.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/8/11G129712/Images/PIKE-1213-04b9ba593ca3865697db3aa309e85e2d.jpg For more information or interview requests: Tokyo Smoke publicity@tokyosmoke.com tokyosmoke.com PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by Allied Market Research titled, "Nuclear Medicine Equipment : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022," the global nuclear medicine equipment market was valued at $2,012 million in 2015, and is projected to reach $2,647 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2016 to 2022. Oncology segment held more than two-thirds share of the global market in 2015. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 ) Summary of the Nuclear Medicine Equipment Market Report can be accessed on the website at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/nuclear-medicine-equipment-market Nuclear medicine equipment, such as PET/CT and SPECT scans, are used to capture radiation from small amount of radioisotopes that are introduced into the body. These equipment thus help to diagnose diseases and assess the response of treatment provided to the patient. The major factors that drive the market growth are emergence of new and advanced equipment, increase in prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, rise in investment in modernization of diagnostic imaging centers, and development of radiotracers. Oncology is anticipated to dominate the global nuclear medicine equipment market throughout the analysis period, owing to the rise in incidence of cancer and increase in awareness about its early diagnosis. Neurology segment has witnessed highest growth rate as these equipment are used to diagnose and assess the treatment response for various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, brain death/injury, vascular dementia, stroke and transient ischemic attack, and others. According to Pallavi Jaiswal, Research Analyst, Healthcare at Allied Market Research, "Rise in incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and the need for early diagnosis of these diseases boosts the market growth. In addition, the hospitals segment is expected to dominate other segments as the number of patients visiting hospitals has increased. Moreover, hospitals have the capital required to purchase such expensive equipment." Hospitals dominated with around two-fifths of the global market value in 2015, and are expected to continue this trend during the forecast period. The number of patients visiting hospitals is growing to due increase in the occurrence of chronic diseases, which has fueled the market growth for this segment. North America dominated the market in 2015, and is maintain its position in the future, due to the presence of a large geriatric population, technological advancements, availability of favorable imbursement policies, and affordability to purchase modern and expensive nuclear medicine equipment. Nuclear Medicine Equipment Market Key Findings Hybrid PET segment is projected to grow at the highest rate during the analysis period. Argentina nuclear medicine equipment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0%. nuclear medicine equipment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0%. Oncology dominated the global nuclear medicine equipment market in 2015. U.S. was the largest market in 2015, and is projected to maintain its lead until 2022. Hospitals segment is projected to dominate throughout 2022. Key players in the global nuclear medicine equipment market include General Electric Company, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Digirad Corporation, Mediso Medical Imaging Systems, Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Bozlu Holding, Neusoft Corporation, Compania Mexicana de Radiologia CGR, S.A. de C.V., and SurgicEye GmbH. Summary of similar reports can be viewed at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/life-sciences/Healthcare-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: Dhananjay Potle 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 (U.S. & Canada) E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com Website: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - The Board of Directors of the Houston International Seafarers' Center (HISC) proudly announces that Roger Guenther, Executive Director of the Port of Houston Authority has been selected as the recipient of the 2017 "Bronze Anchor Award." The "Bronze Anchor Award" recognizes an individual, company or organization that has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to promoting the HISC mission and vision, and served as a leader and advocate for the welfare of seafarers. Mr. Guenther will be officially honored as a "Bronze Anchor Award" recipient at the HISC Maritime Gala to be held May 6, 2017. The gala will be held earlier in the year than normal and will coincide with the Seafarers' Center's upcoming move to a new location at the Port of Houston. Mr. Guenther has proven over the years to be an advocate of the Seafarers' Center and its mission. He has assisted Chaplains and HISC staff in navigating the regulatory and bureaucratic landscape associated with a working port, and faithfully supported HISC efforts in delivering humanitarian services to seafarers at the Port of Houston. Most recently, Mr. Guenther was instrumental in the successful relocation of the Seafarers' Center to a newer, more efficient and appropriate facility. For the past 44 years, seafarers from around the world have been both ministered to and entertained at the Center's original facility located at the Port Houston Turning Basin Terminal. "I am honored to be selected as the recipient of this award," Mr. Guenther said. "The efforts of the Houston International Seafarers' Centers to provide a welcoming and supportive environment at the port for our seafarers is important and appreciated." The HISC Maritime Gala is the primary fundraiser for the Houston International Seafarers Center, and has been generously supported in past years by individuals and companies that believe in the Center's outreach mission to seafarers visiting the Port of Houston from all corners of the world. The gala's theme, "Building Our Future," marks the beginning of a new era for the Seafarers' Center which has been strengthened by dedicated and committed partners. Information package link: http://www.wgma.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sponsor-packet-HISC-Gala-2017.pdf About the Houston International Seafarers' Centers The Houston International Seafarers' Center is a "home away from home" for seafarers visiting the Port of Houston. Chartered in the late 1960's and early 1970's as a non-profit organization, the center has served millions of visiting seafarers. The center exists as the result of a deep desire and concern within the local maritime industry, followed by active support and involvement of the community and local churches, to provide a safe and welcoming recreational and spiritual environment on land for those who have chosen the mariner profession. HISC website link: http://houstonseafarers.com/events/ About Port Houston For more than 100 years, the port has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals of the Port of Houston -- the nation's largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the nation. It supports the creation of nearly 1.175 million jobs in Texas and 2.7 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling almost $265 billion in Texas -- 16 percent of Texas' total gross domestic product -- and more than $617 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit Port Houston's website at: www.porthouston.com. Information package link: http://www.wgma.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/sponsor-packet-HISC-Gala-2017.pdf HISC website link: http://houstonseafarers.com/events/ Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/7/11G129689/Images/RGuenther-bee36841b826b34d979c8f0972418d81.jpg Contacts: Houston International Seafarers' Center Pat Poulos Executive Director 713-672-0511 hiscdir@houisc.org Port Houston Lisa Ashley, Director, Media Relations 713-670-2644 lashley@poha.com porthouston.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Department of Canadian Heritage The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced that the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) is receiving $5,100,000 to fund the renovation of its new home in the iconic Tower Automotive Building in Toronto's Junction Triangle. The Government of Canada is providing funds to MOCA through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. Quotes "Investing in the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada will help strengthen the economy by creating jobs for the middle class, provide the opportunity for families to discover the arts in their own community, and create spaces for artists and artisans to share Canada's unique perspective with the world." -The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage "We are thrilled and grateful for the Government of Canada's support through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. This funding will help create a new, inclusive home for contemporary art in Toronto that will reflect and bolster the city and country's reputations as one of the best places in the world to think, create and shape the future. We look forward to an exciting opening this fall." - Julia Ouellette, MOCA Board of Directors Chair Quick Facts -- The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada was originally founded as the Art Gallery of North York in 1993. It became known as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in 1999 and operated in the West Queen West neighbourhood of Toronto from 2005 to 2015. -- MOCA is set to move its operations to the historic Tower Automotive Building at 158 Sterling Road in Toronto and plans to open its doors in the fall of 2017. -- The Tower Automotive Building was built in 1919-20 and was, at the time, one of Toronto's tallest buildings. -- The $5,100,000 in funding from Canadian Heritage will be used to renovate the first five floors, and half of the basement, of the industrial heritage building. -- The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, launched in 2001, invests in professional not-for-profit arts and heritage organizations for the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, as well as for the acquisition of specialized equipment and the development of feasibility studies related to cultural infrastructure projects. -- As of March 31, 2016, the Fund has invested approximately $410 million in 1,381 projects in every province and territory,. The program receives an average of 137 applications each year. -- As of December 31, 2016, 80 percent of the money allocated in Budget 2016 has been approved for projects. This investment is supporting 157 projects in 96 communities across the country this year. Associated Links Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada Stay Connected Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr. Contacts: Pierre-Olivier Herbert Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage 819-997-7788 Media Relations Canadian Heritage 819-994-9101 1-866-569-6155 pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Facebook Inc. (FB) announced an update to Safety Check, called Community Help, that lets people find and give help such as food, shelter and transportation after a crisis. With Community Help people can find and give help, and message others directly to connect after a crisis. Posts can be viewed by category and location, making it easier for people to find the help they need. According to a blog post by Naomi Gleit, a Facebook vice president, the company will make Community Help available for natural and accidental incidents, such as an earthquake or building fire. It is also starting in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Saudi Arabia for the first couple of weeks, and as the company learns more about how people use the product, it will look to improve it and make it available for all countries and additional types of incidents. 'With every activation, we are continuing to learn how to make Safety Check and features like Community Help better for people in need. We will continue listening to feedback to make the tool more useful and relevant in the future,' Naomi Gleit said. 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) - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch of dodging questions on key legal and constitutional issues during his meeting with federal appeals court judge on Tuesday. In a press conference following the approximately 45-minute meeting, Schumer told reporters Gorsuch 'avoided answers like the plague.' 'This President is testing fundamental underpinnings of our democracy and its institutions,' Schumer said. 'These times deserve answers and Judge Gorsuch did not provide them. I have serious, serious concerns about this nominee.' Schumer argued the bar for a Supreme Court nominee to prove they can be independent has never been higher, accusing President Donald Trump of showing deep contempt for an independent judiciary. The Senate Democratic leader said he pressed Gorsuch on a number of issues, including Trump's immigration ban and claims of voter fraud as well as a clause in the Constitution prohibiting the president from receiving gifts from foreign leaders. Schumer claimed he has not made up his mind on whether he will support Gorsuch but argued that Trump's Supreme Court nominee deserves intense scrutiny in light of the president's actions. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Ben Sasse, R-Neb., offered a far more positive assessment of his meeting with Gorsuch, calling the judge a supremely qualified and thoughtful nominee. 'The Chicken Little hysteria from some of my friends on the other side of the aisle is just sad and absurd,' Sasse said. 'If they keep working to paint Judge Gorsuch as a mouth-breathing bald eagle hunter, they'll embarrass themselves.' 'Judge Gorsuch and I talked at length about our constitutional system of checks and balances,' he added. 'Whenever Democrats want to stop dealing in fiction, I'm confident Judge Gorsuch is ready for a serious conversation.' Trump's nomination of Gorsuch will need support from some Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster, although Republicans have suggested they may invoke the so-called 'nuclear option' to require only a majority. 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. HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Ucore Rare Metals, Inc. (TSX VENTURE: UCU)(OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the first stage detailed engineering plan for the Platinum Group Metals ("PGM" - rhodium, palladium and platinum) refinery phase of its US Strategic Metals Complex (the "SMC" or the "Plant"). The SMC is a joint venture between Ucore and IBC Advanced Technologies of American Fork, Utah ("IBC") (See Ucore Press Releases dated November 15, 2016 and December 7, 2016). The design has now been satisfactorily reviewed by Mike Schrider, P.E., V.P. of Operations and Engineering of Ucore Rare Metals Inc. "As set out in our recent releases, the detailed engineering work on the Company's U.S. Strategic Metals Complex continues with success," said Jim McKenzie, President and CEO of Ucore. "IBC, in consultation with a European engineering partner (identity withheld under a non-disclosure agreement) has delivered a detailed infrastructural plan for the non-MRT circuits of the PGM refinery. The non-MRT designs have been thoroughly reviewed by our engineering staff in preparation for integration with the MRT SuperLig separation circuits and within the design of the overall production facility." "The 'Stage A' processing circuits will prepare the PGM-bearing input material for submission to the SuperLig metal separation process." said Mike Schrider. "The design will accommodate unpurified PGM bearing metal alloys (from third party sourced recycled catalytic converters) as input material to the MRT process, and then transform the high purity rhodium, palladium and platinum concentrate MRT output into high value products such as individual PGM sponge and specialty salts, both in high demand in US markets." PGM Phase - Detailed Engineering The PGM refinery is being specifically designed to receive, process and separate recycled catalytic converter material which has been concentrated to a metal alloy via a plasma arc smelter. The refinery design consists of three distinct processing areas: (i) Pre-MRT post-smelter metal alloy dissolution; (ii) MRT (SuperLig) PGM metal separations; and (iii) Post-MRT PGM sponge and specialty salt making. The final PGM refinery design allows for an ultimate annual production capacity of 750,000 troy ounces (all Stages complete) comprised of 99.95% Rhodium, 99.98% Palladium and 99.98% Platinum pure sponge material and or specialty salts. The spatial design of the PGM refinery will utilize a 25,600 square foot facility situated on a 3 acre complex. SuperLig technology is the cornerstone of this advanced zero-waste discharge "green" PGM refinery, based on the principles of Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT). The design of the PGM circuits are a direct beneficiary of Ucore's successful SuperLig-One Rare Earth Element (REE) pilot plant completed in Utah in 2016, which incorporated automation systems designed by IBC. The PGM refinery is being designed for maximum value automation, adjusting to varying PGM concentration levels contained in the smelted metal alloy. MRT has the potential to reduce processing times, reducing "locked up" inventory values and potentially improving economics relative to traditional PGM refining circuits. REE Phase - Detailed Engineering The Company is nearing final selection of REE bearing feedstock for the other phase of the SMC, a U.S. based REE separation refinery. Upon finalization of the feedstock selection, similar engineering efforts will commence, also leveraging the work undertaken with the SuperLig-One rare earth pilot plant (see Ucore Press release dated Sept. 26, 2016). Progress on this critical aspect of the SMC will be detailed in forthcoming announcements. Supply of rare earth elements and China's domination of the sector has been a matter of increasing discussion in U.S. political arenas, with concerns over the propensity of China to leverage a practical monopoly of REE production for military, clean energy and high technology applications. See link: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/02/03/chinas-secret-trump-card-could-beijing-deprive-our-military-critical-defense-components.html SMC Site Selection Site(s) selection for the SMC is still under Company review, driven by logistical metrics and the singular principle of providing North America with refined technology metals by providing a security of supply, independent of Chinese sourcing and technology. Qualified Person Michael Schrider, P.E., V.P. of Operations and Engineering of Ucore Rare Metals Inc., has approved the scientific and technical content of this news release and is the Qualified Person responsible for its accuracy under NI 43-101 regulations. Mr. Schrider, holds a B.Sc. degree in engineering from the University of New Orleans and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Louisiana. Background Ucore Rare Metals is a development-phase company focused on rare metals resources, extraction and beneficiation technologies.The Company has a 100% ownership stake in the Bokan project. On March 31, 2014, Ucore announced the unanimous support of the Alaska State Legislature for the investment of up to USD $145 Million in the Bokan project at the discretion of the Alaska Import Development and Export Agency ("AIDEA"). Cautionary Notes This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities, research and development timelines, and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes or setbacks, research and develop successes or setbacks, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. MRT is at advanced testing stages and has yet to be proven, at a commercial scale, for the separation of rare earth elements. The Company has not yet released an economic assessment on the use of MRT for the separation of rare earth elements and does not yet have any specific contracts for the processing of rare earths using MRT. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. Mr. Jim McKenzie President and Chief Executive Officer +1 (902) 482-5214 www.ucore.com Today the Information Department of Elite Capital Co. Limited ("ECC") announced a deal with ACB Investment Holding in which the two companies will use their combined resources to provide project funding loans of 5 to 20 years for the construction of infrastructure projects by ECC. In 2006, ACB Investments Holding, established in Tangier, Morocco, is an international corporate finance and advisory company, with offices in Lugano, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, who serves private Multinational Enterprises, Sovereign Government bodies and International Agencies. In 2016, ACB Investment Holding has advised clients in transactions exceeding $1.5 Billion in value. The alliance between the two companies will also allow compliance-related activities to be carried out from two major international hubs of England and North West Africa. This increases the international presence of these companies. Additionally, ECC has recently formed relationships with the owners of a number of high-profile UK-based properties and developments. ACB Investment Holding's prestigious clients and network will provide the ideal forum in which to market these sites. ACB Investment Holding's policy is to provide tailor-made solutions to their clients instead of using a 'one size fits all' approach used by many firms today. Elite Capital Co. headquarters are located in England at the prestigious address of 33 St. James Square, London, SW1Y4JS, UK. This office is strategically located to serve their domestic and global clients by Board Members, Staff and Agents being located across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. ECC has multilingual staff to ensure that they can accommodate all of the client's needs. ECC offers a wealth of experience in Banking and Financial transactions and has a range of specialized advisory services for private, SME or corporate clients. Also when required, Elite Capital Co. can customize and structure their products and services to meet the specific needs of the clients. They will continue to customize, structure, create and implement funding products and services as the need requires. Elite Capital Co., owned by Kuwaiti businessman Dr. Faisal Khazaal, has made a strategic alliance with ACB Investment Holding which has given them access to North West Africa's region, providing a substantial foundation of clients to build on, in addition to access to the markets that are most in need of the products and services they offer. The aim of ECC is to facilitate the commencement and completion of infrastructure projects, stimulate economy, create employment and combat poverty. "This relationship will serve to enhance our growing client relationships and business reputation of Elite Capital Co.," Mr. George Matharu, President of Elite Capital Co., said. Mr. Simon Thomas, Head of Finance at Elite Capital Co., confirmed that "asset-backed loans are also a good fit for North West Africa's clients, as banks in the region continue to enjoy favorable credit ratings and clients can pledge collateral with their bank and issue bank-endorsed Promissory Notes or Bank Guarantees which ECC can lend against." Mr. George Matharu and Mr. Simon Thomas concluded their statement by saying, "We are excited about these opportunities and cementing our business relationship with ACB Investment Holding." View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005630/en/ Contacts: Elite Capital Co. Limited Mr. George Matharu Mr. Simon Thomas Telephone: +44 (0) 203 709 5060 Facsimile: +44 (0) 203 709 5061 SWIFT Code: ELCTGB21 http://www.ec.uk.com TORONTO, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Alabama Graphite Corp. ("AGC" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:CSPG)(OTCQX:CSPGF)(FRANKFURT:1AG) is pleased to announce that the Company's 100% wholly owned subsidiary - Alabama Graphite Company, Inc. ("AGC USA."), a corporation registered in the state of Alabama, USA - is now registered to pursue United States federal government funding to advance its research and development, and technology commercialization efforts, as well as to conduct business directly with the US federal government and its various agencies, including the US Department of Defense ("DoD") and the US Department of Energy ("DoE"). Due to developing relationships between AGC and AGC USA with both DoD- and DoE-related entities, including the DoE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory ("ORNL") of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA, ORNL requested that AGC USA become registered to do business with the US government and its associated agencies. Accordingly, AGC USA has been assigned a Commercial and Government Entity ("CAGE") code, which is an identification number that is assigned by the DoD's Defense Logistics Agency ("DLA") and used extensively within and by the US federal government. Additionally, AGC USA has also been issued a Data Universal Number System ("DUNS") number, a prerequisite for obtaining US federal funding, including government grants. AGC USA intends to aggressively pursue all potential US government granting and funding opportunities as both a Principal Investigator ("PI") and a Co-Principal Investigator ("Co-PI"), along with other strategic business partners of AGC USA, in conjunction with ORNL and other DoE- and DoD-related entities. Additionally, the DLA informed AGC that the DoD would prefer to use a US-sourced-and-manufactured vendor like AGC USA as the primary vendor for all US DoD lithium-ion ("Li-ion") battery projects, as a matter of US national security. Although AGC must first complete a positive Feasibility Study, secure the required financing and then construct a mine and downstream Coated Spherical Purified Graphite ("CSPG") processing and production facilities, it should be further noted that no supply agreement exists today with respect to US DoD Li-ion battery projects. AGC USA has also received significant and increasing interest from several US government research laboratories working to develop next-generation energy and materials technologies, using domestically sourced natural flake graphite from the contiguous United States (excluding Hawaii and Alaska). AGC and AGC USA President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Donald Baxter commented, "Having our US subsidiary assigned a DUNS number and CAGE code is a critical step in AGC's path to becoming a US government battery-ready graphite supplier of our American-sourced-and-manufactured CSPG, identified by the ULTRACSPG trademark - the very first trademarked sourced-in-America, natural battery-ready graphite for use in lithium-ion batteries. "Additionally, we are now able to vigorously pursue all relevant potential US granting opportunities," stated Mr. Baxter. "In connection with our pursuit of such opportunities, I will be working very closely with AGC USA's CSPG manufacturing team (consisting of three Ph.D. scientists and seven battery materials engineers, working in our US-based, dedicated, state-of-the-art battery materials research laboratory) and AGC's Director of Technology, graphite expert George C. Hawley, along with Strategic Advisor, DoD battery industry expert Randy A. Moore, and AGC Independent Director Dr. Gareth Hatch, who holds United States citizenship and has served as Principal Investigator on multi-million dollar research programs, funded by the DoD's US Army Research Laboratory ("ARL")." On behalf of the Board of Directors of ALABAMA GRAPHITE CORP. Donald K. D. Baxter, P.Eng. President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director QUALIFIED PERSON Donald K. D. Baxter, P.Eng., President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Alabama Graphite Corp., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("N.I. 43-101") guidelines, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. ABOUT ALABAMA GRAPHITE CORP. Alabama Graphite Corp. is a Canadian-based flake graphite exploration and development company as well as an aspiring battery materials production and technology company. The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alabama Graphite Company Inc. (a company registered in the state of Alabama). With an advancing flake graphite project in the United States of America, Alabama Graphite Corp. intends to become a reliable, long-term US supplier of specialty high-purity graphite products, namely Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) engineered for use in lithium-ion batteries. A highly experienced team leads the Company with more than 100 years of combined graphite mining, graphite processing, specialty graphite products and applications, advanced battery development and graphite sales experience. Alabama Graphite Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of its flagship Coosa Graphite Project in Coosa County, Alabama, and its Bama Mine Project in Chilton County, Alabama as well the research and development of its proprietary manufacturing and technological processing process of battery materials. Alabama Graphite Corp. holds a 100% interest in the mineral rights for these two US-based graphite projects, which are both located on private land. The two projects encompass more than 43,000 acres and are located in a geopolitically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction with significant historical production of crystalline flake graphite in the flake graphite belt of central Alabama, also known as the Alabama Graphite Belt (source: US Bureau of Mines). A significant portion of the Alabama deposits are characterized by graphite-bearing material that is oxidized and has been weathered into extremely soft rock. Both projects have infrastructure in place, are within close proximity to major highways, rail, power and water, and are approximately three hours (by truck or train) to the Port of Mobile, the Alabama Port Authority's deep-seawater port and the ninth largest port by tonnage in the United States (source: US Army Corps of Engineers/USACE). The state of Alabama's hospitable climate allows for year-round mining operations and the world's largest marble quarry (which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Sylacauga, Alabama), is located within a 30-minute drive of the Coosa Graphite Project. On November 30, 2015, Alabama Graphite Corp. announced the results of a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") for the Coosa Graphite Project, indicating a potentially low-cost project with potential positive economics. Please refer to the Company's technical report titled "Alabama Graphite Corp. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the Coosa graphite Project, Alabama, USA" dated November 27, 2015, prepared by independent engineering firms AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and Metal Mining Consultants Inc., and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Note: a preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. (i) Inferred Mineral Resources represent material that is considered too speculative to be included in economic evaluations. Additional trenching and/or drilling will be required to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted into a Mineral Reserve. Alabama Graphite Corp. is a proud member of the National Association of Advanced Technology Batteries International ("NAATBatt International"), a US-based, not-for-profit trade association commercializing advanced electrochemical energy-storage technologies for emerging, high-tech applications. For further information and updates on the Company or to sign up for Alabama Graphite Corp. News, please visit www.alabamagraphite.com or follow, like and subscribe to us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which may include, without limitation, statements with respect to any potential relationships between the Company and any DoD- and DoE-related entities, any conduct of business involving the US federal government and its agencies and related laboratories, and any potential US government supply, granting and funding opportunities. The forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management and reflect Alabama Graphite Corp.'s current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of Alabama Graphite Corp. with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of graphite; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions, including that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen breakdowns, that no labor shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and Alabama Graphite Corp. undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements (unless required by law) if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Alabama Graphite Corp. cautions that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions are not exhaustive. When relying on Alabama Graphite Corp. forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and assumptions and other uncertainties and potential events. Alabama Graphite Corp. has also assumed that the material factors and assumptions will not cause any forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors and assumptions is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Website - LinkedIn - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Contacts: Alabama Graphite Corp. Ann-Marie M. Pamplin Vice President, Investor Relations +1 (416) 309-8641 apamplin@alabamagraphite.com LONDON, February 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, journalists from alternative media will play an active part in the UK's largest event for private investors. The Master Investor Show takes place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, on Saturday 25th March. Event organisers will host a special area for independent finance bloggers to connect with thousands of private investors and provide coverage of the show from the heart of the action. Bloggers confirmed to appear are: Ruzbeh Bacha of CityFALCON ( cityfalcon.com/blog ) of CityFALCON ( ) Rob Murray Brown of Fantasy Equity Crowdfunding ( fantasyequitycrowdfunding.blogspot.co.uk ) of Fantasy Equity Crowdfunding ( ) Martin Bamford of Informed Choice Radio ( icfp.co.uk/resources/blog ) of Informed Choice Radio ( ) Francis Hunt of The Market Sniper ( themarketsniper.com/blog-2 ) of The Market Sniper ( ) Jose Supico of Advicefront ( blog.advicefront.com ) ) Nick Hayes of ShareSoc ( sharesoc.org/blog.html ) of ShareSoc ( Peter Higgins of Share Talk / Conkers' Corner (share-talk.com) The bloggers represent a wide range of investment themes, from stocks and fintech to investment advice and investor rights. The bloggers area is situated in a newly expanded part of the venue. Master Investor CEO Swen Lorenz: "Private investors in the UK actively seek alternative sources of information. Magazines and newspapers remain a staple news source for them, but they increasingly look towards the web to find independent, out of the box thinking. Yet, it's hard to find out which are the reliable voices. The Master Investor Show offers its audience the opportunity to meet the actual people behind a number of carefully chosen finance blogs." Ruzbeh Bacha from CityFALCON said: "We are excited to participate in the show for the third year in a row. Together with Master Investor we solve the problem of accessing quality content for retail investors and traders. FinTech is bringing innovation to the market, and we'd like to connect with the participants to understand their pain points while investing in the markets." Master Investor aims to meet the growing demand for alternative media and thrives on offering independent commentary, opinion and analysis to UK private investors. As well as a digital media platform, the company hosts the annual Master Investor Show - a flagship event that shows private investors the full scope of investments available to them today. Organisers at this year's Master Investor Show expect between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors through the door. Almost 100 companies will exhibit and 50 guest speakers are invited, including celebrity investors such as Jim Mellon. Show sponsors are Fidelity International, SyndicateRoom, Selftrade, Northland Capital, Seven Investment Management, London South East and Huddle Capital. VIP tickets to the Master Investor Show are available for any journalist wanting to cover the event. Please email james.hudson@masterinvestor.co.uk for more details. To find out more about Master Investor Show 2017, visit: http://www.masterinvestor.co.uk/show About Master Investor Ltd. Master Investor Ltd. is an investment media and events company that delivers independent, financial commentary and analysis to UK private investors and traders. Master Investor Ltd. is backed by Jim Mellon, the well-known financier. It is privately held with offices in London and the Isle of Man. Website:http://www.masterinvestor.co.uk Social media: http://www.facebook.com/masterinvestor http://www.twitter.com/masterinvestor Media enquiries: James Hudson, james.hudson@masterinvestor.co.uk DUBLIN, Feb 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Egypt LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025" report to their offering. The LNG market in Egypt projected to surpass 4.5 MMT by 2025. In 2015, Egypt recorded highest imports of LNG in Middle East & Africa. The country majorly imports LNG from Qatar, Algeria, Australia and Equatorial Guinea. Moreover, increasing demand for LNG from various end use sectors and decreasing LNG prices in comparison to other alternative fuels are anticipated to drive LNG market in Egypt during 2016-2025. Egypt was an exporter of LNG till 2014. However, natural gas production in Egypt declined over the past few years, and at the same time demand for LNG increased continuously due to rising demand from power and industrial sectors in the country. Thus, from being an exporter of LNG, Egypt currently imports LNG to address domestic demand. Moreover, Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company secured a long-term contract from Gazprom and Sonatrach to supply 15 BCM of LNG to Egypt by 2020. Also, several companies operating in Egypt LNG market are increasing focus on using Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRU) for faster commissioning of LNG and to also reduce cost of importing LNG. Furthermore, in order to reduce natural gas demand-supply gap in the country, imports and domestic production of LNG in Egypt is forecast to rise through 2025. Why You Should Buy This Report? To gain an in-depth understanding of Egypt LNG market To identify on-going trends and anticipated growth within next ten years To help align market-centric strategies for LNG terminal operators, aggregators, suppliers, marketers and consultants To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players To avail of 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Egypt Primary Energy Consumption 5. Egypt LNG Supply Market Outlook 6. Egypt LNG Potential Demand Market Outlook 7. Egypt LNG Potential Demand Supply Gap Outlook 8. Egypt LNG Regional Market Outlook 9. Egypt LNG Market Outlook 10. Import-Export Dynamics 11. LNG Pricing Analysis 12. Egypt Pipeline Infrastructure Outlook 13. Competitive Analysis 14. Customer & Supplier Analysis For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3f8tkw/egypt_lng_market Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Turkey LNG Market Demand Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025" report to their offering. The LNG market in the country is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over 5.5% during 2016 2025. 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, owing to increasing use of LNG for manufacturing of glass, ceramics, fertilizer, cement, steel, etc. Turkey produces only about 2% of the country's total natural gas consumption, while remaining 98% is imported through pipelines from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran. Ongoing political tensions between Russia and Turkey have led to decline in supply of natural gas from Russia. Thus, Russian natural gas producer Gazprom, which supplies more than half of total natural gas consumed in Turkey had to cut supply to Turkey by about 10% in 2015. Growing focus on expansion of LNG regasification terminal infrastructure, rising demand from various industrial applications, declining LNG prices and implementation of favorable government policies are expected to boost demand for LNG in the Turkey during 2016-2025. In 2015, Algeria, Qatar and Nigeria were the leading suppliers of LNG in Turkey. However, in the coming years, United States is expected to become the second largest LNG supplier to Turkey, after Algeria. Turkey LNG Market Demand Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025, discusses the following aspects of LNG market in the Turkey: Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Turkey Primary Energy Consumption 5. Turkey LNG Supply Market Outlook 6. Turkey LNG Potential Demand Market Outlook 7. Turkey LNG Potential Demand Supply Gap Outlook 8. Turkey LNG Regional Market Outlook 9. Turkey LNG Market Outlook 10. Import-Export Dynamics 11. LNG Pricing Analysis 12. Turkey Pipeline Infrastructure Outlook 13. Competitive Analysis 14. Customer Supplier Analysis For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/46jz7k/turkey_lng_market View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005808/en/ Contacts: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Topics: LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Norrep Capital Management Ltd. (Norrep Capital), the manager of the Norrep Short Duration 2016 Flow-Through Limited Partnership (the Partnership), announces that it will be proceeding with a transaction (the Liquidity Transaction) pursuant to which the assets of the Partnership will be transferred on a tax-deferred basis to Norrep Opportunities Corp. (Norrep Opportunities), an open end mutual fund corporation, in exchange for MF Series shares of Norrep Energy Class, a class of shares of Norrep Opportunities. Norrep Energy Class is a publicly offered mutual fund, as are the other classes of Norrep Opportunities. Norrep Opportunities is managed by Norrep Capital, which is also the portfolio adviser to the Partnership. Information about Norrep Energy Class and Norrep Opportunities, such as their simplified prospectus, Fund Facts documents, annual information form and financial statements, is available at the Norrep Investments website (www.norrep.com) and also at www.sedar.com. The effective date of the Liquidity Transaction (the Effective Date) is expected to be on or about April 10, 2017. As soon as reasonably possible following the Effective Date, the MF Series shares of Norrep Energy Class that the Partnership will receive as consideration for the transfer of its assets will be distributed to the Limited Partners of the Partnership on a pro rata basis and thereafter the Partnership will be dissolved. There will be no fees or costs charged to Limited Partners as a result of the Liquidity Transaction. No costs associated with the Liquidity Transaction will be charged to Norrep Opportunities. The Liquidity Transaction is being conducted in compliance with applicable securities regulations that govern such transactions and in accordance with the Limited Partnership Agreement governing the Partnership, as described in the Prospectus of the Partnership dated May 13, 2016. It will be a condition of closing the Liquidity Transaction that it is approved by the General Partner of the Partnership and the Board of Directors of Norrep Opportunities. It will also be a condition of closing that the Liquidity Transaction is approved by the Independent Review Committee for the Partnership and Norrep Energy Class as a transaction that achieves a fair and reasonable result for each of the Partnership and Norrep Energy Class. It is expected that these approvals will be obtained. Following the Liquidity Transaction, Limited Partners will become shareholders in Norrep Energy Class and the Partnership will be dissolved. A notice describing the Liquidity Transaction is being mailed to Limited Partners today. How the Rollover Will Work Limited Partners will receive, on a pro rata basis, MF Series shares of Norrep Energy Class with a value equal to the value of the Limited Partnership Units of the Partnership (the Units) held at the Effective Date. The number of MF Series shares of Norrep Energy Class that Limited Partners will receive will be equal to the number of Units they hold multiplied by the conversion ratio. The conversion ratio will be equivalent to the Net Asset Value of Units of the Partnership (less any performance bonus paid or payable to Norrep) divided by the Net Asset Value of the MF Series shares of Norrep Energy Class determined at the close of business on the Effective Date. The ACB (adjusted cost base) for each Unit of the Partnership and each MF Series share of Norrep Energy Class will be determined by the General Partner upon the wind-up of the Partnership. Once the Liquidity Transaction is completed, Limited Partners may indefinitely defer the capital gains tax liability that occurs at disposition of the investment by continuing to hold the MF Series shares of Norrep Energy Class. Due to recent changes to Canadian tax laws, Limited Partners are no longer able to switch into another mutual fund class within the multi-class structure of Norrep Opportunities on a tax-deferred basis. However, Limited Partners may sell their Norrep Energy Class shares and invest in any other Norrep investment fund: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUND CIFSC Category ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep II Class Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Income Growth Class Canadian Equity Balanced ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep US Dividend Plus Class U.S. Equity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Entrepreneurs Class Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep High Yield Class High Yield Fixed Income ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Global Income Growth Class Global Equity Balanced ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Tactical Opportunities Class Tactical Balanced ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Core Global Pool Global Equity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Core Canadian Pool Canadian Equity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norrep Premium Growth Class Tactical Balanced ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following the Liquidity Transaction, the Norrep Investments website (www.norrep.com) will provide additional information, as it becomes available, on the rollover net asset value, exchange ratio, and adjusted cost base (ACB) of the Units. The Partnership will also issue a press release once the Liquidity Transaction has been completed and the conversion ratio has been determined. Completion of the Liquidity Transaction is subject to the usual closing conditions. Investors should consult with their investment advisor and/or tax advisor for all tax-related matters. Information about Norrep Opportunities, including Norrep Energy Class Information about Norrep Energy Class, Norrep Opportunities and Norrep Core Portfolios Ltd. is available in their respective Fund Facts documents, simplified prospectus, annual information form, management reports of fund performance and financial statements. You can obtain a copy of these documents at your request and at no cost by contacting Norrep toll free at: 1-877-431-1407, by e-mailing info@norrep.com, by downloading from www.norrep.com or www.sedar.com or from your financial advisor. Norrep Capital Management Ltd. is a Canadian investment management firm with offices in Calgary and Toronto. Certain information set forth in this press release, including a discussion of the timing and completion of the Liquidity Transaction, is considered forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks. Actual results could differ from those expressed in or implied by this forward-looking information and there is no assurance that the Liquidity Transaction will be completed. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Contacts: Norrep Capital Management Ltd. Leila Li Manager, Dealer & Client Services Toll Free: 1-877-431-1407 info@norrep.com www.norrep.com NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Mondo (www.mondo.com) today revealed the results of its annual Tech Salary Guide, which included the latest tech hiring trends and salary data. The top 20 tech jobs garnering salaries of $185K or more for 2017 include the Chief Information Security Officer, DevOps Lead/Engineer, Demandware Developer, and Chief Data Officer. Mondo is the largest national staffing agency specializing exclusively in high-end, niche IT and Digital Marketing talent. According to the annual Mondo Tech Salary Guide, the top 20 tech jobs for 2017 with salaries of $185,000 or more include: CIO/CTO ($170-285,000) Demandware Developer ($150-250,000) Chief Information Security Officer ($145-250,000) DevOps Lead/Engineer ($115-250,000) Chief Data Officer ($162-228,000) Director PMO ($125-225,000) Data Scientist ($130-210,000) Data Architect ($130-210,000) Application Security Engineer ($125-210,000) Solutions Architect ($140-200,00) Project Manager ($90-200,000) Android Developer ($90-200,000) IOS Developer ($90-200,000) Network Architect ($135-185,000) Azure Developer ($130-185,000) VP, Engineering ($125-185,000) VP, Application Development ($125-185,000) Director of eCommerce ($125-185,000) GoLangDeveloper ($100-185,000) Cyber Security Analyst ($90-$185,000) (Note: The salary ranges highlighted in Mondo's annual Tech Salary Guide are primarily attributed to the current rate of supply vs. demand for specific tech skill sets. A difference in skill levels, soft skills, and nuances in complementary technologies associated with certain skill sets are also factors that influence salaries for tech professionals. Geographic location no longer dictates a significant increase or decrease in salary range. According to Mondo's data, in-demand tech skills now net top salaries regardless of region.) "Salaries for IT professionals continue to increase with more than 12 different positions earning more than $200,000 a year. This year we have seen a spike in salaries for Demandware Developers and DevOps Engineers with salaries of up to $250,000," said Gianna Scorsone, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales Operations for Mondo. "Tech professionals with data analysis, security, and software developer expertise are in especially high demand." The Big Data jobs garnering the highest salaries, according to the Mondo Tech Salary Guide, are: Data Scientist ($130-210,000) Data Architect ($130-210,000) Data Warehouse Engineer ($100-145,000) The security positions with the highest salaries include: Application Security Engineer ($125-210,000) Cybersecurity Analyst ($90-185,000) IS Security Manager ($120-180,000) Network Security Engineer ($110-175,000) The DevOps/CDN jobs with the highest salaries include: DevOps Lead/Engineer ($115-250,000) Azure Developer ($130-185,000) Amazon Web Services Developer ($125-175,000) Front-End Developer roles are also in high demand and landing top salaries, including the following titles: GoLang Developer ($100-185,000) Ember Developer ($80-165,000) JavaScript Developer ($80-165,000) React Developer ($80-165,000) The technology salary data is based on Mondo's placements over the past year in New York City, San Francisco, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Denver, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas. About Mondo Mondo is the largest national staffing agency specializing exclusively in high-end, niche IT and Digital Marketing talent. Mondo's staffing services include freelance, contract, contract-to-hire, and full-time placement options. For nearly 20 years, Mondo has been delivering solutions that bridge the talent gap and accelerate technology and digital marketing innovation for global brands including Deutsche Bank, Facebook, NBC Universal, ZipCar, eBay, Random House, and many more. Headquartered in New York City, Mondo has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Denver, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. To learn more visit, www.mondo.com or call 212-257-5111. Connect with Mondo on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For more media information, contact: Lisa Hendrickson LCH Communications for Mondo 516-767-8390 Email Contact TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- As part of the celebration of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation's (CDIC) 50th anniversary year, Michele Bourque, President and CEO of CDIC, held a roundtable discussion with Canadians to discuss what it means to have their savings protected in the unlikely event of a bank failure. To ensure a diversity of views, Ms. Bourque heard directly from Canadians of different ages, including participants from the Millennial, Gen-X, and Baby Boom generations. The panel members discussed the relevance of CDIC at different life stages. Lucie Tedesco, Commissioner of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, also took part in the discussion, and highlighted the importance of financial planning. "Over the past 50 years, CDIC has resolved 43 bank failures and protected 2 million depositors," said Ms. Bourque. "Having Canadians of different generations engaged in a discussion about the protection of their savings helps to keep our financial system strong." The roundtable was broadcast live online from the Zoomer Studio in Toronto, where Ms. Bourque and Ms. Tedesco also took questions from the audience. CDIC is a federal Crown corporation that contributes to the stability of the Canadian financial system by providing deposit insurance against the loss of eligible deposits at member institutions in the event of failure. Eligible deposits are automatically covered to a limit of $100,000 per insured category at each member institution. CDIC members include banks, federally regulated credit unions as well as loan and trust companies, and associations governed by the Cooperative Credit Associations Act that take deposits. CDIC is funded by premiums paid by member institutions and does not receive public funds to operate. Contacts: Brad Evenson Director, Communications and Public Affairs 613.943.4395 media@cdic.ca TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Canada's mineral exploration and mining community will gather in Toronto from March 5 to 8 for the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention. A highlight of the PDAC Convention is the Aboriginal Program that provides an important platform for fostering cooperative, respectful and mutually-beneficial relationships between Aboriginal communities and industry. "PDAC's Aboriginal Program is truly unique in that it brings Aboriginal communities and the mineral industry together to recognize and discuss the emerging issues that fuel a successful mineral industry in Canada, while generating important opportunities for Aboriginal people," says PDAC President Glenn Mullan. The 2017 Aboriginal Program consists of four sessions: The Mineral Industry and Indigenous communities -- Canadian and international experiences This session will identify key issues and partnerships between exploration and mining companies and Indigenous communities. Specifically, panelists will examine experiences and share insights about operating in different political, social and cultural contexts around the world and how companies and communities work together. The Aboriginal Forum: Reconciliation -- The New Context for Relationship Building in Canada This session will centre on Reconciliation in Canada. Chief Dr. Robert Joseph of Reconciliation Canada will deliver a keynote address at the event, which will also feature panel discussions on reconciliation in practice and examples arising from company-community partnerships. Aboriginal Law, Indigenous Frameworks and Regulatory Regimes: examining the evolving landscape An examination into some of the recent legal decisions, frameworks and regulatory initiatives, as well as key challenges and opportunities that arise for mineral companies and Aboriginal communities in relation to resource development. Aboriginal Communities and the Mineral Industry: Partnerships, Leadership and Perspectives This session will feature speakers who will share their experiences, challenges and opportunities related to building community-based environmental capacity and partnerships to offset environmental impacts, and perspectives from Aboriginal leaders on various community issues and solutions. See the full 2017 Aboriginal Program for more details and list of speakers. About the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada PDAC is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community. With over 8,000 members around the world in all sectors of the mining industry, the PDAC's mission is to promote a globally-responsible, vibrant and sustainable minerals industry. As the trusted representative of the sector, PDAC encourages best practices in technical, operational, environmental, safety and social performance. PDAC is known worldwide for its annual PDAC Convention, regarded as the premier international event for the mineral industry. The PDAC Convention has attracted over 25,000 people from 125 countries in recent years and will next be held March 5-8, 2017 in Toronto. Please visit www.pdac.ca. Media Contact: Kristy Kenny Coordinator of Communications kkenny@pdac.ca FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Unified Office, Inc., a leading managed services provider offering reliable hybrid cloud-based virtual communications services and business analytics, announced at ITExpo today its new Total Connect Now(SM) (TCN) Operations Performance Suite (TCNOPS), the latest addition to their award winning product line. TCNOPS enables Quick Serve Restaurants (QSRs) and other SMBs to dramatically improve their operational performance and effectiveness using Unified Office's new Internet of Things (IoT) based operational performance suite. TCNOPS integrates alerting and reporting functions for business critical information into Unified Office's industry leading Visual Performance Suite (VPS), advanced analytics platform. "We are bringing TCNOPS to the restaurant industry first," said Ray Pasquale, CEO & Founder of Unified Office. "They live in a highly regulated world. For example, refrigeration and prep table temperatures are crucial not only to maintain food safety compliance but also temperature variations that might result in food inventory waste. Regulations for things that we might take for granted like exhaust fan emissions are also critical to their industry. The reliable delivery of business critical information such as refrigeration outages and exhaust emissions are important to our QSR customers." "Our award winning Highest Quality Routing Protocol (HQRP) hybrid cloud network is the foundation by which this business critical information is delivered. TCNOPS is an important next step in the evolution of our communications/IoT network platform for businesses." TCNOPS is a natural evolutionary step to the Unified Office award winning TCN business communications platform. TCNOPS extends beyond simple real-time basic monitoring to proactive and predictive analysis, which can eliminate component failure before it becomes a problem. Unified Office uses the same highly reliable, secure broadband connection (HQRP) to deliver and report business critical information as it does for its Total Connect Now business communications system which offers higher quality business VoIP services. "There is a great deal of hype and confusion surrounding IoT in the marketplace today. There are lots of companies offering solutions in search of a real problem to solve. This is particularly true in the SMB space," said Steve Hilton, Principal Analyst, MachNation. "Companies like Unified Office that can provide a common user experience for IoT and other SMB applications will be able to deliver real business value to SMBs. Providing SMB customers with valuable and actionable real time information will dramatically improve their operations." "Helping businesses cope with the rapid pace of technological and behavioral changes in the marketplace where social networks and online searches drive business transactions in real-time is paramount to what we do," Pasquale added. "Our customers report that our systems and services typically pay for themselves in a matter of weeks." About Unified Office Unified Office, Inc. is a leading provider of SDN-based hybrid cloud managed Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and Unified Communications services to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Unified Office's Total Connect Now(SM) service architecture was purpose-built from the ground up to deliver the highest quality of experience and availability, leveraging the latest in extensible business VoIP communications technology and cloud-based infrastructure to enhance SMB workforce productivity. Their cloud-based intelligent network incorporates Unified Office's unique adaptive Highest Quality Routing (HQR) for end-to-end service quality, and Business Continuity "shadowing" to ensure high availability operation over one or more redundant broadband links. The Unified Office Visual Performance Suite provides a real-time view of changes in operational performance levels and actionable intelligence for SMBs, store managers and owners, enabling them to readily determine real-time business performance, take immediate actions, and apply continuous operational improvements. This results in higher customer satisfaction, increased customer retention, and increased revenues and profitability. For more information visit www.unifiedoffice.com. Contact: Cathy Clarke CNC Associates 508-833-8533 cathy@cncassocs.com DUBLIN, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Eritrea Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022" report to their offering. The Eritrea tire market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 4% during 2017-2022 driven by consistently expanding automobile fleet size, increasing infrastructural developments and increasing average selling prices of tires. Eritrea tire market is dominated by Chinese tire companies, which accounts for more than 50% share in the country's tire market. Other leading flagship tire companies operating in Eritrea include Bridgestone, MRF, Apollo, CEAT, etc. Replacement demand dominated Eritrea tire market, as there are no automobile manufacturing facilities in the country. Eritrea is prominently divided into three regions including Northern, Central and Southern region, with Central region, dominating tire demand in the country. Growth of the tire industry of the country is prominently backed by growing sales of vehicles and expanding automobile fleet in the country. Increasing population of the country is also boosting demand for automobiles and related tire products. As per the CIA, population of the country stood at 5.86 million in 2016. Moreover, rising government focus on development of infrastructure and industrial sectors is further anticipated to boost demand for automobiles and related tire products in the country during 2017-2022. Companies Mentioned: Apollo Tyres Ltd. Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE CEAT Limited GITI Tire ( China ) Investment Company Ltd. ) Investment Company Ltd. Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. MRF Limited Michelin AIM FZE Prinx Chengshan ( Shandong ) Tire Company ) Tire Company Shandong Wanda BOTO Tyre Co. Ltd. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Eritrea Tire Market Outlook (2012-2022) 5. Eritrea Passenger Car (PC) Tire Market Outlook 6. Eritrea Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Tire Market Outlook 7. Eritrea Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) Tire Market Outlook 8. Eritrea OTR Tire Market Outlook 9. Eritrea Two- & Three-Wheeler Tire Market Outlook 10. Import Export Analysis 11. Supply Chain Analysis 12. Market Dynamics 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Policy & Regulatory Landscape 15. Eritrea Economic Profile 16. Competitive Landscape 17. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/g2vcsg/eritrea_tire 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 (All amounts in EUR)Q4 2016 - Order intake at all-time high-- - Revenue for Q4 2016 totaled 250.0m [Q4 2015: 201.9m]. On a pro forma basis, revenue in Q4 2015 was 248.8m. -- - EBITDA for Q4 2016 was 47.3m or 18.9% of revenue [Q4 2015: Adj. EBITDA** 30.0m or 14.9% of revenue]. Pro forma adj. EBITDA** Q4 2015 was 37.9m or 15.2% of revenue. -- - EBIT* for Q4 2016 was 35.1m or 14.0% of revenue [Q4 2015: Adj. EBIT** 22.2m or 11.0% of revenue]. Pro forma adj. EBIT** in Q4 2015 was 34.9m or 14.0% of revenue. -- - Net result for Q4 2016 was 22.6m [Q4 2015: 9.9m]. Basic earnings per share were 3.15 euro cents in Q4 2016 [Q4 2015: 1.40 euro cents]. -- - Cash flow from operating activities before interest and tax in Q4 2016 was 74.3m [Q4 2015: 26.9m]. Net debt/EBITDA is x2.25 at the end of Q4 2016. -- - The order book was at 349.5m at the end of Q4 2016 compared with 305.1m at the end of Q3 2016 [Q4 2015: 180.9m]. On a pro forma basis the order book at end of Q4 2015 was 319.8m.Full year 2016 - Solid performance with 14.6% EBIT*-- - Pro forma revenue for 2016 totaled 983.0m [2015 pro forma revenue 975.8m]. Revenue in 2016 was 969.7m compared to 818.6m in 2015. -- - Pro forma EBITDA was 179.7m or 18.3% of revenue [2015 pro forma adj. EBITDA** 175.7m or 18.0% of revenue]. EBITDA in 2016 was 175.4m (18.1% of revenue) compared to adj. EBITDA** of 135.8m in 2015 (16.6% of revenue). -- - Pro forma EBIT* was 143.5m or 14.6% of revenue [2015: pro forma adj. EBIT** 133.7m or 13.7% of revenue]. Adj. EBIT* in 2016 was 139.4m (or 14.4% of revenue) compared to adj. EBIT** of 99.9m in 2015 (or 12.2% or revenue). -- - Net result for 2016 was 75.8m [2015: 56.7m]. Earnings per share were 10.59 euro cents compared with 7.93 euro cents in 2015. -- Cash flow from operating activities before interest and tax was 179.0m [2015: 119.7m]. Net interest bearing debt at the end of the year 2016 was 403.6m compared with 142.8m at the end of 2015.In Q4 2016 order intake was at a record level totaling 295 million, with strong order intake of Greenfield projects for customers in the poultry, meat and fish industries. Throughout the year order intake remained strong in modernization and maintenance. The uptick in order intake of Greenfields during Q4 compared with previous quarters is in line with what was previously communicated during the Q3 results. During the Q3 results presentation, management lifted the outlook for larger projects after rather soft conditions in the beginning of 2016. The order book at the end of 2016 is at 350 million compared with 320 million at year-end 2015.Marel's revenue in 2016 was 983.0 million compared with 975.8 million in 2015 on a pro forma basis. Pro forma EBIT* increased between years to 143.5 million (14.6%) compared with 133.7 million (13.7%). Cash flow was strong in 2016 leading to net debt/EBITDA of x2.25 at year-end 2016 compared with x2.9 after the acquisition of MPS in the beginning of the year.The Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of 2.14 euro cents per share will be paid for the operational year 2016. The estimated total dividend payment, based on current outstanding shares, will be 15.3 million corresponding to approximately 20% of profits for the year. The proposed dividend is in line with Marel's targeted capital allocation and dividend policy. This is in line with the dividend policy of 20-40% of net results and the targeted capital structure of x2-3 net debt/EBITDA. In addition, the Board of Directors has authorized management to purchase own shares in 2017 for up to a value of 15 million to be used as payment for potential future acquisitions.Marel's management expects 4-6% average annual market growth in the long term. Marel aims to grow organically faster than the market based on good customer relations and the continuous introduction of revolutionary products to assist processors advance their business. Results may vary from quarter to quarter due to general economic developments, fluctuations in orders received and timing of deliveries of larger systems. In addition Marel's aim is to strengthen product offering and stimulate further growth through strategic acquisitions.Arni Oddur Thordarson, CEO: "The year 2016 was a great year for Marel. We are closing Q4 with all-time high order intake. The orders were strong in poultry, meat and fish. Our customers are setting up state of the art processing plants in Asia, South- America, North-America and Europe that will enable them to offer affordable quality food. As well exciting orders in Africa and the Middle-East were secured.We finalized the acquisition of MPS at the beginning of the year allowing Marel to become a full-line supplier to the meat industry. Integration is on track and the acquisition is delivering value to customers and shareholders. Earnings per share increase by 34% year on year. Our financials and cash flow are strong and net debt/EBITDA is x2.25, well within our capital structure. We have to bear in mind that we closed the acquisition of MPS without issuing any new shares.We continue on the growth path. Over the course of the year we have invested well in our infrastructure and introduced steady flow of revolutionary products to advance the business of our customers.Finally, I would like to thank our customers and employees for an eventful and enjoyable year. With passion and dedication, we are transforming the way food is processed."Refocusing and organizational changes From April 1, 2017 David Wilson will replace Remko Rosman as Managing Director of Marel Meat. On February 8, 2017 Jesper Hjortshj will replace David Wilson as Managing Director of further processing activities within Marel.Management changes in Marel Meat MPS meat processing systems have since 2005 been under the leadership of Remko Rosman and has during that time enjoyed good growth as well as strengthened its competitive positioning. Remko Rosman will now take on new challenges within the food sector in non-competition with Marel.By acquiring MPS in January 2016, Marel became a global leader in developing full-line solutions and equip-ment for the meat processing industry. The integration between Marel and MPS is on track. The main focus in 2016 was on combining the front-end sales teams and aligning financial reporting. Gradually the focus will shift towards integrating the back-end of the business such as supply chain and service activities.Between 2012 and 2016, David Wilson was Managing Director of Marel Meat and was instrumental in the acquisition of MPS. He has been with Marel since 1998 and a member of the Executive Team since 2013.Marel gearing up for growth in further processing after successful refocusing Marel is at the forefront of providing full-line solutions to the poultry, meat and fish industries, from primary processing through secondary and further processing. In 2016, David Wilson led the successful streamlining of further processing activities within Marel. In Q4 2016, Marel rationalized the further processing product portfolio, streamlined the organizational set-up and replaced several managers. Marel's further processing team focuses on innovation, service and product management while sales are mainly channeled through Marel's poultry, meat and fish teams.From February 8 2017, Jesper Hjortshj will lead Marel's activities in further processing as Managing Director and will join Marel's Executive team. Under the leadership of Jesper Hjortshj innovation efforts and product management will be supported and strengthened to capture future growth within the dynamic and growing market for sausage and convenience food. Jesper Hjortshj has been with Marel since 2006 in various leadership positions including Manager in Strategy and Portfolio for Global Innovation, Product Center Manager and Marketing Manager.MarketsIn Q4, 2016 order intake was at a record level totaling 295 million, with strong order intake of Greenfield projects for customers in the poultry, meat and fish industries. Projects were well distributed geographically with large orders secured in Asia, South-America, North-America and Europe.Marel is the leading global provider of advanced processing systems and services to the poultry, meat and fish industries. Marel introduced a steady stream of innovative products to the market in 2016 that will continue to increase the customers' value and advance food processing going forward.Marel Poultry2016 was a good year for Marel Poultry which showed solid operational profit margins and strong volume. Marel Poultry generated 514.2 million in revenue and EBIT of 85.3 million (16.6% of revenue) in 2016. Projects were well distributed geographically and between different product types. In Q4, a landmark Greenfield project with four high-speed lines was secured in South-Korea with a long-term customer.In Q4 Marel Poultry launched the second generation of the revolutionary Controlled Atmosphere Stunning system for the poultry industry which is now optimized by arranging the system into a single straight horizontal line. The solution is called SmoothFlow and was awarded the EuroTier 2016 Innovation Medal for setting a new industry standard.Marel Poultry accounted for 52.3% of Marel's pro forma revenue in 2016.Marel FishIn Q4, Marel Fish secured record order intake due to a strategic shift and improved market conditions. Landmark projects were secured in the salmon industry in Norway in addition to various projects in Europe, North- America and South-America.Soft market conditions in the beginning of the year and the rationalization of product offering negatively affected Marel's Fish results in 2016. Marel Fish generated 127.1 million in revenue and EBIT of 3.9 million (3.1% of revenue) in 2016.Marel Fish accounted for 12.9% of Marel's pro forma revenue in 2016.Marel Meat2016 was a strong year for Marel Meat with good operational margins and volume. Marel Meat generated 333.7 million in revenue on a pro forma basis and pro forma EBIT* of 51.9 million (15.6% of pro forma revenue) in of 2016.Integration of Marel and MPS is on track and going well. A unified sales team secured full line projects in both China and Europe during the latter half of the year. From January 1, 2017 all products from Marel Meat and MPS are presented as Marel Meat which offers full line solution in primary, secondary and further processing.In 2016 Marel Meat released among other solutions a new portion cutter, the I-Cut 130. This machine uses the latest in laser vision technology to ensure optimal utilization of the raw material and delivers fixed weight portions with high accuracy.Marel Meat accounted for 34.0% of Marel's revenue in 2016.Financial itemsCash flow and investmentsThe balance sheet is healthy and net interest bearing debt amounts to 403.6 million at year-end 2016, compared with 142.8 million at year-end 2015. The increase is due to the acquisition of MPS meat processing systems that was acquired without issuing new shares. In relation to the acquisition Marel entered into a 670 million loan facility agreement with eight international banks: ING Bank, Rabobank, ABN Amro, Nordea, HSBC, BNP Paribas, Landsbankinn and UniCredit Bank. The facility converted the previous facility into an all senior facility and extended the term to 2020.Marel returned a strong cash flow from operations with operational cash flow before interest and tax being 74.3 million for Q4 2016 compared with 26.9 million in Q4 2015. The cash flow at the end of the year 2016 was 179.0 million compared with 119.7 million in 2015. Net debt/EBITDA is x2.25 which is within the range of the targeted capital structure.Marel continues to invest in the business to prepare for future growth and full potential in line with previous communication. Investment activities are expected to be on average above normalized levels for the coming period.In Q4 2016 Marel purchased 4.0 million shares for a total amount of 8.1 million in order to fulfill its obligations according to employee stock option agreements. Marel sold 0.5 million shares for a total amount of 0.6 million for the same reason.At end of 2016, Marel holds 21.5 million treasury shares. There are 8.8 million outstanding stock options at the end of 2016.Acquisition related itemsPurchase price allocation in relation to the acquisition of MPS, previously recorded as provisional, are now final and have not changed compared to the provisional amounts. Under international accounting rules, the period in which adjustments are permitted is limited to 12 months from the date of acquisition.Distribution of profitThe Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of 2.14 euro cents per share be paid for the operational year 2016. The estimated total dividend payment, based on current outstanding shares, will be 15.3 million euro corresponding to approximately 20% of profits for the year, which amounted to 75.8 million euro. The proposed dividend is in line with Marel's targeted capital allocation and dividend policy. This is in line with the dividend policy of 20-40% of net results and the targeted capital structure of x2-3 net debt/EBITDA.If approved by Marel's shareholders, the company's shares traded on and after March 3, 2017 (Ex-date) will be ex-dividend and the right to a dividend will be constricted to shareholders identified in the company's shareholders registry at the end of March 6, 2017, which is the proposed record date. The board will propose that payment date of the dividend is March 23 2017.In addition, the Board of Directors has authorized management to purchase own shares in 2017 for up to a value of 15 million to be used as payment for potential future acquisitions.OutlookMarel's management expects 4-6% average annual market growth in the long term. Marel aims to grow organically faster than the market based on good customer relations and the continuous introduction of revolutionary products to assist processors advance their business. Results may vary from quarter to quarter due to general economic developments, fluctuations in orders received and timing of deliveries of larger systems. In addition Marel's aim is to strengthen product offering and stimulate further growth through strategic acquisitions.Marel's Capital markets day 2017Marel's Capital Markets Day for institutional investors, analysts and the media will take place on November 2, 2017 at Marel's demonstration center, Progress Point, in Copenhagen. More details and information about registration will be presented at Marel's investor relations website in coming weeks.Presentation of results, February 9, 2017Marel will present its results at an investor meeting on Thursday, February 9, at 8:30 am (GMT), at the company's headquarters at Austurhraun 9, Gardabaer. The meeting will also be webcasted at marel.com/webcast.Publication days of Consolidated Financial Statements in 2017 and 2018-- 1st quarter 2017 May 3, 2017 -- 2nd quarter 2017 July 26, 2017 -- 3rd quarter 2017 October 25, 2017 -- Capital Markets day Copenhagen November 2, 2017 -- 4th quarter 2017 February 7, 2018Release of financial statements will take place after market closing on the aforementioned dates.For further information, contact:Audbjorg Olafsdottir, Corporate Director of Investor Relations and Communications, tel: (+354) 563 8626 / mobile: (+354) 853 8626.Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=614080 Marel hf. - Annual General Meeting 2017The Annual General Meeting of Marel hf. will be held at the Company's headquarters at Austurhraun 9, Gardabaer, Iceland, on Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 16:00.Agenda:-- Annual General Meeting matters as provided for in Article 4.13 of the Company's Articles of Association. -- Report on the execution of remuneration policy. -- Proposal on a Share-Based Incentive Scheme proposal. -- Proposal on a renewed authorization for the Company to buy own shares. -- Any other business, lawfully presented.The meeting will be conducted in English.In particular, it should be noted that candidatures for the Board of Directors shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors at least five full days prior to the meeting, i.e. before Saturday 25 February at 16:00 pm (GMT).In order for shareholders to have proposals or matters considered by the meeting, they must have been submitted to the Board of Directors at least ten days prior to the meeting, i.e. by the latest on Monday 20 February at 16:00 pm (GMT).On the Company's AGM website (www.marel.com/agm) further information in relation to the Annual General Meeting can be found, including further information on the right of shareholders to submit items and proposals to the meeting's agenda, a draft agenda for the meeting, proposals of the Board of Directors, Company's annual statements for the year 2016, information on the total number of shares and voting rights as of 8 February 2017, proxy template, as well as information on documents to be submitted in relation to the meeting.The meeting's agenda and final proposals will be available to shareholders seven days prior to the meeting, both on the aforementioned AGM webpage of the Company as well as at the Company's offices at Austurhraun 9, Gardabaer, Iceland.Agents of shareholders shall submit written proxies at the entrance of the meeting. Ballots and other applicable documents will be available at the venue of the meeting as of 15:30 on the day of the meeting.The Board of Directors of Marel hf. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Amid early indications of continued gridlock in Washington, President Donald Trump has reportedly invited several moderate Democrats to the White House. The lawmakers invited to have lunch with the president on Thursday include Senators Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Jon Tester, D-Mont. The news of the invitation to the White House was first reported by USA Today and subsequently confirmed by CNN. Citing a White House official, CNN said Trump wants to talk to the Senators about judges and his legislative agenda. The invitation is partly seen as an effort by Trump to win support for his nomination of federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Trump's nomination of Gorsuch would need support from some Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster. Items on Trump's legislative agenda such as tax reform and replacing Obamacare would also need some Democratic support to get through Congress. Manchin, Donnelly, Heitkamp, and Tester are all up for re-election next year in states Trump carried by wide margins in last year's presidential election. As a result, they are seen as some of the Democrats that are most likely to be willing to compromise with the new president. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSX VENTURE: MUN) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a drill has been mobilized to the Company's Borsko Jezero license ("Borsko") where drilling is expected to commence within a week. Borsko is one of the four licenses being sole funded by JOGMEC as part of the JOGMEC-Mundoro joint venture announced August 2016. Borsko is located in the central portion of the Timok Magmatic Complex ("Timok") and is directly west of the Serbian state-operated producing mines, RTB Group's Bor copper porphyry mine and the Veliki Krivelj copper-gold porphyry mine. HIGHLIGHTS -- This drill program at Borsko will focus on high priority targets generated by systematic exploration completed by Mundoro in 2016 and defined various copper-gold targets. -- The current drill program will test the first of six targets with a 600 m drill hole designed to cut across an interpreted mineralised structure defined by a copper soil anomaly coincident with a mapped argillic altered andesite dyke at surface, a strong resistivity geophysical anomaly, and anomalous stream sediment and rock sampling. -- Mundoro holds approximately $5 mln in cash as of December 31, 2016 and is debt free. Teo Dechev, CEO & President of Mundoro commented, "The geophysics in the Borsko license clearly demonstrates the NNW trending structures that have been associated with the main mineralization in the Timok district. With our partner JOGMEC, we are looking forward to drill testing this target as well as the other various targets on the license in 2017. Mundoro is committed to executing on its strategy to complete a drill program each month in 2017, part of which will be funded by our partner JOGMEC and part of which will be funded by Mundoro's approved C$2 million budget for 2017." Overview of Borsko Drill Program The Borsko license is located in the Timok Magmatic Complex which is one of the most prolific metallogenic domains in the Tethyan Belt. The geological units in this licence area consist of Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary successions, predominantly andesite and pyroclastics. Generally considered the most prospective geological units, the Phase 1 hornblende porphyry andesite occupies the easternmost boundaries of the Borsko license and dips moderately to southwest under the pyroclastic rocks of the second phase. The current drill program will test the first of six targets generated by the 2016 field program (Figure 1 - Location of Borsko Drill Targets). In Q2-2016 Mundoro carried out a soil sampling program over the central portion of the license to follow up on high copper-gold stream sediment anomalies which could not be explained by previous prospecting and rock sampling. The soil sampling results returned significant copper-gold anomalies which remain open to the north and south. Follow-up field work revealed association of some of the soil anomalies with altered dike contacts, discrete quartz stockwork veinlets and fine grained sulphides related to fault-fracture zones. The Company included the Borsko license into the JOGMEC-Mundoro option agreement in August 2016 and then conducted ground magnetic and CSAMT geophysics in the second half of the year. The Company also conducted limited trenching over some of the soil anomalies. The current drill program will test the first of six targets and will be collared on a copper soil anomaly coincident with an argillic altered andesite dyke mapped on surface and a strong resistivity geophysical anomaly. The projected depth of 600 m is designed to cut across the interpreted north-northwest trending mineralised structure which is also supported by the stream sediment and rock sampling. Next Steps The Company expects to complete the drilling on the first target in February 2017 and to release the results around the end of March 2017. Mundoro is in the process of designing the work program with JOGMEC for the second year of work under the JOGMEC-Mundoro option agreement. This work program is anticipated to begin in April 2017. On behalf of the Company, Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director About Mundoro Capital Inc. Mundoro is a Canadian mineral exploration and development public company focused on building value for its shareholders through directly investing in mineral projects that have the ability to generate future returns for shareholders. The Company currently holds a diverse portfolio of projects in two European countries as well as an investment in a producing gold mine in Bulgaria and a feasibility stage gold project in China. The Company holds eight 100% owned projects in Serbia, the four Timok North Projects are in option to JOGMEC, and the four Timok South Projects are being advanced by Mundoro. Mundoro's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "MUN". Qualified Person Technical information contained in this Press Release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. G. Magaranov, P. Geo., Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Sampling and Analysis All rock samples are assayed using 50-gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish and ME-MS61 by ALS Romania prepared by ALS Bor, Serbia. Quality Assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of standards and duplicates into the sample streams. Field duplicate samples are taken every 25 samples and standards and blanks are inserted after every 20th sample. All data collected in the field and assay results from the laboratories are routinely verified and entered in an Access database. Soil samples were collected from "B" horizon of the soil media by hand digging a hole from 0.1 to 0.5m. Material of approx. 500 grams was collected, sealed and send directly to the ALS laboratory in Bor. Samples were dried at less than 60 degrees C/140F, sieve sample to -180 micron (80 mesh) and assayed using 30gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish and ME-MS41L - 51 elements by aqua regia acid digestion and a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of the earn-in expenditures and options by JOGMEC; and completion of a definitive joint venture agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Timok North Properties, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Mundoro Capital Inc. Teo Dechev CEO, President and Director +1-604-669-8055 www.mundoro.com NEW YORK, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Speakers include Tim Draper, Morton Davis, Slava Rubin, Heads of Artificial Intelligence at Samsung, IBM, UBER & Facebook, Investors Pritzker and Low Families DC Finance, a leading financial conference organizer and manager of one of the world's largest family office conferences, will be hosting the Life Science Investments conference for Family Office & High Net Worth Individuals at the Pepper Hamilton LLC Offices, NYC on March 2017 (http://www.tech-wealth.com). Participating Speakers Include: Mr. Tim Draper,Founder,Draper Associates, One of the leading tech hedge fund investors with investments at Skype, Hotmail, Tesla, Baidu, Theranos, Athenahealth, Solar City, Box, TwitchTV and SpaceX. Dr. Yossi Vardi, Godfather of Israel's High Tech scene, Founding Investor ofMirabilis(ICQ) Mr. Morton Davis, Owner and Chairman, D.H. Blair Investment Banking Corp. Mr. Sanjit Singh Dang, Investment Director, Intel Capital Mr. Dov Moran, Founder ofM-Systemsthat invented the USB Memory Stick, later bought by Sandisk for $1.6B Mr.Adam Singolda, Founder & CEO ofTaboola, the largest online discovery platform. Mr. Slava Rubin,Co-Founder ofIndiegogo- the world's largest global crowdfunding platform. Mr. John Brothwick, CEO and Co-Founder ofBetaworks- an internet studio that builds and invests in companies across the social, data-driven media internet Mr. Guruduth S. Banavar,Chief Science Officer, Cognitive Computing Vice President,IBMResearch Mr. Danny Lange,Head of Machine Learning,UBER Mr. Michael Wei,Director, AI Research CenterSamsungAmerica Research Mr. Yann Lecun,Director,FacebookAI Research Ms. Alyssa Jaffee,Senior Associate,Pritzker Group Why Private Wealth? The investment opportunities in the innovative technology world are being recognized more and more by next generations of wealthy families and their single family office representatives. They are more willing to explore innovative investment opportunities that are far from the family's core business than former generations. They understand the exciting opportunities that lie within the technology sectors and the wealth that is created there and are constantly seeking to diversify their portfolios. Unlike traditional institutional investors, private wealth and single family offices are uniquely positioned to invest in life science. In part due to their freedom of cross-sector investments, company stages, growth perspective and market cap as well as not being restricted like institutions to specific holding periods due to a fund's timeline or structure. They are more open to taking risks than are funds. Some family offices see this as an exciting adventure, which we can even put under the term - Passion Investing. With flexibility, patience and resources, private wealth comprises the ideal long-term investor base. About DC Finance: DC Finance (http://www.dc-finance.com) builds an international network of high net worth individuals, family offices, and investors for mutual growth and support through first tier events worldwide. We hold prominent financial events for Family Offices and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals in the US, UK and Israel. We reach over 200 Billion USD a year in the US alone, of around 400 families and Single Family Offices at our East Coast Family Office Conference (http://www.nyc-wealth.com) and Florida (http://www.florida-wealth.com) conferences - October 24th and December 6th respectively. Our more niche events include our October 19th real estate for High Net Worth Individuals event (http://www.wealth-realestate.com) with speakers such as Sam Zell, Silverstein, Trump, Ofer Yardeni (Stonehenge) and Jack Rosen of Rosen and Partners and our Technology and Innovation conference for family offices (http://www.thenycmeetings.com), March 28th which last year included names like Gaby Meron the founder of over 1 Billion USD Given Imaging and the Russo Brothers, Directors of the Avengers and Cap America who spoke on VR Investments. With a special reach to some communities like the UHNW Jewish and LATAM communities and a thorough due diligence process of our attendees, we run some of the top family office events in our field (with never more than 10% sell side presence). Our speakers this past quarter have included members of the Silverstein family, Firestone, Spielberg, Bronfman, Arison, Bush, Mars, Rockefeller and high tech billionaires like Founder of Hotels.com Bob Diener. Dov Moran, Invenror of the USB memory sticks and Uri Levine, Founder of Waze. Other events by DC Finance - The London FO Conference (http://www.london-wealth.com) with over 100 families and in Israel the Tel Aviv Institutional Investment Conference - Israel's largest event in this field representing over 400 Billion USD under management, http://www.tlvii.com and one of the world's largest family office events, with over 500 families attending - The Tel Aviv Wealth Management Conference http://www.israelwealth.com. Finally DC Finance does private dinners and lunches in Miami and NYC for up to 20 ultra high net worth investors with one to two presenting companies. Known for their strict registration policy, special covered topics and world first tier speakers, DCF have managed to build a brand that is considered one of the best in its field. The firm is also the publisher of Family Wealth magazine and advisors sourcebook which is distributed to 18000 of Israel's high net worth families. DC Finance's target audiences are high net worth individuals, institutional investors, and other senior executives in the eminent business community. In the US the company manages The New York Family Office Meetings (http://www.thenycmeetings.com), The East Coast Family Office & Wealth Management Conference (http://www.nycwealth.com) and The Florida Family Office Conference (http://www.florida-wealth.com ). In the UK DC manages the London Family Office Conference, the Annual Family Office & Wealth Management Conference taking place on June 6th 2017 at the Four Seasons Hotel in London (http://www.london-wealth.com ). In Israel DC Finance has established 11 of Israel's top branded financial conferences - The Annual Family Office & Wealth Management Conference that is considered one of the world's largest event in its field (http://www.israelwealth.com), The Semi-Annual Economic Conference, The Going Public Abroad Annual Conference, The Annual Securities Offering Convention, The Kibbutz Industries Annual Economic Conference, The Annual Corporate Finance Conference (http://www.israel-finance.com) and Israel's largest institutional conference The Tel Aviv Annual Institutional Investors Conference (http://www.tlvii.com ). We also manage six other family office events for HNWI and family offices in which no tickets are sold to outsiders. Those events are held in Tel Aviv, Savion, Caesarea, Jerusalem and Haifa. Contact Person: Ms. Natalie Gruper Tel: + 972-3-6777701 Ext. 9 Email: natalie@dcf.co.il NEWARK, NJ--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - As New Jersey SEEDS continues to celebrate 25 years of educational access, the organization announced that it will honor Amy Ziebarth and Soleio Cuervo at the 25th Anniversary Benefit on Thursday, April 27, 2017. SEEDS, an educational nonprofit that transforms the lives of high-achieving students from low-income families, presents the Leading Change Award annually in recognition of those whose initiative and commitment have enhanced the educational opportunities of young people throughout New Jersey. "We are so excited to celebrate 25 years of success at New Jersey SEEDS," explains John F. Castano, SEEDS' Executive Director. "Our honorees for this year's benefit represent our foundation and our future. Amy served SEEDS for fifteen years -- twelve as the Executive Director. Her vision and passion for education equity and access both shaped and guided a young SEEDS organization and gave it the foundation for its quarter century of success. Of course, the greatest validation for any educator is seeing those aspirational young people grow into successful adults. That vision is realized in our other honoree, Soleio. Tremendously successful, inspiring and iconic in the tech world, Soleio now serves on the SEEDS Board of Trustees and helps steer the organization into the next 25 years. We are proud to honor Amy and Soleio at the 25 th Anniversary Benefit." Amy Ziebarth is the former Executive Director of New Jersey SEEDS and the Head of School at Far Brook School. Amy served as Executive Director for twelve of her fifteen years at New Jersey SEEDS. During her tenure as Executive Director, Amy quadrupled the annual operating budget of SEEDS, increased the number of students served, and moved the headquarters from Hightstown to the heart of downtown Newark. During her leadership, Amy launched the Young Scholars Program (YSP) and the College Preparatory Program (CPP). She also led a successful $6 million capital campaign, earning SEEDS recognition from the Partnership in Philanthropy. Amy has written about the need for educational opportunities for disadvantaged students in the New York Times, and has appeared on CNN and other news programs. In 2001, Amy was recognized by the Delbarton School as Educator of the Year. In 2003, she was the recipient of the Althea Gibson Award for Excellence in Public Service and was named a Woman of Influence by NJ BIZ. "New Jersey SEEDS is near and dear to my heart, and I am honored to be recognized at their 25 th Anniversary Benefit," says Amy Ziebarth. "I am -- and always have been -- so proud of SEEDS students. SEEDS students have changed the face of independent schools for the better. Classes are richer, academic excellence is higher and there is a dramatically different educational experience -- not only for the SEEDS students but for all students in these schools. I am so happy to be part of the SEEDS family and to help celebrate all of the accomplishments of the organization and students over the past quarter century." Soleio Cuervo is a member of New Jersey SEEDS' Board of Trustees and a Founding Partner at Combine, a design studio and venture firm. Soleio graduated in one of SEEDS' earliest classes of the Scholars Program in 1995 and attended St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. In 2003, he received his bachelor's degree from Duke University in music composition and multimedia design. Soleio was one of Facebook's earliest designers and was responsible for designing several of the company's seminal products and features, including the "Like" button. He then was head of design at Dropbox where he helped build an organization of over 40 top designers, researchers and creatives. Today, Soleio is an investor and advisor to Dropbox, Earnest and other early stage technology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. "It is such an honor to be the first alumni recipient of the Leading Change Award," says Soleio Cuervo. "Being part of the SEEDS Scholars Program was pivotal in my life. I know firsthand the effect SEEDS can have on ambitious students, and I can trace all of my educational and professional opportunities back to my time in the program. I am incredibly grateful." New Jersey SEEDS' 25 th Anniversary Benefit will be held at the Pleasantdale Chateau on Thursday, April 27, 2017. For additional sponsorship information or to reserve your table, please contact MarrLa Brown at mbrown@njseeds.org or at 862.227.9142. About New Jersey SEEDS For 25 years, New Jersey SEEDS has provided educational access for highly motivated, low-income students and created a viable path for them to achieve their full potential. SEEDS strives for a world in which young people's initiative, creativity and intellect can flourish without regard to socioeconomic status. Since SEEDS' founding in 1992, 2,296 scholars have graduated from its programs. For more information, visit www.njseeds.org. Theresa Murray tmurray@njseeds.org 862.227.9145 The global semi-automatic motorcycles marketis expected to grow at a CAGR of over 21% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest market research. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005438/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global semi-automatic motorcycles market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) In this market research report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global semi-automatic motorcyclesmarketfor 2017-2021. The market is further categorized into two segments based on transmission type, which are dual clutch transmission (DCT) and other transmissions. The other transmissions segment dominated the market with close to 84% of the market share in 2016. "Semi-automatic motorcycles are easier to ride as the riders need not engage the clutch while shifting gears. The adoption of motorcycles by baby boomers and female riders is increasing in developed regions like North America," says Siddharth Jaiswal, a leadautomotive manufacturingresearch expert from Technavio. Technavio's automotive research analysts segment the global semi-automatic motorcycles market into the following regions: EMEA Americas APAC In 2016, with a market share of close to 46%, EMEA emerged as the market leader in the global semi-automatic motorcycles market, followed by the Americas with over 40% and APAC with a little over 14% of the total market share. Semi-automatic motorcycles market in EMEA The demand for semi-automatic motorcycles is growing due to the comfort offered to the rider. Also, the increased penetration of scooters will compel individuals in the region to prefer clutch-less systems. The semi-automatic motorcycles market in EMEA is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 18%. The presence of BMW Motorrad provides prospects for semi-automatic motorcycle market in the region as the company has BMW Gear Shift Assistant Pro as fitment in selected variants. Germany is the prime market for the company, followed by the US. Also, Ducati, which has developed the DQS system for clutch-less operation, has a strong presence in Europe. Italy, Germany, France, and the UK are the notable markets for the Ducati, with Italy witnessing 53% growth in sales during 2015. "The other factor that is crucial for wide adoption of the clutch-less motorcycles in Europe is the preference for two-wheelers instead of a car, due to high traffic and less pollution. People across Europe depend on two-wheelers for their daily commute to and from the workplace," says Siddharth. Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=56410 Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Semi-automatic motorcycles market in Americas The semi-automatic motorcycle market in the Americas is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 21%. In 2016, US and Canada were the major contributors to the semi-automatic motorcycles market in the Americas. The demand in this region is mainly fueled by the demand for ultra-luxury motorcycles. Individuals in North America buy motorcycles for touring and leisure riding, rather than for daily commute. Semi-automatic motorcycles are comfortable and offer the same performance characteristics while touring. The steady growth in the motorcycle market in this region will provide growth prospects of the semi-automatic motorcycle market during the forecast period. Semi-automatic motorcycle market in APAC The semi-automatic motorcycles market in APAC is expected to grow at a CAGR of close to 30% during the forecast period. Japan, China, and India are the prominent countries for the semi-automatic motorcycles market in APAC. Australia and New Zealand are the other countries that are witnessing a continuous adoption of ultra-luxury motorcycles. The popularity of racing culture and the acceptance of new technologies is fostering the demand for ultra-luxury motorcycles. Factors such as rising HNWI population and rising population of younger individuals with high disposable income are fueling the growth of luxury and ultra-luxury motorcycles. The top vendors in the global semi-automatic motorcycles market as highlighted in this market research analysis are: Honda BMW Motorrad Yamaha Motor Company Ducati Browse Related Reports: Global Motorcycle E-Call Market 2017-2021 Global Motorcycle Rental Market 2016-2020 Global Motorcycle Lighting Market 2017-2021 Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they're published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like automotive servicespowertrain, and wheels and tires. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio's constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005438/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com CONYERS, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (OTC PINK: GOSY) (http://www.GeckoSystems.com) announced today that the linchpin Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), has been signed to form their first joint venture with a prominent, EU ice rink developer. For over nineteen years, GeckoSystems has dedicated itself to development of "AI Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service." "Last month, in response to their unsolicited, but gracious and complimentary inquiry, we indicated our sincere interest in working with this ice rink designer/builder/servicer, but if and only if, they agreed to our required Safety Clause NDA. To that end, they immediately signed our Safety Clause NDA such that our discussions became of sufficient substance for us to effectuate our second agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), clearly revealing that both parties believe significant manufacturing and distribution synergies appropriate for the commercial ice rink markets would be garnered by each firm," stated Martin Spencer, CEO, GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. This is the Safety Clause that GeckoSystems requires of all potential joint venture partners prior to any substantive discussions: Both parties understand and agree with the legitimacy of GSIC's concerns that mobile robot solutions may be used to lethally harm persons, other living things, property, and a country's infrastructure if terrorists, criminals, or other private or public enemies of peace, security, and tranquility were to secure access to and/or use of them. Therefore, both parties completely and wholeheartedly agree that MSR safety is of the greatest importance in the utilization of MSR technologies. In summary, all MSR technologies shared by the undersigned parties in any manner will be treated with the utmost secrecy and respect due to that reality and potential. Artificial intelligence technologies and applications span Big Data, Predictive Analytics, Statistics, Mobile Robots, Service Robotics, Drones, Self-driving Cars, Driverless Cars, Driver Assisted Cars, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Homes, UGV's, UAV's, USV's, AGV's, Forward and/or Backward Chaining Expert Systems, Savants, AI Assistants, Sensor Fusion, Subsumption, etc. "While many may view this as a niche market, ice rink resurfacing machines sell for approximately $150,000 each, not including driver wages, benefits and machine maintenance. Sitting for hours, the monotony of driving one of these machines back and forth, crisscrossing the rink to prepare the surface for professional and/or amateur use, late at night; simply does not seem to be a particularly desirable -- or a living wage -- job. In fact, given our long time experience in enabling personal robots for home use, this environment seems to be ideal for our suite of AI mobile service robot solutions. Our human quick sense and avoid of moving and/or unmapped obstacles developed for home use, is readily adaptable to highly structured, commercial environments such as ice rinks, hotels, retail stores, nightclubs, air terminals, and other public and private venues," reflected Spencer. The safety requirement for human quick WCET reflex time in all forms of mobile robots: In order to understand the importance of GeckoSystems' breakthrough, proprietary, and exclusive AI software and why another EU company desires a business relationship with GeckoSystems, it's key to acknowledge some basic realities for all forms of automatic, non-human intervention, vehicular locomotion and steering. 1. Laws of Physics such as Conservation of Energy, inertia, and momentum, limit a vehicle's ability to stop or maneuver. If, for instance, a car's braking system design cannot generate enough friction for a given road surface to stop the car in 100 feet after brake application, that's a real limitation. If a car cannot corner at more than .9g due to a combination of suspension design and road conditions, that, also, is reality. Regardless how talented a NASCAR driver may be, if his race car is inadequate, he's not going to win races. 2. At the same time, if a car driver (or pilot) is tired, drugged, distracted, etc. their reflex time becomes too slow to react in a timely fashion to unexpected direction changes of moving obstacles, or the sudden appearance of fixed obstacles. Many car "accidents" result from drunk driving due to reflex time and/or judgment impairment. Average reflex time takes between 150 & 300ms. http://tinyurl.com/nsrx75n 3. In robotic systems, "human reflex time" is known as Worst Case Execution Time (WCET). Historically, in computer systems engineering, WCET of a computational task is the maximum length of time the task could take to execute on a specific hardware platform. In big data, this is the time to load up the data to be processed, processed, and then outputted into useful distillations, summaries, or common sense insights. GeckoSystems' basic AI self-guidance navigation system processes 147 megabytes of data per second using low cost, Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Single Board Computers (SBC's). 4. Highly trained and skilled jet fighter pilots have a reflex time (WCET) of less than 120ms. Their "eye to hand" coordination time is a fundamental criterion for them to be successful jet fighter pilots. The same holds true for all high-performance forms of transportation that are sufficiently pushing the limits of the Laws of Physics to require the quickest possible reaction time for safe human control and/or usage. 5. GeckoSystems' WCET is less than 100ms, or as quick, or quicker than most gifted jet fighter pilots, NASCAR race car drivers, etc. while using low cost COTS and SBC's 6. In mobile robotic guidance systems, WCET has 3 fundamental components. a. Sufficient Field of View (FOV) with appropriate granularity, accuracy, and update rate. b. Rapid processing of that contextual data such that common sense responses are generated. c. Timely physical execution of those common-sense responses. Recently, an internationally renowned market research firm, Research and Markets, again named GeckoSystems as one of the key market players in the AI service robotics industry. "GeckoSystems has been recognized by Research and Markets for several years now and it is the most comprehensive report of the global service robotics industry to my knowledge. I am pleased that their experienced market researchers are sufficiently astute to accept that small service robot firms, such as GeckoSystems, can nonetheless develop advanced technologies and products as well, or better, as much larger, multi-billion dollar corporations such as AB Electrolux, etc. "It is an honor that they recognize the value of the over 100 man-years we have invested in our proprietary AI robotics Intellectual Properties and my full-time work for nearly 20 years now. Our suite of AI mobile robot solutions is well tested, portable, and extensible. It is a reality that we could partner with any other company on that list and provide them with high-level autonomy for collision free navigation at the lowest possible cost to manufacture. "This newest MOU, with an ice rink specialist, portends well for us and our shareholders. We are definitively on path to consummate another EU joint venture licensing agreement. It comes as no surprise, that a long established commercial ice rink company understands the market potential of our suite of AI mobile robot solutions due to the significant ROI that enables full payback much quicker than with human drivers. "We continue to have numerous ongoing joint venture and/or licensing discussions, not only in the US, but also in the EU, as revealed in this press release. I am also pleased that as the Service Robotics industry begins to offer real products to eager markets our capabilities are being recognized. One final note, we remain completely committed to providing our 1300+ shareholders the ROI they deserve. This singular JV opportunity, in a new marketplace for us, could garner the company significant revenues in the near term. Our investors can continue to be confident that we expect to be signing numerous multi-million-dollar licensing agreements to further substantiate and delineate the reality that GeckoSystems will earn additional licensing revenues to further increase shareholder value," concluded Spencer. About Research and Markets: Research and Markets is the leading source for international market research and market data. They hold '000's of major research publications from most of the leading publishers, consultants and analysts. They provide their clients with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Research and Markets Guinness Centre, Taylors Lane, Dublin 8, Ireland. http://www.researchandmarkets.com/ About GeckoSystems: GeckoSystems has been developing innovative robotic technologies for nineteen years. It is CEO Martin Spencer's dream to make people's lives better through AI robotic technologies. In order for any companion robot to be utilitarian for family care, it must be a "three-legged milk stool." (1) Human quick reflex time to avoid moving and/or unmapped obstacles, (GeckoNav: http://tinyurl.com/le8a39r) (2) Verbal interaction (GeckoChat: http://tinyurl.com/nnupuw7) with a sense of date and time (GeckoScheduler: http://tinyurl.com/kojzgbx), and (3) Ability to automatically find and follow designated parties (GeckoTrak: http://tinyurl.com/mton9uh) such that verbal interaction can occur routinely with video and audio monitoring of the care receiver is uninterrupted. An earlier third party verification of GeckoSystems' AI centric, human quick sense and avoidance of moving and/or unmapped obstacles by one of their mobile robots can be viewed here: http://t.co/NqqM22TbKN An overview of GeckoSystems' progress containing over 700 pictures and 120 videos can be found at http://www.geckosystems.com/timeline/. These videos illustrate the development of the technology that makes GeckoSystems a world leader in Service Robotics development. Early CareBot prototypes were slower and frequently pivoted in order to avoid a static or dynamic obstacle; later prototypes avoided obstacles without pivoting. Current CareBots avoid obstacles with a graceful "bicycle smooth" motion. The latest videos also depict the CareBot's ability to automatically go faster or slower depending on the amount of clutter (number of obstacles) within its field of view. This is especially important when avoiding moving obstacles in "loose crowd" situations like a mall or an exhibit area. In addition to the timeline videos, GeckoSystems has numerous YouTube videos. The most popular of which are the ones showing room-to-room automatic self-navigation of the CareBot through narrow doorways and a hallway of an old 1954 home. You will see the CareBot slow down when going through the doorways because of their narrow width and then speed up as it goes across the relatively open kitchen area. There are also videos of the SafePath wheelchair, which is a migration of the CareBot AI centric navigation system to a standard power wheelchair, and recently developed cost effective depth cameras were used in this recent configuration. SafePath navigation is now available to OEM licensees and these videos show the versatility of GeckoSystems' fully autonomous navigation solution. GeckoSystems, Star Wars Technology http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYwQBUXXc3g The company has successfully completed an Alpha trial of its CareBot personal assistance robot for the elderly. It was tested in a home care setting and received enthusiastic support from both caregivers and care receivers. The company believes that the CareBot will increase the safety and well-being of its elderly charges while decreasing stress on the caregiver and the family. GeckoSystems is preparing for Beta testing of the CareBot prior to full-scale production and marketing. CareBot has recently incorporated Microsoft Kinect depth cameras that result in a significant cost reduction. Kinect Enabled Personal Robot video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn93BS44Das Above, the CareBot demonstrates static and dynamic obstacle avoidance as it backs in and out of a narrow and cluttered alley. There is no joystick control or programmed path; movements are smoother that those achieved using a joystick control. GeckoNav creates three low levels of obstacle avoidance: reactive, proactive, and contemplative. Subsumptive AI behavior within GeckoNav enables the CareBot to reach its target destination after engaging in obstacle avoidance. More information on the CareBot personal assistance robot: http://www.geckosystems.com/markets/CareBot.php GeckoSystems stock is quoted in the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) markets under the ticker symbol GOSY. http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GOSY/quote GeckoSystems uses http://www.LinkedIn.com as its primary social media site for investor updates. Here is Spencer's LinkedIn.com profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/martin-spencer/11/b2a/580 Safe Harbor: Statements regarding financial matters in this press release other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, technology efficacy and all other forward-looking statements be subject to the Safe Harbors created thereby. The Company is a development stage firm that continues to be dependent upon outside capital to sustain its existence. Since these statements (future operational results and sales) involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from expected results. GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. Telephone: Main number: +1 678-413-9236 Fax: +1 678-413-9247 Website: http://www.geckosystems.com/ Regulatory News: Coca-Cola European Partners plc (CCEP) (ticker symbol: CCE) will release fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 earnings before trading begins on the NYSE on Tuesday, 21 March 2017. A conference call discussing these results will be webcast live through the company's website, www.ccep.com, at 15:00 GMT, 16:00 CET, and 10:00 a.m. EST. A replay of the presentation will be available later that day. A copy of the company's news release will be available through the website on the home page and under the Investors section. CCEP also announced today that Chief Executive Officer Damian Gammell and Chief Financial Officer Nik Jhangiani will present at the Consumer Analyst Group of Europe (CAGE) Conference in London on Wednesday, 22 March 2017, at 14:15 GMT, 15:15 CET, and 9:15 a.m. EST. The public can access the presentation live via webcast through the company's website at www.ccep.com. ABOUT CCEP Coca-Cola European Partners plc (CCEP) is a leading consumer packaged goods company in Europe, producing, distributing and marketing an extensive range of nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverages and is the world's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler based on revenue. Coca-Cola European Partners serves a consumer population of over 300 million across Western Europe, including Andorra, Belgium, continental France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the New York Stock Exchange, Euronext London, and on the Spanish stock exchanges, and trades under the symbol CCE. For more information about CCEP, please visit www.ccep.com and follow CCEP on Twitter at @CocaColaEP. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006042/en/ Contacts: Coca-Cola European Partners Investor Relations Thor Erickson T +1.678.260.3110 or Media Relations Ros Hunt T +44.7528.251.022 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/08/17 -- Newstrike Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: NR) ("Newstrike" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with HPI Holdings Ltd. ("HPI") pursuant to which Newstrike and HPI will effect a business combination (the "Transaction"). The Agreement was negotiated at arm's length and is effective as of February 3, 2017. HPI is a company governed by the laws of Ontario and, through its wholly-owned subsidiary 8455562 Canada Inc., is engaged in the production of medical marijuana in Brantford, Ontario. On December 19, 2016, HPI obtained its production license from Health Canada. As of December 31, 2016, preliminary numbers, subject to audit, indicate HPI has total assets of approximately $1,800,000, total liabilities of approximately $850,000, and net equity of approximately $950,000. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, preliminary numbers, subject to audit, indicate HPI had total revenue of $Nil and total operating loss of approximately $608,000. HPI has carried forward losses of approximately $1,400,000. Newstrike is an early stage exploration company governed by the laws of Ontario, and has historically been focused on precious and base metals and other minerals exploration in Canada and the United States. Newstrike currently holds a 25% interest in the property known as the Sweetheart Property, comprised of mining claims, leases and application comprising approximately 14,000 acres, located in the vicinity of Rattlesnake Hills, Wyoming, United States. Newstrike has not undertaken any exploration on its mineral properties in the past two years. The Transaction, if completed, will constitute a "Change of Business", as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Trading in the common shares of Newstrike (the "Newstrike Shares") will be halted as a result of this announcement and will remain halted until the resumption of trading is approved by the TSXV. Concurrent Financings In connection with the Transaction, Newstrike proposes to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 25,000,000 subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.125 per Subscription Receipt to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,125,000 (the "Subscription Receipt Financing"). Each Subscription Receipt will automatically convert on the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent to the Transaction and certain other ancillary conditions (the "Release Conditions") into Newstrike Shares without any further consideration on the part of the purchaser, immediately prior to effecting the Transaction. The gross proceeds from the Subscription Receipt Financing will be held in escrow pending the satisfaction of the Release Conditions, whereupon the Newstrike Shares underlying the Subscription Receipts will be issued to the purchasers and the gross proceeds of the Subscription Receipt Financing will be paid to Newstrike. In the event the Transaction does not occur by June 30, 2017, the gross proceeds of the Subscription Receipt Financing shall be returned to the purchasers pro rata without any deduction or interest and the Subscription Receipts shall be automatically cancelled. The Newstrike Shares underlying the Subscription Receipts shall be subject to a voluntary escrow period commencing on the date of issuance thereof until the later of (i) the date that is four months and a day following the closing date of the Transaction (the "Effective Date"); and (ii) such longer period as may be imposed by the applicable stock exchange, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. It is anticipated that insiders of Newstrike will purchase up to 1,600,000 Subscription Receipts, and insiders of HPI will not purchase any Subscription Receipts. In connection with the Transaction, HPI also proposes to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Debenture Financing") of unsecured, non-interest bearing convertible debentures (the "Debentures") in the aggregate principal amount of up to $1,500,000. Each $1.00 in principal amount of the Debentures shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire 1.13 common shares of HPI (each one such common share, an "Underlying HPI Share"), and shall be automatically converted into Underlying HPI Shares, without any further action or formality on the part of the holders thereof, on the earlier of (a) the date which is one year following the date of issuance of the Debentures; and (b) immediately prior to the occurrence of a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Debentures). The Transaction will constitute a Liquidity Event for the purposes of the Debentures. In the event that the outstanding principal amount of the Debentures is converted into Underlying HPI Shares immediately prior to the occurrence of a Liquidity Event, such Underlying HPI Shares shall be subject to a voluntary escrow period commencing on the date of issuance thereof until the later of (i) the date that is four months and a day following the Liquidity Event; and (ii) such longer period as may be imposed by the applicable stock exchange, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. It is anticipated that no Debentures will be purchased by any insiders of Newstrike or HPI. It is intended that the net proceeds raised pursuant to the Subscription Receipt Financing and the Debenture Financing will be used for marketing initiatives, capacity expansion plans, working capital and general corporate purposes. Details of the Proposed Transaction The Transaction will be structured as a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") pursuant to which HPI will amalgamate with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newstrike ("Subco") to form an amalgamated entity ("Amalco") which will continue as a wholly owned subsidiary of Newstrike. Assuming the conversion of all convertible securities of HPI other than the HPI Warrants (defined below) into common shares of HPI ("HPI Shares") prior to closing, all of the issued and outstanding HPI Shares, other than the Underlying HPI Shares, shall be exchanged for an aggregate of 269,000,000 Newstrike Shares to be distributed proportionately amongst the holders of such HPI Shares. In addition, (i) each Underlying HPI Share shall be converted into approximately 7.077 Newstrike Shares resulting in the issuance of an aggregate of up to approximately 11,996,059 Newstrike Shares; and (ii) an aggregate of up to approximately 15,994,746 Newstrike Shares shall be reserved for issuance upon exercise of the HPI Warrants (as defined below), with each such HPI Warrant entitling the holder to acquire approximately 7.077 Newstrike Shares in lieu of one HPI Share, at an exercise price of $0.125 per Newstrike Share. The deemed exchange price for the Newstrike Shares to be issued in consideration of all issued and outstanding HPI Shares shall be approximately Cdn$0.125 per share, or such other price as permitted by applicable regulatory authorities, including the TSXV. As of the date hereof, Newstrike has 46,624,581 Newstrike Shares outstanding and has issued stock options and share purchase warrants to acquire an aggregate of 21,960,000 Newstrike Shares at exercise prices ranging from $0.075 to $0.20 per share. Following the completion of the Subscription Receipt Financing, up to an additional 25,000,000 Newstrike Shares shall be issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts. At the time of closing of the Transaction, and assuming that the Debenture Financing is fully subscribed, it is anticipated that HPI will have approximately 1,695,000 Underlying HPI Shares and 38,008,731 additional HPI Shares outstanding, and share purchase warrants to acquire an aggregate of 2,260,000 HPI Shares at approximately $0.884 per share (the "HPI Warrants") and no other convertible securities outstanding. It is expected that following completion of the Transaction, and assuming that each of the Subscription Receipt Financing and Debenture Financing are fully subscribed, the current holders of Newstrike Shares will hold approximately 13.2% of the outstanding Newstrike Shares, the subscribers in the Subscription Receipt Financing will hold approximately 7.1% of the outstanding Newstrike Shares, and the holders of the HPI Shares (inclusive of the HPI Underlying Shares) will collectively hold approximately 79.7% of the outstanding Newstrike Shares, all as calculated on a non-diluted basis immediately following the closing of the Transaction. Upon closing of the Transaction, the board of the Newstrike shall be reconstituted to be comprised of five members, two of which shall be nominees of Newstrike and three of which shall be nominees of HPI in a manner that complies with the requirements of the TSXV and applicable securities laws. In addition, all current officers of Newstrike shall resign and be replaced by nominees of HPI. The following individuals are expected to be appointed as new directors and/or officers of Newstrike pursuant to the Transaction: AltaCorp Capital Inc. has been retained to act as sponsor in connection with the Transaction. Jay Wilgar, Proposed Chief Executive Officer and Director In 2001, Jay Wilgar co-founded AIM PowerGen Corporation ("AIM"), a largescale wind power development company. In 2005, AIM was awarded a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority to build one of the largest wind power project in Canada, the Erie Shores Wind Farm. AIM was subsequently sold in 2006 to the British firm REG for $29.6 million. Since 2001, AIM and its core team have developed, built and financed over $2 billion in large scale wind power and solar power projects across Canada. Jay is 42 years old and holds a Bachelors of Commerce Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Peter Hwang, Proposed Director Peter Hwang has spent over 20 years in senior management in both the private and public sectors with extensive experience in finance, private equity, new product commercialization and customer acquisition. Peter is currently the President and CEO of Globalfaces Direct Inc. ("Globalfaces"), a direct marketing, software and data analytics company serving the largest not for profit clients in the world and acquiring over 60,000 monthly donors per year. Since the inception of Globalfaces, Peter has been responsible for the strategic direction of the organization, including finance, partnerships and corporate development. Peter is 43 years old and holds a Bachelors Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Nik Van Haeren, Proposed Director For over 15 years, Nik Van Haeren has worked in the family business leading multiple different projects focusing on the high scale manufacturing and development of efficient lighting systems. Nik is currently the President of Enerworks Solar Heating ("Enerworks") and Cooling and Uvalux Tanning & Support ("Uvalux"). Enerworks is a manufacture of Solar Heating Equipment and provides commercial heating and cooling solutions for a wide range of industries focusing on the development of green technologies to preserve energy for large scale commercial applications. Uvalux is Canada's largest supplier to the Salon industry across the country with over 2500 retailers across Canada and was voted one of Canada's Top 50 Employers. Nik is 37 years old and holds a Bachelors Degree from Western University and is a graduate from the Entrepreneurial Masters Program at MIT. It is anticipated that immediately following the Transaction, the only shareholder that will hold greater than 10% of the issued and outstanding Newstrike Shares will be 2497895 Ontario Inc. ("2497895"), a company governed by the laws of Ontario. Assuming that each of the Debenture Financing and Subscription Receipt Financing are fully subscribed, it is anticipated that 2497895 will hold approximately 104,278,985 Newstrike Shares, representing approximately 29.57% of all issued and outstanding Newstrike Shares immediately following the completion of the Transaction. The directors and officers of 2497895 Ontario Inc. consist of Nik Van Haeren and Jeff Van Haeren. Jeff Van Haeren is the President of Trigon Construction Management ("Trigon"), which has offices in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax and Woodstock. Trigon employs over 80 construction professionals providing construction services in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. Some of Trigon's recent clients include Deloitte, Slaight Communications, Ole Media, NWMO, DRI Capital, SAB Miller, Magna, and Octa Pharma. Additionally, Jeff functions as the Director of Construction for Goodlife Fitness where he oversees capital budgets, club design, and construction, as well as being involved in company strategy, site selection, facility maintenance, leasing and acquisitions. Jeff is 35 years old and attended The University of Western Ontario. Other Conditions to Transaction Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and shareholder approval of HPI. Newstrike will not be required to obtain shareholder approval of the Transaction pursuant to Section 4.1 of TSXV Policy 5.2 as a result of the following factors: (i) the Transaction is not a "related party transaction" (within the meaning of TSXV policies); (ii) Newstrike is without active operations; (iii) Newstrike is not and will not be subject to a cease trade order or suspended from trading upon completion of the Transaction; and (iv) Newstrike shareholder approval of the Transaction is not required to be obtained under applicable corporate or securities laws. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder and regulatory approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all. Other conditions to completion of the Transaction include, but are not limited to: -- receipt of all requisite approvals from shareholders and regulatory authorities (including the TSXV) relating to the Transaction; -- completion of the Subscription Receipt Financing and the Debenture Financing; -- no material adverse change to either HPI or Newstrike prior to completion of the Transaction; -- the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement being true and correct in all material respects as of the closing of the Transaction; -- holders of all HPI Warrants shall have delivered comfort that such securities shall not be transferred during the period commencing on the date of issuance of the HPI Warrants until the later of (i) the date that is four months and a day following the Effective Date; and (ii) such longer period as may be imposed by the TSXV; -- employment or consulting agreements shall have been entered into with certain specified individuals; -- the existing shareholders agreement of HPI shall have terminated; -- Newstrike shall have cash on hand of at least $800,000 (before receipt of the net proceeds of the Subscription Receipt Financing); -- Newstrike shall have divested all mining assets and wound-up or dissolved its subsidiary, Newstrike Wyoming Inc.; and -- holders of not less than 80% of the existing share purchase warrants of Newstrike shall have delivered irrevocable agreements that such securities shall be exercised on or prior to the later of (i) June 30, 2017; and (ii) the date which is 60 days following the Effective Date. Further Information Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Further details about the proposed Transaction will be provided in the disclosure document to be prepared and filed in respect of the Transaction. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Newstrike should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. Statements about the closing of the Transaction, the Subscription Receipt Financing and the Debenture Financing, expected terms of the Transaction and such financings, the number of securities that may be issued in connection with the Transactions and such financings and the parties' ability to satisfy closing conditions and receive necessary approvals are all forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the Transaction, the Subscription Receipt Financing or the Debenture Financing will occur or that, if the Transaction and/or any such financing does occur, it will be completed on the terms described above. Newstrike assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. 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: Scott Kelly President and CEO Newstrike Resources Ltd. Telephone: 416-504-4173 Email: skelly@newstrike.ca Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 8, 2017) - Plata Latina Minerals Corporation (TSX-V: PLA) ("Plata Latina" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Plaminco S.A. de C.V., it has formally entered into the previously announced option agreement (the "Agreement") with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fresnillo PLC ("Fresnillo") with respect to the Company's Naranjillo Property ("Naranjillo" or the "Property"). The Agreement provides Fresnillo the option to acquire the Property for a total cash commitment of US$2.15 million, to be paid over 36 months (the "Term"). In addition, Fresnillo is required to spend US$3.0 million in exploration on the Property. With the purchase of Naranillo, Plata Latina retains a 3.0% Net Smelter Return ("NSR") royalty interest. Naranjillo is situated in Guanajuato, Mexico, consisting of a total of 20,655 hectares, and is adjacent to Fresnillo's Cerro Blanco Project. "Our high-grade discovery at Naranjillo and the resulting Agreement with Fresnillo, the world's largest silver producer, validates the Plata Latina exploration strategy of discovering hidden, high-grade silver-gold districts within the Mexican Silver Belt," commented Plata Latina's President and CEO, Mike Clarke. "We look forward to putting the proceeds from this Agreement towards the advancement of our three existing properties, particularly Vaquerias, which exhibits significant shallow discovery potential based on early testing and drilling. Further, the funding will enable us to look for additional opportunities in the prolific Mexican Silver Belt using our successful exploration strategy." The Company intends to use the funding from the Agreement to conduct geophysical and geologic field work to define high potential drill targets on its other three promising properties in the Mexican Silver Belt as well as initiate drilling to test these targets. Plata Latina plans on focusing on its Vaquerias property where early stage first phase drilling has identified a much shallower hidden vein system with initial results of up to 737 g/t silver over 0.55 metres (as previously announced on May 12, 2013). In addition, Plata Latina plans to re-initiate field work to generate new grass roots exploration projects for the portfolio. Given the Company's early success with the deeper high-grade discovery at Naranjillo, Plata Latina plants to advance exploration for the next high-grade silver district in Mexico through its proven exploration strategy of discovering hidden, high-grade silver-gold districts in the Mexican Silver Belt. Summary of Option Agreement Terms: A summary of the terms of the Agreement are set forth below: Fresnillo will pay a total of US$2.15 million over the Term, as follows: Initial payment of US$400,000, of which US$200,000 has already been received; An aggregate of US$1.65 million to be paid in five installments, every six months over the Term; and, US$500,000 at the end of the Term for the option to acquire the Property. Fresnillo must incur US$3.0 million in exploration expenditures on the Property over the Term. Upon acquisition of the Property by Fresnillo, the Company will retain a 3.0% NSR. Fresnillo will be able to reduce the NSR to 2% by paying the Company an additional US$1.0 million, and, thereafter, may reduce the remaining NSR to nil by paying the Company an additional US$5.0 million. Fresnillo will be required to pay advance royalty payments of US$100,000 annually, until the earlier of (a) a maximum of US $1.0 million in advance royalty payments having been paid, or (b) commercial production of minerals commences from the Property. The transaction is subject to, among other customary requirements, the Company receiving shareholder and regulatory approvals. About Plata Latina Minerals Plata Latina Minerals is a Canadian exploration company with a portfolio of four silver-gold properties situated in the prolific Mexican Silver Belt focused on discovering new silver-gold vein districts. Plata Latina's expertise in the ore horizon concept and extensive experience in Mexico provides a competitive edge for discovery of new districts between old historic deposits. Its highly experienced management team and board are focused on developing its portfolio of high-potential targets and exploring additional value-creation opportunities. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under "PLA". For more information on Plata Latina, please contact: Mike Clarke, President & CEO Telephone: +1-800-933-9925 Email: info@plminerals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts including statements about the Company's latest exploration program. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to vary materially from target results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements. As a result, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Except as required by applicable law, Plata Latina disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or belief of the Company based on information currently available and such information is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including risks related to exploration, uncertainties related to financings, the uncertainties of interpreting exploration results and other risks associated being a mineral exploration company. Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft). 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. Infiniti Research, a leading market intelligence company, is set to host a webinar titled 'Navigating Through the Future of Medical Devices,' on February 22nd and 23rd. The 45-minute webinar will showcase expert advice from Vivek Sikaria, who is currently AVP for Market Intelligence Practices at Infiniti Research. Vivek has more than 10 years of experience in setting up and managing market intelligence projects for 25+ Fortune 500 companies and for 20+ medical device manufacturers across the globe. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006262/en/ Infiniti Research webinar to be hosted on Feb 22-23. (Graphic: Business Wire) Why do we recommend this webinar for you? The emergence of a variety of micro and macro trends such as enhanced buying power of consumers and suppliers, complex regulatory scrutiny, the advent of new healthcare delivery models, decrease in R&D spend, and need to serve growing lower socio-economic classes in emerging market causes a groundbreaking shift in the medical devices industry. Almost every manufacturer of medical devices across the globe faces unprecedented challenges as market revenues come under excessive pressure. This webinar focuses on how strategic interoperability can help markets identify which regulatory processes are becoming tougher and how to adapt to value-based medical reimbursement models for improved decision-making. Accordingly, manufacturers must embrace innovative technologies to grow and at the same time comply with the constantly-evolving mandates and guidelines. Considering the uncertainties associated with future landscape, market intelligence experts at Infiniti Research decided to review it closely and provide guidance on the ways to deal with market realities. What are the key takeaways? Which parameters should be considered while assessing demand across new markets How to accurately predict demand for your new medical device product or technology Traditional models of market estimation versus the best practices that are currently used How to track the market performance of emerging medical devices/technologies Please follow the links given below to register. For NA Audience: Register Here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1407311492261396737 Webinar ID 486-309-939 Date Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 Time 10:30 AM 11:15 AM CST For EMEA Audience: Register Here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3365277818539668481 Webinar ID 210-771-091 Date Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017 Time 11: 00 AM 11:45 AM GMT About Infiniti Research Established in 2003, Infiniti Research is a leading market intelligence company with a global presence. We study markets in more than 100 countries to help you analyze competitive activity, see beyond market disruptions, and develop intelligent business strategies. With over a decade of experience and offices across three continents, we have been instrumental in providing the complete range of competitive intelligence, strategy, and research services for over 500 companies across the globe. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208006262/en/ Contacts: Jesse Maida Infiniti Research Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.infinitiresearch.com Contact Us VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/12/17 -- Atico Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE: ATY)(OTC PINK: ATCMF) ("Atico" or the "Company") is pleased to announce preliminary results of a 15 holes, 2863 meter drill program (ATDHAR-05 to ATDHAR-19) that tested a 450 meter strike length between the northern end of the El Roble mine and a historical intersection of massive sulfide mineralization at Archie target. Results from holes ATDHAR-05, ATDHAR-08, ATDHAR-09 & ATDHAR-10 have been received, while results from the remaining holes ATDHAR-06, ATDHAR-07, ATDHAR-11 to ATDHAR-19 are pending. Data from drill holes ATDHAR-01 to ATDHAR-04, referred to below have been reported in a previous news release dated June 26, 2013. Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO, commented: "Intercepting a copper-rich massive sulfide fragment at the Archie target, just north of El Roble Mine, along with the newly discovered geological indications has made this site a near term priority. We will continue assessing the Archie information as it becomes available to delineate the next phase of drilling while also continuing the preparation of additional targets." Regional Exploration Drilling Update The highlight of the drill program was an intersection of 2.8 meters of copper-rich massive sulfide from 18 meters in hole ATDHAR-09. The intercept assayed 2.39 % Cu, 1.69 g/t Au and 6.5 g/t Ag. Hole ATDHAR-05 intersected 3.3 meters of 1.00% Cu, 0.88 g/t Au and 3.9 g/t Ag from 2.2 meters. Hole ATDHAR-08 intersected 3 meters of 1.17% Cu, 2.24 g/t Au, 6.59 g/t Ag from 157.2 meters. Hole ATDHAR-10 intersected 5.5 meters of 1.27% Cu, 0.17 g/t Au and 6.66 g/t Ag from 2.5 meters. Holes ATDHAR-03, ATDHAR-04 and ATDHAR-09 encountered "black chert", the favorable host horizon, strongly anomalous in silver at depth some 280 meters north of the Zeus mineralization. Likewise silver is strongly anomalous near the top of hole ATDHAR-02. Geochemically anomalous silver has been shown to form a halo around massive sulfide mineralization. The drill program has significantly clarified the geology of the area between the El Roble mine and the Archie target. A sub-vertical fault filled by andesitic dykes north of the Zeus mineralization has been verified. North of this boundary there is a change in attitude of the prospective basalt-"black chert" contact from sub-vertical to east-dipping. Consequently any future exploration to trace the extent to the massive sulfide intercept in hole ATDHAR-09 should be directed to intersect this east-dipping contact at depth and along strike toward the El Roble Mine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From To Interval Cu Au Ag Hole ID (m) (m) (m) (%) (g/t) (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-02 7.2 56.0 48.8 nsr Anomalous ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-03 239.5 242.0 2.5 nsr Anomalous ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-04 296.0 303.7 7.7 nsr Anomalous ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-05 2.2 5.5 3.3 1.00 0.88 3.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-08 157.2 160.2 3.0 1.17 2.24 6.59 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-09 18.0 20.8 2.8 2.39 1.69 6.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATDHAR-10 2.5 8.0 5.5 1.27 0.17 6.66 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- nsr - No Significant Result El Roble Mine The El Roble mine is a high grade, underground copper and gold mine with nominal processing plant capacity of 800 tonnes per day, located in the Department of Choco in Colombia. Its commercial product is a copper-gold concentrate. Since obtaining control of the mine on November 22, 2013, Atico has upgraded the operation from a historical nominal capacity of 400 tonnes per day. El Roble has a measured and indicated resource of 1.87 million tonnes grading 3.46% copper and 2.27 g/t gold, at a cut-off grade of 0.93% copper equivalent. Mineralization is open at depth and along strike and the Company plans to further test the limits of the resource. On the larger land package, the Company has identified a prospective stratigraphic contact between volcanic rocks and black and grey pelagic sediments and cherts that has been traced by Atico geologists for ten kilometers. This contact has been determined to be an important control on VMS mineralization on which Atico has identified numerous target areas prospective for VMS type mineralization occurrence, which is the focus of the current surface drill program at El Roble. Qualified Control Dr. Demetrius Pohl, Ph.D., AIPG Certified Geologist, a qualified person under NI 43-101 standards and independent of the Company, is responsible for ensuring that the information contained in this news release is an accurate summary of the original reports and data provided to or developed by Atico Mining Corporation. Dr. Pohl has approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. About Atico Mining Corporation Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin America. The Company operates the El Roble mine and is pursuing additional acquisition opportunities. For more information, please visit www.aticomining.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Fernando E. Ganoza, CEO Atico Mining Corporation Trading symbols: (TSX VENTURE: ATY)(OTC PINK: ATCMF) 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. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation the use of net proceeds, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. 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 expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company's mineral projects; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company's mineral projects; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the prospectus of the Company dated March 2, 2012 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Contacts: Atico Mining Corporation Investor Relations Igor Dutina +1.604.633.9022 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Department store chain Nordstrom will discontinue selling Ivanka Trump clothing and accessories. The Seattle-based company said they decided to stop selling the clothing line due to poor sales performance, according the Seattle Times. 'We've said all along we make buying decisions based on performance,' Nordstrom said in a statement. The move comes amid the ongoing campaign called GrabYourWallet campaign that encourages shoppers to boycott products that has ties with President Trump or his family. 'Big news everyone. You did this. I am in awe,' Shannon Coulter, a co-founder of the GrabYourWallet campaign, posted on Twitter. In November, Nordstrom had defended its right to sell Ivanka Trump's clothing line in Twitter post, saying, 'We hope that offering a vendor's products isn't misunderstood as us taking a political position; we're not.' 'Each year we cut about 10% [of brands] and refresh our assortment with about the same amount,' the statement said. 'In this case, based on the brand's performance we've decided not to buy it for this season.' 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. Meltwater, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of media intelligence solutions, closed a $60M debt funding round. Backers included Silicon Valley Bank and Vector Capital. The company will use the proceeds to continue its organic growth and ramp up strategic acquisitions. Led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jorn Lyseggen, Meltwater provides more than 25,000 companies with a media intelligence platform to monitor online conversations, extract relevant insights, and use them to strategically manage their brand. Since 2009, the company has acquired 9 companies, including Encore HQ, a 500 Startups Alumn providing social media alerts powered by data science. Meltwater has over 50 offices on six continents. FinSMEs 08/02/2017 Trax Image Recognition, a Singapore-based provider of image recognition solutions for retail, raised US$ 19.5m in another round of funding. The round was led by Investec Bank plc., part of the international specialist banking and asset management group listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: INVP) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE:INL). The company, which has raised US$100m since being founded in 2010, intends to use the funds to expand its global operations with a focus in products and services for top tier retailers. Founded in 2010 by Joel Bar-El, CEO, and Dror Feldheim, Chief Commercial Officer, Trax Image Recognition provides a computer vision platform that turns retail shelf images into real-time actionable insights enabling manufacturers and retailers globally to control performance gaps, identify category opportunities and immediately increase revenue at all points of sale. The company, which has offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America, serves such brands as Coca-Cola, AB InBev, Heineken, Nestle and Henkel, among others. FinSMEs 08/02/2017 Bengaluru: Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata on Tuesday launched TeamIndus Foundation's 'Moonshot Wheels' - a bus which will traverse the country with an aim to inspire the next generation about India's first private moon mission. TeamIndus Foundation is the CSR arm of TeamIndus, the only Indian team competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE of USD 25 million that requires privately funded teams to land their spacecraft on the surface of the moon, travel 500 metres and broadcast high definition video,images and data back to Earth. Moonshot Wheels is a bus which will traverse nine states, 12,500 kms in 12 months, across India impacting 36,000+ students in government schools, the foundation officials said. They said the bus will carry 16 science experiments, live satellite tracking, moon rover, spacecraft-scaled model and an experience zone. This programme is curated and administered by TeamIndus Foundation with on ground implementation by Agastya International Foundation, which has been dedicated to bring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) alive for children. Tata, Nandan Nilekani (Infosys), Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal (Flipkart) and Venu Srinivasan (TVS Group), K Kasturirangan (former ISRO chief) among others are supporting TeamIndus as its advisers. Tata, who unveiled the bus, did not make any comments on the initiative to the media. However, Kasturirangan lauded the efforts, calling it "great work" and a fantastic initiative". "They are up to a big experiment, a very ambitious experiment-carrying out a lunar mission." "What is interesting about these youngsters is besides being adventurous and excited about that mission, they are using the opportunity to spread the message among the still younger generation so that there is no disconnect," he told reporters here. Asked about the landing mission coming ahead of ISRO's second moon mission (Chandrayaan-2) he said " I'm a neutral man, I'm an Indian and proud of any good things that happen in the country. Don't make distinction between ISRO or non-ISRO efforts, to me ultimately what succeeds is good for the country and we are all proud of it." Giving details on 'Moonshot Wheels' initiative, Priyanka Narayan, chief functionary of the foundation, said each child will get an opportunity to experience and understand the making of a Space Mission and its underlying technologies. They will interact with rocket scientists as well as the rest of the team behind India's first private Moon Mission, she said. Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata has said that said he is looking forward to reinserting himself in the startup community which gives him tremendous stimulation. Tata will resume working with startups from 23 February after handing over the reins of Tata Sons to N Chandrasekaran. "I am looking forward to that day with greater vigour," he said. His comments assume significance as he has been out of the startup scene of late. Referring indirectly to the Cyrus Mistry controversy, Tata said the last five months had forced him into the older mould, but that he longed to be back among the startup community. He was speaking at K-Start, a startup event organised by Kalaari Capital here. On issues of liquidity and exits faced by startups, Tata said he wouldn't make any comments on it because luck, intuition and personal judgement also played a very vital role in any company's success story. Ever since his retirement in 2012, Tata has been aggressively investing in Indian startups through his private investment vehicle, RNT Associates. The fund tied up with the University of California's Office of the Regents (UC Investments). Over the last few years, Tata has invested in more than 30 companies, including Snapdeal, Urban Ladder, CarDekho, Paytm, Kaaryah, Blue Stone, First Cry and DogSpot. Meanwhile, a report (paywall) on The-Ken.com, a website that covers developments in technology, startups, business, science and healthcare, today said the $150 million RNT Associates-UC Investments fund has made its first investment of Rs 9 crore in YourStory, a media company that covers startups and entrepreneurs. This will be Tata's second investment in YourStory. He had invested in the company earlier in August 2015. On Donald Trump Commenting on US President Donald Trump, Tata said the situation has thrown up some new challenges. However, he said Indian entrepreneurs and business captains have the ability to reinvent themselves to meet them. "I think the challenges for the last several months for me personally and also for startup community have been challenging. Mr Trump has given new challenges and I am quite sure we can reinvent ourselves to meet those challenges, and look back at having made a difference," he said. The interaction was moderated by Kalaari's founder Vani Kola. On issues of protectionism and capital dumping, Tata said one cannot generalise, but sometimes blocking is worthwhile and at other times, it amounts to stifling competition. "Sometimes, the blocking is worthwhile blocking, and at other times, it is just stifling competition. It is a difficult question to answer and generalise," he said. However, he said a person like him would look for more of an open environment, "as open an environment that we can expect, and we should not be concerned about blocking as we see it at various times." Nevertheless, Tata advocated that unfair competition being indulged in by some corporations needs to be controlled by the regulators because they do it to kill new startups. "This (protectionism) is the dictum of yesterday. I think the regulators need to focus on areas where there is unfair competition which is done to kill the new startups, but ensure there is enough latitude and enough of level-playing field where everyone has a chance," he said. With inputs from PTI New Delhi - Driven by improvement in sales volume and higher prices of steel, Tata Steel today got back to the profit mode by posting a consolidated net profit of Rs 231.40 crore for the December quarter. It had registered a consolidated net loss of Rs 2,747.7 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal. The consolidated gross sales increased to Rs 29,279 crore, from Rs 25,662.3 crore in the year-ago period. In a statement, the company said: "Consolidated revenues (are) up by 7 percent sequentially and 14 percent year-on-year. The growth is largely driven by strong performance from Indian operations." However, the total expenses went up to Rs 27,232 crore in September-December, up around 4 per cent from a year earlier. "Tata Steel recorded strong sales this quarter as the strength of our franchise helped us counter headwinds due to demonetisation. While the broader market was affected by lower rural sales and adverse consumer sentiment, we were able to increase overall volumes by 14 percent sequentially and register strong growth across all our target customer segments," said T V Narendran, MD, Tata Steel India and South East Asia. "Further, our focus on cost improvement initiatives and integrated operations helped us contain the impact of rising raw material prices." Its Kalinganagar facility "continues to ramp up smoothly and we are well positioned to serve the increase in demand due to the expected thrust on infrastructure in 2017-18". "Our SEA operations delivered stronger operating performance this quarter due to a combination of better market conditions, cost rationalisation and higher exports," he added. According to Koushik Chatterjee, Group Executive Director (Finance and Corporate), the strategic initiatives in the UK on the pensions continue to be a priority for the company. "We welcome the unions' recommendation to its members to support the ballot process that is currently on to close the BSPS (British Steel Pension Scheme) to future accruals. This is part of the several steps being undertaken to make the UK business more sustainable in future," Chatterjee said. "We continue to be deeply engaged with the British Steel Pension Trustees and the regulator towards developing a structural solution for the UK pensions in coming months." Elaborating on its India operations, the company said deliveries grew by 14 per cent sequentially and 27 percent yoy, besting the domestic market that grew 3 percent sequentially and contracted by 2 per cent yoy. Its Kalinganagar steel plant crossed 1.5 mt of hot metal and 1 mt of hot rolled coil production since commissioning in May 2016. Similarly, the performance of ferro alloys and minerals division registered a sharp improvement on the back of improved market conditions. "Operating profit of the division at Rs 302 crore is higher by Rs 141 crore sequentially and by Rs 267 crore yoy, the company said. About its European operations, it said liquid steel production of 2.68 million tonnes was almost flat sequentially, but 4 per cent lower than a year ago. "Deliveries of 2.37 million tonnes were 3 percent higher sequentially, but 13 per cent lower yoy following the strategic decision to focus on higher-value added products in the UK," it said. "EBITDA for the quarter improved to Rs 610 crore compared with a loss of Rs 757 crore a year earlier as a result of a more competitive pound, a lower UK cost base and more favorable market conditions. Higher raw material and energy costs in the third quarter of 2016-17 led to EBITDA being Rs 425 crore lower sequentially," it added. Differentiated product sales continued to gather pace, with the proportion of total sales jumping to over 35 percent and their value going up by almost 30 per cent year on year. The company said its gross debt remained stable at Rs 84,752 crore as on December 31, 2016. The net debt stood at Rs 76,680 crore. It further said there is strong liquidity position with cash and cash equivalents and current investments including undrawn bank lines of Rs 15,000 crore. Tata Steel UK, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Steel, reached an agreement with the trade unions to move towards the closure of its defined benefit pension scheme to future accrual and take an important step towards a more sustainable future. The ballot on the scheme is currently open. Tata Steel UK signed a letter of intent with Liberty House Group to enter into exclusive negotiations for the potential sale of its specialty steel business for an enterprise value of 100 million. "Tata Steel Minerals Canada together with its parent companies concluded Direct Shipping Ore Project de-risking transaction, securing equity and debt investments of CAD 175 million from the Government of Quebec. Achieved sales of 1.6 million tonnes," it said. "Our European strategy continues to be focused on developing differentiated products and services which improve our customers' competitiveness," Hans Fischer, MD and CEO of Tata Steel in Europe, said. "Sales of differentiated products were 13 percent higher and their value-add almost 30 per cent higher than a year ago, with stronger sales in the automotive and construction sectors," Fischer said. This helped the company achieve an Ebitda in the third quarter of Rs 610 crore though this was lower than the sequential quarter due to higher raw material and energy costs. "Our third quarter Ebitda result was significantly better than the loss recorded in the previous year, partly due to better market conditions and the weakness of the pound relative to the euro," Fischer said. "We are continuing to focus on improving our competitive performance in the context of the global supply-demand imbalance which held deliveries steady from European mills in the nine months to September despite growth in EU demand." Barring Shaad Ali's romantic comedy Ok Jaanu, all the Hindi films that have seen the light of the day this year have been embroiled in some kind of controversy, risking the release of the film in certain areas. Now, Subhash Kapoor's courtroom drama Jolly LLB 2 also finds itself in the midst of a legal battle as Bombay High Court has ordered the deletion of four scenes from the film. In fact, the lead actor of the film, Akshay Kumar, and director Kapoor have been summoned by a Jaipur court for projecting the judiciary in an objectionable light. Jaipur has been in the news for yet another controversy. Two weeks ago, members of Shri Rajput Karni Sena vandalised the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period biopic Padmavati and slapped the filmmaker for allegedly shooting a dream romantic sequence between Islamic plunderer Alauddin Khilji and the revered figure of their clan, Rani Padmavati. When a large fraction of the film fraternity condemned the mob attack, it brought back flashes from last year when a host of film personalities extended their support to the team of Udta Punjab who were ordered by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to execute 89 cuts for the film to release with an 'A' certificate. Eventually, Bombay High Court cleared the Abhishek Chaubey film with a single cut and an 'A' certificate. Since then, the CBFC has gone fairly lax on the films as it released unconventional films like Aditya Chopra's Befikre and Ok Jaanu with minor verbal cuts. It also cleared Jolly LLB 2 with a U/A certificate and a few verbal cuts before Bombay High Court sent the film back to the board for review. An advocate, Ajaykumar S Waghmare, had filed a petition in Bombay High Court, alleging that Jolly LLB 2 maligns the reputation of the legal profession by presenting lawyers in a bad light. A similar controversy emerged last year when an army man filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the CBFC against the makers of Mastizaade for "diminishing the dignity of the mothers and wives of mean deployed in armed forces." This complaint was directed towards a fleeting dialogue of Sunny Leone's character in the film. Milaap Zaveri's Mastizaade was also at the receiving end of an FIR for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by promoting the use of condoms in a vulgar manner. In a similar incident, the Sikh community objected to Akash Deep's comedy Santa Banta Pvt Ltd for projecting the Sikh community in an objectionable light. Now, even the Supreme Court has rejected the petition of the community to ban the circulation of Santa-Banta jokes as they cannot dictate modes of leisure to the citizens. Often small budget films like these bear the brunt of such insularity as they are easier to suppress. Political dramas like Vivek Agnihotri's Buddha In A Traffic Jam and Pranav Kumar Singh's Shorgul are good examples. While the former was not allowed to be screened at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) by the administration, the latter was banned in Muzaffarnagar since it revolved around the riots that took place in the Uttar Pradesh town in 2013. In fact, fatwas were issued against the lead actor Jimmy Shergill and the makers. Then came the Uri attack which took the entire country by a storm and its effect were felt even on the Hindi film industry. Karan Johar was forced to contribute Rs 5 crore to the Army Welfare Fund to ensure a smooth release of his romantic saga Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Since his film had Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a supporting role, the members of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) coerced Johar to shell out some money, threatening to vandalise the theatres screening his film, in case he fails to do so. Pakistan consequently banned the import of Hindi films. Even while the ban was not in effect, it prohibited the release of films like Mudassar Aziz's Happy Bhag Jayegi for projecting a Pakistani policeman in a negative light and disrespecting the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan authorities lifted the ban last week, allowing the release of Sanjay Gupta's revenge drama Kaabil. It was seen as a sign of hope before they banned Rahul Dholakia's crime drama Raees for undermining Islam and portraying Muslims as terrorists, murderers and wanted men. It seemed like the gangsters or underworld biggies in Raees spilled out of the screen when the makers of Coffee with D released an audio recording of Dawood Ibrahim's associates dishing out life threats for presenting their dreaded leader in a comical light in their film. Gangsters, censors, court cases, community protests, government imposed bans and countless debates - the Hindi film industry has seen it all in the past one year. Is this a convenient trend that has gained traction after the Ae Dil Hai Muskil controversy or do these innumerable objections to creative liberty of the filmmakers actually reflect the collective sensibilities of the nation? The makers of Jolly LLB 2 have made the necessary changes, as dictated by Bombay High Court. However, the deleted scenes are now common knowledge, owing to the wide coverage of the legal battle. Thus, it will not be completely wrong to say that the whole purpose of deleting the 'objectionable' content stands defeated. Also read: Jolly LLB 2 review: Akshay Kumar, Subhash Kapoor pull off emotional resonance in a patchy film Dhanda mera dharm hai, par main dharm ka dhanda nahi karta (Trade is my religion, but I dont use religion as my trade). This is not only a punch line in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer movie Raees, but it also echoes the essential message well-embedded in this action-crime thriller directed by Rahul Dholakia. Another punchline that endorses the point goes in the movie as the following: Dhanda karte samay hindu musalman socha tha, jo ab soch raha hai? Sab apne log hai yaha par (Did we discriminate between Hindus and Muslims when doing the business, then why will we do this discrimination now? All are our people over here). Despite these two strongly-worded messages articulated in a lucid tone and succinct tenor, the movie has been banned in Pakistan an Islamic country with an overwhelming fan following of the Indian Muslim superstar SRK. Pakistans leading English daily, The Express Tribune reported that the much-awaited Mahira and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees would not be released in Pakistan: The Censor Board of Film Certification said on Monday that the Rahul Dholakia directorial, which marks Mahiras Bollywood debut will not release in the country due to its objectionable content. A source privy to the development told the same Pakistani newspaper that the recommendations forwarded by the CBFC panel deemed the film unsuitable for public screening and that it could not issue a certificate because the film portrays Islam and a particular Muslim sect in negative light. Thus, it is believed that the ban on Raees in Pakistan is a direct result of three major factors playing out in the movie: First, the movie inappropriately portrays the Muslim community, as Shah Rukh Khan plays a Muslim entity who indulges in the trade of liquor. Second, the content of the film undermines Islam the state religion of Pakistan because it subtly portrays Muslims as criminals, violent terrorists, wanted men and gangsters. Thirdly, a specific sect of Islam the Shia community is miffed with the movie because it did not like the use of particular religious symbols in the film. Before we proceed on an objective analysis of the first two issues, it is quite pertinent to fathom the intricacy of the third issue. Lets not forget that the film shot into controversy not only in Pakistan now but much earlier in a section of the Indian Shiite Muslim community. Even before the release of the movie, the film unnecessarily dived into the Shiite controversy when a number of Shia communitys members protested against the movie and lodged a police report. This occurred just a day after the release of the trailer of the movie Raees. Hindustan Times reported then that members of the Shiite sect in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Bareilly, found a scene from Raees offending and, therefore, they decided to boycott the movie. The communitys clergymen wrote a letter to the Central Board of Film Certification demanding the exclusion of the scene in which the actor is seen jumping over a religious structure. But a critical content analysis of the action-crime thriller candidly exposes that there is nothing much in the film to be hyped by the Shia clergy. They have objected only to a shot in the trailer of Raees in which Shah Rukh Khan is seen jumping over a sacred religious structure. The actor is seen jumping over a procession during a chase sequence and the procession carries Alam Mubarak, an Islamic structure which is commonly revered by the Shiite Muslims. But in reality, the movie also has a well-spirited portrayal of the sacred Shiite Islamic symbols like Ya Hussain and Ya Fatima (recitations to seek blessings from Prophets daughter and grandson Hazrat Fatima and Imam Hussain) which are greater in significance. But these positive messages have been wholly overlooked amid the undemocratic and pointless controversies created by the hardcore religionists in both Indian and Pakistan. It is more ironic to note that in its justification of banning the movie, Pakistan is stating: we could not issue a certificate because the film portrays Islam and a particular Muslim sect in negative light. How come this country flogs this fiction when its own provinces witness the atrocious attacks on the Shiite communitys shrines, mosques and imam barahs day in and day out? Even the houses where members of the Shia religious minority offer their prayers are set ablaze by the terror goons in broad day light. According to Pakistani Urdu media reports, only in the last month of Muharram, which is the most sacred Islamic month in the Shia calendar, several Shiite women, children and elderly people who were praying at home in Karachi were terrorised. Clearly, it is a paradoxical statement that the Censor Board of Film Certification in Pakistan has issued to ban the Indian movie. As far as the first and the most intriguing bone of contention is concerned, the movies alleged inappropriate portrayal of the Muslim community is not a defamation of Islam by any stretch of imagination. Especially at a time when the Islamic clergy often exhort to "look only at Islam and not to what the bad guys in the Muslim community are doing", such rhetoric of Islam-bashing is logically unfounded. The movie script which demanded Shah Rukh Khan to play a Muslim entity who indulges in the trade of liquor is an out-an-out depiction of many deviated and non-practicing Muslims like Abdul Latif and Dawood Ibrahim who undeniably are frowned upon in the Indian Muslim community. Tellingly, it is widely believed that Raees' story is based on the criminal life of an underworld figure in Gujarat, who was also an associate of Dawood Ibrahim. Nonetheless, the filmmakers are reported to have denied this stating that "the story of the film is a pure work of fiction, not based on any person; living or dead." Even if the movie throws a bad light on the Indian Muslim gangsters, it is also an effort to combat all vanguards of the communal violence and disharmony. But one wonders why Pakistan happens to be the only Islamic country where the film is not being screened. The Censor Board in Pakistan should ponder as to why all other Islamic countries are screening Raees if it is really an onslaught against the ethos of Islam. Do the censors believe that Pakistan is the only Islamic nation in the world? Given the fact that the Rahul Dholakia-directorial has earned a positive reception in the wider Muslim world except Pakistan, it is indeed staggering to note the hyper-religiosity of the Pakistani board of film certification. The writer is a scholar of classical Arabic and Islamic Sciences, cultural analyst and researcher in Media and Communication Studies. "Hi. Im Danny Rand. Ive been away a long time," begins the trailer for Netflixs newest Marvel series Iron Fist. Barefoot and clad in a tattered sweatshirt, Iron Fist (played by Finn Jones) walks into his parents company headquarters, 15 years after disappearing in a plane crash that killed his mom and dad, and left him presumed dead. The trailer emphasises that the new series will be the debut of the final defender (another upcoming series The Defenders will feature protagonists from Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist). For those who want the back story, Iron Fist is Danny Rand, who returns from the fictional Asian country of Kun Lun, where he was schooled in the martial arts after the death of his wealthy parents. Simply put: Iron Fist is like Kung-fu Batman. In many ways, the backstory does mimic Batman's dead wealthy parents, the hero has his own corporation (Wayne Enterprises there, and Rand Corporation here) and a secret superhero identity to match. Iron Fist is one of the most popular comic book characters in Marvel history, but it was the casting choice that created a bit of stir with the fans. Fans had pushed for Marvel to re-envision the story with an Asian-American hero at its center, a demand that grew more urgent after Doctor Strange whose hero is also a white man soaked in Asian mysticism cast Tilda Swinton in the role of the Ancient One, instead of an Asian man depicted in the comics. USA Today referred to Iron Fist as 'kick[ing] Asian representation while its down.' Whitewashing apart, Iron Fist has a lot of expectations to live upto after Luke Cage. The trailer sets up a conflict between Danny and David Wenhams Harold Meachum shown at one point with a face covered in blood spatter for control of Dannys fathers company, but it also highlights the roles played by Jessica Henwick, a British actress of Chinese and South African descent, and Wai Ching Hos Madame Gao, a returning villain from Netflixs Daredevil series, and it features a shot of Jones and Henwick navigating the streets of Chinatown in the middle of the Lunar New Year celebration. Whether show creator Scott Buck is seriously wrestling with the politics of representation or just using an interesting combination of scenes in the trailer, we'll know soon. Here's the trailer: By Zeba Siddiqui | MUMBAI MUMBAI Indian drugmaker Cipla Ltd's third-quarter profit beat estimates due to higher sales in the United States, and the company said it was looking for licensing deals and acquisitions to build its speciality medicines pipeline in that market.The country's fifth-largest drugmaker by sales reported a roughly 21 percent rise in revenue from North America for the October-December period.It said money from a previously announced 40 billion rupees ($596 million) fundraising would be used to scale up its U.S. business that so far makes up about 18 percent of its total revenue. Cipla bought two U.S. generic drug producers, Invagen and Exelan, for about $550 million last year in its first big move to expand in a market where most of its local peers already have a large presence.The company's U.S. push comes at a time when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increased scrutiny of foreign exports. Cipla's Goa drug factory failed manufacturing standards during an FDA inspection last year. CEO Vohra said on Wednesday those problems had been fixed and a regulatory clearance on the Goa plant was expected by the first quarter of fiscal 2018, following a reinspection. "We have a fair number of products that are going to be launched from that facility, and our correspondence with the FDA does not indicate that the facility at this point in time is a bottleneck for us to secure approvals," Vohra said.RESPIRATORY PUSH Cipla gets most of its revenue from India, but dwindling sales in Europe and emerging markets have hit its profits over the past year. The company has said it is working on exiting some emerging markets due to "complexities". A key area of focus for Europe is its respiratory pipeline, under which it plans to launch Seroflo, a generic form of GlaxoSmithKline's Advair asthma device, which won UK approval in December after months of delay.Analysts at Kotak expect Cipla's device could add about $30 million to its fiscal 2018 sales. CEO Vohra declined to comment on sales expectations on Wednesday, but said the hope was to capture market share "gradually" after the launch this quarter. "We look at respiratory as a very attractive (area) ... most of the products that are going off-patent in the U.S., we already sell in India," Vohra said.Third quarter revenue from the company's home market grew 19 percent, hurt by a cash crunch caused by the government's 'demonetisation' move in November that rendered currency notes of 500 rupees and 1,000 rupees illegal tender. Vohra said sales in India were expected to be back to normal in about two months.Overall net profit for the October-December quarter rose to 3.75 billion rupees from 2.61 billion a year earlier, beating the average forecast of 3.70 billion rupees from 23 analysts, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.($1 = 67.0800 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui; Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Air India has issued a notice to its international crew members after the management of Hotel Renaissance London wrote an email to the airlines, complaining that they have been filling their tiffin boxes with food to be eaten later from the buffet tables placed at the hotel. The warning note titled 'A buffet is not a takeaway', was sent on Monday by an assistant general manager (AGM) of the in-flight service department, reports The Times of India. According to the report, the note read: "We have received an unfortunate email from the management of hotel in London stating that some AI crew members regularly come down for breakfast with empty boxes into which they fill food items from the buffet, presumably to eat later." According to an India Today report, the note warned that even though the airlines is aware that it is a small minority which is indulging in such behaviour, it would take serious disciplinary action against the offenders. New Delhi: A 30-year-old Sudanese woman has alleged that she was raped by an unknown person near Jasola village in southeast Delhi, police said on Wednesday. The victim, a national of south Sudan, came to India for treatment on 6 October last year. She had gone missing on 6 February and a complaint had been lodged in Sarita Vihar police station around 8 pm, police said. Later, she came to the police station on her own but neither her uncle nor the victim informed police about the alleged sexual assault, they said, adding that the manager of the hotel where she has been staying was also present. On Tuesday, she was admitted to Apollo Hospital and she informed police that while she was roaming around Jasola village, a man told her that he knew the place where she was living and took her on his bicycle, police said. He took her to some place where he allegedly forced himself on her but she managed to beat him and run away and met a man who lent her Rs 40 to get back to the hotel where she is staying, she told police in her complaint. A lady officer and counselor have been called to record her statement, said a senior police officer. He said that a case has been registered under sections 376 (Punishment for rape) and 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of IPC and investigation has been initiated in the case. Police is looking for CCTV footage from the area to determine the sequence of events and the exact place of occurrence of the crime. By Maya Palit Just under 130 years ago, a young American journalist named Nellie Bly, went undercover as a mental illness patient and admitted herself to the Womens Lunatic Asylum on Blackwells Island in New York. From starvation to brutality and sexual assault, the atmosphere she picked up over her 10-day stint there made its way into one of the most striking journalistic exposes of the time, Ten Days in a Mad-House, and eventually, her book led to various reforms being set up at the institution. A century later, it still takes interventions by social workers and journalists to put the goings-on at mental institutions around the world under the public radar. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal and her team recently spent a night at the Asha Kiran Home for the mentally challenged in New Delhi and were horrified by what they found. After their visit, which was prompted by the fact that 11 women had died there in the past two months (and 600 patients since 2001), they issued a gruesome report. In it, they noted witnessing women who were made to strip prior to bathing, after which they wandered the corridors naked, and were filmed by CCTV cameras monitored by male staff. Bedridden women were urinating on beds, the floors were covered in faecal matter and blood since the women were not provided sanitary materials, and up to four women were sharing a bed. There was an apparent shortage of other facilities too: only one psychiatrist was visiting the home, and the doctors posts hadnt been filled. According to a report in The Hindu, the DCW has now issued a notice to the governments Social Welfare Department, demanding an explanation within 72 hours for the gross human rights violations taking place at the institution. But this is hardly the first time that revelations of the outrageous conditions women patients experience in institutions have surfaced. At the end of 2014, the Human Rights Watch exposed the overcrowding (way past capacity) taking place at Asha Kiran in Delhi, and 23 other institutions, in a report Treated Worse Than Animals: Abuses against women and girls with psychosocial disability in institutions in India. The report emphasised the rampant abuse of women patients in institutions across the country, including being subject to electroconvulsive therapy without their consent. And last year, NIMHANS, in association with the National Commission for Women, also found "inhumane" living conditions for mentally challenged women living in 10 institutions across the country. They were kept in environments that resembled prisons, forbidden from stepping out, had to use toilet facilities under the gaze of the authorities, and were not provided with adequate sheets or mattresses. But a recent tendency of discussions deploring this treatment is that the conditions women have to face within the institutions become quickly overshadowed by the problem of these women being abandoned by their families. Particularly in cases when their families do not want them back, ensuring that the patients' rehabilitation has become a major challenge, and ways around this have been discussed widely. In September 2016, for instance, a government report recommended that legal safeguards and financial support schemes be instituted for women inmates to combat mistreatment after leaving the institution, and suggested that a detailed audit be created, describing the circumstances under which the patient is admitted and discharged. The National Commission for Women chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam told The Times of India in March 2016 that they were hoping to make the Aadhaar card mandatory for admission so that families can be tracked down later. (Of course, making it compulsory would undoubtedly create other complications, including creating a new hurdle for admission, not to mention impinging on patients privacy.) While making sure the reintegration of patients into society after their treatment is a pressing issue, isn't the first step to effective rehabilitation the proper treatment in facilities? And how can such horror-inducing conditions continue in our institutions despite report after report calling them out every year? Archanaa Seker, an independent Chennai-based activist, who has previously worked with mental health rights organisations, argues that it is not quite possible to divide the issue into water-tight compartments. You cannot separate the treatment phase from the rehabilitation period so easily government institutions are used as dumping grounds as well because people with psychosocial disabilities are viewed as economic burdens." She added that in her experience, women patients were the ones who were made homeless because of their illness, whereas men patients had gone looking for work in cities, ended up homeless, and became ill later. It is imperative, therefore, that we examine their circumstances and experiences prior to admission so that we ensure there is an effective treatment and medication period, and a quick turn-around. At certain institutions, once you enter you become a nameless numbered person. There is a slim chance of you making it outside. The labyrinthine nature of institutions isnt a new fact either, and we can return to the intrepid Victorian investigative journalist here for corroboration: The prospect of never making it out intimidated Nellie Bly enough for her to grill her editor about an escape plan. Seker carried on to say, though, that these discussions shouldnt replace urgent questions about the conditions of the institutions. Why are there male staff monitoring these women patients in the first place? There can be men present but as social workers or psychologists. As for the terrible conditions, they stem more from a gross misunderstanding of mental illness for instance, it was only recently concluded that solitary confinement tends to make patients more aggressive overcrowding and a severe shortage of staff. Unless the institutions are provided with more funding, or primary health clinics are equipped with in-house psychiatrists, who can diagnose mental illness early (although this would require grassroots advocacy to change mentality so that people dont hide their mental illness at the first stage), there is unlikely to be a tangible change for patients. There are many stories of patients' harrowing experiences at hospitals around the country, and the facts are out there to observe. A detailed Hindustan Times report from December last year claimed that there were 0.301 psychiatrists for every 1,00,000 people in India, and over the years, countless articles have repeated facts about the hellish conditions at institutions. Isnt it about time that the conditions of institutions and the issues plaguing people with psychosocial disabilities who reside there made it to the forefront of our debates about mental health? Maybe there isnt much point to engage in endless hand-wringing about it. But a poignant blog written by a Dehradun resident three years ago, recounts how he started a volunteering initiative after visiting Dehraduns State Mental Health Institute, and perhaps points to one practical thing those interested in gender justice can do organise locally, while campaigning for institutions that house and treat women with psychosocial disabilities to receive more funding. Its certainly not enough for a small-scale outrage to flicker every time a shocking expose of an institution surfaces every year only to recede from public memory. The Ladies Finger is a leading online womens magazine delivering fresh and witty perspectives on politics, culture, health, sex, work and everything in between. New Delhi: The ongoing Jat agitation in Haryana seeking reservation in education and government jobs spilt over into the national capital on Wednesday, with scores of community members staging a protest in northwest Delhi's Ghevra Mod on Rohtak Road. The agitators, under the banner of Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS), raised slogans and handed over a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to the authorities. The organisation had last week announced holding a series of protests in Delhi's border areas in support of the quota agitation by Jats in Rohtak which remained peaceful so far. "We are holding peaceful protest in Delhi in support of reservation for Jats and those agitating in Haryana over the issues. Similar protests will be held in border areas of Delhi including at Loni Border (12 February) and Bawana (14 February)," said Yashpal Malik, president of ABJASS. The protests by Jats in border areas of Delhi assume significance in view of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Over 100 seats in West UP go to polls on 11 February and 15 February. Municipal elections in Delhi likely to be held in April. The demonstrators have demanded that the Centre and the Haryana government release the Jat youths jailed for the violent agitation in Haryana in February 2016, and compensation and jobs to families that lost their members in the agitation. Earlier, the Jats held protests in Narela and Mahipalpur areas in Delhi raising similar demands. The memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged "injustice and atrocities" against Jats by the Haryana government and sought his intervention for fulfilling the promises made to the community with regard to providing them the benefits of reservation. "We are supporting the demands of Jats to be included in the OBC category and provided reservation benefits. So far, we have adopted peaceful methods expecting that the government will listen to us. The agitation will continue and we will extend support to the community members raising the reservation demand in other states too," Malik said. Anticipating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the death annievrsaries Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru, security agencies in Kashmir are preparing to clamp down on the Hurriyat leaders and impose restrictions across the Valley. Both Bhat and Guru were Kashmiris, who were hanged to death and later buried inside the Tihar Jail complex. While Muhammad Maqbool Bhat was hanged for his role in assassination of an Indian diplomat in Birmingham, Ravindra Mhatre, Guru was sentenced to death in 2002 for his role in planning an attack on Indias Parliament in December 2001, which left fourteen people dead and 22 injured. Both were hanged in the month of February and buried inside the premises of Tihar jail. Kashmiris have kept two open graves in martyrs graveyard of Srinagar, as the family members of both have been demanding the return of their mortal remains. Bhat was hanged on 11 February, 1984 and Guru on 9 February, 2013. On Wednesday, a united faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, called for protests on the two days and a march towards the United Nations office in Srinagar on 10 February. That wont be allowed, a senior police officer, posted in Srinagar, told Firstpost. There will be restriction across the Valley and areas that are hotspots, he added. The Kashmir police is likely to put Hurriyat leaders under detention or house arrest to prevent any kind of protest on these days. The state government does not want to take a chance of allowing protesters to hit the streets, as the situation is slowly limping back to normalcy after months of protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, that left close to hundred people dead. The family members of Bhat and Guru have been since long demanding the return of mortal remains of the two hanged Kashmiris, but New Delhi has so far refused to budge. While Bhats hanging is largely seen as a spark that led to the emergence of insurgency in Kashmir valley, Gurus hanging is seen a tipping point for reviving that insurgency which had largely ebbed. Tabassum Guru, the widow of Afzal, refused to talk at length on the issue but said which nation does not allow a child to see the grave of his father. Had they given us back his mortal remains, we would have buried him here. At least his son would have known that he had a father who was hanged by the Indian state without dispensing proper justice, Tabassum, said. Guru, a former Jaish-e-Muhammad militant, was hanged as his mercy petition got caught up in a political slugfest. Thousands of people of Kashmir had offered selfless sacrifices of their lives but the martyrdom of Guru and Bhat were unique, exceptional and matchelss as these sacrifices had breathed a new life in Kashmirs resistance struggle, a statement issued by the united group of Hurriyat conference, said. They also demanded the return of mortal remains of Guru and Bhat back. Muhammad Yasin Malik, the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) describes Bhat as a corner stone of ongoing movement, and said his struggle represents every oppressed and subjugated human. Both laid down their lives today for the betterment of our land tomorrow and made us debtors and it is now our duty to safeguard these sacred sacrifices, Malik said. The authorities are likely to impose restriction in some sensitive areas of the Srinagar and towns across the Kashmir valley on 9 February and 11 February, when Hurriyat is planning to hold protests. After the Government Polytechnic College in Mumbai demarcated different sections using ropes for men and women in the college canteen in the name of protecting them from sexual assault, Maharashtra state minister for higher and technical education Vinod Tawde told the college principal to focus on education. "I urge principals and vice-chancellors to focus on academics instead of issues relating to students' attire or seating arrangement," The Times of India quoted Tawde as saying. "We are living in an era of co-education... If there is a specific demand from girls, it should be met. If girls are wearing obscene clothes, they should be corrected. But there is no need for a blanket rule," he further said. Swati Deshpande, the principal, had been quoted as saying by another report in The Times of India that this step was taken because "former students enter the campus and create a ruckus in the canteen, they misbehave with girls. In fact, one such incident had to be reported to police in October." She had also said that she thought girls suffer from Poly Cystic Ovarian Diseases (PCODs) because they "dress like men", which leads to "a gender role reversal" in their minds. This is not the first time that an educational institution is engaging in sexist practices. Denying the students from the Women's College access to the Maulana Azad Library in Aligarh Muslim University, its vice-chancellor Lieutenant-General Zameer Uddin Shah had said in 2014 that if girls were allowed, there would be "four times more boys" in the library. In 2015, Farook College in Kozhikode, Kerala suspended a student who protested against the management's decision to crack down on boys and girls sitting next to each other. Such 'measures' have been part of the Indian education system for a long time, despite the fact that a report by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has said that "the provision of safety for women on campuses must eschew the practice or tendency to be overly prescriptive to women by restricting their freedom of movement." Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh. "(Pakistan) condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation on February 7, 2017," by the Indian forces on the LoC in Khui Ratta sector, Zakaria said. He said the Indian firing resulted in the death of a 25-year-old civilian who was working as a labourer for the construction of a house. "The Director General deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is a crime as well as violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws," Zakaria said. The Director General also urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding and investigate this and other incidents of "ceasefire violations". Pakistan also asked India to instruct the security forces to respect the ceasefire "in the letter and spirit" and stop "targeting" villages and civilians, the statement said. Pakistan said India should maintain peace on the LoC. In a first, a bench of seven Supreme Court judges started contempt of court proceedings against Calcutta HC Judge CS Karnan for levelling allegations of corruption against Madras HC chief justice and other judges repeatedly. The top court has asked Karnan to appear in person before it and explain as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him. The issuance of the notice is historic because this is the first time when a constitutional court has started the contempt of court proceedings against a judge of the SC or HC. A high court judge can only be removed through impeachment by the Parliament. "Issue notice to Justice C S Karnan. Returnable on 13 February. Shree Justice C S Karnan shall forthwith refrain from handling any judicial or administrative work as may have been assigned to him," the bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said. Seven judge bench of Supreme court issues contempt notice to Calcutta HC Judge CS Karnan, initiating suo moto criminal proceedings ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 The Times of India reports, the proceedings were listed on Wednesday by the bench comprising J Chelameswar, Dipak Misra, Ranjan Gogoi, P C Ghose, Kurian Joseph and Madan B Lokur. and led by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar. The Supreme Court said, we must be as careful as we can and it has to be established whether Justice Karnan wrote those communications. At the outset, Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi referred to the nature of public communications allegedly undertaken by Justice Karnan and said they are "slanderous" and "disparaging" to the system of administration of justice. The bench was formed after a bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy, Bloomberg Quint said, last month accepted Justice Karnan's plea to argue his case in person by accepting his initial request to discharge his advocate S Gowthaman. In 2015, Karnan had threatened contempt of court proceedings against Chief Justice Sanjay K Kaul, whose name has been recommended by for the appointment as a judge of the SC. According to The Times Of India, Karnan had accused Kaul of interfering in his work and had sought a CBI probe into the alleged forged educational qualification of another HC judge.The judge had gone on to allege that he was being victimised on the basis of caste bias as he was a Dalit and that the Madras HC chief justice was harassing him. Earlier, the Registrar General of the Madras High Court had said that around 12 files of the high court were still with Justice Karnan and had to be returned. According to The Indian Express, around a fortnight ago, Justice Karnan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take action against what he termed as high corruption at the judiciary. He had gone onto name around 20 judges of the apex court and the Madras High Court in the letter dated 23 January. Earlier in 2016, Karnan had also sought an answer from the Chief Justice of India's over the decision to transfer him. With inputs from agencies New Delhi: Government on Wednesday expressed serious concern over "unusual" activites reported in the past few days, alleging that attempts were made to sabotage rail tracks and carry out explosions. Responding to a series of supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said there had been seven "blast attempts" and three cases of attempted sabotage. He said the NIA is already investigating a case related to the derailment of a train near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. There have been "unusual" activities in the last few days and some incidents were averted due to the alertness of railway personnel, the Minister said during Question Hour. He said countries including Japan, South Korea and Italy had sent their teams after the recent derailments, "thanks to the diplomatic skills of the Prime Minister." The Railways was now in the process of putting in place latest technology like ultrasonic track detection system to find out fractures so that early warning can prevent mishaps. Besides technology, Prabhu said the Railway Protection Force has been asked to evolve a forensic strategy. In his written reply, the minister said train accidents have declined from 195 in 2006-07 to 135 in 2014-15 and further to 107 in 2015-16. Number of "consequential" train accidents remained at a level of 95 during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Accidents per million train kilometres, an important index of safety, has come down from 0.23 in 2006-07 to 0.11 in 2014-15 and further to 0.10 in 2015-16. India is a country where the government is 'of the people, by the people and for the people'. But a section of the country's population will beg to disagree with the third part. This section comprises acid-attack survivors whose lives, instead of being made easier by the laws of the land have only been made harder. Take, for instance, the case of Monica Mondal. The 30-year-old resident of Budge Budge a municipality in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was attacked by her neighbour in 2016 as she was the sole witness to an attempted theft in her house by the same person. The accused had sprayed her with a toxic chemical before attempting to steal the pregnant Mondal's jewellery who was visiting her home for a baby shower. Having inhaled the chemical, Mondal lost her newborn only three days after giving birth and was then attacked by the same neighbour, who threw acid on her while she was sitting outside her house. "My family immediately filed a case but the police wrote in the report that since the acid fell on my back, the attack was on a 'non-vulnerable area' of my body. As a result, the accused is now out on bail and still continues to threaten me," said Mondal, who is still undergoing treatment and cannot sit or stand for more than a few minutes due to her injuries. Sayani Sengupta, legal consultant, Acid Survivors Foundation India (ASFI), said, "Despite the amendment in 2013 that introduced acid attack as a separate offence under the IPC for the first time, the existing loopholes managed to procure bail for the accused. Who decides which is a 'non-vulnerable' part of the body? The law does not specify anything. Imagine Monica's trauma when her attacker still continues to live next-door. Acid-attacks should be a non-bailable offence." According to Mondal, her attacker, standing on the same balcony from which he threw acid on her, threatened her as recently as in January to withdraw the case against him. After a writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court by a non-profit called Parvirtan Kendra, the apex court had ruled in 2015 that acid-attack victims should be included in the list of disabilities so that they can claim jobs under the disability quota. Subsequently, the Rajya Sabha passed a Bill in December 2016 to allow acid-attack victims to avail benefits under the same and also increased the quota of jobs reserved for them from three percent to five percent. But Moyna Pramanik, 33, is not hoping for much. Pramanik was attacked with acid in 2001 by her husband when she was merely 16 years old. A resident of Murshidabad, Pramanik was attacked because she had given birth to a baby girl. Her husband then wrapped her in a silk saree, doused her with kerosene and set her ablaze so that it could look like a suicide. Pramanik survived only to be denied her due the police refused to consider the case as an acid attack and merely treated it as an attempted suicide. "What was even more tragic was when Moyna's daughter killed herself when she learnt about the cause of her mother's attack. Moyna now ekes out a living by working as a cook for mid-day meals in schools. She did not get any compensation and her husband was never arrested. She spent all her money on treatment and got no help from the government," Sengupta said. After the Calcutta High Court ordered the setting-up of a medical board for the first time on 27 December, 2016 to award disability certificates, ASFI is now planning to refer Pramanik's case to them so that she gets the aid she deserves after so many years. However, activists and lawyers are all of the opinion that the root cause of the problem is the unregulated availability of acid that is still sold over-the-counter. Dibyaloke Rai Chaudhuri, coordinator, ASFI, said, "As per the 2013 ruling, there should be a nodal officer who monitors the sale of corrosive substances. But that never happens." According to activists, at least five or six cases of acid-attack have already taken place this year after acid was procured from gold shops or goldsmiths. On 6 January, a 14-year-old daughter of a goldsmith in Jalpaiguri took a container of acid from her father's box of tools and splashed it on her tenant as the latter refused to giver her her cellphone to play with. "Such cases can be handled by sensitisation. This is another aspect that the law absolutely ignores. We do what we can but the government should also take some initiative," Rai Chaudhuri added. But perhaps the biggest issue with the law today is financial aid for acid-attack survivors. "Acid-attack survivors have to undergo treatment for years. After their immediate treatment, they need a number of plastic surgeries that sometimes go on for years. Some also need more treatment, depending on the extent of their burns," Sengupta said. According to the Supreme Court guidelines issued in 2013, an acid-attack victim should get compensation of Rs 3 lakh. But the guidelines and the subsequent amendment did not specify a time period for the disbursal of the amount. "Only around one in every 50 cases receives the compensation without any hassle. Most cases go on for years. In the meantime, the victims exhaust their resources and often stop their treatments before they should," Sengupta explained. But in some instances, the case ends even before going to court. Piali Datta, 25, was an unintended acid-attack victim. In 2005, her tenant attacked his wife who was seated next to Datta. The wife later succumbed to her injuries, while Datta suffered burns to her face and hands. "My family borrowed money from people to get me treated and soon that got over and we needed more. So we borrowed money and now we are in debt," Datta said. She lived in a mud house in the small town of Shyamnagar and her copy of the FIR was washed away when her house was flooded in the rains of 2008. Since then, she has made repeated trips to the local police station for another copy, but has been refused. "We are poor people. They (the police) don't pay any heed to us. My mother and I have asked for a copy so many times but they said they can't find it either. So now I have lost hope for any compensation," Datta said. On 2 February, the government announced that acid-attack victims will get an additional Rs 1 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund within five working days, but that too depends on multiple clearances from different government departments at a variety of levels. However, Datta is now working at a small bookstore owned by ASFI as she is determined to finish her education and support her family. "My hands were burnt so there is some restriction in movement, but I will finish my education and help my family to clear the debts. The government should help us and not make our lives more difficult. My mother borrowed money assuming that sooner or later, we would get the compensation. But now that the government and the police have let us down, I will fight to the best of my ability to clear the debts," a resolute Datta said. The Indian Constitution is very clear on the appointment of a chief minister. Though it allows the governor some amount of discretion, it is an established convention to invite the leader of the majority party to form the next government. The established law makes the position of acting Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam untenable in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. On Monday, legislators of the AIADMK elected VK Sasikala as their leader and conveyed the decision to the governor. In accordance with the decision, Panneerselvam resigned to make way for the new leader. Under normal circumstances, the governor would have had no option but to swear-in Sasikala as the next chief minister. The AIADMK has a clear majority in the house and Sasikala has the support of the MLAs. But, governor Vidyasagar Rao has managed to stall her by staying out of Chennai. The Centre, it is obvious, is buying time till the Supreme Court announces its verdict in the disproportionate case verdict against former chief minister J Jayalalithaa (sometimes her name is spelt as Jayalalitha). Sasikala, who is a co-accused in the case, will get barred from holding any constitutional position if she is found guilty. The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre is trying to keep her away till the verdict is announced, possibly next week. With his sudden revolt and volte-face, leading to the withdrawal of his resignation, Panneerselvam has queered the pitch for Sasikala. It is not clear how many legislators would support him. The initial reports indicated Sasikala has the support of all the 136 AIADMK legislators. So, unless he manages to split the party he would need the support of at least 2/3rd of the MLAs Panneerselvam will not survive. But, with his revolt, he may have also bought time for the Centre to deal with Sasikala. Can the governor ask Panneerselvam to stay and prove his majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly? Can he act in spite of the AIADMK decision to elect Sasikala as the new leader? In recent history, there have been two instances of elected chief ministers getting sacked by their own legislators. The most recent one was in Arunachal Pradesh where Congress chief minister Nabam Tuki lost the confidence of his own legislators, leading to a revolt and later en masse defection of Congress legislators. But, the most famous case of a chief minister booted out by his own party was that of Bihar's Jeetan Ram Manjhi. And the Manjhi precedent might dictate the script in this case too. When Manjhi was sacked by his own party JD(U), the governor allowed him to prove his majority on the floor of the Bihar Assembly. Manjhi faced the house with the support of BJP legislators and the hope of engineering massive defections in the JD(U). But, in the end, he lost out to his mentor Nitish Kumar because the JD(U) rallied behind him. It is difficult to understand the Centre's game plan in Chennai. It is evident that the BJP needs the support of the AIADMK in the Parliament and for electing the next president. But, the long-term implications of its strategy could be counter-productive if Sasikala manages to usurp Panneerselvam and continues to cling to it if the Supreme Court acquits her. A vindictive Sasikala could be a difficult adversary for the BJP. Also, even if Sasikala is ousted after getting indicted by the Supreme Court, Panneerselvam would find it difficult to survive in the party after his revolt. Sasikala's bloodless coup suggests she has an iron grip over the party and its legislators. Even if she doesn't become the chief minister, she would ensure Panneerselvam meets Manjhi's fate. Perhaps the best strategy to deal with Sasikala would have been to give her a long rope. Acting on the advice of the AIADMK legislators, the governor could have sworn her in, leaving her fate to the SC. An indictment would have been a major embarrassment for Sasikala. It would have turned her into an object of ridicule and scorn. Even if she were to be acquitted by the apex court, the Centre could have read the writing on the wall in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK cadres are extremely angry with Sasikala and are opposed to her bid for power. In six months, Sasikala would have had to face an election. The inner contradictions of the ruling party could have proved politically fatal for Sasikala. In the end, every stakeholder in Tamil Nadu seems to be making the same error: acting in haste instead of waiting for the drama to unfold on its own and democracy to have its say. When impatience becomes the theme of political drama, the results could be disastrous for all the dramatis personae including the prima donna, the rebel and the men pulling the strings from behind the curtain. Follow all the live updates here What does a good state governor do? Tamil Nadu, unfortunately, doesn't even have a full-time governor, the state shares one with Maharashtra. Raj Bhavan, Chennai is presently vacant as Governor Vidyasagar Rao is in Mumbai attending to affairs concerning Maharashtra while seeking appropriate legal advice on Tamil Nadu. This, unfortunately, does not inspire confidence especially at a time, where the aspersions about the governor's independence are ripe. He is being seen as an agent of the Central government which he ideally should be on other issues. But at this point in time, the governor exercises a constitutional function and one that needs to be exercised quite quickly so as to not leave the state in limbo. He should either accept Tamil Nadu Chief Minister OPS Panneerselvam's resignation or ask him to carry on in a caretaker capacity till the disproportionate assets verdict involving Sasikala Natarajan is out. The governor can at this point decide if he should call for a fresh election or appoint Sasikala as the next chief minister or if he needs to allow Paneerselvam an opportunity to withdraw his resignation allowing him a chance to prove his majority on the floor of the House. Tamil Nadu is faced with a curious situation, where the previous chief minister has resigned from office, the legislative party having a majority has a new candidate, yet the governor is hesitant to invite her to form the government. The reason being that she may be facing a conviction shortly in disproportionate assets case, making her ineligible to hold office as a member of the legislature, and consequently as chief minister. The previous chief minister now has led a party revolt after his resignation, stating he was forced to resign under duress. The governor has not accepted his resignation, and Panneerselvam continues to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu while Sasikala claims to have the support of the legislative party. The key now will be the Assembly, where the Speaker of the House reigns supreme. The Assembly is now in session and the Speaker can convene a session of the Assembly, where the AIDMK (led by Sasikala) can move a no-confidence motion against the present government if they feel they have the adequate numbers. If this motion succeeds, the governor will have no choice but to accept Panneerselvam's resignation and dismiss his government. The consequence though could be fresh elections and not the automatic appointment of Sasikala. This clearly looks at where Tamil Nadu is heading for. India follows a Westminster system of cabinet government both at the centre and at the state. This has been taught to mean, that Parliament/state Assemblies reign supreme and that the president/governor only exercise nominal power except when it comes to resolving constitutional crises like the one Tamil Nadu is currently facing. In situations like these, the governor has a wide variety of options to ensure the smooth functioning of a government. So then it becomes incumbent for the governor to exercise those options. The governors of the states in India are appointed by the president and serve at pleasure. In effect, these are Central government appointees. But in these situations, they are required to exercise a level of individual and impartial judgment and not follow instructions from Delhi. The governor is required to invite the leader of the party who should impress upon the constitutional figurehead of the state that the government would function to the satisfaction of the governor. To put this simply, pass a floor test in the House and then hold office for the term of the legislature. In most cases it is pretty straight forward, post an election, you have a leader of a party or an alliance that can pass a floor test, then that person is invited to form a government. However, despite the turmoil that Tamil Nadu is going through, the governor is busy in Raj Bhavan, Mumbai instead of Raj Bhavan, Chennai. While this is happening, it appears that only one party can gain from a split in the AIADMK right now. Leader of opposition and Congress MLA Abdul Mannan was admitted to hospital after he fell ill in a ruckus over Property Damage bill in the West Bengal Assembly. The ruckus started in the state Assembly after the opposition demanded more amendments in the bill. Kolkata: LOP and Congress MLA Abdul Mannan admitted to hospital after being injured in ruckus over property damage bill in state assembly pic.twitter.com/v4cZpRkNoM ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Ruckus took place in West Bengal Assembly after opposition demanded more amendments in Property Damage Bill. pic.twitter.com/xsFKHCHams ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 According to The Indian Express, the Mamata Banerjee government has introduced a change in the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act to stop any kind of damage to government property. The amended bill, once passed, would check vandals, rioters and arsonists who could face imprisonment upto a maximum of 7 years for damaging any government property. Mannan was suspended by Speaker Biman Banerjee as he continued his protest with placards against the government for bringing West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and termed it as "black law" while refusing to heed to the Speaker who asked him to wait for discussions on it. The Speaker then asked Mannan, the Congress MLA from Champdani, to withdraw for the day but he remained defiant and was suspended. As soon as he was suspended, Mannan sat in the Well of the House and the marshalls tried to forcibly evict him, leading to a scuffle between them and Congress members. The Congress leader fell sick during the scuffle and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. The Congress and the Left legislators staged a walkout from the House protesting against the incident. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Pratima Rajak claimed that she was molested by security officials. "The security (officials) pulled me by my saree and tried to kick me," Rajak, the MLA from Burwan, told reporters. The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was later passed in the House and the Speaker asked the assembly secretary to take note of the benches which were damaged by opposition MLAs. "Why are they opposed to this bill? Because they (opposition) don't believe in peaceful movements. They believe in destroying public and government property. We will not let this happen," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in the Assembly. Earlier on 31 January, The Times of India reported about the Trinamool government facing a "boycott" by all opposition parties in the all-party meeting ahead of the state Assembly's budget session. Trinamool had also decided to stay away from the customary all-party meeting in New Delhi. All Trinamool Congress MPs stayed away from President Pranab Mukerjee's address to the joint sitting of Parliament. Mannan had told The Times of India reporters that they decided to boycott all party meeting since their proposals are never entertained. (with inputs from PTI) New Delhi: Opposition parties including Congress and TMC on Wednesday joined ranks to slam the government for continuing restrictions on cash withdrawal from banks even after 90 days of demonetisation, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that hardships will last only 50 days. TMC, a bitter critic of the decision to junk old 500 and 1000 rupee notes, gave a notice under rule 267 for suspension of business of Rajya Sabha to discuss continuing restrictions, that found support from Congress and other opposition parties. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) said Wednesday marked completion of 90 days since demonetisation was announced on 8 November last year. Modi, he said, had asked for 50 days to restore normalcy and had offered to undergo any punishment publicly if any shortcoming or hardships are found after 30 December. "We don't want Prime Minister to stand at any 'chowk' (a crossing) but cash withdrawal restrictions continue even after 90 days," he said, demanding that the government lift all restrictions so that people can use their money at their will. Currently, cash withdrawal is limited to Rs 24,000 a week from saving bank accounts. Disallowing the notice, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the issue has already been discussed for 12 hours. Roy contested Kurien's statement saying the discussion happened on the Motion of Thanks to President's Address and demonetisation was not the subject matter. The Deputy Chairman conceded that technically the motion did not mention this particular subject but the issue was touched upon by both sides during the discussion. "Therefore I am not allowing (the notice). I have rejected the notice," he said. At this point, Congress and other opposition members joined in to demand that they too should be allowed to speak on the issue. But Kurien disallowed it, leading to protests by the members. "Because the motion is rejected, I cannot allow anybody to speak," he said as he turned down Roy's plea. Kurien said the Chair can call other members to speak on a 267 motion if it has any doubt about admitting it. "I have no doubt (on this motion) and so I am not allowing anybody to speak including the minister," he said. Members continued to protest for a brief while but resumed their places as the House took up listed business. Is Nagaland heading towards a political crisis as tribal groups launch no-holds-barred agitations demanding the resignation of Chief Minister TR Zeliang and his cabinet? And will the BJP emerge as his saviour as it did in earlier instance of dissidence? These are the two pivotal questions that are likely to define the future political developments in the hill state, as the tribal bodies today issued a three-day ultimatum to the chief minister to resign. Challenge from civil society groups "Zeliang should step down on moral grounds within the period of three days with effect from 8 February, 2017," says a resolution adopted by the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC). The protest demanding the resignation of the chief minister has gained such vehemence that the state secretariat has remained closed since last Saturday. The Asian Age reported, "With the police deciding to avoid any confrontation with protesters, the state secretariat in Kohima remained locked even on Monday. The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has locked the state secretariat since Saturday. Neither the chief minister nor his council of ministers could come out of their homes as the protesters laid siege and kept a close watch on their movements." Nagaland Post reported that even Governor Padmanabha Acharyas offer to make peace between the tribal groups and the chief minister has also failed. "In a letter addressed to the governor, NTAC convenor KT Vilie and JCC convenor Supu Jamir have stated that since he (governor) was aware that their demand was non-negotiable, the only solution to the ongoing crisis is when Zeliang steps down from the office of the chief minister," reported the newspaper. The civil society groups, popularly known as tribal bodies in Nagaland, have demanded the resignation of the chief minister and his cabinet on account of the deaths of two agitators in front of his home in Dimapur. Vilie reiterated their stand on Monday and asserted: "The chief minister is responsible for all the trouble. He is responsible for the death of two youths in police firing outside his residence in Dimapur on 31 January. He is also responsible for the mob fury that led to the burning down of so many government offices in Kohima on 3 February, so he must step down," reported The Asian Age. Sources in Nagaland say that the tribal bodies are attempting to compel the Zeliang government to resign by rendering his government defunct. Heat within the government The chief minister also faces heat within his government as tribal bodies have demanded MLAs from their communities to withdraw support to him. Eastern Mirrror reported that the Chakhesang Public Organisation has urged its elected members to withdraw support to Zeliang, since his 'leadership and integrity are being challenged by one and all' reported the newspaper. Meanwhile, Nagaland Post reported that another tribal group AYO also demanded resignation of Angami MLAs. In total support of the Angami Public Organisations directive issued earlier to the Angami legislators to resign, the AYO has asked legislators to resign cooperatively with immediate effect. The newspaper reported that the AYO issued a press release that stated, "This clarion call is made once again trusting that without resorting to compulsive moves which are bound to develop if it is not responded positively." The clarion call sounded by various tribal groups to MLAs to withdraw support to Zeliang has created much panic among the ruling Naga Peoples Front (NPF) legislators, as civil society groups hold tremendous sway over the socio-political issues in Nagaland. Only recently, the Nagaland government was compelled to withdraw the decision to hold ULB elections with 33 percent reservation for women, succumbing to the pressures from the tribal groups. The hostility of the civil society groups has already begun to show its impact on the government with many legislators of the ruling NPF declining to continue supporting Zeliang, reported The Asian Age. "A large number of legislators of the ruling NPF are challenging the leadership of Zeliang... The legislators are reluctant to go against the NTAC, opposing the decision of the state government adopting Article 234(T) of the Constitution, which provides for 33 percent reservation for women in local body elections," said the report. Sources in the NPF said that although the chief minister continues to enjoy the support of 42 NPF MLAs, it is unlikely to sustain if he fails to bring the tribal bodies on board. Rift within the party Even as the protest against Zeliang gains momentum in Nagaland, his party too has started contemplating on alternative chief ministerial candidates, said sources. According to The Asian Age, NPF chief Shurhozelie is said to be backing former minister Azo Neinu, while Home Minister Y Patton is believed to be floating the name of Public Health Engineering Department Minister Tekheho Yepthomi to take charge. Meanwhile, sources said that if it turns out to be impossible to carry on with Zeliang as the chief minister, the NPF is likely to prop up another MLA as the chief minister. Will BJP bail out Zeliang? Speculation is rife in Kohima that Zeliang will finally join hands with the BJP to evade the imbroglio. The national party rescued the Zeliang government in 2015 by continuing with its support, when a large chunk of his MLAs turned dissidents. While it is being reported in some parts of the media that BJP general secretary Ram Madhav is trying to rescue him, some in the state believe that the BJP is unlikely to support Zeliang through this crisis, as in that case, the saffron party may also have to face public resentment. Vichutuolie Mere, president of the Chakhroma Public Organisation said to Firstpost that it is unlikely that changing party would help the chief minister put an end to the present crisis. Even if he resigns, the public demand for his resignation will remain, he said. Among the plethora of celebrities who lent their support to the protestors at Marina Beach last month in favour of jallikattu was film actor Gautami Tadimalla. After a much-talked about break-up with actor Kamal Haasan, the actress was again in the public eye in December, after she wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi entreating him to dispel the mystery surrounding the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Speculation was rife that she had chosen an opportune moment to enter politics. In a free-wheeling interview, the actor, cancer survivor and single mother expresses her observations on the current political situation in the state, and her disappointment over being ignored by the Centre, as also rumours of an imminent entry to politics. The last few hours have been extremely eventful in Tamil Nadu. We have seen a dramatic turn of events since Tuesday night, when O Panneerselvam made it clear that he intends to go it alone. Your comments? Under democratic principles, the vote is for a particular governance style, vision and leadership. That mandate was very clearly handed to Amma (Jayalalithaa). It is she who had appointed him (O Panneerselvam) to fill the top position. He has run the state and has been elected as a peoples representative. After the tragedy happened, should her words and choice not be respected? Panneerselvam has had the strength to adhere to his conscience. He has made a strong statement and I appreciate and applaud that. Yet VK Sasikala maintains that she enjoys the support of the majority of the MLAs. Every elected representative is accountable to the people who elected him/her. They must be true to their conscience. Everyone who is sitting there and saying 'I have a post and a vote and I decide the future course' is in that position only because of Amma. People have recognised them only as Amma's representatives. They are all here because of her, and they have to be true to her and her memories and the faith that she had reposed in them. In a letter dated 8 December, 2016, you had written to the prime minister and voiced your concerns surrounding Jayalalithaa's death. Today, O Panneerselvaam has said he will order a judicial inquiry into the matter. Are you satisfied? My entreaty was made to the central government, who has not even acknowledged that such a plea has been made to them. Failing everything, there is one man here, our chief minister, who has said that he will do something about it. I am really glad that at least within the state, steps are being taken. I'd really like to see the truth come out and not merely an eyewash as we have been submitted to in the last few days. It is too little, but I am happy that Panneerselvam is taking the responsibility on himself. And it's also too late; I'd rather that it had been done immediately. On Tuesday, former speaker and AIADMK MLA PH Pandian had a press conference where he alleged foul play behind Jayalalithaa's death. Today, a judicial inquiry is being ordered. Does that confirm your worst fears? Of course! It's not a fear, it's obvious! Till today, tell me, who was the authority that took a call on everything since Jayalalithaa was moved to the hospital? It was even said in the press conference that she may have been pushed down the stairs. This is so tragic, because I don't even know enough to tell if this has happened or not. Now someone has come out in the public and said this. We have been kept in the dark about the welfare of our chief minister. Doesn't she deserve better than this? The team of doctors that treated Jayalalithaa, including Richard Beale, met the press on Monday. What did you make of their statements? I have gone through the salient points of it. There are unsatisfactory replies or contradictory statements. They said that she had septicemia (sepsis). My experience with that disease is that it totally degenerates your body. But other than the marks on her cheeks, she looked beautiful! Why were we consistently told that she could choose when she wanted to go home and that she was interacting with the nurses and staff? When she was well enough to go home, why didn't we see her or hear her? That is the one question that begs an answer. I feel strongly about this because my mother died of severe septicemia right in front of my eyes, after being on ventilator for about 20 days. And what was the press conference in response to? Why wasn't it conducted earlier, right after she passed away, or after I raised those questions? O Pannneerselvam had to submit his resignation among speculation that Sasikala was to take over as chief minister. Did you feel she was in a hurry to assume the position? That is very clear. You have a chief minister who is already in office, someone who Amma herself had indicated, by virtue of which he is acceptable to the people. It is up to the people to approve. In the South, especially in Tamil Nadu, the relationship between political leaders and people is immensely personal. Amma's re-election was special because of the fact that she was an incumbent and that she won by a thumping majority. But where was the necessity for a change here? Especially to make room for a person who is not known to the public nor has been popularly elected? Fine, there are rules that allow it. But everything apart, there's also a question of doing the right thing. Your second letter talks about a sense of anguish among people. There was such a state of anguish, but I'm proud of the fact that there was no confusion in the state. They were clearly not happy with the (imminent) replacement. That brings us to your first letter. Did you receive any response from anyone from the Centre? Without undue cynicism, I know there is a process involved before it gets answered. I was merely being a citizen, voicing the general concern. What is hurtful is that we have not even been found worthy of an acknowledgement from the Centre. I might have written that letter as an individual, but do you really see that as a voice of just one person? My confidence in the democratic system hinges on my representatives' answerability. There was a tone of disappointment in your recent letter dated 3 February. I was disappointed by the fact that it was denied that I even wrote such a letter. In response to a query, the Prime Minister Office's office had issued a statement saying it had no knowledge of such a letter. I've also been troubled about the fact that there has been no response. It's ridiculous and childish to be miffed about my query not getting any answers. But there's so much obscurity about the death of a serving, sitting chief minister of one of India's foremost states. There is nobody to give any answers! What kind of action were you expecting? First of all, there's been no official acknowledgement of the issue on any front until now. It is plain hurtful when serious issues like these are brushed under the mat like this. Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar has also made her political aspirations clear. What is your take on her? I have absolutely no comments. This is a democracy and people are elected to posts by the voting public. Isn't that the fair way of doing it? You need to be trained to do any job that you aspire to do. In that sense, OPS earned it. You have rarely been this articulate on a public platform and that frankly raises questions about your political aspirations too. Are you looking at a political entry? Am I political? I am most definitely political. As should we all be if we want to have a say in how this country is run and how we are administered. Am I looking to get in to politics? I am a single parent, bringing up my daughter on my own, and I am on my own, starting my career all over again. Nobody chooses these things. But you must choose the right things, when you arrive at that critical time. I would be happy if everything is hunky dory and go about chasing my dream. I need to be at peace with myself, for which I need to know I've done the right thing. I understand the "end of life" stage, I've fought cancer and I've confronted that situation where I asked myself 'What if I were to die today or tomorrow?' Doesn't a person of her (Jayalalithaa's) stature deserve more dignity? Has any political party approached you? No, I've not heard from anybody. But you had been a member of the BJP and campaigned for the party back in 1998. Yes, but I have not been active since then. It's definitely not fair to say that I belong to the party, as I have never renewed its membership since then. I did campaign then, and I still believe, that Vajpayee was the most eligible person for that post at that stage. Soon after that, I got married. Parenthood, the tragedy of being orphaned, cancer, everything followed one year after another in a space of four-five years. I am not looking at politics as a career right now. I cannot sit on the sidelines either and say 'I was there but had nothing to do with it'. So if I am going to be doing something, then I'd be putting myself on the line, for something I firmly believe in. Follow all the live updates here Alleging that the DMK is behind caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam's Tuesday night rebellion, AIADMK supremo VK Sasikala on Wednesday lashed out at the main opposition party for trying to break the party. Addressing a press conference after meeting her MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters, Sasikala pointed fingers at the DMK, alleging that Panneerselvam colluded with arch rival MK Stalin to break the party. I could sense the acts of CM who completely connived with the opposition: #SasikalaNatarajan ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Sasikala also said that she would correct all wrongdoings that Panneerselvam had allegedly done by joining hands with the DMK. She also added that his betrayal will be answered in the best possible manner. Wrongdoings which #Panneerselvam had done, as Gen secy it became my responsibility to put an end to it: #SasikalaNatarajan ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 #SasikalaNatarajan hits out at #Panneerselvam, says will give a big blow to the act of betrayal and disloyalty ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Throughout the press conference, Sasikala exprressed her resolve to hit out at her opponents who she alleged have been trying to break the party. Our opponents are after us & spearheading whatever is happening today,but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path: #SasikalaNatarajan ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 #Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against: #SasikalaNatarajan ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Sasikala also claimed that she was unaware of the party MLAs meeting to elect her as their leader, and said that she was conveyed the message only later. Reacting to Panneerselvam's allegations that his cabinet colleagues had undermined his authority, Sasikala claimed that when she was informed about this by the chief minister, she made sure that those doing so were reprimanded for it. Sasikala invoked party founder MG Ramachandran and the late chief minister Jayalalithaa while legitimising her claim to lead the party. The long-time aide of Jayalalithaa promised to carry foward the legacy of "Amma" as Jayalalithaa was fondly called by her supporters. "Amma's dream will be our dreams and my future journey will only be to fulfil all her dreams," she affirmed. While invoking the name of "Amma", Sasikala made it clear that anybody who crosses the path chosen by Jayalalithaa is acting against the interests of the AIADMK. Reiterating her 33-year-long association with Jayalalithaa, Sasikala said that in these years, she had faced many crises, and expressed confidence of overcoming the ongoing crisis. Sasikala also claimed that Jayalalithaa had told her that she always feared a pandemonium in the party after her death. Asking her party cadres to brave the ongoing crisis, Sasikala invokes MG Ramachandran's popular quote, "Fear is foolishness. one must rise above fear. That is your duty." Events took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala and claimed that he was forced to resign as the chief minister. VK Sasikala bundled 130 AIADMK MLAs into 3 buses, deposited them safely 120 km away from Chennai at a resort in Marakkanam and then took a favorite few to New Delhi; she needs the support of 117 MLAs to prove her majority during a floor test in the Assembly and just counting the white veshtis on board, she has more than enough. Where will O Panneerselvam get these numbers from? Unless 14 Sasikala stooges ditch her or OPS has a silent majority that will rise up for him, the math is not adding up for the latest rebel from Periyakulam. OPS has support in single digits - 4 or 5 at the max and yet insists that he will win the floor test. On Tuesday night, when OPS broke his silence and accused Sasikala of pressurising him to resign, he could have stopped right there and walked away - he would have won all the applause and have nothing to lose. Instead he ventured into a street fight - he claimed he has the numbers, he said hell face off against Sasikala and win. Theres no dialling back now. He has public sympathy, his outburst against the Mannargudi mafia has provoked an outpouring of anti-Sasikala rants from across society but how many MLAs can possibly cross over when 130 are already locked up by Sasikala in all expenses paid luxe resorts? Renowned music director Gangai Amaran says OPS revolt gave him the strength to speak out against Sasikalas goondas. How they grab real estate is something I know very well. I am a victim and they just force your and blackmail you into giving it away to them. Its a curse to have her as Chief Minister, he said. In 1994, Amaran says he was forced to sell his 22-acre farmhouse at Payyanur on Old Mahabalipuram Road to Sasikala. Yet, despite the popular uprising against her, Sasikala has the numbers, thats where her confidence comes from - We will win. He (OPS) is a traitor, somebody has asked him to speak like this, she said of OPS before whisking her MLAs away. Governor Vidyasagar Rao will be reaching Chennai Thursday afternoon. Both parties are bracing for a floor test but Rao can choose when that should be. If the Governor waits it out and the Supreme Court verdict finds Sasikala guilty in the disproportionate assets case, its end of the road for Sasikala. Jayalalithaas thumping win in the 2016 Assembly elections gives an AIADMK government four more years to regroup for the next election. Its not even a year since Jayas parting gift to the party and barely two months since she died, the AIADMK is today everything it never was under MGR or Jaya. If you seek to look for a pattern in Tamil Nadu in the last few weeks, the Jallikattu protests have set the stage for the commoner as hero. OPS, for all practical purposes is no different. Down to earth, rarely appearing eager, he has remained a foot soldier for years. In slamming Sasikala fresh after resigning from the CMs post, he is echoing the common man's voice in Tamil Nadu. Nothing that OPS said about Sasikala is new; that OPS finally spoke up is. Battle hardened MLAs in the OPS camp are now raising their voices against Sasikala's legitimacy for public office even if she arm twisted her way to becoming AIADMK chief. Who are the people who define a political party? Those battle hardened by even a lone victory in an election or those who own large tracts of real estate, control cable networks and then threaten both the powerful and the weak because of proximity to Jayalalithaa for many years. That question is finally being asked. The chaos after Jayalalithaa's death has certainly had one happy fallout - democracy has come back to the streets - everywhere except for the eerily silent road leading up to Veda Nilayam, Jayalalithaas residence now occupied by Sasikala and her many sycophants. Rewind to this one visual after Jayalalithaa's death. A line of Tamil Nadu's top police officers prostrating flat out in front of VK Sasikala who continues to live in Jayalalithaa's house. That's what worries OPS supporters and common folk in Tamil Nadu. "Sasikala has a strong hold on the police and she can do terrible things if she wants to..." they say. Follow all the live updates here In the midst of the ongoing leadership crisis in Tamil Nadu between AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala, staking their claim on the chief ministerial chair, Tamil Nadu governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who also serves as Maharashtra governor, is unlikely to visit the state in the next couple of days, claim sources. While the administration in Chennai awaits the Governor for Sasikala's inaugural ceremony, the state head is attending a convocation ceremony at Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai on Wednesday and hence is unlikely to reach Tamil Nadu by Thursday. Sources add that he is taking legal advice before the appointment of Sasikala as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Major political developments in the state have occurred in the state in the past few days. On Wednesday night Panneerselvam announced that he was forced to resign from the post of chief minister and that he would be willing to step up if people want him to. Earlier this week, on Sunday, Sasikala was voted unanimously as the leader of legislative assembly. Panneerselvam tendered his resignation from the chief minister's post on the same day which was later accepted by the Governor on Monday. While Rao accepted his resignation, he asked him to continue till further development, said sources. But Tuesday night's events have raised legal concerns for the Governor. The outgoing chief minister visited late J Jayalalithaa's memorial and sat for an hour, after which he publicly revolted against AIADMK chief Sasikala. The prospects of Sasikalas immediate swearing-in as chief minister is now in the hands of the Governor. On Monday, the Governor was in Coimbatore for a function but didn't visit Chennai, and instead flew to Delhi, say sources. Rao reached Mumbai on Tuesday night. Reports suggest that he was seeking legal advice before administering the oath of office to Sasikala. More than two days have passed since Sasikala was elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party clearing the decks for her elevation as the chief minister, but she is still to receive a call from the Rajbhavan. The state machinery started making preparations for Sasikala's swearing-in at the centenary auditorium of University of Madras, but there is still no word from the Governor on the date and time of the ceremony. Lucknow: The Congress party on Wednesday released its manifesto here for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and announced 50 percent reservation for women. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Raj Babbar releasing the poll-related document that focuses on women in a big way, said the party would distribute cycles to girl students. Babbar said the party was committed to safety and honour of women and on being voted to power it would open three women police stations in every district. Besides women, the manifesto also targeted the youths and farmers. Babbar said the party would ensure 150 workdays under MGNREGA. The Congress is contesting the state polls in alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). Under a last-minute accord, the Congress is contesting in 105 constituencies while the SP led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is contesting in 298. The manifesto was released in the presence of senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, PL Punia and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Uttar Pradesh goes to polls in seven phases, starting 11 February. Lucknow: The campaigning for the first phase of the high-stake Uttar Pradesh Assembly election will come to an end on in 73 constituencies spread over 15 districts including riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Polling in these constituencies will be held on 11 February. BJP had won just 11 of the 73 seats in 2012, but improved its performance significantly in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The party has gone all out this time to woo the electorate. The saffron brigade was led by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah, both of whom hopped from one venue to another in a race against time. Modi asked people to "rid the state of SCAM - S for Samajwadi (party), C for Congress, A for Akhilesh (Yadav) and M for Mayawati", saying they have to choose between development agenda of BJP and those who give shelter to criminals, indulge in vote bank politics and encourage land and mine mafias. Not to take the comment lying down, Samajwadi Party President and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in his rallies told the electorate that SCAM actually stood for 'Save the Country from Amit Shah and Modi'. Hitting back at Modi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi alleged that one who is in the wrong, sees scam in everything and said "S infact stands for 'service', C for 'courage', A for 'ability' and M for 'modesty'. Both Modi and Shah slammed Congress and Samajwadi Party, saying Rahul ran a campaign against the SP government and wondered as to what happened overnight that they were embracing each other. Taking potshots at Rahul and Akhilesh, the BJP chief said "both are 'khoobsurat shehzade' (good-looking princes) who are out to mislead the public... Mother is fed up with one and father is fed up with the other. How will they help UP? One has looted the country, while the other has looted the state". In his no-holds-barred attack, Shah said, "Congress-SP alliance is an alliance of corruption and criminalisation". Rahul, on the other hand, harped on the issue of note ban and attacked Modi, saying, "Demonetisation has hurt the poor most". There would be a three-cornered fight between BJP, BSP and SP-Congress alliance in UP. Out of the 403 assembly seats, SP would be contesting 298 and Congress the rest 105. Auto refresh feeds At the same time, this place is also linked to the family of BJP's tallest leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In fact, BR Ambedkar was the first one to realise the significance of this township where Dalit assertion manifested for the first time after Maharashtra before India's Independence. Since then Agra was symbolised with Dalit assertion. Ambedkar's influence on Agra's social and political life remains enduring till date. BJP chief, instead, will meet family of businessman shot dead in the area on Thursday night. Amit Shah cancels his foot march that was to be held in Meerut The roadshow will then proceed towards Bhagwan Talkies , Deewani chauraha, Sur Sadan and then Wazirpur the only area dominated by Muslims the major factor responsible for a turnaround in UP poll results. From there it moves forward to Hari parvat , Chipitola and finally ending at Bijligarh Chauraha situated in the south of the city. Dayalbagh also inhabits a large population of Satsanghis, who are followers of the RadhaSwami sect. The followers in general are taken to be mute supporter of the right wing party. For example the Dayalbagh institute is an educational institution area located at Dayalbagh in the heart of the city. The institute has been given deemed university status by UGC and is one of the most sought out campus among students. The road map which has been signalled by the district administration for this road show has an interesting mix of both communities, young and old voters and women in general. Starting point of this roadshow will be Dayal Bagh Engineering college, passing through Bhagwan Talkies, Deewani Chauraha, Sur Sadan, Wazirpur, Hari Parvat Crossing, Chipitola and finally culminating at Bijligarh Chauraha located in the South of the City. The roadshow will continue for approximately 3 hours and end around 6pm in the evening. With the choice of their city and preference of safer and urban road map for this show, it seems as if both the leaders are keen to send a strong political message to the people of the state in minimal time. And make out for the losses incurred to their party because of the delay in forming this unprecedented and fresh alliance. According to Firstpost reporters on the field, Akhilesh and Rahul have taken lessons from their earlier road show in Lucknow where they had a tough time facing the low hanging electric wires. Thus, confining the road show to areas which is comparatively more equipped in terms of basic infrastructure. He talked of how despite facing difficulties people have supported demonetisation in national interest. The BJP leader targeted the Akhilesh Yadav Government over alleged corruption and mining mafia. He also said it was his party's strategy not to declare its chief ministerial face. "In the UPA government, it was said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is honest but the government is corrupt. Now Akhilesh Yadavji is also saying 'I am honest and removed one minister over allegations of corruption' but he reinstated him again after 15 days," Balyan said. However, for the upcoming elections, the party seems to have adopted the much-publicised narrative of development. Western UP, where tension had prevailed during the 2014 Lok Sabha election too in the wake of riots, is calm and elections would be held peacefully with development being the major issue, Balyan told PTI. The BJP had deployed local MP and minister of state for agriculture in Modi government, Sanjeev Balyan, MP Hukum Singh and MLA Suresh Rana for campaigning in February-2016 bypoll, the first after the communal riots. They were all named as accused in cases related to the 2013 riots which left at least 60 dead and thousands displaced. In 2016, nearly two and a half years after the Muzaffarnagar riots, when bypoll was held in this constituency following the death of the then sitting SP MLA Chitranjan Swaroop, the BJP won the seat battling a sympathy wave in favour of the leader's son. Many analysts had then said the saffron party was able to exploit the communal faultlines through its campaign which was led by riot-accused BJP leaders. "The family drama of SP is heading towards tragedy from melody and comedy," the senior BJP leader said at a press conference in Lucknow. "The alliance between Congress and SP is opportunist and immoral. Akhilesh Yadav has made an alliance but did not give space to his father (Mulayam Singh Yadav) even on the carrier of the 'bicycle' (SP symbol) and gave its handle to Congress. Terming Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance as "opportunist and immoral", Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said the family drama of ruling Samajwadi Party is "heading towards tragedy from melody and comedy". During his roadshow in Meerut few hours earlier he had reeled out statistics on crime to point out that the law and order situation has gone from bad to worse under Akhilesh? Kaam bolta hai goes the campaign catch line for Akhilesh's Samajwadi Party. The SP chief would like to believe his government has done enough to receive a repeat mandate, but BJP president Amit Shah surely is not buying that. Dil mile ya na mile, party toh mil gayi hai, is the current emotion running high in the ruling party of Uttar Pradesh. The mega road show in Agra is a clear message to parties that SP and Congress have decided to bulldoze into minority bastion and claim the Muslim votes. An hour late from the scheduled time, UP ke ladke have started their road show in Agra. As TV footage showed, the two leaders stood atop the vehicle, instead of being holed up inside their bullet-proof vehicles, and waved to their supporters, giving the feel that everything is well in the recently-formed alliance. Give it to the man, his claims may not be beyond suspicion, his confidence is. With Netaji in kabhi haan kabhi naa mode and uncle Shivpal Yadav planning his own party after elections Akhilesh has reason to be worried. Father Mulayam is taking too many quick turns for his comfort. But atop the vehicle in a road show he is a picture of confidence and self-assuredness. "This government has kept you (farmers) in darkness. The government has bought only 3 percent of its crops in the state," he said. "Why does the government give opportunities to traders to loot farmers?" the prime minister further said. "I want to ask Akhilesh ji's government: What is your connection with those from the sugar mills? Why doesn't the government provide money to the sugarcane farmers?" Modi said. "Has it ever happened that the farmers of Uttar Pradesh got the money they deserve?" Modi said. Why didn't Akhilesh govt do anything for farmers? says Modi The Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance has got the buzz right and it's drowning out the BJP and the BSP. Speak to the young men at the venue and they quickly chant Akhilesh Bhai ko jitana hai (We have to ensure Akhilesh's victory). What's the big deal, you might ask. It's after all a Samajwadi Party rally. Step beyond the rather cramped space, the buzz refuses to disappear. Akhilesh has struck a chord, it might carry him all the way. At Meerut's Nauchandi Chowk, amid batches of placard-carrying Congress and Samajwadi workers who keep streaming in for Akhilesh-Rahul joint rally, you feel the energy of the young. Akhilesh-Rahul joint rally: The UP CM might have struck a chord with the youngsters The reference, of course, is to Akhilesh and Rahul. Other placards say, "humko ye saath pasand hai," in a small variation of the alliance slogan "UP ko ye saath pasand hai". Ask the guy carrying the placard what he meant by the filmy comparison Karan, Arjun are lead characters of a movie played by Shah Rukh Khan and Salman long ago and he turns away. He is too busy for silly questions. Of course, some went beyond this and said a victory for Akhilesh-Rahul would be the beginning of the end of Narendra Modi. Bhaichaara was the word spoken often by the speakers on the dais. "UP had had enough of communal tension. It has suffered a lot. Now it's the time to put a stop to it. 2014 was a mistake. You put power in wrong hands. Let's not repeat it." This was the essence of their speeches. Victory for Akhilesh-Rahul could be beginning of end for Narendra Modi? Perhaps one of the negative consequences of the personality cult. There's none in the BJP to attack or discuss in Uttar Pradesh. A loss here, if it happens, would be a loss for Modi, none else. "You fell for white lies in 2014. Where is the recovered black money in your bank accounts? Where are the jobs? What happened to all those tall promises you made? Liar, liar." The barbs were, of course, directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The election in Uttar Pradesh is a curious one. T he prime minister is in the direct line of attack in a state election. "These elections are not about choosing the next government, it is not about which political party will win or not. These elections are about whether development, which has been sent to an exile for the past 14 years, will it come back?" Modi says in Ghaziabad. The prime minister also lambasted Akhilesh for not generating employment as promised. "Standing today in Ghaziabad, I promise that youths won't have to run around for jobs anymore. And these are not election promises. This is my resolve." Taking on the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Akhilesh and said that when he was elected as the chief minister everyone had great hopes from a young, educated leader. "Bachiyan school jaane se darrti hai. Aapki party (SP) ne gundon ko pal rakha hai or UP ka ye haal kar rakha hai (Girls are afraid to go to school because of the goons owned by you)." Samajwadi Party is ruled by goons, the govt is making no attempts to enforce law and order Narendra Modi says he will answer his detractors in 2019 I thought maybe, a young man (Akhilesh Yadav) will be ready in politics in five years. On another side, there was a politician in Congress, whose childish acts (you should see and find out the jokes on him) and manner of talking had kept Congress politicians away. The politician whose even the Congress leaders were running away from, Akhilesh Yadav has joined hands. That's when I began to doubt Akhilesh Yadav's intellegence. When it comes to the security of women in Uttar Pradesh, they blame the media. Isn't the crime records in Uttar Pradesh a proof of the poor women security situation in Uttar Pradesh? Why only one family from Safai with so many politicians: asks Narendra Modi The only way to save Uttar Pradesh is keep these two families from coming back to power. It's Akhilesh Yadav's government to give the money to sugar cane farmers. I had said, as soon as I come to power, we paid the money to 32 lakh farmers directly in their accounts. We will destroy the five-six mills hoarding your money. 'We started Fasal Bima Yojana for farmers. This scheme insures you even if you couldn't sow seeds till August. If your crop is destroyed by natural disaster, your loss be covered. But against the wishes of the sugarcane farmers, they put it under the insurance. A party which talks of making potatoes in factory, what would they know of farming. But at least Akhilesh Yadav should have known. His family's background is farming. Sugarcane is least affected by natural disasters. Even the richest farmer wouldn't insure sugar cane. But this anti-sugar cane farmers government in Uttar Pradesh.' We will listen to farmers and decide on insurance: Narendra Modi We are walking in the footsteps of Chaudhary Charan Singh: Narendra Modi Citing unutilised funds allocated by the central government, Modi attacked Akhilesh Yadav government of failing the people of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh has given up before election by joining Congress: Amit Shah 'Rahul Gandhi has been asking the BJP government of what we did. The first thing we did is gave a PM who can talk. The Manmohan government of corruption, we have given a government which even the opposition can't make a case of corruption. In your government, they used to behead soldiers. In our government, after they burn our soldiers, within ten days, we beat them in their home.' BJP will select candidates for Class III and IV jobs on the basis of merit: Amit Shah "In my tenure as chief minister, when a rape like this had happened, I got this done. Police officials told me that doing this was a violation of human rights. I replied that these 'danavs' (demons) do not have human rights. I also told the woman to watch the rapist being tortured through a lock-up window so that she could get some peace after listening to his screams and cries for help," the BJP leader said. Addressing an election rally here yesterday, she claimed that during her tenure as chief minister when a rape incident happened, "I also told the woman to watch the rapist being tortured". Rapists should be tortured "till their skin comes off", Union minister Uma Bharti has said and accused the Samajwadi Party government of failing to provide justice to the victims of the Bulandshahr gangrape case. Uma Bharti claims to have 'tortured rapists' when she was CM The BJP's stakes are high in the crucial state as they are being viewed as a mini-referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modis major decisions like demonetisation and the surgical strikes across the border in Pakistan. After a bitter family feud, incumbent Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's future is at stake as he eyes re-election. The principal protagonists Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are hoping for a strong performance in the communally-charged western UP region, infamous for the murderous riots in 2013, so as to gather enough impetus for the later phases. After months of campaigning, issues like communal polarisation to development and BJP government's decision to demonetise will be put to test as 73 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh go to the polls today in the first of seven-phase elections. Polling has already begun and is expected to go on till about 5 pm on Saturday. Amroha has a special significance for Muslims, for the simple reason that around 65 percent of the electorate in this Assembly constituency are Muslims. There couldnt be a better place for leaders and students of politics to understand the communitys political preference. Owaisi was making his political debut in Uttar Pradesh, and Amroha was the most important stopover for him. Their body language clearly suggested that the sher they were referring to was their hero, both as a leader and as a rock star performer. The announcement that he had finally arrived resulted in a commotion, with everyone pushing, pulling, vying to catch a glimpse of the one man they were waiting for Assaduddin Owaisi, Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP and chief of AIMIM. Hours after the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmad Bukhari, blasted the Samajawadi Party-Congress coalition in Uttar Pradesh, and urged Muslims to vote for Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party instead, a mildly aggressive gathering of hundreds of young men from the community thundered, "Dekho dekho kaun aya, sher aaya, sher aaya (Oh, look who's here, the lion is here)." Take for example, the current arrangement in both the Houses. The Modi government, enjoying a brute majority in Lok Sabha, has presented a curious and unprecedented tug-of-war between the ruling party and the Opposition. While the BJP-led NDA government can pass any law as it pleases in the Lower House, key legislation often get stuck in the Upper House where the Congress enjoys a majority due to Parliament logjams and political bickering. While for the BJP, UP polls will be one chance to wrest free the Rajya Sabha from the controls of the Opposition, ensuring that BJP's strength is limited in Rajya Sabha is the only respite Congress can hope for until the next Lok Sabha Elections. Uttar Pradesh is called the king-maker state and it's not for nothing. The northern Indian state, with over 14,12,53,172 voters, sends the largest number of Members of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha, where both the ruling party and the Opposition vie to stake control. Polling delayed in booth no.42 in Mathura's Govardhan, and in booth nos 119 and 120 in Baghpat as EVMs are not working Thus, it is only natural that all eyes remain on the intense political drama unfolding in the state in these high-stake elections. So Firstpost sifted through the political pandemonium playing out in Uttar Pradesh, and brought together all that you need to know to track the humongous polling exercise. The state elections also arguably set the precursor to the the 2019 Lok Sabha election as Uttar Pradesh was crucial in BJP's cleansweep in 2014 Lok Sabha elections the saffron party's one-third parliamentarians come from the state that sends 80 MPs to the Lower House. Besides this, with the 2017 Presidential Election is in the offing, UP's strength will also play up in selecting the Constitutional head of the state. Total 73 constituencies, including a larger chunk of the politically important, western Uttar Pradesh goes to polls on 11 February. Key constituencies include communally sensitive constituencies of Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Dadri and Meerut, apart from Ghaziabad, Noida, Agra etc. Ignoring the chill in the air, with the morning temperature being 11 degrees, the residents of Noida Sector 15 and 16, especially the senior citizens are heading towards polling booths. Many are taking a detour from their morning walk to cast their votes. But right now voters are very few in numbers, which is expected to pick up by 9 am. The only bright point is that it has Hema Malini as MP. As voters start trickling in at booths the question is will BJP will do better this time? The BJP's record in Mathura, the land of temples and mythology, is rather poor. In the birthplace of Krishna the party has not had its own lawmaker in the assembly for sometime now. Mathura was in the spotlight last year over the incident at Jawahar Chowk that claimed 24 lives. Two policemen were also killed in attack by encroachers on government land. The BJP raked this issue up during its campaign, citing this as an example of failing law and order under Akhilesh's rule. Will the voters buy it this? The Bahujan Samaj Party, meanwhile, has been working silently on the ground to regain control on the state by engineering a politically potent but unpredictable amalgamation of two communities, Dalits and Muslims. However, each party has its own Achilles heel to deal with; the nail biting competition can swing any way. But in Lok Sabha elections 2014, the people of the state voted overwhelmingly in support of the BJP. The saffron party would like to repeat the winning streak for obvious reasons, as it will pave a smooth path for the party in Delhi. However, the current ruling party in state, SP, has barely emerged from a succession war and it is Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's only opportunity to prove his mettle as a leader, after he overthrew his father from the party's helm. The political scene in the state has been dominated by regional players (SP, BSP, RLD etc) since the 1990's and the so called national parties (BJP and Congress) have been pushed to the sidelines. If at all BJP and Congress managed to stake claim at the throne of Uttar Pradesh it was by cobbling up an alliance with the regional parties. After overwhelming win in 2014 LS elections, BJP would want a repeat of the mandate in UP The electoral battle in the state has grabbed all eyeballs, be it the electoral merger between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party or the infighting within the first family of this politically crucial state. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for smooth polling, especially in sensitive areas of Shamli, Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura, Bulandshahr and Agra. This gives the present BJP candidate Pankaj Singh, who is the son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh an edge over others. But it's also challenging for him as he is a first timer. He has been given ticket by replacing Vimla Batham Sharma. Initially this led to some confusion and dissent among local party workers. But BJP leadership has ensured that the contesting candidate gets full support. It needs to be seen whether debutant Pankaj Singh is able retain the tradition of BJP of winning Noida seat this time. After he became an MP, in the 2014 by poll, BJP's Vimla Batham Sharma got elected. Noida, the assembly constituency was always a bjp stronghold. Mahesh Sharma of BJP held this seat, till the time he became an MP in 2014. In the by-election that followed, the bjp retained the seat. Rajnath Singh's son Pankaj has edge over others in Noida, thanks to Mahesh Sharma The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Assembly closes its term by May 2017. Elections to the Assembly are scheduled for February and counting will take place in April 2017. As candidates get ready to file their nominations with the Election Commission, we present our analysis of the current composition of the Assembly (2012-2017) and the participation of the members (MLAs). As Aligarh goes to elections, appeals for vote consolidation intensify. Messages and appeals being circulated on social media and through word of mouth. To avoid any sort of chaotic situation and to provide more convenience to voters, this time Aligarh has increased the number of booths. To increase voter accessibility the numbers are limited to 1000 votes per booth. As of 9 am, reports said that Agra recorded 12.8 percent; Muzaffarnagr recorded the highest at 15 percent; Aligarh recorded 9 percent and Ferozabad recorded 11 percent; Bulandshahr 12 percent. Reports said that EVMs in two polling booths in Mathura malfunctioned. Meanwhile, police have detained Gagan Som, brother of BJP candidate Sangeet Som for carrying a pistol inside poll booth. Akhilesh added that noone is better to run a state than two youths. "It will be a government of vision," added Rahul. While announcing the common minimum programme, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav says that many do not walk the talk, clearly taking a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Akhilesh says he is confident that the first vote cast in the first phase of Uttar Pradesh election was cast in the name of Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance. Former BJP state president Lakshmikant Bajpai (Meerut), RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son-in-law Rahul Singh (SP) from Sikandarabad, and Sandeep Singh, grandson of Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh from Atrauli are among other key figures in this phase. The first phase of polling will decide the electoral fortunes of Pankaj Singh (Noida seat), son of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Mathur (Mathura) against whom BJP spokesman Srikant Sharma is in fray, Mriganka Singh (Kairana), daughter of BJP MP Hukum Singh and controversial BJP MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana -Sardhana and Thanabhawan respectively. A total of 2.60 crore voters, including over 1.17 crore women and 1,508 belonging to third gender category are eligible to cast their ballots in 26,823 polling stations to decide the fate of 839 candidates.. Amid tight security, polling began for the first of the seven phases of the high-stake Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections with voters queueing up to cast their ballots in 73 constituencies spread over 15 districts of western Uttar Pradesgh. When asked about Shahi Imam Bukhari supported Mayawati and dissed SP-Congress alliance, Akhilesh Yadav said, "Shahi Imam Bukhari saab is a very good and learned man and if you ask him in person he will always give us the blessing and support us." The positive body language of Akhilesh Yadav during the presentation of SP-Congress vision document on Saturday gives an indication of his confidence in outcome. While tackling provocative questions from media, Akhilesh chose to play down the barbs, trying to drive a distinction between SP's development-oriented campaign and BJP's angry rhetoric. Akhilesh advised BJP to be less angry, his easy confidence rubbing on to even Rahul Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strategy is distraction. When he can't answer questions, then he starts distracting. Truth is that in two-and-a-half years, he has failed. He peeps into bathrooms and does nothing else. His threats are empty as well." When asked about seat-sharing issues between Samajwadi Party and Congress, Rahul said, "There are issues on six-seven seats, but these issues are insignificant, things will be worked out soon." Modi has all the time to do insignificant things, in 2.5 years he has done nothing: Rahul Gandhi "Modi loves to Google, peep into bathrooms, but he should be more concerned about development. Some clerics are resentful. But we believe they will finally support us. Modi is unable to answer on security, jobs, unemployment and that why he is distracting people," Rahul Gandhi. "Modi loves to Google, peep into bathrooms, but he should be more concerned about development. Some clerics are resentful. But we believe they will finally support us. Modi is unable to answer on security, jobs, unemployment and that why he is distracting people," Rahul Gandhi. The major issues of the burgeoning Assembly segment of Gautam Buddh Nagar district are regular supply of power and water, and the alarming crime rate. This time Congress hasn't fielded any candidate due to its alliance with Samajwadi Party. The sprawling industrial hub of Noida, which was the brainchild of one-time Congress stalwart and veteran leader ND Tiwari, seems to have nothing to do with the Congress anymore. Tiwari, as old-timers would remember, was the Chief Minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh thrice, and of Uttaranchal once that was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, is credited with substantial work for the development of the big and politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. Tiwari held important portfolios as a minister at the Centre and also served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. Noida, a brainchild of Congress' ND Tiwari, has nothing to do with the party anymore BJP wins all three MLC seats in UP where elections were held: Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Bareilly Besides, the EC has set up a police cell to keep a tab on messages received through social media so that trouble makers do not vitiate social harmony. The excise department has set up checkposts at inter-state borders as well as along the border with Nepal to check distribution of liquor to voters during elections. Around 6,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in all polling centres in Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring Shamli to instill a sense of security among voters, especially with focus on areas which had witnessed communal riots in 2013. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in all districts for the polls which are being seen as a litmus test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nearly three-year rule. Out of 887 polling centres in riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar, around 600 are sensitive where video cameras have been installed to maintain strict vigil. Elderly voters waiting their turn at the booth at Dhouli Pyayu primary school in Mathura 80 percent voters of 76 vidhan sabha seats in shehar Aligarh belong to the Ansari community, mostly engaged in small scale lock industries. Rest of the 20 percent constitute of Qureshi community, darzi, dhobhi, naai, sabzi farosh, pheri wale etc. All are vouching for SP candidate Zafar Alam. There are 26,822 polling centres for over two crore voters in the first phase of polling for 73 seats across 15 districts. Fate of 839 candidates will be sealed on Saturday. Prominent faces who cast their votes earlier included Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh who cast his vote in Sahibabad, Shrikant Sharma of BJP and Congress's Pradip Mathur in Mathura, Sangeet Som in Sardhana and Suresh Rana in Shamli. An EC official informed IANS that these problems were being attended to on a priority basis and EVMs at some places were replaced. Long queues were seen in places like Mathura, Agra, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut (City), Sardhana, Shamli and Noida. The largest constituency in this phase, as per population, is Sahibabad in Ghaziabad and the smallest is Jalesar in Etah. Voting picked up in the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections within hours of its start at 7 am, poll officials said on Saturday. Kasganj witnessed 13 percent polling in the first two hours, Muzaffarnagar 15, Meerut 10, Mathura 11, Noida seven and Greater Noida nine percent. Technical snags in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were reported in the first hour in polling booths across Noida, Baghpat, Hathras and Mathura. Aligarh is actually divided into two parts - old city Aligarh and new civil lines Aligarh. Old city side people feel that civil lines side voters are not fragmented and detached. They feel that civil lines area people might goof up the elections as they won't go for consolidated voting since they are divided among four major candidates - Vivek Bansal(congress), Ajju Ishaq (SP), Haji Aamirullah Khan(independent, previously SP candidate), Ram Kumar Sharma (BSP), Parvez Khan (AIMIM). These candidates are from Kol vidhan sabha (civil lines, Aligarh). BJP candidate from Kol is Anil Parashar. This statement coming in the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling directing political parties to refrain from communal or caste appeasement in poll campaigns can be called a remarkable shift. He also insisted that there was no polarisation amid voters of Kairana. "Exodus was never a communal matter, it was a law and order problem," Hukum Singh said. He however refused to say that the exodus was a non issue, while adding that it was coincidental that the goons behind rangdaari (extortion) and petty crimes belonged to a specific community. BJP's MP from Kairana, Hukum Singh, on election did a U-turn on the exodus issue, first raked up by him last year. While Hukum Singh had always maintained that the Hindu community in Kairana district was being singled out and targetted, he told CNN-News18 on Friday that it was never a communal issue. There are 26,822 polling centres for over two crore voters in the first phase of polling for 73 seats across 15 districts. Fate of 839 candidates will be sealed on Saturday. Prominent faces who cast their votes earlier included Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh who cast his vote in Sahibabad, Shrikant Sharma of BJP and Congress's Pradip Mathur in Mathura, Sangeet Som in Sardhana and Suresh Rana in Shamli. Long queues were seen in places like Mathura, Agra, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut (City), Sardhana, Shamli and Noida. The largest constituency in this phase, as per population, is Sahibabad in Ghaziabad and the smallest is Jalesar in Etah. Largest constituency in Phase one is Sahibabad and smallest is Jalesar Though the Jat-dominated constituencies are witnessing a heavy turnout, their political conduct remains a mystery. Jats may not have numerical strength on many seats but their influence over political economy of the region can hardly be undermined. That is the reason why the BJP seems a little worried in the first phase. In west UP, there is an impression that the government turned anti-jat after its victory in 2014. As a result MPs like Satypal Singh, former Mumbai police commissioner, who defeated Chaudhary Ajit Singh has also lost relevance in the constituency. Hence this move was planned to rope in Jats who are fence-sitters. Just as Jat-dominated western UP was going to polls today, BJP president Amit Shah had a group of prominent jat leaders hosted by Union Minister Rao Virendra Singh, a jat leader from Haryana. The obvious reason was to neutralise the anger that Jats felt after their agitation in Haryana. Most of Aligarh university votes are going to the Congress but a few votes of non-teaching staff are for Samajawadi Party as well. Samajwadi Party has strong appeal among the economically lower sections of the population. "Badaun is one of those villages in India which are the most backward in India. Samajwadi and BSP have promised so much, delivered nothing." There is hardly any wave in support of any party. Even at the time of polling, there is hardly signs of any wave. Ajit Singh, his son Jayant Singh and his wife Charu Singh also attracted huge turnouts. How could one explain this? Asked leaders. Of course, given large population of the state, the turn outs are poor indicators to read political mood of the state. Yet there is no denying the fact that this election is the most deceptive electoral battle Uttar Pradesh had ever seen. Apparently not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi attracted a good crowd in this region but there was a huge turnout also for Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and even outsiders like Nitin Gadkari. Similarly Akhilesh, Rahul Gandhi and BSP chief Mayawati also drew good crowds. As the first round of the polls is underway, there is one confusion that prevails among senior leaders of all parties. This confusion is about how to explain the large turn out at meetings of these leaders. Modi addresses rally in Badaun which goes to polls on 15 February But earnings from the auto were irregular, from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 a month. So, Hussain is about to begin a job designing and fixing uppers (the upper part of a shoe that contains the tongue) at a shoe factory in NOIDA, located in UP but an extension of the metropolitan region of Delhi, Indias richest province, by per capita income. In the 1990s, Kanpurs leather industry employed a million workers (there are no official data), according to IndiaSpends inquiries with the government and leather-industry representatives. With 176 of 400 leather tanning units shutting over 10 years, according to a joint secretarywho requested anonymity since he is not authorised to talk to the mediain UPs industries department, that number has halved. According to Firstpost Hindi, voter turnout is heavy in western Uttar Pradesh. Till 1pm, Bulandshahr recorded polling percentage of 41.7 percent, Fatehpur Sikri recorded 45 percent, Aligarh 40 percent and Shamli recorded 43 percent. The huge turnout in response to communal consolidation of one community in today's polls is indicative of this strategy. An impression has gained ground here that most of these belong to a particular community. This assessment may not be correct. But the perception is stronger than reality. And the BJP's move has found resonance among voters who are divided on communal lines. The BJP's promise of launching anti-Romeo squads to check eve-teasing in Western UP is calculated to strike resonance with Hindu constituency. Of late there have been reports of eve-teasing assuming a sociological menace in the entire region. Criminals ruling the roost in west UP in the past five year was nothing new. But criminalisation of governance is given a communal touch by a deft political move by the BJP. Inputs from the field across western Uttar Pradesh from correspondents of ETV show polarisation trends, to the extent that channels showing Muslims in large numbers in front of polling booths since early morning also played on the minds of the voters. Observers believe that others are turning up now due to that influence. Voting percentage is likely to be very high and reports said that this polarisation helps BJP. Yet the BJP's move to placate Jats runs the risk of triggering a counter-polarization of non-hat castes. This is a tricky political situation for not only the BJP but also for SP-Congress and the BSP. "We are not short of fertilizer now as we get it aplenty" said one. They were least affected by demonetisation. What had hit them most is the brazen Yadavaisation of governance by Akhilesh Yadav and increasing criminalization. "We were the worst sufferer of this" said villagers who huddled in a corner to mourn the death of young boy in a road accident. Apparently the village distinctly displays a pro-BJP turn. In Tappal area adjacent to Aligarh exists a village where non-jat castes live in large number. In a Baghel-caste dominated village not far from the Yamuna expressway, villagers have decided to vote for the BJP. The reason is obvious. In Aligarh lies a non-Jat, pro-BJP pocket but saffron party runs the risk of losing the edge Multi-phase polling gives politicians this opportunity to move to areas which would come in later phases of polling and go out either to make high pitch campaigning or hold press conferences to make a last-ditch attempt to shape minds of voters in areas where voting was on. In this age of 24x7 news channels, social and digital media ensures that the message is communicated live. It was a strategic decision Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi to hold a joint press conference and slam Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his remarks on their alliance in UP on Saturday morning when first phase of polling in the state was underway. Voting slow in several booths in Mathura. Polling officials say footfall may increase later in the day. If it doesn't then the guessing game over results begins all over again. For parties the task right now would be to get their core voters to booths. There was a feeling that momentum has been generated, from the point of view of crowd turn out in Lucknow, Agra and Kanpur for Congress-SP dynasts, needed to be maintained. Can that press conference influence voter mind who are going out to vote today? There were also reports that on ground level the SP and Congress workers had their own issues and reservation against each other to join hands and fight for common cause. The seat sharing in some constituencies, even as Congress had been allotted 105 seats were there and people, even the party supporters were taking an adverse view. Rahul acknowledged that there were problems in 6-7 seats but underplayed it. The decision to make Rahul and Akhilesh appear together, days after their joint presence in Kanpur, was guided by emerging circumstances because there was a feeling among sections of Samajwadi-Congress party leaders and supporters that Mayawati had lately become aggressive particularly pitching some influential Muslim religious leaders and groups urging minority community voters to trust and vote for BSP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high decibel attack against Congress and Samajwadi Party. Can UP ke ladke sway the voters of Western UP First, the present election has become mechanical and appears more a contest between highly professional poll managers hired by all the political parties than the parties themselves. Second, the well-defined notion of vote-bank politics is in terminal decline. The social bases of all the political parties have been seriously challenged. Read the full article here Interestingly, the pragmatism of electoral compulsions is seen in full swing when we find that all the parties moderated their competitive needs and entered into the political alignment beyond ideological lines and conventional hostilities. The saddest part is that the dramatic defragmentation of political parties has succeeded in misplacing the priorities of Uttar Pradeshs electorates. The first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election in the western region of the state, for 73 seats, is finally underway. The early trend of voting pattern shows that this election is shaping up to be one of the most unique, hyper-competitive, and potentially divisive elections in generations. The SP-Congress combine is heavily banking in Muslim voters in the region seeing their combination as sole protector of their interests. This was the region which was affected in 2013 riots. It is clear that a majority of Jats have shifted their preference from BJP to their very own Ajit Singh's RLD but then many of them are with the BJP. Ajit Singh's RLD is no winner (it can win few seats) but can play spoiler to the BJP's prospects. It thus becomes important for the BJP what percentage of Jats vote for RLD and what percentage of Jats vote for BJP. BSP and SP-Congress combine is talked here in context of a triangular or a quadrangular fight. Common wisdom would suggest that people or a group or a community would vote to see what suits their interest, who protects their interest and who has the potential to deliver goods for the state and work for popular welfare. Jats are a hugely emotional community and more often than not emotions take priority over prudence. Fellow Jats from adjacent Haryana have been camping in this region to ensure that their brethrens in Western UP got disconnected from the BJP. The 73 constituencies spread across 15 districts going to the polls in first phase, has an interesting mix of rural areas in western UP. While areas going to the polls includes, two most important cities Noida and Agra, but the centre of attention in this phase is how Jat heartland Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Hapur and Bulandshahar would vote. From Kol tehsil (civil lines side of Aligarh) Haji Zamirullah, the independent candidate who was previously in Samajwadi Party and belonged to the Shivpal camp was seen as a strong contender till morning but now voting has shifted to the Congress and the SP among Muslims. From Kol seat, both the Congress and SP candidates are getting votes. Zamirullah is also a favourite among Muslims as they are of the view that when an independent Muslim candidate is available then why should Muslim votes go to political parties who only use their votes for vested interests. As first phase of polling in western UP is underway, the stress in the media and at other chatter points have been on Jat factor, Jats slipping away from BJP and Muslims looking at Akhilesh Yadav-Rahul Gandhi combination with hope. The impression that Mayawati has capitulated is misleading. Her party candidates are strong on the ground and their campaign has been visible but while talking about BSP, we tend to talk only about Dalits and Muslim. BJP seems to have faltered on their strength. Instead of presenting the electorate with a simple yet convincing narrative, they are desperately searching for a better story to trump the one told by Akhilesh. They have been reduced to making the same mistake which Modi's rivals did in 2014 run an anti-campaign." Even BJP's early campaign script for 2017 Assembly polls promised to take off from where Modi had left in 2014. "In 2014 Modi had a better narrative than his opponents. To the electorate, pushed against the wall by a non-performing government at the Centre, Modi's promise of 'better days' made more sense than apocalyptic fear of riots. How Modi's campaign changed dramatically and what it says about BJP's chances A total of 121 candidates are in the fray in Agra. Around 30 percent votes were polled till noon in 73 Assembly constituencies, PTI said In twilight zone of their life them coming out to vote means that the hope that India would change is undying. Hope new rulers of Uttar Pradesh would consider their hopes and aspirations. It was heartening to see so many senior citizens in their 70s and 80s, even 90s coming out, holding hands of younger members of their family members, some with walking sticks. Standing in queue to honour my right to vote at a polling station in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, I realised that polling day is perhaps one day which senior citizens relish the most. They don't complain of queue and hassled walk to polling booth but they like the way its an occasion when the world treats them with respect and dignity they deserve. Its also a day when their preference matters. We go on talking about India as a young country and its youthful energy. Political leaders speeches and government programs are angled at wooing them. In an election that's all about the youth, senior citizens inspire by exercising their franchise The Election Commission has been coming out with unique ideas to encourage women to come out and vote. Earlier in Goa, that went to poll on 4 February, the poll panel gifted soft toys to first-time women voters. Now in Uttar Pradesh, the poll panel is gifting all women voters a red rose, according to The Financial Times The party retained two of its traditional seat while it bagged another seat previously held by the Samajwadi Party. Even as polling is underway for the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP won all three graduate MLC seats in Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Bareilly. Incidentally, in Mathura the BJP has been battling a poll jinx for over fifteen years as it had failed to bag a significant win in this city of temples. Malini remains its only bright spot in this holy town of Western UP. The actor turned politician had said, "Vrindavan widows have a bank balance, good income, nice beds, but they beg out of habit... There are 40,000 widows in Vrindavan. I think there is no more place in the city. A large population is coming from Bengal... that's not right. Why don't they stay in Bengal?," NDTV reported BJP's MP Hema Malini ran into a controversy in 2014 when she commented that the aged widows were "unnecesirily crowding" her constituency. According to Telegraph report, some 40,000 widows about 25,000 from Bengal are estimated to live in Vrindavan, Mathura region. They primarily live in various government-run homes and private quarters supported by Sulabh International. Bengali widows, who have found shelter in large numbers in Mathura, exercised their franchise in the crucial elections in the state. Whether the high voter turnout in key districts could swing the beeps on EVMs in favour of the BJP particularly in small non-Jat pockets would be known on 11 March. These isolated pockets have traditionally been against the Jat dominance and could appear as a saviour for the BJP. Besides, the Jats could be the most politically dominating community in the region but their numbers aren't incredible enough to singlehandedly influence the voting pattern in an election. The Jat leaders have advised the community to collectively defeat BJP, however, the appeal is unlikely to maneouvre a 100% swing against the BJP in a community that overwhelmingly voted for the BJP just two years ago. The undecided voter could still go with the saffron party. The Bharatiya Janata Party is walking on a tightrope in the Jat majority areas, as the community has openly pledged to vote for a candidate most suited to defeat the saffron party. Soon, all hell broke loose and the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader was gheraoed by an angry mob of BSP supporters after which police had to resort to cane charge to disperse the unruly crowd. The incident happened at the Islamia Madarsa poling booth. When he was talking to the voters, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supporters outside took umbrage to his spending a long time inside. The 61-year-old politician, who is the incumbent legislator from Kithaur constituency, was greeted with slogans and some people also pelted stones at him, after which he beat a hasty retreat, officials said. Uttar Pradesh Labour and Employment Minister Shahid Manzoor faced a hostile crowd in Meerut's Kithaur constituency on Saturday when he visited a polling both. Addressing a gathering in Budayun, a Yadav stronghold, the Prime Minister said time has come to reverse the caste and community-based policy making in the state and instead embrace the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas' policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed his attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday and charged him with presiding over chaos and lawlessness in the state in the past five years. Firstpost spoke to voters coming out after voting in Aligarh to sense the mood on the ground. Our inputs suggest that Khatig (SC) caste from the region has primarily voted for the BJP while Koli, Kumhar castes are going to SP. Among Muslims Abassi community has favoured the BSP as the local candidate fielded by it belongs to the Abassi community. However, the BSP has managed to retain the Jatav votes. As Firstpost spoke to the voters coming out of the booth, the mood remained inclined towards BJP, except for the Jatav votes which remained hitched to the BSP. However, other SC community voters have chosen to vote for BJP in Modi's name and not in the candidate's name. This area has negligible Muslim population. At the Nahar Singh Inter College, quarsi polling booth around 60% polling was recoded till 4 pm. The officials their suggested that the peak time at this booth was between 11am to 2pm. "Give BJP a chance. Within six months, I promise the law-and-order situation here will improve. The knife-wielding gangs will all be sent to jails within six months," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur district. "Women in Uttar Pradesh can't even wear chains in public, because they are afraid it'll be snatched away. The largest state in India is in the hands of criminals," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Lakhimpur. "In her tenure, Mayawati gave electricity to 23 villages. In his tenure, Akhilesh gave electricity to just three more villages. But in just the last two years since I became Prime Minister, I have given electricity to 1,364 villages," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur district. Modi attacks Mayawati, Akhilesh over UP villages still being without electricity "The corrupt who I targeted with my demonetisation decision are still unable to sleep well. They stole money from the poor, but I am fighting them. And I will not rest. They are all joining hands against me, because they are afraid their ill-gotten wealth will go away from them," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Second phase of Uttar Pradesh began at 7 am. Join us for LIVE updates on everything that is happening on the ground in the 67 constituencies of India's most populous state. Firstpost Hindi brings you a comprehensive explainer as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand vote. For Uttar Pradesh, this is the second phase of voting. While Bangli Hindus gradually found the area inhospitable and spread out to other parts while Sikh farmers developed large farmhouses across the area. At the height of Punjab terrorism, a large group of khalistani terrorists found this area as safe haven. But the lush green belt of the region and highly cultivable land is known as paradise for farmers and rice bowl of India. Sikhs comprise a major population in Terai (Himalayan foothills) that border Nepal. Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Bijnor are the core and buffer forest zones of Dudhwa and Jim Corbett forest ranges. After 1947, Sikhs farmers from Punjab and Bangladeshi hindus were settled in this barren land and given cultivable land. Few know that the area going to polls in the second phase is known as mini Punjab in Uttar Pradesh. The Ruhailkhand area which comprises Himalayan foothills and forest is socially a diverse land. But it is known for housing a liberal Islamic seminary- called Barelvi school of Islamic though. Adjacent to Deobandi school of Islamic thought that propagates fundamentalist variant of the religion, the Barelvi school is known for promoting a liberal value system among faithfuls. This seminary is quite influential among Muslims of the region. Though they avoid directly to be indulging in politics, their tacit support is critical for parties which vie for Muslim support. This time Ulemmas of the seminary are divided and let the voters take their choice. In fact, Mulayam's fortune revived from Terai region where Sikhs came out in support of him. This is the precise reason that Samajwadi Party still enjoys considerable clout among sikhs of the area. He had his legs fractured too. But Mulayam found his spirit soaring following using reception he got in wake of killings of 13 Sikhs in fake encounters by the police in Pilibhit. Pakaria Gurudwara of Lakhimpur Kheri was the first place where Mulayam Singh Yadav visited after his electoral drubbing in 1991. When the BJP won the election, Mulayam was completely crushed in the election. Considering Azams controversial, mostly acidic, statements that generate a lot of political heat frequently, one needs no proof. The senior Samajwadi Party leader is contesting from Rampur. Its not about Hindu or Muslim, anyone can be victim of his tongue, says Debendra. "This man is incorrigible," says driver Debendra Singh, a resident of Etawah and a supporter of the Samajwadi Party, about Azam Khan. "He will do some good work but in the end say something so nasty that it will nullify all the goodwill he might have generated for himself. If only he knew how to control his tongue," he adds. It's not about Hindu or Muslim, your words can hurt anyone: Voter on SP's Azam Khan The BJP has none. While the first two are hoping to benefit from the support of minorities, the BJP is banking on reverse polarisation. With their eyes on the demographic balance, every party has stepped into the fray with a different strategy. The BSP and SP alliance have 26 and 25 Muslim candidates. The 67 seats that go to polls in Uttar Pradesh second phase are considered the pocket burrough of the Samajwadi Party. In most of the seats, Muslims are a third of the electorate and thus the decisive factor. "It was a situation that was allowed to escalate and the party in power in the state needs some explaining to do. Making Azam a scapegoat wont work." Not many in Muzaffarnagar believe Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan was behind the riots of 2013. "No, the perpetrators were other people. But the reputation of this man is such that people would buy anything said about him," says a Jat leader who plays an important role for farmers of the region and who saw the riots from close quarters. 'Azam Khan's reputation is such that anyone would buy theory that he was involved in Muzaffarnagar riots' The police administration of the district was under pressure to trace the animals. It made national news too. The buffaloes were traced to Moradabad. We dont know what the thief went through after being caught, but the message conveyed was clear: nobody messes with Azam, or his buffaloes, in Rampur. That Azam is a powerful man in the Samajwadi Party needs no overstating. So when cattle thieves stole seven of his buffaloes from his farm house two years ago, it was an act of great courage. Call it immense stupidity if you please. You cannot run away with Azam Khans buffaloes just like that. This is one of the few constituencies where the election is principally between SP and BSP. But then candidature and claim of BJP's Lakshmi Saini can't be completely ruled out. In 2014 parliamentary poll pattern gives hope to BJP's supporters - Muslim votes got divided between Azam's candidate from SP Naseer Ahmad Khan and Nawab Kazim Ali Khan to pave victory way BJP's Nepal Singh. What makes this Khan versus Khan battle even more interesting is the fact that this constituency has 60 percent Muslim population and the way members of the community vote here today could send signals elsewhere. Nawab Khan's family and SP's Azam Khan (who practically lords over this region) political rivalry dates is four decade old. But in this assembly election it has become sharper than ever. A well educated and well groomed Nawab Kazim Ali Khan is four time MLA from this constituency. A traditional Congressman Nawab (belonging to a family which had been with Congress since Independence until about a year ago) is now BSP candidate. He now hopes that dailts and other sections on margins of social structure would add on to his personal social clout of a royalty. Pitted against him is a young Samajwadi candidate Abdullah Azam Khan. Though the young Khan is a political green horn but has support and legacy of his mighty father. The battle of second phase is between the erstwhile Nawab of Rampur Nawab Kazim Ali Khan and modern day political Nawab of Rampur Azam Khan's son Abdullah Azam Khan. UP Second phase battle is between two royalties The BJP has picked up the topic of Triple Talaq ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections and asked its rivals SP and Congress to clarify their stand on gender justice. The women voters also feel that safety and security of women are of prime concern and they will vote for the party that can ensure it. Speaking to CNN-News18, Muslim women of Rampur, one of the constituencies that will cast its ballot in the second phase, say Triple Talaq isn't an issue that political parties should discuss and is best left for the community to tackle. Owasi's rally here drew enthusiastic crowd of under-30 youngsters. Can his AIMIM be a winner or spoiler for SP and BSP candidates? A triangular split in Muslim vote, if it happens, would generate hope for BJP candidate. This constituency has over 65 percent Muslim electorate. So it's not surprising to find that 10 out of a total of 13 candidates in contention are from Muslim community - SP's candidate Mehboob Ali is a minister in Akhilesh Yadav government. He is facing a stiff challenge from BSP's Naushad Ali. The two were pitted against each other in 2012 also. Then there is AIMIM's Shamim Ahmed, RLD's Salim Khan, and Peace Party's Mohammad Rizwan and the list would go on. BJP's Kunwar Singh Saini is one of only three Hindu candidates from Amroha. Amroha could be taken as a test case to understand Muslim voters polling preference whether the Muslims were en-bloc with SP-Congress combine or Mayawati's BSP has own claims in the community and how far Assaduddin's Owaisi AIMIM has made inroads in the community. In a crowded main bazaar of Amroha, one sees a hoarding "Tandoori Roti Rs 35 per kilo". Tandoori Roti or bread is cheaper than the price of raw atta that sells in any bigger cities. But when it comes to voting and understanding voting pattern, things are far more complicated. It is precisely for this reason that BJP president Amit Shah said in a media conference that Mayawati's outfit is BJP's main rival in this phase. Shah hopes that BSP, which has given tickets to 99 Muslim candidates this time, would spoil SP's plan and help BJP. Spread across 11 districts, the 67 constituencies that go to polls today in the second phase of Uttar Pradesh elections are dominated by the Muslim factor. While Muslims are known to vote tactically to keep the BJP away, the SP-Congress alliance would be hoping that the minority votes are not splintered between it and the BSP. BJP strategises propping up BSP as party's main rival in the second phase so as to benefit from the splinter Both quotes are attributed to Azam. Abdullah is the Samajwadi Party candidate from Suar. As part of the Rampur Lok Sabha constituency, it comes in the extended political catchment of his father. The latters prestige would as much at stake here as his. Abdullah Azam, son of Azam Khan, is believed to be a suave man and a temperate speaker unlike his father. He won't certainly be caught saying something like, "RSS volunteers are homosexuals, thats why they never get married"; or "Mobile phones are responsible for the rape of minors." States with the worst sex ratios have more women members of legislative assemblies (MLAs), as IndiaSpend reported in September 2015. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE The only exception was for the seats reserved for scheduled caste (SC) candidates. The proportion of women winning SC seats was more than double that of those winning general seats. All this happened over a period when women in Indias most populous state became healthier and better educated, reinforcing the point that there is no correlation between these indicators and better political representation of women. Poor, populous Uttar Pradesh was the first Indian state to have a female chief minister Sucheta Kriplani from 1963 to 1967but this pioneering effort has not improved prospects for women in elections. As voter turnout has risen, more competitors have stood against women candidates, fewer women have won and a growing number have lost their deposits, according to an IndiaSpend and Swaniti Initiative analysis of electoral data of the last three state elections in UP since 2002. Age must give way to youth, says the veteran brass trader. Some voters though are worried about the succession battle that affected the ruling party in this SP stronghold. One of them tells CNN-News 18 that Mulayam should have understood that he has reached retirement age and should have made it easier for son Akhilesh to succeed him, not tougher. The brass industry of Moradabad has been hit by notebandi (demonetisation) and the predominantly Muslim electorate are in a mood to teach BJP a lesson. Moradabad - Brass industry, which has been hit by demonetisation - in a mood to teach BJP a lesson? Overall, the voter turnout stands at 10.96 percent in Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, Moradabad recorded 11 percent voter turnout till 9 am and Saharanpur recorded 12 percent. Akhilesh Yadav and Narendra Modi urge voters to go out and cast their vote In the end, the outcome may not be decided by issues that have been talked about during the campaign development, demonetisation, dynasty and corruption. It may well boil down to whether a voter thinks of himself as a Muslim or a Hindu before pressing the button or looks dispassionately at the parties in the fray. A lot had changed between 2012 and 2014. But a lot has changed from 2014 to 2017. So, neither of the two scenarios is an apt pointer to the trend. The outcome would ultimately depend on how the BJP manages to benefit from a possible split in Muslim votes (nearly 33 percent) and capitalises on counter-consolidation of Hindu votes. There are two ways to look at polling in 67 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. The first is to see it as a contest that could be shaped by the 2014 General Elections when the BJP polled nearly 42 percent votes and led in 49 seats in the region. The other is to go back to 2012 when the BJP polled just around 17 percent, winning 10 seats. In 2nd phase, all depends on how BJP manages to split Muslim votes Maximum voting was reported from Saharanpur and Bareilly at 11 per cent each, followed by Rampur (nine per cent) and Amroha (7.4 per cent). Excited first time voters, newly weds, elderly, differently-abled and women queued up outside the polling stations to cast their votes at 7 a.m. Brisk voting is reported in the first two hours of polling in the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections on Wednesday. A confident Azam Khan, the SP minister, tells Aaj Tak in an interview that Muslims will be firmly behind his party. This phase is crucial for Samajwadi Party which won 34 of 67 seats in 2012 and is under pressure to do an encore. The BJP had got 10 seats during last assembly elections and BSP, 11. Till 9 am, 10.69 percent ballots have been cast in Uttar Pradesh. Azam Khan invokes Gujarat while tackling Narendra Modi's charge that police stations in Rampur, his constituency, have become Samajwadi Party's offices. Second phase: Tussle between BSP and SP-Congress alliance; Azam Khan confident Muslim voters will back him Five, the BJP's performance this time wouldn't be as good as 2014. Well, these could be true of the whole of UP as well. In any case, these don't give you an idea on which the way voters are going to swing this time. Four, local equations will override other considerations in the elections; and One, Akhilesh Yadav is not someone who is disliked much, both as a person and a politician; In Bijnor, you dont catch the election mood by speaking to a few people. Most are evasive when they sense a politically-inclined question. The ones who open up are most likely to be sympathisers of one party or the other. However, talking to a cross-section of people here you get to understand a few things: Facts from Bijnor that holds true for the whole of Uttar Pradesh: SP-Congress alliance a good idea and demonetisation doesn't matter "My battle is with Azam Khan and not his son. In terms of funding, the chief minister has sent crores worth of funds to the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, which Azam Khan is the chancellor of. The money hasnt been used for the upliftment of the people of Rampur." His success, whatever it be, votes or seats, means loss to SP. So far Muslim politics and Muslim voting preference in the state has so far been split between SP and BSP. The BSP has fielded 100 Muslim candidates with SP closely following that number but the fact remains that no party with Muslim leadership at the top, formed with purpose to cater Muslim interests has so far electorally succeeded. Can Owaisi make that exception? His speeches have been fiery, making the crowd lustily cheer for him but can he turn that personal appeal in votes? For the first time Owasi is trying his luck here and has fielded 40 candidates from AIMIM symbol. Owaisi and erstwhile Congress ally in Andhra Pradesh and also at the centre during UPA regime had surprised all by opening account in Maharastra assembly election and making substantive gains in civic bodies polls. He, however, had failed in Bihar assembly elections because his party was seen as a vote spoiler. Uttar Pradesh is a big test for him. In his public rallies in Uttar Pradesh, he has pulled fierce punches on Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati. BJP is his favourite punching bag. This round of election spread across electorally Muslim-dominated areas of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Sambhal, Rampur, Amroha where community presence vary between 30 percent to 65 percent will decide whether Hyderabad based Assaduddin Owasi's AIMIM can spread its political influence outside of Telangana and make a mark in Hindi heartland. Here is a look at the key electoral issues in Uttar Pradesh. Is caste the standalone factor that swings the electoral outcome in Uttar Pradesh or the recent tune of development sung by SP-Congress combine and the BJP resonating with the voters. With a Muslim electorate of over 65 percent all mainstream parties have chosen to field leader from the same community. SP's Iqbal Mehmood is sitting MLA and is considered a very strong candidate. He has for long been a challenger to Barq's dominance in the region. Presence of Mayawati's BSP candidate Rafatulla has further spiced up polls. He has roped in a hugely influential a four-time MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq to his party. Barq is now 86 and has chosen his young grandson Ziaur Rahman Barq to be AIMIM candidate. If AIMIM has a chance to open an account in UP then Sambhal needs to be watched. It's a tough electoral battle. Enter Sambhal and you will soon realise Asaduddin Owasi and his men mean business. Key to Owaisi's expansion plans for UP is an 86-year-old in Sambhal But that is not the case. The electoral chemistry of the national election is vastly different from the state assembly polls. In 2014 elections, Narendra Modi rode on a wave of high expectation and an outright rejection of a government perceived to be led by a weakest-ever prime minister. The groundswell of support transcended the caste-barriers in a decisive manner for Modi. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE Not let us examine the reasons why this election is one of the rarest political event in the life of the country's most populous state. Conventional wisdom has it that the party which gets overwhelming mandate only two-and-a-half years back in 2014 Lok Sabha election should have edge over others. By this logic, the BJP should have been choice for the electorate in the state assembly election. Conventional wisdom often guides elections. But rarely does an election turn conventional wisdom on its head. A cursory glance at the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election 2017 would leave no one in doubt that this election would fall into the category of 'rarest of rare' elections. In 2002, women won 11 of 314 seats (3.5 percent) for general-category candidates, and 15 of 89 seats (16.9 percent) reserved for SCs. By 2012, women won 22 of 318 general seats (6.9 percent) and 13 of 85 reserved seats (15.3 percent). So, women contesting from scheduled-caste seats had a more than double chance of winning. The BSP chief's move was to tell voters that such a thing will never be repeated in past. She has gone out of her way to attack BJP, calling the debate around triple talaq part of nefarious RSS agenda. To counter her tactic of fielding an unprecedented 99 Muslim candidates, Akhilesh Yadav therefore has been going around telling voters that Mayawati can't be trusted since her party has allied with "communal" BJP three times in past. In Kanpur on Tuesday BSP chief Mayawati was at pains to distance herself from BJP, insisting that she will never join hands with the "Dalit basher" party. Mayawati's predicament is understandable. To return to power she must ensure Dalit votes are consolidated and a sizeable portion of Muslim votes are weaned away from the Samajwadi Party. Mayawati distancing herself from 'Dalit basher BJP': BSP chief's move is most obvious and necessary Speaking to the media after casting his vote Duniyapur says the foundation of the Ram Rajya in Uttar Pradesh will be laid in Rampur. He adds that all parties in Uttar Pradesh are against the BJP. He is confident that the BJP will come to power in full majority in the state and that people will vote against poor governance and corruption. Though Lucknow had familiarised itself with Iranian cultural traditions due to Shia's influence, Rampur borrowed its cultural traits from Mughals of Delhi. As this constituency goes for polls, the electorate gets divided on intense communal lines. However in reality Rampur has a rich cultural heritage which has much more to celebrate about than acrimony. Historically Pathans from Afghanistan found a shelter in picturesque land of Ruhilkhand. Apar from Lucknow, Rampur emerged as another centre of excellence of Nawabi culture of Uttar Pradesh. Rampur, a township known as bastion of Samajwadi Party's loudmouth Azam khan, is also known as land of khans. The BJP is expecting benefits from counter pollination which may happen in the second half of the polls. Similarly, voters registered a significant turnout in Saharanpur and Pilibhit. This round of polls seem to be going in favor of the SP because of demographic profile of the region that comprises Muslim-Yadav as significant social chunk. In certain pockets where scheduled caste voters are higher in number, Muslims are looking for BSP as an option. But that is very rare as the SP-Congress enjoys a solid support base. Initial turnout in Budaun, Saharanpur, Bareilly and Shahjahanpur do indicate that Muslim voters have come out in large numbers in the morning. For instance in Budaun there are reports of 25 percent polls that suggest large turnout of Mulim-Yadav voters in support of the Samajwadi Party. Initial turnout indicate Muslim voters have come out in large numbers As Uttar Pradesh votes to choose its Legislative Assembly, BJP hopes to repeat its 2014 sweep victory riding on a Modi wave once again. The Akhilesh camp on the other hand managed to bag the majority in the 2012 Assembly polls. If a party's past performance tells us anythig, it's that in state elections swing votes ensure that its a close call between the key parties. Here is a look back at the previous performances of all the parties in UP. UP Polls: A look at the previous performance of key players in the state If the votes are divided then its advantage BJP, says Satish Prakash, Dalit activist. With as many as 34 of the 67 seats under its belt last time, the SP would expect a better show. It has the Congress votes with it now. The BSP, on the other hand, has announced its candidates much earlier and cultivated the constituencies well. The BJP would be happy if the alliance and the BSP shared the Muslim votes equally. Which way will the Muslim votes swing? On this question rests the fate of parties in Uttar Pradesh. As voters in the Muslim heavy constituencies queue up at the booths today the suspense would be around whether they have voted for the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance or the BSP. Why the BJP would like Muslim votes to be shared equally by BSP and the SP-Cong alliance Official sources said polling was dull initially but picked up as the day wore on. They said till midday there was no report of any untoward incident and polling was going on smoothly. Over 25 percent of the electorate cast their votes till noon in the second phase polling in Uttar Pradesh. In the second of seven-phase election, 2.28 crore voters, including over 1.04 crore women, are eligible to cast their ballots in 14,771 polling centres and 23,693 polling stations. It reminds the imams that it is their "special responsibility" to use mosques and make the millat (the global Muslim nation) aware of the current conditions and ensure that Muslims know that voting is a democratic right as well as a shar'i fareeza (Islamic religious duty). While the appeal does not say which party to vote against, it urges the imams and others to go to areas where Muslim candidates are in the fray against other Muslim candidates, and explain the situation to the voters to exercise their vote unitedly, presumably against the BJP. On the second-phase polling in Uttar Pradesh, the Urdu-language daily Roznama Inquilab carries a frontpage appeal by some Muslims titled: "Respectful appeal to the imams of mosque." The two-column appeal reads: "The country's fascist forces, under their eternal projects, are conspiring to make Muslims second- and third-grade citizens, and are engaged in targeting the dear country's biggest minority by adopting new, new tactics. And surely, you are no less concerned about these situations." One argument I have not understood but most experts say is that Indian Muslims are voting the BJP, which is correct to some extent within Gujarat but it's not proven elsewhere. Khalid feels that Muslims indeed are voting the BJP but he says that they do not proclaim it publicly. "Within the community, such BJP voters are shamed by clerics and elders and therefore they do not reveal. So, one cannot detect such votes publicly," he explains. Perhaps in times to come, Muslims will vote for the BJP, but the party has not given tickets to any Muslim candidate in UP elections. A day before the first phase of UP polls on 11 February, Roznama Inquilab had carried a frontpage headline: "UP First phase polling, Musalmanon ka Imtehan (Test for Muslims)." A few days ago in Aligarh, I asked Urdu journalist Hasan Khalid how will Muslims perceive if Hindi newspapers gave such a headline saying elections are a "test for Hindus." Khalid criticises such headlines in the Urdu media and argues that if one has to be so, it must only be: "voters ka Imtehan." It also carries some reports expressing concern that the division of Muslim votes, notably in Pratapgarh region, could hurt secular forces. Roznama Sahafat, another Urdu daily, carries a whole front-page report in favour of Azam Khan, and it's not presented as kind of advert. Statements of Muslim elders such as Chaudhary Munawwar Saleem are given on the entire page to ensure Azam Khan's victory, but there have been occasions where his political rallies faced disruptions in Rampur. To assure Muslims that the BSP will not support the BJP in UP after the elections, Mayawati's statement "Willing to sit in opposition but no alliance with BJP (after the elections)" is a front-page headline in Urdu daily Roznama Akhbar-e-Mashriq on 15 February, as the UP goes to second-phase polling. Such pure rumours worked against the BJP in Bihar elections. Uttar Pradesh elections have seen mobilisation of Muslim voters against the BJP and in support of the SP-Congress alliance and to some extent for BSP. During Bihar Assembly elections, I heard actual reports that even rumours played a consequential role in defeating the BJP. In rural areas, poor Muslim women were convinced by Islamic clerics and local opinion makers to offer prayers for the victory of Nitish Kumar. They were told that "Modi will demolish mosques." Modi was effectively urging the voters to rise above caste, community and identity fault lines with a strong dose of nationalism arising out of the achievements of scientists. Narendra Modi began his rally in Kannauj by congratulating Isro scientists for launching 104 satellites in one go earlier in the day. Constantly invoking their success during his speech, the Prime Minister asked the sizeable crowd to raise their voice to laud the scientists' effort in which 101 were foreign satellites were launched and only 3 were Indian. Modi uses Isro success to punch in strong dose of nationalism in Kannauj rally The sugar mills feel their business is unsustainable in view of falling sugar prices. Some have threatened to die but they cannot do so under the law. Akhilesh has just made things more difficult for them by increasing the State Advisory Price for sugarcane to Rs 305. The BJP promises a loan waiver and payment to farmers within 14 days of delivery. But on the ground, its not a big talking point. Interesting. In the sugarcane zone of Uttar Pradesh theres not much talk on plight of cane farmers. Not all is hunky-dory with the sugarcane industry here. Farmers have been complaining about rising arrears in payment from the sugar mills. Was it really a paradigm shift in voter behaviour? Was 2014 the year of enlightenment for Indian voters who suddenly realised that they had been taken for a merry ride by politicians in the name of caste and community equations? Were they eschewing identity politics and its trappings? Writing for EPW, A K Verma analysed BJP's victory as "it is significant that the party made electoral gains across all castes and communities and across all regions in the state. This victory signalled a paradigm shift in voter behaviour, with a preference for good governance and development pushing out the identity politics of caste and community." The result was stunning. In Uttar Pradesh alone, BJP won 71 out of 80 seats. Dalits abandoned Mayawati and voted in droves for BJP's PM candidate. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal ran a campaign of anger. Modi defeated him in Varanasi by a huge margin. It was a remarkable spectacle in 2014. While BJP's rivals, especially in the Hindi heartland, were busy slicing and dicing data on caste equations, PM-aspirant Narendra Modi was telling rally after rally of packed audiences how he will bring achhe din. The more his rivals asked the electorate not to trust him, the more Modi talked about development. The opposition called him a 'polarising figure who will usher in riots', Modi said he will usher in vikaas. How Modi's campaign changed dramatically and what it says about BJP's chances The underlying purpose behind the alliance between Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party and Sonia-Rahul Gandhi led Congress party was consolidation of Muslim votes for the combine. Akhilesh Yadav on several occasion has said there was a confusion among some people about Samajwadi's prospects to return to power but after a tie-up with Congress that confusion is gone. If SP-Congress has to come to power, it needs to sweep this phase. In 2012 elections SP had won 35 of 67 seats, Congress 3, BSP 18 and BJP had won 10, one seat had gone to Independent. The BJP is banking on some split in Muslim votes between SP-BSP and AIMIM. The BJP is also looking for a situation where aggressive polling by Muslim community members could consolidate Hindutava votes in its favor. Latent Hindutava sentiment is there in sections of Hindu voters but the key question is how much of that is translating into votes. The BSP has fielded some strong candidates on the ground. The party has also got a number of influential Muslim clerics and community groups to issue appeal in its favor. Despite Supreme Court order, Mayawati has been openly talking of importance of Muslim votes. Will that yield dividend to her. As it is she has solid backing of Dalits, particularly Jatavas. Polling by noon has shown that polling percentage could go up in this phase, at least as compared to phase one. There lies the catch for all three mainstream contenders SP-Congress, BJP and BSP. This phase of election is supremely important for the SP-Congress combine as majority of the 67 seats where the polling process is underway has overwhelming Muslim population. Sweeping phase two election crucial for SP to justify its alliance with Congerss Picking up BJP's clean sweep in Uttar Pradesh where the party won all three seats of graduate MLC seats in Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Bareilly this month, Narendra Modi during his election rally in Kannauj on Wednesday taunted the SP-Congress alliance by asking, "UP ko yeh saath pasand kyon nahin aya"? (Why did the UP voters show thumbs down to SP-Congress alliance). The taunt was a spin on the alliance partners' campaign slogan. The PM also mentioned BJP's good result in Odisha panchayat polls and interpreted it as the poor endorsing demonetisation despite Opposition slander. With elections for the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh assembly underway, even sale of liquor has fallen, partly because of strictures from the Election Commission. The Excise Department, the cash cow, has also taken a beating in revenue collection. An official said that as against a target of Rs 1,443 crore in December, the collection was down at Rs 1,345 crore. While it earned Rs 4,494 crore in tax in November, the collection slipped in December and is set to go down further in January and February due to engagement of employees and officials in election duty. The Sales Tax Department, an official told IANS, has seen a drop in collections in the past three months. Officials in the concerned departments fear that the revenue targets for the current fiscal might take a knock of 25-30 per cent. Uttar Pradesh's revenue has taken a big hit first due to demonetisation and now because most government employees are out on election duty. Modi says those sitting in Delhi cannot gauge the extent of damage at Barabanki The once powerful Shivpal Yadav is a pale shadow of himself after the knock-out blow from nephew Akhilesh. Patriarch Mulayam Singh is a much subdued man these days, preferring to be away from the limelight. Some other members of the family are still in the process of adjusting to the generational shift in the party. The Yadav community has stood by Mulayam for over two decades but this time its a bit confused after the coup by Akhilesh which many perceive as an insult to Mulayam. In Uttar Pradeshs heartland, where the election enters phase three, the debate is not whether the Yadav dominance in their stronghold would continue, its how the bitter power struggle in the Yadav first family would impact the prospect of individual members in the fray. Akhilesh Yadav. ReutersAkhilesh Yadav. Reuters In the 2012 Assembly polls, SP had won 55 of these 69 seats, while BSP, BJP and Congress secured just 6, 5 and 2 respectively. One seat went to an Independent. Curtains will come down on Friday on the hectic campaign in 69 Assembly seats spread over 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh that will go to polls in the third phase on 19 February. The districts are Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki and Sitapur. Campaign for 3rd phase ends on Friday, 12 districts go to polls on 19 February "Akhilesh says that their party has changed over the years but the goons are still there within the party. Three people have been engaged in spreading corruption in the country and now these people have tied up in an alliance to loot Uttar Pradesh." "What has this family given you? There are problems for farmers while law and order machinery in the state has collapsed. There is acute shortage of water and medicines. What has this state government done for you?" he asked. He asked the voters to shun dynastic and caste-based politics, noting that everything in the state veered around one family. Two families have entered into an unholy alliance. Initially, people were affected by one shahzada (prince), now it is two. One shahzada is giving pain to his mother, the other to his father," he said, attacking Rahul and Akhilesh, who had a bitter feud with his father Mulayam Singh Yadav over the control over SP. UP election is a way to end caste and family politics, says Shah at Amethi rally. Congress-SP alliance is immoral, he adds. Sitting UP minister Vijay Mishra joins Mayawati's party dealing a fresh blow to Akhilesh. Vijay goes on to call Samajwadi Party Anti-Brahmin while Mayawati, all confident, says that Uttar Pradesh will punish Akhilesh for running goonda raj in state. The killing spree started with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by RSS. We are Gandhians from the core of our heart and firm believer of non-violence," AICC General Secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad told a news conference here. Congress on Thursday dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that the party had made a bid on Mulayam Singh Yadav's life, saying the word 'murder' was synonymous with Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. "The word 'murder' is synonymous with Modi and (Amit) Shah. Irani had said on Thursday that Priyanka Gandhi was avoiding canvassing in Amethi because she was afraid of people's questions on their unfulfilled promises. After Smriti Irani took on Priyanka Gandhi for not addressing a single rally in Amethi, Priyanka has finally entered the poll limelight as she appeared at a Congress rally in Raebareli, flanked by her brother Rahul Gandhi. The apex court has also sought a status report from the UP police within a period of eight weeks. The Supreme Court ordered the registration of an FIR against UP minister Gayatri Prajapati in a gang rape and sexual harassment case against him. The bench hearing the case observed that the state machinery could not go slow on a accused just because he was an influential leader in the state. Poll panel officials said they hope that more and more people will come out to vote this time and that the previous turnout of 59.96 per cent in this region in 2012 will be bettered by the end of the day. Voting for 69 seats in the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections began on Sunday amid tight security. Heavy security deployment has been made across the 12 districts where polling began. Sensitive polling stations marked by the Election Commission (EC) are being monitored online, an official said. Officials hope third phase turnout will be better than the second phase's 59.96% In this round, all eyes are on people from the Yadav clan, like Shivpal Singh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav's cousin Anurag Yadav. The fate of BJP's Rita Bahuguna Joshi will also be decided in this round. In all, there are 826 candidates in fray whose fate would be decided by 2.41 crore voters. Prominent districts where polling is underway include Lucknow, Kanpur, Etawah, Kannauj, Etah and Mainpuri. BSP has fielded Yogesh Dixit, who is trying to woo voters by promising good governance by party supremo Mayawati. The SP candidates include Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav and three ministers, one of whom was recently sacked. BJP has preferred to field turncoats on two seats Lucknow Central and Lucknow Cantt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who had won on Congress ticket last time, has been fielded by BJP from Cantt seat against Aparna. Ruling Samajwadi Party is facing a tough battle as it tries to retain the seven Assembly seats it had won last time out of nine in Lucknow, while BJP and BSP queer the pitch. The two other seats were shared by BJP and Congress. Lucknow Central is also witnessing a keen contest, where sitting SP MLA and cabinet minister Ravidas Mehrotra is facing an uphill task with Congress candidate Maroof Khan refusing to withdraw from the field despite a tie-up between the two parties. BJP has given ticket to former MP Brijesh Pathak, a fromer Lucknow University student union president, who switched from BSP. However, this time the situation for SP is difficult with its MLA Sharda Prasad Shukla contesting on RLD ticket after being spurned by the party. An interesting contest is on in Sarojini Nagar seat, where BJP's woman face and state women wing chief Swati Singh is in fray. BJP has never won the seat. The driver gives it a thought, stifles a smile and nods in agreement. Who would like to be seen in the vicinity of the clinic and be branded a naamard? Its a society where everyone knows everyone. And word spreads fast. Salacious words move faster. I doubt whether even other patients go to the clinic that day. Do you think these doctors do any business on Tuesdays? I ask the driver, a native of Uttar Pradesh, adding, I dont think so. He is a bit perplexed: Why? One wise doctor has fixed a weekday for each category of patients for consultation. Naamards on Mangalbar (impotents on Tuesday), reads the information on one wall. Somewhere else Thursday is the day for those with the problem of early ejaculation. Something strikes you as odd. On the road through the Yadav zone in Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls today, theres no escaping gupt rog. On the ubiquitous long brick walls amid green fields on both sides you find the mention of gupt rog and the doctor in loud white. In fact, this crude advertisement easily outnumbers those of the candidates in the elections. Most voters are unable to say with confidence which party might form the next government in Lucknow. Will this election result in a hung assembly? This too cannot be said with certainty, as a shift of just about three percent votes could result in a clear majority for a single party. Except for the Jat voters, the BJP voters have largely stayed with the party. BJP might be enjoying some silent polarisation in its favour. However, talking to people in western UP, it didn't appear that there was any wave in favour of any party. This may change in eastern UP. During the first two phases of polling which covered western Uttar Pradesh, some division was seen in the Muslim votes. While most Muslim votes went for the Samajwadi Party, the BSP too seems to have received a fair share of Muslim votes. There is effectively a three-cornered contest across Uttar Pradesh. BJP might have enjoyed silent polarisation in western UP but that changes in eastern UP The constituency comprises city area considered stronghold of BJP and in 2012 polls BJP's Bora lost by a narrow margin of 2,219 votes to Mishra. Lucknow North is witnessing a contest between state minister and SP candidate Abhishek Mishra and BJP's Neeraj Bora, while BSP has fielded former NSUI leader Ajay Srivastava this time, making it a three-cornered fight. The Urdu daily Roznama Inquilab on 17 February also carried a five-column report from Barabanki quoting several Islamic clerics and local elders saying that appeals made by Muslim leaders to vote for a certain party has confused Muslim voters. Muhammad Yunus Khan, who works for educational uplift of Muslims, is quoted in the report as saying that there is awareness among Muslims as to which party to vote for. Haseeb Ahmad Nizami of the Lucknow-based social organisation Bharatiya Aqaliyat Mahasabha who criticised such appeals for Muslim votes says that Muslims are aware of which party to vote for or not to vote, according to a report in the Urdu daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq on 16 February. Some resentment is being seen in the Muslim community against appeals made by various leaders for Muslim minority votes. This may not be consequential but there is a realisation that political leaders use Muslims at the time of elections and forget the community after the vote. "I urge everyone to cast their important vote in the third phase of Uttar Pradesh voting. After the first two phases, I can confidently say that even in third phase BSP will lead all the parties as far as votes are concerned. In fact, in all the remaining phases as well BSP will come out as a winner. And I can positively say that BSP will form a government on its own, without anyone's assistance or any uncomfortable alliance. Uttar Pradesh needs change, it is looking for development. BJP has been tested and the same goes for Samajwadi Party the voters have decided." At another place close to Kanpur, you get ghanghor thandi beer. It does not surprise anymore. Perhaps its a case of overdoing things. The owner of the shop wanted extra emphasis on the chill factor and came up with this adjective. Well, cannot say it does not attract attention. If it didnt, why would one be discussing it in the first place? We know chilled beer. We can forgive the lapse on the sign board writers part when he mentions it as child beer. After all, beer is what matters in the end. But what, pray, is bhayankar thandi beer? On the road from Meerut to Kanpur one comes across this on a sign board and pauses for a few minutes to grasp the meaning of the words in combination. Thandi is for cold alright and beer needs no explaining. What is bhayankar doing here? The polling percentage so far, with exception of Noida, has been very good. That is a clear indicator that voters in large numbers from all communities are coming out to vote. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE An excessive reliance of the SP-Congress coalition to woo Muslims has given rise to latent Hindutva sentiments across the state. The strategists perhaps erred in calculating the Muslims vote but they are not the only ones who vote. Mayawati too has erred on the same count. Scratch a bit and Hindutva sentiments of non-Yadav and non-Jatav community would come out to the fore. The situation may not be that of 2014 but this factor is certainly there on the ground and that could significantly tilt the balance for BJP. Its true that there are no obvious signs of anti-incumbency against Akhilesh Yadav but the endorsement sentiments to bring the incumbent back to power is clearly missing. Winds of change could be blowing in Uttar Pradesh. Ahead of the third phase of polling in this most populous and politically crucial Hindi heartland state, there are signs on the ground that Samajwadi Party-Congress coalition, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadavs pre-poll catchphrase UP ko ye saath pasand hai is not striking the desired cord among the numbers of voters required to catapult them to power. Long queues have been seen in Lucknow, Kanpur and Etawah where people went early morning to cast their votes. Lucknow, which is generally less excited about exercising franchise, has also witnessed long queues outside polling stations. The Modi-versus-Akhilesh debate has dominated the election scenario in Awadh, which could turn out to be a make-or-break region for both parties. Modi, who is the BJPs strongest vote-puller in a battle without a chief ministerial face, underlined the fact that he was an MP from the state and described himself as UPs adopted son. Brisk voting has been reported from most of the 69 assembly seats which are going to polls on Sunday in the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections. Awadh: With Modi vs Akhilesh debate dominating election talk, it could be a make-or-break region Prominent persons who voted here included Rita Bahuguna Joshi, former state Congress President and currently the BJP candidate from Lucknow Cantt seat. Large crowds swarmed polling stations in Indiranagar, Gomtinagar, Aliganj Chowk in the old city and Aashiana. Many voters were out early morning so that they do not have to wait in long queues later in the day. In this region, the competition is between the father and the son. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that Akhilesh Yadav is being seen as tanashah (dictator), as one person told me. However, it seems to be more of a social case. In Indian society, people generally favour the father in any clash with his son. The third-phase polling today covers Etawah and nearby constituencies which are considered a stronghold of Mulayam Singh Yadav. However, the recent clash between Mulayam Singh and his son Akhilesh Yadav has caused resentment among the voters in this region. The black patches could well be heartbreaks, externalised and painted in colour for public viewing. These frustrated aspiring candidates could damage the prospect of running candidates in the Samajwadi Party dominated region through silent sabotage acts. Some of them had started campaigning already anticipating party tickets. The names had to be removed from the walls to avoid confusion among voters about the candidates. The huge, ugly black patches on many walls in the fields on both sides of the road (from Meerut to Kanpur) tell you that someone has done a shoddy job. Look carefully, and try to find what the dark patches are trying to cover. You get the Congress' campaign theme before it entered into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party: '27 saal UP behaal' and you get names of Congress and Samajwadi Party aspirants who didn't finally get the ticket or lost out due to the alliance. The Bhojpuri actor, who formally was a Congress candidate and contested election in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur in 2014, is all set to join the BJP. The announcement was done by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari. If rumours are anything to go by he would damage the prospect of the Samajwadi Party in some seats in the Yadav belt. He would ensure that the strike rate of the party goes down by several points. It was 80 percent and 55 seats last time. He would not mind playing the BJP's game. Mulayam Singh is still with him but his relationship with Akhilesh remains frosty. Wait for a new episode in the family drama after the results are out. Never underestimate the man outdone in a power game. He could have been pushed to the fringes of the Samajwadi Party by Akhilesh and ploughing a lonely furrow in his Jaswant Nagar assembly constituency at the moment, but Shivpal Yadav remains a dangerous man for Akhilesh. Akhilesh's alliance partner Rahul Gandhi's Congress has had no presence in the region. The only seat that Congress had won in 2012 was of Rita Bahuguna Joshi in Lucknow Cantt. But Joshi is now part of the BJP. Heavy voter turnout since morning in this phase could cut both ways, depending on voters mood pro-incumbency, favouring incumbent or anti-incumbency favouring challenger. The fact that in last five days Akhilesh Yadav had extensively campaigned in areas which are considered to be family stronghold is indicative of the fact that he can't be complacent about the outcome. His wife Dimple Yadav, after appearing to be a tentative campaigner and reluctant public speaker too is campaigning for the party. But each election has its own different dynamics. In 2012, Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav were one force, in 2017 not so much. The schism within Yadav clan has resulted in emergence of multiple forces. Also, in 2012 Samajwadi Party was a challenger and in 2017 Samajwadi Party is ruling party. Ideally, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should have been sitting comfortably ahead of phase three polling which is currently underway in 69 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. In 2012, Samajwadi Party had swept the polls, winning 54 seats in 12 districts spread over in Yadav bastion of Etawah, Mainpuri, Kannauj, Farrukhabad, Auraiah and so on. But in 2012 Assembly elections, seven Samajwadi Party legislatures were elected of the nine assembly seats here. The young vote would be pivotal. A crucial constituency where BJP and SP both see the potential to gain from here. Atal Bihari V Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Assembly election will not just be a fight for power, it will also be for inheriting political legacy by the new generation of several leaders cutting across party lines. If the scions of Samajwadi Party and Congress -- Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi -- have come together for claiming power through an alliance in the most populous state, there are also sons and daughters of several political bigwigs who will be making an electoral splash this time. Interestingly, many of these debutants also have solid academic backgrounds and have quit promising careers to either pursue family traditions or their heart's call. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestion to senior leaders not to press for tickets for their kin, BJP has given nomination to a fair number of new faces having more established names to take up the contest for government formation in UP. Leading the "son rise" brigade of the saffron party is UP BJP general secretary Pankaj Singh, son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who has been fielded from Noida in place of sitting BJP MLA Bimla Batham. Pankaj (38), an MBA from Amity University, has been active in politics since 2002 and had been in ticket contention since the 2007 Assembly election when he was almost set to make his debut from Chandauli, the home town of Rajnath. He has for company Rajasthan Governor and former UP CM Kalyan Singh's grandson Sandeep Singh from the traditional family seat - Atrauli. Sandeep is a post-graduate from the University of Leeds in England. BJP MP Hukum Singh's daughter Mriganka, who runs private schools, has been given party ticket from Kairana. The saffron party has also repeated its sitting MLA from Lucknow (East) Ashutosh Tandon 'Gopalji', the businessman son of senior party leader Lalji Tandon. Gopalji had won the seat in a bye-election last time. However, Union Minister Kalraj Misra's son Amit, who was seeking ticket from Lucknow (East), failed to get nomination. Also in the BJP list is Prateek Bhushan, son of mafia don-turned Gonda MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Prateek, an MBA from Melbourne University, has got BJP ticket from Gonda. The saffron party has not disappointed turncoat Swami Prasad Maurya fielding his son Utkarsh from Unchahar seat besides pitting Nilima Katiyar, the daughter of Prem lata Katiyar from Kalyanpur and Sunil Dutt Dwiedi, son of Brahm Dutt Dwiedi from Farrukhabad. Congress has reposed faith in London-returned management graduate Aditi Singh, daughter of muscleman Akhilesh Singh, from his traditional Rae Bareli seat. Though Akhilesh had won as an Independent, he had traditionally been associated with Congress and this time his daughter will be trying her luck as a Congress candidate. 32-year-old Tanuj Punia, a chemical engineer from IIT Roorkee will be making electoral debut from Zaidpur seat in Barabanki, the constituency nurtured by his retired bureaucrat father PL Punia. For Samajwadi Party, Abdullah Azam (27), an M Tech, is in fray from Swar Tanda in Rampur where his high profile father Azam Khan has considerable influence. Likewise, Nitin Agarwal (34) will be seeking re-election from Hardoi seat. An MBA from Pune, he is the son of senior party leader Naresh Agarwal and has been a minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government. BSP has made Abbas Ansari, a national level shooter and three-time national champion son of mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari its candidate in Ghosi seat. Abbas, who has also represented the country in international events, came to the BSP fold only recently when his father's Quami Ekta Dal (QED) merged with Mayawati's party. About a year ago, the Bihar Government appointed Prashant Kishor as Chief Minister Nitish Kumars key advisor. He continues to serve as a member of the governing body of the Bihar Vikas Mission and enjoys certain rights and privileges in the state. Moreover, it is widely speculated that Kishor is associated with this citizen alliance, which has been granted Rs 9.31 crore by the central government to create the Bihar 2025 vision document. Such is the state of the affairs that Kishors absence from his advisory role and his sustained lack of involvement with the Bihar Vikas Mission are a subject of much resentment in the states political and administrative circuits. Across the border, he is failing on other counts: particularly at leading the Indian National Congress towards victory in Uttar Pradesh. The reason that is doing the rounds is Kishor's shallow political understanding which comes across in the fact that he is trying to drive the Congress forward without an engine of agendas in place. It should be noted that both Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar who have been successful and also associated with Kishors political strategies, had substantive political agendas and party alliances backing them. Modi and Nitish have a reputation for transforming their promises into action, which is why Kishors role in their electoral victories is only marginal and certainly not determinant. Otherwise, Modi would have certainly utilised the services of Kishor during the four state elections held shortly after the parliamentary elections of 2014. There are credible examples even in the congress party of how issues are raised and worked upon, but Kishor could well be unaware of these. For instance, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had swept the 1971 Lok Sabha elections on the strength of the "Gareebi Hatao" slogan which she raised in 1969. Indira had not merely outlined issues but taken far-reaching steps such as the nationalisation of banks, which had raised hope amongst the poor that they would now be eligible and entitled to obtain loans from public sector banks. Likewise, by abolishing the privy purses and special privileges of the erstwhile royal princesses, Indira convinced the common man that she would utilise the money for their benefit. Its another matter that subsequently and for other reasons, she fell from grace. As a prime minister during the 80s, Rajiv Gandhi had established his credentials as "Mr Clean" by abruptly removing three allegedly corrupt chief ministers. If scandals such as Bofors had not arisen and sullied his image thereafter, he would have continued to be successful. There have been indicators that Kishor has been in communication with Rahul Gandhi for some time now and was assisting him in setting up a hospital in Raebareli. By the time he associated himself with the Congress, the party had lost power in the centre. Had Kishor understood the strategies of the earlier Gandhi prime ministers, his advice could have perhaps precluded the defeat of the Congress in those states where it had held power. However, even from these states, the whiff of scandals continues to emerge. It is too much to expect a non-party functionary like Kishor to grasp the acumen of these tall leaders of the Congress. On Kishors advice, the Congress resorted to some "novel" and scatter-brained projects such as the disastrous gifting of cots and raising worn out and staple slogans. Initially, the Congress was attempting to go alone in Uttar Pradesh but found its credibility dipping. This is when Rahul sought to form an alliance with the SP largely on the model adopted by his party in Bihar. In December 2016, Rahul made a public statement that the entire exercise of demonetisation has benefited only 50 top families. It is not clear whether he had stated this on the advice of Kishor and if not, it begs the question as to why Kishor didnt dissuade Rahul from making such far-fetched claim. Now, should the Congress come to power in Uttar Pradesh, the credit for its victory shall go to the alliance rather than to the party or the machinations of Kishor. Just prior to the commencement of the electoral process, a leading Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Manmohan Vaidya, had made an outlandish comment regarding reservation and played into the hands of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). It must be conceded that Kishor did play some role in concluding this alliance. During the Bihar elections of 2015, Kishor had played the role of a catalyst in forming the alliance between the RJD, JDU and Congress. But if you ask some politicians who were part of this alliance, they would concede in confidence that had it not been for the alliance, the RJD would have faced certain defeat. In an interesting parallel, the RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat had remarked against the continuance of the reservation policy. Hence, it is clearly indiscreet to place such credence on a non-political entity as Kishor. It merits mention that Kishor had earlier served as a health executive in a United Nations (UN) mission in Africa. Primarily an expert in public health matters, Kishor had quit the UN in 2011. After a setback in Uttar Pradesh, it is expected that he would concentrate on matters in the realm of his expertise and leave evolving strategies to politicians. The recent developments have shown that if politicians conduct their matters in a straightforward and transparent manner, there is really no need for outside experts of the likes of Kishor. In the state of Bihar for instance, there is much work to be done in the fields of education and public health. Had Kishor invested his energies and expertise in these fields, he could perhaps have rendered yeoman service to both Bihar and the nation. Kaam Bolta Hai, goes the catch line for the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. Not many politicians would face elections with that kind of a claim. They expose themselves to hard scrutiny if they do and the result is rarely flattering. It requires remarkable self-assuredness. From his demeanour, Akhilesh does not appear to be lacking any of it. The last time we had someone talking with such confidence was candidate Narendra Modi before he became prime minister. Assessment of performance is highly subjective, driven mostly by political inclination. But it is the popular perception that matters. Akhilesh scores big on that count. Speaking to people from different parts of the state one gets the impression that he has not been a disappointment though he could have done better, particularly in the area of law and order. Yes, he has done good work, says Rajkumar, a BJP supporter and a tea stall owner in Bijnor. He is also a decent person. So when he claims that he has done good work we believe him, he adds. However, he makes it clear that he wont vote for Akhilesh. We are BJP voters, he explains. No, nothing much to complain about. He has fulfilled many of his poll promises. Laptops have been distributed, theres a helpline to handle cases of harassment against women, you have the Samajwadi Pension Scheme and there are roads in rural areas and Agra Expressway. But you must understand the level of expectation from leaders is pretty low in the state. By that standard, he has done okay. But Mayawati had done better, says a former bureaucrat who would not like to be named. Mohammad Aslam, a petty businessman in Meerut, makes it a point to mention the availability of electricity. It was pretty bad earlier. We used to have power around three to four a day. But these days we have electricity almost 24 hours a day. Not many in rural areas would agree, though. The situation is bad there despite the governments claim otherwise. For those not in the know, Uttar Pradesh is one of the major power deficient states in the country. During the 2012 assembly election campaign, Akhilesh had promised 22 hours power supply in rural areas. He has not delivered fully on it. Power theft is rampant and he has been rather supportive of it rather than cracking down on people indulging in it. Power sector debt stands at more than Rs 50,000 crore. In Bijnor, we get power for 22 hours, says Shamshad Ahmad, a self-confessed SP supporter. But in dehat areas power is available for around 10 to 12 hours. It was worse earlier. Law and order have always been a problem with the SP rule. And he seems to have done poorly on this front. But when was law and order not a problem in Uttar Pradesh. It is a big state, says taxi driver Debendra Yadav, a resident of Etawah. At least he is accessible as a leader and talks of tackling problems honestly. Mayawati is better when it comes to handling goondas but overall Akhilesh is good, he adds. His supporters rattle off many of his achievements: infrastructure projects such as Lucknow-Agra Expressway, Lucknow Metro, rural roads, hospitals and IT townships; social security to 45 lakh families under Samajwadi Pension Scheme, Kanya Vidyadan Yojana for higher education of girls, a dedicated helpline for women among others. Ease of doing business in the state has improved, they would claim. There are doubters but the outlook, in general, is positive under Akhilesh. He realises he cannot be called a non-performer or someone indifferent to development. He can well make it his talking point, his unique selling proposition. He has identified with the youth and a slogan like Kaam Bolta Hai works well with them. But beyond all this, it requires courage to stand before people and demand vote for me because I have performed. The Generation New has arrived in Uttar Pradesh. Chulbul Pandey, a small corrupt cop of Uttar Pradesh who fearlessly wields power in his territory to get things done, played by Salman Khan in his 2010 blockbuster film Dabangg, was not a figment of a script writers imagination. He was a character straight out of the Gangetic plains, where the bureaucratic machinery is used to its advantage by the political parties in power during elections. The politicisation of the bureaucracy and the police force is the reason why completely free and fair elections is a distant dream here. The politicisation runs right from top brass of the state bureaucracy to district and block-level officers, and sub-inspectors at local police stations (Thana). The opposition has raised its voice against the practice from time-to-time and now, BJP is concerned about the Yadavisation of the bureaucracy and the police in UP. According to information obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI), by a Lucknow-based writer Nutan Thakur from the office of the Director General of Police in 2014, the matrix of caste-based appointments as per the reservation policy is openly flouted with an inclination towards the Yadavs. A majority of police thanas in Uttar Pradesh at present are dominated by the Yadavs. It can be called as the Yadavisation of police and bureaucracy. During elections, their role is to give safe passage to the flow of illegal cash and liquor used by the ruling party candidates to woo voters. They ensure protection to these candidates contesting the election. Theres a standing order--though unofficial--not to entertain complaints made by the opponents. This was prevalent even during the previous BSP government. There were serious allegations against the police of being in cahoots with the bureaucracy, a retired bureaucrat of UP cadre told Firstpost on conditions of anonymity. An article on Firstpost shows how Uttar Pradesh is a classic example of committed bureaucracy that is intensely divided not only on political lines but also on caste lines. The culture of political patronage by Akhilesh Yadav and his family members encouraged a trend of committed bureaucrats acting like mini chief ministers in their respective domains. And most of them have high personal stakes in political outcome, the article points out. BJP raises a red flag Taking a strong objection against such practice, a delegation of senior BJP leaders on 6 February met the Election Commission of India (EC) in New Delhi and urged it to immediately remove the chief secretary and the director general of UP police, besides a few other officials, accusing them of partisan conduct. Accusing the Akhilesh-led SP of misusing the administration and its officers for manipulating the state polls, the Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu and Parliamentary Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met chief election commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi and urged the latter to take immediate steps for free and fair polls. It wont be a first-of-its-kind move in Zaidis tenure, who took over as chief election commissioner on 20 April 2015, if he uses powers vested in the EC by the Constitution of India to rein in the state bureaucracy. In an unprecedented move, close to 70 officials were transferred in the midst of the Assembly elections in West Bengal in April 2016, when the EC had allegedly found officers from the IAS, IPS and the state civil services ranging from district magistrates, commissioner of police, officers in charge of police stations, and block divisional officers, guilty of a bias towards the ruling Trinamool Congress party. Similarly, in May 2016 during Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, the EC had transferred nine district collectors and a number of senior police officials of the AIADMK-led Tamil Nadu government on the basis of the complaints made by the Congress and the DMK. Why Nasim Zaidi is maintaining a stoic silence over the allegations? However, the stoic silence of Zaidi, a 1976-batch IAS officer from UP cadre, who is well-versed with the state politics has come as a surprise to many in the opposition camp including the BJP a strong contender in UP polls. Despite our plea to the EC, why the election commissioner is ignoring the facts and not taking any action is most surprising. A free and fair election in the state is not possible unless the ECI takes strong measures against Akhilesh-led SP of misusing the administration and its officers for manipulating the state polls, a state BJP source remarked. Will the CEC, whos in Lucknow on Wednesday to review poll preparedness, rise to the occasion and take decision to ensure a free and fair election in Uttar Pradesh? By Shalini Rudra It ranks number six in per capita incomealthough it has slipped from number threebut the relatively prosperous, mountainous state of Uttarakhand does worse than many poorer states with its infant mortality rate (IMR), ranking 18th among 29 states, an indication of its indifferent health as it prepares to choose a new government on February 15, 2017, according to an Observer Research Foundation analysis. Although the maternal mortality ratio has improved, child-health indicators, collectively, a major bellwether of a states healthcare system, do not match Uttarakhands relative prosperity: Over 10 years to 2015-16, the IMR has stagnated at 40 deaths per 1,000 live births; it was 42 in 2005-06, worse than poorer states, such as Himachal Pradesh. A fifth of all children below five years of age are wastedlow weight for heightand there was no improvement over a decade to 20 percent wasted. A quarter of newborn babies are underweight, compared to 36% and 28% in Rajasthan and Jharkhand respectively for the year 2012-13. The proportion of stuntedlow height for agechildren declined relatively faster, from 44% to 34% in a decade to 2015-16, compared to Indias improvement from 48% to 39%. Proportion of underweightlow weight for agechildren reduced from 38% to 27% in the decade. Infant Mortality Rate Across Uttarakhand IMR per 1,000 live births. Click on districts for data. With health increasingly important to economic progress, this is the fifth of a six-part series that uses the latest available data to discuss the state of health and nutrition in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand. With 10 million peopleor less than half as many as Delhi with an area 36 times as largeUttarakhand clearly struggles to offer adequate healthcare and get doctors and other medical professionals to many far-flung villages, a situation the government acknowledges. Community Health Centres (CHCs)the second-rung of the public health systemare 83% short of specialists required to handle emergencies and 50% short of nursing staff. No more than 68% of primary health centres (PHCs), the frontline of the basic healthcare system, work as they are supposed to 247, according to data, the latest available, from the District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS-4). Why are babies dying in holy Haridwar at the same rate as The Congo? In rural areas surrounding the second biggest city in the state, Haridwar, public health situation seems bleak. Rural IMR of Haridwar district is 70 (2012-13), worse than the average for Indias worst statewide IMR of (68) among Empowered Action Group (EAG) of statesIndias most backwardrecorded in 2012-13 from Uttar Pradesh, worse than many of the poorest African nations and the same as the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to the deadliest conflict since World War II. Uttarakhand doubled the number of institutional births 69% in the decade ending 2015-16, with about two-thirds in public health facilities. But private healthcare varies across districts, according to 2012-13 data, the latest available, from the Annual Health Survey (AHS) 2012-13 report reveals that there are significant variations in the presence of private sector across. Haridwar is the only district where fewer babies are delivered by public healthcare than private. There is scarce private healthcare in the hills, where IMR rates are lowest across Uttarakhand. The districts of Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Almora with least recorded infant deaths are hilly with difficult reach of healthcare be it public or private. Even then, they are doing better than districts with more private healthcare. According to the Clinical, Anthropometric and Biochemical Survey-2014, Haridwars high IMR also appears to be associated with its stunting rate of 52% in children under fivecomparable to IMR of 23 in Pithoragarh with lowest proportion (22%) of children under five stunted. For a relatively rich state, Uttarakhand is slow in improving child health Haridwar may be an outlier, but Uttarakhand, in general, has experienced slow reductions in child undernutrition, as indicated in the two National Family Health Surveys set 10 years apart. According to the National Family Health Survey-2015-16, a third of children under five are stunted, with this ratecomparable to some poorer states, such as Assam (36%) and Chhattisgarh (38%)varying widely across districts, from 52% in Haridwar to 22% in mountainous Pithoragarh as per Clinical Anthropometric and Bio-chemical survey-2014, where only 4% of babies are delivered at public healthcare facilities given by Annual Health Survey 2012-13. The fact that a quarter of newborn babies are underweight reflects long-term malnutrition among females (aged 18-59) measured as BMI less than 18.5. It is also reasonably clear that mothers and their children in Uttarakhand do not receive the medical attention they require from the public healthcare system. Public healthcare system fails pregnant women and children, sex ratio declines Only one of every 10 pregnant women receives complete antenatal care: At least four antenatal-care visits; at least one tetanus toxoid (TT) injection and iron-folic-acid tablets or syrup for 100 or more days, according to NFHS-4 data. Six of every 10 children (12-23 months) is fully immunised, but this proportion has remained stagnant in the decade to 2015-16. Apart from high IMR and slow reduction of malnutrition the state also now faces a dwindling sex ratio. In the decade to 2015-16, the sex ratiofemales per 1000 malesat birth improved for rural Uttarakhand but declined for urban areas. The state average is 888 females per 1000 males (2015-16) at birth, with wide disparities between Urban (817) and Rural (924). Sex Ratio (At Birth) Across Uttarakhand Females per 1,000 males. Click on districts for data. Uttarakhand, however, shows improvement in ensuring legal age at marriage for women is observed. The proportion of women aged 20-24 married before age declined over a decade, from 23% to 14% in 2015-16, according to NFHS-4 data. Early marriage followed by early pregnancy is a major cause of poor maternal and child health in India. Uttarakhand has made reasonable progress on this score, as women aged 15-19 either pregnant or with a live birth at the time of the survey has halved between 2005 and 2015. This means that even if married early, fewer women were bearing children before age 19. What could quality healthcare do? With better healthcare infrastructure and funding, Uttarakhandwhich has improved institutional deliveries of babiescould further reduce infant and baby deaths. More widespread information-technology infrastructure for healthcare and more blood banks are some of the recommendations of this 2015 report of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These and other public healthcare inadequacies have resulted in an average out of pocket expenditure of Rs. 2,399 per delivery at largely free public-health facilities in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand does need to allocate more money to healthcare. So far, its special-category statusmeaning devolution of more central assistance in developmenthas helped secure greater central funding, but with changing centre-state finances, the state will need to find innovative and cost-effective public-health financing. (Rudra is an associate fellow at Observer Research Foundation.) On Wednesday, in an exclusive interview with CNN-News 18, AIADMK chief VK Sasikala opened up about the ongoing crisis in Tamil Nadu within her party and the tussle between her and outgoing chief minister O Panneerselvam over the chief minister's chair. Sasikala opened up in a big way about her relationship with former chief minister the late J Jayalalithaa and the speculation behind her death especially after Panneerselvam commissioned an inquiry into her death. Sasikala revealed that she has the party support. She said, "All party MLA's and MP's wants me to take the lead. They said to me who is OPS to deny that. Party cadres want me to take the lead." Dismissing Panneerselvam's claim that he was forced to resign from the chief minister's position, she said, "There no truth on OPS's claim that he was threatened by us. He proposed me to take over as general secretary of the party. Somebody is behind this." She also alleged that the opposition party DMK has a role to play in the ongoing crisis in AIADMK. Sasikala said, "DMK leader Duraimurugan said in the Assembly that they would support OPS to continue as CM. Who are they to support? If anyone says like that OPS should say that we are a majority. Why do we need it?" She also criticised the party for failing to live up to the expectations of the people of Tamil Nadu. Sasikala also commented on the absence of Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao from the state and the delay in the swearing-in ceremony to appoint her as the chief minister. She said, "We have sent an letter to the governor via fax and we have sent a letter again to him to remind about our request. But they just acknowledged, no other reply. We hope that the governor will save this constitutional process. The majority of the MLA's have chosen me. I am willing to wait patiently." Dispelling rumours of a conspiracy behind Jayalalithaa's death, she said, "I am ready to face any inquiry on Jayalalithaa's death. Jayalalithaa knows me who am I and how I was with her. Even doctors who treated Jayalalithaa also know how I treated her. I don't have any problem with an inquiry commission." At this point in the interview, she also teared up while discussing the time Jayalalithaa spent in the hospital and the time after her death. She said, "I feel deeply saddened by the call for an inquiry by Panneerselvam. We don't have any fear. We called doctors from Aiims, London and Singapore." She was asked to comment on the verdict which is soon going to be out in the DA case. She was also asked whether there was any link between the delay in swearing-in and the verdict of the DA case. She said, "I don't think it is right to comment on an ongoing case." Sasikala said that she is confident that she will be sworn-in as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. By Lin Noueihed and Yara Bayoumy | CAIRO/WASHINGTON CAIRO/WASHINGTON Friendly phone calls, an invite to the White House, a focus on Islamic militancy and what Donald Trump called "chemistry" have set the tone for a new era of warmer U.S.-Egyptian ties that could herald more military and political support for Cairo. The mutual admiration dates back to a U.N. meeting in September, when then-presidential candidate Trump found common ground with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's hard line on extremism. Trump described the ex-general, who rights groups criticise as authoritarian and repressive, as a "fantastic guy".Sisi, the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on his election victory, returned the favour last month after the newly inaugurated president barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Egypt, not on the list, refrained from speaking out against the ban on behalf of Muslim countries that often look to it for leadership. That silence spoke volumes about the changing tone of its relationship with the United States.For Trump, Sisi appeals as an uncompromising leader who came to power by overthrowing the Muslim Brotherhood and is fighting Islamic State in northern Sinai and on his border with Libya.For Sisi, Trump appeals as a U.S. leader who unlike Barack Obama is not interested in berating an old ally on human rights. "The rhetoric alone of this Trump administration is much more forward leaning in its support towards Sisi than Obama," said one U.S. official, who declined to be named. "I expect it to be a much closer relationship." Egypt is one of Washington's closest Middle East allies, and U.S. military aid has long cemented its historic 1979 peace deal with Israel. Home to the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest waterways, the stability of the Arab world's most populous state is a U.S. priority, but the strategic relationship hit a low under Obama who briefly froze aid after Sisi overthrew an elected president. In contrast, weeks into Trump's presidency, the White House has already discussed declaring the Brotherhood a terrorist group - sure to be welcomed by Sisi, who was condemned by Obama for his crackdown on Egypt's oldest Islamist group.Egyptian and U.S. officials say the Trump administration will likely seek to lift or ease conditions imposed under Obama on the payment of $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid a year. Officials and analysts do not expect a major jump in the size of U.S. military aid overnight, but describe a relationship that is more aligned and mutually supportive."During the Obama's administration there were difficulties," said an Egyptian government official, who declined to be named. "When the administrations have common goals it makes cooperation easier. The military is the backbone of the relationship. We have a common enemy, which is terrorism."MILITARY SUPPORT Obama froze aid for nearly two years after Sisi overthrew President Mohamed Mursi, an elected Brotherhood official, in mid-2013 after mass protests. Though Sisi went on to win an election and the aid was restored in March 2015, new rules were introduced to ensure it was used for counter-terrorism and border security and Sinai.Congress also made aid dependent on the U.S. Secretary of State certifying that Egypt was moving to govern democratically. That experience has left a bitter taste among some in Egypt's military who saw their overthrow of the Brotherhood as part of the broader war on terrorism. "What interests Egypt now is economic and military aid and this is what Egypt will try to benefit from in light of the closeness between Sisi and Trump," an Egyptian intelligence official said. "In return, America is seeking to benefit from Egypt as an ally in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism."The Egyptian government official said the overall size of the aid package had barely changed in decades, but it would weigh any request for increases carefully. What Egypt gets depends partly on Congress, where some oppose loosening restrictions due to concerns over Sisi's crackdown on dissent."(The administration) could ask Congress to no longer impose conditions on the funds and they could request increases in certain types of assistance," said Tim Rieser, a foreign policy aid to Senator Patrick Leahy, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "But President Trump's positive statements offer President Sisi a kind of affirmation and encouragement to continue what he is doing, which in some ways is worth more than dollars." NEW ERA Egypt has witnessed years of upheaval since the 2011 uprising helped to end Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, a change ultimately supported by the Obama administration. When the ensuing elections saw Islamists win parliament and presidency, Obama engaged them in an effort to encourage democratisation in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings.But Egypt banned the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation shortly after Sisi seized power. His security forces killed hundreds of Mursi supporters and thousands of activists have been jailed, prompting criticism from the United States and the aid suspension. By contrast, Trump has backed Egypt's approach. "The (Trump) administration has signalled repeatedly that it sees the Muslim Brotherhood as virtually indistinguishable from groups like al Qaeda or even Islamic State," said Eric Trager, a fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "This is something Cairo is very excited about and Arab partners favour as well." On the street, Trump's victory was met with delight by Sisi supporters, who saw in Hillary Clinton an extension of Obama.The early invitation to the White House is seen by Egyptian officials as a sign they will again be heard. But while Egyptian officials like Trump's more aggressive approach to Islamic State they say they have yet to see detailed policies. "The warmth of the rhetoric is definitely something that's different, that makes the Egyptians feel very comfortable," said H.A. Hellyer senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington. "But nobody likes an unpredictable, erratic, variable in the mix and Trump is a very erratic variable." (Additional reporting by Amina Ismail and Ahmed Mohammed Hassan in Cairo, editing by Peter Millership) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Mirwais Harooni | KABUL KABUL At least 20 people were killed on Tuesday in a bomb blast outside the Supreme Court in the centre of the Afghan capital, government officials said, in what appeared to be the latest in a series of attacks on the judiciary.The Ministry of Public Health said at least 20 people were killed, while 41 wounded were taken to Kabul hospitals.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, in which police said an apparent suicide bomber targeted Supreme Court employees leaving their offices at the end of the working day."When I heard a bang I rushed toward the Supreme Court's parking lot to find my brother who works there," said witness Dad Khuda, adding that he had found his brother alive. "Unfortunately, several people were killed and wounded."Reuters reporters at the scene saw blood stains on the street and ambulances leaving the area.The bomber appeared to have entered an area where guards were performing security checks when he detonated the explosives. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as a "crime against humanity and an unforgivable act."COURTS AND JUDGES TARGETED The Supreme Court was the target of a bomb in June, 2013, when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-packed car into a bus carrying court employees, including judges.The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack, and since then security near the court has been increased with large concrete blast walls.In 2015 a Taliban bomber killed five prosecutors from the Attorney General's office in Kabul, and last year Taliban gunmen stormed a legal office in Logar province, killing seven people, including two prosecutors.The same militant group killed four people at a provincial courthouse in Ghazni in 2016. Last month, bombers killed more than 30 people and wounded about 70 in twin blasts in a crowded area of Kabul during the afternoon rush hour.The Islamist militant Taliban, fighting to oust foreign forces and bring down the U.S.-backed government, claimed responsibility for that Jan. 10 attack.Afghan government forces control no more than two-thirds of national territory, and have struggled to contain the insurgency since the bulk of NATO soldiers withdrew at the end of 2014.Several thousand foreign troops, most of them Americans, remain in training and counter-terrorism roles. (Reporting by Mirwais Harooni; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Robert Birsel and Mike Collett-White) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Brexit will have its worst impact on the finance sector of the United Kingdom as the axe is likely to fall on 30,000 jobs across the country. Earlier in January, speculations were rife that banks had started moving jobs out of the Britain after British Prime Minister Theresa May made it very clear that there would be a clean break with the European Union. According to The Guardian, London stands to lose 10,000 jobs in banking and 20,000 positions in accountancy, law and consulting, as European Union clients move enterprises worth 1.8tn (1.6tn) to the continent after Brexit. A Brussel-based thinktank said Frankfurt stands to gain as the primary winner, with Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin also reaping rewards. But the researchers warn that having a more geographically divided spread of financial institutions could heighten the risk of a banking meltdown in the event of an acute financial crisis. However, at the beginning of the year, The Telegraph had reported that 4,00,000 jobs will be created if Britain moves out of the European Union. An analysis by Change Britain, a group supported by Michael Gove, said that leaving the customs union of the and striking trade agreements with just eight foreign countries will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in manufacturing and service industries. May had told CNN that Brexit meant the U.K. would also cease to be a member of the European Union's single internal market. Up to 1,000 of UBS's, 5,000 employees in the UK will be moving to Europe, the bank's chairman, Axel Weber, told CNN Money at the World Economic Forum in Davos. HSBC, which is Britain's largest bank, said it could also take roughly 1,000 jobs to Paris. The bank CEO Stuart Gulliver stated the affected staff generate roughly 20% of its UK-based trading revenue. Beijing: China on Wednesday defended its decision to block the US' proposal in the UN for designating Pathankot attack mastermind and JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the "conditions" have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the "relevant parties" to reach a consensus. "Last year 1,267 Committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached," Lu said. "As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the Committee to reach a decision," he said. "China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the Committee," he said. About the significance of US pushing for the ban against the Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief this time unlike the last year when India pressed for his listing as terrorist, Lu said, "I would like to point out that the Committee has its own set of discussion rules." "So, whoever submitted the request we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations," he said. To a question whether it will have an impact on China-India relations, he said Beijing and New Delhi "have exchanged views" on the issue. "We don't hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship," he said. On criticism that China is continuously blocking the move at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said, "China's action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures." "We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the Committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community," he said. China has put a "hold" on the US-initiated proposal, which comes barely weeks after India's bid to get Azhar banned by the UN were scuttled by Beijing last December. This has prompted India to take up the matter with the Chinese government. Sydney: Beijing has played down the prospects of conflict with the United States over the South China Sea in the wake of aggressive rhetoric by Donald Trump's administration, saying both sides would lose. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich region despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. The artificial islands are considered a potential flashpoint and recent comments from White House spokesman Sean Spicer and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have raised the temperature. But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit to Australia that war would benefit no-one. "For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognise that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States," he said in Canberra through an interpreter late yesterday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. "Both will lose and both sides cannot afford that." Spicer last month said the US "is going to make sure we protect our interests" in the South China Sea while Tillerson said China's access to the islands might be blocked raising the prospect of a military confrontation. Wang said the US-China relationship had defied "all sorts of difficulties" over decades and pointed to more recent statements by US Defence Secretary James Mattis that it was important to give priority to diplomatic efforts, ABC said. After scheduled strategic dialogue talks with Wang, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday said Beijing was keen for a close relationship with the Trump government. "Beijing certainly welcomes a deep engagement with the United States," she told Sky News. "They are looking forward to an era of cooperation, they see opportunity with the new administration to deepen the connections and as he (Wang) said, the United States and China have too much to lose for there to be conflict between them. "My impression was that China is looking forward to engaging positively with the United States," she added. Under former president Barack Obama's administration, Washington insisted it was neutral on the question of sovereignty over the South China Sea islets, reefs and shoals. But, while calling for the dispute to be resolved under international law, the US supported freedom of navigation by sending naval patrols through Chinese-claimed waters in a move supported by Canberra. Washington: President Donald Trump respects judicial branch and its ruling, the White House said on Wednesday as his political opponents slammed him for being critical of a federal judge who halted his controversial immigration ban. "There's no question, the President respects the judicial branch and its ruling," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. Asked if Trump would accept the court's ruling, Spicer said the President will respect the ruling, but also voiced confidence that the administration will "prevail...on the merits of the case." Spicer said Trump's concern right now is national security. "I think that his concern frankly right now, is that when the law is such as it is, that anyone can interpret that any other way, I think he feels confident just like in the ruling in Boston that we're gonna prevail on this on the merits of the case because it has done so in a very lawful way," he said. He, however, asserted that the US law gives the president constitutional authority for this executive order. He pointed that the law says that "whenever the president finds the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the US would be detrimental to the interest of the US, he may issue proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants. Or impose on the entry of aliens, any restrictions which he may deem appropriate." Trump last week lashed out over a court order to block the immigration ban, saying on Twitter, "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" President Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Caracas: A bipartisan group of 34 US lawmakers has sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to step up pressure on Venezuela's government by immediately sanctioning officials responsible for corruption and human rights abuses. The letter was partly prompted by an AP investigation, which it cites, that found corruption in Venezuela's food imports. It also calls for a thorough probe into alleged drug trafficking and support for Middle Eastern terror groups by the country's new vice president, Tareck El Aissami. El Aissami has been the target of US law enforcement since his days as interior minister almost a decade ago, and has been tied to bribes paid to officials by the nation's top convicted drug trafficker. He has denied any wrongdoing. Relations between the US and its staunchest critic in Latin America have been tense for years -- the two countries haven't exchanged ambassadors since 2010. And at Congress' insistence, President Barack Obama sanctioned several top Venezuelan officials for cracking down on opponents or helping smuggle cocaine to the US. But Trump mentioned the country only briefly during the campaign. And Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments during his confirmation gave little sign of whether he will depart from the Obama administration's relative restraint and call for dialogue between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and his opponents. Venezuela is mired in political gridlock, even as its economy is falling apart. Amid such uncertainty, Maduro has taken a softer tack. After blasting Trump as a "bandit" and "mental patient" during the campaign, he's remained silent since, even in the face of the Republican's promise to build a wall with Mexico and freeze immigration from close Venezuelan allies such as Iran and Syria. "He won't be worse than Obama, that's the only thing I dare to say," Maduro said last month in an appeal to supporters to withhold judgment on the new US leader. The letter, co-written by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, chair of the house Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, appears intended to force the administration's hand. Indian-Americans are in a unique position. We are alienated from India from years of distance, but attempting to carve out a position in this racially stratified society. It is tempting to stay apolitical. I would argue that apathy will become an existential threat to the Indian-American community in the coming years. More often than not, we are perceived as some sort of vague brown in America. To some eyes, were biracial. To others, we present as Latino. To others, we look like Saudi Arabians or Egyptians or Yemeni or Iranian. Racial profiling is not nuanced. It is the institutionalising of a base and simplistic hatred. It is a wall built brick by brick in the fog of fear. This hatred is a potent weapon when wielded by those in power. Since Donald Trump took office and signed an executive order banning those, including permanent US residents, from seven Muslim-majority countries, weve seen customs and border patrol agents go rogue. At Dulles International Airport outside of Washington DC, border agents refused entry to lawyers, despite a district judges ruling that they must let the detained have representation. A district judge in the New York area ordered a stay on the ban, deeming it unconstitutional. This should have meant that the detained were released until the case worked its way up the courts. Some agents refused to release these people. When law enforcement breaks with the accepted channels of legislation, we must be on guard. To the enforcers, we are simply brown. And all it takes for the law to change again is a signature. And who are the enforcers now? President Trump has nominated Julie Kirchner to be Chief of Staff of the Customs and Border Protection agency. Kirchner is the former heard of an anti-immigrant hate group called the Federation for American Immigration Reform. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the organization has advocated for a complete moratorium on immigration. It has pushed the narrative that immigrants engage in competitive breeding to overtake the European-American population. This fear mongering is an old tactic. In the 1920s, quotas dropped dramatically to keep America white. During World War II, Japanese-American citizens were rounded up and interned as a result of Executive Order 9066. And Indian-Americans were legally discriminated against and prevented from becoming citizens of this country until the mid-20th century simply because we were not white. We hear about the effects of these xenophobic policies from Holocaust survivors, including White House aide Jared Kushners grandmother, about being turned away by America because these nativist ideas had taken root after a swell of migration from Eastern Europe. When Jewish people needed to escape, there was nowhere to go. When I hear stories of the tens of thousands of people barred entry from the seven banned countries, I am reminded of childhood trips back to India. My trips to see my grandparents are not dissimilar to an Iranian-American womans trip home to see her parents or a Yemeni-American visiting the family he had to leave behind to make a better life. I now have the protection of my US passport but I am still brown in America. When traveling, I have experienced the indignity of being pulled out of a line and searched again. This is the most diluted experience of institutional racism and profiling. Implicit in this form of profiling, however, is the threat of state violence and coercion that undergirds interactions between oppressed groups and authorities on a day-to-day basis. Being brown in Arizona means being stopped and asked for papers. Being black in America means that calling the police to protect you is likely to hurt more than it helps. Stoking paranoia will mean that more and more people are classified as threats. Trump has engaged in this political dog whistling with his comments about Mexico sending their rapists. He has created the same atmosphere of suspicion with the executive order banning people from the seven Muslim-majority countries. The most alarming result of this xenophobia is that these ideas start to sound reasonable to people, even though the implementation of these ideas means state and state-sanctioned violence. If people are fleeing violence, like most Syrian refugees, they should be welcomed and sheltered. If people are looking for a way out of their desperate poverty, they should be treated with dignity. The final piece of the puzzle is the motivation of the political and corporate elite. The motives behind sowing racial hatred are many-fold. Closing the border delivers convenient propaganda to fundamentalist groups like Islamic State. We are not made safer by a ban or a wall, but there is money to be made when immigrant detention centers are privatised. Ultra-exclusive nationalism is a tactic that prompts people to compete savagely for fewer and fewer jobs, instead of looking upward to see that very few people have very many resources. Why let them have us duke it out down here when life is already hard? By Martin Petty | MANILA MANILA Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a vigorous defence of his war on drugs on Wednesday, rejecting not only allegations of extrajudicial killings, but the advice of a former Colombian leader who urged him not to repeat his mistakes.The ex-prosecutor promised to stand behind those on the front lines of his war and called Cesar Gaviria an "idiot" for a newspaper article in which the former Colombian president warned Duterte that a security-centred approach "do more harm than good".Duterte last week suspended police from anti-narcotics operations after a South Korean businessman was murdered by rogue drugs squad police. He has put the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in charge, and plans to deploy troops as reinforcements.Duterte said his campaign was about destroying the apparatus of the drugs trade, not killing, and only he would be accountable if law enforcers were accused of wrongful killings during raids and sting operations."Those done in the line of duty I take full responsibility," he said in a speech."If someone should go to jail, it's not police, not military, not the PDEA - It's me."Duterte's war on drugs has attracted global attention due to its high death toll in his first seven months in office and the shock factor of images in media of bloodied corpses lying in streets and slums. As at Jan. 31, some 2,555 Filipinos were killed in what police said were shootouts during anti-drugs operations. More than 7,700 deaths have been recorded overall, and the cause of many of those are much in dispute.'BIG FISH' The Catholic Church used sermons at the weekend to speak out about the drugs war, saying killings were not the solution and the poor were being worst hit. A Feb. 1 report by Amnesty International said the same, and concluded that police had behaved like the criminal underworld they were supposed to suppress, taking payments for killings. The report said many killings were "systematic, planned and organised" by authorities.Duterte rubbished those claims and said it was necessary to provide undercover police with cash to buy drugs in sting operations, referred to as "buy-busts", otherwise prosecuting dealers would be difficult.He denied his campaign was focusing on small-time users and pushers only, and he had proved local politicians were on his radar."There is always a contention Duterte is killing the poor," he said. "So where is the big fish? We started with the mayors, they were killed along the way, so there's the big fish," he said.In Tuesday's New York Times, Gaviria, who was Colombia's president from 1990-1994, appealed to Duterte to use alternative strategies to fight drugs and explained why his country's crackdowns on cocaine cartels had failed.He hoped Duterte would avoid a heavy-handed approach and "not fall into the same trap"."Trust me, I learned the hard way," he wrote.Duterte said Gaviria was "lecturing" and the Philippine case was different to Colombia, because "shabu", or methamphetamine, was damaging to the brain whereas the behavioural impact of cocaine was less severe. (Editing by Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Dan Levine and Emily Stephenson | SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's administration asked a U.S. appeals court on Tuesday to rule a federal judge was wrong to suspend a travel ban the president imposed on people from seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees."Congress has expressly authorized the president to suspend entry of categories of aliens," attorney August Flentje, special counsel for the U.S. Justice Department, said under intense questioning from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals."Thats what the president did here," Flentje said at the start of an hour-long oral argument conducted by telephone and broadcast live online. He said the president's order was valid under the U.S. Constitution.Trump's Jan. 27 executive order barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely.Trump has defended the measure as necessary for national security. But individuals, states and civil rights groups challenging the ban said his administration had offered no evidence it answered a threat.Opponents also assailed the ban as discriminatory against Muslims. It has been the most divisive act of his young presidency. Beforehand, the court said it would likely rule this week but not on Tuesday.Trump frequently promised during his 2016 election campaign to curb illegal immigration, especially from Mexico, and to crack down on Islamist violence. His travel ban sparked protests and chaos at U.S. and overseas airports. National security veterans, major U.S. technology companies and law enforcement officials from more than a dozen states backed a legal effort against the ban. "I actually can't believe that we're having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation," Trump said at an event with sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday.Although the legal fight over Trump's ban is ultimately about how much power a president has to decide who cannot enter the United States, the appeals court is only looking at the narrower question of whether the Seattle court had the grounds to halt Trump's order."To be clear, all that's at issue tonight in the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not, until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. Trump faces an uphill battle in the liberal-leaning appellate court, although the outcome of a ruling on the order's ultimate legality is less certain.Two members of three-judge panel were appointed by former Democratic Presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, and one was appointed by former President George W. Bush.The case against the Trump administration, brought by the states of Minnesota and Washington, is ultimately likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner, David Shepardson and Julia Edwards Ainsley in Washington and Peter Henderson in San Francisco; Writing by Howard Goller; Editing by Peter Cooney) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. United Nations: Islamic State has "sufficient funds" to continue fighting and might resort to covert communications such as the "dark web", the UN political chief warned on Wednesday. "IS is adapting to military pressure in several ways," Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said, urging the UN member states to share more information about airline passengers to defeat "transnational terrorism" sparked by the Islamic State. "Although its income and the territory under its control are shrinking, Islamic State still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," Feltman said, briefing the UN Security Council on the Secretary-General's report on the threat the group poses to international peace and security efforts. The report said that till now only 56 nations have shared advance passenger information, as it lamented the "uneven" response it is receiving from member states in sharing the "critical" information. Feltman noted that Islamic State relies mainly on income from extortion and hydro-carbon exploitation, even though resources from the latter are on the decline. He expressed concern that Islamic State will try to expand other sources of income, such as kidnapping for ransom, and increase its reliance on donations as it adopts to increased military pressure. "Islamic State is adapting in several ways by resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using the 'dark web,' encryption and messengers," he said. While the previous reports on the subject have focused on South East Asia, Yemen and East Africa, Libya and Afghanistan, this report zeroed in on Europe, North Africa and West Africa. It noted that Islamic State has conducted a range of attacks in Europe since declaring in 2014 its intent to target the region. Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by Islamic State personnel, while others were enabled by Islamic State by providing guidance or were inspired through its propaganda. The military offensive in Libya has dislodged Islamic State from its stronghold in Sirte, but the group's threat to Libya and neighbouring countries persists. Its fighters estimated to range from several hundred to 3,000 have moved to other parts of the country. The report warned that the group has increased its presence in West Africa and stressed the need to develop sustained, coordinated responses to the threat posed by Islamic State. Washington: US President Donald Trump has expressed his commitment to NATO and bilateral cooperation with Spain during a telephone call with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a media report said on Wednesday. They also discussed the fight against the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), Efe news reported. Trump and Rajoy spoke on Tuesday for about 15 minutes to reaffirm their strong bilateral alliance regarding a series of mutual interests, according to a White House statement. The statement said both leaders discussed shared priorities on security, economics; with Trump emphasising on the importance of all NATO allies sharing the burden of defence spending. The Spanish government previously reported the content of the call, which began around 3.45 pm in Washington DC. According to Rajoy's office, the Prime Minister told Trump that Spain was in the best situation to be an interlocutor for the US in Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. When Trump brought up the future of the European Union in light of Brexit, Rajoy said he was confident of a strong EU integration in the coming months and assured Trump that Spain would work towards that end. Rajoy and Trump also discussed the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in May in Brussels, which will be their first personal encounter. By Alexander Reshetnikov and Maria Tsvetkova | KIROV/MOSCOW, Russia KIROV/MOSCOW, Russia Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny accused the Kremlin of trying to block him from running in next year's presidential election after a court on Wednesday found him guilty of embezzlement.Navalny, who has made a name for himself exposing official corruption, said he would still stand for president, but it was not immediately clear if that was legally possible.The court, in the provincial city of Kirov, found Navalny guilty of embezzlement in relation to a timber firm called Kirovles, and gave him a five-year suspended prison sentence. Navalny denies wrongdoing. "What we are seeing now is a sort of telegram sent from the Kremlin, saying that they believe that I, my team, and the people whose views I voice, are too dangerous to allow us to take part in the election campaign," Navalny said."We don't recognise this ruling. I have every right to take part in the election according to the constitution and I will do so," he told reporters in the court room, moments after the sentence was handed down.Late last year, Navalny announced a plan to run for president in 2018, when Vladimir Putin's current term expires. Putin has not said if he will seek a new term, though most Kremlin-watchers expect him to run.If Navalny is allowed to run and is up against Putin, opinion polls indicate the opposition leader will lose by a big margin. However, having Navalny on the ballot paper could be an irritant for the Kremlin. It could provide a focus for anti-Kremlin protests, especially in the big urban centres where Navalny draws most of his support.GAME OF CARDS Wednesday's ruling was the culmination of a retrial, after the European Court of Human Rights said Navalny's right to a fair hearing in the original trial were violated. Russian law states that someone sentenced to a prison term for a crime such as embezzlement is disqualified from running for elected office.But Navalny said after the verdict he believed he could still run, because the disqualification did not apply to someone given a suspended sentence."We will rely on the constitution," his lawyer Olga Mikhailova told Reuters.A final decision on whether Navalny will be able to run will be up to the Kremlin and is likely to be made at the end of this year, said Lilia Shevtsova, a Russian politics researcher. "The Kremlin's goal is not to turn the next election into the butt of jokes," she told Reuters. "Navalny is being kept in reserve, like an ace in the hole in a game of cards, but it's not yet clear if that card will be played."Asked if Navalny's absence from the presidential race would undermine the legitimacy of the election, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier on Wednesday: "We believe any concerns about this are inappropriate."Navalny did unexpectedly well in a 2013 mayoral election in Moscow, but has lost some support recently because of the popularity of Putin's policies, said Yevgeny Minchenko, a political analyst familiar with Kremlin thinking."The (opposition) statement that the election would only be legitimate if Navalny took part is a bluff," said Minchenko. ($1 = 59.2274 roubles) (Additional reporting by Svetlana Reiter; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova/Christian Lowe; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Mark Trevelyan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Damascus: Syria's justice ministry on Wednesday dismissed as "completely false" an Amnesty International report alleging up to 13,000 people were hanged over five years in a Syrian government prison. The ministry said the Amnesty report was "completely untrue and intended to harm Syria's reputation in international forums," the official SANA news agency reported. The rights group on Wednesday alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity had been committed and were likely continuing at the Saydnaya prison near Damascus. Amnesty interviewed 84 witnesses, including guards, detainees and judges, and alleged a pattern of regular summary executions. But the justice ministry denied such executions were occurring, saying "death sentences in Syria are not issued until after a trial goes through several stages of litigation." More than 310,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Los Angeles: A 73-year-old woman has separated from her husband of over 20 years after he voiced support for Donald Trump in the run-up to the US presidential polls. Gayle McCormick, a retired California prison guard, said she was shocked last year when her husband Bill McCormick, 77, mentioned during a lunch with friends that he planned to vote for Trump. "I was in shock. It was the breaking point. The Trump issue was the catalyst," she told the People magazine. It was the toughest decision Gayle, who is now living in her own apartment in Washington, said she has ever had to make. "It took us many, many months to make this decision. We went to counselling and saw a priest. This wasn't a snap decision," she said. Gayle, who describes herself as a Democrat leaning toward socialist, met Bill in 1980 while they were both working at the same prison. She said she felt like she had no voice in the relationship. "When things are 51 percent good and 49 per cent bad, you just stay. I was tired and older and I didn't want to argue and neither of us was going to change," Gayle said. When politics would come up, she would usually walk away, she said. It was only when Trump came up that she knew she could not stay silent. "I just couldn't. I was surprised Bill could agree with Donald Trump on anything," she said. Although Bill ended up not voting for Trump in the election, Gayle knew they still had to separate. "We are just too different. It had more to do with the fact that I had not been true to myself for so long and that I had not stood up for myself for so long. I need to recapture myself," Gayle said. "It's hard and not an easy thing. I love him and I want him to be happy," she said. The news about their separation comes amid stark political divide in the country over President Trump's ban on refugees and visa holders entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries. Several hundred people have protested against President Trump's immigration order. BERLIN The travel restrictions put in place by U.S. President Donald Trump on seven countries are deterring travellers from other countries too, according to a travel analysis company.ForwardKeys, which analyses 16 million flight reservations a day from major global reservation systems, said bookings for international arrivals to the United States over the next three months were 2.3 percent higher than last year.But on Jan. 27, the day Trump issued the executive order, bookings had been 3.4 percent ahead of the previous year, Forwardkeys data showed.When the travel ban was in place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, bookings to the United States dropped 6.5 percent, including an 80 percent slump in reservations from the seven countries listed on Trump's order and a 13.6 percent drop from Western Europe. On the day the curbs were lifted by a U.S. judge, bookings from Iran surged, ForwardKeys said, leaving reservations for travel to the United States five times higher on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 than the same two days a year earlier. Most of those bookings were for arrival in the United States on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager cautioned that the data was just a snapshot of an eight-day period and it would continue to monitor the situation. Other groups, such as the U.N. World Tourism Organization, have also warned travel demand could be hurt by U.S. restrictions, which are still suspended pending a U.S. appeals court hearing due to start at 2300 GMT on Tuesday."The ambiguity of these very latest developments introduced by President Trump is casting a shadow over the future travel demand to and from the U.S.," said Nadejda Popova, travel project manager at Euromonitor. "The new executive order could also impact how the U.S. is perceived as a tourism destination and how open to foreign travellers it will be in the future." (Reporting by Victoria Bryan; editing by David Clarke) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. San Francisco: President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order on Wednesday faced intense scrutiny as a court of appeals grilled the Trump Administration whether the travel ban unconstitutionally discriminates against Muslims and questioned the arguments that curbs were motivated by national security concerns. Asserting that President Trump was within his constitutional rights and obligations to sign the executive order that temporarily bans immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, the Justice Department urged court of appeals to reinstate the travel ban put on hold by the courts last week. During the hour-long hearing, conducted by phone, before a three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals here, the Justice Department lawyer August Flentje said in signing the executive order Trump struck the balance between national security and the practice of allowing people from entering the country. "The President struck that balance, and the district court's order has upset that balance. This is a traditional national security judgement that is assigned to the political branches and the president and the courts order immediately altered that," Flentje said in his hearing which was telecast live by a number of television news channels. The lawyer urged the San Francisco court to remove the halt on the executive order by a court in Seattle. "The district court's decision overrides the President's national security judgment about the level of risk and we've been talking about the level of risk that's acceptable," he said. Flentje's assertion led to a series of rapid fire exchanges with all three judges pressing him to explain the limits of his position. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism," asked Judge Michelle Friedland. The Court of Appeals is expected to give its verdict soon. The case is likely to hit the Supreme Court in coming days. The three-judge panel asked the government lawyer whether the Trump administration's national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism," asked Judge Friedland. "Are you arguing then that the President's decision in hat regard is unreviewable (by a court)?" he asked another time. Another judge Willian Canby asked if the President could simply say the US will not admit Muslims into the countries. "Could he do that? Would anyone be able to challenge that?" he asked. "That's not the order. This is a far cry from that situation," Flentje replied. But said that a US citizen with a connection to someone seeking entry might be able to challenge the executive order if that were the case. President Trump's controversial executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Pleading before the court to continue the stay on the executive order, Noah Purcell, Solicitor General of Washington State challenged the claims that there is no evidence of religious discriminatory intent behind the Trumps order. "There are statements that are rather shocking evidence of intent to harm Muslims," he alleged. "You don't have to prove it harms every Muslim you just need to show the action was motivated in part by animus," he argued. "It would not remedy the order's violation of the establishment clause which harms everyone in our state...by favouring one religious group over another. It also would not fully remedy the order's violation of the equal protection law denying some of our residents who are here, allowing them to receive those visits and so on," Purcell said. In his rebuttal, Flentje said the Department of Justice is not saying the case shouldn't proceed. "But it is extraordinary for a court to enjoin the President's national security determination based on some newspaper articles," he argued. During the hearing, Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the US who, he alleged, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group after judges asked for the evidence. Trump last week lashed out over a court order to block the immigration ban, saying on Twitter, "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" During a Congressional hearing, a top Cabinet official said the executive order is lawful and constitutional, exuding confidence that it would prevail over in the ongoing legal battle. "The President's recent executive order to temporarily suspend entry for foreign nationals from seven countries we believe is lawful and constitutional, and the review ordered by the president is necessary and appropriate," Gen (rtd) John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security, said. "It will enable us to assess the adequacy and availability of information we need from all countries to adjudicate all visa applications, other benefits under our existing immigration laws, and to determine if the person seeking the benefit is in fact who they say they are and would not present as a threat," he said. "While some of the core tenets of this order are the subject of ongoing litigation, it is my belief that we will prevail and be able to take the steps necessary to protect our nation. Americans must feel safe to walk down the street, go to the mall, or to a night club anywhere and anytime. Fear must not become the status quo as it has in so many parts of the world," Kelly said. Kelly said the Trump Administration is considering other measures, adding to the vetting on the other end so that the US can insure even more so that the right people are coming to the country and not bad people. Two of the seven countries, which were identified by the previous Obama Administration, are still listed as state sponsors of terrorism. "So, we don't trust them at all because they are state sponsors of terrorism and they don't cooperate with us to the degree that certainly President Trump and now certainly I'm confident that what we get from those countries, which is very little cooperation to really determine who are the people that want to come here," he said. Among the other five are nearly fail states in many respects, he argued. "We will take a look at all of these countries going forward as to whether they remain on the pause list. I'm at a total loss to understand how we can vet, people from various countries when in at least four of those countries we don't even have an embassy. So, I think the pause made an awful lot of sense," he said. "Going forward, we would hope that there are countries that will come off the list," he added. At the same time he said the US is not looking at adding any new countries to the list. "There are no other countries right now being contemplated, being put on any type of a travel pause. Some other countries out there can be improved and we hope to work with them, to help them improve. Just like we hope to work with one, two, three, whatever of the countries, of the seven countries to help them improve their vetting to satisfy us so that we can, you know, open our doors to their citizens," he said in response to a question. Kelly said some of these seven countries might come off the list in the next 80 days or so when the review is complete. "I like to think some of them will, and the ones that won't get off are the ones that once again that are basically failed and, I was just reading this morning where hundreds perhaps even into the thousands of individuals have fled from Africa have fled to Yemen, again a country that almost defines a country, a failed country so that they can try to get on a list to come to the United States," he said. WASHINGTON Senior members of the U.S. Senate called on Wednesday for the right to review any move the White House might make to ease sanctions on Russia, amid mounting concern in Congress - and among U.S. allies - that President Donald Trump will be too conciliatory toward Moscow.The lawmakers, led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Ben Cardin, introduced "The Russia Sanctions Relief Act of 2017," modelled on a bill introduced in 2015 that let Congress review the Iran nuclear agreement signed by then-President Barack Obama.Trump's open admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and promises to rebuild frayed U.S. ties with Moscow have raised questions over his commitment to maintaining sanctions against Russia for its involvement in fighting in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.The bill announced on Wednesday would require the Trump administration to submit to Congress a description of any proposed sanctions relief, as well as certification that Moscow has stopped supporting actions to undermine the government of Ukraine and ceased cyberattacks against the U.S. government and its people. It would give the Senate and House of Representatives 120 days to act, or decline to act, on any sanctions relief. During that period, Trump would be barred from action to ease sanctions.After 120 days, sanctions relief would be granted only if the Senate and House of Representatives had not voted for a Joint Resolution of Disapproval. The measure is also backed by Republican Senators Marco Rubio and John McCain and Democrats Sherrod Brown and Claire McCaskill. It was not immediately clear whether Republican congressional leaders would back the measure or how it would fare in the House, but the bill has the support of some of the leading foreign policy voices in the Senate. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Andrew Hay) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Washington: Republican Senators voted to formally silence a Democratic colleague for impugning a peer, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, by condemning his nomination for Attorney General by reading a letter by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren had been holding forth on the Senate floor on Tuesday the eve of Sessions's expected confirmation vote reading from a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King that criticised Sessions's record on civil rights, CNN reported. Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Warren had broken Senate rules by impugning the conduct of another Senator. In an extremely rare rebuke, she was instructed by the presiding officer to take her seat. McConnell's objection to Warren's speech was put to a vote and Senators voted 49-43 in his favour. Warren described the incident on Facebook: "During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate. The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship. The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor so I'm right outside, reading it now." Coretta King's letter, according to the report, said that Sessions was unsuitable for that role because he had "used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters". Sessions's nomination process has been dogged by reports that he attempted to suppress black voters when he was an attorney in Alabama. The objection by McConnell raised the ire of Democrats and members of the public, many of whom shared the letter on social media using the hashtag #LetLizSpeak. Bernice King, daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you @SenWarren for being the soul of the Senate during the #Sessions hearing. #LetCorettaSpeak #LetLizSpeak" The Democratic National Committee said in a statement that it was a "sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jr's widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate". Warren is now barred from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate, Mr McConnell's office said. The debate is expected to conclude on Wednesday. By Yara Bayoumy and Noah Browning | WASHINGTON/DUBAI WASHINGTON/DUBAI The Yemeni government has expressed concern to the United States over a U.S. commando raid targeting al Qaeda militants which killed several civilians, but it stopped short of revoking permission for future operations.The nighttime raid in southern al-Bayda province, approved by new U.S. President Donald Trump, resulted in a gun battle that left one Navy SEAL dead and an American aircraft a charred wreck. Local medics said several women and children were killed."We have not withdrawn our permission for the United States to carry out special operations ground missions. However, we made clear our reservations about the last operation," a senior Yemeni official told Reuters."We said that in the future there needs to be more coordination with Yemeni authorities before any operation and that there needs to be consideration for our sovereignty," he added. The account was confirmed by another Yemeni official.U.S. defence officials said they were investigating the reports of civilian casualties in the raid. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday the operation was aimed at gathering intelligence and was "highly successful".The senior Yemeni official told Reuters that Yemeni president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi had met with the U.S. ambassador to Yemen and "made clear his reservations about the problems with the last operation". The Yemeni government has supported a U.S. campaign against the country's powerful al Qaeda branch for more than a decade.Dozens of drone strikes, stepped up under President Barack Obama, have killed senior leaders but have also repeatedly killed civilians.The State Department said the United States would continue working with Hadi "and his representatives to ensure that this important partnership remains solid in order to ultimately eradicate" al Qaeda and Islamic State from Yemen. The Jan. 29 commando raid was only the second publicly acknowledged ground attack by U.S. forces in Yemen, after Obama launched a failed 2014 attempt to rescue two hostages from al Qaeda in which both were killed. The situation is complicated by Yemen's civil war pitting the Saudi-backed government against the Houthi movement aligned with Iran. Although the government is recognised internationally, the Houthis control many of Yemen's main population centres including the capital Sanaa.The operation may also have created a headache for the government not just by killing innocent people but also a local al Qaeda commander, Abdulraoof al-Dhahab, who was an ally of pro-government tribes fighting the Houthis.. The deaths could alienate those armed tribes fighting for the government cause and aid al Qaeda recruitment."It was wrong to kill him and the children...he fought the Houthis and did not have any thought of launching attacks abroad. If the government allowed this to happen, it was a mistake," one tribal leader from al-Bayda said.While it is not clear whether the government approved the raid or signs off on each U.S. drone attack, a senior Yemeni security official said the attacks might continue regardless."The Americans have their own sources of intelligence among local informants and lower level officials so would not necessarily need the help of the government for its attacks," the official said. (Editing by Angus MacSwan and Andrew Hay) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Search engine giant Google, today launched a new tool dubbed as Google Cloud Search that uses machine intelligence to provide a combined search experience across G Suite including Drive, Gmail, Sites, Calendar, Docs, Contacts and much more. This tool was previously named as Springboard. Basically, this Could Search tool is designed to provide both comprehensive search and proactive recommendations. With the intelligence technology, this tool can prepare a schedule of an upcoming meeting or even suggest files that need your attention in card style design similar to Google Now. On the other hand, it also keeps a tap on privacy, which is very helpful for business as well. This tool respects G Suites file sharing permissions so that people can only search for and find files that they have access to. Further, this tool helps you to search or people listed in your companys directory in addition to that of the information. When you see the contact list, the user can tap to start a conversation through the call, hangout, and mail. The Cloud Search will begin rolling out globally for customers using the G Suite Business and Enterprise editions. Having said that, they are planning to integrate third-party apps that could enhance the tool in future. Scott Lawrence Lawson, Director of IT Architecture, said: At QAD, we operate at a high-level of speed and require technology that provides us agility, flexibility and seamless access to information. Cloud Search provides that. Its given us the ability to break down silos that exist across different content systems and unlock information with very little effort from IT. Source It looks like this year we will see Tesla on Indian roads this summer. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that potential India launch while responding to a Twitter question. [HTML1] Unfortunately, there are no more details about the India launch plans as of now. Last year in April, Musk had unveiled its Tesla Model 3 electric sedan and said that it will come to India along with Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Ireland. The Model 3 pre-order page lets you book a Tesla by paying a $1,000 (Rs. 66,400 approx.) via a credit card and this is a refundable deposit in case you decide not to buy. Musk had previously confirmed that the car would come with an India-wide supercharger network. For those unaware, Supercharging is a standard feature that can charge Tesla cars from 0 to 100 percent in roughly 75 minutes and are currently offered free of cost to those who own Tesla cars. Model 3 is the most affordable car in the Tesla line-up and is a smaller hybrid of the Model S and X. Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong welcomes Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (Photo: VNA) The Lao PMaffirmed that the Lao Government will work closely with Vietnam in directing ministries, sectors and localities to implement agreements reached by the two countries senior Party and State leaders as well as those to be signed during the 39th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee that he will co-chair in Hanoi. ThonglounSisoulith conveyed New Year wishes of Lao Party General Secretary and President BounhangVolachith to the Vietnamese Party chief, while congratulating Vietnam on the achievements it has gained so far. He also thanked Vietnams support for Laos over the past years. For his part, Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong lauded effective cooperation between the two Governments in the recent time. He suggested that during the 39th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, the two sides will focus on seeking active coordination measures to effectively realisethe Vietnam-Laos Joint Statements, bilateral agreements and cooperationprogrammes and plans. The two sides should review and complete collaboration policies and mechanisms, while rolling out concrete measures to ensure quality and progress of Vietnamese projects in Laos, and boost sustainable growth of economic ties, he noted. The Party chief also suggested that Vietnam and Laos strengthen connectivity in economy, transport infrastructure and energy as well as create positive and practical changes in education and training cooperation quality. Both host and guest expressed their delight at the developing special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, contributing to the national construction and defence of each country. They also pledged to work together to maintain and promote the ties and educate younger generations on these special relations./. Goldman Sachs Group Inc's hedge fund Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP), which was one of the largest-ever hedge fund launches in history, is closing its London operations and shifting staff members to New York, four sources told Reuters. About eight staff members who made up the London team were recently told to move to Goldman's Battery Park City headquarters or find a new job internally, said the sources. The move was triggered by managing director Nick Advani, who led the hedge fund from London and said in June he would be stepping down from his role, the sources said. Advani, now an advisory director at Goldman, did not respond to requests for comment. Advani is expected to leave the firm later this year, the sources said. Managing director Raluca Ragab, who had been formally leading the London-based team since Advani's departure, will leave Goldman once the move is complete, one of the sources said. Multi-strategy hedge fund GSIP launched in November 2008 with $7 billion in assets, making it one of the largest hedge fund launches at the time. GSIP, run globally by co-heads Raanan Agus and Kenneth Eberts, sits within Goldman's asset management division. But a focus on value investing with around 20 positions mainly in equities became more challenging in recent years, a former employee told Reuters. Goldman's Global Long Short Partners Offshore fund posted losses of 8.2 percent in the year to end-September in 2016 after small gains of 1.5 percent in 2015, according to an investor letter reviewed by Reuters. Last September, three of the fund's top five credit positions were in the Europe Middle East and Africa region, according to the letter. Assets fell in 2014 after Goldman pulled out $2.8 billion in response to the U.S. Dodd-Frank financial reform law and the Volcker rule, which restricted banks' proprietary trading. The fund now manages around $3.5 billion. Separately, Goldman may move up to 1,000 staff out of London in response to Britain's vote to leave the European Union, it was reported last month. (Reporting by Maiya Keidan in London and Olivia Oran ia New York, additional reporting by Carolyn Cohn and Simon Jessop) Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) talks to Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Ping Kitnikone (Photo: VNA) The newly-appointed diplomat made the statement at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on February 7th. She said Vietnam hosting a key cooperation forum of the Asia-Pacific region would open new opportunities for both countries to form regional and bilateral partnerships toward effectiveness and sustainability. Kitnikone said strong growth of socio-economic cooperation between Vietnam and Canada in the past time would help boost their comprehensive ties in the coming time. Agreeing with his guest, Minh said he is delighted with progress the two countries have made together in trade and development cooperation. Hailing increasing Canadian funding, he said Vietnam is expecting additional support in climate change adaptation. Minh noted that holding great collaborative potential, Vietnam and Canada should make efforts to elevate relations to a new height and work more closely at multilateral forums for international peace, stability and cooperation. Two-way trade revenue between the two countries grows between 20 and 25 percent on an annual basis, with the figure reaching nearly USD5 billion recently./. Automated security lanes are expected to make it easier for air travelers at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. The Metropolitan Airports Commission on Monday approved the purchase of the lanes, which promise to increase the capacity of passenger screening by as much as 40 percent by using automatic bin dispensers and conveyors, Minnesota Public Radio reported (http://bit.ly/2kjd965 ). The Transportation Security Administration recommended the new system. It's expected to be in place for the summer travel season. The equipment will occupy the center four lanes of the south checkpoint in Terminal 1. It'll feature stations with bin dispensers so people can fill bins without waiting as long for a spot. The loaded bins move on conveyor belts into X-ray inspection, and the system separates out bins that need extra inspection. A memo on the purchase, requesting $1.6 million for the system, says airports with this equipment are moving travelers through security 10 to 40 percent faster. "From the little bit of data we've seen from other airports, they are showing quite an increase in efficiencies," said Bridget Rief, director of airport development. "People are able to process faster through the system." She added that Minnesota's more bundled-up passengers may lead to somewhat less efficiency. The new equipment is the first of a two-part upgrade that'll likely include more lanes for TSA screening stations. The automated security systems debuted at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport late last spring and are in place at Chicago's O'Hare airport and the airport in Newark, New Jersey. ___ Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mprnews.org American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) and Aqua America (NYSE: WTR) are the largest and second-largest publicly traded water utilities operating in the United States, respectively. The two companies share a good number of similarities, including having growth strategies that place considerable importance on acquisitions and operating hydraulic fracturing -- or "fracking" -- water businesses that serve energy companies. Given their similarities, it can be challenging to tease out relevant differences in order to determine which of the two stocks looks most attractive as a long-term investment. That's our goal. Image source: Getty Images. Here's how the two companies stack up on some key metrics. Data sources: Yahoo! Finance and YCharts. Market capitalization = stock price x number of shares outstanding; EPS = earnings per share; YOY = year over year; TTM = trailing 12 months. *S&P 500's return is 23.4%; **S&P 500's total return is 101.6%. Data to Feb. 3. The case for American Water Works American Water has boatloads more cash and equivalents on its balance sheet than does Aqua America: $46 million versus $3.7 million, as of the end of the most recent (third) quarter. Granted, American Water needs more cash to run its business and pay its dividend, as it's the larger company. However, the difference in the two companies' cash piles is far greater than the difference in their sizes, no matter how size is measured. This advantagemakes American Water better positioned to make acquisitions. The water utility industry in the U.S. is very fragmented, which means that there are many potential acquisition targets. This cash position advantage goes hand-in-hand with another big advantage related to acquisitionpotential: American Water's greater geographic diversity. Itprovides regulated water and wastewater services in 16 states, in addition to providing market-based services in another 31 states and Ontario, Canada. Aqua America, which also has market-based businesses, provides regulated services in just eight states. Thus, American Water has better potential for efficient expansion, as expanding near where it already operates results in economies of scale. American Water's revenue and earnings are growing faster than Aqua America's in 2016. More important, analysts estimate that it will grow EPS at an average annual rate of 7.5% over the next five years, whereas they peg Aqua America's five-year annual growth rate at 5%. As to valuation, American Water's trailing-12-month P/E and forward P/E are a little higher (less attractive) than Aqua America's. However, when we take American Water's significantly superior current and projected future earnings growth into account, it looks more attractive. Moreover, the company is much more attractive on a price-to-cash flow from operations (P/CFO) basis, with its 10.4 ratio versus Aqua America's 14.2. Neither company has a price-to-free cash flow ratio since both have negative FCFs. However, American Water has a much better record on this front in recent years. The case for Aqua America Aqua America's dividend is currently yielding 2.46% versus American Water's 2.07%. So it's a better stock for investors who are primarily or only concerned with currentincome. However, paying a higher dividend is usually a double-edged sword for a company, as it means that the company will have less cash available for other uses, such as acquisitions. Aqua America has the advantage when it comes to operating margins for the trailing 12 months: 40% versus American Water's 32.4%. Moreover, as is often the case, this advantage flows through to profit margins, with Aqua America's 26% margin leaving American's 14.2% all wet. Aqua America's margins have traditionally been the highest among water utilities operating in the U.S. Aqua America comes out ahead on debt, too. Its debt-to-equity ratio at the end of the third quarter was 1.0 versus American Water's 1.3. Data byYCharts. The verdict On nearly all metrics -- including the all-important cash on hand and projected future earnings growth -- American Water Works swims past Aqua America. I believe it has the better total capital appreciation potential (stock-price appreciation plus dividend). Moreover, while past performance isn't indicative of future performance, in my opinion long-term past performance does often reflect a company's sustainable competitive advantages and management's ability to set strategies and execute on them. American Water has significantly outperformed Aqua America over the long term, as per the preceding chart. Two related metrics to watch for American Water, however, are its free cash flow and its debt level. Investors should look for some progress there in 2017 and beyond. 10 stocks we like better than American Water Works When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and American Water Works wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of January 4, 2017 Beth McKenna has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Brazil opened a formal complaint against Canada at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Wednesday, accusing the country of distorting the global aerospace industry with subsidies for planemaker Bombardier Inc . Brazil has threatened for months to open the WTO dispute, arguing that support for Bombardier's new CSeries was undercutting the market for commercial jets made by Brazilian rival Embraer SA . The case builds on decades of antagonism between the two regional jet makers and echoes arguments in the world's largest trade dispute, a transatlantic spat over government support for Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE . Brazil's action came on the heels of fresh support for Bombardier on Tuesday in the form of interest-free loans worth C$373 million ($283 million) from the Canadian government. Canada's Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the loans complied with WTO rules and the government would defend itself against litigation. Brazil's Foreign Ministry criticized "at least $2.5 billion in government support" for the Canadian planemaker last year and a senior official said the complaint would include the loans announced on Tuesday. "It is the understanding of Brazil that these Canadian subsidies artificially affect international competitiveness," the ministry said in a statement. The province of Quebec, where Bombardier is based, injected $1 billion into the company's CSeries program last year. The province's largest pension fund also invested $1.5 billion in the company's rail unit. Embraer Chief Executive Officer Paulo Cesar Silva said in a statement that the ongoing cash injections "have not only been fundamental in the development and survival of the CSeries program, but have also allowed Bombardier to offer its aircraft at artificially low prices." STEEP DELTA DISCOUNT Last year, Bombardier scored an order from Delta Air Lines Inc for 75 CSeries jets, worth some $5.6 billion at list prices, beating out Embraer's competing E-Jets with below break-even prices, according to the Brazilians. Two sources familiar with the deal said Bombardier offered a roughly two-thirds discount to win the order, its biggest to date for the fledgling CSeries program. Bombardier booked a $500 million "onerous contract" charge related to that Delta order and a separate deal with Air Canada . Carlos Cozendey, undersecretary for economic affairs at Brazil's Foreign Ministry, said that subsidies had been key in helping Bombardier win the Delta contract and could influence more sales campaigns this year. Bombardier pushed back on Wednesday, calling the government support a standard practice in the global aerospace industry. "All forms of support provided to Bombardier, including the repayable program contributions announced by the federal government yesterday and the investment from the Quebec government... are fully compliant with Canada's international trade obligations," Bombardier said in a statement. The company compared that funding to loans for Embraer from Brazil's state development bank BNDES and an investment by the Brazilian Air Force in Embraer's new military cargo jet. "The aerospace industry is heavily subsidized around the world," said lawyer Renata Amaral, head of the international trade practice at Brazilian firm Barral M Jorge & Associates. "The problem is when subsidies reach a degree that starts creating distortions in the market." Amaral, who has advised Brazil on previous WTO cases, said that a decision on the current dispute was likely to stretch into 2018. Both countries now have up to 60 days to try to settle the dispute before the WTO convenes a panel of experts to help make a ruling in the case. BUILDING ON PRECEDENT The latest WTO standoff follows nearly a decade of sparring between Brazil and Canada over state financing for Embraer and Bombardier's exports in the 1990s. However, the current dispute is closer in substance to the clash between the United States and the European Union over allegedly unfair support for Boeing and Airbus. Brazil will aim to build on a partial U.S. victory in that case, which focused on comparing public financing for aircraft development with private-sector benchmarks to determine whether the loans constituted improper subsidies. The WTO ruled that loans to Airbus were unfair but stopped short of putting them in the worst category of "prohibited" aid. The dispute, which started more than a decade ago, has still not completed a lengthy WTO compliance process. Cozendey, of Brazil's foreign ministry, said that precedent strengthened the argument against Canadian subsidies. Brazil will argue that some of Canada's measures are "prohibited" under international trade law, while others are not illegal per se but are "actionable" because the scale of the subsidies are disrupting competition, Cozendey said. (Reporting by Brad Haynes in Sao Paulo and Alonso Soto in Brasilia; Additional reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Daniel Flynn, Nick Zieminski and Lisa Shumaker) Folks aren't coming to Disney World and Disneyland the way they did in the past. The theme-park giant saw sluggish attendance trends through the 2016 calendar year, and yesterday afternoon's revelation by Disney (NYSE: DIS) of a 5% year-over-year decline in domestic guest counts is just more sour icing on a very stale cake. Disney World has now seen its park attendance decline in three of the past four quarters. The good news -- for shareholders, but not so much for park guests -- is that Disney's theme-parks segment still made more money than it did a year earlier. Guests are paying more to get in and spending more on food and merchandise. On-site room bookings are down, but once again folks are paying more to stay at a Disney World hotel. The 6% uptick in parks and resorts revenue and the 13% spike in the segment's operating income are impressive feats in a climate of cascading guest counts. The springtime opening of Shanghai Disney is obviously inflating results this time around, but it's still an applause-worthy achievement. Disney's parks and resorts division is the only one of its four business segments to post an increase in either revenue or operating profit. Image source: Disney. It's a small, small world There is no shortage of scapegoats. Having Hurricane Matthew scrape along the Florida coast was enough to force Disney to close its parks for one day and close early for another in early October, something that rarely happens. The storm also knocked out a pair of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party premium nighttime events. However, even during the peak holiday season at the tail end of the quarter, it was easy to feel that something was amiss. The Magic Kingdom didn't hit capacity on Christmas Day, something that had happened in the past couple of years. Itclosed to capacity just once this season, on New Year's Eve. There were just a couple of days when the park had to turn away some guests during the past two years. We can argue that Disney did this by design. It jacked up ticket and annual pass prices. It revamped its annual pass tiers, introducing more categories with restrictive blackout periods. Disney also failed to add any new marketable rides at all but one of its four Disney World theme parks. Disney got greedy and complacent at the same time, a fatal combination in any consumer-facing business. Things won't always be this bad. We're now months away from an Avatar-themed expansion at Disney's Animal Kingdom that will be the resort's most ambitious expansion in nearly five years. And that's child's play compared with what Star Wars Land will be when it opens in a few years at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Disney will also likely be less cocky. When it raises prices later this month -- and it will; it's a February rite -- it will be a move that's less aggressive than in recent years. Disney's ability to grow the segment's revenue and operating profit in a climate of shrinking guest counts is a testament to the brand's power and appeal. If its finances look this good when attendance is declining, one can only imagine what Disney's numbers will look like when traffic picks back up again. 10 stocks we like better than Walt DisneyWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Walt Disney wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of February 6, 2017 Rick Munarriz owns shares of Walt Disney. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. First lady Melania Trump expected to develop "multi-million dollar business relationships" tied to her presence in the White House, according to a lawsuit she filed. And she has yet to step away from the companies that manage royalties from her name-branded products, business documents show. Ethics watchdogs worry that Mrs. Trump seems to be inappropriately trying to profit from a high-profile position that is usually centered on public service. "The Trumps are using the White House like the Kardashians used reality TV, to build and vastly expand their overall business enterprises," said Norman Eisen, who was President Barack Obama's chief ethics counselor. Mrs. Trump is living in New York while her son finishes out the school year. She has done little hiring for her White House office and has not posted on social media since Jan. 21. She joined President Donald Trump last weekend at their home in Florida but has not returned to Washington since the inauguration last month. A libel lawsuit refiled by Mrs. Trump on Monday in New York is one of the few times the public has heard from her lately. Mrs. Trump has been suing the corporation that publishes the Daily Mail's website over a now-retracted report that claimed she once worked as an escort. While the new court documents don't specifically mention her role as first lady, an unusual passage argues that in addition to being false and libelous, the Daily Mail report damaged her ability to profit from her high profile, and affected her business opportunities. Mrs. Trump "had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world," the lawsuit reads. Charles Harder, Mrs. Trump's attorney, did not respond to a question about what was meant by the phrase "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." He said the first lady "has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so." "It is not a possibility," Harder said. "Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted." A White House spokeswoman for the first lady did not respond to a request for comment. The products referenced in the lawsuit could have included apparel, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care and fragrance, among others. The first lady is seeking compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million. An Associated Press review of business filings found that Melania Trump has not stepped away from her brand. As of Tuesday, she was listed in New York filings as the CEO of Melania Marks Accessories Member Corp, the holding company of Melania Marks Accessories LLC, both of which remain active. Those companies managed between $15,000 and $50,000 in royalties from her accessories lines, the Trumps' May 2016 financial disclosure filing shows. A third company, Melania LLC, was also still active, though the Trumps had listed it as having less than $1,000 in value and producing less than $200. Two other of Mrs. Trump's companies tied to skincare products were shut down last week, according to business filings in Delaware. Both were listed in the May 2016 financial disclosure as having little to no value or income. Scott Amey, general counsel of the Washington watchdog Project on Government Oversight, said the first lady's ongoing enterprises are "another example of the first family blurring the line between public service and private business interests." Richard Painter, who advised former President George W. Bush on ethics, said the lawsuit's language shows Melania Trump is engaging "in an unprecedented, clear breach of rules about using her government position for private gain." Painter and Eisen are part of a group of attorneys suing the president for an alleged violation of a constitutional clause that prohibits presidents from receiving foreign gifts or payments. President Trump continues to financially benefit from his global business empire, breaking from past practice. Previous presidents and their families have divested from business interests and placed their holdings in a blind trust, although there is no legal requirement to do so. Trump handed daily management of the real estate, property management and licensing business to his adult sons and a longtime Trump Organization employee. Melania Trump's marketing has drawn scrutiny before. On Inauguration Day, the official White House biography for Melania Trump originally referenced her jewelry collection, which it noted was sold on the home-shopping channel QVC. By the next day, that bio had been edited and simplified to say that she had "launched her own jewelry collection." Mrs. Trump previously sued Mail Media Inc. in Maryland, but a judge earlier this month ruled the case was filed in the wrong court. The lawsuit is now filed in New York, where the corporation has offices. Mrs. Trump also had sued blogger Webster Tarpley for reporting the unsubstantiated rumors. Trump filed the lawsuit in Maryland after both Tarpley and the Daily Mail issued retractions. On Tuesday, Melania Trump's attorneys said they'd settled the Maryland case against Tarpley after he apologized and agreed to pay "a substantial sum as a settlement." __ Associated Press writers Randall Chase in Dover, Del., and Chad Day in Washington contributed to this report. Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) is closely watching developments in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress seek major reforms to corporate taxes. Executives from the motorcycle maker traveled to the White House last week to meet with President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and administration officials. Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich said the president wanted to get the companyas input on the issues, from tax reform to trade. aIt was a great meeting, mostly because of the way the president and the administration really engaged with us on issues of importance to great American manufacturers like Harley,a Levatich said Wednesday during interview on the FOX Business Networkas aMornings with Maria.a aThey really listened. They want to hear what we have to say because, as you can imagine, there are a lot of complicated things to figure out, whether itas tax reform or trade issues.a Levatich said a tax cutapossibly to 20%awould allow Harley-Davidson to reinvest in its business. The Milwaukee-based company pays an effective tax rate of around 35%, matching the current federal rate. The company also stands to benefit from the potential border adjustment to the tax code, which is being debated on Capitol Hill and would exempt U.S. corporate export revenues from tax, but at the same time prevent companies from deducting the cost of imported goods and services. Some retailers, car dealers and oil refiners a who depend heavily on importsaargue this would force them to hike prices. On the other hand, domestic manufacturersaespecially companies that export goods from the U.S.astand to benefit from such a tax. Harley-Davidson has faced stiff competition in the U.S. from Japanese competitors that offer lower-priced models. aHarley has been heavily invested in American manufacturing since day one, and weare a great representation of American manufacturing,a Levatich said. Harley-Davidson is also struggling to jumpstart demand at home, where the companyas core customers are getting older. During an earnings call last week, Levatich said Harley-Davidson will invest in a long-term strategy to abuild the next generation of Harley-Davidson.a The company has already increased sales to young adults, women, African-Americans and Hispanics. Over the next five years, Harley-Davidson plans to launch 50 new bikes that make a significant impact on the market. aFifty is just a number,a but awhat matters is what they saya to existing riders, new riders and potential customers who are interested in switching to Harley-Davidson from a competing brand, Levatich said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy President Donald Trump's travel ban is not only being debated in the courts, it's also being debated by the travel industry. Many experts remain bullish about prospects for tourism, despite a strong dollar that makes the U.S. expensive for some international travelers. The U.S. Commerce Department predicts a record 78.6 million international visitors will visit the U.S. in 2017. Brand USA, which promotes travel to the U.S., said it has "not received any data that shows any tangible change in bookings or cancellations by international travelers." But others worry that Trump's order banning travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen may scare off visitors from elsewhere. An op-ed piece in the Toronto Star newspaper last week encouraged Canadians to "boycott vacations to the U.S." until Trump's term is over. "The Grand Canyon will still be there," the piece said. "The Golden Gate Bridge. Mount Rushmore. Disney World. They'll all be there. And with any luck, the Statue of Liberty will still be there too." Travel agent Melissa Erskine, owner of iDream Travel based in Ontario, Canada, says some of her clients "are no longer interested in going to the U.S. due to Donald Trump's policies and have looked at other options within Canada. I just booked flights for two families to New York City for April and they have taken out trip cancellation insurance ... They wanted peace of mind that they can cancel their trip if needed." Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company, New York's tourism agency, said Canada is New York's second-biggest international market after the United Kingdom, "so when our neighbors to the north call for a boycott, it's a huge cause for concern." Travelers from the Middle East comprised just 3.6 percent of non-resident international arrivals to the U.S. in the first half of 2016, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data. The president's order does not include the Middle Eastern countries that send the most travelers here Israel, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. But Dixon and others fear travelers around the world may interpret the ban as a broader message that they're not welcome here. "We are very concerned from a perception perspective that the U.S. has an image problem," said Dixon. "New York is hypersensitive to this. We have 30 percent of all the overseas travelers who come to the U.S. Half of all the spending on travel comes in the form of international travel." Some data suggests a downturn in bookings in the days after the ban was announced. StudentUniverse.com, a site geared to travelers ages 18-26, said bookings from the United Kingdom to the U.S. dropped 19 percent between Jan. 27 to Feb. 7 compared to the same period last year. ForwardKeys, which analyzes 16 million flight reservation transactions a day, said bookings to the U.S. dropped 6.5 percent between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 compared with the same period in 2016. Jason Clampet, editor in chief at the travel industry website Skift.com, said the ban, combined with the strong dollar, gives international travelers "another reason to shop elsewhere." Others, however, say demand for U.S. vacations has never been stronger. Intrepid Travel expects to bring record numbers of travelers to the U.S. in 2017. Contiki Tours president Melissa da Silva says bookings to the U.S. have increased 30 percent since last year. Tony Daly, with Ranch Rider, a British-based travel company, said interest in riding and ranch vacations in the American West remains robust. While he's seen some research suggesting some British travelers are reconsidering U.S. trips, "that's not the whole story. The results also show there are large numbers of U.K. travelers who either agree with or who are undecided based on the recent (Trump) order." Madelyn Fitzpatrick, with the Los Angeles branch of Hylink, one of China's largest digital advertising agencies, said Chinese travelers are also not put off by Trump, who she said is seen as a celebrity president in China. "America is a destination for experiences and local cultural exploration, so its politics do not affect the traveler, unless we begin to see dangers or threats," she said. On Tuesday, the U.S. Travel Association said revenue in the U.S. related to international travel returned to pre-9/11 levels just last year. "The U.S. lost a significant amount of ground in the international travel marketplace in the years after 9/11, which our industry has come to call 'the Lost Decade,'" USTA CEO Roger Dow said in a statement. While everyone agrees that counterterrorism and security measures are essential, some worry about a repeat of that post-9/11 tourism decline. USTA spokesman Jonathan Grella said the Trump travel ban has a "potential dangerous ripple effect. ... People make (travel) choices based on policies, based on protests of those policies, based on fear. The fallout could be wide-ranging." Worried about the nearly 20 million people who buy their own health insurance policies, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are weighing how to stabilize a wobbly market, government and industry officials say. The goal is to soothe jittery insurance companies that may bolt next year, while reassuring consumers anxious about the future. That could also buy time for more ambitious GOP attempts to rework the health care law. Some of the changes can be carried out single-handedly by the new administration, but others may require congressional action or cooperation. The measures would affect not just those consumers on the subsidized marketplaces under "Obamacare," but also people purchasing directly from an insurer or through an independent agent. The two groups have become intertwined. This year's sharp premium increases in the health law markets also hit consumers buying individual policies on the outside, but they are not eligible for financial assistance from the government. No final decisions appear to have been made. Trump administration officials would not comment ahead of an expected Senate vote on confirming Georgia Rep. Tom Price as the new health secretary. But a Republican congressional aide familiar with the internal discussions said the regulatory changes that the administration is considering include: Tightening rules for "special enrollment periods" that allow consumers to sign-up outside of the standard open enrollment window. Insurers have complained that some people take advantage of such opportunities to get coverage when they need care and later drop out, raising costs for everyone else. Loosening a provision of the Affordable Care Act that prevents insurers from charging older customers more than three times the premium for young adults. It's unclear how this would happen, since the limitation is specified in the law. But the GOP aide said the administration might be able to find wiggle room. Before the Obama health law, insurers routinely charged older customers five times or more what younger people paid. The ACA has made insurance more affordable for older adults, but critics say that's pricing out the young and healthy. AARP is already mobilizing to try to head off any attempt to make older customers pay more. Shortening the 90-day grace period to pay premiums for consumers who get subsidized coverage. Insurers complain this makes it easier for people to game the system. Shortening the current health law sign-up season, which runs about 90 days. Relaxing rules on how insurers structure their networks of hospitals and doctors. Republicans tend to think those should be set by states. The GOP aide spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Another person familiar with the administration's thinking said the points were on target. The regulatory changes mirror requests by insurers, who argue they would help check premiums. A White House regulatory website lists a health insurance market stabilization rule as "pending review." Along with the administration, congressional Republicans would have a role to play in stabilizing the markets, by stepping back from several previous efforts to block "Obamacare" financing. Chief among them is the fate of billions in subsidies that help low- and moderate-income people cover high insurance deductibles and copayments. More than half of the consumers in the government marketplace get these subsidies, and insurers say they are essential. House Republicans have questioned their legality. Other financing issues involve the health care law's complicated internal system for stabilizing premiums. It has not worked as intended, partly because of GOP efforts to deny financing to the Obama administration. After promising to quickly shred Obama's law and replace it with a conservative approach, Republicans seem to be slowing down and thinking things over. Every lawmaker has thousands of constituents potentially affected. At a hearing last week, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., answered critics by saying it's "beyond the pale" to suggest that Republicans just want to cut coverage. He said the country isn't going back to the days when "through no fault of your own (if) you have some disease that keeps coming at you ... sorry, you're on your own and you're destitute. "That's not the choice here," said Walden. "The choice is how we get it right." About 12 million people have signed up for coverage this year through the health law's subsidized markets, according to federal and state figures. Congressional experts estimate that another 8 million buy individual policies outside the government markets. Consumers in this group get no federal subsidies, but they have also seen their premiums shoot up. Many are self-employed business people or early retirees, constituencies considered receptive to Republicans. Gov. Scott Walker's administration reversed itself Wednesday and no longer plans to roll back a requirement for fire sprinklers in many new apartment buildings. The state Department of Safety and Professional Services recently advanced plans to end a requirement that builders install fire sprinklers in new housing projects with three to 20 units. But agency officials now say they are dropping the idea, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported (http://bit.ly/2kshwhO ). Firefighters and fire officials had said the proposal could cost lives. Eric Esser, the department's deputy secretary, said that although the sprinkler requirement won't happen, no final decisions have been made on a proposal to expand the use of circuit interrupters that prevent fire and electrocution, as an advisory committee recommended last year. In September, the panel of experts assembled by the department voted 9-1 to expand the use of circuit interrupters in new homes. Circuit interrupters, which include reset buttons on outlets and in circuit boxes, sense current and arcing and prevent electrical fires and electrocution. But department officials at least initially decided to pass on those recommendations, the Journal Sentinel reported. The committee was told in December that its recommendations, which were based on industry safety standards, were being rejected, said Bill Neitzel, an electrical inspector and chairman of the advisory panel. Fire chiefs and advocates for burn victims say circuit interrupters would add only a few hundred dollars to the cost of a new home. Requiring more circuit interrupters could add $500 to $600 to the cost of a new home, said Brad Boycks, executive director of the Wisconsin Builders Association, a homebuilders group. "Those are real dollars," Boycks said. "We always want to keep the cost of housing low so people have housing options. ... When you raise the price of housing, you price families out." But executive director Amy Acton of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors said Wisconsin should not put lives at stake to save a few hundred dollars for homebuyers. "To me, that's just a total no-brainer," Acton said. "I don't think anybody who's building a home is going to notice $400 circuit interrupters." ___ Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com The Senate voted along party lines in favor of a rule that essentially silenced Senator Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday night after she quoted from a letter written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s widow, Coretta Scott King, during her criticism of Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trumps pick for Attorney General. The rule states that senators may not directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator. Senator Warren spoke after the dust up about what she couldnt say, early Wednesday. This is about Coretta Scott Kings letter and thats all this is about, Senator Warren told reporters. She wrote a powerful letter about an important moment in history that directly involved Jeff Sessions and is directly relevant to the question of whether Jeff Sessions ought to be the attorney general of the United States -- and Mitch McConnell didnt want me to read that letter." Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., however, said Senator Warren is using the King named to play the race card and stir up emotions. In that letter [Coretta Scott King] would be referring to some of [Sen. Jeff Sessions] comments, King told the FOX Business Networks Neil Cavuto. However, she would agree today that he of course ended some [school segregation and] he worked to prosecute members of the KKK. King added: Its almost like a bait and switch, stir up the emotions, in the name of Kingand my name is Alveda King [and] play the race card, which she was attempting to do. Nevertheless King said the issue hasnt divided the family. We are taking a look at many things that Mrs. Coretta Scott King said, Martin Luther King Jr., my daddy A.D. King, she said. But our familywe are peacemakers, we bring people together we do not divide people. On Tuesday, President Trump met with law enforcement from around the country on issues regarding his executive orders to curb illegal immigration, and reiterated his commitment to build a wall along the southern border. Sheriff Greg Champagne, President of the National Sheriffs' Association, attended the meeting and acknowledged the significance of getting to speak with the president at the White House. Its been the first time in quite a while that the officers, the leadership of the National Sheriffs Association has been invited, not only to the White House, but inside the oval office, said Champagne during an interview with Stuart Varney on the Fox Business Network. Trump continued his mantra to build a great wall and secure our nations borders during his address to police officials on Wednesday, at the Major Cities Chiefs Association Winter Conference. Its time to stop the drugs from pouring into our country and by the way, we will do that. And, I will say this, General, now Secretary Kelly will be the man to do it, and we will give him a wall, and it will be a real wall, said Trump. Although Sheriff Champagne agreed with the Presidents determination to build a secure border, he also hinted that a wall might not be the most appropriate solution in certain cases. I think even the President has indicated, though he talks about the wall, we all know that there are places where there could be other things built -- other structures, such as fences, electronic sensors, whether its drones, aircrafts. Its a long stretch of territory and we just need something that we can enforce the borders. Trumps executive order to temporarily ban immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries has been a major source of contention just over two weeks into his presidency but if Clinton won the election, and enforced the same policies, it would be a different story said Champagne. Whether you like President Trump or you dont like President Trump, all of our presidents had this authority under the statute. So, if it were President Clinton right now who was exercising this same authority under this statute, I believe the same people who are screaming about it right now, would be saying how important it is that she had that authority. He went on to add, We have to give our president the benefit of the doubt. There have been reports that the Trump administration may look to make significant cuts to the EPAs budget and staffing. But one Congressman is taking it a step further and wants to abolish the EPA. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) discussed the bill he is introducing to end the EPA. Its not that Im against conservation, I support conservation, I just dont think the federal governments any good at it, Gaetz told the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney. According to Gaetz, in his home state of Florida hes seen the EPA get in the way of conservation projects instead of taking the lead. Im from the state of Florida and time again weve seen the EPA and other federal agencies stand in the way of conservation projects. But Gaetz reassured that even without an EPA there would be environmental laws that the federal government would enforce. There are a number of federal environmental laws that we will still need to enforce, but my belief is the EPA in its current form cannot be reformed. Gaetz sees an end to the EPA as the only solution to improving environmental regulations and getting funding to local governments where it can do the most good. We ought to pull the EPA up from the weeds, we ought to start over with right-size regulations that will protect our environment and then to every extent possible, downstream the $8 billion that the EPA currently spends to our states and local governments where we can truly protect the environmental assets that are important to people in their states and in their local communities. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked Nordstrom Inc for what he said was its unfair treatment of his daughter Ivanka after its decision to not purchase her clothing line for this upcoming season. Shares of the retailer fell 0.7 percent after the president's criticism but recovered to trade up 1.3 percent at $43.34 on the New York Stock Exchange. "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!," Trump said on Wednesday in his post on Twitter. In a statement last week, Nordstrom said it routinely cuts brands each year and that the decision to pass on the Ivanka Trump brand had been based on its performance. Nordstrom did not respond to requests seeking comment on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the Ivanka Trump brand declined to comment. A day after Nordstrom's statement, luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group also said it had stopped selling Ivanka Trump's jewelry line on its website and a store in New Jersey, according to Yahoo News. The move by these retailers comes amid an ongoing campaign called #GrabYourWallet, which encourages shoppers to boycott products with ties to President Trump, his family and his donors. Since winning the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8, Trump has targeted specific companies on Twitter. But this is his first tweet criticizing a business tied to his family since the victory. Ivanka Trump ran a clothing and jewelry business bearing her name, in addition to other work for the Trump Organization, before saying she would resign when her father was sworn in as president last month. ProPublica reported on Feb. 2 that the Trump Organization said Ivanka had resigned her positions but that it had not yet filed the changes. The Trump organization later said the filings would be done by Feb. 3, according to the report. (Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Nandita Bose in Chicago; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Paul Simao and Bernard Orr) Richard Hatch, best known for his role as Captain Apollo in "Battlestar Galactica," died Tuesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his manager confirmed to Fox News. He was 71. The actor had been in hospice care and died peacefully around 1:30 p.m. at his home in Santa Clarita, Calif., with his son Paul by his side, according to a statement from the Hatch family sent to Fox News. He is also survived by his brother, John. I will always remember him fondly for his inspiring sense of youthful wonder, his boundless passion for creative expression, and his huge, kind heart, his manager, Michael Kaliski, told Fox News in an email. Hatch got his start with the Los Angeles Repertory Theater as well as shows in Chicago and off-Broadway before debuting in 1971 on All My Children. Hatch played Captain Apollo in the original series which aired from 1978-79, a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a television series drama. He portrayed Tom Zarek, in the 2003 remake. Hatch wrote five Battlestar novels and over the years, made guest appearances on shows including The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O and Baywatch. His additional TV credits include guest roles in a number of 70s and 80s shows including CHiPs, Fantasy Island, Dynasty, Murder She Wrote, The Love Boat, and Baywatch." Friends and colleagues paid tribute to Hatch via social media on Tuesday. Battlestar Galactica executive producer Ronald D. Moore tweeted, Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family. Edward James Olmos tweeted: .Richard Hatch you made our universe a better place We love you for it. Rest In Peace my friend @SoSayWeAll the Admiral! .Richard Hatch you made our universe a better place We love you for it. Rest In Peace my friend @SoSayWeAll the Admiral! Edward James Olmos (@edwardjolmos) February 7, 2017 Composer Bear McCreary tweeted: I share tragic news with a heavy heart. Richard Hatch is no longer with us. Goodbye Tom Zarek / Apollo #SoSayWeAll I share tragic news with a heavy heart. Richard Hatch is no longer with us. Goodbye Tom Zarek / Apollo #SoSayWeAll https://t.co/wmisRxVixe Bear McCreary (@bearmccreary) February 7, 2017 George Takei tweeted: Rest with the galactic stars, Richard Hatch. Rest with the galactic stars, Richard Hatch. https://t.co/o1J42dxtaT George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 8, 2017 "In spite of significant roles in other series and motion pictures over the following decades, his connection with the original "Battlestar" as well as the remake, created an international following among science fiction fans. While continuing his acting career Richard was a popular figure at Comic Book conventions, science fiction forums and even hosted his own cruise ship events.," in a statement to Fox News from the Hatch family. Further information on memorial services and tributes can be found at RichardHatch.com Chuck Norris met with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Wednesday during the actor's visit to the Holy Land. Netanyahu told Norris in a video posted on the prime minister's Facebook page, "Listen, Israel is strong but it's indestructible now" later telling his security team to clear the building as Norris could easily handle any threats. Norris told the prime minister he and his wife had been "looking forward to" their meeting. "Believe me, you'll always have my support. All that was coming down, I didn't know what to do," Norris told Netanyahu. "My wife said, 'I know what to do. I'm calling over there." Norris and his wife Gena O'Kelley are currently on a trip in Israel. The couple visited the Western Wall on Sunday met with former Foreign Ministry director-general Dore Gold on Saturday at a restaurant in Herzliya. According to the Jerusalem Post, Norris has supported Netanyahu in the past two Israeli elections. Jamie Lynn Spears' husband Jamie Watson thanked fans for their prayers after his 8-year-old stepdaughter is "awake and talking" following her ATV accident Sunday. Watson wrote on Instagram, "Thank you everyone for the prayers. Maddie is doing better and better. Thank y'all so much," Watson wrote alongside a picture of a shirt with the words "believe in miracles." Spears' daughter Maddie was injured when an all-terrain vehicle she was driving fell into a pond in Louisiana on Sunday. "With her father, mother and stepfather by her side, Maddie regained consciousness mid-day Tuesday, February 7," the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Department told People magazine in a statement provided by a Spears family rep. The statement explained the child "is aware of her surroundings and recognizes those family members who have kept a round-the-clock vigil since the accident." The statement also said it appears Maddie has "not suffered any neurological consequences from the accident." Spears became pregnant with Maddie at the age of 16 with then-boyfriend Casey Aldridge. She married Watson in 2014. Raise your hand if this morning ritual sounds familiar: After punching the lights out of the snooze button a few times, you finally peel yourself off your bed and stumble into the bathroom. As you're brushing your teeth in slow-mo, with your hair standing up in every direction, you stare at your own hot mess in the mirror. For a quick minute, you seriously contemplate quitting your job and living in your PJs for the rest of your life. Everyone's been there, darling, and this morning drudgery is totally normal for many of us. But when the desperate need to catch some Z's starts getting in the way of your daily life, a real problem may be lurking beneath the surface. According to Robert Oexman, director of the Sleep to Live Institute, approximately 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders andas if being a chica isn't already tough enoughwomen are more susceptible to insomnia due to the changes in their sleeping patterns brought on by menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. And the health effects aren't anything to snore at, either: "Insufficient quantity and quality of sleep can lead to daytime fatigue, decreased ability to focus on tasks, increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, and poor performance at work and school," he says. "Research has also shown a link between poor sleep and increased risk of depression, anxiety, heart disease, weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer." RELATED: THE SURPRISING REASON MOST PEOPLE GET CANCER Spotting your own sleep disorder isn't always easy, though. "Because the side effects of poor sleep are so broad, people often do not associate lack of sleep with the symptoms they are having," says Oexman. "For example, if someone is suffering from depression and heightened anxiety, they may assume the problem is their stressful job or raising children on their own. In fact, they may be able to manage their depression and anxiety if they focused on getting more sleep." So if you and your sleep schedule aren't exactly simpatico, when is it your cue to see a doctor? Asking yourself these five questions will help you figure out if your troubled slumber is something serious. Taking a quick daytime nap here and there to recharge your batteries is no biggieit even has its benefits. But if you're getting a full seven hours of sleep each night and you still can't keep your peepers open during everyday activities like driving, working, or eating, something's up. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) cites sudden, extreme and unavoidable bouts of sleep as one of the key signs of narcolepsya brain disorder that throws your sleep-wake cycle completely out of whack. Other possible symptoms include hallucinations, abrupt limpness, and paralysis either before or after a "sleep attack." Worried you might be narcoleptic? "Try increasing your sleep time by 30 minutes for a week, and repeat if necessary," says Oexman. "If you are still fatigued during the day [and can't remain awake during regular activities], seek out a qualified sleep professional for a consultation." We asked a hot doc some of your most burning questions: Occasionally, there will be times when the stress of the day will keep your eyelids cranked open at night. And that's okay: You're not a robot, so you can't expect to slip into a coma-like slumber every time your head hits the pillow. But if snoozing has become a constant losing battle, then you might be struggling with insomnia and not even know it. "Six to 10 percent of the population has chronic insomnia, which involves taking 30 minutes or more to fall asleep and/or return to sleep, three or more nights per week for at least three months," says Lisa Medalie, PsyD, C.B.S.M., behavioral sleep medicine specialist at The University of Chicago. "Those experiencing it often develop 'conditioned arousal,' which means they spend so much time feeling anxious and frustrated in bed that their bed begins to cue that state of anxiety or frustration. They become preoccupied trying to compensate for their sleep lossspending more time in bed, napping, etc.and make extensive effort to do whatever is possible to sleep. Unfortunately, the harder they try, the less likely they are to sleep." Insomnia can be treated in a number of waysincluding prescription medication, herbal remedies, acupuncture, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapyso there's sense in trying to put up with sleepless nights. The sooner you tell your doctor about your symptoms and ask for a full evaluation, the quicker you'll be on your way to getting the rest you need. RELATED: 7 SLEEP EXPERTS SHARE WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY CAN'T DOZE OFF We're not talking your typical tossing and turning here. We're talking bucking broncolevel leg kicks and full-body flailing. If you're sleeping and are suddenly hit with a tingling sensation or numbness in your legs that can only be temporarily relieved by moving your stems wildly about, Medalie says this could be a big, waving red flag that you have restless legs syndrome, or RLS. The condition is technically categorized as a movement disorder, but the continuous need to shift the position of your legs while lying in bed in order to stave off the uncomfortable sensations deals a huge blow to your sleep sched. According to the NINDS, 10 percent of adults in the United States may have RLS. And while it occurs in both men and women, the incidence rate in women is double that of men. "It is [also] more common in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women," she explains. "One study from Japan showed that 15 percent of women had RLS by their first trimester, and 23 percent had it by their third trimester." There's no cure for RLS, but your doctor can help you target the best method for keeping your symptoms under control. For example, if you have a medical condition that is associated with RLS, like diabetes, then treating the medical condition will help tone down the RLS. They may even suggest making some lifestyle tweaks, like taking supplements and/or medication; avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco; or starting a moderate exercise program. While our alarm clocks help keep us honest when we need to wake up for work or an appointment, we also have an internal clock that keeps our sleeping patterns in check throughout the day and night. It's called a circadian rhythm and, just like an actual clock, it can sometimes spin out of control. If your patterns are all over the place, a circadian rhythm sleep disorder (CRSD) may be to blame. There are several different types of CRSDs out there, so it's important to let your doctor know why your sleep schedule is being disrupted, whether it's an inconsistent work schedule, jet lag due to frequent travel and time changes, etc. For instance, "shift work (not the traditional nine-to-five schedule) has been shown to increase the likeliness of [an irregular sleep/wake schedule, as well as] illness and depression," says Oexman. When you and your doc have identified what's throwing your timing off, you can then work together to figure out which treatment might best alleviate your specific CRSD symptoms. In addition to prescribing you medication, sleep aids, and sleep-regulating melatonin supplements, your doctor might also recommend that you make behavioral changes as part of your regimen. These can include (but aren't limited to) avoiding caffeine before bedtime, minimizing your exposure to electronic devices that emit bright light (cell phones, computers, etc.), or getting regular exercise. Some also benefit from light therapy, which uses timed exposure to a high-intensity light box to reset your internal clock, so to speak. A soft, open-mouth snore might stir you up from your siesta once in a while, but it's most likely not going to hurt you. But you should be concerned if you find yourself having trouble breathing in the wee hours of the night. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which your airway collapses while you're asleep, causing you to loudly gasp, choke, or experience a pause in your breathing mid-slumber. RELATED: DO YOU HAVE A VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY? ANSWER THESE 5 QUESTIONS TO FIND OUT Aside from being absolutely terrifying for both you and your sleeping partner, OSA can cause other significant health problems, like hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke, according to Medalie. "Sleep apnea is also often associated with weight gain and heart failure in women after menopause, which is when 25 percent of women develop sleep apnea," she says. Because the condition requires long-term management, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says the most successful treatment options for OSA include wearing a specialized mouthpiece, using a breathing device during sleep, or getting surgery. Long story short: If you think you might have a major sleeping prob, don't keep it to yourself. "Mention your sleep habits to your doctor at annual checkups and whenever you are sick," says Oexman. "Do not rely long-term on over-the-counter sleep medications; there are other ways to treat a sleep disorder if you have one." This article originally appeared on WomensHealthmag.com. A North Carolina mother is looking to press charges against a daycare worker who she claims breast-fed her 3-month-old son without her consent. Kaycee Oxendine said the unidentified woman asked twice on Friday if she could breast-feed her son, who was constipated, and both times she told the woman no, ABC 11 reported. She said that she had a son and did I want her to put my child to her breast and breast-feed? Oxendine told ABC 11. And I said 'No, thats nasty. We dont do things like that.' Oxedine works at the Carrboro Early School as a pre-kindergarten teacher, and said the alleged incident happened moments after she left the centers nursery. She recorded the alleged incident on the centers security footage. Oxendine told the news outlet that her son, whose name was not disclosed, was born prematurely and is lactose intolerant, meaning he cannot consume any milk products. The alleged incident landed the family in the emergency room Friday evening after the infant began throwing up. To me, a criminal act was committed against him, Oxendine told ABC 11. Not only did you put your breast to my son, you also made my son sick because hes lactose intolerant. So youve put something in his body that his body cant digest. Daron Council, the daycare director, told the news outlet that an employee reported the alleged incident and the woman accused of breast-feeding Oxendines son is no longer working at the center. Council said he reported the alleged incident to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and informed other parents whose children were under the employees care, ABC 11 reported. Hes done everything in his power that he can do so Im not angry at the director, Oxendine told ABC 11. Im not angry at the childcare center. Im very angry at the employee. I do hope that theres justice for my son. Police told the news outlet that the incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor. As a mom, youve taken something from me, because I wasnt able to defend my child, Oxendine told ABC 11. I wasnt there. Editor's note: The following column first appeared in Fox News Opinion on February 8. North Korea is a small country, far-away, about which we know little, to paraphrase a fateful comment in defense of appeasement from the 1938 crisis over Czechoslovakia. But there is one thing every American needs to know about far-away North Korea: its rulers are on a methodical and relentless quest for the capability to hit New York and Washington with nuclear weapons. The nuclear campaign that North Koreaformally known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, or DPRK-- is planning against the United States is one it intends to win. Washington is badly unprepared to meet this threat, because too many of our leaders do not understand the Pyongyang game-plan. As bizarre and satire-prone as the North Korean regimes buffoonish-looking Kim Jong-Un and his servile courtiers may be, Pyongyangs leadership is neither irrational nor suicidal. The rationale behind this confrontation would actually be to achieve a maximum of strategic gain with a minimum of actual destruction and violence. The basic idea is to force Washington to blink in an escalating crisis on the Korean peninsulaa crisis of Pyongyangs own making, at a time and under circumstances of Pyongyangs own choosing. If America hesitates or climbs down in the face of a future, stage-managed exercise in tactical North Korean aggression, Pyongyang will have undermined the credibility of the U.S. military alliance with South Korea. The formal end to that alliance, and the exit of American troops from Korea, could quickly follow. Americas policy toward the DPRK has been an immense success in preserving a ceasefire in the Korean peninsula since the end of the Korean War in 1953this is deterrence. But for more than a generation, bipartisan U.S. efforts to keep North Korea from developing nuclear weapons have come to naught. This should not surprise: only the North Korean government can denuclearizeand the existing government has absolutely no interest in making that dream come true. The Trump administration needs to do something different. We need more effective defenses against the DPRKs means of destruction while simultaneously weakening the regimes capabilities for both conventional and strategic offense. This would consist mainly, though not entirely, of military measures. Restoring badly eroded U.S. military capabilitiesnaval, air, ground forces and an aged strategic arsenal-- is essential. Likewise more and better missile defense: the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems against ballistic missiles that the U.S. has offered South Korea and Japan is a good step, and so is moving forward in earnest on missile defense for the USA. As for weakening the DPRKs military economy, the foundation for all its offensive capabilities: we should put Pyongyang back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism listit never should have been removed in 2008. Sanctions with genuine bite should be implementedthe dysfunctional DPRK economy is uniquely susceptible to them. The United Nations has already gotten a comprehensive report on North Koreas grisly human rights record from its Commission of Inquiry on the situation in the DPRK: let governments of conscience now seek international criminal accountability for North Koreas leadership. Then there is the China question. It is by no means impossible for America and her allies to pressure the DPRK if China does not cooperate. That said: it is time for Beijing to pay a penalty for its support for the most odious regime on the planet today. Many in the West talk of isolating North Korea as if this were an objective in its own right. But a serious DPRK threat reduction strategy would not do so. The regime is deathly afraid of what it terms ideological and cultural poisoning. We could call that foreign media, international information, cultural exchanges and the like. We should be saying: bring on the poisoning! This brings us to the last agenda item: preparing for a successful reunification in a post-DPRK peninsula. The Kim regime is the North Korean nuclear threat. That threat will not end until the DPRK disappears. We cannot tell when, or how, this will occur. But it is not too soon to begin the wide-ranging and painstaking international planning and preparations that will facilitate divided Koreas long-awaited reunion as a single peninsula, free and whole. The delay and denounce tactics of Democratic senators finally got to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Tuesday night, he used a seldom-deployed rule to end the speech Senator Elizabeth Warren (R-Mass.) was making against the confirmation of fellow Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. McConnell was upheld 50 to 43 in his view that Warrens speech impugned the character of Sessions, but his move was politically awkward since it focused even more attention on Warrens critique. What Warren had done was quote from a pair of letters written by the late Coretta Scott King and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) opposing Sessions failed nomination to a federal judgeship in 1986. Kings letter accused Sessions of racial bias; Kennedys called him a disgrace to the Justice Department. Senator McConnell said such statements fell afoul of a 1902 Senate rule banning a senator for impugning the character of a fellow senator. McConnell got Warren to shut up; but he lost the war, Democratic consultant Joe Trippi told me. No one would have been talking about her late night criticism if he hadnt made an issue of it. Warren made the gag rule a cause celebrate on social media, and attracted some nine million impressions. Adding to questions about the wisdom of McConnells move, former George W. Bush aide Brad Blakeman notes that both letters had been placed in the Congressional Record back in the 1980s making it difficult to say they were inappropriate merely because they now referred to a sitting senator. Right now, Democrats believe they are keeping faith with their base by pursuing a strategy of scorched earth fights over every Trump nomination. No other president has seen so few of his cabinet nominees appointed at the three-week mark of his first term. A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll shows that just 56 percent of Democrats believe their partys members of Congress should block all legislation or nominees for government positions. Still, just 34 percent of Democratic voters want their party's elected officials to find ways to work with a President Trump. Democratic incumbents know they risk a left-wing primary challenge if they are seen as cooperating with President Trump says Trippi. That explains why a Democratic Senator like Jon Tester of Montana has announced he will oppose Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. Trump may have carried Montana easily, Trippi told me. but he [Tester] has to worry about a primary race from his left wing first. The Warren-McConnell dustup illustrates just how the growing polarization in the senate is likely to continue. Democrats dont have the power to stop many Trump initiatives or block his appointments, but they have to be SEEN as fighting them at every turn. That is likely to lead to Republicans to take more steps to shut down debate in order to keep the Senate moving forward. That in turn will only increase the cycle of anger and polarization that is gripping Washington. Oh, no! I did it again. It was a foolish mistake. But I slipped. I read The New York Times. This is bad for my health, because I get so mad at the smug socialist spin, but how can I not read it? It's my hometown paper. My wife wakes me up with indignant questions like, "How can you say government is too big? The Times says ... " Aargh! Nearly every day brings a new Times outrage. Saturday, a front-page story smeared Labor Secretary nominee Andy Puzder. The story begins, "Decades before President Trump nominated him ... Puzder went to battle with federal labor regulators ... " Wait a second. "Decades before"? They went back decades to criticize him? Actually, three decades -- to 1983, when as a young lawyer, Puzder represented a client whom the Labor Department accused of squandering union money. The Times went on to say: "He has repeatedly argued that economic regulations stifle economic growth." Puzder "argued" that? Regulations obviously stifle growth. That's their purpose -- to protect workers by putting limits on businesses' pursuit of profit. Regulation is a big reason this post-recession recovery has been so weak. In just the last 10 years, the Department added regulations that require another 70 million hours of paperwork. Monday: "Trump's F.D.A. Pick Could Undo Decades of Drug Safeguards." Oh, no! Trump will poison America with unsafe drugs! President Trump hasn't actually made his FDA pick yet, but the Times worries "his push for deregulation might put consumers at risk." The reporter cites thalidomide, which, 60 years ago, "caused severe birth defects in babies whose mothers had taken the drug in pregnancy. Since then, the F.D.A. has come to be viewed as the world's leading watchdog for protecting the safety of food and drugs, a gold standard ... " Fool's gold. The FDA protected American babies from thalidomide not by being smart, but by being so slow. By the time thalidomide neared approval, its bad effects were visible in Europe. The Times eagerly reports damage done by drugs: "Drug safety watchdogs point to examples like the painkiller Vioxx, which was withdrawn from the market ... " But "invoking Vioxx as the icon for such looseness is itself ignorant looseness," says my medical researcher brother, Tom. "FDA approvals are tradeoffs between benefits and risks. The FDA knew about Vioxx's risks. It was the company, not the FDA, that withdrew the painkiller. Many doctors now say it was an ill-advised move that deprives patients of a good alternative. Vioxx's risks are no greater than painkillers like Motrin sold over the counter. The Times avoids detailing just how onerous today's regulation is. The reporter says, "The agency sets a 10-month goal for approving standard drugs." Gee, goals are nice, but does the agency honor them? The Times doesn't say. It also doesn't mention that the 10-month goal only applies to the final step of regulation -- after all trials are done. The entire process takes an average 16 years and $2.6 billion. Americans want protection from bad drugs, but how many of us suffer needless pain, or die, while waiting those 16 years? How many die because a drug's developers cannot raise $2.6 billion? One more smear: "President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, has aggressively moved to roll back consumer protection regulations." Consumer protection? No. Socialist idiocy. The Times says Pai "stopped nine companies from providing discounted high-speed internet service to low-income individuals." No, he stopped a $9.25/month government subsidy for high-speed internet. "He withdrew an effort to keep prison phone rates down," says the Times. No, he stopped FCC lawyers from fighting about in-state phone calls because the FCC has no constitutional authority there. Utterly reasonable. But the Times quotes an advocacy group saying, "Chairman Pai is showing his true stripes ... [doing] favors for the powerful corporations." Please. Someone. Tell The New York Times that socialism was tried. It doesn't work. This past November, record numbers of voters said that one factor dominated their Presidential vote: nominations to the Supreme Court. The reasons for this are not hidden. Judges matter. The American people understand that with a life appointment to the highest court in the land, a Supreme Court Justice can shape laws that directly affect our lives for a generation or more. Citizens in our state of Nevada and across the nation have come to recognize what is at stake when unelected judges elevate their personal policy preferences over the laws passed by our elected legislatures. So, too, has recent history shown Americans how much harm federal bureaucrats can cause to individual Americans and American businesses when they make administrative law that is far beyond what Congress ever intended or authorized. In Nevada, weve spent the last few years successfully challenging just such federal overreach. Being on the front lines of federalism, we are keenly aware of the difference that judges make. Some judges contain government on behalf of our Constitution and the federalist system it created; others empower government in a way that continuously undermines that system. In our experience, an excellent federal judge must possess two traits that are rare to find in the same individual: first, judicial modesty, meaning a temperament that does not seek to substitute the judges will over the legislatures, but second, constitutional courage, meaning a willingness to hold our massive federal bureaucracy accountable to the Constitution and to the lawmaking authority of Congress. In light of that standard, we are thrilled with Presidents Trumps nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch. Any judge nominated to the Supreme Court can talk the talk of strictly applying the law, calling balls and strikes, and other catch-phrases. But a judicial record reveals far more than a carefully crafted answer in a confirmation hearing. In a decade of serving on the 10th Circuit, Judge Gorsuchs record reveals a commitment to these critically important, twin judicial qualities. First: judicial modesty. Long before Judge Gorsuch was a Supreme Court nomineeindeed, before he was even a judgehe recognized that while a judges role is important, it is also limited. And the judges role is distinct from, and deferential to, the policy-making role of the elected legislature. He expressed concern that some had become addicted to the courtroom, relying on judges and lawyers rather than elected leaders and the ballot box, as the primary means of effecting their social agenda . When unelected judges abuse their position to impose their policy choices on the people, Gorsuch correctly observed that respect for the role of judges and the legitimacy of the judiciary branch as a whole diminishes. Much more recently, in a memorial tribute to Justice Scalia, Judge Gorsuch reiterated the same judicial humility, opining that judges should strive (if humanly and so imperfectly) to apply the law as it is, not to decide cases based on their own moral convictions or the policy consequences they believe might serve society best. Judge Gorsuchs record as a federal judge evinces this approach to deciding cases. But Gorsuch understands that unelected judges are not the only ones who can usurp the Constitutional powerunelected bureaucrats do that too. Judge Gorsuch has demonstrated the courage needed to rein in federal agencies when they stray from the actual text and structure of our laws and the Constitution from which they arise. A few examples are illustrative. Relying on federal law that authorized it to regulate mining operations on Indian land, the EPA sought to regulate a mine that wasnt actually on Indian land, but was only beside neighboring Indian land. When the case came before Judge Gorsuch, he rejected the EPAs aggressive and extra-textual assertion of its statutory authority, emphasizing that Congressnot the courts, not the states, not the Indian tribesgets to say what land is Indian country subject to federal jurisdiction. The EPA could not claim authority beyond what Congress had given. Similarly, in a labor case, Judge Gorsuch rejected the Department of Labors attempt to read a law far beyond its text, notwithstanding his expressed sympathy for the Departments policy position. As Gorsuch explained, theres simply no law anyone has pointed us to [supporting the Department of Labors position] . . . Maybe the Department would like such a law, maybe someday Congress will adorn our federal statute books with such a law. But it isnt there yet. And it isnt our job to write oneor to allow the Department to write one in Congresss place. Indeed, Gorsuchs respect for our Constitutional separation-of-powers and his skepticism of an unelected, unconstrained federal bureaucracy has led him to question whether judges generally have given too much deference to executive agency decision-making. Broad deference to agency interpretations of the law, Gorsuch has written, establishes a judge-made doctrine for the abdication of the judicial duty an arrangement that seems pretty hard to square with the Constitution of the founders design. Millions of Americans that cast their Presidential vote with a Supreme Court appointment in mind undoubtedly agree with that. As our next Supreme Court Justice, Neil Gorsuch has demonstrated that he would faithfully apply the law as written, not as he wishes it were written. But more than that, his rulings will provide an on-going civics lesson on the proper role of judges. The Executive Branch has done its constitutional duty by selecting this exceptional nominee. Now its the Senates turn to do its constitutional duty and confirm him. In 1948, famed archaeologist and leading biblical scholar William Albright made the extraordinary claim that the Dead Sea Scrolls were the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century. The Dead Sea Scrolls are priceless today (a scroll facsimile will cost more than $65,000), which makes it even more mind-boggling to consider the scrolls were once advertised for sale in the Wall Street Journal in June of 1954 and eventually purchased for a mere $250,000. Bedouin shepherds in a cave near Khirbet Qumran made this amazing discovery in 1947, about one mile inland from the western shore of the Dead Sea. By 1956, a total of eleven caves had been found at Qumran; however, no caves have been discovered since, until now. Now, archeologists Oren Gutfeld and Randall Price have made one of the most exciting archaeological discoveries, and the most important in the last 60 years, in the caves of Qumran, near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. For 60 years archaeologists and looters have been searching for additional caves. Would another one ever be found? Most didnt think so. And thats why it is hard to overestimate the significance of the astounding discovery announced by Hebrew University Wednesday: A twelfth cave has been discovered! Our friend and colleague, Cary Summers, president of the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. which will open later this year, was volunteering at the dig site for this historic discovery in January of 2017, where no less than six Scroll jars were discovered in what is now being called the twelfth Qumran cave. The discovery and publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls historically is part of a continuing saga, full of drama fit for the big screen (the scrolls were once sold on the black market and the Judean desert continues to attract treasure hunters). This latest discovery will likely be no different. Why? This most important discovery will also ignite controversy: who owns the Dead Sea Scrolls? Do they belong to Israel (when first found, Qumran was part of Jordan), or do they belong to the Palestinians? More scrolls were discovered at other locations in the region of the Dead Sea, especially Wadi Murabbaat (1951-52), Nahal Hever (1951-61), and Masada (1963-65). We believe the Dead Sea Scrolls and related artifacts belong to Israel. Here are three reasons why: 1. The Judean desert vicinity where the Scrolls continue to be discovered is part of the historic land of Israel. Indeed, the discovery of Hebrew and Aramaic texts in the region of the Dead Sea proves that the Jewish people lived here and this treasured area was part of their homeland. 2. The Dead Sea Scrolls are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, the three languages of the Bible. Hebrew, of course, is Israels historic language. Unfortunately, many people are historically and biblically illiterate so they do not even understand what the original languages of the Bible are. For example, the scrolls are not written in Arabic. It is also important to remember the earliest scrolls found at Qumran date from about 250 B.C.E. (Islam, for example, begins some eight hundred years later). 3. Israel has properly cared for these priceless artifacts. The last time we were in Israel, our friend and fellow Bible scholar, Adlfo Roitman, curator of the Shrine of the Book, gave us a behind-the-scenes-tour of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. What we can divulge is that in the event of a nuclear holocaust, the Dead Sea Scrolls in their collection would survive, so advanced is their security technology and infrastructure. By way of example and comparison, observe what is happening to historic artifacts elsewhere in the Middle East, where they are looted and in many cases destroyed. According to Business Insider, the Islamic State has made more than $200 million dollars selling artifacts on the black market. It is our hope that scholars, archeologists and popular media recognize what we already understand, that the scrolls belong to Israel. Sharp Corp, the Japanses display maker, may break ground on a $7-billion plant in the U.S. as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe readies for his first meeting with President Trump, Reuters reported. A Sharp spokesman told the news agency that no final decision has been made on the plant, but the report said Sharp is taking the lead on a project initially outlined by its parent company Foxconn. The report said that the chief executive of Foxconn floated the idea about the $7-billion display-making plant. He did not elaborate where or when the project would occur. VIDEO: US ECONOMY ADDED 227K JOBS IN JANUARY Japan, which has a consistent trade surplus with the U.S., is putting the finishing touches on a package that it claims will create 700,000 jobs in the U.S. and help create a $450-billion market, Reuters reported, citing government sources familiar with the plans. Abe and President Trump are expected to meet on Feb. 10 at Mar-a-Lago, where the two will play gold following a meeting in D.C. on Friday. Major Japanese newspapers cited a draft of the proposal that calls for cooperation on building high-speed trains in the U.S. northeast, Texas and California. The two sides would also jointly develop artificial intelligence, robotics, space and Internet technology. The Japanese may use money from its foreign exchange reserves to fund the package, Reuters reported. On a broader basis, the two countries would cooperate in building liquefied natural gas facilities in Asia to help expand exports of U.S. natural gas and work together to expand nuclear energy-related sales. The aim appears to be to turn what could potentially be a major crisis over trade friction into a business opportunity for both sides. Abe's proposed public-private initiative is intended to create several hundred thousand jobs, the reports said Thursday, and involve $150 billion in new investment in U.S. infrastructure from Japanese government and private sources over the next decade. Asked in parliament about his plans for talks with Trump, Abe said Japanese companies are making significant contributions to the U.S. economy. The Justice Department argued Tuesday that a federal appeals court should overturn a district court judge's order halting President Trump's executive action suspending travel to the U.S. from seven majority-Muslim nations. The hearing before the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges was the greatest legal challenge yet to the travel ban, which has upended travel to the U.S. for more than a week and tested the new administration's use of executive power. Several states have fought the ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and insisted that it is unconstitutional. Justice Department attorney August Flentje asked the court to restore Trump's order, contending that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the United States, as well as suspend classes of aliens when their entry to the country is otherwise detrimental to national security. "That's what the president did here," Flentje argued. The government described the executive order as a "90-day pause" needed to ensure adequate standards were in place for visa screening, which Flentje called "plainly constitutional." Judge Michelle T. Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked whether the government has any evidence connecting the seven nations to terrorism. Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the U.S. who, he said, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group terror group after judges asked for evidence. Flentje added that the case was moving fast and the government had not yet included additional evidence to support the ban. Flentje also noted that the executive order was based in part on a determination made by the Obama administration and Congress over the past two years that labeled the countries in question as either having a significant presence by a foreign terrorist organization or being a state sponsor of terrorism. The final minutes of the hearing were largely devoted to whether the travel ban was intended to discriminate against Muslims. Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush nominee, asked an attorney representing Washington state and Minnesota, which are challenging the ban, what evidence he had that it was motivated by religion. "I have trouble understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected." He said only 15 percent of the world's Muslims were affected, according to his calculations, and said the "concern for terrorism from those connected to radical Islamic sects is hard to deny." Noah Purcell, Washington state's solicitor general, cited public statements by Trump calling for a ban on the entry of Muslims to the U.S. He said the states did not have to show every Muslim is harmed, only that the ban was motivated by religious discrimination. Under questioning from Clifton, Flentje did not dispute that Trump made the statements. Washington state, Minnesota and other states challenging the ban want the appellate court to allow a temporary restraining order blocking the travel ban which also temporarily suspended the country's refugee program to stand as their lawsuit moves through the legal system. Purcell said that restraining order has not harmed the U.S. government. Instead, he told the panel, the order had harmed Washington state residents by splitting up families, holding up students trying to travel for their studies and preventing people from visiting family abroad. Clifton said he suspected that only a "small fraction" of the state's residents were affected. The court adjourned with Friendland promising a ruling would come "as soon as possible." Whatever the court eventually decides, either side could ask the Supreme Court to intervene. It is also possible that the panel could make a ruling on a technical point, such as whether the lower court's order is properly classified as a temporary restraining order, rather than on the larger merits of the case. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Trump spoke by phone Tuesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he reiterated support as "a strategic partner and NATO ally," according to the White House. Trump discussed the "close, long-standing relationship" between the U.S. and Turkey, in addition welcoming the country's "contributions to the counter-ISIS campaign," the White House said in a statement. The conversation between Trump and Erdogan was the first since the president's inauguration nearly three weeks ago. Officials at Erdogan's office did not immediately provide details on their discussions when asked by the Associated Press. Relations between Ankara and Washington were troubled under the Obama administration, over Turkish demands for the extradition of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating Turkey's failed military coup, and by Turkey's insistence that Washington stop supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters who are affiliated with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Ankara has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency, and the call was being closely watched in Turkey. Fox News' Serafin Gomez and the Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump said in an interview broadcast Tuesday that he would try to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs. "My new things going to be pharma, because we pay too much," Trump told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. "Were the largest drug purchaser in the world, and they dont negotiate." The president touted his own role in the Pentagon's negotiations with Lockheed Martin for 90 F-35 fighter jets at a cost of nearly $9 billion, the lowest in the program's history. PENTAGON STRIKES NEW F-35 DEAL WITH LOCKHEED AFTER TRUMP INVOLVEMENT "Lockheed Martin's a great company, but they werent bringing their price down," Trump said. "I got involved. I saved more than $600 million. I was very proud of that. You can do that at every level of government." Trump also revealed that he works until midnight or 1 a.m., only to rise at five o'clock the following morning. He also repeated his criticism of the media. "Some of the networks and some of the papers the level of dishonesty ... Theyll take something that should be a good story [and] will purposefully, totally change it," the president said. "Its fake news." However, Trump said he was optimistic that he could stem much of the criticism that's come his way since his inauguration. "I think success will do that. I think jobs will do that. I think companies coming back into our country will do that. Yeah, I think I can," he said, before adding. "Not all the way, Ill never get it all the way back." Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was prohibited Tuesday night from speaking on the Senate floor for the rest of the debate over Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination to be attorney general. The drama began when Warren, quoting a 30-year-old letter by civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, referred to the Alabama Republican as a "disgrace." King's letter was written in 1986, when Sessions was nominated to the federal bench but was never confirmed. King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., also wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to "chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens." Warren's reference drew the ire of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who said that Warren had "impugned the motives of our colleague from Alabama." Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont. advised Warren that she was out of order under Rule XIX of the Senate, which states that "no Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." "I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record," Warren argued. "I'm simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her." After a few parliamentary moves, McConnell called for a vote to affirm Daines' ruling that Warren was out of order. The GOP-controlled Senate backed him up, 49-43, before defeating a Democratic effort to restore Warren's speaking privileges, 50-43. "She was warned, she was given an explanation," McConnell said of Warren. "Nevertheless, she persisted." Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. Warren herself issued a statement vowing that she "will not be silent while the Republicans rubber stamp an Attorney General who will never stand up to President Trump when he violates the Constitution or breaks the law." Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that McConnell's action was "selective enforcement" of Rule XIX. "Senate Republicans have regularly flaunted Rule XIX in the past but Republicans never asked them to sit down," said Schumer, who went on to point out that McConnell didn't object when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. The episode was followed by lamentations by Senate veterans over the chamber's increasingly partisan nature. "I think we ought to be ashamed of each other," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Senate's most senior Republican. "Everything doesn't have to lead to a fight on the floor." "We've got to grow up [and] take stock of ourselves," Hatch added, before warning that "this place is going to devolve into nothing but a jungle." Sessions is expected to be confirmed when the full Senate votes on his nomination later this week. Fox News' Chad Pergram and the Associated Press contributed to this report. A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the Senate that aims to finally help veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act was introduced on Tuesday by senators Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and aims to create what they say is a center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of our brave men and women in uniform were exposed to harmful substances from toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we have an obligation to care for them, Tillis said in a statement. Klobuchar shared Tillis sentiment. With an increasing number of our brave men and women returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan citing illnesses potentially caused by burn pits exposure, its clear that we cant afford to wait, she said. The issue of burn pits and their use on military bases during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been referred to as the new Agent Orange," as scores of soldiers returned home from the fight with a myriad of health issuesmany of which proved lethal. Civilian workers and private contractors are also suffering from cancer, respiratory problems and blood disorders and, like military victims, they say they are being ignored. During the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, burn pits were used to get rid of waste and garbage generated on bases. Everything was incinerated in the pits, say soldiers, including plastics, batteries, appliances, medicine, dead animals and even human waste. The items were often set ablaze with jet fuel as the accelerant. The incineration of the waste generated numerous toxins. Thousands of U.S. military personnel who served on bases in Iraq and Afghanistan inhaled dense black smoke from burn pits which were often positioned right next to their barracks and base. Nearly 64,000 active service members and retirees have put their names on a Burn Pit Registry, but documenting their plight doesn't guarantee coverage. Its a failed registry. It doesnt work. It could take 20-30 years for someone to get assistance, Joseph Hickman, author of the 2016 book The Burn Pits: the Poisoning of Americas Soldiers, told FoxNews.com in April. Its not fair. They need help now. The clouds of smoke would just hang throughout the base, Army Sgt. Daniel Diaz, who was stationed at Joint Base Balad, in Iraq's Sunni Triangle from 2004-2005, told FoxNews.com last year. No one ever gave it any thought. You are just so focused on the mission at hand. In my mind, I was just getting ready for the fight. Diaz returned from duty in 2008. A year later, he started developing health problems including cancer, chronic fatigue and weakness, neuropathy and hypothyroidism. Nearly every base he was stationed at during his four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan had burn pits nearby - and pungent smoke everywhere. The new bill aims to help soldiers like Diaz by providing resources to the VA to give them the ability to better study the health effects caused by burn pit exposure and provide dedicated staff and resources to treat patients. Still, victims' advocates fear the relief may not come in time to save men and women now suffering from the effects of burn pit exposure. "We need a medical screening process in place now not in 20 years," said Rosie Torres, founder of Burn Pits 360, an advocacy group for service members who have fallen ill. "Our service men and women are dying now and many more will die by the time the center is implemented. California taxpayers are shelling out $25,000 a month for 40 hours of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holders time to help the state strategize for upcoming clashes with the Trump administration, according to a contract obtained by a conservative watchdog group. The California Legislature hired Holder and his Washington, D.C., firm, Covington & Burling, last month to assist with legal challenges over everything from immigration to environmental policies. Judicial Watch, which obtained Holders contract through a records request, called the deal crony corruption pure and simple. The new records show California state legislators are wasting tax dollars to bankroll another corrupt politician Eric Holder under the pretense of attacking the Trump administration, Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said in a written statement. The firm did not respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, lawmakers paraded the former Obama administration official around the state capital, though they remained quiet on what exactly Holder would be helping them with. Holder himself was coy when asked about his role. Im here just to assist these gentlemen and the people who they serve with in trying to protect the interests of the people of California, Holder told reporters. Asked how he was doing it, Holder responded, Well. Holder had a closed-door meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra joined in by phone, according to reports in The Los Angeles Times and Sacramento Bee. Tuesdays visit marked the first time Holder has come to the capital since his firm was hired last month as independent counsel. Not all California lawmakers are on board with the hire. Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, a Republican, claims the three-month contract with Holder's firm is illegal. In a letter to the opinion unit of the state attorney generals office, Kiley contended that hiring Holder as outside counsel violates Article VII of the California Constitution. Representatives for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon both Democrats -- said the legislature was exempt from rules that would apply to an executive agency. Holder was one of former President Barack Obamas longest-serving and most controversial Cabinet members. On June 28, 2012, he became the first U.S. attorney general to be held in contempt of Congress on civil and criminal grounds for refusing to turn over documents on Operation Fast and Furious. U.S. Central Intelligence head Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday to discuss security issues, including Turkey's fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup, Turkish officials said. According to officials from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office who cannot be named because of government regulations, the visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Erdogan late on Tuesday. Trump discussed the "close, long-standing relationship" between the U.S. and Turkey, in addition welcoming the country's "contributions to the counter-ISIS campaign," the White House said in a statement. The conversation between Trump and Erdogan was the first since the president's inauguration nearly three weeks ago. Officials at Erdogan's office did not immediately provide details on their discussions when asked by the Associated Press. Relations between Ankara and Washington were troubled under the Obama administration, over Turkish demands for the extradition of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating Turkey's failed military coup, and by Turkey's insistence that Washington stop supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters who are affiliated with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fighters which Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen extradited from the United States. It is also demanding that Washington stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. The Associated Press contributed to this report A Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday the Defense Department is looking to rent some space in Trump Tower for the personnel and equipment who will support POTUS at this residence in the building. Lt. Col. J.B. Brindle told The Washington Post the DoD is working through appropriate channels to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower. According to the newspaper, the space would be separate from the Secret Service detail that is already based at Trump Tower in New York City. Melania Trump and their son Barron still call Trump Tower home. The possible move could raise ethical questions about a government agency paying rent to a company owned by Trump. The asking price for the departments space hasnt been released, but renting a floor at Trump Tower could reportedly cost nearly $1.5 million per year. I have never heard of a president charging rent to the DOD or any other part of the government so they can be near him on his travels, former chief White House ethics counsel under George W. Bush told The Washington Post. He should give them for free a very limited amount of space and they can rent nearby if needed. Barack Obama made similar arrangements during his presidency. Defense officials offered to support for Obama and his staff at his Chicago home. Trump has already stepped down from several key roles in his businesses and left some of the operations of his firms to his children. He has yet to divest his financial stakes in his business interests. Click for more from The Washington Post. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Tuesday that visa applicants may be asked to hand over their passwords for their social media accounts by U.S. embassies. Kelly said the move could be part of the Trump administrations extreme vetting effort for visitors from the seven Muslim-majority nations which has been the source of controversy since Trumps executive order took effect. Kelly told the Homeland Security Committee at a hearing that, were looking at some enhanced or some additional screening. "We may want to get on their social media, with passwords. It's very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries. But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet, he added. Kelly said anyone who refused to cooperate would be barred from entering the U.S. He made clear that no decision has been made, but tighter screening was on its way. "These are the things we are thinking about. But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line." Kelly also took blame for the hasty rollout of President Trumps executive order. I should have delayed it just a bit so I could have talked to members of Congress, Kelly said. Going forward, I would have certainly taken some time to inform Congress, and thats something I look forward to in the future. Click for more from Sky News. House Democrats vowed Wednesday to oppose President Trump at essentially every turn, using their annual retreat to plot ways to keep public pressure on Republicans despite wielding limited power on Capitol Hill. With GOP lawmakers already facing constituent backlash over efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare without an alternative at the ready, Democrats acknowledged that grassroots efforts like engaging and organizing voters are essential to their opposition. "I think that's the most powerful tool the Democrats have," California Rep. Linda Sanchez, vice chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus, said Wednesday in Baltimore, at the groups annual retreat. "We're going to keep stoking the fires," New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone said. The ObamaCare debate is heating up even before GOP leaders present their plan. This past weekend, California Rep. Tom McClintock had to be escorted by police from a town hall event as protesters upset about potentially losing their insurance shouted, "Shame on you!" The episode, and GOP Rep. Gus Bilirakis having faced a similar situation in Florida, resulted in House Republicans on Tuesday discussing how to protect themselves and staffers, according to Politico. Pallone made clear Wednesday, though, that Democrats are not actively encouraging voters to disrupt GOP town halls, saying that is "not actually allowed." On Wednesday, Democrats acknowledged the challenge of dealing with a Republican in the White House and GOP-controlled House and Senate, but insisted they are far from demoralized. These conferences are an opportunity to come together as a party and chart a united path forward, said caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, of New York. The fight before us is tough, is a difficult one, but a fight worth having. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., reiterated her familiar attack lines, alleging Republican plans to dismantle ObamaCare are a recipe to make America sick again, while offering little optimism about any bipartisan compromise though former President Barack Obama openly challenged Republicans to come up with a better alternative if they could. And Pelosi again pressed Trump to release his tax returns, send Congress a budget bill and come clean on his connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin, following intelligence community findings that Moscow meddled in the 2016 White House campaign Trump won over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump has said he doesnt know Putin. What on earth does Russia have on President Trump? Pelosi asked. As long as [Trump] continues down this path, theres nothing Democrats can work with him on. Crowley suggested the House Democrats will challenge GOP leadership by employing all possible legislative tactics including procedural votes. The most powerful tools in Congress are to hold Republicans accountable, he said. Day after day, on issue after issue, President Trump is stepping up his attacks on the media. His lambasting of what he calls the failing New York Times has become a constant refrain on his Twitter feed, even edging out fake news CNN. But as these battles consume more and more bandwidththe media, of course, love to talk about themselvesthis question emerges: Is this helping Trump push through his agenda? Does the presidents signature counterpunching move the needle on the temporary immigration ban, replacing ObamaCare, cutting tax cuts and boosting infrastructure spending? Or is it in danger of becoming background noise? In a matter of days, Trump has called a Times report on staff turmoil fiction, lambasted fake news polls by CNN, NBC and ABC, and said the media are deliberately downplaying some terror attacks. Just to be clear: The president and his people have every right to push back on what they view as unfair or inaccurate reporting. The Washington Post, as I reported, had to back off from a story claiming that Steve Bannon had marched over to Homeland Security and pressured its secretary into not issuing exemptions to the travel ban. The Times especially gets under the presidents skin as his hometown paper, and his post-election praise of the paper as a jewel when he went to the newsroom is now a distant memory. The NYT piece that drew the presidents ire said he and his team are rethinking an improvisational approach to governing that mirrors his chaotic presidential campaign, especially after the bungled rollout of the executive order on immigration. On a more personal level, the story portrayed Trump as cloistered in the White House, lonely and isolated, watching too much TV, and wandering around at night in a bathrobe. When Sean Spicer assailed the story as riddled with inaccuracies and lies and literally the epitome of fake news, he declared that I dont think the president owns a bathrobe, he definitely doesnt wear one. Good to know! Spicer also denied that Trump wasnt fully briefed on an order reorganizing the National Security Council and making Bannon a member. The paper says it stands by the story. "The failing @nytimes writes total fiction concerning me. They have gotten it wrong for two years, and now are making up stories & sources!" Well, it wasnt exactly fiction, since Spicer, Bannon, Chris Christie and others were quoted on the record. Trump attacked the paper again after one of the storys authors, Maggie Haberman, appeared on CNN. A number of news outlets have reported on staff infighting and Bannons considerable influence, but the Times, as Trump knows, is uniquely influential in setting the media agenda. Politico framed the reaction this way: President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out via Twitter at a series of news reports revealing the turmoil inside the White House, leaning on his crutch of fake news as he struggles to control a hardening narrative about a dysfunctional West Wing. Meanwhile, the presidents comments on the media and terrorism have set off another major skirmish. After tweeting against the so-called judge who has temporarily blocked his travel ban, Trump spoke about ISIS at U.S. Central Command in Tampa: Youve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe its happening. Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported. And in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that. The Washington Post offered this take: President Trump appears to be laying the groundwork to preemptively shift blame for any future terrorist attack on U.S. soil from his administration to the federal judiciary, as well as to the media The president accused the media of failing to report on some terrorist attacks for what he implied were nefarious reasons." I was puzzled by Trumps accusation. When a reporter asked about it at a photo op yesterday, the president said: I understand the total dishonesty of the media better than anybody I let people know. He did add that not everybody is in this category. The White House put out a list of 78 terror attacks, but these included the carnage in Paris, Nice, San Bernardino and Orlando, which drew saturation coverage. Now its true that some attacks overseas, without mass casualties, draw far less coverage than those committed on U.S. soil. And the media move on more quickly these days as these attacks, tragically, have become more commonplace. But most attacks draw plenty of coverage as public interest and fear surges amid the carnage. And the networks pushed back, with CBS saying it covered 74 percent of the attacks on the list, NBC saying it covered 57, and Anderson Cooper and Bill Hemmer saying they were on the ground for some of them. Trump feels strongly that he has to combat a relentlessly negative media narrative. But he also shines a powerful spotlight on the stories he most detests and brings them to a much wider audience. For decades, the F/A-18 Hornet has been the Navys front-line combat jet taking off from aircraft carriers around the globe to enforce no-fly zones, carry out strikes and even engage in the occasional dogfight. But the Navys ability to use these planes is now greatly hindered as more than 60 percent of the jets are out of service. That number is even worse for the Marine Corps, where 74 percent of its F-18s some of the oldest in service are not ready for combat operations. These figures are reflective of the erosion in readiness across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and a source of deepening concern for ranking military members and lawmakers in both houses of Congress. Top service branch officials sounded the alarm in a pair of congressional hearings this week about how bad the problem has become. Our long-term readiness continues its insidious decline, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. William Moran testified Wednesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He added, While we are still able to put our first team on the field, our bench is largely depleted. During the hearing and one on Tuesday before the House Armed Service Committee the vice chiefs pleaded with lawmakers to repeal legislation limiting defense spending, arguing that fiscal constraints have crippled the militarys capability to respond to threats. Despite annual defense spending coming in at more than $600 billion, each of the branches has asked to increase the 2017 defense budget by more than $30 billion to purchase new jet fighters and armored vehicles as well as improve training. This request from the panel of four-star military officers dovetails with President Trumps promise to reinvest in a depleted fighting force and his Defense Departments push to do away with limits on military spending. The Budget Control Act of 2011 set limits on how much could be spent on defense through 2021 while exempting money provided for overseas warfighting. Between 2011 and 2014, the Pentagon's budget fell by more than $100 billion and across-the-board spending limits known in Washington-speak as sequestration were triggered in 2013, which forced reductions that led to widespread concern the military services would be unprepared to fight. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 provided temporary relief from the cuts, but unless the law is changed the limits will return in the 2018 budget year and would force defense budgets to levels far lower than the Pentagon says are prudent. If the budget caps are breached, automatic spending reductions would be triggered. According to testimony, the Navy is the smallest and least prepared its been in 99 years. Its a simple matter of supply cant meet demand, Moran said. The Navy has requested an additional $12 billion for 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, one San Antonio-class amphibious landing dock ship, and dozens more Sidewinder missiles. Gen. Daniel Allyn, the Army's vice chief of staff, said that only three of the Army's more than 50 brigade combat teams have all the troops, training and equipment needed to fight at a moment's notice. And the Marine Corps, which wants an additional $4.2 billion added to its 2017 budget, warned that the "nation's force in readiness" will have to continue shifting money intended for new weapons to pay current bills. The Air Force is the branch of the military that arguably is in the most dire straits, with aircraft numbers falling from 8,600 in 1991 to 5,500 today. There are 55 fighter squadrons, down from 134, and less than 50 percent of its combat forces are sufficiently ready for a highly contested fight against peer adversaries, Air Force Vice Chief Gen. Stephen W. Wilson said in reference to countries like Russia and China. While the vice chiefs argue that financial constraints are corroding military readiness, some experts say that cash flow is only part of the problem and point to the United States' constant involvement in overseas conflicts over the past 15 years. On one hand, our forces are more ready than ever because they are battle-hardened, James Dobbins, the head of international and security policy for the RAND Corporation and former ambassador to the European Union under President George H. W. Bush, told Fox News. But theyre not ready in the sense that they are not prepared to take on a peer adversary like Russia or China. The pressure and wear and tear on the forces have made that all but impossible, Dobbins added. The Republican chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas and Sen. John McCain of Arizona, are pushing for a base military budget of $640 billion in 2018 a nearly $100 billion increase over the amount authorized for the 2017 fiscal year. Im fully aware there is much, much more that needs to be done in a careful, thoughtful, but determined way, Thornberry said earlier this week. Defense reform will be a part of my agenda as long as Ive got this job. Thornberry and fellows hawks in Congress have argued that Republican plans to rein in federal spending in other areas, like Medicare and Medicaid, and a tax code overhaul could generate savings that can be funneled into defense spending. But fiscal conservatives could hamper these efforts with an argument that budget savings should be used to reduce the deficit. The push also faces an uncertain future given Trumps campaign pledge to reduce taxes and protect entitlement programs from cuts, while Democrats are likely to demand equal increases in spending on domestic programs. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Its all over but the shouting when it comes to the Senate confirming Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as attorney general. But the talking came to an abrupt end for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tuesday night when she expressed opposition to Sessions nomination on the Senate floor. The Senate prides itself on unlimited debate. But Warren found her way into an ignominious congressional pantheon Tuesday. Fellow senators voted to silence Warren after Republicans determined she broke Senate decorum and attacked Sessions integrity. Warrens punishment marks the first time the Senates officially hushed one of its members in decades. A senator sans debating privileges is like Batman without Robin. Bacon without eggs. President Trump without Twitter. Naturally, its ironic that an all-night Senate talkathon on Sessions nomination could somehow force senators to muzzle one of its own. Heres what happened: Warren delivered a lengthy speech opposing the confirmation of her Alabama colleague. She read a letter authored in 1986 by Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King, who was against President Reagans nomination of Sessions to the federal bench. The late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., entered Kings letter into the record more than three decades ago. The Reagan administration later withdrew Sessions nomination. Coretta Scott King argued that Sessions used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Warren then quoted Kennedy who described Sessions as disgraceful. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., presided over the Senate when Warren cited King and Kennedy. Daines momentarily halted Warren. It is a violation of Rule XIX of the Standing Rules of the Senate to impute another senator, or senators conduct or motive unbecoming a senator, chastened Daines. Warren asserted she wasnt name-calling. She simply quoted what King wrote and Kennedy said more than 30 years ago words long ago recorded in the Senate archives. About 25 minutes later, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., came to the floor and interrupted Warren. The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, said McConnell. He argued that Warren violated Rule XIX and should lose her speaking privileges. From his position on the dais, Daines agreed and looked at Warren. The senator will take her seat, the Montana Republican sternly instructed his colleague. Rule XIX says if a senator should in the opinion of the Presiding Officer transgress the rules the senator must take his seat. Warren wasnt having it. She appealed Daines ruling. She waved her arms, fidgeted and nervously paced around her desk at the rear of the Senate chamber. Im surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate, protested Warren. In a remarkable scene, the Senate then voted 49-43 to affirm McConnells contention and suspended Warrens speaking privileges until the Senate votes on Sessions nomination. The last time the Senate actually docked a senator in this way was Feb. 1, 1951, when Sen. William Benton, D-Conn., was prohibited from speaking on the floor. The Senate on Sept. 22, 1950, also barred Sen. Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn., from speaking on the floor after he used inappropriate language. Further, the late Sen. John Heinz, R-Pa., claimed that then-Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, breached Senate protocol with caustic remarks in 1988. But Gramm withdrew the language in question. The House last revoked a members speaking privileges in January 1995. The House disciplined then-Rep. Bob Dornan, R-Calif., for accusing President Clinton of giving aid and comfort to the enemy during Vietnam. Democrats were willing to let Dornan resume speaking if he apologized to the House. But Dornan wasnt having any of it. Hell no! Hell no! spat Dornan. Taking over the chair from Daines, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., ruled on a question from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., that even if a senator utters the truth about a colleague, its still out of order if it attacks their integrity. Whitehouse was incredulous, wondering aloud how the Senate was to conduct its advice and consent mandate over nominees. Are we to blind ourselves? asked Whitehouse. Discuss it privately in the cloakroom? Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., lamented that things are so tense, its a challenge to have a civil debate anywhere. He invoked images of foreign parliaments where rowdy legislators throw chairs and other furniture when a brouhaha breaks out. I know that tonight was a made-for-TV moment, said Rubio about the Warren imbroglio. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused McConnell of escalating partisanship by sanctioning Warren. The New York Democrat said the entire scene was totally unnecessary. A few minutes later, McConnell and Schumer huddled by themselves without staff in an intense conversation on the Republican side of the chamber. I think we ought to be ashamed, lectured Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. This place is going to devolve into nothing but a jungle. The Senate fracas may have been inevitable. Senators from both sides have scrapped for days as Democrats use parliamentary delays to stall most of President Trumps cabinet picks. As a result, McConnell called an extraordinary vote series at 6:30 a.m. ET Friday to set up Tuesdays vote to confirm Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Vice President Mike Pence had to break the tie to confirm DeVos. That marked the first time a vice president ever cast the deciding ballot to confirm a Cabinet official. Senate Democrats kept the Senate in session all night Monday and did the same Tuesday. The tactic is likely to prompt an early Friday morning vote to confirm Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., as Health and Human Services secretary. Following that, expect a Saturday morning confirmation vote for Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin. Nerves in the Senate are frayed. Tempers are short. And the Senate has days of discord ahead. We may take the Sabbath off and come back on Monday, said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas. Perhaps a necessary day of silence for all senators. Capitol Attitude is a weekly column written by members of the Fox News Capitol Hill team. Their articles take you inside the halls of Congress, and cover the spectrum of policy issues being introduced, debated and voted on there. President Trump on Wednesday brought the legal dispute over his immigration executive order into the court of public opinion, using a Washington law enforcement address to mount an urgent defense of the measure and urge the federal courts to reinstate it. At a meeting with local sheriffs and police chiefs, the president said he issued the immigration order for the security of our nation, the security of our citizens, so that people come in who aren't going to do us harm. He spoke after a hearing late Tuesday during which the Justice Department presented its arguments to the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The DOJ is fighting to overturn a Seattle judges decision to halt the controversial order that suspended the U.S. refugee program and immigration from seven mostly Muslim countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan. A decision could come at any time. "We're in an area where, let's just say, they are interpreting things differently from probably 100 pecent of people in this room," Trump said. Trump read out parts of the federal law outlining presidential powers on the subject, saying it was written clearly and "beautifully. The part of the U.S. Code he read specifies that when the president "finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation ... suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate." A bad high school student would understand this, he said. Trump said he listened to the judges Tuesday and, while vowing not to comment specifically on the hearing, said: "I listened to a bunch of stuff last night on television that was disgraceful, it was disgraceful." Supporters of Trump's order say it will help keep America safe from terrorists looking to infiltrate the United States from terror hotspots that often have inadequate vetting procedures. Opponents have argued it is unconstitutional and discriminatory claiming that it is a Muslim ban. During Tuesday's hearing, Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued that Trump campaign statements about a Muslim ban showed discriminatory intent. "There are statements that we've quoted in our complaint that are rather shocking evidence of intent to discriminate against Muslims, given that we haven't even had any discovery yet to find out what else might have been said in private," Purcell said. Trump has waded into the legal battle before, largely on Twitter. He recently called the judge who halted the order, James Robart, a so-called judge and earlier Wednesday warned on Twitter that, If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. At the meeting with police chiefs, he indicated he would be ready to criticize the appeals court if it ruled against his administration. "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I wont call it biased and we havent had a decision yet, but courts seem to be so political," he said. It would be so great for our justice system if they were able to read a statement and do whats right and thats to do with the security of our nation, which is so important. He warned that until the issue was resolved, the nation's security would be at risk. "I think it's sad, I think it's a sad day," he said. "I think our security is at risk today and it will be at risk until such time as...we get what we are entitled to as citizens of this country." The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Trump administration is considering executive actions that would designate Irans Revolutionary Guard and the Muslim Brotherhood, an influential movement across the Middle East, as terrorist organizations, people familiar with the discussions said. A decision to target either of the two groups would mark a significant expansion of U.S. sanctions against Islamist organizations in the Middle East. They would join al Qaeda, Islamic State and dozens of other militant organizations currently on the U.S. terrorism list. The White House is likely to move more quickly on the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which could be less of a challenge to implement, one person familiar with the discussions said. It was unclear when a decision would be made on either designation. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declined Wednesday to say whether the White House would take steps against either the Muslim Brotherhood or the IRGC. But, he said: Theres no one that can question the presidents commitment to fully attacking and addressing the threat that we face by Islamic terrorists. The Revolutionary Guard is Irans elite military unit and reports directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with a command separate from Irans traditional military. It was established following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and over the past decade has also grown to dominate Irans economy, with holdings in property, oil and gas and telecommunications. U.S. officials estimate the IRGC controls as much as 50% of Irans economy. Leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, have said the group opposes political violence and wants to establish Islamic societies through democratic means. The U.S. designated its Palestinian offshoot, Hamas, a terror organization in 1997. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. Sen. Elizabeth Warren took to Facebook late Tuesday night to finish delivering her speech after being formally silenced on the Senate floor for quoting Coretta Scott King during her criticism of President Trumps nominee for attorney general. The dramatic scene unfolded when the Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chambers arcane rules-- Rule XIX-- by reading a three-decade-old letter from Dr. Martin Luther Kings widow that dated to Sen. Jeff Sessions failed judicial nomination three decades ago. King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for impugning the motives of Sessions, though the letter was written about 10 years before Sessions was elected to the Senate. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called her formal silencing totally unnecessary. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said both sides should be ashamed" about the atmosphere on the floor. This place is going to devolve into nothing but a jungle, Hatch said. Though silenced, Warren later posted on Twitter that, I will not be silent about a nominee for AG who has made derogatory & racist comments that have no place in our justice system. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted 49-to-43 to silence Warren. Warren is now forbidden from speaking again on Sessions nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. He is expected to be confirmed. "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted," McConnell said. Her supporters later used #shepersisted as a rally cry. A senator's mouthpiece is larger than the senate floor, but it's even larger when her constituents rally w/ @SenateDems to #LetLizSpeak Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 8, 2017 Bernice King, the daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King wrote on Twitter, Thank you @SenWarren for being the soul of the Senate during the #Sessions hearing. The Democratic National Committee said it is a sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King Jrs widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate. Warren went on to read the letter from King on Facebook, which attracted two million views, according to The New York Times, an audience likely far greater than she would have gained on C-SPAN. Supporters took to social media with the hashtag #LetLizSpeak and #ShePersisted as something as a rally cry. Warren, 67, hasn't ruled out a future White House run but has said she is focused on the 2018 senate race. According to an Associated Press review of Warren's latest campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts Democrat took in a hefty $5.9 million in campaign contributions from January 2015 through the end of 2016. The Associated Press contributed to this report The White House moved Wednesday to counter critics who claim President Trumps travel ban goes too far, circulating a list of terror cases involving suspects who came to the U.S. from the seven countries in question. The list, obtained by Fox News, gave 24 examples of refugees and other immigrants from Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria and Libya who have been arrested on terror-related charges; most have been convicted. Those seven, mostly Muslim countries were singled out in Trump's executive order, which suspended immigration for 90 days from those nations. The document of terror arrests appears to be, in part, a rebuke to Seattle U.S. District Judge James Robart who, in questioning a Justice Department lawyer last week about the number of post-9/11 arrests of foreign nationals from those countries, incorrectly asserted: Let me tell you The answer to that is none, as best I can tell. Robart halted the rollout of the executive order. The case is now before the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where Justice Department lawyers are arguing for the restoration of the measure. The White House document itself names 10 individuals from Somalia, six from Iraq, one from Yemen, two from Sudan, two from Iran, two from Libya and one from Syria. The cases span the last eight years, and include most recently a case in June in which two Somali refugees were jailed for conspiring to commit murder in Syria on behalf of ISIS. It also includes a case from March of last year, where a Yemeni native who became a U.S. citizen was sentenced to 22 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS and planning to shoot and kill members of the U.S. military who had returned from Iraq. The dossier also cited a case from January 2016, in which a Palestinian who was born in Iraq and came to the U.S. as a refugee allegedly tried to provide material support to terror groups abroad. The dossier cites media reports that he told his wife, I want to blow myself up I am against America. Earlier in the day, Trump defended his order at a meeting with local police chiefs and sheriffs in Washington, D.C., and hinted that he thought the court case was being politicized. "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I wont call it biased and we havent had a decision yet, but courts seem to be so political," he said. It would be so great for our justice system if they were able to read a statement and do whats right and thats to do with the security of our nation, which is so important. He warned that until the issue was resolved, the nation's security would be at risk. "I think it's sad, I think it's a sad day," he said. "I think our security is at risk today and it will be at risk until such time as ... we get what we are entitled to as citizens of this country." While the rollout of Trump's order, signed just days into his presidency, was marred by confusion over its application to green-card holders and others, critics have argued more broadly that it amounts to a discriminatory "Muslim" ban. Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued in a court hearing that Trump campaign statements reveal "shocking evidence" of intent to discriminate. Fox News John Roberts and Adam Shaw contributed to this report. Why do otherwise healthy sea creatures end up stranded along coastal areas around the world? NASA scientists are searching for the answer. Whales, dolphins and porpoises known collectively as cetaceans partially use magnetic-field sensing to navigate. According to NASA scientists, one explanation for these mysterious strandings could be that the animals' internal compasses become confused during severe solar storms, which affect Earths magnetic fields, and so they lose their way. To investigate this marine mystery, NASA has launched a study that will determine whether there is a link between solar storms and animal beachings. Cetaceans become stranded around the world in groups as small as three or as large as several hundred per event. According to Katie Moore, a collaborator on the NASA study and director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare's Animal Rescue Program, the global phenomenon occurs most often in New Zealand, Australia and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. [Images: Sharks & Whales from Above] Despite the prevalence of such beaching events , study leader Antti Pulkkinen, a heliophysicist (a person who studies the effects of the sun on the solar system) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said there has been very little quantitative research. "We estimate that records on the order of hundreds of cetacean mass strandings will be available for study, thus making our analyses statistically significant," Pulkkinen said in a statement. "What were going to do is throw cold, hard data at this. It's a long-standing mystery and its important that we figure out whats going on." Pulkkinen and his collaborators will work with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the International Fund for Animal Welfare to sift through cetacean mass stranding reports, space-weather databases and field observations. The researchers expect to complete the study by the end of September. The scientists said the results won't necessarily imply a link, but the study will be the first thorough research into whether a correlation exists between the solar storms and beaching events. "If we understand the relationship between the two, we may be able to use observations of solar storms as an early warning for potential strandings to occur," Moore said. "This would allow stranding responders in global hotspots, and, really, around the world, to be better prepared to respond, thus having the opportunity to save more animals." Original article on Live Science. The precise purpose of big, mysterious earthen formations in the Brazilian rainforest still stumps scientists, who have carried out careful analysis of the region's history. As the Amazon suffers from deforestation, over 450 big geoglyphs have appeared in one state in Brazil. Created by indigenous people over 2,000 years ago, the sites take up some 5,000 square miles. They probably are not the remnants of villages, but may have been places to gather for rituals, according to the University of Exeter. Researchers wanted to better understand the land-use history of the geoglyph region, where they think ancient people managed forests of trees like bamboo or palm. "The fact that these sites lay hidden for centuries beneath mature rainforest really challenges the idea that Amazonian forests are 'pristine ecosystems, Jennifer Watling, a postdoctoral research at the University of Sao Paulo, said in a statement. "We immediately wanted to know whether the region was already forested when the geoglyphs were built, and to what extent people impacted the landscape to build these earthworks." Watling and others learned more about these mysterious ancient sites by analyzing soil samples from them, looking at evidence of historical vegetation and fires the sites might have experienced. While today, the forests are threatened by huge amoung of clearing, the researchers think that thousands of years ago, indigenous people managed the forests in more sustainable ways. The geoglyphs were built when people made temporary clearings. "Despite the huge number and density of geoglyph sites in the region, we can be certain that Acre's forests were never cleared as extensively, or for as long, as they have been in recent years, Watling said. All of this happened before Europeans arrived on the continent, at a time when indigenous people managed the forest in their own way. "Our evidence that Amazonian forests have been managed by indigenous peoples long before European Contact should not be cited as justification for the destructive, unsustainable land-use practiced today, Watling added. It should instead serve to highlight the ingenuity of past subsistence regimes that did not lead to forest degradation, and the importance of indigenous knowledge for finding more sustainable land-use alternatives." The study has been published in the journal PNAS. Thousands of dead bees were found washed up on a popular South Florida Beach over the weekend. Visitors to the Lowdermilk Park Beach in Naples told NBC-2 they were staying away from the sandy shores because they were being stung by the bees. "I've been stung a couple of times and at first, I didn't know what it was and then I realized and then I had an allergic reaction," Martha Duff, of Naples, told NBC Miami. Residents said the problem had only occurred in the last couple of days and are concerned over what might be killing the insects. A bee expert told NBC Miami that bees washing up on the beach is very unusual and the cause of it could be anything from pesticides forcing bees to the shoreline or a swarm getting tired and diving into the water. According to NBC-2, Naples officials said maintenance crews were investigating the problem in hopes to be able to answer all questions that residents and visitors may have. It appears the world is about to get familiar with the fascinating story of Oney Judge. As the New York Times explains, Judge (also known as Ona) was one of George Washington's slaves until she managed to escape. The president took this as a personal affronthe huffed at her "ingratitude"and tried to recapture her for years, right up until his death. Washington famously freed his slaves in his will, but Judge technically belonged to Martha Washington and thus wouldn't have been affected. Judge's story hasn't been widely told, but it is now included in an exhibition at Mount Vernon and is also the subject of a book, Never Caught, by the University of Delaware's Erica Armstrong Dunbar. "We have the famous fugitives, like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass," says Dunbar. "But decades before them, Ona Judge did this. I want people to know her story." And quite a story it is: Judge was born into slavery at Mount Vernon, and she traveled with the first couple first to New York and then to Philadelphia when Washington became president. It was in Philadelphia that Judge learned she was to be given to Martha Washington's granddaughter and re-shipped south. Instead, she slipped away from the presidential mansion with the help of free blacks and made it to New Hampshire. She would marry and have three children there, and though she lived in near poverty, she expressed no regrets in two interviews before her death in 1848, at around age 75, reports Philly.com. Washington, for his part, tried to skirt federal rules on the recapture of slaves and enlisted a customs employee to get her back, reports the New York Post. Judge, however, evaded all attempts at recapture. (A kids' book on Washington's slaves didn't go over well.) This article originally appeared on Newser: She Was George Washington's SlaveUntil She'd Had Enough Abraham Lincoln was dead 57 years before the Lincoln Memorial was constructed. George Washington had to wait 89 years after his death before his monument in Washington, DC, was finished. Thomas Jefferson had it the worst, as his memorial didnt get built until 117 years after he passed away. But President Donald Trump has been in office less than three weeks and already plans are being drawn up for a statue to memorialize the United States 45th president. But there is one catch. The statue will be in a tiny village in central Italy. The mayor of Vagli di Sotto, Mario Puglia, plans to construct a big, marble statue of the sitting U.S. president in the villages Park of Honor and Dishonor. He thinks it will be a tremendous way to attract tourists from around the globe to the Tuscan town of less than 1,000 people. "I'm not going to enter into a discussion over whether his actions are right or wrong," Puglia told local Italian media. "But at the moment Trump is the only politician who is following through on his promises, doing what he said on the campaign trail." Last year, the village saw over 250,000 visitors, but Puglia has yet to mention if he plans to build a wall to control the flow of people into Vagli di Sotto. Puglia added that while he would be honored if Trump made a trip to see the statue, he doubts the U.S. leader will have the time. "I don't think he will come, because of everything he has to do, but we're in contact with the American ambassador and we want to invite them, he told the Local. Work is already underway on the statue, which is expected to be ready by the summer. Private donors in both Italy and America have reportedly offered around $105,000 to finance it. FOR THE LATEST TRAVEL FEATURES FOLLOW FOX LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK Trump wont be alone in the towns infamous park. The eclectic array of marble-work in the open air space includes a sculpture of a French police dog killed in a raid after the Paris terror attacks, and two relating to the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster. One statue is of the ship's fleeing captain, Francesco Schettino, who is depicted with rabbit ears, while another honors coastguard Captain Gregorio De Falco, who famously told the cowardly captain to get back on board the doomed ship. Last year, the town commissioned a statue of David Bowie shortly after his death. The project, which was funded by private businesses for just under $70,000, was recently completed and is set to be put in the park soon. South Georgia had a big problem. Rats and mice were decimating its native birds eggs and chicks. The rodents, which arrived on ships during the 19th and early 20th centuries, had spread over much of the island, home to 90 percent of the worlds Antarctic fur seals, half the worlds elephant seals and four species of penguins, including 400,000 king penguins. Rats had access to every nest, Sarah Lurcock, site director of the South Georgia Heritage Trust, told travelers on an Abercrombie & Kent charter cruise to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica. As a result, the main island, one of the worlds last great wilderness areas, had been all but abandoned by its native inhabitants storm petrels, blue petrels and prions. And the South Georgia Pip was threatened. Enter Team Rat, the worlds largest rodent eradication project. Lurcock told her listeners that a $145 donation would help eradicate rats on 1 hectare (2.7 acres) of the island. If we miss a single pregnant female rate, we would fail, she said. The program, now in its fourth phrase, is working. Pipits, the worlds most southerly songbirds, found only in South Georgia, are nesting again. But that good news is tempered by concerns about the impact of climate change. Scientists are anxiously anticipating what they predict will be one of the largest breakoffs ever recorded from Antarcticas Larson Ice Shelf. They say the breakoff of an iceberg the size of Delaware could destabilize and contribute to the melting of the inland glaciers on the frozen continent, which could raise sea levels. Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey recently announced they wont remain at their research station in the Antarctic winter because if the situation worsens, evacuation may be impossible. These environmental concerns are being aired as Antarctica increasingly becomes a destination for tourists and especially younger tourists. According to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which was formed 25 years ago to promote and advocate for environmentally responsible tourism, nearly 44,000 visitors are expected this season, most of them by ship. Landings grew 10.5 percent last year, with American and Australian tourists leading the way, followed by Chinese. Tourism is tightly regulated from where boats may dock, to staff rations, to guidelines for watching marine wildlife, to wilderness etiquette (the animals have the right of way), to garbage policy. Only 100 people at a time may visit a beach teeming with thousands of nesting penguins, sea birds and elephant and fur seals. To avoid introducing alien species, tourists must disinfect their boots in special solutions after landings, and they must vacuum their jackets and backpacks before setting shore again. Tourists aboard ships carrying more than 500 passengers cant land at all. For those who can, all activities from kayaking to climbing to walking on the beach must be assessed for environmental impact. Amanda Lynnes, a spokeswoman for IAATO, said the organization believes the increasing number of visitors hasnt had a discernible environmental impact. She added that long-term monitoring of human activity and tourism is vital and must be a collaborative effort involving the tourism industry, conservation groups and the more than 50 nations that have signed the Antarctic Treaty. While South Georgia is part of the United Kingdom, Antarctica the only continent without a native human population is overseen by the treaty parties, which include the United States. The new attention on Antarctica and the increasing number of visitors can have a positive impact, said Dr. James McClintock, a biology professor and Antarctica expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A national authority on the effects of climate change in Antarctica and author of Lost Antarctica Adventures in a Disappearing Land, McClintock has been conducting research for the National Science Foundation Research on the continent for some 25 years. He said he was nervous about tourism until he had the opportunity to lecture to tourists. Ive been very impressed with the companies taking people to Antarctica, he said. The do all they can to be good citizens, and I watch guests being very conscious and careful. They go home as ambassadors to Antarctica. They talk to senators and congressmen. Theyve seen climate change with their own eyes, receding sea ice, retreating glaciers, the impact on sea life as a result. Antarctica, he said, is an otherworldly experience to visit, one that offers a sense of our planet that you wont get anywhere else. At least for now. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The more Donald Trump tries to build support for his refugee and immigration ban, the darker the world seems to get. In defending his policies barring refugees and curbing immigration, the president is painting an increasingly ominous picture of the danger posed by Islamic extremists. In his speeches, tweets and an imposing new tally of what Trump calls an unreported "genocide" by the Islamic State group, he has raised the prospect of imminent attacks on the United States and cast the debate over safety as a clash between radical Islam and the West. To Trump's supporters, the president's dark warnings show that he has a clear-eyed view of the terror threat facing the U.S. a threat they believe Barack Obama downplayed. Trump's critics fear he is hyping one threat at the expense of others. Islamic extremism is "an enemy that celebrates death and totally worships destruction," Trump said Monday while visiting the headquarters of the military's Central Command. The list his administration is circulating highlights the debate. The White House points to the 78 incidents as evidence that the news media are intentionally downplaying the dangers of the Islamic State group. "Most" incidents on the list haven't received sufficient attention, the White house says. Trump's terror list, however, focuses only on attacks the White House says were "executed or inspired by" the Islamic State. Terrorism carried out in the name of other causes didn't make the list. For example, Trump's list does not include violence by Boko Haram, an Islamist insurgent group operating in West Africa that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015. It is responsible for far more deaths than ISIS, including suicide bombings, mass shootings and massacres of civilians in Nigeria and neighboring countries. The White House list also leaves off last month's attack on a mosque in Quebec where six Muslim men were shot and killed. A French Canadian man known for far-right, nationalist views has been charged and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called it an act of terrorism against Muslims. The White House says Trump did call Trudeau to express condolences. But his failing to mention it now appears to reflect his narrow focus on the Islamic State. Although he has been vague about his plans for countering the Islamic State in its strongholds in Iraq and Syria, he has moved swiftly to try to keep the group's followers out of the United States, signing an executive order in his first week in office that banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority countries with terror ties. Trump's directive also halted the entire U.S. refugee program for four months and banned Syrians from the U.S. indefinitely. The ban is now held up in the courts, prompting a fierce response from the president. In a strikingly personal attack on the judiciary, Trump said the judge should bear the blame if an attack occurs while his ban is paused. He's warned that the court order has allowed people to start "pouring in" to the United States, despite the fact that those who do not currently hold legal visas must go through lengthy vetting procedures before entering the country. "ISIS said we are going to infiltrate the United States and other countries through the migration," Trump said during a White House meeting with sheriffs on Tuesday. "And then we're not allowed to be tough on the people coming in? Explain that one." Evelyn Farkas, who served as deputy defense secretary during the Obama administration, argues that the president's warnings are creating "a level of concern that probably isn't warranted by the threats assessment." In recent years, federal law enforcement agencies have focused more on the threat posed by homegrown extremists people, usually men, who are already in the U.S. and who find themselves attracted to Islamic State propaganda of violence and mayhem. Still, officials concede that it's impossible to guarantee a mistake-free screening process for people seeking to come to the U.S., particularly given the paucity of information sometimes available on people entering from Syria. White House spokesman Sean Spicer says the president isn't trying to scare Americans. Still, he said forebodingly on Tuesday: "The earth is a very dangerous place." The president's intense focus on Islamic terrorism is shared by some of his top aides, including National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and chief strategist Steve Bannon, who was one of the architects of the refugee ban. Flynn has called Islam a "political ideology" and said it "hides behind being a religion." Trump's rhetoric marks a sharp shift from his most recent predecessors. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, President George W. Bush emphasized that the U.S. was not at war with Muslims. Obama refused to use the term "radical Islamic extremism," arguing that it validated terrorists who claimed they were acting on behalf of their faith. The contrast between Trump and Obama is particularly striking. While Obama insisted the Islamic State did not pose an existential threat to the U.S., Trump says the group is "on a campaign of genocide" and is "determined to strike our homeland." Obama warned about overstating the Islamic State's capabilities, while Trump says the group's scope has not been reported widely enough. Beyond the refugee ban, Trump officials are looking at whether to revamp a U.S. program aimed at countering violent extremism to target only Islamic-inspired terrorists, not white supremacists or other groups. They've also discussed an executive order that would label the Muslim Brotherhood, an Egyptian based group, a terrorist organization. The White House has also discussed dropping sanctions on Russia that were levied in retaliation for provocations in Ukraine if Moscow would work alongside the U.S. in fighting the Islamic State. Vice President Mike Pence appeared to raise that prospect over the weekend, saying the continuation of the sanctions depends on "the opportunity perhaps to work on common interests." "The president's made it clear the top priority of this administration is to hunt down and destroy ISIS at its source," Pence said on ABC's "This Week." ___ AP writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report. ___ Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC Supporters of a hero Marine who died saving his fellow leathernecks in Fallujah are hoping their persistence and a new secretary of defense who was also there will help him get the nation's highest military honor. A request made Monday in a letter from Rep. Duncan Hunter, R- Calif., to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, is the fourth Medal of Honor nomination for Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was 25 in 2004 when he smothered a grenade and saved his fellow Marines in the second battle of Fallujah. A grenade got thrown in by terrorists, four men saw him jump on it, it killed him, and four Marines walked out of that room alive because of him, Hunter, himself a veteran, told Fox News. Peralta more than met the criteria for the Medal of Honor, which includes the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, and having at least two witnesses, said Hunter. Previous requests for Peralta to receive the Medal of Honor have been denied over questions about whether Peralta intentionally smothered the grenade, or whether the Marine, who was shot and wounded in the fight that day, was too injured to understand what he did. Four Marines who were in the house with Peralta have said that he did pull the grenade toward him and that they lived because of his selfless act. Robert Gates, the first defense secretary to review a Medal of Honor request for Peralta, conceded in his memoir Duty that although he rejected the nomination because it did not provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that originally he granted the request. His change of heart occurred after pathologists theorized that Peraltas injuries were so severe that he could not have made the decision to smother the grenade. Successive secretaries of defense also denied the request. Rosa Peralta, the fallen Marines mother, said she is weary after more than a decade of disappointment by the Medal of Honor rejections. At the same time, she told Fox News from her home in California, she is deeply moved by all the support her son has received for an honor he so without question deserves. So many people have continued to push for the Medal of Honor for my son, so many people know that he did something heroic, that he acted for others and put them before himself, that I get emotional with gratitude, she said, pausing several times to weep. A medal, to be honest, will not bring my son back, she said. But he earned it, and Id like to see it happen because so many people have made such on effort on his behalf. George Sabga, a former Marine who is among those fighting tirelessly for Peralta to get the Medal of Honor, said he is pleased that Hunter, himself a former Marine, has asked Mattis to reconsider the nomination. Sabga told Fox News that he learned so much about Peralta after he got to know the family following his death that he knows the young Marine had the special compassion to perform the heroic act of sacrificing his life to save others. Were very excited about it, said Sabga, who has served as lawyer on a pro-bono basis for the Peralta family and has acted as their spokesman. Early on, when this first started, reporters asked How long will you fight for this? I said Were Marines. As long as there are Marines, there will be somebody fighting for Rafael. Peralta got the Navy Cross for his heroic act, and the Navy has named a warship after him. Hunter says he is optimistic that Mattis will not succumb to the bureaucracy he says has stood in the way of the granting of the Medal of Honor to Peralta. The congressman said Mattis, who knows about Peraltas case and brings the perspective of the combat Marine to his position, can give a clear-eyed assessment to the nomination. Hunter said: He knows the facts intimately, inside and out. Exports of Ukrainian food to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) fell by 19% in 2016, to $106 million, the Ukrainian Food Export Board (UFEB) has reported. "In 2013-2015 revenue from food supplies to this country [UAE] fell from $165 million to $134 million, and in January-November 2016 we had $106 million. The trend is disappointing," UFEB Director Bohdan Shapoval said. UFEB said that in January-November 2016 Ukraine supplied food worth $105.5 million to the UAE, or 0.7% of total agricultural exports over the period. The key food delivered to the UAE was vegetable oil (50% of revenue), eggs (17%), grain (11%) and poultry (5%). UFEB said that the share of dairy products was 1.6% of total revenue, which is evidence of the unrealized potential in trade relations between the UAE and Ukraine, Shapoval said. Exports of Ukrainian food to the UAE in the past years were falling and now its share of total revenue is less than 1%. Shapoval said that the downward trend could worsen due to difficulties with halal certification felt in 2016 and seen again. According to Ukraine's State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Rights Protection, since February 2017 the UAE has applied the new rules to monitor halal food sales. Thus, Ukrainian certification centers are to register at the UAE Standardization and Measurements Department. This could take a long time to do this when Ukrainian certificates will be not in effect. A South Carolina firefighter who was questioned by the Columbia Police Dept. in connection with a deadly arson was cleared of any wrongdoing Tuesday. The Columbia firefighter voluntarily spoke with police after he was spotted on surveillance footage at a fire outside an apartment that killed 80-year-old True Dent Henderson, investigators said. The unidentified firefighter is no longer considered a person of interest or suspect in the case and it's not clear if he knew Henderson. Investigators continue to aggressively investigate a number of leads in the case to determine who started the fire. The Red Cross was providing aid to five other people who had to leave the building. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Latest on the arrests of three people in connection with a 1993 apartment fire that killed 10 people in Los Angeles (all times local): 4 p.m. Prosecutors say three people have pleaded not guilty to murder charges in connection with a 1993 Los Angeles apartment building fire that killed 10 people, including seven children. Ramiro Valerio, Joseph Monge and Johanna Lopez appeared in court Tuesday afternoon to face 12 counts of murder and other charges. The names of their attorneys weren't immediately known. Los Angeles district attorney's office spokesman Greg Risling says the three are being held without bail. Prosecutors say the May 1993 blaze was set as revenge against an apartment manager who tried to stop rampant drug dealing in the building. Ten people, including two pregnant women, were killed in the May 1993 fire in the Westlake district. Court papers show two of the murder charges relate to the women's unborn fetuses. ___ 3 p.m. Prosecutors say three people have been charged with murder in connection with a 1993 apartment building fire that killed 10 people, including seven children. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office says Ramiro Valerio, Joseph Monge and Johanna Lopez were charged Tuesday with 12 counts of murder and other charges. Ten people, including two pregnant women, were killed in the May 1993 fire in the Westlake district. Court papers show two of the murder charges relate to the women's unborn fetuses. Prosecutors say the blaze was set as revenge against an apartment manager who tried to stop rampant drug dealing in the building. Prosecutors say the three suspects are expected to be arraigned later Tuesday. It wasn't immediately clear if they have attorneys who could comment on the charges. The Latest on the travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump (all times local): 3:10 p.m. Arguments have begun in a U.S. appeals court in a lawsuit over President Donald Trump's travel ban. A panel of judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing Tuesday from the U.S. government and several states that oppose the ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. A court spokesman says it was unlikely that the court would issue a ruling Tuesday. A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's order last week. Washington state, Minnesota and other states say the appeals court should allow the temporary restraining order to stand as their lawsuit moves through the legal system. The government is asking the court to restore Trump's executive order, contending that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the United States. ___ 3 p.m. Maryland is suing over President Donald Trump's travel ban, joining a series of states and groups. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Maryland and National Immigration Law Center filed the lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Maryland. The groups argue that the executive order violates federal laws and the Constitution, saying it was "substantially motivated" by an intent to discriminate against Muslims. Plaintiffs include U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from countries named by the ban. The lawsuit comes as a panel of judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals prepared to hear a case on the travel ban, which temporarily suspends the country's refugee program and immigration from seven countries with terrorism concerns. The Justice Department says the order was a "lawful exercise" of the president's authority. ___ 2:45 p.m. Civil rights groups have asked a New York judge to force the government to name anyone detained or rejected from U.S. entry after President Donald Trump signed the travel and refugee ban. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups also asked the federal judge to require the government to return to the United States anyone who was removed because of Trump's order. The request comes 10 days after a Brooklyn, New York, judge stopped the government from deporting people from nations subject to the travel ban. The Justice Department has defended the executive order as a matter of national security. It has said Trump's order affecting seven predominantly Muslim countries was within his authority. ___ 1:50 p.m. A spokesman for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says it's unlikely the court will issue a ruling Tuesday in a lawsuit over President Donald Trump's travel and refugee ban. Spokesman David Madden said a ruling is likely later this week. He said the proceedings in San Francisco later Tuesday could last longer than 60 minutes depending on questioning by the judges. Each side has been granted 30 minutes of argument in the hearing, which will be held by telephone. Washington state and Minnesota sued Trump last week, saying the ban harmed residents and effectively mandated discrimination. The Justice Department says the issue is a matter of national security, and Trump's executive order affecting seven predominantly Muslim countries was well within his authority. The appellate court this weekend denied the Trump administration's request to immediately set aside a Seattle judge's ruling that put a hold on the ban nationwide. The Latest on the investigation of the death of a West Texas college student whose remains were found scattered around a remote shallow grave: (all times local): 5 p.m. Investigators have released documents detailing the evidence that led to arrests and charges against two men in the disappearance and death of a 21-year-old West Texas college student. Among the disclosures contained in the police affidavits on Zuzu Verk's disappearance and death is the revelation that she and Verk's boyfriend Robert Fabian had argued at his apartment the night she disappeared and that Fabian played a movie very loudly on his television between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Oct. 12. Neighbors said they saw Fabian leave alone in his Jeep about 4 a.m. Oct. 12 and was still gone as of 10:30 a.m., while Verk's car remained parked outside the apartment. Estrada told investigators that he drop Fabian to an Alpine variety store the evening of Oct. 12 and let Fabian use his credit card to buy plastic drop cloths. Electronic data from his remote computer showed Estrada was at Fabian's apartment from 10:40 p.m. to 12 a.m. On Friday, investigators found human skeletal remains outside Alpine that were later identified as Verk's, along with plastic drop cloths. ___ 2:25 p.m. Police say a second man accused of hiding the corpse of a West Texas college student will be returned from Arizona to Texas. Alpine police Lt. Felipe Fierro says Chris Estrada waived extradition Tuesday from Phoenix, where he was arrested a day earlier in the investigation of the death of Zuzu (ZOO'-zoo) Verk. The 21-year-old student at Sul Ross State University in Alpine had been missing since Oct. 12 following a date with her boyfriend, Robert Fabian. A Border Patrol agent last Friday found Verk's remains in a shallow grave near Alpine, about 200 miles southeast of El Paso. Police say Estrada and Fabian are friends. Both are charged with tampering with evidence by concealing a human corpse in Verk's disappearance. A cause of death was pending Tuesday for Verk. A man suspected in the killings of three women is dead after a standoff with police at a Georgia motel late Tuesday, and a female suspect has been arrested, officials said. U.S. Marshals spokesman Jim Joyner said that 44-year-old William "Billy" Boyette was dead after the standoff in West Point, Georgia and that 37-year-old Mary Rice was taken into custody after the pair, often compared to Bonnie and Clyde, had been holed up inside a room at the motel. The Troup County Sheriff's Office said Boyette is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Dominic Guadagnoli of the U.S. Marshals Service earlier told the Pensacola News Journal that the stolen vehicle the couple had been driving was seen at the motel, and that Rice checked into the motel using her real name. Authorities had been searching for the couple linked to a multi-state killing spree for seven days. Two capital murder warrants were issued for Boyette, who is suspected in the deaths of two women in Florida and one woman in Alabama, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson told reporters. Boyette is also suspected of wounding a young mother on Monday during a home invasion near Pensacola. 2 EMPLOYEES ATTACKED BY INMATE AT NORTH CAROLINA PRISON He is a deranged man, Johnson said earlier Thursday. Police are also seeking warrants for accessory after the fact for Rice, who was seen on video with Boyette since the shootings started, Johnson said. NORTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICER SHOOTS AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR Rice had previously been considered a person of interest in the attacks; however on Monday she was upgraded to an official suspect. Authorities said she dyed her hair orange and did not act on multiple chances to flee or ask for help. She was spotted on surveillance video entering stores on her own. The fact that she was seen away from him in Walmart and then came together with him in the parking lot, shes a willing participant without a doubt, Johnson said. The Florida Panhandle was on high alert since the killing spree began last week. Two bodies turned up at the Emerald Sands Inn in Milton on Jan. 31. One of the victims, Alicia Greer, 30, was in a relationship with Boyette, while the other was identified as Jacqueline Jeanette Moore, 39. Police said Greer is the only victim with a connection to the suspected killer. Boyette and Rice then reportedly went to Lillian, Ala., where police said they allegedly killed Peggy Broz and stole her vehicle Friday morning. The manhunt for Boyette and Rice escalated after the Monday morning shooting that left Kayla Crocker, 32, in the hospital in critical condition. Crocker's white Chevrolet Cobalt was stolen and video surveillance confirmed Boyette and Rice took the car to a nearby Shell station and ate at a Hardee's restaurant a short time after the attack. Authorities believed Boyette and Rice were hiding in nearby wooden areas, which they said are well-known to the suspect. Boyette had a history of drug trafficking and is known to be a heavy user of the drug Spice. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities in North Dakota said Monday that cleanup crews at the site of the Dakota Access oil pipeline protest were scouring the mountains of trash to find anyone that mightve died during the demonstrations. Morton County Sheriffs Office Capt. Jay Gruebele told KFYR-TV that authorities were searching for anything illegal, anything that might be used to, I guess, harm our officers during a protest. As bad as it sounds, we're looking for people that may have died and could be wrapped up in a canvas or a tarp or tent," Gruebele added. Sanitation workers were seen cleaning up the mountains of debris that piled up over the six month period. They are hoping to get the mess cleared by spring. According to the station, at least 250 trucks will be needed to clear the space. All the garbage that was left behind was frozen into chunks. "Standing Rock Environmental Protection Agency and Dakota Sanitation are working together to try and advert an environmental tragedy, Morton County Emergency Manager Tom Doering said. At least 23 loads of garbage had been dumped at the Bismarck Landfill in the last week. Click for more from KFYR-TV. New Jersey church officials are looking to curtail a priest's online political statements. The Rev. Peter West of St. John's Catholic Church in Orange has called Hillary Clinton an "evil witch" and former President Barack Obama a "bum" on Facebook and Twitter. He also has called moderate Islam "a myth" and expressed support for President Donald Trump's travel ban. Newark archdiocese spokesman Jim Goodness told NJ.com (http://bit.ly/2kHJ8hy ) in a statement that a priest doesn't give up his freedom of expression when he's ordained. But Goodness says West's actions raise concerns. He says they will be addressed according to church protocols. West declined to comment. He referred questions to the spokesman. The priest is an anti-abortion activist who previously served as vice president for missions at the group Human Life International. ___ Information from: NJ.com, http://www.nj.com Several performers rehearsing for the final act of a circus show in Florida suddenly lost their balance on the tightrope and fell some 25 feet on Wednesday, officials confirmed, calling the plunge "a tragedy." NEW ARRESTS IN DEADLY 1993 LOS ANGELES APARTMENT ARSON Five performers were rushed to nearby hospitals in the Sarasota area. Four suffered "substantial injuries" and at least two were critical, according to rescuers. They said the world-famous tightrope walker Nik Wallenda of the Flying Wallendas was on the wire at the time but was not hurt. The group was practicing a pyramid trick inside the tent at the University Town Center in Sarasota, Circus Arts Conservatory co-founder Pedro Reis said. The Bradenton Herald initially reported the high wire collapsed, citing Manatee County Public Safety, but Reis said that was not the case. MARIJUANA GROWING OPERATION FOUND ON LEGOLAND PROPERTY "We had a terrible accident," he told reporters. He predicted it could take months for the the injured performers to recover. They suffered orthopedic and pelvic injuries, according to hospital workers. Worried familiy members rushed to the circus tent. One woman exclaimed, "That's my mom who fell off," Fox 13 reported. Reis defended his circus performers, saying they "push the limit" like NASCAR or Formula One racers. Pedro w Circus Conservatory says @NikWallenda will want to go back up on wire again @FOX13News #sarasota pic.twitter.com/98mGsFbuSm Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) February 8, 2017 The show, entitled "Synergy," was scheduled to have its first performance this Friday. Reis said the circus had a Plan B in place, adding, "The show must go on." The show advertised itself as featuring "an impressive array of international circus stars." It was scheduled to run through March 5. Nik Wallenda made headlines in recent years with daring tightrope walks at landmarks including Niagara Falls and two Chicago skyscrapers. Click for more from Fox 13. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 A third nonprofit group will reject nearly $400,000 in federal grant money intended to fight violent extremism under President Donald Trump's administration amid concerns over his rhetoric, The Associated Press has learned. The decision is the latest to imperil U.S. government efforts to frustrate attempts by extremist groups to recruit would-be terrorists and discourage acts of violence. In a private message to donors reviewed by the AP, Unity Productions Foundation of Potomac Falls, Virginia, said it would decline its grant of $396,585 to produce educational films challenging narratives supporting extremist ideologies and violent extremism "due to the changes brought by the new administration." The Obama administration in its final days had awarded about $10 million in such grants to fight violent extremism to 31 nonprofits, schools, community organizations and municipalities through the Homeland Security Department. The foundation said it had planned to use the money to produce videos of Muslim scholars voicing opposition to terrorism and show Muslims engaged in social justice causes benefiting American society. The director of outreach for Unity Productions Foundation, Daniel Tutt, said the group was not prepared to publicly announce its decision but did not dispute the authenticity of the message to donors. "We are monitoring the situation as it evolves, and we're just paying close attention to what changes may take place, and based on circumstances on the ground and with the program, and the possible name change that's going on, there's lots of rumors," Tutt said. Two other nonprofits previously said they were rejecting grants they had already been awarded under the program because of concerns that it could damage their credibility or come with uncomfortable strings attached. Many worry the Trump administration plans to change the program to focus on "radical Islamic terrorists" instead of all violent extremism. Two more groups said they would strongly consider rejecting their grants if the Trump administration targets Muslim extremists and not other groups. Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities in Dearborn, Michigan, said last week it was turning down $500,000 for youth development and public health programs because of the "current political climate." Ka Joog, a leading Somali nonprofit in Minneapolis rejected nearly $500,000 for its youth programs. The nonprofit Washington-based Muslim Public Affairs Council was awarded $393,800 and has been working on a new intervention program that brings teams providing social services, mental health counseling and religious educators to communities across the country. Its leadership said the council would carefully review any change to the program, especially if it were to require them to fight their own religion. The board for the Islamic graduate school Bayan Claremont in California plans to review the language of its $800,000 award before accepting any money to be sure it does not place additional restrictions or impositions on them. Trump has endorsed what he describes as extreme vetting and ordered a temporary ban on visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Charities that already have worked with U.S. government agencies, including the CIA, Justice Department and Homeland Security Department, said they were reacting to discussions within the Trump administration to exclusively target "radical Islamic terrorists" under a U.S. program to counter violent extremism. The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A U.S. official with knowledge of the discussions said the Trump administration has been discussing changing the Obama administration program's name, established as a presidential strategy in 2011, to some iteration of "countering Islamic extremism." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak publicly by name. Most of the 31 federal grants were promised to municipalities, but some were directed to nonprofit groups such as Life After Hate Inc. in Chicago, which received $400,000 for its work with former white supremacists a large portion of which will ago to a partner group to work with individuals inspired by al-Qaida or the Islamic State group. The U.S. official said it was unclear whether groups such as Life After Hate would continue to receive funding or be included in any future program. The grants have not yet been distributed and paperwork is still being drawn up. __ Follow Tami Abdollah on Twitter at https://twitter.com/latams. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 President Donald Trump's surprise executive order on immigration and a Seattle judge's stunning decision to temporarily block it a week later have induced a national whiplash, riveting attention first on protests that filled airports around the country and then on Trump's Twitter rants questioning the judge's legitimacy. Whether the travel ban gets immediately reinstated is now up to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where three judges heard arguments Tuesday . If they keep U.S. District Judge James Robart's order in place, the case could return to Robart, who would have more time to make a ruling on the merits of the case, based on fuller arguments and evidence. If they let the President go forward with his executive order, it could compound the whiplash: The travel ban would take effect once again pending a legal challenge by Washington state and Minnesota, even though the courts might wind up striking it down later. A decision has been promised within days. ___ WHAT WAS THE UPSHOT OF TUESDAY'S HEARING? Trying to divine how a court might rule from the questioning can be a fool's errand, but some legal scholars who were willing to try anyway said Washington state appeared to make enough of a case to keep Trump's travel ban on ice, at least for now. Tuesday's arguments between Justice Department attorney August Flentje and Washington state Solicitor General Noah Purcell were conducted by phone, due to the emergent nature of the hastily arranged hearing. The record audience that tuned in for the live-stream on the court's website heard each lawyer getting grilled. The judges repeatedly asked Flentje whether the government had any evidence that the travel ban was necessary, or that keeping it on hold would harm national security. They expressed skepticism over his argument that the states don't have standing to sue, and over his assertion that the courts have little to no role in reviewing the president's determinations concerning national security. Purcell faced tough questioning from Judge Richard Clifton, who said he wasn't necessarily buying the states' argument that the ban was motivated by religious discrimination, given that the vast majority of Muslims live in countries that aren't targeted by the ban. "I certainly thought the government's case came across as weaker," Stephen Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, wrote in an email, citing "the government's seeming inability to provide concrete evidence of why immigration from those countries threatens national security." ___ DISCRIMINATION OR NOT? After being repeatedly asked, Flentje acknowledged that individuals could have standing to sue if the president tried to enforce an all-out ban on Muslims entering the U.S. But, he said, that's not all what's happening here. Basing the order on travel from certain countries that have been linked to terrorism whatever their religion is a perfectly legitimate exercise of the president's authority over national security, he argued. Purcell argued that it's remarkable to have this much evidence of discriminatory intent this early in the case including Trump's campaign statements about a Muslim ban and adviser Rudy Giuliani's interview comments that he was asked to help devise a legal version of the Muslim ban. "There are statements that we've quoted in our complaint that are rather shocking evidence of intent to discriminate against Muslims, given that we haven't even had any discovery yet to find out what else might have been said in private," Purcell said. Even if Trump's executive order itself doesn't single out Muslims, the order is unconstitutionally discriminatory if it was adopted with such intent, Purcell said. Judge Michelle Friedland asked Flentje persistent questions about such evidence. "It is extraordinary for the court to enjoin the president's national security determination based on some newspaper articles, and that's what has happened here," Flentje responded. That drew an incredulous response from Clifton: "Do you deny those statements were made?" Flentje conceded they were, and Clifton said in that case it was appropriate to consider them. ___ WHAT ARE THE COURT'S OPTIONS? In addition to simply leaving Robart's temporary restraining order in place or striking it down, the DOJ said the appeals court could narrow its scope, which it called over-broad. Flentje suggested it could be limited to allow the president to ban travelers who don't already have relationships with the United States, while allowing legal permanent residents, for example, to return to the U.S. from the seven countries. In questioning Purcell, Clifton followed up on that. "Why shouldn't we limit the order, the temporary restraining order's reach to those people who you've got a strong case for, like the LPRs?" he asked. Purcell said that wouldn't work. The government hasn't shown that it could engineer a way to apply the ban so selectively, and even if it could, the rights of U.S. citizens who want to have family members come visit them from the listed countries would still be harmed, he said. Judge William Canby noted that Washington's state universities might want to invite some foreign scholars to visit and that those scholars might have no current connection to the U.S. In that case, the rights of the schools might be compromised. Further, the travel ban would still violate the separation of church and state, because it's grounded in religious discrimination, and that's something that affects all residents of the states, Purcell said. However the judges rule, the case is likely to wind up at the Supreme Court. Its route there is the main question. ___ Associated Press writer Brian Melley contributed from Los Angeles. The share of bad and non-performing loans (NPL) today is around 50% of the total loan portfolio of Ukrainian banks, Director of the financial stability department of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Vitaliy Vavryschuk said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday. "We have revealed during stress tests that the share of these loans is around 50%," he said. Vavryschuk said that this figure was considerably smaller in the official statistics earlier published by the NBU. He said that the NBU in Q1 2017 will switch to the new format of presenting data about NPL. The central bank will take into account overdue period criteria (90 days and more), change the NPL notion harmonizing it with best practice. By the end of the quarter the NBU would first publish data about NPL in the new format. "The loans that were not serviced for 90 days and more or loans payments on which are not overdue but unlikely to be returned will be placed to the category of NPL," he said. He said that the share of loans with overdue payments of over 90 days and more was 27% of the corporate loan portfolio as of late 2016, and it could grow to 46% in H1 2017. Loans of PrivatBank that are not serviced will be added to this category. The share of loans with overdue payments of over 90 days and in individual loan portfolios is around 56%. Vavryschuk said that the NBU expects that the share of NPL would gradually be reduced in 2017 as the economy recovers. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 An American-born Muslim convert convicted of supporting the Islamic State terror group and helping to plot a 2015 attack on a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years behind bars. NYPD FURTHER CURBS STOP-AND-FRISK -- EVEN AFTER STRATEGY LEADS TO MURDER SUSPECT Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem told the judge in Phoenix he had nothing to do with the attack. However, authorities said Kareem provided the cash that his two friends Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi used to open fire outside the anti-Islam event in Garland. Simpson and Soofi were killed in a police shootout outside the contest and a security guard was wounded. No one else was hurt. Prosecutors sought a 50-year sentence for Kareem, who became the second person in the U.S. to be convicted of charges of supporting ISIS. He was convicted of conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, interstate transportation of firearms and other charges. FAIR-WEATHER FIGHTERS: ISIS JIHADISTS CLAIM HEADACHES, BAD BACKS TO GET OUT OF BATTLE, DOCUMENTS SHOW During the investigation, police found that Kareem has hosted two ISIS followers in his home to discuss the attack. Its still unknown whether the Texas attack was inspired by ISIS or carried out in response to an order from the group. Prosecutors have said Kareem watched videos depicting violence by jihadists with the two friends, encouraged them to launch violent attack to support the terrorist group and researched travel to the Middle East to join Islamic State fighters. Authorities also said Kareem inquired about explosives to blow up the Arizona stadium where the 2015 Super Bowl was held, but later set his sights on the cartoon contest after the stadium plan fell through. The verdicts against Kareem nearly a year ago marked the second conviction of someone within the United States on charges of supporting the Islamic State. He was convicted of conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, interstate transportation of firearms and other charges. Kareem denies involvement in the plan to attack the contest, testifying that he didn't know his friends were going to attack the contest and didn't find out about the shooting until after Simpson and Soofi were killed. Kareem told jurors that he strongly disapproved of Simpson using Kareem's laptop to watch al-Qaida promotional materials. Prosecutors said Kareem tried to carry out an insurance scam to fund the Islamic State group and tried to indoctrinate two teenage boys in his neighborhood in radical jihadism. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local): 7:55 a.m. President Donald Trump is expected to have lunch Thursday with a group of moderate Senate Democrats who could play a key role in his legislative agenda. The lunch is expected to include Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Jon Tester of Montana. Trump faces a narrow Republican majority in the Senate and hopes to secure some support among Democrats for his agenda and the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. All four Senate Democrats face re-election in 2018. The lunch was first reported by USA Today and confirmed by the Senate offices. The White House did not immediately provide details on the lunch, which is also expected to include Republican lawmakers. __ 7: 24 a.m. President Donald Trump is tweeting that if he loses the pending court case over his travel ban, the country "can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled." The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing the appeal of Trump's executive order on immigration, including a temporary travel ban on those from seven Muslim-majority countries. The appeals court challenged the administration's claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears, but it also questioned an attorney's argument that it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. The president tweeted early Wednesday, "If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics!" Parts of Louisiana are recovering after seven tornadoes touched down on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction across the region. Nearly 40 people were injured but no deaths were reported due to the storm system. Thousands were left without power as crews began working to return the state to a sense of normalcy. Shelters were set up for people in the hardest hit areas in the state. Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency and advised citizens to remain vigilant as recovery efforts begin. [It] is very dangerous. Edwards said. With power lines down, telephone poles and light poles in the road. There is sharp metal all over the place, and we need to keep the roads free." SLIDESHOW: Tornadoes slam New Orleans area Nearly 80 people spent the night in a shelter set up near the eastern part of New Orleans, according to Erin Burns, press secretary for Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Many people showed up at the site on Wednesday morning for a hot meal and to reunite with family and friends. Angela Lasalle stayed with her daughter on Tuesday night after she lost power in her home. Lasalle said shes still shaken up by the storm but has been extremely thankful for the outpouring of support shes seen from the community. [My] lights are out, my meat and everything spoiled in my refrigerator so Im upset about that but I know help is here, Lasalle said. Im feeling good. I love my people I love my city and Im still overwhelmed. Parts of New Orleans that were struck on Tuesday were also hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Mike Steele, the communications director for the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) said survey teams have started assessing the damage Once all that information is gathered by the teams well be able to determine what level if any federal assistance may or may not be available to help with these events, Steele said. A man serving two life sentences for causing a massive Indianapolis house explosion has had 50 years added to his prison time for trying to have a witness killed. A Marion County judge ordered the additional sentence Wednesday against 47-year-old Mark Leonard. A jury convicted Leonard last week of conspiracy to commit murder for attempting to hire a hit man to kill a key witness in the house explosion case. Leonard was convicted in 2015 of blowing up his then-girlfriend's house with a natural gas explosion to claim insurance money. The November 2012 blast killed a couple who lived next door and damaged or destroyed more than 80 houses. Leonard received two life sentences without parole, plus 75 years. Four other people have also been convicted in the house explosion. The fate of an Army veteran who is facing deportation after completing a seven-year prison sentence for a drug conviction is in the hands of an immigration judge in Chicago. Army Private 1st class Miguel Perez, Jr., who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was born in Mexico and grew up in Chicago. As his deportation hearing stretched into its third hour Monday, U.S. Immigration Judge Robin Rosche said she will not rule that day but rather issue a written decision that is likely to take a few weeks. ARMY VETERAN STEPS IN TO HELP MAN SHOT AT TEXAS WALMART Perez, 38, was a legal permanent resident when he joined the Army in 2001. He said he mistakenly thought he became a legal U.S. citizen when he enlisted. According to his family, Perez suffered PTSD when he got back from Afghanistan and then turned to alcohol and drugs. About four years after leaving the military, Perez was caught delivering cocaine to an undercover officer. His lawyer said he is cautiously optimistic because a negative decision usually comes out right away. [The judge] is deciding whether weve shown that my client is more likely than not to be tortured or killed, or at least severely harmed, if hes returned to Mexico, Perezs attorney, Chris J. Bergin, said after the hearing. TEENS STEP FORWARD TO SERVE AS PALLBEARERS FOR VETERAN WITH NO FAMILY He said members of the military who are deported to Mexico often are targeted as people who can help criminal gangs or cartels through their military experience. They are targeted in the sense that, 'You either work for us or we kill you,'" he said. The lawyer explained that if Perez is allowed to stay in America hed likely be set free but not be granted a path to citizenship. According to Department of Defense data cited by The Chicago Tribune, roughly 18,700 legal permanent residents are currently serving in the armed forces. About 5,000 non-citizen men and women join every year. The New York Police Department agreed Thursday to further cut back stop-and-frisk tactics even as city investigators were using data gleaned from the practice to arrest the man now accused in a vicious sexual assault and murder. The discovery of 30-year-old Karina Vetranos body in a Queens park in August made national headlines as authorities had very little information identifying her killer. But The New York Daily News reported it was a review of stop-and-frisk reports from the area near the crime scene that helped cops zero in on 20-year-old Chanel Lewis who was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree murder. To the extent that its not used as a national tactic, we all lose, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told Fox News. Its helpful in this case and thats obviously a good thing, and quite frankly that should be standard practice. You look through all records. TRUMP SUPPORTS STOP-AND-FRISK But the stop-and-frisk policy has come under attack nationally during the past several years, with New York City leading the charge to snuff it out. Thursdays agreement which curtailed stop-and-frisk in private apartment buildings helped end a series of lawsuits against the NYPD, which has been the poster child for stop-and-frisk since a federal judge in 2013 ruled that one aspect of the policy was unconstitutional. The debate resurfaced during the fall presidential campaign, with then-GOP nominee Donald Trump citing stop-and-frisk favorably during a televised debate and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton telling a church group that evidence used to justify the program doesnt hold up under scrutiny. Then, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in a November speech said he would ignore a hypothetical order to be more aggressive in carrying out the tactic. If the Justice Department orders local police to resume stop-and-frisk, we will not comply, de Blasio said. But without old stop-and-frisk reports placing Lewis in the vicinity of Vetranos death, police might not have been able to amass enough evidence to eventually take him into custody. He reportedly confessed to the crime. GIULIANI: TRUMP IS RIGHT ABOUT STOP-AND-FRISK To the extent that theres been public attention on this, it has been the wrong kind of attention, said Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute who has written extensively on the criminal justice system. Stops have to be conducted lawfully. There needs to be a threshold of needed suspicion. But if that stop is lawful, the police should be able to use that information in the future to solve crimes. Kelly, now the vice chairman at K2 Intelligence, a Manhattan cyber-intelligence firm, said some departments dont have access to that information, charging that records arent being maintained and an unfavorable policing environment is leading officers to become skittish. If you look at it on a nationwide basis, crimes of violence, shootings and murders rising, I attribute that, certainly in pretty good measure, to the fact that police are not performing proactive duties that they were performing just a few years ago, Kelly said. Mac Donald said it will hurt an officers ability to thoroughly investigate crimes. Youre losing valuable information, she said, that the cops should have access to. A woman died while sliding on a homemade zip line over a river last weekend -- after the contraption uprooted a tree, investigators in Oregon said. WOMAN DIES AFTER GETTING ARM STUCK IN CLOTHING DONATION BIN Tami McVay and her boyfriend Joshua Jackson were riding the zip line in a rural part of Tillamook County when the tree holding up the zip line fell on the pair, The Oregonian reported. McVay, 34, suffered severe head trauma and died at the scene, the Tillamook County Sheriffs Office told reporters. Deputies said first responders used ATVs and hiked two miles before reaching the couple. COPS SUSPECT NYC JOGGER'S KILLING MAY HAVE BEEN RACIALLY MOTIVATED The extent of Jackson's injuries was unclear. The seat of the zip line was a piece of wood and was connected by another piece of rope, Sheriff Andy Long said in an email to the newspaper. McVay, a mother of three, was described as an outdoor lover in her obituary. She also had a culinary arts degree. Jackson, 38, was arrested after police found he had a warrant in connection to a 2012 conviction for fourth-degree assault and recklessly endangering another person in Clatsop County, The Oregonian reported. The sheriffs office said the case was under investigation. Click for more from The Oregonian. The Pentagon says two U.S. airstrikes in Syria killed 11 al-Qaida operatives, including one with ties to Osama bin Laden and other senior al-Qaida leaders. A spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, said a single airstrike on Feb. 3 killed 10 operatives in a building used as an al-Qaida meeting site. A second strike the next day killed Abu Hani al-Masri, identified by the Pentagon as an al-Qaida operative who oversaw the creation and operation of al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1990s. Davis said al-Masri had ties to bin Laden and to Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became the top leader of al-Qaida when bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in 2011. Both U.S. airstrikes were near Idlib in northwestern Syria. The night before a Texas college student vanished, she and her boyfriend had plans for a romantic dinner at his apartment -- before they got into a violent fight, according to police documents released Tuesday. BONNIE AND CLYDE CASE: MAN SUSPECTED IN 3 GULF COAST KILLINGS FOUND DEAD, WOMAN ARRESTED Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old Sul Ross State University student from the Fort Worth suburb of Keller, disappeared Oct. 12 of last year. On Monday, investigators confirmed her body turned up in a shallow grave near Alpine. "Why was she killed? And exactly how? Those are the big questions now," Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said. GUILTY PLEA FROM MOM ACCUSED OF POISONING HUSBAND WITH ANTIFREEZE The police documents may fill in some gaps in the case. They also found that her boyfriend, 26-year-old Robert Fabian, bought three plastic painters' drop cloths -- the same type of sheets that turned up with her body. Fabian was jailed on a charge of tampering with evidence by concealing a human corpse but other charges were expected, Dodson said. Bond was set at $500,000. His attorney did not return messages Monday from The Associated Press. Verk and Fabian got together on Oct. 11 for dinner -- but once he mentioned an ex-girlfriend, the pair got into a shouting match, Fox 4 reported. Neighbors confirmed hearing arguing and loud noises. Fabian initially told police that he saw Verk leave in her car early in the morning of Oct. 12 -- but later said he left his apartment first and she left later, according to the news station. Chris Estrada, 28, said he lent his credit card to Fabian -- a friend -- which the suspect used to buy the drop cloths, according to the police records. Estrada was jailed Monday in Phoenix on a corpse concealment warrant from Texas, awaiting return. It was unclear whether Estrada had an attorney. When a friend noticed Estrada was acting odd after Verk vanished, he replied, "I don't want to get you involved. Don't ask questions," Fox 4 added. Verk's father, Glenn, told Fox News in October that her boyfriend failed to cooperate with investigators. "When someone you care about is missing, dont you help?" Verk was reported missing when she failed to show up for work and a school exam. Her remains turned up last Friday. "It's a disgrace. And to think that in such a shallow grave, that the animals wouldn't have eventually dug the body out -- they weren't thinking. I guess they aren't as smart as they think they are," Dodson said of whoever buried the body. Members of Fabian's family remained under investigation, Dodson added. In a statement, Sul Ross State University officials said a memorial service was scheduled for Thursday evening at the Alpine campus. "As our family awaits the likely news that our worst fears have been realized, our sorrow has grown alongside a sense of relief from the constant state of not knowing," Glenn Verk said in a statement issued Monday. Alpine is about 200 miles southeast of El Paso. Click for more from Fox 4. Fox News' Cristina Corbin and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Iran's Ministry of Transport has invited Ukraine to join the international treaty the Persian Gulf - the Black Sea. The delegation of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, headed by Viktor Dovhan, Deputy Minister for European integration, together with the PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia visited Iran on February 5-7, 2017. There were held negotiations with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development of Iran on cooperation in the field of transport and developing of cargo transportation, the Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine said. Dovhan said that this initiative is important for the development of the transport corridor India - Iran - the Black Sea and supported the involvement of additional traffic on the Trans-Caspian route. Priority projects in the cooperation with Ukraine are railway construction in areas Kermanshah Malar, Rasht - Astara and Tabriz Mane. Authorities say a Tennessee police officer has fatally shot a suspected drunken driver who brandished a weapon after a pursuit. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that the shooting Tuesday night occurred as the Mount Pleasant officer made a traffic stop. Police say the suspect, 35-year-old Bradley Ross Nelson, led the officer on a brief pursuit before stopping and exiting his vehicle with a weapon. Police say the situation escalated, resulting in the officer firing at Nelson. The officer wasn't injured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation did not release Nelson's race or any information about the Mount Pleasant officer. The Mount Pleasant Police Department referred inquiries to the state agency. It is the fifth shooting involving law enforcement officers that the agency has begun investigating since Jan. 30. A man in Ohio claimed he raced to get out of his house as it burned to the ground and had no motive whatsoever to start the fire for insurance money -- but prosecutors on Tuesday claimed his pacemaker said otherwise. Ross Compton, 59, pleaded not guilty in Butler County Common Pleas Court to aggravated arson and insurance fraud charges. NYPD FURTHER CURBS STOP-AND-FRISK -- EVEN AFTER STRATEGY LEADS TO MURDER SUSPECT Compton told investigators that when he saw the Sept. 19 fire inside his Middletown home, he packed some belongings in a suitcase and bags, broke a window with his cane and threw items through the window before carrying them to his car. He also told police he had a cardiac pacemaker. Police retrieved data from his pacemaker through a search warrant. The data included Comptons heart rate, pace demand and cardiac rhythms before, during and after the fire, police said. GUILTY PLEA FROM MOM ACCUSED OF POISONING HUSBAND WITH ANTIFREEZE A pacemaker monitors the heart and helps control irregular heart rhythms. The information is recorded and can be retrieved for analysis. A cardiologist determined that it was "highly improbable," due to his medical conditions, that Compton could do all the collecting, packing and removal of items from his house and then carry them in the short period of time he indicated, according to court records. In addition, gasoline was found on Comptons clothing and the fire started in multiple places, investigators said. Still, Lt. Jimmy Cunningham told WLWT-TV the medical data represented some of the key pieces of evidence in the case. Police have said statements they received from Compton were "inconsistent" with the evidence they gathered. They also have said that he gave statements conflicting with what he had told a dispatcher, the Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reported. Fire officials have said the blaze at Compton's home caused about $400,000 damage. His next hearing is set for Feb. 21 in Butler County Common Pleas Court. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When Jacob Rieger grows up, he wants to be a superhero. But he's not talking about comic books. DASHCAM SHOWS K-9 TAKING DOWN KNIFE-WIELDING SUSPECT To this 10-year-old, there's no difference between Batman, Superman, and the everyday heroes who protect Las Vegas. "They keep people safe -- like if they do something bad they still help them, and they go out every day and protect us." In July, Jacob said he saw something on the news: five police officers killed in Dallas, nine others injured. GROWING NUMBER OF WOMEN LEADING POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS USA "When I heard police were dying and stuff, that made start wanting to give them little notes," he said. And that's just what he did. "If they're having a bad day that might make them feel better." The card comes with a handwritten note and a sticker of a superhero, for Jacob's superheroes. One note reads, "Thank you and stay safe. From Jake." Jacob has passed out about 50 of these notes. "Right after we run out we make more." Jacob also sends thank-you letters to law enforcement agencies around the country. Jacob says they usually respond with a letter, and a badge. "I got a big American flag to go around, in the middle of it all, because police- they help America," he said. Jacob's mom, Rebecca Maguire, helps him send his letters. "When it was mentioned maybe Jacob can make a difference and get other kids involved and maybe do nicer things for the police, then we said okay." Jacob says sometimes he hears people talking badly about police, but he hopes his story makes people think twice. You can probably guess what Jacob wants to be when he grows up: a police officer. Click for more from Fox 5. Turkish officials say U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday to discuss security issues, including Turkey's fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup. According to officials from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office who cannot be named because of government regulations, the visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Erdogan late on Tuesday, The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fighters which Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen extradited from the United States. It is also demanding that Washington stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. University of California, Berkeley police defended its decision to take a hands-off approach in its effort to handle the riot that took place on campus last week ahead of Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos speech to Republicans at the school. VIDEO: MILO SPEAKS OUT AFTER BERKELEY SPEECH IS SHUT DOWN A group of about 150 rioters overtook peaceful protesters and used metal rods, Molotov cocktails and commercial-grade fireworks to destroy parts of downtown Berkeley while police largely stood to the side. Raging fires were also set on campus. The damaged total about $100,000 and only one person was arrested. Berkeley police Sgt. Sabrina Reich said officers feared increased violence and more serious injuries if the violence escalated accompanied by a heavier-handed police response. Investigators are reviewing extensive video taken during the protest and more arrests are possible, she said. PROTESTS, PEPPER SPRAY, ARRESTS AT NYU AS CONSERVATIVE SPEAKER STOPS BY Several officers did fire paint-ball like guns to mark rioters for detention and their possible arrest, she said. But if officers had made more arrests at the scene, up to three officers would have had to give up crowd control duty to escort each suspected rioter to jail, Reich said. "It was a crowd-control situation," Reich said. "We steered clear of individual action." Berkeley campus police had never encountered so-called Black Bloc tactics before the protest, Reich said, "something we'll have to prepare for and address going forward." The tactics were employed by mask-wearing rioters dressed head-to-toe in dark clothing and using crude weapons to vandalize property. More mayhem and serious injuries could have happened if police had mounted an aggressive crackdown, said Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof, who called the protest unprecedented for the campus. We have never seen this on the Berkeley campus, Mogulof told the Los Angeles Times of the Black Bloc tactics. This was an unprecedented invasion. John Bakhit, a lawyer for the union representing about 400 of the systems police officers said the schools 'hands-off' approach was to the citizens' detriment and the officers' detriment in this situation. Officers should have been given more discretion to prevent the vandalism and violence and make arrests at the Berkeley protest, Bakhit said. "The frustrating thing for the police officers is that they weren't allowed to do their jobs," he added. Campus security and free speech rights experts said it is difficult for officers to keep the peace at protests while ensuring free speech is guaranteed. "It can be tough," said Robert Shibley, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. "Campus police need to be as restrained as possible while still getting the job done." The University of California system adopted its current crowd control polices after officers at Berkeley and the University of California, Davis, came under blistering national criticism in 2011 for their tactics. That November, baton-wielding Berkeley police beat students erecting tents on campus and arrested more than 20 during the Occupy demonstrations against corruption, greed and the divide between rich and poor. Davis campus police were seen on video using pepper spray on students nonviolently participating in the Occupy rallies. The Associated Press contributed to this report. U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that Yemen was not forcing a change to its anti-terror strategy, after reports emerged that the Mideast country withdrew permission for U.S. ground operations there. IRAN PULLS MISSILE FROM LAUNCHPAD AFTER APPARENT PREP FOR LAUNCH, OFFICIALS SAY "We have not been directed to stop any operations against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula," Major Josh T. Jacques, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, told Fox News. The announcement came more than two weeks after the U.S. conducted a raid targeting Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. A Navy SEAL was among the dead. The New York Times, citing unnamed American officials, reported Tuesday it was unclear whether the Yemenis were influenced at all by President Trumps travel ban order that included Yemen on the list of banned countries. Yemen also pushed back. Foreign Minister Abdul-Malik al-Mekhlafi said his country called for a "reassessment" of the raid, but not a stop to ground operations. He added, "Yemen continues to cooperate with the United States and continues to abide by all the agreements." U.S. Central Command said earlier this month that civilians may have been hit by gunfire from aircraft called in to assist U.S. troops, who were engaged in the ferocious firefight on Jan. 29. GUNMEN IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN KILL 6 RED CROSS STAFF The military said the civilians may not have been visible to the U.S. forces because they were mixed in with militants in the compound who were firing at U.S. troops "from all sides to include houses and other buildings." The State Dept. weighed in on the latest reports. "The United States conducts operations consistent with international law and in coordination with the government of Yemen. We will not relent in our mission to degrade, disrupt and destroy," Al Qaeda and the Islamic State terror group, the department's acting spokesman Mark Toner said. The Times reported that photographs of children apparently killed in the crossfire caused outrage in Yemen. The Pentagon disputed published reports that the operation was compromised and that U.S. troops lost the element of surprise in the assault on the compound. "We have no information to suggest that this was compromised," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, saying the accounts do not "match with reality." He said the U.S. special operations forces conducted the raid to get valuable information and intelligence, including about potential operations by Al Qaeda against the United States and the West. The plan, he said, was to "go in, conduct a raid, grab things and go." When the firefight broke out, he said the team "needed to call in this support in order to ensure that they could get out and not lose their lives." Fighter aircraft and helicopters responded to provide cover from the air for the forces, which included a Navy SEAL team. Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens was killed in the assault, and three other U.S. service members were wounded. Another three U.S. forces were wounded in the "hard landing" of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft at a staging area for the mission. According to Central Command, the firefight included small arms fire, hand grenades and close air support fire. Davis said earlier this week that an unspecified number of women were part of the group of combatants battling the U.S. forces, and some were among the 14 killed in the firefight. Planning for the clandestine counterterrorism raid began before President Obama left office on Jan. 20, but Trump authorized the raid. He said Defense Secretary Jim Mattis supported the raid, and Trump approved it on Jan. 26. The U.S. has been striking the militant group 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. Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A circus performance in Texas came to a quick end when an acrobat dangerously fell to the ground, according to a video of the incident. The shocking video, apparently shot by an audience member at the Circo Hermanos Vazquez in Houston, shows two trapeze artists suspended up in the air from a rocket ship model. The red jumpsuit-clad pair a woman and a man is seen hanging next to each other before the woman grabs both of his hands and dangles in the air. It was in the next move that it went wrong. With the audiences attention on the stunt, the woman lets go as the man appears to grip something that is attached to her head. However, the mechanism appears to slip off her head and she tumbles to the ground, the New York Daily News reported. Audience members can be heard screaming out in terror. Music stops immediately and the lights go on. The rest of the 8-minute video shows performers and circus staff surrounding the woman, who appeared to be moving on her own despite the fall. The announcer tells the audience that she would be receiving medical attention. In a statement released May 26th, circus management said that, "The accident was the failure of the performers to properly latch a safety cord during the routine," according to KTRK-TV. It was a human error, Lorena Vignaud, the circus' general manager told the TV station. These things happen at the circus. Its a live performance and that is what a lot of people dont understand. She added that all circus acts are risky and this particular act was one of the ones that was the highest risk of them all. The female performer, whose name has not been revealed, was expected to make a full recovery from her injuries. When asked about the 2007 incident in California in which a male performer plunged to his death, Vignaud said, "These incidents don't happen often. More than ten years have passed without any issues with our safety record. The safety of our audience and our performers is our highest priority." Circo Hermanos Vazquez started in Mexico in 1969 and is currently touring in Houston and Salt Lake City, Utah. The show continued on its regular daily schedule over the weekend Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter & Instagram next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 The health of an Egyptian man suspected of charging soldiers at the Louvre museum with a machete has taken a turn for the worse, French authorities said Tuesday. The suspect has been hospitalized in Paris since he was shot four times by soldiers Friday after slightly injuring one in an underground mall that is part of the Paris museum complex. He allegedly shouted "Allahu akbar!" while rushing toward the soldiers. Identified as Abdullah al-Hamahmy, he was put under supervised custody at the European Hospital Georges-Pompidou on Saturday after his condition improved. But the Paris prosecutor's office said Tuesday night that the custody was "lifted" after his condition "sharply deteriorated during the day." His current condition was "incompatible" with keeping him in custody, it said. After remaining silent during his first two questionings, the suspect had started to answer investigators' questions Monday. He confirmed his name as Abdullah al-Hamahmy and identified himself as a 29 year-old Egyptian citizen, the prosecutor's office said. During Monday's questioning, the suspect gave "his first version of the facts," the office added, but gave no details. Soon after the attack, Egyptian officials identified the suspect with his full name, Abdullah Reda Refaie al-Hamahmy, but said he was 28. With its custody ended Tuesday night, the prosecutor's office said the case is no longer under its supervision and has shifted to the authority of counter-terrorism investigating magistrates. The office said it would ask the investigating judges to file preliminary terrorist charges against al-Hamahmy once his condition has improved enough. It said it was seeking charges of "attempted terrorist murders" and "terrorist criminal conspiracy." The Louvre was closed after the attack Friday morning, but was reopened over the weekend. The suspect's father, Reda Refaie al-Hamahmy, said his son has lived in Dubai the past five years and was employed by a law firm. Egyptian officials have said local security agencies were gathering information on al-Hamahmy to help establish if he was a member of any militant groups or had been radicalized. Egyptian Investigators were examining his social media accounts. The information gathered will be shared with French authorities, they have said. The U.S. and European terror forecast for 2017 'looks alarming,' in part because of increased pressure on ISIS and other terror groups on their home turf, according to a monthly assessment by House lawmakers. The House Homeland Security Committees February "Terror Threat Snapshot" report cited two homegrown terror attacks in January and officials predicted efforts to crush foreign terror groups, while laudable, could spur more attacks to American soil. "At this rate, the forecast for 2017 looks alarming," warns the report, citing an "unprecedented spike in the homegrown terror threat, primarily driven by the rise of ISIS." Officials predicted necessary efforts to crush foreign terror groups could actually spur more attacks on Western soil. Coming attacks in the U.S. and Europe could be carried out by so-called lone wolves as well as homegrown terrorists who return from fighting in such places as Iraq, Syria and Somalia. I am very encouraged that the Trump administration is preparing to put greater pressure on jihadists in their safe havens throughout the world, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said. But as they do, we can expect to see militants returning to the West to build new networks and to plot more deadly operations. The report, compiled by the committee's Republican majority staff, is based on information gleaned from media reports, publicly available government data and documents and nongovernmental assessments. Since the beginning of 2016, there have been plots or attacks by 39 homegrown jihadists in 19 states -- Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, according to the report. Two instances occurred on American soil last month: The attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport carried out in the first week of 2017 by Esteban Santiago, who was reportedly radicalized by ISIS videos, and the Jan. 31 murder of a Denver Regional Transportation District contract security officer by a suspect carrying jihadist material in his backpack. The report also cites numerous incidents in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Despite President Trumps vow to take a hardline against radical Islamic terrorism, the U.S. and West could continue to reap the bloody tide of what critics call lax counter-terrorism efforts in the past. Unfortunately, over the past eight years of the Obama administration, the ideological counter-measures were removed and, therefore, the level of radicalization peaked to the levels acknowledged in this report, Fox News contributor Walid Phares, who advised President Trump on foreign policy throughout the campaign, told Fox News. More jihadis mean more potential attacks -- this is what we are facing now. Trump has remained committed to his campaign promises of tightening homeland security, most recently with an executive order pausing immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. That order is currently suspended amid a legal challenge. According to the report, although ISIS faces continued counterterrorism pressure in their key safe havens, the groups external operations plotting appears undiminished. The report also noted counterterrorism efforts, including the elimination of key ISIS figure Abu Anas al-Iraqi, a member of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's inner circle, in a Jan. 8 raid in Syria. It also notes the Jan. 10 State Department terrorist designation of British national Alexanda Amon Kotey, a member of ISIS' four-person execution cell dubbed The Beatles. Kotey, who remains at large and is believed to be in Syria, is accused of capturing and beheading nearly two dozen hostages, including American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and American aid worker Peter Kassig. A State Department spokesperson told Fox News that naming Kotey as a Specifically Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) notified the United States and international community that Kotey is actively engaged in terrorism. The consequences of this designation includes a prohibition against U.S. persons from generally engaging in transactions or dealings with Kotey, and the freezing of all of Koteys property and interests in property in the United States, or within the United States or the possession or control of U.S. persons, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News in an email. According to the report, European nations are improving their counterterrorism reforms, but major security weaknesses continue to leave European countries more vulnerable to attack and put U.S. interests overseas at risk. Romans awoke last Saturday morning to find the walls of their city plastered with dozens of posters featuring a scowling Pope Francis hovering above text asking the pontiff Wheres your mercy? The accusations of hypocrisy aimed at the Catholic leaders call for a more compassionate church has Italian police frantically searching security camera footage for the culprits. But so far, there have been few leads and no group has claimed responsibility for the posters. But some are pointing fingers at the more conservative faction of the Catholic Church because the posters, which had a message about the decapitation of the Knights of Malta, appeared on the same day that Francis appointed his own special delegate to that patrician order a move his critics have called a hostile takeover. Ah Francis, youve taken over congregations, removed priests, decapitated the Order of Malta and the Franciscans of the Immaculate, ignored Cardinals but wheres your mercy? the poster said. Pope Franciss progressive agenda on issues like migration, climate change and poverty has earned him global popularity particularly among more liberal Catholics that eluded his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. But hes drawn scorn and sharp criticism among conservative members of the church because hes marginalized or demoted many Vatican traditionalists and his exhortation on family and divorce, Amoris Laetitia, lacked clarity. This is a symptom of not having a clear reform, Chad Pecknold, an associate professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, told Fox News. There has been not clear consensus of understanding when it comes to Amoris Laetitia. While the criticism over Francis perceived mercy-over-morals papacy has until recently been confined to blogs, interviews and conferences, the popes intervention in the Knights of Malta order appears to have driven some conservative critics over the edge. On Saturday, Francis named Angelo Becciu, a top Vatican archbishop, to be his special delegate to the order. Francis gave Becciu, the No. 2 in the Vatican secretariat of state, "all necessary powers" to help lay the groundwork for a new constitution for the order, lead the spiritual renewal of its professed knights and prepare for the election of a new grand master, expected in three months. The controversial move also sidelined conservative U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke and comes only two months after the Knights' then-grand master Fra' Matthew Festing with Burke's support sacked the grand chancellor, Albert von Boeselager, for allegedly overseeing charities in Myanmar that took part in a program offering free condoms to prostitutes, among others. Critics of Burke, however, say he dismissed Boeselager because his policies were considered too liberal. After learning that Boeselagers ouster had been done in his name, Francis effectively took over the order. He asked Festing to resign, restored Boeselager to his position, declared the Knights' sovereign decisions on the matter "null and void" and appointed Becciu to temporarily help run the order. The Knights are a unique organization: An aristocratic lay religious order that traces its history to the Crusades, the order runs a vast humanitarian organization around the world involving over 100,000 staff and volunteers. The order also enjoys sovereign status and has diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and the Holy See. Burke who is known to be friendly with President Trumps Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and is a popular figure among conservative Catholics in the U.S. has been one of the popes staunchest critics. Besides his involvement in the Knights of Malta, Burke was one of four cardinals who publicly asked Francis to clarify whether divorced and civilly remarried Catholics can receive Holy Communion. The pontiff hasn't responded directly, though he has made it clear he favors case-by-case allowances. There is a power struggle with Cardinal Burke, Pecknold said. Burke has questioned the Holy Father on his reforms and what they entail. Pecknold said that the ambiguity over whether divorced and civilly remarried Catholics can receive Communion has become the biggest theological issue that many conservative members of the Vatican have with Francis. For his part, Francis has remained vague on the reforms in large part because if he were to take an open stance on changing the Church's attitude, it could create an internal rift that would be difficult to heal. That is why the pope may be so reticent to clarify anything, Peckhold said. But at the end of the day, one has to ask if they are being faithful to Christs teaching because that is what good reform is all about. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cabinet approves agreement with Australia on cooperation in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an agreement with the government of Australia for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The corresponding decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reports. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman read this decision without discussion among other decisions adopted by the Cabinet. Belgian police have detained 11 people in a series of anti-terror raids in the Brussels area relating to an investigation into the possible return of fighters from Syria. The federal prosecutor's office said in a statement Wednesday that the detentions came during nine night raids. It insisted the actions were not linked to the Brussels or Paris attacks over the past two years. An investigating judge will decide later Wednesday whether the 11 will be arrested or released. Belgian authorities have been on high alert since suicide bombers attacked the Brussels airport and subway system March 22, killing 32 people. The European Union and United States are sending five experts to Albania to assess how the country evaluates the personal and professional backgrounds of judges and prosecutors. A statement from the EU office in Tirana on Wednesday said an International Monitoring Operation with three Europeans and two Americans will oversee the creation of panels that will vet some 800 sitting judges and prosecutors. Reforming its justice system is key to Albania's effort to become an EU member. A reform package approved last year will launch a legal overhaul meant to restructure the system to ensure that judges and prosecutors are independent from politics, and to root out bribery. Albania was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes this year to get approval for launching membership negotiations. Gunmen killed six employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, a spokesman for the aid group said. Ahmad Ramin Ayaz, the group's Kabul-based spokesman, said the attack took place in the northern Jowzjan province, without providing further details. ISRAELI GROUPS ASK COURT TO BLOCK LAW LEGALIZING SETTLEMENTS Rahmatullah Turkistani, the chief of the provincial police, confirmed the attack, saying it took place 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of the provincial capital, Shibirghan. No one immediately claimed the attack, but Turkistani said militants loyal to the Islamic State group have a presence in the area. The Taliban denied involvement. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber detonated his payload after being stopped outside a district headquarters in the eastern Paktia province, killing two civilians and wounding a policeman, said Abdullah Asrat, the spokesman for the provincial governor. No one claimed responsibility, but the Taliban frequently attack government targets. On Tuesday, a suicide bomber struck at the entrance to the Afghan Supreme Court in the capital, Kabul, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 40. Iran launched another missile Wednesday from the same launch pad east of Tehran where it conducted a previous ballistic missile test last month, an official told Fox News. The Semnan launch pad was the same as the one where Fox News reported exclusively on Tuesday, satellite photos showed Iran had placed a Safir rocket poised to put a satellite into space before it was taken off the launcher. The reason Iran scrubbed the previous launch is not yet known. The missile used in Wednesday's launch was a short-range Mersad surface-to-air missile, which impacted 35 miles away, according to a U.S. official. This latest test comes less than a week after the U.S. placed new sanctions on Iran. There's been a flurry of activity at the Semnan launch pad, located about 140 miles east of Tehran, in recent weeks, officials have told Fox News. On Jan. 29, Iran launched a new type of medium-range ballistic missile prompting an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Jan. 31. A day later the White House issued a strongly worded statement from National Security Adviser Mike Flynn putting Iran "on notice." President Trump tweeted a similar statement soon after. On Sunday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called Irans recent ballistic missile launch very dangerous and said the launch should not have happened, and agreed with President Trump that new sanctions on the Islamic Republic were needed. U.N. Resolution 2231 calls upon Iran not to conduct ballistic missile tests -- but does not forbid the nation from doing so. The resolution went into effect days after the landmark nuclear deal with signed with Western nations including the U.S. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who spent hundreds of hours on the phone and in meetings with U.S. presidents and secretaries of state in the past 12 years, has tried unsuccessfully to reach out to President Donald Trump. Abbas and his aides are alarmed by the possibility of being sidelined at a time when the administration is embracing Israel's prime minister who heads to the White House next week. Here's a look at what's at stake for Abbas and Palestinian hopes for statehood. ARE THE PALESTINIANS REALLY BEING IGNORED? In December, the Trump transition team refused to meet with Palestinian officials visiting Washington, putting them off until after the Jan. 20 inauguration, according to senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat, the main point man for official contacts with the United States. Other advisers say Abbas tried to arrange a phone call with Trump after the November election and again after the inauguration, but received no response to his requests. The White House did not respond to a January letter in which Abbas expressed concerns about possibly moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to contested Jerusalem. Erekat, whose contacts are now limited to the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, has been quoted as saying that "we have sent them letters, written messages; they don't even bother to respond to us." In contrast, Trump spoke twice with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone, on Nov. 9 and Jan. 22, and will receive him at the White House on Feb. 15. WHAT HAS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID? The White House earlier this week denied an Israeli newspaper report, based on a secondhand quote from a Trump aide, that the administration does not intend to have a relationship with the Palestinian Authority, Abbas' self-rule government, at this point. However, the statement did not say what kind of relationship the White House envisions with the Palestinians. A U.S. official said he was given the impression that everything is on hold because Trump hasn't decided how to deal with the Palestinians. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue with reporters. WHY DOES IT MATTER? A strong relationship with the U.S. has been the centerpiece of the Palestinian strategy for winning statehood. The U.S. served as sole broker in two decades of intermittent negotiations on how to set up a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in 1967. Many Palestinians are disillusioned with a process they say effectively provided diplomatic cover for Israeli settlement expansion and distanced statehood prospects. However, Abbas has not come up with a strategy that could circumvent Washington. The Palestinian leadership is in uncharted waters with the Trump administration and "not having a relationship with Washington is cutting off their air supply, essentially," said Khaled Elgindy, an analyst at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. HOW HAS THE PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP RESPONDED? Abbas and his advisers have been careful not to antagonize Trump with public statements, other than urging him to rein in Israel's latest settlement escalation. They hope he'll eventually get in touch, arguing that Trump needs to involve them if he's serious about negotiating a Middle East peace deal. "The foreign policy of the U.S. administration is not clear yet, aside from its clear support of Israel, but the administration knows nothing can be done without the Palestinians," said Abbas adviser Mohammed Ishtayeh. Despite alarm over Israel's recent measures, including legislation retroactively legalizing settler homes built on private Palestinian land, Palestinian officials have drawn some hope from recent U.S. policy tweaks. The White House has shifted to a mildly critical position on settlements, saying they "may not be helpful" to peace. There also are signs Trump will not rush to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, a move that could inflame the Muslim and Arab worlds. ARE THE PALESTINIANS LOSING ACCESS TEMPORARILY OR BEING SIDELINED FOR GOOD? It's not clear if the Trump administration wants to coordinate with Netanyahu next week before approaching Abbas or sideline him for good. Jordan and Egypt could mediate between the Palestinians and Washington. Jordan's King Abdullah II rushed to the U.S. capital last week to present his views to administration officials before Netanyahu's arrival and appears to have had an impact on issues of concern to the Palestinians, such as settlements and the embassy move. On Tuesday, Jordan condemned Israel's latest settlement legislation. Interests don't always converge, however, and Abbas has clashed with Arab states in the past. WHAT IS EUROPE'S VIEW? The EU has reiterated its support for a two-state solution of Palestine arising alongside Israel, with the pre-1967 frontier as a baseline for border talks. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday that Europe will keep promoting this message, including in talks with Vice President Mike Pence, who will attend an international security conference in Munich later this month, followed by a visit to EU headquarters in Brussels. Last month, representatives from 70 countries and organizations said at a one-day conference in Paris that a two-state deal is the only way to achieve enduring peace. But Europe was never a key player, with Washington protecting its role as sole mediator. If the situation deteriorates, the Palestinian leadership hopes more countries in Western Europe will follow Sweden's lead and recognize a state of Palestine; the U.N. General Assembly accepted Palestine in the pre-1967 lines as a non-member observer state in 2012. ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE PALESTINIANS? Abbas could take a more confrontational approach toward Israel, something he has been reluctant to do, in part because it could also undermine his hold over autonomous enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Such steps could include cutting security ties with Israel, a mutually beneficial arrangement because their shared foe is the Islamic militant group Hamas, Abbas' main Palestinian rival. Abbas could also seek further international recognition for a state of Palestine. Or he could submit more material to the International Criminal Court, where a preliminary investigation is underway concerning possible war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas. The Trump administration says it strongly opposes any actions against Israel at the ICC as counterproductive to the cause of peace. German prosecutors say that apartments and other properties in western Germany and Britain are being searched in an investigation of two people accused of supporting the Nusra Front, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria. Federal prosecutors said that the raids were conducted Wednesday in an effort to secure more evidence against the pair, whom they didn't identify. The suspects are accused of having supported the Nusra Front for several years, collecting donations and helping organize aid convoys. They are suspected of sending ambulances, medical equipment, medicine and food to the group in Syria. The Nusra Front has renamed itself the Fatah al-Sham Front. Russia has just sent Syria the largest shipment of missiles between the two countries to date, the latest delivery between the two allies that could further change the stakes in the Middle East, U.S. officials told Fox News on Wednesday. TOP PUTIN CRITIC CONVICTED IN FRAUD RETRIAL, VOWS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT ANYWAY The shipment of 50 SS-21 short-range ballistic missiles arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus along the Mediterranean Sea in the past two days, the officials said. "For someone winding down a war, thats a big missile shipment," one official said. PUTIN CRITIC ALLEGEDLY POISONED IN 2015 FALLS INTO COMA, REPORT SAYS The SS-21, which comes in different types, has a range of roughly 100 miles. Russia has fired two SS-21 missiles and four longer-range SS-26 Iskander missiles in the past two days into Syrias Idlib province against "opposition" fighters, according to those officials. It was not immediately clear whether the U.S. was backing any of those fighters. The Iskander is a nuclear-capable missile and has been deployed to Kaliningrad -- a Russian enclave in the Baltics -- in recent months. The SS-21 short range missile is called "Scarab" by NATO. In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscows plans to scale down its military presence in Syria. Moscows aircraft carrier, which had been stationed off the coast of Syria, has returned to Russia. Still, Russia has approximately 50 aircraft in Syria, including fighter jets, helicopter gunships, and drones. Airstrikes hitting Idlib early Tuesday killed at least 15 people, wounded dozens more and demolished several buildings, in one of the deadliest attacks since the so-called "cease-fire" went into effect last year, Syrian activists and medics said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 26 people were killed, including 10 civilians -- mostly women. The opposition-run Civil Defense in Idlib said 15 bodies were pulled from the rubble and that 30 people were taken for medical treatment. Conflicting numbers are common in the chaotic aftermath of such attacks. The Russian military denied its warplanes attacked Idlib. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Russian warplanes haven't conducted a single strike on Idlib this year. Russia has waged an air campaign in Syria since September 2015, providing a crucial boost for President Bashar al-Assad's forces in battles with terror groups and the mainstream opposition. The Syrian civil war, which began with a 2011 uprising against the Assad family's four-decade rule, has killed an estimated 300,000 people and destroyed much of the country. The U.N. has estimated that reconstruction could cost around $350 billion. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine say one of their most prominent warlords has been assassinated. Rebels' Donets News Agency said Mikhail Tolstykh, better known under his nom de guerre Givi, died early Wednesday morning in what it described as a terrorist attack. Several Russian media outlets said Tolstykh died in an explosion in his office. Russian state television showed pictures of firefighters putting out flames in the building where Toltsykh's headquarters is believed to be. Tolstykh was one of the most recognizable faces of an armed conflict between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed rebels which has claimed more than 9,800 lives since it began in 2014. Tolstykh's death follows the assassination of his close associate Arsen Pavlov, also known as Motorola, last year. A Russian court on Wednesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. PUTIN CRITIC ALLEGEDLY POISONED IN 2015 FALLS INTO COMA, REPORT SAYS However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced in December. In a webcast hearing, Judge Alexei Vtyurin found Navalny guilty of embezzling timber worth about $500,000. The previous guilty verdict was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights which ruled that Russia violated Navalny's right to a fair trial. TRUMP DENIES PUTIN TIES AFTER COMMENT BACKLASH, RIPS 'HATERS' The judge has yet to pronounce sentence in the trial held in Kirov, a city nearly 500 miles east of Moscow. During a break in the proceedings, Navalny told reporters that he and his lawyers were comparing this verdict with the text of the 2013 verdict and found them to be identical. "You can come over and see that the judge is reading exactly the same text, which says a lot about the whole trial," Navalny told reporters, adding that even the typos in the names of companies were identical in both rulings. Navalny, the driving force behind massive anti-government protests in 2011 and 2012, had announced plans to run for office in December and had begun to raise funds. Navalny's campaign manager, Leonid Volkov, insisted that the campaign goes on even though the guilty verdict formally bars Navalny from running. In a post on Facebook, Volkov said that the Kremlin will ultimately decide whether Navalny will be confirmed as a presidential candidate. "This is the political decision we need to win by campaigning," he said. Navalny's plans to run in the 2013 Moscow mayoral election were shattered when the Kirov court found him guilty and sent him to prison. But after he spent a night in jail, the court held an emergency hearing and released Navalny on a suspended sentence. The unusual move was seen by observers as the Kremlin's decision to allow him to run against its candidate in the mayoral race in order to make it look more legitimate. Navalny came in second, garnering about a third of the vote. DPR battalion commander Mikhail Tolstykh aka Givi blown up in his office in Donetsk Mikhail Tolstykh, commander of the Somali militant battalion of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), was blown up on Wednesday, a source in the DPR law enforcement authorities told Interfax. "An explosion occurred in Toltsykh's office in Donetsk and a fire started. Givi was on the premises when this happened," the source said. "He [Tolstykh] and his battalion have been defending Donetsk and participating in the hostilities in the Avdiyivka sector in recent days," the source said. Brazil has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization accusing Canada of providing unfair subsidies to aircraft manufacturer Bombardier. Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that government subsidies to Bombardier have created distortions in the international aeronautical market that are incompatible with WTO rules and that negatively affect Brazil's interests. Brazil's Embraer is a competitor of Bombardier. The ministry said that in 2016 alone, Bombardier received around $2.5 billion in Canadian government support. The Canadian government said this week that it would give Bombardier $285 million in loans to support its Global 7000 and CSeries programs. The Brazilian statement singled out the CSeries program, but it did not mention the latest loan. In July, Canada's government said it was following trade rules in the case. Celebrate Carnival at Joey's Seafood Restaurants from February 6 February 26 Indulge in Cajun-Inspired food just ahead of Lent. It's Carnival month at Joey's so come join them and warm up this Winter. Calgary, Canada, February 08, 2017 - (PR.com) - It's Carnival month. It is a month marked with celebrations of over-indulgence in food just ahead of Lent. Joey's is infusing a bit of heat this winter with some Louisiana-Cajun inspired dishes. Alongside their Cajun Combo, customers can indulge in Pan-Seared or Blackened Basa - two delicious reasons to come for lunch or dinner at Joey's and help battle the mid-winter blues. "It's been a pretty cold winter so far," said Joey's Vice President of Marketing Dave Holland. "These Cajun dishes warm you all over and make you forget you have to scrape the ice from your windscreen when you leave the restaurant." Carnival is a festive time at Joey's Seafood Restaurants and is a harbinger for Lent, a time many Christians fast from candy, tv, soft drinks, cigarettes or red meat as a way to purify their bodies and lives. The Lenten season has long been a strong sales season for those in the fish business. "We are ramping up our atmosphere in the restaurant as we head into Lent," added Holland. "It's a great time to celebrate at Joey's". In addition to this feature entree, Joey's continues to run with their #ilovejoeys Photo Contest. Tagging any Joey's Restaurant picture with #ilovejoeys enters customers for a chance to win the weekly $25 gift certificate draw. Cajun will run from February 6 until February 26, 2017. For menus and additional information, visit Joeys.ca. About Joey's Calgary-based Joey's is a pioneer and leader in the fast-casual seafood restaurant category in Canada. Its signature "Joey's Famous Fish & Chips" and "Fish Taco" has gained the company a North American reputation for preparing generous portions of high quality seafood at affordable prices. Each Joey's franchise embodies the vision of its founder, Joe Klassen to serve great seafood in a cozy neighbourhood seafood restaurant. Annually, Joey's serves more than 6.5 million guests system wide through its 55 restaurants in Canada. In 2015, the company celebrated its 30th anniversary. Contact: Dave Holland Joey's Only Franchising Ltd. 403-513-1320 http://www.joeys.ca SOURCE Joey's Only Franchising Ltd. ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus FASTSIGNS Sponsors Canadas Largest Franchise Show In Calgary, Alberta February 11-12 Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchisor Attends The Franchise Show in Calgary to Target New Center Franchise Opportunities throughout Canada February 08, 2017 // Franchising.com // CARROLLTON, Texas - FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today that it is attending and sponsoring at The Franchise Show in Calgary from Feb. 11 to 12, 2017 at the Big Four Building in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The company has secured a gold sponsorship in support of the conference and is participating in the show to spread the word about franchise opportunities with the brand for new centers in Calgary and throughout Canada. As the print and signage industry continues to expand in Canada, were proud to sponsor and support this years The Franchise Show in Calgary to help educate attendees about our brand and the benefits of joining the FASTSIGNS franchise system, said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. We look forward to sharing what FASTSIGNS has to offer to these up-and-coming entrepreneurs and showcasing how their new centers can impact business owners in their communities by offering sign, graphics and visual communications services. Local entrepreneurs are invited to meet with the brands franchise development team at booth #206 to learn more about growth opportunities across the province of Alberta in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Northwest Calgary and Downtown Calgary, in addition to areas throughout Canada. The fast-growing FASTSIGNS brand currently has over 650 locations worldwide in nine countries and is looking to expand with additional new centers. Due to the ongoing worldwide need for visual communications and digital signage technology, the company expects to open a projected 45 locations in 2017. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679) or download an eBook that explores the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity at http://amzn.to/1FrnDJu. About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 650 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries including the US, Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including decor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns. Media Contact: Chelsea Bear Account Coordinator Fish Consulting, LLC O: (954) 893-9150 E: cbear@fish-consulting.com SOURCE FASTSIGNS ### Add to Request List Added Request Information Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Kumon Franchise Expands in Portland, Oregon with the Opening of a New Math and Reading Learning Center February 08, 2017 // Franchising.com // Teaneck, N.J. Thousands of additional parents in Greater Portland will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the worlds largest after-school math and reading program, is expanding in Greater Portland with the opening of Kumon Math and Reading of Portland-Hollywood. Portland was recently recognized as one of Money Magazines six best big cities, while also earning honors as the best in the West. The growth and popularity of Portland makes it an ideal location for Kumons expansion. Kumon has experienced a great deal of success in Greater Portland for over 20 years, said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. As the demand for Kumon continues, our main goal and commitment remains to provide as many children with an academic advantage and love for learning. Kumons Presence in Greater Portland 2,206 subject enrollments at 14 centers First center opened in 1993 35 percent increase in numbers of centers opened in last 10 years 51 percent increase in subject enrollments in last 10 years The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance childrens math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life. To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com. About Kumon Math & Reading Centers Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more. About the Kumon Franchise Business Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ. SOURCE Kumon Franchise Business ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the conversation with Ambassador of Germany Ernst Reichel stressed the inadmissibility of holding elections in the occupied territories of Donbas before the withdrawal of Russian troops. "On February 7 the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador Ernst Reichel to provide an explanation of his statements on the modalities of holding the elections in the territories of Donbas uncontrolled by Kyiv," the Foreign Ministry's press service told Interfax following the meeting. A message says that a clear and consistent position of Ukraine was confirmed: such elections should be held only after the withdrawal of units of the Russian armed forces from Ukraine, as well as only upon providing such security prerequisites, which would allow holding free and democratic elections in Donbas in compliance with the OSCE standards and Ukrainian legislation. "At the same time Ukraine appreciates the efforts of the official Berlin, including the Normandy format aimed at the return of peace to Donbas and termination of the Russian aggression against Ukraine," the message of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says. As reported, Reichel was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine to provide explanations regarding his statements about the possibility of holding elections in the territories of Donbas uncontrolled by Kyiv before the withdrawal of Russian troops. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has not yet confirmed information about the death of the Mikhail Tolstykh, also known as Givi, a unit field commander of Russian occupation forces in eastern Ukraine. SBU officials do not rule out that Ukrainian forces will be blamed for Givi's assassination. "I can't confirm this information. We must check it. Ukraine does not control temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," SBU advisor Yuriy Tandit said during a live on-air interview at the Kyiv-based 112.ua TV channel on Wednesday. Tandit said that if the information of Givi's death is confirmed the death will testify to the fact that people connected with illegal armed formations in eastern Ukraine "are being eliminated by certain services beyond the line of demarcation [between Russian hybrid forces and Ukrainian government troops]." Tandit added that this was his reading of the situation. The SBU advisor said several versions of Givi's assassination have emerged in the occupied territories, noting the death could be blamed on Ukrainian authorities. Anti-Terrorism operation (ATO) speaker Leonid Matiukhin also did not confirm information about Givi's death. "There is no official confirmation," he said. "Analyzing the situation, it appears he has died It appears the information is correct," he told 112.ua, adding that Givi might have been blown up with a rocket propelled grenade. Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov on his Facebook page, citing a Russian colleague, wrote: "They used a hand-held grenade launcher Shmel (Wasp) to blow Givi to smithereens in a small room. This is a potent weapon that demolishes everything living." Interfax, citing a law-enforcement source in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, reported that Tolstykh was killed in a suburb on Donetsk after an explosion. Givi at the time was located in his office. Two men are in jail facing felony charges stemming from the theft of items from Walmart stores in Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania. Fredericksburg police got involved around noon on Jan. 21 when a caller reported two men with a large television acting suspicious in the parking lot of the Walmart in Central Park, spokeswoman Sarah Kirkpatrick said in a release. A patrol officer went to the store and checked surveillance video, which showed two individuals walk out with a TV without paying for it. At that point, Fredericksburg detectives Alex Tittle and Sgt. Betsy Mason took over the case. They eventually identified suspects and discovered they were wanted in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties in connection with similar thefts from Walmarts in those jurisdictions. A tip then came in at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday that the suspects were staying at the Hillcrest Motel on U.S. 301 in King George County, Kirkpatrick said. Not long after that, the detectives, with help from the King George Sheriffs Office and Virginia State Police, arrested Johnny Dwayne Fitzgerald, 28, of Stafford and Troy Allen Hart, 41, of Fredericksburg on charges of shoplifting and conspiracy to commit larceny in Fredericksburg. The Spotsylvania and Stafford sheriffs offices also helped in the investigation, Kirkpatrick said, and court records indicate that the men face similar charges in those localities related to thefts from Walmarts in December and January. Hart also faces three unrelated drug charges in Spotsylvania. Both men remained incarcerated without bond Wednesday at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. WASHINGTON Senate Republicans barred Democrat Elizabeth Warren from the rest of the debate over President Donald Trumps attorney general nominee, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, after she read a 1986 letter attacking him by Coretta Scott King. Mr. Sessionss conduct as U.S. attorney from his politically motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws indicates that he lacks the temperament, fairness and judgment to be a federal judge, Warren said, quoting a letter from the late wife of slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., who was discussing the 1986 nomination of Sessions to the federal bench. Her reading late Tuesday night prompted objections from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said she has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, as warned by the chair of the chamber. Warren appealed a ruling from the Senates presiding officer at the time, Steve Daines of Montana, that she must take a seat. Even though it wasnt immediately clear that such rules had ever been invoked before during debate over a Cabinet nominee, Republicans led a 49-43 vote to sustain the chairs ruling that she no longer take part in the floor debate. The episode, which came as Democrats held the Senate floor for more than 34 hours, marked a new low in a bitter Senate debate over Trumps Cabinet nominees that has been marked by Democratic techniques to delay votes and Republican accusations of rampant partisanship. Trumps contentious travel ban applying to seven Muslim-dominated countries intensified the standoff, particularly over the nomination of Trumps close ally, Sessions, to serve as the nations top law enforcement officer. Earlier Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence had to cast a historic tie-breaking vote to confirm Trumps nominee to run the Education Department, Betsy DeVos, after two Republican senators joined every Democrat to oppose the pick. McConnells move against Warren set off lengthy parliamentary wrangling on the Senate floor, with Democrats incensed that Republicans were shutting down debate and Republicans angry that Democrats, and in particular Warren, had attacked Sessions personally. Republicans cited Senate Rule XIX, which states "no senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator." Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island inquired what, exactly, they would be allowed to say about a colleague up for Senate confirmation. The chair made clear that truth is not a defense in the case of Rule XIX, and the ruling is made by the chair, not by the parliamentarian. The ruling can then be appealed to the full Senate. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah dressed down Warren and the broader Senate for what he considered to be a clear breach of decorum. Hatch said it was "offensive" to him to see a fellow senator attacked on the Senate floor, referring to Sessions. "Think of his wife," he said. "We have to treat each other with respect or this place is going to devolve into a jungle," Hatch admonished. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that Rule XIX could be invoked any day, and was being selectively enforced. He questioned why they couldnt simply allow a reading of a letter from Martin Luther King Jr.s wife. This is selective enforcement and another example of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle escalating the partisanship and further decreasing comity in the Senate," he said. Warren made clear late Tuesday night that she would keep speaking out about Sessions. I will not be silent about a nominee for attorney general of the United States who has made derogatory and racist comments that have no place in our justice system, she wrote to supporters in an email. The letter that Warren began reading aloud on the Senate floor pertains to Sessions failed 1986 nomination for a federal judgeship, which the Senate blocked after allegations he had made racist comments. Hes expected to be confirmed as the attorney general Wednesday evening. Warren later posted a Facebook Live video of herself reading Kings letter outside the Senate chamber. In less than an hour, the video had racked up 1.6 million views. The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus issued a statement late Tuesday blasting Senate Republicans. Republican senators decision tonight to silence Coretta Scott King from the grave is disgusting and disgraceful, said Rep. Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana Democrat. Mrs. Kings characterization of then U.S. Attorney Senator Sessions was accurate in 1986 and it is accurate now. He is as much of a friend to the Black community and civil rights as Bull Connor and the other Good Old Boys were during the Civil Rights Movement. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman will carry out a visit to the EU institutions and NATO in Brussels from February 9 until February 10, the Liaison Department of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers said. The program of a visit includes meetings of the Ukrainian government with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker and the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "During the talks with the EU leadership it is envisaged to discuss the situation in the east of Ukraine and the status of implementation of the Minsk agreements, the implementation of key reforms in Ukraine, the liberalization of the visa regime between Ukraine and the EU, topical issues of trade and economic cooperation and the implementation of a free trade area," a message says. During his stay in Brussels Groysman will participate in the conference titled "Promotion and direction: reboot of Ukrainian reforms" on which Ukraine's progress will be presented in the key economic and political reforms, as well as the government's priorities for the near future. ONCE YOU hear Gwyneths story, it is impossible to forget it. On June 8, 2012, Gwyneth Griffin was running around the track with some classmates at A.G. Wright Middle School. The school year was winding down and she was about to turn 13. With her excellent grades and long list of activities, she was already building an impressive resume. She was enjoying the heck out of being a kid. Then, it happened. She collapsed on the track at the North Stafford school. Her friends immediately tried to get help. An ambulance was called. But it would be 10 minutes before an emergency crew arrived and CPR was initiated. She had no pulse and wasnt breathing. After two months in the hospital, as her loved ones hoped for a miraculous recovery that never came, she was gone. Gwyneth was a victim of sudden cardiac arrest, a syndrome that claims the lives of some 650,000 people in the United States each year. In the wake of their devastating loss, Gwyneths parents, Joel and Jennifer Griffin, saw an opportunity. In 2013, the Griffins appealed to the Virginia General Assembly for legislation that would require teachers and graduating high school seniors in Virginia to have received training in CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It would also encourage every school division across the state to acquire an AED, or automatic external defibrillator, for each of its schools. It was called Gwyneths Law, and it easily passed in both Assembly chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell. But the Griffins work didnt stop there. They established the Gwyneths Law Foundation, which has given birth to the Gwyneths Gift Foundation. Now, as part of a group that included county, hospital and fire and rescue officials in Stafford, they have brought PulsePoint to their home county. PulsePoint is a smartphone application that alerts subscribers when someone is suffering cardiac arrest. Subscribers can include not just emergency medical personnel, but anyone who has had CPR training. When a 911 dispatcher receives word that someones heart has stopped beating, a PulsePoint alert is immediately issued. The app also provides information on where the nearest accessible defibrillator is located. The idea is to get help to the affected person as soon as possible. Thats critical when a couple of minutes can make the difference between life and death, or between brain damage and a full recovery. Stafford became the fourth locality in Virginia to get on board with the system, and we would urge all others across the Fredericksburg area to follow suit. The app is being used in more than 2,000 communities in 30 states across the country. There is nothing more tragic than a life lost that could have been saved had help been available sooner. In Stafford, charitable events sponsored by the Stafford Hospital Foundation have raised $50,000 to buy the app. Its a worthwhile cause if there ever was one. It is especially appropriate that news of PulsePoint emerges in February, which is National Heart Month. The observance draws attention to the fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Each year, it is responsible for one in four deaths across the country. National Heart Month also serves as a reminder that people can give themselves a healthier heart by choosing the right foods, getting regular exercise, watching their weight, limiting alcohol intake and, of course, quitting tobacco. An annual wellness visit to your doctor can help detect heart issues early and possibly save your life. You can also receive heart-health advice, as well as information about heart-attack warning signs. Gwyneths case proves that heart issues can and do turn up in the least likely candidates, and often with little warning. With the help of her parents, lawmakers and health advocates everywhere, theres no telling how many lives Gwyneth has already saved. It is a legacy of which she would be justly proud. Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Ukraine and Azerbaijan will discuss the current content and prospects of enhancing bilateral military and technical cooperation in the framework of the scheduled February 13-16 third meeting in Baku of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission on military and technical cooperation, a source in the defense sector told Interfax-Ukraine. "Carrying out the next, third meeting of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission on military and technical cooperation is scheduled for February 13-16 in Baku. The agenda reflects the current intensification of the dialogue between Kyiv and Baku at the highest political level: it is planned to consider the actual content of the military and technical cooperation and possibilities of its revitalization in the new conditions," the agency's interlocutor said. An intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the sphere of military and technical cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan signed in 1997. The sides work out plans to expand the partnership in the new geopolitical conditions. According to the data, previously voiced by the Ukrainian side, the possibility of establishing joint production of high-precision weapons, in particular anti-tank missile systems (ATGM) and rockets thereto based on the facilities in Azerbaijan is discussed at the new stage. Kyiv is also interested in purchasing certain types of weapons in Azerbaijan. The consuls of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in Hamburg and Nigeria are taking measures for the release of the Ukrainian citizen, who has been kidnapped from the board of BBC Caribbean vessel by pirates in the territorial waters of Nigeria. "Consuls in Hamburg and Nigeria are taking measures for the release of the captured citizen of Ukraine, the BBC Caribbean crew member," the Consular Service of the Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said on Twitter. Earlier, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria reported on the abduction of seven Russian sailors and one Ukrainian sailor by pirates: "In the territorial waters of Nigeria a pirate attack has taken place on a BBC Caribbean ship. Seven Russian citizens and one citizen of Ukraine have been kidnapped from the board of the BBC Caribbean ship subjected to a pirate attack." Hundreds of farmers are attending hearings across Australia to voice concerns as part of a an extensive enquiry into the state of the dairy industry. The enquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is looking into the oversupply of milk in Western Australia, practises surrounding the renewal of milk supply agreements and worries over the low price of retail milk in the country. It is also examining whether the countrys two largest processors have broken the law. See also: Global dairy production at three-year low Meeting attendances have been far higher than expected, highlighting the discord among many producers at an imbalance of power between farmer and processor. One hearing in Taree, New South Wales, had to extend its capacity by four times to accommodate 200 producers, while another in Toowomba, Queensland, had more than 100 dairy farmers turn up having laid out seats for just 30. Farmers at the meeting voiced concerns over low farmgate prices, the widespread retail of AUD$1/litre (61p/litre) milk in supermarkets, unfairness in producer/processor contracts and the efficacy of the national levy board, Dairy Australia. Industry on its knees The enquiry was conceived last August following the global dairy crisis, in which low prices and high production brought the Australian dairy industry to its knees. Part of the review will look at the actions of co-ops Murray Goulburn and Fonterra Australia in April and May 2016. Breaking the law? The processors, who slashed the price they paid for milk in the first half of 2016, will be investigated over whether they engaged in false, misleading or unconscionable conduct, breaching the Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The Oceanian countrys dairy sector has experienced a similar decline to the UK, with milk production declining by 10%, national herd size down 20% to 1.74 million and dairy farm numbers 50% lower at 6,128 in the period 1999-2000 to 2014-15. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in the morning on Wednesday were raiding the head office of public joint-stock company Ukrgazvydobuvannia, the subsidiary of national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy, Ukrgazvydobuvannia Board Chairman Oleh Prokhorenko has said. "In the morning there are raids by masked SBU and PGO officers at Ukrgazvydobuvannia. Do you want to know how reforms are going on in Ukraine? In this way reforms in the evening and raids in the morning," he wrote on his Facebook page. Prokhorenko told reporters that along with the head office in Kyiv law enforcement agencies were raiding the companies' branches Poltavagazvydobuvannia and Shebelynkagazvydobuvannia. He said that the raids are linked to the 2010 or 2014 procurement cases, not to the operating top managers of the company. He said that the enterprise is open to work with law enforcers and it is ready to provide information calmly without blocking the operation of the company. He said he was perplexed that the operation of the company is being blocked in the period of biting frosts when each cubic meter of natural gas produced by the company is important. He also said that the raids could relate to the pressure on the company over its position about the termination of joint operation agreements. According to the report of the SBU, the raids are linked to the unveiling the money laundering scheme by the company's officials. "Law enforcers have established that the officials of the head office of Ukrgazvydobuvannia and regional branches in collusion with commercial structures organized a money embezzlement scheme via provision of guard services. Ukrainian law bans from guarding important facilities in state ownership by private structures," the SBU said. The SBU said that the officials unlawfully sent over UAH 95 million to commercial firms. The deal participants converted the money into cash and embezzled it. The criminal case was opened under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pretrial investigation is underway. Story Highlights 59% of Mississippi residents are "very religious" Vermont is the least religious state, with 21% very religious Most religious states continue to be mainly in South, plus Utah WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Mississippi remains the most religious state in the U.S., with 59% of its residents in 2016 classified as "very religious," followed by Alabama (56% very religious) and Utah (54%). Vermont is the least religious state; 21% of its residents are classified as very religious. Two other New England states, Maine and Massachusetts, are the second- and third-least religious. Most Religious States Based on % Very religious Very religious % Mississippi 59 Alabama 56 Utah 54 South Dakota 53 South Carolina 52 Arkansas 52 Louisiana 50 Tennessee 50 Oklahoma 49 Georgia 47 North Carolina 47 Kentucky 47 Gallup Daily, January-December 2016 Least Religious States Based on % Very religious Very religious % Vermont 21 Maine 23 Massachusetts 25 Rhode Island 27 Nevada 27 Alaska 27 Oregon 27 Connecticut 28 Hawaii 28 New Hampshire 29 Washington 29 Gallup Daily, January-December 2016 These state-by-state results are based on 174,969 interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking in 2016, including more than 480 interviews in every state and more than 1,000 interviews in most states. Complete results and sample sizes are shown at the end of the article. Gallup classifies Americans as "very religious," "moderately religious" or "nonreligious" based on their responses to questions about the importance of religion and church attendance. Very religious Americans say religion is important to them and report attending services every week or almost every week. Nonreligious Americans are those for whom religion is not important and who seldom or never attend religious services. Moderately religious Americans meet just one of the criteria, saying either religion is important or that they attend services almost every week or more often. Gallup began tracking religious indicators daily in 2008. The percentage of all Americans who are very religious has declined slightly over that period of time, from 41% in 2008 to 38% in 2016, while those who are nonreligious has edged up from 30% to 32%. The relative rank ordering of the states, however, has changed little over the past nine years. Mississippi is the most religious state in the nation for the ninth straight year. In 2008, when Gallup first calculated these state rankings, 59% of Mississippi residents were very religious -- the same as today, although this percentage has fluctuated some over the past nine years. Alabama and Utah have owned the second and third spots in the religiosity rankings in all but one year, 2009, when Alabama was second and Utah tied with South Carolina and Louisiana for third. Most of the top 10 highly religious states over the past nine years have been in the South, except for Utah, where the highly religious Mormon population helps put it in the top 10 consistently. In 2016, the only other non-Southern state in the top 10 was South Dakota. The least religious states have typically been concentrated in the upper Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northwest regions. Vermont has been the least religious state for all but one of the last nine years, the exception being 2015 when New Hampshire topped the list. In 2016, all six New England states were among the 10 least religious states, along with Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska and Nevada. This marked the first time New Hampshire was neither the least nor second-least religious state in the union; the Granite State tied for 10th least religious. Bottom Line There is no clear-cut answer as to why state-by-state differences in religiosity persist. Some of it relates to a state's culture, which in turn derives from many years of religious history. A state's religious culture also reflects the type of religion dominant in each state. Utah's majority-Mormon population and Southern states' strongly Protestant population, for example, are more likely to be religious than those in states where these religions are less dominant. These cultures can be self-sustaining and extend beyond the life of any one resident. Children in highly religious states generally end up being more religious than children who grow up in less religious states. Persons moving to Mississippi may find themselves more likely to attend religious services because so many others are doing so, while persons moving to Vermont may be less inclined to attend because so few of their neighbors do. Overall religious patterns continue to change in the U.S., with an increase in the percentage of Americans who say that they have no formal religion and a slight overall decrease in general religiosity. To date, however, these patterns have not dramatically affected the relative religiosity of the states when compared with one another, and the evidence from the past nine years suggests that this pattern may persist in the years ahead. I initially published this post in my personal blog GameMakers.com. Check it out to learn more mobile gaming design techniques, analysis, and industry opinions. Some of the philosophies and lessons I've learned from my life experience don't have scientific backing but I have come to absolutely believe in through real world experience. More specifically, building a successful team through determined optimism is one such lesson. The Power of Optimism The belief in the power of optimism is not something new. Here in Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs was famous for his "reality distortion field" and willing his grandiose beliefs into reality. Hinduism has been around for thousands of years and has a notion of manifesting reality through belief. And there's also this from Walden: I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws will be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. So back to the primary topic at hand: How do you build a successful team? I'm an old guy who has had the opportunity to work with many teams during my career. In my experience, three key characteristics define teams that have achieved great success: The teams worked long hours (e.g., work until 10:00 PM) Key members of the team have worked together for at least 4 years together Someone on the team was a determined optimist (aka "Winner") There are many things that could be discussed when it comes to building successful teams from process to skill sets to work habits, etc. However, for the purposes of this discussion, I want to focus on just this last characteristic of optimism. Types of Team Members: Winners, Warners, and Whiners In my experience, three types of team members exist: Winners: Optimists who drive product vision and teams to success. Warners: Realists who foresee problems ahead of time and warn the team about them. Whiners: Pessimists who reactively complain about problems and remain focused on problems rather than solutions. For a team to be successful, a team leader must ensure a team consists of at least 1 key Winner (ideally him/herself) and Warners, but to also eliminate Whiners from the team as quickly as possible. One or two Whiners on a team won't necessarily kill a project, but Whiners can certainly be a cancer that eventually kills the patient. The Winner I call the "determined optimist" on a team a "Winner" and believe they are absolutely critical to the success of the team. Winners are: Believers: Win through optimism and a strong belief in themselves, their team, and their product vision. Win through optimism and a strong belief in themselves, their team, and their product vision. Fighters: Unfazed by obstacles and fight through adversity often times regardless of the personal cost. Unfazed by obstacles and fight through adversity often times regardless of the personal cost. Leaders: Lead their teams through example and are the engine upon which teams drive critical success. Lead their teams through example and are the engine upon which teams drive critical success. Manifesters: Believe they can manifest their vision of reality through sheer force of will (very much consistent with ancient Hindu concepts) and find ways to win that others don't see. Believe they can manifest their vision of reality through sheer force of will (very much consistent with ancient Hindu concepts) and find ways to win that others don't see. Aware: Optimistic, but also grounded in the reality of their situation: the Stockdale Paradox (more on this further below). Warners vs. Whiners So what's the difference between a Warner and a Whiner? The key difference between them can be characterized by three primary tendencies: Proactive vs. Reactive: Warners typically have more experience and foresee problems ahead of time rather than just reacting to problems. Warners typically have more experience and foresee problems ahead of time rather than just reacting to problems. Problem vs. Solution Focus: Whiners tend to focus on problems whereas a good Warner will often propose solutions to problems instead. Whiners tend to focus on problems whereas a good Warner will often propose solutions to problems instead. Support: Warners can get behind a project or initiative even if they disagree with it. Whiners, on the other hand, try to undermine decisions or will not do their job to support a project that they view negatively. Winners vs. Whiners Let's now talk more specifically about Winners vs. Whiners and the specifics about one vs. the other. In the case of Warners vs. Whiners, there are often cases where the line between the two types may not be easily distinguishable. However, the distinction between Winners vs. Whiners is absolutely clear. The following table denotes key differences between these two types: Determined Optimism Let me clarify what I mean by a "determined optimist." Winners do not adopt blind optimism in which they live in an overly hopeful fantasy world. Instead, a "determined optimist" is differentiated from a general optimist in two key ways: Situational Awareness: The determined optimist is very clear on his or her specific circumstances. They fully understand their situation including both strengths and weaknesses no matter how grim the situation may be. Jim Collins describes this kind of awareness through The Stockdale Paradox described below. Manifests Reality: Determined optimists figure out ways to win. They focus on solutions and figure out how to win regardless of their specific situation. 1. Situational Awareness and The Stockdale Paradox Jim Collins best describes the importance of optimism but with situational awareness in his book Good to Great in a principle he calls the Stockdale Paradox. The Paradox describes a lesson learned by James Stockdale who spent eight years in a Hanoi prison during the Vietnam War. He states of his experience in Good to Great: I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade. But wait, there's a paradox: this is what Stockdale stated of the guys who didn't make it out of the Hanoi prison: The optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, Were going to be out by Christmas. And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then theyd say, Were going to be out by Easter. And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart. Jim Collins explains the seeming paradox in the following way: This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end which you can never afford to lose with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. Winners are "determined optimists": they believe in themselves, they believe they will win, but they also realize the state of their current reality no matter how brutal it may be. 2. Manifesting Reality and Finding Ways to Win Winners win. It's almost as simple as that. Winners find ways to win and Whiners wallow in negativity and can't think of "outside of the box" solutions. I know this can sound a bit vague but the difference with Winners is quite simply that they will figure out a way to make a bad situation work out. Let's be more specific with a few examples to make this point more clear: Situation: Your team is dependent on a key vendor for a product launch but they have been unresponsive. What do you do? Whiners: Will report to their boss that unfortunately their hands are tied, the vendor is unresponsive so they can't do anything Winners: Will call 20x a day, travel (regardless of location) to the vendor's office and camp out there until they are able to talk to the person they need to and get clarity on the vendor's services and timeframes Situation: A remote development team has been consistently late on deliverables and producing software builds that are not up to your team's quality standard. What do you do? Whiners: Will not have the nerve to have super direct confrontations with the dev team, will constantly complain to their boss and peers how incompetent the dev team is, and more generally make sure there are excuses when the team fails... just as they had predicted Winners: Will immediately have extremely direct talks with the dev team, renegotiate contract terms including stopping payment if necessary, fly over and camp out with the remote team and directly manage that team until they produce what's necessary or cancel the project Situation: A team member has been underperforming and dropping the ball on key tasks for a critical project Whiners: Will not directly confront the team member but complain about that person to everyone else, will keep saying they need to "watch the situation" as the business continues to crumble around them Winners: Will confront the underperformer to know what and how to improve performance and let them know that their job is at risk. If no immediate improvement occurs, Winners will let that person go quickly. Hopefully, the point is now clear. Whiners accept situations at face value and throw their hands up. Winners don't accept bad situations and will do whatever it takes to figure out a way to win. There's also this from Tony Robbins: What Can You Do Today? Most of my early career was mainly academic, rather than with real world business experience building products. Until that time, I was largely a Whiner. In fact, most of my career has been spent as a Whiner or Warner rather than as a Winner (which I'm not even saying I am now but have had moments of and am aspiring towards). So let's get back to practical reality: What can you do today given this information? As a team leader: You need to look yourself in the mirror and determine if you've got what it takes to succeed. Are you a Winner or a Whiner? Evaluate your team. Who are the Winners, Warners, and Whiners? Isolate the Whiners and have direct one on one talks with them about what it will take to get them on board. If they continue to be Whiners you need to get them off your project. As a team member: Understand what kind of team member you are. You should have the self-awareness to be honest about yourself. If you are a Whiner, you need to change. Think about how you can help instead of hinder and realize that focusing on problems only will do nothing to change a situation: be solutions focused! Whether you focus on optimism or pessimism, whatever you focus on is what you're going to find in life. On that note, I want to leave you with the words of super entrepreneur and social media master Gary Vaynerchuk: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will visit Ukraine on February 9-10, the website of the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay a visit to Ukraine on February 9-10, 2017 on the occasion of the Fifth Meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Group, functioning under the High Level Strategic Council between Turkey and Ukraine," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on its official website. According to the information, all dimensions of Turkish-Ukrainian bilateral relations at the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties will be reviewed, and new cooperation opportunities will be discussed. "Furthermore, the two sides will have a comprehensive exchange of views on current regional and international issues with a special emphasis on the situation of Crimean Tatars as well as the recent developments in eastern regions of Ukraine," a message says. A "Plan for Consultations" between the two Ministries will be signed following the talks, the message says. Readers, we need your help to prove a merry Christmas for victims of domestic violence. Jan. 16, 1926 Feb. 2, 2017 Della M. Carroll, 91, a Corvallis resident of 66 years, died Monday, Feb. 2, in Corvallis. Della was born Jan. 16, 1926, in Marshall, Arkansas, to Neal and Ollie (Haggard) Vickers. She married James Carroll on Dec. 24, 1946, in St. Louis, Illinois, and just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve. Della had an eighth grade education, and was employed as a cook for Oregon State University from 1956 to 1988. She was a member of the Suburban Christian Church and the Eagles Club. Della loved to cook, and spend time and play Bingo with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Survivors include her husband, James; daughters Janet and Donna; and son Jimmy. There will be a viewing at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at McHenry Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at the Suburban Christian Church with burial at Oaklawn Memorial Park to follow. A potluck will be held at the church directly following the burial. The family would like to thank all who helped care for Della in her final days. Please leave your condolences at www.mchenryfuneralhome.com. The Benton County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a zoning code amendment to allow commercial marijuana cultivation at the Corvallis Municipal Airport Industrial Park, opening the door for a Colorado company looking to move into the Oregon market for legal weed. Acting on a 5-1 recommendation by the county Planning Commission, the board voted to change the rules governing the special use zone to allow commercial growing, processing and wholesaling of marijuana at the Airport Industrial Park by businesses with a valid state license. Retail sales will not be allowed. The vote clarified an issue created when the county changed its zoning rules to specifically allow commercial cultivation and processing of marijuana in agricultural and industrial zones after a statewide ballot measure legalized recreational use of the drug. While both agricultural and industrial uses were already allowed at the Airport Industrial Park, the property is actually in a special use zone. The decision removes an obstacle to plans by 1749 Airport Road LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, to purchase the former Sarepta Pharmaceuticals building at 1749 S.W. Airport Ave. and lease space to another Colorado outfit, Centennial-based Doctors Orders Group. Doctors Orders, an emerging player in the rapidly developing market for legalized marijuana, has three dispensaries and 85,000 square feet of indoor growing space in Colorado and has applied for licenses to operate in Massachusetts and Maryland. The firm also has a foothold in Oregon: It owns a marijuana dispensary in Portland and has purchased land for an outdoor growing operation in Cave Junction. Company spokesman Mackie Barch told the Gazette-Times in November that Doctors Orders was interested in leasing space in the 36,000-square-foot Sarepta building for a pot-growing and -processing operation but was waiting for the zoning issue to be resolved. Meanwhile, 1749 Airport Road LLC is still waiting to conclude its part of the deal. The Corvallis City Council, which has jurisdiction over the industrial park, has already approved a 40-year land lease agreement with the limited liability company, but the LLC has yet to sign the lease or purchase the Sarepta building. If the deal goes through, it would bring in about $17,000 a year for the citys airport fund and would generate additional property tax revenue for the county based on the value of any new equipment installed at the site. The decision of the Ukrainian crisis can not be made dependent on the decisions of other international problems, and it is a separate issue, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia Sven Mikser said. "It can not be linked to other problems. What are these problems like? We heard the statements that it would be possible to link the Ukrainian issue to the Russia's participation in the fight against international terrorism, or, for example, with a nuclear theme," the foreign minister said in an interview with Interfax. According to him, "Estonia and the European Union's positions are clear: the Ukrainian issue is a separate issue." "The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine is the theme on which you can not retreat one step back from. You can't move away from the already agreed cooperation," the minister said. He expressed confidence that the U.S. administration will stick to the same position under President Donald Trump. "The position of Estonia and the EU has been and remains fundamental and foundational. The U.S. administration shared it until now. The EU and the U.S. had similar positions in relation to Ukraine. And if we listen to the new U.S. ambassador to the UN, the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate, we can see that the U.S. attitude won't dramatically change," the foreign minister said. EU should strengthen sanctions against Russia in case of deterioration of situation in Ukraine Estonian FM Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser believes that sanctions could curb the ambitions of Russia, calls on the European Union to strengthen them in the event of deterioration of the situation in Ukraine. "The situation is very serious in Avdiyivka area and it deserves international condemnation. The international community must be ready to respond," the foreign minister said in an interview with Interfax. In his opinion, the best way to influence Russia is to strengthen the sanctions. "We believe that sanctions have the influence in curbing the ambitions of Russia, so that this effect can not be underestimated," Mikser said. "When we see no readiness to perform the Minsk agreements in Moscow, on the contrary, we see the opposite, then this can not be underestimated," the minister said. Mikser emphasized that "the sanctions imposed against the aggressor, or their cancellation, depend on whether the aggressor reimbursed the damage, whether it fulfilled its obligations. This is Estonia's position, which is unchangeable." Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Bonn becomes member : Historic Highlights of Germany Bonn Hoping to increase Bonns appeal abroad, the city council voted to join Historic Highlights of Germany. The association markets German cities internationally and will be at a travel show next week in London. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken The City of Bonn will become a member of the association Historic Highlights of Germany. City council members decided on the move in their latest session. They hope it will better position the city in light of the increasing number of international competitions and high profile events coming up such as the Beethoven Anniversary 2020. The benefit of belonging to Historic Highlights of Germany is that it concentrates on marketing the German cities internationally. It places importance on cities having a successful combination of cultural heritage and lifestyle. Examples of other members include Potsdam and Heidelberg. Bonn fulfills the requirements for membership in Historic Highlights of Germany. Some of the criteria include higher education, 700 years of city history, birthplace of a renowned person, international recognition and a sufficient number of visitors who come and stay overnight. Victoria Appelbe, director of the Bonn Economic Development Office welcomes the collaboration. She says the marketing strategy of the association includes factors such as cultural experiences for tourists, a mix of modern and traditional, and a contemporary lifestyle. She added that cooperation with other cities is important for marketing in foreign countries as it helps develop an international appeal. Bonn tradition in old town : Cherry blossom fest cancelled Bonn The organizers of the cherry blossom festival in Bonn announced on Tuesday that the festival will not take place this year. The announcement came as a surprise to many and organizers say they are sorry for the residents of Bonn. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken This spring, there will be no cherry blossom festival in the old town of Bonn as in years past. Aventan, the agency which organizes the festival, scheduled for April 23, made the announcement on Tuesday. "The opponents of the festival, with their spreading of untrue allegations and rumors of the motives of our engagement for the festival and the old town and our approach, have incurred lasting damage on our position in the old town," stated organizers Frauke Schroder and Torsten Ulke. Further, they stated that in a mediation attempt between old town residents and District Mayor Helmut Kollig, our willingness to accept criticism and to work together on possibilities for optimization, was rejected. Moderate points of view from merchants were ignored. The organizers said they were sorry for the City of Bonn, the residents and businesses which were interested in participating in the cherry festival this year. Aventan said that a new concept with interested citizens and merchants must be drawn up, aimed at a broad responsibility for the festival. Until last year, the old town cherry fest had been organized on a voluntary basis. In 2016, Aventan took over the organization because it had become too much work. This year, the organizers wanted to work together with Jurgen Harder of the Bruckenforum to extend the festival to two days. The district representation rejected the extension but said it would allow Aventan to announce a one-day festival with market stalls and music. Many residents found out about this in the newspaper and they saw it as a commercialization of the event. The organizers themselves said that with the size of the event, they would need to make money from it. Federal Criminal Police Office : Crackdown on alleged terrorism supporters Konigswinter/Troisdorf The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) was in action in Troisdorf and Konigswinter-Rauschendorf on Wednesday morning. Two persons are accused of supporting a foreign terrorist organization. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken The Federal Prosecutors Office proceeded on Wednesday morning to take action against suspected supporters of the foreign terrorist organization "Jabhat al-Nusra" (JaN). Apartments in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and in the U.K. were searched in connection with the initiative. Some of those searches were carried out in Troisdorf and Konigswinter-Rauschendorf. According to GA information, it was a private apartment that was searched in Rauschendorf. It is alleged that a person having close ties to Salafist circles stayed here. Altogether, the German Federal Prosecutors Office is acting against two accused persons. Both are suspected of having supported the foreign terrorist organization "Jabhat al-Nusra" for several years. According to information provided by the Federal Prosecutor's Office, they are believed to have been involved in collecting donations, organizing and implementing aid convoys. An extraordinary session of the NATO-Ukraine commission at the ambassadorial level will be held on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in eastern Ukraine. "Today the NATO-Ukraine commission is holding an extraordinary session at the ambassadorial level. On the agenda are the latest events in eastern Ukraine," the Ukrainian mission to NATO wrote on Twitter. The National Police of Ukraine has said the explosive device that killed journalist Pavel Sheremet contained an anti-personnel mine. "Taking this into account it is possible to establish the contents of the explosive device. In addition, the blueprint for the location of the device and its location in the automobile," said the head of the National Police's investigation department Oleksandr Vakulenko at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday. Vakulenko said the bomb contained a MON-50 anti-personnel mine, two firing pins and an electric detonator. Several experiments using a car and copies of the explosive device bear out the preliminary conclusions of the investigation. Vakulenko said nine of the 16 forensic analyses have been carried out. Well-known Belarusian journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed on July 20, 2016 in the center of Kyiv when his automobile exploded. The car belonged to his companion Olena Prytula, the co-founder of the Kyiv-based Ukrayinska Pravda news website. Police have said the main motive for Sheremet's murder was his journalist activities. Ukrainian prosecutors have said several individuals are suspects in their investigation. They say the perpetrator did not act alone. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. bohlah at 8-02-2017 06:59 AM (5 years ago) (m) It was fun in Dortmund, Germany on Saturday 4th January 2017 where popular Yoruba actress Bukky blacks daughter, Jumokes wedding was held. It was fun in Dortmund, Germany on Saturday 4th January 2017 where popular Yoruba actress Bukky blacks daughter, Jumokes wedding was held. Jumoke was really excited to walk down the aisle with one man known as Eniola Akinbo. The bride,Jumoke also resides in Germany while the groom is a United States of Americas base. According to Yorubamoviegist.coms source in Germany, Guests came from different countries to witness the colourful wedding that shook Germany within Nigeria community. Fuji Music Star, Alhaji Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika and his band dazzled guests with good music. If you must know, in 2010, Bukky Black had serious issues with the Association of Nigerian Theater Arts Practitioners when she engaged herself in a street fight at LTV 8 premises where she was stripped naked during the associations monthly meeting that later turned brouhaha. Shortly after that, the actress got into a messy murder case as her alleged boy friend, who is a member of the popular Lagos Omo Onile was killed in her Ikorodus abode. She was arrested by the police and immediately she came out of the case, the actress left Nigeria for Germany to start afresh as a hairdresser. Jumoke was really excited to walk down the aisle with one man known as Eniola Akinbo. The bride,Jumoke also resides in Germany while the groom is a United States of Americas base.According to Yorubamoviegist.coms source in Germany, Guests came from different countries to witness the colourful wedding that shook Germany within Nigeria community.Fuji Music Star, Alhaji Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika and his band dazzled guests with good music.If you must know, in 2010, Bukky Black had serious issues with the Association of Nigerian Theater Arts Practitioners when she engaged herself in a street fight at LTV 8 premises where she was stripped naked during the associations monthly meeting that later turned brouhaha.Shortly after that, the actress got into a messy murder case as her alleged boy friend, who is a member of the popular Lagos Omo Onile was killed in her Ikorodus abode.She was arrested by the police and immediately she came out of the case, the actress left Nigeria for Germany to start afresh as a hairdresser. Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 8-02-2017 06:59 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero bayonel3 at 8-02-2017 04:49 PM (5 years ago) (m) The death of a Nigerian man, Bobby Onwazu Onyemali, who travelled to Lebanon in January 2017, is raising questions by some people close to him who suspect foul play. Bobby who was born in Apapa, Lagos and and lived all his life in Queen's Barracks Apapa, reportedly travelled to Lebanon in the 1st week of January 2017 with his Lebanese friend called Kodo. The death of a Nigerian man, Bobby Onwazu Onyemali, who travelled to Lebanon in January 2017, is raising questions by some people close to him who suspect foul play. Bobby who was born in Apapa, Lagos and and lived all his life in Queen's Barracks Apapa, reportedly travelled to Lebanon in the 1st week of January 2017 with his Lebanese friend called Kodo. On arrival, they stayed in the capital, Beirut before they were sent to a village, Southern town of Tyre in Goza where he passed away, 48 hours after arrival. LIB reached out to a childhood friend of the man, who spoke out on why they are suspecting foul play. On who the late Bobby was and his relationship with the Lebanese man: On arrival, they stayed in the capital, Beirut before they were sent to a village, Southern town of Tyre in Goza where he passed away, 48 hours after arrival. LIB reached out to a childhood friend of the man, who spoke out on why they are suspecting foul play. Quote "Bobby travelled with a Lebanese man, Kodo, who happens to be his friend, to Lebanon for holiday and was due to return on February 16th. Kodo (not sure of his occupation) has been in Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria for years. However, in October 2016, Bobby moved to Abuja to be working with him but I don't know the kind job that they were doing. He came back for Christmas in Lagos but returned to Abuja thereafter. "In the first week of January, Bobby and Kodo traveled to Lebanon. He kept in touch with his friends, informing them that he was coming back in February. Bobby also sent photos of himself shopping and made inquiries on what he should purchase for them." "All of a sudden, Bobby called a friend in Apapa one day and said Kodo left him in an apartment with two other Lebanese guys, who are his boys. According to him, those guys offended Kodo and he didn't want to take two of them out and leave Bobby alone in that apartment since he was new. That Kodo was angry, so he told the three of them to move to the village. Bobby however didn't see Kodo but a message left saying they should move to that place. When they got there, Bobby called back and said that he has been trying to reach Kodo for the past two days but the calls were not being picked." On how they were informed about Bobby's death: Quote Quote "It was another Nigerian that was present there when the information leaked that alerted people. He went there to see the body, take photos and called to inform them about the situation. According to a medical personnel, the cause of death was carbon-monoxide from a charcoal heater." "Some of Bobby's friends in Apapa called Kodo immediately and he said he was bereaved. He denied being responsible, saying that he came to help Bobby and even took him out of Apapa to Abuja. He found out about Bobby's death when he went to give them money for upkeep and the cause of death was truly Carbon Monixide." According to their side of the story, "Bobby was sleeping while the others where doing barbecue in the same room. The barbecue smoke and charcoal monoxide killed him and he died in his sleep." Some of Bobby's friends are however suspicious and feel the other guys in the room with Bobby might know more about the incident. "When we were looking at the pictures, it looks suspicious. The way he died. Is it possible to die in your sleep and foam will still come for your nose? Also if you look closely at the picture where his hand is showing, it looks like he struggled or was hit with something." Bobby Onwazu Onyemali's family have accepted the death of their son and requested for the body to be flown back in Nigeria for Burial in Delta state. The body arrived yesterday. On the other hand, Kodo who has sent money for the burial, is still in Lebanon and would not be arriving back in Nigeria yet. He has however promised to take up the fatherly responsibilities of Bobby's daughter to university level and more. Some of Bobby's friends are however suspicious and feel the other guys in the room with Bobby might know more about the incident.Bobby Onwazu Onyemali's family have accepted the death of their son and requested for the body to be flown back in Nigeria for Burial in Delta state. The body arrived yesterday.On the other hand, Kodo who has sent money for the burial, is still in Lebanon and would not be arriving back in Nigeria yet. He has however promised to take up the fatherly responsibilities of Bobby's daughter to university level and more. Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 8-02-2017 04:49 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Everything you need to know about Google AMP and its new update Features oi -Rohit With the new update, you can now view, copy and share the original canonical link instead of the shortened, AMP web address in Google search results Search engine giant Google has updated its AMP or Accelerated Mobile Pages project to enhance the mobile web experience. The new update will now allow mobile internet users to view copy and share the canonical link of the article or webpage along with the Google AMP's version of the URL. Previously users were offered the optimized version of the original content that somehow landed Google in some controversies. Read out to find everything on the controversy, the new update and what Google AMP does for mobile internet users. Forced to offer the update? It was in October 2016 when a publisher reported that Google is stealing his traffic with its ambitious AMP project. In one of his article, he mentioned that instead of redirecting users to an optimized version hosted on his server, the search engine giant was offering a snapshot of its work from their own cache. Moreover, he also talked about a Google's toolbar that was encouraging users to get back to Google search results, thus making it harder to get to the original site. SEE ALSO: ZTE Blade A2 Plus review This is in contradiction with Google AMP's actual purpose as the project was coded to allow easy distribution of content on platforms- Google, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. in such a way that the whole process retains the branding and monetization control for the publisher. In Google's words, the attribution, brand, and ownership must be clear but somehow AMP missed it. What Google has to say? As per Google, AMP tries to solve some of the problems of the mobile web at scale, so its components must be easy to use for everyone. Google blog reads that for small scale publishers, that doesn't manage its own DNS entries, doesn't have engineering resources to push content through complicated APIs, or can't pay for content delivery networks, a lot of these technologies are inaccessible. For this reason, the Google AMP Cache works by means of a simple URL "transformation." A webmaster only has to make their content available at some URL and the Google AMP Cache can then cache and serve the content through Google's world-wide infrastructure through a new URL that mirrors and transforms the original. SEE ALSO: Vivo V5 Plus review To simply put, Google AMP is just helping publishers to get their content readable even if they don't have resources to do the same for a wider audience. Our experience We have also faced some issues with Google AMP where articles published on GIZBOT missed some important content when viewed on mobile browsers. For instance, the AMP version of an interview published on the site does not show the 'Questions' on mobile browsers, which makes the story look like a sea of content. While Google AMP does help in fast rendering of online content and allows end users to access the website even with poor internet connectivity, sometimes it might just lose on offering the true essence of story, which Google tried to address with the new update. So what has changed with the new update? Google listened to the publisher's request and have added support for the same functionality in form of an anchor button in the AMP Viewer header on Google Search. This feature allows users to use their browser's native share functionality by long-tapping on the link that is displayed. Besides, Google also mentioned that in the coming weeks, the Android Google app will share the original URL of a document when users tap on the app's share button. However this functionality is already available on the iOS Google app. For those who are still unaware- what is Google AMP project? Google AMP is company's ambitious project designed to offer lightning fast browsing on mobile devices. AMP offers a stripped-down version of a web page with cached resources, which helps the web page to load quickly on a mobile device to offer a better mobile browsing experience. As per an analysis, the average AMP page currently loads four times faster than non-AMP pages. How does AMP work? Accelerated Mobile Pages are just like any other HTML page; however, they have a limited set of allowed technical functionality governed by the open source AMP spec. AMP enabled web pages' optimization is powered by JavaScript and styling can be customized via CSS3. Besides, AMP files can be cached in the cloud in order to reduce the time content takes to get to a user's mobile device. SEE ALSO: Second Beta versions of Apple iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2 are out for developers Accelerated Mobile Pages can load in any modern browser or app webview. The project is open to all players in the ecosystem, be it publishers, consumer platforms or creators. Verdict Google wants the AMP experience to be good for users as well as publishers. The new update addresses the publisher's main concern of attribution and branding and improves the mobile web experience for end users. Besides, Google is also working on leveraging upcoming web platform APIs to improve this functionality even further. One such API is Web Share API that would allow AMP viewers to invoke the platform's native sharing flow with the original URL rather than the AMP viewer URL. Stay tuned on GIZBOT for more updates. Best Mobiles in India Design and display: Major overhaul expected! In the past couple of months, we have seen numerous design renders, schematics, live images, case renders, prototypes, and tons of leaks surrounding the Galaxy S8's design. However, most of these speculations point at a nearly bezel-less display with a new aspect ratio. That is, the Galaxy S8's display will measure 5.8-inches in size, however, the entire footprint will be restricted to 5.1-inch. It's the same case with the Plus variant as well - a 6.2-inch display in a body as big as the Galaxy S7 Edge. As per the resolution, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are believed to either come with a QHD (1440x2560 pixels) or a 4K resolution Super AMOLED display. Also, there will be a couple of other changes in terms of design. For instance, the company may jettison the home button on the Galaxy S8, and the fingerprint scanner may find itself a new place on the back, as suggested by the design renders. Moreover, it may have a dedicated button for its digital assistant, the Bixby just below the volume rockers. Hardware: Of course, top-notch! The Samsung Galaxy S8 (and the Plus variant) is believed to be the first smartphone to come with the Snapdragon 835 chipset which is based on a 10nm node. In terms of memory, the smartphone is expected to come in two variants: one with 4GB of RAM (for select European markets) and another with 6GB of RAM both of them offering at least 64GB of internal storage space (expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card). The Galaxy S7 had a 12MP image sensor at the back with a f/1.7 aperture along with dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, Auto HDR, 4K video support and a LED flash to assist in low-lighting conditions. The Galaxy S8 is believed to pack similar (or better, of course) specs in the camera department with improvements on the whole. The selfie camera may receive a bump to 8MP, though. Also, the Plus variant was earlier rumored to come with a dual camera setup at the back. However, the latest renders won't suggest the same. Software and other features The Galaxy S8 will, of course, run Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box with a layer of Samsung Experience atop (earlier known as TouchWiz). The company is expected to debut an AI-based assistant called Bixby to compete against the likes of Google Assistant and Apple's Siri. The device will also see a bump in the battery capacity. The Galaxy S8 is now rumored to pack a 3,250mAh battery while the S8 Plus is speculated to come with a 3,750mAh battery. The smartphone should also come with IP68 certification a la Samsung Galaxy S7. Pricing: You may have to sell one of your kidneys! The base variant of Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be somewhere between USD 650 and USD 700 (viz Rs. 47,092 approx.) and the Plus variant between USD 750 to USD 800 (viz Rs. 53,820). Do note that the said prices are merely rumors and the actual prices may vary. As per the launch date, the company is believed to unveil the handset on March 29 and will be released in the US market on April 21 according to the rumors. It may take a while until it reaches India, though. Image Source Motorola Moto Z Play finally receiving Android Nougat flavor News oi -Chakri Kudikala The update brings all the Nougat features to the phone. Motorola Moto Z Play users here's news you will cheer about. Lenovo-owned Motorola, after updating the Moto Z and Z Force is now pushing the Android Nougat update to Moto Z Play as well. The update is now rolling out globally for the all the Moto Z Plays, and the update weighs 1121.1MB. The update is rolling out in an incremental manner, and it may take some time to reach your phone, depending on the region you live. Also Read: Moto G5 Plus image leaked ahead of the launch: Key specs highlighted A few days ago, Moto Germany said that they would push the update to Moto Z in March, but the update is already rolling out. Several people in India are already receiving the upgrade. Motorola, officially hasn't released any changelog or features included in the upgrade, but we believe that all the Nougat features to be included in the new update. Have you received the update? If yes, let us know the new features added to your phone. SOURCE Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Nokia 6 was not let on flash sale, says HMD News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Nokia 6 to have better sales in the coming weeks. For now, Nokia 6 is the only Nokia Android smartphone that is official, though it is a Chinese affair exclusive to JD.com. The retailer has held two flash sales of the smartphone and it was sold out instantly on both the sales. Following the same, HMD did not announce when the third flash sale will happen. In the meantime, it appears like HMD has decided to half the flash sale model for the Nokia 6. We say this as a report suggests the same. Going by the report, HMD's communications team has stated that they will not follow the flash sales model anymore. Was the Nokia 6 demand underestimated by HMD Global? They have written that they have been updating the stocks on JD.com during both the sales despite which the stocks had gone out of stock in just minutes. This has left the impression that they were holding flash sales. They have assured that they will supply to JD.com and that people can expect more supplies in the coming weeks as the Chinese New Year season is almost over. Two new Nokia Android smartphones pass certification This letter appears like we can expect to see a better Nokia 6 supply in the coming days. However, the questions related to the underestimated demand of Nokia 6 still remains. Right now, the smartphone is out of stock on the retailer. Meanwhile, Nokia fans can get to see more Android smartphones launching later this month as HMD Global will be hosting an event on February 26 at the MWC 2017. Also, a could of smartphones from Nokia including the Nokia 6 global variant with the model number TA-1003 have passed certifications. Source Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Xiaomi to start offline distribution of smartphones in India soon News oi -Samden Sherpa Xiaomi has announced that it is planning to ramp up its offline distribution channel in the country. Xiaomi the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has been making headlines lately with its Redmi Note 4 smartphone. While it has achieved a record-breaking sale in its first flash sale now the company has announced that it is planning to ramp up its offline distribution channel in the country. According to Economic Times, Xiaomi is targeting around 25 percent of its turnover from this segment. Regarding this matter, Xiaomi India Head Manu Kumar Jain said, "Till now, our focus was on online sales. Now, we will focus both on online and offline distribution. We expect our share from offline to grow from current 10 per cent to 20-25 per cent by the end of this year. This is our aspiration." He added that the company had strong plans for offline distribution. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X Hatsune Miku Special Edition smartphone announced Further Xiaomi is targeting five or six cities in India to provide extensive offline distribution. The company, on the other hand, has said that Chandigarh was a key market. "In the next 3-4 months, we will start a very extensive offline distribution business in Chandigarh through multi-brand outlets. "We will go deep and we will have much deeper penetration in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Chandigarh," Jain said. A small fact, Xiaomi is selling mobile handsets through 8,500 multi-brand outlets across the country and the report suggests that the company is getting more than 90 percent of sales from online platforms like Flipkart, Snapdeal, and mi.com. Xiaomi smartphones to be launched this year: Mi 6, Mi Max, Note 4X and more However, now that the company has launched of Redmi Note 4 smartphone, it looks like Xiaomi is expecting to double its sales compared to that of Redmi Note 3. "We sold 3.6 million units of Redmi Note 3 during March till December 2016. The Redmi Note 4 has better battery, better camera, latest processor and we are expecting almost double of what we did with Redmi Note 3," said Jain. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop prior to the two countries' fourth round of diplomatic and strategic dialogue in Canberra, Australia, Feb. 7, 2017. Foreign ministers of China and Australia called for further strengthening of bilateral ties here on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhu Hongye) Foreign ministers of China and Australia called for further strengthening of bilateral ties on Tuesday. At the two countries' fourth round of diplomatic and strategic dialogue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said relations between China and Australia have maintained healthy development, adding that the free trade agreement between the two sides has yielded good results. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia, Wang said, calling on the two sides to take this opportunity to review past experience and plan for the future. He urged the two sides to expand cooperation, add new content to bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit. As the international situation is facing uncertainties, China and Australia need to strengthen strategic communication, jointly deliver to the world positive signals including building an open world economy, promoting greater inclusiveness and broader shared benefit, as well as safeguarding global trade system and combatting protectionism. He said the two countries need to promote business and trade cooperation toward a more diversified, more sustainable direction, enhance collaboration on such areas as international production capacity cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and law-enforcement cooperation. Speaking positively of the Australia-China relations, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the country is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields and coordination on global affairs. She said Australia expects to expand bilateral cooperation with China in the fields of business and trade, innovation, energy, and building closer people-to-people links. The Port of Piraeus, located in the Mediterranean Sea basin.[Photo: cntv.cn] The first two trains carrying Chinese cargo containers, launched by China COSCO Shipping Group, arrived in the Hungarian capital, the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary said Tuesday. The shipments arrived in Budapest on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, respectively, from the port of Piraeus, Greece, marking the official opening of the China-Europe land-sea fast intermodal transport route. This took place after the acquisition of the Piraeus port by COSCO Group. The goods transported by the two trains were mainly furniture, with the containers completing their routes from the Chinese Ningbo port by sea to Piraeus, and from port by rail to Budapest, in 26 days. More than 20 containerized goods will return to Piraeus with the two trains. The China-Europe land-sea fast intermodal transport route uses the same path as the planned China-Europe Land-Sea Express Route. The latter was started in 2014 by China and three Central and Eastern European countries, who agreed to build a land-sea express passage way linking the Piraeus port and Hungary to speed-up transportation between China and Europe. As a flagship project, the modernization of the Budapest-Belgrade railway is expected to achieve substantial progress this year. The completion of the project will strongly support the China-Europe land-sea fast transport, promote Chinese goods, and enable a faster access to European markets, the Chinese Embassy said. People of Miao ethnic group dance during a gathering to strengthen friendship and to celebrate the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, at Lindong Village in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Bin) At Glaucoma Research Foundation, we share your sense of urgency to do all we can to speed the pace of discovery for a cure for glaucoma. Thomas M. Brunner, President and CEO Goldfein Describes Challenges Facing the Air Force By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2017 The Air Force chief of staff spoke about the challenges facing his service and what the Air Force must do in the future for the joint force, during a meeting with the Defense Writers' Group today. Gen. David L. Goldfein emphasized the importance to the joint force of incorporating the space domain. He also spoke about the manpower shortage the service faces and the need for dependable budgets for both the service and industry partners. Fighting ISIL Airmen are taking the fight to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on a daily basis, Goldfein said. During the counter-ISIL campaign in Mosul, he said, the Air Force was dropping ordnance on the group about every eight minutes. The Air Force also killed hundreds of terrorists in their camps in Libya, and has gone after groups in Yemen, Goldfein said. In Afghanistan, the Air Force is supporting Afghan forces with close air support and is helping in critical resupply efforts, the general said. Airmen also are deployed and busy in South Korea, Poland, Germany, Djibouti, the Philippines and other areas, Goldfein said. In some places, he said, they are working with allies to strengthen their capabilities. Nuclear Deterrent The Air Force also manages two legs of the nuclear triad or deterrent -- bombers and intercontinental missiles. The U.S. Navy maintains the nuclear submarine force. The Air Force also maintains the command-and-control system for all nuclear forces if "on the worst day of our nation" the president ever has to use these weapons, Goldfein said. The Air Force also is in space, where the service maintains the satellites that tie the military together, the general said. Space-Based Communications Space is where the Air Force literally touches every service member, Goldfein said, noting that the computers and global positioning systems that service members use each day are linked through Air Force satellites. "Space is the connective tissue for the joint force," the general said, noting he wants to "normalize" operations in that critical domain. "As we talk about space as a joint warfighting domain, I want to make sure that as part of the dialogue we are not carving space out as something unique -- that only people in the space business understand," Goldfein said. "We need to look at space as just one more domain in which we operate, and we need to look at constructs used on land, sea and air, and see how many can be applied to space." Putting the space domain in its own unique set could mean walls and seams -- and therefor vulnerabilities -- among the domains, Goldfein said. And if space is the connective tissue among the U.S. services, he added, it also connects the United States to its allies and partners worldwide. Aging Air Fleet The Air Force fleet is the oldest it has been, Goldfein said, noting the B-52 bomber was designed in the 1950s, with the last rolling off the assembly line in the late 1960s. But other aircraft are aging too, he added. The F-15, F-16 and A-10 were originally designed in the 1970s. The C-17 in the 1980s. And, the KC-135 is based on the Boeing 707, he noted, was originally designed in the 1950s. Goldfein said the Air Force wants to modernize its fleet, and that is why the F-35 is a priority for the service. The Air Force plans to buy about 1,600 F-35As, he said. "The more F-35s we can procure in the shortest period of time to reduce aircraft age and get more heavily into the 5th-generation capabilities" -- the better," Goldfein said. Hard Choices Ahead But there are difficult choices ahead for the service, the general said. At the same time the Air Force is buying more F-35s, he said, the service needs to also buy new tanker aircraft, pay for the B-21 bomber program and fund the nuclear modernization program. Add to that, he added, investment in space programs and cyber defense programs and recovering readiness from the trough it went in following sequestration. "One thing on my wish list is a stable budget I can plan against with a reasonable expectation for the future so I can make good fiscal decisions," Goldfein said. The year-to-year changes in the defense budget make it extremely difficult to make any long-term investments in future capabilities, he said. This impacts the service, and industry partners, he said. "I was in Boeing in Los Angeles and visited the people in the business of building satellites," Goldfein said. "That's a pretty sophisticated workforce." He added, "When I jerk the throttle around in one-year budgets and I tell them, 'I think I need this much in two to three years from now, but I'm not sure because I think I'm going to get a continuing resolution which means I can't spend.'" That CEO, he said, "has to somehow sustain that sophisticated workforce. One-year budgets wreak havoc on a service chiefs ability to plan, and on industry." Multi-domain Command, Control One huge change the Air Force is grappling with is on multi-domain command and control, Goldfein said. Gathering land, sea, air, space and cyber together will be key to military success in the future, the general said. "Part of this is a dialogue within industry and the acquisition corps," he said. "As we look at the 21st century, perhaps it's time to focus less on the trucks and the cargo and more on the highway they ride on," the general continued. "Because traditionally, we've built weapons systems and procured munitions and sensors, and then looked at the way to connect them." That thinking needs to reverse, Goldfein said. "In the future, we need to ask what is the network we will ride on and then what are the apps we'll need to ride on that network," he said. "Some of those roll, walk, steam, fly and orbit and it is only as we can connect them as a family that we get multiple dilemmas for an enemy in multiple domains, where 1 plus 1 equals 3 or more." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-048-17 February 07, 2017 Readout of Secretary Mattis' Call with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke today by telephone with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan to discuss the enduring U.S.-Afghan security relationship. Secretary Mattis thanked President Ghani for his leadership and emphasized the importance of the government of national unity to the stability of Afghanistan. President Ghani affirmed his commitment to reforms, especially eliminating corruption, and highlighted the importance of a sustained U.S.-Afghan relationship for the security of Afghanistan and the region. In light of the recent attacks, including today's attack against the Afghan Supreme Court, Secretary Mattis offered his condolences for the sacrifices of the Afghan people and commended President Ghani's unwavering commitment in the face of the enemy. Both Secretary Mattis and President Ghani expressed their desire to maintain a strong relationship, and look forward to engaging again in the near future. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1075234/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ideals and values that inspired creation of International Criminal Court still hold true - UN adviser 7 February 2017 The setting up of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was a "reckoning" for those who had long disregarded the lives and dignity of their people, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has said and warned that withdrawing from the tribunal could have grave implications for victims seeking redress for serious human rights violations. "The establishment of the Court signified a global commitment to protect victims, when national judicial mechanisms lacked the capacity, willingness or jurisdiction to prosecute those responsible for the most serious crimes," wrote Special Adviser Adama Dieng in an opinion piece published in The East African. Since the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998, more than half of the world's States have joined the Court, 34 among them are African nations the biggest regional block to date . In July this year, the Court's founding Statue will mark the 15th anniversary of its entry into force. Highlighting the significance of the Court, Mr. Dieng said that the fact that most of the cases in the continent were submitted by African States themselves, reaffirming their belief that it would strengthen the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the African people. However, he added that despite the ICC's achievements, it is increasingly coming under threat, with recent announcements by Burundi, South Africa and the Gambia to withdraw from the Rome Statute. "Other States have threatened to do so, if certain conditions are not met," he wrote, noting that key among the concerns raised by these countries included the "lack of fairness in the prosecution decisions of the Court, perceived by some to disproportionately target African leaders." A candid dialogue will enhance mutual trust and cooperation Noting the need for a candid conversation between all stakeholders, in particular member States and the Court to identify and address legitimate concerns, he said: "Doing this will enhance mutual trust and cooperation and strengthen the capability of the Court to fulfil its mandate." But, he added that the States that want to withdraw from the Rome Statute have made little, if any, effort to present their grievances through the established forums, such as the Assembly of States Parties the management oversight and legislative body of the Court, composed of representatives of the States that have ratified and acceded to the Rome Statute. "To have done so would have presented an opportunity to have an open and frank dialogue, and discuss how to make the Court a better institution, one that is capable of responding effectively to the challenges it was established to address," he emphasized, and "engaging and advocating for reforms should serve the interests of all stakeholders of the Court." Reaffirm the commitment to ensure accountability for appalling crimes Drawing attention to the ongoing atrocities in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, South Sudan and in other parts of the world, he underlined that the time is not right to abandon the Court. "Rather, States and non-State members should reaffirm their commitment to strengthen the Rome Statute and ensure accountability for these horrendous crimes," Mr. Dieng said, appealing urging for them to work collectively to ensure the Court can effectively administer international criminal justice without fear or favour, contribute to the fight against impunity, and promote respect for the rule of law and human rights. "As someone who witnessed first-hand the horrors in Rwanda, the Former Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone and elsewhere, and who has been closely involved in the delivery of international justice at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, I know too well the consequences when the international community undermines the efforts of international justice," he said. "We owe it to the victims of these horrendous crimes to strengthen rather than undermine the International Criminal Court, and to reaffirm our commitment to the Rome Statute to 'put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes and thus contribute to their prevention'." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mortar Rounds Shake Mogadishu Ahead of Somali Presidential Vote By VOA News February 07, 2017 Five mortar rounds exploded near Mogadishu airport in the capital of Somalia Tuesday evening, ahead of a parliament meeting on Wednesday to elect the country's next president. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the mortar attack. Some residents blamed militant group al-Shabab, which has vowed to disrupt the election. One of the mortars landed year Jazeera Hotel, less than one kilometer north of Mogadishu's international airport, the venue of Wednesday's presidential election. An explosion from a grenade attack was also reported near Dabka junction in Hodan district. So far, no casualties have been reported in that attack. Military base attacked Outside Mogadishu, suspected militants launched mortar attacks and fired weapons at a military base run by African Union troops Tuesday evening, according to an official near the base in Arbaow, 13 kilometers south of Mogadishu. The incumbent president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is seeking re-election against more than 20 other candidates, including his predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and two former prime ministers. The group of voters will meet at Mogadishu's international airport under heavy security provided by AMISOM, the African Union mission in Somalia. Most of the 329 members of parliament who will be participating in the election live in hotels in Mogadishu. They, along with 22 presidential candidates, will arrive at the airport early Wednesday for screening before the voting begins. No comment from government Somalian officials have not commented on Tuesday's reports of attacks. Observers say some candidates are trying to buy the presidency through cash and gifts to lawmakers. AMISOM has protected Somalia's fragile government for a decade against al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. VOA's Harun Maruf contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Report: Military Pressure on IS has Group on 'Defensive' By Margaret Besheer February 07, 2017 The United Nations says the so-called Islamic State terror group has not been able to withstand sustained military pressure in several conflict zones at once and is on the defensive. In its biannual report on the state of IS and al-Qaida, the U.N. says recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters to IS in Iraq and Syria "has slowed considerably" and fighters are increasingly leaving the battlefield. Islamic State's finances are also on the decline, forcing it to operate on a "crisis" budget, and the territory it holds has shrunk significantly. "ISIL is adapting in several ways to military pressure," U.N. political chief Jeffrey Feltman told the Security Council in a briefing Tuesday, using one of the acronyms by which the terrorists are known. He said the group is "resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using the dark web, encryption and messengers." He said while income and territory are on the decline, "ISIL still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting," and the U.N. report warns "the threat to the aviation sector remains high," citing recent attacks on airports in Belgium and Turkey. Returning fighters a concern The report also warns of threats to countries where their nationals who have fought with IS return home, saying that they "will present a significant threat if they eventually return, given that most are staunchly committed to ISIL ideology." The current U.N. report focuses on the group's presence in Europe, North Africa and West Africa. In Libya, a military offensive succeeded in dislodging IS from its stronghold in the city of Sirte, one of its most important bases outside of Syria and Iraq. Feltman, however, cautioned that the group's threat to Libya and its neighbors continues, noting that IS still has between several hundred and 3,000 fighters in Libya and they have moved to other parts of the country. No 'large-scale attacks' in Western Europe The United Nations says IS has also increased its presence in West Africa and the Maghreb, and its affiliate Boko Haram, which has several thousand fighters, remains a serious threat. In 2014, IS said it would carry out attacks in Europe and the United States in retribution for airstrikes against the group. "Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by ISIL personnel, while others were enabled by ISIL providing guidance or assistance or were inspired through its propaganda," Feltman said. Since the last U.N. report on IS four months ago, it notes that terrorists have not carried out any "complex, large-scale attacks" in western Europe. It speculates that this may be due to several factors, including the pressure on its resources in multiple conflict zones, increased difficulty for their fighters to travel from battlefields to Europe, and large-scale police and security measures in multiple countries that have disrupted plots and terror cells across Europe. The report cautions member states currently assess the threat of large-scale attacks remains, and says one state has warned that not all of the IS operatives believed to have been sent to Europe to carry out the Paris (November 2015) and Brussels (March 2016) attacks have been identified and arrested. Vulnerabilities The U.N. says that while countries have improved their information sharing and cooperation in addressing terrorism and curbing the travel and transit of fighters, and cracked down on terrorist financing, more needs to be done. Gaps must be addressed in global screening efforts to stem the travel of foreign fighters. Designing and implementing border management strategies is also a challenge for many countries, the U.N. report says. One measure, requiring airlines to provide advance passenger information, has only been implemented in 56 countries, including just a handful in Europe. The United Nations is working with 78 countries identified as the most affected by foreign terrorist fighters to help them get this system up and running. The U.N. report also notes that some countries have expanded the passenger information to include cruise ships and other ocean traffic, but there is no regulation that requires this and leaves open a "significant vulnerability." Travel ban suspended U.S. President Donald Trump recently ordered a 90-day ban on citizens from Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iran and Iraq entering the United States while stricter border security measures are studied; but, the ban is suspended while it is being challenged in court. "As we consider what more we can do to check and roll back ISIL," the U.N.'s Feltman said, "we must also step up efforts to prevent and resolve violent conflicts that both drive and are made worse by terrorism." He said ultimately, it would be the spread and consolidation of peace, security, development and human rights that would most effectively stamp out terrorism at its roots. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US: Iran 'Kidding Itself' If It Doesn't Realize Trump Has New Approach By Michael Lipin, Payam Yazdian February 07, 2017 The White House has dismissed a defiant message from Iran's supreme leader about Donald Trump, saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should realize "there is a new president in office." In his daily press briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump would not remain idle in response to Iran's "violations, or apparent violations," of its 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and five other world powers. He said Trump "will continue to take action as he sees fit. ... [H]e is not going to project what those actions will be, and he will not take anything off the table." Spicer was responding to a question about Khamenei, who earlier in the day made his first public remarks about Trump since the president took office January 20. According to Khamenei's website, he spoke to a gathering of military commanders in Tehran about Trump's recent warning that Iran was "on notice" for carrying out a January 29 missile test that Washington said undermined regional security and put American lives at risk. "[Trump] says, 'You should be afraid of me.' No! The Iranian people will respond to his words on February 10 and will show their stance against such threats," Khamenei said. Iran will mark the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on that date. A U.N. Security Council resolution underpinning the Iran nuclear deal urges Tehran to refrain from testing missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear warheads, but imposes no obligation. The White House has said the January 29 missile test was not a direct breach of Iran's nuclear pact with the world powers but violated what it called the "spirit" of that deal. Khamenei also used his speech to thank Trump for exposing what he called the "real face of America." He said Trump's anti-establishment rhetoric during and after the 2016 presidential election campaign "confirmed what we have been saying for more than 30 years about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the U.S. ruling system." He also said Trump's executive actions, such as a bid to pause immigration to the U.S. from Iran and six other Muslim-majority nations, showed the "reality of American human rights." Spicer suggested Khamenei's gratitude toward Trump was misplaced. "I think Iran is kidding itself if it does not realize there is a new president in town," he told reporters. Middle East security analyst Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council told VOA Persian's NewsHour program on Tuesday that the Trump administration's approach toward Iran was very different from that of its predecessor. "Under the Obama administration, Iran had enormous latitude politically and economically in terms of reaping benefits from the nuclear deal," said Berman, who serves as senior vice president of the Washington-based conservative research institute."Under the Trump White House, it is not known whether the nuclear deal is off the table completely, but it is very clear that the new administration is going to pursue a more confrontational approach [toward implementing it]." Berman based his assessment of the new U.S. policy on what he called the Trump national security team's "remarkable commonality of views" about Iran. "From Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to national security adviser Michael Flynn, there is very deep skepticism about Iranian intentions and whether or not it's a good idea to continue the nuclear deal, and there's very deep apprehension about the destabilizing role that Iran can play in the Persian Gulf region," Berman said. "So I think you see a much more realistic view of Iran beginning to take shape." Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has rejected accusations that his nation has acted in a destabilizing manner, posting a tweet last Friday saying: "We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense. Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement." VOA's Persian service contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (File photo) A task force of China specialists offered their expert recommendations for the new Trump administration on the China-U.S. relationship, the countrys most crucial bilateral relationship, in a report issued by Asia Society. The Task Force on U.S.-China Policy, which includes former U.S. government officials, scholars, and think tank researchers, generated the report and set of recommendations to assist the new administration in formulating a China strategy that will protect and further U.S. national interests. The task force made clear that U.S. national interests and peace and stability in the region depend on maintaining the political foundation of the China-U.S. relationship. Issues involving both Taiwan and Hong Kong must be managed with utmost care and deftness, the report said. The report urged the Trump administration to maintain the One China Policy and declared support for the three communiques and Taiwan Relations Act as the guiding pillars of U.S. policy. The Trump administration also should reiterate the longstanding U.S. position that it will not challenge any future arrangement between Taiwan and the mainland, the reported stated. The report urged the new administration to respect the One Country, Two Systems formula, and to ensure its policies toward Hong Kong recognize the special administrative region as a sovereign part of China. The task force said the One China Policy has served as the basis for the development of the U.S. relationship with China, and warned the new Trump administration that no national interest would be furthered if the long-standing policy was abandoned or conditioned. China has been clear and consistent on issues involving its sovereignty and territory. China has repeatedly stated that One China Policy is the bedrock of the political relationship between the two countries, and that China will never bargain over issues involving its national sovereignty or territorial integrity. Myanmar Wants 'Firm Evidence' of Abuses Against Rohingya By VOA News February 07, 2017 The government of Myanmar says it needs "firm evidence" rather than allegations before it investigates U.N. reports of abuses against the Rohingya community by its security forces. The United Nations special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng, has said Myanmar's Rohingya have suffered abuses that could be considered "crimes against humanity." "Our position is clear: These allegations are very serious," the permanent secretary of Myanmar's foreign ministry, U Kyaw Zaya, said Tuesday. "However, allegations alone are not enough. If they give us firm evidence, we will investigate these allegations." U.N. adviser Dieng said Monday: "If people are being persecuted based on their identity and killed, tortured, raped and forcibly transferred in a widespread or systematic manner, this could amount to crimes against humanity, and in fact be the precursor of other egregious international crimes." A "flash report" last week by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) gave weight to allegations that Myanmar's security forces have committed serious human-rights violations against civilians in northern Rakhine state since a recent escalation of violence there, according to Dieng. Human Rights Watch issued a report Monday alleging government forces committed rape and other sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls as young as 13 during security operations in northern Rakhine state in late 2016. Dieng has called for an investigation "by a truly independent and impartial body that includes international observers." A U.N. statement Monday said he has expressed concern that the commission previously appointed by Myanmar to investigate abuse allegations had found no evidence, or insufficient evidence, of any wrongdoing by government forces. Attacks against the Rohingya population, most of whom live in Myanmar's Rakhine state, appear to have been widespread and systematic during the recent outburst of violence, which began last October 9 when nine border guards were killed by suspected insurgents. A Muslim ethnic group, the Rohingya have been denied citizenship despite having lived in Myanmar for generations. The United Nations has referred to them as one of the world's most persecuted minorities. OHCHR's 43-page "flash report" resulted from interviews conducted during two weeks in January by U.N. investigators in the Bangladeshi city of Cox's Bazar, near the border with Myanmar. Many Rohingya there had fled across the border in response to a security sweep in Myanmar's Rakhine state. An estimated 66,000 Rohingya fled into Bangladesh from Rakhine, while another 22,000 have been internally displaced since October, OHCHR reported. All witnesses interviewed by the U.N. said the abuses were committed by members of the Myanmar army, border guards and part of the regular police forces. A spokesman for the Myanmar government, which was provided an advance copy of the report, told VOA last week it will conduct its own investigation into the charges. "We found out that what they have written in the report is quite harsh," said Zaw Htay, spokesman for President Htin Kyaw. "We are deeply concerned about it. Vice President U Myint Swe will lead a commission investigating these allegations as soon as possible. If the investigation finds and receives firm evidence on the allegations, we will take necessary actions." VOA's Shar Phaung contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Officials 'Deeply Concerned' About Violence in Eastern Ukraine By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2017 Defense officials are concerned about the recent violence in eastern Ukraine, a Defense Department spokesman said today. The violence has been largely centered around Avdiivka-Yasynuvata, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, the director of defense press operations, told reporters at the Pentagon. "We're deeply concerned with the recent spike in violence in eastern Ukraine," he said. "We reaffirm U.S. support for full implementation of the Minsk agreements and we continue to provide security assistance to Ukraine." Assistance for Ukraine Davis pointed out the 2016 package of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine was $335 million. The training program is being conducted by about 350 U.S. soldiers in cooperation with other allies and partners, he said. "We have a robust advisory effort to advance the implementation of key defense reforms and equipment to support the operational needs of Ukraine's security forces," he said. "We do however continue to believe that there's no military solution to the crisis and that the Minsk agreements are the only way to resolve the conflict peacefully," he said. "Our focus has been on supporting Ukraine and pursuing a durable diplomatic solution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. Davis described the violence as the most significant flare up there since 2015. "We're troubled by it, we've taken note of it," he said. "I can tell you what we haven't seen is any sort of large-scale movement of Russian forces that would suggest that this is part of something bigger." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 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. West Lafayette, Ind., Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A high-definition mobile virtual reality 3-D motion-tracking technology for fast, accurate and easy-to-use 3-D user interface can advance to the next level thanks to $100,000 in funding from investors. AccuPS LLC, a Purdue-affiliated startup, has developed the AeroWand, an add-on 3-D motion-tracking controller that provides a way for mobile virtual reality (VR) users to interact in the VR space. The technology includes a head-tracking device, hand controller and transmitting antenna that plug into the users smartphone to enable the tracking signals. A good analogy to what we are doing is providing a mouse to PC owners without a mouse you can just see and watch, however with a mouse you are able to engage, take action and the overall experience is more exciting, useable and fun. Thats what the AeroWand aims to do, said Byunghoo Jung, CEO and founder of AccuPS. The benefit of our technology is that there is minimal set up with no wires or cameras to install. The device has a low-cost, inbuilt microprocessor that can locally compute the elegant and smart algorithms we developed, and it is very simple and easy to use. Jung said the startup is pleased with the success of the first round of investment funding. Were very excited to receive these funds because it represents a vote of confidence from investors who are saying they believe in our product and its potential for success, he said. We had a lot of great interest in our product and the money we received motivates and inspires us to continue producing an elegant, high-tech product because we know it has the potential to provide a unique, exciting experience to mobile VR users. AccuPS recently started a second round of investment funding, after beginning the first phase in spring 2016. The investments will put the group one closer to realization of the product. With the money we raise our first priority is to make a commercial grade prototype that meets all the required and best proponent specs, Jung said. This will helps us present an actual product to potential customers so they can see how it actually works and line us up for potential partnerships or additional investments in the future. AccuPS previously received a NSF STTR grant for $225,000. The company also received a $20,000 Elevate Purdue Foundry Fund Black Award in 2015. Technology used by AccuPS has been licensed through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization. The company is located in the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette. About AccuPS AccuPS is a tech startup providing high definition 3D interaction solutions. The first product, AeroWand, is a 3D controller for virtual reality (VR) applications. The easy-to-use yet powerful 3D controller will make VR available to everyone at a low cost. About Purdue Research Foundation The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org. Mou Tianming, a village doctor who has been physically disabled since contracting a disease in his childhood, has been on call for 40 straight years in a village in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Many of the villagers who have received his care call him a "guardian angel. Mou became disabled when he was in elementary school, and didnt receive good treatment due limited medical technology available at that time. Still, refusing to give up, he began teaching himself medical knowledge when he was still in junior high school. After graduating from high school in 1977, he started serving as a doctor in a village in Xiji County. He has remained at that post for four decades. Though it is not easy for him to walk, Mou never fails to help villagers in need. Rain or shine, he visits patients houses on foot, helping them with their problems. To the editor: Rep. Tom Garrett, R-Fifth District, is proud of the fact that he ran on repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Now he is in a good position to do so. He admits a repeal will be easy. In a column dated Jan. 30, Garrett wrote, Republicans have released a plan and similarly, I have put forward ideas to ensure those with pre-existing conditions are able to receive healthcare and to create a framework for reciprocity across state lines via amending McCarron-Ferguson antitrust exemptions. We should question Garrett about that statement. Republicans have not released a plan. There are no specifics, no time frame, and no guarantees for those currently covered under the ACA, Medicaid, Medicare or those seeking affordable health care. Since we have not heard Garrett talking about the positive changes brought about through the ACA, we can only hope that he does know what they are. During the campaign, Garrett frequently mocked his opponent when she pointed to the many strong components of the ACA. He describes the ACA as a monstrosity. Since enactment of the ACA, negative messages have far outnumbered positive messages. That needs to change. Now that we are faced with the possibility that there could be disastrous results from a repeal, we need to make our voices heard. It is estimated that 34,900 people in the Fifth District are enrolled in and are currently benefiting from the ACA. If you benefit from having the security that good affordable health care provides, please have empathy for those who still lack that security and those who are worried about the impact of a repeal. It is wonderful that so many people step up to put money in a jar, have fund raisers, and take other steps to help those experiencing a health care crisis, but that is not enough. We must remember that good affordable health care is a matter of life or death. It should be a right that is afforded to every citizen in the United States. Our nations leaders have talked about healthcare reforms for decades. While there are problems with the ACA, it has put action behind the rhetoric. We have former President Obama to thank for that. Republicans should admit that there are many strong components of the ACA and commit to working within the framework of the existing law rather than undo what Garrett describes as the monstrosity that is Obamacare. Feb. 21 to 24 is listed on the Congressional Calendar as being set aside for district work sessions. Hopefully, Rep. Garrett will schedule town hall meetings across the district to discuss constituent concerns. To express your views or to find out when Rep. Garrett is scheduled to meet with constituents, please call his office in Danville (434-791-2596) or in Washington (202-225-4711). ELENA S. DANIEL Danville New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone. VANCOUVER, Feb. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Rye Patch Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RPM; OTCQX: RPMGF; FWB: 5TN) (the "Company" or "Rye Patch") is pleased to report the filing of an amended technical report titled "Amended Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Florida Canyon Mine, Pershing County, Nevada USA" effective March 16, 2016 and dated January 27, 2017 ("Amended Technical Report"), prepared by Mine Development Associates ("MDA"). The Amended Technical Report has been prepared to correct deficiencies, identified by the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC"), in the March 16, 2016 technical report revised June 23, 2016 ("Revised Report"). These deficiencies have been addressed and corrected in the Amended Technical Report and a copy will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and posted on the Company's website www.ryepatchgold.com. The Amended Technical Report has been prepared in accordance with the disclosure and reporting requirements set forth in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), Companion Policy 43-101CP, and Form 43-101F1, as well as with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards For Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines" ("CIM Standards") adopted by the CIM Council on May 10, 2014. The Amended Technical Report reflects a change to the resources reported in the Revised Report in that all sulfide material has been removed from the tabulation of Inferred resource. This change does not impact the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") included in the Revised Report, and re-stated in the Amended Report, since sulfide material was not included within the economic analyses. The Measured, Indicated, and Inferred resources calculated for the Amended Technical Report are based on a 0.006 oz Au/ton cutoff grade and were restricted to oxide material within an optimized pit. The amended resources are shown in Table 1. Florida Canyon March 16, 2016 Oxide Resources (0.006 oz Au/ton cutoff grade) Item Tons (000's) oz Au/ton Ounces Au (000's) Measured Indicated 79,635.4 4,566.7 0.013 0.020 1,035.3 91.3 Measured + Indicated 84,202.1 0.013 1,126.6 Inferred 350.8 0.015 5.3 The mineral resources stated in Table 1 are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Neil Prenn, P.Eng. and Paul Tietz, C.P.G. of MDA are the Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101 who are the authors of the Amended Technical Report and who have also reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. About Rye Patch Gold Corp. Rye Patch Gold Corp. is a Nevada based, Tier 1, mining company engaged in the mining and development of quality resource-based gold and silver mines and projects along the established Oreana trend in west central Nevada. Leveraging its strong financial position and cash to acquire the operating Florida Canyon Gold Mine, Rye Patch Gold Corp. now controls a trend-scale platform with operations, replacement assets and exploration upside. The combination of operations and exploration concentrated along a major Nevada gold trend positions Rye Patch as an emerging mid-tier gold producer with tremendous value added potential. For more information, please visit our website at www.ryepatchgold.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On behalf of the Board of Directors 'William Howald' William C. (Bill) Howald, CEO & President SOURCE Rye Patch Gold TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - February 08, 2017) - Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. ("Wesdome" or the "Company") (TSX: WDO) is pleased to provide an update of underground drilling progress at its 100% owned Kiena Mine Complex, in Val d'Or, Quebec. Since the last update on November 15, 2016, a fourth drill has been added on the 960 metre level (Figure 1), 29 drill holes have been completed and assay results have been received for 21 drill holes (Table 1). The new drilling continues to trace the Kiena Deep mineralized system along an altered and deformed north north west trending ("NNW") basalt-komatiite contact zone. To date, it has been traced 550 metres NNW along strike and over a depth range of 400 metres. It remains open at depth and along trend. Wesdome continues its accelerated drilling program with the goal of determining the extent, continuity and geometry of the Kiena Deep gold system. HIGHLIGHTS *(Uncut and cut assay averages over core lengths*) 1. Major step out holes extending trend to a tested length of 550m: 6.63 g/t gold over 11.0 m uncut (6.63 g/t cut) in hole 6146 7.67 g/t gold over 8.2 m uncut (5.53 g/t cut) in hole 6147 2. Assays received from visible gold occurrences reported November 15, 2016: 18.67 g/t gold over 9.8 m uncut (5.44 g/t cut) in hole 6134 110.23 g/t gold over 4.1 m uncut (5.91 g/t cut) in hole 6155 14.89 g/t gold over 2.0 m uncut (14.89 g/t cut) in hole 6155 3. Additional New Results: 27.97 g/t gold over 1.0 m uncut (27.97 g/t cut) in hole 6134 34.27 g/t gold over 8.4 m uncut (6.78 g/t cut) in hole 6137 306.10 g/t gold over 0.6 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6142 6.23 g/t gold over 10.5 m uncut (5.67 g/t cut) in hole 6142 41.39 g/t gold over 2.4 m uncut (11.62 g/t cut) in hole 6142 24.92 g/t gold over 5.2 m uncut (10.03 g/t cut) in hole 6142 11.40 g/t gold over 3.6 m uncut (5.81 g/t cut) in hole 6143 43.05 g/t gold over 14.0 m uncut (5.35 g/t cut) in hole 6143 10.45 g/t gold over 8.0 m uncut (5.23 g/t cut) in hole 6144 18.04 g/t gold over 2.7 m uncut (16.07 g/t cut) in hole 6144 14.61 g/t gold over 15.4 m uncut (3.08 g/t cut) in hole 6145A 37.71 g/t gold over 0.7 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6150 4.68 g/t gold over 4.0 m uncut (4.68 g/t cut) in hole 6151 29.52 g/t gold over 0.5 m uncut (29.52 g/t cut) in hole 6151 9.11 g/t gold over 1.5 m uncut (9.11 g/t cut) in hole 6152 8.75 g/t gold over 1.5 m uncut (8.75 g/t cut) in hole 6152 3.47 g/t gold over 16.0 m uncut (3.47 g/t cut) in hole 6154 124.98 g/t gold over 4.3 m uncut (13.98 g/t cut) in hole 6154 44.85 g/t gold over 1.2 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6154 28.00 g/t gold over 17.0 m uncut (2.84 g/t cut) in hole 6155 50.14 g/t gold over 1.0 m uncut (34.28 g/t cut) in hole 6156 41.89 g/t gold over 2.0 m uncut (18.53 g/t cut) in hole 6156 20.28 g/t gold over 7.3 m uncut (10.2 g/t cut) in hole 6156 27.25 g/t gold over 0.6 m uncut (27.25 g/t cut) in hole 6157A 10.37 g/t gold over 4.8 m uncut (9.49 g/t cut) in hole 6157A * The geometry of these zones is not clearly understood at this point. Further drilling is required to interpret true widths. Assay intervals include values cut to an arbitrary, historic 1 oz/ton or 34.28 g/t Mr. Duncan Middlemiss, President and CEO, commented "Drilling results have been accelerated with the goal of delineating and defining this significant new find as quickly and efficiently as possible. This set of Kiena Deep drill results continues to deliver grades substantially higher than the historic production grade profile at Kiena of 4.5 g/t. We are also very encouraged by step out holes confirming mineralization now tested along 550 metres of strike length, indicating a potential large new gold system. Furthermore, in the Company's efforts to accelerate our advanced exploration at Kiena, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Marc-AndrA Pelletier as Vice President of Quebec Operations, who will be based full time at the Kiena Complex. Marc-AndrA has over 20 years' experience in underground gold mining in Canada, and will be working closely with our geologic team to evaluate ramp development. On behalf of management and the board, I would like to welcome him to the Wesdome team." GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT Drilling continues to identify two styles of mineralization spatially related to a basalt-komatiite (ultramafic) contact zone that trends NNW. High grade extensional quartz veins in basalt (Upper Quartz Vein Zone), and Albitized stockwork and vein breccia systems in sheared and altered zones (Lower Stockwork Zone). There are likely multiple zones which remain only partially defined and are open. The full extent of the mineralized system has not been delineated. It has been traced 550 m along the contact area trend between depths 1,000 and 1,400 m and remains open. Step out holes 6146 and 6147 are of significant interest as these holes have intersected quality grade over wide widths some 150 metres north, and 250 metres south along trend of the known mineralized system, which remains open (Figure 1). DRILLING PROGRESS Four drills are operating on levels 670m, 770m, 910m and 960m. Challenging drilling conditions in the deformed and altered contact area have been addressed with a combination of bits, drill assemblies and specialized drilling reagents. The experience obtained in these conditions and the additional drill added to the 960m level has resulted in improved success in attaining the desired targets. Shorter holes with better attack angles will continue to accelerate results. SCOPE AND PURPOSE The accelerated drilling is designed to delineate the potential size of the Kiena Deep gold system and define its internal geometry as quickly and efficiently as possible. Confidence in internal grade and continuity will de-risk a decision to initiate ramp development to provide definition drilling and access to Kiena Deep as soon as possible. The Company intends to continue the drilling campaign with four underground drills. Ongoing evaluation for the requirement of enhanced drill platforms will determine the timing of underground ramp development, as the location of this infrastructure is dependent upon drilling results currently being generated. MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENT The Company is very encouraged by the continued exploration results at Kiena and the potential to re-establish production at this fully permitted facility. As a result, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Marc-Andre Pelletier as Wesdome's Vice-President of Operations for Quebec in charge of the Kiena Mine Advanced Exploration Program. Marc-Andre is an experienced professional mining engineer who was most recently Vice-President of Operations at St Andrew Goldfields Ltd. Prior to Marc-Andre's tenure at St Andrew's he was employed by Barrick Gold Corp. from 2001-2009 elevating to the position of Mine Superintendent at Barrick's Williams Mine. Prior to his Barrick experience Marc-Andre worked extensively in Quebec in progressive technical roles. Throughout his career Marc-Andre has dedicated himself to achieving safety, production, and costs targets. He is a graduate of Laval University in mining engineering and is a resident of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. THE KIENA COMPLEX The Kiena Mine Complex is a fully permitted, integrated mining and milling infrastructure which includes a 930 metre production shaft and 2,000 tonne per day capacity mill. From 1981 to 2013 the mine produced 1.75 million ounces of gold from 12.5 million tonnes at a grade of 4.5 g/t. The bulk of this production came from the S-50 Zone between depths of 100 and 1,000 metres. In 2013, operations were suspended due to a combination of declining gold prices and lack of developed reserves. The infrastructure has been well preserved on care and maintenance status. TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE The technical and scientific disclosure in this press release has been prepared and approved by Marc Ducharme, P. Geo., Chief Exploration Geologist of Wesdome and "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 disclosure standards. Analytical work was performed by Techni-Lab (ActLabs) of Ste-Germaine-BoulA (Quebec), a certified commercial laboratory (SCC Accredited Lab #707). Sample preparation was done at Techni-Lab (ActLabs) in Val d'Or (Quebec) and assaying was done by fire assay methods at Techni-Lab (ActLabs) laboratory in Ste-Germaine-BoulA (Quebec). In addition to laboratory internal duplicates, standards and blanks, the geology department inserts blind duplicates, standards and blanks into the sample stream at a frequency of one in twenty to monitor quality control. ABOUT WESDOME Wesdome Gold Mines is in its 29th year of continuous gold mining operations in Canada. The Company is 100% Canadian focused with a pipeline of projects in various stages of development. The Eagle River Complex in Wawa, Ontario is currently producing gold from two mines, the Eagle River Underground Mine and the Mishi Open pit, from a central mill. Wesdome is actively exploring its brownfields asset, the Kiena Complex in Val d'Or, Quebec. The Kiena Complex is a fully permitted former mine with a 930 metre shaft and 2,000 tonne per day mill. The Company has further upside at its Moss Lake gold deposit, located 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is being explored and evaluated to be developed in the appropriate gold price environment. The Company has approximately 130 million shares issued and outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WDO." This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Table 1: Kiena Deep Drilling Results Compilation Hole No. From (m) To (m) Core length (m) Assay (g/t Au) Cut Grade* (g/t Au) Target 6134 440.00 441.00 1.00 27.97 27.97 Upper quartz vein (VG) 797.00 806.80 9.80 18.67 5.44 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 797.00 799.40 2.40 69.86 15.82 Lower stockwork 822.00 834.00 12.00 1.24 1.24 Lower stockwork 6135 381.50 382.40 0.90 1.21 1.21 Lower stockwork 6136 620.70 622.70 2.00 1.04 1.04 Lower stockwork 627.10 628.10 1.00 1.26 1.26 Lower stockwork 6137 444.10 452.50 8.40 34.27 6.78 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 444.10 445.90 1.80 151.88 23.59 Lower stockwork 6138 Target not attained (ABD) 6139 399.70 401.60 1.90 1.73 1.73 Lower stockwork 6140 Results pending 6141 Results pending 6142 435.00 437.00 2.00 1.32 1.32 Lower stockwork 438.70 439.30 0.60 306.10 34.28 Lower stockwork (VG) 475.50 486.00 10.50 6.23 5.67 Lower stockwork 581.30 583.70 2.40 41.39 11.62 Lower stockwork (VG) 591.60 594.00 2.40 3.35 3.35 Lower stockwork 598.80 604.00 5.20 24.92 10.03 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 598.80 601.00 2.20 55.92 20.74 Lower stockwork 6143 489.40 493.00 3.60 11.40 5.81 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 489.40 490.00 0.60 67.83 34.28 Lower stockwork 504.00 518.00 14.00 43.05 5.35 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 504.00 504.90 0.90 171.33 34.28 Lower stockwork 6143 537.10 546.30 9.20 1.29 1.29 Lower stockwork 6144 569.20 570.20 1.00 3.19 3.19 Lower stockwork 583.00 585.20 2.20 5.40 5.40 Lower stockwork 609.00 617.00 8.00 10.45 5.23 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 609.00 611.00 2.00 37.94 17.04 Lower stockwork 629.00 631.70 2.70 18.04 16.07 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 631.00 631.70 0.70 41.88 34.28 Lower stockwork 6145 Target not attained (ABD) 6145A 408.80 424.20 15.40 14.61 3.08 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 414.40 418.20 3.80 56.86 10.14 Lower stockwork 6146 377.50 388.50 11.00 6.63 6.63 Lower stockwork? (VG) 6147 393.00 430.00 37.00 1.69 1.69 Lower stockwork 490.00 498.20 8.20 7.67 5.53 Lower stockwork (VG) 6148 Target not attained (ABD) 6150 418.70 419.40 0.70 37.71 34.28 Upper quartz vein (VG) 6151 170.00 174.00 4.00 4.68 4.68 Upper quartz vein 245.50 250.50 5.00 2.51 2.51 Upper quartz vein 385.50 386.00 0.50 29.52 29.52 Upper quartz vein (VG) 6152 271.50 273.00 1.50 1.57 1.57 Lower stockwork (VG) 383.10 386.00 2.90 1.88 1.88 Lower stockwork 393.00 394.50 1.50 9.11 9.11 Lower stockwork 400.50 403.50 3.00 5.06 5.06 Lower stockwork 457.10 458.60 1.50 8.75 8.75 Lower stockwork (VG) 6153 Target not attained (ABD) 6153A Target not attained (ABD) 6154 335.00 351.00 16.00 3.47 3.47 Lower stockwork Incl. 338.00 346.90 8.90 4.97 4.97 Lower stockwork 405.70 410.00 4.30 124.98 13.98 Lower stockwork (VG) 447.50 448.70 1.20 44.85 34.28 Lower stockwork (VG) 6155 388.50 405.50 17.00 28.00 2.84 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 401.40 405.50 4.10 110.23 5.91 Lower stockwork 421.40 423.40 2.00 14.89 14.89 Lower stockwork (VG) 6156 274.00 275.00 1.00 50.14 34.28 Lower stockwork (VG) 412.00 414.00 2.00 41.89 18.53 Lower stockwork (VG) 437.00 444.30 7.30 20.28 10.20 Lower stockwork (VG) Incl. 441.00 444.00 3.00 44.08 21.77 Lower stockwork 6157 Target not attained (ABD) 6157A 477.00 477.60 0.60 27.25 27.25 Lower stockwork (VG) 516.5 521.3 4.80 10.37 9.49 Lower stockwork (VG) * Assay intervals include values cut to an arbitrary, historic 1 oz / ton or 34.28 g/t Au (VG) = visible gold (ABD) = Hole abandoned Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/8/11G129706/Images/feb8Fig_PlanView3_DDH-Traces_PR-Feb2017-5e89cb57d43887bdb32f3bb4046d95e5.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/8/11G129706/Images/Kiena_Deep_3D_DDH_Isometric_View1e_All-81016611f3f58eefb6309b20b66d468f.jpg Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/8/11G129706/Images/Kiena_Deep_3D_DDH_Isometric_Zoomed_View-e1eebb849060b7b29f8371b39c860f70.jpg CALGARY, February 8, 2017: Margaux Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: MRL, OTCQB: MARFF) ("Margaux" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted the filing documentation and approved the issuance of common shares thereunder relating to the Company's option agreement with Yellowstone Resources Ltd. (the "Option Agreement"). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Margaux has the exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Sheep Creek and Bayonne gold properties in southeastern British Columbia. In addition, Margaux is pleased to announce grab sample results from the newly acquired properties. "The high-grade assay results indicate that the Sheep Creek and Bayonne properties offer great exploration potential," commented Tyler Rice, President and CEO. "These high-quality properties combined with our Jersey-Emerald and Jackpot/Oxide properties, add to Margaux's vision to be a polymetallic, regional consolidator in the Kootenay Arc." The Company collected grab samples from both the Sheep Creek and Bayonne properties and identified samples that contained gold grades of 71.5 g/t and 17.75 g/t. Margaux is encouraged by these initial results on its latest optioned properties and looks forward to continued exploration to expand the potential of the Sheep Creek and Bayonne. Table 1. Grab samples assay results from Sheep Creek and Bayonne properties Location Vein Sample Note Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Sheep Creek GoldBelt 1850 level 1850-01 Main crosscut, 90 cm quartz vein along bedding 1.16 1.0 3040 3040-01 About 1.5 m thick, dipping south 4.35 2.4 3040-02 3040 vein, 1.2 m thick subvertical 17.75 10.2 2800 2800-01 Quartz vein 0.12 NA 2800-02 Quartz vein along the bedding 0.23 NA 2800-03 Quartz vein striking 65 degrees 0.13 NA 2590 2590-01 Subvertical quartz vein 0.07 NA 2360 2360-01 0.5 m thick quartz vein in east tunnel 5.76 1.9 8200 8100-01 Quartz vein 4.07 9.8 8200-01 Quartz vein 0.06 NA Ore stockpile P 20 Mined from Nugget Mine in the mid-1980s 3.27 0.8 Outside Yellowstone adit Yellow-stone P181 White quartz vein from boulder 71.50 31.6 Bayonne Bayonne west Bayonne West P 295 South end of a trench 2.03 0.67 In Figure 1 (below), select grab sample locations can be seen with their associated gold and silver results. The reader is cautioned that grab samples are select samples and are not meant to be representative of the average tenor of mineralization but rather to confirm the presence of gold and silver in the system. Figure 1. Select grab samples locations (the shown surface geology at Sheep Creek Camp is after Mathews 1953 Bulletin 31) Click Image To View Full Size Sheep Creek The Sheep Creek area is underlain by a thick sequence of Lower Cambrian and Upper Proterozoic argillite, quartzite, limestone and schists belonging to the Quartzite Range, Reno and Laib Formations. Two north-trending anticlines are the dominant structures in the area. Gold has been produced from 33 parallel quartz 'fracture veins' within northeasterly striking steeply dipping faults. These 33 parallel 'fracture veins' appear to occur regularly over a nearly 7 kilometer distance in the Sheep Creek camp. Twenty-six of these veins are included in the property optioned by Margaux. 627,905 oz of gold was recovered from the optioned property, 85% of the total gold production from the camp (1). The most promising mineralized zones appear to develop where the veins cross the axes of two north-trending anticlines, largely in brittle quartzites of the Upper Nugget and Upper Nevada members of the Quartzite Range Formation. The grab samples were taken at the Sheep Creek Gold Camp from the 1850 level of Gold Belt Mine, as well as from other sites on surface. Sampling was conducted by independent geologists from Continental Geology & Mining Consulting Inc. during a site visit on November 14-15, 2016. At Sheep Creek, veins 3040, 2360, 8200 and 8000 at the Gold Belt 1850 level are partly mined out. There is still potential gold mineralization left in the 3040 and 2360 veins, which are accessible via the same adit. Gold grades of grab samples from these quartz veins varies between 4.07 g/t and 17.75 g/t, silver grades range from 1.9 g/t to 10.2 g/t. A quartz vein cross-cutting the bedding (sample 1850-1, 1.16 g/t Au) shows promise, but no historical mining has been conducted in this area. An ore stock pile believed to have been extracted from the Nugget Mine (mined out in the mid-1980's) was sampled and yielded 3.27 g/t Au. A grab sample of quartz vein, taken from a boulder at Yellowstone adit site, has the highest grade of 71.5 g/t Au. Bayonne The Bayonne gold-bearing quartz veins are within the Mine Stock, an intrusive body believed to be older and separate from the Mesozoic Bayonne Batholith which encompasses it. The Bayonne quartz veins strike northeast, dip vertically and vary in width from a few centimetres to 3 metres. At the Bayonne property, sampling was from a trench at the Bayonne West target Only one sample from Yellowstone Resources' recent trench in West Bayonne was collected. The quartz vein, approximately 25 cm in width returned a grade from the grab sample of 2.03 g/t Au and 0.67 g/t Ag. This confirms that new gold mineralization potentially exists outside the historical mining area. Option Agreement The Company is also pleased to announce it has entered into an option agreement (the "CANEX Agreement") with a third party for the 100% acquisition of the CANEX property in the Nelson Mining Division (the "Property"), adjacent to the Jersey-Emerald property. Under the terms of the CANEX Agreement, Margaux will have the exclusive option to acquire the mineral claim by making payments to the third party of an aggregate $110,000 cash and aggregate issuance of 275,000 shares. About Margaux Resources Ltd.: Margaux is a publicly traded polymetallic exploration company focused on the exploration and development of previously producing properties in the Kootenay Arc, located in southeastern British Columbia, including the Jersey-Emerald, Jackpot/Oxide, Sheep Creek and Bayonne properties, on which Margaux has options. The Company is directed by a group of highly successful Canadian businessmen with proven track records. Margaux trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MRL and on the OTCQB under the symbol MARFF. Samples were submitted to ALS Minerals in Vancouver for preparation and analysis. ALS is an ISO 9002 certified laboratory. Samples were prepared by ALS's standard rock prep package, method PREP-31 (crush entire sample to >70% -2 mm, split off up to 250 g and pulverize split to >85% passing 75 microns). Analysis for gold was by method Au-AA25 (fire assay/AAS, 30 g sample) and for multi-element suite, including silver, by method ME-MS41 (multi-element ICP-MS and ICP-AES analysis following aqua regia digestion). Linda Caron, P.Eng, Margaux's Vice President of Exploration, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this press release. Sources (1)Mathews 1953 Bulletin 31 page 52 Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward looking statements including those describing Margaux's future plans and the expectations of management that a stated result or condition will occur. Any statement addressing future events or conditions necessarily involves inherent risk and uncertainty. Actual results can differ materially from those anticipated by management at the time of writing due to many factors, the majority of which are beyond the control of Margaux and its management. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, directly or indirectly, to the following: Margaux's exploration plans and work commitments, the receipt of required regulatory and other approvals, the potential of mineral resources and potential for recovery thereof, the Company's ability to make payments under the Option Agreement and the CANEX Agreement, as well as other market conditions and economic factors, business and operations strategies. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date specified in the documents accompanying this release, as the case may be. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that the Company will complete the option payments to acquire the Property on the time frame required by the CANEX Agreement or at all. The payments under the CANEX Agreement are subject to a number of conditions, including Margaux obtaining requisite TSX Venture Exchange approval and being able to source the cash required under the CANEX Agreements to make the requisite option payments. 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. CONTACT INFORMATION Margaux Resources Ltd. Tyler Rice President, CEO and a Director (403) 537-5590 Tyler@margauxresources.com Copyright (c) 2017 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. TSXV: LMC.H All amounts in US$ unless otherwise indicated VANCOUVER, Feb. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Leagold Mining Corp. (TSX-V: LMC.H) ("Leagold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed with Canadian securities regulators an independent technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Los Filos Gold Mine, Guerrero State, Mexico" (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report presents a description of the Los Filos Gold Mine operations, including Mineral Resources, Mineral Reserves, and a financial evaluation of the current mine. The Technical Report also presents a Preliminary Economic Assessment based on the Mineral Resources of the Bermejal Underground deposit (the "Bermejal U/G PEA"). The Los Filos Mine is one of Latin America's largest gold mines with 2015 production of 272,900 ounces, and 9 months to September 30, 2016 production of 194,000 ounces at an AISC/oz of US$854. The Mine currently consists of two open-pit mines, Los Filos and El Bermejal, an underground mine at Los Filos and the opportunity to develop an underground mine at El Bermejal as an expansion project. The open-pit operation began commercial production in 2008. Gold is recovered from crushed and run-of-mine ore via a conventional, low-cost heap leach process. The Los Filos Mine is located 230 km south of Mexico City and is accessible by paved roads and a private airstrip. Grid power is supplied by InterGen with a 20 MVA substation at site. Table 1 presents a summary of the gold production information and other key parameters of the current Los Filos Mine using the life-of-mine production plan based on the Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (the "Reserves-Only" case). Table 1 also presents a summary of the Bermejal U/G PEA, which assumes the execution of the Bermejal underground mine as an expansion project. Table 1 Summary of Life-of-mine ("LOM") Gold Production and AISC/oz Item Units Reserves-Only Bermejal U/G PEA LOM Tonnage Ore Processed kt 40,709 10,504 LOM Strip Ratio w:o 3:1 n/a LOM Feed Grade Processed g/t Au 1.12 5.15 LOM Au Recovery Overall % 69 80 LOM Au Production koz 1,256 1,392 Production Period years 8 8 Upfront Expansion Capital US$M n/a 47 Total Project & Development Capex US$M n/a 153.6 Au Average Annual Production koz 157 174 AISC per oz US$/oz 803 439 The Reserves-Only LOM plan has an 8 year mine life producing a total of 1.256 Moz gold at an average AISC of $803/oz. The Bermejal U/G PEA has the potential to add 1.392 Moz of gold production over an 8 year mine life at an average AISC of $439/oz. The Bermejal U/G PEA has an upfront capital cost estimate of $47 million, primarily for the access ramp and equipment purchases, based on cost estimates by Stantec Consulting International LLC ("Stantec"). At gold prices ranging from $1,200/oz to $1,300/oz, the after-tax IRR is 93.8% to 107.2%, as the project benefits from using existing infrastructure, process facilities and therefore has fixed cost-sharing opportunities by operating concurrently with the existing Los Filos operations (Table 2). The preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature; it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is also no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Table 2 Summary of NPVs at $1,200/oz and $1,300/oz gold prices At $1,200/oz Reserves-Only Bermejal U/G PEA After-tax NPV Discount Rate 0% 382 564 5% 334 418 10% 297 315 Upfront capital (US$M) N/A 47 After-tax IRR N/A 93.8% At $1,300/oz Reserves-Only Bermejal U/G PEA After-tax NPV (US$M) Discount Rate 0% 463 654 5% 406 488 10% 361 370 Upfront capital (US$M) N/A 47 After-tax IRR N/A 107.2% Using $1,200 gold price and 5% discount rate parameters, the life-of-mine production plan based on the Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves has an after-tax NPV of $334 million and the Bermejal U/G PEA has an additional after-tax NPV of $418 million. Acquisition of Los Filos Leagold entered into a binding sale and purchase agreement with Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") dated January 11, 2017 to acquire the Los Filos Gold Mine for $350 million (the "Acquisition") through the purchase of Goldcorp's Desarrollos Mineros San Luis S.A. de C.V. ("DMSL") subsidiary. The purchase price is made up of $279 million in cash and $71 million in common shares of Leagold. Based on Leagold's transaction financing plan, Goldcorp is expected to become an approximate 30% shareholder of Leagold at completion of the Acquisition. Goldcorp will have the right to nominate a director to Leagold's Board at completion of the Acquisition. For further details of the Acquisition, see the Company's news release of January 12, 2017. Figure 1 illustrates the annual gold production and AISC/oz profiles from the Technical Report which includes the Reserves-Only LOM plan and the potential contribution from the Bermejal U/G PEA. The Bermejal U/G PEA shows the opportunity to increase production and extend the Los Filos mine life while lowering AISC/oz. Figure 1 Los Filos Mine and Bermejal PEA Gold Production and AISC/oz Profiles Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves As of December 31, 2016, the Los Filos Mine Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources total 422.5 Mt at 0.85 g/t containing 11.5 Moz and Inferred Mineral Resources of 162.7 Mt at 0.76 g/t containing 4.0 Moz (Table 3). Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves total 40.7 Mt at 1.30 g/t containing 1.7 Moz. See Table 4 for details. Table 3 Los Filos Mineral Resources1-5 by Principal Deposits and Mining Areas (Stantec, 2016) Area Classification Tonnes ('000) Au Grade (g/t) Au Oz ('000) Bermejal Open Pit Measured 82,010 0.71 1,869 Indicated 275,505 0.80 7,062 Measured + Indicated 357,515 0.78 8,931 Inferred 156,771 0.63 3,180 Bermejal Underground Measured 0 Indicated 171 5.01 28 Measured + Indicated 171 5.01 28 Inferred 3,510 5.03 568 Los Filos Open Pit Measured 51,998 0.70 1,174 Indicated 8,226 0.62 164 Measured + Indicated 60,224 0.69 1,338 Inferred 1,436 0.44 21 Los Filos Underground Measured 1,539 8.25 408 Indicated 3,080 7.82 775 Measured + Indicated 4,618 7.97 1,183 Inferred 937 7.54 227 Total Los Filos Mine Measured 135,547 0.79 3,451 Indicated 286,982 0.87 8,028 Measured + Indicated 422,529 0.85 11,479 Inferred 162,653 0.76 3,995 Notes: 1. Effective date is December 31, 2016. 2. Mineral Resources are reported to a gold price of US$1,400/oz. 3. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. 4. Mineral Resources do not include recovery or dilution factors. 5. Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 1 kt, grades are rounded to two decimal places; rounding, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent summation differences. Table 4 Los Filos Mineral Reserves1-6 (Stantec, 2016) Classification Tonnes (kt) Au Grade (g/t) Au Contained Ounces (koz) Ag Grade (g/t) Ag Contained Ounces (koz) Proven 23,877 0.75 575 5.37 4,120 Probable 16,831 1.65 890 10.37 5,614 Subtotal Proven + Probable 40,708 1.12 1,466 7.44 9,734 Leach Pad Inventory7 242 Total Proven and Probable 40,708 1.30 1,707 7.44 9,734 Notes: 1. Effective date is December 31, 2016. 2. Metal price assumption for gold was US$1,200/oz. 3. Underground Mineral Reserves are contained within stope designs that have a minimum horizontal continuity of 10 m, a height of 3 m, and supported by a mine plan that features variable stope mining width from 3 m to a design width depending on zone and cutoff optimization.; open pit Mineral Reserves are within pit designs and supported by a mine plan. 4. Cutoff grades vary by deposit, whether ore is ROM or crushed before leaching, and for underground ore whether development is required or not. Recoveries vary by ore type or geometallurgical domain and are 64% to 77% for crush-leach ore and from 49% to 59% for ROM ore at Los Filos Open Pit; recoveries at Bermejal Open Pit vary from 53% to 73%. A 5% silver recovery is assumed from all geometallurgical domains. All underground ore is crushed and assumed to have 80% gold recovery. 5. Rounding, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 1 kt, grades are rounded to two decimal places; rounding, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent summation differences. 6. Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained gold and silver ounces are reported as troy ounces. 7. Recoverable ounces in leach pad inventory. Bermejal Underground The Bermejal deposit extends to at least 400 m below the current open pit and has been examined as an underground opportunity due to the high strip ratio that would be required for an open pit to mine the entire mineral resource. The portion of the Bermejal deposit that was considered to be part of the Bermejal Underground for the PEA is in Table 5. The Bermejal Underground deposit is entirely below and separate from the current Bermejal Open Pit Mineral Reserves (see Figures 2 and 3). Table 5 Bermejal Underground Mineral Resource1-5 in the PEA (Stantec, 2016) Classification Tonnes (kt) Au Grade (g/t) Au Contained (koz) Ag Grade (g/t) Ag Contained (koz) Measured 13 5.08 2 49.27 21 Indicated 4,722 6.65 1,009 22.30 3,385 Total Measured and Indicated 4,735 6.65 1,012 22.37 3,406 Inferred 4,173 5.05 678 26.55 3,563 Notes: 1. Effective date is December 31, 2016. 2. Mineral Resources are reported to a gold price of US$1,400/oz. 3. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. 4. Mineral Resources do not include recovery or dilution factors. 5. Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 1 kt, grades are rounded to two decimal places; rounding, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent summation differences. Figure 2 Location of Los Filos Mining Areas and Mineral Deposits The PEA study selected a ramp as the mine access method (Figure 3). The resource is anticipated to be mined by a combination of Sub-Level Caving (80%) and mechanized Cut-and-Fill (20%) mining methods. Mechanized Cut-and-Fill mining is already in use at the Los Filos underground mine. Figure 3 Bermejal Underground PEA Cross Section The Bermejal Underground deposit remains open on strike and to depth and will be the focus of drilling in 2017. Exploration Potential The Los Filos Mine is a large open pit and underground mining operation and the LOM based on current Mineral Reserves is 8 years. Additional exploration potential in the immediate mine area and on the Mine property provides opportunities for extending the mine life. Potential remains in the immediate vicinity of the Bermejal Open Pit and San Pablo prospect to identify additional mineralization that may support resource estimation. The corridor from the Bermejal to the Guadalupe deposit is particularly prospective. Additionally, the San Pablo area southeast of Bermejal contains high potential based on favorable lithologies and alteration. Figure 4 displays the Bermejal and San Pablo target areas. Figure 4 Bermejal, Guadalupe, and San Pablo Exploration Target Areas Present exploration activities are concentrated on infill drilling of the Bermejal Underground resource and also on the extensions of known mineral resources in the Los Filos underground deposits. Infill drilling at Los Filos Underground is targeted to further develop resources that are open along the strike of the known mineralized zones to the east and west of the existing infrastructure. The targeted areas are contained in the endoskarn alteration along the granodiorite intrusive and carbonate contact. The underground exploration targets in the Los Filos open pit and underground mine areas are shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 Los Filos Underground Exploration Target Areas A copy of the Technical Report can be accessed under Leagold's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, or on the Company's website at www.leagold.com. Qualified Persons The authors of the Technical Report, William A. Glover, P.Eng., Allan L. Schappert, CPG, and Dawn H. Garcia, PG, CPG of Stantec Consulting International LLC ("Stantec") and Alfred S. Hayden, P.Eng. of EHA Engineering Ltd., are each a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101 and independent of the Company, and have prepared or supervised the preparation of the technical information upon which this news release is based. About Leagold Mining Corporation Leagold aims to build a new mid-tier gold producer with a focus on opportunities in Latin America. Leagold is based in Vancouver, Canada and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "LMC.H". On behalf of Leagold Mining Corp. Neil Woodyer, Chief Executive Officer This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), including but not limited to, statements with respect to completion of the Acquisition, Leagold's plans and operating performance, including in respect of the Acquisition financing and growth potential of the Los Filos Mine, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of future production, future capital expenditures, future financing sources, and the success of exploration activities. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" and "anticipates". Forward-looking statements and information, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the completion of the Acquisition, including receipt of all necessary approvals, risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Leagold operates. Although Leagold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward looking information are made as of the date hereof and Leagold disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to Leagold's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting Leagold and its business. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Leagold Mining Corp. VANCOUVER, February 8, 2017 - MGX Minerals Inc. ("MGX" or the "Company") (CSE: XMG / FKT: 1MG / OTC: MGXMF) announces, that at the request of IIROC, the Company wishes to retract the potentially misleading statements disseminated in the February 2, 2017 press release: -The Company retracts the statement that its patent pending lithium extraction process may "potentially reduce recovery times of lithium and other valuable minerals from 18 months to one day" as the statement is not supported by an independent technical report. The Company also retracts any previous representation or inference of production or extreme reduction in recovery times previously made. -The Company retracts the statement of "8.3 million tonnes grading 43.41% magnesium oxide" as it did not disclose applicable mineral resource categories as outlined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure, Section 2.2. The Company wishes to clarify and properly disclose mineral resources as 2.828 million tonnes grading 43.24% magnesium oxide in the Measured category and 5.2 million tonnes grading 43.29% magnesium oxide in the Indicated category. -The Company retracts the statement "representing over one million barrels of brine production per day" as it is not supported by a preliminary economic assessment or mining study outlining the economic viability of the project. Qualified Person This press release was prepared under the supervision and review of Andris Kikauka, P. Geo. and Vice President of Exploration for MGX Minerals. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument (N.I.) 43-101 Standards. About MGX Minerals MGX Minerals (CSE: XMG) is a diversified Canadian mining company engaged in the development of large-scale industrial mineral portfolios in western Canada and the United States. The Company operates lithium, magnesium and silicon projects throughout British Columbia and Alberta as well as petro lithium exploration in Utah. Contact Information Jared Lazerson Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1.604.681.7735 Email: jared@mgxminerals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements including the completion of the rights offering (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Copyright (c) 2017 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Stretching over about 90 kilometers, the Jingtai area of the Great Wall, built in the Ming Dynasty in 1599, is now at risk of being swallowed by farmland. Unlike eastern parts of the Great Wall in Beijing and Hebei, which were mostly constructed using stones and brick, sections in Gansu were largely built using soil and earth. After centuries of erosion from wind and sandstorms, they have become extremely fragile. Some parts of the wall were reduced to soil ridges due to large-scale farming, and some were used as part of a courtyard to fence in livestock and cultivate dried grass. In addition, the wall has sprouted grass in some places that see little human activity. The wall was severely damaged in the 1970s and '80s, when farmland was expanded excessively, locals explained. Protection and renovation of the wall restarted when people began paying more attention to historical and cultural sites. In 2006, the wall was put under state protection. In 2015, Gansu established a protection zone spreading 20 meters across both sides of the wall. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb 8, 2017) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MUN) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a drill has been mobilized to the Company's Borsko Jezero license ("Borsko") where drilling is expected to commence within a week. Borsko is one of the four licenses being sole funded by JOGMEC as part of the JOGMEC-Mundoro joint venture announced August 2016. Borsko is located in the central portion of the Timok Magmatic Complex ("Timok") and is directly west of the Serbian state-operated producing mines, RTB Group's Bor copper porphyry mine and the Veliki Krivelj copper-gold porphyry mine. HIGHLIGHTS This drill program at Borsko will focus on high priority targets generated by systematic exploration completed by Mundoro in 2016 and defined various copper-gold targets. The current drill program will test the first of six targets with a 600 m drill hole designed to cut across an interpreted mineralised structure defined by a copper soil anomaly coincident with a mapped argillic altered andesite dyke at surface, a strong resistivity geophysical anomaly, and anomalous stream sediment and rock sampling. Mundoro holds approximately $5 mln in cash as of December 31, 2016 and is debt free. Teo Dechev, CEO & President of Mundoro commented, "The geophysics in the Borsko license clearly demonstrates the NNW trending structures that have been associated with the main mineralization in the Timok district. With our partner JOGMEC, we are looking forward to drill testing this target as well as the other various targets on the license in 2017. Mundoro is committed to executing on its strategy to complete a drill program each month in 2017, part of which will be funded by our partner JOGMEC and part of which will be funded by Mundoro's approved C$2 million budget for 2017." Overview of Borsko Drill Program The Borsko license is located in the Timok Magmatic Complex which is one of the most prolific metallogenic domains in the Tethyan Belt. The geological units in this licence area consist of Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary successions, predominantly andesite and pyroclastics. Generally considered the most prospective geological units, the Phase 1 hornblende porphyry andesite occupies the easternmost boundaries of the Borsko license and dips moderately to southwest under the pyroclastic rocks of the second phase. The current drill program will test the first of six targets generated by the 2016 field program (Figure 1 - Location of Borsko Drill Targets). In Q2-2016 Mundoro carried out a soil sampling program over the central portion of the license to follow up on high copper-gold stream sediment anomalies which could not be explained by previous prospecting and rock sampling. The soil sampling results returned significant copper-gold anomalies which remain open to the north and south. Follow-up field work revealed association of some of the soil anomalies with altered dike contacts, discrete quartz stockwork veinlets and fine grained sulphides related to fault-fracture zones. The Company included the Borsko license into the JOGMEC-Mundoro option agreement in August 2016 and then conducted ground magnetic and CSAMT geophysics in the second half of the year. The Company also conducted limited trenching over some of the soil anomalies. The current drill program will test the first of six targets and will be collared on a copper soil anomaly coincident with an argillic altered andesite dyke mapped on surface and a strong resistivity geophysical anomaly. The projected depth of 600 m is designed to cut across the interpreted north-northwest trending mineralised structure which is also supported by the stream sediment and rock sampling. Next Steps The Company expects to complete the drilling on the first target in February 2017 and to release the results around the end of March 2017. Mundoro is in the process of designing the work program with JOGMEC for the second year of work under the JOGMEC-Mundoro option agreement. This work program is anticipated to begin in April 2017. On behalf of the Company, Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director About Mundoro Capital Inc. Mundoro is a Canadian mineral exploration and development public company focused on building value for its shareholders through directly investing in mineral projects that have the ability to generate future returns for shareholders. The Company currently holds a diverse portfolio of projects in two European countries as well as an investment in a producing gold mine in Bulgaria and a feasibility stage gold project in China. The Company holds eight 100% owned projects in Serbia, the four Timok North Projects are in option to JOGMEC, and the four Timok South Projects are being advanced by Mundoro. Mundoro's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "MUN". Qualified Person Technical information contained in this Press Release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. G. Magaranov, P. Geo., Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Sampling and Analysis All rock samples are assayed using 50-gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish and ME-MS61 by ALS Romania prepared by ALS Bor, Serbia. Quality Assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of standards and duplicates into the sample streams. Field duplicate samples are taken every 25 samples and standards and blanks are inserted after every 20th sample. All data collected in the field and assay results from the laboratories are routinely verified and entered in an Access database. Soil samples were collected from "B" horizon of the soil media by hand digging a hole from 0.1 to 0.5m. Material of ~500 grams was collected, sealed and send directly to the ALS laboratory in Bor. Samples were dried at <60C/140F, sieve sample to -180 micron (80 mesh) and assayed using 30gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish and ME-MS41L - 51 elements by aqua regia acid digestion and a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of the earn-in expenditures and options by JOGMEC; and completion of a definitive joint venture agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Timok North Properties, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 1. Infosys Infosys the Indian multinational corporation provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. With the main headquarters in Bengaluru, Infosys is the second-largest Indian IT services company by 2016 revenues. The company is the largest employer of H-1B visa professionals in the United States. Top 10 Companies To Work In India For 2016 2. TCS Tata consultancy services is the subsidiary of tata group. Headquartered in Mumbai TCS is providing IT, business consulting and outsourcing services. In 2016, TCS, India's largest IT outsourcing company, applied for only 4,000 new US visas, as against 14,000 in 2015, N Chandrasekaran, the company's outgoing CEO and Tata Sons' chairman-designate, said last month. TCS was granted only around 1,300 visas that year. 3. Capgemini This multinational company is providing services on computer Software, IT services, information technology etc. Capgemini is headquartered in Paris. Capgemini US. Llc has filed 19700 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 376 labor certifications for green card from the fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Capgemini was ranked 9 among all visa sponsors. 4. Wipro Wipro is an Indian Information Technology Services corporation headquartered in Bangalore. Wipro Limited has filed 31173 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 987 labor certifications for green card from the fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Wipro was ranked 3 among all visa sponsors. 5. L&T Larsen & Toubro, popularly known as L&T is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai. L&T Technology Services said its pre-tax profit margin may be hit by up to 2.5 per cent if the US hikes minimum salaries for H1-B visa holders to USD 1,30,000, and that it is working on alternatives, including shifting the jobs to India. 'We have over 1,600 engineers in the US and around 65 per cent of them are on H1-B visas. If the salaries were to be hiked, our calculations suggest an impact of 2-2.5 per cent on Ebidta margins," Managing Director and Chief Executive Keshab Panda said to reporters. Ten Most Valuable Brands In The World In 2017 6. Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company providing a range of strategy, consulting, digital, technology & operations services and solutions. It has headquarters in Ireland. Accenture Llp has filed 24593 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 232 labor certifications for green card from fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Accenture was ranked 5 among all visa sponsors. 7. Deloitte The US-based company Deloitte, provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands. Deloitte & Touche Llp has filed 4725 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 462 labor certifications for green card from the fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Deloitte & Touche was ranked 22 among all visa sponsors. 8. Cognizant Cognizant is an American multinational corporation that provides digital, technology, consulting, and operations services. Cognizant is headquartered in New Jersey. Cognizant Technology Solutions U.S. Corporation has filed 11250 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 11637 labor certifications for green card from the fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Cognizant Technology Solutions was ranked 7 among all visa sponsors. 9. Apple The maker of iPhone, Apple is an American multinational technology company headquartered in California. Apple company designs develop and sell consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. Apple Inc. has filed 4639 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 2096 labor certifications for green card from fiscal year 2014 to 2016. Apple was ranked 19 among all visa sponsors. 10. IBM International Business Machines Corporation is an American multinational technology company, New York. IBM is operating over 170 countries in the world. IBM Corporation has filed 24359 labor condition applications for H1B visa and 744 labor certifications for green card from the fiscal year 2014 to 2016. IBM was ranked 4 among all visa sponsors. Apple, Google, Tesla: World's Most Innovative Companies (Xinhua) 14:27, February 08, 2017 DHAKA, Feb. 8 -- A State-owned Chinese company has signed a 4.49-billion taka agreement to construct a major bridge which will help faster communication between Dhaka and major river port town Narayanganj, some 30 kilometers northeast of the capital city. Sinohydro Corporation Limited, one of the largest international companies, signed the official construction contract with the Bangladeshi government's Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on Wednesday in capital Dhaka. The Bangladeshi government with the financial assistance from the Saudi Fund Development (SFD) has taken up the project in view of its importance in connectivity with three national highways. "The bridge will establish an alternative route to bypass congested Dhaka city and facilitate connectivity with Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Mawa national highways," project profile mentioned. It further said construction of the bridge will also help establish a direct road communication between two commercially important Narayanganj sub-districts (Bandar and Sadar). Ebne Alam Hasan, chief engineer of Bangladesh's Roads and Highways Department and Lv Liushan, vice president of Sinohydro Corporation Limited, inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides at in capital Dhaka. Bangladeshi Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, among others, was present at the deal signing ceremony. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier laid the foundation of 3rd Shitalakhya Bridge through a video conference with Communications Minister Obaidul Qader at Narayanganj, which is one of the country's important business hub since British period. Hasina had then reportedly said the project would be epoch making steps for better connectivity between Dhaka and Narayanganj as well as development of the surrounding areas and economic condition of the people. The bridge will be four-lane. Of the total funds, the SFD will provide nearly 4 billion taka while the rest will be borne by the Bangladeshi government. RHD and SFD have already signed a contract for the construction of the 1.2 kilometer bridge over the river Shitalakhya. (1 U.S. dollar equals 82 taka). Billionaire entrepreneur and investor J.B. Pritzker launched his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor Thursday, framing his candidacy as one about progressive values rather than personal fortune and calling Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner a "failure."On the first day of Pritzker's candidacy, the Rauner-backed state Republican Party also appeared to try to frame a potential 2018 matchup between the two. Though Rauner has said he could support a tax hike if Democrats approve his political and economic agenda, the Republican Party called Pritzker a tax-raising "lapdog" for powerful Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.The early sparring between Pritzker and Rauner underscored the high stakes and likely high cost of the upcoming race for governor. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, has vowed to spend heavily out of his own pocket. Rauner, a wealthy former equity investor, spent tens of millions on his 2014 campaign and in December put $50 million into his re-election.At the same time, Pritzker's fellow Democratic primary contender Chris Kennedy, a Chicago businessman from the iconic political family, said his campaign had raised $1 million since making his bid official in early February. Kennedy also put $250,100 into his own campaign last month, a move that eliminated caps on the size of campaign contributions the candidates can collect.Two other Democratic candidates, Northwest Side Ald. Ameya Pawar and state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston, pointedly noted Pritzker's wealth in welcoming him to the contest. Pawar sent a fundraising email to supporters titled "A billionaire enters the race," while Biss questioned whether "the future of the Democratic Party will be a vehicle for the very rich."The early Democratic contest clearly is split. On one side are two moneyed candidates who represent the party's establishment and can use their personal wealth to compete with Rauner's deep pockets. On the other are two candidates with less personal wealth trying to appeal to progressive populist activism. The race so far reflects the latest outgrowth of the divide seen nationally among backers of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in last year's Democratic primary for president.Pritzker is a longtime fundraiser for Democrats at the national level who twice financially backed Hillary Clinton's presidential bids. He used the first day of his campaign to try to move himself toward the progressive column and link Rauner to President Donald Trump."This campaign isn't about money. It's about values. It's about progressive values. That's what I've stood for my whole life. I grew up a progressive Democrat. I've fought for progressive Democratic values," he told reporters after his speech."You heard me say onstage what I believe and it's a whole lot different than Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump."In an announcement speech of less than 14 minutes at the Chicago Park District's Grand Crossing Gymnasium on the far South Side, Pritzker recounted to a couple of hundred supporters his efforts to improve early child care and early learning for at-risk children, help build the Illinois Holocaust Museum to fight "bigotry, hatred and intolerance," endow a center on wrongful convictions, expand community health services and found the tech hub 1871."What do these things have in common? I identified a problem and went to work with others," Pritzker said, adding the progressive values he has been instilled with "led me to do big things that have had a lasting impact on people's lives."In contrast, Pritzker said, "Gov. Bruce Rauner is a failure. He promised a turnaround and all we got was the runaround. He said he would stand up to the special interests and instead, he's become his own special interest."Citing the state's historic budget stalemate, Pritzker accused Rauner of holding the state "hostage to his right-wing agenda." Rauner has made changes in state law involving collective bargaining and workers' compensation -- issues that go to the heart of Democratic allies in organized labor and civil injury attorneys -- preconditions for a tax increase and full state budget.Pritzker also contended progressive values are "under siege" by Trump and Rauner. He called Rauner the "local partner" of Trump and said the GOP governor is "just too afraid to stand up" to the president. Attempts to link Rauner to Trump are expected to be a constant theme for Democrats in the 2018 contest.The state Republican Party, which Rauner has heavily subsidized, hit back at Pritzker early and often Thursday with several missives that labeled Pritzker "a pawn" and "Madigan's billionaire." It was consistent with a longtime GOP theme in Illinois, trying to tarnish Democratic candidates by seeking to link them to Madigan, who is Rauner's chief political nemesis.The state GOP released what it said was a recording of Pritzker speaking at a Chicago event hosted by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford of Maywood on March 21. In the recording, Pritzker discusses how returning the state's personal income tax rate to 5 percent from the current 3.75 percent "doesn't get you everything you need, but it's a good way toward, you know, toward getting real revenue in the state.""One can only imagine the devastation Mike Madigan could do with a lapdog billionaire at his side. Pritzker puts the insiders first and the taxpayers last," Kirsten Kukowski, a state GOP spokeswoman, said in a statement.At his kickoff event, Pritzker told reporters, "I think that we ought to start with the millionaires and billionaires and make sure that they're paying taxes first, and then we're not going to be talking about raising taxes on middle-class families until we take care of that problem."But to impose such a tax would require voter approval of a state constitutional amendment to allow for a graduated income tax rate to replace the state's current flat tax. That's something unlikely to appear on a statewide ballot until 2020 at the earliest and therefore wouldn't address Illinois' immediate budget problems.The state GOP released another recording of Pritzker from the same Chicago event in which the Democrat said, "so let's just talk about this flat income tax, because we're not going to be able to turn it into a millionaire's tax, a fair tax. It's going to take us three years."Pritzker contended Rauner has backed a Republican legislative proposal that, if it met his preconditions, would boost the state personal income tax rate to 4.99 percent "and he wants to raise it on everyone."Pritzker is a founder of Pritzker Group, a private investment firm. Forbes estimates his wealth at $3.4 billion.It is the second time Pritzker has made a bid for public office. In 1998 he lost a primary bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress to Jan Schakowsky, who remains the officeholder in the North Shore's 9th District.But Pritzker has long been involved in politics. In the 1990s, he founded a national group aimed at attracting voters under age 40 to the Democratic Party. In 2008, he was a national co-chair of Clinton's presidential campaign against then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.In the 2008 campaign, Pritzker found his sister Penny backing Obama's presidential bid. After he won, she became his commerce secretary.In 2016, Pritzker donated millions of dollars to Priorities USA, a group that heavily backed Clinton in her unsuccessful bid against Trump. Gov. Robert Bentley defended his proposed $541 million tax increase in his State of the State address Tuesday."Revenue must increase," the governor said in his address at the Alabama State Capitol. "There must be growth money in the state's General Fund."It was Bentley's fifth time delivering the address, given annually at the start of the Legislative session. This year's speech may also have been Bentley's toughest: Re-elected last year on a no-new-taxes campaign, the governor last week announced a tax plan that would double the tax on purchases of cars and nearly triple the tax on cigarettes, part of a larger plan to make up for what Bentley says is a $702 million shortfall for the state's General Fund, the budget that pays for all state agencies except for schools.Problems in the General Fund are nothing new. The $1.8 billion budget is paid for largely by slow-growing revenue sources such as a tax on insurance policies. Still, lawmakers set a budget timebomb ticking three years ago when they borrowed $437 million from a state trust fund to shore up the General Fund. That money runs out Oct. 1, and Bentley claims there are hundreds of millions of dollars in additional obligations that have to be repaid."Our state is in debt," Bentley said in the speech. "We owe millions to the federal government. We owe millions to the bank. We owe millions to the taxpayers by way of a borrowed-out rainy day fund."Hours before the speech, in a workshop for lawmakers, Bentley's budget director Bill Newton laid out the details of those obligations. After federal audits, the state has to return millions to the Medicaid agency this year, Newton said. In addition to the $437 million loan three years ago, Newton said, the state must begin repayment on another loan taken out under the administration of former Gov. Bob Riley in 2010.Some within Bentley's own party have already balked at the tax plan, with one Republican senator putting up a billboard to say he'd oppose any new taxes. In his Tuesday speech, Bentley made the argument that paying one's bills is the conservative thing to do."We cannot put off solving these problems any more," he said. "We cannot cut our way out of this. There is nothing more conservative than paying your debts and getting your financial house in order."Bentley won applause from lawmakers for other proposals, though there was little mention in the speech of how much those proposals would cost.Long a proponent of pre-kindergarten education, the governor said he'd yet again seek an increase in funding for free pre-kindergarten, which is now available only to about 12 percent of the state's 4-year-olds. He also announced he'd seek money to provide two-year college tuition for the state's foster children when they reach adulthood. Money for both proposals would likely come from the Education Trust Fund, which pays for schools. Unlike the General Fund, the ETF isn't facing a large budget gap this year.Lawmakers in both parties said Bentley made a good case for more money -- and said they weren't impressed with the lack of specifics in the speech."He didn't give us a lot of detail, did he?" said Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, who chairs the House committee that oversees the General Fund. "We'll see more when we see his budget. The devil's in the details."Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, said he wasn't sure about the tax increases, but agreed it was time to fix the General Fund."For the past four years, we've been putting Band-Aids on it," he said. "I think that for once we are going to have to find a way to do this."Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said he's still not convinced the budget hole is as large as the governor claims. He said he'd like to see cuts to the budget before a tax increase is proposed -- but he also said people might favor a tax increase if proposed cuts went too deep."I'm not seeing a groundswell in favor of new taxes," Marsh said. "But when people come to understand that this could lead to letting people out of prison, they may change their minds."Alabama's overcrowded prisons are driving some of the growth in the General Fund. When lawmakers proposed the $437 million loan to shore up the fund in 2012, they argued that a mass release of prisoners would happen if the measure didn't pass.Bentley's Democratic opponent in the 2014 election, Parker Griffith, watched the speech from the back of the Old House Chamber. He said he didn't hold Bentley's no-new-taxes campaign slogan against him."What's disappointing is not that he told a white lie," Griffith said. "It's wondering whether we can believe anything else he says."Like other Democrats at the speech, Griffith said he wished the governor had chosen the lottery as one of his revenue solutions, as well as a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who run casinos in the Black Belt. Democrats have long proposed those options -- in addition to cigarette taxes, which made it into the governor's proposal -- as a way to raise money from people who don't absolutely have to pay the tax."It's disappointing that we don't have a lottery," said House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-Gadsden. "We're funding other states' education programs."Ford said he agreed that the General Fund needs growth sources of revenue. Even though rates of smoking have historically been on the decline, Ford said he saw the cigarette tax as a growth source."It's a new source, so it's a growth source," he said.Bentley, in his speech, said the state had no choice but to fix the budget hole."It is time we change course," he said. The California Department of Justice is investigating Wells Fargo & Co. on allegations of criminal identity theft over its creation of millions of unauthorized accounts, according to a search warrant sent to the bank's San Francisco headquarters this month.The warrant and related documents, served Oct. 5 and obtained by the Los Angeles Times through a public records request, confirm that California Attorney General Kamala Harris, in the final weeks of a run for U.S. Senate, has joined the growing list of public officials and agencies investigating the bank in connection with the accounts scandal.Harris' office demanded the bank turn over a trove of information, including the identities of California customers who had unauthorized accounts opened in their names, information about fees related to those accounts, the names of the Wells Fargo employees who opened the accounts, the names of those employees' managers and emails or other communication related to those accounts.Her office is also requesting the same information about accounts opened by Wells Fargo workers in California for customers in other states.Kristin Ford, a spokeswoman for Harris' office, said she could not comment on an ongoing investigation. Wells Fargo spokesman Mark Folk said the bank is "cooperating in providing the requested information," but would not comment further.Documents filed along with the search warrant argue that there is probable cause to believe Wells Fargo violated two sections of the state penal code _ one outlawing certain types of impersonation, the other outlawing the unauthorized use of personal information. Both violations can be charged as felonies, punishable by imprisonment for more than a year.It's not clear whether Harris' office is considering charges against individual bank workers, high-level bank executives or the bank itself. The investigation could lead to charges beyond the identity-theft allegations used to secure the search warrant.In the weeks since Sept. 8, when the Los Angeles city attorney's office and federal bank regulators announced a $185 million settlement with Wells Fargo over the creation of the accounts, lawmakers and other regulators have questioned whether the bank may have violated fraud, labor and securities laws.At a fiery Capitol Hill hearing last month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told former Wells Fargo Chief Executive John Stumpf that he should be criminally investigated. Stumpf abruptly retired last week and was replaced by longtime Wells Fargo executive Timothy Sloan.There also have been questions about when and how much former bank executive Carrie Tolstedt, who led the bank division at the root of the accounts scandal, knew of the practices. She retired this summer, just months before the settlement was announced.But identity theft has not been a central issue in the matter, and it's noteworthy that it seems to be at the heart of Harris' investigation, said Paul Stephens, policy director at the San Diego nonprofit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse."One wouldn't typically think of a financial institution opening an account in the name of a customer as being an act of identity theft," Stephens said. "It's a creative way of looking at these activities and finding them unlawful under a statute that arguably could be prosecuted in state court."U.S. attorneys in San Francisco, New York and Charlotte, N.C., have opened their own investigations, though the scope of those inquiries is not clear.Irving Einhorn, a retired white-collar criminal defense attorney and former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission's regional office in Los Angeles, said there are few charges that a state attorney general could bring that federal prosecutors could not.Still, he said it's not surprising that Harris' office is investigating the bank on its own. "With a big national bank like this, there are overlapping jurisdictions," he said.Not to mention political ramifications. Elected officials of all political stripes have jumped on Wells Fargo in the weeks since the settlement was announced, holding hearings, enacting sanctions and calling for legislation aimed at reining in big banks or even breaking them up.In California, State Treasurer John Chiang last month said his office would cut off several business relationships with the bank, a move that's since been followed by officials in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and the states of Illinois and Ohio.At this point, Einhorn said, no one wants to be left out."You have to remember how it looks to constituents in a particular state when their officials get tough with the big, bad banks," he said.The attorney general's move to investigate the bank comes amid her campaign to succeed Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is retiring from her Senate seat. Harris is running against Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a fellow Democrat.Harris has made her combat of wrongdoing in the financial services industry one of the themes of her campaign. She has especially pointed to her role in negotiating $20 billion in relief from banks for California homeowners who lost homes or suffered losses in the housing bust. But that deal failed to live up to promises she had made to send those responsible to jail, opening her up to some criticism.By investigating Wells Fargo, Harris could be trying to burnish her bank-busting credentials, said Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College."She's looking for every advantage she can get," he said. "Going after a big, unpopular bank can only help her with the electorate. Wells Fargo has gone into Voldemort territory when it comes to popularity."Along with investigations by Harris' office and federal prosecutors, Wells Fargo is also under investigation by the federal Department of Labor, an outside law firm hired by the bank's board and two congressional committees.With so many agencies looking at the bank, it's likely that there will be more revelations about the scope and the details of the problems that pushed more than 5,000 workers to open as many as 2 million unauthorized checking, savings and other accounts for customers over the last five years.In a report last week following the announcement of Stumpf's retirement, Jaret Seiberg, an analyst for brokerage and investment bank Cowen & Co., said the former CEO's exit would not come close to ending problems for the bank."There are simply too many entities investigating for more troubles not to surface," Seiberg wrote. West Virginia's drug czar resigned Thursday, after a little more than four months on the job.Jim Johnson, director of the state's new Office of Drug Control Policy, was hired to help lead the effort to reduce drug overdose deaths. West Virginia has the highest fatal overdose rate in the nation.Johnson's sudden departure comes just days after the release of a preliminary report on ways to combat the opioid epidemic. Johnson had served on a panel of experts that drew up the report. A final report is expected before the end of the month.Johnson, who started the job Sept. 2, spoke at a House of Delegates committee meeting last week, but he gave no hint that he was planning to step down.In a news release Thursday, West Virginia health officials characterized Johnson's departure as a "retirement." Johnson will work part-time for the state on unspecified "special projects.""I have decided that after 45 years, it really is time to enjoy retirement, although I am still excited and appreciative for the opportunity to continue some of those efforts to combat this terrible disease," Johnson said in the release.Johnson was the director of Huntington's Office of Drug Control Policy for three years. He previously was a police officer and interim police chief in Huntington.In 2011, then-governor Earl Ray Tomblin created the Governor's Advisory Council on Substance Abuse and six regional task forces to address substance abuse in West Virginia.During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers created the state Office of Drug Control Policy and, last month, Gov. Jim Justice signed an executive order stating that the Governor's Advisory Council on Substance Abuse would become an advisory board to the Office of Drug Control Policy.In recent interviews about the transition, two members of the Advisory Council on Substance Abuse, Prestera CEO Karen Yost and Mark Drennan, executive director of the West Virginia Behavioral Healthcare Providers Association, said no one from the Department of Health and Human Resources or the drug office had contacted them about whether they would continue to serve and in what capacity.Susie Mullens, program manager at the drug control office, has been appointed interim director of the agency. We reduced bureaucratic red tape. We cut the automatic increase to the gas tax. We eliminated almost $2 billion in pension debt. We right-sized government. We found efficiencies within state agencies. My proudest achievement: paying $750 million in welfare debt to Maines hospitals. It sent the message that, in Maine, we pay our bills. In Portland, the Eimskip shipping service. In Wilton, Barclaycards. In Brunswick, Tempus Jets. In Nashville Plantation, Irving Forest Products. Maine Wood Concepts in New Vineyard. Molnlycke Health Care in Wiscasset. Hinckley Yachts in Trenton Mental health services Nursing homes Job training Education Roads Law enforcement Natural resources Our children Our elderly Our disabled Our mentally ill Thousands of our most vulnerable citizens are on waitlists for services. They need your compassion. WELFARE REFORM EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE ENERGY OPEN FOR BUSINESS ZONES TAX REFORM ADRRESSING MAINES DRUG PROBLEM CONCLUSION Chief Justice Saufley, members of the 126th Legislature, distinguished guests, and my fellow citizens:Tonight, I am here to update you, the people of Maine, about the condition of our great state.First, I must recognize a few individuals. To my lovely wife Ann and childrenplease standI would not be here tonight without you. Ann, you have made Maine proud as our First Lady.Staff Sergeant Douglas Connolly, the military herald this evening, thank you for your courageous service to our state and nation.As we thank our men and women in uniform, we are reminded of those who are not with us. Bill Knight greeted thousands of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at Bangor International Airport.A World War II veteran, Bill was part of the Greatest Generation. He died on Christmas Day at age 91. He made greeting the troops his lifes most important duty.Another veteran who is not here tonight is someone many in this chamber know and respect. Michael Cianchette, who was my chief legal counsel, is now deployed to Afghanistan.Mike is truly one of Maines best and brightest, and we send him our best wishes for a safe return home. Mikes lovely wife, Michelle, is here with us tonight. Michelle, please stand.Our administration is working hard so young Mainers like Mike and Michelle can continue to live and work in our state. We want our young families to enjoy a growing economy that allows them to prosper and succeed.Mainers are a breed apart. Many of us value our individuality. We work hard. We take care of each other.I love my state. I am proud to call myself a Mainer. I want every Mainer to succeed and prosper. But Maine is at a crossroads. We have huge challenges.Higher taxes and bloated government have not improved our lives. Higher energy costs have not attracted major investments to Maine. More welfare has not led to prosperity. It has not broken the cycle of generational poverty.We cannot return to the same failed policies of the past 40 years. We are better than that. We must be bold. We must have the courage to make the tough decisions.We can do better. We will do better.JOBS/ECONOMYWe must keep our young people in Maine. Recently, I asked some Bowdoin College students, What can we do to keep you here? One of them was Grogoire Faucher from Madawaska. He is eager to hear what the future of Maine holds for him. Comment ca va, Gregoire? Ca me fait plasir de vous avoir ici ce soir.Unfortunately, Gregoire hears more about job prospects in Boston or New York or even New Hampshire than right here in Maine. He wants to stay in Maine. But he may have to leave to find higher-paying jobs and better opportunities.Greg and his classmates are the kind of young people we need to grow our states economy. We must create a business climate that encourages investment that will employ Maine people.Recruiting job creators to come to Maine is not easy. The global competition is fierce. Investment capital goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is appreciated.As Winston Churchill said: Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.Since we took office, we have made Maine more competitive. Maines unemployment rate has fallen to 6.2%. Its the lowest since 2008. Almost 13,000 new private-sector jobs have been created since we took office.Because of our efforts, good-paying jobs are being created all over the state.More jobs have been added at such world-class companies as:We are a state of entrepreneurial doers. There are 40,000 small businesses in Maine. Our state has roughly 130,000 microbusinesses. They employ 170,000 people. They drive our economy. If they could each add one more job, that would transform our economy.Nicole Snow of Sebec is a very successful micro-entrepreneur. She created Darn Good Yarn, and she does all of her business online. Nicole is growing her company into a million-dollar businessthanks to the internet. Nicole, please stand.Having spent my career in business, I know what grows an economy. But there is a major push by many in this chamber to maintain the status quo.Liberal politicians are taking us down a dangerous patha path that is unsustainable. They want a massive expansion of Maines welfare state. Expanded welfare does not break the cycle of generational poverty. It breaks the budget.In 1935 during the height of the Great Depression, FDRthe father of the New Dealwarned against welfare dependency. He said: To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit The federal government must and shall quit this business of relief.Big, expensive welfare programs riddled with fraud and abuse threaten our future. Too many Mainers are dependent on government handouts.Government dependency has notand never willcreate prosperity.MEDICAID EXPANSIONMaine expanded welfare over a decade ago. Now MaineCare alone is consuming 25 percent of our General Fund dollars. The result?We are taking money away from:Maines welfare expansion resulted in 750 million dollars of hospital debt. We just paid it off. Some want to repeat that mistake.Look at the facts. Welfare expansion will cost Mainers at least $800 million over the next decade. It will cost Maine taxpayers over $150 million in the next three years. Maines current welfare system is failing:Michael Levasseur of Carmel has autism and needs care 24/7. Michael is here tonight with his parents, Cynthia and Paul. Cynthia had to quit her job to care for her son, and they had to downsize their house to make ends meet.With services, Michael could get a job coach, assisted-living accommodations and participate in a day program. Maine lawmakers must address these waiting lists. Michael deserves your compassion.We must set priorities on who will get services with our limited resources. Money may grow on trees in Washington, D.C., but we cannot count on promises of federal windfalls to pay for our services.Lets be clear. Maine will not get 100 percent federal funding for welfare expansion. Maine already expanded. That means the federal government would give us less money than other states that are expanding now.Adding another hundred thousand people to our broken welfare system is insanity. It is unaffordable. It is fiscally irresponsible. Expanding welfare is a bad deal for working Mainers who have to foot the bill.Liberals believe that giving free health care to able-bodied adults, while leaving our most vulnerable in the cold, is compassionate. I disagree.We must show compassion for all Maine people. We must protect our hard-working families from the higher insurance premiums and higher taxes that will result from further expansion. Do not focus on the next election. You must focus on the next generation.We owe the next generation a society that provides them with prosperity and opportunity, not welfare and entitlements.I will not tolerate the abuse of welfare benefits. Maines limited resources must be reserved for the truly needy. Maine EBT cards provide cash for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. This cash is supposed to purchase household items for needy children.Every dollar that goes to buy cigarettes, alcohol or lottery tickets is a dollar taken away from a needy child, family or others who need services.My proposal will prohibit TANF funds from being used for alcohol, tobacco, gambling and other adult entertainment. We will limit the use of Maine EBT cards to Mainenot Hawaii, not Florida.If you want to ask the taxpayers for money, you should make a good-faith effort to get a job first. We will require those seeking welfare, if able, to look for a job before applying for TANF benefits.Maine taxpayers are being punished because our welfare program far exceeds the federal guidelines. Maine has been so lenient with its work exemptions, the federal government has fined us millions of dollars in penalties. We must eliminate exemptions that excuse TANF recipients from work.There is no excuse for able-bodied adults to spend a lifetime on welfare at the expense of hard-working, struggling Mainers. That is not what I call compassion. As John F. Kennedy said in 1961: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. These are words that still ring true today.I know generational poverty. But I escaped generational poverty, and lived the American Dream. Some caring Maine families took me in from the streets of Lewiston and gave me the guidance I needed to succeed.I have said it many times. Education saved my life. Throwing money at poverty will not end poverty. Education and mentoring will end poverty.Our bridge year programs are providing educational opportunities for Maine students. The Business Academy in Biddeford recently presented 33 students with a total of 126 college credits. We saved these students thousands of dollars in college tuition.In Fort Kent, 17 students have completed their freshman year at college upon graduating high school.This spring, students in Hermon will graduate high school with diplomas and technical proficiencies and trade licenses. Many lawmakers, the union and school superintendents have opposed our reforms at every step. But I vow to always put our students and our teachers first.To strengthen Maines economy, we must invest our resources to improve infrastructure, reduce taxes and lower energy costs for homeowners and businesses. Industry needs infrastructure to move goods and services at the speed of business.Over the next three years, MaineDOT will invest over $2 billion in infrastructure improvements.We will repair or replace 54 bridges and reconstruct hundreds of miles of state roads. We will improve our ports, rail, airports and transit infrastructure. The plan supports over 25,000 jobs in highway and bridge projects. Thousands more jobs will be supported by the plans investments in ports, rail, ferries and buses. Thats putting Maine to work.But we still face barriers that make Maine less competitive. Heating and electricity costs remain a major obstacle.Our homeowners spend well over $3,000 a year to heat their homes. Thats nearly double the national average. Maine families know that this winter has been more challenging than most.Distribution of natural gas expanded this year in Southern and Central Maine. Mainers are saving more than a thousand dollars a year by converting to natural gas.More funding is now available to help Mainers convert to more affordable heating systems. These systems include wood pellets, advanced oil systems, natural gas systems, energy efficiency improvements, heat pumps anything that will cut costs for Maine homes.High electricity costs make it very difficult to attract business. My administration is working to expand pipeline capacity from Pennsylvania to take full advantage of the natural gas supplies in that state.Also, our neighbors in Quebec have the best clean-energy resources on the planet. My Administration is fighting for access to this cost-effective and clean source of electricity along with the rest of New England.Many lawmakers have chosen to support powerful special interest groups over the needs of Maines ratepayers. Lets be clear. I do not favor one form of energy over another. I am on the side of those who want to lower the costs for working Maine families. Whose side are you on?Tonight I am proposing a bold new idea to attract companies that will invest more than $50 million and create more than 1,500 jobs.My proposal will offer valuable incentives for companies that choose to locate in certain areas. They are called Open for Business Zones.Open for Business Zones will offer discounted electricity rates; employment tax benefits; and provide access to capital.Companies in these zones will get assistance to help recruit and train workers.Employees in these zones will not be forced to join labor unions. They will not be forced to pay dues or fees to labor unions. This will allow Maine to compete with right-to-work states.Companies in these zones must show preference to Maine workers, companies and bidders.Our proposal combines the kinds of incentives that other states have used successfully to attract major investment. We must be able to compete with them. We must be bold.We must show young people like Gregoire that we are serious about providing good-paying jobs and opportunities for him and his classmates.States with the highest economic growth often have the lowest overall tax burdens.We are working hard to combat Maines reputation as a high-tax state. We passed the largest tax cut in Maines history. Two-thirds of Maine taxpayers will get income-tax relief. Liberals call it a tax break for the rich. But 70,000 low-income Mainers will no longer pay income tax.We cut taxes for the working poor. This is compassion. We put money in peoples pockets. We told the business community we are serious about tax reform. I am proud of the progress we made. But we need to do more.Our tax system is out of date. It is not competitive with other states. So lets ask Mainers in a statewide referendum if they want to lower taxes.We must lower our income tax rates and eliminate the estate tax to bring Maines tax system into the 21st century. This would make Maine more attractive for people to work and raise their families here. It would encourage retirees to stay in Maine.This will protect our working-class families from bearing an unfair tax burden.My proposal also includes a limit on the growth of state spending. This will provide much-needed relief to Maines taxpayers.Lets stop arguing about tax reform. Lets ask the people who really matter. Lets ask Maines hardworking taxpayers. We will ask Mainers a simple question at a statewide referendum. We will ask if they want to lower taxes by at least $100 million and reduce state spending by at least $100 million.We think Mainers want tax relief. Lets give them the option to decide.Finally, we must confront a troubling epidemic. It is tearing at the social fabric of our communities. While some are spending all their time trying to expand welfare, we are losing the war on drugs.927 drug-addicted babies were born last year in Maine. Thats more than 7 percent of all births.Each baby addicted to drugs creates a lifelong challenge for our health care system, schools and social services. The average cost for drug-addicted births in 2009 was $53,000. Welfare programs covered nearly 80 percent of those increased charges.More important than cost are the effects to these innocent children. I am deeply concerned about the suffering and long-term consequences these newborns are subject to. It is unacceptable to me that a baby should be born affected by drugs.We must show them our compassion.There were 163 drug-induced deaths in Maine in 2012. The use of heroin is increasing. Four times as many people died from a heroin overdose in 2012 than in 2011.Over 20 percent of the homicides in 2012 were related to illegal drugs. We must address the problem of drug addiction and drug trafficking. We must act now.We need to fully fund the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Our police chiefs tell us local law enforcement officials need more resources to fight the drug problem in our state. Auburn Police Chief Phil Crowell is the president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. He is here tonight to show that the chiefs fully support our administrations war on Maines drug problem. I am pleased the county sheriffs also enthusiastically support our initiative.As Henry Ford said: Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. The judicial, executive and legislative branches joined forces in an effort to eradicate domestic violence from our state. We need to come together once again to combat Maines drug problem.My proposal adds four new special drug prosecutors and four new judges to sit in enhanced drug courts in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston and Portland.Since local agencies do not have the manpower or resources they need to fight Maines drug problem, we will add 14 MDEA agent positions.We must hunt down dealers and get them off the streets. We must protect our citizens from drug-related crimes and violence. We must save our babies from lifelong suffering.In closing, I welcome common-sense solutions from anyone who wants to put Maine on the right path. Success doesnt happen by doing nothing.Bring me bold solutions. Put your politics aside. Fight for the future of Maines children. We must show them the path to succeed.God Bless Maine and God Bless America. Now, lets get to work. Maryland's highest court ruled Wednesday that poor suspects should have access to counsel at all bail hearings, overturning the General Assembly's attempt to spare already-stretched public defenders from attending hundreds of thousands of proceedings each year.In a 4-3 decision issued Wednesday, the Court of Appeals found that indigent defendants should have access to public defenders when court commissioners set their bail. The ruling said suspects have that right "in any proceeding that may result in the defendant's incarceration."State officials argued that indigent clients get adequate representation over the course of the judicial process and that it would be too costly for the Maryland public defender's office to staff so many hearings.After a similar court ruling in 2012, lawmakers passed a law making clear that free representation would be available starting with bail review hearings, at which judges review commissioners' decisions. Pennsylvanias new treasurer Joe Torsella announced he is reducing the size of treasurys fleet from 21 vehicles to 10. He will not use a dedicated state car and will end the practice of assigning state cars to individual treasury staff. Torsella made the announcement days after being sworn into office on Jan. 17. As treasurer I will closely scrutinize every expense that comes across my desk to ensure that it is used responsibly, and that begins with my own department. This policy will ensure that treasurys vehicles will only be used to serve the taxpayers who are paying for them," he stated in a release. Torsella has declined the use of a dedicated state vehicle and will continue to use his personal vehicle. He will not seek reimbursement for mileage. In addition, under the new policy, no vehicles will be assigned to employees on a permanent basis. Instead, a limited number of pooled vehicles will be signed out as needed for official business and the mileage recorded. The treasury will return the extra 11 vehicles back to the Commonwealths Department of General Services. The new policy is effective immediately. A branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. (Photo/Xinhua) China's largest commercial bank announced on Tuesday it provided short-term financing of 1.36 billion Indian rupees ($20 million) for a rapid transit line project in Pakistan last month. The 26-kilometer Orange Line project currently under construction in Lahore, the second largest city and a major industrial hub of Pakistan, is being built according to Chinese standards and will use metro vehicles and electromechanical systems made in China. It is the first large rail transit project launched under the bilateral economic corridor between China and Pakistan as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to promote connectivity amongst Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas. As the only Chinese commercial bank in Pakistan, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd has been actively supporting projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The bank issued a $25 million loan for the 50-megawatt Dawood wind farm project in December 2015 and $100 million export buyer's credit for the construction of a 49.5-megawatt Sachal wind farm in Pakistan's Sindh province the same year. On Tuesday, in the afternoon, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted a reception in support of the Clontarf Foundation where the Governor addressed guests. Description GIS - 08 February, 2017: The Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth expressed satisfaction regarding the implementation of measures announced in Budget 2016/2017. The Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth expressed satisfaction regarding the implementation of measures announced in Budget 2016/2017. He was speaking yesterday at the 4th Ministerial Committee tasked to oversee the progress achieved with regards the 2016/2017 budget monitoring and implementation at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. Prime Minister Jugnauth is upbeat that most of the projects enunciated in Budget 2016/2017 are on the right track, in the targeted time frame and are progressing satisfactorily. According to him, the three task forces set up to ensure the coordination of budget measures in various sectors are performing effectively. He further underlined that as Chairman of the Ministerial Committee he will ensure that tender procedures for the realisation of bigger projects are being fast-tracked to meet the set deadline for project implementation in the shortest delay. It will be recalled that the Ministerial Committee along with the three task forces were set up after the presentation of Budget 2016/2017 last year. The Committee is expected to assist the task forces to ensure proper coordination, prompt implementation of the measures, rapid elimination of bottlenecks, enhanced service delivery of the public sector, and faster realisation of projects and programmes. The three main areas of focus are: (i) Public Infrastructure Projects Task Force chaired by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport; (ii) Quality of Life and Poverty Alleviation - Task Force chaired by the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research; and (iii) Economy - Task Force chaired by the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security. Moreover, a High Level Committee has also been set up to look into the issue of Ageing Population and the Pension System . Months before Nextdoor announced a new mobile app to help public agencies with citizen engagement, it had quietly acquired a competitor in that space, Colorado-based Neighborland Both companies have made the GovTech 100 since launching in 2011, but the overlap in business interests between Nextdoor and Neighborland boils down to citizen engagement, being only part of the former and the entire focus of the latter. Nextdoor started with a website in 2011 followed by an app for the general public in 2013, building a social media platform that now serves 260,000 neighborhoods across all 50 states and 10 other countries. As Head of Product Tatyana Mamut explained tolast year, Nextdoors public agency users have long been able to communicate with members through the website, but the new mobile app in February was intended to make that easier.Neighborland is not a social media platform but a software tool for creating an organized dialog with citizens around specific proposals or issues. As of last year, it had been involved in over 200 projects and about 50 government agencies as of last year, and it recently launched an app for transportation agencies as well.Neighborland co-founder and CEO Dan Parham confirmed in an email that talks between the two companies started in September. He said he is now leading Nextdoors public agency team, and his co-founder Tee Parham is leading a new product and engineering team in Colorado.Nextdoor spokeswoman Edie Campbell-Urban said in an email that the acquisition occurred in late 2019 and will help the company build out its products for public agencies.Nextdoor and Neighborland share a passion of empowering people to build strong communities and shape the development of their neighborhoods, and together will deliver even more tools to our public agency partners, she wrote. Dan Parham brings extensive experience working directly with local, state and federal agencies. Dan is now head of public agencies at Nextdoor and leading the charge in working with all of our agency partners.The transaction followed Nextdoors massive fundraising haul of $170 million in 2019, according to Crunchbase . Terms of the sale are not yet public.In what may be a busy spring for Nextdoor, the company has entered into two other significant partnerships: last week, with the office of Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom, which will use Nextdoor to disseminate information during the COVID-19 crisis; this week, with the National Governors Association, for the same purpose.A news release from Nextdoor said the number of public agency posts on its platform has tripled since the beginning of March, while the company partnered with thousands of public agencies, from regional and state departments of health to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Red Cross.Accurate information is critical in our fight against the spread of this virus, said NGA Chief Operating Officer LeAnne Wilson, in a statement. Working to ensure families can get accurate information from trusted local sources will help engage a stronger community response. On Monday, Feb. 6, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation that not only makes data transparency a requirement for all state agencies, but also codifies the chief data officer position into state law.The new Open Data Initiative (PDF) aims to increase public awareness of and access to state agency data in order to enhance transparency and accountability, encourage public engagement, and stimulate public policy and public service innovation.What this ultimately means is that state agency data must be published online, whether it is on the state's already-established open data portal or their respective agency websites.The person leading the charge is Chief Data Officer Liz Rowe, who has been in the position since March of 2015, and also took on the role and responsibilities of Deputy CTO for Policy and Governance when CTO Dave Weinstein was appointed in 2016 "I was hired by the former Chief Technology Officer Steve Emanuel, who worked with the governors office to create the position of CDO," Rowe toldvia email. "My roles creation was in response of the evolution and bifurcation of 'IT' into 'information' and 'technology' domains."When Rowe was brought on board, her directive from Emanuel was to develop a strategy for defining and managing enterprise data and information across the executive branch, while he focused on enterprise infrastructure and operations.And while much about her position remains the same, the new Open Data Initiative formalizes Rowe's role, giving her the authority to establish procedures, standards and best practices around open data and data sets by each agency; develop a dataset format standard across all agencies; and monitor and ensure compliance."The initiative will help us drive the development of common standards and governance across the executive branch," Rowe said. And the stability of codifying the CDO position allows for foundational work to be started that will carry over multiple administrations, impacting many initiatives, and will continue to improve outcomes for citizens, no matter who is in the CDO post."What changes now is that this effort has become prioritized," she said. "Over the past two years, I have had discussions with many folks at all levels of state government who agreed with what we were trying to do, but due to resource constraints were not able to work with us on the necessary groundwork."But now they have a mandate and a timeline that they are required to meet, she said, noting that a lot of the relationship and education pieces have been done at the senior levels. "Hopefully that will help with awareness and facilitate adoption."Another aspect of the initiative, Rowe said, is enterprise data sharing. "The statute directs me to work with the attorney generals office to develop an approach to enable enterprise data sharing," she said, and acknowledged that the ability to share information between agencies thus far has been a challenge due to confusing regulatory requirements. "I look forward to being able to work with the AGs office on practical controls for appropriate and secure data and information sharing to support and enable our agencys missions."That the CDO position is now a part of New Jersey state law is a step in the right direction, given the value data holds and the fact that the role is starting to mature and evolve in the public sector , but looking back over the last few years, Rowe says it was actually more helpful that she didn't start with a legislative mandate or executive order."This forced me to proactively identify and reach out to stakeholders across the state and in other states. I was able to learn from them their business problems not their technology problems and figure out how an appropriate data strategy would be of benefit to them and their clients outcomes," she said. "Ive been able to develop relationships over the past couple of years and understand some of the real business and cultural impacts of what were asking them to do, insights I probably wouldnt have gained if Id been brought in to support a new initiative right out of the gate ... I think that what we build at this moment in time will be better for it." With the stroke of a pen just seven weeks ago, Philadelphia joined other major cities like New York and Los Angeles in creating a zero waste goal, seeking to boost its trash diversion rate to 90 percent by 2035.Upon signing an Executive Order on Dec. 20, Mayor James Kenney created the citys first-ever Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet. And that cabinet's 16 members nine city government entities including its departments of transportation and planning and development, and seven community stakeholders including school officials and members of Keep Philadelphia Beautiful (KPB) have a full calendar.They're tasked with creating a comprehensive, data-driven action plan for waste reduction and litter prevention; increasing the percent of diversion from landfills and incinerators; preventing and better managing litter and illegal dumping; partnering with government and business; and challenging residents to keep their own neighborhoods clean.But even as officials and community leaders scrutinize the origins of trash in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the U.S. Constitution is also bringing technology to bear on the ongoing problem.This spring, officials will pilot a litter index in two neighborhoods. Using metrics from a similar paper-based Keep America Beautiful (KAB) survey, theyll painstakingly and systematically map every piece of litter, garbage and trash they see then digitize their findings with GIS software and surveying products.When we started looking at the program and how we enhance it, the first idea was digitizing. Were basically creating surveys for field workers in Philadelphia to go out and take a survey of every square inch in Philadelphia, said Zero Waste and Litter Director Nic Esposito.Ultimately, large and small trash should become big data for the city.What this comes into is, weve set up some really great systems through our Department of Innovation and Technology to aggregate that data and crosscheck it, so we can really see where resources need to be driven, where hot spots are, Esposito said.The pilot should begin in March, though city officials were reluctant to tip where theyll try it first, and the survey will likely go citywide in late summer or early fall. Philadelphias goal is to do two citywide litter indexes a year, Esposito said.On the back end, officials will be able to use the results to plot their response in trash-strewn areas and habitual dumping grounds. But on the front end, theyll be creating a website where residents will be able to check an areas litter score and see what resources anything from street trash cans to friend groups are available.Esposito and Michelle Feldman, director of KPB, the local KAB chapter, praised the mayors creation of the cabinet, which has already held a meeting.But beyond strategic coordination, both agree the index will also provide a chance to apply behavioral science to trash and littering, possibly with researchers from a local university.I think data is already helping to shape what the behavioral science subcommittee is looking at in terms of measuring interventions. Data is going to be very important there, I think also [in determining] what messages work, said Feldman, who sits on the cabinets behavioral science and communications and engagement subcommittees.Through studying data, she said, officials may be able to help shape effective anti-litter messages and strategies by observing which result in cleaner areas.I think the key is, litter abatement is different than litter prevention. You really need great data to put together a good plan for litter prevention, Feldman said. Its a really powerful means of citizen engagement, which I think is part of solving this problem too, making folks feel like the institutions around them are listening, but making them also feel like its a two-way dialog.Besides, she added, if people see their government responding, theyre more likely to engage in positive behavior and cut down on littering.Mark Wheeler, chief graphic information officer in the citys Office of Innovation and Technology, sits on the cabinets data subcommittee.His office is formulating a survey index for grading the litter that city officials will find when they pilot the litter index.Wheeler compared the process to existing applications like the citys Address Information System, which lets official users input an address, then see on a computerized map whether its a valid residence.The litter is going to have some kind of similar aggregation of data, he said. Theyre going to work on the survey itself and the survey is going to tell us the quantity of litter theyve seen, the frequency. But we know we want to look at the number of vacant lots on the same block, the number of 311 [calls]. These things may be contributors to why there is so much litter.Other issues, Wheeler said, could also be aggregated as data to suggest additional reasons why litter is a persistent problem in certain areas. Crime and theft rates, for example, could be keeping people from helping clean up their neighborhoods.Philadelphia may also use its data and related quality-of-life indicators to emulate cities like Boston and Los Angeles in creating dashboards, he said.We could do that but take it up a notch, integrate it geographically so you could see whats going on in that neighborhood, Wheeler said, noting the city has had many requests for dashboards using information that is sometimes still paper-based.Theres so many opportunities for one project to improve the other, he added.Esposito compared the cabinets overall effort to assembling a pretty complex puzzle, but said action on trash should happen sooner rather than later.Were not going to wait until 2035 to clean up Philadelphia," he said. "That has to happen right now. (TNS) -- The Internal Revenue Service has issued warnings for people to avoid two new scams.One scheme uses impersonators of the IRS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage.The IRS also issued a warning about possible fake charity scams emerging due to Hurricane Harvey and encouraged taxpayers to seek out recognized charitable groups for their donations."While there has been an enormous wave of support across the country for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, people should be aware of criminals who look to take advantage of this generosity by impersonating charities to get money or private information from well-meaning taxpayers," an IRS news release states. "Such fraudulent schemes may involve contact by telephone, social media, email or in-person solicitations."Criminals often send emails that steer recipients to bogus websites that appear to be affiliated with legitimate charitable causes. These sites frequently mimic the sites of, or use names similar to, legitimate charities, or claim to be affiliated with legitimate charities in order to persuade people to send money or provide personal financial information that can be used to steal identities or financial resources.More information about tax scams and schemes may be found at IRS.gov using the keywords "scams and schemes." Details on available relief can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.The scam that impersonates FBI or IRS personnel uses the emblems of both the IRS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and tries to entice users to select a "here" link to download a fake FBI questionnaire. Instead, the link downloads a certain type of malware called ransomware that prevents users from accessing data stored on their device unless they pay money to the scammers."This is a new twist on an old scheme," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a news release. "People should stay vigilant against email scams that try to impersonate the IRS and other agencies that try to lure you into clicking a link or opening an attachment. People with a tax issue won't get their first contact from the IRS with a threatening email or phone call."The IRS, state tax agencies and tax industries working in partnership as the Security Summit currently are conducting an awareness campaign called Don't Take the Bait that includes warning tax professionals about the various types of phishing scams, including ransomware. Victims should not pay a ransom, the IRS states."Paying it further encourages the criminals, and frequently the scammers won't provide the decryption key even after a ransom is paid," the IRS news release adds.Victims are encouraged to immediately report any ransomware attempt or attack to the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.IC3.gov , and forward any IRS-themed scams to phishing@irs.gov The IRS does not use email, text messages or social media to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. For more information, visit the "Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts" page on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on IRS social media sites, including YouTube videos.If you are a tax professional and registered e-Services user who disclosed any credential information, contact the e-Services Help Desk to reset your e-Services password. If you disclosed information and taxpayer data was stolen, contact your local stakeholder liaison. Security Elsewhere (TNS) The only plan that matters when it comes to replacing Erie County's voting machines is the backup plan.The county's 750 voting machines likely have two years to four years of life left in them, but they need to be replaced. And soon.A state mandate requires that all voting machines that will be used in the 2020 presidential election create a paper backup that can be audited in case of mechanical error or election tampering. Erie County's voting machines don't have that feature.That's put pressure on many of the state's 67 counties to foot the bill for what is currently an unfunded mandate.For Erie County to meet the mandate, it will likely cost taxpayers $1.5 million to $3 million, said Doug Smith, Erie County's clerk of elections."Council members have been provided some firsthand looks at some of the different systems that are out there though most of them have tended to be in the paper arena," Smith said, referring to meetings held in 2018 with different voting system vendors. "It was a wholly unfamiliar area for most of us. It's definitely new territory for us. The next step's going to be to compare them more specifically and see which one brings with it the most advantages and provides the best value for the cost."Erie County Council members, who make up the county's Board of Elections, have yet to reach a decision about replacing voting machines. Their options will be limited when they do.Counties can only choose from state- and federally-certified systems. Pennsylvania, to date, has certified three different machines. Two other machines are undergoing testing and a sixth is expected to be submitted for testing soon.Those systems will be on display when the Pennsylvania Department of State holds its New Voting Systems Expo in Erie from 4 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 29 at Blasco Library, 160 E. Front St. The public is encouraged to attend. The expo was originally scheduled for Nov. 28 but was canceled because of poor weather conditions."We were already weighing the possibility of replacing voting systems statewide because the current systems are aging," Department of State spokeswoman Wanda Murren said. "Many of them have operating systems that are no longer supported by the manufacturer, or soon will not be supported."After the 2016 presidential election, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that Russian hackers tried to access the voter databases of Pennsylvania and other states ahead of the 2016 election.In response, Gov. Tom Wolf in 2018 ordered voting machines throughout the state be replaced before the 2020 election with ones that leave a paper trail and therefore can be easily audited. Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres later announced that all counties must have the new systems selected by Dec. 31, 2019."The voting systems/machines were not the target of that widely publicized 2016 hacking attempt," Murren said, "but that situation drove home the need for new machines that include the latest security features as well as offering increased resiliency the ability to more quickly recover from a cyber incident."The state has $14.15 million of funding from the 2002 Help America Vote Act available, but it has not yet allocated that funding to any county. Erie County's share of that money could be $600,000, officials have said.The estimate for the upgrade has varied greatly over the past year, said Smith, noting that at one time the county was looking at an expense ranging from $8 million to $10 million. It's likely to cost much less.Still, the mandate doesn't sit well with many county officials across the state, including Erie County Council chairman Fiore Leone, who has repeatedly railed against the state about unfunded orders. Leone said he believes the current technology is serving its purpose and what the state wants counties to adopt could be "a step backward," he said."The cost of it is always substantial," he said. "We're talking millions of dollars based on the fact the state is saying that it is a mandated service. I don't know that as of right now the machines we have aren't performing as we expect. I believe they are performing as the community would expect. There isn't any problem with those machines."Leone said he wants to the county board of elections to hold multiple public hearings on the matter before a decision is reached on technology.Lori Dolan of the League of Women Voters of Erie County said the nonpartisan voter advocacy group wants to partner with the county on such meetings, which would provide voters the chance to learn more about a new voting system and even try out the technology. The League of Women Voters only supports voting systems that employ a voter-verifiable paper ballot or another paper record.Smith noted that voting machines themselves, including those used in Erie County, aren't susceptible to hacking the same way a voter database is because they are "not connected to the internet." And though the machines used in Erie County do not leave a voter-verifiable paper trail, they do include several features that secure and back up data that can be recovered if necessary.The machines are tested before every election and then sealed before being transported to the county's 149 polling places.Erie County bought its 750 touchscreen voting machines the iVotronic, made by Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Nebraska in early 2006 to replace machines that used a lever or punch card. The current machines were first used in the primary of that year.Smith said it is likely that Erie County voters in the future will cast their votes on a paper ballot that would be scanned into a machine, which would then tally votes at each precinct. Options such as a touchscreen that also records votes on a viewable paper roll are also available, but would be more costly, he said.Asked about potential vulnerabilities of a paper system, Smith said he's confident the process will be secure and not prone to human error in part because manufacturers have established protocol and have implemented technology to better determine voter intent. One such vendor, Clear Ballot, displayed its system's capabilities to county officials in 2018."Somebody maybe put a checkmark over the circle," Smith said. "Somebody else circled the circle. Somebody else filled it in nicely. Somebody else filled it in sloppy. Every single vote can be reproduced and in that way. They have an interesting way of talking about it today. They call it 'pulling the needles out of the haystack.'"To date, only Susquehanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania has bought new voting machines. County commissioners in August approved spending $265,215 for the Unisyn Open Elect System from Akron, Ohio-based Election IQ. They received a guarantee from the state that the county would be reimbursed its share of remaining federal funds from the Help America Vote Act about $41,000.It bought 45 machines, one for each of its voting precincts and a couple backups. The machines produce and validate paper ballots. They are also accessible to disabled voters, therefore satisfying Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.The county also purchased three bulk scanners that are part of the Unisyn Open Elect System, two of which were in use when the system debuted in Susquehanna County during the Nov. 6 general election. Those scanners are used to count ballots, including absentee and provisional ballots, and to conduct recounts.Susquehanna County only required three scanners because it does not count ballots in individual precincts as many counties, including Erie, do."That's just more equipment that you have to buy and it can make things a little bit more costly," Election Bureau Director SarahRae Sisson said.Susquehanna County has 24,924 registered voters almost an eighth of Erie County's 191,864 registered voters.It previously used a pen-and-paper system, Sisson said, so commissioners' decision to upgrade equipment wasn't driven by Wolf's mandate, but rather by the fact the equipment had reached its end of useful life. Commissioners were prepared to take on the expense, she added."I don't envy those counties that don't know what they're going to do," Sisson said. Austin: Closing the Mobility Gap Indianapolis: Utility and Transportation Modernization Miami: Urban Resilience Orlando: Smart Transportation Philadelphia: Creating a Smart Cities Ecosystem On Feb. 8, the Smart Cities Council announced the five winners of its Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge : Austin, Texas; Indianapolis; Miami; Orlando, Fla.; and Philadelphia.Each of these cities will receive a host of products and services from the council's member companies including Internet of Things starter kits, building design optimization training and assistance on urban mobility projects, to name a few that have a combined value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The council will also host a Readiness Workshop tailored to each city that will focus on issues specific to the jurisdiction.Jesse Berst, founder and chairman of the council, toldthat the council is helping the winners get the smart city ball rolling. "I think we are seeing a tipping point in terms of smart cities," he said. "It is starting to cross between early adopters and early mainstream."The winners were chosen from a pool of over 130 applicants from across the country. Each city, or in some cases city/county partnerships, had to organize across agencies to demonstrate that everyone was on board with the projects, which ranged from solving homelessness issues to creating better transportation options.It is essential to approach this problem in a cross-cutting way, said Berst. Its almost an excuse for these cities and teams to sit down and discuss what they would like to do.Austin will focus its Readiness Workshop on using technology to close the gap for underserved populations in search of mobility options. The city was one of seven finalists for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Smart City Challenge, so public officials were ready to work together again.Winning the Smart Cities Council Challenge Grant puts us that much closer to creating a comprehensive and inclusive strategy to use technology in a way that benefits communities that are usually left behind, Mayor Steve Adler said in the release In partnering with Indiana's Marion County, Indianapolis will devote its energy toward modernizing utilities and transportation. The community has already begun devoting resources toward smart city technology, and the county is moving forward with 16 Tech, an innovation community that will serve as a wide-ranging IoT hub and the countrys first electric bus rapid transit (e-BRT) system.Due to its unique geographic location, Miami has had to devote more resources than inland cities to combating the effects of climate change. As such, Miami is focusing on enhancing urban resilience; it plans to run a Sea-Level Rise Pilot Program that utilizes GIS data, waterfront sensors and lidar to provide real-time flood alerts and guide infrastructure planning.As a leader in tourism, Orlandos plan focuses on showcasing a smart transportation network to help reduce congestion and move people efficiently.Through access to international industry experts, new data and communication technologies, the challenge will continue to ensure Orlando is a more intelligent, interconnected and efficient city, said Mayor Buddy Dyer. The city will also devote resources to integrating sensors and enhancing communications systems for public safety programs.Philadelphia is already seeing the benefits from just applying to the program. By simply filling out the application, city departments were able to come together and help tackle common problems. That experience is driving the city of brotherly love to create a regional smart cities ecosystem.We know the technology behind us is important for our citizens and businesses alike, and the expertise that the Smart Cities Council brings will help us realize those opportunities, said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.The Smart Cities Council launched in 2012, and helps guide cities and states on adopting smart technology to improve their livability, workability and sustainability. The council is hoping to hold all the Readiness Workshops by the end of the year. During these workshops, each city will craft a road map on how to implement the technology in order to fulfill their vision.Its not just a trend its a race, said Berst. In our global economy, every city is competing for jobs and talent. A smart city strategy is essential to support a 21st-century workforce and to drive economic development. Analysis Even one event affecting 100,000 individuals could result in potential costs of $12 million to $36 million (General Fund) to provide credit monitoring services for one year. Based on information surveyed from credit monitoring services, bulk enrollment costs for credit monitoring services in which the vendor is provided with a complete list of individuals at once from the breached entity generally range from $10 to $30 per month per person ($120 to $360 per year per person), depending on the type of monitoring package offered by the vendor. The chairman of the Assembly's Banking and Finance Committee is proposing that in the event of a breach of government data, California state and local agencies would be required to provide identity theft protection or mitigation services at no cost to constituents whose personal data may have been compromised.The idea is the central purpose of the reintroduced legislation (AB 241) put forward this week by Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, D-Encino. State law already extends the same requirements to businesses or individuals. Under Dababneh's bill, the free identity theft protection would be offered for a period of at least 12 months.The legislation would potentially impact hundreds of thousands of records and millions of Californians in future years. Between 2012 and 2015, the state Attorney General said it received reports of 657 data breaches that involved the personal information of more than 500 California residents, according to the California Department of Justice's 2016 data breach report. Government accounted for 5 percent of those breaches and 2 percent of total records breaches between 2012-15, the report said.For big breaches, offering identity theft protection is costly. In 2015, the federal government spent a reported $133 million to provide ID theft protection services to an estimated 21.5 million people whose personal information was stolen in the much-publicized hacking of the Office of Personnel Management. In a separate incident, Utah spent millions of dollars for two years' worth of ID protection when Security Security numbers were stolen from the state's health department.Dababneh introduced legislation nearly identical to AB 241 in 2015. That bill (AB 259) stalled in Appropriations. A committee analysis found Dababneh's legislation in 2015 would incur "potential major costs in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the scope of a data breach to any of various state agencies." Further findings from that analysis:The five biggest breaches (by number of records) reported to the California Attorney General 2012-15:The U.S. market for identity theft protection services is $3 billion to $4 billion, according to one research firm . "Identity theft protection firms use software to track unauthorized use of credit and other personal information," IBIS World reported in 2013. "[By] 2018, this industry is forecast to increase at an annualized rate of 2.1 percent to $3.8 billion." Four soldiers with the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force are posted on Shergyla Mountain at an altitude of 5,134 meters. They are: Luo Yongyan, Li Shunping, Ma Deng and Liu Shuai, all of who were born in the 1990s. The soldiers are known as the eyes of the snowy land. Shergyla Mountain is situated in the tough natural environment of southeastern Tibet, where the lowest temperature is -30 degrees Celsius; oxygen levels are only 50 percent of those in inland plains. Shergyla Mountain is capped with snow for about eight months of the year. Luo Yongyan As a radar technician, Luo is responsible for troubleshooting radars. During Spring Festival, when radar failure occurred, Luo investigated the problem despite experiencing altitude sickness, and finally repaired the issue using an aerial truck. It is not easy to be the eyes of the snowy land. It tests not only stamina and endurance, but also intelligence, he explained. Li is a command platoon leader. He lead the mission to clear the snow-covered road to prepare for combat readiness last March. As a soldier, he has made great sacrifices many times. Ma Deng (first from right) Ma is the youngest platoon leader among the four. Most of his tasks are related to positions patrol. Based on his own admission, he still has a great deal to learn. Liu serves as the chief watcher, a position he has held for half a year. He patrols important positions like the radar shelter, engine room and command post every day before reveille, and prepares a log on air conditions as well as a work plan for the next day after lights out. Max Mosley thinks F1's new owners have made a mistake by dumping Bernie Ecclestone. Although given the honorary title 'chairman emeritus', 86-year-old Briton Ecclestone has been effectively ousted and replaced by Liberty Media's Chase Carey and Ross Brawn. For years, Ecclestone and Mosley was a formidable double-act, and now the former FIA president thinks Liberty has erred in sidelining his long-time friend. "I would never have dropped Bernie in the way Liberty Media have," he is quoted by the respected F1 correspondent Roger Benoit. "It would only have been necessary to keep him doing what he's really good at: negotiating with the organisers and the promoters," Blick newspaper quoted Mosley as saying. "Then, the Americans could concentrate fully on what has been neglected to date: the digital side of the business. But Liberty has bought everything and believes it can make it better, so let's wait and see," Mosley added. (GMM) F1 could be heading into a new 'Senna versus Prost' era. That is the view of a well known F1 pundit, as two youngsters from the Benelux region prepare to go head-to-head in 2017. Peter Windsor, a former Williams team manager turned journalist, told the Dutch magazine Formule 1: "I'm a big fan of (Stoffel) Vandoorne's. "I see F1 heading for an era like Senna and Prost, but with (Max) Verstappen and Vandoorne," he added. "Verstappen as the Senna, Vandoorne as the Prost." While Max Verstappen is shaping up for his third season and possibly even a title charge in 2017, Belgian Vandoorne is actually five years older but a F1 rookie this year. And while Dutch youngster Verstappen is spectacular and aggressive, Vandoorne gives an account of his style that sounds contrasting. "I am consistent not only in a race but over a full season," said the 24-year-old McLaren-Honda driver. "Quick without making mistakes. "My strength is that I can take an inferior car into the top five," Vandoorne added. (GMM) Soldiers at the mine clearance headquarters of Yunnan's military region carried out leftover mine removal in the mine field near the No. 265 boundary monument during Spring Festival. Hundreds of thousands of cannonballs have been removed, some of which ceased to be effective and some of which were still lethal, Chinamil.com.cn reported. The soldiers responsible for mine removal are stationed in Yunnan's Molipo County, close to Tianbao Port. In the 1990s, soldiers conducted the first mine clearance operation along the China-Vietnam border, and Tianbo Port was an important trade channel connecting China and Vietnam. An Angolan national sews pants using a sewing machine of a local shop owner in Guangzhou. Oliver Mthembu, an African businessman who recently traveled for the second time to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, bought 35,000 pairs of sunglasses on his trip. Like Mthembu, more and more African businesspeople are going to Guangzhou to look for opportunities. Guangzhou has the largest African community in Asia, and it often acts as a bridge between China and Africa. Most Africans in Guangzhou cluster around the Sanyuanli subway station, where eight large markets target tradespeople from African countries. Africans like Mthembu have also driven local economies in Guangzhou. Restaurants offering African cuisines and logistics companies focusing on delivering goods to Africa are booming. As for influence on the African market, traders flying between China and Africa have benefited African consumers with cheaper and higher-quality goods made in China. Africans living in Guangzhou People from West Africa have possessed a growing awareness of products being supplied from Asia since the 1990s. Some pioneers like Mthembu have made a fortune, and more and more Africans are following in his footsteps. The project partners will work and research cooperatively on implementing an innovative hydrogen demonstration plant at the voestalpine site in Linz. The green hydrogen generated there will be fed directly into the internal gas network, allowing the testing of the use of hydrogen in various process stages of steel production. The European Commission has awarded the H2FUTURE project consortiumcomprising voestalpine, Siemens, VERBUND and Austrian Power Grid (APG) as well as the research-partners K1-MET and ECNthe contract for the construction of one of the worlds largest PEM electrolysis plants for producing green hydrogen. The technology supplier for the proton exchange membrane electrolyser is Siemens. Siemens has developed an electrolysis system based on PEM (proton exchange membrane) technology, which enables large quantities of energy to be captured and stored through the conversion of electrical current into hydrogen. The electrolysis system is already successfully in use in several projects and is subject to on-going development by Siemens. With a capacity of 6 megawatts, the latest generation of the technology will now be applied in a closed cell unit in Linz. The hydrogen produced has a multitude of applications, for example as a raw material in the industryas is seen in Linz, but also as a fuel for mobility and as an energy carrier in electricity and gas supply. This CO 2 -heavy hydrogen can be replaced by hydrogen from electrolysis, greatly improving the emission balance resulting from industrial processes. Moreover, if the electrolysis is undertaken with electricity from renewable sources, the hydrogen production is virtually climate-neutral. Wolfgang Hesoun, CEO of Siemens Austria VERBUND, the project coordinator, will provide electricity from renewable energy sources and is responsible for development of grid-relevant services. Already today, VERBUND generates around 96% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, primarily hydropower. We welcome this forward-looking project, which links the challenges of the production industry and the efficient use of clean energy in an ideal way. Our common goal is the reduction of CO 2 emissions and strengthening Austria as a business location through the use of state of the art green technology. Green hydrogen in particular offers great potential for industrial use and also as a storage medium, to balance out the volatile electricity generation from new renewable energy sources and to ideally integrate them into the energy system. Wolfgang Anzengruber, VERBUND Chairman of the Board Further partners in the project are the research institution ECN from the Netherlands, which is responsible for the scientific analysis of the demonstration operation and the transferability to other industrial sectors, and the Austrian transmission system operator APG, which will provide support in integrating the plant into the power reserve markets. The Austrian COMET Competence Center K1-MET provides its expertise in the operation of the plant and demonstrates the potential applications in the European and global steel sector. Both industry at large and energy providers are currently confronted with serious energy policy challenges in Europe: The EUs climate and energy goals stipulate a 40% reduction of CO 2 emissions by 2030, which poses almost unsolvable problems for energy-intensive industries. The European electricity sector is experiencing a radical change, with overcapacities of volatile new renewable solar and wind energy. Green Hydrogen produced based on CO 2 -free green electricity presents enormous potential for use as an industrial process gas, as well as for energy storage. The H2FUTURE project is an important milestone on the path towards coupling the energy and industry sectors. The FCH JU is thrilled to see the launch of such ground-breaking project. H2FUTURE gathers a constructive partnership which is decisive in the process of greening the industry while harnessing the power of renewables. This is key to position industry and the sector on the right way to help meeting the Cop 21 agreement targets. After having supported 25 projects in the field of electrolyser, the FCH JU is proud to see the birth of the most ambitious project in this field, aiming to build one of the largest PEM electrolyser. Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director European Commission, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) The FCH JU has allocated about 12 million (US$12.8 million) in funding from the EU Horizon 2020 program for implementing this project with the goal of producing green hydrogen. The green hydrogen for industrial use and for balancing the power reserve market will be produced in one of the largest and most modern electrolysers with proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. The total project volume amounts to about 18 million (US$19.2 million) over the course of 4.5 years. With H2FUTURE, key questions about sector coupling will be handled, such as evaluating potentials and possibilities for using green hydrogen in various process stages of steel production. In addition, the transferability of this technology to other industrial sectors which use hydrogen in their production processes will be investigated. A further focus is integrating the responsive PEM electrolysis plant into the power reserve markets by developing demand-side management solutions, thus compensating for short-term fluctuations in the increasingly volatile power supply by means of load management for bulk consumers. The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is a unique public private partnership supporting research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. Its aim is to accelerate the market introduction of these technologies, realising their potential as an instrument in achieving a carbon-lean energy system. Fuel cells, as an efficient conversion technology, and hydrogen, as a clean energy carrier, have a great potential to help fight carbon dioxide emissions, to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and to contribute to economic growth. The objective of the FCH JU is to bring these benefits to Europeans through a concentrated effort from all sectors. The three members of the FCH JU are the European Commission, fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by Hydrogen Europe and the research community represented by the Research Grouping N.ERGHY. The Southern California Native Oyster Restoration Project is being conducted in partnership with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. The goals of the project include pioneering research to educate the public about the benefits of restoring native oysters for shoreline stabilization. Inspired by the Japanese concept of sato-umithe convergence of land and sea where human and marine life can harmoniously coexistHonda has established the Honda Marine Science Foundation, a new initiative to address marine ecosystem restoration and the impact of humans and climate change on oceans and intertidal areas. Committed to marine conservation, the foundation will support science-based programs that improve and preserve coastal areas for future generations. Its first initiative is the Southern California Native Oyster Restoration Project. In 2015, Honda began researching the oceanic and aquatic impacts of a rapidly changing climate, ocean acidification and rising sea levels. Honda also set out to address human impacts on marine environments, including water pollution and overfishing. As a company dedicated to sustainability, we are proud to launch the Honda Marine Science Foundation and focus on coastal environmental awareness. After learning about the challenges and opportunities presented to us by a range of oceanic and atmospheric experts, Honda determined the foundation would foster meaningful cross-sector collaboration to help restore our marine ecosystems. Steven Center, Honda Marine Science Foundation chairman Center is also currently Vice President of Hondas Environmental Business Development Office, the mission of which is to develop business plans, product specifications and public policy positions for new environmental products. He is also Vice President of Hondas Product Regulatory Office, responsible for the development and sales of hydrogen fuel cell, plug-in electric and electric vehicles. The Honda Marine Science Foundation board comprises Honda representatives and experts from the marine sciences field, including Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay, UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, and the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. The board will help identify projects that support the foundations mission and provide guidance for these projects. The Honda Marine Science Foundation joins a number of environmental initiatives from Honda. These include the Honda Environmental Leadership Program that encourages Honda automobile dealers to measurably reduce their energy consumption and environmental impact, and the Honda Smart Home US that showcases Hondas vision for zero-carbon living. Honda is working to advance technologies that address societys environmental and energy concerns through a diverse lineup of products, green factory initiatives and sustainability activities. Page was one of about 10 sheriffs in the nation's capital for the National Sheriff's Association Winter Conference who were invited to the White House Tuesday for a roundtable discussion with the president. I don't have a problem with President Trump's nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. He could have done worse and probably will if he gets another opportunity. I do have a problem with hypocrisy, like that demonstrated by N.C. Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes in this Charlotte Observer article. In which, Hayes writes: "Senate Democrats are hell-bent on putting politics before the will of the American people. For that reason, we must express our support for Judge Gorsuch and ensure that Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis know that North Carolinians support their efforts to fight the obstructionist Democrats a fight thats just beginning. On average, it takes almost 50 days from nomination to confirmation for a Supreme Court justice." Hayes perfectly describes everything that Senate Republicans did last year. Let's break it down. A year ago, Justice Antonin Scalia died. Barely an hour after Scalia's death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced "this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president." Tillis saw that for what it was and was honest enough to say, "I think we fall into the trap, if we just simply say sight unseen we fall into the trap of being obstructionist." But obstructionist they were. Burr fell immediately into line and Tillis eventually did. While on average it may take 50 days from nomination to confirmation for a Supreme Court justice, Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland on March 16 was met with total stonewalling for 10 months and four days. In other words, for the duration of Obama's presidency. Certainly, once Trump was elected in November, Senate Republicans weren't going to confirm Obama's nominee. But before then, when it still looked like Hillary Clinton would win, Burr made an extraordinary vow: "If Hillary Clinton becomes president, I am going to do everything I can do to make sure four years from now, we still got an opening on the Supreme Court," he told a Republican group in what he thought was a private meeting. Someone made a tape and gave it to CNN. So the idea that Burr has any moral authority to fight obstructionism by Democrats is laughable. He was prepared to become the all-time champion of obstructionism for four years running. It's not convenient for Hayes if anyone remembers all the way back to 2016. He's trying to make a case against the Democrats. But the fact is, compared to the Republicans' successful obstructionism, the Democrats can barely put up a paper wall. The lying media were at it again this week, taking gratuitous potshots at our hard-working president. Per usual, a left-leaning editorialist twisted Mr. Trumps desire to build a better relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin into a negative. How dare the president make nice with a killer, the editorial writer implied. Specifically, the writer cited the case of a Russian opposition activist named Vladimir Kara-Murza, who in 2015 inexplicably suffered multiple organ failure and barely survived after falling into a coma for nearly a week. The editorial continued: On Thursday, it happened to him again, in much the same way. Since this happened in Moscow, we assume the explanation isnt innocent. It notes that Kara-Murza is a former journalist who testified before the U.S. Congress in favor of sanctions against corrupt Russian officials. He also was a friend of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated in Moscow in 2015. That same year, three months later, Kara-Murza fell ill after eating at a restaurant. The point of editorial: Trump should reconsider embracing a leader like Putin, who is well-known to have his political enemies poisoned or worse. The editorial quotes a friend of Kara-Murza, Garry Kasparov, warning that this is what happens in Putins Russia: (That) Putins regime wants the worst for those who want the best for Russia, and that Putin has no fear of repercussions abroad for murdering even the most peaceful critics. The editorial closes: Now would be a good time for U.S. officials, including the White House, to demonstrate moral leadership by speaking up for Mr. Kara-Murza and other brave Russian dissenters. The editorial didnt appear in The New York Times or Washington Post. It appeared in the solidly right-leaning Wall Street Journal. And if it sounded a little personal in tone, thats because Kara-Murza is no stranger to the Journal. Mr. Kara-Murza has been a contributor to these pages for many years, the editorial points out, warning often about Vladimir Putins encroaching dictatorship. Now hes fighting for his life at a Moscow hospital. Yet, President Trump continues to describe Putin as a man he admires and to defend him at almost every turn. The editorial appeared, incidentally, before Fox aired Trumps interview with Bill OReilly on Super Bowl Sunday. You know, the one in which Trump defended Putin by criticizing his own country with an outrageous moral equivalency: "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?" I try to picture Barack Obama getting away with such a pronouncement. Well, I cant. And if youre honest, neither can you. Remember, some people once wanted to run Michelle Obama out of the country for saying: "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country ... . Trump tweets stuff 100 times more provocative than that nearly every day. Before breakfast. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: Moscow has made a statement on the extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin, who holds Russian citizenship, to Azerbaijan. According to the available information, the Supreme Court of Belarus, having considered the case in a closed session on Feb. 7, dismissed the complaint of the citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin against the decision of the General Prosecutors Office of the Republic of Belarus on his extradition to Azerbaijan. The Russian side expresses disappointment with this decision, reads a message on the website of Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We intend to continue taking all the necessary measures to protect the rights and legitimate interests of the Russian citizen to quickly return him to his family, the message said. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Belarus upheld the decision of the General Prosecutor's Office to extradite Lapshin to Baku. On the same day, the blogger was brought to Baku. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. 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. GREENSBORO Four Guilford County residents filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday in the U.S. Middle District Court after being accused of illegally casting ballots during the 2016 General Election. "Today voters are fighting back," said Allison Riggs, senior voting rights attorney at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. "We want to send the message loud and clear that it is wrong to intimidate voters by accusing them of committing a crime without having any evidence to support the claim." The lawsuit asks for at least $25,000. Allegations of illegal voting were part of the weeks-long delay it took to verify that former Attorney General Roy Cooper won the 2016 General Election for governor in a close race. Elections boards in 35 of 100 North Carolina counties had to sort out election protests filed by individuals claiming that other voters cast multiple ballots or that they voted illegally despite being a felon. William Clark Porter IV, listed on the website of the Guilford County Republican Party as a committee chairman, is the lawsuit's sole defendant. Porter filed protests against 17 individuals who live in Guilford County. The News & Record sought comment from Porter Wednesday. A message left at a number listed for him was not returned. Guilford County Board of Elections Director Charlie Collicutt said every accusation about multiple voting was false, as were half of the allegations of votes cast by felons. Gabriel Thabet, a plaintiff of the lawsuit, has felony convictions that date back to 1998, but had his voting rights restored after serving a prison sentence and probation. Thabet voted legally in 2016. "I have spent 19 years trying to forget the mistakes that I made as a kid," Thabet is quoted in a news release. "I wish I had never been accused of not being allowed to vote. Just as I had to learn from my childhood mistakes, I cannot change the past but I can help shape the future. I am standing up to make sure other people are not intimidated the way I was." Karen and Samuel Niehans and Louis Bouvier are the remaining plaintiffs in the lawsuit. All three individuals were accused of voting twice. Bouvier believes he was accused of voting twice because his son shares his name. "That's likely why someone accused me of voting in two states," Bouvier said. "But it's a sorry state of affairs when someone can accuse you of a crime without properly vetting or researching the facts." The Niehans were accused of voting in Wisconsin and in Jamestown. The couple relocated here in August 2016. Karen Niehans said she and her husband joined the lawsuit to prevent others from facing the same accusations and to prevent people from bringing inaccurate allegations against other voters. She said she received a letter telling her that she and her husband needed to appear at a Guilford County Board of Elections meeting because they were accused of voting illegally. The Niehans immediately assumed a poll watcher had reported them because they were turned away from their precinct for failing to produce photo identification. Although the photo ID requirement was overturned in July 2016, voters who are new to the state are required to produce an identification number. The couple returned to their precinct with identification less than an hour later and cast their ballots. Weeks later they were told someone filed a complaint against them, accusing them of casting ballots in two states. Karen Niehans produced an email from their local board of elections in Wisconsin. The board asked if the couple, who often vacationed at a rental house in Jamestown, needed an absentee ballot for November. She replied that she and her husband had permanently moved to Jamestown and had just registered to vote in Guilford County. The email helped convince the Guilford board that they had not done anything illegal. "We got out of (the meeting) and my husband was saying, 'I thought we were innocent until proven guilty,'" Karen Niehans said. "That is not what happened. We proved we were not guilty and that makes me upset." Karen Niehans suffered a concussion two weeks before election board hearing. She said the couple faced undue stress trying to come up with evidence to prove they voted legally. "That's a heck of a lot more than Porter did," Niehans said. "He did nothing. He said nothing." GREENSBORO U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles said Tuesday that Greensboro residents could be weeks away from a ruling on whether state legislators used race and unequal population sizes when redistricting the City Council in a way that likely would give Republicans an advantage. Eagles concluded a two-day trial involving House Bill 263, a law passed in 2015 that divides the council into eight districts. The trial was held in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina in Greensboro Currently, the council is comprised of one mayor, one representative from each of the five council districts and three at-large members. The mayor and at-large members are elected citywide. The law created by HB 263 gets rid of the at-large seats and creates eight new council districts, whose members have a vote. The mayor, still elected citywide, can only vote to break a tie. Eagles heard from witnesses and experts who explained how the new districts give Republicans an advantage and dilute the voting reach of Democrats and blacks. The testimony villainized state Sen. Trudy Wade (R-Guilford), who proposed the new districts. Testimony at the trial accused her of seeking revenge against her former colleagues on the City Council and of bullying other legislators into approving the change by threatening to hold hostage bills they supported. Greensboro is a blue bubble in a red sea, and legislators wanted to pop that bubble, said Alison Riggs, an attorney representing the plaintiffs for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. An important aspect of this trial is that the Guilford County Board of Elections was named as the defendant. However, , the county attorney, Mark Payne, didnt present a defense during the trial, and Eagles did not hear from any advocates for the new council plan. None of our actions caused this complaint, Payne said. Anita Earls, an attorney for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, said she rather would have sued Wade, state Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and state House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), but prior case law granted them immunity. At the end of the trial Payne asked that the elections board be removed as a defendant, a request Eagles denied. She also denied a motion without prejudice that would prevent the plaintiffs from seeking attorneys fees from the defense if they won their case. The purpose of this lawsuit was that this was done on behalf of the citizens of Greensboro, Payne argued. In practical terms, a motion for attorney fees means that the county taxpayers would pay for something sought by the city of Greensboro, and the residents of Greensboro are also taxpayers. Eagles said a decision regarding legal fees would be appropriate only after she rules. Throughout the trial Eagles heard testimony from state Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford), state Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford), Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan, two council members, two concerned citizens and two expert witnesses, including Jowei Chen, an associate professor of political science at the University of Michigan. Chen told Eagles he reviewed the eight-district council map and found that it gave Republicans an advantage. Voters in underpopulated districts have greater weight, and voters in overpopulated districts have lesser weight, Chen testified. Fifty percent of the vote should be in underpopulated districts, and 50 percent of the vote should be in overpopulated districts. Eighty-six percent of Republican voters were assigned to underpopulated districts, thus giving them greater weight in Greensboro City Council elections. At first glance, Chen could not determine why the districts were created the way they were. Further scrutiny and computer simulations helped determine how much race and politics factored into the boundaries. Chen said that to equally divide the population of Greensboro into eight districts, there should be 33,000 people in each. The new districts deviate from that average by 8.2 percent, plus or minus. Chen said Districts 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 would be underpopulated. He testified that he used his own computer simulation that divided the city into eight districts, adhering to equal population, geographic compactness and dividing as few of the 113 precincts as possible, all of which factor into redistricting laws. Chen said that, after creating 100 unique maps using that criteria, he could not come close to the population deviation seen in the enacted map. A redistricting process that follows redistricting criteria and partisan blindness is highly unlikely to show such extreme partisan disproportion as the (HB 263) plan, Chen testified. That statistic is impossible when we follow strict redistricting criteria. City Council members sitting in the courtroom gallery gasped. Chen used similar methods to analyze whether race was a factor. Racial composition can not be achieved with racial blindness, he said. Riggs reiterated Chens findings in her closing arguments, saying, Favoritism doesnt work when evenly distributing the population. Greensboro was targeted because of their politics and their people. HIGH POINT President Donald Trumps controversial two weeks in office have earned him a 36 percent approval rating from North Carolina residents, according to the latest High Point University Poll. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has a 46 percent approval rating among residents, the poll shows. Fewer residents think the country is headed in the wrong direction than a year ago. Three out of five North Carolinians or 61 percent say the country is on the wrong track. By comparison, 70 percent thought so in an HPU Poll in February 2016. The most recent HPU Poll revealed that about 27 percent of those who responded thought the country was headed in the right direction, compared to 21 percent who said that in February 2016. Trump, who in the past has condemned polls that did not favor him, recently dismissed them again as fake news. In particular, he objected to polls that showed opposition to his administrations temporary ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. He took to Twitter, arguing Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting. Trumps actions during his first week in office prompted protests across the state and country. He signed executive orders authorizing construction of a border wall, increasing the number of immigration agents assigned to handle deportations and expanding the number of Border Patrol agents. He also halted the U.S. refugee program and instituted the temporary ban on immigration from certain Muslim countries. A U.S. district judge has temporarily blocked the order. Our first job approval ratings for President Trump and Governor Cooper show they have some room to grow, Brian McDonald, associate director of the HPU Poll and adjunct instructor, said in a news release. North Carolinians are just starting to form opinions about their conduct in office, and we will continue to track the publics reactions to these newly inaugurated executives. According to the poll, 49 percent of these same respondents say the country is worse off now than it was eight years ago at the beginning of the Obama administration, while 36 percent say it is better off. In other findings, 23 percent of the states residents approve of how Congress is doing its job. That result is about 6 percentage points higher than when the HPU Poll last asked a sample of residents for a rating of Congress in February 2016. The North Carolina General Assembly had a job approval rating of 27 percent, with 41 percent disapproving and almost one third, or 32 percent, refusing to offer a view either way. The poll was conducted Jan. 28 through Feb. 3. The survey has an estimated margin of sampling error of about 4.9 percentage points. WASHINGTON Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page hadn't planned on meeting with President Donald Trump Tuesday morning. Yet there he was, one of about 10 sheriffs in the nation's capital for the National Sheriff's Association Winter Conference, invited to the White House for a roundtable discussion with the president. According to the association's website, the conference ran Feb. 4-7. "We got a call Saturday or Sunday that the president wanted to meet with some of the sheriffs," he said. They met with Trump for about 30 minutes and discussed the national heroin problem, mental health issues and protecting the borders. Page, who is a member of the National Sheriff's Association's Border Security and Immigration Committee, said Trump was cordial and very down to earth during the meeting. "At his level, he's responsible for protecting the people in the country and for me, I'm responsible for protecting people on the local level," Page said. Page said he was surprised the president wanted to meet with the sheriffs and he was glad he was among those who attended. "It was a wonderful opportunity," Page said. "Something I will never forget." GREENSBORO A Westin hotel will definitely be built downtown, a project that has been on the drawing board for years. Local businessman Randall Kaplan said Tuesday his company will build the upscale hotel at 203 S. Elm St., a site thats currently home to the Elm Street Center. Kaplan said he will likely announce a construction date in the spring. The confirmation from Kaplan came on the heels of an announcement from the city that it is working with private developers to build two parking decks downtown to accommodate anticipated business growth. The decks each have a price tag of between $25 million and $30 million. City Manager Jim Westmoreland said Tuesday the decks one with 850 spaces, the other with 1,200 spaces will be built by private developers already planning other projects. The City Council would have to approve public financing to reimburse those developers for the construction. Once the city reimburses developers, it would own and operate the decks, Westmoreland explained. Construction could begin in early 2018. We are advancing our efforts to look at building two additional decks downtown with the hope that there will be additional and significant private investment, Westmoreland said. He declined to say where the decks would be built. But areas in the northern and central parts of downtown could see rapid expansion with new hotels and other projects. Another hotel company, Aloft Hotels, has said it plans to build the 150-room Aloft Greensboro on Eugene Street. Also in the northern end of downtown, developer Roy Carroll is building the $60 million Carroll at Bellemeade across from NewBridge Bank Park that includes apartments and a Hyatt Express hotel. Carroll has said he hopes someday to build a skyscraper, Project 561, that would rise to 561 feet and house a major corporate tenant. Carroll had no comment about any involvement in the parking deck projects. Another city leader said the decks will boost downtowns growth. Weve been working with the city for awhile ... so its exciting to see this coming to light, said Zack Matheny, president of Downtown Greensboro Inc., which promotes economic development and events downtown. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 39 times violated the ceasefire in various directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend Feb. 8. The Armenian army was using 60, 82-millimeter mortars, large-caliber machine guns and 122-millimeter howitzers. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Qaymaqli village of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located in Barekamavan village of the Noyemberyan district of Armenia. The Azerbaijani army positions located in Alibayli village of Azerbaijans Tovuz district were also shot at from the Armenian army positions located in Aygepar village of the Berd district of Armenia. The Azerbaijani army positions located on the nameless heights of Azerbaijans Gadabay district were also shelled from the Armenian army positions located on nameless heights of the Krasnoselsk district of Armenia. Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar district, Shikhlar, Bash Garvand, Yusifjanli, Sarijali villages of the Aghdam district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fuzuli district, Mehdili village of the Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goranboy, Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts of Azerbaijan. 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. In what had once been a land of opportunity and progress, the state had grown large and oppressive. Its leaders lost their way. Its people nearly lost their freedom. How oppressive had the state become? No matter how you chose to make your living, government officials made constant demands on you. Every major transaction was taxed, at escalating rates. If you couldnt pay the taxes, your goods and property were seized. In many cases, you had to have special permission from the state to enter your chosen occupation. How did the government grow to be so oppressive? It didnt happen overnight. Instead, the encroachments were gradual, each one too small on its own to provoke large-scale opposition. Many of the taxes were originally enacted as temporary measures, in response to emergencies, but then lingered on in seeming perpetuity. It was a great deal for the political class at first. In earlier times, state revenues had been used primarily to fund critical infrastructure and maintain law and order. But as the money poured in, bureaucrats hired other bureaucrats, which boosted their power and stature. Government didnt just pay them directly. Precisely because government had become so burdensome, corruption was rampant. It was cheaper for merchants to pay off public officials than to comply fully with the taxes and regulations. Over time, however, the abuses of the political class proved counterproductive. To the extent land confiscation moved taxable property into government ownership, the tax base shrank. To the extent government made it harder to start and run businesses, there were fewer businesses generating revenues and employing people which led to financial problems for the state as well as idleness and discontent among the population. Finally, a new leader emerged. He was honest and ethical. Most importantly, he was observant. He recognized that the expansion of government had discouraged private enterprise and bred public contempt. He resolved to fix the problem. The new leader slashed taxes. He eliminated regulations, and the jobs of regulators who had enforced them. He ended abusive confiscations of land, reserving that power for parcels the state truly needed for infrastructure. He fought public corruption and ensured that rich, powerful interests did not receive special treatment when the state adjudicated legal disputes. The government didnt wither away. Instead, the new leader refocused its attention on law and order. He codified and simplified the legal code. He increased penalties, particularly for violent offenses. Crime rates dropped, which made existing residents feel more secure about starting new businesses and encouraged new people to immigrate to the area. Care to hazard a guess about the identity of this political reformer and the state he led? No, Im not talking about an American state, or recent events in a foreign land. The leaders name was Urukagina. He ruled the Sumerian state of Lagash, which included a capital and several nearby towns, more than 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. The site is in what is now southern Iraq. The official chronicle of Urukaginas reforms contains the first use of the word freedom in recorded history. The Sumerian term was amargi, literally a return to the mother. The idea being conveyed was that human beings were naturally born into a state of freedom, not a state of subservience. Another way of saying that, I guess, is that humans are endowed by their Creator with certain rights that are not lost alienated from them just because they live in societies with governments. Urukagina returned his peoples birthright to them, their freedom. It worked for a time. Unfortunately, he didnt tend sufficiently to a core function of government, national defense, and Lagash fell prey to invaders. But his tale wasnt forgotten, then or now. In 1960, the founders of the Liberty Fund in Indianapolis chose the cuneiform version of amargi as the centerpiece of their logo. When it comes to protecting and expanding freedom, there have been plenty of modern innovations. But theres nothing new about the underlying concept. Its ancient, and essential. The McCarran-Walter Act, passed in 1952, allows for the suspension of entry or imposition of restrictions by the President, whenever the President finds that the entry of aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. The first to use it was Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1979, to keep Iranians out of the U.S. Seven thousand Iranians were found in violation of their visas, and 15,000 Iranians were forced to leave. Seems the Democrats overlooked that law. Another thing that the Democrats overlooked is the cost of terrorism. The 9/11 event enabled by a mere 19 Islamic terrorists cost us $2 trillion! The ensuing war with Afghanistan over the last 15 years has cost another $1.5 trillion. We do not need a trash bag full of bozos in Washington who propose we all hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Steve Salkow Reidsville The most significant legal victory for gun rights included a caveat: The Courts opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, the late Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the 2008 ruling District of Columbia v. Heller. It struck down a Washington, D.C., ordinance restricting residents right to keep handguns in their homes. The mentally ill generally are barred from purchasing firearms, if they can be identified. The Obama administration believed that people found by the Social Security Administration to be so mentally incapacitated that they could not work and needed someone to manage their finances should be prohibited from owning guns. Last year, it issued a rule directing the SSA to provide the names of such people to a national database used for gun-purchase background checks. The rule was opposed by unusual allies the National Rifle Association and the American Civil Liberties Union. Both claimed it denied due process. Yet it didnt stir much of a public reaction. It seemed sensible. Anyone with a severe mental disability probably cant handle deadly weapons responsibly. This rule was just killed by Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump. Also killed was Obamas stream protection rule, which was seven years in the making. Opponents said it put too many burdens on coal companies. Basically, it required them to clean up after themselves. A National Public Radio report last week focused on Chuck Nelson, a West Virginia coal miner for more than 30 years. In the 1980s, a coal processing plant was built next to his house. We started eating a lot of coal dust I mean, bad, bad, he said. I mean, Id go to work and come home at night, and there would be a half inch of coal dust on everything in the house. His wife developed asthma. Other people in the area got sick. The water was fouled. But the coal company ignored complaints. So Nelson began working with regulators to address the problem. Now their solution is gone. Republicans are rushing to deregulate. The financial rules put in place after the Great Recession to prevent the next crisis are targeted. Oil companies wont have to disclose payments to foreign governments. The president has decreed that any new regulation will have to replace two existing regulations, regardless of the merits of those rules. Federal regulations always should be subject to review. But they arent put in place hastily, or without significant public input, or to destroy a particular industry as critics often complain. Usually, there are people like Chuck Nelson behind them, people whose lives may be ruined because a company puts profits ahead of other concerns sometimes ahead of the safety of their own employees, as has been the case with some West Virginia coal companies. A rush to remove regulations is sure to overlook the very problems they were meant to fix. EDEN A European-based grocery store is expanding into the U.S. with 100 locations including Eden. Lidl (rhymes with needle) has already broken ground on South Van Buren Road N.C. 14 for Rockingham County residents outside of Eden across from Ruby Tuesdays. The 4.18 acres was purchased for $750,000 in early 2016. Construction crews began moving equipment to the site next to Kings Chandelier several weeks ago, followed by an office trailer, and now a chain-link fence has been erected around the propertys perimeter for the publics safety. Were still very early in the long process, Lidl spokesman Will Harwood told The Eden News on Monday. Were preparing a number of sites [across the East Coast] and at this stage, we have are not addressing individual sites and have not set opening dates or specific timelines. He said the grocer does expect to open its first store in the U.S. no later than 2018. As a company, weve been doing groceries for more than 40 years, and we have a deep presence across Europe, Harwood said. We have more than 10,000 stores in every country, including Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden and the U.K. The stores are in 27 European countries. According to Lidl U.S. President and CEO Brendan Proctor, Our philosophy is simple: we are focusing on offering customers top quality products at the most competitive pricing in convenient locations. Lidl markets offer customers fresh meat, fresh produce, fresh bread and household goods. Harwood said the company is uncompromising on that foundation, and is tailoring it specifically to the U.S. market. As we come forward, we are confident that we will have something unlike anything else in the market. Lidl has been compared to one of its biggest competitors, the Germany-based Aldi, which has locations in Martinsville and Danville, Virginia. Harwood, however said, Lidle is not like any other store. Were building beautiful stores that are convenient, efficient, and offering a unique experience. Forbes Magazine calls Lidl a soft discounter offering a broader product portfolio and more brand names than a hard discounter like Aldi that offers a highly limited assortment dominated by private labels. Eden already is home to another hard discounter, Save-A-Lot food store, which offers about 1,800 products at about a 40 percent discount. Eden also has two Food Lions and a Walmart Supercenter. Harwood would not further explain the unique experience, other than saying more information would be available closer to the time the store opens. In 2015, the German company was named Grocer of the Year by the Grocer Gold Awards in London. In June of that year, Lidl announced the establishment of its U.S. corporate headquarters in McLean, Virginia. A few weeks later, the company revealed plans for regional headquarters and distribution centers in Alamance County; Spotsylvania County, Virginia; and Cecil County, Maryland. As for store locations, Lidl lays out its criteria, which includes: Being within its current targeted areas An opportunity to purchase the property At least 4 acres to accommodate a 36,000 square-foot stand-alone store with at least 180 parking spaces An intersection with a traffic signal and high visibility for the store Dense population within 3 miles Traffic counts of more than 20,000 vehicles per day Site zoned for grocery retail use Lidl continues to host hiring events in North Carolina, including one at the Radisson Hotel in High Point yesterday and today, from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. We have great positions, with management making up to $60,000 per year with great benefits, and supervisors making up to $17.50 per hour with benefits, Harwood said. For store management, since we dont have any U.S. stores yet, we will take successful candidates and send them to Europe for training and development. The store leaders who are hired will play an important role in introducing Lidl to area customers. Harwood said a typical store has 30 to 35 team members. According to a September article in Business Insider, North Carolina will have stores in Cary, Gastonia, Greensboro, Greenville, Henderson, Indian Trail, Lexington, Mooresville, Raleigh, Rockingham, Rocky Mount, Sanford, Shelby, Thomasville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, and two each in Burlington, Charlotte, Wake Forest and Wilson for a total of 25 locations across the state. The article also listed 21 stores in Virginia, although it didnt mention Danville, where one is clearly under construction near Sams Club. Other states include 13 stores in South Carolina, 11 in New Jersey, four in Maryland, five in Georgia, and two in Delaware. Ive shopped at Lidl in many different countries. Its amazing and at the end of the day, you walk away feeling amazed by what you were able to get at the prices you were able to get it for, Harwood said. Its really special what we do, and have developed over time the unique way we do groceries, and its something were very excited to be rolling out and bringing to the U.S. Personally, I cant wait to shop in the stores. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: Blogger Alexander Lapshin, who illegally visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, has been transferred to Baku Investigative Prison No. 1 (Kurdakhani Pre-trial Detention Center) of the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijans Justice Ministry, the countrys General Prosecutors Office told Trend Feb. 8. On Feb. 7, Lapshin was extradited to Azerbaijan from Belarus. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Belarus rejected the complaint filed by Lapshins lawyer regarding his extradition to Azerbaijan. On Jan. 26, Alexei Stuk, deputy prosecutor general of Belarus, issued a ruling on Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan. The Minsk City Court upheld this decision. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Greenwich has an image problem that demands a response, according to a request by the Greenwich Economic Advisory Committee asking for town funds for a marketing campaign. Included in next years budget as proposed by First Selectman Peter Tesei is $30,000 allocated for a private-public partnership that would help pay for a PR team to brand Greenwich. The Economic Advisory Committee is appointed by Tesei and includes an array of local business leaders. Sabine Schoenberg, a Greenwich realtor and committee member, has helped present the committees proposal at several recent budget meetings, where she explained why many people believe it would be a worthwhile investment. If you Google Greenwich, Connecticut, news, Schoenberg said, a roster of negative stuff pops up. Our message about all the benefits of Greenwich doesnt show up In particular, Schoenberg cited comments knocking the Greenwich housing market last fall by a prominent homeowner and businessman Barry Sternlicht. His comments had a material effect on the housing market, Schoenberg said. It takes only a couple days for things like that to spread regionally, nationally and globally. Someone has to be the voice to provide balance. When Sternlichts comments You cant give away a house in Greenwich, he said last year were reported around the world, Christine Georgopulo, a Greenwich business owner, developer and committee member, said she helped provide a counterpoint in some media reports. I cant say enough good things about Greenwich, she said. Its like if your best friend was getting slammed, youd want to step up. Without a broader town response to gloomy portrayals of Greenwich, Were just stuck with the negative comments, Schoenberg said, which hurts local businesses because it discourages people from moving to and investing in the town. People considering buying a home or opening a business in a new place would once visit the location before making a decision, Schoenberg said, but now almost all preliminary research is conducted online. We need to be thinking more globally about what we are saying to the world, she said. Other cities ranging from Austin, Texas, to Monte Carlo to New Haven have implemented successful branding campaigns Greenwich could emulate, Georgopulo said. The specifics are yet to be determined, but Schoenberg said it would take the form of a public-private partnership where the town would contribute a smaller portion of the funds. It would probably total between $75,000 and $100,000 with the bigger contribution coming from the local business community. Already the committee has heard from businesses willing to contribute and interviewed a few candidates to lead the campaign, according to Schoenberg. Greenwich is like a five-star restaurant, Georgopulo said. We have all the great ingredients laid out and now we just need a brilliant chef to put them together to form a great meal. This town has afforded us all a beautiful life, and we want to share that message with everybody. MBennett@greenwichtime.com, 203-625-4411; Twitter @Macaela_ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch told Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., that he found President Donald Trumps attacks on the judiciary to be demoralizing and disheartening, Blumenthal said Wednesday. The conservative Denver-based federal appeals court judge uttered those words in a courtesy call to Blumenthal, who as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee will get to question Gorsuch at his upcoming confirmation hearing. I told him it was more than disheartening, and that he has an obligation to make his views clear to the American people, Blumenthal said on a conference call with reporters after the 40-minute meeting in his Senate office. `Its not about politics but of judges to make decisions independently and without political interference. The president has a history of intemperate statements about judges. During the campaign, he said a judge presiding over a lawsuit against him couldnt be fair because the judge was Mexican even though the judge, who is of Mexican-American descent, was born in Indiana. More recently, Trump has taken aim at the judges presiding over a stay on his executive order temporarily barring travel to the United States by refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations. I don't ever want to call a court biased so I won't call it biased, and we haven't had a decision yet, Trump said Wednesday, the day after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco weighed the stay issued by a lower court judge. But courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to . . . do what's right. Blumenthal said he suggested to Gorsuch during the meeting that Trump could or should be held in contempt of court. He didnt take position on contempt, said Blumenthal, a former Supreme Court clerk, Connecticut U.S. attorney and state attorney general. But he didnt disagree. Gorsuch is a conservative jurist and professed admirer of Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat Gorsuch would be taking. Scalia, who died suddenly a year ago, was a conservative icon on the court. Blumenthal said he would not take a position on confirming Gorsuch until after the Judiciary Committee hearing. But Blumenthal said he continued to have serious and deep concerns about Gorsuch and whether he would respect court precedents such as Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Gorsuch, Blumenthal said, avoided getting pinned down on controversial issues by saying he could not comment on matters that might come before the court. I was disappointed that he was not more forthcoming and specific in a number of his responses to important questions, Blumenthal said. dan@hearstdc.com Ecommerce is changing fast, with many companies using technology in creative and innovative ways that make it harder for entrepreneurs in online retail to compete and keep up with recognized brands and companies. Related: Conferences Are Good for Networking but Great for Marketing Fortunately, there is also more information available than ever before through events and conferences covering various aspects of ecommerce. Attendees can also connect with known figures in the industry and learn from their peers. Want to boost your online retail strategies? Here are some events to put on your calendar. Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange MITX, as it's nicknamed, takes place on February 8 in Boston and will cover technology, media, and consumer behavior. Scheduled speakers include Jake Bailey, head of business development at Wish; Julie L. Daly, VP of ecommerce at Ashley Stewart; Andy Freedman, CMO of Riskified; Meera Murthy, VP of strategy at Evergage; and Carl Prindle, president and CEO of Blueport Commerce, among others. Bronto Summit The Bronto Summit will be held in Las Vegas April 24-27, and on its speaker roster are Mike Gottlieb, product manager of Bronto Software; Randy Kohl, director of content and digital at Gorilla Group; Chris Pirrotta, director of ecommerce at Slideshow Collectibles; and Kelsey Foy, head of retention marketing at ELOQUII Design Inc. Organized by Oracle and NetSuite of Bronto Software, the summit will include training sessions on its own commerce marketing automation software, as well as several keynotes covering products and the industry. For Bronto users or those looking to learn more about this software, the summit may be something to check out. Internet Retailer Conference + Exhibition IRCE will be held June 6-9 at McCormick Place West in Chicago. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with their peers and explore the expansive exhibit hall's almost 600 vendors. Investor Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank; Miki Racine Berardelli, CEO of Kidbox; George Hanson, VP of North America ecommerce at Under Armour; and Mary Beth Laughton, senior VP at Sephora, are all scheduled to speak at the conference, which promises to help attendees stay up-to-date with the fast-changing world of ecommerce. Related: The 10 Best Worldwide Conferences for Entrepreneurs Global E-commerce Summit The Global E-commerce Summit will be held in Barcelona, Spain, June 12-14. You wont want to miss this years speakers, who include Jonathan Chippindale, chief executive of Holition; Diana Wang, founder and CEO of DHgate; Rachael Tipograph, founder and CEO of MikMak; Yoshiki Yasui, founder and CEO of Origami; Xavier Court, co-founder of Vente-privee; and others. This event specifically covers the latest trends and disruptions in B2C digital commerce. 3PL & Supply Chain Summit At 3PL & Supply Chain Summit, June 14-16 in Chicago, you can expect to learn from the likes of Brad Jacobs, CEO of XPO; Andrew Clarke, CFO of CH Robinson; Ed Feitzinger, VP of Global Logistics at Amazon; Nic Vu, GM and SVP of Adidas in North America; Joanne Wright, VP of IBMs Supply Chain; and others. The summit's themes include technology and innovation, driving growth, market trends and economic conditions, plus a session on learning about your customers and more. The summit is ideal for those looking to learn more about supply chain optimization. Future Stores At Future Stores, youll learn about technology that can transform customer experiences and how to achieve omni-channel integration and make new connections. The conference will be held at Washington State Convention Center in Seattle June 26-28, and will feature speakers like Jeff Dinard, CIO of On The Border; Lindsay Angelo, strategist at Lululemon; Cedric Clark, VP of store operations at PetSmart Inc.; and Angela Gearhart, senior director of retail experience and design at Sleep Number. MozCon When you think Moz, you cant help but think of SEO. But at MozCon, youll also learn about brand development, conversion-rate optimization, mobile, analytics, customer experience and content marketing. These are among the valuable tactics the conference will feature, to help you build and maintain an ironclad website. MozCon will be held from July 17-19 in Seattle. Attendees will hear from Lisa Myers of Verve Search; Matthew Barby of HubSpot; Purna Virji of Microsoft; Wil Reynolds of Seer Interactive; and of course the founder of Moz, Rand Fishkin. Retail Global Retail Global presents itself as a top-ten, must-attend ecommerce conference in 2016 for retailers. This year the event will be held in its usual locale, Las Vegas, September 12-14. Featuring 100-plus speakers, the conference will give attendees access to local and global industry experts providing content focused on real solutions for retailers. More than 70 percent of attendees in 2016 were online merchants, who represented a broad ecommerce network and the opportunity for all attendees to share knowledge and promote collaboration. Speakers will include Jason Trichel, head of U.S. global sales and business development at Amazon, John Kelly, head of sales at eBay; Bob Schwartz, founder of Nordstrom.com, and former president of Magento; and many more industry experts. Shop.org Shop.org will take place in Los Angeles September 25-27. This years speakers have yet to be announced, but if youre looking to learn about cutting-edge innovations and technology, prepare yourself for the changes and challenges ahead, and meet executives of recognized brands and companies Shop.org is worth a look. Ecom Chicago The details for Ecom Chicago 2017 are forthcoming. Last year, attendees got to hear from the likes of entrepreneur and Amazon expert Chris Green; John Lawson, CEO of 3rd Power Outlet; thrifting expert Nadene Shearstone; Jason T. Smith and others. Ecom Chicago focuses on business growth, and is friendly to both beginners just getting their businesses off the ground, and those who are growing and looking to streamline their operations. Local ecommerce Meetup.com groups You cant underestimate the value of local Meetup groups, where people gather to share ideas, experiences and strategies. If you live in a major metropolitan area, there should be plenty of opportunities to connect with existing groups, and if none exist, you can always create your own. Find regular gatherings in your locality to get plugged into whats working and whats happening in your region. Youll have the opportunity to meet with locals who may be experiencing the same issues as you. Events like these give you the opportunity to step away from your business and see things from a new perspective. It can be difficult to come up with fresh ideas when youre stuck in the day-to-day grind. Getting away from your business is often a good way to come away feeling inspired and recharged. Related: 7 Conferences for Entrepreneurs Under 30 Remember to prepare for each event and think about what sessions you most want to attend, whom youre interested in meeting and what youd like to get out of each conference. Related: 10 Conferences to Consider in 2017, to Boost Your Online-Retail Strategies The Importance of Face-to-Face Networking in a Digital World "India as a nation prefers partnerships over polarization" - PM Narendra Modi Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Nearly two months after Cuisinart recalled 8 million food processor blades in one of the largest recalls in U.S. history, the company sent emails on Saturday to update all customers who registered for a free replacement blade. Last December, Stamford-based Conair, the owner of Cuisinart, voluntarily recalled riveted blades on dozen of food processor models because customers found small pieces of metal in their food. Conair received 69 reports from consumers who found cracked pieces of blades in their processed food, including 30 complaints about mouth cuts and broken teeth, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The commission advised consumers to stop using the food processors riveted blade and contact Cuisinart for a replacement blade. Some customers have already received a new blade or an expected shipping date, while others are still waiting for their new parts. "Where possible, we provided information concerning the expected date of shipment of the new blade. There is however a group of consumers who were not given a date, as we are still firming up our production schedule to satisfy the high demand that resulted from the blade recall," Cuisinart's marketing director, Mary Rodgers, told us in an email. "These consumers were informed that we will contact them again when we are able to provide a shipment date. Cuisinart has taken all possible steps to cover the high demand resulting from the blade recall." Erin Jimcosky, a food writer from California, owns a $125 food processor from Cuisinart. She said she called the company on January 25 after finding out that her model was recalled. A Conair representative told her that it takes time to make the blades and thanked her for her patience. My patience is running out, she said. I am currently looking for a non-Cuisinart, and non-Conair, alternative for my kitchen. Jimcosky finally heard back from Cuisinart on Saturday. In a mass email sent to some of its customers, the company apologized for the long wait but offered no timeframe on when to expect the new blades. In the email, Cuisinart offered an interactive recipe book for download as "a token of our gratitude and appreciation of your ongoing patience." Meredith Sandiford, who works for a nonprofit in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, bought her food processor in 2012 for her wedding. She said she uses one of their Cuisinart Pro Classic 7 Cup model to make hummus and sausages. She applied for a new blade on December 13 and is still waiting to hear back from the company. I will use the replacement blade if I ever get it, Sandiford said. I'm still using the old one since it's taking so long for them to get anything done. Randal Picker, professor at the University of Chicago Law School, is also eager to get his processor back up and running. I would very much like to go into a store and pull a replacement blade from a box. Somehow I dont think that that would go well, he said. Customers can check www.recall.cuisinart.com or call 877-339-2534 to request replacement blades. A December article in the Wall Street Journal carried the headline The Economys Hidden Problem: Were Out of Big Ideas. Interesting article, but I disagree with the premise. I dont think its big ideas or even new ideas that we need. What we need is to reinvent the things weve already tried. Thats the economys real hidden problem: the unseen (and therefore untapped) opportunity in existing ideas. Leaders with an innovation mentality see opportunity in everything. And everything includes ideas that arent new or big. Many people dont see that because they dont enjoy the tough part of taking ideas all the way to the end. Weve become complacent looking for immediate success, not understanding whats required to succeed in a world where you constantly need to reinvent yourself. Aza Steel is a leader who sees opportunity. He is co-founder and CEO of education software company GoGuardian, and in 2016 he was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in the education category. Steel and I had a discussion about unseen opportunities, and he shared a view similar to mine about the nature of ideas: To me, innovation isnt really coming up with new ideas, Steel explained. Youre not going to have a new thought. Youre going to combine a few other peoples thoughts in a slightly novel way. I find it so exhilarating to see these crevices of innovation that the world has left. Seeing the Crevices His own entrepreneurial adventure began outside a UCLA dining hall when a friends laptop was stolen. Suddenly realizing how vulnerable hed be if his own computer were stolen, he found an app that tracks computers, but he couldnt afford it. So he hunkered down for 48 hours, learned JavaScript, built his own theft-recovery tool as a Chrome extension, and released it online. In a few months, it had 10,000 users. Not bad, for a Sociology major. A school district reached out to him in need of help with newly deployed Chromebooks. Steel started by helping them with theft recovery and continued by helping with any other issues that came up. Hed call users and ask what problems they were having, then stay up all night programming a solution, then move on to the next problem. It was a pivotal time in education as more and more districts adopted this new technology. Steels entrepreneurial spirit obviously got a great workout. As a result, GoGuardian evolved from theft recovery to a mission of transforming education with solutions that keep students safer online and make teaching easier. Today the company has 4 million users and 75 employees. Ripe for Reinvention There are a few things about Steels story that illustrate how to spot previously unseen opportunities. First, he points out that a critical part of the journey was that he did not have a steadfast idea that GoGuardian needed to be a theft recovery tool simply because thats how it started. As he put it: I needed to be receptive to what the market was telling me. And thats been critical. Second, he admits hes never been one to think that things are the way they are for a good reason. The world is the way it is because of some poorly thought out reasons and some decisions that werent even made but just randomly happened. The world is in a bunch of temporary resting places that are so ripe for being changed for the better. That is the thrilling part of existing on this planet. I agree. The challenge for leaders who want to operationalize this innovation mentality is that most people havent been trained to be able to identify those resting places to see the opportunities, to anticipated the unexpected, and then have the entrepreneurial spirit to capitalize on those opportunities by reinventing. The other challenge: leaders must be ready for employees to take that kind of action. In the old template, business defined the individual. To be successful today, businesses need to let individuals define the business. That requires a generous purpose on the part of the leader because for an individual to define the business by, say, challenging the status quo, leaders must be willing to have their own status quo challenged. That takes a certain level of vulnerability and a confidence in ones own leadership identity. Beyond that, it takes a purposeful intention on the part of the leader to become more aware and engage with the differences among people and become more effective at connecting the dots of opportunity embedded within those differences. In other words: give your employees a safe place to unleash their passionate pursuits, and then be courageous and vulnerable enough to let them follow those pursuits. This helps you propel innovation and seize opportunities previously unseen. Steel gives us a great example of this in action. A Leadership Identity that Enables Evolution Today Steel describes his role as harnessing the potential of these incredible humans around me, and getting them to question their reality and be entrepreneurs in the context of GoGuardian. In the same way that the world has a lot of crevices, Steel recognizes that GoGuardian has its own things that are a certain way for no good reason. I want all my employees to believe in that voice they have in their head that says, This is dumb. I think I can do this better. This is what it looks like to live your brand. As you live your personal brand and it continues to evolve, you gain experience to manage opportunities properly. You establish your personal brands value proposition as it relates to those opportunities. You can then use that value proposition to forge a leadership identity that is a catalyst for evolution. Steel sees it this way: I see my job as helping my employees grow to reach their potential. But were also in a world where technical devices in schools are well-poised to help all these students better discover and leverage their potential. Thats what its all about. Steel started by solving for theft recovery and has evolved into solving for potential in people. Steel has tapped into the power of his own leadership identity an essential step for leaders who want to cultivate new possibilities previously unseen. Related: Follow These 7 Steps to Stay Focused and Reach Your Goals Facebook Live Recap: The 3 Types of Obstacles Getting In Your Way This Is What It Takes to Be the Best at Anything Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: The Azerbaijani armed forces prevented another Armenian diversion, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a message Feb. 8. The Armenian armed forces were shooting at the positions of the Azerbaijani army from different directions along the line of contact by using mortars, large-caliber machine guns Feb. 7 beginning from 16:55 (GMT+4), the ministry said. The Armenian armed forces tried to use the ceasefire as distraction, while carrying out a diversion in the other direction in the Nagorno-Karabakh, the message said. According to the ministry, the Azerbaijani army detected Armenias actions in advance and retaliated. The Armenian side had to retreat, suffering losses. "The Azerbaijani armed forces suffered no losses, the message said. The situation along the line of contact is fully controlled. 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. WESTPORT The historic Italianate Victorian farmhouse at 26 Morningside Drive South, built in 1853, is the place where noted artists and illustrators Naiad and Walter Einsel shared most of their 47-year love story. At 3,000 square feet, the white clapboard house with black shutters may be average in size but within its walls resided boundless amounts of love and talent. The love that Naiad and Walter shared is well documented in the collection of artwork they created for each other over several decades; heart-related gifts hand-crafted for every Valentines Day, birthday, anniversary and other special occasions. More Information ABOUT THIS HOUSE STYLE: Antique Victorian Farmhouse, Italianate style ADDRESS: 26 Morningside Drive South PRICE: $1,950,000 (for both lots, 20 and 26 Morningside) ROOMS: 10 FEATURES: two lots totaling 3.14-acres, level and gently sloping property, barn/art studio with full bath, proximity to Greens Farms train station, short drive to local beaches, walking distance to Post Road (Route 1) shops and restaurants, across the street from Greens Farms School, one fireplace, one wood stove, covered front porch, screened porch, bluestone terrace, secret garden, fruit trees, two-car attached garage, four bedrooms, three full and one half baths SCHOOLS: Greens Farms Elementary, Bedford Middle, Staples High School MILL RATE: 16.86 mills ASSESSMENT: $877,900 (for 26 Morningside) TAXES: $14,801 (for 26 Morningside) ASSESSMENT: $313,200 (for 20 Morningside) TAXES: $5,281 (for 20 Morningside) See More Collapse Art from the Heart: A Collection of Unique Valentines designed by Naiad & Walter Einsel was published in 2008 and showcases the depth of their love and artistic creativity. Walter Einsel (1926-1998) was an art director for NBC and Naiad Einsel (1927-2016) held a similar position at CBS. Their art work was published in many magazines, corporate ads, record album covers, movie posters, and television commercials. They were hired to create an exhibit at Disney Worlds EPCOT Center and they were the first married artists to create stamp designs for the U.S. Postal Service. Naiad received a Westport Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Both of them were inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. Our Valentines were one of the most important things we did with our art each year and they were really from the heart, Naiad Einsel said to this reporter in a 1999 interview, one of many. She also commented on the place where she lived. I really do love it here. Part of it is Westport itself and part of it is the house, she said. Their 10-room house, the Charles B. Sherwood House, is also noteworthy. In 2005, the Einsels received a Preservation Award from the towns Historic District Commission and in 2007 the property was designated a Local Historic District. It comprises two parcels, 26 Morningside and 20 Morningside, totaling 3.14 acres in a neighborhood of half-acre parcel zoning. The Einsels two lots include 26 Morningside, which has 2.63 acres with house and barn/studio and 20 Morningside, a 0.51-acre vacant lot. While its walls could use a fresh coat of paint and the kitchen and baths need updating, this house has good bones and lots of charm. From what we could see, the house overall seems to be very stable and in good repair It clearly merits preservation and will be a wonderful house for someone who appreciates quality construction, artisanal detailing, and historic character in a beautiful natural setting, said Gregory Farmer of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. Our walk-through confirmed that the house is a well-constructed and nicely-detailed example of the Italianate style The original features are mostly intact, especially on the exterior and in the main rooms Italianate-style houses are admired for the deep porches, high first-floor ceilings, natural light, and natural ventilation. The Einsel house has all of these and more, Farmer said. There is a wrap-around porch on the front of the house. Inside, the formal living room has a fireplace and the formal dining room has three sets of French doors; two to the porch and one to a large screened porch. Off the living room is an office with a half bath. Above it is a private wing with a bedroom, wood stove, and full bath. The spacious family room has a fireplace and built-in bookshelves. French doors lead to the bluestone terrace and backyard. The kitchen has a Vulcan four-burner range with a griddle, two sinks on separate counters, some glass front cabinets, and a door to the front porch. On the second floor there are two more bedrooms and a full bath. One of the bedrooms served as Naiads art studio. Walters studio was located in an 864-square-foot barn on the property. It was built in 1970 and has a full bath and skylights. The property contains landscaping of open lawn, mature trees including towering evergreens, shrubbery, and a blanket of pachysandra. The location of this house makes it desirable. It is walking distance to shops on Post Road (Route 1), sits across the street from Greens Farms Elementary School, and is a short ride from the Greens Farms train station. For more information or to make an appointment to see the house contact Joan Wright of William Pitt Sothebys International Realty at 203-247-5868 or joan@thewrighthome.com. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: The extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan is very important, Azay Guliyev, Azerbaijani MP and vice-president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, said at a press-conference in Baku Feb. 8. The Azerbaijani MP said that he welcomes a criminal case filed under Article 281.2 (appeals against the state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) by the Azerbaijani Prosecutor Generals Office in respect of a person engaged in the propaganda of the separatist regime and calling against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan during illegal trips to the occupied Azerbaijani territories in April 2011 and October 2012. Guliyev also welcomes Lapshins arrest in Belarus and the requirement to extradite him to Azerbaijan. He expressed gratitude to the law enforcement bodies of Belarus and the countrys President Alexander Lukashenko. "This incident will be a serious lesson for anyone who does not respect or does not want to respect the territorial integrity and the principle of inviolability of borders of Azerbaijan," he said. "The individuals, committing crimes against Azerbaijan, must know that sooner or later they will be punished," he said. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. 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. Photo: Jed Egan Welcome to the Golden Age of Food Delivery. There are more companies than ever dedicated to making sure you can eat New York Citys finest foods while sitting on the sofa in your pajamas. Apps and tech innovations seem to arrive every day but which food-delivery service is best? Grub Street tested every service, analyzed their business plans (how do they pay their couriers?), and graded them on a scale of 1 to 5 in six different categories: the range of the delivery zone (and radius around your point of delivery), the variety and general quality of food available, the accuracy and convenience of delivery times, customer experience if something goes wrong, relative monetary value, and the user interface. Heres how every company compares. 1. Caviar Total Score: 27 Caviars pitch is that itll deliver food from a curated selection of the citys hottest restaurants over 700 across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens (up to 119th Street, as far north as Astoria, south as far as Red Hook, west as far as the East River, and east as far as Bushwick). The interface offers bright, appetizing photos that make food from places like Superiority Burger, Robertas, and Santina look fantastic. And while Caviar clearly values higher-end restaurants that are more expensive, the service gets points for offering a wide range of restaurants at varying price points. Because of the judicious offerings, this services food costs are high, but the value usually matches the cost. (It doesnt always safeguard you from eating cold pizza, though.) It helps that delivery fees start at $0 and increase depending on the distance from the restaurant you select, meaning dozens are available for a $1.99 delivery fee or less, although fees can reach as high as $7.99. An 18 percent service fee is also added to the subtotal, which the company says covers various business expenses, including labor. Tipping is appreciated, and Caviar pays its couriers based on factors like time, the distance traveled, and the delivery demand at the time of the order. Caviars time estimates are startlingly accurate, and its great that you can schedule a delivery well ahead of time if, for example, you know youre having a party or just want your JG Melon cheeseburger to arrive right as you get home from a long day at work. (Fastbite, a small section of dishes that can be delivered in five to 15 minutes for $2.99, is also reliable, though the quality of the food can suffer because its premade.) Another place where Caviar shines is in its user experience: You always know the status of your delivery and where it physically is on a map, but if you need additional assistance, you can request status updates, or use Caviars beta tool that allows immediate support via text messages from a real, live human. Thats hard to top. Today only, 2/9, get free delivery in Manhattan on Caviarorders by entering the code SNOWNYC at checkout on an order of $30 or more (thats lunch and dinner). Photo: Jed Egan 2. Maple Range: 2 Selection: 3 ETA: 5 Customer Service: 5 Value: 5 Interface: 5 Total Score: 25 Maple, the current food-world darling that counts David Chang as an investor, bypasses restaurants altogether in favor of cooking a daily menu at six neighborhood kitchens in Manhattan and one commissary in Brooklyn. Right now it only serves addresses in Manhattan below 59th Street. The upside is that everything is designed from the get-go with delivery in mind: The small, rotating menu includes about seven mains, ten sides (a nice new addition, offering more flexibility), plus a hearty selection of desserts and drinks (wine, beer, juices). Dishes like chicken-Caesar kale salad, vegetarian meatballs, tomato soup, and peanut-sesame noodles are simple, consistently well-made, and healthy-ish (it would be nice if Maple added nutritional information). The downside is that dishes often sell out during prime lunch and dinner times, and, well, the menu can get a little repetitive and boring. The pricing structure has changed since launch: Maple used to charge $12 for lunch and $15 for dinner, including tax and gratuity. But now each dish is priced independently ($14.75 for that chicken-Caesar, $17 for a salmon poke bowl, $5.75 for mac n cheese), and Maple adds tax and a delivery fee $1.95 at lunch and $2.95 at dinner. Even still, these are the cheapest average delivery fees on the market. Theres no need to tip, as all of Maples workers are W-2 employees, and everyone who works more than 30 hours per week has access to healthcare. Similar to its ornate packaging, which makes delivery resemble a Christmas present, the app is also visually appealing, as you scroll through options with glossy photographs (like Tinder for dinner). Plus, Maples fast (for a recent lunch order: it promised under 35 minutes; it took 23) with startlingly accurate tracking. Because youre not ordering from a restaurant thats also serving customers, there are less variables, but if delivery goes awry, Maple has a customer-service team that responds quickly via phone or email. 3. UberEATS Range: 4 Selection: 3 ETA: 4 Customer Service: 4 Value: 5 Interface: 4 Total Score: 24 Uber is betting big on its relatively new, stand-alone food-delivery service, with plans to expand it to at least 22 new countries. In New York, Uber offers food from over 1,000 restaurants in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, with crowd-pleasing, relatively inexpensive food (Black Seed Bagels, Stickys Finger Joint, Di Fara) essentially, the things a college student wants to eat and can afford and with the kind of glossy, top-down food photography beloved by the Instagram set. While the number of options is impressive, its not as easily scannable, or focused, as Caviar. Uber also lists about a dozen restaurants that it says can deliver in under 30 minutes a promise it takes so seriously that a breakfast order from The Squeeze arrived in exactly 11 minutes, the fastest of any service tested. (In one instance, when an order arrived 30 minutes late, Ubers customer service reimbursed $15, half the amount of the total order.) The exact radius around your point of delivery varies, but options are quite local. As with Caviar, you can schedule a delivery hours or days ahead. The booking fee for UberEATS is a flat $4.99 per order (recently up from the $2.99 it launched with in New York), and theres no place for a tip UberEATS pays its couriers per delivery, based on pickup and mileage traveled. You may also see a busy-area fee for some restaurants when demand is high but couriers are scarce; its calculated by an algorithm, so it varies, but recently there was a $3.74 supplement for Oddfellows in the East Village at 8:30 p.m. A notification about this fee does pop up before you start to add items to your order. 4. DoorDash Range: 4 Selection: 3 ETA: 3 Customer Service: 3 Value: 3 Interface: 5 Total Score: 21 Three-year-old DoorDash isnt a crowd favorite in New York, but its somehow valued at a whopping $700 million. It boasts a sleek interface with over 1,000 options that lean toward cheap and casual (Shake Shack, Taco Bell, KFC, Katzs Deli, Sweetgreen) available in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and parts of Queens. Curiously, the company says its delivery radius varies based on how well food travels so burritos have a larger radius. While it boasts a wide geographic range, DoorDashs ETAs are longer than its competitors its rare to see under 40 minutes in downtown Manhattan. Similar to Postmates, dashers are independent contractors who make their own schedules receiving prospective deliveries via the Dasher app, and accepting if they choose and they get a flat fee per delivery from the company, plus 100 percent of the tip. The service has come under fire for misleading customers about the price of its food, charging more on the app than a dish costs at the actual restaurant. To make that discrepancy clearer, DoorDash now occasionally implements a selection fee that helps operate DoorDash and provide you with the best service possible. DoorDash determines this based on its relationship with the merchant and the terms it has negotiated, and it can vary between 12 and 18 percent. The separate delivery fee starts at $2.99 and goes up to $4.99 in Manhattan and $5.99 in Brooklyn and Queens. Tax and tip arent included, and if your order is under $10, theres a $1 small-order fee. The service is nevertheless attractive and efficient, but its hard to imagine having a reason to use DoorDash instead of Caviar. Photo: Jed Egan 5. Postmates Range: 5 Selection: 4 ETA: 4 Customer Service: 3 Value: 2 Interface: 2 Total Score: 20 Postmates now valued at $600 million deploys its own couriers to pick up and deliver food from restaurants in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. The company wont reveal the specific number, but it has hundreds of restaurants on the platform. Postmates has the biggest range because it doesnt impose arbitrary geographical restrictions if a courier is willing to go the distance, and youre willing to pay the delivery fee, warm Levain Bakery cookies can cross boroughs. Theres a wide variety of options: by CHLOE., Blue Ribbon Sushi, and Shun Lee Palace (plus Duane Reade and Muji) get top billing as partner merchants, with a fixed delivery fee of $2.99 (not including tax). But Postmates also goes rogue and adds restaurants in an unofficial capacity dig through the clunky interface and youll find sophisticated places like Le Coq Rico and Loring Place. Some of the listings dont feature menus you have to manually add items and hope that it all works out; sometimes, an order will simply be canceled, presumably because the restaurant refused to fulfill it. And they might disappear at any moment: Postmates doesnt notify all the places it adds to the app, but it will remove them if they dont want to be featured. Delivery fees for non-partner merchants are based on the distance from pick-up to drop-off, and theres a 9 percent service fee as well. Tipping is at your discretion; Postmates pays couriers per delivery based on distance, wait time, and other factors. The Plus Unlimited program, a $9.99 monthly subscription, gets you unlimited free delivery (plus no service fee) on $25 orders from partner merchants around 200 places if youre in downtown New York, but only 18 if youre in Harlem. (Postmates says these Plus Unlimited options are the best, but theyre mostly fast-casual places that can be found on other delivery apps.) Simply put: The whole enterprise can get expensive. While deliveries usually arrive on time or earlier than expected, tracking is inconsistent often showing a courier stuck in a faraway place on a map, and then abruptly showing up at your door. Postmates encourages you to get in touch with couriers directly if theres an issue, but they dont always respond. You can email the company for help, but its not quick. Perhaps robots can help. 6. Ando Range: 1 Selection: 2 ETA: 2 Customer Service: 5 Value: 5 Interface: 4 Total Score: 19 In May, David Chang introduced his own delivery-only service in partnership with start-up lab Expa, and like Maple, all of the food gets made in-house. Ando is still relatively new, which is apparent in the services growing pains, and probably why its only currently available in parts of midtown and uptown delivering between the FDR and Eight Avenue, and between 35th and 72nd Streets. The company just announced it will soon expand to downtown Manhattan. Ando starts strong: Its interface is filled with beautiful photographs and cheeky copywriting (You know those tiny salads you get as an appetizer at your local Japanese haunt? This is and isnt that.). There are currently 16 dishes on the menu, and they range from a cheesesteak laced with fermented chickpeas to Korean-Lebanese-American bibimbap and a tofu goddess bowl. The offerings dont change from day to day; the company says it will update the menu on a seasonal basis. That said, nothing exceeds $11. Ando partners with third-party delivery services like UberRush, and these services pay their couriers directly. With UberRush, theres a flat $2.99 delivery fee on every order, as well as added tax. You can also order Ando on Seamless. On both, tipping is at your discretion. Through Andos app, postdelivery, you can rate your food and courier with emoji and minutes after leaving feedback, customer support emails to ask what they could have done better. Delivery estimates can be all over the place. Before placing an order, Ando often quotes 70 minutes, but then the ETA will change after it goes through. On a recent order, that estimate changed to 20 to 50 minutes, and then to 40 to 75, and the meal ended up arriving in 28 fast, but confusing. Dishes also tend to suffer during delivery: Apricot-glazed cauliflower managed to make an entire bowl of bibimbap both soggy and too sweet; a ginger-shrimp salad arrived looking and tasting like the sad desk lunch it became. Most of the dishes are very heavy like a fabled, though somewhat indistinct, cheesesteak. Given Changs high-profile involvement, its hopeful some of these problems will get ironed out. 7. Seamless/Grubhub Range: 3 Selection: 3 ETA: 4 Customer Service: 1 Value: 4 Interface: 1 Total Score: 16 Seamless, the long-standing stalwart of the citys delivery scene, launched way back in 1999. In 2013, it merged with Grubhub, and although these websites still operate independently, they look and function in almost identical ways. Seamless/Grubhub doesnt actually prepare or deliver or package the food; it merely connects customers with restaurants as many as 11,000 in all five boroughs, Westchester and Jersey City, including Tea & Sympathy, Pies n Thighs, and Snack Taverna. The company is changing that with the addition of a turnkey delivery service for restaurants that dont have their own capabilities, but the fact remains that its currently a messy, crowded platform. Seamless/Grubhub has more restaurants than any other service, but the quality varies greatly, and its unusual to be able to get food from more than 15 or so blocks away. (Delivery boundaries differ depending on the restaurant; places like Superiority Burger travel further on Caviar than they do on Seamless/Grubhub.) Its pretty cheap, though: all menu items are priced exactly the same as at the restaurants; if there is a delivery fee listed, its added by the restaurant. Tipping is at your discretion and the majority of delivery drivers are employed by the restaurants, while the drivers that are part of the turnkey delivery service are independent contractors. Customer service is basically nonexistent (encouraging you to call the restaurant if theres an issue). But if youre not looking for gourmet food, or you have a favorite go-to pizza place you know will come through for you, the ETAs are accurate, and its still more convenient than calling directly. Photo: Jed Egan 8. Amazon Prime Now Range: 2 Selection: 2 ETA: 4 Customer Service: 2 Value: 4 Interface: 1 Total Score: 15 Amazon expanded its restaurant-delivery service to New York Prime members in May, and at launch, it partnered with over 350 local restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Johns of Bleecker Street, Num Pang, and Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken. Almost all of the restaurants can be found on other platforms, and the selection isnt curated in a way that conveys quality or affordability. The delivery radius is small, too. Of all the services tested, the interface is by far the weakest the food photography is terrible, you cant search for a specific dish, and the customer-review tab often malfunctions (and barely anyone is leaving reviews, which is a major part of Amazons appeal). The site generally looks and functions like its still in beta mode. Its neighborhood range is limited, but Amazon does ensure delivery in one hour or less, and its ETAs are accurate. It helps that Amazon employs its own couriers, who pick the food up at the restaurant and pack it in an insulated bag. Theres a $20 minimum on every order, but Amazon has pledged to permanently waive delivery fees. (Youll still have to pay tax and a tip.) Food generally arrives warm and on time (a smoked-meat burger from Mile End held up particularly well, even with a fried egg), but its hard to imagine this is anyones favorite delivery platform. Disqualified: Arcade The premise of Arcade is that, every weekday morning, the service texts you a couple dish options, and if you reply by 10 a.m., your lunch magically (and effortlessly) shows up between noon and 1 p.m. But the two-year-old service recently texted to say, Just a quick FYI our 10 a.m. texts will take a temporary hiatus as we work on a few upgrades, and theres been no update since. Very sad! Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Farmers voted in droves for Donald Trump (maybe even by a 3-to-1 margin), but the idea he owes them his presidency may not be one he takes very seriously, theyre realizing. Various farmer groups are starting to use phrases like very worried and very concerned to describe their feelings about the next four years. They arent seeing signs of the progress they hoped for despite their industry being in pretty obvious dire straits: As one farmer explained it in December, Every sector in agriculture is underwater or barely profitable, so those people who go to church and pray for plenty of food, they got their wish when Trump won. Or thats what many of them thought. From the Financial Times today: The US president has pledged to revise Nafta, wall off the border and possibly slap Mexican imports with tariffs. Trade in agriculture could end up a casualty. The attitude has changed in the last three or four weeks, says Rajiv Singh, chief executive of Rabobanks North America wholesale banking business. Right after the election, people were starting to talk about whether there would be an impact on trade with Mexico, but they were not worried about it. Now, with the administration signing order after order, people are really thinking hard about it, Mr Singh says. Ranchers are starting to feel shafted as well. The National Cattlemens Beef Association, the largest trade group, told Bloomberg on Friday that members are sweating bullets over Trumps threat to withdraw from NAFTA, which hes called a catastrophe. Beef output is forecasted to hit a six-year high in 2017; bad trade relations with Mexico and Canada could cause a serious domestic oversupply. As the trade group notes, Americans are not going to eat more beef at the same price. The Financial Times adds this prospect that has got to be depressing in the industry: Farmers silos are bulging with surpluses, land values are softening, and the going rate for grain is weak. A former USDA chief economist says tariffs imposed on either neighboring countrys exports would play havoc with supply chains and probably cost farmers billions per year. Everything has created enough anxiety for 133 trade groups to send Trump a letter at the end of January about NAFTA, reminding him that U.S. food and agricultural exports have produced a trade surplus for nearly 50 years, and itd sure be nice not to worry whats going to happen in the 51st. The meatloaf man himself. Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images Frank Brunis had a successful run in journalism, authoring three best-selling books and holding the posts of both restaurant critic and Rome bureau chief at the New York Times. Now, hell take on his biggest assignment yet. Cooking meatloaf at the Nomad Bar. Presumably to celebrate their recently released all-meatloaf-all-the-time book, Bruni and his co-author Jennifer Steinhauer will serve as the restaurants next guest chefs. From February 10 through March 10, theyll contribute a very meatloaf-centric menu with not one but three variations on the classic dish. Theres Leslie Brunis sweet nostalgic loaf with North Carolinastyle barbecue sauce, a Greek loaf with lamb and feta, and even cheesy chorizo loaf. There will be, perhaps reluctantly, vegetables, including Moroccan carrots, green beans with lemon and black pepper, and Helens extremely delicious mashed potatoes. One thing is for sure. This is undoubtedly the first time a former restaurant critic for a major newspaper has gone on to cook meatloaf at an acclaimed restaurant. Doing his victory dance. Photo: Stephen Stickler/Getty Images The fate of New York City Councils five-cent plastic-bag tax now rests in Governor Cuomos hands. The State Assembly yesterday passed legislation approved by the Senate three weeks ago that puts a moratorium on the citys law. If Cuomo signs it, the fee wont roll out as planned next Wednesday. Instead, it will be subjected to a yearlong delay that, in the words of Staten Island senator Andrew Lanza, gives the City Council the opportunity to come to their senses and understand and appreciate whats happening in their districts. He contends, the overwhelming majority of the people of New York City know the fee is a fraud. The rollout has already been postponed once. The original start date in October was pushed back to February 15 after legislators in Albany threatened to thwart it. The idea was that this delay would allow fuller talks between the city and the state, but nobody really seems to have come away with greater respect for the other side. What Albany is doing is disastrously bad environmental policy, City Councilmember Brad Lander tells WNYC, and also disastrously bad democracy. Other backers have taken to blasting the state government on Twitter: NYC has no control over its rent laws, income taxes, speed limit--now not even its environmental policy. #democracy? https://t.co/Xq1sRAVrjZ Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) February 7, 2017 Outspoken opponent Assemblyman Dov Hikind, meanwhile, says its chutzpah that supporters even believed they could get away with the fee. Cuomo hasnt indicated if hell sign or veto the bill yet, but Hikind predicts there are enough votes to hand the governor the first veto override of his career, should he not pull through. Congrats! Photo: Bravo For the last 21 years, NPRs award-winning weekly food program The Splendid Table has been hosted by journalist Lynne Rossetto Kasper. At the end of this year, Kasper will retire from the show and pass the spatula on to writer and editor Francis Lam. A James Beard Award winner and former Top Chef Masters judge, Lam has contributed to the show over the last seven years, works as an editor-at-large for Clarkson Potter and, until this past Sunday, contributed to The New York Times Magazines Eat column. While writing for that column, he covered Polish food in Greenpoint, Senegalese stews, and, in his farewell, his mothers stir-fried tomatoes and eggs. Hell officially assume his duties as host on March 10, so give him a warm welcome. The cream on top of the Duke of Suffolk cocktail is long-shaken until its marshmallow-soft. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz Something strange about hot cocktails: People are hesitant to cop to liking them, but they seem to really like the actual drinking of them. If thats why its hard to find one thats not a watery hot toddy with a limp lemon slice, well, we should get comfortable with owning up to our appreciation. Given the chance to experiment with drinks in the canon outside of the hot toddy, weve found the citys bartenders to be remarkably inventive in making cocktails that are just as complex and exciting as their icy cousins, and that warm winter drinkers with every sip. (P.S.: That doesnt mean there arent great hot toddies to be had, too!) Here, the absolute best hot cocktails to drink in New York when the mercury dips below freezing. The Absolute Best 1. The Duke of Suffolk at Suffolk Arms 269 E. Houston St., at Suffolk St.; 212-475-0400 A previous tenant of the Suffolk Arms space was the dingy sin den Local 269. And maybe its the specter of bars past, but theres still a hint of transgression about here just in the drink menu instead of in the spilled-Budweiser smell of Local 269. That transgressiveness is on display with the Duke of Suffolk, a cocktail thats almost confusingly good. Take a sip: The Fruit Loops note is the Earl Grey tea, which is hot and sweetened and poured over the cucumber-y gin into a sherry-style glass. This is all topped with cream, which the bartender shakes aggressively in a squeeze bottle before layering it on top of the drink. That way it doesnt seep down into the drink (avoiding that coagulated, milk-in-booze look), and when you sip, its as soft on your lips as marshmallow fluff. 2. The Yuzu Hot Toddy at Bar Goto 245 Eldridge St., nr. E. Houston St.; 212-475-4411 Photo: Miachel Breton The Yuzu Hot Toddy at Bar Goto uses the apple-brandy Calvados, honey, lemon, two teas, and yuzu marmalade; the blend of ingredients make it a pretty burnt-caramel color. Should you want to up the tangy-sweet flavor, the cocktail comes with a sidecar of the marmalade, accompanied by a tiny wooden spoon for blending. (The toddy tastes well-balanced already, but a spoonful of marmaladesip of drinkspoonfulsip routine isnt a bad idea.) 3. The Hot Buttered Rum at B-Side 204 Ave. B, nr. 12th St.; 212-475-4600 Photo: Miachel Breton There is a time and place for etched glassware and golden cocktail-stirring spoons; theres also a time and place for drinking delicious, whipped-cream-topped cocktails at dive bars. When youre in the mood for the latter, head to B-Side, among the citys friendliest drinkeries, where the bartenders stir a scoop of a butter-and-brown-sugar mix into hot water and rum. Upgrade from the house to Myers dark rum for a buck. The final touch on the caramelly cocktail is a pillow of whipped cream, pierced with a cinnamon stick and dusted with spices grated on top. Best drunk when its snowing outside, staring out the bars steamy front windows onto Avenue B. 4. The Dirty Word at Dirty French 180 Ludlow St., nr. E. Houston St.; 212-254-3000 Photo: Melissa Hom The Last Word is a delicious cocktail thats simple to learn: Its ingredients green Chartreuse, maraschino, gin, and lime are included in equal parts. At Dirty French, the bartenders up it a notch, but still keep it simple by topping the cocktail off with green tea. Sounds unusual, tastes outstanding. Its tangy, a little bitter, a little sweet, and one of the best-balanced hot drinks we tasted. 5. The Bear Trap at Dutch Kills 27-24 Jackson Ave., nr. Dutch Kills St., Long Island City; 718-383-2724 A bartender here created this cross between a hot buttered rum and a spiced cider years ago; owner Richard Boccatos had it on menus of his bars since (you can also drink it at the pretty new cocktail lounge Fresh Kills in Williamsburg, and it was on the year-round hot-drink menu at the late, great Painkiller). With good reason: Its creamy, rich, and satisfying. The bar staff blends a house spiced-butter with honey, mulled cider, and bourbon; its frothed with an espresso wand, topped with grated nutmeg, and brought to your cocktail table in a glass coffee mug. Honorable Mentions The Hot Buttered Rum at Eugene & Co. 397 Tompkins Ave., nr. Jefferson Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant; 718-443-2223 There are visible sticks of butter in this drink, which comes to the table a golden-brown color, served in a Mason jar thatll warm your hands while the drink warms your stomach. Its made with rum and cider, which helps cut the buttery richness, and also makes the drink feel possibly healthful (a dangerous trick). Kentucky Nitecap at Fort Defiance 365 Van Brunt St., at Dikeman St., Red Hook; 347-453-6672 Everyone knows about Fort Defiances Irish coffee. (And with good reason; its great.) Less often discussed is the Kentucky Nitecap, which stiffens sweet, steamed milk with vanilla-infused Four Roses bourbon. As the name suggests, its the kind of drink you imagine a cinematic southern mother giving to her children in tiny doses before bed. The Hot Toddy at Wallflower 235 W. 12th St., nr. Greenwich Ave.; 646-682-9842 The most thoughtful, classic hot toddy in the city can be found at Wallflower. The drink uses lemon and honey like most of the citys pub-standard drinks, but also mixes in ginger and St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, a liqueur thats standard in tiki drinks but is beautifully employed here to introduce a winter-spice flavor profile. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: The extradition of Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan was carried out in line with international law, Vahid Bayramov, a representative of the Israel-Azerbaijan International Association, told Trend Feb. 8. There is an agreement between Azerbaijan and Belarus on extradition of criminals. Lapshin, first of all, violated the law, noted Bayramov. Based on this, Azerbaijan sent a request to Interpol for his arrest. Belarusian border guards took into account that he is wanted and detained him. Bayramov said Lapshins case was considered in three courts in Belarus, and all of them ruled his extradition as legitimate. By demanding Lapshins extradition in line with international law, Azerbaijan once again demonstrated that it is a rule-of-law state, he added. This should serve as a lesson to all those who want to fish in troubled waters, and this is a warning to those who dont respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Where there's smoke, there's fire and all the recent talk about foldable displays and handsets is likely no exception. Samsung has been particularly active on this front. If the rumored Q3-Q4 2017 release timeframe does hold up, then we could expect early prototypes to already be in existence. Samsung foldable phone concept A new rumor strengthens that hope, claiming Samsung will be bringing a foldable phone, perhaps even a few to MWC 2017. This definitely trumps the announcement of the Galaxy Tab S3 on the excitement chart, but before you get your hopes too high, the event will likely be held behind closed doors. Samsung foldable phone concept If Samsung is nearly ready with foldable phones, it will more than likely want to get some feedback on it from partners prior to any kind of public unveiling. There are lots of questions regarding implementation, product and release details that need to be ironed out before undertaking such a potentially industry-shifting move. Plus, from the looks of things, competitors like LG aren't far behind on the new trend and spilling trade secrets really sounds like bad idea at this point. That being said, all we can realistically hope for is a glimpse of a prototype or two at the Barcelona venue for our first taste on foldable display tech. Via Early this morning on February 8, a small area of Samsungs SDI facility in China caught fire. The local fire department said that the cause of the fire was due to waste products including faulty batteries, probably the same ones that were in the Galaxy Note7. The local officials said that Material that caught fire was lithium batteries inside the production workshops and some half-finished products. Thankfully, the fire was put out with no casualties reported, thats after the local fire department of Tianjin showed up with 110 firefighters and 19 fire engines. Thats how you fight fires. Samsung should hope nobody misinterprets this event as any indication that the company plans to use inferior batteries for the Galaxy S8. Speaking of which, the Galaxy S8 is said to be revealed at a Samsung Unpacked event on March 29 with the phone said to actually become available around April 21. Source | Via Its no secret that we loved the Xperia XA more than some of its pricier X-siblings and now theres a new one coming out. The Sony Xperia XA2 or XA (2017) if you will, maintains the rectangular look of its predecessor and it even has sharper corners. This matches well with leaked images, renders and videos. Leaks aside, the proper debut of the phone should be in Barcelona during the MWC. Sony Xperia XA2 (allegedly): Square-shaped and Nougat-powered The source of this new photo claims Sony will sell this as the Xperia XA2. The photo is of poor quality but you can just make out the Android version, 7.0. Allegedly, the XA2 will be powered by the MediaTek Helio P20 chipset coupled to 4GB of RAM. On the back a 23MP camera, on the front a 16MP one. The rumors are insistent that the USB port will be Type-C and that there will be a 3.5mm headphone jack. Rumors put the price at about CNY 2,200 ($320/300). Source Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: Azerbaijans Defense Ministry has released footage displaying the elimination of a subversive group of Armenian armed forces. The footage shows how the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces open fire at the Armenian subversive group, how the group members flee in panic, carrying the dead and wounded into a car, as well as the destruction of a military vehicle, said the press service of Azerbaijans Defense Ministry. The Armenian armed forces were shooting at the positions of the Azerbaijani army from different directions along the line of contact using mortars, large-caliber machine guns Feb. 7 beginning from 16:55 (GMT+4), the ministry said. It is assumed that the Armenian armed forces tried to use the shelling as a distraction, while carrying out a diversion in the other direction in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijani army detected Armenias actions in advance and retaliated. The Armenian side had to retreat, suffering losses. The Azerbaijani armed forces suffered no losses and the situation along the line of contact is fully controlled, according to the Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Haiti - Inauguration : Speech by the Senate President Tuesday, during the swearing-in ceremony of President Jovenel Moise in front of the National Assembly https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20030-haiti-inauguration-jovenel-moise-58th-president-of-haiti.html Youri Latortue, the Senate President and the National Assembly, issued a speech of circumstance. Excerpts from the speech of the President of the National Assembly : "[...] After many episodes, we are finally at the end of a long, of a very long electoral process. We have a Parliament that operates with its two branches, which will be fully staffed in the coming days. We have an elected president [...] We can say that this day is a great day for our country. The Haitian people have spoken. He chose to entrust the reins of power to a young man, a dynamic man, a man who seems to have ideas to get our country out of the misery and political instability that slow for too long its growth and development. The inauguration of a new President issued from the ballot box, marks the end of the transition and allows us to say that this is the last of our political history. Now we are entering a new era of political stability and institutional normality. Our friends of the Minustah will be able to continue and quietly complete their gradual withdrawal because the Haitians are now ready to fully assume their responsibility through the National Police of Haiti and the Haitian Armed Forces. Mr President-elect, Our compatriots, those who voted for you, those who voted for one or the other of your competitors and even those who, alas too many, have not voted at all : all, they expect a lot from you ! They expect a lot from all their elected representatives, both parliamentarians and local elected representatives [...] As you yourself said, you are now the President of all Haitians, regardless of their political families or ideological ! The task entrusted to you is enormous and difficult. The expectations of all sectors of national life are numerous and legitimate. In terms of security, national defense, justice, education, health, agriculture, food security, infrastructure, depreciation of the national currency, protection of the environment, business climate, gender equity, training of young people, job creation or the fight against poverty, everything is a priority, everything is urgent. We know that our resources are limited and we will have to make choices. I believe I can say, without fear of being denied by my peers, that the Haitian Parliament and all parliamentarians, senators and deputies , are ready to work with you in the interests of our constituents. [...] at the moment when you are going to become the head of the executive, the legislature takes the commitment before the whole nation and before the world to fulfill its role with dignity. Beyond the ideological divisions, beyond the partisan interests, we are determined to cooperate with you for the strengthening of institutions. [...] We believe that, in mutual respect, dialogue and dialogue, we can overcome our divergences in the national interest, reconcile our contradictions and face the many challenges we face, beginning with a merciless struggle against corruption. Yes ! A merciless struggle against corruption, this gangrene that prevents the real development of the country [...]" HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diplomacy : Mexico congratulates President Jovenel Moise The Government of Mexico, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), "congratulates the new President of the Republic of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, who took office on Tuesday after a long electoral process in the country. It also wished success in his management. Mexico recognizes the efforts of the Haitian people and government to strengthen democracy and institutions in the country and hopes that political actors will join to their development efforts. The Government of Mexico reiterates its friendship with the people and the Government of Haiti and its willingness to continue to cooperate with the authorities for the benefit of the people of this Caribbean country." HL/ iciHaoti Haiti - News : Zapping politics... Tips from Cardinal Chibly Langlois On Tuesday, at the Te Deum, the celebrant, Cardinal Chibly Langlois in his homily said he hoped that President Jovenel Moise would designate "safe, honest and well-prepared citizens, whatever their political affiliation" to sit on his side reminding "[...] Apart from God we will not be able to do anything. The purpose of all authority is to serve the common good. It is time to go beyond oneself, to consensus, to dialogue and to solidarity. [...] More than ever, the moment is at work, action. is at work, Jovenel Moise , a docile and intelligent heart to lead the people. The family is the reference cell of society. We need peace in our families, our streets and our hearts. [...] We assure you, Excellency, the President of the Republic, that in your efforts to serve our dear country loyally, you can count on the contribution of the Church, which accompanied the life of this nation from the beginning, and which today, renewed its commitment and its will to serve the great cause of the Haitian: the construction of a sovereign, prosperous and democratic Haiti... Well-Loved compatriots here and elsewhere ! [...]" Investiture : words of 3 former candidates Erick Jean Baptiste, Jean Herve Charles and Jean Henry Ceant were among the former presidential candidates who took part in the investiture ceremony. Jean-Baptiste said he was waiting to see the Head of State at work; Jean Herve Charles is ready to accompany the new team in order to improve the situation of the country, while Jean Henry Ceant believes he finds himself in the speech of the President, stressing that the next Prime Minister will have to be able to negotiate with the Parliament and to transcend Group interests. Michel Martelly happy, but... "Today marks the triumph of democracy over anarchy and demagogy. The Haitian people made a choice. I am happy to live this day and I pray for better days for our country," declared former President Michel Martelly. But he believes that Jovenel Moses will not be able to change everything alone, stressing the need for the population and the various powers of the State to accompany the new Head of State. Floral Offering in memory of the Founding Fathers The 58th President of the Republic, Jovenel Moise, accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Martine Moise, visited the Museum of the National Pantheon of Haiti (MUPANAH) for a Floral Offering in memory of the illustrious Founding Fathers of the Fatherland, followed by the signing of the Gold Book and a guided tour of the Museum on the path of our glorious history. This official ceremony was attended by: President of the Senate, Youri Latortue, President of the Chamber of Deputies Cholzer Chancy, President of the Court of Cassation, Jules Cantave, High Commanders of the National Police of Haiti and the Director General of MUPANAH Michele G. Frisch. Investiture, Senator pro-Lavalas absent The four pro-Lavalas senators : Nenel Cassy, Evaliere Beauplan, Antonio Cheramy and Ricard Pierre have been absent at the inauguration ceremony of President Jovenel Moise. HL/ HaitiLibre Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 7 Trend: A countrys every step to facilitate the obtaining of visas by citizens of other states is already a big progress to improve the tourist exchange, said Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Valdas Lastauskas in his interview with Trend. Azerbaijan's simplification of visa procedures for foreign citizens, starting from January 2017 is definitely a positive step, which will definitely have a positive impact on the development of tourism in the country, noted Lastauskas. The ambassador said that the Azerbaijani governments decision on simplification of visa procedures for foreigners will lead to increase in tourist traffic between Azerbaijan and Lithuania, and the two countries diplomatic missions in Baku and Vilnius will do everything possible for that. Lithuanian tourists will be interested to come to Azerbaijan, get acquainted with the sights of Baku and regions, taste national dishes, enjoy the hospitality of the Azerbaijani people and feel comfortable here, said the ambassador. "As you know, Lithuania is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, where, as we joke, it is cold 10 months a year and high rainfall," noted the diplomat, adding that there is a beautiful nature in Lithuania. Azerbaijan, with its favorable weather, sun, warm sea, beaches, beautiful nature, forests, lakes, mountains will attract more and more tourists from Lithuania, added Lastauskas. The diplomat believes that Lithuanian tourists, fans of winter holidays, will surely be attracted by one of the best ski resorts in the region Shahdag Mountain Resort, which will be one of the essential tourism destinations in Azerbaijan. Many Lithuanian tourists, who, in recent years, are expanding the geography of their traveling further, and have visited and loved it here in Azerbaijan, he said. "I think that over time, the number of those wishing to visit your beautiful country will increase," added the Lithuanian ambassador. "My first acquaintance with the Azerbaijani national cuisine took place many years ago. It happened not in Azerbaijan but in a completely different country, in an Azerbaijani restaurant where I tried Sheki piti (a soup made with mutton and vegetables) for the first time. The taste is excellent. For me, personally, the Sheki piti is the basis of the national cuisine. Of course, the list of my favorite dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine expanded after my arrival in Azerbaijan," the diplomat said. "The list includes such dishes as Baku dushbara (small dumplings filled with lamb, served in broth), Lankarani levengi (a casserole of chicken or fish stuffed with walnuts and herbs), Shamkir tomatoes, sweets Guba baklava, shakarbura, etc. But piti is still the best. At times, I do cook it myself at home." "My friends and acquaintances in Lithuania already know the taste of the Azerbaijani tea and baklava, which I always bring them as a gift when I go home. But my main finding is Mulberry oghi (fruit vodka) a traditional drink of the people in the Azerbaijani Western regions, and liqueur made of walnuts, which is prepared only in Nakhchivan," he said. "These two drinks, having many healing powers, can deservedly become Azerbaijans national brand and be exported to other countries, in Lithuania as well." "I would be very happy if restaurants of Azerbaijani cuisine are opened in Lithuania, I would like to see more Lithuanians become acquainted with this rich and varied cuisine. Unfortunately, there are no such restaurants in our country yet," Lastauskas said. "Of course, the South Caucasian cuisine is presented in Lithuania, it is more of a mixed cuisine, but I would like to see a separate Azerbaijani restaurant. I hope that Azerbaijani entrepreneurs will fill the void and make the Lithuanians happy with delicious dishes of your cuisine," the envoy said. By William Schwartz | Published on 2017/02/07 His name finally cleared, Amogae now heads out into the wilderness to become...the leader of an organized criminal enterprise. The morality in "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" really is completely topsy-turvy. It took me awhile to fully appreciate last episode that hey, Amogae is trying to get away with cold-blooded murder, and it's only the overall messed up nature of the situation that makes him sympathetic. Note how the widow seemed to have been angling for petty spite rather than justified revenge. Advertisement But anyway, on to the present. Ja-chi (played by Kim Byung-ok) has already signaled himself as a clear co-conspirator in Amogae's scheme- he's the money guy. And also the token noble, which is important since class is such a big deal in this drama. It's Amogae's lower-class compatriots who are new here, even if we've seen them previously, because now they're in close enough focus to have personalities, as befits Gil-dong's inevitable band of merry men. One class aspect of "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" I rather like is how, for their pittance of a salary, lower-class people have to work way harder and way more dangerously than their upper class contemporaries. Ja-chi is a nice guy, and Amogae isgrateful for his assistance, but in the end, Ja-chi holds disproportionate power over the organization simply by holding the pursestrings. And how is capital maintained in Joseon? Through land ownership, of course, a completely arbitrary concept that lets a person make money literally by doing nothing. The way "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" focuses specifically on class conflict via economic justice remains its most eminently fascinating design element. It no joke veers surprisingly close to North Korean dramas, of all things, because of the very similar Marxist undertones and explicit lack of sympathy for the upper classes. Amogae is heroic less because he's fighting for some big cause and more because he's a hard worker who values his comrades, loves his children, and wants everyone to succeed. I have to admit that moments of skepticism notwithstanding, watching Amogae turn small-scale schemes into hugely dramatic endeavors has been extremely entertaining. So I'm actually a little disappointed that the story is going to have to pivot to Gil-dong, who we already know is going to have to fight a giant heroic cause, somehow, when Gil-dong himself remains a largely passive character. I shudder to think what kind of catastrophic political derail will be necessary to force an actual revolution here. Review by William Schwartz "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" is directed by Jin Chang-gyoo (), Kim Jin-man, written by Hwang Jin-yeong and features Kim Sang-joong, Yoon Kyun-sang, Kim Ji-suk, Lee Hanee and Chae Soo-bin. Watch on Viki Published on 2017/02/07 In a recent interview to promote his new film, "The King", actor Zo In-sung expressed his desire to work with the writer of recent hits "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and "Descendants of the Sun", Kim Eun-sook. Advertisement Kim Eun-sook's reputation as a starmaker for the male leads of her dramas was recently solidified thanks to the current stratospheric popularity of Gong Yoo following "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and Song Joong-ki following "Descendants of the Sun". Zo In-sung is no slouch in the popularity department himself, but in the interview, he expressed what sounded like impatience with the pace of his own career. "The King", a drama about corruption and power co-starring Jung Woo-sung, is Zo In-sung's first movie since his return from the army in 2011. In the meantime, he's been in two dramas, 2013's "That Winter, the Wind Blows" and 2014's "It's Okay, That's Love", both of which were successful, though not runaway hits. I'm not sure if it's the limited number of roles offered to him, or the fact that he's picky, but given that he's had three projects in six years, a Kim Eun-sook drama might be just the boost his career needs. Sadly, Kim Eun-sook has yet to respond to his invitation. In the meantime, Zo In-sung can enjoy the fact that "The King" debuted as the number one movie in Korea. Love, Only of Noonas Over Forks Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Ambassador of Mexico to Azerbaijan, Rodrigo Labardini, and Azerbaijans Minister of Defense Industry Yavar Jamalov discussed cooperation within a meeting in Baku, the embassy said in a message. The parties discussed the possible exchange of experiences in the field of defense industry, as well as participation in the respective international exhibitions organized by Mexico and Azerbaijan, the embassy said. The parties also spoke about the role played by the Embassies of both countries in expanding cooperation and links in different areas. Ambassador Labardini underlined the development of the electronics industry in Mexico and mentioned that the Mexican economy is the 14th largest in the world. The parties expressed interest in promoting cooperation, the embassy said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: Hysteria raised by Armenian government officials and the so-called expert community due to the extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan, has come in handy for Baku. Thats because from now on, anyone willing to violate Azerbaijans border will think twice before doing it. Lapshin, who is a citizen of three countries and who violated the Azerbaijani border, was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan Feb. 7. Lapshin was detained not for visiting the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, but for his subsequent entering the country. Lapshin, knowing that he is banned to enter Azerbaijan after visiting the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, and, even after posting inappropriate jokes in his blog on this occasion, for some reason, still came to Baku. He passed the Azerbaijani state border control using the Ukrainian passport with a different spelling of his name. Taking advantage of this, he didnt simply arrive in Azerbaijan, but also began to write in his blog about the bribes he allegedly gave at the border service, and smear the country he illegally entered. First, why did Lapshin need to fly to Baku if he had such sympathy for the Armenians and the illegal regime of Nagorno-Karabakh? Second, if everything is so easily solved in Azerbaijan by giving bribes, why not arrive in the country by showing the passport Lapshin used while travelling to the Nagorno-Karabakh region? Third, what was Lapshin trying to prove by knowingly violating the law on crossing Azerbaijans border? It is strange to hear that when talking about Lapshin, some people mention the notion of the freedom of speech. What does freedom of speech have to do with a blogger who violated a countrys law? Can anyone having a blog violate the laws with impunity? Will the author of the food blog, for example, avoid liability for stealing the products in the shop? Perhaps, the author of the food blog just wanted to write about low quality products or a high price? Can it be attached to the freedom of speech? If so, it is possible to advise to any drug dealer or smuggler to create a blog just in case. The extradition of Lapshin is a very important precedent. The story of his extradition testifies to the fact that no crime will remain unpunished, in particular, such a dangerous crime nowadays as a call for separatism or illegal crossing of borders. If the attempts of such offenders as Lapshin to violate international law all over the world are not foiled, very dire consequences can occur. The international law does not give ground to alternative versions. It is fact that Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories and created puppet criminal de facto regime in Nagorno-Karabakh area. Alas, today Karabakh is one of the precedents of the illegal occupation by Armenia. For some reason the people not well-informed about the situation persistently call the illegal occupation as "separation". If today the world does not properly respond to such atrocities and calls for separatism by such offenders as Lapshin in the toughest, but the legal way, tomorrow the whole world, and, first of all, Europe, can turn into an area with ever-warring petty countries. As for the request for extradition, then there is need to understand one important thing for Baku. From now on, any corrupt politician not well-informed about the situation and willing to visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan without Bakus permission will think about a possibility of facing legal prosecution by the Azerbaijani side. --- Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agency's Russian News Service The Ninth Circuit faces uncertain future as immigration case looms From National Constitution Center, February 7, 2017 The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is getting a lot of attention these days in the battle over President Trumps immigration executive order. But the court soon could be split up into two courts, if some lawmakers have their way. This weekend, two judges on the Ninth Circuit appeals bench asked for more information from the Trump administration and its opponents about the constitutionality of the executive order, after a federal judge in Washington state issued a temporary restraining order. The Ninth Circuit appeals court could be the last stop in the quickly evolving legal struggle over Trumps order before the dispute gets to the Supreme Court. But it wont be the last time the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is in the national news. Shortly after Novembers general election, congressional Republicans started working on a bill that would remove six states from the Ninth Circuit to create a new federal judicial district. (A similar bill was stalled in Congress last year.) Currently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over cases originating in Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon and Washington state that pertain to federal laws and issues related to federal constitutional claims. The newly created 12th Circuit would include Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington state. Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho and Senators Jeff Flake and John McCain of Arizona are leading the current effort to get the legislation approved in Congress. In a statement, Senator Flake said the action was needed because the Ninth Circuit is oversized and overworked. Flake cited the size of the courts workload it hears 33 percent more cases than any other federal circuit and the failure rate of its cases accepted by the Supreme Court as reasons for the move. With problems like these, we are left to ask: Is the Ninth Circuit simply too big to succeed? If you are an Arizonan, the answer is unquestionably yes, Flake said. Critics of the move point to the Ninth Circuits reputation as one of the more liberal federal circuits in the country and that the move is an effort to create a federal district more friendly to Arizona and some other states. The Ninth Circuit currently has 18 judges appointed by Democrats and seven appointed by Republicans, with four vacancies that can be filled by President Trump. Currently, seven of the nine judges in the prospective 12th Circuit states were appointed by Democratic Presidents. The federal judiciary is organized into 12 regional circuit court systems that combine various states and the District of Columbia, and a Federal Circuit appeals court based in Washington, D.C., that hears dispute from other federal courts. The last time a new Circuit Court Of Appeals was created was back in 1980, when Congress passed an act that created the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, with Alabama, Florida and George moving from the Fifth Circuit into the 11th Circuit. The former Fifth Circuit had 26 judges and also faced scheduling and logistical problems. ---30--- Supreme Court To Consider Hearing Bipartisan Lawsuits Challenging Open Primaries by Alex Gauthier, Independent Voter Network, Feb 7, 2017 (excerpt) Legal efforts to shut out voters from publicly-funded primary elections in Hawaii and Montana may be heard by the Supreme Court next week. The lawsuits challenging open primaries were brought by Republicans and Democrats alike. On February 17, the court will decide whether to reconsider the findings of lower courts in the cases of Ravalli County Republican Party v McCulloch and Democratic Party of Hawaii v Nago. Previous decisions have upheld Montana and Hawaiis open primaries as constitutional. However, the major parties remain undeterred and aim to take their case to the nations highest court. In both suits, the plaintiffs arguments relied on precedent that recognized the political parties First Amendment right to not associate with voters who are not members of their party. This precedent was established in 2000 in the case of Democratic Party v Jones, which concerned Californias old blanket primary system where all party primaries were listed on the same ballot and voters could choose to participate in different party primaries for each office on the ballot. Now, the political parties are trying to extend that holding to all open primaries. Advocates of inclusive primaries argue that the primary election is an integral part of the publicly-funded election process, and as such, no part of that public process should exclude any voters. Another argument can be made that forcing any voter to join a political party as a condition of participating at any stage of the public election process is also unconstitutional. read Entire Article BA: Hawaii Government Asks U.S. Supreme Court Not to Hear Democratic Party Case on Open Primary Assisted suicide: New Mexico, Hawaii bills push envelope by David Roach, Baptist Press, February 8 2017 Legislators in 15 U.S. states are considering proposals to legalize assisted suicide, with a leading patients rights group flagging bills in New Mexico and Hawaii as particularly concerning. In New Mexico, the End of Life Options Act (House Bill 171) would allow doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose terminal illness and prescribe life-ending medication the same day with no second opinion. Five assisted suicide bills have been introduced by Hawaii legislators, with one (Senate Bill 357) not requiring a second opinion to confirm a terminal illness diagnosis before life-ending drugs are prescribed. PRC executive director Rita Marker told Baptist Press (BP) that no other state has proposed a bill seriously like the one under consideration in New Mexico. Hawaiis proposal to do away with second opinions likewise is just absolutely incredible. Also new this year, Marker said, assisted suicide proponents are beginning to claim that safeguards used to gain public support for previous legislation are just barriers to quality medical care and should be abolished. Hawaii Hawaiis S.B. 357 would allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs the same day a patient is diagnosed as terminally ill. A PRC analysis argues terminally ill is so broadly defined that a very frail individual or a severely disabled individual could be given a lethal prescription. Unlike other laws and proposals, terminally ill is defined as the final stage of an incurable or irreversible medical condition that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, result in death within six months, the PRC analysis noted. There is no requirement that the patient have a terminal disease or illness only that the condition is incurable or irreversible. Furthermore, there is no reference to the fact that the six months prognosis be with or without medical treatment. Andrew Large, pastor of Waikiki Baptist Church in Honolulu, told BP an interdenominational group of Hawaii pastors is coordinating opposition to assisted suicide bills. He called such legislation another step down a bad path. God is the author of life and death, Large said. I leave those decisions up to God to say when people go. I see the other side of the argument, but God is still God and He is sovereign. Large added, We dont always understand what it is God is trying to do by keeping somebody alive a little bit longer than what we, in our human nature, would say. Because neither Hawaii S.B. 357 nor New Mexico H.B. 171 limits assisted suicide to state residents, the PRC has expressed concern those states could become suicide destinations. read Assisted suicide: New Mexico, Hawaii bills push envelope SB357: Text, Status Domino's Pizza is being investigated by the Fairwork Ombudsman for allegedly underpaying staff. Moreover, it is alleged that some workers were forced to do unpaid overtime, including claims delivery drivers and in-store employees are signing off at midnight, but still doing unpaid hours cleaning and closing up stores. In a statement, the FWO said that in the past few months the FWO has conducted a number of site visits to Domino's outlets across the country. These visits are continuing and as such it would be inappropriate to make further comment at this stage, the FWO said. HC contacted Dominos for comment and they said they welcomed the proactive auditing by the Fair Work Ombudsman, which complemented Dominos own comprehensive internal compliance program. Dominos has no tolerance for any franchisee failing to meet their obligations to their employees and is leading our industry in this effort, said the statement. The company has been developing and undertaking proactive internal audits for more than three years and continues to work collaboratively with the Ombudsman under our Proactive Compliance Deed, which includes a recommendation from the Ombudsman for a series of independent compliance activities. The company added that they recognised the Fair Work Ombudsman has the benefit of additional regulatory powers, which complement our existing internal compliance activities. Dominos will take action against any franchisee found to be breaching their obligations, which can include terminating their sub-franchisee agreement and withholding back-payments for employees from the proceeds of any sale. Domino's will work with the Ombudsman to extend our existing proactive compliance deed, or to discuss a new agreement. Dominos voluntarily increased the rates paid to drivers in August and from 8th of January, all employees (instore and drivers) will be paid a 25% Sunday loading. A 10% Sunday surcharge will apply in all stores. The voluntary increase and surcharge were among a number of pricing models successfully tested with our customers, and agreed upon with our franchisees, said the statement. Over the past three years of self-compliance activities, Dominos has established that there is no connection between profitability and any breach of employment obligations. The behaviour does not discriminate based on earnings. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: On the day of Alexander Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan, Russia gave a citizen of Azerbaijan to Ukraine within the same convention on legal aid, Doctor of Law Kamal Makili-Aliyev told Trend Feb. 8. Thus, the objections by Russia with regard to Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan are puzzling, he added. Lapshin as a citizen of Russia is perceived as such in Belarus, regardless of his Israeli citizenship, said the expert adding that Lapshin also entered the territory of Belarus as a citizen of the Russian Federation. Detaining Alexander Lapshin, Belarus sent his case to his states judicial authorities to address the issue of his extradition, noted Makili-Aliyev. Under the decision of all juridical instances, the decision was made in line with the Convention on Legal Aid and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases of the CIS to extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan for the administration of justice, he added. Azerbaijan and Belarus acted in line with their national laws and the international law, said the expert. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. He was included in the black list of Azerbaijan and declared as persona non grata. Despite the fact that the illegal crossing of the Azerbaijani border is a criminal offense, Azerbaijan then didnt start the process of bringing Lapshin to justice and confined itself to diplomatic measures. Despite the fact that Lapshin was banned from visiting Azerbaijan, he entered the territory of Azerbaijan fraudulently, reviolating the laws of Azerbaijan with regard to its state border, explained Makili-Aliyev. Moreover, in his blog Lapshin openly called for such behavior, and also made incitements against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by supporting the illegal separatist regime in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, noted the expert. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. Starting the procedure to bring Lapshin to justice, Azerbaijan appealed to Interpol, which received the request. The Republic of Belarus responded to this request, Makili-Aliyev added. 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. Boone, NC, February 7, 2017 As 2017 opens the Two Rivers Community School 7th and 8th grade have been busy sharing the many lessons they learned throughout the first half of the school year. At Two Rivers, students and teachers organize Exhibition Nights to present student work to families and friends. The Exhibition Night is a staple of the student experience at Two Rivers, lending students the opportunity to share their ideas and knowledge, while exercising their public speaking and presentation skills. While Two Rivers is not officially an Expeditionary Learning School, the school does share many of the same values and principles. Kelly Lynn, 7th & 8th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, explains a bit more about Exhibition Nights and the 7th and 8th grade experience: Probably the most exciting aspect of the Expeditionary Learning model is the Expedition. But what, exactly, is an Expedition? In a nutshell, an Expedition is something like an interdisciplinary thematic unit but more. Two Rivers Expeditions are based on the NC State Curriculum Standards. They are long-term, in-depth studies that offer real-world connections. They require students to engage in original research, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving. These skill building activities are structured around specific elements, such as kick-off experiences, case studies, projects, specific lessons, guest experts, field trips and field work, all of which culminates in an Exhibition. The Exhibitions are a celebration of learning. They feature high-quality student work conducted or created during the course of the Expedition. At TRCS, each grade level has two Expeditions per year. In the middle school, we held our Exhibitions in late January. Our Fall Expeditions are amazing journeys for our students. The seventh grade fall Expedition is Winds of Change. It is all about innovation. The kick-off of this odyssey is a design challenge. Each team is presented with a set of materials and a specific goal. They then compete to see which teams design best achieves that goal. This years challenge was for students to design a water balloon catapult that hits a specified target. Following this fun are lessons and case studies on topics that include simple machines and physics, the history of how Renaissance inventions led to the Age of Exploration and then to the Industrial Revolution, along with innovations in government, culture, economics, and more. Science continues with explorations into energy. In literature, we read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind , the true story of William Kamkwamba, a young, self-taught Malawian who changed the lives of the people of his village when he built a windmill to generate electricity. All of this culminates in the building of wind turbines, which are presented at Exhibition Night. Much like the kick-off, students work in teams. Their goal is to design a turbine with the greatest output of voltage and amps. We kick-off the eighth grade Expedition, NC FLOW, with a three-day camping and canoe trip led by Nathan Roark, director of Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center. NC FLOW is all about water. We begin in the headwaters of the Appalachians in early September. Our journey ends at the sea, in Charleston, SC in December. Along the way, we conduct studies of water quality in local streams, gain a sense of how waterways influenced the development of towns and industries, and how those towns and industries then impacted the waterways that made them possible. Students learn about current and past, local and global, social justice issues involving water. They research the varieties of ecosystems within water and even learn how water has impacted our understanding of geological time and history with a study on fossils. In the end, students present their work to the public with a slide show as they explain the many engaging activities and what they learned from each. This years NC FLOW Exhibition was at the Watauga County Library, presented to a capacity crowd in the meeting room. Founded in 2005, Two Rivers Community School is a North Carolina Green School of Quality serving grades K-8. It is a tuition-free public-charter school located in Boone, NC under the leadership of a Board of Directors made up of local community members. The Two Rivers curriculum challenges students with dynamic learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. Academics are at the core of every student opportunity with the expectation that students grow in both character and intellect during their time at Two Rivers. This year the schools enrollment is 175 students. Open enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year begins March 13th. Download your application via the schools website or visit the front office anytime during business hours. If you would like to learn more about Two Rivers Community School, please contact Beth Vossen at 828-262-5411 or email at [email protected]. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket The Town of Boone wishes to inform its water and sewer customers of a letter which they may soon receive from American Water Resources of North Carolina, a private company located in New Jersey. This is the same company which has previously sent these types of letters in April 2013, April 2014, December 2015 and March 2016. Although the town was notified of the companys intention to contact its water and sewer customers, please be aware that the Town of Boone is not affiliated with American Water Resources of North Carolina, has no previous experience with nor knowledge about the company, and the Town does not specifically endorse this or any such program. The letter is expected to address customers potential expenses for broken or defective water and sewer lines on their property and offers a program for addressing such line failures. Although Town of Boone water and sewer customers are generally responsible for water line repairs on their side of their water meters and for broken sewer lines on their property, the Town cannot certify that the program offered is legitimate or of benefit to its customer. The Town suggests that each customer review his or her current homeowners insurance policy to verify if whether and to what extent these types of repairs are covered and make your decisions as personally warranted. It is also advisable that you check with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer protection organizations and agencies before contracting with any unknown company. If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to this matter, please call the Public Works Department at 828-268-6250. You may also be able to obtain useful information by contacting the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Attorney General at 1-877-566-7226. Of course, you should always read carefully any legal document or contract before signing it. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket The most likely security threat associated with the phenomena, however, is not a planned terrorist attack but less serious forms of violent extremism, such as street violence. The Ministry of the Interior estimates in its biannual overview of violent extremism that extremist organisations, radicalisation and violent extremism are increasingly salient phenomena in Finland. The threat of terrorism has nevertheless increased from the level of 2014 principally as a consequence of the threat posed by individuals or small groups supporting violent jihadist ideologies, according to the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo). The incidence of hate and violent speech and false news reports has similarly increased on social media. The Ministry of the Interior reminds that such phenomena tend to widen divisions between various population groups, accelerate the polarisation of the society and contribute to the development of a sense of insecurity among the general public. A particular challenge, it adds, is that hate speech and violent speech are employed to justify ideological violence. The current circumstances, therefore, create a breeding ground for violent radicalisation, extremism and extremist activities. The difference between facts and opinions has become clouded, the report states. The Ministry of the Interior's latest overview examined developments with ramifications for the security situation in Finland in 2016. The biannual overview has been published since 2013 to provide up-to-date information on violent extremist organisations and other ideological organisations deemed to pose a risk of violence. Violent far-right extremism The latest report draws particular attention to the security threat posed by the Nordic Resistance Movement, which previously operated as the Finnish Resistance Movement in Finland. All of the national factions of the organisation changed their name to the Nordic Resistance Movement in 2016. The organisation changed its name in an attempt to to create an image of itself as a more united, larger and influential organisation than it is, the report states. The Nordic Resistance Movement continues to distribute national-socialist propaganda in the form of leaflets, posters, stickers and other advertisements. It occasionally also holds demonstrations and other public meetings. The national-socialist organisation currently has active members in several parts of the country and local factions in a total of seven municipalities, according to the overview. Its activities have also been regularly associated with criminal offences most commonly assaults since its establishment, with the most recent incident being a deadly assault at Helsinki Station Square in mid-September. The offender, a long-term member of the national-socialist group, was convicted of aggravated assault to two years' imprisonment by the District Court of Helsinki on 30 December, 2016. The victims are usually people representing an opposing political ideology, the report states. The members of the organisation have a low threshold to use violence against people vocally expressing views criticising the organisation. The most common form of far-right extremism is nevertheless associated with racist skinhead groups operating locally. The Ministry of the Interior points out that while such groups do not represent a threat to national security, they may cause problems on a local scale and pose a threat to certain individuals and minority groups. Violent far-left extremism Far-left radicalism remains a marginal phenomenon in Finland, according to the Ministry of the Interior. The country, it estimates, has no more than a few dozen left-wing anarchists who are prepared to resort to violence to accomplish their objectives. The anti-nuclear movement, however, has recently incorporated violent elements into its practices, as evidenced by the illegal protests sparked by the commencement of preparations to build a new nuclear power plant in Pyhajoki, Ostrobothnia, in 2015. The protests continued until April, 2016. Violent jihadists The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) raised its terrorist threat level in mid-2014 and again in late 2015, the Ministry of the Interior points out in its overview. Individuals and small groups supporting violent jihadist ideologies represent the greatest terror threat in Finland, according to Supo. Such individuals and groups typically operate independently but may have real-life or virtual links to violent networks. Supo also estimates that activities supporting terrorism will continue to increase in Finland. The support networks currently engage in recruitment activities and seek to promote the radicalisation of recruits. The Ministry of the Interior reminds that the raised threat level is also attributable to the considerably high number of people who have returned to Finland after travelling to and participated in hostilities in conflict-affected areas in Iraq and Syria. Almost 80 people have been confirmed to have left, but in reality the number is much higher. The majority of foreign fighters have joined Daesh [the terrorist organisation also known as Isis] to fight or otherwise support its activities. At least 1518 have died in the hostilities, the report states. A serious threat of violence is associated with those who have participated in hostilities and returned to Finland. [The threat] will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The number of people travelling to conflict-ridden areas has recently decreased all across Europe as Daesh has come under military pressure and begun to lose its territories in Iraq and Syria, according to the Ministry of the Interior. It also reports that certain individuals with connections to terrorism sought asylum in Finland in 2016. Most of them, however, are suspected of having been involved in terrorist activities outside the borders of Finland. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Martti Kainulainen Lehtikuva Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan shows the political will and ability of the countrys leadership to take the boldest steps to defend the state interests, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov told reporters in Baku Feb. 8. I think this is one of those many facts proving that Azerbaijan is able to defend its state interests, noted Ahmadov. He said Azerbaijan has always demonstrated its unequivocal position with regard to the people who violate national laws, international laws and norms. I think that thanks to this position, we can ensure that each person who commits a crime will be brought to justice, added Ahmadov. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. THE River & Rowing Museum has appointed a new chairman of trustees. David Worthington will replace the current chairman Paddy Nicoll in March. Mr Worthington, who will move to the town later this year, is a long serving trustee of the London Transport Museum, a governor at Ravensbourne College and past chairman of Creative and Cultural Skills, a charity which gives young people opportunities to work and learn in the creative industries. Mr Worthington is a regular attendee of the Thames Traditional Boat Festival and owns a pre-war motor yacht with his wife Kenna. He said: I am particularly keen to expand the museums work within the local and wider community, building on our excellent relationships with Henley Town Council and the surrounding district councils. It is essential we extend the diversity and reach of the Museums education work. Ludo Keston, chief executive of the museum, welcomed Mr Worthington to the role. He added: I want to thank Paddy Nicoll, the current chair, who stands down after a successful five-year term in the role, the trustees are extremely grateful for all his work helping us to bring history and the arts to life in Henley. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: Russias embassy in Azerbaijan has sent a note to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry requesting a meeting with Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin, who was extradited from Minsk, Belarus, to Baku on Feb. 7, the embassy told Trend. A note on a meeting of Russian embassys consular officer with Lapshin has been sent to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, said the embassy. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. A close friend of an Irishman who died unexpectedly in Spain has managed to raise more than 5,000 to help bring his remains home. Siana Connor (45) said the support and generosity shown towards Keith Lawless' family was "mind-blowing". Mr Lawless (44) was well-known for running popular restaurant Dillinger's in Ranelagh, which was closed for the weekend as a mark of respect. Ms Connor had known him for 25 years and kept in touch with him, describing him as "her rock". They first met at the Feile Festival in 1991. "He literally knew absolutely everybody, he was larger than life," said Ms Connor. "Everyone felt that he was their best friend. It's hard to be a best friend to everybody, but he managed to be. "He managed to make everyone feel so special, he just had time for everybody and connected with so many people." Tributes Ms Connor lives close to Mr Lawless' family in Drimnagh and decided to set up the JustGiving webpage to help them with funeral costs and bringing his remains home to Ireland. The goal is 10,000 (11,674). By last night, 90 people had donated to the page, with tributes rolling in from across the world. "He had so many friends in all corners of the world and they're ringing and texting and asking how they can donate. It's just amazing," said Ms Connor. One post read: "Keith was a lovely man, kind, generous to a fault. "I feel so sorry for all those close to him, his family, his daughter and his friends and how they must be feeling. RIP Keith." Another person wrote: "RIP Keith. Sending our condolences to your family from Australia". Another wrote: "RIP mate, thanks for be always giving, specially in our happy days together in Australia." Mr Lawless died suddenly in Barcelona last Saturday to the shock and grief of his friends and family. He is survived by his nine-year-old daughter, Teaghan, "who he lived for", said Ms Connor. "They loved to hang out together," she added. A carer, who claimed he was unable to clean up after his dog in a Dublin park because of the number of syringes left behind by drug addicts, has avoided a 4,000 fine. Liam Nolan, from Oliver Bond House, Oliver Bond Street, Dublin 8, was prosecuted for dog fouling by Dublin City Council after he refused to accept an on-the-spot fine on June 14 last at St Audeons public park. However, he avoided a conviction and a fine after arguing his case at Dublin District Court, where he faced a charge under the Litter Pollution Act. He represented himself during the trial and told Judge John Brennan that he always uses the park for dog walks and cleans up after his pet. However, on the date in question he attempted to remove his dog's faeces but he noted that within a "hair's breadth" of the faeces there was a syringe. He said he could not remove the dog mess and refused to accept a 150 fine from a warden, whom he claimed "did not want to hear me". Mr Nolan said that, after he left, a garda approached him about the issue on nearby Thomas Street. He returned to the park a day or two later and took photos of the needles he had seen, which he showed to the judge. He said he had made reports to gardai about the syringes in the park and claimed there was a used-needle bin there that had made the problems worse. Needles In cross-examination it was put to him that it was his responsibility to clean up his dog's mess and dispose of it in a suitable manner. Mr Nolan told the court he had shown pictures of needles to a council official, who told him that specialist equipment was required and advised him "not to go near that". He told the judge that children from the local school cannot go to the park, which he claimed was used by hundreds of heroin addicts who attend the Merchant's Quay homeless and drugs support service. The judge said the litter warden had acted professionally and he had no doubt that Mr Nolan was belligerent, but he was satisfied that this was because of a risk to his health and safety and his reason appeared to be genuine. He struck out the case. A mother-of-four who went missing in New Zealand during a hike six weeks ago has been found alive after a "remarkable" survival in mountainous bushland. Shelley Crooks (36) went for a four-day mountain hike before Christmas but disappeared after setting off from Punakaiki, a town on the South Island's rugged west coast. She finally emerged at about 7pm on Sunday near a walking track not far from the town and was spotted by a hiker. The rescuer gave her food and water and called emergency officials, who airlifted her to hospital. Police said she injured her leg during her hike and then became disoriented but was able to slowly make her way out of the wilderness because of her strong bush skills. "This is a remarkable story of survival," said police sergeant Michel Bloom. "Ms Crooks set out to do a four-day walk in the Mount Bovis area when she became disorientated and sustained a leg injury. "She was well-equipped and has extensive bush craft knowledge, enabling her to survive for six weeks as she attempted to make her way out of the bush." John Crooks, her father, said that the family was delighted after a "terrible" six weeks. "At this stage we don't know anything more than she's been found and we are just all grateful for it," he said. "Just getting sightings everywhere sort of put us off the track of where she was." Ms Crooks, who has twins (5) and children aged 11 and 12, has not yet spoken publicly. Disoriented During the search last month, Mr Crooks said his daughter was a strong hunter and frequently went on long hikes, leaving her children in the care of family members. "She's very strong physically and is always trying to keep fit and do new things," he said. "We've always been outdoor people ourselves - hunting, fishing. Shelley is a competent food gatherer, diver, and she has lived without power as well so she does have that skill level. Being alone doesn't bother her." Police said they were "ecstatic" that she had survived. Dad Christopher and aunt Christine Kenny want the investigation into the disappearance of Amy reopened Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins The heartbroken family of missing Dubliner Amy Fitzpatrick held a candlelight vigil outside Leinster House on her 25th birthday. Amy, who was 15 at the time, disappeared on New Year's Day 2008 from the Spanish resort of Riviera del Sol, Mijas. Dozens of friends and family members gathered in the city centre last night, holding candles and lanterns bearing Amy's photograph. The schoolgirl had been living in Spain with her brother Dean, mother Audrey and stepfather Dave Mahon. Her father, Christopher Fitzpatrick (51), from Artane, north Dublin, has never given up hope of police finding his beloved daughter. He is not only still seeking answers into Amy's disappearance but is also grieving the violent death of his son Dean. Mahon is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for Dean's manslaughter in May 2013. Dean (23) suffered a fatal stab wound to the stomach during a row with Mahon. Speaking to the Herald, Christopher said Amy had great ambitions for her life. "I'm sure she would have a boyfriend. She wanted to be a vet when she got older. She was crazy about pets and had a lot of pets in Ireland and in Spain," he said. "I haven't given up hope. There's still always that chance that Amy is still alive somewhere. "I go on the likes of the American cases, where people are still alive after 10, 12 years. Anything is possible." Evidence Meanwhile, he and Amy's aunt, Christine Kenny, have appealed to the Government to persuade Spanish police to reopen their investigation into Amy's disappearance as they claim new evidence has come to light. However, after returning to Spain to speak to authorities last year, nothing has changed, Ms Kenny said. "They were supposed to be going further about it but I haven't heard anything. I haven't had any updates," she said. "We need to get the truth out there and have people reinterviewed." Sinn Fein councillors were divided on a vote to award Barack and Michelle Obama the freedom of Dublin. It is understood that two representatives voted for the proposal put forward by Lord Mayor Brendan Carr while the majority were firmly against it. Of the 14 Sinn Fein representatives at the council meeting, 11 voted against the Obamas being honoured, two voted for an Emma Murphy abstained. Cabra Sinn Fein councillor Seamus McGrattan and Ballymun representative Noeleen Reilly voted in favour of the proposal. The vote to award the Obamas the distinction has caused controversy among councillors, with only 30 of the 57 present voting in favour of the proposal. Draconian In his speech, Mr Carr said the honour had been conferred on couples before. "In light of the recent draconian decisions being taken by Mr Obama's successor, President Donald Trump, I believe it is more important now than ever that I proceed with this proposal," he said. "There is also precedence for a couple being awarded the freedom of the city. "In 1985, the honour was bestowed on the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan for their diplomatic activities. "It is largely in this tradition that I am proposing the granting of the freedom of Dublin to Barack and Michelle Obama. "I believe Barack and Michelle Obama did set the right direction for the US both domestically and in international relations of seeking to build a cohesive and inclusive society which respects all its constituent communities. "This was done often in the face of stiff opposition from a Congress and a US military and commercial establishment which unfortunately is not as supportive of these aims as the former First Couple. "While I'm acutely aware of the failings of US foreign policy during the presidency of Barack Obama, I believe he and Michelle, through their promotion of the rights of refugees, humanitarian causes and focus on improving international relations with several states, did point American society in a progressive direction." People Before Profit councillors John Lyons, Tina MacVeigh, Andrew Keegan and Hazel de Nortuin left the council chamber following the vote. Mr McGrattan said that while he listened to the arguments made by both sides, his mind was made up before Monday night's full council meeting in City Hall. "We decided there wouldn't be a whip on it because there were different views within the group," he said. "As this was a big issue that people had such different views on, it would be unfair to ask them to vote a different way. "I don't think the decision was against Barack Obama, it was probably against the policies of America, in particular their foreign policy, which I have difficulty with me myself. Criticism "I looked at the individual and I think he has done a lot, I think he's one of the most progressive presidents that America has had, particularly in light of his successor." Despite his remarks on Mr Trump, Mr McGrattan stopped short of criticising Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who recently said he would visit the US president on St Patrick's Day if he was invited. "Maybe I've a slightly different opinion on that. Sometimes when you're in positions of leadership you have to make those tough decisions," he said. "This man has been elected by the majority of people, so we have to accept that. "Sometimes in politics you have to make those decisions, particularly in the position of leadership he is in." (Details added, first version posted at 16:47) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems it wrong to politicize the criminal case against Alexander Lapshin, a citizen of several countries who was extradited to Baku, over the illegal visit to the occupied Azerbaijani territories, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. This issue is of legal nature and must be reviewed from a legal standpoint, according to the statement. Lapshin, despite warnings from foreign ministries of the countries whose citizenship he holds, illegally visited the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces and made appeals aimed at violation of Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Lapshin, knowing about the inclusion of his name in the list of people declared persona non grata, re-entered Azerbaijans territory with another passport in June of 2016. He openly stated that he committed these acts intentionally, reads the statement. Due to the fact that Lapshins actions hold open calls against the state and illegal border crossing, Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan filed a suit under the articles of 281.2 (appeals against the state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) and put him on the international wanted list, according to the foreign ministrys statement. Law-enforcement agencies of Belarus detained Lapshin on Dec. 14, 2016 and he was extradited to Azerbaijan Feb. 7. Lapshins case is being reviewed within the laws of Azerbaijan. Lapshins case once again indicates that Armenia fraudulently attracts foreign nationals to travel to Azerbaijans occupied territories and then tries to turn them into a tool of their political propaganda, said the statement. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry once again calls upon foreign citizens to refrain from traveling to the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia, as well as other countries to warn their citizens about legal consequences of such trips. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: The extradition of Alexander Lapshin, who is engaged in propaganda of the separatist regime and made the anti-Azerbaijani calls during illegal trips to Nagorno-Karabakh, is a triumph of justice, Bahar Muradova, vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, told Trend Feb. 8. Lapshins extradition is a result of Azerbaijans policy, said Muradova adding that those who dont reckon with Azerbaijan and violates its laws may share blogger Lapshins fate. The vice-speaker added that the extradition of Alexander Lapshin is the collapse of circles that convince the public of the possibility of illegal visits to the occupied territories without taking into account the laws of Azerbaijan. Muradova noted that the step taken by Azerbaijan is a message to the illegal regime in Nagorno-Karabakh as well as to Armenia, which wants to be recognized as a democratic country, to the circles supporting Armenia, as well as to those who are going to act just as Lapshin. Commenting on the assessment by Armenias Foreign Ministry of Lapshins extradition as the violation of democracy and human rights, Muradova said that Armenia is the last country that can say anything on this matter. The vice-speaker says that Alexander Lapshins extradition is fully in line with international law agreements on interstate extradition. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Russian Ambassador Vladimir Dorokhin have discussed the case of the extradited blogger Alexander Lapshin, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend Feb. 8. The Foreign Ministry received notes from Russian and Israeli embassies on the issue. The meeting of Russian consul with Lapshin will be held on Feb. 9-10 in line with the Vienna convention. The embassy will have an opportunity to communicate with him, noted the Foreign Ministry. Technical issues will be addressed today. Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has already met with the Russian ambassador and the issue has been discussed. There are no obstacles. It was noted that Lapshins further fate will depend on completion of an investigation and a court decision. On Jan. 26, Alexei Stuk, deputy prosecutor general of Belarus, issued a ruling on Lapshins extradition to Azerbaijan. Later, the Minsk City Court upheld this decision. The Supreme Court of Belarus is the last instance Lapshin could appeal to against the ruling of the General Prosecutors Office. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. 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 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: Rector of Baku Higher School (BHOS) Elmar Gasimov met with the Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral. Gasimov welcomed the honorable guest and expressed his pleasure at meeting him at the Higher School. Speaking about close relations between two brotherly countries in all spheres including long-term cooperation in the field of education, Gasimov said that Azerbaijani youth takes keen interest in Turkey and there are many young people from Azerbaijan studying at universities in Turkey. The rector informed the ambassador about BHOS history, activities, attainments, latest developments, success achieved by the Higher School students and academic teaching staff, and the Higher School cooperation with Heriot-Watt University (Great Britain). He expressed an interest in developing closer bilateral relations between BHOS and higher educational institutions in Turkey. Gasimov also reported about activities initiated recently to establish cooperation of the Higher School with the Council of Higher Education of Turkey (YOK). The rector showed interest in establishment relations between BHOS and Middle East Technical University. He also invited the ambassador to visit the Higher School again and present a speech about Turkey. Ozoral expressed his gratitude to Gasimov for the warm reception and emphasized that he would provide all necessary support towards developing partnership relations between BHOS and Turkish universities. Speaking about close Azerbaijani-Turkish relations based on the One nation, two states principle, Ozoral spoke about diversified cooperation between two countries in all spheres including education. Further at the meeting, prospects of cooperation between the Baku Higher Oil School with YOK and conducting joint projects by BHOS and Turkish universities including student and teachers exchange programs were discussed. At the end of the meeting, the rector presented the Turkish ambassador with BHOS Honorable Guest diploma. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Elena Kosolapova Trend: Ambassador of Mexico to Azerbaijan Rodrigo Labardini met with the Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture Abbas Alasgarov, the embassy said in a message Feb. 8. Within the meeting Alasgarov told the ambassador about the Committee, its history, as well as its functions. He also spoke about the reconstruction and restoration works carried out in Azerbaijan in the last 10 years. The ambassador, in turn, provided his interlocutor with information about the capital of Mexico Mexico city, that currently has 21 million inhabitants. He also mentioned the last stages and peculiarities of the city building in Mexico. The diplomat stressed that the both countries could get reciprocal profit as a result from the collaboration between the bodies responsible for urbanization and architecture. The parties expressed wish to establish and develop bilateral links in the city building sphere. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: The World Bank (WB) and Turkeys Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation will sign a loan agreement for financing of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said in a message on its website Feb. 8. The signing ceremony will take place today, on Feb. 8, at 14:00 (GMT +3 hours), according to the message. Berat Albayrak, Turkish minister of energy and natural resources, will also take part in the signing ceremony. On Jan. 16, the WB and Azerbaijan signed a loan agreement and a guarantee agreement on the TANAP project. The loan agreement was signed by Mercy Tembon, the WB regional director for the South Caucasus, and Afgan Isayev, head of the Southern Gas Corridor CJSC. The guarantee agreement was signed by the Azerbaijani Finance Minister Samir Sharifov and Mercy Tembon. The WB allocated $400 million to Azerbaijan for the implementation of the project. The loan repayment period is 30 years and a grace period is five years. The cost of the TANAP project is $8.5 billion. TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The length of TANAP is 1,800 kilometers with the initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters. Around six billion cubic meters of the gas will be delivered to Turkey and the remaining volume will be supplied to Europe. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans-Adriatic Pipelines construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. TANAP shareholders are Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR (58 percent), BOTAS (30 percent) and BP (12 percent). --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 8 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The United Nations Security Council hosted a briefing of Petko Draganov, UN secretary general special representative, head of UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), in New York, said the UN News Centre. The Security Council has supported the efforts of the centre operating in Ashgabat since 2007 in the fight against terrorism, illicit drug-trafficking and in the sphere of water resources management, according to the report. The importance of using preventive diplomacy and mechanisms of early warning for peaceful settlement of disputes was also noted during the briefing. The UNRCCA helps the governments of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in increasing the potential on peaceful settlement of disputes and preventing conflicts through dialogue and international support. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Feb. 8 By Demir Azizov Trend: The total volume of investments of Uzbek insurers amounted to 867.547 billion soums ($1=3294.74 soums on Feb. 8) in 2016, that is, by 19.3 percent more compared to 2015, the countrys Finance Ministry told Trend Feb. 8. According to the ministry, a major part of the investments (86.3 percent) accounted for banking deposits and securities. The amount of deposits increased by 15.7 percent up to 390.1 billion soums, investments in securities - by 21.1 percent up to 358.754 billion soums, the ministry added. The investments made in the statutory funds of enterprises increased by 27.9 percent up to 60.599 billion soums, while in real estate by 30.9 percent up to 49.465 billion soums. Meanwhile, the amount of loans issued by insurers increased by 1.9 percent up to 7.105 billion soums, while the amount of other investments - by 4.8 percent up to 1.523 billion soums, the ministry said. The total investments of Uzbek insurers increased by 16.6 percent up to 727.135 billion soums in 2015. Currently, 26 insurance companies operate in Uzbekistan. HICKORY Speakers from both the academic and diplomatic fields shared their thoughts at an event Monday night at Patrick Beaver Library intended to give an international perspective on politics. Aaron Kohrs, a member of the Hickory International Council, said he set up the event in hopes of promoting a more constructive democratic discourse, particularly in light of the divisiveness of the 2016 presidential election. Lets peel the band-aid off of the political sore, Kohrs said. The objective of the evening was to create a place for people to come and just talk about things that are controversial while being also cordial, Kohrs said. The event included two main speakers, as well as closing remarks from HIC Chair Hani Nassar. The first speaker was Appalachian State Universitys Aleksander Lust, a political science professor, who gave a talk on the United Kingdoms 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Lust attributed the outcome of the vote both to short-term political miscalculations by Prime Minister David Cameron and a more deep-seated desire to preserve British sovereignty. However, the tensions within the EU go beyond just the United Kingdom, Lust said. Citing polling data of EU countries, Lust made the case that the EU is at a crossroads, in part because of dissatisfaction among many citizens of EU member nations with policies on issues like the handling of refugees and economics. The history of the EU and its predecessor organizations is one of expansion, both in terms of the number of member states as well as the scope of the EU's activities, Lust said. In many cases, when citizens have been allowed a vote on EU expansion or power increases, they have voted against it, Lust said. In Lusts view, there are two options available to the EU going forward. Either the EU can become more integrated to control issues like immigration, or it must give more authority to individual member states, Lust said. I very much hope that European elites will now finally realize that this is the moment of truth, Lust said, responding to an audience question about the future of the EU. That basically they have to stop pushing down peoples throats policies that they do not like. Following Lust, Florin Pindic-Blaj, a Moldovan consul who has had an office in Hickory since 1999, spoke of his own life experiences and the process of building a relationship with officials in North Carolina. Pindic-Blaj discusses his background running an underground Christian organization in Communist Romania, eventually leaving for Chicago in 1985 with his family. After the fall of communism, Pindic-Blaj said he returned to the region, eventually running orphanages in Moldova. In the late 1990s, Pindic-Blaj said he had a discussion with the then Moldovan president about establishing a presence in America. Pindic-Blaj said he advised the president to work with a state similar to Moldova, rather than going to Washington, D.C. Make relationship, partnership, Pindic-Blaj said, relaying his advice to the president. Build a bridge, and the people will walk on the bridge. In 1999, Pindic-Blaj said they established a consulate in Hickory through an agreement with the state of North Carolina. I say not hundreds, thousands of projects came from here from cultural, economic groups going there, medical, political, Pindic-Blaj said. Many Americans, including leading Republicans, were affronted by President Donald Trump's nonchalant response to Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly's characterization of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "killer." The Kremlin, for its part, demanded an apology from Fox -- and got a sarcastic reply from O'Reilly instead. Something that has fallen by the wayside in all these exchanges, though, is the question of how fair it is to call Putin a killer. It's not a trivial question. Putin is not a bloodthirsty, Stalin-like dictator. He has stubbornly resisted calls for the reinstitution of the death penalty in Russia, put on hold during the country's brief romance with Europe. "Experts do not believe tougher punishment leads to the eradication of crime or the lowering of crime rates," he said in 2013. On the other hand, it's hard to ignore that some of Putin's enemies and political opponents have turned up dead. The three most prominent murders that are commonly blamed on Putin in the West are those of politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015, journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006, and former intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko also in 2006. An official inquiry in Britain concluded it was likely that Putin was behind the assassination of Litvinenko, who was poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium-210. That's the closest anyone has come to pinning a murder on Putin. The KGB -- the organization that taught Putin most of what he knows about the world -- has a long tradition of assassinating "traitors," primarily defectors. In his memoir, Oleg Kalugin, a former KGB general, recalled an episode from his work in the U.S. under journalistic cover in the 1960s. His boss, the New York station chief, told him he'd propose to Moscow that Kalugin shoot Yury Nosenko, a high-level defector to the U.S.: "I hope you haven't neglected your target practice," he continued. "Can you still shoot? Would you be able to finish off the traitor at this meeting?" His question caught me off guard, but I quickly replied, "Of course I could." "We could get you out of it later, of course," he went on. "You know, swap you for a Western spy. So there's no need to worry." Kalugin was never asked to go through with the killing, but one can easily imagine KGB veteran Andrei Lugovoy, the man whom a British judge found guilty of poisoning Litvinenko, having a similar conversation with some important official in the KGB successor service, the FSB. Putin is on record as saying betrayal is, to him, the gravest possible sin; he once told a Moscow editor he was willing to tolerate and even respect an enemy but not a traitor. Litvinenko would qualify as a traitor by FSB standards: He publicly accused his former service of ordering him to kill oligarch Boris Berezovsky, the man who helped Putin win the presidency in 2000 but then became a staunch opponent. He also claimed, on sketchy evidence, that the KGB organized the 1999 bombings of apartment buildings in Moscow, which were officially blamed on terrorists from the separatist region of Chechnya. After fleeing Russia in 2000, Litvinenko depended on the largesse of Berezovsky, but also of British intelligence -- another red flag for the FSB. In the case of Politkovskaya, Russian courts have convicted the actual murderers, but failed to determine who had planned and ordered the contract killing. The same pattern has emerged in the Nemtsov case, in which the trial is to continue on Feb. 14. Yet, though both Politkovskaya and Nemtsov were outspoken critics of Putin, friends, colleagues and family have not accused him of ordering the assassinations. In both cases, there have been strong suggestions of the involvement of Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, installed by Putin to pacify the rebellious region. But despite clear ties between the convicted and accused killers and Kadyrov's inner circle, the Chechen leader has not been asked to testify at either trial. Kadyrov is a Putin appointee; and he enjoys such a special status in Putin's Russia that, it appears at times, Russian laws don't apply to Chechnya. Both Politkovskaya and Nemtsov harshly criticized the thin-skinned Chechen for his human rights abuses. It would, however, be unfair to ascribe crimes Kadyrov may have ordered or committed directly to Putin. The Russian leader is himself a hostage to the scheme he chose to end a decade-long war of secession in Chechnya. The corrupt and often ruthless system Putin has maintained in Russia is clearly a killer, and not just by dint of empowering people like Kadyrov. Since Putin came to power, 25 journalists were killed for work-related reasons. Many of them had been investigating corruption by Putin-appointed officials or exposing injustice by Putin's billionaire friends -- like Mikhail Beketov, the editor of a small paper in the Moscow suburbs that opposed a highway project led by Putin crony Arkady Rotenberg. Only three journalists have been murdered in the U.S. in the same period, and two of them were victims of a terror attack. People also suffer injuries when they come into contact with Russia's brutal and opaque law enforcement and justice systems. There are no official statistics on the number of people killed, beaten and tortured by police, but news reports of violent incidents are a daily reality. According to Rusebola.com, which attempts to collect independent statistics on inmate deaths in the Russian penal system, people died in Russian jails and prisons in Had these statistics existed in 2009, Sergei Magnitsky the tax lawyer whose death is often blamed on Putin, would have been included in them: A Kremlin human rights council determined that Magnitsky, who had been denied medical help, was beaten by eight prison guards shortly before his death. The degree of an authoritarian ruler's personal responsibility is higher than in a state with a working system of checks and balances. Such a country's interests inevitably merge with the ruler's interest in keeping power. So, compared to U.S. leaders, Putin must accept more personal responsibility for the victims of his policies, his adventures and his mistakes. That includes the people killed in terror attacks that followed his harsh actions in Chechnya, as well as the many deaths resulting from his support of Ukrainian separatists and President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. To call Putin a killer, though, is to reduce Russia's problems to the size of Putin's compact body. The system he has built will likely still be there long after he is gone, and it will keep killing, even if Russia's next leader makes an attempt at liberalization. Bershidsky is a Bloomberg View columnist. He was the founding editor of the Russian business daily Vedomosti and founded the opinion website Slon.ru. NEWTON The City of Newtons residents could be facing significant changes if the city council agrees to adopt changes to the current Code of Ordinances, presented Tuesday evening. Police Chief Brown explained proposed changes in a presentation. City Manager E. Todd Clark said issues relating to the keeping of livestock within city limits have caused staff to review the ordinances. The ordinance can be traced back to the early 1970s Clark said, and the revision does constitute some significant changes. There are several entries in the new ordinance intended to clarify and better define subjects such as the terms livestock and pasture. According to the newly proposed definition of livestock, animals included are equine, bovine, sheep, goats, and llamas. The new definition would not include swine. The proposed definition of pasture for the ordinance would mean a fenced area with sufficient grass for grazing of not less than one and one half acre, Brown said. Of the changes proposed, the first Brown presented is the removal of permit fees for dog owners. In my 29 years here, we have never enforced permit fees for domestic animals, Brown said. Currently, the ordinance states permit fees shall be paid by the dog owners at the office of the city clerk not later than Jan. 31 of each year, or 40 days from the date of acquisition of each dog. The next proposed change suggested changing current regulations to forbid livestock owners to allow animals to graze on any tract of land within 50 feet from the property line on all sides. Previously the ordinance stated within 50 feet of any dwelling or street. The new ordinance also suggests each larger livestock, such as a cow or horse must have a minimum pasture area of one and one-half acre, with a required one acre per additional animal. Smaller livestock such as sheep and goats must have a minimum pasture size of one-fourth acre. The pasture fencing would also be required to be at least 50 feet from the nearest property line on all sides. The issues that caused the ordinance discussion involved an individual who owns land in the city limits and has kept animals close to the property line causing neighbors to complain, Clark said. City Council Member Wes Weaver voiced his disproval with the proposed ordinance. When you buy a house, you know where you move. You know if there are cows next door. I am not moving forward with this; it is way too restrictive and I cannot support it, Weaver said. Another significant change to the ordinance would call for the prohibition of all swine within city limits. This would include animals kept as pets such as potbelly pigs or any other type of Sus scrofa domesticus, or domestic pig. Council members decided to table the discussion in order to research the ordinance and proposed changes. Potentially, residents within the city who are not in compliance with the new ordinance, if it were to be accepted, could be grandfathered in to the old ordinance, City Attorney John Cilley said. The new ordinance could potentially require landowners to place fences closer in on property lines, ban the possession of swine and require specific amounts of land for livestock owners. The next city council meeting is Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at Newton City Hall. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Feb. 8 By Demir Azizov Trend: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev by his decree has approved the action strategy on priority areas of the countrys development for 2017-2021, the Uzbek media reported Feb. 8. The action strategy will be implemented in five stages, and each stage provides for approval of a separate annual state program on the strategys implementation in Uzbekistan, according to the decree. The strategy includes five priority areas, and the first one envisages improvement of state and social construction, strengthening the role of the Uzbek parliament in modernization of the country, development of the institutional framework of the state administration, reduction of state regulation of the economy, strengthening the role of civil society institutions and the media. The strategy also envisages reformation of the Uzbek judicial system, it is proposed to strengthen the genuine independence of the judicial power and the guarantee of protection of the rights and freedoms of the countrys citizens, development and liberalization of the Uzbek economy, development of the social sphere. Ensuring security, inter-ethnic harmony and religious tolerance, implementation of balanced, mutually beneficial and constructive foreign policy aimed at strengthening the independence and sovereignty of the state, creation of a security belt around Uzbekistan, stability and good neighborly relations, promotion of a positive image of the country abroad is also the most important direction of the strategy. Since my first visit to Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) more than two decades ago, relations between India and the United States have steadily improved and have become one of the most important relationships in world affairs. There is so much that our two great democratic nations share in common, and it is of great satisfaction to see that we have overcome previous difficulties and have forged a truly comprehensive and strategic relationship which is important for peace, stability, and security in the India-Asia region, and indeed in the world. I will be looking into Sino-American relations, and the rising US-China strategic competition in the region this is a subject that definitely bears on India-US ties. The relationship between India and the US must be built on its own merits, and not as a tactical or strategic expedient. This includes in the security/defence sphere where there are a wide range of complementary strategic and security interests between our two countries, and it therefore needs to have a broad-based foundation. Read | What the next India-China war might look like But it is certainly the case that our mutual concern about Chinas expanding footprint in Asia is one of our important commonalities. Chinas expanding footprint certainly includes its military capabilities its naval surface/sub-surface fleet and growing area of operation (AOR), its ballistic and cruise missile capabilities, its cyber warfare capabilities, its improved airlift capabilities, and the PLAs doctrine to develop expeditionary force capabilities over time. These are all realities of growing Chinese military power and they are realities for both the US and India. And these Chinese capabilities are to some extent driving the strategic and defence cooperation between our two countries. But it would be a mistake to anchor our bilateral or multilateral security cooperation on the China Factor alone we need to have a broad-based India-US security relationship just as we need to have a broad-based ties in general (diplomatically, commercially, educationally, culturally, in science and technology, and other spheres). Similarly, when we look at Chinas position in Asia, we need to view it broadly, and not simply through the security lens. We need to view Chinas entire diplomatic, commercial, and soft power efforts too. This includes understanding the potential significance of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, which is far more than an initiative to build infrastructure. It is very much an initiative to expand Chinas geostrategic and geo-economic influence. Read | What will US President Donald Trumps Asia policy look like Viewed from Washington, it has been increasingly difficult to find equilibrium in relations with Beijing much less a positive narrative and trajectory into the future. And this was pre-Trump. We are into entirely new territory now with the new US president and administration. All signs are that the Trump administration is going to become much more confrontational towards China. This will have the net effect of not only dramatically worsening US-China relations, but also severely straining relations between virtually every Asian state that has tried to balance its ties between China and the US. Few Asian states wish to choose one power over the other. As the Trump administration confronts China, we likely are going to see a number of states in Southeast Asia cease their equidistant balancing behaviour and will increasingly tilt towards China. In South Asia, my impression is that we see similar trends to Southeast Asia. Some countries are being successfully co-opted by Beijing (Bangladesh and Nepal). One shows discomfort with Chinas suffocating embrace (Sri Lanka). One tilts strongly towards China, but at the same time maintaining significant ties with the US, Pakistan I do not think its entirely accurate to describe Pakistan as being completely in Chinas pocket. I also think the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (part of the OBOR) will encounter significant difficulties in being realised. Read | Will Donald Trump listen to Ashley Tellis advice on India and China In the case of India, we see a strong strategic tilt towards the US while attempting to maintain a modicum of normalcy in diplomatic, commercial, and cultural relations with China. Other nations Japan, Singapore, Australia, and India in particular will likely solidify their ties to the US and with each other. They have no desire to drift into Chinas orbit. This will prove a strong counter-current to other states that draw closer to China. This will lead to an increased polarisation of Asia. Much depends, though, on the Trump administration and how it approaches the region. If is confronts China without parallel efforts to reassure the region, it could end up seriously damaging Americas strategic position. At such a fluid time, it is highly important that Americas allies and strategic partners make their voices heard in Washington. (This article is an abridged version of a speech delivered at the Institute of Defence Studies & Analyses, New Delhi) David Shambaugh is distinguished visiting professor at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore The views expressed are personal Three uncles of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav have been at the centre of his political life in the last five years, including the period of the Samajwadi Party family feud. Having taken over the party after the feud, Akhilesh has stepped out of father Mulayam Singh Yadavs shadow to emerge as a leader in his own right. There has also been a sea change in the status of the three uncles who have governed his political life to such an extent. So, where does the trio chacha Shivpal Yadav, uncle Amar Singh and favourite uncle Ramgopal Yadav stand today, and what will be their future? A look: Shivpal Singh Yadav (Status: Cut down to size) The past The Yadav family feud has its origin in a statement made by Shivpal on August 14, 2016, wherein he threatened to resign because a conspiracy was being hatched against him. The next day, during an Independence Day event held at the party headquarters in Lucknow, Mulayam Singh Yadav who was then the party supremo sided with Shivpal. However, it is believed that Shivpal has been unhappy since March 2012, when Akhilesh was appointed chief minister at Ramgopals insistence. Insiders say he covertly wanted to become the chief minister, but kept mooting Mulayams name for appearances sake. Shivpal Yadav (PTI) The present Shivpal, who vociferously threatened to quit on August 14, did not do so even after Akhilesh sacked him from the post of state unit chief, omitted him from the partys list of star campaigners, and relegated him only to his constituency Jaswant Nagar. Reduced to being a political loner, he had nobody other than Mulayam as his star campaigner. The future After Shivpal filed his nomination on a Samajwadi Party ticket from Jaswant Nagar on January 31, he threatened to float a new party after the elections. But from what Mulayam said on February 6, and Akhileshs comment the next day, it seems as if Shivpal will stay put in the party. He (Shivpal) did not mean what he had said. He must have said it in anger, said Mulayam. His son, on the other hand, wondered how Shivpal will be in the government if he floats a new party hinting magnanimously that his estranged uncle would be inducted in his cabinet if the party comes to power again. Amar Singh (Status: Persona non grata) The past Amar Singh was thrown out of the party, and even worked against it ahead of the Samajwadi Partys victory in the 2012 assembly election. However, owing to his rapport with Shivpal and Mulayam, he was re-inducted into the party last year. Amar sided with the Mulayam-Shivpal team when the family feud became intense, and all the while, Mulayam kept upgrading his position in the Samajwadi ranks. He was first made a Rajya Sabha member, then the partys national general secretary and, finally, a parliamentary board member. Amar held his ground till Akhilesh expelled him from the party on January 1. Amar Singh (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO) The present Though Amar initially made some remarks on Akhilesh, he has now retreated into complete silence. The future The political future of the veteran politician, who once said that he hates to be ignored at a press conference with Shivpal, seems very uncertain. Akhilesh, however, appears to be softening his stance on him at least in public. Though the chief minister had vowed never to call Amar uncle again, he began addressing him with the title again a few weeks ago. You will see that uncle loves us all, said Akhilesh. Ramgopal Yadav (Status: Chanakya forever) The past Like Shivpal, Ramgopal has been with Mulayam for four decades now. Known as the partys chief strategist, Ramgopal assumed the role of Chanakya for Akhilesh during the family feud. He is described as the chief architect of the coup that resulted in Akhilesh taking the reins of the party. Meanwhile, Mulayam is yet to show any sign of forgiving Ramgopal. He doesnt even take his brothers name anymore. The former party chief had sacked him from the national general secretarys post in December-January. However, since the party is now in Akhileshs control, Ramgopal continues to occupy the position. Ramgopal Yadav (File Photo) The present Ramgopal seems to be keeping a low profile. He is not seen with anyone, be it Akhilesh or any of the top leaders in his camp. But he is strategising Akhileshs road ahead, just as he did for Mulayam over the decades. The future Ramgopal is indispensable, and will probably remain so, for the Samajwadi Partys future. Read more: Mulayam does a U-turn, will campaign for son Akhilesh as UP election heats up SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BJP on Wednesday made a fresh demand before the Election Commission for removal of the UP chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) to ensure free and fair polling and sought action against BSP and Congress for raising casteist issues. A BJP delegation met chief election commissioner Naseem Zaidi in Lucknow and demanded the removal of chief secretary Rahul Bhatnagar and DGP Javeed Ahmed, party leader Kuldeep Pati Tripathi said. On February 6, a BJP delegation had urged the Election Commission in New Delhi to immediately remove the chief secretary and the DGP accusing them of partisan conduct. The delegation had submitted a memorandum, alleging that Ahmed was close to the ruling Samajwadi Party and hence his continued presence as the DGP will seriously jeopardise the conduct of free and fair elections. The BJP delegation which met Zaidi in Lucknow also said that despite earlier complaints, no action has yet been taken against BSP and Congress which have made casteist comments, defying the SC directives, he said. He said the party has also demanded proper arrangements so that all those who allegedly migrated from Kairana come back and take part in the polling process. BJP has called for a mechanism to ensure 100 per cent polling by army personnel, CPMF and others employed in the private sector who miss out on voting. The CEC assured that their demands will be looked into, he said. Delegations of other political parties including BSP, CPI, CPM, Congress, RLD and Samajwadi Party also met the Zaidi. Yesterday, I was in Uttar Pradeshs Jatland. Today, I take you into the famous turf known in common parlance as Yadav land. Ramgopal Yadavs son Akshay Yadav represents the area but the debate is not about Yadavs, nor UPs Yadav family. Its here that we talk about a city of hope and the discussions that are taken up before polls. It would be apt to clarify here that theories of a Jatland and Yadav land were central to the analyses of bygone journalists. If the Yadavs are dominant, its not to say that the identity of other backward castes (OBCs) is suppressed in any way. The Lodhs and the Kurmis are not averse to taking the fight to the Yadavs in the same way that Jatavs and Dalits are prone to split into camps and add up the numbers against the lead caste. It is in this welter of caste and religion that Mulayam Singh Yadav crafted his own separate identity. Its the same cauldron that is now being reworked by Akhilesh Yadav to give politics a new dimension. The BJP too, has prepared well to take on his might. Firozabad in this arc is the town known to all married women round the country. The famed, colourful bangles of the place once decorated every bazaar in the country, as here, but cheaper Chinese substitutes now outshine them. The question before industrialists is how they have reconciled to the trend where the local industry finds itself totally compromised. Part I | From the heartland : Caste, religion and Muzaffarnagar model of politics We feel hopeless. Being in the Taj zone, the coal based glass smelting ovens have already been banned. Public representatives had promised they would help us get cheaper gas, but that did not happen, said one. Do they feel insecure about their future? No, its not that, is the reply. But how can one not feeling insecure, be worried about security? I talk to a group of women who say that the Akhilesh government has set up women helpline 1090 and police control room (No: 100) to help in an emergency, but the cops dont work. Another woman said, Criminals rode away in my car in front of me. I phoned 100. The cops did come, did some paper work and went away, never to be heard of again. A professor in a womens degree college said that students face problems in commuting to college and back. Thugs harass them. Principal of Ismail College in Meerut had mentioned that women students had to be sent back by 3pm so that they could be back home before nightfall. The problem is the same in all intermediate cities of UP. Ask whether this has been the case since this government came to power and they say No. The problems of women have remained the same under any dispensation. It does not have to do with this or that government, they add. The industrial city of Firozabad is made of mixed population. But as in Meerut, minorities complained that there were no schools, dispensaries or ATMs in their areas. Ask whether traditionally Hindu majority areas are better served and they say, Yes, definitely. Those who answered were all Hindus. However, it is the situation of the working class that is the most deplorable here. Typhoid sweeps the town -- its victims mainly from this class. The mushrooming shovels and shanties amid huge garbage litters and stinking and overflowing drains all around, at once shocks and repels. Children play around--a painful scene--unmindful of the filth. You do not have to take to the by lanes of the town to witness it -- just take the train and the situation that strikes you on both flanks of the railway virtually stuns. The ocean of utter poverty and helplessness is enough to churn ones guts. Nobody notices it, much less the politicians. But there was one example of charity that stood out. A few moneyed people have come together to start a trauma centre, at which, for a fee of Rs 50 one can avail of specialist services. CT scan, pathology and X-ray services are available at half the normal rates. Even drugs are much cheaper and the way doctors tackle huge queues of health seekers with so much patience, is a sight to behold. That holds out hope. However, the state of the poor is the same everywhere. The middle class is as constrained. The older parts of the city are anyway a garbage dump and the situation is now worst confounded. Its hell. Huge traffic jams, polluting agents all around and huge scarcity of drinking water is a huge concern. People complained that politicians promise that water would be supplied from the nearby Kijeda lake at election time but its forgotten till the next. Agra is the nearest big town, where people once converted to Buddhism in huge numbers, impressed by Ambedkar and later turned Bahujan Samaj Party into a potent political force to reckon with. The contours of a triangular contest has emerged here with polarisation of Muslims, forwards and neutral youth who would matter. Tomorrow I will take you to Aligarh, which alternated between the vortex of riots and flooding due to accumulation of rainwater, but never gave up its fight to remain within civilisation. (Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Translated from the original Hindi.) (The author tweets @shekharkahin) The Nehru-Gandhi family bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh is on the brink of a queen-size electoral battle in which two residents of Bhupati Bhavan, the royal home of its erstwhile ruling family, are set to be pitted against each other. Garima Singh, the estranged wife of Congress Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, is already in the fray as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from the Amethi assembly seat. Sanjay Singh is the scion of the royal family here and known popularly as the Raja of Amethi. Sanjay Singhs wife Rani Amita Singh is set to file her nomination as a Congress candidate from the same seat on Thursday. Garima Singh, who stayed away from Amethi for many years because of her estrangement from her husband, has not spoken much so far. She returned to the palace with her son Anant Vikram Singh and two daughters a few months after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. But, she has remained away from the public glare. Her silence appears to be working as her main strength now. We look towards the royal palace for directions on important issues. As two ranis will contest the poll against each other, its going to be a difficult situation for all of us. We know Rani Garima Singh is fighting for her rights in the palace. So, she has a lot of public sympathy, a fruit vendor, who did not want to be named, said. Amita Singh, who has represented the constituency in the past and lost the 2012 assembly election to UP minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, has been the peoples link to the royal house over the years with her husband. She has developed a strong network and consistently worked in the constituency. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are allies, a factor that normally would have worked in her favour. But the battle will not be an easy one as Prajapati is the sitting MLA from the seat and the anti-incumbency factor may be working against him. Besides taking on Prajapati and other candidates, Amita Singh may have to counter the sympathy that Garima Singh may generate in her favour during the campaign. All our relatives are reaching Amethi to join my mothers campaign but they are not being allowed inside the palace. Anybody entering the palace has to go through many levels of security checks. This is a big hindrance, Garima Singhs son and BJP leader Anant Vikram Singh said. If Amita Singh fights the poll against Prajapati, the division of votes may work in favour of her adversaries. Any alliance may work on 402 out of 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. But, in Amethi, the people decide votes on the basis of the candidate. The SPs votes will not be transferred to the Congress if the party gets to contest the seat. The Congress voters will not be transferred to the SP if Prajapati contests the poll as a candidate of the alliance, Sadashiv Pandey, an Amethi-based lawyer, said. Infighting is being witnessed in the Amethi royal house now. But Rani Garima Singh is contesting the election for the first time and this may work to her advantage, he added. Sanjay Singh and Amita Singh were not available for comment. Polling will be held in seven phases in the state on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and March 4 and 8 and the votes will be counted on March 11. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress vowed to enact a new law aimed at checking hate crimes in its election manifesto released for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls on Wednesday. The document promised stringent punishment to those causing discord on the basis of caste, gender and religion, besides comprehensive law enforcement reforms and the establishment of three all-women police stations in every district. We shall follow the guidelines set by the Supreme Court vis-a-vis the Prakash Singh and others versus the Union of India case for overhauling the police administration, said Uttar Pradeshs All India Congress Committee general secretary (in-charge) Ghulam Nabi Azad, while releasing the manifesto at an event held in the state capital. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Raj Babbar, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and senior leader Salman Khursheed were also present on the occasion. The Congress focus on policing-related issues gains significance in the backdrop of the BJPs attacks against the Samajwadi Party for failing to alleviate the states deteriorating law-and-order situation. The Congress is contesting the election in alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. Other promises made in the manifesto include forcing the Centre to issue loan waivers to farmers, cutting their electricity bills to half, instituting intercity superfast trains, constructing special parallel roads for kanvariyas (pilgrims) and rationalisation of taxes. We will fulfill the promises we make, said Azad, after releasing the manifesto. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Arunoday Singh has just returned from his road trip to Goa with wife Lee Elton and their dogs. Arunoday, who has appeared in films like Aisha, Mohenjodaro and Jism 2, posted pictures of his trip on Instagram. There are pics of them by the beach, in car with the dogs and exploring local pottery barns. Check them out: Last day at the beach before heading back to Mumbai #beachbums #goa #love A photo posted by LeeAnna Singh (@lilleesingh) on Feb 6, 2017 at 7:23am PST Early Morning walks with the Branch Manager. A photo posted by Arunoday Singh (@sufisoul) on Jan 31, 2017 at 10:25pm PST Babewatch A photo posted by Arunoday Singh (@sufisoul) on Feb 6, 2017 at 7:55am PST My favorite ceiling in any shop I have ever been to, in any city, in any country. Goa Pottery, Bicholim. A photo posted by Arunoday Singh (@sufisoul) on Feb 6, 2017 at 8:01am PST Sleeping babies #roadtrippin #dogs @sufisoul A video posted by LeeAnna Singh (@lilleesingh) on Feb 7, 2017 at 12:11am PST Beach bum #selfie #beach #picoftheday A photo posted by LeeAnna Singh (@lilleesingh) on Feb 3, 2017 at 7:45am PST Arunoday met Lee while shooting for Aisha (2010) and they got married in December last year. The wedding ceremony was held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Lee owns a cafe in Goa. Follow @htshowbiz for more Director Ayan Mukerji has revealed that his upcoming romantic-fantasy film with Ranbir Kapoor will feature the actor in the role of a man whose special powers are in the form of fire. This is the third collaboration between Ayan and Ranbir after the duo worked together in Wake Up Sid and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. The upcoming film, also starring Alia Bhatt, has been tentatively titled Dragon. Director Ayan Mukherji during the premiere of film Lion in Mumbai. (IANS) I have not locked the title yet. Dragon is just the tentative title. It was called Dragon because in the film, the boy has connection with fire. It is his power. The guy has a mystical connection with fire. So, I called it Dragon. Theres something I like about the word, Ayan told reporters on Tuesday. Ranbir, who is currently shooting the Sanjay Dutt biopic, is expected to start filming Ayans film in August. The director said that the actor will have to go to extra lengths for the film. Ranbir will have to put a lot of extra efforts for the movie. Theres so much stuff in the film like action, dance, movements... I hope he is going to do a lot in the film. He was speaking at the Indian premiere of Moonlight organised by Jio MAMI Film Club with Star in association with Vkaao and PVR Pictures. The screening was also attended by Kiran Rao, Kabir Khan, Rajkummar Rao, Sayani Gupta and Shruti Seth among others. Follow @htshowbiz for more Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Feb. 8 By Demir Azizov Trend: Kuwaits Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received Feb. 8 an Uzbek delegation led by the countrys Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov that has arrived in Kuwait for an official visit, the press service of Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry said in a message. Abdulaziz Kamilov conveyed the greetings and best wishes of Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the leadership of Kuwait, according to the message. During the meeting, the Uzbek foreign minister and Kuwaiti prime minister discussed the current state and prospects of further development of bilateral relations, particularly, in the trade, economic and investment spheres. The Uzbek delegation is also expected to have meetings with Kuwaits First Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Muhammad Al-Ghanim. An Uzbek-Kuwaiti business forum with participation of the two countries businessmen will also be held during the visit. Following the forum, it is planned to sign several documents aimed at further development of bilateral cooperation in the spheres of investment, education and scientific researches. A sunny morning in Jammu became brighter as Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut landed at the airport on Tuesday to meet and greet the jawans of BSF Frontier Headquarter Jammu. From passengers to security personnel, everyone seemed excited to see the Queen actor there. Wearing an olive green sweater and striped skirt, Kangana was welcomed by officers with a bouquet. Before getting into her car, the 29-year-old star obliged fans with selfies. Her entry at the Headquarter was grand and to the BSF band music.Its been an experience of a lifetime to visit you all here. Im excited to be able to spend time with the real-life heroes, said Kangana, who was there to promote her upcoming film, Rangoon, which has the World War II as its backdrop. Interacting with families of the soldiers, the actor thanked their wives for their courage. We all are inspired by your courage. How difficult it must be to let your husbands fight it out at the borders given the life risk, said Kangana, who went about the camp in a gypsy, met school kids, visited the BSF Memorial, and took part in a cultural activity with the soldiers. She even danced and sang songs from her films. Kangana also spoke about many of her Bollywood colleagues, Anushka Sharma and Priyanka Chopra, being from an army background. Kangana went about the campus in a gypsy. (Shreya Mukherjee/HT Photo) Senior Medical Officer, Dr Pallavi Sharma, Deputy Commandant, who accompanied Kangana during the day was happy to be around the star. Kangana is one of my favourite actors. Ive seen her films such as Queen and Tanu Weds Manu. I really enjoyed meeting her, said Sharma. Talking about yesteryear actors visiting the soldiers in their days, Kangana said: Ive heard how Meena Kumari ji and Nargis ji used to interact with the soldiers. The purpose was to thank them for their contribution and further inspire them. That culture suddenly ended. While working on the film, I got to know so much about the jawans. So it was my idea that we visit the BSF to promote the film. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistans ban on Bollywood thriller Raees sparked a social media backlash Wednesday, after the film featuring Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan was denounced for portraying Muslims as terrorists. The government decision to bar the 2017 action film came after Pakistani cinemas lifted their own ban on Indian films. Bollywood movies and Khan in particular are immensely popular in Pakistan and the film also stars a leading Pakistani actress, Mahira Khan. But the industry has become a political battleground amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed states in the disputed Kashmir region. The film portrays Muslims as terrorists and violent people, Mubahsar Hassan, chairman of the Pakistan Film Censor Board, told AFP. A second official complained about the comparison between Muslims and Hindus. This film gave a message that all Muslims do bad things and are involved in crimes while Hindus are gentlemen and they stop them from the dirty work, he told AFP on condition of anonymity. But fans dismissed the concerns, with many arguing that art can be about politics but politics should have no place in art. This ban on #Raees is an example of the kind of absurdities Pakistans moral crusaders and grovelling bureaucrats can attain on their own, tweeted Pakistani film maker and journalist Hasan Zaidi. Ban on Indian movie Raees is a ban on #Mahira for her barely acting debut. Why Pak censor boards hate Mahira so much? said writer Haji S Pasha. Some, however, backed the censors. Yasmeen Ali, a lawyer and univeristy professor, wrote, I support the ban on #Raees owing to showing muslims of a particular sect of Islam conducting heinous crimes and being terrorists. Pakistani cinemas last October announced a ban on Indian films following strained relations between Islamabad and Delhi, lifting it only last month. For its part, the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association banned Pakistani actors and technicians from working on Bollywood sets after last years tensions. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain seven decades ago, two of them over Kashmir. The Pakistani censor board officials said other Bollywood films such as Kaabil and Ae Dil hai Mushkil can still be shown as they do not contain objectionable content. With a view to promote digital transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working to reduce the Marginal Discount Charges (MDR) for debit card transactions above Rs 2,000, Parliament was told on Tuesday. The RBI is deciding on this... it is work in progress. I am sure as volumes (of digital transactions) are increasing, the charges will come down, the finance minister Arun Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour. Jaitley said that under the Payments and Settlements Act, the RBI has recently fixed the MDR rate at 0.25% for cash transactions up to Rs 1,000, while for transactions up to Rs 2,000 it has been fixed at 0.50%. These charges have been introduced for the period from January 1, 2017, and will be applicable till March 31, 2017. As per the RBIs rate structure announced in 2012, the MDR for transactions valued above Rs 2,000 has been capped 1%. Read | Govt app, e-wallet get preference over Paytm, others in Union budget 2017 In response to another question, Jaitley described how the crucial decision on demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes was taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board at a days notice. He said while the formal decision on demonetisation was taken by the RBI on November 8, this had been preceded by a series of discussions started in February 2016. Last month, RBI governor Urjit Patel told a Parliamentary Committee that the apex bank had been advised by the government on November 7 to hold a board meeting on the issue. Read | Budget 2017: Govt pushes for digital economy but no substantial tax breaks The demonetisation decision was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 following a meeting of the RBI board and also of the Union Cabinet. To a separate question on whether it was the RBI that took the decision on its own or whether the government advised it to do so, Jaitley replied: The RBI board met and independently applied its mind and made a recommendation to the government. A formal proposal to the RBI to consider this matter in the Board is sent by the Finance Ministry to the RBI Board and RBI independently considers it, applies its mind and accordingly makes its recommendation to the government. American electric car-maker Tesla might launch its first electric car model in India this summer. The companys CEO Elon Musk, in reply to a question about the companys entry into India in a Twitter conversation, said that he was hoping to hit the subcontinent this summer. However, he didnt disclose any other details. On Twitter, Ishan Goel with handle @goel_ishan asked Musk Eagerly waiting for Tesla to launch in India. Any plans to do it? If so then When? This means that existing car manufacturers in India, both foreign and domestic, have to ramp up their efforts to produce more electric cars in order to compete with Tesla. However, the entry price of the Tesla model will play an important role in this case. @elonmusk eagerly waiting for Tesla to launch in India. Any plans to do it? If so then WHEN? Ishan Goel (@goel_ishan) February 7, 2017 Tesla had shown interest in bringing cars to India last year by allowing consumers to pre-book the Tesla Model 3 which comes at a starting price tag of $35,000. A straight conversion would take the value of the Model 3 to Rs 23 lakhs but this may not be the final price of the Model 3 as the Indian edition might add or delete features according to market dynamics. Read: At Rs 37 lakh, Tesla Model 3 could actually race well in India Musk had earlier confirmed that consumers who, when and if, do buy the Model 3 will have no problems of charging the car as the Indian edition will come with a India-specific supercharger network. Superchargers have the ability to charge Tesla cars from 0 to 100 percent in roughly 75 minutes and are currently offered free of cost to those who own Tesla cars. However, its unclear whether the network will be free for Model 3 owners in India. Teslas Model 3 sedan. (AP) The CEO had also revealed plans for manufacturing operations with Gigafactory installations in India apart from some other countries due to high demand for its batteries and by looking at long-term view of his business. But this might take a little more time to start depending on Teslas entry time frame and popularity in the country. Read: Almost 400,000 orders for Tesla Model 3, says surprised Elon Musk However, there is some scope for it to work out in the end as a Gigafactory installation may work in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision to generate 175 Gigawatts of clean energy by 2022 for the country. Earlier news reports also indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was impressed with Teslas electricity storage technology after touring the companys campus during his visit to US. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for his demonetisation decision, and seemingly compared him to Bollywood villain Gabbar Singh. If you (Modi) want, you can arrest us all. We dont care. The situation is like threatening kids by telling them to keep shut, or else Gabbar Singh will come, said Banerjee, speaking on the governors address at the state assembly on Wednesday. Mamata, however, did not name any leader. After the announcement of demonetisation, the Bengal CM has repeatedly attacked Modi, alleging that his decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes have only hurt the poor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on November 8 last year the governments decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes, in a move aimed at tackling black money. Recently, I read in newspaper reports, that all our party leaders will be arrested in days to come. We are not afraid of such threats, Banerjee said. Are all your leaders (BJP) white and the rest of us are black! The people of the country have never witnessed such a government, she said. BJP leaders, including state president Dilip Ghosh, had said on Monday that other Trinamool Congress leaders will be arrested by the CBI in the chit fund scam after the conclusion of assembly elections in five states. Modi, in his first defence of currency recall in Parliament, compared demonetisation to fight tax evasion and illicit wealth with surgery on a human body. When can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. The economy was doing well and thus our decision was taken at the right time, a combative Modi said, peppering his speech with stinging attacks on Opposition. The Bengal chief minister has also alleged that the arrest of her party MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay in January this year and Tapas Pal the month before in the Rose Valley scam is also a fallout of the opposition that her party put up around the country. TMC MPs demonstrated in front of Parliament last week and marched towards the Prime Ministers residence when police intercepted them. Gabbar Singh, the villain from Bollywood movie Sholay, has acquired a legendary status since the films released in 1975. The dialogue -- pachas kos door gaanw me jab bachcha raat ko rota hai, toh maa kehti hai beta soja ..soja nahi to Gabbar Singh aa jaayega (When babies cry at night in villages fifty miles away, their mother says sleep or else Gabbar Singh will come), -- has become a part of the folklore. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In her first faculty meeting in 1998 at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as a young assistant professor, Ayesha Kidwai was vociferous in her disagreement over various issues. For Kidwai, a professor of linguistics, the freedom to dissent without fear was the greatest gift in JNU. JNU gave you a sense of freedom. You could dissent as a young faculty member against senior professors, administration and the vice-chancellor without facing any hostility. You didnt have to be a yes man, says Kidwai. But in 2017, a year after anti-national slogans were allegedly raised in the campus on February 9, 2016, leading to a debate on free speech, things are not the same. Following the incident, three students were arrested and the university was branded as anti-national leading to protests. Teachers and students now allege they are under constant surveillance and fear of action looms large. Today that freedom is fading. Nobody knows what case will be picked up against you. A video of Nivedita Menon, a senior professor, was shown in the AC meeting without her consent and it was made as a basis to conduct an inquiry against her, she said. Crisis after crisis The university has remained turbulent since last year. First, there were protests against the V-C M Jagadesh Kumar over punishments given to students involved in the February 9 incident, then came the case of missing student Najeeb Ahmad and then protests against adoption of UGC regulations changing JNUs admission policy. We are facing different issues one after another but what has remained constant is the administrations apathetic attitude. JNUs character where students from most marginalized section come and study safely is getting destroyed, said Mohit Pandey, president JNU students union. Officials say this is the result of breakdown of communication. Many in the faculty and administration think the V-C is not able to handle university level issues. There is complete communication gap. You cannot criminalise your own students for protesting, an official said on condition of anonymity. Anuradha Chenoy, dean School of International Studies, said, Its not as if there were no disagreements under previous V-Cs but communication channels were kept open. The V-C would look into demands and sort issues out. But now this does not exist, she said. However, Kumar told HT that he has been continuously communicating with students and respects their right to protest. There is no question of curbing freedom of expression but students should also protest within legal limits, said Kumar, who took over on January 27, 2016. Amid all this, JNU was identified as the best central university for the Visitors Award this year to be given by President Pranab Mukherjee on March 6. We received this award for excellence in academics. Our representatives are those students who study in library and not the ones who protest, Registrar Pramod Kumar said. Notice Raj Thats the name students have given to the current administration. I have lost count of the number of show cause notices I have received. In 2016 end I received a show cause notice for participating in a documentary screening in 2015, said Rama Naga, former general secretary of JNU students union. Recently, the university came under fire for issuing notice to at least five faculty members warning them of disciplinary action over addressing students at the Administration Block. An inquiry has also been constituted into cases of violation of university rules by the faculty members after some of them expressed solidarity with a group of students. It has never happened in the history of JNU that teachers received notices for addressing students on campus, said CP Chandrasekhar, dean, School of Social Sciences. However, not everyone agrees these allegations. Ramnath Jha, who teaches at Special Center for Sanskrit Studies, said it is only a handful of students and teachers who are busy in opposing everything. Serious teachers and students have no concern with these issues. Everyone should honour administration rules. We follow the rules and expect the same from others. If we dont follow rules then there will be anarchy, he said. Attack on free speech Students and teachers allege that the university is under attack. They claim that first it was the students who were targeted and now it is the teachers. Sachidanand Kumar, former JNUTA president, said the administration is trying to curb the voice of dissent by creating fear among students and teachers. There is a general atmosphere of fear. These notices are a tactic to scare others. This is how universities are destroyed, he said adding that teachers and students are determined to fight back. However, other faculty members point out that the protest against the administration is being stirred by those who will be impacted by the positive steps being taken by the V-C. Some teachers supported students who indulged in anti-national activities. The same teachers and students now oppose everything the V-C does simply because it will unsettle the comfortable positions they have been in, said Hariram Mishra, assistant professor at Center for Sanskrit Studies. Banning protests JNU is synonymous with protests and dharna. For years the Administrative Building was the site where agitating students gathered and raised slogans. After February 9 the spot started being referred to as Freedom Square. It became the rallying point where Kanhaiya Kumar gave his now famous Azaadi speech and a lecture series by teachers was held. But late December, students were in for a shock when they found grills at two spots near Administration Block. The university banned all protests within 20 metres of the building. The stairs leading to the V-C office, where hundreds of students had sat during protests, was covered with flower pots. The registrar said only a section of students indulge in protests and they have been given alternate sites to protest. Earlier only 10-12 protests used to happen at the block in a year but now everyday there is a protest. How will we work if there are loudspeakers and slogans outside. We are not against protests but it should be within rules, he said. Who gets the benefit? Many say that all this has revived the traditional Leftist base of the campus. In the 2016 students union elections, Left parties like All India Students Association (AISA) and Students Federation of India (SFI) formed an alliance and won all four seats. Former JNUSU president Kumar and former JNUSU vice-president Shehla Rashid are among the few students who have visited many other campuses and addressed students. We turned the crisis into a blessing. Earlier, when we talked of social justice, poverty, freedom of expression only a few people heard us. But now many more want to know what we think. It is now our responsibility to use this and reach out to more people and raise awareness on how the government is destroying higher education by fund cuts and other policies, said Rashid. Vivek Rai, a research student from School of Languages, said, The February 9 incident has brought one important change it has made JNU popular. Earlier, people just knew JNU as an institution of higher learning now even those in small villages know what JNU is all about. The world now wants to know what is happening in our institution, which I think is something good. Importantly, this movement has also increased activism among students. But former JNUSU joint secretary and ABVP member Saurabh Sharma said the students had used the incident to promote themselves. Everyone wants to be a hero by using the sudden focus on JNU. They just want to be in limelight by speaking against administration and government. This is encouraging others who want to abuse the system, Sharma said. Former V-C speaks Former VC SK Sopory did not directly comment on the crisis in JNU but said it is not good for an academic institute to be in constant conflict. Issues should be resolved by communicating with students, teachers and administration. Administration should take the first step to do it, he told HT. Maintaining that students have a right to protest within limits, he said if students dont have peace of mind they cannot be productive. JNU is supposed to produce intellectuals and not just students who appear for exam and get their degrees. JNU produces leaders, not followers, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An 11th grader of a prominent Ghaziabad school smuggled a gun into the campus on Wednesday and shot a classmate during lunch break over an altercation. The victim, a student of Dehradun Public School (DDPS) at Govindpuram, was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to his waist and is said to be out of danger. According to police, the incident was a consequence of a feud between the victim and the brother of the boy who shot him. The father of the victim said the shooter and three of his friends first attacked his son with belts at 11:25am before opening fire with a country-made pistol. Teachers and school administration officials arrived and saved my son. They caught hold of the student who opened fire and handed him over to police with the weapon, said Vinod Bhati, the victims father, in his police complaint. The police have taken custody of the boy a minor and have filed a case of attempted murder. There was only a single bullet fired from the weapon and the used cartridge was also recovered from the scene of crime inside the class. We have also recovered the weapon and will question the parents of the boy as to how they procured it, a police officer from Kavi Nagar police station said. Other students who accompanied the shooter have also been named in the police complaint and they too are from the 11th grade. Three students belong to Sikrod in Masuri, Ghaziabad while the fourth is from Dasna Gate. The victim hails from a village in Dadri, Greater Noida. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The three-month trial run of the project to make Connaught Place car-free has been put off for a fortnight and will take another 15-20 days to start, New Delhi Municipal Council chairman Naresh Kumar told HT. The trial, slated to kick off on February 1, has been postponed due to lack of unanimity over execution of the plan among the stakeholders, especially the traders, who have opposed the idea and even took to protest on Tuesday. We are still in consultation with all the stakeholders. We are also waiting for the traders feedback on the two proposed ways to start this project. It will tentatively take 15-20 days for this initiative to be rolled out, Kumar said. The traders, meanwhile, met Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal last week over the issue. After that he had convened a meeting with commissioner of police, NDMC chairperson, the joint secretary responsible for this project in the Union urban development ministry and Delhi chief secretary, New Delhi Traders Association members say. The plan, which was given a go-ahead by the Union urban development ministry after extensive talks with NDMC and traffic police officials in early January, aims to decongest the heritage shopping arcade in central Delhi. Nearly 2,000 parking spaces will be removed, which include 1,500 from the Inner Circle and 400-500 from the Middle Circle, as this site with a daily footfall of nearly 5 lakh, will turn pedestrian friendly. The authorities have proposed two ways to implement the project. In the first, cars will be allowed to enter from Janpath, people will alight at Palika Bazar or Palika Parking and exit through Baba Khadak Singh Marg. The second plan proposes that cars will be allowed in the middle circle but to drop visitors and shoppers, making it a no-parking zone. However, NDMC officials have said that the plan can be called off before its full duration of three months based on the response. Pedestrian-only zones are popular abroad. London, Montreal and Copenhagen have areas where no vehicles are allowed. Many cities in Europe and Asia also have car-free zones. In Puducherry, Goubert Avenue that runs along the French Quarters is closed to motorised vehicles after 5pm. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After the announcement of cashless transactions at Surajkund International Crafts Mela, many heaved a sigh of relief. The authorities have provided at least 100 POS machines to the shopkeepers, there is also a bank branch in the area, two permanent ATM points and six ATM vans. Yet, while many sellers might be accepting cashless transactions, many are facing practical problems implementing the initiative. Artisans from other countries had no clue about the cashless initiative, and the crash crunch might still be pinching some buyers. Jakkapan Silalikhit, an artisan from Thailand, says, We knew nothing about it, and were not informed about the cashless stuff. And we also realised that visitors dont have enough cash to purchase expensive artworks. We dont have machines to accept cards and online payments. We are facing a loss. Manisha Saraf, a visitor at the mela, says, I wanted to buy this artefact from the Kazakhstan stall, but they arent accepting payments through cards. In addition to that, the ATMs also ran out of money. I thought of withdrawing money from the ATM, but guess it was an unlucky day, there was no money in it, she says. We have guitars and Ektara made up of rosewood and its very unique in nature, so slightly expensive. And there is a great demand for them, however, we didnt know about the payment mode, so we have no arrangements for it, says Azamat, the manager of the stall. However, the cashless drive is being welcomed by several others. I heard about the cashless initiative and I was delighted. Because it means I can come to the fair without worrying about pick pocketers, says Megha Gupta, a visitor, who has been coming to the mela for the past 4 years. Jhabhar from Uttar Pradesh, who is selling lac artefacts says, It is nice to get these machines, because now visitors arent looking at their pockets and saying ek hi item kharid saktey hain cash khatam. In fact, I will get a machine for my shop back home also, now that I know how it works. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 36-year-old cab driver burnt to death in northeast Delhis Mandoli on Tuesday night after a Tata Indigo car he was driving suddenly caught fire on Wazirabad Road. Family members of victim, identified as Sachin Tyagi, later alleged that several curious onlookers stood by the burning car, recording videos and clicking photos, but no one tried to help. They also said that he always carried a fire extinguisher in his car but was unable to use it on the fateful day. Later, when Tyagis family reached the spot, several onlookers offered to transfer the videos that they had shot on their mobiles via WhatsApp, Bluetooth or ShareIt apps. What were we supposed to do with the videos when we knew that he had burnt beyond recognition, asked Aadesh, a cousin of Tyagi. Police said Tyagis cab operated for a Noida-based call centre and went up in flames near Mandoli Jail, right opposite Nand Nagri police station, around 10.15 pm on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses said Tyagi had stopped to buy something from the local market around 10.15pm. He spotted fire in his engine moments after he had got back into his car. When his efforts to open the cars doors and windows failed, he cried out for help. By the time fire fighters arrived at the scene around 15 minutes later, Tyagi had already burnt to death. The police suspect that the fire might have jammed the central locking system of the vehicle, giving Tyagi no chance to escape. We did not spot any stones or bricks lying near the charred car, which means that the onlookers had made any serious attempts to break open the cars windows and rescue my brother. They were busy recording a video of the incident, alleged Aadesh, the victims cousin. Tyagis family also said that if the crowd had even collected and poured water on the burning vehicle from a drain flowing right next to the road, then the drivers life could have been saved. The incident happened next to a residential colony. People came out of their homes to watch the fire, but no body had the presence of mind to bring buckets of water, said Tyagis angry mother, Sudesh. On Wednesday, an HT team visited the accident spot and found very few people who had witnessed the incident. It happened very quickly. No one had enough time to think or react. The car was gutted in less than 15 minutes. We did try to rescue the driver and tried to douse the flames with whatever w could lay our hands on, said Kamal, a local shopkeeper. The car in flames. Tyagi, the drivers family said, had been driving cars for the last 15 years and lived with his wife, two children and an aged mother near Mandoli Main Market, barely 500 metres from the spot where he died. The driver had bought the diesel car on monthly installments around two years ago and had been operating it for a call centre. On Tuesday, he had returned for work around 10.15pm. He wanted to go home and have a quick dinner before heading out for the call centre again. Police quoted the eyewitnesses as saying that the blaze was so sudden and strong that they were unable to do much. It was someone from the public that made the police call. So we cant say the eyewitnesses did nothing, said Devender Arya, additional DCP (northeast). Over five months, 110 mohalla clinics have treated 8 lakh patients, as per the government data. The AAP government showcased this as a path breaking achievement and received international acclaim. However, insiders believe that the project is still in its nascent stage and is far from being a game changer for health sector. World leaders like former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and former WHO director general Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland praised the project for aiming to provide free public health care and indicated the need to scale up the project as well as improve its management. The project could be a model for all Indian states embarking on the UHC (Universal Health Care) journeys, read the letter to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal by Annan in his capacity as chair of The Elders, an organisation of independent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela. The government had planned to set up 1,000 mohalla clinics for consultation, medicines and tests free of cost by the end of 2016. This deadline has been extended to March 2017 but it is unlikely that the government will be able to meet it. With, only around 110 mohalla clinics functional, the AAP government has sought to take refuge in its infamous tussle with the lieutenant governor and Centre. The government had said that the project will reduce over-crowding in tertiary care centres like ours. However, the impact cannot be felt just with the 100 clinics. Once the project is complete we will be able to see the results, said Punita Mahajan, medical director of Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital. Doctors working with the project also point to some inconsistencies. Looking at just the model clinic is not enough. Apart from routine out-patient clinic, we provide immunisation to children, DOTS centre for TB treatment and counselling for male sterilisation but these services are not available in the other clinics, said Dr Alka Choudhary, who is posted in Peera Garhi Mohalla Clinic. Also, all clinics are not able to provide the promised 212 tests; her clinic provides only 25 tests, she said. Space constraint and slow technology also add to the woes of doctors. Since the time the clinic has started, the number of people has kept on increasing, so much so, that there is no place for the patients to wait. Add to that the slow tabs and the numerous fields we have to fill in, the wait period just keeps on increasing, said Dr Preeti Saxena from Pandav Nagar mohalla clinic. Read: Apathy, poor infrastructure haunt govt hospitals in state The BJP has also flagged the lack of monitoring in the project that has allegedly resulted in doctors giving inflated numbers to get bigger pay checks as they get paid on per patient basis. I know of clinics where people with chronic conditions like COPD, asthma, diabetes are called every other day to get their medicines. This is done to drive up the OPD numbers as they get paid 30 per patient, said Dr Choudhary, who is a contractual doctor under NRHM and has been posted in the clinic. Initially, doctors inflating the numbers for more money was a concern for us too but we later realised that these clinics receive so many patients that the doctor can either treat them or sit and fill in records, a Delhi government official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is displaying selective amnesia when it comes to land movements. The state government has imposed sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Bhangar land agitators, protesting against a power project coming up on 13.5 acres of agricultural land that the government had acquired in the South 24 Parganas district. Initially, the government told the farmers it will set up a sub-station, but it now plans to install a SF6-gas insulated power grid, claim villagers. Not just are they upset about alleged coercion to part with their farmland, they havent even been compensated adequately they say. Read: The Bhangar land row shows that Mamatas land acquisition model has failed The UAPA has been slapped on two leaders of CPI(ML)(Red Star), an ultra Left outfit and nine villagers, including a student set to appear for higher secondary exams. Usually, the Act is invoked against terror outfits. Sections 16 and 18 of UAPA relate to acts of terrorism and conspiracy and carry capital punishment as the maximum sentence. In 2015, Chattradhar Mahato, one of the faces of the Maoist movement in Lalgarh, was among the first to be convicted under UAPA in the state. As expected, rights activists are seeing the move to brand land agitators as terrorists as heavy-handed and misplaced. What is ironic is that the person wielding the hand is none other than Ms Banerjee, the pugnacious leader who took to the streets for farmers rights and came to power riding on her role in the anti-land acquisition movements in Singur and Nandigram in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Still, even at the height of the movements, the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government did not deem it fit to slap UAPA sections on the protesters. Read: Bhangar Naxalite outfit leader surfaces in Delhi, but mystery continues When she swept to power in 2011, Ms. Banerjee grandiosely announced her government wont ostensibly acquire a square inch of land if villagers objected. Far from this, when the Power Grid Corporation began buying land in 2013-14 and faced resistance, local Trinamool strong-man Arabul Islam allegedly flexed muscles to coerce the villagers. Also, the villagers say a 400/220 kv power grid could be a potential source of health hazards owing to high electo-magnetic fields but the logic has cut little ice with a government. Rather than branding villagers like terrorists, it is time Ms Banerjee addressed their legitimate concerns. Thats the minimum one can expect from a government that less than a decade ago was claiming to champion the rights of the displaced. Its been more than a week but protests by the Jat community in Haryana are showing no signs of wilting under any kind of government pressure. The only redeeming aspect of this round of protests to date has been that there has been no violence of the kinds the state saw in 2016. How long this tenuous peace between the government and the protesters will hold is anyones guess. The signs are ominous: The community, which has been holding sit-ins for the last few days seeking reservation in the OBC (other backward classes) category for education and jobs, has threatened to widen their agitation if their demands are not met by February 12. Apart from reservation, the Jats want withdrawal of cases registered for last years violence, and release of the rioters arrested then. Responding to the demands, the Manoharlal Khattar government, which was caught napping last year and failed miserably to tackle the protests, has said that all doors are open for talks. Read: Delhi fears water crisis replay as Jats relaunch stir for quota Photographs of mobs running amok, setting fire to eateries, houses, schools and even police pickets, from the agitation a year ago have not faded from public memory. The Capital had faced a severe water shortage as rioters breached the Munak canal, one of Delhis main lifelines, and Delhi Police personnel were deployed to protect the structures. Rohtak, which saw the worst violence in February 2016, is the epicentre of action this time too. The protests have already reached Delhi. It began with a demonstration outside the Sub Divisional Magistrates office in Narela on Friday. The next big one is in Mundka on February 9, in Bawana on February 11, and in east Delhi on February 12. There will also be demonstrations in Dwarka, Rohini, Burari and Bijwasan. At some places, the Khap panchayats or caste councils are also backing the dharnas. Haryanas main Opposition party INLD has openly come out in support of the agitating Jats and asked the government to meet their demands. While protesters are willing to wait for reservation since the matter was sub-judice, they wanted all other demands to be accepted immediately. Read: Jat reservation: Quotas not the way forward This time round, the state government seems to have a plan in place: It has already sought a large number of forces from the Centre. Not only have physical protection measures been taken, but precautions in terms of inflammatory speeches have also been kept in mind. However, it does not take much for demonstrations of this kind to go out of hand, leading to large-scale violence and then controlling a mob becomes a Herculean task, especially when the two demands reservation and police cases against protesters are difficult to invalidate. The seeds of discontent will be difficult to weed out, and so violence of any kind would not come as a surprise. So if such a thing happens, no one else but the Haryana chief minister and his administration will be held responsible for such a disruption. In what can be a major reform for the Indian higher education sector, finance minister Arun Jaitley, while presenting the General Budget 2017-18 in Parliament on February 1, proposed the setting up of a National Testing Agency (NTA) as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation. NTA will conduct all entrance examinations for higher education institutions. This would free bodies such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and other institutions from administrative responsibilities so that they can focus more on academics. Currently, these bodies conduct tests such as Joint Entrance Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, and National Eligibility Test, among others. But will the NTA really ease the burden of these higher education bodies? According to MM Ansari, former member of University Grants Commission (UGC), the idea of NTA was recommended in the national education policy 1986 but it was never implemented by previous governments. Institutions like IIMs, IITs, universities, and the UGC, which conduct tests, make huge savings for supporting their programmes. NTA will surely relieve them of administrative burdens but that will deprive them of the money they earn. Testing authorities will not get additional resources from the government, which they earn from admission tests, says Ansari. While assessment is a vital component of education, in a large ecosystem like that of India, testing is required at large scale for ranking of candidates. A vast majority of universities and colleges do not have the infrastructure and expertise required for modern testing. NTA is a good idea to create robust infrastructure and processed to deliver testing services, says Prof Dr Bipin Batra, executive director, National Board of Examinations, which conducts tests such as NEET PG and Foreign Medical Graduates Exam. Modern testing involves considerable investments in IT and physical infrastructure, intellectual property and institutionalising best practices in the domain. Stand alone universities or colleges are usually not in a position to set up such systems or create scalable capacity. Creation of a dedicated agency can provide assessment services as a common pool asset which can be used by other bodies, adds Prof Dr Batra. The large scale examinations today have been assigned to CBSE and other Central institutions by default. While nodal universities have been delivering the responsibility at the state level, many of such examinations are not part of their original mandate. All agencies have contributed their best. The current agencies can work in harmony with NTA and create global benchmarks, he says. Today, there are several agencies conducting tests which means multiple agencies conducting multiple tests. If that body (NTA) has no other agenda but conducting entrance exams only then it is a good idea. In fact, most competitive exams have been outsourced at some point of time. These include the Common Admission Test for Indian Institutes of Management and AICTEs Common Management Admission Test and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test, says Anil D Sahasrabuddhe, chairman, AICTE. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aspiring doctors will have just one chance to get a seat in a medical college this year through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (UG) 2017 (NEET-UG). The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the test on May 7, 2017 as per regulations framed under the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 (amended in 2016) and the Dentists Act 1948 (amended in 2016). Admissions in 100% seats of MBBS/BDS will be done in medical/dental colleges run with the approval of Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India under the ministry of health and family welfare. However, institutions established through an Act of Parliament i.e. AIIMS and JIPMER Puducherry, will not participate in NEET UG this year. Besides conducting the test, the CBSE will declare the result and prepare an all-India rank list for the candidates in percentile rank. This will be given to the Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi for counselling of 15% all-India quota seats and providing the result to the state counselling authorities and admitting institutions. Candidates must be 17 years old at the time of admission. The upper age limit for NEET-UG is 25 years as on the date of examination for general category candidates. Candidates will get maximum three attempts for NEET UG. As per the notice and information bulletin, it was prescribed that the candidates who have already availed permissible three attempts will not be able to apply for NEET 2017. However, the CBSE has issued a clarification on the matter. The Department of Health and Family Welfare, government of India, and Medical Council of India have clarified that attempts made by candidates for AIPMT/NEET prior to 2017 will not be counted. NEET 2017 will be counted as the first attempt for all candidates, irrespective of their previous attempts in AIPMT/NEET, said an official statement from CBSE. All candidates who could not fill up the application form due to the condition of three attempts at AIPMT/NEET will now be able to fill up their application form. Domicile students of different states who have done their schooling from another state are eligible for admission in state medical colleges if they are ranked in the all-India merit list. For instance, if a student who has completed his schooling from Delhi and is a domicile of West Bengal seeking admission in a college of the state can apply in the state colleges. The student will have to prove his domicile candidature with necessary documents such as proof of residence of his parents. Once the CBSE shares the list of qualified candidates from our state, we will consider their eligibility, said a spokesperson from the Directorate of Medical Education, West Bengal. The counselling for admission in seats under the control of other states/universities/institutions will be conducted as per the notifications issued separately by the authorities concerned. Candidates applying to state government colleges will be admitted subject to rules and regulations framed by the respective state governments. It is necessary for a candidate to obtain minimum of marks at 50th percentile in NEET for 2017-18. The percentile will be determined on the basis of highest marks secured in the all-India common merit list. A percentile rank is the percentage of score that fall below a given score in a group. NEET results are likely to be declared on June 8, 2017. For 15% all-India quota seats, counseling will be conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services. For seats under the control of states/universities/institutions, their respective authorities will conduct the counseling. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The low score of obese girl students in schools could be linked to discrimination by their teachers because of their body weight, a study has revealed. The results, published in the latest edition Sociology of Education journal, indicated that the relationship between obesity and academic performance may result largely from educators interacting differently with girls of various sizes, rather than from obesitys effects on girls physical health. Researchers from the University of Illinois in Chicago in the US found that even when girls scored the same on ability tests, obese girls received worse high school grades than their normal-weight peers. Teachers rated them as less academically able as early as elementary school, author Amelia Branigan said. The study analysed elementary school students around age 9 and high school students of approximately 18 years old in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1997 cohort. The students were evaluated by teacher-assessed academic performance, while grade point average was the measured outcome used to assess the high school students. It found obesity to be associated with a penalty on teacher evaluations of academic performance among white girls in English, but not in mathematics. There was no penalty observed for girls who were overweight but not obese. Obese white girls are only penalised in female course subjects like English, Branigan said. This suggests that obesity may be most harshly judged in settings where girls are expected to be more stereotypically feminine. This may reflect findings that obesity is more stigmatised among women than among men or individuals of other races, according to Brannigan, who says social interventions for teachers may lessen the performance gap. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday issued a notification announcing examination date and procedure for applying for Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2017 on its official website. Approximately 44 posts in 1) Indian Economic Service (15 posts) 2) Indian Statistical Service (29 posts) would be filled through the examination. The last date to apply for the examination is March 3, 2017 till 6pm. Aspirants are required to check eligibility conditions and instructions before applying for the exam, exclusively through the website www.upsconline.nic.in. Candidates shall be issued an e-admission certificate three weeks before the commencement of the examination and will be available on the official website. Scheme of exam: The Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination will be conducted in two stages: 1) The written exam carrying a maximum of 1000 marks 2) The Viva voce (oral exam) carrying a maximum of 200 marks. There will be negative marking for wrong answers by a candidate in the objective type question papers. The question papers in all subjects in Indian Economic Service Examination and in Indian Statistical Service Examination will be of conventional (essay) type except in Statistics Paper I and Statistics Paper II which are of objective type. All question papers must be answered in English. A combined competitive examination for recruitment to Junior Time Scale of the Services will be held by UPSC commencing from May 12, 2017 at various centres across the country (see details in the notification below). The centres and the date of holding the examination as mentioned above are liable to be changed at the discretion of the commission. The results of the written part of the examination is likely to be declared in the month of August, 2017. (Applicants should note that there will be a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each of the centre except Chennai, Delhi, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur.) Note: Go through the notification provided below for details like eligibility conditions, how to apply, exam fee structure, syllabus of exam for various subjects and much more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Londons Buckingham Palace is gearing up for a special reception to mark the beginning of the UK-India Year of Culture. And veteran designer Manish Arora has been invited to represent India. The designer, who has been bestowed with the prestigious Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur by France, will visit the palace of Queen Elizabeth II on February 27. Arora says its an honour for him to represent India. It is such an honour and privilege to be chosen by Her Majesty to represent India at the reception celebrating a wonderful initiative. India and the UK have such a deep history and this cultural exchange is a great way to strengthen the relationship between our homelands, Arora said in a statement. This year, India and Britain are celebrating a major bilateral year of cultural exchange. The veteran designer added that this is definitely a dream come true and I couldnt have asked for a better start to the year. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more. A group of four alleged cow smugglers entered the National Security Guards (NSG) campus at Manesar on Monday night after breaking through two police check points at Tauru in Mewat and Kherki Daula in Gurgaon. The alleged smugglers exchanged fire with NSG commandos after entering the agencys premises mistaking it to be a factory site, said police. According to the police, they received a tip-off that a group of cow smugglers were on their way to Delhi-Gurgaon expressway via Tauru road. The police set up check posts at Tauru road and Kherki Daula. However, the four men in the mini truck broke the barricades around 8 pm when the police officials signalled them to stop. The police teams were chasing them when they took a turn to escape arrest towards the fields and their vehicle got stuck. They fled leaving the vehicle. They rushed towards the NSG compound wall but we had intimated the officials about the incident, said DCP (South) Ashok Bakshi. The NSG had alerted its commandos and before the four accused could hide and take shelter, the security personnel opened fire at them. The cow smugglers also retaliated and fired a round but managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness. NSG headquarters is a highly guarded installation as hundreds of commandos are trained here. The police have impounded the mini truck and preliminary investigation revealed that it belonged to a Mewat resident. Two cases have been registered by police one at Kherki Daula and another at Manesar police station for breaking police check points, and illegal entry into NSG premises, and firing at NSG commandos. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The office of the chief controller of finance, Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda), in Panchkula has directed the agencys Gurgaon office to release funds to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) for civic maintenance. Earlier, on January 31, the MCG send a reminder to Huda over the inordinate delay in the transfer of funds as per the terms to bring Huda sub-sector within the ambit of the MCG for ensuring hitch-free civic operations and maintenance. The chief controller has sought a report from the local Huda office by February 9. The MCG and Huda had reached an agreement on the transfer of funds in March 2016. The chief controller said, The report (over the release of funds) should be forwarded to the headquarter by February 9 and thereafter, all reports should be submitted latest by the 10th of every month. Hudas Gurgaon office has also been asked to calculate a month-wise amount which is to be released to the MCG as per the terms agreed to during the sector transfer. However, it took ten months for the MCG to take a firm step and write to the Huda headquarters in this regard. I have said that the reconciliation process must be completed at the earliest and the funds should accordingly be transferred to the corporation, MCG commissioner, V Umashankar, said. As per the terms agreed to during the sector transfer, the Huda extension fee, transfer fee and other recoveries related to plots would be shared, with 75 per cent of the revenue going to the MCG and 25 per cent to Huda. The MCG, in its letter to Huda, said, It has been noticed that no exercise for reconciliation of the amounts due to be paid by the Huda to the corporation consequent to the transfer of developed sectors has been undertaken and no amount has been remitted by it till date. As a first step in giving effect to the order of transfer of developed sectors, a standing mechanism for monthly reconciliation of the amount due to corporation from the Huda needs to be constituted. Asked to comment on the matter, a senior Huda account official said, We have almost finished the reconciliation process and will send timely reports to the headquarter for approval before transferring funds to MCG. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Fatih Karimov Trend: The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (IRIR) welcomes joint production of railway wagons by Iranian and Kazakh firms, Saeed Mohammadzadeh, Irans deputy minister of Roads and Urban Development, said. Mohammadzadeh, who heads the IRIR, made the remarks during a meeting with the President of Kazakhstan railways company (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy) Kanat Alpysbayev in Tehran, Roads and Urban Development ministry of Iran reported. Mohammadzadeh said that the Iranian railroad fleet needs at least 28,000 freight and 3,000 passenger wagons. During the meeting, the two parties discussed the issues of further strengthening of relations between the railway administrations of Kazakhstan and Iran for development of transit-transport potential of the two countries. Alpysbayev said that the volume of goods transport between Iran and Kazakhstan increased by 16 percent in 2016 to 2.2 million tons. He expressed hope that the figure would reach 3.3 million tons in 2017. Irans transport sector has remained underdeveloped due to mismanagement as well as international sanctions. A May 2016 report said the major Iranian wagon maker Pars Wagon was operating at 25 percent of its full capacity because of scanty liquidity with railway companies and too few orders from customers. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will start taking action against Gwal Pahari residents, who received eviction notices, from February 16, civic body officials confirmed. The MCG has claimed that 464 acres of land that was being illegally encroached upon falls under its jurisdiction Situated in the foothills of Aravalli, Gwal Pahari comes under Gurgaon district and is surrounded by New Delhi and Faridabad borders. The vitality of the location forced real estate developers to base their establishments there. Since most of the land falls within the local panchayat, the area has been drawn into legal tussles. Many individuals, real estate developers and farmhouse-owners hold properties in Gwal Pahari, an MCG official said. The official said based on further surveillance and spot visit by the enforcement team, the list of illegal settlers has increased from 178 to 324. MCG commissioner V Umashankar confirmed the development and said the violators needed to send their responses to the eviction notices sent by MCG by February 16 failing which they would be directed to vacate their land. The MCG will then seize or demolished their properties and fence the area, the commissioner said. The process of sending eviction notices to residents is being completed. The violators can approach the MCG and the legitimacy of their land can then be assessed with their coordination. Once the period (till February 16) lapses, consequent action will be taken, Umashankar said. It is learnt that nearly 200 notices have been sent to Gwal Pahari residents so far. The remaining are expected to reach property owners by Monday. Last month, during a court hearing at the revenue court of the then district collector TL Satyaprakash, MCGs land at Gwal Pahari was divested and it was observed that a mutation order needed to be approved from the state government. The MCG then blocked the mutation order after approaching divisional commissioner of Gurgaon D Suresh. Since then, the civic body has been trying to reaffirm its hold on Gwal Pahari. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Gurgaon police commissioner visited Manesar on Wednesday morning to inspect the spot from which alleged cow smugglers entered the National Security Guard (NSG) camp premises in Manesar. . The team accompanying police chief Sandeep Khirwar also searched for physical evidence of forced entry and retaliatory firing by the group of armed miscreants. The group of four alleged cow smugglers had entered the NSG campus in Manesar on Monday night after breaking through two police check points in Tauru, Mewat and Kherki Daula in Gurgaon. The alleged smugglers exchanged fire with NSG commandos after entering the agencys premises mistaking it for a factory site, police said. The police commissioner said he visited the spot and police was on track to arrest the miscreants. The case is being probed from all angles and suspects have been identified. They would be arrested soon, Khirwar said. Three police teams consisting of five personnel each have been formed by the commissioner on Wednesday to investigate the case. A team of forensic experts accompanied Khirwar during the spot visit. The team spent more than two hours and visited all routes and areas to ensure all evidences were collected from the spot. Earlier, police had impounded the mini truck and preliminary investigation revealed that it belonged to Sahun of Ghasera in Mewat. We are conducting raids at all possible locations and the family members of Sahun are also cooperating with us. He has not reached home since the firing incident, inspector Jagdish Prasad, station house officer, Manesar, said. Police said the accused have been identified and are all history sheeters. They have been involved in cow smuggling earlier too and are wanted in a dozen other cases, police said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Owners of pubs and bars in Gurgaons Cyber Hub, Sector 29 and Sohna Road have decided to move the Supreme Court to seek a clarification on its order to ban the sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and state highways across the country. Gurgaons excise department has identified 43 liquor vends and 143 pubs in the red zone. The headquarters will take a call on whether to shut only liquor vends or cancel the licence of pubs and bars located within 500 metres of highways. An official said, We need clarity on the SC order. The case pertains to banning the sale of liquor in shops located within 500 metres of state and national highways. The Supreme Court has set a deadline of March 31 for the order to be implemented. Owners said that a revenue of Rs100 crore will be lost and more than 50,000 employees will be rendered jobless if this decision is implemented. Vineet Taing, president of Vatika Hotels, of which Westin hotels in Gurgaon and Sohna, and Coriander Leaf, 56 Ristorante Italiano Restaurant form a part, said, Liquor vends holding an L2 licence and ahatas can be shifted, but malls and hotels cant be shifted. Hundreds of crores have been invested in these properties. The liquor ban will hit the hotel and restaurant industry hard and will not only impact government revenue but also render thousands jobless. Also, pub owners are questioning the method used to gauge the distance. How was the distance measured by road or by air? It is not defined clearly, so we are waiting for the final list of names of the restaurants, a pub owner in Gurgaon said. Read: 175 liquor vends along highways in Gzb to be affected by SC ban Udit Batra, the regional general manager of operations, Smaaash, said, Cyber Hub is among our seven big centres in India. Forcing pubs and bars to stop serving liquor sends a negative signal and affects the reputation of the city, where people are mostly well-travelled. We were just recovering from the demonetisation while this news has hit us. We are very disappointed and hope the ruling can be reviewed. A spokesperson for DLF Cyber Hub, said, As a developer, we are not affected by the order. It is a matter that concerns a few of our tenant partners and they will, I am, sure take it up it with the authorities concerned. The bar and pub owners association in Sector 29 has sought an appointment with the excise department to seek clarity. We have not received any notice from the excise department yet. Sector 29 and DLF Cyber Hub are more than 500 metres from the highways by road. We are hopeful that the government will not cancel the licence of pubs and bars as this primarily pertained to liquor vends, an association member said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Thirty-four pubs and bars in Gurgaons upscale DLF CyberHub, near the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, are staring at an uncertain future after the Supreme Court mandated that sale of liquor will not be allowed within 500 metres of national and state highways. The excise department has also identified another 109 pubs and 43 liquor vends that would lose their licences on April 1 in compliance with the apex court order. The bars in several five-star hotels and resorts, located along the expressway, also fall within the red zone. On December 15, the Supreme Court had directed states and union territories to stop sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and the state highways, as well as on service lanes along highways. Read | Gurgaons pub and bar owners to seek clarity on liquor ban from court The court also directed the administration and the police departments of all states to chalk out a plan for enforcement within a month. The closure of the 43 liquor vends could result in a loss of Rs 70.81 crore in revenue per year. Some pubs and bars in the Sector 29 market will also be affected. A number of such outlets are also located along Sohna Road. We will comply with the orders of the Supreme Court. We have conducted a survey and will shortly submit the report to the headquarters, said Aruna Singh, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, Gurgaon. Read | Liquor shops ban on highway: Judiciary takes the wheel for road safety Pub owners are planning to meet the excise department officials to get more clarity on the matter. Restaurants are being targeted unjustifiably. A restaurant is the safest place for an individual to drink and at least more than three-and-a-half lakh employees face the risk of losing jobs, said Arvind Kumar, general manager, The Wine Company. Due to a lack of description in the ruling, all food and beverages outlets have come under the scanner. Lets hope that the Supreme Court will explain this and give us a realistic guideline of the ruling, Goumtesh Singh, owner, Raasta Cafe. Read | 175 liquor vends along highways in Ghaziabad to be affected by SC ban SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In January, Lindsay Lohan wiped clean two of her social media accounts and started afresh, sparking rumours that she had converted to Islam. In her latest post on Instagram, Lohan posted a picture of her appearance on a popular Kuwaiti talk show, where she quoted the Quran and spoke about her connection to the religion. I did Ramadan for three days with my friend from Kuwait, it was hard but it was good. It felt good, she said on Swar Shoaib, hosted by Shoaib Rashid, a popular talk show host. I also listen to the Quran on my phone, I have an App. she added. What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured, she captioned the image with a saying by Prophet Muhammad. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari) A photo posted by Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) on Feb 5, 2017 at 7:33pm PST Watch her entire interview here. Skip to 18:20. Lohan gained international fame for her roles in hit films like Mean Girls, Freaky Friday and Parent Trap. Her career was overshadowed by domestic troubles, stints in rehab for drug and alcohol abuse and numerous run ins with the law. Follow @htshowbiz for more Scarlett Johansson says that she may be Hollywoods top-grossing actress of all time, but that does not imply shes paid the highest. The 32-year-old star said that she has had to battle it out with the industry to achieve what she has today. Just because Im the top-grossing actress of all time does not mean Im the highest paid. Ive had to fight for everything that I have. Its such a fickle and political industry, Johansson told Marie Claire in an interview. Scarlett Johansson smiles at the Women's March in Washington US, January 21, 2017. (REUTERS) The Avengers actress explained that she was initially uncomfortable in discussing her personal struggles in public. She added, Maybe Im being presumptuous, but I assumed it was obvious that women in all positions struggle for equality. Its always an uphill battle and fight. Underscoring the fact that sexism is real, Johansson said that according to her every female she know has been affected by it. My experience with my close female friends and family is that the struggle is real for everybody. Everyone has been discriminated against or harassed, the actress said. Follow @htshowbiz for more Few hours after he surprised everyone by revolting against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam was sacked as the party treasurer by the CM-designate early Wednesday. While the split in AIADMK is out in the open, suspense over Sasikalas swearing in continues, with governor C Vidyasagar Rao again putting off his return to Chennai. Sasikala lashed out at Panneerselvam for playing into the hands of the DMK, blaming the rival party of trying to foment trouble in AIADMK. Panneerselvam gave several reasons for why he chose to speak up against Sasikala. Here are some: 1 I decided to speak as spirit of Amma goaded me to speak the truth. 2 I had to resign under duress and pressure. I was forced to resign by Sasikala, her relatives and ministers. 3 Sasikala was getting irked because of my growing popularity. 4 Sasikala definitely did not like the efficiency with which I was governing the state. 5 The CMs post was tarnished and I was being trampled upon. 6 My own ministers were openly talking of replacing me with Sasikala. Even governor VIdyasagar Rao had asked me what was going on in my own cabinet. 7 (I felt) Hurt and let down by MLAs who were plotting behind my back to oust me. 8 I could not take the humiliation lying down and decided to fight. 9 My only intention and commitment was to save AIADMK and Tamil Nadu. (I) will carry forward Ammas ideals, policies and programmes. This was under threat from Sasikala and her supporters. 10 No one was allowed to meet Jayalalithaa in hospital. Every day, we were told she would return home. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The government told Parliament on Tuesday the ban on six firms blacklisted by the Centre will remain for 10 years and it will also extend to their sister firms. Six firms, including their allied and subsidiary firms are debarred from further business dealings with the Ministry of Defence for a period of 10 years w.e.f. 11.4.2012. Further, business dealings are suspended /put on hold in respect of 13 firms, minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. In respect of another four firms, orders were issued restricting procurement from the concerned firms in cases where procurements are justified and necessary on the basis of operational urgency, national security and non-availability of other alternatives, he added. In 2012, the ministry debarred six firms -- Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd, Israel Military Industries Ltd, Rheinmetall Air Defence, Corporation Defence, Russia, TS Kisan & Co Pvt Ltd, and RK Machine Tools Ltd -- from further business dealings with the Ordnance Factory Board, Department of Defence Production and the ministry for a period of 10 years. The Supreme Court will hear the Aircel-Maxis case on Wednesday after a special court acquitted the accused Maran brothers in the 2G scam last week. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 3 had moved the apex court against the special courts order, which discharged Maran brothers and the other accused without furnishing the bail bond properly. The ED also urged the court to not release the properties attached in the case. The Patiala House court discharged former communication minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran after it found insufficient evidence to prosecute them. Maran brothers were accused by investigating agencies of helping Malaysian group Maxis to acquire Aircel in exchange for a kickback of approximately Rs 700 crore. The court also discharged Kalanithis wife Kavery Kalanithi, South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) managing director K Shanmugam and two companies -- SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) in two different cases. A CBI court, on December 19 last year, had deferred pronouncing its orders against the Maran brothers and others to December 22. A special 2G court had, in September 17 last year, dismissed the applications filed by the ex-telecom minister and his brother, challenging its jurisdiction to try the Aircel-Maxis deal case in which they have been summoned as accused. Pronouncing the order, the court had then said, There is no manner of doubt that by the standard of subject matter and periodicity of alleged crime, the case fairly/squarely falls within the description/ designation of the 2G scam. The Maran brothers challenged the jurisdiction of the special 2G court in both cases lodged by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. The Enforcement Directorate alleged that two firms, South Asia FM Limited (SAFL) and Sun Direct TV Private Ltd. (SDTPL), had received Rs. 742.58 crore as proceeds of crime from Mauritius-based firms and that the two firms were then allegedly controlled by Kalanithi Maran. The political turmoil in Tamil Nadu has prompted veteran actor Kamal Haasan to exhort people to become incorruptible themselves rather than blaming politicians. In a series of tweets, the 62-year-old actor said the entire country is with the state in the ongoing stand-off between AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala. Weve wasted our freedom years gambling our franchise on wrong and corrupt politicians. Lets stop blaming them. Lets become incorruptible, Haasan posted. Don't breakTN in2 a country. I promise, All India will fight 4TN in a civil war of Ahinsa.None might die but the ignorant will come alive Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 A political turmoil was triggered in the state after caretaker chief minister Panneerselvam revolted against the ruling party general secretary Sasikala, saying he forced to resign in support of her. He also said she had no powers to sack him as party treasurer considering she herself was elected on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation after former party leader and chief minister Jayalalithaas demise. Amid the row, 131 MLAs attended a meeting held by Sasikala to discuss the fallout of the revolt by Panneerselvam. Also read | How VK Sasikala plotted her way to the top of Tamil Nadu politics Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Fatih Karimov Trend: The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia's Bukhary International Ventures(BIV), to study two gas fields in Iran. The deal was signed by Gholam Reza Manouchehri, deputy head of the NIOC and Shamsul Azhar bin Abbas, head of the BIV on Feb. 8 in Tehran, Shana news agency reported. Under the MoU, the Malaysian firm will undertake studies in Irans Ferdowsi and Golshan gas fields and will submit its feasibility studies to the NIOC within seven months. The reserve at the Golshan gas field, located at approximately 180 km south east of Bushehr, 65 km offshore the Persian Gulf, is estimated more than 50 trillion cubic feet of gas and it is expected to produce 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. The Ferdowsi gas reserve is estimated at around 10 trillion cubic feet and it would produce more than 880 million cubic feet of gas on a daily basis. Manouchehri said that the BIV will study gas extraction from the fields and its transfer to onshore to convert to LNG. He further said that the fields also posses very heavy crude oil, adding that Iran has never extracted this type of crude oil so far. Manouchehri said that the signed MoU follows a deal that was made in 2007 with Malaysia's Bukhary group in 2007. In December 2007, Malaysias SKS signed a preliminary agreement with NIOC to develop the Golshan and Ferdowsi gas fields and construct a plant to produce LNG from them. Outraged over Narendra Modis remarks against predecessor Manmohan Singh, the Congress warned on Wednesday that it will not let the Prime Minister speak in Parliament unless he apologises for his unacceptable comment. Congress members in the Rajya Sabha staged a walkout soon after Modi accused Singh of allowing corruption under his nose but at the same time managing to steer clear of any charges. The Prime Minister was replying to a debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address. Terming the events in Parliament shameful, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: When a Prime Minister reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor-years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament &the nation. He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly; they were shameful Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 8, 2017 Even though many scams took place in the country (in the previous UPA regime), Singhs image remained clean, Modi said, taking a dig at the former PM. People should learn from Dr. Singh how to bathe in bathroom wearing a raincoat. #WATCH: PM Narendra Modi says in Rajya Sabha 'Bathroom mein raincoat pehen kar nahaane ki kala sirf Dr. sahab(MMS) hi jaante hain' pic.twitter.com/UUhXum333Y ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 How can you have a dialogue with the opposition with this kind of language used against us You cant get personal in a debate, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal later told reporters in the Parliament House complex. We too could get personal and start talking about things where the Prime Ministers name has occurred but we never did that. While Singh did not respond to the Prime Ministers statement, the Congress fielded all its senior leaders to attack Modi on the issue. Former finance minister P Chidambaram claimed that the Prime Minister doesnt come to the House to listen to anyone from the Opposition. Today, he was scheduled to come in at 5pm. He deliberately did not come at that time and came only after the last speaker from the opposition had concluded. Then he begins his speech and within minutes attacks the former Prime Minister in the most unacceptable manner, he said. It was in extremely poor taste. It is unbecoming of a Prime Minister to use such language against the former PM. It certainly is unbecoming of anyone to say such harsh, ugly statements about Dr Manmohan Singh. We are very disappointed and angry. We have expressed our protest by walking out. We could have stayed back, created a ruckus, stormed the well of the House and shouted down the Prime Minister. But that would have in the circumstances of today brought us down to the level of the debate which the Prime Minister wanted. We dont want such a debate to take place. We want the people to know that no Prime Minister has ever used such a language against a former Prime Minister, Chidambaram added. In a strongly worded attack on the governments demonetisation exercise in the Rajya Sabha during the winter session in November last year, Singh said that several deaths and distress among the poor, farmers and small traders convinced him the demonetisation plan led to organised loot and legalised plunder. On Wednesday, in an apparent reference to these comments, PM Modi said, We have the ability to pay back in the same coin, Modi said. If anyone speaks like this, he should also be ready to face the consequences. But Sibal defended the use of words plunder and loot by Singh, saying those were not personal remarks against Modi but about the demonetisation policy. We have never seen such arrogance. There is a dignity of the chair he occupies. The PM gives speeches in Parliament as if he speaks in a locality or in a ground. He doesnt know what to say and what not in Parliament. The PM thinks that only he is clean and the rest all of us are black marketers, he said. From the government benches, information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu supported PM Modi and said that the Congress had earlier described Modi as Hitler as well as Mussolini. However, Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma refuted these charges. Never ever have we called the Prime Minister names even if he functions in a dictatorial manner. The fact is that he is behaving in an extremely insulting and arrogant manner towards the entire opposition. He has also insulted the memory of Indias martyred Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and used unacceptable language against the former Prime Minister. We cautioned him initially not to drag the debate to such a low level, he said. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted: PM is not a person but an institution it has a decorum, propriety, morality and discipline in language. Sadly, Modi ji forgets he is PM of India! The revolt by Tamil Nadu former chief minister O Panneerselvam against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala is being opportunistic and fuelled by other forces, said a spokesperson of the ruling party on Wednesday. Only when his chief minister post was taken away he is raising his voice. But that, too after he had submitted his resignation and sending a thank you for your cooperation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Avadi Kumar, spokesperson for AIADMK told IANS. On Tuesday night Panneerselvam dropped a bombshell with his dramatic statement that he was forced to resign as the chief ,minister after meditating for 40 minutes at late chief minister J Jayalalithaas memorial at Marina Beach. Kumar said Panneerselvam wrote a letter to Modi after resigning his post on his own choice and there was no compulsion on him not to write such a letter. He was acting alone, pursuing his own interests. The party did not gain any goodwill by his acts but on the other hand the party had to face the brunt of the government actions -- like the police action against the Jallikattu-bull taming sport protestors, Kumar said. Pointing out Panneerselvams own statement that he was asked to propose the name of Sasikala for the post of general secretary and later for chief minister position, Kumar said: What prevented him from opposing the move at the first instance itself. Kumar also wondered as to the reason for the continued absence of the governor at a time when there is only a caretaker government in the state. We did not know where to reach him and give him the letter of support of legislators for Sasikala, who can stake her claim to form the next government, Kumar said. At a time when a political change is happening in the state, the governor goes from Coimbatore to Delhi and then to Mumbai. He said this shows that the BJP and the Centre are fishing in the troubled waters. Read| Live updates from Tamil Nadu: Will prove majority and lead people, says Panneerselvam day after revolt against Sasikala Amid political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who also holds charge for the southern state, will stay in Mumbai with no indication of when he will travel to Chennai. So far, we have no information on whether the governor has any travel plans today for Chennai or Delhi, a Raj Bhavan official told PTI. On Tuesday, Raj Bhavan sources had said Rao may leave for Chennai in a day or two. Political crisis looms large over Tamil Nadu after O Panneerselvam last night dropped a bombshell, saying that he was forced to resign as chief minister to make way for AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, who is yet to be sworn-in for the top job. Panneerselvam broke his silence on the happenings in the party after the death of his late mentor J Jayalalithaa on December 5, saying he was being insulted by senior ministers and leaders who sought to undermine him after electing him the chief minister. The Andhra Pradesh government has sent 90 proposals worth Rs 1,30,762 crore to the Centre under Sagarmala, the national project aimed at improving the coastline and inland waterways, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday. He asked officials to prepare an action plan for all the projects. The government constituted a 33-member committee for speedy completion of various works under Sagaramala. The committee, headed by the chief minister, will oversee the projects and bring together all concerned departments and review the works on daily basis. At the first meeting of the committee, Naidu said that with second longest coastline in the country, Andhra Pradesh has many opportunities for a coast-led industrial economy. He reminded the officers that sourcing raw material at reasonable rate is the key for development. We need an action plan to make sure that the project is completed within time. Identify ports as clusters, an official statement quoted him as saying. Naidu said that the Krishnapatanam port will soon be made a national employment zone. He called for interlinking of ports, corridors and highways to give impetus to industrial development. Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari had said in January that two coastal economic zones will be created in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore as part of the Sagarmala project. The zones one covering Srikakulam to Vijayawada and the other from Vijayawada to Nellore will come under Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor. He had also said that the work on National Waterway 4 or Buckingham Canal (1,095-km long) in Andhra Pradesh will begin after the assembly elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The cost of this joint venture project between the state and central governments is Rs 2,000 crore. A cache of arms and ammunitions was recovered during a search operation on Wednesday carried out at Red Fort under the supervision of NSG teams, police said. The cache was recovered days after boxes of ammunition and explosives were recovered from the wells in the monument. In the search carried out with the help of underwater cameras today, two grenades, two mortars, detonators and ammunitions were recovered from a well, they said. The NSG has recommended to the ASI to seal the well as after the recoveries, it was felt that there could be no further recoveries. On February 4, during cleaning work of the wells, behind the publication building, under supervision of ASI, labourers found a trunk containing explosives in the well. The local police had informed the NSG that had taken the ammunition in its possession. A late-night revolt has turned into a full-blown war in the ruling AIADMK. Tamil Nadus caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the death of his mentor J Jayalalithaa, intensifying a high-stakes revolt against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala whose potential elevation to the top post has sparked a political crisis in the state. Sasikala, Jayalalithaas long-time confidante who was elevated as the AIADMKs legislature party leader on Sunday to pave the way for becoming the chief minister, hit back within hours, parading 130-odd MLAs in a show of strength at the party headquarters. She then packed off all her MLAs into three buses and sent them off to an undisclosed location a luxury hotel to be kept under guard lest they be subject to poaching. This is a first in politics for Tamil Nadu that has only seen such scenes playing out across the border in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and in distant Uttar Pradesh or Haryana. However, possibilities of her swearing-in immediately looked uncertain though governor C Vidyasagar Rao is likely to arrive in Chennai on Thursday. He is also likely to meet AIADMK leaders. Rao, the governor of Maharashtra with additional charge of Tamil Nadu, was in Mumbai and is said to be consulting legal and constitutional experts on how to deal with the crisis triggered by Panneerselvams dramatic, late-night announcement on Tuesday that he was forced to resign by legislators siding with Sasikala. O Panneerselvam meet media his residence on Wednesday, Feb 8, 2017. (HT Photo ) Panneerselvam said the investigation into the death of Jayalalithaa will be headed by a retired high court judge. Jayalalithaa suffered a heart attack and passed away on December 5 after spending 75 days in hospital. Panneerselvam, 66, has accused Sasikala of keeping party leaders away from the former chief ministers hospital bed and, after her death, engineering a coup to replace him. The people of Tamil Nadu deserved to be told the truth about her illness and death, he said, reiterating his willingness to take back his resignation. I am in touch with many MLAs and have their support O Panneerselvam Social activist Traffic Ramaswamy, who was one of the persons who filed a PIL seeking details of treatment of Jayalalithaa and her health, was also present at the residence of OPS, as Panneervelvam is fondly called. Tamil Nadu people are closing the chapter of Sasikala, said PH Pandian, a former assembly speaker who claims that Jayalalithaa was murdered. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu must be saved from the gang of murderers and looters. Though the numbers appeared to be with Sasikala, Pannnerselvam remained unfazed. Amma (Jayalalithaa) gave him many opportunities, I also gave him many opportunities, but he joined hands with the DMK Sasikala Just wait for few days and you will see how things develop. I am in touch with many MLAs and have their support, the chief minister said. He hoped that he would be invited by the governor and given a chance to prove his majority on the floor of the house. Sasikala sacked Panneerselvam as the party treasurer on Tuesday night and followed it up by removing the IT secretary on Wednesday as she sought to put pressure on any party leader backing the CM in the bitter power struggle. Panneerselvam, however, refused to take the sacking lying down and wrote to bank managers saying all AIADMK transactions must have his authorisation as he was still the treasurer. Sources said the AIADMK is planning to parade all MLAs before President Pranab Mukherjee as proof of its strength in the 234-member assembly. All are united and no one can break the party or shake our foundations, Sasikala said in a short address to MLAs and party workers. She dubbed Panneerselvam a traitor and warned MLAs against joining the caretaker chief ministers revolt against her. She also said Panneerselvam was an opportunist. Amma (Jayalalithaa) gave him many opportunities, I also gave him many opportunities, but he joined hands with the DMK, Sasikala said, accusing Panneerselvam of colluding with the AIADMKs rival. DMKs working president MK Stalin denied the accusation, saying his party had nothing to do with the internal squabbles of the ruling party. Amma was my God for 33 years during which there were many ups and downs, many calamitiesShe overcame all of those, and I overcame all of those alongside her and we will overcome this one too... I swear this in the name of Amma, Sasikala said. Her family members, whose presence at Jayalalithaas funeral had raised eyebrows, were present during the meeting. Rivals derisively refer to Sasikalas famiy as Mannargudi mafia, a reference to her hometown and the alleged corrupt dealings of her family that enjoyed immense clout in early days of Jayalalithaas rule. In Delhi, the Congress accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of using the governor to try and topple the AIADMK government. Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said peoples mandate should not be ignored and one cant bring down the government in a state using the governor as a puppet. Information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu, however, said the Centre had no role to play in the internal developments of the AIADMK. The governor is studying the situation, Naidu said. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Bengaluru-bound GoAir flight, carrying nearly 190 people, made an emergency landing on Wednesday at the New Delhi airport due to technical issues. The incident happened in the evening and after landing safely, passengers were accommodated in the subsequent flight. There were a total of 184 passengers and three infants aboard the flight that made the emergency landing, according to GoAir. G8-557 Delhi-Bengaluru flight had an emergency landing at Delhi airport at 1953 hours (7:53pm) due to technical reasons, the airline said in a statement. The flight had taken off at around 7:32pm. Delhi airport sources said the flight landed safely on Runway 28 after the Air Traffic Control announced full emergency protocol. The government on Wednesday cancelled the inter-level examination conducted by Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) after the special investigation team, constituted to probe allegations of question paper leak, submitted the report to the to the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP). The examination was being conducted in four phases to recruit clerks in state government departments across Bihar. About 95000 candidates had taken the examination at 750 centres across the state in the second phase held on last Sunday.The first phase was held on January 29. Chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said the examination of all four phases would be conducted afresh. The dates would be announced later, he said. The decision to cancel the examination was taken after approval from chief minister Nitish Kumar. Earlier in the day, BSSC secretary Parmeshwar Ram was arrested in connection with the alleged leak of question papers ahead of second phase examination. Ram was quizzed and his house searched by the special investigating team (SIT) on Tuesday. Confirming the arrest of Ram and BSSC data entry operator Avinash Kumar, Patna zone inspector general (IG) NH Khan said both were being forwarded to jail. Prima facie their role has been established and efforts will be made to take them on remand, said Khan. Sources said the initial SIT investigation pointed to involvement of the BSSC at some key levels, as all arrangements to answer questions seemed to be in place at two places in Patna and Nawada, from where police recovered sophisticated gadgets and found evidence of solved questions on WhatsApp messenger. The investigation in the case gathered momentum after the chief minister on Tuesday said the probe would be taken to its logical end. The chief minister had ordered the chief secretary and DGP PK Thakur to probe the allegations despite constant denial by BSSC top brass. A senior police officer said question papers would not have been leaked without the connivance of BSSC officials. This is the reason why police conducted raids at the residence of the BSSC secretary and interrogated him, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two senators have introduced a legislation aiming to cut legal immigration, unlike others focussed on illegal immigration, to protect American jobs for Americans, specially those in the low-skilled and unskilled categories. The legislation, which was moved by Senator Tom Cotton and David Perdue and has the backing of the Trump administration, also proposed to cut permanent residency (better known as green card) for refugees. The bill would limit refugees offered permanent residency to 50,000 per year, in line with a 13-year average; not for other categories, said a statement released by Cottons office announcing the introduction of the legislation. It was not immediately clear if, and how, it would impact the 1.5 million Indians who came here mostly on H-1B visas for skilled workers and are now in line for their green cards, with waiting time expected to be anywhere from 10 to 35 years. Read | Bill against H1B visa back in US Congress: How will it affect Indias IT sector The Cotton-Perdue bill proposes to cut green cards only for refugees, not for those who arrived here on temporary work visas such as the H-1Bs, used by US firms to hire high-skilled foreign workers, each for a maximum period of six years. The bill, called Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act, aims to cut overall immigration to 637,960 in its first year and to 539,958 by its 10th year, down 50% from the 1,051,031 immigrants who arrived in 2015. Its time our immigration system started working for American workers, said Cotton, who is emerging as an immigration hawk in the mold of Senator Jeff Sessions, who is awaiting confirmation as Trumps attorney general. The RAISE Act would promote higher wages on which all working Americans can build a future - whether your family came over here on the Mayflower or you just took the oath of citizenship. We are taking action to fix some of the shortcomings in our legal immigration system, Perdue said, adding, returning to our historically normal levels of legal immigration will help improve the quality of American jobs and wages. Cotton argued that the growth in legal immigration in recent decades had led to a sharp decline in wages for working Americans and that the bill represented an effort to move the US to a more merit-based system like Canada and Australia. The RAISE Act would retain immigration preferences for the spouses and minor children of US citizens and legal permanent residents while eliminating preferences for certain categories of extended and adult family members. Read | H-1B visa curbs coming, says Donald Trumps pick for US attorney general It also proposes to eliminate diversity visa lottery. The diversity lottery is plagued with fraud, advances no economic or humanitarian interest, and does not even deliver the diversity of its namesake. The RAISE Act would eliminate the 50,000 visas arbitrarily allocated to this lottery, it said. (With inputs from agencies) BJP on Wednesday said it would oppose the TRS Governments attempt to give reservations in jobs and education on religious lines in Telangana. Noting that there is no provision in the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar for quota on religious lines, State BJP President K Laxman alleged it is not proper for the ruling TRS to give reservation to Muslims for vote bank politics. He was referring to the TRS Governments attempt to get the Centre to facilitate 12% reservation to Muslims, a key election promise of the ruling party. The BJP leader was speaking at an event organised by the party to collect mass signatures against the TRS Governments decision. The State Government had said it would urge the Centre to allow it to provide 12% quota to the backward sections among Muslims. Laxman said the BJP would intensify its agitation on the issue and take it to the Governors notice first. Laxman also condemned the criticism made against his party by TRS leaders over postponement of an appointment of an all-party delegation from the State with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on SC categorisation issue. The Telangana Government proposed to lead an all-party delegation, headed by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister to urge the Centre to take steps for categorisation of SCs. The state government had said an appointment with the Prime Minister has been postponed to a later date. Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari and TRS MP Jitender Reddy have expressed unhappiness over the postponement of the appointment. The SC categorisation is being sought by certain outfits saying that they are not benefiting in the existing system of reservation and others. Tehran, Iran, Feb. 8 By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend: Iran is going to limit the use of quadcopters for the public after a couple of incidents that involved shooting at such aircraft around a no-fly zone in downtown Tehran. A workgroup is formed to limit the sales and use of small aircraft to official permissions, Irans air defense chief, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said, Mehr news agency reported February 8. This is a security issue. There should be a registry where we would know who imported the drones, who bought them, and who uses them, he said. On January 16, Tehran citizens climbed to rooftops around 17:00 local time to watch continued air defense shooting around Enqelab Square, where there is a no-fly zone encompassing the headquarters of the supreme leader and the president. Local sources reported Tehrans Deputy Governor General for Security Ali Asqar Nasserbakht as having said during the operation that a quadcopter had been shot down. That was the second unleashing of air defense in downtown Tehran in less than a month due to the same reason. On December 23, 2016, Irans Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base said that its forces had shot down an unmanned aircraft in the same area. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to probe the alleged Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) examination question paper leak, is tightening its noose around commission secretary Parmeshwar Ram and other senior officials. The SIT on Tuesday detained many employees and quizzed Ram and other BSSC officials in connection with the alleged leak of BSSC examination question papers. The BSSC had conducted the intermediate level examinations on January 29 and February 5 to recruit clerks in state government departments across Bihar. Even as TV channels on Wednesday claimed that Ram and five other BSSC officials were arrested, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj, who is heading the SIT, denied the reports. The matter is still being investigated and no formal arrest has been made, Mahaaraj said. He said: Investigations into the alleged leak of question papers of the BSSC intermediate level examinations has been initiated. Police have interrogated employees of the BSSC, including Ram, to secure leads in the case. Maharaaj, however, refused to divulge details of the case. I cannot reveal much at this stage. The SIT will soon crackdown on the gangs involved in the racket, he added. An SIT team, led by the SSP and deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Rakesh Dubey visited the BSSC office to seek details of the examination process from Ram and other officials. The SIT has collected documents and some sets of question paper, said an officer. Patna police had earlier arrested three persons, allegedly engaged in planning to help BSSC examinees on January 29. Police also seized electronic gadgets, including 13 bluetooth devices, 10 batteries, 90 earphones, 10 cell phones, four SIM cards, besides undergarments and shirts fitted with hi-tech gadgets to facilitate cheating in the exam hall. Police had on February 5 arrested 28 persons from Nawada, 84 km from Patna, for reportedly helping examinees adopt unfair means through sophisticated electronic devices. The arrested persons had allegedly taken huge amounts from some examinees to facilitate them in the examination. The SIT was constituted by Patna zone inspector general NH Khan after chief minister Nitish Kumar ordered a probe into the entire episode. China on Wednesday said there was no consensus among countries and conditions had not been met to include the Pakistan-based terror suspect Masood Azhar in a list of UN-designated terrorists after Beijing blocked an US-sponsored move to do so. In defending the move, Beijing brushed aside Indias outrage that the alleged Pathankot attack mastermind had again slipped through the net of international sanctions. In the same breath, a Chinese official said he hoped that the decision would not affect India-China bilateral ties. This wasnt the first time that China came between Azhar and India, which many say is a result of Beijings all-weather friendship with Pakistan. But its defence of the move continues to be similar as before. Last year, 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached," Lu Kang, ministry of foreign affairs spokespersons said. As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the Committee to reach a decision, he said. China has put the request on technical hold, to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the Committee, he said. The proposal against Azhar said Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) was a designated terror group and its leaders could not go scot-free. China opposed the US move by putting a hold on the proposal just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold, an official in New Delhi told HT on Tuesday. Our views on Masood Azhar and Jaish-e-Mohammed are well known. JeM has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a threat to regional stability, an US state department official told HT in Washington. China clearly some would say determinedly is not convinced. And, it didnt really matter if it was an US-sponsored move this time. So, whoever submitted the request we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations, he said. Lu said to include Azhar in the list was not a matter of length time but a matter of whether consensus can be reached on the basis of full consultation, refusing to indicate whether China would change its decision in the future. Lu said Beijing and New Delhi have exchanged views" on the issue. We dont hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship. On criticism that China is continuously blocking the move at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said: Chinas action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures. We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the Committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community, he said. A paramilitary troopers complaint on social media about stale food might have gone viral last month, but a deeper malaise exists: Indebtedness, disputes relating to property and familial problems drove 60 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to suicide in 2015, according to a report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The NCRBs Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2015 says 30 of the suicides were over family and marriage issues while 12 ended their lives due to financial crunch or indebtedness. Four took their lives due to property-related disputes while the cause of 13 suicides could not be ascertained. One trooper ended his life due to mental depression from a service-related problem. CAPFs comprise of about 944,000 personnel in the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITPB), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles (AR) and the National Security Guard (NSG). Of the total suicides in 2015, BSF registered the highest at 27 followed by 17 in CISF. The break-up for the other forces was not given. Former BSF director general DK Pathak said that familial reasons were found to be a significant factor in the suicides. Most of the suicides I noticed occurred about two-three months after a trooper returned from his leave, Pathak told IANS. He said BSF had taken steps to tackle the problem and such efforts had shown encouraging results. He said a 45-minute documentary about life in BSF was prepared in 2015 to sensitise the troopers as well as their families. A CD of the documentary is given to the troopers before they go on vacation. They are also advised to watch the CD along with their family, Pathak said. A former CRPF officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told IANS that lack of camaraderie can be a factor behind suicides. A feeling of fellowship is necessary to overcome this problem, he said. The CRPF officer said that a trooper sometimes cuts himself off from his colleagues due to problems with his family and feels isolated. They need proper guidance and support of their colleagues and seniors, he said. Five states -- Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Punjab -- and Delhi reported 71.7 per cent of total suicides in the CAPFs in 2015. Of these, Assam reported the highest of 18 followed by six each from Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. But the number of suicides in 2015 was significantly lower than in 2014 when 175 instances were reported. Fifteen of these were due to service-related problems or mental depression. Also, there has been significant reduction in CAPF personnel killed due to accidents in 2015 compared to 2014, according to the NCRB report. While 1,232 personnel lost their lives in accidents in 2014, the figure came down to 193 in 2015. Drunk drivers causing death should be tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and an accident caused by drink driving should be treated as a planned crime and not an act of negligence, as is the practice, a parliamentary panel has recommended. Currently, in most such cases where drink driving results in death, the accused is booked under 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (causing death due to negligence), punishable with two year jail or fine or both. The Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, which reviewed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 tabled its report in the Parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for the early passage of the crucial bill. Indian roads continue to be one of the deadliest in the world. Of the 1.46 lakh people who lost their lives in road accident in 2015, 4.6% (6755) was caused by drunk drivers. Highlights of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 Hefty penalties of up to Rs 10,000 for traffic violation such as jumping red light, talking on mobile phone, drunken driving, etc. Penalizing parents of juvenile drivers. Taxi aggregators brought under the motor vehicle law. Mandatory vehicle recall policy. Driving license to be valid for 20 years from the date of issue or until you complete 55 years, whichever is earlier. After that it will be renewed every five years. Mandatory registration of vehicles at automobile dealers instead of at RTOs. Online issue of learners license to be made mandatory. Increasing the penalty for overspeeding, drunk driving, underage driving, talking on mobile phone, overloading. The panel supported almost all the other amendments to the MV bill, proposed by the union road transport and highways ministry. These include a steep hike in penalty for various traffic offences and a host of stringent provision such as penalizing owner/guardian of minor who are caught driving and causing fatal accident. Such parents will have to shell out Rs 25,000 fine and face a jail term of three years for allowing their ward to drive. The registration of their vehicles will also be cancelled. Cracking the whip on drunk drivers, the committee has recommended that the government may amend the necessary legislations to include the deaths due to drunken driving as culpable homicide not amounting to murder which comes under Section 304 of the IPC. Offences under Section 304 are non-bailable and punishable with 10-year jail term or life imprisonment. However, it is the road transport ministry that will take a final call on whether these recommendations will be incorporated. The bill was referred to the panel last August. The panel also said that accident committed by drunk drivers should not be construed as an act of negligence but treated as a premeditated commitment of a crime and the drunk driver should be made punishable under relevant provisions of IPC depending on the consequences of the accident. The 32-member committee, headed by Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy backed the road ministrys proposal to bring taxi aggregators such as Uber under the ambit of motor vehicle law. However, it has recommended that the power to frame guidelines to control the operations of aggregators should vest with the state and not the central government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Elahiganj in Murshidabad district has become the first village in Bengal to ban sale and consumption of alcohol and narcotics within its limits and impose a stiff fine for those flouting the rule. About 6,000 residents of Elahiganj, about 215 km north of Kolkata, decided to crack down on the sale and consumption of alcohol after six people died after consumed hooch in Galsi of neighbouring Burdwan district in January. The villagers formed a committee of 80 people that took the decision to implement the ban in the first week of January. The decision was announced from the mosques over loudspeakers and no one raised any objection. We have successfully turned our village into an alcohol and drug-free one for the past one month. Several residents of the village who were alcoholics have lost everything and a year ago a youth of the village was killed during a drunken brawl. So, most villagers were in favour of the ban, Mohammad Nur Amin, a cleric, said. We have decided to impose a fine Rs 2,000 from anyone consuming alcohol, or hooch, in Elahiganj. If anybody dares to sell alcohol he has to pay a fine of Rs 5,000, Amin added. Interestingly, the decision of the villagers runs counter to the policy of the state government. Desperate to milk more revenue from the sale of alcohol, the cash-strapped administration has not only cut down dry days from 12 to 4.5 and extended drinking hours in bars but also has set up a company to enter the alcohol distribution business. The alcohol market in Bengal comprises a network of around 2,000 bars (on shops) and a little over 3,000 retailers (off shops). The number of distributors stands at 104. Following the announcement, no one has been seen consuming alcohol in the village, a common sight earlier. Only three people were caught in a drunken state and each of them was fined. The Rs 6,000 realised from the three has been kept with the committee. It will be used to help the poor and needy, Syed Nurujjaman, a committee member, said. My husband used to consume hooch almost every day. He also beat me up for money. But he has stopped after the ban was imposed, Fatima Bibi, a villager, said. Several villagers told Hindustan Times that they have got support from the local police too. The police even assured of help in case of any trouble after the ban. Elahiganj is an underdeveloped village where agriculture is the predominant economic activity. So far every single resident of Elahiganj has supported this initiative and some villages in the area have evinced interest to emulate us, Emamul Haque Tuli, a member of Murshidabad-Jiaganj panchayat samiti, said. A total ban on the sale of liquor is in force in Bihar, Gujarat, Nagaland and parts of Manipur; as well as in the Union territory of Lakshadweep. Kerala has been implementing prohibition in a phased manner since 2014. Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram and Tamil Nadu enforced prohibition but repealed it later. Parents can monitor what their children eat at home, but once they step out, healthy options dry up. Instead, childrens palate is assaulted with unhealthy food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) and low on essential nutrients they need to grow mentally and physically. Chips, sweetened beverages, instant noodles, fries, samosas, bread pakoras and patties are the standard fare in most school cafeterias. When schools ban them, enterprising vendors set up makeshift kiosks and sell meals-on-bicycles outside schools. With no running water or quality control for cooking and storing, most children end up with empty calories and very often, gut-destroying germs. All refined, fried and processed foods are just empty calories because most of the essential sugar and fat the body needs is present naturally in food, such as sugar in fruits and fat in dairy, seeds, nuts, meats and cooking oil, says Rahul Verma, founder of the Delhi-based non-profit Uday Foundation, which filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court in December 2010 asking for a ban on the sale of junk food in schools. Though traditional snacks are freshly made and do not have additives such as colour and preservatives added to them, they are usually high in low quality oils, salts and sugars, Verma underlines. In March 2015, the Delhi High Court asked the administrator of Delhi to issue healthy eating guidelines under Rule 43 of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973, and directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to formulate guidelines, which have since been circulated but are not binding. While many private schools in Delhi and Mumbai have not waited for government guidelines and moved towards healthier snacks years ago, Punjab, where the states child rights commission banned junk food in schools in January 2016, unhealthy foods are still widely available. Delhis Springdales School, Pusa Road, removed fried snacks and aerated drinks from their canteen menu a decade ago. The shift in the attitude occurred after a survey showed 70% of the students were overweight and were either suffering from associated conditions or would grow up to be unhealthy adults. Children have only one meal in school during recess. To make the child healthy over-all, we have to involve the parents. Too many children were getting two-minute noodles, fried potato taters or foods high on sugar and fats, says Ameeta Wattal, principal, Springdales, where poha, idli sambar and wholewheat sandwiches are sold along with drinks like lassi, chaach and lime juice. Read | Out of the box: Healthy eating is now part of school lunchrooms These foods are also part of the cafeteria menu at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, where the menu is changed periodically to include seasonal vegetables. The school also has a committee consisting of teachers, students and some parents who work in the field of nutrition -- that monitor the nutrition value of the food, the taste and the oil it is cooked in. Our canteen is outsourced, but we strictly monitor it to make sure that the quality of the food is maintained, says Manohar Lal, principal of the school. In Lucknows La Martiniere Girls College, children are encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables from kindergarten. The practice was introduced by our former principal Late Farida Abraham and it is still continuing, vice-principal Aashrita Dass told HT. In Mumbai, parents associations are sore at the lack of guidelines in Maharashtra. Schools receive cutbacks from vendors, and canteen contractors also prefer such items because it boosts their sales, says Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education, a parent-teacher body. Read | Boys in India eat better than girls: Oxford study Even education officials admit they do not check whether schools serve junk food as there is no regulation against it so far. We cannot stop a school from serving junk food, as there is no official ban in place. We can at best advise them to opt for healthier choices, concedes BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai division. While many schools said it is difficult to restrict junk food in its vicinity, some have come up with innovative ways to restrict fast food in the campus: Rajhans Vidyalaya in Andheri serves fresh, hot and hygienic food breakfast and lunch on campus and doesnt allow home food to ensure parents dont send unhealthy food. Aerated drinks are banned. At Ryan International, Kandivali, teachers patrol the streets after school to ensure children walking out dont stop at the nearby McDonalds or other junk food joints. In government-run schools, the hot meals provided under the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid Day Meal Scheme) are nutritive and safe but remain a challenge in many districts. The scheme was launched to increase enrolment, retention and attendance while improving the nutrition levels of children by giving them 300 calories of energy, 8-12 gm of protein and adequate micronutrients. The meals were not good enough to keep children in school. A 2015 audit of the action taken on the Comptroller and Auditor Generals 2008 Report on Mid Day Meal Scheme showed that the enrolment of children in the midday meals-covered schools dropped from 14.69 crore in 2009-10 to 13.87 crore in 2013-14, while enrolment in private schools shot up by 38% in the same period. The audit also found children were given less than the prescribed quantity of 100/150 gms of foodgrains and prescribed inspections were not carried out to ensure quality. Most schools sample checked in the audit were lacking in infrastructural facilities like kitchen sheds, proper utensils, availability of drinking water facility etc. There were several instances of food being cooked in the open in unhygienic conditions, the report found. Few lessons seem to have been learnt from the shocking case of negligence that left 23 children dead and dozens others seriously ill after they ate a pesticide-laced midday-meal at a primary school in the village of Dharmashati Gandaman in the Saran district in Bihar in July 2013. A month later, 30 children fell ill in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh; and in November 2014, 25 children fell ill after eating their mid-day meal at a government school in Gaya district in Bihar. In July 2016,40 students fell ill in Chincholi village of Adilabad district of Telangana after eating food prepared in the school kitchen for a farewell party for seniors. In September that year, 25 students were hospitalised in Kolar district in Karnataka In September 2015, about 150 students in Chandoor town and Ilapuram village in Telangana started vomiting after their mid-day meal. Such cases of food poisoning are very rare and take place in remote areas due to lack of proper supervision and maintenance of kitchen. Otherwise, there is a periodical check on the quality of food by officials, parents committees and teachers. Even we eat the same food regularly to ensure the quality, said L Ravinder Rao, a senior headmaster in a government school in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana. Patidar quota leader from Gujarat Hardik Patel on Tuesday said he was in Mumbai to pay tribute to late Balasaheb Thackeray and not to be part of the campaign for February 21 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. I am here to say Jai Maharashtra and pay tribute to late Balasaheb Thackeray whom I liked and respected but could not meet him as I was very young (when he passed away). I am not here to campaign for Shiv Sena for the Mumbai civic polls, he said on the sidelines of an event in suburban Goregaon. Read | Hardik Patel as Shiv Senas face for Gujarat polls? Uddhav Thackeray says why not When asked why he was suddenly remembering Balasaheb, Patel said, Enemys enemy is a natural friend (in an apparent reference to BJP as his and Shiv Senas enemy). Myself and members of the Patidar community will extend our support to Shiv Sena in Gujarat. It will be a friendly gesture, he said. Since many members from Gujarati community in Mumbai are associated with my movement it was their long-time wish to felicitate me in the city, Patel said. He alleged that the state government machinery tried to derail his visit by arm twisting methods. This is in the blood of BJP-ruled states to use official machinery against its rivals, Patel alleged. He said he was supporting march by members of Marathas seeking reservation for the community. Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai attended the meeting and said he and Uddhav Thackeray were very much impressed by the way the young leader carried forward his fight for reservation to the community. Launched with the aim to bring the poor, financially excluded people into the banking system by providing them bank accounts and debit cards, Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream project Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has become an obstacle for those it intends to help. The recent restriction of an upper limit of Rs 50,000 for deposits into these accounts has become a big barrier to the governments own welfare schemes and is also depriving the eligible beneficiaries in getting financial assistance under various welfare schemes. In Rajasthans Barmer area, the governments upper limit on deposits has increased the problem for thousands of beneficiaries awaiting financial assistance under various welfare schemes which are often more than Rs 50 thousand. As a result, government departments are not able to deposit the amount into the beneficiaries account. Nitish Kumar, General Manager at Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCWWB) in Barmer told HT that in 40 cases when they have released the sanctioned amount to the bank accounts, but the banks have returned it while referring government restrictions on Jan Dhan account. Chokha Ram (49), a resident of Bakhse Ka Tala village in Barmer who is a registered labuorer with BOCWWB, had married off his daughter about two years back. At that time he applied for a financial assistance of Rs 51 thousand under the Beti Vivah Sahayata Yojana. After a two-year wait, his request was sanctioned and the department released the amount to his bank account. But the bank returned it citing government restrictions on Jan-Dhan account where deposits of only up to Rs 49 thousand can be made. The restrictions are also coming in the way of treatment of patients. Karna Ram and Uttama Ram, both residents of Barmer city who have been suffering from silicosis for some time, have now been laid low by the restrictions on Jan Dhan accounts despite the state government sanctioning them Rs one lakh for their treatment. Another resident of Barmer Rajendra who was also a silicosis patient, died about eight months ago. The government had sanctioned Rs 2 lakh as compensation for his widow but due to the restriction on her Jan Dhan account department, she has not been able to deposit it in her bank. Laxman Badera, district president, Kamtha Majdoor Union Barmer, a local labour organization, said that due to governments restriction on Jan Dhan accounts, labourers were not getting financial assistance in the entire state. He demanded that considering the pathetic situation of the labourers, the government should immediately remove this restriction. He claimed that he had written a letter to the PM and also discussed the matter with the minister of finance (state) Arjun Meghwal during his visit to the district. The Jan Dhan account scheme was launched to ensure access to various financial services like availability of basic savings bank account, access to need based credit, remittances facility, insurance and pension to the excluded sections i.e. weaker sections and low income groups. Besides, the government plan also envisages channeling all benefits (from Centre/state/local bodies) to the beneficiaries accounts and pushing the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme of the central government. In addition, the beneficiaries would get RuPay Debit card having inbuilt accident insurance cover worth Rs 1 lakh. China has done it again. On February 2, it blocked a US proposal to get Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar listed on a UN list of designated terrorists. India blames Azhar for masterminding last years attacks on the Pathankot airbase and an Indian Army camp in Uri in September that left 19 soldiers dead. The proposal was moved by the Obama administration on January 19 and backed by the UK and France but in a show of solidarity with its all-weather friend Pakistan, China put a technical hold on it. Here is what India can do to get Azhar on the UN list: How long is the technical hold? The technical hold is for six months. China is the only country among the UNs 15-member security council to hold out on Resolution 1267, which allows for freezing assets and ban travel for those on the list. During the period, India can furnish more details in support of its demand for sanctions against Azhar. Can China extend the technical hold? Yes, for another three months. At the end of the nine-month period from February 2, China has to make up its mind if it wants to veto the proposal. Possible solution? Though the hold is technical but for all practical purposes, it is political in nature. China appreciating Indias concerns over the Jaish chief is the best case scenario but the most unlikely. India had in February 2016 requested the UN to add Azhar to the sanctions list and had the support of all committee members but one. China put a hold on the plan in April, extended it in October and blocked the proposal in December. Why the rush for ban and what does it mean? The push is a part of Indias effort to draw worlds attention to the threat posed by terror groups based in Pakistan. New Delhi blames Azhar, who was freed by India in exchange for passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines plane in December 1999, for several militant attacks. Individuals and entities brought on the sanctions list face asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo measures aimed at crippling their capacity to strike. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One more murder accused in the journalist Rajdeo Ranjan case was on Monday granted bail after the CBI failed to submit chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days. The special CBI court of north Bihar at Muzaffarpur granted bail to Javed Bhatt alias Javed Mian in the killing of the Hindustan bureau chief at Siwan. Bhatt is the second accused in the case after Mohammed Kaif alias Bunty was granted bail on January 19. Two of the six accused in the case are still in jail. The bail petition of Laddan Mian, another accused, lodged in the Gaya central jail, comes up for hearing later in the day. The bail to Javed Bhatt alias Javed Mian comes as a jolt to the CBI after Kaif was released 20 days back. CBI judge Anupama Kumari granted bail after the CBI failed to submit the chargesheet. CBI legal councilor was absent during the hearing. Advocate Sharad Sinha, who appeared on behalf of Bhatt, said: It shows that they (the CBI) have nothing against us. Ninety days is enough to gather evidence and file chargesheet against any accused. The failure in submission of chargesheet is a clear indication of my clients innocence in the case, said Sinha. Javed and Kaif were among six persons made accused in the murder case of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, who was killed on May 13 last year. Ranjan was intercepted by two bike-borne assailants, one of whom fired at him from close range. He died on way to hospital. The CBI took over the probe on the direction of Supreme Court. Ranjans wife, Asha Ranjan, had moved the court. She claimed before the top court that the CBI had not even started its probe in the case due to political influence and fear of Mohammad Shahabuddin, a former RJD MP from Siwan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 Trend: A protest action is being held in front of the Embassy of Belarus in Yerevan, Armenia, against Minsks decision to extradite blogger Alexander Lapshin to Baku, aysor.am news website reports. Armenian MPs are also taking part in the protest action, according to the website. MP Nikol Pashinyan has tried to pass a statement to the Belarusian envoy which suggested him to leave the territory of Armenia in the shortest time possible. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories. Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012. In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016. 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modis contention on Tuesday that the government picked the right time to carry out its demonetisation exercise has found few takers in the Opposition. The Congress termed Modis speech in the Lok Sabha as arrogant, and said he had lost a good opportunity to present his vision and explain what he and his party stand for. This was quite an arrogant reply... He should have used this window of opportunity to present his vision, clarity and perspective for the country, Congress leader Veerappa Moily told reporters after the speech. UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav responded to the Prime Ministers speech by saying that demonetisation has resulted in people leaving their jobs to stand in queue before banks and ATMs -- badly affecting their financial situation. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, for her part, said the visionless (demonetisation) drive only made the nation lose its economic freedom. Today, three months are over, but the restrictions and sufferings are not. Citizens have lost their economic freedom, she tweeted. As if to prove her right on this count, an estimated one-fourth of the ATMs across the country ran dry the same day -- exposing the governments claim that the worst of the post-demonetisation cash crunch was over. Bank officials attributed this development to the withdrawal of large amounts of cash for sundry payments and purchases at the start of the month. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi found fault with Modis comparison of the demonetisation exercise -- seen as a move to remove tax evaders and illicit wealth from the country -- with a surgical operation on the human body. Underlining his claim that Modi and his ministers were not qualified to carry out such exercises, Gandhi quipped that surgery by a quack can endanger life. The Prime Ministers explanation also faced criticism from the likes of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and N K Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (India). In his speech, Modi dubbed demonetisation as a movement intended to clean India -- just like its Swachh Bharat counterpart. He said the cash clampdown was ordered after the festive season business had peaked with Diwali, and there was a slack period when businesses usually took it easy. Changes dont happen on a whim, proper process and planning is being followed, he said, rejecting opposition charges that the government was ill-prepared for a decision that drained out 86% of the cash in the economy. The move triggered a severe cash crunch in the initial weeks, disrupting business and trade. After demonetisation, we did our best to help people who were facing issues. We also had to tweak rules to stop those who were trying to game the system, those adept at theft, he said. Modi said he was ready to face any consequences arising from the decision. Aise aise logon ki musibat hui hai. Mujhe pata hai mere upar kya kya zulm ho sakta hai (Because of the kind of people who were affectedI know the kind of trouble I could face), he added. Calling demonetisation a pro-poor move, the Prime Minister said the government was clear from the beginning that we are ready for a discussion on demonetisation but some were keener on TV bytes and not debates. He also said his government had done more to fight corruption than any other government in the past and, to make his point, cited the formation of a special investigation team on black money on the directive of the Supreme Court. Modi said the government had taken a series of steps to curb the shadow economy from applying higher taxes to jewellery and writing a stringent new law against benami property to launching a voluntary income disclosure scheme to enhance compliance. Before May 2014, the opposition benches used to shout about how much money was eaten up in the coal scam or that scam. Now the opposition shouts, how much has Modi brought back. This is a matter of great satisfaction for me, the prime minister said. Modi, who rode to power in May 2014 promising to fight corruption, was referring to his campaign pledge of bringing back illicit wealth parked abroad. You can oppose Modi, that is your job, he told the Opposition. But if something is genuinely good, you should lend your support to it. The Congress, however, was not impressed by Modis defence and reiterated its demand for an apology. Demonetisation has wrecked the lives of the peoplethe least the PM could have done is apologise to the nation. The government is yet to offer condolences to the families of the victims of demonetisation, Congress spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi said. The Congress links the death of more than 100 people to the demonetisation exercise. Read| Demonetisation pain returns: One-fourth of ATMs across India running dry again Days after he was placed under house arrest, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed has said he would have no quarrel with India if it gave up control of Jammu and Kashmir. In a video interview that was apparently conducted at his home in Lahore, the man accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks reiterated his call for the Pakistan government and political parties to declare 2017 the year of Kashmir. The interview was conducted by actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, who delivered a lengthy monologue on why he did not believe Saeed is a terrorist. The video, which was not aired by any TV news channels, was posted on YouTube on February 6 by the actor. The people who live in India, I have no conflict, differences or issues with them. I only say that you leave Kashmir, where you are killing people and blinding them. You are involved in abuses and have captured them against their will, Saeed said, speaking in Urdu. Saeed, who now leads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah that has been declared a front for the LeT by the US and the UN, was responding to questions on whether he hated Indians and wanted to conquer India. I say that you leave Kashmir and sit, and we will have no quarrel with India, he added. Watch | Video interview of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed after his house arrest Saeed also sought to portray the JuD as a charity organisation that had completed several welfare programmes for Pakistans Hindus in Sindh province and even offered aid to India during natural disasters. He also appeared to confirm reports that the JuD had rebranded itself as the Tehreek-e-Azadi Kashmir after the government cracked down on him and the group. Instead of using our organisations name, we (will work in) the name (of) Tehreek-e-Azadi Kashmir, he said. Saeed also called on the government and organisations to join his groups efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue. I want to say that the issue of Kashmir, which has become a public movement, demands that we help them (Kashmiris), he said. We asked the government and organisations to declare 2017 the year of Kashmir (and) help the Kashmiris to boost their confidence. He said all Pakistanis should become part of the collective cause. He rejected Indias contention that terrorists sneaking across the Line of Control were fuelling violence in Kashmir, saying that infiltrators cannot run a movement. Kashmiris are running their indigenous movement and demanding independence, he said, adding India was portraying him as terrorist to sabotage the Kashmiri movement. Saeed and four aides were placed in preventive detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act on January 30. He has also been barred from leaving Pakistan. The JuD also plans to mount a legal challenge to Saeeds detention. India has demanded credible action against Saeed and the JuD, including bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indias deputy high commissioner JP Singh and condemned alleged unprovoked firing by Indian troops on the Line of Control. Foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that director general (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh. (Pakistan) condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation on February 7, 2017 by Indian forces on the LoC in Khui Ratta sector, Zakaria said. He said the firing resulted in the death of a 25-year-old civilian who was working as a labourer for the construction of a house. The director general deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is a crime as well as violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, Zakaria said. The director general also urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding and investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations. Pakistan also asked India to instruct the security forces to respect the ceasefire in the letter and spirit and stop targeting villages and civilians, the statement said. Pakistan said India should maintain peace on the LoC. Even as the possibility of a spilt looms large over the AIADMK, the BJP is revelling in the hope of a new realignment that would allow it a larger footprint in Tamil Nadus Dravidian politics. For the BJP, O Panneerselvam is more favourable than VK Sasikala who is trying to use her personal history with late J Jayalalithaa to achieve political prominence. Live updates on Tamil Nadu CM row Panneerselvam, who succeeded Jayalalithaa as the chief minister before being shunted out by Sasikala, enjoys a good rapport with the BJP. The brightest moment for chief minister Panneerselvam was when his appeal to restart Jallikattu the bull-taming event held in Tamil Nadu received a favourable response from the Centre. A senior BJP leader, who is also a Union minister, told HT on the condition of anonymity that this was indeed a good time for his party to consolidate its position in the state. We must actively pursue the possibility of emerging as the third alternative in Tamil Nadu, he said. Read: Jayalalithaa may have been murdered, says AIADMK leader The saffron party, which currently holds minimal footprint in Tamil Nadu politics, sees a greater chance of allying with the Panneerselvam faction if a split is formalised. The disgruntled AIADMK leader already has a working relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as his partys top brass, and maintains regular contact with a certain BJP minister from a neighbouring state. As there are no elections on the horizon, not even at the municipal level, we have time to consolidate our base, the minister said. Modi and Jayalalithaa were quite close during her tenure. The late chief minister was the first person from an outside party to welcome Modis elevation to the BJPs prime ministerial candidate in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The NDA government had also reached an understanding with Jayalalithaa over the GST bill. Despite her opposition to the tax regime, she instructed her MPs to abstain from voting in this regard. We dont anticipate trouble from either party as far as affability towards the BJP is concerned. Whether it is the DMK or the AIADMK, my party does not expect trouble for the decisions it makes vis-a-vis central issues or even centre-state issues, said a BJP leader. The Congress, however, is seeing red. Even as the governor refuses to conduct the swearing-in ceremony, an outgoing Tamil Nadu chief minister rebels. Is PM Modi trying to bring down one more elected govt? tweeted Randeep Surjewala, chief of the partys communication department. BJP has attained mastery in the art of defection, post Uttarakhand, Arunachal, Assam & UP. Is a repeat happening in Tamil Nadu? he wondered in another tweet. The Congress on Wednesday blamed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for the political chaos going in Tamil Nadu and alleged that the latter is trying to utilise the situation to stamp the presence of the saffron party in the state. The Narendra Modi government is playing dirty game. They want to create problem for the political parties and they want to get some advantage as BJP has no hold in Tamil Nadu and they think this an opportunity to be utilized, state Congress president S Thirunavukkarasar told ANI. On the similar lines, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram asked for fresh election to be conducted in the state. The only solution to the extraordinary political situation in Tamil Nadu is to dissolve the House and call for a general election as the people of Tamil Nadu must have a right immediately elect a party and a leadership of their choice, he said. Earlier, suspense mounted over the swearing-in of V K Sasikala as chief minister of Tamil Nadu with the governor deferring his plans to go to Chennai, as charges and counter-charges flew thick and fast between AIADMK and rebel leaders over the death of J Jayalalithaa. In the wake of uncertainty over governor Vidyasagar Raos plans, the AIADMK asserted it was the constitutional obligation of the governor to swear in Sasikala as chief minister and that there is no ground for stopping it. Rao, who is in Mumbai, has no plans to go to Chennai as of now, Raj Bhavan sources in Mumbai said, indicating that he could take a decision tomorrow. Rao, who is Maharashtra governor, is holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu. The fast-changing political situation in Tamil Nadu has produced a clutch of possibilities in the power struggle between chief minister O Panneerselvam and AIADMK chief Sasikala Natarajan elevated to their current ranks after the death of J Jayalalithaa, who held both positions. The 66-year-old Panneerselvam, also known as OPS, was stand-in chief minister twice when Jayalalithaa was barred from holding public office because of litigations against her. He was the so-called natural choice when the AIADMK leader died on December 5 after a cardiac arrest. Sasikala the departed leaders closest aide and one-time conscience keeper took over the partys top post within days of Jayalalithaas death. The 59-year-olds elevation triggered a rebellion, with Panneerselvam and several top leaders going against her. Sasikala insists party legislators are backing her. The Panneerselvam camp is digging in its heels. And governor C Vidyasagar Rao is yet to take a decision. Thereby hangs several scenarios. Read: Sasikala, Panneerselvam, Deepa: Whos who in Tamil Nadu political crisis Scenario One The majority of 133 AIADMK legislators, barring a vacant seat after Jayalalithaas death, pledge support to Sasikala. The governor invited her to form a new government and adhere to a deadline to prove her strength with a trust vote in the assembly. She could pass the test if the numbers she demonstrated at the party headquarters on Wednesday are any indication. Possibility: HIGH Scenario Two Governor allows Panneerselvam to continue until a clear picture emerges. Also, the governor may like to wait as the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a disproportionate assets case against Sasikala next week. If Sasikala is acquitted, the road is clear for her. If convicted, she cannot hold any constitutional position such as the chief ministers post. The AIADMK will then have to elect another leader and stake claim if the legislators dont want Panneerselvam to continue. Possibility: HIGH Scenario Three The governor recommends Presidents rule. It will lead to fresh elections. If the AIADMK can put its house in order, it can get another chance to form the government and avoid going to the polls without their charismatic leader, Jayalalithaa. There are four more years till the current assemblys term expires. No AIADMK legislator will be in the mood for fresh elections, and will try to avoid facing the ballot. Possibility: MODERATE/LOW Scenario Four Governor allows Panneerselvam to continue and asks him to prove support from the majority of legislators. He says many MLAs are with him, and more will take his side in the next few days. But to break away from the AIADMK, he needs at least 90 of the 133 party legislators to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. Possibility: LOW SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The battle for supremacy between VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam in Tamil Nadus ruling AIADMK has triggered a war of words between the Congress and BJP, with the former accusing the latter of triggering and fuelling the chaos. Congress said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is trying to exploit the situation in Tamil Nadu to get a political foothold in the state. Live updates on Tamil Nadu CM row The BJP, which has a lone Lok Sabha MP from the state, won no seat in the 2016 assembly elections whereas the Congress, which fought the polls in alliance with DMK, has 8 MLAs. Former chief minister J Jayalalithaas death in December last year has triggered a political turmoil in the state, although AIADMK has the numbers to stay in power for another four yearsunless there is a split. The Narendra Modi government is playing a dirty game. They want to create a problem for the political parties and they want to get some advantage as BJP has no hold in Tamil Nadu. They think this an opportunity to be utilised, state Congress president S Thirunavukkarasar was quoted by the news agency ANI as saying. Party leader Randeep Surjewala had in a late night tweet on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to bring down an elected government. As Governor refuses to conduct swearing-in, an outgoing Tamil Nadu CM rebels. Is PM Modi trying to bring down one more elected Govt? Surjewala tweeted. In another tweet, he charged the BJP with engineering defections on the lines of Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The BJP was quick to hit back at the Congress. Union minister Venkaiah Naidu told reporters outside Parliament, The governor is a constitutional authority. Hes examining aspects and will take an appropriate decision. There is no reason to criticise anyone. Congress leader Karti Chidambaram demanded fresh elections in the state. Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who is in Mumbai, has no plans to go to Chennai as of now, Raj Bhavan sources said in Mumbai. Rao is Maharashtra governor and holds the additional charge of Tamil Nadu. His absence in Chennai added to the crisis and allegations against the Centre that it is playing dirty. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court brought curtains on a decade-old litigation started by the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar project on Narmada River as it directed payment of final compensation to the oustees, also paving way for the dam to operate at its full capacity. A bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar ordered payment of Rs 60 lakh each to 681 families in Madhya Pradesh who did not receive compensation towards purchase of land in lieu of the property they lost under the acquisition proceedings for the project. Two months time was given to the government to make the payment and a deadline of July 31 was fixed for the families to vacate the area. If they fail to do so, the authorities can resort to evict them, the court said. You cannot take everybody for ransom. You are not letting the project come up. When they offer you land, you dont want it, the bench told the counsel representing Narmada Bachao Aandolan (NBA). Timeline of the events that marred the Sardar Sarovar project. (HT Graphics) The association, fighting for the affected families, had moved the top court in 2014 stating the relief and rehabilitation work adopted by MP government was not in terms of the SCs earlier order. NBA wanted the court to stop the installation of gates upto full dam heights until the government rehabilitated all those whose lands would get submerged once the dam operates fully. SC also ordered a payment of Rs 15 lakh each to 1358 families, who had accepted the compensation earlier. They need to be further compensated so as to alleviate their hardship and enable them to purchase alternative land, the bench said. However, the court clarified the amount already received by them shall be deducted from this money. Advocate CD Singh, who appeared for the MP government, told HT that as per the order the government will deposit the money to Narmada Valley Development Authority, which will further give it to Grievance Redressal Authority for the distribution. Exercising its extraordinary powers vested to it under the constitution, the bench also put an end to all civil and criminal cases that arose after a Commission gave its report on the rehabilitation of the families. We are doing this to render complete justice to the parties, the bench said. Singh said there were 4998 project affected families, out of which 4,774 had opted for special rehabilitation package under which they were paid money to purchase land. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Some Pakistani nationals belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities, who came on pilgrim visa, have not returned to their country fearing religious persecution, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government in 2015 had issued stringent conditions for grant of group pilgrim visa with groups being limited to 50. The group leader was made responsible for reporting to police. Pilgrim visa is granted to Pakistani nationals to visit religious shrines in India. It has been reported that some Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities in Pakistan, mainly Hindus and Sikhs, who came to India on Group Pilgrim Visa have not returned to Pakistan on the ground of religious persecution in Pakistan, he said. Rijiju said there were no specific inputs whether some pilgrims intentionally got lost. The Central government has issued detailed instructions on July 28, 2015 laying down stringent conditions for grant of Group Pilgrim Visa to minority communities in Pakistan to visit religious places in India, he said. The minister said in each group the number of pilgrims is restricted to 50, with the group leader is responsible for police reporting for the entire group and also ensure that the members enter India, travel within the country and exit together. The Supreme Court issued contempt notice against sitting Calcutta high court judge justice CS Karnan on Wednesday for allegedly hitting out at his colleagues and former HC and SC judges with allegations of corruption. In a first, a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar refrained justice Karnan from handling any judicial and administrative work that may have been assigned to him as a consequence of office held by him. Justice Karnan has also been asked to immediately return all files in his possession. On Tuesday, the top court initiated contempt proceedings against justice Karnan, making it the first instance of such proceedings against a sitting judge of an appellate court. A copy of the case against him would be provided to justice Karnan by SC registry during the course of the day. Before the court issued the order it heard attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, who termed justice Karnans allegations as disparaging. The HC judge has been writing letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, law minister Ravi Shankar and the CJI accusing sitting and retired judges of corruption. Rohatgi said the top court must deal with the sitting judge sternly so that a message is sent across to citizens that judiciary does not dither from acting against one of its own. He also said the public communications by justice Karnan were scurrilous and slanderous. He said the letters were embarrassing and were a calculated effort to destroy the administration of justice. Justice Karnan, who courted controversy when he was a judge of the Madras HC after he openly spoke against his Chief Justice, has alleged that he is being persecuted for being a Dalit. Read | In a first, Supreme Court to begin contempt case against a sitting HC judge The judge has already challenged the SC collegium recommendation to transfer him out of his parent high court Madras to Calcutta. He will appear in the top court on February 13 to argue the case himself. On February 12, 2016, the collegium headed by then chief justice TS Thakur issued marching orders to Karnan after he openly accused Madras HC chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul of harassing him. Justice Karnan initially refused to accept the transfer and put it on hold himself, only to relent later. He has, however, not vacated the official bungalow in Chennai and has not handed over files of 12 cases, against which the HC registry has moved the top court. Justice Karnan stirred fresh controversy when he sent a letter to the Prime Minister on January 23. The letter said, high corruption in the judiciary is still being perpetrated in an arbitrary fashion and without fear. He furnished the list and claimed his allegations could be proved through some competent agencies. The letter included the name of a high court chief justice who is due for an elevation to the SC. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: Special Forces of the Turkish army have captured strategic heights in the city of Al-Bab in northern Syria, Turkeys General Staff has said. During the Feb. 7 fighting as part of the Euphrates Shield Operation the Turkish army inflicted strikes on 254 facilities of the Islamic State (aka IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorist group and neutralized 58 terrorists. Turkeys media also reported about the Turkish servicemen wounded during the fighting, but their number is not disclosed. On Aug. 24, 2016, the Turkish Air Force, with the support of the coalition aircraft, launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo. The operation was dubbed the Euphrates Shield. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The IS, YPG and PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade Police detained two IIT-Guwahati students for allegedly molesting three girls from Gauhati University during the premier tech institutions annual festival, named Alcheringa. The incident happened on February 3, but the university students filed a police complaint on Tuesday. In their complaint, the girls alleged that the two accused IIT-Guwahati students had spiked their drinks before committing the crime. We picked up the duo from the IIT campus on Tuesday night, a police officer said. The duo offered help and gave us drinks that made us dizzy. I tried to resist when they got into the act but lost my consciousness soon. The girls have undergone medical tests and police are waiting for the reports. Police declined to disclose the names of the accused as their involvement in the alleged incident was yet to be established. One of the girls said the incident occurred after 10.30pm on February 3. We were trying to get accommodation on the IIT campus to spend the night as guests because it was too late to return to the university across the (Brahmaputra) river. The duo offered help and gave us drinks that made us dizzy. I tried to resist when they got into the act but lost my consciousness soon, she said. Police are trying to find out what made the girls decide to spend the night on the IIT campus when radio and app-based cabs are available through the night in the city and on the outskirts. The distance between the two institutions is less than 10km. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In what is being called the largest haul in West Bengal since demonetisation, a man was arrested in Murshidabad district with 40 fake notes of Rs 2,000, virtually confirming apprehensions of security agencies that the counterfeit industry was working overtime in the state. Murshidabad district shares the border with Bangladesh through which fake currency is smuggled into India. The district that was once a seat of nawabs is located just beside Malda -- known to be the fake currency hub of the country. It is believed that Kaliachak and Baishnabnagar areas of Malda have a large number of couriers for carrying fake currency, most of which are printed in Pakistan and routed through Bangladesh. Incidentally, in the 11-day window between January 23 and February 4 police in Malda made two arrests with forged notes of Rs 2,000, raising their worst fears. On Wednesday, around 12.30pm, working on a tip off, a special team from Islampur police station in Murshidabad nabbed Azizur Rahaman, 26, from Chapraghat area. A search led to the seizure of 40 notes of Rs 2,000 from his possession. It is the largest haul in Bengal, and to our knowledge, there hasnt been a bigger one in the country since demonetisation, said a senior police officer of the district. Fake notes found on February 4 from a panchayat samiti official who was arrested in Malda. (HT File) We have examined the notes and have found all of them to be fake. We are going to seek police custody (of the accused) for interrogation, said Murshidabad superintendent of police Mukesh. The police officer added that the accused Rahaman might have come to Murshidabad to hand over the notes to somebody. We are yet to find out how he got hold of so many counterfeit notes after demonetisation. A senior officer of the district told HT, Rahaman hails from Pardewnapur village under Baishnabnagar police station in Malda. He came to Murshidabad to hand over the counterfeit notes to a tout at the border of Lalbagh and Berhampore. We are trying to trace that tout. Police have slapped charges of using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency notes and possession of forged or counterfeit currency notes under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code against Rahaman. On February 4, Digambar Mondal, an office bearer of the Congress-run Kaliachak-III panchayat samiti, was arrested by Baishnabnagar police from 17 Mile area with two counterfeit notes of face value Rs 2,000. The 42-year-old was sent to four days in police custody by a district court. On January 23, Baishnabnagar police detained a 15-year-old from Bakhrabad village with a counterfeit note of Rs 2,000. Officials are worried because the fake notes have been seized within just three months of the Centres demonetisation drive, which was aimed at weeding out fake currency. Malda accounts for about 80% of the fake currency that comes into India through Bangladesh. Police officers told HT that the arrest of Azizur has proved that fake currency smugglers of Malda have succeeded in spreading counterfeit notes in several places. The leader of the opposition, Abdul Mannan, was rushed to hospital and women legislators alleged manhandling as pandemonium broke out in the West Bengal legislative assembly on Wednesday over the protest of opposition parties to a Bill proposed by the government to make vandals pay for any damage to public and private property. The Congress and the Left Front are opposed to the Bill, have called it draconian and alleged that it is aimed at curbing protests. Tension was triggered after opposition MLAs pointed out that Trinamool Congress MLAs unleashed unprecedented vandalism in the assembly itself on November 30, 2006 when the Left Front was in power. Mannan carried pictures of the vandalism by TMC leaders in the house, and was greeted by protests from the ruling party MLAs. Read: Cops under constant attack in Bengal, Mamata govt to introduce new law On that day, Trinamool MLAs present in the Assembly destroyed a large number of furniture, many of them antiques, the moment Mamata Banerjee, then an MP, entered the House to tell her colleagues how the police barred her from entering Singur. On Wednesday, Congress and Left MLAs tried to enter the Assembly carrying posters depicting the destruction of furniture of the Assembly. TMC MLAs alleged a few microphones were damaged during the pandemonium. (Subhankar Chakraborty) However, speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay did not allow Congress and Left MLAs to enter the House carrying those posters. Veteran Congress leader and leader of the opposition, Abdul Mannan, defied the speaker and wore a jacket made of the posters, following which the speaker suspended Mannan for the day and asked the Marshall to take him out of the House. While Mannan refused to leave and squatted in the well, he was forcibly taken away. He fell ill following the scuffle. The state government appeared determined to get the legislation passed. After the Bhangar agitation on January 17 when a number of police vehicles were set on fire and the Aushgram police station was set ablaze on January 28, the chief minister announced that they will enact a legislation that will make vandals pay for any damage they cause to property, both public and private. The existing law of 1972 had provisions for penalising those who damaged public property. This new law will ensure those vandalising private property will be penalised as well, said parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee in a press conference. He also pointed out that it will help in protecting places of worship, and thereby help in preserving communal peace. The destruction of Assemblys furniture by Trinamool Congress MLAs in November 2006 was unprecedented. So is the way the Leader of the Opposition was suspended and forcibly taken away today, said Sujan Chakraborty, the leader of CPI(M) legislative party. The law aims at curbing protests by threatening commoners with unprecedented consequences, CPI(M) MLA and former Left Front minister Ashok Bhattacharya said. Left and Congress MLAs went to Raj Bhavan, seeking an appointment with the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, but were unable to meet him till this report was filed. Incidentally, after the destruction of Assembly furniture by TMC MLAs, former speaker Hasim Abdul Hailm opened up the House for the people to walk in and see for themselves the destruction. Following the scuffle on Wednesday, the Speaker allowed journalists to enter the House and witness how the Left and Congress MLAs ransacked the House. The chief minister apologised to the speaker for the misbehaviour of the opposition MLAs. The opposition created a ruckus instead of engaging in discussions because they are running out of issues, said veteran Trinamool leader and panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee. Later, chief minister Mamata Banerjee sent three Trinamool MLAs, Shashi Panja, Manas Bhuniya and Sudershan Ghosh Dastidar - all of whom are doctors - to see Mannan at the hospital. While no furniture was destroyed on Wednesday, some microphones were allegedly damaged and important papers went missing. Government sources claimed that charges would be framed against opposition MLAs for the vandalism on Wednesday according to the provisions of the new law. The marshall said that 11 of the security guards were injured in the scuffle with the MLAs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Standing outside the citys only all-women mosque on PGI Road here, Shaista Ambar said, Mehtaab ghar mein aftab utar aya hai (The Sun has dawned on the house of the moon). The founder president of the All-India Muslim Womens Personal Law Board was referring to the inauguration of a solar power grid at the Ambar mosque on Tuesday. This rooftop 1kW solar power installation is an on-grid system that doesnt require batteries. Its estimated annual production is about 1,400 units, which accounts for 75% of its energy consumption. While initially the plan was to make the mosque 100% solar, that could not be done as the sanctioned load of the mosque is only 1kW. We were limited by the regulation that says we cannot exceed the sanctioned load or the contracted demand. There is a plan to have another building at the mosque. When that happens, we will apply for an increase on the meter, said Shaista. The way the solar power system works, any excess energy that is produced is fed back to the grid so that the consumer is given solar credits. These credits are directly adjusted against the units issued by the distribution company in the monthly electricity bill. We decided to install solar panels to power the mosque and reduce its dependence on electricity produced from highly polluting sources such as coal. Our focus is on clean energy, she added. Shaista established the mosque in February 1997, in defiance of the alleged patriarchy existing within the community. The mosque helps women of the community deal with issues such as talaq, helps in educating girls, and provides medicines among other initiatives. Though it started as a womens mosque, men are also allowed to offer prayers here, she said. Its a beautiful campus. People from other religions are also welcome to come here. They can get to know about Islam and understand its true message of universal brotherhood, said Shaista. Cost effective Typically a 1kW system solar power system will cost the consumer anywhere from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.2 lakh. However, 8minutes, the company that manufactured the system, donated it to the mosque. With this, the Ambar mosque will make about Rs 7,000 worth of annual savings on its electricity bills - more than 70% of its annual electricity expenditure. Environment impact By switching to a renewable source of energy, the mosque will offset 1 metric tonne of carbon dioxide every year (equivalent of driving a car for 3,810 km or burning 965 kg of coal, or the amount of carbon stored by 26 tree seedlings for 10 years!) Read more: Lucknows first all-women mosque to go 100% solar SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The 2015 Nepal Blockade was a turning point in the career of working professional, Kriti Gupta it spurred her new innings as an entrepreneur. The 23-year-old is now the CEO of her own company, TEX Technology Exchange, a city-based firm that deals in web designing and development of software and mobile applications. Kriti was among the invitees at Facebooks Boost Your Business programme in Lucknow. Apart from family and friends, Kriti also attributes her success to the Nepal blockade. After completing her B. Tech (IT) from Sri Ram Swarup College of Engineering and Management, Lucknow in 2014, she started searching for a job. I finally got one it was an offer from a Nepal- based web designing company that offered just Rs 20,000 in Nepal currency. I took the offer and went to Nepal, recalled Gupta. People there helped me with everything. All was going well, until late 2015, when the fuel crisis hit Nepal. The government there accused India of imposing undeclared blockade in fuel supplies that badly affected Nepals economy, she said. She said since there was no fuel, there were no office cabs and she had to walk 10km to reach her workplace. But I never complained. Even the office pantry was affected and food supplies were reduced. And my parents were observing all this, she added. During one vacation, she was advised by her parents to look for another job. I refused as it was not the company but the circumstances that were responsible for the grim scenario. I said, either I will work there or will start my own company, said Kriti. However, her parents agreed to the second option. She got her first order from a friend and she designed the event management website, for which she charged too less. But soon, orders started flowing. At present, her company is working on more than 20 projects. Interestingly, she also employed three of her batchmates in her company. Read more: Chikankari, SMEs to get digital push SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The citys traditional art of embroidery chikankari and other small businesses would soon get a digital push. Social networking giant Facebook has lent a helping hand to Lucknows women entrepreneurs, motivating them to use its digital space as a platform to reach out to consumers. Experts from the social networking giant interacted with women entrepreneurs and educated them about the ways Facebook could be used as a free tool to expand business. The initiative was part of Boost Your Business programme, which Facebook launched in collaboration with SheThePeople.TV a video and digital platform dedicated to women in leadership and FICCI FLO Lucknow-Kanpur Chapter. Our Boost Your Business programme is an initiative to enhance knowledge, skills and technology of women entrepreneurs who are running SMEs from different cities. Facebook provides platform to these SMEs for exploring various dimensions by optimum utilisation of social media, said Ritesh Mehta, head of Economic Growth Initiatives for Facebook (India). On his second visit to the state capital, Mehta said, Our future is expressive and more communicative; hence we are here to train the entrepreneurs with a futuristic approach. It will surely help small businesses in connecting with new customers and expanding their horizon in this competitive world. Mehtas speech was followed by another session where the women entrepreneurs were told about the ways they can get connected through the site in the form of video stories, images, 360-degree images and virtual tours. Now, nobody likes to read they love to see be it videos, images and virtual tours. So, posting these would help more than the texts, he added. Shaili Chopra, founder of SheThePeople.TV, said: Women entrepreneurs play an important role in the growth of Indian economy. Their ideas are innovative and creative. Their unique vision and dedication help in the growth of business and this programme helps in polishing their skills and creating brand awareness by providing the right insight and knowledge. This makes it a great platform for women entrepreneurs. The interactive session also witnessed a training session where a team of experts from Facebook also organised hands-on training sessions, covering topics like how to effectively use mobile, create engaging content, leverage the power of social media to grow their business through social media networks like Facebook and Instagram. Read more: At 23, she is CEO of her tech firm The bangle industry of Firozabad, better known as Suhag Nagari, is fast losing its sheen. The traditional industry of the bangle town is now being replaced by glass units leaving more labourers unemployed due to increased mechanisation. Earlier a part of Agra, Firozabad was accorded the status of a district in 1989 but not much changed on the ground. The bangle industry continued to flourish till 1996 after which a sea change was witnessed when Firozabad was included in Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), the area earmarked around Taj Mahal, following the Supreme Court order on a PIL petition on environmental pollution. The apex court banned the use of coal in industrial unites falling within TTZ and directed for the use of natural gas as fuel. With gas becoming an alternative fuel, manufacturing of bottles, decorative items, chandeliers and other glass ware gained popularity. Just another election The assembly election seems to generate no enthusiasm as promises remain unfulfilled. Treasurer of Glass Industrial Syndicate PK Jindal says those in Firozabad have left with little hope for change and poll promises have no value for them. Referring to public meetings organised in the run up to Lok Sabha election in 2014, Jindal says Narendra Modi had promised that natural gas would be made available on easy terms and low prices. Small bangle manufacturing units need gas at lower price. The BJP, however, forgot its poll promise after forming the government, he says. According to president of UP Glass Manufacturers Syndicate RK Mittal, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had promised in 2014 that he would impose a ban on the use of plastic liquor bottles to promote glass bottles manufactured in Firozabad but nothing was done in this regard. Firozabad still awaits a hospital for labourers. In its place, a clinic operates for two days in a week where doctors refer the case to Agra. Owners of industrial units in Agra believe they will have to survive on their own, says Mittal. Impact of demonetisation, election After demonetisation, elections have given another jolt to industrial sector in Firozabad. Business has been affected due to restriction on carrying cash during election period, says Rajesh Agarwal, vice-president of National Chamber of Industries and Commerce. Earlier, we had no cash due to demonetisation and now it is the problem of carrying cash. A glass unit with 250 labourers requires Rs 5 lakh cash for payment of daily wages. Digitisation is good but cash is required to run the labour-driven industry. Moreover, uninterrupted power supply and better infrastructure, as provided to the industry in China, is also required, says Agarwal. Workers busy making bangles at the factory. (HT Photo) Read more: Pehelwans poll-time plea: Akharas need a lift and how! Bangles losing out to glass According to PK Jindal, treasurer of the Glass Industrial Syndicate, multiple taxation on natural gas has made things worse for the industry. A new tax was imposed two months ago on supply of gas. There seems to be a contradiction as a normal coal-based furnace for bangle making was of 3 tonnes in small sector while major players had having capacity of 40 tonnes. After gas was introduced as fuel, big houses brought in 200-250 tonne capacity furnaces, he says. Those engaged in bangle industry use 3000 cubic metre natural gas every day and give employment to 1,000 labourers at more than a hundred units. Factories which have big furnaces utilise 30,000-40,000 cubic metre gas but engage 250 labourers only, says Jindal, who says bangle industry faces threat from glass industry and not from Chinese products. Elections are not new to us and bring no change in the status of the industry. We are waiting for a comprehensive plan to save the identity of Firozabad as Suhag Nagari which can only be linked to bangles worn by married women across the country, he says. Chinese impact Plastic and Chinese products are a major threat to glass industry. These products rule in various segments such as lighting, cutlery, head light, and tumbler. These include chandeliers which were once the pride of Firozabad, says Raj Kumar Mittal, president of UP Glass Manufacturers Syndicate, which has about 50 major players as members. Denying the charge that glass units are damaging bangle industry, he says despite use of gas, Firozabad continues to be in TTZ area which is affecting business. Health hazard Firozabad MLA Manish Asija says despite odds, about 8 lakh people rely directly or indirectly on glass industry. The union health minister has, in principle, agreed to provide health insurance cards to labourers facing health hazards, he says. Manoj Chaturvedi, a medical practitioner, says many patients in the city complain of chest and nasal allergy, tuberculosis and silicosis. The number of patients has gone down with natural gas being used as fuel in place of coal. However, factors like RSPM and sulphur particles lead to pollution-related diseases, he points out. The city finds place in top 20 most polluted cities in the world. Read more: 75 Aligarh villages left in the dark SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the electoral wards from 1 to 18 in north Mumbai, 26 candidates with criminal records are in the fray for the February 21 civic polls. Of them, the BJP and Shiv Sena have fielded five candidates each while the Congress has one candidate. The rest 15 nominees are independents. These electoral wards are under R-north (1 to 8) and R-central (9 to 18) administrative wards. These wards cover Borivli and Dahisar area. Sunil Gimbal, an Independent from R-north, has a murder case registered against him dating back to December 2007. Gimbal told HT that he had been acquitted in the case. In the R-north ward, 14 candidates have cases against them while 12 candidates fielded from R-central ward have been charged. Two BJP candidates Dinesh Ambore and Vidhyarthi Singh have molestation cases against them. Ambore has another case of causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. Sitting corporator Prakash Darekar, who joined the BJP from MNS, is contesting from the R-central ward. He has five cases against him the highest in the two administrative wards. Another BJP sitting corporator Mohan Mithbaonkar has three cases against him. Similarly, the Sena gave tickets to five candidates with ongoing criminal cases. These include Balkrishna Brid, Sheetal Mhatre, Sandhya Doshi and Rajesh Kadam. HT also found that some candidates did not disclose criminal cases. Sitting Congress corporatosr Sheetal Mhatre was booked for assaulting a junior engineer at the ward office in Dahisar (West). This information finds no mention in the affidavit. If someone notices that candidates have not declared criminal cases, they can file a case against them. The court will take action, said JS Sahariya, state election commissioner. READ Shiv Sena taunts BJP: Inducting criminals worse than stashing black money SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The 16-year-old daughter of an Indian Navy official jumped off the 10th floor of a building in south Mumbais Navy Nagar on Monday morning, after she was accused of creating a fake profile of her classmate on social networking site Facebook. The police said Poonam Akhileshkumar Yadav, a Class 9 student, left for school as usual on Monday morning, but jumped to her death soon after. In his complaint, Poonams father said his daughter was pushed to suicide by her classmates parents, Shobhanharak Singh and Parvati, who harassed her about the fake profile. The Cuffe Parade police have registered a case of abetment to suicide against the parents and arrested Singh on Tuesday. In January, some unknown individual created a fake account of one of Poonams classmates. The profile, however, displayed the phone number of another classmate, said an officer from the Cuffe Parade police station. The parents of the second classmate claimed Poonam was behind this, even when she told them she wasnt well-versed with Facebook. Poonam had told the parents her own account was created by her brother. The accused then started accusing her brother, the police said. The matter, however, was resolved after the parents of both children met in school and used the help of the girls teachers. Poonams father told us that after this meeting, the accused allegedly confronted Poonam outside the school and they started accusing her and her brother for the crime again. They were forcing her to accept she had done it, the officer said. The father of the complainant said she was constantly being harassed by Singh, which is what pushed her to commit suicide. Singh works as a lift man in the Navy. The accused were booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code, and Singh has been sent to judicial custody. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday seized several antiques, including six large stone sculptures, worth crores from a house and godown owned by Vijay Nanda, an American businessman of Indian origin and an alleged smuggler of antiques. Nanda, who had arrived in the city only recently, was arrested, produced in court and remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday. Acting on an intelligence input, DRI officials searched Nandas residence at Girgaum chowpatty and his godown at Byculla. They found a large stash of old treasures, estimated to be worth crores on the black market. These co-ordinated searches resulted in the recovery of several antiques and artifacts for which Nanda had no legal documentation or registration as an antique dealer with the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), said a DRI officer, who did not wish to be named. Six large stone sculptures stored in crates were seized from the Byculla godown. These included statues of various Hindu deities, such as Varada Ganesha, Padmapani, Awalokateshwara, Standing Vishnu, Naga and Nagini. These statues are from the 10th and 11th centuries and appear to have been stolen from temples in eastern and southern India. There has been an attempt made to legitimise them through registration with the archaeological survey and creation of fake procurement documents, said the officer. Treasures seized from Nandas Girgaum house included figurines and stone sculptures. Terracotta figurines from the 1st century and bronze figurines of Mahishasura Mardhini and Ganesha from the 17th and 18th centuries were also seized. This is looting of our cultural heritage, said M Ajit Kumar, principal additional director general of DRIs Mumbai unit. The DRI officer said, Some of the smaller objects have already been examined by the ASI and found to be antiques. The larger ones are also being examined. The DRI is investigating internationals links to the racket in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, certain European countries and the United States. Also read: All you need to know about the idol smuggling racket worth crores SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8 By Orkhan Quluzade Trend: The World Bank (WB) and Turkeys Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation have signed a loan agreement for financing of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) construction project, Bloomberg HT TV channel reported. Berat Albayrak, Turkish minister of energy and natural resources, said during the signing ceremony that TANAP project serves the objectives of regional and global energy security. TANAP has been currently built by 65 percent, and Turkey will receive gas via this pipeline next year, the minister said. The WBs funding for this project is very important for Turkey. During this year, Turkey will receive additional $3 billion from various international financial institutions in order to strengthen the energy market of the country. TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The length of TANAP is 1,800 kilometers with the initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters. Around six billion cubic meters of the gas will be delivered to Turkey and the remaining volume will be supplied to Europe. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans-Adriatic Pipelines construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. The WB allocated $400 million to Azerbaijan and another $400 million to Turkey for the implementation of the project. The loan repayment period is 30 years and a grace period is five years. The cost of the TANAP project is $8.5 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in the F-South ward on February 21 may be ripe for an upset. In the run-up to the elections, the Lalbaug-Parel belt a traditional stronghold of the Shiv Sena has witnessed rebellions within the party ranks. Days before the filing of nominations for the BMC elections began, Sanjay Ambole, a sitting Sena corporator from the area, switched over to the BJP. His wife is also contesting the elections on a BJP ticket. Former mayor Shraddha Jadhav, the partys official candidate from ward no. 202, had to fend off two rebels. In another case, Sena workers locked up the Sena shakha (office) at Hindmata, protesting against the official candidate of the party. In such a scenario, will the Sena be able to retain its five corporators of the seven from the ward that it won in the 2012 elections ? Another question is whether the Sena can be relevant in an area slowly transforming itself from a dominantly middle and lower middle class Marathi area to a cosmopolitan locality. According to an analyst, the area faces identity crises, with many new skyscrapers and an influx of non-Maharashtrians in the area. The new buildings include residential towers exclusively for Jains. Then there are the demands of people living in dilapidated structures in the belt, waiting for years for redevelopment. Moreover, there has been a large-scale migration by Maharashtrians to far-flung suburbs, which according to a source, has only served to reduce their population in the traditional stronghold by 50 %. The BJP, which started preparing for the BMC polls one year ago, roped in well-known businessman and NCP leader Prasad Lad, who was born and brought up in the locality, before moving to Matunga. According to a source, Lad has invested money in the BJPs cause and has also set up a party unit. Lad had also served as the chairman of the Mumbai MHADA board. What has the Sena given to the people except for vada pav stalls? People want jobs and development and it is only the BJP which can do this, said Lad. He said the defection of Ambole itself indicates the loosening of Senas hold in the area, from where it debuted in the Maharashtra assembly. Read Hardik Patel as Shiv Senas face for Gujarat polls? Uddhav Thackeray says why not SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Besides ceaseless twists and turns, the strained ties between the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) have dubiously characterised and, to some extent, derailed the 2008 Malegaon blasts case. On September 29, 2008, an improvised explosive device went off near Bhiku Chowk in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring 101. In January 2009, the ATS had in its charge sheet asserted that it had a watertight case against the accused. But the state agency has seemingly watered down its strident stand since the NIA took over the case in 2011. The NIA denounced almost all ATS claims in the court, saying that the witness statements were extracted under duress or the evidence was not admissible. Another point of contention between the two was the applicability of charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The ATS pursued the case with the stringent MCOCA charges while the NIA dropped them and exonerated Pragya Singh Thakur and five others. ATS silence in the last two hearing before the Bombay high court has perplexed many, especially at a time when the NIA accused it of having coerced and manipulated witnesses. When asked by the court to clarify its stand over Thakurs bail in the last hearing, the ATS said since the probe had been taken over by the NIA and it was for the NIA to oppose her plea. Earlier this week, the Bombay high court asked the trial court to share audio and video recordings 11 CDs, two DVDs and phone calls of conversations or meetings among those charged in the case. These tapes, the court observed, can be crucial evidence to establish Thakurs role. Strangely, ATS no longer remembers which tapes it had submitted before the trial court. Besides the confessional statements that the ATS relied upon were later rendered inadmissible. The revelation by a former NIA prosecutor that she was asked to go slow in the case also cast shadow. NIA and ATS on the collision course Audio and video recordings of meetings ATS version: The agency in its charge sheet mentioned meetings held in Faridabad, Bhopal, Indore, Kolkata and Ujjain by the accused. A laptop each was seized from Pragya Singh Thakur, Ramesh Upadhyay, Prasad Purohit, and Sudhakar Dwivedi. The hard drives from these laptops were sent to the Kalina laboratory and the ATS retrieved three videos and 37 audiotapes. These tapes revealed that Dwivedi had recorded the proceedings of these meetings on his laptop. Upadhyay, Purohit, Dwivedi and some other accused people attended the Fardiabad meeting held in January 2008. It was at the Bhopal meeting, held in April 2008, when Thakurs name first cropped up. In the meeting, the ATS claimed, the accused zeroed in on Malegaon as the blast spot and Thakur volunteered to provide men. According to the charge sheet, Purohit provided the explosives. In June 2008, at the Indore meeting, Thakur introduced two other accused people Ramchandra Kalasangra and Sandip Dange to others. These two men alleged to have planted bombs and were shown missing in a recent charge sheet. Recently, an ATS officer claimed that they were gunned down in the police custody in 2008. NIAs version: It has claimed that the ATS has never handed over the recordings of these meeting except the Faridabad one which Thakur did not attend. As per the transcript available with the NIA, those who attended the Faridabad meeting included Purohit, Dwivedi, Upadhyay, Himani Savarkar and some RSS leaders. One of ATS officers, Sunil Mohite, who was summoned to HC at the last hearing, said that there might be a video recording of the Bhopal meeting featuring Thakur. LML Freedom bike ATS version: It said the bike was owned by Thakur and that she gave it to Kalsangra to planting the bomb. It corroborated its claim by submitting the registration papers of the bike and getting the statements of four witnesses. NIAs version: Of the 452 witnesses examined by the ATS, the NIA re-examined only 11. The four witnesses were included in the list of the 11 witnesses, but the NIA said the witnessess statements were not admissible as they were extracted under duress. However, the NIA said that the ownership of the bike could not prove Thakurs complicity in the blast Phone call between Purohit and Thakur ATS version: In a phone conversation in October 2008, Thakur and Purohit discussed, among other things, that they needed to meet Kalsangra and that he must be brought to her ashram to be settled. The agency claimed the conversation suggested that Thakur was part of the conspiracy. NIAs version: It claimed that ATS did not send the audio clip of Thakur to be verified at the forensic lab and therefore could not match her voice samples Phone call between Purohit and Upadhyay ATS version: In the conversation on October 23, 2008, Purohit and Upadhyay referred to one Singh Sahab and Mr Singh which, the ATS claimed, was the code name for Thakur who was arrested on the same day. The two were heard, saying, That means the cat is out of the bag as far as Mr Singh is concerned. Upadhyay also told Purohit that She (Thakur) has taken your name. Purohit also told Upadhyay to not call him on this number as he would soon get a new number. NIAs version: It questioned the authenticity of the conversation and the ATS methods The case On September 29, 2008, at 9.30 pm, a bomb exploded near Bhiku Chowk in Malegaon, Maharashtra. The improvised explosive device was fitted upon an LML Freedom motorcycle. Six people were killed and 101 injured in the blast that was probed initially by the Maharashtra ATS and then, taken over by the NIA in 2011. The ATS charged 13 people for the crime. Last year, the NIA absolved Pragya Singh Thakur, Shivnarayan Kalsangra, Shyam Sahu, Pravin Mutalik alias Takkalki of all charges. READ 2008 Malegaon blasts: ATS, NIA claim ignorance in HC on audio-visual clips SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON How do you plan for a city that was built on the notions of informality? This was the question experts attempted to tackle at a panel discussion on Mumbais development plan (DP). Held as part of Bajaj Electricals Urban Design and Architecture section of the HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival on Tuesday, the session addressed the role of architecture in public planning, and went on to explore the myriad issues surrounding the citys Development Plan, with questions raised on the efficacy of the process of city planning itself. Architects and planners work with numbers, which are often misleading, and people of the city themselves are not considered. We need people-centric development, said Sitaram Shelar from the Hamara Shahar Mumbai Abhiyan. Sheela Patel, founding director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres, suggested that the planners lacked perspective on how localities would be affected by the development process. The purpose of the DP is to arbitrate the conflicts [resulting from the use of space]. But since the city doesnt have the capacity to arbitrate, the conflicts between developers and poor inhabitants continue, she added. Architect and activist Neera Adarkar described the process as a hopeless situation. This was the first time the civic body had a conversation with citizens groups regarding a DP. However, the citizens groups went overboard with their demands, which became an excuse for the administration to drop all their ideas by calling them irrelevent to the planning process, she said. The discussion was moderated by architect Mustansir Dalvi. Shailesh Gaikwad, political bureau chief at Hindustan Times Mumbai, cited examples of government attempts to develop the mill land and messy development of land in the Powai area, to suggest that both planned and unplanned transformation has potential for failure. The government will anyways prepare a plan and the citizens should push their own plans, which should lead the state to think about a master plan, said Prasad Shetty, a city-based urbanist. The session was well-received by the audience. Kshitij Sarote, a recent graduate from the JJ School of Architecture said, It was a very revealing session. As a student, you dont really learn enough about these aspects of the city. READ MORE HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: Public artwork, giant mural HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: A heritage walk shows how street theatre evolved into cinema SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A rapt audience watched as renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Mallika Sarabhai performed Celebrating Tala, a four-act dance recital, with her son Revanta Sarabhai, at Cross Maidan on Tuesday. The performance was held as part of the Sony Liv dance section of the HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, and was hosted by Fever 104 FM RJ Adaah. The performance began with a traditional composition, a rhythm contest or jugalbandi between Shiva and Parvati. This was followed by a contemporary set. The lyrics were projected onto a giant screen: In a world filled with hate, can love be wrong?. Through her performance, Mallika Sarabhai questioned Lord Krishna about the atmosphere of hate where same-sex love and inter-community relationships are concerned, and about how violence inflicted on such people is considered righteous. In another contemporary piece, performed by Revanta, the dancer questioned the need for Lord Shiva, the destroyer, at a time when humans are doing his job, destroying forests and polluting rivers. The evening ended with a thillana, a Hindi composition by composer Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, titled Geet Dhvaniki, to which mother and son performed together. The choreography is contemporary. The pieces speaking of current issues like the destruction of our natural habitat and sexuality were both written recently by me in English, translated to the Tamil and created as a Bharatanatyam piece, said Mallika Sarabhai. My mother and I have been dancing together for years now and it is an incredibly joyful experience. There is a deep love for each other and for what we do that is apparent on stage, Revanta added. AS Lakshmi, 55, a government auditor from Napean Sea Road, would agree. I am a lover of classical dance and I found the performance very powerful and unusual for Bharatanatyam. I really liked the abhinaya and watching the mother and son perform together was quite an experience, he said. For Gayatri Pandya, 28, an MA Literature student from Kandivali, the entire experience was fantastic. The open-air setting, the lights and the ambience all added to the performance. It was a rare opportunity to see Mallika Sarabhai and her son perform, she said. READ MORE HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: Experiencing music that transcends God, religion HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: Public artwork, giant mural SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Do you think science is boring? Not at all, was the unanimous response from the group of 8- to 12-year-olds huddled together in a shamiana set up on the lawns of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj museum on Tuesday. The young ones had just attended an event titled Science is everywhere, organised as part of the Pepe Jeans kids section powered by Spaces, as part of the HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. The workshop was presented by the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre. From using logic to untangle themselves from ropes to watching how cotton is dyed and learning how to making cold water boil in a glass jar, the children watched with rapt attention as Emanuele Bargelli, an Italian science enthusiast, explained the science behind everything phenomena around them. The kids were in their element. Girgaums Nachiket Shah, 8, was quick with the hows and whys; his friend Tanush Gandhi, 8, said he loved the session because it was a fun way to learn. We saw how dye catches on to cotton. Now I can tell my friends that I know why my t-shirt is red, he added. Meanwhile, the parents were surprised to see the kids so engaged. Nisha Khot, 41, from Mahim said her 8-year-old daughter Czaee came to the festival because she likes craft and pottery but ended up registering for the science workshop and loved it! I guess the fact that they used such everyday items and relatable situations to explain the presence of science really kept them hooked on, she added, smiling. READ MORE HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: Experiencing music that transcends God, religion HT Kala Ghoda Arts Festival: Public artwork, giant mural SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday said that alleged Islamic State (IS, or ISIS) recruit Areeb Majeed could not be charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. The court dropped the charge under Section 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on a technicality, saying that when Majeed allegedly joined ISIS, the organisation had not yet been declared a terrorist organisation under Indian Law. Majeed and other three young men from Kalyan left the country allegedly to join IS in May 2014 on the pretext of going on a pilgrimage. In November 2014, Majeed was arrested on his returned to India. He is the only alleged ISIS recruit from India who is known to have returned to the country. Special judge V V Patil said on Wednesday, ISIS was not declared a terrorist organization prior to February 16, 2015. So charges against the accused for commission of an offence punishable under Section 20 of UAPA cannot be framed. However, the court upheld other charges against Majeed, including those under sections 16 (committing a terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy) of the UAPA, and Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code (waging war against any Asiatic power with which the Government of India has an alliance). Mobin Solkar, Majeeds lawyer, contended that the notification to declare ISIS a terrorist organisation was published on February 16, 2015, after the charge sheet was filed against Areeb. Though the prosecution contested this, the court said, The NIA proposed to frame the charges against the accused for commission of an offence punishable under Section 20 of UAPA. I have gone through the ingredients of Section 20 of UAPA. Indisputably, ISIS is a terrorist organisation and was not declared a terrorist organisation prior to February 16, 2015. The court also rejected Majeeds discharge plea, holding that there was sufficient evidence against him to frame charges and begin the trial. READ MORE 7 ISIS-related cases with Maharashtra link Kalyan youth who joined IS killed, phone call informed kin son was martyred SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When it comes to making headlines for the wrong reasons, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education board does it quite regularly. The textbooks provided by the board make news for goof ups - for mistakes in maps, gaps in information and insensitive statements about social problems. After publishing maps showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of China and a part of Kashmir as Pakistan territory in Class 10 geography books, the board recently courted another controversy over the insensitive writing in the class 12 sociology textbook, which lists ugliness among brides as a reason for dowry. This has brought to light the flaws in the production of the books. Following this, professors and educators from across the state have vociferously criticised the textbook writing and production process. Ask them, and they unanimously say that one of the major problems is the lack of bilingual people on the board of studies, which is a panel of subject experts and educationists appointed to design the syllabus and books. Offering both English and Marathi as a medium of instruction, the board produces books in both the languages. The emphasis is on the uniformity of the text in both the books. But this puts an added strain on the writers, who are asked to translate from Marathi to English or vice versa. Producing identical textbooks in both English and Marathi is an enormous task, said Ivan John, member of the sociology board of studies and a teacher at Sophia College for Women, Grant Road. Often translators are only required to have a working knowledge of the matter, and fluency in the language to be translated is not mandatory. A teacher proficient in Marathi might not be equally good at English. But the board doesnt look at such factors while selecting the writers, said John. As a result, the textbooks are laced with errors, typos and even factually incorrect information. A Class 10 textbook of social studies-history and geography-written in English consisted of 55 glaring errors such as: Bikaner is the largest wool market in the world, and that Chilka (in Odisha) is the largest saline lake in the country. Another problem is the tight deadlines that the writers have to meet. The board gives barely a year or two for the textbooks to be written and produced. This means that the writers are under tremendous strain to write the books in two languages. Adding to their woes, the entire manuscript is hand written and then typed out. When we were asked to write a textbook, we requested the board to allow us to type out the book instead of submitting handwritten pages, said John. On the other hand, the board authorities said that such errors are to be expected as it caters to over 17 lakh students in Class 10 and 12 each. Its unfair to compare Maharashtra state board with others, said Gangadhar Mamane, chairperson of the board. Adding that CBSE and other private boards dont have their own textbooks, Mamane said, We have one of the largest number of students in the country and unlike CBSE, we provide students with our own textbooks. Mamane said that whenever mistakes are pointed out, the board corrects them through its fortnightly magazine, Shikshan Sankraman. But teachers complained that despite sending feedback to the board frequently, corrections are not always done. Geography and history teachers in Mumbai have been pointing out mistakes in the books since the last three years but to no avail. Even today, most of the mistakes in the books have not been corrected. It is a difficult to teach students from such factually inaccurate books, said Ravi D, a former school teacher from Bhandup. Withdraw the offending textbook that links a girls ugliness to dowry SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Government machineries should take action against vehicles ferrying students to school without requisite permission, said principals across the city. Around 400 principals from across Maharashtra attended an event held in Mumbai to discuss the role of a school bus. Speaking at the Child Safety and Caring Principals Award, organised by the School and Company Bus Owners Association (SBOA), teachers and government officials highlighted the importance of childrens safety. Awards were presented to schools, bus operators, drivers, and attendants at the event. We will form a committee, which will take action against any offences committed during transit. This will ensure the safety of children. The initiative will spread across the nation soon, said Anil Garg, president, SBOA. Garg added that the association has launched a website www.sboa-india.org for principals and parents to post their grievances. He said these will be redressed quickly. Even as most schools offer to and fro bus services to students, several parents prefer to send their children to school by private vans. Principals, however, said these vans are often unsafe and illegal. Principals and management representatives said the regional transport offices and the traffic police must take action against those plying illegally. Many principals said uniform rules are needed across the country. These vans carry more than their actual capacity, which could lead to accidents. Students may feel claustrophobic if they are crammed inside the vehicle like luggage. Despite our school offering a bus operator who has been ratified by the authorities several parents continue to use private vans, said the principal of school in the western suburbs. We cannot complain about this menace, as local politicians are involved in most cases, added the principal. Read New definition of school buses worries van owners Mumbai: Schools, drivers to be awarded for students safety in buses With less than two weeks to go for the crucial Mumbai civic polls, the bitterness between allies-turned-rivals, BJP and Shiv Sena, has threatened to spill over to the state government. In an interview with HT, Thackeray on Wednesday indicated a decision about pulling out of the government would be taken after the results of the crucial Mumbai civic polls are announced. Just a day earlier, he agreed with party MP Sanjay Rauts caustic assessment that after the break-up in the alliance, the state government was now on a notice period. Late on Wednesday evening, at a campaign rally, Thackeray for the first time took on CM Devendra Fadnavis directly, calling him a half-baked idiot and a liar for comparing Mumbais state to Patna. I feel sad that we stayed with such liars and dishonest people for 25 years. And, I feel bad that I have to directly face off with such a liar. How can such people become chief minister, I wonder? he said. He said if Mumbai was indeed at a par with Patna, he would retire from politics. If not, Fadnavis should head home. Thackerays retort came after Fadnavis, in his first campaign rally for the civic polls, in Mulund, took on the Sena over transparency and the claims that the civic body had ranked number 1 in the recently released Economic Survey of India. Armed with the report and reading from it, Fadnavis pointed out the BMC actually ranked 3 among all cities and had failed completely on several parameters of transparency. It ranked along with Patna on the parameter of addressing the grievances of citizens. Mumbai ka vikas dekho kitna hua, Patna ke sath lake khada kar diye (You have done so much for Mumbai that you have got it on par with Patna), the chief minister said. He also made an example of the Mulund dumping scam to show how corruption had been shielded in the Sena reign. Some people did not want the Mulund dumping ground to shut, so as to allow a company to get its abnormal tipping feesJeeps, cars, BEST buses were shown to be carrying waste to get the fees at the cost of public money. Our government is initiating an inquiry into every corruption scam. Our one and only agenda is transparency, Fadnavis said. After such a display of disdain, a comeback to the benign partnership in the state looks difficult. While Fadnavis has so far insisted his government would complete the five-year term, there is little doubt that a sense of uncertainty and instability about the BJP government will now be a constant. If the Sena walks out, the BJP will have to strike a deal with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a party that Fadnavis has consistently attacked over corruption, for a helping hand to keep the government stable. Whether the threat of pulling out of the government is mere political posturing by the Sena or whether it indicates any real intent remains to be seen. Political analysts point out a lot of these questions will be answered on February 23, with even more clarity in March after the results of Uttar Pradesh state assembly comes in. What happens next would depend on how the Sena fares in Mumbai and the BJP does in Uttar Pradesh. If Sena increases its seat tally in Mumbai and can cobble up a majority in the BMC without the BJPs help, its bargaining power increases. In such a scenario, the Sena may barter for a better deal in the government or step out and support it from outside. BJPs response to Senas muscle-flexing will also depend on how the party fares in the UP polls, said Prakash Bal, political analyst. In the BJP, there is a sentiment that while the Sena is pressurising the ally, it will not pull out of the government until late 2018, ahead of the 2019 Assembly polls. If BJP doesnt win UP, it is likely to opt for a compromise with the Sena rather than rock the government. Thats one reason the BJP so far had been maintaining that while it is taking on Sena in civic polls, it is fight on the plank of transparent governance and not ideology. BJP president Amit Shah in a recent interview to a TV channel had also clarified on this terming the face off as a Friendly match. The Sena for one had ripped off the claim of a friendly match saying it shares nothing in common with BJP anymore and the latter is known for sticking a dagger in the back in such friendly matches. (With inputs from Manasi Phadke) READ MORE Can the Shiv Sena keep its turf safe? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 35-year-old security guard, who brutally murdered a woman by stabbing her 16 times including 14 times on her private parts in 2014 in Andheri (East), was recently sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court. The victim, Nirmala Jain, 34, hailed from Rajasthan worked as security guard at the same company. She had borrowed Rs12,000 from the convict, Rajesh Dubey, and was refusing to return it. This prompted Dubey to stab her, said the police. Police said Dubey is a native of Uttar Pradesh. He is married and has three children. The incident occurred around 8 pm on July 3, 2014, in front of Sher E Punjab Colony near the Gurudwara on Jijamata Road. Dubey and Jain were seen quarrelling, after which he stabbed her on her stomach, chest and neck with a 10 to 11-inch knife. Dubey fled, but passerby Arimardan Singh chased him for 25ft to 30ft before catching him. Singh, a gym instructor, held Dubey till a crowed gathered. He was then handed over to the police. Police inspector Vijay Salunke from the MIDC police station investigated the case. The sessions court examined 22 witnesses, including three crucial eyewitnesses. One of the eyewitnesses said Dubey kept stabbing Jain even after she collapsed. The defence argued that Jain pulled out the knife and attacked Dubey, who merely defended himself. However, the court ruled that their version was not believable. Moreover, Dubey could not prove his claim that an injury on his hand resulted from a scuffle and not during the stabbing. The prosecution proved that accused did not stop after one or two blows and Dubey was thus convicted of murder. The court ruled that Dubey must pay Jains husband Rs2,000, failing which, a month will be added to his sentence. Read Student sentenced to life in prison for murdering father Mumbai: Man who chopped, stored French wifes body in fridge jailed for life At least 20 people were killed on Tuesday in a bomb blast outside the Supreme Court in the centre of the Afghan capital, government officials said, in what appeared to be the latest in a series of attacks on the judiciary, Reuters reported. The Ministry of Public Health said at least 20 people were killed, while 41 wounded were taken to Kabul hospitals. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, in which police said an apparent suicide bomber targeted Supreme Court employees leaving their offices at the end of the working day. "When I heard a bang I rushed toward the Supreme Court's parking lot to find my brother who works there," said witness Dad Khuda, adding that he had found his brother alive. "Unfortunately, several people were killed and wounded." Reuters reporters at the scene saw blood stains on the street and ambulances leaving the area. The bomber appeared to have entered an area where guards were performing security checks when he detonated the explosives. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as a "crime against humanity and an unforgivable act." The University of Mumbais (MU) Institute of Distance Learning (IDOL) has launched a mobile application for its 77,000 students. The app, named YOOVA , will keep the students updated about admission, examination and results. It will make study material available to students on their mobile phones, and will also facilitate interaction between students and IDOL staff. The app was inaugurated on Tuesday at IDOLs degree distribution ceremony. According to Vinod Malale, in-charge of public relations at IDOL, the app will benefit thousands of students who often throng to MUs Kalina campus for enquiries and are uncertain about their examination and results. The app is available for download on smartphones, and will be fully functional within a month, he said. IDOL has already made some forays in the digital arena by providing video lectures of BCom, and putting in place a learning management system (LMS). However, the institutes plans to start massive open online courses (MOOCs) have met with resistance by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which currently doesnt recognise online courses. The IDOL app was developed by Yoova Edutech Pvt. Ltd., an educational start-up based in the city. Malale said that in the first phase, the IDOL app will only be available to its students. Depending on its success, we will open up the application to other students as well, he said. Akshay Shah, director of the start-up, said that the app can push customised notifications to keep students abreast of latest developments at IDOL, so that they dont have to keep checking the university website for results and other updates. MU is often criticised for delaying the results, keeping the students on tenterhooks. The app comes with other features such as like, share and comment on notices, to make it more engaging for the students, said Shah. On Tuesday, IDOL also inaugurated a counselling centre on its premises to provide psychological counselling to the students. Its new initiatives notwithstanding, IDOL has often been criticised for a delay in providing physical study material to students. Many have also objected to the below-par quality of the material. College exams, HSC schedule clash; Mumbai University struggles to set timetable SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fed up with the large quantity of garbage along railway tracks on the Central, Western and Harbour lines, residents in collaboration with a non government organisation (NGO) have started a Twitter campaign to rid the areas of waste. NGO Environment Life identified 10 spots in Mumbai where garbage mounds have been dumped along the railway tracks Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Masjid station, Sandhurst Road , Sion, Kurla, Chunabhatti, Govandi, Goregaon, Matunga and Bandra to Khar. The NGO shared residents concerns by tweeting pictures of each site to railway minister Suresh Prabhu and other officials from the Union railway ministry, which forwarded the complaints to local officials via Twitter itself. However, no action has been taken yet. Mumbai Local Running on Trash,when we get our Railway track clean need 2 take hard step to clean @swachhbharat @_DigitalIndia @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/ugEqnYfc4Y DHARMESH BARAI (@dharmeshbarai) February 3, 2017 Citizens have been shelling out their hard-earned money to pay a cleanliness tax, but it seems as though the cash is not being used for the right purposes, said Dharmesh Barai, head coordinator, Environment Life. Garbage strewn haphazardly along the citys lines contradicts the Prime Ministers vision of clean India (Swacch Bharat). Citizens need to get rid of their apathy and take care of public transport, he added. In his tweets, Barai identified 10,000kg of garbage strewn across all 10 locations, which he and other residents surveyed. He said the railways need to do more groundwork to ensure cleanliness, rather than just making announcements to keep the stations clean. Every Sunday, there is a mega block and trains do not run. The railways, along with citizens and the civic body, can easily clean up the tracks over a few months. There is an immediate need to sensitise citizens living close to the tracks about open defecation and dumping of garbage, said Barai. Railway officials said the quantum of garbage would be ten times the amount observed now if pre-monsoon drives are not undertaken. (HT Photo) Officials from the Central, Harbour and Western railways said waste management was one of the more serious issues they face. Garbage winds up on railway tracks when residential complexes and slums dump their trash, which is then carried by nullahs onto the tracks, said Narendra Patil, chief public relations officer (PRO), Central Railways. While clean-up drives are conducted regularly, the quantum of waste is too much and is generated daily, he added. He added that along with the civic body, the railways carries out clean-up drives just before the monsoon, when the maximum trash is accumulated. The quantum of garbage would be ten times the amount observed now if we had not conducted the pre-monsoon drive, said Patil. Western Railway officials said the problem stems from peoples mindset and that they need to be made aware of the problem. While awareness campaigns have been carried out over the years, they have not had much of an effect. We observe people throwing waste from moving trains daily. Civic sense cannot be inculcated, it has to come from within, said Ravinder Bhakar, chief PRO, Western Railway. However, swachh railway sensitisation programmes are conducted regularly. Civic body officials said they supported the railways endeavours. We jointly identified a few spots where the garbage menace has gone out of hand. We reached out to the slum dwellers in those areas and told them not to dump garbage on the tracks and to stop open defecation. But, we need to understand the process of educating people is a continuous one and the problem cannot be eradicated overnight, said a senior official from the BMCs solid waste management department. Read Rail panel finds Bandra station, tracks unclean Edge over garbage: Railways to sell waste generated at stations for more revenue SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said his party refused to align with BJP for the upcoming local body polls as he was tired of its hypocrisy. The Economic Survey report that has pegged the BMC on the top of transparency list is prepared by your own government at the Centre. Why is the chief minister making false claims on our transparent administration? Thackeray said while addressing an election rally in suburban Kandivali. The BJP today has become a jail for the corrupt. All of them (corrupt leaders) will be seen in the party today, said Thackeray reminding the Bharatiya Janata Party of its one time promise that it will put all corrupt leaders behind the bars. We are ashamed of fighting with people (the BJP) who are not even worth our attention. I feel bad that we kept them with us for 25 years, he said. Thackeray said instead of talking about a change in the nation, BJP should first bring in a change in its policy and include the Leader of Opposition and journalists in the cabinet meetings. This model should be followed by the Centre as well. We cannot allow (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi to do what he wishes to, he said. We were tired of their (BJP) hypocrisy and were thus forced to leave them, he added. A high-ranking DRI officer, who did not wish to be named, said, Several antiques found at Vijay Nandas home have been seized for verification of documents in his possession as it is highly likely that these antiques were stolen from museums or temples. It appears that Nanda had arrived in India a few days ago to make arrangements to smuggle the six large statues that were stored in crates. Antique smuggling involves several stages that require precise co-ordination, revealed officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). From the point at which they are stolen from temples or museums to the time they are sold, the treasures pass through several pairs of synchronised hands, they said. DRI sleuths revealed that an associate of Nanda, Udit Jain, had already been arrested as a part of the Deendayalan syndicate by DRI in Chennai, in connection with the smuggling of antiques and old paintings. Deenadayalan is alleged idol smuggler in Chennai who is said to be working with Subhash Chandra Kapoor, an infamous idol smuggler in New York. Kapoor was arrested at a German airport in 2012 after Interpol issued a red corner notice (international arrest warrant) against him. He was extradited to India based on information provided by DRI and is currently in jail in Chennai. The officer said, This syndicate has in the past smuggled Gupta-era gold coins, post-Mauryan terracotta figurines, Rajputana swords and daggers, Chola bronzes and Tibetan Buddhist statues. Nanda is a prime player in the international art smuggling syndicate with extensive connections in the US, Europe and Hong Kong. DRI officials said that Indian antiques and artifacts command great value in International markets and are highly sought after by art galleries and private collectors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought back about 2,000 antiquities from the US last June, including some that had been smuggled by the Kapoor syndicate, the DRI said. Australia, too, has returned some stolen idols. However, hundreds more are yet to be returned to India. Also read: All you need to know about the idol smuggling racket worth crores SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A truck driver claiming to be Ishaq Ahmed registered a complaint with the police in Bareilly that his identity was stolen and used by his co-tenant in the court. Ishaq returned to Bareilly on February 7 after cutting short his Guwahati trip. He also raised suspicions over the involvement of Audi owner, Dr Manish Rawat, behind the alleged conspiracy. Bareilly police said they will conduct an inquiry. Syed Imtiyaz Qadri is alleged to have impersonated Labhera village truck driver and his co-tenant Ishaq Ahmad and surrendered at a Ghaziabad court on January 31. He claimed that he was driving the Audi which had hit an auto and led to four deaths on the night of January 27 in Ghaziabad. He was then granted bail. Read More|Audi mystery: Real Ishaq Ahmad says man who surrendered could be his ex- co-tenant Raj Kumar, who filed an affidavit in the court certifying the man who had surrendered in the court is Ishaq of Bareilly, is unreachable since Monday. Kumar, who was pursuing the case on Ishaqs behalf has switched off his mobile phone since allegations that Ishaq was impersonated by Qadri surfaced. Kumar had accompanied Qadri to the court when he had surrendered stating that he was the driver of the Audi Q7 at the time of the accident. Nazakat Chaudhary, Qadris lawyer, said, Since Monday morning, I tried calling Raj Kumar, who is the pursuer in the case and had brought Qadri to court. Raj Kumar told me over the phone that the man was Ishaq Ahmad. He was also accompanied by a lawyer from Bareilly. His mobile has been switched off since Monday morning. Read More|Audi crash: Vital evidence lost, police yet to track cars owner Rawat had also been in hiding and had appeared before the police on February 6. He told the police that he was present in the car but it was driven by his driver, Ishaq Ahmad. Rawat fled after the incident, leaving behind his damaged Audi behind. The Ghaziabad police are yet to string together the sequence of events following the incident. The victims families said that the lax investigation and goof ups seem to be a conspiracy to shield some. The police are yet to find Qadri and Raj Kumar, besides Brajesh Singh and Suraj Tiwari, who had provided sureties of 20,000 each for the bail of Ishaq Ahmad. We will contact these persons soon, but our focus is to trace Qadri. We have also recorded the statements of truck driver Ishaq Ahmad. He has maintained that he does not know the doctor and Qadri had impersonated him in court, Sanath Kumar Mishra, investigating officer in the case, said. Ishaq submitted a complaint to Bareilly police on Tuesday, in which he stated that Qadri impersonated him in court and had used a photocopy of his driving licence. He also said that he was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on the night of the incident. He told us that his driving licence was misused by his co-tenant, Qadri, who is a friend of his wifes maternal uncle. However, we have not been able to find Qadri as he fled his house before the police raid. A search is on, Mishra said. All the names involved in the accident case, so far, are either from Olive County highrise in Ghaziabad or from Bareilly. Rawat stays at Olive County and told that he was earlier based in Bareilly, from where he shifted in June 2016. Raj Kumar, the pursuer, and Suraj Tiwari, one of the guarantors in the case are from Bareilly. Brajesh Singh, who provided another surety, mentioned he is residing in Olive County. Truck driver Ishaq on January 7 had claimed that Qadri had told him that he was paid 8,000 to appear before the court. He also claimed the involvement of a lawyer. During my conversation with Qadri, he had told me that he had knowledge only about four persons suffering minor injuries in the accident. Then, I had to tell him that four persons were killed, Ishaq said. Read More|Ghaziabad Audi crash ends lives, dreams to marry, work in a big city The Bhoiwada police arrested a 40-year-old woman on Wednesday for posing as a junior assistant engineer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and duping five people of Rs13 lakh on the pretext of offering them clerical jobs with the civic body. Police said the mastermind behind the scheme, Ashwini Morbale, teamed up with Shivaji Morbale, Pramod Vadere, Vikas Sonkusare and Nitin Desai to dupe people. My father worked at a national bank in Borivali, where Vadere met and befriended him. In February 2015, Vadere said he knew a woman who could help me get a job in the BMC. My father pursued the opportunity as my elder brother and I were unemployed, the complainant told HT. In November 2015, the complainant was introduced to Morbale at a Dadar eatery. She showed me her identity card and assured me that I would get a BMC job. When I told my friends this, even they wanted jobs in the civic body and so they started pursuing the matter, added More In December 2015, the complainant and his friends gave Morbale Rs1 lakh each in the presence of Sonkusare. In January last year, the victims paid the accused Rs13 lakh more. The accused gave us neither a call letter nor an appointment letter. One of our friends backed out and Morbale returned the Rs3 lakh he had paid. When the rest of us insisted on some kind of acknowledgement letter from the BMC to prove that we were employees, Morbale gave us a letter stating that we had been appointed as clerks, added the complainant. After the victims visited BMC headquarters, they discovered that the letters were fake and that Morbale did not work for the civic body. Following this, they asked Morbale to return their money. In July last year, Morbale called the victims to Parel station on the pretext of returning their money. Instead, she took us to a secluded spot, where a few men assaulted us. Morbale said she would register a case of molestation against us if we asked her to return our money. So we approached the Bhoiwada police and filed a complaint, said the complainant. A case was registered on January 9 under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (2) (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Morbale filed an anticipatory bail application in the sessions court. Her plea was rejected by the sessions court and the high court. Following this, she was remanded in judicial custody, said an officer from the Boiwada police station. Police are on the lookout for the rest of the gang. Past instances January 2016 - The Bhoiwada police arrested Ramkrishna Sevak, 32, for cheating Naigaon policemen on the pretext of giving them jobs at Mantralaya, the BMC, and the excise department. He also offered them the post of sales tax officers. The police said he gave the victims appointment letters, which stated that they were deputy sub-inspectors and police sub-inspectors. November 2014 - The Bhoiwada police arrested Ravindra Pawar and Prakash Gaikwad for duping several unemployed people on the pretext of giving them jobs with the BMC. The two, along with a third unidentified member, had been cheating people since September 2012. The scam came to light when an assistant police security guard posted at F/South ward enquired into a complaint made by one of the victims. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Anubhav Mittal, who is now behind bars for allegedly swindling 3,700 crore from over 7 lakh people in one of the biggest internet scams in recent times, had floated bogus consultant agencies to swindle investors money, the special investigation team (SIT) revealed on Tuesday. SIT is scanning private companies that Mittal had formed to allegedly draw investors money for his personal use. We identified three companies that were formed on fake documents. We suspect he has formed several fake companies, in the guise of providing consultancy, to divert money. We hope to identify across more such bogus companies, Amit Pathak, senior superintendent of police, special task force (STF), said. The STF officials said they have also identified banks that helped Mittal commit the fraud. We have identified the banks that were hand in glove with Mittal. We are scanning the 3,700 crore investment in banks.They were aware of irregularities commissioned by Mittal. We are going to take action against banks in the next two-three days, Pathak said. The STF also applied to take Mittal on remand on Tuesday. The Gautam Budh Nagar district court will hear the application on Wednesday. If we get the remand, we will grill him on the investments he has made. We have a huge amount of data, to analyse his transactions through bogus companies. Today (on Tuesday), we got important documents related to the case. Mittal withdrew a large amount of funds through these three bogus companies in January, February and March of 2016. We suspect that the withdrawals would have increased in 2016-end as his investors increased manifold, Pathak said. The number of complaints against Anubhav Mittal has now reached 8,000, he said. Many investors from other countries had also invested in Mittals companies, including Ablaze Info Solution Private Limited. Investors from Nigeria, Kenya and Muscat have lodged complaints against Mittal. Mittal had registered his company on September 7, 2010, in Delhi but did not conduct any business transactions. At the time of his arrest, he had 100 employees working for him at his Noida office. Read: How a Noida company duped nearly 7 lakh people of Rs 3,700 crore SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On February 19, in about 10 days from now, the Narendra Modi government completes 1,000 days in office. The milestone may be only statistically symbolic but comes in a period of intense and defining political significance. On March 11, the verdict in five state elections, particularly the large state of Uttar Pradesh, will be known. Immediately after that negotiations for the next vice-president and president will begin. By the end of the year, with the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, India will begin a relentless 18-month steeplechase to the 2019 Lok Sabha contest. The budget of 2018 will be an election-year budget. While Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley have been careful and principled in avoiding populist and profligate spending and in adhering to a strict fiscal consolidation programme since 2014, to what degree and in what manner the fiscal discipline of four years will be deployed in an election year remains an intriguing question. Read: Highlights | No one questioned surgical strike like demonetisation: Modi It is important to see Modis speech in Parliament on Tuesday, February 7, in this context, rather than just limit it to immediate concerns about addressing the voter in UP or Uttarakhand for that matter. In a sense, he was setting the agenda, or testing the waters, for a phase beyond March 11. This explained why, for instance, he referred to largely the Congress, rather than other Opposition parties. The PM mentioned the Congress Lok Sabha leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, by name as is appropriate in a parliamentary debate, where the leader of the government responds to criticism by the (de facto) leader of the Opposition. He also had a dig at Rahul Gandhi and the dynastic politics that is both the Congress principal vulnerability and ultimate calling card. Why did Modi do this? Does it suggest a new tack or, as Congress enthusiasts fantasise, a recognition that Rahul Gandhi and his party pose a massive political threat? The answer may be a trifle more commonsensical. If one moves on from the current quintet of state elections, then every set of major assembly polls coming up Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh at the end of 2017, Karnataka in the early summer of 2018, and Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in winter 2018 posits the BJP against the Congress. Read: Narendra Modi says cash crackdown is a fight for the poor Second, Modi has long believed voters make rational choices that are rooted in real-life experiences, rather than abstraction. They tend to compare or subliminally factor in the record of an incumbent government against that of its immediate predecessor. This is not always the case, of course, and occasionally other motivations and emotions can sway a mandate. Yet, the prime ministers political logic cannot be altogether dismissed. As such, in the run up to the 2019 general election, Modi will need to emphasise his personal popularity and credentials and there is no doubt these remain high, as a variety of opinion polls and anecdotal evidence would suggest but also how his government has done in comparison to the UPA administration, particularly UPA II (2009-14). In this regard, the speech on Tuesday was telling. If one sifted through the rhetorical flourishes, the jokes, the references to the Chapekar brothers whose assassination of plague commissioner Walter Rand in Poona on June 22, 1897, and subsequent martyrdom was a pioneering moment in the Hindu rights participation in the freedom struggle then one could detect a purposeful and determined appraisal by the prime minister of how his government has done vis-a-vis the Manmohan Singh ministry. Read: Budget 2017: Not just numbers, FM Jaitley quoted Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekanada and shayari Some of the comparison was straightforward and numerical: The incremental growth in highway capacity, railway track upgrade, the power sector, and building houses for the poorer sections of society. Some of it was also a response to those, among them BJPs supporters, who contend his government has not done enough to take on the culture of corruption that marked the UPAs decline, and not made any big-ticket arrests, achieved convictions and so on. Modi sought to place the battle against corruption in a broader and deeper context. He referred to demonetisation as one of a series of steps against tax avoidance, and promised harsher steps in the days ahead. He stressed the attempts at cleaning up the subsidy circus and mess that welfare spending has been reduced to, with benefits not reaching those who need them and intermediaries enriching themselves. As one of many examples, he pointed to the saving of Rs 14,000 crore or to use media jargon, the unearthing of a scam worth Rs 14,000 crore by identifying and removing 39.5 million bogus ration cards that led to pilferage from the public distribution system and diverted food-grains meant for the poor. These achievements may mean little to the Khan Market Consensus. They may be irrelevant to a self-appointed intelligentsias insistence on what it has decided must mandatorily constitute the idea of India. From his vantage position, however, Modi believes such steps have made a difference to lives of ordinary people, have affected millions of households positively and will stand him in good stead in 2019. The rest is ambient noise. Ashok Malik is distinguished fellow, Observer Research Foundation The views expressed are personal A 32-year-old man committed suicide by hanging self from a ceiling fan in his room at his residence in Maloya late night on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Rambilas, a resident of Gawala colony, worked as a scrap dealer. No suicide note was found at the spot. Police is not suspecting any foul play in the case. Police sources claimed that deceased had minor argument with his wife Maya on Tuesday evening. The body of the deceased was discovered by his wife Maya on Wednesday morning. A neighbour informed Police Control Room (PCR) following which message was delivered to Maloya police station. Deceased was rushed to Government multi speciality hospital (GMSH)-16 where he was declared brought dead. According to police, the deceased is survived by wife and five children. Police initiated inquest proceedings in the case. Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday called for commissioning of a high-power All India Radio (AIR) station in Amritsar to counter the false propaganda by Pakistani radio channels in border districts of Punjab. This will help counter the malicious propaganda directed at people of border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, the former Punjab Congress chief said in a special mention in the Upper House of Parliament. The tower of Amritsar radio station has a coverage area of 130 km and (it) is expected to counter the Lahore Radio, which has deep penetration in the Indian territory...the Pakistani radio channel transmission can be received very clearly in the border areas of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, a press release quoted him as having said. Over 11,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe by sea since the beginning of 2017, with the number of deaths reaching 255, Reuters reported citing the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "IOM reports that 11,010 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2017 through 5 February about 85 percent arriving in Italy and the rest in Greece. This compares with 74,808 during the first 36 days of 2016," the press release issued on Tuesday said. According to IOM, 9,359 people arrived in Italy, with most deaths, 228, occurring on this route. In the first 36 days of 2016, 90 people died on their way to Italy, while the total number of deaths for a similar period of time stood at 380. According to the press release, 1,651 people arrived in Greece between January 1 and February 5 this year, while the number of arrivals for this period in 2016 was 68,778. Europe is currently experiencing a migration crisis, struggling to accommodate hundreds of thousands of migrants that want to settle in the European member states that are seen as the most welcoming, such as Germany or Sweden. At a time when they should be busy preparing for the Class 10 exams, two students are busy scurrying through electronics shops in Sector 22. They are wearing uniforms belonging to a private school in Sector 51, making them easily identifiable among the crowd. What they are looking for is a pair of Bluetooth earbuds and microphone, seemingly harmless devices, until they question the shopkeeper, without any hesitation: Will this device work for three hours? We have maths and science exams, and want a device with nice battery backup. The examiner will never come to know about the Bluetooth device attached into my ear under the turban. Rather, I will finish my exam in two hours, says one of them. The shopkeeper, eventually, refuses to sell the device to the students, suggesting to them another shop. Ready to pay any amount, many students turn up at the market during exam days, says the shopkeeper. Students have various innovative ideas for cheating. A few days back, a student wanted us to weave a microphone into his vest, but I refused. Such vests are prepared in Delhi, he says. While the student plugs the earbud in the ear, the microphone is attached to the vest. These vests are available for Rs 600-Rs1,000, and the Bluetooth device costs Rs 300-Rs 600, says the shopkeeper. Students use these to communicate outside the examination hall. TACKLING THE MENACE Its clear, with students resorting to the use of technology to score big in the exams, invigilators too will need smart ways to catch them the traditional frisking wont do. HS Mamik, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), Chandigarh, says with such a trend emerging, the only way left for schools is to install jammers during the examinations. Schoolchildren resorting to such means to cheat during the board exams is a shocking development. Strict legal action is needed against those who in order to earn some quick bucks are helping these kids tread the wrong path, says Arvind Goyal, a local academician. In fact, 2015 the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) had to be re-conducted after it was found that some candidates used electronic devices to cheat during the entrance exam, says Goyal. Its very unfortunate to see kids resorting to such methods to clear their school exams. So far, numerous competitive and recruitment exams have come under the scanner, but the news of schoolchildren using unfair means is really sad. We will try to find these shops and take necessary action, said a senior police official. MODUS OPERANDI When a student sitting inside the examination centre receives a call at his/her phone, the Bluetooth attached inside the ear or with vest gets the signal. With just pressing a button on the device, call can be received directly through the Bluetooth. Students keep their phones in a bag outside the centre within the range for the device to catch the signal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After Punjab assembly polls, theres another big fight the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is heading for Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) polls, on February 26. The announcement of support by Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda to the SAD before Punjab polls would be among the poll planks of Paramjit Singh Sarnaled SAD (Delhi) and the Aam Aadmi Party-supported Panthic Sewa Dal (PSD), which is contesting the Delhi gurdwara polls for the first time. DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK, who also heads SAD (Badal) unit in Delhi, claims he had opposed the dera support to Akali candidates, calling it against the Sikh tenets. It was only DSGMC which stopped the dera over the past four years from spreading its roots in Delhi, said GK. With three key players in the fray, it is going to be fiercely contested gurdwara polls that would elect 46 of the total 53 members in the DSGMC house. There is no involvement of the AAP in gurdwara polls. In fact, we are against any political party taking part in the religious matters of Sikhs, Avtar Singh, AAP MLA from Kalkaji who heads the PSD as convener, said. Ending corruption in the DSGMC, educating children of under-privileged Sikh families, rehabilitation of 1984 riot victims, dharam parchar and setting up a blood bank are on our top agenda, Avtar Singh told HT. The PSD has already announced 42 candidates for the polls and 4 others would be named shortly. THE THIRD FORCE The AAP-supported Panthic Sewa Dal (PSD) is contesting the Delhi gurdwara polls for the first time. The Akal Sahai Welfare Society, led by former jathedar of Akal Takht Ranjit Singh, is also contesting in 20 segments. Talking to HT, Ranjit Singh said he has been making efforts to make a strong third force. He said he was in touch with the PSD and Sikh Sadhbhawna Dal, led by Baldev Singh Wadala. At the time of withdrawal of nominations, we will try to ensure one common candidate of all three groups from each of the 46 segments so that votes are not divided, he added. Sarna, who remained president of the DSGMC for over ten years between 1995 and 2013 during different terms, said the corruption allegations levelled against him by GK were never proved. What they have done is known to everybody. They exhausted all the savings and were unable to give salaries to DSGMC employees, he said. On PSDs entry into gurdwara polls, Sarna said it was an arm of AAP and a Hindu-led party could never win DSGMC polls. The contest would be between his party and SAD (Badal), he added. Both Sarna and Avtar Singh felt that the SAD (Badal) violated the Sikh tenets by seeking the support of Dera Sacha Sauda during Punjab polls. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four days after city mayor Asha Kumari Jaswal and two others were booked for trespassing into Snehalaya, a home for destitute and abandoned children in Maloya, and for violating rules prescribed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, an inquiry report has given a clean chit to her. A three-member Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) panel conducted the inquiry. The five-page report has been submitted to UT adviser Parimal Rai. On January 31, police had booked a 12-year-old boy for allegedly sodomising a 10-year-old at Snehalaya in Maloya. On February 3, the mayor and two councillors Rajesh Kalia and Ravi Kant Sharma visited the institute. Social welfare department director Nishu Singhal lodged a complaint with the police that the three entered the premises without permission and that their meeting a sexual assault victim violated rules. The inquiry report states that ...it seems apparent that the Snehalaya staff introduced the victim child to the mayor. The report from Pramod Sharma, professor Nishitha Jaswal and professor Devi Sirohi adds that the visit had been intimated in advance to the superintendent. GAPS IN INQUIRY REPORT No clarity on whether the mayor had permission to visit? The report gives a clean chit to mayor of trespassing, saying that the shelter home staff was informed about the mayors visit, but it does not specify, who was informed and when? How did the mayor and her entourage meet the victim? In the report, the mayor is quoted as saying that as she was about to leave in her vehicle, the Snehalaya warden stopped her and requested to come back and meet the child. In their statements, the employees, however, have said that the mayor insisted on meeting the children, and separately in their rooms and not in an assembly as they had suggested. The inquiry report does not conclusively establish any of the versions. Did the mayor threaten shelter home employees? To this critical question, the report is again inconclusive and takes no clear stand. It just goes by the denial of the mayor, even as the employees have even lodged a police complaint to this effect. How could the media have taken photographs of the mayors entourage and the victim too, without permission, if she had not asked them to? The report states that there was nothing to show that the media took photographs at the mayors instance. But, then the question is that why did the mayor tag the media along with her? Does merely saying that the media took photographs absolve the mayor of violating the law. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday put the Punjab government on notice on a petition challenging the appointment of a Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officer as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Punjab Wakf Board. The petition was filed by Masjid-e-Bilal committee, Ludhiana, through its president Mohammad Yaqueb, seeking quashing of the order of December 29, whereby PCS officer Latif Ahmed, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Maur, and secretary, regional transport authority, Bathinda, was appointed as the CEO of the board. The response has been sought by February 20. The high court was told that the boards functioning has come to a standstill in the absence of a regular CEO. The court was urged to issue directions to state to appoint the CEO from a panel of two names suggested by the board with full time charge as envisaged in the Wakf Amendment Act, 2013. The board has its office in Chandigarh and is controlling and managing thousands of properties across Punjab. The property related decisions are not being taken up as the appointment of the chief executive officer has not been done as per the requirement of 2013 Act. The Jharkhand cabinet on Tuesday approved a health departments proposal to appoint 767 specialised doctors and 316 general physicians in government hospitals and health centres on contract. There are a total of 914 sanctioned posts of specialised doctors out of which 767 were vacant due to various reasons, including doctors quitting in the midst of contract tenures. The cabinet put its seal on the proposal to provide better health care to people by filling up vacant posts of specialist doctors in ENT, gynaecology, paediatrics and pathology departments of government hospitals and health centres, said cabinet secretary SS Meena. The 316 posts of general physicians are meant for 14 districts against existing vacancies, he said. Health secretary Sudhir Tripathi accepted said, High rate of attrition of specialized doctors have compelled usto make interim arrangement till the posts are filled up through examinations by Jharkhand public service commission. Approval was also given to sanction Rs 40.55 crore to the public relations department to meet expenditure on hoardings and banners, besides placing advertisements in the print, electronic and digital media for the global investors summit in Ranchi, beginning February 16. It approved the higher education and technical education and skill development departments proposal to set up 12 polytechnic colleges. Out of the 12, nine will be governed and run by the government in Bagodar, Godda, Lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Sahebganj, Chatra, Jamtara, Khunti and Palamu. JINFRA has been appointed transaction manager to set up three private polytechnics in Simdega, Madhupur and Dumka under PPP mode. The cabinet also approved setting up veterinary office in Khunti and Ramgarh districts that were created in 2007. In all 10 posts have been sanctioned that include one veterinary officer in each district. Sanction was also given to seven posts in the Jharkhand staff selection commission, including one under secretary. Clearance was given to the excise and prohibition departments proposal for compounding and classification of country made liquor, beer, ganja and bhang and settlements in cases of violations. The cabinet also approved the partial amendments of sections 9 (a), 10 and 18 of the Jharkhand value added tax (J-VAT). While amendments to section 9(a) will enable businessmen to carry out business without audit up to Rs 60 lakh turnover, the modification in section 18 has made scrutiny of all returns compulsory within two years. Decks were cleared for amendment of section 32 (3) of the building construction standard bidding rules that makes it mandatory for the government to consider the bid/consultancy amount before black-listing a company/consultant firm and prescribing years of punishment. An agriculture department proposal to prepare e-platform/etrading regulations for sale and purchase of agriculture farm produces by krishi bazaar samitis by amending Jharkhand krishi upaj bazaar samiti rules, 2014 was also cleared. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ursula Bhengra, 60, wife of a missing Army jawan, has been selling Chana (gram) in a Jharkhand village in Khunti district to take care of her three daughters at Dodma village in Torpa block ever since her husband went missing from Kargil, 25 years ago. Her tears have dried up and the hope of seeing him is gone too. Ursulas husband-Antony Bhengra- was posted with the Rocket Regiment in Kargil as a gunner in the 1980s and went missing on May 20, 1991 from Kathua area of Jammu & Kashmir. Over two decades have passed but neither the Indian Army nor his family members have ben able to trace him and she does not know whether he is alive, or not. She is still running from pillar to post to trace her husband and confirm whether she would get her due benefits as a war widow. I wrote several letters to his regiment but the reply was that it would inform me when he returns, she said. She also wrote to the Prime Minister and President of India in 2015 and 2016 seeking help. That did not help either. Antony had last visited home in May 1991 to see his younger daughter Neelam when she was just six years old. He returned to his workplace and never returned. I got a letter from the regiment in the same year that mentioned he did not rejoin after leave, she said. She said she had no idea at that time how to approach the Army so she did not approach anyone for almost a decade. Later on advice she entered a missing complaint with the Army and police. Torpa police station in-charge Amit Kumar Tiwart said, since her husband went missing from Kargil, the police had no role to play. His regiment was informed that the police could not trace him. A jawan did visit her to take her signature on a missing certificate from the local police station in October last year and told her she would get pension soon. Nothing happened. Ursula had a job as Aanganwadi Sevika in 1985 in Khunti district but the remuneration was not enough. When my husband went missing, I used to get `80 per month as sevika. I had no other source of income. Then, I decided to sell Chana. Later, her remuneration was revised to `3,000 per month. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One of the earliest memories of fatwas and other forms of threats against artists and writers exercising their liberty pertains to Salman Rushdie, whose Satanic Verses was considered unholy and un-Islamic. If one is right, the novel is still banned in India. Poor Rushdie had to live virtually underground for 10 years or so in England that cost the British exchequer quite a pie - and angered the tax-paying public there. India has seen such threats against artistic freedom - more so in recent years, when fringe political groups have been overly sensitive to anything they considered unacceptable. Jolly LLB 2 ran into a storm and had to do away with some scenes. Strange, for Jolly LLB 1 faced no obstacles, and one would think that this movie too had poked fun at the legal system with Arshad Warsis Jolly, in one scene, telling the judge (Saurabh Shukla) in an open court that everybody knew that he took bribes. The judge smiled. Outside the cinemas, nobody minded. This was a few years ago, but now Sanal Sasidharans Sexy Durga - which last week won a coveted award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival - has been lambasted for its title. The director says he is getting death threats. Sasidharan won recognition with his film, Off-Day Game (Ozhivudivasathe Kali). Seen here, a scene from Sexy Durga. In an atmosphere which seems so vitiated and pregnant with terrible incidents of the kind we saw in Jaipur recently, when director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was abused and molested by a Rajput group, Karni Sena, for a scene in his forthcoming picture, Padmavati, Sasidharan cannot really breathe easy. The young Malayalam helmer posted on Facebook that he was getting threats from a man claiming to be Rahul Shrivastava, president of Hindu Swabhiman Sangh. It is said that Shrivastava has a problem with the word Sexy being placed before Durga in the films title. Sasidharan quipped: When I said my movie has nothing to do with goddess Durga, Shrivastava wanted to know why I could not re-title the film as Sexy Sreeja. When I told Shrivastava that Sreeja was also the name of a goddess, he retorted by saying that it was also his wifes name... Arrey bhai use the same logic here please Durga is the name of so many girls too. And one of them happens to be the heroine of Sasidharans latest creation. Sexy Durga is a marvellous movie about an eloping couple - who face terrifying moments in a van driven by drunk men on a deserted highway at night. Sasidharan captures fear with dignified brilliance, and one feels that people should stop being so judgmental about cinema. Otherwise, India could become another Iran, where curbs on artistic freedom have been suffocating - but yet not powerful enough to stop men like the house-arrested Jafar Panahi, who despite a ban on his working, has managed to make three movies. One of them was Taxi, which won the Golden Bear at Berlin a couple of years ago - where the auteur himself plays a cabbie driving on the streets of Tehran, picking passengers and chatting with them. A film emerged out of this! This is sheer innovation, artistic innovation. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Piracy has come to haunt Indian films once again. This time, it is Tamil actioner Si 3, the third part of the superhit Singam franchise. In a daring threat, Tamil Rockers, a Torrent website, has threatened to live stream the film on their site on the day of its release. This, after Gnanavel Raja, the producer, lashed out at the group for leaking pirated version of the film online. Raja, however, is reportedly going ahead with the release on February 9. Earlier, speaking at the audio launch of Vijay Antonys Yaman on Saturday, Raja reportedly said: Singam 3 is releasing on February 9. A piracy website called Tamil Rockers run by a son of **** , pardon my language, has announced that he will live stream the movie at 11 am on the release date. We are still unsure if we can clear all the financial hurdles and ensure the film releases as per the schedule, but that dog is very confident that he will live stream the film at the said time. And the industry is quiet and doing nothing about it, that includes me as well. Responding to his statement, Tamil Rockers took to their Facebook page and said: #Gnanavel Raja Nice speech sir #MarkYourCalender February 9th is not your day our day.. #TamilRockers. Raja had also attacked the Tamil Nadu Producer Council for the bodys inability to contain piracy. It must be noted that Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swami starrer Bogan, which released on February 2, too had to suffer when the film was leaked online. The Indian Express reports that it was viewed more than 2.5 lakh times on the first day itself. Si3, which stars Suriya, Anushka Shetty, Shruti Haasan and Thakur Anoop Thakur, is directed by Hari. Hindustan Times couldnt independently verify the news. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Rana Daggubati who will be seen in upcoming flick The Ghazi Attack, said the film was a tribute to the Indian Navy. The film is based on true events from the 1971 war, when Pakistani submarine Ghazi attempted to destroy the Indian aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. At the promotional event on Tuesday, the actor who bought a Bajaj V Bike made from the metal of indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant as a memorabilia from the film, said: The first reason why I did this film is it is a very important story to tell. Weve always seen films that glorified army or police. It is important that India should have first naval film. This is somewhere a tribute to the Navy. The film will see him playing Naval officer Lt. Commander Arjun Varma, who was said to have remained underwater for 18 days during the war. The Ghazi Attack is based on the destruction of PNS Ghazi by the Indian Navy in 1971. Besides my love for the bike, I am a deep sea diver. In this film, there are a lot of underwater stunts, he added. For the last one year of my life, Ive been researching how the incident took place and what India went through when actually the war had taken place. INS Vikrant was one of the most celebrated warships in the Indian naval fleet. I know the importance of it that time. Its lovely to be part of the entire thing, he said. Also starring Taapsee Pannu, Kay Kay Menon and Atul Kulkarni, The Ghazi Attack releases on February 17. Apart from The Ghazi Attack, Rana awaits the April 28 release of Baahubali: The Conclusion starring Prabhas, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj. The 32-year-old actor, who gave a splendid performance as Bhallal Dev in the much appreciated film Baahubali, thanked the Hindi audience for making the film a huge hit. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told US President Donald Trump in a phone conversation that he would like to develop the relationship with the new US administration, but also stressed his government's focus on EU integration, Sputnik reports. "A cordial conversation with [President Trump] to continue strengthening the relationship beneficial to our people. We are allied countries," Rajoy wrote on his Twitter on Wednesday. The statement of the Spanish government also said that Rajoy expressed willingness to develop the relationship with the new US administration and noted that Spain, with its stable government and growing economy, was a good partner for a dialogue with the United States. The statement said that the conversation lasted about 15 minutes and the two leaders exchanged opinions on the state of the bilateral relations and the issues related to economy and security. According to the statement, Rajoy said that the European Union had lately focused its efforts on the European integration, despite the recent decision of the United Kingdom to leave the bloc, and the Spanish government would also concentrate on this goal. Both Rajoy and Trump said they would participate in NATO summit in Brussels in May and discussed the matters related to defense. Trump and Rajoy previously spoke on December 12, 2016, when the Spanish prime minister congratulated the president-elect on the victory in the elections. The ruling party of Zimbabwe is reportedly looking to spend some $2.5 million on President Robert Mugabes 93rd birthday celebration on February 21, a media report said on Wednesday. Each of the ten provinces is expected to raise $2.5 million towards. They expect to raise it through provincial structures, individuals, private companies, parastatals and local authorities, Zanu PF party officials said. However, opposition parties have attacked Mugabe for wasting money on extravagant revelry while 93% of Zimbabweans are wallowing in poverty caused by his incompetence and misrule, NewZimbabwe.com reported. Opposition parties said they are not surprised about the huge budget because Mugabe always had a penchant for profligacy and wastefulness. Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) national spokesperson Obert Gutu said Mugabe and the Zanu-Patriotic Front (PF) regime have a satanic appetite for seeing the majority of Zimbabweans live in abject poverty and penury. Just imagine what the sum of $2.5 million can do in buying scarce drugs and other medicines for our public hospitals. That amount of money should be diverted to the Department of Social Welfare where it can be used to buy food and other essentials that are badly needed by the poor and marginalised people in our country. Zimbabwe needs better leadership than what we are seeing from these people, Gutu added. MDC-T party spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi said: A normal leader cannot be so reckless and extravagant to the extent of raiding state enterprises to celebrate his own birthday while millions are starving. Our fellow citizens should boycott Mugabe birthday celebrations in protest of the man-made crisis and excessive looting of state resources by the Zanu PF administration. The US Army will grant the final permit for the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline after an order from President Donald Trump to expedite the project despite opposition from Native American tribes and climate activists. In a court filing on Tuesday, the army said that it would allow the final section of the line to tunnel under North Dakotas Lake Oahe, part of the Missouri River system. This could enable the $3.8 billion pipeline to begin operation as soon as June. Energy Transfer Partners is building the 1,170-mile (1,885 km) line to help move crude from the shale oilfields of North Dakota to Illinois en route to the Gulf of Mexico, where many US refineries are located. Protests against the project last year drew thousands of people to the North Dakota plains including Native American tribes and environmental activists, and protest camps sprung up. The movement attracted high-profile political and celebrity supporters. The permit was the last bureaucratic hurdle to the pipelines completion, and Tuesdays decision drew praise from supporters of the project and outrage from activists, including promises of a legal challenge from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Its great to see this new administration following through on their promises and letting projects go forward to the benefit of American consumers and workers, said John Stoody, spokesperson for the Association of Oil Pipe Lines. The Standing Rock Sioux, which contends the pipeline would desecrate sacred sites and potentially pollute its water source, vowed to shut pipeline operations down if construction is completed, without elaborating how it would do so. The tribe called on its supporters to protest in Washington on March 10 rather than return to North Dakota. As native peoples, we have been knocked down again, but we will get back up, the tribe said in the statement. We will rise above the greed and corruption that has plagued our peoples since first contact. We call on the Native Nations of the United States to stand together, unite and fight back. People standing outside developer Energy Transfer Partners headquarters protest the Army Corps of Engineers approval of the final section of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. (AP Photo) Former president Barack Obamas administration last year delayed completion of the pipeline pending a review of tribal concerns and in December ordered an environmental study. Less than two weeks after Trump ordered a review of the permit request, the army said in a filing in District Court in Washington DC it would cancel that study. The final permit, known as an easement, could come in as little as a day, according to the filing. There was no need for the environmental study as there was already enough information on the potential impact of the pipeline to grant the permit, Robert Speer, acting secretary of the US Army, said in a statement. Trump issued an order on January 24 to expedite both the Dakota Access Pipeline and to revive another controversial multibillion dollar oil artery: Keystone XL. Obamas administration blocked that project in 2015. At the Dakota Access construction site, law enforcement and protesters clashed violently on several occasions throughout the fall. More than 600 people were arrested, and police were criticized for using water cannons in 25-degree Fahrenheit (minus 4-degree Celsius) weather against activists in late November. The granting of an easement, without any environmental review or tribal consultation, is not the end of this fight, said Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, one of the primary groups protesting the line. It is the new beginning. Expect mass resistance far beyond what Trump has seen so far. Legal challenge tough Any legal challenge is likely to be a difficult one for pipeline opponents as presidential authority to grant such permits is generally accepted in the courts. The tribe said in a statement the decision wrongfully terminated environmental study of the project. Deborah Sivas, professor of environmental law at Stanford and director of Stanfords Environmental Law Clinic, said a challenge by the tribe would likely rely on the reasons the Army Corps itself gave for why more review was needed in December. The tribe will probably argue that an abrupt reversal without a sufficient explanation for why the additional analysis is not necessary is arbitrary and should, therefore, be set aside, she said in an email. Supporters say the pipeline is safer than rail or trucks to transport the oil. Shares of Energy Transfer Partners finished up 20 cents at $39.20, reversing earlier losses on the news. Coal has washed up in waters dangerously close to Australias Great Barrier Reef, environmental authorities said on Wednesday, following an investigation into complaints of black dust on nearby beaches. Ship-loading facilities at the port of Hay Point, which ships tens of millions of tonnes of coal annually to export markets worldwide, are at the centre of the investigation by authorities in the northeastern state of Queensland. But it was too early to say if the Hay Point port was the source of the coal and fine dust that washed up on the nearby beaches of East Point and Louisa Creek, the states environment minister, Steven Miles, told reporters. The impact on marine life and the reef is likely to be quite localised, Miles added. Provided the source can be identified and we can ensure it is not continuing to spill, it is likely to be possible to clean up. Hay Point is the largest of several coal ports located near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and a flashpoint for environmentalists concerned over run-off contamination of the reef, a World Heritage site. This is another example of why coal and the Great Barrier Reef dont mix, said Sam Regester, campaigns director for the activist group GetUp! We know more ships and more coal equals more accidents. In December, Australia earmarked expenditure of A$1.3 billion ($992 million) over the next five years to improve the water quality of the reef, to keep it off the United Nations in danger list. Activists say the money is insufficient and want to see more concrete action to protect the reef. More than two million people visit the reef each year, generating more than A$2 billion ($1.53 billion) in tourism dollars, an Australian government report showed in 2016. China has dispatched three warships and Russia has sent an anti-submarine ship to take part in the Pakistan Navy-led international exercise in the Arabian Sea that begins on Friday. The Aman-17 exercise will be held off the Karachi coast till February 14. Initiated in 2007, the naval drill is held every two years. This time, the drill will see the participation of the navies of 12 countries Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, observers from 31 countries will also attend the event. This is the fifth time that China has participated in the joint drill. The Chinese Navy fleet will include the guided-missile destroyer Harbin, guided-missile frigate Handan and the comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu, Xinhua news agency reported. According to Russias Sputnik news agency, the Russian Navys large anti-submarine ship Severmorsk will participate in the exercise in what could be a sign of increasing military collaboration between Moscow and Islamabad. The Severomorsk, according to the news agency, participated in Russias naval campaign against terrorists in Syria. It is noted that during the exercises, the Severomorsk crew would interact with colleagues from Pakistan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey and several other countries to enhance efforts on combating piracy and protecting the international trade routes, the report said. The Xinhua report added that the Aman-17 exercise will feature harbour and sea phases, where participants will witness a variety of activities including search and rescue operations, gunnery drills, anti-piracy demonstrations, replenishment at sea (RAS) and maritime counter-terrorism demonstrations. The five-day exercise will involve a wide variety of ships, aircraft, helicopters, special operations forces, explosives ordinance disposal, marine teams and observers from regional as well extra-regional navies. According to Xinhua: This exercise provides a platform for the navies involved some of which do not work together very often to hone their skills and build cooperation and friendship to promote peace and stability. With the theme Together for Peace, the Aman-17 naval exercise has helped clear the Arabian Sea of pirates, Pakistan fleets commander Vice Admiral Syed Arifullah Hussaini told a press conference in Karachi. These exercises help the participating countries come together and further their relations, he was quoted by Dawn newspaper as saying. China said on Wednesday a US-sponsored move to include Pakistan-based terror suspect Masood Azhar in a list of UN-designated terrorists had been blocked because there was no consensus and conditions had not been met for the listing. In defending the move, Beijing brushed aside New Delhis outrage that the alleged mastermind of last years terror attack on Pathankot airbase had again slipped through the net of international sanctions. In the same breath, the Chinese foreign ministry hoped the decision would not affect India-China ties. This isnt the first time China has come in the way of sanctions against Azhar, which many say is a result of Beijings all-weather friendship with Islamabad. But its defence of the move continues to be the same one it trotted out earlier. Last year, the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. As for the submission once again by relevant countries to list him in the sanctions list, I would say the conditions are not yet met for the committee to reach a decision, he added. China has put the request on technical hold to allow the relevant parties more time to consult with each other. This is also in line with rules of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the rules of the discussion of the committee, Lu said. He acknowledged Beijing and New Delhi had exchanged views on the issue. We dont hope it will have a negative impact on our relationship, he said. The US proposal against Azhar said his group, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was a designated terror organisation and its leaders could not go scot-free. China opposed the US move by putting a hold on the proposal just before the expiry of the 10-day deadline for any proposal to be adopted or blocked or to be put on hold, an official in New Delhi told Hindustan Times on Tuesday. A US state department official said Washingtons views on Azhar and JeM were well known and the group was responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a threat to regional stability. China clearly some would say determinedly is not convinced. And it didnt really matter if it was an US-sponsored move this time. So, whoever submitted the request, we believe all the members of the committee will act in line with regulations of the Security Council and its affiliations, Lu said. Lu said including Azhar in the list was not a matter of length time but a matter of whether consensus can be reached on the basis of full consultation, refusing to indicate whether China will change its decision. Referring to criticism that China has continually blocked moves against Azhar at the behest of Pakistan, Lu said: Chinas action in the Security Council and its affiliations are in line with the regulations and procedures. We put out technical hold after we had several rounds of consultations with India. We hope relevant parties have enough time to consult with each other to make sure that the decision made by the Committee will be based on consensus representing the broad international community, he said. The JeM, a Pakistan-based terror group, was blamed for attacks on an airbase in Pathankot in January 2016 and on an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in September, which led to unprecedented surgical strikes by Indian forces along the Line of Control. Beijing blocked New Delhis application on Azhar before the UN sanctions committee which goes by the lengthy name of Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Daesh, names for Islamic State) al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities three times last year. The issue of Azhar and Chinas role in blocking Indias bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will continue to hamper bilateral ties. President Donald Trump stepped up his criticism of the US judicial system on Wednesday, saying courts seem to be so political, a day after his US travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries faced close scrutiny from an appeals court. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard arguments on the Trump administrations challenge to a lower court order putting his temporary travel ban on hold. The appeals court is expected to issue a ruling as soon as Wednesday. I dont ever want to call a court biased, Trump told a few hundred police chiefs and sheriffs from major cities at a meeting in Washington. So I wont call it biased. And we havent had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political. And it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read the statement and do whats right. I think its a sad day. I think our securitys at risk today, Trump said. Trumps January 27 order barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except those from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. He said his directive was done for the security of our nation, the security of our citizens. The appeals court must decide if Trump acted within his authority or whether his directive was tantamount to a discriminatory ban targeting Muslims. The appeals court judges questioned whether the directive improperly targeted people because of their religion. If these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, theyd do what they should be doing, the Republican president said. Last week Trump labeled the judge who put his directive on hold, US district Judge James Robart of Seattle, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, a so-called judge. Last year Trump sharply attacked a judge who was presiding over a case involving one of his businesses. In a Twitter post earlier on Wednesday, Trump wrote, If the US does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! During an oral argument lasting more than an hour on Tuesday, the appeals court panel in San Francisco pressed an administration lawyer over whether the Trump administrations national security argument was backed by evidence that people from the seven countries posed a danger. At the meeting with law enforcement officials, Trump read from the law he used to justify the travel ban, quoting it in fragments and sprinkling bits of interpretation in between. He said the law clearly allowed a president to suspend entry of any class of people if he determines would be a detriment to national security. A bad high school student would understand this, Trump said. Anybody would understand this. Judge Richard Clifton, who was appointed to the bench by Bush, posed equally tough questions for a lawyer representing Minnesota and Washington states, which are challenging the ban. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the US is in the process of designing the wall on its southern border with Mexico. The wall is getting designed right now. A lot of people say, Oh, oh, Trump was only kidding with the wall. I wasnt kidding. I dont kid. I dont kid, Trump told conference of County Sheriffs at the White House. The wall, a major poll promise, is essential to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drug pouring into the country from across the border, he said. I watch this, and they say I was kidding. Nah, I dont kid. I dont kid about things like that, I can tell you. No, we will have a wall. It will be a great wall and it will do a lot of itll be a big help, he said. Just ask Israel about walls. Do walls work? Just ask Israel. They work, if its properly done. Its time to dismantle the gangs terrorising our citizens. It is time to ensure every young American can be raised in an environment of decency, dignity, love and support, he said. Scores of women took to the streets in Argentina Tuesday in a bare-breasted demonstration of solidarity with women recently confronted by police for going topless on a South Atlantic beach. The demonstrations in Buenos Aires, in Mar del Plata and Rosario, were prompted by an incident two weeks ago in Necochea, 500 kilometers south of the capital. Three women in bikini bottoms were ordered by 20 police officers to put on their tops or head out. Many in Argentina, once one of the worlds wealthiest countries, were stunned. Now used to struggling with economic woes and corruption, they are increasingly tired of what some see as the authorities overreach. There is this macho way of thinking that just has to end, said a protestor named Noelia, 28, who declined to give her family name. We are the owners of our bodies and we can show our bodies if we like. We are not consumer goods. As older men in suits and ties scrambled out of nearby offices during the protest, some stopped to stare. A few laughed or giggled. You cant miss a chance to see a bit of tit, can you? said one man, aged around 60, to nods from others. Get out, man! Get out! some demonstrators chanted, with slogans painted on their skin in lipstick. Some of the men took selfies with the demonstrators, perhaps not necessarily in solidarity. The leftist politician Vilma Ripoll said, All people want to see tits on television. The real ones bother you. Last July, thousands of women took part in topless protests across the country after a woman was kicked out of a public area near the capital for nursing her child, triggering widespread outrage. About 15,000 residents of a shantytown beside Manilas port have lost their homes in a fire that raged overnight before being put out Wednesday morning, officials said. Fire department officials said 1,000 homes were gutted in the sprawling Parola Compound, where several families often share tiny houses running along narrow alleyways. Fire officer Edilberto Cruz said seven people suffered minor injuries in the fire that broke out Tuesday night then quickly spread. No fatalities were reported. Residents occupy a street with their belongings following an overnight fire that swept through their community, left, near the port in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo) Three evacuation centres were opened, and food and water are being provided to the 3,000 families who lost their homes, said welfare officer Regina Jane Mata. A resident pours water on a fire in Delpan, Tondo, Manila. (AFP Photo) But hours after the blaze was put out, many of the people were still huddled on a nearby road with their belongings, including clothes and even washing machines and electric fans. A boy cuts the electric wire after a fire destroyed more than hundreds of shanties at a community of informal settlers. (Reuters Photo) The fire snarled traffic, blocking delivery trucks going to and from the port. Fire victims gathers along a street after a fire destroyed more than hundreds of shanties. (Reuters Photo) Fire victims stay at a makeshift along a street after a fire destroyed more than hundreds of shanties at a community of informal settlers, according to authorities, in Parola Compound, Tondo city, metro Manila, Philippines. (Reuters Photo) Fire victims sift through the debris following the overnight fire. (AP Photo) Residents look on as a fire destroys hundreds of houses. (AFP Photo) ADS ADS Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin To commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the first Royal Oak Extra-Thin in yellow gold, Audemars Piguet is reintroducing the iconic reference 15202 this year. This new version of the Royal Oak Extra-Thin is faithful to the original model, picking up the traditional 39 mm diameter and following the aesthetic codes that have helped to cement the collections timeless reputation. So we see the familiar octagonal bezel with its eight hexagonal screws, the petite tapisserie guilloche dial and the bracelet seamlessly integrated into the case with its perfectly calculated combination of graduated links. Inside, the new Royal Oak Extra-Thin is equipped with the extra-thin self-winding manufacture calibre 2121, which made its debut 50 years ago. Cartier Panthere de Cartier The Panthere de Cartier watch, born in 1983 and withdrawn from the catalogue in 2004, made its big comeback to the SIHH in January. And it doesnt look a day older. Its aesthetic codes are identical to those of the 1980s, with its square case, screwed bezel, Roman numerals and minutes track. The timepiece pays homage to the feline grace of the panther, one of Cartiers signature motifs, its flexible articulated bracelet recalling the fluid motions of the beast as it prowls through the jungle. The Panthere, both a watch and an item of jewellery, comes in two sizes (22 mm and 27 mm) in yellow or rose gold, steel or two-tone, with optional gem-setting and a quartz movement. Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Five years after the launch of the Rendez-Vous, Jaeger-LeCoultre is enriching the collection with a number of new references. A selection of feminine complications, a wide range of materials and neutral and iridescent hues confirm the timeless style of this elegant collection with its Art Deco accents. This year, yellow gold makes its debut in the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium 34 mm. The precious metal appears almost to melt into the skin as it gracefully envelops the contours of the plain bezel, elegant lugs and understated clasp. The silvered dial is embellished with an elegant guilloche motif, accentuating the brilliance of the bezel. The watch conceals the finely-worked wheels of a self-winding mechanical movement, the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 898A/1, which is produced, assembled and finished by hand. Van Cleef & Arpels Bouton dOr watch In 2016 Van Cleef & Arpels unveiled Bouton dOr, a jewellery line inspired by the paillette motif created by the Parisian jeweller in the late 1930s. This year at the SIHH, Van Cleef & Arpels presented the Bouton dOr watch, a symphony of circles and sunny highlights. All the sparkles culminate in a concave dial paved with diamonds. With its overlapping beads of gold studded with diamonds, the timepiece captures the three-dimensionality and visual depth of the collection as a whole. In order to ensure the bracelet remains flexible, several dozen separate elements are fitted together, with an overlapping row of sequins down the centre. A 36-year-old Indian-origin man has been indicted on federal fraud charges for sending over a million spam emails to people in the US and abroad and damaging several computer networks. Michael Persaud, of Scottsdale, used multiple internet protocol addresses and domains -- a technique known as snowshoe spamming -- to transmit spam emails over at least nine networks, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago. Persaud sent well over a million spam emails to recipients in the US and abroad, the indictment states. He often used false names to register the domains, and he created fraudulent From Address fields to conceal that he was the true sender of the emails, the indictment states. The charges also accuse Persaud of illegally transferring and selling millions of email addresses for the purpose of transmitting spam. The indictment charges Persaud with ten counts of wire fraud and seeks the forfeiture of four computers. Persaud gained access and use of the victim networks by falsely representing that he would not use their systems to send spam, and that he would comply with their policies prohibiting spamming, according to the indictment. He used a California company called Impact Media LLC and other aliases to send spam on behalf of sellers of various goods and services, it states. Persaud earned commissions for each sale generated by the spam. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered released on his own recognisance. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, the court would impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory US Sentencing Guidelines. He was arrested in January in Arizona and produced before federal magistrate Judge Susan E Cox in Chicago on Tuesday. A family of mixed Indian and Middle Eastern heritage has won compensation after two brothers, aged seven and five, were questioned by police over the toy guns they were playing with at a school in the East of England. The boys were reported to Bedfordshire Police as being at risk of radicalisation in March last year but officers quickly concluded there was no issue of concern. The school and the boys cannot be named to protect their identity as minors. I was told they had displayed signs that were worrying in terms of being reasonable indicators of being involved in terrorist activity. They had no other reason to believe they had any signs of extremism other than the colour of their skin, the mother, of Indian Hindu heritage, told BBC. I understand that [terrorism] is a problem, but this is a rather blunt instrument with which to tackle it. There are some residual effects both boys have suffering nightmares. My younger boy fears he might taken away. We are trying to help them move on, she said. She claims being told that one of the boys had been speaking Arabic and talked about attending a mosque even though none of the family spoke Arabic and the children did not go to mosques. Central Bedfordshire Council has since accepted the children were racially discriminated against and issued an apology as well as agreed to pay an undisclosed sum in compensation. We accept the boys were discriminated against and have apologised to the family, a council statement said. The schools governors have reportedly found that teachers were unsure if they had a duty to report their concerns under Prevent, the UK governments anti-radicalisation strategy, which had led to this incident. We were called to reports of concern for safety and two officers attended this was not in a Prevent capacity but routine police attendance and the officers were only present for a short time, Bedfordshire Police said in its statement. Islamic State claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a suicide attack that killed at least 22 people outside Afghanistans Supreme Court. The bomber, identified as Abu Bakr Altajiki by the militant group, detonated an explosive belt as court employees were leaving work in downtown Kabul on Tuesday evening. The apostates must know, starting with the tyrant judges, that their blasphemous judgments ... will not pass without severe punishment, the Islamic State statement said. White House spokesman Sean Spicer called the blast a cowardly attack and said U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn had phoned his Afghan counterpart, Mohammad Atmar, to reaffirm our support to the Afghan government. Yashwant Raj With hundreds of thousands of Americans listening in, Donald Trump administration lawyers tried to convince three skeptical judges on Tuesday about the merits of the US president's travel ban that has plunged his days-old presidency into its first major crisis. Trump, who called the court proceedings disgraceful, is also struggling to get his full Cabinet confirmed by the Senate. Even Republicans voted against one of his nominees, and another one is facing determined opposition from Democrats. Vice-president Mike Pence used his tie-breaker vote for the first time in a confirmation to clear education secretary Betsy DeVos, and the Senate leadership forced a vote to silence a Democrat opposing Jeff Sessions as attorney general. It is a disgrace that my full Cabinet is still not in place, the longest such delay in the history of our country, Trump tweeted, adding, Obstruction by Democrats! But his attention was soon focussed on the travel ban. He was among the hundreds and thousands of Americans 137,000 at its peak who tuned into a live audio broadcast of the proceedings of a high court considering the governments appeal against a lower courts stay on his travel ban order. I listened to the lawyers on both sides last night, Trump told an audience of law enforcers in DC. He said what he heard he found disgraceful and that if the judges wanted to help the court" they would do what they should be doing. That is, they should rule in his favour. The Trump administration is challenging a stay on his January 29 order banning visa-holders from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the US for 90 days. A lawyer arguing for the justice department told the court the judiciary cannot, and should not, pre-empt the presidents judgement on the matter of national security, and that the three-member appeals court should vacate the stay. This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president and the courts order immediately altered that, said the lawyer, August Flentje, referring to the stay by a lower court in Seattle, Washington. The judges seemed taken aback at times by the lawyers assertions. Are you arguing, then, that the presidents decision in that regard is unreviewable? judge Michelle T Friedland asked the government lawyer. The court also grilled Minnesota and Washington state, whose lawsuit led to the Seattle court stay order, on its case for challenging a nationwide order by the president, and how they or the residents of these states were impacted by it. The court is expected to give its ruling some time this week. If it refuses to lift the stay, the federal government can, and will, go to the Supreme Court. If the apex court comes out tied 4-4, which is a possibility given the ideological divide four liberals, three conservatives and one swing vote the case will go back to James Robart, the Seattle court judge Trump called a so-called judge. Nepal will create free WiFi zones at the base camp of Mount Everest to facilitate communications from the worlds highest mountain and to aid rescue efforts in the event of any contingencies. The base camp is located at the height of 5,360 metres (17,600 feet), making this the highest location at which free WiFi services will be available. Some hotels and restaurants at the base camp offer users WiFi at a rate of up to $5 (Nepali Rs 537) per hour. Nepals telecom service providers have extended mobile and landline services to the base camp, ending an era of expensive satellite phones, but it is still a distant dream to use mobile phones atop the 8,848-metre Everest, according to tourism entrepreneurs. Himalayanglacier, a mountaineering news portal, said WiFi becomes more expensive as one ascends, along with services such as food and lodging. You can buy credits amounting to GB of internet from Everest Link at around $8 in a place called Machermo. Once you reach the base camp, purchasing WiFi comes at a very high cost of around $5 per hour, it states. Digambar Jha, chairman of state-run Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), said in Kathmandu on Wednesday the regulator plans to set up free WiFi zones along the trials of Lukla-Everest Base Camp area and Annapurna Base Camp. We will expand this service in other areas too, he said. Annapurna is also a popular attraction that draws hundreds of thousands of trekkers every year. Jha said the WiFi service will operate on the Okumura Model, which uses low-cost optical fibre cables for high-speed internet. Special optical fibres resistant to extremely cold weather and icefall will be used for the service. We have already discussed the project with the International Telecommunication Union, and they are also positive about providing such facilities, he added. Besides easing communication, tourists and other users can send photos, videos and messages that will help boost tourism, Jha said. Accidents in the Everest region have become costly affairs for the government and tourism entrepreneurs because of the high altitude and problems associated with mounting rescue efforts in extreme climatic conditions. Such rescue missions are also hampered by the lack of proper communications. If optical fibres do not work at high altitudes, other technologies such as micro-wave will be used to provide the WiFi service, officials said. Earlier, private telecom operator Ncell had provided limited but paid internet services in the Everest region but they did not catch on. In a relief to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and several others, an anti-terrorism court has rejected a plea seeking their trial in a case involving killing of 14 supporters of Canada-based cleric Tahirul Qadri. Nawaz, Shahbaz, interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and defence minister Khwaja Asif were among 12 top government functionaries booked by Lahore police in the murder of 14 supporters of Qadri in June 2014. During an anti-encroachment operation by police outside the residence of Qadri, 14 people, including two women, were killed and over 100 suffered bullet injuries. Lahores anti-terrorism court rejected the plea to try the premier, chief minister and 10 ministers, observing the court cannot summon a person in a complaint unless direct documentary evidence is furnished by plaintiff. The court, however, summoned 125 officials, including inspector general of police Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera. The plaintiff presented 56 witnesses in support of the allegations. Qadri who is also the head of the Pakistan Awami Tahreek criticised the ATC decision saying, The main plea to try the rulers in the murder case is not accepted by the ATC and lower level officials have been made scapegoat. The court has summoned those who implemented the orders but ignored the authorities who issued the orders to kill innocent workers. We will not accept sacrifice of goats. He said his party will challenge the ATC decision in the Lahore high court. A mutually beneficial relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is critical to promote peace and stability in South Asia and the broader region, Pakistans advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday. Despite various challenges, the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has continued to grow through people to people contacts and trade for decades. A partnership cultivated on the basis of socio economic development is the way forward, he said, addressing a ceremony here, organised to award scholarships to Afghan students. He said Islamabad is fully committed to take necessary steps to ensure that Afghanistan comes out of the challenges and emerge on international stage as a progressive and peaceful nation. That is why we are looking forward to an all-encompassing relationship, from people-to-people contacts to government-to -government relations, he said. He said the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the field of education date back to late 1970s when Pakistan whole heartedly welcomed millions of Afghan refugees. He said in the past four decades, hundreds of thousands of these refugee students have been receiving their education in Pakistani schools and Universities. Aziz said that Pakistan hosts the largest number of Afghan students studying abroad and more than 48,000 Afghan graduates from Pakistani educational institutions are serving in various Afghan institutions in the public and private sectors. We are proud of this contribution to Afghanistans progress. These Afghans are an asset for Pakistan and our ambassadors in their home country, he said. Pakistan on Wednesday said it has briefed the envoys of foreign missions on alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Additional Secretary (UN & EC) Tasnim Aslam briefed ambassadors of foreign missions in the Foreign Office here. The briefing focused on the continuously aggravating human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the backdrop of Kashmir Solidarity Day, which was observed in Pakistan on February 5, the statement said. Zakaria said the Additional Secretary highlighted that the Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed every year on February 5 to express Pakistans unwavering diplomatic, moral and political support to the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle for the realisation of the right to self- determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. Aslam stressed that the Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council. The Additional Secretary urged the international community to take up with India its gross human rights violations perpetrated at all levels to ensure the misery and suffering of the innocent people of Kashmir is alleviated and to play its role in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions, the spokesperson said. It was the second briefing after a similar one was held for the envoys of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries this week. Three of the five bloggers detained in January by Pakistans security agencies for writing against religious extremism and security operations in Balochistan and the tribal areas have left the country because of threats to their lives. Waqas Goraya, Ahmed Raza Naseer and Asim Saeed are believed to have left the country in the past week after receiving threats following allegations of blasphemy against them. Salman Haider, the most prominent of the detained bloggers, is in hiding in Pakistan as he is banned from travelling abroad while an investigation is underway against him. The whereabouts of the fifth blogger, Samar Abbas, remain a mystery. The families of the rights activists who disappeared during January 4-7 held a news conference in Islamabad last month and said online smear campaigns were being conducted against their loved ones. These campaigns labelled the activists as blasphemers, an offence punishable by death in Pakistan. The campaign was spearheaded by TV personality Aamir Liaquat Husain, who made the allegations on his show on BOL channel, which is seen to be closely linked to the Pakistan Army, particularly the ISI. This week, the Supreme Court banned Husains programme but observers said the damage had already been done. The lesson learnt here is that whoever is critical of the army can end up being accused of blasphemy, after which their lives are in immediate danger, said analyst Abid Husayn. In Pakistan, merely being accused of blasphemy is enough for someone to be murdered, he added. In most instances, the accused are killed by some enraged member of the public even before the case is heard in court. In February, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) received a complaint against the five rights activists for allegedly committing blasphemy on social media. The FIA later clarified it had not registered a case and was evaluating the complaint. Hafiz Ahtasham Ahmed filed the complaint seeking action against the activists for allegedly spreading blasphemous content, which is illegal under the controversial blasphemy laws and the Anti-Terrorism Act. Haider had been working on minority rights, particularly in Balochistan, where he has been critical of enforced disappearances. He participated in rallies and protests against the detention of nationalists and separatists. In 2016, there were more than 400 abductions and enforced disappearances of Baloch civilians by security forces. Goraya and Saeed were co-administrators of a Facebook page, Mochi and Group: Citizens for Secular Democracy, where they campaigned for rights and religious freedom. Their blog featured reports of rights violations by security forces and religious extremists. The Facebook page is no longer accessible. Naseer was the administrator of another Facebook page, since shut down, that also reported on rights violations by security forces. Abbas is president of the Civil Progressive Alliance Pakistan (CPAP), a rights group based in Karachi that campaigns for religious freedom. Its blog reports on rights violations by security forces and extremists and Abbas also worked with several internet forums that report on the oppression of ethnic and religious minorities. Observers describe the smear campaign against the activists as part of a trend of conservative groups lobbying the government to register more such cases. One Facebook page, which has 400,000 likes, also accused the activists of receiving funding from Indian intelligence agencies but offered no proof. In August 2016, the Pakistan government introduced a cybercrime law which activists say is being used to hamper digital freedom of expression. Under the law, the government is able to censor online content, criminalise internet user activity and access users data without judicial review. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) suspended operations in Afghanistan on Wednesday after gunmen killed six employees helping deliver emergency relief to a remote northern region hit by heavy snow storms. The governor of Jowzjan province said the aid convoy was attacked by suspected Islamic State gunmen. The head of the ICRC called the incident the worst attack against us in 20 years, but the charity said it did not know who was responsible. A search operation was underway to find two charity workers who were still missing late on Wednesday night. As we speak our operations are on hold indeed, because we need to understand what exactly happened before we can hopefully resume our operations, ICRC director of operations Dominik Stillhart told Reuters in Geneva. Afghanistan is the ICRCs fourth largest humanitarian programme in the world, Stillhart said, and the attack follows a warning by the charity last month that mounting security issues made it perilous to deliver aid to large swathes of the country. A massive snowstorm dumped as much as two metres (6.5 feet) of snow on areas of Afghanistan over the weekend, according to officials, killing more than 100 people. Lotfullah Azizi, the Jowzjan provincial governor, said the aid workers were carrying livestock supplies to areas badly affected by the storm. Daesh is very active in that area, he said, using an alternative name for Islamic State, which has made limited inroads in Afghanistan but has carried out increasingly deadly attacks. The ICRC team included three drivers and five field officers. Jowzjan police chief Rahmatullah Turkistani said the workers bodies had been taken to the provincial capital. These staff members were simply doing their duty, selflessly trying to help and support the local community, ICRC president Peter Maurer said. Shootings, kidnappings Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said his group was not involved in the attack and promised that Taliban members would put all their efforts into finding the perpetrators. Gunmen in northern Afghanistan kidnapped a Spanish ICRC employee in mid December, releasing him nearly a month later. That staff member had been travelling with three Afghan colleagues between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz when gunmen stopped their vehicles. The local staff were immediately released. In a summary of its work in Afghanistan last year, the ICRC said increasing security issues hampered the provision of aid to many parts of the country. Despite it all, the ICRC has remained true to its commitment to the people of Afghanistan, as it has throughout the last 30 years of its continuous presence in the country, the statement said. Besides determining the operational impact of the attack, Stillhart said ICRC would pause its programs out of respect for the slain aid workers. We also need and want to mark what is a horrible incident, which came as a huge shock for all our staff, first and foremost in Afghanistan but also to respect the families, he said. This photo taken on Oct. 21, 2016 shows the sculptures of the Terracotta Army at the Terracotta Warrior Museum in Xian in north China's Shaanxi Province. (Photo : Getty Images) China is the worlds fourth most visited country in the world. The news came as no surprise, considering the country is the worlds largest exporter and second-largest importer. It sees more than 55.6 million (in 2014) tourists year-over-year, and plans to see more with the revival of the ancient Silk Road to attract more tourists. Advertisement The Silk Road is a historically important international trade route between the Mediterranean and China. It is now included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Along this road are 33 historical sites, 22 of them distributed in Shaanxi, Henan, Gansu, and Xinjiang of China. Some travel companies offer Silk Road China tour packages that cover top tourist attractions to include Marco Polo Travels trail adventure through Turpan depression ruins, Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Urumqi Tianshan Mountain Hearvely Lake, Xian Terracota Army, Lanzhou Labrang Lamasery, Jiayuguan Great Wall, and many more. That is why the government is preparing to invest 4 trillion in rail links, new roads, oil pipelines, and other infrastructure. According to Forbes, Chinese government recently launched a rail freight service between China and London. The service is the first direct rail link between Great Britain and China. It will traverse from Beijing, across Asia and Europe, before terminating in London. It enables manufacturers to explore new means to lower transport costs. At present, there are 39 lines that connect 12 European cities with 16 Chinese cities. The move is part of Chinas new One Belt, One Road strategy, launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013. It aims to improve links between Beijing and its neighbors with Eurasia. The ancient silk roads are not just routes of trade, but routes of friendship, said President Xi. Forbes reported Beijing hopes the establishment of economic development will pacify the riots in Western China's XInjiang Province where tensions are high between the Han majority and Muslim ethnic minority Uyghurs. By 2020, at least 30 cultural centers are expected to rise in countries along the ancient Silk Road. At present, there are 20 cultural hubs along the historic thouroughfare. Suspected Islamic State gunmen killed at least six Afghan employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday as they carried supplies in the north of the country to areas hit by deadly snow storms, government officials said. Another two employees were unaccounted for after the attack in Jowzjan province, ICRC spokesman Thomas Glass said, but the aid group said it did not know who was responsible. The aid workers were in a convoy carrying supplies to areas hit by avalanches when they were attacked by suspected Islamic State gunmen, Lotfullah Azizi, the Jowzjan provincial governor, told Reuters. Daesh is very active in that area, he said, using an alternate name for Islamic State, which has made limited inroads in Afghanistan but has carried out increasingly deadly attacks. Jawzjan police chief Rahmatullah Turkistani said the workers bodies had been brought to the provincial capital and a search operation launched to find the two missing ICRC employees. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said his group was not involved in the attack and promised that Taliban members would put all their efforts into finding the perpetrators. Last month, a Spanish ICRC employee was released less than a month after he was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in northern Afghanistan. That staff member was travelling with three Afghan colleagues between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz on Dec. 19 when gunmen stopped the vehicles. The other Afghan ICRC staff were immediately released. In a recent summary of its work in Afghanistan last year, the ICRC said increasing insecurity had made it difficult to provide aid to many parts of the country. Despite it all, the ICRC has remained true to its commitment to the people of Afghanistan, as it has throughout the last 30 years of its continuous presence in the country, the statement said. Vrinda Grover, a lawyer and human rights activist, on Tuesday cited incidents in recent public discourse in India to allege that fundamental freedoms and civil liberties were under threat, and called for global alliances to counter such forces. Delivering the first Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Annual Lecture at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas), Grover mentioned incidents of rape in Muzaffarnagar and elsewhere, and said that if the legal system stayed hostile to women, they would not come forward to seek justice. Do not make the December 2012 rape in New Delhi as the benchmark. There is a false dichotomy between ordinary-time rape and extraordinary-time rape, she told the packed audience, referring to the incident that evoked major protests and changes to law. Alleging that mobilisation of hate was a tried and trusted method of polarisation that yielded desired results, Grover said in the lecture titled The Struggle for Human Rights in India that the relationship between communalism and elections needed to be explored. According to her, mobilisation of hate was witnessed as much during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as during and after the 2002 Gujarat riots. Citing instances of alleged enforced disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir, Grover said there were serious questions about cases such as the killing of Ishrat Jahan, attacks on Soni Sori in Chattisgarh, and also about the amendments proposed to the Citizenship Act. The lecture was introduced by Shrabani Basu, author of Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan (2006). A decorated Indian-origin intelligence operative for Britain in World War 2, Khan, 30, was captured and executed in September 1944. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US President Donald Trump sought to lend his own legal argument for his executive order banning travel from certain Muslim-majority countries on Wednesday, discounting a legal challenge to the order as anti-security. Contending that a US President has wide powers to control who comes into the country, Trump said that even a bad high school student would rule in his favour, CNN reported. This isnt just me. This is for Obama, for Ronald Reagan, for the President. This was done, very importantly, for security, Trump said. It was done for the security of our nation, for the security of our citizens, so people dont come in who are going to do us harm. That is why is was done. It couldnt have been written more precisely, he said. Trump said his executive order was written beautifully and fully within the bounds of US statute. Were in an area that, lets just say, theyre interpreting things differently than probably 100 per cent of people in this room, Trump told a group of major city police officers and sheriffs in Washington. We want security, Trump said. On Tuesday evening, a federal appeals court heard arguments in the legal battle over the travel ban. The California-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide soon whether to reinstate the executive order. The top legal officials in 16 states, including Pennsylvania and Iowa which voted for Trump, filed a memorandum in support of efforts to halt the travel ban. The state attorneys general from these states argued that they have standing as the executive order inflicts harm on states, including disruption at state universities and medical institutions. US embassies could ask visa applicants for passwords to their own social media accounts in future background checks, Homeland Security secretary John Kelly said Tuesday. Kelly said the move could come as part of the effort to toughen vetting of visitors to screen out people who could pose a security threat. He said it was one of the things under consideration especially for visitors from seven Muslim majority countries with very weak background screening of their own -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Were looking at some enhanced or some additional screening, Kelly told a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee. We may want to get on their social media, with passwords, he said. Its very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries... But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet. If they dont want to cooperate, then they dont come in to the United States, he said. Kelly stressed that no decision had been made on this, but said tighter screening was definitely in the future, even if it means longer delays for awarding US visas to visitors. These are the things we are thinking about, he said. But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line. The seven countries were targeted in president Donald Trumps January 27 immigrant and refugee ban order, which has sense been at least temporarily blocked under court order. A 73-year-old woman has separated from her husband of over 20 years after he voiced support for Donald Trump in the run-up to the US presidential polls. Gayle McCormick, a retired California prison guard, said she was shocked last year when her husband Bill McCormick, 77, mentioned during a lunch with friends that he planned to vote for Trump. I was in shock. It was the breaking point. The Trump issue was the catalyst, she told People magazine. It was the toughest decision Gayle, who is now living in her own apartment in Washington, said she has ever had to make. It took us many, many months to make this decision. We went to counselling and saw a priest. This wasnt a snap decision, she said. Gayle, who describes herself as a Democrat leaning toward socialist, met Bill in 1980 while they were both working at the same prison. She said she felt like she had no voice in the relationship. When things are 51% good and 49% bad, you just stay. I was tired and older and I didnt want to argue and neither of us was going to change, Gayle said. When politics would come up, she would usually walk away, she said. It was only when Trump came up that she knew she could not stay silent. I just couldnt. I was surprised Bill could agree with Donald Trump on anything, she said. Although Bill ended up not voting for Trump in the election, Gayle knew they still had to separate. We are just too different. It had more to do with the fact that I had not been true to myself for so long and that I had not stood up for myself for so long. I need to recapture myself, Gayle said. Its hard and not an easy thing. I love him and I want him to be happy, she said. The news about their separation comes amid stark political divide in the country over President Trumps ban on refugees and visa holders entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries. Several hundred people have protested against President Trumps immigration order. BOUKO DE GROOT, who has a masters degree in Egyptology from Leiden University in The Netherlands, is the author of Dutch Armies of the 80 Years War 1568-1841, which is being published in two volumes this year by Osprey Publishing (with illustrations by the father-and-son team of Gerry and Sam Embleton). De Groot has served in the Dutch army and currently lives in Germany, where he is a journalist. When not writing about current affairs, he continues to study and write about military history. 1. How did you become interested in military history? Military history has always fascinated me. Its a history of things, people, technology, and organization, all bound by big events and bloodshed. Far away from real war today, we tend to forget that our own history was written in blood. What interests me most is how people and armies at different times solved the same problemsfor example, how to increase your own range while denying the other, or how to combine shock troops with screen troops. Youll find that the solutions tend to be the same, but cast in the technology and organization of a particular time. History does repeat itselfand we keep insisting on re-inventing the wheel. 2. What inspired you to write this book? The lack of American and English titles about the 80 Years War. There are just a handful, and none look at the actual army. It is overlooked despite critical events that occurred such as Prince Maurice of Orange-Nassaus military revolution, the Dutch Republics 1581 Declaration of Independence, and Englands role during the first 25 years. It inspired 18th-century people to rise up against oppressors and got 19th-century military theorists talking about history. The Dutch reforms of the 1590s shaped the worlds history. Without them, Western armies wouldnt have known drill. Without drill, those armies couldnt have continually defeated larger forces elsewhere, and without that there wouldnt have been Western hegemony. Historians today rather talk about technological inventions and socio-economics, but those wouldve been useless without military superiority through drill. 3. What kind of research do you do, and how much research do you do before you begin writing? Historical research is like an hourglass. Along the top are many books and articles about a particular period or topic, some general, some specific. Your data set grows smaller and smaller until you get to the primary sources. Once there, youll discover that all those newer books only use a fraction of that primary material, so a whole new world opens up. I tend to start with recent works and trace back to the origins. I always check modern conclusions with primary sources and want to find at least two sources that prove a modern point. Otherwise I put it aside. 4. How long did you work on this book? Too long! I verify everything, thus new leads are found everywhere. But this process results in a story that combines the historical (what) with the analytical (how) and the anecdotal (who). For example, I found that Maurice had effective infantry fire drill, retiring while firing; cavalry that charged with the saber; mobile skirmisher screens; and lightweight battalion guns. I included lists and maps of more than 100 battles of the war with descriptions of the organization of infantry units, combat drill, and equipment. These are all interspersed with stories about the men themselves. 5. What books are you reading right now? Well, I just bought a book about motorized flight before the Wright brothers, a book about the Anglo-Dutch Wars, and one about the vicious battle for the Grebbeberg in May 1940, during the German invasion of The Netherlands, where Waffen-SS and Dutch conscripts went head to head. I tend to work though books by reading a chapter here and a chapter there. 6. How can readers learn more about you and your work? When this volume hits the shelves (volume two follows this summer), the website 80YW.org will go live. It will list all the books, articles, and pamphlets Ive used for my research. Ill introduce new topics and look more closely at things mentioned in the bookfor example, detailed descriptions of battles and raids. I hope people will visit the site to discuss matters and share new information. MHQ Mary Jean Eisenhower had a childhood like no other. She was raised in and around the White House, where on any given day she would walk into the Oval Office to see not only her granddad, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, but also many of the mid-20th centurys most famous people. When not in Washington, she was at the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Ike retired after his two terms as president (1953-61). Later in life, Mary Jean served for more than a decade as the chief executive officer of People to People International, an organization founded by her grandfather. What was it like growing up as the presidents granddaughter? EISENHOWER: Well, I knew it was a big house, but being born during my grandfathers first term I didnt really know the difference. But gradually I learned it was special with lots of interesting people visiting, and it impacted me even more when I began school. My father [Ikes son, John S.D. Eisenhower, 1922-2013] was on the White House staff, and we split our time between Washington and Gettysburg. But in D.C. he would come home every day from the office the Oval Office. Did your grandfather ever discuss World War II? EISENHOWER: He was disturbed after World War II with what he saw in the liberated [concentration] camps, which is why he brought the Press Corp to bear witness by taking pictures. What I remember is that he had a photo album on the bookshelf of his man cave, so to speak, in Gettysburg, which had very graphic photos and was there for anybody to see. I looked at it as a kid, and it was surreal. Also, I felt like he spoke to me about World War II after he died when I became CEO of People to People International, the organization he founded to promote peace. Can you tell us about your visits to the Normandy D-Day beaches? EISENHOWER: I have been there eight times, and the last time, a few months ago, was the most significant since it was the 70th anniversary. I had also just lost Daddy, who had passed away, so I felt that in spirit, Granddad was on my right and Daddy was on my left. There were 19 [D-Day] survivors who made the trip and they stood tall that day, and it was very moving as we stood in the bunkers atop Pointe Du Hoc. It is certainly hallowed ground. I was also reminded of Granddad, who always got emotional about D-Day and went back only one time. What other places in Europe have you visited that stick with you? EISENHOWER: I have been to [the former concentration camp locations at] Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau, which as I said earlier made a deep impression on my grandfather during the war and also on me when I visited. When my grandfather was president, the Cold War was not all that cold, and the potential of World War III was his worst nightmare. He liked to say, I have met the enemy, and found them human. I have also visited Bastogne, which is hallowed ground as well, and have been to Brussels, where my grandfather was made an honorary citizen of Belgium. What do you believe is your grandfathers enduring legacy? EISENHOWER: The way I remember [Ike] and I believe he would like to be remembered is as an architect of peace. He spent his whole life trying to bring people together. Did he inspire you to serve with People to People International? EISENHOWER: My grandfather was passionate about the organization, and he and my dad often talked about it. People to People contacted me in 1996 to talk at one of their conferences in Newport Beach, California, where 30 nations were attending. While there, I met Nikita Khrushchevs son [Sergei], and when we shook hands, he said, My dear, I hope you are not as uncomfortable as I am, and he turned out to be one of the nicest people I ever met. This was an example of what Granddad envisioned that someone like me would get along with the son of his biggest adversary during his presidency. It changed my life, and I spent 16 years there in my day job, and I am still involved today. How often do you get to the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg? EISENHOWER: I get there every year. And we have a Washington chapter of People to People, so in the spring I give them a tour of the house, which is still all original or exact duplicates of what was there. What leaders in history do you most admire? EISENHOWER: My grandfather aside, it would be Teddy Roosevelt. He broke the mold so many times. Teddy was known for telling it like it was, but he could disagree in an agreeable way. What do you believe are the main traits of truly outstanding leaders? EISENHOWER: I put it into the context of my grandfather, who was not concerned about credit and glory. He wanted solutions to problems, and he could be very firm if they did not get done. Also, he surrounded himself with successful people and believed leadership complemented itself rather than competed. What aspects of military history are important to you? EISENHOWER: The amazing camaraderie in World War II, where Europe was not our fight but we went to rescue our fellow man with no visible return for us; this is what made America. And how we regenerate that same spirit even today, where everyone was involved, including women who left home, in a unified effort to fight that sinister tyranny. John Ingoldsby conducted this interview. He is a leading military history writer and president of IIR Inc. (IngoldsbyIR.com), a media and public relations firm in Boston. Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Armchair General. Everybody loves a winner, as the saying goes, and we typically celebrate the victorious commanders and their triumphant armies, navies or air forces. But how should we judge those that fought on the losing side military historys lost causes? Should the unsuccessful outcome of their battles and wars negate the battlefield accomplishments they did achieve? This issue we present several revealing articles about leaders and forces fighting in lost causes. The subject of John W. Mountcastles Battlefield Leader is Confederate partisan ranger John S. Mosby, the Civil Wars Gray Ghost.Although Mosbys phenomenal success in unconventional operations led to a huge area of northern Virginia being nicknamed Mosbys Confederacy, he ultimately could not forestall final Union victory. Gerald Swicks Battle Studies traces the participation of Romanias armies as German allies on World War IIs Eastern Front.Yet despite some notable success during Germanys 1941 invasion of Russia, Romanian3d and 4th armies failure to repel a powerful Soviet counterattack ensured the stunning Axis defeat at the turning-point Battle of Stalingrad. World War IIs Eastern Front is also the setting for Hal Werts article on the little-known Latvian Legion. Caught between two ruthless dictators Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin some Latvians made a devils pact with the Nazis and fought with German forces against the Soviets who had brutally occupied the Baltic nation in 1940. John Sutherlands timely Special Report reveals what readers must know about todays ongoing crisis in the Middle East a situation that hopefully will not turn out to be a lost cause for the United States and its regional and global allies. Sutherland explains the multiple schisms fueling the regions violent upheavals that have led to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL)and other terrorist organizations. Richard Armstrongs What Next, General? challenges readers to change the outcome of a famous lost cause in naval history. Playing the role of British Admiral Tom Phillips,commander of the Royal Navy warships Prince of Wales and Repulse, readers must choose a strategy to halt Japans December1941 opening war offensive in the Pacific. Other interactive articles this issue place readers in the role of a U.S. Marine sergeant facing German machine guns on World War Is Western Front in 1918 and in the boots of a British commander leading paratroopers to capture a key Argentine position in the1982 Falklands War. We also present Ralph Peters insightful Crisis Watch column, as well as ACGs exclusive interview with Mary Eisenhower, Ikes granddaughter. And we round out the issue with articles on several wide-ranging subjects: King Richard I and the 1192 Battle of Jaffa; the U.S. Armys Philippine Scouts, 1901-48; Britains master of the battlefield, the Duke of Marlborough; and our must-read reviews of games, books and DVDs. Jerry D. Morelock, PhD, Armchair General Editor in Chief Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Armchair General. As our national will weakened over the last half-century, a number of myths have arisen to cripple our application of force and comfort those who lack courage. From the fantasy that a handful of precision strikes will bring down a mighty opponent, to the insistence that monstrous enemies must be accorded the same legal rights as American citizens, a parade of follies has all but guaranteed that our halfhearted military efforts will end badly. The latest craze is the lunatic belief that we can rally foreign warriors to do our dirty work. Repeatedly, we confuse some groups appetite for local power with a willingness to fight regionally for our interests. The most recent example was a presidential administrations announcement that faced with the savagery of the Islamic State caliphate with its 50,000 jihadis, we would take a time-outyear to train 5,000 members of the Syrian resistance who then would be expected to whip the Middle Easts most effective fighting force outside of Israel. A few years before this folly,our militantly anti-military State Department turned down the offer of U.S. troops to protect its Benghazi outpost, preferring to entrust our diplomats security to local militias. As we learned, painfully, those local militias had agendas of their own. When we invaded Iraq in 2003, neo-conservatives fantasized about a pro-American uprising led by an obvious charlatan, Ahmed Chalabi. The neo-cons darling never produced much beyond a gang of bodyguards. Soon, he switched his allegiance to Iran. Even in Vietnam, we convinced ourselves that South Vietnams leadership could be cajoled and bribed to support our (unrealistic)goals. The South Vietnamese had interests of their own. In all of these examples, civilian theorists and feckless politicians ignored the most important factor in any conflict: strength of will. Again and again, weve found that our enemies maintain their strength of will, while our celebrated allies just want us to give them stuff. Supporters of using foreign proxies also mix rotten apples and spoiled oranges, citing bygone empires, from the Roman to the British, as examples of the effective exploitation of foreign fighters. Well, one should be careful with the Roman example: Not only did Roman legions remain the core of combat forces in the glory years, but Romes grimmest defeats were delivered by barbarians schooled by Rome. As for the British Empire, well, it was an empire. Gurkhas, Sikhs and others recruited for ethnic military units identified with their rulers (if youre going to recruit natives, minorities are your best bet). We avoid the commitments of empire and, as in Iraq, our haste to leave lands weve disrupted insures that local players will hedge their bets. In strategy, as in our personal lives, Dad was right: If you want a thing done right, do it yourself. If we wont fight for a goal weve announced, why should foreigners do it on our behalf? The Iraqi military we trained and equipped for years didnt collapse solely be shenanigans it dissolved because Iraq no longer existed except in our fantasies. Personally, I see this flight from military responsibility as one more symptom of our poisonous, spreading belief that others should always do the hard stuff for us. We abuse our health and then expect others to pay our medical bills. We drop out of school then demonstrate against income inequality. We grab government handouts and whine that government doesnt do enough for us. As citizens, we have come to believe that even our intimate problems are for others to solve. So its natural to expect foreign fighters to die happily for our causes. But they wont. Ralph Peters is a longtime member of the Armchair General team, a retired Army officer and a Fox News strategic analyst. His new Civil War novel, Valley of the Shadow, goes on sale May 5, 2015. Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Armchair General. Hitlers Axis ally fought both the Russian winter and the Red Army in the Eastern Fronts turning-point battle. As morning broke on November 19, 1942, the soldiers of Romanias 3d Army shivered in their trenches along ridges south of the Don River in southern Russia. Some winter uniforms had arrived but not nearly enough. For two months the soldiers had been protecting the left flank of German 6th Army, which was locked in a death match with Red Army defenders in the rubble of Stalingrad southeast of the Romanians position. The warm, beautiful autumn was over; the first snow had settled atop bunkers and pillboxes on November 16. More snow arrived around midnight November 18-19, and the morning sun was hidden behind a thick, frozen mist. At 7:30 a.m., Soviet Katyusha rockets came whooshing through the fog, their terrifying sound joined within minutes by the shriek of shells from 3,500 artillery guns and heavy mortars. The Romanians nightmare had begun. UNWANTED ALLIANCE Many Romanian soldiers saw no good reason to die defending Germans. For most of their lives,their nation had not intended to be a German ally in fact, quite the opposite. Post-World War I,Romania had annexed Transylvania from Hungary, took Bessarabia and Northern Bucovina from the new Soviet Union, and seized a portion of Bulgaria, uniting the majority of Romanian people into a single nation for the first time in centuries. It signed mutual defense agreements with Czechoslovakia,Greece, Poland, Turkey and Yugoslavia against future aggression by Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria or the Soviet Union. A 10-year military rebuilding program began in 1935, overseen by the chief of general staff later defense minister General Ion Antonescu, a hero of the Great War.The countrys mishmash of artillery was standardized at 75 mm. Rifles,machine guns, light tanks and 100mm light howitzers were purchased from Czechoslovakia. France provided additional weapons and training, but Germanys 1938 takeover of Czechoslovakia and May1940 conquest of France severed Romanias weapons pipeline. With its most powerful ally, France, defeated, Romania officially acknowledged Adolf Hitlers new European order on May 29, 1940, and subsequently was pressured into allowing Germany and Italy to mediate an agreement over its disputed territories. Everything was handed back to the previous owners. Overnight Romania lost half its territory and population. Romanias King Carol II, already unpopular, was driven from the country. His 19-year-old heir, Mihai (Michael), was a paper monarch; real power lay with Antonescu, now prime minister, who proclaimed himself Conductator (leader). He was more nationalist than fascist, but as a proven military leader he had Hitlers respect. A QUICK VICTORY, BUT Germanys June 22, 1941, invasion of the vast Soviet Union, code named Operation Barbarossa, required more troops than Hitler could field. He promised the Conductator that Romania could have Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina back from the USSR if it joined the Nazi invasion. Antonescu proclaimed a holy war against the Soviet Bolshevists, and on July 2-3, Romanian and German troops of Army Group Antonescu began crossing the Prut River. By months end, the two lost territories were recaptured. (See Romanian Army in the East map, p. 36.) Romanias war seemed to be over. Half its army was demobilized.But Hitler dangled a plum in front of Antonescu: Capture the major port of Odessa, the Marseilles of the Black Sea, and its yours. The Conductator hoped a large commitment of troops would convince Hitler to hand over the lost lands in Transylvania as well Hungarys contributions to the Russian invasion were meager, after all.Romania became Europes third-largest Axis military force, behind only Italy and Germany itself. Fortified Odessa fell to Romanias 4th Army in mid-October1941 the greatest independent success of the war by any minor Axis power but Romanias 70,000-100,000 casualties exposed the armys weaknesses. Essentially a peasant army, illiteracy rates were high. Discipline was brutal. A largely aristocratic officer corps had little in common with men in the ranks, but the antiquated practice of leading from the front caused horrendous officer casualty rates 4th Army lost 4,600 officers before the end of the Odessa campaign, primarily junior officers. Infantry and armor crews werent trained to work together. The armys 37 mm and 47 mm anti-tank guns and its similarly equipped light tanks couldnt stand up to heavier Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. Communications equipment was in short supply, and motorized/ mechanized transport was insufficient for an effective mobile reserve. Romanias military simply was not up to the demands of modern mobile warfare. Regardless, in January 1942, against the wishes of many of his officers, Antonescu agreed to further operations in the Soviet Union and the Crimea in exchange for equipment and training to modernize the Romanian army. Germany, unable to fulfill its own weapons needs, provided only a trickle of equipment, frequently obsolete. Still, the Romanian divisions fielded in the summer of 1942 were greatly improved over those that bled themselves white at Odessa. Their men were better trained, particularly in marksmanship, and some support weapons had arrived. But many officers and men felt they were fighting Hitlers war, not Romanias, despite propaganda to convince them their cause was just and Germanys victory certain. THE STALINGRAD FRONT Ordered to advance toward Stalingrad on September 19, 1942, Romanian VI Corps of General Constantin Constantinescu-Claps 4th Army impressed the Germans by marching nearly 500 miles in two months, covering over half the distance in just 20 days, often while encountering Soviet resistance. Ordered to protect the Germans exposed right flank, 4th Armys VI Corps (1st, 2d, 4th, 18th and 20th infantry divisions) took up positions beyond some lakes south of Stalingrad. On September29, a strong Soviet counterattack penetrated all the way to VI Corps headquarters. Additional attacks during October drove 1st and 4thdivisions back behind the lakes with heavy casualties before the Romanians stabilized their line. In the first two weeks of November, Romanian VII Corps (5th and 8th cavalry divisions) joined 4th Army,compacting divisional frontage but exacerbating supply problems. Its160-mile front was closer to 185 miles wide. In September, Romanian 3d Army arrived. Consisting of I Corps(7th and 11th infantry divisions), II Corps (9th and 14th infantry divisions), IV Corps (13th and 15th infantry divisions and 1st Cavalry Division) and V Corps (5th and 6th infantry divisions), it replaced Italian and German troops south of the Don River to the northwest of Stalingrad. The armys commander, General Petre Dumitrescu, had received Germanys Ritterkreuz, the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, for his performance in the September-October 1941Battle of the Sea of Azov. Dumitrescu immediately recognized a serious threat. In late August 1942, Soviet counterattacks against the Italian and German divisions that Romanian 3d Army was replacing had seized two bridgeheads south of the Don, near Serafimovich and Kletskaya. Since the Don River was Dumitrescus primary defensive barrier, he appealed for German assistance to push the enemy back across the river. But the Germans, fixated on Stalingrad, showed little interest in clearing a bridgehead 150 miles to the northwest. No help was forthcoming, even though Romanian 3dArmy was protecting the only rail supply line into the embattled city. The Soviets tested 3d Armys mettle with a series of probing attacks and heavier assaults beginning October 14 and continuing into November. Sergeant Manole Zamfir of the Pioneers Company,36th Regiment of 3d Armys 9th Infantry Division, wrote: Pushed forward by their officers, the Russian soldiers were yelling [in Romanian]: Brothers, why are you killing us? Antonescu and Stalin drink vodka together and were killing each other for nothing. The Romanians repulsed each attack, inflicting heavy losses but also losing over 13,000 of their own soldiers. Romanian 13th and 14th divisions suffered the most casualties a fact not lost on the Soviet command. Romanian 3d Armys front stretched approximately 85 miles. Divisional reserves were sent to expand the front lines, leaving only 15th Infantry, 7th Cavalry and1st Armored divisions in reserve. Barbed wire and landmines were in short supply, like everything else. Many Romanian soldiers wondered, Why die for Hitler? Others believed they were fighting a holy war against bolshevism or for a fully restored Romania, but continuing hardships sapped morale. Pay could barely purchase a liter of milk a day. Rations often consisted of a single, small hot meal once a day and a small portion of bread; this was particularly true among Romanian 4th Army south of Stalingrad,which went 10 days without resupply in November. In late October, reconnaissance by the Royal Romanian Air Force (Aeronautica Regala Romana) indicated a Soviet buildup on the north side of the Don. The Germans were skeptical, but when their own intelligence confirmed it they began delivering a little more of the equipment they had promised, but some was still second-rate. For example, each Romanian division at Stalingrad received a half-dozen 75 mm Pak97/38 anti-tank guns converted French field pieces only marginally better than the small-caliber anti-tank guns already in use. On November 17, Romanias defense minister Mihai Antonescu, a distant cousin of the Conductator, pressed Germanys ambassador Manfred Freiherr von Killinger for more supplies and equipment: The Russians are right now preparing a big action in exactly the region where our troops are situated. I dont want to lose [our army], for it is all we have. The big action was Operation Uranus, a plan to smash through the Axis flanks and encircle German 6th Army in Stalingrad. To assault the 155,500 Romanians and 11,000 Germans south of the Don, the Soviets South West Front and Don Front combined had massed over 338,000 men. Four rifle divisions would strike Italian troops west of the Romanians, but the crushing blow was aimed at strung-out 3d Army. THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS Operation Uranus opened with a massive Soviet artillery bombardment at 7:30 a.m. on November 19. The ground shook 30 miles away. The mornings frozen mist concealed Romanian trenches, but Soviet gunners had ranged in during weeks of probing attacks, allowing for accurate targeting. Romanian artillery crews, however, couldnt see to fire effectively on the advancing Soviet columns. When the 90-minute bombardment ended, Russian infantry moved out through snow and mud, with some men riding atop tanks that crushed barbed wire or on sleds pulled behind the tanks. The attackers may have expected to roll over a demoralized foe,but most Romanians held firm, cutting down enemy riflemen and knocking out light tanks as the Soviets came on in single-echelon formation. The attack fell behind schedule. The attackers penetrated in places, but progress was slow or stalled by late morning, when the Soviet 5th Tank Army ordered the mass of its tanks to attack on a 4-mile front. Between noon and 1 p.m., the spearhead crashed through the weakened Romanian 13thand 14th divisions. When 9th Divisions right flank collapsed, the division pivoted into an L shape and held but the Romanian line was broken and the enemy poured through. Tanks struck the Romanians weak rear areas. Elements of Soviet 4th Tank Corps rolled into Grominki, three miles from Kletskaya, around 2 p.m., setting 13th Divisions headquarters to flight; 14th Divisions headquarters had already been overrun. A counterattack by 15th division was driven back by Soviet tanks, but the division took a position among some small hills and inflicted enough casualties to force back the Soviets. Romanian 7th Cavalry Division counterattacked in support of the broken 14th Infantry Division, but when it was struck by Soviet8th Cavalry Corps, it retreated with very heavy losses. Romanian11th Division bloodily repulsed an attack, foiling the Soviet plan to unhinge 3d Armys left wing. Throughout the morning, most of the attacking Soviet rifle divisions had failed to break through Romanian defenses until sufficiently supported by tanks and cavalry, but the afternoon saw Soviet armor and horsemen rampaging in the rear of 3d Armys center. Hospitals and other rear echelon units fled south toward the Chir River. To Germanys famed Stuka pilot Ulrich Hans Rudel, flying below the low clouds with Stukageschwader 2 to bomb and strafe the Russians, the scene was one of unmitigated disaster masses of Romanians were racing for the rear, some throwing away their weapons. It is a good thing for them I have run out of ammunition to stop this cowardly rout, he wrote in his memoir, Stuka Pilot. SEND IN THE TANKS Romanian 3d Armys only fully mechanized reserve was its 1st Armored Division. German observers described Romanian tank crews as almost suicidally willing to fight, but their armor strength was weak. Of 105 serviceable tanks, 84 were Czechoslovakian Skoda S.IIa light tanks (LT-35s) weighing 10.5 tons each, with armor thickness of just 0.47-1.38 inches and carrying only a 37 mm gun and two 7.92 mm machine guns. Other Czech tanks (LT-34s), each armed only with a machine gun, had been distributed among the infantry divisions. Romanian 1st Armored had received 11 each of German PzKw IIINs and PzKw Mark IVGs on October 17 but staged their first battalion drill just three days before the Russian assault began; only 19 of the 22 panzers were available on November 19. Two captured Soviet light tanks rounded out the divisions armor. Romanian 1st Armored along with German 14th and 22d panzer divisions had been formed into the XLVIII Panzer Corps to provide a tank reserve in 3d Armys rear, near the towns of Perefazovskii and Petrovo. However, XLVIII Panzer Corps had fewer than 85 medium and 100 light tanks with which to halt a Soviet force of nearly 150 heavy, 320 medium and 270 light tanks. German 22d Panzer, ordered to counterattack, discovered that mice nesting in the tanks straw camouflage had chewed through electrical wires, as if even Russian rodents had joined the Soviet partisan effort. The 14th Panzer and Romanian 1st Armored were ordered to attack toward Kletskaya, but 1st Armored was disrupted in mid-deployment when Hitler intervened and insisted the two divisions attack southwest instead of southeast. After dark,1st Armoreds headquarters was hit by a surprise attack; the Soviet attackers were driven off but not before the German wireless through which XLVIII received its orders was destroyed. Far to the rear, reports of the days actions were muddled. Lieutenant Colonel I. Chermanescu, with a radio company at Stalinosome 300 miles west, wrote: I am optimistic, as [are] the majority around here, because even if we will lose some of our forces and a little ground, its them that will end up defeated. Two days later, however, he called 3dArmys situation critical. Romanian 3d Armys center was breached on November 19; the flanks were assailed on the following days. Fragments of units on the eastern flank were forced back into the Stalingrad Pocket. In the west, Soviet 21st Cavalry, reinforced with tanks, broke through on the night of November 21-22. Groups of Romanian soldiers wandered the battle area aimlessly. An ad hoc force named the Lascar Group for its commander, Knights Cross winner General MihaiLascar was formed from Romanian 5th, 6th and 15thdivisions and portions of 13th and 14th. On November 20, 15th Division, attacked by as many as 40 T-34tanks, drove off the enemy by cutting down the two supporting Soviet infantry battalions. Forbidden by Antonescu from breaking out, Lascar Group refused a surrender demand on the afternoon of November 22, saying, We will continue to fight without thought of surrender. By November 26, Las car Group had ceased to exist. Its commander soon to become the first non-German awarded a Knights Cross with Oak Leaves was on his way to a Soviet prisoner of war camp. He survived captivity to become Romanias minister of defense, 1946-47. Like Lascar Group, Romanian 1st Armored Division fought on as long as possible, rushing here and there, trying to stamp out individual flames in a fire beyond control. By December 2 it was behind the Chir River and down to 70 percent of its strength. In all, Romanian 3d Army lost to combat and frostbite all but 5 percent of its combat troops and half of its rear services personnel. When facing only enemy infantry, it generally held, often inflicting sharp losses; but it proved too weak to knock out the masses of Soviet tanks thrown at it. Defensive stands and local counterattacks continued along the Chir River line well into December. Italian XXIX Corps on the Romanians left was dislodged on December 18, and Russian tanks again poured into the rear, virtually annihilating Romanian 7th, 9th and 11th divisions before German Major General Hermann Balcks 11th Panzer Division halted the Soviet attack. (See Battle Studies, September 2013 ACG.) On December 26, 3d Army fought its last significant battle before being withdrawn, striking a motorized rifle brigade of Soviet 1st Guards Mechanized Corps and knocking out two tanks, two armored cars and 10 anti-tank guns. 4TH ARMY DISINTEGRATES South of Stalingrad on November 20, the Red Armys Stalingrad Front sliced into Romanian 4th Army, just as the Soviet South West and Don fronts had done to 3d Army the previous day. At the time, 4th Army units were far below their authorized manpower strengths. Present for duty strength ranged from a high of 78 percent (18th Infantry Division) to lows of 30 percent (2d Infantry Division) and 25 percent (1st Infantry Division). Romanian 4th Armys only mobile reserve was the 1,075-man, 120-vehicle 6th Motorized Rosiori. At dawn on November 20, three Soviet rifle divisions, 4th Mechanized Corps and 4th Cavalry Corps tore through Romanian 1st Divisions left wing and 18th Divisions right and struck into 4th Armys rear. Romanian 6th Motorized Rosiori, supported by a mechanized squadron and motorized 105 mm artillery battery, counterattacked in the afternoon, but a portion of its force was surrounded and destroyed. Only a minefield in which the Soviets lost 50 tanks slowed the enemy onslaught. In the northern sector of this offensive, other Soviet rifle divisions broke through the weak Romanian2d Division, opening a gap that allowed Romanian 20th Divisionsright wing to be overrun. A counterattack by 55 medium tanks of German 29th Motorized Division came to the rescue before being ordered to defend German 6th Armys southern flank. Romanian 20thDivision would soon be forced into the Stalingrad perimeter. Early on November 21, Romanian VI Corps headquarters was attacked and forced to retreat, but it formed a defense to the southwest from remnants of battered divisions and 6th Motorized Rosiori, aided by a few tanks and assault guns that a German liaison officer appropriated from German 4th Panzer Armys workshop. This force offered a stiff but brief resistance when attacked on the night of November22-23 before falling back south of the Aksai River. Romanian 4th Division was unmolested until November 23, when it was outflanked due to Romanian 1st Divisions loss of a key position the previous day. It began a fighting withdrawal but was outflanked on both the east and west by evening and lost some artillery before establishing a temporary defensive position. Romanian 4th Armys commander, General Constantinescu, wanted to pull all his units into a perimeter around Kotelnikovo but was ordered by German 4th Panzer Army to hold advanced positions: A relief column was being formed under German Field Marshal Erich von Manstein to break through to Stalingrad from the area held by 4th Army. (See What Next, General? in the November 2012 ACG.) A German detachment of motorized and armored troops with motorized Romanian heavy artillery arrived to drive back a Soviet thrust on November 26 and secure the Romanian flank; but by months end Constantinescus band of survivors had lost the Aksai River line, falling further back before the lead units of Mansteins column began arriving. Ordered to cover Mansteins assembling troops, the Romanians gave ground but bought time with blood. By December 8, Constantinescus army was down to fewer than 40,000 men, over two-thirds of them rear area service personnel. Four days later, Mansteins Operation Winter Storm began. Romanian 4th Army, after a few days to rest and reorganize, was assigned to protect his right flank. It recaptured a few small towns and established a bridgehead across the Aksai before the Soviets counterattacked on December 24 with nearly 150,000 men and 635 tanks. On the night of December 26-27, Constantinescu ordered a withdrawal of all units, but apparently he didnt notify the Germans. The highly mobile Soviet offensive caught the retreating Romanians anyway, virtually destroying 4th Army. Manstein blamed Romanian failures for the forced retreat of his LVII Panzer Corps, but he never explained how Constantinescus ragged band was supposed to stave off five Soviet mechanized, tank and cavalry corps. AFTERMATH The pitiful survivors of Romanian 3d and 4th armies were sent home to refit except for the 12,600 Romanian soldiers who had been forced inside the Stalingrad Pocket, where they earned more than 50 Iron Crosses while sharing 6th Armys fate of freezing, starvation and death. Fewer than 3,000 Romanians survived the Stalingrad siege to be taken prisoner. In all, Romanias losses from November 19 into January are believed to be about 110,000 casualties (killed, wounded and captured), over half of the strength of the countrys combat divisions. In August 1944, in the Second Iasi-Kishinev (Jassy-Chisinau) Offensive, another Soviet tidal wave engulfed Romanian troops and rolled into Romania itself. King Mihai led a coup on August 23 that deposed Antonescu, and Romania belatedly joined the Allied cause in the vain hope of securing co-belligerent status as Italy had done. For the rest of World War II, Romanians fought against Germans and Hungarians as they had expected to do when they began rebuilding their military in the 1930s. Gerald D. Swick, editor for ArmchairGeneral.com, previously wrote about Romania for The Encyclopedia of World War II: A Political, Social and Military History (ABC-CLIO, 2005). He recommends Third Axis, Fourth Ally by Mark Axworthy and www.worldwar2.ro for further information. Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Armchair General. Top 10 Most Valuable Brands in China in 2017: Banks, Internet Giants Lead the List Workers install a sign above the entrance to a branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. (Photo : Getty Images) State-owned banks and Internet tech firms lead the list of the top 10 most valuable brands in China this year, based on a report by Brand Finance, a brand valuation and strategy consulting firm based in Britain. Advertisement Citing the list, Xinhua News Agency said in a report that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, one of the country's major banks, bested China Mobile to take the lead. The bank's brand value is estimated to be about $47.8 billion, earning more than $10 billion in 2016 and was ranked 10th place globally. Among China's Internet firms, Alibaba, the leading e-commerce company, was chosen as the most valuable brand, with a value that rose by 48.5 percent year-on-year to reach $34.8 billion. Meanwhile, Tencent, which ranks 10th in China, has a brand value of about $22.3 billion, the report said. But compared with last year, Tencent's WeChat, which is the most popular messaging app in the country, climbed more than 100 notches up the global rank, with more than $12.1 billion. On the other hand, Baidu, China's leading search engine, plunged 50 notches down in the global hierarchy. The Brand Finance report contains the top 500 valuable brands in the world, Xinhua said. In world rank, Google topped the list as the most valuable brand. It overtook Apple as the popular search engine's intangible assets reached some $109.7 billion. In ranking companies in its list, Brand Finance used criteria such as brand strength, potential value of brand licensing, and prospect sales volume, among others. A Forbes report last year said that to calculate the Top 10, the firm took into consideration factors such as familiarity, loyalty, promotion, marketing investment, staff satisfaction and corporate reputation. Every year, Brand Finance evaluates thousands of the world's top brands to determine which are the most powerful and which are the most valuable, which they rank in their annual Brand Finance Global 500 report. The report gives investors insights on which companies to invest based on the ranking, performance and potential for growth. Filipinos fought for America with courage and fidelity. The U.S. victory in the 1898 Spanish-American War ended Spains300-year colonial rule of the Philippines, yet many Filipinos were disappointed when the United States did not grant the Philippines immediate independence. From 1899-1902, Filipino guerrillas led by Emilio Aguinaldo and others waged an insurrection against American forces, while a separate Moro rebellion in the southern Philippines lasted until 1913. A key U.S. counterinsurgency tactic was to recruit Filipinos to join American units as scouts and fighters. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially made Filipinos then serving with American forces (5,000 men in 50 companies) part of the U.S. Army by authorizing the creation of the Philippine Scouts (PS). For almost half a century, Philippine Scouts served America with courage and fidelity. One early example was when Private Jose B. Nisperos became the first Asian to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in combat against Moro insurgents in 1911. In 1921, the U.S. Army created the Philippine Division, composed primarily of Philippine Scouts. The divisions major combat units were 43d Infantry Regiment (PS), 45th Infantry Regiment (PS), 57th Infantry Regiment (PS), 23d Field Artillery Regiment (PS), and 24th Field Artillery Regiment (PS). In 1922, 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS) was formed as a separate unit. When Japan invaded the Philippines in December 1941, Philippine Scouts quickly proved to be some of the most determined and courageous defenders in General Douglas MacArthurs U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). For instance, during the 1942 Battle of Bataan they helped USAFFE delay the Japanese conquest for four crucial months (January-April) despite suffering from widespread malnutrition and disease. And on January 16, 1942, 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS) defeated a Japanese landing force at Morong on Bataan peninsula while conducting the last U.S. Army horse-mounted charge. The first three World War II Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. Army members went to a Philippine Scout (Sergeant Jose Calugas) and two American officers who were leading Philippine Scouts units (Lieutenants Alexander Nininger and Willibald Bianchi). After the American surrender of Bataan, Philippine Scouts were among the prisoners of war who endured the horrific Bataan Death March and subsequent brutal Japanese captivity. However, many of the Filipinos escaped to form the core of the guerrilla bands throughout the Philippines that fought the Japanese during the 1942-45 occupation. When MacArthurs forces returned to liberate the Philippines, surviving Philippine Scouts came forward to rejoin the U.S. Army, and the Philippine Division was reconstituted as U.S. 12th Infantry Division. The Philippines became an independent nation on July 4, 1946. Although arrangements were made for a number of Filipinos to continue in U.S. Army service, President Harry Truman officially disbanded the Philippine Scouts as an element of the U.S. Army in 1948. Jerry D. Morelock, PhD, Armchair General Editor in Chief. ACG thanks Romulo Mo Ludan for his assistance with this article. Originally published in the March 2015 issue of Armchair General. Half Moon Bay, CA (94019) Today A few showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight A few showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 49F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Walt Disney's CEO, Bob Iger, has warned that a trade war between the US and China would be damaging for business. China is increasingly important for Disney's movie and merchandise sales, besides, China is a huge market and Disney has been expanding there. Disneyland Shanghai has become the first theme park in China, it was one of its greatest success stories in 2016. But there are fears protectionist policies by Donald Trump could set off a trade war between US and China. "An all-out trade war with China would be damaging to Disney's business and to business in general," according to Disney's CEO. During his campaign, Trump threatened to impose a 45% tariff on Chinese products. Disney is facing some challenges but China is a good market Disney reported that sales unexpectedly fell to $14.8bn (11.8bn) in the three months to the end of December, which is 3% less than the same period a year ago. It was due to a drop in advertising earnings at its cable network ESPN and a 7% fall in revenues at its movie business. The relationship between China and Disney is very important from a movie perspective, a parks perspective and a consumer products perspective according to Disney CEO. Since last June, Disneyland Shanghai has received more than 7 million visitors, tickets had been sold over most of the Lunar New Year holiday period. Trump's economic and immigration policy During his election campaign, Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on China, Mexico and other countries he blames for the loss of US manufacturing jobs. Trump also criticised China for manipulating its currency. Iger was also critical of an executive order signed by Trump barring migrants and refugees from certain Muslim countries. The Disney CEO believes that US must not shut its borders to immigrants. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China still maintains its position that the Dalai Lama is part of a larger separatist group that aims to foster division in China. (Photo : Getty Images) China has expressed its disapproval over the United States willingness to meet the Dalai Lama, according to a report by Reuters. Zhu Weiqun, head of the ethnic and religious affairs committee of the top advisory body to Chinas parliament, has stated that welcoming the Dalai Lama would only risk the deterioration of Sino-U.S. ties. Advertisement This statement comes after Secretary of State Rex Tillersons positive answers to questions from the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Tillerson has stated that he is open to receiving and meeting the Dalai Lama should there be a request from the latter. Tillerson even goes so far as to explain that he would continue encouraging open communication between Beijing and the representatives of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Dalai Lama. Impossible Dialogue with Separatists For Zhu, Tillersons latest remarks go to show that he is an amateur when it comes to issues concerning Tibet. He further explains that China will not change its policy towards Tibet and that it will exert every effort to assert sovereignty over the region. China still maintains its position that the Dalai Lama is part of a larger separatist group that aims to foster division in China and that it is impossible to start a dialogue with them. The U.S. government had used the Dalai Lama to create problems for China's unity and stability, which has brought no benefit to Washington while it caused damage to Sino-U.S. relations," Zhu said. According to China, the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. For his part, the Dalai Lama has emphasized that he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet and its people. The new U.S. government should carefully study the policy and that its attention to the Tibet question will only bring endless trouble and burden for the U.S., Zhu added. F or Adam Street, everything is different at home in Hafer Road, Clapham Junction, except for the position of his new dining table. Hes put in the exact same spot where all of its predecessors stood it is the building that has changed dramatically. Numbers four to eight in the Victorian terrace were destroyed in the Blitz and replaced in the Fifties with a plain council block of flats. Today the block in its turn has been replaced with an interesting-looking contemporary building that features bold windows and cantilevered and recessed balconies. Now Adam, 42, and his wife Billi, 45, can invite friends and relatives without having to keep some of them standing outside because of the lack of space. They have room for their family to grow, and they are surrounded by neighbours who have become good friends. How the Streets and a group of neighbours redeveloped the former council block, more than doubling the size of their homes in the process, is a remarkable story of entrepreneurialism and community spirit. Contemporary good looks: bigger homes for residents, plus extra flats sold to fund the new building / Morley Von Sternberg A BIG, RISKY IDEA Adams grandmother was one of the first council tenants in the block when it opened in 1957. During the Eighties his parents purchased the flat from Wandsworth council under Right to Buy. So it was only natural that Adam should want to bring up his family the fourth generation of Streets in Hafer Road in the area he had known and loved since childhood. By the time Olivia, now nine, and Emily, now eight, came along, space in the old 900sq ft maisonette was getting tight. But what hope was there for the Street family to move to a bigger home in the area when nearby properties of a similar size were on the market for 1.7 million? Mulling over this problem with neighbour Carl Johnson, a builder, whose grandmother had also lived in the block, Adam did a back of the fag packet calculation and came up with the crazily ambitious idea that they should get the neighbours together, demolish the block and start again. Outdated: the old Hafer Road block, demolished in 2015 They worked out that by adding eight flats and selling them, they could use the income to subsidise development. The premise was that wed all get more space for free, explains Adam. He admits it was a huge risk. Yet when he put the idea to his neighbours, remarkably, they all agreed to give it a go. Five years later, in March last year, the householders moved into their new bespoke homes. Adam admits now: If you knew all the challenges involved in a project like this, youd never attempt it. The scariest moment was when the old block was demolished in January 2015. I knew that if I screwed this up, the people whod trusted me would have nowhere to live, confesses Adam. But reassured by his penchant for spreadsheets and the kitchen cabinet of professional advisers hed roped in, the neighbours put their trust in him. A lynchpin of the community, June Flood, 77, says she trusted Adam and Carl to spearhead the project because she had known their grandmothers, and everyone was in the same boat. If it failed wed all lose. Simplicity of style and plenty of glass: the new maisonettes and flats are all bespoke, with extra-high ceilings and light wells at the front. Any feeling of pokiness is gone / Morley Von Sternberg HOW WE DID IT Adam explains: We all sold our flats to a special purpose vehicle company, then bought them back. Every flat is bespoke, and we tried to create a commercial model that would work for all the residents. The eight extra flats sold easily and the profit was ploughed back into the development to give everyone a bigger home. Designed by Peter Barber Architects and made from rustic yellow brick, the new building is striking but works well in the Victorian street. It is deceptively simple in form; the dwellings slot together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. There are 16 flats and maisonettes in all, each with its own private outdoor terrace or courtyard. Inside, the spaces are generous and conform to the Mayor of Londons housing design guide. Corridors and landings are almost like rooms in themselves. The whole community joined in choosing the architect, inviting Peter Barber to interview because one of them happened to walk past his office in Kings Cross. Billi says: He got the massing right and knew how not to make it feel like a block of flats. Local planners were supportive and, with 30 objections and 26 letters of support, the proposal was approved without a hitch. Room for the family: Adam and Billi Street with two of the kids at their new, bigger Clapham home / Juliet Murphy Adam and Billi now love the simplicity of the space and the huge glass windows, which break down the division between inside and out and create a breeze in summer. Their parents can stay over, the girls have their own rooms and there is even space for a new family member, Lexi, a black Labrador pup. The main challenge for project architect Phil Hamilton was to deal with the needs of a diverse community, who all had their own special requests. June Flood, for example, wanted her own front door and huge amounts of storage space. The scheme design relied on excavating a basement in order to increase density on the site. These rooms have extra-high ceilings and light wells at the front so that they dont feel remotely poky. Theres an inspiring spirit of optimism here. Adam is convinced the experiment is repeatable and has written a paper to share with anyone who wants to try. At the launch party, his mum and his daughter Olivia cut the ribbon. Architect Peter Barber recalls: Adam did a speech and there were tears. Looking back, it was a time-consuming project. But I wouldnt have missed it for the world. OUR NEW HOME GIVES OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT WAYS OF LIVING Loving the flexibility: June Flood and daughter Joanna / Juliet Murphy Joanna Flood, 48, and her mother June have a three-bedroom maisonette, which as with Adam and Billi is in exactly the same position as their old council flat. I love it, says June. Born in Ireland, she and her family had moved into the block in 1984 when Joanna was a teenager. Now they feel safe in the knowledge that June has everything she needs on one floor. Meanwhile, Joanna has privacy with two bedrooms and an enormous bathroom in the basement. The greatest benefit, says Joanna, is that their new home gives options for different ways of living and is much more sociable. There are so many different places to sit You hardly even need to go out, says June. FACTS AND FIGURES Maurer, who has a background in materials science engineering, is currently undergoing training in the European Space Centre in Cologne, Germany. (Photo : Getty Images) Matthias Maurer, the European Space Agencys (ESA) newest astronaut, is open to cooperation with China in terms of developing spaceflight and its potentials, GBTimes.com reported. Advertisement In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Maurer expressed that a partnership with the Chinese space station may be imminent in the future. There are also new opportunities, like the Chinese space station which will be ready by 2022. We are working towards a cooperation with the Chinese, although that still needs to be established, Maurer told Deutsche Welle from ESAs operations center in Darmstadt. I think its an excellent way to show how spaceflight actually brings people and the world together," Maurer added. "Its also a very good thing in politically uncertain times to have spaceflight cooperation because that unites people and always builds a base. As of current times, ESA and China have already teamed up in numerous missions. This includes the upcoming SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) solar science mission, which aims to study the relationship between the solar wind and Earths magnetosphere. Composed of 22 member states, it is said that ESA is also working to secure a place in the Chinese space station, a facility planned to be manned by three to six astronauts permanently. However, relations are not as smooth as it seems. The International Space Stations fate is uncertain as it is unknown whether the funding for the project will be extended to 2028. In addition, China is banned from joining the ISS by the United States due to allegations of espionage and potential technology transfer. Maurer, who has a background in materials science engineering, is currently undergoing training in the European Space Centre in Cologne, Germany. In order to be part of the mission to the ISS in 2020, Maurer has to prove that he is the best among his peers. Hope College will feature the address Nuclear Proliferation: New Worries by Jack Segal, the former National Security Council director for nonproliferation, on Monday, Feb. 20, at 1 p.m. in Winants Auditorium of Graves Hall through the Great Decisions Global Discussion Series of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. The public is invited. Admission is free. The councils Great Decisions Global Discussion Series highlights the most critical global topics facing Americans for the year as chosen by the Foreign Policy Association in New York City. The council brings experts to West Michigan to discuss the topics, with presentations at Hope in the afternoon and at Aquinas College in the evening. Segal is a retired senior foreign service officer who has worked on nuclear issues throughout a 35-year career. He was State Department representative to the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) under President Reagan, during which he authored the landmark Agreement on Nuclear Risk Reduction reached with the USSR in 1987. He went on to an assignment in Moscow, where he worked with Russian counterparts to implement nuclear and chemical weapons agreements, then he and his wife Karen opened the first U.S. Consulate General in central Russia. From that vantage point he supervised the monitoring of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) agreement and continued his work on a chemical weapons destruction agreement. Returning to Washington, Segal became chief of staff to the State Departments Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security where he managed a staff that was dealing with major challenges from Iran, North Korea and Pakistan. He then went to President Clintons National Security Council as director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, then to a second posting as NSC director for non-proliferation where he again dealt with the issues that still remain major challenges today. He and Karen retired to Traverse City where they co-chair the World Affairs Councils of America chapter for northern Michigan. Hope is an educational partner of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (worldmichigan.org), which is dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries and cultures of the world, as well as providing a forum for discussion of critical foreign policy issues. In existence since 1949, the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is a non-partisan, non-advocacy educational non-profit organization. With 60 member companies and almost 3,000 members, it is considered one of the best councils in the national network of 100 World Affairs Councils. The councils Great Decisions Global Discussion Series will feature a total of eight addresses on Mondays between February 6 and April 3, with additional topics including nuclear proliferation, and the complexity of U.S.-Saudi and U.S.-China relations. Six of the events will take place at Hope, and all eight will take place at Aquinas College. There is a $10 admission charge for the events at Aquinas. More information about the presentations at Hope is available online. More information and about the Great Decisions Global Discussion Series as a whole is available online. Graves Hall is located at 263 College Ave., between 10th and 12th streets. The Aquinas College Performing Arts Center is located at 1703 Robinson Rd. SE in Grand Rapids. Destinations, hotels and tourism businesses should seize the opportunities of digital democracy created by the semantic search revolution that has only just begun WHEN Google switched its algorithm to semantic search in 2013 it began to clear away dodgy SEO practices and leveled the playing field for small operators and destinations. It made it easier for small businesses to create an honest strategy to rank well online in Google and the search engines. A few years on, the main outcome is that page one of a Google search will be different for every user, every location and every desktop or mobile device. Today, tourism businesses and destinations therefore have the opportunity to rank well for their ideal customer in Google's organic search results as long as they commit to building online trust, reputation and authority over time. Relevance and trust are the new currencies in town. They have given travel businesses and destinations opportunities that we are unlikely to see again. It's like being at the beginning of time once more, a time when tourism businesses can not only survive online, but thrive. However, there's no quick fix. If you want to be on the first page of your ideal customer's Google search as MyTravelResearch.com has done for the terms "travel research" in certain regions you have to be consistent in your online marketing. This means consistency in branding and content marketing. Post relevant, good quality content and post often. To get results you have to be clear about who your customers are and have a well-defined brand that guides your visual choice and gives you a consistent tone of voice and messaging. The Five Steps Clear branding and customer targeting are the baselines. In addition, there are five steps you have to also take: 1) Make sure you're on Google My Business (it's free). 2) Ensure your site is mobile friendly (you can check here for free and Google gives you tips how to make your site mobile compatible). 3) Realise that content is king. Create content that is useful, relevant and meaningful. Ensure quality over quantity 4) Make sure your web site and your social media platforms are soundly branded in terms of content, language and image choice. 5) Ramp up the number of images and videos you have on your site (Google loves this). For visual content don't think you need to spend big money on video production. You don't. Videos uploaded from smart phones are often deemed more 'authentic'. For example see "Whale of a Time" or "Who are Roo Looking At?" here. Importantly, to achieve a strong online presence in the brave new world of semantic search all the above elements have to work together. Remember, travel related content is the most watched content on YouTube. In western countries people spend about 13 hours doing online research before making a travel purchase (22 hours in China). People everywhere are perplexed and overwhelmed by the abundance of digital marketing choice. If customers are confused by your brand, search engines will be too. So focus your online branding, messaging and be consistent. Turn the above insights into action and put an end to 'hope marketing'. The full Five-Step Tourism Marketing blog can be read here. Hospitality schools and industry professionals have been working together to provide internship experiences that introduce students to different sectors of the hospitality industry, as well as expose students to the corporate culture and skills required by companies the student could eventually work with post-graduation. But if industry professionals and students are to leverage one another's abilities and resources for a successful internship experience, understanding underlying desires and motivations is key. The Student Perspective: What do Students and Recent Hospitality Grads Want in an Internship? Today's hospitality students pursue internships to test the waters of an industry segment for which they are interested in working post-graduation. For example, Oliver Tang, recent Cornell Hospitality graduate and now analyst at Horwath HTL in Atlanta, knew the company presented an ideal internship opportunity for him, thanks to his interests in feasibility and development planning. "I had recognized my strengths and interests in development planning while taking a feasibility class at Cornell," shares Oliver. "So before I connected with Horwath HTL I had an idea that this was something I wanted to do. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to live as an industry professional in development planning through assisting in feasibility studies." Yoshihiro Kanno, recent graduate of Florida International University and now analyst with HVS in Tokyo, also pursued the internship to test the waters of his field of interest- consulting and valuation services. Yoshihiro also noted his ability to grasp the corporate culture at HVS while interning. "The HVS culture attracts intelligent and motivated individuals. I am challenged every day, and the environment is extremely supportive. Everyone is always willing to help." According to Meredyth Thomas, Director of Career Services and External Relations at Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration, students also seek internships for brand exposure. "Students want to work with as many brands as possible to experience the culture and cultivate skills the brands value that are difficult to learn in the classroom. For example, Kimpton values empowering employees in 'guest-facing' roles to make decisions without consulting a manager. A student who had interned with Kimpton noted she was empowered to make judgement calls at the Front Desk so that she never had to leave when a guest was in front of her. Making on-the-spot decisions isn't easy to replicate in the classroom, and was certainly paramount to her learning." Developing skills in multiple hotel departments has been noted as an important consideration when evaluating prospective internship opportunities. Douglas Leff, recent graduate of Penn State University's (PSU) School of Hospitality Management and now full-time Manager in Development at the Trump SoHo New York noted exposure to various departments as an essential aspect of his program. "Right now, I am rotating through each department for a few months at a time as a full-time Manager in order to determine which one best fits my interests. So far, I have been a Front Office manager, assisted our Director of Owner Relations on the condominium side of the hotel, worked in the IT department and also worked as a finance manager dealing with the hotel's accounts receivables. Although I am not yet halfway through the rotations, I have seen the many different aspects of working at a hotel, and have gained a plethora of professional skills which will are applicable to various industries in the future." With regards to an internship's daily tasks and projects, industry students and recent hospitality graduates seek personal growth and the desire to be challenged every day. Oliver knew Horwath's Atlanta office was the ideal workplace for him because he "never felt too much pressure, but just enough to be challenged and to grow." "My most successful internship project was one from which I learned the most. We were helping a group of investors manage a portfolio of hotels. Asset management was a new discipline for me, so I was able to learn the essentials on the job. I asked a senior analyst to teach me how she did her work and reported to clients. I learned about each model. Then she delegated aspects of the project to me after recognizing where I was excelling. I ultimately took responsibility for the monthly report and helped my boss prepare for the presentations." This generation of hospitality graduate appreciates professional development and growth, and can then create a path for success and upward movement within the firm. The Industry Perspective: What Does the Industry Require From Internship Programs? Managers and C-suite executives in the hospitality industry seek adventurous, self-driven interns. According to Dr. Peter Ricci, former consultant at Forbes Hamilton Management Company and current Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at Florida Atlantic University, when he was a consultant, "his favorite interns were those with a sense of exploration combined with a can-do attitude." "I actually didn't care as much about their grades," states Dr. Ricci. "I cared more about the students' attitudes and abilities to explore new ways to add value and create exceptional guest experience." Greg Bohan, former Managing Director at Pinnacle Advisory Group and current Instructor and Special Programs Coordinator at Florida Atlantic University, also cited this sense of exploration as an essential intern characteristic. "Especially on the consulting side, we need students who are adventurous with analytics. We don't want them to ask 'Should I do this? How do I get that data?' Our best interns did the research on their own, then presented their findings and asked the right questions." It is evident that regardless of whether the intern is on the operational, guest-facing front, or in the analytics and consulting side, curiosity and risk-taking are what industry professionals need from them. Often-times overlooked yet necessary intern skills are soft skills surrounding communication. Dr. Ricci was recently at an internship strategy meeting at a resort in Boca Raton, Florida where industry experts agreed on this critical issue. "We want the same soft skills that have been important for the past two decades the ability to play well with others in the sandbox, the ability to empathize, and the truly hospitable attitude." Dr. Sheryl Kline, Professor and Chair of the Hospitality Business Management Department at the University of Delaware also noted the importance industry professionals place on these soft skills. "You need to know how to dress, how to talk and communicate with eye contact and a strong handshakebecause you leave an impression with our guest the second you meet them and this impression reflects the brand overall. Interns are always on stage. You can readily train individuals to execute check-in, but to hire and retain a student who possesses a high quality education, a passion for the industry and great communication skills this is what will bring the guest experience to the next level." Of course, the importance of specific intern qualities can vary based on the firms' demands and structure. Horwath HTL's Oliver Tang notes the most critical quality for an intern working at a flexible firm with the ability to work from home and choose his or her own projects is the quality of being self-motivated and self-disciplined. "I am absolutely seeing a trend that Horwath HTL considers only very self-driven individuals as interns. The company gives you the power in designing your internship. You make your own path and get as involved as you want in the workings of the firm. You aren't handed a full description of your responsibilities. Instead it's up to you to take initiative." According to Bob Hunter, CEO of Hunter Hotel Advisors, "a candidate with polite confidence and the forward-thinking ability to plan in advance is greatly valued. But keep in mind, because cost of living can be an issue, sometimes internships are geographically limited. However, if the student is a very good candidate, he or she should not shy away from asking about living expenses. One should not be arrogant when asking, but having the confidence to ask in the first place takes a certain skill set. This way the company is not losing an ideal intern candidate over something that could have been controlled and planned." If the intern doesn't possess these abilities, the internship may not proceed as it could have in a way that mutually benefited the company as well as the intern. Alan Smith, General Manager of the Boston Marriott Cambridge Hotel noted that internships are also a test of leadership qualities. Interns are placed in the same difficult situations that full-time associates face, like snow emergencies in the city of Boston, for example. "There's nothing like a snow emergency to show which leaders will rise to the top. Keeping a positive attitude and helping out wherever necessary in a tough situation is a great reflection of a person's inner most character." The Academic Perspective: How do the Hospitality Programs Liaise Students With Brands? Many hospitality Deans and Advisors have noticed recent internship trends, yet not every school is on the same page. Dr. Ricci observes there is "an ongoing debate in academia regarding whether or not to charge students via credit hours for internships. Some Deans feel there should be an academic component to the internship such as reflection essays, but I believe students should apply what they have learned in the field to their coursework. That's enough of an academic component for me." In addition to this trend, Dr. Ricci has noticed that "everyone is trying to require more internship hours than they did a decade ago." Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration requires at least two 400-hour work experiences, and an abroad work experience for its students for fulfillment prior to graduation. Florida Atlantic University also requires a hefty 1,000 hours in the industry before graduation. Hospitality professionals in academia know that internships are absolutely here to stay and imperative to increasing the competitiveness of their graduates. Douglass Leff noted the exceptional impact the PSU Career Service Center had on his career: "Penn State did a fantastic job assisting students secure summer internships and full-time jobs. Our school would arrange times for various companies to present opportunities to the students as well as interview potential candidates. In addition, trips were scheduled to New York City, Atlantic City and Las Vegas to give students more face-time with industry professionals." Douglass found face-time especially important, as he landed his Front Desk Supervisor position with Revel Atlantic City through the Penn State trip. "This networking event led to the opportunity to run the front desk at a 1,400- room resort and casino. It gave me a true perspective of what this industry is all about." Some hospitality programs including Cornell University and the University of Delaware have established hotel and food & beverage operations on campus for their students to operate as part of their hands-on undergraduate experience. For example, while Horwath's Oliver Tang was a student at Cornell, he worked two banquet shifts a week at the Statler Hotel located on campus. "My experience in the banquet department at Statler gave me the full exposure to the back of the house operation of the F&B department. I had worked in front of the house roles before, so this back of the house work completed the full-picture of hotel operations for me. I find this very beneficial for my consulting career. By having hotel operations experience, I am able to offer some advice to help make design better in terms of guest experience and operational efficiency." At the University of Delaware, students operate gourmet restaurant Vita Nova. Dr. Kline noted, "there's a lunch class and a dinner class, where students experience, reflect and discuss what they've learned through serving guests." Internships: How do we Prepare for the Next Generation of Hoteliers? Naturally, internships in all industries are important, but in the hospitality industry in particular, the more experience a student can have "servicing" clients and guests, the stronger that candidate is at graduation. With industry disruptors and new players like Airbnb, Lyft, Uber, and other non-traditional companies, opportunities for students are even more plentiful. Many students look to the Career Services sector of their hospitality schools for help landing the internship of their dreams. But HVS's Yoshihiro Kanno says this isn't the only outlet for the proactive student. "Most companies hire interns in the last year of their hospitality programs. They usually come through connections in the industry. Career services are helpful, but if you have a particular company with whom you're dreaming of interning, you should use alternative routes as well. Reach out in any way you can. It shows you truly want the internship and are being proactive, which is a trait the companies seek in their interns." Networking through LinkedIn, professional industry events, and joining the professional association for a desired sector could lead to that one connection who can jumpstart a students' career in the hospitality industry. Co-authored by Jovanna Fazzini, Assistant Director of Finance and Accounting, Boston Marriott Cambridge Hotel Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from www.HotelExecutive.com Leora Halpern Lanz LHL Communications LHL Communications HCJ represents the three trade shows: HOTERES JAPAN: International hotels & restaurant trade show for hotel, "ryokan", travel, and their facilities. CATEREX JAPAN: Food and catering trade show for catering and food service. JAPAN FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT SHOW: Equipment for commercial kitchen and food service trade show. Three events are held simultaneously, providing the largest business matching opportunity for hospitality & food service industry in Japan! This event is organized by Tokyo Big Sight Inc. Hospitality Net today Sign up to our free daily newsletter, This year's Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) will focus on diversification in the hospitality sector in response to the challenges faced by the region, according to the conclusions of a regional briefing in Doha in the run-up to the event. A review of asset management was also a key theme at the briefing in the Qatari capital, Doha, on 24 January, where some 40 hoteliers, hospitality investors and owners came together to shape the discussion at AHIC, which is running from 25 to 27 April 2017 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. "The dominant issue at AHIC this year will be how the GCC hospitality sector can retain its attractiveness to investors in spite of all that is happening in the region," said Andrew Humphries, Chief Operating Officer of Katara Hospitality, who will be speaking at AHIC 2017. "Following the discussions here at the Doha regional briefing, I think that the diversification of the GCC hospitality sector will be a key theme at AHIC. It is essential that diversification happens at all levels and that we have flexibility in our business models. The traditional model is changing and a new model must be found. One that is more aggressive on the sales side and more thoughtful on the costs side, while retaining the best of what we have", said Humphries. Mohamed Al Mahmeed, Head of Tourism Investment Promotion at Qatar Tourism Authority, who apprised the delegates on the strides made by the authority in recent years and its plans for the future, said: "Qatar has a clear strategy to develop a sustainable tourism industry through 2030. The past year saw several key developments: the growth of the cruise tourism sector, measures to ease entry to Qatar - including the introduction of a new transit visa - and a new hotels grading and classification system. The focus for us moving forward is to support the diversification of the hospitality sector's offering and the development of new tourism products." Another key theme at AHIC, according to Saahil Lalit, Colliers International Associate Director, Hotels, will be asset management: "With revenues falling, we need to discuss how we can get more out of our properties." He went on to highlight the rise in popularity of Airbnb in the region, calling for the need for the region's hospitality sector to respond to the challenge of the newcomer "which can add significant volume to the market at short notice, and at low prices," he added. Commenting on the regional briefing's value to the Qatari hospitality sector, in preparation for the April AHIC conference, Amruda Nair, Joint Managing Director & CEO, Aiana Hotels & Resorts, said: "It was valuable to be given access to performance data and trends data from across the region, to hear about different approaches, and to be able to have a dialogue with authorities. "As an operator, it is great to be able to take a step back and get a big picture view. And in times of challenging market conditions, it is great to see how the industry can come together to respond. I think AHIC is an opportunity to look at investment criteria, and to discuss strategic collaboration between investors, operators, authorities and airlines," she said. The full programme for AHIC 2017 has now been launched and is available here. AHIC 2017 will bring together more than 700 hotel owners, investors, developers, operators, consultants and experts from professional services to debate the hospitality investment climate against a backdrop of global catalysts for change and the macroeconomic environment. The conference will feature panel sessions entitled: The MacroEconomic Outlook for Middle East Hospitality; Do You Need An International Brand?; An A-Z of Reflagging Your Hotel; The Investment Climate Warms Up to the Mid-Market; and Concepts for the GCC. Sessions specifically targeted at hospitality investors will tackle issues such as white label operations, asset management, alternative models of investment, how to exit a contract, overseas acquisitions, working with master developers and achieving ROI on F&B. For registrations and for more information, visit: www.arabianconference.com Source: MEED Source: MEED About AHIC 2021 AHIC, now in its 17th year, is the annual gathering for the Middle East's hospitality investment community organised by global hotel investment event organiser Bench in partnership with Middle East business intelligence brand, MEED. AHIC creates a knowledge and networking platform for global and regional investors of all backgrounds, offering essential insights to investing in hotels, showcasing regional and international hospitality investment opportunities and facilitating direct connections with hospitality industry stakeholders. AHIC 2021 will be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 20 to 22 September under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, whose continued support of the industry and AHIC has been critical to the region's tourism growth. AHIC 2021 Sponsors Sponsors include: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts as Host Sponsor; Accor, Dur Hospitality, Hilton and SMIT as Platinum Sponsors; Emaar Hospitality Group, IHG, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, NEOM, Radisson Hotel Group, Rotana and Taiba Investments as Emerald Sponsors; Aleph Hospitality, Bespoke Modular Solutions, Colliers International, Compass Project Consulting, Farnek, HVS, The Indian Hotels Company, Insignia, IT Hospitality Group, Katch, Louvre Hotels Group, OBMI Architecture, SSH, STR, TIME Hotels, Toggle Hospitality and The London Project as Gold Sponsors; Al Tamimi and Company, Colliers Project Leaders, Deutsche Hospitality, Diriyah Gate Authority, Hotstats, JLL, MMAC Design, CHIC-NAIA, PWC, Roya, Shangri-La Group, The Red Sea Development Company, and Voltere by Egis as Silver Sponsors; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Sustainability Hospitality Alliance and WiH Global as Supporters; JA Resorts and Hotels as Golf Supporter; and Nespresso as Official Coffee Partner. Frances Barton Media Relations Director, In2 Consulting.com +971 4 455 8500 MEED Hotel investors, owners, consultants and operators alike share a positive outlook for the Middle East hospitality industry in 2017, with strong market fundamentals in place and attractive investment opportunities on the horizon. In the lead-up to the 13th edition of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, being held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 25 to 27 April 2017, key speakers and sponsors at the annual knowledge platform and networking event revealed their forecast for the year ahead. Jonathan Worsley, Founder of AHIC, Chairman, Bench Events and Board Director, STR, said: "With AHIC 2017 just months away, the debate is already beginning among our speakers. As usual, we expect AHIC to be thought-provoking, topical and at the forefront of promoting hospitality investment in the Middle East and beyond. From discussing global catalysts for change and the macroeconomic outlook to asset management and outbound investment, AHIC 2017 promises to present the latest market intelligence and inspire the investment community, globally as well as locally." AHICs Regional Briefing in Qatar Pinpoints Diversification in the Hospitality Sector as Key to Future Success Photo by MEED The experts acknowledged that while aspects of both development and operations were challenging in 2016, the market remains robust with investment potential. Olivier Granet, Chief Operating Officer HotelServices Middle-East and Africa, a speaker at AHIC, commented: "Despite the oil price, the spotlight on elections globally and otherwise volatile regional conditions, our key partners in the region still identify in present market conditions attractive opportunities to invest. Investors may be cautious with their real estate investments in light of RevPAR contractions across certain markets in the region, however, many markets in the region are just beginning to mature and still represent attractive investments across many asset classes." Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, Chief Executive Officer, Katara Hospitality, Platinum Sponsor of AHIC 2017, said that 2016 "will be remembered as a challenging year for hospitality investors as a mix of global geopolitical and economic issues has resulted in a more cautious approach towards investment decisions." Looking forward, he added: "The Middle East hotel market remains a vibrant and exciting one for investors. The region's fundamentals are strong, making it an attractive investment destination. In Qatar for example, the outlook for the hotel industry is especially promising. According to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in 2015, income from tourists amounted to QAR18.3 billion, nine-times the QAR2.1 billion recorded in 2010, demonstrating the clear opportunity for proven investors like Katara Hospitality in the region." Joe Sita, CEO, IFA Hotel Investments, who is speaking at AHIC, added: "I would agree that 2016 has been a more challenging year particularly with respect to rates. Occupancy has remained robust in prime areas, however, supply dynamics have led to an element of price competition that was previously absent from the market. Notwithstanding this, we still feel that, most specifically in Dubai, the market remains robust and continues to generate higher yield than competitor arenas. We therefore still see further investment in this sector in the medium term." One of the hotel markets viewed as being particularly robust is Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), which reported a 14 percent year-on-year increase in RevPar between June and August 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, and an increase of 15.9 percent in occupancy during the same period, according to Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. Hotel owners and developers in RAK remain bullish for the year ahead, bolstered by the emirate's attractive investment environment, a topic that will be discussed in depth at AHIC 2017. As the emirate continues towards its target to attract one million annual visitors by 2018 and three million visitors per year by 2025, speaker at AHIC Yannis Anagnostakis, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding LLC, said: "As a company that is deeply rooted in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, we are certainly biased towards RAK, and rightly so. The emirate is living proof of the tremendous success witnessed in its hospitality and tourism sector. "What increases the appeal of the Emirate on the tourism front is that the growth in demand for its hotel rooms is exceeding the growth in supply, which creates attractive opportunities for investors. Additionally, the demographic mix that has evolved in recent years underlines the momentum that the emirate is generating outside the GCC." Another market with potential for further growth is Bahrain, reported Jerad Bacher, Executive Director, Tourism and Leisure at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, who is speaking at AHIC on the topic of 'Concepts for the GCC'. "In Bahrain, we have seen somewhat less volatility in hotel performance mainly due to a lower inventory of supply paired with a consistent volume of demand. We expect market stability to continue in 2017 with moderate supply growth and continued advancement in demand. We have a strong pipeline of new inventory coming into Bahrain over the next five years; however, the products that are in development will be demand simulators and have an aggregated inventory that the market can withstand," he said. The AHIC speakers and sponsors agreed that future investment would be focused on exciting master developments, new brands and gaps in the market, from growth in the economy, mid-market and upscale segments to luxury at scale, such as all-inclusive premium resorts. AHIC 2017 is the premium knowledge and networking platform for hotel investors in the Middle East. For more information, visit: www.arabianconference.com About AHIC 2021 AHIC, now in its 17th year, is the annual gathering for the Middle East's hospitality investment community organised by global hotel investment event organiser Bench in partnership with Middle East business intelligence brand, MEED. AHIC creates a knowledge and networking platform for global and regional investors of all backgrounds, offering essential insights to investing in hotels, showcasing regional and international hospitality investment opportunities and facilitating direct connections with hospitality industry stakeholders. AHIC 2021 will be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 20 to 22 September under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, whose continued support of the industry and AHIC has been critical to the region's tourism growth. AHIC 2021 Sponsors Sponsors include: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts as Host Sponsor; Accor, Dur Hospitality, Hilton and SMIT as Platinum Sponsors; Emaar Hospitality Group, IHG, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, NEOM, Radisson Hotel Group, Rotana and Taiba Investments as Emerald Sponsors; Aleph Hospitality, Bespoke Modular Solutions, Colliers International, Compass Project Consulting, Farnek, HVS, The Indian Hotels Company, Insignia, IT Hospitality Group, Katch, Louvre Hotels Group, OBMI Architecture, SSH, STR, TIME Hotels, Toggle Hospitality and The London Project as Gold Sponsors; Al Tamimi and Company, Colliers Project Leaders, Deutsche Hospitality, Diriyah Gate Authority, Hotstats, JLL, MMAC Design, CHIC-NAIA, PWC, Roya, Shangri-La Group, The Red Sea Development Company, and Voltere by Egis as Silver Sponsors; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Sustainability Hospitality Alliance and WiH Global as Supporters; JA Resorts and Hotels as Golf Supporter; and Nespresso as Official Coffee Partner. Frances Barton Media Relations Director, In2 Consulting.com +971 4 455 8500 A man walks past the hotel where Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua was reportedly abducted by mainland security agents last month. (Photo : Getty Images) While questions are still unanswered about the reported disappearance of Chinese businessman Xiao Jianhua from Hong Kong with alleged security representatives from the mainland, Xiao's ownership of shares in a holding company also remains to be a mystery. Advertisement Citing regulatory filings, Forbes reported that it was Xiao Weihua, not his cousin Xiao Jianhua, who is the biggest shareholder of Tomorrow Holdings, which also owns majority stakes in three China-listed businesses. According to the document, Xiao Weihua owns 29 percent in the company while the remainder is distributed among six other individuals. However, Tomorrow Holdings could not be reach to verify Xiao Jianhua's stake or if he used proxies. Chinese media believed that the shareholders of the company are merely fronts. In 2013, the New York Times reported about Xiao Jianhua's business connections with the family of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xiao was a powerful figure in the stock market and in 2011, pictures of him in public appeared for the first time. Recently, he was reported to be conducting meetings at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong's business district, surrounded by female bodyguards. The report said that it was not the first time that a shareholding was used by a business owner with ties to the family of a Communist Party leader. The shareholding structure of Anbang Insurance, which was believed to be controlled by Wu Xiaohui, is shadowy. Wu is married to the granddaughter of former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Three listed companies in China were indirectly under the control of Tomorrow Holdings, according to the stock exchange filings. They are: Baotou Huazi Industry, Xishui Strong Year and Baotou Tomorrow Technology. Xiao Weihua's shares in the three listed companies are equivalent to about $225 million, without calculating collateralization or the cost of shares. Aside from the three companies, Tomorrow Holdings also manages asset management companies and other investments. In May last year, an unnamed financial institution offered to provide 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) for Tomorrow Holding's expansion, according to stock filing by Huazi. Details about Tomorrow Holding's net assets were not given. A report by a local Shidai magazine in 2011 said that Xiao Jianhua was one of the country's successful stock brokers. But after 2008, following the suicide of tycoon Wei Dong and the arrest of Wang Yi, China's No. 2 stock regulator, who were both his close friends, Xiao's fortunes changed, Shidai reported. Xiao Jianhua, now a Canadian citizen, reportedly moved overseas and appeared a few years later. Meanwhile, Wei Dong'swidow, Chen Jinxia, is on Forbes Billionaires list with a fortune worth $1.75 billion. Following Xiao Jianhua's disappearance in Hong Kong, shares of Tomorrow's companies dropped at China's stock exchange, the report said. According to reports, Xiao Jianhua is being questioned by mainland security investigating the stock market bubble in 2015 when short-sellers profited from the stocks at that time. Hailed as one of the biggest music festivals on the collegiate circuit, #Fest will be celebrating its fifteenth edition with headliners Young Thug and Migos. College kids will congregate to Athens, Ohio come spring to turn up with the likes of Waka Flocka, 21 Savage, Lil Yachty and others at the two-day event. Migos was the perfect headlining act to place on #15Fests bill, #Fest founder Dominic Petrozzi told XXL. Petrozzi is also festival partner at Prime Social Group. The cultural impact the group has made with recently released music aligns perfectly with the cult-like following #Fest has grown into within the collegiate space. Wednesday, the Atlanta group released Dab Of Ranch, a jingle for their new brand of potato chips. The 15th annual #Fest will take place between April 21-22, 2017. Migos, Young Thug & 21 Savage Aetna Life Insurance Co. was awarded $51.4 million to recover excessive health care fees it said it paid to Humble Surgical Hospital during the past seven years. The judgment, which includes nearly $10 million in interest, was signed last week by U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes. Aetna sued Humble Surgical Hospital in 2012, contending that the five-bed surgical center in Humble charged the giant health insurance company for procedures up to 10 times more than typical market rates. An out-patient fee for ear wax removal, for example, was nearly $100,000, according to the lawsuit, and bunion removal ranged between $46,000 and $74,000. The hospital is not in Aetna's managed care network, and Aetna accused the surgical center of attracting its patients by offering special discounts. Typically, health care patients pay more when they use facilities and providers outside of a health insurance company's managed care network. The higher costs are designed to encourage patients to use facilities that negotiated lower fees for service in exchange for increased patient volume. Aetna alleged Humble Surgical charged its patients out-of-pocket fees similar to what in-network facilities would charge, but then the hospital billed Aetna for the procedures as an out-of-network provider. The "sidebar deals" the surgical center made with patients as an inducement meant the surgical center received a "substantial windfall," according to Aetna's 2012 lawsuit. Adam Chambers, the Houston lawyer representing Humble Surgical, said his client will appeal the ruling, made by Hughes before the case ever got to a jury. Chambers said other courts have ruled in favor of health care providers in similar cases, including one involving Humble Surgical in a dispute involving Cigna. Humble Surgical will file an appeal soon, he said. A Houston businessman who spent more than $250,000 on a safari in Africa has sued the South African operator for failing to deliver trophies from the hunt - two horns from the white rhinoceros he bagged. In the suit filed last month in state district court in Harris County, Kevin Poynter, president of Poynter Commercial Properties in Houston, said he put his trust in Limcroma Safaris to ship the horns back to Houston, as promised, but is still waiting more than a year after the trip in August and September of 2015. Poynter and his sons bagged nearly 30 trophies, which the lawsuit did not describe, according to court documents. The suit provides a glimpse of the big money excursions and the sometimes controversial business of catering to wealthy trophy hunters. Neither Poynter nor representatives of Limcroma would comment. Poynter's lawyer, Joel Mohrman of Houston, said, "The hunt was completely legal and proper and in accordance with all regulations in South Africa and in the United States," but Limcroma failed to fulfill its contractual duties of shipping the rhino horns. One of the challenges facing trophy hunters is that many airlines won't transport the trophies, particularly the so-called big five African animals: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and Cape buffalo. Many of the bans were put in place following the public outrage after the killing by a Minnesota dentist of a beloved lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe in 2015. Importing a trophy of an animal from Africa requires approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For some species, the agency must be able to determine that hunting will benefit wild animal populations, according to the agency's permit application. One way hunters can demonstrate they're supporting wildlife is to show that part of their hunting fee goes toward conservation efforts, according to the agency. Conservation fees Mohrman said part of his client's hunting fees went to land owners and the South African government to help conserve, manage and maintain wildlife populations, but he did not know exactly how much. "Without the participation of hunters in the government-sanctioned system such as South Africa, many fewer animals like rhinos would exist," Mohrman said. But environmentalists and wildlife advocates call such contributions a pay-to-play exchange that undermines federal laws intended to protect threatened species. "You can have conservation without killing animals," said Elliot Katz, founder of California animal rights group In Defense of Animals. Limcroma's website said its hunting trips pursue white rhinos in South Africa, which the outfitter describes as having a healthy, sustainable population of the animals. Mohrman confirmed that Poynter hunted white rhino. The conservation group Word Wildlife White Foundation estimates the population of white rhinos at about 20,000 and classifies them as near threatened, meaning they could become threatened in the near future. Several hunting clubs, outfitters and hunter advocacy groups were contacted seeking comment but either declined or did not respond. In the United States, fees from hunting licenses and taxes on sales of equipment help protect habitat and sustain game populations. Hunting, meanwhile, seems more popular than ever. Earlier this year, the Houston Safari Club, which did not respond to requests for comment, hosted its annual convention at a hotel in The Woodlands and didn't have enough space for everyone who wanted to attend. Next year, the event will move to the George R. Brown Convention Center to accommodate more hunting enthusiasts. Horns 'very valuable' Limcroma Safaris, the company Poynter used, advertises on its website that it has nearly 200,000 acres of land in South Africa in which clients can hunt for more than 45 species of trophy class African plains game including kudu, warthog and blue wildebeest. For guests wanting to hunt the big five - rhino, lion, buffalo, elephant and leopard - the company offers rifle and bow hunting expeditions in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Namibia in addition to South Africa. At the end of the day, guests can retire to thatched, air-conditioned "chalets." Fine wines and meals of wild game also are part of the luxury experience. Getting trophies home also is an important part of the experience, according to court documents. Limcroma and its representatives told Poynter they'd make the process as smooth as possible, according to court documents. The lawsuit, which doesn't say how much Poynter paid for shipping and handling services, alleges negligence, breach of contract and deceptive trade practices. The safari company made a commitment to keep the horns in a locked safe, but the horns were taken from an unlocked room at a logistics company that Limcroma hired to ship them, according to the lawsuit. Poynter faults the safari company for failing to determine whether the logistics company was properly insured against damage, theft or other calamities, according to court documents. Poynter described the horns as "very valuable" in the lawsuit but did not make a dollar estimate. He is seeking unspecified damages, possession of his property and attorney's fees. Limcroma has not filed a response to the lawsuit. General Electric owns several energy businesses that incorporate GE as part of the name, including GE Oil & Gas and GE Power. Now the Boston-based industrial giant is trying to stop a Chinese company with offices in the Houston area from cashing in on General Electric's well-known - and trademarked - moniker. General Electric Co., started by Thomas Edison, sued GE Petroleum Equipment Corp. last week in federal court in Houston for allegedly violating General Electric's "GE" trademark, which it has used more than 116 years, according to the lawsuit. GE - in this case, Golden Eagle - Petroleum Equipment Corp., makes cementing tools, well head equipment and valves, and supplies drilling chemicals and other services. Its main operations are in Beijing, but it has an office in Katy. General Electric alleges that its rival's use of GE confuses the public, especially since so many of GE Petroleum Equipment Corp.'s products and services are similar to what General Electric offers its oil and gas clients. GE Petroleum Equipment Co. did not return calls and emails seeking comment. Representatives of GE Oil & Gas first encountered GE Petroleum at the Offshore Technology Conference last year in Houston, according to the lawsuit. General Electric notified its competitor of its trademark, and soon after, GE Petroleum posted a disclaimer on its website that it does not have a relationship with "GE" in the U.S. Instead, the Chinese company explained, GE stands for "Golden Eagle," to convey "positive marketing spirit" and "tenacious survival ability." In November, General Electric wrote again to GE Petroleum Equipment in Katy, asking the company to stop using "GE" or it would have to take "any actions necessary" to protect its intellectual property. General Electric said it does not object to its competitor using "Golden Eagle Petroleum Equipment Co.," according to General Electric's letter, which was included as an exhibit to the lawsuit. GE Petroleum Equipment Corp. has not filed a response to the suit. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BISMARCK, N.D. - The Army said Tuesday that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, clearing the way for completion of the disputed four-state project. However, construction could still be delayed because the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which has led the opposition, said it would fight the latest development in court. In West Texas, activists protesting the Trans-Pecos pipeline got the call from North Dakota, asking them to return to renew the battle against Dakota Access. Both pipelines are being developed by Energy Transfer Partners of Dallas. As snow and cold arrived this winter, some North Dakota protesters traveled south to new camps protesting the Trans-Pecos, which will run from West Texas' Permian Basin to Mexico. "The people aren't going to stand down," said Frankie Orona, a West Texas camp leader and director of the San Antonio-based Society of Native Nations. "They believe if we don't stop it now, we're never going to be able to. I'm afraid people on both sides are going to get hurt." The Army intends to cancel further environmental study of Dakota Access and allow the Lake Oahe crossing as early as Wednesday, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer. The stretch under Lake Oahe is the final big chunk of work on the 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. Energy Transfer Partners had hoped to have the pipeline operating by the end of 2016, but construction has been stalled while the Army Corps of Engineers and the Dallas-based company battled in court over the crossing. Energy Transfer Partners declined to comment. 'Water protectors ' The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a leak would pollute its drinking water. The tribe has led protests that drew hundreds and at times thousands of people who dubbed themselves "water protectors" to an encampment near the crossing. ETP says the pipeline is safe. Details of the tribe's legal challenge to the Army's decision were still being worked out, attorney Jan Hasselman said. But tribal Chairman Dave Archambault said the tribe is "undaunted" by the Army's decision. Even if the pipeline is finished and begins operating, he said, the tribe will push to get it shut down. On Tuesday, North Dakota leaders contacted leaders of the camps in West Texas and asked them to send as many people as they could back north. But Mescalero Apache Pete Hefflin, a leader at the Two Rivers camp near Big Bend Ranch State Park in between Presidio and Marfa, said he wasn't sure he could spare any bodies. Two Rivers right now only has a dozen or so on the weekdays and maybe 50 or more on weekends. Standing Rock still has hundreds, he said. Hefflin said he has to focus on stopping the Trans-Pecos. "We have a big chance of doing it if the people come together," he said. An assessment of the Dakota Access pipeline conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, then-Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy on Dec. 4 declined to issue permission for the crossing, saying a broader environmental study was warranted. President Donald Trump signed an executive action Jan. 24 telling the Corps to quickly reconsider Darcy's decision. The documents filed Tuesday include a proposed Federal Register notice terminating the study. "I have determined that there is no cause for completing any additional environmental analysis," Acting Assistant Army Secretary Douglas Lamont said in a memo. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe argues that under the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1888, the federal government is obliged to consider a tribe's welfare when making decisions that affect the tribe. 'Broken promises' "The Obama administration correctly found that the tribe's treaty rights needed to be respected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations," Hasselman said. "Trump's reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian tribes and violation of treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court." North Dakota's congressional delegation and its governor welcomed the Army's announcement. But environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Amnesty International USA and the Center for Biological Diversity, issued statements saying the Trump administration is putting corporate profits ahead of the rights of Native Americans and the environment. ETP has been poised to begin drilling under Lake Oahe as soon as it has approval. Workers have drilled entry and exit holes for the crossing, and oil has been put in the pipeline leading up to the lake in anticipation of finishing the project. ETP's chief executive, Kelcy Warren, told the Associated Press in November that the company should be able to finish the project in a little over three months once it has the go-ahead. David Hunn contributed to this report. Cattle Import from Australia (Photo : Getty Images) Australia has started the sea shipment of live cattle to China during the weekend, opening a crucial new route into China's growing market for quality beef, the Australia.com reported. Advertisement According to the report, about 1500 Angus beef cattle were shipped to a port in Shandong Province from Portland in west Victoria. The shipment was principally consigned by Shanghai CRED, a firm headed by Chinese real estate developer Gui Guojie, who invested heavily in the Australian cattle industry, and Elders, a rural conglomerate. For 18 months, the cattle had to go through animal health procedures before the shipments of the live cattle began. Since then, three trial shipments, with150 head each, have been sent to China by air, the report said. Elders chief executive Mark Allison said: "The opening of feeder and slaughter markets will drive competition and demand for Australian cattle, creating new opportunities for exporters and producers alike." Brazil poses a strong competition to Australia, which has already been selling $1 billion worth of beef every year to China. Australia enjoys tariff reductions under the Australia-China free trade agreement. U.S. producers will soon join Brazil as competitors for the Chinese market. During a visit to China last year, Mark Bennett, ANZ's head of agribusiness, said that the demand from China and other parts of Asia continue to grow and Australia will start building herds to meet the challenge. Australia's cattle industry is expected to grow from $9 billion to $16 billion, he said. They are also asking China for additional processors, apart from the 11 major firms that are now licensed. Bennett said that the opening of the live cattle trade has given Australians more opportunities, especially with Chongqing's demand of more than 500,000 heads of cattle a year. More than 80 percent of the beef that Australia produces are for export. China is its third biggest market, after the U.S. and Japan. Four weeks after I first tasted chef Wayne Nguyen's won tons at his Maba Pan Asian Diner, I am still marveling over the ingenuity with which this bright new talent has reimagined such familiar dumplings. The won tons are lovely noodle packets in and of themselves: delicate of skin, plumped with a gingery mince of pork and Chinese sausage. Then they're plated like some scintillating warm salad, graced with bright cherry tomato halves, wispy jalapeno cartwheels, slivers of garlicky shallot in two meticulous forms - sliced raw into translucent rings; and fried into crisp brown crinkles. The animating touch is a gloss of warm fish sauce vinaigrette made with rice vinegar and oil from the fried shallot pan, so that the whole dish springs into well-balanced focus. It's tart and savory with a tinge of sweetness, an edge of heat and an herbal twinge of cilantro. It's brilliant. And it costs nine bucks. More Information Maba Pan-Asian Diner xxx 510 Gray 832-834-6157 Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday Credit cards: all major Prices: appetizers $4-$7; salads $8; entrees $8-$18 Must-orders: won tons in tangy fish sauce; osso buco Szechuan salad; Vietnamese green papaya salad; pork belly taco wrapped in Taiwanese rice-flour pancake; vegetarian spring rolls; General Tsao's Chicken; pan-seared whole lemongrass tilapia; the Trung Sisters bacon-wrapped shrimp with Thai basil and lemon butter Reservations: first come, first served Website: mabahouston.com 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 That's a song for one of the best dishes in the city - and there are many more dazzling bargains at this young Midtown oasis of casual chic, where most prices hover near the $10 mark, and all stop short of $20. Even the visuals for the counter-service setup offer bang for the buck, from dramatic black-and-white abstract paintings to crimson dragon wall graphics; from compact Edison-bulb chandeliers to an inviting dining deck Those sleek white molded plastic chairs with their metal-hatched wooden legs? They are actually comfortable, a boon in these days of Tolix-style torture. I can happily inhabit one for a quick meal of vegetarian spring rolls with a glass of sauvignon blanc, say; or settle back for a multicourse feast that begins with a sparkling Vietnamese green papaya salad and goes on to weightier preparations of shrimp, chicken or fish. Whichever way you approach Nguyen's menu, know this: everything will be wonderfully fresh, clean and balanced. I've been waiting decades for a Houston Vietnamese restaurant like Maba: contemporary without losing sight of its roots, mindful of the assorted Asian influences percolating in Houston's sprawling Chinatown, devoted to quality ingredients. Nguyen named his restaurant Maba as a portmanteau for the Vietnamese words for mom and dad. He'll be the first to tell you that while his approach may be modern, his inspiration never strays from the flavors he remembers from his family kitchen. He grew up in San Francisco's Bay Area after his family fled Communist Vietnam by boat when he was 11 years old, a harrowing voyage in which a younger sister was killed by gunfire. Nguyen was responsible for feeding his other siblings while his parents worked. His early career in financial services made his parents happy. ("If I had told them I wanted to be a chef, they would have disowned me," he half-jokes now.) But when he moved to Houston for work and met his wife, whose family owned the Sinh Sinh and old-line Timmy Chan's restaurants, he went to work managing finances at the latter, soaking up classic Chinese-American preparations by osmosis. So when Nguyen serves up what the menu calls "General Tsao's Chicken," the flavor profile may summon up the time-honored chile/orange zest/rice vinegar/sugar combination, but the preparation strikes out for new territory. Nguyen pan-fries a chicken thigh so that it emerges with a thin, charry skin rather than a thickly battered crust. Part the thick slices and, underneath a nest of sauteed peppers, onions and cherry tomato peeks out, moored in a tart/sweet sauce that is anything but cloying or thick. With foils of fragrant white rice and bright green coils of yu choy, the long-stemmed Chinese green, this is General Tso's for the 21st century, seen through the lens of a gifted Vietnamese chef. Nguyen brings that sensibility and precision to his version of gingered pork pot stickers seared to a fine chestnut-brown singe, then baptized with a rice vinegar sauce that is salty and sweet and tart all at once. All those classic flavor currents, plus a zap of chile heat, are at play in his impeccable Vietnamese green papaya salad, mined with savory hunks of shrimp and pork belly, sliced thin and delicately browned. It's a miracle of bright flavors and lively textures. The same elegant, nicely rendered pork belly slices show up in a "taco" folded into a Taiwanese rice-flour pancake that will be immediately familiar to scallion pancake connoisseurs. Garnished with leafy herbs, crunchy vegetables and wheels of ripe jalapeno, the package is ingenious without veering into the realm of taco kitsch. Thing is, Nguyen can do kitsch with aplomb. I wanted nothing to do with his so-called Pho Fries - until they arrived, at a friend's insistence, and bowled me over with their balance and sass. Most places would drizzle on the hoisin and Sriracha like mad. Here, the sauces were applied in judicious dots, the cilantro and wilted onions clung just so, and the evocative spices (cinnamon, clove, black cardamom and ginger) haunted. Never have frozen French fries ended up so crisp, or so good. Nguyen can go high as well as low. One of his signal successes is a whole tilapia that has been deboned, then put back together with an aromatic mince of lemongrass and garlic inside before it is pan-seared until its skin is singed to a delicious, brittle char. The flesh within was not a jot overcooked on a recent afternoon, and the juices from a final fish-sauce baste had flavored the bed of rice underneath so that it leapt to life, sweet and salty with a faint pucker of lime. Glorious stuff, and a steal at $14. Why tilapia? I asked Nguyen. It's a fish I tend to avoid, but the chef told me tilapia is a big part of Vietnamese American life, the live fish always seen swimming in tanks at Asian grocery stores. Like catfish, tilapia is a reminder of the river fish eaten in Vietnam - the ones Nguyen himself would swim for as a boy, snaking his arm into the mud burrows where they lurked. As he cooks it now, the tilapia is a noble fish. I stand persuaded. I stand in awe of Nguyen's The Trung Sisters, a dramatic bacon-wrapped shrimp dish named for Vietnamese rebel sisters who fought against Chinese Han dynasty invaders in 40 A.D. and briefly established a free state. Whole Thai basil leaves are tucked inside the skewered shrimp, and after they are grilled so that the bacon browns and chars a bit (signature move here), a lemon-butter mop gives the flavors a final, exuberant pop. I could go on: about the unusually spunky curried vermicelli noodles; about the juicy chicken skewers set upon a cool, snappy vermicelli salad; about the vegetarian spring rolls in which whole cilantro and mint leaves glow like jewels beneath the translucent wrapper, while mushroom and fried tofu add gentle ballast. I could extol the Osso Buco Szechuan salad in which the spiced beef shank is chilled overnight after braising, so that it slices up with a fine, slightly gelatinous texture that is deeply Vietnamese. I could advise you to try the curious thrills of a rice dessert that is fermented so that it starts throwing off its own sweet sake bath. American palates may find the texture odd, yet the taste, with some added fresh citrus, is refreshing. But in the end, there's little need to enumerate every last pleasure I experienced at this excellent addition to Houston's dining scene. There's lots to discover, Nguyen is constantly plotting new dishes as he settles into his fledgling restaurant, and I have yet to encounter a dish here that is not intelligently conceived and painstakingly made. My worries are only of a procedural nature. The sweet counter-based semi-service here, which functions more like full service when there are few customers, may find itself stressed once the customers Maba so richly deserves flock to the place in force. The careful kitchen may find itself stressed, too. What I don't worry about is whether Nguyen - a natural star - will find a way to make his venture shine. I have a feeling his best days are still to come. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fitzgerald's has kicked up a social media storm after a heated email and Twitter exchange with a respected Houston producer and DJ. It started when Garrett Brown, known as Trakksounds, emailed the venue about a possible March 31 booking for Billboard-charting Tennessee rappers Starlito and Don Trip. Owner Sara Fitzgerald responded with an "I'm gonna pass on this" but immediately went into an expletive-filled rant. SHUTTERED: Hot Houston restaurant closes down after Super Bowl See the full email above, which includes expletives and racial stereotypes. "It was extremely shocking. We sent them a couple of music links. A simple, 'No' would have sufficed," Brown said Tuesday afternoon. Brown, who is white, blasted the response on Twitter. The venue doubled down on the comments, claiming they were quoting his song lyrics back to him. "Boycott away," reads a second tweet. "We do not host misogynistic music that worships rape culture and harbors hatred." Though the emails came from Fitzgerald, she says the tweets came from one of her assistants. Fitzgerald says she was just repeating words she heard in the lyrics. "It flew in my face. I said, 'I don't want to book this.' I put in quotes all the words. I used the n-word because that was used frequently in the song. I don't want to book that kind of music. I was saying it because I find it sexist and racist. That's just my opinion," she says. "It came across as I was making a general, sweeping statement about their music, which is kind of interesting. Are they racist because they used the racial slur 20 times? "The feminist in me just came out. It's not right to say anything bad about black men, but you can say bad things about women? I'm tired of being called 'bitch' and 'ho.' Why is every woman in their song called that?" Fitzgerald also took aim at hip-hop fans in the email, a point which angered many: "300 fans that buy little, tip little and create big disharmony no thanks." "They blatantly stereotype a whole group of music fans. I've been to so many hip-hop shows there with no problem," Brown said. CONCERT: John Legend sets Woodlands show Brown, as Trakksounds is an in-demand producer and DJ who has worked with, among others, Bun B, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Jhene Aiko, Chamillionaire, Devin The Dude, Kirko Bangz, Scarface, Cam'Ron and Nipsey Hussle. His latest project, featuring Scarface, Starlito and The Suffers' Kam Franklin, premiered Monday on XXL. Fall out from Fitzgerald's response has been swift, with the emails and tweets drawing condemnation from many Houston musicians, including Fat Tony, Franklin, Roosh Williams and Kyle Hubbard. Comedian and actor Hannibal Buress, who performed Friday at Fitzgerald's, tweeted, "Yeesh. Just worked at this spot on Friday. Never again though." Former wrestler and Houston mayor hopeful Booker T. Huffman also weighed in on Twitter: "Comments made by @FitzgeraldsLive were totally inappropriate. Stereotyping a group of people based on their choice of music is WRONG!" Margin Walker and The Secret Group, a pair of live-music promotion companies, tweeted that they would no longer be booking shows at Fitzgerald's. Fitzgerald maintains that her venue has "probably had more international diversity than any club in Houston" and has welcomed many rap and hip-hop acts. "I shouldn't have said it. I should have just said, 'No thanks. I'll pass.' I'm probably one of the few clubs that even books the music. I get lots of calls because I do allow it to play here. But I don't know how to reconcile that," she said. "I was told not to say those words, and then they get up and say the words, and if you say something about it, then you're a racist. The whole genre is racist. Fitzgerald said she was still reeling from an earlier rap show. The most recent at the venue was a Jan. 27 bill featuring rappers Kay Jay and Devin the Dude. "I asked them to turn it down. They threatened me. They called me a racist bitch because I asked them to turn it down for the neighbors. It's 1:30 in the morning on a weekday and they were yelling at me. I felt kind of threatened," Fitzgerald said. "I would say the same to anybody else. You just can't say it to the black kids or they're going to be mad at you. One of them lit up a joint at the damn bar. My manager told him to take it outside. He told her he was going to shoot her. "I'm 70. I want them to pull their pants up and quit grabbing their crotch while they sing. I would say the same to my son. It's not a color issue. White kids do it, too." A second, previously unseen email from Fitzgerald to Brown sent after the emails went viral did little to minimize the damage. ADORABLE: DJ Khaled Snapchats with cute kid after Super Bowl "Why not have your artist play at your church? See if your mother likes that language. I see you started a blast against me on the net. Now who's aggressive?" it reads. "I get insulted when men submit music to me that refers to women as bitches and hoes, just like you would get insulted if a white man sent you music calling black men racial slurs. Your music plays into all stereotypes...gangsters, drugs, women hating, racial slurs, etc." Despite the backlash, Fitzgerald did not back down from her original statements. And also took aim at the genre as a whole. "I made the mistake of saying something. I never dreamed the guy would do that. Ultimately, he's going to sell a lot of records. Maybe I should book him now. Now he's going to get a lot of publicity out of this. He should thank me," she said. "Unfortunately, a lot of kids are doing rap because you don't have to learn an instrument and you don't have to learn to sing. You can just get up and say the same 15 nasty words over and over to the same tune, and there it is. "Ten (songs) in a row, that makes you want to shoot yourself." >>>Scroll through the gallery above to see the tweets and emails exchanged about Fitzgerald's The Lone Star Flight Museum named four new members to its Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Tuesday - including a former president and a 100-year-old Air Force squadron. At the same time, the museum offered a hard-hat tour of its new 130,000-square-foot building, which is scheduled to open later this year. The new hall-of-famers are: President George W. Bush Bush trained as an Air Force pilot in 1968 and '69 at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, then was stationed at Houston's Ellington Field, where he flew F-102 fighters with the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. He went on to become governor of Texas and, in 2001, president of the United States. He joins his father, George H.W. Bush, and Dwight D. Eisenhower in the hall of fame. Major General Benjamin D. Foulois (1879-1967) Foulois learned to fly in 1910 when he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, then established one of the first military airfields nearby, at what is now Kelly Field Annex. He helped evaluate the first military planes that were purchased from the Wright brothers, and in 1911 he was the first to fly 100 miles nonstop - one of several firsts in his career. Foulois was Chief of the Air Service during World War I and retired as a Major General in 1935. Albert W. "Al" Mooney (1906-1986) A self-taught aircraft designer, Mooney founded Kerrville's Mooney Aircraft Company in 1929. The company exists today, and current Mooney aircraft, famous for their speed, owe a lot to Mooney's original designs. Later, as chief engineer for the Alexander Company, he designed the Bullet, a high-speed aircraft with patented retractable landing gear. Mooney ended his career at Lockheed, where his designs eventually became the Lockheed JetStar, a business jet. The 111th Aero Squadron Now known as the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron, this is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard 147th Reconnaissance Wing based at Ellington Field. It was established in 1917 at San Antonio's Kelly Field, then reformed in 1923 as the 111th Observation Squadron. During World War II, the unit went to North Africa, Sicily and France as the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, then was deployed to Japan during the Korean War. After the Korean War, the unit returned to Ellington Field as the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. But its glory days kept coming: After Operation Iraqi Freedom, the unit was renamed the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron. The second oldest squadron in the U.S. Air Force, it celebrates its centennial this year. The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame was established in 1997; every year, it honors famous aviators who are Texans and famous Texans who are aviators. Hall-of-famers include Howard Hughes, astronauts Alan Bean and Gene Cernan, Lloyd Bentsen, Tom Landry and the Doolittle Raiders from World War II. This year's four hall-of-famers were selected from more than 60 nominees by a panel of aviation historians and experts. They'll be inducted May 20 at the museum's "Taking Flight" gala. Also Tuesday, the museum offered a tour of its new $38 million facility at Ellington Airport, which is still under construction but is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend. The new museum will house the Hall of Fame, the museum's aviation history displays, and a slate of new interactive exhibits that explore the science of flight. When it comes to bucket-list adventures, swimming with sharks is near the top for a lot of adrenaline junkies. Many of the adventures on the list require scuba diving, but at some locations, even non-divers with a desire to get up close and personal with the top of the food chain can jump in and face their fears. 1. Bahamas, Bahamas, and more in the Bahamas! I don't want to scare the non-shark lovers away from the beauty of the Bahamas, but there are sharks out there. From least scary to the most, here's where to get your Bahamian shark fix. Compass Cay Marina is home to a large number of well-fed, friendly nurse sharks. In case you don't know it, nurse sharks are more like a giant catfish than a great white. You can walk right into the shallow water near the fish cleaning station and pet these gentle guys. Stuart Cove's in Nassau has been doing shark dives safely for decades. Caribbean reef sharks feed on fish-on-a-stick as divers kneel in the sand in awe. Reef sharks are some of the least aggressive species of shark. (Forget about what you saw on Shark Week.) As your fear subsides and you crave more sharks and more excitement, check out the folks at Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures in Fort Lauderdale. They operate live-aboard dive boats with regularly scheduled shark trips in the Bahamas. Expect to see tigers and hammerheads, as well as the Caribbean reef sharks. 2. Hawaii There are several shark species in the Pacific waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Sightings of tigers, hammerheads, blues, and even great whites are not all that uncommon. And while divers can expect to see these guys almost anywhere while diving in Hawaii, the Oahu's North Shore is the place to be for cage diving. Hawaii Shark Encounters takes shark education seriously and strives to educate customers about the need for shark conservation while providing them with a thrilling swim with sharks inside the safety of a cage. No diving skills are required - just bring your courage. 3. Fiji Scuba diving in Fiji is a definite bucket list adventure for many divers. And the fish many hope to see most is shark. Beqa Adventure Divers can make that happen for you. Sharks are protected in the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, so no worries about questionable practices. This is an uncaged dive, but per the company's website, it is a carefully managed feed, where participants observe, but do not interact with the sharks. 4. Guadalupe Island, Mexico Home to a large population of great whites, the waters off the Mexico's Baja coast attract divers willing to brave cold Pacific waters for some time in a cage watching the top fish of the ocean. Nautilus Live Aboards operates six-day adventures from July to November utilizing submersible cages that descend to 30 feet for a better opportunity to observe the sharks. You meet the expedition in San Diego, motor to Ensenada, cruise to Guadalupe, then spend three full days in the cages watching the predators. Non-divers are allowed, as air is supplied by hoses attached to the boat, but a minimum of a Discover Scuba course is recommended. TravelPulse is a leading travel authority on the Web, providing consumer travel news and insider tips and advice. Read more stories at travelpulse.com Jim Ray hears the question all the time, ever since he took his job three years ago: What does Alzheimer's have to do with cancer? Ray, who came to MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2013 with an extensive background in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, leads a team of researchers, in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who are seeking to develop gene therapies to treat Alzheimer's, the neurodegenerative disease that afflicts more than 5 million, mostly elderly Americans. Ray acknowledges that MD Anderson, the world's leading cancer hospital, seems an odd place for such work. "But there's actually some interesting links between cancer and Alzheimer's," said Ray, noting that cancer survivors are less likely to get Alzheimer's, and elderly Alzheimer's patients are less likely to have had cancer. "With cancer, you have cells you can't kill. With Alzheimer's, you have cells you can't keep alive. So you can see, scientifically, how they maybe have some common elements that are worth exploring." The unusual partnership, initially funded through a $25 million donation by the Belfer Family Foundation, links top neurodegenerative disease researchers at Baylor and MIT with MD Anderson's drug discovery team, leveraging lessons learned in the fight against cancer to tackle a disease with no meaningful therapeutic treatments. The arrangement gives the MD Anderson drug developers early access to Baylor and MIT research findings, Ray said, giving them a jumpstart on turning those scientific discoveries into actual treatments. "It typically takes 15 to 20 years for a new idea to reach patients," Ray said. "We're trying to cut down that time by having the drug development team intimately involved from the beginning." The team, known as the Neurodegeneration Consortium, has developed a therapeutic treatment they think could potentially slow the loss of brain cells in Alzheimer's patients and, in theory, give them a few extra years of normal brain function, Ray said. The treatment is based on research led by Dr. Huda Zoghbi, a professor at Baylor and leading neurodegenerative disease researcher. The treatment has shown promise in animal models, Ray said, and while the team hopes to test it in a clinical trial within the next year, he cautions against drawing conclusions: Billions of dollars have been spent and little progress made in understanding and treating the memory-robbing disease, the nation's sixth leading cause of death. Decades of research have not produced a single drug that even slows its progression. The science is complicated Ray said, but he explains their potential treatment like this: "It turns out that brain cells don't just die, they commit suicide. When they are injured or challenged in a way they can never recover from, a genetic program allows them to commit suicide, that way you don't have injured brain cells jamming things up. But we think in Alzheimer's, that process has gone to the extreme. It's happening too quickly, and we believe there are specific genes in that process, and manipulating these genes can slow that down." Free discussions TARGETING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND CARE INSIGHTS Wednesday February 8 6 - 8 p.m. Belmont Village Hunters Creek 7667 Woodway Drive Houston, Texas 77063 Call 713-781-1505 to reserve your spot. ____ Thursday February 9 6 - 8 p.m. Belmont Village Hunters Creek 7667 Woodway Drive Houston, Texas 77063 Call 713-781-1505 to reserve your spot. See More Collapse Ray is traveling to a pair of senior communities in Houston Wednesday and Thursday to brief Alzheimer's patients and caregivers about the goals of the consortium. He doesn't want to give anyone false hope, but he also wants to raise awareness about the work his team is doing. Not many people realize MD Anderson is in the Alzheimer's business, he said. "There is nothing quite like this," Ray said. "There are other places that do drug discoveries, but this is a level of integration and collaboration that is unique, and potentially transformational, I think." The free discussions will be held Wednesday and Thursday evenings at two Belmont Village communities. Details can be found HERE and HERE. The events are free and open to the public, but space is limited. Participants are encouraged to RSVP. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Pearland mother whose son was murdered in 2010 confronted House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi over sanctuary cities last week, during a Pelosi town hall broadcast on CNN. Since 18-year-old Josh Wilkerson was killed by a Belize national in 2010, Pearland resident Laura Wilkerson has campaigned for more stringent immigration laws, even appearing in a Donald Trump ad on the topic during the 2016 presidential campaign. "In 2010, one of the illegals slaughtered my son," Wilkerson told Pelosi. "He tortured him; he beat him; he tied him up like an animal, and he set him on fire." She referred to the border as a lawless region. DETAILED CONFESSION: Hermilo Moralez testifies in court on Wilkerson murder Hermilo Moralez, who was 19 at the time of the murder, is serving a life sentence after he admitted to the killing and was convicted in February 2013. During his trial, Moralez testified that he beat Wilkerson to death at Moralez' home after the two had an argument. Following his arrest, Moralez was first declared unfit to stand trial and was placed in a state mental hospital for schizophrenia. He was declared competent in 2012. Wilkerson told Pelosi she believes sanctuary cities reward those who disavow the law. "If you need to go home tonight and line up your babies and your grandbabies, which one of them could you look in their eyes today and tell them they're expendable for another foreign person to have a nicer life?" FROM HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Trump reignites debate over sanctuary cities Pelosi responded that a sanctuary city's purpose is not to protect criminals. "In our sanctuary cities, our people are not disobeying the law," she said. "These are law-abiding citizens. It enables them to be there without being reported to (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in case of another crime that they might bear witness to." "The point is that you do not turn law enforcement officers into immigration officers," Pelosi said. "That is really what the point is in a sanctuary city." Pelosi said she believes an immigrant in the United States illegally should be deported if that person commits a crime. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON In a reminder of what could have been, presidential also-rans Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders went head-to-head Tuesday night in a nationally televised debate on Obamacare, mauling each other over a law that President Donald Trump has vowed to end. The match-up between the conservative Republican and liberal Democratic runners-up was the ideological clash many of the party faithful on each side would have liked to see in the 2016 general election, but didn't. For Cruz, the CNN debate also represented his most significant return to the national stage since his disastrous speech last July at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where he was booed for failing to explicitly endorse the GOP nominee. But in a sign that the U.S. senator from Texas is not fading away, he was booked to represent the "repeal" side of the argument over former President Barack Obama's namesake health care overhaul. Sanders, the self-described "democratic socialist" U.S. senator from Vermont, advocated for preserving the law that has extended coverage to some 20 million Americans. As producers of the 90 minute debate might have hoped, there were sparks before a live audience at George Washington University. "Bernie and the Democrats want government to control health care," Cruz said. "I trust you, and I trust your doctors." Sanders' rebuttal: "When Ted talks about choice, here's your choice: You got cancer, you go to your doctor and the insurance company says we're not going to cover it. We can't make money on you." While Cruz cited the rising premiums and lessening choices under Obamacare, Sanders pointed to the millions of working class people who would lose coverage if the law was repealed. "That's rationing," he said. To a woman with breast cancer who said Obamacare had saved her life, Cruz assured her that all the Republicans replacement plans now under consideration would prohibit insurance companies from cancelling insurance for people who are sick. "All of them protect people in your situation," he said. Sanders argued that there's a loophole in that GOP's promise of continuous coverage. "You're a good lawyer and you use words well," Sanders said. But, he noted, the promise not to "cancel" does not guarantee coverage to those who don't already have insurance. Sanders also said the Cruz's assurances ran counter to the rhetoric of his presidential campaign, where he often vowed to repeal "every word of Obamacare." "I said hundreds of times on the campaign trail, 'Yes, we should repeal every word of Obamacare,'" Cruz said. "But if you listen to the next sentence, I always said we're not done yet with health care reform." Although the debate was cast in terms of whether or not to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, it came at a time of increasing uncertainty in Congress about fulfilling one of Trump's key campaign promises. While some, like Cruz, have pressed for immediate repeal, Trump and some Republican leaders have suggested that overturning the law should wait on a replacement plan that would not disrupt the health insurance market and leave millions of Americans uninsured. In an interview Sunday with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, Trump appeared to quash any notion of a quick replacement to the law, saying "maybe it'll take till sometime into next year." "I would like to say by the end of the year, at least the rudiments," Trump added, "but we should have something within the year and the following year." Meanwhile, two of the top Republicans in Texas said this week they are working on a much faster time frame at least for the repeal effort. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady of The Woodlands said he expects to begin moving repeal legislation by the end of March. Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, has said that under the fast-track process called reconciliation repeal legislation could come up "hopefully in the next 30 days or so." But he has also suggested that the replacement could be a step-by-step process, rather than "one piece of legislation." Democrats have questioned whether the Trump administration actually has a well-formed replacement plan in place, something that Trump was said would have to occur "essentially simultaneously" with repeal. "The truth is Republicans are absolutely in a panic," Sanders said. Given some of the more popular aspects of the current law, particularly the guarantee of health coverage regardless of pre-existing medical conditions, some in Congress also have begun to talk about "repairing" the law, rather than the sort of full repeal advocated by Cruz and others. But for Cruz and other lawmakers facing voters in 2018, the issue should be settled sooner rather than later. "Everyone agrees there is an urgency to the promises we made," he said. "Should Congress move swiftly to repeal Obamacare? Absolutely." GALVESTON - A passenger died and the pilot and another passenger were rescued by a good Samaritan after a helicopter crashed into West Galveston Bay, Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said Tuesday. The names of the pilot and passengers were not immediately available. Arnold Scott, National Transportation Safety Board investigator, said the survivors were still hospitalized late Tuesday and were undergoing surgery. The owner of the helicopter, Republic Helicopters Inc. of Santa Fe, issued a statement saying, "the outlook remains positive," for the survivors. The helicopter was returning from a oil-cargo survey of the Eagle Vancouver, a 1,092-foot oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico, said Scott Smith, Republic saftey officer. Two surveyors had hired the helicopter to land them on the tanker so they could check the quality of the oil, Smith said. The helicopter made its last radio contact with the company at 7:15 p.m. Monday, said Smith said. Attempts later to reach the aircraft were unsuccessful and the company put its "lost communications procedure" into action and contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, Smith said. The crash is the first of a Republic-owned aircraft, he said. Sgt. Richard Standifer, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman, said, "It was foggy, so that may have played a role in the ability to navigate the helicopter." The Coast Guard also failed to make radio contact and began a rescue operation, dispatching a helicopter and a search boat, said Andy Kendrick, Coast Guard petty officer. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Eric Weiss said the helicopter crashed about 8 miles west of Scholes International Airport in Galveston.Trochesset said the search operations were initially hampered by fog and that wreckage was discovered about 9:40 p.m. by Sean Welsh, 52, the county building inspector, and his son, Micky Welsh, 17, who were on the bay in their private boat. Welsh said an acquaintance notified him by phone about the crash. Welsh and his son took their 21-foot boat into the bay and began a search pattern. He sighted the two crash survivors clinging to a fragment of the wreckage barely poking above the water. Welsh pulled the two survivors into his boat. "They were cold and wet and beat up," Welsh said. He phoned a friend, who called the sheriff's office. When they arrived at the dock, an ambulance was waiting to take the survivors to the University of Texas Medical Branch. Sgt. Louie Trochesset, the head of the sheriff's marine division, was also waiting for Welsh. Louie Trochesset returned to the wreck with Welsh, where they received a call from a Coast Guard helicopter that the crew had spotted a body floating near the wreckage. They retrieved the body about 500 yards from the crash site, Henry Trochesset said. The rule of law. That's what Lubbock Republican state Sen. Charles Perry says is at the root of his bill to force Texas law enforcement to comply with an optional federal immigration provision and punish them financially if they don't. You'd think Texas' big-city police chiefs would know a thing or two about the rule of law. They've risked their lives to uphold it, and they send officers out every day to do the same. The consensus among those chiefs - including Houston's Art Acevedo - is that they don't want this bill. They say it's costly and corrosive to community relations. They say it's unnecessary and burdensome. They say, contrary to supporters' assertions, it will actually make their communities less safe. On the national level, law enforcement groups have responded similarly to President Trump's threats of cutting federal funding to 300 jurisdictions deemed to not cooperate fully with immigrant detainers issued by federal officials. Now, my dear readers, put your own ideologies aside for a minute and tell me: who do you trust more with your safety? The highest-ranking law enforcement officers in Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth and El Paso, along with the sheriffs of the two largest counties, to name a few? Or an accountant from Lubbock? I could argue, as I did years earlier when so-called "sanctuary cities" legislation was proposed, that there are no true sanctuary cities in Texas. The term was originally intended for jurisdictions that offered refuge to those here illegally by refusing to cooperate at all with federal immigration authorities. To my knowledge, no jurisdiction in Texas is doing that or violating federal law. Even Travis County, which has drawn the ire and threats of Gov. Greg Abbott, simply chose not to comply with optional immigration detainers in cases involving less serious crimes. Optional is the operative word, and federal courts across the nation have affirmed the right to opt out. I haven't heard any Texas police chief or sheriff refuse to arrest or detain undocumented immigrants with pending federal criminal charges. I haven't heard any of them say they're going to stop honoring detainers in cases involving serious crimes, such as murder, rape and assault. Worsen 'current climate' I could argue that Perry's bill will do more harm than good, allowing officers to ask anyone in lawful detention - that includes a traffic stop - whether they're here illegally and even where they were born. Now, as clarified by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, in a debate Tuesday, a driver is not required to answer that question. But, she added, "We all know that may affect the way the officers think of you." Let's get back to Chief Acevedo and a letter he sent to senators on Feb. 1. For the chief, whose department responds to 1.2 million calls a year, it's about priorities. He argues the bill prohibits local departments from determining the needs of its community and making the best use of limited resources. Acevedo wrote that his department works closely with federal agencies to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling, but his agency doesn't have the manpower or the money to add immigration status to its responsibilities. "What I do not want my officers doing is inquiring about the immigration status of every person they come in contact with, or worse, only inquiring about the immigration status of persons based on their appearance," he wrote. That would only worsen the "current climate of distrust of law enforcement," he wrote, and it could discourage immigrants - here legally and illegally - from reporting crimes, aiding with investigations or seeking help. He said the bill puts heavy burdens on law enforcement agencies, without added funding for increased investigation, record-keeping and detention. The Houston Police Department, Acevedo said, gets about $3 million in state grants per year. Threatening to take away that money - used to combat property and violent crime - "would do nothing to make our local community safer." Creating worries I should note that the Houston Police Officers' Union, represented by Executive Director Mark Clark, was neutral on the bill but offered nuanced suggestions: requiring officers to fully cooperate "when available" and not financially penalizing departments unless they "intentionally and knowingly" refused to cooperate. The bill's supporters point out that it makes exceptions for witnesses and victims, so they need not fear going to authorities. It also exempts law enforcement at schools and hospitals. "The people who need to worry are the people committing crimes, not the people who are living here peacefully," said Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound. I'm sure the good senator is sincere. But the people committing crimes already have plenty to worry about under Texas law. What this bill does is create new worries for immigrant families and for Texas law enforcement, who frankly, have scarier things to worry about. This bill makes good political sense for Republicans in a country where national security fears dominate campaigns and comprehensive immigration reforms that could actually fix root problems are a bygone, bipartisan dream. It makes sense for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Republican leader of the Senate, who has made "sanctuary cities" an issue for years, despite consistent opposition from the law enforcement community he passionately claims to support and respect. Does this bill make sense for taxpayers? For our police officers? For communities that must work together to stop crime? For the rule of law? I don't care what the politicians say. I trust the experts. And they say no. China still maintains its position that the Dalai Lama is part of a larger separatist group that aims to foster division in China. (Photo : Getty Images) The University of California San Diego (UCSD)s invitation to the 14th Dalai Lama to address graduating students at the commencement in June was met by angry online protests by Chinese students. One Chinese student said in a Facebook post, I am disappointed with the fact that our school invites a political figure while ignoring the controversy behind him. Advertisement The Dalai Lama is a separatist who wants to split Tibet from China. He fled into exile in Indian in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. According to the Global Times, the West has long mystified and romanticized Tibet, and has made the Dalai Lama into a Nelson Mandela-like figure. Allegedly, the Dalai Lama is being used by the West to create trouble for China. The former denied initiating violence and said he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, Reuters reported. The storyline of historical events in Tibet in Western textbooks differs greatly from the truth of Tibet. Nonetheless, it is not easy to correct Western misconceptions about the region, the Global Times added. U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the newly appointed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he would continue to encourage dialogue between Beijing and representatives of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Dalai Lama, but was met by yet another opposition by the Chinese government. It is impossible for the Chinese government to have a dialogue with the illegal group that is aiming to split China, and Tillersons remarks show he is a complete amateur on Tibet-related questions, said Zhu Weiqun, head of ethnic and religious affairs committee of the top advisory boy to Chinas parliament. Meanwhile, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at UCSD has already filed a complaint to the university. They also reached out to the Chinese consulate general in Los Angeles. The association hopes that the US and its institutions like the UCSD learn Chinese history first to better bilateral relations instead of pointedly working at odds with Chinas concerns. UCSD is a top Western academic institution, being one of the top 15 research universities in the world. It is recognized for its contributions to the public good. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Texas Wildlife Show More Show Less Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care put down less than 9 percent of the animals it took in over the last three months, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday, a milestone for the once-troubled shelter that euthanized four of every five animals as recently as 2005. The city animal shelter's 91.5 percent live-release rate puts it on pace to become a "no kill shelter," typically defined as a shelter where more than 90 percent of animals leave alive throughout the year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN - President Donald Trump offered to "destroy" the career of a Texas state senator pitching a civil asset forfeiture bill, sparking a legislative resolution asking the president to back off Tuesday. The spat came about after Rockwall Sheriff Harold Eavenson told the president Tuesday about a lawmaker's plan to require a conviction before law enforcement can seize cash and property believed to have been used in the commission of a crime. "We've got a state senator in Texas that was talking about introducing legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money. And I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed," Eavenson told the president in the Roosevelt Room of the White House alongside fellow representatives from the National Sheriff's Association. "Can you believe that," Trump said as the sheriff explained. "Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name? We'll destroy his career." The White House later said the president was joking and the sheriff said he was trying to make a point about "the lack of logic" behind changing the asset forfeiture laws. However, the episode quickly sparked a scramble to figure out who the unnamed legislator was and led to the drafting of a resolution on the floor of the Texas Senate condemning the president's remarks. Eavenson declined to name the senator during his meeting with Trump, or in later phone interviews with reporters. Three senators have pending bills on civil forfeiture: Konni Burton, R-Fort Worth; Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Don Huffines, R-Dallas. Eavenson identified the senator as male. Hinojosa and aides to Huffines said they were not the ones. "I don't pay any attention, really to things like that, what (Trump) says," Hinojosa said. "I don't think it's me, but it really doesn't make any difference." Sen. Bob Hall, an Edgewood Republican whose district includes Rockwall County, had in the past supported the change to require a conviction before civil forfeitures become official and had indicated to Senate leaders he may file a bill like that this session. To date, Senate bill records show he has not filed such a bill so far. Hall shrugged off suggestions that Eavanson, whom he said he knows well, was referring to him. Instead, he insisted to reporters that it could be any one of the 31 Texas senators. "I couldn't care less," he said. Nonetheless, soon after news of Trump's comments filtered across the Senate floor Tuesday, as the upper chamber was debating an ethics reform bill and a controversial ban on so-called "sanctuary cities," other senators - Republicans and Democrats - expressed outrage at Trump's comment. By evening, Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, was circulating a resolution demanding Trump adhere to "the civility and decorum that are essential to a functioning democracy." Seven senators, all Democrats, had signed on to sponsor the resolution. "When the President of the United States threatens any member of the Texas Senate, it must be considered a threat to all Texas Senators," the resolution reads. Menendez said he does not intend to file the resolution, or seek a vote on it, unless he can get enough signatures to pass it - a majority of the 31-member Senate. Even then, its chances appear dicey. That is because Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Senate's presiding officer who decides which resolutions come up for a vote, was Trump's Texas campaign manager and remains a top supporter. Texas civil asset forfeiture laws allow law enforcement authorities to seize property they believe has been used in the commission of a crime prior to an accused person's conviction. In 2013, the Houston Chronicle found a number of government seizure operations went undisclosed or without federal court review. Eavenson, who declined to give up the lawmaker's name, later clarified his statements on Facebook: "My objective was to make a point of the lack of logic to such a position. It was also to make the point public to possibly benefit law enforcement. My personal opinion is that such a bill if were to pass would benefit the cartels and damage law enforcement." Reporter Mike Ward contributed to this story. Travel ban Regarding "Resist Now!" (Page 13, Jan. 30), let's acknowledge the obvious: Yes, the executive order is meant to protect us. But please look further. We have a stringent vetting system. Did intelligence agencies suggest there was an urgency and we needed this over-reaching and probably unconstitutional action? No. Did our president consult with Homeland Security and other departments? No. He could have properly proposed measures to tighten security, if he were so inclined. During his campaign did our president say he'd do this? Yes. Did he call it a "Muslim ban?" Yes, he did. Finally, previous presidents said we are not at war with Islam. Unfortunately, this offensive and un-American act certainly give the opposite impression and will be used as a recruiting tool by our real enemies. Gerald Young, Houston Exceptionalism Regarding "Trump defends Putin, says U.S. not 'innocent' (Page A8, Monday), a large percentage of the people who voted Donald Trump into office are the same people who routinely called President Obama "an America-hater." Obama got this label because he dared to - on occasion - speak honestly about the times when the United States failed to live up to its own ideals. According to his critics, this was proof that Obama did not believe in "American Exceptionalism." Now we have President Trump, who when asked if he had concerns over the fact that Russian president Vladimir Putin is widely viewed as a ruthless killer of his opposition, says "What? You think we're so innocent?" I'm waiting for the outcry from the conservatives in this country. Whereas Obama always took the position that "We're the United States, we should be better than this," Trump's standard appears to be "We're no different from anyone else." I can't recall the notion of "American Exceptionalism" ever taking a bigger hit. David Bradley, Spring We know that when something sounds too good to be true - it generally ends up not being true. I believe this is the case with the current proposed Japanese-backed Texas high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston. Understandably, epic traffic congestion in Houston and Dallas makes the concept of a bullet train very popular in these urban areas. But the fear of eminent-domain abuse in the rural counties between Houston and Dallas feels more like a bullet of a different kind- one aimed at property owners who question whether they are being asked to sell their land under threat of eminent domain to a commercial real estate venture or for the state's master transportation plan for the future. With rumors that President Trump may add high-speed rail in Texas to his priority list of national infrastructure projects, a closer look at this Japanese-backed Dallas to Houston project is very much in order. As a public servant to this great state, I am proud to hold myself and my political colleagues accountable, to urge an adherence to Texas values, and to advocate in the best interests of my fellow Texans. As such, I feel it necessary to call attention to some troubling observations related to the proposed rail project that's being touted by private real estate speculators aligned with Japanese commercial interests who are jointly operating under the names Texas Central Partners, Texas Central Railway (TCR) and Texas Central. Negative consequences You could be excused for not recognizing TCR by name. The just four-year-old self-proclaimed "railroad" company owns nothing in the way of telltale indicators of a real railroad affiliation (e.g., rolling stock, train depots or even tracks), and indeed has no apparent intention of operating the very rails they hope to lay. In fact, TCR's claimed "eminent domain" power as a railroad is very much in question and is now being contested in state court, with trial set for July. There also should be concern over TCR's plan to use only Japanese Shinkansen rail technology. This technology is not compatible with other rail technologies, including all rail systems presently operated in Texas. Reliance on a Japanese monopoly has two serious negative consequences. First, it would hold future generations of Texas rail customers hostage to a monopoly railroad technology with no competitive suppliers to keep operational costs down and passenger fares affordable. Think about this. Would we build an airport with runways that can only handle airplanes manufactured by Airbus to land and take off? Or would we build a highway with lanes that can only handle cars made by Volvo? Or would we allow only one transportation-for-hire ride sharing app in Texas? Of course not. A second negative consequence: Because the Japanese rail technology is incompatible with existing railroad tracks already in Texas cities, TCR's trains will not truly connect to the central city centers of Houston and Dallas and will fall short in TCR's travel time-saving claim because passengers will have to take secondary means of transportation to get to their final destinations, costing them more time and money. Taxpayer's money at risk Additionally, TCR's claim that they will not rely on taxpayer funding is simply disingenuous. Despite TCR's carefully nuanced claim of no tax funding for its "operations," we have now learned that federal taxpayer dollars could be at risk in financing TCR's proposed $11 billion dollar "construction costs." In fact, Tim Keith, president and former CEO of TCR, recently qualified TCR's earlier no taxpayer exposure claim by stating that TCR may in fact seek federal loan guarantees (like RRIF and TIFIA) to help finance its "construction debt" for the project. As for the costs of passenger rail operations, it is common knowledge that substantial public funding has been necessary across the world to build and operate most conventional and high-speed passenger rail infrastructures. Subsequently, tax money ends up subsidizing such passenger rail services. For TCR to say it will do better on the operational side of the proposed service is admirable, but as TCR currently has no previous railroad experience, this is an extremely ambitious and unproven claim. If interregional high-speed passenger rail is to be a part of Texas' future transportation solution, then we need to slow down. We also need to involve the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure we have a master passenger rail plan that protects urban and rural private property owner rights and guarantees transparency of all tax dollar expenditures and/or loans (federal, state and local), and we must guard against monopoly control of our state's future interregional passenger rail infrastructure and operations. Keeping Texans and our Texas economy moving is critical. But just as we tell our children and grandchildren to look both ways before crossing the street, our state needs to take a closer look before boarding future trains. Cook, a Republican, represents Corsicana in the Texas House of Representatives. A Missouri lawmaker who is proposing eliminating tenure for professors at all of the states two- and four-year public colleges and universities says tenure is an outdated system that is no longer needed to protect teachers from being unjustly fired. Rep. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, said eliminating tenure would save public money, give schools more flexibility and bring higher education in line with other industries, The Kansas City Star reported (http://bit.ly/2jHqNyW ). Brattin, a military veteran who owns a Cass County construction company, said his bill would end tenure-track hiring in 2018 but would not take tenure from those who have already earned it. To earn tenure, associate professors must publish several research articles and have a history of successful teaching over a probationary period that can last seven years. The bill would also require public colleges to publish estimated costs of degrees, employment opportunities expected for graduates, average salaries of previous graduates, and a summary of the job market for a specific degree. Opponents contend ending tenure would cause teachers to leave Missouri and put the state at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting professors and researchers. Should this ill-conceived bill become law in Missouri, it will immediately become extremely difficult to attract talented faculty members and to retain good faculty, said Gary Ebersole, a tenured professor of history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ben Trachtenberg, an associate law professor at the University of Missouri, where he chairs the Columbia campus Faculty Council on University Policy, agreed. I think an economist would suggest that if there are two jobs that pay the same, and one has much more job security, thats the one thats going to be more exciting to prospective employees, Trachtenberg said. Brattin said hes heard those arguments before, but he believes other laws protect teachers from being unjustly removed. Also, he contends ending tenure would let college administrators end low-enrollment academic programs and eliminate high-paid professors who teach courses students arent interested in. Tenure also means professors couldnt be forced to retire. The American higher education system is the only place in the world that does this, he said. We need to ensure people are worth the salt they are being paid. Tenure became policy at nearly every U.S. college and university by the late 1950s and early 1960s, said Hans-Joerg Tiede, a senior program officer in the Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure and Governance for the American Association of University Professors. He said it was established to protect academic freedom and defend open research or teaching on controversial subject matter without fear of retribution. KANSAS CITY STAR An online exclusive is an article or story that does not run in the print edition of the Houston Herald. Typically 2-3 are posted online every Wednesday morning. Its another feature designed for users who purchase full web access from the Herald. Click here to subscribe for print, digital or both. Weve got the breakdown on every The Predator update you need to know. (Photo : YouTube/Hybrid Network) "The Predator" 2018 movie is beefing up its cast list with a slew of stellar actors. The cast has grown immensely since the project was announced, with Jacob Tremblay ("Room"), Olivia Munn ("X-Men Apocalypse"), and Sterling K. Brown ("This Is Us") among the many that have been confirmed for roles. It was also revealed that UFC lightweight champion Connor McGregor was offered the leading role in the film, but turned it down. Advertisement With a UFC title under his belt and multiple endorsements to boot, McGregor is one of the most in-demand stars in present time. While he is confirmed to make his acting debut in "Game of Thrones" Season 7, it was reported that the athlete backed out from other acting gigs including Vin Diesel's action flick "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage." In an interview, as cited by Movie Web, McGregor revealed that he turned down a lot of offers because they didn't pay that much. "The people from Predator who are having this new Predator movie, a blockbuster... They came in and tried to sell the whole s***. 'We want you to be the main guy and you're gonna fight Predator' and I'm like 'This sounds brilliant! How much?' Not enough," McGregor stated. McGregor and the studio tried to negotiate a good deal for the gig, but McGregor ultimately dropped out. He explained that he also considered the heavy filming schedule, which would have him stay in Canada for eight weeks. He also anticipated that his filming schedule would overlap with the expected time his wife would give birth to their son. "The Predator" director Shane Black commented on the issue, saying McGregor was not offered the lead role in the film. On Twitter, Black wrote that McGregor is a "great guy, nice as can be," but was not offered the male lead. He also went on to reiterate that Boyd Holbrook has already been booked for the role. Benecio del Toro was originally cast to play the male lead until he dropped out of the part. Holbrook will play an ex-marine who learns about the existence of aliens, but it has having trouble convincing people to believe him. He will also play the father to Jacob Tremblay's character. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. United States Defense Secretary James Mattis recent remarks on focusing on diplomacy instead of military action when dealing with China gained praises from China. (Photo : Getty Images) United States Defense Secretary, James Mattis recent remarks on focusing on diplomacy instead of military action when dealing with China gained praises from China, according to a report by Reuters. Advertisement Although Mattis mentioned that China caused mistrust among neighboring countries within the area of the South China Sea, he stated that U.S. military action will not be considered in confronting Chinas increasingly assertive behavior. Instead, he said, open lines of communication between the two superpowers will be encouraged. This new comment on U.S. policy in Asia comes amid seemingly belligerent remarks made by other officials in the new Trump Administration. Some had even suggested the possibility of a naval blockade, tantamount to an act of war. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Lu Kang, praised Mattis remark on the need for diplomacy and open dialogue. This accords with the common interests of China and all countries in the region, and we hope that other countries outside of the region can respect the joint interests and wishes of countries within the region, said Lu. Welcome Words, Vague Policy However, other officials in the Trump Administration see Chinas expansive territorial claim differently. In his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson criticized Chinas assertions and said that the country should not be allowed access to artificially built islands. In a similar fashion, the White House also vowed to uphold international territories that are beyond any one countrys jurisdiction. Washington and its officials have yet to achieve a unified stance on the issue. A glimpse of Chinas response to an aggressive U.S. policy in Asia can be seen in pronouncements by state-run news agencies. After Tillersons statements, Chinese state media reacted by saying that the U.S. would need to wage war to prevent China from accessing its artificially constructed islands. The Trump Administrations approach towards China will be closely observed by analysts, as new statements from officials shed more light on the official policy. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Dealing with an organizational ethics breach is never a pleasant task for Chief Ethics and Compliance Officers (CECOs). However, when a CECO comes unprepared to handle an ethics breach, the incident only becomes more difficult to tame. In todays fast-paced business environment, its vital that CECOs approach an ethics breach with a strategy in place. While a prevention plan is a great way to lay the strategys foundation, CECOs need to delve into each level of the incident. Handling the ethics breach itself isnt the strategys only priority. It also must be able to rebuild corporate culture and improve organizational transparency in the future. When the strategy is in place before a breach, a well-thought-out plan is in reach rather than making rushed decisions. Pre-Breach Tasks Establishing controls and training programs are usually at the forefront of a CECOs concerns. While these elements play a crucial role in any prevention plan, a preferred course of action for what happens post-incident also requires attention. How well an organization recovers from an ethics breach depends on the CECOs level of involvement and engagement. Here are some examples of pre-incident activities that determine the effectiveness of post-incident strategy: Understand and be actively involved in the organizations business, corporate culture, and risk tolerance. CECOs are not included in important operations discussion... Undoubtedly, designating some of the inevitable routine tasks to technology can alleviate your burden to a great extent. When it comes to automating your core HR processes including that of benefits administration, then it can substantially minimize the headaches of your HR and benefits administrators. Though, the benefits of utilizing Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) & Benefits solution are discussed a lot many times, the rising complexity in complying with the Health Care Reform and effectively carrying out the process of open enrollments makes it more important to realize the merits of having an automated system. Here are the critical aspects: Administering Employee Accounts With an all-automated system in hand, businesses can easily streamline their employee benefits administration process. Whenever a new employee is on-boarded, he/she is automatically enrolled in the system and given their individual accounts. The employees are also given a self-service portal where they can manage their benefits, leaves and other related tasks. They can enter/update their details for the current coverage throughout the year, reducing the chances of any errors, like in case the details are filled by someone else. This kind of system minimizes the need of manpower to handle benefits administration, saving an organizations time, money and resources. Amending The Changes Whenever a new employee is hired, he/she must be enrolled in the system to provide b... The ongoing national discussion after the recent Supreme Court ruling has filled the internet with passionate opinions from both sides. However, its clear that marriage equality has a connection to the topic of workforce diversity and inclusion, something thats top-of-mind for many of todays most successful companies. Within the context of the workplace, these companies understand that the issue is not just a social one. It also affects business. Support from the Big Brands The most visible support for the SCOTUS ruling appeared last weekend, as numerous high-profile companies, including VISA, Macys, Kelloggs, Google, Levis and many others shared creative and emotional social media messages. For anyone wondering if these companies would back up these tweets and posts with actual policies, it turns out they already have. According to the most recent data from the Human Rights Campaign, 89 percent of the companies in the Fortune 500 prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and 66 percent provide domestic partner health insurance benefits to their employees. Even more interesting, the higher a company ranks on Fortunes list, the more likely it is to provide comprehensive protections and benefits to LGBT employees. Diversity + Acceptance = Engagement Looking at diversity in a broad sense, there is evidence that it improves employee engagement. For example, the culture management company, Roundpegg, s... iwi toilet-cleaning company has been hit with a five-figure fine after one of its employees was hospitalised with Hepatitis B.Initial Hygiene, part of Rentokill Initial Limited, was fined $29,250 by Palmerston North District Court after it failed to ensure an employee was vaccinated against the deadly disease.The firm claimed it was company policy to test candidates for Hepatitis B immunity and offer them vaccination if they at risk but evidence shown in court suggested the practice was not upheld.In fact, after the victim raised the issue of Hepatitis B with a manager, he was told that testing for immunity was not required but if the employee was concerned he could undergo testing and reclaim the costs through Rentokill's medical insurance policy."Indeed, the meeting minutes disclosed that the manager explained that Hepatitis testing was 'not practised' and that toilets were not bio-hazards due to sanitiser," the decision noted.Despite being regularly exposed to the hazards of blood and body fluids both of which can contain active Hepatitis B the employee was never offered screening or vaccination.Eventually, the worker was hospitalised and diagnosed with acute Hepatitis B infection.While it was accepted that it would be impossible to prove the employee has contracted Hepatitis B at work, Rentokill was still found to be culpable.Judge Lance Rowe took into account the company's previous good safety record and noted that the firm had since reviewed its processes, establishing a register of all Initial Hygiene employees to track Hepatitis B results and immunisation.However, the company had displayed no remorse and initially pleaded not guilty, only changing its plea two weeks before a scheduled trial.As well as the $29,250 fine, Rowe ordered the company to pay $10,000 to the victim as compensation for emotional harm plus $4,998 in lost earnings.[The victim] e is entitled, in my view, to feel aggrieved that he has contracted Hepatitis B in the face of these failures on the part of the defendant, said the decision.Sentencing took place in October but the decision was released earlier this month. Many doubt Chinas commitment to phasing out forced organ harvesting in the country. (Photo : Getty Images) In an effort to convince the international medical community and the Pope that it has stopped executing prisoners as organ donors, China sent a delegate to a Vatican conference, USNews.com reported. Advertisement From January 1, 2015, organ donation from voluntary civilian organ donors have become the only legitimate source of organ transplantations, said Dr. Huang Jefu, Chinas former vice minister of health, in an interview at Chinas embassy to Italy recently. That is the whole story. However, Dr. Huang admitted completely reforming Chinas organ transplant program will take some time. He insisted, however, that there has already been slow but steady progress to outlaw the practice of executing prisoners as organ donors. Dr. Huang has been chosen by Beijing to represent China at the Vatican conference held Feb. 7. He will deliver a speech addressing Chinas organ transplant program reforms and progress amid complaints from human rights groups regarding the controversial practice. In response, the Vatican defended its decision to invite China to the conference. It is also reported that Pope Francis aims to use the event as an avenue to improve ties with Beijing and, in the process, bring Chinas estimated 12 million Catholics in the fold. Without transparency, verification of all alleged reforms is impossible, argued Dr. Torsten Trey, who works as the executive director of Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting. The organization recently called on the Vatican to make China provide legitimate evidence to prove Chinas supposed reforms. There are many more who doubts Chinas commitment in phasing out forced organ harvesting in the country. By its own records, China has the lowest rates of organ donation in the world, but without independent scrutiny, international human rights advocates and critics have a hard time believing Chinas word. Dr. Huang insists that China is right on track, with numbers of voluntary organ donors having increased by 50 percent from 2015 to 2016. And as progress is slow and obstacles are present, China needs the worlds help. Thats why we have come to the Vatican. We have to learn as well as to tell what is happening in China, Dr. Huang said. You've reached your limit - Register for free now for unlimited access To read the full story, just register for free now - GET STARTED HERE Already subscribed? Log in below of New Zealands largest unions has criticised unacceptable delays to equal pay as principles agreed to months ago in the wake of care worker Kristine Bartletts landmark case are still yet to be implemented.There were delays following John Keys resignation and the Kaikoura earthquake, which we accept, said E tus equal pay campaign co-ordinator, Yvette Taylor. But women are always being asked to put other peoples needs first and their own second. Its time they went to the top of the queue.Bartlett successfully argued that TerraNova Homes & Care was underpaying staff because of the high percentage of female employees had the workforce been men, she claimed, they would have received higher wages.Prompted by recommendations following the case, the government has plans to introduce legislation which will make it easier for women to file pay equity claims with their employers, rather than having to go through the courts. It will also help employers address those claims.However, while minister for women Paula Bennett has promised imminent action, shes also suggested legislation wouldnt be passed until after the general election more than seven months away.Its time to treat the women of New Zealand right and make equal pay a government priority, said Taylor. Now is the time to act, not months down the track.While the government has been accused of dragging its feet, it seems Kiwi employers are increasingly picking up the pace and a recent study of New Zealands HR professionals revealed that 97 per cent of companies are working to close the gender pay gap."[The pay gap] has been steadily reducing since 1998 when it was around 16 per cent," said Megan Alexander, general manager of Robert Half , the recruitment firm which conducted the survey."Now it's 12 per cent, so it's encouraging, but companies still have to work to implement these transparent polices, salary audits, keeping abreast of market conditions."The Council of Trade Unions is also renewing its efforts to drive wage equality and today the organisation launched its Treat her Right video and campaign. Today MEPs Martin Hausling (Greens/EFA) and Isabella De Monte (S&D) joined Humane Society International in their call for greater collaboration with regard to animal welfare and investment policy in the European Union. At a European Parliament event entitled Investing in Animal Suffering?, HSI presented a report that revealed how international financial institutions and export credit agencies, which are supported by EU Member States, continue to provide public money to intensive animal farming operations outside the EU that use production systems long prohibited in the EU on the grounds of animal welfare, such as barren battery cages for laying hens. MEPs, representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, farming industry, European Commission and the Austrian government had the opportunity to respond to the findings during a lively panel debate. The panellists acknowledged that although some progress has been made by both international finance institutions and some Member States since HSI first brought this issue to public attention in 2013, coherent policy action is still needed at both EU and Member State level to ensure that investment is restricted to those animal agricultural projects in third countries that meet or exceed the minimum EU animal welfare standards. German Green MEP Martin Hausling noted: It has been over three years since Humane Society International first raised this important issue, yet despite some progress taxpayers money continues to fund agricultural enterprises outside the EU that force sentient animals to live short and miserable lives in cruel confinement systems. The European Commission and all Member States should follow the Austrian Governments lead by issuing clear policy guidelines to ensure that in the future no public funds are invested in agricultural projects that do not meet our own animal welfare standards. It is also crucial to our own farmers that they are operating on a level playing field and do not have to compete with producers from outside the EU who are keeping farm animals under conditions that we have long deemed to be unacceptable. Italian S&D MEP Isabella De Monte said: Animal welfare is an issue that people throughout the EU care about deeply. Last year a Eurobarometer survey revealed that the welfare of farm animals was a matter of great importance for the vast majority of EU citizens. This study showed that nine out of ten people thought that animal products imported to the Union should respect our animal welfare standards and that the EU should also make greater efforts to promote a greater awareness of animal welfare internationally. Ensuring that public funds are not invested in projects elsewhere using cruel confinement systems that we have already banned in the EU would be a good way of meeting our citizens demands. Live in the EU? Ask the European Trade Commissioner to Help Protect animals. Joanna Swabe, Ph.D., executive director for Humane Society International/Europe, said: What is sorely needed is better joined-up thinking on the part of both the Commission and EU Member States to ensure that they do not continue to fund and insure animal agriculture operations in third countries that violate the EUs own animal welfare legislation. It is clear from recent Council discussions that EU Agriculture Ministers are supportive, but they need to ensure that the departments responsible for animal welfare and international finance policy actually start talking to each other and implement measures to make sure that EU policy is applied consistently. Humane Society International salutes the Austria government for already having issued Strategic Guidelines for International Financial Institutions, which included a call for animal husbandry criteria that meet the European standards. We strongly urge more Member States, as well as the Commission, follow suit. As major shareholders of IFIs, including the World Bank Groups International Financial Corporation and a whole host of other development banks, EU Member States must ensure that binding animal welfare standards are adopted that are consistent with EU standards. HSI has praised the EBRD for responding to its original critique by including animal welfare in its Environmental and Social Policy. However, they note that it has proved difficult to ascertain how well their policy of requiring their clients to adopt animal welfare standards equivalent to or exceeding those required in the EU is actually being implemented due to a lack of detailed information on animal housing and husbandry practices. Greater transparency is therefore needed. HSI argues that Member States should compel IFIs and export credit agencies to disclose the indicators of animal welfare, such as stocking density and the type of housing systems, in project summaries. In so doing, it would make it possible to assess whether they are truly living up to their commitments to protect animal welfare. Facts In 2013, HSI published the report, Investments in Suffering. An updated version of this report, International Finance Institutions, Export Credit Agencies and Farm Animal Welfare, released in 2016, highlights progress made, but also showing ongoing failures by international financial institutions in implementing basic animal welfare standards. EU Member States own shares in multiple international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and European Investment Bank, which invest in animal agriculture outside of the EU. Member States also provide insurance in the form of export credits to domestic companies selling farm animal housing and equipment abroad. In December 2014, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Joint Declaration on Animal Welfare in which they committed to promoting animal welfare in the framework of national and international finance institutions, as well as export credit agencies, which engage in the farming sector. In 2015, Austria issued Strategic Guidelines for International Financial Institutions, which included a call for animal husbandry criteria that meet the European standards. The UK government also called on multilateral banks to ensure that their lending strongly supports the delivery of appropriate animal welfare standards. On 10th October 2016, Austria raised the subject of animal welfare and investment policy at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 10th October 2016. Reportedly at least 19 Member States apparently spoke out in support of their initiative at the meeting. HSI has set up a website, www.hsi.org/finance, with in-depth information on international finance and animal welfare, as well as up-to-date lists and descriptions of animal agriculture projects being supported by international finance institutions. Media contacts (for media enquiries only): UK: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org +44 (0)7989 972 423 US: Raul Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org +1 301-721-6440 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was careful not to directly comment Tuesday on a person with schizophrenia who is seeking an absolute discharge, years after beheading a fellow Greyhound bus passenger. Interim Tory Leader Rona Ambrose started question period by asking about the man once known as Vincent Li, who brutally killed and cannibalized 22-year-old Tim McLean in 2008. He was later found not criminally responsible (NCR) and has since changed his name to Will Baker. Advertisement Manitobas Criminal Review Board is considering this week if Baker, who was permitted in November to live alone in Winnipeg as supervisors ensured he took his medication, should no longer be subject any conditions. Baker once lived in a locked wing of a mental health facility but has been granted more freedom over the years as he went through treatment. Can the prime minister assure Canadians hell look for ways to close loopholes that allow killers to change their names and even walk our streets only a few short years after their heinous crimes? Ambrose asked. Trudeau avoided making specific mention of the discharge request before the provincial board. Keeping Canadians safe in their communities is a priority for every government, he said. Advertisement We have a very strong justice system that were working hard to continually improve and Im very confident that our minister of justice is doing everything she can to make sure Canadians are safe and there are the right framework of laws and justice in place to protect all of us, Trudeau said. Ambrose rose again to say she thought Trudeau seemed more concerned with the well-being of Vincent Li she did not refer to him as Baker than McLean's family. The concern here, Mr. Speaker, is Vincent Li is going to be living not that far from Tim McLeans mother, Ambrose said. A decision on the case will be made later this week. So, can the prime minister once again reassure me that hes going to put the rights of victims ahead of criminals? Advertisement Trudeau said his heart goes out to McLeans family, specifically his mother. PM's words for victim's mother I cant imagine the grief, the anguish that she had to go through and that she must continue to experience, he said. Trudeau said it was the responsibility of all members of Parliament to protect victims while ensuring the rights of every Canadian are respected. That is something that we take very seriously, he said. On Monday, Bakers psychiatrist testified he is unlikely to go off his medication, even if he is not monitored. Bakers lawyer argued that testimony should be enough for the board to grant his freedom, The Canadian Press reports. The doctor also said Baker would live in Winnipeg for at least three years. He noted his client is involved with a local church and hopes to attend a post-secondary training program. Advertisement The Crown is opposed to seeing Baker granted his freedom, as is McLeans mother Carol de Delley. A secure facility where he can continue to receive treatment for the rest of his natural life is where he belongs, de Delley told reporters this week. Has everyone forgotten what he did to Timothy? In 1999, the Supreme Court ruled a review board should order an absolute discharge if a person doesnt pose a significant threat to public safety. This is not the first time federal Conservatives have weighed in on Bakers privileges. Accusations of fear-mongering Manitoba Tory MP James Bezan had previously called on the review board to stop granting Baker more freedom. Last year, Bezan released a statement asking the board to deny Bakers request to live independently. In response, the CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada called Bezan misinformed and a fear-mongering politician. In 2014, then-Tory cabinet minister Shelley Glover was also accused of trying to score political points by calling out a Manitoba Crown attorney for not opposing Baker receiving the right to unescorted trips from the hospital. Advertisement Peter MacKay, the justice minister at the time, also expressed shock about the decision but conceded he was getting very close to the line by commenting specifically on a case. With files from The Canadian Press Also on HuffPost The solar energy industry experienced a serious boom in both the U.S. and China last year, but for the second year in a row Canadian investments plummeted. One in 50 new jobs created in the U.S. last year was in solar, according to The Solar Foundation a 25 per cent increase from 2015. Advertisement But that's nothing compared to China, which officially became the world's biggest producer of solar energy after it doubled its photovoltaic capacity, bringing it to 77.42 gigawatts, Reuters reported on Saturday. In December, the World Economic Forum released a report that showed in 30 countries, solar or wind has dropped below the price of coal. In Canada however, solar isn't looking so bright. New investments dropped 46 per cent in 2016, bringing it to the lowest its been in a decade, according to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), Advertisement Some industry voices attribute the decline to the fulfillment of provincial policies that promoted renewables in Quebec and Ontario. "No other region in Canada will supplant Ontario and Quebec's recent build. The better way to look at it from Canadas perspective is that the last couple of years have really been an anomaly, based essentially on a bunch of projects coming through the pipeline all at the same time," Amy Grace, a researcher at BNEF, told the National Observer. However, others are hopeful that solar will experience major growth in the next few years, as more companies contemplate switching to greener energy sources. It is pretty easy to see this industry standing on its own two feet economically, without subsidy, in a five-year time frame, Greg Payne, vice-president of a Toronto clean-tech investment firm, told The Globe and Mail. Advertisement Canada's federal government has also committed to supporting more clean energy, as have Alberta and Saskatchewan's governments. Follow The Huffington Post Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Toronto man missing since 2012 is now finally home. Anton Pilipa, 39, flew back to the city Monday from Brazil with his brother Stefan, according to CBC News. He had started a treatment for schizophrenia right before he disappeared, leaving behind documents, clothes and his house, BBC Brasil reported. Advertisement Stefan told CBC News he believes his brother, who he calls an anti-poverty activist, walked sometimes barefoot part of the way to Brazil, and that he also hitchhiked and rode in the back of transport trucks. "I feel amazed that he's alive and had made it that far, he said. A police officer first spotted Anton wandering on a highway in November in the state of Rondonia, according to BBC Brasil. He couldn't speak Portugese and would only say his name was Anton, the federal highway police wrote on Facebook. Advertisement He was taken to hospital in Porto Velho, but escaped before authorities could identify him. Highway police contacted the Canadian Embassy, giving them his first name, physical attributes and photo in the hopes someone would know him. Through social media, his family only recently learned hed been found homeless in northern Brazil in December, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to bring Anton home. He was found again in January, walking on a road near the city of Manaus. But the cost of bringing him back to Canada was high, Stefan said. Around $1,600 was needed for Antons flight home from Brazil, $2,000 for consular and hospital fees and about $3,500 for a few months rent in Toronto, as well as some money to cover Stefans round trip. "I feel amazed that he's alive and had made it that far." The campaign exceeded its $8,000 goal, raising $12,000. Several donors expressed their joy at a happy ending. Advertisement In an interview with BBC Brasil, Anton said he took food and clothes from garbage cans and slept out in the open. But he said he is grateful to be coming home and "lucky to be alive." Stefan told CBC News his brother's health was starting to deteriorate when he picked him up. "We got him just in time," he said. Also on HuffPost Canada is screwed if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau negotiates with Donald Trump the same way he did with Bombardier, interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose charged in question period Wednesday. The remark yielded an unusual reaction from Trudeau, who remained seated after the barb. Advertisement Ambrose blasted the Liberal governments decision to provide more than $370 million in interest-free loans, over four years, to the Quebec-based aerospace giant. The cash will support Global 7000 and CSeries aircraft projects. She asked the prime minister if he worried about the message hes sending Canadians by giving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to a favoured business while dry-cleaning shops and diners go out of business. Exactly how many jobs will this $370 million create? she asked. Canadas aeronautics industry is responsible for thousands of strong, middle class jobs, and supports other small businesses, the prime minister answered. "I really hope he gets a new negotiating team before he sits down with President Trump and talks about NAFTA or were screwed." Mr. Speaker, wait a second. The prime minister wrote a cheque for $370 million to a single company and he didnt get assurances from them that they would hire one single new worker, she said. I really hope he gets a new negotiating team before he sits down with President Trump and talks about NAFTA or were screwed. Trudeau didnt respond, ostensibly because no question was asked. Ill make note that the prime minister was speechless, Ambrose said, before again accusing Trudeau of making life easier for a giant corporation while bringing in a massive new carbon tax. Investment responding to changing world: Trudeau Trudeau said the Bombardier investment is about creating middle class jobs in an important growth industry. In a world that is changing, we need to make sure that Canadians can continue to compete at the highest levels because I know were capable of it and were demonstrating it every single day, he said. Advertisement Ambrose and other Tory MPs also accused the Liberals of giving money to a company they claim doesnt really need it. A few referenced how a Bombardier executive in charge of the CSeries project told reporters last March that government funding would be helpful, but not necessary. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains eventually stepped up to remind his Tory colleagues that the last Conservative government cut a cheque to Bombardier for $350 million in 2008. Diane Finley, a former Tory cabinet minister, said Liberals could have helped Bombardier without loan money by approving the expansion of the island airport in downtown Toronto. Im surprised to hear the comment from the member opposite because she was at the cabinet table in 2008 when they signed a $350 million cheque to Bombardier, Bains said. Advertisement Ambrose was also at that cabinet table. Conservative leadership candidates also critical Tory leadership candidate Maxime Bernier was not in cabinet at the time he quit weeks earlier after a much-discussed flub involving classified documents. But he remained a part of the Tory government that also loaned money to the aerospace company, as did leadership rivals Andrew Scheer and Deepak Obhrai who joined Bernier in blasting the bailout on social media. Its everything I oppose, Bernier wrote in a post on Facebook. Scheer tweeted he was against corporate welfare that picks winners and losers in the economy. Corporate welfare costs Cdns billions. It distorts the market, picks winners and losers, and in the long run is more damaging to the economy Andrew Scheer (@andrewscheer) February 8, 2017 Government should be creating the conditions for all Cdn companies to have a chance at succeeding, not subsidizing individual businesses. Andrew Scheer (@andrewscheer) February 8, 2017 Advertisement And Obhrai, the longest continuously-serving Tory MP, wondered when Bombardier will stop being a welfare bum. When will #Bombardier become a company that all Canadians can be proud of instead of being a welfare bum?! #cdnpoli Hon Deepak Obhrai pc (@deepakobhrai) February 8, 2017 With a file from The Canadian Press Also on HuffPost According to China Daily, funds continue to flow into Hainan Provinces real estate market. (Photo : Getty Images) Hainan Province, Chinas only tropical region, is expected to receive more real estate investors in the near future due to its favorable weather and natural beauty, according to an article by China Daily. Advertisement The primary target of real estate investors, particularly wealthy Chinese, in Hainan Province is vacation residences. Favorable climate and better transport links have prompted the more affluent to take a second home or a holiday home in Hainan, Wang Lu, chairman of Jincheng Consultancy, a real estate information provider based in Haikou, told China Daily. According to information gathered by the Hainan provincial real estate bureau, the province saw a 44 percent increase in house sales in 2016. In addition, sales volume within the same period jumped to 129 billion yuan, which represents a 51.2 percent increase year-on-year. People who bought houses in Hainan used to be pure investors but now most of the buyers are purchasing homes for vacations or as a reservation for their retirement, for their parents or for their children, said Zhong Liansheng, general manager of Sunac China Hainan Co Ltd, in an interview with China Daily. Home prices in certain areas of Hainan Province have been driven by demand. In Sanya, for example, the average price of commercial apartments have increased by roughly 16 percent. Sanya realty management authorities have also shared that transactions increased 127 percent year-on-year in the city. According to China Daily, funds continue to flow into Hainan Provinces real estate market, with steady a steady rise and decrease on stocks. Among the countrys top 20 leading property developers, 18 have invested in Hainan, such as Sunac China Holdings Ltd, Greenland Group, Evergrande Real Estate Group, Dalian Wanda Group Co Ltd, and R&F Properties Co Ltd, said Wang. All of them continued to pour money into the island in 2016. Along with demand, Wang also attributes the interest of real estate investors on Hainan Province to the thick coat of smog prevalent in northern China. Many entry-level jobs dont pay well it often takes a while to move up the ranks. But if youre going to fork over money for school, you will want to train in a field with good salary prospects for recent graduates. From registered nurses to accountants, a number of jobs in Canada pay entry-level employees well, and all nine featured in the slideshow below are currently looking for candidates, according to Workopolis. Advertisement Check out some of these career paths below. Workopolis used data from Payscale.com to compile their list. The salary ranges are general, from an expected starting salary to the money you could make somewhere down the line. Call it the tale of two democratic institutions ministers. As the Liberal government walks away from electoral reform, new minister Karina Gould has taken the uncomfortable step of defending the first-past-the-post system her predecessor called antiquated, mere months ago. Advertisement The first-past-the-post system may not be perfect. No electoral system is, Gould told a House of Commons committee Tuesday. But it has served this country for 150 years and advances a number of democratic values Canadians hold dear, such as strong local representation, stability and accountability." Gould told her colleagues that her new focus would be to strengthen democratic institutions within the existing Canadian system. CBC News has a clip of Gould's remarks: But in July, former democratic institutions minister Maryam Monsef told a special committee on electoral reform that pointing out how the system works is no reason to ignore a pledge to make it better. Advertisement First-past-the-post is an antiquated system designed to meet the realities of 19th century Canada and not designed to operate within our multi-party democracy, Monsef testified. We require an electoral system that provides a stronger link between the democratic will of Canadians and election results. Monsef said at the time a FPTP system regularly elects MPs for whom the majority of constituents did not vote, including her. She said since more than 60 per cent of Canadian voters supported a party promising electoral reform in the last election either Liberal, NDP, or Green Canadians expect to see a change. Advertisement At one point, Quebec Liberal MP Sherry Romanado noted other Canadians are happy with the way the democracy functions. Theres an old saying, If its not broke, dont fix it, Romanado said. What are your thoughts on this? Monsef said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the pledge to move away from FPTP because thats what he heard from Canadians. "First-past-the-post is an antiquated system designed to meet the realities of 19th century Canada and not designed to operate within our multi-party democracy." Former democratic institutions minister Maryam Monsef, July 2016 While our system works, it can be better, she said. The simple fact that something works is no reason not to make it better, and this is one commitment that we made to Canadians. Advertisement Monsef was named minister for status of women in a cabinet shuffle last month. Liberals now say there is no consensus among Canadians on electoral reform and no responsible way to make good on their promise the 2015 election will be the last under FPTP. Though New Democrats are blasting the government on the decision, Conservatives have stayed mostly quiet. An online petition demanding Liberals reconsider, sponsored by NDP democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen, has received tens of thousands of signatures. On Wednesday, the NDP will table a motion it hopes will force Liberals to concede they "misled Canadians" on the electoral reform file. The text of that motion: That, in the opinion of the House, the government misled Canadians on its platform and Throne Speech commitment that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system, and that the House call on the government to apologize to Canadians for breaking its promise. Also on HuffPost Nikki Reed and Nina Dobrev put an end to all those bad blood rumours. The vampire-playing friends have long been accused of hating each other ever since Reed, 28, married Dobrev's ex and former "The Vampire Diaries" co-star, Ian Somerhalder, 38, in 2015. Dobrev, 28, left "The Vampire Diaries" that same year but assured fans her decision had nothing to do with Somerhalder. Advertisement "For the last few years we thought addressing any baseless rumours with silence was the best way," Reed wrote in the caption of a photo she posted of the trio on Instagram. "So here's to putting an end to all those fake stories of on set jealousy, betrayal, made-up-friendships lost & women hating women." "WE, believe we have a moral responsibility to young girls to end that narrative, because at the end of all of this, those young girls are the ones who lose," Reed continued. "Teaching girls that you have to hate other girls only breeds a generation of women who believe you have to hate other women." The actress, musician and activist went on to call out "low-brow websites" and "bullshit stories" that paint women as "bitter, angry, insecure, heartbroken, childless, feuding, backstabbing monsters." Advertisement Somerhalder also shared the image, echoing his wife's sentiment and clarifying that two brunettes weren't as close as the media made them out to be. "After years of websites pretending these two badass ladies knew each other well and baseless, false information of back stabbing and hatred from low-brow websites filled the minds and hearts of fans... They finally were able to get together for their first real dinner," he wrote. Can't believe how time flies. Farewell dinner with team Somereed! So good catching up with these goofballs. All A photo posted by Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) on Feb 7, 2017 at 9:47am PST Dobrev also shared an image of the trio with a much simpler caption: "Can't believe how time flies. Farewell dinner with team Somereed! So good catching up with these goofballs. All ". The Bulgarian-Canadian actress has been on a bit of a trip down memory lane posting numerous photos of her "The Vampire Diaries" co-stars, scripts and set in honour of her return for the show's series finale which is scheduled to air later this year. Advertisement I know it's Thursday, but this is not a TBT. #BackOnSet #TVDForever A photo posted by Nina Dobrev (@ninadobrev) on Jan 26, 2017 at 9:19am PST Dobrev and Somerhalder dated from 2010 to 2013 but remained friends long after their split. The friendly exes even addressed their breakup at the 2014 People's Choice Awards when they accepted an award for Best Chemistry. Here's hoping their on-screen chemistry is still just as strong for the finale! Also on HuffPost Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pose during a meeting at Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 23, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images) China has expressed disapproval on Monday, Feb. 6, over the United States' new sanction list aimed at Iran after Chinese companies and individuals were included in the list, Reuters reported. Advertisement According to the report, China had "lodged representations" with the U.S. over the new sanctions which was imposed by the new administration on 25 people and entities on Friday, Feb. 3. The sanctions came two days after the U.S. placed "on notice" status on Iran after it conducted a ballistic missile test. Individuals and foreign companies affected by the sanctions are barred access to the U.S. financial system or from dealing with U.S. companies. They are also covered by secondary sanctions, which mean they are also banned from dealing with them or they may get blacklisted by the U.S. government. Two Chinese companies and three Chinese individuals were included in the list, the report said. The U.S. Treasury Department identified one of the Chinese nationals as Qin Xianhua. In a press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that China had sent a protest to the U.S. over the sanctions which the Chinese said were harmful to the interests of a third party and does not help in promoting mutual trust among countries. "We have consistently opposed any unilateral sanctions," Lu said during the press briefing. On Sunday, Feb. 5, the executives of the two Chinese companies included in the U.S. list spoke to the media and said that they done nothing illegal as they were only exporting 'normal' goods to the Middle Eastern country. China has expressed anger in the past over alleged unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Chinese firms and others foreign firms that are related to Iran or North Korea's nuclear plans. But despite close economic and political ties with Iran, China played a major role in asserting for the signing of a landmark deal in 2015, to curb Iran's nuclear program, the report said. An Oshawa, Ont. university dance crew were excitedly shooting a promo video when cops rolled up, ready to break up a reported fight. The University of Ontario Institute of Technologys dance team was outside shooting a short promo for the North American Culture Shows competition when the police suddenly arrived. Advertisement They thought we were fighting or something, dancer Mahdi Tarfi told The Huffington Post Canada in an interview. When the Durham Regional Police officers realized everything was fine, they stayed and watched UOITs dancers. Oh, okay. I didnt expect this. Hes good." Tarfi, whos an engineering student from Saudi Arabia, got to talking with Const. Jarrod Singh. The officer told him that he was a hip-hop dancer, too. So show me, show me something, Tarfi told Singh. When Singh started dancing, Tarfi thought Oh, okay. I didnt expect this. Hes good. Hes really good, he said. The officers said they had to leave, but Tarfi insisted that they stay and dance together. Advertisement A friend posted the resulting video to Facebook while Tarfi went home to bed. The next morning, 30,000 people had seen it. If it wasnt for the team, that video wouldnt have happened," Tarfi said. "Everything for the team. Const. Singh has since posted a video on Instagram thanking everyone for their positive responses to the video. Singh said. keep being positive, because thats what makes the world go round and thats what puts smiles on peoples faces. Watch their dance-off in the video embedded above. Follow The Huffington Post Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A trio of Syrian newcomers to Halifax, concerned with the amount of food they witnessed going to waste at a local food bank, have come up with a delicious baking enterprise that's helping them connect with their new community. Rafat Harb and brothers Ahmad and Alla Alhraki are tempting palates at the Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market, sharing the delicacies of their home country with their new city. Advertisement Their booth, Piece of the East, has been open for three weeks now, and they've been busy making and selling pickles, coconut bread, baklava and other Syrian treats. The idea for the business started last year, when they were volunteering at the Parker Street Food Bank as part of an empowerment course that helps newcomers with financial literacy, community integration and language skills. As they were sorting food one day, they realized how much produce was being passed over just because it wasn't perfect looking or was too ripe to go in a hamper. Advertisement Sylvia Gawad, founder of Piece of the East and the men's English teacher, said the trio came to her and said "'we wish we could make something out of this.'" "And I said 'why not?'" Gawad, herself a newcomer to Canada, is from Egypt and lived in Libya before coming to Halifax in 2011 for university. She said she's been blown away by the tenacity and resourcefulness of her business partners. "The boys are so creative. They can make something out of anything," she said, adding that the project has served as a huge help in navigating their new lives in Canada. "Having come from a war-torn country, there's this combination of having to be smart about using resources available to them, combined with just being creative." Advertisement "They're using their skills, talent, pride they don't want to rely on government funding, they don't want to rely on welfare. They want to be able to save for their future." For now, the group is using kitchen space provided by Hope Blooms another social enterprise in Halifax and relying on food donations from the food bank. "The boys are so creative. They can make something out of anything." However, said Gawad, their short term goal is to find additional sources of food donations other food banks, or perhaps farms and a kitchen space to call their own. Long term, she said, the group dreams of opening a pay-what-you-can restaurant, where a portion of the profits would go back into community programs. Advertisement Follow The Huffington Post Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also on HuffPost Conservative leadership contender Steven Blaney says that by dismantling First Nations reserves, indigenous people can move forward to become "fully Canadian." Blaney, a former public safety minister under the previous Conservative government, made the comments Tuesday during an appearance on CBC News' Power and Politics. Advertisement Host Rosemary Barton pressed Blaney on who he would support in the Conservative leadership race if he dropped out. The Quebec MP wouldn't answer, instead saying he respected all of the 13 candidates running alongside him. Blaney then switched to bashing the Liberal government's deficits and declaring he wants to dismantle reserves. "Reserves are not helping First Nations to grow. I say we need to dismantle reserves, because we know it is the core, the source of violence on reserves," Blaney said, adding that domestic violence was the cause behind missing and murdered aboriginal women. Advertisement "We can study it as long as we want, we need to attack the core issues." Blaney said he wants First Nations members to be able to own a house "like every other Canadian." At first, he did not elaborate when Barton reminded him that there are homes on reserves. Toward the end of the segment, when Barton reminded Blaney of that fact again, he replied: "They do. But do they own it?" "I think it depends on the situation," she said, as she ended the segment. Earlier in the interview, Blaney repeated his commitment to banning the niqab during citizenship ceremonies and prohibiting civil servants from wearing the face-covering veil. The niqab ban, an issue that engulfed the 2015 election campaign, was struck down by a federal court as unlawful. The Conservative government had appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court. It was dropped, however, after the Liberals took power. The legal fight cost the government more than $400,000, according to CBC News. Advertisement "The court, they have a point of view," Blaney told Barton, "but I believe it's up to the Parliament, it's up to the people elected by this country to make the final decision." Watch the testy segment below: .@StevenBlaneyPCC says niqab shouldn't be worn by civil servants: "At work... there is a uniform." #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/eAE0WB48ph Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) February 7, 2017 Conservatives choose their new leader in May. Also on HuffPost Tegan and Sara have put the Juno Awards on blast. Yesterday, the Canadian Academy of Recordings Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced the 2017 Juno nominees, but unfortunately, there was barely any female representation and the sisters took notice. While the indie-pop duo were proud to nab three nominations Songwriter of the Year, Group of the Year and Pop Album of the Year (for Love You to Death) they were understandably upset with the lack of gender diversity among the nominees. Advertisement Tegan Quin and Sara Quin. In a statement posted to their website, the sisters thanked CARAS for honouring them with nominations and then proceeded to slam them for the lack of female nominees. "It is with tremendous respect and absolutely no judgement of each nominees well-deserved accomplishments that we take this moment to address the disappointing number of women nominated in many of the various categories," the statement read. "In 8 categories no women were recognized at all, and in over 12 additional categories, only 1 in 5 of the nominees included a woman. Specifically in the areas of production and engineering, it is discouraging to not see a single woman represented." Advertisement It continued: "We bring this message to members of our industry who have tremendous power to sign, fund, promote, nominate, support, acknowledge, and celebrate the diverse population of our country working in the arts today. The demographic breakdown of Juno nominations reflects the structural confines of our society and industry. We must do better as it sends an outdated message to the next generation about whose art and voice and message is valuable." "We write this message today in the hopes that we can all work towards balancing the scales for women, people of colour, and LGBTQIIA artists and bands in our country in the years to come," the sisters concluded. According to Spin, women are well-represented in categories such as Alternative Album of the Year and Indigenous Music Album of the Year, pointing out that folk songwriter and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie nabbed the Junos' humanitarian award. However, as per Spin, many of the categories, including rock, metal, dance, electronic and Breakthrough Group of the Year, are monopolized by men. Advertisement This year's nominations are lead by The Weeknd, Drake and Shawn Mendes, with five nominations each. Read their full statement here. Also on HuffPost Designer Tishynah Buffalo has already showcased her creativity across the Canadian prairies. Now, she wants to show it to the whole world. The Cree mother of two, who hails from Alexander First Nation in Alberta, will present about 10 new outfits at a London Fashion Week show put on by Heartland Modelling Agency on Feb. 19. Advertisement Im most excited about showing people from across the world my native clothing, Buffalo told The Huffington Post Canada in an interview. I just want to show them that First Nations people like myself can create and design. I think its important for people to see First Nation designers. I wanted to show my culture through my clothing." The first outfit Buffalo ever made was a powwow outfit for her young son when she was 19-years-old. She learned how to sew and bead during high school, and now creates traditional Pendleton coats with modern leather sleeves, as well as custom gowns and dresses. I wanted to show my culture through my clothing, she said. Advertisement Now 26, Buffalo has become a fixture at fashion shows on the Canadian prairies. Her work has been shown at Fashion Speaks Regina, Western Canada Fashion Week, International Indigenous Fashion Week and even Couture Fashion Week in New York City. The best moment so far, Buffalo said, was bringing her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to the show in New York. This year, she wants to bring a cousin and four friends to London as her models. Buffalo is raising money to bring the five women who all come from First Nations in Alberta to the show. I wanted to give them an opportunity to model around the world, she said. Follow The Huffington Post Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also on HuffPost 11 Facts About Canada's First Nations See Gallery Vishal Vijay's life changed when he was 10. As a result, so did the lives of many other children. On a trip to Rajasthan in northern India in 2012, this privileged young kid from Oakville, Ont. came face-to-face with extreme poverty for the first time. "We were visiting some family there and passed through these slums. We got out because my parents wanted to show me different conditions that exist in the world," the now 16-year-old tells The Huffington Post Canada backstage at Toronto's We Day youth rally, where Vijay was a guest speaker. Advertisement "This girl was begging on the side of the street. How is it that she is in this situation and that I'm not? I thought that's really unfair, and I need to do something about this." "I remember looking at this slum, and it had a lot of children there. It was in rubble. There was these little makeshift houses where people there didn't have very much. I remember seeing this girl, she was about my age at the time, and she had this dirt on her skin. She looked really skinny, she was very hungry, and she didn't look very happy," Vijay recalls. "I realized that she wasn't in school at the time, she didn't study. She was begging on the side of the street. That really made me upset. This girl is my age. How is it that she is in this situation and that I'm not? I thought that's really unfair, and I need to do something about this. So I took it up on myself to try and help her, and also help other kids living there." Advertisement When he returned to his Toronto suburb, Vijay and his little brother Ishan started a group called Children in Action and started raising money to help kids back in India and other developing nations. It was later renamed EveryChildNow, so now kids don't have to join the C.I.A. What began with five friends is a now a national non-profit with school clubs from B.C. to Nova Scotia all working to help provide basic needs for kids overseas while also "inspiring and empowering" their fellow Canadian kids to make a difference. So far they've raised over $50,000, collected over 30,000 school supplies and helped thousands of children. "We've been able to build a schoolhouse, we've been able to build a well. We've been able to collaborate with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to create a permanent children's rights exhibit," Vijay says proudly. "And now we're really excited that we're going to be building our schoolhouse mobile library, a computer lab library, to be able to give to kids which I saw in northern India on my trip there back in 2012. So we're coming full circle." Advertisement Vijay says that EveryChildNow has also contributed to emergency response efforts to help kids affected by the Nepal earthquake, the Ebola outbreaks in Liberia and Sierra Leone and the Syrian refugee crisis. "We've taken kids to meet Syrian refugee families. We've served breakfast with them and sat down and had those conversations to welcome them." They also got hundreds of students from across the country to write pen pal letters to the newcomer kids to let them know that "Canada is this accepting place where everyone is welcome." The group also collects and distributes school supplies and books for disadvantaged children here at home, including in indigenous communities where schools receive less funding, with a campaign called "Read, Write, Repeat." Starting off 2017 with hundreds of school supplies for Canadian and Aboriginal youth #everychildnow#givewhereyoulive#thekidsarenotalrightpic.twitter.com/PyOcosfPyG Vishal (@ItsVishalVijay) December 31, 2016 "We don't see a lot of the injustice in our country. We think that everyone is fine and everyone is okay. But the fact is that there is so much need at home, and there is so much more that we can do here in Canada," he says. "As Nelson Mandela said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world.'" Advertisement The straight-A student has been recognized for his efforts, including being named one of Three Dot Dashs Global Teen Leaders in 2015 and winning the YMCA Peace Medallion last year as well as the Halton Multicultural Council's Recognition Award for Youth. "Young people aren't just our future, they're our present, too." And he wants others to recognize that what makes EveryChildNow special is not him or his brother, but that the organization is run by kids who choose to take action and make a difference. "Young people aren't just our future, they're our present, too," he says. "And it all begins with one small action, which is how we started." Also on HuffPost Carlos Osorio via Getty Images The traffic island at Strachan Av and Lake Shore Blvd, where the trucks carrying pigs to Quality Meat Packers line up to turn left. The province's second biggest abattoir is around the corner from King and Bathurst. 6000 pigs are killed here a day. For the past year, a group of dedicated activists have gathered outside every Sunday to 'bear witness.' May 9, 2012 (Photo by Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Canadians want to do something to end the cruelty that more than 700 million farm animals experience while being transported across the country each year but, for many, the language of Canada's transportation regulations is too dense and technical to understand. I want you to feel empowered to do what's in your heart and help farm animals in Canada. Below, I've summarized some critical information and recommendations on how we can strengthen the draft regulations to create meaningful change for farm animals in transport. Advertisement Food, Water and Rest The top issues of concern are transportation times and the length of time that animals go without food, water and rest. Transport times have improved slightly in the new draft regulations, but the proposed times are still too long to be considered humane. This is because the longer animals travel, the more likely it is that there will be negative animal welfare outcomes. Recommendations: 1. The length of travel time and the amount of time animals go without food, water and rest must be further shortened. A good model of rest/travel times can be found here. 2. Water should be provided until the time of loading an immediately at the end of all journeys. 3. Total transport times must include the time that food and water is withheld prior to travel rather than starting the clock when the transporter takes responsibility for the animals. 4. Off-loading and re-loading several times to complete a very long journey should not be permitted. 5. Where the expected duration of a trip is close to or exceeds maximum allowable times, transporters must keep records of the expected travel duration and the plan for providing animals with feed, water and rest. Advertisement Who Should Be Travelling? Transportation presents significant welfare challenges -- even for healthy animals. Loading, unloading, the lengthy journey, food/water restrictions and exposure to extreme temperatures can further aggravate injuries or illnesses. The draft regulations include protections for animals considered "unfit" for transportation (except for the purpose of receiving care) or "compromised" because of injury or other conditions (transport is limited to shorter durations and includes special provisions). But they do not go far enough. Recommendations: 1. If there are no measures that can be taken to prevent an animal's suffering, the animal should be deemed unfit for transport. 2. Most, if not all, of the criteria for defining compromised animals should actually be included in the definition of "unfit". 3. Producers/transporters must assess the condition of animals at the beginning of a trip as well as at staging points (i.e.: auction yards, ports, borders). 4. Transport records should include: -Number of animals who have become compromised or unfit during a journey -The actions taken with those animals -Number of animals who are severely injured or dead on arrival 5. Industry training should include information on animal physiology, stress markers and fitness for transport. Advertisement Equipment and Conditions Many factors influence animal welfare during transport, including overall fitness, fasting, stocking density (or the level of crowding while in transit), duration of transportation, vehicle design, driving style, weather conditions and ventilation. Transporters need to be mindful of the relationship between temperature, humidity, ventilation and stocking density. For example, a lower stocking density and more ventilation might be needed during hot weather. Recommendations: 1. Maximum loading densities must be included in the regulations. A good model for space allowances can be found here. 2. The definition of overcrowding should consider the stress and discomfort caused to animals by temperature, humidity and wind chill. 3. Maximum thresholds for outdoor temperature, humidity and wind chill levels should be defined, during which transportation is prohibited. 4. Ventilation systems should be mandatory for animal transport, as well as internal temperature/humidity sensors so operators can monitor environmental conditions. Advertisement 5. Trucks and containers must be equipped with: -Sufficient bedding to allow animals to lie comfortably -Adjustable, adequate ventilation -Temperature/humidity sensors to monitor conditions -Separate compartments that allow for smaller groupings of animals -Food and water for the journey -Suspension systems that minimize travel sickness -Apparatus that enables transporters or inspectors to look at all the animals and evaluate their condition/fitness Humane Handling Because transportation is inherently stressful for animals, calm and quiet handling techniques should be a top priority. Aggression and violence have no place in the loading and unloading process, and extreme handling should only be used if (a) there is an emergency or (b) animals or nearby people are in imminent danger. Recommendations: 1. The list of inhumane handling practices should be expanded to include striking, kicking, lifting livestock by their legs, head and horns, and catching/lifting birds by their wings, neck or a single leg. 2. The use of electric prods should only be permitted in emergencies, when animal or human safety is at risk. Prods must not be used repeatedly on the same animal. 3. All those who are responsible for animal care, including producers and transporters, must immediately report instances of inhumane handling to the proper authorities. Advertisement There you have it. Eighteen ways to improve the draft transport regulations for animals. It's up to each of us to take action for Canada's animals and to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Please mail or email officials about the draft regulations today. Remember: anyone can comment on the draft regulations -- you don't need to be an expert to express your concern about animals. Please send a letter or email to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Minister of Agriculture before the deadline on February 15. Contact info is below. We would encourage you to use the info we've shared here as a jumping off point, but it's important that you personalize your message rather than copying and pasting. By mail: Dr. Cornelius F. Kiley National Manager, Animal Welfare Biosecurity and Assurance Programs Section Canadian Food Inspection Agency 59 Camelot Drive, 3rd Floor East, Room 231 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9 By email: CFIA: animaltransportanimaux@inspection.gc.ca Minister of Agriculture: minister_ministre@agr.gc.ca, lawrence.macaulay@parl.gc.ca Take from the poor, and give to the rich. The reverse Robin Hood philosophy has been fully embraced by the Ontario government, an odd turn of events for the self-proclaimed "social justice premier." Nothing shows this philosophy better than the government's newest costly experiment, the cap-and-trade carbon tax. Advertisement A spokesperson for Toronto-Centre MPP and Environment Minister Glenn Murray proclaimed that the government is eager to turn the Toronto Stock Exchange into a financial hub for carbon credits, stating that "Ontario's financial sector is well positioned to provide these services and then leverage this expertise to serve other growing carbon markets in Canada and internationally." In other words -- cap and trade will cost working Joe's at the pumps and in their home heating bills, while Bay Street types get rich trading the new government created commodity. Cap and trade works by putting a "cap" on the amount of emissions businesses can produce. The government then invents a new tradeable financial product out of thin air, called carbon credits. Businesses who are able to emit below their "cap" are allowed to "trade" those government created carbon credits on a government created "carbon market" to those who need to emit above their "cap." Advertisement Effectively, the government uses regulation to invent a demand, and then supplies it themselves. But businesses are not the only ones entitled to participate in these trades. Cap and trade also allows for "market participants" who can trade on speculation. In fact, the entire idea of a carbon market is designed to encourage speculation, which drives up the price of the carbon credits. Correspondingly, companies that have to buy these expensive credits pass the cost along to customers. This can drive up the price of necessities of life, like home heating fuels and gasoline. Financial speculators who might otherwise make their money trading stocks, bonds or oil futures, can now get rich trading a commodity that is essentially linked to your higher home heating costs. The higher your bills, the more the big boys on Bay Street make. And the Wynne government wants you to think this is a good thing. This false market links Ontario with Quebec and California, allowing businesses and speculators to trade across borders. The Auditor General has found that by 2030, this will result in up to $2.2 billion in Ontarian's money leaving Ontario for Quebec and California. This isn't the first market of its kind -- the experiment has been tried before. In his book Carbon Shock, Mark Shapiro described the European Climate Exchange (ECX) in London, the biggest platform for trading carbon emissions, and where 80 per cent of the European market in carbon credits is traded. For a time, carbon was the fastest-growing commodity in the world. In 2006, 450 million tons of carbon were traded over ECX, and by 2012, that figure had tripled to 1.3 billion tons, and to over 2 billion tons by 2013. Advertisement Enron and Goldman Sachs were some of the early adopters of the idea of getting rich speculating on carbon credits, with Enron helping to establish the market for the U.S. SO2 cap-and-trade program in the early 1990s. Enron's former CEO (and convicted felon) Jeffrey Skilling famously said "we are a green energy company, but the green stands for money." Ontario is going down the same path. But since the recession, the European carbon market has all but collapsed. By some estimates, the European Commission had issued 2.2 billion worth of excess carbon credits, essentially flooding the market and causing a huge price drop. The carbon price in Europe went from a high of 29.69 per ton to a current price of 5.17. Ontario is going down the same path. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario found that the government is handing out free carbon credits to industries that pump out 40 megatons of emissions, worth up to $720 million. While preferred businesses get handed what is essentially free money by the government and financial speculators get rich, the rest of us will be paying about $400 per household more in 2017. What Ontario doesn't need is a reverse Robin Hood who takes from hardworking families, but rather a reversal of the cap and trade policy that our so-called social justice premier has brought in. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: In early 1970 my father, Izzy Asper, got sick with hepatitis and had to be quarantined at Misrecordia hospital in Winnipeg. I remember standing with my mother and siblings outside on the street waving up to my dad standing at the window, because kids weren't allowed in the room. While he was stuck there, he mostly handwrote the manuscript of what would become a best-selling book, The Benson Iceberg: A critical analysis of the White Paper on tax reform in Canada. The cover featured a caricature of Edgar Benson, then finance minister in the Trudeau government, with the tip of his head slightly above a water line, like an iceberg, implying that what lay below the surface was much more ominous. Advertisement I recently found a few copies in my parent's archives (along with some brittle, yellowed hard copies of columns he wrote for the Free Press and Globe and Mail) and was stricken by the immediate philosophical and generational connection between what my dad had written back then and a speech given in 2015 by Maxime Bernier entitled "A time for choosing." My dad wrote about tax policy, to be sure, but it was in the larger context of how Canada ought to be in fiscal, social and constitutional terms. He was concerned about the expansion of the role of government because it would have to be financed with higher and broader taxes, which he likened to a forced confiscation of property. In Canada today, governments not only continue to expand through taxes and ever growing regulation. Spending also far exceeds that revenue, so governments have to borrow money, which then creates deficits and a huge national debt, which also has to be financed by taxpayers. This financial burden may help explain why household debt and savings rates are declining and of concern. After paying all the taxes and fees to government, many Canadians don't have enough left over to save, invest or use for personal consumption. Advertisement He believed that the money you earn was a form of property that needed to be protected from government. In other words, government has become so big and unwieldy and takes so much of your pay cheque directly or indirectly, that there isn't enough, or barely enough, for necessities, wealth creation and/or enjoyment of life. This is fundamentally wrong and unfair, but it's exactly what my father foretold as the first prime minister Trudeau's government implemented its grand social experiment of big government in Canada. Izzy would eventually take a shot in politics as leader of the Manitoba Liberals from 1971 to 1975. Many of his policies went where many Conservatives then, and even now, would not go. He believed in the primacy of individual freedom and, among other things, advocated for a taxpayer bill of rights to protect people from confiscatory taxation. He believed that the money you earn was a form of property that needed to be protected from government. Advertisement He steadfastly refused to accept that government knew how to spend money better than the individuals who worked hard to earn it. I think it's time to ask whether government needs to be doing what it's doing, which is not merely about efficiency and value for money. He worried that government programs would unnecessarily impact the economy, create undue reliance on the state and slowly erode individual freedoms. He was so fixated on this basic principle that he risked a political career on it, flying in the face of the then popular trend toward big government. As I read through the book and columns, I couldn't help but agree with what he foretold. And the situation has gotten much worse since then. I think it's time to ask whether government needs to be doing what it's doing, which is not merely about efficiency and value for money. It's about the overall size of government and how pervasive it is in our daily lives. Advertisement Is there a credible voice in Canadian politics today asking any of these questions in a serious way? Happily, yes. Which brings me back to Bernier's speech. Maxime Bernier is now running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada on an ambitious platform which, among other things, calls for curtailing the expansion of the federal government into areas of provincial jurisdiction as defined by our Constitution. He is proposing flatter income taxes, the abolition of capital gains taxes and an overall recalibration of what government does. With his experience in public service and understanding of the nuances of how government works, Maxime Bernier could succeed in reducing the size of government and making the changes my father clearly envisioned. That's why as the leadership race winds its way toward a conclusion, I've decided to back Bernier in the hope that the Party will give Canadians a true and existential choice in the next election for the future of our country: More taxes and big, over-reaching government? Or less and more focused government, with more individual freedom? Advertisement Putting these questions first, and having voters choose a path is the essential first step to be taken before addressing all of the other issues facing Canada. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook This International Development Week, World Vision salutes small business people all over the world. Here's one way that Canadians can help their ventures grow. "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" refers to the imagined feat of yanking yourself off the ground -- by your own efforts alone. There's nothing to lean on, and no one to help you stand. Advertisement In developing countries around the world, small business owners with dreams of doing more for their families and communities find themselves in this impossible situation. "If you've ever visited a developing country and gone to the city markets, you've likely seen dozens of these small businesses," says World Vision Canada's Josh Folkema. "People are selling everything you can imagine: from fruit, to bread to t-shirts." In Ethiopia, two members of a family work together to earn a subsistence income. Photo: World Vision From life to growth They may not look like much, these stalls in the market or at the side of the road. But in families throughout the developing world, they keep children alive and food on the table. Advertisement Josh Folkema would like to see a world where hard-working families can do more than simply exist. He sees small and growing businesses as a big part of that. The development worker with World Vision Canada leads a team which explores new ways to grow investments in communities overseas. He wants to see small businesses thrive, grow, and employ more people. But trying to grow a company without capital is a fruitless enterprise. Josh uses the example of a small business owner in Ghana, who might have already received a small micro-finance loan of a few hundred dollars. Using those funds, she buys a bit of inventory: a crate of tomatoes, a few t-shirts and some soft drinks. She opens up a kiosk to sell the items. Photo: Josh Folkema "Most of her earnings will provide for her family's needs," Josh explains. "She might save a small amount, and use the rest to replenish her supplies." But without a larger surplus of funds, the owner can't make the jump from kiosk to grocery store. And she can't expand her workforce, creating more jobs. Advertisement Without enough capital, making the jump from roadside stall to burgeoning business is almost as difficult as pulling yourself up by your boot straps. The 'missing middle' In development economics, this sea of small and middle-sized businesses is known as the 'missing middle'. They're caught between microloans and bank loans, unable to reach the next stage of development. The potential of these companies is clear; they play a critical role in economies around the world, including Canada's. But their challenges are equally well-recognized -- especially in the developing world, where families have little collateral to speak of, and no written business records. "Many small business owners have little collateral, patchy records, and non-existent credit histories," noted The Economist recently. "It takes time for customers to arrive or crops to grow." Many banks would rather lend to established clients, or to governments. A new way of investing For decades, World Vision Canada has been helping business people to their feet, by providing training, supplies and small loans. But micro-credit only goes so far. Now, the international aid and development agency is gearing up to launch a new product for Canadian accredited investors: The 'Small and Growing Business Fund'. Advertisement "We're hearing that accredited investors here in Canada are looking to back promising ventures overseas," says Josh. "People are looking to do more than just give a small donation. They want to invest in communities overseas by helping grow businesses, and employ workers." The fund will help close the gap for the co-called 'missing middle', acting as a bridge between small micro-credit loans and larger bank loans. Donations would start in the thousands, and combined with training for business owners, elevate a venture to the point where bank loans would be possible. The benefit? Not only would the Canadian investor receive a return on their funds, they would be backing the kind of company that lifts entire communities, employing many workers and fueling local economies. A proven formula This approach is already working, in countries around the world. World Vision Australia shares the story of Janaki, in Sri Lanka. Her brush-making business had grown as much as it could on micro-finance loans alone. Janaki clearly had a head for business. She could envision what her little company could become, if only she had more capital to work with. Advertisement "I realized if I bought the materials on my own, I could make a much better profit," she said. Better profit would mean more jobs for other workers. It seemed like a no-brainer, both for Janaki, and for her community -- if only she could secure the funds to expand and buy local. "I needed to take a loan, to continue my business forward," she said. But without hard collateral or formal credit history, Janaki was too high-risk for a loan from most banks. Janaki's story would resonate with thousands small and medium business owners across the developing world -- entrepreneurs with good ideas and a strong work ethic who are nonetheless stuck at the side of the road. Janaki's business is now expanding, and she employs 35 workers, most of them women. Photo: World Vision Advertisement Since Janaki's credit record with microloans was good, World Vision provided her with a much larger loan than she had before. They worked with her on a business plan, and provided training. With extra income to expand her company, Janaki is on track to raise incomes across her community, by buying more local materials. And the products that Janaki and her 35 employees produce can now even reach international markets. As Janaki receives an income, so do the women who work with her. Their families and children grow up in a better environment. For the businesswoman, this is a tremendous return on investment. "Knowing that the workers can provide for their children makes me very happy," says Janaki, of the contribution she's made to her community. And I'm willing to bet that Canadian accredited investors who give to the Small and Growing Business Fund will feel exactly the same way. Please contact Joshua_Folkema@worldvision.ca for more information Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X (Photo : Twitter / GizmoTimes) New leaked images of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4x indicate that the smartphone would be available in new color options. Xiaomi is expected to unveil Redmi Note 4X in the coming week. The smartphone is expected to arrive first in China where the company is selling the MediaTek Helio X20 chipset of Note 4 since August 2016. Rumors are rife that the Redmi Note 4X is nothing but a Snapdragon version of the phablet. The leaked photos show that the smartphone would be available in green and black apart from silver and gold color options, Gizmo China reported. Advertisement The rear side of the Redmi Note 4X in the image reveals it resembles the original Redmi Note 4. Rumors have it that Note 4X will be the first smartphone to come fitted with a Pegasus display. The Note 4X is likely to house a 5.5-inch screen like Note 4. The smartphone was recently spotted on TENAA certification body from China along with some of its specs. The TENAA listing suggests that the Redmi Note 4X would be powered by a Snapdragon 625 chipset. However, some rumors in the recent past have suggested that it would be fueled by a Snapdragon 653. The SoC is expected to be coupled with 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM. It is expected to be available in other variants like 16 GB storage with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB storage with 3 GB of RAM. The probable reason why Xiaomi may not opt for Snapdragon 653 SoC for Redmi Note 4X is that it may use the chipset for a future device. It is expected to house a 13-megapixel shooter on its rear and a front-facing shooter of 5-megapixel. Xiaomi has started the launch of Redmi Note 4X. One of the teasers suggest that the smartphone would be unveiled on Feb. 14. The inclusion of an enlarge number 16 on the invitation also hints that the smartphone would be unveiled on Feb. 16. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is expected to first release in China. There is no confirmation on when it will be hitting markets outside the home country, NDTV reported. Here is a review of Redmi Note 4X: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's November proposal to ban oil tanker traffic from B.C.'s north coast received kind reception on the west coast of Canada, where the Heiltusk First Nation was still busy responding to a devastating diesel spill from the Nathan E. Stewart, a sunken fuel barge tug that was leaking fuel into shellfish harvest grounds near Bella Bella. The tanker ban, however, won't protect the coast from incidents like the Nathan E. Stewart from happening again, nor from the threat of future refined oil tankers passing through the same waters, according to a new analysis by West Coast Environmental Law. Advertisement Reviewing the tanker ban proposal, which has yet to be passed as legislation, West Coast identified numerous loopholes and exclusions that allow for the continued transport of oil on B.C.'s north coast via foreign fuel barges and even, potentially, in supertankers full of refined oil products like jet fuel. Tanker ban leaves door wide open for refined fuel supertankers "I would describe the bill as sort of a mixed bag," Gavin smith, staff counsel with West Coast, told DeSmog Canada. "It's very positive in that it is strong enough to prevent projects like Northern Gateway from proceeding in the region, but it is not strong enough to prevent oil refinery and refined oil supertanker projects in the region." As it stands, the proposed legislation does nothing to prevent the movement of supertankers laden with refined oil from traversing north coast waters. Advertisement And that's of significant concern, Smith said, "because those projects are currently proposed and those applications have been submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency." There are currently two major oil refinery projects proposed for the Kitimat area. Kitimat Clean, which is undergoing review with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (although that review was temporarily suspended in October), would refine 400,000 barrels of oil per day during its projected 50-year lifespan. Kitimat Clean proposes to refine oil into products such as gasoline, jet fuel and propane for export in Very Large Crude Carriers or supertankers. The Pacific Future Energy Refinery Project, proposed for 32 kilometres north of Kitimat, would refine 200,000 barrels of oil per day for a project lifespan of 60 years. The Pacific Future refinery is in the final stages of review with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Advertisement Tanker ban maintains status quo, introduces new risks The tanker ban does restrict vessels larger than 12,500 tonnes from carrying crude oil products, but not refined oil products. Smith said Transport Canada was previously considering a 2,000 tonne threshold, but dramatically increased that figure to 12,500 tonnes. "The 2,000 tonne was raised up in a Transport Canada discussion paper that was made public earlier this summer," Smith said. That 2,000 threshold really walks the line because it allows community shipments of fuel products to continue while not being so high as to allow for large-scale shipments of bulk oil products, he said. West Coast has asked the federal government to provide an explanation for the increase in threshold. "We recommend they provide a rational because from our perspective it came from nowhere." ""I would challenge the federal government to give me a list of vessels that are actually impacted by this legislation. I can't think of one." -- Jess Housty The 12,500 threshold is slightly higher than the highest recorded shipments in the regions, Smith said, "so they've tried to cap it at the highest level of shipments that have been occurring there." Jess Housty, council member of the Heiltsuk First Nation and responder to the sunken Nathan E. Stewart, said the current tanker ban is "simply inadequate" because it changes nothing. "I think it's important to note the tanker ban wouldn't have prevented the Queen of the North from sinking and that's still polluting waters. It wouldn't have prevented the Nathan E. Stewart. It won't prevent this kind of incident from happening again." The tanker ban as proposed is frustrating, Housty said, because Transport Minister Marc Garneau travelled to Heiltsuk territory to witness the diesel spill in November. Housty said the tanker ban actually doesn't affect any current vessel traffic on the North Coast, meaning all ongoing fuel barge traffic remains entirely untouched. Advertisement "I would challenge the federal government to give me a list of vessels that are actually impacted by this legislation. I can't think of one." Housty concedes the tanker ban is significant in light of the rejected Northern Gateway pipeline proposal. But she added, "I think it's important to note for the Heiltsuk, we weren't just fighting Northern Gateway because it was crude oil. There were a million reasons why we had issues with that project." And many of those issues will still be relevant if those supertankers were carrying refined projects, Housty said. "This tanker ban, not only does it not help us minimize the current risks we face, it gives permission for massive new risks that we don't fully understand and I don't think the general public would be comfortable with." Advertisement Although a Voluntary Tanker Exclusion Zone already exists off the coast of British Columbia to prevent international transport of oil from entering internal coastal waters, U.S. shipments of oil have maintained a "right of innocent passage." That right has been the subject of criticism, which was renewed after the grounding of the Nathan E. Stewart, an American fuel barge tug (which was pushing an empty fuel barge at the time of grounding). To avoid provoking international tensions, the tanker ban does not alter this right and limits its cover to only import and export marine facilities. Tanker ban to be locked in, but details subject to change Smith said the federal government did not include a sunset clause in the tanker ban, which means the legislation is not likely to be undone going forward unless by act of Parliament. Advertisement However, the types of oil covered in the ban are subject to a definition that has yet to be determined and could change over time. "The federal government has to answer this question of what do you want covered or encompassed in the oil tanker ban," Smith said. "In the legislation itself it will say any crude oil cannot be carried in an oil tanker and crude oil will have a definition that will include things that you would expect like bitumen and so on." A "schedule" appending the legislation will list other types of products, known as persistent oil products, will also be included in the ban. The types of oil products listed on that schedule can be changed, however. "That approach give the federal government some flexibility to decide what it does and does not want to include in the moratorium," Smith said. The federal government has not disclosed what types of fuels will listed on the schedule but did note that products such as jet fuel, propane and LNG will be permanently excluded from the ban. Advertisement Tanker ban could still be strengthened The tanker ban feels like another one of Justin Trudeau's broken promises, Housty said. " I think this is a case were they have ticked a box and completely ignored the sprit of what needs to be done," Housty said. "I hoped there could have been more trust on this file." Smith said the federal government has plans to pass the tanker ban bill by March. "In terms of what types of improvements, we feel the 2,000 threshold would ensure a good balance between community supply and preventing large-scale bulk shipments," he said. "We also think the types of oil kinds should be refined and crude oils writ large. It shouldn't be quite as narrow as the federal government set out. And we propose the ban cover the entire Hecate Strait, Dixon Exit and Queen Charlotte Sound." Smith said ultimately the North Coast Tanker Ban is meant to protect the North Coast from oil tanker spills. Advertisement "These are the changes we feel would make the act the strongest legislation possible." - Carol Linnitt, DeSmog Canada Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Don't know about you, but I'm really loving the fact that U.S. citizens and CEOs (in ever increasing numbers) are standing up to Donald Trump, calling him out, defying him and fighting back. And it doesn't look like they have any plans to give up any time soon. I see Facebook posts everyday, where phone numbers and email addresses of members of Congress are given out, with requests to contact them, voice opinions, disagree with cabinet choices, policies and the direction the country is headed. And it's happening -- a lot and often. Advertisement And I'm thrilled that Howard Schultz (Starbucks) announced, in the wake of Trump's travel ban, that they would be hiring 10,000 refugees globally; that Airbnb co-founder, Brian Chesky, offered free housing to those stranded by the immigration order; that Lyft (a domestic competitor to Uber) co-founders, John Zimmer and Logan Green not only released a statement condemning the president's actions but pledged $1,000,000 to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) after they filed a petition in a Brooklyn court calling the move "unlawful" -- and got a stay from the presiding judge. It's great that Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick, and the Walt Disney Company CEO, Bob Iger, both announced they'd pull out of Trump's economic council. To be honest, I'm not sure whether Kalanick did it because he's against the ban or in an effort to repair the Uber brand after they scrapped their surge pricing policy in an effort to cash in when taxi drivers joined the anti-ban protests at airports across the U.S. A bad thing for them to have done, but regardless, he's still made a statement. Better late than never. This is really is the only way there'll ever be an end to this madness. There's also been condemnation by CEOs at Ford, Tesla, Apple, Google (plus 2,000 employees around the world walked out and staged protests), Amazon, General Electric, Netflix, Expedia, Twitter and Nike. Advertisement But I think my favourite, so far, is what MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) did: They protested Trump's actions by re-hanging art created by artists from Muslim Nations. Love, love, love; and frankly, this is really is the only way there'll ever be an end to this madness -- whether the president is forced to tone it down or he's forced to leave office: When the citizens resist and take their country back. Which reminds me of the 1914 Protest Poem, written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, which begins: "To sin by silence, when we should protest, makes cowards out of men." So yes, I'm inspired. So much so that when an American Facebook friend posted a message that had been circulating last Friday night I couldn't do nothing. It was an appeal to Americans to call the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, protesting the appointment of Steve Bannon to the National Security Council -- asking them not to confirm him. First I commented, saying (wistfully) that I felt so strongly about it, if I wasn't Canadian I'd do what she was asking -- to call the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and protest Steve Bannon's appointment to the National Security Council. Advertisement Then she put a bug in my ear when she suggested that maybe they needed to hear from concerned people everywhere. It's important for politicians in the U.S. to hear from people everywhere that their global reputation is at stake. Needless to say, I called. Yes I did. Left a message, my name and phone number (which they ask for). I said I'm Canadian, asked how they could even consider confirming an extreme right wing nationalist like Steve Bannon to that position; and added that, like many others around the world I, too, am appalled at what's going on in the U.S. You will never know how good it felt to do that. And I do think it's important for politicians in the U.S. to hear from people everywhere that their global reputation is at stake. At which point, still wound up, I turned my attention to Canada. Pissed off that our prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has walked away from his campaign pledge of electoral reform, I realized I had something to say about that, too. So I sent him a tweet suggesting that if he wants to know where broken promises can lead, he should look at the U.K. and the U.S. Advertisement He's definitely got great pecs, but it's going to take more than that to get my vote next time around. Yes, it's official. I've joined the resistance. If you enjoyed this story click on "become a fan" at the top of the article right next to my name. You'll be notified every time I post. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: You probably never heard of Yusra Khogali before. As the co-founder of the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter, Khogali is used to being an outspoken leader for a movement that has seen more publicity than nearly any other activist group in North America over the past two years. She has been at the forefront of nearly every racialized controversy in Toronto and is one of the most visible members of the organization. And now, respectfully, it is time for her to resign. Now, normally my white skin would admittedly preclude me from even suggesting that a black activist should hang up the megaphone, but Khogali has made a habit of directing violent, hateful language towards people with white skin, so much so that I feel comfortable calling her out. She once mused that just by having white skin, white people are sub-human. She tried to qualify that statement by saying white people did not have a high amount of melanin, which prevents them from absorbing light, and with it a sense of moral clarity. Advertisement Now, maybe if this was her only controversial statement all could be forgiven, but this is a pattern of hate that can't be ignored any longer. In April 2016 Khogali tweeted "Plz Allah give me strength to not cuss/kill these men and white folks out here today. Plz Plz Plz." The tweet was widely covered, and many media outlets faced scrutiny for focusing on that tweet instead of the issues black communities are facing. This was and is a legit criticism of the media. Black people are treated unjustly by the criminal justice system at all levels, and the press is almost as bad, and that's why I support the underlying credo of BLM. This was removed by @yusrakhogali from twitter after I tweeted about it. She is co-founder #blacklivesmatterTOpic.twitter.com/TksW5kj4oX Jerry Agar (@jerryagar1010) April 5, 2016 But that can't absolve Khogali from being held accountable for constantly inserting hate speech into the ether of Toronto activism. If I were a member of BLM, I'd hopefully understand that her words are harmful to the movement's stated goals of ending institutionalized racism, and the more she speaks the less credibility the movement carries. Advertisement There is a strange trend that some activists use to provide themselves cover for engaging in hate speech. They say that because the system they live under has racial problems, they should be absolved from being held accountable when they make violent, absurd statements, especially against whites. To saddle Trudeau with a label as hyperbolic as "white supremacist terrorist" is to engage in a kind of activism that belittles your own cause. Recently, Khogali labelled Justin Trudeau a "white supremacist terrorist" for not changing our refugee policy as a response to Donald Trump's executive order that would temporarily halt the flow of refugees and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Trump's decision is controversial even among Republicans, but to saddle Trudeau with a label as hyperbolic as "white supremacist terrorist" is to engage in a kind of activism that belittles your own cause. I get it, being controversial gets people talking and spotlights the issues you are trying to champion, but that strategy only works if you do not place yourself in the centre of the controversy. You are not absolved from being held accountable for hate speech just because you hate Donald Trump and want Trudeau to take action on the refugee file. It's patently counterintuitive to believe this is a viable tactic, and BLM should either force Khogali to the background or martyr her as a way of trying to maintain the momentum they found after they forced Toronto Pride to give them a seat at the table last year. Instead, after winning that controversial fight against Pride, BLM likely squandered the gains made with the public and may even face a Pride team not comfortable with having a person so vitriolic occupying a spot side-by-side with Pride leaders. Advertisement And to be honest, I really don't care if this comes off as "whitesplaining." That's a word designed to get white people to shut up about important issues. It's part of the lexicon among some activists that doesn't serve the greater good, which is supposed to be justice and equality for everyone. But if you continuously isolate and vilify white folks -- without crafting your language in a way that separates actual racists from white allies -- how can you ever expect to grow the movement to a size where the system would have no choice but to change for the better? Moreover, how do you reconcile using divisive, prejudicial language to describe an entire race of people when part of your fight is to stop white people from doing the exact same thing? It is time for that individual to go. Let me put all my cards on the table here: I am pretty sure it is privilege that stops me from caring what Khogali says about white people. I honestly don't care if she thinks I am sub-human, or that she needs Allah to stop her from killing me. And I don't really care that she called Trudeau a terrorist, even though that statement is asinine and evidence of a sloppy intellect. None of that bothers me at all, because it isn't as important as the issue that does resonate with me -- that non-whites need a justice system, and a society for that matter, that treats them with dignity, respect and as equals. So when an individual at the helm of what could be a transformative movement distracts the public with hate, it is time for that individual to go. And if she really believes black lives matter, that's exactly what she will do. Advertisement Because optics matter, too. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: For almost two weeks, Canadians have joined people around the world -- and in the United States in particular -- to resist and protest assaults on the rights of their Muslim neighbours. Beginning with U.S. President Donald Trump's January 27 ban on immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, followed by the shooting at a Quebec City mosque two days later, Canadians have been forced to confront the threats, discrimination and daily hatred faced by Muslims in our communities. The response, by and large, has been inspirational. Within 24 hours of the Quebec shooting, for example, thousands of people, including many Unifor members, surrounded the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, holding hands and chanting "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here." Advertisement This past weekend, Canadians gathered in cities across the country, often outside U.S. consulate buildings and other locations, with a similar message that we will not allow the politics of fear and hate to take hold in this country. It is in many ways very appropriate that all of this happening as we mark the beginning of Black History Month. While many rightfully see such heritage months as a chance the celebrate the diversity of Canadian society and the many wonderful things our country's diverse communities have given to all of us, the events of the last couple of weeks are also a reminder of just how far we have yet to go. Advertisement When we mark Black History Month, we have an opportunity to look at the inspirational stories of the communities and the stories of struggle and strength that rarely make into our history text books, but are nonetheless a fundamental part of building the country we have today. Much of that untold story is one of resistance, which continues today. Canada is a better place to live and a freer and more equitable society because of the long history of oppressed communities coming together and saying a better world is possible, and fighting to make it happen -- not just for themselves, but for the entire community and in solidarity with other oppressed groups. We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent with the energy that can be felt from a rally or mass mobilization. We have seen that tradition continue, including with the acts of solidarity the past couple of weeks with the Muslim community. Central at many of the rallies and vigils this past weekend were members of local black communities and survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, telling stories of the oppression of their people and the importance of standing strong and standing together to push back. Advertisement Hearing such messages as we march through the streets with hundreds or in some cities thousands of others who share our ideas, it is easy to feel some optimism about what can be achieved when we refuse to be silent and demand more. But we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent with the energy that can be felt from a rally or mass mobilization. Even as we celebrate the incredible support for the Muslim community that sprang up across the country within hours of the tragic events in Quebec City, we must remember that the suspect in the shooting was a young man who was attracted to extreme right wing ideas, believed in strict immigration laws and admired the Trump administration. He is not alone. The politics of fear and hate that we see growing in the United States is finding resonance with many Canadians, as well. For many of us, this is a wake-up call. It was too easy, in polite Canada, to pretend that racism and xenophobia were less of an issue here than elsewhere. But Trump and his ilk are making such people feel emboldened to openly express their hateful views out loud and in public. Advertisement For the black, African and Caribbean communities celebrating their history and heritage this month, it perhaps does not come as surprise such hate exists within our communities. The history of resistance in their communities is based on that knowledge and it continues to be an inspiration to move equity forward. As we come together to push back against intolerance, we must all draw on that history, and learn from both the mistakes and the successes of the past as with fight for a better future for all Canadians. A better world is possible. The danger comes when we stop fighting for it. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook stevecoleimages via Getty Images Prescription bottles and pills on a counter. As Canadians, we are proud of our universal health care system, which provides publicly-funded essential doctor and hospital care based on need and not ability to pay. Unfortunately, our health system falls short when it comes to prescription medication. Canada is the only industrialized country in the world to have a universal health system without also providing a publicly funded pharmacare program to cover the cost of prescription medication outside of hospitals. What this means is that the majority of Canadians pay for their prescription drugs privately -- either through private insurance programs or out-of-pocket. Advertisement Canadians also pay some of the highest prices for prescription drugs in the developed world, thanks to a patchwork system of negotiating drug prices that undermines our collective clout. The result is that many Canadians can't afford the medications their doctors prescribe for them -- as many as one in five according to a national poll -- and some may even be skipping them altogether, with possible catastrophic health consequences. So saving even a few bucks per prescription could add up to a big savings over time. Here are four ways you could save money on your prescription medication. 1. Ask your doctor if you should (still) be on the medication Never stop a prescribed medication without consulting your doctor because reducing or stopping a medication altogether could have serious health consequences. However, it is worth asking your doctor if you need to be on the medication in the first place. Advertisement Campaigns such as Choosing Wisely Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association, have released suggestions to help avoid unnecessary medical tests and treatments that the best available evidence shows do not enhance care. For example, taking antibiotics for a viral infection is ineffective. Other organizations, such as the Deprescribing Network, warn against over-medicalization, particularly for seniors. Often medications that were once useful, no longer need to be taken, and may even be causing unnecessary harm. It is always useful to review your medications regularly with your doctor to make sure you are on the lowest dosage required, to weigh the benefits and risks -- and to consider if you need the medication at all. 2. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a generic instead of a name brand medication More affordable generic prescription drugs have identical medicinal ingredients as their more expensive brand name counterparts. This means that the cheaper generic drug has the same benefits, risks and side-effects as the brand name, and has gone through the same quality standards testing with the government. The only differences may be in the non-medicinal ingredients. And, of course, the price, which can be substantial. Advertisement Newer medications typically won't have generic equivalents -- because of drug patent protections in Canada -- but most health conditions can be treated with cheaper generic drugs. 3. Shop around for less expensive dispensing fees and price check the cost of the medication When you purchase your prescription drugs at a pharmacy, check your receipt and you'll see you are charged a professional 'dispensing fee' each time you buy your medication. The fee charged can vary widely from pharmacy to pharmacy -- by several dollars -- so it can add up quickly. Be sure to compare dispensing fees for the pharmacies in your area. Also, in some provinces, even the price the consumer pays for medications can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, so do a quick price check to get the best deal. If you have taken the drug for a long-time and, on recommendation from your physician, know you will be taking it for a long-period still, getting the prescription filled less frequently can also save money on repeat dispensing fees. When price checking, keep in mind that you can find pharmacies in many locations now -- inside medical centres, grocery stores and even big box stores -- and they all have licensed pharmacists. Advertisement Pharmacists can be good sources of information so if you find one that takes the time to provide consultation and advice, weigh the quality of care you receive with the dispensing fee. 4. Check for subsidized programs Each province, and some federal programs, have subsidized or partially-subsidized coverage of medicines for certain groups of people, such as those with disabilities, those under certain income levels, seniors, native populations and refugees - so check to see if you are eligible. Guidelines have been newly created for physicians in Ontario, Manitoba, BC and other provinces to help connect patients with government programs, including prescription drug coverage -- so ask your doctor for more information. Non-profit organizations, such as those focusing on a specific disorder or disease, or those for seniors, often have resources to help connect patients with government programs. If you are still unsure, ask your provincial member of parliament for help pointing you to programs you may be eligible for. You may also want to ask them why Canada doesn't have a national pharmacare program yet while you are at it. Advertisement Youssef Boudlal / Reuters Nathalie Dube, Canada's ambassador to Morocco, lays flowers at a memorial in front of the Embassy of Canada in Rabat February 6, 2017, during a tribute to victims killed at a Quebec City mosque. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal Let us think back to the U.S. Presidential election of 2012 when Mitt Romney was the Republican candidate. I am sure we all remember the commotion, as there was great concern about such a devout Christian becoming president. Would he consult the Pope in regard to all his decisions? If he was elected, how much power would this non-American, the Pope, then have within the government of the United States? Wait a second -- What??? What, you exclaim -- where am I coming from with such a ridiculous assertion and memory? That, of course, did not happen. Mitt Romney is a Mormon, not a Roman Catholic -- and his faith has nothing to do with the Pope. But he is a Christian and don't all Christians accept the authority of the Pope? Silly Rabbi, Christianity is not monolithic; the great umbrella term we refer to as Christianity actually encompasses many different faith perspectives. Advertisement Roman Catholic Christians accept the authority of the Pope; Mormon Christians do not. Just because we apply the broad term 'Christian' to a certain individual does not mean that this person necessarily shares the same views as another person to whom we apply the same broad term. We recognize that attaching the simple term Christian to an individual does not really tell us much about that person's faith. That is why, if we wish to identify a person's faith (for whatever reason) we apply more precise and specific terms. Is the person a Catholic? Baptist? Methodist? Anglican? Mormon? And we recognize the vast distinctions that exist between these variant perspectives. There was even a time in history when Christians persecuted other Christians because of these differences in faith. In regard to this period after the Reformation, though, we do not speak of Christians fighting Christians but rather, for clarity, of wars between Protestants and Catholics. We would actually find it ridiculous to ignore these distinctions in any discussion of religion and religious persecution. Yet we apply such ridiculousness in regard to Islam. I think back to that tragic video of a Jordanian pilot being burned to death by ISIS terrorists. This pilot was actually a devout Muslim who was being persecuted -- to death -- because his form of Islam did not correspond to the Islam of ISIS. This was a case of religious persecution -- but many avoid this perspective because they will not recognize that Islam is not monolithic and that any discussion of this umbrella grouping must demand further clarification of its sub-groupings. Advertisement To deny the role of religion in this persecution -- in regard to both those persecuting and those being persecuted -- actually prevents us from properly responding to the problem. To challenge those who persecute, we must correctly define their specific religious constructs and apply them in battling them. Similarly, it is most necessary to recognize those, who because of their specific religious convictions, are also being persecuted albeit that they are, pursuant to the broadest umbrella definitions of the group, Muslims. To treat all Muslims the same is similar to describing Mitt Romney as a Roman Catholic. My words apply to both the left and to the right. Of course, all Muslims should not be included in the same religious grouping as the members of ISIS -- and that Jordanian pilot to whom I referred above should constantly remind us of that. How heartrending it would be if someone who shared the faith of this pilot suffered because another assumed that he/she, as a Muslim, must share the same views as ISIS. Yet to attempt to avoid this problem by not referring to ISIS as a specific religious grouping within Islam (and at odds with other understandings of Islam) is just as problematic. I saw another video of an ISIS soldier approaching a woman he just 'bought' at a slave auction, informing her that he was the one who would be, effectively, raping her that night -- but that it was acceptable because his religious mentors told him that it was. To not refer to religion in this case and thereby not recognize the role of religion in this thinking only hinders one's ability to combat such individuals. What is necessary, though, is to correctly define and label this sub-grouping of Islam so that we are aware of their creed and leanings, and do not mistake them for other sub-groupings of this broad faith. I am horrified by what happened in Quebec last week. Innocent people were killed and injured because someone indolently grouped together all sub-groupings of a faith into one broad category. The answer, however, will not be found in just ignoring the existence of such sub-groupings who are persecutors. Our goal, obviously, must include the avoidance of the improper treatment of sub-groupings who themselves can also be identified with the persecuted. To truly accomplish this, though, we must understand and apply the necessary distinctions of faith within the broader grouping. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook The five things you need to know on Wednesday, February 8 1) SUCKER PUNCH Its the last PMQs before the half-term recess and Theresa May will want to send her troops away happy with a Brexit spring in their step ahead of tonights third reading of the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. Advertisement No.10 took a while to agree on David Daviss plan to kill off the biggest possible Tory rebellion, by getting junior minister David Jones to pledge a UK Parliament vote on the final Brexit deal before the European Parliament had its say. When the PM did finally approve it, the tactic worked a treat. Keir Starmer welcomed it, Nicky Morgan tweeted her approval and Remainers like Dominic Grieve and Neil Carmichael felt it met their concerns. George Osborne didnt vote - but thats because he was speaking at an economics forum in Belgium. Some in Labour felt that Starmer had been suckered, while Ken Clarke instantly spotted that the pledge was not all it seemed. To be fair, MPs did a good job yesterday in probing enough to eventually get Jones to admit that if MPs voted down a Brexit deal, that would lead to a WTO-style no deal rather than force ministers back to the negotiating table. Minutes before the vote last night, it seemed the penny had dropped with Morgan as she was seen arguing with the Chief Whip, before abstaining. Government whips have long felt that divide-and-rule is the best option in dealing with splits on their own side and Labours on this bill. Some Tories were more exercised about EU migrants rights, some by a meaningful vote. Dont forget too that many Tory rebels have been ministers themselves and are inexperienced in extracting concessions rather than granting them. And many, on both sides, have only been MPs since 2010 or 2015. The fact that six Labour MPs sided with the Government last night, all but cancelling out the seven Tory rebels, said it all. Starmer insisted on Today that the Brexit vote concession was significant. Yesterday wasnt everything we wanted, but it was new, he said. He suggested that he thought May was bluffing about her threat to accept no deal rather than a good deal. If theres five months to run before the deadline, it would be reckless to throw your toys out of the pram and say Im not prepared to improve on what Ive got. He may be right and he may have bought some crucial time in the process. But people whove called Mays bluff before have learned that shes deadly serious. Advertisement 2) LEWIS MORSE CODE So, tonight is decision time for Clive Lewis, Labours Shadow Business Secretary. He said last weekend that if the Brexit bill was unamended by its Third Reading, he would quit his post. If at the end of that process the bill before us is still an overwhelmingly Tory, hard, cliff-edge Trumpian Brexit then I am prepared to break the whip and I am prepared to walk from the shadow cabinet. Hes a former soldier, but you dont need Morse code to work out that threat. Some in Team Jez have long been wary of Lewis since his Trident switcheroo at party conference. Others dont want to lose him and would rather bring him and others back quickly (already a summer reshuffle is mooted). But exactly what Corbyn decides tonight could determine Lewiss future leadership hopes as well as his own succession plan. Jen Williams on the Manchester Evening News certainly set a hare running yesterday with a claim that Corbyn has given a departure date to his inner circle. Is that date May 2020? Or sooner? Expect the PM to pick up on that one today. Most Labour MPs expect Diane Abbott to follow the three-line whip to keep her job. I understand moves were already underway to hand Abbotts shadow immigration minister role to someone else, partly because of the extra workload but partly to get a clearer hearing on the issue. Lets see if the reshuffle makes that harder now. The lengths to which Corbyns allies went to retain Lewis (and protect Abbott) took the Shadow Cabinet by surprise yesterday. The Guardian claims Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner suggested a three-line whip, forcing everyone to abstain. To which Emily Thornberry replied: Youre proposing that Labours answer to the greatest decision facing Britain is to say we cant decide. Meanwhile, Im told the Oxford University Labour Club voted on Monday by 17 to 6 against calling for all suspended party members (including Ken Livingstone) to have their suspensions lifted. Suspensions of OULCs members after the anti-semitism row were rescinded last month, a decision that still rankles among key figures. Advertisement 3) A RIGHT BERC? Tory MPs are continuing to mobilise against John Bercow after his spectacular denunciation of Donald Trumps racism and sexism. At least two backbenchers have approached parliamentary clerks to ask how to table a no-confidence motion in Bercow, the Guardian reports. Such a motion has little chance of success given MPs traditional reluctance to openly criticise the Speaker. Im sure he would relish the chance to defeat it too. But with the new election for Speaker due next year, the runners and riders in the race to succeed him is gathering pace. Assuming Bercow doesnt try to stay on (an idea not that outlandish given his SNP and Labour backing), Lindsay Hoyle is seen by many Tories as a decent choice, not least after his spat with Alex Salmond on Monday night (the word bastard was muttered). Jacob Rees-Mogg is seen as a joke candidate by many MPs. But I wouldnt rule out Gisela Stuart, however. The darling of many Tories over Brexit, yet respected by lots of centrist Labour types, shed be a good outside bet. Lords Speaker Norman Fowler made clear his irritation yesterday at not being consulted over the Trump remarks. And others may pick up on his call for changing the rules to end the effective veto both Speakers have over addresses to Parliament. The fact is that Bercow was right when he said decisions on such speeches fall within the remit of the chair, and he knew what others had failed to spot - that he was one of just three keyholders to Westminster Hall. Still, there are bound to be calls now for such power to be diluted, perhaps with a wider consultative committee. BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Watch this rabbit fend off an attack by a falcon. It makes the PLP look mild. 4) TAXING TIMES Ahead of the real Budget next month, the double whammy warning of higher taxes and longer austerity in the IFS Green Budget will worry a few Tory MPs. The think tanks main prediction is that tax is set to rise as a share of the UK's income to its highest level since 1986. But it also says austerity will continue into the 2020s, after Chancellor Philip Hammond decided to scrap a target of balancing the nation's books. Add onto that the IFS warning that spending on health, social care and benefits for sick or disabled people represents a particular risk to the public finances because it accounts for almost one third of government expenditure. The report confirms that the period between 2009 and 2014 saw the slowest rate of growth in health spending in England since the mid-1950s. Advertisement Still, Eurosceptic MPs are bound to point out that things could be a lot worse over on The Continent. The Telegraph splashes on the IMFs warning that Greeces debts are on an explosive path despite years of cuts, demanding debt relief that the Eurogroup is unwilling to provide. Meanwhile, the latest Eurobarometer survey says that the eurozone overall has quietly staged an economic comeback, slightly outpacing the US, and with Spain and Ireland rebounding and Germany still solid. Yet immigration and terrorism now trump growth as euro-voters concerns. 5) LICENCE TO BILL Its the final day of the Committee stage of the Digital Economy Bill in the Lords. Stewart Wood, the former consigliere to Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown, has blogged for HuffPost on Labours amendments to defend public service broadcasting in general and the BBC in particular. Under the plans, public service content will be more visible on multi-channel platforms, and new rules would be create to guarantee major sporting events remain accessible to all on free-to-air TV. Existing definitions of what counts as a channel that qualifies as sufficiently accessible are at serious risk of becoming obsolete, he says. But perhaps most intriguing is a plan to depoliticise decisions about the BBC licence fee and the amounts of cash the Corporation has in coming years. Wood proposes an independent Licence Fee Commission to assess what the financial settlement for the BBC should be. The Secretary of State would have a duty to consult with the public on the Commissions recommendation and if disagreeing with the final recommendation, would have to account publicly for the decision, he writes. If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. As the Leicester Comedy Festival starts up again, there are more 'political' acts on the card than ever before. Yet the problem here is finding something in the political arena about which many people can laugh and enjoy. Truth has become stranger than fiction. Did you hear the one about a billionaire businessman come-reality tv host, who had previously declared himself bankrupt? He became President of the USA! Not really funny, but it makes the point. Donald Trump was seen in many quarters as a joke candidate. Here in the UK, the vast majority of the population did not take his candidature seriously. He was not expected to last a week; then he was expected to be knocked out during the Republican primaries; then Hillary Clinton was expected to win. We now have a US President who tweets vociferously, and woe betide anyone who attacks him. The 'Trumpistas' will be out in full force to protect their man. So, how does a comedian poke fun at a very thin-skinned political bully? Problem. It does not matter how outrageous Trump's assertions might be, if anybody questions them - be it in a serious news investigation or in a comic manner, those being questioned are likely to become the brunt of attack. Advertisement Yet even here in the UK, we have a similar problem. Poke fun at Jeremy Corbyn or Nigel Farage, to pick but two examples, and you can expect an unhealthy response from their respective support bases. It does not matter how outrageous their assertions, their supporters will not have their idols denigrated. We have a world now where fake news appears to reign supreme. Some of the fake news in social media is outrageous; yet there are those who accept it as 'fact'. I am reminded of the bigoted comic character, Alf Garnet, who told someone how planes flew to Australia. According to him, they took off and then hovered while the world span around, and then they landed at their destination. Totally ludicrous; totally unbelievable; but in our 'post-truth' world, why not? Even in the world of Brexit, the 'post-truth world' is obvious. Britain will get its cake and eat it. The deal that will be struck will be better than what was available as a member of the EU. And we won't have to pay a penny. And everyone will be better off. Sounds awfully similar to getting the Mexicans to pay for the building of that wall! The politicians who spout these ideas seem totally convinced of their accuracy. These 'facts' are incontrovertible. Anyone who suggests otherwise is being unpatriotic and 'doing Britain down'. How can you poke fun at that? How dare you? Yet that is what our comedians do. They can take these ideas or 'facts' and put a spin on them. Not just about Brexit or Trump, but anything that is of interest in the political world. In the same way as a jester might have kept a medieval monarch grounded, so modern comedians do the same to the contemporary political leaderships. The challenge is to be able to do so in the post-truth world. How can you keep a politician grounded when the line between fact and fiction is not just blurred but non-existent? And as a leader appears to become more and more totalitarian, the potential danger to the comedian increases. Advertisement Bloomberg via Getty Images Donald Trump succeeded in becoming the American President by promising to be hostile towards foreign people - by blaming them for the problems his potential voters were experiencing. He accused their Mexican neighbours of sending rapists and murderers across the border. He promised to ban all Muslims from the USA although so far he has had to be content with trying to ban Muslims from only a small number of majority Muslim countries. Advertisement Of course this was topped of with a promise to - "make America great again" - whatever that means? Perhaps it means that by making foreign people less great you make your own tribe great? The Brexit debate seems to have been won by the leave camp on the basis of trying to stop foreign people coming to the UK because they allegedly take jobs, lower wages - and as Farage once claimed - they cause motorway jams. Now - more recently - the debate around the NHS seems to have coalesced around a Nigerian mum who had the temerity to become a medical emergency in our airspace. Priscilla, who was pregnant with four babies, was turned away from the USA where she had gone to give birth - because it seems that there would a better chance of the babies being born successfully there than at home in Nigeria. Advertisement Of course people are entitled (and do) take a view on this but it doesn't seem to justify the powerful hatred directed against her since then. She did not, for instance, then choose to come to the UK to have her babies - she became ill while transiting through the UK on the way back home and tragically two of the babies died. The reaction to her personal tragedy by some of our media and some other citizens was too accuse her of being a 'health tourist' and highlighting her case as typical of the things bringing down the NHS. This even though the so called health tourism accounts for only a tiny part of the total NHS budget. Some estimates say her treatment has cost up to 500K - which is a lot of money. Not surprisingly she can't pay it back - not many of us could. She was not handed this money - nor was it snatched from the hands of local families either - but it is hard to believe that given the reaction it has caused. Given that she did not choose to come to the UK to give birth and given that she has lost two of her babies - it is difficult to see why she has attracted so much hostile attention - unless you take into account that she is a black lady from a foreign country and some elements of our media love to fill their pages with non-white people for their angry readers to hate. Advertisement In case you don't think racism comes into it - here are a few of the nastier comments from the Sun newspaper website (with original spelling)- 'Send the coloured birch back.."tired of these total free loaders' 'Well done America, but why wasn't this freeloader turned away from here too? I'm sick of shelling out our money on scum like this.' '.....send them back .....sponges like this s l a g' 'Feel sorry for you - the place has gone nuts....I never thought Hilter was right in some of his ideals....he had some good solutions' If the Sun folks do edit comments on their website - it makes you wonder what sort of comment they would edit out if they allow these to stand. Perhaps they see it as useful feedback - showing they are on the right track? Racism has existed as long as humans have been around and all cultures and ethnicity's are capable of it but there have been times when it was not politics as usual - as it now is. Advertisement Politics and journalism can often be cynical businesses and both have bad reputations - perhaps that is healthy to some extent since it might help keep in check those with power. But I think there should be a special place in hell for people who encourage hatred of people less powerful than themselves to exercise or gain power. Priscilla and the Mexicans and all the millions of innocent Muslims have something in common - they are chosen targets of greedy: selfish, ambitious and powerful people. Neil Hall / Reuters It will come as no surprise at all to demoralised, hard pressed and under-resourced UK border force officers that Theresa May's Brexit minister, David Davis, stated that the UK's 'control of its own borders' would have to go through a 'transitional period.' His excuse seemed to revolve around the needs of business but the reality is that UK border controls have been a shambles for years and would quite simply collapse with the additional workload pressed upon it by virtue of imposing any form of restriction on EU nationals. Airport authorities recently voiced their concern that the resources of the UK Border Force would be inadequate to meet demand but were rebuffed by the usual bland, comfort statement from the Home Office. Advertisement "Remainers" on the government side including David Cameron and Theresa 'one half-hearted pro-Remain speech' May would have known that the UK's Border Force would be unable to cope but failed to say so as any such statement would expose their own woeful stewardship of the UK's borders. Many Brexiteers would also have been aware of the failings at UK borders which would prevent any 'strengthening' of our controls in the short or medium term yet they said nothing as immigration issues were clearly the tipping point in respect of the referendum vote. The Shambles that are our borders. It's not as if border control issues remain out of the news for protracted periods of time. The Eurostar 'Lille loophole' whereby persons could enter the UK without producing any identification, should have been closed back in 2011 but was recently shown to have continued to exist in the 'rush hour.' Potential weaknesses at our small seaports, airports and coastlines have been commented on by the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, and exposed by journalists. Each revelation is inevitably followed by a bland 'comfort statement' from the Home Office. Yet of course the disaster of post Brexit border controls will be most apparent at our major air and sea ports. At present, the Home Office's own staff survey shows that the morale of UKBF front line officers is at an abysmally low level with little confidence in both senior managers and government ministers. Advertisement 300 graduates recruited nearly three years ago, have virtually all departed and at major airports border controls are held together by the sticking plaster of 'seasonal' Border Force officers; temporary staff who have received just two weeks training. Those employed for the 'summer rush' have been retained and now a desperate Home Office are advertising for more. The main priority at major airports, especially Heathrow is queues. Airport staff are employed to watch CCTV screens showing immigration halls and as soon as queues build up, calls are made to UKBF managers which result in 'flexible' teams being taken away from customs duties to staff passport controls. Even those few deployed to 'permanent' customs duties such as in cargo and the post room are taken away to avoid dreaded queue breaches. Despite this, as illustrated by complaints on social media, queues continue to exist which can result in queueing times being manipulated to ensure queue breaches are avoided. UK Border Force managers are currently in a state of panic as drug seizure targets are in danger of not being met and indeed most seizures that do take place are as a result of National Crime Agency operations. The days of the customs officer's 'nose,' experience and expertise in spotting the 'wrong 'un' have virtually gone. EU citizens and UK post-Brexit borders So, what will be impact of Brexit on EU nationals as they arrive at our overcrowded, air and sea ports? Let's assume the million or so EU nationals working here are permitted to stay. How will they be identified if they leave and return to the UK? Will they have to be registered in some way? If so how? Controversial ID cards? Some sort of visa in their passports? Where would they register? Police stations, if the can find one that is open? Post offices? The Home Office is totally swamped with asylum and leave to remain cases and have responsibility for tracing anywhere between 500,000 and one million persons illegally in the UK. Home Office enforcement officers are frequently diverted away from these duties to deal with the hundreds of migrants/refugees who manage to evade the UK juxtaposed controls in France and Belgium and then at UK sea ports. The Home Office interestingly refuse to release figures of those who have made it to the UK. Those figures would not, of course, include those who have travelled here undetected and have simply vanished into the various communities. Advertisement Given the current chaos that frequently reigns at larger airports, additional screening of EU nationals' resident in the UK post Brexit to confirm their entitlement to reside will bring those airports to a halt. Those EU nationals resident here will have to be separated from those coming from Europe to visit family or arriving as tourists. They will be unable to use controversial eGates which the Home Office have 'employed' as a cost cutting measure to replace UKBF officers. Even if every desk in the arrivals hall is occupied by a UKBF officer it will make little difference; the airport terminals, at peak periods will still be unable to cope. The frequency of queues stretching back to the airport gates, already a problem due to the increased passenger capacity of planes, will increase while more planes will be stuck on airport taxiways. Those with EU passports, including those not entitled to reside, will of course, post Brexit, be able to avoid chaos at UK air and seaports, by simply arriving in Ireland and making their way north into the United Kingdom. Brexit, Le Touquet, Consequences. Meanwhile at our sea ports, where poor recording of passenger details for security purposes has recently been criticised, there will be similar problems which will become truly horrendous if the French decide that the UK border controls on their soil will have to go. Whilst the Le Touquet agreement is supposedly a separate issue from Brexit, it seems probable that when current President, Francois Hollande, steps down at the next election, his successor could well terminate the agreement. The result will be that those evicted from Calais and who can now be found in other makeshift, squalid coastal camps or on the streets of Paris, will face little more than a token effort from French law enforcement to prevent them from concealing themselves in trucks and other UK bound vehicles. French customs officers will doubtless be more interested in conducting meticulous post Brexit checks on the paperwork of lorries and trucks with goods destined for or arriving from the UK. Advertisement The result at Dover and other ports will be the inevitable arrival of hundreds, perhaps thousands of refugees and migrants and this may indeed be welcomed by those swathes of the UK populace who demonstrated in such impressive numbers against the immigration edicts of Donald Trump. It will not, however, be the situation which influenced millions of UK nationals to put their tick in the Brexit box. The consequences could involve large scale civil unrest especially if this coincides with post Brexit economic woe; extreme elements amongst those who voted for Brexit on immigration grounds could well be in street conflict with those who support the concept of 'all refugees welcome here' and minority communities themselves while hate crimes will almost inevitably show a dramatic increase. Doubtless both the 'Remainers and Brexiteers' will ignore the very real issues stated above while, if asked to comment, the Home Office will produce its usual bland spin along the lines of; 'the Home Office is committed to strong borders and we are confident we have the resources to cope with all eventualities post Brexit.' A police officer checks a truck driver's passport at Horgas land port between China and Kazakhstan, Oct. 17, 2005, in Horgas, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. (Photo : Getty Images) China is set to streamline the rules and processes for issuing permanent residence certificates to foreigners with "favorable treatments." The reform serves to help the nation develop talents and respond to social concern, according to a statement issued by the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform on Monday. Advertisement The meeting approved proposals for the strengthening of local governments' foreign affairs work and the reform of supervisory mechanism of Chinese government agencies stationed abroad, the statement said. President Xi Jinping, which heads the Central Leading Group, said senior officials should play key roles in pushing for and prioritizing new reforms related to foreign affairs. In 2016, 1,576 foreigners became permanent Chinese residents, an increase of 163 percent over the previous year, according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency citing official data. "The reform should serve the nation's talent strategy, address concerns of the public, optimize the design of the credentials and improve the information system," the statement said. The meeting also discussed reforms in training foreign affairs workers and foreign aid. Current recruitment and selection should be enhanced to foster a team of workers involved in foreign services that are politically steadfast, professional in work, have a fine work style and strict in following discipline, the statement said. The strategic layout of foreign aid should be optimized and the management of the funds and projects should be improved, it added. In addition, the statement urged for the standardized development of non-government think tanks, asking them to prioritize social responsibility and study major projects of the Party and the state. Participants in the meeting also agreed to improve the personnel system, payment, performance assessment, and dismissal systems within the country's major state media. The reform should boost the sense of belonging and loyalty of state media personnel so as to foster the long-term and healthy development of journalism, the statement said. The statement also tasked leading government officials to spearhead reforms and implement the reform decisions by the Party without delay and make sure the Central Committee's reform missions are properly carried out. PA/PA Wire The recent news of misfired nuclear missiles, the ensuing government cover-up, and sustained silence about a serious accident, was symbolic of a wider truth: our decision makers haven't got a grip on the truth about Trident, Britain's nuclear weapons system. Though the misfires remind us that catastrophic nuclear accidents are a very real and present danger, some still argue that these risks are worth it to defend national security. But is that really the role Trident plays? This is the question we try to answer in our new Security not Trident report, released on Tuesday. Advertisement In it we argue that real security begins with an honest account of the security threats we face in 21st century Britain. On this we agree with the government's National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security review assessment: the main threats are terrorism, climate change, cyber-attacks and global health security. It's far from clear, however, in which ways Trident responds to these challenges. Far clearer are the threats and vulnerabilities posed by the Trident system itself. We now know that Trident is vulnerable to emerging underwater drone technology. One of the big arguments in favour of submarines as a 'platform' for carrying our nuclear weapons has been that they are undetectable under water. When the current system was being built in the 1980s and 1990s, no doubt that was the case. But in the 21st century, how can anyone imagine that a massive metal submarine can remain undetected? As former Defence Secretary Lord Browne warned in 2015, citing a cyber resilience report from the US's Department of Defence, Trident could be rendered obsolete by cyber-attacks. The worst case scenario is a hostile, cyber take-over of our nuclear weapons system. This is more likely to succeed if an adversary manages to install a malware programme during the building phase that would activate at a later date. Advertisement We still routinely hear Trident described as Britain's independent deterrent. The truth is it's neither independent nor a deterrent. Decades of conflict have proved that Trident doesn't deter war. As former British Army officer General Sir Hugh Beach says 'of the 190 states party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) all but five have committed themselves to non-nuclear weapon status permanently. Many of them have the economic, industrial and scientific capacity to become nuclear weapon states if they wished, but have chosen not to. They seem to have suffered no disadvantage from nuclear blackmail. In fact non-nuclear weapon states have often defied possessor states.' Some MPs voted in favour of replacing Trident on the false belief that Britain's nuclear weapons are a symbol of the country's independence and ability to act alone. But Trident is neither politically nor technically independent. Much of the system relies on technical support from the United States. The missiles are leased from them; the UK warhead is a copy of the US one, with some components directly bought from Washington. It is inconceivable to imagine a British Prime Minister firing a nuclear missile without permission from the American President, and the rest of the world knows this. It will always be a government's priority to keep its citizens safe. But what is true security in the 21st century? As the world becomes more inter-linked than ever before, it is becoming the norm to cooperate with other states on the challenges facing us, rather than battle against each other. The actual security threats identified by the government and in this report are complex and will not be solved overnight. But Britain does have the capability to overcome them. What the country does not need is to spend billions replacing Trident. Disarming could not only provide political leadership to the rest of the nuclear-armed states, but would be a practical guide for how to do it, a blueprint for the rest of the world drafted by our experts and politicians. Britain disarming could even provide impetus to the United Nations' plans for a nuclear weapons-free world. A treaty to ban all nuclear weapons will be negotiated in March and June 2017, which will force the nuclear states to confront their possession of these weapons. Advertisement Why an inquest? Inquests are held when people die violent or 'unnatural' deaths, when the cause of death isn't known or when someone dies while in prison, police custody or some other form of state detention (including being kept in hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act). This doesn't necessarily mean foul play - not that it stops your mind from going to that dark place late at night. The coroner is doing an investigation into the death, and is interested in the background of what happened and how. Most inquests are nowhere near the high-profile events of national disasters or miscarriages of justice. In my case, it was the death of my twin sister a couple of weeks before our 28th birthday. Jenny had died when her clothes caught fire when she was cooking her evening meal. You will be asked to make a statement to the coroner's officer. He or she will want to know how your relative had lived their life. In my sister's case, it was to understand her life with cerebral palsy, how her disability had affected her, and how it may have contributed to the way she died. Take your time with this, as pressured as you may feel inside. Remember that not getting every detail across is by no means letting your loved one down. You'll have lots of questions of your own - about the death as much as about the inquest proceedings. Your meeting with the coroner's officer is a good chance to ask. I found the coroner's officer to be calm, courteous and professional - I wish I'd been less inhibited about asking questions. Another good resource is this guide produced by the UK Ministry of Justice. You'll get to see several reports - statements from police, post mortem reports in arcane medical language. You're entitled to copies of all of these without charge (or for a small administrative fee if you ask for them after the inquest is completed). Perhaps too shocked to notice at the time, I realised only years later that I hadn't seen the fire investigator's report. I was given this on request, with the more upsetting photographs removed. Be prepared to read all sorts of personal meanings into otherwise dry statements of fact. For a long time, I interpreted a comment on my sister being 'well nourished' to be a euphemism for overweight. You'll be surprised at the level of detail. The percentage of smoke in the lungs, the relative state of health or disease of internal organs, and even their weight. Some of these facts can become interesting in a strangely academic way, as you bolster yourself against their emotional impact. Similarly, be prepared to read things about your loved one you'd never known, or to see them in a strange new light. You may learn about private habits, or of medical conditions you - or even your loved one - didn't know about. In my case, I had the strange sense that my twin's cerebral palsy was on trial - or rather the way we, as a family, had dealt with her disability. The inquest will be held in a coroner's court. This is a public building, complete with institutional quirks. With all the doors of the loos next to the courtroom locked, I remember finding myself in a strange vandal-proof toilet in a secluded part of the building. Again, don't be afraid to ask. Prepare for the expert testimony. This is your chance to put questions to the professionals, who are busy people and could well be excused from the proceedings when their testimony ends. Speak to family members beforehand about what you'd like to ask, as the experts may well not be around to answer questions later on. The inquest proceedings will be intense, with upsetting evidence and memories flooding in. It was awful to see my sister's neighbour struggling to describe the experience of finding her body. Just because it's a solemn affair however, doesn't mean there won't be a touch of the surreal. In my case, while trying to put one of my sister's facilitators at ease, the coroner made an unfortunate slip: 'I hear you got on like a house on fire'. Don't be surprised to see a young hack from a local newspaper scribbling down notes as the case unfolds. Your personal loss may not be headline news, but it could still make the front page of a local paper - best to steady yourself for this too. At the end of the inquest, the coroner will give a verdict. This could include a number of explanations for the death, such as suicide, death by misadventure, unlawful killing. Sometimes the coroner will prefer to give a narrative verdict, condensing the cause and circumstances of death into a short account. Don't expect this to put to bed every 'Why?' and 'If only'. It may take many years to get over what happened, and expecting instant closure is unrealistic. But hopefully the inquest will help. Coroners are keenly aware of their social responsibility, as well as the impact of the process on families of the deceased. You may go away moved by the impact of your loss on other people, and with a new insight on how society binds us together. DEA / C. SAPPA via Getty Images Earlier this week one of the commentators on the late-evening BBC newspapers review slot spoke about a horrifying front-page article headline in the following day's Times. "Assad hangs thousands of tortured opponents", said the headline. It was "to the Times's credit", said the reviewer, that the paper "was still doing stories like this". Well, the story was certainly important. It concerned the findings of Amnesty's new report laying bare the horrifying reality of life in one of President Assad's military prisons - Saydnaya, in Damascus. Advertisement Here almost unimaginable brutality is the norm. Between 10,000 and 20,000 detainees are crammed into cells in Saydnaya - some in a wing for military prisoners (the "white building"), some for civilians (the "red building"). The majority of Saydnaya's inmates are there because they've been identified as opponents of the Assad government - longterm dissidents, demonstrators, students, human rights activists. Or they're suspected of being opponents. None has received a proper trial. Without exception, everyone at Saydnaya is subjected to a sustained and deliberately life-threatening programme of relentless torture. One former detainee described Saydnaya's "intense" beatings like this: "It was as if you had a nail, and you were trying again and again to beat it into a rock. It was impossible, but they just kept going. I was wishing they would just cut off my legs instead of beating them any more." Whereas torture in other parts of Assad's extensive network of detention centres is used to force detainees to confess to something, at Saydnaya it's used to punish, degrade and deliberately kill. Degradation is the key element. In the so-called "group room" (cells with 30-35 people) inmates are forced to select a "shawish", or cell leader, whose job it is to select the five people per day who are to be taken out of the cell and tortured. If the shawish refuses, he himself will be severely tortured, possibly to the point of death. One former detainee has described the process: Advertisement "The guard would put a spoon on the head of one person in the cell, and would say 'You are the pimp of the room' ... Because the shawish took a lot of beating, that person would die every week of two, and we would need a new one. The guard would put the spoon on the head of a new detainee, and then we would have a new shawish." The calculated cruelty takes many forms. Food is withheld and then thrown onto the dirt, blood and puss of the overcrowded cell floors. The water supply is regularly cut off for days on end, with desperate thirst-maddened prisoners reduced to drinking their own urine. There is no medical care and almost all the prisoners are suffering from scabies, diarrhoea and other infectious conditions. Anyone asking for help from a Saydnaya prison doctor risks being tortured by the guards or even by the doctor themselves. Like the Soviet gulags or other notorious concentration camps, Saydnaya is a place of "extermination", a recognised crime under international law. The regime itself is designed to decimate life. But the killing regime is also more chillingly direct as well. Some of Saydnaya's former detainees have told me about the regular mass hangings at the prison. At regular intervals blindfolded prisoners are taken out of the camp for a sham trial (lasting no more than three minutes) before a so-called "Military Field Court". Here they're automatically found guilty and a death sentence is drawn up. Back in Saydnaya, around two months later condemned prisoners are told they're being transferred to a civilian prison, a rare moment of hope for these tattered, emaciated inmates. Instead, in blindfolded groups of between 20-50 men, they're removed from their cells at around midnight, subjected to a ferocious three hours of beating before being summarily hanged at around 3am. They often don't know the hanging is about to occur until they actually feel the noose being put around their necks. All in all, between September 2011 and December 2015 we calculate that up to 13,000 people have been hanged in this squalid way at Saydnaya. Maybe more. In addition, countless others have succumbed to disease and torture. And, as far as we know, this is still going on. Saydnaya is a place of unimaginable terror. Even when you know about the numerous horrors that have already unfolded in Syria in the past half-decade, it chills you to the bone to hear survivors telling you what it was like to be in Saydnaya. The 30 or so former detainees we spoke to have been to hell and back. So it's right what that BBC paper reviewer said. It is important that major newspapers keep putting stories like the slaughterhouse of Saydnaya on their front pages. And I'm determined to keep telling the terrible story of what's happening in Saydnaya and elsewhere in Syria. We owe it to the survivors, as well as to the relatives of those who tragically haven't survived. (Photo by New World Payphones) Grab a red phone box souvenir as Britain's most recognisable symbol bids farewell. The red phone box may not be a feature of every British town and city, but it still remains an iconic representation of the UK that is just as loved as ever. The love affair with the red phone box started in 1912 when the General Post Office absorbed all the private telephone companies in Britain, and in a bid to find a single design for a national kiosk, the first standard kiosk, the K1, appeared. Advertisement (K1 telephone box at the National Tramway Museum in Crich. Photo by Elliott Brown) Unfortunately, the K1 wasn't a big hit with local authorities and was only installed in limited numbers. The K2 phone box, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, was rolled out in 1926 and it was Britain's first red telephone box followed by the blue metropolitan police telephone box a few years later. Next came the K6, which was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. Advertisement (A K6 telephone kiosk at the corner of Town Street and Stoney Lane in Thaxted, Essex, England. Photo by Acabashi) Nearly 8,000 K6 kiosks were installed across the UK from 1936 before the revolutionary K7 design emerged, which never went into final production. The K8 was introduced later, as a replacement for the K6 yet it never matched its predecessor's success and the number of surviving K8s is rather small. Phone kiosks, however, slowly fell into decline with the majority of the red telephone boxes being removed or replaced by newer version, BT branded phone boxes, also known as Kiosk KX100. In a bid to preserve the phone boxes, the first telephone kiosk was awarded statutory protection in 1986 and up to 2,000 kiosks were given grade 2 status by English heritage. Advertisement (BT phone kiosk at Higher Ansty, Dorset, England. Photo by Chris Downer) With the majority of the red telephone boxes being replaced by newer versions, there are only a few remaining K6 kiosks -and in 2017, the red phone box is yet again getting a makeover. New World Payphones are set to revolutionise urban spaces in London and nationwide by replacing the red telephone box with state-of-the-art kiosks, inspired of course by the originals. The new versions are adapting the classic K2 kiosk for the 21st century, updating the iconic design with cutting edge technology while bringing something beautiful to Britain's urban centres. Image credit: New World Payphones The new phone kiosks are set to offer much more than vital telephony services by providing pedestrians and communities with high-speed Wi-Fi connection and interactive touch screen journey planners and local information services -and as always the kiosk is open to all. Advertisement While tourists scourging for a red phone box to take their next big Instagram selfie might not be hailing the news of a revolutionised black phone kiosk, there is good news for climate change campaigners; for every red phone box removed or replaced, a living gift is to be bestowed upon us in the form of a tree being planted near the phone box site. Here's a look at the birth and evolution of Britain's most recognisable symbol: (Red telephone boxes on the Oak Ridges Moraine in Ontario, Canada. Photo by Rick Harris/Wikimedia Commons) Advertisement (Across London's streets, replicas of the Gilbert Scott phone box, were transformed by the imaginations of creative minds and later auctioned off to raise money for ChildLine's 25th anniversary. Photo by Karen Roe/Wikimedia Commons) (Green phone box at Portesham. Photo by RNE/Wikimedia Commons) BasSlabbers via Getty Images Imagine for a moment you are the head of an intelligence agency and have just been notified of an imminent threat. An individual has turned up to a police station, stating they have initiated a timer for a bomb located somewhere in the centre of a city. The bomb will detonate in 8 hours with a blast radius of 15 miles, would you action the use of torture with the hope of gaining information, potentially saving millions of lives? This is a thought experiment called the "ticking time bomb" scenario, and it is often deployed by philosophers and academics of different moral traditions to justify or object to the permissibility of torture. The scenario has the ability to provoke extreme emotional responses, however, simplifies a very complex moral dilemma. Advertisement The practice of torture is abhorrent and it is the manifestation of the worst of humanity. In the past torture was part of human practice in different forms, from Vlad the impaler, the 15th century Romanian King who impaled thousands, to the Sicilian bull, a horrific torture technique victims were burnt alive. If those practices were replicated today, the perpetrators would be rightly universally condemned. However, even though the right to be free from torture is recognised in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human rights, many governments and politicians continue to promote or facilitate torture. With the President of the United States, Donald Trump recently reasserting his view that waterboarding is an effective form of interrogation in an interview with ABC. The scale of the modern use of torture around the world can not be understated, Amnesty International in 2014 reported that "a comprehensive and categorical statistical assessment of the global scale of torture is impossible" due to its widespread use. Those that advocate torture like President Trump, often use the argument of self-defence in extreme circumstances. Rooted in the notion that torture is morally permissible in supreme emergencies, where one faces a dangerous threat like a terrorist attack. Advertisement The argument that torture can be implemented as a form of self-defence is fatally flawed. Torture is so barbaric an act, all human beings have an indefeasible right to be free from torture. Under no circumstances could torture be permissible, even in the case of supreme emergencies such as a terrorist attack. It isn't too much of a stretch to say that we are fascinated with women in positions of power -- perhaps because, even in 2017, there are so few of them. And when it comes to women who live in the public eye, there is an insidious tendency to compare and contrast, to imagine rivalries and to create rankings, whether they are pop stars or political leaders. Successful women exist in such limited numbers that we cannot help but keep some sort of mental tally of how they stack up. The latest Intelligence Squared debate was guilty of exactly this, pitting two of history's greatest queens against each other; Elizabeth I vs. Victoria. Historical novelist Philippa Gregory made a case for Elizabeth, and in Victoria's corner was writer and television producer Daisy Goodwin. Their arguments were punctuated by readings from the respective queens' diaries and letters, performed by renowned actresses Fiona Shaw and Greta Scacchi. So, what exactly did it take to get ahead in the notoriously patriarchal courts of the 16th and 19th Centuries? Do the reigns of Elizabeth and Victoria hold any lessons for modern women? And is it really possible to "have it all?" Advertisement On the importance of personal brand: Elizabeth's notoriety today is unequalled by any other ruler from her era (except perhaps her father, Henry VIII) and this was no accident. Infamously vain and flirtatious, outward appearance was everything to Elizabeth, and elaborate gifts and compliments became the most powerful currency of the court. She was "a conscious and powerful creator of the royal image," taking the "Elizabeth brand" (as Gregory puts it) on tour. Virginity was a key part of this brand; Elizabeth knew that under the law, a woman became subservient to her husband, and she would be unable to marry if she wished to rule. So she incorporated a denouncement of marriage into the narrative of her divine anointment, transforming a personal choice into a sacrifice for her people. Victoria, too, had a strong sense of her own brand from a young age, refusing to speak German and rejecting traditional royal names, instead styling herself as Victoria (the feminisation of her mother's maiden name). This previously non-existent moniker, which denoted triumph but was as alien to the ears of her subjects as "Beyonce" would have been, came to define an era. And while not as vain as Elizabeth, Victoria did cultivate her own aesthetic later in life, eschewing a crown in favour of a simple widow's cap following the death of Prince Albert, so as to appear closer to the people. On acting like a man: While coquettish when it suited her, as a ruler Elizabeth was constantly masculinising her persona and distancing herself from her sex, most famously in the line; "I know I have the body of but a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king." Advertisement This sentiment is echoed in modern times by "cool girls" who present themselves as one of the boys in order to gain acceptance from their male peers or co-workers. It was even present in Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, where it can be argued she performed a diluted form of masculinity that would engage, but not threaten, male voters. "Women rarely 'act like women' to achieve power and influence in politics," writes political scientist Jennifer Jones, who cites Margaret Thatcher as a classic example. "Though the times may be changing, the powerful voice in politics still speaks with a masculine style." On motherhood: "Princes cannot like their own children, those that succeed unto them," wrote Elizabeth, presenting herself as more man than woman and therefore not the broody type. For Gregory, this is nothing short of revolutionary; she believes that Elizabeth called out "the powerful fiction of maternal love" and asserted that it is neither the duty nor destiny of every woman to be a mother. "If womanly tenderness doesn't apply to Elizabeth, it doesn't need to apply to any of us," she says. "Not every woman loves children; this is a liberating vision. It is possible. Elizabeth tells us so." Such an idea might not seem so radical in 2017, but reproductive rights are still politicised in the US and young women face mounting societal pressure to start a family in addition to working. This is partly because childlessness continues to carry a stigma, and women who have not had children are painted as either barren or selfish, as was the case with UK Prime Minister Theresa May last year. Even the prolifically fertile Victoria, a mother nine times over, saw having children as the "shadow side" of marriage and the consequence of "fun in bed," says Goodwin. Her squeamishness around pregnancy and childbirth is well documented, and she wrote rhapsodically about chloroform after the Archbishop of Canterbury exempted her from Eve's curse and permitted the use of anaesthetic in labour. Advertisement Interestingly, the idea of a mother on the throne struck a chord with the British people, perhaps because it followed years of kingly scandal and corruption, and it helped to stabilise Victoria's reign while other monarchies were toppling left and right. She also originated the idea of a royal family as we know it today, and created a sort of proto-EU, Goodwin suggests, by marrying each of her children into various courts across Europe. On being an ally: A terrible rival and demanding employer, Elizabeth did show love and loyalty to the women in her inner circle, and she was a supporter of female artists in the Renaissance -- but that favour did not extend to her entire gender. "Elizabeth wasn't a supporter of women's rights," says Gregory, "she wasn't a supporter of anyone's rights but her own." Having grown up seeing her own mother executed and a series of stepmothers abused by her father, "it's not too Freudian to suggest she associated men with power, and women with dangerous vulnerability." Not much of one for sending the elevator back down, either, Elizabeth persecuted her heirs because she knew how treacherous they could be -- she had, after all, been one herself. Victoria, on the other hand, was more "woke." While we might look back on her era as one of social repression, the queen herself was unlimited by race or stereotype when it came to the people she trusted, and she attacked others for their snobbery and prejudice. "Both queens were great monarchs," concludes Goodwin, "and needless to say, more interesting than their male equivalents!" Advertisement Yesterday was Safer Internet Day, an excellent initiative, which for the last 14 years has mobilised thousands of schools and organisations across the country to do their part in educating children about online safety. For my part I worked with a colleague to run five intensive one hour workshops with over 400 year seven students in a large London secondary school. However, as I talked to the pupils and their teachers, I detected that it wasn't just their safety they are concerned with. No, the focus has changed to online happiness - or lack of it. Asking students yesterday about the earliest time they logged on that morning, most admitted to waking early for fear of missing out (FOMO). The adrenaline rush they receive from posts being "liked" can become addictive and sleep is the casualty. How strange that many seem to be suffocating under a technology which paradoxically was supposed to liberate, democratise and empower us. The confident thrive, but those with poor self-worth can struggle to survive. Advertisement Teaching children how to be safe is really important; there is a strong correlation between unsafe behaviour and a young person's well-being. The alarming news that almost a quarter of a million children in the UK are currently receiving help from NHS mental health services for problems such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders, indicates that children are suffering from pressure (including exams) but also from neglect, which is perhaps the greatest safety issue. With a third of secondary schools reporting this week that they are having to cut back on their mental health and wellbeing services, is it time to stop and re-think the emphasis of our online awareness messages and our longer-term support for young people growing up online? Of course it's not the technology per se to blame - who would naively blame a tool which has brought such wonder and benefit? Rather it is the behaviour played out along the digital corridors and behind age-restricted, yet open doors, where ever younger children are gaining an understanding of their self-worth and identity through Instagram and Snapchat. Sure, un-supervised minors engaging privately with older teens on these platforms can give children a chance to explore risks and become more resilient, but we must be careful not to over-exaggerate this, nor confuse it with the nurturing, love and time spent in developing children's cognitive and emotional learning which teachers and parents can do so well. We need to shift our education and awareness programmes from what educationalists call deontological thinking (following rules and doing the right thing) to Virtue Ethics and Character Education. In part, this is reflected in focusing more on Digital Citizenship, something the Children's Commissioner is calling for in her recent report. But it is more than this. In our sessions yesterday we talked to children about the difference between a compass and a Sat Nav. Sat Navs issue instructions and directions telling us where and how to travel by the rules. But rules on the internet are contradictory, hard to establish and uphold and can have unintended consequences. We've all heard our Sat Navs bark "recalculating" at us! Compasses on the other hand simply help us find our 'True North', enabling us to make decisions within the existing context and importantly, rely on our character strengths in order to find the right path. Advertisement Some say that character strengths such as honesty, kindness, bravery and gratitude are attributes innately possessed and therefore harder to teach and grow, certainly in the short-term. I am not so sure. Of course, some things like self-regulation and humility can be difficult to teach. However, given that many of these qualities are explored and even 'caught' through sport, social action, mentoring and in small group workshops, both schools and parents could be doing more to innovate and pioneer a new pedagogy which relates the power of character education to the online world. Some outstanding schools are already doing this. But in an online world where terms such as 'snitching' or 'banter' are used to distort and dilute the importance of honesty and kindness, we need to dig deeper. You can't switch this thinking in a day: It takes a term, a year, a life of learning, and a whole-school approach. So why does character education for an online world matter? Firstly, character strengths can be discovered. Assisting a 16 year old student to discover their strengths and then capturing evidence of these qualities in the online world is incredibly important. There may not be a GCSE in kindness, but the knowledge that you are kind can be a reward in itself and is therefore powerful. It's no coincidence that the leading character education programme in the USA is called KIPP - Knowledge is Power Programme. Don't tell a young person that being kind will just make them good; show him or her that being kind can make them successful, rich in relationships and in their future work life. Kindness also transforms relationships and reputation online; it helps protect the future you! Secondly, experts at The Jubilee Centre for Character & Virtues at the University Of Birmingham argue that character is not simply a trait but a strength which can be taught and grown. I believe the Internet provides the perfect 'gymnasium' where character muscles can be strengthened, old habits challenged, new techniques taught. No-one says it is easy, but tell me an exercise regime which is. Advertisement Dr Tom Harrison, Director of Education at the Jubilee Centre says, "Evidence that supports the case for new educational approaches that inspire young people to become good and wise users of the Internet are emerging. They prioritise the cultivation of key character virtues, such as integrity, compassion and help young people to develop the capacity to acquire online practical wisdom and take the compassionate, honest or courageous action, even when no one was watching." Thirdly, character education is needed now more than ever. Far from simple 'nice' personal traits, good character education is becoming critical in our complex world where the biggest challenges are not to choose between a virtue or a vice, but to find the right balance between two competing virtues and situations where it seems almost impossible to be both honest and considerate at the same time. Take for example the scenario of what you should say to a friend online who asks you for your opinion about a piercing she is considering, but which to you looks ugly? The ancient Greeks called this character strength phronesis; the overall quality of knowing what to do when the demands of two or more virtues compete. It is here that good character education is supremely relevant as children face these dilemmas online every day. Creatas Images via Getty Images The news that hospitals will be required to check the immigration status of patients seeking care is a radical new departure for the NHS. For nearly 70 years, the NHS has been free at the point of use, helping to make it one of the most efficient health systems in the world. In an act of pandering dressed as policy, health secretary Jeremy Hunt plans to change that. How exactly does Mr. Hunt think this is going to work? Are NHS staff going to be required to assess whether someone has a foreign sounding surname? Or foreign looking face? It is palpably absurd. NHS staff are clinicians not immigration officials. Advertisement There can be little doubt that Mr Hunt has concluded that he will be attacked by the liberal left in his pursuit of undocumented migrants. Yet he is radically underestimating the implications of the changes that he proposes. In practice, the only way for the change to be implemented is to require identification from every single person receiving hospital care. The NHS sees or treats one million people every 36 hours. Around nine out of ten British people will use the NHS in any given year. Is Mr Hunt really ready for the backlash from every part of the country when people who are already worried or in distress are scrambling around for the right identification for their outpatient appointments? What will happen when 83 year-old Gladys arrives at her appointment without her passport and a recent gas bill? Is she going to be sent home? It won't take long for every MP to be flooded with disgruntled constituents. Have Mr Hunt's colleagues really scrutinised what this means? Hunt argues that our European counterparts collect much more from British nationals using health services on the continent than we do from European nationals living in Britain. When critically examined, this argument begins to fall apart rapidly. Advertisement One of the reasons that the NHS is much more efficient than most other health systems is precisely because it does not spend enormous sums of money administering a health insurance system. Has Mr Hunt undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of the costs of collection versus the revenue that could be raised? Will the Department of Health have the courage or confidence to publish it? Most other European countries either have ID cards - meaning that checking eligibility is straightforward and routine - or insurance-based health systems that are geared up to collect this information. That is the main reason that they are more successful in collecting charges than we are in Britain. Another reason for the difference might be the different profile between European nationals in Britain and British nationals in continental Europe. The Department of Health has avoided any serious analysis of the discrepancy in funds collected here versus those by European countries. If this was about policy rather than politics, the Department might have furnished us with some of these facts. Alas not. Many British people living in continental Europe, especially in Spain and France, are retired - and elderly people typically use more healthcare than they contribute in taxes. In contrast, most European nationals living in Britain are of working age, meaning that they are more likely to use low-cost GP care but not costly hospital care. So at a time when the health service is under enormous strain having been starved of funding and subject to the unprecedentedly idiotic reforms of Mr Hunt's supremely arrogant predecessor, the NHS is going to have to spend millions of pounds of taxpayers' money on building an entire infrastructure to collect identification information at every point of care. Forget more nurses or doctors. Or new high resolution MRI scanners. Or more GP practices. Advertisement If Hunt had only recently become Health Secretary, it might be possible to dismiss this as the naive initiative of a new minister. But he has been in the job longer than any member of the cabinet; and he will have doubtless received advice from officials in the Department of Health and NHS England that this makes no sense. So why do it? This is misdirection: it is about signalling to the British people that immigrants are the reason the NHS is in a mess, rather than the result of his decisions. What we are seeing in the health service now is the consequences of spending too little as demand rises. Even if every penny of the 500m that Hunt claims could be collected comes in, it would be less than one-sixth of last year's deficit alone. The focus on immigration status is politics dressed up as policy. After all, the Health Secretary has form - for this is absolutely typical of his scheming ineptitude, no different from an entirely unnecessary and avoidable dispute with talented, hard-working junior doctors. Doing the wrong thing, for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time. Parliament is there for a reason: rather than howling that this is the latest attempt to privatise the NHS, its members would do well to point out that this is just bloody stupid. 4FR via Getty Images Way back in July of 2016, when the world made slightly more sense, presidential nominee Donald Trump made a confession. In no uncertain terms, the man poised to take office revealed that he had never read a biography of another president. In fact, he hadn't read many books of any kind. "I never have. I'm always busy doing a lot. Now I'm more busy, I guess, than ever before." As divisive as the man is, his lack of zeal for literature isn't quite as remarkable as you'd expect. In truth, a decline in the rates of reading for pleasure, amongst children and adults alike, has been falling for decades. What this means for western society is unclear; certainly, we don't appear to be getting significantly less intelligent. Beginning in the 1980s, American political scientist James Flynn, noticed and analysed IQ test scores since the 1920s. They exhibited a consistent increase year upon year. This became known as the "Flynn effect". The University of Aberdeen confirmed these findings in 2014; our abstract reasoning has improved significantly, alongside an average 3 point increase in IQ test scores per decade. However, on a more literal note, a decline in reading for leisure is certainly happening and surely significant in the way culture now envisages the process of personal enrichment in the modern day. Advertisement According to the NEA (National Endowment of the Arts), which Trump incidentally intends to cut funding for, American adults regularly reading literature fell from 47% in 2012, to 43.1% in 2015. In 1982, it was reported at 57%. In the UK, figures are similar. The Reading Agency found 36% of UK adults admitted to not reading for pleasure, rising to 44% amongst 16-24 year-olds, in 2014. Much of the information collected focusses on children. Evidently, the habit of reading for fun is instilled at younger age, by parents or otherwise. Scholastic conducted a 2015 survey, finding parents reading to their children fell from 54% to just 17% from the ages 5-11. 40% of those aged 6-11 said they would have liked their parents to continue reading aloud with them. They concluded; "Our research shows that providing encouragement and time both in school and at home for children of all ages to enjoy books they choose to read will help them discover the power and joy of reading." Considering the technological impact of e-books is clearly important. Besides the convenience of e-readers, the act of reading in this manner provides very few benefits. A Guardian survey in Norway found that memory retention of the narrative were higher in those reading from ordinary books. Stavanger University's Anne Mangen defined the findings as such, "You have the tactile sense of progress ... Perhaps this somehow aids the reader, providing more fixity and solidity to the reader's sense of unfolding and progress of the text, and hence the story." Combined with this, the act of reading from illuminated screens (particularly at night) has been proven to prohibit the production of melatonin, vital for the body's preparation for sleep. While e-readers clearly offer logistical efficiency, their psychological and physiological advantages fall short of traditional reading. Advertisement These findings offer a small insight into larger issues in society. From a personal standpoint, the reading of certain books at certain times in my life has shaped and inspired me. I am indebted to those texts that provided sanctuary, escape and ideas to me. This should not fall into some form of elitist issue; it is by no means a case of the educated criticising the un-educated. It is a message of encouragement to all. The Reading Agency noted that reading for pleasure correlates with fewer symptoms of depression. There is evidence for reading reducing the risk of developing dementia in later life. Perhaps most pertinent of all, research also indicated that reading fiction can be directly associated with greater empathy and improved personal relationships. Alastair Grant/AP In The Machine Stops, E.M. Forster identified industrialism as our enemy. It operates by getting everybody to consume, ever more unto death; it takes away human purpose. Forster must have seen the way the machine was linking itself together when he wrote the book in 1928. Humans were letting the machine take over - working full out for the machine in order to buy its products; labour saving innovations, manufactured opinions - giving comfort and reinforcing belief in the machine. Advertisement In Forster's story people live underground, each in a cell where the machine can control them in exchange for comfort: no real work, seeing nobody in the flesh; they live in virtual reality - leisure provided - pressing buttons and communicating on Skype. Knowledge doesn't exist. Because no direct source or contact - no argument or confrontation with others and with life. They think only of ideas. Ideas are given as tenth-hand lectures on screen - somebody's opinion about somebody's opinion... We have made this choice; there are parallels. If the machine stops we're dead. But our machine also has a parasite which sucks the money out of it just for a few rich - Rotten Financial $ystem (Rot$) which is designed to create war, poverty and climate change (CC). When the machine is stopping, people still believe in it and they make excuses for it. It's the same today, e.g people say 'the machine can't manage the NHS because of the ageing population' - of course we can afford it if we can afford Trident; in the first half of the 20th Century economist John Maynard Keynes was sure we could afford it. He thought we would be able to work only a fraction of our time and the rest would be leisure - presuming we had a fair distribution of wealth. In The Machine Stops hardly anyone needs to work, the machine is content with power and submission - people do nothing until it stops. Advertisement Org 4 Org (Organisation for organisation's sake): The machine does not work in the best interest of people. The machine works in the best interest of the machine. Fantasy: the machine can do everything. (In the story, you press a button if you are ill and medical apparatus comes down from the ceiling and sorts you out.). The Machine Stops should make us realise we're right now trapped in a fantasy. (Stop believing - e.g. US belief that the war machine brings peace via total control). Machine worship = robots, alienation and death. Scientists, stop working for the machine, get the machine to work for us! But Rot$ will kill us before this. In order to find a solution to Rot$ I made an analysis: Our economy's based on fossil fuels, run on debt and accumulation of interest (ideally principle never repaid.) It is technically bankrupt. Rot$ now self-perpetuating - serviced by banks, corporations, politicians: say, one million control seven billion. No opposition, same people are always in power. There seems to be a lot of opposition at the moment to the economic status quo which manifests itself as hatred against our fellows. In fact this gives even more virulent support to Rot$. (We can't change the President until we change the system.) The solution reveals itself: the machine would kill us, but before that happens we will be killed by Rot$ = war, poverty and CC. Advertisement Solution. Green Economy = community and culture (leading to peace), equal opportunity and biodiversity (stability). First step in achieving green economy is SWITCH to a green energy supplier. My team, working with NGO's, charities, student groups and hopefully trade unions, are aiming to have half the UK SWITCH to green energy within five years. This will undermine the Rot$, it will be a catalyst for others to follow. (The US government subsidises the fossil fuel industry by $700billion per year. Tell Trump the green economy is our future, our only future.) China to Try Secret Police Official Over Bribery Charges Dozens of government officials have been the subject of investigations as part of Beijing's anti-corruption crackdown. (Photo : Getty Images) China will prosecute a former senior official in its secret police over bribery allegations, the country's state prosecutor said on Monday, taking a step that will almost certainly lead to a conviction. Ma Jian, who once served as vice minister at the Ministry of State Security, is the highest-ranking security official to be investigated since former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang was arrested in a graft scandal and jailed for life in 2015. Advertisement Ma, who was placed under investigation in Jan. 2015, was expelled from the ruling Communist Party in December after it accused him of "abuse of power, taking bribes, and interfering in unspecified law enforcement activities," according to a report from Reuters. In a brief statement, the state prosecutor said that it had formally started proceedings against Ma and has approved "coercive measures," a Chinese legal term that generally means imprisonment. The statement declined to give further details. As the party controls China's legal system, the courts are not expected to challenge its accusations, giving Ma little chance of acquittal. It was not possible to reach Ma for comment and unclear if he has been allowed to retain legal representations. Scores of senior government officials have been arrested and jailed since President Xi Jinping came into power four years ago, vowing to stamp out corruption that he says threatens the Communist Party's grip on power. China's state security ministry is described as a KGB-like organization that spies on its citizens and foreigners domestically and internationally. It is one of the least transparent government agencies and does not have a public website or spokesperson. A source with ties to the leadership has previously told Reuters that Ma was the director of the ministry's "No.8 Bureau," which is responsible for counter-espionage activities and conducting surveillance on foreigners, mainly diplomats, businessmen, and journalists. Attaining a major breakthrough from a potentially disastrous fallout Should President Trump fulfill his campaign promise to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, it would have major regional and international repercussions. The Trump administration is currently reevaluating the implications of such a move and no final decision has been made. Given the sensitivity and far-reaching consequences, if he nevertheless decides to relocate the embassy it is critical that he concurrently takes a balancing act to prevent the potentially disastrous fallout. This could profoundly change the dynamic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the better while preserving the two-state solution. Trump should use the occasion of Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit to Washington on February 15th to make it clear that relocating the American Embassy to Jerusalem has a price tag: a) it cannot infringe on the prospect of a two-state solution; b) the US will recognize that East Jerusalem will be the capital of the future state of Palestine; c) the expansion of the settlements cannot continue unabated; and d) Israel must not begin the implementation of the new law that retroactively legalizes scores of illegal settlements built on private Palestinian land, which in any case the Israeli Supreme Court will more than likely overturn. Relocating the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem unconditionally will be a de facto recognition of Jerusalem, east and west, as the capital of Israel. Since the Israeli government insists that Jerusalem is the eternal united capital of the state, the move would suggest that the United States recognizes the Israeli position. Advertisement To put things in perspective, it is necessary to first assess the fallout of such a unilateral move on the part of the Trump administration. First, the Arab states led by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan--which is the custodian of the holy Muslim shrines, the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock--will view such a move as a flagrant assault on Islam itself. Even though the Israelis will make a special provision that will allow Jordan to continue to administer its custodianship over these holy places, under no circumstances would the Arab states allow Israel to have sovereignty over Haram Al-Sharif (the Temple Mount), with the exception of the Wailing Wall (a part of the outer wall of the Second Temple). Second, such a move will, for all intents and purposes, put an end to the prospect of peace based on a two-state solution. Indeed, for the Palestinians, the establishment of an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem is non-negotiable. This is not merely a symbolic demand; it is a requirement which is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No one should dismiss the potential breakout of ferocious violence between Israel and the Palestinians joined by other Arab extremist groups if the Palestinians are denied the establishment of their capital in East Jerusalem. Such violence would be incomparable to any such conflagration that we have witnessed in the past. Third, the United States' standing and credibility in the Middle East, which has eroded since the Iraq War, would suffer another major setback in its relations with its Arab allies in the region. The US must reassert its position and lead with the support of its European and Arab partners to bring about an end to the many conflicts sweeping the region. The US cannot simply provide more openings for Russia, which is eager to capitalize on US setbacks as President Putin is poised to take full advantage of the prevailing chaotic conditions throughout the region. Advertisement Fourth, the move could have an extraordinarily adverse effect on Israel's future as this would foreclose any prospect of an Arab-Israeli peace. The move would also embolden the right-wing Netanyahu government to annex more Palestinian territories and further expand the settlements, scuttling any prospect of peaceful Israeli-Palestinian coexistence. While the Trump move appears on the surface to help Israel realize its long-held dream, it will in fact severely undermine Israel's relations with Egypt and Jordan and jeopardize their peace treaties, which is central to containing regional instability and limiting the threat against Israel's national security. Fifth, the move would further alienate the European community, which feels the most affected by continuing turmoil in the Middle East and views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a major contributor to the upsurge of extremism. They view the rise of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other extremist groups as a direct result of the Israeli occupation. For the EU, relocating the American embassy to Jerusalem is another, if not the final, nail in the coffin of a two-state solution, which would instigate increasing regional violence from which Europe will continue to suffer. Attaining breakthrough from the potentially disastrous outcome: Should President Trump still decide to relocate the American embassy, he can convert the prospective disastrous consequences of such a move into a historic breakthrough that could change the nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and cement the prospect of peace based on a two-state solution. Given that the US purchased land in West Jerusalem on which to build the American embassy, which has been postponed by successive American administrations, Trump can announce that the US will soon begin the building of the new embassy in the western part of the city. In conjunction with that, Trump must reemphasize the US' traditional support for the two-state solution and the establishment of the Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem, provided that the Palestinians move quickly and steadily toward negotiating peace with Israel. The US ought to make it clear that relocating the American embassy to West Jerusalem does not constitute recognition of Israel's sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Advertisement That said, the US needs to reaffirm its position that Jerusalem must remain under any circumstances an undivided city and that the rights of every religious and ethnic group are secured. To assure the Palestinians of its intention, the US could purchase land or a building in East Jerusalem for future use for the American embassy in Palestine, because in any case there will be no Israeli-Palestinian peace unless East Jerusalem becomes the capital of the state of Palestine. There is no doubt that the Netanyahu government would vehemently object to such a move, but due to the fact that US military and political support is indispensable for Israel, no Israeli government can ignore the US' position. Indeed, if Trump is concerned (as I believe he is) about Israel's national security and its future wellbeing, the only way to safeguard that is by insisting that the two-state solution remains a viable option. The implications of such a move alone will be far and wide: Notwithstanding Israel's stern objection, it will breathe new life into the two-state solution; It will prompt the Palestinians to change their approach to the conflict by ending incitement and violence, as they will begin to see the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state could soon become a reality which they do not want to jeopardize; It will dramatically enhance the US' overall positon among its Arab allies and restore its credibility as the ultimate guarantor of regional stability; It will prompt the Arab states to support the American initiative and pressure Palestinian extremists to accept the inevitable; It will strengthen the hand of Israel's opposition parties, who will be in a better position to develop alternate policies to that of Netanyahu while weakening the hand of extremist Israelis. To be sure, President Trump can keep his promise to relocate the American embassy and at the same time, instead of torpedoing any prospect for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, inject new life into it and perhaps put an end to the most debilitating conflict since World War II. The 70-year Transatlantic alliance between the United States and the Europe was formed around common values and norms that demanded commitment not just to democracy, the rule of law and human rights, but also to the values of a liberal economy that supported free, fair and open rule-based trade. It was this international liberal economic order that emerged after World War II that led to the establishment of the World Bank, IMF, and free and open trading system through the GATT (1948) and later the World Trade Organization (WTO-1994) and regional trade agreements. Keynesian economics, which advocates mixed economy that are led predominantly by the private sector, but with a role for government intervention during the recession, served as the standard economic model from 1945 to 1973. Embedded liberalism, a phrase coined by John Ruggie to describe protection gained for workers with the embedded liberal compromise, dominated from from the World War II up until the 1970s, and brought with it a combination of free trade and freedom for states to provide welfare programs and to intervene to reduce unemployment. Starting in the 1980s, the prevailing system was replaced by neoliberal economic policies that commanded fiscal discipline, trade liberalization, openness to foreign direct investment, privatization, financial liberalization, deregulation, secure intellectual property rights and a reduced role for the state, and this became the dominant economic paradigm for the promotion of growth. The Washington Consensus, a set of broadly free market economic ideas that were supported by the IMF, the World Bank, the European Union and the United States, marked the end of "embedded liberalism" reducing the role of government in economic policies. This led to economically interdependent and more globalized world while at the same time paving the way for regionalism and increasing the number of regional groupings in the 1990s. Advertisement Some of these regional groupings were inspired from the successful European economic integration (the largest trading block in the world) and led to the formation of similar customs union and free trade areas that facilitated trade between members through the removal of trade barriers and quotas. Among these can be counted ASEAN (1967), MERCOSUR (1991), NAFTA (1994), most recently the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union EAEU (2015). In addition to these regional groupings, mega free trade agreements were negotiated between the United States and 12 countries in the Pacific, creating the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a part of President Barak Obama's pivot Asia strategy. Following on from the TPP negotiations, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union was launched officially in 2013, and China eventually entered the fray through China-led mega free trade agreement referred Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that brought together 16 countries. The mega free trade agreements entered into by the United States are often described as more than simple free trade agreements. Stuart E. Eizenstat, former US deputy Secretary of the Treasury and US Ambassador to the European Union, described such agreements during his speech on the TTIP on March 21, 2013 at the Woodrow Wilson Center as follows: "There are essentially two competing models of governance in the post-Communist world. One is the transatlantic model shared by many other countries, based upon democratic governance, with free peoples, free markets, and free trade; the other is autocratic governance, state-controlled or dominated economies, and managed trade. The TTIP is an opportunity to show the world that our model of governance can produce tangible gains for our people on both sides of the Atlantic and more broadly are the best model to meet the challenges of the 21st century". Advertisement This new regionalism supported by the United States and the European Union is based on an open market and democracy, and aims to make the world free. Larry Diamond, in an article on Foreign Affairs argues that new regionalism can nurture democratic reform in partner countries, giving examples from the TPP negotiations that encouraged human rights improvements in Brunei, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Actually, this was not a new expectation from the new regionalism of the world politics that began with the end of the Cold War. Accompanied by high levels of economic interdependence, the new milieu was based on economic objectives that offered a number of geopolitical objectives. In 2003, the United States launched the U.S.-Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA), aiming to have it fully functional by 2013. By the time MEFTA was launched, Israel (in 1985) and Jordan (in 2000) had already established FTAs with the United States while Morocco signed an FTA with the United States in 2004, and Algeria signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) as a preliminary step on the way to a US FTA. MEFTA, which encompassed 16 states in the region, was a part of a plan to fight against terrorism by supporting the growth of Middle East prosperity and democracy through trade.The European Union's promotion of regional integration also sought to diffuse its own model of democracy, social welfare, and regional integration. Since 1970s, the European Community developed its inter-regional agenda to build bridges towards other regional groupings and to promote its own version of regional integration. The European Union has used the FTAs extensively, along with the region-to-region agreements, having signed six inter-regional cooperation agreements and engaged 19 political dialogues with regional groupings such as Mercosur, the Andean Community, the San Jose Group, the Rio Group, ASEAN. Promoting regional integration in territories both near and far has thus become one of the main foreign policy tools of the European Union. In the Global Strategy of the Union, published in 2016, it does not only emphasize its intensified support for regionalism, but also its adherence to the TTIP - a clear demonstration of its transatlantic commitment to shared values - and signals Transatlantic partners' willingness to pursue an ambitious rules-based trade agenda. Moreover, the European Union has used regional integration to foster peace and stability among hostile states in the Mediterranean, Balkans, Caucasus by supporting the emergence of a common regional identity creation of "constructed" regional groups. The EU High Representative Federiga Mogherini said at a meeting of Regforum of Union for Mediterranean that "The two things have a connection, and the European history has shown us over decades, if not over centuries, that the less integration, the less cooperation you have at regional level, the more conflicts you are likely to have and, on the other side, the more conflicts and tensions you have, the more difficult cooperation and integration become". Advertisement Recent developments point to an emerging divergence in understanding between the Transatlantic Alliances, with new approaches to regional groupings and regionalism identifiable both in speeches made by the leaders on the two shores of the Atlantic and in a strategy paper of the European Union. These differences may be partly explained within the framework of the changes in economic policies that emerged as a result of the efforts to find a way out of the crisis and the global Keynesian resurgence. Following the global financial crisis of 2008, reapplication of a Keynesian led to the argument that Washington consensus was over, and that this led to a return to embedded liberalism. States seemed to be more skeptical of free markets, and are choosing to focus more on domestic stability, seeking to promote local industries instead of focusing on attracting outside capital. One of the first actions by the President Donald Trump after entering the Oval Office on January 20 was to sign an executive order withdrawing from the TPP, removing the TTIP from the White House website and signaling his intention to seek renegotiation of the North Atlantic Free Trade Area Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico. President Donald Trump has spoken publicly about his preferences for bilateralism and bilateral trade over multilateralism and regionalism. He pledged further to impose tariffs on imports and to crack down on American companies manufacturing overseas in a bid to reverse the US trade deficit, as protectionist measures that point to the end of neoliberal economic policies in the United States. All that aside, there has been a remarkable increase in regional projects, accompanied by high levels of economic interdependence that have emerged as instruments of openness and liberalism. The rise of regions attempting to speak with one voice through regional organizations and the strengthening of the external relations of the European Union with other regions has paved the way for another form of interaction - known as inter-regionalism - over the past few decades. The new US administration's economic approach clashes with this understanding, and with its Transatlantic partner's focus on regionalism, which is still based on regional arrangements that have been used to promote and consolidate domestic reforms that liberalize markets and foster democracy. Production photo by permission You're a young Jewish woman on a six month volunteer stint with a women's rights group in Ghana, West Africa. Your passion for women's issues helps you dismiss your initial edginess in this strange unfamiliar setting. Then the Jewish New Year celebrations--Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur--are approaching and you long for the warm family holiday gatherings back home, even though you and most of your family in Montreal, Canada are secular Jews. So what does a wandering Jew do? She looks for a synagogue. But a synagogue in Ghana? She asks. Most are puzzled saying they never saw or heard of any Jews. One man says he knew a few Jews but could not provide any details. Then an age old traditional Jewish resource came to Gabrielle Zilkha's rescue: Her Jewish mother. Mom in Montreal, Canada searched the Internet and found a brief reference to a Jewish group in a small rural village quite distant from the village outside of Accra, the capital of Ghana, where Gabrielle was staying. Although skeptical, Gabrielle's yearning compelled her to check it out. She called and arranged a visit. After a day long bus ride to the small village she asked a cab driver about a man named Joseph, the contact name she was given. It drew a blank. She added, "he's a Jew." His face lit up: "Oh, OK." He drove her to a house where she was welcomed and taken to a guest room. When the door to the room opened, much to her surprise and delight, she was staring at a large Star of David on the wall. A deep sigh of relief expressed her feeling that she was home . Advertisement This is where filmmaker Gabrielle Zilkha's journey into Judaism in Ghana--and the inspiration for her documentary film, Doing Jewish: A Story From Ghana--began. In that moment, though, looking at the Star of David she wondered: "Is this just a token or do they really practice Judaism?" That question was answered the next morning--the Sabbath--when she entered a small crude building called the synagogue. To her astonishment she saw a Torah, men with yarmulkes (skull caps) and talits-- and the entire congregation of black African men, women and, children chanting prayers in Hebrew. Production photo by permission I interviewed Gabrielle to find out more about this intriguing community: Bernard Starr: That synagogue experience must have been quite a shock. Gabrielle Zilkha: It was indeed! I'm not a frequent synagogue-goer, a few times a year at most, but there was something quite beautiful about finding a sense of familiarity as a foreigner. This synagogue also felt so remote from other Jewish communities and institutions and I found it quite moving to see a people so dedicated to their Jewish culture in what seemed like a vacuum. Advertisement Q. I'm sure you had lots of questions. A. Tons! How did Judaism get here? How long have they been practicing? Where did they learn these particular Ashkenazic tunes? What is the story here? Q. One of the remarkable discoveries that you made was that this sect of Jews was once part of a Christian community. Then, in 1977 they identified themselves as Jews. Why did they become Jews.? A. Well they didn't actually become Jews. It's a bit more nuanced than that. I think they would see it as they discovered their Judaism--a Judaism that was always there. I see the Sefwis, this Jewish community, as having two Jewish beginnings. First, they have their ancient Jewish ancestry--their own origin story, so to speak. Sefwi oral history suggests two origins of Jewish ancestry: some believe they are descendants of a lost tribe of Israel expelled from the Kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BCE. Others point towards Sephardi Jewish ancestry who migrated southwestwards after the Iberian expulsion. In either case, the labels of Jewish, Judaism, Jew were not used by the Sefwis for centuries. In fact, it wasn't until a Sefwi man named Aaron Ahomtre Toakyirafa had a vision from G-d in 1977 that the customs the Sefwis had been practicing for centuries--keeping kosher, keeping the Sabbath, menstruation practices, hand washing rituals, and circumcision--were part of the ancient religion of the Hebrews. Aaron is credited as the founder of the community because it was through his vision and leadership that the community discovered that what they were practicing was called Judaism and they weren't alone--that there were other people in the world called "Jews" who were part of the very same religion! Q. On reflection their connection to ancient Jews and Judaism is not implausible since DNA testing has traced the black South African Lemba Jews to Moses brother Aaron, making them descendents of the priestly class of Jews. Advertisement A. I think it is plausible even without the existence of the DNA analysis as was performed with the Lembas because of the Sefwis' own oral history and what we know of Sephardi migration patterns in Northern and Western Africa. Our western bias tends to value history validated by science and the written word over and above the information carried out by oral tradition. This is not simply a singular recollection of "how things came to pass" but a collective memory that is vetted and agreed to by many people over generations. Q. But wouldn't DNA analysis be welcome and of value and interest? A. indeed, it does make one curious about what story the Sefwis' DNA would tell. Though it is important to clarify that genetic testing has its limitations in defining Jewishness or Jewish roots. The Jewish identity is much more than a genetic lineage--it is a complex mix of religious and cultural factors that are undetectable by DNA analysis. Q. Once they decided they were Jews how did they know how to practice Judaism? A. Great question. Before connecting with Jews from the outside world, Aaron and a group of the Sefwis known as the House of Israel studied the Old Testament and interpreted what they read into practice as best as they could. They combined what they learned from the Old Testament with their traditional Sefwi prayers--and from my observation borrowed stylistic elements of Christian worship, even though they reject the tenets of Christianity. Q. Did they get help or guidance from outside Jewish organizations? A. Yes. Once the Sefwis got in contact with Jews from the outside world, they received educational materials and resources to advance their Judaism. The United Israel World Union was the first organization to have contact with the Sefwis. The community also hosted many volunteers who would teach Jewish practice to the community. And most recently, Alex, one of the leaders, studied Judaism over four years at a yeshiva in Uganda under Rabbi Gershom Sizoumu. Later, they connected with other Jewish organizations that provided resources and educational materials. This was a real turning point, as shown the film. These outside contacts affirmed that they were no longer alone--that they belonged to something bigger than themselves. Advertisement Q. Didn't Kulanu, the Jewish organization that supports remote Jewish communities, come to their aid? A. Yes, Kulanu got involved with the Sefwis in the mid-90s. Kulanu facilitated a greater flow of communication, information, donations, people, and resources between the Sefwis and the rest of the world more than any other organization prior or since. Because so many people hear about the Sefwis through Kulanu this has helped them advance their Jewish practice. Q. Your film focuses a lot on Alex--an extraordinary person who is fiercely dedicated to Judaism--with a heartfelt dream of becoming a Rabbi. How do you explain his passion? A. I'm glad you took note of Alex's passion. Alex is motivated by what I would imagine are the same factors that motivate many religious leaders: a sense of one's spiritual destiny, a loyalty to ancestors, a deep desire to lead a community to a better life spiritually and practicality, and a need to understand the meaning of life. Alex is also Ghanaian; and Ghana is a devoutly religious place. So the passionate pursuit of any religion is more the norm there than it is in Canada. Q. Is this community growing.? Has it influenced others? A. It is growing in numbers but not necessarily in practice. As we mention in the film, the community is attracting a lot of bright young people, mostly men, who are increasingly questioning Christianity as "the right" faith and are seeking other answers. Furthermore, my conversations with some of these new members revealed a certain cynicism towards Christianity and Islam--the dominant religions in Ghana--as products of colonialism. I thought that was just fascinating. As for practice, I think the community is at an unfortunate standstill. I think the Sefwis would agree with me in saying that the one thing they really desire is substantive and sustainable Jewish education. Advertisement Q, Is Judaism taking root elsewhere in Ghana A. There is another Jewish community that has popped up in Accra, Ghana, that is rather large and while I am unsure of whether the Sefwis influenced them they are in contact with one another. Q. What about anti-Semitism? Are they discriminated against? A. The Sefwis faced persecution when they first declared themselves as The House of Israel and rejected the tenets of Christianity and Islam. They were ostracized, some were even thrown in jail and subject to violence. However, within the context of the wider Jewish story their experience of anti-Semitism is fortunately very minimal. Today, the discrimination they face is very minimal--perhaps some ignorant name calling here and there. Otherwise, they are respected and live peacefully in and amongst their neighbors of other religions. Q In the United States, Jewish leaders worry about the future of Judaism with defections, rampant secularism, and high rates of intermarriage. Your film shows another side of that story--that Jewish revival can spring up in the most unexpected places. Do you see a trend here? A. I'm so glad you picked up on that. I do see a surprising trend here--the rise of Judaism in Africa. There is what is called a "Judaizing" movement in Africa where a growing number of Africans are identifying themselves as Jews or Hebrews or Israelites. Where this gets very complicated is in the definition of a Jew. Will these newly declared Jews be recognized as Jews by traditional Jewish authorities? Some newer Jewish communities in Africa are even combining Judaism with other religions--making a Judaism of their own. Many would argue that this means they are not in fact Jewish or practicing Judaism but are actually "watering down" an ancient religion and tradition. It would be great if we could all hop on a conference call and settle this but if we haven't resolved this controversy in the last few millennia we are not likely to now. Regardless of where one places the boundaries, I think Judaism can serve as an entry point to learn about other people, and that to me is very beautiful. Bernard Starr: Thanks Gabrielle for your gift of this film. It's a fascinating , engaging and inspiring story of Jewish renewal--out of Africa. Where is it available for viewing? Advertisement Gabrielle Zilkha: Thank you! The next screening is at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival on February 9th, 2017, then at the Maine Jewish Film Festival in March. After that, please visit our website at to keep up to date on screenings. Note: The Jewish Film Festival sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center in association with New York City's Jewish Museum screened the U. S premiere of Doing Jewish: A Story From Ghana on January 11, 2017. Trailer Oh my, John Wyck is back and badder than ever. Or is he? Retired hit man John Wyck aka Keanu Reeves is directed by Chad Stahelski who was Reeves stunt double in the Matrix.does a magnificent job. After the death of his wife and his dog, John Wyck just wants to be left alone. With his pit bull. But pulling a Garbo is not in his cards. A marker is placed on his pretty head by Italian playboy Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) who will only remove it if John Wyck kills D'Antonio's sister. John Wyck is catapulted into the middle of a power play for a seat at the High Table, a council of international super-criminals in which Italian playboy D'Antonio wants the spot held by his sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini). John Wyck barely blinks before he is jettisoned to the catacombs in Rome in search of D'Antonio's sister. Common plays Gianna's bodyguard with a non-blink gaze. The highlight of this sequence is John Wyck methodically dressing at a tailor suited for an assassin's chores as this slaughter will involve more deaths than one might view as necessary and yet the slaughter in this film is an odd way, its charm. Never does one believe these deaths are real and they are done in a comic book heightened gamer reality. A pencil replaces a gun for a weapon as black blood oozes from flesh accompanied by a loud scrunch echoing in your ears. If you are against violence in any form, John Wyck 2 is not for you. But if you can tolerate grimacing and laughing at the same time, you will love John Wyck 2 and eagerly await John Wyck 3 The acting and casting is first rate as is the cinematography which brings you into the scene at just the right moment for maximum visceral effect. Larry Fishburne is back as Bowery King and steals every scene. A spectacular car chase begins film during which a Russian crime tsar (Peter Stormare) brings the audience up to speed about John Wyck's ruthless reputation as a champion hit man. After John Wyck grabs his stolen 69 Mustang and kills a dozen or so men, he zooms off to his home and his beloved grey-black pit bull. But first John Wyck brokers a truce with this Russian czar. Rules matter to the criminals in John Wyck's world which is bound by the protection of the Continental--a secret network of assassins dreamed up by screenwriter Derek Kolstad for the original. The Continental is embedded in a NY Hotel whose proprietor is Winston played to the sinister comedic hilt by the magnificent Ian Mc Shane. The Continental is the home to an international organization governed by the rule that no blood is spilled on Continental grounds, But our John Wyck feels he is forced to disobey and this will lead to John Wyck 3 as Winston orders an international marker on John Wyck's head. Stay tuned for more deaths, more bleak story lines and more laughs as John Wyck is wickedly funny in a macabre way that is packing audiences in ...Mostly men. Republicans, I wonder. After three weeks, I feel confident in saying that we are hostages in a war against the Enlightenment. We have a fascist government, marked by: Cult of personality Hypernationalism Fomenting of hyperpartisanship Promotion of fear and paranoia Overweening self-congratulation Adulation of the military Promotion of war Widespread attack on the press Constant attacks on the independent judiciary Constant attacks on science and facts in general Promotion of patriarchal gender roles Regime of only white men Nazi chief strategist Government by kleptocratic kakistocrats This is no longer an academic question. There is, however, a more important phenomenon behind the narcissistic, delusional, illegitimate, "so-called" president. That is the anti-Semitic strategist, Steve Bannon, and his henchmen, Stephen Miller, Boris Epshtyn, and others, who are the effective regime. Leaks from the White House staff lead me to believe that President Bannon is in charge, and trump is just a figurehead. Advertisement This is a critical issue, because Bannon is smart, experienced in the dissemination of propaganda, and a believer in wild conspiracy theories used to promote his authoritarian and fascist agenda. He wrote a screenplay back in 2007, when he was still working as a Hollywood producer, called the "Islamic States of America." I have a friend, a Jewish trans woman, who sincerely believes that Hillary was going to impose sharia law on West Hollywood after the election. That is the kind of Alex Jones/InfoWars conspiracy theory that has been sold go a wide swath of right-wing extremists, and manifested a decade ago in Bannon's screenplay. That screenplay fits the fascist Islamophobic conspiracy theories of the Russian provocateur, Alexandre Dugin, the Vatican right-wing extremist, Benjamin Harnwell, and the line of thought can be traced back to Samuel Huntington's 1996 book, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Huntington, Dugin and my friend appear to believe their paranoid fables; Bannon seems to be using the core ideas of Lenin as a catalyst to cause chaos and bring about a fascist dictatorship in a hostile takeover. So far, after three weeks, he's succeeded in causing global chaos, though surprisingly also generating massive pushback from citizens who've never before participated in a political action in their lives. He's even written the Executive Order placing him on the Principals Committee of the National Security Council, an unheard-of situation in American history, while demoting the Chair of the Joints Chiefs and the Director of National Intelligence. And doing so without trump having a clue about its significance. European nations, finding themselves as stunned as we are, having been producing videos taunting the new American regime. Der Spiegel published an editorial exceedingly critical of the Bannon regime, along with a brutal cover depicting the beheading of the Statue of Liberty. Other magazines have joined the fray, including Bloomberg Businessweek and The New Yorker. In addition, the still-independent judiciary has finally begun to resist, and hope still exists that the Republican Congress may have a few patriots left. Advertisement I do feel it's important to dig down deeply under the fabulism that motivates Bannon and Dugin, and that is a longing for a pre-Enlightenment world that is little different from the Caliphate desired by ISIS. Our Constitution is a product of the Enlightenment and rational thought. The scientific revolution was an integral aspect of the Enlightenment. Bannon's fascist worldview rejects everything about rational, representative democracy, other than a willingness to use the products of western technology to dominate others. this is in some ways no different than a religious believer who is skeptical of evolution willing to take a prescribed antibiotic when necessary, or a so-called "pro-life" activist allowing his daughter to have an abortion when circumstances arise. Hypocrisy is woven in to conservative politics, and has been for a long time. The people currently in control of the executive and legislative branches want to drive the United States back to the state of government regulation and civil rights circa 1865. Women will be driven from work (it has already been demanded that the White House staff "dress like women"), minorities will be relegated to menial labor, and the middle and working classes will be further immigrated to serve the interests of the kleptocratic president and cabinet. The German intelligentsia in 1933 believed they could control Hitler, that the experienced, professional, conservatives would keep the government novice under control. But within 18 months civil liberties had been suspended, the press subdued, the professions purified of Jewish and other minority participation, private militias created, corporate buy-in completed, and the organized working class/socialist/communist resistance crushed. Dissidents were already being sent to concentration camps while Germans were given the job of rebuilding the military and national infrastructure to support the military. Hitler set out to accomplish nothing less than to "Make Germany Great Again." He destroyed Germany, and almost the rest of the world, in the process. This is what's at stake - the future of a rational, liberal democracy bother here and abroad. One hundred years from the 2nd Russian Revolution, known as the February Revolution, overthrowing the tsar and instituting a representative government, and eight months before the Bolshevik coup led by Lenin, America's self-styled Leninist, Steve Bannon, is working feverishly to drive the world again into darkness. This is not a political outcome that will be easily reversed in four years, if we have elections then, and if the world as we know it still exists. Advertisement Too many people don't realize that the vast majority of U.S. workers -- 86 percent -- don't have paid family leave through their jobs, and more than 60 percent don't have paid personal medical leave through an employer's temporary disability program. That means there are millions of people like fictional Lauren who have to choose between their health or their families and their jobs when serious illnesses or injuries occur, new children arrive, or loved ones need care. The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way. We do not have to settle for a reality in which nearly one-quarter of new moms are back at work within two weeks of giving birth, where an adult who leaves the workforce to care for an aging parent loses more than $300,000 in wages and retirement income, and where a person diagnosed with cancer has to schedule treatment around work shifts or lose precious income or even a job to get care. Every other developed country has figured out how to guarantee paid leave. Four states now have paid family and medical leave programs, and more are on the horizon. Dozens of companies have recently expanded or adopted paid leave policies of their own, and many are endorsing public paid leave policies. And for the first time ever, paid leave was featured in a major way in the election. Lawmakers and candidates are smart to prioritize paid leave: 82 percent of 2016 voters, across demographic and party lines, said in an election night poll that it is important for the president and Congress to consider a national paid family and medical leave law. And candidates for governor and Congress who included paid leave on their websites were more likely to win, controlling for other factors. The questions are now when and how the United States will guarantee paid leave -- not if. That is a sign of real progress, and it means that policy details now matter tremendously. What happens next will determine whether we seize the opportunity to enact a tested, strong policy that reduces inequality and works for all of us, or exacerbate the disparities that currently exist. The choice for any lawmaker should be an easy and obvious one. We need a national paid family and medical leave policy that covers the full range of health and caregiving needs families have today. It needs to "check all the boxes" by being affordable and covering leave for moms and dads, for family caregivers and for serious personal illnesses and injuries. It also needs to provide a substantial amount of leave and protect against retaliation for taking leave. Anything less will do more harm than good. Sunday marked 24 years since the Family and Medical Leave Act was signed into law. Its guarantee of job-protected, unpaid leave was historic and it has been used more than 200 million times, transforming our nation's workplaces. The National Partnership is proud to have drafted and led the fight for it. But we also know that too many people aren't covered by the law's protections or cannot afford unpaid leave. It is past time to advance its vision. So, let's make sure our communities and lawmakers know it's absurd that the United States doesn't have a paid leave law -- and what a national program should look like. Make your voice heard and demand action on a comprehensive paid family and medical leave plan. Share our video with your networks and elected officials. Together, we can keep up the drumbeat for the kind of change the country's workers and families, businesses and our economy truly need. And as National Partnership Vice President Vicki Shabo said at the MAKERS Conference, when we do that - when we use our collective power to demand that lawmakers take action - "women and men will be better able to care for themselves and their loved ones, succeed at their jobs, and strengthen the nation. And someday soon, no one will relate to the woman in our video." Co-written by Jessika Lopez, Senior Program Associate, Racial Wealth Divide Initiative When we think of Chicago, we think the Windy City, maybe the Chicago Cubs finally winning the World Series or maybe even think of Barack Obama's adopted hometown, but we don't really associate Chicago with Mexican culture. This is surprising when one really thinks about it because, in a city of 2.7 million people, Latinos are one of Chicago's most prominent ethnic groups, accounting for 29% of the population. Those with Mexican heritage make up three-quarters of Latinos in Chicago. In fact, Chicago boasts the second-largest population of Mexican-born immigrants of any city in the United States. But how and why did this Midwestern city become a hub for immigrants? This history can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century, when Chicago underwent its first wave of Mexican migration. Much like the African American community during the Great Migration, many Mexicans and Mexican Americans saw the North as a haven for economic prosperity. Since Chicago was easily accessible through train routes, it became the easiest northernmost city that migrants escaping the Jim Crow South in Texas or the damaging effects of the Mexican Revolution could reach. Furthermore, the Bracero Program, a program to fill the labor shortage in agriculture, had brought in about 250,000 braceros in Chicago alone by the 1970's. Chicago is an enclave of Mexican American culture created by people looking for economic prosperity, but the path to prosperity has not been so clear. What we actually find is that Chicago is a microcosm showcasing the economic struggle Mexican Americans face nationally. In the recent report, The Chicago Racial Wealth Divide Data Profile that is part of CFED's Building High Impact Nonprofits of Color project, helps to explore the ramifications of racial economic inequality within Chicago and helps put a spotlight on the racial wealth divide and, among other things, the history of Mexican Americans in Chicago. Advertisement What is seen in this report is that the story of Chicago is one of access --or rather--a lack thereof. Chicago is one of the country's most segregated cities and is a product of decades of policies that have isolated communities of color from decent education, housing, healthcare, and banking. The effects of segregation and lack of access are evident in most neighborhoods of color in Chicago. For example, just using the Pilsen neighborhood, a majority Mexican American community created through Chicago's history of segregation, we find that it has a poverty rate of 28.4%, which is 5.4% higher than Chicago overall. We also find that this trend persists in the majority of the city's Mexican American neighborhoods. Furthermore, Mexican migrants in Chicago are more likely to work in construction, services and manufacturing industries. As such, the 2010 median income of Pilsen was $36,154, which is $13,291 less than the 2010 national median income. This report was created to better understand how racial economic inequality affects Chicago and help to advance best practices and strengthen nonprofits of color. Along with the release of the Chicago Racial Wealth Divide Data Profile, CFED's Racial Wealth Divide Initiative has also announced their Building High Impact Nonprofits of Color project in Chicago to help build the capacity of five nonprofits of color in Chicago. The Racial Wealth Divide Initiative has selected to work with the following organizations: Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Gads Hill Center, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, North Lawndale Employment Network, and Spanish Coalition for Housing. In partnership with JP Morgan Chase & Co, the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative of CFED believes that in order to address the significant financial insecurity facing families and communities of color, local organizations of color with high impact asset-building services must be strengthened. They must be supported because these are the people who are on the front-lines helping to build stronger, more prosperous communities. These are the advocates who are equipped, and well-positioned to deal with the Chicago's inequities found among people of color and offer a sense of hope that is needed in Chicago right now. Advertisement "A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a Cathedral." ~ Antone de Saint-Exupery Several years ago, while in Barcelona, Spain, I had the opportunity to visit Catalan architect, Antonio Gaudi's, one-of-a kind, "Sagrada Familia." While not officially a "cathedral" because it is not yet the seat of a Bishop, it is often thought of as such because it stands as high or higher than many ancient cathedrals. What is unique about the structure is that, while Gothic in design, it is also very "Art Nouveau" and unlike any other cathedral ever built; it is one-of-a-kind, in a class of its own. If you have ever seen pictures of it you'll understand why I call it one of a kind. I encourage you to Google "Sagrada Familia" and see for yourself--you'll be rather stunned. Gaudi designed and took over the construction of the project in 1883 and, the amazing thing is, to this day, it is still a work in progress. It stands higher than many skyscrapers; scaffolding and huge mechanical cranes loom in the skyline. The completion of the project is tentatively set for 2026, the centennial of Gaudi's passing. It is said that he devoted the best of his years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Can you imagine holding such a grand vision and not living to see it come to full fruition? Advertisement One-hundred and twenty-eight years after his vision was cast, I humbly stood at the base of this monolithic structure and gazed skyward wondering how much more had to be done to complete his vision. My mind raced back to the year 1883 when there was little more than barren land and rocks in that spot and I imagined him standing there, looking up, seeing his masterpiece in its completed form. That's what visionaries do--they see their dream in its completed form long before it is realized in the material world. The transformation of concrete and rocks into a cathedral happened before Gaudi's workers ever broke ground...and the fact that they are still working on the manifestation of it proves it was a very big vision. Do you have a vision for your life and, if so, how big is it? Can you see yourself living that life now, even if the outer manifestation of it isn't yet visible? While many say you have to see it to believe it, others are saying, you have to believe it to see it. Which are you? This is where and when the foundation for a life worth living is established. The practice is to contemplate your life as Gaudi contemplated his cathedral--as a completed idea in the creative Mind of a Universe that knows no limitations. In other words, the sky really is the limit; the only caveat is that this creative Mind is waiting for you to upload the design blueprints known as your belief system. What is your vision for your life? Are you looking up, or looking down? Be mindful of where your predominate thoughts go because, whether you are aware of it or not, that is the design plan you are uploading. Clearly, Gaudi believed in his vision, so much so that it had no alternative but to become a reality, even years after his passing. That is a powerful vision when it takes on a life of its own. Turning a pile of rocks into a cathedral isn't difficult once you have the vision--the Universe conspires to support you in your vision if you are willing to stand in it, own it and act on it. We are all visionaries--that is to say, we each hold in our mind a vision for our life; what it can or can't be, might or might not be, or, will or won't be. So the question really isn't, do you have a vision for your life--if you are alive you have a vision. The real question is, what is your vision? Are you looking down at the rocks or up to the sky? Remember, the Universe is listening and it is already uploading your blueprints. Advertisement Co-authored by Ellen Offner, Offner Consulting, LLC, Health care strategy and program development The two of us love to travel and we particularly like to explore challenging environments in places different from are usual haunts. We recently traveled, between us, to China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, and didn't limit ourselves to major cities where accessibility for people with varying levels of aches, pains, and disabilities is relatively easy. We went to remote places with few, if any, accommodations for people with physical limitations. In Laos and Thailand, where Ellen traveled, she faced many stairways, often with at least 300 uneven steps with no handrails, as the means of getting to a magnificent temple. Many stairs, no hand rails, but worth the trudge with a guiding hand of trusted companion. Along the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar, Ruth found that access to the boat might lack both a dock and a stairway down the bank. What these countries lack in physical accommodations they make up for it by a willingness to help. In America most people will help if you ask; in Asia, they offer. Even at rush hour, a seat on the subway goes to those with gray hair. (Sorry, Clairol!) So leave your need to be independent at home and enjoy the hospitality. By the end of the trip we prefered nice human contact to cold elevators. By contrast, In the newer parts of Chinese cities, the sidewalks have paths for the blind and the subways have braille signs on the bannisters indicating the beginning and end of the staircase. These cities are built with universal access in mind. Advertisement Both of us found that getting in and out of boats can be challenging. Sometimes not only is there not a dock, but there may also be a very challenging path down the bank to the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar. When Ellen wanted to reach her favorite restaurant, Supatra River House, situated on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, she had to take a small boat from her hotel, Riva Surya, on the west bank about a mile away. She witnessed this marvelous restaurant graciously lift a guest and her wheelchair into the boat. In Luang Prabang, in Laos, one of the major Buddhist temples, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, offered a cable car to reach the top of the mountain where one could experience the Buddhist monks in their colorful saffron robes chanting. This was a remarkable accommodation, quite unusual for this part of the world. For those of us challenged physically, this saved having to climb up 309 steps to reach the summit. Sometimes even the most remote places make very unusual accommodations. To reach Li'an Lodge, an exquisite lodge at the top of about one hundred rudimentary stairs with sheer drops on either side except where there is a charming market flanking the stairway, people have to climb these stairs. For elderly or disabled travelers, a sedan chair can be arranged. There are no cars or roads in this lovely village, only stone footpaths to lead people from one place to another at a leisurely pace. Ellen (left) found hiking on The Great Wall of China very challenging. Fortunately her understanding and nimble spouse (right) is very understanding, so the two of them settled for seeing just an easily walk-able section. Of course this was disappointing, but all of us must accommodate to our abilities and personalities. "The majority of sections of the Great Wall of China that have been maintained over the years are still quite challenging to navigate, with no guard rails and steep, slippery stairs. Up until the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, no part of the wall was accessible to people with disabilities. However, in preparation for the Olympics, an elevator was installed at the Ba Da Ling section of the Great Wall so those in wheelchairs can finally partake in the experience. Advertisement Those of us in good health, with a bit of income, and who love to travel still can. However, if your aches and pains have grown beyond the minor nuisance you need to plan ahead. . We can still do many of the activities we used with minor modifications Here are sixteen rules of travel for those of us with mild infirmities. Or maybe I should say still trekking but creaking. Before Leaving 1. Visit your local travel medicine clinic to be sure your immunizations are up to date. 2. Bring all your medications. Even the ones you only use occasionally. They are not available everywhere or the formulation is different. Take medications along in the event you are struck by travelers' diarrhea. 3. Buy medical evacuation (medevac) insurance if visiting a country without excellent hospitals that meet the standards of the United States or your home country. A helpful, reputable website where you can shop for the best option for your needs is Squaremouth. 4. Call ahead and get a wheelchair! If you have less than a mile of walking in you, go online and ask the airport for transport from your plane to the immigration area or to your connecting flight. Save you walking stamina or some place more interesting. They will have a wheelchair and attendant waiting for you when you get off your plane. If necessary, they will have an electric cart. The service is free though you will probably want to provide a tip and you do not need medical certification. Advertisement 5. Pack light. Weight is the enemy of all travelers, but for those with aching joints the heavy lifting and pushing become even more difficult. 6. Wear only comfortable, sturdy shoes or sneakers. This is not a time for glamour! Once you arrive 7. Use bathrooms when you see them. You might not find another one for a while. Men with enlarged prostates and that's' most men over over 70 and many even younger lads do not have quite the control they used to and peeing by the road is frowned upon in most cities (though more acceptable in the countryside). In Asia, Western-style seated toilets can be a rare resource. If you can't squat, go at your hotel or look for fancy restaurants. Be prepared to discard used toilet paper in a wastebasket and not flush it (plumbing can be primitive). 8. Follow good preventive health measures when eating. Those in developed countries take the FDA (or their country's equivalent) for granted to assure our food supply is safe. Though even so we occasionally have a food-borne disease outbreak. In many developing countries there are no such protections. Do not eat uncooked vegetables or fruits you cannot peel yourself. Eat only hot food that has not sat around. Drink only bottled water and use bottled water for brushing your teeth. (Just think if it as washing your toothbrush in feces and you will follow the rule!) Assume that not everyone who handles your food has adequate washing facilities at home such as soap and running water. The hotel may be five-star, but the waiters and kitchen workers homes' may lack rudimentary sanitation or clean water. 9. Do not eat street food, no matter how appetizing it may look. That includes ice cream. 10. Expect the unexpected. Be willing to change your plans. In the past, you may have enjoyed climbing 777 uneven steps with no railing to see a beautiful monastery. Now you may need to view it from a lovely restaurant on the next peak. If you hire a guide, make sure the guide will be willing to modify your plans if the walks are too long or difficult. The guide may know of alternative routes for reaching the pinnacle. Advertisement 11. Take a break. In the old days you might have been able to go-go-go all day and then go out at night. Maybe not so much today. Either take a nap, if you love your evening restaurants, or if you are not a foodie go all day and then snack in the hotel. You may need to do both. 12. Travel with a caring, compassionate companion.It will be disappointing and frustrating at times. You might want to agree in advance that sometimes one of you will go ahead alone and the other will sit in a cafe observing or reading. You may have different physical challenges, so empathy will be indispensable. 13. Accept help. Think of it as a great way to meet kind caring people and to renew your belief in the kindness of humanity. You will find many barriers to entry unless you do. It could be a sandy boat ramp, a way to large step or a steep passage. 14. Talk to the people around you, exercising your usual good judgment. Meeting other people is as interesting as sightseeing and a lot less strenuous. People are very quick to let you know they are not interested in talking. A one-word reply is a good clue to move on. 15. Use a walking stick or a cane. It helps with balance on uneven sidewalks, open sewers and other unexpected obstacles. Advertisement 16. Be grateful for what you can do, rather than bemoan what you can't. This may take discipline, but it's good practice. Mothers can have profound influence on their sons, especially in the formative years. That is why senators should tactfully probe the relationship between President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Federal Appeals Court Judge Neil Gorsuch, and his mother, the late Anne Gorsuch. The latter was forced to resign in the 1980s' from the top post at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the wake of a toxic waste scandal and allegations of gross mismanagement. It was an experience that left both mother and son with hard feelings. According to Anne Gorsuch's memoir, Neil, who was a high school student at the time, thought she was being railroaded to step down and urged her not to be a quitter. He argued that she was just carrying out President Reagan's orders to scale back the agency. Does Neil retain a residual bias against the environmental agency? It is not out of the question since his conservative judicial record has an anti-regulatory, pro- corporate business bent (similar to his mother's philosophy). If his resentment against the EPA and its regulatory mission persists, it could conceivably taint his decision-making in cases involving the Agency. Hopefully, Anne Gorsuch's stormy relationship with the EPA has left no permanent scars on her son. But a stormy relationship it was. A protege of beer magnate Joseph Coors, Ms. Gorsuch had little experience with environmental issues when President Reagan plucked her from the Colorado state legislature to run the EPA. Reagan's ideological marching orders were to substantially shrink the agency and its regulations. In her zeal to oblige, Ms. Gorsuch went overboard, even for Reagan and certainly for the general public and the Democrats in Congress. In the first year of Gorsuch's abbreviated 22 month EPA stint, Agency enforcement actions against corporate polluters declined by approximately 70 percent and the overall budget was slashed by 22 percent. Advertisement Gorsuch went whole hog in delegating EPA regulatory responsibilities to the states (whether they could handle them or not) emasculating the Agency in the process. In her first few months on the job, the Agency virtually came to a halt. Mutual animus erupted between Gorsuch and the rank-and-file EPA personnel who labeled her the "Ice Queen". Morale plummeted and five months into the job, an average of four resignations a day were recorded. Gorsuch, for her part, surrounded herself with a small band of ideological appointees who were dedicated to rooting out internal dissent and contracting the scope of the Agency. Cited for contempt of Congress for not being forthcoming about a toxic waste scandal among subordinates and denounced for mismanagement, Gorsuch was pressured to resign. Reagan's mass demolition of the Agency was aborted and some semblance of normalcy was restored. Gorsuch was not shy about admitting she brought home some bitterness from the office, so the question remains whether any of her grievances permanently rubbed off on Neil. Advertisement With more amusement parks than the U.S., which only has around 400, China has a relatively poor safety record for rides. (Photo : Getty Images) The death of a 13-year-old girl at a Chongqing amusement park has sparked another round of talks concerning China's ever-blooming love affair for amusement parks. In a country of more than 2,000 amusement parks, safety concerns are becoming more paramount than ever. Much to the horror of onlookers, the poor little body of Gan Tian was thrown away from the seat of a rapid 360-degree-spinning ride called "Travel Through Space" and onto metal railings, leading her to become injured severely as she fails to survive the trip to the hospital. Advertisement Despite reports that the ride cleared its last routine inspection in December last year, further accounts refuted that claim, saying that it has yet to undergo inspection since November 2013. But whatever the case may be, the fact of the matter is that another life was lost due to negligence in safety standards. More appalling is the ease to which Zhaohua Amusement Park readily issued money to compensate the victim's parents - even to the tune of 870,000 yuan, the fact remains that every life is priceless; such amount, while granted in good faith, would have been better spent on ensuring their rides' safety. Incidents akin to the one in Chongqing have not been uncommon in recent times, reflecting that the country's numerous amusement parks are no strangers to life-threatening disasters involving otherwise-enjoyable rides, the Global Times reported. With more amusement parks than the U.S., which only has around 400, China has a relatively poor safety record for rides. One would only take at least three years back to discover some appalling cases that took place in any of the country's theme parks. On September 2013, three merrymakers sustained injuries after being thrown from a ride in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, due to erring amusement park employees. A more fatal incident led to the shutdown of an amusement park in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, where a malfunctioning ride killed two people. My new Nation column is called "An Actual American War Criminal May Become Our Second-Ranking Diplomat," and it contains the subhed,"Elliott Abrams spent the Reagan years abetting genocide--now, he has been floated as Trump's deputy secretary of state." You can find it here: https://www.thenation.com/article/an-actual-american-war-criminal-may-become-our-second-ranking-diplomat/ Also, I was genuinely honored to be asked to speak at the conference of rabbis, sponsored by Truah: The Rabbinic Call to Human Rights, yesterday, from which these rabbis decided to get themselves arrested to protest the travel ban last night. (And goodness no, I am not positing any relationship between these two events; just that I was happy to be in this gathering). http://www.jta.org/2017/02/06/news-opinion/politics/18-rabbis-arrested-during-protest-at-trump-hotel?utm_content=bufferf7cd9&utm_medium=jtafeed&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_campaign=jtafeed Alter-reviews: So I went to this awesomely funny (but not only funny) performance by something called "Three Day Hangover" of something called "Drunkle Vanya," in some place called "Tolstoy's Lounge" inside another place called "Russian Samovar" on West 52nd street and boy, now I know how to enjoy live theater. Apparently it involves sprawling out on a comfortable couch, having unlimited amounts of vodka, pretty-decent doing great Russian theater for (mostly, but not entirely) laughs (while listening to the guy on the piano bar downstairs the entire time). The play, adapted and directed by Lori Wolter Hudson, has been running since November 10 but had an official opening the night I saw it and it was crazy in (almost) only good ways, with lots of clever dialogue, enforced drinking and up-to-the-minute asides that (almost) all worked. (Someone or something, I forget which [remember the vodka] was referred to "as perfect as Justin Trudeau.") The cast is also quite winning in parts that demand all kids of different skills, (including, dare I say it one more time), drinking. There are gradations of ticket prices and I can heartily recommend "aristocracy" over "proletariat" for just this once, assuming money is no object, and "imperial family" over both. More here www.drunklevanya.com . Advertisement I also had a chance last week to get to the Jazz Standard, the jazz club with the Danny Meyer BBQ menu to see a show by Monty Alexander, and my first thought after getting there is why don't I go there more. It's a great space with excellent food and the prices are not that crazy. Monty, if you don't know him, grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, learned to play the piano and then had a stellar but also hard-working career playing with not exactly "everyone" but an awful lot of the key figures in jazz history as well as fronting his own bands. He did a week-long celebration that history at the Standard last week which included: 2/1 Revisiting "That's The Way It Is" 1969- Remembering Milt Jackson and Ray Brown Quintet 2/2 1977: Revisiting Montreux '77 (Jazz at the Philharmonic with Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Monty Alexander) (That's one I saw) and 2/3 - 2/4 Revisiting Jamaica's Studio 1: Monty Alexander's Harlem-Kingston Express The show I saw was all old-timey stuff, like "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Duke's Place" played with sophistication and aplomb. But you should also check out Monty's Jamaican recordings which are unique and fun in equal parts. For the Jazz Standard, go here http://www.jazzstandard.com/ (and check out the Mingus Big Band whenever possible). Advertisement Finally, I wanted to let you know, in case you didn't, that it's Valentine's Day this week and I'm sure Donald Trump does not want you across the street from his vulgar hotel--which by the way, the E Street Band used to stay at, I hope that's over--thinking nasty thoughts at Jazz@Lincoln Center's weekend celectration with Dianne Reeve's in the big (Rose) room and the Freddy Cole Quartet at Dizzy's, followed by Brianna Thomas there. Freddy is Nat's brother but has quite a career of his own. Brianna has sung with the Jazz@LC orchestra a few times and it will be interesting to see how she does in the more intimate setting. Dianne Reeves is still Dianne Reeves and so I don't really know what more I need to say besides that except check the schedule, especially for the wonderful historical journey the Orchestra is now doing. We are coming up on the fifties, which is really the best time for Jazz, ending as it does with both "Kind of Blue" and "The Shape of Jazz to Come." There's plenty more here http://www.jazz.org/?gclid=CIDaqOeg_tECFceKswoduA8MTg When Sophie Hansa is dropped into the archipelago world of Stormwrack, she is faced with a challenge: Is she dealing with magic, or science? An alternate world, or the climate-ravaged world of the future? Along the way she has adventures on the high seas that include murder mysteries, investigations, and the occasional romance. Alyx Dellamonica weaves a thoroughly original trilogy with these novels, beginning with Child of a Hidden Sea, continuing with A Daughter of No Nation, and culminating in the just-released The Nature of a Pirate. I caught up with Alyx to talk about her unique take on fantasy, her inspirations, and more. This series is hard to categorize: There are elements of fantasy, science fiction--even forensic mystery for good measure. Can you comment on this fusion of elements in your work? I write books about contemporary earth dwelling human beings, many of them North American, and most privileged to have had a pretty decent education. Then I take these people and confront them with magic. Advertisement I'd like to think that if Gandolf the Gray or Hermione Granger showed up in present day Mumbai or Amsterdam, and began performing miraculous feats for the benefit of CNN and all comers, someone would run a Geiger counter over them, grab blood samples, ask them to make light with their wandy-staff things a few thousand times, under various controlled conditions, and run a study on how they get those moths and snakes to do their will. Most of us believe the world is somewhat explicable, in other words, and I want at least some of my present-day characters to grapple with that possibility that magic could be understood. Fictional heroes cave in too readily, in some stories, to accepting that the laws of the universe are radically different from our own. In the case of my trilogy, Sophie Hansa and her brother are actual scientists, which dials this trait up significantly. I also think magic shouldn't be able to do everything, and one of the areas where it tends to fail on Stormwrack is in giving people the tools to solve crimes methodically, using observation and forensics. This is what leads Sophie into solving murders and teaching the Watch the techniques of analyzing fingerprints. How were you inspired to create the unique ecosystem of Stormwrack? Advertisement When I started thinking about this particular project, I made a huge list of everything I love. And, inevitably, some of the things on that list were nerdy as all get out. Microclimates! Biodiversity! The Galapagos Islands! There were also more obviously fun things on the same page, things like tall ships, pirates, police procedurals, mermaids, Mount Vesuvius, constitutional process... and okay! At that point any rational person would have started trimming the list. But I'd come through a couple of tough years, just around that time, and I decided that I didn't want to give things up. This was my fiction! It should be filled with all the things I find cool, am I right? I made the (arguably) self indulgent decision to see how many of those wonderful elements I could squeeze into one big narrative. Having said that, the foundation of the book is very much inspired by the theoryof evolution and Galapagos-style biodiversity. Stormwrack is a world with a lot of ocean and comparatively little landmass. Everyone lives on little archipelagos of islands. Each island is a different nation, and whatever it has within its microclimate determines the kind of magic that can work there. If a nation's turtles are even a little bit different, genetically, from the turtles on the island fifty nautical miles away, the magical potential of each species will be radically different. The character of Sophia Hansa goes through many transitions in the course of this trilogy. Were there moments when she surprised you? I think of Sophie is being quite sweet tempered in a lot of ways, though she's also quite privileged and a bit intolerant, with a tendency to to judge the nations of Stormwrack by modern US standards. In the first book in this trilogy, she is essentially declared persona non grata on one of the most important island nations, and it's the one her birth mother is from. Advertisement I certainly didn't have room to write in a subplot where Sophie throws herself against that particular bureaucratic wall. But the degree to which she's okay with being banned from Verdanni surprised me for awhile. Over time, though, I came to realize this is how she approaches problems that aren't immediate barriers to what she wants: she blithely assumes that if the ban ever does get in her way, she will just overcome it somehow. This is something I've been thinking about a lot in the last year or so. Human society is built up from a foundation of rules, both written and unwritten ones. Yet everyone chooses a few that, they decide, don't apply to them personally. Many of us feel that speed limits, for example, are kind of a general driver's guideline... as long as you don't get caught. This is a a basic contract we make with the universe and our civilization, a bit of magical thinking that allows us to rebel a little because we think we can and we feel, for whatever reason, justified. And it's occurred to me that Sophie has an unreasonably large dose of that trait. Can you describe the kind of research that went into this work? Sure! I ran all of the scuba diving scenes past two master divers, after it proved impractical to take diving lessons myself. I went on a cruise on a tall ship to learn how to haul sails and steer a wind powered sailing vessel. I had already been an avid amateur nature photographer, so a good chunk of Sophie's professional life was covered by the tens of thousands of pictures I've taken in the past couple of decades. I spent a lot of time at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at UBC. Finally, for the last book, The Nature of a Pirate, I did a lot of reading on the history of fingerprinting and the propagation of the techniques of forensic policing during Victorian times. With such a diversity of genre elements in this work, I was moved to wonder what sort of work inspires you. Can you name some writers whose work has been important for your own? James Tiptree, Junior, for one. Of course there is no comparison, but I'd like to think Sophie is at least distant kin to the characters in stories like "The Only Neat Thing To Do" and "Backward, Turn Backward." (Though not as doomed, of course!) I love Connie Willis's disciplined approach to research and history, particularly in The Doomsday Book, and Peter Straub for the incredible clarity of his prose, not to mention his penchant for corrupt old men. Without giving anything away, the ending of The Nature of a Pirate seems to leave open possibilities for future stories. What are the chances that we'll be returning to the world of Stormwrack? There will definitely be more of The Gales, the short stories that tie into the series: the next of these is called "Losing Heart among the Tall" and it tells about the lost magical artifact that is at the heart of the mystery in the first book, Child of a Hidden Sea. It will be up on Tor.com on February 22nd. I would also love to write some kind of series about Bram and Tonio. A lot of my fans really want to see if the two of them can come together, romantically, and they'd make a launchpad for the ongoing political problem brewing within the Fleet of Nations: a perhaps-inevitable battle between the slaveowning nations and the free ones. Advertisement What's next for you? Finishing a trilogy was a big effort and now that it's done, I am taking advantage of the chance to write more short stories, while considering my next big project. I have a few book concepts on the go and am pondering which of them I like best. One of the funny things about putting the entire long list of everything I liked into Stormwrack is that I may need a whole new list for the next thing! Luckily, I'm picking up new passions all the time. A.M. Dellamonica's first novel, Indigo Springs, won the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Her fourth, A Daughter of No Nation, has won the 2016 Prix Aurora. She is the author of over forty short stories, appearing in Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Lightspeed and numerous print magazines and anthologies. She was the co-editor of Heiresses of Russ 2016. She teaches at UTSC and through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. Alyx is married to fellow Aurora winner Kelly Robson; the two made their outlaw wedding of 1989 legal, in 2003, when the Canadian Supreme Court conferred equality on same sex couples. Although Donald Trump had good inclinations on some foreign policy issues during his campaign and transition period--for example, staying out of unneeded brushfire wars, reexamining U.S. alliances, and pushing wealthy allies to do more for their own security--his policy toward "radical Islamic terrorism" always needed some work. Now, having been president for only a short time, this policy--including slamming the door shut on the legal immigration of refugees (including desperate Syrians fleeing from the country's civil war) and entry of people from seven predominantly Muslim countries--needs a lot of work. In the meantime, to show that he is doing at least something for Syrian refugees, he is talking to Arab allies not affected by the ban--Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates--about setting up safe zones in Syria to keep refugees there. Trump somehow believes that such tough policies will prevent Middle Eastern terrorists from attacking the United States. Yet refugees coming to the United States are already vetted thoroughly, and an average American citizen's chances of ever getting killed by a "refugee-gone-wild" is very remote. In fact, the radical ISIS group has had little luck recruiting people to come to America to attack, thus requiring the group to rely on "inspiring" untrained people already here to conduct largely incompetent, amateurish attacks. Therefore, one must conclude that the security gains from this ill-conceived, chaotic, and likely illegal and unconstitutional executive order (the U.S. Constitution says that only Congress, not the president, will establish a uniform rule on naturalization). On the other hand, such demagoguery allows the president to throw political red meat to his populist base by fulfilling a campaign promise. Advertisement Because that promise was originally advertised as advocating a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States," and now covers seven predominantly Muslim countries while giving preference to Christians and other minority religions in Muslim nations, the Islamic world can be forgiven for assuming he is accelerating the American post-9/11 "war on Islam." And although Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama claimed they were not conducting such a wide war, they were both attacking or bombing at least seven Muslim countries. These wars continue to this day and roughly coincide with the seven Muslim nations covered by the immigration ban, including Iraq, a U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS. Because the United States depends on Muslims worldwide to get information, ground forces, and other assistance to use against the small percentage of radical Islamist terrorists, this immigration ban will probably prove as disastrous as U.S. torture at the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons did to the "war on terror." Trump has made noises about bringing back such practices abhorrent to American values.Trump has a macho image, which his loyal followers eagerly gobble up, yet seems so scared of the remote probability that an already comprehensively vetted refugee will misbehave. Shouldn't America instead be courageous and say that we'll take the (very low) risk to help people desperately fleeing turmoil in countries, including those that happen to be largely Muslim, such as Syria? For most of our history, welcoming immigrants has been seared into the American identity, and we even think of ourselves as "a nation of immigrants." However, Trump could be initiating another one of the periodic dark periods in which immigrants were treated very badly. For example, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, for political gains, turned away a ship full of persecuted Jews during the holocaust, refused to increase immigration quotas for such Jews during that horrible period, and threw Japanese residents, and even Japanese-Americans, into concentration camps during the same period. The indefinite ban on desperate Syrian refugees may very well become a similar stain on America's legacy. Advertisement And a "safe zone" created in Syria will not make up for it. The underlying message is "keep those undesirable Muslims over there, not accept them here." Besides, a safe zone may require the United States to get sucked into escalating the type of brushfire war that Trump, in the campaign, said he wanted to avoid. Setting up a safe zone could very well require the insertion of U.S. ground forces and the tangle of American air forces with those of nuclear-armed Russia. Expanding capacity for peace through meditation When the minds of those involved in generating tactics and solutions for peace are clouded over by resentment about the past or anxiety about an uncertain future, authentic dialogue and trust-building cannot occur. Sri Sri regularly guides all parties involved in the peace building process - including presidents and government agents, activists and advocates, religious and cultural leaders, guerrillas and terrorists -- in meditation and breathing. Research suggests that meditation improves creativity and cognitive functioning, emotional stability and regulation, and response to stress - with enduring effects on brain functioning. Through meditation, Sri Sri seems to increase the social-emotional capacity of conflicting sides to engage in dialogue - not by talking about it, but by enabling people with mind-body tools that increase their capacity to hold and process complex emotions and see new possibilities. Deep listening as an act of healing When those who question injustice (whether real or perceived) are silenced, made invisible, or misrepresented, anger can amplify into violence. Violence can spark retaliation, and the original reason for the violence can become lost in a cycle of revenge. Sri Sri shares that "when unanswered questions ferment in the mind, they turn into violence." Sri Sri is able to be fully present with people, without judgment or agenda. The quality of deep listening he exhibits allows people to feel their humanity acknowledged, which is sometimes what is most desperately needed on the path to peace and reconciliation. I was able to observe Sri Sri meet with young Black activists as protests began turning violent on the streets of Baltimore. Sri Sri fully acknowledged, invited, and listened to each person in the room verbalize their anger and frustration, then guided them in a meditation. He spoke only a few words, yet by the end of the hour-long meeting, the activists were laying out a vision for a peaceful racial justice movement. Beyond blame and victimhood Whether bringing conflicting sides together into one room or conducting individual meetings, Sri Sri engages all sides of a conflict - leaders, victims and rebels. He moves dialogue from victim-perpetrator to a perspective that all those involved in cycles of violence are victims - including terrorists, violent gang members, and perpetrators of crime. After meeting with President Juan Manuel Santos, Sri Sri was invited to engage with FARC leaders. "When you see one is a culprit, you demand them to be punished. When you understand that the culprit is also a victim, for the sake of peace, we can walk an extra mile," Sri Sri shared during conversations lasting several days with FARC leaders. Soon after speaking with Sri Sri, Ivan Marquez, FARC commander shared in a press conference: "We agree with Master Shankar that deep down, we are all victims. And if we begin with that understanding, we can leave behind the past, a sad story of violence that must not be repeated." Even if past wrongs cannot be corrected, this orientation seems to open a window of compassion and unlock the posturing of one side vs. another, allowing for movement forward. Commander Marquez shares: "With the help of Sri Sri, we have placed our spirit [in the direction of] achieving reconciliation and coexistence of a big and benevolent country, whose destiny can't be that of war... As a result of these talks the FARC will use Gandhian principles to attain social justice. "We can have our political goals, and not give up the cause. But with a new experiment, a new vision of non-violence." "There are more people in slavery today than at any time in human history." Thus reads a declaration signed in Istanbul on February 7 by two of the world's foremost religious leaders: Bartholomew, Archbishop of New-Rome and Patriarch of Constantinople, and Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury. They committed themselves, within the communities of both the Orthodox and Anglican churches and beyond, to educate, raise awareness, and take action to work and pray to end this "scourge against humanity". They established a joint task force to make concrete recommendations because action was a central theme of the day. At the invitation of the Patriarch, this Forum was born in discussions at Lambeth Palace in London late 2015 when the two leaders met. They agreed to focus on the specific challenges of modern slavery and to explore how the gifts and energies of their religious communities might do more to bring action on a horrendous and too often hidden problem. A group of about 60 people included clergy from the two communities, academics, and some practitioners; many are directly engaged on the issues. The day concluded with the formal signing of the joint declaration. The tone for the meeting was set in the Patriarch's opening statement: "The Orthodox Church is often accused of neglecting the world for the sake of liturgical worship and spiritual life, turning primarily towards the Kingdom of God to come, disregarding challenges of the present. In fact, however, whatever the Church says, whatever the Church does, is done in the name of God and for the sake of human dignity and the eternal destiny of the human being." Advertisement And the Archbishop of Canterbury made clear what was meant by the forum's title: "Sin before our eyes". "Slavery is all around us, but we are too blind to see it. It is in our hands, yet we are too insensitive to touch it. The enslaved are next to us in the street, but we are too ignorant to walk alongside them. It must not be relegated to a footnote in history. It is a living reality in all our communities." The day was full of poignant stories that shone light on the realities of slavery today: its cruelty, impact on the most vulnerable, and the power of action to address it. With a special focus on Turkey and neighboring Greece, the links between refugee and migrant situations and exploitation were a highlight. The UK Modern Slavery Act and resulting action was another theme, linking prevention, law enforcement, and care for the vulnerable to the responsibility of churches and communities to be more alert and aware and to act. The discussions began an exploration of root causes, seen both in what Pope Francis describes as "the globalization of indifference" and in contemporary economic systems including the demand for cheap goods. Sexual exploitation was a central focus. "The same arrogance and greed are responsible for the oppression and exploitation of innocent victims - most often children and women - of human trafficking, human smuggling, prostitution, the sale of human organs, indentured labor, and many other dimensions of modern slavery." During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly proclaimed that he would "drain that swamp" in Washington. As a wetland scientist, that phrase grated on me because - if taken literally - it advocated an activity that runs afoul of regulations contained in the Federal Clean Water Act. In late October, I wrote a short Op Ed expressing my concern for the phrase, while extolling the values of wetlands. Happily, a few newspapers in my home state of Pennsylvania picked up the piece, and published it in print and online. Most of the reader comments posted to the online versions were critical - stating that I was too literal, finding fault with a colorful, useful phrase. They argued that it is just a slogan, having nothing to do with actually draining swamps. But a section of the new White House website proclaiming its "America First Energy Plan" proves otherwise. There, the Trump administration notes: "For too long, we've been held back by burdensome regulations on our energy industry. President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule." Advertisement Casting aside the part about the Climate Action Plan, the "Waters of the U.S. Rule" is worth examining - and asking whether it really represents a "burdensome regulation." I argue that it does not. The Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers finalized the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule in late May 2015. Its purpose was to clearly define which areas qualified as Waters of the United States, and thus worthy of receiving protection under the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972. Enacted during the Nixon administration, the Clean Water Act protects navigable waterways such as rivers and lakes from water pollution. But to do so, Congress wisely included protections for tributary streams and their adjoining wetlands. Such wetlands benefit people living downstream by preventing flooding, restoring groundwater, removing pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Further, about 117 million Americans get their drinking water from streams protected by the Clean Water Act. Since the late 1970s, the Corps regulates wetlands, streams, ponds, and other water features on both private and public lands. Landowners with such features on their property have to obtain a permit from the Corps whenever they want to develop those areas. Such restrictions rankle many developers, and the government has been repeatedly sued over the law. Advertisement Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006 mandated the Corps to prove that a particular wetland, stream or pond clearly benefitted a downstream navigable waterway: a time-consuming and costly procedure considering the thousands of regulated wetlands and watercourses in the U.S. To streamline the process of identifying Waters of the United States (WOTUS) on parcels of land, the EPA and Corps jointly developed a set of rules that defined regulated bodies of water within the U.S. They produced an initial document based on scientific expertise and research. Public review followed, garnering over one million comments. In addition, they conducted more than 400 meetings with multiple stakeholders nationwide. Significantly, the WOTUS rule declared that tributary streams and adjoining wetlands had sufficient connections to downstream rivers and lakes to be automatically declared Waters of the United States. Thus, further assessment by the Corps or the EPA would not be needed. Property-owners and developers would therefore benefit by more quickly knowing whether they need to file a permit application. As written, the rule actually reduced the acreage declared to be Waters of the United States by eliminating drainage ditches and other landscape features that flow only after rainfall or snowmelt. Similarly, the regulations also excluded areas used for agriculture, forestry, and ranching. Following their publication in the Federal Register in August 2015, the WOTUS rules were quickly challenged in the courts. Hours before the rules were to take effect, a North Dakota judge imposed a stay that affected 13 midwestern states. Advertisement Since then, many Republicans, nearly thirty states, and a range of business interests attacked the law, claiming that it represented a major overreach of federal power - despite the fact that the law was designed to merely clarify existing Corps and EPA practice. In May 2016, the US Supreme Court ruled that wetland determinations by the Corps are reviewable by courts - and are not automatically binding, as suggested by WOTUS. In his decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the Clean Water Act "continues to raise troubling questions regarding the Government's power to cast doubt on the full use and enjoyment of private property throughout the Nation." While sweet words to developers, that viewpoint fails to recognize the benefit of the Act, enhancing water quality nationwide. Prospects for the WOTUS rule will dim considerably if the Trump Administration follows through with its pledge articulated on the White House website. Ominously, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R), who has been tapped to lead EPA, has sued the agency over the WOTUS rule and has promised to withdraw it if confirmed. But repealing the rule cannot be done by Executive Order; it will require extensive public hearing based on evidence. Opponents of the WOTUS rule fail to appreciate that removing the regulation would again force the Corps to perform laborious and costly case-by-case analyses of each wetland's connections to downstream water conditions. They also overlook the role that wetlands and tributary streams play in helping to protect the quality and hydrology of navigable waters, which is the clear intent of the Clean Water Act. But the rule has its supporters. Anglers are concerned about the loss of prized fisheries habitat should stream protections disappear. A brewery in North Carolina joined a lawsuit asking the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the clean water rule - one of several that are pending. The National Wildlife Federation and grassroots organizations like the Citizens Campaign for the Environment are waging campaigns to support the rule. Advertisement Unlike the Obama-era Clean Streams Law that Congress quickly overturned in early February, the WOTUS rule will be much more fully litigated. If saner minds prevail and the rule is allowed to be implemented, we will have a streamlined and clearer definition of areas that qualify as Waters of the U.S. Developers, other businesses, and municipalities would benefit from that clarity. Far from being an overreach, it is a scientifically defensible approach to keeping navigable waters clean. "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" Thus, in typical thin-skin, knee-jerk Twitter-ese, President Trump issues a Don Corleone "and that day may never come" warning in the wake of a court-ruling stalling his seven-country travel ban. Nothing makes people more willing to give up their rights than an emergency. And nothing primes the pump better for an emergency decree than a worst-case-scenario actually happening. Advertisement Adolf Hitler didn't take over Germany by force--he was elected chancellor, not dictator, in 1932 and sworn in on January 30, 1933. He promised change, jobs for the working class and most importantly plenty of scapegoats to blame for losing WWI and the nation's terrible economy. A 24-year-old out-of-work bricklayer provided Hitler his "sign from God." Hitler hadn't been in office for a month when the Reichstag was set fire, the guilty party a newly arrived Dutch immigrant and communist Marinus van der Lubbe who was arrested inside the burning building. The next day, the aged President Hindenburg gave Hitler his "Reichstag Fire Decree" which suspended rights until Hitler shot himself 12 years later, including: Habeus Corpus Freedom of Expression Freedom of the Press Right of Free Association Right of Public Assembly Privacy Rights for Telephone and Post Despite claiming that he acted alone, thousands of communists were arrested and communist members of the government were not permitted to vote. One month later, the Enabling Act was passed, permitting Hitler to rule by decree and five years later Poland was invaded and WWII began. It was never disproven that the guillotined van der Lubbe wasn't the guilty party. Hermann Goering even allegedly claimed that he had set it, after all. And perhaps it was just a stroke of luck for the Nazis. But Hitler needed a country ready to already be living in fear, anger and finger-pointing. It's easy if you don't have to spend time supplying facts such as crowd-size, actual murder rates, people "pouring in" and the ambiguous identities of millions of illegal aliens who obtained voter registration cards much easier than most fifth generation Americans in southern states. Fear is a powerful motivator. Realized fear can be cataclysmic. Syrian refugee Baraa Haj Khalaf,(L), receives a kiss from her mother Fattoum Haj Khalaf as she arrives at O'Hare International Airport on February 7, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Baraa Haj Khalaf and her family were previously banned from entering the United States after President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning immigrants from entering the country. The Justice Department faced tough questioning as it urged a court of appeals to reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- put on hold by the courts last week. / AFP / Joshua LOTT (Photo credit should read JOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images) President Donald Trump's recent Executive Order halting thousands from entering the United States in particular placed a temporary but devastating ban on the resettlement of refugees - ALL refugees, no matter their country of origin or the circumstances which drove them to flee their homelands. At its core, the president's Executive Order was hastily undertaken and ill-conceived, targeting the very men, women, and children who are so often on the frontlines of the extremist violence and atrocities that President Trump says he wants to confront. By targeting refugees under his so-called travel ban, President Trump is conflating the victims of extremism with the perpetrators of extremist crimes. While the Executive Order is now on hold, thanks to a district court ruling in Washington state, the Order may still stand as it works its way through the U.S. legal system, ultimately ending up in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. Once the case goes before the Supreme Court, the justices will have to weigh the president's national security powers against other legal protections under the U.S. Constitution. More specifically, the Supreme Court justices will have to decide whether it is constitutional for a president to assert his broad national security authorities and significantly disrupt the U.S. refugee resettlement program, an action that will cause irreparable harm to individuals in the total absence of evidence that they or the program poses a clear and present danger to the security of the United States. Advertisement Respected organizations such as the Rand Corporation and the Cato Institute have debunked arguments that would justify the identification of refugees, including Syrian refugees, as potential terrorists. President Trump often points to Europe, which has been afflicted by terrible terrorist attacks over the past two years. But these examples are not applicable to the United States, and the repetition of these arguments is misleading. European countries, which are facing an acute humanitarian crisis of historic proportions, were not in a position to utilize anything even remotely approaching the extensive U.S. vetting process. The United States, however, already has an effective vetting system in place - not a single resettled refugee has been convicted of domestic terrorism. Regardless of this evidence or how the current legal battle over the Executive Order is resolved, the Trump administration has made clear its intention to reduce the resettlement quota by more than half in 2017, from a planned 110,000 refugees to about 50,000. This move will dash the hopes of some 60,000 refugees who are currently in the midst of extensive vetting process. In 2015 and 2016, Europe faced a historic flood of refugees which was created by an utterly unique set of circumstances. The United States does not face similar uncontrolled influx of refugees, both because of our geography and because the United States already employs an effective and stringent immigration system. What's more, the extensive and in-depth vetting process used by the United States can take anywhere between two years and in some cases up to ten years to complete, further limiting and controlling the flow of refugees entering the United States. Advertisement It is important to note that, if imposed, the president's travel ban would mean that refugee women and girls living in dangerous places will remain at risk of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violent acts, that ill refugees would not get access to life-saving medical treatment, that unaccompanied children would remain at risk of exploitation and trafficking, and that refugee families would endure separation from family members already in the United States. Further, refugees who were already poised to travel to the U.S. on approved documents are now particularly vulnerable, having resigned jobs, sold all their belongings, and severed ties with their communities, only to see long-held promises of resettlement vanish overnight. Beyond the devastating impacts on individual refugees, the president's plan to turn his back on a successful and long-standing U.S. bi-partisan policy will affect the decision making of governments worldwide. The United States has been the lead architect of the collective humanitarian, human rights, and security architecture of the post-World War II era. There are more refugees today than at any time since the Second World War, and most of these refugees - more than 85 percent - reside in countries neighboring those from which they fled. In many instances, refugees flee to countries that are facing their own economic hardships and political and social instabilities. In eschewing its long-held leadership, reneging on the principle of joint action and responsibility sharing, the United States will in all likelihood engender the progressive erosion of the international refugee protection system with dramatic human consequences. Why shouldn't Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Pakistan - among many other refugee-hosting nations - make similar claims and immediately suspend their refugee protection programs? If nations take these actions, the Middle East, Africa and other regions would likely be thrown into even greater turmoil which could then be exploited by extremist groups and further endanger our common strategic interests. When the world came together last year for the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants and the U.S. Leaders Summit on Refugees, countries around the world made specific commitments and today are developing compacts to enshrine the best solutions to the current displacement crisis. Just when the need for U.S. leadership is the greatest, the Trump administration has taken action that will weaken international resolve and endanger the lives of tens of thousands of refugees. The Trump administration has made crystal clear that the Washington state court decision and other pending legal rulings will not end their pursuit of further anti-refugee policies. But by continuing down this path, the Trump administration is turning its back on decades of humanitarian doctrine and on the moral standing and leadership the United States once demonstrated to the rest of the world. The closest foreign neighbor to the world's tech hub. Geography sometimes is not important, but when talking about tech hubs like Silicon Valley and San Francisco it is very much so. A region that has created companies like Apple, Google, Uber, SAP, etc. Is under fire given that their resources for talent mostly comes from foreign countries these smart foreigners today are being seen simply as "immigrants" and will be limited to enter the United States given restrictions from the Trump-Republican Administration. This week's news, posted on The Guardian: "almost 100 US technology companies have filed a legal brief opposing President Trump's ban on migration from seven Muslim-majority countries, arguing that it imposes significant burdens on the industry by preventing it from hiring talented migrants." Litigations, court hearings and other legal frameworks will establish a solution or problem to the future of immigrant talent. A medium-short term solution is to set a hold period in Mexico for immigrant employees or potential employees, creating an immigrant tech safe-haven right across the border in Tijuana. Advertisement The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which established the playbook for this economic relationship, has also put to scrutiny by the Republican Administration and both Mexico and the US are proposing to remake the deal. Creating skepticism mostly in the manufacturing and consumer goods industry. In 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect, it was widely expected it would become the key for Mexico to finally join leading economies into the 21st century. The agreement pushed border cities like Tijuana to evolve to an economy driven by manufacturing. Companies like Samsung, Panasonic, Sony and others opened massive assembly plants. After an initial post-NAFTA manufacturing boom, however, Tijuana (and Mexico) entered a period of economic decline. The hope was that NAFTA would reduce income disparities between the United States and Mexico, but after 10 years of the agreement, the gap had grown by 10.6%, according to an article by Joseph Stiglitz in The New York Times article The Broken Promise of Nafta. The gap grew even wider over the second decade. The general perception is that NAFTA didn't deliver on its promise, and that Mexico needs an industry shift to move forward and the city of Tijuana offers one potential avenue for economic growth, through a 21st century approach to North American free trade. Advertisement Today Tijuana is once again of interest to US investors and companies. Many have already pioneered the use of the "Tijuana Connection", taking advantage of the city's proximity to the US, access to talent and access to the Latin America market. Examples include 3DRobotics, a drone company; Saint Technologies, a content filtering technology company; Busca Corp, one of the top digital media firms in Latin America; and Uber, that set its second Mexican operation in Tijuana. Tijuana also offers access to the Latin American market, where middle class consumption in the region grew by 73 million (according to World Bank) The city is California's natural gateway into Latin America, with real profit potential for both sides. California is considered the 9th largest economy, amounting to 2.422 trillion last year - an economy mainly fueled through technology companies like SAP, Intel, Apple, Google, Qualcomm and others. Bloomberg also valued the Tijuana-San Diego connection at $230 billion and a potential labour force of over 3 million people. Knowing that the dominant industries of California are technology and innovation, we need to use the Tijuana Connection to encourage transactions and to rebrand this region into a technology hub for immigrants and refugees in the sector. How the strategy should work is by doing the following: 1. US immigrants can use a 6 month immigration permit. This permit can extend into a second term for Temporary Residents. 2. By being close to the border tech employees can attend immigration appointments. 3. Also tech employees would be under the same timezone of California, which gives them accessibility to market needs. 4. In person meetings can also be encouraged by plane trips using the new Cross Border Xpress Tijuana-San Diego airport. Advertisement On the ground implementation for this cross-border live-work environment would require: 1. Campus style workplaces 2. Coworking spaces 3. Mixed-use living units 4. Tech enabled buildings under US standards of quality and security 5. Talent resources for access to more talent pools In the near term, we can help change the regional economy by generating more Tijuana-California success stories through talent and leveraging the strategic geography. These successes should become examples of an ideal US-Mexico partnership. By using Tijuana's and California's cross-border region as a technology hub for immigrants working at Californian companies, it then becomes possible to link the rest of Mexico to the United States for a much greater tangible impact. UNITED STATES - JANUARY 05: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., attends a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Dirksen Building titled 'Foreign Cyber Threats to the United States,' featuring testimony by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and others, January 5, 2016. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Gooooood neeeews, maybe, depends who you ask. 1. Elizabeth Warren was silenced on the senate floor by Mitch McConnell. A man silencing a woman, how vintage! More here. 2. Army Corps said it will now approve the Dakota Access Pipeline going against the Obama Administration's stay on the project. Who needs clean drinking water anyway? More here. Advertisement 3. Tornadoes blasted across the southern states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Don't get it twisted, this isn't good. More here. 4. Colombian government is in peace talks with the ELN rebel group. This might bring the end of five decades of conflict. More here. Ji Sung stars in the South Korean TV drama 'Defendant.' (Photo : YouTube/SBS Drama) The SBS legal series "Defendant" remained as the frontrunner among competitor primetime dramas in the Monday-Tuesday TV rating race. Meanwhile, the MBC historical series "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" also posted impressive ratings, while "Hwarang" saw a dip in viewership shares. Advertisement Ji Sung's drama "Defendant" retained its spot as the highly-rated drama in the Monday-Tuesday primetime broadcast schedule. The SBS drama's sixth episode registered double-digit ratings of 15.3 percent and 18.3 percent, according to data from TNMS and Nielsen Korea, respectively, as cited by Soompi. "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" nabbed the second place with its episode 4 posting the drama's highest TV rating to date. Based on Nielsen Korea's data, the said episode gained a viewership share of 12.3 percent. The star-studded KBS series "Hwarang" landed at third place and even saw a decline in TV ratings. Episode 16 reached 7.9 percent which is 0.7 percentage points lower than episode 15. In other news, the SBS legal drama recently reached high real-time ratings following a tense scene between Jung Woo (Ji) and Sung Kyu (Kim Min Suk). Featured in "Defendant" episode 6, Sung Kyu stopped Jung Woo from committing suicide when he revealed that he killed the former prosecutor's wife and daughter. Aired on Feb. 6, the gripping scene registered peak real-time ratings of 23.28 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, as cited by South Korean news outlet Asiae. The said real-time viewership share also marked the SBS drama's highest TV rating since it released its first episode in January. "Defendant," also known as "Innocent Defendant," tells the story of the successful prosecutor Jung Woo whose life changed when he was accused of murdering his own wife and daughter. Despite having no memory of the incident, Jung Woo was sent to prison to pay for his alleged crime. With the amnesiac prosecutor-turned-prisoner wrongly accused of the murder, Jung Woo must discover what really happened to avoid a death sentence and clear his name. However, the said protagonist will face a fierce battle against powerful individuals in his quest to learn the truth. "Defendant" airs every Monday and Tuesday on SBS. Watch a clip from the said drama below: Over the past few days, the national climate has grown increasingly tense over the issue of "sanctuary" cities and states. Local communities, including some college and university campuses, have pledged to shield undocumented children and adults from President Donald Trump's proposals for deportation. Municipalities and campuses remain steadfast even in the face of the president's threats to withhold federal funding from these communities. This opposition between federal authorities and local communities is hardly new. As a scholar of slavery and emancipation, I have studied the long history of African-American communities and how they offered sanctuary or protection to the most vulnerable among them. In particular, I have looked at how in the 19th century, before the abolition of slavery in the United States, free black people openly defied the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 that sanctioned slavery over the human rights of enslaved people. Advertisement The law that supported rights to slaves The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 built on provisions in the Constitution and a 1793 law that barred slaves from escaping from a state where slavery was legal to one where it had been banned. While the Constitution mainly called for the return of runaway slaves, the 1850 law vastly expanded the authority of federal law enforcement officials. The law criminalized helping or harboring a runaway slave and denied the accused person the right to offer testimony in her or his own defense. The 1850 law confirmed what generations of enslaved African-Americans knew too well: They existed as property, not persons, in the eyes of the law. Enslaved women and men could not enter legal marriages because slaveholders claimed their bodies, time, movement and even reproductive capacity. Law and custom dictated that enslaved women gave birth to enslaved children. Advertisement Constant threat of enslavement Freedom was always precarious for black Americans who stood on the legal margins of society. Blackness and enslavement were so firmly connected in antebellum America that to be free and black was to exist as a civic anomaly. Free black people were recognized as citizens, though with limited rights, in the states in which they lived. Their standing as citizens of the nation remained ambiguous until after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery in the United States. The threat of enslavement stalked many free black people. Solomon Northup, for example, was a free man who lived in upstate New York; in 1841 he was abducted and sold into slavery in Louisiana. The 1850 law made it worse. Those who had seized their freedom by running away became more vulnerable to kidnapping and enslavement. Slaveholders advertised widely for the return of their property - the runaway slaves - and often hired men to track and capture fugitives. Newspaper reports and broadsides announced the arrival of slave catchers, warning free black people to remain vigilant especially in their interactions with the police. On Nov. 1, 1850, the Liberator, the Boston anti-slavery newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, a radical white abolitionist, alerted local residents to the presence of "two prowling villains." It said that the two slave catchers had come to Boston from Macon, Georgia, with the aim of capturing William and Ellen Craft, a runaway slave couple, "under the infernal Fugitive Slave Bill, and carrying them back to the hell of Slavery." Advertisement Prompted to action by the Crafts' plight, Boston's black community gathered to plan their opposition to the Fugitive Slave Law. They adopted a set of resolutions, including a pledge "to resist oppression" and any attacks on their freedom. Escaping bondage Many prominent black activists gained their freedom by running away. Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs are among the best-known fugitive slaves. After liberating themselves, they continued to challenge the laws and customs that stripped black people of their freedom. After the 1850 law was enacted, many black people set their sights on Canada, convinced they could find safety only outside of the United States. Harriet Tubman was among them. She shepherded runaways from Maryland through New York and Pennsylvania to Canada, where slavery had been abolished in 1834. Frederick Douglass, perhaps the most widely known self-liberated slave, also left the United States to safeguard his freedom. Douglass had escaped from bondage in Maryland in 1838 and then traveled to England and Ireland. The 1845 publication of his "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself" placed him in danger of being captured. Douglass returned to the U.S. in 1847 only after his English supporters negotiated with his owner to purchase his freedom. Advertisement Experiences of escape and exile prompted free black women and men to lament America's denial of their humanity but also invigorated their determination to bring slavery to an end. Fighting for freedom In the wake of the 1850 law, many black people openly engaged in physical confrontations with law enforcement. Tubman, for example, fought the arrest and detainment of accused fugitives. Almost immediately after the 1850 law was enacted, Frederick Douglass quickly organized a mass gathering in protest. In September 1850, hundreds of black and white opponents of slavery gathered in Cazenovia, New York to hear Douglass and other prominent abolitionists, some of them former slaves, speak out against the law. In his published summary of the Cazenovia meeting, Douglass charged, "slave laws should be held in perfect contempt." He also maintained that enslaved people should defy the laws of slavery and liberate themselves by escaping from their owners whenever they could. In short, Douglass called on free people, black and white, as well as enslaved people to defy state and federal laws that protected slavery. Advertisement African-American history is American history. Black people's lives, their words and actions, including their commitment to defying the laws of slavery, helped define the meanings of freedom and citizenship in the United States. Early morning fire heavily damages southeast Hutchinson home Hutchinson resident and his four dogs escaped the home without injury. The cause remains under investigation, fire officials reported. Egyptian prosecutors released on bail Tuesday the main police officer accused of torturing to death a fish vendor in police custody late last year, a judicial source said. In November 2016, Magdy Makeen, a 53-year-old fish vendor, died at a police station in a working-class Cairo neighbourhood shortly after he was arrested during a brawl with a policeman. Police officer Karim Magdy was released on bail of EGP 5,000 pending investigations after he successfully appealed his 45-day detention. He was ordered detained along with three other low-ranking policemen who are still in jail. The four men face charges of "beating that led to death," causing injuries mentioned in the autopsy report and "willfully harming their place of work, [the interior ministry]." An autopsy report by the state's forensic medicine authority said the post-mortem examination revealed Makeen had been subjected to torture, prosecutors said. The policemen have denied physically assaulting Makeen or the two other people who were arrested with him. Earlier this year, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi pledged to hold accountable policemen guilty of "violations" after a series of deaths in police custody, allegedly caused by torture, sparked public outcry. The interior ministry has said that such violations represent isolated incidents. Some policemen have received lengthy sentences over violations in the past few years, but sentences are usually appealed and subsequently reduced. Critics say policemen act within a climate of impunity. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has said a new Israeli law that retroactively legalises thousands of settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land harms prospects for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. The law, which the Israeli parliament passed on Monday, has faced a flurry of international criticism from countries including Britain, France and neighbouring Jordan, as well as the United Nations. Egypt's foreign ministry said in a statement late Tuesday that the legislation "undermines opportunities for a two-state solution and entrenches the illegal status of the settlements in violation of relevant international laws and norms and decisions by the [United Nations] Security Council." "Taking such one-sided steps would impede efforts to revive the peace process and resume direct negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides," the ministry said. The move also represents an "encroachment on the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state on their entire territory with a capital in east Jerusalem," it added. The legislation would legalise dozens of outposts and thousands of settler homes in the occupied West Bank and has been condemned by Palestinians as a blow to their hopes for statehood. It also prompted a call by the Palestinians for the international community to punish Israel. Search Keywords: Short link: Health Director Gina Armstrong, BRPC Health Planner Jennifer Kimball, Tapestry HIV Health and Prevention Director Liz Whynott, and Brien Center's Medical Director Jennifer Michaels led the community outreach session. Health Officials Make Case for Needle Exchange in Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer led off the meeting by saying this is one of many sessions planned to take the concept to the public. PITTSFIELD, Mass. It wasn't long ago when a young man came to the Brien Center looking for help after he had overdosed on heroin. Dr. Jennifer Michaels, the center's medical director, got him into sober housing, meetings, and family support. He "did all the things he needed to do." And then the health screening came back and showed during his drug-use days, he contracted Hepatitis C from sharing needles. That was yet another hurdle for the man to overcome and the medical treatment bills piled up, bills paid by the taxpayers of Massachusetts, to the tune of $100,000. Now the man is clean, working, and dating. It is a success story but Michaels used it to show that even if someone doesn't believe in the compassion arguments for a needle exchange program, the efforts to curb diseases like Hepatitis C makes sense financially. "It cost us, society, almost $100,000. Whether you are people person or a balance sheet person, needle exchange programs make sense," Michaels said. Michaels said the majority of the people who enter treatment programs are successful and go on to live "wonderful lives." But more and more are facing an even taller mountain to climb when it comes to treating diseases. A needle exchange program is being promoted as a way to help curb those numbers, while also boosting the number of people who enter treatment programs. The Board of Health would need to authorize the state Department of Health to open one in Pittsfield. The board was close to voting on one in December but ultimately pushed it back to engage the public more. On Tuesday, the first community engagement session was held at the Berkshire Athenaeum. However, there wasn't much engagement from the community as only a half-dozen residents attended as the meeting took place while an ice storm pelted the roads outside. Health Director Gina Armstrong said the arguments for a needle-exchange program are twofold: preventing the spread of infectious diseases and connect people to addiction treatment programs. "The goal of this is to help people be safe and be healthy until they are ready to seek treatment," Armstrong said. The spread of infectious diseases is particularly focused on Hepatitis C. There is no vaccination for it and can lead to liver failure and death. Nationally, the cases have grown since 2010 to 2014 by 250 percent, according to Jennifer Kimball, a health planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Massachusetts has three times the national estimate and each year since 2011 there have been 2,300 more cases. In the Berkshires since 2010, 1,100 new cases of Hepatitis C were diagnosed. From 2007 to 2011, there was a 37 percent increase in Berkshire County. Further, the detection of those cases is difficult. Often symptoms are not seen for years and the screenings require two tests, tests which are seldom available in Berkshire County. It is estimated that only between 25 and 50 percent of people who have it, know they have it "More people in Berkshire County are dying of this disease and one of the reasons is a lack of access to screening and services," Kimball said. The virus is spread fairly easily it can survive in a syringe barrel for 63 days, 21 days in water in a plastic container, and five days on surfaces. Bleach doesn't kill it. It is spread by blood and can be shared through open wounds coming in contact with those, or sharing personal care items that could be bled on, or having sex, according to Kimball. But what spreads it the most is intravenous drug use. That's why health officials are also noticing a trend in demographics. It used to be known as a "baby boomer" disease because of the numbers from that generation. But now it is growing in the younger generation. Armstrong said according to federal data from 2015, one in three drug users have reported sharing needles in the past year. "These are young people, they don't know they are infected, and they could be spreading this infection," Kimball said. By now most people know that heroin use has skyrocketed. Putting all the pieces together, health officials are saying the signs of a massive Hepatitis C outbreak are all there. "We are already behind the eight ball on epidemics. We need to start now," Kimball said. Liz Whynott oversees the operations of three programs in Northampton, Holyoke, and North Adams. The program works with current users, moving them toward getting them into treatment programs, and swaps out dirty needles for clean ones. "I really believe this is the missing link that isn't happening with the conversation about how to reduce overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases," Whynott said. The director of HIV health and prevention for Tapestry said when addressing the opioid crisis there are many groups focusing on prevention of drug use from the state and then others focused on treatment for those seeking help. Tapestry fills the middle by reaching out to current drug users and those who have relapsed, keeping them healthy, and trying to get them into treatment programs. Michaels said needle exchange programs bring current users in for the needles but they leave with help in taking the next step. The anonymous program starts with the users coming to the location, which can be a fixed site, delivery, or mobile, and going through an initial screening. Tapestry does health screenings for diseases, educates the client about prevention, provides overdose information and the overdose reversal drug Narcan, makes referrals to treatment programs, enrolls clients in health insurance, coordinates with organizations providing care, and makes referrals to service organization as well as the needle exchange. But maybe more importantly, they build a relationship with the clients. That relationship is what brings the user from being isolated into seeking health and addiction treatment. For many, they aren't ready to enter a program but through the program, the day they are they have someone they can trust to help them get there. In the meantime, they're preventing themselves from being infected or spreading infections. "It is really the relationship with that extremely hard to reach population," Whynott said. The program, however, can be controversial. For one of the dozen in the audience Tuesday, he felt such a program may address the disease issue but furthers the drug use issue. He said giving the tools and not just needles but everything else needed to shoot heroin to users is enabling them to continue to use. He added that Narcan contributes to the same end as well, giving users and excuse to push the envelop more because they know the antidote is available. Health officials, however, say there is no evidence to suggest that is the case and needle exchanges have been operating for decades. Nonetheless, the majority of those in the audience were supportive of the program. The Board of Health is expected to vote on the authorization letter, which is sent to the state to start the process, in March. From there, the state will look for an operator and a specific location would be determined. Interim Drury Principal Tim Callahan explains the goals behind the shifting Grade 7 to the high school. PreviousNext North Adams Getting Back in Line for MSBA Project NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The School Committee on Tuesday approved beginning the process toward renovating Greylock School. A statement of interest detailing structural deficiencies of the nearly 60-year-old school and their impact on educational program will be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority if the City Council also approves the action next week. School officials were quick to point out that the application does not mean a school project anytime soon nor does it obligate either the city or MSBA to anything. "Greylock was potentially one of our projects," said Mayor Richard Alcombright, referring to Greylock having been a possible option in the last school project that resulted in the $30 million renovation of Colegrove Park Elementary. The city had put forward a dual project of renovating both Greylock and what was then Conte Middle School, but MSBA rejected the proposal. Only Conte continued forward as renovation into an elementary school. "We also talked at the time that when we finally picked the Colegrove project, we said we'd get back in line," Alcombright, chairman of the School Committee, said. "This is getting it on MSBA's radar ... letting people know over there that Greylock is on our mind." Superintendent Barbara Malkas noted that the initial application on Conte was submitted in 2007 - and that project is just about to go through its final audit 10 years later. School Committee member John Hockridge said his preference would be to wait until fiscal 2018, after the recommendations of the Berkshire County Education Task Force are released, but felt he could vote for it because it nonbinding to the city. "There are so many things that are structurally wrong with the building and, from an educational viewpoint, it's not adequate," said School Committee member Tara Jacobs, adding "we need to go back into the pipeline." The submission requires approved meeting minutes for both the School Committee and City Council showing votes of approval; the deadline for applications is April. The committee also got an expanded presentation on a proposal to shift the grade configuration to prekindergarten-Grade 6 and Grade 7-12. The Finance & Facilities subcommittee had recommended the change at its meeting two weeks ago. The idea is to consolidate resources by moving prekindergarten into the three elementary schools, which would allow that program to expand, and move Grade 7 to Drury High School to create a middle school within a school with the eighth grade. The reconfiguration would reduce one school building transition for students and, say school officials, create a more of school community within each school. A public forum to discuss the possible relocation of the seventh grade and prekindegarten will be held on Thursday, March 2, at 6 p.m. in the Drury High School auditorium. The community is invited to attend to ask questions and share thoughts. No changes can take place until the MSBA signs off on the plan because the agency had agreed to the city's switch to a K-7 structure that resulted in the Colegrove Park project. Malkas expected an answer before the next School Committee meeting. In other business, Next year's school calendar will include two full days of professional development on Aug. 29 & 30, with the first day of school on Aug. 31. Another two full days of professional development are proposed for Nov. 7 and March 19 and three early release days, two for professional development on Oct. 5 and June 7 and one for parent-teacher conferences on Nov. 14 at Drury and Nov. 16 at the elementary schools. Malkas said the goal was to reduce the number of half-days. Feedback from families was that it was easier to schedule a full day of care than two half-days and the full day also works better for staff in immersing in professional development. She said the union had reviewed and approved the changes. The school district has received $1,944,006.52 in grants. Malkas noted they can only be used in specific ways and can supplement, not supplant, program monies. Hockridge, chairman of the Berkshire County Education Task Force, reported that the task force has hired District Management Group of Boston for Phase 2 of its study. Phase 2 will take about six months and include interviews and meetings with parents and students. Actionable recommendations for school districts are expected by June. MCLA Spring Preview Days start Feb. 11. MCLA Announces Spring Preview Days NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 11, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will offer a series of Spring Preview Days to provide prospective students with opportunities to tour the campus, learn about the admission and financial aid processes, discover a wide variety of academic programs, and find out more about student life at MCLA. Check in for each Spring Preview Day begins at 10:45 a.m. in the Center for Science and Innovation. The program will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. "Preview Days are a convenient way for prospective students to see campus for the first time and learn more about MCLA's academic programs and vibrant campus life. We encourage students to meet with one of our admission counselors after the tour to make sure all of their questions are answered and discuss the next steps in the enrollment process," said Director of Admission Gina Puc. Additional Spring Preview Days will be held on Monday, Feb. 20 (President's Day), Monday, April 14 (Patriot's Day), Saturday, April 22, and Saturday, April 29. Transfer students also are encouraged to attend. If a prospective student cannot make one of the schedule Preview Days events, MCLA offers student-led tours of campus at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. most weekdays. Register online. Page Content MONTREAL, 7 FEBUARY 2017 ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu met with the Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, to discuss the critical importance of aviation connectivity and modernized air transport infrastructure for small island States. Stressing the role of effective compliance with ICAOs global standards, and the benefits to be derived from meeting the targets currently established in ICAOs Global Plans for Safety and Air Navigation, President Aliu noted that investments in modernized airports and air navigation systems would help Antigua and Barbuda to optimize the profitability of its tourism sector, while fostering many additional and sustainable socio-economic benefits for local citizens and producers. ICAO is committed to support Antigua and Barbuda under our No Country Left Behind initiative, and through that support to enhance its ability to provide effective safety and security oversight and raise the level of Effective Implementation of ICAO standards and policies, President Aliu noted. In addition to modernized airport and air navigation infrastructure, these local capacities help to ensure a State achieves maximum aviation benefits. President Aliu was also pleased to highlight these points during separate meetings with Sir Robin Yearwood, Antigua and Barbuda Minister for Public Utilities, Civil Aviation and Transport, the Ministrys Permanent Secretary, Mr. Edson Joseph, and with Mr. Donald McPhail, Director of Civil Aviation for the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCA). President Aliu was in Antigua and Barbuda to provide the opening address to the UN agencys Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) Strategy Seminar, which it hosted there last week with the support of the States Ministry of Public Utilities, Civil Aviation and Transportation. The visit comes amid efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and Germany Cairo's Ambassador in Berlin Badr Abdel-Atti has stated that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to visit Egypt next month, to discuss bilateral ties and economic cooperation with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Abdel-Atti's statement came during a press conference on the sidelines of the Fruit Logistica exhibition held in Berlin. In January, leaders of both countries discussed in a phone call cooperation on counterterrorism efforts as well as recent regional and international developments. Egypt and Germany have strengthened relations over the past few years. Earlier this year, Germany removed last restrictions imposed on airliners to South Sinai in the wake of a Russian plane crash over the Egyptian peninsula in October 2015. Germans accounted for the greatest number of tourists to visit Egypt in 2016, at 655,000 people, according to a foreign ministry statement. Egypt's President El-Sisi met with the German chancellor in May 2015, on his first official visit to Europe. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Administrative Control Authority (ACA) said on Wednesday that a man has been arrested after claiming to be a member of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis family to defraud a businessman under the guise of donating for national projects. The ACA, the regulatory body responsible for enforcing laws and regulations within state bodies, said in an official statement that the unnamed suspect defrauded the businessman of EGP 56 million. The suspect reportedly used expensive cars for transportation and hired former police officers as his personal guards as part of his ruse. Among the national projects the conman claimed he would contribute to is the government initiative to reclaim 1.5 million feddans of farmland nationwide. Investigations revealed that the suspect delivered bank invoices to the businessman that appeared to be from a governmental body responsible for purchasing agricultural equipment. The suspect is also implicated in nine other criminal cases, including kidnapping, embezzlement and bribery, the ACA said, adding that the High State Security Prosecution has started investigating the incident. El-Sisi has on a number of occasions warned against individuals or organisations using his name in any dealings, calling on citizens to immediately report such incidents to the authorities. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian border guards have arrested over the past 20 days 418 people of different nationalities who were attempting to illegally cross into Libya, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced in a statement on Wednesday. The statement added the border jumpers were arrested at the border city of Salloum. Despite a warning by the Egyptian government against travel to Libya, the country is still frequently used as a transit point for migrants from Egypt and other nations seeking to cross the Mediterranean for Europe. The Armed Forces statement also said that border guards arrested 15 people of different nationalities who were attempting to enter Egypt through its southern border with Sudan. Search Keywords: Short link: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call overnight to act together regarding the Islamic State controlled Syrian towns of al-Bab and Raqqa, Turkish presidential sources said on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed issues including a safe zone in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against terror, the sources said. They said Erdogan called on the United States not to support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. The Turkish sources also said CIA Director Mike Pompeo was to visit Turkey on Thursday to discuss the YPG and battling the network of U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating a July coup attempt. Search Keywords: Short link: A Lifetime of Saving Lives The Fellowship | February 8, 2017 Dr. Clara Ambrus and her husband Julian Dr. Clara Ambrus Life: December 28, 1924 February 26, 2011 Why you should know her: While a young medical student in Budapest during World War II, Clara Ambrus saved the lives of many Jews. In 1944, the Nazi-aligned fascist movement in Hungary began a reign of terror that left thousands of Jews dead. During this period of murder, a young Christian medical student stood up for what was right. Clara Ambrus was only 19 when she joined forces with a fellow medical student at Budapest University. First, Clara hid a childhood friend, Eva Klein, in her home, even giving Eva her own identity card. Eventually, Evas entire family hid in Claras attic. Claras helper was fellow student, Alexander Szirmai. Together, they hid many more Jewish refugees in the attic and in the cellar of a nearby factory, also providing the hidden people with false identity papers. When the number of the Jews grew, the students hid some more in the histology lab at the university, and provided them with ID cards from other medical students. That year, Clara married another medical student, her husband of nearly 70 years, Julian. The couple moved to the United States and settled in Buffalo, NY, where both worked in medicine. Clara spent her career as a professor of pediatrics and obstetrics. For her bravery and service during the Holocaust, Dr. Clara Ambrus was named Righteous Among the Nations in 2006. Sadly, Dr. Ambrus perished from injuries suffered in a house fire in 2011, a tragic end to a life spent helping those in need. President Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Haiti to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Jovenel Moise Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Haiti to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Jovenel Moise on February 7, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Honorable Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State, will lead the delegation. Members of the Presidential Delegation: The Honorable Peter F. Mulrean, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, U.S. Department of State The Honorable Omarosa O. Manigault, Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison, The White House The Honorable Kenneth Merten, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and Haiti Special Coordinator, former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, U.S. Department of State This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! The Turkish army and allied Syrian rebels have captured the western outskirts of the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab, a rebel official and war monitor said on Wednesday, escalating their assault as the Syrian army also advanced on the city. "With last nights assault, Islamic States defences have been broken through and the advance is now continuing," said a Turkmen Syrian rebel official, speaking from the Turkish city of Gaziantep. Syrian government forces have advanced to within a few kilometres (miles) of al-Bab, which is located 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo. The separate campaign by the Syrian army has raised the risk of a clash with the Turkish military. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation that reports on the war, said the Turkish forces and their Free Syrian Army rebel allies had captured a hill on the western periphery of the city. "We don't know if Daesh (Islamic State) will be able to recover it, or if it is in a state of collapse," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said. The rebel official said Turkish reinforcements had been sent to the area a week ago. Search Keywords: Short link: Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In 1995, Danish directors Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier concocted Dogme 95, a filmmaking movement intended to purify the art form by excluding technology and special effects and instead focus on traditional storytelling values. The first film created under these rules, Vinterbergs Festen (1998) is perhaps the bleakest farce ever made, an all-out assault on the senses that leaves one unsure whether to laugh or cry. Festen, released under the title The Celebration in the United States, concerns a family gathering in honour of the patriarchs 60th birthday. Over the course of the evening, we are confronted with abuse revelations, racist songs, horrific beatings and suicide notes. This makes the most intense Mike Leigh family get-together look like an evening with the Brady Bunch. Vinterberg shot the film on video and blew it up to 35mm. Adhering strictly to the Dogme rules, no artificial sounds were added in post-production and the camera was hand-held at all times. This naturalistic approach to dark material would become more commonplace with television programmes like The Office and Peep Show but, in 1998, it was totally unprecedented. Indeed, the latter sitcom even referenced Festen in one of its darker episodes. The subject matter is as transgressive as the method of filmmaking and the audience feels as though they are genuinely eavesdropping on the dinner from hell. The director has resisted the label black comedy and maintained, its a drama and there are some laughs. The juxtaposition between the monstrous situation and the guests attempting to enjoy themselves, however, makes for devastating satire. The guests, like the family members, are concerned solely with appearances but beneath that thin veneer of respectability lies an unfathomable darkness. Psychologists have also praised the work and noted that the surreal manner in which the birthday festivities continue is reminiscent of the chronic denial often seen in incestuous families. Watching Festen is not easy and some will find the experience unremittingly bleak. This is a volatile movie and the manner in which the material is presented leaves one feeling as though we should not be privy to these revelations. For those that can stomach it, however, this is an audacious and staggering attack on the hypocrisy of the chattering classes and one of the most idiosyncratic tragicomedies in the annals of cinema. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Upon landing in the Land of Oz in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy was helped along the yellow brick road by the Munchkins. While appearing innocent on-screen, behind the scenes, things were all-but savoury. A newly discovered memoir by Judy Garlands ex-husband claims the actress - who was 17-years-old when filming - was sexually harassed by those playing the Munchkins. They would make Judys life miserable on set by putting their hands under her dress, Sid Luft - who died in 2005 - wrote, according to People. Garland and Luft married in 1952, had two children, and divorced in 1967. The men were 40 or more years old, he continued. They thought they could get away with anything because they were so small. Films to get excited about in 2017 Show all 13 1 /13 Films to get excited about in 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Director: Rian Johnson Rian Johnson Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Lupita Nyong'o Plot: No details yet, but it will continue directly on from Rey coming face-to-face with Luke at the end of The Force Awakens. Release Date: 15 December 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Thor: Ragnarok Director: Taika Waititi Taika Waititi Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, and Mark Ruffalo Plot: Story details are minimal as of now, but Thor's third return to screen has already been teased to feature a loose adaptation of the famous 'Planet Hulk' storyline. Release Date: 27 October 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 You Were Never Really Here Director: Lynne Ramsay Lynne Ramsay Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Alessandro Nivola Plot: A war veteran's attempt to save a young girl from a sex trafficking ring goes horribly wrong. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Annihilation Director: Alex Garland Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac Plot: A biologist's husband disappears. She thus puts her name forward for an expedition into an environmental disaster zone, but does not quite find what she's expecting. The expedition team is made up of the biologist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a surveyor. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Wonderstruck (image from Far From Heaven) Director: Todd Haynes Cast: Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Amy Hargreaves Plot: The story of a young boy in the Midwest is told simultaneously with a tale about a young girl in New York from fifty years ago as they both seek the same mysterious connection. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Mother (image of Darren Aronofsky) Director: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, and Ed Harris Plot: A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Killing of a Sacred Deer (image from The Lobster) Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and Alicia Silverstone Plot: A surgeon forms a familial bond with a sinister teenage boy, with disastrous results. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 Blade Runner 2049 Director: Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, and Jared Leto Plot: Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K, unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. Release Date: 6 October 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Lady Bird (image of director Greta Gerwig) Director: Greta Gerwig Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Lucas Hedges Plot: The adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara (image of director Steven Spielberg and star Mark Rylance) Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Mark Rylance, Oscar Isaac Plot: The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortara recounts the story of a young Jewish boy in Bologna, Italy in 1858 who, having been secretly baptized, is forcibly taken from his family to be raised as a Christian. His parents' struggle to free their son becomes part of a larger political battle that pits the Papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties Director: John Cameron Mitchell John Cameron Mitchell Cast: Elle Fanning, Ruth Wilson, and Nicole Kidman Plot: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon. Release Date: Unknown Films to get excited about in 2017 The Dark Tower Director: Nikolaj Arcel Nikolaj Arcel Cast: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, and Tom Taylor Plot: Gunslinger Roland Deschain roams an Old West-like landscape in search of the dark tower, in the hopes that reaching it will preserve his dying world. Release Date: 28 July 2017 Films to get excited about in 2017 Suburbicon Director: George Clooney George Clooney Cast: Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Josh Brolin, and Oscar Isaac Plot: A crime mystery set in the quiet family town of Suburbicon during the 1950s, where the best and worst of humanity is hilariously reflected through the deeds of seemingly ordinary people. When a home invasion turns deadly, a picture-perfect family turns to blackmail, revenge and betrayal. Release Date: 24 November Rumours have long been held that the Munchkins had sex orgies in the hotel with producer Mervyn LeRoy having to have police on just about every floor." Before her death in 1969, Garland described the actors behaviour at the time, saying: They were little drunks. They got smashed every night, and they picked them up in butterfly nets." Margaret Pellegrini - who played one of the Munchkins - commented on the drinking in 2009, telling The Independent: "There were a lot of them who liked to go out and have a few drinks, but nothing got out of hand. Everyone was having a good time and enjoying themselves. There was no rowdiness or anything like that, and those stories are very upsetting. Jerry Maren, who sang in the Lollipop Guild that welcomed Dorothy to Oz, said: "There were a couple of kids from Germany who liked to drink beer. They drank beer morning, noon and night, and got in a little trouble. They wanted to meet the girls, but they were the only ones. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Since 2000, there have been six main instalments in Foxs X-Men series (X-Men, X2, The Last Stand, First Class, Days of Future Past, and Apocalypse) and three spin-offs (Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, and Deadpool). Thats a whole lot of X-Men. Fox has remained remarkably tight-lipped over forthcoming sequels to the main series, deciding instead to focus attention on two more spin-offs: Deadpool 2 and Logan. However, numerous leaks have appeared on the Internet, most of which concern The New Mutants, a film expected to act as another spin-off concerning a group of younger mutants. Reports now suggest the seventh main instalment - rumoured to be titled X-Men: Supernova - could be coming sooner than thought, with Production Weekly revealing production will start this May in Montreal. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Show all 34 1 /34 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 1. Captain America: Civil War Release date: 6 May 2016. Iron Man and Captain America are set to face off in this superhero blockbuster that will feature nearly all the Avengers but wont be an Avengers film. It will also mark the first time Spider-Man will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony having made a deal with Marvel Studios. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 2. X-Men: Apocalypse Release date: 27 May 2016. Following the success of Days of Future Past, Apocalypse will follow the young X-Men team as the battle against Oscar Isaacs titular villain as he gathers his four horsemen; Magneto (Fassbender), Angel (Hardy), Storm (Shipp), and Psylocke (Munn). Expect carnage and no Wolverine. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 3. Suicide Squad Release date: 5 August 2016. The first supervillain film, Suicide Squad is also based in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe, where Batman and Superman live) and will introduce the world to Margot Robbies Harley Quinn and Jared Letos Joker. One of the more exciting upcoming DC films thats for sure. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 4. Doctor Strange Release date: 4 November 2016. Benedict Cumberbatch will debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America and Iron Man live) as the Sorcerer Supreme. The film already has an incredible cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachael McAdams and Tilda Swinton. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 5. Untitled Lego Batman film Release date: 20 February 2017. Kicking off 2017 is the Lego version of Batman, who will lead his own spin-off, having already featured in the amazing Lego Movie. Will Arnett voices the titular character, while Zach Garfianakis - from the Hangover - will voice The Joker. But will he better than Leto? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 6. Untitled Wolverine film Release date: 3 March 2017. Having not starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine will return to the big screen in a solo film which was recently made R-Rated following the success of Deadpool. It is expected to be Hugh Jackmans last outing as the titular character. Fox 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release date: 5 May 2017. Chris Pratt and the crew are returning to space in the sequel to the surprisingly successful Guardians of the Galaxy. According to director James Gunn, the film will not feature Thanos, even though he will to play a major role in phase MCU Phase 3. Cast includes newcomers Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff, as well as, rumour has it, Sylvester Stallone. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 8. Wonder Woman Release date: 23 June 2017. Gal Gadot is returning to the DCEU in her very own film, marking the first female-led superhero film on this list. Chris Pine is on board to play Wonder Womans love interest. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 9. Untitled Spider-Man reboot Release date: 7 July 2017. Yes, it is another Spider-Man reboot, having previously been redone with Andrew Garfield as the lead. However, this time it is part of the MCU, with Tom Holland as the titular character, and a heavily rumoured cameo by Iron Man could be in the pipeline. We can dream. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 10. Untitled Fox film Release date: 6 October 2017. In a strange announcement, Fox decided to withhold the release of Gambit until a future, as-yet unannounced date, which could be here, or this could be a completely separate project. Many suspect Deadpool 2 could nicely fit here, Fox capitalising on the success of the first film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 11. Thor: Ragnarok Release date: 3 November 2017. Chris Hemsworth will be returning as the Norse God in his third solo MCU film. Flight of the Conchords Taika Waititi is on board to direct, and promises a fun adventure that will likely lead into Marvels next project, Infinity War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 12. Justice League Part One Release date: 17 November 2017. Hot on the heals of Thor comes Justice League Part One, the first DCEU team-up flick which will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg work together to fight bad guys. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 13: Untitled Fox film Release date: 12 January 2018. Kicking off 2018 will likely be the second Deadpool film, but then again, this could very well be another X-Men team-up. Theres also talk of an X-Force film, with Deadpool and other mutants teaming up to fight evil. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 14. Black Panther Release date: 16 February 2018. The first non-white male-led superhero film in the MCU comes in the form of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman reprising the titular role, having also starred as the Panther in Civil War. Creeds Ryan Coogler is on to direct what could be a very exciting film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 15. The Flash Release date: 16 March 2018. The Flash will be the first DCEU film since Justice League, and sees Ezra Miller take the lead. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were supposed to pen the film before Disney snapped them up for the Han Solo-film, leaving Seth Grahame-Smith to take charge. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 16. Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 Release date: 4 May 2018. And so, we finally get to the point of all these Infinity Stones! Thanos will be the big bad, with the Avengers needing to team up to defeat their biggest foe yet. It has previously been described as the end of the Avengers as we know it. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 17. Ant-Man and The Wasp Release date: 6 July 2018. Peyton Reed will be back to direct this surprise sequel to one of the better received MCU films. While the name is ridiculous, at least Marvel are finally having a leading female superhero. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 18. Untitled Fox film Release date: 13 July 2018. Again, not much word on this one except it is thought to be X-Men spin-off New Mutants, something Josh Boone has been hit up to write. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 19. Animated Spider-Man Film Release date: 20 July 2018. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal - the team behind the live-action Spider-Man films - are producing this unrelated animated adaptation of the hero. Because you can never have too much Spider-Man, right? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 20. Aquaman Release date: 27 July 2018. Another Justice League spin-off, Jason Momoa plays the leading man. Furious 7s James Wan is on to direct, but little else is known about the film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 21. Captain Marvel Release date: 8 March 2019. Weve hit 2019, and the first confirmed superhero film will be the first proper female-led MCU film. No-one is confirmed to be in the titular role of Carol Danvers just yet. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 22. Shazam Release date: 5 April 2019. Dwayne Johnson stars as the villain in this DCEU film which will be somewhat separate to the other DC films. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 23. Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Release date: 3 May 2019. The conclusion to the long drawn MCU saga. Expect a big finish with at least a few planets being destroyed. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 24. Justice League Part Two Release date: 14 June 2019. Soon after the Infinity War story reaches its conclusion, so will the Justice Leagues. Not much is known, except Darkseid will likely be the villain for at least one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 25. Inhumans Release date: 12 July 2019. The concept of Inhumans (or Marvels mutants) has already been introduced in TV, through Marvels Agents of Shield, yet the film is expected to introduce the Royal Family who have yet to be seen in the show. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 26. Cyborg Release date: 3 April 2020. Having debuted in Justice League Part One three years previously, Cyborg will finally be making his own outing, with Ray Fisher as the titular character. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 27. Untitled MCU film Release date: 1 May 2020. The first of three untitled Marvel films. There are a couple of contenders, the first is a likely sequel to Spider-Man with Sony, or a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, thus finishing the trilogy. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 28. Green Lantern Corps. Release date: 19 June 2020. Before you start to worry, this has nothing to do with the Ryan Reynolds-starring flick that hit cinemas a little while ago. Instead, this will be another DCEU film that will likely spin-off from Justice League after the Green Lantern Corps cameo in one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 29. Untitled MCU film Release date: 10 July 2020. As well as Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, a Doctor Strange or Black Panther one could fit in nicely here. Or perhaps Black Widow may finally get the solo-film she deserves. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 30. Untitled MCU film Release date: 6 November 2020. Some speculators also think a Blade film could fit in here, marking over 20 years since the first Blade. But many believe the character may be better suited to a Netflix series, as with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Theres also talk of a Runaways film reaching cinemas at some stage. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 31. Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film Release date: TBA. Now were onto the TBA release dates, the first of which is a Batman solo film, written and directed by Ben Affleck. When this is due, no one is quite sure but expect it sooner rather than later if Batman v Superman is a success. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 32. Suicide Squad 2 Release date: TBA (rumoured 2017). A sequel to Suicide Squad is expected to come in 2017 according to recent reports, but nothing has been confirmed. If the first is successful, it should come as no surprise for Warner Bros to rearrange their schedule to fit in this surefire hit. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33. Venom Release date: TBA. This is an odd one, as it has been confirmed Sony are wanting to release a Venom film completely unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Venom, as you may know, is a Spider-Man villain, intrinsically linked to Spider-Man, so it seems odd they would release a film unrelated to the rebooted project and not linked to the MCU. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Anything else? Well, now you mention it, theres also that sequel to Fantastic Four that has seemingly been dropped by Fox. Plus, theres the Gambit film which has been put on hold (but will likely fill an untitled Fox slot so we havent added it extra). Then again, it could be shoehorned in somehow Marvel Notably, the working title for the film is Teen Spirit, named after the Nirvana 1991 sensation Smells Like Teen Spirit. Previous reports have indicated the film will be set in the 90s, following on from Apocalypse which was set in the 80s. Supernova was titled Dark Phoenix before receiving the re-title: the script is thought to be another take on the Dark Phoenix saga, previously adapted in The Last Stand. Previous reports indicated writer/producer Simon Kinberg was looking to reboot the entire X-Men franchise, optimistically with Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender still on board. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Richard Hatch, who is best known for playing Captain Apollo in Battlestar Galactica, has died at the age of 71. The actor died in Los Angeles on Tuesday after suffering from pancreatic cancer. Hatchs son Paul confirmed the news in a statement on the long-time actors website, saying: He died peacefully with his family and friends at his side after a battle with pancreatic cancer". The Golden Globe nominee amassed a legion of devoted fans and gained worldwide recognition for playing the role of hotshot Viper spacefighter pilot in the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. He later played Tom Zarek in the mid-noughties reboot. Hatch garnered an international following among science fiction fans for these roles and was a key figure at Comic-cons and sci-fi forums. Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images Born in Santa Monica in California in 1945, Hatch initially wanted to become a pole vaulter. However, he put those aspirations to one side and embarked on a theatrical career in Off-Broadway theatre. It was after gaining a role on All My Children in 1970 that Hatch began to get steady acting gigs, appearing in Dynasty, The Love Boat, Santa Barbara and then Baywatch. Hatch is survived by his brother John and his son. Tributes to the actor have poured in from fellow actors and fans on social media. Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family, wrote Ronald D Moore, creator of the Battlestar Galactica reboot, on Twitter. You made our universe a better place, we love you for it," said Edward James Olmos who starred as William Adama in the reboot. Katee Sackhoff, who played Kara Starbuck Thrace in the reboot, expressed her sadness at the news and posted a photo of herself and the actor. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Following the election of Donald Trump, late night host John Oliver has remained relatively quiet, his HBO show having been in hibernation since mid-November. However, this Sunday, Oliver returns to the airwaves. To promote his comeback, the comedian appeared alongside Stephen Colbert on The Late Show. The pair - as expected - spoke about Trump, alongside numerous other issues, including green cards, James Bond, Steve Bannon, and the English Empire. Because Oliver was off the air since November, Colbert opened by asking whether he missed being able to comment on Trump, Oliver replying: No Until inauguration day nothing was really happening. 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 was like being tied to a train track, watching the train coming, and then inauguration day being the train hitting you and thinking Yep, thats pretty much how I thought it was going to feel. The pair moved onto Betsy DeVos, the controversial choice for education secretary who was given the position just moments before the show started. I think she might, and should, serve as an inspiration to school kids in America, Oliver told Colbert. Because it shows they could be Secretary of Education one day. In fact, not just one day but now. Theyre probably as well qualified now as she is and spent arguably longer in a public school. Watch the 10-minute clip below. Yesterday, Colbert once again mocked the Trump administration, calling himself a Bowling Green Massacre truther after it was revealed Kellyanne Conway lied three times about the terrorist attack. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Mail on Sunday has been attacked for using a fake graph in an article about global warming as its supposed whistleblower contradicted the storys central claim that US Government scientists had manipulated climate data. The article, headlined Exposed: How world leaders were duped into investing billions over manipulated global warming data, claimed it had astonishing evidence that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had rushed out an academic paper that exaggerated global warming in order to influence world leaders meeting at the Paris Summit on climate change in 2015. The journal paper found that global warming had not slowed down after 1998 as previously thought by some scientists. Its findings were later confirmed by other scientists at the Met Office, Nasa and other institutions. The Mail on Sunday quoted a former NOAA scientist, Dr John Bates, as saying the lead author of the paper, Thomas Karl, had insisted on decisions and scientific choices that maximised warming and minimised documentation and in an effort to discredit the notion of a global warming pause, rushed so that he could time publication to influence national and international deliberations on climate policy. But in a subsequent interview with E&E News, Dr Bates stressed he did not believe the data itself had been manipulated to present a false picture. The issue here is not an issue of tampering with data, but rather really of timing of a release of a paper that had not properly disclosed everything it was, he said. Dr Bates published a blog about his concerns at about the same time The Mail on Sunday article was published. The newspaper also published a graph showing flawed NOAA data showing higher temperatures alongside verified Met Office data showing lower temperatures. However the two sets of figures compared the temperatures to different baseline dates, a glaring and simple error that means they are not comparable in the way shown. When adjusted so they are comparable, the Met Office figures are roughly the same as the NOAA ones as the Met Office itself confirmed. Dr Gavin Schmidt, the director of Nasas Goddard Institute for Space Studies, described the graph as a hilarious screw up by the #FailOnSunday in a message on Twitter. He showed The Mail on Sundays graph alongside the correct one. Ed Miliband: PM must discuss climate change with President Trump In a blog post, Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment in London, wrote that the newspapers graph was fake. And he said The Mail on Sunday had "a track record of unreliable reporting on climate change and of misrepresenting the science". In a statement sent to The Independent, the newspaper made a distinction between the words change and adjust. Bates was quoted out of context. He is sticking by his claim that Karl made bad scientific choices and so skewed the temperatures dataset, and is posting a new blog on this tonight, it said. The no tampering claim [by Bates] was a reply to the question: So are you saying he actually changed the figures? Of course, he never alleged that. It was about how they were adjusted. CIA director nominee Mike Pompeo refuses to accept Nasa's findings on climate change The paper admitted it had made an error about the graph but said it had corrected this online. We made an inadvertent error, and took swift steps to correct it online, it said. Even scientists have to issue corrigenda to their peer-reviewed papers. These are highly technical subjects. But the substance, as previously pointed out, stands. However the online graph still showed a significant gap between the NOAA and Met Office figures. 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 The Met Office itself has published a graph showing its figures, known as HadCRUT4, compared to those from NOAA and other bodies, Nasa, Berkeley Earth and Cowtan and Way. In general, the agreement between the data sets is very good. They all display a similar increase in estimated global average temperature over time, it says. David Rose, the journalist who wrote the story, told The Independent: The core of my story stands. The Karl et al 'Pausebuster' 2015 paper breached NOAA's own Climate Data Programme rules. It used a preliminary, experimental land dataset that had not passed an Operational Readiness Review. In other words, it used unverified data, unstable software, and was not properly archived. It also deployed a newly issued sea dataset that adjusted temperatures from buoys upwards in such a manner that that, in Bates's words, involved poor scientific choices that maximised warming. Its pending replacement will reverse this, and so produce lower values and a lower recent warming trend. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Oil giant Shell is to launch a bid to leave the 10 vast concrete legs of three oil rigs standing in the North Sea for up to 500 years after the platforms have been decommissioned. The companys proposals also include the controversial suggestion that oil mixed with sediment in 42 out of 64 concrete storage cells each up to 20 metres in diameter and 60 metres high, taller than Nelsons Column should remain on the sea bed. The decommissioning of the historic Brent field, created during the 1970s boom, represents the Governments first big decision on what will happen to the main North Sea installations as they stop producing oil. Environmentalists said they accepted the principle that structures could be left in the sea if it was too dangerous to remove them, but stressed Shell had a legal, as well as moral, obligation to clean-up their mess and remove the oily sediment. The fishing industry said they would prefer "a return to a clean seabed" but appreciated the problems in removing the structures. Shells plan will detail how the company wants to decommission the four Brent oil rigs, three of which rest on concrete legs. Each of those rigs, Brent Bravo, Charlie and Delta, weighs the same as the Empire State Building and is about the same height as the Eiffel Tower. Trump signs executive orders to advance oil pipelines Under the plan, the platforms would be removed but the concrete legs would remain sticking up out of the sea and the concrete cells would be sealed with any oily sediment left inside. Duncan Manning, the business opportunity manager for the Brent Decommissioning project, told The Independent that their modelling of what would happen over the coming centuries suggested the oil would have a very small effect on the environment when eventually the storage cells collapse. This sediment is going to remain encased or entombed in these structures for hundreds of years, he said. The legs will remain in place for 150 to 250 years. They will eventually degrade at sea level and then slowly crumble down. If they are pushed over in a storm, then they fall on the cells beneath. We got engineers to look at that. While we anticipate because of the weight of the legs, the tops of the cells will crumble, the base of the cell will remain effectively as a bund to hold the sediment in place. The roof of the cells collapses into the cell itself. At that point, you will get some exposure [of the sediment] into the marine environment. 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 Shell believes the cells could remain "largely upright" for at least 1,000 years "despite being punctured and damaged". Mr Manning admitted that what would happen to the structures in 250 years time was not an absolute science, partly because we havent got reinforced concrete of that age. But he added: The environmental impact of the oil sediment if and when it is eventually released is very small. The option of doing something is completely disproportionate to the environmental impact when eventually that sediment is released. Mr Manning said the cells and legs had been built to withstand the very worst the North Sea can throw against them and had not been designed to be refloated. However, under the international OSPAR agreement, they are supposed to be removed and so Shell needs permission from the UK Government to leave them in the place. Some oil in the storage cells will be removed under Shell's plan, leading behind the more viscous sediment, which is about 25 per cent oil with sand and water making up the rest. A Shell source said the sediment tended to occupy no more than a quarter of the storage cells. The company admits that the legs will pose a hazard to shipping, mainly fishing boats, but plans to take steps to ensure fleets are aware of the potential hazard and say that the collision risk is low. There are 25,000 shipwrecks around the UK coastline, Mr Manning said. This is really a pin-prick when you think of the total size of the UK continental shelf. This is not a highly trafficked route in the North Sea, its not a key route from the UK to Norway. Lang Banks, the director of WWF Scotland, said the amount of oil in the cells and other structures was greater than allowed to be left after decommissioning under international standards. Oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea have a legal, as well as moral, obligation to clean-up their mess, he said. Having once pushed the boundaries of science and engineering to secure the oil and gas beneath the seabed, the industry should be pressed once again to do the same when decommissioning. The OSPAR agreement rules are there to make sure the marine environment is protected and those rules should be followed. The main thing preventing this from being done in this particular case is the cost. Shell should do the right thing and remove these potentially polluting materials. However he suggested WWF Scotland would not object to the legs being left in the sea if it was too dangerous to remove them. The rules already allow for companies to seek permission to leave some material behind such as the massive concrete legs where moving it would pose an unacceptable risk to staff or the environment. We accept this principle, Mr Banks said. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation suggested in an emailed statement that it had some sympathy with Shell's hope to leave the legs standing. "The SFFs desire/policy in relation to oil and gas decommissioning in the UK continental shelf, taking into account current legislation and related guidelines, is as far as possible a return to a clean seabed," it said. "We do, however, appreciate that there are safety concerns, technical considerations and cost implications involved in attempting to remove such structures. "If the legs are to remain and cause an obstruction, as a general principle, the fishing view is that we should be able to see them." After it has received Shells proposals, the Government will hold a public consultation before making its decision. A BEIS spokesperson said: Any decommissioning plan will be carefully considered by the Government, taking into account environmental, safety and cost implications, the impact on other users of the sea and a public consultation. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Government has been accused of trying to kill off Britains solar energy industry just as it is about to become one of the cheapest suppliers of electricity with no need for any kind of state subsidy. In fact, according to the Governments own projections, only onshore windfarms could provide cheaper power within the next decade or so and the Conservatives pledged in the partys election manifesto to halt their spread. Amid ongoing concern about rising energy prices, the industry expressed disbelief that the Treasury is about to impose a swingeing business tax on firms with rooftop solar schemes, which could increase the bill by up to eight times. Domestic installations could also be hit by a VAT increase from five to 20 per cent. And large-scale solar has been excluded from Government auctions of contracts to supply electricity to the grid for the lowest guaranteed price, effectively a form of state subsidy. Representatives of the Solar Trade Association (STA) plan to meet Jane Ellison, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on Thursday in a bid to persuade the Government to drop the business rate increase and to give the sector a level playing field with fossil fuels. At the same time, a group of children will deliver a letter to the Treasury appealing to scrap the business rate rise after they helped to raise funds to install panels on their state school, Eleanor Palmer Primary in Camden, London. Unlike private schools, exempt because of their charitable status, it will be forced to pay the new tax. It comes on top of cuts to subsidies and regulation changes since the Conservatives came to power in 2015, which have been blamed for causing the loss of more than 12,000 jobs. Speaking ahead of the meeting with Ms Ellison, Leonie Greene, of the STA, told The Independent: The damage to solar jobs and the industry has been severe and put major investment by the British public in this vital industry at risk. It is a massive own-goal to derail the solar industry after a success that has shaken up the entire UK energy sector for the benefit of consumers. There is strong consensus amongst mainstream energy analysts globally that solar will dominate future power systems. Hampering the British solar industry now is akin to shackling mobile phone operators on the cusp of the telecoms boom extremely unwise. Recommended UK ranked 24th out of 28 EU member states for renewable energy It is bewildering that a Government that says it wants the cheapest, clean power for consumers, has pulled the rug from under the cheapest and most popular, solar. They urgently need to look at solar again. She appealed to the Treasury to give solar fair tax treatment, such as the enhanced capital allowances enjoyed by fracking companies. Solar currently gets some support from the so-called feed-in tarrif recently slashed by 65 per cent by the Government but Ms Greene said the STA was asking the Government to boost the sum of money available by 6m over the next three years. Solar Technology in the UK Show all 7 1 /7 Solar Technology in the UK Solar Technology in the UK Roofs tiled with photovoltaic solar energy panels receive maximum sunlight exposure in Dyfi Eco Park, Machynlleth, Wales. These panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells convert sunlight into electrical energy Getty Solar Technology in the UK Jake Beautyman installs solar panels on a barn roof on Grange farm, near Balcombe. The installation is part of an initiative by local residents in Balcombe to encourage more people to use renewable energy rather than energy based on carbon such as fracking. The initaitive is called Repowerbalcombe and is supported by the charity 10:10 Getty Solar Technology in the UK The Solar array of community project Low carbon Gordano, a Solarsense renewable energy project. Delivering 1,750HWh per annum. Avon, Somerset Getty Solar Technology in the UK The solar panels array on the roof of Oldfield Park Infant School, installed with the support of Bath and West Community Energy a community project. Bath, Somerset Getty Solar Technology in the UK The solar array inverters that monitor and invert the energy made by Brixton Energy Solar who have installed several hundred square metres of solar panels on the roof of Elmore House in the Loughborough Estate in Brixton, London Getty Solar Technology in the UK The solar array inverters that monitor and invert the energy on the roof of Elmore House in the Loughborough Estate in Brixton, London Getty Solar Technology in the UK The 25kW solar panel array on the roof of Knowle West Media Centre. Supported by Bristol Energy, a community-owned energy cooperative, growing Greater Bristol's local green energy supply and making the benefits available to all Getty This compares with a 10m state subsidy given to a coal-fired power station in Wales to supply electricity when needed for a single year. According to Government projections, solar and onshore wind are expected to become the cheapest forms of electricity in the next few years. In a report, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said a solar project commissioned next year was predicted to cost between 62 and 84 per megawatt hour (MWh) with onshore wind coming in at 49 to 79/MWh. This compares with between 60 and 62 for the cheapest form of gas and 154 to 166 for a more expensive gas system. By 2030, the gap dramatically widens with the cheapest gas costing about 100/MWh compared with solar at 52 to 73 and onshore wind at 45 to 72. Ms Greene said: Solar needs very little support today, but it does need a little and support was withdrawn just that bit too early. Thats tough enough, but incredibly the industry is being further threatened with needless tax hikes. We have now spent six months arguing against a tax hike that doesn't apply to some fossil fuels. Forget renewables subsidies, we are increasingly having to fight for solar to benefit from the tax breaks that fossil fuels receive, just to try to level playing field. What kind of message does that give to businesses and investors after the Paris Agreement on Climate Change? Solar plane breaks record Renewable energy companies, large and small, criticised the Government. Dale Vince, founder of leading renewable energy firm Ecotricity, accused the Government of trying to kill off the solar industry for political reasons. Theres not a massive amount of it left, but there was a kind of renaissance of something happening, he said. Everyone thinks within a year or two the fall in the cost of equipment will more than make up for what the Government has done. [But the new business tax] is like kicking the solar industry when its down they dont want to give it a chance to get up. If the focus is on the cheapest kinds of energy for the public, then it is a mistake to exclude the cheapest forms of energy available to us, which is wind and solar. I think its ideological. People on the right side of the political spectrum tend to be into nuclear, fracking, fossil fuels and people on the left tend to be into clean and green stuff. Solar Technology in the UK Show all 7 1 /7 Solar Technology in the UK Solar Technology in the UK Roofs tiled with photovoltaic solar energy panels receive maximum sunlight exposure in Dyfi Eco Park, Machynlleth, Wales. These panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells convert sunlight into electrical energy Getty Solar Technology in the UK Jake Beautyman installs solar panels on a barn roof on Grange farm, near Balcombe. The installation is part of an initiative by local residents in Balcombe to encourage more people to use renewable energy rather than energy based on carbon such as fracking. The initaitive is called Repowerbalcombe and is supported by the charity 10:10 Getty Solar Technology in the UK The Solar array of community project Low carbon Gordano, a Solarsense renewable energy project. Delivering 1,750HWh per annum. Avon, Somerset Getty Solar Technology in the UK The solar panels array on the roof of Oldfield Park Infant School, installed with the support of Bath and West Community Energy a community project. Bath, Somerset Getty Solar Technology in the UK The solar array inverters that monitor and invert the energy made by Brixton Energy Solar who have installed several hundred square metres of solar panels on the roof of Elmore House in the Loughborough Estate in Brixton, London Getty Solar Technology in the UK The solar array inverters that monitor and invert the energy on the roof of Elmore House in the Loughborough Estate in Brixton, London Getty Solar Technology in the UK The 25kW solar panel array on the roof of Knowle West Media Centre. Supported by Bristol Energy, a community-owned energy cooperative, growing Greater Bristol's local green energy supply and making the benefits available to all Getty Stephen Barrett, of Bristol-based firm Solarsense, which mainly installs panels for homes and businesses, said doing so was a cheaper way to get electricity than buying it from an energy firm if you take the fact its for 20 years. And he said the cost of panels had plunged in recent months as the price of electricity had risen sharply, so installing them would be effectively insuring yourself against future price rises. Most people look at it as if they had put that investment in, whats their return for the year. Even that is around 10 per cent return, Mr Barrett said. He said the industry was close to the point where it would not need a subsidy. A lot of people think because the Government cut the feed-in tariff, its kind of all over, it was just a boom, he said. But the Government had to cut the tariff because solar panels were coming down in price. Were getting to the stage where we dont need any incentives. We did the Glastonbury Festival site, which was the largest rooftop at the time, five-and-a-half years ago. It cost 550,000 to install and that would now be installed for 120,000. Mr Barretts criticism of the Government was that it had cut the feed-in tariff a year too early and too much. They should have staged it out, then they would have kept an industry going, he said. By the end of the year, wed really be seeing the feed-in tariff as a bonus. Solar panels brings cheap energy to India Even Sainsburys weighed in, saying the Governments plans showed a lack of commitment to fighting climate change. Paul Crewe, the supermarket giants head of sustainability, energy, environment and engineering, said: Renewable energy plays a vital role in cutting the UKs carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The decision to impose a substantial increase in the business rates levied on roof-top solar PV systems goes against this, and penalises the responsible organisations that are taking action against climate change. Ultimately it will have a detrimental effect on the move towards renewables. While Sainsburys remains committed to reducing carbon emissions, at a time when businesses face wider economic pressures and uncertainty, these changes will undoubtedly dissuade other organisations from exploring sustainable approaches. A Treasury spokesman said: Since 2010 nearly 52 billion has been invested in renewables and as a country we have more than trebled our renewable electricity capacity. The revaluation of Business Rates was carried out independently by the VOA and will ensure that bills are fairer as they will more closely reflect the property market. To help businesses adapt we have put in place 3.6 billion of transitional relief. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Because of their symbolic meanings, certain dishes are eaten during the Chinese New Year. These lucky foods are served during the 16-day festival season especially New Years Eve, which is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. In this video, School of Wok Founder Jeremy Pang demonstrates how to make Almond Crumble Cookies a dish symbolising family togetherness in the Chinese culture. Jeremy Pangs Almond Crumble Cookies Almond Crumble Cookies 50g flaked almonds 20-25 red glace cherries The Cookie Dough 200g butter 200g caster sugar 1 egg 200g plain flour 200g self-raising flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 small dab of yellow food colouring (optional) Preparation Whisk the butter and sugar together to form a uniform sugary paste. Whisk the eggs in and mix well, either by hand or on a medium speed in a dough mixer with the k-hook attachment. Once the egg has been well combined with the butter and sugar paste, add the vanilla extract, yellow food colouring if using, then sieve both the plain and self-raising flour into the mixing bowl and slowly combine all the ingredients with your hands, or if using the dough mixer, do this on speed 1. Once well mixed, the crumble topping should resemble a cookie dough. Remove from the mixing bowl, on a floured surface roll out the crumble topping to about 3-4mm thick. Use an 8 - 9cm diameter round cookie cutter to cut the crumble topping into the right sized circles to cover the buns. Use the back of a butter knife to gently make a crisscross# pattern on each crumble topping surface, but make sure not to cut into it completely. Tip: A little yellow food colouring will help to enhance the changes in colour across the crumble topping, giving you that classic Hong Kong bakery 'Pineapple' effect, should you wish to use it. Making the Cookies Roll the almond crumble topping into a long cylinder roughly 4cm in diameter. Then slice the cylinder into 1cm thick rounds. Place all the cookies onto a greaseproof tray or a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper, allowing at least a centimetre of space between each cookie. Lightly press 1 red glace cherry on each cookie and then a small scattering of flaked almonds around the centre of each cookie. Baking Preheat the oven to 180C, then place the cookie tray into the centre rack of the oven and bake for 12 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes on the tray before removing to a cooling rack. Once the cookies are at room temperature, place in an airtight container to keep crunchy and have as a small snack alongside a cup of Hong Kong milk tea! Turkey on Wednesday claimed significant progress in the months-long battle to capture the Islamic State (IS) held Syrian town of Al-Bab, signalling it was looking to push to the Islamist militant stronghold of Raqa in the next stage of the operation. Ankara launched an unprecedented incursion to support rebels inside Syria in August, making rapid advances in initial stages but has been locked in a bloody battle for Al-Bab since December. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Al-Bab was now "surrounded on all sides" and the town's outer neighbourhoods were "under control". "The efforts to take it completely under control continue," Yildirim added during a press conference in Ankara with the head of Libya's unity government Fayez al-Sarraj. He confirmed two soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting, raising the death toll for Turkey's Syria campaign to at least 50 mostly from IS attacks. Fighting raged on the ground near Al-Bab on Wednesday as Turkish troops and allied rebels forces clashed with IS fighters, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said both Turkish troops and allied rebels and Syrian regime forces had advanced towards IS-held Al-Bab overnight. Anadolu news agency said pro-Ankara forces had captured strategic hilltops from the Islamist militants. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that over the last few days, Turkish special forces, soldiers and Syrian rebels had made "serious" progress in Al-Bab. Cavusoglu suggested that once Al-Bab was captured Turkey and its allies could send special forces to take Raqa, the de-facto capital for the IS group to the southwest. "The target after this (Al-Bab) in Syria is the Raqa operation," Cavusoglu said alongside his Saudi Arabian counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Ankara. "As regional countries, as countries inside the (US-led) coalition, we can put our special forces in, we need to put them in," Cavusoglu added, referring to any Raqa offensive. His comments come after US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke via telephone and discussed acting together in Turkey's battle to capture Al-Bab and also over Raqa. Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was "looking forward to working with Turkey and the Trump administration in order to intensify the efforts to eradicate Daesh (IS)". Last August, Ankara launched an ambitious military operation supporting Syrian opposition fighters to clear its border of IS and pushing back Syrian Kurdish militia. Cavusoglu warned against working with the militia to retake the city. "It is necessary to conduct the Raqa operation not with terror groups but the right people," he said. Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said a "concrete plan" to clear IS from Raqa was being discussed with Washington. Trump had a "positive attitude" on the Raqa issue, Kalin added during an interview with NTV broadcaster. Al-Bab has been besieged since Monday, when government forces of President Bashar al-Assad advancing from the south severed a road leading into the town. Turkish forces and allied rebels meanwhile have advanced from the east, north and west, the Observatory told AFP in Beirut. This has created a delicate situation for Ankara, which has opposed Assad since the onset of the almost six-year civil war. But relations between Turkey and Assad's chief ally Russia improved markedly in the last months and the two sides worked together to evacuate citizens from Aleppo. Kalin said Turkey was coordinating with Russia to avoid any risk of contact with Syrian regime forces. According to the Observatory, six civilians were killed overnight and 12 injured in Turkish bombardment. Turkish forces regularly carry our air strikes in support of its ground operation in Syria but officials insist that the utmost is done to avoid any civilian casualties and have vehemently denied claims civilians have been killed in previous strikes. The Turkish army said 254 targets were hit and 58 "terrorists" were killed in the latest strikes in Al-Bab. Search Keywords: Short link: Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} MSG - monosodium glutamate - has a bad rap. For years, weve been told MSG (the sodium salt of glutamic acid) - often associated with cheap Chinese takeaways - is awful for our health and to be avoided at all costs. But one scientist argues it should be used as a supersalt and encourages adding it to food. Steve Witherly is a food scientist who creates his own 'supersalt mix' consisting of nine parts salt, one part MSG, and a bit of disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate. I like to encourage my kids to eat a little healthier, so I'll sprinkle a little supersalt in there. That stuff is really powerful, he told Business Insider. For example, I had a whole-wheat pizza - and my kids hate whole-wheat - so I put a little supersalt in the tomato sauce, and they sucked that whole thing down. Broccoli is tremendous if you add butter, garlic, and supersalt, he claims, adding that most savoury dishes and meat are enhanced by the salt mix. According to Witherly, MSG is perfectly safe. Its a bold claim, but could he be right? The worst jobs for your health Show all 10 1 /10 The worst jobs for your health The worst jobs for your health 10. Surgical and medical assistants, technologists, and technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 57.3 What they do: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel and perform medical laboratory tests. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69 The worst jobs for your health 9. Stationary engineers and boiler operators Overall unhealthiness score: 57.7 What they do: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 99 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 84 The worst jobs for your health 8. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators Overall unhealthiness score: 58.2 What they do: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 97 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 80 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 74 The worst jobs for your health 7. Histotechnologists and histologic technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 59.0 What they do: Prepare histologic slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 76 3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 The worst jobs for your health 6. Immigration and customs inspectors Overall unhealthiness score: 59.3 What they do: Investigate and inspect people, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the US or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 78 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63 3. Exposure to radiation: 62 The worst jobs for your health 5. Podiatrists Overall unhealthiness score: 60.2 What they do: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87 2. Exposure to radiation: 69 3. Exposure to contaminants: 67 The worst jobs for your health 4. Veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and laboratory animal caretakers and veterinary technologists and technicians What they do: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals and perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 81 2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 75 3. Exposure to contaminants: 74 The worst jobs for your health 3. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologist assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 62.3 What they do: Administer anesthetics or sedatives during medical procedures, and help patients in recovering from anesthesia. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to radiation: 74 The worst jobs for your health 2. Flight attendants What they do: Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 88 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 77 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 69 The worst jobs for your health 1. Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 65.4 What they do: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 84 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 3. Time spent sitting: 67 The negative buzz around MSG first started in 1968 after a report claimed it could lead to headaches, skin flushing, chest pains and numbness. It was blamed for what became known as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, AKA the symptoms people often have after eating Chinese food. And people are so afraid of MSG that its not unusual to see Asian restaurants and foods proudly proclaiming theyre MSG-free in the hope of assuaging the concerns of potential customers. Recommended Health experts urge public to continue monitoring salt intake But now more and more experts are speaking out to say MSG might not be anywhere near as harmful as many people think. According to the American Chemical Society, MSG can temporarily affect a select few when consumed in huge quantities on an empty stomach, but it's perfectly safe for the vast majority of people. If you eat a lot of MSG - just like if you ate vast quantities of salt - youd feel sick, but consumed in a reasonable amount, it should be completely safe. Witherly is a fan because it adds flavour to dishes, specifically enhancing umami, and means his children eat more vegetables as a result. Whats more, MSG actually occurs naturally in certain foods like tomatoes and cheese, so if you add a sprinkle of supersalt to your pizza like Witherly, youre having a veritable MSG feast. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump's tweets about the attack on Charlie Hebdo have resurfaced after the President criticised coverage of terrorism. The President mocked the magazine for its lack of success and bad finances, just days after attackers broke into its offices and killed 12 people. The White House has claimed that the media is either refusing to cover or minimising its coverage of a range of terrorist attacks allegedly perpetrated by Isis. Officials claimed that the group is perpetrating a "genocide" in the US and pointed to a list of 78 attacks that weren't covered enough. The list doesn't include the shootings at Charlie Hebdo in January 2015. But it does reference the killings by Amedy Coulibaly, who shot one police officer and four hostages in a kosher supermarket in an attack that occurred at the same time and was linked to the attack on the French satirical magazine. 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 the wake of that criticism which media organisations have pointed out is untrue and ignores the vast coverage given to the terror attacks fresh scrutiny has been applied to Mr Trump's own tweets. Just a week after the attacks on Charlie Hebdo, he posted a series of messages that mocked the magazine and the staff who worked at it. The magazine was having "no success", he wrote just days after 12 people were shot at its offices, and he mockingly wrote that the two gunmen should have just waited for it to fold. Spy magazine was a satirical monthly magazine based in New York that ran between 1986 and 1998. It is in large part remembered for mocking and exposing Donald Trump among other celebrities, and christened him with the "short-fingered vulgarian" reference that still follows the President around. Last year, the Spy magazine founders re-united to discuss that same mockery of Mr Trump, and suggested that it continues to torment the then-Presidential candidate. I think hes made pretty clear that he has wonderful, powerful, beautiful hands," an aide to Mr Trump said in response to the story. Mr Trump has posted a range of other tweets in response to terror attacks, including blaming the Paris shootings on the fact that people didn't have guns to shoot back at their attackers with. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Facebook has extended its controversial 'Safety Check' to let people offer help. The Safety Check tool has been available since 2014 and is activated whenever a crisis is present, allowing people to tell their friends and family that they are safe. But the new tool will allow the actually help out. The Community Help feature allows unaffected people to offer help like blankets or accomodation to people who are in the area of such a crisis. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Safety Check was introduced three years ago and has gradually widened since. It was initially only used for natural disasters, but has gradually been switched on for terrorist attacks and other problems and is now automatically triggered occasionally causing its own problems. Facebook said the feature will initially be deployed in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Saudi Arabia before being rolled out globally. Recommended Facebook scares Bangkok residents with false report of explosion "With Community Help people can find and give help, and message others directly to connect after a crisis," Facebook's Naomi Gleit said. "Posts can be viewed by category and location, making it easier for people to find the help they need. "We saw the community do this on their own through Groups and posts, like in the aftermath of the flooding in Chennai, India, in December 2015, but we knew we could do more. "We also talked with experts, humanitarian relief organisations and our own in-the-field research to learn how to make it easier for people to find and give help." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} New details about Bixby, the Samsung Galaxy S8s AI assistant, have emerged ahead of the phones unveiling next month. The virtual helper will support up to eight languages at launch, including English, Korean and Chinese, according to SamMobile. That pushes it out in front of Google Assistant, which supports English and German on the Pixel phone, as well as Hindi, Japanese and Portuguese through the controversial Allo messaging app. However, both trail some way behind Apples Siri, which supports over 20 different languages. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Bixby, which is yet to be announced, is expected to be capable of recognising real-world objects through the Galaxy S8s camera and tracking them down online, allowing users to make quick purchases. Its also said to be able to use optical character recognition to process any text within the phones camera frame, presumably to help users translate phrases and save time while copying and pasting information. Recommended Samsung Galaxy S8 could double up as a desktop computer Samsung will not launch its new flagship at Mobile World Congress later this month, as many of its main smartphone rivals plan to, because of the fallout surrounding the disastrous Galaxy Note 7. Instead, the South Korean company is set to unveil the Galaxy S8 towards the end of March, ahead of a late April release. However, it recently released the Samsung Galaxy A5, a gorgeous, waterproof handset that costs less than 400. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Brains with a typically male design have been linked to an increased risk of autism. The discovery provides the first anatomical evidence for the extreme male brain theory which argues that the developmental disorder arises from exaggerated male traits. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known to be two to five times more common in men than in women. The condition varies greatly in severity and is marked by poor social communication skills, a narrowing of focus and obsessional tendencies traits which in their milder form are often associated with men. Scientists, mathematicians and engineers have been shown to be further along the autistic spectrum than people in less technical occupations. The new study found that having a characteristically male brain structure was associated with a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with autism. Girl with autism praised for Christmas version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' Scientists compared 98 men and women aged 18 to 42 with high functioning autism and the same number of neurologically normal individuals. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans were used to measure differences in brain structure between the participants. In particular, the researchers focused on the thickness of the cerebral cortex the wrinkled and densely packed outer layer of neurons which is responsible for most of what makes us human, including awareness, thought, language and consciousness. Recommended Music and sex stimulate the same part of the brain Men and women typically have differing thickness levels in different regions of the cortex. The results of the research showed that a typically male pattern of cortical thickness was significantly associated with a higher probability of autism. This was especially noticeable in women with ASD. Women who had a more male-like brain anatomy were three times more likely to have been diagnosed with autism than those whose brain structure was typically female. The authors, led by Dr Christine Ecker, from Goethe University in Germany, report their findings in the journal Jama Psychiatry. The worst jobs for your health Show all 10 1 /10 The worst jobs for your health The worst jobs for your health 10. Surgical and medical assistants, technologists, and technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 57.3 What they do: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel and perform medical laboratory tests. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69 The worst jobs for your health 9. Stationary engineers and boiler operators Overall unhealthiness score: 57.7 What they do: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 99 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 84 The worst jobs for your health 8. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators Overall unhealthiness score: 58.2 What they do: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 97 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 80 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 74 The worst jobs for your health 7. Histotechnologists and histologic technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 59.0 What they do: Prepare histologic slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 76 3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 The worst jobs for your health 6. Immigration and customs inspectors Overall unhealthiness score: 59.3 What they do: Investigate and inspect people, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the US or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 78 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63 3. Exposure to radiation: 62 The worst jobs for your health 5. Podiatrists Overall unhealthiness score: 60.2 What they do: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87 2. Exposure to radiation: 69 3. Exposure to contaminants: 67 The worst jobs for your health 4. Veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and laboratory animal caretakers and veterinary technologists and technicians What they do: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals and perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 81 2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 75 3. Exposure to contaminants: 74 The worst jobs for your health 3. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologist assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 62.3 What they do: Administer anesthetics or sedatives during medical procedures, and help patients in recovering from anesthesia. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to radiation: 74 The worst jobs for your health 2. Flight attendants What they do: Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 88 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 77 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 69 The worst jobs for your health 1. Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 65.4 What they do: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 84 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 3. Time spent sitting: 67 They concluded: Biological female individuals with a more male-typic pattern of brain anatomy were significantly more likely to have ASD than biological female individuals with a characteristically female phenotype (set of traits). This finding translates to an estimated variability in population prevalence from 0.2 per cent to 1.3 per cent respectively... "These findings highlight the need for considering normative sex-related phenotypic diversity when determining an individual's risk for ASD and provide important novel insights into the neurobiological mechanisms mediating sex differences in ASD prevalence. Press Association Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nurses at NHS hospitals are treating patients in corridors because of severe overcrowding in A&E departments. Footage taken by the BBC shows patients waiting more than four hours to be seen at Royal Blackburn Hospital, where at one point last week 33 beds were available for 95 seriously ill people. Nurse Danielle Turner told the broadcaster: We actually have corridor nurses now as well, which shows times are very desperate. Doctors have warned of worsening conditions in overstretched NHS hospitals, said to be at breaking point due to overwhelming demand and bed shortages with the number of patients on wards reportedly at unsafe levels at nine out of ten NHS trusts in England. Janet Davies, head of the Royal College of Nursing, told The Independent the organisation had heard from nurses across the country who are working in badly overcrowded hospitals, striving to give the best care they can in extremely difficult circumstances. Its an understatement to say that treating patients and holding what are often very personal discussions in a corridor is unacceptable, she said. Labour MP Ronnie Campbell, who recently received treatment for stomach cancer from the NHS, told Theresa May the current situation in Britains hospitals was not the way we want the health service to run. Patients in corridors at Royal Blackburn Hospital (Screenshot from BBC footage) He said he had seen the best side of the NHS, adding: its been absolutely wonderful, the service I got. But there is a flipside, that were seeing today. We have dedicated nurses called corridor nurses, who are in the corridor looking after patients on trolleys, said Mr Campbell during Prime Ministers Questions. Quite honestly Minister, thats not the way we want the health service to run. We want it to run in the way that saved me. Get your purse open, and give them the money they want. In response, Ms May welcomed him back to the chamber after his sick leave but did not promise any further funding for the health service. The north east is a very good example of some of the really good practice we see in the NHS, what I want to see is that good practice being spread across the NHS across the whole country, she said. The British Red Cross last month warned of a humanitarian crisis in Britains hospitals after two patients died on trolleys in the A&E department of Worcestershire Royal hospital. The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? Show all 19 1 /19 The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36454.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36456.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36455.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36457.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36458.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36459.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36460.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36461.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36462.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36464.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36463.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36466.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36467.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36468.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36469.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36470.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36472.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36473.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk The NHS at 60: has the dream been matched by reality? 36474.bin Nick Wilkinson/Newsteam.co.uk Christine Pearson, director of nursing at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Blackburn, said many hospitals across the country were experiencing severe pressure. While we do not want to have patients waiting on trolleys in corridors, when this does happen at times of high demand, our nurses continue to look after these patients ensuring that they are safely cared for at all times whilst anywhere in the department, she told The Independent. The Royal Blackburn has been rated 'good' but has been under intense pressure since the A&E department at Chorley hospital, 13 miles away, was downgraded to an urgent care centre due to a doctor shortage. Theresa May acknowledges incidents of 'unacceptable practice' in NHS Chorley hospital's department has now been upgraded back to an A&E unit but is only open 12 hours a day, reported the Daily Mail. In a 2012 survey of more than 1,000 nurses and healthcare assistants, more than a fifth of nurses said patients were receiving care in corridors or other unsuitable areas every day. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It is a depressing but true fact that a lot of women feel afraid when walking the streets alone at night - all you have to do is ask around to realise just how many of us are fed-up with walking home clutching our keys between our fingers. Of course, two men can be extremely unequally matched when it comes to strength and size, but the sad truth is that the majority of women can put up little fight against the majority of men purely because of our biological make-up. And thats a scary thought. Progress certainly needs to be made to reduce attacks - be they sexual assault or robbery - but as that doesnt look likely any time soon, learning self-defence is a wise move for women of all ages. Top British mixed martial artist Helen Hellraiser Harper, who specialises in Jui Jitsu, believes all women should know more self-defence because it brings not only safety but confidence. In my opinion, women don't have the confidence they should in life let alone in defence, she told The Independent. Learning to fend off an attacker can not only help women to have peace of mind when walking alone, but also increase confidence, independence and a general sense of achievement. Widely-considered one of the most effective and practical forms of self-defence is Krav Maga - not technically a martial art, but rather a tactical defence system. Martial arts tend not to change but Krav Maga is constantly developing, London-based Krav Maga instructor Sarah Brendlor told The Independent. She, like all instructors, has to train a minimum of nine days a year to maintain her license and ensure her techniques stay up-to-date. Originally developed in the late 1930s by Hungarian-born Israeli martial artist, Emrich "Imi" Lichtenfeld, it was used by the Israeli army before being redeveloped for civilian use in the 1960s. Krav Maga translates an 'unarmed combat' and was designed to be learned very quickly - its based on natural reactions: Krav Maga takes your natural instincts and makes them more efficient and effective, Brendlor explains. Krav Maga 5 moves Whilst Krav Maga teaches women and men alike to defend themselves against all types of attacks, its not just about fighting - it focuses on prevention and being aware. The moves are simple and taught in a repetitive way in order to change your muscle memory - to really drill the moves into a person and make them become second nature you have to keep practising, but it doesnt take years and years. Krav Maga really works too. A couple of years ago, as 12-year-old girl was on her way home from one of Brendlors Krav Maga classes. As she walked down a quiet, residential street in the dark, she suddenly felt a large hand on her shoulder and a man grabbing her from behind. Instinctively, her Krav Maga training kicked in - she turned round, kneed him in the groin and ran off. Krav Maga isnt about winning a fight, its about doing enough to get away. Brendlor is, unsurprisingly, a huge Krav Maga advocate: Women walk around in fear, she says. Even if an advance isnt violent and aggressive, it may be violating and unwanted. Whilst she says she no longer walks around scared, she is always alert and emphasises the importance of avoiding danger: Dont take unnecessary risks by going to dodgy places or waving your phone around, she implores. Krav Maga wont defend you against being stupid. Avoidance is the first step in the Krav Maga timeline: Avoid, prevent, de-escalate, defend, fight (if necessary), then run. The system doesnt advise starting fights but is designed to fill in the blanks that inevitably come when youre scared and under stress. Although it takes a while to build muscle memory, there are certain basic moves that are easier to keep at the front of your mind and will help you free yourself from a dangerous situation. I asked Brendlor, whos part of London Krav Maga, to teach me the five most important Krav Maga moves specifically for women. The six Krav Maga self-defence moves every woman should know: 1. Open hand strike This move uses the the heel of the hand to target some of the most vulnerable areas around a persons head - the face, eyes and both front and back of the neck. As a punch-like action it can hurt an attacker, or if you go for the eyes it will seriously disturb them. Dont pull your arm back (keep your elbow in front of your ribs) as this will warn the attacker of whats to come. 2. Kick to the groin The groin is one of the most vulnerable points, not just for men but for women too. Its important to judge your distance though - if further away (a long-range attack), kick and aim to hit either with the tips of your toes or where your shoelaces would be. If you're closer, use your knee - Harper believes this is the most important move for a woman fending off a male attacker. The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Show all 12 1 /12 The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Anne Hathaway The 32-year-old actress said she has already experiences job rejections because of her age. Now I'm in my early thirties and I'm like, 'Why did that 24-year-old get that part? I was that 24-year-old once. I can't be upset about it, it's the way things are, she told Glamour. EPA The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Helen Mirren On news that Maggie Gyllenhaal had been turned down for being too old, aged 37, to play a 55-year-old mans partner: Its f***ing outrageous. Its ridiculous. Honestly, its so annoying. And twas ever thus. We all watched James Bond as he got more and more geriatric, and his girlfriends got younger and younger. Its so annoying. Getty The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Maggie Gyllenhaal Gyllenhaal revealed she was told by a Hollywood producer that she was too old, aged 37, to play the love interest of a 55-year-old man. It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad, and then it made feel angry, and then it made me laugh, she said at the time. Getty Images The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Meryl Streep Meryl Streep has helped fund an all-female screenwriters group called The Writers Lab to encourage more women to pen Hollywood scripts. She previously told Vogue in 2011: Once women pass childbearing age they could only be seen as grotesque on some level. Getty The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Emma Thompson The actress said she thought Hollywood is still completely s*** when it comes to treating women equally to men. When I was younger, I really did think we were on our way to a better world. And when I look at it now, it is in a worse state than I have known it, particularly for women, and I find that very disturbing and sad. EPA The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Elizabeth Banks Banks said she was driven from acting to directing due to the lack of roles for older women in Hollywood. "[Industry sexism] drove me to direct for sure. I definitely was feeling that I was unfulfilled and a little bit bored by the things that were coming across my desk. I mean look at Gwyneth Paltrow who has her Oscar [for Shakespeare in Love] and played fifth banana to Iron Man, she told Deadline. PA The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Viola Davis I had never seen a 49-year-old, dark-skinned woman who is not a size 2 be a sexualised role in TV or film. I'm a sexual woman, but nothing in my career has ever identified me as a sexualised woman. I was the prototype of the mommified role, she told The Hollywood Reporter. Getty The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Liv Tyler The Lord of the Rings actress said she only get cast in roles where she is treated as a second class citizen at the age of 38. When youre in your teens or twenties, there is an abundance of ingenue parts which are exciting to play. But at [my age], youre usually the wife or the girlfriend - a sort of second-class citizen. There are more interesting roles for women when they get a bit older, she told More magazine. Getty Images The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Cate Blanchett The actress famously called out sexism on the red carpet at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards. When a camera operator scanned her up and down, she said: Do you do this to the guys? In her Oscar acceptance speech for Blue Jasmine, she reminded the film industry that movies with leading women can still be successful. And thank you to... those of us in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films, with women at the centre, are niche experiences. They are not -- audiences want to see them and, in fact, they earn money. The world is round, people. Gareth Cattermole/Getty The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Ellen Page Asked if she had ever encountered sexism in Hollywood, Page told The Guardian: Oh my God, yeah! It's constant! It's how you're treated, it's how you're looked at, how you're expected to look in a photoshoot, it's how you're expected to shut up and not have an opinion, it's how you... If you're a girl and you don't fit the very specific vision of what a girl should be, which is always from a man's perspective, then you're a little bit at a loss. Getty Images The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Zoe Saldana The actress says she refuses roles where she has to play the generic girlfriend, wife or sexy bombshell. "It's very hard being a woman in a man's world, and I recognised it was a man's world even when I was a kid. It's an inequality and injustice that drove me crazy, and which I always spoke out against and I've always been outspoken, she told Manhattan magazine. Getty The actors fighting against sexism in Hollywood Charlize Theron The actress spoke to ELLE about negotiating equal pay for the Snow White and the Huntsman sequel: "This is a good time for us to bring this to a place of fairness, and girls need to know that being a feminist is a good thing. It doesn't mean that you hate men. It means equal rights. If you're doing the same job, you should be compensated and treated in the same way." Andreas Rentz/Getty Images 3. 360 or outside defence Attackers often take aim at their targets from behind or the side by using a circular attack to slap, grab or punch. To combat this, use the side of the wrist to intercept and hit them in a similar position - by keeping your arm at a right-angle you can create a decent amount of space between yourself and the attacker. 4. Handbag grab or any aggressive grab When either your arm, hand or bag is pulled with force, the most important thing is to move with and use that energy - instead of resisting and pulling away, use the attackers energy to strike or kick them. 5. Attack from the ground If you find yourself on the floor, judge your distance and then kick the assailant back. If theyre directly above, kick them with both feet at once, thrusting your hips off the floor for extra power, then get up and run away as quickly as possible. It's time to take back the streets and feel strong. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Global banks in London may have to relocate 1.8 trillion (1.6 trillion) of assets to the continent after Britain withdraws from the European Union, putting as many as 30,000 UK jobs at risk, according to Brussels-based research group Bruegel. The assets potentially on the move represent 17 per cent of the UK banking system, Bruegel said in a report published Wednesday. Based on discussions with market participants, the researchers estimate that 35 per cent of wholesale banking activity in London can be attributed to dealings with customers inside the EU. Financial firms will have to move that business to countries inside the trading bloc after the UK leaves the EU in 2019, likely spelling the end of passporting, where firms seamlessly service the rest of the single market from their London hubs. Banks, and their clients, are most concerned about a "cliff edge" Brexit, whereby all access is cut off after two years. To safeguard against that loss of access, banks are already in discussions with European regulators about setting up new bases inside the EU and have said they will start the process of moving people within weeks of the government triggering Brexit talks, expected in March. At a minimum, it is expected that the new EU27-based entities will need to have autonomous boards, full senior management teams, senior account managers and traders, even though much of the back-office might stay in London or elsewhere in the world, researchers led by Andre Sapir said in the report. London-based firms will likely have to move about 10,000 employees into these new EU entities, Breugel estimates. An additional 18,000 to 20,000 people in associated professions, such as lawyers, consultants and accountants, may also have to relocate. Bruegels estimates are at the conservative end of the spectrum. TheCityUK industry lobby group forecasts as many as 35,000 banking jobs could be relocated, rising to 70,000 when including associated financial services. London Stock Exchange Group Plc Chief Executive Officer Xavier Rolet has said Brexit would likely see 232,000 jobs leaving the UK. 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 UK financial-services industry generates as much as 205bn of revenue annually and employs 1.1 million people, according to a report prepared by Oliver Wyman on behalf of TheCityUK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon said last month that it looks like there will be more job movement than we hoped for, while HSBC chief Stuart Gulliver said staff generating about 20 per cent of London investment banking revenue may move to Paris. If Europes financial markets currently centred in London fragment across the 27 EU nations, then borrowing costs would likely increase as banks seek to offset the higher expenses, the study said. That could cost households and corporates within the EU an extra 6bn to 12bn annually, or up to 0.1 per cent of regional output, the Bruegel researchers estimate. Blooomberg Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The 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, a study shows. According to data from international jobs site Indeed, job searches for positions in Ireland conducted by both British and EU financial sector workers rose dramatically in the eight weeks immediately after the June vote. Job searches from the UK for Ireland-based auditor roles increased by 55 per cent over the period, while job searches for financial analyst and accountant roles in Ireland jumped by 50 per cent and 46 per cent respectively. Indeeds data also revealed that Europeans, who might be uncertain of their rights to work in the UK after Brexit, are also increasingly considering relocating to Ireland. Searches by Europeans for finance director roles in Ireland surged by 196 per cent in the eight-week period. Searches for auditor and trader jobs increased by 89 per cent 62 per cent respectively. The surge in job search into Ireland is a testament to Irelands attractiveness as a place to live and work, but also a stark illustration of how Brexit uncertainty is undermining Britains appeal, said Mariano Mamertino, an economist at Indeed. Ireland is seen as a natural alternative to the UK by EU jobseekers. Its an English-speaking country, with a flexible labour market and one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, Mr Mamertino said. He said that although its not yet possible to forecast the full implications of a so-called hard Brexit, Indeeds job search data suggests jobseekers are already "voting with their feet - or at least considering it - in response to the political uncertainty". The much-feared financial sector flight could be beginning - but from the ground up, rather than the top down, Mr Mamertino said. How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nations favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafe The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafe Original at Sainsburys has gone up 40p from 2.75 to 3.15 a 14 per cent risesince the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterlings slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons customers 2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto Bruegel, a Brussel-based economic think tank, earlier on Wednesday published a report which projected the City of London stands to lose 10,000 banking jobs and 20,000 accountancy, consultancy and law workers to the continent as a result of Brexit. The report estimated the total loss of this business to Britain would be worth 1.6tn or 17 per cent of the UK's banking assets. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The chief executive of Disney has warned that a trade war between the US and China would be damaging for business. Bob Iger was asked about President Donald Trumps confrontational approach to China in an interview with CNBC. I dont know that we know for sure what President Trumps approach is, Mr Iger said. Mr Iger said the relationship between China and Disney is really important both from a movie perspective, a parks perspective and a consumer products perspective. An all-out trade war with China would be damaging, I think to Disneys business and to business in general. Its something we are going to have to be really careful about, he added. During his election campaign, President Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on China, Mexico and other nations he blames for the loss of US manufacturing jobs. Mr Trump has also criticised China for manipulating its currency. 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 Igers comments came as Disney reported overall sales unexpectedly falling to $14.8bn (11.8bn) in the three months to the end of December. Analysts had forecast sales of $15.3bn. During Mr Iger's 12 years at the helm of Disney, the company's shares have more than tripled in value, compared to roughly a doubling of the S&P 500, according to Reuters. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The European Parliaments lead Brexit negotiator has said that the European Union needs to reform or it risks disappearing completely. Speaking to the BBC World Service on Wednesday, Guy Verhofstadt said that there are multiple sources of pressure on the bloc. If we look to the pressure on the European Union at the moment [President Donald Trump] is bidding on the designation of the European Union and also Vladimir Putin who wants to divide the European Union, he said. Then theres also the threat of jihadism and then internally we have enormous pressure by nationalists, populists, the whole question of Brexit, so its an existential moment for the European Union, he added. He said that it is now the time to reform, otherwise it could disappear. Mr Verhofstadts warning echoes a speech he made in London in January during which he said that the European trading bloc was facing a three-pronged attack from outside forces. Two of the forces were Russian President Putin and radical Islamism; the third, he said, is Mr Trump, he said. I have just come back from the US and my view is that we have a third front that is undermining the EU ... and that is Donald Trump, he said at the time. Commenting on Brexit earlier last month, Mr Verhofstadt, who is the former prime minister of Belgium, said that Theresa May is creating an illusion after the prime minister outlined Britain's plan for leaving the EU at a landmark speech at Lancaster House. 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 said that it was not very helpful that there had been discussions about Britain becoming a tax haven after the split. I think it creates an illusion that you can go out of the single market and the customs union and you can cherry pick and still have a number of advantages, he said at the time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} LOreal is considering selling The Body Shop, just over a decade after it bought the ethical cosmetics chain, according to the Financial Times. Citing people familiar with the matter, the paper reported on Wednesday that LOreal had hired Lazard to review its options and that a sale was the most probable outcome. The Body Shop has struggled in recent years, in contrast to LOreal, which has performed robustly. The latter is due to report its 2016 annual results on Thursday. The Body Shop was founded in Brighton in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick. It now has more than 3,000 stores in 66 countries according to its website. It prides itself on using ethically sourced ingredients to create natural beauty products. In November, LOreal posted stronger than expected results for the third quarter of the year, particularly helped by growth in its North American business, according to Reuters. As well as The Body Shop, the company owns brand such as Lancome creams, Viktor & Rolf fragrances, Yves Saint Laurent, Urban Decay and Armani. The Financial Times reported that LOreal had declined to comment on the possibility of a sale of The Body Shop. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hours before the final vote on the triggering of Article 50 the government quietly announced it would allow just 350 unaccompanied child refugees from Syria and elsewhere to come to the UK, thousands short of the figure suggested by government sources last year. The statement from Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said local authorities indicated have capacity for around 400 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children until the end of this financial year and said the country should be proud of its contribution to finding homes for refugees. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron called the decision a betrayal of British values. Last May, MPs from all parties condemned the Governments inaction on child refugees in Europe, and voted overwhelmingly to offer help to the thousands of unaccompanied kids who were stranded without their families backed by huge public support, Mr Farron said. Instead, the Government has done the bare minimum, helping only a tiny number of youngsters and appearing to end the programme while thousands still suffer. At the end of December last year the Government had failed to bring a single child refugee to the UK under the Dubs scheme from Greece or Italy where many of these children are trapped. Ministers introduced the programme last year after coming under intense pressure to give sanctuary to lone children stranded on the continent. Calls for the measure were spearheaded by Lord Dubs, whose amendment to the Immigration Act requires the Government to make arrangements to relocate to the UK and support a specified number of unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe. The legislation did not specify a figure but on Wednesday Mr Goodwill said 350 children will be transferred under the initiative. It is the first time an official figure has been given for the number of under-18s who will be resettled in the UK under the Dubs Amendment, which is given effect by Section 67 of the Immigration Act. Shocking images show Aleppo before and after the conflict Judith Dennis, Policy Manager at the Refugee Council said: The Governments job is far from done; the global refugee crisis hasnt gone away and if anything its getting worse. The UK needs to step up rather than step back and ensure that we pull our weight by offering refuge to more vulnerable people and enabling more refugees to reunite with their families here. It was reached after consultation with councils on their capacity to care for and support asylum-seeking children, the Government said. In a written ministerial statement, Mr Goodwill said more than 900 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were transferred to the UK from Europe in total last year. Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters This included more than 750 from France as part of Britains support for the clearance of the Calais jungle. More than 200 of those children met the criteria for the Dubs route, while the remainder were transferred under an accelerated process based on, but operated outside of, the Dublin Regulation covering family reunion cases. Mr Goodwill said: The UK can be proud of its record of helping refugee children and I can today announce, in accordance with Section 67 of the Immigration Act, that the Government will transfer the specified number of 350 children pursuant to that section, who reasonably meet the intention and spirit behind the provision. This number includes over 200 children already transferred under Section 67 from France. It does not include children transferred to UK where they have close family here. We will announce in due course the basis on which further children will be transferred from Europe to the UK under Section 67 of the Immigration Act to the specified number. The Home Office minister went on: As required by the legislation, we have consulted with local authorities on their capacity to care for and support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children before arriving at this number. Drone footage of fleeing civilians reveals scale of devastation in Aleppo Local authorities told us they have capacity for around 400 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children until the end of this financial year. We estimate that at least 50 of the family reunion cases transferred from France as part of the Calais clearance will require a local authority placement in cases where the family reunion does not work out. We are grateful for the way in which local authorities have stepped up to provide places for those arriving and we will continue to work closely to address capacity needs. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Retired English teacher Mark Frost, 70, jailed for life after admitting to 45 sexual offences against boys in England and Thailand. Frost, formerly known as Andrew Tracey, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to a catalogue of abuse against nine children in Thailand between 2009 and 2012. He also admitted having sex with two pupils in Worcestershire over three years in the 1990s. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images 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 On some occasions, the abuse happened on school grounds and on others, unmarried Frost's adopted son was present, the court heard. He was sentenced by Judge Mark Lucraft to serve a minimum of 16 years for each life sentence. Other determinate sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Frost raped impoverished Asian boys and encouraged them to engage in sex acts after he groomed them with cash, sweets, computer games and swims in his pool. Since the allegations emerged in Asia, two former pupils of a school in Worcestershire have come forward claiming they were sexually assaulted in the 1990s. One of them has since died. Frost had sex with his late victim in a school store room, during breaks, and at his home where he lived with his adopted son. The judge told Frost he was responsible for "the most appalling catalogue of sexual abuse" and it was clear he had an "ongoing obsession" with young boys. He said: "Your conduct towards each and every one of these victims is horrific and deeply disturbing." Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britains largest abortion provider has announced it will have to begin turning Irish women away from its clinics as it struggles to meet demand. A spokeswoman for the family planning charity, Marie Stopes International, said it would now prioritise the needs of UK-based clients referred to it by the NHS though Irish women who had already booked appointments would be treated. She said: Were looking at our capacity across the country. Irish women may have to go to slightly different locations to access our services." Instead, the charity said it would refer Irish clients to another abortion provider, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) but it warned it was also feeling the strain. Abortion is illegal in almost all circumstances in Ireland and heavily restricted in Northern Ireland so women are forced to travel and pay privately for an abortion in Britain. More than 3,400 Irish women travelled to Britain for an abortion in 2015 according to UK Government figures, accounting for the largest number of non-UK nationals having an abortion in the country. The Marie Stopes spokeswoman insisted the restrictions were only temporary. She told The Times: January and February are always the busiest times of year and we are currently managing high demand by referring some women to other providers to ensure they can be seen as soon as possible. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images 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 Our priority is ensuring women obtain the earliest possible appointment and we are working with organisations in Ireland to ensure provision is there for women who go via their networks. We are managing demand by focusing on NHS clients but our helpline is very clear to everyone that calls that if they have difficulty finding another provider they should call us back. Under Irish law abortion is only legal when the mothers life is in danger. Following controversy over the death of Savita Halappanavar who died while 17 weeks pregnant at Galway hospital in 2013 after doctors refused to terminate her miscarrying pregnancy to save her life because they feared criminal penalties calls plans were made for abortion laws to be loosened. A rally in Brussels in support of the #repealthe8th movement (Erica Jane/Twitter) The eighth amendment to the Irish constitution, which was ratified in 1983, gives explicit recognition of the right to life of the unborn equal to that of its mother. The Repeal the 8th campaign has called for the amendment to be scrapped to bring Ireland into line with its European neighbours. In Northern Ireland, where the 1968 Abortion Act does not apply, medically induced abortions are legal but only up until nine weeks gestation before many women know they are pregnant. But Dr Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Dutch organisation Women on Waves, which provides family planning services on a ship just outside the jurisdiction of countries with restrictive abortion laws, said the problem was that Britains own abortion regulations were too restrictive. She told The Independent: The real problem here is that abortion access to Great Britain is way too regulated. Even for an abortion with pills, women have to go to a special clinic like Marie Stopes and BPAS . This is totally unnecessary as scientific research in the past 20 years has shown it is safe for women to have a medical abortion at home. So if the UK wants to solve this problem the only thing they have to do is make medical abortion available on prescription through family physicians in regular pharmacies. This would immediately take away the strain on the clinics and make the care of women who need an abortion in the UK and for women travelling there from Ireland much better. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The mother of a backpacker slain in an Australian hostel wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump, rejecting the decision to label her daughter's death as a terror attack. The August slayings of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, and fellow Briton Tom Jackson, 30, were on a list of 78 attacks the White House says were executed or inspired by the Islamic State terror group - and under-reported by the media. Rosie Ayliffe says the possibility of terrorism was discounted early in the investigation. My daughter's death will not be used to further this insane persecution of innocent people, she wrote. Police in Australia allege that suspect Smail Ayad shouted Allahu akbar - an Arabic phrase meaning God is great - during the attack, but said there was no indication the assault was motivated by extremism. They have said they are investigating whether Ayad, who is French and was 29 years old at the time of killing, had a romantic obsession with Ayliffe-Chung. Ayad's lawyer told a court in October that her client had been given a preliminary diagnosis of schizophrenia. The case has been referred to the Queensland state Mental Health Court, which determines whether a person is competent to stand trial. The attack took place in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene. Jackson tried to stop the attack and was fatally wounded. 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 This vilification of whole nation states and their people based on religion is a terrifying reminder of the horror that can ensue when we allow ourselves to be led by ignorant people into darkness and hatred, Ayliffe wrote. AP Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Tory revolt to immediately guarantee the rights of nearly 3m EU nationals in Britain fizzled out after MPs were promised nothing will change without their consent. Just three Conservative MPs sided with Opposition MPs in an attempted amendment to the Article 50 Bill to protect the residence rights of EU citizens, which meant it was easily defeated by 332 votes to 290, a majority of 42. Some Tory MPs had threatened a rebellion, urging Theresa May to end the uncertainty now without waiting for other EU countries to protect the rights of 1.2m British citizens in their countries. EU nationals living here have spoken of their fear of administrative harassment as the Brexit process unfolds, even if they are eventually given permission to stay. The Polish Social and Cultural Association has described the Prime Ministers stance as immoral, warning nationals are too scared to report hate crimes because of confusion about whether they will be able to remain. But the Tory MPs stepped back from supporting Harriet Harman's initiative when they received a last-gasp letter from Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, insisting the decision would be in MPs hands. Ms Rudd stuck to the position that nothing could be achieved until other EU countries were willing to open talks, which meant nothing can be settled until Article 50 is triggered. But she wrote: Id also like to reassure colleagues that Parliament will have a clear opportunity to debate and vote on this issue in the future. The Great Repeal Bill will not change our immigration system. This will be done through a separate Immigration Bill and subsequent secondary legislation so nothing will change for any EU citizen, whether already resident in the UK or moving from the EU, without Parliaments approval. One potential rebel, Sarah Wollaston, the health select committee chairwoman, said the letter had provided clarification on priority and intent. A second, former minister Ed Vaizey, said: These are incredible people who provide not only world-class expertise to many businesses and science, but also a huge contribution to the communities in my constituency. "And they are obviously devastated by what has happened, and they seek reassurance from the Government. But, he added: I'm also deeply reassured by the Home Secretary's letter which was circulated earlier. During Prime Ministers Questions, Ms May insisted she would put the controversy at the top of her wish-list when the two-year Article 50 talks get underway, probably in April. She told Ms Wollaston: I want to be able to give, and I expect to be able to give, that reassurance, but I want to see the same reassurance for UK citizens living in the EU. What I can say to her is that, when I trigger Article 50, I intend to make it clear that I want this to be a priority for an early stage of the negotiations, so we can address this issue and give reassurance to the people concerned. The Rudd letter appeared to confirm that current EU immigration law will be copied into British law, before any changes are made after Brexit is completed. That could stir the wrath of some Brexit-backing MPs who have demanded that an early priority is to take control of our borders. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Clive Lewis, a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has resigned from Labours Shadow Cabinet after the leadership imposed a three-line whip on the Governments Brexit bill. In a statement Mr Lewis, who held the post as Shadow Business Secretary, said it was with a heavy heart he had decided to step down. When I became the MP for Norwich South, I promised my constituents I would be Norwichs voice in Westminster, not Westminsters voice in Norwich, he said. Recommended Corbyn braced for fresh Brexit rebellion I therefore cannot, in all good conscience, vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home. It follows the Labour leaders decision to impose a second three-line whip the strongest possible instruction on the third reading of the Governments EU withdrawal bill on Wednesday. It is the legislation needed in order to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and begin the Brexit negotiations. Mr Corbyn, the Labour leader, thanked his colleague for his work which has underlined what an asset he is to the Labour Party. I understand the difficulties MPs representing constituencies which voted Remain have in relation to the European Union Withdrawal Bill. MPs have a duty to represent their constituents as well as their party, he added. However, the Labour Party respects the outcome of the EU referendum, so we have asked all Labour MPs to vote for the Bill at its third reading tonight. We have been clear from the start that Labour will not frustrate the triggering of Article 50, which represents the start of the process for leaving the EU. Labour will use every opportunity to hold the government to account and protect jobs, rights and living standards at every stage of the negotiations. I wish Clive well and look forward to working with him in the future. Mr Lewis, who is touted in some left-wing circles as a future leader of the party, told his constituents at a meeting on Friday that he was prepared to quit his position on the frontbench if Labours amendments in the Commons fall flat. The bill passed through the Commons without a single amendment. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A triumphant Theresa May is on course to trigger Article 50 by her target of early March, after the Brexit bill cleared the Commons with no changes. On a day in which Britain veered ever closer to a "hard Brexit", Jeremy Corbyn was stung and divisions in the Labour exposed still further by the resignation of Clive Lewis, a key ally of the Labour leader in the shadow Cabinet. MPs again gave their overwhelming backing to the Prime Minister to start withdrawal talks on her terms by 494 votes to 122 on the final Commons reading of the landmark legislation. Crucially, they rejected no fewer than nine attempted amendments, including one to guarantee the future rights of EU nationals, which means a clean Bill will go to the upper chamber. Delighted Brexit supporters believe that will make it harder for the unelected Lords despite a strong Remain majority to amend the Bill, because of a reluctance to take on elected MPs. A Government source immediately warned peers: The Lords will face an overwhelming public call to be abolished if they now try and frustrate this bill. They must get on and deliver the will of the British people. The bill is now expected to be given royal assent on 7 March allowing the Prime Minister to formally notify the EU that she is invoking Article 50 at an EU summit later that week. Pro-Europe MPs loudly hummed Ode to Joy, the EU anthem, as the final historic votes were cast, until the Deputy Speaker told them to be quiet. Just minutes earlier, Clive Lewis, Labours shadow Business Secretary, announced he was quitting the shadow Cabinet in order to vote against Article 50, but Diane Abbott, the shadow Home Secretary, backed it. Infamously, Ms Abbott missed last weeks vote with a migraine, but obeyed Jeremy Corbyns three-line whip to vote for the bill this time round. How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nations favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafe The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafe Original at Sainsburys has gone up 40p from 2.75 to 3.15 a 14 per cent risesince the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterlings slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons customers 2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto A London MP with a huge pro-Remain constituency, she said: I dont believe weve given a blank cheque. Were going to be holding them to account on the floor of the House. The Labour revolt against Article 50 was larger than at last weeks second reading of the bill, with 52 MPs defying their leader five more than a week earlier. The rebels included Mr Lewis, who became the fourth shadow Cabinet member to walk out as Brexit continued to tear Labour apart. In a statement, he said: When I became the MP for Norwich South, I promised my constituents I would be Norwichs voice in Westminster, not Westminsters voice in Norwich. I therefore cannot, in all good conscience, vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home. But a delighted David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, said: Weve seen a historic vote tonight a big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states. The decision on EU membership has been made by the people we serve. It is now time for everyone, whichever way they voted in the referendum, to unite to make a success of the important task at hand for our country. Earlier, MPs threw out an attempted amendment to immediately protect the residence rights of three million EU citizens in the UK, facing huge uncertainty over their future. Tory MP: Hardline Brexit MPs are behaving 'like jihadis' Some Tory MPs had threatened a rebellion, urging Ms May to act without waiting for other EU countries to protect the rights of 1.2 million British citizens in their countries. But the revolt fizzled out after Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, insisted the decision would be in MPs hands and that nothing would change without their consent. Leading pro-Brexit MPs who claimed the NHS would receive an extra 350m-a-week after Brexit were condemned for voting against an amendment demanding an analysis of the impact on the NHS. Current and former Cabinet ministers Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Priti Patel all campaigned on the alleged spending bonanza for the health service some alongside a battlebus promising voters the extra 350m. MPs overturned the Lords vote by 335-287 votes a majority of 48 (AFP) And a Liberal Democrat amendment demanding a further referendum on the final Brexit deal before withdrawal can take place was easily defeated, by 340 votes to 33. A furious Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, said the Conservatives had been handed a blank cheque for a hard Brexit an option that was never on the ballot paper last June. He added: This was the very moment that the country needed a bold and competent opposition. It also needed Conservative MPs who would put their country before their party. It didnt get either. Mr Corbyn is not expected to start filling in the four vacancies in his shadow Cabinet for several days and no decision has been taken about disciplining 13 other frontbench rebels. Ms May was forced to draw up the bill after the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament must give its consent to triggering Article 50, but it proved far from the major hindrance she appeared to fear. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Brexiteers who claimed the NHS would receive an extra 350m after Brexit have been condemned for voting down an amendment demanding an analysis of the impact of exiting the EU on the health service. The amendment to Governments bill voted down in the Commons by 337 to 288 votes would have forced Theresa May to probe the effects of Brexit on the NHS if it had been successful. Among the prominent Brexiteers who voted against the amendment included Michael Gove, the then-Justice Secretary, Boris Johnson, who is now the Foreign Secretary, and Priti Patel, who is now the International Development Secretary. Five Labour MPs also voted the amendment down, including Gisela Stuart, who appeared alongside Mr Johnson next to a battlebus promising voters a 350m-a-week spending bonanza for the health service. Kate Hoey, another Labour MP who campaigned to leave the EU, voted against her colleagues amendment. Chuka Umunna, the former shadow Business Secretary who tabled the amendment, said those who campaigned to leave the EU and voted the amendment down should hang their heads in shame. For them to promise 350m more a week for the NHS, and then turn round and oppose an amendment that would have set out how they will deliver their pledge is utterly shameless and disgraceful, he added. Voters can now see very well that pro-Leave Tories made that pledge cynically, without ever thinking about how it might be achieved. Many people voted for Brexit because they believed, in good faith, the pledge painted down the side of Vote Leave's big red bus. If the Government do not keep the promise made by so many of their leading members, they will face deep and justified public anger. Last week Mr Gove was urged by Chuka Umunna, who is also the chair of Vote Leave Watch, to back the amendment, which had the backing of 52 MPs. Supporters include former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas and former Labour leadership contender Owen Smith. In December Mr Gove defended the pledge, telling the BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We can replay, Im always happy to replay, the argument about 350m, because the figures are there. "We havent left the European Union yet, lets wait to see. The money is there and its for the Government to decide how to spend it once we leave, he added. The UK Statistics Authority, however, described the pledge made during the referendum campaign as misleading. Syrian President Bashar Assad has confirmed his readiness to hold talks with representatives of the opposition, including armed opposition groups, Russian lawmaker Dmitry Sablin said Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Assad held a meeting with a group of Russian lawmakers in Damascus. "The Syrian president assured that he was ready to maintain contacts with all opposition representatives, including armed opposition," Sablin told reporters. Russian State Duma lawmakers participated in the meeting with Assad said he also expressed his readiness to engage in dialogue with the Kurds to discuss their vision of the country's political order, said Wednesday. "If the Kurds have their own vision of the political order, President Assad made it clear that the authorities are ready to launch dialogue on the issue," Alexander Yushchenko told reporters after meeting with Assad. Another Russian lawmaker Dmitry Sablin pointed out that the Kurdish issue was rather complicated, adding that the US side also had influence on settling the problem, though it should be discussed solely with the Syrian authorities. "The issue of discussing new constitution, new opportunities is primarily a matter of the Syrian people. And the whole situation with the Kurds is, first of all, the matter of the Syrian people," Sablin said. According to the lawmaker, Assad confirmed that the country's government was "prepared for contacts" with the Kurds, while Washington was "ready for a compromise." Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, with government forces fighting against numerous opposition and terrorist groups, including the al-Nusra Front and Daesh (ISIL/ISIS), which is banned in a range of countries, including Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in December that the Syrian government and armed opposition groups had reached an agreement on a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and regarding their readiness to start peace talks. Search Keywords: Short link: Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} With hours to go before the final vote on the Article 50 bill, the Home Office quietly published a written statement making clear that no more than 350 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees would be admitted to Britain under the hard won Dubs Amendment. Human rights charities have been united in their condemnation. Maya Mailer, Oxfams Head of Humanitarian Policy, said: We're shocked and disappointed that less than a year after it allowed unaccompanied child refugees to find a safe haven in the UK, the government is now wriggling out of its responsibilities. The governments decision flies in the face of the huge public support for the Dubs amendment. Under this scheme, the 350 children, who have fled terrible violence and been living in desperate conditions, have been able to enter the UK. Those children at last now have safety and hope - they can begin to rebuild their lives. It is tragic that others will be barred from doing the same." Recommended Government backtracks on pledge to take Syrian child refugees Lily Caprani, Deputy Executive Director of Unicef UK said: We are disappointed that only 150 more children will be transferred to the UK before the Dubs scheme ends. The UK made a significant commitment last year to match the scale of the crisis by agreeing to transfer vulnerable unaccompanied children from Europe. This low figure does not match that commitment. Last year, 30,000 children arrived in Greece and Italy. Thousands of these children arrived alone and are highly vulnerable, living in a state of perpetual uncertainty and at risk of exploitation and abuse by traffickers. Many are victims of modern slavery an issue the Prime Minister has rightly prioritised. The government has accelerated the process for getting children safe in Calais and showed that the law, not the criminals, could work for children. We welcome the steps that have already been taken to offer refuge to some children under the Dubs scheme. But this leadership has been undermined by ending the Dubs scheme before it has had a chance to help some of the most vulnerable children in the world to start rebuilding their lives. With the Dubs scheme now to end, the government must ensure that the Dublin system works to its fullest extent to quickly help end the horrific journey for those children in Europe with family anxiously waiting for them or who are in the most need end. Refugee Council Policy Manager Judith Dennis said: The Governments job is far from done; the global refugee crisis hasnt gone away and if anything its getting worse. The UK needs to step up rather than step back and ensure that we pull our weight by offering refuge to more vulnerable people and enabling more refugees to reunite with their families here. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Clive Lewis, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has provided a strong hint he could resign from Labours Shadow Cabinet later today over the partys stance on the Governments Brexit bill. It follows the Labour leaders decision to impose a second three-line whip the strongest possible instruction on the third reading of the Governments EU withdrawal bill on Wednesday. It is the legislation needed in order to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and begin the Brexit negotiations. Asked by Sky News whether he will resign as he left his home on Wednesday morning, Mr Lewis replied: I dont know. Im going to make my mind up. [Theres a] lot on my plate, a lot on everyones plate, a lot to think about, and well see what happens in the lobbies today Recommended Corbyn braced for fresh Brexit rebellion When pressed if he backed the Labour leader, Mr Lewis added it was his intention to do whats right by my constituents and by conscience and whatever tat takes. And also I have to think about the ... Labour party. Its a really tough call. And I think lots of MPs are really having a tough time at the moment on this one, he added. Ive been having a long, hard think, like lots of MPs, and Ill make a decision later today. And youll all get to hear about it. Mr Lewis, who is touted in some left-wing circles as a future leader of the party, told his constituents at a meeting on Friday that he was prepared to quit his position on the frontbench if Labours amendments in the Commons fall flat. So far, all amendments to the Governments bill have been voted down and many now expect it to pass to the Lords without modification. Clive Lewis warns Ukip could rout Labour in North If at the end of that process the bill before us is overwhelmingly a Tory hard cliff-edge a Trumpian Brexit I am prepared to break the whip and I am prepared to walk from the shadow Cabinet, Mr Lewis said to his constituents. Labour MPs said on Wednesday the party's chief whip Nick Brown had indicated there would be consistency in dealing with the passage of the European Union bill, which is now in its third day of debates. It is expected that dozens of MPs could defy the leaders three-line whip later on Wednesday. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Government has been accused of kicking UN concerns about its austerity policy into the long grass after it refused to accept the findings of a report that concluded its welfare reforms were a breach of human rights. A letter from the Ministry of Justice to the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), seen by The Independent, rejected the findings of a report by the UNs Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which expressed serious concerns about Government policy. Ministers have refused to say what changes they plan to make in response to the criticisms. The UNCESCR report, published in June 2016, said the regressive nature of welfare and justice reforms such as universal credit and the bedroom tax meant government policy was worsening inequality in the UK and that changes to the benefits system disproportionately affect women, young people, ethnic minorities and disabled people. It also expressed concerns about cuts to the legal aid budget, which has lead to an increase in people representing themselves in court, and a Conservative plan to scrap the 1998 Human Rights Act in favour of a British Bill of Rights. With its current policy, the UN committee concluded, the UK was in violation of the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which it ratified in 1976. The covenant guarantees labour rights, the right to education, the right to health and the right to an acceptable standard of living. Justice Minister Oliver Heald told the EHRC: I am confident that the UK continues to comply with its obligations. But he refused to say whether the government was planning to implement any of the changes recommended by the UN before it is obliged to report to them in June 2021. The EHRC chair, David Isaac, told The Independent: We are disappointed by the governments response to the points we raised. They have failed to address many of our concerns, including on social security and working conditions, and seem to want to kick this into the long grass by not responding until 2020. Jeremy Corbyn calls for 'high earnings cap' to reduce inequality The government must show it is serious in addressing these issues and set out what action it will take to meet the recommendations. Virginia Bras Gomes, a member of the UNCESC, echoed Mr Isaac concerns and said she hoped that this was not the final position of the UK government. She told The Independent the committee was in the process of developing follow-up procedures, which would see what states were doing, if anything, to implement their recommendations. She said: Whenever we contact a national government we want to be able to ask states within a certain time, perhaps two years after the final recommendations, to tell us at least parts of what they are doing in the short term, she said. Recommended Britain is allowing working families to slide into poverty Of course the Committee understands the difficulties of implementing policy changes, we do not live in an ideal world we know that. It is not a matter of asking states if they have done something during the five-year periods between reports, but it is have they done enough. She said the committee wanted states to implement a nationwide Human Rights Action Plan where, among many things, they will explain what steps they are taking to educate people about the importance of human rights. Highlighting evidence from a programme to educate children from underprivileged backgrounds in her native Portugal, she said children were very capable of understanding that human rights were about everyday life rather than high-minded political or social issues. She said: Part of the duty of the committee is to ask the government if they have a human rights action plan or whether they are teaching human rights in schools because these values dont just come to you by divine intervention, you have to be brought up in that tradition. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images 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 It is not only the political freedoms that people think of the freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of expression. Economic and social rights are as much a part of human rights as civil and political rights. And the right to social welfare, the right to social insurance are economic and social rights. Ms Bras Gomes warned that in the rush for hard Brexit and restrictions on immigration, UK politicians could not forget that, although the UK will no longer be bound by European rules on human rights, they will still be answerable to the UN. But Mr Weald said the Government had no intention of introducing a human rights action plan, preferring instead to drive forward work in specific areas, such as its work on modern slavery. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "The UK Government is fully engaged with the periodic reporting process to the United Nations under the seven UN human rights treaties that the UK has ratified. "We also engage with civil society and our National Human Rights Institutions in preparing our reports. "We have complied, and we will continue to comply, with the various reporting obligations including under the ICESCR and the ICCPR." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The parliamentary vote on the Brexit deal could force Theresa May into further renegotiations with Brussels or face the prospect of crashing out of the EU and on to painful World Trade Organisation tariffs, according to Labours Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer. Last night Labour called the decision to allow a vote on the deal a major concession even as No 10 denied that any concession had been given. But Mr Starmer told the Today programme that in reality, the prospect of Parliament voting against Ms Mays deal would force her into further negotiations, rather than leaving the EU with no free trade arrangements in place. The idea the prime minister would seriously say in 2019: Well, rather than go back and see if I can improve and satisfy Parliament I will simply crash out that would be a reckless act, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Parliament will tonight vote on the final amendments to the Brexit bill. Mr Starmer said his party was largely satisfied with the concessions the Government had made. It wasnt everything we wanted but it was new, he said. Angela Eagle, the former leadership contender, had called the deal a Hobsons choice, in that MPs would either have to accept the terms of Ms Mays negotiation or leave with nothing. But Mr Starmer said the prospect of Ms May returning with a deal that would not satisfy Parliament was unlikely, and that it would be a very serious situation for the prime minister to be in. She would have to reflect on that and if it was five months to run before the deadline I think most people would say its reckless at that stage to throw her toys out of the pram and say Im not even prepared to see if I can improve on what I have got, he said. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has been accused of doing a sweetheart deal with a wealthy Conservative council to stop them raising council tax by 15 per cent. Surrey County Council was due to hold a referendum to raise the local tax after warning that the social care system would be unsustainable without a sharp funding rise. The vote, however, abruptly cancelled on Tuesday. At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday Jeremy Corbyn produced leaked texts apparently from the flagship Tory councils leader to a central government civil servant which suggested a memorandum of understanding had been reached to find a solution. Recommended Surrey referendum on social care council tax hike The Labour leader suggested any special deal for Surrey, one of the richest areas of the country, might have had something to do with the fact the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and the Chancellor Philip Hammond both represented constituencies in the county. The messages Mr Corbyn produced in Parliament (PA) My question was whether thered been a special deal done for Surrey the leader said theyd had many conversations with the Government, Mr Corbyn told Ms May. We know they have because Ive been leaked copies of texts sent by the Tory leader David Hodge to someone called Nick who works for ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government. These texts advise that DCLG officials have been working on a solution and you will be contacting me to agree a memorandum of understanding. Ms May said: The decision for whether or not to hold a referendum in Surrey is entirely a matter for Surrey County Council. The text messages appear to have been leaked after they were accidentally sent to a Labour politician called Nick instead of the civil servant called Nick they were intended for. The revelation comes the same day as the National Audit Office warned that the Governments 5.3bn plan to better integrate health and social care is failing to save money or stem the rise in hospital admissions. Councils face a 2.6bn shortfall in social care finances by 2020 after being hit by central Government cuts to funding and other council leaders were understood to be watching the Surrey case closely. Additionally, the Government cap on council tax rises requires councils to hold costly referendums in order to increase funding, even if their costs rise. A small exception was made to raise some money for social care, but council leaders have said this is nowhere near enough. Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs (Sky News) Mr Hodge, the leader of Surrey County Council, said in a statement: Surreys decision not to proceed with a 15 per cent council tax increase was ours alone and there has been no deal between Surrey County Council and the Government. However, I am confident that the Government now understands the real pressures in adult social care and the need for a lasting solution. Later, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister insisted there had been no deal between the Government and Surrey County Council that prompted the referendum to be abandoned. She also said the leaked text messages had not as suggested been sent to Nick King, the special adviser to Sajid Javid, the Local Government Secretary. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images 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 The spokesperson told journalists: There is no extra cash for Surrey as a result of the conversations they have had about their settlement, conversations that were entirely normal, she insisted. She added: The allegation is that extra money was offered to call off the referendum Im saying that is not the case. Nick King has confirmed that the text messages that were read out during Prime Ministers Questions were not received by him. The spokesperson would not speculate on the identity of the Nick to whom the messages were sent by the leader of Surrey County Council, suggesting that was not a matter for her. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has refused to commit to publishing an economic assessment of the impact of leaving the European Union without a new free trade deal in place. Speaking at the weekly session of Prime Ministers Questions, Angela Eagle, a Labour MP and former Shadow Cabinet minister, urged Ms May to publish an analysis of the impact of trading on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules on the British economy. In the Commons on Tuesday David Jones, the junior Brexit minister, confirmed Britain would fall back on WTO trading arrangements if no deal was reached within the two-year timeframe allowed under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. If Britain left the EU without a deal it would be forced to trade with the rest of the continent under such rules. Roberto Azevedo, the organisations chief, has previously suggested this scenario would cost British consumers around 9bn in annual additional import tariffs. But Ms May dodged the question. As far as this Government is concerned we believe it is possible within the two-year timeframe to get the agreement not just for our withdrawal from the EU but also the trade arrangement that will ensure we have a strong, strategic partnership with the EU in the future, she said. The Labour MP Owen Smith also asked Ms May during the session whether she agreed with Mr Azevedos calculation of the 9bn impact on the British economy. But in her response, the Prime Minister simply reiterated her position that the Government would ensure we negotiate a deal with the European Union that enables us to have the best possible deal in trading with and operating within the European Unions single market in goods and services. Liz Kendall, the Labour MP for Leicester and former leadership contender, added that the choice MPs faced in Parliament at the end of the negotiating period was a con rather than a meaningful" vote. Her comments come after Downing Street was accused of duping MPs into back their plans for Brexit without offering them a meaningful vote on any deal to leave the EU. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An 18-year-old Nigerian woman has said the Islamist terror group Boko Haram gave her the equivalent of 50p to carry out a suicide bombing attack. Nigerian troops saved the life of the young woman, who was strapped with explosives, and killed another suicide bomber in the northeastern city of Maiduguri on Tuesday. They gave us N200 [51p] each which they said we should use to buy food for ourselves," Amina told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). She said it took the pair three days to get to Maiduguri by motorcycle, where they were instructed "to detonate our explosives any where we saw any form of gathering." She added: They said if we press the button, the bomb would explode and we will automatically go to heaven." Nigeria finds schoolgirl abducted by Boko Haram Soldiers spotted the two women moving towards a large petrol station and ordered them to stop, police spokesman Victor Isuku said. When they continued, they shot the other woman and Amina surrendered. Both women were wearing jackets laden with explosives, but soldiers were able to disarm them. Amina told NAN she was abducted two years ago by Boko Haram members in the eastern town of Madagali, before being taken to Sambisa Forest in northeast Nigeria. She described how she felt preparing for the attack: I was scared, so I told them that I could not detonate any explosive. So, they said if Zainab [the other bomber] detonated her own, it would serve the purpose. On our way to Maiduguri, we encountered the military and they were shooting. I was very scared and the people that brought us ran away." Since surrendering, Amina is now under investigation by the Nigerian army. The rise of Boko Haram Show all 20 1 /20 The rise of Boko Haram The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram The leader of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau delivers a message. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the mass killings in the north-east Nigerian town of Baga in a video where he warned the massacre was just the tip of the iceberg. As many as 2,000 civilians were killed and 3,700 homes and business were destroyed in the 3 January 2015 attack on the town near Nigeria's border with Cameroon AFP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram People displaced as a result of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast region of Nigeria, are seen near their tents at a faith-based camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in Yola, Adamawa State. Boko Haram says it is building an Islamic state that will revive the glory days of northern Nigeria's medieval Muslim empires, but for those in its territory life is a litany of killings, kidnappings, hunger and economic collapse The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Nitsch Eberhard Robert, a German citizen abducted and held hostage by suspected Boko Haram militants, is seen as he arrives at the Yaounde Nsimalen International airport after his release in Yaounde, Cameroon on 21 January 2015 The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Officials of the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) visit victims of a bomb blast in Gombe at the Specialist Hospital in Gombe. According to local reports at least six people were killed and 11 wounded after a bomb blast in a marketplace in Nigeria's northeastern state of Gombe on 16 January 2015. Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been blamed for a string of recent attacks in the North East of Nigeria The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram People gather at the site of a bomb explosion in a area know to be targeted by the militant group Boko Haram in Kano on 28 November 2014 The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram People gather to look at a burnt vehicle following a bomb explosion that rocked the busiest roundabout near the crowded Market in Maiduguri, Borno State on 1 July 2014. A truck exploded in a huge fireball killing at least 15 people in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the city repeatedly hit by Boko Haram Islamists The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram President Goodluck Jonathan visits Nigerian Army soldiers fighting Boko Haram Getty Images The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Displaced people from Baga listen to Goodluck Jonathan after the Boko Haram killings AFP/Getty The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan speaking to troops during a visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State; most of the region has been overrun by Boko Haram AFP/Getty The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Members of the Nigerian military patrolling in Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, close to the scene of attacks by Boko Haram EPA The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Boko Harams leader, Abubakar Shekau, appears in a video in which he warns Cameroon it faces the same fate as Nigeria AFP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Nana Shettima, the wife of Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima (C) weeps as she speaks with school girls from the government secondary school Chibok that were kidnapped by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, and later escaped in Chibok The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram South Africans protest in solidarity against the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria by the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram and what protesters said was the failure of the Nigerian government and international community to rescue them, during a march to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Boko Haram militants have seized the town in north-eastern Nigeria that nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped from in April 2014 AFP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram A soldier stands guard in front of burnt buses after an attack in Abuja. Twin blasts at a bus station packed with morning commuters on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital killed dozens of people, in what appeared to be the latest attack by Boko Haram Islamists, April 2014 The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram The aftermath of the attack, when Boko Haram fighters in trucks painted in military colours killed 51 people in Konduga in February 2014 AFP/Getty Images The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau (with papers) in a video grab taken in July 2014 AFP/Getty The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Ruins of burnt out houses in the north-eastern settlement of Baga, pictured after Boko Haram attacks in 2013 AP The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram A Boko Haram attack in Nigeria, 2013 AFP/Getty Images The rise of Boko Haram Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau, Boko Harams leader AP Nigerian troops and self-defense civilian fighters have prevented dozens of suicide bombings in recent months through increased security at entries to cities and towns, along with body searches outside targets like marketplaces and mosques. Still, dozens have been killed in recent bombings. Boko Haram has used scores of women and girls as young as seven as suicide bombers, raising fears that the extremists are turning some of their thousands of kidnap victims into weapons. Officials have warned the group are now using female suicide bombers with babies to avoid detection. The military campaign to curb the group's seven-year Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and left 2.6 million homeless. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Official White House photographer's documentation of America did not come to an end after Barack Obama was sworn out of office last month. Pete Souza, Mr Obama's official photographer, has continued to provide a compelling visual commentary of the Trump era via his Instagram account. One of the most powerful of his images is the one he shared on Monday. The photo shows the bottom half of four peoples bodies. While the person sitting on the desk (who is unmistakably Mr Obama) is wearing mens shoes and a sharply cut suit, the other three figures are dressed in long skirts and heels. Meeting with top advisors. This is a full-frame picture. I guess youd say I was trying to make a point, Souza succinctly explained in a caption of the image. Unlike his successor President Trump, Mr Obama made a concerted effort to include women in top roles inside the White House. Throughout the course of his presidency, he worked to ensure there was an equal split of men and women among his top aides and half of all White House departments were headed by women. This is a significant increase from when he took office and two-thirds of his top aides were men. It is too early in the presidency to judge Mr Trumps track record on women in the White House but his transition team has already been forced to defend its nominees for key posts in the administration. A day before the inauguration, the billionaire property moguls incoming cabinet was criticised for being the first not to have a single Hispanic American since Ronald Reagan's. Since leaving the White House, Mr Obamas former photographer has used his Instagram account, which has amassed 766 thousand followers, to provide a subtle critique of Mr Trumps presidency. In fact, some have even suggested he is trolling President Trump. 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 Souza posted a poignant photo of Mr Obama laughing with a young girl in a head scarf after the President implemented his hard-line immigration ban which has banned people from seven Muslim-majority countries. The photojournalist also posted a shot of Mr Obama bonding with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto by drinking tequila a week ago. This roughly coincided with Mexico's President calling off his meeting with Mr Trump after the President tweeted: If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting. More shade! Awesome! one person remarked on Souzas photo of the tequila drinking. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Black people shot dead by police in the US were more than twice as likely as the white people killed by an officer to have been unarmed, according to a new study which suggests there is an implicit bias against minorities within law enforcement. The researchers, who studied the known fatal shootings by police in 2015, also found people from non-black minority ethnic groups were more likely to have been fatally shot than whites when they were not posing an immediate threat to the officers or other civilians. A paper about the study in the Criminology & Public Policy journal stressed that the overwhelming majority of people shot dead by police had been armed with a deadly weapon at the time. But 93 of the total of 990 fatal police shootings just under 10 per cent did not have any kind of weapon. Fifteen per cent of black people killed were not carrying a weapon at the time, compared to six per cent of whites and 11 per cent of other minority groups. Twenty-four per cent of the black people shot dead were not attacking anyone at the time, compared to 17 per cent of the white people and 31 per cent of non-black people from other ethnic groups. Dr Justin Nix, of Louisville University, said: Our findings are suggestive of implicit bias minorities were significantly more likely to have been fatally shot as a result of an apparent threat perception failure by officers. Recommended These charts show difference between police shootings in US and UK The figures were based on information compiled by The Washington Post, whose journalists scoured public records, media reports and other sources in an attempt to find out the total number. The researchers appealed to the US Government to set up an official record of police shootings, saying: Without more comprehensive data, we simply cannot determine whether the police disproportionately use force against minorities on a national scale. A number of controversial shootings and deaths of black men at the hands of the police and others has sparked significant protests in the US and the Black Lives Matter campaign amid suspicions that some of the officers involved are racists. The Bahamas government was moved to issue a warning to its young black men to exercise extreme caution when interacting with American police. The journal paper said it was possible that some police officers harbour explicitly biased attitudes toward minorities. Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Show all 15 1 /15 Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Kandy Freeman participates in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Hawk Newsome, a Black Lives Matter activist, leads a protest outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Hawk Newsome (C) leads a chant during a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, US. January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower An NYPD officer speaks with a Black Lives Matter leaders during a protest in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Kandy Freeman participates in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower An NYPD officer speaks with a Black Lives Matter leaders during a protest in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Carol Garza, a Black Lives Matter supporter, protests outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower A Black Lives Matter supporter protests in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter activists march in front of Trump Tower on January 14, 2017 in New York City. Kevin Hagen/Getty Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter activists march in front of Trump Tower on January 14, 2017 in New York City. Kevin Hagen/Getty Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter supporters protest in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter Kandy Freeman marches in front of Trump Tower on January 14, 2017 in New York City. Kevin Hagen/Getty However it added: Psychological researchers have demonstrated that less conscious attitudes also influence police behaviour. The researchers pointed to another study which suggested police officers can over time become unconsciously biased toward minorities through social conditioning. There was, they said, a tendency to overestimate the correlation between race and crime. In other words, the police, who are trained in the first place to be suspicious, become conditioned to view minorities with added suspicion, they wrote. Black Lives Matter March Thousands Strong Through Manhattan The researchers suggested this could be countered by holding events attended by police officers and ordinary people, such as softball games or neighbourhood block parties which would permit officers to interact with minority citizens in an informal atmosphere and provide officers with direct, positive contact with citizens. They also recommended the use of cameras won by police on their uniforms. Previous research had shown that officers wearing body-worn cameras were less likely to use force against citizens and less likely to have complaints filed against them than were officers not equipped with [them]. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A nine-year-old boy who was denied membership in the Cub Scouts because he is transgender, has finally been welcomed into the pack. Joe Maldonado attended his first meeting in Essex County, New Jersey, this week after the Boy Scouts of America formally changed its policies to welcome children like him. Seeing Joe in his Cub Scouts uniform was an emotional moment for his mother, Kristie Maldonado. It was amazing. They welcomed him. I cant believe it had to come to that point to get him back into the Cub Scouts, Ms Maldonado told The Independent. Joes mother said she fought back after her son was excluded from another Cub Scout pack in Secaucus, New Jersey, last year because of his gender identity. Looking back, Im glad that I didnt just walk away when he got thrown out. I knew it was not right for them to do that to my child. He had every right to be there with his friends. I had to do something, Ms Maldonado said. The Boy Scouts of America used to base eligibility on the gender that appeared on a childs birth certificate. That changed on January 30. Starting today, we will accept registration in our scouting programs based on the gender identity provided on an individuals application," Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh said. Joe Maldonado began his transition two years ago, his mother said. It was about two years ago that he changed his name. But its been there all along, from age 2 or 2 and a half. I just didnt know what it was," she added. During her fight to get Joe into the scouts, Maldonado faced a backlash on social media. But she said that she was determined to find acceptance for her son and other transgender children. I know there are really cool people out there, Ms Maldonado said. If you feel your child deserves to do something or get something, being transgender should not stop it. You should fight for your childs rights, because they wanted to be treated equally like everyone else. Russia's interior ministry says it has arrested nine members of a major hacking group suspected of stealing millions of dollars from Russian bank accounts. Police spokeswoman Irina Volk said in a statement on Wednesday that the nine people were arrested last month in Moscow, St. Petersburg and three other regions as part of an investigation into a group believed to stolen more than 1 billion rubles ($17 million) from Russian bank accounts since 2013. The interior ministry said the hackers have also managed to penetrate Russia's "critical infrastructure" including military plants. It did not provide details. The announcement follows arrests of other suspected hackers in May last year. Police said 27 people have been charged so far, with 19 of them awaiting trial. Search Keywords: Short link: Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} After Senator Elizabeth Warren was rebuked by the Senate for quoting a Coretta Scott King criticising Jeff Sessions, who was then nominated to be a federal judge. The three-decade-old letter from Dr Martin Luther King's widow to Senator Strom Thurmond said Mr Sessions used his power when acting as federal prosecutor to "chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens." By quoting Ms King, Ms Warren was technically in violation of Senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Mr Sessions, and the GOP-controlled Senate voted to forbid her from speaking again on Mr Sessions nomination. Read Coretta Scott King's letter in full Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: Recommended Elizabeth Warren rebuked for quoting Coretta Scott King Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Jefferson Sessions for a federal district judgeship for the Southern District of Alabama. My longstanding commitment which I shared with my husband, Martin, to protect and enhance the rights of black Americans, rights which include equal access to the democratic process, compels me to testify today. Civil rights leaders, including my husband and Albert Turner, have fought long and hard to achieve free and unfettered access to the ballot box. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge. This simply cannot be allowed to happen. Mr. Sessions' conduct as a US Attorney, from his politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions to his indifference toward criminal violations of civil rights laws, indicated that he lacks the temperament, fairness and judgment to be a federal judge. The Voting Rights Act was, and still is, vitally important to the future of democracy in the United States. I was privileged to join Martin and many others during the Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights in 1965. Martin was particularly impressed by the determination to get the franchise of blacks in Selma and neighboring Perry County. As he wrote, "Certainly no community in the history of the Negro struggle has responded with the enthusiasm of Selma and her neighboring town of Marion. Where Birmingham depended largely upon students and unemployed adults to participate in non-violent protest of the denial of the franchise, Selma has involved fully 10 per cent of the Negro population in active demonstrations, and at least half of the Negro population of Marion was arrested on one day." Martin was referring of course to a group that included the defendants recently prosecuted for assisting elderly and illiterate blacks to exercise that franchise. In fact, Martin anticipated from the depth of their commitment twenty years ago, that a united political organization would remain in Perry County long after the other marchers had left. This organization, the Perry County Civic League, started my Mr. Turner, Mr. Hogue, and others, as Martin predicted, continued "to direct the drive for votes and other rights." In the years since the Voting Rights Act was passed, black Americans in Marion, Selma and elsewhere have made important strides in their struggle to participate actively in the electoral process. The number of blacks registered to vote in key Southern states has doubled since 1965. This would not have been possible without the Voting Rights Act. 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 However, blacks still fall far short of having equal participation in the electoral process. Particularly in the South, efforts continue to be made to deny blacks access to the polls, even where blacks constitute the majority of the voters. It has been a long, up-hill struggle to keep alive the vital legislation that protects the most fundamental right to vote. A person who has exhibited so much hostility to the enforcement of those laws, and thus, to the exercise of those rights by black people should not be elevated to the federal bench. The irony of Mr. Sessions' nomination is that, if confirmed, he will be given life tenure for doing with a federal prosecution what the local sheriffs accomplished twenty years ago with clubs and cattle prods. Twenty years ago, when we marched from Selma to Montgomery, the fear of voting was real, as the broken bones and bloody heads in Selma and Marion bore witness. As my husband wrote at the them, "it was not just a sick imagination that conjured up the vision of a public official, sworn to uphold the law, who forced an inhuman march upon hundreds of Negro children. Who ordered the Rev. James Bevel to be chained to his sickbed, who clubbed a Negro woman registrant, and who callously inflicted repeated brutalities and indignities upon nonviolent Negroes peacefully petitioning for their constitutional right to vote." Free exercise of voting rights is so fundamental to American democracy that we cannot tolerate any form of infringement of those rights. Of all the groups who have been disenfranchised in our nation's history, none has struggled longer or suffered more in the attempt to win the vote than black citizens. No group has had access to the ballot box denied so persistently and intently. Over the past century, a broad array of schemes have been used in attempts to bloc the black vote. The range of techniques developed with the purpose of repressing black voting rights run the gamut from the straightforward application of brutality against black citizens who tried to vote, to such legalized frauds as grandfather clause exclusions and rigged literacy tests. The actions taken by Mr. Sessions in regard to the 1984 voting fraud prosecutions represent just one more technique used to intimidate black voters and thus deny them this most precious franchise. The investigations into the absentee voting process were conducted only in the black belt counties where black had finally achieved political power in local government. Whites had been using the absentee process to their advantage for years, without incident. Then, when blacks, realizing its strength, began to use it with success, criminal investigations were begun. In these investigations, Mr. Sessions, a US Attorney, exhibited an eagerness to bring to trial and convict three leaders of the Perry County Civic League including Albert Turner, despite evidence clearly demonstrating their innocence of any wrongdoing. Furthermore, in initiating the case, Mr. Sessions ignored allegations of similar behavior by whites, choosing instead to chill the exercise of the franchise by blacks in his misguided investigation. In fact, Mr. Sessions sought to punish older black civil rights activists, advisers and colleagues of my husband, who had been key figures in the civil rights movement in the 1960's. These were persons who, realizing the potential of the absentee vote among blacks, had learned to use the process within the bounds of legality and had taught others to do the same. The only sin they committed was being too successful in gaining votes. The scope and character of the investigations conducted by Mr. Sessions also warrant grave concern. Witnesses were selectively chosen in accordance with the favorability of their testimony to the government's case. Also, the prosecution illegally withheld from the defense critical statements made by witnesses. Witnesses who did testify were pressured and intimidated into submitting the "correct" testimony. Many elderly blacks were visited multiple times by the FBI who then hauled them over 180 miles by bus to a grand jury in Mobile when they could more easily have testified at a grand jury just twenty miles away in Selma. These voters, and others, have announced they are now never going to vote again. I urge you to consider carefully Mr. Sessions' conduct in these matters. Such a review, I believe, raises serious questions about his commitment to the protection of the voting rights of all American citizens and consequently his fair and unbiased judgment regarding this fundamental right. When the circumstances and facts surrounding the indictments of Al Turner, his wife, Evelyn, and Spencer Hogue are analyzed, it becomes clear that the motivation was political, and the result frightening -- the wide-scale chill of the exercise of the ballot for blacks, who suffered so much to receive that right in the first place. Therefore, it is my strongly-held view that the appointment of Jefferson Sessions to the federal bench would irreparably damage the work of my husband, Al Turner and countless others who risked their lives and freedom over the past twenty years to ensure equal participation in our democratic system. 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 The exercise of the franchise is an essential means by which our citizens ensure that those who are governing will be responsible. My husband called it the number one civil right. The denial of access to the ballot box ultimately results in the denial of other fundamental rights. For, it is only when the poor and disadvantaged are empowered that they are able to participate actively in the solutions to their own problems. We still have a long way to go before we can say that minorities no longer need be concerned about discrimination at the polls. Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asian Americans are grossly underrepresented at every level of government in America. If we are going to make our timeless dream of justice through democracy a reality, we must take every step possible to ensure that the spirit and intent of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 15th Amendment to the Constitution is honored. The federal courts hold a unique position in our constitutional system, ensuring that minorities and other citizens without political power have a forum in which to vindicate their rights. Because of this unique role, it is essential that the people selected to be federal judges respect the basic tenets of our legal system: respect for individual rights and a commitment to equal justice for all. The integrity of the courts, and thus, the rights they protect, can only be maintained if citizens feel confident that those selected as federal judges will be able to judge with fairness others holding differing views. I do not believe Jefferson Sessions possesses the requisite judgment, competence and sensitivity to the rights guaranteed by the federal civil rights laws to qualify for appointment to the federal district court. Based on his record, I believe his confirmation would have a devastating effect not only on the judicial system in Alabama, but also on the progress we have made everywhere toward fulfilling my husband's dream that he envisioned over twenty years ago. I therefore urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to deny his confirmation. I thank you for allowing me to share my views. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Opponents of controversial oil pipeline they claim is threatening an indigenous communitys water supply, have called for a global day of action after the project was given the green light by an agency of the US government. The campaign to stop the North Dakota Access Pipeline captured the imagination of people from around the world, and last December the Army Corps of Engineers announced it was halting permission for the project to pass close to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. But following the signing of an executive order by Donald Trump that cleared the way for that pipeline and another project, the Corps, an agency of the Department of Defence, said it would let the $3.8bn project proceed. Opponents of the pipeline on Wednesday called for protests around the world. In the US, actions are taking place from New Hampshire to California. Trump is not Obama. He has put billionaires into key positions. He has friends on Wall Street, Daryl Frazier, a spokesperson for Honour the Earth, one of a coalition of groups that is opposing the pipeline, told The Independent. What is the Dakota Access Pipeline? Were tying to fight against big money. Big money doesnt care about protect the water supply. That is what the protests were about. The 1,200-mile pipeline will transfer oil from the Dakotas to a shipping point in Illinois. Energy Transfer Partners, the company that has almost completed the project, wants the pipeline to pass beneath the Missouri River close to the site of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation near the town of Cannon Ball. Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Show all 21 1 /21 Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline near the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline near the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Nation listens to speakers during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: An Native American activist rides down fom a ridge which overlooks Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Political activist Cornel West listen to speakers during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists hold hands during a prayer circle as they try to surround the entire camp at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country gather at the camp trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after hearing that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route for the Dakota Access pipeline. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Chief Arvol Looking Horse (L) of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Nation listens as political activist Cornel West speaks during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Military veterans from Southern California collect firewood for their campsite at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 03: Activists participate in an art project conceived by Cannupa Hunska Luger, from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 3, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Military veterans are briefed on cold-weather safety issues and their overall role at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after hearing that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route for the Dakota Access pipeline. The US Army Corps of Engineers on Sunday announced they will no longer allow the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota, marking a huge win for Native Americans and protesters who had long opposed the construction. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images The Indigenous Coalition at Standing Rock is calling for February 8th to be an international day of emergency actions to disrupt business as usual and unleash a global intersectional resistance to fossil fuels and fascism. Connect with other struggles. Think long-term movement building. We are in this for the long haul, says a message posted on the SacredStoneCamp website The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has consistently asked for people to go home, and we understand this. Regardless, water protectors remain on the ground at the Sacred Stone Camp, determined to stop the black snake, and we support them. It adds: If you go, expect police violence, mass arrests, felony charges for just about anything, abuse while in custody, targeted persecution and racial profiling while driving around the area, etc. The Army intends to cancel further environmental study and allow the Lake Oahe crossing, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer. The Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation is just downstream from the crossing, fears a leak would pollute its drinking water. The Associated Press, said the tribe had led protests that drew hundreds and, at times, thousands of people who dubbed themselves water protectors to an encampment near the crossing. An assessment conducted last year determined the crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, then-Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy on December 4 declined to issue permission for the crossing, saying a broader environmental study was warranted. Environmentalist Bill McKibben said that decision by Mr Trumps government was a sign they are are casual racists with no sense of American history and that they will do anything the oil industry tells them to do He addd: Along with Flint, this is the most remarkably blatant example of environmental racism in years." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump's administration is reportedly preparing to approve major arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The multi-million and multi-billion dollar deals were blocked by former President Barack Obama during the final months of his administration over human rights concerns. A $300m (240m) package for precision-guided weapons technology for Riyadh and a $3bn (2.4bn) deal for F-16 fighter jets for Bahrain are ready for clearance, a US official said to be directly involved in the deals told The Washington Times. Trump claims 'Obama likes him, but probably won't admit it' These are significant sales for key allies in the Gulf who are facing the threat from Iran and who can contribute to the fight against the Islamic State, the anonymous official told the paper. Whereas the Obama administration held back on these, theyre now in the new administrations court for a decision and I would anticipate the decision will be to move forward. An annual report by UN experts who monitor the conflict in Yemen, seen by Reuters last month, said the Saudi-led coalition had carried out attacks that "may amount to war crimes" accusations Riyadh rejects. Mr Trump spoke with Saudi Arabia's King Salman last week about future humanitarian provisions in the bloody Syrian and Yemeni civil wars. 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 Last year, Mr Obama's administration approved a $1.15bn (921m) deal for the sale of tanks and armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia. The deal was opposed by more than 60 members of the House of Representatives, who signed a letter calling for Mr Obama to delay. However, in his final months in office, Mr Obama decided to halt the now-pending deal on precision-guided military technology. Similarly, the Obama administration blocked the proposed sale of F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain due to concerns about human rights in the kingdom. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} President Trump recently signed two executive orders reviving both the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines. And now hes telling reporters that he hasnt received any negative phone calls regarding the projects. As you know I approved two pipelines that were stuck in limbo forever. I dont even think it was controversial. You know, I approved them and I havent even heard one call from anybody saying, oh, that was a terrible thing you did, he told members of the media on Tuesday. You know, usually, if I do something it's like bedlam, right? I haven't had one call from anybody, he continued, promising that the Keystone project would create up to 30,000 jobs. In reality, the State Department found that the project would create up to 42,000 jobs that will last for one to two years. The department also found that the project would only create 35 permanent jobs. As you know, I did the Dakota pipeline and nobody called up to complain, he continued, because it was unfair. Years of getting approvals, nobody showed up to fight it. This company spends a tremendous hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and then all of a sudden, people show up to fight it. It's not fair to our companies. And I think everyone is going to be happy in the end, okay? Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Show all 21 1 /21 Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline near the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Fireworks fill the night sky above Oceti Sakowin Camp as activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline near the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Nation listens to speakers during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: An Native American activist rides down fom a ridge which overlooks Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Political activist Cornel West listen to speakers during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists hold hands during a prayer circle as they try to surround the entire camp at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country gather at the camp trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after hearing that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route for the Dakota Access pipeline. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Chief Arvol Looking Horse (L) of the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Nation listens as political activist Cornel West speaks during an interfaith ceremony at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending the months-long standoff. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Military veterans from Southern California collect firewood for their campsite at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Despite blizzard conditions, military veterans march in support of the "water protectors" at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 03: Activists participate in an art project conceived by Cannupa Hunska Luger, from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 3, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Native Americans and activists from around the country have been gathering at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 05: Military veterans are briefed on cold-weather safety issues and their overall role at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Over the weekend a large group of military veterans joined native Americans and activists from around the country who have been at the camp for several months trying to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Yesterday the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not grant an easement for the pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation. The proposed 1,172-mile-long pipeline would transport oil from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota, Iowa and into Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline CANNON BALL, ND - DECEMBER 04: Native American and other activists celebrate after learning an easement had been denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will not grant an easement to the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Sioux Tribes Standing Rock reservation, ending a months-long standoff. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images Sioux from Standing Rock claim victory over Dakota Pipeline Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, after hearing that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied the current route for the Dakota Access pipeline. The US Army Corps of Engineers on Sunday announced they will no longer allow the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake on the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota, marking a huge win for Native Americans and protesters who had long opposed the construction. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images In a court filing, the US Army Corps said on Tuesday that it would allow Energy Transfer Partners to move forward with the project. The Sioux Standing Rock Tribe has vehemently opposed the pipeline, citing the risk it poses to its water supply and affecting nearly 17 million people living downstream, a concern that inspired month-long protests against the project. The pipeline would run under the Missouri River just one mile away from the reservation. Meanwhile, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe issued a statement saying it was undaunted in its commitment to challenge an easement announcement by the US Department of the Army for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Obama administration correctly found that the Tribes treaty rights needed to be acknowledged and protected, and that the easement should not be granted without further review and consideration of alternative crossing locations, attorney Jan Hasselman said in a statement. Trumps reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian Tribes and unlawful violation of Treaty rights. They will be held accountable in court. Americans have come together in support of the Tribe asking for a fair, balanced and lawful pipeline process, Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, said in a statement. The environmental impact statement was wrongfully terminated. This pipeline was unfairly rerouted across our treaty lands. The Trump administration yet again is poised to set a precedent that defies the law and the will of Americans and our allies around the world. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A bipartisan group of senior diplomats and national security officials, including two former secretaries of state, have said Donald Trumps Muslim ban risks long term damage to the US security and foreign policy interests. In an affidavit filed to the Court of Appeals, which refused to reverse the temporary stay on Mr Trumps Muslim ban at the weekend, senior diplomatic figures such as Madeleine Albright and John Kerry said the order cannot be justified on national security or foreign policy grounds. It said: We view the Order as one that ultimately undermines the national security of the United States, rather than making us safer. It does not perform its declared task of protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States'. It could do long-term damage to our national security and foreign policy interests, endangering US troops in the field and disrupting counter-terrorism and national security partnerships. The affidavit said the ban, which only affects Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya and Sudan, will bolster Isis propaganda which claims Islam is at war with the West, ThinkProgress reported. In our professional opinion, the Order was ill-conceived, poorly implemented and ill-explained, it added. The 9th Court of Appeals in San Francisco refused to reverse federal judge James Robart's stay on the executive order pending a review of a lawsuit brought by Washington state Attorney-General Bob Ferguson. 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 Following the Appeals court ruling on Saturday, Mr Trump took to Twitter to denounce Justice Robart, who he called a so-called judge, and claimed the stay was ridiculous and would be overturned. The White House insisted the order was not unconstitutional because the President has the right to prevent people entering the country but it has provoked outrage at home and abroad. In New York, 19 rabbis and rabbinical students were arrested after they deliberately obstructed traffic during a protest outside Trump Tower in Manhattan on Monday. Rabbi Jill Jacobs said they were concerned that the rhetoric used against Muslim refugees is similar to the language used to stop Jewish refugees coming to the US in the 1920s. Meanwhile in the UK the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, denounced Mr Trump and said he would not allow him to deliver a speech in Westminster Hall. Addressing the House, he said: "I must say to the honourable gentleman, to all who signed his early day motion and to others with strong views about this matter on either side of the argument, that before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. "After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump insisted that the Muslim ban was written "perfectly" and the federal judges who oppose it were motivated by politics. His executive order to ban nearly all travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries, which prompted widespread protests, was temporarily halted after eight days by federal judge James Robart in Seattle. Mr Trump read out the wording of the executive order to the National Sheriffs' Association on Wednesday morning, insisting it was written clearly. He railed against the opposing judge's arguments. "I watched last night with amazement and I heard things that I couldnt believe," said Mr Trump. "Things that really have nothing to do with what I just read. I dont want to call the courts bias. "But courts seem to be so political and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right. And that has to do with the security of our country." The President was angry that his emergency appeal to overturn Judge James Robarts ruling was denied. He has now threatened to take the case to the Supreme Court. A bad high school student would understand this. Anybody would understand this, he claimed, after reading out the wording of the order to the crowd. "Its as plain as you can have it," he added. "I was a good student. I understand things. I comprehend very well, better than I think almost anybody," he said. He argued the order was "correct, not politically correct", and it was important for national security, to stop an influx of people who want to "do harm" to the US. A Cato Institute study found that no Syrian refugee had even been charged with the intent of carrying out a terrorist attack on US soil in more than four decades, and 17 people from the six other countries had been charged with such an intent. No one died as a result of a terrorist attack plotted or carried out by anyone from the seven nations on Mr Trump's hit list. "It couldnt have been written any more precisely," said the President. "Its not like oh gee, we wish it was written better'. It was written beautifully." A court hearing this week saw a Justice Department lawyer and a federal court lawyer battle it out over the ban and a decision is expected this week. Regardless of the ruling, the case will likely end up in the nation's highest court. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric was used against him by state lawyers during an appeals court hearing into the President's controversial hardline immigration ban. The attorneys-general of Washington and Minnesota have claimed Mr Trump acted in "bad faith in an effort to target Muslims" in signing his executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. During an hour of oral arguments, they pulled quotes from his December 2015 call for a "total and complete shutdown" on Muslims entering the US as well as an interview he gave to a Christian network when he said he wanted to give priority to Christians in Syria. Recommended Yemen halts permission for US ground raids after botched operation The states' lawyers said in a filing with the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals that judges "have both the right and duty to examine" the President's motives. It comes after former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani revealed that Mr Trump had asked him to investigate "the right way" to legally construct a "Muslim ban". In an interview with Fox News, Mr Giuliani, currently the White House cyber security advisor, added: "We focused oninstead of religiondanger. The areas of the world that create danger for us, which is a factual basis, not a religious basis. Perfectly legal. Perfectly sensible." The administration's legal team said Washington and Minnesota were asking the court to "take the extraordinary step of second-guessing a formal national security judgement made by the President himself". Mr Trump has criticised what he has labelled the "so-called" judge who ruled the ban unlawful. He said the decision "takes law enforcement away from our country" and would allow "many very bad and dangerous people" into the US. New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Show all 27 1 /27 New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People gather for evening prayer at a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Yemeni business owner Musa closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty The Presidents order banned travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days. However, Syrian refugees would be barred indefinitely. Three appellate judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco considered the fate of the ban on Tuesday, four days after it was blocked by a federal judge in Seattle. The three judges presiding over the case are William C Canby Jr, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter; Judge Richard Clifton, who was appointed by President George W Bush; and Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland who was appointed by President Barack Obama. In one exchange, Judge Friedland asked Justice Department lawyer August Flentje if the government could provided any evidence connecting the seven banned countries to terrorism. He responded by saying, "these proceedings have been moving very fast." Before the hearing, President Trump said he hoped the case would go on to the Supreme Court while arguing that the order is important for the country. Halfway through the arguments, more than 120,000 viewers listened in via the courts official YouTube page. Washington State Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued on behalf of Washington state that the motion would throw the country into chaos. "The executive order itself caused irreparable harm to our state and its people," he argued. "We had longtime residents who couldn't travel without knowing if they can return." The states of Washington and Minnesota brought the case against the Trump administration, which will likely reach the US Supreme Court. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Just eight days after the Muslim ban executive order was signed by Donald Trump, a federal judge from Washington threw a major spanner in the works. The national whiplash that affected travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries who were blocked from entering the US and then allowed in again a week later is being felt around the country. It prompted large protests at airports as people from abroad, even green card and visa holders, were detained and questioned for hours. The Presidents team filed an emergency appeal via the Justice Department to overturn the ruling from Seattle judge James Robart, but it was denied. Mr Trump ranted on twitter about the bad people who would be pouring into the US as a result, and has threatened to take the case to the Supreme Court. Who is making the decision now? Three judges in the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments for and against the ban this week, and they will decide whether the executive order gets immediately reinstated. When will they decide? The decision is expected this week. What are the possible outcomes? If they uphold the decision by Mr Robart, the case could return to the Seattle judge who would have more time to make a ruling on the merits of the case, based on fuller arguments and evidence. But the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals could side with the President and the travel ban would take immediate effect once again, potentially ensnaring travelers who would be flying to the US as the ruling goes into effect. Even if that court rules in favour of Mr Trump, the travel ban would be challenged by Washington state and Minnesota, even though the courts might wind up striking it down later. Judge James Robart blocks Trump's travel ban So what happened at the court hearing this week? The hearing was arranged hastily, so Justice Department lawyer August Fientje and Washington state solicitor General Noah Purcell had to dial in by phone, but that did not stop record numbers of people tuning into the livestream. Each judge was grilled on their arguments. The judges repeatedly asked Mr Flentje whether the government could prove that the Muslim ban was necessary, or that not having the ban would harm national security. They expressed doubt over his argument that the states don't have standing to sue, and over his assertion that the courts have little to no role in reviewing the president's determinations concerning national security. In turn, Mr Purcell faced scepticism from Judge Richard Clifton, who said he was not convinced that the ban was motivated by religious discrimination, given that the vast majority of Muslims live in countries that are not on the ban hit list. What are the courts options? As well as either simply uphold the ban or strike it down, Justice Department lawyer Mr Flentje suggested the order could be amended to only prohibit travelers from the seven countries who do not already have relationships with the US and let in legal, permanent residents. Mr Purcell fought the suggestion, saying it would not work. Family members of legal citizens would not be able to visit the US, for example. He also said there was no proof the government would be able to implement the ban so selectively. Regardless of how the judges rule this week, the case is likely to end up in the Supreme Court. Agencies contributed to this report. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sean Spicer has had a rocky start to his run as the new administrations press secretary and a new report suggests that the president regrets choosing him for the position. President Trump is disappointed with Mr Spicers performance and blames his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, for pushing for Mr Spicer for the job, CNN reports. "Priebus vouched for Spicer and against Trump's instincts," one source told the network, adding that the president "regrets it every day and blames Priebus. Mr Spicer is a longtime Republican party operative and has a close relationship with Mr Priebus. However, in his first two weeks, hes berated reporters and has been tasked with defending numerous falsehoods pushed forth by the Trump administration. Reporter corrects Sean Spicer when he falsely accuses Iran of attacking an American vessel CNN reports that Mr Spicer was not the presidents first choice for press secretary and he wanted White House counselor Kellyanne Conway to assume the role, but she eventually turned it down. Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle was another top candidate interviewed for the position. New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Show all 27 1 /27 New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People gather for evening prayer at a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Yemeni business owner Musa closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty In response to the report, one senior official told the network that the president is behind Mr Spicer "100 percent." Mr Spicer is currently assuming the role of press secretary and communications director, a separate role that the White House is urgently seeking to fill. The source told the network that the position needs to be filled more than ever. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US Department of Defence (DOD) is seeking to rent space in President Trumps New York skyscraper, Trump Tower, a move that could directly funnel government money into the presidents business interests. The US military agency is working through appropriate channels... to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower, Lieutenant Colonel J.B. Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman, told The Washington Post in a statement late Tuesday. The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building, Brindle said. The space will be separate from the Secret Service detail that is routinely based in Trumps signature midtown tower, where his private company, the Trump Organisation, is headquartered and where he owns a lavish triplex penthouse. Although Trump now officially lives in the White House, the Trump Tower residence still houses his family, including first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron. Defence officials made similar arrangements for past presidents, including at the Chicago home of Barack Obama, to offer support for day-to-day operations of the president and his staff. But the prospect of a government agency paying rent to a company owned by the president again raises additional questions about the mingling of Trumps financial interests with his presidency. Trump led the development of the Fifth Avenue skyscraper in the 1980s and still owns it. Defence officials would not say what they expected to spend on the space. But CNN, which first reported the news, quoted a leasing agent who estimated renting a floor in Trump Tower can cost about $1.5 million a year. Trump Organisation and White House officials did not respond to requests for comment late Tuesday. 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 military interest in Trump Tower could reinvigorate questions over how much Trump properties are benefiting from Trumps public office. Trump has resisted calls to divest his financial stake in business interests, although he has resigned from his official management roles and left the companies operations to his adult sons and a longtime executive in his company. I have never heard of a president charging rent to the DOD or any other part of the government so they can be near him on his travels, said Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics counsel under George W. Bush who is part of a lawsuit accusing Trump of violating a constitutional ban for his continued ownership interest in a Washington hotel. He should give them for free a very limited amount of space and they can rent nearby if needed. Thirty-two combatants were killed Wednesday in the battle for a key coastal town in western Yemen between government forces and Shia Houthi rebels, officials said. The deaths occurred as forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi advanced into neighbourhoods of Mokha and Houthis retreated to northern and western parts of the town, military sources said. Loyalists backed by the firepower of a Saudi-led Arab coalition entered the strategic port town in late January as part of their efforts to drive the rebels away from the Red Sea coast. The clashes on Wednesday left dead 24 rebel fighters, including 12 whose bodies were taken a hospital in Mokha, medical officials said. The other 12 were rebels whose remains were found by advancing troops and later buried in Mokha, a loyalist military official said. Eight soldiers were killed, military and medical officials said. Mokha was Yemen's main port serving as its export hub for coffee until it was overtaken by Aden and Hodeida in the 19th century. Forces supporting Hadi, backed by the coalition, began a major offensive on January 7 to recapture the coastline overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. More than 400 combatants have been killed since government forces launched their drive up the Red Sea coastline. Search Keywords: Short link: Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has said he was surprised at how big a job the presidency is. The leader of the free world told Fox News interviewer Bill O'Reilly he works "long hours" and often gets only about four or five hours' sleep a night. Mr Trump said that at the start of his presidency he has been surprised by "the size, the magnitude of everything" and being president can be a "surreal experience in a certain way". New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Show all 27 1 /27 New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People gather for evening prayer at a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Yemeni business owner Musa closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty He said: "The other day I walked into the main entrance of the White House and I said to myself, 'This is sort of amazing.' Or you walk into Air Force One, it's like a surreal experience in a certain way, but you have to get over it because there's so much work to be done. He typically works until midnight or 1am, then wakes up at 5am to eat, read newspapers and check the television, he said. The President is reported to routinely go through new clips about himself with his Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, outlining in marker pen the stories he doesnt like. And amid signs he began his presidency with the same chaotic operation that marked his campaign, a report has claimed he was not even aware he was elevating Steve Bannon to a senior security post when he signed one of several executive orders. Since Mr Trumps inauguration on 20 January, reports have emerged of a West Wing marked by confusion and unpreparednessalongside intense turf battles being fought by his top officials. A report in the New York Times painted a picture of chief-of-staff Reince Priebus trying to assert greater control, says he has set in place a set of checks and processes before new policies and executive orders are issued. This was reportedly done following the backlash over the haphazard and chaotic rollout of the order halting the refugee programme and suspending travel for people from seven Middle Eastern and North African countries. It said Mr Trump would be looped in on the drafting of orders much earlier in the process. Remarkably, the report says, Mr Trump was not fully briefed on details of the order he signed giving his chief strategist, Mr Bannon, a seat on the National Security Council. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In the first major legal test of the new administration, attorneys argued over President Trumps travel ban on Tuesday night on whether to restore the refugee and visa ban against seven majority Muslim countries. The presidents order banned travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days. However, Syrian refugees would be barred indefinitely. Three appellate judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco considered the fate of Trumps temporary travel ban, four days after it was blocked by a federal judge in Seattle. The three judges presiding over the case are William C Canby Jr, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter; Judge Richard Clifton, who was appointed by President George W Bush; and Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland who was appointed by President Barack Obama. In one exchange, Judge Friedland asked Justice Department lawyer August Flentje if the government could provided any evidence connecting the seven banned countries to terrorism. He responded by saying, these proceedings have been moving very fast. New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Show all 27 1 /27 New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People gather for evening prayer at a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Yemeni business owner Musa closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty Before the hearing, President Trump said that he hopes the case would go on to the Supreme Court while arguing that the order is important for the country. Halfway through the arguments, more than 120,000 viewers listened in via the courts official YouTube page. Washington State Solicitor General Noah Purcell argued on behalf of Washington state that the motion would throw the country into chaos. The executive order itself caused irreparable harm to our state and its people," he argued. "We had longtime residents who couldn't travel without knowing if they can return. The states of Washington and Minnesota brought the case against the Trump administration, which will likely reach the US Supreme Court. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump "doesnt tweet about everything", according to one of his senior advisors who was asked about the Presidents silence following a recent "terrorist attack" on a Quebec mosque. Kellyanne Conway said that the US leader was sympathetic to any loss of life, when asked by CNNs Jake Tapper about why Mr Trump had not commented about the attack which claimed the lives of six people and injured 19 in Quebec City. Alexandre Bissonnette, a 27-year-old student, has been charged with six counts of murder for the 29 January slaughter, which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a "terrorist attack". Ms Conway, who came in for widespread ridicule after she said controversial comments by the White House press secretary were not lies but "alternative facts", insisted the President doesnt comment or tweet about everything. Mr Tapper asked: In Quebec City last week, a white right-wing terrorist opened fire on a mosque. A mosque filled with men, women and children. Six people were killed. President Trump has not said or tweeted one public word about this. You want to talk about ignoring terrorism? Why hasn't the president offered his sympathy to our neighbours in the north? In response, Ms Conway said: He is sympathetic to any loss of life. Its completely senseless and it needs to stop regardless of who is launching the attack. [Mr Trump] is trying to stop terrorism and people wanting to do harm to this country and Im sure in the case of our neighbours to the north. Im sure when the Prime Minister of Canada comes here next week they will talk about that." She added: He doesnt tweet about everything; he doesnt make a comment about everything." However, it was put to her that Mr Trump had tweeted about an attack on soldiers at the Louvre in Paris by a man wielding machetes. A 29-year-old Egyptian, Abdullah Hamamy, remains under arrest in hospital after he was shot during the incident. Are these victims [of the mosque attack] any less dead than the ones killed by Islamic radical terrorists?" Mr Tapper asked. No, not at all, Ms Conway replied, before making reference to the fact that the Orlando attack was carried out by an American citizen. 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 Her comments came shortly after Mr Trump accused the media of covering up terrorist attacks, despite hours and days of wall-to-wall coverage of both of the attacks cited by the White House. Although Mr Trump hasnt made any public reference to the mosque attack, his administration appeared to cite it as justification for the Presidents own anti-terror policies. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the shooting was a terrible reminder of why the Republican leader must be proactive, rather than reactive. * This article originally described the Quebec attack as taking place in Montreal; in fact it took place in Quebec City. Updated 9/2/17 Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A day after Melania Trump filed a lawsuit accusing a British news company of hurting her ability to build a profitable brand, her representatives issued statements saying that the first lady has no intention of using her public position for personal gain. It is not a possibility, said statements issued simultaneously Tuesday by a spokeswoman for Melania Trump and a law firm representing her. Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted. The lawsuit filed Monday in New York Supreme Court says that the first ladys ability to sell Melania brand jewellery and other goods had been damaged at a critical time by a defamatory news story. The suit alleges that an article published in August falsely claimed that she once worked for an escort service and that the assertion had hurt her ability to build multimillion dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. The suit against Mail Media, the owner of the Daily Mail, says the article caused Trumps brand to lose major business opportunities. The complaint said the article had damaged her unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a broad-based commercial brand during this period. Neither the lawyer who filed the suit, Charles Harder of Beverly Hills, California, nor the White House responded to requests for comment. The lawsuit did not detail a specific plan by Trump to market products during her tenure as first lady, but it said her reputation has suffered while she is experiencing a multi-year term of elevated publicity. The suit also said the Mail article had impugned her fitness to perform her duties as first lady. A similar suit had been filed in September against Mail Media and a local blogger in Maryland. A Maryland judge recently dismissed the case against the Mail on jurisdictional grounds. On Tuesday, the law firm representing the first lady said she had settled with the Gaithersburg blogger, Webster Tarpley, who agreed to apologise and pay her a substantial sum. The firm, Harder, Mirell & Abrams, declined to divulge the settlement amount. The Mails article was eventually retracted with a statement in which the news organisation said that it did not intend to state or suggest that Mrs. Trump ever worked as an escort or in the sex business. "The original article provided denials from Trumps spokesman. But the lawsuit cites significant emotional and economic damage and asks for compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million. Mail Media, in Maryland court filings, responded that the article was acceptable because it discussed allegations that had been disseminated about the then-potential first lady, and the impact even false rumours could have on the presidential race. The new suit comes as Melania Trump continues to avoid the spotlight, taking an unusually low-profile approach thus far to her role as first lady. She has continued to live in New York and has moved slowly to hire a White House staff. 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 The language in the suit drew criticism immediately. Richard Painter, a White House ethics counsel under former president George W. Bush and a critic of President Trumps decision to retain ownership of his real estate and branding empire while in office, said he was troubled by the clear suggestion in the suit that Melania Trump intended to make money from her public role. Painter said that as drafted, the suit would appear to be an abuse of public office for private gain by the Trumps. On Tuesday, Painter said the new statements from Trumps team directly contradict the claims made in the complaint and make the initial complaint misleading. It should be immediately amended, he said. Painter, a professor of legal ethics, is participating in a lawsuit claiming that President Trumps relationship with his company violates a constitutional provision barring presidents from taking money or gifts from foreign governments. The Washington Post Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Women seeking an abortion will have to obtain written permission from the foetus father, if an Oklahoma bill passes into law. Republican representative Justin Humphrey introduced a bill that would require a pregnant woman to provide the identify of the father in writing to her abortion provider before undergoing the procedure. "No abortion shall be performed in this state without the written informed consent of the father of the foetus," the bill read. If the identified man argues that he is not the father, he can legally demand a paternity test, which could delay the abortion procedure by at least three days. The only exceptions in the bill apply to cases where the father is dead and the woman proves this by signing a legally-binding statement, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Women whose lives are endangered by the pregnancy are also excluded from obtaining consent. The Oklahoma bill has been introduced just one month after Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a law that allows a womans spouse or family member to sue an abortion provider. Under this new anti-abortion law, there is no exception for rape or incest. "Abortion access more popular than Trump" banner flown over March for Life The Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to demand spousal consent as far back as 1976, three years after the same court guaranteed that a woman had the constitutional right to have an abortion at certain stages of her pregnancy. Despite the federal protections, hundreds of state-wide laws have gradually impacted and eroded womens right to choose. In Kentucky, House Bill 2 will force doctors to describe an ultrasound to women seeking an abortion. Even if she objects, the doctor must describe the foetus shape to her, even if the doctor thinks it could do the patient more harm than good. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there have been 238 state-level restrictions imposed since 2010, and 50 last year alone. There are now 15 states that ban abortions on pain-capable unborn children, as described by pro-life groups. This unscientific theory - that a foetus can feel pain even in the very early stages of pregnancy - led to the Ohio heartbeat bill, which bans an abortion as soon as a heartbeat can be heard and often before a woman even realises she is pregnant. Ohio Governor John Kasich vetoed the bill but instead signed a new bill which bans abortion at 20 weeks. Even at the national level, a wave of anti-abortion bills have been introduced. A total of 14 House bills and 2 Senate bills were introduced last month for the current session of Congress, and must be passed by both chambers and signed by the President before becoming law. They include the "End Trafficking of the Terminated Unborn Act", which incorrectly states there is an industry in trafficking foetal tissue, and the "Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act", a violent rhetoric which has fed into President Trumps mind set. Trump thinks Clinton's abortion policy means you can 'rip the baby out' after being nine months pregnant At a debate versus Hillary Clinton in 2016, he insisted that babies are "ripped from the womb" at nine months. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee met with Donald Trump on Tuesday, agreed with the president's request not to talk about oversight and reiterated that it's unlikely his panel will investigate the businessman's sprawling empire. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah told reporters that before he even sat down in the Oval Office, The President said, 'No oversight. You can't talk about anything that has to do with oversight,' Chaffetz responded: Fair enough. At a briefing at his Capitol office following the 30-minute meeting with Trump, Chaffetz said he is unlikely to grant requests by Democrats to investigate possible conflicts of interest involving Trump's businesses. Chaffetz had promised before the election that he would investigate Democrat Hillary Clinton for years. The congressman insisted his committee will pursue a vigorous oversight agenda under an all-Republican government. I think on the surface it's tougher to do oversight when it's your own party, but you have a job to do, Chaffetz said. My job is not to be the president's cheerleader, but I do want to fix things. And there are a lot of broken things. And there's always somebody doing something stupid somewhere. Trump and his team understand that, I think, Chaffetz said. I think it's a good message (for Trump) to say 'I'm not going to slow you down. I'm not going to put the brakes on.' '' Democrats have called for investigations into Trump's financial ties with foreign businesses and governments, as well as his lease with the U.S. government for a luxury hotel near the White House. Chaffetz said he has questions for the General Services Administration about the Trump organization's contract to run the hotel at the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue, but said, the president is exempt under Section 208 of the US criminal code from conflict of interest laws. 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 Democrats can flail and complain and run around with their heads cut off, but the reality is he's exempt from this, Chaffetz said. Chaffetz said he briefed Trump on a number of issues important to him, including former President Barack Obama's designation of the Bears Ears national monument in Utah, which Chaffetz and other Utah officials oppose. The men also discussed postal reform, tax reform and construction and security of US embassies abroad. AP Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Republicans in Washington have voted to scrap the commission created to certify and bolster Americas electoral system - despite Donald Trumps assertion that widespread fraud occurred in the election that brought him to power. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) works with state and local officials to ensure accessible, accurate and secure elections. The bipartisan, independent organisation, created after the contested 2000 presidential election, is also tasked with certifying and testing voting systems. But House Administration Committee Chairman Gregg Harper categorised the EAC as fluff and a perfect example of something that can be eliminated, according to the Associated Press. The categorisation by Mr Harper, whose committee voted on Tuesday to scrap the EAC, stood in sharp contrast with a letter signed by 38 concerned groups and individuals, which called it a critical part of the governments effort to ensure that our elections are fair, efficient, and accessible. Given the crisis of out-of-date machinery in the US and the direct threat that Russian interference played in 2016, we should be taking every step to modernise and strengthen Americas election infrastructure. Instead, they are taking a step backwards, and the people who will suffer are American voters, Liz Kennedy, director of democracy and government at the Centre for American Progress, one of the organisations that signed onto the letter, told The Independent. The House Administration Committee also voted to end the public financing system for elections, which is designed to limit the influence of money in politics. Candidates who choose to receive public funds for their campaigns are prohibited from taking money from powerful donors, an option neither Trump nor Hillary Clinton chose in the 2016 election. The Centre for Responsive Politics estimated that the 2016 election would go down as the most expensive in US history. Trump confronted on Pew Reports into voter fraud being debunked The move to eliminate the EAC has drawn criticism from groups on both sides of the debate. Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True The Vote, an organisation that has supported Trumps electoral fraud probe, said she was blindsided by the announcement. It is disappointing because the EAC- particularly in these last few years- has really stepped up efforts to reach out to the states to do more with the posting of information and the facilitation and support of communication between the states. I thought they were a great advocate, and still think they are a great advocate, she said. We need some honest brokers inside of the federal government to stand up for an election process that isnt nearly what it should be or what Americans deserve, she added. The EACs chair, Thomas Hicks, reacted to the committee vote in a statement. Efforts to dismantle the Election Assistance Commission are seriously out of step with the current US election landscape, Mr Hicks said. Each day, we hear from state and local election officials who need our help to navigate the challenges they face. The committees decision is also an example of the rift between Mr Trump and congressional Republicans on the issue of voter fraud. Although the president has repeatedly said there was widespread voter fraud in the 2016 race, House Speaker Paul Ryan has said he has seen no evidence that three to five million people voted illegally, as Mr Trump claims. The EAC also works to ensure ballot box access for non-English speakers and people with disabilities. Advocates worry that dismantling the EAC will disproportionately impact some of Americas most vulnerable voters. Developing standards, helping to pass along best practices and creating synergy among election officials and community advocatesthese are geared toward helping all voters. But we also know that historically, less-than-ideal voting practices have hit communities of colour harder, said Terry Ao Minnis, director of census and voting programmes at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, another group that signed onto the letter. Its not clear if and when the entire House of Representatives will vote on the measures. But for Ms Ao Minnis and other advocates, its about raising awareness about the importance of the EAC. We have seen that people want to have fair elections. They want to see access to ballot boxes in a fair, efficient and effective manner. So getting people to understand the value and benefits that the EAC brings to our election system would help show to why there is a continuing need for it, she said. For her part, Ms Engelbrecht said her group will continue to support Trumps probe and push for a forensic audit of Americas electoral system. This is an issue that should unite us, not divide us. We should look at this as a top priority. Everything we do in government presupposes a free and fair election, Ms Engelbrecht. So let's just check the oil. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The White House spokesman has suggested that if she were still alive, the widow of Martin Luther King, may have supported Donald Trump's controversial pick for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. Earlier this week, the US Senate was the scene of high drama when Senator Elizabeth Warren was prevented from reading a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King, in which she said Mr Sessions - at the time the state prosecutor for Alabama who had been nominated to serve as a federal judge - used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. The nomination of Mr Sessions was eventually defeated. Mr Spicer was asked about the incident involving Ms Warren, who was told she was technically in violation of Senate rules for impugning the motives of Mr Sessions. Observers pointed out that senators frequently said far worse and that several male senators were able to read the famous letter. Jeff Sessions presses Sally Yates on her need for independence from the White House Mr Spicer told reporters if she was still with us today, Ms King, who died in 2006, may have changed her mind about Mr Sessions. We have a lot of respect for her and the sacrifices that she made and the sacrifices that frankly she endured in her life, he said, according to the Associated Press. But I would respectfully disagree with her assessment of Senator Sessions then and now. He added: His record on civil and voting rights I think is outstanding and like the late Arlen Specter I can only hope that if she was still with us today that after getting to know him and to see his record and commitment to civil rights that she would share the same view that Senator Specter did. That was a reference to comments made by Arlen Specter years after he voted against Mr Sessions' appointment to the bench that he regretted that vote. He has been a tireless advocate of voting and civil rights throughout his career and I would just hope that if she was still with us today that she would share the sentiments of former Senator Specter. Mr Sessions is expected to be confirmed as attorney general after an unusually acrimonious debate over his record on civil rights. The Alabama senator was rejected from a nomination to the federal bench three decades ago because of his views and record on race relations. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Burmese authorities may have killed more than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims during a recent crackdown on the minority group in the northeast Rakhine state, two unnamed UN officials have told the Reuters news agency. Authorities in Burma launched a military campaign against the Rohingya after militant elements of the group were accused of attacking police border posts in October last year. The government accepts it has killed some Rohingyas in the crackdown but denies allegations of atrocities against civilians, including claims that women and children have been raped and murdered. The two UN officials, who Reuters said were senior members of different agencies involved in monitoring the human rights situation in Burma, said they were concerned the scale of the casualties had not been grasped by the outside world. "The talk until now has been of hundreds of deaths," one was quoted as saying. "This is probably an underestimation - we could be looking at thousands." Myanmar's presidential spokesman, Zaw Htay, said the latest reports from military commanders were that fewer than 100 Rohingya militants have been killed in a counterinsurgency operation. Asked about the UN officials' comments that the death toll could be over 1,000, he said: "Their number is much greater than our figure. We have to check on the ground." Earlier, Pope Francis issued a strong defence of the Rohingya Muslims' right to live free from persecution. In a stinging attack on the Burmese regime, the Pope said the Rohingyas have been tortured and killed simply because they want to live their culture and their Muslim faith. Pope Francis made his comments during an unprepared section of his weekly address. He appeared to be referring to a UN rights office flash report, issued last week, detailing allegations of abuse, rape and murder of Rohingyas at the hands of the Burmese military. The UN has previously dubbed the Rohingyas, who are also denied access to university education and in 2013 were hit with a two-child policy, as the most oppressed people on Earth. "Pope Francis' comments should serve as a wake up call to the international community," Charu Lata Hogg, an associate fellow with the Asia Programme at Chatham House, told The Independent. "Despite the scathing UN report and the stream of NGO reporting on the plight of the Rohingyas, there doesn't seem to have been much international condemnation. "Strong political leverages need to be exercised to stop this egregious assault on a stateless people." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The United States needs to brush up on its history about the South China Sea, as Second World War-related agreements mandated that all Chinese territories taken by Japan had to be returned to China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Australia. China has been upset by previous comments from the new US administration about the disputed waterway. In his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built there. The White House also vowed to defend international territories in the strategic waterway. Recommended Chinese Coast Guard ships sail into disputed East China Sea islands However, last week US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis suggested that diplomacy should be the priority in the South China Sea. In comments carried on the foreign ministry's website late on Tuesday, Wang said he had a suggestion for this American friends. Brush up on the history of World War Two, Wang was quoted as saying during a visit to Canberra, Australia. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Declaration clearly state that Japan had to return to China all Chinese territory taken by Japan, Wang said. This includes the Nansha Islands, he added, using China's name for the Spratly Islands. In 1946, the then-Chinese government with help from the United States openly and in accordance with the law took back the Nansha Islands and reefs that Japan had occupied, and resumed exercising sovereignty, Wang said. Afterwards, certain countries around China used illegal methods to occupy some of the Nansha islands and reefs, and it's this that created the so-called South China Sea dispute. China is committed to having talks with the parties directly involved, and in accordance with historical facts and international law to peacefully resolve the issue, and that position will not change, Wang said. Countries outside the region should support the efforts of China and others in the region to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea, and not do the opposite, he added. China sets great store on Mattis' comments stressing diplomatic efforts in the South China Sea, as this is not only the position set by China and Southeast Asia but also the correct choice for countries outside the region, Wang said. 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 China claims most of the South China Sea, while Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei claim parts of the waters that command strategic sea lanes and have rich fishing grounds along with oil and gas deposits. Reuters The top American commander in Iraq believes U.S.-backed forces will recapture Islamic State's (IS) two major strongholds - the cities of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq - within the next six months, his spokesman said on Wednesday. The spokesman, Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, confirmed reported remarks by U.S. Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend. Townsend was quoted as telling the Associated Press that "within the next six months I think we'll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude." The latest word on the fight against IS came as the U.S. military was developing a plan at President Donald Trump's request to accelerate the campaign to defeat the militant group. The plan is due late this month. IS has in recent months been weakened on many fronts, with its territory in parts of Iraq and Syria shrinking. In Iraq, IS has lost territory in and around its northern stronghold of Mosul since U.S.-backed Iraqi forces last October began the biggest ground operation in the country since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. IS still holds swaths of Syrian territory and is putting up fierce resistance in Raqqa, its capital in eastern Syria. It holds around 90 percent of the province of Deir Ez-Zor near the Iraqi border, along with Raqqa and some parts of the eastern countryside of Aleppo in northern Syria. It also controls Palmyra and some pockets in Deraa in the south. Dorrian, speaking earlier to Pentagon reporters, said he expected U.S.-backed forces on the ground in Syria to nearly isolate Raqqa in coming weeks, setting the stage for a push to seize the city. "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks is that the city would be nearly completely isolated and then there will be a decision point to move in," Dorrian said. U.S. military leaders have warned that IS will likely turn into a more classic insurgency once it loses Raqqa and Mosul, meaning the broader fight could stretch on for years. Search Keywords: Short link: For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Pope Francis has issued a strong defence of the right of Burmas Rohingya Muslims to live their faith, and criticised the countrys government for an alleged campaign of persecution. In a stinging attack on the Burmese regime, the Pope said the Rohingyas have been tortured and killed simply because they want to live their culture and their Muslim faith. Burma denies carrying out atrocities against the Muslim minority, consisting of around 1.2 million people in the northern Rakhine state who have been refused citizenship of any country. Pope Francis made his comments during an unprepared section of his weekly address. He appeared to be referring to a UN rights office flash report, issued last week, detailing allegations of abuse, rape and murder of Rohingyas at the hands of the Burmese military. The Rohingyas were "good people", Pope Francis said. "They are not Christians, they are peaceful people, and they are our brothers and sisters." He then urged the 7,000 people present in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall to join him in prayer for all migrants who have been exploited and humiliated, and in particular for the Rohingyas who, he said, "are being chased from Myanmar and are fleeing from one place to another because no one wants them". The government in Burma is severely restricting access to the state where the persecution of Rohingyas is allegedly taking place, meaning it is difficult to verify any reports coming out of the region. But the UN has previously dubbed the Rohingyas, who are also denied access to university education and in 2013 were hit with a two-child policy, as the most oppressed people on Earth. "Pope Francis' comments should serve as a wake up call to the international community," Charu Lata Hogg, an associate fellow with the Asia Programme at Chatham House, told The Independent. "Despite the scathing UN report and the stream of NGO reporting on the plight of the Rohingyas, there doesn't seem to have been much international condemnation. "Strong political leverages need to be exercised to stop this egregious assault on a stateless people." Refugees welcome Pope Francis The UNs Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had been documenting the allegations against the Burmese authorities by speaking to Rohingyas who have fled into neighbouring Bangladesh. And last week the OHCHR took the rare move of rushing out a report, before it had completed all its planned research, such was the scale and urgency of the crisis it perceived. Linnea Arvidsson, one of the four UN workers who interviewed Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and drew up the report, told The Independent at the time that she had never before seen such a shocking situation. Ive never encountered a situation like this, where you do 204 interviews and every single person you speak with has a traumatic story, whether their house was burnt, theyve been raped or a relative was killed or taken away, said Ms Arvidsson. In many cases we were the first people, other than their close family, who these people had spoken to. They would break down. Women and even grown men would be crying. The women cried when they spoke of being raped, or seeing their children being killed. Men cried when they related how their houses had been burnt, and their concerns over how they would now be able to support their families. In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants Rohingya migrants swim to collect food supplies dropped by a Thai army helicopter after they jumped from a boat (R) drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants Rohingya migrants pass food supplies dropped by a Thai army helicopter to others aboard a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants A Rohingya migrant eats food dropped by a Thai army helicopter after he jumped to collect the supplies at sea from a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea. A boat crammed with scores of Rohingya migrants, including many young children, was found drifting in Thai waters, with passengers saying several people had died over the last few days In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants Rohingya migrants stand and sit on a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants Rohingya migrants stand and sit on a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants A Rohingya migrant eats food dropped by a Thai army helicopter after he jumped to collect supplies at sea from a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants Rohingya migrants bring back food supplies dropped by a Thai army helicopter after jumping to collect them at sea from a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea In pictures: Burma migrants abandoned at sea Myanmar migrants A Rohingya migrant woman holding a child cries as she stands on a boat drifting in Thai waters off the southern island of Koh Lipe in the Andaman sea Its very rare for there to be such a high prevalence of violence. And when you think we spoke to just 204 people of a total of 88,000 who have fled the area, its really scary to think of the total numbers. In his Wednesday address, Pope Francis also repeated his appeal for people to build bridges of understanding instead of walls. The comments are seen as being his first, albeit indirect, criticism since the Trump administration tried to impose a travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries. The Pope dedicated his catechism lesson to the general Christian precepts of hope and forgiveness in forging peace. He said: In the social and civil context as well, I appeal not to create walls but to build bridges. To not respond to evil with evil. To defeat evil with good, the offence with forgiveness. A Christian would never say you will pay for that. Never. That is not a Christian gesture. An offence you overcome with forgiveness. To live in peace with everyone. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two asylum seekers have been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting young girls at a swimming pool in Germany. Police said five girls between the age of 12 and 14 were at a pool in the town of Bad Oldesloe when they were harassed. According to current information, the girls were touched underwater by two men of southern appearance, a spokesperson for Ratzeburg Police said. The girls reported the men to leisure centre managers, who identified the pair and called police. The suspects are two asylum seekers living in Bad Oldesloe, aged 23 and 34, who are now under investigation for sexual harassment by authorities in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Reported attacks by asylum seekers at swimming pools have generated controversy across Europe, sparking a ban on male migrants at one pool in Germany and vigilante patrols in Sweden. An Iraqi asylum seeker who raped a 10-year-old boy at a swimming pool in Austria had his sentence increased on appeal in December, seeing him jailed for seven years. Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Show all 13 1 /13 Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism outside Cologne Cathedral on 5 January after the assaults Oliver Berg/EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism in Cologne following the rash of sex attacks on New Year's Eve Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police initially failed to mention the assaults in report the following morning EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police officers patrol in front of the main station of Cologne, Germany AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks German far-right supporters demonstrate at Cologne`s train station (Reuters) Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police used pepper spray to control supporters of Pegida, Hogesa (Hooligans against Salafists) and other right-wing populist groups as they protested against the New Year's Eve sex attacks on 9 January, 2016 in Cologne, Germany Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use a water cannon during a protest march by supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016 Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use pepper spray against supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida, in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Artist Mira Moire protests naked in Cologne against the mass sex attacks on New Year's Eve AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks A demonstrator holds a sign in German that reads 'No violence against women' during a demonstration in the wake of the sexual assaults on New Year's Eve, outside the cathedeal in Cologne, Germany, 09 January 2016. EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Counter demonstrators hold up a sign reading "Against sexism, against racism" as they protest against a demonstration of the islamophobic movement PEGIDA at the train station in Cologne, Germany, on January 9, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Demonstration by a womens group on Saturday (AP) AP Amid outrage over mass sex attacks in Cologne, police statistics in Germany showed that sexual offences make up a tiny proportion of crimes committed by refugees and migrants in the country, which are mostly related to transport and documents. In a separate operation, a Syrian man arrested in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was charged with carrying out war crimes as a member of Isis on Tuesday. Federal prosecutors said Akram A, 31, was guarding an Isis checkpoint aiming to prevent people from fleeing the terrorist groups territory early last year when a woman tried to escape with her children. The suspect stopped her at the checkpoint and on the pretext of obtaining the necessary exit permit, he lured the Syrian woman into a house and raped her there, a spokesperson said, adding that the attack amounted to a war crime as the woman was under the protection of international humanitarian law. Another suspected Isis member, a 19-year-old Russian citizen named as Suleym K, was charged with fighting for the group in Syria on Wednesday, after being arrested in Cologne. Recent weeks have also seen suspected members and supporters of the Taliban and former Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra arrested in Germany. Federal prosecutors have launched around a dozen investigations concerning alleged war crimes committed in Syria or Iraq, alongside dozens of cases of suspected membership of jihadist groups. Police chief says Germany 'on high alert' after attack The first such conviction in Germany came last July, when a German jihadist was sentenced to two years in prison for war crimes after posing for pictures in Syria with the severed and impaled heads of two government troops. The countrys authorities are also fighting home-grown extremism, with far-right groups buoyed by anti-migrant sentiment and terror fears following a wave of Isis-inspired attacks. Police raided more than a dozen homes and businesses linked to the Reichsburger movement on Tuesday, months after a member of the group shot a police officer dead. Reichsburgers reject federal authority and adhere to their own self-declared government, known as the KRR, which issues its own version of official documents such as driving licences, while followers frequently spurn federal taxes or fines. Among those arrested on Thursday were seven men of women living in the self-proclaimed Federal Nation of Bavaria, who were accused of committing fraud and unlawfully assuming authority. Reichsburgers are mainly known for aggravating German authorities by pursuing obscure legal claims rather than violence, but a faction was found to be plotting terror attacks against Jews, police and asylum seekers in January. A recent report by Berlin's state intelligence service describes the Reichsburgers as an extremely diverse range of small groups and individuals who believe in an ideological mixture of conspiracy theories, anti-Semitic and anti-democratic views, and who have been behaving increasingly aggressively for some time". For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Austrian is planning to send troops to protect the European Unions external borders against refugees. Hans Peter Doskozil, the defence minister, said Austria was one of 16 countries around the Balkan route used by more than a million migrants to journey from Greece into Europe who are cooperating on the new border defence project. The western Balkan route is still not as closed as it should be, the Social Democrat (SPO) minister told Die Welt. Austria puts refugees to work to boost economy Unfortunately [there are] still significant activities by criminal smugglers and a significant number of migrantsif there is a mass influx of refugees, states involved in the border protection initiative want to be able to act quickly. Mr Doskozil said the Austrian government was working on legal changes to allow its troops to be deployed abroad for reasons other than humanitarian operations, meaning they could be sent within and outside the EU to protect borders. In 2015 a record of 90,000 people applied for asylum in Austria after hundreds of thousands of migrants passed through the country after journeying along the Balkan route to Germany and other European countries. More than 10,000 migrants crossed into Austria in a single day at the height of the refugee crisis in October 2015, but the number plummeted to 100-200 after the implementation of the controversial EU-Turkey deal. The agreement came into effect last March, seeing anyone arriving by boat on Greek islands automatically detained under the threat of deportation, as borders closed across Europe. Recep Tayyip Erdogans government has repeatedly threatened to scrap the deal over the EUs opposition to human rights violations following a coup attempting to oust the President. Mr Doskozil said the Turkish leader was not a reliable partner of the EU and that Europe should prepare for the possibility Ankara will open the floodgates. Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Show all 10 1 /10 Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk on the railway tracks between Bicske and Szar, some 40 km west of Budapest, Hungary, 04 September 2015 EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria The destination for most of those walking is reportedly Austria AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Most refugees have come to Hungary through the southern border with Serbia AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria People walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees walk along Budaorsi Street on their way out of Budapest EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees hold up an EU flag as they on the highway out of Budpest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees exit Budapest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Hundreds of migrants walk after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station AFP The deal caused a dramatic drop in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Greece, but attempts to make the longer and more treacherous Mediterranean crossing from Libya to Italy have continued, claiming almost 5,000 lives last year. The Austrian government has also been mounting its own attempts to reduce the number of migrants attempting to settle in the country. Cabinet members agreed draft legislation in December that would bring in prison sentences of up to three weeks and 5,000 (4,200) in penalties for anyone giving authorities false information. The perceived prioritisation of Syrians over other nationalities has led a minority of people from countries including Afghanistan to lie about their origin in the belief it will help them gain protection in Europe. Austria is among several European countries steadily tightening asylum laws amid growing anti-migrant sentiment. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), whose candidate Norbert Hofer narrowly lost last year's presidential election, has been leading opinion polls with around 33 per cent for months. The ruling coalition of the conservative People's Party (OVP) and SPO have taken note and are already punishing those who stay in Austria after being ordered to leave fines of up to 15,000 (13,000) and six week prison sentences. Almost 10,000 asylum seekers have reached Europe by sea so far this year, with the vast majority taken to Italy by rescue ships. Most are from Syria, followed by Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq and Eritrea. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A five-year-old boy has been found dead and stripped to his underwear in a French street, after his mother and step-father allegedly physically punished him for wetting the bed. The child was found by police in the northern village of Aire-sur-la-Lys, having suffered a cardiac arrest. He had a broken nose and skull injuries, and his underwear was wet. He was named locally as Yanis, according to French media reports, and his mother and step-father have been arrested on suspicion of assault causing death without intention to kill. He died between Sunday night and Monday morning, with a fire and rescue team first on the scene around 2.30am and police arriving by 3am. It was his stepfather, 30, who initially alerted rescue services. The boy was found 200 metres from a small dwelling belonging to his step-father, alongside a canal but otherwise isolated in a forest. His mother, 22, lives at another address in the centre of the village but spent the night at the cabin. The unemployed couple, who have no other children, were arrested early on Monday morning. 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 Patrick Leleu, the prosecutor for the local Saint-Omer area, said: "There is sufficient evidence to place [the couple] in custody, in relation to their initial explanations and their arrival on the scene." An autopsy on Monday afternoon found the boy had died of "a variety of skull injuries, some compatible with falls, others incompatible." The same local newspaper reports that school friends of the boy were "in shock" on Monday. His mother's friends said she conducted herself normally with her son, adding they would never have imagined such an event happening to her family. The investigation continues. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Republic of Macedonia has reacted with fury after a senior US Republican said it "is not a country". Dana Rohrabacher, who chairs the US Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and emerging threats, suggested the landlocked nation should be divided between neighbouring states. The 70-year-old said that division in Macedonia meant they will never be able to live together in future. Kosovars and Albanians from Macedonia should be part of Kosovo and the rest of Macedonia should be part of Bulgaria or any other country to which they believe they are related, he told Albanian TV channel, Vizion Plus. The idea is to keep Macedonia alive because someone 30 years ago decided it is a configuration that should come out of the dismantling of Yugoslavia, does not lead to an explanation that this idea is still held. A landlocked country in Southeast Europe's Balkan peninsula, the Repcublic of Macedonia is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but as a result of an ongoing dispute with Greece over the use of the name "Macedonia", it was admitted under the provisional description the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Mr Rohrabacher's comments echo a suggestion by Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. In 2015, he said that ideas have been floated about giving the Republic of Macedonia to Albania, and another part to Bulgaria. Iraqi refugee and Macedonian border guard marry after falling in love at muddy border crossing Asked if Donald Trump would support his idea, Mr Rohrabacher said he had influence on US policymakers and his committee would hold hearings in the coming months. His comments provoked a furious response from the Macedonian foreign ministry which accused him of inflaming "nationalistic rhetoric". His expressed views generated immense anxiety regarding Macedonia and the region, it said in a statement. They inflame nationalist rhetoric in the neighbouring regions, taking us back into the past. We believe that the US State Department will adequately remove any doubt about the stated positions and will affirm its policy towards Macedonia and the Balkans. Described by Republican Senator John McCain as one of the partys lunatic fringe, Mr Rohrabacher is a staunch defender of Russia. In the past he has called accusations of human rights abuses in the country, baloney. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Russian government has blocked porn site Brazzers over claims it is damaging to the human psyche. Roskomnadzor, the countrys media watchdog, blacklisted the site, preventing access from Russian servers. It follows a ruling by a district court in the Samara region that Brazzers has a negative impact and violated citizens rights, reports the TJ Journal. The local prosecutor brought the case in the interests of the Russian Federation, citing minors and young people as those in need of protection. Although Russia accounts for just four per cent of Brazzers traffic, the country is a growing market for the Canadian company. In September, Roskomnadzor blocked access to popular adult sites PornHub and YouPorn at the request of the courts. Terry Crews discusses his porn addiction Pornhub responded to the ban by offering Russians 14 days of access on its premium site, which escaped the ban as it was a paid service and uses a separate URL. Brazzers has been contacted for a response. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man who attempted to drive a pregnant asylum seeker and her family from Italy into France faces up to 10 years in prison for aiding illegal immigration. Felix Croft was giving out aid in the Italian border city of Ventimiglia in July when he met the woman, who was travelling with her husband, two children and uncle. Like thousands of other refugees making the treacherous journey to Italy over the Mediterranean Sea, they had reached the French border but been blocked by a heavy police presence. Italian police struggle to contain Ventimiglia migrants as French accused of foul play Some reports said the family Mr Croft tried to help were Nigerian, while others said they were from the war-torn region of Darfur. The 28-year-old told the RFI French public radio service he attempted to take the asylum seekers to his home in Vence because there was no space in the church where they attempted to find shelter, and was arrested while driving along the motorway. His lawyer, Laura Martinelli, said her client admitted the facts of the case but gave the family a lift for humanitarian reasons, adding: This is the first time that a person known to be a volunteer has been arrested, and that the arrest leads to prosecution [in Italy]. She contended that the law was intended to target organised smugglers who charge migrants for their services, rather than for humanitarian volunteers. The next court hearing is due in Imperia on 16 February. Another Frenchman, farmer Cedric Herrou, was arrested last month for helping migrants travel through the Roya Valley, near the Italian border in Provence. The use of anti-smuggling legislation to target volunteers has proved a divisive move for some European countries during the ongoing refugee crisis. Denmarks High Court upheld a people smuggling conviction for a couple who illegally assisted family of Syrian refugees by giving them a lift and a cup of coffee in September. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. Lisbeth Zornig Andersen, the former president of the Danish governments National Council for Children, and her husband transported the group of four adults and two children from southern Denmark to Copenhagen during the height of the refugee crisis in 2015. They did not believe they had contravened any law, as they had consulted police and stayed within the country, but were prosecuted under the Danish Aliens Act and fined 50,000 krone (5,700). Ms Zornig told The Independent the court was setting an example as numerous other people smuggling cases progress through the courts in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe. National law is the primary reference for such cases but a 2002 directive from the Council of the European Union also stipulates that anyone who intentionally assists irregular migrants to enter or transit across a country in breach of national law can be prosecuted particularly those who take payment to do so. But it says that sanctions can be lifted in cases where the aim of the behaviour is to provide humanitarian assistance, although the waiver is optional. A United Nations protocol on migrant smuggling, however, defines the act as exclusively motivated by a financial or other material benefit. Almost 10,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe by sea so far this year, with the vast majority reaching Italy after the controversial EU-Turkey deal was implemented last year to reduce crossings to Greek islands over the Aegean Sea. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Egyptian authorities have publicly welcomed US President Donald Trumps allegations this week that Western media deliberately dont report on terrorist attacks. On Monday, Mr Trump accused the media of not reporting on jihadism-inspired terror attacks, a claim for which he gave no evidence. You have seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe it's happening. It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported, the president said, in defence of his controversial Muslim travel ban. 25 dead during mass at Egypt's main Coptic Christian Cathedral And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it. The White House later published a list of incidents involving Isis it said had not been adequately covered by news outlets, several of which were erroneous or had indeed received media coverage. The list also notably did not mention several attacks generally regarded as under-covered, such as Isis bombings in Beirut, Lebanon, or any of the frequent attacks targeting the Israeli public. In Cairo, a statement from Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid hailed the US administrations stance in criticising the Western media's coverage of some terrorist attacks around the world. The statement addressed the White House release of a list of 78 terror attacks (nine of which were in Egypt) which Western media ignored in a clear bias, Mr Zeid added. Accusations and the finger of blame were pointed at others [such as Egypt] after terrorist attacks... which some Western media portrayed as a security failure on the part of the government. Isis and other extremists have carried out dozens of bloody attacks in Egypt since democratically elected Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown in a coup in 2013. The foreign ministry made particular reference to the October 2015 incident in which a Russian commercial plane was shot down over the Sinai peninsula, killing 224 people. A Russian investigation found that a bomb had bought the plane down. Isis at the time claimed both that they had smuggled a bomb on board, and that they had shot the plane down with an anti-aircraft missile. EgyptAir crash wreckage spotted on seabed Mr Zeid went on to say that Cairo hopes that there will be an essential shift in the way the international community deals with the phenomenon of terrorism. While relations between Egypt and the US deteriorated steadily during former president Barack Obamas tenure, Mr Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have both spoken of their admiration for each others strong leadership. Mr Sisi was the first foreign leader to call Mr Trump to offer his congratulations when the Republican candidate won the US election last November. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An increasing number of elite Hamas soldiers are defecting from the Gaza-based group to join Isis, it has emerged. Dozens of members of the Iz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and Nukhba, Hamas commando wing, have deserted their positions and fled to nearby Sinai in Egypt - which has a heavy Isis presence - the Times of Israel reports. Over the last year, well-trained defectors including those skilled at operating anti-tank missiles and bomb-making have helped sustain Isis fight against Egyptian security forces, the paper, quoting Palestinian sources, says. Isis has carried out a series of bloody attacks targeting both civilians and the Egyptian army over the last few years. Hamas seeks to mend relations with Egypt The lawless Sinai peninsula, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, has become the home of several extremist groups which have taken advantage of unrest in the country since the Arab Spring protests of 2011. Several groups have close ties to Gaza, with supplies and arms routinely smuggled back and forth across the border as well as fighters in need of training or medical care. However, the recent arrest of defector Abed al-Wahad - a 20-year-old who trained with Hamas naval commando unit - on his re-entry into Gaza has inflamed tensions between the Palestinian militant organisation and Isis. In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Isis' weapons factories In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A mortar round fin manufactured by Isis in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis rocket components discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, Iraq in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortars discovered near Karamlais, Iraq, in November 2016 CAR In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis rocket launch frame in Qaraqosh, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A memo from Isis' COSQC on quality control at a manufacturing facility in Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Electrically-operated initiators manufactured by Isis in forces Gogjali, Mosul, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Isis mortar tubes at a manufacturing facility in Karamlais, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis mortar production facility discovered in Gogjali, Mosul, in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories An Isis weapons manufacturing facilities near Mosul in November 2016 Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories Stocks of French-manufactured Sorbitol, Latvian potassium nitrate and Lebanese sugar at an Isis weapons factory in Iraq Conflict Armament Research In pictures: Isis' weapons factories A destroyed Isis weapons facility in Qaraqosh, Iraq, November 2016 Conflict Armament Research Isis slowed the flow of goods from the Sinai into besieged Gaza as a means of pressuring Hamas to release Al-Wahad and other operatives suspected of ties to Isis. Al-Wahad has since been freed. Egypts government vehemently opposes co-operation between Isis and Hamas, but has shown some willing to reconcile with the Palestinian group, which has vowed the destruction of Israel. In January, Hamas security officials met with the Egyptian authorities in Cairo for security talks. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Belgian militant had a medical note saying he had back pain and would not join the battle. A fighter from France claimed he wanted to leave Iraq to carry out a suicide attack at home. Several requested transfers to Syria. Others just simply refused to fight. The documents on 14 problem fighters from the Tariq Bin Ziyad battalion made up largely of foreigners were found by Iraqi forces after they took over an Isis base in a neighbourhood of Mosul last month. At its peak, Isis drew thousands of recruits each month and controlled about a third of Iraqs territory, and the foreigners who poured in from dozens of countries have been characterised as the most die-hard fighters. But the group has steadily lost ground and appeal. The militants are now besieged in the western half of Mosul, once the biggest city Isis controlled and the heart of its self-proclaimed caliphate. But the groups losses have triggered concerns in Europe that disillusioned fighters might find their way home. He doesnt want to fight, wants to return to France, said the notes on a 24-year-old listed as a French resident of Algerian descent. Claims his will is a martyrdom operation in France. Claims sick but doesnt have a medical report. He was one of five fighters in the file listed as having French residency, or as originally from France. More citizens from France have joined Isis than from any other country in Europe since 2011, when Syria's popular uprising against President Bashar al-Assad turned violent and fuelled the rise of extremist groups. A member of the Iraqi security forces removes a banner bearing the logo of Isis in eastern Mosul last month (Getty) The French government reported a sharp decrease in the number of its citizens travelling to Syria and Iraq to join the group in the first half of 2016 but said that nearly 700 still remain there, including 275 women and 17 minors. The forms in the file are marked with the year 2015 but appear to have been filled out later as they specify the dates that some of the militants joined, which stretch into 2016. In addition to each militants name, country of origin, country of residency, date of birth, blood type and weapons specialties, the documents list the number of wives, children and slave girls each had. A photo is also included. It was not possibly to verify the personal information, but Iraqi officers who found the file said they believe it is genuine. Two men from Kosovo refused to fight and asked to move to Syria. One said he had head pain. Of the more than 4,000 foreign fighters who have left European Union nations for Iraq and Syria, around a third have returned, according to a report from The Hague-based International Centre for Counter-Terrorism. About 14 per cent have been confirmed dead, while the rest remain overseas or their whereabouts are unknown. Air strikes destroy Islamic State drone base in Mosul People say that they are the most motivated, but there are plenty of foreign fighters that went and found that the Isis experience wasnt what they thought it would be; they thought it would be a great adventure, said Aymenn al-Timimi, an analyst specialising in militant groups who has compiled an online database of Isis documents, some of which indicate similar issues of morale. The organisation keeps meticulous records, leaving clues to its inner workings as the fighters are ejected from territory. Iraqi counter-terrorism forces discovered the documents in a house in Mosuls Al Andalus neighbourhood that was being used as an administrative base for the Tariq Bin Ziyad battalion. The militants were seen removing documents and computers from the building, according to neighbours, before they set fire to the building as Iraqi forces retook the area, said Lt-Col Muhanad al-Tamimi, whose unit found the documents unscathed in a desk drawer. Those foreign fighters are the most furious fighters we ever fought against, he said. When those fighters refuse to fight it means that theyve realised this organisation is fake Islam and not the one they came for. This Washington Post illustration shows an English translation of the Isis file Iraqi troops faced a barrage of suicide car bombs and fierce resistance during the first month of their operations to retake Mosul last year. However, after pausing to reorganise, the forces have made rapid progress on the eastern side of the city this year. Late last month, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his forces had recaptured all neighbourhoods of Mosul east of the Tigris river and that Isis militants had collapsed quickly. Edwin Bakker, a research fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism and a professor of counter-terrorism at Leiden University in the Netherlands, said that fighters from Western European countries are largely known to intelligence agencies, but that there is less information on those from countries such as Bosnia and Kosovo. 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 With open borders in Europe, these fighters might return home and stage attacks on the continent, he said. But warnings of a tsunami of returning foreign fighters are exaggerated, he said. We shouldnt underestimate the numbers that have gone to live there and die there, he added. Another 30-year-old French national in the file is noted as having been involved in the departure of Abu Azzam al-Fransi and his wife from the land of the caliphate. Fransi indicates that the fighter he helped leave was also from France. Lt-Gen Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, commander of Iraqs counter-terrorism forces, said there are many foreign fighters in Mosul, and that foreign suicide bombers have been responsible for many of the 350 car bombs launched toward their lines. In one Isis headquarters in the Dhubat neighbourhood of Mosul, his forces found a stash of passports 16 Russian and four French. There were also 20 blank Iraqi passports taken from Mosuls passport department, he said, speculating that the militants are forging them to be able to leave the country. Despite the recent rapid advances in eastern Mosul, Iraqi generals still expect a bloody fight ahead. The western side of the city, home to 750,000 civilians, is surrounded by Iraqi forces and the Isis members still there will have little choice but to fight or die. There are still a lot of people that are motivated, Bakker said. The majority is there to fight. The Washington Post The United Nations said on Wednesday that 12 million people in Yemen faced the threat of famine brought on by two years of civil war and the situation was rapidly deteriorating. It appealed for $2.1 billion to provide food and other life-saving aid, saying that Yemen's economy and institutions are collapsing and its infrastructure has been devastated. "If there is no immediate action, and despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, famine is now a real possibility for 2017. Malnutrition is rife and rising at an alarming rate," U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien told a news briefing. "A staggering 7.3 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from," he said. Yemen has been divided by nearly two years of civil war that pits the Iran-allied Houthi group against a Western-backed Sunni Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia that is carrying out air strikes. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Nearly 3.3 million people - including 2.1 million children - are acutely malnourished, U.N. figures show. They include 460,000 children under age five with the worst form of malnutrition who risk dying of pneumonia or diarrhoeal disease. About 55 percent of Yemen's medical facilities do not function and the health ministry has no operational budget, said Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen. "Many of the people never make it to the feeding centers or the hospitals because they can't afford the transport," he said. "Many people die silent and unrecorded deaths, they die at home, they are buried before they are ever recorded." In all, nearly 19 million Yemenis - more than two-thirds of the population - need assistance and protection, the United Nations said. "Ongoing air strikes and fighting continue to inflict heavy casualties, damage public and private infrastructure, and impede delivery of humanitarian assistance," it said. "The Yemeni economy is being wilfully destroyed," it added, saying that ports, roads, bridges, factories and markets have been hit. Yemen's main port at Hodeida is badly damaged and lacks cranes for offloading, leaving 30 ships offshore at any time and delaying deliveries, McGoldrick said. The Saudi-led coalition imposes strict restrictions on the ports which it controls. An estimated 63,000 Yemeni children died last year of preventable causes often linked to malnutrition, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week. "In Yemen, if bombs dont kill you, a slow and painful death by starvation is now an increasing threat," Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement as the U.N. plan was launched. Search Keywords: Short link: For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At least six employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been killed by suspected Isis gunmen while taking supplies to areas affected by deadly avalanches in northern Afghanistan. Another two employees were unaccounted for and feared abducted after Wednesday's attack in Jowzjan province, bordering Turkmenistan, where a key motorway has come a focus of insurgent attacks against government forces and NGOs. The ICRC said its team, composed of three drivers and five field officers, was journeying to deliver aid in Shibergan when it came under attack. Afghanistan: Fifteen years since US-led invasion This is a despicable act. Nothing can justify the murder of our colleagues and dear friends, said Monica Zanarelli, head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan. At this point, its premature for us to determine the impact of this appalling incident on our operations in Afghanistan. We want to collect ourselves as a team and support each other in processing this incomprehensible act and finding our two unaccounted for colleagues. Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, said the global humanitarian institution was in shock at the tragedy and believed the attack had deliberately targeted its staff. These staff members were simply doing their duty, selflessly trying to help and support the local community, he added. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of our colleagues killed and those unaccounted for. All the staff murdered were Afghan, while the nationalities of the two people unaccounted for were not immediately confirmed. Rahmatullah Turkistani, the chief of provincial police, confirmed the attack and said it took place west of the provincial capital of Shibirghan. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the officer said militants loyal to Isis were active in the Qush Tepa area, while the Taliban has denied involvement. Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said his group was not responsible and claimed Taliban members would put all their efforts into finding the perpetrators. Taliban militants previously targeted the ICRC in 2013, attacking its offices in Jalalabad and killing a security guard in a two-hour bombing and gun battle. War artists in Afghanistan Show all 6 1 /6 War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Matthew Cook Matthew Cook War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Embedded: Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Trooping the colours: Jules George was inspired by his father and grandfather to witness and document war, if not to wage it Jules George Last month, a Spanish ICRC employee was released less than a month after being kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in northern Afghanistan. He was travelling between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz in December when gunmen stopped the vehicles, releasing his three Afghan colleagues. In a recent summary of its work in the country, the ICRC said the worsening security situation had made it difficult to provide aid to many parts of the country. Recommended At least 50 killed in an avalanche in eastern Afghanistan Despite it all, the ICRC has remained true to its commitment to the people of Afghanistan, as it has throughout the last 30 years of its continuous presence in the country, the statement said. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber blew himself up after being stopped outside a district government headquarters in the Paktia province, killing two civilians and wounding a policeman. On Tuesday, another suicide bombing struck the entrance to the Afghan Supreme Court in the capital, Kabul, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 40 more. Isis is competing with the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda in the continuing Islamist insurgency in the country. Its affiliate in the region is called Wilayat Khorasan and has claimed responsibility for attacks including suicide bombings and mass shootings targeting police, the military, officials, Shia Muslims and civilians. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Bashar al-Assad's government has rejected allegations that as many as 13,000 people have been hanged in a prison near Damascus as part of a systematic campaign of torture and "extermination" against dissidents. A report by Amnesty International said that Syrian authorities had quietly and methodically organised the killing of thousands of people in their custody Saydnaya Prison. Boris Johnson said he was sickened by the reported executions, adding: Assad responsible for so many deaths and has no future as leader. The justice ministry claimed the findings were totally untrue and part of a smear campaign, in a statement published by state-controlled media. An aerial view of Saydnaya Prison (Amnesty International) It said misleading and inciting media outlets carried the Amnesty report to smear the Syrian government's reputation on the world stage, particularly after recent military victories against terrorists groups. The ministry added that the allegations are baseless because executions in Syria follow due process and various stages of litigation. The government refers to all rebels as terrorists and has denied extensive allegations of torture, executions, war crimes and crimes against humanity over the course of Syria's five year civil war. Amnesty International said its research showed murder, torture, enforced disappearance and extermination carried out at Saydnaya Military Prison since 2011 as part of a systematic attack on dissidents in the civilian population. We therefore conclude that the Syrian authorities violations at Saydnaya amount to crimes against humanity [and a] calculated campaign of extrajudicial execution, the group said. Amnesty International urgently calls for an independent and impartial investigation into crimes committed at Saydnaya. Its findings said mostly civilian victims were hanged after military trials that lasted just minutes in what detainees call the slaughterhouse. The research, covering the period from 2011 to 2015, found that 20-50 people were hanged each week by military police at Saydnaya Prison, authorised by senior Syrian government officials, including Assads deputies. Russia, Assad and Iran asked 'Is there literally nothing that can shame you' by US ambassador Amnesty has recorded at least 35 different methods of torture in Syria since the late 1980s, practices that have increased since 2011, said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty's regional office in Beirut. These executions take place after a sham trial that lasts over a minute or two minutes, but they are authorised by the highest levels of authority, including the grand mufti, a senior religious authority in Syria, and the defence minister, she added. The group interviewed 31 former detainees, who gave chilling accounts telling how prisoners were told they were being transferred to civilian detention centres before being taken to another building and hanged. Researchers also spoke to more than 50 other officials and experts, including former guards and judges. It is the latest report detailing the Syrian regimes alleged abuses against civilians accused of dissent, with research by numerous human rights organisations sparking concern at the United Nations. Its Committee Against Torture said it had received consistent, credible, documented and corroborated allegations about the existence of widespread and systematic violations of the Convention against Torture against Syrian civilians by both the government and militias acting on its behalf. The committee described the Syrian regimes habitual use of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment against protesters, journalists, bloggers, defectors and rebels as a deliberate part of state policy, to instil fear and to intimidate and terrorise the civilian population, saying it had disregarded UN requests to cease the violations. In a report last year, Amnesty found that more than 17,000 people had died of torture and ill-treatment in custody across Syria since 2011, an average of more than 300 a month. Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters And Saydnaya is not the only location for the alleged abuses. A former torture victim who has since moved to the UK as a refugee told The Independent of his ordeal. Bashar Farahat, a 32-year-old doctor, was working in a hospital in Latakia province when he was arrested by officers from Syrias notorious Military Intelligence Directorate in July 2012 The minute you get in the car you disappear, he told The Independent. You dont know anything about the world outside and the world outside doesnt know anything about you. Once you are detained you become the property of the guards and the interrogators can do anything to you to get a confession. Mr Farahat believes he was reported to the authorities for supporting anti-government protests and treating those injured in the ensuing regime crackdown. He was transferred from the headquarters of the Military Intelligence branch in Latakia, where he was repeatedly beaten and tortured in rounds of government interrogation, before being taken to the notorius Military Intelligence Branch 291 in Damascus. Detainees have reported method of torture including contorting victims bodies to fit in a rubber tyre, hanging from the ceiling, burning them with boiling water and cigarettes, or pulling out their nails, as well as dire sanitary conditions and starvation. Some people were beaten to death during interrogation, Mr Farahat said. The torture is to make people confess but its also a method of punishment so they will never, ever think of joining the revolution. This has been going on for 40 years in Syria. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Yemen has denied reports that it has withdrawn its permission for the US to conduct special operations missions in the country after a raid on an al-Qaeda base last month killed up to 30 civilians and a US Navy SEAL. There has been widespread anger in Yemen at the reported loss of life in a ground raid in which almost everything went wrong, as one US military official described it, leading Yemeni officials to suspend the counter-terror programme. Neither Yemen nor the US have officially announced the decision, which was reported by the New York Times, citing unnamed American officials, on Tuesday. Representatives from the Yemeni government said on Wednesday that the report was erroneous. We have not withdrawn our permission for the United States to carry out special operations ground missions. However, we made clear our reservations about the last operation, a senior Yemeni official told Reuters news agency. The world has forgotten the Yemen war, says senior UN humanitarian official Several Yemeni officials said that they had not been given proper notice or fully consulted on the raid before it took place. Foreign minister Abdul Malik Al Mekhlafi condemned the raid in a Twitter post as extrajudicial killings. It is also unclear whether US President Donald Trumps proposed travel ban for citizens of Yemen and six other Muslim countries which is currently being challenged in federal courts had any bearing on the reported Yemeni decision. The withdrawal of permission for ground raids would not affect unmanned drone missions, nor the small number of US personnel currently assisting anti-terror initiatives in the country. A ban on US operations would be a set back for the new President, who made much of his promise on the campaign trail to be tough on Isis and other religious extremism. An investigation into the events of the 29 January raid is ongoing. The Pentagon repeatedly sought permission from Mr Trumps predecessor Barack Obama to allow operations to take place without detailed White House review. It is not known whether the Yemeni decision will impact any future plans to allow the Pentagon to operate more freely. The botched operation was planned under Mr Obama, but the White House later clarified it had been reviewed and approved by the Trump administration. As well as the reported civilian casualties and the death of 36-year-old Navy SEAL Owen Williams, the MV-22 Osprey carrying the troops apparently landed hard, injuring several on board, and had to be destroyed. The majority of the deaths are thought to have occurred during a 50-minute-long gun battle. Several children, including the eight-year-old daughter of American-born Al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Alwaki, who himself died in Yemen in 2011, were reported killed in the crossfire. The mission, which White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has continually defended as a success, had originally been intended to capture intelligence and computer equipment. Mr Trumps team has denied allegations from NBC News that the missions secret objective was to kill or capture a top al-Qaeda leader. Yemen is currently in the grips of an almost two-year long civil war which has pitted Shia Houthi rebels, who control much of the country, against the internationally recognised exiled government. More than 10,000 people have died in the conflict, the UN says. Extremist groups such as al-Qaeda have taken advantage of Yemens chaos, establishing several strongholds in the country. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A University Challenge contestant was reported to police for alleged rape after his victim saw him appear on the programme, a jury has been told. An unnamed 19-year-old woman accused fellow student Bartholomeo Joly de Lotbiniere, 21, of raping her in her room at the University of York hall of residence, telling her: It will help you get over your ex. He is alleged to have told her afterwards: "Tell no one about this" and pretend this never happened, before later apologising in a text message, saying: I was a disgrace. The woman said the incident occurred in June 2014, but went to police in August 2015 following Mr Joly de Lotbinieres appearance on the BBC programme with the York University team. In a video interview played to a jury at York Crown Court, the victim said she just got angry and upset after seeing a tweet about the defendant that had been posted by the Pointless co-host Richard Osman. She said: It took a while to, sort of, sink in, what he did. Then, basically, he was on University Challenge and it was all over social media and certain tweets. I just wanted to do something about it. The woman claims she sent a text to Mr Joly de Lotbiniere after the incident saying: I thought Id let you know I wasnt overly comfortable with what happened. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images 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 He replied: Neither am I, I was a disgrace, I did a very stupid thing and I am very sorry for what I did. I just hope you can forgive me at some point and Ill try my best not to act like a bloody 14-year-old again and start acting my age. The court heard the pair had been out with a group the night he allegedly raped her. He tried to kiss her twice and she told him she was not interested, before he is said to have followed her into her room. Mr Joly de Lotbiniere, who appeared on University Challenge in 2015 and 2016, denies sexual assault and rape. Prosecutor Gerald Hendron, said: He took off her top, bra and trousers. She said she froze. She was telling the defendant to stop and was trying to push him off her. She was a small, slight girl and the defendant was much physically larger and stronger than she was. It is claimed the student saw Mr Joly de Lotbiniere again at a party and he texted: I wanted to apologise in person again. The jury heard that in a police interview, the defendant told officer his apologies related to him being able to get an erection during the sexual encounter, which he said was consensual. Cross examined by Judy Khan QC, the woman denied the barrister's suggestions the encounter was a disastrous one night stand. The trial continues. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tempted to gaze longingly into your partners eyes atop the Eiffel Tower this Valentines? Oh, please. To truly embrace the city of love, you need to do it French style. Forget canoodling by candlelight, heres what I learned exploring Pariss kinky side. Mon dieu. Theres a hotel with a horny Mickey Mouse Look away Disney! Step into Hotel Grand Amour and youll be greeted with a shiny Mickey Mouse statue boasting a 12-inch appendage. And thats just the beginning: this 42-bedroom boutique hotel located on Rue de la Fidelite is upscale kink to the max, and each individually designed room has its own little quirk think mirrored ceilings above the beds, a library of arousing bedtime reading (entire walls of some bedrooms are dedicated to bookshelves of 1970s erotic paperbacks) and bedside tables dedicated to women in raunchy magazines. Its not just moodily lit bedrooms either: flamingo-pink hallways are drenched in modern art from legends including Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin. Classy, arousing black-and-white photography features curvy, slim and very naked women, while erotic carpets lining the corridors are festooned with abstract genitalia. Saucy stays guaranteed at Grand Hotel Amour (Facebook) You can see erotic dancing that is actually erotic Nothing can quite prepare you for a night at Crazy Horse. The high-end burlesque show is a nipple tassel, Louboutin-heel extravaganza of sassy, sexy erotic dancing by some or Pariss most pert and polished women. Book ahead and settle into a plush velvet arm chair champers in hand and take in a multi-song session of highly seductive nude moves. Music ranges from plinky-plonky 1920s jazz to a powerful rendition of Alice Coopers Poison (complete with sequin red knickers and a swing do try this at home). The piece de resistance, however, has to be the arousing smooth-skin finale to INXSs Need You Tonight. The locals are no strangers to getting steamy (Getty) You can booze in an ex-brothel The clues in the name. Head to Dirty Dick in So-Pi (thats South Pigalle), and youll be boozing in a dimly lit bar that first opened in 1934 as a brothel, that is, in this formerly seedy red-light district. It was particularly popular with American and English soldiers during the Second World War, and through the decades the space continued to operate as a sex club filled with cabins for lap dances and more intimate services. New owners put a stop to these illicit shenanigans in 2013, gave the bar a bleach-heavy deep clean, and created a hipster-cool tiki bar with well-stocked shelves, tattooed barmen parading Hawaiian shirts and spiky plants lining the walls and floors. Try the signature cocktail, the Polynesian Remedy, a heady, medicinal elixir with ginger, honey and rum. Indulge in tiki cocktails in former brothel Dirty Dick (Facebook) The locals love this aphrodisiac-peddling bar Fuel your evening with a wicked combination of oysters and plonk. Le Baron Rouge is a local bar crammed with big barrels of the regions best red and white, shelves lined with even more of the stuff and walls covered in old-school, black-and-white prints. While the red-ceilinged, brightly lit and loud room doesnt scream come get me, the oysters which are prepped on the bar outside are on point, and if the aphrodisiac rumours are true, youll be highly razzed up by the time you stumble out. Load em with sours and spice, and knock them back with the days wine recommendation. Wine and oysters at Le Baron Rouge, perfect for getting in the mood (Pierre Lannes/Flickr) Theres a spa where you can upgrade your partner Facials, massages and mani-pedis are a bit blah: if you're feeling really risque, do it Paris style and swing by a partner-swapping spa instead. The concept at Eclipse Love Spa is exactly as it sounds: take a seat at the bar, naked of course, and peruse your options, waiting to see who takes your fancy. Couples are welcomed, single women are even better, but sorry guys single men are not allowed in this space. Once youve, er, enjoyed the sauna with your new friends, head back to the common areas and make the most of the free buffet which comes with a side plate of free condoms. It's the little things... Travel essentials Getting there Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com) operates up to 19 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord with one-way fares starting from 29. More information en.parisinfo.com Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Captain Todd Insler, who is chairman of the Master Executive Council representing 12,000 United Airlines pilots, described Norwegian as a flag-of-convenience airline. In a letter to President Trump, he said Barack Obamas decision to allow budget transatlantic flights will destroy our US airline industry and all of the jobs associated with it. Norwegian has a Dublin-based subsidiary, Norwegian Air International Limited (NAI), which was set up to operate new transatlantic links using Boeing 737 jets. Shortly before Barack Obama stepped down as president, it was granted a US Foreign Carrier Permit. Captain Todd claimed the airlines business model is based on labour contracts governed by Singapore and Thailand and undercuts the marketplace allowing NAI to steal US jobs. He wrote to Donald Trump: I am reaching out to you to ask for attention to this issue and your support for overturning this terrible, policy-setting decision from a lame-duck president. I hope you will boisterously oppose this bad decision. But Bjorn Kjos, chief executive of Norwegian, told The Independent: They are trying to protect their jobs. They dont like changes. We are doing exactly what Trump likes us to do. We have a lot of American employees, In the long-haul sector, we have more employees in the US than in Europe. Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG the conglomerate that owns British Airways said he expected the open skies agreement between Europe and the US to continue under the new American president: The consumer benefit is very clear and overwhelming. It has been very beneficial to our US allies. Under the controversial Fly America Act, Washington requires federal employees travelling on business to use US air carrier service for all air travel and cargo transportation services funded by the US government. Meanwhile, Ryanair has said it has no intention to start low-cost transatlantic flights while prices of long-haul aircraft remain high. The airlines chief executive, Michael OLeary, said he was setting up partnerships with other airlines to feed flights to the US from European hubs with technology the main obstacle. He told the Airlines for Europe summit in Brussels: If my IT people can get off their fat arses, by the summer of this year we will have our first feed agreement, for Norwegian or Aer Lingus. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Since taking office, Donald Trump has unleashed a rolling tempest of utterances that could be described as, well, impugning. He is a serial impugner, often by Tweet. So-called judges, the very dishonest media. His is a philosophy of reverse-courtesy and insult as political weapon. That is only one reason why the shutting down of Elizabeth Warren on the Senate floor because of her opposition to Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as Americas next Attorney General was so astounding. Another is the sheer boneheadedness of the Republicans who did it, notably Mansplainer-in-Chief Mitch McConnell. The backlash has only just begun. What were they so afraid of anyway? The way the Republicans have manipulated the rules, there was never any doubt that Senator Sessions was on his way to being confirmed in his new post even though there are any number of compelling reasons to doubt his suitability for it. Some of those came to light when in 1986 when he was up for a federal judgeship. He was turned down for the job amidst claims he had displayed racist attitudes while serving as a federal prosecutor. Like the time he was discussing a murder case involving KKK members. He said he had been okay with them until he discovered they smoked marijuana. He testified in 1986 he had been joking. But it didnt seem any funnier then than it does now. In his two decades in the US Senate, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, to use his full name, has been consistent in his opposition to immigration, illegal and even legal, fervently opposing any past attempt at reform that would have offered amnesty to any of those already in the country without documentation. Democrats see him as a threat to voting rights and civil rights. Most concerning is the degree to which Sessions and Trump are hip-conjoined. He was the first member of Congress to endorse Trump one year ago and worked tirelessly for him on the campaign trail. Yet if there is one cabinet post that demands independence from the political priorities of the Oval Office, it is this one. In times when a president or his executive are accused of breaking the law, for example, it is the Attorney General who decides if an investigation is appropriate. Warren, in case you missed it, had the temerity during debate on Sessions to cite letters written at the time of his 1986 judgeship hearing by the late Senator Ted Kennedy and Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Kennedy had written: He is, I believe, a disgrace to the Justice Department and he should withdraw his nomination and resign his position. In her letter, Ms King said Sessions' actions as a federal prosecutor were reprehensible and that he used his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. She went on: Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge. McConnell had invoked one of that clubs more obscure rules that prohibits members from, yes, impugning one another. To use Rule 19, as it is known, against Warren was absurd not least because senators have said much worse without anyone mentioning it. In 2015, Ted Cruz called McConnell a liar on the Senate floor. No Rule 19 problem then. Last year, Senator Tom Cotton talked about the cancerous leadership of Senator Harry Reid. Nope, no Rule 19 then either. But here was McConnell positively glowing with satisfaction after the triggering of Rule 19 was put to a vote and was passed by 49 to 43, strictly on party lines. The effect was straightforward: Warren was thereafter forbidden from taking the floor to say anything until the final vote to confirm Session was taken. She had been muzzled. Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech, McConnell said flatly. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Precocious and disobedient, she had been sent - by that wagging finger - to the naughty seat. Also by that wagging finger, McConnell had attached a booster rocket to Warrens chances of being the Democratic presidential candidate in 2020. History should have told him that gagging an opponent rarely has the desired effect. (Imprisoning her, even in Trumps America, presumably wont be an option.) Within minutes of her being forced to sit down, T-shirts were being printed across America with She Persisted slapped across them. Supporters of Warren christened the handle #LetLizSpeak on Twitter and posted copies of Kings letter on Facebook. Warren herself left the chamber for another room in the Senate building where she recorded a Facebook video reading the letter by Ms Scott King. As I write this, it has already attracted over six million views. Other Democrat Senators, including Bernie Sanders, defiantly used the time they had during the waning hours of debate on Sessions also to read from the letter. The idea that a letter, a statement made by Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., a letter that she wrote, could not be presented and spoken about here on the floor of the Senate, is to me incomprehensible, Sanders said before reading the letter. I want the American people to make a decision whether or not we should be able to look at Senator Sessions' record and hear from one of the heroines of the Civil Rights Movement. The battle over Sessions is lost to Democrats, but the war is just getting started. The antediluvian behaviour of McConnell and his Senate crew has poured still more fuel on the fury of a progressive movement that is already on the march to take away his majority in 2018 and dump Trump in 2020. And for now, at least, no one offers a better vessel for that anger than Warren. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Government conceded little yesterday, but Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit Secretary, was entitled to claim success in forcing the Government to yield as much as possible. The problem for Starmer is that he was immediately cut down by MPs on his own side Yvette Cooper in particular claiming that the Government concession was worthless. What David Jones, the Brexit minister, said that was new was that Parliament would vote on the Brexit deal that the Prime Minister is going to negotiate before the European Parliament does. A Downing Street spokesperson seemed to play this down by saying that he was merely clarifying the timetable, but it is an important clarification. Under Article 50, the terms under which a member state leaves the EU have to be approved by the European Parliament. So if the UK Parliament demands changes to the deal it would still be possible, in theory, for May to ask other EU leaders for those changes before the deal is signed off by the European Parliament. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images 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 As this was what Starmer was trying to force the Government to promise, he was entitled to claim victory. Joness promise was hardly a cast-iron guarantee of a Westminster vote. But it was good enough: We expect and intend that this will happen before the European Parliament debates and votes on the final agreement. . The trouble only really started later, when Jones clarified the position further, by saying that the vote in the British Parliament at that stage will be the choice between leaving the European Union with a negotiated deal or not. This ought to be a statement of the obvious. The other EU leaders are not going to negotiate with Theresa May thinking that she might come back for more. Whatever deal is agreed if a deal can be agreed at all can only be agreed as a 'take it or leave it' proposal. Jeremy Corbyn says he is 'very lenient' in response to possible shadow cabinet sackings over Brexit whip So Starmer and Cooper are both right. The Governments concession is real, but it is a procedural nicety. Fundamentally, Starmer is more right than Cooper, because he realises that the House of Commons as a body cannot negotiate with EU leaders: that has to be a job for the Government. What is more, and you can see why he doesnt want to say this explicitly, Labour agrees with the Governments basic position. The Labour leadership accepts the result of the referendum. It also supports given that we are leaving the EU the end of free movement of people. But it wants to avoid tariff (and non-tariff) barriers to trade with the EU. If Corbyn and Starmer were leading the British negotiations, they would be seeking exactly what May and David Davis are seeking, and can only squabble about details. Starmers problem is that he is too reasonable and lawyerly for the crudities of politics. On the BBC Today programme this morning he got lost in the detail. He tried to make the point, which might be interesting in a 600-word article for The Independent, that the Government had conceded that the vote in Parliament would be not just on the arrangements for British withdrawal but on its future relationship with the EU, including a transitional deal. He could simply have said that he had forced the Government to do what Labour wanted, which was to concede a meaningful vote before the end of the negotiations. It doesnt amount to much, because it cannot, given that Labour refuses to try to obstruct or delay Brexit. But in politics you have to crow about your victories when you can. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} According to the Nigel Farages of the world, either you welcome the triggering of Article 50 or you belong to the liberal, cosmopolitan bubble. Worrying about the economy is bad enough, but if you raise the spectre of war in Europe, plenty of people will denounce you as a bubble-dweller before you even finish your sentence. They are right of course, you do live in a bubble; but then, so do they. So do most people who live in the UK. It is the bubble you get after seven decades of peace, stability, and relative prosperity. Statistically speaking, this kind of stability is rare. When you happen to have grown up in it, its easy to forget that. The problem, as those previous generations found out, is that thinking something is impossible does not stop it from happening. For my great-grandparents, it burst in 1917. Like everyone else living in Moscow, they had watched as instability blazed into violence, until, finally, a full blown revolution was underway. Suddenly, the unthinkable had happened, and all the speculation and debate boiled down to a simple choice: hope for the best or assume the worst. Recommended Jeremy Corbyn challenged Theresa May over the NHS at PMQs today As it turned out, the decision to flee Russia almost certainly saved my great-grandparents lives. Within a few years, the Russian Civil War had killed millions upon millions of men, women, and children. There was no question of going back; the society they had left behind no longer existed. Instead, my great-grandparents decided to start their lives over in Poland. It wasnt easy, but at least they had outrun the violence. At least they would be safe. By the late 1930s, that safety looked a lot less certain. Anti-Semitism had reached fever pitch in Poland; beyond its borders lay both Hitler and Stalin. My grandfather was sent to study in the UK, but the rest of the family stayed put. The thought of leaving everything behind again was too much. Besides, it seemed inconceivable that things could really fall apart all over again. Recommended Why Theresa May needs a Deputy Prime Minister By the time my great-grandparents and my great-aunt finally did join my grandfather in the UK, it was 1940. He had joined the Polish armed forces in the West; they had witnessed the Nazi occupation of Warsaw. They were among the 10 per cent of Polish Jews who managed to escape alive. For the second time in less than 30 years, they had watched civilized society degenerate into chaos and savagery. It has been 71 years since 1945. That may feel like an eternity, but in the grand scheme of things, its a blip. The peace and stability we take for granted is a very short chapter in a very long and very violent book. We live in a bubble; a lot of effort went into creating and maintaining it, but it is a bubble all the same. And any bubble can burst. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In all that is being said about Theresa May, Brexit and her relations with Donald Trump, little attention has been given to the extraordinary workload of the Prime Minister. At the end of last month, May spent Thursday and Friday in Washington to meet the new US President. She then flew to Turkey on Saturday. On Monday she went to Cardiff to meet the leaders of the devolved administrations who each have concerns about Brexit, and on Tuesday she travelled to Dublin to meet the leadership of the EU member state with most reason to be concerned about the UKs intended departure. On Wednesday she was back in the House of Commons for her weekly session of Prime Ministers Questions. But by Friday was on the move again, heading to Malta for the informal meeting with EU leaders. The Prime Minister must play her best possible game at a series of highly-charged European summits and council meetings. There will inevitably be one key theme of the main international forums including the G8 and G20, and even the Nato summit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting: everyone wants to talk to her about Brexit. But how is the Prime Minister to cope with Brexit while running the country with a small majority? What about her domestic policies? She needs support. Theresa May announces Brexit white paper May cannot and should not delegate responsibility for Brexit to her ministerial colleagues. It is the issue that will define her premiership and she must be seen to take personal responsibility for it. The same argument applies to the wider diplomatic agenda which is so dominated by Brexit. Equally, she needs to keep a tight rein on her three cabinet colleagues with responsibility for Brexit: Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox. She cannot give any one of the three ascendancy over the other two. But where else can she look for help? Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, is the ultimate safe pair of hands. Sometimes rather dry in tone, Hammond is of one mind with the Prime Minister on matters economic. She need not worry that he needs watching, but he does not need the distraction of a second job overseeing his cabinet colleagues. Recommended Labour forced the Government to concede as much as possible on Brexit The potential so far unseen hazards for Mays Government are not so much on the foreign or economic desks but on the home front. The strain on the NHS, the crisis in social care, the housing shortage, continuing chaos on the railways, discontent in the prisons. Any one of these let alone two or three in combination could provoke a serious political crisis. The UKs second female PM should perhaps remind herself that Margaret Thatcher who saw off General Galtieri and the National Union of Mineworkers was brought down by the seemingly dull issue of local government finance. May has also pledged to preserve the United Kingdom. It used to be said of David Cameron that if he lost the referendum on independence for Scotland he would be remembered for nothing else. He will now be remembered for his failure in a different referendum. The vacant title of The Prime Minister Who Broke The Union is Mays for the taking. To avoid such ignominies, the Prime Minister should appoint a senior minister who should handle relations with the nations and the regions of the United Kingdom; to look for compromises and ways to cement the United Kingdom together, while she detaches the country from the European Union. The Prime Minister simply does not have the time to do all the jobs currently on her plate. Working with the devolved administrations, overseeing domestic policy, chairing Cabinet committees and knocking ministerial heads together, is a job for a deputy prime minister. Looking around her Cabinet table, few of Mays colleagues meet the dual criteria for the role of deputy: the authority to do the job but without appearing to be an alternative PM should the challenge of Brexit prove too great for May herself. Donald Trump answers Theresa May's question for her first on Mexico relations Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, and Damian Green, Work and Pensions Secretary, are perhaps best qualified on grounds of loyalty and gravitas. Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, and the Chancellor too obviously possible successors to the top and each is already holding down a big job. The role of DPM should not be combined with running a major department. An able and loyal deputy who enjoys the Prime Ministers full backing should be an asset to May. And just in case anyone is tempted to suggest that appointing one might be interpreted as a sign of weakness, it is worth noting that Churchill, Attlee and Blair each had a Deputy PM throughout their time at Number 10 as did Mrs Thatcher during her more successful first two terms. And on a more cautionary note, Anthony Eden, Alec Douglas-Home, Jim Callaghan and Gordon Brown were happy to do without. Alun Evans is chief executive of the British Academy and Gerard Hetherington is a member of the British Academys Audit Committee. Both are former senior civil servants US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at the federal judges mulling whether to reinstate his controversial travel ban, calling them "so political" and saying even a "bad high school student" would see the law was on his side. "I think our security is at risk today," Trump told a meeting of sheriffs from around the nation, as he defended his executive order, which was blocked nationwide by the federal courts a week after it went into effect. Trump's executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and Syrian refugees are blocked indefinitely. Travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are barred from entry for 90 days. "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased and we haven't had a decision yet," Trump said. "But courts seem to be so political, and it would be so great for our justice system if they would be able to read a statement and do what's right." The Republican president, now in his third week in office, said even "a bad high school student" would think he was right about his reading of the law -- which he read out loud -- with comments interspersed. "If these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court in terms of respect for the court, they'd do what they should be doing. It's so sad," said Trump, who noted he had listened to the hour-long appeals court hearing on Tuesday. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule by week's end on whether or not to reinstate the travel ban, which created chaos at airports both in the US and abroad, and prompted large protests. The measure was suspended last Friday in a lower federal court, re-opening US borders to the thousands of refugees and travelers who had been suddenly barred from the country. The Justice Department has argued that the federal court in Seattle overstepped by suspending the measure, and that national security is at stake -- a position hammered home by Trump. But the three-judge appeals court panel often appeared skeptical during Tuesday's hearing, with Judge Richard Clifton at one point calling the government's argument "pretty abstract." The White House insists the decree is in the interest of national security, giving the new administration time to beef up vetting procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Its detractors claim it violates the constitution by discriminating against people on the basis of their religion. Search Keywords: Short link: Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Across Iceland on 24 October 1975, the nations women took the day off. Whatever they were due to do in those 12 working hours whether they were expected to don overalls and work the factory floors, open shops and ring the tills or spend the day holding a baby or caring for older relatives they simply didnt. The economy ground to a halt. In one single day, half of the population had proved the worth and the value of their work. Within months they had achieved significant change. Before the strike, the gender pay gap was an estimated 40 per cent. Women also found they were unable to obtain paid work outside the home due to the expectation that they would shoulder the burden of childcare and home-making. Four decades on, the picture couldnt look more different. Iceland tops the World Economic Forums gender gap index, has been named as the best place in the world to be a working woman and boasts the most effective shared parental leave legislation in Scandinavia, with a use-it-or-lose it clauses that pushes men to make time for their new families. The effect of that one day in 1975 in eliminating entrenched sexist attitudes was rapid and quite staggering. Without it, would Iceland be the nation it is now? Local women doubt it. So now Britains Womens Equality Party want some of the action. Leader Sophie Walker revealed this week that the party is preparing to organise a so-called Womens Day Off in the UK, to be held in 2018. 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 Just like in Iceland, Walker said the day would show the value of womens economic contributions, as well as underline the crucial role women play in holding together families, communities and industries. It is only when this is truly valued that women will be judged equally alongside men. Our day will be an historic moment. It will change British culture for good. I want to agree. The activist in me, the romantic part that was moved to tears by the sight of millions of women marching on city centres around the world to protest the misogyny of Donald Trump, wants to believe that, like Iceland, we can have our day off and reap the long-term rewards. Theres certainly a need to remind Britain of the value of womens work. The number of women in paid employment in Britain hit a record high three years ago, but the gap in pay between men and women is persistent and unmoving at around 18 per cent; by some measures, the gap is beginning to grow. Women in Britain still shoulder the majority of the burden of other work, from household chores and care giving across the generations to the emotional labour which does indeed provide that glue that holds families fast and keeps communities functioning. Philip Davies: 'Women and equalities committee' should be renamed to remove reference to women But as much as I want a single day to mark a turning point for British women, I fear theres work to do before were ready for such an act of defiance. The practicalities are part of the problem. In Iceland in the 1970s, 90 per cent of women took part in the day off but that only amounted to somewhere just over 100,000 people. In Britain, wed be asking 32.2 million people to lay down tools and take a day off. Never mind the legality of an unauthorised, unballoted strike its a virtual impossibility to coordinate an action on that scale even with a years notice. Sadly, if only fraction of the UKs women take part in the 2018 Day Off, it simply wont have its desired effect: proving in economic terms the hidden value of women, particularly when it comes to unpaid roles in the home or involving care and support, requires an all in attitude. The system has to collapse entirely, if just for a handful of hours, to prove to those to who doubt it that the system is propped up by the exploitation of women. A smaller protest, even if it takes in as many as three or four million women, could even do the opposite; if some men, particularly those in influential decision-making positions within major employers, dont directly feel the effects, are women counter-productively suggesting their efforts are superfluous? I dont believe that, of course. But the unintended consequences of feminist campaigns are an important consideration. Though women fought hard to help reduce (though of course, not eliminate) gender discrimination at work with the passing of the 1970 Equal Pay Act in the UK, women did not predict how this progressive legislation would be exploited by employers to pay everyone less by reducing the assumption that a full-time salary would not only support an individual but their dependents. Now most families choose to have two members of the household in work to secure the same quality of life that was once secured with one salary. Meanwhile, the pay gap in Iceland is still floating somewhere between 14 and 18 per cent. In many ways, women in the UK are fighting the same battles as women in Iceland. They may have a better system of parental care, but women in work are still facing barriers to their success. The Womens Day Off is an exciting idea. I hope that it inspires a new generation of women to know their value and to demand what they are worth. But will it solve the big question of why Britain is sitting at number 18 on the World Economic Forum gender gap index, below Namibia and Nicaragua? Electing a 50 per cent female parliament would be a better step towards that. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has said Donald Trump could be an effective US president US President Donald Trump could be a "very effective" leader, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has claimed . The chief executive of the low-cost airline urged people to " wait to see" what the president achieves during his time in the White House. Mr Trump has come under fire for a number of policies, including the imposition of a travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries and plans to build a US-Mexico border wall. Speaking at an aviation summit in Brussels, Mr O'Leary said: " If he implements some of his stated policies - reducing taxes, promoting fracking, lowering the price of oil - it would be very good not just for the US economy but for the world economy generally. "Some of the other stuff I don't understand. Why you care how many showed up to your inauguration is beyond me. You're already the president. It shouldn't matter. "If he carries out some of the sensible policies he could be very effective. "The media don't like him but then they didn't like (president) Ronald Reagan either. They all thought he was some mad cowboy when he got elected. "We should wait to see what Trump does over the next two years and if it's successful, great." On Monday, the speaker of the United Kingdom's House of Commons, John Bercow, sparked a row when he told MPs he was "strongly opposed" to Mr Trump addressing the British p arliament during his forthcoming state visit. He said the UK parliament's opposition to racism and sexism as well as its support for the law were "hugely important considerations". Mr Bercow faced calls to consider his position but insisted h e was acting "honestly and honourably" in carrying out his responsibilities. Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan has denied spreading allegations of sex crimes against a whistleblower in the force. The police chief said she was surprised by claims of her involvement in a smear campaign targeting Sergeant Maurice McCabe and insisted it was the first time she had heard the accusation. The explosive allegations about a sex crime slur were revealed by Labour leader Brendan Howlin who said he was contacted by a journalist who claimed to have direct knowledge of the Commissioner being in contact with other reporters. Ms O'Sullivan said she was taking an unprecedented step to publicly deny the claims despite a judge-led inquiry being ordered. A statement from her office said: " The Commissioner has no knowledge of the matters referred to by Deputy Howlin and refutes in the strongest terms the suggestion that she has engaged in the conduct alleged against a serving member of An Garda Siochana. "This is the first occasion on which the Commissioner has been made aware of the allegations made by Deputy Howlin and to her knowledge no report having been made to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman or elsewhere relating to the specific allegations." Judge Peter Charleton has been appointed to lead an inquiry into allegations that senior officers attempted to blacken Sgt McCabe's name among the media with unfounded allegations. He will examine nine issues including whether Commissioner O'Sullivan knew about it or if she played any part in directing it. The Commissioner said Judge Charleton will get full cooperation from the force. "In the interim, the members of An Garda Siochana affected by the remarks published today will receive all necessary supports and assistance having regard to the potential impact for the members concerned and their families," the Commissioner's statement added. The smear campaign allegations were made by the former head of the Garda press office, Superintendent Dave Taylor, who is currently suspended from the force over the leaking of the names of Roma children taken into social care in 2013. Mr Taylor claimed that senior gardai targeted Sgt McCabe in a widespread character assassination by passing on false and damaging allegations. The decision to call a full judge-led Commission of Inquiry was taken following a recommendation by Judge Iarfhlaith O'Neill, who filed a report on the scandal to Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald last December. Under Dail privilege, Mr Howlin said a journalist told him that Commissioner O'Sullivan called journalists during 2013 and 2014 about "very serious allegations of sexual crimes having been committed by Garda Maurice McCabe". "The journalist to whom I spoke this morning is somebody I know, and who I believe has the utmost integrity," Mr Howlin said. "That journalist has not received direct contact from Commissioner O'Sullivan, but has direct knowledge of such contacts with other journalists. "I am satisfied that the allegations raised with me this morning were of sufficient gravity that they deserve to be considered in full, and that they underline the need for Commissioner O'Sullivan to stand aside from her duties while the commission of investigation is under way." Mr Howlin said the Commissioner's position was untenable as she would be required to hand over phone records held under her authority by the force. The Labour leader said the allegations date from a two-year period around the time when a separate internal inquiry was launched over the leaking of information to the media by another senior officer. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the allegations were "of the most serious import" and "wholly and vehemently denied". Mr Kenny rejected the call for Ms O'Sullivan to stand aside as commissioner and no finding of wrongdoing had been made against her. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail criticised Mr Howlin for repeating allegations in the Dail against someone who cannot defend their reputation in the parliament and said the claims were "extremely dangerous". Global technology firm HP Inc is to shut its main operations in Ireland with the loss of several hundred jobs. The multinational's facility in Leixlip, Co Kildare, focuses on products for the PC and printer market, which is under increasing pressure from the fall in traditional computer sales, the move away from printing documents and preference for tablet technology. Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor said there had been extensive but unsuccessful talks with the company to avoid the closure of the plant. "It is important for the workers to know that I have asked that all the supports of the state will be made available to any workers affected by this decision," she said. The HP Inc plant is set to close by February next year. Ms Mitchell O'Connor added: "I am in daily contact with the IDA and I have asked the agency to continue with their efforts to ensure jobs are delivered to the region. "IDA will continue to work with the company in the time ahead to help secure a buyer for the Leixlip site. Securing investment for Kildare and the surrounding region is a continuing priority." HP Inc said in a statement: "In line with our previously communicated strategy, HP's global print business is working to drive continuous efficiencies and cost savings that enable investment in new market opportunities and growth initiatives, such as 3D printing. "As a result, we have made the decision to close our global print business at the Leixlip site. "It is likely that close to 500 HP employees will be impacted and leave the business over the next 12 months." Hewlett Packard split into two separate companies in 2015, HP Inc and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The latter focuses on new technology such as cloud computing, is unaffected by the announcement and continues to employ 2,100 staff at its sites in Leixlip, Galway and Cork. Opposition politicians called for the Government to seek state and European supports for workers to get new jobs, retrain or upskill. Labour's Alan Kelly said: "Efforts must also be made by the IDA to source a replacement industry for the region to deal with the jobs vacuum that will be left. "We're entering into a time of major uncertainty with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, and it is vital that Ireland is pitched as an attractive place to do business with a highly skilled workforce." Local Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke said: "The Government needs to put in place a multi-agency task force to assist workers in finding alternative employment." HP Inc said the Leixlip facility has been an important site for operations over the last 20 years and that it has "a long history of valuable contribution, innovation and business excellence". "This decision is not a reflection on our Ireland employees or on the site's performance," it said. "We are very aware of the impact this decision will have on our employees in Ireland and we are focusing all of our efforts on supporting them, on identifying opportunities for them and on providing a programme to help them prepare for the transition ahead." Hewlett Packard first set up a sales office in Ireland in 1976 and the Leixlip facility - a major employer in the Kildare region - was established in 1995, producing ink-jet printer cartridges and working on research and development. Senior management from the company's head offices in Palo Alto, California, briefed employees at a meeting in the facility. The report estimates that around 1.8 trillion of UK banking assets will be on the move following Brexit. Photo: PA Almost a fifth of wholesale finance activity within the European Union could shift to Ireland after Brexit, a Brussels-based think tank has projected. It would make this country a major European financial power house. London currently dominates the sector, which includes large-scale banking for other banks, large corporations and finance houses. The Bruegel think tank said 2pc of the EU's wholesale activity is currently here, versus 90pc in the UK, but this share could increase to up to 15pc or 18pc once it leaves the EU. The report estimates that around 1.8 trillion of UK banking assets will be on the move following Brexit. About 35pc of London wholesale banking currently relates to clients in the other 27 EU member states. That varies from about a fifth for UK-headquartered banks, to a third for US and half for EU banks. "Thus, about 1.8 trillion, or 17pc, of all UK banking assets might be on the move as a direct consequence of Brexit," the report states. It also claimed that about 10,000 banking jobs and 20,000 related professional services roles could be up for grabs by other EU capitals as a result, with Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam among the cities listed. However it also notes that other cities, including Brussels, Luxembourg, Warsaw, Milan and Vienna could also feature. The report presents two scenarios for capital markets services in the wake of Brexit - an integrated wholesale market, or one that fragments along national lines. "In both scenarios, the UK's share of the total European wholesale market drops from 90pc to 60pc because of Brexit," it notes. "The starting point is that financial firms with a MiFID passport can serve EU27 clients from anywhere in the EU27, just as they currently do from London." Read more: The report, co-authored by Andre Sapir, Dirk Schoenmaker and Nicolas Veron, stated that in the fragmented case, Frankfurt, given the fact that it already hosts the biggest European operations of the US investment banks outside of London, and is home to the European Central Bank, will become the main centre with 45pc of the EU27 wholesale market. Paris, which is home to the European Securities and Markets Authority and several large banks, may cover 20pc, and Dublin and Amsterdam might cover 15pc and 10pc respectively. In the scenario that assumes integration, there is less need for all activities in one location, therefore the industry could be more geographically spread across the bloc. In this case, 35pc of wholesale finance would be in Frankfurt, 12 to 20pc in Amsterdam, Dublin and Paris each, with Dublin getting 18pc. "The fact that several countries are vying to attract business from London suggests that they hope to reap the benefits from having larger financial sectors, not least in the form of additional tax revenue," the report noted. "At the same time, countries with larger financial sectors face higher potential costs associated with potential public expenditure in case of financial turmoil. These potential costs would be shared by all euro-area countries in a full banking union, but not in an incomplete banking union, as is currently the case. "It will be a challenge to keep a sense of the balance between the benefits and potential costs across euro-area countries." The report comes a day after a senior French politician on a visit to London to poach bankers, warned Britain will lose crucial financial access rights to the EU. Valerie Pecresse, president of Ile-de-France, said Brexit is opening up "fierce competition" between Europe's capital cities vying to take business from the City. Brexit minister David Jones earlier told MPs there would be a vote on the deal before it is concluded and it is intended to take place before the European Parliament debates and votes on the agreement. Photo: PA The British Government last night decisively struck down an amendment to its Brexit bill calling for MPs and peers to have the final say on any deal to leave the European Union. MPs voted 326 to 293 to reject amendment 110 tabled by Labour MP Chris Leslie. A handful of Tory MPs supported it, but the motion was passed by a majority of 33. Seven Conservative MPs, Ken Clarke, Bob Neill, Andrew Tyrie, Claire Perry, Anna Soubry, Antoinette Sandbach and Heidi Allen, defied their party whip. But their protest was virtually cancelled out by six Labour MPs, Frank Field, Ronnie Campbell, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, Graham Stringer and Gisela Stuart, who voted with the government. Tory rebels hit out at the government after it appeared to make a concession to appease Remain campaigners, only to later play down suggestions it had made any compromise. Conservative former education secretary Nicky Morgan was seen having a heated exchange with the partys chief whip, Gavin Williamson, before returning to the backbenches while the vote took place. She tweeted: Govt did make a concession but for No 10 to then brief there was no change & Minister to undermine it makes no sense. Conservative former minister Bob Neill said he had voted against the government for the first time ever. Tory MP Heidi Allen rebelled, tweeting: Ive just voted in support of new clause 110, along with many conservative colleagues. Former chancellor George Osborne failed to turn up for the vote. The amendment to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill from Chris Leslie required parliament to approve any new treaty or relationship before final agreement with the EU, but was defeated by 326 votes to 293. Brexit minister David Jones earlier told MPs there would be a vote on the deal before it is concluded and it is intended to take place before the European Parliament debates and votes on the agreement. Labour claimed the move as a significant victory in response to its repeated demands for a meaningful vote at the end of the two-year negotiation process. But pressure group Open Britain said it should be rejected as a con and many MPs hit out at the refusal to give them a veto should no Brexit deal be agreed. Downing Street played down suggestions the move amounted to a concession to potential Conservative rebels, insisting that it merely clarified the timing of the vote promised by Prime Minister Theresa May in her Lancaster House speech last month. Meanwhile, Mrs May has declined to give her full confidence in John Bercow, after his extraordinary attack on Donald Trump in the House of Commons on Monday, when the Speaker said the US president would not be welcome to address parliament in his upcoming state visit. Mr Bercow told the Commons that he was strongly opposed to the president addressing parliament, and an invite to do so was not an automatic right but an earned honour. Asked for her reaction to Mr Bercows remarks, her spokesperson said: What John Bercow suggests to parliament is a matter for parliament. What I will set out is our position, which is weve extended this invitation to the president and we look forward to receiving him later this year. Ireland cannot allow a post-Brexit deal that damages centuries-old relationship between Irish food producers and their British customers ICMSA President told a House of Commons meeting yesterday. ICMSA and other farming bodies met with Andrea Leadsom, the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where John Comer said that trade between the two countries is vital. The President of ICMSA said the meeting represented a real opportunity to get across to UK parliamentarians the full extent and value of the food trade in both directions and the overwhelming need to safeguard that as the Brexit process begins with the widely expected Triggering of Article 50 next month. Over 41pc of Ireland's total food and drink exports going to the UK - a figure that he estimated at around 4.4 billion, he said, while Ireland imports around 3bn worth of food and drink from the UK. Ireland exports 52pc of its total beef production to the UK, while it also exported some 65,000 head of cattle to Northern Ireland and Britain in 2015, while some 10,000 pigs are exported from the Republic to Northern Ireland each week. "The UK and that British exporters would also struggle to find as dependable and steady a market as we had proved to be." Comer said the number and complexity of the issues involved were dizzying and he identified transit across the UK to mainland Europe, all Ireland animal health, cross- border farm holdings, cross-border Co-op processing, currency fluctuation and most important of all the possibility of tariffs or quotas as just some of the more prominent challenges that well face. ICSA, which also met with Leadsom, said that the agri-food links need to be recognised as vital and protected as such. ICSA President Patrick Kent said this was acknowledged by Secretary Leadsom. "Therefore, there needs to be trade talks running parallel with the Brexit negotiations. It is simply too late to start negotiating a trade deal between the UK and Europe only after Brexit negotiations have concluded. Irish farmers have already taken a hit as a result of Brexit that cannot be sustained and needs to be reversed. Farmers are at a crossroads regarding farm decisions. At current levels it is just not sustainable at farm gate level. We have to cut production until we have a clearer view of what trade deal will be done between the UK and EU." Kent said he also raised concerns with Secretary Leadsom about the risk of the UK market being flooded with New Zealand lamb or South American and Canadian beef and sought assurances that this would be limited. The British government "does not believe there should be a second referendum" on Scottish independence, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said Wednesday, following reports that she is making contingency plans for another vote. Speculation is mounting that Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will declare her intention to hold a rerun of the September 2014 vote, as a poll published Wednesday revealed rising support for independence ahead of Britain's departure from the European Union. "We don't believe that there should be a second referendum. There has been a referendum, it was clear, decisive, it was legal, and both sides agreed to abide by the results of that referendum," May's spokesman told journalists on Wednesday. Downing Street was responding to a report that it had told Scottish newspaper The Courier it was holding "contingency" talks to deal with a referendum announcement. Scotland rejected independence by 55 percent in 2014, but 20 months later it voted to remain in the European Union by 62 percent, sparking calls for a fresh vote. The battle over Scotland's constitutional future is now almost an even split, according to a new poll released Wednesday. Support has risen to 49 percent, excluding undecided voters, with 51 percent in favour of staying in the British union, a BMG poll for the Herald newspaper said. The poll was conducted after May confirmed her intention to take Britain out of the European single market. Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has said a second independence referendum is now "highly likely", and allies have suggested it could be as early as 2018. Former SNP leader Alex Salmond tweeted a picture of the Herald's front page story on the poll, saying: "Game on..." The SNP said the latest poll showed the independence debate is now "a virtual dead heat". "If the Tories continue with their blind pursuit of a hard Brexit, ignoring the clear view of an overwhelming majority of people in Scotland, then more and more people will see independence as the option delivering certainty and stability," said SNP chair Derek Mackay. Conducted among 1,067 voters aged over 16, the poll asked: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" with 43 percent saying "Yes" and 45 percent saying "No". The remainder were undecided or would not say. It represents a three-point swing towards independence from a similar BMG/Herald poll conducted in December. However, the survey also found 56 percent of Scots do not want another independence referendum before the conclusion of Brexit negotiations, expected in 2019. The Scottish parliament, in a symbolic motion, voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to reject Britain's march towards the EU exit, with the semi-autonomous government warning Scotland would not be "humiliated". The Scottish government said the vote -- backed by nearly three quarters of Scottish lawmakers from across the political spectrum -- is one of the most important in the parliament's 18-year history. May warned Wednesday that an independent Scotland "would not be in the European Union." Search Keywords: Short link: New environmental targets for farming could see Greenhouse Gas emissions reduced by more than 14pc in some farming sectors. The figures come as an EU report states that Ireland faces missing two of its thee EU 2020 climate targets. Ireland signed up to reduce carbon emissions by 20pc from its 2005 levels, but a new report from the European Commission predicts that Ireland will be over 12pc off that target. Today's report from Bord Bia states that under its Origin Green sustainability programme for the food and drink industry, which was launched four and a half years ago, over 137,000 carbon assessments have been completed on Irish beef and dairy farms. According to Bord Bia, over 37,000 individual improvement targets have been established for Irish beef farmers, and another 28,000 for dairy farmers. When completed, these targets could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7pc and 14pc respectively, it says. Origin Green is a national sustainability plan for the entire food and drink sector and 800 farmers a week are assessed to provide information on the performance of Irish farms with regard to sustainable practices. Since 2011, over 117,000 farm carbon assessments have taken place on over 49,000 beef farms in Ireland, which show that there remains considerable variation among farms with results ranging from 5kg to 18kg CO2equivalent/kg beef produced. Results to date from Bord Bia show a minor eduction in the average carbon footprint from 11.59kg CO2e/kg beef in 2015 to 11.58 in 2016. It goes on to say that if those performing lower than average moved to the average, emissions could potentially reduce by 500,000t CO2e annually. Each 5pc improvement achieved by BLQAS farms currently behind the average would help reduce GHG emissions by almost 185,000 tonnes CO2e. The report by Bord Bia shows that 220 major players in the Irish food, drink and horticulture sector, representing 90pc of total exports, committed to more than 1,600 sustainability targets during 2016, a 100pc increase on 2015 figures. Set in areas such as raw material sourcing, energy usage and emissions, water and waste management, and social sustainability, the ambitious targets have been established as part of the industrys participation in Bord Bias Origin Green sustainability programme. Some 70pc of dairy farms in Ireland are certified part of the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) and its figures show that a wide level of variation remains with results ranging from 0.8kg 1.7kg CO2e/ fat and protein corrected milk. It says that a sustained reduction in average carbon footprint from 1.21 kg CO2e/kg fat & protein corrected milk in 2015 to 1.14kg in 2016, and that if those performing lower than average could move to the average, emissions could potentially reduce by over 930,000t CO2e annually. For all SDAS farms, every 5pc improvement would result in a drop of almost 380,000 tonnes CO2e. To date, over 28,000 individual improvement targets have been established. When completed, these targets could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 14pc. At manufacturing level, food and drink companies are required to create three to five year sustainability plans to become fully verified members of Origin Green. Last year saw 98 Irish companies become fully verified members, more than doubling the performance of any other year. This brings the total number of fully verified Origin Green members to 220. Bord Bia offers significant support and resources to companies throughout the plan development process, with each company on average receiving 15 hours of one-to-one support and guidance. Bord Bia says that at manufacturing level, since 2012, over 1.1m cubic metres has been saved (equivalent of 7.5million), while there has been a 9.5pc reduction in energy usage across the member base. It also says that since 2012, there has been a reduction of 4.600t being sent to landfill. 'I'm about to calve. Can you please bring me into the shed?" - This is a standard text message farmers will receive from cows in just seven years' time, a leading computer scientist has claimed. As the age of 'smart farming' advances, Dr Peter Mooney, senior research fellow at the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University, says farmers need to "open their minds" to open-source farming. From email alerts that a heifer has drifted from the herd, or that a calf is struggling with an abnormal cough in the middle of the night, to driverless tractors applying manure in a specific way, Mr Mooney says the dawn of the next agricultural revolution is upon us. "The first agricultural revolution was when man stopped being a hunter-gatherer and tried to investigate animals and make crops. Expand Close Moocall is a calving alert system that notifies a farmer around one hour before calving / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Moocall is a calving alert system that notifies a farmer around one hour before calving "The second was during the industrial revolution, when people started building seed machines and ploughs. The third came in the 1980s with precision farming, massive machinery and the introduction of genetically modified organisms. Now it's time for smart farming," said Mr Mooney. But what about cost? Shortfalls in rural broadband? Loss of the social side to farming? Looking to United States, Australia, China, the Netherlands and Spain, Mr Mooney, says the changes are inevitable, particularly for the next generation of farmers. "A smart farm is about getting more value out of the resources through information technology, mobile phones, apps and the internet. "The open-source element is about using software to share, modify and exchange this data with others," he said. Speaking at a talk on the future of farming organised by MIT Mullingar, a voluntary group dedicated to promoting IT in the Midlands, said farms generate vast quantities of rich and varied data every day. Expand Close Herdwatch mobile app. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Herdwatch mobile app. "If stored correctly, this data can be used as digital evidence to reduce time spent completing grant applications or carrying out farm inspections, saving on average 5,500 per farm, per year," he said. He claims that introducing aerial survey drones to map weeds, yield and soil variation could increase wheat yields by 2-5pc. Using a fleet of specialised agri-robots, or 'agribots', capable of microdot fertiliser application could dramatically reduce fertiliser costs. Monitoring animal health and well- being through sensors could increase herd survival and milk yields by 10pc. GPS-controlled smart tractors have the potential to reduce soil erosion and could save fuel costs by 10pc. "We need to imagine a time in the future when cows can text you when they need to come back for milking in the evening, when smart tractors move around a field to avoid puddles and survey drones, and mini robots move up and down a field making soil samples," he said. He stresses that standardisation and integration are key to successful smart farming. "The networking, apps, data collection must all be standardised and integrated, and open-source offers the ability to do that. It's a bit like a Lego system: you can fit any of them together to make lots of different things," he said. However, high-fibre broadband sensing technologies, hardware and software systems and data analytics solutions must be in place. Expand Close Landini cab: speed is dictated by the EasyPilot controller unit. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Landini cab: speed is dictated by the EasyPilot controller unit. He highlights the Herdwatch app that thousands of farmers use to record farm events and compliance information, and the Moocall Calving Sensor, which records tail-movement patterns and spinal contractions that point to the cow going into labour. He believes that having every animal in the herd fitted with real-time sensors is a realistic goal. This would inform farmers of an animal's real-time position - whether standing up or sitting down - plus temperature and humidity. "Right now, you're looking at 40 to fit each animal. If you have a herd of 100 animals, that is a big cost, but in a few years' time they will be much cheaper," he said. Combining collected data with individual animal history will give farmers accurate information on the quality of their herd's milk production, breeding and health. He says robots will work side by side with farmers. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 80pc of farm data is never used. He says the current lack of rural broadband could hamper smart farming in Ireland. "It's not up to scratch at the moment so that is the big challenge, for it could potentially hold us back. But within 7-10 years, this could all be a very big possibility. The big driver is cost - at the moment, it doesn't make sense to equip the whole herd, but in 10 years' time prices will drop," he said. A GROUP of Dublin 4 residents has attacked fresh proposals by a company backed by billionaire Denis O'Brien to build luxury apartments in Donnybrook in a 50m scheme which is now a storey higher than originally planned. In an objection, the Greenfield Residents Group said "enough is enough - 90 units in an overbearing 'monolith' of five blocks each ... five storeys is far too much, both for the development itself and the surrounding residential area". In December, An Bord Pleanala gave the go-ahead to Mr O'Brien's Purleigh Holdings to construct 71 apartments in five stand-alone white pavilion blocks on the site at Greenfield, Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Mr O'Brien acquired the site from UCD in 2008 when he paid 15m in cash and another three-acre site at Roebuck to the college in a land-swap plus cash deal. However, Mr O'Brien's Purleigh - in a bid to maximise the return on the investment - has now lodged replacement plans for 90 apartments on the site with the height of the apartment blocks increasing from four to five storeys. In the Greenfield Residents Group's objection, Leo Mangan told the City Council: "We accept the An Bord Pleanala decision granting planning for 71 apartments. "To grant permission for an additional 18 units being 25pc more in height and number would be perverse." Consultants for Purleigh state that the development seeks to deliver a high-quality residential development at a scale and density which makes the most efficient use of serviced land. THE EU faces a crisis that threatens the sustainability of the eurozone after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that Greece's debts are on an "explosive" path despite years of austerity measures and economic reforms. Global financiers at the IMF are increasingly unwilling to fund endless bailouts for the eurozone's most troubled country, passing more of the burden on to the EU at a time when Germany does not want to keep sending cash to Athens. The assessment opens up a fresh split with Europe over how to handle Greece's massive public debts. The IMF called on Europe to provide "significant debt relief" to the country despite Greece's EU creditors previously ruling out any further rescue programme until the current one expires in 2018. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Eurogroup president, repeated that position last night, saying there would be no Greek debt pardon and dismissing the IMF assessment of the country's growth prospects as overly pessimistic. "It's surprising because Greece is already doing better than that report describes," Mr Dijsselbloem, who chairs meetings of eurozone finance ministers said, adding that Greece was on track for a "pretty good recovery at the moment". Questions The renewed divisions over how to handle the Greek debt crisis have raised fresh questions over whether the IMF will be a full participant in the next phase of the Greek rescue - a key condition for backing from the German and Dutch parliaments. As Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, fights a tough re-election battle, Germany is particularly reluctant to send funds directly to Greece, with populist parties arguing that the payments amount to an unfair bailout from hard-working Germans to less deserving Greeks. The IMF split came as British Prime Minister Theresa May last night comfortably defeated a Brexit rebellion in the Commons after MPs rejected Labour plans to give parliament a "meaningful" vote on the terms of a final deal. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] A workers strike at two factories owned by Egypts Misr Spinning and Weaving Company, also known as Mahalla El-Kubra, was suspended on Wednesday and production has resumed, according to company chairman Hamza Abul Fath. One worker, who asked to remain anonymous, told Ahram Online on Wednesday that the strike ended due to fears that workers would be fired. Abul Fath told Ahram Online that the dispute was over and a new draft law increasing the salary of private sector employees, which is yet to become into law and is still in parliament, so the company is not entitled to [pay out the extra wages]. If passed, the draft law, which was presented to parliament in December, would mandate an annual 10 percent increase in wages for private sector workers. According to Abul Fath, the workers have been misled by the media, thinking that the bonus was ratified into law and implemented, which is not true. Several workers contacted by Ahram Online said that almost 3,000 textile workers in Mahalla El-Kubra, mostly women, staged a strike on Tuesday to demand better pay. However, Abul Fath said that there was a fewer number of strikers, adding that some workers have been referred to the legal affairs department to be questioned over inciting the strike. The [company] referred some of the female strikers to questioning, making us afraid to lose our jobs. This is why we ended the strike, which was completely peaceful, the worker said. According to the worker, no settlement has been reached between the strikers and the companys management, and the workers are still seeking their financial rights. The company which falls under the authority of the public sectors Cotton and Textiles Holding Company is the largest of its kind in the MENA region with eight factories and employing around 20,000 workers. Search Keywords: Short link: Traders work at their desks in front of the German share price index, DAX board, at the stock exchange in Frankfurt Greece's two-year bond yields neared 10pc as a quarrel between the nation's creditors over its fiscal targets boosted concerns it is running out of time to complete yet another review of its bailout program before Europe gears up for a busy election season beginning in March. Yields on Greece's notes due in 2019 rose by 84 basis points to 9.77pc as of 3:10pm in Athens - their highest since September. The notes were sold in April 2014 as part of a series of flagship sales that marked Greece's brief return from market exile. Greece won't meet fiscal surplus targets set by its euro-area creditors, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, after executive directors met to discuss the fund's annual assessment of the nation's economy. The IMF's assumptions aren't based in reality and don't take into account the reform of Greece's public finances, according to a European Union official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are sensitive. The impasse is the latest in a long line of disputes that have buffeted Greek securities since the nation regained market access. While the nation's bonds trade with thin volumes and have a largely specialised investor base, flare-ups in its debt talks have previously spilled into other markets, spurring increased volatility. The yield on the 2019 notes, which was below 4pc in 2014, climbed to as much as 37pc in 2015, when failed negotiations led to a referendum that threatened Greece's position in the euro-area. "It all hinges on talks with creditors, which is typically a very difficult type of risk to price for investors," Antoine Bouvet of Mizuho said. (Bloomberg) A NEW cement export hub has been set up in Warrenpoint Harbour in Co Down in a 2.5m (2.9m) investment. The harbour will be used by Quinn Cement and will be operated over a 10-year period in conjunction with the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. Final commissioning for the project was approved at the end of January. With a capacity to move 7,500 tonnes, the hub will service Quinn Cement's base in Co Cavan. The investment will compliment the 1.3m upgrade to the Quinn Cement import facility in Rochester, Kent. Dara O'Reilly, CFO of Quinn Industrial Holdings, said the new facility would assist the company to cope with the effects of Brexit. "This will allow Quinn Cement to strengthen our supply chain for bulk product, accommodate more flexible transport from our production facility in Co Cavan and enhance the competiveness and sustainability of our operations on both islands," Mr O' Reilly said. Up to 300 new jobs will be created as the AIL Group opens an additional 30 new stores nationwide. Ireland's largest restaurant franchise group brings AbraKebrabra, Bagel Factory and O'Briens to over 130 stores across the country. The offering of the three brands - named ' Oasis of Taste' - is currently on trial at three Maxol service stations in Templeogue, Castlebar and Kill. "Over the next 3 years, we estimate that we will be able to create 300 new jobs as we roll out in new locations across the country," David Zebedee of AIL said. "In addition to our trials with Maxol, our expansion plans include opening a further 30 new stores nationwide including high street locations, shopping centres and rail stations. Brand ambassadors Irish TV Chef Rachel Allen and Irish Mentalist Keith Barry were at the N7 Kill service station this morning at the official launch. I have a soft spot for the Abrakebabra nude box and now I find myself accidentally on purpose stopping at this particular garage on my way home!," Kildare-based Mr Barry said. Maxol purchased this service station back in the summer of 2016 and has invested over 750,000 in refurbishing and introducing a new food service range, along with upgrading the forecourt facilities," licensees of the service station Jason and Rachel McMullan said at todays launch. "The new food offering has been a huge hit with our customers since we launched on December 18, 2016. We now have a wide range of food options for our customers for each part of the day delivered with commitment and service. We have 28 full and part time staff working at the service station. Its a very exciting time for us. Egyptian artists will make a few footprints at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, which will take place between 9 and 19 February Marianne Khoury on jury of Robert Bosch Stiftung's Film Prize Co-manager of Misr International Films and president of the Panorama of European Film, Marianne Khoury is among the jury members of the Robert Bosch Stiftung's Film Prize. The Robert Bosch Stiftung Prize comprises three production grants worth up to 60,000 Euros. The 2017 nominees include three short animation projects, four documentaries and four short fiction projects. The three 2017 Film Prize winners will be announced on 12 February during Berlinale Talents, a summit and networking platform of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. Read more here Egyptian film critic and author Samir Farid to receive Berlin Intl Film Festival's 'Camera Award' Renowned Egyptian film critic, writer and film historian Samir Farid will be given the Berlinale Camera Award on 15 February at the Berlinale. The award is given to film institutions or figures that have significantly contributed to the festival or the industry. The author and translator of over sixty books, Farid is widely recognised as one of the most prominent film personalities of the Arab world and has been contributing to the Berlinale as a film critic for decades. Throughout his life, Farid served as a jury member in many international festivals, including the Oberhausen Film Festival, the Torino Film Festival, and the Venice Film Festival. His achievements and extensive contributions to the world of cinema were rewarded with the Cannes Film Festival Gold Medal in both 1997 and 2000, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Osians Cinefan Festival in New Delhi in 2012 and at the Dubai International Film Festival in 2013. Read more here Two Egyptian films, one exhibition and a panel with Egyptian artists at Berlinale's Forum Expanded Egyptian film One Plus One Makes a Pharoah's Chocolate Cake, produced by Alexandria-based studio Fig Leaf, will premiere at Expanded Forum, with its world premiere at the Berlinale. Directed by Marouan Omara and Islam Kamal, the documentary centres on two musicians; Islam Chipsy, a pioneer of Egypts Mahraganat music genre, who fuses electronic and acoustic sounds on his keyboards, and Swiss electronic musician Aisha Devi. The other film is Seif Tagreeby (Experimental Summer, 2016) directed by Mohamed Lotfy. The film follows Mahmoud and Zeinab, who are on the search for the original version of a 1980s Egyptian film, copies of which were confiscated for unknown reasons by the government at the time of its release. Forum Expanded group exhibition will also feature one Egyptian installation: Hawamesh Aan Al-Hegra (Footnotes on Migration) by 'Take to the Sea,' a group of researchers, writers and filmmakers. In the Forum Expanded Think Film No. 5, several international artists will hold panel discussions, among whom are Jasmina Metwaly and Philip Rizk (Egypt/Germany), who will talk about Performing Moments of an Archive. Read more here Egyptian-Sudanese film You Will Die at Twenty is set to participate in the Berlinale 2017 Co-Production Market You Will Die at Twenty is a drama film directed by Amjad Abu Alala and produced by Hossam Elouans Transit Films company. Transit Films is a Cairo-based production company established by producer Hossam Elouan, which specialises in the production of Egyptian and Arab art-house films. The story is set in a Sudanese village in the 1960s, where Sufi beliefs are central to the villagers lives, and which follows the life of young protagonist Muzamel, after a prophecy determines that he will die at the age of 20. Read more here For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Dublin-based tech investment firm Frontline Ventures has announced a new 60m fund dedicated to backing early-stage business software startups. Company directors say that they will use the money to invest in eight to 10 early-stage software startups every year for the next four years. It's the second major round raised by Frontline. A 50m fund raised by the company in 2013 was invested in 27 Irish and UK startups. Frontline typically invests between 200,000 and 3m in early stage 'B2B' software companies. It has a nine-year cycle for the fund and typically looks to exit individual investments within six years, according to Will Prendergast, a partner at the firm. The firm has already begun investing from the new fund, taking part in a 1m round to back Galway-based data firm Siren Solutions. Other investors in the NUIG spin-off startup include Enterprise Ireland, Atlantic Bridge and the Western Development Commission. "Our first fund has shown us that some of the world's most ambitious founders are right here," said Mr Prendergast. "With this new fund, Frontline is positioned to be the investment partner of choice for ambitious software entrepreneurs building out from Europe to the US." Previous investments from Frontline include Dublin-based machine data startup Logentries, which was sold in 2015 for 60m to the US data firm Rapid7, and cloud data startup Orchestrate.io, which was sold to US cloud provider CenturyLink for an estimated 10m. Read more: Frontline also has Irish investments in the foreign exchange transfer firm Currencyfair, adblocking tech firm PageFair and sales software startup QStream. The company's Fund II comes as venture development in Ireland continues to accelerate. Recent figures from the Irish Venture Capital Association suggest that Ireland is now approaching a 1bn run-rate for venture finance in Ireland. With a large chunk of that going to companies with bigger offshore offices than Irish ones, Frontline's move will attract considerable interest from indigenous Irish tech startups. The company's investment capital was raised chiefly from a collection of banks, state agencies, pension funds and private family wealth. These include the 8.1bn Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (which is run by the state's National Treasury Management Agency), Enterprise Ireland, the European Investment Fund and AIB. Frontline is led by partners Shay Garvey, Will Prendergast, William McQuillan and Stephen McIntyre, who recently joined the investment firm after leaving his role as vice-president and director of Twitter Ireland. Mr Prendergast said that companies such as Frontline are increasingly looking to Europe and beyond with the scope of their investments. "Irish companies should be looking at Europe or the US," he said. "Don't limit your horizons." Donald Trump's Twitter account might claim to be real. But Google suggests that people actually think it's anything but. Typing "realdonaldtrump" the President's Twitter handle into Google brings up a range of automatic suggestions. The first of those is "fake", and the third is "twitter fake". The automatic suggestions are based on what people are actually searching for and how those words are used on the internet. The searches appear to be a consequence of people seeing Mr Trump's tweets and wondering whether they are actually being sent from the President. Twitter users have suggested that people are concerned that the account might actually a parody, set up to ridicule Mr Trump. It isn't clear whether everyone searching for "fake" believes that Mr Trump's account isn't real. They might also be looking for the reason that the President includes the word "real" in his handle, despite there apparently being no reason to. Mr Trump does appear to own the actual @DonaldTrump handle, without the real placed in front of it. That account uses the same pictures as Mr Trump's main account, and exists only to refer them to it both its bio and the only tweet posted from it send people to @realDonaldTrump. There are a range of Twitter accounts that more or less obviously impersonate the President. Many of those do so by making themselves look as much like the real ones as possible swapping letters around, for instance and then posting satirical messages. Searches for "donald trump fake" surged at the time of the election, according to Google Trends. They then picked up around the inauguration, and interest has dropped off slightly but is still very strong. The President of the Irish Second-Level Students' Union (ISSU) says parents aren't "clued in" to online dangers. Jane Hayes-Nally (16) from Cork, pictured below, spoke at the launch of Safer Internet Day 2017 yesterday. The initiative aims to educate children and parents about internet security. "The biggest concerns that we see through our consultations and national and regional events are things like sexual exploitation online, revenge porn and nude trading," Jane said. Maclean Burke, who plays Damien Halpin in 'Fair City', was part of a panel discussion in which he discussed his fears for his children's safety when using the internet. He admitted he was "way behind" in relation to internet security. "I think we can learn from children in these conversations in order to find a safe passage through these issues," he said. The event was held in Facebook's HQ in Dublin, and funded by the EU's Connecting Europe Facility and the Department of Education. The Head of Public Policy in Facebook, Niamh Sweeney, said revenge porn or online bullying should be reported immediately, and that their help centre explains how. Holly Willoughby's name has also been associated with revamped Blind Date Could Davina McCall be the new host? Rylan Clark Neal is also rumoured to be a consideration Graham Norton is the favourite to host revamped Blind Date Cilla Black on Blind Date in 1998 with couple Emma and Bernard Hit television show Blind Date is to make a comeback after more than 13 years off air. The popular dating programme was fronted by the late Cilla Black for its entire 18-year run on ITV. It will return to screens later this year on Channel 5, a source confirmed to the Press Association. "Blind Date is the original dating show and it's huge news to bring it back," a separate source told The Sun. Expand Close Graham Norton is the favourite to host revamped Blind Date / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Graham Norton is the favourite to host revamped Blind Date "It's a classic format that will be rebooted to make it young, sexy and modern. Expect sparks to fly. "In an age of Tinder, you have got to earn the right to love on this show." Expand Close Rylan Clark Neal is also rumoured to be a consideration / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rylan Clark Neal is also rumoured to be a consideration I t will be produced by So Television - which also makes The Graham Norton show for the BBC. The show, which launched in 1985, came to an end in 2003 after Black sensationally announced she intended to quit the show live on air. Expand Close Could Davina McCall be the new host? / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Could Davina McCall be the new host? The TV and music star revealed that the show had become more like work than fun and said she wanted to leave before it became a "chore". It was reported at the time that the show's production crew were unaware that she would make the announcement. Expand Close Holly Willoughby's name has also been associated with revamped Blind Date / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Holly Willoughby's name has also been associated with revamped Blind Date The matchmaking show aired on Saturday nights for a total of 18 series and involved three individuals of the same sex being introduced to the audience. They were then asked a number of questions by a contestant of the opposite sex who could not see them. The contestant would then pick one of the individuals for a date based on their responses. During its run, three pairs of Blind Date contestants married, with Black attending all of the couple's weddings. Video of the Day After the Liverpool-born entertainer died in 2015, the first couple married from Blind Date said they will always remember their televisual "fairy godmother". A number of celebrities appeared on the show before they became famous including Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, ex-Big Brother star Nikki Grahame and former SMart presenter Mark Speight. Graham Norton is favourite to present the revamped show, according to bookmakers Coral. Norton is priced at 2/1 while Big Brother host Emma Willis is 4/1, while Rylan Clark can be backed at 5/1. Davina McCall (10/1), Holly Willoughby (8/1), Leigh Francis (12/1) and Helen Skelton (16/1) are also being tipped to replace Black. With the show having produced three marriages during its initial run, punters can back any two contestants marrying after meeting on this year's series at 5/1. "The odds indicate it is unlikely that two contestants will tie the knot after meeting on the show - however, it would not be first time that Blind Date has been responsible for wedding bells ringing," said Coral's John Hill. The film company is awaiting the censorship authority's response to a petition to reconsider the censorship decision Sabah Distribution Company has decided not to screen the Egyptian film Mawlana in Lebanese cinemas over the Beirut censorship authoritys objection over 12 minutes in the film. The companys decision was made in defense of creative and cultural freedom, and in respect for the companys history and the rights of the filmmakers, according to Al-Ahram Arabic news website. Beiruts censorship authority had required that 12 minutes be removed from the film before it can be screened, arguing that the scenes in question could incite sectarian strife and provoke conflict between different religions. Mawlana, written by Egyptian journalist and editor in-chief of Al-Tahrir newspaper Ibrahim Eissa, tackles the phenomenon of sheikhs who have been appearing on television in recent years, exploring the hidden world of sheikhs and their ties with security institutions, politicians and businessmen. The film aims to show how religion is misused in politics. Mawlanas director Magdy Ahmed Ali has signed a petition presented by Sabah Distribution Company to the censorship authority asking it to reconsider its decision, and either accept the film as it is or reject it entirely, explaining that the film seeks to achieve the opposite of what it is being accused of. Sabahs CEO stated that their decision and stance, despite resulting in major financial losses, will serve to protect the upcoming generation of filmmakers and hopefully foster a safe environment for films and creative works to ensure that they are free of any censorship. Mawlana stars Amr Saad, Dorra Zarrouk and Ahmed Magdy, and looks into the lives of preachers in Egypt by portraying the story of one such sheikh. The film was selected for the Dubai International Film Festival's Muhr features category. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: BUS Eireann has issued an invitation to unions to talks in a bid to avert an indefinite all-out strike on Monday week. But the National Bus and Railworkers Union has responded by saying it will not enter discussions until the company formally withdraws "offensive" correspondence outlining cuts to workers' pay. In the letter sent today, Bus Eireann's Chief Human Resources Officer KS Byran said it is available to begin "intensive" talks directly with unions or at the Workplace Relations Commission. He said this is to seek an agreed resolution "in advance of the expiry of the notice of industrial action" on February 20. Mr Byran said the company has always been willing to attend talks without pre-conditions. The letter says all parties are now aware that any industrial action will "only exacerbate the financial crisis and hasten the demise of the company". The five unions at the company have threatened to go on strike "from that date after the company announced it would impose cuts. Unions claim the cuts worth 12m would reduce workers' earnings by up to 30pc but Acting Chief Executive Ray Hernan says the average is 10pc. Mr Hernan has warned that the commercial semi-state company could go bust before the end of the year if a 30m cost-cutting plan is not rolled out as soon as possible. The cuts include the axing of shift payments, cuts to Sunday premium pay and overtime, and a 10pc cut in allowances. In addition, a pool of casual and part-time drivers and contractors would be set up. "We are available to commence an intensive engagement either directly, or under the auspices of the WRC to seek an agreed resolution in advance of the expiry of the notice of industrial action," says the letter. "We recognise that agreement will only come through negotiation and all sides have to be willing to compromise in order to find a solution. For our part we have always been willing to engage without pre-conditions and we would urge the Trade Unions to do likewise." It says the company is wiling to consider any alternative suggestions that unions or staff may have to deal with the financial crisis and secure the long-term future of the company. The letter says the financial crisis at Bus Eireann is at a critical stage and actions need to be taken urgently "if we are to avoid reckless trading and insolvency". It says it is extremely disappointing that the unions have refused to engage with the company to find a solution to the financial crisis. In his response, the General Secretary of the Nbru, Dermot O'Leary, says "the world and his mother" is more than aware that Mr Hernan's correspondence in letters last month to staff are a barrier to begin any discussions. "All sides to this dispute owe it to the customers, the taxpayers, and those that work for Bus Eireann to engage in extensive broad ranging discussions towards preventing the type of travel chaos that will inevitably ensue if we simply do nothing," he said. "The NBRU, will for our part, commit to such discussions if we are formally invited to so do." A man who sued over his care in hospital at the age of 13 has settled his High Court action for 3m. Emmanuel Popoola (22), of Woodbrook Hall, Castleknock, Dublin, has spastic quadriplegia, is in a wheelchair and cannot speak after suffering profound brain damage. Through his father Olayide Popoola, Emmanuel sued the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin, for alleged negligence in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment in 2008. Approving the settlement, which includes his care in a HSE-funded institution for the rest of his life, Mr Justice Kevin Cross said the family's hopes for the boy, who at 13 years of age was doing well at school, must have been dashed by what happened. It was claimed that on October 1, 2008, Emmanuel attended the hospital A&E suffering acute profuse diarrhoea, severe dehydration and hypovolemic shock. It was claimed the hospital was negligent in allegedly administering excessive intravenous fluid, exposing him to a significant risk of fluid overload, and causing him to develop pulmonary oedema and cardiac arrest. It was also claimed there was an alleged overloading of the boy with fluid which reportedly caused him to suffer fluid on the lungs and acute respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. The hospital denied the claims and contended excessive fluids were not given and it was not necessary to ventilate. His counsel Denis McCullough said it was a complex case. However, counsel said his side contended the outcome could have been different. Experts were of the opinion that the cause of the boy's cardiac arrest was acute respiratory failure, secondary to pulmonary oedema that occurred in the context of alleged fluid overload. This was disputed by the hospital. Mr Justice Cross said he would approve the settlement on the basis the HSE will continue to fund Emmanuel's placement in the institution where he is currently cared for. A BLOGGER will have to remove defamatory posts from his Facebook page within two weeks or a new application can be made to have his or her location and identity revealed, the High Court ruled. A Ugandan lawyer wants to sue the blogger and sought a court order seeking the identity be revealed by Facebook Ireland, which provides its social media service to all users outside of the the US and Canada. Facebook opposed Fred Muwema's application after raising concerns about human rights abuses by the Ugandan State. Mr Muwema asked the court to order Facebook to reveal the location and identity of the blogger who goes under the pseudonym TVO (Tom Voltaire Okwalinga). TVO, who has 80,000 followers, posted material alleging Mr Muwema had accepted bribes. Mr Justice Donald Binchy said last month he could not "in conscience" order the identity be revealed given that TVO could be arrested and subject to ill-treatment by the Ugandan authorities. He adjourned the matter to consider it further. In his judgment on Wednesday, Mr Justice Binchy said he was refusing the application on condition that Facebook notify TVO that unless the offending postings are removed within 14 days, Mr Muwema would be entitled to renew his application to have the identity revealed. The judge said a person's right to a good name must take second place to the right to life and bodily integrity of another. Earlier, the judge said it was somewhat difficult for the court to make an assessment as to the extent of the danger that would be posed to TVO if his identity was revealed. However, it was fair to say there was a consistency in reports from civil liberties group Freedom House, from the US Department of State Human Rights report on Uganda and from Amnesty International, he said. All express concern about violations of the rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association (in Uganda), he said. The US State Department report refers numerous reports of torture and abuses in police detention facilities, the judge said. Security forces assaulted, harassed and intimidated journalists, he said. An affidavit from Nicholas Opiyo an executive director of human rights organisation, Chapter Four Uganda, stated that if TVO's identity is disclosed, TVO was likely to suffer torture, cruel and inhumane treatment at the hands of Uganda's security agents. Mr Opiyo also said that in the past the Ugandan criminal justice system was used to abuse the rights of the people critical of the State. The judge said he had to have due consideration to the fact he had already found the postings were defamatory. If TVO's identity was not revealed, Mr Muwema was left without any relief to vindicate his name. What was at issue was the weighing of the right to vindication of good name and the right to life and bodily integrity of TVO. Previous judgments clearly recognised that freedom of expression would have to give way to right to life in such a conflict. The same must be said where it's a matter of right to a good name and right to life. He was therefore refusing the order the identity be revealed, at this stage. Mr Justice Raymond Fullam was satisfied the woman had exaggerated her symptoms and their connection with the accident. Stock picture (Stock picture) A college student who knocked a man unconscious and kicked him in the head during a row over a taxi outside a Dublin nightclub has been ordered to carry out community service. Adam McCarthy (24) with an address in Howth Road, Raheny, Dublin pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Niall McHale at the White Sands Hotel in Portmarnock on December 27, 2014. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard at a sentence hearing last November that Mr McHale had come home to Dublin from London, where is currently living, to visit family and friends for the Christmas holidays. On the night of the incident, he was out socialising with friends in the nightclub attached to the hotel in Portmarnock and left around 2.15am. He and his friends were waiting on a taxi when another group of men ran out from the nightclub and jumped the queue, getting into a taxi, Garda Thomas Halligan told Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting. When Mr McHale approached McCarthy to protest that it was not their taxi, McCarthy turned and punched him before Mr McHale had even finished his sentence, Mr McGillicuddy said. McCarthy hit Mr McHale above the right eye and he fell to the ground. He then kicked him in the head. Mr McHale suffered a brief loss of consciousness before being taken by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital. He received seven stitches to the head, as well as bruising and lacerations. McCarthy was restrained by nightclub bouncers until gardai arrived. In a brief victim impact statement read out in court, Mr McHale said he was housebound for most of the Christmas holidays in the wake of the assault. The court heard Mr McHale is still in London, but has requested that 5,000 which McCarthy had in court today go to Headway Ireland, which Judge Melanie Greally said would support people with head injuries who had not been as fortunate as the victim. She commented at the earlier sentence hearing that a kick to the head can have fatal consequences. The fact that Mr McHale did not suffer a serious injury was through no restraint on your part, she told McCarthy. The incident which has come before the court is yet another another incident where a young person is out for the night socialising when a slight provocation, if you can even call it that... provokes an act of extreme violence, the judge said. Today, Judge Greally considered a probation report before the court that concluded that McCarthy was suitable for community service. She ordered that 240 hours be carried out in 12 months in lieu of a one year jail term. The judge said it was fortunate for both men that the consequences of McCarthy's violent and reckless actions were not overly severe. She accepted that McCarthy came from a respectable background, had taken steps to curb his drinking, had completed an anger management course and had expressed appropriate insight into the actual and potential consequences of his behaviour. Brian Storan BL, defending, said McCarthy's reaction to his actions that night has been one of shame and genuine remorse. He said McCarthy was two years into a four-year degree at DIT and his ability to achieve was described as unparalleled by former educators. In a letter handed up to court, McCarthy profusely apologised to Mr McHale and his family for the lack of respect he had shown and the pain he had caused them. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think of this act and the consequences it has brought, the letter said. Mr Storan said his client had saved 3500 and borrowed a further 1500 from his parents to give to Mr McHale as a token of his remorse. A clash between the Data Protection Commissioner and the US government over the adequacy of US legal safeguards for the data privacy rights of EU citizens has emerged at the Commercial Court. The significance of the case is underlined by the US government's first ever involvement in litigation in the Irish courts and has potentially enormous implications for trade and privacy rights of EU citizens. Commissioner Helen Dixon has brought a case aimed at having the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) decide whether transatlantic data transfer channels breach the privacy rights of EU citizens. The commissioner has formed a "provisional" view there are "deficiencies" concerning rights of EU citizens to access remedies under US law for breach of data protection rights under European law, the court was told yesterday. Its lawyers claim "significantly enhanced" protections have been put in place in recent years to ensure privacy rights of EU citizens are not at risk from transatlantic data flows. Any finding the safeguards are inadequate could have "sweeping" commercial ramifications for data flows and risk undermining international co-operation to confront "common threats", they argue. Expand Close Boxes of evidence are brought into court. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Boxes of evidence are brought into court. Photo: Collins Courts Legal experts from the US and various EU states have provided reports outlining their views on the extent and adequacy of the US protections. The power of the US president to make executive orders was also raised during Maurice Collins's opening of the case. The commissioner initiated her proceedings after forming a draft view in 2015, having examined a complaint by Austrian lawyer Max Schrems over his personal Facebook data being transferred to the US, he had "well-founded" objections the transfers breached his privacy rights as an EU citizen. Mr Schrems complained in June 2013 after former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden revealed surveillance by the NSA of certain internet and telecommunications systems operated by firms such as Facebook, Microsoft and Google. The High Court referred issues in the case to Europe and in 2014 the CJEU ruled the Safe Harbour framework for data transfers was invalid under the EU Charter. Expand Close Max Schrems pictured at the Four Courts. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Max Schrems pictured at the Four Courts. Photo: Collins Courts The commissioner's current case is against Facebook Ireland, because it transfers data from its European HQ in Dublin to its parent in the US, and Mr Schrems as complainant. No orders are sought against either defendant and the case is essentially aimed at having the CJEU decide whether three European Commission decisions of 2001, 2004 and 2010, upholding the validity of data transfer channels, known as standard contractual clauses (SCCs), are valid. The commissioner's draft view was the SCCs do not provide adequate protection equivalent to that provided under EU law, Mr Collins said. Her concerns include that certain US statutory provisions provide limited remedies for data privacy violations, including allowing a remedy for "wilful" violations only. The commissioner is also concerned US law makes it more difficult for an EU citizen to get the necessary legal standing to be heard by a US court over alleged breach of data privacy rights. Facebook argues different levels of protection apply "on the ground" in various EU member states. The case continues. A former Fine Gael TD has avoided a custodial sentence but was fined 750 when he was convicted of a pub assault in his family-owned premises in Co Monaghan. Sean Conlan, a 42-year-old solicitor of Main Street, Ballyay, was charged with unlawfully assaulting and causing harm to Enda Duffy of Annahia, Ballybay, at the licensed premises in Ballybay, on August 23 last year. He also faced a charge for the alleged use of a broken pint-glass during the incident. It was also alleged Mr Duffy sustained a minor injury to an arm. Judge Conal Gibbons said at a special sitting of the District Court yesterday that the assault was one at "the lower scale". A victim impact statement was presented to the judge by Fiona Murphy BL. The statement was not read out in court and Judge Gibbons said he was somewhat surprised to see that it contained some reference to the impact of media coverage on the victim. It had to be accepted, the judge remarked, that the profile of this particular case was of interest to the public and media. The judge also noted the victim impact statement raised certain issues, even some constitutional issues, over which the court had "no control". Defence lawyer James MacGuill handed in a number of testimonials outlining the "excellent character" of Conlan, whom he said had a "blameless record". Judge Gibbons said that it was evident the consumption of alcohol by the parties in the pub had contributed to the "flash-of-the-moment" incident. Judge Gibbons said it was also clear the assault was not premeditated. The judge said he was impressed by the testimonials presented to the court which indicated how Conlan, who is a former Dail representative, was held in the highest esteem in the community by all his colleagues. He said the only penalty option with which he was left was to impose a fine and, accordingly, he fined Conlan 750, allowing him six months to pay on the assault charge. On the application of the defence lawyer, Mr MacGuill, the judged fixed recognisances for an appeal. The former TD resigned from Fine Gael, prior to the last General Election, in the wake of some dissatisfaction he expressed concerning the response by party leader Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and other senior party officials, to a number of issues he raised. He claimed he had unsuccessfully sought to arrange for a meeting between Mr Kenny and landowners protesting against the use of pylons and overhead cables for a proposed new cross-border electricity link. Conlan stood as an Independent in the general election, but failed to retain his seat. A murder accused told gardai he was "shocked" when shown CCTV footage of the fight that led to the alleged victim's death and added: "Looking at that, it makes it look like we made it our business to kill him." Wayne Cluskey (25), and Josh Turner (24), both of Mooretown, Ratoath, Co Meath have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 27-year-old Christopher Nevin at Tailteann Road, Navan on November 19, 2015. Garda Michael Fitzpatrick told prosecuting counsel Michael O'Higgins SC he was present for interviews with Wayne Cluskey on November 23 and 24 after Mr Cluskey went voluntarily to Navan Garda Station. He said that during those interviews gardai showed Mr Cluskey CCTV footage taken from a house across the road from where Mr Nevin suffered the blows that caused his death. Identifying himself in the footage, Mr Cluskey said:"Looking at that, it makes it look like we made it our business to kill him." He added: "I didn't think it happened like that. I didn't realise he got so many blows." Expand Close Scene of the killing and inset Christopher Nevin and his wife Lisa / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Scene of the killing and inset Christopher Nevin and his wife Lisa During the garda interviews Mr Cluskey said the background to the fight was that Christopher Nevin owed Josh Turner 100. He said Josh had loaned Nevin a male chihuahua to breed with three female chihuahuas. The trial has previously heard that a dispute arose when only one of the dogs got pregnant. On November 19 he said Mr Turner told him that Christopher Nevin had his money and he was going to collect it. He said Christopher Nevin was their friend and as far as he knew, they were just going to collect the money. They arranged to meet at the house of a mutual friend, Wayne Casserly. When they arrived Josh knocked at a window and Mr Nevin called out, saying: "Hold on 'til I put my runners on." He went on: "He just bent down and then he had the hatchet." Mr Cluskey initially said that he got involved in the row after seeing Mr Nevin strike Josh Turner with the hatchet. Having viewed the CCTV he told gardai that Mr Nevin had a hatchet in his hand when he emerged from the house but he accepted that the deceased did not strike the first blow. Mr Cluskey's barrister Shane Costelloe SC said his client accepts that he attacked Mr Nevin first and that he took an axe from his car before entering the fight. Garda Fitzpatrick agreed with Mr Costelloe that the axe that Mr Cluskey took from the car can later be seen in the hands of Josh Turner. Garda Fitzpatrick further agreed that Mr Cluskey told gardai that it was Josh Turner who struck the "fatal blow". Mr Cluskey added: "I don't mean he meant to kill him. He didn't know how hard he was hitting him." The interview was then interrupted as Mr Cluskey began to cry. Afterwards he said: "It wasn't supposed to happen like that," and later said: "I'm sorry the way it went." He admitted to telling "white lies" and that having seen the CCTV he realised "it wasn't the way I thought it was". The prosecution finished its evidence today. The trial will continue tomorrow in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of nine men and three women. A pharmacist has admitted 21 counts of deception in which she falsified Health Service Executive (HSE) drug forms and patient medication records. Christine Crowley (72) of Main Street, Drimoleague, Co Cork benefitted by more than 70,000 on fraudulent Drug Payment Scheme and Long Term Illness Scheme drug forms. While the total value of medications involved in the 21 counts was more than 1.1m, the bulk of the value of the claims were in fact for genuine medication supplies. However, Ms Crowley admitted that she "dishonestly by deception" made fraudulent claims under those same forms for her own benefit and at the expense of the HSE. Judge Sean O'Donnabhain was told that the total sum to which Ms Crowley benefitted by was 70,000. Jim O'Mahony SC, for Ms Crowley, told the court that the entire 70,000 has since been repaid to the HSE. This was done by Ms Crowley, who operated a pharmacy in Dunmanway in west Cork, working for a period of 13 months for the HSE with the agency not making any drug repayments to her over the period. She pleaded guilty to a total of 21 sample counts of deception in respect of HSE Drug Payment Scheme and Long Term Illness Scheme drug forms, as well as altering patient medication records, on dates between September 1 2004 and June 5 2009. Judge O'Donnabhain was told that Ms Crowley's plea had saved the court enormous time and effort given the protracted trial that was expected. Had the case gone to trial, it would have involved a total of 173 charges, 181 witnesses and more than 1,500 pieces of evidence. Alice Fawsitt SC, for the State, acknowledged that the plea had involved a substantial saving of time and effort. The court was told that Ms Crowley has a number of health issues. She was permitted to remain seated while the charges were formally put to her for plea at the arraignment. Mr O'Mahony applied for sentencing to be adjourned to allow Ms Crowley's GP to prepare a special report on her medical condition for consideration by the court. He stressed that all monies involved have been repaid and there is no loss involved to the HSE. Judge O'Donnabhain granted the application and remanded Ms Crowley on continuing bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on March 3 for sentencing. I was in my thirties, trying to maintain a small business in Nouakchott. It was very difficult. People would frown upon me and other women entrepreneurs. To them, we were women who dealt with men, who travelled without their families to bring goods. In their eyes, we were bad women, Lematt Bent Makeya, founder of Mauritanias first womens market, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Receiving us in her house in an upscale area of the Mauritanian capital, Makeya continued her story with pride: This wasnt the only problem. We were also suffering at the hands of shop owners. They were not taking us seriously. They were imposing abusive conditions on us as they preferred renting their shops to men. One day, I said to myself: enough, I have to change this. And I did, she said. Everything started twenty years ago, when Makeya decided to find a solution to the difficulties she, and other Mauritanian women entrepreneurs were facing. She invited eight businesswomen for dinner and spoke to them about her idea. Sitting in a big chair in her spacious reception, Makeya told us: I told them that the only way forward for us was to join efforts and work together. We needed to be independent. The only way to do this was to establish our own space. So we decided to create a market where only women would allowed to own or rent the shops. It was a strange idea at the time. No one believed in it and no one offered to help. We decided again to count on ourselves. We succeeded in securing a loan from a bank. We looked for an appropriate piece of land and we bought it. Then, we started building the premises of what is known today as the womens market, she said. The success of the idea What started twenty years ago as a small retail space counts today more than 240 shops over two floors. The market is located in the same district as Makeyas house, in the heart of Nouakchott. Officially, it is called Shanqeet Market, written clearly on the main entrance. However, people in Nouakchott seem to have forgotten the official name and just call it the womens market. In the windows of the markets small shops, all kind of goods can be found for the entire family, including the men. It was never intended as an exclusive place for womens shopping, said Makeya. We didnt want to create a new form of segregation, quite the opposite. The market gets busy in the evenings, and stays open past midnight to accommodate the lifestyle of many Mauritanians who prefer to go out after sunset. Following their success with the space, Makeya and her colleagues thought about the next step: creating a union for businesswomen and women entrepreneurs. Today, that union counts around 7,000 women as members, with Makeya their elected leader. An opportunity for men as well While men are not allowed to own shops in the womens market, most of the workers are men. Here, traditional roles are inverted: women own and men work for them. By hiring men in their businesses, Lematt and her colleagues wanted to break another social stigma held against women entrepreneurs. Zidan comes from the southern city of Silbabi. He is 27 years old and has been working in the womens market for five years. We met Zidan in front of the shop where he works. He was sitting on the floor on a small carpet, as is the custom in Mauritania, with his back against the wall resting on a cushion. Zidan was preparing tea for himself and a friend using a small kit. Around the market, there are many similar scenes of tea gathering while the workers wait for customers. When I came to Nouakchott, I started working for one of my relatives who has a shop downtown. Then, some friends told me about the [womens] market. I decided to leave my job and look for another opportunity here. In the end, I prefer working for women. They treat us with respect. They bring us small presents when they travel and they pay us without any delays, Zidan said. Ouzwenya Sidi Baba is one of the women who owns shops in the market. When she wanted to open her own business, her husband objected fiercely. I was banned from leaving home, Sidi Baba told us. He was so furious. He said that people look badly at women entrepreneurs. He also thought that people would say he isnt able to sustain me. It took many months to finally convince him. It was his aunt who supported me and helped convince him to let me try. Sidi Baba now runs a successful business. She owns not one, but two shops and has been awarded the Woman of the Year award by the Nouakchott City Council for women with high achievements. A long way to go Statistics for womens participation in the Mauritanian economy do not exist. However, the womens market, which has survived now for two decades, and the success of Makeya and her colleagues illustrate the determination of some Mauritanian women to challenge the social stigma which surrounds them. But all is not yet won. The social change is very slow. Moreover, the business world itself is reluctant to acknowledge the contribution of women. A quick look at the large commercial organisations in the country shows that businesswomen have still a long way to go. In 2016, the National Union of Entrepreneurs counted only eight women among its 135 members. Its executive board does not include a single woman among its 13 members. Mohamed OuldSidi, who sits on the unions executive board, does not deny the difficulties. According to him, the contribution of women in the financial sector is growing and will definitely be acknowledged one day. For Makeya and her colleagues, that day is a long time coming. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Muslim families are finding it increasingly difficult to secure a school place for their children, particularly at second level. (Stock Image) Muslim families are finding it increasingly difficult to secure a school place for their children, particularly at second level. The rules that permit the majority of the country's schools to prioritise entry for children of one faith over another is a problem, members of the Muslim Primary Education Board told the Oireachtas education committee. "Schools have refused Muslim children from feeder schools, siblings and children in local catchment areas, citing the schools' admissions policy that prioritises children of one faith over another," board chairperson Asiya Al-Tawash said. She said while non-practising Catholic parents, or people of no faith, may face the same obstacle, "where other parents can, if they wish, obtain a baptismal certificate, that is not an option for Muslims". Ms Al-Tawash said the number of Muslims in Ireland had grown from about 50,000 - including more than 8,000 primary-aged children and 3,500 second-level children - in the 2011 census, to an estimated 65,000 today. Choices While the vast majority of Muslim children attended their local school, it was becoming increasingly difficult, particularly at second level, she said. She told the committee that the imposition of seriously limited choices for parents and students, and inequality of access to education, may lead to long-term implications with regard to exclusion from social, economic and civil engagement. Another board member, Fardus Sultan, said they were looking for a balance. Where there was over-subscription, people should be treated in the same way. She said while it may be sorted in time "there is a problem on the ground" now. The committee was discussing the Labour Party Equal Status (Admissions to School) Bill, which is seeking to provide for certain changes in relation to discrimination, on grounds of religion, in schools. Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) general secretary Seamus Mulconry said the issue of over-subscription was found mainly in the greater Dublin area and the commuter belt. He said if one of their schools is over-subscribed it was likely that other schools in the area were too. Mr Mulconry said many children from Catholic families were also refused on grounds unrelated to baptism certificates, and the problem was a lack of school places. The 5m orthopaedic theatre at Our Ladys Hospital in Crumlin has been unable to function properly for nearly a year because of a lack of staff. A state-of-art operating theatre will remain partly idle for months to come - despite the desperate need of more than 380 children for spinal surgery. The 5m orthopaedic theatre at Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin has been unable to function properly for nearly a year because of a lack of staff. Doctors have been carrying out only around two spinal operations a week despite the demand. It has left many young children who suffer from scoliosis, a severe spinal condition, to deteriorate and languish on waiting lists - some for more than 18 months. Health Minister Simon Harris, who is coming under growing pressure to tackle the waiting list crisis nationally, said yesterday the theatre would provide additional surgery from April for 194 patients. It followed a meeting with senior children's hospital officials. However, a spokeswoman for Crumlin Hospital said last night this would be done on a "phased basis". The spokeswoman declined to explain where the additional staff needed to increase surgery would be found. Parents were told by the HSE on Monday that the theatre would not be able increase the surgeries until July when additional staff are due to take up work. Read more: Scoliosis theatre 'to open in April and 194 spinal procedures to be carried out this year' - Heath Minister The Minister's announcement came as a surprise to the parents who had had a lengthy meeting with HSE officials. The plight of the children was among the most harrowing testimonies of waiting-list patients who were featured on the RTE Investigates 'Living on the List' programme into delays faced by public patients. Figures obtained by the Irish Independent show 388 children are on waiting lists for spinal procedures in hospitals in Crumlin, Temple Street, Cappagh and Tallaght , A spokeswoman for the children's hospital group said there were 133 spinal fusions treatments for scoliosis conducted in 2016 for children under 16 years and young adolescents between 16 and 18-years-old. Some 44 of these had to be sent to the UK, where the operations were paid for privately by the HSE. The hospital has already said it would not be able to fully staff the theatre until July when it hoped that nurses recruited from abroad would take up their posts. An additional orthopaedic surgeon is also not due to be appointed until June. A spokeswoman for the children's hospital group said recruitment of theatre nursing staff continued and, until all staff are in place" this new theatre was not providing additional capacity. She added: "There is a shortage of nurses in specialist areas across the Irish healthcare system, which has required the hospitals to undertake an international recruitment campaign." The minister set a new target yesterday that no patient would be waiting more than 15 months for surgery by the end of October. This would mean around 2,000 patients would be removed from the longest waiters list. The HSE will produce an action plan to reduce the length of time that people are waiting, he added. And it will use the capacity in private hospitals. It is also planned to recruit 1,000 nurses under a funded plan this year, he added. The minister has previously said he was ashamed and heartbroken at the extent of suffering depicted by the children. The Irish surgical team hopes to complete 65 joint replacements in a week. Stock Image: PA Sixty Irish medics will fly to Vietnam in a bid to help people in desperate need of orthopaedic surgery. The group, comprising 10 surgeons, six anaesthetists as well as physiotherapists and nurses, will undertake Operation Walk Ireland to offer poverty-hit Vietnamese people the chance to live normal lives. The 60 medics are all freely donating their time in support of a campaign founded by Irish orthopaedic surgeon Dr Derek Bennett. Dr Bennett's concept was inspired by US orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Larry Dorr, who launched a similar campaign in 1996 to help the Vietnamese people and foster links between the two countries. The Irish group will travel to Hanoi in April and base themselves at a military hospital. They will be provided with four operating theatres for a full week and hope to treat more than 100 patients. All patients have been pre- selected and are drawn from people who desperately need orthopaedic surgery and cannot access local treatment. The Irish surgical team hopes to complete 65 joint replacements in a week. Elective joint replacement surgery is beyond the financial means of most ordinary Vietnamese people - with a standard surgical procedure normally costing the equivalent of three years' wages. The Irish team will focus their surgical treatment on people aged between 30 and 60 years. All 60 members of the team are paying their own travel expenses - and two Irish-based joint implant companies are providing medical devices free of charge. Operation Walk Ireland is expected to cost in excess of 250,000. Details on the campaign and how to support it are available from www.idonate.ie/ operation-walk-ireland The main nursing union has told a body advising the Government on its pay policy that nurses and midwives are the lowest paid profession in the health service and their wages are 10pc below some grades. In a submission to the Public Service Pay Commission, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) argues that their pay levels are behind their counterparts in eight destinations where many are emigrating to work. Wage levels in the UK, Australia, the US, Canada and European nations are examined. The union argues that nurses' wages should be higher as they must have an honours degree and work a longer week than some therapeutic grades whose pay is 10pc higher. Starting salary for staff nurses and midwives is 27,211 and rises in increments to 42,469, although they also qualify for overtime and allowances. Yesterday, the INMO met the commission to outline the labour market challenges facing nursing and midwifery. Although the commission cannot award pay rises, it must present evidence on recruitment and retention issues in its findings to the Government. Skype interviews, recruitment stands at airports, career breaks a year after taking a job, and a 1,500 allowance are being offered by the HSE and Department of Health to bring nurses and midwives home. A document presented to unions this week proposes to attract those who have emigrated. Read more: 'Nurses like me will be promised the world to return to Ireland but we know those promises won't be kept' It revealed that the numbers in nursing have fallen by over 3,000 in the past 10 years although the population has grown substantially and there is a larger number of over-65s. The proposals put to nursing unions offer to increase the workforce of 35,835 by 1,200. The document, 'Nursing and Midwifery Recruitment and Retention Strategy', says the Irish health service employed 35,835 nurses and midwives last year, - 32pc of the workforce. This compares with 39,006 in 2007 before a ban on recruitment. It says social media should be harnessed, and Skype interviews used as a "routine recruitment mechanism". The document says the location of recruitment campaigns should be further explored, including airports, particularly in areas where there is a high density of Irish nurses and midwives working abroad, like the UK and Australia, and campaigns 'streamlined' at key times of the year such as Christmas and the New Year. It also said a process of "on-boarding" of new nurses should take place, "developing them" from their first point of contact to ensure they are valued and welcomed. It says a 'Bring Them Home' campaign will be extended beyond the UK, and a second 1,500 allowance given after 18 months. Health management offers to take on an extra 96 midwives this year so there would be one midwife for every 29 births. It also says there will be an intake of 120 advanced nurse practitioners. The document says pre-retirement job sharing will be considered at forthcoming pay talks with public sector unions, expected to begin in May. Nurses and midwives who return to work, following retirement, will be entitled to return at their old pay level. All internship nurses and midwives will be offered permanent positions and preferred location once their internship begins, depending on available funding. A career break option will be available to new graduates after a year of service. Nurses have voted in favour of industrial action and will carry out a work-to-rule from Tuesday, March 7. The executive council of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) met today to consider proposals put forward by health service management on resolving the dispute are sufficient to warrant calling off its planned industrial action. However, they will now go ahead with the planned industrial action, which could escalate to strikes. In a statement, Minister Simon Harris and Minister Paschal Donohoe said they were "deeply disappointed" with the outcome. "There will be no further comment at this time pending a meeting of the Lansdowne Road Agreement Oversight Group, which will take place tomorrow and where the issue of the consequences of the proposed industrial action by the INMO will be considered," the statement read. INMO rejected the staffing, recruitment and retention proposals put forward today by the HSE, describing them as "totally inadequate." INMO General Secretary, Liam Doran said: "The clear message received from INMO members is that their workplaces are now unsafe and dangerously overcrowded. All areas are understaffed and the services are at breaking point which will require radical solutions to take the pressure off struggling nurses and midwives. "We need to attract and retain nurses and midwives in sufficient numbers to provide safe care and the current proposals contain no adequate remedies for this." Members of INMO's Executive Council discussed a management proposal to hire 1,200 extra nurses in a bid to resolve a dispute over staff shortages. The number of nurses stood at 35,835 last year, or 32pc of the workforce, compared with 39,006 in 2007 despite significant population growth and a greater number of over-65s. The INMO had complained that the process of hiring was tied up in bureaucracy. It also said the government side refused to guarantee that sufficient funds would be made available to mean that all Irish-trained nurses and midwives that graduated last year and this would get jobs. Nationwide action will commence on Tuesday, March 7. The action will take the form of an immediate and continuous work to rule involving nurses and midwives working to contract resulting in a ban on overtime, cross cover and redeployment. Valsalgel, which is not classified as a pharmaceutical product, is made by the non-profit Parsemus Foundation in Berkeley, California. Stock image A "reversible vasectomy" form of male contraception has been successfully tested in monkeys, bringing it a step closer to human patients. Valsalgel is injected into the vas deferens - the tube that carries sperm out of the testicles - where it forms an impenetrable gel barrier. A study in rabbits last year showed that it had the potential to provide a reversible alternative to vasectomy, which involves cutting and sealing off the vas deferens. The research showed that the gel could be removed by flushing the duct with baking soda solution. In the new trial, Valsalgel prevented any conceptions occurring in a test group of 16 rhesus monkeys. "Our research shows that Valsalgel placement into the vas deferens produces reliable contraception in mature male rhesus monkeys as shown by the lack of pregnancies in reproductively viable females with which the males were housed," lead scientist Dr Catherine VandeVoort, from California National Primate Research Centre, said. "Importantly, we show that the method of Valsalgel placement is safe and produced fewer complications than usually occur with a vasectomy. "Valsalgel shows real promise as an alternative to vasectomy because research in rabbits has previously shown the product to be reversible. Although it is possible to reverse a vasectomy, it is a technically challenging procedure and patients often have very low rates of fertility following reversal." One of the treated monkeys showed signs of sperm granuloma, a hard build-up of sperm in the vas deferens. The same non-serious complication affected around 60pc of men undergoing a vasectomy, said the researchers. The findings, reported in the journal 'Basic and Clinical Andrology', pave the way for clinical trials expected to begin next year. Valsalgel, which is not classified as a pharmaceutical product, is made by the non-profit Parsemus Foundation in Berkeley, California. "If free of side-effects then this novel approach has the potential for great promise as a male contraceptive," Professor Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said. The World Health Organization says tobacco is the world's biggest preventable killer, with a predicted cumulative death toll of a billion by the end of this century Consuming e-cigarettes is far safer and less toxic than smoking conventional tobacco cigarettes, according to the findings of a study analyzing levels of dangerous and cancer-causing substances in the body. Researchers found that people who switched from smoking regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as gum or patches for at least six months had much lower levels of toxins in their saliva and urine than those who continued to smoke. "Our study adds to existing evidence showing that e-cigarettes and NRT are far safer than smoking, and suggests that there is a very low risk associated with their long-term use," said Lion Shahab, a specialist in epidemiology and public health at University College London who led the work. E-cigarettes, which heat nicotine-laced liquid into vapor, have grown into an $8 billion-a-year market, according to Euromonitor International - more than three times that of NRT products. They are, however, still dwarfed by a tobacco market estimated by Euromonitor to be worth around $700 billion. Many health experts think e-cigarettes, or vapes, which do not contain tobacco, are a lower-risk alternative to smoking and potentially a major public health tool. But some question their long-term safety and worry that they may act as a "gateway" to taking up conventional cigarettes. The U.S. surgeon general in December urged lawmakers to impose price and tax policies that would discourage their use. Monday's study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed saliva and urine samples from long-term e-cigarette and NRT users as well as smokers, and compared levels of key chemicals found in their bodies. It found that smokers who switched completely to e-cigarettes or NRT had significantly lower levels of toxic chemicals and carcinogens compared to people who continued to smoke tobacco cigarettes . Those who used e-cigarettes or NRT but did not completely quit smoking did not show the same drop in toxin levels. This underlined that a complete switch was needed to get the long-term health of quitting tobacco, the researchers said. The World Health Organization says tobacco is the world's biggest preventable killer, with a predicted cumulative death toll of a billion by the end of this century if current trends continue. Tobacco smoking currently kills around 6 million people a year. Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at the government authority Public Health England, said the findings held a clear message for tobacco smokers. "Switching to e-cigarettes can significantly reduce harm to smokers, with greatly reduced exposure to carcinogens and toxins," he said in a statement. "The findings also make clear that the benefit is only realized if people stop smoking completely and make a total switch. "The best thing a smoker can do, for themselves and those around them, is to quit now, completely and forever." Search Keywords: Short link: Garda and members of the emergency services at the scene of the fatal crash on the N2 in Co Monaghan. A man was killed and two women were seriously injured in a road crash in Co Monaghan yesterday. Three vehicles were involved in the fatal collision, which happened on the N2 near Tirnaneill, between Monaghan town and Emyvale. The man who died was aged in his 30s and was alone in his BMW car when the collision happened at about 12.20pm. His car was involved in a head-on crash with a Volkswagen Tiguan car, which was being driven by a woman in her 30s. Her passenger was in her 60s. Both were seriously injured. Following the impact, one of the cars collided with a Volkswagen Caddy van. A man who was driving the van was said to be shocked but uninjured. Local people said they were informed the man who died was a foreign national. The crash caused shock in the area. "I heard a very loud bang as I sat in my kitchen," said Sheila Murphy (76), a mother of four who lives nearby. "My neighbours came out of their houses to offer help. I went to the scene and I helped direct the traffic. The gardai came very quickly. We heard that the woman was driving with her aunt." The older woman is believed to be from Co Donegal, said local people. "There were three fire engines and two ambulances. It's terribly sad that a man lost his life. Everyone is hoping the women will recover soon," Mrs Murphy said. The injured women were taken to Cavan General Hospital. The road remained closed throughout the day as forensic collision investigators examined the scene. Gardai in Monaghan appealed for witnesses to the collision to contact them at 047-77200, the garda confidential line on 1800 666111 or any garda station. Ireland is poised for a massive tourism boost after US President Donald Trump confirmed he has no objection to plans by a budget airline to enter the transatlantic market. US President Trumps spokesman, Sean Spicer, confirmed when questioned about plans by Norwegian Air International (NAI) for new US-Irish routes that the White House sees major benefits in the project. NAI plan direct services from Cork and Shannon to Boston and New York with other potential Irish and US cities likely to be added. The airline hailed the statement as a correct understanding of the benefits their proposed Irish-US services will offer. Irish tourism bodies, and Cork Airport in particular, welcomed the statement as effectively clearing the final major hurdle to allow services to begin. NAI plan to launch the first ever direct US route from Cork this summer, likely operating to smaller US airports outside major cities. President Trump has apparently taken the view that there are major spin-off economic benefits to the US from the service. From what I understand, we are talking about a deal where 50 per cent of the crew and pilots are based in the United States, Mr Spicer said. They fly Boeing aircraft. It is a major economic interest in the United States in the agreement right now, he added. NAI official Stuart Buss welcomed the statement which ended speculation that the new US administration could place further hurdles in the way of the service launch. Were pleased with the US Press Secretarys correct understanding of Norwegian and Norwegian Air International, he said. No other foreign airline invests more in the American economy or creates more American jobs than Norwegian. We currently have 500 US based cabin crew and are the only foreign airline to be recruiting American pilots, all of which are hired under local laws and regulations with competitive packages. We also operate an all-Boeing fleet of more than 120 Boeing aircraft, with another 120 on order generating further economic benefits and jobs in the US. Norwegian is doing exactly what the US administration wants - we are creating hundreds of American jobs in the air and on the ground, he said. Last December the US ended a year long stand-off with Ireland and the EU by granting an operating license for NAI to commence transatlantic services. The move is now expected to spark a price war on transatlantic services - and offers Cork its long-awaited first transatlantic link. The US Department of Transport confirmed the granting of a license which will allow NAI to commence services from Cork to Boston in May or June. Fares will shortly be offered for a service which Cork Airport has been campaigning for now for more than 25 years. The budget carrier also plans to launch a service from Cork to New York, most likely in 2018. Cork Airport managing director, Niall MacCarthy, hailed the decision as a great win for Open Skies. Housing Minister Simon Coveney described the decision as a landmark development for Cork. Cork Chamber of Commerce chief executive Conor Healy said the decision offered enormous potential economic benefits for both the city and entire region. The decision came after the EU had signalled last year it was demanding independent arbitration on the US failure to grant an operating license to NAI. Taoiseach Enda Kenny had also requested former US President Barack Obamas help over the increasingly bitter row which even became an issue in the US Presidential election. Mr Kenny had pleaded for commonsense over the proposed air links between Cork and the US cities of Boston and New York by NAI. Norwegian is now tipped to slash average return fares on transatlantic services with a surge in tourist business expected between Ireland and the US. However, the airline had been unable to commence operations from Cork despite being granted a foreign carrier permit by the US Department of Transportation two years ago. Norwegian had been unable to secure a permit to begin route operations as some US politicians including Hillary Clinton, backed by powerful US trade unions, have vehemently opposed the Norwegian services on labour grounds. The Taoiseach revealed he had personally raised the issue twice with former President Obama. Mr Kenny said there was little doubt but that the entry of Norwegian to the transatlantic market could have a Ryanair-like impact. The opportunity for Norwegian to fly from Ireland to the States will have the capacity to do for long haul what Ryanair did for (European) short haul with enormous opportunities for both sides. Corks Sen Jerry Buttimer warned that the Norwegian service to the US was the crucial piece of the jigsaw in terms of a transport strategy for Irelands second city. Cork has been working for 25 years to get a transatlantic service and it is critical that Norwegian is allowed to deliver it, he said. Norwegian had said it was clearly entitled to a route permit from the US authorities and repeatedly expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved. However, US Congressman Peter de Fazio had claimed that the carrier was attempting to use Ireland as a flag of convenience - a claim dismissed as totally incorrect by NAI. US trade unions had vehemently opposed the entry of Norwegian to the transatlantic market amid claims the airline will undermine existing US crew and ground handler contracts. Motorists have been urged to take care on roads as the country woke up to frosty conditions. AA Roadwatch said that "continued care is required" as frost is covering roads in Castlebar, Sligo Town, Ballymote and Longford Town this morning. DUBLIN: Collision on M50 southbound at J7 Lucan in middle lane. Otherwise M50 generally moving well both ways. https://t.co/qvBPcgxUj8 AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) February 8, 2017 The frost and icy patches are to clear later this morning with temperatures rising to between 6 to 10 degrees, according to Met Eireann. In Dublin, traffic is slow on the M50 southbound at J6 Blanchardstown. Northbound traffic is also slow from J16 Cherrywood to J15 Kilternan and again passing J12 Firhouse. Frost,icy patches & fog clearing in am.Some sun in Nern &Eern areas,mostly cloudy elsewhere.Light rain & drizzle in W Mun & W Con.Max 6-10 Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 8, 2017 There are reports of a crash on Ongar Rd near the Clonsilla Rd jct. Meanwhile, the N7 Naas Rd is busy inbound from Newland's Cross Flyover to the Red Cow Interchange. MONAGHAN: N2 Dublin/Derry Rd reopened at approx. 2am between Monaghan Town and Emyvale following a fatal crash. https://t.co/qvBPcgxUj8 AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) February 8, 2017 There are inbound delays from the Botanic Rd, onto the Phibsborough Rd to Doyles Corner. Further in, Church St is busy approaching the North Quays. It's also slow on St John's Rd West from SCR up to Heuston Station. In Kildare, traffic is very busy northbound on the M7/N7 Limerick/ Dublin Rd from J10 Naas South to J9 Naas North and then its very busy from J8 Johnstown to J7 Kill. There are also delays on the M4 Sligo/ Dublin Rd from J7 Maynooth to J5 Leixlip. FINE Gael politicians have launched an extraordinary attack on the HSE, accusing the state body of failing patients and their families and suffering from a complete lack of authority. During an emotional meeting at Leinster House, former Health Minister James Reilly called for the law to be changed so that HSE bosses can be fired if they fail to properly perform their duties. His successor Simon Harris - who has been at the eye of a storm following this weeks RTE documentary - told the parliamentary party meeting that he intends to shine a light on management in the HSE. He agreed that if HSE managers are not up to their job, they will be removed. Members expressed their support for the ministers bid to end waiting lists. Sources present at the meeting said a number of members, including deputies Fergus ODowd, Tom Neville and senator Jerry Buttimer, raised poignant health stories relating to their constituencies. Mr ODowd, a TD for Louth, highlighted a tragic case in which a person suffered a perinatal death. He told colleagues that the family is now pushing for a third inquiry and that it must be separate from the HSE. But after party chairman Martin Heydon tried to interrupt because Mr ODowd was veering onto another topic, he replied angrily: You may be chairman of the party, but youll end up as chairman of the county council if youre not careful. Towards the end of the meeting, Carlow/Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan threatened to quit from the Dail over proposed boundary changes. Changes reported in recent months suggest that part of Kilkenny will be moved into the neighbouring Waterford constituency. During a heated contribution, Mr Phelan said he felt he had been lied to over the issue and that he is considering his position. The strike by Tesco workers will continue indefinitely, the Mandate union said Mandate Trade Union has announced that five more Tesco stores have voted in favour of industrial action and will join their colleagues on the picket lines on Friday, February 17. The strike action is in relation to an ongoing dispute regarding changes to employee contracts including cuts to pay and conditions at work. Nine Tesco stores previously announced their plans to commence strike action on Valentine's Day to protest about the proposed changes to over 250 employee contracts. John Douglas, Mandate General Secretary said: "Tesco is a hugely profitable multinational retailer making enormous profits in Ireland, buying up distribution companies for billions of euro and paying out dividends to shareholders. Yet they are threatening their most loyal workers into taking cuts to their incomes. These are already low-paid workers and it simply isnt fair. The five stores due to strike on Friday February 17 include: - Tesco, Artane Castle Shopping Centre, Kilmore Rd, Beaumont, Dublin 5 - Tesco, Market Square, Ballina, Co. Mayo - Tesco, Churchview Road, Kilbogget, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin - Tesco, Roselawn Shopping Centre, Roselawn Rd, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 - Tesco, Unit 9 /10, Monaghan Shopping Centre, Dawson St, Tirkeenan, Monaghan The other nine Tesco stores due to strike on St Valentine's Day include: - Tesco, Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2 - Tesco, Ballyfermot Rd, Ballyfermot Upper, Dublin 10 - Tesco, Vevay Road, Bray, Co Wicklow - Tesco, Clearwater Shopping Centre, 11 Finglas Road, Dublin 11 - Tesco, Rear Main Street, Deanscurragh, Longford - Tesco, Navan Town Centre, Kennedy Rd, Dillonsland, Navan, Co. Meath - Tesco, O'Connell St, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo - Tesco, Manor West Retail Park, Ratass, Tralee, Co. Kerry - Tesco, Tullamore Retail Park, Portarlington Road, Cloncollig, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Five stores in Cork, Waterford and Arklow voted to defy Mandate's call for strike action. In a statement, Tesco Ireland said: "We still urge Mandate, even at this late stage, to accept the Labour Courts Recommendation on changes to pre-1996 terms and conditions and call off its strike. It is our intention that all Tesco stores will open for business as usual next week." The Union will continue balloting workers for strike action in a number of stores this evening. Tenants who were crammed into an "unauthorised hostel" have claimed that the man who collected their rent each month threatened to keep their deposits unless they hand wrote a letter saying "how much they loved living in the house." Texts seen by Independent.ie show how Dillon De Brun, who collected rent from up to 70 tenants living in a five-bedroomed house, sent a message to everyone ordering them to write letters to be used as evidence in court. The messages read: "Ok so here's what's going to happen. "I need every tenant to write a handwritten letter for me to give to the judge of the case about how much they love living in the house and how ye cant afford to find a house elsewhere as they [sic] is nowhere as cheap or available! Expand Close The tenants were told they wouldn't get their deposits back unless they sent a video/wrote a letter saying they were 'happy' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The tenants were told they wouldn't get their deposits back unless they sent a video/wrote a letter saying they were 'happy' "I'm going to go to the judge on Monday and hand him all these letters and speak to him myself." Dillon De Brun was employed by Mr Christian Carter (29) to manage The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely and collected the rent each month on his behalf. He used various usernames on Facebook to advertise the property, including Dyl OReilly. Undercover recordings by Independent.ie revealed how tenants had no written leases and Mr De Brun claimed The Pines was rented to foreign nationals because "[with] their way of living theyd agree to it a lot more". Expand Close The mattresses were removed and remaining tenants were forced to sleep on the floor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The mattresses were removed and remaining tenants were forced to sleep on the floor Now the tenants, who were given five days notice to find alternative accommodation, have spoken out about what it was really like to live in the house. "He threatened us about how we wouldn't get our deposits back unless we made a video or wrote a letter," they claimed. Expand Close The bathroom had mould and the drain 'constantly clogged up' / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The bathroom had mould and the drain 'constantly clogged up' "At the beginning there was very few of us and the house was like brand new. It wasnt so bad back then. Day by day, more people arrived. There was 20, then 21, then 22 and eventually almost 50 people in the house," said Laura (28), originally from Italy. Read More They spoke of problems with mould, how the heating always broke down and said there was constant electricity problems. "They just tried to put in as many people as possible. Some people had to pay incredible money for the beds. When they knew we would have to leave the house, they asked for two months' rent up front. "We had to wait until midnight to cook our dinner and there was over 40 phone chargers and a lot of hair straighteners so it was really dangerous," she added. Expand Close The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely which had up to 70 people living there at one time Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Pines, Lehaunstown, Cabinteely which had up to 70 people living there at one time Photo: Tony Gavin Dillon De Brun declined to comment to the above claims. 'All they cared about was money' Wilko (30), originally from the Netherlands, described the landlords as "two-faced." "It was like they were wearing masks. They pretended they cared about us, but all they cared about was money." The tenants were informed that a second kitchen would be built into the house to accommodate them. However, instead, the would-be kitchen was transformed into another bedroom. "I asked could I pay my rent by standing order and was told no. Dillon said it was not secure and insisted we pay cash-in-hand. With 500 in Italy, you could rent a house. In Ireland, you can rent a bed," said Laura. Other tenants returned home to their countries due to being unable to find alternative accommodation after they were ordered to vacate the property. Diego (33) from Mexico said "they didnt care about us." "Nobody tried to take care of people in the house after the story. Instead of helping us to get out of the problem, we were made feel like the problem." "We were made feel like criminals," Laura added. The tenants expressed disappointment about the "lack of consideration" when it came to finding them somewhere else to live. They claimed Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council "weren't very helpful" when it came to finding alternative accommodation and were puzzled as to why nobody from the council sat down to speak with them to explain what would happen. "They just came in and took some pictures of the house," they claimed. However, a spokesperson for the council responded:"In the course of investigations issues concerning environmental pollution also came into evidence supporting the view that the premises presented a danger and health risk to occupants and the local environment. "The occupants were notified of the proceedings and ultimately by Order of the Court dated the 2nd February the second named defendant Christan Carter was directed to provide alternative accommodation for those persons remaining in occupation of the premises. "However, I can confirm that the Housing Department ensured that emergency accommodation was secured and made available to all individuals who presented to our Homeless Services Section. " 'The tenants need to be the ones protected' Edel McGinley, Director of the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland (MCRI), has been working with the tenants to help them find accommodation since they were ordered to vacate the property. She is calling for new laws to be implemented to protect the rights of tenants in situations like this. "We are very concerned that the council did not take their rights into consideration when pursuing the landlord for breaches of planning laws. Rogue landlords need to be prosecuted and tenants need to be protected in these types of situations. "County councils have a duty of care. This is not an isolated incident and further actions by any council needs to uphold the rights of the tenant," she added. Undercover investigation Independent.ie first reported on the poor living conditions in The Pines earlier this year. Following an inspection by the council after our undercover investigation, the property was deemed to be an "unauthorised, dangerous hostel." Mr Christian Carter, who was subletting the property from the owner Mr Richard Stanley, appeared in court in relation to the matter. Both parties were ordered to pay legal costs of 60,000. However, former tenants have claimed this would only be "one months rent" for Mr Carter, who rents a number of other houses across Dublin. Independent.ie also exposed how Christian, along with his father Colin Carter, was renting five houses in Clontarf and Rathmines on behalf of a Mr James 'Jim' Cuddy in a similar manner. The number of tenants in these houses was significantly reduced after Dublin City Council issued fire safety notices in respect of the properties. Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan will be allowed to cling on to her post despite now being the subject of a Commission of Investigation established to examine allegations of a smear campaign against garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe. The judge-led commission has been given nine months to investigate claims members of garda management, including Ms O'Sullivan and her predecessor Martin Callinan, directed or had knowledge of a campaign to discredit Sgt McCabe. The claims have been examined by a retired member of the judiciary, Iarfhlaith O'Neill, who has told Government that they now warrant a commission of investigation. The commission, chaired by Supreme Court judge Peter Charleton, will have direct powers to compel witnesses. It's understood a budget of 1.2m will be set aside. The commission's establishment was agreed by Cabinet on the back of a recommendation by Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, who has for the past few weeks been examining the contents of the scoping exercise completed by Mr O'Neill, a retired High Court judge. His conclusions, recommendations and proposed terms of reference for the commission will be brought before the Dail today. A Government spokesman said the full report will not be published on the back of advice received by Attorney General Maire Whelan. One of the main players at the centre of the controversy is Superintendent David Taylor, the former head of the Garda Press Office. Supt Taylor has been on suspension with reduced pay for 21 months, despite never being charged with any offence. Both Supt Taylor and Sgt Maurice McCabe submitted protected disclosures to the Justice Minister, who referred them for further examination. Speaking on Wednesday Ms O'Sullivan again repeated that she had no involvement in any alleged effort to discredit Mr McCabe. A lot of work has been done to culture and the environment in the gardai more supportive she said. Were learning all of the time, she told RTE Radio Ones Today with Sean ORourke program. When asked to categorically deny that she played no role in attempting to discredit Sgt McCabe, she said she was already on record on the matter. Im on record from the very start when these issues were raised as saying that I had absolutely no knowledge nor was I privy to any campaign to undermine any individual ," she said. Fine Gael sources who were present at yesterday's Cabinet meeting said Ms O'Sullivan's position was not questioned. Read more: 'My mother insisted I get a good, pensionable job' - Noirin O'Sullivan admits she didn't always want to be a guard One minister said there is no "appetite politically" for the Government to lose another commissioner until the "firm facts" are established. Fianna Fail has welcomed the establishment of the commission, with sources agreeing the party is not yet prepared to "seek the head" of Ms O'Sullivan. The commission will seek to establish whether Supt Taylor was directed to lead the smear campaign against Sgt McCabe by former commissioner Callinan. Crucially, it will also examine whether Ms O'Sullivan had direct knowledge about the smear campaign itself. Both Ms O'Sullivan and Mr Callinan have fervently rejected the allegations. Speaking yesterday, Mrs Fitzgerald said the claims have not yet been proved. "Let me say to you that these are allegations. There is no prima facie case against anyone," she said. A garda spokesman said: "An Garda Siochana welcomes and will co-operate fully with the Commission of Investigation chaired by Mr Justice Peter Charleton so that the truth and facts are established." The Kinahan cartel is reeling after a major heroin processing factory in a house in Crumlin was busted by armed gardai. Officers recovered 600,000 worth of heroin, mixing agents, weighing scales, documents and several mobile phones during the intelligence-led operation. It is believed the house was being used to cut and bag heroin for distribution to street dealers in the south inner city. Gardai believe the drugs were likely to be linked to the cartel but are keeping an open mind on other theories because the man arrested is not a known gang member. The seizure comes as the once-untouchable cartel is increasingly gripped by paranoia and suspicion following a string of successful garda operations in recent weeks. A source has claimed that senior members of the drugs gang are now gripped by panic about informers and electronic surveillance. Expand Close Heroin seized as part of operation in Dublin 12 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Heroin seized as part of operation in Dublin 12 They believe their cars and homes have been bugged during garda searches and they will only talk in the open air or in restaurants, the source said. They have even bought jammers, which they used during a recent meeting in a shopping centre in west Dublin to try and block any electronic surveillance carried out by gardai. It is believed senior gang members are convinced there are also rats within the organisation. Gardai are increasingly fearful that out-of-control cartel leaders will resort to murdering their own gang members as paranoia takes hold. Last night, gardai were continuing to question a 25-year-old man arrested following the armed raid. Officers from Sundrive Road Garda Station received intelligence that the house was being used as part of a drug distribution network, and shortly after 7pm on Monday the property was raided by members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU). The arrested man is not considered to be a major criminal and does not have any significant criminal convictions. A source said that investigating gardai were surprised that he was in control of such a large amount of heroin. One line of inquiry being looked at is that the drugs belong to associates of the Kinahan cartel who are based in the Crumlin and Drimnagh area. However, other avenues are also being examined. A security source claimed the cartel is using drugs debts to recruit using young men with relatively clean criminal records to store narcotics. They are offering to wipe out drugs debts in exchange for storing or moving drugs. It means people who would not be top of the garda list can become heavily involved, the source said. A 27-year-old man is due to appear in court this morning charged in connection with the seizure. The latest seizures could represent another major setback for the cartel. On January 20, gardai seized cannabis worth an estimated 37m at Dublin Port more than was found in the previous two years. It was concealed in steel boxes declared as tractor parts and is believed to have been paid for by a number of gangs, who clubbed together. While the majority of the financial loss would not have been borne by the cartel, it still would have hit the gang hard. Ammunition Last week, an assault rifle, ammunition for a number of guns and about 3m of suspected heroin and cocaine were recovered. The drugs were in 1kg blocks and it is believed there was 20kg of cocaine and 30kg of heroin. That followed a major seizure of weapons earlier in the week from a warehouse in west Dublin. Fine Gael ministers believe the prospect of an early general election has increased after being issued with a stark warning surrounding the party's finances. Ministers were summoned to a meeting by the party's general secretary, Tom Curran, during which the need to significantly increase fundraising efforts in order to reduce the level of debt was discussed. The meeting held before yesterday's sitting of Cabinet was also attended by trustees of the party, who have in recent weeks met to discuss the fallout from the John Perry affair. The party was last year saddled with a significant six-figure legal bill after settling a High Court challenge initiated by the former junior minister. The decision by Fine Gael to settle on the steps of the court after five days of hearings has seriously impacted on the party's finances. Tensions have remained between the party leadership and Mr Perry. Meanwhile, sources present at yesterday's meeting said there was an emphasis placed on ministers ramping up their own fundraising efforts. The staging of more breakfast events and other fundraisers was discussed. "It was made clear that we needed to be financially prepared once an election is called," said one source. While there was no prediction that an election is imminent, yesterday's warning has heightened such a prospect in the eyes of ministers. Various sources across Fine Gael believe the party's finances are in a very poor state and that this could put them on the backfoot if an early general election takes place. Senior positions within Fine Gael have been filled only recently, having been left void for months. Some Fine Gael ministers have appointed advisers who previously served as staff in the party's headquarters. Yesterday's meeting was held just days after Fine Gael bosses surprised TDs and senators by announcing an increase in the fee to join the party from 15 to 20. At last week's parliamentary party meeting, Mr Curran also revealed Fine Gael is scrapping a special rate for the "unwaged", who previously secured a discounted membership. Mr Curran told his TDs and senators that the recent controversy surrounding election donations proved "embarrassing" for the party. Without singling out a member by name, Mr Curran told a Fine Gael meeting last Wednesday that such controversies must not dog the party again in the future. Earlier this month, it emerged the party's deputy leader and senator James Reilly was among 66 general election candidates to be referred to gardai by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Dr Reilly, the former health and children's minister, accepted a 1,000 cash donation. Dr Reilly returned 800 but failed to file the correct paperwork - which led to the SIPO ruling. He said it was an oversight on his part. A firefighter and police officer outside the property in Laburnum Avenue, Hornchurch, the scene of a fire. Photo: Ann-Marie Abbasah Three Irish people have been killed in a house fire in London on Monday, February 6. The fire broke out on Laburnum Avenue in Hornchurch, near the London borough of Romford in the early hours of the morning. All three deceased are believed to be in their late 60s and early 70s and are understood to be Irish. The dead include a woman, who is believed to be originally from Cork, and two brothers, both of whom have been resident in the UK for some time but have links to Dublin, according to the Romford Recorder. Neighbours desperately tried to assist the trio but were beaten back by smoke and flames. It is understood that the woman and her husband were visiting the man's brother in Romford when the tragedy occurred. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two brothers died later in hospital. An Essex police investigation is underway but the fire is being treated as a tragic accident. Locals indicated that one of the Irish brothers who lived at the property had been in poor health for some time. Family and friends had been visiting him to assist with his care. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters were called to the blaze. The two men and the woman were rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and all three were treated at the scene by the Brigade and London Ambulance Service crews. London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton said: My thoughts and those of everyone at the Brigade are with the friends and family of the three people who have died following the tragic fire in Hornchurch on Monday morning. Firefighters worked extremely hard and did all they could in difficult conditions. A London Metropolitan police investigation is underway but the fire is being treated as a tragic accident. The Department of Foreign Affairs told independent.ie that it is aware of an incident and is providing consular assistance. Lynn McDonald's day can begin as early as 2am, when her daughter Daisy, who suffers from a rare disorder, wakes, needing urgent attention, and it rarely finishes before 11pm. Daisy, who celebrates her fourth birthday later this month, has an extreme form of Rett Syndrome (RTT), a rare neurodevelopmental life-limiting condition, which has left this beautiful little girl unable to move, eat, speak or even use her hands. She communicates only with her eyes, has a moderate intellectual disability, and has had to have a feeding tube inserted into her intestine because her stomach doesn't work properly. Another tube releases the air which builds up in her stomach as a result of aerophagia, which causes her to continually gulp air, resulting in a bloated, distended stomach. Even now, her mother explains, caring for Daisy is "pretty much like caring for a newborn baby straight out of hospital." Rett Syndrome affects girls almost exclusively, impacting on one in 10,000 births. The condition brings with it severe and multiple disabilities. Daisy, however, has an extreme form of the condition, explains Lynn, a mother of two and former chef who says her daughter wasn't formally diagnosed until she was one-year-old. As a newborn, Daisy looked perfectly normal, but had difficulty sucking, swallowing and even holding milk in her mouth. "She never babbled, held up her hands, rolled over, or tried to crawl. She had absent seizures at six months - although it looks like she's day-dreaming, the brain switches off. "She was always a floppy baby. I knew all along that things were not right," Lynn adds, explaining that Daisy is also not a typical RTT case. Typically such a child develops normally to up to 20 or even 30 months, hitting the normal milestones before regressing. Daisy never reached any milestones. "At nine months she was like a newborn baby. She did smile, but just lay there with very little interaction. She couldn't sit, roll, lift her head, and feeding was difficult." Sleep, recalls Lynn, a lone parent, was virtually non-existent: "There were long screaming periods of up to 12 hours. Daisy was in a lot of pain because RTT brings extreme digestive problems." After Daisy's diagnosis, Lynn struggled on for three more months before her father Joe alerted her to the existence of the Jack and Jill Foundation. The organisation provides a home nursing care and respite service to children from birth to four years of age, who suffer from severe developmental delay as a result of brain damage, who may not be able to walk or talk, are tube-fed, oxygen-dependent, and in need of round-the-clock care. Set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife Anne Marie O'Brien, founder of Lily O'Brien's chocolates, the foundation's work is based on the couple's own devastating experience with their son Jack, who died that year aged 22 months. Jack and Jill operates 365 days a year, has no waiting list, and mobilises an army of some 1,000 nurses and carers around the country. Over 20 years, and spearheaded by Jonathan's relentless fundraising, the group raised over 35million while receiving just 4.5million from the State. It has supported over 2,000 children with a service that includes everything from financing and resourcing practical home nursing care and home visits by one of its liaison nurses, to making representations on the behalf of families to the government and HSE. Very shortly after Lynn contacted the Jack and Jill Foundation, help arrived at the family home at Bohernabreena in Dublin in May 2014, in the form of two kind and capable nurses. Daisy was then 15-months-old. "I was given 40 hours a month to use as needed, so I could choose a night's sleep or a few hours to go and do the shopping." She now also had some quality time to spend with Ellie (8), her eldest daughter and a recipient of the Tallaght Under-18 Person of the Year Award for her work with her sister. "Those 40 hours every month let me do things I couldn't otherwise do." Lynn says she can bring Ellie to the cinema or majorettes, go shopping, or even just walk the dog. "When you have a sick child and you are given the diagnosis you have to go home and get on with it - if it wasn't for Jack and Jill and the LauraLynn Children's Hospice, I'd be on my own as far as the State is concerned." Although she does receive HSE support in the form of an on-call nurse up to three times a week, caring for Daisy is literally non-stop, she says. "Sleep deprivation is one of the hardest things to deal with and it can take over. That's where Jack and Jill comes in. They're great; the nurses are flexible so they will come when you need them," Lynn explains. "Usually it's 11.30pm or midnight by the time I go to bed, but I cope as best I can." The support from the Jack and Jill Foundation is a crucial buttress against the crippling demands of daily life for thousands of parents like Lynn, yet this organisation, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, gets less than 20pc of its budget from the HSE. The charity, which is now planning to expand its service beyond the age of four, will be relying on public donations more than ever to keep going. "We have to raise 3.5 million or 10,000 every single day, including Saturdays and Sundays, to finance Jack and Jill and allow us to expand the services," explains new CEO Hugo Jellett, who took up the role in early January. The organisation's core funding from the HSE is about 585,000. "A lot of our work is a collaborative effort with the HSE. Back 20 years ago there was no help, but since then Jack and Jill's existence has put it up to the HSE that more needs to be done. Services have steadily improved," he says. "If we get a call for help from a mum or dad we can get a nurse or carer into that house by the end of the week." * For more information visit jackandjill.ie SUPPORT JACK & JILL Funding is an ever-present concern for the organisation, which says every 16 donation to Jack & Jill funds one hour of home nursing care for a sick child. The Foundation is constantly running fundraising events, such as: The RTE Concert Orchestra's Jack & Jill Foundation Charity Gala is scheduled for the National Concert Hall on February 8. This special performance of classical and popular music (tickets available fromrte.ie/co, priced from 12 to 39.50), will feature soloists Niall O'Sullivan (trumpeter) and vocalists Shona Henneberry and Simon Morgan, who will perform a programme of film and classical favourites. On February 16 a series of Afternoon Tea fundraising events kicks off in The Merrion Hotel, followed by events in venues all over the country right through to November. The organisation is also seeking Lego donations from the public, which it puts on sale. In April, it will hold an exciting lucky bag-style exhibition and sale of 1,500 specially created postcards, (some by very famous artists) at Dublin's Solomon Gallery - termed, 'Incognito', it gives members of the public the opportunity to pick up some potentially valuable artwork at very low prices. See incognito.ie. IT is being widely anticipated that there will be changes to the taxation system for motoring over the coming years - if not sooner. Pressure for action on diesel, in particular, is growing. But as SIMI director general Alan Nolan pointed out recently, we don't want a sudden swerve in legislation - like what happened in 2008 when we jolted from taxation being based on engine size to being calculated on emissions. That would allowing for no planning and cause chaos - it certainly did back then. While diesel is getting a bad press in several quarters at the moment, there is no doubt it is often the only realistic choice for thousands of families living in rural Ireland. They benefit from lower taxation and fuel frugality as they need cars to cover substantial mileage. Mr Nolan made a good point: "It is dangerous to 'blanket blame' diesel. What's fine for Dalkey may not be for Belmullet." We need to be careful we don't overreact. What measures are in line is not yet clear but, to repeat, we don't need another lurch. An example of the sort of thinking within some governments lies with our British counterparts. It has been reported that they are considering a diesel 'scrappage scheme' later this year aimed at reducing the number of so-called 'high-polluting' vehicles on their roads. Reports in the British press suggest they are looking at offering a cash-back payment or money off low-emission vehicles in exchange for older diesels. In Halong Bay you will sail among hundreds of oddly-shaped outcrops which jut out from the still blue waters - and time will stand still Vietnam is a mouthwatering destination, says Deborah Spillane, but Halong Bay is a real highlight. Having studied the itinerary of my full-on Wendy Wu Tour of Vietnam, I knew that by Day 10 I could be pretty tired. So the prospect of visiting the UNESCO Heritage site of Halong Bay seemed the perfect way to finish my holiday. I could immerse myself in its stunning emerald green waters and enjoy the unique landscape that has made it so famous. From the moment we arrived in Vietnam, we had hit the decks running. From the bustling motorbike-thronged cities, to the stunning countryside and from the tragic historical sites and monuments, to the ancient and poignant citadels and temples, we were fully immersed in the culture of the country. Vietnams reputation did not disappoint. The food was wonderful and the people were as courteous and welcoming as you could hope for. Near the end of our tour we arrived in Hanoi, home of the enormous grey Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which contrasted somewhat with the lovely cafes and busy streets of the city with its stunning centrepiece the magical Hoan Kiem lake. Expand Close Rural Vietnam is blessed with lush jungle greenery and lotus flowers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rural Vietnam is blessed with lush jungle greenery and lotus flowers The evening before we left we witnessed something uniquely Vietnamese a traditional water puppet show. Rather than a stage in the theatre the show was performed from was a small elevated lake. Upon this all manner of strange tales were told by puppets apparently operated from under the water. Keeping up with the storylines was not as challenging as trying to work out how the puppeteers managed to make the puppets perform the dynamic Riverdance-like routines while they were obviously submerged. The musical accompaniment was delightful and really held all the audiences attention. The next morning we set off early for Halong Bay. The drive took us out into rural Vietnam and mountain passes full of lush jungle greenery. The four-hour journey was broken by a visit to a pearl factory. I love pearls and received my first string for my 21st birthday many, many years ago. Here, everyone found a pearl in their oyster albeit a tiny one. That thrill whetted the appetite to find bigger ones, and nearly everyone bought a memento at a great price in the shop full of treasures at the end of the tour. Then the distinctive Halong Bay mountains drifted into view. They are truly captivating. The plan was stay overnight on the water. Our new home was a cross between a Mississippi river boat and a Vietnamese junk. My cabin was beautiful with its lovely dark wood interior, big comfortable bed, with crisp white linen sheets, and en suite bathroom. After a quick freshen up we headed for the first meal of our trip. The buffet lunch offered a great selection of dishes from Vietnamese to western, there was everything and anything you could wish for. After sailing for two hours we dropped anchor. Immediately the silence hit us. With a balmy breeze and exotic birdsong all around us we prepared to transfer on to smaller boats to visit the floating villages dotted around the bay. Expand Close Vietnam map / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vietnam map The water was so peaceful and calm, and as we puttered along in our little boat, I took in the majestic scenery hundreds of stunning rocky outcrops emerging from the still waters, all topped with odd-shaped peaks. These pinnacles, or pitons, call them what you will, are black limestone formations and covered partly in green foliage, and no two seem to be the same. The rocks are not habitable but some of them have caves, and we spotted a temple on one. As I had done from day one, I took endless photographs. While good, they couldnt capture the real magic of the place. After a while, we found ourselves weaving in and out of floating villages. These traditional floating fishing homes look idyllic and for a moment I thought I would love to live on the emerald green waters, surrounded by the intense beauty of the place. Sadly the villages are now there mainly for tourists. The old way of life is no longer tenable and the hardship and poverty and the pull of the cities have depleted its communities. Originally, families lived on boats, then began to live in little wooden houses kept afloat by rolls of bamboo. Now what houses are left are kept afloat by barrels full of air. Our boatman Thong and his family had lived on one of the floating villages all his life the fifth generation of his family to do so until the government moved everyone to the mainland in 2014 for safety reasons. Only one village survives, its residents subsisting on fish farming. Inspired but moved by the visit, we headed back to our luxurious ship. Cookery lessons distracted us and then the mood picked up when the promise of squid fishing by night was mentioned over cocktails. A crescent moon and thousands of stars created stunning silhouettes of the islands. Lines and torches were the only equipment necessary for our fishing, the little squid squirting ink jets of alarm as we hauled them from the water. Any guilt was quickly forgotten as we scoffed our freshly caught calamari. Expand Close Deborah in mystical Vietnam / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Deborah in mystical Vietnam While some of our group chatted into the night I headed to my wonderful cabin with thoughts of an early morning Tai Chi lesson in mind. I slept like a top. Although early, the Tai Chi was both graceful and restorative. While I am not saying I was graceful by any means the gentle pace did loosen any stiff muscles from the boating the day before. After a gigantic breakfast we headed by boat to Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave. As we approached the island that the cave was in its soaring peak cast a long shadow. The climb up to the cave revealed wonderful vistas of the bay while inside the enormous cavern was the biggest underground system I have ever encountered. The eerily lit strange lava-like shapes of both stalagmites and stalactites were awesome the lakes and pools reflecting the bizarre underground world. The two days werent long enough. So I will have go back to explore further. It was, however, the perfect end to my brilliant first trip to Vietnam. GETTING THERE The 12-day Vietnam at a Glance trip is available from 2,690pp with Wendy Wu Tours (www.wendywutours.ie, 0818 776 380). It includes all international airfares, domestic transportation, departure taxes, all accommodation, all meals, entrance fees, guides and daily tours and visa fees for UK, Irish & EU passport holders. Guests who book before February 28 can save 300 per couple The left in America is struggling to define a strategy of resistance against the radical agenda of new President Donald Trump and his cabinet. Some are calling for the adoption of Tea Party-style tactics of total obstruction. Congressional Democrats seem to be taking a more pragmatic approach. Since the inauguration, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer has pledged that his caucus is ready to work with the Trump administration on policies that align with Democratic values. Twentieth-century German history provides a useful perspective. While comparisons between Mr Trump's America and Adolf Hitler's Germany should be made cautiously, we can learn something from the anti-Nazi resistance: The left should not only be fighting extreme measures coming from the regime but also peeling off conservatives to create an anti-Trump coalition. Unfortunately, the German example also shows that such coalitions can require painful compromises on core values - precisely the kind of compromises Democrats currently appear unwilling to make. More than anything, the analogy shows that false moves during a resistance can haunt a nation for decades. Like Mr Trump, Hitler took control of a democratic system in crisis. Establishment politicians on the left and the right were fighting over what seemed like mutually exclusive visions for the country's future. The left argued that Germany had been founded on secular ideals of pluralism and socialism; the right considered Christianity and capitalism the basis of national community. Hitler, an outsider with no government experience, took advantage of this situation by allying himself with the right and blaming the left for the country's polarisation. For a short while, the alliance between the Nazis and the right-wing establishment held. Conservatives trusted Hitler's promise to restore Christian values to German society. They raised no objection when the Nazi-led government smeared left-wing politicians as traitors and drafted laws intended to isolate groups that had allegedly eaten away at the country's cultural fabric. Similarly, congressional Republicans remain mum as Mr Trump declares war on the "liberal media", lambastes dissenting civil servants who "betrayed" their jobs, and bars some Muslims and refugees from entering the US. The Third Reich's founding coalition began to falter when conservatives saw that their new leader showed little commitment to traditional Christian values. Fewer than two years into the regime, after a fateful event known as the Night of the Long Knives - during which Nazi security forces purged a number of key conservative politicians - Hitler made clear that he considered race, not Christian spirit, to be the true source of national unity. Germans on the left found themselves at a crossroads. Two paths lay open: They could double down in their struggle against the right or try to woo disillusioned conservatives. A minority, mainly communists, chose the first path. They excluded conservatives from a popular front of anti-Nazi resistance and insisted on the strict application of left-wing values, such as the socialisation of private property and the complete separation of church and state. But most left-wing leaders chose the second path. In the years between 1935 and 1945, they quietly began recruiting conservatives to build an anti-Hitler coalition and plan for the post-Nazi order. To achieve that goal, however, they needed to develop ideas and craft policies that would attract religious Germans. This required some painful ideological compromises. Many left-wing leaders gave up their struggle against religion in public schools and abandoned their previous goal of socialising key industries. The more radical left criticised them as betraying the socialist cause. But after Hitler's demise and the end of World War II, their decisions helped to provide a stable foundation for what became known as West Germany, and ultimately today's reunified Germany, which by most measures is one of the least politically polarised societies in the world. Meanwhile, the left-wing resisters who refused to compromise with conservatives found themselves isolated and dependent on support from the Soviet Union, whose leaders proved just as ideologically intransigent. These were the men and women who ended up founding East Germany, a state that survived only as long as communist Russia remained economically viable. The current American situation is not identical to the German case. But Mr Trump's ascendancy is a symptom of societal crisis, just as Hitler's was in Germany. At least since the 1980s and the entry of a religious right into politics, there has been polarisation over the question of America's bedrock values. For the past eight years, Republicans - establishment politicians and the Tea Party insurgents who brought them to heel - have run a successful campaign of "no compromise" with the left. Living in North Carolina, the so-called 'belly of the beast', I have seen how many on the right speak about liberals as enemies (and vice versa). They embrace Mr Trump despite their scepticism because they think he can finally push through their agenda with no left-wing interference. Liberals could emulate the pragmatic wing of the anti-Nazi resistance by appealing to conservatives. But this would require something more agonising than normal bipartisan compromises. It would mean finding common ground on the very social issues that have riven politics for the past three or four decades. Liberals might have to alter, or at least sideline, some of their most prized platforms on abortion or secularism in the public sphere. Conservatives might need to consider welfare policy proposals they have long condemned, such as single-payer health care. Compromise on that profound level seems almost impossible at the moment. But Mr Trump's threat to the republic grows in proportion to the widening ideological fissure between left and right. As the German example shows, bridging the worldviews of former enemies may be the only way to avoid the abyss. Noah Strote is an assistant professor of history at North Carolina State University Rioters have again set fire to cars and rubbish bins overnight in spreading violence in the suburbs of Paris over the alleged rape of a young black man with a police baton. Police said on Wednesday morning they had made 17 arrests. The violence in suburbs north east of Paris, which has now spread to at least five towns, erupted after a young black man was allegedly sexually assaulted with a police officer's baton last week, during an identity check. One officer was charged on Sunday with aggravated rape and three others were charged with aggravated assault. France's President Francois Hollande visited the alleged victim, identified only by his first name, Theo, on Tuesday afternoon at the suburban hospital where he has been treated since the alleged assault. AP CIA director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday in his first overseas visit to discuss security issues, including Ankara's fight against a movement led by a US-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup. The visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between President Donald Trump and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan late on Tuesday. Mr Pompeo will also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fighters - backed by the United States - which Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey, according to officials. Turkey wants the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, extradited from the United States. It is also urging Washington to stop backing the Syrian Kurdish groups. Ties between Nato allies Ankara and Washington were troubled under the Obama administration, with Turkey expressing frustrations over what it perceives as US reluctance to extradite Mr Gulen and the support provided to the Syrian Kurdish fighters. Ankara has pinned hopes for improved ties on Mr Trump's presidency and the call was being closely watched in Turkey. Turkish officials said the telephone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere" and both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation. Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against terror groups. Mr Trump reportedly told Mr Erdogan Washington wished to develop ties with Turkey and to engage in close cooperation with the country on regional issues. Mr Erdogan for his part requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and not to extend support to Syrian Kurdish fighters. According to the officials, Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan agreed to "move together" in operations to capture Islamic State group-held strongholds of al-Bab and Raqqa in northern Syria. AP Police in Frankfurt have launched an investigation after a German newspaper published allegations of Cologne-style sex attacks in the city during New Year celebrations. 'Bild', Germany's highest-selling newspaper, claimed a mob of some 900 drunk asylum-seekers assaulted women on one of the city's best known shopping streets. But police said yesterday no complaints or crime reports had been filed and they had no evidence of any assaults almost six weeks after they are alleged to have taken place. 'Bild' published interviews with a woman who said she was the victim of an assault and a bar owner who said his bar was overrun by some 50 North African men who attacked women. But several other restaurant and bar owners in the area claimed they had seen nothing out of the ordinary that night. Jan Mai said he had initially wanted to keep his bar out of the news but had decided to come forward after Frankfurt authorities claimed New Year's Eve had been peaceful in the city. He denied claims he had been politically motivated after the German press published details of posts on his Facebook page saying "Merkel must go" and expressing support for far-right parties. "I was lucky I was wearing tights," the 27-year-old woman, named only as Irina A, told the newspaper. "They grabbed me under my skirt, between my legs, my breasts, everywhere. Me and my girlfriends. More and more of these guys came. Their hands were everywhere." The assaults are alleged to have taken place in the area around Fressgass, an upmarket shopping street that is also known for its nightlife. 'Bild' claimed a group of around 900 drunk asylum-seekers who had travelled into Frankfurt from smaller towns for New Year celebrations headed for the area after they were blocked from entering the city centre by police. "When I came in, the whole place was full with a group of around 50 Arabs," Mr Mai, the owner of the First In bar, said. "They didn't speak German, took drinks from customers, danced at them. Women asked me for help because they were being attacked. The mood was getting out of control." Mr Mai said he called police but by the time a patrol car arrived the men had moved on. At around 3am they returned. "Drunk North Africans were throwing chairs and bottles at customers and staff" in a nearby cafe, he said. When he tried to clear his own bar, "one of them grabbed a knife from the counter and wanted to go for us". None of the claims appear to correspond to police reports of the night, which logged only two arrests for bodily injury in the area. "We have no matching reports," a police spokesman said. The allegations are disturbingly reminiscent of the Cologne sex attacks of New Year's Eve 2015, in which more than 1,000 women were assaulted in the area around the central station. Details of the Cologne assaults did not emerge for several days, and police at first claimed the night had been peaceful. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Stories shared on social media stating that President Donald Trump's travel ban led to the arrest of an Islamic State group leader at a New York City airport are false.. (AP/Susan Walsh) Stories shared on social media stating that President Donald Trump's travel ban led to the arrest of an Islamic State group leader at a New York City airport are false. There is no record of a court case involving the person named, and the FBI's New York office says it did not arrest anyone at the airport on the night in question. There are several versions of the account, detailing the arrest of a man named Rasheed Mohamed early on January 31 at Kennedy Airport. The 32-year-old man was questioned "due to the heightened security measures from the presidential executive order", according to the account. It says the man was in custody after trying to enter the US on a tourist visa and claimed to be visiting family in order to attend the Super Bowl. A spokeswoman for the FBI's New York's office says its contingent at Kennedy Airport did not arrest anyone there on January 31. In addition, a search of the federal court system shows no cases involving a person named Rasheed Mohamed this year. Several published versions of the story include pictures of other US defendants, including a 2009 image of Najibullah Zazi, who pleaded guilty to planning suicide bombings on the New York City subway system. Another photo is of Sajmir Alimehmeti, who was arrested in New York on charges of trying to support the Islamic State group. Also, a picture of Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammed al-Adnani, who was killed in Syria last year, is included in some versions. AP OCHA chief Stephen O'Brien said the situation has been worsening in recent months The UN's humanitarian aid agency is seeking 2.1 billion dollars (1.7 billion) this year to help people in Yemen, a record-high appeal for the Arab world's poorest country, where thousands have died since violence in an ongoing conflict swelled nearly two years ago. Some 18.8 million people, or more than two-thirds of Yemen's population, need some form of assistance, and about 10 million of those are "acutely affected" - requiring aid in the form of food, water, healthcare and protection to sustain and save their lives, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. Yemen has been in the grip of a civil war since 2014, when Shiite Houthi rebels and allied forces swept down from the north and captured the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition with blistering air power has been helping government forces battle the rebels since March 2015. The conflict is made even more complex because an al Qaida branch holds some territory, and Islamic State is also active there. OCHA chief Stephen O'Brien said the situation has been worsening in recent months. "Yemen is one of the most food insecure countries in the world," he told journalists in Geneva, noting that the elderly, mothers and children were especially vulnerable. "A staggering 7.3 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from. "If there is no immediate action, and despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, famine is now a real possibility for 2017." The announcement marked the formal appeal from the OCHA, which last month estimated needs this year of about two billion dollars. The OCHA last month estimated that some 10,000 civilians have died in the conflict. Last year's appeal for 1.6 billion dollars was 60% funded and the OCHA reached 5.6 million people. This year's target is to help 12 million. The OCHA's chief for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, said the agency has been able to reach all 22 governorates in the country, and about 80% of the territory, stressing that funding is generally a more pressing need than access. AP The condition of an Egyptian man said to have attacked soldiers with a machete at France's Louvre museum has deteriorated, authorities said. The suspect has been in hospital in Paris since he was shot four times by soldiers on Friday after injuring one in an underground mall that is part of the Paris museum complex. He allegedly shouted "Allahu akbar!" while rushing towards the troops. The man, identified as Abdullah al-Hamahmy, was put under supervised custody at the European Hospital Georges-Pompidou on Saturday after his condition improved. But the Paris prosecutor's office said on Tuesday night that the custody was "lifted" after his condition "sharply deteriorated during the day". His current condition was "incompatible" with keeping him in custody, it said. After remaining silent during his first two questionings, the suspect had started to answer investigators' questions on Monday. He confirmed his name as Abdullah al-Hamahmy and identified himself as a 29-year-old Egyptian citizen, the prosecutor's office said. During the questioning, the suspect gave "his first version of the facts", the office added, but gave no details. Soon after the attack, Egyptian officials identified the suspect with his full name, Abdullah Reda Refaie al-Hamahmy, but said he was 28. With its custody now ended, the prosecutor's office said the case was no longer under its supervision and had shifted to the authority of counter-terrorism investigating magistrates. The office said it would ask the investigating judges to file preliminary terrorist charges against al-Hamahmy once his condition had improved enough. It said it was seeking charges of "attempted terrorist murders" and "terrorist criminal conspiracy". The Louvre was closed after the attack, but reopened over the weekend. The suspect's father, Reda Refaie al-Hamahmy, said his son had lived in Dubai for the past five years and was employed by a law firm. Egyptian officials have said local security agencies were gathering information on al-Hamahmy to help establish if he was a member of any militant groups or had been radicalised. Egyptian Investigators are examining his social media accounts and information gathered will be shared with French authorities, they have said. AP A young Muslim woman listens during a protest held in response to President Donald Trump's travel ban, in Seattle, Washington, U.S. January 29, 2017. REUTERS/David Ryder More than half of Europeans say that immigration from Muslim countries should be stopped, according to a new poll. Some 55 per cent of Europeans called for the halt in a new poll conducted by Chatham House. More than 10,000 people from 10 European states took part in the survey which gave the following statement: All further migration from mainly Muslim countries should be stopped. 55pc agreed with the statement, 25pc neither agreed or disagreed and 20pc disagreed. Opposition to Muslim immigration is especially intense among retired, older cohorts while those aged below 30 are less opposed, survey shows pic.twitter.com/DPZXjedSDy Chatham House (@ChathamHouse) February 7, 2017 "The study points to significant and widespread levels of public anxiety over immigration from mainly Muslim states," said Chatham House. "With the exception of Poland, these countries have either been at the centre of the refugee crisis or experienced terrorist attacks in recent years." According to the poll, the opposition to Muslim immigration is especially intense among retired, older age cohorts while those aged below 30 are notably less opposed. Those with less education showed more negative attitudes towards Muslims. The authors of the survey said that the poll was carried out prior to the implementation of US President Donald Trumps controversial 'Muslim ban'. "Our results are striking and sobering. They suggest that public opposition to any further migration from predominantly Muslim states is by no means confined to Trumps electorate in the US but is fairly widespread." US President Donald Trump receives a figurine of a sheriff during a meeting with county sheriffs at the White House in Washington THE White House issued a warning to Iran last night that "there's a new president in town" and it would not "sit by" and allow the country to pursue its military ambitions. Diplomatic tensions were intensified after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made his first public speech since Donald Trump's inauguration. He dismissed the US decision to put Iran "on notice" over a recent ballistic missile test and called on Iranians to take part in demonstrations on Friday, when the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution will be marked. Mr Khamenei said: "We are thankful to [Mr Trump] for making our life easy as he showed the real face of America. "He says, 'You should be afraid of me'. No! The Iranian people will respond to his words on February 10 and will show their stance against such threats." Mr Trump responded to the January 29 missile test by saying Iran was "playing with fire" and imposed fresh sanctions on individuals, some of them linked to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard. Expand Close Betsy DeVos needed the vote of Vice-President Mike Pence Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Betsy DeVos needed the vote of Vice-President Mike Pence Photo: Reuters The missile test was not a direct breach of Iran's 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers, but the White House said it "violated the spirit of that". Last night Mr Trump's spokesman, Sean Spicer, reiterated his firm stance. "I think the Ayatollah is going to realise there's a new president in office," Mr Spicer said. "This president's not going to sit by and let Iran flout its violations, or its apparent violations, to the joint agreement, but he will continue to take action as he sees fit. "The president has also made clear time and time again that he's not going to project what those actions will be, and he's not going to take anything off the table. But I think Iran is kidding itself if they don't realise there's a new president in town." Read more: Mr Trump was also facing a legal showdown last night over his travel and refugee ban and vowed to take it all the way to the US Supreme Court if necessary. He said: "We're going to take it through the system. It's very important for the country. Regardless of me or whoever succeeds at a later date." Mr Trump signed his executive order temporarily banning people from seven predominantly Muslim countries entering the US, and suspending the US refugee programme, on January 27. James Robart, the Seattle US District Judge, later temporarily blocked the order. Last night the US government was asking an appeal court to restore the executive order. Meanwhile, Betsy DeVos was voted in as education secretary after Vice-President Mike Pence cast a rare, tie-breaking vote on the Senate floor. There were 51 votes in her favour and 50 against. She was the only cabinet pick to come close to failure after Democrats successfully stalled and delayed her hearing. The vote came after the Democrats staged a 24-hour protest in the Senate, asking for support from just one more Republican to break the vote in their favour. In the days before her appointment, congressional switchboards were jammed as people phoned in to protest to their representatives. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, were against her appointment, but a third Republican dissenter was needed. Mr Pence was filmed running up the steps to the Senate yesterday morning to cast his vote for Ms DeVos. It was the first time in American history that a vice-president's vote was required to break a tie for a cabinet pick. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted: "This cabinet nom is so unqualified, so divisive, that @MikePenceVP had to drive down Pennsylvania Ave to cast the deciding vote." Jeff Sessions, the incoming Attorney General, also voted in her favour. His confirmation vote was scheduled for just after Ms DeVos to ensure he could take part. Filings from the Federal Election Commission show that her family previously donated to more than 20 Republicans who voted in her favour. Ms DeVos tweeted after the vote that she "appreciated the Senate's diligence" and was "honoured" to be appointed. "Let's improve options and outcomes for all US students," she tweeted. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Police said Oriana Garcia allowed the abuse (Hagerstown Department of Police via AP) A US woman has pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse over the beating death of her nine-year-old son over a missing piece of birthday cake. Prosecutors agreed to drop a second-degree murder charge and seek a sentence of no more than 20 years for Oriana Garcia, who appeared in a courtroom in Hagerstown, Maryland. The 27-year-old's son Jack was handcuffed to a chair by Garcia's brother and pummelled by her boyfriend, who suspected Jack of eating cake meant for his two-year-old daughter. Police said Garcia allowed the abuse and sent away an ambulance as Jack lay dying. The boyfriend, Robert Wilson, is serving 30 years for second-degree murder. Jacob Barajas is awaiting sentencing for first-degree child abuse. AP Pope Francis repeated his appeal for people to build bridges of understanding, not walls as he marked a feast day of a Sudanese immigrant amid a global uproar over the Trump administration's attempts to impose a travel ban on seven mostly Muslim countries. The pope didn't refer to President Donald Trump in his comments. But at the end of his audience, he noted that Wednesday marked both the church's day of reflection for young victims of human trafficking and coincidentally the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita. She was a 19th-century Sudanese slave who, after migrating to Europe, became a nun. Sudan is one of the seven countries on the U.S. travel ban list. "In the social and civil context as well, I appeal not to create walls but to build bridges," he said. "To not respond to evil with evil. To defeat evil with good, the offence with forgiveness. A Christian would never say 'you will pay for that.' Never. "That is not a Christian gesture. An offence you overcome with forgiveness. To live in peace with everyone." Francis made the reference during his weekly Wednesday catechism lesson, dedicated to the general Christian precepts of hope and forgiveness in forging peace. Francis has frequently invoked the "bridge not walls" appeal in urging countries to welcome migrants, including when he returned from a visit last year to the U.S.-Mexico border. On that occasion, he was asked about Donald Trump's campaign pledge to build a border wall and said anyone who wants to build a wall is "not Christian." The Vatican has in recent weeks come out strongly and directly to criticize the Trump immigration policy, with a senior official saying the Vatican was indeed concerned and the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, saying the recourse to walls and travel bans was against U.S. economic interests. In his remarks Wednesday, Francis also appealed for prayers for members of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, who face official and social discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, also known as Burma. "These are good people, peaceful people," Francis said. "They're not Christians, but they're good, our brothers and sisters. And they have been suffering for years. They've been tortured and killed, simply because they are continuing their traditions, their Muslim faith. Let us pray for them," he said. Most of the estimated 1 million Rohingya do not have citizenship and are regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even when their families have lived in Myanmar for generations. Communal violence in 2012 forced many to flee their homes, and more than 100,000 still live in squalid refugee camps. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] President Donald Trump threatened to "destroy" the career of a Texas state senator in a meeting with sheriffs from around the country on Tuesday. The group had been discussing the practice of civil forfeiture, a practice where law enforcement officers take money or assets from people who haven't necessarily been charged with crimes. Sheriff Harold Eavenson of Rockwall County, Texas cited an unnamed state senator who backed a law making civil forfeiture illegal until a person has been convicted of a crime. Trump replied, "Do you want to give his name? We'll destroy his career," to which the group erupted in laughter. Gayle McCormick walks outside her new apartment in this still photo taken from video, in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV Gayle McCormick works in her kitchen in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV Gayle McCormick works in her kitchen in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV Gayle McCormick poses during interview in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV Burning passions over Donald Trump's presidency are taking a personal toll on both sides of the political divide. For Gayle McCormick, it is particularly wrenching: she has separated from her husband of 22 years. The retired California prison guard, a self-described "Democrat leaning toward socialist," was stunned when her husband casually mentioned during a lunch with friends last year that he planned to vote for Trump - a revelation she described as a "deal breaker." "It totally undid me that he could vote for Trump," said McCormick, 73, who had not thought of leaving the conservative Republican before but felt "betrayed" by his support for Trump. "I felt like I had been fooling myself," she said. "It opened up areas between us I had not faced before. I realized how far I had gone in my life to accept things I would have never accepted when I was younger." Three months after the most divisive election in modern U.S. politics fractured families and upended relationships, a number of Americans say the emotional wounds are as raw as ever and show few signs of healing. The rancor has not dissipated as it has in the aftermath of other recent contentious U.S. elections. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll shows it has worsened, suggesting a widening of the gulf between Republicans and Democrats and a hardening of ideological positions that sociologists and political scientists say increases distrust in government and will make political compromise more difficult. Expand Close Gayle McCormick works in her kitchen in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gayle McCormick works in her kitchen in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV The Reuters/Ipsos poll of 6,426 people, taken from Dec. 27 to Jan. 18, shows the number of respondents who argued with family and friends over politics jumped 6 percentage points from a pre-election poll at the height of the campaign in October, up to 39 percent from 33 percent. Read More Sixteen percent said they have stopped talking to a family member or friend because of the election - up marginally from 15 percent. That edged higher, to 22 percent, among those who voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Overall, 13 percent of respondents said they had ended a relationship with a family member or close friend over the election, compared to 12 percent in October. Expand Close Gayle McCormick walks outside her new apartment in this still photo taken from video, in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gayle McCormick walks outside her new apartment in this still photo taken from video, in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV "It's been pretty rough for me," said Rob Brunello, 25, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, a truck driver who faced a backlash from friends and family for backing Trump. "People couldn't believe Trump could beat Hillary. They are having a hard time adjusting to it," he said. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the poll results. At the same time, many people reported their relationships have not suffered because of the election. The poll found about 40 percent had not argued with a family member or friend over the race. Expand Close Gayle McCormick poses during interview in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gayle McCormick poses during interview in this still photo taken from video, inside her new apartment in Bellingham, Washington February 2, 2017. Photo taken February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Tim Exton/ReutersTV The election also enabled a significant number to forge new bonds - 21 percent said they became friends with someone they did not know because of the election, though the poll question did not ask respondents to specify if the friendship was with someone from a different party. Sandi Corbin, a retiree in East Galesburg, Illinois, said she has visited some of the new friends she made because of their shared support for Clinton. "We talk all the time now," she said. "I would say that's a plus from the election." The election's fervor has spilled into the streets since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in protest on the day after Trump took office, and there have been demonstrations against a travel ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries. Arguing over Trump has become a bitter reality for many Americans. "Once people found out I had voted for Trump the stuff started flying," said William Lomey, 64, a retired cop in Philadelphia who no longer speaks with a friend he grew up with after they clashed on Facebook over the election. "I questioned him on a few things, he didn't like it, he blew up and left me a nasty message and we haven't talked since." He said his friend is gay and worries about Trump's sometimes demeaning campaign rhetoric about minority groups including Muslims, Hispanics, immigrants and the disabled. "I think people are getting too wound up," Lomey said. Read More Sue Koren, 57, a Clinton supporter in Dayton, Ohio, said she can barely speak to her two Trump-backing sons and has unfriended "maybe about 50" people on Facebook who support the president. "Life is not what it was before the election," she said. "It's my anger, my frustration, my disbelief. They think our current president is a hero and I think he's a nut." George Ingmire, 48, a radio documentary producer in New Orleans, said he broke off a close relationship with an uncle who had helped him through his father's suicide because of his uncle's fervent support for Trump. "We had some back and forth and it just got really deep, really ugly," Ingmire said. "I don't see this ever being fixed." Many personal conflicts erupt on social media. In the Reuters/Ipsos poll, 17 percent said they had blocked a family member or close friend on social media because of the election, up 3 percentage points from October. LeShanda Loatman, 35, a black Republican real estate agent from Delaware, has severed ties on social media with former co-workers and old friends over their support for Trump and their criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement against violence and racism against blacks. "I haven't come across anybody who was openly belligerent about the election or Black Lives Matter movement when I was out in public. It's just on Facebook," said Loatman, who voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Eventually, McCormick's husband changed his mind about Trump and wrote in former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich in November, but by that time she had decided to strike out on her own. While the couple plans to vacation together and will not get divorced - "we're too old for that" - she recently settled in her own place in Bellingham, Washington. "It really came down to the fact I needed to not be in a position where I had to argue my point of view 24/7. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life doing that," said McCormick, who ultimately cast a write-in vote for Democratic U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. In St. Charles, Missouri, retired tour company operator Dennis Conner, who is a Trump supporter, says he has avoided confrontations with his brother, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, who were Clinton backers. His advice: "We don't have to talk about politics." The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. It has a credibility interval, which is similar to margin of error, of 1 percentage point. Mikhail Tolstykh, better known under his nom de guerre Givi, has died (Dmitry Lovetsky/AP) A prominent rebel leader in eastern Ukraine has been killed in an explosion in his office. Mikhail Tolstykh, better known under his nom de guerre Givi, died early on Wednesday morning in what it described as a terrorist attack, the rebels' Donetsk News Agency said. Several Russian media outlets said 35-year old Mr Tolstykh died in an explosion in his office. Russian state television showed pictures of firefighters putting out flames in the building. The footage from the scene showed several rooms in the building gutted from an apparent explosion. Yuri Tandit, an adviser to the chairman of the Ukrainian Security Service in Kiev, said on the 112 television channel his agency was looking into the reports. Mr Tolstykh was one of the most recognisable faces in the conflict between Ukrainian government troops and Russia-backed rebels which has claimed more than 9,800 lives since it began in 2014. Mr Tolstykh's death follows the assassination of his close associate Arsen Pavlov, also known as Motorola, last year. Killings of high-profile commanders in Ukraine's Donbass began in May 2015 with the bombing of the charismatic Alexei Mozgovoi. Rank-and-file separatists and local residents reported an increased Russian influence in the area in summer 2015 as Moscow was apparently trying to rein in the warlords, some of whom seemingly got out of hand with murder and violence targeting civilians. The very existence of unruly commanders like Givi bolstered the Ukrainian government's long-standing refusal to negotiate with what it regarded as terrorists. Givi and other warlords who have been killed in the past two years have publicly assaulted prisoners of war and been engaged in what can be classified as war crimes. While the unruly commanders were dying in car bombings, the leadership of the rebel-controlled parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions came to be dominated by bureaucrats with ties to ousted pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych, a Donbass native, rather than the commanders who led the uprising. Unlike the assassinated warlords, the Donetsk bureaucrats are seen as less extreme and more inclined to bargain with Kiev. AP Alexei Navalny had announced plans to run for office in December and had begun to raise funds (Elena Ignatyeva/AP) A Russian court has found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, which disqualifies him as a candidate for president next year. However, an associate said Navalny will carry on with the campaign he announced he December. In a webcast hearing, Judge Alexei Vtyurin found Navalny guilty of embezzling timber worth about 500,000 dollars (400,000). The previous guilty verdict was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that Russia violated Navalny's right to a fair trial. The judge has yet to give a sentence in the trial held in Kirov, a city nearly 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of Moscow. During a break in the proceedings, Navalny told reporters that he and his lawyers were comparing this verdict with the text of the 2013 verdict and found them to be identical. "You can come over and see that the judge is reading exactly the same text, which says a lot about the whole trial," Navalny told reporters, adding that even the typos in the names of companies were identical in both rulings. Navalny, the driving force behind massive anti-government protests in 2011 and 2012, had announced plans to run for office in December and had begun to raise funds. Navalny's campaign manager, Leonid Volkov, insisted that the campaign goes on even though the guilty verdict formally bars Navalny from running. In a post on Facebook, Mr Volkov said that the Kremlin will ultimately decide whether Navalny will be confirmed as a presidential candidate. "This is the political decision we need to win by campaigning," he said. Navalny's plans to run in the 2013 Moscow mayoral election were shattered when the Kirov court found him guilty and sent him to prison. But after he spent a night in jail, the court held an emergency hearing and released Navalny on a suspended sentence. The unusual move was seen by observers as the Kremlin's decision to allow him to run against its candidate in the mayoral race in order to make it look more legitimate. Navalny came second, garnering about a third of the vote. AP Tattoo artist Yevgeniya Zakhar works on a tattoo for Lyaysan, a victim of domestic violence, in Ufa, Russia (Vadim Braydov/AP) A Russian tattoo artist is helping victims of domestic violence hide the physical scars from abusive relationships they want to put in the past. Yevgeniya Zakhar posted an ad on her social media page last year offering to ink abused women for free after she heard about a Brazilian tattoo artist already offering the service. Soon she was flooded with requests - and got so stressed hearing her clients' stories of beatings and burnings that she had to limit the number of women she sees to one day a week. "I didn't expect to be inundated with visits," said Ms Zakhar, 33, who works in Ufa, a city about 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) east of Moscow. "I had to work on two to four clients a day. It's really scary, scary to look at this problem and hear what people are saying." Earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a controversial bill decriminalising some forms of domestic violence in Russia. The measure makes battery on a family member punishable by a fine or a 15-day arrest, if there is no bodily harm. Domestic violence is a long-standing problem in Russia. Police estimate that about 40% of all violent crimes take place within families. In a survey last month by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Centre, 19% of respondents said "it can be acceptable" to hit one's wife, husband or child "in certain circumstances". Supporters of the new law insisted it does not encourage or sanction violence, but instead gives families a chance to reconcile after what the bill's co-author, Olga Batalina, described as an "emotional conflict, without malice, without grave consequences". Ms Zakhar's clients usually pick butterflies or floral designs to cover the visible signs of abuse. The clients confide in the artist, sharing the horrors of relationships that went from bad to violent to vicious. Turning the scars into something of their own choosing boosts the women's self-esteem and helps them gain new perspectives on the trauma, Ms Zakhar said. "Girls are willing to talk, often because it will be the last time they speak about the scars," she said. "They don't talk about it later because they will be talking about their beautiful tattoo, not a scar." Katarina Golovkova underwent eight hours of surgery to save her arm after her boyfriend threw her against a window five years ago. She thought about getting a tattoo to cover the scars, but did not have the courage to visit a tattoo artist before she spotted Ms Zakhar's ad. "People saw it and asked 'What is this scar about?'" Ms Golovkova, 29, recalled. "It was a constant reminder. You see this arm every day, it's there. At least now I can freely open it up, and people say 'How cool!'" Ms Golovkova, who was stalked by her boyfriend for weeks after she finally left him, had not heard about Russia's new domestic violence law, but she does not like the idea. "It's wrong. It all starts with one slap," she said. "You forgive them once, and it gets worse. You can't forgive such things. They will happen again." Ms Zakhar said she has tattooed more than 1,000 women at no cost since she started reaching out to abuse victims last year. She said not one reported receiving help from police. "The girls say 'What's the point? Why go to the police if they are not helping?'" AP Amnesty has recorded at least 35 methods of torture in Syria since the late 1980s, said Lynn Maalouf (AP) Syria's justice ministry has rejected an Amnesty International report of mass hangings of as many as 13,000 people in a prison near Damascus, calling the allegations "totally untrue" and part of a smear campaign. The ministry's statement was published by Syria's state-run news agency on Wednesday, a day after Amnesty released its report about Saydnaya Prison. The ministry said "misleading and inciting" media outlets carried the Amnesty report to smear the Syrian government's reputation on the world stage, particularly after recent "military victories against terrorists groups". The government refers to all armed opposition as "terrorists". It said the allegations are "baseless" because executions in Syria follow due process and various stages of litigation. Amnesty's report said the mostly civilian victims, at a jail known to detainees as "the slaughterhouse", were hanged after military trials that lasted minutes. The report, covering the period from 2011 to 2015, said 20-50 people were hanged each week at Saydnaya Prison, authorised by senior Syrian officials, including deputies of President Bashar Assad, and carried out by military police. The report referred to the killings as a "calculated campaign of extrajudicial execution". Amnesty has recorded at least 35 different methods of torture in Syria since the late 1980s, practices that have increased since 2011, said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty's regional office in Beirut. Other human rights groups have found evidence of massive torture leading to death in Syrian detention facilities. In a report last year, Amnesty found that more than 17,000 people had died of torture and ill-treatment in custody across Syria since 2011, an average of more than 300 a month. The figures are comparable to battlefield deaths in Aleppo, one of the fiercest war zones in Syria, where 21,000 have been killed across the province since 2011. While the most recent data is from 2015, Ms Maalouf said there was no reason to believe the practice has stopped, with thousands more probably killed. "These executions take place after a sham trial that lasts over a minute or two minutes, but they are authorised by the highest levels of authority", including the grand mufti, a senior religious authority in Syria, and the defence minister, she said. The chilling accounts in the Amnesty report came from interviews with 31 former detainees and more than 50 other officials and experts, including former guards and judges. According to the findings, detainees were told they would be transferred to civilian detention centres but were taken to another building in the facility and hanged. US President Donald Trump has criticised the court that is deliberating on his immigration and refugee executive order for having motivations he described as "so political". Speaking to a group of police chiefs and sheriffs, Mr Trump said his immigration order was "done for the security of our nation". He quoted from the portion of the immigration law that he said gave him the power to enact the ban, calling it "beautifully written" and saying even "a bad high school student would understand this". The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals is weighing the appeal of Mr Trump's executive order on immigration, which temporarily suspends the country's refugee programme and bans travel for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. In a hearing on Tuesday, judges on the appeals court challenged the administration's claim that the ban was motivated by terrorism fears, but also questioned a lawyer's argument that it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. Mr Trump said he was watching the proceedings on television. He noted that there had not been a decision yet, but said that "courts seem to be so political". He added that it "would be so great for our justice system if they could just read a statement and do what's right. And that has to do with the security of our nation, which is so important". Mr Trump also repeated his promises to reduce violence in Chicago, saying that "no-one in America should be punished" because of their birthplace. He pledged to provide resources to police departments and promised "zero tolerance" for violence against law enforcement. Mr Trump also promised to work on combating drug abuse and said there should be resources to deal with a "mental health crisis". Hundreds of members of the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriff's Association were in the standing room crowd, some in uniform but the majority in plain clothes. They snapped photos with their phones as the president spoke, but clapped sparingly when he asked whether they were in agreement with his views on the immigration ban. His comments about combating drug abuse and the targeting of police officers drew a more unanimous response from the crowd. AP The Kannapolis City School System has received statewide recognition for excellence in communications. Each year, the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) honors the outstanding communications work of school districts with its annual Blue Ribbon Awards. During NCSPRA's awards ceremony in Greensboro, Kannapolis City Schools earned three Blue Ribbon Awards. The district earned a Gold level award in social media engagement for its Friday Photo Galleries that are published each week. Kannapolis City Schools also received Silver and Bronze awards for outstanding publications and photography. Entries were judged by the Board of Directors of the Georgia School Public Relations Association. Superintendent Dr. Chip Buckwell accepted the awards along with Ellen Boyd, Director of Community Relations for the district. Kannapolis City Schools was one of 35 school districts out of 115 in North Carolina to receive recognition for outstanding communications. NCSPRA President, Charlie Glazener, said the winning entries rivaled some of the best work of public relations practitioners in any field. Blue Ribbon Awards are the highest honor in our organization, and they validate the superior work done by my colleagues this year, Glazener said. This roster of excellence is tangible evidence that NCSPRA's public relations professionals are among the nations finest and that they are producing cutting edge communications and products that support their schools and school systems. Prior to the awards ceremony attendees heard a presentation from Keith Poston, Director of the Public School Forum. He outlined the top education issues facing North Carolina in 2017. NCSPRAs mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations. This years Blue Ribbon Awards were presented in Greensboro on Jan. 27. KANNAPOLIS- A teenager and another suspect were arrested after an armed robbery and chase in Kannapolis Wednesday. Kannapolis police said the incident happened at 2 a.m. at the Rent-A-Center on South Cannon Blvd. The manager told police three televisions were stolen and nine gunshots were fired into the business. When police arrived at the store, two men were trying to load a television into a vehicle. When the suspects saw law enforcement, they attempted to flee the parking lot in separate vehicles and collided with one another. After the collision both suspects continued driving on South Cannon before crashing and running away, according to police. Police eventually caught the suspects and identified them as Willie ElBeehard Anthony, 20, and Jamarqua Antonio Davis, 16. The vehicles were stolen out of China Grove. Davis was charged with felony larceny, breaking and entering, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of marijuana, injury to real property, hit and run, failure to heed blue lights and driving without an operators license. Anthony was charged with felony flee to elude, breaking and entering, felony larceny, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm, hit and run and driving without an operators license. A three-judge panel of Superior Court judges has issued a temporary restraining order that prohibits a state Senate committee from beginning confirmation hearings on Gov. Roy Cooper's 10 cabinet secretaries. Cooper submitted his motion Monday in Wake Superior Court, his latest legal action addressing House Bill 17, which was passed Dec. 19 by the Republican-controlled legislature during the 2016 special fourth session. The panel issued the temporary restraining order Tuesday night. The judges are Todd Burke from Forsyth County, Jesse Caldwell III from Gaston County and Jeffery Foster from Pitt County. The order allows Cooper to temporarily by-pass the section of HB17 that requires the Senate confirmation hearings. The panel determined that Cooper "has a likelihood of success on the merits of his challenge, and is likely to sustain irreparable harm" unless the temporary restraining order was issued Cooper spokesman Ford Porter said Wednesday the next step is for the judges to address a motion for a preliminary injunction at 11 a.m. Friday, which would halt the confirmation process until the full trial, which is scheduled for March 7. We need to put these partisan confirmation games behind us and get on with repealing House Bill 2, raising teacher pay and getting better jobs for North Carolinians," Cooper said in a statement. "The court is absolutely correct in their decision and should not be intimidated by threats from legislative leaders. The legislature's top two Republican leaders, Senate President pro tem Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, responded to the temporary restraining order by calling it "a gross misreading of the (state) Constitution and a blatant overstep of their Constitutional authority. "Three Superior Court judges (have) attempted to dictate to the legislature when it could or could not hold committee meetings and what it could or could not consider in those meetings. Their decision to legislate from the bench will have profound consequences, and they should immediately reconvene their panel and reverse their order. Sen. Wesley Meredith, R-Cumberland, said before cancelling a Commerce and Insurance Committee meeting today that "make no mistake: the General Assembly will meet to review the qualifications of Gov. Coopers cabinet nominees as allowed by the constitution, and we are going to get answers to questions regarding their qualifications, potential conflicts of interest and willingness to obey the law." Rick Glazier, a former Democratic legislator and executive director of left-learning N.C. Justice Center, said he is concerned that leaders from one branch of government made personal attacks on members of another branch. "It does a disservice to the process," Glazier said. "These judges are just doing their duty and they did not asked to be assigned to the case. "They came to a unanimous, bipartisan decision on issuing the temporary restraining order." Before submitting his request Monday for the temporary restraining order, Cooper sent a letter to Berger and Moore asking them to delay their confirmation timeline, which is slated to run through March 17. Before leaving office, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory signed HB17 into law. Part of the law requires Senate advice and consent of the governors 10 cabinet secretaries, included in the state Constitution but not required of previous governors. The nominees have been asked to answer submitted questions to the Senate Select Committee on Nominations. It is not clear if a no vote serves as a veto and eliminates a nominee from serving as a department secretary. Cooper filed his initial complaint Jan. 11, calling HB17 an unprecedented legislative effort to interfere with his duties. He said it could have played a detrimental role in his potential cabinet selections. Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, has said he doesnt expect any of Coopers nominees to be vetoed by the committee if they can meet the three stated criteria. The Senate committee appears to have saved the two most potentially contentious candidates for last in Michael Regan for the Department of Environmental Quality and Dr. Mandy Cohen as health secretary. Regan has drawn GOP criticism for serving as a longtime advocate for the Environmental Defense Fund. Mandy Cohen served as a top Medicaid and Medicare administrator of President Barack Obamas health care overhaul. The motion said Cooper has not submitted any cabinet nominees to Berger. Cooper has said he has until May 15 to do so. Attorneys representing Cooper said it is critically important that he find and employ people who share his views and priorities for North Carolina so he can exert control over the executive policy that is implemented. These changes are unconstitutional because they violate the separation of powers clause, the executive power clauses, and the appointment and exclusive privileges clauses enshrined in the North Carolina Constitution. For example, Coopers attorneys have claimed the Senate advice and consent clause only covers constitutional officers, such as Council of State members. They argue that statutory officers, such as cabinet secretaries, are beyond the advice and consent edict. The attorneys say an amendment to the state constitution, which requires voter approval, is necessary to give that consent role to the Senate. Coopers attorneys said a legal precedent was established in a 2014 lawsuit involving McCrory vs. Berger. In January 2016, the N.C. Supreme Court ruled that the General Assembly took powers away from the executive branch by permitting its leaders to appoint most of the statutory members on three environmental regulatory commissions. CONCORD- Students of all ethnicities confidently answered questions about Spanish vocabulary words after school at W.M. Irvin Elementary last week. As Emily Francis, the schools English as a Second Language teacher, pointed to words like pinata, lena and cumpleanos, students as young as five worked on the correct pronunciations and meanings. Once a month students in kindergarten- third grade that want to improve their Spanish skills stay after school for Spanglish Club, facilitated by Francis and students from Concord High School. They play games, read stories, sing songs, make crafts and do plenty of other social activities to help students learn the language. The club began in October and is an International Baccalaureate (IB) personal project for Concord High sophomore Grace North. I was wanting to do something that involves other cultures because Im interested in that, North said. A lot of people have been coming consistently. I think it has been successful. I was surprised at how many people showed an interest in coming. Norths mother is the nurse at W.M. Irvin Elementary which is why she selected the school. She and other volunteers from the high school attend each meeting and assist Francis with the curriculum. We split them into groups and play games, North said. We found that doing games would intrigue them and help them learn. When the club began, Francis decided it should be catered toward the lower grades. She also said it was a good start to get ready for the schools upcoming shift to an IB next year. At that time, the school will offer a Spanish Immersion option beginning with kindergarten classes. This is a way of offering an after school program for kindergarten through third grade. We have programs for older students but I wanted to do something where they have something to do after school, Francis said. This is for them to have fun and learn a language and make sure they are immersed in it. She decided to call it Spanglish Club because she said that is how Spanish speaking households are today. She said many Spanish-speaking students speak a mixture of English and Spanish at home. "I use both languages and that's how we speak now. It's the new language and that's how we are growing now," Francis said. "It's the way our students will be next year." This month, students played vocabulary bingo and discussed pinatas. Each student made their own mini pinata and the session ended with a pinata party. The club also recently received a grant from the Cabarrus County Education Foundation that will purchase books for the students. Francis said each student will be given a bilingual book which allows her to incorporate literature and writing in the lessons. Along with the volunteers from Concord High, Francis has also recruited some bilingual fifth-grade students to assist with facilitation. One of those students is Marlinne Cisneros who said she likes being a leader. I will learn from being a leader by helping out kids lower in my grade, Cisneros said. Cisneros helps the younger students with vocabulary and said the biggest problem they usually have is reading the words. Its like when I started learning English and I didnt know some of the words, she said. Im helping them out. As North greeted students coming to the meeting this month, she expressed her pleasure with the impact the club is having on the student body and herself. She said the club has had an impact on her with student interactions and she hopes to keep it going as long as possible. I look forward to it, she said. Its fun to hang out with the kids. Many Americans appear ready to give President Donald Trump a pass when it comes to his lack of religious knowledge, sensibilities or behavior, but I think that's a mistake. Trump is quite pious and his religious convictions run dangerously deep. But his piety is not a reflection of a Christian faith. His piety is formed by his understanding of what makes America a country like no other. Trump proclaimed Jan. 20, the day of his inauguration, a "National Day of Patriotic Devotion." Patriotic devotion? Christians are devoted to God, not to any nation. Trump defended his call for a day of patriotic devotion by drawing attention to his other claim - taken on faith - that there are no greater people than American citizens. Faith in Trump's view, though, requires belief in those things for which we have insufficient evidence. There is nothing, in Trump's view, the American people cannot accomplish as long as we believe in ourselves and our country. But Christians do not believe in ourselves or our country. We believe in God, but we do more than believe in God. We worship God. Nothing else is to be worshiped. Christians have a word to describe the worship of that which is not God: idolatry. Idolatry, of course, can be a quite impressive form of devotion. The only difficulty is idolaters usually end up killing someone for calling into question their "god." Trump's inauguration address counts as a stunning example of idolatry. His statement - "At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America and through our loyalty to our country we will recover loyalty to each other" - is clearly a theological claim that offers a kind of salvation. Christians believe that only God demands "total allegiance." Otherwise we run the risk, as Trump exemplifies, of making an idol out of some human enterprise. The evangelistic character of Trump's faith should not be missed. He suggests that we will rediscover our loyalty to one another through our total allegiance to the United States. Quoting the Bible, he even suggests we will learn to live together in unity. But history tells us people experience repressive politics for challenging such "oneness." It is difficult to imagine those who have faced slavery and genocide can be in solidarity with those who believe we can let bygones be bygones. Consider Trump's use of the phrase "the people" in his inaugural address. "The people" have borne the cost. "The people" now own, rule and control the government. "The people" have not shared in the wealth of the country but now they will. "The people" will have their jobs restored. To which one can only wonder: Who are these people? The answer must be that they are Trump's people who now wait for his call to action, that is, to make America great again. Trump, in his mind, is not just the president of the United States. He is the savior. Trump identifies as a Presbyterian. However, he has said he does not need a prayer for confession of sins because he has done nothing that requires forgiveness, one signal that he does not believe in a basic Christian tenet. He has identified with Norman Vincent Peale, who wrote the book "The Power of Positive Thinking," which does not represent Christian orthodoxy. Christianity in Peale's hands was closer to a set of beliefs a follower could make up to suit their desires. Trump has adopted this strategy and applied it to the country. Christians must call his profound and mistaken faith what it is: idolatry. Christianity in America is declining if not dying, which makes it difficult to call Trump to task. Trump has taken advantage of Christian Americans who have long lived as if God and country are joined at the hip. I do not doubt Trump thinks of himself as a Christian, but America is his church. Christians have a church made up of people from around the globe. That global interconnectedness might just produce a people with the resources to tell Trump "no." At the very least, Christians in the United States have little to lose by beginning to reject our long love affair with American pretension. - - - Stanley Hauerwas' most recent book is "The Work of Theology" (Eerdmans). He is retired from the Divinity School of Duke University. Most recently he was chair in ethics at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland). By Dezan Shira & Associates Last month, the Department of Consumer Affairs issued a notification that asked state governments to ensure the service industry understood service charges are voluntary, rather than mandatory. The notification stated that hotels and restaurants must clearly inform customers that service charges are discretionary and voluntary. Further, the notification said consumers who are dissatisfied with services can request that service charges are waived. The notification was made on the basis of fair trade practices outlined in the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The commerce ministrys notification indicates that the government views service charges as an unfair trade practice when hotels or restaurants present them as mandatory. RELATED: Accounting Services from Dezan Shira & Associates What caused the notification? Many media articles reported that the notification was inspired by consumer complaints over the quality of services provided by restaurants and hotels. Accordingly, the consumer affairs department moved to clarify that there was no legal basis for mandatory service charges. Further, many observers speculated that the service charge notification indicated that government intended to increase the service tax in the 2017 budget. These observers believed that the government wished to soften the blow of a service tax hike by curbing service charges at hotels and restaurants. However, the government made no significant changes to indirect tax laws during the 2017 budget. Government officials clarified that no indirect tax reforms will occur in the immediate term due to the forthcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST). How is the notification being interpreted? Given central governments limitations, and its federal composition, the commerce ministrys request to state governments is both obligatory and prudent. However, most state governments have not effected the notification in an efficient manner, causing confusion for consumers and the service industry. Delhi, however, serves as a good example of how the commerce ministrys notification will play out in other states and union territories once their respective governments begin enforcing the clarification. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi welcomed the ministrys notification given the partys complete opposition to service charges. Following the AAP governments notification to hotels and restaurants, compliant hotels and restaurants simply attached notes to their menus or displayed a sign indicating that service charges are not mandatory, but encouraged and appreciated by staff. RELATED: Indias 2017 Budget: Sober Initiative after Heady 2016 Will the notification encourage consumer spending? Many in the service industry have criticized the ministrys notification: tipping is not a regular practice in India, and service charges of 6 to 20 percent helped lowly paid service staff obtain additional income. However, the ministry issued the notification to encourage consumer confidence and spending in the industry. In any case, industry experts expect the notification to make an impact. Market observers should monitor how the change impacts the industry, particularly ahead of the GST, which will make a much bigger impact on consumer spending and operational costs for hotels and restaurants. About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email india@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. 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. 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. After the sudden revolt by Chief Minister O.Panneer Selvam on Wednesday night the entire Tamil Nadu political scene has gone into disarray. The ruling AIADMK party's General Secretary V.K.Sasikala has expelled OPS from the party's treasurer post and also announced that his basic membership will be cancelled. Sasikala conducted a meeting of the party MLAs in the headquarters in Royapettah,Chennai. Sources claimed that 130 MLAs of the party except the three members who have offered support to OPS attended the meeting convened by the party head. Now it seems that Sasikala and the MLAs supporting her will be flying to New Delhi and meet Pranab Mukharjee, the President of India to order C.Vidyasagar Rao the Governor of Tamil Nadu to facilitate the swearing in of Sasikala as CM as she claims the support of all but four MLAs of the ruling party. As the Delhi visit is expected to happen tomorrow the MLAs have been allegedly made to stay in a star hotels near the Chennai Airport at Meenambakkam. It is also said that all of them have been ferried in busses to the designated place of stay This has raised various questions. Political commentators in social media claim that this is a move to stop MLAs from moving to the other faction that is the group supporting OPS. Meanwhile OPS who has been on a whirlwind interaction sessions with the press and exclusive interviews to media outlets has been claiming that he will prove the majority of his supporters when the Tamil Nadu Assembly session is convened. It is still not clear as to when the Governor of TN will return to the state even after the onset of such a power struggle in the ruling party. Amit Roy's upcoming directorial 'RunningShaadi.com', starring Taapsee Pannu and Amit Sadh, will hit the screens in Pakistan on February 17, the same day as its release in India. The news comes right after the release of much-anticipated Bollywood film 'Raees', starring Shah Rukh Khan and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, was on Monday banned in Pakistan due to its "objectionable" content. Director Roy said in a statement: "I think it's a good way forward because just banning all things that the two nations enjoy about each other is not going to move our relationship forward." "We enjoy many of the same things and the people of both our nations are made from the same grain. So why let the politics chosen by the select few determine the common man's desire on either side to communicate and enjoy each other's cultures. I completely welcome this decision by our friends in Pakistan to release our film and I hope they enjoy it." After the self-imposed ban on Bollywood films in Pakistan ended on February 1, Karachi's Atrium Cinemas screened Hrithik Roshan-starrer 'Kaabil'. And now, 'RunningShaadi.com' is set to release in Pakistan. Vikram Malhotra, co-producer of 'RunningShaadi.com', said: "We are delighted that 'RunningShaadi.com' will release in Pakistan. The film is an endearing entertainer, especially for the youth and I am sure that audience across the world will enjoy this quirky yet meaningful story." Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave a thumbs up to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to lift the "ban" by issuing No Objection Certificate to Indian films, subject to clearance by the Censor Board. According to an official handout issued by the Information Ministry, the government was "pleased to continue the existing open policy to display all international movies (including Indian films) in Pakistani cinemas". The statement, however, pointed out that the cinema houses would be allowed to screen movies only after approval from relevant censor boards. Following the tensions over an attack on an Indian army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, and surgical strikes across the Line of Control in September last year, Pakistani cinema owners had decided not to screen Indian movies until the atmosphere became better. The decision was taken after the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association banned all Pakistani artistes from working in films in India. Hate him, ignore him or mock him, MSG AKA Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan is one man who is unstoppable. After receiving the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Foundation Award, for Most popular Actor & Director for his 2nd Film MSG-2, he recently won another award. He has been awarded the Bright Award, for Best Actor and Most versatile Personality of the year by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, in a grand event held at Peninsula Grand, Mumbai on 6th Feb. Not many know that he has 43 credits in his upcoming Film Hind Ka Napak Ko Jawab MSG Lion Heart-2. From direction, acting, choreography, VFX, sound, music, singing, publicity designing to prop designing, he's one man army who. A report claims that he had handled just 30 departments in his earlier Film but this time around this list has grown to 43. Wait, what? Here we are struggling with professional crisis and work life balance and this man is doing everything on his own?! Like EVERYTHING! Present at the event were other Bollywood actors like Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, Vinod Kambli and Rakhi Sawant. Here are some more pictures from the event. sayingtruth sayingtruth sayingtruth What are you doing with your life? Recent news that Facebook co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg is being asked to step down by over 3 lakh petitioners from a group of Facebook shareholders is not only shocking, but its also not the first time this has happened. While Zuckerberg looks like he should be able to crush the rebel shareholders easily and continue to steer Facebook towards the promised land, but hey you can never be 100% sure of how thing pan out in the near future, other high-profile CEOs of technology companies havent always been so fortunate. Here are nine tech CEOs that either got fired unceremoniously or were forced to leave their companies: 1) Sehat Sutardja and Weili Dai, Marvell Technology The husband and wife duo of Sehat Sutardja and Weili Dai founded Marvell Technology Group in 1995, and the companys one of the leading semiconductor enterprises in the world, shipping over a billion chips annually for various purposes. The Wi-Fi module in the original iPhone was supplied by Marvell, for instance. In April last year, Marvells board of directors fired the husband-and-wife management team that ran the company for over two decades, taking action against mismanagement of company finances which led to investigations by the companys board and government agencies. Ouch! Cant do that shady stuff in a public company. 2) Matt Harrigan, CEO of PacketSled This guy had everything going for him, an annual salary of US $5 million, chief executive at a security company. But he lost all of that and his job as soon as he threatened to shoot and kill Donald Trump with a sniper rifle, soon after Trump won last years US Presidential Election in November. WTF! 3) Carol Bartz, CEO, Yahoo Carol Bartz A respected veteran from tech companies like Sun Microsystems and Autodesk, Carol Bartz got the top job at Yahoo at a time when the search engine giant was struggling for relevance in an increasingly Google-dominated search world. But just over two and a half years in her tenure, Bartz reign came to an unceremonious end when she was fired over the phone by Yahoos Chairman of the Board as per her email to Yahoo employees in 2011, cutting short her troubled tenure at Yahoo. 4) Leo Apotheker, CEO, HP (or Hewlett Packard) Hired in November 2010 but fired in 2011 -- that was Leo Apothekers extremely short-lived stay as chief executive at computing giant Hewlett Packard (or HP) at the time. According to the chairman of HPs board, Apotheker wasnt on the same page as the rest of the board, he lacked operational execution and he was a horrible communicator! 5) Stephen Elop, CEO, Nokia stephen elop Ex-nokia ceo He joined Nokia from Microsoft, launched an exclusive line of Windows-only Nokia Lumia smartphones, was at the helm of Nokia when it merged with Microsoft. How did Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reward Stephen Elop after absorbing Nokia? By firing him, of course. Nadella had this to say to Microsoft employees at the time: "Stephen and I have agreed that now is the right time for him to retire from Microsoft. I regret the loss of leadership that this represents, and look forward to seeing where his next destination will be." Bye bye, good riddance? 6) Ellen Pao, CEO, Reddit CEO for only eight months, Ellen Paos controversial firing of a popular Reddit staffer during a holiday weekend threw Reddit into chaos and revolt, where moderators of a lot of popular subreddits took the destinations private, essentially ensuring most of Reddit was inaccessible. Yikes! Cant have that on a site that calls itself the front page of the internet now, can we? 7) Peter Chou, CEO, HTC This was quite a shock when it happened in 2015. After more than a decade at the helm of HTC, Peter Chou was suddenly dumped from his CEO position in the company. Why? Too many early negative reviews of HTCs 2015 flagship smartphone, the HTC One M9. His exit wasnt announced by the company immediately, and Chou was allowed time to leave the company after he had found a new job, as is a tradition in Taiwanese company firings. 8) Steve Jobs, Co-Founder & CEO, Apple The late Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple We all know how this one played out, right? Steve Jobs took Apple to a sharp peak as a company and when all was hunky dory, Apples President Mike Markkula decided to hire John Sculley from Pepsi to help better run the company alongside Steve Jobs. Sculley successfully managed to marginalize Jobs influence on Apples board and force him out of the company in 1983. 9) John Sculley, CEO, Apple But karma has a way of biting you in the back! Ten years spent ruining Apples legacy into the ground and after a series of bad decisions that saw Apple being marginalised in the PC segment, Apples board decided theyd had too much of Sculley and asked him to leave, opening the door for Steve Jobs inevitable return to the company he helped found. Pernem police on Wednesday arrested a yoga teacher on charges of allegedly raping a US national on the pretext of giving her a 'tantric massage' in the remote village of Korgao, away from the coastal belt of Pernem in north Goa. WagJag/Representational Image Pernem police said the US national lodged a complaint on Tuesday, alleging that the accused yoga teacher, Pratik Kumar Agarwal, 38, committed the offence on the pretext of giving her a tantric massage at Korgao on February 2. LinkedIn/Representational Image The survivor complained to police that the yoga teacher allegedly sexually assaulted and molested her. She further alleged that the accused had also committed a similar act with another foreign national, a Canadian woman. NDTV "The tourist arrived in Goa on January 31 to attend a seven-day yoga teacher's training course with the accused yoga teacher. She came across the course which was advertised on a website and had registered for it online. The course package included stay and meals. The woman came to Goa, along with a group of seven persons from other countries," a police officer told TOI. Even as honest tax payers continue to fear Income Tax Department, here is a piece of news that may shake our trust on the credibility of the department. Mahesh Shah, who declared Rs 13,860 crore as undisclosed income and then developed cold feet, will have no action initiated against him. PTI According to Ahmedabad Mirror Mahesh Shah's case is as good as closed. Mahesh Shah is a free man. There will be absolutely no action initiated against him. On December 22, Principal Chief Commissioner (Gujarat I-T) B D Gupta had told media, "We will prosecute Mahesh Shah under IPC for making false declaration before a government department." Many I-T officials have expressed utter surprise at this decision, wondering why the department was giving up so easily on Mahesh Shah who has cheated not only the government but the entire nation in such a big manner. The I-T officials said there were ways and means to investigate the issue even without arresting Shah. BCCL "There are modern methods like narco-analysis and lie-detector that can be used to find out the truth. It is very important for the nation to know why Shah lied about the money, and who are the real culprits behind this," one of the officials said. According to a Ahmedabad Mirror source in the department revealed that it was clear from the very beginning there is no provision under which Shah can be booked, but because the media kept pressurising and mocking officials about their inaction they were forced to say that the IPC approach would be taken. Besides other clauses, the IDS form has a particular clause regarding payment of the tax which says: "In case of non-payment of the (tax) amount as specified above (depending upon the amount of disclosure), the declaration under Form-1 shall be treated as void and shall be deemed never to have been made." BCCL Since Shah failed to pay the first tax instalment of Rs 1,560 crore, I-T officials cancelled his form on November 28, two days before the last date of paying the tax. The source added in Shah's case even if he made the false claim in the form that the Rs 13,860 crore belonged to him, he cannot be punished under the I-T Act and IPC for giving false information since the form itself holds no value anymore. The I-T department had also claimed that Mahesh Shah's CA Tehmul Sethna was also going to be booked under IPC. Sethna filed anticipatory bail in response to this. On December 27, a city sessions court rejected the bail because he had based his apprehension of arrest only on basis of newspaper reports about I-T's claims. The I-T department also told the court that there was no inquiry taking place against him. Responding to the recent development, Sethna said, "I am not surprised by the news. I always knew that there is no provision under which Shah or I can be booked. But since the I-T department made the claim in a press conference I filed for anticipatory bail. The judge had also said in the order that it was not a cognizable offence." BCCL Shah, 67, went missing after he failed to pay the first instalment of tax on the declared money. But he quite dramatically reappeared on a live TV interview on a national channel on December 3. On TV, Shah went on to claim that the money belonged to a group of "powerful people who could be politicians, businessmen and officers." Shah also said he would reveal the names only to the I-T officials. He insisted that the money did not belong to his friends, family or his chartered accountant. After Supreme Court ordered that sale of liquor will not be allowed with 500 metres of the national and state highways, nearly 34 pubs and bars in Gurgaon's famous CyberHub are now staring at an uncertain future. BCCL Apart from these 34 pubs and bars, the Haryana excise department has also zeroed in 109 pubs and 43 liquor vends that are likely to lose their licenses from April 1 owing to the apex court verdict. Bars operational in several five-star hotels and resorts, located along the expressway, also fall within the red zone. On December 15, the Supreme Court had ordered states and union territories across India to stop the sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and the state highways. BCCL The Court has also instructed the police and administration of various states to devise the plan of the crackdown on bars and pubs operational alongside highways. However, the closure of the 43 liquor vends would cost the state coffers an amount of Rs 70.81 crore in revenue per year. Some pubs and bars in the Sector 29 market will also be affected. A number of such outlets are also located along Sohna Road. We will comply with the orders of the Supreme Court. We have conducted a survey and will shortly submit the report to the headquarters, Aruna Singh, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, Gurgaon told HT. BCCL Pub owners in order to get some clarity on the matter are now mulling to meet the excise officials. Restaurants are being targeted unjustifiably. A restaurant is the safest place for an individual to drink and at least more than three-and-a-half lakh employees face the risk of losing jobs, said Arvind Kumar, general manager, The Wine Company. Due to a lack of description in the ruling, all food and beverages outlets have come under the scanner. Lets hope that the Supreme Court will explain this and give us a realistic guideline of the ruling, Goumtesh Singh, owner, Raasta Cafe. Come March 13, there won't be any more limits on cash withdrawals from savings bank accounts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said. BCCL Announcing the move RBI said it will be implemented in two phases starting from February 20, when the weekly withdrawal limit will be increased to Rs 50,000 from the existing Rs 24,000. In the second phase, from March 31 the withdrawal limit will be done away with. This means that just six months after more than 86 per cent of the currency notes were pulled from circulation, the RBI has been able to reintroduce a large chunk of it. BCCL According to the apex bank, as of January 27, out of the Rs 15.4 lakh crores demonetised notes, Rs 9.92 lakh has been replaced. The withdrawal limit was put in place since November 24, when notes in the 500 and 1000 denominations were scrapped, a move the government said was to fight black money. The cash withdrawal restrictions had resulted in an unprecedented chaos across the country throwing the economy into pandemonium. BCCL Prime Minister Narendra Modi while announcing demonetisation in November had said that it would cause minor inconvenience for a few days. He had then sought time till December 31st to bring everything to normal. However, despite all the currency printing presses in the country working in full capacity, the government could not live up to its promise. Only in January, the government was able to increase the daily cash withdrawal limit to Rs 10,000 but the weekly limit had remained unchanged at Rs 24,000. The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the governments response to an order to fence the India-Bangladesh border to keep out illegal immigrants. AFP A government affidavit has sought more time to complete the task, citing lack of data on the riverine stretches to explain why it had so far failed to carry out the court order. Justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman, who were hearing the matter, took a dim view of the affidavit and said it was vague and was, in fact, a whole lot of filibustering. AFP The affidavit stated that the government needed 18 more months to complete the task on a 13-km land stretch of the total 263 km. Work on the entire stretch could take till 2020 to complete, it said. The government is still awaiting data on the riverine stretches, the affidavit said. The BJP had made illegal migration from Bangladesh into Assam a major election issue before it came to power. First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, has re-filed a lawsuit against British Newspaper DailyMail, for making defamatory remarks against her. According to Melania, the allegations have lowered the value of her brand. In the complaint filed, Mrs Trump - a former model - said the daily newspapers allegations that she used to work as an escort cost her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to profit from her brand image when she was one of the most photographed women in the world. Reuters The Dailymail had alleged in an article that Melania Trump used to work as an escort but later retracted the story. Her complaint in Maryland, however, was not accepted because the judge thought it should not be filed in the state. Mrs Trumps legal team has now re-filed the case in New York where DailyMail has an office, and she is seeking reparations of $150 million. The complaint also said that Mrs Trump opportunity to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which [she] is one of the most photographed women in the world but the article snubbed it. Reuters The First Lady also sued a US blogger, Wester Tarpley, for making similar defamatory comments about her. He has since then apologised and retracted his comments. Scoop: Melania Trump has settled her libel suit against blogger Webster Griffin Tarpley. He agreed to pay a "substantial sum," lawyer says: pic.twitter.com/xp9oh9k2EL Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) February 7, 2017 President Trump threatened to sue The New York Times The Trumps are no strangers to lawsuits though and have filed and been sued many times before. During the presidential campaign, when several women spoke up about Mr Trump touching them inappropriately and the New York Times published accounts of these women, he threatened to sue the paper. At a rally in Florida, he said we are preparing a lawsuit against NY Times, but nothing has been filed yet. Who's suing him? Currently Donald Trump is being sued by four American states New York, Washington, Massachusetts and Virginia against his travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries. Legal teams heading this case have said that this ban is a violation of the constitution. As of February 1, when he completed his first 11 days in the White House, President Trump was named in 42 federal lawsuits. Saudi Arabia has deported some 39,000 Pakistani nationals in last four months for visa violations. The Saudi authorities have instructed the visa officials to do thorough scrutiny as the authorities suspect that some of them might be the sympathisers of the terrorist group ISIS. Reuters According to reports, the involvement of a number of Pakistani nationals in some terrorist actions planned by Daesh, the so-called Islamic State, is a cause of public and societal worry. Saudi authorities suspect that a large number of Pakistanis have been held for crimes such as drug trafficking, thefts, forgery and physical assault. Abdullah Al-Sadoun, chairman of the security committee of the Shoura Council, called for thoroughly scrutinising the Pakistanis before they are kept on work in the Kingdom. AFP Sadoun said that political and religious inclination of the Pakistanis coming to Saudi Arabia should be thoroughly probed before they get employed here. Pakistan itself is plagued with terrorism due to its close proximity to Afghanistan. The Taliban movement was itself born in Pakistan, he said. At present 82 Pakistanis suspect of terror and security issues are currently held by intelligence sleuths, according to Nafithat Tawasul (communications window) of the Interior Ministry. According to the report, as many as 15 Pakistanis, including a woman, were nabbed following the recent terrorist operations in Al-Harazat and Al-Naseem districts in Jeddah. The ministry recalled that last Ramadan, Abdullah Gulzar Khan, a Pakistani, exploded himself at the car park of Dr Soliman Fakheeh Hospital near the US consulate in Jeddah. He lived in the Kingdom for 12 years with his wife and her parents. He had arrived in Saudi Arabia on a private drivers visa. 'We will certainly win. Even if we lose, we will continue to battle.' This is what Wang Enlin said, after winning the first round of a case, he had been preparing for 16 years. It all began in the year 2001 when the China's state-owned chemical firm Qihua Group allegedly discharged its toxic waste into Wang Enlin's farm. As reported by the Mail, Wang, a farmer by profession, saw that the building they were in at the time, suddenly got flooded and the event left him clueless. After digging in more for the source, he found out that it was the wastewater released by the nearby Qihua factory, which also entered the farmland of all the nearby villagers. dailymail.co.uk The toxic water that had entered their premises without any intimation contaminated the land so much that it started losing its arability. The polluted land could not be used for growing crops for a long time, affecting the majority of the population that depends on agriculture. The Chinese farmer then took things in his own hand and studied law for almost 16 years to sue the chemical firm that damaged his farmland by dumping toxic waste on it. The company continued to dump the waste for 15 years and damaged the land through and through. The company releases 15,000 to 20,000 tones of chemical waste every year. dailymail.co.uk Studying law wasn't his first resort and it's certainly not he wanted to do. Wang too was just a regular farmer and sought for conventional ways - he wrote a letter about the issue to Land Resources Bureau but the officials kept asking him to provide evidence that his farmland had in fact been adversely affected. "I knew I was in the right, but I did not know what law the other party had broken or whether or not there was evidence." Failing to prove his case, the 60-year-old then decided to study law, to fight his position. A third-grade school drop-out, Wang had nothing but a dictionary to help him as he began reading a dozen of law books. dailymail.co.uk So when the court began the proceeding in 2015, Wang Enlin surprised everyone with his knowledge and won the first round of the case. In his free time, he enjoys to play cards and make dumplings with his neighbours. At least 12,000 Nigerians living in Germany may be deported next year. Germanys global head of programme, migration and development, Ralf Sanftenberg, disclosed this during a visit to the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign affairs and diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa. According to him, We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers.There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year. Sanftenberg, who is the leader of delegation from the German ministry of economic cooperation and development, said he was on a site assessment mission for Nigerians who are voluntarily returning to the country. He said 99 per cent of the asylum seekers would likely be denied asylum status because Nigeria is not among war countries and added that asylum seekers willing to return to Nigeria voluntarily will not be forced back or deported but would be assisted through a support programme organised by Germany. In another development, the federal government has sought an end to the killings of Nigerians in South Africa and has demanded justice for a Nigerian, Tochukwu Nnadi, killed in Johannesburg in December 2016, by South African police officers. Dabiri-Erewa made the demand yesterday when she visited the South African high commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, in Abuja. The senior special assistant to President Buhari on foreign affairs and decried the killing of over 116 Nigerians in South Africa within two years, pointing out that 63 per cent of the extra-judicial killings are carried out by the police. The last time we came here was on a sad note, we are here again on another sad note, but you have made very good comment about the fact that we need to work together to stop what is going on anywhere in Africa. We are worried about the criminalisation of immigrants especially among ourselves and we are worried in particular about the criminalisation of Nigerian migrants in South Africa, she stated. She pointed out that rather than criminalise Nigerians, Nigeria and South Africa should engage in cooperation that could lead to social-economic development as the two giants of Africa. While cautioning against jungle justice and the need for South African authorities to educate their citizens on the need to stop killings of immigrants which she described as senseless, Dabiri-Erewa said, Yes, some do commit crimes and they deserved to be punished, but the extra-judicial killings worried us. In the last two years, 116 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa and according to statistics, 63 per cent of them were killed by the police and we hope that the death of the Nigerian who died on the 29th of December, 2016, would get justice in the hands of the South African authorities because I know you will and I believe you will. Source: Leadership Osinbajo in a series of tweets from his official handle @ProfOsinbajo on Tuesday, February 7, said that the government was committed to the people and will keep on engaging with Nigerians and explain government policies to them as well as receive advice and criticism. He also praised the Insepctor General of Police Ibrahim Idris and his men for handling the protests with professionalism and respect on Monday, February 6. Read the tweets below: The acting president has also assured the nation that President Muhammadu Buhari is hale and hearty and would return home as soon as he completes the necessary tests recommended by his doctors in the United Kingdom. Osinbajo gave the assurance on Monday when State House correspondents approached him for a chat shortly after his telephone conversation with the president. He said: `Let me first say the President is hale and hearty. I spoke to him just this afternoon and we had a fairly long conversation, he is in good shape and very chatty. Source: Twitter The container laden with 661 pump-action rifles intercepted by the federal operations unit (FOU) zone A Ikeja, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last week, was released by some officials of the Nigeria Customs Service without the mandatory inspections that ought to have been carried out, LEADERSHIP findings have revealed. Checks by our correspondent showed that neither physical examination nor scanning was conducted on the container before it exited the Lagos port, even as it was further gathered that the case of the 661 rifles was not the first time containers were exiting Apapa port without proper examination conducted on them. The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Maritime Command, Musa Katsina, had in May, 2016, intercepted a truck conveying a 40-foot container which he alleged was moved out of the ports at midnight. Under examination, it was discovered that it contained used tyres that were not declared, as well as used vehicles that were under-declared, leading to leakages in revenue accruing to the federal government. Confirming LEADERSHIPs investigation, the public relations officer, Apapa Command of the service, Emmanuel Ekpa, said preliminary investigation by the command showed that the container was not examined before being released by officers of the command. He said, This said container was not dropped for examination. I can authoritatively tell you that no examination was conducted and it was not among the list of containers to be examined the day it was released. When a container is brought in, it will be brought for examination or scanning to determine what it contains, but nothing of such was done on this. When asked why it was released by the command when it was not scheduled for examination, he said, Only investigation can reveal why the container was released without scanning or examination. Meanwhile, clearing agents operating at the Apapa port have accused Customs officers of abetting and aiding containers leaving the port without proper examination. According to the coordinator, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC), Ositachukwu Patrick: It has always been happening like that; you know that in every 12, there must be a Judas. They have their ways of accomplishing this act. I was the first person to allege that containers were leaving the port without being examined. There are lapses in the Nigeria Customs Service. Sometimes you go there and they would tell you that the server is not working, and the government itself is shying away from its responsibilities. The container did not go through proper procedures. There are officers who aided and abetted it; the real officers were not aware of the exit of that container. Source: Leadership Muhammed Dele Belgore (SAN), the PDP candidate in the 2015 governorship election in Kwara state, was today alongside former minister of National Planing, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, charged with five counts of alleged money laundering of N470 million. The EFCC alleged that Belgore, and Prof. Abubakar, who was Minister of National Planing in 2014, on or about March 27, 2015, conspired together and directly took possession of N450 million, which they reasonably knew to be proceed of crimes. The two accused who were docked at a Federal High Court, in Lagos were also alleged to have on March 27, 2015, transferred the sum of N50 million to one Sheriff Shagaya, without going through financial institutions. Offences, alleged to have been committed by the two accused are contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(d),1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 15(3), 4 and 16(2)(b)of the same Act They pleaded not guilty to all the counts. EFCC Prosecutor Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that in view of the pleas of the two accused persons, they have put themselves up for trial, pursuant to Section 273 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Oyedepo therefore urged the court to fix a date for trial. However, Belgores lawyers by Mr. Ebun Shofunde (SAN) leading other two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Seni Adio, Ladi Rotimi-Williams,and six other lawyers told the court that they have filed a summon for bail, which has been served on the prosecution. Shofunde (SAN) urged the court to admit Dele Belgore to bail on self-recognisance, on the ground that he is a Senior lawyer, who has been a lawyer since 1985, and became a SAN in 2001. He said Belgore will not be a flight risk and urged the court to grant him bail. In the same vein, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), lawyer to Professor Abubakar, leading Mr. Olatunde Busari, SAN, urged the court to grant Abubakar bail on self-recognisance. Ayorinde said they he had filed a summon for bail dated February 8, 2017, before the court and that the prosecution had been served a copy . Ayorinde (SAN) told the court that Professor Abubakar is an educationist and a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2014, a Researcher and Teacher of over 20 years, who currently lectures at University of Abuja. Chief Ayorinde (SAN), therefore urged the court to grant his bail on self-recognisance. In response, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said he leave the issue of bail to the courts discretion, but urged the court to grant them bail in terms that will make them to attend trials. The judge however, ordered that the defendants international traveling passport which is in the custody of the anti-graft agency be transferred to the court and be deposited with the Courts Deputy Chief Registrar. He adjourned till 23rd of February 2017. Source: NAN As the expected return of President Muhammadu Buhari delays, Nigerian Doctors have challenged the presidency to reveal the true health status of the countrys leader. The Doctors, who spoke in reaction to Buhari request for further stay in London for medical tests and results, stressed that non-disclosure of the presidents ailment was generating confusion, suspicion and distrust among Nigerians. Speaking, National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Mike Ogirima, called for openness on the issue. Admitting that nobody was above sickness, Ogirima said transparency on the part of the presidency would lay to rest doubt, speculation and confusion surrounding the matter. Nigerians deserve to know the nature of the sickness afflicting their president, he told New Telegraph. Also reacting, National President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. John Onyebueze said keeping Buharis ailment secret, had already created suspicion in the mind of the public. His words: In a family where a father or mother is sick and the circumstance surrounding the illness is hidden from the children, this creates suspicion and mutual distrust. As a nation and country, we dont need this distrust. The nature of the presidents ailment should be disclosed. Nigerians praying for Buhari should know the exact nature of his illness to enable them channel their prayers properly. As individuals, as Nigerians and as patriotic citizens of this country, we empathise with President Buhari and his family over the health challenges facing him. We should rally round and pray for the quick recovery of the President, rather than make a jest of the situation. He needs our support, our prayers and everything we can do as citizens to support him. Onyebueze admitted that this does not take away the fact that we should not constructively criticise the government for improvement and the betterment of the country. If the health sector has been given all the necessary and adequate attention it deserves, Nigerians seeking medical attention would not be travelling overseas for this purpose. This includes President Buhari. Meanwhile, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Yusuf Ali, has declared that those wishing death for Buhari are powerful persons eyeing his seat in 2019. Source: Dailypost Following separate crimes in the Canadian city of Abbotsford, two men were arrested Tuesday morning when their getaway vehicles became stuck in snow. Abbotsford police spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald said that after a residential break and enter around 5 a.m., the suspects van became stuck in snow near a popular, central fast-food restaurant. The suspect then asked a passerby for help. The person he asks is the victim of the break and enter, MacDonald said. Yup. Of the 140,000 people in Abbotsford the suspect could have asked for assistance, it was the victim of his crime, who had just finished reviewing security footage of the incident. The victim instantly recognized the driver and phoned police. Officers arrived promptly and arrested the suspect who was quite well known to police, MacDonald said. In a second incident around 7:15 a.m., a suspect came across a Ford Focus idling to warm up, entered it and drove away. About a block away, the car became stuck in snow. For some unforeseen reason, the thief is determined to incriminate himself by taking documents from the car as well as the keys abandoning the car and running, MacDonald said. When officers arrived with a K9 unit, they spotted the panicked suspect running away from the scene, with the cars keys and owners documents in hand. Hes made our job a little bit easier because he actually has the incriminating evidence on his person, MacDonald said. MacDonald said he has limited information about the suspects but said both are in their 30s and are currently being processed. The only silver lining to this weather out here is it does tend to dampen criminal behaviour, because its pretty easy to follow footprints in the snow, right? he said. The Federal Ministry of Transportation has opened a portal (website) dedicated to providing information to the public during the closure of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja. This is part of the Federal Governments resolve to update the public and aviation stakeholders of activities at Abuja and Kaduna airports before and during the six weeks closure. The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in Abuja. The features of the portal include users forum, announcement and news, photo gallery, feedback, blog, frequently asked questions and newsletter. The address is www.abujaairportclosure.info. Source: Guardian Some scientists from Israel on Tuesday arrived Nnewi in Anambra State to conduct DNA tests on interested people of Igbo origin in order to determine the Jewish relationship with the tribe from South East Nigeria, the DAILY POST reports It was gathered that people trooped out in large numbers to the location at Ikedife Hospital along Igwe Orizu Road, Otolo-Nnewi, to participate in the test to ascertain the validity of the claims that the Igbo migrated from Israel. There had been stories of Jewish/Igbo relations based on archaeological discoveries and mythology, ex-President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, who facilitated the coming of the scientists told reporters at the venue. According to Ikedife, the Israeli-Yaweh group came into the country to take a random sampling of cells from the people of the South-East for studies to carry out a DNA analysis and comparison in Houston Texas USA. The idea is to establish scientifically the relationship of the two groups of people. It is necessary to satisfy the curiosity and answer the question in the minds of many for quite some time, he stated The world has gone advanced, cellular examination can be used to establish the claim or otherwise of this kind of believe. In this modern time, such claims of relationship should not be left in the domain of mythological theories alone there is need to subject the claim to scientific proof. If at the end of the day, it is confirmed that we are relations, we would remain brothers and friends, but if it proved negative we remain friends. My curiosity is based on the fact that I studied Anthropology as well as Medicine, the result of the cell examination is expected to be out in August this year. According to TMZ, Kanye West has deleted all mention of President Donald J. Trump from his Twitter because he is super unhappy with the presidents performance over his first 2 weeks in office. In 2016, West caused controversy when he announced that he would have voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election during a stop on his Saint Pablo concert tour (for the record, West did not vote at all). Soon after, West canceled the rest of the tour dates and was hospitalized for after having a nervous breakdown. After Trump was elected, Kanye stoked the fire by having a meeting and photo op with Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. Although West claimed that he was meeting with the President to discuss multicultural issues, fans and celebs alike, including John Legend, speculated that it was all a publicity stunt. Following the meeting, West tweeted out an autographed copy of Trumps issue of Time and urged his fans to stay open-minded about the 45th president, justifying the visit with a tweet that read I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change. Wests wife, Kim Kardashian, supported Hillary Clinton during the election and recently tweeted these statistics to show why she disagrees with Trumps unconstitutional travel ban. TMZ is now reporting that West rescinded his support of the president due to being unhappy about the Muslim ban and other actions that Trump has taken, though was not specific as to which ones (There are so many to chose from.) Knowing West, he is probably still pissed that Trump wouldnt let him perform at his inauguration. Its like these two are having a contest to see who the bigger narcissist is and theyre both winning. In a defamation suit against The Daily Mail, Trumps lawyer asserts that a bunch of lucrative licensing deals have been hampered after they repeated a story published in a Slovenian magazine that she had worked as a prostitute. The Mail has since printed a retraction admitting that the claims were unsupported, but the First Lady is seeking damages, believing her reputation has been too soiled to attract quality branding opportunities. She wanted to sell her name, not her body. According to the suit filed by lawyer Charles Harder, the man who won Hulk Hogan a $140 million verdict in his defamation lawsuit against Gawker, Melania Trump had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known personto launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. Trump is looking for $150 million in damages in lost branding opportunities for, among other things, apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care and fragrance. Because selling $150 million dollars worth of lotion and shampoo is what being the First Lady is all about. 10 Million Baht (Street Value) worth of Ice was discovered at the home of a Nigerian former school teacher, John Brazil Ifeanyi on Tuesday, February 7th, in Srinakarin, Thailand. When his home at the Parkland building was raided late yesterday, Mr Ifeanyi had hid his stash of Ice in model boats and Aeroplanes. He claims that when he stopped working in a Chonburi Language school 5 months ago,a man called Mike offered him 100,000 baht to sell drugs. Police understand that Ifeanyi is part of a bigger gang of Nigerians operating in the drug trade in the Sri Nakharin area. Ifeanyi said that he was paid 100,000 baht for each delivery he made and he had already done this five of six times before he was caught. He was charged with possession of a Class 1 drug with intent to sell and detained for prosecution. Source: The Article Nigerian newspaper headlines February 8, 2017. Punch The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said on Tuesday that over N2.7tn of tax payers money spent on the power sector in the last 16 years only bought darkness to Nigerians. Guardian The Ekiti State House of Assembly has pressed further its running battle against the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, ordering the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to arrest him for allegedly misappropriating N40 billion of state funds when he held sway as governor. Vanguard The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB yesterday warned that the continued detention of its leader Mr. Nnamdi Kanu would spell doom for the country, arguing that he should be released immediately to avoid the calamity that might befall the country over his continuous detention. The Nation The destructive Boko Haram insurgency group is currently plagued by financial difficulties, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, has said. Thisday With just two days left to the expiration of the tenure of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, acting President Yemi Osinbajo tuesday transmitted his name to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive CJN. Premium Times The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed disappointment with the remarks by Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, condemning religious leaders for spreading incendiary messages through the media. The Sun Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has praised the Nigeria Police for their handling of Mondays antigovernment protests. Leadership The container laden with 661 pump-action rifles intercepted by the federal operations unit (FOU) zone A Ikeja, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) last week, was released by some officials of the Nigeria Customs Service without the mandatory inspections that ought to have been carried out, LEADERSHIP findings have revealed. The Police High Command has denied that it ordered the closure of the Ondo House of Assembly following the crisis that has hit the legislative arm of government in the state in recent weeks. It was widely reported that the Acting Speaker of the assembly, Malachy Coker, said it would close indefinitely following the orders of the Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Ibrahim Idris. A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Jimoh Moshood, said: The report was misleading, malicious and capable of misinforming members of the public on the statutory roles of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to restore law and order and guarantee protection of lives and property in the country. The story is absolutely the imagination of the writer and should be disregarded. The IG did not order the closure of the Assembly as alleged, although there was a report of chaos on January 30, 2016 following disagreements between two factions of the House over change of leadership. The state command deployed policemen to bring the situation to order and restore normalcy.Speaker of the House was impeached the second day, which resulted to a chaotic situation that was capable of threatening the peace of the state. The police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, preservation of law and order and protection of lives and property. The deployment of police personnel to restore normalcy and prevent further breakdown of law and order in Ondo State House of Assembly was in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. Source: Guardian Microsoft is adding continuous delivery capabilities to its Visual Studio 2017 IDE. The Continuous Delivery Tools for Visual Studio extension, announced this week, lets developers set up an automated build, test, and release pipeline on the Visual Studio Team Services cloud ALM platform. It works with ASP.Net 4 and ASP.Net Core applications targeting the Azure App Services and Azure Container Services. Developers can monitor their pipeline with notifications in the IDE that alert them of any build failures in a continuous integration run. [ Docker, Amazon, TensorFlow, Windows 10, and more: See InfoWorld's 2017 Technology of the Year Award winners. | Cut to the key news in technology trends and IT breakthroughs with the InfoWorld Daily newsletter, our summary of the top tech happenings. ] The intent is to enable developers to automate and stay up to date with their devops pipeline. Developers can click on a build failure notification for information on build quality via the Visual Studio Team Services dashboard. "The Configure Continuous Delivery dialog lets you pick a branch from the repository to deploy to a target App service," said Ahmed Metwally, senior program manager for Visual Studio at Microsoft. "The extension creates build and release definitions on Team Services ... and then kicks off the first build and deployment automatically. From this point onward, Team Services will trigger a new build and deployment whenever you push changes up to the repository." The currently downloadable version of the extension only works with Visual Studio 2017 Release Candidate 3 or above, while the IDE upgrade itself is still in a release candidate phase. A previous version of the extension was automatically installed with the .Net Core preview workload in RC2. A commenter on a Microsoft blog asked if the extension would work with the popular Jenkins CD/CI platform, but the bulletin states it requires Visual Studio Team Services. In a series of blog posts last week, Microsoft detailed fundamental changes to how it develops its .NET languages. It was good news for C# and F# developers, but while Microsoft put a positive spin on what the changes meant for Visual Basic, the long-term future of the venerable language seems less certain. Microsofts Visual Basic has long been one of the worlds if not favorite, then certainly one of the most widely used languages, and it really put Microsoft at the center of the enterprise stage. From its first six iterations as a language for client-server application development to its rebirth as part of the .NET platform, Visual Basic has been the go-to tool for quick development of enterprise applications. Thats in part because of its massive library of user interface components, along with connectors to common databases and a component model thats allowed third parties to build businesses on providing additional functionality. The switch to .NET as the foundation for Microsofts development strategy made sense for new languages like C#, but it meant changes to Visual Basic wherein code couldnt easily migrate from the old Visual Basic to the new VB.NET. It was a challenging transition for developers, and Visual Basic began to lose mind share inside enterprise developmentand inside Microsoft. Even so, Microsoft promised to keep C# and VB.NET in sync. Features created for C# would become part of Visual Basic, the two languages developing together. The reason was that they were often used for the same task and had the same underlying nature: both strongly typed, object-oriented languages working with the same tools. Visual Basic and C#: A new divergence is coming With last weeks announcement, that co-evolution is gone. Microsoft will let the two languages go different ways, starting with the soon-to-be-released Visual Basic 15. Its not a surprising divorce. C#s popularity has grown by leaps and bounds, while Visual Basic has slowly slipped down the charts, almost disappearing from the radar of popular programming query sites like Stack Overflow. Use cases are changing, too: Visual Basic is still focused on its original client-server paradigm, while C# has become a tool for n-tier web-based applications, working in the cloud and on premises. With more and more apps built to work with the web and the cloud, its not surprising that C# is becoming the first choice for many projects. There are changes in how the languages are developed, too. C# has shifted to an open design model, which means its users are in the driver's seat for prioritizing new features, thanks to an active mailing list and a public GitHub repository. Microsoft has already taken new features from outside the companya big change from its traditional language engineering processes that focused on its research groups and internal product management teams. Visual Basic also has an open design model, but it has different priorities from C#. It already supports a subset of C#s features in its current builds as part of the release candidate of Visual Studio 2017. As C# continues to diverge from Visual Basic, were going to see the two languages develop separately, though they should be able to work together. Both should still address the same .NET APIs, and both will still be part of the Visual Studio tools. What these changes mean for enterprise developers At the moment, theres very little for enterprises to do about this coming divergence. But in the future, theres certainly scope for cross-platform work in Visual Basic, as it moves to supporting the .NET Standard set of base class libraries alongside the familiar .NET Framework. Although some code will be portable, not all Visual Basic code will be able to make the jump from one set of libraries to another smaller set. Its likely that existing code will remain purely on Windows and purely in on-premises applications. As a developer, youre going to have to choose between bringing Visual Basic code to newer platforms via .NET Standard or moving to languages like C# that offer a wider range of target frameworks and devices. Because .NET Standard is intended for all .NET platforms, its an important equalizer. However, its not necessary for all .NET languages. Although Visual Basic will need it on systems that dont have the full .NET Framework, C# will be able to address platforms like .NET Core directly, accessing its APIs. That also makes it easier for C# derivatives, like Unity, to support their own specialized APIs. C# with support for the .NET Framework on Windows and the open source .NET Core (running on Nano Server and in containers) will become the first choice for cloud and for mobile applications, while the F# functional programming model will be ideal for financial services and applications that rely on machine learning. One clear driver for these changes is Microsofts Xamarin acquisition. Microsoft needs a cross-platform set of tooling to support a wider range of mobile devices, with Windows Mobile failing to gain enterprise market share as hoped. Even in Windows Mobile-friendly geographies like the United Kingdom, iOS and Android together have more than 80 percent of the market. Microsoft developers wanting to build mobile front ends for their applications will need to use tools like Xamarin to target the dominant mobile platforms. With Xamarin focusing on C#, Microsoft must make it clear that C# is the first-class .NET language going forward. Although thats not explicit in Microsofts recent language announcements, its strongly implied. How you should manage your enterprise language strategy This isnt a good-bye to Visual Basic, but it is time to take stock of where you are and where you want to be. Existing Visual Basic applications can continue to be developed, but as the underlying .NET platform evolves, you should expect only a subset of .NET APIs to be available to your Visual Basic developers. Though that won't likely be an issue in the short term, you should prepare for a longer-term migration to C# or F#, especially if youre planning on either mobile or cross-platform user experiences for your applications. It seems clear that the best option to avoid the overhang of technical debt is to make C# your priority for new development. C# has first-class support and a user-driven design model. Its also the heart of Microsofts cross-platform development and its Universal Windows Platform. That means you can write business logic once, then deliver custom user experiences for the web, Windows 10, iOS, Android, and MacOS. Theres also enough language commonality that developers should be able to make the transitions relatively easily, picking up new features after initial training. U.S. ECONOMY IS IN TROUBLE Alpine Trading - 55 minutes ago Never Mind the nonsense, here is the RISK-OFF trade of the YEAR! November Rain Sidwell Strategies - Sat Nov 5, 2:31PM CDT US elections Tuesday; USDA reports Wednesday Climate activists block private jets at Amsterdam airport AP - Sat Nov 5, 7:48AM CDT 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. By Fraser Sutherland In 2013, people in Scotland didnt know much about self-storage, and what they did know wasnt exactly accurate. According to a survey conducted by the Self Storage Association (SSA), less than a third of Scots knew much about the product. The same number said they thought it would be overly expensive. Unbelievably, more than 60 percent thought a facilitys staff would have free, unrestricted access to their stored belongings. Just three years later, among a flurry of commercial activity, the industry has finally started to gain traction. In its last survey, the SSA reported that almost half of all Scots are now aware of self-storage. Thats a dramatic improvement. However, despite the countrywide progress, particular cities are racing ahead of others. In Glasgowthe countrys largest citytheres just 0.74 square feet of storage per person. Compare that with the capital of Edinburgh, where theres 0.97 square feet of storage per person. So, while general awareness and uptake are rising, the provision of storage services is still sporadic and inconsistent. Awareness and Marketing Working in a young industry poses significant challenges and demands for self-storage operators, particularly when it comes to marketing. By necessity, a lot of the work is built around education and making our audience aware of what we offer. For example, hardly any business owners think about using a self-storage facility to hold excess stock. Even fewer consider using a storage unit in lieu of actual commercial premises. When people find out we have businesses wholly operated from our facility, their response is always the same: Are you allowed to do that? In a market like ours, its not enough to make the public aware of your existence. Its not just a matter of buying billboard space or running a paid search campaign and hoping people are already looking for your servicethey arent. Instead, we dedicate a lot of time to attending conventions, writing blog posts, talking to existing customers and so on. Its all about educating our audience and bringing them up to speed with what the modern industry is all about. We know success in the Scottish market means clearing away the fog around self-storage and showing people whats actually available. Occupancy and Rental Rates Another key concern in Scotland is facility occupancy, which has swung between extremes over the past few years. In 2013, average occupancy was 58 percent, falling to 54 percent the next year and then spiking to 73 percent in 2015. Compared to London (75 percent) and Yorkshire (73 percent), Scotland is performing relatively well, though it remains to be seen how the domestic market will fare over the next few years. Occupancy is an incredibly complex metric influenced by a range of factors including competition, demand and store maturity. That makes it difficult to pin down specific causes for the countrys fluctuating rates. The historic disparity between Scottish occupancy and that of areas farther south is probably a combination of core influences, including the relative youth of the market, rapidly increasing competition and low, albeit improving, industry awareness. The maturation of the Scottish industry is mirrored in the average rental rates. While Scotland is still a long way off the stratospheric prices of London (29.28 per square foot), weve seen steady improvement over the past three years. In 2013, the Scottish average sat at 15.59, amongst the lowest in the United Kingdom. By 2015, that figure had risen to 18.29, exceeded by only London and regions in the south of England. Lessons Learned We founded Storage Vault in 2015 with the goal of tapping into this burgeoning market. Drawing on a wealth of experience in commercial property, our team hit the ground running, opening our first facility within the year. With our first year behind us, we recently sat down to reflect on the lessons weve learned. We thought it would be helpful to pass them on to other companies eyeing up the Scottish market. If you build it, they might not come. Especially in newer markets like ours, you cant rely on there being a pre-existing demand that can support new business. A quick look at the search engine analytics shows what were dealing with: In Glasgow, a city of 600,000, approximately 300 people search for self-storage every month. Compare that with a similar sized city in the U.S.say Las Vegas, population 620,000and the number of people searching for self-storage is five times larger. If we want to acquire new customers, weve to go out and find them. The market is different in each city. Our company is relatively new. We opened our first facility in Glasgow earlier this year and have three additional sites nearing completion. With our countrywide expansion aspirations, we quickly learned you cant treat a country (even a very small one like Scotland) as one big market. The difference between the two largest citiesGlasgow and Edinburghis immense. For example, the supply per person in Edinburgh is double that in Glasgow, and that has a huge impact on the general awareness of our service. During our market research, we spoke to hundreds of people in both cities, and the difference was palpable. The awareness in Edinburgh was just that bit wider, and that means the demand is that bit greater. Competition is increasing. As a new market, self-storage in Scotland lags behind the rest of the U.K. However, with more businesses entering every year and established ones ramping up their marketing, we predict thats about to changeand fast. During my morning commute, I drive past three other facilities. Five years ago, I think I would have seen one. Its not just anecdotal either. The statistics back it up. Two years ago, there was 444,000 square feet of storage space available in Glasgow. Fast forward two years and that figure has jumped to almost 700,000 square feet total space. As the industry matures, itll be interesting to see whether demand or supply pulls ahead. If you dont innovate, you get left behind. Self-storage isnt a complicated industry. You build a secure facility, allow customers to store their belongings and charge them for the service. With such a basic premise, it can be difficult to distinguish yourself from competitors. The companies that dont innovatethe ones that keep selling the same old service the same old wayare at risk of being left behind. Weve seen it happen in established markets, and I doubt the Scottish market is any different. Finding new ways to sell our service is key to our long-term growth strategy. For example, we were one of the first Scottish storage companies to introduce a door-to-door moving and storage service. We havent really changed our core product, but were able to market it toward a very different audience. People still buy from people. Space is space is space, right? A storage unit from us is exactly the same as a storage unit from one of the big chains, isnt it? Well, no. Theres a lot more to a self-storage facility than just the empty space on sale. Security, access, location and cost all play a part in a customers buying decision. Theres another factor that influences a customers buying decision, something we think is far more important than anything else: the people. From the receptionist on the front desk to the support staff behind the scenes, its a facilitys employees that really make a sale. Slick branding and good offers will get you so far, but its how your staff deals with customers that will nudge you over the line. The Future The Scottish self-storage market is an exciting place to work. Its finding its feet and evolving every single day. New businesses sit alongside established industry stalwarts, competing for a rapidly expanding customer base. It feels like the great leveler. Smaller facilities with excellent service are more than holding their own against international chains with colossal marketing budgets, and thats nothing but a good thing. At Storage Vault, we genuinely cant wait to see what comes next. We hope to be there at the front of the industry, leading the way and bringing self-storage to a new market. Fraser Sutherland is the marketing manager of Storage Vault, Scotlands newest self-storage operator. Since opening its first facility in Paisley, the company has quickly expanded, opening two new sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It draws on 15 years of experience in commercial property to deliver a safe, secure and easy self-storage service. For more information, e-mail [email protected], visit www.storagevault.com. Three former real estate brokers who specialized in self-storage transactions have launched City Line Capital LLC to acquire and manage self-storage assets across the United States. Matt Hardiman, Rick Schontz and Matt Weckesser formed City Line in partnership with CSG RE, the real estate acquisition arm of New York investment bank CSG Partners LLC. The group intends to acquire $200 million in self-storage property this year, according to a press release. Hardiman, Schontz and Weckesser were formerly brokers with commercial real estate company HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP). Hardiman will serve as senior acquisitions analyst of City Line, while Schontz will be managing partner and Weckesser will be director of acquisitions. The experience and deep industry relationships that our team possesses will allow City Line Capital to immediately and aggressively place significant capital within the U.S. self-storage market, Schontz said. Our team is very excited to partner with Alex Meshechok and CSG Partners; and together, we expect to be one of the countrys most active buyers in 2017. Since 2012, CSG RE has facilitated investment in more than 65 self-storage properties worth more than $500 million. Meshechok is managing director of CSG Partners and will also serve as managing partner of City Line. Collectively, the City Line partners have been involved in more than $2 billion in self-storage transactions across the United States and have more than 30 years of industry experience, the release stated. We look forward to continuing our work in the self-storage space, and significantly increasing our activity as we grow, Meshechok said. Founded in 2001, CSG Partners is a boutique investment bank catering to middle-market companies and owners, according to its website. It specializes in capital advisory services, employee stock ownership plans, and mergers and acquisitions. Based in Philadelphia, City Line is a real estate investment firm specializing in self-storage assets. Its acquisition criteria include assets in primary and secondary markets of at least 40,000 square feet, though smaller properties may be considered if they offer expansion opportunities, according to the company website. Update 3/20/17 The East Rutherford Zoning Board has rejected plans for the proposed Extra Space self-storage facility. Though the Hampshire Cos. application received a 4-3 vote in favor of the project, approval required five yes votes because it asked for egress from the facility onto Paterson Avenue instead of Route 17, according to the source. Board members who voted against the project were wary of the potential for increased traffic on Paterson. The egress deviation was problematic because the borough council last year approved a self-storage ordinance requiring facilities to be built on Route 17, with all customer traffic entering and exiting off the highway. However, the developer was told the state department of transportation wouldnt allow vehicles to exit onto Route 17, requiring the use of Paterson, the source reported. Many local residents opposed the plan due to the facilitys proximity to the neighborhood. Some board members also indicated they didnt believe the facility would blend in with its surroundings. Board engineer Arthur Senor spoke in favor of the project, telling board members the Hampshire Cos. had done everything asked of it, including improving traffic in the area and mitigating flooding. "I don't think we can ask more of them," Senor said during the meeting. "They diligently improved the site, and there are a lot of attributes they are bringing to the table." 2/21/17 The zoning board continued to debate the proposed Extra Space self-storage facility along Route 17 and Paterson Plank Road last week, with much of the discussion focused on storm-water management at the site. Civil engineer Brett Skapinetz indicated he designed the basin and pipes in accordance with existing department of transportation drainage pipes and 100-year storm requirements from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, according to the source. The piping will drain storm water from the self-storage site into Berrys Creek across Route 17. Skapinetzs design significantly reduced the amount of impervious coverage of the site, the source reported. The result is an overdesigned catch basin, which Skapinetz believes will benefit the site, even with the prospect of future development on nearby properties. The applicant is listed as Hampshire Cos. LLC. The length of the meeting prohibited the public from commenting, but the application is scheduled to be heard again on March 2. 2/7/17 Extra Space Storage Inc., a publicly traded self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT), is facing opposition to a project it has proposed for East Rutherford, N.J. The operator presented an amended site plan to the zoning board and local residents on Feb. 2 for the five-story development that would be built along State Route 17 and Paterson Plank Road. The projects representatives spoke with officials and community members for three hours about the 96,569-square-foot project. The meeting included William Quintanilla, an associate with Frank G. Relf Architect P.C.; Brett Skapinetz, principal of Dynamic Engineering; and Thomas Bruinooge, principal of Bruinooge & Associates, the attorney representing the REIT, according to the source. One the biggest changes to the site plan was the elimination of a Wawa fast-food restaurant and a gas station. The businesses were pulled because they required an egress onto Route 17. The New Jersey Department of Transportation stated in November it wouldnt permit the exit, the source reported. Additional changes included those to the buildings color, which was a major point of contention among residents. The Extra Space signature green was changed to a neutral grey in many places, including the roll-up doors on the bottom floor. The green would now only be used to highlight the facilitys office on the southeast corner facing Route 17, Quintanilla stated. A city ordinance requires storage facilities to emulate office or residential structures. Quintanilla presented photos he found online of modern office buildings that incorporated materials similar to those planned for the self-storage facility. "Our goals with the redesign was to make it look more like a modern office building to keep up with the ordinance. The design does accomplish that goal, Quintanilla said. Robert Inglima, a lawyer representing a neighboring gas station, and resident Antonio Segalini claimed the facilitys design doesnt imitate an office building. Inglima asked the architect if he knew whether the buildings in the photos contained offices, while Segalini asked if the buildings even existed. Zoning board chairman Phil Alberta said Quintanilla was only using the photos as a reference. The new site plan also included a reduction of the buildings height. The stairs that would lead to the roof were changed, eliminating a 9.5-foot structure. A roof hatch and railing were added in its place, Quintanilla said. The building will also meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) obstruction standards, said Skapinetz, who spoke with FAA officials about the flight paths from nearby Teterboro Airport. No special lighting would be required on the roof, the source reported. Resident Sergio Segalini expressed concern the storage facility would block the sun at the high school located 100 feet away. The zoning board voted to hold another meeting on Feb. 16 to continue the discussion. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates 1,427 self-storage properties in 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. The companys properties comprise approximately 960,000 units and 107 million square feet of rentable space. A joint partnership led by real estate company VanWest Partners plans to build three self-storage facilities in the Denver metropolitan area. Grant Self Storage, Park Avenue Self Storage and Steele Self Storage will comprise a total of 233,901 square feet of storage space. The Grant and Park Avenue projects will also include 4,569 and 3,701 square feet of leasable retail space, respectively, according to a press release. The three projects are in partnership with real estate firm Baron Property Services LLC and contractor Haselden Construction. Theyre expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter in 2018. The projects are: Grant Self Storage, 900 Grant St., 99,806 square feet Park Avenue Self Storage, 2249 Champa St., 75,145 square feet Steele Self Storage, 3879 Adams St. and 3874-3879 Steele St., 58,950 square feet Denver is one of the more underserved storage markets, Jacob Vanderslice, a principal at VanWest, told the source. There are a lot of new projects under development now that werent in the pipeline a couple years ago; but self-storage is very localized, and were confident we can capture our neighborhood level demographic. The Grant project will require converting a former Denver Public Schools administrative building, while the other two projects will be new construction. Vanderslice estimated the cost to build the facilities at $40 million. Among the challenges is the conversion, which will require wrapping some of the structure in carbon fiber. It is relatively expensive, Wade Buxton, another principal at VanWest, told the source. The biggest factor is bringing the floor loads up to whats required for storage. Haselden will serve as contractor for the Grant and Steele projects, while Waner Construction will be the contractor for the Park Avenue asset. VanWest is a full-service real estate company with interests in commercial and residential properties. Its services include due diligence; investment, landlord and tenant representation; as well as project and property management. This content is from: Video 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. New York-based MGA Greene & Associates has announced its expansion into a third location, and the appointment of a new underwriter.As the firm opens its new office in Bradenton, Florida, it has hired Don Fuchs, who brings 35 years of underwriting experience with him, having owned and led McKell Risk for the past 25 years.Insurance Business caught up with the firm to find out more about its latest expansion, and the challenges currently facing the MGA market.The MGA expects the opening of its Florida office to help diversify its book, with an expected influx of risks coming from outside the Northeastern part of the country, Greenes marketing manager, Kyle Burch, explained.The new location will also help the company to have more of a regional presence in the Southeast as it looks to expand, he added.Greene is continuing to focus on conservative growth, and the opportunity to add someone with the talent and experience of Don, coupled with expanding our footprint was something we couldnt pass up, Burch said.The firm is continuing to grow in the New York construction segment, having recently launched a GL program to provide access to a new market for our retail producers.In the commercial umbrella & excess world a market it has specialized in for over 30 years Greene continues to see strong, steady growth, Burch said.The challenges for the MGA market are always going to be abundant, according to Burch, whether it be competition, changing market places, technology or internal obstacles.But despite this, the market for Greene is currently one full of competition and great partnerships, he added.We are very thankful for the loyal partners weve developed over the years, Burch said. It takes both sides of a relationship to make it thrive.As long as you have the right people in place who are committed to the organization, and willing to adapt in order to make it succeed, any challenge can be overcome. RIC Insurance has announced the arrival of Travis Campbell as senior broker to expand its E&S division, with a specific focus on retail agents in three California counties.Campbell has extensive experience as a retail agent with expertise in oil and gas, construction, hospitality, environmental and manufacturing, among others.He served with USG Insurance Services and Sloan Mason prior to his new posting with RIC Insurance.Travis brings a wealth of experience to the position, having spent more than a decade focused on finding optimal coverage for high-risk accounts. We have confidence that he will be a valuable asset to our retail agents and carrier partners, RIC senior vice president for commercial brokerage and underwriting Tom Clansen said in a company statement. An industry first partnership aims to give the insurance industry insight into customer buying patterns using a new combination of qualitative and quantitative data. The partnership brings together actuarial firm Finity with global measurement company Nielsen and will look to help brokers and insurers learn more about the buying habits of customers and improve communication between company and customer. Want the latest insurance industry news first? Sign up for our completely free newsletter service now. Aaron Cutter, Finity director, said that the partnership will create a customer analytics platform that is not currently available in the Australian market and will allow the industry to delve deeper into customer behaviour. It will enable finance and insurance businesses to accelerate and vastly improve marketing ROI by closing the loop on understanding customer value, with how to reach them, Cutter said. Nielsen research will give insurance organisations access to insights on consumer decisions, which can be used alongside Finity data to help businesses target specific customer segments. Related stories: Wotton + Kearney unveils global partnership ING Direct Australia adopts RiskShield to secure real-time payments The rise of fintech is set to see brokers transforming themselves to match changing customer expectations, an expert has said. As fintech and insurtech continue their rise in the industry, Bill Sullivan, head of global financial services market intelligence at Capgemini, said that the rise of technology will impact brokers and their relevance to customers. The growth of fintech firms and their rising acceptance by customers will definitely have a big impact on the intermediaries associated with the insurance industry, Sullivan told Insurance Business. Now, intermediaries have to transform themselves by leveraging technology and catering to customers changing needs and preferences to stay relevant in the business. Want the latest insurance industry news first? Sign up for our completely free newsletter service now. Brokers dont only face threats from fintech disruption from outside sources, however. Sullivan noted that traditional insurance firms are instilling innovation in their businesses and will look to use partnerships, investments and acquisitions as a way to reduce or replace the role of the traditional intermediary. An area of fintech that is set to have the biggest impact on the insurance industry, according to Sullivan, is innovative offerings in terms of customer interface. From comparison sites, to peer-to-peer insurance, a host of companies are looking to connect with customers in new ways. These changing lines of customer contact are redefining the industry and increasing competition between firms. Customer expectations continue to change as technology makes transacting business quicker. Prime examples include chatbots, artificial intelligence and online or mobile-first applications, which are all becoming more commonplace in the industry. With Trov and Friendsurance both making waves in the Australian market, changes in business models will also lead to a fintech ripple effect throughout the industry. New ways of interacting between customers and insurers will mean that brokers will need to stay alert to ensure their place in the industry remains strong. Sullivan noted that fintech is not expected to drive competition in the insurance industry, but will disrupt the way the insurance industry goes about doing its business. Related stories: Horrible customer experience sees tech flock to insurance Insurtech at centre of UKs trade delegation visit Henderson Brothers Inc., a Pittsburgh, Penn., based independent broker, has hired Jeremy Taggart as a financial analyst in the employee benefits department. In his new role, Taggart will use his three years of industry experience to help clients better understand current and future employee benefits programs. He earned his bachelors degree in both actuarial science and applied mathematics from Robert Morris University. Taggart is originally from Butler, Penn. Founded in 1893, Henderson Brothers continues to serve the insurance, employee benefits and financial services industries. With a team of more than 140 experts, Henderson Brothers serves a diverse, global client base. Its product offerings include: property and casualty insurance, employee benefits, retirement planning, wealth management, fiduciary services, captive management, enterprise risk management, loss control, claims management, strategic planning, succession planning and personal lines. Source: Henderson Brothers Inc. Topics Pennsylvania British banking executives and security experts are growing frustrated at the dearth of information available more than three months after 2.5 million pounds ($3.09 million) was stolen from Tesco Bank in the UKs biggest financial cyber heist. Security officers normally share information on an informal basis immediately after a major cyber incident so that the other banks can check their systems, sources at four of Britains biggest lenders said. In the case of Tesco Bank, a small lender with annual profits of just 162 million pounds, details about exactly how criminals stole the money and what vulnerabilities were exposed have yet to be provided, however. The case has exposed the lack of proper procedures to share information as well as confusion over which government agency has ultimate responsibility for the issue, lawmakers and executives say. It is very frustrating, a senior executive at one of Britains largest banks told Reuters. The gentlemens code has been broken. A risk officer at another of Britains biggest lenders said a formal regulatory system was essential in a financial center like London where hundreds of banks of all sizes operate. I am not going to criticize them, the problem is the structure, he said. The Nov. 5-6 attack, which affected 9,000 Tesco Bank customers, is the first major case to be investigated by Britains new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), working with the National Crime Agency (NCA). The NCSC brings together and replaces a host of bodies including CESG (the information security arm of GCHQ), the Centre for Cyber Assessment, Computer Emergency Response Team UK and the cyber-related responsibilities of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. As regulatory authorities for the banking system, the Bank of Englands Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority would also be involved in any regulations governing financial cyber crime. The NCSC did not respond to requests for comment on the Tesco case. An NCA spokesman said: The investigation is ongoing therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further. The new body is coming under pressure from the financial industry and lawmakers to act quickly. It is up to the NCSC to institutionalize the sharing of information and give some kind of obligation or requirement for feedback after an attack like Tesco Bank, Troels Oerting, Group Chief Information Security Officer at Barclays, told Reuters. A team of academics from the University of Newcastle said in December that a relatively unsophisticated method known as distributed guessing could have been used to generate usable card payment details in the November attack. A spokesman for the bank, which is owned by leading supermarket chain Tesco Plc, declined to discuss the specifics of the case. We continue to work closely with the authorities and regulators in their investigation of the criminal incident that took place last year. Our priority throughout has been to look after our customers, the spokesman said on Monday. Bank executives and cyber security experts told Reuters in October they feared Britains banks are not reporting the full extent of cyber attacks to regulators for fear of punishment or bad publicity. ($1 = 0.8097 pounds) (Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Sonya Hepinstall) Related: Topics Legislation Cyber Argo Group International Holdings Ltd., the Bermuda-based underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance, announced that former Ariel Re chief executive officer, Ryan Mather, will serve as Argos global head of reinsurance, leading all reinsurance operations. The companys reinsurance business will operate under the Ariel Re brand as a member of Argo Group. (Argo announced on Feb. 6 that its $235 million acquisition of Ariel Re had been completed.)* Ariel Re and Argo Group are a terrific fit operationally and culturally, says Argo Group CEO Mark E. Watson III. Ryans leadership and collaboration were key factors in our ability to finalize this agreement and begin implementing the companys integration plan so swiftly. This is reflective of the teamwork and outstanding results we expect to see in the future. Mather will report directly to Jose A. Hernandez, head of Argo Groups International Business. This transaction improves the companys ability to manage through changing market cycles, said Hernandez. It also adds new capabilities that can be leveraged throughout the entire organization, including Ariel Res unique modeling and risk analysis tools, which enhance Argos already robust underwriting analytics, he said. Under Ryans leadership, Ariel Re and Argo Re have combined to become a market-leading business and will make a meaningful and immediate contribution to earnings and return on equity, Hernandez added. * Ariel Re was purchased from Banco BTG Pactual S.A. and the Abu Dhabi Investment Council. Topics Reinsurance Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. (BHSI), in coordination with its affiliate Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Ltd. (BHIIL), announced it has opened a new office in London. In addition, key executive roles have been filled. Richard Nathan has been named head of Property Lines; Patrick Brown was appointed head of Executive & Professional Liability; and Andrew Walker is head of Claims, for BHSI in the UK and Southern Europe. We are pleased to expand our specialty insurance operations with a new London office and a growing team of professionals with excellent capabilities and character, said Tom Bolt, president, UK and Southern Europe, BHSI. Richard and Patrick will deliver bespoke specialty solutions backed by financial strength, while Andrew will ensure that excellent in-house claims expertise is available for customers from day one. The new office will serve brokers and customers in the UK and Southern European countries, including Ireland, Spain, France and Italy. Richard Nathan brings nearly 25 years of industry experience to BHSI. He was most recently corporate property manager, UK & Europe, at Allied World, underwriting on both Lloyds and company market platforms. Prior to that he was head of corporate property at Mitsui Sumitomo at Lloyds, and underwriter, property & packages, at Chubb Insurance Co. of Europe. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Royal Holloway, University of London. Patrick Brown comes to BHSI with more than 15 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries. He joins BHSI from Travelers Europe Ltd., where he was head of management liability & financial institutions, underwriting on both Lloyds and company market platforms. Before that he was product manager, FINPRO placement facilities, SVP, and international D&O placement broker at Marsh UK Ltd. He also held various underwriting positions at AIG UK. Andrew Walker has worked in commercial lines claims for 30 years, both as a handler of high profile cases and as a regional leader of claims teams. Before joining BHSI, he was most recently head of casualty claims in Europe for AIG Europe Ltd., and prior to that, head of liabilities claims for AIG in the UK. Bolt, Nathan, Brown and Walker are all based in BHSIs new London office, which is located at: 4th Floor, 8 Fenchurch Place, London EC3M 4AJ. Related: Topics Claims Excess Surplus Europe London Aon Benfield, the reinsurance intermediary and capital adviser of Aon plc, has appointed Jeremy Goodman as global head of Broking Strategies. Goodman begins the role with immediate effect and reports to Eric Andersen, chief executive officer of Aon Benfield. Based in New York, Goodman will be responsible for building relationships and networks with Aon Benfields reinsurance trading partners to better match capital to client needs and develop new innovative products. Prior to his new role, Goodman was executive managing director of Aon Benfield and advised global insurance clients on both reinsurance program design and strategies to execute reinsurance transactions in both the traditional reinsurance and capital markets. Since joining Aon Benfield, he has held several leadership positions and also served as a member of Aon Benfields US executive team. Prior to joining Aon Benfield in 2006, he was chief executive officer of Cooper Gay North America and board director of Cooper Gay Holdings. He began his career in London in 1986 and relocated to the US in 1991. In 1996, he established Cooper Gays operation in Singapore, and, in 2001, moved to New York as leader of its operations in North America and the Caribbean. Source: Aon Benfield Topics Reinsurance Aon Accelerated Benefits in Ohio has joined forces with USI Insurance Services (USI), the companies announced. Founded in 1986 by Thomas P. Wagoner and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Accelerated Benefits and its employees will remain at the current Dublin location. Wagoner has been named president of USI Columbus Employee Benefit Division. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI is a local and national insurance brokerage and consulting firm, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement solutions throughout the United States. Source: USI Topics Ohio First Lady Melania Trump is suing a British newspaper, saying a defamatory article it later retracted deprived her of the chance to launch a lucrative brand of clothing, shoes, jewelry and perfume. The $150 million suit against the publisher of the Daily Mail accused the London tabloid of causing tremendous harm to her reputation and making it almost impossible to take advantage of major business opportunities available for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world. President Donald Trumps spouse says she has a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories. Melania Trump also claims she could have sold apparel, accessories, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care and fragrance. Ethical Conflicts Filed in state court in Manhattan on Monday after being dismissed by a Maryland judge last week, the complaint prompted questions anew about whether President Donald Trump and his family understand the ethical conflicts created by mixing public service with commercial opportunities. The suit makes clear she believes she was damaged because she cant make as much money off her position as First Lady, said Richard Painter, who served as White House ethics counsel under President George W. Bush. Its a clear violation of the standards of professional conduct for federal employees to have a president allowing his wife to benefit financially from his office. One of Melania Trumps lawyers disputed the suggestion that the former model is trying to monetize her role. The First Lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so, attorney Matthew Blackett said in an e-mailed statement. It is not a possibility. Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted. Most ethics experts, including the agency that monitors such matters in the federal government, have said the president should divest his holdings. Instead, Trump has turned over management of his company, the Trump Organization, to his two elder sons and pledged no new foreign deals during his term. The president has said he has no legal or moral obligation to do more. Melania Trump has also come in for criticism about conflicts. Visitors to the White House website in January were told about her jewelry line being sold on QVC Inc., a home-shopping network owned by billionaire John Malones Liberty Interactive Corp. The reference was removed after news accounts on it appeared. Modeling Career In her libel case, she accuses the newspapers website of running an article that said her well-publicized professional modeling career in the 1990s was a ruse to cover her work as an elite escort in the sex trade. Melania Trump sued Mail Media Inc. in September over the story, which cited allegations about the escort service published earlier in a Slovenian magazine. The former model sued in state court in Maryland after the website and Webster Tarpley, a blogger who also reported the claims, issued retractions. A judge concluded Trump didnt have the right to sue the newspaper company in Maryland, but allowed her claims against Tarpley to proceed because he lived there. In the New York libel case, the First Lady may not need to prove she lost business opportunities because of the retracted article to recover under the states defamation law, said John Diamond, a media law professor at the University of Californias Hastings College of Law. If it turns out that she does have to prove people arent purchasing her goods because of the prostitution story, that may be a challenge because there may be political reasons people are refusing to buy her jewelry and clothes, the professor added. The case is Trump v. Mail Media Inc., 650661/2017, New York State Supreme Court (Manhattan) Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Claims Maryland The insurance industry has a new venture capital firm looking to make early to growth-stage investments in innovative insurance technologies. David Miles, a 30-year insurance investment veteran and owner of the insurance carrier asset management firm Miles Capital, and Matt Kinley, a Pappajohn Capital Resources investor who has backed more than 50 healthcare and technology firms, have launched ManchesterStory Group, a venture capital firm backed by a consortium of insurance companies from across the country. The Des Moines, Iowa-based firms insurtech areas of interest include customer engagement, core systems, home automation, telematics, big data customer analytics, cybersecurity, IoT, regulatory technology, digital distribution, underwriting and claims processing. The new firm said it cannot disclose the insurance carriers behind it until the fund closes. ManchesterStory hopes to be attractive to entrepreneurs seeking to benefit from the founding partners experience in helping startups succeed, as well as the opportunity to form key industry relationships. Its investments will range from $1 million individual/$2.5 million institutional to $4 million general partner minimum commitment, according to a spokesman. We see tremendous investment opportunity in our target sectors, which together comprise 25 percent of the U.S. economy. Each has significant potential for digital transformation, and both are integrally connected to and impacted by insurance, said Kinley. Across the financial services landscape, traditional players are adopting and/or being disrupted by digital innovations that are being demanded by their customers. Technologies that improve customer engagement, decision-making and back-end efficiencies are improving the entire value chain. ManchesterStory is ideally positioned to bring together industry leaders and startups around capital and strategy, commented Miles. ManchesterStory is actively seeking investment opportunities across the U.S. In addition to insurance, it is targeting financial services (fintech) and healthcare. The new firm will join another insurance focused venture capital firm in Des Moines that is helping startups. The Global Insurance Accelerator was launched in 2013 with backing from seven insurance companies located in central Iowa: American Equity Investment Life, Delta Dental of Iowa, Farmers Mutual Hail, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance, IMT Insurance Co. and Principal Financial Group. Each committed to contributing $100,000 per year to support the initiative and it began its first year with $700,000 in the GIA 2015 fund. Since its launch in 2o013, GIA has added Markel, EMC Insurance Companies and Mutual of Omaha as backers. In January 2016, GIA announced the second group of startups it is supporting with $40,000 in seed capital, office space, mentorship, business development training and access to the GIAs network of insurance executives and investors. In exchange, the GIA receives a six percent equity stake in each company. According to the most recent KPMG Pulse of Fintech report on investment activity in fintech in 2016, insurtech investments peaked in the first quarter, then fell in the second and third quarters. But KPMG still sees a positive outlook for fintech and the insurtech subsector in 2017. Related: Topics InsurTech Tech Funding Iowa With Insurance Careers Month underway, the Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) Education Foundation announced that it expects to have provided more than $1 million in cumulative funding to Texas universities and their insurance and risk management students by the end of this year. To help attract and recruit new talent to the industry, the foundation provides academic funding and scholarships to 10 Texas universities to encourage students to consider an insurance career. The program has been in place for 15 years. Since its inception, this effort has resulted in $642,500 in scholarships to 436 students, and more than $275,000 in funding for class materials, registration for industry events, and testing for various insurance designations. In addition, the Education Foundation has funded an endowed chair at the University of North Texas, and the initial charter for Gamma Iota Sigma insurance fraternity chapter at the University of Texas at Dallas. Along with scholarship opportunities and education funds, every semester ICT works with its members to provide job and internship opportunities for its scholarship recipients. It hosted a Speed Interview and Networking Event for scholarship students last July, with nearly 30 students and 15 participating companies. Last year, nearly 60 percent of ICT scholarship recipients who graduated found jobs in the property and casualty industry. The participating universities are Baylor University, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the University of Houston Downtown, the University of Houston Main, St. Marys University, Texas Southern University, Huston-Tillotson University and the University of Texas at Dallas. February marks the second annual Insurance Careers Month, which is designed to encourage young people to look at the diverse opportunities that a career in insurance offers. Source: Insurance Council of Texas Topics Texas Education Training Development Universities The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF3 tornado touched down in East New Orleans on Feb. 7. The twister was reported to have caused widespread damage and forced around 100 people from their homes. NOLA.com reports that roofs were torn off homes, windows were shattered and household possessions were strewn in the streets. The tornado was one of an estimated seven that touched down in the state as a severe storm system moved through on Tuesday. The Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said 28 injuries have been reported in the New Orleans region due to the storms. Another nine were reported in the Baton Rouge region and two injuries were reported in the area north of Lake Pontchartrain. Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency due to the destruction caused by the storm system, which moved through much of southeast Louisiana, including Ascension, Livingston, Orleans, St. James, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes. The first tornado was reported to have touched down near Killian, Louisiana, in southern Livingston Parish. The NWS has estimated but not confirmed that a tornado that touched down east of Donaldsville in St. James Parish was an EF1. The area hit by the EF3 tornado in East New Orleans was one that was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In a statement, GOHSEP Director James Waskom said, The numerous alerts provided by the media, the National Weather Service, local agencies and state agencies likely saved lives considering the widespread damage across the region. We may continue to see more severe weather systems like todays storms due to our unusually warm winter. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Louisiana Windstorm Underwriting manager and wholesale broker in Greene & Associates, based in East Aurora, N.Y., has opened its an office in Bradenton, Fla., and hired Don Fuchs to its underwriting team. Fuchs has more than 35 years of underwriting experience to the Greene team, spending the last 25 years owning and operating McKell Risk. Fuchs is a graduate of West Virginia University. He also previously worked for AIG and Continental Insurance in New York City. The opening of an office in Florida will be Greenes first venture outside of the Northeastern United States after opening a second location in Glastonbury, Conn., in 2016. In operation since 1986, Greene & Associates specializes in the umbrella and excess liability market sector. The firm currently writes business in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Topics Florida Underwriting A company could be fined by North Carolina regulators after a rupture at a Winston-Salem plant dumped red dye into a creek, killing some fish and prompting a warning for people to avoid the water. The spill occurred at Hanes Dye & Finishing Co. last week and some of the dye made it to Peters Creek, where between 100 and 200 fish were killed. The Winston-Salem Journal reports the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has released a letter saying that fines can amount to $25,000 per day for similar violations. The letter does not say how large a fine could be proposed for Hanes. Shortly after the spill, the facilitys branch manager Dan Johnson said the company would fully clean up the spill. Johnson wasnt available for comment Thursday. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics North Carolina Neighbors living near Duke Energy Corps coal ash pits in North Carolina are being told they have to give up the option of suing over any future water problems if they want extra compensation from the utility. The countrys largest electric company sent out letters last week to about 1,000 homeowners living near 13 of the companys coal-burning power plants spread across North Carolina. In them, the utility said it will require the waiver to release the company from any claims for further compensation or recovery from Duke Energy related to alleged groundwater pollution or unsatisfactory municipal water connections. Duke Energy said its coal-ash pits are not to blame for any contaminants detected in groundwater. The company is offering a $5,000 goodwill payment to neighbors to support your transition to a new water supply, the letters said. The company was required by a state law passed last year to install by October 2018 either new municipal water lines or a household water treatment system to homes within a half mile of coal ash sites. Thursday marked three years since liquefied coal ash containing arsenic, lead, mercury and other heavy metals spilled from a Duke Energy plant into the Dan River along the Virginia line. The spill threw a spotlight on coal ash, a waste byproduct left after decades of burning coal for electricity. Neighbors agreeing to forego future litigation are being offered the $5,000 payment and one-time payments to cover about 25 years of water bills resulting from new public water connections. Some lump-sum payments for water bills may be as high as $22,000, the company has said. Duke Energy said it also will make up for lost property values by coal-ash neighbors who sell their home before October 2019 and get less than fair market value. That property compensation plan is not contingent on neighbors signing the waiver, company spokesman Jeff Brooks wrote in an email. In 2015, state scientists warned more than 300 coal-ash neighbors that their well water contained risky levels of a cancer-causing chemical. Top officials of Gov. Pat McCrorys administration last year reversed that advisory, saying the previous warning used a too-cautious health standard. The financial offers are available to coal-ash neighbors whether or not they are represented by attorneys, Brooks said. Law firms based in Raleigh and Salisbury in the state, and in Dallas, Texas, said they represent hundreds of coal-ash neighbors who are concerned about the companys compensation. No related lawsuits have been filed, attorney Bryan Brice said last week. The waiver would include health concerns that may appear in the future, raising questions since Duke Energy denies that its ash is the cause of well-water contamination, he said. Why are you demanding a full release when you state that Duke did not cause any groundwater or related problems? Brice said. The utility delivers electricity to about 7.4 million customers in the Carolinas, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Claims North Carolina A Riverside County, Calif. transgender Army veteran has settled a lawsuit against a Rancho Cucamonga barbershop that refused to cut womens hair. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed. The Press-Enterprise reported that as part of the settlement The Barbershop is required to serve all customers after it initially turned away Kendall Oliver because the owner of the shop perceived Oliver to be female. Oliver identifies as transgender and as more male than female. The Barbershop owner Richard Hernandez admitted to breaking the law and discriminating against Oliver. He says his Christian beliefs wouldnt allow him to cut womens hair. He says he apologized to Oliver and offered to reimburse the cost of a haircut. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits California Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers Inc. in Visalia, Calif. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. James Smallwood, Kevin Veitia and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of James G. McFarlane, head of Gallaghers Western retail property/casualty brokerage operations, and Norbert Chung, head of Gallaghers Western employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. Lewis & Associates is a retail insurance broker and employee benefit consultant serving clients primarily throughout central California. The firm specializes in serving the needs of retirement communities, including assisted living, independent living and skilled nursing. Itasca, Ill.-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions California Agencies A.J. Gallagher Labor unions have a long history in the United States. While membership has been on the decline in recent decades, unions continue to play a major role in workers' rights. Are labor unions effective? Proponents maintain that unions result in better wages, benefits and working conditions for workers. Critics argue, among other things, that unions are anti-employer and that union contracts make it more difficult for companies to fire unproductive employees. A Gallup poll, released Aug. 30, 2022, found that 71% of Americans now support unions--up from 65% before the pandemic, and the highest support level since 1965.oo Key Takeaways Labor unions benefit their members by negotiating better pay, benefits, and working conditions. Critics of labor unions maintain that union contracts make it more difficult for a company to fire unproductive employees, and that they increase long-term costs which decreases competitiveness. Labor unions have a long history in the United States, and while membership has declined in recent decades, they continue to play a major role in workers' rights. Whom Do Labor Unions Benefit? Labor unions advance the interests of their members collectivelyincluding better pay, benefits, and working conditionsby negotiating with employers. In 2021, non-union workers had median weekly earnings that were 83% of earnings for workers who were union members, according to research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unions have played a major role in worker's rights for centuries. While their roots in the United States date back to the 18th Century, unions gained steam in the late 19th Century, when heavy industry and big business were in their infancy and a great deal of human labor was needed in order to facilitate the mushrooming Industrial Revolution. This quickly led to widespread abuse of workers, including children, who were forced to toil for many hours a day for low wages. Workers in a variety of industries eventually united to form labor unions. They negotiated better pay and working conditions for workers and were instrumental in helping to pass child labor laws. Proponents of labor unions maintain that non-union members benefit from union policies too. Examples include setting industry standards, such as safe working conditions and a minimum wage. Union membership peaked in the U.S. during the 1940s and 1950s. While the power of unions declined in the following decades, interest in them among American workers is on the rise recently. This is due in part to workers seeking better pay and conditions in the wake of the pandemic, a tight labor market, and younger generations embracing union membership. Workers have been winning union elections at Starbucks and Amazon, for example. Collective bargaining is among the methods labor unions use to advance the interests of their members. Criticism of Labor Unions Critics of labor unions maintain that union contracts are anti-employer and make it more difficult for a company to fire an unproductive employee. They also believe that unions can increase long-term costs for employers, which can decrease competitiveness. For example, many claim that unions are responsible for the decline of the U.S. auto industry. Foreign automakers entered the U.S. auto market in the 1970s and hired non-union workers to build vehicles. Due to the savings in labor costs, they could afford to sell their vehicles for less than U.S. manufacturers. This made it much harder for the unionized big three automakers to produce competitive cars at affordable prices, and they lost significant market share. 14 million The number of people employed in the U.S. who belonged to unions in 2021approximately a tenth of the working population. Unions and Corruption Unions also have a history of corruption. Perhaps the most high-profile example involves Jimmy Hoffa. He gave millions of dollars of union pension money to the Las Vegas mob in the 1960s when he was head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. Hoffa spent time in prison for jury tampering and pension fraud and was pardoned by President Nixon in 1971. He disappeared in 1975 and it is widely believed, though never proved, that he was murdered by mobsters. His body has never been found. Hoffas son and namesake, James Hoffa, served as general president of the Teamsters from 1998 to 2022. In 2015, the U.S. Justice Department agreed to end more than 20 years of government oversight of the Teamsters union citing its efforts to end corruption and connection to organized crime. Some unions have not been above using strong-arm tactics to protect their territories. For example, in September 2011 the International Longshore and Warehouse Union attacked a railroad dock terminal, overpowered security guards, and sabotaged trains carrying grain for a company that tried to use a different labor union. What Are the Pros of Labor Unions? Labor unions are designed to benefit their members. Such unions can negotiate better wages, benefits, and working conditions. What Are the Cons of Labor Unions? Critics of labor unions view them as anti-employer. For example, they maintain that union contracts make it difficult to fire unproductive employees. Which Industries Have Labor Unions? The public sector has the highest rates of union membership , such as police officers, firefighters, and teachers. In the private sector, industries with high union rates include transportation and warehousing, utilities, motion pictures, and sound recording. The Bottom Line Labor unions continue to play a major role in workers' rights and the economy of the United States. Though union membership has declined from its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, interest is on the rise among Americans recently, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Developed-market exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help investors gain relatively cheap, broad diversification through access to hundreds or thousands of individual holdings across the world's most advanced economies. Here, we take a look at the five largest developed-market ETFs in terms of assets under management (AUM). A developed market belongs to a highly productive, industrialized country with an established rule of law. Beyond the United States, developed markets include Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia. To differentiate developed-market ETFs from basic-domestic ETFs and other niches, the following list focuses on ETFs with at least 5% exposure to two or more developed market economies, excluding the United States. Key Takeaways Developed market ETFs are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on holdings within the world's most advanced economies, such as France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. Developed market ETFs are different from those that focus just on domestic holdings or certain niche or industry-specific holdings. The five largest developed market ETFs are Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA), iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA), iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA), Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF), and iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ). AUM: $110.1 billion Launched in 2007, the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF seeks to track the FTSE Developed All Cap ex-US Index, which measures the investment return of stocks issued by companies in Canada and the major markets of Europe and the Pacific region. In fact, European stocks make up over half of the fund's portfolio at 53%. The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF previously excluded Canadian stocks, but it eventually switched policies to incorporate important trends in North America. The passively managed fund's expense ratio is 0.05%. AUM: $57.2 billion BlackRock issued the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in 2001, and it has been at the top or close to the top of the international ETF market ever since. The ETF tracks the preeminent Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) EAFE Index, the most widely quoted international equity index in the U.S., which reflects stocks across Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Far East (EAFE). The fund devotes approximately 23% of its assets to equities in Japan, about 14% to those in the United Kingdom, and about 11% to those in France. Switzerland, Germany, and Australia each draw more than 5% of the fund's assets. At 0.32%, the fund's expense ratio is higher than that of the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF. AUM: $104.3 billion Launched in 2012, BlackRock's iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF seeks to track the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (IMI), which is similar to the MSCI EAFE Index, but larger and more comprehensive. The index includes small-capitalization representation in addition to the mid-cap and large-cap representation that the MSCI EAFE Index offers. The fund's top exposure looks similar to that of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, with about 23% of its assets devoted to equities in Japan, about 14% to those in the United Kingdom, with France, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia each representing more than 5% of the fund's assets. The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF's expense ratio is competitive with that of Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF's, at 0.07%. AUM: $29.2 billion Like the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF, the Schwab International Equity ETF seeks to track the FTSE Developed ex-US Index. Equities in Japan comprise about 21% of its portfolio, and those in the United Kingdom comprise about 12%. Equities in France, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia each comprise more than 5% of the fund's assets. The fund, which has been around since 2009, has an expense ratio of 0.06%. AUM: $15.3 billion The iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF was launched in 2007 and seeks to track the performance of the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, which focuses on exposure to only small public companies in Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Far East. Similar to the other iShares ETFs on this list, equities in Japan have the highest percentage of the fund's assets, at approximately 27%, and the United Kingdom has the second-highest percentage at 17%. Equities in Australia, Germany, and Sweden each represent more than 5% of the fund's assets. The fund's expense ratio is the highest on this list, at 0.39%. Top News - Investor Idea A Boat-full of Potential - Renewed Interest in the Cruise Industry Bolsters Luxury Markets (OTC: MASN) (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) (NYSE: RCL) (NYSE: NCLH) Vancouver, Kelowna, Delta, BC - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering luxury goods and cruise ship stocks releases a special report featuring Maison Luxe, Inc. (OTC: MASN), a company that offers luxury retail consumer items. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication San Diego, CA - November 3, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) received a notice of publication for its financial software patent application. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures $3.8M Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA from Italy CAVE CREEK, Az. - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-based, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured a new $3.8 million USD order for its newly acquired, non-nicotine based vape product, HYLA from customers in Italy. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire With technology becoming more and more a part of our lives, it was only a matter of time before it started to impact the way Press Release IPU concerned about ongoing efforts to silence MPs Geneva, 8 February 2017 View of Turkish parliament in Ankara. The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians reviewed the cases of close to 60 MPs from Turkey at its last session. Adem Altan/AFP The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has again expressed concern about continued human rights violations against MPs worldwide and the lack of respect for their parliamentary immunity. During its January 2017 session, IPUs Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians adopted decisions on the cases of 227 MPs from 16 countries. Over 100 MPs are from just three countries, Malaysia, Nicaragua and Turkey. The Committee reviewed the cases of close to 60 MPs from Turkey. 55 of those MPs are from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Currently, they are facing over 500 terrorism and criminal charges, following the wholesale lifting of their parliamentary immunity in May 2016. The Committee has expressed grave concern about the detention conditions of the imprisoned Turkish MPs, and called for their immediate release pending trial, as Turkeys laws allow. Further it has requested additional information from the authorities on the evidence underlying the case, given that the complainants allege that the MPs are being prosecuted for peaceful political statements and activities, thus violating their legitimate rights to freedom of speech, assembly and association. The Committee has also reiterated its concern that the current legal action prevents these Turkish MPs from carrying out their parliamentary responsibilities, including in relation to improving the tense and precarious security situation in their constituencies in southeastern Turkey. The Committee has decided to send a delegation to Turkey to gain a better understanding of the situation including consultations with the detained parliamentarians. In Malaysia, the number of cases examined by the Committee has been rising since 2012. In the recent session, the Committee adopted a decision on the case of 19 opposition MPs. It has expressed concern in this case over the lack of respect for freedom of expression, in particular in light of the recent conviction of Mr. Rafizi Ramli for releasing an audit report of vital public interest and ongoing legal action under the Sedition Act against other MPs. In 2016, 28 parliamentarians from the Alliance of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) in Nicaragua were dismissed, following a request from their partys leadership. They were accused of publicly expressing views contrary to those of the leadership and of having changed political party. The Committee has examined the cases of 21 of these MPs, who claim that their dismissal was linked to their work as opposition members. The Committee concluded that public statements inconsistent with the party line are an insufficient legal basis for early termination of an MPs mandate. The IPU Committee, which is currently investigating cases concerning more than 452 MPs globally, also adopted substantive decisions on cases from Bahrain, Burundi, Iraq, Kuwait, Myanmar, Mongolia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Yemen and Zambia. For Iraq and Myanmar, the Committee decided to close the cases after concluding their satisfactory resolution. The Committee also declared admissible new cases from the Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador and Venezuela at this session. During the just-ended session, the Committee decided to dispatch fact-finding missions to Turkey and Venezuela and Rwanda. The Committee will also follow through with earlier decisions to send missions to Colombia, Belarus and Lebanon. The Committee has elected a new President in the person of Ms. Fawzia Koofi (Afghanistan) and a new Vice-President, Mr. Bernd Fabritius (Germany). The IPU Committee works to address alleged violations of parliamentarians human rights and to seek redress. Cases range from harassment and unlawful exclusion from office, to imprisonment, torture and murder. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments. It works to safeguard peace and drives positive democratic change through political dialogue and concrete action. The print business of Hewlett Packard in Leixlip, Co Kildare, is to close, management confirmed this morning. The multinational's facility in Leixlip focuses on products for the PC and printer market, which is under increasing pressure from the fall in traditional computer sales, the move away from printing documents and preference for tablet technology. The company said in a statement: "In line with our previously communicated strategy, HP's global print business is working to drive continuous efficiencies and cost savings that enable investment in new market opportunities and growth initiatives, such as 3D printing. "As a result, we have made the decision to close our global print business at the Leixlip site. "It is likely that close to 500 HP employees will be impacted and leave the business over the next 12 months." 500 HP inc job losses in Leixlip in 12 months @TodaySOR @drivetimerte @RTERadio1 pic.twitter.com/AitO58Qx3e John Cooke (@johncookeradio) February 8, 2017 It says the decision is not a reflection on employees here or on the Leixlip site's performance. The company said the Leixlip facility has been an important HP site for its operations over the last 20 years and that it has "a long history of valuable contribution, innovation and business excellence". "This decision is not a reflection on our Ireland employees or on the site's performance," it said. "We are very aware of the impact this decision will have on our employees in Ireland and we are focusing all of our efforts on supporting them, on identifying opportunities for them and on providing a programme to help them prepare for the transition ahead." The company also says that Ireland will remain a key market for HP, where they will maintain sales operations for Printing and Personal Systems business. Local Fianna Fail TD @lawlessj says the job losses at HP Inc Leixlip are a devastating blow to the local community @rtenews pic.twitter.com/rwp8W6NVo1 Aisling Kenny (@KennyAKE) February 8, 2017 Workers were told the news after being called into meetings with management this morning. HP Inc workers arrive for meeting amid fears for 500 jobs in Leixlip @TodaySOR 10am pic.twitter.com/5gFA5GNmaB John Cooke (@johncookeradio) February 8, 2017 The company split its operations into Hewlett Packard Inc and Hewlett Packard Enterprises in 2015, with the latter focusing on new technology such as cloud computing. It announced last October that between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs would be cut from its 50,000 worldwide workforce between 2017 and 2019. The firm first set up a sales office in Ireland in 1976 and the Leixlip facility - a major employer in the Kildare region - was established in 1995, producing ink-jet printer cartridges and working on research and development. Hewlett Packard has other operations in Ireland, including in Galway, Dublin and Belfast, and at its height employed several thousand staff. Senior management from the company's head offices in Palo Alto, California, briefed employees at a meeting in the facility. Housing Minister Simon Coveney later expressed sympathy with the workers. Its really bad news, he said. We need to make sure that all of the support systems and arms of the State and agencies of the State are there now to support and help. Devastating for staff of HP Leixlip who have lost their jobs. Have spoken to Min Mitchel O Connor who will use all state agencies to assist Anthony Lawlor (@AnthonyLawlorFG) February 8, 2017 Opposition politicians called for the Government to seek state and European supports for workers to get new jobs, retrain or upskill. Labour's Alan Kelly said: "Efforts must also be made by the IDA to source a replacement industry for the region to deal with the jobs vacuum that will be left. "We're entering into a time of major uncertainty with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, and it is vital that Ireland is pitched as an attractive place to do business with a highly skilled workforce." Local Fianna Fail TD Frank O'Rourke said: "The Government needs to put in place a multi-agency task force to assist workers in finding alternative employment." Nurses are to take industrial action next month after talks with the HSE and Department of Health over the recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives failed to come up with a resolution. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said they rejected the proposals put forward today by the HSE as being "totally inadequate". The INMO said they will now serve notice of action starting on Tuesday, March 7. Up to 90% of INMO members voted in favour of action just before Christmas, which will take the form of a work-to-rule, resulting in a ban on overtime, cross cover and redeployment. Nurses will also begin a series of rolling stoppages if the dispute is not resolved. INMO President, Martina Harkin-Kelly, said: "In considering the proposals, Executive Council members presented numerous examples of nurses and midwives unable to provide full care to their patients, working beyond the end of their shift without pay, unable to take meal breaks and facing unmanageable workloads because of the appalling conditions, and inadequate staffing they now face every day." They said they considered the proposals as "completely inadequate" in terms of recognising the reality of the workplace endured by nurses and midwives. They also said the proposals on recruitment were "too little too late" and still not up to the level of that being offered in the private sector and in other countries. INMO General Secretary, Liam Doran said: "The clear message received from INMO members is that their workplaces are now unsafe and dangerously overcrowded. All areas are understaffed and the services are at breaking point which will require radical solutions to take the pressure off struggling nurses and midwives. We need to attract and retain nurses and midwives in sufficient numbers to provide safe care and the current proposals contain no adequate remedies for this." The Department of Health said: "Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, are deeply disappointed with the outcome of the INMO Executive Committee meeting this evening. "There will be no further comment at this time pending a meeting of the Lansdowne Road Agreement Oversight Group, which will take place tomorrow and where the issue of the consequences of the proposed industrial action by the INMO will be considered." The Government could be asked to cough up another 10m in State funding to save the stalled Cork event centre project from collapse, writes Eoin English, Irish Examiner Reporter. More than two years after the Government sanctioned a 20m funding package to kickstart construction of the proposed 6,000-seat venue, and almost a year after the sod-turning ceremony, Housing Minister Simon Coveney conceded more state funding will be needed before a brick is laid. I think this will require an increase in state support, and within reason, that can be forthcoming, he said. I think it does represent value for money to increase the Governments commitment to the project. But I am not willing to go back to the Government to ask for more money until I have clarity in terms of what the ask is, and independent verification of that. Its my job to advocate for that, but it will be up to the Department of Public Expenditure to go through the value-for-money assessments. It is the latest controversy to hit the project which has been dogged by delays. The news comes just days before the first anniversary of the sod turning ceremony by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the former Beamish and Crawford site. While some demolition has taken place on-site, building work has yet to start. The Irish Examiner revealed last August that internal design work had not been completed, and that the arena would not be ready by 2018, as predicted at the sod turning. This latest setback is likely to push a construction start date back several months. Following a protracted internal design and subsequent final costings process, the developers of the proposed arena builders BAM Construction and entertainment giants Live Nation told Mr Coveney in recent days that more state funding will be required before building work can start. Mr Coveney confirmed he has received a detailed estimate from the project partners but he refused to be drawn on an exact figure. However, it is understood the State may be asked to pump up to another 10m into the venture. Mr Coveney said he had already flagged the issue with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe who will make the final decision. He stressed any funding request will be subjected to robust value-for-money appraisal. Last month, BAM boss Theo Cullinane insisted the company was totally committed to the project which he said had reached a critical stage. He is due to brief city councillors on the status of the project on February 20. This story first appeared in the Read More: Irish Examiner. Jim Stewart, associate professor at the TCD School of Business, told the Oireachtas Finance Committee the appeal by the Government was high-risk because it could take years. He said: There is a high risk that by appealing this case, a number of EU governments and perhaps more important public opinion in EU countries will interpret this appeal as support for Apples tax strategy. Apple has deep pockets and this appeal could last several years a constant reminder to public opinion that Ireland apparently supports Apples tax strategies. Prof Stewart said the the commissions case was very strong and that to appeal it was a mistake. Apple and the Irish Government are likely to lose this case but irrespective of the decision, appealing this case is a mistake and is not in the public interest, he said. American Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mark Redmond said his business group which represents the huge number of US multinationals based here fully supported the Governments decision to appeal. He said: We believe every effort should be made to ensure the EU remains a location where US business can continue to invest with certainty. That is why we believe Ireland or any other EU member state simply cannot afford to have its tax policy and administration second-guessed in a retrospective fashion businesses cannot make investment decisions in such an environment. Brian Keegan, director of public policy and tax at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said Irish individuals, domestic companies, and multinationals deserved some degree of certainty in dealing with their tax compliance obligations. Otherwise we are all just making up the rules as we go along, he added. Oxfam CEO Jim Clerkin said rewriting global tax rules should be tackled by a global body such as the UN. We call upon Ireland to stand with developing countries on this issue, he added. The sentencing judge described the death as a fundamental breach of safety. Donal Scanlon died on November 18, 2015, while he was working for Bryan and Coakley Ltd, trading as B&C Services of Marhill Court, Foxhole Industrial Estate, Youghal. The company has two directors, Mark Coakley and Ivan Bryan, and a guilty plea was entered by Mr Coakley on behalf of the company to a charge of failing to provide a safe and well-organised system of work, a failure that caused the death of the young man. Defence senior counsel James OMahony said, in mitigation, the directors were deeply remorseful to the family, they were fully insured and had taken advice and direction to make sure such an incident would not occur again. Judge Sean O Donnabhain said: There is no doubt this was an unspeakable tragedy for the family of a 21-year-old man in his apprenticeship, full of the vigour and joys of life. He went out to do his days work and not alone died but he died in appalling circumstances which will live with the family forever. I can accept the continuing nature of that hurt as felt by the family. It was also entirely preventable. The culpability of the company is high. The level of preparation, the level of management, the level of supervision were all significantly lacking. Going at this drum with the equipment given and where the remains of fuel and fumes were present was, to anyone, reckless at the very least, the judge said. The accident should have been avoided with the minimum amount of care and supervision by the employer, which was lacking. I accept it is a small company that are conscientious about the manner in which they met the case, they took advice and correction and are genuinely remorseful. I cannot impose a fine so large as to put the company out of business. I must be constrained by the ability of the company to pay the fine which is a lot lower than I was considering. He gave the company 12 months to pay the fine. Inspector Gerard McSweeney said a health and safety inspector discovered the deceased was in the process of opening a lid using a plasma cutter. The lid blew off and struck him on the head causing him fatal injuries. Mr Scanlon had been preparing the drum so it could be used to store metal scrap. Once he pierced the drum with the plasma cutter there was waste oil and fumes inside which created an explosion. The judge noted: There is invariably going to be waste in the drum. This is fairly fundamental. It is a fundamental breach of safety. Anne Stack, an aunt of deceased, spoke on behalf of the family in relation to how they had suffered. She said Wednesday, November 18, 2015, would always be etched in their memory and that their hearts were broken on that day. He radiated happiness and brought good humour and joy wherever he went. He was very hard-working and was the heart and soul of our family, she said. The young man is survived by his parents Geraldine and John, and siblings, Aisling and Jim. He was an active member of Clashmore GAA club where he is also greatly missed. Ms Stack said the deceased loved life on the farm and was building it up with his dad. All we can do now is visit his grave daily. There is an empty chair at our table. We have cried every day. We love you Donie forever, she concluded in the familys victim impact statement. The first long-term study of the effects of vaping in ex-smokers found that people who switched from real to e-cigarettes had far fewer toxins and cancer-causing substances in their bodies than regular smokers. The researchers said the finding provided strong reassurance that vaping was safer than smoking. The scientists, funded by Cancer Research UK, studied a total of 181 individuals, including smokers and ex-smokers who had used e-cigarettes or nicotine- replacement therapy (NRT) products, such as patches and nasal sprays, for at least six months. Vape Business Ireland (VBI) called on the Irish Cancer Society to endorse the research that was carried out by their British counterpart. We hope this study will encourage the Department of Health and the Irish Cancer Society to embrace the potential vaping has as an alternative to smoking, said VBI spokesman, Keith Flynn. Head of services and advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society, Donal Buggy, said the charity had been saying for some time that the use of e-cigarettes presented potential benefits and risks. He said the research demonstrated the potential benefit of consuming nicotine through e-cigarettes rather than through smoking tobacco in the form of traditional cigarettes. This research, however, does not address the safety of not smoking in comparison to e-cigarette use. Therefore, it is not saying that e-cigarettes are safe to use, he said. The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, also found that those who consume both e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes had similar toxins in their systems as those who only use tobacco cigarettes. Further work is required to measure the long-term health effects and social impact of e-cigarettes. The potential risks include prompting young people to become addicted to nicotine, reducing a persons interest in quitting cigarettes and/or they may lead to long-term usage with other tobacco products. These could all represent negative public health impacts, said Mr Buggy. Anti-smoking lobby, Ash Ireland, said research on what was a relatively new product was welcome, especially from well-established credible bodies which did not have a vested interest. Chairman, Dr Patrick Doorly, said the study found that e-cigarette users had 97% fewer levels of a toxic chemical strongly associated with lung cancer. We must not lose sight of the fact that e-cigarette users are still digesting a certain, if reduced level, of toxic chemicals, and we need longer-term research to realise the full implications of this fact. The studys lead author, Dr Lion Shahab, from University College London, said their study added to evidence showing e-cigarettes and NRT are far safer than smoking, and suggested there was a low risk associated with long-term use. Weve shown that the levels of toxic chemicals in the body from e-cigarettes are considerably lower than suggested in previous studies using simulated experiments. This means some doubts about the safety of e-cigarettes may be wrong, said Dr Shahab. The renowned novelist and screenwriter, who wrote novels The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van which were later adapted for smash-hit movies, as well as several best-selling books for adults and children, and who also worked with Roy Keane on his latest memoir, The Second Half, launched his latest Fighting Words creative writing workshop at the citys Graffiti Theatre. Mr Doyle said while it is designed to help students develop their writing skills and explore their love of writing, he hopes it will also influence the way they think and how they look at life. It would be lovely to see household names come out of the process, but thats not really the point. The point is to open the opportunity for everybody, and to allow them to express themselves, and to feel confident and happy expressing themselves, and to feel the exhilaration of expressing it on paper. Fighting Words is modelled on the 826 National creative writing project, established by a writer friend of his, Dave Eggers, and which he visited in San Francisco in 2006. Doyle said: It made a mark on me. I thought it was magic, I thought it was brilliant. I was inspired by the lifting of the anxiety that children and adults often feel when it comes to grammar or spelling, or even how to start the blank page is really terrifying, even for a professional I find the blank page as daunting as it is exciting and Ive been doing it for three decades now. He studied the project and established Fighting Words with Sean Love in Dublin three years later. Run by volunteers, including novelists, screen-writers, journalists, poets, aspiring writers, illustrators, student teachers, retired teachers and more, some 75,000 children have attended its workshops at its centres in Dublin, Wicklow, Mayo, and Belfast over the years. Corks Graffiti Theatre will host the newest centre. Mr Doyle said while it is difficult to measure the projects success, he pointed out that one student who took part has had a play accepted for a festival of short plays; and another recently staged a play in Dublin. We cant ever claim ownership of the talent of these kids, but I think we can claim that we gave them an opportunity. Its not to teach them to be writers its to give them an opportunity, he said. Its not a fight against the education system. I see it as a way to influence the education system. Niall Cleary, head of outreach and education at the Graffiti Theatre Company, said they will run workshops every Friday until May for primary school children, aged six to 12: Each child will create a book every morning and take that home with them. We would love to include secondary schools in our programme from September. Anyone can access the programme. Whoever wants to come in and do a workshop is welcome. And its completely free. You can register your schools interest in the free workshops by contacting niall@graffiti.ie, 021 4397111, or www.fightingwords.ie THE latest development in the Air Corps chemicals scandal raises serious questions about the Governments attitudes to whistleblowers, and highlights significant inconsistencies in its account of how it has managed the affair. It is two weeks since the Irish Examiner revealed the details of a damning health-and-safety report on working conditions at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, and text messages seen by this newspaper add weight to opposition charges that the Government has tried to bury the affair by not engaging with those whistleblowers who had previously raised health warnings about the Air Corps staffs exposure to chemicals. Former defence minister Simon Coveney has told the Irish Examiner he received legal advice not to meet whistleblowers who had warned him of the Air Corps alleged failure to properly protect its staff from exposure to dangerous chemicals. However, Mr Coveney has failed to address a number of questions put to him, the most substantial being how he can claim to have been unaware of whistleblowers wanting to hear directly from him when text messages from Chief Whip Regina Doherty suggest otherwise. Last year, the whistleblowers, who made protected disclosures, were concerned Mr Coveney had not contacted them to confirm he had received their warnings over the working environment at Baldonnel. They made many calls to Mr Coveneys Departments of Defence and Agriculture, and to his constituency office in Cork, seeking assurances he had read their disclosures. One contacted the Taoiseachs office to complain about a lack of contact with Mr Coveney. This was put to Mr Coveneys spokesperson over the weekend, who said: Following the query by the Irish Examiner and an examination of the records, there is no record on file of any correspondence in either of the ministers former department offices or constituency office seeking a meeting between the minister and the individuals concerned. However, this newspaper had not specifically asked whether the minister had received requests for a meeting. This was put to the minister, who was further asked if his definition of correspondence included telephone calls to his offices. The ministers office declined to reply to these follow up queries. The detailed response supplied to the [Irish] Examiner yesterday covers all areas raised below and there is nothing further to be added to that detailed statement, said a spokesperson. The ministers statement did reveal he received advice not to meet the whistleblowers citing the ongoing legal cases taken by former Air Corps staff, who are suing the State over illnesses they claim were caused by their exposure to chemicals in Baldonnel. Legal advice was sought on certain disclosures as elements related to matters which are the subject of ongoing litigation. The minister would have been advised not to make himself available to meet with the individuals concerned while litigation is ongoing, the statement read. However, regardless of this advice, Mr Coveney had said he was unaware of attempts to contact him not that he failed to do so because of this legal advice. In fact, Mr Coveney had claimed he was an accessible minister, and that there was no suggestion that anyone was prevented from speaking with him. Speaking on the issue to the media last Thursday, he said: I certainly am not aware of there being any problem with hearing from, or talking to, or understanding the concerns that whistleblowers may have. I am a pretty accessible minister and certainly there is no suggestion that anybody is being blocked or locked out. As text messages seen by this newspaper reveal, one of the whistleblowers contacted Chief Whip Regina Doherty as far back as December 2015 to seek her help in securing confirmation Mr Coveney received his protected disclosures. One month on, having not heard from the minister, the whistleblower appealed to Ms Doherty again for help. She replied: Just text him there again. The whistleblower then received the following two texts: Regina, my apologies, I will follow up in morning and call [whistleblower] - sc Reply from Simon Over a year later, neither Mr Coveney nor his successor in the Department of Defence Paul Kehoe have directly contacted the whistleblowers. The statement from Mr Coveneys office ignored queries relating to these texts from Ms Doherty, and the office subsequently declined to comment. Raising matters revealed by the Irish Examiner in the Dail last week, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin put it to Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the whistleblowers feel let down by the Government. Last Wednesday, Mr Martin told Mr Kenny that the trio feels the Government does not accept anything they are saying and that it has no time for the manner in which they have gone about this. The Taoiseach has not explained what happened between 2015, when the protected disclosure was made, and why the minister, Deputy Coveney, did not acknowledge and respond to the whistleblowers. There is a sense that this has been buried, he said. The whistleblowers feel vindicated by the findings of last Octobers Health and Safety Authority (HSA) report issued to the Air Corps nearly a year after the trio made the first of their protected disclosures but ignored by the Government. However, they were incensed last Friday when they read Mr Coveneys claims he was unaware of their efforts to contact him. Meanwhile, Mr Coveney confirmed that the independent third party appointed to investigate the protected disclosures made interim recommendations and observations last November, before contacting any of the three whistleblowers who had submitted the claims. On 7 January, 2017, a response was received from the military authorities outlining the actions underway and this has been forwarded to the independent reviewer for consideration, read the ministers statement. The reviewer will consider this material, and undertake what further steps he deems appropriate in order to finalise his review. The Irish Examiner understands that one of the three whistleblowers met with the independent third party on Monday, the first time any of those who made a disclosure spoke with the person tasked to review the claims they made over a year ago. In the meantime, another disclosure was made in recent weeks. A further disclosure was made to the Minister on 26 January, 2017 and the Minister requested a full report from the Chief of Staff in relation to the new allegations on 1 February 2017, read the ministers statement. This further disclosure has also been forwarded to the reviewer to inform his work. The Irish Examiner has yet to establish whether this further disclosure came from the original three whistleblowers, or from a fourth individual. You could argue that the most tragic aspect of the RTE investigation highlighting the eternal horror of hospital waiting lists is that another RTE investigation highlighted the exact same crisis two years ago. Just as we saw kids crushed by debilitating spinal deformities on Monday nights Prime Time, we saw other kids with similar problems and the same hopeless approach to treating them back in January 2015. The situation for adults was also unchanged: People in crippling pain face inordinate delays accessing the treatment needed to allow them live a little. And the inhumanity of it all, not just because much of the suffering is preventable, but because the picture is so bleak for so many in the absence of any meaningful surgical intervention. The reason this weeks broadcast had greater impact than the 2015 one is that, instead of a brief snapshot of suffering, patients filmed their experiences over a prolonged period. It was up close and personal and raw and overwhelmingly depressing and distressing. Health Minister Simon Harris declared himself ashamed and heartbroken but really these words are as meaningless as massaged waiting lists because hes the guy at the top, and if thats the best he can offer, the waiting list problem will never be resolved. Leo Varadkar was interviewed as part of the 2015 broadcast and said three things were needed: Transparency, efficiency, and resources (on the same programme, Trinity professor Charles Normand, expert on health policy and management, said there were 12 things needed, but he didnt really get the chance to elaborate.) Mr Varadkar said there needed to be more transparency around waiting list figures, which seems spectacularly prescient given that the collators of waiting list data, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), currently stands accused of compiling secret waiting lists in an effort to keep the published numbers down. Mr Varadkar said that by putting waiting lists online, people could see for themselves where in the country patients were facing the longest waits. This is a good idea. If youre going to wait two years to see a neurologist at one hospital, maybe an arrangement could be put in place whereby you get referred to a hospital where the wait is shorter. This, of course, may require the patient to travel further and could make follow-up treatment trickier, but Mr Varadkar felt it was an option worth considering. He did, however, acknowledge that turf wars could interfere in the process. Hospitals might be slow to refer or accept patients from other regions. And, of course, hospital managers may fear the budgetary impact of accepting additional patients. Mr Varadkar said there was also a need for greater efficiency but Prof Normand said the vehicle set up to specifically tackle waiting lists the NTPF created no incentive to improve efficiency because hospitals can offload longest waiters onto the NTPF without doing anything to address the underlying problem in their own hospital. He said there could be a case for prioritising certain specialties to ensure that patients are treated in a timely manner the National Cancer Control Programme improved treatment times for cancer patients and, as a consequence patient outcomes improved. On the matter of resources, anyone thats asked cites the need for increased capacity. According to OECD data, the number of hospital beds dropped from 25,000 in 1995 to less than 12,700 by 2013. At 2.76 beds per 1,000 population, Ireland has fewer beds than any other European country at a time when our population is swelling and lifespans are lengthening. One of the downsides of living longer is greater propensity to developing chronic disease, which, ideally, should be managed in the community, if only primary care and community care is resourced properly. But even if we had more beds in the community and in hospitals, would we have the nurses and doctors to staff them? According to doctors, consultant posts are increasingly difficult to fill because who in their right mind wants to work in a system so dysfunctional? And are consultants themselves blameless in this waiting list crisis? Is it not the case that patient discharges are regularly delayed by the lack of senior decision-makers out-of-hours and at weekends? As for the nurses, they are blue in the face from telling the powers-that-be what needs to be done to attract and retain them. But as recently as Monday, as everyone was crying over Prime Time, talks between management and nursing unions broke down because, the nurses said, management fall far short in their proposals to address the retention crisis. Management includes the Department of Health, which signed off on an escalation policy designed to address the emotive issue of patients on trolleys. An option under the escalation process is that hospitals can cancel non-urgent scheduled surgery. When this happens, it may take patients off trolleys but it kicks them back onto waiting lists. But then, trolleys are a relentless headwreck for ministers, whereas interest in waiting lists is intermittent. And what about HSE management? Gerry Robinson, the man who fixed the NHS, told RTE that the HSE is managerially incapable of solving this [waiting list] problem. It seems as if the HSE is stuck in a cultural rut, where leaders are rewarded and promoted regardless of performance; where no individual is accountable; and where the system is always to blame. Even the man at the top finds ways of washing his hands. Back in 2015, Mr Varadkar was asked if the State was capable of running a good health service. I dont run it, he said. I offer political leadership and direction. Nice work if you can get it. Lets hope Simon Harris gets over his heartbreak to live up to the job. Business Ministry Plans to Expand Kawthaung Airport to Boost Tourism Engineers work on a plane at Rangoon International Airport, Oct. 18, 2013. / Reuters RANGOON The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism announced that it is eager to expand Kawthaung Airport, in the far south of Burma, to be the nations next international airport. Minister U Ohn Maung said his office and the Tenasserim Division government have discussed the proposed expansion of Kawthaung domestic airport, according to local media source 7 Day Daily. The minister pointed out that the Mergui Archipelagothe cluster of islands surrounding Myeikhas huge potential to attract tourists if the transportation infrastructure can be built up. If we want to develop this region, we need to expand Kawthaung Airport so that it can receive direct international flights. We have discussed this idea with the divisional government and the Ministry of Planning too, Minister U Ohn Maung said in the report. However, U Ye Htut Aung, the deputy director general for Burmas civil aviation department, told the Irrawaddy on Wednesday that his department has not been involved in discussions about expanding Kawthaung Airport. The civil aviation department would need to give its approval before the government could proceed. We still have no plan to turn Kawthaung into an international airport, said U Ye Htut Aung. Currently, there are only three airports in Burma that are permitted to receive international flights: Rangoon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw. A fourth, Hanthawaddy Airport in Bago Division, is under construction and expected to start operations in 2022. Under the previous government of U Thein Sein, the civil aviation department planned to expand more than 30 domestic airports, but that plan was never realized. The Mergui Archipelago consists of more than 800 islands spread over 10,000 square miles in the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Burmas southern Tenasserim Division. Kawthaung district is situated next to Thailands Ranong Province. Although it acts as a commercial hub for southern Burma, Kawthaungs domestic airport is in poor condition to welcome the rising number of international tourists who come to see the areas untouched sea life. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism plans to promote this region as a major tourist destination in the future. Currently, the Kawthaung district has a total hotel capacity of only 482 rooms. According to the ministrys figures, Burmas tourism industry earned US$1.8 billion in 2014, up from $254 million in 2010. Eight out of 10 Koreans want to end the requirement to install Microsoft's buggy and invasive ActiveX framework for online financial transactions. In Korea, ActiveX needs to be installed for electronic certification of online banking, a practice singled out for urgent deregulation in a meeting chaired by President Park Geun-hye last week. The big business lobby Federation of Korean Industries on Sunday said a survey of 700 people showed 78.6 percent favored scrapping the ActiveX requirement. And 88 percent of respondents said they had experienced problems due to ActiveX. They said it is a hassle to install ActiveX on their computers every time they purchase products on the Internet (79 percent of respondents), conduct online financial transactions (72 percent), sign up for websites (38 percent) or file their annual tax returns (27 percent). Yoo Hwan-ik at the FKI said, "Scrapping the ActiveX requirement could help offset Korea's international electronic commerce trade deficit." Business Ngapali Beach Hotel Found to be Operating Without a License Merciel Retreat and Resort in Arakan State. / Merciel Retreat & Resort, Ngapali / Facebook RANGOON Regional minister for finance, revenue and economics in Arakan State U Kyaw Aye Thein has confirmed that the four-star Merciel Resort and Retreat hotel on Ngapali beach has been operating for several years without an official license. The Merciel hotel is owned by a Rangoon-based businessman, U Nyo Min. According to local sources, the 42-room resort has been generating business in Ngapali for nearly four years. The hotels senior staff told The Irrawaddy that, to their knowledge, they had not obtained a business permit from the tourism ministry despite reportedly applying last year. They declined to provide further information. Manager U Kyaw Kyaw Thwin and owner U Nyo Min could not be reached for comment concerning this article. To obtain a permit from the tourism ministry, investors need to apply in line with Burmas tourism law. This requires that they provide supporting documents from local administration and proof of an agreement reached with nearby residents, as well as recommendation letters from relevant township departments and the regional minister. The final approval is then made by the Union Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Naypyidaw. According to the guidelines provided by the tourism ministry, fencing or walls that may block the sea views are not allowed. U Kyaw Aye Thein explained that although Merciel did not breach these regulations, the hotels fence does obstruct the sea view and has blocked villagers pathway to the coast. Some hotels have reached beyond the regulations and we have ordered them to demolish the walls, the minister said. Locals allegedly complained about the Merciel hotel to the state level minister for this reason, when the firm reportedly applied for a recommendation letter. Thandwe Township residents and the hotel owner are still negotiating to reach an agreement on the issue, U Kyaw Aye Thein said. When The Irrawaddy asked the minister whether the state government would file legal charges against the Merciel hotel, he said that matters concerning hotel licensing must be determined at the Union level; states only handle legal issues surrounding smaller guesthouses. In a phone interview on Wednesday with deputy director U Kaung Tun of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Naypyidaw, he said he had not received any complaints at the Union level concerning Merciel. If they complain with concrete evidence, we will take action, he said. News Burma and US Negotiate to Revive Air Service Agreement Airplanes at Rangoon International Airport. / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Burma and the United States have been negotiating to revive an air service agreement signed 68 years ago between the two countries, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Transport and Communications said on Wednesday. The first air service agreement between Burma and the United States was signed in Sept. 1949, but there is no record of flight services between the two countries, the ministrys spokesman and assistant permanent secretary U Aung Ye Tun told The Irrawaddy. In 2014, the United States proposed that Burma amend the air service agreement, U Aung Ye Tun said, highlighting that the old bilateral agreement needed to be modified in accordance with current aviation standards. After modifications, the revised agreement would allow airlines from the two countries to offer direct routes, he added. U Ne Win, a director in the ministrys department of civil aviation, told The Irrawaddy that negotiations started in August last year and aim to be finalized by the end of 2017. We have been negotiating to achieve an agreement that would provide a win-win situation, he said. Initiation of flight services between the two countries will enhance tourism, trade and cargo freight services, he commented. The United States lifted economic sanctions on Burma in October last year, which had been in place since 1996 in order to denounce the policies of the then-military government. The early 1990s had been a golden era for air freight business from Burma to the United States. When the two countries have connections in the aviation industry, there will be improvements in political, economic and social relations, transport ministry official U Ne Win said. Burma also revised bilateral air service agreements with the Netherlands and Bhutan last year. Burma More Than 100 Rapes Reported Across Burma in January A policeman locks law enforcement facilities. / The Irrawaddy RANGOON A total of 125 rape cases were reported in January across Burma, including 81 rape cases involving children, according to police records. State media reported on Wednesday that in Rangoon, there were a total of 25 rape cases, 20 of which concerned the rape of underage victims. In Irrawaddy Division, 21 rapes were reported, with 14 committed against minors. Daw Kyi Pyar, a Rangoon regional lawmaker from Kyauktada Township, said that the high number of reported rapes could be attributed to increased public awareness of sexual abuse, and better access to legal advice due to the work of rights groups and legal aid organizations. Parents need to provide awareness to their kids, and courts also should make fair decisions by respecting rules and regulations, she said, calling for offenders convicted of child rape to be sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Currently, the child rape cases are charged under Article 376 of Burmas Penal Code, which states that offenders of rape cases shall be punished with up to 20 years imprisonment or for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine. The Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Minister U Win Myat Aye said last year in November that the ministry had revised the 1993 Child Law to increase the punishment for such offenses against minors. The Child Law did not previously mention offenses or punishment regarding sexual abuse cases, the minister pointed out. In the recent revision we added a set punishment for child rape cases of 10 to 20 years, along with a fine, U Win Myat Aye told The Irrawaddy. A total of 1,100 rape cases were reported to authorities across Burma in 2016, with 671 of those crimes committed against minors. Burma Arakan and Chin Groups Frustrated by State Counselors Decision Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee meeting in Naypyidaw, Feb. 6, 2017. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Ethnic armed groups from Arakan and Chin states are unhappy with a decision from State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who says the government will not approve national-level peace conferences in their respective states, according to leaders from the two ethnic groups. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attended a meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) on Monday in Naypyidaw and she told attendees they were out of time to hold national-level dialogue in Arakan and Chin states. Instead, she said the Union government was focused on organizing the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference slated for Feb. 28. Leaders of the Chin National Front (CNF) and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)both of whom have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA)said the State Counselor was discriminating against them. They pointed to the fact that other ethnic armed groups such as the Karen National Union (KNU) were allowed to hold national-level meetings in January. I feel like the government is discriminating against us. My party members feel the same way, and my ethnic people feel it too, said ALP vice chairwoman Saw Mra Razar Lin. As a mother, I know that a mother should not take sides among her children. She [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] has to treat all of her children equally. So we feel very sad to hear this decision from her, she said. We are ready to form a committee that could organize and hold the meeting, said Saw Mra Razar Lin. Our ethnic political party and civil society organizations are ready to work together on this. Why is the government saying that were not ready? CNF leaders expressed similar feelings about the State Counselors statement. CNF leaders said they have already met with the Chin State government on Feb. 1, and the two sides discussed how they could work together to carry out a national-level peace meeting. We were ready to hold the meeting, but then they [the government] tell us today that we are not ready to do it, said CNF vice chairman Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong. We responded that we are already prepared. Were ready to start, the CNF vice chairman said. So we are not happy about this decision. The CNF party has tried really hard. We signed the NCA despite many difficulties. And we worked closely with the government peace commission to reach our goal successfully. CNF and ALP leaders said that when they signed the NCA, it was agreed that the Union peace talks could start only after all the ethnic groups had completed their national-level meetings. Based on this agreement, the CNF formed a committee to organize national-level peace talks within Chin State. The party has already consulted with the government, political groups, and CSOs. Government officials have pointed out that the conflict situation in Arakan State remains unstable. However, the Chin region is stable, and there is presently no fighting taking place between the CNF and the Burma Army. So there is no reason why we cant hold the meeting in our region, said Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong. The State Counselor said her government would allow the two armed groups to hold national-level meetings later, but that there was not adequate time in February. CNF and ALP leaders expressed frustration with the decision. They said they would have a hard time making major political decisions at the Panglong conference when their national preparations are incomplete. We can only make important political decisions based on the ideas that we work out at the national-level ethnic meetings, said Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong. Without these meetings, how will we make decisions? The national level peace talks are very important for the ethnic groups, said Saw Mra Razar Lin. We get our political ideas from the national-level talks. This is what we agreed to when we signed the NCA. The CNF remains unsure if it will attend the Panglong Peace Conference slated for Feb. 28, according to Dr. Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong. He said the CNF central committee would make the final decision. If we attend this second Panglong, we cannot say that we are representing all Rakhine people, said Saw Mra Razar Lin. Even if we do attend the conference, this will be to represent our party, but not all our ethnic people. UPDJC general secretary Sai Kyaw Nyunt agreed that all of the ethnic groups should be granted equal rights. The government should not say that a certain state is not ready for national talks, he said. The Karen were allowed to do it, but why not the other ethnic groups? All people should be treated equally because they all signed the NCA. Burma Burma Navy Opens Fire on Illegal Fishing Trawlers, Killing One Map showing the area where the State Counselors Office said Bangladeshi trawlers fished illegally. / State Counselors Office Information Committee RANGOON The Burma Navy opened fired on illegal fishing trawlers that trespassed on Burmas territorial waters in Arakan States Naf River, which separates Burma and Bangladesh, on Monday, according to the State Counselors Office. The Navy vessel on patrol sent a motorboat after it spotted eight fishing trawlers between Maungdaw Townships Kanyin and Nyaung creeks. Two shots were fired when the trawlers aggressively approached the motorboat, said U Tin Maung Swe, secretary of the Arakan State government. We are taking actions transparently in line with the law. We have to shoot and arrest as necessary if somebody trespasses on our territory, U Tin Maung Swe told The Irrawaddy. Burma authorities sent a letter to Bangladeshi authorities on Monday, calling on the Bangladeshi border guard force to prevent illegal fishing trawlers from entering Burmas territory, and condemning the trespassing. State-run newspapers reported on Wednesday that Bangladeshi authorities said that one person was killed and two others were injured in the shooting. U Zaw Htay, deputy director general of the Presidents Office, told The Irrawaddy, We will respond in line with the law if Bangladesh complains. But, they have not complained yet. Burma Certificates of Identity to be Issued to Migrant Workers in Thailand Human Rights and Development Foundation workshop on Certificate of Identity awareness, held in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand on February 8, 2017. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy CHIANG MAI, Thailand The issuance of the certificate of identity (CI)a document for Burmese migrants proving that they are Burmese citizenswill start this month and be provided at six different service centers in Thailand. U San Yu Kyaw, the Consul from the Burmese Consulate in Chiang Mai said the CI service centers would open soon in Mae Saion the Thai-Shan State borderfor migrants resides in northern Thailand, as well as in Tak Provinces Mae Sot, and the provinces of Ranong and Samut Sakhon. There will also be two centers in Mahachai, outside of Bangkok. Aiming to spread knowledge of the procedures of issuing CIs to migrants who do not have legal documents, Thai and Burmese officials joined the workshop organized by Thailands Human Rights and Development Foundation on Wednesday in Chiang Mai. U San Yu Kyaw said that Thai employment and immigration officials, lawyers, and Burmese consulate representatives and migrant workers discussed cooperation in addressing the various problems faced by Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. Migrants spoke of their difficulties in the workshop, including the inconveniences of reporting every 90-days to the immigration office, being exploited by agents regarding documentation, and problems concerning wages. Over 160 participants, mostly the Burmese migrants working in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas, joined the session, describing mixed levels of understanding of documentation policies in Thailand, which have changed in recent years. Many migrant workers whom we met during our field research have very little knowledge about obtaining a passport and legal documents, said Sugarnta Sookpaita, a migrant worker adviser from the Human Rights and Development Foundation, on why the workshop was organized; obtaining a CI is seen as a step toward getting a Burmese passport. Ma Lin, a seamstress who has been working in Chiang Mai for eleven years, said she found the information from the event helpful, as she wanted to know the correct procedure to undertake before the expiry of her own passport. The governments of Thailand and Burma are still in negotiations regarding how to proceed with migrant workers whose legal documentation will expire while they are working in Thailand; it has been unclear which document holders could apply for a CI. U Soe Shwe Khin, an elderly migrant living in Chiang Mai, said he understands that migrants holding the purple migrant passport would have to apply for standard Burmese passports at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok. However, questions remain about how to transfer visas between identity documents. The Burmese Consul could not say anything about the process of moving existing visas to the new passports, as it is under the Thai immigration authority, U Soe Shwe Khin said. Sugarnta Sookpaita said they expect more support from both Thai and Burmese government officials tasked with labor issues, particularly on awareness raising and on the clarification of policies. She said that the current practice of publishing policy updates on Thai government websites was not enough. It should also be shared widely among the migrant community in the languages the migrants use, Ms. Sookpaita explained. She urged the Burmese government to issue legal passports at service centers in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, so as to save migrant workers the time and money required to go to Bangkok. Burma Kachin, Mon Oppose Statues of General Aung San The plinth for General Aung San Statue in downtown Myitkyina. / KPCC RANGOON Locals in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and Mon States Mudon Township have raised objections to planned statues of Burmas independence hero Gen Aung San in the two locations. Construction has already begun on plinths for the statues in the town centers of Myitkyina and Mudon but civil society groups complained that they cannot accept the statues while there is ongoing conflict in Kachin State and the federalism and equality pledged by Gen Aung San in the Panglong Agreement of 1947 remains unfulfilled. The Kachin Political Cooperation Committee (KPCC)a four-member committee of Kachin political parties comprising the Kachin Democratic Party, the Kachin State Democracy Party, the Lhaovo National Unity and Development Party, and the Kachin National Congressfiled a complaint to the Kachin State chief minister on Monday. What our Kachin people want [the government] to do as a priority is peace, said KPCC spokesperson Jaw Naw Seng. We are seriously in need of peace and federalismwhich were the pledges of the General. According to the KPCC, the 15-foot plinth sits in an area of 300 square feet and the statue itself is being constructed at a local monastery. The KPCC is still investigating whether there are plans to install the statue as part of the Union Day celebrations arranged by the Union or state government or the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Gen Aung San and ethnic leaders signed the Panglong Agreement in Shan State exactly 70 years ago on Feb. 12 and pledged to regain Burmas independence from Britain together. Since then, Union Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 12. The statue was started just a week ago, we have learned it will be finished ahead of Union Day, said Lum Dau, a spokesperson of the KPPC. We are finding out who did it. So far, we have only met the workers at the construction site, he added. Gam Ja, a Myitkyina resident, also spoke against the statue and lamented the plight of Kachin people who have suffered from armed clashes over the past years. In Mon State, the Mon Young Monk Solidarity Organization and Mudon Townships Mon Youth Association issued statements against a statue to be placed in Mudon at the conclusion of the Mon Youth Forum on Feb. 1. The Mudon Township Youth Association in a complaint to the chief minister of Mon State said the statue should be erected only after the federal Uniona pledge of Gen Aung Sanwas established. The Irrawaddy was not able to obtain comments from the chief ministers of Kachin and Mon states. But U Nyan Win, an NLD spokesperson, told The Irrawaddy that he had no idea about the statue and therefore had no comment. Lawmaker U Saw Tun, who represents Mudon Township in the Lower House, said that he was attending Parliament and had no knowledge of the statue. But he said that the NLD does have a committee to construct statues of the late general. Currently, tensions run high in Kachin State with increasing number of people displaced by ongoing clashes between the Burma Army and Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Kachin communities and political parties have criticized the NLD government for keeping silent as the number of displaced persons increases, despite the governments hosting of the 21st Century Panglong peace conference in August last year and the next stage of the conference taking place later this month. Meanwhile, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has fallen out with the Mon State security and border affairs minister after the minister turned down the NMSPs application to conduct an armed parade at the Three Pagoda Pass on Mon National Day, which also falls on Feb. 12. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Commentary Burma Must Heal Past Wounds to Find Peace IDPs from Zai Awng camp tried to cross the Chinese border. / Joint Strategy Team In her closing speech at the 21st Century Panglong peace conference, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged those assembled not to dwell on the past but to look to the future with courage. Unfortunately, that future is looking increasingly bleak. A report published today by ND-Burma found that 2016 saw a dramatic increase in the number of human rights violations recorded by civil society organizations. A total of 154 violations were documented in 2016, compared to 84 in 2015. It seems that under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, the number of human rights violations recorded has almost doubled. The spike can largely be blamed on the escalation of conflict between the military and ethnic armed groups in Kachin and northern Shan states most of the violations recorded are in some way related to the conflict. ND-Burma does not currently document in Arakan state, so the abuses carried out in the region are not included in the total. In actuality, the challenges of documenting human rights abusesespecially in conflict areasmean that the true number of violations is much higher. This report is only a snapshot of the ongoing atrocities in the country. The most common violation recorded was torture, with 67 instances documented in 2016, compared with 26 in 2015. This includes the case of a 51-year-old Kachin assistant pastor who was taken from his home by Burma Army soldiers. The soldiers reportedly accused him of having connections with the Kachin Independence Army, told him that he was a dead man and tortured him for three days. He was only released when colleagues came to the soldiers compound to confirm that he did not work for the KIA and to plead for his release. During an interview he said, I do not want this kind of thing to happen to other people in the future and I want peace. I want the government to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again. Throughout 14 years of documenting human rights abuses, victims repeatedly asked for assurances that these crimes would not happen again. However, the countrys culture of impunity has led to ongoing, and at times escalating, human rights violations. As the International Center for Justice (ICTJ) has pointed out, human rights violations are not only effects but also drivers of conflict, creating a depressing cycle of violence that Burma seems unable to escape. Blanket denials from the accused perpetrators further destroy trust between warring parties and civilians and make peace impossible. Ongoing violations also contribute to mass displacement, as civilians flee their homes rather than risk torture, rape or death. We do not know whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyis refusal to discuss past abuses is a reflection of deeply held beliefs or the result of an agreement with the generals, who fear criminal tribunals and retribution. As recently as 2013, at an event commemorating the 88 uprising, the Nobel laureate had counseled those assembled to not forget the past [as] we must learn from history. However, it is a common misconception that redress must come in the form of criminal justice. In interviews with victims, many ask for nothing more than acknowledgment of the abuses they have suffered. As long as the government denies the crimes committed by its forces, the victims who largely come from the ethnic nationalities cannot trust that the violations will not recur. Many former political prisoners want nothing more than recognition of their contribution to the democratization process. A good example of this can be seen in the 8888 Memorialization Hall, which opened in 2015 and honors those who stood up against the military in the 88 student uprising. Such monuments signal that the country is ready to learn from history, and that leaders are striving to build a better future free from suppression and human rights abuses. Other victims have more immediate needs and require some material assistance, often relatively modest. Disabled torture victims may require livelihood assistance or access to medical care. Former political prisoners who were unable to complete their education as a result of incarceration should be awarded their university diplomas and children who have missed significant stretches of school due to displacement should have their time in non-formal education recognized. Such actions would allow Burma to begin to deal with its bloody past without endangering stability, which is currently dissolving as conflict intensifies across the country. The ICTJ has noted that there is a risk of victims positions becoming more extreme if the government refuses to engage with their current demands. This can be seen in land confiscation cases in which demands take the form of protests, sit-ins and even self-immolations if initial demands are ignored. This year opened with the publication of a dispiriting report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, which stated there is still a long way to go to achieve a society where individuals are free to share what has happened to them, to speak their mind, and to live peacefully without fear. As long as Burma tries to bury its past, such a future is impossible. Veronica Collins is ND-Burmas Advocacy Manager Inside the van, battle raged: No way man, I said. Dean Leslie looked at me hard. Come on. We need this. No. Im not asking that. Trust me, itll be worth it. This is ridiculous. This is an important shot. Youll be glad. Theyre already doing us a favor. We have to ask them to stop and do us another? Im sorry man, but this is part of filming. [Heavy sigh] We need this. [Heavy sigh] Please. Okay. We were driving from Argentina to Chile. Deanthe director of the film we were there to makeand I were arguing in English while Jared Paisley, the cameraman, watched quietly. We were coming from the town of Esquel, where we had unexpectedly made a lot of friends, and three of our new friendsTreca, Jorge, and Ceciliahad gone so far as to volunteer to drive us across the border to our next destination. For the last three days, the people of Esquel had taken us in, included us in their group runs, shown us their mountains, made a barbecue for us, and generally treated us like family. When we left for Chile they insisted on taking us across the border to save us the hassle of doing it via bus, even though the drive was more than two hours each way. We accepted gratefully. In my eyes, thats quite enough to ask of anyone. My primary goals on the van ride were to chat with everyone, smile a lot, and look at the scenery. But Deans main goal was to make a film, and I kept forgetting that my real main goal was to do whatever Dean wanted. And in this case, since Dean didnt speak Spanish, my tasks were expanded to include explaining what he wanted to any non-English-speaking people in the vicinity. In this case, Dean asked me to ask them (in Spanish) if we could let Dean and Jared out to get some aerial shots of the van driving. This involved stopping the van, letting the guys out, waiting for them to set the drone up, and then driving back and forth along the road for a while. This seemed an absurd favor to ask of anyone and I hated asking them to go even farther out of their ways for us. But the movie was the whole point of being there. So I had no choice. I turned to Treca and spoke in Spanish. Hey Treca. Can I we to film with the drone over the van? (By the way, my Spanish is still um developing.) Treca looked at me with a blank expression. I tried again, Can they use the drone to film the van? Oh! While we drive? He said something in rapid Spanish to Jorge, who looked at me with an exasperated expression. Right now? asked Jorge, and I melted, feeling awful to have to ask this of him, embarrassed that he was responding exactly as I feared he would. I didnt say anything. But his face quickly relaxed. Of course we can. So we stopped and let Dean and Jared out. For the next 15 minutes I sat in the van while Jorge drove us back and forth while the drone hovered above. And despite my embarrassment I couldnt help but recognize that this actually was a really great place to get a shot. We were entering the mountains from the Argentinian steppe, where the treeless desert buckles dramatically into enormous glacier-carved mountains, sometimes with the glaciers still attached. On the Chilean side the mountains drop just as steeply into the ocean, and the pass where we were headed was the only low spot through the mountains for over 100 miles in any direction. I hated to admit it, but Dean knew what he was doing. This was one of my lessons in what it takes to make a good film. Cameras naturally attract attention, and in order to use them well you need to insert yourself actively into the world around you. This involves a level of confidence and even bravado that I dont naturally possess. This is why people like Rickey Gates are good on film: Rickey doesnt give a shit about what people think of him and he wants to talk to everyone, and the results of this combination are usually hilarious. But I am different. When faced with a camera Im like a middle-school production of ShakespeareIm self-conscious and dont have any idea what Im doing or saying. Thats why Im a writer. See right here? This article where Im speaking in strong declarative sentences with a forceful persona? Im great at being cool and funny when I can think really hard about it in a room alone. But in front of a camera, in a foreign country, with the hopes and marketing dreams of Salomon weighing me down? No way man. Im a mess. But we were there nevertheless, with cameras in tow. And fortunately, I wasnt the only subject of the film. The landscape had equal billing and it delivered with the kind of dramatic flair that I could only dream of. It turns out that all those ads and pictures youve seen of Patagonia arent lying; that place is unbelievable. It ticks all the boxes: the mountains are enormous, the rivers are huge, the wind is a bitch and the locals live in small farm towns carved out of a precarious wilderness. This is all going to be in the film, as well as the active development that is almost certainly a direct result of people like us going there. There is a very interesting dynamic between the different people who live and travel in Patagonia, and their subsequent dynamics with the landscape, which is a powerful force on the lives of the people who spend time there. Simply being there brings up a lot of thoughts and questions, not all of them comfortable. I was highly conscious of the visibility that our film would bring to that place, and I still cant tell where well land on the spectrum between good and bad. But that was the whole point: we wanted to struggle because struggle makes for a good story. But was there any real catharsis? Thats a harder question to answer. Only this. The farthest south we went was a town called Cochrane. It is in Chile, but on the east side of the mountains, which means its in a rain shadow and much drier than areas even 50 miles west. Cochrane is cradled by several great rivers that come from the Northern Patagonia Ice Sheet and flow across the Patagonian steppe into the south Atlantic Ocean. These rivers have been the focus of several highly-visible environmental battles over the last two decades as energy companies have attempted to dam them for their hydropower. The locals (and many non-locals, most notably the Americans Doug and Kris Tompkins) fought fiercely and managed to secure several landmark victories, to the extent that the phrase Sin Represas now resonates powerfully in the conservation world. Cochrane is also adjacent to the Patagonia National Park, which was created largely through land donations from the Tompkinss. In short, the area thrums with a strong environmental current, or at least I thought it did from the reading I had done. But I didnt know if that was true or if it was simply the rhetoric of American media and advertising. You cant get the feel for a place without talking to the people, but we didnt know anyone in Cochrane and didnt know where to start. Having missed sleep while filming running sequences over the past few days, we were tired and unmotivated. We sat in a coffee shop and drank lattes while a light rain fell outside. I looked at a map of the area on the wall, marked with the boundaries of the new national park, and then picked up a book with the title SIN REPRESAS stamped across the cover. Inside I read of the fight to prevent the Hidroaysen project from putting in five dams on the Baker and Pascua rivers, and of the efforts to the build the national park and revert it from sheep farms back to a semblance of true wilderness. Since Im a hippie, this struck a powerful chord in me. I pointed this out to Dean and Jared. The proprietor of the shop was Gabriel, a short, dark-skinned man with a wrinkled, smiling face. He saw me indicating a picture and asked me in Spanish if we had been to the national park yet. No we did not, I responded. Is nice? You must go, he said. It is incredible. He paused, then continued. You are Americans? he asked. I am America, I replied, then indicated Dean and Jared. They are from South African. Where from you are? He smiled proudly. I am from here! then he grinned and looked a little sheepish. Okay, I grew up in Santiago, but I have lived here for 45 years. Forty-five years! I exclaimed. Yes, he said proudly. How old do you think I am? Ummm I didnt know what to say, so I went with a terrible joke. 25? He looked stern. No. Truly. Okay. Sorry. I looked at him hard. 60? I am 74 years old, he said proudly. Seventy-four years old, I repeated. You dont look so young! Old. You dont look old. Oh damn But he was laughing. So I changed the subject. Do you like the Sin Represas? His eyes narrowed in confusion. I tried again, Sin Represas. Is it good? Oh! he exclaimed. My son was a representative for the fight. He went to Rome to speak for us. He continued speaking, growing ever more emotional, but I lost the thread of his words and couldnt follow him. But I could tell, and looking at Dean and Jared I knew they could tell too, that this guy was telling us about what the areas conservation meant to him. Even though we couldnt understand him well, he was clearly offering an emotional connection to the people of the area. I couldnt believe our luck. When he stopped speaking I nodded meaningfully as if I had understood. Then I asked him a question. We are making a film, I explained. Would you mind if we interviewed you? He agreed, and since the shop was quiet he let us do it right in the main room. He appeared to be embarrassed to receive so much attention and repeatedly told us that we would do better to wait for his son. But we didnt have time, and besides, we wanted his perspective. I asked him questions and listened closely to words I didnt understand while he explained all about the landscape and the people in it. He told us a lot of things we only learned later, after having the interview translated. But we still formed a connection with him. Beyond words, beyond particulars. There was a current of human energy that linked us. We soon left, and that was the last time well ever see him. He was one guy, and we only understood him partially. We were three foreigners spending too little time in a huge place. The trip was a patchwork; it was assembling a puzzle from too-few pieces. But there a picture worth seeing even partially, even self-consciously, even intrusively. And he offered to help us see it. So we tried. [Editors Note: Salomon Running has now released its film, Into Patagonia, about which this article is written.] Call for Comments (from Meghan) Do you ever have mixed feelings about traveling to places you cant fully understand? And how about trying to tell stories of those places through photos, writing, and sharing your experiences with people who are not there? Are you okay with accepting that youre not always going to capture the full story? What helps you better understand the new places you visit? Extra time spent in a place? Meeting people? Learning about the places natural and cultural history? Monday's votes were on the issues of parliamentary scrutiny of the withdrawal process and the involvement of Britain's devolved administrations. Further votes, on which the government could face greater opposition, are due to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. During seven hours of debate, lawmakers voted against a series of attempts by pro-EU lawmakers to attach extra conditions to May's plan to begin divorce talks by March 31. British lawmakers on Monday rejected the first set of proposed amendments to legislation that would give Prime Minister Theresa May the right to notify the European Union of Britain's intention to leave the bloc. Earlier on Monday, May warned lawmakers not to obstruct the will of the British people with amendments to her Brexit legislation, saying she wanted to get on with divorce talks with the EU. "Our European partners now want to get on with the negotiations, so do I, and so does this house," May told parliament before the debate began. "The message is clear to all, this house has spoken and now is not the time to obstruct the democratically expressed wishes of the British people. It is time to get on with leaving the European Union." May has said she expects to win approval from lawmakers in time to stick to her end of the March deadline for triggering Britain's exit from the EU. On Tuesday lawmakers will continue their scrutiny of the legislation, debating amendments on the final terms of Britain's withdrawal from the EU as well as those calling for the publication of assessments on the impact of Brexit. The bill is expected to complete its passage through the lower House of Commons on Wednesday. It will then be passed to the upper House of Lords. An attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota, who are suing to stop the ban, likely will argue it is unconstitutional because it discriminates against Muslims. They called it "ill-conceived, poorly implemented and ill-explained." A lawyer from the Justice Department is arguing against the judge's order. He is expected to tell the three-judge panel that the president's executive order was the "lawful exercise" of his authority to protect the country, and that the judge's decision to put it on hold was "over-broad." Oral arguments are being made by telephone to judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals in California, and the hearing is being livestreamed on the internet via YouTube. A U.S. appeals court in San Francisco has begun hearing oral arguments on whether a federal judge had the legal grounds to put a hold on President Donald Trump's controversial ban on immigration from seven Muslim majority countries. Attorneys general in 15 other states have filed briefs in support of Washington and Minnesota. The American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 100 corporations, and a group of Democrats that includes former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Madeleine Albright, also filed briefs. No decision is expected Tuesday and all sides expect the case to wind up before the Supreme Court. U.S. District Court Judge James Robart's decision Friday suspending Trump's executive order has the president fuming. "I actually can't believe that we're having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation," Trump said Tuesday. He earlier tweeted that Robart is a "so-called judge" and that the American people should blame him and the court system if "something happens." Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly defended the ban. He took responsibility for its unwieldy rollout and mass confusion over who was covered by the ban and who should be allowed to enter the U.S. He told the House Homeland Security Committee there was a lack of communication with Congress and that the travel ban should have been delayed "just a bit." But he defended it against Democratic critics who call it a ban on Muslims, saying the terror risk, not religion, was the key factor in the president's order. "It's not being done because they're Muslim countries," Kelly testified. "It's being done because we don't trust their vetting or their information." Kelly characterized the ban as a needed pause in immigration from countries where conditions on the ground prevented the U.S. from adequately vetting applicants. The new Homeland Security secretary told members of Congress that while he respects the decisions of the judicial branch, he approaches the issue of border security from a different perspective. "In their courtrooms they're protected by people like me. So they can have those discussions and if something bad happens from letting people in, they don't come to the judge and ask about his ruling, they come to people like me." If the case eventually goes to the Supreme Court, the nation's highest judicial body, one analyst told VOA there are rulings from the past that could support Trump's policy. New York-based attorney Dan McLaughlin, told VOA Persian's New Horizon show "The Supreme Court has held for a long time that Congress has nearly unlimited authority in deciding who can enter the country -- an authority that includes excluding people from particular countries, as it did with Chinese immigration in the 1880s." McLaughlin said, "Because the president is relying on an authority delegated to him by Congress, he has a broad authority to act on immigration within the law, whether you think his policy is wise or not." But he added that Trump's prominent advocacy of a U.S. ban on all immigration by Muslims could come back to weaken his case before the Supreme Court. "There's no question that the president has a legacy of comments that are going to make it more difficult for him to defend [his executive order on immigration in court and the public," McLaughlin said. Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 (8:33 am) - Score 3,100 After years of waiting the Southwark Crown Court has found four men guilty of a 160 million financing fraud, which is a case that began in 2010/11 (here) after the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened an investigation into one of the UKs early pioneers of alternative fibre optic broadband networks. The story began in 2010 after the SFO opened a misconduct investigation into Total Asset Finance (TAF), which was the main source of funding for H2O Networks. At the time H2O was still part of the defunct i3 Group and they had been busy trying to roll-out ultrafast FTTP/H broadband networks across several UK cities, such as Bournemouth and Dundee, albeit with limited success (contractor disputes, shoddy street works etc.). However TAF ended up going out of business while owing Belgian bank KBC more than 133 million and this prompted the bank to launch an investigation into the contracts held between TAF and H2O. Unsurprisingly the situation resulted in the demise of H2O / i3 and their assets were later picked up by Cityfibre (controlled by Greg Mesch, i3s former President and COO). Fast forward to today and the courts have finally found four people guilty of conspiracy to make corrupt payments and conspiracy to commit fraud against two business lenders (Barclays Bank and KBC Lease (UK) Limited) in order to obtain almost 160 million between 2007 and 2010. The individuals first appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on 9th January 2015 and the trial began on 5th September 2016 at Southwark Crown Court. Director of the SFO, David Green CB QC, said: This was a carefully planned, complex and lucrative fraud which ran over three years. It took a determined investigation to ensure that those responsible for it were brought to justice. We will now turn our attention to securing confiscation of criminal assets from those convicted. Both Stephen Dartnell and George Alexander of TAF, as well as Carl Cumiskey of H2O and Simon Mundy who worked for KBC were found guilty. The jury was told that there was no dispute that fraud on a massive scale had occurred, but the defendants denied involvement and, in the main, blamed each other. However Kerry Lloyd of TAF and Elfed Thomas of H2O were both acquitted. The court heard that Dartnell, Alexander and Cumiskey had conspired to create, sign and sell falsely inflated or entirely false contracts from the company H2O to business lenders, Barclays Bank and KBC. Meanwhile Mundy was paid nearly 900,000 as an inside man at KBC by Dartnell to approve the funding provided by KBC to TAF. H2O supplied fibre optic infrastructure, with one of their unique selling points being to use sewers as channels for their cables. H2O targeted public institutions such as local authorities, universities, colleges and the NHS with long-term payment contracts. The Verdicts George Alexander Guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, Stephen Dartnell Guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, One count of conspiracy to give corrupt payments, Kerry Lloyd Not guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, Not guilty on one count of conspiracy to give corrupt payments, Simon Mundy Guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and one count of conspiracy to give corrupt payments Carl Cumiskey Guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud majority 10-2 on both counts. Elfed Thomas Not guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit fraud A sentencing hearing is due to take place this Friday (10th Feb) at 10am at Southwark Crown Court. UPDATE 13th Feb 2017 The four men have now been sentenced to a total of 44 years in jail (here). Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 (12:10 pm) - Score 1,564 The UK telecoms regulator has today posted an update on their quest to identify the best radio spectrum bands for use with future 5G based Mobile Broadband technology, which alongside the EU appears to have short-listed 700MHz, 3.4-3.8GHz and the higher frequency 24.25-27.5GHz (26GHz band). A number of experimental 5G demonstrations have already been conducted with bands from 800MHz and all the way up to 73GHz, although we note that most have tended to harness either spectrum in the 3GHz band or 28GHz. Meanwhile we note that Ofcom is already in the process of releasing spectrum in the 3.4-3.8GHz bands (here) and 700MHz (here) for mobile communications. Most recently the regulator has also given its full support to the Radio Spectrum Policy Groups (RSPG) identification of 26GHz as a pioneer band for 5G in Europe. We have started a programme of work to look at how the 26 GHz band can be made available for 5G in the UK, taking into account existing users and their requirements, and intend to publish a consultation on this shortly, said todays update. Ofcoms 5G Update Statement Ofcom is playing a leading role internationally in the identification of spectrum bands for 5G having acknowledged the need for different spectrum bands with different characteristics to meet the requirements of future 5G services and networks. We have worked closely with other European spectrum regulators to identify bands that have the potential to be globally harmonised through our work in both the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG)1 and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT).2 This has resulted in the identification of three bands to enable 5G in Europe: Low bandwidth spectrum at 700 MHz; 3.4-3.8 GHz, which has the potential to allow wider bandwidths; and 24.25-27.5 GHz (the 26 GHz band), for ultra-dense very high capacity networks The rationale behind all this is that the 700MHz band is likely to prove useful for cheaply delivering wide 5G coverage in rural areas, albeit at much slower speeds. Meanwhile the very high frequencies above 24GHz (e.g. millimetre Wave) will support very large bandwidths, providing ultra-high capacity and very low latency, although their limited range will confine their use to areas of high demand (i.e. cities). On the subject of 26GHz, Ofcom intends to launch a consultation on this band during the first half of 2017. At present the band is used by around 3,000 fixed links (24.25-26.5GHz) and meanwhile the Ministry of Defence (MOD) make use of 26.5-27.5 GHz, although the MOD has confirmed that there is scope for 5G to be deployed in this band in the UK. We should point out that various other bands are still being studied for use with 5G services including 4.25-27.5 GHz, 31.8-33.4 GHz, 37-40.5 GHz, 40.5-42.5 GHz, 42.5-43.5 GHz, 45.5-47 GHz, 47-47.2 GHz, 47.2-50.2 GHz, 50.4-52.6 GHz, 66-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz. However a final decision on all of those might not be taken until the World Radiocommunications Conference 2019. Meanwhile Ofcom expects the first wave of commercial products to be available in the UK market sometime in 2020, with initial pre-commercial deployments being expected to start from 2018. Some other countries could start their pre-commercial deployments this year, although that is risky because the final specification and standards wont be set in stone until 2018. Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 (1:06 am) - Score 739 The latest Telecoms Market Data Tables from Ofcom have confirmed that the United Kingdom is home to a total of 25,087,000 fixed home and small business broadband lines (up by +229K in Q3 vs +206K in Q2 2016), with nearly half (44.32%) being Next Generation Access (NGA) services. Once again the results reveal an on-going trend of older and slower copper ADSL / ADSL2+ broadband lines being swapped for faster NGA connections. Cable (DOCSIS) based lines, such as those supplied by Virgin Media, now make up 19.44% of the total and fibre (FTTC/P/H/B) based connections hold 24.89% (most of these come from Openreachs FTTC / VDSL2 technology). Meanwhile BTs Consumer / Retail division has started to lose a tiny bit of its market share, although its too early to say whether this will become an on-going trend. Rival ISPs tend to pick up a little under half of Openreachs new quarterly FTTC/P additions, with BT Retail grabbing the rest (example). However the expansion of Virgin Medias cable network and the growth of altnet FTTP/H providers will also be playing their part in the market balance. The update also reveals that the total number of fixed phone / exchange lines (including PSTN and ISDN channels) is now 33.6 million, which reflects 26,359,000 residential lines (up from 26,262,000 in Q2) and 7,226,000 business lines (down from 7,357,000 in Q2). In both markets BT lost the most lines, with Virgin Media and other ISPs tending to pick-up their connections in the residential market. Meanwhile business lines suffered a general decline across the board, with Virgin Media being the only one to hold level. Elsewhere total UK fixed line voice retail revenues were 2.1bn in Q3 2016, which is in line with the previous quarter and a 41m (2.0%) increase compared to Q3 2015. BTs share of these revenues was 44.9%, which is 0.9% points higher than it had been a year previously. Access revenues accounted for 74.7% of the total retail fixed voice revenue in Q3 2016, a 3.1% point increase compared to Q3 2015. Finally, on the Mobile telecoms front, the UK is home to 83.74 million mobile subscriptions and thats up from 83.57m in Q2. Mobile telephony services also generated 3.9bn in retail revenues during Q3 2016, which is up by 72m (1.9%) in the quarter and a 47m (1.2%) increase compared to Q3 2015. The total number of outgoing SMS and MMS messages was 24.1 billion in Q3 2016, in line with the previous quarter but down 1.0 billion messages (4.2%) compared to Q3 2015. The CEO of City Fibre Holdings, Greg Mesch, said: "City Fibre Holdings and its management team are not the subject of any investigation. The company is focussed entirely on reorganising the companies and the financial structures that it has inherited. This critical restructuring of these newly purchased businesses will ensure that they can continue to be leaders in fibre-based next generation access networks." The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has opened a misconduct investigation into(TAF). Until recently TAF had been the principal funder of, which at the time (Q3-2010) was still part of the i3 Group ( Fibrecity ), with relatedattached.According to TheBusinessDesk , this cash was being used by Fibrecity and H2O to fund the rollout of its super-fast 100Mbps( FTTH ) broadband ISP services in two UK cities,andSadly the above project suddenly and controversially ground to a halt ( most recent status update ) at around the same time as Belgian bank, which is owed 133m by TAF, launched an investigation into the contracts held between TAF and H20.Soon after that (October 2010) the administrator successfully obtained an injunction to(24m) of TAF and its Director, Steve Dartnell. Dartnell had also been a Non-Executive Director of the i3 Group until November 2010 (Companies House records) when he resigned. However Dartnell himself claims that he actually resigned in June 2010.The(shares), which include its tempestuous Fibrecity project, H2O Networks, Opencity Media and Wireless Network Systems. The buyer,, is a consortium led by Greg Mesch, i3's own former President and COO.At the time (25th January 2011) City Fibre Holdings' signalled ( here ) that its new strategy would be revealed over the coming weeks. Many hoped that this would bring some good news for concerned Councillors' in both Bournemouth and Dundee. We're still waiting.The administrators investigating TAF's collapse are currently looking at the conduct of its directors and related transactions. They're apparently also talking with City Fibre Holdings aboutowed to TAF, albeit allegedly not as part of the primary investigation.As it stands the Fibrecity website is today suffering problems and there has been no further update on the fibre rollout since last month. Indeed, given the current problems, it's unclear where City Fibre Holdings could find enough cash to continue. That doesn't bode well for the unfinished work in Bournemouth and Dundee. Credits to Thinkbroadband for spotting this. Terre Haute, IN (47809) Today Clear skies. Low 43F. SSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 43F. SSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. In case you havent noticed, chatbots are becoming increasingly prevalent in the digital universe. From help desks to home automation, people from all walks of life are conversing with computer systems rather than typing, texting or clicking. And with the latest advances in speech recognition and simulation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between a bot and a real person. This has enormous implications for the enterprise. Functions ranging from infrastructure provisioning and deployment to social collaboration and workflow management will likely change radically through conversational user interfaces, to the point where the enterprise itself becomes a living member of the team. According to Infiniti Research, the market for chatbots is set to grow more than 37 percent per year until 2021. This will be driven largely by social media platforms, which are quickly evolving from their initial application as a personal communication and information-sharing portal to an advanced ecosystem for marketing and brand engagement. With close to 2 billion active social media users around the world, the opportunity for chatbots to enable leading customer relations management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms to maintain personal contact with large numbers of users at once is significant. But it doesnt stop there. Developers like Aspect Software are bringing chatbots to popular enterprise collaboration platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. The companys Aspect Mila is a personal assistant that takes on day-to-day administrative tasks like scheduling and file management. The system provides a highly conversational interface that enables even non-technical employees to make requests or otherwise engage with digital platforms using simple, spoken queries and commands. Mila is also available as an SMS or an IVR application, although deployment within a broader collaboration tool provides for much more thorough integration into legacy enterprise platforms. Of course, collaborating with colleagues is one thing, but managing infrastructure is another. How long will it be before IT, or anyone else, can simply provision resources just by asking? Not long, apparently. Storage management firm Tintri is working on a chatbot module for its enterprise platform, providing an Alexa-like front end that is tied to the companys web services API. As the UK Registers Chris Mellor notes, this will give knowledge workers the ability to issue requests for storage and other services from virtually anywhere. Chatbots are expected to have such a large effect on the enterprise that the channel is already seeing management systems designed to monitor and optimize their performance. An Israeli company called Imperson introduced its imperson.ai platform that streamlines the creation and governance of chatbots across environments like Facebook, Skype and Twitter. The system tracks a range of conversation metrics and other data points and employs advanced analytics and machine control to tweak both the chatbot software and the back-office systems it engages with. This enables continuous improvement for both customer and employee/partner interactions. As CEO Erez Baum explained to InformationWeek, it also allows bots to be created with personalities, relationship memories and other learning capabilities to provide a more natural user experience. Some people may still feel uncomfortable with the idea of talking to their devices, but if designed properly, the chatbot removes one of the chief stumbling blocks in the modern digital world: complexity on the user interface. Whether it is complicated menus, the need for specialized navigational skills or simply worn or broken keypads, most problems in the digital process begin with poor communication between the user and the platform. It will probably be a while before all the bugs are worked out, but with chatbots, the potential exists to make ordering a product online or setting up a complicated work environment no more difficult than asking for a cup of coffee. Arthur Cole writes about infrastructure for IT Business Edge. Cole has been covering the high-tech media and computing industries for more than 20 years, having served as editor of TV Technology, Video Technology News, Internet News and Multimedia Weekly. His contributions have appeared in Communications Today and Enterprise Networking Planet and as web content for numerous high-tech clients like TwinStrata and Carpathia. Follow Art on Twitter @acole602. President Park Geun-hye has backed out of an appointment for questioning by the independent counsel investigating the massive corruption scandal that has brought her down. Park was at long last to be questioned in the Cheong Wa Dae compound, where she remains holed up, on Thursday. But after the media reported the schedule on Tuesday night, she backed out, claiming it was to have remained confidential. A Cheong Wa Dae official said, "We can't reach an agreement if the independent counsel leaks the date. The president's lawyers have expressed strong regret. It is unclear if questioning will take place on Thursday." The independent counsel has been engaged in a farcical tug of war with Park over the last two weeks, trying to agree on a date and venue for the interview and being physically barred from raiding the presidential office. Investigators insisted that the interview must take place in early February and proposed a safe house near Cheong Wa Dae. But Cheong Wa Dae, citing vague security concerns, said the meeting must take place in the compound. They compromised eventually, but now Park, who has become increasingly chary of her dignity as her reputation fell apart, seems to have gone back to stalling by any means possible. "The Bachelor" episode 6 was probably the first episode that didn't focus on Corinne. Week 6 of the famous reality show ended on a sad message with Nick questioning if he will ever find true love. Looking for an update? Stop waiting, because this is "The Bachelor's" sneak peek of episode 7. As we spoil you with the most sizzling and hot love stories, we should look back on the last episode. If you missed out episode 6, stop there and watch it first before reading this. What Happened in Week 6 of 'The Bachelor?' Whitney Fransway and Danielle Lombard went on a two-on-one date with Nick Viall. This is the first-time Whitney got a chance to go with Nick on a date, and seeing him also outside of the group. However, her date was her also the last, as she was sent home that night. Whitney was upset about Nick's decision and asked him if he thinks that he can have a future with Danielle Lombard. Nick replied that her ejection has nothing to do with Danielle. Whitney stated also, that she does not believe Danielle is ready for a relationship. After Whitney leaves, Nick and Danielle L. boarded a helicopter and went out for a dinner date. The two seems to have a good time, however, during the dinner date, Danielle L. told Nick that she already falling in love with him, to which Nick tensed, and looked lost. He told her that the feelings were not common, despite him wanting them to be, and decided to send her home, too. This is the first time on "The Bachelor" that both girls were removed during a two-on-one date. 'The Bachelor' Week 7 Preview Week 6 ended with Nick questioning his capacity to find love again on the said program. Jasmine was the third girl to be ejected in the last episode of "The Bachelor." Now only six ladies are left: Danielle M., Vanessa, Corinne, Raven, Kristina, and Rachel. "The Bachelor" episode 7 spoilers specified one group date and three one-on-one dates. It is said that Corinne was not able to get a solo date, and decides to drop by Nick's hotel room to change his mind. Episode 7 of "The Bachelor" will air on Monday, February 13, 2017. According to sources, Nick and the remaining six ladies will head over to the Bahamas. With the final four so close, the ladies must work hard for Nick's heart. Who Goes On The Group Date? The girls who will be picked for the group date are Kristina, Raven, and Corinne, and Raven. To have more time with Nick, Corinne comes up with an idea to visit Nick's hotel room. And the event will shock every viewer, week 7 spoilers suggest that Corinne will try to tempt Nick, and while you might think they had sex, sources reveal that Nick refuses her aggressiveness. Rachel, Danielle M., and Vanessa are selected for the one-on-one dates. Nick will give roses to Rachel and Vanessa, with The Bachelor spoilers suggesting that Danielle M. might be her end night. Nick is also said to eliminate Kristina next week, which means Corinne, Rachel, Raven, and Vanessa will be the final four competitors on "The Bachelor." Although Corinne will get a chance to go on a hometown date with Nick, rumor has it that he may send her home in week 8. Dakota Johnson, 27, who stars as Anastasia Steele confessed that she and Jamie Dornan pre-game ritual before getting busy. She would take a shot of whiskey and mints and Jamie would do push ups before they do the intimate scenes. Dakota said that filming those intimate scenes was not easy, but it was better this time since Dakota and Jamie had become so close. Dakota Johnson said they got great love and respect for each other. She added that theyre great friends making it easier. So it is definitely more comfortable. Meanwhile, last week the executives at Universal studios, banned the cast of Fifty Shades Darker from making overtly sexual language in their promo interviews. Marcia Gay Harden Tweets About Sex Toys The actors are forced to to push the romantic elements of the movie instead. However, Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden, who plays the mother of Jamies character Christian Grey, Jokingly Tweeted about sex toys. She got herself in trouble over it. In a new, unfiltered interview she also said We cant talk too much about nipple clamps. She added that she used to send out little naughty tweets, but the Universal studios instructed her not to do it anymore. She also said maybe she went too far, because the instructions was to keep the romantic elements of the movie. On the contrary, according to The Sun, there is a graphic scene that lasted for three minutes involving a sex toy. Keeping The Romantic Elements? The graphic scene made the members of the Los Angeles premiere laughing and screaming in horror.In another explicit scene sees Dakota Johnson, as Anastasia Steele strapped to a stainless steel bondage bar with foot restraints, for an intimate session in Christian Greys infamous Red Room of Pain. Which seems to be a contradicting element to "keeping the romantic elements." According to the Daily Mail, One recently-aired trailer for the film, set to be released on February 10, shows the lead actors getting very intimate together in a shower scene. During the Los Angeles premiere, Dakota Johnson, wore a gown with a daringly low neckline and a flattering oversized fit. On Thursday, UK premiere screening will be in London. The Chinese Smartphone's brands Oppo and Huawei are fixing their grasp on the world's biggest market, snatching global share and crushing out Apple Incorporation and Samsung Electronics. Apple and Samsung have relentlessly surrendered ground in China to forceful local manufacturers since Xiaomi went ahead of the scene around 2011. Xiaomi itself was positioned fifth in 2016, as Oppo, Huawei Technologies and Vivo Smartphone's were the main three vendors, representing 48 percent of shipments a year ago and consigning the Cupertino-based company to the fourth spot, IDC statement released two days ago. The Chinese vendors are promoting higher-end gadgetry that interest to consumers looking for Apple-like quality and advancement. The shipments of iPhone plunged 23.2 percent in 2016, contracting Apple's piece of the overall market share to only 9.6 percent, the least in around two years. Samsung did not even figure in the top five. China had for quite a long time driven Apple's astounding development even as Smartphone request somewhere else floundered. Apple may bring background with the following iPhone later this year, the tenth commemoration of the gadget that introduced the modern Smartphone industry. Apple had relied upon to exhibit the best features it can acquire to manage an inexorably commoditized market. Meanwhile, local brands hold control. Oppo, Huawei, and Vivo make use of incomprehensible store networks as online handset deals leveled. Alongside enhanced customer service and a push to open their own retail locations, particularly in minor urban areas, Chinese smartphone creators have moved far from budget devices. Oppo, taking the lead, saw shipments grow from somewhat more than 35 million units in 2015 to 78.4 million in 2016, IDC estimates. Vivo likewise almost multiplied its yearly shipments. Generally, 467.3 million units of Smartphone's were moved in China last year up 8.7 percent from 2015. Whereas Huawei, which offers about a large portion of its Smartphone abroad, is aiming at $33 billion in 2017 income for its consumer electronics division, which offers Smartphone's, wearable gadgets and tablets. Chinese brands, driven by Vivo, have as of now ripped out local rivals in India and are progressively testing Samsung, the pioneer leader there. Pall Einarsson, one of Icelands most known geophysicists, warned that four of their countrys volcanoes are beginning to show signs of eruption. These pre-eruptive signs include gentle spewing out of lava, up to violent explosions that blanket the whole of Europe into ashes. However, Einarsson no longer gave further details regarding the matter. Einarsson said that the volcanoes which should be monitored are Katla, Hekla, Bararbunga, and Grimsvotn. Katla is a sizable volcano which has been restless in the past few months. It creates astounding tremors hitting around the 4.6M mark. Other experts fear that these quakes caused by the volcanoes can be considered as possible indications of magma rising through the crust, which can trigger it to fracture violently. Katla has not recorded any major eruption for decades. Yet, at present, Katla occasionally steams off by means of minor lava flows unpredictably. Records reveal that the last time the volcano made average recurrence and imposed great danger was over 50 years ago. In 2011, it produced some impressive streams of lava. However, the emission of lave was not powerful enough to smash through the Myrdalsjokull glacier which covers its surface. According to IFLScience , Katla can generate a massive ash plume which causes North Europes airspace to be immediately shut down. In relation to this, a recent study said that an epic plume only occurs once every 44 years. In 2011, an event dubbed by scientists as jokulhlaup occurred. This is characterized by flash floods from the melted glacier. However, despite the threat brought about by the possible explosion of these volcanoes, Iceland Monitor reported that there can also be a benefit from this looming threat. Merediam, a French asset company, rendered major monetary contribution to realize a proposed submarine power which can transport green energy from Iceland to the United Kingdom. The global infrastructure investor will be stashing a total of 3.5 billion. Last year, Iceland has already made plans to harness this energy.They will be drilling deep enough to tap molten magma. This is to realize efforts in replacing fossil fuel with a more renewable energy source. Health officials West Virginia have concluded plans to distribute over 8,000 opioid antidote kits to emergency medical personnel and other first responders in order to reduce deaths associated with opioid overdose in the state. The drug Naloxone is the opioid antidote of choice. Dr. Rahul Gupta, commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health explained that Naloxone is capable of saving lives and reviving opioid overdose victims if administered in time since it effectively opens up the respiratory airway and instantly reverses the effects of opioid overdose damage. Victims can start breathing almost immediately again it is administered if done timely. The funding for the 8,000 Naloxone drug kits is $1 million federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment. The initiative is a collaboration between the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities (BBHHF) of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and the Bureau for Public Health (BPH). Implementation and evaluation of the project will be done by Injury Control Research Center of West Virginia University. West Virginia ranks no.1 for drug overdose deaths in the US West Virginia has the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the United States, CBS News reports. In 2015, the state recorded 725 overdose deaths which translates to 41.5 deaths in 100,000 people. Dr. Gupta said the trends show the levels of deaths associated with opioid overuse has not peaked and that the data for 2016 may be higher given recorded toxicology results. But he added that with the drive for 8,000 opioid antidote kits to be given, the staggering overdose statistics may be drastically reduced in West Virginia. To buttress this, Naloxone was administered to 4,186 overdose victims in 2016 as against the 3,351 doses administered in 2015 and the 2,165 doses given in 2014 - not including those given by hospital emergency units, first responders and others. Price of Naloxone has spiked due to huge demands Considering the fact that health officials will be sending over 4,000 Naloxone to high priority areas of the state, a recent study reveals that the price of the two-dose antidote has climbed due to huge demands. There are palpable fears that the antidote package may reach $4,500 in no time, which is actually a 500% increase over a two-year period. But be that as it may, the deputy director of West Virginia's Bureau of Public Health, Herb Linn, has revealed that his agency is set to get the opioid antidote into nearly the hands of everyone that would need it to save lives. These include first responders to drug overdose, possible witnesses of opioid overdose, emergency caregivers, family and friends of drug addicts, and emergency medical personnel among others, The Register Herald wrote. Western Digital has announced on Monday, Feb. 6, that it has started its production of the densest 3D NAND flash memory chips in the industry. The new Western Digital 3D NAND chips enable three bits of data to be stored in each cell and stack 64 layers atop another. Western Digital 64-Layers 3D NAND Memory According to Computerworld, the 3D NAND flash chips are based on 3D technology or vertical stacking. This technology is called Bit Cost Scaling (BiCS) by Western Digital (WD) and its partner Toshiba. The pilot production of the first 64-layer 3D NAND flash 512 GB memory chip has been already launched by WD. Stacking NAND flash cells enable manufacturers to increase density, in the same way, a skyscraper provides in a smaller footprint some greater density. This leads to achieving lower cost per gigabyte of capacity. This technology also improves the speed of solid-state memory and increases data reliability. As transistor sizes approached 10 nanometers, three-dimensional NAND has allowed manufacturers to overcome physical limitations of NAND flash as well as the ability to shrink dimensions further. The latest 3D NAND flash memory chips have been used to create standard 2.5-inch SSDs with more than 10TB of capacity and gum stick-sized SSDs with more than 3.3TB of storage. Previous 3D NAND Memory Chips In 2014, Samsung has been the first company to announce mass-production of 3D flash chips. Samsung's technology originally stacked 32-layers of NAND flash and it was called V-NAND. In what the industry refers to as multi-level cell (MLC) NAND or triple-level-cell (TLC) NAND, V-NAND also crammed 3-bits per cell. Using TLC memory, Samsung's chips were able to store 128 Gbits or 16 GB, as much as Toshiba's original 48-layer 3D NAND chips stored. Other companies such as Micron and Intel also produce 3D NAND. In July 2016, Western Digital introduced the world's first 64-layer 3D NAND technology. Now, the company announced that pilot production of the new 64-layer 3D NAND flash memory chips began in its Yokkaichi, Japan fabrication plant. Western Digital expects to begin mass production in the second half of 2017. According to Hot Hardware, Dr. Siva Sivaram, Western Digital Executive VP of Memory Technology, said that the launch of the industry's first 512 Gb 64-layer 3D NAND flash memory chip is an important step forward in the advancement of company's 3D NAND technology. Sivaram added that the new memory chip is doubling the density from when the company first introduced the 64-layer architecture. This achievement is a great addition to Western Digital's rapidly broadening 3D NAND technology portfolio. Rapid data growth across a wide range of customer mobile, retail and data center applications leads to increasing demand for storage solutions. The company positions well in its plans to continue growing its share in this market. Late last month, it was reported that Western Digital is interested in purchasing a 20 percent stake in its Toshiba partner's NAND flash business. Western Digital's own SSD family would be able to achieve more favorable economies of scale in case that the purchase will become reality. Western Digital also produces SSD storage solutions, including the WD Black and WD Blue SSD families. A super massive black hole has been discovered and it's so hungry that it has been eating star for more than 10 years. Astronomers say that it has been feasting on the star ten times longer than any stellar meal detected before. The feast has been going on so long that scientists are puzzled how it's been sustained without defying the laws of physics. With NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and Swift satellite as well as ESAs XMM-Newton, researchers were able to spot the gigantic empty space. This record-breaking discovery is nicknamed XJ1500+0154, located at the core of a galaxy about 1.8 billion light-years away. The satellites stumbled across the incredibly bright flare emitted by XJ1500+0154 back in 2005. According to NASA, when objects like stars get too close to black holes, the intense gravity of it can rip the star apart in whats called a tidal disruption event (TDE). While some of the remains from the star is catapulted through space, parts of it are pulled back and ingested by the black hole, where it increases in temperature and emits an X-ray flare, the USA Today reports. However, most TDEs last very short, which is why the new interstellar observation is so unique and surprising. Lead researcher Dachen Lin comments on the spectacular and unusually prolonged death of the star. "Dozens of tidal disruption events have been detected since the 1990s, but none that remained bright for nearly as long as this one," Lin says. In fact, the star has been fed on for so long that it's pushing the limits of physics, consistently surpassing something called the Eddinton Limit which is the maximum brightness a star can achieve, the Science Alert reports. If a star is pushing out enough radiation to get this bright, then gravity should have a problem holding it together. It is for that reason that it's difficult to understand how supermassive black holes at the center of many galaxies, including our Milky Way, grew as big as they are. E-cigarettes have been controversial. Although they are seen as an alternative to cigarettes, the ingredients used for it are not yet seen to be fully safe. A study says that e-cigarette liquids are found to have toxic metals. The study has examined five different brands of e-cigarette liquids for such elements like lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese and nickel. E-cigarette liquids also have nicotine well as flavorings. Researchers have found that all five elements are present in the e-cigarette liquids studied. While all five metals have been found, the levels vary between brands. Despite that, all five metals are known to either be carcinogenic or toxic. Lead author of the study Ana Maria Rule, Ph.D., MHS and assistant scientist at John Hopkins University has said that while research is not sure yet whether the levels are dangerous, the presence of the metals in the e-cigarette liquids can be a cause for concern. She has said that the metals on the coils that heat the liquids can be toxic as well. The fumes that are created can then be potentially toxic as well. While e-cigarettes are being regulated, there are still no warnings concerning its use, according to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The study has focused on liquids for first generation e-cigarettes. The first generation models look more like conventional cigarettes than later models, which makes them different. First generation e-cigarettes have the liquid stored together with the coil instead of a cartridge in later models. This makes the liquids more exposed to the coil, even without heating it. The liquids that were tested were extracted from the e-cigarettes and have not been heated yet, as Science Daily reports. One brand has been tested to have very high levels of all five metals. The said brand has 400 times the amount of nickel that can be found from the one that has the lowest amount in it. Nickel is said to one of the most carcinogenic compounds among them. Rule has suggested that the e-cigarette liquids should also be regulated because of the ingredients found in them. There is much to be known still about e-cigarettes and their safety. E-cigarette liquids are found to have toxic metals. A study has also found vaping can increase the risk of heart disease. Long before, it has been noted that Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons, has the presence of watery jets, a global ocean, and hydrothermal activity. In line with this, a significant number of experts have long been perplexed whether Enceladus might be holding the right conditions for life and be a possible host for life forms. Additionally, since Enceladus appears to be a cold, icy, and inhospitable just like Saturn's other moon, scientists believe that it could also be a promising candidate in the search for alien life. Enceladus And Its Features According to reports revealed by NASA, over the course of the Cassini mission, observations have shown that at a distance of 313 miles or 504 kilometers across, Enceladus has not only manifested that has watery jets by sending icy grains into space. It was found that under its icy crust, it also has a global ocean, and may have hydrothermal activity as well. Since the time that scientists have been convinced that liquid water is a key ingredient for life, the implications for future missions searching for life elsewhere in our solar system could be significant. NASA's Mission To Enceladus Meanwhile, as per Daily Mail, earlier this year, authorities from NASA has revealed some of the closest views of Saturn's icy rings that they have captured so far, by the Cassini spacecraft as it moves through its penultimate mission. Because of these images, experts say that it will be able to provide an unprecedented look at the details of the outer parts of the main rings, which will the reveal a number of interesting features, from 'straw' to millions of moonlets. As of the press time, it was found that the Cassini spacecraft is heading toward the end of its mission, with the first of its finale plunges into the gap between the rings and Saturn, which is bound to take place in late April. Ultimately, Carolyn Porco from the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colorado who also happens to be Cassini's Imaging Team Lead said that as the person who planned these initial orbit-insertion ring images, she was personally taken aback by how vastly improved are the details in the new collection. Of any single tech leader right now, theres no doubt that Elon Musk is probably the greatest of all, given the fact that hes characterized for having the most innovative ideas, and make the efforts to materialize each one of them. Given this situation, heres a little compilation of the craziest tech ideas that he wants to produce. Space X: Elon Musks Project To Colonize Mars Although this might sound as something out of a movie, Elon Musk literally wants to colonize mars, by building a reusable rocket that can be returned to base and land themselves, with which humans could travel to that land. This is not a lie, even when we heard this kind of utopian or dystopian plan in cartoons, this tech entrepreneur wants to make it real, and he already made some major moves. Believe it or not, Space X is Elon Musk is its own private transportation company, and it already started to create the reusable rockets, which would reduce the cost of firing cargo into orbit and to the International Space Station. However, what seems as the most incredible detail of this project is that in addition to get people to Mars, Musk also wants that these trips could be affordable, establish a human colony in the planet by 2040, and that the trips could start within the next two decades. The Boring Company: The Idea Of Building Tunnels To Ease Traffic Congestion Driving in a big city in the U.S. is not exactly a walk in the park, considering that most of the times youre going to be extremely late to your destiny, considering that getting stuck in traffic is the common denominator. Naturally, this had to be the situation that Elon Musk was dealing with when he came up with one of his craziest ideas ever. In order to avoid this kind of inconveniences, the tech entrepreneur wants to start digging huge underground tunnels for roads and train lines, so people can get earlier and faster to their destinations without having to spend an unnecessary amount of minutes stuck in traffic. Apparently, this incredible plan will be materialized by what Elon Musk called "The Boring Company", which would represent a major change in really important cities in the U.S. as Los Angeles or New York, considering how much traffic these places have. Elon Musk Wanted To Materialize Iron Mans Computer Of every single nickname that Elon Musk could gain over the years, theres no doubt that "Tony Stark" is definitely the most accurate, given the fact that just as the comic character, this tech entrepreneur is characterized for having billions of dollars in his bank account and having an incredible engineering expertise, being one of the most innovative tech figures in the history. Nevertheless, in addition to making a cameo in the film Iron Man 2, one of the most surprising things about Eon Musk is that in 2013 his company Space X came out with the crazy idea of designing rocket parts with hand gestures, in order to 3D print them in titanium eventually. Of course, the unbelievable detail about this is that this is something that Tony Stark did in the movie. In fact, he was actually asked if he took this idea of Iron Man, and far from wanting to pretend that this originally came out of his mind, Elon Musk said that he indeed saw it in the movie, and wanted to make it real. New U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday pledged "steadfast" commitment to the alliance with Seoul. Tillerson described North Korean nuclear program as an "immediate threat" both to Seoul and Washington, adding the two countries should finds a joint approach. He was speaking to his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se in their first phone conversation. The top diplomats "vowed to continue efforts to make the South Korea-U.S. relations the strongest alliance under the new U.S. administration in order to be able to respond effectively to challenges posed by North Korea and its nuclear ambitions," the Foreign Ministry here said in a statement. They also discussed a planned meeting on the sidelines of the G20 foreign minister's conference in Bonn, Germany on Feb. 16-17 or the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17-19. Tillerson said the bilateral alliance is vital for peace and prosperity in Asia and the Pacific. They also defended plans to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea. "Both sides concurred that the THAAD deployment is a defensive action to guard only against North Korean threats and it does not infringe upon the interest of any other countries," the ministry said. . The agreed that China, which objects to the THAAD plans, has a vital role to play in persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Electrolux, the Swedish home appliance maker is acquiring Anova for $250 million. On Monday, Anova has announced that an agreement has been met with Electrolux and the giant appliance maker will be paying the culinary company $115 million instant cash. The remaining $135 million will be paid at a later time and is subject to adjustments and other financial factors. Anova's Kitchen Product Line Executive VP for Electrolux Ola Nilsson has said that although from afar, Anova and Electrolux seem very different from each other, the two companies has a lot of things in common, one of which being their passion for great tasting food, reports CNET. Anova is a successful company that is widely known for the Anova Precision Cooker. This product is an immersion circulator that controls the water heat for sous vide cooking. Sous vide, or "under vacuum" in French, is a method of cooking wherein you put a food item (usually meat) into a plastic bag and get rid of as much air as possible from the inside part. Then, the bag is placed in a container of water and the Anova Precision Cooker will heat the water to a controlled temperature as the food cooks. Anova's Business Growth And Electrolux Tie-up Anova launched the said product with a successful campaign on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding website. Since the said campaign in 2014, the small appliance has progressed to include more high-tech features such as WiFi and Bluetooth. As per a Digital Trends report, Anova CEO and co-founder Stephen Svajian has said that the company's vision has always been focused on building the Anova kitchen wherein the devices are accessible and connected to help users cook like professionals. The CEO also said that they are excited to join Electrolux and to continue with the mission of building the smart kitchen. Electrolux also assured that Anova's unique culture will still be retained and Anova will still operate under the leadership of Svajian. Famous and bankable actor/director Ben Stiller shares his experience in the journey he took to Jordan to meet the refugees who have escaped the bloodshed caused by ISIS. He enlists the importance in having the compassion to help over the fear of being insecure in one's own home. Ben Stiller Visits A Refugee Camp In Jordan; Listens To Their Stories And Pleas According to ABC News, last December, one of Hollywood's greatest names, Ben Stiller travelled to Jordan, an Azraq camp of refugees with about 35,000 people in it. They are currently in the place as they fled off from the scene of the most horrific deaths in history that is being controlled by the ISIS group. He shared about one of the families he has met, a couple with their two children. One of the kids had his eyes damaged from the bombing near their homes. The mother, has plead for mercy saying that they just wanted a chance to move forward and start their lives all over again as reported by TIME. When refugees used to enter the United States, they go through a rigorous process with the FBI, Homeland Security and the like to ensure that no terrorists belonged to the group of refugees. However, Trump's order to ban the entry of refugees for 120 days and some people from Muslim countries have caused a great dismay. They allowed being inspected and checked on like they were actual terrorists just to prove that they're not and now, they are not even allowed to enter the country anymore to start a new life. When a judge from Seattle lifted Trump's ban, refugees were then again welcomed and had to go through the same process. Stiller Believes Trump Adminsitration Should Address Refugee Cases And Not Judging Them For Coming From A Muslim Country Trump was agitated at the decision, even called the ruler a "so-called judge," clearly implementing that he was in no position to lift the ban; even questioned his integrity and profession. Stiller is not the only actor to have shared with the sentiments of the refugees; and he claims that he doesn't want to criticize him but would expect him to address this issue with more professionalism and not just his interpretation of what Muslim countries are and the people that come from there. Just because youre using a Mac doesnt mean youre safe from hackers. Thats what two security researchers are warning, after finding a Mac-based malware that may be an attempt by Iranian hackers to target the U.S. defense industry. The malware, called MacDownloader, was found on a website impersonating the U.S. aerospace firm United Technologies, according to a report from Claudio Guarnieri and Collin Anderson, who are researching Iranian cyberespionage threats. The fake site was previously used in a spear phishing email attack to spread Windows malware and is believed to be maintained by Iranian hackers, the researchers claimed. Visitors to the site are greeted with a page about free programs and courses for employees of U.S. defense companies Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing. The malware itself can be downloaded from an Adobe Flash installer for a video embedded in the site. The website will provide either Windows or Mac-based malware, depending on the detected operating system. Iran Threats A screenshot of the fake site. The MacDownloader malware was designed to profile the victim's computer, and then steal credentials by generating fake system login boxes and harvesting them from Apple's password management system, Keychain. However, the malware is of shoddy quality and is "potentially a first attempt from an amateur developer," the researchers said. For instance, once the malware is installed, it'll generate a fake Adobe Flash Player dialog box, only to then announce adware was discovered on the computer that it'll attempt to clean up. "These dialogues are also rife with basic typos and grammatical errors, indicating that the developer paid little attention to quality control," the researchers said. In addition, the malware failed to run a script to download additional malicious coding onto the infected Mac. But despite the shoddy quality, the malware still managed to evade detection on VirusTotal, which aggregates antivirus scanning engines. The researchers found other circumstantial evidence that the malware is linked to Iran. An exposed server that the MacDownloader agent uploaded to showed wireless networks called "Jok3r" and "mb_1986." Both of these names have ties to previous Iranian hacking groups, including one known as Flying Kitten, which is suspected of targeting U.S. defense contractors and political dissidents. In an email, Anderson said a colleague of theirs also observed MacDownloader targeting a human rights activist. The danger is that many human rights supporters, especially in Iran, are dependent on Apple devices, the researchers said. "While this [malware] is neither sophisticated nor full-featured, its sudden appearance is concerning given the popularity of Apple computers," they wrote in their report. Mac malware is fairly rare, according to security researchers. That's because hackers tend to attack Windows-based devices, because of their popularity. However, Mac-based malware is still popping up here and there. Last month, researchers found another kind designed to spy on biomedical research centers. A separate Mac-based Trojan was found months earlier, targeting the aerospace industry. The Constitutional Court on Tuesday scheduled more hearings later this month to question eight out of 15 witnesses President Park Geun-hye's lawyers wanted called. They include Park's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of the massive influence-peddling and corruption scandal that led to the president's impeachment. All are suspected of being involved in extortion for Choi's dubious Mir and K-Sports foundations or helping Choi with other businesses. The court said they will be questioned on Feb. 16, 20 and 22. Choi and former presidential secretary An Chong-bum were already questioned by the National Assembly's impeachment committee and by Park's lawyers on Jan. 16. But the president's lawyers, in an apparent attempt to drag out proceedings, have requested further questioning. The additional hearings quash any hopes of the court reaching a ruling before the end of this month. But since Park's lawyers have accepted the court's decision to limit the number of witnesses, legal experts believe a ruling could still be reached before March 13, when acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi's term ends. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Close Hyundai has decided to postpone the launch of the Sonata plug-in hybrid PHEV in China until February next year. Hyundai had hoped to release it there in April. But the necessary batteries from LG Chem's Chinese operation still await certification amid signs that Beijing is retaliating against Korean businesses over the stationing of a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery here. Hyundai has decided to replace them with Chinese-made ones, but that will take time because the car's design has to be changed. Hyundai has been working on the Sonata PHEV to meet Chinese standards in a bid to make inroads into the world's largest EV market. But these efforts hit a snag when the Chinese government refused to certify Korean battery makers like LG Chem and Samsung SDI despite several reviews since May 2015. Beijing last November drastically raised the bar in terms of minimum output, which the Korean firms are unable to meet. That means they are unlikely to qualify for subsidies amounting to 90 percent of the battery cost, which in turn makes them an uncompetitive choice for Hyundai. Toy company Hasbro managed to one-up its competitor, Mattel, by taking a huge contract that helped it post record profits. Hasbro's recent earnings report must have astounded investors especially in light of Mattel's own disappointing financial results. The Washington Post reported that Hasbro's earnings soared largely due to its decision to bid against Mattel in securing the rights to Disney's princesses. Winning the Disney contract allowed the toy company, which is widely known for its Monopoly board game, to more than double its sales in 2016. The feat is an amazing one considering the tough competition in the toy industry. With Hasbro holding the rights to Disney's princesses, it is holding an ace that can be used against other toy makers. Back in 2014, Hasbro won the contract that allows it to manufacture and sell dolls of Disney's princesses, including the rights to the "Frozen" dolls. However, it was not until 2016 that it started producing and shipping the toys. The dolls fall under Hasbro's girls category, which contributed $1.19 billion to the toy company's total revenue in 2016. Other games and toys also did not do badly, which resulted in Hasbro's game revenue to climb 9% year over year in 2016. Zacks reported that Hasbo's shares surged after it reported its latest financial results. The site also reported that the toy maker's earnings per share surpassed its expectations due to the huge jump in sales of toys within its girls category. Brian Goldner, Hasbro's chairman, president and CEO, is optimistic that the toy maker will be able to sustain the high-profit levels that it has recently achieved. Certainly, continuing to hold the contract to produce Disney dolls will help Hasbro beat its competition when it comes to sales and revenue. Hasbro recently allowed its customers to vote on the tokens for its Monopoly board game, Jobs & Hire previously reported. Tiffany & Co. Chief Executive Officer Frederic Cumenal will no longer work with the company. In an unprecedented move, the jewelry chain decided that it no longer needs the services of Cumenal in leading the company. The decision of Tiffany to kick out its CEO may not surprise industry observers and investors. The jewelry chain has been failing to meet its sales target even during the recent holiday season when sales should have skyrocketed. Tiffany has been trying to reduce cost in order to bump up its bottom line, the Chicago Tribune reported. However, several factors had caused sales to continue its downward trend under Cumenal's leadership. With Cumenal at the helm, the jewelry chain failed to shake off the headwinds of the strong U.S. dollar as well as the negative effect of the tougher security at its flagship store next to Trump Tower following the election of Donald Trump as United States president. The jewelry chain appointed its chairman and former CEO Michael Kowalski to serve as its CEO on an interim basis while it conducts a search for a new chief. Kowalski said Tiffany needs to execute its operational and financial goals faster, which may suggest that Cumenal failed to hasten progress toward the jewelry chain's targets for the short term as well as for the long term. Forbes reported that investors have not been very happy with the performance of Tiffany. Replacing Cumenal just right after the jewelry chain launched a Super Bowl campaign also hit the company's stock. Any sudden management changes within the company are sure to make investors nervous. The stocks of Ralph Lauren, another retail company, also suffered when the company announced that Stefan Larsson is leaving. Cumenal has been with Tiffany for about two years before he was kicked out and replaced. The time period might not have been enough to fix the problems caused by multiple headwinds. Jobs & Hire recently reported that Hilton, one of the luxury hotel brands, decided to change the rewards system for Hilton Honors members. One elementary schoolkid in Korea studies 5 hours and 23 minutes a day on average, longer than the 4 hours and 10 minutes for university students. No wonder Korea ranks the lowest among OECD member nations when it comes to happiness among children. This depressing landscape has been created by Korea's obsession with private tutoring. A whopping eight out of 10 elementary schoolkids go to private crammers, which means they have very little time to eat home-cooked meals and have to fill their stomachs on the move. More and more Koreans are eating, drinking and traveling alone, and this trend is not just limited to adults. Even elementary schoolkids eat alone and go to private crammers by themselves. Since many have several crammers to shuttle between, they settle for fast-food lunches and microwave dinners from convenience stores. But is there an alternative? Jewish people are also known to be very focused on the educational achievements of their children, but they take a different approach. Attorney Andrew Sutter in his book "The Rule" says the success of the Jewish education stems from the transfer of knowledge and culture from one generation to another at the dinner table. The Yeshiva is a Jewish institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, and these schools have tables that promote debate among students. Yeshivas may look like libraries, but the atmosphere is often boisterous. The Jewish approach to education stresses open debate over individual reading and rote learning. In the 1980s, the poor academic performances of children from low-income families became a major social issue in the U.S. There were claims that differences in wealth created huge gaps in academic achievement, but a study at Harvard University revealed a surprising result -- the academic levels of students were swayed more by the number of meals children had with their parents. Open discourse during meals actually promotes the linguistic capabilities of children. Students who had more than five meals a day with their family tended to have higher chances of scoring well in school and displayed lower delinquent tendencies, according to a study at Columbia University. The rewards of family meals go beyond nutrition. The "Fourth Revolution" has arrived at our doorsteps, according to some trend-gazers, and it involves fusion, collaboration and networking. Our children cannot keep up with the latest innovations if they eat and study alone at crammers. But what saddens me is just the sight of kids eating alone at supermarkets and convenience stores. It is not only schools that need to change the way they think. Parents need to change their attitudes as well. Tamron Hall has relayed a warm message to her co-workers when she announced that she is leaving NBC News to join another media company. However, rumors have surfaced that Hall was forced to leave because she is getting replaced by former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, a white woman. A number of people and some advocacy groups, including the National Association of Black Journalists, wondered whether NBC News asked Hall to leave in order to whitewash the "Today" show. Hall's co-host in the "Today" show, Al Roker, is also being replaced. To address the issue, NBC News expressed willingness to enter into a discussion with the National Association of Black Journalists, Journal-Isms reported. The media company touted that it has always been a champion of diversity and it believes in holding talks about the issue with advocacy groups. The National Association of Black Journalists took an issue on Hall's departure because she is the first black female "Today" show co-host, BET reported. The advocacy group also noted that ratings do not seem to be the problem since the show has been a rating success with Hall and Roker acting as its co-hosts. The National Association of Black Journalists also pointed out that Kelly has been known to make offensive remarks against minorities. The advocacy group is hoping to clear matters with NBC News by holding a dialogue. NBC News denied forcing Hall to leave. The media company said it has every intention to make Hall stay, with a person familiar with the matter disclosing that the "Today" co-host was offered a multimillion-dollar contract to remain with the media company. However, it was Hall who decided to leave. Hall does not appear to hold a grudge against NBC News based on her recent social media posts. She has thanked her fans for the support and encouraged them to donate to charity groups. Jobs & Hire previously reported that Roker wished for Hall's success when the news of her departure broke out. Every week, Mark Zuckerberg meets 16,000 employees at Facebooks Menlo Park, California headquarters. These meetings, referred to as Q&A sessions, gives Zuckerberg a chance to hear from the rank and file, and what goes on in the afternoon sessions have been recently revealed. According to Recode, the Q&A is held every Friday at 4 p.m. in Facebooks new building, and Zuckerberg speaks for about an hour with employees. COO Sheryl Sandberg, product boss Chris Cox, and CTO Mike Schroepfer sit in the front row of chairs set up for employees in case Zuckerberg needs them to answer a question. Employees who work out of a remote office can watch the livestreamed meeting through Facebooks internal portal. While meetings are limited to Facebook employees, Zuckerberg invites guests every now and then. It can be recalled that Jay-Z attended a Q&A back in 2013. The Facebook founder typically starts with opening remarks, then acknowledges any tenured employees celebrating a work anniversary, internally known as a Faceversary. Then, Zuckerberg would honor a behind-the-scenes worker who accomplished a fix of the week on the social media site. After all the formalities, Zuckerberg starts answering questions submitted by employees. It was said that topics vary and that the 32-year-old doesnt usually talk about their competitors. Apart from being one of the most hardworking CEOs in the world, Zuckerberg is also very much loved by Facebook employees due to his openness with them, and the fact that he is said to be approachable, accessible, and a good motivator. Glassdoor spokesman Scott Dobroski told Bloomberg that Zuckerberg is famous for not having his own office. He seats in the open seating area along with every single other employee, and they see him in a regular bathroom as they would anyone, Dobroski added. A former employee told Recode that everyone at Facebook is extremely loyal to Zuckerberg and that when their leader tells them about a secret project, it has become a little bit of a pact not to leak the secret to the public. People come to work at Facebook because they want to work for Zuckerberg, said the former employee. No one else has a Mark. For more, check out Jobs & Hires report on what it takes to land a job at Facebook. Several companies such as SK Hinyx, Foxconn Technology Group and Silver Lake are competing to purchase a portion of Toshiba's memory chip business. Money from the sale will reportedly go to paying the $6 billion losses the firm's nuclear construction ambitions had incurred. According to people who are close to the sale negotiations, a number of potential buyers have been lining up in a bid for a stake in the memory chip business, as reported by Financial Times. Among the potential buyers are SK Hinyx, Silver Lake, and Foxconn Technology Group. Silver Lake and Foxconn Technology Group have not made any announcement as to whether they are buying bids or not. However, they remain to be on the list of possible buyers. Foxconn Technology Group did not comment on whether it will put in a bid or not, but neither did it rule it out. Similarly, Silver Lake declined to give a comment in regards to the rumors. On the other hand, the chipmaker from South Korea, SK Hynix, is so far the first firm to publicly announce its non-binding bid, wrote Financial Times. The offer price was not revealed. Analysts are saying that Hynix is interested in the purchase in order to obtain Toshiba's technology behind Nand chips. A bigger share on the market could result from the sale. The selling of a portion of its memory chip business is an effort made by the Japanese company in order to raise money in order to pay for the losses that its nuclear construction ambitions have incurred. As reported by Jobs & Hire, the losses are up to $6 billion and it led to Toshiba pulling out of the nuclear construction business. Read more about it here. The Financial Times wrote that analysts are expecting a write-down between $4 billion and $7 billion. In the competitive business world, some companies breed contempt, while others cause their employees to sing their praises as they genuinely love working there. A great salary package, invigorating office culture, stellar perks, and great leadership all contribute to a desirable workplace, and these are all the reasons why some employees are inspired to go to the office every single day. The Muse has compiled some of the best companies that have gained positive reviews from employees, and if youre looking to get a new job, then this is your lucky day as all of these places are hiring. Here are five companies that employees truly love working for. Schoology This New York-based company provides innovative technology tools that enhance learning beyond the classroom. The office is said to have a fun environment as in-office scooter rides and afternoon pool games are the norm. Currently, there are nine open positions in the company, from entry level (Customer Support Specialist) to senior level (Director, Product Management). A current employee gave Schoology a glowing review on Glassdoors, saying that it has the best people and culture, as well as a competitive family leave policy. Among the perks that were mentioned are bagels on Monday, company lunches, birthday celebrations, team building sessions, a stocked kitchen, and Pac-Man machines. Bounce Exchange Another New York-based company, Bounce Exchange makes behavioral automation tools for digital advertisers. A current employee took to Glassdoor and said that people have the chance to grow and get better at the job every day. Another current employee said that workers have access to the CEO and any member of upper management. Perks include company retreats, snacks on deck, weekly Friday breakfast, happy hours, and holiday parties, among others. There are 38 job openings at Bounce Exchange as of the moment. Plum Organics This company is a leading provider of organic food and beverages. Employees enjoy a supportive and encouraging culture, as well as on-site massages and free healthy snacks. There are nine open jobs, and the company is looking for staff to be based in Charlotte, North Carolina and Emeryville, California. Jumpcut This company creates captivating online courses and keeps students engaged with Hollywood-quality courses that feel like movies. They are currently looking for a production intern who will be based in Los Angeles, California. Perks include catered lunches and dinners, unlimited vacation, and the latest tech devices. Hometeam This New York-based company creates resources for seniors and their families that improve communication and improve the recipients overall quality of life. There are five open jobs, and they are looking for a caregiver, a home health nurse, and an operations manager, among others. According to an employee review on Indeed, perks include team lunches, supportive management, and stellar company values. For more, check out Jobs & Hire's report on what it takes to get a job at Apple. Q: I am going to file a patent application. What is the best way to find local investors? M.W.M. Answer: For some tips on this subject, we turned to Christopher Veal, a technology commercialization counselor with the Small Business and Technology Development Center for central North Carolina. The SBTC publishes an Intellectual Property Guide that is available for no charge in digital form at www.sbtdc.org under Resources in Publications. For matters relating to the protection of intellectual property, Veal said in an email response, the client should consult a qualified attorney who specializes in patents, trademarks and copyrights. Search engines usually are not sufficient alone for patent searches. Experts in patent law can dive deeply into databases and can make judgments on the likelihood of infringement and the ability to protect, he said. To find a patent-law specialist, contact the N.C. Bar Associations Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 662-7660 or www.ncbar.org/public-resources/lawyer-referral-service. Users of the referral service user can get an initial 30-minute consultation with a lawyer for $50. In addition to finding a lawyer, Veal said, the client should consider business implications of IP protection (cost to acquire and protect) and alternative strategies from a business perspective, such as speed-to-market and continuous product line improvement/development. This is a topic with which the SBTDC and other such organizations can assist. He also said a lot of useful information is available at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices website, www.uspto.gov. As for finding investors, Veal said, Networking is the best way to find investors, in addition to and instead of cold-calling fund managers. There are seminars and investor pitch classes available, often free of charge and providing an opportunity to present. Local resources for finding investor-related events and information include such groups as Flywheel Coworking, Wake Forest Innovations, the Center for Design Innovation and VentuRealization Foundation Corp., among others. Simple web searches can help put you in touch with those groups. Other possibilities are the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and Veal said you can contact the small-business centers at local community colleges. Q: On the Record with Greta Van Susteren is no longer on Fox. Could she be seen on another network? W.J.M. Answer: Yes, she is on another network with a new show that has an almost-identical name. She resigned from Fox News in September, saying the network has not felt like home to me for a few years. She joined NBC News and has a show called For the Record with Greta that began Jan. 9 on MSNBC. It airs at 6 p.m. weekdays. Clergy representing the Muslim, Protestant and Jewish faiths rallied about 350 people Tuesday night in opposing President Donald Trumps travel ban. The rally was held at the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem at 1419 Waughtown St. The event attracted an audience of various races and religion faiths, consisting of Muslims, Jews, Christians, blacks, whites and Hispanics. The rally coincided with Tuesdays court hearing in San Francisco where the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals heard arguments about Trumps travel ban from administration attorneys and ban opponents. Washington state, Minnesota and other states say the appellate court should allow a temporary restraining order blocking the travel ban to stand as their lawsuit moves through the federal legal system. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a new defense of the ban Monday, arguing that it was a lawful exercise of the presidents authority to protect national security. Imam Khalid Griggs of the Community Mosque told the audience that the travel ban unfairly targets all immigrants, including Muslims. Griggs didnt mention Trump by name, but referred to the president as 45. Trump is the countrys 45th president. Griggs said that Trumps executive orders are scary stuff, and unjustly prohibit Syrian refugees who have had over two years of extreme vetting from coming into the United States. What is this man talking about?, Griggs asked about Trumps order. The imam also criticized Trump for instructing the Defense Department to develop plan within 30 days to defeat ISIS. Our government has been responsible to helping to create the terrific refugee problem in the world today, Griggs said. We want to make it worse because we have not bombed these countries enough and abused these people enough. Bishop Todd Fulton, the senior pastor and founder of the Mount Moriah Outreach Center in Winston-Salem, said that all Americans are immigrants and worshippers of all faiths must speak out against the travel ban. Whenever we see our brothers and sisters being persecuted and we betray them with silence, it is embarrassing, said Fulton, the former president of the Ministers Conference and Vicinity. It is something that we should not be proud of. The federal government should protect the U.S. against terrorists, but the travel ban is the wrong approach, he said. We are saying to the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem that you are our brothers and sisters and we stand with you, Fulton said. Our faith tradition may be different, but we stand with you. Our skin color may be different, but we stand with you. Mark Cohn, the rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, told the audience that Americas immigrants are from every country on Earth. The United States has always welcomed immigrants, Cohn said. Now is the time to embrace our past, remember our nations story and open our doors to those who have huddled in fear and darkness, he said. Let us lift up the light of compassion, justice and peace for humanity. The Rev. Alvin Carlisle, the president of the Winston-Salem chapter of the NAACP, said that Trumps order represents division and bigotry. Immoral laws are set to divide us rather bring us together, Carlisle said. These types of laws and executive orders must stop immediately. After the rally, Sharee Fowler of Winston-Salem said that event brought city residents to stand against the travel ban. Im encouraged that the community is coming together to learn more about each other regardless of what happens with the case in the court in California, Fowler said. A Winston-Salem man said in court papers Monday that a jury would never have convicted him of killing two men outside an illegal drink house if Forsyth County prosecutors had turned over certain favorable evidence in his case more than 20 years ago. John Robert Hayes, 44, is serving two life sentences after a Forsyth County jury convicted him of two counts of second-degree murder. He is accused of fatally shooting Waddell Lynn Bitting and Stephen Joel Samuels on July 25, 1993, as they came out of Deuce-Deuce, an illegal drink house at 910 E. 22nd St. A drink house is a club that sells alcohol without a license. Last September, Hayes attorney, Mark Rabil, filed a petition in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, which includes Forsyth County. Rabil is asking the court to overturn Hayes conviction and grant a new trial. Peter Regulski, a prosecutor with the N.C. Attorney Generals Office, opposed the appeal, saying that Hayes filed his petiton too late. He said in court papers that the petition was filed four years and five months too late, and its gross untimeliness is fatal to Petitioners claims. But Rabil said in court papers filed Monday that the timing shouldnt matter because new evidence in the case proves that Hayes was wrongfully convicted. Rabil said this isnt evidence that Hayes could have discovered; instead, Rabil argues, this is new evidence that Forsyth County prosecutors had not turned over for 20 years. That evidence includes the fact that a third person, Kenneth Evans, was shot and identified a different shooter. Rabil also argues that 10 witnesses named someone else as the shooter, along with possible motives. In court papers, Rabil also said that three main witnesses Mary Geter, Anita Jeter and Cynthia Coleman gave authorities inconsistent statements. For example, Coleman initially told Winston-Salem police that the shooter was 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches and wore his hair in plats or dreadlocks. Hayes is 6 feet 5 inches and at the time of the shooting, he had short unbraided hair, Rabil said in court papers. Winston-Salem police officers also gave misleading testimony about the ballistics evidence, Rabil said. Winston-Salem police never told the jury that two shell casings were found near the porch, which would have contradicted Geter and Jeter. The two women testified that Hayes had gone to a blue car parked on the street, pulled out a gun and started shooting. Instead, police only mentioned 12 shell casings they found on the street. Anita Jeter also failed to tell the jury that she worked at the drink house, Rabil said in court papers. Forsyth County prosecutors didnt present this evidence to the jury, and if they had, the jury might have had enough reasonable doubt to not convict Hayes, Rabil said. Regulski argues that Hayes had enough evidence to have filed an appeal in either 2011 or 2012. And there simply isnt enough compelling evidence of Hayes innocence to excuse the federal deadline, he said. Rabil said in an email Tuesday that the arguments state prosecutors are making in Hayes case are similar to ones prosecutors made in the cases of Darryl Hunt and Kalvin Michael Smith. Hunt was exonerated in 2004 in the murder of Deborah Sykes, a copy editor at the now-closed afternoon newspaper, The Sentinel. Hunt died last year, and Rabil was Hunts longtime attorney. Smith, 45, was convicted in 1997 of assaulting Jill Marker, an assistant manager at the former Silk Plant Forest store off Silas Creek Parkway. The attack left Marker with severe brain injuries, and she lives in Ohio under 24-hour care. Smith has maintained his innocence. Smith was released in November after nearly 20 years over allegations that his trial attorney failed to do all he could to ensure Smith a shorter prison sentence. Smith is still trying to prove his innocence. Nearly 24 years in prison is way too much for a case in which the State hid all this evidence of innocence for decades physical evidence, ten witnesses who saw someone else do the shooting, inconsistent eyewitness descriptions and serious impeachment of the credibility of States witnesses from the drink house, Rabil said. Laura Brewer, spokeswoman for the attorney generals office, said state prosecutors are reviewing Rabils court papers and will file a response. BEAR CREEK The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is trying to find whoever shot a bald eagle found Monday in Chatham County. A state trooper found the dead bird in a ditch before 8 a.m. Monday on Siler City-Glendon Road, said Claude Smith, a Wildlife Resources Commission officer. The trooper called the wildlife office, and Smith took the bird to the N.C. Zoo, where a veterinarian X-rayed it and confirmed the bird had been shot in the head. The wound appeared to have been caused by a single, small-caliber projectile, Smith said. The bird appeared to be otherwise healthy, he said. An eagle or something like that, its pretty rare that we run across somebody killing one of them, Smith said. A head shot like that is a pretty precise shot. Itd be kind of hard to believe that it was an accident. While bald eagles had been on the endangered species list since the 1970s, populations have since recovered. North Carolina has seen its bald eagle population rebound from nearly nothing to at least 500 birds last year, including juvenile eagles, wildlife officials have said. Bald eagles remain protected under multiple federal laws that make it illegal to kill or possess any part of the bird. Criminal convictions can result in fines of up to $250,000 and/or up to two years in federal prison. The state also can file charges against those who kill bald eagles. We really dont have any information as to who knows anything about it, and thats why we hope that the media would maybe get the word out there and maybe somebody would contact us with some information, Smith said. Anyone with information is asked to call Smith at 919-239-9897 or post a tip to ncwildlife.org/wildtip. The Wildlife Resources Commission offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest or conviction, Smith said. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. A North Carolina Presbyterian pastor has been held in a Turkish prison for almost four months now, according to WTVD. Pastor Andrew Brunson is being accused of membership in an armed terrorist organization. His family says hes being persecuted for his Christian belief. Honestly its been a nightmare that I did not think would still be going on, his daughter Jacqueline Brunson said. I mean hes an American citizen. Its kind of outrageous to think that this is happening to an American citizen. Andrew Brunson and his family are from Black Mountain, in western N.C., and his daughter Jacqueline is a student at UNC Chapel Hill. The pastor has dedicated 23 years to Christian missionary work in Turkey building churches and spreading the gospel until he applied for residency and was arrested. When asked if her father might be involved in any terroristic activity, Jacqueline Brunson said not at all, definitely not. Theres nothing that they can look at that has any ties to membership and any terrorist organization. Hes the pastor of a church, said executive counsel Cece Heil. Both North Carolina senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, said theyre aware of the situation and working to get answers. The family is also hopeful that if President Donald Trump speaks with President Tayyip Erdogan, hell raise the issue. Jacqueline Brunson is currently delaying her upcoming wedding because she wants her father to attend. She had virtually no foreign policy experience. Unlike other President Trump nominees, however, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley impressed the Senate in her hearing for confirmation as our ambassador to the United Nations. She was clear on Russias misdeeds and human rights atrocities. She spoke out against human rights abuses in the Philippines. She vowed to protect Israel from condemnation from the jackals at the U.N. Security Council. Last week she got off to a flying start. Right off the bat she demonstrated how different she will be from her predecessor. A readout recounted: On January 30, Ambassador Nikki Haley conducted her first courtesy calls and phone conversations with her UN counterparts as U.S. Permanent Representative. She chose to do so with the Permanent Representatives of Israel, the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine. In her phone conversation with Ambassador Danon of Israel, Ambassador Haley underscored the United States ironclad support for Israel, including blocking anti-Israel actions at the United Nations. She expressed her strong determination to avoid any replay of last Decembers disastrous UN Security Council Resolution 2334. She chose to meet on her first day with the representatives from Britain, France and Ukraine, but not the Russian representative. Symbolism matters. Later in the week, she was crystal clear on the administrations position on sanctions against Russia. In her first appearance at the U.S. Security Council she declared: I consider it unfortunate that the occasion of my first appearance here is one in which I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia. It is unfortunate because it is a replay of far too many instances over many years in which United States Representatives have needed to do that. It should not have to be that way. We do want to better our relations with Russia. However, the dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions. The sudden increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine has trapped thousands of civilians and destroyed vital infrastructure. And the crisis is spreading, endangering many thousands more. This escalation of violence must stop. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine, who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention. Until Russia and the separatists it supports respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, this crisis will continue. Her priorities are straight. Her language is blunt, and her timing was fortuitous. She immediately clamped down on rumors we would unilaterally lift sanctions. Crimea is a part of Ukraine, she said. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine. The basic principle of this United Nations is that states should live side by side in peace. When she first arrived at the U.N. on Jan. 27, she declared, For those that dont have our back were taking names. We will make a point to respond to that accordingly. That in and of itself will deter cheap attacks on the United States and Israel. Moreover, she made what she says and does significant signaling she will have influence with the White House. For all that and for demonstrating a solid understanding how the U.S. representative to the U.N. can set a tone and make a difference, we can say, well done. The late, great Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick would have agreed. Nobody wants to be a refugee. We heard that again and again as we traveled through refugee camps in Italy and Greece last summer. Residents posted and painted signs on their tents that declared, I am not a refugee. As a student-professor team, we wanted to study the educational and professional background of refugees and how their knowledge and skill sets matched with the economies of their destinations. Researching migration and stereotypes around noncitizens (both migrants and refugees) as unskilled and uneducated, we traveled to Europe to ask questions. Once there, we were struck by the magnitude of the crisis. Children nearly dying due to a lack of adequate medical care. Lung-irritating dust that clouded camps as families cooked and children played. Scarce food with no nutritional value. And that was only from life in the camps. What the migrants and refugees had done to get there was horrific. We journeyed in search of data, but the stories we heard suggested a much more complicated problem, one that defies the stereotypes that are often shorthand accounts for refugees as threats or economic burdens. So, we listened. We visited authorized and unauthorized camps; prepared lunch with residents of an occupied hotel; interviewed government- and aid workers; and caught a glimpse of a military port where migrants arrive after being rescued in the Mediterranean. The people we met came from all sorts of professions and backgrounds; they were mostly college-educated and had to have enough means to afford the trip from Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gambia and Sudan. Almost 175,000 people arrived in Greece in 2016, but only about 60,000 are counted there, awaiting in camps across the nation (population 11 million). Italy received more than 180,000 by sea (population 60 million). This is not just a European crisis; there are migrants and refugees across the world (we cover some examples in our project Citizenship Deserts). In 2016, about 85,000 refugees resettled in the United States (population 324 million). They are eager to get back to school, work, life, tired of waiting and being treated as a problem. We met engineers, teachers, photographers, interpreters, construction workers, doctors, computer scientists, body-builders. We talked about politics, books and the eternally-slow asylum process and saw pictures of families and documents that proved how long they had been waiting. Everyone we met had a story to tell. A young Syrian IT specialist, who spoke English with a flawless American accent he learned by watching TV, was about to have the very-hard-to-come-by second interview, confident he would receive asylum in one of the eight countries on his list. He was ready to go, work, live his life. We have followed the story of a young graphic designer from Homs, an industrial and cultural hub and Syrias third largest city. We met him in Eko Camp, just south of the Macedonian border. He photographs moments in the camps where he and his family struggle together, after months of waiting for someone to hear their case. He maintains the Facebook group Through Refugee Eyes and wrote a letter to Donald Trump (made into a video on Al Jazeera). He dreams of going back to school and becoming a journalist. The stories we heard confirmed what we theorized: These people were abandoned by their own, often failed, nations and by the international community. Even well-intentioned officials, aid agencies and volunteers are overwhelmed. Meanwhile, refugees wait in dire conditions. They dream of going back home, but there is no home. We went to study the numbers, the larger picture, but we came away with personal stories: Fathers introducing us to their children, teenagers asking about university life, mothers hanging clean clothes over fences. We returned with a sense of powerlessness, but also with a determination to continue to work with others here in Winston-Salem and at Wake Forest University. What we are still fighting for, however, is the necessary action from governments, international agencies and local officials. The recent executive order on immigration and refugees has awakened voters, everyday citizens who firmly state not today: we will not stop welcoming refugees. There are citizens who may feel threatened by refugees, as others with no right to be here. Why dont they stay or go back to their home? We heard it again and again from the people we met: They do not want to be refugees, but there is no home to return to. Their only hope is the hospitality of other nations. Here are some local organizations that work with migrants and refugees: World Relief High Point, El Buen Pastor, CWS Greensboro, New Arrivals Institute and The Center for New North Carolinians. With decades of teaching experience in several capacities in Texas and over the past three years with The Flowertown Blossoms in Summerville, Anicia D. Brown is dead set on handing youngsters the tools to master stage acting and production, while also imparting impactful life lessons along t Read moreFlowertown Blossoms preaching the value of teamwork 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 Lets talk about offbeat news: We humans get ourselves into some interesting situations, to put it mildly. The first one made me laugh out loud. I felt bad for the cop, but lol. Read moreSmith Says: Deputy uses taser on K9 unit that attacked cow Reddit Email 0 Shares CNN International | (Video News Report with text Appendix) In an extremely rare rebuke, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren was cut off while speaking on the Senate floor. She had been reading a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King critical of Jeff Sessions, now President Donald J. Trumps nominee for attorney general, who was then a nominee to be a federal judge. CNN International: In an extremely rare rebuke, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren was cut off while speaking on the Senate APPENDIX: Text of Coretta Scott Kings letter to Strom Thurmond: March 19, 1986 The Honorable Strom Thurmond, Chairman Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Nomination of Jefferson B. Sessions U.S. Judge, southern/District of Alabama Hearing, March 13, 1986 Dear Senator Thurmond: I write to express my sincere opposition to the confirmation of Jefferson B. Sessions as a federal district court judge for the Southern District of Alabama. my professional and personal roots in Alabama are deep and lasting. Anyone who has used the power of his office as United States Attorney to intimidate and chill the free exercise of the ballot by citizens should not be elevated to our courts. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. For this reprehensible conduct, he should not be rewarded with a federal judgeship. I regret that a long?standing commitment prevents me from appearing in person to testify against this nominee. However, I have attached a copy of my statement opposing Mr. Sessions confirmation and I request that my statement as well as this letter be made a part of the?hearing record. I do sincerely urge you to oppose the confirmation of Mr. Sessions. Sincerely, Coretta Scott King cc: The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr. United States Senate 308 Senate Hart Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Reddit Email 28 Shares By Guy Laron | (Informed Comment) | An American President enters office after his progressive predecessor courted a major Middle Eastern country. The new president is not satisfied with what he perceives as a wishy-washy approach to foreign policy. He throws the emphasis on humanitarian aid out of the window. A hard-nosed businessman representing the interests of the heartland, he vows to put American interests first and those of the rest of the world second. He believes that the U.S. should strengthen its ties with its traditional allies in the Middle East: Saudi-Arabia and Israel. Guy Laron, The Six-Day War: The Breaking of the Middle East Defiance of American interests will be punished, he warns. Sounds like the current transition from the Obama administration to Trumps? True. But this description also fits what happened when Lyndon Johnson replaced John Kennedy in the White House. We cant know for certain what would be the consequences of Trumps emerging policy in the Middle East. However, we do know what was the end-result of LBJs policy shift in the Middle East: A war so devastating that its legacy still poisons the fabric of relations in the region today. The history of U.S. involvement in the Middle East during the 1960s should serve as a warning sign. Same as Obama, Kennedy believed in reaching out to those that express hostility toward the U.S. and reasoning with them. Putting money in the pockets of Third World Leaders seemed to Kennedy like a good way to cultivate good will towards America. The U.S.s foreign aid budget grew dramatically under Kennedy. Looking at the Middle East, and the wars that tore it apart, made Kennedy declare that the region needed less bombs and more tractors. Same as Obama, Kennedy made a bold move by reaching out to a regional hegemon that criticized Washington sharply. Gamal Abd al-Nassers Egypt strived to lead the Arab world in the same way that Iran today wants to unite the regions Shias. Rather than confront Nasser, Kennedy made a bold move. He offered Nasser subsidized wheat to the tune of $400 million. The result? Nasser promised to put the Arab-Israeli conflict in the ice box and honored his commitment. The Egyptian dictator also moderated his anti-American rhetoric considerably. When Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, Lyndon Johnson entered the White House with a new doctrine. He was not only a veteran politician but also a wealthy businessman who built a small media empire In Texas, his home state, using political connections. Johnson deemed bribing Americas detractors into cooperation wasteful and ineffectual. If Third World leaders wanted to get something from the U.S. they had to exhibit their loyalty. Johnson was not enamored with the idea of giving subsidized wheat to developing countries and believed that Nasser was a regional bully. By 1966 he completely closed the spigot of American economic aid to Egypt. While Johnson was stingy with economic aid, he was generous with regard to weapons. During his first four years in office he authorized numerous arms deals with what he saw as Washingtons natural allies in the Middle East Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi-Arabia and Iran. While Kennedy sent to the Middle East wheat to the tune of $400 million, Johnson sent $800 million worth of weapons. The result? An increasingly confident Israel took tough measures against its neighbors, Jordan and Syria. Nasser, losing popularity at home due to a harsh recession, escalated his anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric and vowed to help his Arab brothers. This dynamic led to the 1967 June War in which Israel clashed with an Arab military coalition. It was during this war that Israel conquered the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and started an occupation that continues until this very day. Donald Trump and his advisors are now following the footsteps of the famous Texan. While Johnson placed weapons in the hands of Israel and Iran in the name of an anti-Communist crusade, Trump suggests bolstering Israel in the name of a global war against radical Islam (Trumps alter-ego Stephen Bannon speaks about fascist Islam). A recent announcement from the White House created a precedent by maintaining that existing Israeli settlements in the West bank are not an obstacle to peace (for 40 years various administrations maintained the opposite). Trump thinks badly of Obamas rapprochement with Iran and vowed to undo the Iran deal. His National Security advisor recently put Iran on notice for conducting a missile test. As a result, Irans enemies, such as Saudi-Arabia and the Gulf States are looking forward to work with Trumps administration. The President, on his part, has already signaled that he would preserve the alliance with Riyadh. Trumps ban of refugees from Muslim countries, overturning Obamas decision to admit thousands of them, creates a lot of ill-will in the Middle East. In short, there are a number of ticking time-bombs in the Middle East and the most explosive are the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the rivalry between Saudi- Arabia and Iran. Its easy to see how Trumps policies will bring about their detonation and create a mayhem as worse as the one that afflicted the region in 1967. Guy Laron is a Senior Lecturer in the International Relations Department of the Hebrew University. He is the author of The Six-Day War: The Breaking of the Middle East (Yale University Press, 2017), to be published later this month. Reddit Email 3 Shares By Walden Bello | ( Foreign Policy in Focus ) | Trumps ban isnt about national security. Its about race, religion, and cultural exclusion. As a citizen of the Philippines whos been detained and subjected to questioning and secondary screening almost every time Ive entered the United States, I feel much sympathy for those whose freedom of movement has been violated by Donald Trump. Theres a difference in our situations though. While my being temporarily detained on almost every occasion probably stems from my long record of arrests from leading protests in the United States against the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s, Trumps controversial travel ban has nothing to do with vetting visitors. Visa holders, refugees, and U.S. permanent residents from the seven predominantly Muslim countries on the list are already among the people most tightly and comprehensively vetted by U.S. immigration and intelligence authorities, so its hard to understand how Trumps move will bring added security. Its about Immigration, Stupid What this is all about isnt national security. Its about keeping America Snow White and Prince Charming Christian. Its about immigration, in short. And its the opening salvo of Trumps determined effort to make religion a criterion for becoming part of American society. Whenever he pronounced the three words radical Islamic terrorist during his presidential campaign, he always put the stress on the second word, Islamic, and continually attacked former President Barack Obamas refusal to dignify his demagogical effort to promote the idea that Islam promotes terrorism. Trumps is a politics of exclusion, and immigration policy is his most direct method of carrying this out. Hes building a wall to keep out Mexican workers, but lets face it: Mexican for him and his followers doesnt only refer to Mexicans, but to all Latinos. When he attacks China for what he considers unfair trading practices, hes not just talking about trade. China is also a code-word for the stereotypical crafty Asian taking advantage of the American people. Even children get it, as Asian American youngsters taunted by their peers at school would testify. Trumps immigration policy, security policy, and economic policy are all intertwined, and the lynchpin of the package is fear of the Other that is, fear of those who are non-white and non-Christian. Hes both a creator and a creature of the new nativist movement that draws deep from the wellsprings of American prejudices about Latinos, Asians, Blacks, and Muslims. Its a movement fed by what he and his followers regard as a cataclysmic event: that in a few more years, white Americans will no longer be the majority of the population. More Restrictions to Come So what happens next? Trump will surely issue more executive orders on immigration, and hes sure to push for comprehensive immigration legislation along right-wing lines. But even if these fail or are delayed, current immigration procedures and legislation already provide him with a lot of power to practice his exclusionary politics. Immigration policy and processes are extraordinarily susceptible to subjective assessments and informal rules, whatever the laws on books say. Anyone whos applied for a visa to go the United States knows that theyre at the mercy of their interviewer and prey to his or her quirks, biases, and moods. Everyone who endures this process takes it for granted that there are quotas for different categories of people, even when those quotas arent formally set. Race, class, and ethnicity arent supposed to matter in assessing ones qualifications to migrate to the United States, but everyone knows that at the top of the preferred migrants or visitors are those from the Anglosphere, and that if youre non-white and not from the elite, youre way down the list of possible entrants unless you have a skill assessed as valuable to the U.S. economic machine. And Trump wants to take away even that channel with his plan to eliminate the H1B visa that allows people with specialty occupations to work in the U.S. Already highly discretionary in practice, immigration procedures will become even more discretionary under Trump. Waiting for Other Shoes to Drop My country, the Philippines, isnt on the list of seven countries yet. During his presidential campaign, Trump identified the Philippines as a haven for terrorists and among the priority countries that hed put on a blacklist. Trumps list is highly arbitrary and flexible, depending on the occasion or his mood. But even without the Philippines being on that list, you can bet that any Filipino with a Muslim name applying to enter the U.S. will find it much harder to enter America than one with a Christian name. With Trumps overt anti-Muslim stance fortifying the anti-Muslim prejudices of many in the U.S. immigration bureaucracy, its likely that if youre a young Muslim male from Mindanao, youll be pigeonholed by your interviewer as a potential security threat unless you can prove otherwise. And, as some have found, even if you do get a visa, youre not guaranteed entry: You can be put into whats called secondary screening , like Ive been, and depending on the subjective judgment of your interviewer, you may be refused entry at the airport. There are thousands of Filipino Muslims who live in the U.S., and they and their relatives go back and forth between the two countries. Their right to travel faces severe curtailment if the new immigration regime goes forward. This is why instead of saying it will respect Trumps recent order, the Philippine government should speak out publicly against it, in order to blunt the momentum of an exclusionary regime that will eventually affect its citizens. Indeed, so should all governments, whether out of decency, solidarity, or self-interest. After all, theres a strong likelihood that someday soon their citizens will be blacklisted under this racist, nativist, and culturally exclusivist regime. Walden Bello was chairman of the Philippine House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers from 2010 to 2015. Hes been put into secondary screening by U.S. immigration officials almost every time that hes entered the United States owing to his record of arrests in the U.S. while opposing the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s. Foreign Policy in Focus Related video added by Juan Cole: CBTN: Sudanese doctor leads legal charge against Trumps ban Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The the Arab press, reports that that government has withdrawn blanket permission from the Trump administration to conduct raids and drone strikes on al-Qaeda and other targets. It is sourcing one of the two Yemeni governments (that of Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi). Mansour Hadis diplomat expressed to the US reservations about the way in which the raid on in Bayda province was carried out. The US action targeted a base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the town of Yakla. The raid, in late January, appears to have killed at least 10 civilians, including an 8-year-old American girl, along with 14 al-Qaeda operatives; an American Navy Seal lost his life in the operation, as well, and three other Americans were wounded. Some observers with ties to the Seals suggest that the operation was poorly planned and turned into a fiasco. It is now being reported that Trump was told that Obama would never have actually carried out the operation, the planning for which began last fall, and that this assertion was influential in Trumps decision to go forward. (If it is true that Obama was reluctant, it was obviously because of the extreme difficulty of this sort of operation and the high likelihood something will go wrong). Other reports suggest that the point of the operation was to kill or capture AQAP leader Qassim al-Rimi. If he was the target, the mission failed, since he escaped and went on to ridicule Trump in an audio as stupid. When Trump banned Yemenis from coming to the US, he alienated many of them; one Arab newspaper said the ban left Yemenis disgusted. The US-Saudi war effort in Yemen has created thousands of refugees, who Trump now says he will not help. If I were looking for a military ally, I wouldnt treat them that way. Yemen is a basket case, beset by a civil war in which outsiders have taken sides. If even it does not want Trump running around freely in its country, despite the promise his administration holds out, of a final destruction of the Houthis and their (alleged) Iranian patrons, then the US is in real trouble. Mansour Hadi is backed by Saudi Arabia and its allies. He now holds some of largely Sunni Muslim south Yemen and the southern port of Aden. Much of northern (actually northwestern) Yemen is in the hands of the Houthi (Zaydi Shiite) militia and its ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, along with troops loyal to him. AQAP has been the most active branch of the al-Qaeda franchise in trying to find ways to hit the United States, and was responsible for the 2009 underwear bomber attempted attack over Detroit. AQAP has a special interest in non-metallic explosives, which is why TSA airport authorities often insist we be scanned for pouches of PETN; it doesnt set off the metal detectors. Yemen is extremely hostile territory for US military action. Many Yemenis, even those who dislike the Houthis, are angry about indiscriminate Saudi bombing of civilians and infrastructure. They have held large demonstrations in the capital, Sanaa, against the Saudi bombing raids. The Saudis bomb them during the demonstrations. The US has been closely associated with this Saudi war, providing refueling facilities, help with strategy, and even help with choosing specific targets for Saudi bombing runs. Many Yemenis see the US as complicit in their misery. The Zaydis in the north resent decades of Saudi hegemony, and feel that the hard line Wahhabis in Riyadh are trying to convert them from their moderate Shiism. AQAP has taken advantage of the disarray into which the country has fallen to expand the areas where it is active, in the south of the country. It is yet a third force. Zaydi militiamen and soldiers in the Yemeni military were, years ago before the civil war, among the more effective fighters against al-Qaeda. Trump on the campaign trail talked a good game against groups like AQAP. He is now encountering reality, which, whether he likes it or not, will make itself felt. The reality is that Yemen is extremely rugged, and that it is clannish, and outsiders without intimate knowledge of the people and terrain will find the country hard going. Moreover, if you were looking for Yemeni allies you might have wanted to avoid alienating the whole country by locking them out of the US. Related video: CBS This Morning: Pentagon says civilians likely killed in Yemen raid JURIST Guest Columnist Fahira Brodlija of The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, LLM Class of 2017, discusses the implications of revising a lawsuit between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia According to the former prosecutor of The Hague International Criminal Court (ICC), Geoffrey Nice, there is new evidence based on which Bosnia and Herzegovina could seek the revision of its lawsuit against Serbia which was brought before [JURIST report] the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2007. In his words: Bosnia and Herzegovina lost its lawsuit due to the lack of evidence, but since 2007, new evidence has emerged which had not been used previously. On February 26, 2007 the ICJ rendered a judgment in re Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro [PDF], deciding on the claim of Serbias violation of the Convention on the prevention and Punishment of Genocide. After 14 years of procedure, the ICJ found that the government authorities of Serbia did not (in official capacity) perform activities which constitute genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, the Court found that according to international law, Serbia was not liable for genocide in Srebrenica in July of 1995, nor did it act in conspiracy with the intention of committing genocide. The ICJ did determine Serbias violations of the Convention on Genocide in its failure to fulfill its international obligation to prevent genocide. Therefore this judgment referred to the failure to perform a duty which was undertaken by signing the aforementioned Convention. According to international law, Serbia was under strict obligation to perform actions and measures in order to prevent genocide, and it could not derogate from this obligation. In the political discourse through the year following this judgment, the possibility of the revision of this lawsuit has been brought up by Bosniac parties. However no specific steps were taken, mostly due to the lack of strong political will. On the other hand, the international community (most notably the US and the EU) did not get involved in this issue in order to prevent inflammatory nationalistic backlash. The Serbian member of the Presidency, Mladen Ivanic has recently stated that even if Bosnia and Herzegovina was able to fulfill the onerous requirements to re-open the case before the ICJ based on new evidence, the decision to do so would have to come from the Presidency, for which he would not give his consent. Therefore, the Court would not even be approached for this matter. In light of the information on the new evidence in this case, it would be interesting to see the new conclusions drawn by the ICJ and the potential consequences of a new outcome different from the one in 2007. However, it is most likely that this will be another missed opportunity by Bosnia and Herzegovina to obtain justice at the international level due to the lack of political consensus and efficiency of the competent authorities. The statute of limitation for a new claim lapses February 26, 2017. Fahira Brodlija is a current LLM student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and graduated from the Sarajevo Faculty of Law in June 2016. Her main fields of interest are international arbitration and commercial law which she developed through the International Vis Moot competition in Vienna where she was involved both as a participant and coach. She is also involved in the NGO sector as a member of the Association Arbitri. Suggested citation: Fahira Brodlija, The Emergence of Evidence Opens the Door for Another Lawsuit by Bosnia and Herzegovina Against Serbia , JURIST Student Commentary, Feb. 7, 2017, http://jurist.org/dateline/2017/02/Fahira-Brodlija-herzegovina-and-serbia.php [JURIST] At least 20 people were reported to have been killed and 41 injured on Tuesday following a terrorist attack [Al Jazeera report] at the Supreme Court in Kabul, Afghanistan. It is believed that the perpetrator wore a suicide vest and targeted people who were exiting the courthouse. The Taliban is suspected, as they have attacked Afghan courthouses in the past. This attack comes after a recent UN report that civilian casualties [JURIST report] in Afghanistan have reached record highs. Civilian casualties continue to be a primary issue in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. In February of last year UN reported [JURIST report] that civilian casualties in Afghanistan had reached a record high 11,000 in 2015. Last June, three Taliban gunmen attacked [JURIST report] a court building in eastern Afghanistan, killing seven people including a newly appointed chief prosecutor. In November 2015 the US Department of Defense and Pentagon officials completed their investigation [JURIST report] into the October 3 bombing of the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, and announced [statement] that it was an avoidable accident caused primarily by human error. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) [official website] will grant the final permit for the Dakota Access oil pipeline [USACE backgrounder] after an order from President Donald Trump to expedite the process, according to a court document [text, PDF] filed Tuesday. The USACE stated that they would grant the final easement necessary to finish construction of the pipeline despite opposition from Native American tribes and climate activists. One of Trumps very first acts in office was to sign a presidential memoranda ordering the removal of obstacles [JURIST report] to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. As proposed, the pipeline is being built on contested land that Native American tribes consider sacred. Furthermore, the pipeline crosses under Lake Oahe, which concerns environmentalists. North Dakotas Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is expected to challenge [Reuters report] the granting of the easement. The tribes attorneys are arguing that the easement cannot legally be granted at this time. The Dakota Access Pipeline [informational website] is a partially constructed oil pipeline that would transport more than 470,000 barrels of oil per day over its 1,172 mile length through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. In December the USACE announced [JURIST report] that an alternate route will be investigated for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The controversy surrounding the project is connected with its proposed proximity to multiple large bodies of water that could become irreparably contaminated should the pipeline fail. Protesters have made camp at the site since early summer and are led in part by the Indigenous Environmental Network [advocacy website] and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe [official website]. Conflict between protesters and police has been condemned by both the UN and the American Civil Liberties Union. In November the ACLU reported that police at the Standing Rock site in North Dakota used life-threatening weapons to control protesters [JURIST report]. Earlier that month a UN rights group released a statement expressing concerns that the US government is ignoring treaty rights, as well as human rights [JURIST report] of Native Americans and others that are protesting the DAPL. [JURIST] The European Union on Tuesday appointed [press release] 19 international judges for a special court in Kosovo that will prosecute war crimes committed between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2000. Twelve of the judges come from countries within the EU and countries such as the US and Canada. The President of the Specialist Chambers, Dr Ekaterina Trendafilova, expressed satisfaction with those selected saying that she believes that they, without any doubtwill greatly contribute to our mandate of ensuring fair and efficient justice. She stated that she plans to convene the judges soon so that they can adopt the Rules of Procedure and Evidence. Last year the Dutch government announced [JURIST report] the establishment of a special court being set up in The Hague to investigate and try alleged war crimes committed by ethnic Albanian rebels during and after Kosovos 1998-99 guerilla war. War crimes committed during the Kosovo War had been prosecuted in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, but relations between Serbia and Kosovo remain strained. In July of last year, 11 Kosovo Albanian men were sentenced [JURIST report] to prison for war crimes. In February 2014 Serbias war crimes court convicted [JURIST report] nine former paramilitaries for their involvement in the genocide of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1999. Two former Serbian secret service officials were arrested [JURIST report] under suspicion that they planned the 1999 killing of an anti-government journalist. In 2013 Amnesty International accused [JURIST report] the UN Mission in Kosovo of failing to adequately investigate war crimes committed during the conflict. Kosovo held its first local elections [JURIST report] in November 2013 since it seceded from Serbia in 2008. Serbia still does not recognize the secession. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] 2-1 Tuesday that immigrants who are caught entering the US illegally have no right to legal representation in an expedited hearing. A law passed in 1996 allows Customs and Border Protection officers to use a process of expedited removal to remove immigrants who are caught within 100 miles of the border without valid documentation. Immigrants who are subject to expedited removal are not given a lawyer, nor do they receive a trial. The appeals court upheld the deportation of a Mexican immigrant who was returned to his country the day after being arrested while crossing the US border in 2012, finding that his expedited removal was not fundamentally unfair. One judge dissented, stating he would hold that there is a due process right to counsel during expedited removal proceedings. Right to counsel in immigration proceedings remains a controversial topic. In September the Ninth Circuit ruled that children facing deportation proceedings may not file a class action suit [JURIST report] to determine whether they are entitled to an attorney as a due process right. The opinion reversed in part a ruling that determined the federal courts had jurisdiction to hear the class action lawsuit on constitutional grounds. The three-judge panel ruled instead that the Immigration and Nationality Act [text] exclusive review process applied, necessitating that each individual plaintiff file an appeal in the federal court after all deportation proceedings were exhausted. In 2014 then-US Attorney General Eric Holder argued in a speech at the Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the Hispanic National Bar Association hat migrant children who come across the border unaccompanied should have legal representation [JURIST report]. The Maryland Court of Appeals [official website] adopted a rule [press release] on Tuesday ending the practice of holding criminal defendants in jail before trial when they cannot afford bail. The rule does not abolish the practice of required money for bail [Baltimore Sun report] but instructs judges to seek other ways of ensuring a defendant appears for trial. The rule keeps the option of money bail but provides judicial discretion to find other options when appropriate. It was argued that keeping defendants in jail solely because they could not afford bail is unconstitutional and that if there is a concern of public safety, then it is better to hold defendants without bond rather than placing a high bail amount in order to keep them behind bars. Some other options besides setting a bail amount are pretrial supervision and electronic monitoring. The new rule will take effect July 1. The treatment of prisoners and prison reform [JURIST podcast] has been a matter of ongoing concern in the US. In March the Department of Justice urged state court systems to stop jailing defendants for their failure to pay fines [JURIST report]. Last February the Supreme Court of California ruled [JURIST report] that Governor Jerry Brown can put his plan to ease prison overcrowding on the ballot this November. In January of last year the US Supreme Court ruled that a landmark decision banning mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles should apply retroactively [JURIST report]. In February 2015 rights group Equal Justice Under Law filed suit [JURIST report] against the cities of Ferguson and Jennings, Missouri, for their practice of jailing citizens who fail to pay debts owed to the city for minor offenses and traffic tickets. Perus Attorney General Pablo Sanchez sought the arrest of former president Alejandro Toledo Tuesday on charges of laundering of assets and influence trafficking. Peruvian prosecutors opened a formal investigation earlier this week into allegations that Toledo took USD $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht [corporate website], a Brazilian construction company. It is believed that Toledo received the funds in exchange for allowing the company to build a highway connecting Brazil with the Peruvian coast. Toledo is supposedly in Paris and has denied the charges [AP report]. In the last several years Peru has been plagued with corruption scandals involving their presidents and leaders. Toledo was elected President in 2001 and was the countrys first native president. His administration was marked with allegations of voter fraud and indictments against former heads of staff and agencies [BBC profile]. In July Alberto Fujimori, Perus former leader who was jailed in 2007, submitted an additional request for a presidential pardon [JURIST report] after all previous petitions were denied. Fujimori is serving a 25-year sentence after being convicted in 2009 of committing human rights abuses during his 1990-2000 rule [JURIST report]. The Constitutional Court of Romania [official website, in Romanian] ruled [press release, in Romanian] unanimously Tuesday that a bill permitting the conversion of Swiss francs to Romanian currency was unconstitutional. The bill which was passed [Daily Mail report] last year was meant to help mortgage holders who were behind on their payments due to the rise in value of the franc. The court held the move was unconstitutional as it violated multiple provisions and differed in it final passage: The law, in the version adopted by the Chamber of Deputies, departs substantially so the text adopted in the Senate and the objectives of the legislative initiative, by modifications Chamber decision regulating provisions were never in any way made the Senate debate, as a first notified Chamber. These changes are significant, substantive, and of lack of the parties agreement regarding the conversion operations of credit agreements and the conversion exchange rate Swiss Franc / lion as of the date of conclusion of the credit agreement, and not the date of conversion. The Court also found that the law subject to constitutional review governing an unpredictability applicable ope legis, expressly providing duty creditors credit agreements in Swiss francs to be converted in lei of the balance of credit expressed in Swiss francs to the exchange rate of the Bank Romanias national true when the contract / agreement credit in Swiss francs The ruling comes as Romania deals with massive public uprising. The Romanian justice ministry in January published a draft of a plan to lower prison overcrowding that involves pardons for thousands of prisoners [JURIST report], but the plan was met with protests around the country. The government of Romania on Saturday repealed a decree [JURIST report] enacted earlier in the week that had decriminalized corruption offenses and official misconduct in which the damages were less than 44,000. Romanias Justice Minister Florin Iordache, the man who originally introduced the corruption decree that sparked large protests, announced [JURIST report] on Monday morning that he would soon publish details of an alternative bill to update the criminal code. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny [personal blog] was found guilty of embezzlement on Wednesday and suspended sentenced of five years and a 500,000-rouble (USD 8,500) fine by a court in Kirov, Russia. Navalny runs the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which investigates the Russian government, and announced he would run for president [BBC report] in 2018. Under Russian law, a prison term for an embezzlement conviction would ban a candidate from running for election. However, Navalny stated that he still intends to run in the presidential election and believes the conviction is an attempt by the government to block his candidacy [Reuters report]. The ruling comes just months after Russias Supreme Court overturned [JURIST report] his embezzlement conviction. This is not the first time Navalny has trouble with the Russian legal system. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered [JURIST report] Russia to pay more than 63,000 for arresting Navalny multiple times between March 2012 and February 2014. In May a Moscow court declined [JURIST report] authorities request to convert Navalnys suspended sentence into a prison term. He had been convicted of fraud and sentenced to three-and-a-half-years suspended sentence. In 2015 Navalny was handed [JURIST report] a 15-day prison sentence for distributing leaflets attempting to publicize an anti-crisis demonstration. In 2014 Navalny and his brother, Oleg Navalny, were charged [JURIST report] with embezzling approximately 30 million rubles (USD $518,000) from French cosmetics company, Yves Rocher Vostok, and the Multidisciplinary Processing Company by a fraud scheme between 2008 and 2012. The Sri Lankan [official website] Foreign Minster [official website] said Wednesday that the country will petition the UN for more time to investigate the allegations of war crimes occurring during the countrys 26-year-long civil war [BBC country profile]. Sri Lanka promised the UN in 2015 to investigate the estimated 65,000 missing peoples from the civil war with the Tamil Tigers. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera communicated that the government would seek an extension at the next UN human rights session that begins at the end of this month. The global community has been calling on the Sri Lankan government to create more accountability, most recently since the end of the Sri Lankan civil war. Last month a Sri Lankan panel of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms recommended the appointment of a hybrid court composed of local and international judges to oversee the adjudication of allegations of war crimes committed during the nations civil war [JURIST report]. Late last year the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Rita Izsak-Ndiaye urged the Sri Lankan government to better protect minorities [JURIST report]. The UN released a report in 2015 finding that war crimes may have been committed [JURIST report] during the war. Later in 2015 the President of Sri Lanka rejected [JURIST report] a UN recommendation for international involvement in its domestic investigation of the war crimes. The US House of Representatives [official website] on Monday approved HR 387 [text], a bipartisan bill that updates US privacy laws in regards to e-mail and cloud storage. Most importantly, the bill will require law enforcement to obtain a warrant before searching US citizens data that has been stored with third-party service providers. The previous law, adopted in 1986, allowed searches without warrants for data stored for more than 180 days as if that data had been abandoned. Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), the sponsor of the bill, said [House record] it was necessary to reflect the fact that 232 million Americans send an email at least once per month. Governments around the world have re-examined their data privacy laws in the wake of a myriad of data leaks, including the Edward Snowden [JURIST backgrounder] leaks. National governments around the world have attempted [JURIST op-ed] to gain control over data transferred within their borders. In October 2015 the European Court of Justice ruled [JURIST report] that EU user data transferred to the US was not sufficiently protected. In June 2015 a court in The Hague struck down [JURIST report] a Dutch law that allowed the government to retain telephone and Internet data of Dutch citizens for up to 12 months in an effort to combat terrorism and organized crime. Zimbabwes Constitutional Court rejected a case on Wednesday alleging that President Robert Mugabe [Britannica profile] is unfit to hold office because of his age, holding that the applicant failed to follow proper court filing procedures. Mugabe, who has been in office since 1980, will turn 93 [Al Jazeera report] this month. Promise Mkwananzi, part of the Tajamuka movement [Facebook page], filed the application with the court and has 30 days to refile the application properly. The group criticized the dismissal [statement], saying: This should never have been the case as the constitution says that the court should not be technical in constitutional applications. In essence, the judges conveniently avoided to look into the strong evidence presented before them. Although many critics are calling for Mugabe to step down, members of the ZANU-PF political party have said they want him to run again next year. The Zimbabwe government has faced criticism and legal action in the past. In October the Harare High Court in Zimbabwe upheld [JURIST report] a 30-day ban against protests in the capital, despite calls from Amnesty International for the ban to be lifted. In February of last year the chief prosecutor of Zimbabwe was charged with obstructing justice [JURIST report] after he dropped a case against the men accused of plotting to bomb a dairy operated by members of Mugabes family. In 2015 the EU General Court upheld sanctions [JURIST report] placed on individuals and companies in Zimbabwe. Volkswagen and General Motors Europe took different paths to the same place. Opel and Vauxhall were in the B-SUV segment years before almost all others with the Mokka. Meanwhile, VW still has no small SUV but dominates several larger classes in EU markets. Soon, GM Europe will begin adding three more SUVs in an attempt to take on Europes number one brand. Gamma 2 architecture for global B-SUVs The GU1O Mokka has always been a likeable car but not necessarily a class leader when it comes to chassis dynamics. Does that matter to the majority of buyers? Not too much. The Mokka and its relatives sold by other General Motors brands are a combined very big deal for the US company. They also prove just how agile GM can be when it needs to be five years on, where are Volkswagen and TMC in this segment? The VW brand has shown several design studies (T-ROC/T-Cross) but a production model is yet to appear, while the Toyota C-HR is only now ramping up at plants in Japan and Turkey with US sales yet to begin. GM has some talented chassis engineers within its ranks as can be seen from the excellence of the soon to be replaced Insignia, as well as the latest Astra. In small SUVs though, Peugeot leads, and many, many other brands compete in the second tier. The competitors in this segment are almost too many to list, with the global GM range alone comprising multiple nameplates. In Europe its the recently facelifted and renamed Opel Mokka X and Vauxhall Mokka X so as to create an SUV-identifying suffix for the brands. In North America and the PRC, the Chevrolet Trax/Trax Chuangku and Buick Encore are differently styled versions of the same car, Brazils Mexican-made Chevy is the Tracker, while down in Australia and New Zealand, Holden has the Trax. GMs G2XX series B-SUVs: big in China too? Europe might be the main battleground for B-SUVs today but things are really hotting up in China. There, the segment is led by Honda and Haval. Great Wall Motor had the number two best selling vehicle last year, the H6, a C-segment/Compact SUV being that model. More than 580,000 were sold in 2016. It was a big gap from there down to the most popular B-SUV, that honour going to the Haval H2. Its 196,926 registrations sound a lot but they only gave the model 22nd position in the sales charts. Two versions of the same vehicle, the Guangqi-Honda Vezel (164,076) and the Dongfeng Honda XR-V (161,711) are much of the reason why the Japanese brand is now bigger in China than Toyota. VW remains Chinas number one brand but still has no rival for these big three small SUVs. Buick sold just 71,945 Encores in 2016 but this was far better than the 42,393 units of the Ford EcoSport which were registered. As the above numbers are meant to show, brand loyalty is not something which seems to be much of a factor in China, as endless numbers of young buyers continue to choose an SUV as their first new car. In Europe, by contrast, such models are often favoured by older people, attracted by the high driving position, ease of entry and accessibility of the boot. Yet to do well in this class, you have to have something new to offer, as the reversal of sales positions for the Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur during the last six months has demonstrated. The Peugeot had a facelift last year and immediately pulled ahead of the Renault, which still hasnt had a styling refresh despite being of a similar age. Soon, Volkswagen will reveal its entry to the class and this might finally awaken Germans to the appeals of small SUVs such vehicles are still only a small segment of that market. UK is largest EU market for Mokka Since 2012, the Mokka, recently replaced by the new Mokka X, has found more than 120,000 buyers in the UK, the models largest market in Europe. This Corsa-sized crossover/SUV had its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March 2012, going on sale in LHD European markets in October 2012. The Opel and the Vauxhall reached dealers in Ireland and the UK respectively from November 2012. There was also once a variant of this small SUV for Chevrolet Europe. This was the Trax, which had its global debut at the Paris motor show in September 2012. The Holden-badged version of the Trax for Australia and New Zealand was launched there in September 2013. Build: originally at Bupyeong, now at Figuerelas In July 2013, Opel and Vauxhall stated that CKD assembly of the Mokka would commence at Zaragoza from the second half of 2014. The company went on to state, While the initial European production will be based on Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits, with parts coming from Korea, localisation will gradually increase. An investment equivalent to US$80m was made in the Spanish plant for Mokka assembly. Build commenced in September 2014. Why Mokka X, no longer just Mokka? The Mokka X had its world premiere at the Geneva motor show in March 2016. As well as some mild styling changes, and alongside the existing 1.6-litre so-called Whisper diesel engines, the X gained GMs latest 1.4-litre Direct Injection Turbo combined with automatic transmission, Start/Stop and all-wheel drive. Production of the Mokka X commenced at Figuerelas/Zaragoza in September 2016. GM Europe was clever in making the facelift more than just a quick nip and tuck. The revised model looks genuinely different and should be enough to keep the Mokka selling well until its successor enters production in the third quarter of 2019. The big challenge will come from the second half of 2017, which is when Volkswagens entry in this segment will finally appear. There is a lot to recommend in the newly updated Vauxhall. Its very roomy, especially in the front and due to the way the seats are positioned, those in the back have lots of glass not only to their sides but also ahead of them. If youre used to a Mazda CX-3, then the handling might seem slightly disappointing but compared to a Ford EcoSport, the Mokka X is very car-like. There is a commendable amount of grip, even in front-wheel variants too. Peugeot was clever to make the 2008s interior look quite sporty with that small steering wheel but the Vauxhall takes a different approach. G2UO the next Mokka X A replacement for the Mokka X is expected to appear at the Geneva motor show in 2019, and then to be in showrooms in October/November of that year. Opel stated in December 2016 that the car would be built from 2019 at its Eisenach plant. More Opel & Vauxhall SUVs coming soon Opel and Vauxhall will be aiming to make up for much lost ground in the SUV segments above the Mokka X with various additional models set to appear from May onwards. The roll-out of fresh metal starts with the addition of G2MO, which is the code for the Crossland X. Production is scheduled to start in April at the same Spanish plant which makes the Mokka X. An effective replacement for the discontinued Meriva, this B-crossover was revealed to the media in January. The cars public debut will be at the Geneva motor show. LHD cars will be in showrooms in May, with RHD Opel and the Vauxhall versions following a month later. After the Crossland X, Opel and Vauxhall move their attentions to the C-SUV segment. The Grandland X will be the replacement for the Antara, even though the latter will have been out of production for some eighteen months by the time the successor goes on sale. The Grandland X will also serve as the Zafira Tourers successor even though that model should remain in production for a few years yet. The public debut should be at this years Frankfurt IAA with the Grandland X due to be in Opel and Vauxhall showrooms during the first quarter of 2018. Production will take place in France at Groupe PSAs Sochaux plant. Volkswagen has long had much success in the E-SUV segment with the Touareg and Opel-Vauxhall wants some of that volume. In March 2014, the companies CEO head K-T Neumann told the media that an additional Opel/Vauxhall model as well as a Buick for export to North America would be built at Russelsheim. Due to competitive reasons, details about this car will not be announced until the end of the year, Opels statement added. In November 2014 came slightly more information when Neumann and GMs CEO Mary Barra announced the future production of a new SUV at Ruesselsheim. This will be Opel and Vauxhalls co-flagship with the Insignia, the leaders claimed. Speculation suggests the Monza X model name might be used for this vehicle, though something ending with land is the obvious other alternative. Build will more than likely be on the same line at Opels main plant as is used to make the Insignia: the Monza X would share that vehicle series Epsilon 2 architecture. Expect production to commence in 2019, which will link nicely into a cycle of SUV additions and replacements: this is also when Mokka 2 is set to be released. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Drinks Daily News The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Drinks Weekly News A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Drinks Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter Finlands Makua Foods has said its Happy Reindeer liquorice brand will enter more overseas markets in 2017. Happy Reindeer products are already on sale in the UK but Makua Foods, which sells the confectionery through its candy-making arm Makulaku, is eyeing more markets this year. Happy Reindeer will be in the USA and Canada during the spring and in many countries in southern and northern Europe during 2017, Jorma Alanen, executive vice president for Makua Foods, said today (8 January). Makulaku is also exhibiting in March at Foodex in Tokyo to open new markets in Asia. Makulaku exports around 50% of its production. Its largest export market is Sweden but the company is looking for strong growth from its export markets, Alanen said. To try to support its growth ambitions, Makua Foods has invested in a new liquorice production line at its Makalaku factory. The new line has doubled the plants capacity and also given the company the ability to make new types of products, Alanen said. Makulakus production capacity increases significantly with this new line, Alanen insisted. On top of that, we have a possibility to produce new types of products since the cooking and extrusion process can be controlled much more strictly with the latest technology. After the investment, Makulaku has the possibility of producing many different types of individually wrapped and multi-packed bars. The company, meanwhile, has made changes to the recipe of its Happy Reindeer liquorice to ensure the confectionery is now organic and vegan. The new recipe was launched at the ISM confectionery industry trade show in Cologne last month. There is great demand in the market for organic liquorice suitable for vegans, and as far as we know Makulaku is the only company in the world to make this type of filled liquorice, Makua Foods Risto Jamsen said. City mayor named chief of rivers From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-02-07 10:43 Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong has been named head of local rivers as part of a national plan to make civil servants personally responsible for improving waterways, the city government said yesterday. The scheme appoints river chiefs charged with cleaning up polluted waterways and overseeing long-term sustainability. Shanghai vice Mayor Chen Yin was named the deputy river chief, given personal responsibility to preserve river quality. The city government aims to clean up all polluted rivers and other waterways by the end of the year. Any river chief being found neglecting duties will be severely punished, Bai Tinghui, director of the Shanghai Water Authority told reporters yesterday. It is the first time that leading officials personal performance has been closely related with river quality within their jurisdictions. The water authority and environment watchdog will inspect the quality of the waterways with the strictest standards and the results will be related to the officials work evaluations, Bai said. Apart from the chief and deputy heads of rivers, district Party chiefs and directors have been named river chiefs for the waterways flowing within their areas. The heads of subdistricts and townships were appointed as the secondary river chiefs for creeks and smaller rivers. The names and phone numbers of water chiefs will be publicized on bulletin boards along each river and waterway for residents to contact with concerns, and to allow residents to monitor their work. Their duties are not only to improve the water quality but also to protect the waters from being polluted again, said Liu Xiaotao, deputy director with the water authority. The city has found 630 kilometers of polluted rivers, mainly in suburban districts, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau says. Tailored clean-up plans have been made for each river and waterway, including dredging dried watercourses and demolishing illegal structures along the river banks. Dredging and demolition has already stated along about 330km of polluted rivers. The entire project is due to be finished by the end of September, said Fang Fang, deputy director of the citys environmental protection bureau. The water authority is still conducting a survey to find polluted waterways, especially those hidden beneath villages and farmland, Bai said. Nationwide, river chiefs have been appointed in more than a dozen provinces and cities, mostly southern provinces rich in water resources. After receiving encouragement and praise from Premier Li Keqiang one year ago, some miners at the Guandi Mine of the Shanxi Coking Coal Group started their own business ventures in Shanxi. On Jan 5, 2016, Premier Li visited the Guandi Mine, hailing the miners there as the backbone of Shanxi province and the entire country. Wearing a miners uniform, he descended 300 meters into the mine and spent two hours inspecting the mining operations safety conditions and even asked about the mines gas density via a telephone call. Shi Haiqing, the person who spoke with Premier Li on the phone, still remembered the Premiers sayings on mine safety. The visit to Shanxi was the Premiers first domestic inspection last year. During what was then a sluggish coal market then, his visit encouraged the workers and stressed the necessity to cut and upgrade traditional production capacity. He also called for mass entrepreneurship and innovation in the coal mine, and stressed creating more employment opportunities for those laid off from the cuts to extra production capacity. After shaking hands with Premier Li, Zhao Honglong, one of the miners, became more active in his work. He said shaking hands with Premier Li was an honor, and he would work harder to live up to the Premiers trust. Song Jianjun, head of Guandi Mine, said that the mines annual production target was cut to 3.9 million tons from the previous 5 million tons, while they increased production efficiency by adopting new technologies, innovating working methods and cultivating skilled talent. In 2016, the mine set up nine annual programs, accomplished 54 technology innovations and reform projects with many of them receiving awards, Song said. Shanxi Coking Coal Group set up an innovation base in June 2016, which incubated 26 startups and 70 percent of them were founded by staff that was laid off. Lv Jun, a former worker in a mining company, set up a company that promotes mining safety through interesting cartoons. The Premier encouraged us to innovate, so we corresponded to his calling, and started this company with our own skills, Lv said. The mining workers devoted themselves, expanded their minds and explored more ways in the mining career, and that is their character and responsibility, said Wu Huatai, president of the Shanxi Coking Coal Group. VIXX's N (Sassy Go Go) is the latest to join the cast of the upcoming OCN time travel crime drama Tunnel starring Choi Jin Hyuk (Pride and Prejudice) and Yoon Hyun Min(Beautiful Mind). He plays a mysterious police officer with the same name as our time traveling detective and holds the key to his time traveling. Well, that definitely sounds like an interesting and important character! Tunnel is about a violent crimes detective from the past that travels through time to the present day. Choi Jin Hyuk plays a detective from the 1980's who was trying to catch a killer when he time travels through a tunnel to present day Seoul. He partners with Yoon Hyun Min who has a sharp intellect and is very skilled at his job. Sign Up to receive email updates of kdrama reviews, casting news, trailers, and more. Source:KdramaKisses Copyright 2015-2017 by Kdrama Kisses. All rights reserved. For three decades I have been involved in public education policy in our state. I am a former member of the Nebraska State Board of Education, where I served for nearly eight years. At all points my focus has been to improve the educational outcomes of our children. Betsy DeVos would not have been my first choice for Secretary of Education, but she was President Trumps nominee and the Senate has confirmed her. DeVos was closely vetted by someone who I trust our U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer. Fischer secured passage of an amendment to the Every Student Succeeds Act the law that replaced No Child Left Behind reinforcing the need for state and local control for education. Fischer, who has a long track record as a local school board member, and whose mother taught in public schools for 30 years, received express written commitments from DeVos addressing Fischers concerns. In particular, DeVos confirmed to Fischer in writing that vouchers and charters should not be mandated by the federal government. Such decisions, DeVos wrote, are a state and school district matter. In her letter to Fischer, Ms. DeVos wrote supportively of returning control over education decisions to states and local communities in general. As a State Board of Education member, we fought daily against the interference of the federal government in the lives of our Nebraska schools. I am pleased and encouraged that Fischer elicited this promise from DeVos to leave decisions about charters, vouchers and the like to us. And I was pleased to read that DeVos supports local control of schools in general. During her time in the U.S. Senate, Fischer has made sound decisions that have benefited our state and our nation. I trust her judgment on this. Bob Evnen, Lincoln I dont know about you, but Im all Trumped-out, so this is a column about my 6-year-old orange tabby, Albert, the most unusual cat Ive known. Alberts had major life adjustments to make over the past year, and hes handled them with creativity and aplomb. A little background: Albert came to us at age 12 weeks. Hed spent his infancy on a farmhouse porch surrounded by dogs and free-range chickens. So when our aggressive 110-pound Great Pyrenees, Maggie, stuck her muzzle in his face, he jumped on her head. She thought it was the best thing that ever happened, and adopted the kitten for life. Hence Alberts first nickname: The Orange Dog. Besides spending most of his time among dogs, he appointed himself my personal companion, following me everywhere on our farm. One time he climbed in with the chickens and got into a standoff with the rooster glaring at each other like Mexican prizefighters. He showed no interest in birds after that. Most doglike of all, Albert normally obeyed when called. Id put the big dogs up every night, holler his name, and pick out his orange eyes with a flashlight as he came hustling for bedtime duty. After we adopted another tiny orange tabby abandoned along our road, Albert learned to let himself into the bathroom towel closet for kitten-free napping. Youd hear the soft thump of the spring-loaded door as he came and went. Otherwise, he and young Martin tussled playfully like the Pink Panther and Kato, the martial arts houseboy. Another time, he took my side in a fight with his adoptive mother. I was furious with Maggie for bullying Dianes elderly basset hound. Albert arched his back, pinned his ears and stalked the dog with a clear intent to thrash her all 10 pounds of him. She slunk away until I nailed her with a weathered cows thighbone she carried around. Message delivered; crisis averted. Soon enough, Albert had eradicated mice from the feed room. He began traveling to the neighbors hay barn about a half mile away in search of rodents to kill. Hed sometimes stay gone overnight, which worried me for fear of coyotes. Sometimes the dogs and I would walk over there to fetch him. Hed run to us, rub-a-dub on everybodys legs and then follow us home. We must have made a comical sight: three guard dogs, two basset hounds, and a creamsicle-colored tomcat parading across a cow pasture. Then last spring I fell from a horse, breaking three ribs and buggering up my hip. I was in serious pain for six weeks. Albert dramatically changed his habits. No more cross-country expeditions. He stayed indoors comforting me. He even appeared to recognize the theme music to Boston Red Sox broadcasts. After I became mobile again, he resumed prowling. Last October, we moved back to Little Rock. I worried about how Albert would adapt. I neednt have worried. Like many older neighborhoods our new house is 100 years old Hillcrest has a lot of rats. These smug city rodents have never met an experienced country cat. Theres a new sheriff in town. He carries their freshly slain corpses over a rock wall like a small leopard, leaving them for the dogs to admire. Hence Alberts new nickname: The Sheriff. As rat-huntings best at night, homebody Martin (aka The Deputy) has pretty much inherited sleep aide duties. His own specialty is burrowing under the covers like a groundhog, and snuggling between us all night. Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of The Hunting of the President. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. A victim of child sex abuse allegedly carried out by a Catholic priest from Tonbridge has spoken out about the horrific abuse he suffered at the hands of a "devious predator". The victim, who must remain anonymous for legal reasons, successfully claimed compensation from the church last year after Monsignor Michael Smith took his own life before the case against him could be taken to court. A parish priest at Corpus Christi Church in Lyons Crescent for 19 years, the 63-year-old was arrested in December 2010 on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child but was found dead after taking fatal doses of a prescription painkiller in April 2011. "The abuse has had a wide-ranging impact on my life, affecting my relationships with friends and family and my progress in education and work," said the victim, who was a teenager when abused. "I experienced feelings of depression and anxiety during and after the abuse and, although less severely, these feelings continue today. "At the time of the abuse I was unable to focus on my studies and this was detrimental to my grades at school. I feel the abuse and aftermath of it have irreversibly changed me as a person." The victim said Smith's suicide made him feel as if the priest had "escaped facing responsibility" and made him "disappointed and angry". The mother of the victim also spoke to Kent Live about how the abuse impacted on her son and family. "Now in later life, knowing the cause of our child's trauma [has given me] feelings of grief at all the lost years, and more guilt and shame that I was unable to protect my child from such a devious predator," she said. "I feel no emotion and have no sympathy for Smith's suicide, only a sense of relief that he can never harm my family again." The victim said he felt "very let down" by the Catholic church in the way the case was handled. "Though their public message is one of compassion for victims I feel they have often treated me with contempt," he added, "And I have been left with the impression that the Church will try anything to avoid accepting responsibility for the actions of their clergy. The victim said he now describes himself an atheist following the abuse, and called the church "callous and hypocritical" in its treatment of abuse survivors. He did say however that pursuing a civil claim helped him feel some responsibility has been accepted for the abuse. "The damages eventually won have given me a feeling of security that has helped me to move on with my life and plan for the future instead of dwelling in the past," he said. Police said the case was fully investigated A Kent Police spokesman said: "Enquiries into the case continued after the death of Father Smith. "It was fully investigated, and Kent Police spoke with a number of witnesses that were identified as possible victims. "The case was never concluded and hence the evidence was never tested in court." The Catholic church's response A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Southwark said: "Allegations were passed on to the safeguarding office of the Diocese of Southwark in 2011 in relation to Father Michael Smith, a priest of the diocese. "With the active cooperation of the safeguarding office the police began investigations into the allegations, and an arrest followed. "The death of Father Michael Smith before the conclusion of investigations meant the case against him could not be progressed to court. "The diocese follows the safeguarding procedures that the Catholic church in England and Wales has developed over many years, and treats all allegations relating to safeguarding with the utmost seriousness and professionalism. "We always make every effort to handle such situations with sensitivity, and endeavour to be supportive of all involved. Any form of abuse is wrong, and has profound effects on the victims, and often on their family and many others. "We are required to follow statutory and other procedures, but it is always the intention to be sympathetic and caring when allegations are brought forward." What the victim's lawyer had to say (Image: Paul Harmer Photography Ltd) The victim's lawyer Dino Nocivelli, a specialist child abuse solicitor at Bolt Burdon Kemp, said: "My message to any survivor of child abuse is clear break the silence of your child abuse. "You will be believed, you are not alone and the abuse was not your fault. "Survivors of child abuse often find going through a criminal and civil case enables them to obtain a sense of justice and closure and this helps the recovery process after abuse. "The church needs to refocus its efforts on protecting children and where abuse has taken place, the church needs to embrace survivors and their families rather than shunning them. "It is time for the church to practise what they preach and to admit their failings, to take account of the damage this has caused to the lives of far too many children and lastly to apologise for the abuse." Anybody affected by this story can call the Samaritans on 116 123 anytime for confidential emotional support. The importance of voting cannot be understated On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will head to the polls to choose who will serve as governor, lieutenant governor, state comptroller, attorney general, state Assembly... Spindle Items ..CRASH DETECTION The much-touted crash detection feature of the new iPhone 14 automatically dials 911 if it calculates that the vehicle has been in... Out of the Past 25 Years AgoNov. 5, 1997 The Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Board of Education began the planning stages of hiring a new superintendent Monday. Dr. Donald Ogilvie... Community engagement through ThoughtExchange The Sweet Home Central School District is in the early stages of building and implementing a new strategic plan designed to ensure relevancy in our... 54 Shares Share As Ive listened to the confirmation hearings for cabinet nominees, Ive realized that no one with health care IT expertise has been identified by the transition team. I continue to ask all my colleagues about any contact theyve had with anyone advising the new administration. So far, no one has been asked anything by anyone related to health care IT. At this early time in the administration, its important to offer advice as to the priorities ahead for the next few years. What would I recommend to the new administration? Heres my five-point plan: 1. Focus on enabling infrastructure instead of asking for pledges to share more data (the pledge idea should never be used again for anything), create the enabling components that will make data sharing easier. 21st Century Cures asks the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to research the costs and benefits of a national health care identifier. Lets create a national health care identifier and be done with it. Its the simplest and most reliable way to coordinate care across multiple providers and heterogeneous EHRs. Lets create a national directory of electronic provider addresses that any application can query to make data exchange simpler. Lets create a unified baseline privacy policy and universal consent for data sharing across all 50 U.S. states. As Ive said many times, you cannot tell the clinicians to drive unless you build roads first. Suggesting that cars cannot drive because of transportation blocking when roads dont exist is just an excuse for lack of infrastructure. Also, the federal government needs to practice what it preaches. If Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs dont share with each other or if all federal agencies dont abide by industry-adopted standards and business practices, then the private sector cannot be criticized. 2. Reduce clinician burden and prescriptive regulations while moving to an outcomes focus. Demanding that my ophthalmologist report smoking cessation and vital sign data is not helpful. Ophthalmologists should be graded based on the visual acuity, field of vision and intraocular pressure of their patients. The outcome we want is healthy people. How you achieve it with technology should be up to each hospital and professional. Its fine to require some reporting of appropriate quality measures and cost data, but dont try to dictate the workflow of each provider. 3. Strong leadership of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) with deep domain expertise is critical to avoid regulatory zeal. I describe the later stages of meaningful use as lead a physician to water and beat him/her until he/she drinks. There are only three ways to influence a clinician: Pay them more, improve their quality of practice life or help them avoid public embarrassment (malpractice assertions, poor quality scores, high cost compared to their peers, etc.). If the right tools are created that help with those three items while achieving policy goals, they will be adopted. You cannot regulate a solution to every societal problem, but you can align incentives so that people act appropriately. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and ONC need to continue to coordinate their work in close cooperation. 4. Focus on cyber security and risk mitigation while fostering trust for data exchange. The new threats to information security and integrity are state-sponsored cyber terrorism, hacktivism and organized crime. Every CIO I know loses sleep over these threats. Lets work together to identify emerging threats, implement best practices for mitigating risks and investigate promising new technologies like blockchain. 5. Reward innovation instead of co-opting it. Every major EHR vendor laments the burden caused by regulatory compliance and certification. Customer needs and market competition should drive product advancement, not legislation or regulation. 50 percent of clinicians want to leave the practice of medicine because of the administrative burden. Weve achieved exactly what we have required by regulation turning clinicians into expensive data-entry clerks. Now that high levels of technology adoption have been achieved, companies should sell their products based on usability and efficiency, not certification. I do not see these five recommendations as abandoning the gains of the past. I see them as refining the path forward based on what weve learned. The last eight years have achieved remarkable gains, and I do not believe we need to lament the gaps remaining, we just need to focus on the right work. John Halamka is chief information officer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, and blogs at Life as a Healthcare CIO. Image credit: Shutterstock.com We must be committed to putting patients over politics 383 Shares Share It was 3 a.m. and 3 degrees outside, and I was about to discharge Mike from our emergency department for the third time in less than 24 hours. Doc, let me finish this episode, he said, his eyes glued to the TV in the ER waiting room. Mike was homeless, and this was our routine all winter last year, when it was too cold to sleep in shop doorways or the bridge under I-93. Many times he was drunk, and we monitored him until he was sober enough to be discharged. Other times he would fabricate medical issues that needed to be evaluated, excuses that kept him safe and warm, at least for a few hours. That morning, he came in intoxicated. Another physician evaluated him for signs of injury. There were none. When he sobered up, he was discharged with a thick stack of papers detailing the dangers of alcohol abuse. Later that day, Mike came back in complaining of pain in his foot. Another exam, another discharge. About 30 minutes later, I saw Mike amble in and park himself back in the chair from which he had just been discharged. This time it was pain in his knee. Mike didnt need emergent evaluation. He came in because it was freezing outside, the T wasnt running, and the shelters were too far away. Last winter our emergency department saw hundreds of patients like Mike. Bostons annual homeless count last January tallied 1,732 individuals in emergency shelters. Hundreds more slept on the street. The truth is that for folks like Mike, we are their de facto shelter, a hotel with infinite vacancies. But patients like Mike put a real financial strain on the system. One recent analysis that tracked 35 of Bostons high utilizers like Mike found that they accounted for more than $3.6 million in costs at a major Boston hospital over just an eight-month period. What should be the role of emergency departments in caring for homeless patients with no emergent medical needs? Emergency departments nationwide dont have a good answer to this question. Nor do emergency physicians have either the time or the training to wrestle with this question on a busy shift. Instead, we grapple with the reality were handed. How long can we keep him in this warm examining room until another patient needs it? How many shelters will I have to call until one tells me that they have room? How do we get him to that shelter four miles away in sub-freezing temperatures? Let me just rest here, Mike said when I offered to get him into a shelter that night. I aint gonna be back here for awhile, anyway. Why is that? I asked. Theyre getting me a place in Dorchester, he said. Surprised, I asked how. HUES program, he responded, eyes not budging from the TV screen. In 2011, Boston made a bold step to help patients like Mike. It created the High-Utilizers of Emergency Services (HUES) to Home program. It supports homeless individuals who are habitual users of Bostons emergency services by providing them with case management, links to substance abuse and mental health counseling, and, most importantly, it connects them to permanent housing. HUES to Home is working. For example, after receiving housing, one patient who had visited the ER 50 times the year before didnt go to the ER once in 10 months. Another patient suffering from alcohol abuse was housed in a single-room occupancy apartment for nine months; his ER visits dropped from 90 to 12. But too many remain unserved. Like many of the programs that care for the citys poor, disabled and frail elderly, HUES to Home is in desperate need of expansion. It also, like many of the programs that serve these vulnerable populations, partly relies on a fragile funding source: Medicaid. Thats why providers statewide rejoiced when, on Nov. 4, Massachusetts received permission from HHS, called a waiver, to overhaul the way it pays for health benefits through Medicaid. With that waiver was a promise of $52 billion in funding beginning in 2017 over five years. For providers, this felt like the cavalry riding to our aid in our campaign to care for the vulnerable. Four days later, on election day, it seemed that cavalry had been recalled. President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have proposed giving states a block grant for Medicaid, rather than using the current funding formula. This could mean a cut of up to a third of current Medicaid funding. That reduction would jeopardize programs that protect vulnerable patients programs like HUES to Home, which gave Mike a way to escape the cold, and which also saves the system money. Now more than ever, we must be committed to putting patients over politics. Protecting Medicaid funding is one place to start. Alister Martin is an emergency physician. This article originally appeared in WBURs CommonHealth. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 83 Shares Share I was recently part of a panel aimed at helping physician trainees make the transition to becoming full-fledged independent practitioners, and a member of the panel said something that struck an important chord with the audience when he mentioned that new doctors are probably the most developmentally delayed professionals in society. When you think about the fact that for some of us, the first real job we have starts as thirty-somethings, the speaker was right on. After all, many of us have yet to develop much of a head start on retirement, and some dont even understand how to select a suitable health insurance plan let alone out how to negotiate an employment contract. Even the process of getting ones first job itself not unlike applying to medical school, residency, and possibly fellowship can require a great deal of time, stamina, and travel. To quote the insomniac narrator from the movie Fight Club, you wake up at Sea-Tac, SFO, LAX. You wake up at OHare, Dallas-Fort Worth, BWI Pacific, Mountain, Central, lose an hour, gain an hour. The travel can be both exhausting and disorienting, especially when you must wake up the next morning with a smile on your face (and often wrinkled shirt) and explain why you are a better hire than the other 10 rock star doctors (who probably all showed up with the same neutral suit you take everywhere) looking to make their mark. Then there is the second interview, appointment with a realtor, meeting with hospital administrators, etc. On top of the stress of trying to figure out what might be the best fit, you may have to worry about your training program tampering with your application in hope of retaining you as faculty. Im just a simple guy from the Midwest. I had no idea that I was so important as to generate so much attention. Just when you think youve succeeded and that first practice is ready to bring you aboard, you must suddenly flip that smile upside down and dig into the terms of your employment with no training or expertise whatsoever. Physician employment contracts are often tens of pages in length and contain so much unfamiliar verbiage that it can easily boggle the mind of the new doctor, intelligent as he or she is. You are quickly forced to understand things like malpractice tail coverage, accounts receivable buy-in, incentive-driven supplementary income, the difference between a 401(k)/403(b) and a 457(b), and the anti-capitalistic concept of the non-compete clause. Then there are academic positions which have horribly complicated track options that spell out extensive research and/or publication requirements, most of which have little or nothing to do with healing the ill. I just want to take care of sick people in exchange for fair compensation. Cant somebody else handle the business side of it all and give me a fair salary? As cynical as it sounds, there are plenty of people (including doctors) ready to take advantage of that sort of naivete. Atul Gawande wrote about this in 2005, and not a lot has changed for new doctors. He explained that had no idea what the actual charges were for his surgical services let alone how to negotiate for his rightful share of the recovery of these fees in his first years of practice. This is a very common scenario, and if I can be frank, just about all of us learn our lessons the hard way regardless of how many attorneys review our contracts or how many questions we ask. To make matters much worse, a lot of doctors must enter into an agreement to not work for a competing practice within a certain radius for two years if the job doesnt work out. Physician salary, not unlike that of many other professionals, is both shrouded in mystery and taboo to discuss. Medical training programs attempt to broach the business of medicine in a very remote way by touching on the concept of a relative value unit (RVU) which is the factor that converts a patient interaction to a payment, but since no residency program is willing go through an actual contract with you, new doctors are always going to be at a disadvantage. Whats more, the academic physicians often doing the training may have little to no knowledge of how private practice medicine works. Medical schools charged with training primary care physicians are furthermore disincentivized to teach many of these concepts lest students learn that opting for primary care may involve a marked financial sacrifice. It is not uncommon for a specialized surgeon, for instance, to earn ten times that of a pediatrician. Even within radiology, a private practice doctor in a needy area can easily make triple the income of an academic radiologist in a popular city. Since a lot of the most specialized care takes place in large urban training centers, there is a propensity for the highest quality of care available to be delivered by the lowest paid doctors. In the meanwhile, metropolitan practices have grown larger while using their size, market control, and consolidation of subspecialized physicians to snuff out smaller players. Then when you become the only game in town, practice kingpins can hire at low wages and/or simply sell their ownership to venture capitalists. Even hospital-employed doctors are often powerless to having their employment contracts sold to a national physician management groups. Medicine is more and more reflecting the economic practices that have resulted in the American wealth gap, though practicing doctors are not the ones winding up at the top of the financial food chain. In many ways, physicians are to blame, as they are all-too-often willing to hand the management reigns over to someone else. As I was sitting in a Cincinnati hotel lobby preparing for one of my last job interviews, I saw a group of exuberant men and women in their early twenties congregating for a pre-interview dinner for a graduate program in molecular and developmental biology. It occurred to me at that moment that the only other time I had ever been in Cincinnati was when I was in my early twenties interviewing for the same graduate program a few years before I decided to pursue medicine instead. They asked if I had any advice. I called upon Matthew 10:16. Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Cory Michael is a radiologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Pride, positivitiy and optimism was palpable in the Set Theatre on Monday morning as the plans for Lighthouse Studios were unveiled. Cartoon Saloon is undoubtedly one of Kilkenny's greatest success stories and years of toil and talent came to fruition with the announcement of the new animation studio and 140 new jobs. Sitting at the top table Mayor Pat O'Neill was flanked by CEO of Mercury Filmworks, Clint Eland and CEO of Cartoon Saloon, Paul Young as well as the Head of Regional Development at IDA Ireland, Anne Marie Tierney Le Roux and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor. Founding members of Cartoon Saloon Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey were also present along with artists and executives from both animation studios. Mayor O'Neill said that the creation of Lighthouse Studios will further enhance the Marble City's reputation as the artistic capital of Ireland. Cartoon Saloon have been fantastic ambassadors for Kilkenny in recent years and have brought great honour and success to our city and county. It's great to see their plans for expansion within the animation industry and no doubt they will turn Kilkenny into a centre of excellence for animation across the world. It goes to show how well thought of a local company is globally with the creation of this partnership with a well known animation company of the scale of Mercury filmworks. This is an extremely exciting project that has a fantastic opportunity to grow here in Kilkenny and fits in excellently with the ideals of Kilkenny. From listening to both CEOs' it is great to hear their vision for this company and the sense of pride they take in locating in Kilkenny and the plans of turning Kilkenny and Ireland into an animation powerhouse. I would like to thank the IDA for all their hard work in bringing this to fruition and bring this company to Kilkenny is a fantastic achievement considering all the competition that is out their globally. This brings us close to 1000 FDI jobs in Kilkenny, he said. Lighthouse Studios is currently operating out of a premises on Patrick Street until they secure a more permanent home. The joint venture, a partnership between Cartoon Saloon and Mercury Filmworks, is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland. Lighthouse Studios will provide high-quality childrens and family-animated content for a number of the biggest industry players, including Amazon, Disney and Netflix. Welcoming the announcement Cllr Malcolm Noonan said that Cartoon Saloon had put Kilkenny on a global stage for animation and that this collaboration would further copper fasten their presence in the city. The Salooners have brought creativity and cultural vibrancy into the heart of Kilkenny. Locating Lighthouse Studios in the Patrick Street Business Centre is testament to John Ryan's vision for a vibrant city centre with state-of-the-art digital facilities. This can have such a positive knock on effect to surrounding business in the city centre' he said. On a personal level I'm delighted for Tomm, Paul, Nora and all the crew. They have put their hearts and souls into this, often struggling against a tide but their collective talent and tenacity has delivered just reward' he said. Cllr Noonan said that we now need to build on this investment and think seriously about reconfiguring the terms of the Brewery site development to allow start ups and incubator units and to try to develop a centre for commercial creative arts in Kilkenny, incorporating animation, design, drama and music. We have the creative talent to make this happen; Cartoon Saloon started with a small group of creative people and a vision. We must push on now and add to the creative community that they have nurtured. I wish Lighthouse Studios every success in this new adventure, concluded Cllr Noonan. CEO of Kilkenny Chamber, John Hurley said that the opening of Lighthouse Studios is a fantastic good news story for Kilkenny and a great way to start off 2017. Kilkenny Chamber and Cartoon Saloon have been neighbours for years in the iconic Maltings building off James Street and we are delighted to welcome Mercury Filmworks to Kilkenny this week. This coming together of two internationally renowned animation film houses to form Lighthouse Studios is phenomenally exciting and puts Kilkenny firmly on the global stage as a centre of excellence for this unique and highly skilled work. Kilkenny Chamber is looking forward to working with these wonderfully talented people over the coming months and years. HANOI, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0415 GMT. Feb 8 Feb 7 USD/VND mid-point 22,208 22,196 USD/VND interbank 22,545/22,620 22,545/22,620 USD/VND unofficial 22,830/22,880 22,790/22,840 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.74/37.06 36.60/37.02 Interbank offered rates Overnight 2.1-3.5 3.0-3.8 1 week 2.2-4.0 3.2-4.0 1 month 3.7-4.5 4.0-4.7 3 months 4.1-4.6 4.5-5.3 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co. For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on . For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) By Julia Fioretti BRUSSELS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - British Airways and Iberia owner IAG is looking to offer low-cost long-haul flights from airports other than Barcelona in its efforts to compete on trans-Atlantic routes. IAG said late last year it would start budget flights to U.S. destinations in June, using its budget short-haul brand Vueling, which has its hub at Barcelona's El Prat airport, to feed passengers to the longer routes. "This is the start of something that will be a significant part of IAG...We think Barcelona is a great place to start," IAG's chief executive Willie Walsh said on the sidelines of an aviation conference in Brussels. Rival low-cost carriers Norwegian Air Shuttle and Wow Air are stepping up transatlantic flights, while IAG rival Lufthansa has also started budget long-haul flights using its Eurowings brand. Walsh said the changes in the competitive landscape had encouraged IAG to look at new operating models. "It's good to see how consumers have responded to the customer proposition that he (Norwegian CEO Bjoern Kjos) has put in the market and that's encouraged us to look at doing different things." IAG would start selling tickets for the new Barcelona routes "very soon", Walsh said, without specifying when. The company's new budget operation would not be operated by Vueling, which is focused on short-haul, nor would it use the Aer Lingus name because that brand is not as well known outside of Ireland, Walsh said. Separately, IAG was not planning to change its hedging policies despite the fall in the value of the pound since Britain's vote to leave the European Union which forced it and other carriers to lower profit expectations, the CEO added. (Writing by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Alexander Smith) * European shares up 0.4 pct * Storebrand touches 9-year high on dividend * France's Vinci gains on 2017 forecasts * CAC 40 up 0.5 pct, outperforming peers (ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time on the Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon, see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets) By Helen Reid LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - European shares edged higher on Wednesday led by mining and construction stocks on a heavy day for company results. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2 percent, but national indexes were mixed, with Italy, Spain and Britain in negative territory while France's blue-chip index outperformed. Norwegian insurer Storebrand was the best performing stock in the index, up 5.1 percent after touching a nine-year high, after reporting forecast-beating earnings and the first dividend in six years. French construction and concession company Vinci was also a top gainer after results reported after the market closed on Tuesday. Its shares were up 3.8 percent after it hiked its dividend and forecast higher revenue for 2017 and more traffic on its French motorways. "With most operating metrics in Q4 improving and guidance for further growth, we see momentum as positive for Vinci into 2017," said UBS analysts in a note. "We believe the shares offer good value." Denmark's wind turbine producer Vestas Wind was another top gainer leading Copenhagen's OMX 20 index after it reported a bigger than expected order intake. German airline Lufthansa rose to the top of the German blue-chip index after Societe Generale upgraded the stock to "buy". Lufthansa's Eurowings unit agreed to a mediation process with German cabin crew on Tuesday. Spanish construction company ACS rose 3.5 percent after Australian contractor Cimic Group Ltd , said it expected a strong 2017 and posted an 11.5 percent rise in full-year profit. ACS supported the pan-European construction and materials sector index , which gained 1.2 percent. The pan-European mining index rose 2 percent, and Antofagasta and Rio Tinto were among the top gainers, as copper prices climbed towards a two-month high due to supply concerns. Among the fallers, Nordic stocks dominated. Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moeller-Maersk was a top faller, its shares down 6.2 percent after it missed fourth-quarter profit forecasts and announced its chairman would step down. Sweden's Handelsbanken dropped 4.3 percent, headed for its worst daily loss in more than six months, after its profit and dividend missed forecasts. Danish beer giant Carlsberg lost 2.8 percent after its fourth-quarter sales missed analysts' forecasts. British mid-cap Tullow Oil was the top European faller after the Africa-focused oil exploration company said it was in the red for a third year due to exploration write-offs. (Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Vikram Subhedar and Elaine Hardcastle) By Robert Hogg Feb 8 (IFR) - The Republic of Finland has released sizes and price guidance for its dual-tranche euro bond, according to a lead. The issuer is marketing a 3bn April 2022 (no grow) bond at 30bp area through mid-swaps, which is unchanged from initial price thoughts. Indications of interest are in excess of 4.1bn, including 1.2bn from the leads. Guidance has been set for a 1.5bn April 2047 (no grow) bond at 5bp area over mid-swaps. The notes were initially marketed at mid/high single digits over mid-swaps. Indications of interest are over 3.6bn, including 925m from the leads. Lead managers are taking indications of interest for today's business. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, JP Morgan and Nordea Markets are running the trade. Finland is rated Aa1/AA+/AA+ (all stable). (Reporting by Robert Hogg; editing by Sudip Roy) * BHP Billiton says strike to halt output at Chile's Escondida * Freeport-McMoRan to reduce activity at Indonesia's Grasberg * Nickel touches one-month high (Updates with closing prices) By Peter Hobson LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Copper prices rose on Wednesday after the world's top two mines said strikes and permit delays would force them to cut output, squeezing global supply. BHP Billiton began to halt production at Escondida in Chile, the world's biggest copper mine, ahead of a strike set to begin on Thursday. The company has said it could not guarantee the safety of the 80 workers the government had authorized to remain at the mine to perform "critical duties", such as equipment upkeep and adherence to environmental protocols. Freeport-McMoRan Inc meanwhile warned it would scale back activities at its Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia due to labour unrest. The company has also said it would cut production if it did not receive a new export permit by mid-February. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange closed up 1.7 percent at $5,895 a tonne, erasing a decline of 0.9 percent in the previous session. "Our view is that the copper market will continue to tighten over the course of this year and supply disruptions are part of that view," said Daniel Morgan at UBS in Sydney. "We are looking for $3 a pound ($6,614 a tonne) for this year." Funds were adding to their long positions in base metals, helping to drive prices higher, a trader said. Escondida produced 1.15 million tonnes of copper in 2015, about 6 percent of the world's total. Analysts at Goldman Sachs said a 20-day strike at Escondida and a one-month delay in Grasberg's receipt of an export permit would cause lost output of almost 100,000 tonnes. That would exceed the expected global surplus of 80,000 tonnes this year according to a poll of analysts by Reuters. In other metals, nickel finished up 1.5 percent at $10,500 a tonne after earlier touching $10,545, its highest since Jan. 11. Nickel prices have risen more than 12 percent since Jan. 27 as the Philippine government ordered the closure of 23 mines following an environmental audit. But the final impact of the audit on nickel supply is unclear, said Citi analyst David Wilson. Miners have demanded to see the findings after it emerged that auditors recommended suspensions and fines rather than closures, and the government said on Wednesday that mines facing closure could appeal. Tin closed up 0.5 percent at $19,025 a tonne, halting four days of falls. The soldering metal had dropped almost 12 percent since Jan. 19 as supply concerns were eased by talk that China had abolished a 10-percent export tax on refined tin exports and higher inventories in LME-approved warehouses. Industry group ITRI on Wednesday confirmed that China had lifted the tax but said there had not been a significant rise in shipments from the country. Aluminium closed 0.7 percent higher at $1,848.50 a tonne. Zinc rose 1.9 percent to $2,848 and lead ended 1.9 percent higher at $2,389 a tonne after touching a two-month high of $2,403 earlier in the session. (Additional reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Louise Heavens and David Evans) (Adds Eni comment, shares, background) MILAN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Italian prosecutors have asked for the CEO of state-controlled oil major Eni , Claudio Descalzi, to stand trial over alleged corruption in Nigeria, judicial sources said on Wednesday. The prosecutors also asked for 10 other people, including former Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni, to be sent for trial along with the Eni and Royal Dutch Shell companies, the sources said. Scaroni was not immediately available for comment. No comment was immediately available from Shell. The case revolves around the purchase in 2011 of Nigeria's OPL-245 offshore oil block by Eni and Shell for about $1.3 billion. The prosecutors' request comes amid political uncertainty in Italy and just weeks before the government is due to propose its CEO candidate for ENI for the next three years. Descalzi, who since taking the helm in 2014 has refocused the group on its primary role of finding oil and gas, could be reappointed. At 1415 GMT Eni shares were down 1.8 percent at 13.95 euros, after reaching their lowest level in nine weeks of 13.93 euros. The European oil and gas index was down 0.7 percent. In emailed comments, an Eni spokesperson said the company had not been informed of any decision and had acted correctly. Under Italian law a company can be held responsible if it is deemed to have failed to prevent, or attempt to prevent, a crime by an employee that benefited the company. The Italian probe is one of several threads of inquiry under way into the acquisition of OPL-245, including current cases in Holland and Nigeria. In January a Nigerian court ordered the temporary forfeiture of assets and the transfer of operations of the oilfield. Italian prosecutors closed their investigations into the case in December last year. A court must now set a date for a hearing at which a judge will decide whether to accept the prosecutors' request or acquit the accused. (Reporting by Manuela D'Alessandro; Writing by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) * Higher gold lifts the rand * MTN sags on bourse after profit warning * Bond yields edge lower (Updates prices) JOHANNESBURG, Feb 8 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand inched higher on Wednesday, paring some of its recent losses as the price of gold rose, driven by investors searching for safe bets amid political worries in Europe and the United States. But stocks fell in line with equities worldwide, with MTN Group among the biggest decliners' after the mobile phone group warned it would swing into an annual loss. By 1543 GMT, the rand had gained 0.15 percent to 13.4375 per dollar, up slightly from its close at 13.4600 overnight in New York. Gold climbed to three-month peak in the session with investors favouring the safe haven asset as concerns resurfaced over the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies on the global economy . The rand has weakened nearly 1.5 percent since Monday, pulling back from a three-month high notched up last week, as a wave of risk aversion and a dollar recovery dragged emerging currencies lower. On the bourse, MTN Group dropped 1.7 percent to 115.75 rand, recouping some of its losses after falling to their lowest level in two months. The company warned that it would likely swing into an unspecified annual loss due unfavourable currency swings and regulatory fine in Nigeria. "I am afraid that this trading statement, as it is not quantified, leaves us groping around in the dark," said Sasha Neryshkine, a fund manager at Vestact in Johannesburg. The benchmark JSE Top-40 index were down 0.9 percent at 44,922 and the broader All-share index lost 0.7 percent to 51,803. In fixed income, bonds were also firmer with the yield on the benchmark paper due in 2026 down 6 basis points to 8.82 percent. (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Mfuneko Toyana, editing by Larry King) The Herald reports: Patients seeking medical cannabis for pain relief will no longer need approval from a minister, the Government confirmed this morning. As of today, the responsibility for approving applications has been delegated to the Ministry of Health. Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced the policy change this morning following a review of the approval process. Health Minister Jonathan Coleman hinted at the change yesterday, suggesting that the approvals process could be delegated to specialists. But Dunne said today that responsibility would instead lie with the ministry. Doctors will apply to the ministry for approval if a patient requests access to cannabis-based medical products. As part of the policy change, Dunne also planned to create a list of internationally available, pharmaceutical grade cannabis-based products to prodive additional clarity on the issue. Dunne said he told the Director-General of Health last week specialists seeking access to non-pharmaceutical, cannabis-based products would no longer needed ministerial approval from today. A protest has been planned in Sharm el-Sheikh, the venue of the summit. By Yun Suh-young Kim Ji-young China's Shanghai Ballet cancelled the appearance of a Korean star ballerina who was expected to take the lead role in its upcoming performance of "Swan Lake." Ballerina Kim Ji-young, a member of the Korean National Ballet (KNB), was invited to perform the lead in the company's April performance. Contract negotiations were in place between the two ballet theaters about her participation, when suddenly the Chinese side announced that they could no longer have her appear in the show. "Right after the series of cancellations of Korean classical artists' performances in China, such as pianist Paik Kun-woo and soprano Jo Su-mi, we sent an email out of concern to the Shanghai Ballet about whether Kim's participation in the show was still valid," said an official at Korean National Ballet. "We received an answer from them Tuesday that it would be difficult for her to participate in the show. They did not explain the reason." The KNB was planning to apply for a visa after the contract was finalized. Many speculate China's move to call off Korean artists' performances there is attributable to Korea's decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Beijing has been opposing the move from the beginning and concerns have been growing that its recent series of bans is a form of retaliation. Previously, Paik's performance with China's Guiyang Symphony Orchestra which was scheduled for March 18 was cancelled due to China's rejection of his visa application. Soprano Jo's performance in China scheduled for Feb. 19 was also cancelled. Jo wrote on her twitter account, "My performance, which I have been preparing for two years at their invitation, was suddenly cancelled without any reason. It is regrettable that political matters are penetrating the cultural realm." The U.S. State Department on Tuesday issued a new warning against traveling to North Korea. "The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to North Korea/the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) due to the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea's system of law enforcement," the department said. "This system imposes unduly harsh sentences for actions that would not be considered crimes in the United States and threatens U.S. citizen detainees with being treated in accordance with 'wartime law of the DPRK,'" it said. At least 14 U.S. citizens have been detained in North Korea in the past 10 years, it said. The department issues the anti-North Korea travel warning every three months. Two American citizens -- college student Otto Warmbier and Korean-American pastor Kim Dong-chul -- are currently detained in the North after being sentenced to long prison terms for what Pyongyang calls subversive acts against the country. American citizens have often been detained in North Korea on charges of anti-state and other unspecified crimes. Widespread views have been that Pyongyang has often used the detentions as bargaining chips in its negotiations with Washington. (Yonhap) By Yi Whan-woo The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday recent media reports about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's warning against Korean gangsters in the Philippines were "overblown." The ministry also said Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa never mentioned anything about the possible presence of Korean organized crime behind the murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, 53, in October, as reported in the media. "Duterte's warning to kill Korean gangsters, which has been reported by some Filipino media outlets, is different from what he actually said," the ministry said in a press release. It referred to Duterte's exact wording made during a media interview Feb. 4 when he cited intelligence reports and claimed that a Korean mafia-type gang in Cebu is engaged in prostitution and kidnapping. A mysterious flying object that caused two F-15K fighter jets to be scrambled on Jan. 12 was a toy balloon, according to the Korea Air Force on Tuesday. / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo A mysterious flying object that caused two F-15K fighter jets to be scrambled on Jan. 12 was a toy balloon, according to the Korea Air Force on Tuesday. The Air Force was on alert because, just three days before, 10 Chinese fighter jets and bombers broke into South Korean airspace in an apparent protest against the plan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system on Korean soil. "The Master Control and Reporting Center (MCRC) ordered two F-15K jets to take off to identify an unidentified flying object after it failed to do so with ground radar," the Air Force official said. "When the fighter jets closed in on the object, it turned out to be a big balloon." The Air Force did not elaborate on the balloon, including where it flew from. But it revealed that it was "big" and its surface had the image of Japanese cartoon character "Doraemon." By Park Si-soo Shim Hwa-jin Sungshin Women's University president Shim Hwa-jin was found guilty of embezzlement on Wednesday and jailed for a year. Judge Oh Won-chan of the Seoul Northern District Court handed down the verdict, saying Shim is "unlikely to flee, but (I) don't rule out the possibility that (she) could commit a similar crime again." From left, People's Party Chairman Rep. Park Jie-won, Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae and Justice Party Chairwoman Rep. Sim Sang-jeung call for extending the special investigation into a corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye at the National Assembly, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun The independent counsel team failed to carry out its plan to question President Park Geun-hye in person today. Cheong Wa Dae refused to accept the request for a face-to-face questioning, taking issue with the disclosure of the date of questioning. "We have no plans to question the President on Thursday," Lee Kyu-chul, the counsel team's spokesman, said in a briefing, Wednesday. Lee said Park's legal representatives requested a postponement. "We will deliver our stance and further details in Friday's briefing," he said. The failure to question Park in person came several days after Park blocked the team's search of the presidential office. The counsel team and Cheong Wa Dae had initially agreed on the team's questioning of Park today at the presidential office. After seeking to carry out the questioning at a third location, the team accepted a request for it to take place inside Cheong Wa Dae, as the team has been seeking to question her in person this week, with only three weeks remaining until its investigation period expires. However, after a local broadcaster reported that the questioning would occur Feb. 9, Cheong Wa Dae expressed "regret" over the leak, accusing the counsel team of a "breach of trust." The presidential office had requested the date and content of the questioning not be disclosed to the press until after it took place. The request seemed aimed at preventing Choi Soon-sil and other suspects on trial from using Park's testimony to their advantage. In response, the counsel team said it did not leak the date of the questioning to the press, implying Cheong Wa Dae may have been responsible. The law on the independent counsel states the team is allowed to deliver briefings on the investigation to guarantee the people's right to know about the case, but details should not be specified. The questioning could be held on the weekend at the earliest or it could be deferred to next week. The team will likely question President Park over allegations she asked Samsung Group and other conglomerates for money in return for granting them business favors, ordered the creation of a blacklist of artists critical of the government and neglected her duties on the day of the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014. The team is also reviewing follow-up measures for a search of Cheong Wa Dae. It was denied entry to the presidential office Friday, after officials claimed the grounds were a national security zone. After the attempted search was blocked, it sent a request to acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn for permission to conduct a search, but has yet to receive a reply. It is unclear whether the team will accept documents submitted by Cheong Wa Dae instead of attempting another search. By Kim Hyo-jin Moon Jae-in The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has asked the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to hold a joint policy forum regularly, according to party officials, Wednesday. "We've proposed the idea of holding policy forums every three months to the U.S. Embassy. This is being discussed between both sides," a party official said. If the embassy agrees, the first forum will be held on Feb. 28 to discuss how to nurture future industries in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the official said. This is part of its efforts to defend itself from ideological attacks from hawkish conservative politicians. Assuring the public that the DPK is competent enough to become the ruling party has been a task ahead of the presidential election possibly slated for early this year, especially when there is a good chance Moon Jae-in, former party leader who is leading opinion polls, may win. By stressing coordination with the country's biggest and traditional ally, the party may expect that the move will court conservative and centrist voters. It is also seen as a bid to fend off ideological attacks by the conservatives. Moon, its potential presidential candidate, earlier mentioned he will visit North Korea before the U.S. if elected to the top position, raising the conservatives' ire. Pundits said it did not help soothe concerns of the public, the majority of whom they believe can be categorized as center-rightists on the political spectrum, about Moon and the DPK being anti-American. With several months ahead of a possible presidential election in May following the Constitutional Court's ruling on impeached President Park Geun-hye, the party is working on promoting a competent image in diplomacy. "For the past 10 years in conservative government, diplomacy, security, and unification have been in a policy black hole," Choo Mi-ae, DPK chairwoman, said during a party meeting. "We will open a new era as a stable power in such fields while paying keen attention to relevant policies." Meanwhile, Moon ramped up preparation for the party's primary, earlier in the day, recruiting heavyweights from inside and outside the party. The primary is now taking shape as a three-way competition between Moon, South Chungcheong Governor An Hee-jung, and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung following the withdrawal of Rep. Kim Boo-kyum, an icon of breaking regionalism by securing a parliamentary seat in the conservative bloc's home turf, and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. Rep. Song Young-gil, a DPK four-term lawmaker, joined hands with Moon as his campaign head. He said he will review and strengthen security and diplomacy pledges which have been in the making by Moon's think tank. By Yi Whan-woo The ruling Saenuri Party announced its new name, roughly translated as "Korea Freedom Party," Wednesday. The announcement comes in line with the party's efforts to overcome internal crisis and show its commitment to reform following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. "We've decided to rename the party as the Korea Freedom Party at a general meeting where the lawmakers were eager to make sure the party will be reborn," party spokesman Rep. Kim Sung-won said. "We'll finalize the name around Feb. 13 after discussing it among interim committee officials and party members across the country." The party will also choose a new logo and colors soon. It is speculated that the logo will resemble the Korean national flag and its colors will include red, white and blue as appear on the Korean national flag. "We've been consulting brand experts to reflect free democracy, market capitalism and conservative values," a party official said. By Kim Se-jeong The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it will spend 62 billion won this year to take 20,000 obsolete diesel-powered vehicles off the roads to fight air pollution in the capital. According to the city government, the money will also be used to install diesel particulate filters on more than 5,000 other diesel vehicles registered in the city. Drivers who own vehicles produced earlier than Dec. 31, 2005, can receive a subsidy if they wish to trade them in. According to city estimates, Seoul has almost 1.04 million aging cars and van. The measure is part of the city government's efforts to curb air pollution, especially caused by particulate matter (PM) in the PM2.5 to PM10 range. Experts said PM2.5 2.5 nanometers in diameter particles are so small they can reach the lungs and enter the bloodstream causing various deadly health problems. Particulates travel from deserts and coasts of China, but a lot is produced on the peninsula as a result of chemical reactions involving nitrous and sulfur oxides. Suburban Seoul and the west coast, with lots of factories and power plants, are to blame for causing pollutants, as well as severe car traffic. According to the city, the average concentration of PM 2.5 in Seoul was at 26 micrograms per cubic meter in 2016, higher than the national permissible standard. It was worse than the previous year which saw an average of 23 micrograms. Fine dust concentrations are particularly high in spring when yellow dust hits Korea and during winter when many Chinese burn coal and wood for heating. In addition to phasing out diesel vehicles, the city government said it will bolster monitoring of older vehicles this year. The city said it will do this by adding more road surveillance cameras, and expanding monitoring areas to Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. However, skeptics view these measures as ineffective. The city has been promoting electric cars and motorcycles and will continue its subsidy programs this year. The subsidy covers half of vehicle costs. The government will also continue to finance the city's homeowners in replacing boilers with less polluting ones. The capital's air pollution has received special attention. In 2003, the National Assembly passed a special law governing the improvement of air quality in Seoul. Under this law, the government will shut down all aging coal-powered power plants along the west coast by 2020. Mt. Jiri National Park By Kim Se-jeong Korea's national park service is turning 50 this year, and the Ministry of Environment will throw a variety of activities to celebrate. Out of 22 national parks, Mt. Jiri was the first to be designated, in December 1967. The most recent addition was Mt. Taebaek last year. Others on the list include Mt. Halla, Mt. Seorak and Hallyeohaesang, a unique marine ecosystem between Geoje and Yeosu along Korea's southern coast. "We want to raise awareness about national parks, and to this end we are preparing a variety of outreach events," a ministry official said. Most of the activities are scheduled for spring and early summer. A special exhibition on the history of national parks is scheduled for June. The exhibition will start in Seoul before traveling around the country. The exhibit will also be featured in anniversary photo books and history books, which will be published later this year. In May, the ministry will open parts of national parks and camping sites for free. Details will be posted on knps.or.kr. On June 22, an anniversary concert will take place in Seoul. The ministry is preparing events for experts to discuss issues related to national parks. On June 23, the National Assembly roundtable will examine the future of national parks. On the same day, a separate forum will discuss the ecosystems of national parks and how to maintain them. The ministry is also looking to establish a partnership with the U.S. National Park Service to learn from their century-old national park management know-how. Last year, the U.S. organization turned 100 years old. By Do Je-hae The global craze for a lifestyle concept called "hygge" has arrived in Korea. Hygge, which means coziness, is an entire attitude to life that puts emphasis on living well by pursuing everyday happiness. It originates from Denmark, which is often voted as one of the happiest countries in the world. The concept has become such a huge sensation that Collins English Dictionary selected hygge as one of the words of 2016 along with Brexit and Trumpism, and has been praised as Denmark's biggest export since LEGO. Collins describes the word as "a concept of creating cozy and convivial atmospheres that promote well-being." I was led to the world of hygge (pronounced HOO-gah) by a friend while on a plane flight last year. Aside from flipping through duty-free shopping guides, I normally don't like to read while flying. My friend brought the Korean translation of "The Little Book Hygge: the Danish Secrets to Happy Living," by best-selling author and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, Meik Wiking. I was first drawn to the book because it had some lovely photos that looked like they came out of the pages of interior design magazines I love so much, such as House Beautiful. Although hygge had been trending in other countries for some time, I had not heard of it until the unexpected encounter with this book, which has been widely introduced in the Korean news media over the past few months. According to Wiking, hygge can be defined by words like togetherness, relaxation, indulgence and comfort. "I think it's because a lot of people in different countries are having the experience of growing richer but not necessarily happier," Wiking said in media interview on the reason for hygge's sweeping popularity. Since my first column for The Korea Times is being published shortly after the start of the lunar New Year, I thought it would be useful to talk about something Koreans desperately need, which is happiness. The topic of happiness is timely because Koreans are undergoing very difficult times, as shown by the term "hell Joseon" which sums up the unhappiness of Koreans across generations. Soaring taxes and stagnant incomes have fueled anger among many workers. The younger generation, disenchanted by the rising social injustice, wealth gap and dysfunctional education system, is increasingly losing hope in their country. We also have one of the highest poverty rates among the elderly. These factors explain why Korea regularly ends up at the bottom of the happiness index among OECD countries and has one of the highest suicide rates. The nation has ranked low on global indexes measuring work and life balance. Koreans, who live in a highly competitive and stressful society, need to learn lessons from Denmark, which was ranked at the top of a happiness index by the U.N. last year. Denmark was also among the leading countries in an index measuring quality of life among OECD countries. Here are some suggestions for hygge. . - We instead of I: do something with others rather than alone, like having a family dinner. - Lots of candles: Wiking's book says "no candles, no hygge." Candles are essential to creating a hygge-style living room or any other space you spend a lot of time in. They instantly create a soothing atmosphere. - Reduce late hours at the office: be productive and finish work on time so that you can spend more time with loved ones. - Exercise: Danish people love to cycle. Set aside time for physical exercise and enjoy fresh air. - Spend time in the kitchen: making a pot of healthy porridge or baking your favorite pastry can give you a sense of fulfillment. The book had photos of some very simple yet healthy recipes, such as a fish dish and tomato salad placed beautifully on a blue and white plate. - Indulge yourself: a piece of cake will make your coffee or tea time more enjoyable. - Try to be thankful every day. As a way to unwind, I have been trying to bring hygge into my life. One of the first things I did was to stock up on candles of all sizes, some warm blankets and several kinds of tea. I have always loved candles, but since I learned that it is central to hygge, I have grown more attached to them. It has become a ritual for me to warm up my living room with tea light candles and make a pot of earl grey or vanilla tea when I get home from work. I hope this brief introduction to hygge will help our readers find more peace of mind and balance in their daily lives for a happy year. By Mark Leonard LONDON The United Kingdom's vote to exit the European Union and Donald Trump's election as US president exposed a deep generational divide. Cosmopolitan millennials and nationalist pensioners what Thomas Friedman calls "Web People" and "Wall People" seem to have nothing in common. But both point to the same crisis of political representation. In the UK, for every "Leave" voter under the age of 24, there were three over the age of 65. In the US, Trump won 53% of the over-65 vote, but was supported by only 37% of 18-29-year-olds. In both cases, the elderly were attracted by pessimistic rhetoric assailing the damage to their communities brought about by free trade, free movement, free love, and human-free technology disrupting their jobs and economic security. Young people were far more optimistic about the future, their personal prospects, and technology's potential and far more empathetic toward marginalized groups. The pessimists won, and now they're feeling pretty hopeful. The former optimists now fear the worst. But, despite their fundamentally different attitudes toward technology and globalization, the Web People and the Wall People have one thing in common: both are deeply skeptical of existing institutions. They think that representative democracy has broken down, and they see the creative potential of disruption. The Wall People want to smash the existing system, in the hope that something better emerges something that looks a bit more like the familiar world of times past (or at least of their fancy). The Web People, for their part, believe that technology must transform politics and institutions, just as it has transformed newspapers, taxi services, and hotels. The web mentality is exemplified by Vyacheslav Polonski, a 27-year-old network scientist of Ukrainian origin, who has spent time at Harvard and is currently completing a PhD in social media at Oxford University. "We are dealing with a twenty-first-century world," he tells me, "but our political system has not evolved since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries." Polonski points out that our government institutions were established not just before Facebook and Instagram, but even before television and radio. Whereas our economy is now characterized by choice, customization, and participation, our politics remains stifled by bureaucracy, special interests, and entrenched-yet-declining political parties. "As our government becomes more agile," he says, "people can vote for specific ideas and agendas, rather than a political party." As a result, "politics will become more like Uber: more decentralized, more open, more immediate." To reinforce his point, Polonski connects me with his friend Maria Luisa Martinez Dibarboure, a 27-year-old trainee lawyer who is one of the founders of El Partido Digital, a new digital political party in her native Uruguay. "We live in a crisis of representation," Dibarboure tells me on Skype (how else?). "Once people are in power," she laments, "they vote according to their own preferences," not those of the voters who put them there. Dibarboure's solution is to use the Internet to ensure accurate representation. El Partido Digital is currently working to elect a representative to parliament. That representative would use the Internet to poll her constituents before each parliamentary vote, thereby ensuring that she really is a voice for voters. More intriguing, constituents will be able to delegate their votes to others, perhaps friends with more expertise on particular issues. Fred the economist could vote on my behalf on economic questions, and Anne the scientist could vote for me on environmental matters. Dibarboure's concept relies on neither elections nor referenda. Instead of representative or direct democracy, it offers what she and Polonski call "liquid democracy" a system that combines the best of both. "We are about representation, not ideology," she clarifies. "We don't represent left or right. This is about the people." Polonski and Dibarboure are members of a community of 6,000 "global shapers," brought together by the World Economic Forum. These 23-27-year-olds are creative, connected, cosmopolitan, and full of energy. They are crestfallen about recent election results ("2016 was the year in which I lost faith in humanity," says Dibarboure). But my sense is that they will bounce back soon, and find opportunities in today's political disruptions. This is not to say that these disruptions are the answer to their problems, or even to the problems of the Wall People. On the contrary, today's political disruptions could make some of the outcomes that these groups favor more difficult to achieve. The old and young alike hope to recapture the opportunities enjoyed by the post-1945 Baby Boom generation. But those opportunities were enabled by a commitment to collective action, broad support for redistribution, and strong economic growth none of which can be counted on today. On the contrary, the backlash against globalization and immigration will likely damage global growth, while the need to build ad hoc coalitions of the willing undermines progress in building new institutions. For many nowadays, redistribution has become a dirty word. So the politics supported by the Wall People isn't the answer. But nor is the politics of the Web People. While disruptive, Internet-enabled politics can upend the status quo the Arab Spring revolutions taught us that it has not proved particularly effective at creating sustainable alternatives. The grievances of the old and the young are very real. The economic gains of the last few decades have not been shared widely enough. Political parties are more beholden to themselves than they are to the communities they serve. There is socialism for the rich, and capitalism for the poor. The war on terror is creating more terrorists. And trade and migration systems are losing support. Rather than defend the status quo from the counter-revolution, the political class should work to create a new system one that responds to the needs of the people. Both the young and the old have made their demands known. It is time to respond. Mark Leonard is Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate. By Hyepin Im This past September, I had the privilege of being invited to Azerbaijan to participate in the 5th International Humanitarian Forum hosted by the Azerbaijan President with over 400+ invited world leaders. It was truly an inspirational and memorable experience to see in person and learn more of Azerbaijan's leadership, history, and beautiful architecture, and to meet so many great leaders and experts from throughout the world. Two years ago, I barely knew of Azerbaijan's existence as a country or its location in the world. Since then, through my visit and joint events with the Consul General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles and my organization, Korean Churches for Community Development, I have come to appreciate the important role Azerbaijan plays in the world and its model for world peace and religious tolerance. Azerbaijan is a country that is 95% Muslim and yet for over 2,000 years, the Jewish community has been welcomed to live freely and peacefully within its borders. In this part of the world, where religious conflict is rampant, and possibly dangerous to those who are not Muslim, I found Azerbaijan's history of welcome quite extraordinary. Every country has values and principles it lifts up. In the US, self-determination, freedom and independence are some of the values we support and promote. In Azerbaijan, from the President of Azerbaijan to various leaders I came in contact with, I was impressed with their focus on promoting multiculturalism and embracing all religions. I had heard of Azerbaijan government's extraordinary investment in building houses of worship for various religions. During my visit, I was able to witness such investments as we met with the heads of a Catholic monastery, Jewish temples and an Orthodox church and confirm its reality. What was even more beautiful was to witness the genuine respect and mutuality the religious leaders had for one another and in each others' lives as communities. Beyond interfaith, it was also powerful to witness Sunni and Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan enjoying shared joint leadership and also coming together regularly to peacefully worship together something quite rare and even unimaginable elsewhere. In light of current world and religious conflicts and great fear especially around ISIS and terrorism, I am grateful to learn of Azerbaijan's commitment and even promotion for religious tolerance. In Azerbaijan, Christians and Jews can not only freely practice their religion in a mostly Muslim country but have a platform to have a voice and representation in government. In addition, in spite Azerbaijan's history of tension and bloody conflict with Armenia, I was impressed to learn of Azerbaijan government's painstaking preservation of Armenian publications and books at a historic Armenian church for visitors to enjoy. Furthermore, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been an ongoing tension that seems to have no end. The recent controversy on the UN's decision and U.S. abstention in condemning Israeli settlement seems to only reinforce that one has to pick sides and there seems to be no options for peace. Yet to my surprise, I learned that Azerbaijan has been able to walk a fine line in having not only peace but strong relationships with both Israel and Palestine, as well as the rest of the Arab countries. I come away from my visit to Azerbaijan with gratitude for the fresh perspectives and new models for how the world can be in promoting religious tolerance and world peace. It is my prayer that more countries can learn from Azerbaijan's model and leadership. The writer is the founder and president of Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD), whose mission is to help churches build capacity to do economic development work on a greater scale. Write to hyepin@gmail.com. Renewable energy is imperative in the long term The Seoul Administrative Court has ordered the nuclear safety regulator to cancel its decision to extend the operation of the Wolseong-1 reactor in Gyeongju, about 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The ruling, made Tuesday, is the first court decision to put the brakes on the extension of a reactor's operating life. The court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by more than 2,000 nearby residents, saying the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) failed to follow due legal procedure. For example, the NSSC didn't submit comparison tables on changes for the continued operation of the reactor stipulated in relevant safety laws while pushing for its extension, the court said. Wolseong-1, the country's second-oldest nuclear reactor, began generating power in 1983. It was shut down in 2012 after ending its 30-year commercial operation period. The NSSC lengthened its operational life for another 10 years in February 2015 in response to a request by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), which owns the plant. Three months later, local residents and civic groups filed a lawsuit calling for the regulator's decision to be nullified. Given that the operating licenses of eight reactors now in operation will expire over the next 10 years, the ruling will inevitably cause far-reaching repercussions. The nuclear industry claims that most reactors can be in operation in excess of their design lifespan, and the nuclear plant operator supports this. The NSSC said it will appeal the ruling, saying it undertook the proper decision-making process before deciding to extend the reactor's lifespan. The ruling should be respected, considering the big calamity that decrepit reactors could cause, as was evidenced from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The plant operator might need to suspend the operation of Wolseong-1, a pressurized heavy water reactor, until a final ruling, given our affordable power supply and demand situation recently. In fact, the NSSC appears to have made the extension decision too hastily in February 2015 without addressing safety concerns. Following a 14-hour meeting, all seven government-appointed members of the commission voted to approve the license extension after two dissenters left the conference room. It's only a myth that atomic power plants are safe. The 5.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Gyeongju last November reminded the public that a nuclear disaster could become a reality in the country's southeastern region where nuclear power plants are concentrated. The ruling is also a wakeup call to the need to bring Korea in line with the global trend since the Fukushima disaster, replacing atomic power with renewable energy. Given the country's high dependency on nuclear power to meet its electricity demand, scrapping them over a short period of time is next to impossible. Nonetheless, it's imperative to boost renewable energy in the long term. By Lee Min-hyung LG Electronics has started building its new North American headquarters in the United States, investing some $300 million (343.6 billion won) on the three-year project that the firm believes will generate tens of millions of dollars for the regional economy. The Seoul-based firm said Wednesday that the building in New Jersey will open at the end of 2019. The move is part of the firm's bid to maximize efficiency by integrating its scattered offices in the U.S. into the new headquarters. "The new building is expected to contribute some $26 million annually to the local economy by creating jobs and paying taxes," an LG Electronics official said. "While building the new headquarters, we also estimate more than 2,000 jobs will be created in the construction industry there." The project comes as the protectionist stance of U.S. President Donald Trump is feared to affect Seoul-based technology titans including LG and Samsung. He has urged non-American firms to establish manufacturing facilities in the U.S. For this reason, LG expects the new headquarters to be a milestone for its expansion there. The U.S. market is a cash cow for LG Electronics' overseas businesses, making up some 30 percent of the firm's total sales abroad as of the end of the third quarter last year. LG's premium products, including televisions and refrigerators, have driven up its profitability there. The company's mobile business is also performing well in the U.S., accounting for 15.7 percent of the U.S. smartphone market in the third quarter, according Strategy Analytics data. "Backed by our LG SIGNATURE premium built-in kitchen appliances and high-end organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) televisions, the new American headquarters will speed up our plan to achieve a second leap forward in the U.S.," the official said. The company also said employees from other LG affiliates, including LG Household & Health Care and LG CNS, will use the new building. LG Electronics faced opposition getting the project off the ground. The company had to iron out differences with the provincial government and the Rockefeller Foundation over some environmental issues surrounding the building's location. But last June it won a license after reaching an agreement to protect scenic views of the Hudson River Palisades. High-ranking officials, including LG Electronics North America CEO William Cho, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco and Larry Rockefeller, an environmental lawyer, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Cho said the new headquarters will lay the foundation to make the firm more sustainable. "Englewood Cliffs has been home to LG in the U.S. for 30 years, and the new world-class headquarters will boost our growth and commitment to being a good corporate citizen focusing on the environment," he said. LG Electronics' Korea business division President Choi Sang-kyu, third from left, poses with Korea's national skeleton team coach and athletes at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa, southern Seoul, after donating 100 million won as an official sponsor, in this 2016 April 1 file photo. / Courtesy of LG Electronics By Yoon Sung-won LG Group is supporting the PyeongChang Olympic Games Organizing Committee (POGOC) through brand promotion of the international sporting event, according to the conglomerate, Wednesday. The nation's fourth largest conglomerate became an official sponsor of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in March last year. Lee Hee-beom, who has been leading the POGOC since last May, is an advisor to LG International Corp. Before that, he used to be president of the group's trade affiliate. LG Corp. President Ha Hyeon-hoi met with executives of the organizing committee and signed an agreement to become an official sponsor for the international sporting event. Under the agreement, LG Group promised to build the POGOC office building in Gangwon Province and produce promotional material for the Winter Olympics including cinematic films, promotion videos, publications and outdoor advertisements. The group will also provide the Olympic torch and medals. "It is a great honor for LG Group to join the event as an official sponsor of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics," Ha said. "We will closely work with POGOC and support the committee to host the world's best Olympic Games here." Meanwhile, LG Electronics, the group's largest affiliate, has provided funds and equipment for the national skeleton team as an official sponsor since 2015. Under the agreement with the Korea Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (KBSF), the company will sponsor the national team until March 2018. In April last year, the electronics company gave 100 million won ($87,313) to the Korean skeleton team as an incentive for the national athletes. "We have decided to support the national skeleton team for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, hoping that it will help them get good results at the event," LG Electronics' Korea business division President Choi Sang-kyu said. "We feel grateful for LG Electronics for showing continued affection and interest in Korea's skeleton," an official at the KBSF said. "We pledge to achieve good results at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics." Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled, down a frozen track while lying face down. It was first chosen as an official Winter Olympics event in 1928. Established in 2006, Korea's national skeleton team has continued to achieve better results every year, according to the federation. In particular, Yun Sung-bin has been one of the most promising athletes in this event as he has won a total of six medals including a gold last season. By Kang Seung-woo Kakao, the operator of the nation's top mobile messenger Kakao Talk, has set up an affiliate that will develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbots short for chat robot. The move is expected to once again pit its founder and chairman, Kim Beom-su, against his old friend Lee Hae-jin, the founder and chairman of Naver, the nation's biggest search engine that is also accelerating its investment in AI. Kim and Lee co-founded the web portal. According to Kakao, Wednesday, the company established Kakao Brain on Feb. 1 with capital of 20 billion won ($17.5 million) to find a new growth engine and Kim assumed the CEO position the first time for the chairman to do so "officially." Although the number of its workers remains unknown thus far, some 100 are expected to work for the newly established firm. "Kakao Brain will focus on developing key technologies regarding AI and seek various ways to improve technologies, service and business," Kakao said. Observers expect Kakao to take advantage of its AI affiliate to upgrade its mobile messenger amid intensifying competition. "The establishment of Kakao Brain is aimed at developing a chatbot that will work with Kakao Talk," said an information technology (IT) industry analyst. Chatbot is a computer program that simulates human conversation, or chat, using artificial intelligence. Kakao CEO Rim Ji-hoon also hinted on his social media account last month that the company's focus is on developing chatbots, saying that Kakao Talk will evolve into a "multifunctional private secretary." With the AI industry emerging as a new blue ocean, the chairman reportedly strongly expressed his intention to lead the subsidiary company, with him expected to focus on advancing AI technologies and research and development. Kim's decision to set up the AI affiliate seems to have been motivated by its rival Naver's investment in the business. Last October, the Naver chairman said his company will accelerate its investment in high-tech startups, setting AI development as one of its key priorities. At that time, the company unveiled its new digital assistant service named AMICA, aimed at understanding the intention of its users, interacting with them everywhere, including in the bedroom and out in the streets. In addition, the Naver chairman set up a task force "J," named after Jarvis, an AI assistant in the movie "Iron Man," and Line Corp. Chief Global Officer Shin Joong-ho is leading the unit comprised of some 150 engineers and employees. Kakao and Naver have already been engaged in a hard-fought competition in the mobile messenger segment with Kakao Talk and Line, respectively. By Park Jae-hyuk Yang Byung-guk Daewoong Pharm is under fire for appointing a former top government official who failed to prevent the 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, as head of its bio business unit. The country's major pharmaceutical company on Monday named Yang Byung-guk, a former director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), as the CEO of Daewoong Bio. The Seoul National University College of Medicine graduate, who built his 20-year public career in the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the KCDC, vowed to foster the company as a global health care group. However, critics point out that Yang, who retired in disgrace from the government office last year, was disciplined for being responsible for the spread of the fatal disease that threatened the nation. Last January, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) of Korea called for Yang's dismissal following a two-month inspection on 18 institutions, including the health ministry and the KCDC. Although the BAI emphasized Yang's belated countermeasures against the MERS at that time, the Ministry of Personnel Management suspended him for three months, and Yang stepped down last October. Yang also was reportedly investigated by the independent counsel last month over allegations that the government took only belated measures against Samsung Medical Center, which was partly responsible for the spread of the disease. Industry observers have also been dubious of Yang's capabilities, noting that public officials have rarely been appointed as heads of pharmaceutical companies. Budget airlines take up nearly one third of market By Lee Hyo-sik Low-cost carriers are thriving on a surge in the number of Korean and foreign passengers. When low-cost airlines first began flying in the mid-2000s, they served mostly local travelers flying on domestic routes. But they have expanded their reach outside the country, taking many passengers away from the nation's two flagship carriers: Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. The six budget carriers Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, T'way Air, Eastar Jet and Air Seoul will likely continue to increase their clout this year by adding more planes to their fleets and launching new international routes. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the eight domestic airlines handled a combined 47.2 million passengers flying overseas in 2016. Of these, the low-cost carriers accounted for 14.3 million, or 30.3 percent, up from 22.7 percent in 2015 and 18.3 percent in 2014. On domestic routes, budget airlines accounted for 57.4 percent by transporting 17.63 million travelers. The ministry said budget carriers bolstered their passenger capacity by operating more aircraft and flying to more overseas destinations. Air Seoul, Asiana's second low-cost airline launched last July, also helped expand the low-cost carrier market. By company, Jeju Air handled 4.12 million international passengers, followed by Jin Air (3.74 million), Air Busan (2.21 million), Eastar Jet (2.07 million), T'way Air (2.02 million) and Air Seoul (117,000). "Budget carriers now handle nearly 60 percent of domestic route passengers and have expanded their presence abroad by launching flights linking Korea with destinations in Japan, China and Southeast Asia, providing both inbound and outbound travelers with more choices," a ministry official said. They have been wooing substantial numbers of customers from Korean Air and Asiana Airlines by offering lower fares and differentiated services on both domestic and international flights, the official said, adding that they will play a larger role in Koreacommercial aviation market. In contrast to Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which have largely remained reluctant to increase the size of their fleets on increasing operating costs, budget carriers have been rushing to introduce new planes. Jeju Air said it will continue to expand its operations in 2017 to become Asia's leading carrier. The airline currently operates 27 planes on 30 international routes from airports at Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju. This year, the company plans to add five more planes, including the Boeing 737-800 and Airbus 321-200, and service more than 10 million passengers. "We have achieved economies of scale in our international operations, meaning that we can fly to many overseas destinations in a cost-effective manner," a Jeju Air spokesman said. "We will continue to do what we have been doing over the past few years. We will introduce new planes and launch more international routes, as well as offering differentiated travel experiences for our customers." Jin Air, Korean Air's low-cost unit, also plans to add four more planes to its fleet in 2017. "We haven't been able to finalize our business plan yet for this year," a spokesman said. "Unlike Jeju Air, we will focus more on bolstering our bottom line than expanding our size." Air Busan, affiliated with Asiana Airlines, also said it will not fly to new foreign destinations in 2017. "Instead, we will seek to expand the number of flights on our exiting 30 international routes to bolster profitability. Launching new routes incurs substantial costs," a company spokesman said. Air Busan runs a fleet of 18 planes, flying to 22 foreign destinations, and plans to introduce four more aircraft this year. T'way Air also plans to buy four new planes this year, expanding its fleet to 20, while Air Seoul, which operates three planes, is expected to add two more. The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the receipt of a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, informing the legislature of his intention to extend his medical vacation in the United Kingdom. The upper chamber of the National Assembly however failed to provide details of the letter. Earlier on Sunday, the Presidency had announced that Buharis 10-day vacation to the UK had been extended. The extension was contained in a three-paragraph statement made available to journalists by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina. Adesina said the extension was necessary to allow the President complete a series of tests recommended by his doctors and get the results before he could return to Nigeria. Although he said Buhari had already dispatched a letter to the National Assembly on the extension, he did not specify the duration of the extension. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sabi Abdullahi, while briefing journalists on the letter, said, You will recall that we received, before we suspended plenary, a letter from Mr. President which was dated 18th January, 2017, where he informed the distinguished senators that he was proceeding on his vacation for 10 days and this is to meet the constitutional provisions In this second letter, he is informing the Senate that he is extending his vacation because in the cause of that routine medical check-up, there were still some tests his doctors still want to run further and so, because of that, he is extending his stay. This is a constitutional provision and let me say it is within his prerogative to do so and we are in receipt of that letter accordingly. The spokesman said the Senate was waiting for the safe return of the President. When asked if the date of Buharis return was stated in the letter or it was indefinite, Abdullahi stated that the letter did not say indefinite because indefinite is taking the matter out of context. He added, But, then, he said hes extending (his vacation); that is, beyond the 10 days he had asked for and because the tests that are going to be run are not in his hands (to be determined by him) it is in the hands of the doctors he is not giving us a date. But, definitely, hes extending (his vacation) and I think that is what is important. When asked for how many days the legislature would permit the President to remain on vacation, the Senates spokesperson said he was not sure if the constitution had a specific duration for a Presidents absence from duty. Abdullahi was also asked whether it was compulsory for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to reconvene the lawmakers and read the content of the letter at the plenary on the floor of the chamber. Abdullahi said, I am here to speak on behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are in receipt of that letter and we are telling you because Nigerians have been asking. Whatever is reported through whatever medium is not my own business. Our business is what we do here and that is what I know. Now that we have the letter, I am here to say we have the letter and that is what is important. When asked to react to the opinion of a lawyer that Buharis letter remained invalid until it had been read to the lawmakers, the Senate spokesperson stated that the lawyer was not a senator. Abdullahi also could not be categorical on the date the letter was received by Saraki. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had, penultimate week, in an interview with CNBC Africa, monitored in Abuja insisted that Buhari was not ill. Adesina had insisted that Buhari was only in London on vacation and was not in any hospital. Meanwhile, Adesina has said the circumstances surrounding the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari could not be compared with what obtained with the late President Umar YarAdua in 2009. Adesina said this on Tuesday in an interview with BBC Focus on Africa Today, monitored by one of our correspondents, while reacting to a question that the government had been silent on updates on the Presidents health. The SA had been asked, The Action Congress in 2009 renewed its call on the Federal Government to give Nigerians a daily update on the health of President Umaru YarAdua to stem the growing rumours surrounding his state of health. Now, why are you guys not doing the same thing that was suggested eight years ago? Adesina said, The circumstances are not exactly the same. I think we are talking about two incommensurates here. Because with President YarAduua in 2009, one, he left the country, nobody knew where he was going. With President Buhari, we knew where he was going, with President YarAdua, we didnt know when he was coming back, with President Buhari, a date was given. President YarAdua left without transmitting power to the Vice-President, President Buhari didnt leave until he had transferred power to his deputy, the Vice-President who is now the deputy president. So, you can see that the two circumstances are not exactly the same. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Gunmen operating within the territorial waters of Nigeria around the Niger Delta region have abducted seven Russian sailors and a Ukrainian. Russian Embassy was said to have raised the alarm that BBC Caribbean ship was attacked by pirates within the Nigerian territorial waters. The embassy was quoted as saying: The BBC Caribbean Ship came under a pirate attack in the territorial waters of Nigeria. Seven Russian citizens and one Ukrainian citizen have been kidnapped from the ship. The Russian Embassy has asked the Nigerian authorities for assistance in establishing the whereabouts of the abducted. It was learnt that the vessel, described as a general cargo ship, was attacked in the Gulf of Guinea, 45 nautical miles, south-west Brass. Specifically, the incident was said to have occurred close to the Pennington River where the pirates on a speedboat approached the ship and opened fire on them. Though the guards on board reportedly fired back, the gunmen later overpowered the ship and seized the occupants. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Billy Crystal is surely not the only comedy legend who earned his first big laugh as an elementary school student, but he may be the only one who credits his initial success to being clumsy in the cafeteria line. I had my food on my tray, he recalled. I tripped, by accident, and dropped the tray and everybody laughed. The next day I came in and dropped it again! And here I am, 60 years later, still dropping trays. What Crystal is not noted for dropping are f-bombs, whether its in his interviews, his books, his Broadway hit, 700 Sundays (which got its start at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2004), or in his classic comedy movies, which include When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers and Analyze This. But the veteran star made a four-letter exception during a recent 30-minute phone conversation previewing his Feb. 16, 2017 solo show, Spend the Night with Billy Crystal, at Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall. His uncharacteristic expletive came during a discussion of cellphone use at concerts, plays and other live arts events. Its an increasingly ubiquitous phenomenon that prompts the otherwise affable star to seethe with frustration and anger. You have no idea how disconcerting and insulting it is that somebody is so short-minded as to be texting, or checking their messages, while youre talking on stage, Crystal said. Its awful, especially in theaters. I was performing on Broadway and someone in the second row, a woman, was on her phone constantly as soon as I came out. I started playing the whole show to her, saying: Get the f--- off of your phone! Pardon me, Crystal said to his interviewer, who required no apology for the justifiable epithet. Then I could see her mouth go, to whomever she was talking to: I have to go; hes looking at me. Crystal let out a loud sigh of exasperation. Men will put their phones in their shirt pockets, and it lights up and looks like E.T., he lamented. And, on stage, you hear it ring and are interrupted by it. Using cellphones is one of the worst traits about audiences and its like its accepted now. One of the things I hate about performing is the disrespect people have. So I hope people will be more responsible. We work very hard with the ushers in the theaters I perform in to make sure people dont use their phones. Why audience members pay good money for their tickets, only to rudely blather on phones or text and check emails during performances, remains a mystery. Not so, the solution, which has less to do with policing by ushers than with common sense and respect from attendees. Its up to people to turn their phones off, Crystal agreed. This need they have to be in touch with (other) people all the time is really sad to me. I get it if you are a doctor whos on call. But, otherwise, if youre coming to a show, arent you coming to get away from all that? Here are highlights from our far-ranging interview with Crystal, who discussed The La Jolla Playhouse: My experience in La Jolla was such a great one. When we work-shopped 700 Sundays there in 2004 with Des MacAnuff, who would later direct the show, it was a turning point in my life. I think we did 14 or 15 shows there, and five months later we were on Broadway. It was so fast! And it was incredible to work with such talented people as the ones in La Jolla. It gave me the confidence to be funny and touching. His Spend the Night with Billy Crystal tour: We call it that because people feel like they are at the dinner table with me. Its that personal to them, and that relaxed, and thats what I love about it. Im on my feet 90 percent of the time, telling stories and recollections, showing film clips. Its a very fun night of re-living memories. Drawing from current events in his show: You know, I dont do much of that, though its hard not to now. These other comics out there say something, and somebody boos or yells. Theres so much anger out there. Ill talk about current events in a certain way, but its not my focus. Whats funny today wont be funny tomorrow. Its a very confusing time and a very edgy time now. Somehow, it doesnt feel like this is our country it will take some time for things to settle. His breakthrough role on the TV series Soap: I never thought about it as This will make me famous. I thought: This is a really daring show, and if we can do it right, it could be important. It wasnt about what it would do for me, but what I could do for this character. I thought that, if we could play it right, we could do something that hadnt been done before (a gay character in a sitcom) on TV. I hadnt seen it in so many years and recently found some DVDs of Soap. I watched it, and thought: You know what? This was on 40 years ago! I was really proud about it. Craving the spotlight from a young age: I needed that attention. To get out in front of people, its one of the places I feel most comfortable. Im an uncomfortable person in front of small groups. But in front of 200 people, or 2000, Im comfortable. His tenure as a middle-school substitute teacher: When I would come in, I was what they called a per diem floater. So I would report every day. If anybody was out, Id take over any kind of class, even if It was something I wasnt skilled at, which was everything! But mostly, Id teach was English and phys ed. Id take questions from the students and sometimes break in new material. Because I was just starting out in comedy. And if somebody is in a chair, looking at you in a classroom, its really no different than in a comedy club. Doing a Spinal Tap reunion: Hey, yeah, of course. One last tour! But I want the royalties on the Mime is money hats! (Crystals character in the 1984 movie, This is Spinal Tap, was Morty, the mime, waiter, who memorably declared: Mime is money! Come on, move it!). Advice for Jimmy Kimmel on hosting the Oscars: I was talking to Kimmel the other day. Hes very witty and did a really good job on the Emmys. When everybody asks me about hosting the Oscars eight times. I tell them: Just look like you want to be there. Work hard to write good jokes and dont over-stay your welcome. Just pick your spots and make sure the show moves along. The most important thing is having a really good time. And its difficult for the audience, because theyre all nervous and uncomfortable. So pick jokes that work. Jack Palance doing one-armed push-ups during his 1992 Oscars Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech: I think it was the greatest set-up for a joke in Oscars history. Plus, I was one who had helped create that part (for Palance) in City Slickers. Jack was in the first movie I ever saw as a kid, Shane. And here I was in City Slickers, acting with him in a role he won an Oscar for doing. It was such a thrill. And that happened to be one of the better shows in the history of the Oscars. Because he did (the push-ups). it gave me a running start for the rest of the show. Did I send him a thank-you card? Um, no he already had the Oscar! His creative impetus: I havent stopped working since high school; I really havent stopped. I love to tell stories. I love to create things from out of the blue, and create new people, characters, stories, movies. Whatever they end up becoming is just an extension of the stories you tell from the time youre a little kid. I was always imitating my relatives. I was always interested in creating someone else and becoming someone else. Retirement: I never even use the word. I got to know (comedy pioneer) George Burns pretty well. I was with him in Las Vegas when he was 95, and I watched him do an hour and a half performance. Afterward, I asked him: Will you ever retire? And he said: To what? What would I do? IF YOU GO: Spend the Night with Billy Crystal, 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown San Diego. Tickets: $71-$221 at (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com In one of the first encounters between U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and the students at The Bishops School (where hes spending a week as the 2017 Endowed Scholar-in-Residence), he asked a student for her familys origin. She took her time, Herrera told La Jolla Light, adding that he could feel momentum growing in the class, and when she revealed the answer, There was an inner emotional insightful moment. Thats my mission. Herrera explained hes on a quest to help students achieve their highest expression potential. When you say something in a poem, people can relate to that. Thats what you can do with poetry, but it needs to have sincerity, your full attention and freedom to express yourself at that level, he explained. The first Mexican-American to become a poet laureate, Herrera spoke to the entire Bishops School student body Jan. 24. Do what you really like to do, he told them. I have a Ph.D. in daydreaming. If you like to daydream, daydream. My daydreams became all this. Herrera, who grew up in San Diego, credited his teachers for challenging him, which prompted the growth that made him become a poet. Your teachers present you with life puzzles sometimes. When I was in sixth grade, my teacher wanted me to do a theater piece on Peru. My teacher had a lot of faith and support in me. I didnt know how to do it, but I crunched it out and somehow with my wizard genius I did it, he explained, and immediately started playing his harmonica, one of the highlights of his lectures for students. He also discussed his struggles as the son of Mexican migrant farmers growing up in San Diego. He recalled the time a teacher asked him, Juan, what are you? And he replied, What am I I am Hawaiian. I said that because I had just come back from San Francisco and I had amazing friends from Hawaii, but Im Mexican and I told myself, Im not going to lie anymore. I told myself, I dont want to be scared or nervous when my teachers ask me a question anymore. For his poetry, Herrera often uses Spanish and English weaved together into a whirlwind of rhythms and words. Asked how an only-English speaker would understand his poetry, he replied, You dont have to know what those words mean, you can just look at them, and youre good. Theres no requirements in poetry even if you know all the languages in the poem. Herrera invited students to write celebration poems and read them or give them to someone. A poem does not exist if you do not give it away. It is empty if you not read it out in your beautiful voice. It has to have your voice, without your voice is not really a poem. He insisted giving is especially important in present times because people are feeling a little agitated. Its good to have a gift from someone else, a stranger especially, someone they dont know ... or maybe know a little bit. Its very deep and magical. You dont have to think too much; it can be a poem about what happened today, or how you feel, or what you dreamed about ... or just a few words, he continued. He said one of his first experiences as a student was when his teacher told him to sing in front of his entire class. She said, Juan, you have a beautiful voice! I dont have a voice, Miss, I dont talk at all. And that was my life puzzle. I had to figure it out. And all of you students at The Bishops School have beautiful voices. Every single one of you. Want to Know More? To read Juan Felipe Herreras biography and some of his works, visit poetryfoundation.org Getting one step closer to fulfilling lifelong dreams of one day working for The Walt Disney Company, four UC San Diego engineering students became finalists in the 26th annual Walt Disney Imagineering Imaginations Design Competition. Out of more than 330 submitted projects, the UCSD team Emeline Lee, Allison Masikip, Julia Soderstjerna and Terence Tien were in the top six for their project, Pacific Trove. According to press material, the challenge is to apply the same design principles used in creating Disneys theme parks, resorts and immersive experiences to develop new outdoor spaces within ones own college or university that could address the diverse needs of students, faculty and visitors while also providing a respite from the stresses of everyday life. The projects and concepts presented are not necessarily intended to be built by Disney they are a way for the entrants to demonstrate their skills and creative abilities as the theme park designers of the future. The six finalist teams received an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale last week, where they presented their projects to Imagineering executives and competed for monetary awards. The UCSD team did not place beyond the finalist level. The winning team hailed from Iowa State University and secured the victory with Hourglass, which uses the concept of an hourglass turned on its side to allow guests to pause time and find respite from everyday stresses. The crew was at the Disney Imagineering (a combination of imagination and engineering) campus the week of Jan. 23. We got the opportunity to present our project several times. It was an amazing experience to get feedback and see peoples reactions to the work we did over the course of half-a-year. We got to interview for internships, and now were waiting to hear back, so fingers crossed! joked Soderstjerna. The entire week was amazing to see how things operate behind the scenes, and see the amazing minds that work at Disney and who were finalists in the contest. It was life-changing. Tien added, We didnt place, but we won by being there and being finalists. It was the most incredible week. The lore of La Jolla Pacific Trove was inspired by La Jolla. The team had to produce a story about the location, a video, renderings and models of their mock city. Heres how their story goes (though it sadly does not begin with Once upon a time): On the coast of California, an enchanted jewel was once rumored to reside in the seascape of La Jolla. Nicknamed Jewel City by early Spanish settlers, La Jolla tells the tale of a magical power, that in which the citys beautiful, natural wonders owed their existence. Over the years, the beautiful space drew a growing population. A college campus and concrete buildings grew and the powers of the jewel dwindled. One moonless night, a student was snorkeling in the sea caves of La Jolla and found these shimmering teal jewel fragments embedded in the rocks. She brought some pieces back to commemorate her solo moment with nature, but lost them within the campus on the way back. The lost fragments reawakened a region on campus and the area grew into a space of rejuvenating splendor, bringing back the natural elements of La Jolla students, faculty and visitors love. In this project, with the powers of the famed jewel recently reawakened, guests follow the numerous paths to share an experience of rediscovering their relationship with nature, through walking trails, tree slides and zip lines. Tien said the local points of inspiration included Torrey Pines State Reserve and La Jolla Shores. While conceiving the idea, we took trips around town because our idea revolved around natural elements of La Jolla, so we wanted to explore them thoroughly. We also read a lot and studied a lot on how Disney creates these spaces. It was an exploration of how these things are created and how we should go about them. We wanted to create a place of respite inspired by all the beautiful scenery we have near at UCSD. Armed with visual inspiration and excitement at the opportunity, the team began work in summer 2016. Most of us grew up watching Disney movies and going to Disneyland. Now that were older and this could be a career, we thought this would be a fun thing to do, said Lee. Plus, we are a bunch of Disney nerds. As for who did what, Tien created the concept art and illustrations. Soderstjerna made the props for the presentation. Masikip crafted trinkets that glow to resemble the famed jewel and helped with the story development. Lee was charged with video direction and music selection. It was great to work as a team outside of school, Lee opined. We had to learn public speaking and communication, so this project also gave us career skills. It was fantastic. Learn more about the contest at disneyimaginations.com Conrad (Prebys) supported many organizations in San Diego because he knew they were good for everyone. Supporting La Jolla Music Society he did for himself, out of love. He chose to support organizations when their mission hit him in the gut, this one hit him in the heart. Music was such an enormous part of his life Conrad was so very proud and honored to help make this day happen, said the late Prebys partner, Debbie Turner, after a seemingly endless applause, at the groundbreaking ceremony of The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, aka The Conrad. Prebys gave $15 million for the centers construction before his passing in July 2016. La Jolla Music Society (LJMS) broke ground on what will be its new permanent home at 7600 Fay Ave. on Feb. 1. The $76 million, 49,000-square-foot performing arts center is set to open in January 2019 and will feature a 500-seat concert hall, to be known as the Baker-Baum Concert Hall; a 140-seat flexible performance space, to be known as The JAI; new LJMS offices; rehearsal rooms; and a large open courtyard. LJMSs former home, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, is being torn down for a major renovation to quadruple its gallery space. Kristin Lancino, LJMS president and artistic director, opened the groundbreaking ceremony, The Conrad promises to be inviting to all San Diegans and international artists alike. It will be the proud home to La Jolla Music Society as well as a home to local organizations, traveling artists and those who wish to use the facility. Its a once-in-a-generation addition to San Diego and I believe to this country. I cant wait to come back in 2019, added San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. This is going to be a phenomenally impactful, powerful addition, not just to our city but to our state and indeed to the country. Today is a great day for arts and culture, and that commitment to arts and culture is part of what defines us as a city. In the concert seasons before the facility opens, LJMS performances will continue at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church, UC San Diego and venues in downtown San Diego, among other locations. The Conrad is funded through private donations, and LJMS board chair Katherine Chapin recognized major donors at the groundbreaking: Joan and Irwin Jacobs (for whom The JAI is named); Brenda Baker and Steve Baum (for whom the Baker-Baum Concert Hall is named); Rita and Richard Atkinson; Raffaella and John Belanich; the Beyster Family; Silvija and Brian Devine; Joy Frieman; Peggy and Peter Preuss; Gary and Jean Shekhter; and Clara Wu and Joseph Tsai. She also thanked current and past LJMS board members. After a yearlong search, Massachusettes-based Epstein Joslin Architects, Inc. was selected as the firm to design the facility. Yasuhisa Toyota, president of Nagata Acoustics America was also chosen to handle the acoustics following the companys work on concert venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tokyos Suntory Hall and Kyoto Concert Hall in Japan. Alan Joslin, architect with Epstein Joslin, described the firms vision for the site. On the north end of the site, for example, the Baker-Baum Concert Hall will feature, A wood nest floating within a mysterious light (atop) a remarkably intimate space that wraps both the performer and the audience in a cocoon of warm wood and rich sound, from which subtleties of performers expressions and audience rapture will be experienced with both eyes and ears, he said. On the south end, The JAI will provide a hip and lively setting that will allow for experimentation and youthful creativity that will captivate audiences, Joslin said. But as for the celebration at hand, As we embark on this venture, especially today, we have to remind ourselves the building is far more than brick and mortar, more than color choices and city permits, this building is an embodiment of a dream, values and aspirations of La Jolla Music Society , he said. (It will be) a home for your community, a place to celebrate freedom of artistic creativity, inspiration of those aspiring to the highest level of human expression, the education of culture to coming generations, the commitment to the flourishing of the human spirit and the friendship that this shared appreciation fosters. Concluding, Lancino announced the groundbreaking marked the beginning of the public fundraising campaign needed to raise the remaining $14 million needed to complete The Conrad. We are proud to announce we have attained $62 million toward our goal of $76 million. The public portion of this financial campaign will serve to underscore the excitement we feel today and the pride we will feel when we have this cherished hall open. Learn more or contribute at theconrad.org During a Public Information Workshop Feb. 2 at Solana Vista Elementary School, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel offered information about changes coming to San Diego International Airport landings and departures this spring as part of the Southern California Metroplex Project, but no explanation for why La Jolla residents have noticed an increase in jet airplane noise starting in fall 2016. In the last seven years, air traffic has increased in Southern California. Im not saying that explains everything, but theres definitely more flights, said public information officer Ian Gregor. Other reasons would be an increase in the size of airplanes (and therefore, their volume), frequency of smaller planes and helicopters, the overcast weather and growth of Gillespie Field airport (whose air space lays to the north of San Diego International Airport). There have been no changes (in FAA procedures) in the 10 years Ive worked here, FAA air traffic controller Mike Taylor said. He theorized that people hear changes in flight paths are coming. And Im not discrediting anybody, but now they notice it more (when planes are present and say) Oh, yeah, there are planes out there. But again, this is just my opinion, he said. San Diego Airport Authority determines how many airplanes can be at the airport at one time, we dont, he concluded. La Jolla resident Len Gross, who attended the meeting, offered a tentative explanation, Its a combination of things, a whole bunch of factors that we havent yet figured out. The airport procedure hasnt changed, but over time, (San Diego Airport northbound departures) have moved closer to shore, for whatever reason. Also, people in La Jolla have gotten sensitive (to plane noise). They hear about Metroplex Project and they think, It must be that, its a psychological phenomenon. However, Gross clarified he would still put up a fight against the plane noise in La Jolla. Were very upset about this. When you put all these factors together (bigger and more frequent planes, more helicopter and general aviation flights), it feels like we live in an airport. Metroplex Project The FAAs Southern California Metroplex Project is a plan to improve safety and efficiency in area airports by replacing the beacon-based air routes with satellite-based navigation, changing the points at which airplanes turn en route. Satellite technology allows us to build more direct routes as well as routes that are automatically separated from one another. This creates a more efficient system and reduces pilot-controller communications, the FAA said in a press release. These changes will be implemented in March and April. The FAA added, During our environmental analysis for this project, we modeled noise at about 300,000 locations throughout Southern California. Our modeling found that some areas will experience slight noise decreases, some will experience slight noise increases, and some will experience no changes. The Southern California Metroplex Project was signed on Aug. 31, 2016. The projects website reads: This is the FAAs final decision, and it enables the agency to move forward with implementing the project. Three new satellite-based air routes for San Diego International Airport were presented at the workshop. Some of the pivotal points where planes turn will change, because in the old system the navigation beacons were physically planted on the ground, and the new technology allows for satellite-based locations. San Diego International Airport departure routes will be replaced, so aircrafts going north (towards San Francisco) will turn on a satellite point, which FAA maps show is closer to the shore than the current one. However, FAA personnel assured Bird Rock residents, who have been complaining of the noise created by outgoing flights, that the new technology will ensure more precise navigation routes. Therefore, less commercial flights will deviate from their route and turn north closer to the coast (which could explain some of the noise increase noticed by residents). The landing route path will remain largely the same, but the change will be in the way aircraft pilots perform descents. We can create descents in which aircraft essentially glide down on idle or near-idle power to their final approaches. Because engines arent spooling up and air brakes arent being deployed, the plane makes less noise, reads the FAA press release. Other advantages of this method are fewer carbon dioxide emissions and better fuel efficiency. So for La Jolla Shores neighbors who have protested increasingly loud arriving flights, those aircrafts could potentially be quieter. Im very confident about this, because (reduction in noise) is happening in Washington, D.C., Houston, Atlanta, north Texas and northern California, where they have already implemented these changes, said Taylor. The next public meetings where aircraft noise in La Jolla will be discussed are the La Jolla Town Council, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St. and the Airport Noise Advisory Committee, 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at 3225 N. Harbor Drive, Administrative offices. To connect with La Jollans who are reporting aircraft noise, e-mail noplanenoiselajolla@gmail.com How to submit a noise complaint LAKE GENEVA One poem became the inspiration for an extravagant snow sculpture for three Maine natives. The Carvivores, who consist of mother-daughter team Cathy Thompson and Amanda Bolduc along with friend Paul Warren traveled from Maine to Lake Geneva to represent their home state in the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition. The group, who won third place and brought home the Peoples Choice award, said they were grateful for the opportunity to come to Lake Geneva and showcase their talents. Recently, a Regional News reporter had the chance to talk to the Carvivores about their experience transforming snow into a work of art. (Edited for clarity and brevity.) Q: How many years have you been snow sculpting? How did you get into this form of art? A: Bolduc: Two years, but we are all sand sculptors and started in 2006 with that before it eventually translated into something more. There were sand competitions going on in Fort Meyers Beach, and we saw it and thought that, wow this looks like fun. And so we entered in amateur competition together ... we didnt win but it was our first try. Thompson: We caught the sculpting vibe, so to speak. And the year after that we did another amateur. And she (Bolduc) went on to do a solo competition. You want to become an advanced amateur, and she would have to win a couple of solos to do that. Q: What specific equipment and tools do you use? A: Bolduc: We use shingle scrapers, saws, pruning saws for trees, chisels, 60 grit sand paper, spoons from my kitchen, a curry comb from the stable ... basically anything that is sharp and will take off snow and ice. Q: Can you tell me about your design? Was there a specific inspiration in mind when coming up with a concept? A: Thompson: This was inspired by a fellow snow sculptor, his name is Jason Anhorn. And this is a one line poem he wrote and the poem is, hello, can you tell me the way to the heart? And when I read that poem, this picture just blew up in my head of this guy seeing this beautiful woman, and she is bigger than life and he falls in love at first sight, and he wants to know how to get to her heart. So he is whispering in her ear but little does he know that she is very complicated. She has all of these things going on she has a maze going to her guarded heart and he has to find the key to her heart. So that one line poem by our fellow sculptor inspired this sculpture. Q: What is the process of planning a sculpture of this scale? A: Thompson: It takes a lot of collaboration on the drawing. I put together a concept drawing to share with my team members and everyone gives ideas and inputs. I had the man just standing on her shoulder and Amanda said, what if he is climbing up in her hair and whispering in her ear? and Paul said, we need to do something different with her hair. So as you can see from that drawing to this drawing, the hair has changed. So we are now wrapping the hair around so it seems as if the wind is blowing. There is always room for changing and moving, but concept drawing, collaboration and then the final drawing (are the steps). Once you get that final drawing, you draw angles. We even sculpted in clay the pieces of the sculptor to get a feel for the 3-D aspects of this. Q: What is your motive behind participating in this event? A: Bolduc: The whole point behind doing this is to entertain the audience and to create an emotion from them that they may not normally have. We want to speak to the audience that will make them laugh or cry and that is the point of doing it; engaging the audience. That is the joy I get out of it. Thompson: The fun is in the sculpt. Its not about the win, its about camaraderie between all of the people we meet here and getting our hands in the snow. State legislators are working to slow down, if not stop, big box retailers from slashing the valuations on their stores by as much as a half to two-thirds using a tactic called the Dark Store theory. The bill, coordinated between the state Assembly and Senate, should be officially released and ready for co-sponsorships later this month, a senate staffer said. Under the Dark Store theory, the retailers argue that the assessed value of a new, active store should be based on the value of vacant or abandoned buildings of similar size, in other words, a dark store, according to the Wisconsin League of Municipalities. Wisconsin courts have upheld this interpretation forcing communities to cut assessments of big box retailers and pay refunds to the retail corporations, according to the league. In a Sept. 1 memo to members, the league said that this appears to be a coordinated movement among all of the big box retailers to significantly reduce their property tax burdens. It was brought to my attention by the city of Lake Geneva, said State Rep. Tyler August, R-Lake Geneva. I think the city may have a point. State legislators said proposed bills from the state Senate and Assembly will probably be released for review and sponsorship later this month. In September 2016, the Lake Geneva City Council sent a resolution to the state Legislature calling on lawmakers to limit or eliminate the Dark Store theory and other tactics large-scale retailers use to cut their property tax assessments. City Administrator Blaine Oborn said that the Dark Store theory was first used in Lake Geneva by Walgreens 10 to 15 years ago. Walgreens was identified by the Wisconsin League of Municipalities as being aggressive in using the tactic. Through 2015, the city lost $5 million in property tax value as up to five other stores in Lake Geneva took advantage of the Dark Store theory to lower their assessments, Oborn said. In 2016, through a settlement with Best Buy, the city lost another $2.2 million in valuation. Assessments dropped Lake Genevas commercial property assessments dropped 1.7 percent between 2014 and 2015, Oborn said. The loss in property taxes from the large retailers amounted to about $150,000 for the two years, 2014 and 2015, Oborn said. That tax burden had to be picked up by other property taxpayers, he said. According to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin homeowners on average pay 70 percent of municipal property tax levies. In Lake Geneva, that figure is 71 percent, Oborn said. He said the fear is that other retailers will pick up on the Dark Store theory and use it to further drive down the valuations of retail property, shifting more and more of the property tax burden onto residential property. August said that State Rep. Robert Brooks, R-Saukville, and State Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, are working on bills to mitigate the impact of the Dark Store tactic used by large retail. Within his district, August said the Dark Store tactic is of particular interest to Delavan as well as Lake Geneva. It also gets residential taxpayers up in arms, he said. Im not passing judgment on the cities or the retailers, said August. Theres the spirit of the law and the technical language of the law. Its difficult to get those two married. He said the solution may be somewhere between the cities desire to retain assessed valuation and the retailers desire to cut their tax burden. Steve Mikalsen, chief of staff for State Sen. Stephen Nass, said the senator also believes something has to be done. And like August, Mikalsen said the answer probably lies in the middle ground between municipalities and retailers. Part of the hurdle lawmakers face is a clause in the state Constitution called the uniformity clause. It requires all taxes to be levied equally among all taxing classifications, Mikalsen said. According to a 2016 review of the uniformity clause by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, the clause applies to property taxes and was intended to prevent legislators or local officials from granting favorable tax treatment to influential property owners. The review points out that the uniformity clause is important for property taxpayers because property tax levies generate a specific amount of revenue from its taxpayers. The total assessed value of all taxable property within the jurisdiction is divided to determine the tax rate. Taxpayers obligation is computed according to the valuation of that individuals property. If one taxpayers assessment is lowered, the tax rate applied to every other piece of taxable property within the jurisdiction will be increased. Using a Constitutional provision intended to prevent shifting property tax obligations from one class of land owners to another, the big box stores have succeeded in doing just that. On the retailers side, the big boxes they construct are purpose-built, and probably not suited for other uses without significant changes, Mikalsen said. Some Wisconsin communities have put limitations on the sizes of the big box buildings through their zoning ordinances, which limits profitability, and have kept the large retailers from the best locations. Online pressure Finally, once the kings of retail, the big box stores are now facing increasing pressures from online retailers, like Amazon. On the other hand, the owners of the buildings, whether they be retailers or developers, are requiring assessors to value their operating, profit-making stores as if they were vacant. And thats just wrong, said Mikalsen. Empty buildings are not comparable to buildings in use, he said. In a telephone interview, Rep. Roberts said the new legislation, which is being coordinated between his office and that of Sen. Stroebel, would encourage the highest and best use of a property in determining its valuation. Buildings that are in use should not be the standard by which buildings with active, operating businesses should be assessed, he said. Income brought in by a building should be considered in valuation of a business location, Roberts said. Ethan Hollenberger, staff member for Sen. Stroebel, said another factor is that many of the big box stores are not owned by the retailers that they house. The buildings are built to the retailers specifications, but the developer retains ownership under an exclusive lease. A Wisconsin judge has already ruled that the lease agreement cant be used in determining the valuation of a big box property, Hollenberger said. Sen. Stroebels proposed bill would allow assessors to review lease agreements in preparing a big box valuation, he said. Assessors usually use comparable sales within a community to determine property valuations. Thats not easy with large retailers. You cant compare a Walgreens to an Auto Zone, Hollenberger said. Stroebels bill would allow assessors to go outside their immediate communities to find comparable buildings for assessment purposes, he said. In September 2016, the Lake Geneva City Council was among a number of municipalities that sent resolutions calling for the state Legislature to do something about the Dark Store theory. We dont have a sales tax, Oborn said during the September meeting. In Wisconsin, municipalities rely on property taxes for most of its funding. If property values for commercial stores continue to decline, it will make commercial development less desireable for cities. Theyll be shooting themselves in the foot, Oborn said. LAKE GENEVA The U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition crowned its victors on Saturday, Feb. 4 during Winterfest. And a Wisconsin team won the top award for the fourth consecutive year. This years snow sculpting competition included 15 teams from as far away as Alaska, New York and New Hampshire. Each state holds its own competition and each winner moves on to nationals during Lake Genevas Winterfest. VISIT Lake Genevas marketing and communications director Joe Tominaro said the event begins with Grand Geneva creating the artificial snow for the sculptors to use. Then the city of Lake Geneva goes and trucks it over in dump trucks and brings it down, he said. We have these cylinders that get strapped together; they are 16 feet in diameter and 9 feet tall. The snow goes into the cylinders before snow stompers pack it down. Once the cylinder mold is delivered, it freezes into a block of icy snow, weather permitting. From there, teams are assigned by random lottery which snow block is theirs, Tominaro said. They have 100 hours and they have to submit beforehand a rendering and a mold of what they will sculpt, he said. As to who judges the sculptures? The snow sculptors themselves. There is nothing better than your peers to judge you, Tominaro said. If you are an expert in your field, you should be able to tell what is the most intricate. There are criteria for judging; however, including uniqueness, detail and creativity, said Tominaro. And the winners are ... First place went home with David Andrews, Steve Bateman and Kevin Sawicki from Team Wisconsin 2. This is the fourth year in a row that Andrews has won the first place honor. Team Wisconsin 1 with members Gina Biliberti, Zachary Bueter and Ben Turski finished in second. Peoples Choice along with third place was awarded to Team Maine Carvivores members Amanda Bolduc, Cathy Thompson and Paul Warren. David Andrews, team captain for Wisconsin Team 2, said that his teams sculpture is based off of the French ballet Giselle. I want to say I had a great time carving with these two To the Editor: Thank you, President Trump, for trying to keep America safe. I was a legal immigrant coming here in 1955. My family received no financial aid or welfare. My mother worked extremely hard raising three kids here. I served in the U.S. Army (I have the highest regard for the VA) and became a U.S. citizen and am proud of it. President Trump, I appreciate your effort in trying to keep jobs in this country and getting Americans employed. I do not agree with immigrants coming over and draining our Social Security and welfare system. Americans who work, or have worked hard (retired), deserve to be the recipients. The more illegal immigrants that come into this country, the higher the crime rate becomes. Our police departments already have their hands full with all the crime we have presently. Its a shame that a former president would encourage all the protests that are occurring. Theyre not helping, but hurting this country. Instead of uniting, they are dividing this country. We dont want to see another 9/11 (a day we will never forget) happen. The media is biased. It never gives media attention to those who are overjoyed that we have someone in office that maybe can revive the American dream that was killed these past eight years. Oh, and Obamacare definitely is not affordable. Anyway, Mr. President, keep up the good work in keeping us safe. Many stand with you. Thank you and God bless America. Vyto Klausa Lake Geneva PRESS RELEASE American Banker Warns: Without Dodd-Frank, Glass-Steagall Could Come In Feb. 7, 2017 (EIRNS)American Bankers Washington, D.C., bureau chief Rob Blackwell warned bankers in a column last night, that their enthusiasm over tearing up Dodd-Frank could well usher in something much worse, at least in their eyes: the reinstatement of the 1933 Glass-Steagall law. American Banker, a voice of the financial "industry" since 1836, suggests bankers think about "the political long game." Blackwell reminds his financier readers that [Obamas] Dodd-Frank "was not a law built to dramatically reinterpret the financial system. Policymakers like former Rep. Barney Frank D-Mass., then-Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., were far more interested in preserving the existing system than than tearing it down." Hillary Clinton, too, campaigned only for modest reforms of the law. Thus, bankers happy about President Trumps assault on Dodd-Frank, had better wake up to the fact that "there is a significant downside to whats going on, one that might not be clear to banks until its too late." Dodd-Franks elimination PRESS RELEASE Belgian MPs Say EU Should Help Syrians Feb. 7, 2017 (EIRNS)A group of Belgian parliamentarians visited a refugee camp in Aleppo, Syria yesterday, and called for the end of sanctions on both Syria and Russia, reports TASS. "Sanctions against Syria should be removed as soon as possible so that the Syrians could start receiving medical assistance and the necessary aid. We should apologize for the long inaction of our countries," said Belgian MP Filip Dewinter. Another member of the Belgian parliament, Frank Creyelman, who, like Dewinter, is a member of the Flemish Vlaams Belang party, emphasized the need to lift sanctions not only on Syria but on Russia as well. "Your country has been subject to European sanctions while providing humanitarian aid to Syria," he said, addressing Russians. Creyelman made a particular point about the distortions in the Western media about the conditions on the ground in Aleppo. "I expected to see only ruins here and no sign of survivors. This is what the situation should be like, according to our media. But in fact, I see that Russia is doing the work that European countries should be doing, particularly, feeding starving children," Creyelman added. This morning, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent sent a 41-vehicle convoy of relief supplies to the town of Talbiseh in Homs province. The ministry also reported that Russian aircraft delivered nearly 21 tons of food to besieged Dier Ezzor while Russian troops delivered 3.5 tons of food and other supplies to civilians in both Aleppo and Damascus. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who was silenced on the Senate floor Tuesday night, will publish a new book in April. This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save Americas Middle Class will be released on April 18 by Metropolitan Books, the publisher announced earlier Tuesday. Warrens book will, the publisher promises, tell the story of how the United States built the greatest middle class in history, and how big corporations and financial institutions then came to overpower the interests of poor, lower-income, and middle-class Americans. Advertisement Warren, who has become one of the leaders of her partys progressive wing, said in the release that the American political system doesnt work for everyday working-class citizens. Americas once-solid middle class is on the ropes, and now Donald Trump and his administration seem determined to deliver the knock-out punch, she said. At this perilous moment in our countrys history, its time to fight back and Im looking for more people to join me. The book was announced the same day the Senate voted to rebuke Warren for reading a letter written by Coretta Scott King, the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., on the Senate floor. King wrote the letter in 1986, objecting to the then-nomination of Jeff Sessions to a U.S. District Court, criticizing Sessions record on racial issues and civil rights in Alabama. Sessions failed to be confirmed for that position. Now Sessions is a U.S. senator, and President Trumps nominee for attorney general. Because of her rebuke over reading Kings letter, Warren is forbidden from speaking again during Sessions nomination process. She was warned, said Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. Warren, a former law professor, was elected to the Senate in 2012. She had previously served as a special adviser to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from 2010-11. This Fight Is Our Fight will be the second book from Warren. Her previous book, A Fighting Chance, was published by Metropolitan in 2014. ALSO Read the Coretta Scott King letter that Warren read to the Senate GOPs silencing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren only raises her profile as Democratic alternative to Trump Jeff Sessions is up for a tough job and Trump isnt making it any easier Writing novels is so much more satisfying than writing television, says Sarah Dunn. Its an expertly tossed-off bon mot that practically defines the aphorism know your audience. The author of The Arrangement, a novel that wont be out for months, is seated between two bookstore owners at a long, blond-wood table at AR Cucina, an upscale restaurant in Culver City. Hosted by publisher Little, Brown and Co., the evening is a meet and greet for Dunn, members of the media and the local booksellers who will, presumably, be recommending and stocking her book. The restaurant decor is minimalist, a pinball machine of hard surfaces that amplifies voices, laughter, the clinks of knives and forks. Im an introvert, Dunn says, which is surprising considering the decibel of her surroundings; surprising too for a woman with a television show on the air (she is the writer-creator of ABCs American Housewife). Blond and blue-eyed, she wears a silver necklace dotted with pearls. Small clusters of people gather around her as they arrive, waiting for their turn to introduce themselves. The Arrangement, which will be published March 21, is about an upstate New York couple who briefly opens their marriage. Fortunately my husband let me write the book, Dunn says, adding that its awkward when colleagues on the lot assume The Arrangement is autobiographical. (It isnt.) She has forbidden her mother from reading it, despite the buffer of fiction. Its not erotic. I just think it would blow her mind. Advertisement When Clain stands to toast her client, I feel the way I did in Dunns informal receiving line, as if the rest of us are suitors at a debutante ball. Roughly two dozen guests gather on the heated patio where the tables arranged end-to-end, banquet-style bear flickering tea-candles and copies of the novel as their centerpieces. Baskets of warm, chewy bread and bowls of salty olives arrive; colorful salads with Parmesan and white anchovies; burrata; wine; a choice of branzino, risotto, duck. I sample a bowl of melting soft-serve with sour cherry compote and a sticky cookie too fancy to identify. One of the publishers publicity directors, Liz Garriga, is in attendance, as is Dunns editor and Little Browns editor-in-chief Judy Clain, who has flown in from New York. When I ask Garriga about the choice to host a dinner in L.A., she tells me that publishing has got to get out of the New York bubble, but that invitations were sent judiciously. We try to cater to the genre: this book has a lot of Hollywood trade interest, she says. Indeed, a journalist from the Hollywood Reporter rolls in after some guests have already sucked down their second round of the Bee-Knees, the events signature gin and ginger cocktail. Clain tells me about a recent lunch meeting she had with Matthew Weiner (Little, Brown will be publishing his first novel) and asks, seemingly without a hint of pretense, if he and I have met. (We havent). Clain bought Dunns first book, 1994s The Official Slacker Handbook, which she wrote when she was a 24-year-old waitress. That book caught the eye of agents at ICM who subsequently launched Dunns television career, beginning with a stint as a writer on the iconic 1990s series Murphy Brown. When Clain stands to toast her client, I feel the way I did in Dunns informal receiving line, as if the rest of us are suitors at a debutante ball. But by the time the second course arrives, somethings shifted. The dinner of course is less a celebration of the book than a soft sales pitch. The journalists and booksellers in attendance are being asked to help set Dunn apart from a lineup of upcoming authors as endless as the hopefuls on a dating show. Dunn freely admits, books need to be hand sold. Hand-selling is bookseller jargon, what Alison Reid of Diesel Books later explains is a personal, in-store recommendation. People come in without knowing what they want, she says. They ask, Have you read anything interesting? Im looking for something for my aunt Mary. Its putting the book in the customers hand. Hand-selling is also crucial in a tremendously crowded field. In 2016, the industry magazine Kirkus, which provides advance reviews of books to booksellers and libraries, reviewed 7,730 works of fiction not anywhere near all that were published. To get books into the hands of readers, publishers employ a wide range of strategies behind the scenes, including special events for booksellers in Los Angeles. The booksellers in attendance are being asked to help set Dunn apart from a line-up of upcoming authors as endless as the hopefuls on a dating show. I ask Reid how often she attends dinners like this one. Look at these chubby cheeks, she jokes, implying that publishers keep her well-fed; she estimates that she averages one a month. The dinners also allow booksellers to see which books publishers are putting money behind. (She would attend another publishers dinner the following week at Providence Jonathan Golds top restaurant in L.A. hosted by Harlequin. Theyre hand-selling to us, she said, thats what that dinner is.) Reid has a Scottish brogue softened only slightly by years in California, and at one point she gleefully boasts to the table about her ever-mounting tally of speeding tickets. (Fitting for the owner of Diesel, she drives like she has a lead foot.) The repartee between colleagues and competitors is familiar it sometimes feels as if the bookstore owners have come purely to chat among themselves. Book-selling is such a catch-as-catch-can business, Reid says. We get strength from each other. Dunn fields a few questions from guests about American Housewife, but the majority of the (mostly female) booksellers prefer to discuss their favorite moments and characters from her novel, asking the kinds of questions that any reader would, getting a feel for the author and for one anothers takes, all factors in deciding how many copies to order. Julie Slavinsky of Warwicks in La Jolla, who left four hours in advance to make the event, said dinners like these bring particular books to her attention, boosting their title to top of mind. This book may not have bubbled up, she tells me. As a book buyer, says Reid, I have favorite publishers, but I also have favorite editors. She trusts Clain, who has previously introduced her to the kind of book that you read, she says, and your whole world is changed. Clain tipped her off to I Am Malala well before it took off. In fact, Clain fields her own fair share of questions: How does she choose what to publish? How does she know whats good? Theres those moments, Clain says, of connecting with a work youve truly fallen in love with, and she catches our eyes to see if we follow. We do. There are still a few questions for Dunn: What inspires her work? Its voice, always, she says; as befits a novelist and TV writer, dialogue comes naturally to her. But theres always something deeper for me; [this book] is really about how do we go on? Like her protagonist, Dunn has an autistic son. If someone knows someone with an autistic kid, and they hand the book to them, thats enough publicity for me, she says, and despite the elegant dinner, I believe her. After the plates have been cleared, I ask if she enjoyed herself. Yes, she says. Its just nice to talk to someone about your book who isnt your family. The party winds down like any other: the first big wave of departures is followed by a trickle, people break off to say goodbye to old friends and new acquaintances in smaller, intimate groups and pairs. Out from under the heat lamps, its cold in Culver City. A couple from the main dining room winds scarves around their necks as they step onto the street. When I leave, Clain is still on the patio, gushing to Reid about a sprawling, epic novel slated for next November; the dinner may be over, but the appetite for books is never satisfied. agatha.french@latimes.com @agathafrenchy President Trump staged another tweet attack on an American corporation on Wednesday, this time raking Nordstrom Inc. for the supposed crime of dropping his daughter Ivankas fashion line. At about 10:51 a.m. New York time, Trump tweeted, My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! This attack follows Trump tweets aimed at Boeing and Lockheed Martin, but there are a few especially notable aspects to it. First, it was entirely personal: The critiques of Boeing and Lockheed were at least ostensibly related to public policy he was questioning the cost of Defense Department procurements from those companies. But theres no public policy aspect to whether Nordstrom continues to carry Ivankas merchandise, only the question of how much lucre flows into the Trump familys pocket. Advertisement My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 Second, this tweet was particularly incoherent. What could Ivankas being a great person have to do with Nordstroms business decisions, even assuming for the sake of argument that its true? Third, and perhaps most important from a business standpoint, the market impact of Trumps tweet was especially evanescent. The big retailers stock took a hit around the time of the tweet, falling about 0.65% to $42.47 as trading volume soared from about 6,700 shares in the minute or so before the tweet dropped to roughly a half-million shares during the four minutes that followed. But the action was over soon thereafter; by 2:01 p.m. New York time, Nordstrom was back above its pre-Trump peak. The shares closed at $44.53, a gain of more than 4% on a day when the rest of the market was essentially flat. Nordstrom announced Feb. 2 that it was dropping Ivanka-branded shoes and handbags from its merchandise offerings starting with the spring season, which is starting now. The company attributed the decision to the brands poor performance, rather than to politics. When Trump first started hectoring corporations by name via Twitter, we observed that his market-moving tweets were a scandal waiting to happen. There was the chance that a member of his inner circle clued in to his tweeting plans might try to trade ahead of them. Moreover, these off-the-cuff tweets signaled that Trump was insensitive to the fact that every word of a president is parsed to the nth degree, every thought magnified to global significance, no matter how casual or careless. Accordingly, while its not uncommon for presidents to try to jawbone industries or even individual companies, its very unusual for a president to settle personal scores with a corporation using his bully pulpit. Outrageous. @nordstrom, others injured should consider suing, incl. under CA Unfair Comp Law, forbidding "any unfair biz act." I will help! https://t.co/Y18Lml3rXk Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) February 8, 2017 This is something a father would say. It's not the type of thing a President of the United States should say. https://t.co/1l24LouFP0 Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 8, 2017 But the Nordstrom tweet appears to have eradicated the line between the public interest and Trumps interest. Thats why it was termed outrageous in a tweet by Norm Eisen, a former chief ethics officer for the Obama White House and the co-founder of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Trump not only issued the tweet from his personal account, but retweeted it on his official @POTUS account. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer illustrated the depth of the Administrations insensitivity to conflicts of interest in his defense of the tweet. Trump is leading this country, he said at a press briefing Wednesday. For people to take out their concern about his actions or his executive orders on members of his family, he has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities, their success. Criticism also came from the other side of the political divide, with Ari Fleischer, the former press secretary for George W. Bush, tweeting, This is something a father would say. Its not the type of thing a President of the United States should say. And as Kevin Drum of Mother Jones observed, theres an aspect of commercial favoritism to the Nordstroms tweet that makes it especially inappropriate: Nordstrom was not the only company that is dropping Ivankas merchandise. So have Neiman-Marcus and at least four other retailers. T.J. Maxx, which earlier was reported to have dropped Ivanka merchandise, has said it has incorporated the products into its regular racks, but hasnt taken them out of inventory. Nordstrom, as it happens, has been openly critical of Trumps immigrant travel ban. The companys three co-presidents brothers Blake, Peter and Erik Nordstrom issued a memo to employees observing that their company was founded by an immigrant, their great-grandfather John W. Nordstrom, and that today it employs thousands of first- and second-generation immigrants. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. UPDATES: 12:58 p.m.: This post has been updated with a more complete quote from Trump spokesman Sean Spicer. 1:46 p.m.: This post has been updated with Nordstroms closing stock price. 3:08 p.m.: This post has been updated to clarify T.J. Maxxs marketing of Ivanka merchandise. A controversial program designed to spot potential terrorists at airports by their actions and verbal clues is not supported by studies cited by the Transportation Security Administration and may be used to target minorities. That is the conclusion reached by the ACLU after the group successfully sued the TSA to collect more than 12,000 pages of reports and studies used by the security agency to defend the effectiveness of the program. The lawsuit was filed in 2015 because the TSA failed to respond to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, the ACLU said. Advertisement The records include numerous academic studies and articles that directly undermine the premise of the program, the ACLU said in a report released Wednesday. The scientific literature in the TSAs own files reinforces that deception detection is inherently unreliable. The TSA rejected the ACLUs conclusions, saying the program is one of several layers of security designed to thwart terrorist threats. Behavior detection is threat-agnostic, and unlike technology, does not become obsolete when the adversary develops a new weapon or tactic, TSA spokesman Bruce Anderson said. At the center of the controversy is the TSAs Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques program, known as SPOT. The program is designed to catch potential terrorists by deploying specially trained officers some dressed in casual clothes to question travelers and look for signs of stress, fear or deception. The TSA has spent more than $1 billion since the program was launched in 2007 to deploy about 3,000 behavior-detection officers to 176 of the more than 450 airports in the United States. This is not the first time the program has been under fire. The Government Accountability Office said in 2013 that a study that the Department of Homeland Security relied upon to validate the program was flawed and inconclusive. The ACLU says the academic literature produced by the TSA to support the program, in fact, shows there are flaws to the premise that physical cues can point to a liar. Despite decades of research effort to maximize the accuracy of deception judgments, detection rates rarely budge, according to a study offered by the TSA. It was written by professors at Texas Christian University and UC Santa Barbara. The documents received by the ACLU suggest that some behavior detection officers may have targeted minorities, including Latino and Middle Eastern travelers, for extra questioning and screening. It cited investigations into racial profiling in Miami, Chicago and Honolulu. But determining if TSA officers were guilty of racial profiling was difficult in some investigations because the TSA doesnt keep track of the race or ethnicity of those travelers questioned under the behavior-detection program. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj Still, the ACLU released an anonymous comment written by a TSA officer to a private agency conducting a study for the TSA, saying: Whats worse is Ive heard a [behavior-detection officer] manager refer to passengers as towel heads when speaking in a meeting with other management and his subordinates. Hugh Handeyside, a staff attorney for the ACLU, said the documents were collected to make them available to the public to put pressure on other government agencies to investigate and eliminate the program. We are now putting the ball in the Congress court and the court of other oversight entities to take action, he said. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. ALSO Lyft pledges to donate $1 million to ACLU following Trumps immigration order Without citing evidence, Trump says terrorist attacks go unreported by news media As attorney general, Jeff Sessions will take center stage in some of the nations most acute controversies Islamist terrorists have struck the U.S. 10 times since 9/11. This is where they were born Chad Brownstein, a Los Angeles investor and longtime board member of Banc of California, has resigned from the troubled Irvine bank, which is the subject of a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation and investors calls for a boardroom shake-up. Brownsteins resignation Wednesday comes two weeks after the departure of former Chairman and Chief Executive Steven Sugarman. Sugarman resigned Jan. 23, the same day the bank acknowledged that it is under investigation by the SEC over its response to allegations of impropriety, inside dealing and connections to a convicted fraudster. The banks board asked Sugarman to resign, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. In an SEC filing Wednesday, the bank described Brownsteins departure as voluntary, saying he has decided to retire. It also said Brownstein has not severed all ties with the bank and will continue to represent it on the board of the LA 2024 Olympic bid committee. Advertisement With Sugarman and Brownstein formerly the banks longest-tenured directors now off the board, the bank on Wednesday appointed activist investor Richard Lashley to the board, a move that along with other governance changes is probably aimed at assuaging investor concerns about the bank. Lashleys firm, PL Capital, owns a 6.9% stake in the bank, making it the companys largest active shareholder. The firm has had a testy relationship with the bank, but that seems to have softened starting last year, after Lashley, in an SEC filing, said he had productive discussions with the bank. In a bank news release Wednesday, Lashley said he looks forward to continuing the collaborative and solutions-focused spirit with which PL Capital and the board approached our discussions. PL Capital also agreed to a so-called standstill agreement, which limits the amount of additional Banc of California stock the firm can purchase and requires the firm to vote in favor of board candidates nominated by the company. For the last few years, Lashley has pushed for changes at the bank, saying it was not properly managed, and even questioned whether Brownstein was too close to Sugarman. In a 2014 letter to the bank, Lashley criticized the terms of Sugarmans compensation package as overly generous and complained that the bank had done an inordinate number of deals with companies connected to bank insiders, including Sugarmans family members. In another letter that year, Lashley said the bank should hire an outside consultant to, among other things, examine whether Mr. Brownstein is sufficiently independent of Mr. Sugarman to serve as an effective lead director. Though classified by the company as an independent director meaning he does not work for the bank Brownstein for years had business relationships with Sugarman and his brother, Jason. Brownstein joined Banc of Californias board in May 2011. Two months later, Prospect Global Resources, a now-defunct mining company where Brownstein was vice chairman and a significant shareholder, hired a firm run by Steven Sugarman as an investor relations advisor. Sugarmans firm eventually became a significant Prospect shareholder. In 2013, Brownstein borrowed $250,000 from an investment fund run by Jason Sugarman. The bank said in a statement last month than an internal review has found no evidence that any loan, related party transaction, or any other circumstance has impaired the independence of any director. Still, corporate governance experts said Brownstein appears to have enough connections to the Sugarmans to cause legitimate concern. It doesnt look good, said Steven Bank, a business law professor at UCLA. It sounds to me like these guys are intertwined in a way that, if there were litigation, shareholders might feel independence was not sufficient. Along with adding Lashley, the banks board announced a handful of other changes, including cutting compensation for board directors and approving a new policy that calls for board members to refrain from engaging in outside business activities that create an actual or apparent conflict of interest. Many of Lashleys concerns were echoed last month by Legion Partners, an L.A. investment firm that recently disclosed an ownership stake in the company and said it planned to push for governance changes and potentially a sale of the bank. Brad Vizi, a managing director at Legion, told The Times last month that the bank needs new leadership and independent board members. The bank demonstrates some of the worst corporate governance Ive ever invested in. The folks that have been at the helm have been asleep at the wheel, he said. Though Vizi did not single out Brownstein, the longtime board member had since 2013 been chairman of the bank committee that oversees corporate governance and executive compensation. In that role, Brownstein would have been responsible for signing off on some of the related-party transactions specifically deals that benefited members of the former CEOs family. One such deal was the banks 2013 acquisition of asset management firm Palisades Group, a firm that a few months before the acquisition signed a five-year, $600,000 consulting contract with Jason Sugarman. Another, also in 2013, was the banks acquisition of mortgage firm CS Financial, which was partly owned by Jason Sugarman, his wife and his father. Robert Hockett, a professor at Cornell Law School, said the banks board seems to be taking a prudent approach to the unfolding scandal, and that the resignations of Sugarman and now Brownstein suggest that the board is trying to distance itself from questions of impropriety. It looks like there have been significant shenanigans underway, Hockett said. The bank board is in turn acting responsibly by trying to sever its links to the sources of contamination. In a statement issued by the bank Wednesday, Brownstein did not address any of the issues surrounding his departure. Banc of California has grown substantially by almost every measure in the last five years, and I am proud to have served the company during this time, he said in the statement. Banc of Californias stock started to slide last year after a Bloomberg story that detailed those and other insider transactions. The stock suffered further when, in October, an anonymous short-seller accused the bank of being secretly controlled by Jason Galanis, who was convicted of fraud. The blogger detailed several connections between Galanis and bank insiders, including Jason Sugarman and Brownstein, much of it backed up by court records and other documents viewed by The Times. In an October news release, the bank reported that members of its board had hired a law firm to investigate the short-sellers claims. But last month, the bank acknowledged that the news release was rife with errors and that the investigation had been initiated and overseen by the banks management, not its board. A second investigation, one that is almost complete, has found no evidence that the bank broke any laws or that Galanis had any control over the institution, the bank said in its statement last month. The SEC has declined to comment on what, if anything, it is investigating at the bank, but statements from the bank suggest that the inquiry is focused on misleading statements in the news release. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren UPDATES: 5:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Richard Lashley and details about additional corporate governance changes at the bank. 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Chad Brownstein and Cornell law professor Robert Hockett, details on related-party transactions at the bank and background on the banks investigation into possible ties to Jason Galanis. This article was originally published at 2:55 p.m. Three state lawmakers on Tuesday urged regulators to reconsider a controversial natural gas project proposed for Ventura County, citing environmental concerns and questions about whether the state already has too many power plants. The lawmakers asked the California Energy Commission to pause and reevaluate the need for the plant in light of a report published by the Los Angeles Times that detailed how the state has created a glut of electricity capacity over the last decade at the expense of ratepayers. The commission is holding a public hearing in Oxnard this week before it votes on whether to approve the Puente Power Project. The plant, proposed by Southern California Edison, would provide power during peak use and replace two older gas-fired steam turbines in Mandalay Bay that cause more pollution. Advertisement They were barely used in 2015, operating at about 6.5% of their capacity, according to federal data. We should not rush the Puente Power Project until the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission can adequately justify the need for this plant ... and address the serious environmental and environmental justice concerns raised by the community, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) wrote to the commission Tuesday. A recent Los Angeles Times investigation found that the states power plants are on track to be able to produce at least 21% more electricity than needed by 2020, based on official estimates. Regulators continue to approve more plants and increase electricity rates, even though some plants have even been forced to shut down because their power is not needed. Californians, meanwhile, are footing the $40-billion annual bill, paying $6.8 billion more than in 2008. Jackson, state Sen. Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) and Rep. Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) joined a chorus of consumer advocates and environmental groups who have been calling on regulators to reject the Oxnard project and several other proposed natural gas facilities. They say there are cleaner alternatives and that many existing plants are underused. While California claims to be the Golden State example for the nation on environmental policies, were in fact a laggard, Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said during a news conference Monday as his organization and other groups called for a moratorium on the building of new natural gas plants. Commission spokesman Albert Lundeen said the agency welcomes public input as they conduct their open robust discussion of the merits or lack of merits of the project. Ron Nichols, Edisons president, said the plant will help ensure that Ventura County has reliable power during heat waves or cold snaps. What we have in terms of power generation on a statewide level, and what is needed locally, are two different things, Nichols said. The Puente plant would sit on 3 acres of the existing Mandalay Generating Station. It would replace two older units and wouldnt tap ocean water for its operations, projected to start in 2020. Though the new plant would create less pollution, environmentalists have complained that the state should not continue to build industrial operations on environmentally sensitive beaches. Despite those objections, the California Public Utilities Commission has already approved Southern California Edisons contract with Houston-based NRG Energy Inc., which would build the plant. An energy commission staff report found no significant environmental impact. The Puente project is one of a series of plants proposed in Southern California from Oxnard to Carlsbad. Regulators say the plants are needed to rid the region of old, inefficient power plants that pollute communities. The additional power will also provide stability to the electric grid as the state continues ramping up renewable energy sources to reach its mandated goal of 50% clean energy by 2030, regulators say. But the lawmakers urged caution. In light of new technological advances in clean energy, storage and efficiency, mounting environmental safety concerns and looming ratepayer risks, Stern said, we need to step back and take a fresh look at our approach to providing energy to Southern Californians. ivan.penn@latimes.com For more energy news, follow Ivan Penn on Twitter: @ivanlpenn First Lady Melania Trump has said little about what she intends to do with her prominent position. But in new court documents, her lawyers say the multi-year term during which she is one of the most photographed women in the world could mean millions of dollars for her personal brand. Although the documents dont specifically mention her term as first lady, the unusual statement about her expected income drew swift condemnation from ethics watchdogs as inappropriate profiteering from her high-profile position, which is typically centered on public service. The statement came Monday in a libel lawsuit Trump re-filed in a state trial court in New York. She has been suing the corporation that publishes the Daily Mails website over a now-retracted report that said she once worked as an escort. Advertisement In the filing, Trumps lawyers argue that the report not only was false and libelous, but also damaged her ability to profit off her high profile and affected her business opportunities. Trump had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model, brand spokesperson and successful businesswoman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during which plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world, the lawsuit says. The products could have included apparel, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care and fragrance, among others, the suit says. Trump is seeking compensatory and punitive damages of at least $150 million. Richard Painter, who advised former President George W. Bush on ethics, said the language in the lawsuit shows Trump is engaging in an unprecedented, clear breach of rules about using her government position for private gain. This is a very serious situation where she says she intends to make a lot of money. That ought to be repudiated by the White House or investigated by Congress. Painter is part of a group of attorneys suing President Trump for an alleged violation of a constitutional clause that prohibits presidents from receiving foreign gifts or payments. In response to questions from the Associated Press, Charles Harder, Melania Trumps attorney, said the first lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so. It is not a possibility. Any statements to the contrary are being misinterpreted. Harder did not respond to a follow-up question about what the lawsuit means by once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To Painter and others, there is no ambiguity. Shes not talking about the future, Painter said. Shes talking about earning money now. Scott Amey, general counsel of the Washington watchdog Project on Government Oversight, said it is another example of the first family blurring the line between public service and private business interests. Trump has not stepped away from her brand, according to business documents. As of Tuesday, she was listed in New York filings as the chief executive of Melania Marks Accessories Member Corp., the holding company of Melania Marks Accessories LLC, both of which remain active. Those companies managed between $15,000 and $50,000 in royalties from her accessories lines, the Trumps May 2016 financial disclosure filing shows. A third company, Melania LLC, was also still active, though the Trumps had listed it as having less than $1,000 in value and producing less than $200. Two other of Melania Trumps companies tied to skincare products were shut down last week, according to business filings in Delaware. Both were listed in the May 2016 financial disclosure as having little to no value or income. Amey said a more ethical course would be for all members of the first family to halt their business activities while President Trump is in office. A spokeswoman for the first lady did not respond to a request for comment. Melania Trump previously sued Mail Media Inc. in Maryland, but a judge ruled this month that the case was filed in the wrong court. The lawsuit is now filed in New York, where the corporation has offices. She also had sued blogger Webster Tarpley for reporting the unsubstantiated rumors. Trump filed the lawsuit in Maryland after both Tarpley and the Daily Mail issued retractions. On Tuesday, her attorneys said they had settled the Maryland case against Tarpley after he apologized and agreed to pay a substantial sum as a settlement. Trumps marketing has drawn scrutiny before. On inauguration day, the official White House biography for the first lady originally referenced her jewelry collection, which it noted was sold on the home-shopping channel QVC. By the next day, that bio had been edited and simplified to say she had launched her own jewelry collection. President Trump continues to financially benefit from his global business empire, breaking from past practice. Previous presidents and their families have divested from business interests and placed their holdings in a blind trust, although there is no legal requirement to do so. Trump handed daily management of the real estate, property management and licensing to his adult sons and a longtime Trump Organization employee. ALSO Trumps acting SEC chairman targets rule about CEO pay disclosure Labor nominee Puzder admits to employing a housekeeper who was in the U.S. illegally Taxes and NAFTA: Can Trumps cure for American manufacturing bolster the auto industry? Richard Hatch, famous for his role of Commander Apollo in the original TV series Battlestar Galactica which ran from 1978 to 1979, has passed away. Online, the new cast from the Syfy reboot (that Hatch had a cameo in as Tom Zarek) mourns the loss with stories, pictures and many calls of so say we all. Ronald D. Moore, show runner behind the Battlestar Galactica reboot, and composer Bear McCreary were among the first from the new series (which ran from 2004 to 2009) to publicly express their condolences on Twitter. Many other crew members from the Galactica followed suit, including Nicki Clyne (Cally), Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol) and Edward James Olmos, who led the crew as Admiral William Adama. Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family. Ronald D. Moore (@RonDMoore) February 7, 2017 Advertisement .Richard Hatch you made our universe a better place We love you for it. Rest In Peace my friend @SoSayWeAll the Admiral! Edward James Olmos (@edwardjolmos) February 7, 2017 So sorry to hear the news of Battlestar's Richard Hatch. A terrible loss. Jane Espenson (@JaneEspenson) February 7, 2017 Richard touched my life in immeasurable ways. I'm profoundly honoured to have known him & called him friend. BSG Family lost a loved one. Aaron Douglas (@theaarondouglas) February 7, 2017 Richard Hatch was a dear friend, a dear soul + an advocate for everyone he met. my heart hurts, he will be missed by many. so say we all. Nicki Clyne (@nickiclyne) February 7, 2017 I will have more to say about Richard Hatch and what he meant to my life and career. But for now, I'm still processing all this... Bear McCreary (@bearmccreary) February 7, 2017 We lost a kind and gentle soul today. Hope you're dancing amongst the stars now. RIP Richard pic.twitter.com/w8Ob3tRS9J Tricia Helfer (@trutriciahelfer) February 8, 2017 Other celebs also paid their respects, including Star Treks Karl Urban and the man behind Vaders mask on Star Wars, Dave Prowse. R.I.P Richard Hatch Blessed to hang with him once "Find reasons to say YES in life , it leads to more opportunity "RH pic.twitter.com/k2xM7u5FDm Karl Urban (@KarlUrban) February 7, 2017 See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Comic-Con 2016 On Now Cast of 'American Gods' drop divine secrets on the new Starz series On Now Liam Cunningham and Isaac Hempstead on finding the humor in 'Game of Thrones' On Now Acting opposite a giant Hollywood monster on 'Kong: Skull Island' On Now Luc Besson takes us inside his next space odyssey 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' On Now Norman Reedus on the secret Walking Dead' cast Comic-Con ritual On Now The cast of 'Orphan Black' reveal what they want to see resolved in the series finale On Now 'Supergirl' cast on inspiring little girls to pick up a cape of their own On Now Video: Comic-Con: Wishing there could be a body swap between Fitz and Mac on 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'... On Now Charlie Hunnam on the hyper-stylized antics of 'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword' On Now Comic-Con: Ana Gasteyer and Wyatt Cenac on 'People of Earth' meredith.woerner@latimes.com Twitter: @MdellW ALSO: Battlestar Galactica cast mourns the passing of Richard Hatch with a #SoSayWeAll FROM THE ARCHIVES: Richard Hatch didnt throw popcorn at the reimagined Battlestar Galactica Westworld stars confront the nature of the fembot Negan promises hes just getting started, but have Walking Dead fans already seen enough misery? For the love of monsters: An insider tour of Guillermo del Toros Bleak House before his LACMA show The world may be overrun with selfies, Snapchat confessionals and so, so many pictures of brunch, but what if the social media elite used their #blessed cachet for actual social change? What if oversharing could be put towards doing good? Enter comedian couple June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie, Bride Wars) and husband Paul Scheer (The League) who seek to make a difference in this world, one Instagram at a time. In response to the first 100 days of President Trumps administration the comedic duo and their cofounders rounded up a collection of celebrity friends and artists to launch The Big 100 initiative. This massive social media-driven project aims to inspire Americans to take simple progressive action each of the first 100 until April 30 and potentially beyond. And also, to bring a little levity to the process of positive action. Acutely aware that the media landscape is already rife with plenty of overly earnest, celebrity-faced public service announcements, The Big 100 introduced itself on Funny or Die with a video punching Scheer right in the middle of an overly-righteous, activist speech. The founding mission was clear: We are done with celebrity PSAs and we are done complaining about the state of the world, said the woman who threw the punch. It is 2017, its time to start doing. The Big 100 lampoons the celebrity social media culture with good deeds and laughs. The slogans that populate their feed include gems such as, When they go low, we go do stuff and hashtag it, and Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what you can Instagram yourself doing for your country. The first action kicked off with a Kardashian-esque video starring Raphaels bare back. Exposed for the camera she asks in an alluring voice, The sexiest part of a womans body? Is her feet. For marching you pervs. It was encouragement for followers to head out to the Womens March, which the actress attended in Washington D.C. with her toddler in tow. Gloria Steinem said it was a day that would change us forever, and I really felt that, Raphael said by phone, the day after returning home to Los Angeles. I walked away feeling like maybe this was an opportunity not just at the march itself, but in the conversations that have followed in the days ahead. June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer at the premiere for Ghostbusters at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 9, 2016. (Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images) (Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images) I believe there is and must be space for these often embarrassing and painful discussions. While some of collaborators names are well-known including Seth Rogen, Mayim Bialik, Sarah Silverman and Brooklyn Decker the projects genesis didnt come from celebrity connections, but rather, social media happenstance. Raphael met The Big 100 collaborators, advertising creative directors Jera Mehrdad and Julia Markiewicz, at a post-election community meeting born from a secret Facebook group. Our first meeting almost felt like a therapy session we were all heartbroken, nursing our wounds, and trying to figure out what to do, said Raphael. But they soon came to the same realization as the Carrie Fisher quote immortalized by Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes last month. Take your broken heart, make it into art. And then they took it one step further. They wanted to turn art into action. Bite-sized action in particular, as Scheer puts it. I was really buoyed by President Obama s speech about being a good citizen, he said over the phone. We want to help funnel any feelings of helplessness into productivity. Each days action, comes with a face and a cause. In the case of Last Man On Earth actress-comic Kristen Schaal, it is registering for midterm elections. Social media is what brings us together, but it also happens behind closed doors. This project uses Instagram to get us outside and start practicing what we preach, Schaal explained via email. Happy Endings actress Casey Wilson showed up on the Instagram feed with a mascara tear-stained face, with the caption, I'm crying bc teachers spend, on average, $600 a year of their own money buying class supplies. Her cause: Adopt-A-Classroom. Not all of the actions include celebs gags. Some aim for support of organizations through artistry. Lettering wizard Lisa Congdon came out with a short video focused on fighting bullying; Andy Rementer, whose illustrations have been seen on MTV and The New Yorker, came out with a gif in support of the American Civil Liberties Union. A social media-based campaign can help sustain momentum before, during, and after offline events, said Rementer. Thats important, especially in these challenging times. So far the momentum has spawned over 200 handwritten postcards sent out to state representatives, glitter glue-covered Valentines constructed for women and children at local shelters, an uptick at attendance at local government meetings, restocked free libraries, and increased call volume for volunteer opportunities and donations to the non-profits, like Tree People LA which was promoted by The Big Bangs Melissa Rauch. Of course, the celebrity element can yield detractors, among them, Americas Commander In Chief. Celebs hurt cause badly, he tweeted in response to performers at the Womens March. But from an academic perspective, its a positive. Awareness is a crucial first step towards any sort of positive action and change, said Dr. Nooshin Valizadeh, a professor at the University of Southern Californias Rossier School of Education. So when celebrities are able to use their presence to spread awareness and be a voice for those who are disenfranchised, thats incredibly important. Valizadeh name checks Beyonce whose inclusion of Black Lives Matter imagery in her Formation video was a tipping point in awareness for the movement in a way that typical scholarly reports couldnt have achieved. As for Raphael isnt worried about any critical tweets that might be forthcoming from the President. I completely reject the idea that any citizen doesnt have a voice and a right to speak up about what they believe in, she said. As for any particular citizens on her wish list to participate? I feel like a grandma saying this, but I would really love to get an awesome YouTube celebrity involved, she said. The celebrities talking to 15-year-olds, the people who will be voting in the next election. In other words: Im not after George Clooney, I want Michelle Phan. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour ALSO: Celebrities at the Women's March explain how theyll reflect the change they want to see in America Trump inauguration performers Lee Greenwood and Tim Rushlow talk about performing at celebrations in Washington D.C. drag queens dance through Trump inauguration at 'farewell Obama' brunch Protest pop-up shop has a two hour line for 'Nasty Women' fashion In a ballroom at the sprawling Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, activist Gloria Steinem and actress Octavia Spencer emerged onstage hand in hand Monday night. The crowd, predominately female, erupted into thunderous applause that led to a standing ovation. Steinem and Spencer, just two of many high-profile powerhouses speaking at Makers third womens conference through Wednesday, were here to discuss a range of topics. They dissected Spencers slow but steady rise through Hollywoods ranks and how to tell underrepresented stories like the one at the heart of Hidden Figures (which earned Spencer an Oscar nod for supporting actress). And, of course, they pointed the way forward for women under an administration that many feel poses a threat to reproductive rights. Advertisement Unofficially dubbed the meeting of the minds after the march, the AOL-sponsored conference tapped other big names such as Debra Messing (Will and Grace) and Zosia Mamet (Girls) Monday night to share their stories and to shed light on issues affecting women. This is such a wonderful, wonderful movement that you guys have created, Spencer said from the stage. And my God, we definitely need to keep the momentum because four years is a long time. Steinem, a longtime feminist icon, writer and organizer, interviewed Spencer at the conference and spoke exclusively to The Times beforehand about the election, womens marches and the work thats left to be done. How has the current administration set women back and what is the way forward? Steinem: They set us back in every possible way they could think of. Fortunately, they have limited imaginations [laughs]. I think its very, very important to say and to realize what several people in the American Psychiatric Assn. said: that the president is an example of narcissistic personality disorder, which means that he cannot fail to respond negatively to the smallest slight. And he cannot fail to follow praise, even if it comes from an adversary, as is the case with Russia. I think once we understand that, because its so recognizable, we will really seriously consider why we dont have some sort of standard of examination for high office. And also that the people around him who do know fact from fiction are perhaps more responsible than he is. What does it mean to you that Trump got so many votes from women? You know, I always remember that in China they didnt bind the feet of poor women, they bound the feet of rich women. The majority [of Trump voters] was, like, 53% of white, married women. It was not the majority of white, unmarried women, and it was overwhelmingly not the majority of women of color. So if you are dependent on a mans income and you have been convinced that your entire welfare depends not on yourself but someone else, then you vote that persons interest. Now, I dont mean to say that thats the motive of all women. Some women were no doubt voting out of very conservative, religious views. Im not pretending that I know, but I do think we need to remember that traditionally women in the upper classes are way more restricted. They may get better dental care and better food, but theyre way more restricted. Which womens issues do you think deserve the most attention right now? Safety from violence. And we need to check our perceptions because we sometimes even though weve begun to recognize, say, police violence against black Americans were still recognizing it against men more than against women. And so, protection from violence, diminishing violence and also achieving reproductive freedom. The idea that womens bodies are regulated and invaded by the law is all about controlling reproduction, which is the source of our problem in the first place! What would you like to see more women do? Not ask what to do, but do what they know they should. Listen to the voice thats in all of us telling us what we need to do and finding support and companionship for that. Do you think protests actually work? Well, its just the beginning. Movements always come out of one person saying what they think only they are experiencing and then discovering other people having the same experience. [The Womens March on Washington] was a gigantic version of that. Never ever have I experienced a march where there were so many people that I couldnt march! Or where I was getting calls from other capital cities like Berlin saying, Tell them walls dont work and they too were having a massive march. What impact or significance do you think the marches had? To me, they were so much bigger than anything Ive ever seen in my life and so much more contagious and so much more global. I really believe theyve created an energy cell and a sense of community and connection that turns into action. sonaiya.kelley@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @sonaiyak Everyone in Dark Night seems terribly alone even the ones who arent. In the opening moments, a teenager stares blankly out at a mall parking lot, her eyes reflecting, but barely registering, the flashing red-and-blue lights of a police car. In another scene, two skateboarding kids keep slipping past each other, back and forth, never quite managing to inhabit the same frame. In writer-director Tim Suttons hypnotically eerie new movie, togetherness is just another form of isolation. Set over the course of one hot Florida day, Dark Night is a suburban symphony, at once menacing and dreamlike, on the theme of alienation. Disconnection informs its very structure: The movie is a loosely woven patchwork of unrelated characters a mother and her video-game-addicted son, a beauty-obsessed teen, a young man driving around town, two girls playing the guitar glimpsed in their mostly private moments. Sutton, who brought a similar sense of documentary-inflected experimentation to his 2014 feature, Memphis, here interrogates the gap between the real world and the one that stares back at us from our personalized screens a cellphone selfie, a first-person shooter video game or a stream of interlinked Google Street View images. But he is also interested in the terrifying break with reality that eventually pushes one individual to take up arms and open fire inside a crowded movie theater. Advertisement The crime itself is left to our imagination; violence is largely critiqued through its very absence. But an undercurrent of menace runs almost imperceptibly throughout. Sutton spends about 80 minutes setting the stage for a copycat version of the shooting that took place in Aurora, Colo., in 2012, during a showing of the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. The title of Dark Night offers a blunt echo of that tragedy, even if our bloodthirsty, bullet-riddled Hollywood cinema is but one of several possible targets being entertained here. The question of whodunit (or who-will-do-it), compelling though it may be, is one of the films queasier gambits. Sutton cant resist showing us a young man dyeing his hair bright orange, or an Iraq War veteran cleaning his guns, and daring us to guess which of them (or someone else?) will snap in the end. A couple of dramatic fake-outs one tense, the other startling achieve the desired aim of rattling the viewers nerves, but Dark Night is strongest when it sets suspense and motivation aside and simply drifts alongside its characters in what will be, for many of them, their final moments. The influence of Elephant, Gus Van Sants coolly aestheticized 2003 drama inspired by the Columbine shootings, is unmistakable. Its there in the gentle, gliding movements of the camera (wielded by the superb French cinematographer Helene Louvart), and also in the presence of an invisible narrative hand that, for all its ostensible detachment, cant help but betray its own ideas and assumptions about what it shows us. Suttons vision is unsettling and immersive, his technical precision immaculate. The sound design alone long, ambient silences disrupted by a flashbulb-popping hallucination or a sudden scream is reason enough to see the movie in a theater, whatever unpleasant associations the ending may conjure. (The film is playing nightly shows from Thursday to Sunday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.) But the virtues of a mood piece are not always those of a sociological document, and even if there werent a horrific tragedy waiting in the wings, Dark Night would make for troubling viewing, and not always for the reasons it would like. Nearly every moment of the movie much of it accompanied by the dolorous crooning of Maica Armata, who composed the score speaks to the hollowness, the imaginative poverty and emotional constriction of these young peoples lives. That assessment might well be correct, but it feels less like a discovery than something that was concluded at the outset. ------------ Dark Night Unrated Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes Playing: Egyptian Theater, Hollywood See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers justin.chang@latimes.com @JustinCChang Memo to frustrated Democrats trying to rankle President Trump: Try doing it in drag. While many are still laughing about Melissa McCarthys instantly classic portrayal of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer this past weekend on Saturday Night Live, his boss apparently isnt. Politico reported Monday that Trump was particularly unhappy that Spicer had been portrayed by a woman. According to a Trump donor quoted anonymously in the story, the president doesnt like his people to look weak. (In a stunning break with tradition, Trump has refrained from saying anything on Twitter about the sketch.) Advertisement And now Rosie ODonnell, the presidents longtime bete noire, has volunteered to play Steve Bannon, the Trump strategist who helped draft a controversial travel ban and, according to a growing media narrative, is the real president. (Trump was also Twitter silent on the cold open depicting him sitting at a childs desk playing with toys while the shows Grim Reaper version of Bannon sat behind the actual Oval Office desk.) Whether SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels will take ODonnell up on her offer is unclear, though hes shown a democratic willingness in the past to crowd-source SNL casting (see Larry Davids brilliant turns as Bernie Sanders), there can be little doubt it would send Trump into meltdown mode. For all his alpha male swagger, Trump has repeatedly proved himself uniquely vulnerable to attacks by women, from the millions who marched around the globe the day after his inauguration to Meryl Streeps lacerating take-down at the recent Golden Globes. During Meryl Streeps acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, she condemned President-elect Donald Trumps campaign-trail comments about a reporter with a disability. Part of what made McCarthys caricature so devastating was the gender switch. Just as drag queens, with their over-the-top makeup and glitter, highlight the performative nature of femininity, McCarthys cartoonish aggression she chomped on gum and mowed down reporters with a Super Soaker squirt gun turned Spicers combative, hyper-masculine persona into a punchline. It matters that Spicer was portrayed not by any woman, but by McCarthy, a performer who has done as much as nearly anyone to dispel the ludicrous, but once astonishingly mainstream, notion that women cant be funny. On Saturday, she showed that women can be funnier than men, even maybe even especially when playing men. In yet another layer of significance, McCarthy also happened to appear in last summers all-female Ghostbusters remake alongside SNL cast member Leslie Jones, who was the target of a campaign of virtual harassment led by Milo Yiannopoulos, a professional agitator and writer for Bannons Breitbart News who was subsequently kicked off Twitter. The spoof wasnt just a brilliant reversal of the comedic tradition of men playing women for laughs on SNL (e.g. Will Ferrell as Janet Reno or Kenan Thompson as Star Jones). It was also a delightful rebuke to Trumps over-the-top macho style. From bragging about his penis size in a televised debate -- remember when that happened? -- to claiming that his opponent Hillary Clinton didnt have a presidential look, Trump clings tenaciously to antiquated ideas about power, image and masculinity. During the seemingly never-ending primary campaign, Trump vanquished some of his most formidable Republican rivals by not so subtly questioning their virility -- think Little Marco Rubio or low-energy Jeb Bush. From ODonnell to Megyn Kelly to Streep, women are the ones who consistently seem to get under his skin, and his counterattacks -- mocking their looks, suggesting they have their periods or claiming theyre overrated -- only lend to his image as a schoolyard bully. Not surprisingly, his still very young presidency has already been defined by female-led opposition, including the multitudes who turned out for post-inauguration protests in what, by some estimates, was the largest demonstration in American history, and former acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates, whom Trump claimed betrayed the government when he fired her for defying his immigration order. Though increasingly outdated, these notions are well-established in presidential politics, where machismo and leadership are often seen as interchangeable. Ronald Reagan, a product of the Hollywood image-making machine, rarely missed the opportunity to be seen astride a horse. In 1988, the candidacy of Democrat Michael Dukakis was doomed in part because the diminutive Massachusetts governor looked insufficiently tough atop a tank. Barack Obama was derided as feminine for his healthy eating habits -- green stuff is for women! -- and his deliberative approach to foreign policy. In less than three weeks in office, Trump has taken a defiantly bullheaded, my-way-or-the-highway approach to governance, showing little heed for established procedure or traditional checks and balances. Trump may be the most aggressively macho president since Lyndon Johnson, a famously pugnacious, womanizing commander-in-chief who, according to biographer Robert Caro, referred to his own member as Jumbo and was known to leave the bathroom door ajar in an aggressive display of dominance. Though Trumps beloved daughter Ivanka has built a brand around an ideal of womanhood that is, at least superficially, more modern than his own, Trump reportedly prefers his female staffers to dress like women, a detail thats sparked a furious social media backlash. And will, in all likelihood, lead to more women dressing like men on SNL. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour ALSO Melissa McCarthy is scathing as Sean Spicer on Saturday Night Live Watch Jon Stewarts brutal anti-Trump screed alongside Stephen Colbert Samantha Bee on the Full Frontal move to Wednesdays and why she has no fear in the Trump age See Stephen Colbert and Stephen Colbert bid Barack Obama farewell meredith.blake@latimes.com Follow me @MeredithBlake Bellas got it in the bag. A Bulgari bag that is. WWD has learned exclusively that the 20-year-old model will represent the Rome-based luxury goods house for their accessories advertising campaigns, which includes leather goods, eyewear and silks for consumer print, digital, social media and public relations for the fall 2017 collection. The ads will focus primarily on the signature Serpenti collection bags as well as a new introduction for the house, a new Diva collection line of bags. In a brief interview backstage just prior to shooting the video segment of the campaign, Hadid was busy being attended to by the Bulgari creative team sporting a high-waisted black tuxedo pants and metallic rainbow-stripe top paired with the brands classic Serpenti bag in a patent leather rust color for her first look. Bulgari was a household name according to Hadid, who said she gravitated toward the Italian luxury brand when raiding her moms closets. I dont remember specific pieces, but I remember my mom loving it and Bulgari being talked about in the household. Its so crazy I am working with them now. Ive always seen it as such a beautiful classy brand, said Hadid, who added that a gold metallic Serpenti at home is one of her favorites. The Serpenti forever, of course, she murmured before giving a cute stamp of approval to the new Diva bag. Advertisement Hadid let slip that the shoot was actually the second time she has worked with the brand, but Bulgari executives would not reveal the nature of that project. Bulgari chief executive officer Jean-Christophe Babins decision to hire Hadid was natural to fit his objective of reaching the younger Millennial customer. Leather goods generally attracts a younger customer than the jewelry at Bulgari, especially in China where discretionary income is plentiful among Millennials. While Lily Aldridge and Chinese actress Shu Qi are faces of the brand across the board, Hadid will be the face for accessories only. The ceo said reaching that audience also requires a different type of media and Hadid social media prowess sweetens the match. She is quite young but very elegant, Babin said. He recruited Terry Richardson, who had previously shot Carla Bruni for the brand, to photograph the campaign because he understands the Roman culture beyond the empty temples and marble but also the way of behaving which is the Italian style. He already knew benchmarks of the brand. Babin said he was pleased with the outtakes he saw of Day One of the shoot. Im amazed because it is very young, very fresh, very modern but at the same time very sophisticated. The ceo attends most of the brands campaign shoots, perhaps to enjoy the creative process but to also guard its image. Shooting ads for accessories can result in pushing the brand message in a more provocative and daring way, more so than jewelry. As Babin maintained, It has to stay in the limits of an institution jewelry brand that sells $100,000 necklaces to someone who wants to own it forever. Serpenti has been a sole bag focus for the brand until now. The Diva bag was, like Serpenti, an extension of a jewelry collection. According to Babin, Diva has been the most impressive jewelry collection to launch of late so it was a natural to extend to leather goods. If Serpenti is the sophisticated socialite, Diva is her funky more youth-centric younger sis. The clasp of the bag plays upon the Diva fan shape, which is based on a Roman mosaic tile pattern. With a semi-octagonal shape with softer leathers, chunkier chains and an allover mini-stud detail, it is in line with other successful bags prevalent in the luxury market today. The spirit is youthful, but the prices are in line with Serpentis opening at about $1,600. Babin will stick to fragrances for enticing a younger customer into the brand. Selling bags at a lower price point to Millennial and Gen Z, according to Babin, is a short cut because young people today will spend $1,000 on an iPhone. He will presumably be reaching those customers via Hadids vast network as well newly recruited brand ambassador Jasmine Sanders aka Golden Barbie massive global digital following. I feel Jasmine and Bella say a lot about our reasonable ambitions in leather goods, Babin said. ALSO That 70s runway show: A Rebecca Minkoff showcase of groovy girl power at the Grove J Brand, British designer Bella Freud collaborate on fall capsule collection Where to find stylish celebrities, hot spots and cool stores in L.A. Anniversary story interviews often open with one predictable question: Can you believe its been X number of years? It was no different for Jason Wus 10-year, his answer to the question a variation on the standard no, but yes response. In his case, for a great number of people, it probably seems more like Wu has been around for eight years, since his name was propelled out of the insular world of fashion and into the masses on Jan. 20, 2009, when Michelle Obama wore his white chiffon gown to her husbands first inauguration. At the time, it was billed as the coronation of a neophyte. Oh, he started two days before and then she wore him and his career was made, said Wu, summarizing the lore into which the facts morphed. Advertisement The truth is, Wu started his line in 2007, as a 24-year-old Parsons alum from Taiwan via Vancouver with a mature aesthetic based on polished glamour and cocktail dressing. Dressing the First Lady for her opening night provided Wu with the kind of aura and worldwide brand exposure that money cant buy, but it didnt keep the lights on for the next eight years. Wu did that by himself. So much more has happened in his business than dressing Obama (It stands to note that she wore his designs for the past three presidential inaugurations, including her farewell from the White House last month). Wu never really marketed Obama. He played it cool, respectfully, demurring in interviews. With respect of her being first lady, I just didnt think it was appropriate to handle it like dressing a celebrity, he said. Such an old-fashioned elegant state of mind is incredibly rare in this selfie/self-promotion-at-all-costs age. But its emblematic of how Wu has approached his business, which is at a turning point, not only because of his anniversary but also the potential game-changers he has set in place recently. They include the introduction of a sibling line called Grey Jason Wu last year, eyewear with Eponym and the forthcoming launch of his first fragrance. Wu emerged on the scene at a time when the industry was in the mood to anoint newbies. Fashion is always hungry for new blood, but whatever was in the air 10 years ago, there was a real groundswell of support for young designers. Many of Wus peers were edgy, indie darlings, while his aesthetic was more straight-laced. One of his fondest memories of the early days was the young designer Summer Camp shoot Bruce Weber did for W magazines July 2008 issue, for which Alexander Wang, Christophe Decarnin (who reestablished Balmain), Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, Gareth Pugh, Jeremy Laing and Swaim and Christina Hutson of Obedient Sons, among others, spent a few days at The Standard Hotel in Miami for a shoot. For the casting, there was Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Daria Werbowy and a troop of male models. Wu had food poisoning but he remembers the energy. In one photo, he sits cradled in the lap of a buff blond boy. That was just such a moment, he said. It was all these young people and it wasnt just American designers. Everyone was differentI didnt know who anyone was, and I dont think anyone knew who I was either, and that was way before any of the inauguration happened. It was just such a big opportunity. I think a lot of things followed after that people really took notice, but to me it was kind of very much a time when there was this new generation coming up in fashion, and I was really happy to be a part of that. Some of his fellow summer campers are no longer in business; some have struggled to scale. Wu has kept his brand humming along at a steady clip, working tirelessly on his own line while keeping so many other irons in the fire, its difficult to keep track. He designs four different lines. Theres Jason Wu, Grey Jason Wu, Hugo Boss Womens where hes been creative director for three years and Fila, where he designs mens and womens capsule collections that are specifically for the Asian market. Along the way, hes also engaged in collaborations, including with Target Corp., the Woolmark Co., Nest candles, Caudalie, Lancome, Melissa Shoes, Cadillac, Pantone and Brizo. Theyre not as random as they sound. All fall within the orbit of Wus personal interests. Homemaking is my favorite thing to do, he said. I like to decorate and I like to cook. Thats like literally my pastime. Thats what Im interested in. Anything in the home, Im interested in, and anything food-related, Im interested in it. For example, Brizo, one of his earlier partnerships, came along through a friend. The luxury faucet company was looking to support fashion. They underwrote his shows in the beginning, then asked him to design a faucet. He came up with a matte black handle-less design, which became a bestseller for Brizo. All of the faucets in Wus home are from the collaboration. I was like, well Im making it, I have to want to use it, too. The number of collaborations and moonlighting gigs Wus taken on speak to his intense work ethic. I run myself as an enterprise, said Wu. I have all these projects my label is my most personal project, of course, but its part of what I do. Thats how Ive always done my business. Hes always been enterprising. He started working as a teenager designing dolls their clothes, hair and makeup for Integrity Toys Inc. On weekends he would take the train into Manhattan from Connecticut, where he attended the Loomis Chaffee School, to work at the companys office in the Flatiron District. Eventually he became a partner. Dolls were where his fashion education began. Hed loved playing with them as a child and begged his mother to get him a sewing machine to make doll clothes. But his designs were not kids stuff. One doll wore a hand-embroidered, boned corset, a garter belt, stilettos and a netted eye mask. Through Integrity, he traveled to China to work in the manufacturing side of things. Earnings from the gig financed his collection in the beginning. Wu likes to say that his career trajectory is somewhat working in reverse. By that, he means that when he started his brand, he had very little experience but a ton of drive to figure it out on his own rather than apprentice for an established designer, learning from a company with infrastructure. Back then, I was a 24-year-old student out of school, and didnt know anything about the industry, really. Id done some internships, but I just thought somehow, you know what, I could do it. That kind of naivete was quite beneficial at the time. The economy was terrible, yet he powered through. The jobs at Boss, Fila, working with Target, etc., have given him a window into working for a big company, where he wasnt the boss. Besides demonstrating his industriousness, the doll business in which Wu is still tangentially involved (its in the same building as his 35th Street studio is) speaks to another key part of his brand: He has never been obsessed with being cool. No little boy with a doll obsession can be. It has been a boon for him. Wu has never been a party boy. You wont find him embracing the marijuana trend or delving into streetwear. There were a few seasons when he overtly flexed a new sexy adult muscle, right around the time he turned 30, but glamour and elegance and increasingly daywear are his bread and butter. Its the kind of thing thats often described as uptown. Wu does it well, with a modern eye and a consistent hand. That focus was big part of what made Gary Wassner approach Wu as his first investment when he launched InterLuxe Holdings and took a majority in the designers business in 2014. Wassner knows from the upstart market. He works with hundreds of fledgling designers and the big ones, too through his factoring firm Hilldun Corp. Wu retained its services once he figured out it existed. Neiman Marcus mistakenly sent a check for Wu to Hilldun, assuming that he worked with the firm. Thats how I met Gary, said Wu. If you look back, weve gone through a number of waves of talent, said Wassner. He was one of the five to watch and he was one of the five who survived and endured at that time. He really did stand out. He was classic. He had a real sense of enduring fashion. And it was young. It wasnt old. Interluxe is pushing Wu to the next level, stretching into new categories. The collection has been primarily apparel-driven. Handbags were launched in 2011. Grey, which is more casual with pieces priced mostly under $1,000, was a big move for the company. Its for girls in their 30s who want to buy something that they can keep for a long time, said Wu. They cant afford Jason Wu, but dont really want to live in Zara anymore. While hes worked to lower the entry price point of his main collection, he felt that blending Grey into the designer line was the wrong move. Grey is a category we will sell volume in. On the horizon is the fragrance, done through a license with Parlux Ltd., to be unveiled at Wus fall show at the St. Regis Feb. 10. Fragrance is my biggest passion project, thats the one thing I really, really, really wanted to do. If you look at my list of collaborations, half of them are beauty because I love beauty. He gets it from his mother, whose makeup he would play with. Shes a dressy girl, said Wu. She always got her hair blown dry every week, that kind of girl. His father, on the other hand, works in agriculture, producing and distributing food in Taiwan. Theres a sculpture of a pig when you go into his office in marble, said Wu. Then theres retail. Wu did not rush to open his own store. Hes really taken his time on that front. He opened his first in-store shop at Saks Fifth Avenues New York flagship last year and says a store of his own is definitely on the short-term agenda, potentially within the next year. I just didnt feel like I wanted to [open a store] when a lot of my peers did it a few years ago, said Wu. I just feel like, were going to build it one step at a time. Im going to start with concessions within department stores, get those done, and then really learn from those experiences. Then build my store. Thats just been the way Ive operated. Im actually really happy, because the retail environment has changed completely, and I think having a shop no longer means the traditional way of having a shop. In the interim, hes ramped up his own digital channels and e-commerce. He speaks, too, of the need for retail to be a real experience. Considering all that Wu is working on, its no wonder hes taken his expansion slow. As the interview approaches the hour mark, his phone starts buzzing. Its Hugo Boss wondering when hell arrive at the campaign being shot at that very moment in Brooklyn. I did all the hair and makeup tests, and all the pre-shoots yesterday. Theres a fitting happening now, said Wu. Ill come back from Brooklyn at 7 and work until 9:30, 10. His husband, Gustavo Rangel, who is Wus chief brand officer, looms outside his office door. He manages me and basically everything I do, the designer said. Does he see himself doing so much Boss, Fila, etc. long term? Im 34, this is the time to do it, said Wu. Eventually I want to do less, for sure. But if you want to do what you want to do, with no regrets, this is the time to do it. With that, hes off to Brooklyn. Launch Gallery: The Long Game: Jason Wus 10th Anniversary ALSO Harpers Bazaar celebrates the worlds most fashionable women in style Levis launches 2017 Pride collection Coach shifts its fashion-show format, will present mens and womens collections together People tend to feel strongly about Valentines Day and what a romantic dinner is supposed to be: flickering candles on white tablecloths, expensive Champagne in an ice bucket. This year, were suggesting an alternative Valentines Day meal out. Dont make a reservation, wear something comfortable, roll up your sleeves and maybe eat with your hands. Whether youve been married for years or youre just evaluating a new partner, you can tell a lot about a person by how he or she eats a messy plate of nachos. Because if you cant get a little salsa on your shirt, how are you supposed to have any fun after dinner? Bag of crab The Boiling Crab may test your relationship more than any other restaurant in the city, in a good way. First, theres the wait. Regardless of the Boiling Crab location (Alhambra, Koreatown, Rosemead, Westwood, etc.), youre looking at a good hour, maybe 90 minutes. Once you get a table, youll need to put on a bib. When the food comes, youll be presented with plastic bags full of crab, shrimp, sausage and whatever else you decided to throw in there, all in a spicy red sauce with plenty of garlic, if you order the Whole Shebang. (Order the Whole Shebang, its a mix of the restaurants Cajun sauce, lemon pepper sauce and garlic sauce.) The sauce will be on your chin, in your hair and your eyes and on your hands. You will use at least half a pack of napkins in an attempt to look presentable. And when you leave, you will both reek of garlic. The entire ordeal, including the wait, will be exhausting. But it will be delicious and you will confirm that your love for each other is real. (If youre in Koreatown, the only question is whether to get HoneyMee next door for dessert.) Multiple locations at www.theboilingcrab.com. Bags of crab, shrimp and sausage at Boiling Crab in Alhambra. (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement El Chato burrito As you hold hands or dont and walk along West Olympic Boulevard, toward the twinkling lights strung above the El Chato taco truck, you both should be giddy with excitement. It will be after 9 p.m., and the truck will have just opened. Order a burrito, maybe the lengua, maybe the carne asada or the al pastor. Ask for avocado, then cheese. And because its a special occasion, get both the green and red salsas. You sit on an open slice of curb and unwrap your burritos, the log-sized rolls perfectly blistered and toasted. You momentarily forget the person next to you because you are chin-deep in carne asada and salsa. Then you both sip horchata from the same straw under a blanket of stars and contemplate the future. 5300 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, www.elchatotaco.com. Ice cream for dinner Why not split an ice cream sundae for dinner? This can be accomplished at any number of scoop shops around town: McConnells, Salt & Straw, Carmela. But if youre going to go old school, you head to Fosselmans in Alhambra. There are more than 48 flavors to choose from, so take your time, and choose wisely. Get three scoops so you can each pick your favorite, then compromise on the third. Order an extra swirl of whipped cream, get two cherries on top and head to one of the cafe tables to dig in. For an after-dinner activity, maybe you can each pick out a bag of candy for the other. Because nothing says I love you like a pound of lemon drops or caramel mocha taffy. 1824 W. Main St., Alhambra, (626) 282-6533, www.fosselmans.com. Nachos Create a memorable night tucked into a booth at the original El Cholo on Western Avenue. You may each have your favorites on the menu. Go ahead and order that enchilada, but make sure you share a plate of Carmens nachos and a round of margaritas. An unfussy plate of nicely fried tortilla chips covered in melted cheese is inherently comforting. The chips are not piled high on the platter but arranged as a relatively flat layer, making it possible to almost completely cover each one with cheese. The structure of the nachos is key, and you can have your own Lady and the Tramp moment with a cheesy chip. If queso is more your thing, head over to Bar Ama in downtown L.A. for a tower of nachos smothered in hot cheese sauce. You can order them at the bar during the super nacho hour happy hour or after 11 p.m. elcholo.com or bar-ama.com. Spicy boat noodles There is something deeply pleasurable about a bowl of noodles so spicy that it makes your eyes water. This is true romance, with a side of Kleenex and chile. So head to one of the Pa Ord Noodle locations in Thai Town and order a big bowl of Thai boat noodle soup to share. When the server asks how spicy? youll need to make sure you and your partner are on the same page. Mild comes with a small scoop of chile flakes; medium comes with more. And spicy is lashed with enough chile to have you both crying, but in a good way. The rich, dark pork broth is served with fish balls, slices of pork and pork liver, your choice of noodles, sprigs of cilantro and a handful of crumbled chicharrones. If you order spicy, the heat will start at the back of your throat, then creep along your tongue and eventually engulf the lower half of your face. Just breathe, hold hands across the table, embrace the pain and cry some chile tears together. 5301 Sunset Blvd., Suite 8-9, Los Angeles, (323) 461-3945. Jenn.Harris@latimes.com @Jenn_Harris_ ALSO Dinner for 2: Valentines Day ideas from our Recipe Database Where to get your Valentines Day chocolates in LA Food Bowl, a monthlong food festival, is coming to Los Angeles Somalia took a halting step toward stability Wednesday by electing a new president, a 55-year-old former prime minister who lived in the United States for many years and is a U.S. citizen. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo was voted into office by the parliament, which gathered at the Mogadishu airport because it was deemed the most secure place in a capital plagued by suicide bombings and armed attacks by the Islamic militant group Shabab. The voting was streamed live online, and celebratory gunfire rang out in Mogadishu as Farmaajo moved ahead. After the result was announced, crowds surged into the street chanting his name, local journalists reported. Advertisement This victory represents the interest of the Somali people, Farmaajo said after taking the oath of office. This victory belongs to the Somali people, and this is the beginning of the era of the unity, the democracy of Somalia and the beginning of the fight against corruption. Farmaajo was born in Mogadishu and once worked in the foreign ministry, which deployed him to Somalias embassy in Washington in 1985. He left the embassy in 1989 to study at the State University of New York in Buffalo. After the collapse of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, when Somalia erupted in clan warfare, Farmaajo sought asylum in the U.S. He eventually became a U.S. citizen, served as equal employment commissioner for the New York state Transportation Department and wrote a masters thesis titled: U.S. Strategic Interest in Somalia: From the Cold War Era to the War on Terror. In 2010, he returned to Mogadishu to take up the post of prime minister, a job to which he was appointed. As prime minister, Farmaajo was seen as a reformer who made sure that security forces got paid, forced lawmakers to disclose their assets and set up an anti-corruption commission. The vote Wednesday was tinged by corruption. The electors were lawmakers who themselves were chosen in October by 14,000 clan leaders, politicians, elders and community figures in an election marred by vote buying, bribes, threats and at least a few killings. A local anti-corruption group, Marqaati, reported that more than a quarter of the voters in the October election that it interviewed had been harassed or intimidated and that 32% of elders had been offered bribes. Votes were sold for as much as $30,000 each and candidates paid more than $300,000 in bribes to get parliamentary seats, the group said. Several candidates pulled out of the presidential race in protest. Somalia aims to hold direct elections in 2020, giving ordinary Somalis a chance to vote. Officials have said that doing so currently is too risky, given insecurity and clan tensions. Farmaajo defeated 20 other presidential candidates. In the first round of voting, no candidate received the two-thirds majority needed to win the election. The top four candidates advanced to the second round, where 165 votes were required to win and avoid a third round. Farmaajo received 184. The incumbent president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was second with 97 votes. A former peace activist, he had faced criticism for being too close to the Ethiopian government, which had sent forces into Somalia to fight Shabab but withdrew them late last year. Fayumo Dayib, a candidate who withdrew from the race saying the process was corrupt, tweeted her joy when Mohamud was defeated and Farmaajo emerged as the victor. History in the making. Lawmakers have clearly chosen the choice of the people. Theyve saved #Somalia!! It is a new dawn, a new beginning! The election is a modest step toward political stability. But Somalia remains fragile because of looming famine and Shabab, which has carried out a series of devastating attacks in recent months. Security forces and civil servants have gone unpaid for months, and the United Nations recently warned that some members of the Somali army could defect to Shabab. Somalia is among the seven predominantly Muslim countries targeted by President Trumps executive order on immigration, which seeks to temporarily block immigrants from entering the United States. The ban which Trump says is a matter of national security is currently on hold by court order and facing multiple legal challenges. On Saturday, using his favorite 140-character medium, President Trump insulted the federal jurist who blocked his immigration order aimed at Muslim travelers, dismissing Judge James L. Robart as a so-called judge. Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, also on Twitter, responded tartly: This so-called judge was nominated by a so-called President & was confirmed by the so-called Senate. Read the so-called Constitution. He was retweeted 43,000 times, a Trump-like rate, even more remarkable when you realize that Schiff has only 55,000 followers to Trumps 24 million. Advertisement On Sunday, in an interview that aired before the Super Bowl, Trump told Bill OReilly of Fox News that a proposed California law that would prohibit state and local police agencies from helping federal authorities deport immigrants who are here illegally is ridiculous. California is, in many ways, out of control, as you know, Trump said. If we have to, well defund. We give tremendous amounts of money to California. (My colleague George Skelton writes that California stands to lose very little money if Trump decides to play hardball.) Again, Schiff responded on Twitter: We believe in dreamers, climate change and healthcare for all. We build futures, not walls. We are Californians. We are #ProudlyOutOfControl. I think what he doesnt realize is that for California, being called out by Trump is a badge of honor, Schiff told me Monday. With every attack, we are likely to steel our resistance to what he wants to do. Schiff is a mild-mannered former federal prosecutor who was elected to Congress in 2000 by voters in what had been a traditionally Republican district. He is a calm, erudite Harvard Law School grad who is the ranking member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State and Energy. At this strange moment when Russias election meddling may have changed the course of American history, Schiff is a sought-after guest on cable news shows. As low-key as he seems on TV, the Twitterfication of American politics, wrought almost entirely by Trump, has changed him. He has become a master of snark. I certainly have taken off the gloves more than my usual persona, Schiff said. The extremity of this presidents views, and his disregard for separation of powers, and the way he is willing to bully people infuriates and alarms me and causes me to want to push back hard. Indeed, after Trump announced Monday on Twitter that, henceforth, Any negative polls are fake news, Schiff responded: Trump attacks NYT, SNL, negative polls, allies & federal judges. But lets Putin get away with murder. Literally. In Ukraine. Aleppo. Moscow. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented tweets. :: The #ProudlyOutOfControl movement is in full swing, all over the state in Sacramento, Silicon Valley, Hollywood and even in unexpected places like Roseville, where a town hall meeting called Saturday by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock grew heated after hundreds of protesters vocally, but nonviolently, denounced McClintocks support for Trumps policies. In Sacramento, Gov. Jerry Brown began pushing back well before Trump was even inaugurated. In December, he addressed scientists fearful that Trump would end NASAs climate research. If Trump turns off the satellites, Brown thundered, California will launch its own damn satellites. The day after the election, Democrats Kevin de Leon, president pro tempore of the state Senate, and Anthony Rendon, speaker of the Assembly, put out an anguished but defiant statement, in English and Spanish. Today, it began, we woke up feeling like strangers in a foreign land. Then they hired former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. and his law firm to help the state do battle against the Trump administration. On Monday, California joined with 15 states to file a brief supporting a Washington state lawsuit that argues Trumps immigration order is unconstitutional. California will be a hotbed of activism against this presidents policies. Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank Silicon Valley, whose leaders had that awkward photo op with Trump in New York before the inauguration, has joined the resistance. Twitter, Google, Apple and Uber are among the nearly 100 big technology companies who also filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Washington lawsuit against the travel ban. The brief said the travel ban inflicted significant harm on American business, innovation and growth. In the Golden State, which had an ally in the White House for eight years, pushing back is the new normal. California will be a hotbed of activism against this presidents policies, Schiff said. He will find real limits to what he can do to punish a state that doesnt agree with him. And yes, I am concerned. He is a vindictive personality. Tuesday, as if to prove the point, Trump offered to damage a Texas lawmaker who thinks police should not be able to seize the money and property of people merely suspected, but not convicted, of committing crimes. Do you want to give his name? Trump asked a group of sheriffs at the White House. Well destroy his career. The sheriffs thought that was just hilarious. :: Shortly before I spoke with Schiff, Trump had announced at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. headquarters of both the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command that the very, very dishonest press doesnt report terrorist attacks. He needs to be constantly called out on it, said Schiff in response. We cant get to a place where we accept the president has no regard for the truth. I wondered whether, at some point, Trumps disregard for the truth may simply wear down the opposition. He is totally exhausting, Schiff said. But I think rather than wear us down, his shtick is going to grow old, and maybe there are signs that it already is. He already has the lowest approval rating of a new president in modern history, in record time. What about Schiffs Republican colleagues? Are there any cracks in their facade of support for Trump? Initially, the House Republicans were quite giddy, Schiff said. They had a Republican president when they didnt expect one and saw the chance to get all these things dangling in front of them. But he thinks they are now sinking into a kind of gloom. Its clear there are going to be big fights about what could replace the Affordable Care Act. In four of the most conservative California counties Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern about 330,000 people are newly insured, which puts pressure on high-profile ACA opponents like House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. I think they are still hoping to get what they can before the president starts fighting with them about things like how soon they can reasonably repeal the ACA, Schiff said. They know a fight is coming, and they want to get as much as they can before he starts tweeting hate tweets at them. You know its coming. #BraceYourselves. More columns Get more of Robin Abcarians work and follow her on Twitter @AbcarianLAT robin.abcarian@latimes.com Twitter: @AbcarianLAT ALSO South of the border, Mexicans are puzzled by Trumps antagonism Those pink hats, that vulgar word: Now a rallying cry against Trump Breitbart provocateur Milo shouted down at UC Davis, but gets last word More from Robin Abcarian Nationally and locally, the war for control of public schools has escalated. Betsy DeVos was confirmed as President Trumps Education secretary Tuesday, despite having displayed a shocking lack of knowledge about public schools, and shes a bigly billionaire champion of more school options for students and their parents. Its hard to argue against more options, but itll be interesting to see how the growth of charters impacts kids who dont make the cut, and sad to watch their schools get left behind in the resource department. And if she pushes vouchers, it will be even more interesting to see how Americans react to having their tax dollars subsidize private schools, including religious education. Advertisement Now back to the front lines in Los Angeles. Theres a through line between the Betsy DeVos confirmation and whats going on in L.A., UCLA education professor John Rogers said. She and her family have used their vast wealth to manipulate the politics of Michigan education. In recent years, some of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles and beyond have spent millions of dollars in the hope of multiplying charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately operated. State spending per pupil in California ranks shamefully low against national averages, but spending on L.A. Unified school board races is astronomical. Last week, I wrote about a $1-million donation by former Mayor Dick Riordan, the chief financial backer of a student group that has attacked school board President Steve Zimmer in a negative ad campaign. Zimmer has been a supporter of some charters in a district that has dozens of them already, but his foes in the March election are seen as safer bets to expand the number. I think guys like Riordan, philanthropist Eli Broad, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Walton family and all the other folks who think teacher unions are the enemy of better schools, have a right to that view and a right to spend their money in ways they think will benefit children. Just as the teacher unions and their supporters have a right to fight back, if not with pockets that are always as deep as those of the millionaires and billionaires. For the record, Ive had bones to pick with both sides in this intractable war, and Ive said more than once that while the adults are banging heads, the kids tend to get thrown under the bus, if youll pardon the expression. But in Los Angeles, the kids have now joined the fight, or so it seems. The name of the group that took credit for a nasty packet of cheap-shot political mailers attacking Zimmer was LA Students for Change. One mailer falsely accused Zimmer of being the force behind L.A. Unifieds iPad debacle, among other sins. As my colleague Howard Blume reported, one mailer looked suspiciously identical to the promo for a Netflix show called Making a Murderer. When I asked Riordan about LA Students for Change, he told me they were connected to the California Charter Schools Assn. That group funnels tens of millions of dollars into campaigns and the coffers of like-minded independent expenditure groups. The Charter School people bounced me around to various execs before one of them referred me to Shallman Communications in Los Angeles. So I called John Shallman, a longtime political consultant. Shallman told me he came of age, politically, as a student activist, and he suggested to the California Charter Schools Assn. that it recruit some students and put them in charge of running a school board campaign. They liked the idea, he said of the charter group. Shallman said he suggested one of his staffers take a leave and run this thing, a characterization that brings into question whether LA Students for Change is actually student-run, as advertised on its website. The staffer used Facebook to recruit staffers, Shallman said. About 18 high school students took the bait, along with a stipend of up to $500, and became members of a group that has met twice in the last month or so. Initially, the LA Students for Change website had stock photos of kids who were not actually in the group, as did a mailer. They were stand-ins. When I asked Shallman about this, he said parental approval hadnt come through yet for the real kids, whose photos later replaced the fakes. I also asked to speak to the students themselves, and Shallman said it could take time for parental approval, although Ive been invited to the next meeting. Conveniently for the pro-charter forces, the students all turned out to think Zimmer is a bum, and it was time to go negative. Or did they? Students shared their concerns about LAUSD in a group discussion, Shallman said. They listed grievances about lack of extracurricular activities, educational support, and campus safety, among other things. Those are real issues, no doubt, and I give the students lots of credit for getting involved in the management of their schools. But the explanations for the districts shortcomings are long and complicated. So I have trouble understanding how the students quickly reached the conclusion that whatever ails LAUSD, Zimmer is the cause. Hes the president, said Shallman, who added that students were involved in the design of the mailers and were quite happy with the way they turned out. Those mailers, as I noted last week, are attributed to LA Students for Change, Opposing Steve Zimmer for School Board 2017. They would have you believe Zimmer fired good teachers while protecting bad ones, drove the district into the ground financially, and failed to root out child molesters. Zimmers actual record is mixed; he has supporters, he has critics. But distorting that record is dastardly. And using students as a front is immoral. To read the article in Spanish, click here Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez MORE FROM STEVE LOPEZ L.A.'s melting pot is defying Trumps specialty: to provoke and divide LAPD Chief Beck explains why he doesnt want his officers to be immigration cops Scum of the earth lowlife packs a bag for Trumps inauguration Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed, whose department has come under criticism for what many consider lax inspection at the Ghost Ship warehouse where 36 people died in December, has taken a leave from her position, city officials said Tuesday. Reed has been at the center of questions over why the department did not inspect the Ghost Ship despite complaints about safety conditions inside the artists community. An Alameda County grand jury report in 2014 found a third of commercial buildings in the city went unchecked despite a requirement for annual inspections. In 2015, the state stripped the department of its state certification to perform hazardous waste inspections. Advertisement Oakland officials refused to provide details about why Reed was absent from overseeing the department. A city spokesman said Deputy Chief Darin White had been appointed acting fire chief. We havent seen her since about Jan. 18. We have no idea where she is at present and what is going on with the departments leadership, said Zachary Unger, vice president of Oaklands firefighters union, which has publicly criticized the chief over her slow hiring practices and high vacancy rate. Last month, the chief got into a heated exchange with residents at a community meeting. The East Bay Times reported that the chief launched a verbal attack on a resident and threatened to sue a homeowner. She said a letter by a group of residents that was read at the meeting was full of lies. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes A conservative group has joined with eight California educators in a lawsuit filed this week that seeks to eliminate the right of unions to collect mandatory agency fees from teachers even if they are not full members. Similar litigation challenging the fees failed last year when the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4, leaving the current policy in place. If this latest litigation were to reach the court following the confirmation of an appointee by President Trump, teachers unions could lose a key source of funding. Agency fees, which are employed by unions in 23 states including California, are meant to cover the cost of representing teachers in such things as salary and benefit negotiations. Teachers can opt out of the portion of membership dues for activities labeled as political, but they still are on the hook for about two-thirds of the total. Advertisement For Los Angeles teachers, full union dues are $988 per year. Forcing teachers to financially support causes that run counter to their political and policy beliefs is a clear violation of their 1st Amendment rights. Terry Pell, president of the Center for Individual Rights The complaint filed Monday in Santa Ana federal court asserts that most union activities, even salary and benefits negotiations, are inherently political because, for example, they involve decisions on how to use tax dollars. Forcing teachers to financially support causes that run counter to their political and policy beliefs is a clear violation of their 1st Amendment rights, said Terry Pell, president of the Center for Individual Rights, which is based in Washington, D.C. Public school teachers deserve to choose for themselves, as many workers across the country do, whether or not to fund the unions views. One of the plaintiffs, Ryan Yohn, said he objected to the unions support for laying off teachers based on seniority rather than performance evaluations. I have seen firsthand examples throughout the years where an amazing teacher was bumped out of their classroom or laid off simply because they were new, young and temporary, said Yohn, an employee of the Westminster School District in Orange County. But California Teachers Assn. President Eric C. Heins on Tuesday defended the fees, saying: We bargain for the working conditions of teachers, which are the learning conditions of our students. The goal of the latest lawsuit, he said, was to weaken all unions and the voice of working people. Its a political attack. Unions have been under assault on several legal fronts, including challenges to tenure protections. The Center for Individual Rights receives major financial support from people and groups associated with anti-union positions. Even so, Pell said, The fact remains that the case will put the decision of whether unions are good or bad into the hands of teachers themselves rather than the legislature, the courts or even CIRs donors. NEWSLETTER: Get essential California headlines delivered daily The main difference between last years case and this one, Yohn vs. California Teachers Assn., is simply a new set of plaintiffs. The litigants also want to change the law so that the union would have to persuade teachers to opt in to membership rather than being automatically enlisted. In the Friedrichs vs. CTA case last year, the outcome was hard to predict because past rulings by Justice Antonin Scalia the likely swing vote in the case could be read different ways. During the hearing, Scalias questions and comments seemed to presage a victory for Pells side. The case ended in the 4-4 decision after Scalia died. Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, is said to be a jurist in the mold of Scalia. But, said Pell, Gorsuch has not decided any cases like this. howard.blume@latimes.com @howardblume ALSO How do you feel about subsidizing private schools, using students as political pawns, and escalating war for control of public education? Betsy DeVos squeaks through as Education secretary after Pence casts first-ever tie-breaking vote L.A. teachers union seeks to raise dues as it fights a charter school push An armed intruder who shot a Lemon Grove man was killed by the victims father during a home invasion early Tuesday, police said. A second robber escaped. The wounded man, Francisco Suarez Jr., 22, is expected to survive, San Diego County Sheriffs Lt. Kenneth Nelson said. Nelson said it appears the household was targeted by the robbers. Advertisement The victim and his father, Francisco Suarez Sr., 44, told investigators that the two robbers came into their Edding Drive home, a cul-de-sac off Mount Vernon Street, about 2 a.m. Nelson said the intruders held the homeowner and his son at gunpoint. There was a struggle over a gun, and the homeowners son was shot once in the torso. The then homeowner shot one of the intruders, killing him, Nelson said. Repard writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. ALSO Retired Ventura County judge fatally shoots his girlfriend, then himself after hours-long SWAT standoff Driver with prior DUIs kills man in crash, causes pregnant woman to lose unborn baby, officials say California storm triggers floods in several counties; third storm expected Friday Southern California Gas Co. will pay $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by air quality regulators over the Aliso Canyon gas leak and will fund a study of community health effects. The settlement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, announced Wednesday, resolves a dispute over the months-long leak of methane from the gas companys Aliso Canyon storage facility above the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles. The facility has been shut down since a well blowout in late October 2015 resulted in the worst methane leak in U.S. history. The invisible gas spewed for nearly four months, causing 8,000 residents to flee their homes, many complaining of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea. Advertisement The agreement dedicates $1 million to an air district-sponsored health study, far less than the $5 million air regulators sought a year ago from the utility. Community leaders, activists and local politicians were quick Wednesday to call the funding insufficient for a comprehensive study of what chemicals residents were exposed to in the gas leak and how it has affected their health. Issam Najm, president of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council, accused the air district of throwing in the towel with the settlement and said the result will be a meaningless study, if any. A true toxicological health study that answers the questions that have been asked since the beginning of this disaster costs a lot more than this and AQMD knew that, Najm added. The South Coast air district filed suit in January 2016, alleging the gas company violated air quality rules and sought up to $250,000 in penalties for each day the leak continued. Under the settlement, the utility will also pay $5.65 million in emissions-related fees, $1 million of which must be invested in a renewable natural gas demonstration project by Kore Infrastructure, an El Segundo company that produces fuel from wastewater. The deal also requires the utility to pay $1.6 million to reimburse the agency for air-monitoring costs and $250,000 for its legal fees. Alexandra Nagy, an organizer with Food & Water Watch, called the deal an insult to the thousands of families in the area and urged the air district to give millions of dollars of the emissions fees back to the community for a real long-term health study. The ruptured well was sealed in mid-February 2016, but not before releasing 109,000 metric tons of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. While health officials have blamed symptoms reported by residents on odorants added to the gas, pollution monitoring also detected the carcinogen benzene and other toxic pollutants in the communitys air during the leak. According to the district, the study will include a detailed assessment of pollution concentrations in the community, a survey of residents short-term, long-term and carcinogenic effects and an analysis of potential associations between reported health effects and exposure to air pollutants. We are pleased to have worked with AQMD to settle this and other matters, Chris Gilbride, a spokesman for the utility, said in a statement. The health study, agreed to last year by the gas company and required under an administrative order obtained by the air district, had been in limbo as the gas company and the agency wrangled over the cost. The abatement order the gas company agreed to in January 2016 required the utility to commit in writing to pay for reasonable costs of the health study. The air district then told the company that a meaningful health study would cost up to $5 million, including a $900,000 contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish an independent advisory committee to oversee the effort, records show. The gas company initially said it was willing to pay only $250,000, records show, and in May 2016 the utility committed to pay up to $400,000, according to the settlement agreement signed this week. The air district did not pursue a contract with the National Academies because of the price, a spokesman said, and has not yet decided who will oversee the study. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger criticized the air district for the deal, saying it ignores recommendations of an advisory panel and health authorities, who called for a comprehensive, long-term health assessment. This short-sighted settlement does nothing to address the very real health concerns the community has Barger said, adding that the assessment outlined in the agreement is not a health study and does not allow for a full accounting of the health impacts of the gas leak and the facility. The gas company has faced numerous lawsuits from government agencies and residents and has disclosed spending hundreds of millions of dollars on relocation costs and other expenses related to the leak. Last fall, the utility agreed to pay $4 million to settle criminal charges over the leak from the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. The deal comes a few weeks after state regulators announced the underground storage facility was safe to open at a diminished capacity. The gas company has pushed to resume operations at Aliso Canyon, calling it essential for the regions energy supply. Porter Ranch residents and some elected officials are fighting any additional gas injections at the facility until state investigators determine the cause of the leak, and many want the facility closed for good. tony.barboza@latimes.com @tonybarboza ALSO Driver arrested after wild police chase through South L.A. Heres why California wont lift drought restrictions despite epic rain and snow Police searching for suspect in Long Beach robbery, sexual assault cases with elderly victims UPDATES: 6:50 p.m. This article has been updated with additional details throughout and reaction from community leaders and politicians. This article was originally published at 2:30 p.m. The children were going to die. Mohamed Bzeek knew that. But in his more than two decades as a foster father, he took them in anyway the sickest of the sick in Los Angeles Countys sprawling foster care system. He has buried about 10 children. Some died in his arms. Now, Bzeek spends long days and sleepless nights caring for a bedridden 6-year-old foster girl with a rare brain defect. Shes blind and deaf. She has daily seizures. Her arms and legs are paralyzed. Bzeek, a quiet, devout Libyan-born Muslim who lives in Azusa, just wants her to know shes not alone in this life. Advertisement I know she cant hear, cant see, but I always talk to her, he said. Im always holding her, playing with her, touching her. She has feelings. She has a soul. Shes a human being. Hes the only one that would take a child who would possibly not make it. Melissa Testerman, Department of Children and Family Services intake coordinator Of the 35,000 children monitored by the countys Department of Children and Family Services, there are about 600 children at any given time who fall under the care of the departments Medical Case Management Services, which serves those with the most severe medical needs, said Rosella Yousef, an assistant regional administrator for the unit. There is a dire need for foster parents to care for such children. And there is only one person like Bzeek. If anyone ever calls us and says, This kid needs to go home on hospice, theres only one name we think of, said Melissa Testerman, a DCFS intake coordinator who finds placements for sick children. Hes the only one that would take a child who would possibly not make it. Typically, she said, children with complex conditions are placed in medical facilities or with nurses who have opted to become foster parents. But Bzeek is the only foster parent in the county known to take in terminally ill children, Yousef said. Though she knows the single father is stretched thin caring for the girl, who requires around-the-clock care, Yousef still approached him at a department Christmas party in December and asked if he could possibly take in another sick child. This time, Bzeek politely declined. Bzeek is a quiet, religious man who wants his foster daughter to know shes not alone in this life. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) ::: The girl sits propped up with pillows in the corner of Bzeeks living room couch. She has long, thin brown hair pulled into a ponytail and perfectly arched eyebrows over unseeing gray eyes. Because of confidentiality laws, the girl is not being identified. But a special court order allowed The Times to spend time at Bzeeks home and to interview people involved in his foster daughters case. The girls head is too small for her 34-pound body, which is too small for her age. She was born with an encephalocele, a rare malformation in which part of her brain protruded through an opening in her skull, according to Dr. Suzanne Roberts, the girls pediatrician at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Neurosurgeons removed the protruding brain tissue shortly after her birth, but much of her brain remains undeveloped. She has been in Bzeeks care since she was a month old. Before her, he cared for three other children with the same condition. These kids, its a life sentence for them, he said. Bzeek, 62, is a portly man with a long, dark beard and a soft voice. The oldest of 10 children, he came to this country from Libya as a college student in 1978. Years later, through a mutual friend, he met a woman named Dawn, who would become his wife. She had become a foster parent in the early 1980s, before she met Bzeek. Her grandparents had been foster parents, and she was inspired by them, Bzeek said. Before she met Bzeek, she opened her home as an emergency shelter for foster children who needed immediate placement or who were placed in protective custody. The key is, you have to love them like your own. Mohamed Bzeek Dawn Bzeek fell in love with every child she took in. She took them to professional holiday photo sessions, and she organized Christmas gift donation drives for foster children. She was funny, Bzeek said during a recent drive home from the hospital. She was absolutely terrified of spiders and bugs, so much that even Halloween decorations creeped her out but she was never scared by the childrens illnesses or the possibility that she would die, Bzeek said. The Bzeeks opened their Azusa home to dozens of children. They taught classes on foster parenting and how to handle a childs illness and death at community colleges. Dawn Bzeek was such a highly regarded foster mother that her name appeared on statewide task forces for improving foster care alongside doctors and policymakers. Bzeek started caring for foster children with Dawn in 1989, he said. Often, the children were ill. Mohamed Bzeek first experienced the death of a foster child in 1991. She was the child of a farm worker who was pregnant when she breathed in toxic pesticides sprayed by crop dusters. She was born with a spinal disorder, wore a full body cast and wasnt yet a year old when she died on July 4, 1991, as the Bzeeks prepared dinner. This one hurt me so badly when she died, Bzeek said, glancing at a photograph of a tiny girl in a frilly white dress, lying in a coffin surrounded by yellow flowers. By the mid-1990s, the Bzeeks decided to specifically care for terminally ill children who had do-not-resuscitate orders because no one else would take them in. There was the boy with short-gut syndrome who was admitted to the hospital 167 times in his eight-year life. He could never eat solid food, but the Bzeeks would sit him at the dinner table, with his own empty plate and spoon, so he could sit with them as a family. There was the girl with the same brain condition as Bzeeks current foster daughter, who lived for eight days after they brought her home. She was so tiny that when she died a doll maker made an outfit for her funeral. Bzeek carried her coffin in his hands like a shoe box. The key is, you have to love them like your own, Bzeek said recently. I know they are sick. I know they are going to die. I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God. I know she cant hear, cant see, but I always talk to her, Mohamed Bzeek says. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Bzeeks only biological son, Adam, was born in 1997 with brittle bone disease and dwarfism. He was a child so fragile that changing his diaper or his socks could break his bones. Bzeek said he was never angry about his own sons disabilities. He loved him all the same. Thats the way God created him, Bzeek said. Now 19, Adam weighs about 65 pounds and has big brown eyes and a shy grin. When at home, he gets around the house on a body skateboard that his father made for him out of a miniature ironing board, zooming across the wood floor, steering with his hands. Adam studies computer science at Citrus College, driving his electric wheelchair to class. Hes the smallest student in class, Bzeek said, but hes a fighter. Adams parents never glossed over how sick his foster siblings were, and they told him the children were going to eventually die, Bzeek said. They accepted death as part of life something that made the small joys of living all the more meaningful. I love my sister, the shy teenager said of the foster girl. Nobody should have to go through so much pain. About 2000, Dawn Bzeek, once such an active advocate for foster children, became ill. She suffered from powerful seizures that would leave her weak for days. She could hardly leave the house because she didnt want to collapse in public. The frustrations of her illness wore on her, Bzeek said. There was stress in the marriage, and she and Bzeek split in 2013. She died a little over a year later. Bzeek chokes up when he talks about her. When it came to facing the difficulties of the childrens illnesses, the knowledge that they would die, she was always the stronger one, he said. ::: On a chilly November morning, Bzeek pushed the girls wheelchair and the IV pole that carries her feeding formula into Childrens Hospital on Sunset Boulevard. She was wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her head resting on a pillow with the stitched words: Dad is like duct tape holding our home together. The temperatures had been bouncing up and down that week, and the girl had a cold. Her brain cannot fully regulate her body temperature, so one leg was hot while the other was cold. On the elevator, her face glowed bright red as she coughed, her throat filled with phlegm, screaming for air. People in the elevator looked away. Bzeek rubbed her cheek playfully and held her hand, waving it playfully. Heeeey, mama, he cooed in her ear, calming her down. For Bzeek, the hospital has become a second home. When hes not here, hes often on the phone with her many doctors, the insurers who fight over whos paying for it all, the lawyers who represent her and her social workers. Any time they leave the house together, he carries a thick black binder filled with her medical records and pages of medications. Still, Bzeek who had to be licensed through the county to care for medically fragile children and receives about $1,700 a month for her care is not able to make medical decisions for her. Roberts entered the exam room, smiling at the girls frilly socks and brown dress with fall-colored leaves. Theres our princess, the doctor said. Shes in her pretty dress, as always. Roberts has known Bzeek for years and has seen many of his foster children. By the time this girl was age 2, Roberts said, doctors said there were no more interventions to improve her condition. Nobody ever wants to give up, she said. But we had run through the options. But the girl, who is hooked to feeding and medication tubes at least 22 hours a day, has lived as long as she has because of Bzeek, the doctor said. When shes not sick and in a good mood, shell cry to be held, Roberts said. Shes not verbal, but she can make her needs known. Her life is not complete suffering. She has moments where shes enjoying herself and shes pretty content, and its all because of Mohamed. Other than trips to the hospital and Friday prayers at the mosque when the day nurse watches her Bzeek rarely leaves the house. To avoid choking, the girl sleeps sitting up. Bzeek sleeps on a second couch next to hers. He doesnt sleep much. ::: On a Saturday in early December, Bzeek, Adam and the girls nurse, Marilou Terry, had a celebratory lunch for the childs sixth birthday. He invited her biological parents. They didnt come. Bzeek crouched in front of the girl wearing a long, red-and-white dress and matching socks and held her hands, clapping them together. Yay! he said, cheerfully. You are 6! 6! 6! Bzeek lit six birthday candles in a cheesecake and sat the girl on the kitchen table, holding the cake near her face so she could feel the warmth of the flames. As they sang Happy Birthday, Bzeek leaned over her left shoulder, his beard gently brushing the side of her face. She smelled the smoke, and a small smile crossed her face. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson To read the article in Spanish, click here ALSO Legislators delve into why many foster children are on psych drugs A week in the life of P22, the big cat who shares Griffith Park with millions of people How do you feel about subsidizing private schools, using students as political pawns, and escalating war for control of public education? For Iranian Americans, Trump has complicated an already tricky trip to motherland A Long Beach man shot dead by Los Angeles police last week in a Hollywood fast-food restaurant after he stabbed three people was struggling with mental illness, law enforcement sources told The Times. The mans identity still has not been released because of issues contacting his next of kin, Los Angeles County coroners officials said. Officials have not disclosed a motive for the Jan. 31 attack. But detectives were looking into the mans mental health, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Los Angeles Police Capt. Andrew Neiman said he couldnt address the mans background but added: If the department is investigating, you can safely assume it is not an act of terrorism, noting that federal authorities take the lead in terror attacks. Advertisement The man stabbed a bicyclist about 2 p.m. along the north side of Sunset Boulevard near Ivar Avenue, said Sgt. Frank Preciado. The attack occurred on a popular corridor along Sunset, near the ArcLight Cinemas, Amoeba Music and the Los Angeles offices of CNN. The assailant then ran down Sunset and tried to get into a coffee shop, where employees held the door shut against him, Preciado said. Next, the man continued eastbound and walked into a Jack in the Box, where he stabbed another man, Preciado said. As the second victim fled the fast-food restaurant, police officers rushed inside. The man then knifed a third person. Officers confronted the man and shot him an unknown number of times. Preciado said police also attempted to use a Taser. The man died at the scene. Video posted on social media from inside the restaurant showed a person calling for a belt or shoelace to be used as a tourniquet for a victim sitting in a chair with a pool of blood on the floor. Moans could be heard. As an officer reports shots fired, another officer can be seen kneeling over a person face-down on the ground and holding the persons arm. L.A. City Councilman Mitch OFarrell, whose district includes Hollywood and East Hollywood, commended LAPD officers for their swift response. It saved lives, OFarrell said at a news conference Jan. 31. Investigators were unsure if the assailant knew the three victims, or if they were otherwise connected in some way, police said. For the inquiry into the shooting, authorities were planning to review surveillance video. Preciado said there was no footage from body cameras to review. All three victims were taken to hospitals with stab wounds. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes ALSO Phoenix man gets 30 years for helping plot Muhammad cartoon contest attack High water releases are eroding the base of Lake Orovilles spillway A week in the life of P22, the big cat who shares Griffith Park with millions of people He was a customer who wanted to buy a gun. She was a store manager who balked, finding the man erratic, threatening and potentially dangerous. Their tense interaction at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Downey prompted police to step in, according to a lawsuit. Delilah Rios claims that after company officials overruled her and released a weapon to the customer, she resigned. In the civil suit filed this week, she alleged wrongful termination and violation of labor laws, among other claims. Advertisement She feared for her safety and felt that money meant more to Big 5 Corporation than public safety or employee safety, according to the lawsuit. She felt she could not work at a company where she would be forced to release firearms to people who should not have guns. A spokesman for the El Segundo-based company did not respond to a request for comment. In her suit, Rios said the problem began Jan. 21, 2015, when she assisted a middle-aged man who wanted to purchase a firearm. The customer passed a newly instituted safety test, but stormed into the restricted area of the store when she was processing his payment, retrieved his identification and credit card and left, she claims. Two days later, he returned and said he wanted any crappy old gun, selecting a 12-gauge shotgun, the suit says. While filling out a federally required form documenting the sale, he reportedly relied on a friends assistance. When Rios told him he was legally required to complete the form alone, the customer became agitated, the lawsuit said. He later accused her of selling him the wrong weapon and returned the next day to select another model, she alleges. After the mandatory 10-day waiting period elapsed, he came to the store on the night of Feb. 4, 2015, but Rios claims in her suit the store was busy she was working at the cash register for an employee on break and that she did not have enough time to release the firearm. I paid for it, and you need to give me my [expletive] gun, he said, according to the lawsuit. He left after she threatened to call police, she said. Later that evening, she claims in her lawsuit that she found unused ammunition on the floor in the aisle where the man had lingered, but it was not a type sold by Big 5. She said in the court papers that she became concerned the customer was bringing in live ammunition for the exact firearm he wanted to pick up. She claims she reported the incident to corporate management and, against her opposition, a supervisors response was to call the customer and ask him if he brought in the ammunition. The next day, the man returned and became irate and yelled loudly as she approached, she said in her suit. You again. I hate people like you. People like you should not exist, he said, according to the suit. I hope you get fired. She claims she was afraid and told him that she would not hand over the firearm. She said she offered a refund, but he refused to leave. Rios alleges two off-site supervisors questioned why she could not just release the gun. Another manager who was on his day off eventually came and, with police present, handed over the gun along with a $25 gift card, according to the lawsuit. Afterward, Rios claims she reported the incident to human resources and asked to work at a different store. She said her request was denied, and she resigned. She had worked for the company for eight years, according to the suit. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno ALSO Veteran graduates from San Diego high school 67 years later Former Riverside arts teacher had months-long relationship with student, police say After Trump video flap, signs warn Orange Coast College students against recording classes without permission The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to speed up the approval of new community plans, documents that spell out where apartments, shopping centers and other new buildings should be allowed. On a 12-0 vote, the council decided to draft an ordinance that would require updates of those 35 plans every six years, a move thats expected to cost $10 million annually and bring each document up to date by 2024. Councilman Jose Huizar, who proposed the ordinance, said the move will ensure that city planning documents reflect changing real estate and transportation patterns. That, in turn, will help address complaints made by backers of Measure S, which would impose new restrictions on real estate development, he said. Advertisement Having updated plans will result in fewer requests from developers for zone changes and other deviations from planning rules the type being targeted by Measure S, Huizar said. It will certainly alleviate the concerns about why Measure S came about, he added. Supporters of Measure S, which is on the March 7 ballot, contend city leaders too frequently make changes to planning rules for individual development projects such as granting increased height or allowing fewer parking spaces than the rules require. All but six of those citys community plans are more than 15 years old. Since Measure S was proposed, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council have hired dozens of new staffers to help tackle the backlog of work at the Department of City Planning. Asked about Wednesdays vote, Yes on S campaign spokeswoman Ileana Wachtel said city leaders have had years to address their outdated planning documents. It proves Measure S is pushing them to do the right thing. But its too little too late, Wachtel said. Now that people are demanding that the City Council do their job, she added, were getting some reaction. Measure S would impose a two-year moratorium on certain planning decisions, such as zoning changes. It also would make it harder for real estate interests to obtain amendments to the general plan, the citywide blueprint for development. Foes of Measure S say it will restrict the supply of new housing, causing rents to skyrocket. They contend homeless Angelenos will be hit particularly hard because many affordable-housing projects require deviations from planning and zoning rules. Councilman Mike Bonin said the proposal to update the neighborhood plans will help address L.A.s culture of speculation, where real estate interests buy properties in the hope that they will be able to get city leaders to change the zoning rules for those locations. Those developers then wind up in competition with homeowners who have put their life savings into their properties, Bonin said. The result, he said, is a series of battles for the souls of our neighborhoods. Its unhealthy, and it results in bad planning, he added. It breeds mistrust and a lack of faith in the system, and in us. Times staff writer Emily Alpert Reyes contributed to this report. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser A 25-year-old man was arrested last week on suspicion of circulating revenge porn to a womans acquaintances and co-workers in an effort to extort her after she refused to perform sexual favors, authorities said. Detectives on Saturday arrested Yair Guadalupe Velazquez, according to the Simi Valley Police Department. Police said the situation began about a year ago when Velazquez became upset with his on-again, off-again girlfriend and emailed a nude photo of her to her former colleagues. Police said he began extorting the woman for sexual favors and threatened to send out additional risque photos to friends and family members if she refused. Advertisement Last month, the woman rebuffed one of Velazquezs requests and, in retaliation, he sent a nude photo of her to her friends and family members, police said. He is expected to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on Feb. 22, according to jail records. California is one of several states that have enacted cyber exploitation laws in recent years to push back against individuals who distribute revealing photos of victims online without their consent. The states revenge porn law makes the crime a misdemeanor. For it to be considered a crime requires a person to intentionally and publicly distribute unauthorized nude photos knowing that they will cause emotional distress. In December 2014, Noe Iniguez was the first person to be convicted under the California law after prosecutors said he posted a topless photograph of his ex-girlfriend on her employers Facebook page without her consent. He was sentenced to a year in jail. hannah.fry@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @HannahFryTCN on Twitter. A former high school teacher in Riverside who is accused of carrying on a months-long relationship with a student has been arrested, police announced Tuesday. Encore High School for the Arts teacher Camryn Zelinger, 32, was arrested on suspicion of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and annoying or molesting a child under 18, Riverside police said. The student, who KTLA reported was a girl 14 or 15 years old, said shed had an inappropriate relationship over the past few months with Zelinger, police said. The students mother learned of the relationship and alerted police, authorities said. Advertisement Another parent, Tiffany Florez, told KTLA there was nothing about Zelinger that would have led to any suspicions. NEWSLETTER: Get essential California headlines delivered daily The way she is and the way she interacts with the children, you would never suspect. You would never think she would do something like that, she said. Parents told the station that Zelinger would occasionally request the student be pulled out of other classes so the pair could be alone. The police investigation revealed inappropriate physical contact and communications between the teacher and student, officials said. The high school has fully cooperated with the investigation and Zelinger has been fired, police said. Jail records show Zelinger was released on $50,000 bail on Tuesday and is due in court in April. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS Claremont supermarket guard shoots man suspected of breaking into a car, police say Lawsuit targets key funding source for teachers unions Actor Tom Sizemore pleads no contest to domestic violence charges and avoids jail time Oakland fire chief goes on leave two months after deadly Ghost Ship warehouse fire A man wanted in connection with a stabbing last week who was shot by California Highway Patrol officers in Santa Monica asked officers whether that was all they had before throwing a knife at them and prompting a second, deadly round of fire, according to law enforcement. Gerardo Vasquez, 52, was wanted by the Simi Valley Police Department in connection with the stabbing of his roommate on Friday, according to Deputy Lisa Jansen, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Authorities had considered Vasquez armed and dangerous when CHP officers encountered him walking on the 10 Freeway on Monday. Vasquez probably intended to commit suicide by cop, Jansen said in a department statement. Advertisement When CHP officers found Vasquez about 12:20 a.m., he was armed with a knife and walking along the center median of the 10 Freeway near the Centinela Avenue offramp, authorities said. He then ran off the freeway and into the 3300 block of Pico Boulevard. Vasquez was still holding the large knife when officers opened fire on him, authorities said. After the shooting, Vasquez fell onto his side and yelled expletives at officers, Jansen said. He then asked if that is all they had, she said. Vasquez raised the knife over his shoulder and was throwing it when officers shot at him again, Jansen said. According to the deputy, the knife landed near the officers. At some point during the incident, an officer also fired a bean bag round at Vasquez, she said. A knife was recovered at the scene. veronica.rocha@latimes.com Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA ALSO Phoenix man gets 30 years for helping plot Muhammad cartoon contest attack High water releases are eroding the base of Lake Orovilles spillway Man shot dead by police during Hollywood stabbings was mentally ill, sources say Almost two months after a secretly recorded video of an Orange Coast College professors postelection comments about President Trump touched off a firestorm, signs reminding students that in-class recordings are prohibited without instructors permission have been posted for the spring semester. The classroom signs cite the Coast Community College Districts student code of conduct and the California Education Code, which prohibit recordings without permission. Thats always been a policy, and I believe that the administration just wants students to know what the policy is, said Rob Schneiderman, president of the Coast Federation of Educators, a union that represents instructors in the district. Advertisement Were not just concerned about faculty members having words taken out of context, he said, but were also concerned for students who may not want their image, words or questions to be published and widely distributed. Joshua Recalde-Martinez, president emeritus of the Orange Coast College Republicans, which posted the video on its Facebook page in December, said he considered the signs to be a slap in the face of students. One of the things its doing is suppressing students from reporting faculty wrongdoing, he said. Another is producing a huge inconvenience to those who otherwise regularly record classes. Professor Olga Perez Stable Cox was recorded in her human sexuality class by an unidentified student days after the Nov. 8 election. In the video, Cox apparently refers to Trump as a white supremacist and to Vice President Mike Pence as one of the most anti-gay humans in this country. The two-minute video also shows Cox saying: We are in for a difficult time.... Our nation is divided. We have been assaulted; its an act of terrorism. She noted that Trumps opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, won the popular vote, though Trump, a Republican, won the electoral vote. More of us voted to not have that kind of leadership, she said. We didnt win because of the way our electoral college is set up, but we are the majority, and thats helping me to feel better. The student shared the recording with the Orange Coast College Republicans, according to Recalde-Martinez. Before the club posted the video, Seal Beach attorney Shawn Steel filed a complaint with Orange Coast College President Dennis Harkins on behalf of the group, saying Cox had wrongfully assumed all students were disappointed with the loss of Hillary Clinton. Harkins said in December that the districts legal counsel sent a response to Steel saying the student services and instructional wings at OCC had a review in progress to determine whether Coxs comments were in response to a students question or were related to class curriculum. Steel said Tuesday that he had not received an update on the investigation. Calls to Harkins office and Orange Coasts public relations department were not immediately returned. alexandra.chan@latimes.com Chan writes for Times Community News Doris Lockness, a pioneering aviatrix and one of the nations most honored female pilots, has died at age 106 in Folsom. Lockness aviation career spanned six decades and included a stint with the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, when she became one of the first women to fly U.S. military aircraft. She was the 55th woman in the world to earn a commercial helicopter rating, and she also obtained licenses to fly seaplanes, gyroplanes, hot-air balloons and gliders. She collected numerous honors during her flying years and was a member of the Women in Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian Institute of Aviation. She is listed as one of the 100 most influential women in aviation by Women in Aviation International, a group that supports women in the industry. Advertisement Lockness, who was born in Pennsylvania and eventually settled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, took her inspiration from Amelia Earhart, whose plane disappeared in 1937 during her attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Lockness became a flight instructor and ultimately owned nine planes, including her beloved Vultee-Stinson warbird, Swamp Angel, which she piloted around the country. Her friend, fellow aviatrix Nancy Ann Earhart, who is no relation to Amelia Earhart, said Lockness had boundless enthusiasm for flying, which rubbed off on just about everyone she met. Doris and I had been through a lot of the same things, being female aviators, and we hit it off immediately, Earhart said. This is a big loss for the whole flying community. In 2009, as she was nearing her 100th birthday, Lockness mused to a Sacramento Bee reporter about wanting to fly a helicopter again. I dont think theyll let me do it, but I want to go up again, she said. An Auburn pilot who read her story accommodated her, allowing her to be his co-pilot during an hour-long flight above the Sierra foothills. Lockness, who married twice, recently became a great-great-great-grandmother, according to her obituary in the Mountain Democrat of Placerville. She died just days before her 107th birthday. She had a lot of spirit, and she kept it up to the end, Earhart said. Lorraine Ali has been named a television critic for the Los Angeles Times. Ali, who has been a senior pop culture writer, joined The Times in 2011 as music editor. She will work with fellow critic Robert Lloyd and the rest of the television team, headed by editor Sarah Rodman. Previously, Ali was the music critic and then a senior culture writer for Newsweek, a senior critic with Rolling Stone and a Mademoiselle columnist. Her byline has appeared in a diverse roster of publications including the New York Times, GQ, Esquire, the Hollywood Reporter, Elle, SPIN, Ladies Home Journal, Adweek, the L.A. Weekly and the Village Voice. Advertisement Ali was awarded a Hedgebrook fellowship in 2011, Best Online Feature from the New York Assn. of Black Journalists in 2007, an Excellence in Journalism Award in 2002 from the National Arab Journalists Assn. and was listed in Da Capo Best Music Writing 2001 for her story West Bank Hard Core. Ali, a native Angeleno, is on Twitter at @LorraineAli. readers.representative@latimes.com For staff and newsroom news, follow @LATreadersrep When President Trump vows to build a big, beautiful wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, he apparently doesnt have the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China in mind. Do walls work? Trump said Wednesday. Just ask Israel about walls.... Just ask Israel. With noticeable frequency, Trump appears to be borrowing from Israels security manual including its construction of what Israel calls a security barrier along more than 400 miles of Israels border with the West Bank. Advertisement Palestinians call it an apartheid wall that in many cases divides Palestinian villages. Israel has also built walls and fences along its southern border with the Egyptian Sinai desert, a virtual no mans land of violence and criminal activity. Trump has suggested other controversial tactics that Israel has embraced in its effort to curtail terrorism. During the presidential campaign, Trump spoke of going after the families of terrorists and demolishing their homes. Israel has routinely destroyed the homes of Palestinian suicide bombers or other violent individuals, and often jailed their relatives. Trump has made a point of declaring war on radical Islam, mincing no words in using the religious label. Ditto for Israel. But the most concrete policy alignment is his proposed wall along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico. The wall is getting designed right now, Trump said at a conference of police chiefs Wednesday in Washington. And it will be a real wall. A lot of people say, Oh, oh, Trump was only kidding with the wall. I wasnt kidding. I dont kid. I dont kid, he added. On Tuesday, the new secretary of Homeland Security, John F. Kelly, told Congress that construction of the wall could take two years and cost billions of dollars. It will not be possible, Kelly said, to build a wall everywhere all at once. Fences and walls already line about 600 miles of the border. Whether more walls will make a difference is unclear; illegal immigration has been declining for years primarily for economic reasons. Trump has insisted that Mexico would pay for the wall, and Mexico has repeatedly said it wont. That tiff led Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to cancel a planned visit to Washington last month to meet with Trump. On Wednesday, Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray called on U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Kelly in hopes of improving relations. Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, attended the State Department meeting. Videgaray told reporters that Pena Nieto had not rescheduled his trip to Washington. But the Mexican diplomat said that he and Tillerson would launch a series of working meetings and that Tillerson will visit Mexico City in coming weeks. Trumps invocation of Israels counter-terrorist policies has sparked growing concern by security experts and human rights groups. Terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and in Israel have ebbed since construction of the wall began in 2000. It is now a little more than half complete. But the decline in violence had multiple causes. Palestinian security forces now work more closely, if secretly, with Israeli security forces, and Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, tend to have their own dynamic. Moreover, the wall has inflamed tension and resentment among Palestinians. The barrier and a series of crowded checkpoints have added hours to the daily commutes for thousands of Palestinians who live in the West Bank and travel to work on the Israeli side. A report this month by the Republican leadership of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security praised Israels security efforts in glowing terms. The report, Securing Israel: Lessons Learned from a Nation Under Constant Threat of Attack, credits Israels extensive building of fences and walls along its internal and external borders for the decline in terrorist attacks. Israels swift and effective border security measures provide lessons for the United States and other countries seeking to protect their citizens, says the report, which came out of a trip to Israel by the committee chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Israeli fences have proven more effective than the fencing in the United States and, in regards to the fencing along its border with Egypt, was constructed at a significantly cheaper cost, it contends. Israeli security experts say the barrier is not the same as the wall Trump has proposed. For one, Israel is trying to keep out terrorists, and Trump says his wall would primarily aim to stop illegal immigration. The analogy is somewhat limited, said Susie Gelman, chair of the Israel Policy Forum, a liberal U.S.-based advocacy group that focuses on Israel. Any security barrier in Israel is effective because it is part of many layers of the security apparatus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has welcomed Trumps election and recently announced the construction of more than 5,000 units in Jewish settlements in the Palestinian West Bank, arrives in Washington next week. He will meet with Trump on Wednesday. This week, the Israeli Knesset, or parliament, passed a law that would allow Israeli settlers to retroactively legalize homes they built on private Palestinian land. The law was condemned by the United Nations and much of Europe. The Trump administration has not spoken on the issue, although it previously said that expanding current settlements may be an obstacle to peace. Times staff writer Brian Bennett contributed to this report. tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter With supporters carrying signs saying Make big business pay and Native American activists performing an honor song in gratitude, the Seattle City Council on Tuesday voted to make this the first city in the nation to ends its relationship with a bank in protest of the Dakota Access pipeline. The nine-member council unanimously approved an ordinance to end its nearly two-decade relationship with its primary financial services provider, Wells Fargo, which is an investor in the pipeline and the company building it, Energy Transfer Partners of Texas. The bank handles about $3 billion a year for the city. Yet questions over how effective such a move might be rose even before the hearing began, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, following instructions from President Trump, informed Congress earlier Tuesday that it planned to issue the final easement for the pipeline as soon as Wednesday. Advertisement The $3.8 billion, 1,170-mile pipeline would travel from North Dakota to Illinois, with the most controversial segment running beneath a dammed section of the Missouri River just north of the reservation of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The tribe, which says the pipeline threatens its water supply and sacred sites, said Tuesday it would continue to fight the projects completion. Hundreds of protesters remain in snowy camps near the planned river crossing in North Dakota a fact noted by many people in the far more comfortable City Council chambers. Beatrice Menase Kwe Jackson, center, and Daniel Emory, both of the Ojibwe Tribe, lead a procession to the Cannonball River in December as part of protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline in Cannon Ball, N.D. (David Goldman / Associated Press) It really moves me to think of the people who are hundreds of miles away from us today, waiting in the cold for our vote, Lisa Herbold, a council member, said shortly before the vote. Seattle, which is thriving on science and technology a thousand miles west of the pipelines route, would not seem to suffer obvious impacts if the pipeline were completed. But the city is deeply liberal, environmentally minded and riding a wave of activism that has put it at the forefront of social and economic causes most recently as the location where state lawyers persuaded a federal judge, appointed by George W. Bush, to order a stay of President Trumps travel ban. The area also has a large Native American community that has actively opposed the pipeline, and one member of the council, Debora Juarez, is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation tribe in Montana. Another council member, Kshama Sawant, is a socialist. Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, left, as fellow Councilwoman Debora Juarez, right, is embraced by Rachel Heaton, a Muckleshoot tribal member, before Wednesdays council meeting. (Elaine Thompson / AP) Sawant, whose supporters filled the chambers on Tuesday, had pressed her colleagues for weeks to cut ties with Wells Fargo. The example that we have set today can be a beacon of hope to activists all around the country seeking to change the economic calculus of corporations who think that investing in the Dakota Access pipeline will be good for their bottom line, Sawant said after the vote. Were making it bad for their bottom line. Her supporters, the predominant group at the standing-room-only hearing, began a chant as they filed out just after the vote: When we fight, we win! Wells Fargo is one of 17 investors in the pipeline. The company says it has loaned about $120 million of the $2.5 billion that Energy Transfer Partners has borrowed to build it. Critics say the figure is far higher and note that Wells Fargo provides several other services for Energy Transfer Partners. The ordinance passed by the council cites information from the Securities and Exchange Commission showing that the bank has supplied $347 million in credit to the companies building the pipeline and administers a $3.7-billion line of credit held by Energy Transfer Partners, among other investments. The bank issued a statement after the vote, saying: While we are disappointed that the city has decided to end our 18-year relationship, we stand ready to support Seattle with its financial services needs in the future. We will continue investing in this diverse and dynamic community that Wells Fargo has been devoted to since 1859. We will continue to support affordable housing and strengthen Seattle neighborhoods. We will continue to give back through volunteerism and corporate philanthropy. And we will continue to invest in entrepreneurship and help create jobs as the No. 2 small business lender in Washington. The City Councils move raises many questions, not least where Seattle will be able to put its money and feel good about it. In addition to citing the Dakota Access pipeline, the ordinance includes language strengthening policies on socially responsible banking that are intended to address Wells Fargos fraudulent banking practices that have been well-publicized over the last year. Whether any of the major national banks will meet those new standards is unclear, as is whether small local banks or credit unions have the capacity. Councilman Mike OBrien expressed support for Washington to establish a state-owned bank, a proposal also being pushed by a state lawmaker in Olympia. Others have talked about a city-owned bank. The city will not end its relationship with the bank immediately. The ordinance says instead that it will not renew its contract with the bank when it expires at the end of 2018. Our responsibility is to change our checkbook provider, if you will, our banking services provider, Glen Lee, the citys finance director, said in an interview before the vote. We will execute that. Hard or not, thats what well do. Thats our job. william.yardley@latimes.com Twitter: @yardleyLAT ALSO The stunning beauty of Big Bend National Park stretches across two countries. Could it survive a wall? Trumps EPA pick poised to survive Senate fight, but his brewing battle with California will be harder to win Journalist faces charges after arrest while covering Dakota Access pipeline protest A group of Republican senior statesmen is pushing for a carbon tax to combat the effects of climate change and hoping to sell the plan to the White House. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker is leading the effort, which also includes former Secretary of State George Shultz. In an opinion piece published Tuesday night in the Wall Street Journal, they argued that there is mounting evidence of problems with the atmosphere that are growing too compelling to ignore. The group will meet Wednesday with White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, senior advisor Jared Kushner and Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council. Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and Kushners wife, is also expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly. Advertisement Carbon taxes are designed to raise the cost of fossil fuels to bring down consumption. Baker and Shultz detailed in the opinion piece their plan for a gradually increasing carbon tax, with dividends being returned to consumers, as well as border adjustments for the carbon content of exports and imports and the rollback of regulations. According to an outline of the plan, the group will call for a gradually increasing carbon tax that might begin at $40 a ton and increase steadily over time. It would raise $200 billion to $300 billion annually. The plan would then redistribute tax proceeds back to consumers on a quarterly basis in what are called carbon dividends that could be approximately $2,000 annually for a family of four. The groups plan would also set border adjustments based on carbon, which would result in fees for products from countries without similar carbon pricing systems. And it would seek to roll back regulations enacted under President Obama, including the Clean Power Plan. So far, President Trump has sent mixed signals on whether or how he will try to slow Earths warming temperatures and rising sea levels. During the transition, Trump met with prominent climate activists Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio. Ivanka Trump, a close advisor to her father, has indicated interest in working on the issue. But the president has also derided climate change science as a hoax and has hired oil industry champions who want to reverse efforts to rein in emissions. The White House press office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Also supporting Bakers effort, according to a person familiar with the plans, are former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson; Greg Mankiw, who chaired George W. Bushs Council of Economic Advisors; and Martin Feldstein, chairman of President Reagans Council of Economic Advisors. Also on the list are former Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton; Thomas Stephenson, a partner at the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital; and Ted Halstead, founder of New America and the Climate Leadership Council. The vast majority of peer-reviewed studies and climate scientists agree the planet is warming, mostly because of man-made sources. Under Obama, the U.S. dramatically ramped up production of renewable energy from sources such as solar, in part through Energy Department grants. Some environmental activists support a tax on emissions to help transition from fossil fuels. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) advocated for a carbon tax as part of his bid for the Democratic nomination last year. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, never supported a tax, though she offered a slew of proposals to deal with climate change. Trumps secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was the longtime chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil. Exxon was long considered a leading opponent of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. But also under Tillersons leadership, Exxon started planning for climate change and voiced support for a carbon tax. Trumps choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency is Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt, who also rejects climate change science. And Trumps nominee to run the Energy Department, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, also questioned climate science while working to promote coal-fired power in his home state, though he also oversaw the growth of renewable power; Texas became a leading wind energy producer during his tenure. Carbon tax legislation is unlikely to receive a warm welcome in the GOP-controlled Congress, where Republicans were staunchly opposed to Obamas climate agenda. Last year, Republicans in the House approved symbolic measures opposing a fee on crude oil and a carbon tax on emissions. After years of difficulty and struggle, the Los Angeles Unified School District appears to be improving a bit. Many of its schools look and feel like calmer places; discipline seems to be less of an issue. Staffers interact more with students. Individual campuses have more control over how they spend money, which enables them to direct dollars to their priorities. During the past couple of years, challenged by the growth of charter schools, the district has begun planning more magnet and pilot schools to attract students. And yet the school district still is flailing. It faces serious budget shortfalls in future years, something its chief financial officer warned the school board about repeatedly before she resigned last month to take a job in the Bay Area. The board hasnt confronted this in part because its going to involve uncomfortable changes to union contracts, especially to lifetime health benefits. The recently revamped state standards tests are still quite new so its hard to judge the results thoroughly, but so far, the districts scores look bad, with only 29% of students meeting the annual standards in math. Standardized test scores arent everything, but numbers this low indicate a serious problem. Advertisement Because of a one-time change in election schedules, the winning board members will sit for five and a half years instead of the usual four. Meanwhile, the district has stuck with its wrongheaded decision to require that all students pass a full college-prep curriculum in order to graduate, even though it had to resort to questionable online makeup courses last year when about half of seniors were in serious danger of not graduating. Where was the school board during the years leading up to this fiasco? Against this troubling backdrop come the races for three seats on the L.A. Unified school board. Monica Garcia and board President Steve Zimmer, the two longest-sitting members, are running for reelection in Districts 2 and 4, respectively. The third seat, in District 6, is open, as Monica Ratliff is leaving the board to run for Los Angeles City Council. Because of a one-time change in election schedules, the winning board members will sit for five and a half years instead of the usual four. In races where no candidate wins a majority of votes on March 7, runoff elections will be held May 16. Here are The Times endorsements District 2: Lisa Alva Alva, an English teacher at Bravo Medical Magnet School, espouses an interesting mix of beliefs, including some that align with the school reform movement and others more in line with the positions of the teachers union. For instance, even though seniority protections work for her personal benefit, she feels they too often come at the expense of students, which puts her on the side of the reformers. But she also worries, rightly, that oversight of charter schools hasnt been strict enough, especially when it comes to admitting students with serious learning disabilities, who cost considerably more to educate. She has taught for years in District 2, which encompasses downtown and East Los Angeles and some surrounding neighborhoods. Alva comes across as the fresh voice needed on the school board. The incumbent, Monica Garcia, has been on the board longer than any other member since 2006 and if she wins this, her final election before term limits kick in, she will log more than 16 years in that seat. Thats too long; she lacks a record of accomplishment to merit such tenure. To her credit, Garcia is a committed, hardworking board member with a real connection to the community she serves, and her early, divisive style has given way to better collaboration. But she has been too willing to push for approval of charter schools over the recommendations of the school districts charter-oversight staff, and shes been a major force supporting the college-prep graduation requirement without doing anything to put the district on track to meet it. Of all of the candidates interviewed by the editorial board for the school board election, Garcia was the only one who would not categorically state that she opposed private-school vouchers, which are being pushed by the Trump administration. Thats a serious concern. Alva has her own weaknesses to work on; she sometimes makes sweeping statements without having the specifics to back them up. If she wins, shell have to do better. District 4: Nick Melvoin Melvoin, who has worked for various school-reform groups and is backed by charter-school advocates, is the strongest candidate running against Zimmer, who has been on the board since 2009 and is its current president. District 4 covers Westside and western San Fernando Valley. But the choice is not as simple as reform vs. union. Zimmer decries the growth of charters, but to his credit, he has voted for many of them, angering many of his traditional supporters. He has expressed more concern than other board members about the questionable shortcuts used to pump up the plummeting graduation rate. If all were well with the district financially, Zimmer might be the stronger candidate. But he has been unwilling to confront serious financial problems head-on, and at this point, the board needs members who will. Lets wait and see is not a financial plan. Instead, he has lavished attention on such side issues as where the district sources its chicken nuggets. Melvoin is right when he says board members try too hard to get along instead of trying to get things done. He also is among the few to talk about the importance of creating a more engaging curriculum to improve achievement, and he proposes appealing to the citys many arts organizations to bring arts instruction back to schools. But Melvoin has his own weaknesses, especially a tendency to see matters in simplistic terms. He needs to remember that running a big school district is complicated and requires evidence as much as conviction. District 6: Kelly Gonez Among a pack of a half-dozen candidates, Gonez stands out as the one to replace Monica Ratliff in the district covering the eastern San Fernando Valley. A charter-school math and science teacher who also has worked for the U.S. Department of Education on matters concerning vulnerable students, she is well-versed in both classroom realities and big-picture policies. Gonez correctly identifies key priorities for the school district: tackling the budget; building a strong cadre of magnet and other schools that keep families in the district, without demonizing charter schools; and lobbying heavily for proper funding for special education students. She brings nuance to her positions: Tying students scores on standardized tests to teacher evaluations is the wrong policy, she rightly says, because theres no evidence that it improves instruction or achievement. Raising graduation rates with last-minute cram courses degrades the value of a diploma. In addition to being a strong new voice in her own right, Gonez would be good for the board as a whole. Shes a collaborative presence who might help cut through some of the endless debate with calm, informed reason. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook With every change of administration come charges of hypocrisy. Those who governed by executive order suddenly learn the dangers of unilateral presidential power, and those who thought executive orders were an impeachable violation of the separation of powers start using them without missing a step. Supporters of federalism embrace the benefits of national uniformity. How soon is too soon to start protesting a new administration? When does criticizing a president spill over into disrespecting the presidency? Should we insist on patient bipartisanship, or is it enough to say that elections have consequences and the winner is in charge? Should officials treat a court decision as the last word and the law of the land, or should they stand up for their understanding of the Constitution? With depressing regularity, partisans and pundits switch sides on political principles depending on who gains and who loses. At its worst, hypocrisy can be a kind of furious projection of ones sins onto others; think of the official filled with obnoxious self-righteousness about other peoples sexual behavior whose personal life turns out not to bear scrutiny. Or it can turn values into mere talking points, and drain them of any real force. But what the great Harvard political theorist Judith Shklar called anti-hypocrisy is a talking point of its own. It is a lazy substitute for making and defending real value judgments; I dont have to be able to show which principles are good ones if I can just show that you violate your own. That strategy encourages a spiral downward; having higher standards always increases the chance that one wont live up to them. In a culture that cant agree on shared moral judgments but that delights in exposing hypocrites, the easy strategy might be to have no standards at all. Advertisement In his comments, [President Trump] seemed to give up on the idea that there is such a thing as wrongdoing at all. The 17th century French author La Rochefoucauld famously described hypocrisy as the tribute that vice pays to virtue. Ordinary political hypocrisy of the sort that we see when parties trade power typically has that character. The out-party hypocritically recites principles it violated just yesterday important legal changes should be made by congressional lawmaking, not executive order, for example. But in so doing it rearticulates norms and principles that officials, institutions and citizens can use as benchmarks. Without that rearticulation, the norms themselves would lose their force and be forgotten. In 2017, we should be less worried by hypocrisy than by its absence. Some hypocrites dont feel shame, but at least they formally acknowledge that there are things about which one should be ashamed (the norms the other guy is violating). The Trump administration operates on a different, shameless, plane. In a recent interview, the Fox News host Bill OReilly asked President Trump about his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Putins a killer. Trumps reply was astonishing: There are a lot of killers. Weve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our countrys so innocent? Theres often been real hypocrisy in American denunciation of authoritarians, dictators, warmongers and killers. The United States has shed a lot of blood, including innocent and civilian blood. We dont have to go back to the Cold War, with CIA assassinations and support for murderous Latin American dictatorships, to see this. The Obama administrations drone war campaign is more than enough. But that hypocrisy was itself an acknowledgement that America aimed to do better. The public expected, and elites at least tried to deliver, a government that could claim the moral high ground. Trumps shrug abandons that striving idealism. Why bother to have standards? Why bother to treat political killings as even worth criticizing? Why bother to acknowledge that, even granting American misbehavior, Putins regime today is accused of doing far worse: murdering critical journalists, assassinating political dissidents, committing war crimes from Chechnya to Syria? The president wasnt just suggesting that government is a morally gray business that always involves some violence and wrongdoing. In his comments, he seemed to give up on the idea that there is such a thing as wrongdoing at all. More talked about but quite similar is the possibility that Trump either doesnt think truth matters or doesnt think it exists. Think of the Trump administrations constant, brazen falsehoods about easily checked facts from violent-crime rates to election fraud to inauguration crowds. Theres no real pretense of telling the truth; the virtue of truthfulness isnt getting its normal tribute. For another example, think of Kellyanne Conways abrupt reversal of the election-season pledge that Trump would release his tax returns once they were audited. Hes not going to release his tax returns. People didnt care. They voted for him. The audit excuse was a bad one, but at least it was an excuse; it paid lip service to the norm of presidential financial transparency. Abandoning the excuse, treating the election victory as a substitute for the norm, is a way of saying that the norm doesnt bind at all. Compared to that nihilism, hypocrisy is a vice well worth preserving. Jacob T. Levy is Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory and director of the Lin Centre at McGill University, and a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center. His most recent book is Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook For the 75 years since the United States entered World War II, U.S. foreign policy has started from three broad premises shared by most American leaders. One is American exceptionalism, the idea that the United States is a unique country with a special responsibility to exert global leadership. Exceptionalism, combined with military and economic power, spawned a second, revolutionary notion: that the United States should try to promote democracy and human rights around the world, or at least defend them when they were in peril. The third is that the best and cheapest way for the United States to lead is by building strong alliances, usually with other democracies. Donald Trump has abandoned all three of those premises. And in their place, he has revived an old slogan of self-interest, America first. That could lead to disaster. Advertisement Never before has a modern president said he doesnt believe the United States is special. Barack Obama came close, but when conservatives howled he beat a hasty retreat. U.S. diplomacy, however inconstant, has helped to free millions ... from oppression. If Trump abandons that effort, its not a surprise, but its a tragedy. In 2015, though, Trump said this when he was asked to define exceptionalism: I dont like the term because I think youre insulting the world, he told tea party activists in Texas. If youre German, or youre from Japan, or youre from China, you dont want to have people saying that. It wasnt only the tender feelings of foreigners that he had in mind. Germany is eating our lunch, he said. Were dying. We owe $18 trillion in debt. Id like to make us exceptional. I want to take back everything from the world that weve given them. When traditional politicians describe American exceptionalism, they usually talk about values about democracy, or individual freedom, or entrepreneurship, or racial and ethnic diversity. Trumps measure of exceptionalism was material wealth specifically, the trade balance and national debt. In his inaugural address last month, he barely mentioned American values. He promised to defeat Islamic State (Make America safe again) and revive the economy (Make America wealthy again). But the word democracy wasnt there at all. Heres what the president said about foreign policy in that speech: We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow. That was a signal an implicit rebuke to both Obama and George W. Bush, who used their inaugurals to reaffirm the goal of promoting democracy and human rights. The following week, when Trumps nominee for secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, was asked in his confirmation hearing to condemn human rights abuses in Russia, Syria and Saudi Arabia, he dodged the questions. Its debatable, of course, how high on any presidents priority list democracy and human rights should be. But Trump has betrayed no interest in the question. By all evidence, his administration will spend little time or energy on those goals, which have been embraced, in different measure, by every president since Jimmy Carter including, emphatically, Ronald Reagan. U.S. diplomacy, however inconstant, has helped to free millions of people from oppression. If Trump abandons that effort, its not a surprise, but its a tragedy. That brings us to the most worrisome change: Trumps devaluation of alliances. The president says most other countries are ripping us off especially allies that arent spending enough on their defense. Theyre laughing at us, he complains. He has a solid argument that allies havent met their commitments for defense spending; most of them havent. But hes talked about NATO and other treaty arrangements as if they were mercenary contracts, not partnerships among countries with values in common. Hes given longtime allies like Australia, which sent troops to help Americans fight in Afghanistan, less courtesy than adversaries like Russia. The underlying principle is not pay any price, bear any burden; its what have you done for me lately? The allies have gotten the message. Some, especially the ones directly threatened by Russia, are rushing to increase their defense spending. (Score one for Trump.) But all of them are asking whether they can count on the United States to keep its promises in the future. Trump has embraced a narrower interpretation of vital American interests than his predecessors, the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies concluded in a recent report. Trumps foreign policy will be driven principally by the pursuit of American economic advantage, for which he will likely sacrifice some of the security concerns of his allies, the institute said. At a minimum, he will leave Americas partners uncertain about U.S. reliability. It is a pivotal change, with potentially profound negative implications for global stability. That sounds right. Trump has promised Americans security and prosperity. By narrowing our national goals, downgrading our values and eroding our alliances, hes likely to get neither. doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @doylemcmanus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Former President George W. Bush says his recent remarks have been misconstrued as criticism of Trump (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Former President George W. Bush on Wednesday pushed back at the notion that his recent remarks about the media were criticisms of President Trump. Im asked the question, Do I believe in free press? and the answer is absolutely, I believe in free press because the press holds people to account, he said. Power is very addictive and its corrosive if it becomes central to your life and therefore there needs to be an independent group of people who hold you to account. And so I answered that question and of course the headlines were, Bush criticizes Trump. And so therefore I needed to say, There should be a free and independent press, but it ought to be accurate. Bush made the remarks at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley during an hourlong question-and-answer session promoting Portraits of Courage, his new book that features his paintings of veterans. While doing media interviews about the book in recent days, he has raised eyebrows by making comments about the media, immigrants and allegations of Russian interference in the November presidential election that were widely viewed as criticisms of the new president. He said that he decided once he left the office not to second-guess his successor, former President Obama, and that the same holds true for Trump. Doing so would undermine the office, Bush said, adding that he wants all of his successors to succeed because it is good for the nation. I dont want to make the presidents job worse, no matter what political party it is. Its a hard job, Bush said. Sometimes my remarks can be construed as criticism. Theyre certainly not meant to be, and after I finish this book tour you probably wont hear from me for a while. But he was willing to offer advice to those who follow him. Know what you dont know and find people who do know what you dont know and listen to them, he said. My advice is that the job is different once you get in. It looks one way and then you get in the Oval Office and it looks different. Trust me. Bush also made an implicit criticism of Obamas foreign policy when asked whether the world is more dangerous than it was four years ago. This may be taken as criticism of one of my successors and I dont really mean it to be. There is a lesson however when the United States decides not to take the lead and withdraw, he said. Vacuums can be created when U.S. presence recedes and that vacuum is generally filed with people who dont share the ideology, the same sense of human rights and human dignity and freedom that we do. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Aside from a handful of serious moments, Bush was jovial and self-effacing as he described how he became an oil painter after leaving the White House. Seeking ways to fill his time, he said he read an essay by Winston Churchill about painting. I basically said, What the hell, this guy can paint, I can paint, Bush said. He hired an instructor and started painting a cube and a watermelon before moving on to portraits. Former First Lady Laura Bush was not pleased with his depiction of her, so when he painted his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, he decided to depict her from behind. Barbara Bush and former President George H.W. Bush are doing well despite their recent hospitalizations, the younger Bush said. Theyre both great given their limitations. Dad cant walk, hes confined to a wheelchair and yet his spirit is joyful, Bush said. Moms doing fine. Shes shrinking, and as she does, her voice gets louder. But shes a, shes a piece of work is what she is. Bush has been reclusive since leaving office, but said he wrote the book and is publicizing it to raise money for veterans and to draw attention to the invisible wounds many of them suffer. I think when you read [their stories] youll be moved by stories of courage, injury, recovery willingness to help others, he said. Ive got a platform its not as big as it once was and I intend to use it to help our veterans for the rest of my life, and this is one way to do so. Gold Star father Khizr Khan cancels speech in Toronto after organizers report his travel privileges were under review (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gold Star father Khizr Khan has canceled a scheduled speech in Toronto after being told his travel privileges are being reviewed, according to the event organizer. Khan has lived in the U.S. since 1980 and is a naturalized U.S. citizen. It was unclear which authorities communicated with Khan or what privileges were under review. Yolanda Choates, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, declined to comment about Khan specifically. She said in and email that the agency would notify people who were losing their membership in the Global Entry program -- which allows pre-screened travelers to speed through customs upon arriving in the country -- though theres no indication that is what happened to Khan. Of course, any U.S. citizen with a passport may travel without trusted traveler status, she said. Khan could not be reached for comment, and the event organizer, Ramsay Talks, did not respond to an email, text message or phone message. Khan was scheduled to speak Tuesday at a luncheon hosted by the Toronto-based organization. The two-hour event was slated to include a presentation and question-and-answer session on what we can do about the appalling turn of events in Washington -- so that we dont all end up sacrificing everything, according to the organizer. In a statement posted on Facebook, the organizer said Khan was not told why his travel status was under review. This turn of events is not just of deep concern to me but to all my fellow Americans who cherish our freedom to travel abroad, Khan said in the statement. I have not been given any reason as to why. I am grateful for your support and look forward to visiting Toronto in the near future. Khan, whose family is Muslim, made national headlines after his fiery speech at the Democratic National Convention, during which he blasted Donald Trumps rigid stance on Muslim immigration. Donald Trump, youre asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? Khan said before pulling a pocket Constitution from his jacket. I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words liberty and equal protection of law. Khan immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan in 1980. He and his wife, Ghazala, became American citizens six years later. Their son Humayun Khan was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004. The Army captain was running toward a taxi cab approaching his troops when a bomb inside exploded. Khan was killed while the other soldiers remained safe. Khan received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star posthumously. UPDATE 6:02 p.m.: This story was updated with information about Trusted Traveler programs. This story was originally published at 1:12 p.m. President Trumps effort Wednesday to influence the federal appeals judges who are considering whether to reinstate his restrictions on entry into the U.S. was notable for both the highly public setting a televised speech and the vitriol that Trump aimed at sitting judges still deciding the case. Heres how it compares with other recent presidents weighing in on pending court cases, ranging from cajoling to avoiding the topic altogether. For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the Supreme Court case Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. United States as Hearts of Atlanta Motel vs. United States. Lyndon Johnson, Civil Rights Act In a speech at a dinner in Cleveland, Johnson lamented the struggles of implementing the 1964 Civil Rights Act while a challenge to the law a case known as Heart of Atlanta Motel vs. United States sat before the court. He did not comment on the case itself. Advertisement It is now in the Supreme Court and we have had lots of difficulty with it, but we have tried to be patient and we have tried to be understanding. The court would go on to decide that the Constitution gave the government the power to force businesses to comply with the Civil Rights Act. Jimmy Carter, affirmative action Asked during a Q&A about Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke, which challenged affirmative action, Carter pointed to the separation of powers in avoiding comment. Its in the hands of the Supreme Court and we have filed our position, that theres nothing additionally that we would do until after the Supreme Court rules. Ronald Reagan, separation of powers Bowsher vs. Synar, a case that challenged a key provision of the Gramm-Rudman budget-balancing act, produced a landmark decision on the separation of powers itself. Reagan opened a news conference by remarking on a recent lower-court ruling in the case but chose to steer the conversation to the underlying issue, the federal budget. We await a final Supreme Court decision, but nothing the court says should or will remove our obligation to bring overspending under control. George H.W. Bush, abortion On the day that an abortion-related case, Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services, was argued before the Supreme Court, Bush was asked about it at a news conference but demurred. When a reporter pressed him, Bush, who had spoken out multiple times against abortion, hinted that he wanted to make his position known but stopped short of stating it plainly. I hate to not respond to your question, he said. But the court is probably going to make a decision very soon, and I would prefer to address myself to the question after the court has decided. Barack Obama, Affordable Care Act Obama was the first president to make a persistent public push for his side of a pending court case; his landmark healthcare law hung in the balance. But his tone was subtler than Trump. First, during a news conference in 2012, Obama, who once taught constitutional law, urged justices to respect the separation of powers. Im confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress, he said. Obama followed up a day later by suggesting the justices follow precedent. I expect the Supreme Court actually to to recognize that and to abide by well-established precedents out there, he said. His persistence marked a departure for the presidency, Josh Blackman, a constitutional law professor at South Texas College of Law, wrote in his book Unraveled. Very few presidents have spoken about pending Supreme Court cases after arguments were submitted. Even fewer discussed the merits of the cases, Blackman wrote. Only a handful could be seen as preemptively faulting the justices for ruling against the government. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the Obama administration in the case, National Federation of Independent Business vs. Sebelius, as it would later in King vs. Burwell. Obama, money in politics The Affordable Care Act was not Obamas first venture into court commentary, though. He also used one of the presidents most high-profile venues to address a ruling: the State of the Union. In addressing lawmakers in late January 2010, Obama criticized the Supreme Courts ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission of a few days earlier that held that corporations had the same right to free speech as people. The courts conservative majority concluded that the government thus could not stop corporations from spending on candidates. With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests including foreign corporations to spend without limit in our elections, Obama said. Id urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to correct some of these problems. Obama drew applause from Democrats, but an immediate rebuke from one justice who was present: Samuel Alito shook his head and mouthed not true as Obama spoke. As a senator, Obama had voted against Alitos confirmation in 2006. amy.fiscus@latimes.com Twitter: @amyfiscus ALSO: Trump takes aim at judges, saying a bad high school student would see the law favors him Not just bad hombres: Trump is targeting up to 8 million people for deportation Homeland Security secretary says a border wall wont be built all at once UPDATES: 12:40 p.m., Feb. 9: This story was updated with Obamas comments on the Citizens United ruling. This story was originally published at 3:20 p.m. on Feb. 8. President Trump has launched an assault on the independence of the judiciary, accusing federal judges of playing politics by suspending his travel ban and suggesting they risk national security by restricting his ability to block visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries. His attacks drew a striking rebuke Wednesday from appeals court Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, his nominee for the vacant seat on the Supreme Court, who called the presidents remarks disheartening and demoralizing in a meeting with a Democratic senator. For the record: An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of Caroline Fredrickson, president of the American Constitution Society, as Frederickson. Trump punctuated a flurry of tweets and statements in recent days with a high-profile speech that marked an escalation of the presidents use of the bully pulpit by attacking judges personally. Advertisement If these judges wanted to, in my opinion, help the court, in terms of respect for the court, they do what they should be doing, Trump said earlier Wednesday, coaxing judges to rule in his favor with a typically free-form remark to a gathering of police chiefs in Washington. He put on a highly public show of trying to sway the judges as well as public opinion. He read aloud 73 words of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which lays out the presidents capacity to stop legal entry into the U.S. in times of crisis, in arguing that the law gives him expansive power to block foreigners. A bad high school student would understand this, Trump said. Trumps aggressive approach suggested he is uncertain about his prospects of winning the current case and is trying to fight back outside the courtroom. This is not the president using the bully pulpit. Its bullying, said Caroline Fredrickson, president of the American Constitution Society, a progressive legal group. Hes trying to intimidate the judges to rule his way, she said. It sends an incredibly bad message that judges are simply political beings. And its another step toward undermining the independence of the judiciary as a bulwark in our country for defending democracy and the rule of law. Gorsuch told Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that he was troubled by Trumps comments, the senator said after they met Wednesday. He certainly expressed to me that he is disheartened by the demoralizing and abhorrent comments made by President Trump about the judiciary, Blumenthal said. The president said he had listened to a broadcast of the arguments before judges from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and pronounced the proceedings disgraceful. His remarks echoed his complaints last year during the presidential campaign when he said the judge overseeing a lawsuit over Trump University, his defunct real-estate course, could not be impartial because he was of Mexican descent. The 9th Circuit three-judge panel will decide as early as Thursday whether to strike down or uphold a lower-court ruling suspending the enforcement of Trumps travel ban. Several courts around the country blocked aspects of Trumps order, but the ruling from a federal judge in Seattle on Friday halted the directive entirely. When U.S. District Judge James L. Robart, an appointee of President George W. Bush, ruled in favor of the states suing Trump over the order, Washington and Minnesota, he pointed to a 2015 appeals court decision that blocked President Obamas attempt to expand protections from deportation for some people in the U.S. illegally. That decision upheld that the judiciary can limit executive power. Obama himself took heat when, during his 2010 State of the Union address, he criticized the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision allowing lobbyists and corporations to give more freely to political causes. Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests including foreign corporations to spend without limit in our elections, he told the packed House chamber as the justices looked on. Justice Samuel Alito shook his head, and mouthed the words: Not true. Shortly after the high court heard arguments in 2012 challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the president said he hoped the conservative justices would follow what they had said in the past and not strike down laws passed by Congress. Some saw Obamas comments as a warning to Chief Justice John G. Roberts, who eventually cast a deciding fifth vote to uphold the law. Trump, however, made his criticisms far more personal. The day Robart issued his order, Trump called him a so-called judge on Twitter and said the ruling essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned! Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad! Trump wrote the next day. Legal experts accused Trump of trying to undermine the courts as a check on the government. If youre the president, you dont attack judges personally, Fredrickson said. Hes naming a judge and calling him biased, and thats different. Trump picked up the line of attack Wednesday before his speech. If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! Trump tweeted. He also called the court decision suspending his ban horrible, dangerous and wrong. Civil liberties advocates and Democrats have argued that Trumps travel ban unfairly blocks entry for Muslims, as he promised during the campaign. They see that as a violation of the constitutional restriction on the government favoring one religion over another. Times staff writers Michael A. Memoli and David G. Savage contributed to this report. brian.bennett@latimes.com Twitter: @ByBrianBennett ALSO: When Trump says he wants to deport criminals, he means something starkly different than Obama Yes, Trump can boost deportations and gut the Dreamer program for young immigrants An outsider takes charge of the Border Patrol and yes, hell wear the green uniform UPDATES: 2:45 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from a legal expert and more comments from Trump. This article was originally published at 1:30 p.m. The winner of this weeks prime-time televised debate between likely 2020 presidential contenders Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz was clear: Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Massachusetts Democrat punctured the political noise in a defining way late Tuesday when Senate Republicans abruptly silenced her reading of Coretta Scott Kings years-ago criticisms of Trumps attorney general pick, Sen. Jeff Sessions. Senate Republicans used a rarely invoked rule to interrupt Warrens critique of Sessions civil rights record and then to prevent her from speaking on the floor until after his final confirmation vote Wednesday night. Advertisement The senator will take her seat, said the presiding officer Tuesday night in a dramatic display of political clumsiness as the chambers male leaders clipped a female senator on a racially charged issue that many noted came at the start of Black History Month. Warren lingered in the chamber in silent protest before raising her voice outside by reading the whole King letter in a Facebook video, ensuring her words reached more than those watching late-night C-SPAN. The response was swift and unrelenting, and set a potentially lasting narrative far beyond the halls of Congress. READ THIS. Tonight the GOP silenced @ SenWarren AND Coretta Scott King. Below is the letter, tweeted actress Kerry Washington to her nearly 4.5 million followers. Twitter delved into the absurdity of Senate procedure, Rule XIX, that forbids senators from impugning the character of another senator, even if it means simply referring to allegations of racism in a letter from the widow of the slain civil rights leader. And then there was the made-for-T-shirts quote from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as he justified the vote against Warren: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless she persisted. By midday Wednesday #ShePersisted overcame #LetLizSpeak as a trending hashtag on Twitter. Women, in particular, quickly seized on the slogan with mock campaign gear: Nevertheless she persisted. The outcome produced powerful short-term gains for Democrats who are struggling to channel voter unrest over Trumps agenda into common cause. Fundraising was surely robust -- we WILL make our voices heard, Warren dashed off in an appeal to donors. More than $250,000 poured in from Moveon.org donors overnight to Warrens reelection bid, the group said. Decades ago, Jeff Sessions used his power to suppress the Black vote. We have every reason to think that if sworn in as attorney general, hed do the same thing now, the group wrote in a fundraising email. Lets turn this outrage into a fiasco for the GOP. But in the longer run it remains unclear if Warrens voice is the best for the party as it tries to rebuild after the 2016 election that delivered Trump to the White House. Democrats continue soul searching over their electoral losses, particularly the drift of formerly Democratic blue-collar voters into Trumps orbit in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. House Democrats were meeting later Wednesday in Baltimore for an annual retreat where that conversation was expected to dominate. Sanders beat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton during the primaries in some of those states, but whether the fiery populism he and Warren deliver can work more broadly with a general election audience remains to be tested. Other Democrats are trying to rebuild the party in a way that relies on a populist message but without alienating more moderate suburban voters who also moved toward Trump. Its a difficult balancing act, particularly as the backslash against Trump has pushed many in the party further to the left. Even Warren hit her own stumbles with progressives when she voted for Trumps choice of Ben Carson for Housing secretary at a time when many opponents of the White House want no compromises. At this point, though, Democrats are happy to take their gains when they can. Warren on Wednesday was making the rounds of media interviews in a victory lap of her moment. I just went to the Senate floor to do what I was supposed to do, and that is debate the nomination, Warren told MSNBC. This is Coretta Scott King talking about the facts as she saw them. That he used -- he, Jeff Sessions -- used his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Shes not calling names. Shes just describing what happened. Other senators took turns reading from Kings letter on the Senate floor, and none of the Republicans dared rebuke them. Trumps team at the White House declined to get involved, with White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer saying the issue was best left to the Senate to resolve. In fact, it has been rare for the Senate to invoke Rule XIX and several senatorial slights have gone without reprimand. Most notably, Cruz, the Texas senator, essentially called McConnell a liar during a 2015 floor speech. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) criticized then-Democratic Sen. Harry Reids cancerous leadership, and more recently Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) mocked the tears Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) shed at a press conference criticizing Trumps travel ban as fit for the Screen Actors Guild awards. Senate record-keepers could not quickly find the last time Rule XIX was invoked, suggesting it may have been in the 1970s. As for Cruz and Sanders, fresh from their CNN debate on Obamacare, they, too, were now talking about Elizabeth Warren Cruz, the Texas senator who was the last rival to Trump in the 2016 GOP primary, called her attacks on Sessions slanderous. When the left doesnt have any other arguments, they go and just accuse everyone of being a racist, he told Fox News. And Sanders stood by Warrens side. It is unconscionable that Sen. Mitch McConnell silenced Sen. Elizabeth Warren because she read a letter from Coretta Scott King, the Vermont independent tweeted. lisa.mascaro@latimes.com @LisaMascaro ALSO Trump attacks federal judges in unusually personal terms Heres everything Donald Trump has tweeted since he became president Elizabeth Warren has a book coming in April. Its title? This Fight Is Our Fight The recent suggestion by President Trump that he might take action to defund Californias federal subsidies over a showdown on immigration made national headlines. But it was what he said next that raised the more important question of the financial relationship between state and nation. We give tremendous amounts of money to California, Trump said in an interview with Fox News host Bill OReilly that aired before the Super Bowl. What the president didnt say: California gives a lot to the rest of America, too. Advertisement A closer look at some of the data from government services in any given year, to taxes paid and beyond shows how valuable the relationship is between California and the United States. California: The worlds sixth-largest economy A popular measurement of Californias economic heft is its gross domestic product, an often-updated snapshot of the projected dollar value for all goods and services. And as 2015 data published by the California Department of Finance makes clear, the Golden States GDP makes it an international powerhouse. Lawmakers like to boast that Californias economy now worth more than $2.4 trillion would be the sixth-largest in the world if the state were its own nation. And theres some speculation that the ripple effects of the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom may ultimately push California up one step, to No. 5. No states economy comes close to the heft of Californias The federal governments own researchers estimate GDP for each of the 50 states, and California is clearly the top dog. While theres a long-running rivalry with Texas, a Republican-dominated state that claims to be more business-friendly, Californias overall output is the clear winner. The gap in GDP with other states is even more striking. And from a political viewpoint, its worth noting that two of the most hotly contested states in the 2016 presidential election Florida and Pennsylvania have combined goods and services that are less than two-thirds of what California contributes to the overall U.S. economy. In many ways, California feeds the nation Those outside California may think good wine tells the only important story of the states agriculture industry. But in sheer size, the Golden State leads the nation when it comes to the value of its crops and livestock. Data compiled by the independent, nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office shows more than $45 billion worth of farm production in 2015, far surpassing the runners-up of Iowa, Texas and Nebraska. While grapes are important the states third-most valuable commodity, according to the analysts data milk and almonds are the top two, in that order. Cattle and lettuce round out the top five. California is (very) far from the top in how much states receive from the federal government Perhaps the most intense part of the debate over Trumps comments has centered on how much Californians pay in taxes versus how much they receive in federal services. The answer depends on how both sides of the ledger are viewed. In its broadest definition, federal services include everything from monthly Social Security checks for retirees to university grants and beyond. A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts attempted to quantify 2014 federal spending per person. On this basis, California gets a lot less than many other states. One reason for that, say researchers: A significant portion of federal dollars is spent on retirement and healthcare subsidies for older Americans. Californias population, on the other hand, has been dominated by those younger than 65. Californians pay more taxes, collectively, than other Americans So whats the best way to compare the amount of dollars spent by the federal government in California to the taxes paid by the states residents? The Legislative Analysts Office, after sorting through various data collections, recently estimated that the federal government spends some $367.8 billion in California during an average year. Of course, that includes those guaranteed benefits for older Americans, which are handed out whether the person lives in California or Arkansas. Those retirement benefits are more than 41% of the total federal spending in the LAO analysis. On the other side of the ledger is what Californians pay in taxes. Averaging data compiled by the Internal Revenue Service over 2013, 2014 and 2015, the net annual contribution (after refunds) from Golden State taxpayers is about $356 billion. That average could be on the way up: 2015s total tax payment from California was substantially higher than in the two previous years. These two estimates annual federal payments and annual federal taxes paid suggest that Californians continue to come up short on a dollar-for-dollar basis of services. In contrast, a number of other states continue to receive far more from the federal government than their residents pay in taxes. And some of that money, it could be argued, comes from California. Sources: Legislative Analysts Office, California Department of Finance, United States Department of Commerce, Pew Charitable Trusts john.myers@latimes.comFollow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast raoul.ranoa@latimes.com Twitter: @ranoa ALSO: Heres everything Donald Trump has tweeted since he became president People are flocking to Californias Central Valley to defend Obamacare Updates from Sacramento With Californias relationship to President Trump growing increasingly strained, Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday met in person with the high-profile attorney tasked with shaping their strategy for upcoming clashes: former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder. The visit marks the first time the Washington, D.C-based Holder has come to the state capital since he and his firm, Covington & Burling, were hired last month as independent counsel for the Legislature in anticipation of legal and policy battles with the new administration. Holder, along with five lawyers from his firm, met separately with the Senate and Assembly Democratic caucuses. That afternoon, there was a confab in the governors office with legislative leaders and, via telephone, state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra. Advertisement Were here to talk about what are we going to do collectively, the Assembly and the Senate, to do everything within our power, within our own legal means to protect our policies, to protect the values of the people of California, Senate leader Kevin de Leon said. I think its pretty simple and straightforward. Holder, who led the Department of Justice for six years under President Obama, kept his public remarks general in a brief appearance before reporters outside Gov. Jerry Browns office. Im here just to assist these gentlemen and the people who they serve with in trying to protect the interests of the people of California, Holder said as he stood alongside De Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). When asked how he would provide such assistance, he simply answered, Well. The visit comes as Trump has increasingly ratcheted up his rhetoric against California, asserting an unfounded theory of mass voter fraud in the state and threatening to strip the state of federal dollars for its friendly posture toward immigrants in the country illegally. If we have to, well defund, Trump said in an interview with Fox News Bill OReilly on Sunday. We give tremendous amounts of money to California. California in many ways is out of control, as you know. Although Holders hiring came before Trumps inauguration, Rendon said Trumps hostile tone and string of controversial executive actions has since reinforced the need for California lawmakers to hire outside counsel. I think its a better idea now than ever before, he said. Theres probably a wider scope of things that he could help us with. I also think a lot of the questions that we perhaps thought were going to be down the road will be in the very immediate future. Democratic lawmakers were circumspect in describing Holders remarks delivered in the morning to state senators on a full-day policy retreat, and at lunch for the Assembly caucus at a downtown Sacramento hotel for fear of violating attorney-client privilege. We talked about Californias positioning, what options we have in front of us and how we can lead the nation in terms of a resistance and what we can do to fight back, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) said. Assemblyman Tom Daly (D-Anaheim) described the mood of the gathering as wary of what Trumps up to. Legislative Republicans grumbled at not having their own opportunity to meet with Holder. Assembly GOP Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley), who previously denounced the hiring as a political stunt, was rebuffed in a request for his caucus to pose questions to Holder, although his staff did decline an offer to meet with other visiting attorneys. The contract with Covington, which went into effect last week, caps the cost at $25,000 per month for three months. The bill will be split between the Senate and Assemblys operating budgets, and the agreement is limited to a maximum of 40 attorney hours per month. Holder has no immediate plans to return to Sacramento, legislative sources said. Hiring outside legal help is not unprecedented for the Legislature, but it is uncommon, particularly given the breadth of issues Covington is contracted to consult on, including healthcare, environmental policy and immigration. The latter has emerged as the top priority for lawmakers and their attorneys in the early weeks of Trumps presidency. Most of Covingtons initial work has been focused on building a strategy around so-called sanctuary cities which limit the use of local law enforcement resources in assisting federal immigration authorities after the president signed an executive order that threatened to withhold funds from jurisdictions that act to protect those in the country illegally. In Sacramento, lawmakers responded by fast-tracking legislation that would ramp up immigrant protections, including a bill by De Leon that would prohibit state or local police from engaging in immigration enforcement, effectively making California a sanctuary state. The bill was introduced less than a month after Trumps victory and before Holders firm was hired, but Covington attorneys have recently consulted on the measure as it speeds through the Legislature. Other California officials have taken different approaches in the wake of Trumps order. The city of San Francisco promptly sued Trumps administration, asserting that the order violates states rights provisions in the U.S. Constitution. Santa Clara County also filed a lawsuit. Becerra, Californias top lawyer, also left the door open for legal action. We will fight anyone who wants to take away dollars that we have earned and are qualified for simply because we are unwilling to violate the Constitution under these defective executive orders, Becerra said this week. The focus now turns to harmonizing the various reactions to the sanctuary city order. To do that, De Leon has been reaching out to city and county leaders, along with Brown and Becerra, to create a unified statewide response to Trumps action. Becerra, who was in Bakersfield on Tuesday to meet with his Central Valley staff, farmers and farm workers, participated by telephone in Holders meeting with the governor and legislative leaders. Participants in that afternoon meeting discussed the swirl of legal activity around another controversial executive order by Trump that restricted travel from residents of seven predominantly Muslim countries. The travel ban was stayed under a court order, and judges from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday afternoon on whether to extend that stay. Conversation also touched on the need to ensure that all parties the governor, attorney general and legislative leaders are on the same page as Californias policy battle with Trump progresses. The theme was coordination, Rendon said. Staff writer Patrick McGreevy contributed to this report. melanie.mason@latimes.com Follow @melmason on Twitter for the latest on California politics. California braces for a Trump presidency by tapping former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder for legal counsel San Francisco sues Trump over executive order targeting sanctuary cities With Californias sanctuary cities, Trump might be starting a fight he cant win As the healthcare vote looms, Trump sees opposition from conservatives, both on Capitol Hill and in the media By Kurtis Lee Its a really important vote in President Trumps fledgling first term. Will House Republicans pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act a promise from Trump on the campaign trail or reject it? (House Speaker Paul D. Ryan rushed to the White House on Friday morning for a last-minute meeting with Trump as both attempted to corral enough votes.) Trump spent much of the week trying to win support from members of the Freedom Caucus, among the most conservative lawmakers, some of whom are holdouts because they believe the bill does not go far enough. After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan! Trump tweeted Friday. But even some in conservative media arent all that thrilled about the bill. Here are some of Fridays headlines: Polls: Ryancare even more unpopular than Obamacare and Hillarycare (Breitbart) So, its been clear in recent weeks that the right-wing website Breitbart does not like the new healthcare proposal. The news site has dubbed the current bill Obamacare-lite or Ryancare an homage of sorts to Ryan, who helped craft the legislation and argued it does not go far enough in its overhaul. Most conservatives want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare, they just differ on what the replacement should look like. For example, some on the far right want to see so-called essential health benefits, such as maternity and newborn care, stripped from the bill.) This piece highlights several of the dismal polls the legislation has received. Among them: A recent Fox News survey that showed 54% oppose the bill, compared with 34% who support it. The article also references an analysis of polling and data by FiveThirtyEight.com, which shows the GOP legislation is more unpopular than Obamacare and President Bill Clintons healthcare reform bill were when they were first introduced. A modest immigration proposal (Weekly Standard) Trumps recent immigration orders have left many immigrants on edge. Through social media and pop-up legal clinics, immigrant rights groups have doled out around-the-clock assistance, as families fear being separated. In this piece, Irwin Stelzer notes that at some point, our border will be secure, resistance to deporting felons will collapse, and we will have accepted the fact that Dreamers will be allowed to stay in this country, probably on a path to citizenship. He lays out his views of immigration reform, citing, among other things, setting an annual immigration limit and adopting a system that has the effect of enriching our citizens by filling that annual quota with immigrants who are likely to increase the well-being of the existing citizenry. Jeff Sessions is Rip Van Winkle on drug policy (American Conservative) Its clear from polls that most Republicans oppose marijuana legalization, while Democrats support it. However, libertarian-leaning Republicans often tend to support legalization. This piece highlights Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions recent comments in opposition to states legalizing pot. The attorney general regurgitates simplistic cliches right out of the 1970s and 1980s about marijuana use. I dont think America is going to be a better place when people of all ages, and particularly young people, are smoking pot, Sessions told reporters on February 26, the author, Ted Galen Carpenter, writes. He adds, Such comments confirm that critics may be right when they label him a drug war dinosaur. He seems either oblivious or scornful about the trend in public opinion regarding marijuana. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print FCC Chairman Pai wants to halt Internet privacy rules before they begin taking effect this week By Jim Puzzanghera (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) The nations new top telecommunications regulator wants to halt tough Internet privacy rules before they begin taking effect this week, arguing they would unfairly impose tougher requirements on broadband providers than on websites and social networks. Privacy advocates and a key Senate Democrat vowed Monday to fight the move as well as a separate effort in Congress to overturn the regulations, which were approved in October on a party-line vote by the Federal Communications Commission when it was controlled by Democrats under President Obama. Following President Trumps inauguration, control of the commission passed to Republicans and Ajit Pai took over as chairman. All actors in the online space should be subject to the same rules, and the federal government shouldnt favor one set of companies over another, a spokesman for Pai said Friday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump says Hollywoods obsession with him led to best picture Oscar gaffe By Michael A. Memoli (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) President Trump is often loath to accept responsibility when things go wrong, but in the case of Sundays Oscars broadcast, he made an exception. As he explained it Monday, it was Hollywoods obsession with attacking him that contributed to the botched best picture announcement, calling the embarrassing episode sad, of course. Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has apologized for the mix-up that led Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to announce La La Land as the winner of the top Academy Award prize, instead of Moonlight. But in Trumps eyes, the blame falls more broadly on an entertainment industry so preoccupied with politics that they didnt get the act together, he told Breitbart News. It took away from the glamour of the Oscars, Trump told a reporter from the website, which was once led by his chief White House strategist, Stephen K. Bannon. It didnt feel like a very glamorous evening. Ive been to the Oscars. There was something very special missing, and then to end that way was sad, he added. The ceremony did contain a number of slights at Trump during its telecast, some more subtle than others. Host Jimmy Kimmel openly at one point begged the president to weigh in by tweeting at him. Trump spent part of Sunday night hosting a black-tie dinner at the White House honoring the nations governors, who were visiting Washington for their annual winter meeting. But it appears from excerpts of the Breitbart interview that he may have spent at least part of the evening watching. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Department shifts course in closely watched Texas voter ID case By Del Quentin Wilber The Trump administration has scaled back its assault on a strict Texas voter identification law that federal courts have ruled discriminated against minorities, portending a shift in how the Justice Department plans to pursue allegations of voter suppression. The government revealed its decision in court papers filed in federal court Monday, dealing a blow to civil rights advocates who have relied on federal support to help them knock down the controversial Texas statute. Its a very concerning signal to American voters about the Department of Justices commitment to enforcing the Voting Rights Act, said Danielle Lang, deputy director of the voting rights unit of the Campaign Legal Center, which is suing Texas in the case. The administrations partial retreat in the dispute highlights how Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, a conservative Republican who has championed voter identification measures, is expected to handle such cases. The Obama administration had joined civil rights groups in aggressively challenging the Texas law and other such measures around the country. At issue in the case was how the Justice Department would proceed in a federal lawsuit that alleged the Texas legislature discriminated against minority voters when it enacted the strict voter identification law in 2011. Known as SB 14, the measure requires voters to present a specific form of government-issued photo identification - such as a drivers license, military ID card, U.S. passport or citizenship certificate - to be permitted to cast a ballot. The Obama administration and civil rights groups argued the state pushed the law, in part, to suppress the power of the states minority voters, who frequently dont drive or have a passport. State officials and lawmakers countered that the law was aimed at preventing voter fraud, though there is scant evidence that the problem exists. The law was challenged in court by civil rights groups and the Justice Department under provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was intended to help overcome legal barriers erected at the local and state level to keep African-Americans from the polls. Last July, a federal appeals court ruled that the Texas law had a discriminatory impact on minority voters. It told U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to craft a temporary remedy in time for the November elections. Ramos subsequently ordered Texas to permit voters to present other forms of documentation to verify their identities. The judges order is expected to remain in force until she imposes a permanent remedy or Texas addresses the judges concerns. According to the court papers filed Monday, the Justice Department will continue to work with civil rights groups to address those issues but will seek to withdraw from another important aspect of the suit. In the same decision that found the Texas law had a discriminatory impact, the appeals court reversed Ramos finding that Texas legislators had intended to harm minority voters. It ordered Ramos to reconsider the evidence of that finding. If the judge determines discriminatory intent in crafting the voter ID requirements, she could throw out the entire law. Civil rights groups will continue to press that claim. In its court filing, the Justice Department asked Ramos to permit it to withdraw its claim that Texas acted with intent, arguing that it is best to give the Texas legislature time to address the matter. With the loss of their key ally in court, civil rights groups will argue on their own in an effort to prove that Texas acted with a discriminatory purpose in passing the law. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Voting advocates complained that the Trump administration was backing away from a key safeguard of voting rights. The Justice Department decision defies rationality and stands diametrically opposed to positions they have taken at every stage of this litigation, Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said in a statement. This reversal of position was taken despite years of work and effort that the government has invested in fighting the Texas Voter ID law, one of the most discriminatory voting restriction of its kind. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement House Intelligence Chair Devin Nunes warns against witch hunt over Trump-Russia ties By Sarah D. Wire House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) talks to reporters about his committees Russia investigation. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes said on Monday he has seen no evidence from the intelligence community that there was contact between Russia and the Trump campaign. I want to be very careful, we cant just go on a witch hunt against Americans because they appear in a news story, said Nunes (R-Tulare). We still dont have any evidence of them talking to Russia. He said the committee has been briefed on the highlights of what the intelligence community has found, but is still collecting evidence. The committees ranking Democrat, Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), quickly responded, saying the committees investigation is in its infancy and its too soon to reach conclusions about the evidence. We havent obtained any of the evidence yet, so its premature for us to be saying weve reached any conclusion about the issue of collusion, Schiff said. The most that weve had are private conversations, the chair and I with intelligence officials. Thats not a substitute for an investigation. The House and Senate Select Intelligence Committees are conducting separate investigations into Russias reported attempts to influence voters in 2016 in an effort to curtail Hillary Clintons chances and boost Donald Trumps. A leaked U.S. intelligence report on the attempts did not look at whether the effort succeeded. The House committee has expanded a previous ongoing investigation of Russia cyberhacking to include a look at efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, Nunes told reporters Monday. Though it is still in its early stages the leaders of the committee are still discussing the investigations scope Nunes said he expects the findings to be made public. Schiff and Nunes spoke separately to reporters Monday. Schiff said the two agreed privately that they would jointly address reporters about the investigation going forward. Nunes, who served as a member of Trumps transition team, said he continues to be concerned about leaks of classified and sensitive information from the White House and intelligence communities. The leaks one of which resulted in a report about the FBI investigating Trump campaign officials will be part of the committees investigation. A government cant function with massive leaks at the highest level, Nunes said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Appeals court denies Justice Department request to put appeal of travel ban on hold By Jaweed Kaleem (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the Justice Departments request to pause proceedings in an appeal of President Trumps travel ban. The court in a filing Monday said its schedule for the governments appeal of a lower courts halt on the travel ban will proceed, with the first brief due to the appeals court on March 10. In early February, the Justice Department appealed a Seattle-based federal district judges order blocking enforcement of Trumps executive action. which established a series of immigration and refugee restrictions aimed at preventing potential terrorists from entering the country. Last week, government lawyers asked the appeals court to stop proceedings in the case because the president planned to issue a new executive order and rescind the original one. A three-judge panel of the court previously denied a request from the government to reverse a nationwide stay on the travel ban. The same panel on Monday ruled that the appeal will proceed. Trump has said he will sign a new executive order tailored to deal with court decisions that have largely gone against him. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said he expected the order to be issued mid-week. Spicer has said Trump wants to fight for the current order while also issuing a new one, but the Justice Department has said in multiple court filings that the the current order will be undone after a new one is issued. The states of Washington and Minnesota, which brought the case in Seattle now under review, have pushed for courts to move forward on a review of the constitutional issues. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print No random ICE stops on streets of America, Homeland Security chief tells governor By Lisa Mascaro Gov holds closing media briefing on Capitol Hill to wrap up @NatlGovsAssoc Winter Meeting. pic.twitter.com/3mZMBA4S0o Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 27, 2017 President Trump received some unsolicited advice at dinner with the nations governors when Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe told him he needs to do a better job explaining his policies regarding deportations. McAuliffe, a Democrat and chairman of the National Governors Assn., told the president that there has been a chilling effect going on as businesses stay away from his state and as immigrants fear being rounded up. If theyre not going to be deported, we need to hear that from the president, McAuliffe said, recounting his conversation from the governors Sunday night dinner with Trump. What I told the president is these actions are hurting us. McAuliffe, a longtime ally of Hillary Clinton, said Trump agreed in large part. McAuliffe also met privately with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, and said the secretary assured him during an hourlong talk that Trumps enforcement actions were only targeting criminals -- despite widespread reports of otherwise law-abiding immigrants being detained for being in the U.S. illegally. He assured me there will be no random ICE stops on the streets of the United States of America, McAuliffe said, referring to the raids being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. If thats the case, McAuliffe said, Trumps policy does not sound much different than the operations under former President Obama, whose administration deported more immigrants than its predecessors. Obama, however, explicitly put a priority on deportations of criminals, a distinction the Trump administration has done away with as part of the presidents executive action. My advice to him was he needs to let the American public know what theyre doing, McAuliffe said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump: I havent called Russia in 10 years By Brian Bennett President Trump rejected calls for an independent investigation of his ties to Russia, telling a group of business leaders Monday that he hasnt called Russia in a decade. At the start of a White House meeting with healthcare executives, a reporter asked Trump whether a special prosecutor should be assigned to investigate allegations of Russian meddling during the election. In response, Trump mouthed the word no to the executives. As reporters were led out of the room, Trump said: I havent called Russia in 10 years. Democratic lawmakers have ramped up their calls for additional investigations into allegations that Trump allies had been in contact with Russian officials during the election and inappropriately discussed U.S. sanctions against the Moscow regime during the transition. White House officials have denied reports that Trump associates were frequently in touch with senior Russian intelligence officials during the election. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had authorized an operation to damage Hillary Clintons campaign and tilt the 2016 election in Trumps favor. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump: Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated By Michael A. Memoli View Twitter post President Trump promised the nations governors Monday that his yet-to-be-revealed replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act would give states greater flexibility and thanked some Republicans in the room who advised him on healthcare. Its an unbelievably complex subject, he said. Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated. The remark likely surprised state leaders; spending on Medicaid alone was the second-biggest driver of increased state general fund spending, according to the 2016 Fiscal Survey of States conducted by the National Assn. of State Budget Officers. And it was just eight years ago that Washington dove head-first into a raging debate over healthcare reform under President Obama, which simmered long after his signature health law was enacted. But the finer points of healthcare policy are likely new to Trump, who is immersed in discussions with Republican leaders and his senior staff on that and other subjects ahead of his high-profile address Tuesday to a joint session of Congress. Trump offered no hint as to the details. Republicans have vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare, but their effort has stalled as they debate how to do so and await word from the White House on what Trump wants to do. The president seemed keenly aware of the political ramifications of whatever steps he takes. As soon as we touch it, if we do the most minute thing, just a tiny little change, whats going to happen? Theyre going to say its the Republicans problem, Trump said after telling the governors the easiest thing for him to do would be nothing, and, in his view, watch Obamacare collapse. But we have to do whats right because Obamacare is a failed disaster. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump wants to add $54 billion to defense budget while slashing domestic spending and foreign aid By Brian Bennett President Trump is proposing a massive increase in defense spending of $54 billion while cutting domestic spending and foreign aid by the same amount, the White House said Monday. Trumps spending blueprint previewed a major address that he will give Tuesday night to a joint session of Congress, laying out his vision for what he called a public safety and national security budget with a nearly 10% increase in defense spending. We never win a war. We never win. And we dont fight to win. We dont fight to win, Trump said Monday in remarks to the nations governors. So we either got to win or dont fight it at all. Trump noted that the U.S. has spent nearly $6 trillion on fighting wars since the Sept. 11 attacks but said that cutting military spending was not the answer. Instead, the increase he is proposing would be offset by cuts to unspecified domestic programs and to foreign aid, which would in turn be made up for in part by demanding that other countries pay more for security alliances that have historically been underwritten by the U.S. This budget expects the rest of the world to step up in some of the programs that this country has been so generous in funding in the past, an official from the Office of Management and Budget said, demanding anonymity to discuss the presidents spending plans. Foreign aid makes up about 1% of the budget. This budget speaks for itself, the official said. I dont think this budget has anything to do other than putting Americans first. Trumps call for deep cuts to spending at home is likely to set up major battles on Capitol Hill, where Democrats and even House Republicans will likely be reluctant to pass a spending bill that includes such major reductions in programs for their constituents. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump says businesses cant borrow because of Dodd-Frank. The numbers tell another story By Jim Puzzanghera President Trump was preparing the first step in a key campaign promise dismantling the 2010 DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act when he repeated a frequent criticism of the law. We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank because, frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine that had nice businesses, they cant borrow money, Trump told leading corporate chief executives, including Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Larry Fink of money management giant BlackRock Inc., meeting at the White House earlier this month They just cant get any money because the banks just wont let them borrow it because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank, Trump said. Shortly afterward, he ordered a wholesale review of the landmark act, which was passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. But a main reason for dismantling Dodd-Frank often cited by Trump and critics of the law that its slew of tougher financial regulations have significantly restricted bank lending isnt borne out by the data. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Another Trump nominee withdraws nomination to top national security post due to business interests By W.J. Hennigan Philip M. Bilden, President Trumps pick for Navy secretary, withdrew from consideration late Sunday, becoming the second White House nominee to bail on a top Pentagon position due to problems untangling his financial investments. After an extensive review process, I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my familys private financial interests, Bilden said in a statement. He did not detail the issues but he said he fully supported the presidents agenda to modernize and rebuild our Navy and Marine Corps. Bildens withdrawal comes after billionaire investor Vincent Viola dropped out from becoming Army secretary after he decided his extensive financial holdings would hamper his ability to win Senate confirmation. The White House shot down reports that surfaced two weeks ago that Bilden was considering stepping down. Just spoke with him and he is 100% commited [sic] to being the next SECNAV pending Senate confirm, White House spokesman Sean Spicer tweeted on Feb. 18. Bilden, a venture capitalist and Army veteran, was a surprise selection from Trump but had the backing of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. This was a personal decision driven by privacy concerns and significant challenges he faced in separating himself from his business interests, Mattis said in a statement. While I am disappointed, I understand and his respect his decision, and know that he will continue to support our nation in other ways. Bilden served ten years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military intelligence officer from 1986 to 1996. He then co-founded private equity firm HarbourVest Partners LLC and spent 25 years there, mainly in the companys Hong Kong headquarters. He also serves on the board of directors of the United States Naval Academy Foundation and the board of trustees of the Naval War College Foundation. Mattis said he intends on recommending a replacement nominee to Trump in the coming days. The withdrawal marks another setback for Trumps national security team, which has struggled to find its footing since the fledgling administration began. Earlier this month, National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign after it became public that he held secret talks with a Russian ambassador and then misled Vice President Mike Pence about it. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster took the job last week after Trumps first choice to replace Flynn, retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, passed on the opportunity. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New DNC chairman Tom Perez ridicules Trump tweet over rigged vote By Laura King Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez was chosen to lead the Democratic Party over a congressman backed by the progressive wing. (Branden Camp / Associated Press) President Trump claimed Sunday that the race for Democratic National Committee chairman had been rigged -- drawing a quick riposte from Tom Perez, who narrowly won the partys leadership race. Trump insinuated that Perezs DNC victory on the second ballot at a party conference in Atlanta on Saturday was because Hillary Clinton had backed Perez, a former Labor secretary in the Obama administration who was seen as representing the partys establishment forces. Clinton did not make a formal endorsement, but Perezs rival, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the partys more liberal wing. Bernies guy, like Bernie himself, never had a chance, Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Clinton demanded Perez! Perez, appearing on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, told host Jake Tapper that he and Ellison got a good kick out of that, adding: Donald Trump, up in the morning tweeting about us. Sanders, appearing on the same show, said Trump doesnt have a point about the DNC vote. Moments after Perez beat Ellison by 35 votes out of 435 cast, he named Ellison as the deputy chairman of the party, leading to widespread applause. Perez is the first Latino to lead the Democratic Party, and he faces the challenge of trying to rebuild a party that suffered devastating losses in the 2016 election. Republicans now control not only the White House and Congress, but 33 governorships and dozens of state legislatures. In his CNN interview, Perez sarcastically suggested that Trump should address questions about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign rather than concerning himself with the DNC leadership battle. Frankly, what we need to be looking at is whether this election was rigged by Donald Trump and his buddy Vladimir Putin, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House again bats away call for special prosecutor on Russia By Laura King A White House spokeswoman said Sunday that it was too soon to say whether a special prosecutor should look into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, while President Trump again inveighed against coverage of Russia-related queries as FAKE NEWS. Calls have grown louder from Democrats in Congress for U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the issue because of his role as a prominent Trump supporter during the campaign, and to appoint an independent special prosecutor to carry out a Russia probe. A few Republicans have joined in that chorus some reluctantly. Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista, appearing on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, voiced support Friday for naming of a special prosecutor to probe the Russian connection, though he also said congressional intelligence committees should continue their work. He also said he considered Sessions a friend, but pointed to his role as a political appointee who had worked on the Trump campaign. Issa, who narrowly won reelection, was a vociferous critic of the Obama administration during his former tenure as head of the House Oversight Committee. In that post, he spearheaded an array of investigations on topics from Benghazi to bank bailouts. Some Republicans pushed back against the notion of Sessions needing to recuse himself. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said on NBCs Meet the Press that he had seen no credible information about contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians and no allegations that rose to the level of criminal activity. If we get down that road, thats a decision that Attorney General Sessions can make at the time, said Cotton, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked Democratic Party computers and used other tactics last year to interfere with the election. The FBI is separately investigating whether anyone on Trumps campaign had improper contacts with Russian authorities during the campaign. On Sunday, White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said congressional investigations on Russia and the campaign should be allowed to go forward before a special prosecutor appointment was considered. I dont think were there yet, Sanders said on ABCs This Week. Lets work through this process. Echoing the previously stated White House stance, Sanders said the Trump campaign had not colluded in any Russian meddling. We had no involvement in this, she said. The president is known to keep a close eye on surrogates performances on the talk shows, and Sanders repeated a prime administration talking point: that questions about possible Trump campaign contacts with Russia amounted to Democratic excuses for losing the election. If Democrats want to continue to relive their loss every single day, by doing an investigation or review after review, thats fine by us, she said. We know why we won this race. Its because we had the better candidate with the better message. Trump himself underscored that notion with an afternoon tweet denouncing media coverage of the ongoing Russia investigations as FAKE NEWS put out by the Dems, and played up by the media, in order to mask the big election defeat and the illegal leaks! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Whose news is fake? Heres the latest in Trumps war with the press By Kurtis Lee Every president since 1981 has attended the annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner. That year, President Reagan missed out. The reason? He needed to recover after a would-be assassin fired a bullet into his chest a few weeks earlier. On Saturday, President Trump announced he will not be attending the annual dinner in April, long considered the premier social event of the Washington press corps and typically an evening of good-natured bantering between presidents and the Fourth Estate. Trumps announcement added to the ratcheting tensions between his administration and the media. Almost daily, in speeches or on Twitter, he calls particular news outlets fake, disgusting or dishonest and news organizations have responded by digging in, standing united and devoting more resources to covering a president who has branded the press the enemy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Crucial group of Americans like Trumps stands, not him, poll finds By David Lauter Trump still gets dismal ratings on temperament but is above water on economy, decision-making, promises of change. pic.twitter.com/Md0H096n9m Carrie Dann (@CarrieNBCNews) February 26, 2017 With the public deeply split in its views of President Trump, one potentially key group stands out -- those who dislike the man, but approve of the direction in which hes moving. Thats a central finding of a new nationwide survey by NBC News and the Wall St. Journal. The new poll confirms what other major surveys have shown: Trump starts his administration with less support than any president in the seven decades of presidential polling. Asked if they approve or disapprove of the job Trump is doing, 44% approve, 48% disapprove. No previous president has begun his tenure with a net negative job approval. Trump has held onto the support of his ardent backers. At the other end of the spectrum, he gets almost no approval from Democrats. In the middle, the poll found, are many Americans -- just over a third of those polled -- who either voted for Trump with reservations, voted for a third party candidate or did not vote at all in 2016. Just over half of that group gives Trump positive marks, the poll found. Their support is enough, currently, to keep Trumps standing from collapsing, and holding them is likely key to his future. Just under one third of Americans say they like Trump and approve of his policies, the poll found. Another one in six approve of most of his policies even though they dislike him. Well over half, 59%, said they did not like him personally. On a separate question, only 43% of those surveyed have a positive view of Trump -- up from the low points of the campaign, but still far below the standing of most new presidents. By contrast, 86% agreed with one of the central lines of Trumps inaugural speech, that government insiders had reaped the rewards of government, while the people have borne the cost. On other issues, the public is more closely divided. The public splits evenly, for example, on Trumps proposed temporary ban on travel from seven mostly Muslim countries. Just over half of those surveyed, 52%, said that the problems Trump has encountered in his first month were unique to this administration and suggest real problems; 43% said they were growing pains similar to those other administrations have had. And by 51%-41%, the public thinks the press has been too hard on the new administration. The NBC/WSJ poll, run by a bipartisan team of two polling firms, was taken by phone, using cell phones and landlines, Feb. 18-22 among 1,000 American adults. It has a margin of error for the full sample of 3.1 percentage points in either direction. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump appears to think Perez at head of Democratic National Committee is good news for Republicans By Evan Halper Congratulations to Thomas Perez, who has just been named Chairman of the DNC. I could not be happier for him, or for the Republican Party! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017 The Democratic Party put its faith in its old guard Saturday to guide it out of the political wilderness, choosing as its new leader an Obama-era Cabinet secretary over the charismatic congressman backed by the progressive wing of the party. Tom Perez, a former secretary of Labor with strong ties to unions, persuaded the spirited assembly of party delegates in Atlanta that he can best help harness a grass-roots outpouring of anti-Trump protest and anger into a Democratic resurgence at the ballot box. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump to Washington reporters: Not going to your dinner By Kurtis Lee I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017 The annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner will be missing a key guest this year: President Trump. On Saturday, Trump tweeted he will not attend the April 29 dinner, considered the premier social event of the Washington press corps -- and typically an evening of good-natured bantering between presidents and reporters with a mix of celebrities watching. His announcement comes amid growing tensions between his administration and the media. Trump has decried stories he doesnt like as fake news, and described unnamed news groups as an enemy of the people. A day earlier, the White House barred reporters from several major news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, CNN and Politico, from attending an off-camera press briefing. In a sign of the growing rift, several media organizations that traditionally sponsor lavish parties around the black-tie dinner had announced they would not do so this year. At the annual dinner, the president usually delivers self-deprecating jokes and often is roasted by a high-profile comedian. The president also greets students who win journalism scholarships and awards, a major part of the evening. Trump has been a frequent guest of media organizations at the dinner in the past, but he always sat at a table in the crowded ballroom, not up at the front dias. President Obama singled Trump out during the dinner several years ago, mocking Trump for raising doubts about whether Obama was born in the United States. This year, as we do every year, we will celebrate the First Amendment and the role an independent press plays in a healthy republic, the White House Correspondents Assn. said in a statement earlier this month about the upcoming dinner. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez named Democratic Party leader By Evan Halper Newly elected Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez (Branden Camp/Associated Press) The Democratic Party put its faith in its old guard Saturday to guide it out of the political wilderness, choosing as its new leader an Obama-era Cabinet secretary over the charismatic congressman backed by the progressive wing of the party. Tom Perez, a former secretary of Labor with strong ties to labor unions, persuaded the spirited assembly of party delegates in Atlanta that he can best help harness a grass-roots outpouring of anti-Trump protest and anger into a Democratic resurgence at the ballot box. We are suffering from a crisis of confidence, a crisis of relevance, Perez told delegates before they chose him in a down-to-the-wire contest with Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, whom the Bernie Sanders wing of the party had rallied round. We need a chair who can not only take the fight to Donald Trump. We also need a chair who can lead a turnaround and change the culture of the Democratic Party, Perez said. The ascendance of an establishment liberal is certain to renew tension between veteran party stalwarts and the unruly progressive movement aligned with Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, both of whom backed Ellison. Some Ellison supporters erupted in protest as the final vote was announced. Perez quickly sought to unite the party by naming Ellison his deputy chair, a move unanimously approved by the 435 assembled delegates, who had supported Perez 235-200. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump chastises media for not reporting minor dip in national debt By Del Quentin Wilber President Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to blast the news media for not highlighting a minor dip in the national debt. The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo., he tweeted at 8:19 a.m. The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017 Trumps tweet came shortly after Herman Cain, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, made a similar comment on Fox News. While the numbers are accurate, Trumps tweet suggests he deserves credit for something that is largely beyond his control, especially since he hasnt yet given Congress any proposals to change tax laws or the financial industry. Considering that Trump hasnt enacted any fiscal legislation, its a bit of a stretch for him to take credit for any changes in debt levels, Dan Mitchell, a libertarian economist at the Cato Institute, told the fact-checking website Politifact. President Obamas first month in office in 2009 was largely taken up with spending bills aimed at easing the massive recession that he had inherited. Trump inherited an economy with low inflation, low unemployment and a booming stock market. The national debt, which stands at just under $20 trillion, is expected to rise by more than $500 billion in the fiscal year ending in September. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mexico rejects U.S. plan to deport Central Americans to Mexico By Patrick J. McDonnell Mexico has informed the Trump administration that it cannot accept non-Mexican nationals whom U.S. authorities arrest along the border and seek to remove from U.S. territory, the nations internal security chief said Friday. Earlier this week, the Trump administration rolled out a broad immigration crackdown that included a proposal to send non-Mexican detainees apprehended along the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico while their immigration cases were pending in the United States. The vast majority of non-Mexican nationals detained along the U.S.-Mexico border are Central Americans. They often travel overland through Mexico to reach the United States. In a fact sheet released Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said that releasing detained, third-country nationals to the foreign contiguous territory from which they arrived would save on detention and adjudication resources. The idea would be to keep them out pending their hearings on deportation, the fact sheet said. However, Mexican authorities have reacted coolly from the outset to the notion. Now, they appear to have formally nixed the idea. On Friday, Mexicos interior secretary, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, told a radio interviewer than Mexican authorities had informed a pair of visiting U.S. Cabinet officers Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly that Mexico could not oblige the U.S. request. We told them that our legal framework doesnt allow this, Osorio Chong told Radio Formula, referring to the visit this week of the two Trump Cabinet officials. We told them it is impossible. There is no way, legally, nor is there capacity. In recent years, non-Mexicans, mostly Central Americans, have become a larger proportion of illegal immigrants apprehended along the Southwest border as the relative number of Mexican nationals has declined. In fiscal year 2016, according to U.S. Border Patrol statistics, agents recorded apprehensions of almost 191,000 undocumented Mexican citizens along the Southwest frontier. In the same fiscal year, the Border Patrol said it registered 218,000 detentions of non-Mexican nationals, most of them Central Americans. Cecilia Sanchez of The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. An earlier version of this blog post misspelled Miguel Angel Osorio Chongs name as Osorio Chung. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump blasts FBI over Russia leaks after a brief Twitter hiatus By Kurtis Lee (Alex Wong / Getty Images ) After several days of relative silence on Twitter, President Trumps feed came alive Friday with a direct attack on the FBI. Yes, hes done this before. But recent news reports that suggest his administration pressed the FBI to quell claims that members of his campaign had contact with Russians throughout the 2016 election appear to have inspired a response. The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security leakers that have permeated our government for a long time, he tweeted. And conservative news was all over it. Here are some of todays headlines: Trump blasts FBI leakers (Fox News) Trump has assailed everyone from Democrats to intelligence officials for the leaks which he often refers to as fake news about his ties to Russia. Reports from several news outlets this week, citing anonymous sources, claim Trumps chief of staff, Reince Priebus, asked FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to publicly dispute media reports that Trumps campaign advisors frequently were in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election. While some reports made it appear Priebus had contacted McCabe, this piece disputes that. Fox News has learned that McCabe indeed had initiated the conversation, asking to speak with Priebus for a few minutes at the end of an intelligence meeting last week, their article reports. Ed Schultz at CPAC: Trump promised Americas heartland a deal (Daily Caller) He was once among the top liberal voices in the country. Now, Ed Schultz, the former MSNBC anchor, is speaking glowingly about President Trump. Between covering high-profile speeches at the Conservative Political Action Conference from Trump and his aides, the Daily Caller popped into a panel at which Schultz provided commentary. Shultz, who now works with the Russian government-funded RT television network, blasted the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, asserting that Trumps claim that it would cost U.S. jobs was a game changer in the 2016 election. Trump went into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin and he took down the progressive firewall, because he talked to the American people about a deal, Schultz said. It was a Wall Street deal, it was not a Main Street deal, he said, referring to the TPP. Trump is about blowing up Washington as it exists (Rush Limbaugh) Remember when Trump talked about draining the swamp? Since he entered the White House, some conservatives have wondered if Trump means business. Many members of his cabinet including Priebus and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions are the ultimate Washington insiders. Still, Rush Limbaugh, one of the firebrand conservatives out there, is certain the president will blow up traditional Washington. Whats Trumps No. 1 obstacle? I have concluded that the media is the No. 1 obstacle because of the success they have, he said on his radio show this week. The people in Washington, media is every bit as big a part of the establishment as anybody else is. He added: The media is creating this narrative, if you will, and this picture this series of pictures, this overall image that Trump is stalled, that everybodys opposing him, that his agenda is backlogged. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After Trump calls media an enemy of the people, White House bars many news outlets from briefing By Noah Bierman Fridays White House press briefing, normally an on-camera affair open to all reporters with press credentials, was turned into an exclusive event for certain outlets hand-picked by the administration. The action came after President Trump on Friday described the media and what he terms fake news as the enemy of the people."On the list were Trump-friendly outlets such as Breitbart News, the Washington Times and OANN, a conservative television network that employs former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski as a commentator. Off the list were some of Trumps favorite targets, including the New York Times and CNN. The Los Angeles Times was also excluded. The off-camera briefing with Sean Spicer, the press secretary, was not solely for conservative outlets. Several mainstream reporters were also allowed in, including the three major broadcast networks and wire services, such as Bloomberg News. Also allowed in were pool representatives who transmit news events to a far larger group of reporters. The Associated Press and Time magazine were also invited but declined to participate in solidarity with other news organizations that were denied entry. The White House Correspondents Assn. protested, as did editors at several of the organizations that were excluded. In a statement, Times editor Davan Maharaj said that it was unfortunate that the Los Angeles Times has been excluded from a White House press briefing today. The public has a right to know, and that means being informed by a variety of news sources, not just those filtered by the White House press office in hopes of getting friendly coverage, Maharaj said. Regardless of access, The Times will continue to report on the Trump administration without fear or favor, he added. 12:30 p.m.: This post was updated with a statement from Times editor Davan Maharaj. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Its a Russian flag! Trickster strikes CPAC before Trumps speech By Matt Pearce Crowd at CPAC waving these little pro-Trump flags that look exactly like the Russian flag. Staffers quickly come around to confiscate them. pic.twitter.com/YhPpkwFCNc Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) February 24, 2017 As the crowd waited to hear President Trump speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, little red-white-and-blue flags appeared without warning, handed down the aisles by a man with a green bag, according to a witness. The flags said Trump. They also happened to be the flag of the Russian Federation. He was dressed like any one of us, said Tyler Dever, 20, a student at the University of South Florida in Tampa, who was wearing a suit. He passed them to me and was like, Pass them down, pass them down. Dever, caught up in the moment, passed them down, before someone sitting next to him said, Oh, its a Russian flag! CPAC staff quickly recollected the flags. If it was just a red-white-and-blue flag, I would have picked it out, Dever said. He said it was his first time attending an event like CPAC and was surprised to see a provocateur in the audience, especially beyond the cordon set up by the Secret Service. Someone tried to victimize me, Dever said. You have Secret Service out here, and Id expect it to be fully screened. ... Thank God someone noticed. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump still loves the USC/L.A. Times poll: What it got right and what it got wrong By David Lauter Throughout the fall campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump and his allies loved the USC/L.A. Times Daybreak poll -- the only major survey that consistently showed him winning. A couple polls got it right. I must say Los Angeles Times did a great job, shocking because, you know, they did a great job, Trump declared in his speech this morning at CPAC, the annual gathering of conservative activists. But did the poll get it right? In the simplest terms, no, and after considerble analysis, we know why. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A celebration, and wake, for a campaign legend and a Republican Party that is no more By Mark Z. Barabak (Steve Lopez/Los Angeles Times) It was a cool and rainy day when elders of the Republican tribe recently gathered to honor one of their own. The honoree, Stuart K. Spencer, was unmistakable in his white duck pants and a lime-green sport coat so bright it almost hurt to see. A reformed chain-smoker, he snapped merrily away on a wad of chewing gum. The event marked Spencers 90th birthday, but the mood beneath the surface conviviality was unsettled and gray, like the clouds fringing the mountains outside. If the occasion was intended as a personal celebration, it also had the feel of a wake for a time in politics long passed. Along with former Vice President Dick Cheney and former California Gov. Pete Wilson, veterans of the Reagan years turned out in force. It was Spencer, more than anyone, who took a political long shot and washed-up B-movie actor and helped transform him into the Reagan of legend. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CPACs reaction to President Trumps speech: Two thumbs up By Matt Pearce Supporters cheer President Trump as he speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., on Friday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump loves CPAC, and CPAC loves Trump. As hundreds of Conservative Political Action Conference attendees spilled out into the hallways Friday after Trumps speech to the group, they had glowing reviews of the man who has been tormenting Democrats and the media and transforming the Republican Party. It was fantastic, unbelievable, absolute truth, said Shia L. Lome, 84, a retired Air Force colonel from Deerfield Beach, Fla., appraising Trumps remarks. If he carries through [his promises], this will be the greatest country ever. Lome added that there is no question about it, Trump is his own type of Republican. Whether its conservative or whatever you want to call it, Lome said he is happy as long as [Trump] causes the Democrats heartaches. Kayne Robinson, 73, a former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, said Trump was simply taking the party in the direction that people want it to go. I think the party is every bit as united behind him as it was behind either of the Bushes, Robinson said. Trump led a revolution in the party, very much like Reagan. ... I think Trump is doing just fine. Frank March, a 50-year-old Army retiree from Fairfax County, Va., emerged from the ballroom at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center wearing a red Make America Great Again cap, which carried Trumps jagged signature on the bill. Marchs daughter had gotten the hat signed when she previously met Trump, and he proudly showed off photos of that event. I recognize the signature! a woman exclaimed as she saw the hat. March praised Trumps follow-through and his commitment to workers as incredible. Hes bringing in new people to the party, March said. The hope is, by his follow-through, doing what he said he was going to do, then the non-Republicans who voted for Trump will stick. Helping workers will be one of the ways Trump can make that happen, he said. In politics, youre supposed to help people, March said. Workers are the people. Theyre people who earn money to take care of their families. Republicans should support those people because theyre the ones who make America run. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump shows up at conservatives most prominent gathering and defines a new GOP By Noah Bierman President Trump shows up at conservatives most prominent gathering and defines a new GOP. President Trump made one of his strongest pitches Friday to unite the Republican Party and the conservative movement behind a nationalist, anti-globalist ideology that until recently would have been unthinkable for many Republicans. There is no such thing as a global anthem, a global currency or a global flag, Trump said to great applause from thousands of conservatives. Im not representing the globe. Im representing your country. He echoed ideas he has espoused in the past -- denouncing trade deals as the antithesis of economic freedom, warning that the great cities of Europe have been ruined by mass immigration, denouncing intervention in the Middle East by both parties. But while many of the words were familiar, the venue and the passion made Fridays speech remarkable. The comments came at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, just outside of Washington, D.C., the most prominent gathering of right-leaning groups and activists in the country. Such a speech would have been shocking from a conservative, much less the president, at almost any other time in the conferences history. Trump has been popular at CPAC in the past. He credits a speech there with launching his political career. But he snubbed last years event amid a heated primary in which many conservatives rejected his tone and the direction he was trying to move the GOP. I would have come last year, but I was worried that I would be at that time too controversial, Trump said in his speech, which lasted nearly an hour. Trump, the first president since Ronald Reagan to address the group during his first year in office, made clear that he is moving those once controversial ideas to the movements center. In addition to his usual critiques of the media and frequent references to his electoral success, Trump spoke directly of his ambition for reshaping the Republican Party to attract blue-collar voters, the forgotten men and women who helped propel his electoral victory. Im here today to tell you what this movement means for the future of the Republican Party and for the future of America, Trump said. The core conviction of our movement is that we are a nation that [must] put and will put its own citizens first. Later, he added that the GOP will be from now on also the party of the American worker. While Trump tried to unite conservatives, the speech made little effort to bridge the countrys larger political divide. For example, Trump dismissed people who have shown up at town halls around the country to protest reversal of Obamacare. Theyre not you, he said. Theyre the side that lost. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Department rescinds order phasing out use of private prisons By Del Quentin Wilber Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has jettisoned an Obama administration order to phase out the use of private prisons to hold federal inmates. The new order reverses one issued by former Deputy Atty. Gen. Sally Yates in August that sought to eliminate the departments use of private for-profit prisons, which hold just over 10% of the current prison population. The Obama administration order changed long-standing policy and practice, and impaired the bureaus ability to meet the future needs of the federal correctional system, Sessions wrote Thursday to announce the reversal. Civil rights and prisoner rights groups decried the Sessions decision, saying private prisons are not as cost-effective or as safe as government-run facilities, citing numerous abuses in the past. The Bureau of Prisons houses about 21,000 of its 190,000 inmates in a dozen private prisons, including one near Bakersfield. Atty. Gen. Sessions has shown that he is not taking the mass incarceration crisis seriously, said Wade Henderson, who heads the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Continuing to rely on private prisons for federal inmates is neither humane nor budget conscious, Henderson added. We need a justice system that can work better for all people. Yates order did not affect facilities used to detain people in the country illegally. The use of private prisons is expected to surge under President Trumps promised crackdown on illegal immigration. Trump has signed an executive order calling for expansion of immigrant detention facilities and authorized the use of private contractors to construct, operate, or control facilities. Stocks in private prison companies have jumped on Wall Street since Trump won the presidential election, and they continued their rise on news of Sessions order. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CPAC and conservative media prepare for Trump By Kurtis Lee The future path of the Republican Party is being debated in the halls of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland this week. Will it be the party of Donald Trump, an outsider of the GOP establishment, or House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, the definition of establishment? Or, perhaps, of Richard Spencer, a white nationalist leader of the so-called alt-right movement? (Spencer was kicked out of CPAC on Thursday.) Trump is set to address the conference on Friday, and the conservative media are ready for the much-anticipated address. Tomorrow it will be TPAC when hes here, Kellyanne Conway, a senior advisor to Trump told reporters Thursday. Here are some of todays headlines: Go Big, Go Bold: Walker, at CPAC, pushes GOP to carry out agenda as party controls Congress, White House (Fox News) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, once a Trump foe, is urging conservatives to use the November election as a mandate. Do what you said you were going to do, Walker said to attendees. In the Fox News piece, which leads its website, it notes that leaders at the conference are hoping to use it to strategize about what they can accomplish and to better articulate their values at a time when the very definition of conservatism has seemed to waver. Sweden Democrats: Trump was right (Fox News) Remember last weekend when everyone including many Swedish politicians were really confused about Trumps comments at a recent rally? You look at whats happening last night in Sweden, Trump, at a rally in Florida on Saturday, said about the Scandinavian country that has accepted large numbers of refugees. Sweden. They took in large numbers. Theyre having problems like they never thought possible. Actually, not much happened in Sweden on Friday night. Trump said later that he had been referring to a broadcast on Fox News on that night. Still, recent riots in the country were covered extensively by conservative media. This post notes a recent op-ed penned by Jimmie Akesson and Mattias Karlsson, both leaders of the Sweden Democrats, in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday supporting Trumps characterization of a Muslim immigrant-led crime crisis in Sweden. In it they write, Trump did not exaggerate Swedens current problems. If anything, he understated them. Trump Is Letting DREAMers Stay, And Rush Is Fine With That (Daily Caller) Hes an immigration hard liner, and, apparently, hes OK with Trump allowing DREAMERs to remain in the country. This piece highlights comments by Rush Limbaugh this week. A lot of people think that Trumps caving because if you allow the DREAMers to stay, were talking 750,000 DREAMers, kids, who each have two parents who could come in. Look, this is a-no-win, Limbaugh said this week. Nobodys gonna win anything by deporting a bunch of kids that we let in. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Steve Bannon rails at corporatist, globalist media By Noah Bierman Steve Bannon to the #CPAC crowd: "If you think they're going to give you your country back without a fight, you're sadly mistaken" pic.twitter.com/ryw7iO0Snr POLITICO (@politico) February 23, 2017 The two men with the most heavily dissected relationship in President Trumps White House held a rare public appearance together Thursday and agreed on one common enemy: the media. Reince Priebus, the chief of staff who is often described as embattled, said he has grown conditioned to the media counting Trump out: during the presidential campaign, the transition and the first month of the presidency. The biggest misconception is everything that youre reading, Priebus said. Steve Bannon, Trumps chief strategist, framed his complaint as an ideological war. He consistently called the media the opposition party throughout a 20-minute joint interview on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference just outside of Washington. Its not only not going to get better, it gets worse every day, Bannon said. Theyre corporatist, globalist media that are adamantly opposed to an economic nationalist agenda like Donald Trump has. If you think theyre going to give you your country back without a fight, he added. You are sadly mistaken. Bannon, former executive chairman of the far-right Breitbart News, seldom speaks in public. His nationalist rendering of Republican ideology is often seen in contrast to Priebus, the former chairman of the GOP, who is viewed as the more mainstream conservative advocate within the White House. The two men said the tension between them portrayed in the media is inaccurate. But as they praised each other, the men made clear that Bannon sees his role as dominant in shaping Trumps policy. Bannon praised Priebus for doggedly keeping the trains running -- one of the toughest jobs Ive ever seen in my life. Bannon talked about being in the first inning of shaping a new political order and beginning the deconstruction of the administrative state. Priebus used more prosaic language and spoke of Bannon as the one who pushes Trump to maintain his bold vision. He is very dogged in making sure that every day the promises that President Trump made are the promises were working on, Priebus said of Bannon. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In Mexico, Homeland Security chief says there will be no mass deportations of people in U.S. illegally By Patrick J. McDonnell Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, left, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Mexico City on Thursday. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP/Getty Images) Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, on a visit to Mexico, said Thursday that there will be no mass deportations of people living in the U.S. illegally. Kelly also said U.S. military forces would not be used in deportation efforts and that any deportation cases would go through the U.S. legal system. No. Repeat, no use of military force in immigration operations, Kelly said at a news conference at the Foreign Relations Ministry in Mexico City. None. Well approach this operation systematically, in an organized way, in a results-oriented way, in an operation and and in a human dignity way. Kelly and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are in Mexico City to discuss a wide variety of issues, including immigration and security, with Mexican government officials. Kellys remarks came the same day President Trump called recent raids in the U.S. an unprecedented enforcement effort. You see whats happening at the border. All of a sudden for the first time, were getting gang members out, he said. Were getting really bad dudes out of this country, and at a rate that nobodys ever seen before. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mexico bracing for long battle with Trump administration, foreign minister tells lawmakers By Patrick J. McDonnell Mexico Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray (Brian Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images) Mexico is preparing for a long battle with the administration of President Trump, its foreign minister reportedly told lawmakers in private comments, adding that the country was prepared to retaliate with new tariffs if necessary. We are here preparing for a battle that is going to be long, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray told federal deputies Wednesday, according to the newspaper La Jornada, which said it had obtained a copy of the comments. This is not going to be resolved in three days. In the reported remarks, Videgaray said Mexico was prepared to retaliate with new tariffs on U.S.-made goods should the Trump administration follow up on its threats to slap an export tax of 20% or more of goods imported from Mexico to the United States. There was no official response from the Mexican Foreign Ministry on Videgarays reported remarks. Videgaray was among the Mexican officials, including President Enrique Pena Nieto, who met this week with a pair of visiting White House Cabinet members, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly. The private remarks were apparently made on Wednesday, when the two Trump envoys were scheduled to arrive in Mexico City. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Homeland Security tried to downplay immigration raids as routine. Now Trump says theyre unprecedented By Michael A. Memoli (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) After nationwide immigration raids this month in which more than 680 people were arrested, the Department of Homeland Security issued a nothing-to-see-here statement downplaying the sweeps as strictly ordinary. ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years, the agency said last week, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But President Trump had a different take Thursday, labeling the raids an unprecedented enforcement effort. You see whats happening at the border. All of a sudden for the first time, were getting gang members out, he said before a roundtable on manufacturing. Were getting really bad dudes out of this country, and at a rate that nobodys ever seen before. Under President Obama, deportations peaked at 400,000 people in 2012, touching off widespread criticism from immigration advocates, which prompted Homeland Security to scale back deportations. Last year, deportations fell to 240,000 as the Obama administration focused on targets similar to what Trump described in the raids conducted under his authority: criminals, repeat immigration violators and recent arrivals. Trump also called the sweeps this month a military operation, even though no military resources were involved and the White House has pushed back aggressively on reports that the administration was considering seeking National Guard forces to assist in deportations. Homeland Security said the raids were conducted by ICE agents, U.S. marshals and state and local law enforcement agencies. What has been allowed to come into our country, when you see gang violence that youve read about like never before, and all of the things much of that is people that are here illegally, Trump said. Theyre rough and theyre tough, but theyre not tough like our people. So were getting them out. Of the 680 arrests last week, 161 occurred in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. Three-quarters of those detained in the Los Angeles-area sweeps were from Mexico. Trump noted that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly traveled to Mexico this week on a tough trip. We have to be treated fairly by Mexico, Trump said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White nationalist leader Richard Spencer booted from Conservative Political Action Conference By Matt Pearce Reporters surround white supremacist Richard Spencer during the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 23, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) One of Americas most prominent white nationalists, Richard Spencer, was kicked out of the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday after conference organizers gave him credentials to attend and then wavered on whether to let him stay. Spencer, who coined the term alternative right to describe his far-right views on separating the races, came to CPAC to attend a speech that was critical of the alt-right. CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp took pains to distance CPAC from the fringe Spencer represents. The alt-right does not have a legitimate voice in the conservative movement, said Schlapp, adding that nobody from that movement is speaking at CPAC. Read More Just talked to CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp. Said he didn't endorse Richard Spencer's ideas but won't kick him out of the conference. Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) February 23, 2017 Basically their line on this is, if they actually agreed with his ideas, they'd put him on stage, but they don't, and it's a free country. Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) February 23, 2017 Change of plans. Richard Spencer just got kicked out of CPAC. Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) February 23, 2017 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Obamacare 101: Are health insurance marketplaces in a death spiral? By Noam N. Levey (Don Ryan / Associated Press) Its been a rocky few months for the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Even if youre not one of the roughly 11 million Americans who rely on these online markets to get your health insurance, youve probably seen the headlines about rising premiums and insurance companies pulling out of the system. Last week, national insurance giant Humana announced it would stop selling plans on the marketplace. Aetnas chief executive claimed the marketplaces are in a death spiral. Republicans say the marketplaces are Exhibit A that Obamacare is collapsing. So whats the real story? Are these things really kaput or can they be fixed? Heres a rundown of where things stand. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump administration wants tax reform done by August, Mnuchin says By Jim Puzzanghera The Trump administration wants to overhaul the tax code by August, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday, laying out an aggressive timetable in his first significant public comments since taking office last week. Our economic agenda, the No. 1 issue is growth, and the first most important thing that will impact growth is a tax plan, Mnuchin said in an interview with CNBC. So we are committed to pass tax reform, he said. We want to get this done by the August recess. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Loud and angry, protesters turn congressional town halls into must-see political TV By Mark Z. Barabak (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images) They came by the hundreds, in big cities and rural hamlets, to heckle, plead, badger and, in some instances, to protest the protests themselves. Congress is in recess this week, and a citizenry suddenly spurred to action used the opportunity to let their returning lawmakers know just how they feel about the tempestuous last month in Washington. Winners make policy and losers go home, a taunting Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, told an invitation-only gathering in his home state of Kentucky, as about 1,000 protesters gathered outside. Not exactly. The town hall meeting, a throwback to a time of more intimate connection, has become a political organizing tool in the social media age a piece of performance theater and a worldwide stage. Obamacare, immigration, environmental regulation, Social Security, Russian meddling in the 2016 election and Trump, Trump, Trump all poured forth this week in the form of questions, loudly and heatedly. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump administration rescinds guidelines on protections for transgender students By Michael A. Memoli The Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era directive Wednesday aimed at protecting transgender students rights, questioning its legal grounding. Under the guidelines, schools had been required to treat transgender students according to their stated gender identity, and either allow access to restrooms and locker rooms for the gender they identify with or provide private facilities if requested. The Obama administration had said that students gender identities were protected under Title IX requirements, which prohibit federally funded schools from discriminating on the basis of sex. But officials in the Education and Justice departments said that their predecessors failed to make their case, citing significant litigation spurred by the policy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Americans in Mexico protest Trumps inflammatory rhetoric during Tillerson visit By Kate Linthicum A group of Americans living in Mexico is planning a protest Thursday to send a message to visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Their gripe? President Trumps inflammatory rhetoric. Thats according to a draft of a letter that several groups organizing the protest hope to deliver to Tillerson, who is in town along with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly for talks with top Mexican officials. The letter, which will be cosigned by the Mexican chapter of Democrats Abroad, as well as other groups, complains about Trumps hostile attitude toward Mexico, which it says is engendering nationalistic sentiments in Mexico. Among Trumps hostile acts, the letter says, is Trumps vow to build a border wall and force Mexico to pay for it. The idea of building a wall ... frames Mexico and Mexicans as foreign invaders, the letter says. It also criticizes Trump for pledging to renegotiate NAFTA, saying, The U.S. and Mexico are deeply connected economies and it is in the interest of the United States to strengthen the regional production network to boost manufacturing employment in the U.S. and ensure the long-run competitiveness of manufacturing in the region. There are more than a million U.S. citizens living in Mexico, and many have been vocal since Trumps election. Last month, thousands turned out for a womens march outside the American Embassy that saw crowds chanting anti-Trump slogans. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mexico will never accept unilateral American immigration rules, foreign secretary says By Patrick McDonnell Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray said defending the rights of Mexican immigrants is the first point in the agenda for talks with U.S. officials. (Christian Palma / Associated Press) Mexico will reject any unilateral effort from the United States to impose immigration or other policies on the Mexican government, the countrys foreign secretary said Wednesday. I want to make clear, in the most emphatic way, that the government of Mexico and the Mexican people do not have to accept measures that, in a unilateral way, one government wants to impose on another, Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray said in public comments. That we are not going to accept. He spoke a day after the Trump administration unveiled tough new measures to enforce immigration laws and deport people who are in the country illegally proposals that were widely portrayed in the Mexican media as a prelude to massive deportations. On Wednesday, two top Trump administration cabinet members Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly were arriving in Mexico for talks with that nations officials, including Videgaray. Immigration, trade and law enforcement issues were expected to be discussed at a tense moment in U.S.-Mexican relations. In his reported comments, the Mexican secretary did not single out any specific U.S. proposal as objectionable. Mexican officials have acknowledged there is little they can do to counter U.S. immigration policies. Among other things, the Trump administration has proposed sending non-Mexican citizens detained along the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico. Mexican officials would presumably have to sign off on such a plan. Mexico already detains and deports thousands of Central Americans annually who cross Mexican territory with the hope of entering the United States illegally via the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. authorities have worked with their Mexican counterparts to halt the Central American influx. The Mexican foreign secretary made it clear that immigration would be at the top of the list of items to be discussed during meetings with the U.S. Cabinet secretaries. Defending the rights of Mexican immigrants is the first point in the agenda, said Videgaray. He also said Mexico could take the issue of the rights of Mexican immigrants to the United Nations and other international agencies. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Both in power and in turmoil, conservatives head to Conservative Political Action Conference to see whats next By Matt Pearce Josh Platillero (Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times) The eyes of men in crisp blazers darted toward passing faces and identification badges, looking for a familiar face, a famous name. As Fox News host Sean Hannity prepared to broadcast a live show from a ballroom, a brief chant burst out from the audience: U-S-A! U-S-A! Its that time of year again: Hundreds of Republicans began arriving Wednesday at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md., just south of Washington, for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. CPAC, as its best known, is a place for conservative political figures and activists to gather, schmooze, hammer out new ideas and audition for starring roles in the Republican Party. And this year, CPAC attendees have a lot to talk about. Their party is in control of Congress, the White House and dozens of state governments across America, and yet not at all at peace with itself. President Trump is expected to address the conference later in the week after winning on a platform of populist nationalism that some conservatives have accused of not being conservative at all. Breitbart News, the brash rising star of right-wing media, is one of the conferences top promoters, but one of its staffers, Milo Yiannopoulos, lost his speaking slot at CPAC and resigned from the news organization after video circulated showing him appearing to promote pedophilia. Some conservatives had backed Yiannopoulos and cried censorship when the provocateur offended liberals at college speaking events, but now they had become offended themselves. Still, as CPAC began on Wednesday, the mood was upbeat. This was a victorious movement, after all. Many new guests were greeted by the sight of Josh Platillero, 23, wearing a cartoonishly large stovepipe hat and a suit the colors of the American flag. I love networking, said Platillero, who recently lived in Knoxville, Tenn., before moving to the D.C. area to work with a conservative nonprofit, the Leadership Institute. Its his second year attending CPAC, and he was excited about the lineup of speakers, which include some of the White House staff. I think our new president is not perfect, but I think hes doing good things, he said. Ariel Kohane, 45, who came from the Upper West Side in Manhattan, stood in the lobby holding signs that read, Jews for Trump, in both English and Hebrew. I love the fact that I can get together with many of my fellow conservative friends and colleagues and we can all be very proud of ourselves with all our accomplishments and the fact that we get to strategize and plan ways to further expand conservatism across America and across the whole world, Kohane said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pence condemns Jewish center bomb threats and visits desecrated cemetery in Missouri By Jaweed Kaleem (Michael Conroy / Associated Press) Visiting Fenton, Mo., on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence condemned a string of bomb threats against Jewish community centers around the nation and the desecration of a St. Louis-area Jewish cemetery over the weekend. Speaking just yesterday, President Trump called this a horrible and painful act. And so it was. That along with other recent threats to the Jewish community centers around the country, said Pence, who was visiting the headquarters of the Fabick Cat machinery company. He declared it all a sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil. We condemn this vile act of vandalism and those who perpetuate it in the strongest possible terms. The vice president said it was inspiring how the people of Missouri have rallied around the Jewish community with compassion and support. Among those showing solidarity with the Jewish community is a group of Muslims who launched an online fundraising campaign to help repair the cemetery. Donors had pledged more than $90,000 by Wednesday afternoon. Pence later visited the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City, Mo., where nearly 200 tombstones had been toppled over the weekend. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trumps move on transgender bathroom access sparks interest By Kurtis Lee (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) For President Trump, commenting on social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion has never seemed much of a priority. Indeed, throughout the campaign, Trump hardly discussed the topics. When asked about transgender bathroom access at a town hall in April 2016, Trump said people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose. He then moved on from the question, offering little else. Now it appears his administration is set to wade into the controversy. Its a topic the conservative media loves to explore. Here are some of todays headlines: Return to normalcy: Trump readies reversal of transgender bathroom lunacy in public schools (Daily Caller) What will the Trump administration do about transgender bathroom access? The Caller highlights White House Press Secretary Sean Spicers pronouncement on the issue: This is a states rights issue and not one for the federal government, Spicer told reporters. The lunacy referred to is the federal guidance President Obama issued prior to leaving office directing schools that receive federal funding to allow transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities that match their gender identities. Several states filed suit to overturn the directive, and a federal judge issued a temporary injunction barring its enforcement, which remains in place. Several states, following the lead of North Carolina, are seeking to implement legislation that bans transgender people from using the bathrooms of the gender with which they identify. 66 percent of Trump voters change the channel when awards shows get too political (Daily Caller) When Meryl Streep criticized President Trump last month in her Golden Globes speech, he replied quickly. Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesnt know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes, Trump tweeted. Well, Trump can probably expect more barbs as actors (in overwhelmingly liberal Hollywood) take the stage at the Oscars on Sunday. Lots of Trump voters can be expected to change the channel, according to this piece, which highlights a new poll on the subject. The Hollywood Reporter says that 66% of Trump voters said they have stopped watching an awards show because a celebrity started talking about politics while accepting an award. By contrast, only 19% of Hillary Clintons supporters have done so. Trump talks tolerance, decries anti-Semitism, but media remain skeptical (Fox News) Well, Trump finally did say something to condemn the anti-Semitic vandalism and threats that have taken place since his presidential victory. Anti-Semitism is horrible, Trump said in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday. In the Fox News piece, Howard Kurtz argues the media should give the president more credit for speaking out. I always think its unfair to blame a political leader for violence or vandalism carried out by people who support him, he writes. I felt the same way about critics who blamed Barack Obama for urban riots or shootings of police officers. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Among Republicans, Trump is more popular than congressional leaders By David Lauter Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) walk together. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) Amid strain between the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress, the White House holds the high ground, a new survey indicates. Among Republicans, President Trump has greater popularity than the partys congressional leaders. Asked specifically who they would trust if the two sides disagreed, most Republicans chose Trump over their partys leadership. The findings, from a new survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center underscore Trumps continued sway with the Republican congressional majority. Although the president has historically low job approval ratings among the public at large, he remains highly popular among Republican partisans and in Republican districts. As for Democrats, theyre strongly in an oppositional mood. Asked if they were more worried that Democrats in Congress would go too far in opposing Trump or not go far enough, more than 70% of Democrats said they feared their party would not go far enough. Only 20% said they worried the party would go too far. Republicans in Congress have eyed Trump warily on several fronts. His positions on trade and entitlement reform break with years of the partys positions. His reluctance to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin has generated tension. And the administrations lack of clarity on healthcare and tax policy have Republican leaders guessing which way to turn on major issues. But Republican partisans have fewer reservations than their elected representatives. Eighty-six percent to 13%, those who identify as Republicans or as independents who lean Republican have a favorable view of Trump, the Pew survey found. By comparison, 57% have a favorable view of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, with 22% unfavorable and 21% having no opinion. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is slightly better known, with 65% of Republicans holding a favorable view, 23% an unfavorable view and 13% having no opinion. Asked who they would trust if the two sides disagreed, 52% of Republicans said they would side with Trump and 34% with the Republicans in Congress. Republicans younger than 40 were the only major exception; 52% to 36%, they said they would side with Congress. At the same time, Republican partisans now have a warmer opinion of their party leadership than they had during most of President Obamas tenure. Republicans' approval of their congressional leaders has more than doubled since 2015 https://t.co/KSo1hRMhJj pic.twitter.com/WHTHxCNEFq Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) February 22, 2017 During the Obama years, GOP partisans tended to be frustrated that their side could not reverse the presidents initiatives, even with a majority in the House, starting in 2010, and then in the Senate for Obamas last two years. Their view of the GOP leadership has rebounded strongly since the election. Democrats view of their congressional leadership has been more stable. And both sides widely dislike the other partys leaders. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Supreme Court rejects use of racial stereotypes in death penalty cases By David Savage The Supreme Court rejected the use of racial stereotypes in death penalty cases Wednesday, reopening the case of a black man in Texas who was sentenced to die after his jury was told African Americans are more likely than whites to commit crimes. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said this testimony had no place in a sentencing hearing and appealed to the racial stereotype that black men are prone to violence. Our laws punish people for what they do, not for who they are, the chief justice said in the courtroom. The 6-2 decision faults Texas authorities for refusing to give a new sentencing hearing to Duane Buck, a Houston man who was convicted of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend and seriously injuring her new boyfriend in 1995. Buck was found guilty of murder, but when his jury was debating his fate, his court-appointed defense attorney put on the witness stand an expert who cited statistics showing blacks are more likely to commit future crimes than whites. After hearing this testimony, the jury decided to sentence Buck to death. Years later, Texas state attorneys set aside the death sentences for six other black defendants whose juries heard similar testimony, but they refused to reopen Bucks case. In Buck vs. Davis, the high court said that was a mistake. The jury was deciding the question of life or death, and this is no place for the introduction of a particularly noxious strain of racial prejudice, Roberts said. The court sent the case back to judges in Texas to reconsider the death sentence. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, along with Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Thomas said Buck was properly sentenced to die for a brutal murder, and he insisted the court should not have heard the case for procedural reasons. Having settled on a desired outcome, the court bulldozes procedural obstacles and misapplies settled law to justify it, he wrote. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At Rep. Tony Cardenas town hall, Democrats worry about what Donald Trump may do By Kurtis Lee (Kurtis Lee/Los Angeles Times ) They arrived with soggy jackets, hats and umbrellas. The topic was supposed to be the Affordable Care Act. But many who attended Democratic Rep. Tony Cardenas town hall meeting Tuesday night in a crammed auditorium at the Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies came with a question: What can we -- as Democrats -- do to help you? Show up and vote, said Cardenas, who represents a slice of the staunchly liberal San Fernando Valley. (Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in this district by nearly 60-percentage points in the fall election.) Sign people up, get people involved, he said. At times the meeting had the feel of a therapy session for Democrats, wondering aloud how to function under a Trump administration. Where is the anger among Democrats? asked one man. I want to see more anger. Cardenas, standing at a lectern on an elevated stage, offered a stern look and nodded in agreement as rain could be heard splattering on the roof above. The complaints included Republicans efforts to repeal Obamacare and Trumps new immigration mandates. Trust me, Im pissed. Im upset, Cardenas said. But we have to act constructively. We have to be responsible. Last month, Trump signed executive orders directing the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of people in the U.S. illegally who have criminal convictions. In addition to speeding up the deportation of convicts, Trumps orders also call for quick removal of people in the country illegally who are charged with crimes and waiting for adjudication. And in recent days, a handful of people who have received protection under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nationwide. Cardenas said that for him, the issue is personal. His parents were immigrants from Mexico, who lived in the San Fernando Valley for decades, raising 11 children, he said. Today his district is nearly 70% Latino. Im going to fight for you, he said. Im going to fight for the people who are my immigrant father. When a young man, a DACA recipient, asked him, via Twitter, if hell be safe in the weeks ahead, Cardenas seemed at a loss. I pray that [Trump] doesnt go after you, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Killing with kindness, GOPs McClintock faces down hostile questioners as town hall goes into overti Congress Feb. 7, 2017, 7:04 p.m. WASHINGTON Senate rebukes Elizabeth Warren for quoting Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow in debate on Jeff Sessions Sen. Elizabeth Warren has earned a rare rebuke by the Senate for believe it or not quoting Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor. The Massachusetts Democrat ran afoul of the chambers arcane rules by reading a 30-year-old letter from Dr. Martin Luther Kings widow that dated to Sen. Jeff Sessions failed judicial nomination three decades ago. The chamber is debating the Alabama Republicans nomination for attorney general, with Democrats dropping senatorial niceties to oppose Sessions and Republicans sticking up for him. King wrote that when acting as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for impugning the motives of Sessions, though senators have said far worse stuff. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate. Still, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up. Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening. Democrats pointed out that McConnell didnt object when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. Im reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. Im simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her, Warren said. READ THE LETTER Talk about escaping by the skin of your teeth! Scientists have discovered a new type of gecko an evasive little lizard who can escape predators grip not just by dropping its tail, but by shedding the scales on its skin. The new species Geckolepis megalepis, described in the journal PeerJ, has big, fish-like scales, larger than any of the other gecko species in its genus. Its also the first new Geckolepis species to be described in 75 years, and the first currently recognized species in 123 years. G. megalepis lives in northern Madagascar, where it appears to be found only around the limestone karst of the Ankarana massif. While other geckos do have scales that can slip off passively, Geckolepis seems to have a certain amount of control over the process. It seems to be a very extreme behavior in living geckos, said study coauthor Juan Diego Daza, a herpetologist at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Advertisement This has created problems for scientists trying to study the genus Geckolepis; capturing the lizards without losing their scales in the process has been a total pain for more than 120 years. Indeed, the process of collection often damages even the most intact specimens, the study authors wrote. Voeltzkow (1893) captured his specimens with bundles of cotton (Wattebauschen), and even this was not sufficient to prevent some scale loss. Among its scale-shedding brethren, however, G. megalepiss scales are king. The oversized scales seem to come off at the slightest perturbation, leaving smooth, pink skin beneath. These scales can be torn off so easily partly because of their size, the scientists said. Bigger scales have much more surface area relative to the edge where theyre attached to the skin than smaller scales do, which makes them easier to rip away. But the scientists think theres also a control mechanism at play, in which the gecko contracts a layer of connective tissue beneath the skin to help release the scales, and the skins uppermost blood vessels are squeezed to prevent bleeding. How and why this particular group of geckos developed this trait remains a mystery, Daza said. Their scales arent just made of keratin (the kind of protein found in teeth and nails) they also have some bone in them, which is more costly for living things to produce. So when a gecko drops its scales, its forfeiting a pretty heavy energetic investment. The lizard might also risk dehydration, if the scales were also helping its body retain water. A partly naked gecko looks kind of like a half-picked scab, but at least the look doesnt last forever. The scarless regeneration of the whole integument occurs within a few weeks, apparently starting from stem cells of the deeper layers of the connecting tissue and is considered as unique among vertebrates, the study authors wrote. That stem-cell-fueled regenerative power could be of interest to scientists studying applications in human medicine. Scientists think that these scales are meant as a defensive measure, but theyve only documented their use as a means of escape a handful of times in the literature: from a scorpion (Grosphus flavopiceus), a bird (Dicrurus forficatus) and a large nocturnal Blaesodactylus gecko. For that last case, the G. megalepis lizard actually slipped out of the predators mouth about 30 seconds after it had been caught. The predator, or whoever it is, is left with a mouthful of scales and the animal escapes, Daza said. Perhaps these slippery little lizards could teach Houdini a thing or two. In the meantime, scientists say they hope to keep studying how this remarkable gecko skin works, and whats driving the evolution of these extra-large scales. For now, however, Daza said he was concerned for the immediate future of these species, many of whom are under stress due to habitat loss. amina.khan@latimes.com Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE FROM SCIENCE What makes a frogs tongue so sticky? The secret is in the spit Using science to see which countries are following through on Paris climate change goals Dinosaur surprise: Scientists find collagen inside a 195-million-year-old bone UPDATES: Feb. 8, 8:35 p.m.: This story was updated with comment and context from study coauthor Juan Diego Daza. This article was originally published Feb. 7 at 5:45 p.m. Burbank police made a pair of arrests in connection with an assault on two teenagers in late January, according to a statement released by police Tuesday. Burbank residents Alejandro Puebla, 19, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Lt. Claudio Losacco with the Burbank Police Department said the two are known gang members. He said two teenagers, a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl, were walking near the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Shelton Street at around 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 27 when they were reportedly confronted by four people including Puebla and the 16-year-old. Puebla and the teen allegedly used handguns to threaten the teens. Join the conversation on Facebook >> The teenagers tried to run away from the group but were chased into an alley. At some point during the altercation, several gunshots were fired by the suspects, Losacco said. Nobody was struck by gunfire, and the victims were not injured. Security footage obtained by police reportedly shows Puebla and the 16-year-old threatening the teens, Losacco said. Puebla was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office and is currently being held in lieu of $1-million bail. The 16-year-old has yet to be charged. -- Andy Nguyen, andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc Fountain Valley City Manager Bob Hall will be leaving in March for a new role as manager of the Rancho Santa Fe Assn. In his new position, Hall will oversee a community of 1,900 properties and a staff of 150. In Fountain Valley, he has overseen a staff of 220 and a $90-million budget. He received a compensation package worth $267,000. As a private entity, Santa Fe does not have to reveal Halls new salary. According to its website, the Rancho Santa Fe Assn. manages the community of Rancho Santa Fe, in north San Diego County. Although technically a homeowners association, the structure is similar to that of a small city, with building, planning and parks and recreation departments, as well as 24-hour-a-day security services. Hall joined Fountain Valley in 2013, replacing the retiring Ray Kromer, who had a long tenure with the city. Hall helped lead Fountain Valleys major fiscal sustainability plan, which resulted in the passage in November of Measure HH, a 1% increase in the local sales tax to 9% from 8%. The increased sales tax is expected to bring to the financially struggling city more than $11.5 million a year after it takes effect in April. Im extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish in my time in Fountain Valley, Hall said in a prepared statement. Previously, he served as the assistant city manager in Huntington Beach. Hall joined Fountain Valley government in August 2013. At the time, Fountain Valley Councilman Steve Nagel said about Hall: He has a good understanding of development and the budget, and thats something that we take a strong pride in. Hes worked with fire and police. When he first was with Huntington Beach, one of his first tasks was labor negotiations. We felt like that was being thrown into the fire and he was able to handle that. Nagel said he and other council members were particularly impressed with Halls experience with the city of Riverside where he served as general services director having worked his way up from the bottom. Ive had a great eight years in Huntington Beach, Hall said at the time. Hall said the Fountain Valley City Council is likely to publicly address how to fill his job at its Feb. 21 meeting. Times Community News staff writer Anthony Clark Carpio contributed to this report. Priscella Vega is a contributor to Times Community News. The Newport Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to hear a presentation Thursday on a proposal to widen portions of Mariners Mile, an endeavor that could include getting rid of the thoroughfares scattered street parking and converting it to driving space. The commission is not scheduled to vote on the idea during the meeting. The road in question is the 1.3-mile stretch of West Coast Highway between Newport Boulevard and Dover Drive. City officials are looking for the entire route to have three lanes eastbound and westbound. The plans would align with Coast Highways designation as a six-lane major arterial highway in both the Newport Beach general plan and a county transportation master plan. As its constructed now, Mariners Mile has a mixture of two or three lanes, depending on the direction. Other parts of the highway are used for turn lanes. City officials say removing parking on a major road like Coast Highway is recommended because moving in and out of those spaces presents safety issues. The question of how to replace the lost parking would merit its own study, officials say. Motorists use of West Coast Highway through Mariners Mile is expected to increase. In 2011, the average daily traffic count between Newport Boulevard and Tustin Avenue was 48,000, city officials said. By 2030, that figure is expected to jump by nearly 19%, to 57,000. Between Tustin Avenue and Dover Drive, officials recorded 44,000 average daily traffic trips in 2011. By 2030, the number is expected to tick up to 53,000, an increase of 20%. West Coast Highway between the Santa Ana River and Jamboree Road, a stretch that includes Mariners Mile, is owned and maintained by the California Department of Transportation, though the city maintains landscaping and coordinates with the state agency on various projects. Newport is not expecting Caltrans to pay for the widening effort. Rather, city officials expect funding to come from grants and gas taxes. Thursdays Planning Commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive. bradley.zint@latimes.com Twitter: @BradleyZint Almost two months after a secretly recorded video of an Orange Coast College professors post-election comments about President Trump touched off a nationwide firestorm, signs reminding students that in-class recordings are prohibited without instructors permission have been posted in Orange Coast classrooms for the spring semester, which started last week. The signs read: Video and/or audio recording without instructor permission is prohibited. At the bottom, the signs cite the Coast Community College Districts Student Code of Conduct and the California Education Code, which prohibit recordings without permission. Thats always been a policy and I believe that the administration just wants students to know what the policy is, said Rob Schneiderman, president of the Coast Federation of Educators, a union that represents instructors in the district. The union did not ask for the signs. ... Were not just concerned about faculty members having words taken out context, but were also concerned for students who may not want their image, words or questions to be published and widely distributed. But Joshua Recalde-Martinez, president emeritus of the Orange Coast College Republicans club, which posted the video on its Facebook page in December, said he considers the signs to be a slap in the face of students. One of the things its doing is suppressing students from reporting faculty wrongdoing, he said. Another is producing a huge inconvenience to those who otherwise regularly record classes. Professor Olga Perez Stable Cox was secretly recorded in her human-sexuality class by an unidentified student days after the Nov. 8 election. In the video, Cox apparently refers to Trump as a white supremacist and to Vice President Mike Pence as one of the most anti-gay humans in this country. The two-minute video also shows Cox saying: We are in for a difficult time. ... Our nation is divided; we have been assaulted, its an act of terrorism. She noted that Trumps opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, won the popular vote, though Trump, a Republican, won the electoral vote. More of us voted to not have that kind of leadership, she said. We didnt win because of the way our electoral college is set up, but we are the majority, and thats helping me to feel better. The student shared the recording with the Orange Coast College Republicans, according to Recalde-Martinez. Before the club posted the video, Seal Beach attorney Shawn Steel filed a complaint with Orange Coast College President Dennis Harkins on behalf of the group, saying Cox had wrongfully assumed all students were disappointed with the loss of Hillary Clinton. Harkins said in December that the districts legal counsel sent a response to Steel saying the student services and instructional wings at OCC had a review in progress to determine whether Coxs comments were in response to a students question or were related to class curriculum. Steel told the Daily Pilot on Tuesday that he has not received an update on the investigation. According to Recalde-Martinez, administrators from student services met with him and two other club members Tuesday so the club members could provide information regarding the case. What were really concerned about is what the final decision is going to be with the [unidentified] student, Recalde-Martinez said. Well just have to wait, and hopefully they make a right decision. Calls to Harkins office were not immediately returned Tuesday. The investigation is still ongoing, Juan Gutierrez, director of marketing and public relations at OCC, said Wednesday. Were trying to be thorough and respectful of everyones privacy through the procedure and policies we must follow. alexandra.chan@latimes.com Twitter: @AlexandraChan10 A group of current and retired Glendale educators recently delivered hundreds of dollars in grants to three Glendale Unified teachers in support of their work in the classroom. Local residents Cheryl Duncan, Laurie Appleton, Joan Kelly and Judy Houlihan delivered to three Glendale Unified teachers $400 each. The four women belong to the Epsilon Epsilon chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a group that works to support women in education and honor them for their service. The group also endows scholarships and will support desirable legislation in the interest of education and of women educators, Duncan said. Join the conversation on Facebook >> The local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma is made up of current and retired Glendale Unified principals, teacher specialists, librarians, counselors and teachers who provide district staff with grants and volunteer hours. Delta Kappa Gamma also supports the La Crescenta-based Desi Geestman Foundation, a nonprofit that helps pediatric cancer patients, and the Jared Box Project, which enlists volunteers nationwide to fill boxes with toys and games and deliver them to local hospitals for children undergoing chemotherapy. --------------------- FOR THE RECORD 2/13, 12:03 p.m.: A previous version of this story included two photo captions misidentifying teachers Aydee Salas and Jenniffer Marquez. --------------------- Fourth-grade Cerritos Elementary teacher Ashley Hamilton has started to use her $400 grant to purchase books that will challenge her students as they learn about character motives, cause and effect, theme and inferences, Duncan said. Some of the books shes purchased come from the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Henry and Mudge series, as well as some Magic Tree House books, Nancy Drew novels and copies of A Wrinkle in Time. I feel extremely lucky to have been chosen for this grant because every teacher has a list of materials and supplies they want to supplement their instruction and strengthen their students knowledge, Hamilton said. The books I have purchased, so far, are books that are not found in our library because I want to expose my class [to books] beyond the walls of our school library. At Edison Elementary, sixth-grade teacher Jenniffer Marquez will use the money to teach her students how to report the news and share current events. Using an iPad with iMovie installed on it, Marquez will set up two portable microphones and a green screen to create a stage from which students can report the news. At Mark Keppel Visual and Performing Arts magnet school, Aydee Salas will teach students about LEGO sculpture artist Nathan Sawaya and then guide them as they create their own three-dimensional works of art, Duncan said. -- Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com Twitter: @kellymcorrigan MORE EDUCATION Five hopefuls begin run for Glendale Community College board of trustees Candidates state their cases in Glendale Unifieds first-ever district-based election Local high schools send their best and brightest to regional science bowl at JPL Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) has served his Southern California district during the presidencies of both George W. Bush and Barack Obama and throughout has garnered a reputation for being cool, calm and collected in his politics. Lately, however, the congressman has taken a more aggressive approach on his Twitter account, directly rebuking President Donald Trumps tweets, often turning the business moguls sardonic language against him. Schiff, who is also the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee, said his social media reflects the level of concern he feels over the current administration. Join the conversation on Facebook >> My tweets, I think, have been far less restrained than is usually the case, Schiff said. Its very much against type for me to say that the president is belittling our country or praising a dictator, but thats what hes doing, and I just feel so strongly about it, and I feel the need to speak out and do so directly. Pinned atop Schiffs Twitter account is a retweet of Trumps reaction to a federal judge who temporarily blocked the presidents immigration ban. Trump referred to Bush-appointed U.S. District Judge James L. Robart as a so-called judge and added that Robarts block was ridiculous. This "so-called" judge was nominated by a "so-called" President & was confirmed by the "so-called" Senate. Read the "so-called" Constitution https://t.co/xQotyL1kHM Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 4, 2017 Schiff responded with what he said was the most effective way to rebut the presidents jab by replying, sarcastically, that Robart was appointed by a so-called president and confirmed by the so-called Senate. Schiff also suggested Trump read the so-called Constitution. It was a way to point out just how ludicrous his comment was, Schiff said. A lot of my tweets are designed just to show how ludicrous and sometimes dangerous are the things that hes saying. I believe it's called a constitutional democracy. What do you call a president who doesn't respect the separation of powers? A bad hombre. https://t.co/8YrJK7bBhL Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 4, 2017 When @realDonaldTrump said "Make America Great Again" I guess he meant "Let Wall Street Rip Off The American People Again" https://t.co/lMZbe8yVtx Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 3, 2017 Although his tweets have been tougher than usual, Schiff has never been mum on issues hes cared about. He can be seen speaking out against Trumps policies on MSNBC and CNN. Schiff even appeared on the Colbert Report more than a decade ago. When hes not rebuking Trump on Twitter, Schiff uses the platform to retweet the stories of his constituents. On Monday, he tweeted a story about how the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, helped Abbie from West Hollywood obtain health insurance despite having a preexisting condition. Away from social media, Schiff has been hosting a series of coffee sit-downs and town hall meetings to speak with those opposed to the Trump administration. Schiff said hes been encouraging people to get involved in the top three issues they care about most, be they national or local. Since the election, Ive received hundreds and hundreds of calls and emails from people who are having trouble sleeping, having trouble eating, Schiff said. Theyre so distraught about what this means for the country that its affecting them viscerally in a way that no election ever has. -- Jeff Landa, jeff.landa@latimes.com Twitter: @JeffLanda MORE CIVIC NEWS & POLITICS Glendale must pay back residents nearly $57 million for illegal energy rate increase, judge rules Glendale earns an A for anti-smoking efforts; Burbank scores a B Local homeless numbers expected to be similar to 2016 The Glendale Community College Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers will sponsor the second annual Maker Faire from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 25 in the colleges auditorium. College and high school students from throughout L.A. County will showcase their original projects. Activities will also include science, technology, education and math, known as STEM, hands-on activities and career information sessions. There will also be industry professionals on site from companies such as NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Boeing and Northrup Grumman to discuss topics related to STEM programs. Join the conversation on Facebook >> A free continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. Students who are interested in engineering and computer science are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit glendale.edu/SHPE. Parent program seeks alumni The Glendale College Parent Education Program will celebrate its 65th anniversary on May 6 at the Oakmont Country Club. Event organizers are asking program alumni to create a short video statement about what the program meant to them and upload it to the programs Facebook page. Alumni video clips will be included in a video presentation at the celebration. Those who participated in the colleges parent education program as parents or children can visit gcpea.org for more information on the anniversary event. Open auditions for theater Open auditions for spring productions by the colleges theater arts department will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22 through 24 in the auditorium. Those who plan to audition only need to pick one of the dates. Audition participants should prepare a one-minute contemporary monologue. Sides from the plays will also be read at the auditions. Those selected to perform in any of the productions will be required to take two theater arts courses. Stage managers and technical operators are needed for the productions as well. Those interested in behind-the-scenes roles should call (818) 240-1000, Exts. 5635 or 3044. Crew members must enroll in a technical theater course. For more information about the auditions or the theater arts department, go to glendale.edu/theatre or call (818 ) 240-1000, Ext. 5618. Lecture to eye presidential elections American Presidential Elections: Is the System Working? will be discussed at a humanities/social science lecture series presentation at 12:20 p.m. on Feb. 23 in Kreider Hall. The speaker will be Mona Field, professor emeritus of political science and author of California Government and Politics Today. Admission is free. Science lecture to focus on genetics Contributions of Genetics to Science: How Genetics Changes the World will be presented at Glendale Community College at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in Cimmarusti Science Center, room 177, as part of the Science Lecture Series. The speaker will be Mike Mkhitar Moradian, a bioanalyst and senior scientist/clinical consultant at Molecular Genetics and Diagnostics. Admission is free. Go to glendale.edu/sls for information on the Science Lecture Series. Not too late to register for spring Open registration continues for the spring 2017 semester, which begins Feb. 21. The college application is online at glendale.edu/apply. New students must submit an application for admission before registering for courses. Glendale Community College offers a live chat for general application and registration information. Go to the home page and click on Live Chat. Check the online class schedule for openings in all of the spring classes at glendale.edu/schedules. -- WENDY GROVE is public information coordinator at Glendale Community College. Norwegian Cruise Line is doubling down on Cuba. Its Norwegian Sky will be adding more round-trip cruises from Miami to Cuba through December, the line announced Tuesday. Norwegian announced earlier that it would begin bringing the Sky the largest cruise ship to visit Cuba to the island nation starting in May. Twenty-five cruises scheduled from June through the end of the year have been added because of great demand from our guests for sailings to Cuba, company President Andy Stuart said in a statement. Advertisement Cabins for the added cruises go on sale Feb. 21. (You may currently reserve for sailings through May 29.) Prices for the four-day sailings in May start at $699 per person, based on double occupancy, and exclude taxes and fees. The Norwegian Sky sails each Monday from Port Miami in Florida for an overnight in Havana and a visit to the lines private island Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. Fifteen shore excursions, including some centered on Old Havanas music and dining scene, are offered too (and they comply with current U.S. rules about Americans traveling to Cuba). Info: Norwegian Cruise Line Cuba Cruises, (866) 234-7350 or contact a travel agent In other sailings to Cuba, Fathom, which specializes in social impact cruises, is offering discounts on selected Caribbean Cultures sailings through May. The brand, part of Carnival Corp., will cease operations in May but has some pretty low prices available until then. Fathom was the first cruise line in half a century to sail from the U.S. to Cuba when it arrived in Havana last May 2. On these cruises, the small-ship Adonia travels from Miami and spends one night in Santiago de Cuba on Cuba and then three nights at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Prices are as low as $399 per person, double occupancy, excluding taxes and fees, for sailings that leave Feb. 26, March 12 and 26, April 9 and 23, and May 7. On-board and on-shore activities that focus on giving back are included in the price. Reservations for these sailings are available by phone or through a travel agent. Info: Fathom Caribbean Cultures, (855) 932-8466 MORE Cuba is looming on cruise passengers horizons now that sailing there is becoming easier Half-cruise, half-cargo ships provide authenticity in place of cocktails and casinos River cruise or ocean cruise? This quiz can help you set your course travel@latimes.com @latimestravel A Russian opposition leader who planned to challenge President Vladimir Putin in next years election was found guilty Wednesday in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case, formally eliminating him as a candidate. A Kirov court judge found Alexei Navalny, 40, guilty of embezzlement and pronounced him the head of a criminal group that allegedly stole timber worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from a state-run company. At the time, Navalny served as an assistant to Kirov politician Nikita Belykh, another opposition figure who is now awaiting trial on corruption charges. Judge Alexei Vtyurin issued a five-year suspended sentence for Navalny, a key figure in large anti-government protests in Moscow, during a webcast hearing. Russian nationals serving sentences for convictions for serious crimes are ineligible for the presidency, according to Russian election law. Advertisement After the sentencing, Navalny told reporters he planned to continue to oppose corruption in Russia. What we saw today is a cable from the Kremlin, a cable saying that they consider me, my team and the people whose views I express too dangerous to let us run in the presidential election, Navalny said. But I will continue to represent the people that want to see Russia as a normal, honest, corruption-free country. The suspended sentence is widely seen as the easiest way for the Kremlin to prevent Navalny from running without turning him into an imprisoned martyr like oil tycoon and government critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who spent almost a decade behind bars and now funds opposition activists and media from exile in Switzerland. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters Wednesday the Navalny sentence should not taint the 2018 election and Moscow does not consider such fears appropriate. Navalny cut his teeth in politics by publishing investigative reports about corruption in Russias state companies and the personal fortunes of Putins coterie. He went on to lead the 2011-2012 rallies, Russias largest in decades, that protested election fraud and Putins return for a third presidency. The Kremlin responded to the rallies with a massive crackdown. Hundreds of protesters were arrested, and dozens faced trial and were sentenced to jail; one of the defendants committed suicide. Opposition leaders, including Navalny, were interrogated and had their offices and apartments searched. Pro-Kremlin media ran reports vilifying the opposition and saying they received funding from Washington. The Kremlin toughened punishment for holding unsanctioned rallies and labeled Western-funded nongovernment organizations foreign agents. In 2013, Navalny was found guilty of embezzlement in a trial he and his supporters called Kremlin-orchestrated, and was sentenced to five years in jail. But after massive rioting in Moscow, the sentence was later reduced to suspended. While appealing the sentence which gave him a legal loophole to run for office Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow. During his campaign, he lambasted the influx of dark-skinned labor migrants to Russias capital and came in second with 27% of the vote. Navalnys anti-migrant rhetoric, along with his participation in ultranationalist rallies frequented by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, alienated some of Russias liberal democrats, but added to his popularity among Russians critical of the Kremlin amid growing xenophobia. Meanwhile, his Fund to Fight Corruption kept releasing reports detailing the holdings of top Russian officials. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia violated Navalnys right to a fair trial in 2013, and the Supreme Court overturned the sentence and ordered a retrial. On Wednesday, the judge read a lengthy verdict that copied and pasted the 2013 verdict, Navalny commented in a tweet. Navalny, clad in a white shirt and sporting a crew cut, said later in remarks broadcast in a live stream during a break: The new and the old sentence coincide 100%. He said the verdict was punishment designed to scare other Kremlin critics and political activists. I know for sure that [the verdict] wont make political activism easier neither for me, nor for the rest of independent politicians and activists, Navalny wrote in a statement posted on his website before the verdict Wednesday. One more act of intimidation wont work on everyone, but it will work on someone, thats why theyre doing it. He also pledged to run for president as his lawyers appeal his conviction. Mirovalev is a special correspondent. Six Afghan staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were shot and killed and two others abducted in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials said. The killings took place as the Red Cross convoy was distributing livestock in a remote district of Jowzjan province, in an area where Islamic State militants are known to operate. The provincial governor, Lotfullah Azizi, said three of the humanitarian agencys employees and three drivers were shot at close range while two others were unaccounted for and believed to have been kidnapped by Islamic State fighters. Advertisement ICRC issued a statement condemning what appears to be a deliberate attack on our staff, although it said it did not know who was to blame. This is a huge tragedy, said the groups president, Peter Maurer. We are in shock. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of 6 of our staff. Statement: https://t.co/XtBcZgVPaS ICRC Afghanistan (@ICRC_af) February 8, 2017 The ICRC staff members had traveled to the region earlier in the week to distribute livestock and other supplies to areas that had been hard hit by heavy snowfall, but bad weather interrupted their work. Today they went to resume their work, but they fell to the hands of Daesh, Azizi said, using an acronym for Islamic State. ICRC usually travels in marked vehicles in Afghanistan and does not ask for official security. Despite worsening violence and occasional attacks against international relief agencies, the Red Cross has generally been allowed to operate even in militant-controlled areas, thanks to its reputation for impartiality. In 2013, a compound belonging to the group was attacked by suicide bombers in the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing a guard and injuring another employee. In December, a Spanish Red Cross employee was abducted in the northern province of Kunduz. He was freed last month. The head of the Red Cross Afghanistan delegation, Monica Zanarelli, said it had not decided whether to suspend its operations in the country, saying such a move would be premature. We want to collect ourselves as a team and support each other in processing this incomprehensible act and finding our two unaccounted-for colleagues, Zanarelli said. Provincial authorities were speaking with local elders to attempt to negotiate the release of the two staff members, officials said. Militants claiming allegiance to Islamic State, the Sunni Muslim militant organization based in Iraq and Syria, are scattered across parts of northern and eastern Afghanistan and have carried out increasingly brazen attacks in recent months. The group has typically targeted minority Shiite Muslims. The attack came a day after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the Afghan Supreme Court building in Kabul, killing 19 people and injuring more than 40. Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul and Times staff writer Bengali from Rome. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia ALSO Amnesty International accuses Syria of hanging thousands of prisoners, dumping bodies in mass graves Controversial legislation in Israel reflects shift away from two-state peace deal Record number of children killed in Afghanistan conflict in 2016, U.N. says UPDATES: 12:55 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting. This article was originally published at 6:15 a.m. All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. Mobile World Congress is remarked as a big opportunity for smartphone makers. Each year, major mobile manufacturers from all around gather in this elegant event to tease and showcase their new and upcoming handsets. The occasion actual takes place in Barcelona and there is no difference in the venue for this year as well. MWC 2017 is reported to be one of the biggest tech innovation fairs ever after CES 2017. According to Mirror, most reputed smartphone makers are expected to reveal their best class new models and upcoming masterpieces in MWC 2017. This year Mobile World Congress will begin from February 27, 2017, and will conclude on March 2, 2017.However, major brands will begin officially unveiling their handsets from February 26, as per insights. Beginning with Samsung, the south Korena tech giant has already confirmed not to evolve Galaxy S8 in the event, but it might tease the same as many potential sources are hinting for a short video clip to be released on the same date. The company has already revealed Press invitation for MWC 2017, which clearly indicates that it will mark the event with the official debut of Galaxy Tab S3. As per a report by Pocketlint, LG is expected to uncover its new stunner: G6 on this occasion. Whereas, Huawei has delivered Press Invite indicating the official unveiling of a "flagship device" on February 26. This device is most likely Huawei' forthcoming successor of P9 range, codenamed as P10. Nokia has already hinted to make the announcement of its biggest and best device ever, which is possibly a new tablet powered by Android Nougat having an 18.4-inch screen. TCL-owned Blackberry is also expected to uncover a new handset, currently dubbed as DTEK70. Sony is reported to unveil a lot of 5 brand new smartphones in this event, including a probable update of Xperia X. Lenovo-owned Motorola is also said to reveal something new as it stretched to showcase its latest innovation in its invitation card. This can be Moto G5 as well. Also renowned brands like HTC, ZTE etc.are expected to launch their flagships as well. In his speech at the U.S Central Command, President Donald Trump mentioned the recent extremist attacks that happened in San Bernardino, California, Boston, and Paris. And media, he said is dropping the ball on reporting such extreme attacks. "Radical Islamic terrorists are determined to strike our homeland," adding: "It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported. And in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to say it. They have their reasons, and you understand that " President Donald Trump said. According to the Washington Post, President Donald Trump has accused the media of dishonesty for failing to report the terrorist attacks. However, a list was revealed by the White House containing several attacks such Orlando nightclub shooting that happened last June and the 2015 attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Paris which was extensively covered by the media. President Donald Trump cited several series of recent attacks saying that it was not reported. He also added that the press were very dishonest for not wanting to report such attacks. President Donald Trump told the troops at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida that the media have their reasons why, but did not further elaborate beyond that. President Donald Trump tweeted: "I call my shots, mostly based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it. Some FAKE NEWS media, to marginalize, lies!" President Donald Trump initially cited no examples of the press's failure to report the terrorist attacks. According to Secretary Sean Spicer, terrorist attacks are not exactly covered to a degree in which they should be. According to Politifact, President Donald Trump's claim has no support for the idea that the media refuse to report the terrorist attacks on U.S. The media is sometimes being cautioned when it comes to assigning religious motivation to a terrorist attack when they think that the facts are unclear or need to be investigated. The suicide bombing in Afghanistan has been killed 20 peoples and another 45 peoples are injured in Kabul. The Afghanistan official has confirmed the news. According to ALJAZEERA, the bomb blast has wounded 41 peoples in Kabul. The suspected suicide bomber has targeted the Supreme Court Building in the Afghan capital. They hit near the side door used for court employees to leave at the end of the court work. The deputy spokesman for the interior ministry Najib Danish said, the attacker was on foot and detonated his suicide vest packed with explosives near the employees and other peoples. The suspected suicide bomber was coming out of the main court building. There was no immediate claim for the attack, which bore the hallmark of Taliban. As in recent months, a number of deadly bombings were carried out by Taliban and other militants. The ABC NEWS has reported that the insurgents have been at war with the U.S-backed government for 15 years. That have been targeted the judiciary since the execution of six convicted insurgents in last May. The armed group has repeatedly issued statements threatening to target employees at Afganistan's justice system. The report has suggested that they are not happy with the way they are working. The news of Kabul bombing attack came after a roadside bombing that killed top governmental official in western Farah province. Qari Yusuf Ahmed, the Taliban spokesman said the group has claimed the responsibility for that attack. The Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has condemned the Supreme Court attack by saying that they are the "enemies of our people". The Kabul US Embassy called the attack as "an attack on the very foundation of Afghan democracy and rule of law". Meanwhile, the Taliban fighters for a long time have frequently used roadside bombs and suicide attacks in front of government office. The 13,000 peoples in Syria were hanged in five years at a notorious Syrian prison near Damascus, Amnesty international says. They have accused the Syrian government of a "policy of extermination". According to BBC, the new report from human rights group alleges that mass hanging took place every week at Saydnaya prison between September 2011 and December 2015. The bodies were dumped in two mass graves on the outskirts of Damascus between midnight and dawn most Tuesday for at least five years. Amnesty international says the alleged executions were authorized by the highest levels of the Syrian government. But the government has previously denied killing or mistreating detainees. ALJAZEERA has reported that a year ago the UN human right expert has witnessed accounts and documentary evidence strongly suggested that tens of thousands of people were being detained. As a result of this "deaths on a massive scale" were occurring in custody. The new report has suggested that the detainees were brought before a military field court in the Qaboun district for trials. The trials were lasting between one and three minutes. Amnesty international said, the detainees' would be asked if they had committed crimes alleged to have taken place. The answer is 'yes 'or no. The court has no relation with the rule of law. After that they were taken into a room in the basement and told the accused had been sentenced to death just minutes before nooses were placed around their necks, the reports add. Then the bodies of the killed person were allegedly loaded into Lorries and transferred to Tishreen military hospital for burial. On the basis of evidence the Amnesty international estimates that between 5,000 and 13,000 people were executed at Saydnaya over five years. Meanwhile, the human rights group says it contacted the Syrian authorities about the allegations in early January but has not received any response. State of calamity was issued by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards after the state suffered from the attack of seven tornadoes on Tuesday. Report said that aside from the seven, there were also two twisters in Livingston Parish and in six more parishes. The governor reported the damages incurred from the seven tornadoes, along with 20 reported injuries but stayed optimistic despite the ordeal. He was glad that the tornado left without any casualties. New Orleans was among the most severely hit and is now without electricity, reported Fox News. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu revealed that the EF2 twister that attacked the city's east side moved two miles and ravaged an area of land. Just like Edwards, Landrieu was also optimistic that they will get through this difficult situation. Among those affected in New Orleans was a school building, homes, business establishments and a NASA facility located in Eastern New Orleans. Most homes affected in the city were newly rebuilt in the light of Hurricane Katrina. Power lines, trees, cars, fences and road signs can be seen strewn on roads like toys and people who escaped or who had to seek shelter elsewhere are returning to survey the damage the tornado has done to their properties. Meanwhile, Weather.com reported that along with tornado-strong winds, hail as huge as ping-pong balls were also observed in some areas such as Kenner, Louisiana. Severe weather was also experienced in places like Little Rock, Arkansas, Henning, Tennessee and in parts of Florida. A waterspout was observed in Destin, Florida Tuesday afternoon and damaged buildings and properties near the coastline. An EMS vehicle was hit as it responded to an emergency call. Meanwhile, White Hose Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that President Donald Trump will contact officials from the tornado affected areas. It was in Tuesday when the National Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma announced severe weather warnings. The announcement covered 2.7 million people in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It might sound implausible, but at the bottom of the deep Indian Ocean, one piece of ancient continent Mauritia was found on the famous island of Mauritius has been recently discovered by a research team led by the South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand. According to CNN, the scientists at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa have discovered the ancient continent Mauritia which is believed to be a leftover from the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. The splitting of the mainland began 200 million years ago, and the evidence takes the form of ancient zircon minerals which were found in the younger rocks. The ancient continent Mauritia is located under the popular island destination of Mauritius where the remains scattered across the Indian Ocean basin. The said ancient continent Mauritia was sandwiched between India and Madagascar. The existence of the ancient continent Mauritia was discovered when some parts of the Indian Ocean were found to have stronger gravitational fields compared to others that indicate thicker crusts. Other theories suggest that chunks of land had sunk and were attached to the ocean crust below which led to the formation of ancient continent Mauritia. According to the New Scientists, Mauritius is the only place which contains a strong gravitational pull. Lewis Ashwal from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa even proposed that there is a volcanic island sitting on the piece of ancient continent Mauritia. "This breakup did not involve a mere splitting of the ancient super-continent of Gondwana, but "a complex splintering took place with fragments of continental crust of variable sizes left adrift within the evolving Indian Ocean basin," Ashwal said. Mauritius, where the ancient continent Mauritia is located, is already 8 million years old. Some zircon crystals found in the island beaches are almost 2 billion years old. Volcanic eruptions were the reasons for the existence of the zircon from the ancient rock below. The said zircon crystals in Mauritius have undergone a detailed analysis and come to reconstruct the geological history of the ancient continent Mauritia. Sorry... ..An error has occured: If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you. ZID:308457493 Feb 7, 2017, 5:01pm ET BMW settles water damage lawsuit for up to $478M The class-action lawsuit seeks compensation for 5-Series water damage to electronics in the trunk. BMW has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit over water damage in older 5-Series vehicles Owners claim the E60-generation sedan is particularly vulnerable to electronic problems due to sensitive components placed in the spare tire well. In some cases, clogged sunroof drain tubes or plenums are said to be responsible for water intrusion. The lawsuit lists 2004-2010 vehicles, representing around 318,000 vehicles in the US market. Vehicles less than 10 years old with fewer than 120,000 miles will be eligible for free inspection and repairs, while owners of older vehicles can receive reimbursement $1,500 for prior repairs. Reuters suggests the settlement is theoretically worth nearly $478 million if every vehicle qualifies for repairs or reimbursement, but the actual payout will likely be much lower. The company has also agreed to install warning labels in repaired vehicles to discourage owners from allowing liquids to spill in the trunk. Feb 8, 2017, 12:32pm ET Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, EV to arrive in showrooms this month Availability will initially be limited to California before expanding to other states. Hyundai has confirmed that its Ioniq hybrid and EV are due to arrive at US showrooms in the coming weeks. Speaking to Autoblog, Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor promised US buyers in California will be able to buy either the all-electric or mild hybrid edition before the end of February. Introduced at least year's New York auto show, the Ioniq family represents the first new models among 26 electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered cars to arrive from Hyundai-Kia by the end of the decade. The mild hybrid variant is aimed squarely at the Toyota Prius, with an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 55/54 mpg -- beating the Japanese rival by three mpg. the Ioniq EV arrives with only 124 miles of all-electric range, competitive against aging rivals such as the Nissan Leaf but far short of the Chevrolet Bolt's 238 mile range. Hyundai is already working on a proper rival, however, with a promise to reach 200 miles by 2018 and 250 miles by 2020. The Korean automaker is also working on a plug-in hybrid with 31 miles of all-electric range, due to hit the market by fall. Defense attorney Jack McMahon concedes that his client fled from police officers trying to arrest him last month in Allentown. But McMahon is dubious about officers' ability to get out of the way of Joseph Valdez's speeding car on Jan. 6 and about the estimated 25 shots fired at his client after Valdez allegedly ran down two Allentown officers and left a path of damaged cars in his wake as he sped away from police. "The last thing he wanted to do was hit an officer," McMahon said on Wednesday. "Twenty five shots for a guy with no weapon is excessive. ... I think it's an overreaction." Following a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Valdez faces trial in Lehigh County on aggravated assault and other charges related to the Allentown incident. That's in addition to Valdez's alleged parole violation in New York and allegations he was involved in an attempted homicide in New York City. Valdez remains in Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $750,000 bail and on the parole violation detainer. Valdez injured his legs during the Jan. 6 incident after he was shot by police in one leg and the bullet traveled through and struck the other leg, McMahon said. The bullet was removed on Monday, Valdez's family said. Three Allentown officers were injured. Police Det. Joshua Baker was hit in the thumb by Valdez's car and officer Jason Ammary was struck in the leg by the vehicle, they each testified on Wednesday. A third officer was injured in the high-speed chase with Valdez. All three officers were treated and released the day of the incident, police previously said, but Ammary said on Wednesday he may need surgery for damage to his knee. Prosecutors said police vehicles and officers from the Allentown and New York City police departments, both in uniforms and street clothes, surrounded Valdez Jan. 6 as he was parked in the 600 block of Chew Street in Allentown. Police were looking to arrest Valdez for an alleged parole violation on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Valdez was a suspect in a shooting at a girl in New York City. On Wednesday McMahon said the shooting involved Valdez's ex-girlfriend. McMahon doesn't represent Valdez in that case and police said the arrest on Jan. 6 was not in connection with a warrant for the attempted homicide case. Baker testified that because of the attempted homicide case, however, police believed Valdez was armed. As officers walked toward Valdez's car telling him to put his hands up, Valdez ducked down and reached into the car's center console, the detective said. Valdez "revved" his engine, according to police, and drove at officers Baker and Ammary, witnesses testified. The officers testified they tried to get out of the way, but Valdez was driving so fast they were each hit. "He was hell-bent on getting away," Baker said, later adding, "If he was not stopped, he was going to hurt somebody." Three officers opened fire and Valdez was shot, but Valdez kept driving, smashing into a handful of parked cars to escape, authorities said. Baker and Ammary testified that after Ammary was struck, they each shot at Valdez's car about eight times. A New York City detective also opened fire, but police were unsure how many times he shot at Valdez. "Once one shot is fired, it opens the dam," McMahon said after the hearing. Valdez only got about three blocks away on Front Street in his badly damaged 2006 Hyundai Sonata, when police say he drove into an alley, abandoned his car and tried to hide by a nearby SUV. Valdez was arrested and taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment before being released and charged in the Allentown case. Valdez was never seen with a gun. Police have never recovered a firearm or a weapon in connection with the Allentown incident, officers testified. District Attorney Jim Martin gave a preliminary opinion that the discharge of weapons by the officers was justified. A final ruling will be made when the investigation is complete. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Bethlehem's not willing to wait for the state or federal government to act on climate change. That's why Bethlehem City Council unanimously voted 6-0 to create a climate action group to draft a climate change plan for council to adopt. Councilman Bryan Callahan was absent Tuesday night. "We've been given a gift here in our resources, our environment," Councilman Shawn Martell said. Council President J. William Reynolds proposed the working group as part of his Bethlehem 2017, an eight-part initiative that aims to make the city more progressive and responsive to citizens. Tuesday night's vote marks the first time council has enacted one of his proposals. Council members said they were inundated by phone calls and emails expressing support for the idea. It is unfortunate that Bethlehem's commitment to reducing the city's carbon footprint is even noteworthy, Reynolds said Council Vice President Adam Waldron said the feedback has been overwhelming and staggering. "People are excited to get behind this," he said. In recent months, it has gone from being important that Bethlehem step up, to being essential, Reynolds said. He noted that within hours of President Donald Trump being sworn in, the WhiteHouse.gov's climate change webpage was taken down. Trump has called climate change a hoax. If other levels of government won't act, Bethlehem must, he said. "I am not naive to the fact we are one city," Reynolds said. Resident Brian Hillard, who was appointed to the city's Environmental Advisory Council Tuesday, said he supports the plan because he believes in taking the initiative to do what is right. He noted how successful Bethlehem's first plan was at reducing the city's carbon footprint, energy costs and making the community cleaner. Back in 2006, the mayors of Bethlehem, Easton and Allentown signed a three city proclamation endorsing the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. From then until 2012, the city managed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent. In the last decade, the city has implemented $5 million in energy conservation measures. The resolution council passed Tuesday night calls for the creation of a climate change working group within 30 days. The appointees will be selected with feedback from Mayor Bob Donchez and his administration. The group is empowered to research other successful municipal climate change action plans and tap the community for ideas and solutions to related problems. Members will recommend, if needed, legislative action, draft suggestions for including open data and benchmarking in city operations and offer status reports and presentations to council and the public. Within six months, the working group will submit a draft climate change plan to council, which will be presented at a public meeting. If legislative action is needed to enact the plan, the group will work with the city to develop draft proposals to submit to council within a year. At its next meeting Feb. 21, city council will consider Reyold's proposals to overhaul the city's social media presence and to utilize open data. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Lehigh University police last week raided a fraternity house party and called EMS to take a "highly intoxicated" partygoer to the hospital, court records show. Two fraternity brothers are now charged with recklessly endangering another person for allegedly failing to seek medical attention for the partygoer. The raid, which occurred shortly before midnight Thursday at the Delta Chi house, happened just days before the university confirmed that Delta Chi is suspended from conducting all activities. A university spokeswoman on Monday refused to disclose the reason for the suspension, citing the "need to protect student privacy and confidentiality." But the court records filed by Lehigh University police Cpl. David Kokinda describe officers arriving Thursday night to a chaotic scene at the frat house, 86 Upper Sayre Park Road on Lehigh's campus in Bethlehem. "Upon entering the building, officers observed over 100 partygoers inside," Kokinda wrote. "Officers also observed beer, wine and malt liquor that was available for anyone to consume. There (were) no safeguards in place or people checking identifications of partygoers to confirm they were 21 years of age." Inside the house, officers found the highly intoxicated partygoer with a cut on his forehead; he was vomiting and unresponsive, according to court records. They called EMS, and he was taken to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill for treatment. Kokinda wrote in court records that officers conducted interviews after the raid with Thomas Hyndman, 20, of Churchville, Pa., and Alexander Zulauf, 21, of Vienna, Va. Both admitted to knowing the condition of the highly intoxicated partygoer, identified as a 19-year-old man, and not seeking medical treatment for him, court records say. The records do not indicate that Hyndman and Zulauf are affiliated with Delta Chi, but they do say Hyndman admitted to being the party's host. And a member directory of Delta Chi's Lehigh chapter shows both are active members. Christian Wargo, a spokesman for Iowa City, Iowa-based Delta Chi, said Tuesday: "We're aware of the situation and we are looking at the matter to see what exactly happened and where it's going to go." In addition to recklessly endangering another person, Hyndman is also charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor. Both charges are misdemeanors. Neither Hyndman nor Zulauf have been arraigned. They will receive summonses to appear in the court of District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez. Preliminary hearings for both are tentatively scheduled for March 9. Hyndman, through his mother, declined comment on Tuesday, and efforts to reach Zulauf were unsuccessful. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Police are investigating a Wednesday morning homicide in Bethlehem's South Side, according to Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. The district attorney confirmed the killing but did not have further details at this time. He declined to say whether a suspect has been taken into custody. Morganelli also didn't know where the homicide took place. Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek told the Morning Call newspaper the homicide occurred on Sioux Street. Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio was not immediately available to provide further information. Neighbors were stunned Wednesday morning to learn about the killing. A man living in the 800 block of Sioux Street said around 1:30 a.m. he heard four loud bangs that sounded like gunshots along nearby Bishopthorpe Street. "Cops were then all over the place out here," he said. "The whole street was blocked off. " Another man who declined to give his name said his wife woke up him up at 3:30 a.m. frantic over the sirens and red lights flashing. The houses along Sioux Street are across from Holy Ghost Cemetery in the regularly quiet neighborhood. "I looked out and said, 'What are they doing here?'" said the man who's lived in the neighborhood for more than three decades. Another 53-year-old man living on Bishopthorpe Street just woke up to take his wife to an early medical appointment when he saw the police. He's lived in South Side Bethlehem his whole life, he said. "Not too often (is there police activity)," said the man, who declined to give his name. "There's the occasional broken window and some (criminal mischief). But it's fairly decent." Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A man showed a knife with brass knuckles and repeatedly called another man racial slurs during a fight outside the Hookah Lounge in Bethlehem, police said. Charged is Markies Nelson Dolich, 21, of the 4000 block of Ettornia Drive in Walnutport. A city officer shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday was on patrol when he saw two men arguing loudly in front of the Hookah Lounge, 203 E. Third St. A male victim told police Dolich pulled a knife out and repeatedly called him a racial slur. Court records don't say what led to the dispute. Police searched Dolich and found a black metallic set of brass knuckles with blades extending from them. Dolich appeared intoxicated and had bloodshot, glassy eyes, according to police. A breath test detected alcohol, police said. Dolich is charged with possession of a prohibited offensive weapon, harassment, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned Sunday before District Judge Nancy Matos-Gonzalez, who set bail at $15,000. In lieu of bail, Dolich was sent to Northampton County Prison. Court records show he has since posted bail. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. When Bethlehem resident Ronald Huber bought his city home, there was no bamboo growing on his property. Bethlehem City Council is considering banning bamboo, which some like to plant as a privacy barrier but which spreads like wildfire. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) If there was, he says he would've walked away. But a few years ago bamboo on his neighbor's property began its aggressive creep across the property line. Huber's been quoted $850 for initial treatment and then $22,500 to remove his fence, eradicate the bamboo and reinstall the fence, he said. "It's been a nightmare for me for the last three, four years," Huber said. After hearing similar stories from a handful of residents in recent years, Bethlehem is considering banning residents from growing running bamboo, an invasive species, on their properties. Homeowners often turn to bamboo to offer a privacy barrier, but its fast growing, indestructible nature can quickly turn it from friend to foe. Violators would face summary citations, but it would not apply to anyone who already has the plant growing on their property as long as they take steps to contain or remove it. Tuesday night Bethlehem City Council debated an updated health nuisance ordinance that includes a prohibition on growing running bamboo. Ultimately, council opted send it to committee for further discussion after hearing from residents and the city health bureau. The proposed change was prompted by ongoing complaints from city residents, whose neighbors' bamboo plants have spread to their properties causing damage, explained Kristen Wenrich, city health director. The city fields about a half-dozen complaints annually, prompting an internal look at other municipalities' policies. "We wanted to be on a more proactive end," Wenrich said. The plant, which is on the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' invasive plants list, sends out underground runners that can end up quite far from the parent plant, estimate to grow up to 30 feet in a growing season. They can cause damage to foundations, buildings, fences and underground infrastructure, Wenrich said. It differs from clumping bamboo, which grow in limited climate zones and would still be permitted in Bethlehem. "If you had bamboo prior to this ordinance, if it is enacted, you could keep your bamboo but certain conditions would need to be met," Wenrich said. The city would not be going out and hunting for bamboo growing on properties but would respond to complaints. The proposal would require bamboo be isolated from other vegetation by a high-density polypropylene or polyethylene barrier, which is secured and joined together with stainless steel clamps or closure strips, and goes at least 30 inches deep. At least 3 inches of barrier must stick up above ground level and it must slant outward from bottom to top. No part of the plant or its root system can be closer than 20 feet from a property line, utility easement or public right of way. Resident Sloan Wertman, who has had complaints made to the city about bamboo growing on her property, said she was upset to hear that a memo was sent to council outlining properties in the city with bamboo growing. It seems the city is embarking on a policy that would affect specific property owners, she said. "I do not believe property owners were made aware of this," Wertman said. Wenrich said she forwarded a list and photos of properties that the city had fielded complaints about to show council the scope of the problem. She noted without an ordinance on the books the city has been powerless to do anything about the bamboo. It seemed inappropriate to only notify select homeowners, Wenrich said. "We don't know every single property in the city that has bamboo growing on them," she said. Wertman, the property owner with bamboo growing, urged council to be transparent and offer affected residents due process. She suggested council look at other solutions to dealing with bamboo that are less costly than the proposed barrier. The treatment outlined in the proposed ordinance comes from the American Bamboo Society, Wenrich said. Councilman Shawn Martell said he was struggling with the policy because he sees both sides: It is an invasive plant that could spread, but he also worries about the costs associated with containing or eradicating existing bamboo. "It seems removal is quite difficult as well," Martell said. Council Vice President Adam Waldron questioned how bamboo differs from a tree overhanging into a yard and dropping leaves or acorns. "There are whole neighborhoods that can be impact by one person planting bamboo," Wenrich said. Waldron noted he was playing devil's advocate but also struggling to see the need for this. He suggested referring it to committee for further discussion, which council supported. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 19-year-old woman was killed early Wednesday in an apparent shooting in Bethlehem's South Side. Police Chief Mark DiLuzio said shots rang out at 1:43 a.m. at Fiot and Sioux streets. The teen was found lying on the ground about two blocks away from where shots were fired, he said. The teen appeared to have been shot, DiLuzio said. Police and rescue squad workers attempted CPR but were unable to revive the victim. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek. Police did not identify the victim, saying that information would come from Lysek. Lysek did not immediately return a request for information Wednesday. Bethlehem police said no further information would be released, including whether a suspect has been taken into custody. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli also declined to say if a suspect has been detained. Neighbors Wednesday were stunned to learn about the killing. The houses along Sioux Street are across from Holy Ghost Cemetery in the typically quiet neighborhood. "Not too often (is there police activity)," said a 53-year-old man, who declined to give his name. "There's the occasional broken window and some (criminal mischief). But it's fairly decent." Another male neighbor living on Sioux Street said he heard what sounded like four gunshots around the time of the crime. Police then swarmed the scene and the street was taped off, he said. Those with information about the shooting should call Bethlehem Police Detective Christopher Beebe at 610-997-7681 or 610-865-7187. Calls can be confidential. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) toward the Yellow Sea Saturday, the South Korean military said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected th... The South Korean football governing body confirmed on Saturday the men's national team captain Son Heung-min had undergone successful surgery on fractures around his left eye, thou... In a crucial South Korean baseball championship game with his club's title hopes hanging in the balance, Kiwoom Heroes left-hander Lee Seung-ho delivered the best postseason outing... "The Astronaut," the first official single by Jin of the K-pop supergroup BTS, has landed at No. 61 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100. According to the latest chart ... Kildare County Council has received a planning application from Waterways Ireland to develop the Blueway along 47kms of land in Kildare. The application was lodged on January 27 last for the proposed development of a multi-use shared leisure route known as the Barrow Blueway. The proposal consists of the development of a multi-use shared leisure route on the Grand Canal and River Barrow through areas such as Athy, Monasterevin and Rathangan, to develop a Barrow Blueway, a 112km long shared-use trail for local people and visitors to enjoy along the route of the Barrow Way-Marked Way. The Barrow River and Barrow Line of the Grand Canal are described as waterway corridors of national and international importance and spectacular recreation and leisure amenities. Both the river and canal support a myriad of sustainable activities and sustain a rich and diverse built and natural heritage. It is the intention of Waterways Ireland to develop the existing track way along the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal and Barrow River as a 112km Blueway. The route commences in Lowtown, County Kildare, passes through County Laois and finishes in St. Mullins, County Carlow. Approximately 47km of the route is in County Kildare, 16km in County Laois and 52km in County Carlow. The planning application is currently under assessment by the Council. Submissions are due by March 2 next. There has been some high profile opposition to the development in Carlow with campaigners including Gabriel Byrne and Olivia O'Leary worried that any development will impact local wildlife. It is exactly 100 years since Henry Ford established the Ford factory on the Marina in Cork city, and Ford Ireland plans to mark the centenary through a number of exciting initiatives in 2017. Ford has launched an extensive and impactful new marketing campaign based around the companys Irish centenary. Irish-American actor Aidan Quinn features in a campaign which is already becoming familiar to Irish motorists. Continue reading below... There are many activities, promotions and events planned throughout the year, with one of the highlights being a Gala Dinner Event at City Hall on April 21 to mark the actual centenary. Commenting on the centenary, Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, said: Ford has a unique heritage in Ireland, not only through the companys close family links with Cork but also through the Cork Ford factory and of course many decades of much-loved Ford cars and vans on Irish roads. And we are still to the forefront in the automotive sector in Ireland with the widest network of dealers, providing employment, directly and indirectly, to some 1,000 people across the country. Ford vehicles were and still are an ubiquitous sight on the streets and roads of Ireland all through the 20th century and right up to the present day, Mr. McMahon went on. The brands constant popularity meant that almost every Irish person grew up with a Ford car in the family or had aunts, uncles and neighbours who drove a Ford. The factory is sadly no more, but Ford remains one of the best-selling brands in both the car and van market in Ireland, he added. Several of our models including the Fiesta, Focus and Transit are segment leaders while the all new Mustang is in a class of its own. The company is also looking to the future as we plan for the next century of business in Ireland, said the Ford Ireland chief. Ford is the company with the largest test fleet of autonomous driving vehicles in the world, and in 2017 we will start testing autonomous vehicles across Europe. The company is moving from traditional vehicle manufacture to being a smart mobility solutions provider as we tackle the global mobility challenges of the 21st century. Ford Family Roots in Cork The Ford Motor Company was set up in Michigan by Henry Ford in 1903. True to his roots, just 14 years later Henry opened the first purpose-built Ford factory to be located outside of North America at the Marina in Cork. Henrys father, William Ford, emigrated from Ballinascarty in Co. Cork (50km from Cork City) with his parents and siblings in 1847 during the Famine; Henry was born in Michigan in 1863. Growing up on the family farm, Henry developed a strong interest in mechanics. At first, he concentrated his efforts on making work easier for farmers but he soon came to realise the potential of the motor car as a force for good for the development of societies across the globe. Although he cannot be credited with inventing the motor car, Henry Ford was the man who brought motoring to the masses: the affordable yet rugged vehicles he was producing through his newly invented production-line manufacturing technique which has since been copied by practically every vehicle and machinery manufacturer across the globe. Bringing it all back home Ford factory established in Cork 1917 When it came time to expand the business to Europe, there is no doubt that Henrys Cork roots played an important part in his decision to open a plant in Cork. In his own words, he hoped that the new Ford plant would start Ireland along the road to industry. The setting up of the Ford plant in Cork was the first example of foreign direct investment in Ireland, many decades before the term was even coined. The company that he legally established was entitled Henry Ford & Son Ltd. and that continues to be the legal name of Ford in Ireland to this day the only Ford entity in the world to include the full name of the companys founder in its title. When the Cork Ford plant became fully operational, Europe was just emerging from a catastrophic World War and Communist Russia was in the midst of a huge modernisation programme so tractors were the vehicles that were most urgently needed. The Fordson tractor was the main product produced by the Cork plant, which in 1929 became the largest tractor factory in the world. However, the factory also produced passenger models, including the iconic Model T. Indeed, the last Model T ever produced by Ford anywhere in the world rolled off the Cork factory production line in December 1928. In addition to the Model T, the Cork factory also produced all the other main Ford vehicles that were sold in Europe from the 30s right up to the 70s and 80s including the Model A, Model BF and Model Y; Prefect; Anglia; Escort; Cortina; and Sierra. With Irelands accession to the EEC in 1973, Ireland had to comply with new rules that lifted the previous restrictions on imports of fully built motor vehicles into the country; this, combined with a depressed car market in the late 1970s and early 1980s meant that the plant became no longer viable and, regrettably, it closed its doors in 1984. In the intervening years, Ford has continued to be a strong player on the automotive scene in Ireland and the company has the widest network of dealers in the country with 52 dealerships. For more information on Ford in Kildare, contact Finlay Motor Group, Naas, on 045 431725. No blood was visible on the floor of the main function room in the Town House Hotel, Naas. There were heated exchanges aplenty though, because many of those who turned up to vent their frustration came with a short fuse. Naas Against Authority Sabotage (NAAS) set up by two town natives Mary Burke-Spratt and Chris Wilson, had morphed into a committee of eight by the nights end. Many more people than expected turned out and it must have a been a liberating experience for residents, who have seen business after business close as shoppers desert Naas for the out-of-town centres pushed on their way by a lack of car park spaces. NAAS called the meeting for the hotels restaurant on Friday night. But it quickly became clear it would not be big enough. So there was a delay while the organisers waited for an unrelated event to end in the larger function room. This room was just about big enough. Sixty three chairs were available but probably four times that figure were needed so most of the people stood on three sides of the room. Kildare County Council was the lightning rod for much of the criticism. Spurred into action by plans to get rid of 22 car park spaces between Swans on the Green and Gouldings Hardware, NAASs gathering was characterised by frustration and hostility. It was chaired by Tina OKelly. In the circumstances she did a fine job. The circumstances were that it looked a tricky task to achieve some consensus in an environment where many wanted to talk, where there was criticism and counter criticism and an undercurrent of anger generated by the knowledge that Naass retail sector needs help. Ms OKelly kept play within the sidelines and steered the proceedings to an acceptable conclusion, stressing at the outset the event was non-political. The attendance was broadly representative of the community, but with many more town natives than the bigger non-native cohort among Naass population of 21,500. There were retailers, their customers, six of the nine Naas councillors and two TDs. They heard Ms Burke-Spratt say existing cycle lanes are not used and accused KCC of not doing enough for Naas. The church steeple used to be the towns landmark; now its the cranes in the shopping centre, she said. Ms Wilson said the loss of 40 car park spaces (including the Poplar Square redevelopment) will cost KCC 786,000 a year and this will be made up by the shop owners. The most popular politician there and there was much criticism of the councillors who voted for the Poplar Square redevelopment was Darren Scully, who pointed to his record of opposing the loss of car park spaces. Cllr Scully said only three councillors voted against the Poplar Road plan - him Seamie Moore and Anne Breen Larry Swan predicted the loss of the spaces will destroy business and suggested an alternative cycle route using the Ballymore Road instead of the Kilcullen Road. With profits of 15c on milk, 20c on a newspaper and 5c on a scratch card youll need to sell a load and the footfall is not there to do this, said Mr Swan. He said the McAuley Place project did not initially sit well with KCC officials and it had to be fought for. It took a huge effort to get this through and we will need to fight like that again in Naas, he said. Naas Mayor Fintan Brett reminded the meeting that the councillors did not vote in favour of opening the shopping centre in Monread. This was an An Bord Pleanala decision and when we contacted them, An Bord Pleanala said we had no business writing to them. Commercial landlord Robin Skelton said new businesses will be slow to arrive unless they are incentivised by evidence of footfall and a rates reduction. People have to be convinced it makes sense to come to Naas during the day as well as at night. Bill Clear (Naas Tidy Towns) was the only supporter of the lanes saying that the Kilcullen Road is unsafe for cyclists, partly because of the ring road intersection. He said shops were closing when there were no cycle lanes in Naas. There was just a little unintended humour. When Fianna Fail TD James Lawless began to speak without identifying himself. He was interrupted by a female voice asking : Who are you ? Mostly though the tone was redolent of journalist John Healys account of the economic decline of his native Charlestown in County Mayo. Healys book , produced in 1968, was about the death of an Irish town and entitled No One Shouted Stop. If history is to repeat itself in Naas, it won't be for the want of people shouting Stop. The Federal International Relations Committee held its inaugural meeting in central London on 28 January which, for those of us living beyond the M25, meant a rather early start, albeit for a good cause. And we had much to do, not all of it entirely political. For, with any new body comes a panoply of administration which, although rather dull, is essential to making sure that, when decisions are taken, they are valid. We had, fortunately, elected a Chair in advance, as only one of the directly elected members, Robert Woodthorpe Browne, applied for the post. Standing Orders have been adopted, a secretary elected, and a communications plan initiated. The bureaucracy dealt with, the Committee looked at forthcoming business. Liberal International is currently drafting a new manifesto, timed for release during its Congress in Andorra in mid-May. 2017 sees the Liberal International reach its seventieth birthday, and the new document is intended to be a reboot of the original Oxford Manifesto, written in the shadow of World War 2, which espoused a liberal platform for the rebuilding of peace and democracy after such a calamity. But time moves on, and global liberalism faces new challenges. Ill report more on this in the coming weeks. ALDE Party Council meets in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 1-3 June, and preparations for our delegation are underway. We send a delegation of seven members, five elected directly by the membership, plus the Party President and the Chair of the Committee. The Committee noted that we need to design a process to open up our delegation to the Annual Congress to the wider membership. We received a report from Harriet Shone, the Partys International Officer. Harriet is extremely busy at the moment, delivering a range of projects in such places as Bulgaria, Georgia and Kenya, with particular emphasis on the forthcoming African Liberal Network General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Nairobi in March. A pan-African youth conference will take place in the same venue just beforehand, and Harriet and our two new interns, Niklas and Mikaela, are working hard to make both events a success. The Secretary General of Liberal International, Emil Kirjas, came to take part in our discussion after lunch as we explored how the organisation could be more effective and how it might evolve to play a role in developing liberalism in places where it is currently weak, as well as supporting liberal administrations around the world. The afternoon was spent discussing a strategy for the Committee. According to the Constitution, the Federal Board sets the strategy for our Committee, but in the early days of the new governance arrangements, there is scope for a two-way dialogue and were keen to find ways of adding value to the Partys campaigning activities, both through outreach with diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, but also with British citizens living abroad, encouraging them to register to vote and, more importantly, to vote Liberal Democrat. As already noted, we adopted a communications plan, designed to make Committee members more visible and, more importantly, more accountable. There is much good work being done, and we want to make sure that members know what were doing in their name, as well as providing them with opportunities to get involved. Finally, we intend to look at policy over the coming months, supporting the making of new policy, as well as advising the Parliamentary Parties on issues relating to foreign affairs. Theres a lot to do over the coming months, and we hope to keep Liberal Democrat Voice readers, and the wider Party, up to date with our activities as events unfold. * Mark Valladares has the honour of being the Secretary of the Federal International Relations Committee. He believes in good governance, transparency and a sense of humour Much of the coverage of the new law pardoning thousands of gay men for historic convictions became law last week. The Lib Dem peer who fought for this for years, John Sharkey, has written for Pink News about why this was such an important issue for him. He started with an account of how homosexual acts became a crime in the first place almost casually. On 6 August 1885, late at night in the Commons debate on the Criminal Law Amendment Act, Henry Labouchere suddenly produced an amendment to the Bill before the House. This amendment criminalised homosexual acts. The only discussion was over the penalty to be imposed. Labouchere had proposed a maximum of one year. Sir Henry James suggested two years and Labouchere agreed. The whole debate had four speakers, including Labouchere. It lasted four minutes and consisted of a total of 440 words, but 75,000 men were convicted under this amendment, and Alan Turing was one of those. At university, he had been taught by Turings closest friends and got to know his story: Turing led the way in cracking the Enigma code. This alone probably turned the Battle of the Atlantic. Respected commentators estimate that this shortened the war by two years, saving many, many thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of lives. This was Turings work. Turing is also one of the fathers, if not the father, of computer science. Every time anyone, anywhere, uses a computer for any purpose there is a kind of debt to Turing. And Turing was treated with terrible cruelty, as were all convicted under the Labouchere amendment. People recognise that Turing was a hero and a very great man. As long ago as 1999, Time magazine named Turing as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2002, Turing was ranked 21st in the BBCs poll of the 100 greatest Britons. On the centenary of Turings birth, there were a very large number of events all over the world celebrating Turings life and his achievements. More than 40 countries were involved in those celebrations. He was convicted in 1952 of gross indecency and sentenced to chemical castration. He committed suicide two years later. The Government know that Turing was a hero and a very great man. They acknowledge that he was cruelly treated. They must have seen the esteem in which he is held here and around the world. The Government had previously fought John Sharkeys attempts to secure posthumous pardons for those convicted under the Labouchere law. The Justice Minister didnt let any of that show last week when he tried to take credit for it. The reality is that if John Sharkey hadnt pushed for this for so long, it wouldnt have happened. * Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online. ARTISTS are being invited to submit their proposals for a bronze sculpture of the late broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan to Limerick's local authority. Limerick City and County Council is to invite a number of artists who work in creating life-sized sculptures through the medium of bronze and who can deliver within a specified timeframe, to come up with ideas. A selection committee including input from the public will then select the preferred memorial. Speaking following the first anniversary of his death last week, the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Kieran OHanlon said: Terry was welcomed into the homes of millions of Irish and British people either on the television or radio. 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. A PENSIONER will be sentenced next month after he was convicted of multiple counts of defiling a young girl over a two year period. Throughout a six-day trial at Limerick Circuit Court, the now 71-year-old denied the offences which were alleged to have happened at locations in Limerick and Clare on dates between June 2009 and June 2011. The complainant, who was aged 13 when the first of the offences happened, broke down on several occasions while giving evidence before the jury over the course of two days last week. The schoolgirl is not related to the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons at this stage. After deliberating for almost four hours, the jury returned majority 10-2 guilty verdicts on all 16 charges this Tuesday. However, the foreman indicated the six men and six women could not agree a verdict in relation to three charges of sexual assault. After recording the jurys verdict, Judge Tom ODonnell ordered that the name of the defendant, who has an address in the city, be immediately placed on the register of sexual offenders. He granted him bail despite a garda objection pending a sentencing hearing at the end of March. LIMERICK has had its fair share of characters over the years but perhaps one of the greatest was Mrs Nora Quirke, better known as Dodo Reddan. Many of us did not know her name when she walked among us but we could identify her as the rather tall elderly lady, sometimes flamboyantly dressed, seen pushing a battered old pram containing two or three small dogs through this citys streets with perhaps a larger dog trotting along behind her on a leash. From a working-class background, Dodo was born on Nelson Street in Limerick city in 1922 and was educated at the Presentation Convent, Sexton Street, and St. Marys. Dodo had an ongoing relationship with this newspaper. We covered her various adventures and she used its columns to reach out for causes close to her heart. Dodo was a champion of those less fortunate than herself, animal and human. Coming up to Christmas 1990, Dodo issued an appeal in the Leader for unwanted toys in good condition for children in the poorest areas of our city. This was an annual task which she performed on her own initiative. It was her habit also to go out in the evenings to distribute soup to the citys homeless. One such trip in 1995 she found a box of abandoned puppies and used the papers columns to appeal for new homes for them. On another occasion, she found a very sick dog which had been left on the railway tracks near her home on Careys Road to be run over by a train. Sadly, the dog was in such poor shape it had to be put to sleep. Dodos rage at the treatment of this poor dog was documented in an article in July 1991. By 1991, Dodos had attained something of a minor celebrity status in the city. She was featured in the Personal Profile segment and disclosed that her dislike was snobs. It seems, however, she was not overly enamoured with Limerick County Council either. Her greatest disappointment, she said, was that the Council had not built a dogs home. Previously, in January 1990, when there was considerable talk about the introduction of domestic water charges, Dodo was having none of it. She sent a long poem called Cool, Clear Water to the Leader. It must be said that Dodo was no Seamus Heaney but nevertheless, she made her point well. One verse from the poem illustrates Dodos attitude: The city manager thinks hed Put us in the klink If we dont pay our water charges But his nose it will shine Before he will get mine Thank God were surrounded by water. Dodos status as a legend evolved through her love of rugby. She is best and most fondly remembered for her support of Young Munster RFC. She would unfailingly arrive at Thomond Park or at whatever venue the team was playing, gaily dressed, with pram and dogs festooned in black and amber. However, it was her exploits in getting to the 1993 League final at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, complete with pram and dogs, that raised Dodos status to legend. Having failed to get passenger accommodation on the train from Limerick, the indefatigable Dodo travelled in the goods compartment. Her next difficulty was getting from the station in Dublin to Lansdowne Road as no taxi or bus would carry her but she made it. She didnt get to see much of the match but when she did appear a huge rousing cheer went up. Young Munsters had a famous victory over St Marys that day and in every report Dodos triumphant appearance is recorded with great glee. Sadly, Dodo died after a short illness on September 3, 1995 at St Johns Hospital. Her funeral Mass was celebrated at St Saviours Dominican Church on September 5 and she was buried afterwards at Mount St Oliver Cemetery. Dodos passing is not quite the end of the story. The extent of her care for the strays of Limerick was not fully understood until after her death when it became apparent that she had been operating what was in effect a one-woman animal rescue centre with her own meagre resources. Dodo left behind no less than twenty four dogs and Limerick Animal Welfare was tasked with the unenviable job of rehoming them all. In accordance with Dodos wishes none of the dogs were put down. It was later mooted that a statue of Dodo be erected in the city. To date this has not been done. Dodo represented all that is great about Limerick and about rugby in Limerick. She was far from the typical rugby supporter, being an unconventional elderly woman from a working-class background, but she embodied the inclusivity, the grit, the compassion and the fun that has come to characterise rugby in this proud city. Doesnt that deserve a statue? Both Maureen Sparling and John Johnston have immortalised Dodo in verse. We will leave the last word to Maureen who, in her collection, Happy Memories, describes Dodo thus: A character caring and unique For no special notice does she seek, Through our city, devoid of pageant Our Dodo has become a legend. OVERCROWDING at University Hospital Limerick remains at the highest level in the country this Wednesday, with 41 people being treated on trolleys. According to figures collated by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), UHL has 22 patients on trolleys in the emergency department and 19 on trolleys in the wards the highest in the country, followed closely by Cork University Hospital, which has 39. The trolley figures place Limerick at the highest in the country for a third consecutive day this week, but have dropped from Tuesdays 46. The overcrowding figure has been consistently high at UHL but remains some way short of Januarys peak of 66 yet the hospital is regularly the most overcrowded in the country. 27 beds that were opened between St Johns Hospital, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals to alleviate overcrowding have now reverted back to their original use. 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 spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group has said. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Archaeologists found several grave goods within the Viking burial, including a sword (top), the remains of fabric that was wrapped around the blade of the sword (lower right) and the decoration on the pommel of the sword (bottom left). About 1,000 years ago, Vikings dug a grave for a "warrior of high status" and buried him in a boat that was overflowing with grave goods, including a hefty sword and a broad-bladed ax, according to a new study. The Viking warrior was buried in western Scotland's Swordle Bay, far from his home in Scandinavia. But, the artifacts found in his grave are Scandinavian, Scottish and Irish in origin, the researchers found. The rare finding provides insights into how the peoples of western Scotland lived and interacted during the 10th century, when this Viking was buried, the researchers said. [Images: Viking Jewelry Revealed in Sparkling Photos] "The findings suggest a connection between Scandinavia and Ireland in the objects found, as well as information about the history of diet of the person buried here and their connections away from Swordle Bay," the study's lead researcher, Oliver Harris, an associate professor of archaeology at the University of Leicester, said in a statement. Researchers discovered the grave in 2011 on Scotland's remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula. They were amazed to find that the individual was buried with warrior-related weapons, including an ax, sword, spear and shield. The scientists also found 213 of the boat's metal rivets, which survived while the wooden boat decayed over the years. Other artifacts found in the grave include a broad-bladed ax (top left), shield box (top right), ringed pin (bottom right) and hammer and tongs (bottom left). (Image credit: Pieta Greaves/AOC Archaeology) Other grave goods that were discovered in the burial relate to daily life, cooking, work, farming and food production, the researchers said. Moreover, the grave is close to a Neolithic burial cairn (a human-made stone mound), whose stones may have been incorporated into the Viking grave, the researchers said. "The Ardnamurchan boat burial represents the first excavation of an intact Viking boat burial by archaeologists on the U.K. mainland, and provides a significant addition to our knowledge of burial practices from this period," Harris said. The archaeological team also found a shield boss (the domed part of the shield that protected the warrior's hand); a whetstone made from a kind of rock that's found in Norway; and a single copper-alloy ringed pin, which was likely used to fasten a burial cloak or shroud. In addition, the grave held the mineralized remains of textiles and wood. "Critically, when considering a burial like this, it is essential to remember that each of these objects, and each of these actions, was never isolated, but rather they emerge out of, and help to form, an assemblage that knits together multiple places, people and moments in time," the researchers said in the statement. An analysis of the isotopes in the man's teeth (an isotope is an element that has a different number of neutrons than normal in its nucleus) suggests that he grew up in Scandinavia, the researchers noted. Other recent Viking discoveries include an immense ax buried with a Viking "power couple" in Denmark, and Viking graves with the bodies of beheaded slaves in Norway. The study was published in the February issue of the journal Antiquity. Original article on Live Science. Little is known about the habits and behaviors of Andean bears, also known as spectacled bears. Machu Picchu, the site of historic Incan ruins and a popular destination for tourists, is also a favorite destination for South America's only native bear species the Andean bear. In a recent survey of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, park officials and conservationists found signs of Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in most of the Peruvian site, revealing that the bears are more widespread and more established in the famous Incan ruins than was previously suspected, representatives from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced Jan. 26 in a statement. Machu Picchu is registered as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and is one of only 35 sites recognized for both cultural and natural significance. The survey's findings will help officials better preserve the bears' habitat as researchers continue to investigate the Andean bears' lifestyle and habits, about which little is known. [Andean Bears Are Right at Home in Machu Picchu | Video] Sometimes referred to as spectacled bears due to pale yellow or white markings around their eyes, Andean bears are omnivores that measure up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) in length and can weigh as much as 400 pounds (181 kilograms). They live in the forests and grasslands of the Andes Mountains, ranging from Venezuela to Bolivia. More than 30 trained researchers and park officials participated in the recent year-long survey for Andean bears in the Machu Picchu sanctuary. (Image credit: Diego Perez/WCS Peru) For the Machu Picchu survey, the WCS partnered with the Peruvian federal agency Servicio Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP). From August 2014 to September 2015, 30 park officials and researchers investigated rainforest and grassland habitats, searching for evidence of Andean bears scat, footprints and feeding signs. They found evidence in abundance traces of Andean bears appeared in more than 95 percent of an area of Machu Picchu measuring 142 square miles (368 square kilometers), according to the WCS. Machu Picchu draws over 2,500 human visitors daily, the Peruvian Times reported in 2014, but interactions between bears and people remain rare. Though Andean bears are active during the daytime, they are shy and avoid contact with humans, according to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature. Video footage captured in 2016 shows a young Andean bear climbing over the ruins at the site in close proximity to tourists, but this was under highly unusual circumstances, officials told Peruvian news station Canal N. The bear had been startled by a Peruvian helicopter circling overhead, which violated the area's no-fly zone, Fertur Peruvian Travel Blog reported. A year-long survey found Andean bears in more than 95 percent of the study area within the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, one of the most visited places in South America. (Image credit: Copyright Ever Chuchullo) The survey also determined that the Machu Picchu bears are part of a larger group of Andean bears that intermingle via grassland "corridors" natural connections between separated habitats that occur at elevations of more than 11,000 feet (3,400 meters) above sea level. "It is amazing that this world famous location is also [an] important habitat for Andean bears," Isaac Goldstein, coordinator of WCS's Andean Bear Program, said in a statement. "The results of the survey will help us to understand the needs of this species and how to manage Andean bears in this location." Original article on Live Science. An expansive new image shows the changes in Antarctica's Larsen Ice Shelf since the mid-1980s. The story is one of retreat, and the ice continues to crumble. A growing crack in a portion of the ice shelf called Larsen C is poised to free an iceberg the size of Delaware from the continent. Larson C isn't visible in the new satellite image, which focuses on two more northerly portions of the sheet, Larsen A and Larsen B. Ice shelves are floating mattresses of ice that form from the outflow of the glaciers that creep slowly across the Antarctic continent. The Larsen Ice Shelf is on the northeast coast of the Antarctic Peninsula along the Weddell Sea. It was named for the Norwegian explorer Carl Anton Larsen, who explored parts of it in 1893 by ship and ski. [Images of Melt: Earth's Vanishing Ice] Since 1995, the Larsen Ice Shelf has lost 75 percent of its mass, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). In 1995, a 579-square-mile (1,500 square kilometers) chunk of Larsen A broke off from the ice shelf, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. In 2002, an even larger portion of Larsen B 1,255 square miles (3,250 square km) crumbled away. While calving events are normal, collapses of this magnitude have only been seen in the last 30 years, according to the NSIDC. The collapse of floating ice doesn't raise sea levels, but a 2004 study by NSIDC researchers found that in the wake of Larsen B's 2002 collapse, the land-based glaciers that feed the ice sheet have accelerated their flow toward the sea. This speedy flow of ice does have the ability to raise sea levels. Landsat satellite images show the shrinking Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica. (Image credit: NASA) "You can think of the Larsen or really any ice shelf like it is a cork in the neck of a champagne bottle lying on its side," Christopher Shuman, a researcher who has studied these ice sheets at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, told the Earth Observatory. "Once you pop that cork, the wine inside all that glacial ice sitting on land will start flowing out." The newly released image is a combination of four images that were taken by the Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite on Jan. 6 and Jan. 8, according to the Earth Observatory. An overlay shows the former extent of the ice shelf in 1986, 2002 and 2016. The ice sheets are not only retreating, but also thinning, as a 2016 study in the journal Annals of Glaciology by Shuman and his colleagues found. The ice shelf is losing thickness at a rate of between 6.2 feet and 8.9 feet (1.9 and 2.7 meters) each year, with the fastest losses occurring on the eastern side of the shelf, the researchers reported. Scientists expect the remnants of the Larsen B Ice Shelf to vanish entirely as early as 2020, marking the end of an ice mass that previously persisted for 12,000 years. Original article on Live Science. Refrigeration is the process of creating cooling conditions by removing heat. It is mostly used to preserve food and other perishable items, preventing foodborne illnesses. It works because bacteria growth is slowed at lower temperatures. Methods for preserving food by cooling have been around for thousands of years, but the modern refrigerator is a recent invention. Today, the demand for refrigeration and air conditioning represent nearly 20 percent of energy consumption worldwide, according to a 2015 article in the International Journal of Refrigeration. History The Chinese cut and stored ice around 1000 B.C., and 500 years later, the Egyptians and Indians learned to leave earthenware pots out during cold nights to make ice, according to Keep It Cool, a heating and cooling company based in Lake Park, Florida. Other civilizations, such as the Greeks, Romans and Hebrews, stored snow in pits and covered them with various insulating materials, according to History magazine. In various places in Europe during the 17th century, saltpeter dissolved in water was found to create cooling conditions and was used to create ice. In the 18th century, Europeans collected ice in the winter, salted it, wrapped it in flannel, and stored it underground where it kept for months. Ice was even shipped to other locations around the world, according to a 2004 article published in the journal of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). When ice wasn't available or practical, people used cool cellars or placed goods underwater, according to History magazine. Others built their own ice boxes, according to Keep It Cool. Wooden boxes were lined with tin or zinc and an insulating material such as cork, sawdust, or seaweed and filled with snow or ice. Evaporative cooling The concept of mechanical refrigeration began when William Cullen, a Scottish doctor, observed that evaporation had a cooling effect in the 1720s. He demonstrated his ideas in 1748 by evaporating ethyl ether in a vacuum, according to Peak Mechanical Partnership, a plumbing and heating company based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Oliver Evans, an American inventor, designed but did not build a refrigeration machine that used vapor instead of liquid in 1805. In 1820, English scientist Michael Faraday used liquefied ammonia to cause cooling. Jacob Perkins, who worked with Evans, received a patent for a vapor-compression cycle using liquid ammonia in 1835, according to History of Refrigeration. For that, he is sometimes called the "father of the refrigerator." John Gorrie, an America doctor, also built a machine similar to Evans' design in 1842. Gorrie used his refrigerator, which created ice, to cool down patients with yellow fever in a Florida hospital. Gorrie received the first U.S. patent for his method of artificially creating ice in 1851. Other inventors around the world continued to develop new and improve existing techniques for refrigeration, according to Peak Mechanical, including: Ferdinand Carre, a French engineer, developed a refrigerator that used a mixture containing ammonia and water in 1859. Carl von Linde, a German scientist, invented a portable compressor refrigeration machine using methyl ether in 1873, and in 1876 switched to ammonia. In 1894, Linde also developed new methods for liquefying large amounts of air. Albert T. Marshall, an American inventor, patented the first mechanical refrigerator in 1899. Renowned physicist Albert Einstein patented a refrigerator in 1930 with the idea of creating an environmentally friendly refrigerator with no moving parts and did not rely on electricity. The popularity of commercial refrigeration grew toward the end of the 19th century due to breweries, according to Peak Mechanical, where the first refrigerator was installed at a brewery in Brooklyn, New York, in 1870. By the turn of the century, nearly all breweries had a refrigerator. The meatpacking industry followed with the first refrigerator introduced in Chicago in 1900, according to History magazine, and almost 15 years later, nearly all meatpacking plants used refrigerators. Refrigerators were considered essential in homes by the 1920s, according to History magazine, and more than 90 percent of American homes had a refrigerator. Today, nearly all homes in the United States 99 percent have at least one refrigerator, and about 26 percent of U.S. homes have more than one, according to a 2009 report by the U.S. Department of Energy. How does a refrigerator work? Refrigerators today work very similarly to refrigerators over a hundred years ago: by evaporating liquids, according to SciTech. Refrigerants, the liquid chemicals that are used to cool, evaporate at low temperatures. The liquids are pushed through the refrigerator through tubes and begin to vaporize. As the liquids evaporate, they carry heat away with them as the gases travel to a coil on the outside of the refrigerator, where the heat is released. The gases are returned to a compressor, where they become liquid again, and the cycle repeats. Refrigerator safety Early refrigerators used liquids and gases that were flammable, toxic, highly reactive or a combination, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thomas Midgley, an American engineer and chemist, researched safer options in 1926 and found that compounds containing fluorides appeared to be a great deal safer. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), marketed by DuPont as Freon, grew in popularity, until the compounds were found to be harmful to the ozone layer in the atmosphere nearly 50 years later. Most of the refrigerators manufactured today use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), according to the California Energy Commission, which are safer than CFCs and many other options, but still not the most ideal. The EPA keeps an updated list of acceptable materials that can be used in refrigerators as a coolant. Refrigerators keep food safe, but only if operating at proper temperatures, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When refrigerators aren't kept cold enough, harmful bacteria within perishable foods grow rapidly and can contaminate the food, causing mild irritations to severe food poisoning if it is eaten. The FDA recommends that a refrigerator's temperature be set at a maximum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius); also, the refrigerator should not be not overly packed, and spills should be promptly cleaned. Refrigerators of the future New technologies in refrigeration include solid-state refrigerators and refrigerators that use magnets. Traditionally, refrigerators have relied on large compressors, which generate a lot of heat and can easily heat up a room, said Tony Atti, CEO of Phononic, an electronics manufacturer based in Durham, North Carolina. The company gets its name from the theory of phonons, quantum particles that carry heat. Solid-state refrigerators use the entire surface of the refrigerator to very slowly and deliberately dissipate the heat so that an increase in temperature of the room is practically nonexistent and the surface of the refrigerator is cool to the touch, Atti told Live Science. These refrigerators also have the benefit of being free from harmful materials and loud operations, as well as being more accurately controlled. Another new type of refrigerator uses magnets to provide a vibration-free, silent, environmentally friendly refrigerator. Built by Haier in conjunction with BASF and Astronautics, the magnetic refrigerator uses a concept based on the magnetocaloric effect, discovered in 1917 by Pierre Weiss and Auguste Piccard, French and Swiss physicists respectively, according to an article (opens in new tab) by Andrej Kitanovski, et al., a group of scientists from Slovenia and Denmark, in 2015 and published by Springer International Publishing. According to a press release on PR Newswire, proper red wine storage has very specific needs in order to maintain the taste and quality. The Haier refrigerator uses magnetocaloric heat pump (using a material that heats up in a magnetic field and cools down when it is not) with a water-based coolant, according to a news release on BASF, which relies on abundant and affordable raw materials. The magnetic refrigerator also uses up to 35 percent less power than traditional refrigerators. Additional resources Archaeologists recently discovered a cave (entrance, shown at left) near Qumran in Israel, though most of the "Dead Sea Scrolls" in the cave had been taken in the mid-20th century. A cave that held Dead Sea Scrolls before they were stolen in the mid-20th century has been discovered near Qumran. Inside the cave, archaeologists found a blank scroll along with the remains of jars, cloth and a leather strap. The researchers said they believe these items were used to bind, wrap and hold the scrolls. Between 1947 and 1956, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in a series of 11 caves located near the site of Qumran in what is now the West Bank. The scrolls contain copies of books of the Hebrew Bible along with community rules, calendars and astronomical texts, among other writings. Some of the scrolls were found by the Bedouin people, who sold the artifacts to antiquities dealers, while other scrolls were found during archaeological excavations. [See Images of the Dead Sea Scrolls] Archaeologists taking part in the excavation said they could tell from modern day pickaxes found in the cave that the newly discovered cave had been robbed. Thus, any scrolls that may have held writing were taken, the researchers said. The scientists added that they think the blank scroll found in the cave was, in ancient times, being prepared for writing. he only scroll found in the Qumran cave was blank, though archaeologists believe that in ancient times it was being prepared for writing. (Image credit: Oren Gutfeld & Ahiad Ovadia) "Although, at the end of the day, no scroll was found, and instead we 'only' found a piece of parchment rolled up in a jug that was being processed for writing, the findings indicate beyond any doubt that the cave contained scrolls that were stolen," said excavation director Oren Gutfeld, an archaeologist at the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology, in a statement. "The findings include the jars in which the scrolls and their covering were hidden, a leather strap for binding the scroll, a cloth that wrapped the scrolls, tendons and pieces of skin connecting fragments, and more," he added. Some of the thousands of fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls that are now in museums or private collections could have come from this new cave rather than the 11 previously known caves, Gutfeld said. "Finding this additional scroll cave means we can no longer be certain that the original locations (Caves 1 through 11) attributed to the Dead Sea scrolls that reached the market via the Bedouins are accurate," Gutfeld said in the statement. The excavation of the cave is part of a larger operation in which the Israel Antiquities Authority is trying to find and excavate caves in the Judean Desert that may hold archaeological remains. The operation was sparked by the activity of looters in the Judean desert. "The important discovery of another scroll cave attests to the fact that a lot of work remains to be done in the Judean Desert, and finds of huge importance are still waiting to be discovered," Israel Hasson, director-general of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in the statement. "We are in a race against time as antiquities thieves steal heritage assets worldwide for financial gain. The state of Israel needs to mobilize and allocate the necessary resources in order to launch a historic operation, together with the public, to carry out a systematic excavation of all the caves of the Judean Desert," Hasson added. Original article on Live Science. A turquoise plume interrupted dark swaths of ocean when an underwater volcano erupted off the coast of Tongatapu, the main island of the Polynesian archipelago Tonga, a new satellite image shows. Murray Ford, a coastal geologist at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, was reviewing satellite images of a young island in Tonga when he noticed a turquoise spot in the ocean. Murray determined that the plume was an underwater volcano actively erupting, according to NASA officials at the agency's Earth Observatory. The satellite image, captured Jan. 27 by the Landsat 8 satellite, shows the plume coming from a seamount located 20 miles (33 kilometers) from Tongatapu. The ocean water's discoloration to vibrant turquoise is caused by the underwater volcano's release of gases, rocks and volcanic fluids during its eruption, according to NASA. Based on other images collected in the area, the agency estimates that the eruption began on Jan. 23. [Axial Seamount: Images of an Erupting Undersea Volcano] "It may continue for some days or weeks, and an island may form temporarily," Martin Jutzeler, a geologist at the University of Tasmania who studies underwater eruptions, said in a statement. "However, new volcanic islands are easily eroded by wave action." Underwater eruptions are common in the Tonga region, which is part of the Tonga-Kermadec volcanic arc and the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean where several tectonic plates meet, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity. The latest eruption plume most likely came from a seamount that geologists call "Submarine Volcano III," which has erupted in 1911, 1923, 1970, 1990 and 2007, according to NASA officials. Though the eruption is underwater, NASA officials warned that the volcanic activity can pose a hazard to ships. Underwater eruptions produce pumice, a light, porous rock that floats to the surface and can clog ship engines. Original article on Live Science. An MIT spinoff company in India is proposing a novel solution to air pollution problems in Asia turning vehicle exhaust into ink. It involves attaching a device, called a Kaalink, to the business end of a standard automobile exhaust pipe. The Kaalink filters and captures unburned carbon emitted by incomplete engine combustion. The technical details of the process are secret, but officials at Gravinky Labs, a spinoff company from MIT Media Lab, said the process is largely mechanical and relatively straightforward. "Our device is designed as a clever fusion of electronic sensors, mechanical actuators and a collection system," company co-founder Anirudh Sharma told Seeker in an email exchange from India. "It is retrofitted to the exhaust pipe of vehicles and mounts through a triangulated screw/clamp-set." According to tests at Graviky Labs, the Kaalink device can capture up to 93 percent of the emitted pollution from standard internal combustion engines. It takes about 45 minutes of exhaust filtering to produce an ounce of ink. But how does the captured carbon get turned into ink? Well, that's under wraps too, but Sharma said the captured carbon comes out the other end of the process as a high-quality printing ink that can be sold in both the consumer and industrial markets. The company has a new crowdfunding campaign to refine its development. Right now, Kaalink devices have to be individually and manually installed by drivers. When the collection apparatus is full, the device can be traded in at Graviky Labs facility in India. Sharma said each unit typically collects carbon for about two weeks of city driving before it needs to be swapped out. (Image credit: Gravinky Labs / Tiger Beer) RELATED: New Thermoelectric Paint Could Power Your Home To really be effective, the system needs to scaled up significantly, and supported by more processing facilities in more areas. The company's new Kickstarter campaign, launched today, is structured to provide funds for a gradual roll-out and expansion of the technology. "At present, we are harvesting and collecting pollution on a small scale in Bengaluru, India," Sharma said. "Currently our collection mechanism involves emptying the units at our own garage." The Air-Ink system has been in development for more than three years already. In fact, Graviky Labs recently partnered with the popular Asian brand Tiger Beer to launch a proof-of-concept awareness campaign in Hong Kong. Fine art painters and street artists were provided with Air-Ink pens, markers and spray paint, then cut loose to literally make art out of air pollution. The demo video is pretty slick, you can check it out below. Sharma said that, down the line, the company hopes to radically expand the system, and not just for vehicles, either. Variations on the Kaalink device could potentially be attached to chimneys, smoke stacks and other industrial exhaust systems. "At this stage, the Kaalink device is still undergoing several rounds of testing and eventual certifications," Sharma said. "We intend to deploy it on cars, trucks and chimneys of various sizes and scales, and help individuals, organizations, and governments capture their own pollution and recycle it." Originally published on Seeker. A woman who woke up in the middle of the night because she felt an odd "crawling sensation" in her head turned out to be harboring a real, live cockroach in her nose, according to a new report of the case. The 42-year-old woman, who lives in Chennai, India, said she woke up after feeling that something had crawled up her nose, reported the New Indian Express. "I could not explain the feeling, but I was sure it was some insect. There was a tingling, crawling sensation. Whenever it moved, it gave me a burning sensation in my eyes," the woman told the New Indian Express. She also reported experiencing a severe headache and difficulty breathing, according to CNN. The woman visited several clinics before doctors found the nightmare-inducing cause. The cockroach had "burrowed into the roof of the nose, almost near the skull base, which is the dividing point between the brain and the nose," Dr. M.N. Shankar, the ear, nose and throat physician who treated the patient at Stanley Medical College in Chennai, told CNN. [27 Oddest Medical Cases] Reports of cockroaches crawling up noses appear to be unusual, doctors said. "I've never actually seen that. I would imagine it's not very common," said Dr. Richard Nelson, an emergency medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, who was not involved in the case. "[But] it makes sense that it could happen," because there have been numerous reports of cockroaches crawling into people's ears, Nelson told Live Science. In fact, Nelson said he has seen at least a dozen cockroaches in people's ears over his three decades in medicine. According to guidelines published in the journal American Family Physician, common foreign objects found in people's (usually children's) noses include beads, buttons, toy parts, pebbles, candle wax, food, paper, cloth and button batteries. Insects are more commonly found in the ears of people who are older than 10 years. It's not clear why bugs more commonly appear in ears than noses, but Nelson speculated that insects in the nose would be more likely to wake people up, and could perhaps be expelled more easily, than an insect in the ears. "Maybe if it goes up the nose, you would start coughing or sneezing and expel the insect, whereas you can't do that in your ear," Nelson said. But if an insect does find its way into the nose, could it crawl into the brain? Nelson said it's "highly unlikely" that the bug could enter the brain from the nose, because a bone separates the top of the nasal passage from the brain. To remove the cockroach, doctors in India first ran an instrument called an endoscope up the woman's nose, so they could see the insect. Then, they used small forceps and a suction machine to remove the bug, according to CNN. The doctors also took a video of their procedure. If doctors hadn't removed the cockroach, it would have likely died, and might have caused an infection, CNN reported. Original article on Live Science. Comedian and "Broad City" star Hannibal Buress is speaking out against famed Houston venue Fitzgerald's after an expletive-filled email exchange with respected Houston producer and DJ, Garrett Brown, known as TrakkSounds. The emails regarding a possible performance by Billboard-charting Tennessee rappers Starlito and Don Trip reached social media and immediately caused an uproar. After quietly opening for a few days during Super Bowl week, Tongue-Cut Sparrow is ready to receive its first official guests tonight when it opens to the public for regular service. The wee space 25 seats in a clubby, masculine setting became a must-do among Houston's craft cocktail community when Bobby Heugel announced last month he was opening a formal bar in a small lair above his Pastry War bar at 310 Main downtown. Of course, any project that Heugel touches would be news. After all, he has brought more craft cocktail attention to Houston than anyone since opening Anvil Bar & Refuge; his prominence within the country's upper tier of bartenders and bar owners is undisputed. SHUTTERED: Hot Houston restaurant serves final meal to customers But the announcement of his Tongue-Cut Sparrow project with general manager Peter Jahnke was something else a true boutique drinking experience where service is paramount and cocktails are exquisitely constructed. Modeled after small, bespoke bars that Heugel and Jahnke frequented while traveling throughout the world, specifically Tokyo, Tongue-Cut promised to be unlike any other cocktail bar in Houston. Why? For one, its size. The bar can accommodate only 25 customers at a time. There's no standing; only 25 seats to occupy at any given time. Guests with reservations (reservations are accepted for about half the bar) will enter an unmarked door in the rear of Pastry War and be escorted upstairs where they were be assigned well-dressed bartenders. Once seated they will be presented with warm towels for their hands. Next will come a menu of 16 classic cocktails (their own re-engineering of the Americano, daiquiri, French 75, gimlet, Sazerac, Collins and martini, to name a few) as well as four original cocktails created specifically for the bar. Cocktails will be served in fine glassware that will be "ice-cold frozen" and presented with cocktail accessories such as metal straws, garnish picks and spoons. (No plastic straws or paper napkins here.) Bottle of wine and champagne will be kept chilling in special buckets made from a type of Japanese cedar that doesn't sweat. Complimentary bar snacks will be served in tiny Japanese china dishes. The music overhead will be jazz (coming from a vintage sound system) like that played in the best Ginza bars in Tokyo. When guests leave, they will be presented with candy in Austrian cut crystal bowls along with their checks. FIRED UP: Chef Tim Love to open new restaurant Heugel and Jahnke have thought through hundreds of details about the look and feel of the bar, from the beautiful ice to the position of the vintage speakers for the music. Even the way cocktails are shaken is different instead of the ubiquitous Boston shaker (built for volume and speed) the bartenders are using the smaller, individual cobbler shakers that keeps the ice colder and requires a different shaking motion to achieve maximum movement, Jahnke said. "It's a whole different methodology," he said. "It's in the details, and there's definitely a difference." So many other details at play, too, that customers might not notice: the height of the bar; the position of the bartenders behind the bar; the physical poise of the bartenders while making a drink; the light level; the sound; the distance of the speakers to the bar; the seating positioning. Jahnke calls all that "the beauty of the intangibles." "The focus is less on cocktail creation and bartender ego, and more on refining every detail of our craft in a more minimal, focused manner," Heugel stated. "Our goal here is to create an incredible bar experience cocktails are only part of that pursuit." HOT IDEA: New pizza concept restaurant expands to Katy Today Tongue-Cut Sparrow (the name is taken from a Japanese fable) begins accepting reservations. Reservations call 713-321-8242 will be accepted for half the room with the rest of the space reserved for walk-ins. The bar will be open Wednesday through Saturday and have the same hours as Pastry War downstairs. Both bars will close at midnight on Wednesday and 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Tongue-Cut Sparrow also is very much an event space and is available for private events seven days a week. When asked how he'll judge the success of Tongue-Cut Sparrow, Heugel was quick to respond: "If people come back." But first they have to get in there. And that starts tonight when Heugel and Jahnke start writing a new chapter of Houston's modern cocktail experience. >>>Scroll through the gallery above to see images of Tongue-Cut Sparrow / A man allegedly sexually assaulted two female siblings while he was babysitting them, according to Laredo police. On Monday, Jesus Meza, 19, was served with warrants charging him indecency with a child by contact and aggravated sexual assault of a child (contact only) in the 500 block of East Lane Street. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. "The availability of a quality broadband service," is essential if the Rural Action Plan is to be a success. That's according to Jonathan Quinn of Property Partners Quinn Bros based in Longford. Property Partners, the nationwide group of long established estate agents has broadly welcomed the announcement by the Taoiseach of the 60 million action plan Realising our Rural Potential. The plan proposes to invest up to 60 million into rural towns and villages over the next three years. The plan has been designed to encourage people to remain in their own locality. Ronan Long, Chairman of Property Partners, "For all too long, as a result of the international trend towards urbanisation, our rural towns and villages have simply been forgotten. They are the heartbeat of our country. It is essential that young people when leaving school, are provided with a viable local alternative to city living. "This requires the availability of appropriate housing, services and employment opportunities. Over the last ten years, this simply has not been an option as the opportunity gap widened between urban and rural living." The governments new plan extends over three years. There are 240 recommendations and proposals in the overall plan which seems somewhat ambitious. A core group of key areas must be targeted. One of these needs to be the immediate delivery of high speed broadband to the 1.8 million people in Ireland who currently do not have access to this basic service. It is vital for day to day living. Jonathan Quinn of Property Partners Quinn Bros, remarked, "The availability of a quality broadband service to all individuals is as fundamental a requirement today as the delivery of electricity was in 1960s Ireland. It is incumbent on the government to deliver this without delay. People have a right to this service. "The National Broadband Plan was unveiled as far back as 2012 and to date no physical work has commenced. It is fundamental for business but even for quality of living people require quality broadband in their homes, its often one of main requirements of people buying houses at present." Long Island School Closings & Delayed Openings Home Education Schools LI School Closure Archives School Closings Kids celebrate it as a snow day, and parents groan at the hassle - School Closures on Long Island. Often taking place during the winter months due to snow or bad road conditions, School Closures are something that Long Islanders have to deal with almost every year, and it is important to have the most up to date information about your School District in order to plan for the days ahead - especially if the children are going to be at home. To keep you in the loop, LongIsland.com's School Closure Page provides you with up to date information on what Long Island schools are closed, and who has class in session - including K-12, Preschools, Colleges and Universities on Long Island. Have a tip about a school closing in your area? Email us at news@longisland.com. You can also view Archived Data on Closings. Coronavirus Update: ALL Suffolk & Nassau School Districts through grade 12 are closed Suffolk County Community College Nassau Community College Farmingdale State College FIT - Fashion Institute of Technology LIU - Long Island University SUNY - remote classes for remainder of semster begins 3/19 CUNY - remote classes for remainder of semster begins 3/19 Stony Brook University Hofstra University Nassau Community College Cornell University New York Institute of Technology Yeshiva University St. John's University NYU Pace University Manhattan College Saint Joseph's College - Brooklyn & Patchogue Adelphi University Molloy College Fordham University Columbia University John Jay College of Criminal Justice Barnard College Princeton University (NJ) Parent-Teacher Conferences Cancelled: Tech & Science, Nature & Weather, Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 Governor Cuomo announced a $15 million proposal to accelerate the use of renewable heating and cooling technologies in New York to stimulate the clean energy economy. Albany, NY - February 7, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $15 million proposal to accelerate the use of renewable heating and cooling technologies in New York to stimulate the clean energy economy. The new policy framework released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority includes a proposed two-year, $15-million program to provide rebates for the installation of ground-source heat pumps. This plan will support the states goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels. New York has made great strides to combat climate change by supporting the use of new technologies and growing our clean energy economy, Governor Cuomo said. We will continue to make green investments that will encourage the use of clean, affordable energy to reduce our carbon footprint and support sustainable communities throughout the state. Currently, fossil-fuel based thermal energy primarily natural gas, propane and oil is the main energy source for space heating, space cooling and domestic hot water in the residential and commercial sectors. It is responsible for approximately 32 percent of New Yorks energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions is integral to the Governors Reforming the Energy Vision strategy for a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. Renewable heating and cooling technologies not only provide environmental benefits, they can provide energy bill savings, increased comfort levels and health benefits compared to conventional heating and cooling technologies. The NYSERDA framework, the Renewable Heating and Cooling Policy Framework: Options to Advance Industry Growth and Markets in New York, sets out policy options and market-based solutions for the next few years, and identifies approaches for longer term action. Interested parties are invited to comment on the framework. More information on the framework policy is available here . The proposed $15 million rebate program would provide about $6,000 for a typical residential consumer for the installation of a ground-source heat pump. This technology has tremendous potential to provide New Yorkers with a heating and cooling system that is energy efficient and reliable. However, it is not yet cost-competitive with conventional technologies so providing rebates will help stimulate market growth. In addition to the rebate, the framework identifies a range of options for the next few years to lower costs, reduce barriers and grow the market, including: Community-based outreach, education and bulk procurements. Integrating renewable heating and cooling in new housing developments and campuses, which can be more economically efficient and lower cost due to the scale of the projects. Developing a unified and streamlined permitting process. Reducing project development risks by providing support for feasibility and engineering studies. Introducing renewable heating and cooling technology into existing trade and distribution channels. Advancing new business models and financing innovations that can mitigate high upfront costs by spreading them over time. Nature & Weather, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 Following the discoveries of illegal dumping within several Long Island parks, county legislators approved an initiative that will provide greater citizen involvement in the protection of the countys public lands. The bill now goes to County Executive Steve Bellone for his signature within the next 15 days. Hauppauge, NY - February 7, 2017 - Following the discoveries of illegal dumping within several Long Island parks including Suffolks West Hills County Park, county legislators today approved an initiative that will provide greater citizen involvement in the protection of the countys public lands. The bill sponsored by Parks and Recreation Committee Chairwoman, Legislator Kara Hahn, will establish a Parks Watch program for county parklands, similar to the highly effective Community Watch program operated throughout the United States. As many of Suffolks park holdings are surrounded by residential neighborhoods, Legislator Hahns resolution directs the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation to establish a program that recruits and encourages Suffolk County residents to protect county parklands by watching for and reporting suspicious activity. Legislator Hahn noted that it is impossible for park rangers and law enforcement officers to inspect every acre of the countys over 44,000 acres of land for signs of problems on a daily basis, therefore community based partners are needed to deter and prevent these precious lands from being spoiled. Under the bill, the parks department will engage neighboring property owners of county parkland and inform them of the program and encourage their participation in the watch program. The department is also instructed to establish a dedicated webpage, phone number, and email address for use by the Parks Watch program to allow residents to report suspicious activity directly to the department. This program, when launched, will only apply to parkland within Suffolk Countys domain, however, other municipalities that have land holdings are encouraged to adopt similar initiatives. We all have been shocked, saddened and dismayed by the recent discoveries of dumping within our protected lands, said Legislator Hahn. The degradation of these majestic treasures defiles the commitment that we have made to their protection and to our residents. As this illegal dumping is a threat to us all, we must continually be alert for it and live by the proven mantra that if you see something, say something. Legislator Hahns legislation will more actively engage the public in protecting our parklands, giving residents the opportunity to easily report any wrongdoing they might encounter while visiting our parks, said Presiding Officer Gregory. This law will make it much easier for residents to become effective advocates for the protection of the parks they love. This legislation will encourage residents to become proactive environmental stewards. The more watchful eyes we have monitoring our parks, the better, said Legislator Sarah Anker. Greater oversight will help prevent vandalism, graffiti, and illegal dumping in our county parks. I strongly encourage residents to alert the Suffolk County Police Department if they see illegal activity in our parks. It is important that if you see something, say something. Illegal dumping not only negatively effects our residents quality of life, it also poses a serious health threat, said Legislator Lou DAmaro (D-Huntington Station) whose district includes West Hill County Park. I will continue to support the District Attorneys efforts to prosecute those who participate in this activity to the fullest extent of the law and I applaud the efforts of my legislative colleagues to address this critical issue. The residents of Brentwood, Central Islip and N. Bay Shore know all too well the consequences of illegal toxic dumping in parks and neighborhoods, stated Legislator Monica R. Martinez whose district includes the Town of Islip Roberto Clemente Park, site of a 2014 dumping discovery. Our families, in particularly, our childrens health are put at risk when these heinous crimes are allowed. As county representatives, it is our obligation to enact laws to protect our precious parkland and above all, the well-being of our residents. This resolution will allow residents to report suspicious activities without fear of retribution and be part of the solution. The bill now goes to County Executive Steve Bellone for his signature within the next 15 days. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment to give this winter so that patients can continue to receive lifesaving treatments. Long Island, NY - February 1, 2017 - The American Red Cross urgently needs blood donors to make an appointment to give this winter so that patients can continue to receive lifesaving treatments. Michael Harper knows how critical it is to have a readily available blood supply. I used over 300 units of blood when I was younger after an auto accident. Blood donations helped save my life," he said. Now, I would like to donate as much or more than I have received. Blood donations are urgently needed now and throughout the winter to maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients in need. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767). All those who come to donate from Jan. 30 to Feb. 26, 2017, are eligible to receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email for making blood and platelet donation a priority this winter. Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Nassau Bellmore: 2/17/2017: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Stop and Shop, 2450 Jerusalem Avenue Hicksville: 2/26/2017: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island, 11 N. Broadway New Hyde Park: 2/17/2017: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., UFC Gym, 2020 Jericho Turnpike Suffolk Moriches: 2/21/2017: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Coldwell Banker Mand D Good Life, 1 Montauk Highway Patchogue: 2/18/2017: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Patchogue Church of Christ, 297 Sunrise Service Road, North New York New York: 2/16/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross in Greater New York, 520 West 49th Street 2/20/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross in Greater New York, 520 West 49th Street 2/21/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross in Greater New York, 520 West 49th Street 2/24/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross in Greater New York, 520 West 49th Street 2/27/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross in Greater New York, 520 West 49th Street 2/28/2017: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Red Cross in Greater New York, 520 West 49th Street How to help Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit here and follow the instructions on the site. About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nations blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for- profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 Eliminating methane rules would significantly increase emissions of harmful greenhouse gases the equivalent of adding 950,000 vehicles to the road. New York, NY - February 7, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, along with the Attorneys General of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont; the California Environmental Protection Agency; and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would void important safeguards that are vital to controlling the leaking, venting, and flaring of methane from oil and natural gas developments on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Methane is a potent climate change pollutant. Congressional Republicans have shown once again that they're more interested in profiting Big Oil than protecting average Americans. The BLM Methane Rule is a cost-effective, common-sense approach to controlling the waste and pollution created by oil and gas companies, said Attorney General Schneiderman. A Congressional rollback of this rule would be an annual handout of millions of dollars to oil and gas companies, paid for by taxpayers and at the expense of New Yorkers' and Americans' health, safety, and environment." The Mineral Leasing Act obligates the federal government to ensure that any operators use all reasonable precautions to prevent waste of oil or gas. On November 15, 2016, the Bureau of Land Management announced it had finalized its updated regulations to reduce the waste of natural gas from flaring, venting, and leaks from oil and gas production operations on public and tribal lands. The final rule applies to existing and newly proposed oil and gas operations. The BLM Methane Rule is estimated to save enough gas to supply up to about 740,000 households each year. Overall, the rule will reduce flaring by an estimated 49 percent and venting and leaks by roughly 35 percent, as compared to 2014 rates. Eliminating the BLM Methane Rule would potentially result in an additional 180,000 tons of methane emissions per year, roughly equivalent to pollution of up to 950,000 vehiclesor roughly 2.5% of New Yorks total annual emissions of greenhouse gases. Estimates from the Government Accountability Office predict that rolling back the BLM Methane Rule would cost states, tribes and federal taxpayers as much as $23 million annually in royalty revenues that are lost to uncontrolled venting, flaring, and leaking. Overall, the rule can potentially save hundreds of millions over the next decade, including savings from the recovery and sale of natural gas and public health costs. Because the disapproval of a rule under the CRA also means that an agency cannot issue any substantially similar rules, the States expressed their significant concern that such disapproval here could be construed to indefinitely bar BLM from regulating in the area of resource waste preventiona task which it is statutorily mandated to perform. Read the full letter sent to the Senate here. A.G. Schneiderman has made clear that he stands ready to use the full power of his office to compel enforcement of our nations environmental laws. In January, he joined eight other A.G.'s in sending a letter urging members of the U.S. Senate Environmental and Public Workers Committee to reject the nomination of Oklahoma A.G. Scott Pruitt to lead the EPA. He also spoke out against President Trumps ordered freeze of EPA grants and contracts. In December, Schneiderman led a coalition of 19 states and localities calling on President-elect Trump to continue the federal governments defense of the Clean Power Plan and reject the misguided advice to discard the plan. A.G. Schneiderman has initiated litigation along with states across the country to defend critical environmental and clean energy policies, including the Clean Power Plan, the Waters of the U.S. rule, and EPA regulations to reduce emissions of methane in the oil and gas industry. Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 Governor Cuomo today urged New Yorkers to prepare for heavy snow which will impact the entire state, especially the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island regions late Wednesday, February 8 into Thursday, February ... Albany, NY - February 8, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged New Yorkers to prepare for heavy snow which will impact the entire state, especially the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island regions late Wednesday, February 8 into Thursday, February 9. Heavy, wet snow, along with strong gusting winds are expected early Thursday morning, which will transition to dry, powdery snow Thursday afternoon. In anticipation of the winter storm, Governor Cuomo has directed state transportation authorities to take measures to ensure roadways remain as safe as possible for motorists across New York. "As Mother Nature once again tests the resilience and strength of this state, I urge New Yorkers to plan ahead, stay informed, and above all, stay safe this weekend," Governor Cuomo said. I have directed state agencies to closely monitor conditions and to clear roadways as quickly as possible in order to avoid accidents and keep our roadways safe. I encourage everyone in the path of these storms to use extra caution and avoid unnecessary travel during these hazardous weather conditions." A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Sullivan County from 12 a.m. Thursday until 12 p.m. Thursday, for Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester from 12 a.m. Thursday until 6 p.m. Thursday, and for Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster Counties from 12 a.m. Thursday until 6 p.m. Thursday. Snow will develop after midnight. The period of greatest impact will be the morning and afternoon commutes on Thursday where snow rates could exceed 2 inches per hour. Areas could see 6 to 12 inches of total snow accumulation with gusts approaching 35 mph. New York City could see 8 to 12 inches of snow for the duration of the event. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Delaware County from 12 a.m. Thursday until 12 p.m. Thursday, and from 2 a.m. Thursday until 6 p.m. Thursday for Albany, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties. The Capital Region will see snow beginning around 1 a.m. with the heaviest snowfall of 1 to 2 inches per hour during the morning commute. Snow will taper off by midafternoon. Southern parts of the Capital Region could see 6 to 10 inches of snow with 3 to 6 inches in the immediate Albany area. Tandem Trailers Banned on I-84 and NYS Thruway (I-87) South of Exit 17 Tandem Trailers will be restricted on Interstate 84 in anticipation of heavy snowfall. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, February 9 until 4 p.m., tandem trailers will be banned from Interstate 84 in both directions, from the Pennsylvania border to the Connecticut border. Tandem truck drivers who are planning to travel on I-84 are urged seek alternative routes or travel early. In addition, the New York State Thruway Authority is banning all tandem vehicles (long and short) on I-87 in both directions south of Exit 17 (Newburgh Scranton I-84 NY Routes 17K & 300) beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, February 9 and remaining in effect until further notice. State Agency Preparations The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Emergency Management is coordinating preparations and resource allocations with state agencies and local governments in anticipation of the storm. The State Emergency Operations and Watch Centers will be staffed for enhanced monitoring through the day tomorrow. Staff from State Office of Emergency Management, Department of Transportation, and State Police will be staffing the Nassau and Suffolk County Emergency Operations Centers and State Office of Emergency Management staff will also deploy to New York City Emergency Managements Emergency Operations Center. The stockpile in Guilderland, Albany County is prepared with two High Axle Vehicles, each equipped with blankets and hand tools, one eight person tracked SUV, three enclosed, six seat, tracked Utility Vehicles, and two, two seat, tracked Utility Vehicles. The Brentwood stockpile in Nassau County has staged two High Axle Vehicles each equipped with blankets and hand tools and the Brentwood & JFK Airport Stockpiles each have one Sandbagger and there are 195,000 sandbags; various generators, light towers and pumps ready to deploy if necessary. The Thruway Authoritys winter weather preparations include a 24-hour staff rotation for maintenance personnel, snow removal equipment ready for deployment, and ample salt and fuel supplies to keep the roadways clear and safe. The New York State Thruway Authority has more than 600 operators and supervisors ready to deploy 197 Large Snow Plows, 110 Medium Snow Plows and 53 Loaders across the state with more than 107,000 tons of road salt on hand. For this storm, the Thruway Authority is shifting resources to increase snow operations in the affected regions. Variable Message Signs, Highway Advisory Radio and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway. The following measures have been taken for downstate bridges. New NY Bridge (NNYB) Wind Storm Preparation: All project related cranes, barges, equipment, and material will be secured Two Tug Boats will patrol the Hudson River near the New NY Bridge and the Tappan Zee Snow removal equipment will be prepared to clear the construction site and barges Continue monitoring of GPS tracking of barge and equipment on project site Tappan Zee Bridge Wind Storm Preparation: Wind speeds being monitored by TZB Personnel Implementation of TZB High Wind Restrictions for Tractor Trailers based on wind speeds as detected by electronic monitors on the Bridge Wrecker tow truck crews are on standby to address any accidents / disabled vehicles Vehicular diversion plans are in place if needed Motorists are encouraged to sign up for TRANSalerts e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway. Thruway travelers can also get real-time updates by following @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter or by visiting thruway.ny.gov to see an interactive map showing traffic conditions for the Thruway and other New York State roadways. The New York State Department of Transportation has more than 3,823 operators and supervisors statewide and is ready to respond with 1,496 large plow/dump trucks, 207 medium plow/dump trucks, 332 loaders, 46 truck/loader mounted snow blowers, 62 tow plows, 20 graders and 13 pickup trucks with plows. Additionally, 81 staff have been pre-deployed from non-impacted areas of the state to the regions anticipating this storm. The Department of Transportation also has more than 397,000 tons of road salt on hand. Motorists are reminded to check 511NY by calling 511 or by accessing www.511ny.org before traveling. The free service allows users to check road conditions and transit information. Mobile users can download the updated, free 511NY mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play stores. The app now features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction. Users can set a destination prior to departing and receive information on up to three routes. All New Yorkers can obtain emergency information through NY-ALERT, the States free, all-hazards, web-based alert and notification system. To subscribe, visit nyalert.gov . If you do not own or have access to a computer, call toll-free 1-888-697-6972 or download the app on your smartphone at ialertz.com . Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has made extensive preparations for personnel and equipment at all of its facilities. Operations are in place to ensure that facilities can be operated safely. The airports, bridges, tunnels and PATH also have weather desks where key personnel analyze weather reports and deploy staff and equipment. The Port Authority has made extensive preparations for personnel and equipment at all of its facilities. Operations personnel will work 12-hour shifts to ensure that facilities can be operated safely. The airports, bridges, tunnels and PATH also have snow desks where key personnel analyze weather reports and deploy staff and equipment. The Port Authority also is in contact with the states of New York and New Jersey, as well as other local and federal officials and agencies to coordinate response to the winter weather event. The Port Authority urges bus travelers to check with their carriers before going to the bus terminals since many public and private carriers may cancel or delay service if conditions warrant. The agency also may impose speed restrictions on its crossings, or close them entirely based on weather conditions. The Port Authority has the following winter weather equipment and supplies ready at its major transportation facilities: Hundreds of pieces of snow equipment at its airports, including melters that can liquefy up to 500 tons of snow an hour and plows that can clear snow at 40 mph; Dozens of pieces of snow equipment at its bridges and tunnels; Thousands of tons of salt and sand for airport roads and parking lots, plus thousands of tons of salt for the bridges and tunnels; Hundreds of thousands of gallons of liquid anti-icer chemicals at the airports, which prevent snow and ice from bonding to runways and taxiways, plus thousands of tons of solid de-icers, which break up snow and ice already on the ground; Plow-equipped trains, liquid snow-melting agent trains and a "jet engine" plow to remove snow from PATH tracks, and snow blowers, plows and spreaders to clear station entrances, roads that serve PATH's 13 stations, and various support facilities. For up-to-the-minute updates on Port Authority crossings, airports and the PATH system, travelers are encouraged to sign up for Port Authority alerts at www.paalerts.com . Travelers may also call 511 or visit 511NY.org or 511NJ.org for further information on highway conditions. With a storm of this magnitude, airlines sometimes cancel flights in advance, so travelers should check with their carriers to make sure their flight will be taking off before going to the airport. If warranted, the Port Authority also has supplies of cots and other essential items ready to accommodate ticketed passengers who may become stranded at the airports. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels: Command Center is activating additional weather desks and monitoring conditions continuously to ensure efficient deployment of personnel and resources. Electronic weather sensors are functional and all facilities have the ability to monitor weather and roadway conditions. There are more than 9,000 tons of roadway de-icer on hand and more than 100 pieces of storm fighting equipment including trucks and plows are ready. Subways and Buses: New York City Transit will monitor conditions for subways and buses continuously via its Incident Command Center (ICC) situation room, and up to 2,900 snow-clearing personnel will be on duty for the storm, staged throughout the system and working 12-hour shifts. Snow-fighting equipment will include more than 1,000 snow melting devices at switches, about 1,500 3rd rail heaters, about 80 scraper shoes on trains, 10 snowthrowers, four jetblowers, and seven de-icer train cars. Buses will have tires chained. There will be a 20 percent reduction in local, limited and SBS bus service during the Thursday morning rush. Express subway service on A, B, E, D, F, N, Q, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 will end early Thursday night and begin later to facilitate underground storage of trains on express tracks. Previously planned subway maintenance, rehabilitation and construction projects (such as FASTRACK) will be canceled Wednesday overnight and Thursday. Railroads: Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road are deploying extra staff, specialized equipment, and continuously monitoring conditions ahead of the storm. This includes up to 360 snowblowers, up to 35 pickup truck plows, and up to 7 rail-bound jets. Before a winter storm, snow fighting equipment is winterized, tested and positioned strategically throughout both railroads to start operation as soon as snow accumulations begin. Protective heat circuits are verified to be operational, air brake lines are purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing, electric trains are fitted with special third rail shoes to prevent snow from accumulating, exposed shoes are treated with de-icer, and exposed couplers are covered to keep snow out. Door panels are also sprayed with an anti-freeze agent and rescue equipment is fueled. Scheduled track work will be canceled to allow personnel to concentrate efforts on storm preparation and response. During the storm, anti-freeze trains will be deployed throughout the systems to spray de-icer on the third rail in an effort to prevent ice-build-up, and non-passenger patrol trains will operate along the right-of-way to prevent snowdrifts from forming on the tracks. At stations, extra personnel will pre-salt platforms before the storm and clear platforms of snow during and after the storm. Waiting rooms will be kept open around the clock to provide shelter for customers waiting for trains. All MTA customers are encouraged to: Check www.mta.info for updates, including modified emergency schedules. Sign up for email and text message alerts. Follow MTA on Facebook and Twitter. Listen to television and radio news to also find out how train service is affected by the weather. Call the the Customer Information Center at 511 (in Connecticut call 877-690-5114). The Information Center will have a taped message upfront describing current service conditions. This is an important element in keeping you informed. The volume of calls at the Information Center will increase dramatically during a weather emergency, and you will likely experience delays getting through to a representative. Listen for public address announcements at stations and on board trains if you are already traveling. Always watch your step and watch for icy conditions in station parking lots, and on station sidewalks, stairs, and platforms. Remember: Ice tends to form more quickly on train platforms than on other surfaces. Even if a platform looks clear, it can have icy patches. Always use stair handrails. Water dripping from coats, boots, and umbrellas can ice up with the slightest temperature drop, making stairs very slippery. A firm grip on a handrail can prevent serious injury. Always watch for slippery conditions, even after you board your train. Snow, slush, and ice from boots make train floors slippery. Always avoid moving from car to car. Icy conditions exist in the areas between cars. Use caution driving to and from stations. Safe Travel It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time. Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Some of the most important tips for safe winter driving include: When winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary. If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly-colored cloth to use as a distress flag. Keep your gas tank full to prevent gasoline freeze-up. If you have a cell phone or two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location. Make sure someone knows your travel plans. Winterize Your Vehicle Preparing your vehicle for winter storms now will help ensure your vehicle is in good working order when you need it most. Have a mechanic check the following items on your vehicle: Battery Wipers and windshield washer fluid Antifreeze Ignition system Thermostat Lights Exhaust system Flashing hazard lights Heater Brakes Defroster Oil level Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. You may also want to carry a set of tire chains in your vehicle for heavy snow conditions. Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal and maintain at least a half tank of gas throughout the winter season. Plan long trips carefully. Listen to the local media report or call law enforcement agencies for the latest road conditions. Drive Safely The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Winter Storm to Impact the Region Tonight and Tomorrow; Remember Your Pets in Your Preparation Pets & Animal, Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 In anticipation of the approaching winter storm the Nassau County SPCA again urges pet owners to make preparations ahead of the storm to keep their families and pets safe. Nassau County, NY - February 8, 2017 - The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow...which is in effect from midnight tonight to 6 PM EST Thursday. In anticipation of the approaching winter storm the Nassau County SPCA again urges pet owners to make preparations ahead of the storm to keep their families and pets safe. The most important thing pet owners should do is to bring their pets indoors. Always bring pets indoors, including outdoor cats, at the first sign or warning of a storm. A snow storm is no place for a pet. Don't let your dog off the leash after heavy snowfall. Dogs can lose their scent during winter storms and easily become lost. Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. Deep snow cover can confuse a pet and cover their familiar scent landmarks. It is easier, and more dangerous, for your pet to be lost in snowy weather so keep an eye on them at all times when outdoors. Stock up ahead of time on all pet food and medicine your animals may need-travel may be much more difficult or impossible. Prepare for a power outage, especially if your family includes fish, reptiles or pocket pets. Keep a pet emergency kit and supplies handy with items such as medical records, water, pet food and medications, and pet first aid supplies. Clean off your dog's paws with a moist washcloth after going outside. Snow-melting salt can be very painful to dogs' feet and can make them ill when ingested. Have a coat and booties ready for any dog that needs them. Be ready to protect your pets from v strong wind and cold. The Nassau County SPCA urges pet owners to develop an emergency plan that accounts for the safety of their animals and to stay up to date on storm warnings in their area. Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave your pets behind. Two Women Arrested During Massage Parlor Raid in Ronkonkoma Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 08 2017 Suffolk County Police today arrested two women during a massage parlor raid conducted in Ronkonkoma. Pictured of arrested: (left) Li Guimei, 51, and (right) Bai Yueting, 55, (right) both of Flushing (Queens). Ronkonkoma, NY - February 7, 2017 - Suffolk County Police today arrested two women during a massage parlor raid conducted in Ronkonkoma. In response to numerous community complaints, Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers, Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives, Suffolk County Police Criminal Intelligence detectives, U.S. Homeland Security officers and Town of Brookhaven Code Enforcement officers conducted an investigation into illegal activities at New Peony Spa, located at 285 Portion Road. The following women were arrested at approximately 3 p.m. and charged with Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, a Class E Felony under the New York State Education Law and Prostitution under the New York State Penal Law: Li Guimei, 52, of Flushing Bai Yueting, 55, of Flushing An investigation by a Town of Brookhaven Building Inspector, Town of Brookhaven Code Enforcement officers and a Town of Brookhaven Fire Marshal revealed numerous occupancy and town code violations. The investigation is continuing. The women are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on February 8. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The Afghan Taliban denied any involvement in the murder of six workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross Afghanistan and the disappearance of two more workers today in Jawzjan province. Instead, the Taliban said the attack was the work of kidnappers. Attack on @ICRC_af convoy in Turkmen Qaduq area, Qushtepa district #Jowzjan has no connection with Mujahidin, it is the work of kidnappers, the Talibans official spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote on his Twitter account. While the Taliban has made it a point of late to claim it has no intentions of targeting non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross who are helping the Afghan people, the Taliban has been implicated in deadly assaults in the past. In 2003, a Taliban commander known as Abdul Hafiz was involved in the kidnapping and murder of Red Cross employee Ricardo Munguia. Hafiz was captured, detained at Guantanamo Bay, and inexplicably, released to Afghan custody and promptly freed. Upon his release in 2010, Hafiz quickly rejoined the Taliban and took over a committee that deals with ransoms and engagement with nongovernmental organizations. In an official statement released on its website, the International Committee of the Red Cross Afghanistan released a statement confirming that eight of its workers came under what it called a deliberate attack. Six staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been shot and killed in Afghanistan. Two staff members are unaccounted for. The team, composed of three drivers and five field officers, was on its way to deliver much-needed livestock materials in an area south of the town of Shibergan in Jawzan province. Their convoy was attacked by unknown armed men. This is a despicable act. Nothing can justify the murder of our colleagues and dear friends, said the head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli. At this point, its premature for us to determine the impact of this appalling incident on our operations in Afghanistan. We want to collect ourselves as a team and support each other in processing this incomprehensible act and finding our two unaccounted for colleagues, said Mrs Zanarelli, No terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and as the Red Cross noted, It is not yet clear who carried out the attack or why. It is certainly possible that the Islamic State could have killed the Red Cross employees. A faction of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which merged with the Islamic States Khorasan province, is known to operate in Jawzjan. The Islamic States Khorasan province has not yet claimed any responsibility for the attack. Numerous other attacks on aid groups have been documented. In Aug. 2010, both the Taliban and the Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin claimed credit for executing 10 medical personnel, including eight foreigners, during an ambush in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan. And the Taliban claimed credit for its suicide assault against the office of the International Organization for Migration in Kabul on May 26, 2013. The Taliban has also denied involvement in the June 2013 attack on a Red Cross office in Nangarhar province in May 2013. However, that attack was very similar to other suicide assaults executed by the Taliban. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Flag of the Caucasus Emirate in Syria The Caucasus Emirate branch Vilayat Kabarda, Balkaria, and Karachay (KBK) recently released a video in which fighters from the Caucasus Emirates (CE) wing in Syria are shown partaking in battles in northwestern Syria. It is unknown if all the fighters shown in the video are from Vilayat KBK, other branches of the CE, or local members of the group. The video, entitled On the frontlines in Syria, was released by Vilayat KBKs IslamDin media. It begins with fighters participating in a battle, which is indicated to be near the Shia villages of Fua and Kafraya in Syrias northwestern Idlib Province. The two villages are the last remaining regime-allied holdouts in the province. Combat scenes are shown, combined with archival photos of CE fighters in Syria. It is not clear when the footage was filmed, however, a date at the beginning of the video indicates that it was filmed sometime this year. It also marks one of, if not the first time, that a CE media wing originating in the North Caucasus has released a video of its branch in Syria. Previously, the videos were released by media organizations based in Syria, like Akhbar Sham. This shows that not only is the branch active, but that it is being treated as the official Syrian branch of the CE with actual operational ties to the parent organization in the North Caucasus. The Caucasus Emirate, an al Qaeda-linked organization, has had at least two official representative groups inside Syria fighting alongside al Qaedas forces. The first active group was the Chechen-led Jaysh al Muhajireen wal Ansar (JMA), which was founded by Omar Shishani, who later went on to become the Islamic States military leader. JMA would then be led by Salahuddin Shishani, who was eventually removed from the post with the help from the Al Nusrah Front. JMA then subsequently pledged allegiance to Al Nusrah, which is now folded within a new entity in Syria. Salahuddin Shishani then created another official branch of the Caucasus Emirate, calling itself the aptly-named Caucasus Emirate in Syria, and pledged allegiance to the then-CE emir, Abu Usman Gimrinski. He would be removed from this post, as well, but the CE in Syria continues to exist. The CE in Syria has released several other videos of its forces fighting alongside Jund al Aqsa, an al Qaeda front group, and the Al Nusrah Front. Members of the Vilayat KBK have also been previously documented with the CE in Syria and with JMA. Former fighters of the CE can also be found in several other North Caucasian groups operating in Syria. Screenshots from the video: An American-made M2 Browning machine gun can be seen in the background: Portions of the video were translated by Justin Tomczyk, a student of Russian language at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 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. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The Islamic State took credit for yesterdays suicide attack outside of Afghanistans supreme court which killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more. The attack was executed by a Tajik fighter, the group claimed. The Islamic States Khorasan province, the groups branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claimed the attack in a statement released today. The statement was obtained and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. The suicide bomber was identified as Abu Bakr al-Tajiki, according to SITE. He detonated his vest amidst a gathering of judges and stuff [sic] in the court, which resulted in killing and wounding nearly 60 apostates, the Islamic State said. Independent press reports from Afghanistan indicated that 21 people were killed and more than 40 were wounded; 17 of those killed were employees of the Supreme Court including nine women, according to TOLONews. The Islamic State threatened further attacks against Afghan courts and judicial personnel. Let the apostates [those who support the Afghan government], and at their head the judges of the tyrants, know that the disbelieving judgments they issue against the monotheist mujahideen serve the Crusaders and will not pass without severe punishment, Allah permitting, and what is coming is more devastating and bitter, according tot he SITE translation. The Afghan court system has previously been attacked by the Taliban, which overshadows the rival Islamic States Khorasan province. In June 2013, a nearly identical attack was claimed by the Taliban at the exact location. A Taliban suicide bomber killed at least 16 civilians, including employees who worked at the supreme court in Kabul, when he detonated in the very same parking lot outside of the supreme court. Additionally, in Jan. 2009, the Afghan Ministry of Justice in Kabul was the target of a deadly Taliban suicide assault which also included a separate attack on the Education Ministry and a prisons office in the capital. At the Justice Ministry, where the heaviest fighting took place that day, a suicide bomber detonated at the main gate, allowing three other attackers armed with AK-47s and hand grenades to enter the compound and the ministry building. Gunfights broke out as the attackers battled security guards in the hallways. Unlike the Taliban, the Islamic States Khorasan province has limited resources inside of Afghanistan, as it commands only a small fraction of the jihadist insurgency. Khorasan province is led by disaffected Taliban commanders from both the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban as well as others from marginalized jihadist groups. The group is thought to have several thousand fighters, versus tens of thousands of fighters in the Taliban. Khorasan province has a presence in several provinces, but is based in Nangarhar. The group has been been weakened since it declared war on the Taliban and lost multiple battles. The Tajik suicide bomber who launched yesterdays attack was likely a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a jihadist group based in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. An IMU faction, led by the groups emir, joined Khorasan province and swore allegiance to Islamic State emir Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in 2015. The merger was denounced by senior jihadist leaders, including the groups top religious figure. The IMU was part of a web of jihadists groups that US military officials used to refer to as the Kabul Attack Network, which pooled resources to launch major assaults in and around the Afghan capital. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Americas Aging Demographics It was a long time ago, way back in 1950. The United States was recovering from World War II while facing down a new enemy, China, on the Korean Peninsula. We were an exporting powerhouse that fortunately escaped the war with all of our production capacity intact. And, our population was experiencing a baby boom. We were growing our wealth, expanding our military capabilities, and increasing our population. Even after the ravages of war, we had a tremendous group of workers 20 to 49 years old, and an explosion of babies on the way. We were a strong, young nation. Anything seemed possible.The picture today is starkly different. Our demographics (and their impact on programs like Social Security and Medicare) are undeniable. Were an aging nation facing some big problemsThe chart below shows the U.S. population by age in 1950, with generations differentiated by color: Henry Ford (50-and-older, gray); Bob Hope (black); the boomers (red). Twenty years later, by 1970, the birth wave was over and had started to recede. The next generation, GenX, shown in purple in this next chart, was on the way, and their numbers were much smaller than the boomers. At this point, our demographics and social programs were still balanced. President Roosevelt introduced Social Security in the 1930s, which relied on workers paying for retirees. With so many workers in the system, the program ran a surplus. Medicare, introduced as part of President Johnsons Great Society in the 1960s, tacked on healthcare for the elderly. Again, the program relied on current workers paying for retirees, and like with Social Security, the age structure of the country made the program go for a little while. As the boomers flooded the job market, a lot of extra cash sloshed around in our entitlement programs because they collected a percentage of wages. But by the 1980s, our long-term social program problems were coming into focus. We had fewer children in the late 1960s and 1970s, so eventually thered be fewer workers to support a bulging number of retirees. Longer lifespans made the problem worse. Congress fiddled with Social Security in the early 1980s, but the reforms just put off the pain. They didnt solve the problem. And there was no attempt to fix the issues with Medicare. Fast-forward to 2010. By then our triangle-shaped society was morphing into a rectangle, as you can see in the next chart. We added the millennial generation in green, and even the first years of the next, unnamed group in blue. Notice that the shape is almost straight-edged for every group 54 and younger, which is much different than the age structure of the nation in the previous decades. Clearly, were no longer a nation teeming with strapping young workers who far outnumber the older generation. We dont have younger people who can bear the burden of their elders with a modest payroll tax spread across many workers per retiree. Instead, were a nation full of aging adults, whose employment statistics reveal more than meets the eye. We look at the younger group with trepidation. With the cost so high, will the millennials be able to pay the taxes necessary to provide the benefits that boomers have coming to them, just as the boomers did for their parents? And what exactly can, or will, a Trump presidency do in this demographic reality? Rodney Follow me on Twitter ;@RJHSDent By Rodney Johnson, Senior Editor of Economy & Markets http://economyandmarkets.com Copyright 2017 Rodney Johnson - 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. Rodney Johnson Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Trumpin' and Thumpin' Back to the 1930s With the Trump White House, America and a global economy will enter a highly divisive period as evidenced by the debate about his economic, trade and infrastructure plans. As long as Republicans sustain some unity in and between the White House, the Senate and the House of the Representatives, Trump will benefit from an unprecedented execution power. To get the economy back on track, Trumps economic objective is to create 25 million new jobs in the next decade, return to 4% annual economic growth, lower and reform US tax codes. But truth to be told, the growth objective will be undermined by his own trade, tax and immigration policies.To former President George W. Bush, American security meant that either you are with us or against us. US economy has the same significance to Trump - his trade policy is an extension of his domestic economic policy. Trumping trade - and the Fed The Trump administration's America First mantra is predicated on a withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). If Canada and Mexico cannot see Trump eye to eye in the coming talks, the President will simply give notice of the US intent to withdraw from NAFTA. The new White House intends to crack down all nations that violate trade agreements, as the Trump team sees it. Working together with his top trade executives who are vehemently against free trade and tend to hold strong anti-China views Trump has already targeted the biggest US deficit contributors, particularly China, Japan, Canada and Mexico. The new White House's trade initiatives have major consequences not just internationally, but for US domestic economy. According to US Treasury data, major foreign holders of US treasury securities China, Saudi Arabia and Russia have reduced their holdings by almost $250 billion since last March. The effect of foreign selling of US treasuries looks like the kind of foreign liquidation that Washington has feared for years. It is also adding to the Feds challenges. Heres the dilemma: If Trump will trigger a $1 trillion debt tornado, which is required by his infrastructure program, when the Fed hopes to accelerate tightening with three new 25 basis points rate increases in 2017, he can no longer rely on the Fed to ease and thus to monetize the debt issuance. Trump needs trade wars to keep US dollar lower than the Fed would like. Impending circles of vicious nationalism Nevertheless, as world trade and investment have plateaued, globalization has ground to a halt. As a result, the proposed Trump tariffs increase the potential of elevated global risks. There is a historical precedent. In 1930, the US Congress passed the notorious Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which sharply raised the cost of foreign imports. While it seemed to work initially, it soon caused other nations to retaliate, which paved the way for the Great Depression and, eventually, for another world war. Such precedents should make us all cautious. In the coming months, most Trump initiatives including the administrations proposed tax cuts, trade policy, manufacturing plans, infrastructure investment, stricter immigration, climate change reversals, balancing power games, military spending and so on are likely to contribute directly or indirectly to elevated global risks. The early signs suggest that the Trump administration will, at least initially, shun sober realism and walk the talk. And that, unfortunately, translates to a series of potential shocks to a world economy that can only bear so much. Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognised expert of the nascent multipolar world. He is the CEO of Difference Group and has served as Research Director at the India, China and America Institute (USA) and visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Centre (Singapore). For more, see www.differencegroup.net 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. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. MARTINSVILLE City Sheriff Steve Draper announced Tuesday that he will run for a seventh four-year term in the Nov. 7 election. Nobody so far is opposing Draper, who has filed his candidacy paperwork with the city voter registrars office and been certified as an official candidate, according to Registrar Cindy Barbour. Only constitutional offices sheriff, commonwealths attorney, commissioner of the revenue and treasurer will be on this years ballot. No Martinsville City Council seats are up for grabs. Draper, 64, is the first person this year to enter the race for any office, Barbour said. During his announcement in the circuit courtroom at the municipal building, Draper said it has been an honor and a privilege for him to be sheriff for the past 23 years. This community has been very, very good to me, and Ive tried very hard to serve you well, he said, adding that he believes the sheriffs office has some of the most dedicated deputy sheriffs in the country. He said he is very flattered that both members of the public and his department have encouraged him to seek another term. Draper has been sheriff since Jan. 1, 1994. He previously was manager of safety, security and health for Sara Lee Knit Products. Prior to becoming sheriff, he was a city councilman from 1992 to 1993. He resigned from his council seat after he was elected sheriff. The Martinsville Sheriffs Office mainly is responsible for providing security within the municipal building and the city jail as well as serving civil papers. It generally does not get involved in law-enforcement matters unless its help is requested by the citys police department. Draper considers one of his major accomplishments as sheriff to be having reinstated inmate work crews in 1996 to help clean up Martinsville and Henry County, such as by removing trash along local streets and roads. During the latter six months of 2016 alone, inmates worked a total of 29,226 hours. They collected 61 large containers of discarded paper products, 48 containers of thrown-out metal cans and two containers of trashed plastic materials, Draper said. In addition, the sheriffs office donated 32 loads of wood collected by inmates last year to families that needed it for heat, he said. The wood came from fallen trees. At the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the city essentially saved $211,888.50 by using inmate labor, he calculated. Because of overcrowding at its jail, the county sends some of its inmates to Martinsville for incarceration. Some of those inmates are used on city work crews, and the county pays the cost of a supervisor to oversee the inmates, Draper said, explaining why the crews also work in the county. Draper recalled that the city jail was one of the first in the state to implement home electronic monitoring. He said it allows people with nonviolent convictions who are employed to serve their sentences outside the jail while being tracked, enabling them to continue to work and provide for their families. By them not being incarcerated, he said, the city saves money by not having to pay for their food and medical care. Under Drapers command, Martinsvilles jail was one of the first in the state to begin charging inmates who can afford it co-payments for their medical care, including prescription drugs they use. If theyve got the money, why should the taxpayers pay for their health needs, he said. He also recalled implementing Project Lifesaver, a program that tracks people with a tendency to wander, such as those with Alzheimers disease, Down syndrome and autism, with electronic technology. The program is provided to caregivers throughout the city and county at no cost. At a crossroads The city sheriffs office maintains the jail that opened in 1969 at the municipal building on West Church Street as well as the jail annex off Clearview Drive that was built in 1920s. Despite those structures being very old, said Draper, they have been certified as 100 percent compliant with Virginia Department of Corrections standards. We continue to apply for, and take advantage of (when it is received), state and federal grant funding to upgrade our facilities, he said. Draper is an adjunct instructor for Patrick Henry Community Colleges administration of justice program and serves on the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission and the corrections departments Liaison Committee. He is a past president of the Virginia Sheriffs Association having been the first sheriff from either Martinsville or Henry County to hold the post and a past chairman of the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Academys board. He continues to be involved with sheriffs association and the academy. Among his community service, Draper is chairman of Friends of Scouting for the Boy Scouts and on the board of the Chambers Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG), an independent affiliate of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce that supports and helps fund efforts to boost the local economy. Outside of law enforcement, one of the biggest things in my life right now is helping with city and county economic development efforts, he said. Although he has lived in Martinsville all of his life, Draper said he considers himself to be a resident of the overall Martinsville-Henry County community and wants to do whatever he can to make it better. Were at a crossroads in this community, he said, in that both the city and county are coping with increasing expenses all the while losing population. The fewer residents they have, the less tax money they can collect to put toward their needs. City and county leaders himself included need to sit down and work together to find ways to save money all the while trying to provide the best services possible, Draper said. He pledged that if he is re-elected, through his involvement with state organizations, he will do all he can to help the county get financial aid it needs to build a new jail. Jail construction is one of the largest capital expenses that a locality can face, he said. Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry was among the crowd of about 100 people at Drapers announcement. He described Draper as being friendly, cordial, very supportive and ethical. Over the years, weve always had an excellent working relationship, Perry said. Draper said all of the police departments and sheriffs offices in cities, towns and counties in Southern Virginia help each other and have a good relationship that is envied by localities nationwide, based on comments he has heard at professional events he has attended. FIELDALEThe beaches looked like a trash dump. Thats what Fieldale resident and Private First Class Chester Rakes remembers of Normandy, where he landed in 1944 as part of General George S. Pattons Third Army. While jeeps, tanks and other tell-tale signs of war littered the shoreline at that point, other objects hid beneath the sand. Landmines were just planted anywhere, Rakes said. The crew went through with something that looked like a frying pan. It would squeal for a landmine. When the scan located an underground bomb, troops carefully dug up the explosive and ridded the area of the threat. Then, they marked a safe pathway for other troops to follow. They laid down toilet paper and marked where theyd been through with the land sweepers, Rakes said. Following the toilet paper road, Rakes, comrades and even army vehicles safely worked their way inland. Patton had taken command of Rakes unit on Aug. 1, 1944 with a specific goal. While other units took a different route, the Third Army plotted a course straight through France to the German border. At the time, Rakes was in charge of the units 155mm howitzer. He described it as a type of gun that you dont shoot straight. It goes up in the air and falls down on the enemy, similar to a cannon. With shots accurate for up to nine miles, Rakes said that when they hit the ground, the shells exploded and shards of shrapnel went flying. During his years in service, Rakes saw several different types of shells in action. You could set a timer on certain types of shells to go off at a certain time, Rakes said. And then we had smoke shells. They were good for river crossings. Youve never seen so much smoke boiling out of them. Patton had planned for the Third Army to push through and invade Germany, but those plans hit a snag right as the group reached the border. At the same time, British general Bernard Montgomery had launched what was known as Operation: Open Market, in an attempt to come into Germany from Belgium, through the Netherlands. All of the supply efforts were ordered north, to support Montgomerys operation. That left the Third Army low on fuel and rations, unable to cross over the border. As fall turned to winter, Operation: Open Market failed and the supplies returned south. The Third Army was back on the move, crossing over into Germany. As he made his way further inland, Rakes recalls many a moment spent in gratitude for his life. I said thanks to the Good Lord for taking care of us, Rakes said. Starting off Being the first one to arrive and having to wait on others to catch up was a familiar situation for Rakes, mirroring how the war had started for him. The year was 1942. Nine days before Christmas, Rakes packed his bags and boarded a bus en route to Camp Lee in Prince William County. The trip wasnt by choice, especially given the proximity to the most-celebrated holiday in America which Rakes wouldnt observe with his loved ones for the next three years. I didnt have much choice, Rakes said. Neither did the other recruits. Rakes recalls the conduct of the troops bound for Virginias coastal region. They were ripping the upholstery on the bus, Rakes said. When the soldiers arrived at Camp Lee, information they received made them even more upset. Half of their staff has gone home for Christmas, Rakes said. It was the maddest bunch of men you ever seen. Until Jan. 1, 1943, Rakes and his comrades sat in their barracks in civilian clothes, waiting for their higher-ups to return from their holiday break. When we got our clothes, in just in a day or two we went to the training station, Rakes said. From Camp Lee, Rakes went to Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he stayed for nearly a year. After Camp Forrest, Rakes found himself in Camp Polk, 10 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana. Then, the army sent Rakes to Fort Dix near Trenton, New Jersey. We stayed on the go most of the time, Rakes said about his stateside service. We went all up around New York. We went from place to place. When the troops disembarked from New York, they headed straight to Northern Ireland. We stayed in Northern Ireland for a couple of months, Rakes said. Then, the troops started to move. By Aug. 1944, they were headed for Normandy with Gen. Patton. Fighting in Germany Once in Germany, Rakes and the other members of the Third Army found themselves in one of the wars worst fights. On Dec. 16, 1944, they took part in the Battle of the Bulge. Not only did the fight go down in history as the largest battle fought on European soil during World War II, but it also earned recognition as the largest battle ever fought by the United States Army. On a personal level, Rakes remembers the fighting as the worst battle we ever had. It was right at Christmastime and we were expecting snow, Rakes said. The Germans white-washed all of their equipment. When the snow hit, the German armys actions camouflaged their movements. The air force couldnt find them, Rakes said. Our air force was killing so many of our own men. They couldnt determine who was who. Rakes said that the German forces wiped out the First Army. We got a call that Pattons troops should get up there as soon as possible, and turn on a light, Rakes said. Wed never done that before. Strictly forbidden until that point, travelling with a light on shocked the soldiers. Typically, light attracted the enemy and gave off troops location. Guys got so upset because they couldnt light a cigarette because of the rule, Rakes said. Some of them would put a blanket or coat over their head to light a cigarette. However, Pattons troops successfully made the trek. Defeating the German army at the Battle of the Bulge, Rakes experienced his last major battle. Wed go through little towns and clean the Germans out of it, let them have their freedom back, Rakes said, but there was no sustained combat. Going home As the New Year came around, troops became hopeful that they would soon see their families again. We had a saying, Home alive in 45, Rakes said. The World War II veteran recalled that soldiers who enlisted first also got discharged first; whether or not they returned quickly depended on a system of points, of which Rakes did not have enough. While the troops eagerly awaited their voyage back to the United States, a strike prevented their passage. It wasnt the navy men, but it was the men who loaded and unloaded ships, Rakes said, recalling the reason behind his extended stay in Germany. They wanted more money, so they left us over there for six months. The ones who had enough points were stranded in France. While not funny at the time, Rakes now jokes about the incident seven decades later. We were so mad at them, wed have liked to declare war on them, Rakes said. As they waited to go home, some troops heard rumors that they could be sent to fight in Japan. That didnt sit too well either, Rakes said. Following President Harry S. Trumans orders to drop atomic bombs, the war ended and the soldiers stayed in Germany. They declared the war was over and we were free again, Rakes said. Having not touched American soil in approximately two years, Rakes returned to the States and was honorably discharged from the service one week after his arrival at Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. I was on my way home by hitchhiking. You could get home faster by hitchhiking, Rakes said. I caught a train out of Washington [D.C.] and came back to Virginia. With 2017 marking 73 years since his discharge, the veterans return to America still brings a smile to his face. In 1945, I was home alive, Rakes said. MARTINSVILLE A man charged with abduction appeared in Martinsville General District Court recently. Judge Marcus Brinks appointed a public defender to represent Willie Lamar Wilson, 35, of Milton, North Carolina, on charges including felonious abduction by force, intimidation or deception in an incident on Sept. 27, 2016.A criminal complaint by Sgt. R.L. Ratcliffe of the Martinsville Police Department alleged the following: Wilson met the alleged victim in North Carolina at a gas station and asked him for a ride to Virginia. The two did not know each other before this occasion. The alleged victim and his boss decided to give Wilson a ride, for which he offered around $40 and said he would pay them when he got to his girlfriends apartment on Barrows Mill Road. Upon arrival at the apartment, Wilson invited the alleged victim and his boss in for a beer and to get their money. Wilson at some point allegedly stated he couldnt pay the money, so the boss finished his beer and went to the vehicle. The alleged victim was sitting on the couch, finishing his beer, when he claimed that Wilson suddenly turned violent. Wilson allegedly punched the man in the nose for no reason, then jumped on him and continued to throw punches. The boss told police he heard the struggle but could not help his friend, because all the doors were locked. The alleged victim stated that every time he tried to leave, Wilson allegedly would punch him in the back of the head and stop him from leaving. Wilson allegedly finally opened the door and allowed the alleged victim to leave. The alleged victim had several injuries and the apartment had a large amount of blood present. Wilsons next hearing is set for March 24 in Martinsville General District Court. MARTINSVILLE CIRCUIT COURT A man pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of distribution of cocaine-second or subsequent offense on Tuesday in Martinsville Circuit Court. After hearing a summary of evidence, Judge G. Carter Greer found Christopher Orlander Martin of Martinsville guilty of the charge, which the prosecution amended from distribution of cocaine-third or subsequent offense. Michael McPheeters, Martins lawyer, waived a presentence report and asked that sentencing be done on March 16 when a probation violation hearing for Martin is scheduled. Greer agreed and set sentencing for March 16 at 9 a.m. Martinsville Commonwealths Attorney Clay Gravely summarized the prosecutions evidence. He alleged the following: As part of a Martinsville Police Department undercover drug operation, a confidential informant allegedly made arrangements to buy one-quarter ounce of hard or crack cocaine from Martin. The police department provided the confidential informant with $350 to make the purchase, which allegedly was made on Dec. 12, 2015. The confidential informant allegedly paid Martin $350 for an offwhite substance that Martin indicated was cocaine. A state forensics science lab analyzed the substance and determined it was cocaine. McPheeters made no corrections or additions to Gravelys summary of evidence. In another case, the prosecution dropped a charge of feloniously distribute suboxone against Jerry Lee Walker Jr., 31, of Stuart, in an incident on April 15, 2016. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, suboxone is a prescription medicine used for treatment of adults addicted to or dependent on prescription or illegal opiod drugs. Walker pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor possession of suboxone (on April 15, 2016). Judge Greer found him guilty of that charge and sentenced him to 12 months in jail, with one month active land 11 months suspended on conditions including one year of supervised probation, five years of good behavior and a $250 fine. Greer ordered Walker to receive a substance abuse assessment and participate in any services recommended. Walker pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor receive stolen goods (on July 21, 2016). Judge Greer found him guilty of that charge and sentenced him to 12 months in jail, with six months active and six months suspended on conditions including one year of supervised probation, five years of good behavior, and a $250 fine. Martinsville Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Andy Hall said that Walker admitted to possessing and pawning a stolen speaker. Hall said the value of the speaker was $70. According to testimony, Walker has no felony convictions. Vote Leave - Take Control was always a deeply cynical slogan, designed to exploit the alienation and powerlessness of the working class in the EU referendum. It is only now, however, as the brave new world of Brexit starts its lengthy unfolding, that its irony is being exposed. Theresa May and the Tories have taken so much control and sovereignty that, according to the always sober-headed Boris Johnson, the countries are just queueing up to sign trade deals with the UK. Once again Britain proudly rules the world, finally free to do and say as it pleases. Perhaps this renewed national vigour can explain the rapidity with which Theresa May scrambled on a plane, firstly to the US, and then immediately after to Turkey, to begin talks about possible future trade deals. Afterall, so many countries are queueing up, there is no time to waste! Trumps bigotry; Mays silence Only, surely if there is such a long queue to begin trade talks with the UK, and if the UK is now so proudly independent, the obvious and stately thing to do would be to invite these leaders to our shores as a display of our new-found sovereignty? The USA also strikes us as a strange choice of places to visit at this particular time for the leader of a proudly sovereign, liberal and democratic nation, as May has recently explained we are. It has not gone unnoticed that Donald Trump will have barely unpacked his no doubt extensive belongings into the White House, and may not yet be sure of himself. Indeed, he is apparently unsure of what exactly these new executive orders he has been so enthusiastically dishing out are, and is apparently disturbed as to some of their repercussions. In her haste to cosy up to Mr Trump, May stumbled and changed her position on his hated Muslim ban, initially refusing to condemn it. The ban itself has already been revoked by a judge, proving not only the extremely reactionary, unstable and provocative nature of his regime, but also its inchoate, trial-and-error nature. Mays haste to be Trumps Maggie therefore gave the lie to Britains proud and powerful sovereignty and control over its own fate. And then came the bombshell of her invitation of Trump to a full state visit. This is, of course, in the tradition of a proud, sovereign nation like the United Kingdom, and one may think therefore that it is only fitting that the full pomp and circumstance of our newly independent state be unveiled at this time. Only once again, the haste with which this has been brought up undermines any claims to proud British tradition. It is normal procedure for an American President to receive the honour of the full state visit two or three years after their inauguration. In recent history, Obama was invited after more than two years of his term, and George Bush, three. Furthermore, the haste of this move looks with hindsight politically foolish, inviting as it has an enormous backlash from the public that warns of a far greater and more militant protest should the visit actually happen. Could it be that Mays visit to the US, and invitation of Trump to our shores, smack not so much of control and sovereignty, but of desperation and dependence? This unfortunate impression was only strengthened by Mays shockingly sudden appearance in Ankara to meet with another man of the moment, President Erdogan of Turkey. Amongst other things, this meeting produced an agreement for Turkey to buy fighter jets from the UK - or more specifically, from the private company BAE Systems (though the British state has a golden share in it). The nature of that deal really proves Marxs position that the bourgeois state is just an executive committee for managing the affairs of the bourgeoisie, for here we see the British prime minister using diplomatic muscle to win a contract for an important private company. Independence day The combination of these two visits to two of the worlds most notorious and reactionary strong men together paint a somewhat less flattering picture of post-Brexit Britains independence. They reveal that cut adrift from its main market, the EU, the British capitalists and their state are even more enfeebled and dependent than under Tony Blairs US poodle reign. The next two Article 50 years will see no shortage of embarrassments for the British state. Mays apparent calm confidence will be torn apart to reveal confusion and indecision. This has already begun, as May was made to look foolish at the recent meeting of EU leaders in Malta when she idiotically attempted to sell herself as a bridge to Trump for the rest of the EU, no doubt citing the pictures of her hand-in-hand with Donald. It was not hard to foresee the hostile and indignant response she received from the other EU leaders at this desperate proposal. The obvious point was made that Britain is in the process of leaving the EU, and is hardly in the EUs good books - as the French Prime Minister recently had to explain to the likes of Boris Johnson, Britain must get a relationship with the EU significantly worse than countries within the EU, otherwise what would be the point of being within it? Monsieur Hollande rubbed salt in the wound as he strongly asserted that France would soon be more influential than Britain on the world stage as the only permanent member of the Security Council to be also a member of the EU when the UK leaves. The comedically stupid proposal of May to liaise with Trump on behalf of the EU she is quitting was underlined when the Lithuanian President quipped, I dont think there is a necessity for a bridge we communicate with the Americans on Twitter! May was then apparently denied a meeting she had announced with Merkel, and then flew back to the UK with her tail between her legs before the second meeting of the conference had even begun. The embarassment continues. The Economist reports that, Thomas Lembong, head of Indonesias investment board and a former trade minister, says that he has already agreed with British officials that Indonesias eventual deal with the EU could simply be tailored a bit to suit Britain. But, he warns, Of course the UK would be in a much weaker bargaining position outside the EU, so we would expect much more favourable terms of trade against the UK post-Brexit. But really the most spectacularly object lesson in world trade and national interests was provided to Boris Johnson by Carlo Calenda, Minister for Economic Development in Italy. When Boris Johnson arrogantly told him that Britain would have to be given a preferable deal because you dont want to lose Prosecco exports, Calenda calmly replied: Ill sell less Prosecco to one country and youll sell less to 27 countries. Naturally. Great Britain or Little England? Slowly but surely, it will dawn on our leaders, that capitalism recognises no sovereignty but that of money and the market. Sometimes it is hard to believe that those charged with managing capitalism can be so ignorant of its realities, but it is normal that the leaders of a system in decline must shut their eyes and ears to the truth. Any trade deal signed with Trump will hardly fill the hole left by the EU, with whom Britain trades far more than with the US. And Trump, an isolationist and hard protectionist who puts America first will hold all the cards. The obvious desperation of May to cosy up to Trump does not presage a strong bargaining position. As the Financial Times accurately put it, In the declining years of the British empire, some of its politicians flattered themselves that they could be Greeks to their Romans providing wise and experienced counsel to the new American imperium. But the Emperor Nero has now taken power in Washington and the British are having to smile and clap as he sets fires and reaches for his fiddle. On top of all this, the economic news for the Tories is worsening. The tax burden is set to rise to its highest for 30 years to plug a suddenly revealed 40bn hole in the public finances. And yet those same finances will have to be used more extensively if the Tories are to successfully bribe companies like Nissan to keep production in the UK after Brexit. Inequality is rising faster than ever. Given that under capitalism, real control and sovereignty depend on economic forces and market power, all of this shows that in Brexit, Britain has only lost control. The only way to take it back is to expropriate those who really hold our fate: the bankers and capitalists of the world market. No sovereignty but the sovereignty of the working class against capitalism! hatch-zarek-galactica.jpg Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek in "Battlestar Galactica." (SyFy Channel photo) Richard Hatch, who starred on both the original "Battlestar Galactica" TV series and its reboot 25 years later, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 71. Hatch played the heroic Captain Apollo in the 1978-1979 series on ABC. He joined the cast of the reimagined SyFy Channel series as terrorist-turned-politician Tom Zarek. In the late 1990s, the California native had attempted to launch "Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming," a sequel to the original series. "Richard Hatch was a good man, a gracious man, and a consummate professional. His passing is a heavy blow to the entire BSG family," tweeted Ronald D. Moore, creator of the "Battlestar Galactica" reboot. Hatch had recently appeared in the "Star Trek" fan film "Prelude to Axanar." The actor had been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Alec Peters, the writer/producer behind the fan film, posted on Facebook. "Richard was in good spirits when I visited him 2 weeks ago. He knew his time was short, but was comforted by the fact that his son would be taken care of," Peters posted. In addition to his roles on sci-fi series, Hatch had a role on "All My Children." He also played police Inspector Dan Robbins opposite Karl Malden in the final season of the ABC drama "The Streets of San Francisco" following the departure of Michael Douglas. His other TV credits included "CHiPs," "Murder She Wrote," "Dynasty," "T.J. Hooker" and "MacGyver." Hatch is survived by a son, Paul Hatch. willie ross school logo LONGMEADOW The Willie Ross School for the Deaf later this month will begin offering a sign language course with the option to learn at the beginner, intermediate or advanced level. The program will be held Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. from Feb. 28 until June 7, a statement from Willie Ross School for the Deaf says. "The beginner class is for students who have no previous experience in sign language or finger spelling," the statement says. "The intermediate class is for students who possess a strong basic sign language vocabulary and fluency in expressive and receptive communication; and the advanced class will emphasize conversational skills and expressions." Determination of placement will be made by the school. Participants must be at least 16 years old. The price of registration for one term is $140. Registration forms may be picked up at the school at 32 Norway St. or downloaded online at willierossschool.org. For more information, call 413-567-0374. HOLYOKE -- In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield, three Holyoke police officers were accused of beating a 12-year-old boy unconscious after responding to a shots-fired call in 2014. "Rather than searching and questioning the boy the officers assaulted him without cause, inflicting a concussion, deviated nasal septum, multiple abrasions and contusions to the scalp, face, chin and left ear, contusions to the chest wall and other injuries," the civil suit states. The incident occurred at night on Feb. 8, 2014, as police responded to a suicidal man and shots fired at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge between Holyoke and South Hadley, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Janette Hernandez Pagan, mother of the then-12-year-old boy. They now live in Winter Haven, Florida, and at the time of the incident lived at 15 North Summer St. here, according to the lawsuit. The Republican's policy is not to identify juveniles in such cases. Defendants named in the lawsuit are Holyoke police officers Thomas J. Leahy, James Dunn and Jabet Lopez, as well as the city of Holyoke. The plaintiffs' lawyer, Hector E. Pineiro of Worcester, couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Sara J. Carroll, assistant city solicitor for the city of Holyoke, said, "To my knowledge, the city has not yet been served with this complaint. I am unable to comment." The court complaint includes 18 photos that allegedly show bruises on the boy. The boy at the time of the incident stood 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed about 110 pounds, the lawsuit states. He was outside the apartment building where he lived the night of the incident when "a distraught neighbor, Edgar Zayas ... began to talk irrationally about killing himself and began waiving a .44-caliber handgun." The photo above, included in a lawsuit filed Tuesday, allegedly shows bruises suffered by a 12-year-old boy at the hands of Holyoke police officers who had responded to a shots-fired call in relation to a suicidal man at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge between Holyoke and South Hadley on Feb. 8, 2014. The boy and another neighbor tried to reason with Zayas and followed him to the bridge. Zayas fired the gun into the air twice and again at three traveling vehicles and several more times before aiming the gun at his own chin, according to the lawsuit. Holyoke and South Hadley police responded. Initially, Holyoke officers at gunpoint detained the neighbor who had accompanied the boy, handcuffed and searched him for weapons. But they released him after he said, "The guy you are looking for is on the bridge," according to the lawsuit. "Police spotted Mr. Zayas, ordered him to drop the gun and when he failed to obey they tackled and disarmed him," the lawsuit states. At this point, the boy "panicked" and at first tried to hide behind a wall and then ran. But he encountered a Holyoke police officer who pointed a service weapon at the boy, according to the lawsuit. The last name of the officer allegedly involved in this part of the incident as included in the lawsuit is not among the officers named as defendants, suggesting a possible misspelling of an officer's name. "I don't have a weapon with me, I did not do anything," said the boy, according to the lawsuit. Officers told the boy to put his hands behind his back and kneel. "At no time did he make any gesture or statement that could reasonably be perceived as threatening to the officers," the lawsuit says. "The officers seized him and though he did not resist began striking him with their feet and/or knees, a baton and/or with a hard blunt object on his back, ribs and head until he passed out." "The officer scraped (the boy's) face against the road surface causing a number of facial injuries," the lawsuit says. One of the Holyoke officers claimed that while on the ground the boy was trying to retrieve something from under his body, the lawsuit states. The boy was taken in police custody to Holyoke Medical Center, sent to a juvenile detention facility in Springfield and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, the lawsuit says. The boy was released from the juvenile detention facility at 5 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2014. His mother took him to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he was diagnosed with a head injury and chest bruises, according to the suit. "No reasonable officer would have manhandled, tackled, kicked, kneed or (struck the boy) under the circumstances and doing so served no legitimate purpose," the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs seek money for damages and lawyer and hospital fees. Zayas was sentenced to three years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow followed by five years probation at a court hearing in May 2015 after he said he had ingested PCP at a friend's house before he ended up on the bridge firing a gun. 21998997-mmmain.jpg About 50 people came together to collect signatures to call for a town-wide ballot question to build an Amherst school. Parents here lobbied for support before a recent town meeting. (Diane Lederman/The Republican ) AMHERST -- Town officials likely will schedule a one-question referendum on building a new twin school at the Wildwood Elementary School site on the same day as the annual Town Election scheduled March 28. Parents and others submitted more than 1,400 signatures to the Town Clerk's office asking for the vote. They had until 4:30 p.m. Monday to submit at least 829 registered voters signatures. The request in the special election has to be the exact request presented to Town Meeting to borrow $32.8 million to build the approximately $67 million second through sixth grade twin elementary school. The School Committee meanwhile voted 4 to 1 not to withdraw its application from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which has given the town until March 31 to show whether it has the town's financial backing. The MSBA agreed to pay about $34.4 million of the construction cost, leaving Amherst to pay the rest. The committee, however, had to withdraw by Tuesday to be eligible to reapply for state funding this year. In an email, School Committee chairwoman Katherine Appy wrote that the majority of those at the Monday night meeting spoke in favor of the project and asked the committee not to withdraw. Select Board chairwoman Alisa Brewer in an email said legal counsel has advised the town to have a separate ballot at the annual town election March 28 on the school building funding question. The Select Board will discuss the question Feb. 13. The election filing deadline with the town clerk is Feb. 21. This will be the second town-wide vote on the issue. On Nov. 8, voters approved spending on the project by 126 votes, 6,825 in favor to 6,699 opposed. Town Meeting, however, rejected the borrowing on Nov. 14 in a 108-106 vote. A two-thirds majority was required at Town Meeting because the measure involves borrowing. Residents petitioned for a second Town Meeting, and while a majority on Jan. 30 supported the project, 123-92, the vote again fell short of the two-thirds margin. The town-wide vote also would require a two-thirds majority. In addition, at least 18 percent of the town's 16,569 registered voters -- 2,982 -- must cast ballots in order for the Town Meeting vote to be overturned. "I was skeptical over the course of four days there was enough momentum to get signatures on the ballot. It was truly amazing," parent Johanna Neumann said. "(50 people) came out of the woodwork and helped gather the petitions. This was a grassroots effort through and through." The effort affected the School Committee vote not to withdraw its funding request from the state. Appy wrote that she and other members "felt strongly that the 1400 plus signatures gathered in about 3 1/2 days compelled us to respect and allow the democratic process to unfold." Only committee member Vira Douangmany Cage wanted to withdraw the town application. She had been the only committee member opposed to the school project. Town Meeting member Kevin Collins, meanwhile, said he has collected the 200 signatures required to call for another Town Meeting on the question. "I expect I will hand in the petition so that Town Meeting has time for one more revote before the election. They should have a chance to reconsider," he wrote in an email. He began collecting signatures days after the Jan. 30 vote. Go to an open-world arena with a fire mage with the artifact Get naked to lower pet's HP if 110 Have your pet's killing blow be by the spell Ignite Get lucky and see the body turn black and smoldering Rez the pet and voila. This effect stays even if the pet dies. Don't go into a queue Arena or Timewalking and have the pet out/summon the pet, or you'll lose it! These areas strip all mobs of buffs. *This apparently also works on Lock pets, I just haven't personally confirmed it. **Unknown if the mage needs the trait Phoenix Reborn in order to get this going. Might be a hidden effect of the trait, rather than the artifact. Just ask if the mage you're testing with has it, just to be safe. Apparently everyone I did it with had this trait, which affects Ignite in some wa My friend's allowed me to post this now - there's already been threads on this subject, but not the specifics on WHAT causes the effect. Wasted a lot of time trying to replicate it, so I wanted to make a post with specifics that other old threads lacked.The fire mage Artifact has a hidden effect that causes corpses a mage killed to turn black, give off smoke, and sets them on fire. What wasn't known, and why time was wasted trying to replicate it, is that this effect ONLY OCCURS WHEN IGNITE IS THE KILLING BLOW. Regardless of what spell applies Ignite, it has to be Ignite as a dot ticking down and being the killing hit to get the effect to show up.My friend and I have set three pets on fire this way in the span of 20 minutes once we figured it out. It's still a rare effect - one pet took a minute, the other took 10. We also did this in an arena (Ring of Trials in Nagrand, a physical location, not one you queue for!), since we'd only seen it randomly happen to other pets in open-world PVP, not duels.tl;dr A mapping technology company based in Missoula is expected to create 25 new jobs here and another 16 jobs in Bozeman as a result of $267,500 in grant money awarded by Gov. Steve Bullocks administration. Missoula County has been awarded $187,500 in Big Sky Trust Fund http://marketmt.com/BSTF job creation funds to help OnXmaps https://www.onxmaps.com/ to expand. The money will be used for the purchase of equipment, software, furniture, lease rate reduction and reimbursement of wages. The company creates GIS/GPS software so that people (mainly hunters and hikers) can see precise public and private land boundaries on their smartphones even when they are out of cell coverage. They also make chips for GPS units. DAVID ERICKSON [email protected] Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-mapping-tech-company-gets-k-state-grant-to-create/article_93902162-c657-5d35-b163-ad59d30dfb33.html Bringing more jobs to a growing Bozeman is about more than just money needed for salaries, but when asked what else local businesses needed to be successful, one answer stood out. "The answer came back, from the group of people who are most knowledgeable is, we need some training here, so that were not spending all of our money sending people out to get trained and they may or may not come back, or train someone in-house which takes someone else off of that widget to come train this person to do that, so we need some kind of a training curriculum," said Britt Fontenot, City of Bozeman economic development director. OnXMaps https://www.onxmaps.com/ is the latest grant recipient from Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund http://marketmt.com/BSTF . The digital mapping company is based out of Missoula and creates maps to show different ownership and terrain of lands utilized by outdoor enthusiasts. By Lena Blietz MTN News Full Story: http://www.kbzk.com/story/34450737/training-helps-local-businesses-to-grow-while-staying-productive When Abby Hetherington first decided to start her interior decoration business the Architects Wife in downtown Bozeman, she knew she needed money. But low on equity and without a lengthy history with her bank, Hetherington did not qualify for a loan. Her banker, however, offered another solution: taking a loan from a regional nonprofit, the Montana and Idaho Community Development Corporation https://mtcdc.org/ , designed to lend to entrepreneurs and startups that dont qualify for traditional borrowing. After several counseling sessions with the organizations Bozeman office, Hetherington got a loan that kick-started her Babcock Street business. By Lewis Kendall Chronicle Staff Writer Full Story: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/economy/nonprofit-plays-behind-the-scenes-role-in-bozeman-development/article_33031455-2308-50a7-9485-05e02f3dec5b.html Dave Glaser came to Billings Tuesday with a compelling offer: $80 million to help developers finance projects to improve blighted neighborhoods. "We have free money for projects that are eligible in Montana. You should call me," Glaser, president of the Missoula-based Montana & Idaho Community Development Corporation https://mtcdc.org/ , told a group of about 30 lenders and business leaders. Glaser was at the First Interstate Bank Operations Center to pitch his nonprofits newest round of funding through its New Markets Tax Credits program. By ERIK OLSON [email protected] Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/business/nonprofit-we-have-m-to-subsidize-montana-development-projects/article_9b04bcf7-48b0-5813-97e2-fc94243c4f0b.html "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children," Conrad Anker said, paraphrasing Duwamish Chief Seattle. Land managers, conservationists and sportsmen groups are pushing back against the notion of land transfers with increasing force By Tristan Scott Full Story: http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/02/08/behind-battle-public-land/ UM totals dropped 4.8 percent this year compared to last and 24 percent since 2010 Enrollment at the University of Montana has once again dropped, while Montana State University is celebrating a record-high count of students. The Missoulian reports that both institutions announced Friday that UM totaled 12,419 students, whereas MSU counted 16,440 students. The institutions included head counts at Missoula College and Gallatin College, respectively. The totals mean UM dropped 4.8 percent this year compared to last, and 24 percent since 2010. Meanwhile MSU saw a 4.8 percent increase in students this year. Full Story: http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/02/07/university-montana-enrollment-drops-msu-sets-new-record/ De Boston a new York en passant Accra et Ebene, notre invite prepare activement son sommet annuel qui aura lieu dans quelques jours dans le pays. De la filiere scientofique a celle des zeros des la haute finance, elle a lambition et objectif de damner le pion au systeme dans les services financiers. Il faut plus de femme dans la hiearchie des entreprises locales et mondiales qui dont dans la haute finance et les ecarts doivent etre reduits au noiveau du nombre au niveau de la parite mais aussi au niveau des salaires. Le 26 juin 2022 elle organise au Hennessy park Hotel, Le Women in Finance & Investement Network avec des acteurs du secteurs prive et les les organisations publiques afin que le nivellement se fasse dici quelques annees avec des femmes au sommet des institutions qui sont dans le secteur financiers et dinvestissement. POur notre invite, cadre masculin ou feminin, cest la parite quil faut a tous les niveaux meme si limpression est que la gent feminine ets plus presente lors cereminie de fin detudes dans la comptabilite, mais cela change dans les entreprises pour diverses raisons, culturelle et societale. Cest lEco du Mercredi de Remove term: Dikshita Awotarowa Dikshita Awotarowa, Fondatrice et Presidente de Women in Finance & Investement Network. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Parent and school volunteer Beth Dubrock saw a need at Old Fort Elementary and she fulfilled it. She, along with support from teachers and staff, started the SOAR Club, a tutoring club where she and other student leaders help third through fifth graders with classroom goals, projects, homework or whatever the learning need may be. SOAR stands for Show integrity, Own your own learning, Accept responsibility, Respect self and others. It really got started with a need for students to have an opportunity to have some assistance with anything they needed to meet classroom goals, said third-grade teacher Niki Poplin. This whole thing is possible because of a wonderful volunteer who helps those kids in whatever area they need. Dubrock volunteers her time Wednesday mornings and afternoons for 45 minutes to an hour for tutoring. Poplin said for the third-graders, she has seen significant improvement and progress. We had almost all of the third graders meet their multiplication goal. It was over two-thirds of the third graders who met their goal, and a lot of it was due to the extra help they received with the SOAR Club, said Poplin. The McDowell News visited the SOAR Club one Wednesday afternoon where students were excited to share their stories about how the club has helped them with their school work. I was having trouble with math and my multiplication. Some of them are really hard like with the 8s and 9s, said 8-year-old Lanning Ricketts. Ive been coming here about a month or so. She helped me where I could actually memorize them in my head. I think my grades have improved from it. Third-graders across North Carolina spend the year preparing for their first end-of-grade (EOG) test that Ricketts said she is nervous about. I think the club will help me do better on the test, she said. Brady Tipper, 9, used to come to the club to get help. Now he is doing the helping. I had to reach the goal of learning about my times tables, so I started coming here and once I got finished with all of my learning, I got to be a leader, he said. Being a leader is really important because you get to help other kids out, and I think you are inspiring them to learn more about what they can do. Tipper said Dubrock has inspired him personally through their interactions in the SOAR Club. She is a really good leader. She helps me out, she inspires me, and shes really fun. She cares a lot about the kids in the school and she wants them to reach their goals, said Tipper, who added that the club is good for working moms and dads who may have limited time to help their kids with their studies. The club mainly sees third- through fifth-graders, but second-grader Hayden Burnette has started coming to get help with his reading. She helps me with reading because Im struggling with reading. Im good with level J books, but when I got to Z books, I only get one word right, said Burnette. The big words are hard for me. Mrs. Dubrock helps me with it and its easier when you can cut the word in half. Shes a good teacher. Im doing really good on my reading now, and I got a 199 on a spelling test. Ive been practicing my other tests because Im reading. Dubrock isnt a certified teacher. She actually graduated with a bachelors degree in psychology, but after having children of her own, she wanted to be more involved in their lives so volunteering and substituting for the school was a good way to do that. Now, she wants to help as many children as she can in her own way. Ive never considered myself a teacher, I probably wouldnt last a week as a paid teacher. But I love being around the kids and hopefully making a difference in somebody elses childs life, said Dubrock. She wants this club to help students be successful in their classrooms for their teachers, for themselves and their parents. I believe there has been improvement and I see a difference in attitude, said Dubrock. When we started this it was about learning multiplication tables, but then all of sudden it was about, I want to be a leader, and they wanted to feel important and help somebody else. Whether they are struggling or not, if they are willing to help, everybody can learn from that. Parents and family members of students in the SOAR Club were happy to know the extra time with their kids are improving their studies. Her multiplication has greatly improved, and she has definitely gotten a lot of confidence from it. I can see a big change in her, said Ricketts grandmother, Pat. I think (the club) is a great thing. Old Fort does so many different things with the kids. They go the extra mile for these kids. To get your child involved with the SOAR Club at Old Fort Elementary, send a note to school for their teacher to find out more information, or call Old Fort Elementary at 668-7646. Morgan County Veterans Day Parade slated Nov. 11 Audio Article The Morgan County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Friday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at the Commons, in McConnelsville, at 9:30 a.m. and set out at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 24 will render honors at the monuments at the Commons, Riecker Building, the Square, at... A concert with two purposes Audio Article Wednesday, Nov. 30, a concert with dual purposes is being held at the Twin City Opera House in McConnelsville, Ohio. Its a thank-you to healthcare workers, who can attend for free, and its a benefit for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. In September 2021, Rick Shriver contracted COVID-19. He collapsed... BOE reminder of early voting hours and polling location change Audio Article Remaining early voting hours at the Morgan County Board of Elections are as follows: from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov, 2 through Friday, Nov. 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.... Lions Club announces annual Wreaths Across America Audio Article On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Chesterhill Lions Club will be joining with National Wreaths Across America in the laying of wreaths at each of the seven cemeteries located in Marion Township. The mission is to honor the local veterans who have served our nation so their families can rest assured... Governor DeWine awards $6.7 million for domestic violence survivor programs Audio Article Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he is awarding $6.7 million to support the work of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to offer mobile and health advocacy services and temporary residential services for domestic violence survivors across the state. The announcement comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.... CDC committee vote wont change Ohio school vaccine requirement Audio Article Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA has released the following statement: The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine to be added to the formulary or schedule of vaccines for children does not mandate this vaccine for school children. Ohio law determines... The Washington Post, Tuesday, February 7, 2017 1:19 PM President Donald Trump made an unsubstantiated claim on Monday that the media has been intentionally covering up terrorist attacks. Youve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe, its happening, he told military leaders on Monday. Its gotten to a point where its not even being reported. And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesnt want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that. His contention has been contested by various news networks. Read the whole story at The Washington Post by Jess Nelson , February 7, 2017 Do you want your personal email account accessible to the United States government without a judge-issued warrant? If your answer is no, then you may want to consider calling your senator and expressing support for the Email Privacy Act (H.R. 387). The stage for a Senate showdown on digital privacy was set Monday when the House of Representatives passed the Email Privacy Act for the second consecutive year, this time by a voice vote. The Email Privacy Act would drastically strengthen the privacy of digital communication by updating a loophole in the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the law that governs digital communication such as emails, texts and photos stored in the cloud. Electronic communication providers, such as Google or Facebook, currently can be forced to turn over any communication that is more than 180 days old with a subpoena, per the ECPAs regulations. advertisement advertisement The ECPAs antiquated 180-day policy was created before the advent of cloud-based storage. Drafted three years before the invention of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee, the ECPA has never been reformed, although the technology it regulates has advanced considerably in the last 30 years. The Email Privacy Act would require a warrant to be obtained as opposed to a subpoena, which would require proof of probable cause and would be more difficult to obtain. A subpoena can be issued by a government agency, but a warrant requires the signature of a judge. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) cites the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in its assertion that the ECPA needs to be updated. "In the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the founding fathers recognized that citizens in a democracy need privacy for their 'persons, houses, papers, and effects'," the ACLU writes. That remains as true as ever, but our privacy laws have not kept up as technology has changed the way we hold information. Thomas Jefferson knew the letters he stored in his office at Monticello would remain private. Todays citizens deserve no less protection just because their papers and effects might be stored electronically. The ACLU co-signed a coalition letter to the House Judiciary Committee in support of the Email Privacy Act alongside more than 60 companies and organizations, including Adobe, Amazon, Facebook, Google, the Center for Democracy & Technology, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Introduced annually by Representatives Kevin Yoder, (R-Kansas), and Jared Polis, (D-Colorado), the Email Privacy Act has gained widespread bipartisan support since lawmakers began advocating for it in 2013. The privacy legislation had more cosponsors than any other bill in the 114th Congress (2015-2016), gathering the support of 194 Republicans and 115 Democrats. The Email Privacy Act passed the House last year in a rare unanimous decision, but was later mired in the Senate after a series of edits by lawmakers weakened the privacy bill. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), currently awaiting confirmation as the next Attorney General of the United States, proposed one major amendment that granted law enforcement the ability to demand information from technology companies without a warrant if the government believed an emergency situation existed. The lead sponsors of the bill in the Senate -- Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) -- eventually withdrew the bill from consideration due to concerns that the amendments would make electronic communication even less private than it is now. by Tobi Elkin @tobielkin, February 8, 2017 Mobile ad platform InMobi on Wednesday said its partnering with mobile data exchange adsquare to create a suite of in-app audience targeting solutions for advertisers in Europe, offering brands access to InMobis global mobile consumer profiles. The suite includes multiple data sources like TomTom, Mastercard, and Acxiom designed to enable brands to achieve even more reach. The partnership provides access to audience insights both on the InMobi network and the InMobi exchange. The companies said that combining audience signals such as age, gender, household composition, location, and other behavioral data across the two platforms will offer brands unique audience segments that allow them to reach the right audiences and maximize the value of their media. "InMobi's privacy-protective, first-party data provides brands an invaluable understanding of their consumers behavior, stated Amine Melouk, VP & GM, Brand Advertising, Europe at InMobi. The powerful blend of adsquare and InMobi user insights will take this intelligence to the next level, and continue to solve for our clients campaign goals. by Sara Guaglione , February 8, 2017 Attracting and accommodating advertisers is key to the publishing business, a panel of magazine media executives agreed at the 2017 American Magazine Media Conference (AMMC), held Wednesday in New York City. However, ensuring readers trust in a brand is even more vital to the success of a publisher, and therefore it is essential that publishing companies do not get too cozy with advertisers and compromise the quality of editorial content, the panelists concurred. The panel included Andrew Clurman, president and CEO of AIM; Bonnie Kintzer, president and CEO of Trusted Media Brands; Declan Moore, CEO of National Geographic Partners; Marvin Shanken, founder and chairman of M. Shanken Communications; and Pam Wasserstein, CEO of New York Media. It was moderated by Jim Rutenberg, media columnist at The New York Times and contributor to The New York Times Magazine. advertisement advertisement Shanken, whose company publishes enthusiast magazines like Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado, said that to be successful in the magazine publishing business, you must be passionate, uncompromising and follow your heart. The panel agreed the best way to overcome declining print advertising revenue was to diversify their business, investing in e-commerce and events, as well as creating niche-specific verticals, like New Yorks popular fashion section The Cut. Rutenberg confirmed that for all publishers on the panel, advertising still made the most revenue for their businesses. So what happens when advertisers fight back? Shanken bluntly remarked, with colorful language, that he is strict with advertisers when they push back on editorial content that may not position them in the best light, such as an unflattering wine review. Advertisers should call their winemaker to complain, and not call me." He added: "There is a lot of cooperation between advertisers and publishers...too much, in my opinion." We build brands on trust with readers, Kintzer added, noting that she changed the companys name when it rebranded in 2015 from Readers Digest Association to Trusted Media Brands. The other panelists nodded in agreement, chiming in that a brands relationship with readers comes first. While ad revs pay the bills, it's high-quality journalism that attracts and keeps readers loyal to a brand. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 8, 2017 Comcast should stop touting its broadband service as the fastest in the country, an industry watchdog reiterated in a decision unveiled on Wednesday. The National Advertising Review Board also told Comcast to stop boasting that it offers the fastest in-home WiFi." The decision upheld an earlier ruling by the National Advertising Division, a unit administered by the Better Business Bureau. The NARB's ruling stems from Verizon's challenge to Comcast ads that contained statements like FiOS just cant keep up, Faster than the competition, Fastest in-home WiFi speed, and XFINITY from Comcast delivers Americas fastest Internet according to 60 million consumer tests run at Speedtest.net. The NARB said it agreed with the earlier finding that those ads were problematic. Among other reasons, the claim that Xfinity was "America's fastest internet" conveys that Xfinity is faster for all tiers of service, according to the NARB. advertisement advertisement Comcast's claims wee based on crowdsourced data from metrics company Ookla's Speedtest.net, which said in 2015 that XFINITY offered the fastest Internet service. But the NARB, like the NAD, found that Ookla's methodology didn't support Comcast's boasts. "The Ookla data is not a good fit for an overall claim that an ISP delivers 'Americas fastest internet'" the NARB wrote. The watchdog added that Ookla's data comes from people who took the free test on Speedtest.net -- a group that wasn't necessarily a representative sample. The NARB also said the ads convey that Xfinity delivers the fastest upload and download speeds, but that the Ookla data shows that Verizon offers faster uploads. "While the panel recognizes that download speeds are generally considered to be more important to consumers than upload speeds, upload speeds affect the overall consumer internet experience and general claims about internet speed will reasonably be interpreted as including both download and upload speeds unless the claim clearly communicates otherwise," the NARB wrote. The watchdog also found fault with Comcast ads bragging that it offered the fastest WiFi service. Those claims were based on tests showing that Comcast's routers could perform faster on the 5 GHz band that Verizon's router, according to the NARB. But "faster router performance does not necessarily mean faster wireless access to the internet," the NARB wrote, adding that Web access "is primarily dictated by speed of the ISPs internet connection." The NARB said Comcast agreed to comply with the decision. New research suggests that using physical or verbal abuse to punish a child may encourage risky behavior in adolescence, leading to lower educational attainment. Share on Pinterest Researchers suggest that harsh parenting may hinder a childs academic outcomes. From an analysis of more than 1,000 students, researchers found that children exposed to harsh parenting were more likely to engage in delinquency and other negative behaviors as teenagers, which was associated with lower educational achievement by the age of 21. Study leader Rochelle F. Hentges, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, and colleagues recently reported their findings in the journal Child Development. This is not the first study to document the negative implications of harsh parenting generally defined as shouting, hitting, or making physical or abusive threats as a form of punishment on the psychosocial behavior of offspring. One study published in PLOS One in 2014, for example, associated harsh parenting with greater risk of emotional and behavioral problems in offspring, while a more recent study published in the Journal of Family Psychology linked harsh parenting with poorer learning and lower academic achievement. For their study, Hentges and colleagues set out to pinpoint the behaviors that might lead to lower educational attainment among individuals exposed to harsh parenting in childhood. The researchers analyzed the data of 1,060 students from the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study, following them from the 7th grade until the age of 21. Through the duration of the study, the students were required to report their exposure to harsh parenting, their social interaction with peers, sexual behavior, and delinquency. The educational attainment of each student was assessed at the age of 21, determined through the number of school years completed. We believe our study is the first to use childrens life histories as a framework to examine how parenting affects childrens educational outcomes via relationships with peers, sexual behavior, and delinquency, notes Hentges. A new study finds that in addition to autism being more common in males than females, differences in brain structure can also be a factor, regardless of biological sex. It suggests that having a brain with features more commonly found in male brains is linked to higher probability of having autism spectrum disorder. Share on Pinterest The study found that having a brain that was anatomically more male-like was linked to a higher probability of ASD than having a brain that was anatomically more female-like. First author Dr. Christine Ecker, of the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and colleagues report their findings in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) more commonly known as autism are terms used to describe a range of complex brain development disorders that can result in significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. ASD is a wide-spectrum disorder: no two people with ASD will have exactly the same symptoms. People with ASD may interact with others and learn in ways that are different from most other people. Some people with ASD need little help in their daily lives, while others need a lot. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital and King's College London have discovered a treatment that improves the neurological symptoms in a mouse model of juvenile Batten disease. This discovery brings hope to patients and families affected by the disease that a treatment might be available in the future. The study appears in Nature Communications. "Patients with juvenile Batten disease are born healthy and reach the expected developmental milestones of the first 4 to 6 years of age," said senior author Dr. Marco Sardiello, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor. "Then, these children progressively regress their developmental achievements; they gradually lose their vision and develop intellectual and motor disabilities, changes in behavior and speech difficulties. Most people with this condition live into their 20s or 30s. This inherited, rare disease has no cure or treatment other than palliative care." "As we started this project, patients and families affected by this condition visited us in the laboratory," said first author Dr. Michela Palmieri, who was a postdoctoral fellow in the Sardiello lab during this project and currently is at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy. "We were deeply affected by our interactions with the patients and their families and this further motivated us to pursue this research with the hope that maybe one day it will lead to a treatment that will improve the lives of people affected by this condition." Juvenile Batten disease, a problem with cellular waste management Like a large dynamic city, a cell carries out many activities that generate waste. Waste needs to be disposed of properly in order for the city to continue its activities without interruption. If waste management fails, waste progressively accumulates and eventually leads to interruption and paralysis of the activities of the city. Something similar happens in cells when cellular waste is not discarded. The lysosomes are the structures in charge of clearing the waste produced by the cell's regular functions. Lysosomes are sacs inside all cells containing enzymes that degrade cellular waste into its constituent components, which the cell can recycle or discard. When lysosomes fail and cellular waste accumulates, disease follows. Although all types of cells can be affected by defects in lysosomal waste processing and cellular waste accumulation, brain cells - neurons - are particularly susceptible. "In juvenile Batten disease, one of nearly 50 human lysosomal storage disorders, the function of brain cells is progressively affected by the accumulation of cellular waste," Sardiello said. "This accumulation leads to perturbation of many cellular processes, cell death and progressive regression of motor, physical and intellectual abilities." A novel approach to finding a treatment "A few years back we discovered a protein in cells called TFEB, a master transcription factor that stimulates the cell to produce more lysosomes and degrade cellular waste more effectively," said Sardiello. "So we thought about counteracting the accumulation of cellular waste in Batten disease by acting on TFEB." "We and others had found that enhancing the activity of TFEB genetically can help counter the accumulation of cellular waste in different diseases," Sardiello said. "What was missing was a way to activate TFEB with a drug that in the future could be put in a pill to treat the condition. We focused on investigating how to activate TFEB pharmacologically." "We discovered that TFEB is under the control of another molecule called Akt, which is a kinase, a protein that can modify other proteins," said Palmieri. "Akt has been studied in detail. There are drugs available that can modulate the activity of Akt." The researchers discovered that Akt modifies TFEB by adding a chemical group, a phosphate, to it. This chemical modification inactivates TFEB. "We wanted to inhibit Akt to keep TFEB more active," said Palmieri. "We discovered that the sugar trehalose is able to do this job." Testing a treatment for juvenile Batten disease in a mouse model of the condition The scientists tested the effect of trehalose in a mouse model of juvenile Batten disease. "We dissolved trehalose in drinking water and gave it to mice that model juvenile Batten disease," said Sardiello. "Then, over time we examined the mice's brain cells under the microscope. We found that the continuous administration of trehalose inhibits Akt and activates TFEB in the brains of the mice. More active TFEB meant more lysosomes in the brain and increased lysosomal activity, followed by decreased accumulation of the storage material and reduced tissue inflammation, which is one of the main features of this disease in people, and reduced neurodegeneration. These changes resulted in the mice living significantly longer. This is a good start toward finding a treatment for people with this disease." "We are very excited that these findings put research a step closer to understanding the mechanisms that underlie human lysosomal storage diseases," said Palmieri. "We hope that our research will help us design treatments to counteract this and other human diseases with a pathological storage component, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases, and hopefully ameliorate the symptoms or reduce the progression of the disease for those affected." This work was supported by NIH grant NS079618, grants from the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation, March of Dimes Foundation grant #5-FY12-114, and a King's College London Graduate School International Studentship. This project was also supported in part by the Hamill Foundation and by IDDRC grant number 1U54 HD083092 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Cores: Mouse Neurobehavior, RNA In Situ Hybridization, and Integrated Microscopy). A new approach to the practice of surgical pathology for brain tumor patients could make for a powerful combination: more accurate, safer and more efficient operations. Neurosurgeons and pathologists at Michigan Medicine are the first to execute stimulated Raman histology, a method that improves speed and diagnostic efficiency, in an operating room. They detail the advance in a new Nature Biomedical Engineering paper. The researchers imaged tissue from 101 neurosurgical patients using conventional methods and the new method. Both techniques, they found, produced accurate results but the new method was much faster. That, if applied widely, could change the pace and structure of an operation. "By achieving excellent image quality in fresh tissues, we're able to make a diagnosis during surgery," says first author Daniel A. Orringer, M.D., assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Michigan Medical School. "This eliminates the lengthy process of sending tissues out of the OR for processing and interpretation." Today's workflow for determining a diagnosis during an operation requires the surgeon wait for 30 to 40 minutes while tissue is sent to a dedicated pathology lab for processing, sectioning, staining, mounting and interpretation. The entire team in the operating room may be idle while waiting for pathology results, Orringer says. A more efficient surgical procedure would save money by requiring less time in the operating room. "Our technique may disrupt the intraoperative diagnosis process in a great way, reducing it from a 30-minute process to about 3 minutes," Orringer says. "Initially, we developed this technology as a means of helping surgeons detect microscopic tumor, but we found the technology was capable of much more than guiding surgery." Near-perfect agreement Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, the technology behind SRH, was developed in 2008, but the hazardous lasers it involved made it unsuitable for use in an operating room. A clinical version has now been developed and tested in the operating room for more than a year at U-M, with the fiber-laser-based microscope mounted right onto a clinical cart that plugs into the wall. To interpret the samples, researchers developed SRH, which creates images familiar to those currently in use. SRH uses virtual coloring to highlight the cellular and architectural features of brain tumors, with a result resembling traditional staining. The pathologist is then able to differentiate the tumor tissue from normal brain as usual. "It's very similar to what we currently do in our intraoperative diagnosis, with the exception that the tissue is fresh, has not been processed or stained," says senior author Sandra Camelo-Piragua, M.D., assistant professor of pathology at the U-M Medical School. In the Nature Biomedical Engineering study, neuropathologists were given 30 specimen samples, processed via SRH or traditional methods. They were told the same information about each patient's medical history and the location of the tumor and asked to make a diagnosis. Those pathologists, the U-M researchers found, were equally likely to make a correct diagnosis whether they used SRH or conventional slides. "SRH imaging will ensure that appropriate and good quality tissue is collected to reach our ultimate goal: accurate diagnosis," Camelo-Piragua says. Artificial intelligence As Orringer and his team continue to improve this imaging technology, they're also teaching a computer how to use SRH images to make diagnoses. They built and validated a machine learning process that was able to predict brain tumor subtype with 90 percent accuracy in a subset of 30 patient samples. "The more we feed the computer, the more accurate its diagnoses will become," Orringer says. Connecting hospitals Using SRH might also improve the workflow for facilities without access to expert neuropathologists. Orringer notes that smaller hospitals may be able to partner with larger systems that do have access, since there are fewer than 800 board-certified neuropathologists compared to the approximately 1,400 U.S. institutions performing brain surgery. "Bringing the SRH to smaller hospitals would extend their capabilities because the images can be interpreted remotely," he says. Sample preparation is minimal and the SRH could quickly deliver virtual histologic sections to aid diagnosis remotely. The next step is a large-scale clinical trial, with an eventual goal of showing equivalence between SRH technique for making diagnoses, Orringer says. The prototype system is currently intended for research use only. Worries over wasting their doctor's time, particularly at a time when NHS resources are stretched, may influence when and whether patients choose to see their GP, according to a study carried out by the University of Cambridge. In the study, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, researchers from the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research report how the theme of 'wasting doctors' time' arose so often during interviews conducted with patients about their experiences of primary care that they chose to study this topic in its own right. "'Am I wasting the doctor's time?' is a question that many patients ask themselves when deciding whether or not to visit the doctor," explains Dr Nadia Llanwarne, who led the study. "We already knew that this worry existed among some patients, but this is the first study entirely dedicated to the subject that reports the existence of this worry among a variety of patients, young and old, healthy and sick, visiting their GP for a wide range of complaints." As part of the study, Dr Llanwarne and colleagues filmed patients' consultations with their GPs and then interviewed 52 patients across GP surgeries in London, the east of England and south west England about their experience. It was in these interviews that the issue of timewasting arose. The researchers identified three threads common to the issue of timewasting present across patients' narratives in general practice: the experience of a conveyor belt approach to care, the intimation that 'other patients' waste time, and uncertainty among patients over what is worthy of their doctor's time. The authors consider the reasons why people appear concerned about timewasting. Patients spoke of the pressured context in which their consultations take place: the demand on services, the NHS's limited resources, the lack of time, and busy doctors. Understanding the time pressures that doctors face, patients described how these challenges influenced their decision to see their GP. In an overstretched NHS, time becomes all the more precious, and this has meant that public campaigns often refer to appropriate and inappropriate users. For decades, doctors have expressed frustration that too many patients visit unnecessarily. As a result of these judgments cast upon them, patients voice the pressure to consult only when necessary and speak openly of 'timewasters'. "Patients are keen to avoid this label, but neither the patients, nor the doctors, are able to clearly define what precise problems might attract such a label," says Dr Llanwarne. "This is because some patients will present with what seems on the surface a minor problem, but once through the door of the doctor's consulting room, they may open up about more serious complaints. With some symptoms it may be very difficult for the patient to know whether these are serious enough or not to need review by the doctor. "Recognising this worry about timewasting among patients is important because it could influence whether a patient chooses to see the doctor or not. If a patient decided to hold off seeing the doctor for fear of wasting resources, this could have serious implications for their health." Dr Llanwarne adds: "It's important for patients to not delay contacting their doctor simply because of worry about wasting doctors' time. And it's important for doctors to be attentive to the fact that many patients will be worried about this. Doctors can then ensure they allay patients' concerns when they do seek help." The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research. Article: Wasting the doctor's time? A video-elicitation interview study with patients in primary care, Llanwarne, N et al., Social Science & Medicine, doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.025, published online 18 January 2017. Limiting lung cancer screening to high-risk former smokers may improve cost-effectiveness at a population level, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine. Regular computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening of current and former smokers is currently recommended in the US and is being considered in other countries, but the specific criteria (e.g.: smoking history, age) and frequency of screening to achieve optimal cost-effectiveness is debated. In this study, Kevin ten Haaf of the Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues used a microsimulation model to analyze 576 different lung cancer screening policies for persons born between 1940 and 1969 in Ontario, Canada. They found that stringent eligibility criteria (such as requiring more years of heavy smoking to qualify for screening) was more cost-effective than less stringent eligibility criteria, and that annual screening would be more cost-effective than biennial screening. The authors found that the most cost-effective scenario was annual screening between ages 55 and 75 years old for persons who smoked more than 40 pack-years (the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years the person has smoked) and who quit less than 10 years ago (or currently smoke). They estimate that this screening strategy would reduce lung cancer mortality by 9.05% compared to no screening, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $41,136 Canadian dollars per life-year gained. Though the optimal scenario is actually estimated to catch fewer lung cancers than the criteria used in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in the US, the authors predict this more stringent scenario would require fewer CT scans, and lead to fewer false positive screens and lung cancer overdiagnosis, which can lead to patient harm. The authors note that their analyses do not account for impact of increased frequency of screening and follow-up on quality of life of those screened. Additionally, they note that their assumptions for follow-up procedures were based on data from the NLST, and may not be generalizable to a population setting. Still, the authors say this study "indicates that lung cancer screening can be cost-effective in a population-based setting if stringent smoking eligibility criteria are applied." In an accompanying Perspective, Steven Shapiro of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States, discusses the challenges of balancing costs - both monetary and of over-treatment - of frequent and widespread testing with the benefits of early diagnosis. Article: Performance and Cost-Effectiveness of Computed Tomography Lung Cancer Screening Scenarios in a Population-Based Setting: A Microsimulation Modeling Analysis in Ontario, Canada, ten Haaf K, Tammemagi MC, Bondy SJ, van der Aalst CM, Gu S, McGregor SE, et al., PLoS Medicine, doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002225,published 7 February 2017. Perspective: Refining Lung Cancer Screening Criteria in the Era of Value-Based Medicine, Shapiro SD, PLoS Medicine, doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002226, published 7 February 2017. Bacteria are not the sole cause of caries; tooth resistance also plays an instrumental role. Researchers from the University of Zurich demonstrate that mutated genes lead to defects in the tooth enamel and can therefore encourage the development of caries. Why do some people develop caries even though they always brush their teeth carefully while others are less stringent regarding dental hygiene yet do not have any holes? Ultimately, both have bacteria on the surface of their teeth which can attack the enamel. Enamel forms via the mineralization of specific enamel proteins. If the outer layer of the teeth is defective, tooth decay can strike. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now pinpointed a gene complex for the first time that is responsible for the formation of tooth enamel. Two teams from the Centre of Dental Medicine and the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences used mice with varying mutations of the enamel proteins involved in the so-called Wnt signaling pathway. Thanks to this transmission route, human and animal cells respond to external signals and specifically activate selected genes in the cell nucleus. The signaling pathway is essential for embryonal development and also plays a pivotal role in the development of cancer or physical malformations. Mutations in proteins trigger defective tooth enamel "All mice with mutations in these proteins exhibit teeth with enamel defects," explains Pierfrancesco Pagella, one of the study's two first authors. "Therefore, we demonstrated that there is a direct link between mutations in the genetic blueprints for these proteins and the development of tooth enamel defects." This genetic discovery goes a long way towards improving our understanding of the production of tooth enamel. The team of researchers was the first in the world to use modern genetic, molecular and biochemical methods to study tooth enamel defects in detail. "We discovered that three particular proteins involved in the Wnt signaling pathway aren't just involved in the development of severe illnesses, but also in the qualitative refinement of highly developed tissue," says co-first author Claudio Cantu from the molecular biologist research group lead by Prof. Konrad Basler. "If the signal transmission isn't working properly, the structure of the tooth enamel can change." Increased risk of caries with defective tooth enamel The hardness and composition of the tooth enamel can affect the progression of caries. "We revealed that tooth decay isn't just linked to bacteria, but also the tooth's resistance," says Thimios Mitsiadis, Professor of Oral Biology at the Center of Dental Medicine. Bacteria and their toxic products can easily penetrate enamel with a less stable structure, which leads to carious lesions, even if oral hygien Understanding the molecular-biological connections of tooth enamel development and the impact of mutations that lead to enamel defects opens up new possibilities for the prevention of caries. "New products that hinder the progress of tooth caries in the event of defective tooth enamel will enable us to improve the dental health of patients considerably," adds Mitsiadis. BALTIMORE Feb. 7, 2017 University of Maryland School of Medicine University of Maryland $30 million $11 million $400M $300M Dean Reece Dean Reece University of Maryland University of Maryland School of Medicine Dean Reece Experts in Lung Injury Jeffrey D. Hasday Peter Rock Thomas M. Scalea Scott M. Thompson Konstantin Birukov University of Chicago University of Chicago Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine University of Chicago Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine $4.35 million $2 million Top Investigators in Muscle and Tendon Formation Andrew N. Pollak Masahiro Iwamoto University of Pennsylvania Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Motomi Enomoto-Iwamoto Philadelphia Thomas Jefferson University $2.7 million $675K Leading Neuroscientist in Brain Development Margaret M. McCarthy Tracy L. Bale University of Pennsylvania $4.5 million $1.9 million Top Team in Imaging and Spectroscopy Elias Melhem Hawaii Linda Chang University of Hawaii Honolulu Georgetown University Los Angeles Thomas Ernst University of Hawaii University of Freiburg Germany $9.2 million $3 million Leader in Bioengineering and Artifical Organs Stephen T. Bartlett Bartley Griffith Zhongjun Jon Wu University of Louisville $1.6 million $660K Academic Leader in Physical Therapy Mark Rogers Andrew Pollak Li-Qun Zhang Chicago $2.7 million $833K University of Maryland School of Medicine is a Major Global Research Enterprise $400M Establishment of new individual research centers and institutes focused on the study of genomic sciences; human virology; stem cell biology and regenerative medicine; shock trauma and anesthesiology; biomolecular therapeutics, and global health; Extensive research in transplantation leading to breakthroughs in face, kidney and lung transplants; Breakthrough development of major vaccines for Ebola, malaria, MERS and cholera, and the start of clinical trials for a new HIV vaccine; Creation of new Center for Health and Bioinformatics in collaboration with the University of Maryland, College Park to manage "big data" associated with clinical databases; to manage "big data" associated with clinical databases; Roll-out of Shared Vision 2020 with the University of Maryland Medical System, establishing benchmark goals for education, research, clinical care and public outreach; Medical System, establishing benchmark goals for education, research, clinical care and public outreach; Launch of SOM annual research symposium, "Festival of Science," and formation of UM SOM Scientific Advisory Council, made up of Nobel Laureates and world-renowned National Academy scientists; Formation of the Brain Science Research Consortium Unit the first SOM multi-disciplinary consortium unit focusing on "big science" investigation; Establishment of new centralized core laboratories to assist departments in conducting a broad range of basic science and clinical studies: Center for Innovative Biomedical/ Imaging Resources (CIBR); Completion of Maryland Proton Treatment Center, the most advanced form of cancer treatment and the first in the Baltimore-Washington, DC region; region; The National Cancer Institute's designation of the UM Greenebaum Cancer Center as a " Comprehensive Cancer Center ." ." Construction of SOM Research Building, the largest building and research facility on the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus . About the University of Maryland School of Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine University of Maryland Maryland University of Maryland's Baltimore University of Maryland $400 million Maryland David Kohn /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The(UM SOM) announced today the successful recruitment of a broad slate of top scientists, as theof the School of Medicine's bold new recruitment initiative calledThe Initiative, which was officially launched in late 2016, was recognized as a bold, new effort to recruit teams of some of the most talented physicians and scientists, with the primary goal of significantly catalyzing UM SOM's focus on accelerating discoveries, cures and therapeutics for the most serious diseases that cause morbidity, mortality and disability. STRAP specifies that the UM SOM will recruit scores of well-funded teams of scientists at all faculty ranks by the year 2020, as part of Vision 2020, the shared strategic goals established by the UM SOM and theMedical System.Many of the new scientists will be housed in the new 450K sq ft state-of-the art research facility on West Baltimore St., costing more than, and which is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2017. The new SOM Research Building will feature among the most advanced laboratories and medical research technology found anywhere.pointed out that the new building is a major asset to the School's research portfolio and will be most appealing to leading scientists who wish to have a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting discovery-based medicine in a collaborative manner and at a very high level of sophistication.said, who is also Vice President for Medical Affairs,and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished ProfessorThe program is the most significant and ambitious effort to recruit scientists in the School's 210-year old history. It signifies an aggressive move by the UM SOM to advance in the top most echelon of leading biomedical research institutions in the nation. In particular, the School is targeting top researchers and physician scientists who will help to accelerate breakthrough discoveries in critical areas, including brain disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular-metabolic diseases. The initiative will lead to rich, collaborative research programs across the School of Medicine, the Campus and the University System,noted.the Dr. Theodore E. Woodward Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine;, the Dr. Herbert Berger Endowed Professor of Medicine and Division Head, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine; and, the Dr. Martin A. Helrich Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology; with collaboration from, the Francis X. Kelly Professor in Trauma Surgery, Director of the Program in Trauma and Physician-in-Chief at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; and, Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology, announced the addition of two top pulmonary scientists:, comes to UM SOM from theSchool of Medicine, where he was an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care. He is a leading expert on the molecular mechanisms regulating lung vascular permeability, the role of mechanical forces and oxidized phospholipidome in development and recovery of lung function, and innovative strategies to prevent acute lung injury. Prior to the, he was a research associate at the. He has authored or co-authored more than 120 peer-reviewed papers and reviews, as well as two book chapters, and has four patents. Dr. Birukov will have his primary appointment in the UM SOM Department of Anesthesiology, and a secondary appointment in the Department of Medicine, and serve as Director of theLung Biology Research Program., is a widely-published investigator in several areas, including the regulation of lung vascular permeability and inflammation by microtubules, microtubule-associated signaling molecules, and new ways to protect the lungs from acute injury. Prior to coming to UM SOM, she was also an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section for Pulmonary and Critical Care at the. Prior to that, she was a research associate at. She has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and reviews and has written three book chapters. Dr. Birukova will have her primary appointment in the UM SOM Department of Medicine and a secondary appointment in the Department of Anesthesiology, and serve as Associate Director of theLung Biology Research Program.In the Department of Orthopaedics,the James Lawrence Kernan Professor and Chair, has led the effort to recruit a team of leading orthopaedics researchers:is an acclaimed scientist who has focused on the development of articular cartilage, the regulation of bone growth, and the repair of muscle, cartilage and other connective tissue. Prior to coming to UM SOM, he was a Research Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at theSchool of Medicine. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery atin. Dr. Iwamoto has earned four patents, and has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed papers., comes from the Children's Hospital of(CHOP), where she was a Research Associate Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery. She is an accomplished investigator who studies the cellular and signaling mechanisms that regulate skeletal development and function; the cellular pathways that lead to cartilage tumors and osteoarthritis; and the role of local progenitor cells in articular cartilage and tendon repair. Prior to CHOP, she was an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at. Dr. Iwamoto has earned four patents, and has authored or co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed papers.In the Department of Pharmacology, Professor and Chair, and, the Dr. Irving J. Taylor Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, have announced the addition of a nationally-recognized neuroscientist:, is a leading expert on the links between stress and subsequent risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and schizophrenia in offspring. Her innovative studies use molecular techniques to determine the mechanisms by which this may occur. Her studies on the placenta have revealed novel sex differences that may predict increased prenatal risk for disease in males. Prior to coming to UM SOM, she was a Professor of Neuroscience at theSchool of Medicine, and the School of Veterinary Medicine. She is the Co-Director of the Specialized Center for Research on Women's Health and Penn PROMOTES, and the Scientific Director for the BIRCWH K12. She serves as Chair of NIH study section, is a Reviewing Editor for the Journal of Neuroscience, and serves on the Congressional Committee on Gulf War Veterans Health. She has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed papers.In the Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, the Dean John M. Dennis Chair in Radiology, has announced a team of top investigators from, is a highly-acclaimed physician-scientist coming to the UM SOM from the, where she was a Professor of Medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in, as well as director of the school's Neuroscience and Magnetic Resonance Research Program. After graduating with an MD degree from, she became an Assistant Professor, and then an Associate, Professor of Neurology at the UCLA School of Medicine in. Dr. Chang has done research on a range of topics, including how methamphetamine and other drugs affect the brain and cognition, the neurological effects of HIV/AIDS and how the aging affects the brain. Over her career, she has authored or co-authored 200 peer-reviewed papers, and has written nearly 30 book chapters and monographs. She has also delivered 175 lectures, grand rounds, workshops & symposia., was also a Professor of Medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the. Dr. Ernst earned a PhD degree in physics from thein. He has focused on several areas of research, including the development of strategies to minimize motion sensitivity of magnetic resonance and other imaging techniques, and to improve the overall precision of these techniques; the use of imaging to study HIV-related brain disease, the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs and overall brain development. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, more than 10 book chapters, and has given dozens of lectures and seminars.In the Department of Surgery,, the Peter Angelos Distinguished Professor and Chair in Surgery, andthe Thomas E. and Alice Marie Hales Distinguished Professor in Transplant Surgery, announced that a top bioengineering scientist is returning to the UM SOM faculty., is an internationally recognized authority on the development of artificial organs, ventricular assist devices, blood pumps, artificial lungs and respiratory assist devices. He was an Assistant and Associate Professor at UM SOM from 2003 to 2014, when he became a Professor of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at theSchool of Medicine. His primary areas of research are in blood flow, flow visualization, blood damage, cell mechanics, cardiac biomechanics, hemodynamics; biological responses to artificial organs in human and animals; and stem cell therapies for heart and lung diseases. He has earned or applied for 10 patents, has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed papers.In the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science,Professor and Chair, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciencealong with Department of Orthopaedics Chairannounced the addition of top research scientist in physical medicine and rehabilitation science., PhD, is a Senior Research Scientist who joins the SOM faculty as Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science (PTRS), with a secondary appointment in the Department of Orthopaedics. Dr. Zhang was previously a Professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. He also served as Director of Ortho Biomech Research at Northshore University Health System and Senior Research Scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of. He is widely published and speaks internationally on his research related to biomechanics and biomedical engineering.With more thanin total extramural research funding last year, the School of Medicine now ranks among the top research intensive institutions nationally. Key advances since the UM SOM celebrated its bicentennial in 2007 include:Celebrating its 210Anniversary, thewas chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as a global leader in accelerating innovation and discovery in medicine. The School of Medicine is the founding school of theand is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of. Located on thecampus, the School of Medicine works closely with theMedical Center and Medical System to provide a research-intensive, academic and clinically based education. With 43 academic departments, centers and institutes and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians and research scientists plus more thanin extramural funding, the School is regarded as one of the leading biomedical research institutions in the U.S. with top-tier faculty and programs in cancer, brain science, surgery and transplantation, trauma and emergency medicine, vaccine development and human genomics, among other centers of excellence. The School is not only concerned with the health of the citizens ofand the nation, but also has a global presence, with research and treatment facilities in more than 35 countries around the world.dkohn@som.umaryland.edu 410-706-7590 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teams-of-top-scientists-to-join-university-of-maryland-school-of-medicine-as-major-recruitment-initiative-has-strong-start-300403816.html SOURCE University of Maryland School of Medicine Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Advertisement They analyzed data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which included data from participants from Florida who were on average 16 years old. They were asked about their sleeping patterns, physical activity, how often they had meals with their family, if they experienced symptoms of depression and how much screen time they spent watching television or playing video games. The participants also reported on their grades, whether they participated in delinquent behavior, risky driving or sexual activities, used illegal substances or suffered any eating disorders.Data from the current study suggests that children are resilient to screen consumption for up to six hours daily. When negative outcomes were noted, these were very small and in general affected males more. Time spent in front of a screen only accounted for between 0.49 percent of the variance in delinquency, 1.7 percent in depressive symptoms and 1.2 percent in average grade points. It did not have an influence on risky driving or risky sex, substance abuse or restrictive eating."Although an 'everything in moderation' message when discussing screen time with parents may be most productive, our results do not support a strong focus on screen time as a preventative measure for youth problem behaviors," says Ferguson. Results also suggest that the AAP was correct to discard their previous two-hour maximum guideline.Ferguson believes that setting hard time limits on screen use is a fraught avenue for policy and does more to foster guilt in parents unable to meet unrealistic expectations than they do to help children. He sees more value in focusing on how media are used than on time consumption alone, as it could for instance foster learning and socialization.He also believes that it is important that youngsters are allowed to become intimately familiar with screen technologies. "Screens of various sorts are increasingly embedded into daily life, whether they involve education, work, socialization or personal organization," Ferguson explains. "Setting narrow limits on screen time may not keep up with the myriad ways in which screens have become essential to modern life."Source: Eurekalert Advertisement To better understand this survival strategy, researchers Irine Ronin, Naama Katsowitz, Ilan Rosenshine and Nathalie Q. Balaban, led by Dr. Irine Ronin from the Balaban lab at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Racah Institute of Physics, examined whether non-genetic variability plays a role in the virulence of a human-specific pathogen, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), responsible for many infant deaths worldwide.Their goal was to uncover whether exposing EPEC to challenging conditions similar to the ones they would encounter in a human can trigger EPEC to spontaneously differentiate into different bacterial sub-populations. To do this, they used mathematical modeling and genetic analysis.Their analysis, reported in the peer-reviewed journal, revealed that EPEC spontaneously differentiates into two sub-populations, one of them particularly virulent, when exposed to conditions that mimic the host environment. Surprisingly, they found that once triggered, this hyper-virulent state maintains a very long memory and remains hyper-virulent for many generations. In addition, they identified the specific regulatory genes that control the switch between the non-virulent and hyper-virulent states in EPEC bacteria."These results shed new light on bacterial virulence strategies, revealing the existence of pre-adapted EPEC subpopulations which can remain primed for infection over weeks," said Prof. Nathalie Q. Balaban. "They also show that long-term memory drives the expression of the pathogen's major virulence factors, even upon shifting to conditions that do not favor their expression.""The unique memory switch we identified may be common in pathogenic bacteria, resulting in increased disease severity, higher infection persistency and improved host-to-host spreading," said Prof. Ilan Rosenshine. "Further research to characterize the switching mechanism may point to strategies for tuning down EPEC virulence and fighting infections, and our approach can provide a framework to search for similar switches in other pathogens."Source: Eurekalert Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Alternate Foreign Minister G. Katrougalos met in Brussels this afternoon with the heads of the political groups represented in the European Parliament. More specifically, Mr. Katrougalos met with the Chair of the Group of Socialists and Democrats, Gianni Pitella, and the Chair of the Confederal Group of the European United Left, Gabriele Zimmer. Mr. Katrougalos highlighted that the Greek government's firm goal is the formation of new alliances for the promotion of a new policy with a social face, with all of the progressive political forces, and mainly with the Socialists & Democrats and the Greens. Moreover, as Mr. Katrougalos underscored, it was alliances of this kind that shaped the recent elections for the new President of the European Parliament. In the context of the current dialogue on the future of Europe, Mr. Katrougalos stressed that it is now clear that the coming years require the implementation of a new policy. A policy that will contribute to real convergence between the member states -- with increased public and private investments and with strengthened economic recovery -- and to the creation of new and better jobs. This policy will lead to a new Europe that respects persons and their needs. Earlier today, the Alternate Foreign Minister participated as an observer in a working breakfast of the Group of Socialists & Democrats of the European Parliament on the subject of the future of Europe, ahead of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the founding Treaty of Rome. Moreover, yesterday evening, Mr. Katrougalos participated in a dinner organized by a group of thirteen member states -- called "Friends of Rule of Law", in which Greece participates -- and by MEP-rapporteurs of the relevant European Parliament resolution. The initiative is aimed at the setting up of a permanent mechanism in the EU for monitoring respect for the principles of the rule of law and fundamental rights, including social rights. The Alternate Minister backed the proposal's immediate promotion through the signing of an inter-institutional agreement between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission, and its broadening through the taking of measures for democratization of economic governance. In this context, he referred indicatively to the full Europeanization of the ESM and the promotion of accountability measures for the ESM and the Eurogroup. A blog about business, strategy and applying science to the benefit of society. We are passionate about liberty and free enterprise. 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... In an effort to strengthen its cyberwarfare prowess, the U.S. Army is deploying teams of specially trained soldiers to launch cyberattacks on Islamic State extremists, as well as embarking on an effort to recruit cyber experts from the civilian world. Since 2010, Army cyber experts have been standing up new commands, developing training programs and forming a cyber mission force to help combat units survive the cyber battlefield. The Army has a requirement to field 41 teams in the cyber mission force for U.S. Cyber Command. Currently, the service has 30 fully operational teams and is scheduled to meet the requirement before the fiscal 2018 deadline, Brig. Gen. Patricia Frost, director of Army Cyber Directorate G3/5/7, told a group of defense reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon. "We believe that it will happen by the end of 2017, which will be early," Frost said. Army National Guard and Reserve components are also building Cyber Protection Teams, she said. The National Guard has 11; the Reserve has 10. The Army has soldiers "in the fight today," said Brig. Gen. J.P. McGee, deputy commanding general for operations at U.S. Army Cyber Command. "We have Army soldiers who are delivering [cyber] effects against our adversaries in ISIS or ISIL in Northern Iraq and Syria, and that is happening every single day," said McGee, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. "As we build these teams, we are largely building them, giving them initial operating capability and then putting them right into the fight, in contact in cyberspace." The majority of the effort directed toward ISIS is in "offensive" operations, McGee said. The Army's vision for cyber operations is based on an experimentation project the service has been conducting at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, over the last 18 months, McGee said. Cyber teams map out the cyber-electromagnetic terrain for a combat commander, involving infrastructure such as cell towers as wireless points, McGee said. "If you've got a patrol that is going to be passing through maybe for a period of time, we shut down an enemy's known use of the internet at a certain point. So as a patrol is passing through, there is silence," McGee said. They are still determining what authorities and policies can be pushed down to a commander to conduct these types of operations, he said. In the big picture, however, cyber units spend most of their time defending the network, McGee said. "While a lot of attention is paid to the offensive capability, because it is unique and somewhat compelling and interesting, actually the most important thing we are doing is defending our network," he said. One way the Army is trying to identify weaknesses is by inviting industry to "hack the Army," an effort that is already showing results, McGee said. In addition to uniformed cyber units, the Army, along with the other services, was tasked by the Defense Department to conduct the Civilian Direct Commissioning Pilot Program in January 2017. "So much like we do with lawyers and doctors and other career fields in the Army, DoD has now asked us to do a pilot program by service that we can conduct looking at skill sets that we can bring up by direct commissioning into the cyber career field," Frost said. Each service secretary has until 2020 to submit a report on how best to implement the pilot, said Frost, adding that it is not yet known how many civilians will be needed. "It will be interesting to see what is the groundswell out there of individuals who work with this type of skill set who would want to come in with a direct commissioning," she said. McGee said the effort recognizes that the civilian workforce has some unique contributions to offer. "I think there are some indications that there is an appetite amongst industry to be able to do this," he said. The Army is also launching a Civilian CyberSpace Effects Career Program to offer new opportunities for existing Army civilians, Frost said. These efforts are part of the reason the Army is "going to be the lead in capabilities and operational concepts, not just for U.S. Cyber Command but for Department of Defense," Frost said. "I think the investment in manpower, resourcing and facilities made by our Army ... I don't think any other service can match," Frost said. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Despite rumors to the contrary, there's nothing in the works at the Defense Department to revise current rules opening combat roles to women who qualify, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Daniel Allyn said Tuesday. "There's been no conversation in the Pentagon about reviewing [or] revising the commitment that's been made to gender integration," Allyn said in testimony during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Allyn was responding to questions from Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, who said she had heard "rumblings that the [Trump] administration" with input from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford was "talking about reviewing, revising or appealing this policy" to have all military occupational specialties open to women. Speier asked, "Do you know about any efforts to do that, and doesn't that kind of fly in the face of having the ready workforce we need if you're excluding women who are capable to engage in combat?" Allyn, who spent much of his time at the hearing complaining that Army readiness is being affected by budget cuts, said the current state of readiness of all the services could not be maintained without having women able to fill roles that were previously closed to them. "We're all achieving higher levels of readiness now that we are opening it up to 100 percent of the population of America being able to contribute," he said. Mattis raised concerns among advocates of gender integration, and possibly gave some encouragement to critics, when he said at his Senate confirmation hearing last month that he might "look at it" if a field commander came to him with a perceived problem about having women on the front lines. However, he said, "The standards are the standards and, when people meet the standards, then that's the end of the discussion on that." "I have no plan to oppose women serving in any aspect in our military," Mattis said. "In 2003, I had hundreds of Marines who happened to be women, serving in my 23,000-person Marine division. I put them right into the front lines just like everyone else." "If someone brings me a problem, I'll look at. But I'm not coming in looking for problems -- I'm looking for ways to get the department so it's at its most lethal stance." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. The vastly different and separate campaigns to drive ISIS out of Raqqa and Mosul will possibly take another six months, said the top U.S. commander in the region. "Within the next six months, I think we'll see both conclude," Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said of the campaigns to take Mosul in northwestern Iraq and Raqqa in northeastern Syria. On a visit to the U.S. training base at Camp Taji north of Baghdad, Townsend said he expects the operation to liberate western Mosul -- led by Iraqi Security Forces and backed by the U.S.-led coalition -- to begin "in the next few days," The Associated Press reported. He did not give a timeline for the start of an assault on Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, where a mix of Syrian Arab and Syrian Kurdish militias, supported by the U.S., is in the "isolation phase" of the effort to take the city, according to Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a task force spokesman. The campaign against Mosul, which is split by the Tigris River, began Oct. 17 and succeeded in taking the eastern sector in January after street fighting described by the U.S. as "three dimensional," as ISIS defenders fought the ISF's elite Counter Terror Services units from rooftops, alleyways and a maze of tunnels beneath the streets. In a video briefing to the Pentagon, Dorrian said ISIS is still firing mortars from the western side of the Tigris into the eastern sector and sending drones to drop small munitions, but the attacks are having "limited effect" and will not delay planned operations to take the more densely populated and built-up western side of the city. The campaign to retake Raqqa is complicated by the Russian military presence backing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey's cooperation with Russia, and the more than five-year-old Syrian civil war that has spawned ethnic and political rivalries across the region. The U.S. deals differently with the groups making up the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are pressing from the north on Raqqa. Dorrian has repeatedly said that the U.S. arms the Syrian Arab Coalition within the SDF, but does not arm the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, which has been branded a terrorist organization by NATO ally Turkey. Turkey late last year joined with Russia and Iran for talks on arranging a ceasefire in Syria following the fall of Aleppo to Assad's forces, backed by Russian airpower. The U.S. was excluded from the ceasefire talks in Moscow. Dorrian said the advance on Raqqa is proceeding. "What we would expect is that within the next few weeks, the city will be nearly completely isolated, and then there will be a decision point" on which forces will actually undertake the assault into the city, he said. Turkey is adamantly opposed to having the YPG, by far the most effective rebel fighting force in Syria, enter the city. Turkish officials have suggested that their military might join the assault. The split between the U.S. and Turkey on how to proceed against ISIS in Syria led the U.S. to withhold air support for Turkish forces clearing border areas, but Dorrian said the U.S. is now conducting airstrikes coordinated with the Turkish military in the effort to retake the northern Syrian town of al-Bab from ISIS. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on shoring up relations. A White House readout of the call said that Trump "reiterated U.S. support to Turkey as a strategic partner and NATO ally, and welcomed Turkey's contributions to the counter-ISIS campaign." In Ankara on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Erdogan had renewed Turkey's demands for the creation of a "safe zone" inside Syria for refugees and for the extradition of exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported. Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who is living in Pennsylvania, has been blamed by Erdogan for fomenting the failed military coup in Turkey last July. In an ABC-TV interview last month, Trump said, "I'll absolutely do safe zones in Syria." The administration of former President Barack Obama rejected the safe zone concept, saying it would cost too much and require a major commitment of U.S. ground troops to protect the zones. In a sign of improving relations with Turkey, new CIA Director Mike Pompeo is to make his first overseas trip Thursday for talks with his counterparts in Turkey. In prepared remarks for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Thursday, James Jeffrey, the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Turkey, said the plan to retake Raqqa "should be done in conjunction with, rather than in opposition to, Turkey." Jeffrey, a distinguished fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Turkey might be more willing to accept U.S. support of the YPG following the Turkish constitutional referendum in April. He also said, "if the United States desires a rapid victory over ISIS, it probably will have to commit more supporting forces, and possibly limited ground combat formations." Last month, Trump gave new Defense Secretary Jim Mattis 30 days to come up with a new plan for the "accelerated" defeat of ISIS. On Wednesday, Mattis spoke by phone with new Iraqi Defense Minister Arfan al-Hayali to discuss the overall ISIS campaign and "planning for operations to liberate western Mosul," the Pentagon said. Just before stepping down as defense secretary last month, Ashton Carter said that more U.S. ground troops is not the answer in Iraq and Syria, where the U.S. has relied on local partners to carry the fight. More U.S. troops would mean "fighting on the enemy's terms, which is infantry fighting in towns in a foreign country," Carter told The Associated Press. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. A Letter from the Director Community engagement is a core component of the universitys public affairs mission. By promoting a campus culture that inspires community engagement, the Center for Community Engagement (through its programs and resources) aspires to develop students who are active citizens of enhanced character, sensitive to the needs of community, competent and committed in their ability to contribute to a global society, and civil in their habits of thought, speech, and action. We: Promote collaborations that build the capacities of our communities. Connect academic goals with community-defined needs to create collective impact. Convene dialogues that promote partnership development and are responsive to evolving community issues. Provide workshops and consultations to student and community organizations Model and train students to become citizen scholars who address societal concerns alongside community partners. On behalf of our CCE staff, I am excited to work with you as a resource as you contribute your knowledge and experiences to your community and the broader society. Together, we will create positive social change as active citizens. - Alex Johnson, Director, Center for Community Engagement More than 100 talented young Britons took part in the final of the UK's only national Mandarin-speaking competition for students at the British Museum in London on Tuesday. Colorfully dressed students on stage in the contest. Mark Hakansson / For China Daily Now in its 14th year, the HSBC and British Council Mandarin Speaking Competition aims to encourage interest in the Chinese language and China's culture. This year, students from at least 38 schools nationwide competed in either the Individual or Group Performance sections, vying to win a weeklong trip to Beijing. In the end, James Hollingsworth from St Mary Magdalene Academy, Mary Oboh from Dartford Grammar School, and Kamran Sharifi, from Manchester Grammar School, nudged ahead of the competition, displaying outstanding language skills and snatching first prize ahead of entrants in the Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced categories. Students from Fortismere School impressed the judges with imaginative performances and costumes to win in the Group Performance category. Speaking at the competition, School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "Studying Mandarin Chinese is both personally enriching for students and a useful means of boosting future career prospects in our globally competitive economy." Last September, the British government launched a 10 million pound ($12.96 million) Mandarin Excellence Programme. The program will see at least 5,000 young people in England get on track to achieve a high level of fluency in Mandarin Chinese by 2020, according to recent research commissioned by the Department for Education. With the uptake of Mandarin in UK schools growing, the number of entrants sitting Mandarin exams as part of the General Certificate of Secondary Education increased by 75 percent during the past five years, to nearly 3,500. Mark Herbert, head of schools programs at the British Council, said: "Mandarin Chinese matters both to the UK's future prosperity and to the personal career opportunities of those who speak it. Without more people in our workforce who can understand and communicate effectively with one of the world's biggest economies, there's a real risk that the UK will struggle to remain competitive on the world stage." Since 2003, more than 2,500 young people have entered the speaking competition, helping to inspire hundreds of others to further their language studies. The Tigers have agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder David Lough, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Lough, 31, spent last year with the Phillies and Marlins organizations. All 79 of his major league plate appearances came with Philadelphia, which designated him for assignment June 2 after he hit .239/.342/.313 there and .270/.331/.365 in 139 PAs with its Triple-A affiliate. Lough also struggled with Miamis Triple-A club, albeit over a mere 32 PAs, with a .200/.226/.267 line. In 820 trips to the plate with the Royals, Orioles and Phillies, the lefty-swinging Lough has batted .254/.300/.371 while garnering time at all three outfield spots. Detroit has two proven corner outfielders in Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez, but its only center field options Tyler Collins, Mikie Mahtook, JaCoby Jones and Anthony Gose havent established themselves. Neither has corner outfield reserve Steven Moya, so Lough could perhaps find his way to the Tigers bench at some point this year. "Eastern Michigan University alumnus and USA Today business writer Nathan Bomey has been very, very busy of late covering the North American International Auto Show, implications for American business as we transition to a new regime in Washington, the on-going saga of the Volkswagen settlement--and more," says Kirk Heinze. Bomey covered a variety of topics for MLive.com and the Detroit Free Press before joining USA Today in 2015. He recently joined Heinze on Greening of the Great Lakes to talk about some of the environmental implications of these topics. Bomey describes the world's move toward mobility and autonomous vehicles and talks about outcomes from the Big Three CEOs' meeting with President Trump. How will a Trump administration impact the automotive industry and the entire economy? "Autonomous and electric vehicles are really no longer a question of if, but more a question of when," says Bomey. He says the automakers are worried about the future of NAFTA, too. "The automakers would be disrupted substantially if somehow that fell apart. So they want to preserve as much of NAFTA as possible while recognizing that it's likely to change in some capacity. On the other hand, they're very eager to get some breathing room on the fuel economy standards." He says "it's good for business" for companies to be sustainable in their practices and tells how many corporations have found that environmental stewardship goes hand-in-hand with economic and community sustainability. And how being "green" helps attract top talent. Bomey has written extensively about the Volkswagen settlement and gives an update on the $15 settlement he covered last fall. He and Heinze both wonder why VW would expend the time, money and expertise to develop a brilliant software system to circumvent admissions testing when perhaps the same investment would have resulted in admissions reductions that would have been in compliance. Bomey says VW's engineers simply couldn't meet stringent U.S. emission standards. Bomey talks about his acclaimed book on the Motor City's trip to bankruptcy and back titled Detroit Resurrected: To Bankruptcy and Back. He's optimistic about Detroit's future. "This was a humanitarian crisis. The people of Detroit were just waiting for someone to come along to actually give the city a second chance. When Kevyn Orr as emergency manager came in and said the city has to file for bankruptcy, and start putting its people before its creditors, that was the first time that Detroit finally started to actually move in the right direction with its finances." Click here to hear the Bomey/Heinze conversation. Greening of the Great Lakes airs every Sunday evening at 7:00 on News/Talk 760 WJR and around the state each weekend via the Michigan Talk Network. ANN ARBOR, MI - Plans for a 70-unit affordable housing development on Ann Arbor's west side are taking another step forward. The City Council voted unanimously this week to give initial approval to a rezoning request related to nonprofit Avalon Housing's plans to build new apartments on nearly five acres of property at 1110 and 1132 S. Maple Road. Ann Arbor City Council Member Zachary Ackerman, D-3rd Ward. Council members expressed appreciation for Avalon's commitment to expanding the supply of affordable rental units in Ann Arbor. But, as Council Member Zachary Ackerman noted, the city is a long way away from the goal it established in 2015 to work with other partners to create nearly 2,800 new affordably priced rental units in the city by 2035. "While I'm thrilled that this is coming forward and we have a partner like Avalon in our community that is willing to contribute to our housing stock, and more particularly, housing that is affordable, I want to point out that this is 70 units," said Ackerman, D-3rd Ward, noting double that is needed per year. "In order to reach our affordability goals by 2035, we need to be producing at least 140 units of new affordable housing every year." Ackerman said he's glad the city has partners such as Avalon, which is stepping up and doing more than its share, but he said the city needs to do more. "We need to acknowledge we all have a responsibility to look at our zoning, to look at the use of our public land, to make sure we're staying on track and not backloading this to the year 2034," he said of reaching the city's goals. "So, I'm glad that Avalon is taking the lead on it. It's our turn now." Avalon is applying to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for low-income housing tax credits to help finance the Maple Road project. The property is located on the west side of Maple Road, north of Pauline Boulevard. It's a narrow strip of land just north of the Hansen Nature Area, which is next to the Grace Bible Church. The property was annexed into the city from Scio Township and is being zoned for multi-family housing. Final approval is expected on March 6. The apartments are expected to be made affordable for people earning up to 50 percent of the area median income, with many of them affordable for people at 30 percent or below the area median income. For 2016 in Washtenaw County, $465 was considered the affordable monthly rent level for someone earning 30 percent or below AMI, or no more than $18,600 per year. That's considered "extremely low income." For someone "very low income" at 50 percent or below AMI, earning no more than $31,000 per year, the affordable monthly rent was $775. If approved and built, the Maple Road apartments will be Avalon's first new affordable housing development in Ann Arbor since the 32-unit Pauline Apartments opened in 2013. Council Members Chip Smith and Chuck Warpehoski, both of whom represent the 5th Ward, applauded the project at Monday night's meeting. "This has been a project that Avalon Housing has been working to bring forward for quite a while," Warpehoski said. One of the challenges of trying to expand the supply of affordable housing, Warpehoski said, is that while a typical private investor can move very quickly in terms of lining up financing, sometimes it takes much longer for a "public-good investor," a nonprofit such as Avalon, to get everything together. "For the 5th Ward, I see this as being a big improvement that's going to help move us a little bit closer to our affordable housing goals," Warpehoski said of the Maple Road development, which includes two 3-story buildings. "Avalon is a fantastic community partner and I'm very delighted to see this moving forward." Smith echoed those remarks. "We've been having discussions about this project for a long time. I'm glad to see it's moving forward," he said. The city's Housing Commission has been working in recent years to improve and in some cases expand the city's own stock of affordable apartments. The City Council last year also approved ordinance changes to allow people who live in single-family homes to create accessory apartments on their properties and rent them out to non-relatives. City officials see that as one small piece of creating a framework to allow more affordably priced rental units in the city, though no homeowners have requested permits to create accessory apartments on their properties since the ordinance was approved last August. Multiple private development proposals that are expected to come forward to the city soon also could include affordable or workforce housing components. Christopher_Taylor_081516_RJS_01.jpg Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor (File photo ) ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor is taking to Facebook to defend the city's new Tobacco 21 law. The newly enacted ordinance raised the legal age to purchase tobacco products in Ann Arbor from 18 to 21, differing from state law. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette issued a written opinion last week saying state law actually preempts the city's ordinance. City Council Member Julie Grand, who sponsored the ordinance, said at a council meeting Monday night, Feb. 6, the attorney general's opinion doesn't invalidate the city's ordinance and she expects the city will vigorously defend it. Taylor offered similar remarks on his Facebook page on Tuesday, making it clear he expects retailers to continue to comply with the ordinance. "Tobacco 21 prevents tobacco addiction, a lifetime of smoking-related disease, and early death," the mayor wrote. "I support Ann Arbor's Tobacco 21 ordinance. The law remains on the books and it is the obligation of retailers in Ann Arbor to comply. If the law is challenged, I will do everything I can to ensure that we successfully defend it." One of the goals of the law, which has been enacted in many communities across the country as part of the Tobacco 21 movement, is to reduce the number of high school teenagers who start smoking by making it more difficult for them to get their slightly older peers to buy cigarettes for them. Backed by data from the Institute of Medicine, city officials believe raising the minimum legal age of access to tobacco products is likely to delay initiation and reduce prevalence across all ages, with the largest proportionate reduction emerging among adolescents ages 15 to 17. Grand, who has a Ph.D. in public health from the University of Michigan, brought forward the ordinance with support from several health professionals. The city is hopeful the implementation of the law in Ann Arbor will spur neighboring jurisdictions and the state to eventually adopt the policy. But with Ann Arbor being the only municipality in Michigan with such a law right now, some argue it's unfair to retailers in the city who might be losing tobacco sales among people ages 18 to 20 to retailers just outside the city. ANN ARBOR, MI - Online retailer Amazon.com has ranked Ann Arbor as one of the top 20 most romantic cities in the United States. The Michigan city even broke into the top 10 of the list compiled by Amazon.com, released just in time for Valentine's Day. It is the only location in the state to be included in the Top 20 Most Romantic Cities. Amazon's list is created using sales data from cities with more than 100,000 residents and includes purchases of romance novels, relationships books, romantic movies and music, and sexual wellness products. The Top 20 Most Romantic Cities in the U.S. are: San Antonio, Texas Miami, Fla. Alexandria, Va. Orlando, Fla. Salt Lake City, Utah Knoxville, Tenn. Cincinnati, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pa. Atlanta, Ga. Ann Arbor, Mich. Columbia, S.C. Vancouver, Wash. Gainesville, Fla. Seattle, Wash. Scottsdale, Ariz. Tampa, Fla. Las Vegas, Nev. Portland, Ore. Round Rock, Texas Rochester, N.Y. Amazon's data also had some key findings about romantic online shoppers: universityofmichigan The University of Michigan is shown in Ann Arbor. MLive file photo (MLive file photo) ANN ARBOR, MI - A University of Michigan professor denies he sent racist and anti-Semitic emails that initially appeared to have come from his account. J. Alex Halderman, a professor of computer science and engineering, said in an email to The Ann Arbor News that the messages sent to students the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 7, were "spoofed." Halderman's uniqname, as well as UM Ph.D. student Matt Bernhard's, who conducts research with Halderman, were used in at least three emails sent out to students, he acknowledged. "This evening many EECS undergrads received emails with racist and antisemitic content that appeared to be addressed from me or from my Ph.D. student Matt Bernhard," Halderman said in an email to The Ann Arbor News early Wednesday morning. "These messages were spoofed. Matt and I did not send them, and we don't know who did. As I teach in my computer security classes, it takes very little technical sophistication to forge the sender's address in an email." The emails, which were sent to computer science and engineering undergraduate students, included subjects "African American Student Diversity" and "Jewish Student Diversity," according to a student who received the messages Tuesday. The UM Division of Public Safety & Security and the ITS security team are investigating the incident, said UM Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald in an email to The Ann Arbor News early Wednesday. "This almost certainly involves a hacker, but the emails remain under investigation," Fitzgerald said in an email. According to The Michigan Daily, the first two emails read: "Hi n*****s, I just wanted to say that I plan to kill all of you. White power! The KKK has returned!!! Heil Trump!!!!" The third reads: "Hi you f*****g filthy jews, I just wanted to say the SS will rise again and kill all of your filthy souls. Die in a pit of eternal fire! Sincerely, Dr. Alex Halderman," according to the Daily. Halderman, who was among a group of computer scientists and election lawyers urging Hillary Clinton to call for a recount in three swing states won by President Donald Trump, said he believes he and Bernhard were targeted because of their work in efforts to recount the presidential election. "I suspect that this is a cowardly action by someone who is unhappy about the research that Matt and I do in support of electoral integrity," Halderman said. "We study cybersecurity and elections, and in recent months we were involved in efforts to recount the presidential election to confirm that the outcome hadn't been changed by a cyberattack." Nathan Moos, a junior computer science major at UM who received the emails, vouched for both Halderman and Bernhard, indicating that he took Halderman's computer security class last semester. "Neither professor Halderman or (Bernhard) are responsible in any way," Moos told The Ann Arbor News early Wednesday. "I know this is not (Halderman's) worldview." Moos said he believes the emails were sent by attackers using an "email faking" service, pointing to the "emkei.cz"message ID tag, rather than the umich.edu tag that would indicate it was sent by someone with a UM email address. These emails were sent by attackers using an "email faking" service, not by Professor Halderman. pic.twitter.com/qoM0soDp2J Nathan Moos (@moosingin3space) February 8, 2017 Halderman said he expects the university to resolve the matter soon and was disappointed students saw the racist and anti-Semitic content. "In any case, the content of these emails is contemptible, and I'm sorry that the EECS student body was subjected to them," he said. After learning about the emails, some students protested early Wednesday outside of the home of UM President Mark Schlissel, who addressed their concerns, according to social media posts from students. Schlissel condemned the emails in a Tweet early Wednesday. universityofmichigan The University of Michigan is shown in Ann Arbor. MLive file photo (MLive file photo) ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan is working with the FBI to determine who sent racist emails to students from what looked like a university account. Late Tuesday, Feb. 7, emails attacking black and Jewish students were sent to College of Engineering students by a person or persons who forged the email address of J. Alex Halderman, a professor of computer science and engineering. He said he did not send the emails. The UM Division of Public Safety & Security and the ITS security team are investigating the incident, which involves forging or "spoofing", said UM Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald. Spoofing is creating an email that looks like it came from another account, but doesn't involved hacking, the university said in a statement. On Wednesday, the university confirmed officials are working with the FBI. UPDATE - DPSS is continuing the investigation into the spoofed emails & is working with the FBI. U-M DPSS (@umichdpss) February 8, 2017 The UM Division of Public Safety and Security has increased patrols in North Campus where the College of Engineering is located, according to the university. Halderman believes someone may have sent the emails in response to his suggestion that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton call for a recount in three states President Donald Trump won in November. UM President Mark Schlissel condemned the emails in a tweet early Wednesday. Analysts are forecasting growth in UK-China bilateral trade and investment in light of the British government's latest policy document on Brexit arrangements. They say the impact of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union's Single Market upon Chinese investment is likely to be minimal, while a potential free-trade agreement with China could significantly support British exports. The UK government's Brexit White Paper, published on Thursday, confirmed the country's exit from the European Single Market and highlighted its desire to "forge ambitious free trade agreements with other countries across the world". A free-trade agreement between China and the UK was proposed by British Chancellor Phillip Hammond in July 2016, when he attended the G20 finance ministers meeting in Chengdu. "Given the height of tariffs in China and the magnitude of their market, it is the UK that can gain big from the FTA," said Maximiliano Mendez Parra, a senior research fellow at the London-based think tank Overseas Development Institute. Mendez Parra said such an FTA would help the UK adjust to "the strong shock" it might experience upon leaving the EU. He said the UK's service sector in particular would be likely to gain from increased access. The value of British exports to China has skyrocketed in recent years, increasing by 108 percent between 2010 and 2016, according to British government figures. China is Britain's second-largest trading partner outside the EU, while the UK is China's largest investment destination in Europe. Meanwhile, Chinese investment into the UK has also grown. Chinese direct investment into its nonfinancial sectors in 2016, from January to November, exceeded $1 billion. "Much of the Chinese investment into the UK is made to strategically make use of the UK's local market talents, expertise and technology," said Andrew Godley, a professor of management and business history at the Henley Business School. "Therefore, Chinese investment is less affected by Brexit, compared to Japanese firms' investment, which aims to use the UK as a platform for exporting into European markets. "For example, the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei highly values investment into the UK for research and development purposes, while many Chinese banks establishing branches in London's financial center benefit from partnerships with global banks in London." The Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota, for example, made much media noise when it warned it was examining "how to survive" in a post-Brexit UK, just days after Prime Minister Theresa May said in January that Britain would leave the single market. At the same time as the UK attempts to woo Chinese investment, many other European countries are likely to increase their efforts to attract China's money during a period of Brexit uncertainty, especially as the UK creates new laws and regulations post-Brexit, said Christopher Bovis, professor of European and international business law at the University of Hull. "Brexit will create more competition amongst EU countries to attract Chinese investment," Bovis said. HAMPTON TOWNSHIP, MI -- Rebecca Blumenstein, a Bay County native who catapulted to one of the top editor jobs at the Wall Street Journal over the past two decades, is on the move again. This time to the rival newspaper a half-mile around the block in Manhattan. Blumenstein, 50, a 1984 Essexville-Hampton Garber High School graduate, was named deputy managing editor of The New York Times, the paper announced Tuesday, Feb. 7. The hire makes her one of the highest-ranking women in The Times' newsroom, the paper reported. Dean Baquet, executive editor of The Times, said Blumenstein would help the newsroom "do all the big things we intend to do in 2017 and beyond." Blumenstein's journalism resume is impressive, highlighted by a 2007 Pulitzer Prize she won while working as the Wall Street Journal's China bureau chief. The series of stories focused on the adverse impact of China's booming capitalism. After graduating from Garber, she attended the University of Michigan where she served as editor of the Michigan Daily. She started her professional career at the Tampa Tribune in Florida and later moved on to careers with Gannett Newspapers and Newsday, where she covered the New York state legislature. In 1993, she received the New York Newswomen's Award for best deadline writing for her coverage of the aftermath of the Long Island Railroad shooting. She has worked at the Wall Street Journal since 1995, most recently as the paper's deputy editor in chief. The Bay City Times interviewed Blumenstein in 2011 when she was named front page editor of the Wall Street Journal. "You need to work hard, you need to be hungry for the story," she said at the time, reflecting on her success. "If you have a passion for what you do, get along well with people, you can do some amazing things." Blumenstein took to Twitter Tuesday to thank her colleagues at The Journal. It has been an honor to work @WSJ for 22 years. I am endlessly proud of the work we have done. (1/3) Rebecca Blumenstein (@RBlumenstein) February 7, 2017 I'm grateful to so many @WSJ, especially @gerardtbaker and @murraymatt. I wish my colleagues here all the best. (2/3) Rebecca Blumenstein (@RBlumenstein) February 7, 2017 I'm sad to leave but excited to join @nytimes (3/3) Rebecca Blumenstein (@RBlumenstein) February 7, 2017 "It has been an honor to work @WSJ for 22 years," she wrote. "I am endlessly proud of the work we have done. I'm grateful to so many @WSJ, especially @GerardTBaker (the paper's editor in chief) and @MurrayMatt (deputy editor in chief). I wish my colleagues here all the best. "I'm sad to leave but excited to join @NYTimes." 21664955-mmmain.jpg A rendering for a multiuse pavilion being proposed for Wenonah Park in downtown Bay City. (William A. Kibbe & Associates) Matthew Felan, chief executive officer of the Great Lake Bay Regional Alliance, is leading the charge in drumming up support for a controversial Wenonah Park pavilion project. BAY CITY, MI -- After months of listening to an organized group of Bay City residents speak against a controversial pavilion project in Wenonah Park, proponents of the project are now on the offensive. A newly formed coalition, led by the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, has secured support for the project from two major employers and several of the region's labor unions. The coalition plans to send letters of support to Bay City Mayor Kathleen Newsham, members of the City Commission and City Manager Rick Finn. The City Commission has the final say on pavilion project, which is part of an overall master plan for Wenonah Park. Matthew Felan, president and chief executive officer of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, said those against the pavilion project have done a "great job" of organizing and making sure their voices are heard. "They've done an absolutely phenomenal job," he said. "But I think there is an even larger contingent that's for it. Those people weren't organized, though, because they didn't know they needed to be. And sometimes, when you really want something, you go fight for it. "I believe there is a silent majority in this community that wants a pavilion." The coalition formed after the Bay City Planning Commission last month rejected the park's master plan, which includes the 5,000-square-foot pavilion, on a 6-1 vote. The nine-member Bay City Commission can overturn that decision and approve the master plan with six yes votes, according to the Michigan Planning Commission Act. The pavilion project is part of a three-phase enhancement project for Wenonah Park that comes with a $6.6 million price tag. According to the documents presented to the Planning Commission last month, only the first phase, which is estimated to cost up to $2.7 million, would likely be completed in the foreseeable future. A $1 million grant secured specifically for the pavilion from the Nickless Family Charitable Foundation would help pay for a large portion of the plan's first phase. The pavilion would then carry the Nickless family name. The Bay City Downtown Development Authority bonded out for funds last year and has about $800,000 to put toward the rest of the phase. Mike Bacigalupo, who's working to see the pavilion built in the park, has said another $750,000 in private donations is "under consideration" if the City Commission ultimately approves the project. City leaders in favor of the plan fear saying no to the Nickless family's $1 million donation would put the city in jeopardy of securing other grants in the future. The Bay City Planning Commission rejected this plan for enhancements to Wenonah Park at its meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18. In addition to the regional alliance and the chamber, the Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, F.P. Horack Co., Michigan Sugar Co., Communication Workers of America Local 4108, and the Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents many labor unions. Also last month, proponents of the pavilion, launched a Facebook page called "I Support Vibrancy: Wenonah Park & Nickless Pavilion," which has garnered more than 770 followers. Page administrators have shared information about the project, including estimated costs, and put out calls for action, asking their followers to email city officials voicing their support for the project. Sandy Rogers, who has led the charge against the Wenonah Park pavilion project, said she expected Felan and others to organize support for the project. She also agrees with Felan that there is a silent majority out there, but that it's on both sides of the fence. "There are people who are so involved in the community and they don't want to speak up against it," she said. Rogers said she plans to stay focused on her group's task of making sure they get "every single last answer to every single question" about the project. "We're not giving up," she said. "We have a few more cards up our sleeves." The City Commission could vote on the park's master plan as early as next month. At least four of the nine commissioners have voiced initial support for the project, including Commissioners Lynn Stamiris, 1st Ward, Brentt Brunner, 4th Ward, Jim Irving, 5th Ward, and John Davidson, 6th Ward. Commissioner Andrew Niedzinski, 3rd Ward, said receiving feedback from his constituents carries more weight than feedback from business organizations and the unions. To date, he has received letters of support for the project from four of his constituents, he said. With several labor unions behind the project, however, it could put some City Commissioners in awkward situations. Niedzinski, for instance, has accepted more than $2,200 in campaign contributions from labor unions. "With the labor unions involved now, it puts me in a spot where it might look like i'm leaning that way because of those folks, but honestly, it comes down to my constituents," he said. Japan will suffer "a credibility issue" if it seeks to improve ties with China while at the same attacking China's image, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing on Tuesday. It was reported recently that the Japanese embassy in London was paying the think tank the Henry Jackson Society 10,000 pounds ($12,300) a month to run an image-tarnishing propaganda campaign and label China as a threat. The story first appeared in the Sunday Times on Jan 29. Beijing has noted the report but it says it had not seen any clarifications from Tokyo, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news conference on Tuesday. Lu said: "If what the report says is true, I would like to say this (the Japanese attempt) will be of no avail." The Japanese embassy in the UK has chosen to stay silent in the wake of the Sunday Times report. The newspaper claimed Japan had been paying 10,000 pounds a month to the Henry Jackson Society to encourage politicians including former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind and journalists to voice opposition to China's foreign policy. It was claimed that the HJS, which is run by Alan Mendoza, an unsuccessful Tory candidate at the 2015 general election, is being paid by the embassy to run the campaign. The Sunday Times said the deal with the Japanese embassy in London was made in response to growing cooperation between Britain and China. Last weekend, Malcolm Rifkind acknowledged that the HJS had approached him to put his name to an article published by the Daily Telegraph last August, expressing concerns about China's role in Britain's Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant. The HJS said in a statement, that "the Henry Jackson Society had approached Sir Malcolm Rifkind who generously agreed to work with us in the drafting of this article which appeared under his name". Rifkind claimed he was not made aware of the HJS's financial relationship with the Japanese embassy, adding that the HJS "ought to have informed me of that relationship when they asked me to support the article they provided. It would have been preferable if they had". Lu said Beijing "has no interests in an in-depth probe" as ties between China and Britain are in good shape. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Kentwood City Commissioner Steve Redmond may agree to a plea bargain in the case of a threatening call he allegedly made to a constituent. In Grand Rapids' 61st District Court Wednesday, Feb. 8, Redmond was offered to accept the charge against him for no jail time, court documents show. Also Wednesday, Redmond waived his right to a jury trial. If he doesn't accept the "no contest" plea, Redmond's trial would occur in early March, according to court documents. Redmond, 53, allegedly made an anonymous, threatening phone call to a constituent after the resident voiced opposition to proposed improvements to Wing Avenue. Redmond initially pleaded "not guilty" to one count of malicious use of telecommunications, a criminal misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and/or a fine of $1,000. What Redmond's alleged "threatening statement" was to the resident in the Oct. 19, 2016, phone call to the Kentwood citizen has not yet been made public. There is surveillance video of Redmond placing the call, according to police. The Grand Rapids Press has submitted a Freedom of Information Act for investigative materials in the case. The threatening call came two days after the citizen voice objections to the commission both in public and in private to a proposed rebuild of Wing Avenue from 52nd to 60th streets. Redmond is a regional planner for the Michigan Department of Transportation. Redmond was elected to an at-large seat on the Kentwood City Commission in 2015. He was first appointed to the seat in 2015 after Sharon Brinks resigned. He has previously served on the city's planning commission. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The former Kent County assistant prosecutor charged in connection to a November wrong-way crash is not in danger of losing access to retirement benefits, according to county officials. Joshua Kuiper, 42, was driving the wrong way on Union Avenue, south of Fulton Street, in the early morning hours of Nov. 19 when he crashed his pickup truck into a parked car. A man getting his coat from the car was injured, and has since filed a lawsuit against Kuiper. Police put Kuiper through dexterity tests but did not administer a preliminary breath test. The city has since started the process of terminating three officers involved in the incident and sued the city's police union for approval to use a series of recorded phone calls against the three officers. Kuiper faces a felony charge of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function and a misdemeanor charge of moving violation causing serious impairment of a body function. Kuiper's attorney, Craig Haehnel, said he doesn't believe the medical evidence supports the felony charge. But even if Kuiper were to be convicted of the charges he faces, it would not impact his county retirement benefits, according to Kent County spokesperson Lisa LaPlante. The charges the assistant prosecutor faces would have no impact on county pension payouts, LaPlante said. County employees first need to reach retirement age -- usually 60 -- before drawing down any benefits, she said. The county declined to release the exact amount of benefit payments to which Kuiper would be entitled, citing an exception in Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. A 13-year veteran with the prosecutor's office, Kuiper is "vested" in his retirement plan and also has the ability to withdraw the portion he paid into the plan over that period, LaPlante said. Kuiper's total contributions to date to the pension plan are $63,497.97, according to LaPlante. At the time of his resignation, Kuiper earned an annual salary of $94,857, which was not impacted by the demotion received after the Nov. 19 crash. Kuiper was initially suspended without pay, but later opted to resign. Though he has not worked in the prosecutor's office since the night of the crash, Kuiper remains technically employed by the county through Friday, Feb. 10. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker explained that Kuiper is contractually entitled to his outstanding vacation and sick time. The union contract under which Kuiper worked allows accumulation of up to 300 hours of vacation time, which is why Kuiper remained on the payroll for several weeks after deciding to resign, Becker said. The newly elected prosecutor said the decision to allow Kuiper to remain employed was made by his predecessor, former Kent County Prosecutor Bill Forsyth. "I wasn't involved in those conversations," Becker said. "If he makes a choice -- like anyone else -- and walks in and says, 'I quit.' He made that choice and, under the contract, he's entitled to sick time he's accumulated with his years of service." The November crash was not the first time Kuiper's behavior outside of work was noted by his employer. When placing Kuiper on unpaid leave, Forsyth told MLive the reasons for that decision included the most recent incident and "two prior after hours/off-duty incidents involving alcohol." Neither previous incident is noted separately in Kuiper's personnel file, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act Request. But both are described in a "Last Chance Agreement" Kuiper entered into the week after the November crash. The first referenced in that agreement was during an office excursion to Wrigley Field "several years ago," when Kuiper became "extremely intoxicated" and "argumentative, belligerent and confrontational" toward fellow assistant prosecutors. The document also confirms Kuiper had consumed alcohol prior to being involved in a property damage crash in 2005, and that a test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.07 percent, just under the legal limit for driving of 0.08 percent. In that case, prosecutors dropped a careless driving charge and Kuiper was found guilty of failure to stop at a property damage accident. The last chance agreement, which Kuiper signed, acknowledges alcohol as "an ongoing problem" that at times "resulted in behavior unacceptable for an employee of the Kent County Prosecutor's Office." Kuiper agreed to the unpaid leave and promised to meet with a substance abuse specialist, the document shows. Kuiper's attorney, Craig Haehnel, could not be reached for comment. The 3:30 a.m. crash on Nov. 19 occurred the morning after a retirement party for Forsyth. The former county prosecutor confirmed that he saw Kuiper earlier that evening and thought he may have consumed too much alcohol. In the wake of the incident, Forsyth said he advised Kuiper not to drive. Becker and other colleagues also told Kuiper not to drive and offered to drive him home, according to the last chance agreement. Here is video provided by the Grand Rapids Police Department of the interaction between Kuiper and police officers on Nov. 19: And another police video of Kuiper completing dexterity tests for officers that night: Kuiper's criminal case has been set for a Feb. 22 probable cause conference, followed by a March 3 preliminary examination if needed. An investigation by Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting, appointed as a special prosecutor to probe deeper into the case, found the three city police officers involved in the case -- Lt. Matthew Janiskee, Sgt. Thomas Warwick and Officer Adam Ickes -- did not violate any laws. But city officials are still pursuing the termination of the three officers for their handling of the case. Kuiper started working for Kent County in February 2004 at a salary of $45,373. Since that time, he rose to a higher classification on the salary scale and was earning an annual salary of $94,857 at the time of his suspension. After the crash in November, he was demoted from the position of Assistant Prosecutor Attorney III to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney II, but his salary remained at his current rate of $94,857 a year. Becker said a new assistant prosecutor has already been lined up to fill the spot Kuiper is vacating and will start Monday, Feb. 13. 161122_huizenga_91 U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga talks to MLive from in his Grandville office on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016. (Neil Blake | MLive.com) (Neil Blake) UPDATE: Rep. Huizenga eyeing 2 town hall meetings GRANDVILLE, MI -- U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, is apologizing for phone glitches that kept callers from participating in two town hall meetings he had with constituents by conference call on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The problem was apparently tied to people using cell phones rather than land lines, Huizenga said in a message put on his Facebook page. He faced sharp criticism for this in an age when most people use cell phones rather than the older technology. Tonight, I hosted two great telephone town halls with residents across the Second District. I understand some people who... Posted by Rep. Bill Huizenga on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Some may not have been able to join the conversation because they don't live in Huizenga's Second Congressional District - which includes portions of Allegan, Kent and Mason counties and all of Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon and Ottawa counties, said Brian Patrick, the congressman's director of communications. The office reached out to tens of thousands of constituents between the two calls, said Patrick, although he didn't elaborate how that was done in an email this morning to MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. "We are looking to see why some constituents who signed up to receive a call were unable to join the conversation," Patrick wrote. "We believe this to be because of a technical issue and that number is small considering the total number of constituents reached." He didn't immediately respond to a request to provide the number of people on the hour-long calls and those who couldn't access them. Dozens of people took to the West Michigan congressman's page to complain that they couldn't get into the calls, and to demand he return to his district to hold a meeting in person. "Honestly, I respect you as a Congressman, but this is a pathetic excuse. I don't understand how your team could possibly not be able to contact cell phones, which MOST people have," commented Timothy Stark. "We as your constituents are wanting to express our concerns directly to you, and we are not being heard. I hope that you have plans to come back to West Michigan and talk with us in person. If you know what week you are planning on returning, would you please be willing to share that information? We would greatly appreciate it." Some noted that U.S. Rep. Justin Amash in the adjoining district will hold his second in-person town hall this year on Thursday. Amash selected a bigger venue because the last location with 250 seats was too small and part of an overflow crowd had to be turned away. Concerns about President Trump's policies on immigration along with other issues are drawing questions and criticism from many West Michigan residents. Last week, protesters lined up in front of Huizenga's Grandville office calling for a town hall meeting. The congressman responded by scheduling the "telephone" town halls, saying his schedule didn't allow him to immediately leave Washington D.C. Huizenga made no mention in his Facebook message of scheduling an in-person town hall meeting but promised to have an update Wednesday, Feb. 8. He has done town hall meetings via phone stretching back to 2011. Patrick suggested Democrats and other organizations might be partly to blame for the glitches by encouraging people outside the district to sign up for the calls. "It's easy to see that Michigan Democrats via twitter and other political organizations were trying to encourage people outside of Rep Huizenga's district to join the call," Patrick said. "There are rules that govern telephone town halls and who can and cannot participate. Those outside the second district are automatically excluded per these rules." Bissell_LegslativeLunch__01 U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga speaks during the Legislative Luncheon hosted by chamber of commerce on Monday, May 2, 2016 at the Alcoa Plant in Whitehall, Mich. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) (Joel Bissell) GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga is eyeing two town hall meetings in his 2nd Congressional District. One has been on the books for weeks, while another is being planned in response to mounting requests from constituents, says Brian Patrick, the congressman's director of communications. Last month, Huizenga's office announced a town hall in Lake County was being planned for Feb. 25. Lake County is a rural area at the northern edge of Huizenga's Lakeshore district. Until recently, Lake was the state's poorest county. Huizenga will be visiting the region as part of a snowmobiling tour with 1st District Congressman Jack Bergman, R-Calumet, and 4th District Congressman John Moolenaar, R-Midland. "When we talk about rural health care and the Republican "A Better Way" proposals to combat poverty, it makes sense to go to the communities that these policies impact," Patrick said. Huizenga is committed to holding a town hall in early March in his district's southern end, where the biggest concentration of his constituents live. It's unclear where that meeting might be held but it could be in Ottawa, Kent or Muskegon counties, Patrick said. "Obviously we are going to search for a big venue that can accommodate a large crowd," Patrick said. Huizenga has been under pressure in recent weeks to hold in-person town halls as President Trump's policies on immigration and other issues continue to draw national protests and global criticism. Last week, constituents staged a protest in front of Huizenga's Grandville office, demanding the congressman hold a face-to-face town hall. Those calls intensified Tuesday night after his two telephone town hall meetings had glitches that kept some constituents from participating. More than 60,000 households were contacted by Huizenga's office to take part in the back-to-back calls on Tuesday, Feb. 7, Patrick told MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. "That's part of the reason why we think the telephone town halls are so effective," he said. "People can participate without leaving their home." In a Facebook post to his constituents, Huizenga suggested the glitches were related to participants who used cell phones. The office also followed up with responses to voicemails left by constituents who didn't make it through on the calls. Patrick says the calls are set up so they can only be accessed by people who live in Huizenga's district, and there are strict protocols in place in terms of how they run. On the tech end, the telephone town halls are run by a vendor that has a contract with the U.S. House of Representatives. The vendor's verification process does not include screening callers for political affiliations, said Patrick, in response to criticism raised on social media. During the calls, Huizenga took "tons of hard questions" on everything from the repealing of the Affordable Care Act to the confirmation of Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos as U.S. Education Secretary. "We didn't stack the deck," said Patrick. "We took all the calls." WYOMING, MI - The snow-plow driver accused in a fatal hit-and-run crash waived his right to a probable cause hearing in Wyoming District Court and had his case bound over to Kent County Circuit Court. Austin Joseph Hill, 21, is charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident when at fault causing death. The victim, Chelsea Crawford, 26, was struck by the plow around 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 10 as she walked along 52nd Street SE near Byron Center Avenue. Police say Hill, driving a 2002 Dodge Ram pickup, left the scene after hitting the woman. He is held on $1 million bond, in part because he allegedly planned to flee to Florida after the crash. As he entered the courtroom, handcuffed in front and shackled at the waist, he looked toward his family. A woman said she loved him. "Love you, too," he responded. Hill's attorney, Freeman Haehnel, is negotiating with Kent County prosecutors on a possible plea agreement. Hill's family gathered outside of Judge Steven Timmers' courtroom after the brief hearing but declined to comment. Hill is charged with a 15-year felony, but faces up to 30 year years in prison if convicted as a third-offense habitual offender. He has previous convictions for maintaining a drug house and delivery/manufacture of marijuana. He was driving the truck for a local landscaping company. Police found the truck the day the crash occurred and arrested him the next day at his Ramblewood Apartments home. Gov. Rick Snyder's recommendations for Michigan's budget includes nearly $9 million in regulatory fees to support medical marijuana regulations and enforcement provisions created under a new Michigan law. Snyder on Wednesday, Feb. 8, announced his budget recommendations that include $693.6 million for the Department of State Police for Fiscal Year 2018, from Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019, according to a document MLive obtained from the State Budget Department. The governor's 2018 budget proposes a 6.8 percent increase in total funding for MSP over the current year, State Budget Office Spokesman Kurt Weiss said. The $8.8 million Snyder recommends for the state police related to medical marijuana enforcement and regulations comes on the heels of Public Act 281 of 2016, that was signed into law in December. The law licenses and regulates medical marijuana growers, processors, provisioning centers, transporters, and facilities; creates a medical marijuana licensing board; creates an advisory panel, and more. The $8.8 million would be used to establish dedicated Michigan State Police medical marijuana enforcement teams, expand forensic sciences to support increased testing, and increase investigative support to identify current trends and methods in illegal medical marijuana operations, the governor's budget recommendations state. The money Snyder described in the document as "regulatory fees" will come from a three percent tax on marijuana sold at provisioning centers, and other fees through the licensing structure created under the new law. The law includes responsibilities for the Michigan State Police, primarily to conduct background investigations on licensees and to assist the Medical Marijuana Board in enforcing provisions of the Act, Michigan State Police Spokeswoman Shanon Banner said. The Michigan State Police anticipates an increase in violations under the new law, Banner said, resulting in more submissions to the laboratory for positive identification for purposes of prosecution. Details about the governor's proposed budget on public safety in Fiscal Year 2018, according to the State Budget Department. Some other highlights of the governor's budget recommendations for state police and public safety: nassar.JPG Larry Nassar in a July 15, 2008, file photo. Nassar, a former Michigan State University doctor who formerly worked for USA Gymnastics and is facing sexual assault charges, has been indicted on on a third charge in a federal child pornography case. (Becky Shink/Lansing State Journal via AP File) Dr. Larry Nassar tried to eliminate evidence of child pornography on his laptop computer as he was under investigation in September, according to a federal indictment issued Tuesday. The indictment adds a count of destruction and concealment of records to the previous counts of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography charged in December. Nassar, 53, is a former faculty member at Michigan State University and practitioner at MSU's sport-medicine clinic. He was the team doctor for U.S. gymnasts at four Olympic games, and worked with gymnasts at Twistars, a high-profile gymnasts club in the Lansing area, and was team doctor for athletes at Holt High School. He has been in federal custody since shortly after the December indictment. Nassar's attorney, Matthew Newburg of Grand Ledge, declined comment Wednesday. The latest count alleges that between Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, 2016, Nassar used a third-party vendor to "permanently delete and destroy all images, records, documents and files contained on the hard drive of a laptop computer, and the defendant threw in the trash a number of external hard drives." "At the time the defendant took these actions, he contemplated an investigation into, among other things, his possession of child pornography, his receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography, and his sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children," the indictment says. In December, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles Jr. said a federal grand jury determined that Nassar possessed thousands of images of child pornography from February 2003 to September. At the December press conference, Miles said Nassar is not accused of producing child pornography, but said that FBI agents found hard drives in Nassar's trash. Nassar became a subject of investigation last fall after the Indianapolis Star reported allegations by former patients that he had sexually abused them. More than 50 women, most of them former patients, have filed criminal complaints against Nassar and more than 30 have filed civil lawsuits, some of which also have named MSU, Twistars and/or USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the sport. In addition to the federal charges of child pornography, Nassar faces three charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving alleged abuse of a family friend between 1998 and 2004 when she was 6 to 12 years old. That case is being handled by the Ingham County Circuit Court. LOUISVILLE - KFC is doubling down on the double down. In some places, that is. No this isn't a revamped version of the Louisville-based chain of fried chicken restaurant's sandwich made between fillets. It's something better. Introducing the Chizza, a chicken and pizza mashup with heart-shaped chicken serving as the crust and topped with pizza sauce, chicken ham, pineapple chunks, mozzarella and signature KFC cheese sauce. Sound like something you'd like to try? Well, unless you're in Asia, you can't. The legendary #KFCChizza has FINALLY arrived in Singapore!!! Who's excited?! pic.twitter.com/E0QA4A60mC KFC Singapore (@KFC_SG) February 8, 2017 The pizza-chicken mashup has been available in the Philippines and Thailand for a few years. The company's announced on Wednesday, Feb. 8 that it would be expanding the pizza to Singapore, which some American fans misinterpreted as a worldwide release. The Chizza is being offered at participating restaurants in meal form for $7.50 or box form for $9.50. A meal includes fries and a drink and a box includes a chicken side, whipped potato, potato winders and a drink. There is no word on when, or if, the concoction will come to the United States, according to NJ.com. Countless foreigners fighting to remain in the UK at Britain's biggest asylum and immigration appeals centre, Taylor House in central London Automatic anonymity is now given in all asylum-seekers appeals In other immigration appeals based on human rights grounds, claimants can simply download a form from a government website requesting secrecy Even those who dont request this often find the judge steps in at the first sight of the Press and grants an anonymity order anyway Disturbingly, the Ministry of Justice admitted it does not publish how many non-asylum immigration appeals are heard in this secretive way Wearing polished shoes and sharply pressed grey trousers, the 52-year-old Nigerian is desperate to stay in this country and work as a security guard. He speaks perfect English and his younger girlfriend is a British citizen. I met him, one of countless foreigners fighting to remain in the UK, a week ago at Britains busiest asylum and immigration appeals centre, Taylor House in Central London. He has been living in the UK since 2002 and is challenging for the third time Home Office attempts to send him back to Africa. Shaking his head, he told me: This system is crazy. Zenab H. from Syria waits for an appeal hearing to begin in a hearing room at the Higher Administrative Court. (L-R) Translator Kameran Bisarani, Zenab, and Lawyer Kirsten Hank e Although the Nigerian, whom we will call Patrick, is happy to speak openly about the case and to be identified, he is prevented from doing so. This is because, towards the end of a two-hour hearing, the judge suddenly announced that details of the case cant be reported in the Press. The mans name, where he lives, and any other snippet that might identify him or his loved ones cant be made public. Why? According to the female judge, Patricks girlfriends six-year-old son, who has been mentioned in the hearing, must be protected. Secrecy rules in asylum and immigration appeals (mostly inspired by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights the right to respect for private and family life and ardently adhered to in the UK) stipulate that, as a child, his identity must be kept secret. At first glance, this might seem a sensible decision to safeguard the youngster. But the boy is not Patricks biological son and doesnt have his surname. The couple have an on-off relationship and have rarely lived together (according to evidence from Home Office officials, who insist Patrick should leave this country). In truth, there is little to link him directly to the child, although the judge was deciding bizarrely whether Patricks relationship with the girlfriend and her son meant his rights to a family life would be breached if he was sent home. Welcome to the crazy to use the Patricks own description world of Britains secretive courts. For years, the Mail has campaigned against an increasing and insidious assault on open justice. We have highlighted controversial decisions made about children and pensioners in the equally shadowy Family Court and Court of Protection. Of course, anonymity is important to protect people from potential harm or for reasons of national security, but the creeping number of anonymised hearings in our overwhelmed asylum and immigration appeals system is a scandal. For without transparency, the truth about who is being let into this country and why is hidden from the public. I was told recently by a whistle-blower who works at Taylor House that secrecy is becoming the norm. Even foreigners with blatantly bogus stories, criminal records, or pose a potential danger to society can stay under the radar. Automatic anonymity is now given in all asylum-seekers appeals. In other immigration cases, where asylum is not a factor, a migrant can simply download a form from a government website requesting anonymity. The result is that thousands of foreigners appealing to remain in this country are actively encouraged to do so secretly. Two immigration lawyers at Taylor House confirmed that it was now common practice for the Home Office not to challenge anonymity requests. Even those, like Patrick, who dont ask for privacy often find the judge steps in at the first sight of the press and orders it at a hearing anyway. Not only are identities never known, but the public is never told the judges rulings which are issued privately a few weeks after the hearing ends. Disturbingly, the Ministry of Justice admitted this week that it does not publish how many non-asylum immigration appeals are heard in this secretive way. However, official figures last month showed that almost 63,000 foreigners were awaiting appeals an increase of 20 per cent on a year ago. More specifically, the number of asylum-seekers claiming refuge in Britain because of their sexuality has rocketed by 450 per cent in five years. These include 1,115 people who argue that being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender means they would face discrimination if they returned to their home country. Most were from Pakistan but they also came from Jamaica, Nigeria and Ghana. Under the current rules, if any asylum-seeker starts an appeal against a Home Office decision to remove them, their file will immediately be marked protection appeal and their details will be anonymised on all published paperwork and at hearings. This secrecy covers all types of asylum-seeker: those who claim to have escaped slavery; those under 18 (although there is no testing in the UK to prove their age), or anyone who argues that they risk harm if their identities are made public. Under the current rules, if any asylum-seeker starts an appeal against a Home Office decision to remove them, their file will immediately be marked protection appeal and their details will be anonymised on all published paperwork and at hearings Even the names of relatives, friends or acquaintances connected with their case must be kept secret. At Taylor House last week, a judge heard the case of a 19-year-old Afghans appeal. The youth claimed he risks attack by the Taliban if he returns home. He argued that he was also at risk because he ran a TV and video shop, which was illegal in Afghanistan at the time he left in 2011. Initially, he applied for asylum when his status as a child refugee expired in June 2015. In evidence, the Home Office challenged the credibility of his account, saying there was no reason he could not live in the Afghan capital, Kabul, where he would not be recognised. Yet at the end of the hearing, and following an inquiry from the Mail, Judge John McMahan imposed an anonymity order, saying: As this is an asylum case, it should already have been under anonymity directions . . . he is an asylum-seeker and it is for his protection. This closed-doors culture betrays the principle that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done. It certainly runs counter to pledges from senior judges. Recently, the Supreme Court Justice Lord Reed said that as most people get their information about court proceedings through the media, it follows that the principle of open justice is inextricably linked to the freedom of the media to report on them. Sadly, that was not the case when we monitored asylum appeals over a two-day period. In Bradford, 31 appellants from South Asia, North Africa and Iran were granted anonymity. In the same 48 hours in Manchester, the number was 35. Several cases there involved individuals from the Middle East, from where it is feared that ISIS terrorists, posing as asylum-seekers, are travelling to Britain. Similarly, at Taylor House over three days the names of 71 asylum-seekers were kept secret. (Almost routinely, when the Mail arrived at a hearing, the judges imposed anonymity orders on immigration cases as well.) Anyone who breaks these secrecy orders, be they journalists, lawyers or members of the public, faces jail for contempt of court. Even the appellants, their relatives and friends are not allowed to talk about their cases outside the courthouse. One man who had five children claimed to be gay Unsurprisingly, these secrecy orders and the willingness of judges to grant them has angered MPs. Sir Julian Brazier, MP for Canterbury, said: This is a clear example of European human rights laws creating a change in part of our justice system. Secretive hearings are completely contrary to this countrys long-held principles of open justice. And fellow Tory Philip Davies (Shipley, Yorkshire) agreed: [It] builds up resentment among British people by creating suspicion that those appealing to live here are trying to stop someone digging up something that undermines their case. Even those dealing daily with the hearings are critical. One Home Office official at Taylor House told us the system is widely exploited. He pointed out a recent rise in the number of people claiming to be gay. This, he said, was because sexuality is hard to prove, as European human rights laws prohibit intimate questioning of asylum-seekers on such matters. Last year the Home Office issued a 40-page directive warning its staff. The official said: The British judicial system is being laughed at. This country is an easy place to come and say the right thing for instance, that you are gay and from a homophobic nation so you get to remain here. He cited instances of asylum-seekers, about to be deported on other grounds, playing what he called the gay card at the last minute. I even had one case where a guy with five children claimed to be gay and told the judge he only ever had sex with a woman those five times. While investigating appeal cases at Taylor House, we came across a 17-year-old Algerian boy who claimed that if he was sent home he would be killed. He said that on a visit to Algiers last year to retrieve his identity documents, he was attacked by a family member who accused him of trying to steal part of the family inheritance. The evidence was being heard in open court until a Mail reporter entered the room. An application was immediately made by the boys solicitor for an anonymity order. This was duly granted by the judge, forbidding the Press from disclosing any meaningful details about his seemingly rather imaginative story. So the wheels of secret justice roll on. Anyone who breaks these secrecy orders, be they journalists, lawyers or members of the public, faces jail for contempt of court Our reporters watched as a 27-year-old Ethiopian woman claimed asylum, citing discrimination back home because she was a member of the Oroma tribe (who make up nearly half the countrys 100 million population, and are opposed to the government). However, the hearing was told that she failed to give examples of the type of persecution her people had suffered, and couldnt understand her native language. Meanwhile, a Bengali-speaker from Bangladesh sought asylum, claiming he was being persecuted by his government because of his affiliation with a student political group, the Bangladesh Chhatra League. He had been arrested twice, but was released the second time after just two days to resume his life. Under the rules, he was given complete anonymity. Another immigrant, claiming to be 19, argued he should not be sent back to Afghanistan because he was involved in a land ownership dispute with an uncle. She couldn't understand her 'native' language He had given two names and three dates of birth when he first tried to claim asylum in Austria (which refused him entry, saying he was an adult) before arriving in Britain illegally in the back of a lorry in 2013 A secrecy order was imposed by the judge on the basis of the applicants age, health issues and need for protection. His lawyers claimed he was suffering from post-stress and psychological problems because of a lengthy delay over his hearing. Challenging his story, Gabrielle McAvock, of the Home Office, said UK college reports showed he was a hard-working, conscientious and calm student with a supportive family back in Afghanistan. Yet another Afghan asylum-seeker was accused of faking a relationship with a Polish woman and pretending to be the father of her baby son so he would stay in the UK. In 2009, when he claimed to be an unaccompanied child of 17, he was allowed to remain. He is now apparently 23, and exceptionally bald for his age. Suspicions about his story were raised because he was unable to provide the babys birth certificate (which would have named him as the father). But because his case is secret, we cannot tell you who he is or make the slightest attempt to investigate whether what he says is true. Amid this bedlam, I watched as Patrick, from Nigeria, greeted his girlfriends son when the lad ran into his arms during a break in his hearing. Patrick says he loves the boy as his own child. If proof were needed that this is a real relationship, that cuddle appeared to be it. Patrick told me he cant work in the UK because he is here illegally. He said he despaired that his appeal had been going on for years and he isnt allowed to earn a living. Among what appear to be hundreds of asylum-seekers and immigrants at the hearings with dubious claims to stay in Britain, his was probably a genuine appeal. But we are not allowed to report the full details to let you, the reader, make up your own min d. [February 07, 2017] CMK Gaming International, Ltd. Traded on OTC-Pink Sheets, Symbol CMKI. TAICHUNG, Taiwan, Feb. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CMKI (the "Company") through its wholly owned Taiwanese subsidiary, GuanHauSoft Gaming, announced today the recent signing of a profit sharing agreement with Shan Dong Hui Tian Xia Culture Media Co., Ltd., ("Shan Dong") a large travel and tour company with principal operations in China. GuanHuaSoft will adapt several of its most popular games and integrate them with Shan Dong's existing iOS and Android applications as well as creating a Virtual Augmented Reality 3D animated component for Shan Dong's travel and tour mobile app. CMKI anticipates a revenue stream from this transaction beginning in the second quarter of 2017. CMKI has decided to focus a portion of its creative efforts and investment capital in a new direction with the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to the creation of 3D animation banners geared to the small and mid-sized business market. To that end, CMKI has secured the domain name, www.3dbanner.info. The Company's market research indicates that these banner ads, featuring both clients and employees as actual animation characters in the advertisement, would receive a positive reception among potential clients, especially in the US and Asian markets. With 40 programmers and 12 art designers, these ads can e created quickly and at low cost to CMKI and offered to clients without any upfront charges. This can be accomplished by utilizing LEC billing arrangements whereby the client pays for this service through its local telephone bill and CMKI is paid directly by the carrier. While there are several companies presently offering 3D banner ads, none combine the unique features of this model together with the no cost option to the clients. CMKI has already begun discussions with several sources, including the Local Area Yellow Pages in San Francisco, to gain access to their entire client base. CMKI looks forward to a strong reception for 3D banner launch and expect positive cash flow from "New Generation Yellow Pages" to begin by mid-year. CMKI has been negotiating with a private investor for several months now to secure a loan of up to $US 5 million to expand our operations and to acquire other compatible gaming companies that the Company has identified. CMKI is hopeful that an initial closing and receipt of the first payment $US 2.4 million will take place on or about February 10th, immediately following the Chinese New Year. It has taken CMKI a bit longer than expected to gear up the operations after the acquisition of GuanHauSoft by CMG Gaming. CMKI is updating its website, business plan and financial models and has completed posting current information on OTCMarkets. CMKI have arranged for an audit for 2016 and will file it on a timely basis. Now with the launch of 3D animation activities, combined with the development of new games and applications every 90 days and the several potential new clients with whom CMKI is presently negotiating, the Company is poised to produce strong results for its shareholders in this new year and beyond. This press release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Company management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cmk-gaming-international-ltd-traded-on-otc-pink-sheets-symbol-cmki-300403746.html SOURCE GUANHUASOFT GAMING CO.,LTD [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 08, 2017] Fuze Closes $104 Million in New Funding to Fuel Growth and Expansion as the Cloud Communications Platform for Global Enterprises Fuze, the leading cloud-based communications solution for the modern global enterprise, today announced it has closed $104 million in financing led by Wellington Management Company LLP. This investment brings the company's total funding to $304 million. The new capital will be used to continue expanding internationally and to fund product innovation for Fuze's enterprise customer segment. Wellington Management Company LLP is joined by Greenspring Associates and existing investors Summit Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), and G20. A global UCaaS platform, Fuze empowers productivity and collaboration across enterprises with modern cloud-based voice, video, and messaging solutions. By seamlessly integrating voice, video, and messaging into a simple, elegant experience, Fuze is designed to power every conversation at work with the enterprise-grade reliability and security that businesses require. In 2016, Fuze grew sales by 90 percent, adding 449 new customers, including The National Geographic Society, The Rockport Group, Socotec, and John Paul with 36 percent of business coming from outside of North America. Its top ten deals of 2016 represented a combined $71 million in contract value, solidifying Fuze's position as the leading UCaaS platform for global enterprises. "Over 2016, we experienced tremendous growth in deal size among the large enterprise segment, with CIOs and IT leaders adopting Fuze's unified communications platform as a central part of their strategy to drive digital transformation in their organizations," said Steve Kokinos, Fuze Founder and CEO. "This latest round of investment advances Fuze's aggressive pursuit of the market for our cloud-based business communications platform, accelerates geographic expansion to servie our large global customers, and fuels product innovation in ways that align with our long-term growth strategy." Global Market Insights, Inc., forecasts the unified communications market to reach $96 billion by 2023 and predicts a steady proliferation of hosted products will be one of the key unified communications market trends, eliminating infrastructure cost and offering a centralized management system wherein services are provided by means of the cloud. Fuze marked 2016 with record growth, international expansion, and market recognition for its industry leading cloud-based communications platform. Forbes named the company one of 2016's Next Billion-Dollar Startups, and the publication also ranked Fuze 19th on its first-ever Forbes 2016 Cloud 100, the definitive list of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world. The Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC) recognized Fuze as the 2016 "Emerging Company of the Year" and named its platform the "Best Use of Cloud Technology." Fuze was also positioned by Gartner (News - Alert), Inc. as a Leader in its 2016 Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, Worldwide report*. After rebranding to Fuze in early 2016, the company later unveiled a completely redesigned UX: a best-of-breed, enterprise-grade platform supported by the high degree of quality, reliability, security, and analytics demanded by today's businesses. To meet global demand, Fuze expanded operations in Asia Pacific with the opening of a new Sydney office and three new data centers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney. It also grew across Europe, opening new offices in Munich, Zurich, and Madrid, following on the heels of the company's existing operations in the U.K., the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, and France. "Today's CIO must lead digital transformation," continued Kokinos. "We believe that championing the modern, connected workforce, with a cloud-based approach to business communications, is central to that strategy. We remain committed to innovating communications solutions with an elegant, all-in-one app people actually want to use because it is built for how they work." *Research Report Source (News - Alert): Gartner, Inc. Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, Worldwide, Daniel O'Connell, Bern Elliot, Aug. 23, 2016. Fuze formerly known as Thinking Phones. About Fuze Fuze is a global, cloud-based unified communications platform that empowers productivity and delivers insights across the enterprise by enabling simplified business voice communications, flexible video conferencing, and always-on collaboration. Formerly ThinkingPhones, Fuze allows the modern, mobile workforce to seamlessly communicate anytime, anywhere, across any device. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, Fuze has additional locations including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Ottawa, London, Amsterdam, Aveiro (Portugal), Paris, Munich, Zurich, Madrid, Copenhagen, and Sydney. For more information, visit www.fuze.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170208005264/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] you are here: business Infosys founders suggested Pai, Balakrishnan as board members After some co-founders wrote a letter to the board of IT major company seeking a review of corporate governance practices, it is emerging that they are keen to install 'value-based people' who have a deeper understanding of the company on the board. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Liquor baron Vijay Mallya suffered a major blow when the Karnataka High Court yesterday ordered winding up of the United Breweries Holdings Limited (UBHL). The winding-up was ordered to facilitate recovery of debt owed by defunct Kingfisher Airlines to a consortium of bank led by State Bank of India. UBHL is the holding company of the UB Group. Kingfisher was promoted by UB and the court ordered that the parent company, being a guarantor to Kingfisher's loans, had to be held responsible for recovery of debt. Currently, Vijay Mallyas stake in UBHL stands at 52.34 percent. Below is the chronology of events that led to the winding up of UBHL. May 2005: Vijay Mallya sets up Kingfisher Airlines to cater to the premium segment. June 2007: Kingfisher Airlines decides to purchase debt-ridden Air Deccan. 2008: UBHL paid Rs 550 crore for a 26 percent stake in Air Deccan. March 2008: Kingfisher Airlines debt touches Rs 934 crore due to spike in oil prices. 2009: Airline debt reaches Rs 7,000 crore. 2011: Airline accumulated losses reach more than 50 percent of its net worth. 2011: 11 bank accounts were suspended by service tax department for non-payment of Rs 70 crore. 2012: Mallya gives guarantees of Rs 5,904 crore for carriers loan. February 2013: UBHL seeks shareholders approval for Rs 450 crore for Kingfisher Airlines. March 2013: Kingfisher Airlines net worth falls to negative of Rs 13,000 crore. December 2014: United India Bank recognises UBHL, guarantor of Kingfisher Airlines as wilful defaulter. February 2015: SBI led bank consortium takes possession of Kingfisher House in Vile Parle. April 2015: United Spirits Limited (USL) asked Vijay Mallya to step down as chairman and director of fund on alleged fund diversion. October 2015: CBI conducts raids on Vijay Mallyas offices in connection with Rs 950 crore loan provided by IDBI Bank. December 2015: CBI questions Vijay Mallya in Rs 900 crore IDBI Banks loan. February 2016: SBI led consortium moved debt recovery tribunal (DRT) to attach Vijay Mallyas passport. March 2016: Vijay Mallya in discussion with banks to settle debt. March 2016: On March 9, Mallya leaves India. March 2016: Mallya offers to pay Rs 4,000 crore by September to banks. April 2016: Banks rejected Mallyas offers for payment of dues worth Rs 9,000 crore. April 2016: Hyderabad court convicts Vijay Mallya in case filed by GMR Hyderabad International Airport for bounced cheque. April 2016: Ministry of External Affairs revokes Vijay Mallyas passport. April 2016: Enforcement Directorate approach special court to issue non-bailable arrest warrant against Mallya. April 2017: Mallya arrested in London on India's request for extradition. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Motilal Oswal's research report on Tata Steel Tata Steels (TATA) 3QFY17 consolidated EBITDA increased 19% QoQ to INR 35.4b, but missed our estimate due to disappointing performance at TSE (Europe). TSI (India) reported strong 76% QoQ growth in EBITDA (INR 34b v/s est. INR 28.4b) on delayed impact of coking coal cost and decline in power/fuel cost. Adj. PAT of INR 2b was an improvement over loss of INR 1.1b in 2QFY17. Outlook We are raising consolidated EBITDA by 10% to INR 143b in FY17E and by 5% to INR 169b in FY18E on upgrades in TSI. Net debt has increased to INR790b (incl. Hybrid) on INR 50b increase in working capital during 9MFY17 driven by KPO and a rise in prices of steel and RMs. We are raising target price by 23% to INR 401 based on SOTP, and maintain Sell. For all recommendations, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More business Bull's Eye: Buy BEML, Havells, ABB, M&M Financial, Marico, SRF Rakesh Bansal of RK Global recommends buying BEML with a target of Rs 1313 and Havells India with a target of Rs 455. Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity Letter to editor: Voting is necessary to protect democracy Community Solutions Chief Development Officer Lisa DeSilva was selected as Leadership Morgan Hills 2017 recipient of its prestigious Leadership Excellence Award during a Jan. 26 banquet at Guglielmo Winery. The presentation of the award will take place at a July 22 evening outdoor celebration/fundraiser also at Guglielmo Winery, according to Mayor Steve Tate, an alumni of LMH. The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes the vision and leadership that advance the spirit of community and charity; it reflects courage and insight; and the award inspires others to lead in a similar manner. DeSilvas labor is spent on her passionsupporting and improving the lives of the clients of Community Solutions, an outstanding human services agency that serves southern Santa Clara County as well as San Benito County, Tate said in a press release. DeSilva, who grew up in Ossining, New York, graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) in Geneseo with a degree in sociology and a minor in Womens Studies. After graduation, DeSilva moved to Morgan Hill and helped start the South County Rape Crisis Service. The group approached another community service organization known then as the Bridge Counseling Center, and convinced them to adopt the Rape Crisis Service. Through the Bridge Center, they were able to secure funding from the state which in turn enabled them to hire DeSilva, who held various program coordination and management roles. That was almost 35 years ago, and the Bridge Counseling Center became Community Solutions in 1996. The nonprofit has since branched out to its many current social service offerings. DeSilva has held a list of positions in the organization through the years, settling into her Chief Development Officer role in 1999 where she is now a fixture coordinating community relations and fundraising for the organization. DeSilva also served terms on the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Board and the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She was an early graduate (1999) of Leadership Morgan Hill and has stayed involved ever since, annually presenting a Health and Human Services program that always wins rave reviews. In 2000, DeSilva joined the Rotary Club and after a stint on the board, joined the Membership Committee and assumed the role of We Care where she keeps the Club aware of all the joys as well as the tough times of current and past club members, making sure appropriate cards are sent and organizing support for events when appropriate. Community leaders, supporters of LMH and the many friends and relatives of the honoree will attend this community celebration honoring Lisa and benefiting the local nonprofit LMH educational organization, Tate said. A panel of community leaders that includes all former Leadership Excellence Award recipients forms annually to select each years LEAD honoree. In addition to honoring DeSilva, the gala event raises funds that benefit the nonprofit LMH educational organization, now in its 22nd year of building community leadership. More information on the July 22 event and about LMH is available at leadershipmorganhill.org. Late into Wednesday night, surgical staff at Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge finished moving equipment, supplies and beds from the old operating suite to the brand new 29,000-square-foot state-of-the-art operating wing. The staff moved an entire operating suite in about 10 hours, finishing up around midnight, according to Deanne Avery, director of capital projects. We had about 30 staff here nurses, surgical techs, everybody helped, she said. They were excited to move into a space they helped design. Indeed, everyone Thursday morning the first full day of operating in the new area came in smiling and excited to get started. These new ORs are the biggest advances Burke County has ever seen in the area of surgical medicine, said Chris Hanger, MD, chief of anesthesia. Im excited. Its going to be fun. The patients and surgeons are going to love it. The new operating rooms almost doubled in size going from less than 400 square feet to approximately 700 square feet. Most of the equipment has been attached to booms and arms so they can be raised and lowed from the ceiling, taking up no foot space. One nurse controls movements of lights, cameras and equipment at the touch of a button. The technology is just phenomenal, said Terry Moore, BSN, RN, director of surgical services. We are probably leading the hospitals systems in this area in technology. Were ready to take on the future here. Surgeons having the first cases in the brand new rooms were Quincy Greene, MD, general surgery; Philene Krogel, MD, OB/GYN; and Ken Bonfield, MD, eye surgery. Greene had a variety of surgeries scheduled and couldnt wait to get started in the new space. This is exciting and the biggest development since Ive been here, Greene said. The new ORs are modern and expansive. Bonfield agreed saying the rooms were very clean, and that everything went smoothly. Its just a beautiful environment, he said. DeeDee Lambert, RN, recently retired from the hospital after 37 years but came back part time because she wanted to help with the transition. These ORs are much bigger, much nicer and the technology is much improved compared to the old, she said. We can provide better and safer patient care. The new wing of the hospital features five operating rooms that have cameras embedded into the surgical LED lights. Several mounted monitors allow them to be used as teaching tools and for examining X-rays made instantaneously by lowering a boom. A new post-surgery recovery area has 11 bays for patients including one that has a built-in lift. Each station is equipped for a nurse and two patients. This is a lot more elbow room than they used to have, Avery said. Blue Ridge is not finished with the renovation. The next phases call for converting the old space into the new out-patient prep and recovery rooms. Additional subsequent phases of follow-up construction will take us through the end of the year, Avery said. Its all going to be very sophisticated when fully realized. Ron Patel, 29, describes himself as a high risk investor whos not afraid to invest in more volatile sectors . He says: These are longer term savings, that will in the main be for my retirement. I can afford to take a longer-term view and take a few risks along the way. Patel who lives in West London - said he started investing three years ago, initially on the advice of his father, whom he describes as an avid investor. At the time Patel says he was working for Transport for London, and had just bought his first home. I started saving monthly to help build up some savings for retirement. He splits his monthly savings between a range of funds. These include Baillie Gifford Global Discovery, Aberdeen Latin America and Unicorn Smaller Companies. This Baillie Gifford funds invest in smaller cap companies worldwide. It has a three-star rating from Morningstar, demonstrating it has successfully outperformed its benchmark. The Aberdeen Latin American Fund is a Bronze-Rated fund, reflecting Morningstars confidence that it will continue to outperform peers. Lena Tsymbaluk, an analyst at Morningstar says: The fund remains a compelling choice within its sector, managed by a team we regard highly. This team, headed by Devan Kallo, utilises analysis from Aberdeens 18-strong global emerging market team. The Unicorn fund is more focused on the UK smaller company market. It has a four-star rating from Morningstar. Making the Most of Tax-Efficient Savings Patel says he makes the most of tax-efficient savings wrappers, and uses both ISAs and SIPPs, which he manages through Chelsea Financial Services. Ive found their service easy to use, he says. But this more gung-ho approach doesnt mean that Patel isnt worried about investment returns over the medium term particularly after the economic shockwaves caused by Brexit and the election of President Trump. He says: These events have made me hold back a bit from the more aggressive investments I hold. Ive rebalanced my portfolio slightly as I think 2017 might be a more volatile year. Were not quite sure what will happen in the US, and with elections in a number of European countries, we could be in for a bumpy ride. Although he stills holds these higher-risk funds hes made a few more cautious investments, with a view to preserving capital. To this end, Patel has invested some of his portfolio in SVS Church House Tenax Absolute Return Strategies fund. Like other absolute return fund, this investment aims to achieve positive returns across different market conditions. The fund is managed by Jeremy Wharton and James Mahon, and has a three-star rating from Morningstar. It aims to achieve positive returns across rolling 12 month periods, which -- according to Patel -- it has done in recent years. Morningstar data shows it has produced annual returns of 3.99% over three years, and 5.01% over five years. Id Rather Make a Little, Than Lose a Lot However, given the strong stock market surge in the latter half of last year, this fund has lagged behind its benchmark. Absolute return funds aim to deliver positive returns across different market cycles, but their more cautious approach means that they often underperform in bull markets. Patel says he is happy with this. In the current conditions Id rather make a little, than lose a lot. I have other funds that are quite volatile so it made sense to have a more cautiously managed fund alongside this which will hopefully grow slowly and steadily. Similarly, rather than investing solely in smaller companies and emerging markets, Patel says hes also invested in Brown Advisory US Flexible Equity Fund, which invests in US mid and large cap companies. Sparking Returns From Gold Fund Elsewhere Patel says he also made an investment in gold last year via BlackRocks Gold & General Fund. He says: This was another tip from my Dad. Wed been looking at the gold price and last January (January 2016) we thought it was close to bottoming out. It had certainly been in a trough so it seemed a good time to invest. This proved to be a judicious move, as this fund made strong gains during 2016 on the back of a rally in commodity prices. According to Morningstar BlackRock Gold & General was up 78.7% during 2016. The fund has a coveted Gold rating from Morningstar. Fatima Khizou, an analyst at Morningstar, says: This fund remains a strong offering for investors seeking mainstream gold and precious-metals equity exposure in a risk-controlled manner. The fund is managed by Evy Hambro. Khizou adds: Performance has been strong, with returns substantially ahead of the FTSE Gold Mines Index. In addition the fund is not overly expensive. She points out that while the fund remains one of the largest in the sector, the assets under management have fallen from 4 billion in 2012 to just under 1 billion (as of Feb 2016). However, despite strong gains last year, Patel says he appreciates that this to can be a volatile area to invest in. In 2013, for example the fund lost almost 50% in value, with a further 20% loss during 2015. But he adds: Given all the uncertainly in the world at present it doesnt seem a bad idea to have a stake in this safe haven asset. Ill be keeping this investment in my portfolio for now. The Vancouver housing market might have proven attractive to enterprising foreign nationals who are looking to park their money in real estate, but Torontos case has proven to be the exact opposite, according to the former president of the citys real estate board.In a fresh interview with CBC News, Sothebys agent Richard Silver said that a clear majority of overseas buyers in Toronto are attracted to the citys better educational and business prospects, and not to the opportunity to make easy money in flipping homes.A lot of [their motivation] focuses on the education. So having great education in the city of Toronto, both in the post-secondary and secondary, I think is very, very important, because that's what they're looking for, Silver said.We see a lot of husbands continuing to work in mainland China, they send their wives and their children to Toronto so their kids can go to university here. And after university, theres an automatic three-year work permit that goes with being a foreign student in Canada. So that is an option that you wouldnt get in other countries.Silver added that Torontos strong fundamentals have turned it into an ideal destination for fiscally conscious individuals who are averse to resorting to unscrupulous methods.I always say, Toronto is the place where you come and make your money, Vancouvers where you go and spend your money, he explained. Toronto's a place very focused on business. And I think for certain groups, thats going to be very prominent for them. They want to be where the business is.Currently, the Toronto Real Estate Board is fighting against the possibility of the provincial government implementing a foreign buyers tax, in a market where only around 5 per cent of the boards agents transacted on behalf of overseas buyers in 2016.TREB head John DiMichele deemed such a tax misguided, noting that it would lead to less rental supply, because the number of investors looking to purchase and rent out a property could decline.Related stories: Finance Minister Bill Morneau will be invited to the next Standing Committee on Finance meeting to discuss the Canadian Residential Real Estate Market, following a suggestion that he should answer questions directly about the most recent mortgage rule changes. After talking to my colleagues today, we also figured, due to the many concerns that were raised and the fact that so many of the officials from different government agencies werent able to speak from a holistic sense, Dan Albas, Conservative MP for Central Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola, BC, said during last weeks Committee meeting. Perhaps we might want to have the Minister of Finance and his officials come in so that they can basically answer many of the questions that many parliamentarians I think from many different parties have about the mortgage changes. Albas made the suggestion during the four hour Committee meeting that focused solely on discussion around the housing industry and the impact of the recent mortgage rule changes. The meeting drew representatives from Mortgage Professionals Canada, the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association, as well as broker networks. Committee Chair Wayne Easter told Albas a motion was required to request an invite to Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Francesco Sorbara, Liberal MP for Vaughan, Woodbrige, Ontario, argued hearing from CMHC and the Department of Finance was sufficient. Having the minister here is just not necessary, he said. However, Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB, countered that a comprehensive review of the mortgage rule changes and the impact they will have on Canadians -- requires the Ministers participation I respect the members of the government trying to protect their minister but with all due respect we had no answer by the officials the first day as to how this policy was developed. The motion was put forth and MPs voted in favour. With the motion carried, the Finance Minister will be extended an invite to the next meeting. Whether or not he accepts the invite remains to be seen. Roughly half a year after the provincial governments implementation of a property transfer tax on foreign home buyers, a noticeable slowdown in sales volume and home price growth has taken hold of the once-dominating Vancouver housing market.In its latest report, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver revealed that sales numbers stood at 1,523 sales in January 2017, a sharp decline from 2,519 during the same time last year. Last months numberswhich were 10.3 per cent below Vancouvers 10-year average for Januaryrepresented an 11.1-per-cent decrease from Decembers 1,714 deals.Sales volume in the detached property segmentonce deemed the deciding factor in overseas nationals decisions to purchase in Vancouversaw a more dramatic 57.6 per cent year-over-year drop, with only 444 completed transactions.From a real estate perspective, its a lukewarm start to the year compared to 2016, Board president Dan Morrison stated, as quoted by the Financial Post.While we saw near record-breaking sales at this time last year, home buyers and sellers are more reluctant to engage so far in 2017.Home prices have similarly slackened, with Metro Vancouvers composite benchmark price (across all housing types, and using data culled from MLS transactions) as of last month falling by 3.7 per cent in the past half year, down to $896,000. The citys detached properties are currently going for an average of $1,474,800, declining by 6.6 per cent in the past 6 months.As a result, supply has seen a conspicuous increase recently, with the total number of listings in Metro Vancouvers MLS rising by 9.1 per cent year-over-year last month to 7,238. New listings for detached, attached, and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver sat at 4,140 in January, a 6.8 per cent decline from a year ago but a sharp 215.5-per-cent upward spike from December 2016. Capital Markets: Supply and Demand; Jumbo, 2nd, and ARM News - Navy Fed's 5/5 Think theres no creativity allowed in the down payment help arena? Think again. Loftium pays up to $20,000 towards your down payment and offers monthly mortgage assistance if you agree to Airbnb one of your new home's extra bedrooms for 12 to 36 months." And nope, this isn't an ad...and when did "Airbnb" become a verb? Products: are lenders and investors preparing for ARM, jumbo, 2nd, and HECM competition? Who knows, although the secondary markets have noticed that adjustable rate mortgages are not included in the single securitization platform. Maybe some day... JMAC Lending is revving up its jumbo mortgage products this spring. One of the most popular products for the Southern California-based wholesale and correspondent lender is the Newport Non-Agency Jumbo Loan. Some of the flexible features include a 40-year fixed-term with interest only, up to 95% LTV with no mortgage insurance, unlimited cash out, 2-years seasoning for short sales and bankruptcy, and 3-years seasoning for foreclosures. Look for the jumbo elephant on the site above. Out of Virginia comes news that Navy Federal Credit Union announced the marketing of its 5/5 Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) product to large institutional investors. The ARM product is pooled into Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities. "The product has a history of growth and stability at the credit union. Since 2015, the Navy Federal 5/5 ARM loan volume has grown by 11 percent and is expected to trend upward. Institutional investors benefit from the value Navy Federal and its members add through lower than industry average default and prepayment rates." Effective as of January 25, NewLeaf Conventional 3/1 Hybrid ARM products were discontinued. Agency loan transactions through AmeriHome involving Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs) meeting the applicable Agency requirements are eligible without overlay. Non-Agency Hybrid ARM and Expanded QM loan transactions involving MCCs that meet the Fannie Mae standard are also eligible. Core Jumbo loan transactions involving MCCs remain ineligible. NYCB Mortgage Banking has made significant improvements to its High LTV LLPA for Jumbo Fixed 30 Year and Standard Jumbo ARMs (5/1, 7/1 and 10/1) Purchase and Refinances. It has eliminated the separate "High LTV" LLPAs (-1.000 for 80.01-85% LTV and -2.000 for 85.01-90%) and conveniently combined the new, improved LLPAs for each LTV/CLTV/FICO scenario into one LLPA. Angel Oak now offers a 12-month personal bank statement program. Contact your Account Executive for information. 2nd liens are available with PRMG Mortgage. Full guidelines are available for review. FHA published Mortgagee Letter 2017-05, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Claim Type 22 Assignment Requests. This Mortgagee Letter consolidates policy found in various existing Mortgagee Letters and Handbooks for mortgagees submitting HECM assignment requests by initiating a Claim Type 22 (CT-22) in HUD's Home Equity Reverse Mortgage Information Technology system. This Mortgagee Letter does not contain new policy specific to assignment eligibility; however, the stacking order of items needed for the various documentation packages has changed. Capital markets: supply and demand rule the roost True or false? The Fed's eventual tapering of their MBS holdings will transform the demand in the mortgage market into one that is dominated by private investors. Pre-crisis environments provide some guidance as to the equilibrium level of spreads absent the Fed. The 2004-05 period may be the best analogy, a period of strong bank and foreign purchases. Knee-jerk reactions aside, experts think spreads could end up at least 10bp wider than today's levels, though the initial reaction to tapering could be far more severe. So as if there isn't enough going on in the political and regulatory environment, MBS investors are worried about what happens to MBS when the Fed stops re-investing maturing proceeds from its QE (Quantitative Easing) portfolio. The role of the Fed includes the stability of the U.S. economy, and began buying agency MBS several years ago. At its clip of $1-2 billion a day the Fed has been the biggest buyer of MBS paper for years and if that were to cease then the laws of supply and demand dictate that the lower demand for mortgage backed securities will translate into higher mortgage rates - compared to Treasury and other rates. But hey, there has been no chatter about the NY Fed selling bonds, just not buying them anymore. Analysts once again point to the pre-QE spreads between MBS and Treasuries - which surprisingly aren't much different than they are now! Sure MBS spreads vary over time, but they have historically been around these levels. Do they really make a difference to a young family wanting to buy a home in a particular school district? On the supply side of things, Fannie's trading desk gauged that last week originators reported that "overall lock activity was flat to just slightly lower week over week. The posted 30yr primary rate remains in the 4.125-4.375% range. Using 4.25% as the prevailing 30-yr rate, the primary/secondary spread is 107bps down from 115bps the previous week. While overall locks are down, a couple of lenders have reported recent pickups in their pre-qualification pipeline which could be a leading indicator to a better spring buying season." Supply is certainly impacted by loans paying off early, and we had prepayment speeds come out recently. To the surprise of no one in the industry, rising rates on home loans and plunging refinancings are slowing the pace at which mortgage bond investors get their principal back. Unexpected changes in prepayment rates can reduce returns for investors in mortgage-backed securities. Monday's agency prepayments showed a surge in net issuance as speeds generally fell near expectations (average 20% decline) following the post-election surge in rates, hawkish Fed rhetoric and lower day count all contributing. And no one will disagree that most homeowners that were eligible to refinance have already done so, and rate & term shops have moved to focusing on cash out. In terms of global mortgage supply, mortgage lending volume this year could be 20 percent below last year's $1.5 trillion. But industry observers are quick to point out that as refinancing business shrinks, banks could lower their lending standards. Haven't we seen that movie? Here's an Angel Oak announcement that both lenders and investors may find interesting. "Their mortgage origination platforms have been reviewed for quality by ratings agencies Fitch and DBRS. Both ratings agencies affirmed the acceptable quality of the company's non-agency, non-qualified mortgage originations." This is a big step toward rated mortgages securitizations in the non-qualified mortgage space. Ginnie Mae has added "Additional REMIC Factor Tranche data for December 2016." In terms of interest rates, they continued to slide lower Tuesday: both bonds and stocks rallied. There were the usual small moves between coupons, maturities, and securities, but nothing earth shattering and not much that would dramatically move borrower's rates. The 10-year ended yesterday yielding 2.40% and agency MBS prices were a tick or two better. This morning we've had the MBA's read on 75% of retail applications last week. Apps were +2.3% but are 23% below this week last year. (Refis are down 40% from a year ago, and are at their lowest level since 2009.) There is no scheduled interest rate-moving news, although traders will pay attention to how well the $23 billion 10-year T-note auction by the Treasury is received. In the early going, before the sun comes up on the West Coast, we find the 10-year yielding 2.36% and MBS prices better by .250 versus last night. Jobs and Announcements I normally post job openings, but in this case, I know of an experienced industry marketing executive seeking a new opportunity. Strong history of driving results from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Successful record of increasing revenue, loan growth and sales as well as improving field support and eliminating enterprise compliance risk. Built strong support teams, developed new mobile technologies, enhanced public relations, increased brand identity and driven new levels of creativity, technology adoption and marketing achievement. Willing to relocate or commute for the right opportunity. Interested parties should send an email to me and specify this person; please excuse delays due to travel in San Diego. And here's another person searching: a mortgage industry expert with experience sourcing and implementing robotics into mortgage operations is available for hire for the right bank or financial services company committed to investing in strategic procurement and process improvement. Innovative and forward-thinking mortgage company principals and/or regional or national bank executives looking to strategically lower expenses and improve operational efficiency should send a note of interest to me for forwarding to the individual. Mention this ad. REMN Wholesale's dedication to same-day turn times on mortgage products has been expanded to encompass loans specifically for manufactured housing. REMN's manufactured home mortgage products are supported by the same award winning closing department and dedicated internal help desk that have made them leaders in both reno mortgages and traditional loan products. REMN is one of the few wholesale lenders offering these products with same-day turn times, an incredibly important factor in today's "want it yesterday" mortgage environment. As a part of REMN's commitment to making the closing of these home loans as turnkey as possible for all parties involved, REMN includes delivery, setup, site development, installation, along with well and septic connections, within the purchase price for each loan. As REMN continues to grow, it is looking to hire experienced, customer-focused account executives in all regions coast to coast. Interested applicants should send their resumes to AErecruiting@REMN.com. There are just a few spots left to register for Lenders One's Winter Conference at Universal Orlando, March 5-8 at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. This members-only event will deliver valuable insights and includes access to brand-new 2017 Lenders One programs and services. Offering five education session tracks for you to choose what's most critical to your business, we'll cover key topics such as the impact of the recent election from a regulatory and legal perspective and how lenders are thinking about the digital consumer, include a panel discussion on e-closing, a session on finding differentiators in a market asking for scalability, millennial behaviors, leadership excellence and more. With new focused networking opportunities to share best practices and three nights of fun, this is a conference you don't want to miss. Registration will formally close on Monday, February 13 or when the remaining spots have been filled. Contact Susan Malpocker for questions or more information about Lenders One. On the retail side from Kentucky comes news that Stockton Mortgage Corporation has added two seasoned mortgage professionals as Regional Managers to its team. Buddy Kittle (502.417.4570) will cover KY, IN, and OH and Greg Ellenburg (901.289.8366) will take TN, MS, AL, and AR. Stockton Mortgage is searching for experienced quality mortgage loan originators and branch managers to continue their selective growth in these markets. "MLOs and Managers enjoy the added benefit of direct agency relationships, no overlays, loan servicing for their clients, great compensation model, benefits and the support of a fully staffed marketing department deliver what MLOs need to offer service beyond that of their peer group driving new referral business. Our ideal candidate must maintain a high standard of integrity and honesty as it relates to customer service and consistency with the Stockton Mortgage values and ethics. SMC is an equal opportunity employer. Congrats to Tim Cotten who has joined Texas' Starkey Mortgage as Director of Recruiting. "Cotten will lead the development of an internal recruiting team that will prospect, interview, hire and transition top mortgage talent for Starkey Mortgage. Cotten has over 10 years of recruitment, leadership and business development experience in the mortgage industry." Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. LA Clipper Chris Paul has joined real estate investment firm Turner Impact Capital to advocate affordable housing for working-class families, according to a news release.Paul joined as an investor and ambassador of the firm as it closed the Turner Multifamily Impact Fund a fund estimated to accrue $1 billion in housing acquisitions throughout the country. Washington DC, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Miami and Las Vegas are some of the urban markets included in the fund.The fund is dedicated to help ameliorate the shortage of affordable housing for millions of working-class families across the nation. Turner Impact Capital listed the imbalance of supply and demand of affordable housing, redevelopment of apartment communities into more luxurious communities and the high cost of land and construction as contributing factors to the shortage of affordable workforce housing.The funds ability to invest in apartment communities and keep rents stable makes a huge difference for working families, Paul said. We not only help families by stabilizing rents, but we also enrich the communities with important services like neighborhood watch, healthcare screenings, employment assistance and after-school tutoring that bring great value to children and parents.According to TIC, almost half of all renters in the nation spend more than 30% of their income on rent, while a quarter spend more than 50% of their income on rent.The growing disparity between workers income and their rent is untenable, and comes at the expense of healthcare security, food security and retirement security, said Turner Impact Capital CEO Bobby Turner. Our housing fund addresses these daunting challenges by preserving the workforce housing status of the properties it acquires and implementing targeted physical upgrades and property-management improvements that enhance day-to-day operations and the quality of life for their residents.Turner added that workforce housing is an overlooked real estate market and an often unseen investment opportunity.Other investors of the fund include Citi Community Capital, the University of Michigan endowment, the Texas Permanent Land Fund and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.I am enthusiastic to team up with Bobby and the team at Turner Impact Capital to help tackle this housing affordability challenge on behalf of hard-working families living in communities throughout America, including the one where I grew up in North Carolina, Paul said. For those interested in weighing in on the selection of the next superintendent, they will have their chance in the next five weeks. Those leading the search for a new CEO of schools have said the community will play an important role in creating a leadership profile that will be the cornerstone of the superintendent search. The plan, as officials with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates told the Midland ISD school board Monday night, will include more than 25 engagement opportunities with community groups including Educate Midland, elected officials, the Midland ISD Education Foundation, the Business and Founders Initiative, teacher leadership (elementary and secondary), PTA Executive leadership, student leadership, central office leadership and school administrators. Other groups could include Midland Students First, the NAACP and local ministerial alliances. The interviews will culminate in a leadership profile that becomes part of ad content and subsequent interview process as HYA officials recruit superintendent candidates. Focus groups and interviews are expected to take place March 6-8. There also will be an online survey that other interested Midlanders can fill out. The survey could go up as early as today and remain on the districts website until at least late in the month. The survey, according to Nola Wellman, an associate with HYA, allows for interaction with those who typically might be the least connected when it comes to providing input but would be impacted most by the reform needed in the school district. Officials said they would love to get 750 to 1,000 survey responses over a 2 1/2-week period. HYA said it expects district leaderships commitment to theories of action will be honored in the process as will its goals moving forward to provide a growth mindset, a no-excuses mentality and effective instructional environment -- features brought to Midland ISD by interim Superintendent Rod Schroder. Midland ISD leadership has been working on a Lone Star Governance report. School officials said there will be community meetings at which a draft of the report will be introduced. Two of these meetings are on Feb. 21 at First Presbyterian Church and Feb. 23 at Stonegate Fellowship. Meetings at the Hispanic Cultural Center and Greater Ideal Baptist Church will take place the following week. These are the same locations of the community meetings Staff leadership will be the first to learn about the draft of the report at a meeting planned for Monday at Bowie Fine Arts Academy. The meeting will precede the MISD boards regular meeting. We are eager to follow your lead, said Wellman, a graduate of Permian High School in Odessa and whose experience in education includes a superintendency at Eanes ISD in Austin, which includes Westlake High School. This commitment to processes and outcome will propel Midland. WASHINGTON -- Eight states lost population between 2015 and 2016, and 12 others recorded their lowest population increase of the decade, as economic woes and lower birth rates hit some states harder than others Connecticut, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming lost population. The last time so many states registered a drop in population was from 1986 to 1987, when oil prices collapsed. Twelve Western and Southern states, along with the District of Columbia, lost population then. Meanwhile, Alabama, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Virginia saw anemic growth of between 0.02 and 0.66 percent in the number of people living inside their borders. That's less than the nation's increase in population of 0.7 percent and the lowest growth those states had experienced since 2010. The reasons behind the declines vary. Some reflect national mortality and birth trends, as more deaths occur as the population ages and the millennial generation has fewer babies. That has led to the slowest population growth in the U.S. in 70 years, as Brookings Institution demographer William Frey points out. Pennsylvania, for instance, had 7,677 fewer people in 2016 than it did in 2015, after having experienced growth every year since 1996. The major reasons: an increase in deaths, a decrease in births and fewer foreign immigrants than other states have. "There are more and more of us at ages where deaths are more numerous," said Herbert Smith, director of the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania. A state's economy also plays a part. Like in 1986, the economies of energy-producing states such as Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Wyoming have suffered from low oil, natural gas and coal prices. People flee a state when jobs evaporate to find work elsewhere if they can. West Virginia and Wyoming are the two largest coal producers in the country. As coal production declined, West Virginia lost 9,951 people from 2015 to 2016, its fourth straight year of population loss. Wyoming lost 1,054 after having steadily gained population since 1999. Americans are moving again in more rapid numbers after hunkering down during the recession. And people's ability to move, as their personal finances or job outlooks have improved, "is now critical to whether a state gains or loses population," said Kenneth Johnson, a demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy. Aging baby boomers are moving to the Sun Belt or other lower-cost states to retire. Florida's population, for instance, is among the nation's fastest-growing. Workers who are able to move and get a job elsewhere will escape high cost-of-living states. And when businesses find high taxes, high labor costs or a shortage of workers and can move, they will and take the jobs with them. Idaho, Nevada and Washington state are experiencing some of the fastest economic and job growth in the nation. And their populations are growing along with that, rising at more than twice the national growth rate from 2015 to 2016. High state and local tax burdens may not force people to pick up and move. Most often it's for jobs, higher pay or a desire to retire elsewhere. But taxes contribute to the cost of living and factor into people's thinking about moving, some research indicates. Isaac Martin, a University of California, San Diego sociology professor who wrote about the effect taxes had on moving last year, found that the burden of property taxes will prompt some homeowners to move. But that most often happens when they have suffered a drop in income, caused by a job loss or retirement. "These are not people whose property taxes went up, but rather people whose incomes fell," he said. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation, which advocates low rates, said in a new assessment of migration between the states last year, "Taxes are not the sole factor why individuals migrate ... but a relationship does exist." Some people in Illinois, which lost 37,508 people, the most of any state, think so. When asked in October whether they would like to leave the state, about half the people polled by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University said yes. The most cited reasons: taxes and weather. Illinois and three other states that lost population -- Connecticut, New York and Vermont -- had among the highest median property taxes in 2015. That's something that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner would like to change. Rauner asked legislators to freeze property taxes in his Jan. 25 State of the State address, calling for "property tax relief to reduce the immense burden felt by our families and businesses -- and to give them reason to stay here." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A dizzying four months of search and unanswered questions ceased this week when the remains of Zuzu Verk, a 22-year-old missing college student, were positively identified as hers, news that sent communities across the state into mourning. Verk, who is originally from Coppell, a suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, spent time at the University of North Texas before attending Sul Ross State University, where she studied conservation biology, according to her Facebook page. She was accepted to Texas A&M University at the time she went missing in October 2016, CBS 7 reported in January. Friends in each of Verk's social circles have taken to social media to express their sadness after Alpine Police Chief Russel Scown and Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson confirmed Monday the remains found Feb. 3 in a shallow grave near Alpine were hers. RELATED: Human remains found in Alpine confirmed to be those of West Texas college student "I'll never have enough words, let alone the right words, to say how much of an impact you had on my life," one said. "You supported everything from my questionable karaoke addiction to when I thought I could just go and start a non-profit." Others have donned green clothes and accessories in remembrance of their friend. News West 9 interviewed Verk's family, who said they were relieved the search had ended, and justice would hopefully be served. So far, two people have been arrested in relation to Verk's death Robert Fabian and Christopher Estrada. RELATED: West Texas police arrest 25-year-old boyfriend in Zuzu Verk case Scown said Estrada was arrested in Pheonix, Arizona Monday and was charged with tampering with physical evidence by concealing a human corpse, a second-degree felony punishable by a maximum 20 year sentence upon conviction. He said Estrada will be brought back to Texas to face charges. Fabian, who was Verk's boyfriend prior to her disappearance, was arrested Saturday and was also charged with tampering with physical evidence by concealing a human corpse, according to an Alpine Police Department news release. His bail is set at $500,000. Verk was last seen on a date with Fabian Oct. 11, 2016. Three days later, Fabian made a call to police to tell them she was missing. In the days before making his police report, Fabian made two calls to Estrada, and borrowed his white Ford Mustang, according to police. Estrada had his mustang cleaned three times in the days following Verk's disappearance. "She had plans to do so much. She wanted to travel, she wanted to do so much, she just wanted to help the world, she wanted to make the world a better place and she was taken from the world, taken from us," said Miles Verk, Zuzu's brother. RELATED: Human remains found in West Texas where 22-year-old college student went missing Fabian's family, including his mother, brother and sister, are considered persons of interest in the case, Scown said. He could not provide additional information as the case is ongoing. Scown said additional arrests would be made "eventually." Sul Ross State University President William Kibler released a statement Monday saying Verk would be remembered for her "smiles, energy and zest for life." "She embodied characteristics that represent the best in all of us," Kobler said. Verk's family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Zuzu Verk Memorial Scholarship Fund in Natural Resource Management. Additionally, a memorial service for Verk will be held at the university Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in one of the university's amphitheaters. Staff writer Joshua Fechter contributed to this report. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 We watched the local ABC affiliates report on an arrest of a Midland Police Department officer, his subsequent resignation and the police departments failure to disclose the arrest. In the words of Midlands top cop, Police Chief Price Robinson, the failure to disclose the arrest was because it fell through the cracks. This doesnt sit well with us. This newspaper has supported our local law enforcement and will continue to do so. MPD, its officers and staff are working the streets day in and day out and face danger that most of us wouldnt understand. If police or residents want to have a debate on whether an officers arrest should result in a press release to the media, we welcome the debate. As Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said, those who serve the community and protect its residents are public officials. They are held to a higher standard. That higher standard includes the disclosure of arrests. In this case of the former officer, that didnt happen for four months after the arrest took place. We wonder whether the incident would have come out at all if KMID had not discovered it. That was an unforced error by police department leadership, and it makes us wonder what else the departments leadership is not disclosing. The answer may very well be that nothing else is being withheld, but its a question worth asking. Our view today isnt about questioning the actions of those who are out in the community serving and protecting our residents. We support those men and women and marvel at the job they do a vast majority of the time. Our concerns are about leaders, who when called out about policy, say that something fell through the cracks on their watch. Our expectation is that it wouldnt be acceptable for an officer or deputy to use fell through the cracks as an excuse. We dont expect department leadership to use that excuse, either. Dear future MISD superintendent candidates, We want to thank you for your interest in the academic reform project of a lifetime. Some people will offer excuses why Midland ISD isnt the job for you. They will point to tens in millions of dollars in a recapture payment this property-rich school district will pay every year for as long as the broken school finance system is in place in the state of Texas. The same doubters will tell you a district on the slide for the better part of a decade, plagued by failed leadership from the superintendents office, isnt a good bet. They will say the demographics arent what they once were in our community. They will point to the fact that the district that once was home to 10 or more National Merit semifinalists annually is more likely to have double-digit improvement required (IR) campuses. We say: Stop listening to the excuses and forget the doubters. This isnt your typical reform-required community. This is Midland, Texas -- the center of the most prominent oil-producing region in the United States. The business talent here is unrivaled in a community our size, and the foundations, well, they are all-in in their commitment to reform. Million-dollar checks to support the school district are nothing new, and theres more in the collective bank, waiting for the right leader to energize a community about the education of its children. We have listened during superintendent search firm meetings that the next superintendent candidates will shy away from meetings with anyone beyond school board members. The smart people say the fear of being publicly identified will keep the best possible candidates from getting to know this community -- and we mean really getting to know this community. Even some board members (the exception being board President Rick Davis) dont want to rock the boat, which is a shame. One board member even had the audacity to say we should beware of a candidate who wants to meet community members. But in our view, the right person for this job should know what makes Midland the most unique opportunity for a superintendent candidate in the state of Texas. The right person should want to meet those people who are committing their resources in greater numbers than ever before. It is the collective impact model that will support the right leader in getting the school district to where our residents expect it to be -- even if it was where it was 10 years ago. We hope the experts are wrong. We hope the right person for the job isnt your typical superintendent candidate. We hope they dont judge our community by just the seven people on the school board. We hope there are some bold enough to dig a little deeper. Keep a secret and keep a name confidential. We think in Midland, Texas, where billion-dollar oil industry deals and $10 million donations to the school district are becoming the norm, that shouldnt be an issue. This is the city that is home to board chairmen of two major Texas universities. The men and women of our community know what it means to put their community first and understand the dynamics of education leadership. In the end, we hope you buck a trend and ask to learn a little more about our community. There are people here who have spent hundreds of hours and millions of dollars in bringing our community on the cusp of reform. If you request a meeting, you can meet a few of them and get a better sense of what this community is capable of. We promise they wont tell a soul. Sincerely, A community desperate for leadership Please enable JavaScript to experience the functionality of this website. - MWEB The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties until 9:15 AM Saturday. Widespread flooding is already occurring across Northern California. Periods of heavy rain will continue this week and flooding will persist even after the rain subsides. Expect flooding threats to linger into Saturday. This warning is an expansion in time and area from the previous warning. Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additionally, a Wind Advisory is in effect for the Mother Lode and the Sierra Nevada for Thursday from 4 AM to 4 PM Winds of twenty to thirty mph are expected with gusts ranging from forty to fifty mph in the Mother Lode. In the Sierra Nevada, gusts will range from fifty to seventy mph. Some of the impacts will include downed trees and power outages along with difficult driving conditions, especially for high profile hehicles. A Wind Advisory means that wind gusts of forty mph or greater are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for small cars and high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. Congressman Tom McClintock View Photos Mother Lode Congressman Tom McClintock spoke on the House floor Tuesday calling for civil debate across the country. McClintock was Fridays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Last weekend McClintock had to be escorted by police from his town hall meeting in Roseville due to protesters outside. On the House floor he stated, As long as we are TALKING WITH each other and not SHOUTING AT each other, our system works well. If your love of our Constitution is greater than your hatred of our President, I implore you to engage in a civil discussion with your fellow citizens. McClintocks entire House floor speech is below: Our nation has come to a crossroads between two competing visions of the future that dont easily reconcile. At such times as these, emotions run high. The good news is that our institutions are the best ever designed to resolve such political disputes. In other countries, the government is the sovereign and rights flow from it to the people. In America, the people are sovereign. But in America, the sovereign doesnt govern. It hires help to govern during an election. In-between elections, the sovereign people debate how the hired help is doing. Thats the real debate: the one that goes on every day wherever Americans gather. And after that family discussion, we decide whether to fire the hired help or keep it for another cycle. As long as we are TALKING WITH each other and not SHOUTING AT each other, our system works well. Once in our history, we stopped talking with each other. That was the election of 1860. That election was marked not by reconciliation, but by rioting in those regions where the opposition dominated. The opposition party refused to accept the legitimacy of the election itself. Political leaders pledged resistance to the new administration by any means necessary. They asserted the doctrine of nullification, the notion that any dissenting state or city that opposed federal laws could simply refuse to obey them. Finally came the secession movement the ultimate rejection of our Constitution and the rule of law. Have we not started down that road once again? Even before this election, we saw violent mobs carrying foreign flags, physically attack Americans for the sole reason that they wanted to attend a political rally for the candidate of their choice. The violence in Berkeley last week warns us that this behavior is rising. Some prominent elected officials are again asserting nullification by declaring their jurisdictions sanctuaries where federal immigration laws will simply be ignored. And in California, a formal secession movement is supported by nearly a third of the population of my own suffering state. I have held more than a hundred town hall meetings in my district throughout the last eight years spanning the entire life of the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements. Through all those heated debates, the police have never had to intervene. Until this weekend, in Roseville, when the Roseville Police Department determined that the size and temper of the crowd required a police escort to protect me as I left the venue. The vast majority of the people attempting to attend the meeting were peaceful, decent and law abiding folks sincerely opposed to President Trump, wanting to make their views known to their elected representative. But there was also a well-organized element that came to disrupt and disrupt they did. In the last four elections, our country has turned dramatically away from the left. The Democrats have lost 67 House Seats, 12 Senate Seats, 10 Governors, more than 900 state legislative seats and now the Presidency. That happened in large part because those who opposed their policies talked with their neighbors about the future of our country. Instead of pursuing that successful example, the radical left seeks not to persuade their fellow citizens by reason, but rather to impose its views by bullying, insulting, intimidating and, as in Berkeley, by physically attacking their fellow citizens. This is not a tactic likely to change minds, but if it persists, it could tear down the very institutions of democracy that have served us so well for so long. I would ask the many sincere citizens who have been caught up with this disruptive element, do you object because the President is breaking his promises? Or do you object because he is keeping them? And if your objection is because the President is keeping the promises he made, is that not because the sovereign people your neighbors and fellow countrymen directed these changes over the last four elections? If your love of our Constitution is greater than your hatred of our President, I implore you to engage in a civil discussion with your fellow citizens. That is what true democracy looks like. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML A man who ran from an initial traffic stop carjacked a vehicle with a baby inside, was shot by a Sumter County deputy during the escape and then led authorities on a three-county chase, troopers said. Two men were pulled over in Sumter, troopers say Deputies: One took off on foot, later carjacking his mother's vehicle An infant was inside the sedan, but wasn't injured in the chase and crash The incident began at about 12:42 p.m. Tuesday when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper initiated a traffic stop of a 2003 Toyota sedan. The driver of that vehicle, Dillion Martin, 23, of Floral City, was taken into custody during the stop, but a second person fled the scene on foot, deputies said. The Florida Highway Patrol requested assistance from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office to track the fleeing suspect. Sumter County dogs tracked the second man, identified by troopers as 27-year-old Douglas John Martin, 27, and set up a perimeter. A deputy assigned to the perimeter witnessed someone run from a wooded area and jump into the passenger side of a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu. According to the Sumter deputies, the man physically assaulted the female driver and forcibly removed her, carjacking the vehicle. The woman screamed that her child was in the back seat, a report states. Deputies later found out that woman was suspect's mother. The Sumter deputy tried to remove Martin from the driver's seat, but Martin reportedly accelerated, dragging the deputy with him, troopers said. "While being (dragged), the deputy fired his weapon, striking the suspect and (was) able to free himself from being (dragged)," the Sheriff's Office said. According to FHP, Martin was shot twice in the stomach. The deputy was uninjured. With the baby in the vehicle, Martin fled northbound on Interstate 75 into Marion County. He exited I-75 at State Road 200, traveling southbound into Citrus County, where at East Olive Lane, he lost control of the car. Martin's vehicle traveled into a ditch and hit an embankment. The infant wasn't hurt and returned to the parents, troopers said. Martin was airlifted to a hospital for treatment. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been called in to investigate the deputy-involved shooting. Members of the Sumter and Citrus County Sheriff's Offices and the Florida Highway Patrol pursued the vehicle, which crashed into an embankment in Citrus, troopers said. (FHP) Authorities have not announced the connection Douglas and Dillion Martin have to one another, or if the infant is related. This story was last updated on: 4:59 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 08, 2017. Zarghee Mayan, the former boss of accused cop-killer Markeith Loyd, was released from jail Wednesday on a reduced bond. A judge had previously refused to lower his bond, but prosecutors on Tuesday agreed to lower it from $400,000 to $20,000. He's charged with accessory to first-degree murder after the fact. "While there is a bond set, Mr. Mayan can prepare a defense while not being incarcerated," Mayans defense attorney, Lyle Mazin, argued Wednesday. When Mayan bonded out Wednesday afternoon, he sprinted out of the jail. He did not talk to the media, but his attorney said he's glad to be out of jail. "I think as the state further investigates this case, justice will prevail, and Mr. Mayan will go back to his family and back to life as he knows it," Mazin said. Mayan was given bond restrictions: He is to forfeit his passport; He is not to leave the state of Florida; And he is to have no contact with other defendants associated with the Markeith Loyd case: Loyd; Loyd's ex-girlfriend, Jameis Slaughter; and Loyd's niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd. Mayan is a former manager at Texas Fried Chicken at 400 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, where he worked with Loyd. Mayan, Slaughter and Smith-Loyd were all arrested on charges of helping Loyd evade authorities as they sought him in connection with the slayings of two people. Slaughter is charged with accessory and on charges of giving investigators a false name when they questioned her. Slaughter's bond was reduced to $25,000, and she bonded out of jail on Tuesday night. Charges were dropped against Smith-Loyd; the state said there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. SpaceX has set the launch date for its first Falcon 9 rocket launch from the Space Coast since a rocket exploded in September. SpaceX planning for Feb. 18 Falcon 9 rocket launch 1st SpaceX launch from Brevard County since September explosion Launch will happen at Kennedy Space Center RELATED: Space Coast launch schedule SpaceX is targeting Feb. 18 for the launch to the International Space Station. No launch window has been set yet. The launch will happen at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. That historic launch pad has seen countless shuttle and rocket launches, but no spacecraft has launched from there since space shuttle Atlantis lifted off for the final time in 2011. SpaceX renovated the pad, especially to launch its Falcon 9 Heavy rocket. This will be SpaceX's first launch from Kennedy Space Center. The Falcon 9 will carry cargo up to the ISS. This is the first time SpaceX has launched a rocket from Brevard County since a Falcon 9 rocket exploded during testing on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station last September. SpaceX determined the likely cause of the explosion was a failure in the rocket's helium pressure tanks. The explosion caused damage to the launch pad. SpaceX's first launch since the explosion actually took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California last month. Assuming this launch is successful, SpaceX has several other launches planned this year from Kennedy Space Center. The company's president told reporters this week they hope to launch rockets every two to three weeks. In a grave marked simply Jane Doe, forensics teams and Texas Rangers sifted through a coffin of bones Friday morning in the efforts of finding more answers to a 30-year-old cold case murder. This is definitely a female skull, said Dr. Harrell Gill-King, the director of the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Human Identification Department at the University of North Texas, as he sat in a grave at the Plainview Cemetery and examined the skull of a woman believed to have been killed by the drifting serial killer Henry Lee Lucas before 1982. On Feb. 16, 1982, Hale County Sheriffs Department investigated the murder of a white female who was found nude and headless northeast of Plainview. Described as a petite woman in her late teens or early 20s, the body was found badly decomposed with her hands tied behind her back with a bra. Several days later, a human skull was found in the desert area near Scottsdale, Arizona. Forensic pathologist Dr. Ralph Erdmann of Childress concluded that the head found in Arizona did belong to the body found in Plainview. Police attempted to find the identity of the woman, as they tried to connect the deceased body with cases of missing women in the state. Theories formed that the body may have belonged to an exotic dancer from Abilene; however, dental records would dispel that rumor. The headless woman would never be identified. After being arrested, Lucas confessed to a slew of murders including the Dec. 19, 1982, stabbing death of Petersburg widow Glenna Fay Biggers. A Hale County grand jury also indicted Lucas on murder charges involving the unidentified woman. Lucas was indicted after he sketched the victims face and gave a voluntary statement admitting to the murder. The sketch was very similar to a photograph of a reconstructed skull believed to be a part of the victims body that was found in Plainview. At that time, Lucas was also charged with the murder of his 15-year-old common-law wife in Jacksonville, Florida., as well as to the murder of Katie Rich, 80, of Ringold. Lucas claimed to have killed about 100 women, many of them hitchhikers, in Texas and 15 other states. On Feb. 24, 1985, Lucas received a life sentence for the murder of Biggers. In return for Lucas guilty plea in the Biggers case, District Attorney Ron Felty dropped an indictment against Lucas for the murder of the unidentified woman. During the trial, appointed defense attorney Charles White noted for the record that Lucas denied the headless corpse murder. Felty said after the meeting, As far as Im concerned, its cleared. I think Lucas did it. However, as the years passed, controversy began to cloud the Lucas murders as journalists and authorities questioned Lucas capability to be at all those killing scenes. On top of that, in 1992 Erdmann, the pathologist who linked the head with the body, was convicted on several counts of evidence tampering and perjury, including the falsifying of an autopsy. So in a full circle, the story returned to the grave marked Jane Doe. We discovered this case while we were reviewing another case, said Texas Ranger Tony Arnold as he watched the exhumation of the grave. There are some things we wanted to verify. Though Arnold did not say what case they were reviewing, sources speculate that family members of Biggers are questioning if Lucas even killed the Petersburg woman. Regardless of the speculation, Arnold said identifying the woman is part of a nationwide initiative started in 2007 to identify missing people. The initiative is helping to bring closure to families across the country. Thats not for us to determine right now. Right now we want to get her identified because theres 40,000 unidentified missing people in the U.S. Somebodys looking for her and we can see if we can find her, said Arnold. Arnold said the University of North Texas has a human identification laboratory that is going to take body's DNA and put it in a national data base in an attempt to match it with someone else like a family member. Its a process, said Arnold. On Friday, King and his associates carefully removed dirt around a baby casket holding the womans bones. The woman laid in a morgue for about a year before her remains were placed in a small casket and buried. In the casket were plastic bags of bones marked with the corresponding bone inside. By these markings you can tell she was in her late teens early 20s, said King as he examined a bone. Also accompanying the bones was the skull found in Arizona. King said by collecting the DNA of the bones, they will be able to determine without a doubt if the skull matches the body. The DNA information will also be placed in a national database. Well submit DNA samples on the head and DNA samples on the post-cranial, and if theyre the same theyll hit each other in the data base, said King. If they dont match, well know. The real problem here is that the examination of these remains were done by an individual that was discredited. The reason were doing this examination has to do with the fact that there is still a lot of questions hanging over this because of that. King said they will take the bones back to Denton to be examined at their laboratory. HARTFORD Gov. Dannel P. Malloy delivered on his promise Wednesday to refocus municipal aid with an emphasis on needier cities, drawing criticism from many lawmakers concerned about the impact on their districts. According to Malloys budget proposal, Wallingford would lose $10.1 million in municipal aid, the fourth largest cut statewide. Cheshires municipal aid would be cut $4.7 million, and Southington by just over $2 million. Berlin, meanwhile, would lose $4.9 million; Durham $2.4 million; North Haven $4.9 million; and Plainville $1.6 million. Meriden stands to gain $1.4 million in municipal aid next year, while larger cities will see even bigger increases. Malloy proposes to increase state aid to Waterbury by $40.8 million, while New Britain would see a $24.2 million increase, Bridgeport would see another $14.2 million, and New Haven $13.1 million. Under Malloys budget proposal the Educational Cost Sharing grant is updated. During his speech Wednesday, he said the updated formula is more equitable, more transparent, and more fair. By recognizing shifting demographics in small towns and growing cities, state funding can change with time to reflect changing communities, he said. By considering a given communitys ability to pay, we can adjust to what taxpayers can actually afford, Malloy added. Many lawmakers said they agreed with Malloy that the state should help cities in need, but questioned if the governors budget proposal represented too dramatic a shift. I dont think its a good proposal and I dont think its going to go anywhere because its much too harsh on the towns, said Sen. Joe Markley, R-Southington. Malloy said the shift is necessary to help address the disparity between cities and suburbs Connecticuts income inequality ranks second nationally and would end a vicious cycle that began years ago. Rep. Cathy Abercrombie, D-Meriden, said Malloys budget offered creative ideas, particularly in the area of municipal aid. Some municipalities have enough resources that they can afford to take on larger projects with little to no borrowing, she said, and the state should reconsider whether they need to continue receiving the same level of help. I think we have to be in this all together as a state, she said. The budget also calls on towns to contribute $400 million combined for teachers retirement benefits. When asked how many towns would avoid cuts, Benjamin Barnes, Malloys budget chief, said only roughly 30 towns, out of 169, could be deemed winners. Proposed cuts in aid drew strong criticism from lawmakers. Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said additional funding alone wont help underperforming school districts. For the governor to celebrate changes to the education funding formula as a solution to all our states education inequities is wishful thinking, he said in a statement. We have to figure out why money currently going to our cities isnt getting to our children. Rep. Liz Linehan, D-Cheshire, said she supports helping cities, but Malloy cant do that at such a large detriment. She said the changes in municipal aid are too dramatic for her district. Linehan also expressed disappointment about Malloys emphasis on support for cities, which he said need to be economic drivers in the state. She said suburban companies can be just as beneficial. Our businesses are contributing to the growth of the state, and we cant be forgotten about, she said. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said hes not surprised by the reaction, as it can be hard for lawmakers to balance the needs of the state with the best interest of their districts, especially when it comes to the budget. Anytime you change funding mechanisms in this chamber, its tough, he said, adding that he agreed with Malloy on the need to have more vibrant urban centers. Connecticut Business & Industry Association President Joe Brennan backed Malloy, saying many states that have out-performed Connecticut since the 2008 recession have used their cities to drive growth. He said he understands lawmakers dont want to see cuts to their own districts, but urged them to realize the need for additional aid to help turn cities around. If people understand that, overall, if we can create a better environment for investment and job growth here, then were going to see progress in all of the communities across Connecticut, Brennan said. msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino WALLINGFORD When astronaut John Glenn splashed down from his famous trip around the earth in 1962, longtime Wallingford resident Robert Mullin was there to greet him. Mullin, the senior medical officer on the Navys USS Noa, performed a medical check-up after Glenn completed three orbits around the Earth in just under five hours, becoming the first American to ever orbit Earth. They didnt know how someone was going to react to being in space for that long, Mullins daughter, Maureen, said. Mullin, who later moved to Wallingford and worked as a surgeon for 36 years, died on Jan. 20. He was 88. Mullin grew up in Littleton, Massachusetts, and attended Harvard and Tufts University to become a doctor because he wanted to help people, his daughter said. In 1948, Mullin put his medical career on hold and enlisted in the Navy, where he became one of the first doctors trained for NASAs Project Mercury, an effort to orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth. He served 27 years in the Navy before retiring and moving to Wallingford in 1975 with his wife, Diane, to raise seven children, four of whom attended Choate Rosemary Hall. Mullin began a second career working as a Thoracic surgeon in Wallingford and worked at several hospitals in the area, including Meriden-Wallingford Hospital and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Maureen Mullin said her father used his knowledge to help improve and expand health care services. He was on teams that developed a medical payment system used today by the federal government and an international diagnosis and procedure coding system adopted by the World Health Organization and used in over 25 countries. People had a lot of respect for what he was doing in the medical field, said Mullins son, Stephen. He added that his fathers medical career began to even overshadow his role in Project Mercury. In Wallingford, Mullin served on the towns Board of Health and Ambulance Committee for several years, where Mayor William W. Dickinson said he was always an active participant. Any community needs people like him, said Dickinson, who attended Mullins wake last week. We really appreciate everything he represented and did for the town. Mullin moved from Wallingford to Philadelphia in 2011 after his wife died to spend more time with family. Earlier this month, he was buried next to his wife in St. John Cemetery, just blocks away from their old home on Pine Glen Terrace. Maureen Mullin said contributing to Glenns space orbit was one of her fathers proudest moments. He can be seen in historic footage of the landing, which was shown in Hidden Figures, a new movie centered around NASAs effort to orbit the planet. The movie was recently nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. Following his funeral, Mullins family saw the movie together as a tribute, said Stephen Mullin. Mullin is survived by seven children: Stephen, Roberta, Michele, Diane , Denise, Michael , and Maureen; and 10 grandchildren. A service was held on Feb 4. In lieu of flowers, his family asks for gifts be made in his memory may Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. mzabierek@record-journal.com 203-317-2279 San Antonio Express-News /File photo A lawsuit over Exxon Mobil Corp.s 2011 sale of 63 gas stations in the San Antonio and Austin areas has been settled. Exxon Mobil was sued by Dallas businesswoman Arcilia Acosta, CEO and president of Carcon Industries & Construction, in 2013. She alleged that Exxon Mobils recruited minority businesspeople to bid on gas stations it was selling but then sold them to an Anglo businessman. She called the negotiations with her a public relations charade. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas would be the biggest loser if the U.S. waged a trade war with Mexico over President Donald Trumps proposal to build a border wall and impose a 20 percent tariff on goods coming across the Rio Grande, according to a new report by WalletHub. If and when the presidents plan comes to fruition, experts predict it will trigger a trade war between our two nations. But the impact of the economic fallout will be different for every state, the WalletHub report states. Texas is the No. 1 trading partner in the U.S. with Mexico, making the state particularly vulnerable if the U.S. withdraws from the North American Free Trade Agreement, the report said. Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico and Kentucky round out the top five U.S. states, respectively, hit hardest by a trade war, according to WalletHub. The U.S. economy would suffer from withdrawing from NAFTA and would see an immediate impact on the prices for certain products, added WalletHub.com analyst Jill Gonzalez in an email. RELATED: In Mexico's NAFTA capital, 'absolute uncertainty' reigns Roughly 37.7 percent of all exports from Texas go to Mexico, the biggest percentage among all 50 states. That represents 5.8 percent of the states gross domestic product, also more than any other state. Texas gets more imports from Mexico than any other country, roughly 33.2 percent of all of its imported goods. A trade war wouldnt be likely to tip either country into an economic recession. The likelihood of a recession is quite slim for both countries since they have other trading agreements with other countries, and the U.S. economy is quite stable, Gonzalez said. However, a trade war with Mexico could impact U.S. agreements with other countries, as it could create global mistrust. Free Trade Alliance San Antonio CEO and President Jose Martinez said the findings were logical. RELATED: Backlash against Trump's wall reaches Texas border city Martinez questioned the reports premise since Trump hasnt rolled out specific details on a tariff or on how he wants to renegotiate NAFTA. I dont think the United States will go into a trade war. We need to wait until the United States or Mexico takes a position, Martinez said. Since NAFTA went into effect in 1994, at least two disputes over sugar tariffs and the blocked authorization of Mexican trucks to make U.S. deliveries raised the possibility of a trade war, he said. Eventually, those settled down, Martinez said. RELATED: #AdiosProductosGringos threaten U.S. product boycott over Trump's border wall One question that deserves attention is the U.S. trade deficit with Mexico, Martinez said. Thats the difference between the amount of goods exported to Mexico and the amount imported to the U.S. It was about $63.2 billion in 2016, billion according the Office of the U.S. International Trade Representative. But the Mexico deficit is small when compared with the U.S. trade deficit with China, which was nearly $347 billion in 2016. I think this brouhaha with Mexico will be dwarfed when the argument shifts to China, Martinez said. Texas outsized export and import volumes with Mexico was predicted before NAFTA started. RELATED: Border congressman condemns Trump's 'trade war' on Mexico In a 1993 book titled Continental Shift: Free Trade & the New North America, author William Orme Jr. devoted a chapter to the Tex-Mex Axis. States Most Affected by Trade War with Mexico President Donald Trump has proposed taxing all Mexican imports by 20 percent to finance the construction of a 40-foot-high, 1,000-mile-long concrete barrier separating the U.S. from Mexico. Experts predict such a tax would trigger a trade war. WalletHub analyzed key indicators to gauge the effects of such a trade war and ranked the states from most likely to least likely to be impacted. Not surprisingly, Texas is No. 1 on the list. Source: WalletHub NAFTA owes its political life to the Lone Star State. And for good reason, Orme wrote. The impact of Mexican trade on the American economy divides the United States neatly in two: Texas, and everywhere else. Mexico now accounts for about a third of total sales by Texas companies outside U.S. borders. Gonzalez said other options, besides a high tariff, exist to encourage the U.S. to produce goods domestically instead of outside the country. The best way to keep or establish production facilities in the U.S. is through an attractive tax environment supplemented with an easy-to-navigate policy system, Gonzalez said. dhendricks@express-news.net College students, the professionals of making magic happen minutes before deadline, came out in full force Tuesday when Ellen DeGeneres gave Longhorns at the University of Texas at Austin just a few hours to throw together a Beyonce costume for tickets to the Grammy's. The TV host announced the contest early Tuesday via Twitter. Packs of "pregnant" pillow bellies and "Single Ladies" leotards filled the UT campus as representatives for The Ellen Show picked winners for the tickets. Even Bevo got in on the Bey buzz. Snapshot: Jandros, the latest nightclub to open on the St. Marys Strip, has built a steady clientele by word of mouth because of its chill factor, its cocktails and its themed nights. Thursday night draws a good crowd for Jordan Moonzs open-mic night. Every First Friday, artists set up their canvases throughout the spacious bar and create. Poetry slams are held Monday nights. Owner Alejandro Perez opened Jandros, his first bar, in late November in what was the home of the late artist Ken Thompson and the Crazy Horse Saloon before him decades ago. The original Crazy Horse bar was refinished the American Indian symbols remain etched on the bar. Police arrested an Ansonia man Tuesday and charged him with shooting his adult son. Dennis Softleigh, 47, shot the younger man during a domestic dispute at his Central Street home on Jan. 17, according to a statement from the Ansonia Police Department. The 23-year-old son was the victim in the shooting and was released from the (Bridgeport Hospital) a few days after the incident, Ansonia Police spokesman Lt. Patrick Lynch said in an email. Softleigh, a Hearst Corp. employee, is charged with first-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm and carrying a firearm while under the influence. He was held on a $50,000 bond and was arraigned Tuesday at state Superior Court in Derby, police said. A phone message left at Softleighs home seeking comment was not immediately returned. It was not known who was representing him in court. The victims name is not being released. According to Lynch, police responded when the victim arrived at Griffin Hospital in Derby with a single gunshot wound to the stomach. That night, police could not find Softleigh at his home, but they recovered the pistol they believe was used in the shooting, Lynch said. Softleigh held a valid permit for the gun, according to police. He came (to police) the next day with an attorney and gave a statement, Lynch said, adding that Softleigh turned himself in on Tuesday shortly after a warrant for his arrest was approved. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Fingers were pointing in both directions Tuesday as New York's acting tax chief and the head of a state tax assessor's group fielded questions about the seemingly endless delays, errors and general confusion surrounding the School Tax Relief or STAR property tax program after it was amended almost a year ago. Nonie Manion, executive deputy commissioner of the state Department of Taxation and Finance, said that part of the problem stemmed from inaccuracies that developed when local tax assessors tried to determine whether homeowners were eligible for the exemption, which is means-tested and can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a school tax bill. "Some of the (local) assessors' rolls were perfect, but there were others that were not so good," Manion said during testimony before a joint Senate-Assembly budget hearing on taxation. Lawmakers, especially those in suburban and rural areas, said they continue to hear from homeowners who haven't received STAR rebate checks under a system that was altered in the 2016-17 budget. "You've created a nightmare," said Sen. John Bonacic, R-Middletown. "There's a loud, vocal minority that is still hurting," he said, referring to the numerous low-income seniors who count on their STAR breaks to help defray their tax bill. But Teri Ross, the Queensbury assessor and president of the state Assessors Association, told lawmakers her members are "absolutely not" to blame. The problems stemmed from a change in last year's budget that shifted the way STAR tax breaks are paid. Since the program's creation more than a decade ago, it has worked by taking the savings off the top of one's school bill, which usually goes out in September. Homeowners even get a receipt showing how much they have saved under STAR. But last year the rules were changed, retroactive to March 2015: Those who purchased homes after that time get their STAR tax break in the form of a check from the state that is supposed to arrive in the fall. Manion, after the hearing, said they originally estimated 120,000 homeowners would be getting the checks, but 210,000 people have registered. And so far, about 107,000 checks have gone out. The problem is that thousands of people are expecting STAR checks that they aren't entitled to, for a number of reasons. They might have an income above $500,000, which is the cutoff for the program. Or they may have already gotten the exemption from their local school tax bill, even if they purchased their home after March 2015. Or they may be applying for a second home, while STAR is only applicable to a primary residence. Another twist centers on the "enhanced STAR" program, in which seniors over age 65 get an additional reduction as long as their annual income falls below a certain level, which for this year is $84,500. While Manion and Ross may be at odds over the placement of blame, both agreed that the new program has been slow and difficult to implement. "It's a lot of manual work," Manion said after her testimony, referring to the process of checking to make sure people qualify for STAR exemptions. "This whole new program was thrown on us in April, and thrown on them," added Ross. Lawmakers also questioned and criticized a proposal to freeze the savings people get from STAR from one year to the next. It's currently capped at 2 percent per year. Manion's testimony was interrupted when a group of roughly 40 activists streamed past legislative staff to offer Occupy-style speeches and chants on a range of progressive issues from tax-related topics such as the extension or expansion of the "millionaires tax" a surcharge that's slated to sunset at the end of the year to undocumented immigrants' rights, school funding and state support for CUNY and SUNY. "Tax the rich, defend New York!" they chanted as they made their exit after about 10 minutes. They returned about an hour later, prompting Assemblyman Denny Farrell to threaten to lock the hearing room. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU Albany A defendant convicted of possessing cocaine without police finding the drug on him is trying to get his conviction reversed. Norman Whitehead, then of Ellenville, was one of 37 people charged in 2011 with being cocaine dealers and conspirators in what police described as a drug distribution network that funneled narcotics up the East Coast and into the Capital Region. He was convicted in Albany County Court and is serving a total of 23 years in prison. The people arrested were charged in a 278-count indictment in a drug bust nicknamed "Operation Pipeline," a six-month-long investigation led by Albany and Schenectady police, State Police and the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force. Whitehead appealed his conviction because he was never found in possession of any cocaine, and the drug was never tested or weighed. The Appellate Division rejected his claim, and he appealed that decision Tuesday to the Court of Appeals. "I think the case law is clear when it comes to criminal possession cases," Whitehead's attorney, Matthew Hug, told the court. "It sounds like you are arguing they need direct evidence," Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said. "It's extremely thin," he said. Judge Jenny Rivera asked if a wiretap, surveillance and witness testimony would be sufficient to prove a case even without drugs being found on a defendant. "People have been convicted of murder when there is no body," she said. "In this case, it's rank speculation," Hug replied. Prosecutor Lisa Fleischmann said witnesses said Whitehead had sold them cocaine, and they were addicts and dealers familiar with the drug. Two witnesses indicted with Whitehead cooperated and testified against him. "That is legally sufficient evidence that the substance was cocaine," Fleischmann said. The judges will weigh the legal arguments before issuing a ruling. tobrien@timesunion.com 518-454-5092 @timobrientu Washington Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and his fellow Democrats got as close as possible to defeating one of President Donald Trump's cabinet picks Tuesday, but they lost by one vote when the Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Capitol Hill to cast a historic and decisive vote to break a 50-50 tie on the nominee, who stoked controversy over her advocacy for vouchers, and school choice, and for her investments that Democrats characterized as conflicts of interest. But even though two Republicans Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against DeVos, Democrats came up short 51-50. "I thought we had some chance'' to defeat DeVos because she is "so anti-public education,'' Schumer told reporters. "Believe me, we're going to be following all the decisions she makes at the Department of Education.'' White House spokesman Sean Spicer praised DeVos as an advocate-turned-official who "will ensure that every student has access to a good school, whether it's public, private, parochial or charter.'' DeVos becomes the nation's 11th secretary of education. Along with her husband Dick, Michigan-based heir to the Amway fortune, DeVos has given millions to Republican candidates and conservative causes. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also voted against DeVos. "I am astonished by how little she seems to understand the needs of New York's schools, students, and teachers,'' Gillibrand said, adding that DeVos has "vilified public schools.'' She added, "I am disturbed by how out of touch her statements are with New York values.'' In a statement, New York State United Teachers, the union representing 600,000 members in education, human services and health care, called DeVos "a dangerous ideologue with absolutely no experience or qualifications'' to lead the U.S. Department of Education. "Her opposition to accountability for charter schools; unresolved conflicts of interest; and decades-long record of using her family's fortune to undermine public education led hundreds of groups and millions of Americans here in New York and across the country to vigorously oppose her confirmation,'' the union said. "We are proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with them in defense of our public schools.'' After the vote, Schumer shrugged off the near miss on DeVos the one nominee of President Donald Trump that political odds makers looked upon as a possible demonstration of Democrats' clout on Capitol Hill. "We have an obligation, even if we don't win, to show the American people who these nominees are because they're going to have enormous power over the American people,'' Schumer said. "And once we set the table (by arguing that) DeVos is against public education, it will serve to put a magnifying glass on her when she makes decisions.'' On Wednesday, the Senate is expected to vote on another controversial Trump nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama to be attorney general. Times Union education writer Bethany Bump contributed. dan@hearstdc.com Washington For the third time, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., introduced signature legislation that both have championed: the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act. The measure, known as the FAMILY Act, would create a national fund to provide workers with 66 percent wage-replacement for 12 weeks per year in case of birth, adoption, recovery from serious illness or caring for an ill relative. The money for the fund would come from contributions from both employers and employees, but the average employees would only have to pay $1.50 a week. Gillibrand introduced the bill in the Senate with support from other Democratic senators including Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut. "As a working mom,'' Gillibrand said, she understands how the absence of paid leave presents families "with an awful choice that no American family should have to make. They either quit their job and lose their income or be by their family member's side.'' She spoke on a press call with DeLauro and several family leave advocates. DeLauro recounted her often-told story of dealing with ovarian cancer while working as chief of staff to former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. At the time of her diagnosis in 1986, she was able to obtain leave from Dodd's office. DeLauro said she didn't want paid leave to be a benefit for just a few fortunate congressional staffers. It "should be a fundamental right of all Americans,'' she said. Josh Elliott, who owns a business and represents Hamden, Conn., in the state assembly, said businesses must help their workers because "they are the ones who make it all possible." He also said results from states that already have family paid leave show that it does not affect the competitive edge of a small business. Gillibrand said data from California showed 87 percent saw no increase in their expenses, and 91 percent saw an overall positive effect from paid family leave. Both Gillibrand and DeLauro have introduced paid family leave three times in the House and the Senate. But it remains to be seen whether they'll get any traction this year with both Capitol Hill and the White House in Republican hands. But President Donald Trump talked about maternity paid leave in his campaign, and his daughter, Ivanka, also favors it. But the Gillibrand-DeLauro measure also focuses on other categories of workers in need of leave apart from maternity. Gillibrand characterized paid family leave as "not a Democrat or Republican issue.'' She added, "It affects people in all states.'' laura.lindarte@hearstdc.com On this date in ... 1917: The local Associated Press office received a cablegram from Berlin stating that prominent Albany natives and mother and daughter Mary and Ciara Schneider would be staying in the German capital city despite the continuing war. The women had been living in Germany for three years to accomplish the younger Schneider's goal of pursuing a special course in foreign languages at a prestigious university in Berlin. War forced the closure of the school, but they decided to remain for the time being. 1967: Residents of Albany would join millions of people in 127 countries to unite in prayers on Feb. 10, the World Day of Prayer. Sponsored locally by the United Church Women, there would be six services in Albany at Emanuel Baptist Church, the Albany Guardian Society, the Albany Lutheran Home and Albany Memorial Hospital, and two services at Trinity Methodist Church. 1992: Don Bigsby of Schenectady flew off to France, beginning his quest for gold at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville. The 51-year-old phone company engineer also was on a mission for silver, bronze, brass, plastic, enamel, cloisonne and any other piece of Olympic memorabilia he could get his hands on. Bigsby was among the world's foremost collectors of Olympic pins those ubiquitous insignias that festooned caps and coats every four years and he was always on the make for more material. Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/. Troy A Rensselaer County Court jury went home Wednesday night after starting deliberations in a Nassau man's vehicular homicide trial. Edward Ferguson, 28, was indicted by a county grand jury for allegedly driving while drunk into the path of an oncoming car at Routes 66 and 20 in Nassau in 2015, killing his passenger, Christopher Sharley of West Sand Lake on his birthday. Judge Debra Young told the jury to return to the courthouse at 9 a.m. Thursday to resume deliberations. The trial is in its second week. The 19-count indictment included six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two DWI counts and one count each of first-degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree manslaughter, third-degree assault and reckless driving, driving while impaired and other charges. Terry Metcalf, 47, of Scotia, the driver of the other vehicle, was injured. Ferguson was hospitalized with a fractured spine and cuts, troopers said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Schenectady The driver pulls up in front of the entrance to Rivers Casino and Resort in a shiny black stretch limousine, rolls down the driver's side window, and stares into the camera offering advice that both makes you laugh and scratch your head. "Don't just go out. Don't just go out. Cable goes out. Go live," the driver says in a deadpan manner in one of the 30-second spots. He then rolls the window back up before the spot cuts to rapid-fire shots of smiling people playing table games, dining and dancing on the casino floor. Danny Brockdorf, Rivers Casino and Resort's vice president of marketing, recently explained the concept behind those commercials. "When you go to a place and you're new to that area, whether it's a taxi driver or a limo driver, they're the person you're asking for advice, you're asking them where to go," he said. "Those commercials signify just that, the limo driver is giving you that wisdom, which is why we call them 'window dropping wisdom' of 'hey, maybe change what you're doing and try something new.' " He said the commercials are the "focal point of our 'get out and live a lot' brand and that's really what we want our guests to do." Brockdorf said the spots, conceived by casino staff and an advertising firm, have mostly received positive feedback. The $330 million casino on Erie Boulevard opens at noon Wednesday. It features a 50,000-square-foot gambling hall with 66 table games and 1,150 slot machines, operated by Rush Street Gaming of Chicago. pnelson@timesunion.com 518-454-5347 @apaulnelson This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The State Police posted the mug shots and descriptions of 10 people in a weekly social media round-up Wednesday, including two Capital Region cases. April M. Oathout, whose last know address is Troy, is wanted for criminal possession of a forged instrument. In 2014, she was arrested after cashing a bogus and forged payroll check for $486.36, troopers said. She failed to appear at her court date and the Town of Schodack Court issued a warrant for her arrest. Symphony D. Wright is wanted for criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. On Sept. 14, Wright was traveling on the state Thruway in Albany when troopers stopped her for a traffic violation and found her with illegal pills and marijuana, State Police said. Anyone with information should call the State Police at (518) 732-4644 or email Crimetip@troopers.ny.gov. Civilians should not take any actions beside contacting police. Troopers are also seeking eight other defendants on the following charges: Ronald C. Edwards is wanted for endangering the welfare of a child, criminal trespass and resisting arrest. The Town of Paris Court issued a bench warrant on May 2 for failure to appear in court regarding the January 2006 charges. Recarlo L. King is wanted by State Police and the Town of Malone Court on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court on Aug. 25. The original charge is public lewdness. On June 26, King engaged in sexual acts in a public place in the Malone area, State Police said. He was released on an appearance ticket and never appeared in court. Richard L. Darlin is wanted for grand larceny and criminal mischief. State Police in Oneonta said he stole property while staying at a home in Otego in March 2014. The items included a car, power tools, coins and cash. On April 16, 2014, the Town of Otego Court issued a warrant for his arrest. Paul L. Nikola is wanted for grand larceny by State Police in Wappingers and the City of Beacon Court following a fraud investigation in 2013. Nikola was arrested in a check cashing scheme. The City of Beacon Court issued a warrant ordering Nikola's arrest when he failed to appear for court proceedings. Vincent Clark Jr. is wanted for burglary. He was arrested for numerous burglaries in the Liberty area. Clark left behind DNA evidence during his burglaries, troopers said. Clark failed to return to court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest from Sullivan County Court. He also is wanted by the Monticello Police and Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. Tamar R. Wynn is wanted for driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operator, and multiple vehicle and traffic charges. State Police and the Town of Niagara Court want him on a bench warrant for failure to pay for seven tickets and for a DWI arrest. He was arrested Dec. 3, 2011 and has failed to pay fines. In June of 2012, a warrant was issued. Tyler Martin is wanted for driving while ability impaired by drugs and aggravated unlicensed operation on a City of Rochester bench warrant. Martin was arrested after being stopped for moving from lane unsafely in Rochester. Sean Vaniyapurakal, whose last known address was in Massapequa, is wanted for driving while intoxicated and traffic violations by State Police and Nassau County First District Court. Vaniyapurakal was stopped for traffic violations while driving a blue Jaguar on the Southern State Parkway in 2015 and arrested. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If artistic ability is inherited, Alex Velasquez, 14, probably has the gene. The Reading Junior High eighth-grader, whose mother and older sisters are painters, won best of show in the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District annual art competition with her "Monroe Flower," a Prismacolor. Students worked about 2 months on their projects after choosing from the photos displayed on a counter by Monica Arratia, Reading Junior High art teacher. Alex, who worked on her artwork at home over winter break, found detailing the grass most challenging. "I loved to do the fur," she said, explaining she used different colors "to make it look real." Velasquez's honor also excited Lisa Horsch, the Pink Elementary art teacher who owns Monroe and saved the mule from slaughter. "Thank you for drawing my mule," Horsch told Velasquez at the Jan. 24 district reception to recognize the student artists. "It's so beautiful." She was excited that Monroe went from the kill pen to the spotlight in the art show. "My jaw dropped when I saw my Monroe with the sunflowers It was just amazing!" wrote Horsch in an email. "I cannot believe a junior kiddo can draw like that!" Alex said she's been involved with art since elementary school where she won blue ribbons in second and fourth grades. More Information LAMAR CISD art winners Foster High School: Michael-David Archibong best of show for his painting "If Scout Could Talk;" Katelyn Clack gold medal for her painting "Watchful Eyes;" Alexander Chulzhanov gold medal for his monochromatic drawing "Flank Rider:" Dylan Rolon special merit for his colored drawing "The Dilemma;" Chloe Marcheli special merit for her colored drawing "Domino Twins;" Sonali Puri special merit for her mixed medium "Violet;" and Xienna Khim, special merit for her mixed medium "White Gold." George Ranch High School: Lauren Buchwalter special merit for her colored drawing "El Vaquo y el Caballo Bonito;" Gabriela Salazar special merit for her colored drawing "Belleza Negra;" Timmy Tran special merit for his monochromatic drawing "Play it Again Larry;" Gracie Liang special merit for her colored drawing "Picture Perfect Sunrise." Reading Junior High: Alex Velasquez best of show for her painting "Monroe Flower;" and Maria Ospina gold medial for "The New Girl." Jane Long Elementary: Rylan Ricklefson best of show for "Rooster on the Roof." Adolphus Elementary: Jared Hubbell gold medal for "Paradise in the Pasture." See More Collapse Her mother Jennifer Lynn Richter studied art in high school and helps her focus. Prismacolor is a favorite medium for Velasquez, though now she's learning watercolor in class, too. "She definitely excels at Photo Realism via Prismacolor pencil," said Arratia. "This year she learned how to draw from a grid, by first learning how to compose her own photograph. She is also very focused and does not let others distract her from her work. She tends to be quiet during class, however, as soon as the bell rings for dismissal she still enjoys laughter and the company of her friends. I admire that she knows how to keep work and leisure separate from each other ... which is why she is probably so successful." Alex sees art playing a role in her future, and Arratia thinks it should. This is the second year Arratia has taught Alex, who is the third sister in the family that she's had in class. "In seventh grade, she drew very well. Now, she's the hardest worker in the class," said Arratia, praising her work ethic. She should be proud of her work; she doesn't know how good she is, added Arratia, who said Alex deserves to have won best of show. Also earning Best of Show honors were Long Elementary School fourth-grader Rylan Ricklefson for "Rooster on the Roof," and Foster High School junior Michael-David Archibong for "If Scout Could Talk." Ricklefson has won a ribbon each year she's entered the rodeo art competition, said Janis Knuckols, Jane Long Elementary art teacher. Because of winning Best of Show, she is able to apply for the Glassell School summer art camp, for which Knuckols wrote her a letter of recommendation. "She is always eager to try new mediums and brings an interesting perspective to her work. She knew she wanted to draw an animal for her rodeo art piece, and we looked at many books and pictures before deciding on the rooster. Mainly, Rylan says, because she wanted to use LOTS of color in the feathers," said Knuckols. Artwork by elementary and junior high students will be displayed at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Archibong's artwork again will advance to the HLS&R to compete with other student artists for scholarship funds and a place in the art show auction set to begin at noon Sunday, March 19. Visit www.rodeohouston.com/Educational-Support/School-Art-Program for more information. Archibong won best of show in the district's art contest last year, too, after winning a finalist ribbon his freshman year, said Melanie Coffee, Foster High School art teacher. Each year at Foster High School, Archibong has chosen a different medium. His freshman year, he did a monochromatic piece for rodeo art. Last year's "Three of Kind" was entered in the mixed-media class because it was a combination of Prismacolor colored pencils and chalk pastels. "Three of a Kind" sold at the 2016 HLS&R School Art Auction for $20,000. This year, he chose oil paint for his medium. His first oil painting is of a cowboy on his horse based on a photo that Coffee took on the Kokernut 06 Ranch near Fort Davis. Coffee said the cowboy's name is Randy Glover and his horse is named Scout. "Michael loved the idea of the two being constant companions who have seen and done a lot of things on the ranch, hence the title of the painting," explained Coffee. "Winning Best of Show again at the Lamar CISD level is just another step in Michael's quest to keep growing as an artist. He has a true passion for art, specifically portraits, and Michael is sought after here at Foster HS by peers and teachers alike to draw and paint pieces for them. Michael often uses the simplest materials like crayons and markers, ink pens, and old paint to bring his drawings to life." Students from Foster, which opened in 2001, have a long history of success at the HLS&R. "Nola Graham and Kimberly Henry were the art teachers at the time and they cultivated many successful high school artists over the first decade," said Coffee, who is friends with Henry. Graham has since retired and Henry is back after a four-year stint in Brenham and Katy school districts. "We share a passion for seeing kids grow their talent and experiment with different media. Of the Foster HS students recognized at our district show, four of them are in my classes and three of them are in Henry's classes, but we both have played a part in the success of all seven!" FORT WORTH Doing more with less to fund the next farm bill program was a recurring theme at the recent Southwest Ag Issues Summit in Fort Worth. Leaders from all major commodity groups throughout Texas and national representatives converged for two days of discussion leading up to what is anticipated to be a new farm bill program adopted by Congress in 2018. This is the first meeting of this next farm bill cycle, said Dr. Joe Outlaw, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist in College Station. This is where all the ag community in Texas comes together and gets the same set of facts from experts across the country so they can start thinking about what they want to ask for that would be best for Texas agriculture producers. At this time, the amount of money will be less. What we are talking about is whats the most efficient use of limited funds. Policies made today will possibly impact the next three to five years of how farmers and ranchers make decisions, said Dr. Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director. Reliable, trusted information on which to make these decisions will be critical to their success. AgriLife Extension is pleased to partner with many of the influential organizations and individuals who will assist in developing our national farm and ranch policies. As it stands, experts say not to count on any new money flowing into the next farm bill as it is under budget by several billion dollars. Thats a big deal, said Outlaw, who will be part of a panel of economists discussing forecasts and outlooks for U.S. farms. What you are trying to do with the safety net is provide last line of defense before major bankruptcies. When theres less money available that safety net has to be a little lower, so things have to get a little worse before government help (begins). High input costs have eroded thin profit margins, according to economists, and three years of low commodity prices have made it tough for farmers. Theres a lot of stress right now on agriculture producers, said Dr. Travis Miller, AgriLife Extension state operations interim director, College Station. The bills (to produce) crops are not getting any lower and government assistance is less. The Fort Worth summit featured opening remarks by U.S. House Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Midland. Im looking forward to working with you over the next two years in getting a good farm bill, Conaway said. Im committed to being a best friend to Americas farmers and ranchers. Agriculture has been under attack. Farmers and ranchers are hurting right now as farm incomes have been on a three-year decline. These are hard times in farm country right now. We need to make sure to get this new farm bill right. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who recently spent two-and-a-half days touring West Texas agricultural operations, said, A lot of farmers and ranchers in Texas are hurting after three years of low commodity prices. He said regulatory reform, particularly changes in the EPA, will lead to dramatically changing the agency and repealing many different acts. Notably, Cruz mentioned WOTUS or Waters of the United States, which defines the EPAs jurisdiction over navigable waters in the U.S. The rule has been one of contention for the nations farmers and ranchers and the water that is on the surface of the land they own. Cruz also noted he will pursue tax reform, which will lead to jobs and economic growth both in Texas and nationally. Cruz, who has campaigned for a flat tax, reemphasized those intentions during the summit. Jobs and economic growth have been the focus of my campaign since day one, he said. Tax and regulatory reform are two keys He is calling for a 16 percent tax on businesses, abolishing the estate tax, which would help family farms, and setting a 10 percent tax rate on families. If you buy a new combine, under my plan you would be able to expense all of that from day one instead of amortizing that over several years, he said. This would encourage you to invest capital, creating jobs. Cruz also discussed repealing Obamacare, which he said would help restore job growth on farms and ranches across the nation. Summit speakers also focused on the new challenges that lie ahead for agriculture with President Donald Trump, a new administration and agenda items, including trade. Price outlook (for commodities) is considerably lower on into 2020, said Dr. Parr Rosson, AgriLife Extension economist and head of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M. When you look at yields it leans very strong upward. Farmers need to continue to produce higher yields to cover for low prices. A strong dollar is sending positive price signals to Brazil and Argentina. Its important for coalition building with producers, environment and society to produce safe food at reasonable prices. The summit is hosted by the Southwest Council of Agribusiness and the Texas Ag Forum, a program in partnership with AgriLife Extension. Madison County has appropriated funds to help with the construction of the roundabout at the intersection of Route 162 and Keebler Road in Maryville. At the last regular meeting of the Maryville Board of Trustees, it was announced that the county will pay $228,783 towards the project. The money will come from the countys Matching Tax Fund to finance the countys share of the project. The $1.5 million project is aimed at improving safety at the dangerous intersection. In September, 2016, Mayor Larry Gulledge announced the project would receive federal funds through the East-West Gateway Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program. The project will receive approximately $900,000 in federal funds. Plans call for the construction of a roundabout intersection. A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic flows almost continuously in one direction around a central island. The Maryville Board recently entered into a contract with Juneau Associates for pre-construction engineering services. The village is responsible for costs associated with easement and right-of-way acquisition and engineering costs, Gulledge said. He added that now that the funding is in place, planning will begin. Now we will begin the process of working with the engineers on drawing up the plans for the project and submitting them to the Illinois Department of Transportation for approval, he said. The first steps will be to begin looking at any right-of-way or easement acquisitions that might be needed. Gulledge said its is a long process and doesnt anticipate any actual construction work starting this year. The East-West Gateway Council for Governments is a regional, quasi-governmental organization made up of county representatives from both Illinois and Missouri. The organizations Transportation Improvement Program is a financial and implementation schedule for projects receiving federal transportation funding in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Projects identified in the plan are prioritized from, and must be consistent with, the regions 20-year long-range transportation plan. A former Port Arthur city employee who claims she was terminated last summer because of her race and in retaliation for speaking out about her hostile work environment is suing the city for lost wages and "emotional distress," according to a petition filed earlier this month. Debra Ambroise, 55,was terminated in July from her position in the Port Arthur Transit Department after she was arrested on felony charges of theft by a public servant and tampering with a government record. Ambroise's supervisor alleged she falsified her payroll records to receive nearly $900 in compensation she wasn't owed, according to police reports. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate State praise is raining down on Leadership Montgomery County for its water conservation efforts. The Texas Water Development Board presented the "All-Star" Rain Catcher Award to State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe on behalf of the LMC class of 2014 at the Water for Texas 2017 Conference in Austin Jan. 24. The LMC class previously won a 2014 Texas Rain Catcher Award in May 2015 for a series of local rainwater harvesting systems installed in 2014 upon nomination by the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. This time, the "Harvesting the Rain" project was selected as an all-star from among nearly 40 entities that have received the Rain Catcher Award since 2007, according to Texas Water Development Board Member Kathleen Jackson. The program was established to promote technology, educate the public, and to recognize excellence in the application of rain-water harvesting systems in Texas, according to TWDB. "Not only did the Class of 2014 select a project that they as individuals would learn from, but they also made community outreach and engagement a top priority," Jackson said in a statement. "This group of leaders enabled their community to benefit from the installation of rainwater collection systems and educational initiatives, leaving a legacy for future generations and encouraging other businesses and community centers to follow suit. Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2014's project exemplifies a true all-star rainwater harvesting project, and the Texas Water Development Board is proud to have presented this special award to them." The LMC class is made up of over 40-plus county business and community leaders who chose the preservation project as part of its annual effort to benefit the community. "I was honored to accept the All-Star Rain Catcher Award from the Texas Water Development Board tonight on behalf of the Leadership Montgomery County Class of 2014," Metcalf wrote via Facebook. "Our class established three rainwater harvesting systems throughout Montgomery County. Congratulations to my fellow classmates and board of the LMC Class of 2014 for this award. I'm proud to be an LMC alumni." The LMC class set up a kid-friendly 500-gallon rainwater harvesting tank at Oak Ridge Elementary; a 1,000-gallon tank at Bear Branch Sportsfields in The Woodlands; and a third project at the North Montgomery County Community Center in Willis. Willis City Manager Hector Forestier was the chair of the class of 2014. He said the rainwater, such as from rain gutters, is collected into a tank and then dispersed through a drip system for irrigation through landscaping at each of the sites. "It's extremely beneficial especially in Montgomery County which has had problems with water shortages," Forestier said. "It's neat to see people with this system to irrigate their yards." LMC Executive Director Sarah Rhea is thrilled to see the class honored for their hard work and their dedication to making a difference for years to come. "With this award, the legacy of their project has reached far beyond Montgomery County with more and more people learning how they can make a difference with water conservation," Rhea said. Kathy Turner Jones, LSGCD general manager, said bringing home the All-Star accolade is a big win for LMC alumni and Montgomery County as a whole. "We'd really crossed our fingers upon nominating the 2014 Leadership Montgomery County class for the Texas Rain Catcher Award. They'd invested a great deal of time and energy into these rain harvesting systems," Jones said in a statement. "We were thrilled they ended up winning it." Still, for the same group to now receive the All-Star Rain Catcher Award, on top of the original award, is a real testament to just how far-reaching of an impact such projects, when executed well, can potentially be, Jones said. LSGCD Education and Public Awareness Coordinator James Ridgway Jr. echoed Jones' sentiment. "As educational displays, these rain harvesters continue to engage the public, young and old, on a water conservation technique older than recorded history," Ridgway said in a statement. "It makes me think of the saying-from little acorns, mighty oaks do grow." For more information, visit Harvesting the Rain Project at LoneStarGCD.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office asked a judge Tuesday to set a Sept. 21 execution date for Larry Swearingen, the Willis man sentenced to death for murdering a teenage Montgomery College student in 1998. But Swearingen's attorney thinks an ongoing civil rights suit on his case should be decided before any execution date is even suggested. Swearingen was sentenced to death in 2000 for murdering Melissa Trotter, an 18-year-old Montgomery College student. Trotter went missing Dec. 8, 1998, and was found dead in the Sam Houston National Forest north of LakeConroe. FROM HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Swearingen has dodged execution 5 times After years of appellate fights over post-conviction DNA testing, Swearingen filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state of Texas in October 2016 claiming he should be entitled to that DNA testing. Swearingen sought testing on Trotter's sexual assault collection kit; hairs recovered from her body, the gloves used to move her body and a hairbrush found on the ground near her body; all hairs collected from her clothing; the ligature and the pantyhose used to strangle Trotter, among other evidence his appellate attorneys believe contain biological evidence that has not been tested. "It's premature to even have filed this motion," said Swearingen's attorney James Rytting, adding that he plans on filing a motion opposing the fall execution date sometime soon. The execution date motion will be decided upon by visiting Judge J.D. Langley in the 9th state District Court. Judge Phil Grant, having previously worked on the Swearingen case during his time with the DA's Office, was recused from the case in June 2016. But the DA's Appellate Division Chief Bill Delmore said the September date was appropriate and intentionally selected. "A September date will provide sufficient time to allow a resolution of the civil suit," Delmore said. "I have not found anything that suggested the existence of an appeal from the denial of a DNA motion should preclude going forward on an execution date. I've even seen cases in which the Court of Criminal Appeals has denied a stay (of execution) even when there's an appeal from the denial of a motion for DNA testing pending." As for the DNA testing, then-9th state District Court Judge Kelly Case approved the testing in August 2014. But subsequent appeals filed by Montgomery County prosecutors blocked it all the way to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Rytting appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court in February 2016, which refused to hear the case in October 2016. Swearingen has dodged four execution dates in 2007, 2009, 2011 and most recently in 2013 that were all stayed by the Court of Criminal Appeals. He's been in and out of the appellate process for more than a decade, including four previous motions for DNA testing which lost their momentum in appeals courts each time. For Melissa Trotter's family, the September date cannot come soon enough. "We're definitely ready to be done with all this judicial process," Melissa's mother Sandy Trotter said. "It hinders all of us from healing as we just keep remembering all the bad that happened to Melissa. It's unfinished business yet. It's not going to bring Melissa back. We're never going to have her. But it'd be better to remember the good memories than all this stuff that happened Dec. 8, 1998." Langley had yet to rule on Delmore's motion as of Tuesday evening, court records show. Swearingen's federal case in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Texas has yet to be resolved. In an opinion in October 2015 reversing Judge Case's DNA ruling, the Court of Criminal Appeals referred back to previous rulings it and lower appellate courts had made in Swearingen's case. In the October 2015 ruling, they said Rytting's motion did not meet the five-pronged requirement for green-lighting DNA tests in the appellate phase as outlined in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Instead, the CCA denied Swearingen's appeal on the basis that he did not provide new information that would show the DNA evidence would prove his innocence. The court's concurring opinion also referenced a "mountain of evidence" that originally convicted Swearingen in 2000. Delmore called the evidence "overwhelming" in Tuesday's motion. NEW CANAAN New Canaanites have reason to feel encouraged going into budget season. The list of total taxable property, the towns grand list, was up to $8.3 billion in 2016, based on preliminary numbers, a total increase of $80,660,112 over 2015. Thats a potentially good sign for those with their eyes on the towns mill rate. What you want to see as the leader of a town is the value of the towns assets increasing, and thats what were seeing. It tells me the town is growing, that people are willing to invest, are enjoying the town and are considering moving into town, First Selectman Robert Mallozzi III said. The grand list is one of several factors used to calculate the towns mill rate. As the Grand List climbs, there is, in theory, less pressure to up the mill rate. The mill rate based on the 2015 grand list numbers was set at 16.312, which would mean $16.312 in taxes for each $1,000 of assessed value. Taxes were collected at a rate of 98 percent, according to the tax collectors office. Mallozzi, however, suggested the relationship between the grand list and the towns mill rate is tenuous. Im not sure the grand list has much effect on the mill rate. Its more important as a psychological factor pointing to the towns health, Mallozzi explained. This years Grand List represents just under a 1 percent increase. The top taxpayer account is New Canaan Country Club, assessed at $28.4 million. More Information Any assessment appeals must be made to the Board of Assessment Appeals on or before Feb. 21. To make an appeal, visit newcanaan.info. Top 10 Taxpayer Accounts: 1. Country Club of New Canaan, $28,490,770 2. Connecticut Light and Power, $27,967,510 3. Town Close Associates Ltd Partner, $25,316,200 4. New Canaan Lumber Co, $16,453,220 5. Kenneth G. Tropin Trustee, $15,760,850 6. JR Silverberg Realty LLC, $13,878,410 7. Financial Services Vehicle Trust, $13,298,460 8. Aquarion Water Company, $13,259,260 9. Simon Edward Trustee, $12,367,950 10. Forest Street Properties LLC, $11,997,580 See More Collapse Connecticut Light and Power and Aquarion Water Company were assessed at $27.9 million and $13.2 million, respectively. Assessed motor vehicle value was up $6.4 million. Personal property value was up $325,060, and real estate value was up $73.8 million. The towns growth is especially important, Mallozzi said, because of the ongoing financial woes in Hartford. Thats significant because when you have a state in the financial trouble that Connecticut is, the fact that people have so much more confidence in towns like New Canaan and want to invest and raise families really says a lot, Mallozzi said. Were doing this alone. We dont have a healthy state helping us attract people. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1 NORWALK Public health officials in and around Norwalk are frowning upon a proposal to regionalize Connecticuts health departments and districts. Under the plan, rolled out by by Connecticut Health Commissioner Raul Pino last fall, 72 local health departments/districts would be integrated into nine regional health districts whose boundaries would match existing regional planning organizations. For Norwalk, the new boundaries would be those of the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, which represents 18 towns and cities from Greenwich to the Housatonic Valley. Timothy J. Callahan, Norwalks director of public health, said he supports regionalization but not as proposed by Pino. Theyre looking at this from a form rather than a function perspective, said Callahan, who prefers another approach. We have a national accreditation program (where) health departments should follow or meet the standards that are set in that program. My approach is tell the towns youve got to meet them and then let them figure out how they want to get there. Since June 2014, the Norwalk Health Department has been accredited through the Public Health Accreditation Board. That means the department meets or exceeds national public health standards and continuously works to improve its services. Public Health Integration More Information Proposed Regional Health Districts Western Greater Bridgeport Capitol Region Lower CT Valley Naugatuck Valley Southeastern Northeastern Northwest Hills South Central See More Collapse Since unveiling the Public Health Integration proposal last fall, Pino has held four regional meetings New Haven, Hartford, Old Lyme and Bridgeport to present the plan and get feedback from municipal leaders and local health officials. Maura Downes, director of communications at the Connecticut Department of Health, said the department has made changes to the proposal based upon such feedback. For example, the department moved from county to council-of-government boundaries and changed the funding mechanism from a percentage of municipal budgets to a per-capita cost based upon the needs of the district. Last week, the department submitted a legislative proposal to the General Assemblys Public Health Committee for consideration. We will also continue to meet with local and state officials to listen to their concerns and as we work toward a mutual goal of providing all Connecticut residents with local access to full-time public health services in an effective, cost-efficient manner and allows the State and its local health partners to better address our health disparities, Downs said. According to Pino, Connecticuts public health system is fragmented and 172,123 residents lack access to full-time public health services. The plan, if implemented, would promote equity, better secure local and federal grants, improve responses to public health threats and emergencies, and provide every Connecticut resident access to full-time public health services, according to Pino. All full-time employees would become district employees and retain their rights and benefits in the pension system of the municipalities where that are employed. During the transition period, a local health agency would be appointed for each of the nine new districts. Each district would have governing and executive boards including community representatives. To help fund the new district, the state would provide a per-capita grant of $1.85 per person. Each municipality within a district would contribute on a per capita basis to address population health needs. Not won over Mark Cooper, director of the Westport Weston Health District, noted that United Health Foundation last year ranked Connecticut as the nations third-healthiest state. Hawaii was at the top. He said Massachusetts, which ranked second, has 328 different health jurisdictions. He sees no need for further regionalization. This is a statewide initiative to basically undue the current public health system and consolidate all the funding and public health authority in a regional concept of government, Cooper said. New Canaan Health Director David Reed fears, among other things, that the plan would send the towns two sanitarians far afield and bring in outside sanitarians who are unfamiliar with local restaurants and inspections. While the New Canaan relies upon help from outside its borders, such help comes from nearby, he said. I had a tuberculosis case, I had one of the infectious disease nurses from Norwalk come out, Reed said. Regionalization has been pursued before. A decade ago, a plan to merge the New Canaan and Norwalk health departments won legislative approval in New Canaan but not in Norwalk. Reed and Callahan supported that proposal but see no parallels to whats on the table now. This is eight or 10 times the scope, Reed said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Senate narrowly confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary on Tuesday, with Vice President Pence casting a historic tie-breaking vote after senators deadlocked over her fitness for the job. Two Republicans joined 48 Democrats in the unsuccessful effort to derail the nomination of the wealthy Republican donor. The Senate historian said Pence's vote was the first by a vice president to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination. >> See President Trump's other cabinet picks in the slideshow above. Democrats cited her lack of public school experience and financial interests in organizations pushing charter schools. DeVos has said she would divest herself from those organizations. Despite the win, DeVos emerges bruised from the highly divisive nomination process. She has faced criticism, even ridicule for her stumbles and confusion during her confirmation hearing and scathing criticism from teachers unions and civil rights activists over her support of charter schools and her conservative religious beliefs. But President Donald Trump remained uncompromising and accused Democrats for seeking to torpedo education progress. In a tweet before the vote, he wrote "Betsy DeVos is a reformer, and she is going to be a great Education Sec. for our kids!" Both of Texas's Republican U.S. Senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, voted for DeVos. "Power over education should be handed back down to the states, so that parents and teachers can choose how best to accomplish our universal goal of making sure every child has a good education," Cornyn said in a Facebook post Monday. "Ms. DeVos will lead this effort, so that parents, teachers and our local school districts will have a greater role in these important decisions." In a statement released Tuesday, Cruz called DeVos' confirmation "welcome news." "DeVos brings decades of remarkable experience advocating for policies and programs that empower families and remove barriers to academic choice. Most importantly, she will fight to take power away from the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., and return it to where it belongs - to parents and teachers back home in our local school districts," Cruz said. While DeVos and her family have given money to many of the Republican senators who voted for her, including Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., she has given to neither Texas senator. Louis Ackerman, a founding member of Southeast Texas Progressives, said he is "disappointed and dismayed at the confirmation." The group encouraged members to call Cruz and Cornyn before the vote to ask them to vote against her. Ackerman said he was hopeful Cornyn would change his mind but was not surprised when he did not. Beaumont's State Board of Education member David Bradley said criticism of DeVos' experience is irrelevant and said Democrats "aren't really looking at a person's qualifications, they're simply trying to be obstructionists." "I don't think having worked in public education is a qualification any more than being dead to work on the Texas Funeral (Service Commission), or being an alcoholic to be on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission," Bradley said. Emotions ran high ahead of the vote as constituents jammed senators' phone lines with calls and protesters gathered outside the Capitol, including one person in a grizzly bear costume to ridicule DeVos' comment during her confirmation hearing that some schools might want guns to protect against grizzlies. Her opponents also charge that DeVos has no experience to run public schools, having never attended one or sent her children to a public school. DeVos has provided few details about her policy agenda, but she is sure to have a busy job. She will have to weigh in on the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act and possibly undo some of the previous administration's regulation initiatives on school accountability and spending, which have been criticized by Republicans as federal overreach. DeVos will also have to react to Trump's campaign proposal of funneling $20 billion of public funds toward school vouchers. Voucher programs, which provide funding to parents to pay for private schools or other educational expenses outside of public school, have gained support from many Texas politicians, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. DeVos has backed vouchers for years, leading a failed 2000 ballot initiative to establish them in Michigan and funding candidates and campaigns who support them since then. Bradley called DeVos' promotion of school choice "her strongest suit," and said vouchers will act as scholarships for students to access private schools. "It may help the state of Texas in its initiative to provide for scholarships for historically disadvantaged kids to have access to a private school system," he said. With support at the state and federal level for charter and private schools, he expects to see an increase in both in Southeast Texas. Critics say vouchers will leave public schools underfunded and trap poor students who can't make up the difference between vouchers and private school tuition, in underfunded schools. The use of taxpayer money for religious education with less government oversight and monitoring has raised concern as well. In addition to DeVos, Republicans hope to confirm a series of other divisive nominees this week: Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, GOP Rep. Tom Price of Georgia as health secretary and financier Steven Mnuchin as treasury secretary. In each case Democrats intend to use the maximum time allowed under the Senate's arcane rules to debate the nominations, which may result in late-night votes this week and delay Mnuchin's approval until Saturday. Republicans complain that previous presidents have been able to put their Cabinets in place more quickly. Democrats say it's Trump's fault because many of his nominees have complicated financial arrangements and ethical entanglements they claim they have not had enough time to dissect. Thus far, six Cabinet and high-level officials have been confirmed, including the secretaries of state, defense, homeland security and transportation. Maria Danilova works for The Associated Press. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz United Way has partnered with 30 local nonprofits and SVSU to form Midland County Hunger Connections a collaborative designed to reduce barriers for the hungry. The goal of the group is to engage existing food security partners to foster ideas in which to collaborate to leverage resources, ensuring non-duplication of services. In collaboration with SVSU, a survey was conducted and the results assisted in illustrating our communitys food security needs and determining how our community can improve access. The results of the survey show that food security, the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, is an ongoing struggle for our neighbors in Midland County. One in three households in Midland County struggle to meet basic needs, forcing them to make the difficult decision between paying bills or purchasing food for their family. Many of these families, adults and seniors fall in the ALICE population, (Asset limited, income constrained, employed). ALICE households have an annual income that is higher than the U.S. poverty level, but their total annual earnings arent enough to meet the basic cost of living for the county they live in. Combined, the number of households in poverty and ALICE equals the total population struggling to afford basic needs. This represents 32 percent of households in Midland County. Food security is an issue for 59.2 percent of ALICE households in Midland County. Since these households dont qualify for government assistance programs, they often have to make the difficult decision of paying for housing, utilities and transportation over purchasing enough food for their families. These families, adults and seniors above the poverty line but still struggling to meet basic needs, dont always ask for help with food insecurity. In fact, up to 30 percent of those in need are not utilizing resources that are available to them. Thats why United Way of Midland County and 211 NE Michigan are teaming up with area agencies to assist those in need of food resources to raise awareness of food insecurity as well as resources in Midland County. The solution to access is simplecall 211 and their helpful team will guide callers to the resources that can help. In the next month, a social media awareness campaign will be launched centering on the simple message: Dont go without. In this campaign, United Way of Midland County and 211 Northeast Michigan will continue to provide information on the issue of food security and encourage those in need to call 211. To learn more about the issue of food security in Midland County and the hunger collaborative working to provide resources for families, seniors and adults, call 211 or visit www.unitedwaymidland.org Results from the 2016 Food Security Survey can be found at unitedwaymidland.org/hungerconnections Wayland Baptist University welcomes Bruce Ammons, the author of Conquering Debt Gods Way, as the guest speaker for the Willson Lectures at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Harral Memorial Auditorium. Ammons, a Wayland graduate, is a pastor at Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land. He has presented the live Conquering Debt Gods Way seminar at more than 500 churches in 24 states. Ammons will speak during Waylands regular chapel service on Wednesday and will host a question-and-answer session over lunch immediately following the chapel service in Room 211 of the University Center. al franken Less than one month into the new administration, the Washington, DC, political-pundit class is already trying to read the tea leaves to see who might be the strongest candidate to take on President Donald Trump. And increasingly, some of the nation's highest-profile commentators are speculating about one slightly unconventional pick: Sen. Al Franken. On Monday, The Washington Post published a blog post titled "Why Al Franken makes a weird amount of sense as a 2020 presidential candidate," positing that the former Saturday Night Live cast member may be the candidate best suited to parlay Trump's barbs. The post came just a few days after National Journal took a similar view, hypothesizing that Franken's wit and celebrity could help rally Democrats to defeat Trump. Other observers suggested that the Minnesota senator's recent Senate battles may be priming him for a more visible role in the Democratic Party. CBS speculated before Trump was even sworn in that Franken's profile was rising following the 2016 election for taking on the incoming president's Cabinet nominees. Though it stopped short of declaring Franken a 2020 candidate, The New Republic noted Franken's longtime stint as a critic and dissembler of conservative punditry, declaring the Trump presidency "Franken's time to shine." The media attention came on the heels of some of Franken's highest-profile actions since he joined the Senate in 2009. Franken went viral thrice over in January for his tough grilling of Trump's nominees to lead the departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services, earning a label from The Hill as a "liberal force." And he provided a bit of levity during the hearing for former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas last month when Trump's nominee for energy secretary made an accidental euphemism while discussing his private meeting with Franken. The political-analyst class isn't entirely alone in its recent interest in the longtime political satirist. Story continues The day after the election in November, a "Draft Franken" super PAC filed its first notice to the Federal Election Commission, though it hasn't raised any money for the Minnesota senator. Intentionally or not, Franken's high-profile grillings represent a notable shift from the senator's previous reputation in Congress and on the campaign trail. Past political strategists decided that to win election and stay in the Senate, Franken needed to engage in "strategic boredom," distancing himself from his past wit expressed as a comedian and liberal entertainer. He familiarized himself with policy and declined interviews with national media outlets with the hopes of being known as a "workhorse not a showhorse." That strategy worked so well that Franken's 2014 Republican opponent tried to win votes by casting Franken as a guy who was "basically invisible" in Washington. "I had years in show business and had plenty of camera time," Franken told the Los Angeles Times in 2014. "By being perceived as someone who was rushing to the camera all the time, it can undercut your effectiveness in the body." But many observers speculate that Franken's issue set, acidic sense of humor, and Rust Belt pedigree could make him a prominent foil to Trump. As one of the most vocal Senate proponents for net neutrality, the consumer protection that compels internet service providers to ensure equal access to all websites, Franken is already on a collision course with the new administration. Trump's Federal Communications Commission chair immediately set about rolling back net-neutrality rules, setting up a likely fight with the Minnesota senator. "I have no doubt that you recognize the significance of your new role, but your stated opposition to strong net neutrality rules raises serious concerns about your commitment to honoring the First Amendment," Franken said in a statement last month. "Allowing giant corporations to pick and choose the content available to everyday Americans would threaten the basic principles of our democracy." For the moment, the Franken candidacy still exists mostly in the imaginations of political analysts. Asked by Business Insider, multiple Democrats working on Capitol Hill separately noted that while he's occasionally noted as a potential candidate, there's no clear sign that he's interested. Further, his potential candidacy could be complicated by Amy Klobuchar, his fellow Minnesota senator who is more widely thought to hold 2020 ambitions. Many agreed that it was probably far too early for media outlets to speculate about Franken's interest. "[It's] way too early," former Mayor RT Rybak of Minneapolis told Business Insider. "I love Al as my senator, but I imagine there will be thousand of boomlets in the next couple years, and about the only thing we should take seriously for the next year is how to stop Trump and win the midterms." The Minnesota senator explicitly said he would not seek the presidency in 2020, the same year as his Senate reelection. In a statement on Tuesday, Franken's office reiterated that he would not run, saying the senator would "spend the next several years fighting on behalf of Minnesota families." Still, the Minnesota senator himself has entertained the possibility of a Franken presidency. In 1999, the then-comedian released a satirical novel titled "Why Not Me?" detailing his unlikely rise to the presidency. During his imagined campaign, Franken painted his opponent as a tool of the financial industry and managed to win the White House despite insulting Iowa voters, making outlandish yet simple campaign promises, indulging his mood swings, and being accused of extramarital affairs. Sound familiar? NOW WATCH: Here's how powerful an executive order is and how it could be reversed More From Business Insider Officials have concluded that the blaze that destroyed the Victoria Islamic Center less than two weeks ago was deliberately set. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives informed the mosque Wednesday that the fire had been ruled arson. While there is no evidence at the moment that the fire was a hate crime, that could change in the future, said Nicole Strong, a public information officer with the bureau. SAN ANTONIO A 38-year-old man was arrested Wednesday and charged in the kidnapping of a 2-year-old girl who may have been his daughter, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Demetric Jackson allegedly took the two-year-old girl shortly before midnight Monday, when he pulled up to a residence in the 6200 block of Robin Forest. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Multiple suspects were arrested, and other persons of interest are being sought by police after a home invasion on the Northwest Side by a group of youth, according to police. An officer at the scene said the suspects, all members of what was referred to by police as a "kid gang," attempted to burglarize a home on Valley Dale Drive around 12:15 p.m. Witnesses saw the suspects enter the home and notified police. By the time officers arrived, the suspects scattered, all trying to make it back to a home in the 7200 block of Hardesty. READ ALSO: Police: Armed robber in black mask holds up West Side bodega With the help of a helicopter unit, officers were able to track down and arrest at least three of the suspects at different homes in the neighborhood. One of the suspects allegedly tried to run away from an officer who had located him, and then fought with the officer before being arrested. Officers said there are still two other persons of interest whom they are trying to locate. The suspects are well known to officers in the area, police said, as they have committed numerous burglaries and thefts in the area before. READ ALSO: Canine security patrols coming to 7 S.A.-area H-E-B locations It is unclear if the suspects took any property from the home on Valley Dale. Police declined to release the ages of the suspects. A detective on the scene also said a dog was found tied up and hadn't been properly fed in the backyard of the property. Police believe it was stolen by the youth. Anyone who recognizes the dog is asked to call the San Antonio police department's property crime's unit. Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com cdowns@mysa.com Twitter: @calebjdowns This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An Austin man was jailed Thursday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman outside of a car while her toddler was inside. According to an arrest affidavit, Juan Lopez, 46, asked the woman, whom he had known for more than a year, to "drive his car to a job site because he was leaving for an out of town job." RELATED: BCSO: Man found with 50+ pieces of stolen ID info, lock-picking tools on far West Side The two met up around 5 a.m. on Jan. 16. The woman put her toddler in the back of Lopez's car and then followed his directions to the location where he wanted her to drop him off, the document states. He eventually told her to take an exit off southbound Interstate 35. Lopez then took out a knife and held to it her stomach while he directed her to a "secluded" cul de sac in the 12700 block of I-35, according to the affidavit. Lopez told the woman he would kill her if she didn't have sex with him. He yanked her out of the car by her hair, but when he told her to remove her pants, she refused. "My son is in the car," she said, according to the affidavit. "I don't give a damn!" Lopez reportedly replied. He then sexually assaulted her. RELATED: Human remains found in Alpine confirmed to be those of West Texas college student Later, Lopez called the woman and apologized multiple times for "violating" her, the affidavit says. Lopez was arrested Feb. 2, about two weeks after the alleged sexual assault. He remains in the Travis County Jail on a charge of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault. His bail was set at $150,000. He was also placed under an immigration detainer. According to the Austin American-Statesman, Lopez was previously deported to Mexico from the U.S. in 2009 after serving time for a 1987 homicide under the name Delfino Torres-Ayala. Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com cdowns@mysa.com Twitter: @calebjdowns ANAHEIM, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 8, 2017 / BioCorRx Inc. (OTC PINK: BICX) (the "Company"), a developer and provider of advanced solutions in the treatment of alcohol and opioid addictions, today announced it will assist the city of Anaheim, California, in treating residents with opioid and alcohol addiction. The collaboration was discussed by Anaheim Mayor, Tom Tait during his seventh State of the City address on February 7th in Anaheim. BioCorRx will offer its BioCorRx Recovery Program to residents of Anaheim suffering from alcohol and opioid addiction as an expansion of the Drug Free Anaheim Program unveiled in 2016's State of the City address aimed at encouraging chronic drug users to seek assistance. Under the Drug Free Anaheim Program, addicts are offered the opportunity, through local police stations in Anaheim, Orange County's most populous city, to request help in exchange for free treatment. The BioCorRx Recovery Program includes an implant compounded per patient use using the medication, naltrexone, combined with a structured, proprietary counseling program and peer support for a year. These specifically formulated, biodegradable pellets are typically inserted beneath the skin in the lower abdominal area. Naltrexone is a non-addictive opioid antagonist used for the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence. It can reduce or eliminate cravings for alcohol and opioids as well as block dangerous effects of opioid use such as overdose as commonly seen in heroin use. Brady Granier, President, CEO and Director stated, "We are very honored to join the Drug Free Anaheim Program to help solve the very important drug and alcohol addiction problem afflicting not just the city of Anaheim, but municipalities across the country. We are confident in the success of our medication-assisted treatment program, which combines peer support and counseling modules with the naltrexone implant. The effectiveness of our program has been demonstrated time and again over the last several years, with better compliance than traditional alternatives and unprecedented results." Mr. Granier continued, "We are very happy with our move last year to Anaheim and pleased to see Mayor Tait tackling this problem with this initiative. We look forward to many years of partnership with Anaheim and encourage other local businesses to participate in this program, as well as other programs being started by Mayor Tait. He is truly sincere about his desire to help people and make Anaheim an example for other cities to follow. We appreciate the opportunity to work with him, his staff, and the police department." Tom Tait, Mayor of Anaheim, commented in his state of the city address, "One of the great, new businesses in Anaheim, BioCorRx Inc., will assist us by enrolling several residents addicted to alcohol or opioids into their amazing new drug treatment program. The program uses an implant that can block cravings and prevent relapse, coupled with counseling and peer support for a year." He further stated, "We're making progress with these cutting-edge programs and partnerships." The full transcript of his address which include many other great city programs can be found at http://anaheim.net/367/State-of-the-City. About BioCorRx BioCorRx Inc. (OTC PINK: BICX) is an addiction treatment company offering a unique approach to the treatment of substance abuse addiction. The BioCorRx Recovery Program, a non-addictive, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, consists of two main components. The first component of the program consists of an outpatient implant procedure performed by a licensed physician. The implant delivers the non-addictive medicine, naltrexone, an opioid antagonist that can significantly reduce physical cravings for alcohol and opioids. The second component of the program developed by BioCorRx Inc. is a one-on-one counseling program specifically tailored for the treatment of alcoholism and other substance abuse addictions for those receiving long-term naltrexone treatment. The Company also has an R&D subsidiary, BioCorRx Pharmaceuticals, which is currently developing a new injectable naltrexone technology (BICX101) through a partnership with TheraKine Ltd. The company plans to seek FDA approval for BICX101. For more information on BICX, visit www.BioCorRx.com. Safe Harbor Statement The information in this release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "estimate," "become," "plan," "will," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. BioCorRx Inc. investors@BioCorRx.com 714-462-4880 Investor Relations: Crescendo Communications, LLC BICX@crescendo-ir.com 212-671-1020 x304 SOURCE: BioCorRx Inc. San Antonios Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program has bragging rights for being the largest group of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers in the country, reports business writer David Hendricks. San Antonio is lucky to have them. There were 345 preparers ready to start work when the program launched and another 541 volunteers are finishing up their certification training. The program has recruited a total of 1,148 volunteers and will continue to train them as the tax filing season progresses. Re: North America trade war feared after talk of tax: Trump sees 20 percent levy funding wall; Pena Nieto cancels trips, front page, Jan. 27: Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, is right when he said, Building a wall is the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border. If they are serious about curtailing immigration, they should push for laws to punish the owners of factories and corporations who hire people without documents. But I guess such an idea would hurt the rich. Meanwhile, its open season on the environment, private property rights and the taxpayer. Don Mathis Mexicos not paying A parallel for Donald Trump: I built a house and my neighbor pays for it. NOT! Yram F. Martinez, Eagle Pass Give it up Why cant President Donald Trump leave it alone? He lost the popular vote but won the electoral vote. He is not the first to do so. Some people are registered to vote in more than one location (even some in his own Cabinet) because people move about, and there is no law requiring a person to notify his previous election precinct before registering to vote in another. Also, deceased people must be removed from voting rolls, but this takes time as election officials must compare their list of registered voters with the deaths reported by the Social Security Administration and other sources. All investigations to date have resulted in findings that voter fraud is rare. We will waste time and money to convince our narcissistic president that Americas voting system is the best in the world. Greg Castillo Yup, Trumps right I cant help it, but I have to agree with the Trumpster. There was illegal voting. My gosh, there had to be! How else could he have won? I say check every Republican voters registration card for duplicate names and street addresses, and I am sure they will find many illegal votes. There is no other way he could have won. Fred M. Vasquez Nice going, Frank Re: Respond to alternative facts intelligently, Frank Bruni, Other Views, Jan. 27: Can you run Frank Brunis column regularly? Right on, Mr. Bruni! Francille Radmann Misguided women I am a 75-year-old mother and grandmother. I do not understand these women marching against everything that might give their kids and grandkids a future. I pray for our children and grandchildren coming after us. We pray for a united America. What do these women think they are doing? They are not supporting their kids and grandkids. Patricia J. Wood Rescue mission My congratulations and heartiest thanks to the men, women and children who filled the streets of our cities in protest, what appears to be the beginning of an era of deep despair for large percentages of the population. While I was not one of them, I was cheering them on in spirit. And now the work for those of us who did not march begins. We all have the task of supporting these marchers with tweets, texts, emails, phone calls and letters to our elected representatives, assuring them that their responsibility must be to we, the people and not to some amorphous mass in Washington known as the party. There is hope, friends and neighbors, but only if we act and act now to rescue this great nation. Stay close, but reach out. Sarah Joe LeMessurier So right about tax Re: Benefits of a zero corporate tax, Thomas Nichta, Another View, Jan. 27: Thomas Nichta, you are SO correct! Thank you! John Strickland Back zero tax 100% Re: Benefits of a zero corporate tax, Thomas Nichta, Other Views, Jan. 27: Bravo to Thomas Nichta for proposing a zero percent corporate income tax rate! This idea embodies sound economic principles, recognizing that companies dont have wealth families do. Companies and government merely hold wealth in trust. Zero corporate tax rates would onshore many of the corporations now accused of capital flight, and would reduce the validity of corporations as individuals, allowed with a reversal of Citizens United. Of course, direct tax rates on individuals would rise, but families pay taxes indirectly though corporations already, so, on net, no problem. John DeLaHunt Executive arrogance Re: In Cabinets, where diversity occurs is what matters, Another View, Jan. 19: I agree with not surrounding yourself with ideologues, thinking you are the smartest person in the room, lying to the American people and being thin-skinned about criticism. Hope Donald Trump follows this advice. Too bad the author didnt have the prescience to advise our outgoing president to avoid these shortcomings. Barack Obama checked all these boxes, some to stratospheric levels. He not only thought he was the smartest person in the room but in the universe maybe of all time. This arrogance was at the root of many of his failures. Hoping for a better tomorrow. John Fedor Life and death Several news outlets (Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post) have reported that the Trump administration pulled Affordable Care Act advertisements for the last two weeks of this years enrollment period, which has been the most active sign-up time. Advertisements are reminders. Lack of health insurance is a cause of death. How many child deaths will these federal administration actions cause? Richard A. Albanese, M.D. Anti-Trump bias Thank you for printing one anti-Trump column after another. Your op-ed page is full of critical columns against our president, and your front page is full of negative articles. I am thankful that your liberal rag is on an all-out assault, because it assures me the man I voted for is doing exactly what he said he would do. Keep up the good work. Jack Hardy As a lover of music, I had to turn off the Lady Gaga performance during the Super Bowl. This was an affront to our auditory senses. Basically, it was atonal and cacophonous, intended primarily for the sedentary mind. John Kiser Personal choices Re: Man freed by Obama arrested in new drug, case, front page, Saturday: Ronald Schmidt, the attorney for Robert Gill, states, If allegations against Bobby Gill are true, this is clear proof that extreme prison sentences and mandatory minimums under the federal sentencing guidelines dont work. I challenge this assertion. Gill was convicted of drug trafficking. As far as we know, he was not drug trafficking in prison. The general population was free of his death-causing drug dealing while he was behind bars. His choice to deal drugs after receiving a commutation is insane, a choice that had nothing to do with his sentencing. The general populace benefited from his incarceration. His personal choices are the story, not the merit of sentencing guidelines. Sandra St. Claire Promoting racism Donald Trump has been president for only a short while, and he has created more havoc and hatred than it takes leaders of some barbarian countries years to create. An executive order bans people from entering the U.S. from several Mideast countries but exempts some countries that have produced terrorists that have hurt us. Is it coincidence Trump may have business deals with these countries? Fifteen of the terrorists on the 9/11 attack were from Saudi Arabia, yet this country was exempted? Not only is his ban unconstitutional, it is also un-Christian. People who agree with his ban are not practicing Christianity. They are not trusting Jesus to protect them. God did not give us the spirit of fear. Christians dont insist that everyone practice Christianity; we model Jesus love to win non-Christians over to him. Quit using Christianity to promote racism and hatred. Start trusting the one you claim to believe. Alice C. Chapel, Spring Branch Alternative reality Re: U.S. consumers will pay for tariffs in a trade war; If levies rise, their costs will be passed along, front page, Jan. 29: So now the U.S. government is going to pay to build a wall on the Texas border and Mexico will pay it back through an import tax? Where did President Donald Trump learn that bit of voodoo economics? Did they not teach him at Penn that tariffs raise prices? Even I, a simple-minded engineer, can do the math and conclude that taxpayers will pay for it twice! Not only do we have alternative facts, we also have alternative economics and mathematics. Im not holding my breath waiting for President Trump to get a Nobel Prize for anything. Tom OBrien The lady weeps Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York recently said, in response to President Donald Trumps executive order on immigration, that the Statue of Liberty had tears running down her cheeks. I submit to Sen. Schumer that the Statue of Liberty was crying profusely on 9/11. Al Pohovich Past and future Just 156 years ago, the white supremacists of the South started the Civil War. Its legal cause was secession of the Southern states. However, the underlying reason was the enslavement of Negroes, who in far too many cases, were treated harshly. Military casualties of this war were 620,000 men some price for the desires of white supremacists. Total casualties of all other U.S. wars, from the Revolutionary War to present-day wars, is close to 660,000 men and women. We have white supremacists in the government today. When it comes to future wars, we do not know what the consequences of this attitude will be throughout the world. What we do know, if President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress continue plans to cut the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, the loss of 620,000 lives of the Civil War will be small compared to the loss of Americans who lack health care and proper living quarters, and suffer hunger and just from pure poverty. God help us. Colin J. N. Chauret Not easy being green Re: Environmental legacy of Obama protects us all, Other Views, Jan. 26: This column about Barack Obamas environmental record was great. However, the author didnt mention that President Donald Trump intends to do away with most of Obamas accomplishments. A sad day for the planet! Gay Z. Wright Civil deplorables Has anybody noticed the difference between the pro-abortion march in Washington, D.C., and the pro-life march on Jan. 27? During the latter event, there werent any celebrities wearing expensive jewelry and shouting vulgarities in the mic within earshot of children. And there werent any rioters destroying property. I guess the thousands in the latter march must have been from Hillarys basket of deplorables. Frank Sawyer, Seguin Fireworks sale Re: Fireworks plan dud, Your Turn, Jan. 12: I agree with the letter writer. Please do not extend the sale period for fireworks. As a pet owner and senior citizen, I cannot emphasize enough the harm fireworks do, particularly to veterans with PTSD. Even though I live within the city limits, I must deal with neighbors who set off fireworks. They should be more considerate of their neighbors and the welfare of senior citizens, pet owners and veterans. Hopefully, legislators will consider our concerns. Patricia Nicholson, Leon Valley (Adds comments on WTO, Brazil, background) By Allison Lampert MONTREAL, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The Canadian government on Tuesday announced C$372.5 million ($283 million) in repayable loans for two of Bombardier Inc's jet programs, promising to defend the deal against a potential trade challenge by Brazil. While the aid was far less than the $1 billion originally sought by the Canadian plane and train maker, Chief Executive Officer Alain Bellemare called it the right level of support, saying the company's financial situation had improved. The interest-free loans, which come from a Canadian aerospace and defense fund targeting research and development projects, will be used for Bombardier's new CSeries jet and the Global 7000 business jet. The contributions will be provided over four years with the majority allocated to the Global 7000 program and will not be repaid on a scheduled basis. The move risks exacerbating trade wounds with rival jetmaking nation Brazil, which has already threatened to take Canada to the World Trade Organization over a $1 billion injection by Quebec for the CSeries. Asked about the potential ramifications of the new aid, Canada Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said: "We'll fight that wherever we need to fight that." "I'm very much prepared to defend what we're doing," Champagne added, noting other countries supported their aerospace sectors. Bellemare said both the earlier funding from Quebec and the new federal money complied with WTO rules. Bombardier initially asked Canada to match Quebec's investment in the CSeries, but negotiations dragged on for more than a year as the Liberal government made requests of the company, such as changes to its dual-class governing structure. Quebec's spending on the CSeries, along with a separate $1.5 billion investment by the province's largest pension fund in Bombardier's rail division, already risks triggering a trade feud between the company and Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA . Story continues Brazil on Wednesday will request the WTO start consultations on a dispute involving the two companies around Quebec's funding, Brazil's Foreign Ministry said. Bombardier's CSeries competes with some Embraer jets and the smallest products of Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE . Reimbursable loans are a pillar of the world's largest trade dispute, involving mutual transatlantic claims of unfair support for aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing. The WTO found government loans used by European Union member states to support Airbus airplane developments constituted unfair subsidies, prompting the threat of U.S. sanctions. The case has yet to complete lengthy WTO legal and compliance processes. ($1 = C$1.3182) (Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris, Sweta Singh in Bangalore, David Ljunggren and Leah Schnurr in Ottawa; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Peter Cooney) TOKYO In Japan, customers can stop by their local convenience store and pick up a beautifully boxed dessert or chocolates, suitable for thank-you gifts or small favors, The Japan News reports. More retailers are going after the deluxe dessert market by stocking gift-worthy boxes from famous confectionery brands. Many customers, mainly women, buy thank-you gifts for small favors at nearby convenience stores, said an official at a large convenience store chain. FamilyMart Co. and Fujiya Co. worked together on a new product line of baked confectionery, called Jewelry Sweets. The brand offers 10 types of packaged sweets, such as fruit tarts with piped white chocolate and dried fruit toppings and raisin butter biscuits with butter cream. We avoided indicating the price on the packages so its easier for customers to buy them as gifts, a FamilyMart spokesperson said. Grapestone Co. and Seven-Eleven Japan Co. also partnered in developing Gin no Budo (Silver Grape), which has sweets such as Seven Cafe Kobashi Cereal & Milky Shokora Sugar Butter no Ki. Previously, the Gin no Budo brand was only sold at airports and department stores. We made the brands products easy to buy at convenience stores, said a PR official with Seven-Eleven Japan. Lawson Inc. also has its own confectionery brand called Uchi Cafe Sweets that offer Premium Roll Cake and Funwari Waffle, as well as special gift bags for sweets. Sweets are a communication tool, said a spokesman with the Meiji Co. Readers have hopefully taken notice of Indias botched effort at demonetization. Our Jerri-Lynn has chronicled the chaos it has created across the economy, particularly for farmers and the poor. One story we linked to described how a company that did not deal in cash nevertheless took a huge revenue hit. One problem with any effort to demonetize or introduce new currency is that it needs to be done in secret so as to prevent retail and business customers from gaming against the central bank. Even so, Indias effort showed a shocking lack of understanding of how currency was actually used in the economy, as well as an abject failure of planning. Outsiders might chalk this up to India being India, as in famous for not having the greatest bureaucracy. But we were stunned by an exchange yesterday with an economist who has written things that are quite sensible in the past. The subject was a Greek exit from the Eurozone, since Greece is up for yet another bailout negotiation. The IMF is saying, as it has for the last two years, that the Greek debts are not sustainable and it therefore needs debt reduction, meaning writedowns. But as we describe longer form in a related post, that is anathema to European governments. Under their budget rules, theyd need to recognize those as losses, which means they would have to raise taxes or cut spending to fill the gap. That would be economically contractionary as well as hugely unpopular. In addition, it is possible that the IMF might be able to sit out or have a very reduced role if the Trump Administration does not pressure the IMF to stay in. Its over my pay grade to sort out this far in advance how things might play out. The EU lenders regard IMF participation to manage the borrower country as essential, since they dont have staff to do that sort of baby sitting. However, the irony here is while the Greek public hates the IMF due to its historical role, the IMF is now the most reasonable and sympathetic member of the Troika (which admittedly is a low bar, what the Japanese would call a height competition among peanuts). Thus the irony is having the IMF depart or play a smaller role is likely to result in even harsher treatment for Greece. With this as background, our economist brought up the idea of a Grexit. While we understand why this idea sounds appealing (who wouldnt want to flee from a cruel gaoler?), we looked at the operational issues in considerable depth in 2015. As hard as it may be for non-bank-IT readers to believe, it would take the better part of a year merely to get physical currency printed and distributed. But the bigger issue is that reintroducing a Greek currency, from a systems perspective, will take over three years due to how many parties are involved, how much non-standard code kluged over many years has to be reviewed, and how many parties wont give a redo very high priority. There are good reasons why it took eight years of planning and three years of transition for the introduction of the Euro to go smoothly. And a ton of code and modules have been written since then. Here was the, erm, remarkable idea that our economist offered, and it apparently came from central bank people: Ive spoken to central bank people. Its no big deal. You stack the ATMs with stamped euros. You can print them and stack them over a bank holiday weekend. For imports the domestic CB sets up an account with the ECB or other domestic CB. Can be done in minutes. Like setting up a new savings account down the line. Ditto for exports. Now anyone who knows anything about about bank IT knows that absolutely nothing happens in minutes. Even projects that seem trivial take months. And the IT part extends across banks and other payments systems participants. We wont belabor that part here, you can read some of our many posts for details (see here, here, here, here, and here for starters). In comments, bank IT pros all said if anything our assessment was optimistic. We got more detail in further messages: The euro numbers would be wiped out. Either by reprinting them with new numbers or by bleaching them if they are physically stamped. You could physically stamp the currency in the banks in house. All they would need would be a barrel of ink, a bunch of stamps and some bleach to get rid of the serial numbers. The ATMs need not change at all. They will look the same on Tuesday as they did on Friday. They will just spit out stamped euros that will now be counted as drachmas. The stamped euros can either be reprinted with an integrated stamp or literally stamped inside the banks over the bank holiday weekend with old fashioned rubber stamps. I suggest you work though in your mind what it would take to collect and physically stamp huge amounts of currency. You need to sort the bills so they are all oriented the same way, then have them bleached and stamped, and then theyd need to be checked too. But putting that aside, lets turn over the mike to our payments systems expert Clive: Dumb thinking must be rebuked on sight, in my opinion! Otherwise, its contagious The ATMs need not change at all. Utter, total rubbish! You are totally right about the bulk cash handling side of this suggestion just stamping the old euros is a logistical nightmare because you have to be 100% sure youve stamped all legacy euro notes in issue. Well gloss over what youre supposed to do with coins too. You cant stamp those so presumably youre supposed to manage without lower denominations of your currency and anything that needs coinage. Economist X is such a clever guy normally, but as all-too-often happens, when people want to believe in something and they have gaps in their knowledge, they fill in the gaps with magical thinking that fits in with their idealised solutions. Unless you really really, as in operational knowledge understand how an ATM works specifically and the payments systems work in general then it is unwise to speculate and even more unwise to rely on that speculation. First things first. lets look at the ATM side. You can indeed fill an ATMs cash hopper with anything you like, so long as it matches fairly closely the properties of the voucher it was designed to accommodate. So you can put euros in euro-compatible hoppers, dollars in dollar hoppers or whatever. If you, then, filled a 20 hopper with stamped 20 notes, it would work the ATM would happily issue the new currency. But lets just stop there for a second. Has no-one ever wondered why, exactly, such care is taken in note design by central banks to make sure that not only are one countrys denominations different within each currency, but also that each countrys notes are different to all other countrys? To stop precisely the scenario which is being proposed here ATMs, parking meters, vending machines, self-scan checkouts and so on cannot repeat cannot be allowed to have a voucher inserted that can be mistaken for a different voucher. There would be nothing to stop stamped euros being taken into another euro-using country (and, I imagine, obtained at a huge discount to the old euro face value) and spent in such merchant equipment. Put it this way, if you could obtain unlimited quantities of these discounted euros in another country, then return to a real, proper euro-denominated country and spend them in automated checkouts, well, I would be on the first plane there to take advantage of this chaos. Leaving that point aside and returning to the ATMs, okay, you can get the ATMs to issue the stamped euros. But what happens in terms of a money transmission system transaction? You put your card scheme (VISA, MasterCard etc.) card in the ATM, request the desired amount of stamped euros and then the ATM issues the notes. Lets say youve asked for 100 new currency units. The ATM issues, say, 5x stamped 20notes. But unless the ATMs microcode and the card schemes are updated to know that this particular ATM is no longer dispensing real, genuine euros but now, instead, stamped euros, then the card scheme will assume that it has just given you 5x 20 proper euro notes. The card scheme of the card youve just used will send the transaction back to the account (either checking or a credit card account) which has issued you your card and will request authorisation for a 100 cash withdrawal. I think you can see whats coming next. If you are, for example, a tourist and your account is held outside the country, the card scheme will present a 100 debit request and, assuming you have sufficient funds on the account available to stand that, authorise the owner of the ATM to collect that 100 via the international payment system (there may be a long, long chain of banks and other parties in the end-to-end transaction). The settlement will happen automatically. But when you check your statement and see a 100 debit, youll say to your bank hey, wait a minute, I didnt get euros, I got those crazy stamped notes which were only worth about (say) $30. Youd request a chargeback. Depending on the attitude of the ATM owner, they might well refuse (I dont see how theyd have any choice at all but to refute the chargeback) and do a chargeback reversal. The card scheme would be in the position of having to arbitrate. Except they wouldnt The card schemes are not resources and not prepared to even get involved in this kind of sticky mess. Theyd within 24 hours block all transactions from the country issuing the stamped euros. Anything and everything coming from ATMs, EPoS, card-not-present and other transactions would get a straight decline when the authorisation was requested. The card schemes would show no mercy and cut no slack. Most likely, the offending country would not be allowed to participate in the merchant side of the card schemes for years to come, until the offered absolute certainty they wouldnt be causing the sorts of trouble that the proposal below would generate. Visa and Mastercard are both public companies in the US. They have no business reason to cut Greece any breaks. Mind you, not participating in the merchant side of the card schemes means not just that ATMs would be cordoned off, but all merchant accounts, such as retailers, hotels, restaurants, and car rentals. No wonder why economists are so keen to get rid of physical currency. They cant bring themselves to talk to operations people who might tell them their clever schemes wont work. Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. The HSE has rejected a case made for the recruitment of fifteen nurses at the overcrowded South Tipperary General Hospital. A business case made for 15.5 extra nurses in the surgical/medical unit at the hospital has been shot down. The hospital, which had twenty nine people on trolleys on Tuesday, regularly tops or is near the top of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation trolley table . The case was backed by South Tipperary General Hospital management. South West HSE group and by unions and was approved by an independent panel. This was dismissed at the very top of the HSE at national level and Health Minister Simon Harris has a case to answer on this, insisted Tipp TD Alan Kelly. He described the HSE as a dysfunctional organisation. Deputy Kelly said the nursing study process was independently chaired by Professor John Drennan The process showed that a total of 36.9 nurses were required in five units of the hospital. A supported business case was made to the HSE for just one of those components, the 15.5 nurses required for the surgical/medical wards only, which was turned down. Deputy Kelly told the Dail that the Clonmel hospital was under incredible pressure and the accident and emergency unit was overcrowded. "It does not have enough space he insisted while reminding Minister Harris that there was an empty state of the art hospital a short distance away, Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel Deputy Kelly reminded Minister Harris of the visit he made to the phantom hospital in Cashel last October. By any standard, it was bizarre, and I think the Minister acknowledged that fact. The hospital being visited by the Minister for Health did not have a single patient. A huge amount of funding has been put into the hospital and that spend will come before the Committee of Public Accounts, of which I am Vice Chairman, said Deputy Kelly. Health Minister Harris informed the Dail that he had instructed the HSE to come up with a plan to ensure more services are delivered at Our Ladys Hospital,Cashel which has seen a 23m investment in recent years. Minister Harris said he had told the HSE to explore what additional supports Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel, can provide in alleviating pressure at South Tipperary General Hospital, including pressure on the emergency department. He said that the developments envisaged for Our Ladys Hospitall would support the acute hospital Clonmel in addition to developments that should take place in Clonmel. There needs to be a plan to do much more at the site said Minister Harris. SANTIAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Chilean police raided three local offices of Brazil's OAS SA and confiscated accounting material as part of an investigation into potential illegal political campaign contributions in the Andean nation, local media reported late on Tuesday. The investigation is looking into whether leftist politician Marco Enriquez-Ominami potentially broke tax, donation and electoral subsidy laws when OAS allegedly loaned him a private jet for his failed 2013 presidential bid, daily newspaper La Tercera reported. OAS is among 31 Brazilian engineering and construction groups accused of rigging state contracts in the "Car Wash" case, Brazil's biggest corruption scandal yet known. Brazilian magazine Veja reported in late January that OAS also helped finance President Michelle Bachelet's campaign. Chile's government denied the accusations against Bachelet's campaign. Government spokeswoman Paula Narvaez denied the accusations against Bachelet's campaign, saying on Feb. 1 that the financing was correctly logged with the country's electoral service "All the information is clear and transparent and so we reject any attempt to muddy the campaign and tie it to completely speculative information." (Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Bill Rigby) When a trainee Ban-garda from Cahir won the Rose of Tralee in 1983 it made Brenda Hyland a famous face and household name all over Ireland. Now her daughter Alannah Beirne is set for the same fame as she graces our TV screens as part of this years Next Top Model contenders. Alannah, who is just 22, says her mothers experience as Rose, and the modelling work she did thanks to winning the iconic competition, helped her take one of the coveted BNTM places. Often compared to Gigi Hadid and Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Alannahis described as an Irish Amazonian she is 60 tall. She grew up in Naas and works as a assistant pub manager. Her official BNTM profiles describes her: Alannah comes from a family full of musicians and often plays the flute in front of crowds. Alannah is also an outdoor enthusiast and a keen painter with an eye for visual merchandising. The series has already begun filming but Alannah cant say how she got on or how far she made it in the competition. But she did say she loved her time in the BNTM house. Above: Brenda Hyland in 1983 Recently graduated from college in visual merchandising and display, Alannah did a lot of work experience in her local Kildare Village. She says she would like a career in modelling but I also loves fitness and nutrition. Hopefully her mothers words on winning the Rose of Tralee in 1983 will inspire Alannah My dreams and aspirations continue to motivate me even now as I journey with my family, as I know dreams really do come true! The new series of Britain's Next Top Model starts on March 16 at 9pm, on Lifetime. A former executive at Tennessee Commerce Bank executive has been charged with providing false information to one of the bank's regulators. The Office of the Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program said in a press release Tuesday that Lamar Cox, Tennessee Commerce's former chief operating officer, allegedly helped orchestrate a "posting error" in 2009 that allowed the bank to understate losses tied to the sale of foreclosed properties. The bank reported a $270,000 loss from selling $4 million of foreclosed properties, when it actually lost $710,000, the release said. Tennessee Commerce failed in 2012. Republic Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., assumed the Franklin banks deposits and bought $203.9 million of its assets. Cox faces a fine of up to $1 million and 30 years in prison. Efforts to reach Cox through his lawyer were unsuccessful. As Presidents Day approaches, all visitors to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force have the unique opportunity to view and walk through several truly significant aircraft. The museums Presidential Gallery, located in the recently opened fourth building, is home to aircraft that carried U.S. presidents on many historic journeys from Franklin D. Roosevelt through Bill Clinton, as well as heads of state, diplomats and other dignitaries and officials. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to interact with various Air Force One subject-matter experts near Air Force One (SAM 26000) in the Presidential Gallery on Presidents Day, Feb. 20 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. These former Air Force One crewmembers include a retired pilot and flight attendant, along with former maintainers and security. Presidential aircraft featured at the museum include the VC-54C Sacred Cow, which was first used by President Roosevelt in 1945. The aircraft features a one-of-a-kind battery-powered elevator that was installed at the rear of the aircraft so that Roosevelt could board it easily while in his wheelchair. This aircraft was also the location where President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act on July 26, 1947, establishing the Air Force as an independent service. The pen used by Truman to sign the Act is displayed nearby. Another popular presidential aircraft on display is the VC-118, which was the second aircraft built specifically to transport the President. A military version of the Douglas DC-6 commercial airliner, it was used by President Truman from 1947 to 1953. At the suggestion of the aircrafts pilot, Truman named it The Independence in recognition of his hometown of Independence, Mo. Climbing a nearby flight of stairs leads visitors through the only Lockheed VC-121E ever built, which served as President Dwight D. Eisenhowers personal airplane from 1954 until he left office in January 1961. A military version of the famous Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation commercial airliner, its fuselage stretched 18 feet longer than earlier versions, and with more powerful engines, greater fuel capacity and greater speed, these aircraft became popularly known as Super Connies. Eisenhower named this aircraft, his third Constellation, Columbine III, after the official state flower of Colorado in honor of his wife Mamie. Finally, visitors can walk through one of the most important aircraft in aviation history - Air Force One (SAM 26000). Over its 36-year career, it served eight presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton. However, the aircraft is most widely known for flying President Kennedy to Dallas, Texas, where he was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 and it was on this airplane that Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president. SAM 26000 then carried Kennedys body and President Johnson back to Washington, D.C. More information about these and six other Presidential Gallery aircraft on display is available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/exhibits/presidential/index.asp. Other resources related to the presidential aircraft collection are available online: 15 high-definition panoramic interior photos of SAM 26000 at http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/VirtualTour/Cockpit360.aspx. A video on the 50 th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Nov 22, 2013 at An interview with former Presidential Flight Steward John Hames at MSgt.(Ret.) Pete Patrick former Air Force One crewman speaks about his experiences in the Presidential Airlift Group at Video interview with former White House pool reporter Sid Davis at Move of two presidential aircraft by museum restoration crews into the museums new fourth building on April 9, 2016 at The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day). Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3286. NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, please contact Danielle Almeter at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1283. (Natural News) Environmentalist Al Gore, a.k.a. the climate con man, has a new movie to promote, so he gets to fly on private jets and ride around in gas-guzzling limousines. Maybe hell even add a new wing on to his mansion with the profits. The new movie is called An Inconvenient Sequel, a follow-up to An Inconvenient Truth, which was chock full of doom and gloom about made-made climate change and global warming. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last month and will go into wide distribution this summer. Gores activism made him a multimillionaire celebrity. The carbon footprint of his wallet expanded further when, in late 2012, he sold his failed TV channel, Current TV, to Big Oil, i.e., to the Al Jazeera network, which is backed by the royal family of the oil-rich country of Qatar. Gore reportedly pocketed $100 million from that transaction. The planet has a fever pundit also won a Nobel Peace Prize, but then again, so did Obama. As Natural News previously reported, none of the dire climate change predictions from the first film which won an Academy Award for best documentary have come to pass. Among other things, the Arctic never melted, and polar bears are still thriving. Mt. Kilimanjaro is still covered with plenty of show. Extreme weather also has failed to materialized. [RELATED: Read more about the climate change movement at ClimateScienceNews.com] In the new opus, the former vice president under Bill Clinton tries to justify another weather whopper that cities all over the world, including Manhattan, are at risk for flooding because of the rise in the sea level combined with storm surges. It was the single most criticized scene in that movie, Gore declares in the trailer below. According to NewsBusters, however, Gores preachy victory lap constitutes self-interested revisionism. In that clip, Gore then shows Superstorm Sandy footage of water flooding lower Manhattan, including the memorial site and a quote from Gov. Andrew Cuomo blaming climate change, to prove true Gores claim from 11 years ago. But his original prediction was not about extenuating circumstances of a storm like Sandy slamming into New York or any storm surge at all. It was about the sea level rise that would be generated as (he predicted) ice melt in Greenland and Antarctica escalated dramatically. The latest maps show that Greenland still has ice 11 years after Gores prediction of catastrophic melt due to global warming. [RELATED: Read more about fake science predictions at fakesciencenews.com] Even the liberal Washington Post admitted back in November 2012 that Climate change does not cause storms and did not cause Superstorm Sandy. Weather Channel founder John Coleman was fundamentally unimpressed with the original Al Gore movie, which he deemed a scientific monstrosity, and has raised concerns about the follow up for similar reasons. Coleman has argued in the past that man-made climate change is a scam, a myth, and unsupported by science. Health Ranger Mike Adams recently pointed out the oft-repeated claim that 97% of scientists agree that man-made climate change is settled science as if science is ever settled is a bunch of hot air. In the new movie, Gore apparently also claims credit for ushering in the superficial Paris climate change agreement that was approved with much hoopla on December 12, 2015. President Trump said in November that he has an open mind about the Paris deal that Obama signed without input from Congress, although he campaigned on rescinding the U.S. commitment just like he pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership upon taking office. The president may be constrained at the moment, given the media hysteria about every decision from the White House, however. An ex-aide said in late January that he expects the president to withdraw from the Paris agreement, although the timetable is uncertain. Sources: NaturalNews.com Newsbusters.org WashingtonPost.com TheHill.com Inquisitr.com (Natural News) A European supervolcano that erupted two thousand years ago is showing signs of new activity near Italy. When the volcano erupted two thousand years ago, an estimated 1,500 people near the Roman city of Pompeii were smothered in bouts of lava and dark clouds of ash. Mount Vesuvius has lain dormant for far too long. According to experts, its beginning to show signs of reawakening. If it were to go today, hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of people would be affected. The name of the supervolcano today is Campi Flegrei. It waits under Naples in Italy. If it went off, black ash clouds could block out the sun for months. Dr. Luca De Siena is a Geophysics professor at the University of Aberdeen. He has been leading research on the supervolcano and following its activity. The last time Campi Flegrei erupted was in 1538. This was a small eruption event. After eight days of spewing lava and billowing out black clouds, a new mountain, Monte Nuovo, was formed. New activity reported in the area suggests that another small eruption could be up and coming. Theres also the threat of a big event, like the one that occurred two thousand years ago during Roman times. In case of a big one, it could affect our chances to live in Europe, immediately killing hundreds of thousands if not millions, warns Dr. Luca De Siena. He spoke with Daily Star Online warning that people living near the point of the eruption would be affected even during a small event. We are still talking of thousands of people who could die/lose their homes, and the warning would be much less than for a big one. The economy of the entire Europe would be still in danger because of consequences, he said. Dr. Siena warns that an event like this could directly impact at least three million people and black out entire regions of Italy. People should keep high their perception of risk, he warns. (RELATED: Read more news about surviving natural disasters at Survival.News) The fallout would leave people without electricity for months and potentially years. The sun could be blocked out for weeks. Other continents would feel the effects too. The 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokul volcano in Iceland brought air travel to a halt throughout Europe. The smoke and ash billowed 11 km into the sky and even swelled over Russia. A team of geophysicists led by Stefano Carlino of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology have been drilling at the site of Campi Flegrei to observe activity and possibly predict future eruptions. Theyve observed something called an uplift where molten magma bubbles up to the surface. This has been happening for eleven years and could go on for many more years as the volcano prepares to erupt. Even as magma activity continues, Dr. Carlino says its just not possible to predict the next eruption, but its prepped to blow. The scientists agree that the only way to protect against these potentially disastrous eruptions is to invest in technologies that quickly mobilize resources so that cities can recover afterward. A surplus of clean survival foods would be a great investment for individuals or communities looking to recover quickly during a natural disaster. Theres no telling when the next supervolcano may go. Campi Flegrei is ready to blow. All of Europe hangs in the balance. (RELATED: Read more news about natural disaster preparedness at Preparedness.News) Sources include: DailyStar.co.uk DailyStar.co.uk Wednesday, February 08, 2017 by: Vicki Batts Tags: bad medicine , doctors , tumors This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author (Natural News) As if modern medicine couldnt get any more twisted, doctors have recently removed a human-sized tumor from a Mississippi man whod been told he was just fat. The tumor, which had been growing for about 15 years, weighed a shocking 130 pounds. Roger Logan, the 57-year-old man afflicted by this massive tumor explained to television station KERO, We did what we had to do to get here. Usually at home I would sit and it would rest on the floor. Logan spent most of his time confined to a chair in an eight-foot room. He was no longer able to work at the antique shop he owned, or participate in activities he had enjoyed. As the mass growing from his abdomen continued to increase in size, the quality of Logans life clearly decreased. Despite frequent visits to various doctors, Logans plight was consistently dismissed as plain old obesity, and was told not be concerned by his condition. They said its just fat, youre just fat, Logan recalls. Its just fat developing there. Finally, after years of suffering, Logan and his family did some research and traveled to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, with the hope of finally getting some real answers. By that time, the benign tumor had reached a critical 130 pounds, and was simply hanging from his midsection. Logan commented, From here up I was a normal person. I used to say put a strap around you and youre carrying three bags of cement around you all day long just swinging. Confident in the journey to Bakerfield Memorial, Logan says that Dr. Vipul Dev was the only one who could truly help him, noting that Dev had worked with a similar case in the past. Dr. Dev was able to confirm that the massive protrusion was indeed a tumor one that may have started out as merely an infected ingrown hair. Were fortunate to have a facility like this where we can do this kind of surgery with very little or no complications, Dev noted. Fortunately for Logan, the surgery was successful and he is recovering well. Soon, he will return to his home in Mississippi, 130 pounds lighter and with a new lease on life. Delayed diagnoses, like Logans, are one of the leading causes of medical malpractice complaints. Logan is an extreme case where he was dismissed by doctors for years and was caused an equally extreme amount of unjustified suffering because of their neglect. Weight is thought to often be a factor in misdiagnoses. Because obesity can cause such an array of negative health effects, doctors (understandably) can be quick to assume that being overweight or obese is the source of a problem. While there are no statistics on how often weight plays a role in misdiagnoses, its estimated that doctors make mistakes in 10 to 15 percent of all their patients. About half of those are said to cause significant harm. Beyond stereotypes, extra fat can also make it hard to diagnose conditions like cancer. And in Logans case, his tumor supposedly even felt like fat, making it even more difficult for him to get a diagnosis. A woman going by the pseudonym Karen Tang told CNN in 2010 that when she went to the doctor for pelvic pain, her doctor said that they didnt feel anything. By the time I was referred to a gynecologist, I had a fibroid the size of a melon so large it was putting pressure on my bladder, she explained. Sources: ABC13.com CNN.com NOLO.com CNN.com Two years after having a stroke at 31, Sonia Olea Coontz remained partially paralysed on her right side. She could barely move her arm, had slurred speech and needed a wheelchair to get around. In 2013, Coontz enrolled in a small clinical trial. The day after a doctor injected stem cells around the site of her stroke, she was able to lift her arm up over her head and speak clearly. Now she no longer uses a wheelchair and, at 36, is pregnant with her first child. Kristopher Boesen, who broke his neck in a car accident, regained the ability to move his arms and hands after his spinal cord was injected with stem cells. Credit: Greg Iger/Keck Medicine of USC Coontz is one of stem-cell therapy's miracle patients, says Gary Steinberg, chair of neurosurgery at Stanford School of Medicine in California, and Coontz's doctor. Conventional wisdom said that her response was impossible: the neural circuits damaged by the stroke were dead. Most neuroscientists believed that the window for functional recovery extends to only six months after the injury. Part of Nature Outlook: Regenerative medicine Stem-cell therapies have shown great promise in the repair of brain and spinal injuries in animals. But animal models often behave differently from humans nervous-system injuries in rats, for example, heal more readily than they do in people. Clinical trial results have been mixed. Interesting signals from small trials have faded away in larger ones. There are plenty of unknowns: which stem cells are the right ones to use, what the cells are doing when they work and how soon after an injury they can be used. The field is still young. Stem cells are poorly understood, and so is what happens after a spinal-cord injury or stroke. Yet, there are success stories, such as Coontz's, which seem to show that therapy using the right sort of stem cell can lead to functional improvements when tried in the right patients and at the right time following an injury. Researchers are fired up to determine whether stem-cell therapies can help people who are paralysed to regain some speech and motor control and if so, what exactly is going on. Scar tissue Neurologists seeking functional restoration are up against the limited ability of the human central nervous system to heal. The biology of the brain and spinal cord seems to work against neuroregeneration, possibly because overgrowth of nerves could lead to faulty connections in the finely patterned architecture of the brain and spine, says Mark Tuszynski, a neurologist at the University of California, San Diego. Local chemical signals in the central nervous system tamp down growth. Over time, scarring develops, which prevents the injury from spreading, but also keeps cells from entering the site. It's really hard to fix the biology, says Charles Yu Liu, a neurosurgeon and director of the University of Southern California Neurorestoration Center in Los Angeles. Stem cells seem to promise a workaround. So far, neural regeneration cell therapy has had only anecdotal success, leaving investors and patients disappointed. In people with Parkinson's disease, for example, neurosurgeons replaced dead and dying dopamine-producing neurons with fetal neurons. Although initial results were promising, in larger studies, patients reported involuntary movements. Another effort tried treating people who'd had a stroke with cells derived from tumours; the results were mixed, and researchers were uneasy about the cells' cancerous source. In recent years, researchers have had success with stem cells coaxed to develop into particular cell types, such as neural support cells. Tuszynski has showed how well stem cells can work at least, in animal models1. His group implanted neural stem cells derived from human fetal tissue into rats with severe spinal-cord injuries. Seven weeks later, the cells had bridged the gap where the spinal cord had been cut and the animals were able to walk again. The cells used in the study were manufactured by Neuralstem of Rockville, Maryland. The group has shown that other kinds of stem cell, including those derived from adult tissue, also work. Tuszynski has seen similar results in a rat spinal-cord-injury model, using neural stem cells made from the tissues of a healthy 86-year-old volunteer2. But animal studies are also making it clear that simply regrowing the connective wiring of the nervous system to bridge damaged areas is not enough, says Zhigang He, who studies neural repair at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. No matter what the animal model is, he says, the axons don't always grow into the right places. It's not enough to have a nerve, that nerve must become part of a functional circuit. Credit: Mark Tuszynski/Ken Kadoya/Ref. 3 Regeneration of axons (red) beyond implanted neural progenitor cells (green) in a rat with a spinal injury. There is growing evidence that besides becoming replacement nerves, stem cells perform other functions they also seem to generate a supportive milieu that may encourage the natural recovery process or prevent further damage after an injury. Many types of neural stem cell secrete a mix of molecules that unlock suppressed growth pathways in nerves. Earlier this year, Tuszynski reported that any sort of spinal-cord stem cell, whether derived from adult tissues or embryos, from humans, rats or mice, could trigger native neural regeneration in rats3. But his success in rats has not yet translated into clinical trials. More work is needed, Tuszynski says, to determine which type of cell will work best for which particular injury. Reinventing recovery For people who have had a stroke or spinal-cord injury, physical therapy is currently the best hope for recovery in the weeks and months after the injury. The brain is plastic and can co-opt other circuits and pathways to compensate for damage and to restore function. Once the inflammation ebbs and the brain adjusts, people can start to regain function. But the window of opportunity is short. Most people don't make functional gains after six months. That timeline is why the remarkable recovery enjoyed by Coontz and other patients with chronic stroke in the same clinical trial is so surprising, says Steinberg. This changes our whole notion of recovery, he says. There were 18 people in the trial Coontz took part in, and all were treated using stem cells manufactured by SanBio of Mountain View, California. The company's cells are bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The cells are treated with a DNA fragment that is transiently expressed in them, and causes changes in their protein-expression patterns. In animal studies, these cells promote the migration and growth of native neural stem cells, among other effects. The trial, which was designed to look at safety as well as efficacy, recruited patients after an ischaemic stroke. During this kind of stroke, a clot cuts off the blood supply to part of the brain, causing significant damage. Patients in the trial had all had ischaemic strokes deep in the brain 736 months earlier past the 6-month window for significant recovery. Each patient was injected with either 2.5 million, 5 million or 10 million of SanBio's cells4. Steinberg has followed participants for 24 months; an interim study at 12 months reported that most patients showed functional improvements. Some, like Coontz, achieved almost complete recovery. What is not clear, however, is what the stem-cell injections do in the brain. In animal studies, the SanBio cells do not turn into neurons, but seem to send supporting signals to native cells in the brain. Indeed, preclinical research shows that the cells do not integrate into the brain most die after 12 months. Instead, the cells seem to secrete growth factors that encourage the formation of new neurons and blood vessels, and foster connections called synapses between neurons. And in rats, the nerve-cell connections that extended from one side of the brain to the other, as well as into the spinal cord, lasted, even though the injected cells did not4. But these mechanisms are not sufficient to explain Coontz's overnight restoration of function, says Steinberg. He is entertaining several hypotheses, including that the needle used to deliver the cells may have had some effect. One week after treatment, we saw abnormalities in the premotor cortex that went away after one month, he says. The size of these microlesions was strongly correlated with recovery at 12 months. A similar effect can happen when electrodes are implanted in the brains of people with Parkinson's, although this deep-brain stimulation quietens tremors for only a short time. The people who'd had a stroke had a lasting recovery, suggesting that both the needle and the stem cells may have played a part. The SanBio trial was small, and did not have a placebo control; the company is now recruiting for a larger phase II trial. Of the 156 participants that will be recruited, two-thirds will have cells injected the others will have a sham surgery. Even the trial surgeons, including Steinberg, will not know who is getting which treatment. The main outcome measure will be whether patients' motor-skill scores improve on a test called the Fugl-Meyer Motor scale six months after treatment. Participants will be monitored for at least 12 months, and will also be evaluated with tests that look for changes in gait and dexterity. Meanwhile, Steinberg plans to study microlesions in animal models of stroke to determine whether they do have a role in recovery. Small successes An ongoing clinical trial evaluating escalating doses of neural stem cells in patients with acute spinal-cord injuries is also looking promising. Asterias Biotherapeutics of Fremont, California, coaxes the cells to develop into progenitors of oligodendrocytes, a type of support cell that's found in the brain and spinal cord and that creates a protective insulation for neuronal axons. The trial tests the safety and efficacy of administering these cells to people with recent cervical, or neck-level, spinal-cord injury. Interim results for patients who had received the two lower doses were presented at the International Spinal Cord Society meeting in September. After 90 days, 4 patients who received 10 million cells showed improved motor function; a fifth patient had not reached the 90-day mark yet. At one year, the three patients receiving a lower dose of two million cells showed measurable improvement in motor skills. These cells were initially developed by Geron, a biotechnology company that has since moved away from regenerative medicine. Before spinning out Asterias in 2013, Geron had run a safety trial of the cells in people with a chronic lower-back injury. No issues were identified, and the US Food and Drug Administration agreed to let the company test the cells in patients who'd been recently injured. Asterias focused the current trial on patients with cervical injuries because these are closer to the brain, so new nerve cells have a shorter distance to grow to gain functional improvements. People with severe cervical spine injuries are typically paralysed below the level of the damage. The company's hope is to restore arm and hand function for people with such injuries, potentially making a tremendous difference to a person's independence and quality of life. Asterias seems to have realized this hope in at least one patient who received one of the higher doses. Kristopher Boesen, who is 21, has had a dramatic recovery. In March, Boesen's car fishtailed in a rainstorm; he hit a telephone pole and broke his neck. About a month later, Boesen was still paralysed below the injury, and his neurological improvements seemed to have plateaued. His doctors at a trauma centre in Bakersfield, California, were in touch with Liu, who is an investigator in the Asterias trial. As soon as he was stable, Boesen travelled to Los Angeles to join the trial. Liu injected Boesen's spinal cord with Asterias's cells in April. Two days later, Boesen started to move his hands, and in the summer, he regained the ability to move the toes on one foot. A surgeon prepares to inject stem cells to treat a spinal injury as part of Asterias's clinical trial. Credit: Asterias Biotherapeutics Liu is excited about Boesen's response. He was looking at being quadriplegic, and now he's able to write, lift some weights with his hands, and use his phone, says Liu. For somebody to improve like this is highly unusual I want to be jumping out of my shoes. But Liu cautions that this is still a small trial, and that Boesen's response is just one anecdotal report. Until the results are borne out in a large, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Liu will remain earthbound. The trial is currently recruiting between 5 and 8 patients for another cohort that will receive a doubled dose of 20 million cells. As the trial goes on, Asterias hopes to find clues about the underlying mechanism. We're looking at changes in the anatomy of the injury, says the company's chief scientific officer, Jane Lebkowski. She says that there is some evidence that axons have traversed the injury site in patients who have recovered function. Preclinical work suggests that the cells might be sending growth-encouraging chemical signals to the native tissue. And, as support cells, the astrocytes may also be preventing more neurons from dying in the aftermath of the acute spinal injury. Not all clinical trials have performed so well. The SanBio and Asterias results are positive signals in a sea of negative or mixed trials. For example, StemCells of Newark, California, terminated its phase II trial of stem cells for the treatment of spinal-cord injury in May, and shortly afterwards announced that it will restructure its business. The company declined to comment for this article. Hope not hype Physicians such as Liu and Steinberg temper their public enthusiasm about stem-cell therapies, so as not to give false hope to desperate patients. People with paralysing injuries or those who have a neurodegenerative disease are easy marks for unscrupulous stem-cell clinics, whose therapies are not only unproven, but also come with risks. Patients say, 'Go ahead, doc, you can't make me any worse,' says Keith Tansey, a neurologist and researcher at the Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, Mississippi, and president-elect of the American Spinal Injury Association. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Cell therapies given at a clinic, outside the context of a clinical trial, can lead to chronic pain, take away what little function a patient has left and render a patient ineligible for future studies, says Tansey. He has seen the consequences in his clinical practice. I treated a kid who had two different tumours in his spinal cord from two different individuals' cells, he says. Many unanswered questions remain about whether stem cells can heal the central nervous system in people, and how they might do it. Researchers also don't know what cells are the best to use. Is it enough for them to grow into supportive cells that send friendly growth signals, or is it better that they grow into replacement neurons? The answer is likely to differ depending on the site and nature of the disease or injury. If the stem cells are producing supportive factors that encourage growth and repair, it might be possible, says He, to discern what these are and give them directly to patients. But biologists are not yet close to deciphering the recipe for such a cocktail. Every time we get an experiment done we realize it's more complex than we thought it would be. Tansey agrees that there are many unknowns and these seem to be multiplying. Every time we get an experiment done we realize it's more complex than we thought it would be, he says. Tansey thinks that the best way to resolve such uncertainties is with carefully regulated clinical trials. Rat models will only tell us so much the human nervous system is much larger and is wired differently. If stem cells help patients such as Coontz and Boesen to regain their speech and give them greater independence without adverse effects, then it makes sense to continue, he says, even without knowing all the details of how they work. The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease Meredith Wadman Viking: 2017. 9780525427537 | ISBN: 978-0-5254-2753-7 A rare probity permeates Meredith Wadman's The Vaccine Race, the riveting story of a human fetal cell line, the scientists who established it and the front lines of vaccine research where it was deployed. In the epilogue, Wadman tracks down 'Mrs X', the Swedish woman whose aborted fetus gave rise to the cell line without her knowledge. Wadman promised never to make her name public or to contact her again. The book the first from Wadman, a former Nature journalist invites comparison with Rebecca Skloot's 2007 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Crown). Skloot also explored the social, ethical and historical legacies of research on human subjects and their discarded tissues. Her book drew much of its power from chronicling the author's relationship with, and advocacy on behalf of, Lacks' family. Wadman stands back from sources and material to guide readers through a narrative that is no less captivating. Rubivirus, which causes rubella. The cell line at the centre of The Vaccine Race, WI-38, was established in the 1960s by Leonard Hayflick, a driven cell culturist at the independent Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The institute was becoming a global hub in the war against polio and other viruses under its larger-than-life director Hilary Koprowski. Although Koprowski saw cell culturists as supporting actors to the institute's star virologists, Hayflick's lab work soon caught his attention. In the late 1950s, all available lab cultures of human cells were derived from tumours such as the cervical cancer that killed Henrietta Lacks in 1951 and gave rise to her immortal HeLa cells. In search of normal human cells unlikely to be infected with viruses, Hayflick turned to fetuses. (Abortion was then illegal across the United States, but some hospitals occasionally performed 'therapeutic abortions' from which the human fetal cells came.) Hayflick coaxed different bits of fetal tissue cells from muscles, kidneys, hearts and lungs to divide in laboratory dishes. Unlike cancer cell lines such as HeLa, which has unstable chromosomes, these cells contained the normal number of chromosomes even after months of dividing in culture. Eventually, however, the cell lines began dying off. Hayflick theorized that healthy cells could undergo only a limited number of cell divisions. That sparked the field of cellular ageing. (Jack Szostak, Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol Greider, who determined aspects of its biological basis in DNA caps called telomeres, won the 2009 medicine Nobel.) Koprowski soon got other ideas for the fetal cell lines. Hayflick showed that the cells could be infected with human viruses, including polio. That made them an ideal tool for studying infections and producing vaccines killed or weakened viruses that summon an immune response against a pathogen. The first successful polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk in 1952 (T. Tansey Nature 520, 620621; 2015), had been made by infecting monkey kidney cells with polio, then killing the virus. However, incompletely killed batches of polio vaccine paralysed hundreds of people. Many scientists, including Koprowski, were pursuing a less dangerous, more effective polio vaccine composed of virus weakened after being passed repeatedly through monkey cells. But the discovery that monkey cells can carry hard-to-detect viruses prompted Koprowski to champion Hayflick's human fetal cell lines as vaccine factories. WI-38 emerged from a collaboration between Hayflick and Swedish physician-scientist Sven Gard. Abortion was legal but restricted in Sweden, and doctors were willing to provide patient medical histories to let regulators gauge whether fetal cells might be predisposed to turn into tumours. In 1962, lung tissue from Mrs X's aborted fetus reached Hayflick; he created hundreds of ampoules of WI-38 cells and froze them in liquid nitrogen. The resulting Wistar polio vaccine found use in Europe. But the cells' biggest success was in heading off rubella. In the 1940s, it had been found that pregnant women who got rubella often gave birth to blind infants; doctors later tied the infection to deafness, heart defects and fatal brain inflammation. There were US epidemics every 69 years, and one was on the horizon when Wistar researchers started work on a vaccine in the 1960s. Here, Wadman turns her attention to vaccinologist Stanley Plotkin. She is at her best in these passages, soberly describing ethically dubious clinical trials in orphans, intellectually disabled children and other vulnerable populations. Plotkin's rubella vaccine was not the first choice of the US government, in large part because of concerns about using a vaccine made from human cells. But it soon became clear that competing vaccines made with animal cells caused worrying side effects and did not lead to long-lasting immunity. In 1978, the United States licensed Plotkin's vaccine. Hayflick rejoins the narrative in the final section. Wadman's reporting chops shine when she describes the acrimonious and career-crippling legal dispute that emerged between Hayflick and the US government over the ownership and resale of WI-38 cells after he moved to Stanford University, California, in 1968. That clash led him to resign in 1976, and to withdraw from consideration for a job directing the newly established US National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland. Wadman's retelling does not completely exonerate him. But in 1980, not long after the dispute spilled into the news, the US government passed the BayhDole Act, making it possible for federally funded life scientists to pursue commercial applications for their research, in many cases with financial rewards for them and their universities. Oliver Smithies had a habit of inventing ways to do the experiments he wanted to do, and crafted tools that are now used widely in biology. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2007 for developing methods to genetically modify individual mammalian genes. His work provided the means to modify any gene in mouse embryonic stem cells. This approach, known as gene targeting, has been used to create thousands of lines of mice carrying desired genetic mutations. It transformed our knowledge about the roles that many genes have in human health and disease. Few areas of mammalian physiology were not touched by these methods. Smithies died on 10 January, aged 91. He and his twin brother were born in Halifax in Yorkshire, UK, on 23 June 1925. His mother introduced him to literature, his father to mathematics. His grandfather taught him how to make useful things from junk, a talent that served him throughout his career. Smithies attended the University of Oxford. He worked with chemist A. G. 'Sandy' Ogston and received his undergraduate degree in animal physiology in 1946, and his PhD in biochemistry in 1951. Smithies came to the University of WisconsinMadison, for a postdoc and later worked at the Connaught laboratories, part of the University of Toronto in Canada. He moved back to Madison in 1960 and stayed there until he moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1988, where he remained for the rest of his career. Smithies' first major contribution came when he was working in Toronto trying to find the precursor to insulin. The separation of proteins at that time depended on how quickly they moved through a matrix of filter paper. Frustrated with the shortcomings of this method, Smithies developed an alternative. He used common starch to make a gel that could replace the filter paper, which made the job easier and more precise. This first application of gel electrophoresis found widespread use in separating proteins and other biomolecules of different sizes. Smithies used it to reveal variation in a group of blood proteins called haptoglobins. Melanie Busbee/UNC-Chapel Hill When DNA-cloning technologies became available, Smithies studied some of the human genes for haptoglobin and haemoglobin. Some are present in two copies, near one another, on the same chromosome. Smithies discovered that genetic material was exchanged between duplicated genes. That sparked his interest in a naturally occurring process called homologous recombination, in which genetic material is swapped between paired chromosomes during the production of gametes. Smithies' Nobel-prizewinning work came from his desire to replace the gene responsible for sickle-cell disease with a normal gene. Through a series of experiments in the early 1980s, he harnessed homologous recombination to insert a gene into a specific location in the mammalian genome. He went on to use this technique to modify a gene in a mouse embryonic stem cell and produce mice carrying that mutation. For this pioneering work Smithies shared the prize with Mario Capecchi and Martin Evans. The ability to target and modify individual genes has proved powerful in deciphering gene function, including in human health and disease. Smithies contributed to these efforts by creating the first animal model for cystic fibrosis. Smithies was a problem solver. His lab bench was his office. He loved physically doing science: designing his experiments, mixing his own reagents and building new equipment when what he wanted was not commercially available. He was working in the lab until a few days before the end of his life. Besides his passion for science, Oliver loved flying single-engine aeroplanes and gliders. In 1980, he was a co-pilot on a record-breaking crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a single-engine plane. The speed record held for 20 years. I flew with him in a small plane in 1984 from Chicago, Illinois, to Cold Spring Harbor, New York, where we missed the runway at the small local airport on our first approach, because of low cloud, and had to circle around. On the second approach, we were thrilled to see the runway and land safely. Oliver referred to this frequently in his later lectures. The thrill of discovery was like finding the runway. China plans to track pollutants using manual sampling stations, satellite sensing and airborne platforms (AFP Photo/Greg Baker) (AFP/File) China has established a single network to monitor air pollution levels across the country, as the government attempts to control the spread of information about the country's toxic smog in response to rising public anger. The announcement follows instructions from the national Meteorological Administration last month ordering local meteorological bureaus to stop issuing haze alerts, raising suspicions the government was attempting to suppress information about the chronic problem. Until now data has in large part been manually compiled from local stations, but the national network will now track pollutants using a combination of manual sampling stations, satellite sensing and airborne platforms, the People's Daily state newspaper reported on Tuesday. "Though data collected by ground base stations can be manually forged, real-time satellite data cannot be changed," He Kebin, a Tsinghua University professor, told the paper. The initiative aims to accelerate pollution reduction and eliminate falsified data, the People's Daily said. In October, environmental protection officials in Xi'an, Shaanxi province were caught tampering with air quality monitoring equipment to produce fraudulent numbers. The network's creation coincides with government efforts to suppress reports about the country's choking pollution, which afflicts most major cities. According to the China Digital Times, this week authorities directed all Chinese websites to "find and delete" a two-year-old story from The Paper, a Shanghai-based digital news site, about pollution's health risks. On Wednesday, a link to the story was being circulated on Chinese social media, but clicking on it redirected to a page saying it was "already offline." The piece cited a Peking University study finding that PM 2.5 atmospheric pollution caused 257,000 excess deaths in 31 Chinese cities. The microscopic particles are linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. Story continues Measures of the toxin in Chinese cities regularly exceed the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air, often by as much as ten times. The study contradicts a statement made last month by a National Health and Family Planning Commission official, who told the Economic Daily that "it is too early to make conclusions about the health consequences of smog, particularly long-term". While national pollution levels have been falling over the past few years, heavy smog this winter -- and the accompanying alarm -- have brought renewed urgency to the issue. The Chinese government has tried to quiet some of the public reaction. Last month, a 29-year-old Chengdu man was detained for five days by local police after he allegedly spread rumours about the smog levels, the Chengdu Commercial Daily reported. "Enhanced interrogation" is just one of the many interrogation methods people use to get a confession out of other people, but there is no guarantee that they will get the truth. Scientists find the phrase, "If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything" troubling. However, this is more so for torturers. After all, if tortured people will tell us anything, how can we be sure they are being honest? Shane O'Mara, a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, has read the release of the "Torture Memos" or legal documents prepared for US federal authorities on the use of waterboarding, sleep deprivation and binding in stress positions as enhanced interrogation techniques. O'Mara's research found out that there was no credible science that showed that torture actually worked. According to New Scientist, the reality is that the intelligence obtained through torture is so paltry that the proponents of torture are left with an indefensible case. Controlled studies on the effectiveness of torture would be very abhorrent, but a lot of information on the psychological and physiological effects of severe pain, fear, extreme cold, sleep deprivation and confinement are present. O'Mara emphasized that torture does not produce reliable information largely because of the severity with which it impairs the ability to think. New Scientist also noted that torture produces panic, dissociation, unconsciousness and long-term neurological damage instead of making a reasoned decision to cooperate. O'Mara quoted an intelligence officer's story of a 60-year-old torture survivor in Cambodia. Apparently, the survivor confessed to everything the torturers wanted to know -- from being a hermaphrodite, a CIA spy, a Catholic bishop and the King of Cambodia's son. However, he was just a school teacher whose crime was that he once spoke French. Interrogators apparently often escalate torture when they think suspects are withholding information, but there is no good evidence suggesting that interrogators are better than the rest of people at detecting lies. More reports are starting to emerge about the possible relationship between air pollution and neurological diseases. This poses yet another dangerous threat to the mental health of people in high-risk cities that have a lot of air pollution. Researchers from Lancaster, Oxford, Manchester and now from Indiana University have discovered more of the microscopic spheres of the mineral magnetite in the brains of people recently studied who had suffered neurological diseases. The mineral magnetite is known to be toxic and has been linked to the production of free radicals that are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Although magnetite has been previously found in the brains of people who died of Alzheimer's, it was thought to be occurring naturally. However, the tiny balls spotted by scientists had a fused surface, which suggests that they have been formed during extreme heat like in a car engine. Science Magazine notes that magnetite -- a form of iron oxide -- is known to be produced in car and diesel engines that emit up to 22 times more particulates than their petrol counterparts. This is very well more apparent if brakes are used, both by cars and trains. According to Michelle Block of Indiana University, this can open yet another avenue to the possible causes of dementia. The discovery improves studies last year that also had evidence that linked the involvement of magnetite to the development of Alzheimer's. The results have indicated that magnetite nanoparticles in the atmosphere can enter the human brain where they might pose health risks. Reuters said the particles are strikingly similar to magnetite nanospheres that are usually abundant in the airborne pollution found in urban settings. The Telegraph added that in Britain alone, more than 800,000 people suffer from dementia, and the figure is expected to increase with the growing population. Scientists have also reported that a drug has been formed to halt the progress of the disease by clearing the sticky plaques from the brain, which block brain cells, but no one knows what causes the plaques to form in the first place. The Earth's magnetic field plays a significant role in the order of life, not only directing compasses to the north but also keeping dangerous cosmic radiation from entering the atmosphere. As long as this force is kept in place, life goes on. The catch is, the magnetic poles occasionally goes through what's called a geomagnetic reversal, as discussed in a paper published in The Conversation by University of Rochester's John Tarduno and Vincent Hare. Every now and then -- anywhere from hundreds of thousands of years to millions -- the north and south magnetic poles actually swap places. During this reversal, the magnetic field weakens, leaving the Earth without protection. Magnetic field has been decreasing for over a century The last full reversal of the magnetic poles happened about 780,000 years ago, long enough ago that it wouldn't be strange that another one could be on its way soon. Findings collected throughout the past few decades seem to support the claims that a reversal is due. For one, the magnetic field has actually been weakening in the last 160 years, particularly in a vast area in the Southern Hemisphere. This spot, known as the South Atlantic Anomaly, stretches from Zimbabwe to Chile. Here, the field gets so flimsy that satellites flying over the region are actually at high risk from radition that can mess with its electronics. In the analysis of a model of the Earth's outer core, it was even revealed that a small patch underneath southern Africa already exhibits reversed polarity. If a compass is somehow inserted in the core-mantle boundary of this region, the north would actually point south. When numerical simulations were conducted, results show that patches like this occur right before geomagnetic reversals. What does a reversal mean for Earth? The possible effects of a reversal of the planet's magnetic poles are endless, from interfering with navigation systems to creating problems with electrical transmissions. Due to the amount of radiation that enter the atmosphere during the phenomenon, the health of humans could also be negatively affected such as an increase in cancer rates. In another paper published in The Conversation, University of Leeds associate professors of geophysics Phil Livermore and Jon Mound pointed out that electronic disruptions would have major impact that could cost up to tens of millions of dollars every day. A previous study even suggested a connection between geomagnetic reversals to mass extinctions. Doctors told him he was just fat, but it turned out he actually has a 130-pound tumor. Roger Logan, 57, had the non-cancerous growth removed on Jan. 31 at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. For decades, Logan went to see several physicians and they had the same answer, which is it's just because he is fat. Other surgeons had determined that Logan's 130-pound mass was hopeless. "They said, You're just fat,' " Logan told ABC 23 in an interview. The man from Mississippi said carrying the tumor is like carrying bags of cement that it actually touched the floor because of its weight. "I used to equate it, you just put a strap around your neck and carry three bags of cement around with you all day long, just swinging," he said. For years, he lived sitting in an oversized armchair, until they have found Dr. Vipul Dev, who had operated someone with a similar case before. Chicago Tribune said Logan and his wife had to endure a 40-hour trip to Central California to finally get the operation started. The surgery successfully removed the mass. And it is only after the surgery that they found out that it was actually a tumor. "We're fortunate to have a facility like this where we can do this kind of surgery with very little or no complications," Logan told CNN. According to Bakersfield, Logan developed the tumor on his lower stomach 12 years ago. Dr. Dev said the growth most likely started as an ingrown hair that became infected and developed its own blood supply. The report added that in two weeks, Logan can be discharged and he can start doing the hobbies he stopped doing because of his previous situation. "My feet are together. They haven't been together in years," Logan said. "I never want to see that armchair again." Two good Samaritans are being hailed as heroes after they leaped into a rushing creek near Livermore on Tuesday and plucked out a young driver trapped inside an overturned car. The frightening scene occurred just before 2:45 p.m. when a 20-year-old man lost control of his 1996 Toyota Corrola near Highland and Collier Canyon Roads, California Highway Patrol Officer Derek Reed said. "We heard a bunch of skidding and thought, 'Oh my God!'" said Dan Rich, one of the men who rushed to help the driver. "I thought the poor whoever's in that car is in trouble. He's in trouble." The other man who helped was Rich's neighbor, Clayton Wiedemann. The car careened off the slick road and plunged into rain-swollen water that was roughly three feet deep. It came to rest on its roof, Reed said, and water immediately rushed inside the car's cabin, trapping the driver inside. "I could hear a young man inside hitting the window under the water," Rich said, but the man "couldn't get the door open." Rich and Wiedemann men happened to hear the crash take place and immediately ran to the driver's side. They Wiedemann jumped into the fast-moving water and attempted to pry open the door. "I think the car had bent so the door wasn't able to open," Wiedemann said. Without a minute to spare, the men grabbed a pickaxe from Rich's truck, jumped into the water and proceeded to smash the car's back window. "You could hear a window implode inside and I just started grabbing everything we could," Rich said. "I guess one of the things I grabbed was him. It all happened so fast, he ended up on the bank before we knew it." The young driver only sustained minor injuries, according to Reed. "It was all going so fast, he was still dazed. He was just happy to get out of that car," Rich said. For their part, the good Samaritans said deemed themselves fortunate to have been in a position to help and are thankful the man is OK. Police originally reported that only one good person was involved in the rescue. Three homes owned by one family on an off-the-grid Los Gatos, California property were devastated in a massive mudslide during heavy storms on Tuesday, and a daughter who lives there used Facebook Live to plead for help. Everythings being destroyed, Jennifer Ray, 32, a stay-at-home mom, is heard saying on the 7:47 a.m. post, her voice teary and frantic. The dogs are trapped in the car. Oh my God. In an interview on Wednesday with NBC Bay Area, Ray said she didnt know what else to do because there is no cell service in that area, and her land line was dead. Luckily, she has satellites on the property, and so her Wi-Fi was working. She streamed what was going on it was the only way she thought she could let the world know she was in trouble. Three homes owned by one family on an off-the-grid Los Gatos, California property were devastated in a massive mudslide during heavy storms on Tuesday, and a daughter who lives there used Facebook Live to plead for help. Bob Redell reports. Los Gatos is a small unincorporated town in Santa Clara County, which comprises starkly different types of neighborhoods, from the extremely affluent, to the extremely secluded. Ray and her family live way off the beaten track on Bear Creek Road between Big Basin Redwoods State Park and the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. The property technically has a Santa Cruz address. Her friends quickly chimed in, many of them saying that theyd call for help. But fire crews couldnt even get to her property at first; it was covered in mud. California was pummeled Tuesday with storms, flooding and mudslides on Tuesday, following a wet January that has saturated the once drought-stricken state. Eventually, Ray, her mother, her sister and three kids got into two cars that they were able to get free from the brown muck that had engulfed the five acres she lives on. And they drove to her grandmothers house in San Mateo, where she is staying indefinitely. Her husband, a union wire man, her brother-in-law, who works in the Menlo school district, and her father, David Marzetta, who is out of work with an injured knee, all stayed behind. There was a "giant landslide," Marzetta said. Admitting he is shaken up, he added that the slide "sounded like a jet plane landing on the property. I jumped out and heard someone yell." As he was surveying his property on Wednesday, Marzetta stumbled across "keepsakes buried in mud," including a Christmas ornament. "Debris everywhere," he said, adding that all he cares about is his family. "My first thought was, 'How are my kids? How are my grand kids?'" Mudslide Devastates Family Property in Los Gatos The good news is that no one was injured when the mudslide took her pregnant sisters home off its foundation, washed away her car, laundry room and tool shed, and ripped off the roof. Ray said her sister was inside the mobile home when the mud pushed it about eight feet downhill. It is now uninhabitable. The loose mud also shoved the play equipment in her own backyard closer to her own house, which actually stayed intact. Her father's home wasn't totally damaged either. But a friend, Tina Foster, set up a GoFundMe page, to help pay for expenses that insurance won't cover and replace lost belongings, especially for Ray's sister, Jessica Ward. While all this was happening, Rays two children witnessed Mother Nature at work. All we could do is watch as it all came down and trap my mom's dogs in her car, she said. When she saw a roof floating by in the muck, she feared the worst: I was thinking my sister and my niece were dead. Ray knows that where she chose to live is remote and prone to fires, mountain lions, falling trees and mudslides. But it was her fathers dream to live there with his daughters, which they have been doing, quite happily, for two years. Three homes owned by one family on an off-the-grid Los Gatos, California property were devastated in a massive mudslide during heavy storms on Tuesday, and a daughter who lives there used Facebook Live to plead for help. Michelle Roberts reports. We knew the dangers of living off the grid, she said, but because of her fathers desire to live together, she said we knew we wanted to try it. As for her father, he is the strongest man that Ray knows, but the mudslide tearing their family apart, at least temporarily, was too much for him to bear. Yesterday, he cried as he held my sister, she said. It was heartbreaking to watch my fathers dreamswash away. As for whats next, Ray and her family are trying to sort out what insurance will pay for and what it wont. But she knows she wants to get back to their home as soon as they can, even though her father said he's thinking twice about where he chose to live; not for his safety but for the others. Its a beautiful place to raise our kids, she said. As a family we know we can get through it together. We do love it up there. NBC Bay Area's Michelle Cabuag-Lim, Michelle Roberts and Bob Redell contributed to this report. Donors to an online crowdfunding account for the benefit of jailed journalist Barrett Brown are suing the federal government. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco on Tuesday, claims the federal government violated donors First Amendment rights when it subpoenaed WePay Inc., the website that hosted the Free Barrett Brown fundraiser for any and all information related to the fund. The First Amendment clearly says that we can freely associate and give to causes that we support without fear of reprisal, said Kevin Gallagher, the man who established the Free Barrett Brown fund and the only named plaintiff in the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, the subpoenaed information was handed over to the FBI for use in the governments case against Brown. Brown made headlines in 2012 when he was arrested for sharing a link that contained information tied to the infamous Stratfor hack. In late 2011, Anonymous hacked into the private intelligence firm Strategic Forecasting, also known as Stratfor. The hack exposed a trove of millions of emails, many of which contained credit card numbers and other sensitive information. At the time, Brown was a journalist whose work focused on the U.S. government and its relationship with private intelligence contractors. Shortly after the Strafor hack, Brown shared a link to a file that contained some of the credit card information leaked in the Strafor attack in a chat room. He was arrested shortly thereafter. News of Browns arrest sparked outrage among advocates for free speech and free press, and prompted Gallagher to take action. He established the Free Barrett Brown crowdsourcing campaign in an effort to raise funds for Browns legal defense. At one point Brown faced the possibility of serving a 100-year sentence. Brown was eventually sentenced to five years in federal prison in 2015. The lawsuit alleges the information that the government sought from WePay was irrelevant to its case against Brown and would instead be used to "identify and surveil Mr. Browns financial supporters. Gallagher says he became aware of the subpoena in 2015 when he obtained emails that showed the government had obtained sensitive information about the Free Barrett Brown fundraising account. He says by the time he found out about the subpoena, it was a year or two after the government had issued it. Gallagher says the government should have notified him or the other donors before issuing the subpoena. NBC Bay Area reached out to the Department of Justice for comment but has not heard back. Gallagher told NBC Bay Area that his work as an activist has taught him to always safeguard sensitive information. He says hes curious to find out just how much the government collected about him and the other donors. Im no stranger to the idea that I might be a target and that I have to use stuff like encryption and do whatever I can to protect my privacy and security, he said. A 61-year-old woman was found shot to death at a home in Novato on Tuesday afternoon, and police want to question her boyfriend, who they say may have been involved. Officers were called to an address on San Marcos Court around 4 p.m. to conduct a welfare check. At the scene they found the victim, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and already dead. Investigators say they believe Craig Anthony Digrazia, the victim's 58-year-old boyfriend, was involved. He's wanted for questioning, and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. Digrazia may be driving a silver 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe with California license plate 6EWP903. Anyone with information about the shooting or Digrazia's whereabouts is asked to call police at (415) 897-4361. Oakland Fire Department Chief Teresa Deloach Reed, who has faced waves of criticism stemming from the deadly Oakland warehouse fire, is on leave, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. City of Oakland spokesperson Erica Terry Derryck said the city "does not comment on the leave status of employees." With Deloach Reed away from the helm, Darin White has taken over as the acting fire chief, Terry Derryck said. Larry Reed, Oakland City Council President, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday he "no idea" where Deloach Reed was. He also speculated that Deloach Reed "needed a break" and "she deserves a vacation like anyone." The devastating December warehouse fire, which killed 36 people, raised questions about the city's fire inspection protocols. Deloach Reed in December said there are no city records showing her department receiving concerns about the building, which former residents, neighbors and others say was the subject of numerous calls to 911. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A soldier welcomed his Afghan interpreter to the United States on Wednesday after buying him a plane ticket to ensure his quick arrival amid concerns the Trump administration might try to expand its travel ban to Afghanistan. Army Capt. Matthew Ball yelled "Qismat!" as he ran and then hugged Qismat Amin at San Francisco International Airport in a series of emotional embraces that marked the end of a yearslong battle to get the translator out of his war-torn country. "I'm so happy," Ball told The Associated Press after welcoming Amin. "Yeah it feels great. I'm happy to see him. I'm sort of overwhelmed. He's here. It's been a long time." The interpreter waited nearly four years for his special immigrant visa. He lived in hiding after receiving death threats from the Taliban for helping American troops. His visa arrived two days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the nation's refugee program and temporarily halting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Afghanistan was not among them, but U.S. officials said shortly after the order was signed that the list could be expanded to include other countries. The ban has since been placed on hold while it's being debated in the courts. Ball bought Amin a $1,000 plane ticket to San Francisco to get him to the U.S. as soon as possible. Amin has said he was nervous he would not feel welcome after Trump's order because he is an immigrant and Muslim. But those fears faded after he arrived to Americans holding signs that read "Welcome to America" and "Welcome Home." "Right now, I don't know what to say. I forgot my words," he said. "Actually this has made me much, much stronger, seeing people with the welcome signs. I feel like I got a huge family right now, and I got a big family in Afghanistan. But right now I got a way bigger family than I ever expected." Ball, a law student at Stanford University, led a letter campaign with fellow students, including many veterans, lobbying Congress to inquire about why it was taking so long for Amin to get a visa. More than 13,000 Afghans and their immediate family members have been waiting to get a special immigrant visa for aiding the U.S. mission, according to the U.S. State Department. Congress approved an additional 1,500 visas in December and extended the program until the end of 2020, but advocates say the number is woefully inadequate. Ball said the U.S. government should speed up the yearslong visa process for interpreters and cultural advisers in Afghanistan because their lives are at risk after helping U.S. troops. America's longest war, which began in response to 9/11, has grinded into its 16th year. Afghan soldiers and police have been suffering heavy casualties in their battle against a resilient Taliban insurgency, while U.S. forces continue to hunt down al-Qaida and Islamic State militants. Ball said Amin protected his life during a yearlong mission in one of Afghanistan's most dangerous areas. The former Army ranger, who is now in the Reserves, said he is happy he was able to return the favor by helping Amin get to safety. Amin will live at Ball's home in Palo Alto for now. Amin planned to call his mom to let her know he had arrived safely. Then he wanted to head to the beach to see the ocean for the first time. Contra Costa's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4 to 1 to move forward with a controversial proposal to build a new wing at the Richmond jail, an expansion plan met with fierce resistance by its host city. The plan proposes adding close to 120,000 square feet to the West County Detention Facility, including space for 400 beds and child-visitation, re-entry and rehabilitation centers. Supervisor John Gioia, whose district encompasses the working-class city, was the sole no vote on the board. Sheriffs officials must now submit the proposal for a $70 million grant from the state. The project will cost the county $25.2 million and around $5 million per year to maintain if approved. Scores of community members in attendence balked at the cost, arguing that the county already is struggling to pay for mental health and education centers for people who are not incarcerated. About 50 people, many of whom live in Richmond, came to oppose the plan. "How about we start releasing people from the prison and getting them back into the community, and making sure that people don't go to prison to begin with," Melvin Willis, Richmond City Councilmember and member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, said. "What about our homeless population, what about our housing population, what about our messed up roads?" The Sheriffs Office has been pushing for a Richmond expansion since 2007. Community pushback has proven successful at halting those efforts. The crux of the issue, according to the Sherrif's Department, is overcrowding. Currently, the Martinez facility is the only jail in the county authorized to house high-risk inmates. Inmate population there there has swelled from the recommended 384 to about 690 pracitically doubling in capacity without adding infrastructure or re-entry programs. That overcrowding contributed to a 68 percent surge in inmate assaults over the past four years, according to the sheriff's report. We need to invest in people now so they dont re-offend, so they dont wind up in prison, Capt. Tom Chalk, the West County detention division commander for the Sheriffs Office, said. At Tuesday's board meeting, members of the Racial Justice Coalition said they worry the expansion plan is a guise so the county can make room for more inmates rather than relocate existing ones. Gioia expressed concern that the Martinez facility would end up overcrowded again in a few years time. Another key point of contention is the sheriffs collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a boon that helps the department rake in an about $3 million per year and takes up about 200 beds. The proposals opponents argued that the deal, in which the department detains people at the behest of immigration officers, contributes to overcrowding and creates distrust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities. This is a really hard issue for us because it hits all of our houses, Claudia Jimenez, a Richmond resident, said. We dont have a hospital a full size hospital in West Contra Costa, but they are going to say yes to more jails. Chalk attempted to address the trust concerns, telling the board that expanding the jail was the humane thing to do for the inmates. I know theres a trust factor that people talk about, and I get that, he said. This facilitys only purpose is to prepare people for rehabilitation and getting them back on track. The alternative is we do nothing. Were trying to do right by these people, and nothing more than that. Throughout the three-hour public comment period, the subject of racial inequality in the criminal justice system led to tense moments between the board, which includes one person of color, and community members. Supervisor Candace Andersen, who represents the most affluent cities in the county, including Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga, remarked anecdotally that she grew up in a diverse community in Hawaii, where she said she was a minority. I sometimes find it very peculiar here on the mainland when its pointed out Hey, youre a white woman, she said. Were all people. So I would love to sort of keep that out of the equation as we discuss this. The remark irked Edith Pastrano, a member of the Racial Justice Coalition, who believes that expanding jails will eventually lead to a larger number of people of color behind bars. Its impossible to have a comprehensive discussion about criminal justice without factoring in racial disparities, she said. It bothered me on a personal level when she said that, Pastrano said. It made me think she doesnt understand the disparities our communities face. Supervisor Federal Glover, who is black, said both issues racial injustice and jail overcrowding could be worked on at the same time. He concluded that the grant is an opportunity to build positive programs for inmates, describing it as a net-positive for all communities in the county. I realize that the population within our jails are overpopulated with African Americans, and that is a real issue, he said. And one day, were going to have to figure out how to serve that. The final decision whether the county gets the $70 million needed in state funding rests with the California Board of State and Community Corrections. The Sheriffs Office will submit the proposal later this month. President Donald Trump criticized Nordstrom, the latest company to be the focus of his Twitter attention, saying Wednesday that the department store chain that decided to stop selling his daughter's clothing and accessory line has treated her "so unfairly." Though he has tweeted in the past about companies such as the U.S. automakers, Boeing and Carrier, ethics experts saw the fact that this one was about a business run by his daughter raising conflict-of-interest concerns and even carrying an implicit threat. In the message, Trump said, "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!" Posted first on his personal account, it was re-tweeted more than 6,000 times in less than an hour. It was also retweeted by the official @POTUS account. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 Trump's presidency has raised unprecedented concerns about ethical conflicts. His plan to separate himself from his sprawling real estate business has been criticized by ethics experts, who say it doesn't do enough to make sure that Trump won't make decisions to personally benefit himself, his family or his company. Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert, said the Nordstrom tweet is problematic because other retailers may think twice now about dropping the Ivanka Trump brand for fear of getting criticized publicly by the president. She said it was especially disturbing that Trump retweeted his message on the official White House account. "The implicit threat was that he will use whatever authority he has to retaliate against Nordstrom, or anyone who crosses his interest," said Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Clark defended the president's right to use his personal Twitter account to express his views, however, pointing out that government workers at the EPA recently set up alt-EPA accounts to criticize the president's policies. "A government employee, even a president, is allowed to tweet in his personal capacity." Trump has feuded with several consumer brands before and after winning the presidency. After Macy's dropped his line of ties and shirts during the summer of 2015 over his comments about immigrants, Trump singled Macy's out for having a tough holiday season. "Good news, disloyal @Macy's stock is in a total free fall. Don't shop there for Christmas," he tweeted that December. And in January of this year, he scolded General Motors for "sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border." ''Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax," he said. Nordstrom reiterated Wednesday that its decision was based on the brand's performance. Since it confirmed its decision about the brand last week, the company has been responding to disappointed or angry shoppers on its Twitter, stressing that its reasons were based on poor performance. The company's shares had dropped after the tweet, like others Trump has mentioned in the past, but they later recovered to be up about 4 percent. A social media campaign called "Grab Your Wallet" that started in the San Francisco Bay Area has urged a boycott of stores that stock Ivanka Trump or Donald Trump products. Don't worry, we made gifs! Movement founder Shannon Coulter said in an email that the tweet was "a testament to the strength and influence" of the campaign, but is concerned that Trump "appears to be using his office to punish companies that prefer not to do business with his family. That seems unethical." Nordstrom said last week its decision was based on the Ivanka Trump brand's performance, and that each year it replenishes about 10 percent of its supply with new products. On its website alone it has more than 2,000 products. "Reviewing their merit and making edits is part of the regular rhythm of our business," it said. Retailer Belk Inc. said Wednesday it will no longer be carrying the Ivanka Trump brand on its website, but will still offer the merchandise at its stores. The New York Times reported that TJX Cos., which operates T.J. Maxx, told employees not to display Ivanka Trump goods separately and to discard the brand's signs, according to a memo obtained by the paper. TJX spokeswoman Doreen Thompson confirmed the memo and said the communication was "intended to instruct stores to mix this line of merchandise into our racks, not to remove it from the sales floor." She said that "at this time, we continue to offer the line of merchandise." Rosemary K. Young, senior director of marketing at Ivanka Trump, said last week that the brand is expanding and saw "significant" revenue growth last year compared to the previous year. Ivanka Trump has said she would take a leave of absence from her clothing and accessories business as well as the Trump organization. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was responding to an "attack on his daughter" when he posted the tweet and that "he has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities, their success." "For someone to take out their concern with his policies on a family member of his is not acceptable," Spicer said. Trump's tweet was posted at 10:51 a.m., a little over 20 minutes after the scheduled start of the president's daily intelligence briefing in the Oval Office. Spicer waved off reporters' questions about the timing, saying the president was not otherwise occupied when he wrote the tweet. It's not the first time Trump's tweets have at least temporarily affected a stock. "What we are seeing is that we are living in a world with a different kind of chief executive in the White House," said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation trade group. "He has a strong opinion on issues. We are learning to work in the environment." Retailers drop brands all the time because of poor performance, said brand consultant Allen Adamson, but given a highly charged political environment, perception is reality for loyal Trump fans. "It is clearly hard for Nordstrom to tell the story that it is dropping (the brand) for business reasons," said Adamson, founder of the consulting firm Brand Simple. "The timing is awful. The environment is full of companies taking political stands. So in this environment it will be perceived as a political statement. Nordstrom is getting dragged into this even though they may not want to be." He said that the best advice he can give companies is to be clear, firm and succinct in their message. But one thing is evident: "They shouldn't get into a Twitter war with the president," he added. "That is a no-win situation." The outcry comes as Republicans are facing heavy backlash on Twitter for silencing Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., in Senate debate late Tuesday. She broke an arcane rule limiting criticism of sitting colleagues when she read a critical, decades-old letter from Coretta Scott King about attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions. The hashtag #LetLizSpeak was trending. Speaking at a law enforcement conference at the White House on Feb. 8, President Donald Trump spent time criticizing the federal courts for blocking his travel ban, reading aloud from the executive order. Just four months after officially joining the flying car revolution, Uber has added a big name to orchestrate its innovative plans. Mark Moore, a 30-year veteran of NASA, is ditching the government agency to take on Uber's director of engineering for aviation gig, according to the ride-hailing company. Moore's primary role is to enhance the San Francisco company's flying car strategy coined Uber Elevate, a program originally outlined in a 98-page white paper released in October. The enticing and futuristic proposal would work like this: Uber users would catch a traditional ride or walk to a neighborhood "vertiport." Riders would then climb aboard a flying car and float to another "vertiports" located near the rider's destination. Uber won't actually be constructing these vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, gizmos. The ride-hailing service plans to collaborate with other companies leading the charge in the flying car industry. Stay informed about local news and weather. Get the NBC Bay Area app for iOS or Android and pick your alerts. "Uber continues to see its role as a catalyst to the growing developing VTOL ecosystem," Nikheil Goel, head of product for advanced programs at Uber, wrote in a statement. "We're excited to have (Moore) join us to work with companies and stakeholders as we continue to explore the use case described in our white paper." Before any flying cars operated by Uber are zooming above clogged commutes, a slew of issues, including noise pollution, battery life, safety and air-traffic concerns, will need to be checked off of the to-do list. Moore's expertise is being tapped to address those concerns. The San Francisco-based company isn't the only collective thinking about the future of transportation, as reported by Bloomberg. Google co-founder Larry Page is said to have commissioned Zee Aero and Kitty Hawk two startups in the Silicon Valley to create flying car capabilities. President Donald Trump offered to destroy the career of an unnamed Texas state senator at a White House meeting with law enforcement officials on Tuesday. At a meeting with sheriffs from around the country, Sheriff Harold Eavenson, from Rockwall County, Texas, told Trump that a state senator opposed seizing assets prior to someone being convicted of a crime. "We have a state senator in Texas that was talking about introducing legislation that would require a conviction before we can receive that forfeiture money," Eavenson said. Eavenson then added that drug cartels would "build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed." Trump then asked Eavenson to name the senator, which Eavenson declined to do. "Want to give his name? We'll destroy his career," said Trump, whose response drew laughter from some in the room, including Eavenson. In an interview after the meeting, Eavenson again declined to name the senator and said he didn't take Trump's comment seriously. "I don't know what his intentions were," Eavenson said. "But I didn't take it as though he was serious about destroying his career." In Austin, several Democratic lawmakers pounced at the state capitol. Several circulated a resolution, saying, "When the president of the United States threatens any member of the Texas Senate, it must be considered a threat to all Texas senators." The resolution didn't have enough signatures to be considered. Meanwhile, speculation swirled about who the unnamed senator is. Two senators Konni Burton, of Fort Worth, and Juan Hinojosa, of McAllen introduced a bill this session that would allow police to seize someone's property only if that person is convicted of a crime. In a statement released Wednesday, Burton said, in part, "I have never met with Sheriff Eavenson, nor even heard of him before yesterday. However I take exception to his comments on asset forfeiture reform." "While I certainly want law enforcement to have the tools necessary to combat large criminal enterprises, we must be vigilant to safeguard the rights of everyday citizens from potential abuse," Burton said. Several messages of support were retweeted by Burton's official Twitter account Tuesday night. When Trump met with the sheriffs Tuesday, he also brought up his victories with officials from Pennsylvania and North Carolina. And when a sheriff from Minnesota introduced himself, Trump said if he had campaigned in the state one more time he would have won it. The president has brought up his electoral victory frequently since taking office. He also spoke on a wide range of issues at the meeting, including border security, drug addiction, human trafficking and terrorism. Below is Burton's full statement on civil asset forfeiture: // NBC 5's Scott Gordon contributed to this report. A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged in a double homicide in New Hampshire, according to authorities. New Hampshire's attorney general office said Timothy Verrill of Dover was arrested in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on Monday on two counts of second-degree murder. In Lawrence District Court Tuesday, Verrill shielded his face behind a door as he was arraigned on a fugitive from justice charge. Are you aware you are wanted by the state of New Hampshire, the judge asked him. Verrill replied, Yeah. Its my understanding that he was at Leahy Behavioral Health in Lawrence for treatment of mental issues and thats where they arrested him, said Verrills Public Defender John Morris. Verrill is accused of repeatedly stabbing Christine Sullivan, 48, and her friend, Jenna Pellegrini, 32, to death in a Farmington home on Meaderboro Road on Jan. 29. Police say Verrill also hit Sullivan in the head with a blunt object. Despite Verrill admitting to mental health issues in court Monday, there were no concerns about his ability to understand the accusations. The judge accepted Verrills waiver of extradition. Verrill will be heading back to New Hampshire as early as Wednesday to face a judge on the two murder charges. The AG's office is also asking anyone with information regarding the victims' whereabouts leading to Jan. 29 is asked to call New Hampshire state police at 603-223-4381. Icy conditions resulted in a treacherous commute for drivers Wednesday morning, with a 55-car pileup among a slew of crashes reported on highways across the region. Northbound lanes at Route 128 northbound at Exit 29 in Wakefield, Massachusetts were shut down after more than 55 vehicles were involved in a major crash. Eight people were taken to local hospitals for various injuries, but none was life-threatening. State police say about 30 vehicles were towed. "Frankly it's a miracle. It's a lot of cars to be colliding," Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said. While all lanes have since reopened on I-95 in Wakefield, state police are still urging drivers to avoid the area because of significant delays. Nathan St. Onge was heading to work around 6 a.m. when he was overcome by slick conditions in Wakefield. "When I tapped my brakes, it was just a sheet of ice and there's nothing I could really do after that. Everybody just started sliding into each other," St. Onge said. --> GET LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES IN OUR INTERACTIVE MAP <-- Multiple ramps on Interstate 93 and the Mass. Pike were shut down or at a complete standstill, and state police said that back road alternatives were also icy. Just after 8 a.m., Governor Charlie Baker declared a two hour delay for non-emergency state employees as crews responded to icy road conditions and highway closures. Newton fire officials responded to more than 12 accidents on Wednesday morning, including one involving a minor who was reportedly injured in an seven-car crash on Route 128. In Methuen, 30 vehicles were involved in a major crash on on I-93 at 1-495 around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The crash has since been cleared. In Melrose, police confirm a school bus carrying students was involved in a crash on Youle Street just before 7:30 a.m. No one was injured. The Leverett Connector outbound was briefly shut down after a major crash. The northbound lane was closed on the Zakim Bridge and has since reopened. Elliot Street Bridge has been shut down in Cambridge. I-93 northbound has been hit with a seven-car pileup in Medford and a 10-car crash in Woburn. At least four cars were involved in a crash on Interstate 495 northbound at West Main Street in Hopkinton. An overturned tractor trailer is leaking fuel on the Mass Pike eastbound before Route 122 in Milbury. Several lanes have been reportedly closed. At least nine cars are involved in crashes and spinouts on Route 128 near the Mass Pike in Weston. The northbound lane has been shut down north of I-93. A spinout crash on Route 3 southbound at I-495 in Lowell is also causing delays. Wellesley police reported multiple traffic crashes on Route 9 east near Cedar Street. A 15-car pileup has been confirmed westbound on Storrow Drive, and the ramp has been shut down both ways at Charlesgate. The Mass Ave bridge was shut down in both directions due to ice and accidents as well. The Boston Police Department reports that there are over a dozen multi-car accidents involving 10 or more cars scattered all across the city. Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads if possible. Meanwhile, Boston Public Schools says its school buses may be late arriving to school Wednesday morning due to icy conditions. Illinois Education Secretary Beth Purvis penned an open letter Tuesday to Chicago Public Schools parents, blaming the districts precarious financial situation on continued mismanagement and calling recent cuts curiously timed. Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a $215 million CPS funding bill in December, claiming Democratic leaders backed out of a deal to pass comprehensive pension reform. CPS was counting on the $215 million to fund an upcoming teacher pension payment, due at the end of June. In order to close the funding gap, CPS announced Monday that the district would freeze as much as $69 million in spending, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Additionally, CPS announced four unpaid furlough days last month, a move that is expected to save the district $35 million. The $215 million in CPS funding is now attached to the Illinois Senate's bipartisan budget package, which includes a comprehensive pension reform plan. In her letter, Purvis called CPS decision to freeze spending a shock to us all, noting the ongoing nature of the Senate proposal. CPS doesnt have to make its full pension payment until June 30th, Purvis wrote. The Illinois Senate is currently considering a balanced budget package that would include comprehensive pension reform, including funds for CPS pensions, and a new school funding formula. Why would CPS arbitrarily create a crisis and hurt its students and teachers rather than work to pass the Senates balanced budget reform package, she asked. CPS CEO Forrest Claypool faulted Rauner Monday for the districts latest financial troubles, comparing the Republican to President Donald Trump, the Sun-Times reports. Hes clearly adopting Donald Trumps tactics of attacking vulnerable citizens in order to score political points, Claypool told reporters. Just like Trump, hes attacking children of immigrants, hes attacking racial minorities, attacking the poor here in Chicago. In this case its the children which is particularly shameful, he added. On Tuesday, Purvis urged CPS to work with all parties to enact a balanced budget package" that would include comprehensive pension reform and a revamped school funding formula. The Chicago Teachers Union issued a scathing indictment Tuesday of U.S. Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos, calling the Republican billionaire a "nightmare." Choosing Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education was one of the first in what will surely be a series of horrific decisions made by the Trump administration, a statement from the CTU said. The union criticized DeVos lack of experience in public education Tuesday, as well as her support for charter schools. The CTU claimed DeVos caters to billionaires who dabble in destroying public education in areas of high poverty inhabited by Black and brown people, comparing the Education Secretary to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. No matter how much he tries to convince the public otherwise, Emanuels insistence on refusing to force his wealthy campaign donors to equitably fund CPS and neglect of the communities where hundreds of thousands of CPS students and educators live and work is a page right out of the billionaire education reform playbook co-written by his mentor, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, the CTU said. According to the CTU, Emanuels policies helped pave the way for the nightmare that is U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the damage she will do nationally. Additionally, the union claimed Gov. Rauner and Senate President John Cullerton are looking to expand those policies statewide. CTU President Karen Lewis claimed DeVos was only confirmed Tuesday because she previously donated "hundreds of millions of dollars" to the Republican party. Its no surprise that Bruce Rauner was among those who endorsed her, because they have a lot in common such as using their extreme wealth to buy their positions, CTU President Karen Lewis said in a statement. Our union will continue to stand in opposition to them and anyone else who is a threat to public education. Rauner called DeVos a very talented and very passionate education advocate in December. The governors office signaled a working relationship with the Michigan billionaire Tuesday. Our administration will work collaboratively with Secretary Designate DeVos as Illinois has worked with all who previously held this position, Rauner spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in a statement Tuesday. Mayor Emanuel's office did not immediately respond to Ward Room's request for comment. President Donald Trump has called out Chicagos surging violence for the second day in a row, faulting gang members who are not even legally in our country" for much of the city's crime. Trump urged a group of cops Wednesday at the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association Conference in Washington to turn in the bad ones to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, referring to undocumented gang members. Call Secretary Kellys representatives and well get them out of our country and bring them back to where they came from and well do it fast, Trump said. You have to call the federal government, Homeland Security, because so much of the problems you look at Chicago and you look at other places so many of the problems are caused by gang members, many of whom are not even legally in our country. Trump failed to provide evidence Wednesday to support his claim that undocumented immigrants are behind much of the gang violence in major U.S. cities. Nevertheless, the Republican once again extolled the virtues of a Mexican border wall, claiming his proposal will stop the drugs from pouring into our country." Trump's comments mark the second time in as many days the president has publicly bemoaned the citys crime rate. In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone, Trump said. And the rate so far this year has been even higher." What is going on in Chicago? he added. According to data made available by the Chicago Police Department, the city saw 3,550 shooting incidents in 2016. Shootings are up by roughly 8 percent so far in 2017 compared to the same time period in 2016, according to the Chicago Tribune. The publication notes, however, that homicides are down by about 20 percent. During his speech Wednesday, the president blamed gangs for crippling areas with violence and fear." Whether a child lives in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore or anywhere in our country, he or she has the right to grow up in safety and peace, Trump said. No one in America should be punished because of the city where he or she is born. Mayor Rahm Emanuels office continued to push for a federal partnership Wednesday, criticizing Trump for failing to act. With all the talk and no action, you have to wonder whether the administration is serious about working with us on solutions, or if they are just using violence in this great city to score political points, Emanuel spokesman Matt McGrath said in a statement. Weve been clear, there are ways the federal government can help, and were happy to partner with the new administration whenever they decide to stop talking and start acting, McGrath added. Trump also highlighted the city's violence during a meeting at the White House Tuesday with county sheriffs from across the country. Literally hundreds of shootings a month, Trump said. Its worse than some of the places that we read about in the Middle East where you have wars going on. Its so sad. Chicagos become so sad, he added. Trump also warned Chicago officials last month that he would send in the Feds if they cant get a grip on the ongoing carnage. Emanuel responded to the president's threats last week, urging Trump to just send them. Send more FBI, DEA, ATF agents, the mayor said during a press conference. We dont have to talk about it anymore. Just send them. Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson echoed the mayors call for increased aid Tuesday, pushing for more federal agents and resources. We are asking for a higher rate of federal gun prosecution, Johnson said in a statement. We are asking for more funding for after-school and summer jobs that are proven to keep kids out of trouble. So far this year, Chicago has seen 61 homicides and 368 shooting victims, according to the Tribune. A sedative commonly used to euthanize pets and farm animals was found in dog food produced by an Illinois company prompting a recall, according to the company and a report from the Food and Drug Administration. Evangers Food for Dogs & Cats, headquartered in Wheeling, said it voluntarily recalled specific lots of its Hunk of Beef product after some of the food tested positive for pentobarbital. The company said it launched an investigation after dogs eating the product reportedly became sick on New Years Eve. The drug can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, or nausea, or in extreme cases, possibly death, the company said Friday in a statement. Five dogs have become ill and one died after consuming the product with lot number 1816E06HB13, Evanger's said. [[373111801, C]] According to Evangers, cans of 12 oz. Hunk of Beef being voluntarily recalled were sold in stores and online in Washington, California, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and were manufactured the week of June 6 June 13, 2016. Evangers says it is also voluntarily recalling Hunk of Beef products that were manufactured the same week as those identified as contaminated, with lot numbers that start with 1816E03HB, 1816E04HB, 1816E06HB, 1816E07HB, and 1816E13HB, and have an expiration date of June 2020. We feel that we have been let down by our supplier, and in reference to the possible presence of pentobarbital, we have let down our customers, the company said. Despite having a relationship for 40 years with the supplier of this specific beef, who also services many other pet food companies, we have terminated our relationship with them and will no longer purchase their beef for use in our Hunk of Beef product. Evangers did not identify the beef supplier in its press release, but it did say all of its suppliers of meat products are USDA approved. The suppliers meat was used in no other Evangers products, according to the release. Because we source from suppliers of meat products that are USDA approved, and no other products have had any reported problems, we are not extending the recall to other supplier lots, the company said. This is the first recall for Evangers in its 82 years of manufacturing and only one household has reported an illness, the company said. Customers with questions should call 1-847-537-0102 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time between Monday and Friday. Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth voted Tuesday against the nomination of Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trumps choice to head the U.S. Department of Education. Nevertheless, DeVos was confirmed Tuesday after Vice President Mike Pence voted in favor of the wealthy Republican donor, breaking up a historic 50-50 tie. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against DeVos, fearing that their fellow Republican's focus on charter schools will undermine remote public schools in their states. I do not believe [Trump] nominated a qualified candidate, Duckworth said during a speech on the Senate floor. I was hoping Ms. DeVos would ease my concerns about her qualifications at her confirmation hearing and prove that she was up to the job. Instead, Ms. Devos failed to study, showed up unprepared and appeared unfamiliar with a foundational civil rights law that guarantees every student, including those with disabilities, the right to a quality, equitable education." Following DeVos confirmation, Durbin said Senate Republicans have entrusted our childrens success to an individual whose experience with public education is limited to using her considerable wealth to undermine it. I share the concerns of parents and educators that Betsy DeVos is unfit to serve as Secretary of Education, Durbin said in a statement. Our children deserve an Education Secretary who will choose students over corporate and for-profit interests; who understands and cares about the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, and students of color; and who is willing to do what is necessary to avoid conflicts of interest. Clearly, Ms. DeVos is not that person, Durbin added. DeVos faced considerable backlash as a nominee, with many critics chastising her advocacy for charter schools and voucher programs. In the lead-up to Tuesdays vote, constituents jammed senators phone lines as protesters gathered outside the Capitol. Opponents have criticized DeVos lack of experience with public education. The newly anointed Education Secretary never attended a public school or sent her children to one. Despite providing few details on her agenda, DeVos will now be tasked with tackling a variety of pressing issues, like implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act, addressing rising college tuition costs and growing student loan debt, and reacting to President Trump's campaign proposal to direct $20 billion in public funding toward school vouchers. Twenty agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms coming to Chicago to help combat the citys seemingly endless violence is not enough, Rev. Jesse Jackson said Tuesday. The statement comes after a report from CNN that federal assistance was headed to Chicago. Asked Friday, a spokesman for Mayor Rahm Emanuels office said while the help would be welcome, the city had not received any word from the federal government regarding CNNs report. But while city officials welcome federal assistance, Jackson says more boots on the ground are not the solution. You cant police poverty, you must eliminate it, he said. Were focusing more on policing than on development. [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More The comment was made Tuesday as community leaders gathered to respond to President Donald Trumps recent comments about Chicagos violence. Its worse than some of the places that we read about in the Middle East where you have wars going on, Trump said Thursday to a group of county sheriffs at the White House. Its so sad. Chicagos become so sad. Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson said he also welcomes the resourcesbut more can be done. Our men and women are working hard to improve public safety, and we stand ready for an increased federal partnership to build upon our work. As I've said before, we are asking for more federal agents and resources, he said in a statement. We are asking for a higher rate of federal gun prosecution. We are asking for more funding for after-school and summer jobs programs that are proven to keep kids out of trouble. Jackson, joined by Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, Chicago Ald. Emma Mitts and others, invited Trump to come visit Chicago to discuss its violence epidemic. Please come, we welcome you to come, but come with something of substance thats gonna help us, Mitts said. We are in a virtual state of emergency, Boykin said. Trump has repeatedly bemoaned Chicagos violent crime, warning city officials last month that he would send in the Feds if they cant get a grip on the ongoing carnage. A man was stabbed and beaten during a violent robbery at a CTA station in the Loop Monday night. Around 10 p.m., the 54-year-old man was standing on a CTA Blue Line platform waiting for a train at Jackson Station in the 300 block of South Dearborn Street when he was approached by four men who announced a robbery, police said. Police said the robbers then began to beat the victim. During the attack, one of the suspects pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the buttocks, police said. The men stole the victims cash before taking off, according to police. The victim was transported to Stroger Hospital in stable condition. No one is in custody. A mother's desperate call on social media reunited her with a friend that she and her husband hadn't seen in years - and gave their two-and-a-half year old son a second chance at life. The past few years have been filled with struggle for high school sweethearts Ryan and Ashley Wagner, of Johnsburg, Illinois. Just days after they found out she was pregnant with their first child, Ryan was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. "They had to do immediate surgery because the tumor had perforated my colon," Ryan said, adding that he has since been through 71 rounds of chemotherapy. Then came more bad news: Ryan's stage 4 cancer would not be curable. And at just eight weeks old, their newborn son Miles was diagnosed with a very rare kidney disorder called hyperoxaluria. "Our lives for the last three years have really been focused on chemotherapy for Ryan, and dialysis for Miles," said Ashley. Miles underwent a liver transplant last year, but he also needed a kidney transplant. Ashley put the word out on the family's Facebook page, and their prayers were answered by an old friend from high school who offered to donate one of hers. "Two things stuck out to me," Liz Wolodkiewicz said of her reaction to Ashley's plea. "One was that I'm his exact blood type, and the second was her question, 'Is it on your bucket list to save a life?' And I thought that should be on everyone's bucket list." [[413101153, C]] "It was a shock because she didn't have to do that," Ashley said. "It is so surreal to know someone was so selfless that they made decision to donate their organ to our child." The successful six-hour kidney transplant surgery happened Monday at Lurie Children's Hospital. "Everything did go well," surgeon Dr. Riccardo Superina said after the procedure. "He is recovering very well." "He's going to do things that normal kids do, that he didn't have the opportunity to do," added Dr. Craig Langman. Doctors call Miles a one-in-a-million kid who continues to inspire people - most of all, his dad. [[413091683, C]] "He is just so happy with everything that he does that it would make me feel guilty about not having the same happiness, even though I'm going through my own struggles," Ryan said. These days, the Wagner family uses the word gratitude a lot, feeling thankful for the medical staff and their selfless friend Liz for giving them such an incredible gift. Doctors say there are more than 100,000 people waiting for a kidney in the United States, and living donors have the best outcomes. "Organ donation saves lives," Ashley said at a news conference, hoping to encourage others to do what Liz did for her family. Miles will need to stay in the hospital for at least two weeks, doctors said, but his parents are sure that once he is released, their son will continue to inspire people. Police responded to a Walmart in suburban Palatine Tuesday evening after receiving a report of shots fired. Police initially said the shots were fired outside of the Walmart, at 1555 Rand Road, but later said the shots were fired elsewhere. Police later sent out a press release that said the victim was a 19-year-old Chicago resident. Police did not say where the incident began or where the shooting occurred. The victim's condition was not immediately known. Police responded to the big box store, at 1555 Rand Road, about 7:30 p.m., Palatine police confirmed. The store remained open. "We are working with Palatine Police and since it's an open investigation all questions must be referred to them," said Charles Crowson, a spokesman for Walmart. Reporters at the scene saw blood on the sidewalk at the front entrance which was cordoned off with crime scene tape. Police officers and squad cars were in the parking lot as the scene was processed. The Senate is working overtime toward confirming President Donald Trump's close ally, Sen. Jeff Sessions, to become the nation's top law enforcement officer as attorney general. The Alabama Republican appears headed toward confirmation on Wednesday evening by a nearly party-line vote. Democrats harshly criticized Sessions for being too close to Trump, too harsh on immigrants, and too weak on civil rights. AdhereTech makes a smart pill bottle to help patients take their prescription medications correctly. "There is simply nothing in Senator Sessions' testimony before the Judiciary Committee that gives me confidence that he would be willing to stand up to the president," said Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt. "He has instead demonstrated only blind allegiance." Republicans say Sessions has demonstrated over a long career in public service and two decades in the Senate that he possesses integrity, honesty, and is committed to justice and the rule of law. [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More "We all know him to be a man of deep integrity, a man of his word, and a man committed to fairness," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. Sessions enjoys unanimous backing from fellow Republicans and cleared a procedural vote Tuesday afternoon by a 52-47 margin, with West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin crossing over to back him. Sessions would be the fourth Cabinet nominee approved by the Senate, where Democratic delaying tactics mean far fewer of Trump's picks are in place than were President Barack Obama's eight years ago. Wednesday's vote comes amid rising tension between Republicans controlling the chamber and minority Democrats largely opposed to Trump Cabinet picks like Betsy DeVos at Education who cleared the Senate by a 51-50 vote on Tuesday with Vice President Mike Pence casting a historic vote to break a tie. Democrats asserted that Session wouldn't do enough to protect voting rights of minorities, protections for gay people, the right of women to procure abortions, and immigrants in the country illegally to receive due process. Their opposition invariably returned to skepticism that Sessions would weigh the interests of Trump along with the rights of the public. Shortly after the confirmation of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the Senate waded into another long night of speeches on yet another nominee drawing sharp partisan difference. Republican Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions is President Trumps choice for attorney general, and the full Senate will likely vote on his confirmation on Wednesday. "Sen. Sessions views this appointment as an opportunity to participate in a movement to advance the president's agenda," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, top Democrat on the Judiciary panel. "This is not the role of the attorney general of the United States.... Can we really expect him to be an attorney general who is independent from President Trump?" This week has featured overnight Senate sessions as GOP leaders are grinding through a thicket of controversial picks. After Wednesday's vote on Sessions comes Health and Human Services Department nominee Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. Epitomizing the sharp-edged partisanship surrounding confirmation of Cabinet nominees, Sen. Elizabeth Warren was given a rare rebuke Tuesday evening for quoting Coretta Scott King, widow of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., on the Senate floor. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell held that the Massachusetts Democrat had run afoul of the chamber's arcane rules by reading a three-decade-old letter from Mrs. King that dated to Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago. McConnell's fellow GOP senators backed his position and Warren, who is very popular with her party's liberal wing, was construed as violating Senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Sessions, even though senators have said far worse in fiery floor debates. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas called McConnell a liar in a 2015 dustup in the chamber. During Sally Quillian Yates confirmation hearing in 2015, Jeff Sessions asked her if she would say no the the president if required to do so. Yates said she believes that the attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the constitution and to give their independent legal advice to the president. Sessions was a prominent early backer of Trump and was a big supporter of his hard line on illegal immigration and an joined Trump's advocacy of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. His confirmation vote comes as Trump has upended Washington, most notably with his ban on travel from seven majority Muslim nations and his criticism of a federal judge who issued a stay halting it. Sessions' nomination to a federal judgeship was rejected three decades ago by the Senate Judiciary Committee after it was alleged that as a federal prosecutor he had called a black attorney "boy" and had said organizations like the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union were un-American. At his hearing last month, Sessions said he had never harbored racial animus, saying he had been falsely caricatured. Sessions has described a conservative vision for the Justice Department, pledging to crack down on illegal immigration, gun violence and the "scourge of radical Islamic terrorism" and to keep open the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. But he has also called waterboarding, a now-banned harsh interrogation technique that Trump has at times expressed support for, was "absolutely improper and illegal." Though he said he would prosecute immigrants who repeatedly enter the country illegally and criticized as constitutionally "questionable" an executive action by Obama that shielded certain immigrants from deportation, he said he did "not support the idea that Muslims, as a religious group, should be denied admission to the United States." President Donald Trump compared Chicagos violence to that of a war-torn country in the Middle East during a meeting Thursday with a group of county sheriffs at the White House. During the meeting, Trump claimed the countrys murder rate is the highest its been in nearly 50 years, pointing to the ongoing crisis in Chicago. If you ran Chicago, you would solve that nightmare, Trump told the sheriffs. Literally hundreds of shootings a month, Trump added. Its worse than some of the places that we read about in the Middle East where you have wars going on. Its so sad. Chicagos become so sad. According to the most recent FBI crime statistics, there were 4.9 murders per 100,000 people nationwide in 2015. Thats a slight increase from 2014, when the country's murder rate was 4.5 percent, a 51-year low. The nation's murder rate has fallen considerably after last spiking in the mid-90s. Trump has repeatedly bemoaned Chicagos violent crime, warning Chicago officials last month that he would send in the Feds if they cant get a grip on the ongoing carnage. Last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel used Trump to just send them. Send more FBI, DEA, ATF agents, the mayor said during a press conference. We dont have to talk about it anymore. Just send them. Emanuel's office continued to push for a federal partnership Tuesday. "Instead of focusing so much energy on rhetoric about Chicago, the people of this city would be better off if the president would finally partner with us to improve public safety for Chicago," Emanuel spokesman Matt McGrath said in a statement. So far this year, Chicago has seen 61 homicides and 359 shooting victims, according to the Chicago Tribune. On Tuesday, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson echoed the mayor's office, pushing for more federal agents and resources. "We are asking for a higher rate of federal gun prosecution," Johnson said in a statement. "We are asking for more funding for after-school and summer jobs programs that are proven to keep kids out of trouble." During Tuesday's meeting at the White House, Trump told the group of law enforcement officials that theres a new sheriff in town as he continued to push his divisive agenda to a largely receptive audience. The Republican once again touted his controversial proposal for a Mexican border wall and bemoaned his stymied executive travel ban. Democratic senators fighting to derail Jeff Sessions' nomination as attorney general repeatedly challenged Republicans Wednesday by reading aloud from a critical letter from Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, a day after the Republicans silenced Sen. Elizabeth Warren for doing the same. Warren was ordered to sit down Tuesday night, throwing the Senate into turmoil as it headed for Wednesday night's vote on the Alabama senator. She was silenced for reading the letter that Coretta Scott King wrote three decades ago criticizing Sessions' record on race. Other Democratic senators read from the letter Tuesday night after she was told to sit down, and more did so Wednesday morning. Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat whose name has been prominent in speculation about the 2020 presidential race, was given a rare Senate rebuke for impugning a fellow senator and she was barred from saying anything more on the Senate floor about Sessions. The late-night dust-up quickly spawned the hashtag #LetLizSpeak that was trending on Twitter early Wednesday. The Senate has been working around the clock since Monday as Democrats challenge President Donald Trump's nominees, although the party lacks the votes to derail the picks. Senators reading from the letter Wednesday included Tom Udall of New Mexico, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Sanders said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who ordered Warren to sit and be silent, should apologize to her. Without directly referencing the letter, McConnell said of Sessions: "It's been tough to watch all this good man has been put through in recent weeks." On the other side, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Wednesday that McConnell's action had been uncalled for, and he saw a possible link to President Donald Trump's words and actions. "I sincerely hope this anti-free speech attitude is not traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue to our great chamber," he said. In the 1986 letter , Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow said Sessions' actions as a federal prosecutor were "reprehensible" and he used his office "in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters." At the time, Sessions was being considered for a federal judgeship. Democrats are portraying him as a threat to civil rights, voting rights and immigration. Republicans have defended Trump's choice to be the top law enforcement officer as a man of integrity who will be an independent voice in the new administration. The incident Tuesday night underscored that the partisan divide in the Senate has devolved into nearly unchecked rancor, with majority Republicans muscling through Cabinet nominees in committee by changing the rules. Democrats are under intense pressure from their liberal base to challenge the entire Trump agenda, especially his nominees. Warren produced the three-decade-old letter in which Mrs. King wrote that Sessions, as an acting federal prosecutor in Alabama, used his power to "chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens." "Mr. Sessions has used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens in the district he now seeks to serve as a federal judge," Mrs. King wrote. Mrs. King died in 2006. Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of a Senate rule for "impugning the motives" of a fellow senator, though senators have said far worse. The letter was written 10 years before Sessions was elected. McConnell, R-Ky., invoked Senate Rule 19, which says "a senator in debate, who, in the opinion of the presiding officer, refers offensively to any state of the union, or who impugns the motives or integrity of any senator, or reflects on other senators, may be called to order under Rule XIX." The Senate voted 49-43 along party lines to sustain the decision to rebuke Warren. Democrats seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren, sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its entirety. McConnell's words to Warren turned into a rallying cry for the left. "Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech," McConnell said. "She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." Warren had argued: "I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. I'm simply reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her." Warren was originally warned after reading from a statement by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that labeled Sessions a disgrace. "She has been warned multiple times (not just today)," McConnell spokesman Don Stewart told NBC News. "And after additional warning today, she was found in violation of the rule. She appealed the ruling and lost." Democrats pointed out that McConnell didn't object when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called him a liar in a 2015 dustup. The 457 sworn police officers in the New Haven Police Department (NHPD) operate under the general order of not asking about a persons immigration status, with one exception. "If we are dealing with someone who has committed a crime then thats a game changer," Interim NHPD Chief Anthony Campbell said. In neighboring Hamden, it is the unwritten policy for the towns 109 police officers to not check the immigration status of witnesses or victims. "Theyre going to be unlikely to report it if they dont trust their local police," Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said. "If they think their local police are an arm of the federal government." Both the top cops in New Haven and Hamden told NBC Connecticut in a sit down interview together that it is no the job of their officers to enforce federal immigration law. Asking them to do so, they said, could erode trust between local police and their communities. President Donald Trump has pledged to crack down on sanctuary cities that shelter undocumented immigrants. "I think it's ridiculous,"Trump said during the pre-Super Bowl interview on FOX. "Sanctuary cities, as you know I'm very much opposed to sanctuary cities. They breed crime, there's a lot of problems. If we have to we'll defund." New Haven, a designated sanctuary city, has seen a steady decline in crime in recent years, Campbell said. "When people are afraid to reach out to the law enforcement entity because of their immigrations status," he said. "Then you start seeing crime go up and thats not what were looking to have happen." Both chiefs referred to the Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools (TRUST) Act that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2014 for guiding how they detain an undocumented immigrant. The TRUST Act states: "If United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement fails to take custody of the individual within such 48-hour period, the law enforcement officer shall release the individual." Wydra said he is looking at the states delegation of lawmakers in Washington to make sure federal funding continues to flow into his town and cities across the state. We provide a safe place for everybody, right, regardless of immigration status," Wydra said. "Then I accept that." The driver of a stolen vehicle being pursued by police caused a rollover accident in West Hartford Wednesday, according to West Hartford police. West Hartford police said around noon they were informed by Hartford police of a stolen 2013 Acura that was fleeing officers in Hartford. The driver hit a police cruiser in Hartford and police were actively pursuing the car through Park Road, North Quaker Lane, Asylum Avenue and Fern Street in West Hartford and also ran a red light and crashed into a Toyota Corolla, causing the 79-year-old driver to lose control, police said. The driver was treated for minor injuries and was transported to St. Francis Hospital. Police said the pursuit ended on Simsbury Road in Bloomfield. Police have not identified the suspect who was taken into custody. A fake Facebook account was passing itself off as the Connecticut State Police and some of the news posted on the now-deleted page was not accurate. "We want to make sure that the information that is being provided under the Connecticut State Police name is accurate information, is correct information, is information coming from Connecticut State Police," Trooper Kelly Grant, the public information officer for Connecticut State Police, said. A close look at the Facebook profile picture can be the first clue into knowing that the account is fake. "We don't want to see anybody harmed, we don't want to see anyone misguided or misdirected. We did notify Facebook that this page is not a Connecticut State Police page," Grant told NBC Connecticut. On Tuesday afternoon, Facebook deactivated the page, which featured false information mixed with what appears to be some comic relief and engaged followers. "It's terrible, 'cause you don't know what's true and what's not because it definitely looks real," Kim Belanger, of Simsbury, said. Quinnipiac journalism professor Rich Hanley said what's even more alarming is the content of some of the posts. "Fake news always has a kernel of truth in it. That's why it works," Hanley said. "Once this stuff is shared, it gets completely out of control and it's impossible to reign in." Grant noted the author moved from posting derogatory comments on their official page to creating his own Connecticut State Police page and state police are checking to see if its all legal. In the meantime, Grant said to look for the signs. "Read what's in front of you, make sure it's legitimate. Look at the patch. You know, our state police patch is up there. Look at the patch, read the patch. Read what it says about calling 911, read what it says who we are. If that doesn't make sense, if that's not correct information." NBC Connecticut did reach out to the poster and a new post was emailed to us. This appears to be the second fake state police page posted recently on Facebook. One popped up last week, but was also taken down. State police said they monitor social media on a regular basis. Hartford police are investigating after a man was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound on Becket Street Tuesday, according to police. Hartford Police Deputy Chief Brian Foley said that when first responders arrived on scene around 11 a.m. it was not clear exactly how the trauma occurred but investigators believe it may be a gunshot wound. The victim, who was not identified, was taken to Hartford Hospital. Foley said while the victim has not been pronounced dead, police believe the victims injuries are non-survivable and the Major Crimes Division has been called in to investigate the case as a homicide. No weapon was found on scene. The building where the victim was found is believed to be in foreclosure. There was evidence on scene of narcotics use and the incident may be drug-related, Foley said. Major Crimes and the Focused Violence Reduction Team are investigating. When it comes to ordering flowers online, a New Haven man learned, what you see isnt always what you get. Roy Araujo ordered flowers for his wifes birthday on Feb. 1, but when they arrived, he thought they must have been from someone else because they looked nothing like the bouquet he picked out. Araujo chose the "Everlasting Soothing Lavender Bouquet" from Avas Flowers. According to Avas Flowers website, the arrangement, "combines enchanting fresh flowers in royal hues of lavender, violet and lush greens in a beautiful square vase. This arrangement displays their appreciation for the color purple and your appreciation for them." The website also reads, "Item pictured is a depiction of an arrangement that we will make as similar as possible with the same look and feel." But Araujo said that wasnt his experience. The bouquet his wife received contained yellow and pink flowers in a clear, round vase. His wifes name was misspelled on the cards envelope and the card itself was blank. Araujo called customer service to express his dissatisfaction with the order and was issued a partial refund. A spokesperson for Avas Flowers said the company offered to deliver a different arrangement and give him a $20 store credit. Araujo felt he should get all of his money back and asked NBC Connecticut Responds for help. The company told NBC Connecticut it contracts with local florists and that in this case, the local designer made a number of substitutions that changed the overall look and feel of the bouquet. Because of that, Avas agreed to give Araujo a full refund of $75.92. A spokesperson told NBC Connecticut, "We strive to get things right the first time. On the rare occasion this does not happen we do our best to make the situation right." New Milford police are searching for a man accused of sending a threatening letter against random citizens of the area, police said. Police said they have an arrest warrant for Sixto Guerra, 26, also known as Eliel Lemus, on charges of falsely reporting an incident and interfering with the duties of a police officer. According to police, Guerra mailed a letter threatening several targets in the area. Authorities took the threat seriously and reacted accordingly. Police allege that Guerras actions, though he did not go through whatever it claimed in the letter, cost businesses and taxpayers thousands of dollars. Guerra is known to frequent the Danbury and New York area and was last known to drive a tan 2003 Dodge Neon with New York plate GZM2451. The New Milford Police Department Anonymous TIPS line at 860-355-2000, or email/text to TIPS@newmilfordpolice.org. The murder trial of a Connecticut man charged with throwing his 7-month son off a 90-foot-high bridge is set to begin Friday. Tony Moreno's case is scheduled to start today in Middletown Superior Court. Moreno is represented by Attorney Norm Pattis. The 23-year-old Middletown man pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the July 2015 death of his son, Aaden. Police say Moreno threw his son off the Arrigoni Bridge over the Connecticut River between Middletown and Portland and then jumped off himself after arguing with the boy's mother. Two bills allowing tuition aid for undocumented students who attend state funded universities is being discussed after a hearing this morning. According to state university officials, all students attending state funded universities pay for tuition aid. The 15 percent cut is taken out of all student's tuition costs and given to students in need and who qualify. To qualify, students must be documented or a citizen who lives in Connecticut. But to pay for the money used, a student's immigration status need not apply. "It's unfair undocumented students pay for tuition but don't get money," said Daniel Byrd, the UConn student body President. The two bills discussed at the hearing in the state legislative office building Tuesday morning aims for change. One bill is SB 17, that states: "An act assisting students without legal immigration status with the cost of college." The other bill is HB 7000: "An act equalizing access to student-generated financial aid." "What this would allow them to do is receive institutional aid. They are now paying 15 percent of their tuition dollars into the institutional aid pot but they are not able to access that," said President Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Mark Ojakian. "We believe a vote against this bill is a vote for state sponsored theft, we are literally stealing money from these students," said Byrd. Some concerns about the bills grew around the new allowance would take away from documented students in need of tuition aid. But supporters said a student's need and academic standing will continue to dictate which student is selected for the aid. Similar bills were presented last year, but did not progress after passing the senate. Senators like Martin Looney who proposed SB 17 said this year he's hoping the bills go all the way. "Intelligence, energy, and initiative are qualities that are not in such great supply. We should not deny a category of young people who have those gifts the capacity to advance themselves to the greatest extent that they possibly can," said Looney Dallas County Schools Superintendent Rick Sorrells wants new ethics rules for DCS board members after an NBC 5 investigation revealed Larry Duncan, president of the Dallas County Schools Board of Trustees, accepted $245,000 in campaign contributions from people associated with a DCS vendor. In a statement Sorrells said, "I did not know about the contributions (or the contribution amounts) until I was briefed last evening." Sorrells said based on the concerns raised, he directed staff to create a new policy to present to the board. "The policy will require trustees to recuse themselves from voting on any item where the board member has received campaign or office-holder contributions exceeding $500 in that calendar year," Sorrells said. On Tuesday, two DCS board members also told NBC 5 Investigates they had no idea Duncan had accepted nearly a quarter-million dollars in campaign contributions from people tied the company Force Multiplier Solutions. "I'm just surprised, that's all I could really say," said board member Paul Freeman. "I hope everything is still on the up and up for a lack of a better word." "I don't think anybody on the board knew he was getting that much," said board member C.W. Whitaker. Other members of the DCS board did not respond to phone calls from NBC 5. NBC 5 Investigates discovered the large donations made to Duncan in a review of his campaign finance records. Force Multiplier Solutions is a company with which DCS partnered on a controversial bus camera program that has put the district in financial trouble. Experts in school finances and politics told NBC 5 large donations to board members in financially troubled school districts often warrant a closer look. "Oh, it raises huge ethical concerns," said Don Southerland, a former FBI agent who now works as a consultant conducting accounting investigations in school districts across Texas. Southerland said donations from vendors to school board members typically prompt him to ask deeper questions. "Has that donation or contribution affected any decision making by the board members in selecting that vendor for contracts or work to be done by the district?" asked Southerland. On Monday, Duncan insisted the $245,000 he received from associates of Force Multiplier Solutions did not affect his judgment. "All of the rules and the ethics and standards of the state election code have been adhered to," said Duncan. When asked if he should have abstained from decisions related to Force Multiplier given the size of the contributions, Duncan defended his actions. "I followed the rules of the state of Texas for every penny of every political contribution and every penny of every expenditure," said Duncan. Duncan's campaign records showed he donated some money he received to the campaigns of other DCS board members. The records show in 2013 he donated $19,000 to Whitaker's campaign fund and he donated $10,100 to Freeman's campaign in 2016. In 2014, he donated $1,500 to board member Omar Narvaez. Narvaez did not return calls for comment Tuesday. Both Freeman and Whitaker told NBC 5 they were unaware where Duncan got his funding. "The public needs to know more," said Cal Jillson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University. Jillson believes the state legislature and others with oversight need to look closer at what's happened at DCS. "I think that as people get a clearer picture of this, public officials who have oversight responsibilities will be forced to respond," said Jillson. Southerland says the DCS board has taken a step in the right direction by hiring Alan King as its interim chief financial officer. King is an experienced auditor of troubled school districts. "I anticipate to see Alan King taking a very involved, deliberate role in reducing the expenses of the district and taking into account the viability of the district," said Southerland. With a $42 million budget shortfall, DCS will have to move fast to cut expenses and stay above water. "I think it's extremely dire at this point in time to have these types of budget shortfalls," said Southerland. Since NBC 5 interviewed Southerland, he says he's been contacted about the possibility of working for DCS on what's called a "fraud audit" for the district. In a statement sent to NBC 5 Tuesday, State Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, said, "DCS is a web of business and political relationships for self-serving bureaucrats. Larry Duncan and the DCS bureaucrats have been busted playing crooked politics instead of looking out for student safety and taxpayers' best interests. If his actions aren't illegal, they should be." For several months, Huffines has said he plans to introduce legislation to phase out DCS. DCS serves as the bus contractor for the Aledo, Carrollton/Farmers Branch, Cedar Hill, Coppell, DeSoto, Dallas, Highland Park, Irving, Lancaster, Richardson, Weatherford and White Settlement independent school districts. Tom Udall Senate floor Sen. Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico, read a letter from Coretta Scott King aloud on the Senate floor on Wednesday morning after Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was stopped in the middle of doing so on Tuesday night. "I entered Coretta Scott King's letter about #Sessions into the Senate record and read it from the floor her words should not be silenced," Udall tweeted on Wednesday morning. Both Warren and Udall were speaking out against the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican, as attorney general. King's letter was written in 1986 in opposition to Sessions' appointment as a federal judge in Alabama. In the letter, King criticized Sessions' record on voting rights, saying the Voting Rights Act "was, and still is, vitally important to the future of democracy in the United States." "The irony of Mr. Sessions' nomination is that, if confirmed, he will be given life tenure for doing with a federal prosecution what the local sheriffs accomplished twenty years ago with clubs and cattle prods," King continued. As Warren read the letter on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked Senate Rule 19, which forbids senators from suggesting another senator is guilty of "any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." "When Mr. Sessions served as US Attorney, his record on voting rights the backbone of our democracy was subject to serious question," Udall tweeted. Sessions was likely to be confirmed as attorney general on Wednesday afternoon, though Democrats have expressed strong opposition. Watch Udall read King's speech on the Senate floor: Here are Udall's tweets from Wednesday morning: I entered Coretta Scott Kings letter abt #Sessions into the Senate record and read it from the floorher words should not be silenced. Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 When Mr. Sessions served as US Attorney, his record on voting rightsthe backbone of our democracywas subject to serious question. Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 In the context of this confirmation hearing, Senator Sessions' record on civil rights must be included in the debate #LetLizSpeak Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 The AG is our nations chief law enforcement officerwith enormous power to either advance or roll back our constitutional protections. Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 I read Mrs. Kings letter about Mr. #Sessions commitment to justice for all. I leave it to my colleagues to assess that commitment. Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 .@SenateMajLdr tried to silence Corretta Scott Kings letter abt #Sessions civil rights record. We're making sure she is heard #LetHerSpeak Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 I fully understand the importance of Rule XIXbut Mrs. Kings words and Sen Warrens voice should not be silenced. #LetLizSpeak Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017 NOW WATCH: Mexican architects visualized Trump's proposed $25 billion wall to show how unrealistic it would be More From Business Insider Authorities said two people were arrested Tuesday night after a chase in Dallas County, during which a Balch Springs police officer was injured in a crash. Balch Springs police said officers were involved in a chase when the female officer was struck near the intersection of South Marsalis Avenue and East Ledbetter Drive at about 9 p.m. Shortly after the crash, the driver being chased stopped near the 1300 block of Alaska Avenue. Two people ran from the vehicle, but authorities said they quickly arrested both. The driver, who had warrants for his arrest, was transported to a hospital for a pre-existing condition. The passenger was released and will not be charged. The officer involved in the crash was transported to a hospital with injuries that police said were not life threatening. Dallas police, Dallas County Sheriff's deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers assisted during the chase. No further details have been released. Air Canada has launched a new flight between D/FW International Airport and Vancouver, British Columbia. The flight will depart daily at 7:25 a.m. Air Canada first started offering flights from DFW to Toronto in 1976. "Air Canada is very pleased to launch our new Dallas Fort Worth to Vancouver service. North Texas is popular with Canadians for both business and leisure and we believe Texans will be keen to visit Vancouver, one of Canadas most beautiful and dynamic cities, said Lisa Pierce, Senior Director, U.S.A. Sales and Marketing at Air Canada. Pierce also announced that Air Canada will start offering daily service between DFW & Montreal in May. Attorneys general from Arkansas and six other states are supporting the University of Arkansas' request to dismiss a former student's lawsuit against the school that alleges university officials mishandled her rape allegations. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a legal brief Monday in support of dismissing the lawsuit, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Attorneys general from Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas also joined in the filing. The lawsuit was filed by a former student athlete who alleged the school acted with "deliberate indifference" when she told police and school officials that she'd been raped in her dorm room by a 23-year-old student in 2014. The 23-year-old, a former university athlete, told authorities the encounter with the woman was consensual, and criminal charges were never filed. The lawsuit argues that the university improperly handled a campus disciplinary process and didn't adequately train people on the disciplinary panel who heard the woman's case. The suit said those missteps violated Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. Rutledge's office argues that the state's sovereign immunity shields the school from lawsuits or criminal prosecution, and that should force a federal appellate court to dismiss the lawsuit. The case against the university "presents an important legal issue about states' sovereign immunity from monetary damages," Rutledge's spokesman, Judd Deere, said in an email. The involvement of six other attorneys general, all Republicans like Rutledge, "signals that states are using the case as the context for a coordinated effort to push back on the federalization of civil rights," Erin Buzuvis, a law professor at Western New England University School of Law and co-founder of Title IX Blog, told the newspaper. Buzuvis described the other states' involvement as pushing for a "`states' rights' approach to government that would prefer less federal power over the states." Attorneys for the university sought to have the case dismissed in November, but U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III ruled that the case would continue to move forward. Parking in downtown McKinney just got tougher. Construction on a new mixed-use development on Davis and Tennessee streets eliminated 350 parking spaces, and the first phase of construction is expected to last more than a year. Some downtown owners are concerned it could impact business. "It could affect all of us. That's a lot of parking spaces," said Cynthia Elliot, owner of Cynthia Elliot Boutique. "It's going to be an issue if this isn't addressed." Elliot said her business has not been impacted yet, but admits a short- and long-term solutions are needed in the historic district. "We're definitely a destination. There's a lot of developments across the country that try to emulate what we have here," said Elliot. "There has to be other creative ways for us to take care of the parking take care of our clients." In November, council members approved a development agreement with two private property owners for a 300-space parking garage at Virginia and Chestnut streets. The proposed site is a few blocks away from Historic Downtown McKinney Square. Under the agreement, the property owner would build the parking garage and the city would lease the garage with an option to buy. "One parking deck won't fix the problem. It's a multi-year solution and it's going to take a while, but it helps," said city manager Paul Grimes. "We have some preliminary design we have to get through to see if it's cost effective and an efficient design." City officials said the parking garage would provide 300 parking spaces. The agreement does not bind the city to construct the garage. If the city decides not to move forward with construction, it would split the cost of the design capped at $75,000. In the short term, a parking committee has talked about a trolley and additional parking lots near downtown. A three-hour parking limit is also enforced. "There's always a concern being a merchant in downtown, especially when you're growing like McKinney is, and when there's a lot of things going on," said Celt Pub owner Stan Penn. "We face some challenges now, but I think we're doing the best we can." On Tuesday night about two dozen choir members sat in a practice room at a downtown Dallas church. The choir director raised her arms to start practice, revealing her gun and badge. She was directing the Dallas Police Choir. "You know it kind of catches people off guard when they see a bunch of cops in uniform singing," said Officer Tim Cordova. "So we have normal work to do, and when we have time, we come and sing." Director Lucy Barnett said the Dallas Police Choir is the only all-sworn officer choir in the country. They were invited to sing at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., to remember officers who were killed in the line of duty this year, including the four Dallas Police Department officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer who were shot and killed in Dallas on July 7. "It's tough," said Cordova. "We can go out and just be human and sing to people, with people, for people. It's very rewarding." The choir is trying to raise $30,000 to send its 28 volunteer members to the ceremony. "We just ask," said Barnett, about fundraising in the past. "And out of the goodness of their hearts, we've been able to raise the money we've needed for every single trip so far." There is a GoFundMe page set up to help raise the $30,000 the choir needs. By late Tuesday, the tally was up to nearly $14,000, which included an anonymous $10,000 donation. Authorities said two men were arrested after crashing a vehicle into a gas pipe in Dallas during a chase early Wednesday morning. Police said the chase started in DeSoto when officers spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen. [[413140143,C]] The vehicle crashed in the 6900 block of University Hills Boulevard at about 4 a.m., damaging trees, fences, power lines and the gas pipe. The two men in the vehicle were transported to a hospital in police custody with injuries that police said were not life threatening. Atmos officials said they turned off gas in the area and are working on repairs. No further details have been released. Sentencing is set Wednesday for an American-born Muslim convert convicted of supporting the Islamic State group and helping to plot a 2015 attack on a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland, Texas. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, while his defense attorney has asked for less than six years of prison time. Authorities say Kareem, the owner of a moving company in Phoenix, provided the guns that two friends used to open fire outside the anti-Islam event in suburban Dallas and hosted the two Islamic State followers at his home to discuss the upcoming attack. His friends, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, were killed in a police shootout outside the contest in Garland. A security guard was wounded, but no one else was injured. The contest featured cartoons that are offensive to Muslims. It's unknown whether the attack was inspired by the Islamic State or carried out in response to an order from the group. Prosecutors have said Kareem watched videos depicting violence by jihadists with the two friends, encouraged them to launch violent attack to support the terrorist group and researched travel to the Middle East to join Islamic State fighters. Authorities also said Kareem inquired about explosives to blow up the Arizona stadium where the 2015 Super Bowl was held, but later set his sights on the cartoon contest after the stadium plan fell through. The verdicts against Kareem nearly a year ago marked the second conviction of someone within the United States on charges of supporting the Islamic State. He was convicted of conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, interstate transportation of firearms and other charges. Kareem denies involvement in the plan to attack the contest, testifying that he didn't know his friends were going to attack the contest and didn't find out about the shooting until after Simpson and Soofi were killed. Kareem told jurors that he strongly disapproved of Simpson using Kareem's laptop to watch al-Qaida promotional materials. Prosecutors said Kareem tried to carry out an insurance scam to fund the Islamic State group and tried to indoctrinate two teenage boys in his neighborhood in radical jihadism. Kareem's brother is expected to testify on his behalf at the sentencing hearing. A jury has awarded a homeowner $248,723 for damages to their home caused by construction of the LBJ Express Project, paving the way for more than 200 others who have also sued. The verdict was announced on Tuesday afternoon after a trial that lasted more than a week. The giant road project added a below-ground toll road to busy Interstate 635 in North Dallas. Even though the project was finished in September 2015, one homeowner said cracks continue to grow throughout his home and in the concrete driveway outside. [[412220363,C]] In opening statements, a lawyer for the main project contractor, Trinity Infrastructure Group, said construction is not to blame for the problems. The attorney 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. A group of North Texas students are rethinking boring kids menus. Tired of the same old chicken tenders and mac and cheese, students from across the region are partnering with local restaurants to create healthier and tastier kids menus. Jeremy Tezano, Amber McDade and Paloma Quiroga are culinary students at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas. Together, they worked with the restaurant HG Sply Co. to design healthy and creative kids dishes. "We had a chance to actually create something that we know kids would like and they would like it's taste and it's cool to eat," said Tezano. The restaurant gave the students a list of food available in their kitchen and challenged the students to whip up creative and tasty dishes. One of their hit dishes with young diners is a twist on zucchini pasta. "It's a blessing to have people eating food that we came up with," said McDade. All three students hope to continue culinary classes after high school and hope to one day pursue it as a career, but already at age 17 it's a dream to see their creations on a menu. "We did it," said Quiroga. "We actually created dishes for a restaurant. That's incredible." More than 100 students from twelve North Texas school districts are participating in the program and helping top local restaurants rethink their kids menus. For a list of where you can find these revamped kids menus, check out the website. A suspect is now charged with the murder of a McKinney teenager over the weekend. Jeremy Reed, 19, was walking the one block home from his aunt's house on Murray Street when he was shot and killed at about 11 p.m. Saturday. Police charged 19-year-old Jalen Holley with murder in Reed's death. His bond is set at $500,000. "They're cousins," said Reed's sister, Sinnetria Reed. "I don't understand why anyone would take my brother away from us. Why anybody would want to hurt him. He just wasn't that kind of person, everybody loved him." According to an arrest warrant released Wednesday, Holley told police he purchased the handgun used in the killing weeks prior "for protection with all the things on Murray Street that go on." Hours before the shooting, Holley said he confronted a male with a handgun because he suspected the male was trying to sell a cell phone Holley lost days earlier. The male denied having the cell phone. Later that night, Holley said he was hanging out on Murray Street where the shooting happened. He told police he heard someone approaching and thought it was the male he confronted earlier returning to retaliate. He admited to pointing the handgun at the individual but said the gun fired accidentally. Holley told police he then realized he'd shot his cousin. He then ran into a field and threw the handgun, according to the warrant. Holley said he admited to what happened at a relative's Super Bowl party the next night. He was arrested on an unrelated charged and later charged with murder. A growing memorial at the spot where Reed was killed is clear evidence of that love. Friends from McKinney High School came and went Tuesday, leaving teddy bears and signing photos. "He was so sweet, so respectable," Sinnetria Reed said. "He would do anything for anybody." Reed's grandmother, Teresa Myles, said he was known for a saying, "If it ain't sweet, it ain't Jones," which led to his nickname "Sweet Jones." "Everybody loved him," Myles said. A GoFundMe page was set up by a family friend to help with funeral expenses. A funeral date has not been set. A Grand Prairie woman who was found guilty on two counts of illegal voting has been sentenced to eight years in prison along with a $5,000 fine on Thursday. Rosa Maria Ortega was arrested in 2015. She is a legal U.S. resident, but is not a citizen and therefore, not qualified to vote. This case shows how serious Texas is about keeping its elections secure, and the outcome sends a message that violators of the states election law will be prosecuted to the fullest, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy. A Tarrant County jury deliberated for about two hours before returning the guilty verdict Wednesday. Ortega was sentenced on Thursday. Prosecutors say Ortega applied to vote in Tarrant County and acknowledged on the application form that she was not a citizen. The county rejected her application and notified her she was not qualified to vote. But five months later, she applied again and this time claimed she was a citizen, they said. Ortega never actually voted in Tarrant County, but investigators learned has previously voted in Dallas County. The defense argued that Ortega didn't understand the difference between "resident" and "citizen" on the applications. Dallas County Elections Administrator Toni Pippins-Poole said records showed that Ortega had voted a total of five times, most recently in the Republican primary runoff in May 2014. In court Tuesday, prosecutors showed voter registration documents from Dallas County and the applications from Tarrant County. And in audio recordings played in the court room, Sgt. Boone Caldwell, an investigator from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, asks Ortega if she is a citizen, and she replies "yes." He then asks if she is a U.S. citizen and she says "Mexican." Defense attorney Clark Birdsall said Ortega came to America with her mother as a small child. Birdsall asked Boone Tuesday if he had informed Ortega that their conversation was being recorded. Boone said he had not. NBC 5's Holley Ford contributed to this report. Brittany Ross was savoring the smell of her aunt's simmering white beans when a tornado lifted their trailer into the air and slammed it back down. "The place started shaking, kind of twisting," she said amid the wreckage at a small trailer park in eastern New Orleans, which got the worse of the severe weather that injured about 40 people in southeastern Louisiana. Ross, 26, her aunt and two others crawled out of the wreckage as debris was still flying around them uninjured, but suddenly homeless. At least three confirmed tornadoes destroyed homes and businesses on Tuesday, flipped cars and trucks and left thousands without power, but no deaths were reported, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said. The governor took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. Worst hit was the same 9th Ward so heavily flooded in 2005's Hurricane Katrina. Edwards, a Democrat, said he was heartbroken to see these people suffering again. He promised the state will provide the people affected with the resources they need as quickly as possible. He said seven parishes were hit by tornadoes in an afternoon of tumultuous weather across southeastern Louisiana. The storm also brought hail and heavy rain to Mississippi, where two counties reported wind damage from suspected tornadoes. Parts of the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama also saw severe weather, but no injuries. Artie Chaney said her granddaughter pulled up to the house from school as a hailstorm fell, just ahead of the tornado. "Rocks were falling on the car, and I was looking out the side door and saw the clouds moving fast. I heard this sound. We looked up in the air and we could see debris in the distance and before we knew it, it was just barreling down on us," Chaney recalled. "We ran in the house; the lights went out. We ran down the hallway to the middle bedroom and then we just heard glass shattering. We thought we weren't gonna make it. It seemed like it lasted a long time. It was a horrible experience. We were just so grateful to God that nobody was hurt." Chaney's voice broke as she looked over the wreckage. "We went through all of Katrina, with no damage. I didn't think I'd be starting over again." The Baton Rouge area also got hit. Three people were injured and several homes and buildings damaged in the historic part of Donaldsonville, about 20 miles southwest of the capital, said Ascension Parish Sheriff's spokeswoman Allison Hudson. And in Killian, just east of Baton Rouge, the mayor said several houses were destroyed and several others damaged, but an elderly couple suffered the only injuries he knew of: one, a broken leg; the other, a broken arm. "How you manage to get blown completely across the street with cinderblocks flying and no worse than a couple broken limbs apparently the good Lord was looking after them," Mayor Craig McGehee said. An official at NASA's Michoud facility in New Orleans said it suffered some structural damage but the deep-space equipment being built there does not appear to have been harmed. Steve Doering said the hardware and tooling used in the Orion and Space Launch System projects were not damaged, but Michoud will have to make a "significant effort" to cover everything up so that any more bad weather won't affect the equipment while the roof and walls are repaired. Associated Press writers Jeff Martin, Janet McConnaughey, Chevel Johnson, Rebecca Santana and Gerald Herbert contributed to this report. Less than 24 hours after Dallas County Commissioners approved the Welcoming City resolution, Senator Don Huffines is calling for its repeal. In a statement, the republican senator from Dallas calls the resolution dangerous and irresponsible. The resolution is irrational, and it is an affront to millions of law-abiding legal immigrants," wrote Huffines. "The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Texas Senate are doing our job for Texans while Dallas County is risking lives locally and across our state." Even though Dallas County Commissioners are not calling the city a sanctuary city, those who oppose the measure believe there was language in the resolution that could be problematic. The emotional debate continues in both Dallas and in Austin at the state capitol. Governor Greg Abbott has made Senate Bill 4 an emergency item, which is speeding up the process during the Texas session. NBC4 Southern California celebrates Black History Month every February with special programming to honor the accomplishments of African Americans in the Southland and spotlight many inspiring stories. Tune in to NBC4 on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 7 p.m. for the award-winning "Life Connected: Celebrating Black History Month" 30-minute special that celebrates individuals that have made an impact in the community. Hosted by NBC4 News at 4 p.m. Co-Anchors Michael Brownlee and Carolyn Johnson, the special includes several stories including Reporter Beverly White's profile of a surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen, and Chief Political Reporter Conan Nolan's conversation with a volunteer at Union Station who first visited Los Angeles via a colored only train from Oklahoma in the 1940's. Today in LA Reporter Toni Guinyard shares the story of one of the first African American Disney animators. We also hear from civil rights activist, philanthropist and L.A. Sentinel Publisher Danny Bakewell, as he tells his story in his own words. Reporter Lolita Lopez profiles the first black captain and soon-to-be battalion chief of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, while Reporter John Cadiz Klemack spotlights a young musical prodigy from Upland who is playing a young Michael Jackson in the Broadway hit "Motown the Musical." Be sure to also look for several public service announcements airing on NBC4 and CoziTV featuring Brownlee, Guinyard, Consumer Investigative Reporter Randy Mac and Reporter Beverly White. The station also supports several nonprofit organizations throughout the year that serve the African American community including the Kingdom Day Parade, Concerned Black Men and Forgiving for Living, to name a few. More than a half ton of marijuana was seized from suspected smugglers onboard a pleasure boat attempting to dock at Shelter Island on Monday. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents became suspicious of the boat and its two passengers as it returned from Mexico waters at approximately 2 p.m. AMO agent Kris Goland told NBC 7 that agents were initially alerted to the vessel when it failed to stop for required inspection at the CBP dock on Shelter Island. Agents observed the boat and noticed that it looked overloaded and poorly maintained, characteristics Goland said are common with potential smuggling boats. Goland said that further suspicion was raised when the vessel tried to dock at a transient, or temporary dock on the island. U.S. Customs and Border Protection AMO agents confronted the two men they were unresponsive. Agents boarded the boat and determined that the two men were citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States. Agents proceeded to conduct an inspection of the boat and found several wrapped packages of pot hidden in after-market compartments inside the boat. The vessel was transported to a secure facility where further inspection revealed more hidden bundles. In total, agents found 66 packages totaling 1,192 pounds. [DONT CHANGE MAIN HEADLINE] San Diego's Border Busts Goland said that smugglers attempting to enter the U.S. by water do so during the afternoon rush in an attempt to blend in. AMO agents arrested the two men, ages 23 and 48, and turned them over to the San Diego Marine Task Force. Their 26-foot boat used to smuggle the pot was turned over to Homeland Security. A man driving a white minivan stopped several times both on the freeway and on surface streets during a pursuit that lasted over an hour Wednesday morning, police said. The Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Division was pursuing the driver of the car, with a warrant for a man with a gun, said Officer Mike Lopez of the LAPD. The chase started just after 10 a.m. at the intersection of Tujunga Avenue and Chandler Boulevard in North Hollywood, Lopez said. The man told police officers he had a gun before he got into the van. Around 10:20 a.m., the driver stopped briefly on the 101 Freeway near Woodland Hills before driving away from officers once again. The pursuit continued on surface streets for a few minutes after the driver exited the freeway, but the driver got back on to the 101 Freeway shortly after. At one point, while the driver was stopped, he leaned out of the car door and made a lewd gesture toward authorities. This is how the minivan driver greeted officers. Watch the police chase here: https://t.co/Iu4UMHJAM0 pic.twitter.com/5S1SJBZs6N NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 8, 2017 As the chase moved into the Sherman Oaks area, the California Highway Patrol prepared to take over the pursuit from the LAPD around 10:40 a.m. Later, the driver of the van exited the freeway once again and the pursuit continued through the Van Nuys area at slower speeds. At one point, a cameraman ran across the street and right up to the driver's window. Officer Tony Im of the LAPD said the cameraman's actions were "dangerous," and said police planned to reach out to the individual's employers to tell them that type of behavior is not encouraged. An unknown cameraman gets involved in the pursuit https://t.co/qRoVS7vNVI pic.twitter.com/92slkmXIVR NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 8, 2017 Over an hour after the pursuit started, the driver came to one final stop on Sherman Way near the 170 Freeway. He exited the car, stood with his hands up and laid on the ground before police led him into a patrol car in handcuffs. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to extend a ban on the cultivation, manufacture, processing, testing, transportation and retail sale of medical and non-medical marijuana in unincorporated areas until a comprehensive regulatory framework can be put in place. The board also asked the county's lawyers to work with the district attorney to shut down 70 dispensaries illegally operating in unincorporated areas. The moves come as the state and various municipalities struggle with the nitty-gritty details of legalizing a long illegal drug. The state has until Jan. 1 to implement Proposition 64 and begin issuing licenses to sell recreational marijuana, but Supervisor Sheila Kuehl expressed doubts. "I don't know whether the state's really going to get it together by Jan. 1," Kuehl told her colleagues. "Everybody's saying no." Meanwhile, the county is trying to figure out just how to deal with challenges posed by marijuana businesses. The fact that marijuana sales are conducted using cash makes dispensaries a target for potentially violent robberies, but also raises odder issues. Tax collectors worry about handling "suitcases full of cash," said Joe Nicchitta of the CEO's Office of Marijuana Management. Supervisors Hilda Solis and Mark Ridley-Thomas both raised concerns about concentrations of dispensaries in their districts. "The constituents that I represent are not exactly eager to have these businesses and manufacturing sites next to their homes and schools and parks," Ridley-Thomas said, telling his colleagues that he wanted to ensure that low- income communities were "not left alone to shoulder the burdens of marijuana legalization." Solis called for the enforcement effort. "The First District has over 40 of these dispensaries," Solis said. "While there's a ban, they're there." The vote in favor of enforcement while the ban is in place was unanimous, but Kuehl was more optimistic that legalization would ultimately shut down a black market in cannabis. "Normalizing it and strictly regulating it is more in our interest," Kuehl said, envisioning a day when marijuana edibles are widely on offer in restaurants. "It'll be a list, like the wine list." The county has the option under state law to permanently ban cannabis, but the board consensus seemed to be that thoughtful regulation would be best. Kuehl and Supervisor Janice Hahn proposed a comprehensive regulatory framework, with Kuehl emphasizing the potential to pick up best practices from Oregon, Washington and Colorado, where the drug is already legal. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who called for extension of the ban, said she was particularly worried about young people using marijuana. "I think we all know, and I would argue, this is a gateway drug," Barger said. "If we do not properly educate, especially our youth, we are going to be creating a whole different set of problems." But even Barger agreed, "We cannot ban it, the voters have spoken." Community outreach -- including educational campaigns for consumers, children and parents -- is planned as part of what is expected to be a yearlong process of creating regulations across more than a dozen county departments. A report back on enforcement is expected in 30 days and regulatory updates will be provided quarterly. Typically, when people queue early in the morning ahead of the official ribbon-cutting of a new restaurant or shop, they can expect a few things. One? A sizable line, if the venue has been on approach for awhile and the anticipation has built. And two? If they're located near the start of the queue, people know that they just might score a free cup of coffee or free muffin, in honor of being one of the first customers to show up. But very rarely, and by "very rarely" we mean "practically never," do the first people in a store line walk away with a couch. But then again, it is a rare and unusual day when what is billed as "the largest IKEA in the United States" finally opens its doors. That's happening on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and Burbank's the spot. If you're picturing the longtime IKEA Burbank, in its former location, well, you're quite close, but hold up one second. You'll find the new bigger furniture-and-more store at I-5 at Olive Avenue/Verdugo Avenue, just a hop away. As for the couch giveaway? A pay-nothing, it-is-all-for-free LANDSKRONA sofa will be awarded to the first 26 people in the queue, "in honor of the 26 years IKEA Burbank has been serving customers." True, a couch is larger than a cup of coffee and a muffin, even when those two things are put together. But, consider this: You can enjoy a coffee and a muffin while sitting on a couch. Food for thought? (Also food for thought: Whether you prefer to say "couch" or "sofa." Maybe polling people around you in line will pass the time.) Other giveaways at the Feb. 8 opening include free POANG armchairs the curvy-backed seats'll go to the next 100 people waiting, after the sofas are given out and free FAMNING HJARTA heart cushions shall be awarded to the "first 200 kids (ages 12 and under)" who've arrived to line up. If your birthday is Feb. 8? You'll score a $52 IKEA gift card. Will the first 2,500 be handed gold envelopes containing other goodies, like food vouchers? IKEA Burbank says this is so. IKEA aficionados? Know this before you make for the Media Capital of the World's new mega store: There are important rules about the giveaways, so bone up on all. Opening time is 9 in the morning. Feb. 8. Wednesday. So you were a buff of the former IKEA Burbank, and you used to frequent the restaurant for meatballs and pastries? Prepare to enter an enormously vast eat space at the debuting location, one that can seat 600 diners. As for the shopping end of this epically sized arrival? There's "...space for nearly 10,000 products," so get ready to encounter a bevy of end tables, dishes, planters, rugs, and everything else that can fill a home or office or yard or all of the above. IKEA, the company, has deep roots in Sweden but many branches around the planet. It'll soon mark its 75th, at least from the date it began serving customers via mail-order (that was 1943, history buffs). And, as mentioned, the IKEA Burbank already has passed its first quarter-century, making it a true stalwart of the downtown area. In fact, if you were to line up a row of meatballs, or delicious lingonberries, one after the other, for every day that the IKEA Burbank has been open, or for every couch or chair or table sold there, well... that would be a notable amount of meatballs or lingonberries. No doubt about it. Even if you don't arrive in the line early enough, and you do not nab a couch or food voucher, you'll still get to eye a gargantuan new store that's been in the works for a good long while. The only thing left to do, then, as you get your bearings in Burbank's newest yet longtime neighbor, is to follow those famous floor arrows as you learn your way around a store you've frequented for years, and yet are seeing for the first time. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is seeking re-election, Tuesday won the endorsement of Barack Obama -- his first high-profile endorsement since leaving the presidency. Garcetti announced the endorsement to campaign volunteers at his re-election headquarters Tuesday morning. "As Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti has delivered by raising the minimum wage, creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity," Obama said in remarks quoted in a statement from the Garcetti campaign. "This past November, Eric led the campaign to pass the largest transportation infrastructure measure in our nation's history. Eric is my friend, a loyal ally and a great and visionary Mayor of Los Angeles. I strongly endorse Eric Garcetti for a second term as Mayor of Los Angeles." Garcetti, in the statement, expressed pride in the endorsement. "I am honored and humbled to be endorsed by my friend and ally in making L.A. work for everyone, President Barack Obama," he said. "President Obama led us from the Great Recession, extended healthcare to millions of people and brought millions more closer to equality. Our work together helped create jobs, build infrastructure and lift people from poverty all across our city. I am so proud to have President Obama on my side as I run for re-election so I can keep getting things done for Los Angeles." After Garcetti announced the endorsement, he thanked Obama at the news conference Tuesday morning. "Thank you President Obama for your service to this country, thank you for your support of me and this campaign, and thank you for setting the bar for what public service is about for all of us," Garcetti said. Obama and Garcetti have known each other since 2007, when Garcetti became an early endorser of his presidential bid. Garcetti worked closely with the Obama Administration to secure billions of dollars in funding for Los Angeles infrastructure, anti-poverty Promise Zones and aerospace manufacturing. Obama and Garcetti also worked closely together on ending homelessness, community policing and raising the minimum wage, the statement said. First elected in 2013, Garcetti is on the March 7 primary ballot. One of his opponents is expected to be Mitchell Schwartz, who directed Obamas 2008 presidential campaign in California and served as communications director for the State Department under President Bill Clinton. Garcetti said his work with Obama "helped create jobs, build infrastructure and lift people from poverty all across our city. I am so proud to have President Obama on my side as I run for re-election so I can keep getting things done for Los Angeles." Rony Abovitz The future of Magic Leap, a quickly expanding startup valued at $4.5 billion that's developing a futuristic pair of computer glasses, depends on releasing its still-in-development, secret product to the public. For years, Magic Leap has promised to release a set of smart glasses that overlays computer graphics on the real world, a technology usually referred to in Silicon Valley as "augmented reality." Ahead of a board meeting planned for next week, Magic Leap's "whole engineering group is scrambling" to produce a working prototype of Magic Leap's glasses a prototype the company has been calling the "PEQ" a person familiar with Magic Leap's development process told Business Insider. The prototype will be presented to board members, and sources say the meeting is being viewed as a milestone in the product's development a chance to prove that Magic Leap can shrink its technology to fit inside the smaller form factor that will be released to the public. They say the demo is currently in "decent" shape. But as recently as January, the glasses prototype that is supposed to represent Magic Leap's all-in-one product prototype is nonfunctioning and empty, according to people who have seen presentations from Magic Leap. The current prototype Magic Leap is showing has two "belt packs" attached to the glasses with wire. One pack contains the device's battery, and the other has its computing power. Magic Leap decided to split the packs because of thermal concerns, according to a person present during a demonstration. Former Magic Leap employees have said heat was an issue with the device. Magic Leap 3 The packs were described to Business Insider as "pretty bulky," or about the size of a soda can, and larger than the patent drawings Magic Leap has included in filings. The Information reported in December that a prototype of the "PEQ" device that Magic Leap's CEO showed a reporter was hollow, and that the company gave its demos through a headset hooked up to a desktop computer, raising questions about whether Magic Leap's technology could be sufficiently miniaturized and productized to fulfill the company's promises. Story continues "Our PEQ systems (product equivalent) are in both hardware and software agile build cycles," Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz wrote in a blog post in January. "Our first system will be the first step towards a really cool dream. Of flying squirrels and sea monkeys and rainbow powered unicorns. Of most anything you can imagine." The computer-driven demos are compelling, former employees said. One demo Magic Leap gives to potential employees and partners is "Star Wars"-themed the user is placed on Hoth, the ice planet, among giant AT-AT robots. The price for the final device, which could be launched a year after a developer's kit, is likely to be between $1,000 and $2,000, according to former employees. One former employee said the device would likely cost slightly more than "a fully loaded iPad Pro." Former employees say they expect the company to release a developer's kit this year, the first step toward a commercial release, although some have said an internal "this year" timeline goes back to 2014. A Magic Leap representative declined to comment for this article. How much runway? beyonce concert The size and complexity of Magic Leap's operations suggest the company may need to raise more money before bringing its product to market, even after raising $1.4 billion from investors including Google, according to former employees. Magic Leap has sprawling operations it said in November it had at least 800 employees, and it's growing rapidly. Magic Leap has multiple offices in southern Florida and Silicon Valley, as well as outposts in Seattle; Boulder, Colorado; Dallas; Austin, Texas; and Israel. Focus may be an issue for the company, former employees said. For example, Magic Leap is investigating businesses related to healthcare although its underlying technology is not yet finished. Several of Magic Leap's patent applications related to healthcare were published earlier this year. Magic Leap is seeking not only to launch a hardware product the glasses but also to develop the software and content that runs on it. Hundreds of its employees are working on content such as videos and games for the still unreleased device. Other former employees describe a culture that caters to VIPs. They said Magic Leap's leadership would clear out its Dania Beach, Florida, office, sometimes multiple times a month, to give demos to celebrities, investors, and other important people. Some who saw the device, like Steven Spielberg, were pitched to make content for it. But others, like Beyonce who received a personalized "mermaid" Magic Leap demo, which the team created on short notice, and was bored by it were more of a reflection of Abovitz's desire to connect with celebrities than anything directly related to the company's business, former employees said. Additional fundraising might also allow current and former employees to sell their shares to secondary investors. Magic Leap had secondary liquidity events after its last two fundraising rounds. The Information reported in January that private investors were rethinking the price they are willing to pay for Magic Leap stock. In some cases, the stock is trading for less than the $23 per share it was valued at during Magic Leap's last round of funding in February 2016. Magic Leap is reluctant to approve transfers of its stock. Magic Leap is the best-capitalized augmented-reality startup and is being watched by rivals including ODG, Meta, and Microsoft, which have released and demoed their smart glasses publicly, as well as companies like Facebook and Google, which have AR ambition of their own. One AR executive told Business Insider last month that he thought Magic Leap was "smoke and mirrors," pointing out that the technology hasn't been publicly seen. Know anything about Magic Leap? Contact the author at kleswing@businessinsider.com. Editing and additional reporting by Steven Tweedie. More From Business Insider Two men and a woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 12 counts of capital murder stemming from the deaths of seven children and three adults, including two pregnant women, in a 1993 arson fire at a Westlake apartment building. Authorities said they believe the fire was set in retaliation because a building manager was trying to crack down on drug-dealing at the property. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Hanasono ordered Ramiro Alberto Valerio, 43, Joseph Alberto Monge, 41, and Johanna Lopez, 51, to be held without bail pending their next appearance Feb. 15 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse for a readiness conference. The three are awaiting a hearing Feb. 21 to determine if there is enough evidence to require them to stand trial on 10 counts of murder and two counts of murder of a human fetus. The murder charges include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder in the commission of an arson, making them eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek death. The charges also include an allegation that the crime was "committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang." Valerio, a Palmdale resident, and Monge, who is from Montebello, were arrested Friday. Lopez was charged in 2011 with murder in connection with the fire and was already in custody, authorities said. A fourth suspect, who police declined to name, is "out of the jurisdiction," and the LAPD is coordinating with other agencies to make an arrest, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck said Monday. The suspects' gang was "engaged in large-scale narcotics sales" at the apartment and when a new manager was hired in 1993, she "tried to do the right thing" and put an end to drug dealing on the property, Beck said. The gang retaliated by intentionally setting the fire, police and prosecutors said. Robbery-homicide investigators have been following leads for years and have known for nearly five years that Valerio and Monge were allegedly involved, according to LAPD Capt. William Hayes. The key to making a case stick, police said, was finding witnesses willing to testify against suspects like Valerio, who was the alleged shot- caller for a notorious gang. The early 1990s were the "absolute zenith of violent crime in Los Angeles," Beck said. "In that kind of atmosphere, witnesses don't come forward." District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the gang had a stranglehold on the neighborhood at the time of the fire, but witnesses who were previously too frightened to cooperate have since come forward. "In most cases, time can hinder a prosecution ... In this case, time was on our side," Lacey said, telling reporters that the mass murder has "weighed on the minds of prosecutors for the last 24 years." Two pregnant women were trapped on the third floor of the 69-unit building at 330 S. Burlington Ave. and unable to save themselves or their children, Lacey said. More than 100 residents were displaced, and more than 40 were injured. The seven children who died ranged in age from 15 months to 11 years. Lopez was first charged with murder related to the fire in 2011 and murder charges were refiled against her Tuesday after the initial case was dismissed. Lacey and her team declined to say whether Lopez was expected to testify at trial. Lopez has been held without bail since 2011 and is subject to an immigration hold, according to records on the Sheriff's Department website. In 1993, the building was a waystation for immigrants, some of whom lived a dozen or more to an apartment to stretch their incomes from low-wage jobs. The fire's rapid spread was aided by the crowded conditions, with personal belongings and furniture crammed into small spaces, fire officials said at the time. After two suspicious fires on the premises the previous month, inspectors had noted that fire doors were propped open and alarms were not functioning properly. They required the owner to conduct fire patrols every half-hour. But the patrols never happened, and the fire doors were still open during the deadly blaze. The tragedy prompted widespread calls for improvements in city fire inspections. Carol Eves and her family are on a tight budget. "We're living paycheck to paycheck and it's kind of tough," she said. Eves moved into a home in Miami-Dade county with her daughter and grandchildren, after her daughter's husband died of cancer. "We got this place so we could all be able to support each other," she said. According to Eves, the family paid about $60 every three months for water and sewer service. But then in May 2016, her water bill shot up to $706 - more than 10 times her average. "It could not be right," Eves said she thought. "There's no way possible it could be right." The bill said Eves' family used 53,856 gallons of water - enough to fill a round, 21-foot swimming pool nearly 4 times. "That's a lot of water," she said. Her landlord hired a plumber, who she says found no leaks. When she called the water department, they checked her meter. "They said the meter's working fine and they said I would have to pay the bill," she said. That's when she called NBC 6 Responds. "I'm just needing an answer, somebody to tell me, 'yes it's right,'" she told us. NBC 6 Responds found Eves' was one of 13,551 inquiries made about high water bills in Miami-Dade County in just over a year. "People call about, 'Hey, my water bill is too high. What is going on?'," Lester Sola, director for Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, said. According to the water department, only a small percentage of the bills they issue are questioned for being too high. Director Sola said it's one reason why they offer customers several types of credits on their bills for everything from re-filling a pool to finding an underground leak. "During the last two years, we've issued over 4,000 credits to the total of approximately $4 million," Sola said. There's even a one-time lifetime credit that they describe as a last resort for unexplained high bills that Sola calls a safety net. It's also the toughest credit to get. NBC 6 Responds found that the department issued more than 3,800 credits in the following 4 categories: outlet, certified meter test, vandalism and underground leaks. But in that same period, the department issued only 40 one-time lifetime credits. "Those individuals have to meet a condition," Sola explained when asked why the one-time credit wasn't issued as often as the others. "Oftentimes, the leaks that don't qualify are in fact when there's a running toilet or someone left the water on." Eves was told she didn't qualify for any credits and made a payment plan to pay the full bill. Her next bill returned to normal, even though she said she didn't make any repairs or change any habits. To learn more about the different bill adjustments Miami-Dade Water and Sewer offers to customers dealing with high water bills, click here. Florida's medical marijuana amendment passed with huge margins in November but how lawmakers will implement it is sparking concern, especially among South Florida law enforcement and school officials. A large crowd attended Tuesday's Department of Health public forum on medical marijuana in Fort Lauderdale, where some gave emotional anecdotes on how best to write the laws. Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho took the floor to ask for a 3-tier plan that respects students and teachers. "A safe distance between dispensaries and schools, no fewer than 2,500 feet," he said. One of Carvalho's board members, Martin Karp, spent time with school administrators in Colorado, where kids have medical marijuana at school, just like any other medication. "It became very difficult to be able to manage this when kids bring it to school and it's in their lunch box and it looks like candy, how do you really know?" Karp said. Carvalho and crew argued that prohibition of candy or soda-like packaging that appeals to kids is a must. Meanwhile, Miami Beach's top cop, Chief Daniel Oates, spoke on behalf of Florida's Chiefs of Police Association. He said the state can come up with its own regulations but it's imperative municipalities have control. "Elected officials feel very strongly that should be decided by them. The local zoning rules, hours of operation, signage placement within the city," Chief Oates said. Chief Oates was in Colorado for nine years as medical cannabis was made legal. In his experience, implementation went up in smoke, mostly because of a lack of accountability. "Ten doctors in the state signed the vast majority of the certifications. It was the equivalent of the pill mill crisis we had here several years ago," he said. The room in Fort Lauderdale Tuesday was half full of investors putting in their "marijuana moments" relative to dispensary licenses. The other half was full of patient advocates, like Seth Hyman, whose daughter is medically complex. Hyman told the Department of Health that limiting the number of farms and cultivators to just seven, as it is now, would be dangerous. "There are literally thousands of different options, thousands of different types of medical cannabis and unfortunately when you're dealing with a limited number of growers, you're limited to the availability of particular types of medicine," he said. Police said a teen wanted in the murder of a man in northwest Miami-Dade last month surrendered to authorities Wednesday. Antoine "Ton" Webster, 18, was wanted for second-degree murder in the killing of 23-year-old Jerald Griffin on the afternoon of January 18, Miami-Dade Police said. Griffin was found shot in the area of Northwest 77th Terrace and Northwest 13th Court. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died. #MDPD's homicide bureau is conducting an investigating into the death of Jerald Griffin. Contact @MDCrimeStoppers at 305-471-8477 w/ info. pic.twitter.com/HAA6a9jy1y Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) February 8, 2017 Police didn't release a possible motive for the shooting. Some of New Yorks most violent drug gangs are finding new, less perilous ways to make money: credit card fraud. NYPD officials said raids on street crews for drugs and guns are increasingly turning up evidence of major stolen credit card operations, a far cry from their perhaps typical bloody drug wars. In the last year alone, "hundreds and hundreds" of gang members were arrested citywide and found in possession of stolen credit cards, according to NYPD Lt. Rohan Griffith of the Queens Larceny Squad. "Just five short years ago that almost never happened," Griffith said. NYPD officials are devoting more resources to target repeat offenders and gangs carrying out these scams, including adding detectives to grand larceny squads in each borough, as well as having gang squads conduct raids to try to get suspects off the streets. The raids often involve catching them in the act in more serious offenses like weapons or drug possession. Surveillance videos from recent schemes show how often gangs are using credit card fraud to fund their operations. One recent video taken at a big box retailer showed suspected gang members using one stolen credit card to purchase multiple iPads. Other videos show how suspects use parking meters, fast food restaurants or taxis to test stolen card numbers; once the card is approved, the suspects move on to other locations. "These gang members are tech-savvy," said NYPD Chief James Essig. "They are wizening up, and they realize street violence only brings more heat on them. Investigators said some of the money raised is used to buy weapons or pay for vacations or expensive cars. Some suspects even post videos on social media showing off alleged trips or purchases allegedly made using bogus credit cards. "You see guys on Facebook who bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars and are vacationing down in the islands with this money," Essig said. Investigators say gang members often obtain card numbers from hackers on the so-called dark web or by having associates work at stores or restaurants. Using hidden card readers, a person's data and can be stolen with a quick swipe. That data is then uploaded onto a stolen card and put to use by gang members. Cops are using precision policing to target the worst, repeat offenders. And while banks often reimburse cardholders for any fraud, detectives said it still is important to report fraud incidents so they can spot scams and trends sooner. "We cant go after these individuals that are perpetrating this type of crime if we are not made aware," Ennis said. Police admit they are often playing catch-up in cases like this. It is often days or weeks before a victim realizes they have been ripped off, and tracking credit card purchases and matching suspects to sometimes grainy surveillance tapes can be labor intensive. Plus, if all incidents were reported, crime stats would soar and police resources would be taxed just trying to keep up with the huge volume of ripoffs, big and small. Retailers want banks to increase chip technology and require pin codes for credit card transactions to help cut down on fraud. The Federal Trade Commission cites national studies that show about $15 billion is stolen from more than 13 million consumers each year. But Dr. Marie Helen Maras, a cybercrime researcher at John Jay College, says the big banks are willing to accept some fraud because easy-to-use credit cards make them lots of money. "Adding another security feature to the credit card would result in customers using other cards or even apps that would not require this additional step to pay for items," said Maras. "Financial institutions view customer attrition as more costly than the potential fraudulent credit card transactions." As for the NYPD, they say that going after street gangs for drugs and violent crimes still makes the most sense because it makes communities safer and jail time is often more severe. Fraud investigations are detailed and labor-intensive, and arresting a gang member for credit card fraud alone can often result in penalties of probation or a year in jail. Still, fraud arrests continue to grow in New York, as are the number of street crews getting into the credit card fraud business. And with the NYPD putting on additional pressure, investigators say they see street crews increasingly venturing out to the suburbs and exurbs where smaller departments have fewer resources to try to counter these ripoffs. Authorities have arrested 13 members of a narcotics trafficking group that smuggled millions of dollars of cocaine to New York City through snail mail, law enforcement officials said. Ringleader Ariel Lopez-Acosta was arrested at his home in the Highbridge neighborhood in the Bronx Wednesday after he unsuccessfully tried to flee through the back with a bag of money, officials said. Two Puerto Rico-based drug suppliers, Luis Melendez-Sanchez and Eluid Torres, were arrested in San Juan. Puerto Rico Wednesday morning and will be subject to extradited proceedings. The three men were indicted on charges of operating as a major drug trafficker under New York State's kingpin statute, which carries a potential life sentence, officials said. The indictment was obtained by the NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor and the Bronx District Attorneys office. Eight other suspected members were arrested by members of the DEA Strike Force (DEA, HSI, NYPD and NY State Police) and U.S. Postal Inspection Services (USPIS) using wire taps and search warrants in New York City, five of whom are Bronx residents, officials said. Two others from the Bronx and Maryland were previously arrested. The defendants are expeted to arraigned Wednesday. Seven men and one woman were led out of the NYPD's 44th Precinct Wednesday afternoon. All 13 defendants face various charges, including conspiracy, criminal possession of a controlled substance and operating as a major trafficker, officials said. Authorities seized 4.5 kilograms of cocaine, a kilogram of heroin, a rifle, a stun gun and drug paraphernalia after conducting searches in Manhattan and the Bronx, as well as at a stash location in Yonkers Wednesday morning, officials said. Authorities said a court-ordered search of Lopez-Acosta's home yielded about $100,000 in cash, along with $90,000 in jewelry, small quantities of steroids and two vehicles, including a Range Rover. Top Tri-State News Photos Through surveillance, phone calls, text messages and social media, authorities detemined nearly $3 million of cocaine was shipped through the U.S. Postal Service using packaged exercise equipment and children's toys, officials said. "The United States is in a heroin crisis right now, so any time we seize heroin it's important," said DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James Hunt. "The drug traffickers were ingenious in the methods they used, in this case toys and exercise equipment." Lopez-Acosta allegedly ran the drug ring from August 2015 to November 2016, with Melendez-Sanchez and Torres arranging narcotics shipments through the U.S. Mail, authorities said. The drugs were then allegedly transported from Puerto Rico to New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland. DEA agents and officers arrested Lopez-Acosta's wife, Rosanna Duran, in November as she tried to board a plane to the Dominican Republic after they discovered she was smuggling $59,680 in cash profits to family members. What to Know Catherine Johannet, of Scarsdale, was reported missing by her hostel when she didn't return from a day trip The 23-year-old Scarsdale woman had traveled to Bastimentos Island, a tourist spot known for its beaches, hiking trails and wildlife Her body was found on a wooded trail near the beach Sunday; the FBI is assisting Panamanian authorities in their investigation A preliminary autopsy on the 23-year-old tourist from Westchester County found dead in the woods near a beach in Panama indicates the young woman was strangled, according to a Panamanian national TV network. The body of Catherine Johannet, a Scarsdale woman who had already visited six continents and innumerable countries by her early 20s, according to her brother, was found Sunday in a wooded stretch on Bastimentos Island. The initial autopsy findings were first reported by Panamanian national TV network TVN. Panamanian authorities declined to comment on the report, tweeting in Spanish late Tuesday that the probe "is kept under strict reserve." Johannet had been staying in a hostel on Colon Island and went to Bastimentos, an island known for its pristine beaches, hiking trails and wildlife, for a day trip, authorities have said. When she didn't return, the hostel reported her missing. Her body was found three days later. The FBI is assisting Panamanian authorities in their investigation. Johannet's family, meanwhile, is mourning the loss of a woman they remember as a "laughing, adventurous, warm little girl." "She was always there to listen to you and just enjoy life with her loved ones," her sister Laura wrote on Facebook. Her older brother Paul said Catherine Johannet had recently returned from an 18-month trip to Vietnam, where she taught English literature to local students. He said he would always look up to her. "She was cheerful, adventurous, thoughtful and warm - all qualities I strive towards," Paul Johannet wrote on Facebook. Catherine Johannet's last Instagram post, put up about a week ago, shows a smiling woman in sunglasses and bathing suit, standing in the aqua-colored sea at Isla Ina, one of the small islands off the northern coast of Panama, a glorious backdrop of pillowy clouds behind her. "I found paradise and it's called Isla Ina!" she wrote. According to her LinkedIn profile, Catherine Johannet earned her bachelor's degree from Columbia. She graduated from Edgemont High School in 2011, and the schools superintendent released a statement Wednesday describing her as a "bright and joyous" young woman with a promising future. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Scarsdale Congregational Church on Heathcote Road. Mount Kisco police are warning drivers of someone who is illegally placing a boot on vehicles and demanding cash to remove it. Police say residents and businesses have been contacting them to complain about a "freelance" operator who's been placing boots on cars parked on private property on the 200 block of East Main Street. Local law requires that any company or property owner who plans to boot illegally parked cars on private property have a permit to do so, and they must be bonded and insured, according to Mount Kisco police. The village ordinance also sets limits on fees that can be charged for boot removal, and requires the company to take a credit card in addition to cash. The person who has been booting the cars on East Main Street has demanded cash only to take the boot off, police say. In addition, no company has a current permit to boot vehicles in Mount Kisco. Police also say they've checked with landlords and property owners in the area, and no one has hired a tow company to boot vehicles on their property. If anyone has a vehicle booted in Mount Kisco, they're asked to call Westchester police at 914-864-7701 to verify whether it's been done legally. What to Know Kim Woo was snatched from a home on Staten Island Tuesday morning State Police issued an Amber Alert hours later, saying they feared she could be in "imminent danger" Her father was taken into custody; charges are pending The man who police say attacked his estranged cop wife and then snatched his 2-year-old girl, sparking an Amber Alert and hours-long search, was set to appear in criminal court on Staten Island Wednesday to answer to the charges against him. Johnny Woo, 45, was taken into custody in the Bronx Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly yanked his daughter Kim Woo from her mother's Staten Island home wearing only pink pajamas, was rescued in good condition. Woo is facing charges of assault and harassment, police say. Here is video from the scene of the Amber Alert. Please Credit @SBANYPD pic.twitter.com/Qm6Lowbs6J SBA (@SBANYPD) February 7, 2017 Video from the scene of Woo's arrest shows police cars surrounding his vehicle on the side of the Major Deegan Expressway in Morris Heights. The police activity briefly backed up traffic on the highway. NYPD pulls over the father wanted for allegedly kidnapping his 2-year-old child from a Staten Island home. The traffic stop happened on the Major Deegan Expressway on the southbound side Tuesday. A sharp-eyed driver who was picking up his son from school nearby spotted the wanted vehicle as he was driving on the highway. "I was driving, picking up my son from school and he told me about the Amber Alert," Fernandes told NBC 4 New York, recalling the car traveling right past him. "I sped up and I went up to the car and I looked at the plate. And the plate was the same as in the Amber Alert. That's how I had to follow him until I got the conclusion to stop." Fernandes' son called 911, and the two spoke with police on the phone. "I was letting the dispatcher know the car is ahead of me. I could see the police officer, his lights in front, and I let him know the car is on the right side," said Fernandes. Fernandes started flashing his high-beams to get the police's attention, and then drove up alongside the car to try and box in Woo. "God put me there for a purpose. And I thought I was the one who was going to be arrested because I was speeding on the highway," he said. "But thank God, we got the baby, everything is safe." NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said a joint effort helped police locate Woo, including by Fernandes and NYPD school safety agents and highway patrol. "Public safety really IS a shared responsibility," O'Neill tweeted. Gr8 update: 2 civilians saw vehicle, waved down @NYPDSchools agents, @NYPDHighway responded. Public safety really IS a shared responsibility https://t.co/ukz9VFL16a Commissioner O'Neill (@NYPDONeill) February 7, 2017 State Police had been looking for the pair since Woo fled with the child after allegedly punching his estranged 35-year-old wife in the stomach at the woman's home in Willowbrook before 9 a.m. A statewide Amber Alert was issued shortly before noon as State Police say they feared the child could be in "imminent danger." Woo's estranged wife -- an NYPD sergeant who was off duty at the time -- was taken to a hospital in stable condition; she's expected to be reunited with her daughter soon. Police were seen coming and going from her home Tuesday. Neighbors said they were in shock. Several people described the mother and little girl as friendly but said they kept to themselves. "I was shocked to see the cop's car here this morning," said Anthony Sullivano. "We have a quiet street here, but when you see a cop car, something is wrong." [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More New rules for the trams that cart tourists up and down Atlantic City's boardwalk could mean more advertisements and pricier rides for passengers part of an effort to raise funds for the battered Shore town. Atlantic City's council members are considering the updated regulations Wednesday, the Press of Atlantic City reports. If passed, B&B Parking, which runs the city's tram system, would be able to sell ad space on the trams, and then turn over a portion of the revenue to Atlantic City. New Jersey took over management of Atlantic City late last year, despite multiple attempts from local officials to fend off the state takeover. This piece of legislation is not anticipated to put much of a dent in Atlantic City's roughly $500 million in debt, but it seems any amount could help as city leaders mull other ways to draw money from tourists to keep the city afloat. To read the full story, click here. For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal. A Philadelphia neighborhood community center is getting some well-deserved national attention after an appearance on NBC Nightly News. Kevin Upshur is the owner of the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center, a safe haven that provides programs designed to promote growth and development to local students. The nonprofit was founded by Upshur in 2008, when he transformed his mothers local bar into an education and resource center. In August of 2016, Upshur created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the centers kitchen and bathroom renovation project. This month, NBC News Anchor Lester Holt stopped by the center to highlight Upshurs work in the community in a special piece that premiered Tuesday evening on NBC Nightly News. Almost overnight, GoFundMe donations began pouring in from people across the country. Everything from the computers to food for the center is donated by sponsors, including businesses like Reading Terminal Market and the Philadelphia Housing Authority, so the donations made are essential to keeping the center up and running. Only 18 hours after the story premiered on Nightly News, the GoFundMe raised over $30,000 for the renovation, totaling $32,876 since the fundraiser opened. Upshur and his fellow organizers say they are thrilled with the response and are overwhelmed by the generosity. "It's so exciting that I've been running around all day, I haven't had much rest because the phones have been ringing," said Upshur who is excited to get started on the updates. Upshur and the team at the Learning Center are hoping to hit $100,000 for the full renovation. Anyone interested in donating can do so at their GoFundMe page. Police are searching for at least two men who they say are responsible for five robberies in Philadelphia, including one in which an accomplice was shot in the back by an armed owner. One of the suspects first targeted the GM Mini Market at 401 North 64th Street back on November 28, 2016. The suspect entered the store, pointed a gun at a 36-year-old employee and demanded money, according to investigators. He then stole an unknown amount of cash and fled east on Callowhill Street. The employee, who has a license to carry, chased the suspect with his own firearm. When the suspect reached the 300 block of North Gross Street he turned and fired once at the employee and then continued to flee. The employee was not injured during the incident. [[413141693, C]] On January 27 at 9:28 p.m. a gunman entered the Haverford Grill on the 6500 block of Haverford Avenue. Police say he pointed his gun at a 20-year-old female employee and demanded money from the cash register. He then took an undetermined amount of cash and fled in an unknown direction. He was last seen in what appeared to be a dark-colored 2000 through 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo with another man, according to investigators. On January 29 at 9:40 p.m. two suspects entered the Eagles Corner Chinese Restaurant on 6200 Spruce Street. Police say the suspects went in through the backdoor, pointed a gun at the owner, 49-year-old John Zhang, and demanded money. "They pushed the gun on my back," Zhang told NBC10. "I knew this was a robbery." The suspects then fled after taking an unknown amount of cash. As the suspects ran away and climbed over a fence, Zhang grabbed a gun and ran after them. He fired three shots and struck one of the suspects, later identified as 26-year-old Markquise Vanlue, in the back, according to investigators. "The other maybe a little bit slow," Zhang said. "He probably did get shot. I fired at them." Police say Vanlue later walked into Mercy Hospital for treatment. He was then arrested and charged with robbery. On January 31 at 4:35 p.m. two suspects walked into the Vine Street Deli on the 200 block of North Simpson Street. Once inside, the first suspect pointed his gun towards two female employees, age 33 and 39, and demanded money and cigarettes, police said. He also aimed his gun at a third witness and demanded that he give up his wallet, police said. The second suspect went behind the counter and removed money from the cash register. Both suspects then fled the store and were last seen heading north on Simpson Street. Finally, last Thursday at 8 p.m., the suspect and an accomplice entered Palano Food Market on 6900 Woodland Avenue. The first suspect approached a 41-year-old employee who was working behind the counter and pointed a gun at him while the second suspect stole an unknown amount of cash from the register. The first suspect then ordered a 21-year-old employee who was walking to the front of the store to lay on the floor. The suspect then stole the second victims wallet. Both suspects then fled and were last seen heading south on 69th Street. The first suspect is described as a thin black male standing between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-8. During several robberies he wore a ski mask, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, black leather jacket and blue jeans, police said. The second suspect is described as a muscular, light skinned black male standing 6-feet with his face covered. If you have any information on the identities of either suspect, please call Philadelphia Police. At least two armed robbers have struck five businesses in Philadelphia since late last November. NBC10s Brandon Hudson spoke to the owner of one of the targeted businesses who fired back at the suspects. Its an early morning training mission for Camp Pendleton military personnel. A private contractor has them loaded onto a bus heading to an offsite training location to take part in controversial trauma training. Once there, they'll be trained on lifesaving techniques using living pigs and goats who are cut, shot and have limbs severed to simulate battlefield conditions. It's training to save the lives of their comrades but critics say it's cruel, ineffective and inefficient. It doesnt really benefit as much as it sounds, one of the Marines told NBC 7 Investigates. Two Marines shared their experience and first-hand knowledge of the training program. Both have been in the Corps for over 10 years. Their names and faces have been concealed to protect them. They said the training is done with some secrecy. According to the Marines who spoke to NBC 7 Investigates, Navy Corpsmen and Marine special forces are told to wear civilian clothes for the training and "before they get on the bus, they take everyone's cell phone away. "They dont want anyone taking pictures or video and putting it on YouTube or social media," one Marine said. Both said they believe the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy are under pressure to stop the program which is funded by U.S. Department of Defense contracts. The Marines said the men and women being trained are at times conflicted by what happens during the live animal trauma training. "We are compassionate people, trying to save lives but you are part of something that inherently inflicting pain and suffering on an animal, one of the Marines said. According to published reports and government documents, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army are reducing their use of goats and pigs to train their personnel to prepare for responding to medical emergencies on the battlefield and are instead opting for simulators. Some bases have stopped this practice completely. The Army has ended it for non-medical personnel and advanced career training courses. One type of simulator is called a cut suit, made locally by Strategic Operations. They are manikins with special effects and are sometimes worn by humans to simulate the realistic responses that come with responding to traumatic injuries. You can see video from Strategic Operations of the "cut suit." WARNING: This video is graphic. The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal rights groups argue live animal trauma training is cruel. The groups also say they are flawed because of the anatomical differences between humans and animals. For example, they say goats and pigs have smaller torsos than humans. One animal advocacy group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine provided NBC 7 Investigates with a study from the University of Minnesota. The study was done on behalf of the DoD and according to the study, simulators are cheaper than animal use, because, according to the study, live animals are cheaper initially but after approximately 300 uses the simulators becomes more cost effective to use in training. Click here to read the study. According to a statement sent to NBC 7 Investigates, the Department of Defense's goal is to reduce the use of live animals in medical training. However, according to the statement, the department is continuing to assess its training methods and cites training studies that suggest using a combination of simulation and live tissue training is appropriate. The live animal trauma training the Marines described were part of a contract awarded to Simmec Training Solutions. California State records show the corporations Chief Executive Officer is Merri Tyrre. According to DoD records the company is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has an office location in Oceanside. Since 2008, the company has been awarded more than $6 million in DoD contracts nationwide, according to the website usaspending.gov. According to a December 2015 contract, the company was awarded $1.2 million to train personnel at Camp Pendleton. Click here to see more details on the contracts. Simmecs Tyrre declined to comment for the story. PETA has been actively advocating for the military to eliminate animals from the training program for years. In 2016, 71 members of Congress sent a letter to then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter urging the secretary to reduce the use of live animals in combat medical training. It was a bipartisan effort and one of the signers of the letter, Congresswomen Jackie Speier (D-San Franciso/San Mateo Counties) told NBC 7 Investigates she remains a lead on this effort but the position on the new administration on this issue is unknown and no immediate action is expected. Read the full statement from the DoD below: As stated in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2013, the Department's goal is to reduce the use of live animals in medical training and to increase the use of validated simulation training platforms. However, the combat casualty care training studies suggest that the DoD's current approach to combining both simulation and live tissue training to prepare corpsmen to care for those injured in combat is appropriate given the fact that management of complex trauma has not been successfully simulated with current technology. DoD will continue to assess its training methods as new data become available and as innovative technologies present opportunities for enhanced realistic training that improves care provided to service members in a combat environment. Medical training courses prepare corpsmen to diagnose and successfully treat wounds they will encounter on the battlefield, consequently saving the lives of thousands of wounded Marines and Sailors. Legal cannabis is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States with a projected annual growth rate of 31%. The total market projection for legal cannabis sales in 2020 is $21.8 billion. Many entrepreneurs in San Diego are looking to capitalize on the cannabis business boom. You keep your wine in wine fridge, your liquor in a bar, your cigars in a humidor, why are we keeping our high quality cannabis in a shoebox under the bed, said Whitney Beatty, Founder and C.E.O. of Apothecarry, a stylish storage system designed to keep cannabis at its optimum condition. Cannabis capitalists, like Beatty, are looking to hit it big with a unique business opportunity. In a non-descript office building in Mira Mesa, there are roughly a dozen entrepreneurs, working to make money off marijuana. The sign on the front of the door reads Canopy San Diego, its a business accelerator program for technology based ancillary products and service companies targeting the legal cannabis industry. Jack Scatizzi and Eric Gomez are the founding partners of Canopy San Diego. According to Scatizzi, Canopy San Diego offers each individual business $20,000 upfront, plus 16 weeks of training and mentorship, in exchange for 5 to 10% equity in their company. What were looking to do is import people with backgrounds from other industries and drop them into the cannabis industry to develop the right solutions for this business, said Scatizzi. The hope is that these business ventures will be up, running and ready to be successful when recreational marijuana use becomes legal in California in 2018. In addition to the designer marijuana storage box by Apothecarry, other businesses include a platform for medical marijuana patients to achieve better health outcomes, a cloud based marijuana business solution, an electric tracking system for commerical cannabis cultivations and even a digital news network to cover the business of pot. Adelia Carrillo, C.E.O. of Direct Cannabis Network, says her marijuana news based website is getting more visitors each month and credits the growth to the ability to collaborate freely with fellow entrepreneurs at Canopy, To be able to bounce ideas off of other people, to be able to see what their hardships are, what their similarities are even though we are different companies. So it was very inspiring, motivating and everybody kinds of keeps everybody accountable. Canopy San Diego accepts up to 10 companies every 6 months into their accelerator program, it does not invest in companies that directly cultivate or dispense cannabis. Two men, wanted in connection to three separate Metro PCS armed robberies across San Diego, were suspected of another robbery Tuesday in Clairemont, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) reported. The robbery was reported at 12:28 p.m. on the 5400 block of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard near Interstate 805. Police said the two suspects made a demand to employees and then ran away out of the back of the store. One suspect was armed with a handgun. It is unknown what was stolen. This robbery is connected to the three others reported at Metro PCS stores, police told NBC 7. The first incident occurred on Jan. 27 at 1:14 p.m. inside the Metro PCS store on the 4200 block of El Cajon Boulevard in the Kensington area. The second was reported on Jan. 30 inside another store on the 3400 block of Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. The suspects also targeted a store on the 1800 block of Coronado Avenue in Egger Highlands on Feb. 1. On Feb. 2, San Diego police released surveillance video and pictures of the two suspects. San Diego police released surveillance video Thursday of one suspect wanted in connection to an armed robberies at three different Metro PCS stores in San Diego. In the most recent robbery, one suspect had his face covered with a bandana and was wearing a blue hoodie, black jacket and jeans. The second suspect was wearing a red hoodie and jeans. He had used his shirt to cover his face. According to police, one suspect uses a handgun in every reported robbery. He is considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call SDPD or Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. When it comes to money for education, a budget crisis is looming in California. In the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), it could come down to teachers being laid off. Parents are receiving emails from principals at their childrens schools about possible painful budget cuts. The principals are asking for feedback about how parents want the school to spend discretionary money the district gives to schools. In some cases, parents are being asked to fundraise to make the budget cuts less painful. Elementary schools with fewer than one thousand students could lose their vice principals. Thats disappointing, said one parent at Ellen Browning Scripps Elementary School in Scripps Ranch. I know the vice principal here is amazing, and all the boys love him because hes really good with discipline and keeping them in line. The parents at Ellen Browning Scripps received an email outlining other possible cuts. Those include reduced hours for recess and lunch supervisors, librarians and counselors. Those are on the chopping block right now, said Board member Richard Barrera. Those are under discussion. Barrera said the approach is to cut from the top, to move vice principals back into the classroom for example. He also said it is possible the District could offer an early retirement incentive to experienced teachers at the top of the salary scale to free up positions for teachers who don't make as much money. What about layoff notices? We will see how it plays out, said Barrera. Were certainly likely to issue lay-off notices, and in the end, we might have to do layoffs. Education obviously is so important, and its crazy we have to keep going through these budget cuts, said one parent. Other parents questioned how the District spends its money. I think they need to reorganize and look at what theyre doing," said a parent who is upset about District plans to close down a school in Scripps Ranch and build another. Another parent said, It looks like they didnt do good budget control over the years. I wouldn't agree that we're not managing our money well," Barrera argued. He did add that decisions were made that cost money, such as the Board giving teachers a pay raise in order to try to be competitive with other districts. Barrera said the Board also made the decision to keep class sizes low, which the district is still committed to doing despite the shortfall. Having low class sizes, I dont think any of us would say is wrong, but it's very expensive, he told NBC 7. He said the other reason for the shortfall is the Governors proposed budget which he claims underestimated economic growth. That could change when the Governor revises his budget in May. That will be helpful," Barrera said. But we still have to go forward with a structural deficit, we have to solve it. He added: We will make this work for kids. Our kids are going to have a great year this year. They will have a great year next year. Were going to take care of a problem now so we dont continue to have this in the future. In response, SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten sent NBC 7 a statement, which read, in part: "Across our district, parents and schools are meeting to find creative resolutions to help us close the $124 million budge shortfall we face in 2017-18. That process will continue until the board meeting on February 21, we present our budget." You can see the full statement below. A major decision could be coming Wednesday from Sacramento that would extend drought restrictions. That has a lot of local residents scratching their heads, given the recent heavy rain and conservation efforts. The San Diego County Water Authority also declared the drought conditions over for our county following the storms. But that is not stopping the State Water Resources Control Board from considering the idea of keeping statewide drought controls in place. Some Poway homeowners are not so happy with the potential of more restrictions. I think its ridiculous, said resident Cliff Doughty and his neighbor Jim Hoover. Californians have saved water on average by 22.5 percent a month since June 2015, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. But for residents in Poway, there will be a monthly fee increase that kicks in this March. People worked hard and conserved water and did without a lot of things, said Doughty. Then they were rewarded with increase in water rates. They want to charge us more because theyre not selling enough water. Jim Hoover said he isn't just feeling the pain of a rate increase, but the impact the drought had on his landscaping business that he recently retired from. Its really tough right now because everybody is going to rocks," Hoover said. Poway Mayor Steve Vaus said Sacramento is out of touch, putting too many regulations on residents. I wish Sacramento could come down here and pay attention to how weve taken care of business. The San Diego Water Authority has done a terrific job. Weve got more than enough water for our needs," Vaus told NBC 7. Though Poway's needs may be met, and one of California's prime water sources, the Sierra snowpack has gotten more snow than normal, state regulators want to continue restrictions because of concerns about water supplies on the central coast between Monterey and Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara reservoir is under 15 percent full. Resident Karen Valencia said that's why conservation is key and everything needs a little protection. The first of 123 of San Diegos most wanted Yorkies rescued from a hoarding situation in Poway last month were adopted to forever homes Wednesday. The San Diego Humane Society said adoptions for the pups began at 10 a.m. Interest was certainly high. Last week, the Humane Society said the nonprofit organization had received more than 1,500 applications for the dogs. On Jan. 20, animal service workers seized 92 Yorkshire terriers and Yorkshire terrier mix breed dogs from the home of an elderly couple in Poway. Officials said the couple sought out help for the dogs from animal services; the Yorkies were living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. Four days later, an additional 29 Yorkie mix-breed pups belonging to the couple were found at another location, the Humane Society said. Over the past couple of weeks, the Humane Societys veterinarians have examined the dogs and treated them as needed. All 123 pups have been evaluated for behavior, too, and have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, groomed and outfitted with microchips. Some have received dental care, too. An overwhelming response from people wanting to adopt the rescued dogs prompted the San Diego Humane Society to close the application process on Feb. 4 -- earlier than planned. The applications are being reviewed and adoptions are being completed through a lottery-type process, the Humane Society said. As of Wednesday, 80 of the dogs have been cleared for adoption. The first batch of forever families picked up the pups at the Humane Societys Gaines Street shelter. More adoptions of these dogs will be completed on Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A small, cash-strapped school district tasked with educating some of the poorest students in the county is once again mired in controversy. This time a former employee is alleging he was wrongfully terminated by the superintendent for raising concerns about potential wrong-doing. Parents at the San Ysidro School District, located directly on the U.S.-Mexico border said they are fed up with the drama and think more attention should be focused on the students. The school district signed a contract with an energy company in 2008 to put solar panels on top of San Ysidro Middle School. Nine years, $16 million dollars later and after an ugly lawsuit that nearly ripped the district apart, and there is not a solar panel in sight. At one point, the districts finances got so bad, the state almost stepped in and took over. Now it finds itself right back in the thick of controversy with some of the same players. A former San Ysidro School District employee claims he was wrongfully terminated in January 2016. In a claim filed with the district, Jose Enrique Gonzalez alleges the Superintendent Dr. Julio Fonseca fired him because the employee raised concerns about the districts hiring practices. The district said the mans claims are false. The controversy was first reported Monday in La Prensa, a community newspaper. In a written statement to NBC 7, Fonseca said the newspapers claims are false. The contents of the story are inaccurate and we invite any inquires regarding the Districts hiring procedures, the statement read in part. My primary obligation is to my students to keep them safe and ensure their educational needs are met while at the same time safeguarding taxpayer dollars, Fonseca said. In the statement, Fonseca points out that the owner of the community newspaper is the solar panel contractor who successfully sued the district for $16 million. The former employee making the claims is the chief operating officer of the publication. Parents at the San Ysidro School District have had several different superintendents since 2011. Many say they dont know all the details of the latest drama, but they are fed up with the constant squabbling at district headquarters. Rosio Terrera, a San Ysidro Middle School parent, told NBC 7 in Spanish that more attention needs to be focused on the students. This is about the kids. Not enough attention goes to the students. They shouldn't be affected by the issues adults are fighting about, she said. Another parent told NBC 7 she was upset about the districts hiring practices because a position was added in the administration when she felt it needed to be added at the school site. Only one, two or three people for all these kids? said Olga Espinoza. You need extra people right here (at San Ysidro Middle School) not over there, she said motioning across the street to the district headquarters. An open government watchdog said the real legal issue the district may be facing is not about the original allegation over hiring concerns, but about whether or not they tried to cover it up. A special board meeting has been scheduled for Thursday night to discuss concerns. Some are asking the superintendent to step down. San Ysidro School Board President Rosaleah Pallasigue sent NBC 7 the following statement: "The allegations are absolutely false. The Board was consulted and in support of all decisions made relating to this matter, as in all personnel matters. The goal is for this project to be completed; and we look forward to Manzana Energy being present at all future board meetings, through project completion, to keep the community and board informed." President Donald Trump addressed a national meeting of law enforcement officials and directed them to "turn in" the illegal gang members in their areas to the Department of Homeland Security. It was part of a speech that included Trump's reaction to the oral arguments regarding his proposed travel ban on immigrants and refugees from seven countries. The president also addressed the illegal drug trade that's affecting so many local law enforcement agencies before turning his attention to undocumented immigrants. You know the illegals, you know them by their first name. You know them by their nicknames. You have that power, Trump said. Youre in the neighborhoods. You know the bad ones. You know the good ones, he said. I want you to turn in the bad ones. Well get them out of our country and bring them back where they came from. He suggested the local law enforcement officers call up the Department of Homeland Security and vowed that the agency will deport the undocumented immigrants "fast." As recently as November, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman has stated it is not her department's job to enforce federal immigration laws. Zimmerman has said that responsibility rests with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. When contacted Wednesday, SDPD spokesperson Lt. Scott Wahl said the department's policy was not going to change. San Diego police officers will place an immigration hold on a criminal when he or she is booked. That means suspect will be handed over to the federal authorities when officers are done with the case. The family of a Lemon Grove homeowner, who shot and killed an intruder Tuesday morning, said they are saddened by the death but defended the father's actions to protect his son's life. Two men with handguns broke into a home on Eddy Drive just before 2 a.m., San Diego County Sheriff's (SDSO) investigators said. Francisco Suarez Sr. and his 22-year-old son, Francisco Suarez Jr. were inside the home at the time. SDSO said during a struggle, Suarez Jr. was shot several times. He was brought to Scripps Mercy Hospital for treatment but will be okay, detectives told NBC 7. "This s--- has got to stop, the violence, the whole world is screwed up, said his uncle, David Marquez. Marquez told NBC 7, he is angry and frustrated over the violence thrust upon his family. "A person has the right to defend his family, his house, regardless of who it is, Marquez said. Investigators said the two armed men targeted the Suarez' home. The suspects intentionally came to this home but we don't believe the victims knew the suspects," SDSO Homicide Detective Kenn Nelson said. "It was a big stupidity of the people breaking into the house. It makes no sense, Marquez said. Multiple home security cameras in the area, including a door bell camera, appeared to show that the second suspect fled in a car parked near the Suarez' house. At this point of the investigation, detectives believe Suarez Sr. was protecting his son when he took one of the suspects' guns and used it. He was questioned by investigators but is not in custody. Meanwhile, the family told NBC 7 that knowing one suspect is still outstanding worries them. Sheriff's investigators said they do not have a description of the suspect or the car he was driving. But he is considered to be armed and dangerous. At a womens empowerment conference Monday evening, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton urged attendees to dare greatly and lead boldly. "Despite all the challenges we face, I remain convinced that yes, the future is female," Clinton said in a pre-recorded message at the annual AOL MAKERS 2017 conference. She urged viewers: You are the heroes and history makers, the glass ceiling breakers of the future. // Clinton's virtual presence at the MAKERS conference shows how deeply held her views are about womens rights, according to Jane Campbell, president of the nonpartisan group, Women Impacting Public Policy. This is about what she wants to do rather than what position she wants to hold, so I really applaud her for staying in the public dialogue at this point, Campbell added. I think shes totally right." But critics found Clintons message to be vaguely divisive. Conservative political commentator Charmaine Yoest, senior fellow at American Values and former president and CEO of Americans United for Life, said that the devils in the details, and while there really wasnt anything specifically that she said that anyone would want to disagree with, Yoest took issue with Clintons gender-specific language. My fundamental concern is that while the future is female may sound like a catchy slogan, what, as a national community, we need to be talking about is a future that is human, she said. By saying that the future is singularly one sex, what does that say about who we are in relationship to others? Yoest's argument mirrors that of All Lives Matters advocates, who claim that the Black Lives Matter slogan is racist against other demographics. Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement contend that rationalization minimizes the experiences of being black in America and masks legitimate societal inequity. Similarly, the future is female could be interpreted as a commentary on gender equality and the disadvantages women and girls have long faced in society. Despite a record sweep in the 2016 election, only 21 female senators out of 100 serve in the upper house. Of the 435 members holding seats in the House of Representatives, only 83 are female. Yet women account for over half of the U.S. population. Clinton made history by becoming the first woman to accept a major-party presidential nomination. Despite being heavily favored in mainstream polls and winning the popular vote by almost 2.9 million ballots Clinton lost the presidency to Republican Donald Trump. According to Lisa Maatz, vice president of government relations and advocacy at the American Association of University Women, female voters and their male allies have noticed these inequalities. During Clintons presidential bid, women were outraged by what they interpreted as sexist double standards that influenced the election results, Maatz said. The Christian Science Monitor reported last week that after the 2016 campaigns, women are flooding into political training programs in hopes of getting elected and changing the political discourse. Though proportionally underrepresented in the American government, women still have powerful voices on both sides of the aisle. Elizabeth Warren, the senior senator from Massachusetts, has emerged as one of the most recognized figures from the Democratic Party. President Trump has appointed women to serve in top positions in his administration, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Betsy DeVos, and perhaps most prominently, Kellyanne Conway. Conway, a senior adviser to the president, made waves in a Jan. 26 interview with the Washington Post, when she dubbed herself a postfeminist. I dont consider myself a feminist, she told the Post. I think my generation isnt a big fan of labels. My favorite label is mommy. She continued: I feel like the feminist movement has been hijacked by the pro-abortion movement or the anti-male sentiments that you read in some of their propaganda and writings. Im not anti-male. One does not need to be pro-female and call yourself a feminist, when with it comes that whole anti-male culture where we want young boys to sit down and shut up in the classroom. Yoest agrees with Conways view, claiming that Trump's campaign manager was speaking to a choice that very many women make to prioritize motherhood over career, that many, many women today feel isnt validated and supported by the modern feminist movement. What we are seeing continually is that its not about women, Yoest said. Its about a leftist political agenda, using the banner of womens rights to achieve their own political aims in a very divisive and hostile way. Yoest called this agenda the abortion industry. According to Yoest, the real challenge for the modern feminist movement is accepting conservative and Republican women, who are often shunned for their views. But proponents of feminism like Maatz do recognize that Conway has made inroads for women in politics by serving as the first female campaign manager to nab a presidential victory. Even though Clinton didnt win, there was a barrier of sorts that was broken, and thats a good thing, Maatz said. Though she can appreciate Conways contribution, she also said that Trumps counselor needs to join us in the 21st century, where feminism values everyone. Being a feminist means youre inclusive about who youre advocating for, Maatz explained. Its not a true feminist analysis if its not intersectional. She also said that the women's marches around the world after Trump's inauguration speak to the fact that we do not live in a postfeminist period. Campbell stressed that feminism is about equality between the genders and rejected any anti-male or exclusive interpretation of the movement. She remembered how in the 1970s, feminists were often equated with lesbians and stigmatized for their beliefs. Then, some women decided to reject a mans involvement in their lives, not through an anti-male stance, but to support inter-female relationships, she said. But as the LGBTQ community has been normalized and accepted into our social fabric, theres no need for those divisions. By my definition of feminist, Kellyanne Conway has just defined herself as a feminist, she added. Maatz conceded that Conway fills a difficult role, as the main spokesperson for a president whose credibility on gender issues, shall we say, is compromised. In a Trump era, when officials claim to be postfeminists and after the defeat of a candidate who many believed would be the first female president, women may wonder what their role is in the political sphere. Maatz advised all those who are disillusioned by the Trump administration to start by addressing their local politicians. As an example, she pointed to Virginias Republican representative Dave Brat, who recently told an audience that the women are in my grill no matter where I go. Theyre holding his feet to the fire, Maatz said of Brat. Thats what we need to do. I have to tell you, that story made me very happy, she added. You have to be appropriate, but you have to be an advocate. Gray Davis, the former California governor, on Tuesday blasted President Donald Trump's attack on the state and called his threats to take away federal funds counterproductive and something that will be challenged in the courts. "You can't just take money away from California," said Davis, a Democrat who led the state from 1999 to 2003. "It would be a fight. And he couldn't do it by himself. He'd have to have the support of the Congress." Trump, in a pre-Super Bowl interview that aired Sunday, told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, that he's "very much opposed to sanctuary cities. They breed crime, there's a lot of problems. If we have to we'll defund; we give tremendous amounts of money to California. California in many ways is out of control." California lawmakers are considering passing a bill making it unlawful to use state and local law enforcement resources to detain, investigate or arrest persons for federal immigration purposes. Another bill protects people from having their immigration status disclosed by landlords. Davis disputed the president's claim sanctuary cities are crime hotbeds. He countered that the FBI looked at the sanctuary cities and "actually found less crime." Los Angeles and San Francisco are among the major cities in California that limit cooperation with immigration authorities. Even so, Davis concedes Trump might be able to withhold law enforcement money from California. However, he said such action would need to be able to stand up in the courts. The former California governor said Trump also should want the Golden State to do well since it benefits the rest of the nation too. "We are the sixth largest economy in the world. We're bigger than Russia. Only the United States, Japan, China, the U.K., and Germany have a larger economy." Also, Davis said California gives more to the U.S. Treasury than it gets back. "If he were smart he would look to the future and try to find a way to get along with California, make sure we prosper even more so we could redistribute money to states that he seems to be more fond of," said Davis. "You don't want a bite the golden hand that feeds you." Story continues Last month, California's Democratic state leadership hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as a legal advisor to the legislature as it prepared to wage battle with the Trump administration. Holder was scheduled to attend a summit in Sacramento on Tuesday where state Senate leaders are looking at ways to respond to policy changes by the Trump administration. Holder declined a request for an interview. The governor's office also had no comment. As for the secession talk in California, Davis said: "That's always an option for Californians if [the] executive [branch] gets out of control. We'll just keep our money and the United States can keep theirs." Davis, though, indicated he's "not inclined to sign" the secession petition currently circulating in the state. He also implied that Trump is acting more like a king than a president. "When America revolted against the U.K., we did so because we were upset with the arbitrary decisions of the king," said Davis. "Our founding fathers created a system where things can't get done unless there's widespread consensus in the legislature, in the executive and the courts go along with it. He can't get things done without the Congress going along and the courts supporting his action as constitutional." Meanwhile, Davis also took issue with Trump's characterization of California as "out of control." "I think things are going pretty good in California," Davis said. "Under Jerry Brown, the budget is back in the black. The last two years we've led the country in job creation. Arguably we're the home of innovation in America." Davis continued, "Things aren't perfect. But if we're out of control, I'd hate to see people who are in control." Prior to serving as California governor, Davis was a chief of staff to Governor Jerry Brown and held other state elected posts, including controller and lieutenant governor. Davis lost the governorship in 2003 after a statewide recall; he was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has been affiliated with the national law firm of Loeb & Loeb for the past 11 years. More From CNBC It's been three long weeks since anyone has seen Lizzy Colindres, 16, and her five-month-old baby, Aiden. And police are so worried about their safety that they spent Tuesday walking from door to door in the neighborhood where they vanished. They're searching for anyone who saw anything. "We don't know what kind of care the baby is getting," said Officer Tawny Wright of Fairfax County police. "We don't know ... food, nourishment, clothing. We don't know how they're getting all this stuff for the baby." Colindres has a protective "stay-away" order against Aiden's father, Jose Castillo Rivas, 18. Police are not calling Rivas a suspect. However, they want to find him -- police say Rivas has gang ties, and they believe Colindres left with him out of fear. Police also released a new photo of Rivas today, hoping that will help with the search. "Obviously isn't a good situation," Wright said. "He's only 5 months old," police said as they showed neighbors a picture of Aiden. "He's a tiny little thing." "Oh Lord," the neighbor said. Colindres is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She has long, black hair with lighter highlights. Police say Rivera Colindres also wears eyeglasses. Castillo Rivas is 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. No clothing description was available. If you see him, call the police immediately. Police are also working with the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children to reach as many people as possible. Anyone with information that can help police is asked to call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131. Seat Pleasant, Maryland, police are investigating the death of a man after reports of a fight at a gas station parking lot Tuesday. The Seat Pleasant police chief said officers were called to the 6400 block of Central Avenue around noon Tuesday, where two men were fighting in the parking lot of an Exxon gas station. The chief said the argument turned deadly, and one man was killed. Police said they are reviewing surveillance video from the gas station and a nearby convenience store across from the Addison Road Metro station. They said the victim, who has not been identified, is someone who frequents the area. Three Charles County officers are being hailed as heroes after they rescued a man from a burning SUV. M/Cpl. Don Kabala was in the parking lot of a car dealership on Crain Highway on Jan. 29 when he heard a crash nearby. As he drove along Crain Highway, he came upon an SUV that had crashed into a pole and then burst into flames. The driver, a 32-year-old man from Clinton, Maryland, was pinned under the dashboard on the passenger side of the SUV. The Charles County Sheriff's Office believes the force of the crash sent him flying across the front seat. "I could see somebody in the passenger seat. I couldn't see if there was anybody in the driver's seat so I told the guy in the passenger seat 'hey, we'll get you in a minute. Let's get this fire out," "I could see somebody in the passenger seat. I couldn't see if there was anybody in the driver's seat so I told the guy in the passenger seat 'Hey, we'll get you in a minute. Let's get this fire out,'" Kabala said. Kabala ran toward the SUV with a fire extinguisher, but the flames were too powerful. The fire continued to roar even after the fire extinguisher had been depleted, the Charles County Sheriff's Office said. As Kabala tried to search the SUV for other occupants, Pfc. Eric Scuderi and Pfc. Christopher Morris arrived. "We went through about five fire extinguishers and the flames never went out," Scuderi said. The three men then worked together to free the driver; Kabala kept the flames away from the driver with a second fire extinguisher while Scuderi and Morris worked to free the trapped man. Eventually, Scuderi and Morris were able to pull the man to safety. The victim was taken to a hospital with multiple injuries, but they were later deemed non-life-threatening. "Im proud of these officers for taking quick actions to rescue the driver, said Sheriff Troy D. Berry. "They did what officers often do in dangerous situations and set aside any fear they may have had and helped save this man." MGM National Harbor became Marylands top revenue-producing casino in its first full calendar month of operation. In its first full calendar month of operation, MGM National Harbor Casino generated $48,828,135 from slot machines and table games in January according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. MGM National Harbor officially opened Dec. 8, 2016. Marylands six casinos totaled $126,212,756 in revenue in the first month of 2017, a 42.7 percent increase over 2016, which rang in the first month of the year at $88.36 million. MGM operates 3,237 slot machines and 165 table games. As Marylands gaming market continues to expand, other casinos saw expected declines in monthly revenue. In a year-to-year comparison excluding MGM, January 2017 revenue decreased by almost $11 million. The next closest casino came in at almost $5 million under MGMs monthly total. Maryland Live Casino totaled almost $44 million from slots and tables in January, a decrease of 15.6 percent from January 2016. Horseshoe Casino Baltimore generated almost $20.22 million from slots and tables, a decrease of 14.5 percent from January 2016. Hollywood Casino of Perryville generated $5.77 million from slots and tables, a 4.6 percent decrease from January 2016. Casino at Ocean Downs took in almost $3.68 million from slots in January, a revenue decrease of 1.2 percent from January 2016. Rocky Gap Casino generated almost $3.73 million from both slots and tables, decreasing by 11.8 percent from January 2016. Maryland law requires a portion of casino revenue to support the Maryland Education Trust Fund as well as small, minority and women-owned businesses; local impact grants; and the states horse racing industry, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Financial reports are posted monthly and are available to the public on the Maryland Gaming website in an effort to maintain transparency of casino operations. Authorities investigating a bank robbery say the thief had thousands of dollars hidden in her underwear when troopers found her later in the day. Bonnie Gay Bosman Taylor, 56, was arrested Monday in connection with a bank robbery in West Ocean City earlier that morning, The Daily Times of Salisbury reports. Maryland State Police say Taylor had handed a bank teller a note demanding money and threatening to use a gun. Police say the teller handed the woman about $5,100 in cash, including "bait money,'' which are bills with serial numbers recorded so that the money could be tracked later. Later that morning, investigators found Taylor at an addiction center. Police say she still had about $4,500 of the stolen money stashed in her underwear. This is a so-called column. It seems theres a lot of "so-calling" going around these days. The current president of the United States is the headliner. He didnt like a federal court ruling on his immigration ban. In one of his many tweets a so-called way to communicate the president rhetorically dismissed the judge: "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!," Trump tweeted. As a candidate this current president was both praised and pummeled over his bullying and personal attacks on anyone or anything he viewed as critical of him. It comes as a so-called surprise to your Notebook that he has only ramped up since sitting in the Oval Office. On CBS Face the Nation program Sunday morning, so-called moderator John Dickerson repeatedly pressed Vice President Mike Pence to comment on the "so-called judge remark. Pence parried at every turn, at one point saying, "Every president has the right to be critical of the other branches of government. Of course, the dictionary definitions of "so-called make it clear the phrase is not mere criticism but an effort to delegitimize the target of the remark. Cambridge Dictionary says it is used to show that you think a word that is used to describe someone or something is not suitable or correct. From Merriam-Webster: "falsely or improperly so named," as in "deceived by a so-called friend. There is another, more benign definition that "so-called simply is declaring something is commonly known. But who among us or the so-called us believes so-called is used this innocent way in our popular discourse? So-called democracy. There is no dispute that the U.S. Constitution reserves full legislative authority over the District for Congress. But the so-called 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act delegating certain congressional powers to local government also was explicit in its purpose: to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the constitutional mandate, relieve Congress of the burden of legislating upon essentially local District matters. That act has not been overturned or modified. For Congress to directly undo a city law, both the House and Senate have to pass a disapproval resolution within 30 legislative days and have it signed by the president. Mayor Muriel Bowser joined D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton last week to denounce congressional intrusion on local city affairs specifically the effort by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to nullify the citys death with dignity law that passed the D.C. Council 11-2. Bowser had serious misgivings about the law, but still signed it. Its unclear whether the Chaffetz effort will succeed, but it is a sign that Chaffetz as chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform will take a narrow view of what constitutes essentially local District matters. Chaffetz previously has tried to nullify the Districts same-sex marriage equality act and threatened that Mayor Bowser could be imprisoned over the citys legalization of recreational use of marijuana. Bloomberg columnist Al Hunt, a so-called journalist of note, recently wrote Chaffetz has a conservative philosophy that can be situational supporting local and state rights and responsibilities over the federal government unless it can be beneficial to him politically. Hunt specifically mentioned Chaffetzs opposition to the D.C. assisted-suicide measure. So-called challenger. The bottom line is whether supporters of the District will organize to engage in political battle, here and around the nation, even from their weakened position with a Republican Congress and White House. The Salt Lake Tribune reported in January that Chaffetz could get a challenger in the 2018 midterms. Damien Kidd, an attorney and Republican, contends Chaffetz is not serving us, but is instead tactically navigating a political path for his own advancement. All those Democrats in the District might consider putting aside their so-called party labels to see if Kidd is worth a donation or two. Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4. Students who attend a Southeast D.C. elementary school will go to class at another public school after rodents and bed bugs were discovered at their school. Starting Wednesday, students from Savoy Elementary School will attend school at the Ferebee Hope Elementary School campus at 3999 8th St. SE. DCPS will provide transportation to and from the new location. Buses will leave Savoy Elementary at 7:50 a.m. Students will be dropped back off at the school at 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. All afternoon drop-offs will be located on Talbert Street SE, in front of the elementary school's parking lot. Workers spent the beginning of the week thoroughly cleaning Savoy Elementary School and replacing all soft materials, including rugs, cots, blankets and pillows. The school, which is located at 2400 Shannon Place, Southeast, will have to pass a safety and health inspection after the cleaning, according to a letter sent to parents last week. The tattoo-covered sex offender sought by U.S. Marshals has been found in D.C. Matthew Stager, 45, was released from a federal prison in Virginia on Tuesday. He was required to report to a transitional center in Texas but never showed up, U.S. Marshals said in a statement. D.C. police officers saw him walking down a street near the D.C. Superior Court about 4 p.m. Wednesday and took him into custody. Stager has black tattoos on his entire face, including a flower and a peace sign on his right cheek. His mugshot shows his light-colored hair and beard in small braids. Stager -- who has used the aliases Jesse Crew and Moon Black -- has a history of mental health concerns and drug abuse, U.S. Marshals said. Officials previously said it was possible Stager was in the Hampton Roads area, but he has known connections to multiple states across the country. According to the Texas sex offender registry, Stager was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a 15-year-old girl. He is being held in D.C. and will be transferred to Richmond to face escape charges. A convicted sex offender whose face is covered with tattoos is missing after he was released from a federal prison in Virginia. Matthew Stager, 45, was released Tuesday from the Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, outside Richmond. He was required to report to a transitional center in Texas but never showed up, U.S. Marshals said in a statement. Stager has black tattoos on his entire face, including a flower and a peace sign on his right cheek. His mugshot shows his light-colored hair and beard in small braids. Stager -- who has used the aliases Jesse Crew and Moon Black -- has a history of mental health concerns and drug abuse, U.S. Marshals said. Officials said it's possible Stager is in the Hampton Roads area, but he has known connections to multiple states across the country. According to the Texas sex offender registry, Stager was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a 15-year-old girl. Anyone with information on Stager's whereabouts is asked to call U.S. marshals at 877-926-8332. A man flying a small plane alone crashed in a wooded area of Maryland on Monday, and on Tuesday he walked out of a hospital without major injuries. Gerry Kempen, 64, crashed his single-engine plane Monday morning in Fort Washington, Maryland. Stranded in a remote place, he worried that rescuers would not find him. But just a day later, he was headed back home to Rhode Island. The trouble began shortly after Kempen took off from Potomac Airfield. "I hadn't climbed out very far, and the engine just stopped," he said outside a hospital on Tuesday, with bandages wrapped around his head. His plane, a fixed-wing single-engine Piper PA-32R-301, crashed into a wooded area near the 11700 block of Gallahan Road. The plane lopped off the tops of small trees and then crashed into a large tree. Kempen, who has flown for more than a decade, said his training kicked in immediately. "It's one of those things that you're trained for your whole time. Almost right from the very beginning, they teach you how to deal with engine failures," he said. "So, with all the training, it just kicks in when the situation actually confronts you." Kempen said he thinks he blacked out. When he came to, his first call was to his wife. She almost went on the trip with him, to visit their children and grandchildren. "Mostly, I wanted to comfort her. It's always easier for the person that was injured than the person that isn't there. I knew I was going to be OK, I just wanted to make sure she knew it too," he said. Then, Kempen called 911. "I heard the helicopter, and I'm not sure that they had seen me. So, I stood there and I kept telling the dispatcher, 'Tell them to look to the right!'" he said with a laugh. Kempen was flown to a hospital for evaluation. His sternum was fractured and his head was cut, but he's already thinking about his next flight. "I love it," he said with a smile. "It's just such a feeling of freedom. It's incredible to be up in the sky. Once you've done it, you can't go back." LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Italian and French 10-year government bond yield spreads over Germany hit fresh multi-year highs on Wednesday as investors continued to fret about political risks in Europe. The gap between France's 10-year government bond yield and the German 10-year bond yield - the benchmark for the region - rose to 78.8 basis points, the highest since November 2012. The yield on Italy's 10-year government bond, meanwhile, rose to 201.8 basis points over Germany, higher than any closing price since February 2014. "The ongoing elevated political headline risk is governing much of the spread tone in widening (French) OAT-Bund spreads," Citi analysts said in a note. "With the French Presidential first round elections still over two months away, ongoing headline risks are likely to continue to weigh on the broader tone." (Reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan; Editing by Jamie McGeever) A Boston company and its owner have been charged in the deaths of two workers who were killed in a trench collapse last year. A grand jury indicted Atlantic Drain Services Inc. and Kevin Otto on two counts of manslaughter, one count of intimidating a witness and six counts of concealing records, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. "We allege that Mr. Otto and Atlantic Drain Services willfully, wantonly, and recklessly failed to take the standard safety precautions that could have averted that tragedy," said District Attorney Dan Conley. The investigation began when a crew from Atlantic Drain, based in Roslindale, was working on a sewer line in the South End on Oct. 21, 2016. While the crew was 14 feet underground, a water line burst and began to flood the trench. Everyone was able to escape, with the exception of two men Robert Higgins and Kelvin Mattocks. Both were killed. In the weeks since, Conley said investigators discovered a pattern of recklessness by the company and Otto that they believe led to the deaths. "Federal regulations that require any excavation deeper than five feet, and any adjacent utilities, be shored up to prevent exactly the sort of cave-in that occurred here," Conley said. "But there was no shoring in place at the Dartmouth Street dig site when Robert Higgins and Kelvin Mattocks were buried alive." NBC Boston Investigators had previously uncovered a disturbing safety record for the company back in October. Atlantic Drain had a series of what OSHA says were serious, willful and repeat violations. OSHA fined Atlantic drain nearly $100,000 for violations including not having a support system to protect employees in a trench from cave-ins. According to Conley, following two of those violations in 2007 and 2012, the company was supposed to provide new safety training for staff. But when investigators recently subpoenaed records documenting the training, Conley said the company forged employee signatures and dates to make it appear as though they complied. "In short, the grand jury investigation not only revealed evidence of a crime at the Dartmouth Street dig site, but also suggested a cover-up of past misconduct," Conley said. "The evidence, in its totality, suggests that Atlantic Drain Services and Kevin Otto gambled with their employees' lives and safety, and that Robert Higgins and Kelvin Mattocks paid the ultimate price." The district attorney's office also took aim at state lawmakers for not requiring companies convicted of manslaughter be held responsible for a bigger fine. Conley explained that the maximum fine corporate entities can receive in a case like this is $1,000. He urged the legislature to increase that number. Marilyn and Martin Hewitt of Bristol, Rhode Island, said they are pleased that the company and Otto are being held responsible in their nephew Robert's death. "He was a very loving, a very loving kid," said Marilyn Hewitt. "It was not an accident, it was negligence." While the Hewitt's know the indictments won't bring their nephew back, they are thanking the police for their thorough investigation and the media for digging into the company's history. "He had ridiculous numbers of violations, OSHA violations," said Martin Hewitt referring to Otto. "I know someone who worked for that company outside of my nephew and he quit after eight months, because there was heroin, cocaine, operating backhoes under the influence of downs." Otto will be summonsed to Suffolk Superior Court at a later date. A Wenham, Massachusetts firefighter saved a dog that fell through ice in a canal on Wednesday. Shawn McCarthy entered the Wenham Canal in cold water gear and retrieved the dog along with assistance from police and other firefighters. The dog was reunited with its owner immediately after the rescue. This is the second dog to fall through ice in the canal recently. Police advise that, although there are no leash laws in Wenham, its still smart to leash dogs near frozen bodies of water. Republican Gov. Paul LePage is bashing "liberals" and invoking a philosophy of "do no harm" as he urges lawmakers to protect the vulnerable and to adopt his economic agenda. But he's also asking lawmakers to work him over the next two years, and he even invited them to join him at the Blaine House after his State of the State address. That's a far cry from a year ago in which he snubbed lawmakers by skipping the formal address after Democrats tried unsuccessfully to impeach him. His address Tuesday night touched upon many familiar themes, including protecting the elderly and disabled, reducing taxes, lowering energy costs and tackling the opioid crisis. He said Maine was once known for "rugged individualism" but that liberals are trying to transform the state into a "socialist utopia." LePage said during his address that he's working to resolve the state's opiate crisis with a lawmaker he once described as having a "black heart." The Republican governor spent much of his address Tuesday evening bashing "liberals" but he singled out the Senate minority leader Troy Jackson of Allagash as a Democrat he's working with. He thanked lawmakers for working with him to address a drug crisis that's claiming a life every day. Lepage credited the hiring of more state drug agents for a bust that resulted in the seizure of 8 pounds of heroin last month in Maine and Massachusetts. He also said lawmakers need to spend education dollars more efficiently. He said only 59 cents of each dollar makes it into the classroom. During the address, LePage accused "liberals" of forgetting about the elderly, the disabled and those with mental disabilities. He said his past budget would've eliminated wait lists to ensure there's help for those who need home support for intellectual disabilities. But he said lawmakers provided only a third of what he asked for, leaving people waiting on wait lists. He also told a joint session of the Legislature that welfare should go to "the most vulnerable citizens" including the physically and mentally disabled. He quoted the late President Ronald Reagan in saying that welfare's success should be measured in how many people leave welfare. He said able-bodied Mainers between 19 and 50 years old need to get "get off the couch and get a job." LePage said the state's referendum process has hoodwinked Mainers. During his State of the State address on Tuesday he said that Mainers didn't understand the details when they voted to raise the minimum wage and impose a tax on high-income earners. He said the referendum process is making state lawmakers "irrelevant." He also said it's time to reform referendums, and "to return to a representative government." LePage used his address to promote his two-year state budget and his long-held goal to eliminate the income tax. He criticized lawmakers, saying "there is no political will in Augusta to lower the income tax or to create prosperity." LePage opened his State of the State address by pointing out the need to protect the elderly - and by taking a shot at liberals. He said Maine was once known for "rugged individualism" but that liberals are trying to transform the state into a "socialist utopia." He also took a shot at "liberals in southern Maine," saying they've never been struggling places like Calais, Machias, Rumford or Fort Kent. The city of Taunton, Massachusetts will soon begin a new program in an effort to fight drug use and prevent the spread of infections and disease, one needle at a time. Beginning next week, Seven Hills Foundation, a non-profit organization, will lead the charge in a mobile unit needle exchange program. "It's a huge step for the city of Taunton," said Connie Richard-Mimoso, the director of the program. "Six days a week, different times, different locations." Richard-Mimoso says the mobile unit will be a safe place for drug users to exchange used, dirty needles for new clean ones. Workers will also be providing tests for HIV and Hepatitis C and other medical and support services. "The goal is really to target those individuals who are actively using so we can get them into care," Richard-Mimoso said. She met with city leaders Tuesday night to talk about how the program will be implemented. Taunton Police officer John Munise believes the program will be great for the community. "It's another tool in the tool box," he said. In 2016, Taunton Police reported 36 opioid-related fatal overdoses. "I've been around for an awful long time and I've sadly lost count of the amount of people I've seen die of drug overdoses," Munise said. Seven Hills Foundation said it has been providing services in Taunton for the past 5 years and this mobile unit will only allow them to reach more people. A man died after he went into cardiac arrest when he was hit by a vehicle as he tried to help his son who was stuck on the ice in Needham, Massachusetts, according to the victims wife. Needham police say the incident happened on Brookline Street and Greendale Avenue around 7 a.m. Wednesday. The victim, identified as 63-year-old Needham resident Joseph Flynn, rushed onto the ice to help his son, who was involved in an earlier crash, according to police. Police say it appears the 40-year-old Needham driver who killed the man was unable to stop his car from sliding on the ice, ultimately hitting the victim, pinning him between the two cars. Flynn then went into cardiac arrest and his son, an RN, administered CPR. Flynn's wife, Shelia Flynn said, "Joe didn't want them to hit the car again, and the person couldn't control it and hit Joe, and they say he went into cardiac arrest, and they say he pretty much died instantly." She added, "He always took care of everybody, if you had a problem, and needed something, Joe was the guy, he took care of everyone, he took care of us, that is what he did." A pregnant woman fell while coming to Flynns aid but was reportedly not seriously injured. No charges have been filed as of now. State police and the Norfolk District Attorney's Office are assisting in the investigation. St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19 St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19 Community Chaplaincy Norfolk begins a new chapter Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) celebrated the beginning of a new chapter this week, as the new chair of trustees Chris Tomlinson led his first annual meeting. Read more Lowestoft Christians launch on-line bible helps app The Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth branch of Good News for Everyone (GNFE), formerly the Gideons, have introduced a new mobile phone app called On-line Bible Helps. Read more Addicts' rehabilitation centre plan for Drayton Hall Christian addiction charity Teen Challenge London is planning to turn Drayton Hall near Norwich into its headquarters and a rehabilitation centre for men, after it was gifted the freehold of the hall by its owner, the Lind Trust. Read more The power of positive protest Philip Young encourages us to take a stand for what we believe, and has just written to Therese Coffey regarding climate change and the forthcoming COP 27. He explains why we should be prepared to protest. Read more Norwich church celebrates with cribs and trees Rosebery Road Methodist Church in Norwich will be holding its annual Cribs and Trees Festival in December. Read more Transforming Norwich lunch offers ministry tips Ex-Brighton vicar, Rev Phil Moon, will offer tips on how to keep going in ministry to the Transforming Norwich leaders lunch on Wednesday November 16. Read more Quiet Waters in Bungay offers healing retreat Quiet Waters Christian Retreat in Bungay is holding a gentle day retreat exploring healing in the Kingdom of God. Read more Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more Norfolk ministry coaching duo are guest speakers Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21. Read more Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more First service takes place at Norwich church site SOUL Church hosted around 400 people for a special service on the site of their new building on Heartsease Lane. Read more Dereham draws up list of warm places for winter As rising energy prices make it harder to heat homes, churches in Dereham are leading the way in creating warm spaces where people can go. Read more South Norfolk church scoops national award A medieval Anglican church in a tiny hamlet in South Norfolk has won a national award and a 10,000 boost. Read more Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more Halloween light in Gorleston church On Halloween this year, St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston will be preparing to welcome around 200 families to experience their Light on a Dark Night event. Read more An opportunity for Norwich to pray for the nation Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment. Read more Norwich church seeks musicians Kingdom Ambassadors International Church is appealing for instrumentlists, keyboardists and guitarists to be part of their worship experience. Read more A tornado struck NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Tuesday. About 3,500 employees were at the facility when a large tornado hit at 11:25 a.m. Fortunately, only five people suffered minor injuries. After the tornado, local law enforcement helped employees reach their homes, as NASA reported about 200 parked cars had been damaged. Our hearts go out to our employees and the people in New Orleans who have suffered from this serious storm, said Keith Hefner, director of MAF. The safety of our team is always our main concern, and we are pleased to report that weve identified only minor injuries. The facility is closed today as security and emergency operations crews continue to access damage. The roof was damaged in numerous areas over Michouds main manufacturing building, 103. Building 350 and other structures were also damaged. Repairs to Building 103 are a top priority because it houses hardware that needs to be protected from the elements. NASA/MAF/Steven Seipel NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans suffered roof and equipment damage after a tornado touched down. Michoud has been building and testing hardware for NASAs Space Launch System (SLS). The core stage for SLS is being built at Michoud. In September 2016, NASA showed off completed welding on its 130 feet tall core stage liquid hydrogen tank, the largest cryogenic fuel tank for a rocket in the world. At that time, NASA reported, More than 1.7 miles of welds have been completed for core stage hardware at Michoud. It was the largest piece of the core stage that will provide the fuel for the first flight of NASA's new rocket, the Space Launch System, with the Orion spacecraft in 2018. NASA explained: The liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank are part of the core stagethe backbone of the SLS rocket that will stand at more than 200 feet tall. Together, the tanks will hold 733,000 gallons of propellant and feed the vehicle's four RS-25 engines to produce a total of 2 million pounds of thrust. NASA described (pdf) SLS as an advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earths orbit. The first flight test, called Exploration Mission-1, will feature a Block 1 configuration with a 77-ton (70-metricton) lift capacity and carry an uncrewed Orion crew capsule beyond the moon. The next planned evolution of the SLS, Block 1B, would use a more powerful exploration upper stage to enable more ambitious missions and a 105-metric-ton lift capacity. The next evolution will feature Block 2, which would add a pair of advanced solid or liquid propellant boosters to provide a 130-metric-ton (143-ton) lift capacity. In each configuration, SLS will continue to use the same core stage and four RS-25 engines. After the tornado, NASA said, Hardware for NASAs heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System, and the Orion spacecraft is secure, and no damage from the storm has been identified to hardware or the barge Pegasus docked at Michoud. The tornado that impacted Michoud was just one of seven that touched down in Louisiana Tuesday and caused a state of emergency to be declared. Commercial Spaceflight Federation endorses NASA's SLS The same day as the tornado, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) sang the praises of NASAs SLS. Alan Stern, the chairman of the board of directors for CSF, said at the 20th Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference, The exploration of space for all purposes, including commercial spaceflight, is our interest. And to that end, the CSF is announcing that we see many potential benefits in the development of NASAs Space Launch System. The SLS can be a resource that benefits commercial spaceflight. From mobile hardware breakthroughs to the explosion of cloud services and leaps in mobile and wireless network speeds, many factors have contributed to the rise of smartphones and mobile devices as prominent tools in the office and workplace. More and more companies are now adopting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategies and issue tablets and smartphones to their employees to access company email and digital resources. According to analytics firm IDC, 90 percent of companies support BYOD policies. Further, Flurry Analytics, the firm that monitors mobile app usage and statistics, says business app usage had a 30 percent year-over-year growth in 2016. And every year, more enterprise applications offer mobile app versions or become mobile friendly. + Also on Network World: How to implement an effective BYOD policy + The benefits of a mobile work environment are many, including connectivity and productivity in areas where PCs and laptops could not have been carried. Examples include healthcare, transportation, hospitality and travel, where mobility is an inherent part of business and strong handheld devices are becoming an inseparable part of organizational workflow. Access to company data in many organizations like healthcare is getting more widespread to different departments, says Paul Palojarvi, vice president of sales at Miradore, an IT management company specialized in BYOD. Earlier these used to have access only through a shared PC. Today they have personal devices (phones, tablets) with access to confidential patient information. Mobile device management (MDM) needed However, mobile also introduces, among others, security and regulatory drawbacks, tradeoffs and challenges. Organizations and firms need to acknowledge and overcome these hurdles if they are to fully harness the power of this rising trend. Regulations like HIPAA set requirements for organizations that handle personal and patient data, Palojarvi says. In order to fulfill the requirements, a MDM solution is needed. MDM are toolsets and platforms that enable enterprises and organizations to integrate, manage and secure mobile devices in corporate networks. Through MDM, administrators are able to set rules or control security and application settings on all mobile devices on a companys network. In many ways, MDM is like Active Directory for mobile devices. A company without an MDM solution will have a hard time providing reliable security for its critical assets. One of the main drawbacks of a company not utilizing MDM is that the IT manager wont know which employees have a mobile device with access to company data and resources, says Palojarvi. They also wont know which employee is using what device or which platform. This creates security issues, as there is no proper inventory of devices with sensitive company information. Scattered and uncontrolled access can give rise to insider threats, such as information leaks and data theft. Insider threats are the largest contributing factor to security incidents in organizations. And BYOD environments only exacerbate the situation by creating new attack vectors into an organizations infrastructure. Meanwhile, a powerful MDM solution can help administrators monitor and protect network and data access across all corporate- and personally owned devices. It can also prevent mishaps, such as data on a lost or stolen device falling into the wrong hands, or prevent the installation of malicious apps that can steal corporate data through a user device. And if an employee leaves a company without prior notice, the administrator can wipe their device from sensitive information remotely and revoke their access to company resources. Also, by providing a centralized way to process the installation, updates or removal of applications on devices, MDMs save the huge amount of time it would take to do so manually. The added level of control also helps enterprises make sure theyre compliant with industry regulations at all levels. Challenges of implementing MDM solutions However, implementing MDM solutions across a diverse range of devices has its own challenges. While iOS devices have a more unified production and supply chain, the same cant be said for the Android family, which has the lions share of mobile devices across the world. iOS is fully controlled by Apple and has extensive management capabilities available for MDM solution providers, says Palojarvi. The Android OS is provided by Google, but the hardware is provided by many different manufacturers. The Android platform has been lacking many basic remote management functions necessary for IT departments to manage these efficiently. This very reason has led manufacturers and software companies to create inclusive MDM and enterprise-level solutions for Android devices. An example is Samsungs KNOX technology, a suite of hardware and software security integrations into the manufacturers Android devices and operating system, including support for separation of work and personal data, and a set of MDM APIs. KNOX also supports management features that enable administrators to remotely monitor and vet a devices security. While KNOX technology is exclusive to Samsung devices, it can be integrated with other technologies, such as Googles Android, for work. Google also released a manufacturer-independent solution in 2016 called Android Enterprise, which provides a platform for securing personal and company data, as well as core management capabilities. Miradore, one of the first companies to support the new Android Enterprise concept, also offers an MDM and Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that supports both platforms with extensive management capabilities available. Mobile is the future of business, which means it will also constitute a considerable portion of IT efforts in all companies. Enterprises should assess the risks and potentials and work around the hurdles and challenges to bring the full power of mobility to their organizations. Film will be shown in schools across the district to raise awareness A SHORT film has been released to warn young people in West Berkshire about the danger of sexual exploitation and radicalisation. The film, shot in the Newbury area, is part of a new teaching package and will be shown in schools across the district. Pc Tim Emery from Thames Valley Police said: West Berkshire has a very low threat level in terms of radicalisation and online grooming, but that doesnt mean we should be complacent. Children can be exposed to a lot of different ideas and images online, so Thames Valley Police works closely with students and teachers to raise awareness of this, and to make sure that they understand what to do and who to speak to if they see something that upsets them. The teaching package, called Recognise, has been developed by West Berkshires Safer Communities Partnership and aims to help young people recognise signs of exploitation in themselves and their friends. It includes a new short film, which follows the stories of Rob and Emma, two ordinary people living ordinary lives. Throughout their story, there are subtle changes in their behaviour which could be linked to radicalisation, exploitation or other hidden crime issues. Through the film, young people are told that while it might be nothing, it could be something and encourages them to notice any change and share their concerns with others. Councillor Marcus Franks, executive member for community safety, said: This film empowers our young people to keep themselves and their friends safe by knowing how to recognise signs of exploitation. Through the film they get to see a different perspective and can reflect on behaviours they might see in their own life and how it might be part of a bigger picture. Its an excellent resource and I welcome it being rolled out across the district. The teaching package, which was produced with the help of 10,000 funding from the Home Office, started being distributed to schools earlier this month. The film was shot partly at St Bartholomews School in Newbury. Talking about the importance of the issue the schools deputy headteacher, Maureen Sims, said: We were delighted to be able to support the production of this DVD. Keeping young people safe in todays society has to be a team effort. The subtle signs of sexual exploitation and radicalisation must be known to young people. Having this excellent resource to support the work of all schools in this area is much appreciated. The Safer Communities Partnership aims to create a safe and healthy environment by working with other partner agencies to protect the community and ensure that those who live and work in West Berkshire feel safe. It includes West Berkshire Council, Thames Valley Police, Thames Valley Probation Service, Community Rehabilitation Company, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Housing Associations and schools. Anyone concerned about someone they know should contact the police on 999 if they are in imminent danger or call the non-emergency 101. Family release tribute to victim Malcolm Wright A FORMER Newbury man died after being attacked in Scotland, it is alleged. Victim Malcolm Wright (pictured) was rushed to hospital after being found with serious injuries following an incident in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Thursday, January 26. Mr Wright succumbed to his injuries on the evening of Wednesday, February 1. Thirty-year-old Gary Crossan, of no fixed address, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the incident. Det Insp Stewart Drummond, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts are obviously with Mr Wright's family and friends at this very sad and difficult time. A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal but police have meanwhile appealed for anyone who might have information about the incident to come forward and contact them via the 101 number. Alternatively the independent Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. The family of Mr Wright said in a statement: "As a family we are devastated by the loss of Malcolm, a much-loved father, brother, son and friend to many. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. "We would ask that our privacy is respected at this sad and very difficult time." By Hallie Gu and Josephine Mason JINXIANG, China (Reuters) - Chinese farmer Gao Ge was worried. The 27-year-old from Shandong province had chosen not to sell his freshly picked chilli pepper crop after prices soared by almost a third in just two weeks in November, hoping for even higher prices. Speculators were scooping up tonnes of the spicy fruit, betting on tight supplies as hot temperatures and heavy rain damaged the nation's crop, cutting it by 10 percent. Last year, the same investors played a similar game in garlic, sending prices to stratospheric levels. But now, prices have slipped as fears about low supplies have ebbed, Gao hasn't sold a single pepper, and the two-tonne crop sitting at his small farm is losing its colour - and its value. In late January, Gao was scrambling to sell his harvest in Jinxiang, one of the country's main chilli trading hubs, to fund his family of five's week-long Lunar New Year holiday. "I'm a bit panicked," he said by phone just days before festivities started on Jan. 28. "We have been toiling for the whole year and now we want to sell our stock and celebrate the new year." SPECULATIVE Keeping prices and food supplies stable is a priority for Beijing, as the government seeks to ensure staples for its growing urban population and maintain the health of farming, one of the biggest sectors in the world's No. 2 economy. So while chilli prices are still at historically high levels, the role of speculative investors in roiling the market and the difficulty some small farmers are having in selling their products have raised concerns. The government has already cracked down in other red-hot markets including equities and property. The jump in prices has also captured attention in India, the world's top producer, where traders say orders from China are up. "If China's production drops, it will help us in raising exports," said Alapati Srinivasa Rao, a trader based at Guntur, India's biggest market for chillies. "India is the only country that can supply large amount of chillies to China." Story continues FROM GARLIC TO CHILLI This is the second time in less than a year that speculators have put Jinxiang in the spotlight. Last summer, a small group of retail investors piled into garlic, spurring a spike in prices of the pungent bulbs. Just a few months later, buyers had cleared their garlic stocks and were looking for fresh investment opportunities. "All my clients made money from investing in garlic. Then they saw they could also hoard chillies, so they bought in," said Li Shun, a 45-year old agent in Jinxiang, overseeing piles of chillies being sacked up in his chilled warehouses. The two crops go hand in hand. Farmers plant chillies after picking their garlic crop around May, harvesting around August and shipping them to market once they have dried. Spurred by the hope of big returns and growing demand for use in dishes, particularly from Sichuan and Hunan, China's chilli acreage this year is forecast to rise 3 percent to 1.6 million hectares, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He Shan, purchasing manager of a trading company based in China's southwestern Chongqing province, has stashed nearly 2,000 tonnes of Jinxiang-grown chillies this year. "I am very positive about the chilli prices," he said. "Demand will be strong no matter what, but there is great deficit in supplies this year." But not everyone is so bullish, with some traders steering clear due to concerns about volatile prices, uncertain demand and a fragmented industry. And as with the garlic boom of last summer, most of the profits are going to traders and investors, not farmers. After counting on the sale of his chillies bringing in around half his annual income, Gao was still sitting on his crop after the Lunar New Year holiday passed. "We did not get any money from the harvest. Our spring festival was quite rough," he said. (Additional reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI; Editing by Lincoln Feast) Rotary Club event sees more than 3,000 raised for the Rosemary Appeal JOLLY joggers taking part in the towns Santa Run have raised more than 3,000 for charity. A record year for the event, organised by Thatcham Rotary Club, saw around 380 people take to the streets donned in the famous red and white suits. These included people running for fun or for a chosen cause of their own, but the majority of the race entry fee will be donated towards building a state-of-the-art cancer care and renal dialysis unit at the West Berkshire Community Hospital. The speedy Santas raised 3,300 towards the 4.5m scheme The Rosemary Appeal in what Thatcham Rotarian Frank Quinn said was a record year for the event. We are very happy with the revenue that we have got, he said. More important is the fun the town had, we were very happy with it. We had a record number of runners who came from far and wide and more signed up online this year. Its becoming a significant item on the Thatcham social calendar. See our photo gallery and order pictures here http://newburyweeklynews.zenfolio.com/?q=thatcham+santa+dash By Express News Service CHENNAI: The 22-year-old who has been arrested in the murder of a seven-year-old in Chennai after the burnt remains of her body were found today, had been involved in a previous crime, though not of the magnitude of the murder he has been accused of committing. S Daswant, it emerges, had stolen a bike sometime ago. Also Read: Body of 7-year-old missing Chennai girl recovered Here are five things you need to know about the accused: - S Daswant was involved in a bike theft some time ago but no police case was registered, as his parents pleaded with the complainants and convinced them not to seek legal action. - After the seven-year-old girl went missing, police came across the victim of the bike complaint in the course of their enquiries, and it is he who tipped off the sleuths about Daswants past crime. This got the police to mark him out as a suspect in the missing girl case. - The accused, Daswant, had in fact spoken to TV channels the day before he was arrested, pretending to be just another neighbour giving a sound byte to mediapersons looking for information. - Daswant, according to the police, had killed the little girl on February 5, and kept the body hidden in his house for a day. Later, he managed to take the body out in a travel bag, unnoticed by anyone, and kept in under a bridge in Pallavaram. The next day, he went there and burnt the body, after which he himself called the police control room pretending to be just a passer-by who was informing the law enforcement authorities. - Daswant is a mechanical engineer, who is unemployed. Police said he had killed the neighbour girl in house after trying to sexually assault her, when his parents were away. CHENNAI: The 22-year-old who has been arrested in the murder of a seven-year-old in Chennai after the burnt remains of her body were found today, had been involved in a previous crime, though not of the magnitude of the murder he has been accused of committing. S Daswant, it emerges, had stolen a bike sometime ago. Also Read: Body of 7-year-old missing Chennai girl recovered Here are five things you need to know about the accused: - S Daswant was involved in a bike theft some time ago but no police case was registered, as his parents pleaded with the complainants and convinced them not to seek legal action. - After the seven-year-old girl went missing, police came across the victim of the bike complaint in the course of their enquiries, and it is he who tipped off the sleuths about Daswants past crime. This got the police to mark him out as a suspect in the missing girl case. - The accused, Daswant, had in fact spoken to TV channels the day before he was arrested, pretending to be just another neighbour giving a sound byte to mediapersons looking for information. - Daswant, according to the police, had killed the little girl on February 5, and kept the body hidden in his house for a day. Later, he managed to take the body out in a travel bag, unnoticed by anyone, and kept in under a bridge in Pallavaram. The next day, he went there and burnt the body, after which he himself called the police control room pretending to be just a passer-by who was informing the law enforcement authorities. - Daswant is a mechanical engineer, who is unemployed. Police said he had killed the neighbour girl in house after trying to sexually assault her, when his parents were away. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A seven-year-old girl, who went missing from her apartment complex in southern suburban Mugalivakkam on Sunday, was found murdered near the tollgate at Mugalivakkam on Wednesday morning. The half-burnt body of the girl was found inside a travel bag. Police suspect the girl's neighbour, a 22-year-old man, had killed the girl after kidnapping and sexually assaulting her. The suspect S Daswant, a mechanical engineering graduate, has been arrested by the police. The child had gone missing five days ago while playing in front of her house with a dog. Based on the complaint filed by her parents, the police were looking out for the girl and were circulating her photographs. As police stepped up the investigations, on Wednesday early morning, the body was found inside a travel bag at Mugalivakkam. Daswant took the girl to his flat located (located adjacent to the girl's) and tried to sexually abuse her. The girl died when he tried to gag her mouth to prevent her from raising an alarm. To escape from the crime, he took the body out in a travel bag to dispose it. He also poured petrol on the bog and set it on fire," said a police officer. CHENNAI: A seven-year-old girl, who went missing from her apartment complex in southern suburban Mugalivakkam on Sunday, was found murdered near the tollgate at Mugalivakkam on Wednesday morning. The half-burnt body of the girl was found inside a travel bag. Police suspect the girl's neighbour, a 22-year-old man, had killed the girl after kidnapping and sexually assaulting her. The suspect S Daswant, a mechanical engineering graduate, has been arrested by the police. The child had gone missing five days ago while playing in front of her house with a dog. Based on the complaint filed by her parents, the police were looking out for the girl and were circulating her photographs. As police stepped up the investigations, on Wednesday early morning, the body was found inside a travel bag at Mugalivakkam. Daswant took the girl to his flat located (located adjacent to the girl's) and tried to sexually abuse her. The girl died when he tried to gag her mouth to prevent her from raising an alarm. To escape from the crime, he took the body out in a travel bag to dispose it. He also poured petrol on the bog and set it on fire," said a police officer. By Express News Service KOCHI: Giving a new dimension to drug trafficking in the city, Customs officers here on Tuesday seized 180 kg of khat leaves, a banned narcotic substance. The officers also detained a person in connection with the incident. According to them, the contraband, brought here as a postal parcel from Ethiopia, was seized based on a suspicion. The narcotic, kept in nine cartons, was intended to be taken to New Delhi, they said. Khat (Catha edulis) is a shrub grown in East Africa and the Arabian peninsula and its leaves contain psychoactive ingredients like cathinone and cathine. Though chewing khat leaves for a high is casual in some African countries, it is a banned stuff in India as WHO has categorised it as a narcotic substance, said the officers. Preliminary investigation revealed a Kuwait-based NRI had sent the consignment to the state addressed to a person hailing from Kollam. Though the local person was taken into custody, officers suspect his role was limited to taking delivery of the parcel and rerouting it to some agents in New Delhi. They suspect the involvement a big racket having international links. A South African national was arrested from Kochi a year ago for attempting to smuggle 4 kg of heroin worth `7 crore and 300 g of Methamphetamine worth `1 crore through a parcel agency to various destinations in Europe and Australia, which revealed the new smuggling trend in Kochi. KOCHI: Giving a new dimension to drug trafficking in the city, Customs officers here on Tuesday seized 180 kg of khat leaves, a banned narcotic substance. The officers also detained a person in connection with the incident. According to them, the contraband, brought here as a postal parcel from Ethiopia, was seized based on a suspicion. The narcotic, kept in nine cartons, was intended to be taken to New Delhi, they said. Khat (Catha edulis) is a shrub grown in East Africa and the Arabian peninsula and its leaves contain psychoactive ingredients like cathinone and cathine. Though chewing khat leaves for a high is casual in some African countries, it is a banned stuff in India as WHO has categorised it as a narcotic substance, said the officers. Preliminary investigation revealed a Kuwait-based NRI had sent the consignment to the state addressed to a person hailing from Kollam. Though the local person was taken into custody, officers suspect his role was limited to taking delivery of the parcel and rerouting it to some agents in New Delhi. They suspect the involvement a big racket having international links. A South African national was arrested from Kochi a year ago for attempting to smuggle 4 kg of heroin worth `7 crore and 300 g of Methamphetamine worth `1 crore through a parcel agency to various destinations in Europe and Australia, which revealed the new smuggling trend in Kochi. By Express News Service KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached `28 crore and 42.12 lakh US Dollars (worth `28.37 crore) from the bank accounts of Jose George, an NRI-turned-businessman in Kochi, who was involved in irregularities in exporting edible oil and sugar to Bulgaria. The murky deal was revealed when George received around `59 crores in the form of Letter of Credit (LoC) in an account with a public sector bank in Willingdon Island in July 2016. The money was sent by Zezvda, a Bulgarian company, said ED officials. Georges company, Trade International, had been operating with a valid licence. Within a few days of the transfer, George withdrew `30 crore from the account and deposited it in the accounts of his relatives. A Customs Department scrutiny of documents submitted by George to show details of goods shipped to Zevzda, found that no commodity was exported against the LoC. Since the money was withdrawn using the LoC before exporting goods, the Department referred the case to the ED. Georges claims that he was sourcing sugar and sunflower oil for export from manufacturers based in Chennai and Maharashtra were found to be false by the ED. The documents George filed for encashing the LoC with the public sector bank were also forged. KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached `28 crore and 42.12 lakh US Dollars (worth `28.37 crore) from the bank accounts of Jose George, an NRI-turned-businessman in Kochi, who was involved in irregularities in exporting edible oil and sugar to Bulgaria. The murky deal was revealed when George received around `59 crores in the form of Letter of Credit (LoC) in an account with a public sector bank in Willingdon Island in July 2016. The money was sent by Zezvda, a Bulgarian company, said ED officials. Georges company, Trade International, had been operating with a valid licence. Within a few days of the transfer, George withdrew `30 crore from the account and deposited it in the accounts of his relatives. A Customs Department scrutiny of documents submitted by George to show details of goods shipped to Zevzda, found that no commodity was exported against the LoC. Since the money was withdrawn using the LoC before exporting goods, the Department referred the case to the ED. Georges claims that he was sourcing sugar and sunflower oil for export from manufacturers based in Chennai and Maharashtra were found to be false by the ED. The documents George filed for encashing the LoC with the public sector bank were also forged. S Subhakeerthana By Express News Service Mani Ratnams movies are intense but they have their fair share of light moments too one of the reasons why we look forward to watching them! Awaiting the release of Kaatru Veliyidai, his heroines Shraddha Srinath and Aditi Rao Hydari cant stop talking about the maverick filmmaker. Excerpts follow: Whats the best thing about being a part of Mani Ratnams film? Aditi:They say, when you want something bad enough, the universe helps you get it. I have always wanted to act in his directorial since my childhood. I am his die-hard fan. It was a dream come true! He's extremely committed to his craft. Hes not a director, but a magician, who gives more than 100%. When you work with him, you tend to love cinema. He gives out positive vibes all the time. All his protagonists are real characters. They sing and act naturally. Everything he shows on screen will be natural. Its difficult to even express in words how the experience has been. I developed a bond with him. I cant wait to do another film with him. Shraddha: Hes prolific. I still remember my first shot with him. I just wanted to impress him. I did everything possible to deliver more than what he had expected. I was really tense and conscious in the beginning. Then I got used to his style of work. Hows Mani Ratnam on the sets? Aditi: Hes a disciplinarian and an ideal teacher for any actor. He gives his actors space and time to learn. When I get to work with such a director, what more can I ask for? Shooting for Kaatru Veliyidai is an experience by itself. We have completed filming, and I miss everybody. I feel like calling Mani Ratnam right now. I want to ask him if I can have another round of schedule. (Winks) Shraddha: When I met him, I was half curious and half anxious. I was looking at him in total awe because I never thought this could happen pretty early in my career. It took me some time to settle down. On day one, we had formal conversations, and then he asked me about the Kannada films I was doing. Hes generally chilled out, but there were moments he lost his temper (smiles). I believe thats human nature, and these things make Mani Ratnam what he is. Tell us about your co-stars... Aditi: Ive met Shraddha once or twice. Shes great to be with. Also, Karthi is down-to-earth and a friendly person. Shraddha: Aditi and I dont have many combination scenes. We havent met each o t h e r on the sets many times. Once I saw her during breakfast. It was our free day. Shes a thorough professional. I did not feel like being in the presence of a top Bollywood artiste. She was like one of us. On the other hand, I got to spend more time with Karthi. We were talking about a lot of things. What can you tell us about Kaatru Veliyidai? Aditi: I cant talk anything about the film. Mani Ratnam is the right person to ask. We are made to talk about it so much that the spark of the film is lost. Ill let my work do the talking. Shraddha: I play a brigadiers daughter. The character is close to my heart as my father is a colonel in the army. What do Tamil films mean to you? Aditi: Films mean everything to me. Language doesnt matter at all. I never categorise films by language. The whole package is beautiful. When you act well, people start liking you and even go to the extent of confusing you with your characters. Cinema is cinema. After all, theyre the directors' medium. We actors are just tools of the directors vision. Mani Ratnam' stories, in particular, are universal. You dont have to understand Tamil to watch his films. I watched Karthis Paruthiveeran (2007), and I liked it. I have watched many Tamil films without subtitles, and I have understood them. To me, the high is to work with good directors. I value their vision and trust them completely. Cinema is about narrating stories in a visually-appealing fashion. Shraddha: Officially, I havent had any release in Tamil, but the kind of love I get from everybody is amazing. It adds to the amount of responsibility. The first Tamil film I signed was Richie opposite Nivin Pauly, which is yet to be released. I play a journalist in it. Already, I have Vikram Vedha and Ivan Thanthiran (opposite Gautham Karthik) in my kitty. Every film has been a different experience. In Vikram Vedha, I play Madhavans wife and in Ivan Thanthiran, I play an engineering student. I am not trying to be choosy, but I choose films that are different. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Aditi: I have learnt to be non-judgmental. To succeed in any field, you need to be open about choices and what youre doing. Until you pursue them, you'd never know if its your calling or not. I want to be like a kid on the sets brimming with energy. Id never allow myself to be typecast. I want to do different characters. Be it any project, I put my heart and soul into it. Shraddha: I believe I am an unconventional heroine from looks to the choice of films, etc. Many say that I have an actors face, instead of a heroines. I want to balance Content-oriented and fun scripts-based cinema. On what basis you choose films? Aditi: Director and the script are most important. I love to be in front of the camera. Acting comes naturally to me. I am a drama queen. I can do anything when the camera is on. I am fearless. Knowingly or unknowingly, when the camera is on, I feel completely in that moment. When director and actors share the same vision, it becomes easy. Shraddha: Its hard to reject a film. I am not saying I'd want to be a part of only intelligent cinema, but I have set standards for myself and I go by it. There are certain aspects that I look into when I accept films. For instance, if there is a big star, I am tempted to sign it. Above all, the script has to be convincing. What keeps you occupied when you arent shooting for films? Aditi: I love dancing. I am a student of Leela Samson. I started dancing when I was five. I am not a professional dancer. Once a dancer, always a dancer, I guess. I dance whenever I feel like. Shraddha: I am home-bound when I am not shooting. How good is your Tamil? Aditi: I understand the language a little, but I cannot speak it fluently. I didnt know Tamil when I signed Kaatru Veliyidai. Towards the end, it got better. Shraddha: Its decent. Trust me! Favourite director(s)? Aditi: Mani Ratnam! Mani Ratnam! Mani Ratnam. He comes first any day. (Pauses) I like Vetrimaaran, too. Shraddha: I cant pick names. Everybody is talented. But if you insist, Id go with Gautham Menon. Mani Ratnams movies are intense but they have their fair share of light moments too one of the reasons why we look forward to watching them! Awaiting the release of Kaatru Veliyidai, his heroines Shraddha Srinath and Aditi Rao Hydari cant stop talking about the maverick filmmaker. Excerpts follow: Whats the best thing about being a part of Mani Ratnams film? Aditi:They say, when you want something bad enough, the universe helps you get it. I have always wanted to act in his directorial since my childhood. I am his die-hard fan. It was a dream come true! He's extremely committed to his craft. Hes not a director, but a magician, who gives more than 100%. When you work with him, you tend to love cinema. He gives out positive vibes all the time. All his protagonists are real characters. They sing and act naturally. Everything he shows on screen will be natural. Its difficult to even express in words how the experience has been. I developed a bond with him. I cant wait to do another film with him. Shraddha: Hes prolific. I still remember my first shot with him. I just wanted to impress him. I did everything possible to deliver more than what he had expected. I was really tense and conscious in the beginning. Then I got used to his style of work. Hows Mani Ratnam on the sets? Aditi: Hes a disciplinarian and an ideal teacher for any actor. He gives his actors space and time to learn. When I get to work with such a director, what more can I ask for? Shooting for Kaatru Veliyidai is an experience by itself. We have completed filming, and I miss everybody. I feel like calling Mani Ratnam right now. I want to ask him if I can have another round of schedule. (Winks) Shraddha: When I met him, I was half curious and half anxious. I was looking at him in total awe because I never thought this could happen pretty early in my career. It took me some time to settle down. On day one, we had formal conversations, and then he asked me about the Kannada films I was doing. Hes generally chilled out, but there were moments he lost his temper (smiles). I believe thats human nature, and these things make Mani Ratnam what he is. Tell us about your co-stars... Aditi: Ive met Shraddha once or twice. Shes great to be with. Also, Karthi is down-to-earth and a friendly person. Shraddha: Aditi and I dont have many combination scenes. We havent met each o t h e r on the sets many times. Once I saw her during breakfast. It was our free day. Shes a thorough professional. I did not feel like being in the presence of a top Bollywood artiste. She was like one of us. On the other hand, I got to spend more time with Karthi. We were talking about a lot of things. What can you tell us about Kaatru Veliyidai? Aditi: I cant talk anything about the film. Mani Ratnam is the right person to ask. We are made to talk about it so much that the spark of the film is lost. Ill let my work do the talking. Shraddha: I play a brigadiers daughter. The character is close to my heart as my father is a colonel in the army. What do Tamil films mean to you? Aditi: Films mean everything to me. Language doesnt matter at all. I never categorise films by language. The whole package is beautiful. When you act well, people start liking you and even go to the extent of confusing you with your characters. Cinema is cinema. After all, theyre the directors' medium. We actors are just tools of the directors vision. Mani Ratnam' stories, in particular, are universal. You dont have to understand Tamil to watch his films. I watched Karthis Paruthiveeran (2007), and I liked it. I have watched many Tamil films without subtitles, and I have understood them. To me, the high is to work with good directors. I value their vision and trust them completely. Cinema is about narrating stories in a visually-appealing fashion. Shraddha: Officially, I havent had any release in Tamil, but the kind of love I get from everybody is amazing. It adds to the amount of responsibility. The first Tamil film I signed was Richie opposite Nivin Pauly, which is yet to be released. I play a journalist in it. Already, I have Vikram Vedha and Ivan Thanthiran (opposite Gautham Karthik) in my kitty. Every film has been a different experience. In Vikram Vedha, I play Madhavans wife and in Ivan Thanthiran, I play an engineering student. I am not trying to be choosy, but I choose films that are different. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Aditi: I have learnt to be non-judgmental. To succeed in any field, you need to be open about choices and what youre doing. Until you pursue them, you'd never know if its your calling or not. I want to be like a kid on the sets brimming with energy. Id never allow myself to be typecast. I want to do different characters. Be it any project, I put my heart and soul into it. Shraddha: I believe I am an unconventional heroine from looks to the choice of films, etc. Many say that I have an actors face, instead of a heroines. I want to balance Content-oriented and fun scripts-based cinema. On what basis you choose films? Aditi: Director and the script are most important. I love to be in front of the camera. Acting comes naturally to me. I am a drama queen. I can do anything when the camera is on. I am fearless. Knowingly or unknowingly, when the camera is on, I feel completely in that moment. When director and actors share the same vision, it becomes easy. Shraddha: Its hard to reject a film. I am not saying I'd want to be a part of only intelligent cinema, but I have set standards for myself and I go by it. There are certain aspects that I look into when I accept films. For instance, if there is a big star, I am tempted to sign it. Above all, the script has to be convincing. What keeps you occupied when you arent shooting for films? Aditi: I love dancing. I am a student of Leela Samson. I started dancing when I was five. I am not a professional dancer. Once a dancer, always a dancer, I guess. I dance whenever I feel like. Shraddha: I am home-bound when I am not shooting. How good is your Tamil? Aditi: I understand the language a little, but I cannot speak it fluently. I didnt know Tamil when I signed Kaatru Veliyidai. Towards the end, it got better. Shraddha: Its decent. Trust me! Favourite director(s)? Aditi: Mani Ratnam! Mani Ratnam! Mani Ratnam. He comes first any day. (Pauses) I like Vetrimaaran, too. Shraddha: I cant pick names. Everybody is talented. But if you insist, Id go with Gautham Menon. By IANS SYDNEY: A treatment made with antibodies from horses may provide an effective and economical option to fight Ebola infection, says a study. "This is a cost-effective treatment that can be used in low-income countries in Africa where equine production facilities are already in operation for producing snake-bite antivenin," said one of the lead researchers Alexander Khromykh, Professor at University of Queensland in Australia. "It's the first time that equine antibodies have been shown to work effectively against Ebola infection," Khromykh pointed out. The post-exposure treatment made with antibodies from horses was administered over five days to monkeys infected 24 hours previously with a lethal dose of Ebola virus. The treatment suppressed viral loads significantly and protected the animals from mortality, showed the findings published in the journal Scientific Reports. The largest recorded outbreak of Ebola virus occurred primarily in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, infecting 30,000 people and killing more than 11,000, with exported cases in Europe and North America. The outbreak resulted in the establishment of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response and an acceleration of research on development of vaccines and therapies. This led to the development of monoclonal antibodies that were used in Britain to treat infected health workers returning from Africa. "The down side is that monoclonal antibodies require considerable investment for scale-up and manufacture, and are expensive," Khromykh said. "Equine antibodies are a considerably cheaper alternative, with manufacturing capacity already in place in Africa. Antibodies from vaccinated horses provide a low-cost alternative, and are already in use for rabies, botulism and diphtheria," Khromykh said. The research resulted from a strong collaboration between Australian, French and Russian scientists and a Queensland-based company Plasvacc Pty Ltd. SYDNEY: A treatment made with antibodies from horses may provide an effective and economical option to fight Ebola infection, says a study. "This is a cost-effective treatment that can be used in low-income countries in Africa where equine production facilities are already in operation for producing snake-bite antivenin," said one of the lead researchers Alexander Khromykh, Professor at University of Queensland in Australia. "It's the first time that equine antibodies have been shown to work effectively against Ebola infection," Khromykh pointed out. The post-exposure treatment made with antibodies from horses was administered over five days to monkeys infected 24 hours previously with a lethal dose of Ebola virus. The treatment suppressed viral loads significantly and protected the animals from mortality, showed the findings published in the journal Scientific Reports. The largest recorded outbreak of Ebola virus occurred primarily in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, infecting 30,000 people and killing more than 11,000, with exported cases in Europe and North America. The outbreak resulted in the establishment of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response and an acceleration of research on development of vaccines and therapies. This led to the development of monoclonal antibodies that were used in Britain to treat infected health workers returning from Africa. "The down side is that monoclonal antibodies require considerable investment for scale-up and manufacture, and are expensive," Khromykh said. "Equine antibodies are a considerably cheaper alternative, with manufacturing capacity already in place in Africa. Antibodies from vaccinated horses provide a low-cost alternative, and are already in use for rabies, botulism and diphtheria," Khromykh said. The research resulted from a strong collaboration between Australian, French and Russian scientists and a Queensland-based company Plasvacc Pty Ltd. By Express News Service PATNA: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Wednesday discovered that the 59 constables of the elite jungle-warfare Counter Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) force, returning to battalion headquarters in Gaya early Saturday were feeling homesick and had decided to make a quick visit home. The CRPF will however conduct an official enquiry, and disciplinary action will be taken against all the constables, a senior CRPF official said. Manvinder Singh Bhatia, Inspector General (IG) of CRPF (Bihar sector), told The New Indian Express that the inquiry is being conducted by L Lhozem, commandant of the 205 battalion at their headquarters at Barachatti, in Gaya district. He said disciplinary action against them will be decided at the directorate level based on the inquiry report. Bhatia termed the action of the 59 commandos as unexpected and unauthorised absence and denied media claims of it being a mass bunk. We are looking at all angles of the unexpected action of the commandos, but it is not a matter of desertion as being portrayed by a section of the media, he said. He also said that all the 59 commandos were back at the headquarters of their battalion on Tuesday afternoon. Each of them has reported back for duty, he said. In the first such incident of its kind in the countrys elite paramilitary force, all 59 constables had deserted their train at Mughalsarai junction without permission from the havildar in-charge. In an inquiry conducted by the forces senior officials, disciplinary action will be taken against all those involved in the alleged mass bunk and for doing so without the permission of the havildar heading the team, a senior CRPF official said. During individual interactions with each of the commandos CoBRA battalion Inspector General Raju Bhargav and CRPFs Deputy IG in Gaya, Sajauddin, on Tuesday were told that the commandos felt suddenly homesick as there were still two days time with them before the due date of joining their regiment, which was February 7. The commandos had to board the train two days earlier, and thought they had time in their hand for a visit home before joining back to duty on the due date. This was an unprecedented situation. They were not granted permission by the havildar leading them to leave the train, but they apparently defied him, added Bhatia. The commandos, all of constable rank of CRPFs elite force, were returning to their headquarters two days prior to their joining date after six-months of training in Jammu and Kashmir. PATNA: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Wednesday discovered that the 59 constables of the elite jungle-warfare Counter Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) force, returning to battalion headquarters in Gaya early Saturday were feeling homesick and had decided to make a quick visit home. The CRPF will however conduct an official enquiry, and disciplinary action will be taken against all the constables, a senior CRPF official said. Manvinder Singh Bhatia, Inspector General (IG) of CRPF (Bihar sector), told The New Indian Express that the inquiry is being conducted by L Lhozem, commandant of the 205 battalion at their headquarters at Barachatti, in Gaya district. He said disciplinary action against them will be decided at the directorate level based on the inquiry report. Bhatia termed the action of the 59 commandos as unexpected and unauthorised absence and denied media claims of it being a mass bunk. We are looking at all angles of the unexpected action of the commandos, but it is not a matter of desertion as being portrayed by a section of the media, he said. He also said that all the 59 commandos were back at the headquarters of their battalion on Tuesday afternoon. Each of them has reported back for duty, he said. In the first such incident of its kind in the countrys elite paramilitary force, all 59 constables had deserted their train at Mughalsarai junction without permission from the havildar in-charge. In an inquiry conducted by the forces senior officials, disciplinary action will be taken against all those involved in the alleged mass bunk and for doing so without the permission of the havildar heading the team, a senior CRPF official said. During individual interactions with each of the commandos CoBRA battalion Inspector General Raju Bhargav and CRPFs Deputy IG in Gaya, Sajauddin, on Tuesday were told that the commandos felt suddenly homesick as there were still two days time with them before the due date of joining their regiment, which was February 7. The commandos had to board the train two days earlier, and thought they had time in their hand for a visit home before joining back to duty on the due date. This was an unprecedented situation. They were not granted permission by the havildar leading them to leave the train, but they apparently defied him, added Bhatia. The commandos, all of constable rank of CRPFs elite force, were returning to their headquarters two days prior to their joining date after six-months of training in Jammu and Kashmir. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Even as Uttar Pradesh is set to hit the polls in a few days time, Dimple Yadav, the wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, has hit the campaign trail pulling a large crowd of female voters at the Ramlila Ground in Agra on Wednesday. Dimple started her day by addressing the first rally at Bah, the rural constituency of Agra district going to the polls on February 11. Accompanied by Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan, Dimple sought support for party candidate Anshu Rani Nishad who was recently christened Garibon ki Rani by the UP CM. Apart from Jaya Bachchan, Vidya Balan too had joined Dimple, who addressed three back-to-back rallies in support of two women candidatesMamta Taplu and Rajabeti Devi in Agra Cantonment and Etmadpur respectively. But Balan somehow could not make it to Agra. The Samajwadi Party has fielded 12 per cent women candidates in the coming assembly elections. While BJP has fielded Rani Pakshalika Singh from the Bhadawar royal family, former MLA Madhusudan Sharma is contesting as the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Bah. Two-time MP from Kannauj, Dimple, highlighted the achievements of her husband during his last five years as the Chief Minister. Unhone bahut achcha kaam kiya hai. Bahut saari janhit ke yojnayen chalayee hain (He has done a commendable job by launching a lot of projects to benefit the people), she said. Claiming that Akhilesh Government had accomplished all the promises made during previous assembly elections, Dimple assured the voters of their all-round development if the SP was voted back to power with Akhilesh as their CM. Spelling out the women-specific populist schemes of the SP manifesto, Dimple promised free pressure cookers for housewives, an extension of the pension scheme for women, covering one crore destitute, with an increased monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 instead of the Rs 500 provided by the ruling SP government so far. The Kannauj MP also reiterated the promise of giving free milk powder and ghee to every household, scholarships to girl students, free education till graduation, and many other similar schemes. She made a special mention of women powerline created exclusively to ensure police help in distress due to eve-teasing and other such situations. At the same time, Jaya Bachchan, in her address, focussed mainly on the opposition parties and their promises to women through election manifestos. She also reminded the crowd how the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and previous BSP regime in UP failed to address the woes of women in the state. LUCKNOW: Even as Uttar Pradesh is set to hit the polls in a few days time, Dimple Yadav, the wife of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, has hit the campaign trail pulling a large crowd of female voters at the Ramlila Ground in Agra on Wednesday. Dimple started her day by addressing the first rally at Bah, the rural constituency of Agra district going to the polls on February 11. Accompanied by Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan, Dimple sought support for party candidate Anshu Rani Nishad who was recently christened Garibon ki Rani by the UP CM. Apart from Jaya Bachchan, Vidya Balan too had joined Dimple, who addressed three back-to-back rallies in support of two women candidatesMamta Taplu and Rajabeti Devi in Agra Cantonment and Etmadpur respectively. But Balan somehow could not make it to Agra. The Samajwadi Party has fielded 12 per cent women candidates in the coming assembly elections. While BJP has fielded Rani Pakshalika Singh from the Bhadawar royal family, former MLA Madhusudan Sharma is contesting as the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Bah. Two-time MP from Kannauj, Dimple, highlighted the achievements of her husband during his last five years as the Chief Minister. Unhone bahut achcha kaam kiya hai. Bahut saari janhit ke yojnayen chalayee hain (He has done a commendable job by launching a lot of projects to benefit the people), she said. Claiming that Akhilesh Government had accomplished all the promises made during previous assembly elections, Dimple assured the voters of their all-round development if the SP was voted back to power with Akhilesh as their CM. Spelling out the women-specific populist schemes of the SP manifesto, Dimple promised free pressure cookers for housewives, an extension of the pension scheme for women, covering one crore destitute, with an increased monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 instead of the Rs 500 provided by the ruling SP government so far. The Kannauj MP also reiterated the promise of giving free milk powder and ghee to every household, scholarships to girl students, free education till graduation, and many other similar schemes. She made a special mention of women powerline created exclusively to ensure police help in distress due to eve-teasing and other such situations. At the same time, Jaya Bachchan, in her address, focussed mainly on the opposition parties and their promises to women through election manifestos. She also reminded the crowd how the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and previous BSP regime in UP failed to address the woes of women in the state. Abhijit Mulye By Express News Service MUMBAI: Rumours that the Shiv Sena is on the verge of withdrawing support to the state government intensified on Wednesday with reports of Shiv Sena ministers seeking an urgent meeting with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss urgent issues. The ministers have been granted a meeting at his residence at around 10 pm, reports indicate. A delegation of at least four ministers, under the leadership of senior Shiv Sena leader and industries minister Subhash Desai, is scheduled to meet Fadnavis. However, one of the ministers, who would be part of the delegation, made it clear that the meeting has nothing to do with the resignations. The BJP has promised crop loan waiver for farmers in Uttar Pradesh in their election manifesto there. Farmers in our state too have been making similar demands for over two years now. Hence, we shall meet the CM to formally make a demand in this regard, the minister said while speaking to Express on condition of anonymity. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the state government is on a notice period. In an interview on Wednesday, he also elaborated his partys strategy to systematically corner its ally over the next few days. We are open to withdrawing support to the government if they do not make clear their stand on various issues in the coming days, he said. Some sources have also pointed out towards resignations. Sena ministers would tender their resignations to the party chief Uddhav Thackeray at a public rally on February 18 and Uddhavji will the take the final call on whether or not to forward the resignation letters to the Governor, sources within the party stated. In the 38-member Fadnavis cabinet, Shiv Sena has five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state. In the 288-member assembly, BJP has 122 members and enjoys the support of 12 members apart from Shiv Senas 63. BJPs minority government, before Shiv Sena lent its support in 2014, had survived on a voice vote in the assembly. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had vouched for support to the government, forcing the Shiv Sena to join it. Sena MP Sanjay Raut too had indicated the party is considering pulling out of the state government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, brushed aside any possibilities of his government getting toppled. My government is absolutely stable and would comfortably complete its full term of five years, he had said on Tuesday. Addressing his first public rally in Mumbai, Fadnavis ripped into the Sena rhetoric over the issue of transparencythe major issue over which the parties have parted ways this time. We are here for transparency and development, said the CM. Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena had dared the BJP to order a probe into what the latter termed a Rs 20,000 crore scam into the projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in the city. MUMBAI: Rumours that the Shiv Sena is on the verge of withdrawing support to the state government intensified on Wednesday with reports of Shiv Sena ministers seeking an urgent meeting with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss urgent issues. The ministers have been granted a meeting at his residence at around 10 pm, reports indicate. A delegation of at least four ministers, under the leadership of senior Shiv Sena leader and industries minister Subhash Desai, is scheduled to meet Fadnavis. However, one of the ministers, who would be part of the delegation, made it clear that the meeting has nothing to do with the resignations. The BJP has promised crop loan waiver for farmers in Uttar Pradesh in their election manifesto there. Farmers in our state too have been making similar demands for over two years now. Hence, we shall meet the CM to formally make a demand in this regard, the minister said while speaking to Express on condition of anonymity. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the state government is on a notice period. In an interview on Wednesday, he also elaborated his partys strategy to systematically corner its ally over the next few days. We are open to withdrawing support to the government if they do not make clear their stand on various issues in the coming days, he said. Some sources have also pointed out towards resignations. Sena ministers would tender their resignations to the party chief Uddhav Thackeray at a public rally on February 18 and Uddhavji will the take the final call on whether or not to forward the resignation letters to the Governor, sources within the party stated. In the 38-member Fadnavis cabinet, Shiv Sena has five cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state. In the 288-member assembly, BJP has 122 members and enjoys the support of 12 members apart from Shiv Senas 63. BJPs minority government, before Shiv Sena lent its support in 2014, had survived on a voice vote in the assembly. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had vouched for support to the government, forcing the Shiv Sena to join it. Sena MP Sanjay Raut too had indicated the party is considering pulling out of the state government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, brushed aside any possibilities of his government getting toppled. My government is absolutely stable and would comfortably complete its full term of five years, he had said on Tuesday. Addressing his first public rally in Mumbai, Fadnavis ripped into the Sena rhetoric over the issue of transparencythe major issue over which the parties have parted ways this time. We are here for transparency and development, said the CM. Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena had dared the BJP to order a probe into what the latter termed a Rs 20,000 crore scam into the projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in the city. By PTI NEW DELHI: Some Pakistani nationals belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities, who came on pilgrim visa, have not returned to their country fearing religious persecution, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government in 2015 had issued stringent conditions for grant of group pilgrim visa with groups being limited to 50. The group leader was made responsible for reporting to police. "Pilgrim visa is granted to Pakistani nationals to visit religious shrines in India. It has been reported that some Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities in Pakistan, mainly Hindus and Sikhs, who came to India on Group Pilgrim Visa have not returned to Pakistan on the ground of religious persecution in Pakistan," he said. Rijiju said there were no specific inputs whether some pilgrims intentionally got lost. "The Central government has issued detailed instructions on July 28, 2015 laying down stringent conditions for grant of Group Pilgrim Visa to minority communities in Pakistan to visit religious places in India," he said. The minister said in each group the number of pilgrims is restricted to 50, with the group leader is responsible for police reporting for the entire group and also ensure that the members enter India, travel within the country and exit together. NEW DELHI: Some Pakistani nationals belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities, who came on pilgrim visa, have not returned to their country fearing religious persecution, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the government in 2015 had issued stringent conditions for grant of group pilgrim visa with groups being limited to 50. The group leader was made responsible for reporting to police. "Pilgrim visa is granted to Pakistani nationals to visit religious shrines in India. It has been reported that some Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities in Pakistan, mainly Hindus and Sikhs, who came to India on Group Pilgrim Visa have not returned to Pakistan on the ground of religious persecution in Pakistan," he said. Rijiju said there were no specific inputs whether some pilgrims intentionally got lost. "The Central government has issued detailed instructions on July 28, 2015 laying down stringent conditions for grant of Group Pilgrim Visa to minority communities in Pakistan to visit religious places in India," he said. The minister said in each group the number of pilgrims is restricted to 50, with the group leader is responsible for police reporting for the entire group and also ensure that the members enter India, travel within the country and exit together. Anand ST Das By Express News Service PATNA: The Bihar government on Wednesday scrapped the recruitment examination for clerical jobs conducted by Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) after an ongoing probe by the special investigation team (SIT) confirmed that question papers were leaked at least five hours before the examinations started on Sunday. BSSC secretary Parameshwar Ram, who was questioned by SIT sleuths for two days, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the racket that perpetrated the leak of question papers. A data entry operator of BSSC working at its headquarters in Patna and two men suspected of having links with the racket in Nawada were arrested on Wednesday. On the basis of the DGPs preliminary report and on the recommendation of the chief secretary after that, the examination conducted by BSSC has been scrapped, said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to journalists after emerging from a cabinet meeting in the evening. Ram, who had termed as baseless rumours reports of the BSSC question paper leak on Sunday when the examinations were on, was on Monday manhandled by a mob of about 100 angry candidates who had appeared for the exam. Sleuths of the SIT, which was formed under the instructions of the chief minister on the same day, had raided Rams house on Tuesday before pulling him in for interrogation. With the latest arrests, the total number of people arrested in the racket so far has reached 30. The SIT had arrested 27 people in Nawada on Monday for along with electronic devices used to help examinees write the exam. Patna police had also arrested five candidates. The SIT, led by Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj and assisted by the economic offences wing (EOW) of the state police, has found significant evidence suggesting that question papers were leaked at least five hours before the examinations began at 11 AM on Sunday in all 38 districts of the state. A source said call details of several employees of BSSC were scrutinised as part of the ongoing probe and they showed that some of those arrested in Nawada soon after the examinations ended had conversed with BSSC employees. The data entry operator working with BSSC was arrested as several strands of emerging evidence linked him directly to the racket believed to have perpetrated the leak of question papers. In the house of BSSC secretary Parameshwar Ram, SIT sleuths reportedly recovered several sensitive documents related to the examination, including admit cards of several candidates kept under his bed. Sources said EOW officials detected assets belonging to Ram disproportionate to his known sources of income and that a case in this regard would be registered after verification. Evidence gathered by SIT point at leak of question papers. If such evidence was brought to our notice the day of the examination, we would have scrapped the examinations, said BSSC chairman Sudhir Kumar. Scrapping the examinations has hit 4.5 lakh candidates at 732 centres across Bihar, but will now be held afresh. Senior BJP leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that the racketeers collected nearly Rs 200 crore by collecting between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 6 lakh from each candidate. Question papers with answer sheets were allegedly being sold in the market before the examinations began. PATNA: The Bihar government on Wednesday scrapped the recruitment examination for clerical jobs conducted by Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) after an ongoing probe by the special investigation team (SIT) confirmed that question papers were leaked at least five hours before the examinations started on Sunday. BSSC secretary Parameshwar Ram, who was questioned by SIT sleuths for two days, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the racket that perpetrated the leak of question papers. A data entry operator of BSSC working at its headquarters in Patna and two men suspected of having links with the racket in Nawada were arrested on Wednesday. On the basis of the DGPs preliminary report and on the recommendation of the chief secretary after that, the examination conducted by BSSC has been scrapped, said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to journalists after emerging from a cabinet meeting in the evening. Ram, who had termed as baseless rumours reports of the BSSC question paper leak on Sunday when the examinations were on, was on Monday manhandled by a mob of about 100 angry candidates who had appeared for the exam. Sleuths of the SIT, which was formed under the instructions of the chief minister on the same day, had raided Rams house on Tuesday before pulling him in for interrogation. With the latest arrests, the total number of people arrested in the racket so far has reached 30. The SIT had arrested 27 people in Nawada on Monday for along with electronic devices used to help examinees write the exam. Patna police had also arrested five candidates. The SIT, led by Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj and assisted by the economic offences wing (EOW) of the state police, has found significant evidence suggesting that question papers were leaked at least five hours before the examinations began at 11 AM on Sunday in all 38 districts of the state. A source said call details of several employees of BSSC were scrutinised as part of the ongoing probe and they showed that some of those arrested in Nawada soon after the examinations ended had conversed with BSSC employees. The data entry operator working with BSSC was arrested as several strands of emerging evidence linked him directly to the racket believed to have perpetrated the leak of question papers. In the house of BSSC secretary Parameshwar Ram, SIT sleuths reportedly recovered several sensitive documents related to the examination, including admit cards of several candidates kept under his bed. Sources said EOW officials detected assets belonging to Ram disproportionate to his known sources of income and that a case in this regard would be registered after verification. Evidence gathered by SIT point at leak of question papers. If such evidence was brought to our notice the day of the examination, we would have scrapped the examinations, said BSSC chairman Sudhir Kumar. Scrapping the examinations has hit 4.5 lakh candidates at 732 centres across Bihar, but will now be held afresh. Senior BJP leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that the racketeers collected nearly Rs 200 crore by collecting between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 6 lakh from each candidate. Question papers with answer sheets were allegedly being sold in the market before the examinations began. Vikram Sharma By Express News Service RUDRAPRAYAG: A trek of 2 km from the road takes one to Byunki village, some 12 km from the famous temple of Kalimath. A narrow path leads to a few houses -- most of them locked. Trekking further, a breathtaking view opens up: small houses perched on the mountainside, pine trees dotting the landscape. The silence punctuated by birdsong is soothing. Further on, after passing yet more locked houses and a locked school, you arrive at the doorstep of the house of Madhuli Devi. Shes a 65-year-old woman with a serious stomach ailment. They have all left. There are no jobs here, not a single factory. We live in fear of leopards and wild animals. The lady and her husband have decided to pack up. Theres no hospital here to treat her, just a medical shop whose owner doubles as a doctor. They intend to move to Srinagar. Its a 100 km away, a light year away in this terrain of kutcha paths and treacherous roads. In the town, Madhuli Devi and her vegetable vendor husband plan to eke out a livelihood doing odd jobs. The exodus of Pahadi people like Madhuli Devi is the big issue of this election in Uttarakhand. It continues unabated as politicos debate solutions and analysts say it is too late in the day. Any plan would take years to work. Madhuli Devi has no time to wait. Unemployment and lack of infrastructure are not the only drivers of this phenomenon unique to Uttarakhand. The man-animal conflict is feeding it too for these hills are where the single column fillers carried in newspapers come from. ''Sure this place looks serene and beautiful. But for us it is a miserable life. Leopards, bears, snakes, wild boar, monkeys, langurs. You name it,'' says Satkari, a resident of Khunnu village in Ukhimath block, not far from Byunki. According to wildlife expert Sanchay Rawat, villagers here fear leopard attacks the most. Livestock numbers have decreased and leopards come down the mountains and into human habitats in search of food. According to one study, nearly 60 people are killed by leopards in Uttarakhand every year. Hundreds escape with injuries. Nine out of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand are in the hills. Theres no village in these hills thats not vulnerable to a leopard attack,'' says Rawat. The study suggests that there are more than 1,000 villages in Uttarakhand that are totally deserted. A majority of the villagers have shifted to flatlands like Dehradun, Haridwar, Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon and even Mumbai for employment in factories, industries and hotels. ''There is nothing to do here. The salaries are meager in those cities but something is better than nothing,'' says Ashish Kumar Semwal, a resident of Rudraprayag. To the Pahaadis, this election holds out no hope no matter who wins it, Congress or BJP. ''We have no faith left in political parties. Most of us have decided to use the NOTA option,'' says Semwal. Till a decade ago, migration had not been in such large numbers. There used to be a trickle of it when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. But it has now become a torrent. The state governments of the new state have been able to nothing to stop it. Anita Narayan, a resident of Jalmalla village, said there used to be 100 families in her village. Now only 50 are left and planning to leave. In the heat of the electoral battle, parties make promises. Congress spokesman Mathura Dutt Joshi promises bonus payments to farmers, doctors in remote areas, industrial training units for the youth and jobs in the forest sector. And BJP MP Munna Singh Chauhan promises small and micro enterprises, organic farming, tourism, roads and bridges. He says the all-weather road for Char Dham Yatra, the foundation stone for which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a move in this direction. But Dehradun-based analyst Triloknath Rawat says its too late. ''The Congress is talking about reverse migration by 2022 while the BJP says it will create and infrastructure. Even they know its impossible. In five years, these villages will be empty.'' RUDRAPRAYAG: A trek of 2 km from the road takes one to Byunki village, some 12 km from the famous temple of Kalimath. A narrow path leads to a few houses -- most of them locked. Trekking further, a breathtaking view opens up: small houses perched on the mountainside, pine trees dotting the landscape. The silence punctuated by birdsong is soothing. Further on, after passing yet more locked houses and a locked school, you arrive at the doorstep of the house of Madhuli Devi. Shes a 65-year-old woman with a serious stomach ailment. They have all left. There are no jobs here, not a single factory. We live in fear of leopards and wild animals. The lady and her husband have decided to pack up. Theres no hospital here to treat her, just a medical shop whose owner doubles as a doctor. They intend to move to Srinagar. Its a 100 km away, a light year away in this terrain of kutcha paths and treacherous roads. In the town, Madhuli Devi and her vegetable vendor husband plan to eke out a livelihood doing odd jobs. The exodus of Pahadi people like Madhuli Devi is the big issue of this election in Uttarakhand. It continues unabated as politicos debate solutions and analysts say it is too late in the day. Any plan would take years to work. Madhuli Devi has no time to wait. Unemployment and lack of infrastructure are not the only drivers of this phenomenon unique to Uttarakhand. The man-animal conflict is feeding it too for these hills are where the single column fillers carried in newspapers come from. ''Sure this place looks serene and beautiful. But for us it is a miserable life. Leopards, bears, snakes, wild boar, monkeys, langurs. You name it,'' says Satkari, a resident of Khunnu village in Ukhimath block, not far from Byunki. According to wildlife expert Sanchay Rawat, villagers here fear leopard attacks the most. Livestock numbers have decreased and leopards come down the mountains and into human habitats in search of food. According to one study, nearly 60 people are killed by leopards in Uttarakhand every year. Hundreds escape with injuries. Nine out of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand are in the hills. Theres no village in these hills thats not vulnerable to a leopard attack,'' says Rawat. The study suggests that there are more than 1,000 villages in Uttarakhand that are totally deserted. A majority of the villagers have shifted to flatlands like Dehradun, Haridwar, Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon and even Mumbai for employment in factories, industries and hotels. ''There is nothing to do here. The salaries are meager in those cities but something is better than nothing,'' says Ashish Kumar Semwal, a resident of Rudraprayag. To the Pahaadis, this election holds out no hope no matter who wins it, Congress or BJP. ''We have no faith left in political parties. Most of us have decided to use the NOTA option,'' says Semwal. Till a decade ago, migration had not been in such large numbers. There used to be a trickle of it when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. But it has now become a torrent. The state governments of the new state have been able to nothing to stop it. Anita Narayan, a resident of Jalmalla village, said there used to be 100 families in her village. Now only 50 are left and planning to leave. In the heat of the electoral battle, parties make promises. Congress spokesman Mathura Dutt Joshi promises bonus payments to farmers, doctors in remote areas, industrial training units for the youth and jobs in the forest sector. And BJP MP Munna Singh Chauhan promises small and micro enterprises, organic farming, tourism, roads and bridges. He says the all-weather road for Char Dham Yatra, the foundation stone for which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a move in this direction. But Dehradun-based analyst Triloknath Rawat says its too late. ''The Congress is talking about reverse migration by 2022 while the BJP says it will create and infrastructure. Even they know its impossible. In five years, these villages will be empty.'' Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Two IIT-Guwahati students were arrested by the police for allegedly raping three students of Gauhati University by spiking their drinks. Ajay Dey, an electronics engineering student hailing from Gwalior, and Kunal Kumbhakar, a student of civil engineering from Rajasthan, were picked up from the IIT campus on Tuesday night and arrested on Wednesday evening after medical examinations of the victims confirmed rape. Both the accused students were arrested and presented before a court. They are now in judicial custody, Kamrup (rural) additional superintendent of police, Navneet Mahanta, told Express. The alleged rape took place on the night of February 3 during Alcheringa, the annual cultural fest of IIT-Guwahati. However, one of the girls lodged a complaint with the police only on Tuesday. In her complaint, the girl alleged that the accused had spiked their drinks before committing the crime, Mahanta said. The complainant on Wednesday gave her statement before the additional chief judicial magistrate of Kamrup (rural) district. As it was late, we were looking for a rented accommodation in the IIT campus to spend the night. It was then that we were accosted by the duo who offered to help us. They offered us soft drink that was laced with sedatives and after having a sip, I felt dizzy. Then they got into the act. I tried to resist but lost my consciousness soon, she told reporters. It was learnt that one of the girls was an acquaintance of an accused. They had gone to the IIT campus at his invitation. Ajay Dey is from Gwalior and Kumbhakar is from Rajasthan. GUWAHATI: Two IIT-Guwahati students were arrested by the police for allegedly raping three students of Gauhati University by spiking their drinks. Ajay Dey, an electronics engineering student hailing from Gwalior, and Kunal Kumbhakar, a student of civil engineering from Rajasthan, were picked up from the IIT campus on Tuesday night and arrested on Wednesday evening after medical examinations of the victims confirmed rape. Both the accused students were arrested and presented before a court. They are now in judicial custody, Kamrup (rural) additional superintendent of police, Navneet Mahanta, told Express. The alleged rape took place on the night of February 3 during Alcheringa, the annual cultural fest of IIT-Guwahati. However, one of the girls lodged a complaint with the police only on Tuesday. In her complaint, the girl alleged that the accused had spiked their drinks before committing the crime, Mahanta said. The complainant on Wednesday gave her statement before the additional chief judicial magistrate of Kamrup (rural) district. As it was late, we were looking for a rented accommodation in the IIT campus to spend the night. It was then that we were accosted by the duo who offered to help us. They offered us soft drink that was laced with sedatives and after having a sip, I felt dizzy. Then they got into the act. I tried to resist but lost my consciousness soon, she told reporters. It was learnt that one of the girls was an acquaintance of an accused. They had gone to the IIT campus at his invitation. Ajay Dey is from Gwalior and Kumbhakar is from Rajasthan. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Despite organising four joint rallies and some impressive roadshows ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance seems to be plagued with confusions over the seat-sharing arrangement in over 12 seats in the state. The alliance leadership is grappling with the issue of pacifying those candidates who are facing each other in over 12 seats across the state. The most contentious of these is Amethi. The Samajwadi Party, which has fielded sitting MLA, UP minister and Mulayam-loyalist Gayatri Prajapati here, is not ready to concede the seat to the Congress. However, the Raja of Amethi and chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee, Dr Sanjay Singh is all set to field his wife Amita Singh from the seat. Calling it a matter of prestige, Sanjay Singh is not ready to step back from his decision. Amita will file her paper on February 9 from the Amethi assembly seat, he asserted. Giving an interesting twist to the Amethi contest, the BJP has fielded Sanjay Singhs estranged wife Garima Singh from this seat. Amethi will be going to the polls in the fifth phase of the polls on February 27. Apart from Amethi, Gauriganj and Salon in the Amethi parliamentary segment along with Sareni in Rae Bareli Lok Sabha segment are also caught in a row where candidates of both the parties are set for a face-off. While Congress candidates are not ready to withdraw from the former three seats, Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Devendra Pratap Singh is ready to fight Ashok Singh of the Congress from Sareni. As of today, candidates of both the parties are contesting on a number of seats, but these issues will be resolved soon, said UPCC chief Raj Babbar while releasing his partys manifesto for UP elections here on Wednesday. Babbar attributes the entire confusion and dispute to the delay in ticket allotment and asserts the election is going well for the alliance. However, he forgets the situation is tricky in other parts of the state as well. In state capital Lucknow, the SP has already announced the name of senior minister and sitting MLA Ravidas Mehrotra for Lucknow (Central). After the alliance, Maroof Khan of Congress also filed his nomination from the seat on the pretext of the high commands order. Neither Mehrotra nor Khan is ready to withdraw despite their respective leaders intervention. Now, both are set to face each other on the prestigious seatmuch to the benefit of BJPs Brijesh Pathak, a BSP turncoat. Interestingly, these are not the only cases of confrontation between the alliance partners. Of the 169 seats going to polls during the first three phases, the Congress and the SP candidates are facing each other in over 12 seats. From Zaidpur seat in Barabanki, the Congress has fielded Tanuj Punia who is the son of a former bureaucrat and Congress Rajya Sabha (RS) member, PL Punia. Tanuj Punia is facing SP's Ram Gopal who was expelled from the party after refusing to withdraw. However, Ram Gopal later withdrew his candidature but could not withdraw his papers as the date was already over. Similarly, though the Congress party convinced Pramod Jaiswal, younger brother of former union minister and senior Congress leader Sri Prakash Jaiswal, to pull out of Arya Nagar in Kanpur in favour of SP's Amitabh Bajpai, Jaiswal could not withdraw his papers and technically remains a candidate. "We are hopeful to resolve these issues in the next one or two days ahead of the first phase of polls in western UP," said SP spokesman Ashish Yadav. Both the allies are also facing a strong rebellion from those within the cadre who were aspiring for tickets but have been denied under the seat sharing formula. The SP is facing a bigger challenge from its rebel candidates, who are either fighting as independents or from other parties in over 100 seats across the state. LUCKNOW: Despite organising four joint rallies and some impressive roadshows ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance seems to be plagued with confusions over the seat-sharing arrangement in over 12 seats in the state. The alliance leadership is grappling with the issue of pacifying those candidates who are facing each other in over 12 seats across the state. The most contentious of these is Amethi. The Samajwadi Party, which has fielded sitting MLA, UP minister and Mulayam-loyalist Gayatri Prajapati here, is not ready to concede the seat to the Congress. However, the Raja of Amethi and chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee, Dr Sanjay Singh is all set to field his wife Amita Singh from the seat. Calling it a matter of prestige, Sanjay Singh is not ready to step back from his decision. Amita will file her paper on February 9 from the Amethi assembly seat, he asserted. Giving an interesting twist to the Amethi contest, the BJP has fielded Sanjay Singhs estranged wife Garima Singh from this seat. Amethi will be going to the polls in the fifth phase of the polls on February 27. Apart from Amethi, Gauriganj and Salon in the Amethi parliamentary segment along with Sareni in Rae Bareli Lok Sabha segment are also caught in a row where candidates of both the parties are set for a face-off. While Congress candidates are not ready to withdraw from the former three seats, Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Devendra Pratap Singh is ready to fight Ashok Singh of the Congress from Sareni. As of today, candidates of both the parties are contesting on a number of seats, but these issues will be resolved soon, said UPCC chief Raj Babbar while releasing his partys manifesto for UP elections here on Wednesday. Babbar attributes the entire confusion and dispute to the delay in ticket allotment and asserts the election is going well for the alliance. However, he forgets the situation is tricky in other parts of the state as well. In state capital Lucknow, the SP has already announced the name of senior minister and sitting MLA Ravidas Mehrotra for Lucknow (Central). After the alliance, Maroof Khan of Congress also filed his nomination from the seat on the pretext of the high commands order. Neither Mehrotra nor Khan is ready to withdraw despite their respective leaders intervention. Now, both are set to face each other on the prestigious seatmuch to the benefit of BJPs Brijesh Pathak, a BSP turncoat. Interestingly, these are not the only cases of confrontation between the alliance partners. Of the 169 seats going to polls during the first three phases, the Congress and the SP candidates are facing each other in over 12 seats. From Zaidpur seat in Barabanki, the Congress has fielded Tanuj Punia who is the son of a former bureaucrat and Congress Rajya Sabha (RS) member, PL Punia. Tanuj Punia is facing SP's Ram Gopal who was expelled from the party after refusing to withdraw. However, Ram Gopal later withdrew his candidature but could not withdraw his papers as the date was already over. Similarly, though the Congress party convinced Pramod Jaiswal, younger brother of former union minister and senior Congress leader Sri Prakash Jaiswal, to pull out of Arya Nagar in Kanpur in favour of SP's Amitabh Bajpai, Jaiswal could not withdraw his papers and technically remains a candidate. "We are hopeful to resolve these issues in the next one or two days ahead of the first phase of polls in western UP," said SP spokesman Ashish Yadav. Both the allies are also facing a strong rebellion from those within the cadre who were aspiring for tickets but have been denied under the seat sharing formula. The SP is facing a bigger challenge from its rebel candidates, who are either fighting as independents or from other parties in over 100 seats across the state. YATISH YADAV By Express News Service NEW DELHI: On June 7, 2016, when arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari was being grilled by Income Tax sleuths in New Delhi, Piccadilly, London-based company, OIS Europe Limited, filed an application with the companies house at Cardiff to strike off the company from the register. Top sources told Express that Bhandari, charged under sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), had close links with OIS Europe. Investigation details exclusively reviewed by Express reveal that OIS Europe Limited (No. 07283999) was dissolved on August 23, 2016. Bhandari, sources said, was a frequent flyer to the UK, Czechoslovakia and Poland and they suspect the fugitive arms dealer may have used companies registered abroad to launder ill-gotten wealth. Sumit Chadha, who came under the scanner after IT seized several email exchanges regarding a property in Bryanston Square in London, was one of the directors of OIS Europe. We are probing further into the company and its transaction details, said a source. It is learnt that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) has sought help from its counterparts in Europe and the Middle East to uncover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Bhandari, suspected to be holed up in the London suburb after he fled India last year. Express first broke the story in December last that Bhandari may have reached London via Nepal. The investigators have sought banking transaction details of at least 10 companies linked to Bhandari in India and abroad. The recent move by the FIU, the key agency to probe deeper into cross-border wire transfers and purchase of properties through money laundering, came after the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate probing Bhandaris mysterious disappearance sought its help to gather financial transaction details through its existing global network. The FIU is examining the account books of OIS Aerospace Private Limited that was floated by Bhandari in 2013 and mainly functions as its Indian offset partner for international manufacturers. The transaction details of another firm being sought from the foreign counterpart is Avaana Software and Services Private Limited that was floated in January 2004 and Offset India Solutions Limited, incorporated in 2008. Bhandaris Micromet Ati India Private Limited is also being probed for alleged tax evasion and round tripping of slush funds. Micromet was launched in November 2010 with Bhandari as its director. Santech Petro Global Private Limited, floated in 2010 with Bhandari and his wife Sonia as directors is also being scrutinised. The ongoing probe is also examining Bhandaris links with Thales group, a French multinational firm and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company that makes commercial and military aircraft, space systems and other defence products. Bhandari, investigators suspect, is involved in IAFs basic trainer aircraft purchase for which a deal worth around Rs 4,000 crore was signed during the UPA regime in 2012. NEW DELHI: On June 7, 2016, when arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari was being grilled by Income Tax sleuths in New Delhi, Piccadilly, London-based company, OIS Europe Limited, filed an application with the companies house at Cardiff to strike off the company from the register. Top sources told Express that Bhandari, charged under sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), had close links with OIS Europe. Investigation details exclusively reviewed by Express reveal that OIS Europe Limited (No. 07283999) was dissolved on August 23, 2016. Bhandari, sources said, was a frequent flyer to the UK, Czechoslovakia and Poland and they suspect the fugitive arms dealer may have used companies registered abroad to launder ill-gotten wealth. Sumit Chadha, who came under the scanner after IT seized several email exchanges regarding a property in Bryanston Square in London, was one of the directors of OIS Europe. We are probing further into the company and its transaction details, said a source. It is learnt that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) has sought help from its counterparts in Europe and the Middle East to uncover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of Bhandari, suspected to be holed up in the London suburb after he fled India last year. Express first broke the story in December last that Bhandari may have reached London via Nepal. The investigators have sought banking transaction details of at least 10 companies linked to Bhandari in India and abroad. The recent move by the FIU, the key agency to probe deeper into cross-border wire transfers and purchase of properties through money laundering, came after the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate probing Bhandaris mysterious disappearance sought its help to gather financial transaction details through its existing global network. The FIU is examining the account books of OIS Aerospace Private Limited that was floated by Bhandari in 2013 and mainly functions as its Indian offset partner for international manufacturers. The transaction details of another firm being sought from the foreign counterpart is Avaana Software and Services Private Limited that was floated in January 2004 and Offset India Solutions Limited, incorporated in 2008. Bhandaris Micromet Ati India Private Limited is also being probed for alleged tax evasion and round tripping of slush funds. Micromet was launched in November 2010 with Bhandari as its director. Santech Petro Global Private Limited, floated in 2010 with Bhandari and his wife Sonia as directors is also being scrutinised. The ongoing probe is also examining Bhandaris links with Thales group, a French multinational firm and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company that makes commercial and military aircraft, space systems and other defence products. Bhandari, investigators suspect, is involved in IAFs basic trainer aircraft purchase for which a deal worth around Rs 4,000 crore was signed during the UPA regime in 2012. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Biocon Foundation signed an MoU with the Health Department to establish eLAJ smart clinics in 15 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across six districts in Karnataka. On Thursday, health minister K R Ramesh Kumar inaugurated the first smart clinic in Mallathahalli PHC at Nagarbhavi. Speaking at the inaugural, Kumar said technology will help transform the public healthcare scenario in India, particularly in rural and remote areas of the state. We aim to strengthen the present public healthcare system in Karnataka by providing solutions around primary & secondary healthcare with effective use of technology, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said. In addition, the company will employ more than 30 technicians to support data entry and laboratory services. B Manjunath, joint director, Health Department, said that 15 such centres will come up in places like Badami, Mysuru, Bijapur, Raichur and others. "Chemicals for lab tests, one data entry operator and three laptops will be provided to each clinic. he said. Prabhjot Singh from PacketBio that provided technical support to the smart clinic said, All collected data goes to the server. If there is no electricity, there will be UPS back up for two days. Besides internet routers are low power devices. eLAJ clinics are technology-enabled, smart clinics equipped with multi-parameter monitoring device, which facilitates 33 diagnostic tests while also generating electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients. The eLAJ model has been designed to deliver data-based healthcare on the basis of socio-demographic and health indicators obtained from community-based screenings. This will facilitate effective preventive and primary healthcare intervention in rural areas of Karnataka for the benefit of communities with poor access to quality healthcare, officials said. BENGALURU: Biocon Foundation signed an MoU with the Health Department to establish eLAJ smart clinics in 15 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across six districts in Karnataka. On Thursday, health minister K R Ramesh Kumar inaugurated the first smart clinic in Mallathahalli PHC at Nagarbhavi. Speaking at the inaugural, Kumar said technology will help transform the public healthcare scenario in India, particularly in rural and remote areas of the state. We aim to strengthen the present public healthcare system in Karnataka by providing solutions around primary & secondary healthcare with effective use of technology, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said. In addition, the company will employ more than 30 technicians to support data entry and laboratory services. B Manjunath, joint director, Health Department, said that 15 such centres will come up in places like Badami, Mysuru, Bijapur, Raichur and others. "Chemicals for lab tests, one data entry operator and three laptops will be provided to each clinic. he said. Prabhjot Singh from PacketBio that provided technical support to the smart clinic said, All collected data goes to the server. If there is no electricity, there will be UPS back up for two days. Besides internet routers are low power devices. eLAJ clinics are technology-enabled, smart clinics equipped with multi-parameter monitoring device, which facilitates 33 diagnostic tests while also generating electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients. The eLAJ model has been designed to deliver data-based healthcare on the basis of socio-demographic and health indicators obtained from community-based screenings. This will facilitate effective preventive and primary healthcare intervention in rural areas of Karnataka for the benefit of communities with poor access to quality healthcare, officials said. By Express News Service KOCHI: Bankers in Kerala are trying out-of-the-box ideas to recover impending dues from loan defaulters. The employees Thrissur-based Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB) is the latest to join the bandwagon of bankers adopting the 'name and shame' strategy to recover the money considered as good as lost. As per the plan, the CSB employees have decided to land up at the residences of willful defaulters on Thursday with banners and placards. The defaulters on Rs 50 lakh and above in six locations i.e. Edapally, Angamaly, South Vazhakulam, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha and Chenganoor will 'face the music', said an employee of CSB. This is completely an employee-driven movement. The management has no role. There are people who have deliberately defaulted on the loans. They are having an extravagant life at the expense of the bank. Because of the bad debts, the bank's profits are hit, our employee benefits are affected, said Anitha P Emmanual, assistant general manager, CSB. 'Repay your loan, live up to your reputation', 'Business is built on trust, beware your customers are watching you', 'Bank money is public money, not repaying is a crime to the public', are some of slogans coined by the bank staff for their out-of-the-box debt recovering strategy. Last September, Punjab National Bank (PNB) resorted to similar 'Gandhigiri' approach to recover money from the defaulters. The PSU bank staff gave a rose flower to the 'willful defaulters' to shame them into repaying the borrowed money. I can say that our strategy succeeded to a certain extent. We recovered Rs 60 crore of NPA (non performing assets) in Kerala, last quarter, said Susy George, circle head, PNB. Jacob Davis Thottan, chief manager of CSB, said the bank would repeat the strategy of shaming the defaulters at other locations too in coming weeks. This is just the first leg of the plan, he said. Right from peon to the deputy general manager would be among the 20-odd staff that would arrive at the doorsteps of defaulters on Thursday, said Thottan. The peaceful demonstration, from 9.30 AM to 10.30 AM on Thursday, is being done in such a manner that it would not affect the normal functioning of the bank, added Anitha, an employee at CSB. KOCHI: Bankers in Kerala are trying out-of-the-box ideas to recover impending dues from loan defaulters. The employees Thrissur-based Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB) is the latest to join the bandwagon of bankers adopting the 'name and shame' strategy to recover the money considered as good as lost. As per the plan, the CSB employees have decided to land up at the residences of willful defaulters on Thursday with banners and placards. The defaulters on Rs 50 lakh and above in six locations i.e. Edapally, Angamaly, South Vazhakulam, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha and Chenganoor will 'face the music', said an employee of CSB. This is completely an employee-driven movement. The management has no role. There are people who have deliberately defaulted on the loans. They are having an extravagant life at the expense of the bank. Because of the bad debts, the bank's profits are hit, our employee benefits are affected, said Anitha P Emmanual, assistant general manager, CSB. 'Repay your loan, live up to your reputation', 'Business is built on trust, beware your customers are watching you', 'Bank money is public money, not repaying is a crime to the public', are some of slogans coined by the bank staff for their out-of-the-box debt recovering strategy. Last September, Punjab National Bank (PNB) resorted to similar 'Gandhigiri' approach to recover money from the defaulters. The PSU bank staff gave a rose flower to the 'willful defaulters' to shame them into repaying the borrowed money. I can say that our strategy succeeded to a certain extent. We recovered Rs 60 crore of NPA (non performing assets) in Kerala, last quarter, said Susy George, circle head, PNB. Jacob Davis Thottan, chief manager of CSB, said the bank would repeat the strategy of shaming the defaulters at other locations too in coming weeks. This is just the first leg of the plan, he said. Right from peon to the deputy general manager would be among the 20-odd staff that would arrive at the doorsteps of defaulters on Thursday, said Thottan. The peaceful demonstration, from 9.30 AM to 10.30 AM on Thursday, is being done in such a manner that it would not affect the normal functioning of the bank, added Anitha, an employee at CSB. By Online Desk The past 24 hours have seen a political churning in Tamil Nadu with caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam revolting against his party leadership and declaring that he was ready to withdraw his resignation if the party cadre and the public wished him to. AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, meanwhile garnered the support of a majority of MLAs and hit back at OPS saying the party remained united and that she would certainly become the chief minister of the state. In the latest development she is set to meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday morning, after he arrives in Chennai, to prove that she has the support of majority of the AIADMK MLAs required for her to stake claim to the chief minister's chair. Read all about the top 10 developments that took place in the past 24 hours. Meditation at Marina Caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam arrived at former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's burial site on Marina beach around 9 PM and sat alone in meditation for about 50 minutes. He took everyone by surprise with his move two days after he tendered his resignation paving the way for party chief V K Sasikala's elevation to the top post. Crowds and the media gathered in anticipation. OPS' revelations: I was forced to quit as CM Panneerselvam then raised a banner of revolt, alleging that he had been forced to resign as Chief Minister on Sunday. He said he felt compelled to tell the truth despite acquiescing to pressure from the party MLAs who said it was in the best interested of the AIADMK for him to make way for Sasikala. Addressing the media, Panneerselvam said, "One who can protect the party and the government should become chief minister, even if it's not me...If the people and party cadre wish, I would withdraw my resignation," he said. OPS will be expelled: Sasikala Immediately after statements from the caretaker chief minister, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala late on Tuesday night held an emergency meeting with senior functionaries and several MLAs of the party. After the meeting, she said there were no problems within the party and that all the MLAs were like one family. Panneerselvam will certainly be expelled from the party. There is DMKs hand behind this, because in those four days when the Assembly was in session, both the chief minister and the opposition leader were too friendly and were complimenting each other, she alleged. ALSO Read: Deepa Jayakumar dubs turn of events 'shocking' Panneerselvam removed as party treasurer The AIADMK then stripped O Panneerselvam of the post of AIADMK treasurer, which was given to him when former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was the general secretary. AIADMK MLAs meet The AIADMK convened a meeting of MLAs on Wednesday morning at the party headquarters in Royapettah to discuss further action. OPS calls a press meet O Panneerselvam, meanwhile, at his residence addressed the media and said he has always been loyal to his party, and that he was ready to withdraw his resignation. He also clarified that he was not being remote-controlled by the BJP at the Centre and expressed his desire to visit different parts of the state and meet people. He also alleged that he was not allowed to meet Jayalalithaa when she was hospitalised, and said that an inquiry commission headed by Supreme Court judge would be formed to probe into the death of the former chief minister. He also called on the late CMs niece Deepa to join hands with him. SEE IN PIX: Who and what made the news today as TN's political war intensified MK hits back at Sasikala's allegations Responding to the AIADMK general secretary's allegations that he had been overly pally with Panneerselvam in the State Assembly, leader of opposition M K Stalin slammed VK Sasikala and said that even former chief minister J Jayalalithaa used to smile at him, when they met in the House. Stalin also sought a CBI probe into Panneerselvam's allegations that he was forced to resign to make way for Sasikala. He asked Sasikala to not point fingers at his party and accused her of trying to deflect attention from the problems in her party. "Unable to become Chief Minister through a short cut, she has made a fake allegation against DMK just to find a way out of the problems," he said. Governor stays put in Mumbai Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao who was rumoured to reach Chennai this morning has, however, stayed back in Mumbai. Centre refuses to intervene Calling the developments in Tamil Nadu an internal matter of the AIADMK, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told TV channel India Today that neither the Centre nor the BJP had anything to do with it. Only a Governor is constitutionally empowered to take the final decision in such matters, he clarified. Damage control: AIADMK MLAs bussed off to secret location After the AIADMK MLAs met at the party headquarters, general secretary VK Sasikala said she had got wind of Panneerselvam's moves a few days ago itself and asserted that the party remained united and would not be cowed down by such threats. "Betrayal will never win, especially in AIADMKAll these years, I have lived for Amma and will spend the rest of my life fulfilling her dreams," she said. By late noon on Wednesday, a majority of AIADMK MLAs were bussed off together to a hotel, presumably in preparation for a no-trust motion against caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam. As the State Assembly had only adjourned sine die and was not prorogued, an Assembly session to vote on the motion may be called soon. The past 24 hours have seen a political churning in Tamil Nadu with caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam revolting against his party leadership and declaring that he was ready to withdraw his resignation if the party cadre and the public wished him to. AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, meanwhile garnered the support of a majority of MLAs and hit back at OPS saying the party remained united and that she would certainly become the chief minister of the state. In the latest development she is set to meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday morning, after he arrives in Chennai, to prove that she has the support of majority of the AIADMK MLAs required for her to stake claim to the chief minister's chair. Read all about the top 10 developments that took place in the past 24 hours. Meditation at Marina Caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam arrived at former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's burial site on Marina beach around 9 PM and sat alone in meditation for about 50 minutes. He took everyone by surprise with his move two days after he tendered his resignation paving the way for party chief V K Sasikala's elevation to the top post. Crowds and the media gathered in anticipation. OPS' revelations: I was forced to quit as CM Panneerselvam then raised a banner of revolt, alleging that he had been forced to resign as Chief Minister on Sunday. He said he felt compelled to tell the truth despite acquiescing to pressure from the party MLAs who said it was in the best interested of the AIADMK for him to make way for Sasikala. Addressing the media, Panneerselvam said, "One who can protect the party and the government should become chief minister, even if it's not me...If the people and party cadre wish, I would withdraw my resignation," he said. OPS will be expelled: Sasikala Immediately after statements from the caretaker chief minister, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala late on Tuesday night held an emergency meeting with senior functionaries and several MLAs of the party. After the meeting, she said there were no problems within the party and that all the MLAs were like one family. Panneerselvam will certainly be expelled from the party. There is DMKs hand behind this, because in those four days when the Assembly was in session, both the chief minister and the opposition leader were too friendly and were complimenting each other, she alleged. ALSO Read: Deepa Jayakumar dubs turn of events 'shocking' Panneerselvam removed as party treasurer The AIADMK then stripped O Panneerselvam of the post of AIADMK treasurer, which was given to him when former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was the general secretary. AIADMK MLAs meet The AIADMK convened a meeting of MLAs on Wednesday morning at the party headquarters in Royapettah to discuss further action. OPS calls a press meet O Panneerselvam, meanwhile, at his residence addressed the media and said he has always been loyal to his party, and that he was ready to withdraw his resignation. He also clarified that he was not being remote-controlled by the BJP at the Centre and expressed his desire to visit different parts of the state and meet people. He also alleged that he was not allowed to meet Jayalalithaa when she was hospitalised, and said that an inquiry commission headed by Supreme Court judge would be formed to probe into the death of the former chief minister. He also called on the late CMs niece Deepa to join hands with him. SEE IN PIX: Who and what made the news today as TN's political war intensified MK hits back at Sasikala's allegations Responding to the AIADMK general secretary's allegations that he had been overly pally with Panneerselvam in the State Assembly, leader of opposition M K Stalin slammed VK Sasikala and said that even former chief minister J Jayalalithaa used to smile at him, when they met in the House. Stalin also sought a CBI probe into Panneerselvam's allegations that he was forced to resign to make way for Sasikala. He asked Sasikala to not point fingers at his party and accused her of trying to deflect attention from the problems in her party. "Unable to become Chief Minister through a short cut, she has made a fake allegation against DMK just to find a way out of the problems," he said. Governor stays put in Mumbai Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao who was rumoured to reach Chennai this morning has, however, stayed back in Mumbai. Centre refuses to intervene Calling the developments in Tamil Nadu an internal matter of the AIADMK, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told TV channel India Today that neither the Centre nor the BJP had anything to do with it. Only a Governor is constitutionally empowered to take the final decision in such matters, he clarified. Damage control: AIADMK MLAs bussed off to secret location After the AIADMK MLAs met at the party headquarters, general secretary VK Sasikala said she had got wind of Panneerselvam's moves a few days ago itself and asserted that the party remained united and would not be cowed down by such threats. "Betrayal will never win, especially in AIADMKAll these years, I have lived for Amma and will spend the rest of my life fulfilling her dreams," she said. By late noon on Wednesday, a majority of AIADMK MLAs were bussed off together to a hotel, presumably in preparation for a no-trust motion against caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam. As the State Assembly had only adjourned sine die and was not prorogued, an Assembly session to vote on the motion may be called soon. By Express News Service CHENNAI: With State Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao remaining incommunicado despite the political crisis in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK MLAs are seemingly getting ready to head to Mumbai where he is based. After the meeting at party headquarters on Wednesday morning, 130 MLAs were ferried on three buses to a hotel near the Chennai airport, say sources. According to information coming from the headquarters, the MLAs would be taken to Mumbai on Thursday morning. Vidyasagar Rao, the governor of Maharashtra who has been given additional charge of Tamil Nadu, was in the State on the day AIADMK MLAs chose party general secretary VK Sasikala as the chief minister. However, he left the State the same evening, cancelling events that were scheduled for the coming days. He attended the marriage reception of Union Minister Prakash Javadekars son in Delhi, where he reportedly sought Attorney General Mukul Rohatgis opinion on inviting Sasikala to form the government in Tamil Nadu. Since then, however, there has not been any word from the governor, which has given rise to the vacuum that has escalated the present crisis. With caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam refusing to step aside as he had originally indicated, the option before the AIADMK is an open show of strength by parading the MLAs to seek his ouster. A good majority of them had attended the meeting in the morning called by party general secretary VK Sasikala, but an exact figure could not be calculated at present. Party leaders claimed 131 MLAs attended. The number of MLAs who support is required to form government in Tamil Nadu is 118, as the State Assembly has a total of 234 seats. Of the 136 member-strength that the party has in the house, J Jayalalithaa's seat is empty since her passing, Panneerselvam has rebelled and Speaker P Dhanapal has stayed away. Two MLAs have joined Panneerselvam, and two others have submitted letters supporting Sasikala's leadership, stating their inability to be present during the meeting that she had called. CHENNAI: With State Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao remaining incommunicado despite the political crisis in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK MLAs are seemingly getting ready to head to Mumbai where he is based. After the meeting at party headquarters on Wednesday morning, 130 MLAs were ferried on three buses to a hotel near the Chennai airport, say sources. According to information coming from the headquarters, the MLAs would be taken to Mumbai on Thursday morning. Vidyasagar Rao, the governor of Maharashtra who has been given additional charge of Tamil Nadu, was in the State on the day AIADMK MLAs chose party general secretary VK Sasikala as the chief minister. However, he left the State the same evening, cancelling events that were scheduled for the coming days. He attended the marriage reception of Union Minister Prakash Javadekars son in Delhi, where he reportedly sought Attorney General Mukul Rohatgis opinion on inviting Sasikala to form the government in Tamil Nadu. Since then, however, there has not been any word from the governor, which has given rise to the vacuum that has escalated the present crisis. With caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam refusing to step aside as he had originally indicated, the option before the AIADMK is an open show of strength by parading the MLAs to seek his ouster. A good majority of them had attended the meeting in the morning called by party general secretary VK Sasikala, but an exact figure could not be calculated at present. Party leaders claimed 131 MLAs attended. The number of MLAs who support is required to form government in Tamil Nadu is 118, as the State Assembly has a total of 234 seats. Of the 136 member-strength that the party has in the house, J Jayalalithaa's seat is empty since her passing, Panneerselvam has rebelled and Speaker P Dhanapal has stayed away. Two MLAs have joined Panneerselvam, and two others have submitted letters supporting Sasikala's leadership, stating their inability to be present during the meeting that she had called. By AFP BRUSSELS: A friend of one of the Brussels bombers managed to flee Belgium despite having been sentenced to seven years in prison for terrorist offences, prosecutors said Wednesday. Khaled Khattab, a friend of airport attacker Najim Laachraoui, was convicted and sentenced in May 2016 for helping to recruit jihadists for Syria, a prosecutors' spokesman said. But the 26-year-old Khattab was allowed to go free while he was awaiting a further hearing to finalise the details of his jail term, and was arrested in Turkey. "Apparently he fled for Syria and the Turks arrested him. We are asking for his extradition," spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP, confirming a report in La Derniere Heure newspaper. "During the hearing we asked for his immediate arrest," Van Der Sypt said. "The court did not take us up on it and that is their right." Khattab, a dual Belgian-Syrian national, received the harshest of 26 sentences in a mass terror trial of people linked to top Belgian jihadist recruiter Khalid Zerkani. Khattab had been arrested in Belgium in October 2014 after having returned from a visit to Syria, La Derniere Heure reported. But he was allowed his freedom during the subsequent trial as he had a home in Belgium. La Derniere Heure said the court had nonetheless noted Khattab's "worrying frame of mind" after a CD glorifying the Islamic State group was found in his police cell during his initial detention. Bomber Laachraoui, 24, was also convicted at the same trial and sentenced to five years in jail in absentia. Laachraoui was one of two suicide bombers who struck Brussels airport on March 22 last year, while a third blew himself up on a metro train, killing 32 people in all. Investigators also believe Laachraoui was a bomb-maker for the November 2015 Paris attacks and that the same Brussels-based cell was responsible for both incidents, which were claimed by the Islamic State. Belgium, a country divided along linguistic and political lines, has been accused of multiple failings in keeping track of home-grown extremists in the wake of the Paris and Brussels attacks. In one revelation, Turkey said Belgium ignored warnings from Ankara after it deported Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the second airport bomber, to the Netherlands as a "terrorist fighter" in 2015 following his arrest near the Syrian border. BRUSSELS: A friend of one of the Brussels bombers managed to flee Belgium despite having been sentenced to seven years in prison for terrorist offences, prosecutors said Wednesday. Khaled Khattab, a friend of airport attacker Najim Laachraoui, was convicted and sentenced in May 2016 for helping to recruit jihadists for Syria, a prosecutors' spokesman said. But the 26-year-old Khattab was allowed to go free while he was awaiting a further hearing to finalise the details of his jail term, and was arrested in Turkey. "Apparently he fled for Syria and the Turks arrested him. We are asking for his extradition," spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP, confirming a report in La Derniere Heure newspaper. "During the hearing we asked for his immediate arrest," Van Der Sypt said. "The court did not take us up on it and that is their right." Khattab, a dual Belgian-Syrian national, received the harshest of 26 sentences in a mass terror trial of people linked to top Belgian jihadist recruiter Khalid Zerkani. Khattab had been arrested in Belgium in October 2014 after having returned from a visit to Syria, La Derniere Heure reported. But he was allowed his freedom during the subsequent trial as he had a home in Belgium. La Derniere Heure said the court had nonetheless noted Khattab's "worrying frame of mind" after a CD glorifying the Islamic State group was found in his police cell during his initial detention. Bomber Laachraoui, 24, was also convicted at the same trial and sentenced to five years in jail in absentia. Laachraoui was one of two suicide bombers who struck Brussels airport on March 22 last year, while a third blew himself up on a metro train, killing 32 people in all. Investigators also believe Laachraoui was a bomb-maker for the November 2015 Paris attacks and that the same Brussels-based cell was responsible for both incidents, which were claimed by the Islamic State. Belgium, a country divided along linguistic and political lines, has been accused of multiple failings in keeping track of home-grown extremists in the wake of the Paris and Brussels attacks. In one revelation, Turkey said Belgium ignored warnings from Ankara after it deported Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the second airport bomber, to the Netherlands as a "terrorist fighter" in 2015 following his arrest near the Syrian border. By Associated Press ANKARA: In a sign of improving ties, Turkish officials said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and responded "positively" on two key Turkish demands that had soured Ankara's relations with the Obama administration. Following the 45-minute telephone conversation late Tuesday, officials from Erdogan's office also announced that CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be making his first overseas visit to Turkey on Thursday. The decision showed the importance the new administration attaches to Turkey, a country on the frontline of the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Ties between Turkey and the U.S., which are NATO allies, were strained under the Obama administration. Turkey expressed frustrations over what it perceived as U.S. reluctance to extradite the cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey accused of orchestrating the country's failed military coup. It was also angered by Washington's support of Syrian Kurdish fighters. While Turkey's government considers the fighters terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey, the Obama administration regarded them as the most effective group in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. It had also asked Turkey to allow the judiciary process for Gulen's return to take its course. The Turkish government has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency, and the call was being closely watched in Turkey for signs of a recovery. Officials from Erdogan's office, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, said Tuesday's phone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere." Both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation, and agreed to meet "at the shortest time" possible, they said. Erdogan requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and stop supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters, the officials said. Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, told Turkey's NTV news channel that the Turkish leader not only asked Trump not to back the Syrian Kurds but also presented a plan in which allies could re-take Raqqa, the main IS-held city in Syria, without the Kurdish fighters. Trump's "general reactions were positive," Kalin said. Kalin said Erdogan told Trump that there were "a series of measures" Washington could take while awaiting for the courts to decide on Gulen's extradition, in an apparent reference to Turkish demands that the cleric be taken into custody and prevented from running his movement. Trump and his security adviser responded by saying they would "start work" to examine the issue, Kalin said. Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against extremist groups, the officials said, without elaborating. Officials said Pompeo would discuss Gulen and the U.S. backing of Syrian Kurdish fighters during his visit. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking at a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart in Ankara, sounded optimistic about future cooperation with the Trump administration. "On the issue of fighting Daesh, we that is Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be cooperating with the United States," Cavusoglu said. "We believe that the fight from now on will be more effective and that we will be able to clear both Syria and Iraq of Daesh." He was using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. The Turkish officials didn't say whether Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations was raised during their talk. Last year, Erdogan criticized Trump then a Republican presidential candidate over his comments about barring Muslims from entering the United States and called for his name to be removed from the Trump Towers in Istanbul. However, the normally outspoken Erdogan has not yet commented in public on the travel ban, which is being reviewed by a federal appeals court. ANKARA: In a sign of improving ties, Turkish officials said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and responded "positively" on two key Turkish demands that had soured Ankara's relations with the Obama administration. Following the 45-minute telephone conversation late Tuesday, officials from Erdogan's office also announced that CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be making his first overseas visit to Turkey on Thursday. The decision showed the importance the new administration attaches to Turkey, a country on the frontline of the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Ties between Turkey and the U.S., which are NATO allies, were strained under the Obama administration. Turkey expressed frustrations over what it perceived as U.S. reluctance to extradite the cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkey accused of orchestrating the country's failed military coup. It was also angered by Washington's support of Syrian Kurdish fighters. While Turkey's government considers the fighters terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey, the Obama administration regarded them as the most effective group in the war against the Islamic State group in Syria. It had also asked Turkey to allow the judiciary process for Gulen's return to take its course. The Turkish government has pinned hopes for improved ties on Trump's presidency, and the call was being closely watched in Turkey for signs of a recovery. Officials from Erdogan's office, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, said Tuesday's phone conversation was "positive and conducted in a sincere atmosphere." Both leaders stressed their strong alliance and need for close cooperation, and agreed to meet "at the shortest time" possible, they said. Erdogan requested that Washington "stand with Turkey" in its struggle against the Gulen movement and stop supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters, the officials said. Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, told Turkey's NTV news channel that the Turkish leader not only asked Trump not to back the Syrian Kurds but also presented a plan in which allies could re-take Raqqa, the main IS-held city in Syria, without the Kurdish fighters. Trump's "general reactions were positive," Kalin said. Kalin said Erdogan told Trump that there were "a series of measures" Washington could take while awaiting for the courts to decide on Gulen's extradition, in an apparent reference to Turkish demands that the cleric be taken into custody and prevented from running his movement. Trump and his security adviser responded by saying they would "start work" to examine the issue, Kalin said. Trump and Erdogan also discussed a long-standing Turkish call for the creation of safe zones in Syria, the refugee crisis and the fight against extremist groups, the officials said, without elaborating. Officials said Pompeo would discuss Gulen and the U.S. backing of Syrian Kurdish fighters during his visit. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, speaking at a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart in Ankara, sounded optimistic about future cooperation with the Trump administration. "On the issue of fighting Daesh, we that is Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be cooperating with the United States," Cavusoglu said. "We believe that the fight from now on will be more effective and that we will be able to clear both Syria and Iraq of Daesh." He was using an Arabic acronym for the IS group. The Turkish officials didn't say whether Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations was raised during their talk. Last year, Erdogan criticized Trump then a Republican presidential candidate over his comments about barring Muslims from entering the United States and called for his name to be removed from the Trump Towers in Istanbul. However, the normally outspoken Erdogan has not yet commented in public on the travel ban, which is being reviewed by a federal appeals court. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump dismisses polls showing low approval ratings as "fake news." But House leaders are actively discussing how to handle the protesters swamping their town halls, district offices and phone lines, urging their Republican members to be polite and if necessary offer "milk and cookies." From corporate boardrooms to the halls of Congress, Trump is facing an unprecedented effort to disrupt even the most basic of his presidential functions. It's an evolving, largely grass-roots effort that aims to follow Trump and his supporters everywhere they go and there are early signs that it's having an impact. The Trump name alone is enough to spark outrage. There are plans for a mass "mooning" of Trump Tower in Chicago. Boycotts are underway of companies that sell Ivanka Trump's clothing line or advertise on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," where Trump has remained an executive producer. Congressional offices are being flooded with emails, social media messages and calls jamming phone lines. Hundreds of protesters are flocking to town halls and local congressional offices, some in strongly Republican districts, to voice their opposition to Trump's Cabinet picks, health care plans and refugee restrictions. "I don't know what the desired outcome is but they all seem to be united in purpose to just basically complain about the Trump presidency," said Rep. Steve Womack, who had protesters show up at his office in his staunchly Republican district in Arkansas. "This is kind of some new territory for us." The goal, say organizers of some of the efforts, is nothing short of complete resistance. It's a strategy Democrats say they learned from the success of the tea party movement, which stymied President Barack Obama's agenda through protests, door-to-door political action campaigns and online activism. "The lesson from the last eight years is, sadly, that implacable resistance works," said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. "Because it's all about your base, and I will simply point out that our base is bigger than theirs, and it's riled up." Trump and some Republicans shrug it off as sore losers unwilling to accept the results of the election. The president's core supporters, in states like Iowa and Wisconsin, applaud him as a man of action, delivering on his campaign promises to move quickly and shake up Washington. Although recent polls show his approval ratings in the 40s, a historic low for a new president, Trump rejects the surveys as false. "Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting," he tweeted on Monday. "I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it." But recent presidents never faced the kind of multi-front opposition that Trump is now experiencing so early in their terms. Last week, he canceled a trip to the Harley-Davidson factory in Milwaukee, where local groups planned to protest his event. The White House said the protests weren't the cause. And on Saturday, thousands of protesters beat drums, sang and chanted outside the gates of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the president was attending a Red Cross benefit. The displays of public outrage have been aimed not only at Trump but at lawmakers, world leaders and corporate executives who might be tempted to work with him to pass key parts of his agenda, like replacing the health care law or rewriting trade agreements. The White House and some Republicans claim to be unimpressed by the protests. In fact, a lot of the demonstrators are simply paid to show up and shout, says Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer. So far, there's little evidence to support that claim. "The level of mobilization against Trump is almost like nothing I've ever seen before," said Joe Dinkin, spokesman for the Working Families Party, which coordinates weekly anti-Trump events across the country. "Collaboration with Trump is a path that will bring well-deserved ire." Already, there are some signs that the early efforts may be having an impact on his ability to promote his agenda across the globe. On Monday, the speaker of Britain's House of Commons said he strongly opposes Trump addressing Parliament, making it unlikely he'll be given the honor during a state visit later this year. Republican lawmakers are bracing themselves for an onslaught of rowdy town hall meetings, after congressmen in California and Florida faced raucous crowds last weekend. "The personal stories are genuine," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., who faced hundreds of Obamacare supporters at a weekend town hall. "They're American citizens and we're U.S representatives, and it's our duty to hear them out." On Saturday, California Rep. Tom McClintock had to be extracted by police after angry protesters took over his town event in downtown Roseville. "The situation was rapidly escalating into a riot," he said. "One thing came through loud and clear: They were not angry at President Trump for breaking any of his promises - they were angry at him for keeping them." WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump dismisses polls showing low approval ratings as "fake news." But House leaders are actively discussing how to handle the protesters swamping their town halls, district offices and phone lines, urging their Republican members to be polite and if necessary offer "milk and cookies." From corporate boardrooms to the halls of Congress, Trump is facing an unprecedented effort to disrupt even the most basic of his presidential functions. It's an evolving, largely grass-roots effort that aims to follow Trump and his supporters everywhere they go and there are early signs that it's having an impact. The Trump name alone is enough to spark outrage. There are plans for a mass "mooning" of Trump Tower in Chicago. Boycotts are underway of companies that sell Ivanka Trump's clothing line or advertise on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," where Trump has remained an executive producer. Congressional offices are being flooded with emails, social media messages and calls jamming phone lines. Hundreds of protesters are flocking to town halls and local congressional offices, some in strongly Republican districts, to voice their opposition to Trump's Cabinet picks, health care plans and refugee restrictions. "I don't know what the desired outcome is but they all seem to be united in purpose to just basically complain about the Trump presidency," said Rep. Steve Womack, who had protesters show up at his office in his staunchly Republican district in Arkansas. "This is kind of some new territory for us." The goal, say organizers of some of the efforts, is nothing short of complete resistance. It's a strategy Democrats say they learned from the success of the tea party movement, which stymied President Barack Obama's agenda through protests, door-to-door political action campaigns and online activism. "The lesson from the last eight years is, sadly, that implacable resistance works," said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. "Because it's all about your base, and I will simply point out that our base is bigger than theirs, and it's riled up." Trump and some Republicans shrug it off as sore losers unwilling to accept the results of the election. The president's core supporters, in states like Iowa and Wisconsin, applaud him as a man of action, delivering on his campaign promises to move quickly and shake up Washington. Although recent polls show his approval ratings in the 40s, a historic low for a new president, Trump rejects the surveys as false. "Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting," he tweeted on Monday. "I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it." But recent presidents never faced the kind of multi-front opposition that Trump is now experiencing so early in their terms. Last week, he canceled a trip to the Harley-Davidson factory in Milwaukee, where local groups planned to protest his event. The White House said the protests weren't the cause. And on Saturday, thousands of protesters beat drums, sang and chanted outside the gates of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where the president was attending a Red Cross benefit. The displays of public outrage have been aimed not only at Trump but at lawmakers, world leaders and corporate executives who might be tempted to work with him to pass key parts of his agenda, like replacing the health care law or rewriting trade agreements. The White House and some Republicans claim to be unimpressed by the protests. In fact, a lot of the demonstrators are simply paid to show up and shout, says Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer. So far, there's little evidence to support that claim. "The level of mobilization against Trump is almost like nothing I've ever seen before," said Joe Dinkin, spokesman for the Working Families Party, which coordinates weekly anti-Trump events across the country. "Collaboration with Trump is a path that will bring well-deserved ire." Already, there are some signs that the early efforts may be having an impact on his ability to promote his agenda across the globe. On Monday, the speaker of Britain's House of Commons said he strongly opposes Trump addressing Parliament, making it unlikely he'll be given the honor during a state visit later this year. Republican lawmakers are bracing themselves for an onslaught of rowdy town hall meetings, after congressmen in California and Florida faced raucous crowds last weekend. "The personal stories are genuine," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., who faced hundreds of Obamacare supporters at a weekend town hall. "They're American citizens and we're U.S representatives, and it's our duty to hear them out." On Saturday, California Rep. Tom McClintock had to be extracted by police after angry protesters took over his town event in downtown Roseville. "The situation was rapidly escalating into a riot," he said. "One thing came through loud and clear: They were not angry at President Trump for breaking any of his promises - they were angry at him for keeping them." By Associated Press NEW YORK: These days of alternative facts, phantom terrorist attacks and fake news are changing the way news organisations do their jobs. Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements a function often pushed into the background when campaigns end finding innovative new formats and seeing keen interest among consumers. An administration that views that the press as the opposition is reinvigorating it. Someday, presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway's invocation of "alternative facts" on NBC's "Meet the Press" may be cited as a galvanising moment for journalism. "We're writing about a president who makes quite a number of misstatements," said Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post reporter whose regular fact checks award "Pinocchios" based on the magnitude and brazenness of false claims. "This has increased our workload and increased the level of interest in fact-checking." The number of unique visitors to Kessler's web page in January was 50 percent higher than in October, its previous busiest month, and 15 times greater than in January 2013, he said. The Associated Press routinely publishes AP Fact Checks on political discourse. Last week, the AP premiered an aggregation of disputed political statements under the headline, "A week's supply of baloney." A separate fact check on Conway's false claim of a Bowling Green "massacre" on Thursday was the most-read story on the APNews.com website Friday. Similarly, on Monday, readers spent more time with a story examining President Donald Trump's claim about the media underplaying incidents of terrorism than they did with any other news item that day. "People are really paying close attention to the news and they want a tough-minded journalist to ... give them an impartial report about whether a story is true, false or somewhere in between," said John Daniszewski, the AP's vice president for standards. The New York Times also does regular fact-checking: It took a microscope Tuesday to Trump's claims about his immigration order and titled an earlier story: "White House pushes 'alternative facts.' Here are the real ones." An NPR team annotates claims made during speeches or debates. CNN succinctly corrects political misstatements through onscreen graphics. After reporting President Donald Trump's claim about underreported terror attacks, anchor Scott Pelley said on the "CBS Evening News" on Monday that "it has been a busy day for presidential statements divorced from reality." It remains to be seen how much impact these efforts have on public opinion. If you don't believe stories in mainstream media anyway, are fact checks believable? Duke University professor Bill Adair, who helped start the PolitiFact.com website, noted the growth of fact-checking during the fall campaign and, in a column printed on Election Day, challenged journalists to keep it up. Since then, "we've seen tremendous fact-checking by national news organizations in a period when they would not typically do it," he said. Examining the truth of political statements is relatively new, first applied nationally to campaign ads in 1992, said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the American Press Institute. FactCheck.org, Snopes.com and PolitiFact, with its "pants on fire" designation for egregious lies, do it regularly. "Given the traction this is getting, I do not see this abating," Rosenstiel said. "To the contrary, I see people who do this work saying, 'How do we do this in a more complete way?'" None of the ideas NPR tried clicked like its annotation feature, rolled out during last year's campaign. Up to two dozen journalists and producers worked on debate nights, for example, adding links to transcripts and allowing website visitors to judge the accuracy of statements. The process is constantly being refined, said Beth Donovan, senior Washington editor. Others are following: Adair said Duke is experimenting with a "pop-up" feature that allows real-time fact-checking. "This was always a key part of our job, but it's more central now," said Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president for news and editorial director. "In the old days, we'd write a story and somewhere in the story we might say, 'Oh, by the way, he said this but it isn't true.' Now ... it is in a sense the story itself." Kessler said the Washington Post is looking to add video to its fact-checking unit. The Times is looking into creating its own fact-checking unit, said Matt Purdy, deputy managing editor for news and investigations. Times ads for online subscriptions urge people to "give the truth." The AP is involved in another aspect of fact-checking, working with Facebook to flag dubious stories shared on the popular social media platform. Fact-checking isn't immune to persistent political efforts to undermine the authority of mainstream journalists, however. Knocking down Trump administration claims may even make his supporters more determined. "What we think is debunking Donald Trump turns out to be supporting Donald Trump," media critic Michael Wolff said on CNN last weekend. Don't forget: the presidential candidate judged to have the biggest problem with the truth won. "Are we in a post fact-check world?" Rosenstiel wondered. "There's a difference between facts and knowledge. I can tell you your facts are wrong but not change your belief." The very phrase "fact-checking" was considered too toxic when Dallas' WFAA-TV named its clever new "Verify" segment. In the periodic stories, reporter David Schechter takes viewers on fact-finding missions. For instance, a viewer who supported Trump's plan to build a wall along the Mexican border was taken to the border to see what it was like. Schechter discovered that challenging assumptions doesn't necessarily change views. The polarisation just makes the effort more important, journalists say. "We don't tell you how to vote," Oreskes said. "We give you the material to think about who to vote for." NEW YORK: These days of alternative facts, phantom terrorist attacks and fake news are changing the way news organisations do their jobs. Media outlets are more aggressively fact-checking political statements a function often pushed into the background when campaigns end finding innovative new formats and seeing keen interest among consumers. An administration that views that the press as the opposition is reinvigorating it. Someday, presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway's invocation of "alternative facts" on NBC's "Meet the Press" may be cited as a galvanising moment for journalism. "We're writing about a president who makes quite a number of misstatements," said Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post reporter whose regular fact checks award "Pinocchios" based on the magnitude and brazenness of false claims. "This has increased our workload and increased the level of interest in fact-checking." The number of unique visitors to Kessler's web page in January was 50 percent higher than in October, its previous busiest month, and 15 times greater than in January 2013, he said. The Associated Press routinely publishes AP Fact Checks on political discourse. Last week, the AP premiered an aggregation of disputed political statements under the headline, "A week's supply of baloney." A separate fact check on Conway's false claim of a Bowling Green "massacre" on Thursday was the most-read story on the APNews.com website Friday. Similarly, on Monday, readers spent more time with a story examining President Donald Trump's claim about the media underplaying incidents of terrorism than they did with any other news item that day. "People are really paying close attention to the news and they want a tough-minded journalist to ... give them an impartial report about whether a story is true, false or somewhere in between," said John Daniszewski, the AP's vice president for standards. The New York Times also does regular fact-checking: It took a microscope Tuesday to Trump's claims about his immigration order and titled an earlier story: "White House pushes 'alternative facts.' Here are the real ones." An NPR team annotates claims made during speeches or debates. CNN succinctly corrects political misstatements through onscreen graphics. After reporting President Donald Trump's claim about underreported terror attacks, anchor Scott Pelley said on the "CBS Evening News" on Monday that "it has been a busy day for presidential statements divorced from reality." It remains to be seen how much impact these efforts have on public opinion. If you don't believe stories in mainstream media anyway, are fact checks believable? Duke University professor Bill Adair, who helped start the PolitiFact.com website, noted the growth of fact-checking during the fall campaign and, in a column printed on Election Day, challenged journalists to keep it up. Since then, "we've seen tremendous fact-checking by national news organizations in a period when they would not typically do it," he said. Examining the truth of political statements is relatively new, first applied nationally to campaign ads in 1992, said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the American Press Institute. FactCheck.org, Snopes.com and PolitiFact, with its "pants on fire" designation for egregious lies, do it regularly. "Given the traction this is getting, I do not see this abating," Rosenstiel said. "To the contrary, I see people who do this work saying, 'How do we do this in a more complete way?'" None of the ideas NPR tried clicked like its annotation feature, rolled out during last year's campaign. Up to two dozen journalists and producers worked on debate nights, for example, adding links to transcripts and allowing website visitors to judge the accuracy of statements. The process is constantly being refined, said Beth Donovan, senior Washington editor. Others are following: Adair said Duke is experimenting with a "pop-up" feature that allows real-time fact-checking. "This was always a key part of our job, but it's more central now," said Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president for news and editorial director. "In the old days, we'd write a story and somewhere in the story we might say, 'Oh, by the way, he said this but it isn't true.' Now ... it is in a sense the story itself." Kessler said the Washington Post is looking to add video to its fact-checking unit. The Times is looking into creating its own fact-checking unit, said Matt Purdy, deputy managing editor for news and investigations. Times ads for online subscriptions urge people to "give the truth." The AP is involved in another aspect of fact-checking, working with Facebook to flag dubious stories shared on the popular social media platform. Fact-checking isn't immune to persistent political efforts to undermine the authority of mainstream journalists, however. Knocking down Trump administration claims may even make his supporters more determined. "What we think is debunking Donald Trump turns out to be supporting Donald Trump," media critic Michael Wolff said on CNN last weekend. Don't forget: the presidential candidate judged to have the biggest problem with the truth won. "Are we in a post fact-check world?" Rosenstiel wondered. "There's a difference between facts and knowledge. I can tell you your facts are wrong but not change your belief." The very phrase "fact-checking" was considered too toxic when Dallas' WFAA-TV named its clever new "Verify" segment. In the periodic stories, reporter David Schechter takes viewers on fact-finding missions. For instance, a viewer who supported Trump's plan to build a wall along the Mexican border was taken to the border to see what it was like. Schechter discovered that challenging assumptions doesn't necessarily change views. The polarisation just makes the effort more important, journalists say. "We don't tell you how to vote," Oreskes said. "We give you the material to think about who to vote for." Since 2015, when former President Barack Obama asked Congress to lift the nearly 60-year-long trade and financial embargo with Cuba, the tropical Caribbean island has been on the top of everyones list of must-see travel destinations. For those with wanderlust, the newly opened borders mark the end of an unadulterated era when the island has been frozen in time, and travelers and hospitality companies alike have been rushing to Cuba before it loses its purity. Winning the accommodation race is Europes oldest luxury hotel group Kempinski. American companies still arent allowed to build in Cuba, and the 120-year-old Swiss company (which currently operates 75 five-star hotels and residences in 30 countries) just announced its newest endeavor. Opening later this year, the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana will be Cubas first true five-star hotel, and one of the countrys first significant steps into the modern Western world. Befittingly, the forward progression is still rooted in the islands rich culture. The hotel will be housed within the historic Manzana de Gomez building. Dating to 1890, the grandiose five-story structure was Cubas first European-style shopping center with over 500 departments that included stores, business offices, law firms, and notaries. Adding to its historical importance, Manzana de Gomez is located at the heart of Habana Vieja (Old Havana)a portion of Cubas capital city that was founded in 1519 by Spain and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Flanked by Bacardi rums art deco bell tower and the National Museum of Fine Arts, Manzana de Gomez is part of the citys lifeblood. It also overlooks the Capitol, the Great Theater of Havana, and El Floriditathe infamous fish restaurant and cocktail bar that Ernest Hemingway frequented. Hotel guests can easily walk to Old Havanas main interconnecting artery Calle Obispo (which is packed with art galleries, shops, and music bars), and the famous Castillo del Morro lighthouse (which has guarded the entrance to Havana Bay since 1589) is only a 10-minute drive. Story continues Inside the restored neoclassical building, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski Manzana La Habana will offer 246 rooms and suites. Ranging in size from about 430 to 1,615 square feet, each offers a crisp contemporary white color palette with vaulted ceilings, large French windows, and fun pops of bright colors that feel inherently Cuban. Amenities include an approximately 10,765-square-foot Swiss Resense spa, three restaurants, a lobby bar, a rooftop terrace with a swimming pool, and free internet in every roomwhich is huge considering Cuba is one of the least digitally connected countries in the world. Naturally, there is also an in-house cigar lounge. Those returning to the United States should keep in mind the $100 maximum limit for cigars and rum, and Robb Report still recommends flying privately through a company like Victor. A full guide to Cuba, can also be found here. (kempinski.com) More From Robbreport.com Designed by Piero Lissoni, This Palatial Penthouse Costs $40 Million Whats the Real Cost of Flying on an Airliner Instead of a Private Jet? Chopard Creates a 6-Piece Jewelry Set from the Queen of Kalahari Diamond Valentines Day Is a Cheesy Holiday. Here are 6 Ways to Make the Most of It Deepak Chopra's New Florida Residences Focus on Health and Wellness The 8 Rules Every Art Collector Needs to Know By AFP LOS ANGELES: The US Justice Department faced tough questioning Tuesday as it urged a court of appeals to reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- put on hold by the courts last week. The latest twist in the legal showdown comes four days after a federal judge suspended Trump's decree, opening US borders back up to the thousands of refugees and travellers it had suddenly barred from the country. Three judges from an appellate court in San Francisco chaired the hour-long telephone hearing followed online by more than 130,000 people -- a record, the court said -- and broadcast live to millions more on television. The high-stakes hearing saw an attorney for the government argue that Trump's immigration curbs were motivated by national security concerns and that the federal judge had overstepped his authority in suspending them. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," argued the Justice Department lawyer, August Flentje. He said Trump acted perfectly within his constitutional powers and those delegated to him by Congress in issuing the January 27 executive order in the interest of the United States. Tuesday's hearing was focused on whether to lift the suspension of the ban, not on the constitutionality of the decree itself -- a broader battle which looks likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court. A court spokesman said a ruling was likely later this week. During the hearing, the three-judge panel often appeared sceptical, with Judge Richard Clifton saying at one point that the government's argument was "pretty abstract." The judges questioned Flentje about the evidence connecting the seven countries targeted to terrorism, and pressed him on whether the ban amounts to religious discrimination -- as its opponents claim. - Is it a Muslim ban? - The White House insists the decree is in the interest of national security, giving the new administration time to beef up vetting procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Its detractors claim that it violates the US Constitution by targeting people based on their religion. An attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota -- which brought the federal lawsuit against Trump's ban with support from numerous advocacy groups -- urged the judges to keep the decree on hold while the case runs its course. "It has always been the judicial branch's role to say what the law is and to serve as a check on abuses by the executive branch," said Solicitor General Noah Purcell. "That judicial rule has never been more important in recent memory than it is today, but the president is asking... to reinstate the executive order without full judicial review and throw this country back into chaos," Purcell added. The states' counsel also came under sustained questioning, with Judge Clifton, a George W. Bush nominee, appearing unconvinced by his arguments that the ban amounted to religious discrimination. "I have trouble understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected," Clifton said, pointing out that less than 15 percent of the world's Muslims were affected. Purcell argued that the states were not required to show that all Muslims would be affected but only that the ban was "motivated in part by a desire to harm Muslims." Trump's executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Refugees from Syria are barred indefinitely. - 'We feel confident' - Appearing to lay the groundwork for a setback, the White House earlier Tuesday sought to play down the significance of the upcoming ruling. "All that's at issue tonight is the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. "That's why I think we feel confident." Hosting a group of American sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday, Trump hammered home the rationale for his decree as "common sense." Trump has lashed out at the Seattle judge who suspended his order, James Robart, as a "so-called" judge -- a slur that drew criticism from his own Republican camp -- and sought to pin blame on him, and courts in general, for potential future attacks on US soil. "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" he tweeted on Sunday. LOS ANGELES: The US Justice Department faced tough questioning Tuesday as it urged a court of appeals to reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- put on hold by the courts last week. The latest twist in the legal showdown comes four days after a federal judge suspended Trump's decree, opening US borders back up to the thousands of refugees and travellers it had suddenly barred from the country. Three judges from an appellate court in San Francisco chaired the hour-long telephone hearing followed online by more than 130,000 people -- a record, the court said -- and broadcast live to millions more on television. The high-stakes hearing saw an attorney for the government argue that Trump's immigration curbs were motivated by national security concerns and that the federal judge had overstepped his authority in suspending them. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," argued the Justice Department lawyer, August Flentje. He said Trump acted perfectly within his constitutional powers and those delegated to him by Congress in issuing the January 27 executive order in the interest of the United States. Tuesday's hearing was focused on whether to lift the suspension of the ban, not on the constitutionality of the decree itself -- a broader battle which looks likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court. A court spokesman said a ruling was likely later this week. During the hearing, the three-judge panel often appeared sceptical, with Judge Richard Clifton saying at one point that the government's argument was "pretty abstract." The judges questioned Flentje about the evidence connecting the seven countries targeted to terrorism, and pressed him on whether the ban amounts to religious discrimination -- as its opponents claim. - Is it a Muslim ban? - The White House insists the decree is in the interest of national security, giving the new administration time to beef up vetting procedures to keep potential terrorists out of the country. Its detractors claim that it violates the US Constitution by targeting people based on their religion. An attorney representing the states of Washington and Minnesota -- which brought the federal lawsuit against Trump's ban with support from numerous advocacy groups -- urged the judges to keep the decree on hold while the case runs its course. "It has always been the judicial branch's role to say what the law is and to serve as a check on abuses by the executive branch," said Solicitor General Noah Purcell. "That judicial rule has never been more important in recent memory than it is today, but the president is asking... to reinstate the executive order without full judicial review and throw this country back into chaos," Purcell added. The states' counsel also came under sustained questioning, with Judge Clifton, a George W. Bush nominee, appearing unconvinced by his arguments that the ban amounted to religious discrimination. "I have trouble understanding why we're supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected," Clifton said, pointing out that less than 15 percent of the world's Muslims were affected. Purcell argued that the states were not required to show that all Muslims would be affected but only that the ban was "motivated in part by a desire to harm Muslims." Trump's executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation. Refugees from Syria are barred indefinitely. - 'We feel confident' - Appearing to lay the groundwork for a setback, the White House earlier Tuesday sought to play down the significance of the upcoming ruling. "All that's at issue tonight is the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters. "That's why I think we feel confident." Hosting a group of American sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday, Trump hammered home the rationale for his decree as "common sense." Trump has lashed out at the Seattle judge who suspended his order, James Robart, as a "so-called" judge -- a slur that drew criticism from his own Republican camp -- and sought to pin blame on him, and courts in general, for potential future attacks on US soil. "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!" he tweeted on Sunday. By PTI NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump has invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida over the weekend, the White House said today. Trump and Abe would travel to Mar-a-Lago on Friday after their meeting at the White House. After British Prime Minister Theresa May, this would be Trump's second meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office. "As previously announced, he will visit the White House for meetings on the February 10th. The president has also invited him down to Mar-a-Lago and the two leaders will travel there for the weekend," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. Trump has been calling his resort the "Winter White House," and Spicer said Abe's trip there is a testament to the close relationship between the US and Japan. "This is a testament to the importance the United States places on the bilateral relationship and the strength of our alliance and the deep economic ties between the United States and Japan," Spicer said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also be travelling to Washington DC for a meeting with Trump on February 15, he said. NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump has invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida over the weekend, the White House said today. Trump and Abe would travel to Mar-a-Lago on Friday after their meeting at the White House. After British Prime Minister Theresa May, this would be Trump's second meeting with a foreign leader in the Oval Office. "As previously announced, he will visit the White House for meetings on the February 10th. The president has also invited him down to Mar-a-Lago and the two leaders will travel there for the weekend," the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference. Trump has been calling his resort the "Winter White House," and Spicer said Abe's trip there is a testament to the close relationship between the US and Japan. "This is a testament to the importance the United States places on the bilateral relationship and the strength of our alliance and the deep economic ties between the United States and Japan," Spicer said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also be travelling to Washington DC for a meeting with Trump on February 15, he said. By AFP GENEVA: The UN on Wednesday appealed for $2.1 billion to provide desperately needed aid to millions of people in war-ravaged Yemen this year, warning the country could soon face famine. "Two years of war have devastated Yemen and millions of children, women and men desperately need our help," warned UN humanitarian aid chief Stephen O'Brien in a statement. "Without international support, they may face the threat of famine in the course of 2017 and I urge donors to sustain and increase their support to our collective response." The appeal from UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations aims to gather funds to help some 12 million of the nearly 19 million people expected to need assistance across Yemen this year. The poor Arab country has been engulfed in war for years, but the conflict escalated dramatically in March 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched air raids against Shiite Huthi rebels, who had taken over the capital and seized swathes of the country's centre and north. Nearly 7,500 people have been killed and more than 40,000 injured since the conflict escalated two years ago, while more than two million people remain displaced inside Yemen, according to UN numbers. But the fighting has also dramatically exacerbated the drawn-out humanitarian crisis in one of the world's poorest countries, leaving a full two thirds of the population in need of aid. More than 10 million people need immediate, life-saving aid, including more than two million children who are acutely malnourished. Nearly half a million children under five were meanwhile suffering from life-threatening severe, acute malnutrition at the end of 2016 -- a 57-percent increase over 2015, Wednesday's report said. Last year, UN agencies and other partners provided aid to 5.6 million people in Yemen. This year, they hope to more than double that number. The country is almost entirely dependent on imports, most of which transit through the Hudaydah port, which was bombed by the coalition in 2015. And the Saudi-led coalition's shutdown of the Sanaa airport in August 2016 has had a heavy toll on civilians because medicine cannot be flown in and Yemenis cannot receive treatment abroad. GENEVA: The UN on Wednesday appealed for $2.1 billion to provide desperately needed aid to millions of people in war-ravaged Yemen this year, warning the country could soon face famine. "Two years of war have devastated Yemen and millions of children, women and men desperately need our help," warned UN humanitarian aid chief Stephen O'Brien in a statement. "Without international support, they may face the threat of famine in the course of 2017 and I urge donors to sustain and increase their support to our collective response." The appeal from UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations aims to gather funds to help some 12 million of the nearly 19 million people expected to need assistance across Yemen this year. The poor Arab country has been engulfed in war for years, but the conflict escalated dramatically in March 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched air raids against Shiite Huthi rebels, who had taken over the capital and seized swathes of the country's centre and north. Nearly 7,500 people have been killed and more than 40,000 injured since the conflict escalated two years ago, while more than two million people remain displaced inside Yemen, according to UN numbers. But the fighting has also dramatically exacerbated the drawn-out humanitarian crisis in one of the world's poorest countries, leaving a full two thirds of the population in need of aid. More than 10 million people need immediate, life-saving aid, including more than two million children who are acutely malnourished. Nearly half a million children under five were meanwhile suffering from life-threatening severe, acute malnutrition at the end of 2016 -- a 57-percent increase over 2015, Wednesday's report said. Last year, UN agencies and other partners provided aid to 5.6 million people in Yemen. This year, they hope to more than double that number. The country is almost entirely dependent on imports, most of which transit through the Hudaydah port, which was bombed by the coalition in 2015. And the Saudi-led coalition's shutdown of the Sanaa airport in August 2016 has had a heavy toll on civilians because medicine cannot be flown in and Yemenis cannot receive treatment abroad. By AFP PARIS: French investigators on Wednesday confirmed the identity of the 29-year-old Egyptian suspect in last week's machete attack outside the Louvre museum in Paris, a source close to the probe said. Abdallah El-Hamahmy had already been tentatively identified through phone and visa records that matched the name he gave to police. "Following checks, there is no longer any doubt as to his identity," the source said. In Friday's attack at the world's busiest museum, Hamahmy was wielding two machetes when he lunged at four soldiers in the underground ticketing area, shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest). One of the soldiers shot and seriously wounded him in the stomach, and he is recovering in a Paris hospital. A judicial source said Tuesday that Hamahmy would likely be charged once medical staff say he is well enough to appear before a judge. Hamahmy has told investigators he did not intend to attack soldiers but instead wanted to stage a more symbolic attack against France by defacing artworks at the Louvre with spray paint that was found in his backpack. He entered France legally on January 26 on a flight from Dubai, where he is a resident, and was staying in an apartment rented by the week in an expensive Paris district near the Champs-Elysees, sources close to the investigation said. Investigators are examining a Twitter account thought to be that of the suspect on which a dozen messages were posted in Arabic between 9:27 am and 9:34 am, just minutes before the attack. "In the name of Allah... for our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world," one said. Another post asked: "Why are they afraid of the creation of a state for Islam? Because the state of Islam defends its resources and the honour of Muslims." It is unclear whether this was meant as an oblique reference to the Islamic State group. Hamahmy's father Reda El-Hamahmy, a retired police officer, told AFP in Cairo that his son had shown no sign of being radicalised. He said the family was relatively well off, with Abdallah earning a law degree in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura in 2010 before moving to Dubai to become a sales manager. The father said the suspect's wife was pregnant with the couple's second child and was currently in Saudi Arabia.The Louvre assault revived fears of violence in France, which suffered a string of attacks that killed 238 people between January 2015 and July 2016. PARIS: French investigators on Wednesday confirmed the identity of the 29-year-old Egyptian suspect in last week's machete attack outside the Louvre museum in Paris, a source close to the probe said. Abdallah El-Hamahmy had already been tentatively identified through phone and visa records that matched the name he gave to police. "Following checks, there is no longer any doubt as to his identity," the source said. In Friday's attack at the world's busiest museum, Hamahmy was wielding two machetes when he lunged at four soldiers in the underground ticketing area, shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest). One of the soldiers shot and seriously wounded him in the stomach, and he is recovering in a Paris hospital. A judicial source said Tuesday that Hamahmy would likely be charged once medical staff say he is well enough to appear before a judge. Hamahmy has told investigators he did not intend to attack soldiers but instead wanted to stage a more symbolic attack against France by defacing artworks at the Louvre with spray paint that was found in his backpack. He entered France legally on January 26 on a flight from Dubai, where he is a resident, and was staying in an apartment rented by the week in an expensive Paris district near the Champs-Elysees, sources close to the investigation said. Investigators are examining a Twitter account thought to be that of the suspect on which a dozen messages were posted in Arabic between 9:27 am and 9:34 am, just minutes before the attack. "In the name of Allah... for our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world," one said. Another post asked: "Why are they afraid of the creation of a state for Islam? Because the state of Islam defends its resources and the honour of Muslims." It is unclear whether this was meant as an oblique reference to the Islamic State group. Hamahmy's father Reda El-Hamahmy, a retired police officer, told AFP in Cairo that his son had shown no sign of being radicalised. He said the family was relatively well off, with Abdallah earning a law degree in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura in 2010 before moving to Dubai to become a sales manager. The father said the suspect's wife was pregnant with the couple's second child and was currently in Saudi Arabia.The Louvre assault revived fears of violence in France, which suffered a string of attacks that killed 238 people between January 2015 and July 2016. America's consumer watchdog agency is sitting in the crosshairs of the White House. A D.C. court is expected to rule soon on whether the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is constitutional. But no matter the outcome, critics of the agency have begun laying the groundwork for the Trump administration to make dramatic changes to the institution at the heart of President Barack Obama 's overhaul of the financial system. "The CFPB's structure is based on the idea that government is unlimited and rights are dependent on the special dispensation of the experts who know better than the American people," Republican Sens. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mike Lee of Utah wrote in a recent letter to the White House. The debate is centered on the agency's director, Richard Cordray, who is serving a five-year term that ends in 2018.The CFPB is an independent government agency that is funded through the Federal Reserve. Though Cordray is a presidential appointee, the White House has limited power to remove him. Under the Dodd-Frank Act , the law that established the agency, the head of the CFPB can be dismissed only for "inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." Cordray's protected status is now being challenged by PHH, a New Jersey mortgage servicer that the CFPB had fined $109 million. In November, a panel of judges in the D.C. Circuit Court ruled that the agency lacked critical checks on the director's power. But any changes to the CFPB's structure are on hold while the court decides whether a broader set of judges should weigh in. Industry experts say the answer could arrive any day. If the court denies the CFPB's request, Trump could dismiss Cordray almost immediately and the agency would have little recourse to appeal to the Supreme Court under a Republican administration. "I'm just focused on doing my job, which is protecting consumers," Cordray told CNBC on Wednesday on his way to Capitol Hill. "The rest of it is above my pay grade." Story continues White House already lining up a new boss Even if the court grants a broader review and the case remains in limbo, opponents of the CFPB have begun building the case for removing Cordray anyway. The White House has already begun meeting with potential replacements, such as former Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R- Texas , who had proposed legislation that would gut the agency. "Dodd-Frank was a piece of massive government overreach," a senior administration official said. "Some of the rules may have even been unconstitutional in creating new agencies that don't actually protect consumers. They might have just created more additional work. We're looking to deal with those." Critics point to a laundry list of CFPB actions that they say could warrant removal under existing Dodd-Frank standards: Republicans have excoriated the agency for the cost of renovating its building, for example, and for an alleged lack of diversity among its employees. They also argue the agency overstepped its authority in issuing rules intended to address discrimination in auto lending that also affect car dealers an industry that was specifically carved out from the CFPB's purview. "I think the president has at least a credible claim for removal," said Brian Knight, as senior fellow at the libertarian Mercatus Center at George Mason University. "They've been extremely aggressive, and the courts have been pushing back on them pretty consistently." Still, dismissing Cordray would be virtually unprecedented, even for a White House that prides itself on jettisoning tradition. No one has been fired by a president since the Supreme Court in 1935 set those standards of inefficiency, negligence or malfeasance for removal, according to an analysis by the left-leaning Americans for Financial Reform. "The slipshod rationalizations thinly disguising an underlying desire to remove a strong enforcer surely do not justify making him the first official ever to be removed by a president for cause," wrote Brian Simmonds Marshall and Veronica Meffe. Meanwhile, House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling , R-Texas, is slated to introduce soon a new version of his bill to undo Dodd-Frank that is also expected to take aim at the CFPB. In an interview on CNBC on Tuesday, he said he planned to work closely with the White House on that effort. "Dodd-Frank broke all its promises," he said. "I certainly hope to do my part on Capitol Hill to return us to a healthy economy and unclog the arteries of lending." Taking on the CFPB could prove politically precarious, however. Trump's campaign was fueled by populist anger against Wall Street the same anger that helped lead to the creation of the agency in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The CFPB is the brainchild of Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , an outspoken critic of the banking industry who enjoys a 61 percent approval rating in her home state, according to Morning Consult. 'Consumers deserve to have him serve' Consumer advocacy groups have also vowed to fight any attempts in the courts or on Capitol Hill to dismantle the agency. "Director Richard Cordray has proven to be a tireless and effective leader, and consumers deserve to have him serve out the rest of his term working on their behalf," said Debbie Goldstein, executive vice president at the Center for Responsible Lending. It remains unclear how quickly and aggressively the White House may move. Oliver Ireland, a partner at the law firm Morrison Foerster, said the Trump administration may wait until after the court weighs in on whether to review the PHH case again. In addition, Trump's nominee to lead the Treasury Department, Steven Mnuchin , has yet to be confirmed, and several other key Cabinet posts remain unfilled. Those positions could take precedence, Ireland said. But he said it was likely that the president's attention would eventually land on the consumer watchdog. "It seems to me there are a lot of moving parts here," Ireland said. "I think it's very hard to handicap that from a distance." Who are Newport's top taxpayers? Take a look at the top 50. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Champaign, IL (61820) Today Clear skies. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. Reporter Noelle McGee is a Danville-based reporter at The News-Gazette. Her email is nmcgee@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@n_mcgee). India-Indian Railways-Indian Navy-Andaman and Nicobar-Indian Ocean-Border-Geopolitical India is giving its formidable, 164-year-old railway network an increasingly strong role along its frontiers and maritime outposts. From a line at over 10,000 feet in the countrys northeast to linking parts of its Andaman and Nicobar island chain in the Bay of Bengal, the Narendra Modi administration seems to be keen on turning Indian Railways into a strategic asset. Interestingly, these plans indicate Indias moves at countering China. After all, Indias northeast has been part of the decades-long boundary dispute with China. Besides, the Andaman and Nicobar lie just a stones throw away, figuratively speaking, from the all-important Strait of Malacca, one of the worlds busiest shipping routes. These moves dovetail with Indias larger aim of expanding the sphere of its strategic influence in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, mostly to counter Chinas. There has been a growing understanding in the Indian government over the past several years of the need to develop Indias vulnerable frontier regions, Dhruva Jaishankar, a fellow at Brookings Institution India Center said. This includes the Northeast but also the Andaman and Nicobar islands. I do not think other countries can raise objections given that this is all on Indian sovereign territory. Indias unsinkable aircraft carrier Andaman and Nicobar, a chain of 572 islands vertically spread across 450 nautical miles in the Bay of Bengal, lies right next to the ASEAN region. Home to ancient tribes and a rich reserve of biodiversity, this island chain is also the base of Indias only joint tri-service command, which helps in engaging with other Southeast Asian navies. Its proximity to southeast Asia and its location overlooking critical sea routes make it a vital cog the countrys security calculations, particularly with increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean. China has reportedly built an airstrip and set up radio installations on Coco Island, leased from Myanmar in 1994. And Coco is just 70 kilometre from Andaman. Story continues So, a decision to link the island chains biggest citiescapital Port Blair to Diglipur in the northcould ramp up Indias logistical strength there in the future. A 14-hour, 350-kilometre bus service connects the cities right now, The Indian Express newspaper reported on Feb. 06. In a geographic sense, the Andaman and Nicobar islands have a front row seat to heavy levels of sea-based trade as well as to the growing sea-based rivalry between India and China, Michael Kugelman, a senior associate for south and southeast Asia at the Washington DC-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, said. A railroad would make it easier for India to convey assets to other parts of the broader region if conflict contingencies or other types of emergencies demand rapid movement. The local administration reckons, though, that the planned rail line will help tourism through better connectivity. And that is what the government of India, too, is focused on, but with a larger picture in mind. The railway must be part of a wider project to improve connectivitynotably completing a long delayed (project to lay) underwater cables from the Indian mainland to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, establishing a stronger and more reliable internet signal at the naval base in Port Blair, and expanding port facilities thereto allow Andaman and Nicobar to be developed as a functioning strategic point for the Indian Navy, Keerti Rajan, the head of Asia-Pacific at consultancy firm IHS Markit Country Risk said. Over the last six years, naval voyages by the Indian Navy have grown at a staggering 300%, IHS Markit says. India and Japan are also planning to install a sea wall of hydrophonesmicrophones with sensors, placed on the seabedbetween Andaman and Nicobar and the northern tip of Indonesia. Hydrophones can record and listen to underwater sounds, which helps to track submarine movement. But all this is just one part of the story. The mountains have eyes Located at around 3,500 metres above sea level, Tawang is a picturesque haven in the Himalayas. Part of Indias Arunachal Pradesh state in the northeast, it has a long history of ties with Chinas Tibet. So much so that while China claims ownership of entire Arunachal Pradesh, it is particularly insistent on Tawang, calling it part of southern Tibet. Hence, Indias decision to build a railway line to Tawang has made many sit up and take notice. The work on the project is likely begin in 2018 and the whole venture could cost nearly Rs70,000 crore. Arunachal Pradesh itself was connected to Delhi by rail only in 2015. Building a railroad to Arunachal Pradesh is not the same thing as building a new military base, and so in of itself this move should not trigger multiple alarm bells in Beijing, added Kugelman. Still, seen in the context of Indias broader moves in a state claimed by China, including the recent defense upgrades India has made there, China could well view it as a provocation. While for years, China has steadily developed its side of the border with India with massive infrastructure projects, including roads, rail, and air transport facilities, India has been rather slow on its part. The population of the northeast has suffered substantially because of inadequate infrastructure, Madhav Nalapat, the UNESCO Peace Chair at the department of geopolitics and international relations at Manipal University, said. Should the level of infrastructure reach the standards present on the Chinese side, economic development and consequently public welfare will rise. The train to Tawang will not be seen as just another infrastructural mission, though. Since coming to power in 2014, the Narendra Modi govt has often taken to aggressive posturing vis a vis China. For instance, Tawang is home to Indias biggest monastery, which follows Tibetan Buddhism. So when late last year, the Modi dispensation invited Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to visit Tawang, all eyes were on China. Similarly, India also welcomed the then US ambassador to India, Richard Verma, to the Tawang festival. This came at a time when China had blocked Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India also recently sanctioned a $750-million deal to provide Howitzer guns to troops manning its border with China and also raise a 90,000-strong mountain corps for deployment in the region. However, building the rail route to Tawang isnt likely to be an easy affair considering the rugged terrain. The main issue will be the engineering challenge, Rajan of IHS Markit said. Nevertheless, the Narendra Modi administration is clearly signalling that it is not going to be business-as-usual anymore, particularly with reference to China. Be it on the mountains or at sea. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: The prevention of thrombosis should be actively sought in individuals who are at a high risk of the condition but is generally not required by all populations. People with a higher risk of thrombosis are likely to benefit from effective preventative methods. Image Credit: MattLphotography / Shutterstock.com Determining the risk of thrombosis Although anyone can be affected by thrombosis, some populations are at a greater risk of forming a blood clot as compared to others. People at risk of thrombosis are more likely to benefit from preventative methods to reduce the incidence of thrombosis and related complications, such as embolization. People who are at an increased risk of thrombosis include: Medical history of thrombosis Family history of thrombosis Recent surgery or trauma requiring bed rest Cancer and related therapy Elderly people Pregnant mothers Women taking birth control or hormonal estrogen therapy Obesity Cardiovascular disease Smoking Varicose veins Each of these risk factors is associated with a different level of increased thrombosis risk, which should be considered in the prevention of thrombosis. Most treatments are associated with some degree of danger or inconvenience to the patient, and the benefit to risk ratio differs for each individual. Lifestyle prevention There are some simple lifestyle adjustments that can help to reduce the risk of thrombosis. These are closely linked to the specific risk factors for thrombosis and help to reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. For example, obesity is strongly associated with a higher incidence of thrombosis; therefore, adopting good nutritional and exercise habits is a great way to a lessen this risk. Opting for whole-grain foods, as well as fruit and vegetables is preferable, as these food products are high in fiber but have low salt, sugar, and fat content. Regular exercise can also be useful in maintaining a healthy weight, with at least 30 minutes of daily exercise currently being recommended. People who smoke are also more likely to experience thrombosis and should, therefore, be encouraged to quit or reduce their smoking habits to help prevent thrombosis. Some specific situations are also associated with an immediate increased risk of thrombosis. Long periods of staying sedentary, due to airplane travel or bed rest, allow stasis of the blood, which is the ideal condition for a thrombus to form. If someone at risk of thrombosis is likely to stay sedentary for extended periods of time, it is recommended that they make regular movements of their feet and legs to keep the blood moving to prevent the formation of a blood clot. What causes DVT and how can we stop it? Play Pharmacological prevention Coagulation factors in the blood are essential for the formation of blood clots and can be manipulated with the use of pharmacological agents to prevent thrombosis. Anticoagulant medications such as warfarin are commonly used in the prevention of thrombosis. Aspirin is also widely used and is associated with less severe complications; therefore, it is often opted for in low-risk patients. These agents must be used with caution, as they are associated with an increased risk of bleeding as a direct result of their mechanism of action. The way these agents work changes the functionality of the coagulation factors, which normally work to form a clot when a blood vessel ruptures. By inhibiting this clot formation function, it can take longer to form a clot and can therefore lead to a significant volume of blood loss. For this reason, it is prudent to consider the risks and benefits of taking anticoagulant therapy for each individual. Patients at a high risk of thrombosis, such as those who have previously experienced thrombosis, are likely to benefit from anticoagulant medication. However, if the patient is likely to fall or cut themselves frequently, anticoagulant therapy may not be warranted because of the increased bleeding risk. The decision to prevent thrombosis needs to be individualized according to the specific risks and benefits. References Further Reading Detecting brain tumors at the earliest possible stage and eliminating them before seizures begin might be possible one day, according to research by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. In the study, which is published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the scientists report that the emergence of specific brain cells during brain tumor progression in a mouse model marked the onset of seizures and brain tumor invasion. An improved understanding of how brain tumors cause seizures can potentially lead to strategies to prevent them or treat them. "We began this project by studying normal brain cells," said co-senior author Dr. Benjamin Deneen, associate professor in the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at Baylor and the Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital. "The brain has billions of cells of which only 30 percent are neurons. Astrocytes are the predominant cell type of the remaining 70 percent. Surprisingly, astrocytes have not been studied in as much detail as neurons have." "Although astrocytes are often broadly categorized as one cell type, a lot of diversity exists in the functions carried out by these cells," said co-senior author Dr. Chad Creighton, associate professor of medicine and member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics at Baylor. Astrocytes play diverse roles in the brain, from supporting the functions of neurons, participating in synapse formation and function and in the release of neurotransmitters, to making the blood-brain barrier and other functions. What is not known is whether all these functions are carried out by different subpopulations of astrocytes. This study explores the cellular and functional diversity of the most enigmatic, yet most abundant cell type in the brain. Answering this fundamental question served as the starting point for this investigation. Better understanding the underappreciated astrocyte The researchers took populations of mouse astrocytes, which until now have been considered to be a cell type with little diversity, and used molecular markers expressed on the cells' surface to divide the cells into subpopulations according to the cell surface markers expressed. They identified five subpopulations - the scientists called them subpopulations A, B, C, D and E - each containing a unique combination of cell surface markers. These subpopulations were consistently present across several different regions of the brain. Further studies showed that each subpopulation of astrocytes expressed distinct sets of genes. These molecular signatures suggested that each subpopulation might play different roles in the brain. In particular, the scientists were interested in subpopulation C, which expressed a significant number of genes associated with synapses, the junctions that transmit nerve impulses that connect networks of neurons in the brain. The researchers compared the ability of the different subpopulations of astrocytes to support the formation and function of synapses between neurons. "In the laboratory, we combined individual subpopulation of astrocytes with neurons and measured synapse formation and function," said Deneen. "We found that neurons incubated with subpopulation C made more synapses than neurons incubated with the other subpopulations." Taken together, these results revealed that astrocytes in the normal mouse brain comprise at least five distinct subpopulations that differentially support synapse formation and function. Linking astrocytes to human glioma "Astrocytes are associated with numerous neurological conditions, including injury, multiple sclerosis, autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and brain tumors. Given that we found diverse astrocyte subpopulations, we wondered whether these subpopulations could also explain astrocyte contributions to a host of different neurological diseases," Deneen said. One of the interests of the Deneen lab is identifying mechanisms that regulate astrocyte development and how these cells contribute to neurological diseases, in particular human glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive and deadly type of brain tumor. In these type of cancer, about 80 percent of the tumor comprises transformed astrocyte-like cells, and, just as in the case of normal brain tissue, the diversity of these tumor cell subpopulations and functions in brain tumors had not been studied in detail. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today In this case, the scientists used a different approach to determine whether astrocyte-like cells in human glioblastoma include different astrocyte subpopulations. "We used publicly available genomic datasets to help us understand what distinguishes the different types of astrocytes from each other," Creighton said. "The genomic datasets compile entire genomes - all the genes - of different types of cells. Using this resource, we discovered that each type of human astrocyte showed very distinctive patterns of gene activation. It was by comparing these patterns with patterns associated with brain cancer or with epilepsy, using public data, that we discovered how specific types of astrocytes appear to have roles in these diseases." To support that astrocytes seemed to play a role in human glioblastoma, the researchers genetically engineered two mouse models of the disease and observed that the astrocyte subpopulations are also present in mouse tumors. The subpopulations are also present in primary human specimens of human glioblastoma multiforme. Astrocytes and seizures One striking characteristic of glioblastoma, which usually leads to the discovery of the tumor, is epileptic seizures. On one occasion Deneen was talking with Dr. Jeffrey L. Noebels, about this research. Noebels, who is professor of neurology, neuroscience, and molecular and human genetics, director of the Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory at Baylor and is a leader in the field of epilepsy, asked Deneen, "do your mice with brain tumors have seizures?" "They do," Deneen said. This conversation led to planning a series of experiments in the mouse models of glioma to determine the time scale of the seizures and whether different sub populations of astrocyte-like cells within the tumor were associated with seizures. The results of these experiments showed that as the tumor grows, the excitability of the adjacent neurons progressively increases. Seventy days after birth, the mice had visible seizures that correlated with the emergence of astrocyte subpopulation C. Further linking these astrocyte-like subpopulations to seizures, the scientists showed that subpopulation C expresses a significant number of genes linked to epilepsy. While subpopulation C seems to be involved with seizures in the mouse model of glioblastoma, subpopulations B and D showed they were able to migrate more in laboratory assays than population C. "Taken all together, the evidence from the mouse model of glioblastoma indicates that as the tumor evolves, different subpopulations of astrocyte-like cells develop within the tumor and execute distinct functions that are related to two important tumor characteristics, synaptic imbalance that can lead to seizures, and tumor migration that can lead to tumor invasion of other tissues," Deneen said. "Less than half of the patients with epilepsy caused by a brain tumor can be helped with existing antiepileptic drugs," said Noebels, co-author of the work. "We do not understand exactly how malignant cells cause seizures, or why seizures persist after tumor surgery. Until now, we could only study this brain tissue at later misleading stages. I am excited that this next-generation experimental model in mice will allows us to study, for the first time, the earliest effects of human tumors on brain circuits before seizures actually begin and understand the mechanisms. These studies would be a major advance in patient care, allowing clinicians to bypass precious months spent searching for effective therapy to stop seizures. Because seizures themselves damage brain tissue, timely effective therapy is of the essence." By Naveen Thukral SINGAPORE (Reuters) - India has bought more than five million tonnes of wheat since mid-2016, already its biggest annual purchase in a decade, after it began an import campaign to meet a supply shortfall left by two years of lower production. The country is slowing down imports ahead of the harvest in April and purchases in the months ahead will depend on production this year, two traders told Reuters on Wednesday. "There will be more deals signed in the coming months," said one Singapore-based trader. "It will not be more than 200,000 to 300,000 tonnes as the domestic harvest is expected to replenish supplies." Thomson Reuters data showed 5.1 million tonnes of wheat has been delivered or loaded for arrival into India since July 1, while traders estimated the country has bought about 5.2 million tonnes. More than one million tonnes of wheat was delivered to India in January and February arrivals have already hit close to 400,000 tonnes. India bought 6.7 million tonnes of wheat in 2006/07, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The country began importing wheat around the middle of last year after two years of dry weather and unseasonal rains hit production in the world's second largest consumer of the grain. The country has bought wheat mainly from Ukraine and Australia. Indian flour mills paid about $210-$212 a tonne, including cost and freight (C&F), for Ukrainian wheat. For Australian Standard Wheat (ASW), millers paid $215-$220 a tonne and Australian Premium Wheat (APW) was delivered to the country at about $235-$240 a tonne, traders said. Indian wheat futures fell for a second day on Tuesday, as data released on Friday showed higher planting compared with last year. Winter wheat planting in India this year was up about 7 percent at 31.78 million hectares as of Friday, government data showed. (Reporting by Naveen Thukral; Editing by Richard Pullin) Two Princeton University studies are opening important new windows into understanding an untreatable group of common genetic disorders known as RASopathies that are characterized by distinct facial features, developmental delays, cognitive impairment and heart problems. The findings could help point the way toward personalized precision therapies for these conditions. Although not widely known, RASopathies are among the most common genetic disorders, affecting approximately one child out of 1,000. RASopathies are caused by mutations within the RAS pathway, a biochemical system cells use to transmit information from their exterior to their interior. "Human development is very complex and it's amazing that it goes right so often. However, there are certain cases where it does not, as with RASopathies," said Granton Jindal, co-lead author of the two studies. Both Jindal and the other co-lead author, Yogesh Goyal, are graduate students in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics (LSI). Jindal and Goyal do their thesis research in the lab of Stanislav Shvartsman, professor of chemical and biological engineering and LSI. "Our new studies are helping to explain the mechanisms underlying these disorders," Jindal said. These studies were published this year, one in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and the other in Nature Genetics online. The researchers made the discoveries in zebrafish and fruit flies -- animals commonly used as simplified models of human genetics and Jindal and Goyal's specialties, respectively. Due to the evolutionary similarities in the RAS pathway across diverse species, changes in this pathway would also be similar. Thus, it is likely that significant parts of findings in animals would apply to humans as well, although further research is needed to confirm this. The first paper published Jan. 3 in PNAS presented a way to rank the severity of different mutations involved in RASopathies. The researchers introduced 16 mutations one at a time in developing zebrafish embryos. As each organism developed, clear differences in the embryos' shapes became evident, revealing the strength of each mutation. The same mutant proteins produced similarly varying degrees of defects in fruit flies. Some of the mutations the researchers tested were already known to be involved in human cancers. The researchers noted that these cancer-related mutations caused more severe deformations in the embryos, aligning with the medical community's ongoing efforts to adapt anti-cancer compounds to treat RASopathies. "Until now, there was no systematic way of comparing different mutation severities for RASopathies effectively," Goyal said. Jindal added, "This study is an important step for personalized medicine in determining a diagnosis to a first approximation." The study therefore suggested a path forward to human diagnostic advances, potentially enabling health care professionals to offer better diagnoses and inform caretakers about patients' disease progression. The study went further and examined the use of an experimental cancer-fighting drug being investigated as a possible way to treat RASopathies. The researchers demonstrated that the amount of medication necessary to correct the developmental defects in the zebrafish embryos corresponded with the mutation's severity -- more severe mutations required higher dosages. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today The more recent paper, published online by Nature Genetics Feb. 6, reports an unexpected twist in treatment approach to some RASopathies. Like all cellular pathways, the RAS pathway is a series of molecular interactions that changes a cell's condition. Conventional wisdom has held that RASopathies are triggered by overactive RAS pathways, which a biologist would call excessive signaling. The Nature Genetics study, however, found that some RASopathies could result from insufficient signaling along the RAS pathway in certain regions of the body. This means that drugs intended to treat RASopathies by tamping down RAS pathway signaling might actually make certain defects worse. "To our knowledge, our study is the first to find lower signaling levels that correspond to a RASopathy disease," Goyal said. "Drugs under development are primarily RAS-pathway inhibitors aimed at reducing the higher activity, so maybe we need to design drugs that only target specific affected tissues, or investigate alternative, novel treatment options." The Nature Genetics study also found that RAS pathway mutations cause defects by changing the timing and specific locations of embryonic development. For example, in normal fruit fly cells, the RAS pathway only turns on when certain natural cues are received from outside the cell. In the mutant cells, however, the RAS pathway in certain parts of fly embryo abnormally activated before these cues were received. This early activation disturbed the delicate process of embryonic development. The researchers found similar behavior in zebrafish cells. "Our integrative approach has allowed us to make enormous progress in understanding RASopathies, some of which have just been identified in the last couple of decades," Shvartsman said. "With continued steps forward in both basic and applied science, as we've shown with our new publications, we hope to develop new ideas for understanding and treatment of a large class of developmental defects." Princeton co-authors of the two papers include Trudi Schupbach, the Henry Fairfield Osborn Professor of Biology and professor of molecular biology, and Rebecca Burdine, an associate professor of molecular biology, as well as co-advisers to Goyal and Jindal; Alan Futran, a former graduate student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and LSI; graduate student Eyan Yeung of the Department of Molecular Biology and LSI; Jose Pelliccia, a graduate student in the Department of Molecular Biology; seniors in molecular biology Iason Kountouridis and Kei Yamaya; and Courtney Balgobin Class of 2015. Bruce Gelb, a pediatric cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular genetics and the director of the Mindich Child Health and Development Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, described the two new studies as "wonderful" in advancing the understanding of altered biology in RASopathies and developing a framework for comparing mutation strengths, bringing effective treatments significantly closer. "At this time, most of the issues that arise from the RASopathies are either addressed symptomatically or cannot be addressed," Gelb said. "The work [these researchers] are undertaking could lead to true therapies for the underlying problem." Source: http://www.princeton.edu/engineering/news/archive/?id=17517 Philips and Diagnostics Development win European Union Horizon Prize Better Use of Antibiotics for the rapid detection of bacterial infection on Philips Minicare I-20 platform. Philips and Diagnostics Development, a P&M Venge company, evaluate the novel human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) biomarker for the rapid detection of bacterial infection Based on Philips Minicare I-20 handheld diagnostics platform, the Minicare HNL assay is recognized for its potential to provide physicians with 10-minute confirmation of bacterial infection, helping to ensure that antibiotics are only prescribed to patients who need them Royal Philips, a leader in HealthTech, and Diagnostics Development, a P&M Venge company spin-off from Uppsala University (Sweden), have demonstrated a proof-of-concept for the rapid and reliable detection of bacterial infection. The test is based on Philips Minicare I-20 handheld diagnostics platform and detects the human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) biomarker in a single finger-prick drop of blood. In recognition of the tests ability to distinguish between acute bacterial and viral infections, and thereby mitigate the unnecessary use of antibiotics, the two companies were awarded the European Union Horizon Prize Better Use of Antibiotics during a special award ceremony on the evening of February 6, 2017. Antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics have dramatically reduced the number of deaths from infectious diseases since their introduction 70 years ago. However, through their overuse and misuse, many micro-organisms have become resistant to them. It is estimated that each year this growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes around 25,000 deaths and accounts for over EUR 1.5 billion in healthcare costs and productivity losses in Europe alone, making it one of the greatest challenges facing society today. To boost development and bring new and innovative players to AMR research, the EU issued a prize for the individual or team that most effectively meets the following challenge: to develop a rapid test that will allow healthcare providers to distinguish at the point of care between patients with upper respiratory tract infections that require antibiotics and those that can be treated safely without antibiotics. This prize is a great recognition of how collaboration can lead to innovative diagnostic solutions that improve patient care, said Marcel van Kasteel, CEO of Handheld Diagnostics at Philips. The HNL program for detection of bacterial infections perfectly fits with our open platform strategy of bringing innovative biomarker content onto the Minicare I-20 platform in order to offer healthcare professionals a panel of relevant tests for acute settings. Activities are ongoing to further develop the HNL test for eventual implementation in routine clinical practice." Marcel van Kasteel, CEO of Handheld Diagnostics at Philips. In various studies, HNL has demonstrated superior performance compared to biomarkers currently used to diagnose bacterial infection, said Per Venge, CEO of P&M Venge AB. I am therefore very excited that we have been able to successfully demonstrate the detection of HNL on the Minicare I-20 using blood samples from patients with upper respiratory tract infections in the Uppsala University hospital, where within a few minutes patients with a bacterial infection could clearly be distinguished from those with viral infections or other conditions. Based on Philips proprietary biosensor technology, the Minicare I-20 handheld diagnostics platform is designed to detect multiple target molecules at very low concentrations in a single finger-prick blood sample, and display the results on a handheld analyzer within minutes. Philips already has CE marking for its Minicare I-20 based cardiac troponin I (cTnI) blood test for the rapid point-of-care diagnosis of heart attack, and it is currently developing further tests for acute care settings. Minicare I-20 is simple and easy to use by non-laboratory staff. The analyzers built-in connectivity allows direct transfer of the data to laboratory and hospital information systems to update patient files, while integrated calibration and fail-safe functionalities ensure the robustness and accuracy needed for confident on-the-spot decision making. Sphere Medical, an innovative company in critical care monitoring and diagnostics equipment, will be showcasing for the first time its next generation Proxima blood gas analyser to a German critical care audience at both the Symposium Intensivmedizin + Intensivpflege Bremen and Stuttgarter Intensivkongress. Delegates at both congresses in February 2017 will have the opportunity for a hands-on demonstration of the unique CE marked system and to discuss the benefits of patient dedicated bedside blood gas and glucose analysis with Sphere Medicals German team. Proxima delivers near real-time analysis of arterial blood gases, electrolytes and metabolites, directly at the patients bedside. This means that the caregiver need not leave a critically ill patient, and time to result is significantly less than by conventional benchtop analysis. As the ex-vivo analyser is connected to the patient via their arterial line, all blood is returned following analysis which can reduce risk of iatrogenic anaemia and enable rapid and frequent blood gas and glucose measurements at critical times. The patient dedicated system can be used on patients across a wide therapeutic range, facilitating faster clinical decision making and improved patient outcomes, whilst potentially reducing costs for healthcare payers. Connectivity and the ability to seamlessly transfer results directly into laboratory information systems and electronic patient records is a key requirement for the successful implementation of point-of-care (POC) testing. All results produced by Proxima are reported to its bedside monitor and data transfer can be easily implemented through its ability to connect to the Conworx family of laboratory information system interfaces and data management solutions. This means that its use and performance can also be readily monitored remotely. The newly launched next generation Proxima is already connected via Conworx at two German hospital sites. Sphere Medical will be demonstrating Proxima: on Stand 1 at the 13th Stuttgarter Intensivkongress from 9-11th February 2017 in Stuttgart-Fellbach; and on Stand H4 S13 at the 27th Symposium Intensivmedizin + Intensivpflege from 15-17th February in Bremen. A Royal Society of Medicine Meeting Review by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab) Sleep deprivation often hits the headlines and we are frequently told we need 8 hours a night. But how much sleep do we really need? Are we sleeping less than we used to and is today's society really sleep deprived? A recent meeting at the Royal Society of Medicine aimed to answer these questions. Historian Professor Roger Ekirch, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA, reminded us that never before in human history should we be sleeping more soundly. Ekirch recounted the multiple ways in which sleep prior to modernity was highly vulnerable to disruption including bedding rife with house mites; frigid temperatures in poorly insulated buildings; and fear of demons and also of the peril of fire. And so while we have every reason to think our sleep has never been better, we seem to have increasing complaints of fatigue and insomnia, in particular, middle-of-the-night insomnia. But is this really a new phenomenon? The compressed, consolidated pattern of sleep is actually less than two centuries old. Previously most families experienced a broken pattern of sleep, with 'first sleep' from ~9pm until midnight, an hour or so awake followed by a 'second sleep'. This biphasic pattern was rarely viewed in a negative way. The evolution into our modern consolidated sleep pattern was something that occurred over the 19th century, a time of dramatic change with reform movements and the increasing prevalence of artificial illumination. Ekirch argued that perhaps people that suffer from the middle of the night insomnia may actually be undergoing this older pattern of sleep and patients should be relieved of anxiety and their insomnia should be better termed "wakefulness". A similar theme was explored by Dr Catherine Coveney, University of Sussex, who discussed the pharmaceuticalisation of today's sleep: the redefining of sleep behaviors as problems requiring pharmaceutical solutions. Dr Coveney quoted a number of different studies showing self-reported regular sleep durations including the Understanding Society initiative by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which showed: 12% sleep <6 hours 23% sleep for 6-7 hours 55% sleep for 7-9 hours 10% sleep 9+ hours Coveney also shared people's expectations and experiences of sleep. The overwhelming consensus was that sleep was highly valued by participants but it was often considered a disposable luxury in our busy lifestyles. Surprisingly, 10% of those surveyed take sleep medications 3 or more nights per week. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today But are we really sleeping less than we used to? There is no strong evidence for this according to Professor Jim Horne, University of Loughborough. Horne explained how society has changed its attitudes towards insomnia and it is now more socially acceptable to talk about being sleepy. Although it is important to distinguish between tiredness, which can have many meanings, including fatigue boredom etc., and sleepiness, the likeliness of falling asleep. In addition, there is a difference between need and desire for sleep. In the same way we can eat when we're not hungry, we can also sleep for pleasure. So how do we know where the line is between need and desire? Well firstly it's important to understand why we need sleep. Professor John Groeger, University of Hull, outlined the two main functions: for protection and preparation; and recovery and restoration. Professor Franco Cappuccio, University of Warwick, outlined the potential negative consequences of insufficient sleep, defined as fewer than 5-6 hours a night. He discussed the 50% increased risk of developing obesity in short sleepers, however there are difficulties with determining whether this association is causal in nature. Despite these challenges, one thing that is increasingly being realized is that poor sleep, both in terms of quality and quantity, has negative consequences for physical, mental and performance risk. Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, University of Surrey, explained how social jetlag, the difference in wake time on weekdays to weekends, is arising due to social constraints and also increasing exposure to artificial light in the evenings. Through mathematical modeling Dijk and team have shown that delaying social cues such as pushing back work and school start times, while an initial help for a week, would not work as a remedy long term as our body clocks would then readjust to the later start times. Other potential solutions include limiting your exposure to artificial light in the evenings and also offsetting this by getting more nature light exposure in the day, for the effects of evening light become stronger if you see less daylight. There are also genetic differences in our clock speed: 75% of people have clock speeds of 24 hours or more and 25% have clocks under 24 hours. This could explain the difference between night owls and early birds, as the former are always fighting against a body clock thats pushing later and the latter are doing the opposite. In conclusion, whether or not were more sleep deprived than we used to be can be debated, but it is clear that, despite an average of 7-8 hours per night, we are more out of sync with our natural light-dark cycle than weve ever been. Source: https://www.rsm.ac.uk/ Our nervous systems have left-right differences that are important for correct functioning. Handedness is probably the best known asymmetry arising from the development of the nervous system. This is observed very early on: embryos of eight weeks already tend to move their right arms more often than their left arms. At this 'age' signals are not sent from the brain to the arms yet, but only from the spinal cord. A few weeks later, left-right differences also become visible in the shape and size of the premature brain. A team of scientists from the Netherlands, the UK and China searched for genes that contribute to left-right differences in the nervous system, in the period between four and eight weeks after fertilization. The genetic analysis showed that the left and right sides of the spinal cord develop at different paces. The left side of the spinal cord matures slightly faster than the right side. Sets of key genes that control growth and maturity were found to reach a more advanced profile of activity on the left side than the right. In the hindbrain, an area which is the predecessor for some adult parts of the brain, this was the other way around. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today "This seems logical, since many nerve fibers cross over from one side to the other at the boundary between the hindbrain and spinal cord," says Carolien de Kovel, lead author of the study and researcher at the Max Plank Institute for Psycholinguistics (MPI). "How exactly this left-right genetic difference in the spinal cord leads to right-handedness is, however, not yet clear." Clyde Francks, head of the MPI research group 'Brain and behavioral asymmetries' and Research Fellow at the Donders Institute at the Radboud University, explains, "We think that these very early left-right differences in the spinal cord may act to trigger some of the later asymmetries of the brain, such as the eventual dominance of the left hemisphere for language functions in most adults'. Asymmetry and schizophrenia "Around 85% of humans are right-handed; it seems the standard in human development," De Kovel adds, "but genetic and environmental factors may provide alternative paths of development, such as left-handedness or two-handedness. Interestingly, disturbances in such asymmetries seem to be more common in people with psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia." Hence, De Kovel and her colleagues also compared the results of their study with genetic factors that influence the risk of schizophrenia. It was found that genes which exhibit the largest left-right differences in the embryos also tended to be involved in the risk of schizophrenia. "The findings do not prove directly that these genes cause schizophrenia by their actions in the spinal cord, because the same genes are also active in the grown up brain. However this does provide us with clues on which we can base further research," De Kovel explains. Source: http://www.mpi.nl/news/handedness-arises-from-genes-in-the-spinal-cords-of-embryos The social stigma associated with diabetes and a fear of being poisoned by medical drugs may contribute to patients of South Asian origin failing to take their medication, a new study shows. South Asians in the UK are six times more likely than the general population to be affected with diabetes at a younger age and at greater risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Type 2 Diabetes is a major risk factor associated with heart disease. Scientists at the University of Birmingham recommend that South Asian patients would benefit from health professionals giving them tailored advice that highlights the long-term consequences of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Researchers studied the factors that influenced behaviour around taking medicines and identified a number of key areas that helped to shape when South Asian patients took their medication: Beliefs about the need for medicines and their effectiveness Fears around the toxicity of medicines Traditional remedies versus 'Western' medicines Stigma and social support Communication by health professionals Dr Paramjit Gill, from the University of Birmingham's Institute of Applied Health Research, said: "Not taking medicines - for whatever reason - can have a profound effect on patients' health and poor clinical outcomes for those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. "We identified a range of beliefs that influence how patients from South Asian communities approach taking medication for these conditions. These patients would benefit from tailored medical advice that highlights the long-term consequences of diabetes and CVD." Dr Kanta Kumar further added: "Health beliefs found in South Asian diabetic patients are present in other chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. These health beliefs should be explored when consulting South Asian patients about using long-term medication." The study was published in the journal BMC Endocrine Disorders and noted that stigma and social support had a major impact on medicine taking. For people from a South Asian background - India, Pakistan or Bangladesh - diabetes and insulin were viewed as culturally unacceptable, making some patients reluctant to start insulin therapy or even admit to family and friends that they had the condition. Some patients were concerned about increasing numbers of prescribed medicines being added to their treatment plans - compounding their fears about toxicity. A number of patients feared that taking too many medicines would lead to death. Many patients missed doses intentionally because they 'felt fine' or their symptoms had become less severe. Others decided to stop their treatment during social gatherings - often stopping their medicines to take part fully in activities such as weddings. The study found many patients of South Asian origin regarded medicines for treatment of diabetes and CVD as necessary. However, patients who had migrated to the UK described the medicines they received in Britain as more effective than those they would have received in places like India and Pakistan. Some patients used traditional and herbal remedies rather than 'Western' medicines, believing them to better at tackling illnesses without side effects. Family and friends were often important in deciding whether to take these medicines and, in some cases, would also supply them. Health professionals' communication styles were found to influence the way patients viewed the treatment of their disease. Some patients felt that they were not always fully informed about disease management and how medication would help to control their symptoms. The findings suggest that if health professionals took patients' beliefs about medicines into account when prescribing, this would help them to better advise diabetes and CVD sufferers about the benefits of taking their medication on a regular basis. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University will use a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop and test a small, portable blood-adhesion monitor for sickle cell disease patients. The engineers and doctors hope to make the device as useful as at-home insulin monitors diabetes patients use to manage their disease. Sickle cell patients suffer painful damage to joints and organs during events called vaso-occlusive crises. These random and unpredictable crises occur when the misshapen and abnormal sticky blood cells that are characteristic of the disease clog blood vessels. Although the proximate causes of vaso-occlusive crises are not well understood, hemoglobin molecules link into long chains inside red blood cells, stiffening the cells and changing cell shape from a donut without a hole to a crescent--thus the name of the disease. Simultaneously, adhesive proteins form on the surface of the cells. These changes hamper the flow of the cells in the bloodstream and increase the likelihood they will clog blood vessels. Early versions of the monitor have proved capable of determining whether cells are sticky and the level of stickiness, "but we don't know if this information will make a difference in patients' lives or in how the disease is managed," said Umut Gurkan, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and project leader. Gurkan and colleagues believe the stickiness of a patient's blood cells reflects disease severity and may be used to predict vaso-occlusive crises. If a prodrome, or early symptom indicating the onset of crises, can be identified, strategies can be (and are being) developed to block the generation of the vaso-occlusive episode. The device may also be useful in monitoring new sickle cell drugs designed to either block adhesive proteins on blood-cell surfaces or resolve clogs that block blood vessels and starve joints and organs of oxygen. Currently, there are no easily applicable tests for either scenario, the researchers say. To look for trends associated with crises, a team of researchers will test prototype monitors with patients in Cleveland and New York City (the Bronx) starting this year. The disease Sickle cell disease is actually a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. About 300,000 babies with severe forms are born worldwide annually, the World Health Organization estimates. Life expectancy for those with the disease in the United States has increased the last few decades to a range of 40 to 60 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But the disease remains costly. Hospitalizations and treatments for crises and other harmful affects can amount to $8 million for one patient over a lifetime. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today "We think that, with much better monitoring and anti-adhesion therapies, the physical and financial cost will be reduced," Gurkan said. "There will be less time spent out of work and in the hospital, reducing stress and suffering by the patient and family and benefitting the health-care system." The monitor In the prototype monitor, blood flows through channels as wide as three to four cells across, reproducing microvessel size inside the body. The channel lining mimics the properties of endothelial cells lining blood vessels. Under a microscope, researchers can see cells stick to channel walls and determine the stickiness and number per unit volume of blood. The scientists are working on a way to quickly identify proteins on the surface. About a dozen proteins contribute to adhesion, and different patients have different proteins on their cells, providing an opportunity to customize treatment. Gurkan and Jane Little, associate professor of hematology and oncology at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, and an adult hematologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, are team leaders on the project. Other members include: Deepa G. Manwani, chief of the Division of Hematology at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx; Karen Ireland, clinical coordinator at Montefiore; Charlotte Yuan and Erina Quinn, research assistants at UH Cleveland Medical Center; Erdem Kucukal, doctoral student in mechanical and aerospace engineering; and Evren G. Cavusoglu, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, specializing in bioinformatics, at Case Western Reserve. The monitors will be tested on adult patients at University Hospital in Cleveland and children at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and Montefiore beginning next year. "The test can be run in a primary care doctor's office during a visit," Gurkan said. Ultimately, take-home versions of the monitor would enable patients or parents to use the test daily to manage their condition. If the monitor proves effective during testing, the researchers plan to commercialize the device, which Gurkan said could have applications in malaria, certain cancers, lead poisoning and other diseases and conditions that cause changes in red blood cell properties. Source: http://thedaily.case.edu/cwru-researchers-secure-2m-nih-grant-test-portable-sickle-cell-monitor/ Breast cancer patients with dense breast tissue have almost a two-fold increased risk of developing disease in the contralateral breast, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer. The study, published in the journal Cancer, is among the first to find the association between breast density (BD) and contralateral breast cancer (CBC). According to study author Isabelle Bedrosian, M.D., a big challenge in the management of this patient population, especially as they are making surgical decisions, is trying to counsel women appropriately on their risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast. "We know there are a number of well-established influences for developing both primary and secondary breast cancers, such as BRCA mutations, family history, and the tumor's estrogen receptor status," explained Bedrosian, associate professor, Breast Surgical Oncology. "We also know density is a risk factor for the development of primary breast cancer. However, no one has closely looked at it as a risk factor for developing contralateral disease." The estimated 10-year risk for women with breast cancer developing CBC can be as low as 2 percent, and as high 40 percent, said Bedrosian. The dramatic range is due in large part to the variability of risk factors across the patient population, she explained. For the retrospective, case-controlled study, the researchers identified 680 stage I, II and III breast cancer patients, all treated at MD Anderson between 1997 and 2012. BRCA patients were excluded from the study, given their known increased risk of CBC. Women with an additional diagnosis of metachronous CBC - defined as BC in the opposite breast diagnosed more than six months after the initial diagnosis - were the "cases," and patients who had not developed CBC were the "controls." Cases and controls were matched on a 1:2 ratio based on a number of factors, including age, year of diagnosis and hormone receptor status. "With our research, we wanted to evaluate the relationship between the mammographic breast density of the original disease and the development of metachronous breast cancer," said Carlos Barcenas, M.D., assistant professor, Breast Medical Oncology, and the study's corresponding author. Of the selected patients, 229 were cases and 451 were controls. The MD Anderson researchers categorized each patient's breast density by mammogram reading, assessed at the time of first diagnosis, as "nondense" or "dense," using the categorizations from the American College of Radiology. Among the cases, 39.3 percent were classified as having nondense breast tissue and 60.7 percent as having dense breast tissue, compared to 48.3 percent and 51.7 percent, respectively, in the controls. After adjusting for known breast cancer risk factors, the researchers found almost a two-fold increased risk of developing CBC in breast cancer survivors with dense breasts. "Our findings have valuable implications for both newly diagnosed patients with dense breasts and for breast cancer survivors as we manage their long-term risk of a secondary diagnosis," said Barcenas. "Our future goal is to develop a risk model incorporating breast density to best assess a breast cancer survivor's risk of developing CBC." In the long-term, the researchers hope to use this tool to counsel patients on their personal risk and their options for treatment and surveillance, if their risk is sufficiently high. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a desktop diagnosis tool that detects the presence of harmful bacteria in a blood sample in a matter of hours instead of days. The breakthrough was made possible by a combination of proprietary chemistry, innovative electrical engineering and high-end imaging and analysis techniques powered by machine learning. The team details their work in the Feb. 8 issue of Scientific Reports. To identify low levels of harmful bacteria among a large number of human blood cells, researchers for the first time melted bacterial DNA in 20,000 extremely small simultaneous reactions. Each reaction contained only 20 picoliters--a scale that is hard to picture: one drop of rain contains hundreds of thousands of picoliters. Each type of DNA has a specific signature as it comes apart during melting. As the melting process is imaged and analyzed, researchers can use machine learning to determine which types of DNA appear in blood samples. During experiments, the system accurately identified, 99 percent of the time, DNA sequences from bacteria causing food-borne illnesses and pneumonia--in less than four hours. "Analyzing this many reactions at the same time at this small a scale had never been attempted before," said Stephanie Fraley, a professor of bioengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego and the paper's lead author. "Most molecular tests look at DNA on a much larger scale and look for just one type of bacteria at a time. We analyze all the bacteria in a sample. This is a much more holistic approach." Current methods used to detect and identify bacteria rely on cultures, which can take days. That is too long to provide physicians with an effective and timely diagnosis tool--as anyone who has been prescribed antibiotics while waiting for test results knows. "We are driven by clinical needs," Fraley said. She brought together a team of bioengineers, clinicians, electrical engineers and computer scientists to develop a faster diagnosis system. How it works It all starts with one milliliter of blood, which researchers inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes, a food-borne bacterium that causes about 260 deaths a year in the United States, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes everything from sinus infections, to pneumonia, to meningitis. Researchers isolated all DNA from the blood sample. The DNA was then placed on a digital chip that allowed each piece to independently multiply in its own small reaction. For the process to work at such small scales--each well containing DNA in the chip was only 20 picoliters in volume--researchers used a proprietary mix of chemicals subject to a provisional patent. The chip with the amplified DNA was placed in an innovative high-throughput microscope that Fraley and her team designed. The DNA was then heated in increments of 0.2 degrees Celsius, causing it to melt at temperatures between 50 to 90 degrees Celsius -about 120 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. As the DNA double-helix melts, the bonds holding together the DNA strands break. Depending on the DNA's sequence, the bonds have different strengths and that changes the way the strands unwind from each other. This creates a unique sequence-dependent fingerprint, which researchers can detect using a special dye. The dye causes the unwinding process to give off fluorescent light, creating what researchers call a melting curve--a unique signature for each type of bacteria. When engineers imaged the melting process with the high-throughput microscope, they were able to capture the bacteria's melting curves. They then analyzed the curves with a machine learning algorithm they developed. In previous work, the algorithm was trained on 37 different types of bacteria undergoing different reactions in different conditions. The researchers showed that it was able to identify bacteria strains with 99 percent accuracy. By contrast, the error rate for traditional methods can be up to 22.6 percent. Next steps Next steps include shrinking the size of the system so that it can be more easily deployed in clinics and physicians' offices. Researchers also want to add to the system the capability to detect fungal and viral pathogens, as well as genes for antibiotic resistance. They also want to further validate their results on patient samples. Fraley hopes the system will be available to physicians in the next five years. "This has the potential to reach people near or at the point of care," she said. "With further improvements, it could also be deployed in low-resources settings. It's a simple and innovative approach." The complex physiological process of aging represents many problems among rapidly aging populations. One well recognized consequence of aging is degradation of immune function, which is referred to as immunosenescence. Ruslan Guzov / Shutterstock.com Although elderly people are by no means immunodeficient, their response to new or previously encountered antigens is often inefficient. Immunosenescence is partially accountable for the increased susceptibility the elderly have to infection, as well as their poor response to vaccination. Both the adaptive and innate branches of the immune system are affected, but the molecular mechanisms involved are still not clear. Click here to register to learn more Pittcon 2022: Mar 6-10 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, LA USA At this years Pittcon, the leading conference and exposition for laboratory science, more than 2,000 presentations will be held, providing an unmissable opportunity to hear about the latest findings in laboratory science. The topic of aging populations will be discussed, with an emphasis on how mass spectrometry is used to study age-related changes in response to infection. Proteomic analysis of aging Proteomics is the large-scale study of thousands of proteins within one experiment. It involves the qualitative, quantitative and functional characterization of all proteins within a given cell, tissue and/or organism. The simultaneous study of many proteins enables a more systems biology approach to mapping protein content, crosstalk and activation to a particular time point, for a particular condition. For example, it is possible to screen for proteins that are differentially expressed between healthy and diseased tissue, which can help to improve diagnosis, monitoring of therapy and drug design. Native proteins may be profiled, as well as their isoforms, splice variants, and post-translationally modified species. Interactions between proteins may also be determined. Mass-spectrometry based proteomics The past two decades have seen remarkable advances in the field of proteomics. Mass spectrometry has emerged as the method of choice for characterizing protein components found in biological systems. The technique has led to important insights into the make-up, regulation and function of molecular complexes and pathways. At Pittcon 2017, major suppliers of mass spectrometry equipment will be showcasing their world-leading products. Among the exhibitors will be Bruker, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waters, Shimazdu and PerkinElmer, making Pittcon an invaluable opportunity to learn about the latest technical advances in the field of mass spectrometry. This years Pittcon conference is being held in Chicago, Illinois between the 5th and 9th March.Mass spectrometry-based proteomics has become a powerful tool that can be combined with molecular, cellular and pharmacological techniques to translate large sets of data and elucidate complex biological processes. Mass spectrometry in aging research In a 2012 proteomics study by Lisa Staunton and colleagues, tissue specimens derived from middle-aged (47 to 62 years) and aged (76-82 years) individuals were compared for potential changes in protein expression profiles. The study revealed age-dependent changes in the concentration of 19 protein spots. Mass spectrometry showed that these components were involved in muscle fiber contraction, muscle metabolism, ion handling and the cellular stress response, indicating a disrupted pattern of protein expression in senescent human muscle. A 2014 study by Paczek et al examined urine proteomes derived from 37 healthy individuals, aged 19 to 90 years, to explore which metabolic processes were weakened or enhanced as people age. Protein expression analysis by liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry showed the differential expression of 19 proteins between young (19 to 26 years), intermediate (45 to 54 years) and old (72 to 90) age groups. Importantly, protein changes in the oldest group were reflective of altered extracellular matrix turnover and deteriorating immune function, changes that were in keeping with reported alterations in cardiovascular tissue remodeling and immune conditions among the elderly. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model for regulation of aging and innate immunity C. elegans is a nematode that lives in the soil of temperate regions, where it feeds on bacteria. It is a major model in the study of a number of fields including developmental biology, apoptosis and aging. The worm has been shown to possess an inducible innate system and has become an important model for elucidating the mechanisms involved in innate immunity. Interestingly, it has also been shown that the regulation of aging and innate immunity in C. elegans seem to overlap. Characterization of this nematodes innate immune system suggests that certain immune system components are conserved in metazoans. The study of immunosenescence in C. elegans is likely to provide important insights into how immunity is affected as the nematode ages. This could help researchers to understand, at the cellular and molecular level, the reciprocal effects of aging and immunity on each other and how these may be relevant to humans. For all this and more, do not miss out on the Pittcon conference in Chicago this March!At Pittcon 2017, we will hear from mass spectrometry and proteomics expert Rena Robinson about C. elegans as a model for following age-related, proteome-wide changes that occur in response to opportunistic pathogenic infection. An overview of mass spectrometry applications to aging will be given, including a demonstration of how there is a significant influence on host response due to aging in C. elegans. Mass Spectrometry in Proteomics Play Mass Spectrometry in Proteomics from AZoNetwork on Vimeo. References TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Tokyo wants the Trump administration to better understand Japan's trade issues and recognise its contribution to the U.S. economy when leaders of the two nations meet this week, Japan's top government spokesman said on Wednesday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference that Japan wants to hold constructive talks for both nations' economies when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump hold a meeting this week. Suga also said the government would closely monitor the nation's current account balance, which would be affected by the domestic and overseas economies, forex, commodity prices and yield movements. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Sam Holmes) New Delhi: With a view to promote digital transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is working to reduce the Marginal Discount Charges (MDR) for debit card transactions above Rs 2,000, Parliament was told on Tuesday. "The RBI is deciding on this... it is work in progress. I am sure as volumes (of digital transactions) are increasing, the charges will come down," the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour. Jaitley said that under the Payments and Settlements Act, the RBI has recently fixed the MDR rate at 0.25 per cent for cash transactions upto Rs 1,000, while for transactions upto Rs 2,000 it has been fixed at 0.50 per cent. These charges have been introduced for the period from January 1, 2017, and will be applicable till March 31, 2017. As per the RBI's rate structure announced in 2012, the MDR for transactions valued above Rs 2,000 has been capped 1 per cent. In response to another question, Jaitley described how the crucial decision on demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes was taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board at a day's notice. He said while the formal decision on demonetisation was taken by the RBI on November 8, this had been preceded by a series of discussions started in February 2016. Last month, RBI Governor Urjit Patel told a Parliamentary Committee that the apex bank had been "advised" by the government on November 7 to hold a board meeting on the issue. The demonetisation decision was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 following a meeting of the RBI board and also of the Union Cabinet. To a separate question on whether it was the RBI that took the decision on its own or whether the government advised it to do so, Jaitley replied: "The RBI board met and independently applied its mind and made a recommendation to the government." "A formal proposal to the RBI to consider this matter in the Board is sent by the Finance Ministry to the RBI Board and RBI independently considers it, applies its mind and accordingly makes its recommendation to the government." Chhatarpur: Multinational mining giant Rio Tinto has decided to hand over the Bunder diamond project in Chhatarpur district to the Government of Madhya Pradesh. A communique from the company said, In August 2016, Rio Tinto announced it would not proceed with the development of Bunder due to commercial considerations and would be seeking to close all project infrastructure. Under a Government of Madhya Pradesh order signed in January 2017, the Government will accept ownership and take on responsibility for the Bunder assets. The inventory of assets and associated infrastructure handed over to the government comprises all land, plant, equipment and vehicles at the Bunder project site. The inventory will also include diamond samples recovered during exploration, the communique added further. Rio Tinto Copper and Diamond's chief executive Arnaud Soirat said, Our exit from Bunder is the latest example of Rio Tinto streamlining its asset portfolio. It simplifies our business, allowing us to focus on our world-class assets. The mining major had in 2016 wished to disassociate itself from the project as part of its efforts to conserve cash and cutting costs. After recovering diamond reserves in Bunder in the year 2004, the Australian company had inked an MoU with Madhya Pradesh government for the development of the project, which according to the company estimates required investment of Rs 2,200 crore. Once completed, the project was expected to put Madhya Pradesh on top of the diamond production in the region. The project also remained an eyesore for environment lovers. The project endangered the corridor between Panna tiger reserve and Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary. It also had possible adverse impact on the Buxwaha buffer zone of the tiger reserve, said environment enthusiast Ajay Dubey who said that the rich forest area should remain untouched. Kit Kat Japan has launched sushi-inspired bars that come in tuna, egg, and sea urchin varieties. What started out as an April Fool's joke has become reality, with a trio of new limited-edition Kit Kat sushi confectioneries launched to promote Tokyo's newest Kit Kat boutique in the Ginza neighborhood. Before you turn your noses up at the thought of chocolate sushi, however, note that while the yellow, pink and orange bars are meant to denote three popular sushi bites -- Maguro (tuna), Tamago (egg), and Uni (sea urchin) -- the taste is actually raspberry, pumpkin and Hokkaido cantaloupe, reports Kotaku. A base of puffed rice bound with white chocolate mimics mounds of sushi rice, while the seaweed is, well, just seaweed. The idea to create sushi-inspired Kit Kat bars -- the logical choice for Japanese customers -- was born when an April Fool's joke last year became a runaway hit. Kit Kat Japan is known for its range of novelty flavors, having released a whopping 300 flavors including wasabi, edamame, cherry blossom and sake, throughout the years. CNN notes that the chocolate sushi will be available for a limited run between Feb. 2 - 14 for visitors who spend $26 at the new Ginza Kit Kat Chocolatory shop. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Wednesday summoned the AAP government's social welfare department secretary to appear before it on February 11 in connection with the lapses at the Asha Kiran Home for the mentally challenged.The Commission's summons came after the Social Welfare Department failed to submit its reply to DCW within the given time.The DCW on Sunday issued notice to the Social Welfare Department Secretary over the lapses in the Asha Kiran Home for mentally challenged people and had sought an explanation by Wednesday evening.A DCW official said the Social Welfare Department failed to give its reply within the given time so the Commission has summoned its secretary on February 11 for an explanation."The Commission takes strong note of the fact that despite the passage of stipulated time, information sought has not been provided. In the above circumstances, the Commission hereby issues summons to you to explain the unreasonable cause of delay in furnishing the information," the DCW notice said.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday had expressed shock at the deplorable condition prevailing at the Asha Kiran Home and ordered the Chief Secretary to file a report on lapses leading to the death of 11 inmates.DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal had on Saturday night paid a surprise visit to the Asha Kiran Home and found the condition there deplorable.Maliwal noted over-crowding with up to four patients on a single bed, women inmates made to remove clothes in the open while queueing up for bath and walking naked in the corridors, and CCTV cameras being monitored by male staff. We tried to meet him, but was told the Governor is in Ooty. I hope the Governor protects the Constitution and upholds the dignity of law, she said. Amma Jayalalithaa knows who am I. So I dont need to answer anyone else, she said, in an obvious reference to the rebellion being mounted by O Panneerselvam, the caretaker chief minister who has now broken into his own. I am not even a bit worried about any probe. It is sad that Ammas death is being politicised. We called doctors from world over. All these news about her health is planted. There was no delay in taking Amma to hospital, she said. AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala has said she is ready to face any probe over the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, and hoped the state Governor would uphold the Constitution and invite her to be the next CM of Tamil Nadu.Sitting down for her first interview after she was anointed by the party as the next Tamil Nadu chief minister last Sunday, Sasikala told News18 Senior Editor S Gunasekaran that she was still looking for an explanation why Governor Vidyasagar Rao has refused to give her an audience despite multiple requests.Sasikala said she was pained at what she called the politicisation of Ammas death.Sasikala was unsparing in her attack on Panneerselvam and called him a traitor. His act is a betrayal to Amma. His actions in the assembly was suspicious, she said, adding that the Opposition DMK is now looking at Panneerselvam as one of their own.Earlier, Panneerselvam had ordered a probe into what he said were doubts regarding the death of Jayalalithaa, which would be headed by a retired High Court judge. He had also accused Sasikala of not allowing him to meet the late CM when she was hospitalised for over 70 days.I am ready to face any inquiry on Jayalalithaas death. Jayalalithaa knows who I am and how I behaved with her. Even the doctors who treated her know how I had treated her. I dont have any problem with an enquiry commission, Sasikala told Network18.Sasikala also rubbished Panneerselvams claim that he was threatened, and forced to resign as CM.There no truth in his claim that he was threatened by us. He proposed me to take over as General Secretary of the party. Somebody is behind this. I think all this is politically motivated, she saidSasikala was unanimously elected as the partys CM nominee last Sunday but AIADMK is yet to get an invitation from Governor Vidyasagar Rao for swearing in. The delay in governors response has had tongues wagging on if the Centre is weighing in favour of Panneerselvam.She refused to be drawn into that debate but expressed his displeasure at the delay. We have faxed a letter to the Governor. We have sent a letter again to him to remind him about our request. They gave an acknowledgment, but thats it, Sasikala said.Sasikala, however, hit out at the role being played by state opposition DMK in instigating Panneerselvam.DMK must behind Pannerselvam's recent activities, she said in the interview, although DMK working president MK Stalin has vehemently denied his party had anything to do with it.DMK is not only our political Opposition, they are enemy party too. We want to serve the people like how Jayalalitha did. DMK did nothing for the people, she said.Sasikalas elevation that looked like a given on Sunday after AIADMK legislative party unanimously requested her to take charge as the CM looked uncertain two days later as Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who is the Governor of Maharashtra and holds the additional charge of Tamil Nadu, hasnt clarified when he will be returning to Chennai from Mumbai.With the Supreme Court expected to deliver its verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Sasikala and others soon, political uncertainty is growing as opposition parties attacked the move to elevate her as chief minister and the AIADMK coming out in strong defence of her. For women who think waking up on a Sunday morning in March to run even 3km is definitely a no no, maybe supermodel and iron man Miland Somans presence will give you some incentive to get out of your home. With the women-centric running event Pinakthon finally coming to Kolkata after its success in other cities like Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, the city of joy is gearing up to get women from all walks of life onto the streets of Kolkata. It doesnt matter whether you have never been into fitness. It doesnt matter if you are 5 years old or 50 years old. It doesnt matter whether you are working professional, housewife or even a grandmother. Here is your chance to come out and see what it takes to sweat it out and enjoy the run. You dont need fancy running gear nor do you need to fall into the criteria of being young to run the Pinakthon. You can run in track pants, a saree or even a burkha. The idea is to get women out of their homes and away from their busy schedules of handling the household and realise the benefits of taking care of their health. It is this awareness that Miland Soman hopes to spread in Kolkata. "The reason we came to Kolkata last is because there were no runners before. I was told people in Kolkata like to eat. Now there are some running groups which is good. Someone asked me why the Pinkathon was not in Kolkata. I thought that was a good sign." Pinkathon supports various causes like breast cancer awareness and hence every Pinkathon participant is entitled to a free medical check-up or a mammogram if a participant is above 45 years of age. Says Dr.Rupali Basu, CEO Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, There is a perception that cancer is the end of everything but this is not true today. If you get that diagnosed early, it is curable and this has not gone into everyones mind. Also partnering with initiatives like Pinkathon will help more women and their families get more active and lead a healthy lifestyle. Soma Hela who is part of the West Bengal Police is a breast cancer survivor and will be sending out a message while running the Pinkathon on the 26th of March. Pinkathon also supports fitness for babywearing mothers and the visually impaired and persons with similar disabilities. The Pinkathon in Kolkata is a 3km, 5km and 21km event that looks to garner a lot of registrations and people supporting the cause of a healthy way of life for women. New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to inform it about number of industries operating on the banks of Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao and total sewage generated from these units. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar asked the advocate general of UP to apprise it of the exact figure of industries as different government agencies were giving varying numbers having huge difference. The top law officer of the state assured the bench that he would sort out the issue and would bring before it the figure of industries as well as total sewage generated from these units. The absence of the director of industries of UP, who was asked to appear on Wednesday and give details, in the hearing irked the bench which remarked, "We are highly displeased the way your officers are behaving. They are highly irresponsible. When we had specifically asked him to be present in the court today, why has he not come?" It also sought to know as to which officer could give it the figure of working industries in UP and their nature. During the hearing, the executive director of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) told the bench that there were 400 industrial units in Kanpur's Jajmau, an industrial suburb, and said the figure has been verified by a joint committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). He said the industrial units have to follow zero liquid discharge and end-pipe solution and in the last six years, this technology has been evolved. The bench has been repeatedly wanting to find out the exact number of industries operating in segment B which covers the areas from Haridwar to Unnao as there is "huge difference" in the data provided by separate government agencies. Congress MPs staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha after Prime Minister Narendra Modis bathroom remark against predecessor Manmohan Singh. For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singh had a lot of influence on the countrys economic policies There was not even one taint on him. Bathroom mein raincoat pehen kar nahaane ki kala sirf Dr. Sahab (Manmohan) hi jaante hain (only Manmohan Singh knows how to bathe in a raincoat), PM Modi said. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day in the evening. Heres a recap: Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. Kolkata: Kolkata Police on Wednesday launched an investigation into the mysterious death of 28-year-old Bangla film actress Bitasta Saha. The actress was found hanging in her ground floor apartment off the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the Garfa area of south Kolkata on Tuesday. Bitasta wrists were slashed which led investigators to suspect foul play since the actress could not have possibly slashed her wrists and hung herself at the same time. The case was registered following a complaint by the victims mother. The actress, who was reportedly in a relationship with an income tax officer, had recently moved out of her mothers home and was living alone in a rented ground floor apartment of a high-end housing complex. According to reports, she had stopped communicating with her mother since last Saturday and it was when her mother came to visit her that she found her door locked from inside and raised an alarm. Police broke into the house to find the actress's body hanging from the ceiling. Neighbours said newspapers were piling up outside her flat for a few days, indicating she had not opened or stepped out of her house during this period. Preliminary findings suggested that the actress died at least 24 hours before her body was recovered. Police are looking for Bitastas partner who is currently at large. Police said that recent posts by the actress on her social networking page suggested that she could have been depression on account of troubles in her relationship. Bitasta was a model who went on to do small roles in television serials and at least two recent films. Bhopal: Psycho killer Udayan Das, who is accused of killing his live-in partner and parents, has allegedly used half a dozen Facebook profiles under the names of his family members. Starting from his grandfather, Das allegedly created bogus Facebook accounts of his father, mother, brother-in-law, sister and nephew. Investigators suspect that Udayan himself operated these accounts and posted comments in each others FB walls. Presently in the custody of West Bengal police, Udyan, who according to his schoolmates was habitual of talking big since childhood, also lied about his location, education and profession. Under the name of Udyan Von Richthofen Mehra, Udayan posed to online users as a native of San Diego, California and claimed that he studied at New York Police Department. His work profile included a former ASO at United Nations and Foreign Service Officer at USN Department of State. Steve Von Richthofen Mehra, whom Udyan addressed to as Grandpa online, posted frequently on his timeline on FB. Udayan kept others in dark while his wife with Facebook profile name Akanksha Udayan Mehra posted happy messages on his FB wall and last messaged him on Christmas in 2016. But Udayan has confessesed to police about murdering Akanksha in July last year. Virendra Das, whom Udayan addressed as father during online chats, also posted messages in his chats frequently. Interestingly, Udayan has told police about eliminating his parents in 2010. Udayan had also made fake profiles of his sister Diya Mehra Shane, brother-in-law Mich Abignale Shane and nephew Aryan Shane. He even showed his location along with wife Akanksha in Paris in 2013 and posted picture taking delivery of Lamborghini. A super rich as he used to exhibit himself on FB, Udayan is accused of selling ancestral jewellery on throwaway prices in Bhopal. Investigators also claim that it was Udayan who used to chat with Akankshas family through her profile for a while after killing her in July. His claims of foreign visits are under a cloud as Bhopal police which seized his passport from his Saket Nagar bungalow, claimed that the passport shows no entry of any foreign visit. Meanwhile, the police are busy digging into his fake FB profiles. AECOM designed some known HSR projects internationally. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has chosen to appoint AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd and its team of specialist consultants to conduct the Advanced Engineering Study (AES) for the complete design of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) infrastructure within Singapore. With this, AECOM will be providing architectural, civil, electrical, mechanical and other design services required for the Jurong East terminus, tunnels, and the bridge across the Straits of Johor. The land transport said AECOM and its team of consultants were selected through a highly competitive tender process. "They bring extensive experience in HSR projects internationally, including in the planning and design of the Beijing South HSR Station in China, the High Speed 2 railway in the United Kingdom, and the West Kowloon Terminus for the Express Rail Link in Hong Kong," LTA noted. It furthered, "AECOM Singapore has a strong track record in Singapore as well, having worked with LTA to design the Circle Line, Downtown Line, Thomson-East Coast Line, and the Tuas West Extension. AECOM Singapore is also currently carrying out an engineering consultancy study for the Rapid Transit System Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru." More From Singapore Business Review New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed the pleas of the Tamil Nadu government and one convict seeking review of its judgement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case in which was ruled that the Centre has "primacy" over states' right to grant remission. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar dismissed the pleas on the ground of delay in filing the petition and also on merit. "The instant petitions have been filed by the petitioners for review of the judgement dated December 2, 2015 rendered by this court in the writ petitions and criminal appeal. The Review Petition Nos.560-564 of 2016 is barred by 208 days, whereas Review Petition (Crl.) No.27 of 2017 is barred by 358 days. There is no satisfactory explanation for condonation of such huge delay. "Thus, though the present petitions are liable to be dismissed on the ground of delay itself, yet we have carefully gone the petitions for review, the judgement impugned and the papers connected therewith. We are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record of the case, warranting reconsideration of the judgement impugned. The instant petitions are without any merit," the bench also comprising Justices P C Ghose, S A Bobde, A M Sapre and U U Lalit said. The verdict, which was passed by the bench on Tuesday, was made available on the apex court website on Wednesday. "The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed on the ground of delay as well on merits," the bench said. The apex court had also rejected the prayer of the Tamil Nadu government and convict A G Perarivalan alias Arivu for open court hearing of the pleas. The Tamil Nadu government had on July 28 last year moved the apex court seeking review of its judgement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The petition had sought review of the apex court's verdict given in December 2015, virtually overturning the state government's clemency decision. A five-judge bench had in 2015 said that the state governments must secure "concurrence" of the Union government before freeing convicts in certain cases. The state government's review petition had said that as per the Criminal Procedure Code, the central government had no primacy in matters relating to remission or commutation of sentence and that it was "erroneous" on the part of the apex court bench to hold that the Centre had a "special status" under the constitutional scheme. "In the case of remitting the sentence of the convicts, it is the state government which is the executive authority more competent to decide the outcome of such release/remission of convicted persons because of its proximity to the facts and circumstances relating to the case pertaining to conviction of the convicts," it said. The court, which had settled questions arising out of the Tamil Nadu government's decision to free Gandhi's assassins, had dealt elaborately with the situations where the Centre will prevail over states' decision to grant remission which included cases where their powers are co-extensive, where trial has been held under central laws or conducted by agencies like CBI, or when they pertain to death penalty. The Constitution Bench had said states cannot exercise "suo motu" the power to grant remission without any specific plea from the convicts. The apex court had on February 20, 2014 stayed the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release three convicts -- Murugan, Santhan and Arivu, whose death sentence had been commuted to life term by it two days before. The Supreme Court had later also stayed the release of four other convicts -- Nalini, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, saying there were procedural lapses on part of the state government. Santhan, Murugan and Arivu are at present lodged in the Central Prison, Vellore. The other four are also undergoing life sentence for their role in Gandhi's assassination on May 21, 1991 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The Centre had asserted that the killers of former Prime Minister did nor deserve any mercy as the assassination was the result of a conspiracy involving foreign nationals. The Tamil Nadu government, on the other hand, had said that the states have power to grant remission under the law and trashed accusations that its decision to release the seven convicts was "political and arbitrary". Ujjain: In yet another shocking example of deeply rooted caste bias, a groom belonging to Dalit community was prevented from riding a horse by upper caste men during a pre-wedding procession in Ujjains Badwah town of Madhya Pradesh. However, the administration came to the rescue of the groom and arrested half a dozen men accused of preventing the procession. The groom would tie the nuptial knot amid heightened security later on Wednesday. A Dalit man Ramlal, a native of village Jafla, is scheduled to marry off his son Neeraj and daughter Sapna on Feb 8. During a pre-wedding ritual on Tuesday, Neeraj atop a horse had left home along with his friend and relatives who were dancing on the tunes of music band. Some upper caste hooligans, including Jalam Singh and Ankit, barged into the ceremony and stopped the procession saying that a Dalit groom was not entitled to such gusto and honour and asked Neeraj to come down from the horse. A dalit groom has never rode a horse and got music band in the bana ceremony, they said. The groom family then approached local police station and complained about the matter. In no time, SDM Avi Prasad accompanied them to the village along with police personnel and ensured that the ceremony passed off peacefully. "Police later booked the locals for preventing the procession and arrested the accused under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989," TI Vivek Kanodia said. However, afraid of a backlash from the upper caste community in the village, the grooms uncle Ramchandar has sought police protection as Neeraj and his sister Sapna would be married on Wednesday. The SDM Avi Prasad has deployed heavy police force in the village for three days so as to keep things in check. In the past as well, upper caste people have interrupted Dalit marriages. In 2015 in Ratlam, a groom had to wear a helmet for his marriage procession so as to protect himself from any possible stone pelting from the upper sections of the village. Katrina Kaif may have joined Facebook a little late than her contemporaries but that hasn't stopped her fans and followers from appreciating her posts, liking and sharing them in massive numbers.Recently, the actress shared a breathtaking image of herself shot underwater. And she looked as flawless, stunning and phenomenal as she usually does. Apparently, several of Kaif's posts give an impression that the 33-year-old actress wakes up looking beautiful and fresh.While most choose to share images dressed in their best attires, Kaif opted to post a uniquely shot picture and even captioned it differently. The image shows her buried deep down inside the sea and the caption reads, "VIT." Instantly, social media users were all praise for the image.This isn't the only underwater image that Kaif had shared. A couple of months ago, the actress, who was shooting for a magazine cover in Maldives, had posted another underwater image from the same shoot.The actress will be next seen in Anurag Basu directed Jagga Jasoos opposite Ranbir Kapoor. The film is slated for release later this year. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday responded to his critics in the Lok Sabha, including the Congress and AAP MP Bhagwant Maan. Taking on the critics, Modi said: I generally tell people 'ghee piyo'...but if Bhagwant Mann were to tell people, he will ask them to drink something else. Mann has been a strident critic of Modi, openly mocking him in public rallies. Reacting to Modi's jibe, Mann, condemning his statement, said: Today's speech in Parliament showed his fear in elections. He made some baseless allegations against me." He also hit back at Mallikarjun Kharge's comments against the BJP, saying that they did not belong to a dog parampara. Kharge had said on Monday, "Gandhi ji sacrificed his life for the country; Indira ji too sacrificed her life. Who came from your house? Not a single dog came from your family." Sharpening his attack on the Congress, Modi said the party glorified the role of "one family" in the freedom struggle and said they had neglected the contribution of others. "There are many people like me who couldn't die for the nation during the freedom struggle but we are living for India and serving India," Modi said. "Somewhere on the way, 'Jan Shakti' (people power) was forgotten and we don't accept this." "I never heard them speak about the role of Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh and many other freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the country," he added. He went father, questioning accusations of authoritarianism by reminding that the Congress was responsible for the emergency. We remember how democracy was under threat from 1975 to 1977, when opposition leaders were jailed, newspaper freedom curtailed, he said. New Delhi: Reaching out to Jats, a politically crucial community in western Uttar Pradesh, BJP president Amit Shah has presented his party as the best bet for them, saying voting for the Ajit Singh-led RLD or any other party would not help their cause. Shah's reachout to the leaders of the community at a meeting at Union minister and Jat leader Birender Singh's residence here last night assumes significance ahead of the first two phases of polling in the state on February 11 and 15 where the Jats are tipped to play a key role. A section of the community, which had voted for the BJP in large numbers in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has been unhappy with the saffron party over a host of issues ever since. There is speculation that in the upcoming Assembly polls, a section of the Jats is in favour of backing the RLD, which has traditionally been their first choice as it believes that the BJP has done little to safeguard the interests of the community while promising to do a lot more. Shah told the Jat leaders that it was the BJP which had fought for their reservation in education and government jobs, which is currently in a limbo due to judicial intervention. The BJP chief also assured them that the party will take care of their concerns. He also noted that the Modi government had made several Jat leaders, including Singh and Sanjeev Balyan, central ministers. BJP sources said Shah also asked the Jat leaders to think about whether voting for the RLD, the presence of which is only limited to parts of western Uttar Pradesh, will serve their interests. With the agrarian community unlikely to back either the SP-Congress alliance or the BSP for a host of reasons, the BJP is hopeful that it can still walk away with a major chunk of Jat votes, the sources said. The party was working overtime to win over the community and restrict the RLD's influence, they added. Uttar Pradesh BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said his party believed in 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' and it was imperative that it reached out to all the communities for their support in this regard. In the aftermath of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, which had pitted Jats against Muslims, the former had strongly favoured the BJP in the 2014 general election and even Ajit Singh, considered to be the most prominent Jat leader in the region, lost his pocket borough of Baghpat. Lucknow: 'Brahamin Shankh Bajayega, Hathi aage Jayega' (Brahmin will play the conch in the victory march of the elephant). This slogan was a hallmark of BSP's successful campaign for 2007 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a rare political combine of Dalits and Brahmins. Almost a decade later, after successive withering of this social alliance in 2012 assembly polls and then in 2014 Lok sabha polls by the 'Modi wave', BSP chief Mayawati is now revisiting it with a changed strategy. So while working out a successful Dalit-Muslim formula might be a top priority, wooing Brahmins back is also high on the agenda. But this time it is with a different strategy which will focus on 85 reserved seats of UP assembly. Slogans like 'Hathi nahin Ganesh hai', 'Brahma Vishnu Mahesh hai' or 'Hathi Sankh Bajayega' may not be the battle cry but work to mobilise Brahmins on the reserve seats of the state has already begun with party starting series of 'bhaichara samellans' in all these constituencies. The party's Brahmin face, Satish Chandra Mishra, will lead the mission. A lawyer by profession and member of Rajya Sabha, Mishra is a busy man these days visiting one reserve constituency after the other addressing the bhaichara samellans. The concern is to prevent shifting of Brahmin votes to other parties, specially the BJP on Reserved seats. In 2014 general elections amidst the Modi wave, upper caste specially Brahmins have shifted almost entirely towards the BJP. The BSP is now trying to win back the Brahmin support back on at least the reserved seats where they have no choice of any candidate from their community. While Mishra had been busy across reserved constituencies specially in Eastern UP, Awadh and Bundelkhand, Ramveer Upadhyay is the key Brahmin face for the party in west UP. Mishra alone has addressed around 100 rallies across the reserved constituencies. Mishra told CNN News18, "Before 2007 it was hardly a dozen Brahmin MLA in UP assembly of 403 seats. Brahmins should recall that it was BSP who brought back the lost prestige to Brahmins. From 12, the number of Brahmin MLAs' went up to 40 in 2007 assembly elections.'. He is confident that 16 percent Brahmin and 21 percent Dalit vote together alone can ensure a victory. But the question is why efforts to work out this arithmetic only on reserved seats ..is The party not sure of this arithmetic on general seats? The BSP general secretary said, "BSP believes in taking all communities together, Brahmins were and will be with BSP. We are focusing on reserve seats because they have a different dynamics." The BJP is quick to dismiss BSP's claims. BJP's national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Bhupendra Yadav said, "Mishra himself had been rejected by his very own community, what weight then his campaign has?' "BJP is focusing on the good work and development-oriented agenda of Modi Govt. It is this agenda which is acting as a catalyst for all communities including Brahmins," he added. Congress MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singh to dismisses BSP's move. "People are fed up of both Mayawati and Modi. People will vote in favour of the secular progressive alliance of the Congress and the Samajwadi party," he said. Political observers, however, feel that a shift of upper caste towards the BJP and growing concerns about a possible polarisation against BSP's massive Muslim outreach has forced Mayawati to relook at her Brahmin strategy. Prashant Trivedi, the Assistant professor with Lucknow-based Giri Institute of Social studies said, "Mayawati knows if she can swing the 85 reserved seats in her favour, the battle is half won. The remaining job will then be well within her reach through the ambitious Dalit-Muslim Formula which together constitutes around 37 percent of vote share." Meerut: The main speakers are yet to arrive but the energy at the rally venue is palpable. Leaders from the stage keep assuring them, Aap ke neta kuch der mein pahunchne waale hain! (Your leaders are set to arrive in a short while). At this point, a helicopter carrying Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi flies overhead, bringing the two leaders to their rally in Meerut their fourth joint appearance since the alliance was announced between the Samajwadi Party and Congress. The crowd breaks into loud cheers. Posters and banners flaunt the slogan UP ke ladke (UPs boys), coined by poll strategist Prashant Kishor. Mulayam Singh Yadav, though conspicuous by his absence on the campaign trail, smiles from images on party flags. However, instead of pictures of an older, beleaguered Mulayam, the pictures are of a younger Netaji. The message is clear this is a party of the young and for the young. While the senior Yadav draws older voters to his rallies, the supporters at the Akhilesh-Rahul rallies are mostly in their 20s. They climb bamboo scaffoldings eagerly for a glimpse of the two. Satyaprakash, a 25-year-old rickshaw-puller in Meeruts Nauchandi, is asked why he likes the duo. Aap hi bataiye, bhaiyya. Do naujawan neta ek saath honge toh achche nahi lagenge kya? (You tell me, brother. When two youth leaders come together, will I not like them? he says. His vote, he says, will go to someone who can prove they can work for the people. Modi talks big but he hasnt really done much. When it comes to Akhilesh, he has shown that his work speaks for itself. Given that most of his supporters at the rally are between the ages of 18 and 35, Akhilesh knows how to play to the gallery. Our boys in UP can ride a cycle without using their hands. Imagine what the speed of the cycle will be when the hand of the Congress comes with us. UPs boys can ride a cycle even in the storm, he thunders. He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BSP chief Maywati in the same breath. Modiji came to Meerut just a few days ago and said they will fight SCAM in UP. He said SCAM Samajwadi, Congress, Akhilesh and Mayawati. Batao, humari Buaji ka naam kyun jod diya ismein? (Tell me, why did he have to join my aunts name to this list?) Buajii has celebrated Raksha Bandhan with BJP and formed government with them. UP will never forget that, he quips. The CM then went on to highlight his governments achievements and attack the Central government over demonetisation. Because of Modijis policies, the entire nation was standing in lines. None of the black money holders were in line. People died in queues and we gave Rs 2 lakh compensation to the victims. In Kanpur, a child was born in queue. The bank manager named child Kazanchi (cashier). We gave him Rs 2 lakh as well. The Center has done nothing for victims. In contrast to Yadav, who included several local issues such as Meerut Metro project and the Centers refusal to include Meerut in the 100 Smart Cities list in his speech, Rahul Gandhi stuck mostly to script. Gandhis message did not evolve much since the last time he was in Meerut to conclude his 3,500 km-long Deoria se Dilli Yatra in October last year. When we were in power, we waived farmers loans worth Rs 70,000 crore. What has Modiji done to help farmers? He also said that he would generate 2 crore jobs. I want to ask all of you present here, did Modiji give any jobs to any of you? He did, however, talk of the alliance and how they would soon sweep the upcoming assembly polls: When Akhilesh and I announced the alliance, suddenly we noticed that a wave had started to emerge in our favour. Together, we want to take UP to new heights. We want to help small businesses and farmers. We will ensure that UP becomes the food basket of the world. Among the biggest problems facing young voters in UP is the staggering unemployment rate, which is one of the highest in the country. In UP, the overall unemployment rate is 74 per thousand of population. According to a Ministry of Labour & Employment report, over 30% households have an income of less than Rs 5,000 per month. Imran Murtaza, a 21-year-old motorcycle mechanic in Meerut, is a first-time voter and is convinced that the purge of the old guard in the Samajwadi Party would mean Akhilesh 2.0 would be able to focus on their issues. I am not even a graduate. I barely finished school. Imagine how difficult it would be for me to find a job. It is true that they (SP) have not created many jobs. But then, neither have the other parties. However, Akhilesh Bhaiyya has removed all criminal elements from his party. Now he can focus on our issues. Besides, I connect with both Akhilesh and Rahul. Dono apne bhaiyya se lagte hain (It feels like they are my own brothers). The older voters, however, are supporting the alliance rather grudgingly. Salman Qureshi, a 60-year-old from Sardhana, came all the way to the city because his son wanted to see Akhilesh and Rahul. Qureshi says he misses Yadav senior. We are followers of Mulayam. I have been loyal to him since his days in the Janata Party. I miss Mulayam but I think his son is his natural successor. In my day, we used to say Jiska jalwa kayam hai, uska naam Mulayam hai (The man whose charisma is alive, his name is Mulayam). Now, the slogan is Jiska jalwa kayam hai, uska baap Mulayam hai. (The man whose charisma is alive, his name is Mulayam). Why is the Governor not in Chennai at such a crucial political juncture ? What is Centre's real agenda? Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) February 8, 2017 Political turmoil in TN and Governor playing truant. Is he fulfilling his duties ? No. He is doing politics under direction of BJP. digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 8, 2017 Its not just the AIADMK which is split down the middle over the VK Sasikala vs O Panneerselvam battle. The national leadership of the Congress, at best a marginal force in Tamil Nadu, too, is divided over whom to support in this game of thrones being played out in Chennai.Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram told News18 that Governor Vidyasagar Rao should not swear in Sasikala as chief minister as she faces serious financial allegations and has no political experience. While he didnt say it in so many words, by taking a side against Sasikala, he seemed to be batting for the caretaker CM Panneerselvam who has now demanded his resignation last Sunday as CM be withdrawn.And thats where the differences within the Congress begin to show up.Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel tweeted earlier on Wednesday wondering why the Governor was not in Chennai during such a crucial hour. Why is the Governor not in Chennai at such a crucial political juncture? What is the Centre's real agenda? he asked.Senior leader Digvijaya Singh parroted his line. Political turmoil in TN and Governor playing truant. Is he fulfilling his duties? No. He is doing politics under direction of BJP, he tweeted.So what gives? Sources within the party say it is yet to formulate an official policy and hence the leaders pulling in different directions according to their personal preferences.Tamil Nadu Congress Chief Su Thirunavukkarasar is believed to be close to Sasikalas husband Natarajan. In fact, Congress sources reveal that Rahul Gandhis surprise visit to see Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospital was organised by Sasikalas husband on the insistence of the Tamil Nadu Congress Chief. It was an attempt to also build pressure on the BJP indicating that their options were open.Despite the denials and clarifications that the Centre is showing no interest in the events being played out in Chennai, political parties, including the official faction of the AIADMK led by Sasikala, believe the events, including Pannerselvams surprise rebellion, was orchestrated from New Delhi.On February 6, Governor Vidyasagar Rao was in Delhi to attend Union HRD Minister Prakash Javedekar's sons wedding reception. Next morning he had a discreet meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and though no advice was given nor sought formally, the Chennai events were clearly uppermost in their mind.Top government sources say it was suggested to the Governor that he need not rush to Chennai and instead wait for things to settle down. He was also asked to seek more legal opinion to weigh the pros and cons.Political commentators believe top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, share a rapport with Panneerselvam. During the Jallikattu agitation, the PM did not hesitate to give him an appointment and sources say he insisted that he be left alone with Panneerselvam to discuss issues of the state. The only one who was present in the room was the state chief secretary.BJP believes Panneerselvam enjoys credibility and it would be easier to have a working relation with him in comparison to Sasikala.But for the state Congress, Sasikala is a better option. State party mavens believe her political inclination is not favourable to BJPs positions on various issues, and besides, there is the closeness between Natarajan and Thirunavukkarasar.Another reason is also the now-on now-off interstate dispute on sharing Cauvery waters between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the only big state ruled by Congress party now. With Karnataka elections not too far away and Congress keen to retain the state, the local Congress unit feels Sasikala could be less rigid than Panneerselvam.But back in Delhi, sources say Chidambaram was consulted for some tips on the situation and he is believed to have spelt out the ground situation.When Governor Vidyasagar Rao finally lands in Chennai on Thursday, it wont be just Sasikala and Panneerselvam, but both the BJP and Congress that will be keenly watching who gets that prime seat in St George Fort. Chennai: NOT that she is a maid. Not that she has no experience in governance. Not that she has never faced an election. The chief ministership of Chinnamma VK Sasikala is also clouded by further objections over a possible conflict of interest between companies of which she or her family members are share-holders, and their dealings with state government-run entities. Remember, even Donald Trump had to distance himself from the Trump empire just after becoming President of the United States. A similar calling may be best advised for Chinnamma before fresh questions of a conflict of interest creates more controversy. Even as suspense continues over when Governor Vidyasagar Rao would administer her the oath of office, activists and politicians from Opposition parties have now red-flagged ethical concerns over Sasikalas vast business interests. Activists like Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the Arapor Iyakkam, says that Sasikala has been a majority share-holder in the two companies that own Midas Distilleries, which supplies liquor worth over Rs 1,000 crore to state-run liquor retailing entity Tasmac. As of 2016, Sasikala was majority share-holder in the two companies Jazz Cinemas and Signet Exports, which own Midas Distilleries. If a chief minister gives orders of government businesses to companies owned by them or their relatives, thats a very direct in-your-face conflict of interest, Venkatesan says. He says his NGO has been collating data from balance sheets of these companies and records with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to establish the link. Just last month, they made public their 'expose' on these records but say they are yet to file a case in any court. Licensed in 2003, Midas had a turnover of Rs 360 crores between 2009 and 2011. In 2014-15, Venkatesan says, its turnover was upwards of Rs 1,400 crore. They are biding their time before filing a case as they await the Supreme Court order on the disproportionate assets case. Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram, who is also son of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, points out that these questions have to be addressed. There are some serious cases against them. There are serious questions about her immediate family. There is also serious issue of conflict of interest... There have been various allegations about her proximate family and also that they do significant business with the government of Tamil Nadu, because they have distilleries owned by them or close associates which do huge business with Tasmac. So it is a direct conflict of interest, Karti told News18 on Tuesday. The Opposition DMK says it will raise this issue at every available forum. Party spokesperson Manu Sundaram says it will make it its mission hold her accountable. Probity and transparency are unknown to sasikala. She was reprimanded by the Supreme Court in the Tansi case for buying government land for Sasi Enterprises. We dont expect conflict of interest concerns to affect someone like her who disregards law with impunity. But we will raise the issue certainly, he told News18. Analysts feel she may have already given up her stake by now to a family member but there is no clarity on that. "Constitutional functionaries in India have, by and large, dissociated themselves from profitable positions they held before they assumed the positions of power. Tamil Nadu has seen both Jayalalithaa and Sasikala actively pursue profitable ventures as seen from the Tansi case, where the government sold land to a firm in which Jayalalithaa, who was chief minister at that time, was a partner. More recently, the taking over of Jazz Cinemas by a close relative of Sasikala, apart from the numerous ventures that this person, who was renting out video cassettes has entered into, follows an alarming pattern, which needs to be investigated thoroughly. The ventures that her relatives have floated or have taken over, are far too many. Many in the state believe that this will only continue if she becomes the CM, says veteran journalist RK Radhakrishnan. Chinnamas political future will be decided next week in Delhi when the SC delivers judgment on that disproportionate assets case. And if she is acquitted, she would have crossed only one hurdle. The snow clad peaks in the backdrop have stood witness to many political rallies that Pauri Ramlila Maidan has hosted over the years. Tuesday afternoon, again the stage was set, as crowds eagerly awaited for the arrival of the BJP President Amit Shah. Taking a day out of the high stake battle in the neighbouring UP, Shah had decided to devote one full day to the constituencies in the Gharwal Hills. In the last one week, the Battle of Uttararakhand has picked up with Congress launching a high pitched campaign centred around CM Harish Rawat. BJP has not projected any CM face, banking on collective leadership which includes at least four former CMs and as many CM aspirants. BJP's line of campaign in Uttarakhand and dependence on national leaders in general and PM Modi in particular is quite evident from Shah's half an hour speech at Pauri. Almost two third of the address is a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi with a fair sprinkle of Manmohan Singh. From OROP to demonitisation, Shah mocks Rahul comparing what Modi government did vis a vis Congress regimes since Independence. When Modi ji implemented OROP, Rahul Gandhi must have gone for a vacation to Italy"; thundered Shah drawing laughter from the crowd. BJP President then talks about scams during UPA regimes and compares it with the performance of Modi government. Conspicuous in Shah's speech is a direct attack on Harish Rawat. Amit Shah perhaps is attempting to wriggle the party out of local vs outsider binary which Rawat seems to have built to mount his campaign. Rawat, without taking names, where ever he goes asks in public meetings whether they have got 15 lacks from "Dilli wale baba". He projects himself as a hill lad who was ousted by the Delhi government but reinstated by the courts. He's running a localised campaign, planning to cover all 70 constituencies before the polls. BJP's dilemma in the hill state is it's over dependence on PM to win this election when Congress is attempting to make it a Rawat vs outsider election. It's a theme borrowed straight out of neighbouring UP where UP ke ladke is the theme chosen consciously to underscore local vs outsider binary. "On the other hand our party is waiting that Modi ji will come and we will win" says a senior party leader. Prime Minister is slated to address four rallies in Uttararakhand, two each in Kumaun and Gharwal before the polling on 15th of February. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank said on Wednesday that it would allow onshore banks to utilise export proceeds conversion of less than $1 million per transaction to meet their clients' foreign currency requirements. Bank Negara Malaysia said this would allow lenders to better manage conversion operations during the day. BNM announced in December that exporters could only retain up to 25 percent of export proceeds in a foreign currency, while the remainder must be converted into ringgit. It also announced measures last year to clamp down on offshore trade of the ringgit. (Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who has been in the forefront of the pro-Sasikala chorus, along with nine party MPs left for Delhi on Wednesday night amid political turmoil in Tamil Nadu.They declined to speak to mediapersons at the airport as they left for the national capital where the first phase of the Budget Session, which began on January 31, is set to conclude on Thursday.Thambidurai had on Tuesday dismissed Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's claim that he was forced to resign from the post and had insisted that AIADMK general secretary Sasikala would succeed him as all legislators were behind 'Chinnamma'.He had said whether it was the coming civic poll or Parliamentary elections, they would win them under her leadership.Earlier on Wednesday, Sasikala had mustered an overwhelming majority of AIADMK MLAs against a rebellious Panneerselvam, who claimed to have their backing, but speculation was rife on what action Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao would take when he arrives here tomorrow from Mumbai after keeping away from this city for three days.In a show of strength, Sasikala had called a meeting of party MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters and later herded them in buses to an undisclosed destination in a bid to keep them together. O Panneerselvam, the caretaker chief minister who dramatically rebelled against Chinnamma VK Sasikala bringing the AIADMK into a verge of a split, has effected his first coup by breaking away the partys IT cell.Sasikala has now sacked almost the entire IT cell that had been set up during the tenure of late CM J Jayalalithaa. This includes IT wing head G Ramachandran and joint secretary Hari Prabhakaran.One of the latest tweets from Hari Prabhakarans handle @Hariadmk reads thus: Just to make it clear. Ammas #AIADMKITWing will actively support hon #OPS.He has also tweeted out the names and phone numbers of all 134 AIADMK MLAs asking people to text and call them telling what Panneerselvam did was right.Sasikala has appointed VVR Raj Satyan as the new IT head of the party.One of the recent AIADMK's tweets calls Panneerselvam a 'traitor'.Meanwhile, superstar Kamal Haasan took Twitter again and posted a message in line with the tone he has been taking ever since Sasikala was elected as the AIADMK legislative party leader. We've wasted our freedom years gambling our fanchise on wrong & corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them. Lets become incorruptible.He was joined by actor Madhavan. This is the time to make sure that we nudge it in the right direction the whole state needs to believe that and make themselves heard. And I am very sure that will happen as this the Right time.. speak up folks .. this is YOUR time to be heard (sic), he said.Speculation were rife on Tuesday evening itself that there was a churn in progress in the partys IT cell when the official handle tweeted disowning an account called @CMOTamilnadu. Soon the handle started sending a series of tweet and was the first to announce that Pannerselvam will speak to the media at the Amma memorial. So many scams but not a stain on him. Only Manmohan Singh knows the art of bathing wearing a raincoat, Modi had quipped in his Rajya Sabha speech, alluding to his clean image despite the many scams that happened under his watch. He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly; they were shameful Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 8, 2017 So says a man, who insulted the PM from his own party by tearing up an ordinance just to boost his image. https://t.co/50g8ZMyDwg Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) February 8, 2017 The Congress has decided to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament until he apologises for his raincoat jibe made against former PM Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, putting questions on the functioning of the ongoing Budget Session and the upcoming Monsoon Session.Top Congress sources said the party will boycott Parliament on Thursday the last day of the Budget Session if the PM is present. The party will continue to boycott Parliament if Modi is present in the House until he apologises for the remarks. From now onwards, it is gone to be a war between Congress and the PM, a top Congress leader told News18.Congress has started reaching out to other Opposition political parties as well, especially in the Rajya Sabha, to get their support on this issue and to condemn PM Modis remarks.Replying to the Presidents address in the Upper House on Wednesday, PM Modi had defended his demonetisation drive, and he sought to rip apart Congresss criticism on note ban by targeting Manmohan Singh, who had earlier called the decision a monumental blunder.The Congress had walked out of Parliament as soon as Modi made the controversial remarks on Wednesday afternoon.Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram immediately launched a scathing attack on Modi calling his comment harsh, ugly and in poor taste.It is unbecoming of a PM to have such harsh, ugly statements about a former PM. We are very angry and expressed our protest by walking out. We could have rushed to the well and shouted down the PM, but that would have brought us down to the present PM's level, he had said.Later in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticised the PM for his comments.Union minister Smriti Irani was quick to counter the criticism. Beirut: Air strikes on Al-Qaeda's former affiliate in Syria on Tuesday killed 37 people in the country's north-west, most of them civilians, a monitoring group said. The headquarters of Fateh al-Sham Front and the surrounding neighbourhood in Idlib city were battered by at least 10 strikes at dawn, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria for its reports, said the death toll included 24 civilians, mostly women and children. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said the raids were probably carried out by Russian warplanes -- allied with Syria's government -- or by a US-backed air coalition. But Russia quickly denied it had struck Idlib. "Russian military planes did not carry out a single strike in Idlib yesterday, or this week, or even since the beginning of 2017," the defence ministry in Moscow said. "Any information on these strikes are well-known lies." Russia has waged a fierce bombing campaign in support of the Damascus regime since September 2015, a year after the US-led coalition began its own strikes against jihadist groups. Fateh al-Sham has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks in Idlib province, the only remaining opposition-held province in war-ravaged Syria. Bombing raids against the group have escalated, including one US strike in January that killed more than 100 fighters at a training camp in Idlib province. On Tuesday, a Pentagon spokesman said US forces targeted Al-Qaeda operatives "in two precision strikes" on February 3 and 4. "The February 4 strike targeted Abu Hani al-Masri, a legacy Al-Qaeda terrorist with ties to the group's senior leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden," Eric Pahon said. "We are assessing the results of those strikes and will announce definitive results as soon as practicable." The US-led coalition has mostly focused on Fateh al-Sham's jihadist rival, the Islamic State group, but it has also hit operatives from other factions. Rebel groups have held Idlib province since the spring of 2015, four years after the Syria conflict first broke out. More than 310,000 people have died since, and millions have been forced to flee their homes. Days after a raid on an al Qaeda compound in Yemen led to the first US military combat death under Donald Trump, the leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula released an audio message taunting the new American President. In an 11-minute recording, AQAP leader Qassim al-Rimi condemned the January 29 raid, saying, "The new fool of the White House received a painful slap across his face." The message was released online Saturday and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. In the recording, Rimi also claimed "dozens of Americans were killed and wounded," a number starkly at odds with the US account, which reported the death of one Navy SEAL, Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens. Three additional SEALs also were wounded. Rimi acknowledged the deaths of 14 men and 11 women and children in the raid, a joint counterterrorism effort between the United States and United Arab Emirates. A senior US military official told CNN on Monday that Rimi was a target of the operation. The recording was released after last week's raid. Reportedly among the dead was the 8-year-old the daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, the late US-born cleric who directed attacks against the United States. Awlaki was killed in 2011. Reprieve, a London-based nongovernmental organization, and a Sanaa-based human rights worker told CNN that at least 23 civilians were killed in the attack. "When the Americans escaped, they dragged their killed and wounded, and they found no other alternative but to destroy their own planes so that it would not be proof of their scandal," Rimi said. The senior US military official told CNN on Monday that intelligence collection wasn't the only objective of the Yemen raid but that it had also targeted Rimi. In the event Rimi wasn't there, the US military believed it would find intelligence that would help lead to him, the official said. Green-lighting the mission was not dependent on al-Rimi being there, however, a senior US military official emphasized. US Central Command, which oversees forces in the region, and the Pentagon are strongly denying al-Rimi was an objective of the raid. On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said, "There was never any intention, hope, anticipation or plan that he would be part of this operation." "It wasn't a high-value target mission," Col. John Thomas told CNN, referring to operations aimed at killing or capturing terrorist leaders. Thomas added no hard intelligence indicated a "high possibility" Rimi was at the compound on the night of the raid, saying that Navy SEALs would have captured any leaders of the al Qaeda affiliate, including Rimi, as part of an intelligence-gathering operation. "Anyone found on site would have been taken," Thomas said. NBC first reported that Rimi was a target of the raid. The chance to take out such a pivotal member of al Qaeda may explain the large allocation of resources used in the mission. Military botches release of video seized in Yemen raid Washington: President Donald Trump slammed the courts Wednesday as "so political" as a panel of appellate judges weighed whether to reinstate an executive order barring US entry to refugees and nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries. The travel ban, which plunged airports around the country into chaos after it was announced without warning January 27, has embroiled Trump in a willful test of strength with the US judiciary less than three weeks into his presidency. Speaking to police chiefs and sheriffs, Trump expressed "amazement" over questions raised about the ban in a high-stakes hearing Tuesday by three federal appeals judges, saying what he heard was "disgraceful, just disgraceful." "I don't ever want to call a court biased, so I won't call it biased and we haven't had a decision yet. But courts seem to be so political," he said. The ban was suspended nationwide on Friday by a federal judge in Seattle, after two US states asked it to be overturned on grounds of religious discrimination and that it had caused "irreparable injury." Taking up the case, the federal court of appeals in San Francisco heard oral arguments in a live-streamed conference call in which a Justice Department lawyer argued that the president had clear authority to order the ban on national security grounds. "This is a traditional national security judgment that is assigned to the political branches and the president," Justice Department lawyer August Flentje argued. Critics of the ban claim it violates the constitution by discriminating against people on the basis of their religion. The judges -- two of whom were appointed by Democratic presidents, and a third by a Republican -- appeared skeptical of the government's case. "Has the government pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism?" asked Judge Michelle Friedland, who was appointed by former president Barack Obama. Flentje said the government had not had an opportunity to present such evidence, given the speed at which the case had moved. The court must decide whether to maintain the lower court's suspension, modify it or lift it. Its ruling was expected before the end of the week. Experts say they believe the argument to reinstate the ban is facing an uphill struggle. But the case is likely to eventually wind up on appeal in the Supreme Court, which currently is evenly divided between liberal and conservative justices. A tie there would leave in place the appeals court decision. - 'Horrible, dangerous and wrong' - Trump vented his frustration in tweets, referring to the ban's suspension as "the horrible, dangerous and wrong decision." He went further in a rambling speech to the law enforcement chiefs, which at points drew polite applause. "It's really incredible to me that we have a court case that's going on so long," he said. "Now we're in an area that, let's just say, they are interpreting things differently than probably 100 percent of the people in this room." "A bad high school student would understand this -- anybody would understand this," he said. Trump then read out the text of a law -- interspersed with his commentary -- that confers on the president authority to suspend entry to any alien or class of alien deemed detrimental to the interests of the United States. Trump's decree summarily denied entry to all refugees for 120 days, and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely. Top administration officials have argued it is needed to keep out Islamic State and Al-Qaeda fighters migrating from Middle East hotspots, insisting time is needed to implement stricter vetting procedures. - Blame shifting - But the sudden roll-out and blanket nature of the ban sparked protests and international condemnation. Polls now show eroding public support for it in the United States, amid jubilant scenes at airports of returning immigrants. Shifting the blame to his security advisers, Trump said he had proposed giving a one-month notice, but his law enforcement experts told him "people will pour in before the toughness." "I wanted to give like a month. I said, 'What about a week?' They said you'll have a whole pile of people perhaps, perhaps, with very evil intentions coming in before the restrictions." "I think it's sad, I think it's a sad day. I think our security is at risk today, and it will be at risk until such time as we are entitled and get what we are entitled to as citizens of this country, as chiefs, as sheriffs of this country. We want security." Washington: US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Wednesday said that judges who blocked the White House's immigration ban were living in an academic "vacuum" and did not see the real threat to the country. "In their world, it is very academic, almost in a vacuum. In their courtrooms, they are protected by people like me," Kelly told a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee. "If something happens bad from letting people in, they don't come and ask the judge about his ruling, they come to me." Kelly was speaking after a federal judge in Seattle ordered the Homeland Security Department to halt enforcement of the ban on immigration by refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries. The judge found for two states - Washington and Minnesota - which contended that the ban would cause "irreparable injury," and granted a nationwide temporary restraining order suspending it. A US appeals court will hold a hearing today on the order, which President Donald Trump's government is defending as a "lawful exercise" of presidential power and necessary to protect the country from terror attacks. Kelly told the hearing that the order "is lawful and constitutional." "It is my belief that we will prevail and will be able to take the steps needed to protect our nation." He said there was no particular increase in the perceived threat level precipitating the ban, but that immigration procedures needed to be reviewed especially from the seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. "The ban was based on countries that we don't have any real confidence in right now that they can help us vet people coming to the United States," he said. "They are countries in chaos, countries in collapse," he said. But he added that the government is particularly worried about the threat that fighters for the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq could find their way to the United States. "It is based on the fact that we know that there are thousands of fighters coming out of the caliphate fight that has papers that could get them into Europe and then the United States," he said. San Francisco/Washington: A government lawyer defending President Donald Trump's temporary entry ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday from a U.S. federal appeals court that questioned whether it unfairly targeted people over their religion. The three-judge 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel asked the Trump administration's lawyer tough questions about whether the administration had provided any evidence that people from the seven countries were a danger. Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush appointee, posed equally tough questions for an attorney representing Minnesota and Washington states, which are challenging the ban. Clifton asked if a Seattle judge's suspension of Trump's policy was "overboard." The 9th Circuit said at the end of the session that it would issue a ruling as soon as possible. Earlier on Tuesday, the court said it would likely rule this week but would not issue a same-day ruling. The matter is ultimately likely to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump's Jan. 27 order barred travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, whom he would ban indefinitely. Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, has defended the measure, the most divisive act of his young presidency, as necessary for national security. The order sparked protests and chaos at U.S. and overseas airports in the weekend that followed. A federal judge in Seattle, responding to the legal challenge, suspended the order last Friday. August Flentje, special counsel for the U.S. Justice Department, told the appellate panel that "Congress has expressly authorized the president to suspend entry of categories of aliens." "Thats what the president did here," Flentje said at the start of a more than hour-long oral argument conducted by telephone and broadcast live online. Individuals, states and civil rights groups challenging the ban said Trump's administration had offered no evidence it answered a threat. Opponents also assailed the ban as discriminatory against Muslims in violation of the U.S. Constitution and applicable laws. The states of Minnesota and Washington brought the case against the Trump administration. TOUGH QUESTIONING When the 9th Circuit asked Flentje what evidence the executive order had used to connect the seven countries affected by the order with terrorism in the United States, Flentje said the "proceedings have been moving very fast," without giving specific examples. He said both Congress and the previous administration of Democrat Barack Obama had determined that those seven countries posed the greatest risk of terrorism and had in the past put stricter visa requirements on them. "I'm not sure I'm convincing the court," Flentje said at one point. Noah Purcell, solicitor general for the state of Washington, began his argument urging the court to serve "as a check on executive abuses." "The president is asking this court to abdicate that role here," Purcell said. "The court should decline that invitation." The judges pummelled both sides with questions. Clifton pushed for evidence that the ban discriminated against Muslims and said he was hearing more allegations than evidence. "I don't think allegations cut it at this stage," Clifton said. CAMPAIGN PROMISE Trump frequently promised during his 2016 election campaign to curb illegal immigration, especially from Mexico, and to crack down on Islamist violence. His travel ban sparked protests and chaos at U.S. and overseas airports. National security veterans, major U.S. technology companies and law enforcement officials from more than a dozen states backed a legal effort against the ban. "I actually can't believe that we're having to fight to protect the security, in a court system, to protect the security of our nation," Trump said at an event with sheriffs at the White House on Tuesday. Although the legal fight over Trump's ban is ultimately about how much power a president has to decide who cannot enter the United States, the appeals court is only looking at the narrower question of whether the Seattle court had the grounds to halt Trump's order. "To be clear, all that's at issue tonight in the hearing is an interim decision on whether the president's order is enforced or not, until the case is heard on the actual merits of the order," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. Lynchburg prosecutor Chuck Felmlee said Tuesday he will not seek election to the city commonwealths attorney seat this year. Felmlee, currently chief deputy commonwealths attorney, earlier indicated he planned to run for the position. That was just after incumbent Michael Doucette said late last month he would not run but instead serve out his term ending Dec. 31. Many people have encouraged Felmlee to run, he said in an open letter emailed Tuesday to The News & Advance. However, the position of [Commonwealths] Attorney is a political position and I am not a politician, he wrote. I feel strongly that politics should play no role in selecting who will be the next chief prosecutor for our community. According to the letter, Felmlee plans to finish prosecuting his current caseload and leave the Commonwealths Attorneys Office this summer to enter the private sector. I will continue to serve the citizens of Central Virginia, but this time will do so as a defense attorney guiding individuals through the legal process, he said. Felmlees decision leaves Timothy Griffin, a Lynchburg resident and Bedford County prosecutor, as the only announced candidate for the post. (Adds new statement from Merrimack regarding defendant's employment status) By Nate Raymond Feb 7 (Reuters) - A Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc employee was arrested on Tuesday on charges that he engaged in an insider trading scheme with a former employee of a rival biopharmaceutical company. Songjiang Wang, who Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Merrimack has employed as director of statistical programming since 2011, was charged with conspiring to commit securities fraud in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Boston. He was arrested after prosecutors brought related charges in June against Schultz Chan, who had been the director of biostatistics at another Cambridge-based company, Akebia Therapeutics Inc. Wang, 52, of Westford, Massachusetts, was released on a $750,000 bond after a court hearing on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb in Boston said. Wang's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for Chan, who has pleaded not guilty, declined to comment. Merrimack said in a statement that the case was an "isolated matter involving a single, non-executive level employee" and the company was cooperating with authorities. In separate statement issued later on Tuesday, Merrimack said Wang was no longer an employee of the company. "Merrimack takes seriously compliance and is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct as we work to develop treatments for cancer patients around the world," the statement said. According to the complaint, Wang provided Chan inside information in 2013 and 2014, ahead of announcements by Merrimack about positive results in three different drug studies. This allowed Chan to place trades based on those tips. Chan, in turn, tipped Wang in advance of positive clinical study results for a new drug being developed by Akebia, which allowed him to place trades ahead of the company's announcement in September 2015, the complaint said. Based on that tip, Wang made $105,000 in illegal trading profits, according to an earlier lawsuit against Chan by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Story continues That lawsuit referred to Wang, without using his name, as friend of Chan's who had previously loaned him $80,000. The case is U.S. v. Wang, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, No. 17-mj-1005. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Grant McCool and Dan Grebler) RICHMOND After Tuesday, bills that had not passed either the full House of Delegates or Senate were dead to the 2017 General Assembly, although exceptions exist for the budget. The crossover deadline is the halfway point for the General Assembly, which is scheduled to end Feb. 25. Both chambers already have begun hearing bills passed by the other side, and some already have passed both chambers. While legislators work through legislation, the Senate and House monies committees will negotiate their separate proposals on new spending and cuts addressing a $1.26 billion budget gap. Below are 10 topics of local interest still in play in the 2017 General Assembly: Central Virginia Training Center Under a bill that passed the Senate on Thursday, the General Assembly would have to make an overt decision to close Central Virginia Training Center, despite it being scheduled to close in 2020 as part of a plan to meet a Department of Justice settlement agreement. While SB 1551 carried by Sen. Steve Newman, R-Bedford County would require a General Assembly vote to close the Madison Heights facility serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it does not say how exactly the legislature would make that decision. Under the vague language, legislators could pass the bill by a joint resolution, which would bypass approval by the administrative branch. The training centers, and the plan to close four of five of them, are managed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a state agency. Legislators also could close the center by passing a bill to be signed by the governor or including it in the budget bill, both of which are subject to a gubernatorial veto. Budget plans in both the House and Senate include money for environmental site studies regarding the broader CVTC grounds. The House includes $430,000 for the study compared to the Senates $260,000. Senate budget language also would require the state to develop and evaluate a plan for a smaller facility at CVTC. Lynchburg ballot shortage Twin bills carried by Newman and Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg, would require registrars to consider historical election data, including voter turnout, when ordering Election Day ballots, information most registrars already consider. Before it was amended, the bill would have given the Department of Elections authority to order localities to print a certain number of ballots. SB 1552 and HB 2415 arose from the Jan. 10 special election in which several Lynchburg precincts ran out of pre-printed ballots in the morning, resulting in angry and confused voters, some of whom left without casting a ballot. Both bills passed their respective houses on unanimous votes. Special elections On Monday, the Senate passed SB 1571, which would change the process for certifying elections regarding provisional ballots in special elections. Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, brought the bill directly out of his experience after the Jan. 10 special election that brought him to Richmond. He and Sen. Jennifer McClellan D-Richmond, were elected in special elections the night before the 2017 General Assembly convened. Because of a combination of a voter ID law requiring three days to verify provisional ballots, a Senate tradition and back-to-back state holidays, Peake and McClellan might have had to wait a week before taking their seats. The Senate, however, made an exception to the tradition and swore them in anyway. Peakes bill would change the law by ordering electoral boards to meet regardless of any federal holiday. The bill also would require local electoral boards to certify special elections before counting provisional ballots unless the total of outstanding provisional ballots would change who wins. The provisional ballots still would be counted. Redistricting Although the slate of proposed constitutional amendments regarding redistricting died quickly in a House subcommittee block vote, several proposals passed the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans. The General Assembly is expected to draw new lines for the state legislature and congressional seats after the 2020 census. Members of both parties and many members of the public, such as those working with nonprofit OneVirginia2021, are calling for redistricting reform. Reformers want to prohibit politically motivated or gerrymandered districts drawn to advantage or disadvantage an incumbent or party. SJ 231 carried by Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, would create a redistricting commission composed of seven members. The resolution passed the Senate 33-7 on Tuesday. SJ 290 carried by Sens. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, and Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, would specify additional criteria to the state constitution for redistricting. Both proposed amendments go further toward reform than some of those killed by the House Constitutional subcommittee last month. Broadband A stripped-down version of the Broadband Deployment Act passed the House of Delegates on Tuesday. The much-maligned HB 2108 had been edited significantly since first proposed by Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford County, after protests from localities it would freeze their ability to provide high-speed internet access to their constituents. HB 2108 was whittled down a transparency provision Byron said will keep municipal broadband authorities accountable and prevent corruption as exhibited by Bristol Virginia Utilities. The bill passed 72-24 with one abstention, according to Virginias Legislative Information System. Airbnb The bill meant to better establish local control over app-based short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, passed the Senate on a 36-4 vote Tuesday. Speeches in support from both sides of the aisle and across the state showed hope negotiations would continue over SB 1578, carried by Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City. SB 1578 would explicitly give localities the ability to pass ordinances regulating Airbnbs as they do with other short-term rentals, meaning rooms, spaces or homes rented out for 30 consecutive days or less. Burn ban exemption A House bill that would allow an exemption to annual winter burn bans for vineyards and orchards already is on its way to the governor after passing the Senate 40-0 on Tuesday. Del. Matt Fariss, R-Campbell County, proposed HB 1793 after a vineyard in his district lost 25 percent of its 2016 harvest because of frost. The vineyard owners said being able to start a controlled fire would have enabled them to warm and save their crops. They were told by emergency dispatch the annual winter burn ban prohibited that activity. Both wine and agricultural industries backed the legislation expected to be signed by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Dyslexia Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, followed up on legislation he carried last year requiring teacher training in spotting symptoms of dyslexia. Under this years HB 2395, any school district employing reading specialists must have at least one specialist trained in identifying dyslexia and related disorders. The specialist would serve as an adviser to other educators on teaching methods for dyslexia and related disorders. The measure passed 96-0 on Tuesday. The similar SB 1516 carried by Sen. Richard H. Black, R-Loudon, passed the Senate 40-0 on Tuesday. Both Cline and Black clarified schools would not be mandated to add a reading specialist if they did not already have one. Abortion Clines bill that opponents say is designed to strip Planned Parenthood facilities of money as a way of snuffing them out passed the House of Delegates 60-33 on Tuesday. HB 2264 was designed to direct state resources efficiently, Cline said. McAuliffe vetoed the same bill when Cline carried it last year and is expected to do so again. Farm use vehicles HB 2239 carried by Fariss would expand the distance farm use vehicles may operate on public highways from 50 miles to 75 miles as long as the driver is retrieving supplies for agricultural or horticultural use or operating between two tracts of the farmers property. The bill was amended to require anyone operating under the exemption to provide proof of the farm address if requested by law enforcement officers. The measure passed the House 96-1 on Tuesday. Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Tom Perriello announced Wednesday that he opposes two proposed natural-gas pipeline projects in Virginia, a position that represents the progressive upstart's strongest break yet from the policies of Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Perriello, a former congressman and diplomat running against Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam for the Democratic nomination for governor, said he would work to stop both the Atlantic Coast Pipeline through central Virginia and the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Roanoke region. "If elected governor, I will use the authorities available to me to prevent these pipelines and instead encourage all stakeholders to invest in opportunities that create far more Virginia jobs, keep more value in the community, protect our landholders' rights and protect our beautiful natural heritage," Perriello said at a midday news conference at Richmond's Libby Hill Park. The proposed 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would cut a swathe through central Virginia from the West Virginia line to North Carolina, has drawn the most attention and opposition from environmentalists who see it as a threat to drinking water and natural resources as well as landowners who feel their property rights are being infringed. The smaller Mountain Valley Pipeline would run through the Roanoke area to Southside Virginia. McAuliffe doubles down on pipeline support, hints at economic prospects Gov. Terry McAuliffe is doubling down on his support of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline with hints that a number of major economic development projects one of them gigantic may choose to build in Virginia because of the prospect of a new supply of low-cost natural gas that the 600-mile pipeline would deliver from West Virginia. Pipeline opposition is perhaps strongest in Nelson County and other rural areas near Charlottesville, Perriello's hometown. Citing the threat of climate change, Perriello said investments should be made in other energy sources like wind and solar, as well as weatherization to make buildings more energy-efficient. The energy industry, he said, should be decentralized to encourage small-scale production. "Time and time again when our farmers and small business owners wanted to have a small piece of the energy sector, we saw the utilities and others make it as difficult as possible to grow those businesses, to sell power back to the grid or go off the grid altogether," Perriello said. Perriello's stance could put Northam, the favorite of Virginia's Democratic establishment, in a pinch by forcing the lieutenant governor to either stand by McAuliffe or alter his views to better appeal to pipeline opponents. The campaign of Ed Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman and frontrunner in the four-way race for the GOP nomination, said in a statement Wednesday that Gillespie agrees with McAuliffe, Republican General Assembly leadership and "Virginia business leaders" that the pipeline would help the economy. "Tom Perriello made clear once again today that he's out of step with mainstream Virginians," said Gillespie spokesman Matt Moran. "The only question left is will Ralph Northam side with Virginia employers, workers and families -- or the left wing of his party?" McAuliffe, who is backing Northam for governor, has pitched the $5.1 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline as an economic driver that will bring low-cost energy critical to landing industrial projects and creating jobs. The governor has said that even if he wanted to stop the pipeline, he has no authority to do so, a stance that has led environmental activists to begin pressuring McAuliffe at public appearances. Asked for comment in response to Perriello's pipeline stance, the Northam campaign issued a written statement that urged a rigorous review process, but didn't flatly state opposition or support for the projects. "As a doctor and a scientist, Ralph Northam always believes in a robust and transparent process driven by science, facts, and property rights," Northam campaign spokesman David Turner said in a statement. "This is why he urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality to hold this process to the highest possible standards with the utmost due diligence given to protecting our natural heritage." The energy giant Dominion, a major donor to Virginia politicians from both parties, is leading the Atlantic Coast Pipeline's development in a partnership with Duke Energy and Southern Company Gas. Perriello pledged Wednesday that he will not take "one dime" from Dominion, but is willing to meet with the company to discuss "pragmatic solutions." "I think too often in our system we see things that are tilted in one direction because of where the contributions are coming from," Perriello said. Northam has received $20,000 in donations from Dominion since launching his gubernatorial campaign. In a statement, Dominion officials said they were "very disappointed" by Perriello's stance, calling his statement "ill-informed." "This project is essential to the economic vitality and environmental future of Virginia," said Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby. "It will create thousands of new jobs, promote cleaner air in our communities and enhance the energy security of our region. Its unfortunate Mr. Perriello has disregarded these important public priorities and the aspirations of most Virginians." Perriello is the second 2017 gubernatorial candidate to oppose the pipeline. Denver Riggleman, who owns a distillery in Nelson near the pipeline route, is running an insurgent Republican campaign fueled largely by anti-Dominion rage and a populist message of supporting ordinary Virginians over Richmond power brokers. Riggleman is competing for the GOP nomination with Gillespie, state Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, and Prince William County Supervisor Corey Stewart. Both parties will choose their nominees through primaries on June 13. A marijuana trafficker caught a break Tuesday when a federal appeals court held that he could not be resentenced by a judge who mistakenly imposed a 10-day sentence when he meant a 10-month term. Charles Bentil, 46, was convicted in 2003 of possession with the intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and a related firearms charge for which he was eventually sentenced to 10 years followed by five years of supervised release. Bentil violated the terms of his parole and was sentenced April 28 by U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris in Alexandria to 10 days. The 10-day term was to be added to any time he might be given in Alexandria Circuit Court where he faced then-pending marijuana trafficking charges. (He was convicted last August and netted three years in state prison.) But on May 12, Cacheris convened a resentencing hearing at which he imposed a 10-month sentence, saying that the 10-day term was a clear error. Bentil appealed the 10-month federal sentence challenging the judges authority to impose it. A three-judge panel of the appeals court agreed with him Tuesday in a nine-page ruling. The appeals court noted that a district court judge may modify a sentence once it has been imposed under the rule cited by Cacheris only if it was a sentence that resulted from arithmetical, technical, or other clear error. Among other things, the appeals court judges wrote, The intent of the district court to impose a 10-month consecutive sentence is not sufficiently clear from the record of the revocation hearing, and as such, the district courts imposition of a 10-day sentence at the revocation hearing was not the type of obvious error that we have suggested is correctable. The opinion noted that while Cacheris stated that Bentils original crime was very serious and that he had a significant criminal history, the judge also seemingly took into consideration several mitigating factors, including Bentils steady employment, his clean drug screens, his completion of a substance abuse program, his payment of child support for his daughter, and his substance abuse problem, which began at an early age. Cacheris also acknowledged that Bentil would likely face a prison sentence in state court. Consequently, the district courts intent at the revocation hearing to sentence Bentil to 10 months rather 10 days is ambiguous at best, and thus, any disconnect between the 10-day sentence and the courts intent at the revocation hearing cannot support resentencing. The appeals court also rejected the notion that Cacheris, in imposing a 10-day sentence, seriously affect(ed) the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings. To the contrary, we believe that permitting the district court to resentence Bentil after clearly announcing the 10-day sentence and entering the written judgment would be more detrimental to the fairness and integrity of the proceedings than allowing the 10-day sentence to stand, the judges wrote. The appeals court vacated the 10-month sentence and ordered Cacheris to reinstate the 10-day sentence initially imposed. The Virginia Department of Corrections said Bentil is being held at the Nottoway Correctional Center. CHRISTIANSBURG The trial of a former Virginia Tech student accused of killing 13-year-old Nicole Lovell of Blacksburg will not happen in March as previously scheduled. At a Wednesday hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Judge Robert Turk agreed to a defense motion to postpone a jury trial for David Edmond Eisenhauer, 19, of Columbia, Maryland. Eisenhauer was scheduled to begin a 10-day jury trial on March 6, but his attorneys said they needed more time to prepare. They said that they continue to receive new information, including in the past week a new interview conducted by investigators. The case has drawn national attention, in part because of the role social media appears to have played in connecting Lovell with her accused killer. No new date was scheduled for Eisenhauers trial on charges of first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body. Turk told attorneys to coordinate their schedules with his office and said he would set a new trial date soon. Id like to get it within the year 2017, Turk said. The delay means that Eisenhauers co-defendant, Natalie Marie Keepers, 20, of Laurel, Maryland, likely will stand trial first and the issue of her statements about Lovells death will have been resolved, one way or another. Keepers is charged with being an accessory before the fact to first-degree murder and with concealing a body. She is scheduled to begin a five-day jury trial on March 27. Keepers confessed to helping plan Lovells death and hide her body, but she pointed to Eisenhauer as the one who lured Lovell from her home and stabbed the girl to death in January 2016. But Keepers attorneys have argued that her confession should be thrown out, saying that investigators improperly questioned her for hours before giving the required formal notice that she could remain silent or have an attorney present. Turk, who also is overseeing Keepers case, has said he plans to rule this month on Keepers motion to discard the confession. The postponement of Eisenhauers trial came in a hearing where his attorneys John Lichtenstein and Tony Anderson, both of Roanoke, argued that their client couldnt get a fair trial in Montgomery County. They filed five binders of commentary on the case, including news articles and reams of social media comments, that Lichtenstein said showed a reversal of the presumption of innocence. Similar arguments were made by Keepers attorneys at a motions hearing last month. As he had during the Keepers motions hearing, Turk said Wednesday that he would try to seat a jury when the trial eventually arrives. The judge said that he thought there would be enough potential jurors who could set aside whatever they had heard about the case previously and decide guilt or innocence solely on the evidence presented in court. Im confident the citizens of this community will take the job seriously, Turk said. Keepers and Eisenhauer were freshmen in Virginia Techs engineering program when Lovell was slain. According to statements that Keepers made to investigators, Eisenhauer had met Lovell at a party. Eisenhauer initially thought Lovell was 16, Keepers said, and kept up a communication with her through the Kik anonymous messaging app. But he eventually learned Lovells actual age and freaked out, Keepers said. Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly took initial steps this week to give the legislature more power over the executive branch by allowing elected lawmakers to override rules and regulations adopted by state agencies. The Senate and House of Delegates advanced proposed constitutional amendments that would give the legislature oversight of executive rulemaking, the largely technical process covering the nuts and bolts of how state government works. Republican proponents said the amendments would allow lawmakers to ensure that their legislative intent is carried out by the state bureaucracy. Democrats, and one outspoken Republican defector, called the proposals an overreach that would upend Virginias long-standing separation of powers. The Senate passed its version of the amendment, SJ 295, Tuesday on a 21-19 vote. The House version, HJ 545, passed Monday night on a 54-40 vote. In the House, seven Republicans broke with their party and opposed the amendment, along with the chambers 33 Democrats. Five House Republicans did not vote. If the two chambers agree to reconcile differences in the proposed amendments, the resulting proposal would have to pass a second time next year before going to voters for a final decision on the 2018 ballot. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, opposes the measure, but cannot veto proposed constitutional amendments. During the House debate Monday, Del. Christopher T. Head, R-Botetourt, the amendments patron, argued on the House floor that some state agencies have not been receptive to bills passed by the General Assembly that dictate how government business should be performed. I would submit to all of you that the separation of powers has been violated simply because the executive branch now legislates, Head said. And it renders us neutered. I dont like that. Head pointed specifically to legislation he sponsored in 2014 that directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services to take steps to reduce wait times for preadmission screenings for elderly Virginians to enroll in care through the PACE program. Head said he felt the screenings were taking too long and could be done more efficiently if contracted out to a third party. The bill directed the agency to enter into such contracts in areas where wait times for screenings exceeded 30 days. McAuliffe signed the law, which required the agency to comply within 280 days. Without calling out DMAS by name, Head said state officials still havent done it. DMAS officials disputed Heads characterization, saying the 2014 directive came with no funding attached, though the bills fiscal impact statement indicated no budget appropriation was necessary. When DMAS received additional funding in 2015, officials said, the agency reduced screening wait times to an average of 14 days. New regulations were adopted last fall. We did follow through, and we do take that seriously, said Karen Kimsey, deputy director of complex-care services at DMAS. Head acknowledged that DMAS has made progress, but said he believes the screening process could be made even more efficient if contracted out as the law specified. They chose to accomplish it in their own way and not in the way they were directed to by the law, Head said. Across the hall, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, argued the amendment shes co-sponsoring would not be a major departure from how the finer details of state policy are handled now. She noted that the General Assembly can already alter regulations through legislation. Sen. David W. Marsden, D-Fairfax, however, said, Were messing with the balance of power here. ... Its very dangerous. During debate on the House floor, lawmakers opposed to the proposal argued Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would not approve. Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, said on the floor that the long-standing philosophy of keeping the legislative and executive branches distinct may be crumbling tonight. Marshall quoted Jeffersons observation that 173 despots would surely be as oppressive as one. After quoting from one of Madisons Federalist Papers that warned that legislatures tend to suck all power into their impetuous vortex, House Minority Leader David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, noted that the amendment would allow General Assembly committees to nullify executive rules and regulations when lawmakers are not in session. The exact makeup of those committees, Toscano said, is unclear. But rest assured, its not going to be all of us, Toscano said. Undeterred, Head told his colleagues they should have no fear of putting the question to voters. Constituents, he said, want their legislators to be empowered to act on their behalf. If you believe in the power of the people, pass the resolution, Head said. Susan McCullar Myers, 56, of Brookneal, Virginia, went to heaven on Thursday, February 2, 2017. She was married to her best friend and partner in life, Frank Myers.Born September 22, 1960, in Norfolk, Virginia to her loving parents, Kenneth and Martha McCullar. She leaves behind three beautiful children, James "J.P." and Jerald Price, and Samantha Myers, her "mini-me"; as well as a new puppy addition, Dakota.Susan was predeceased by her older sister, Carol and leaves her younger sister, Diane to carry on the McCullar family traditions.She is also leaving behindthree grandchildren, Jayden, Wyatt and Austyn, in addition to numerous nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. She will be remembered for her infectious laughter, outlook on life "living for the day", her faith, and wise advice to all that asked.You could often find her by the water, she loved the beach, floating the river and swimming in her pool.She loved her job at ServPro and often spoke fondly of her co-workers. She will be truly missed by all that got the joy to meet her.Heaven has gained a beautiful soul, truly an angel on Earth and in Heaven. A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at the Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, Virginia. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral service. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, Virginia, is serving the family. The battle for the Central Virginia Training Center is being fought on two fronts: the protection of its vulnerable residents and, if the facility is closed, the protection of site in Amherst County that could be an economic game-changer. Does that sound contradictory and at cross purposes? Yes, but thats the nature of political battles. First, the fight to keep the nearly 100-year-old facility for profoundly physically and developmentally disabled Virginians open. The McDonnell administration reached a settlement in 2011 with the U.S. Department of Justice over the care of disabled Virginians. At issue was Virginias slow movement to group-home care, preferring to stick with the large residential model of the mid-20th century. Virginia promised to funnel more money into funding of waivers for group homes. To pay for the transition, the state planned to close all but one residential facility and funnel the proceeds from the operations savings and sale of the sites to pay for the waivers, admittedly a risky funding mechanism as the facilities would have to remain open during the transition with the property sales a major unknown. CVTC in Madison Heights is set to close in 2020, but events are moving faster than state officials expected. The skilled nursing unit lost its accreditation last year after the number of employees dropped below guidelines. The residents of the unit are the most vulnerable of all the facilitys residents; some have lived at CVTC for decades. Because of the loss of accreditation, the state was forced to move the residents to a facility near Petersburg that family members claim is inferior to CVTC in care. Sen. Steve Newman of Lynchburg has been a longtime foe of closing CVTC. Legislation he is sponsoring in the 2017 session of the General Assembly, Senate Bill 1551, would require the legislature sign off on any closure of CVTC. The bill passed the Senate 39-1 last week and is currently under review in the House Appropriations Committee. Its fate is uncertain in the House, and even more so if it makes it to Gov. Terry McAuliffe for his signature. Second is the effort by local government leaders to plan for an orderly shutdown of CVTC, if thats what occurs. The CVTC campus encompasses more than 300 acres. There are 91 buildings on the grounds 27 are in use, many are empty and some such as the building where the infamous involuntary sterilizations took place during the height of the eugenics movement are historic sites. CVTC has its own utility network, a graveyard of unknown dimensions and an unknown number of burials and likely asbestos contamination in an undetermined number of buildings. Should the closure happen, the states standard procedure would be to declare the property surplus and sell it as quickly as possible. Left out of the loop would be Amherst County and Central Virginia officials for whom the 300-acre site on a bluff overlooking the James River and downtown Lynchburg could be a key economic development tool. Amhersts Board of Supervisors and the Region 2000 Local Government Council are both pushing the state to pay for marketing and environmental studies to best plan for the possible next use of the site. However this fight turns out, we are adamant state officials keep two things foremost in their minds: the protection of the vulnerable residents of CVTC and the advancement of the best interests of local governments over any quick fix from Richmond. Contradictory goals? Yes, but again, thats the nature of politics. Writer: Money, not free speech I am writing in response to the article in the Feb. 5 issue of The News & Advance with Jerry Falwell Jr.s misinformation about the Johnson Amendment. The Johnson Amendment is not, as Falwell stated, a restriction of free speech or a club used by the IRS and the left to silence conservatives. The Johnson Amendment, which has been the law of the land for more than half a century, prohibits non-profit organizations, any 501(c)(3) including churches, from engaging in political activities and still claim tax exempt status. They can conduct voter registration drives or any other nonpartisan activity. If the Johnson Amendment were repealed, as Falwell Jr. advocates, big money donors would be able to make millions of dollars in donations to churches that are promoting the candidate of their choice from the pulpit and take a tax deduction for that contribution. It does not prohibit pastors and others from espousing their views outside of the church. We have seen the increasing corruption of big money in politics and repeal of the Johnson Amendment would only further that influence. The truth about the Johnson Amendment is that it is about maintaining a separation of church and state, that our Founding Fathers agreed is essential, and not allowing tax deductions for political activity. I believe that both liberals and conservatives share the interest in limiting, rather than increasing, the corrupting influence of big money into politics. Repealing the Johnson Amendment, with campaign funding going through tax deductible church contributions, would make campaign funding even less transparent than it is now. This is an issue about money, not free speech. GAYLE DALY Lynchburg Didnt we learn the first time? I do not pretend to be an economist, but I do consider myself to be a concerned consumer. As a child, I worried about there being another depression. I remember asking my mother how we could be sure such a time would not reoccur. She was no economist either, but I remember her explaining the Glass-Steagall Act to me. Basically, the law, passed in 1933, required commercial banks and securities to be separate, keeping any one financial institution from becoming too big and too powerful. I believe my mother said keeping the fox out of the hen house. My mother was generally right about everything, and I stopped worrying about the economy. Then in 1999, Congress passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which overturned the Glass-Steagall Act. President Bill Clinton could have vetoed the law, but he didnt. Instead, we opened the gates to the hen house and let commercial banks and securities unite under one roof. In 2008, after years of risk taking, uncontrolled greed and lack of oversight, the great financial crisis occurred. Mercifully, in 2010, among other things, President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank financial oversight law into effect. The goal was to prevent banks from continuing with the same reckless practices blamed for the crisis. No carte blanche. Of course, the financial world chafed and is still chafing at the controls, but the economy survived. Now the great Donald Trump of bankruptcy fame and personal friend of Wall Street billionaires is, as he says, going to do a big number on Dodd-Frank. The impact will not be felt immediately, not until the rich have gotten richer, but just wait. We didnt learn anything the last time around. JOY BASHORE Lynchburg Do as I say, not as I do Liberal-minded persons have a tendency to believe that they know what is best for everyone. They are taught this by the professors at the schools that they attend. Many of this mindset still cannot accept that the American public voted differently last November. I am a strong believer in the axiom that actions speak louder than words. Therefore anyone endorsing unrestricted immigration to the United States should volunteer to sponsor one or more persons from countries deemed to be a threat to our nation. This sponsorship would require financial support and legal responsibility. A sponsor would be required to incur the same punishments as the immigrant, including fines, imprisonments and deportation. You could be assured that extreme vetting would be done by sponsors. DAVID HIGHT Roseland The Legacy Museum of African American History is looking for black artists to contribute work to the museums new exhibit Visual Voices: A Celebration of African American Artists from Lynchburg and Surrounding Areas, which will open this August. The museum is hosting an event for interested artists, friends of artists and collectors at 6 p.m. Feb. 8. All mediums are welcome in the show, and in a news release, organizers said their goal is to explore as many artists voices and modes of visual expression as possible. Brooke Marcy, Riverviews Artspaces curator and an art professor at Randolph College, is guest curating the exhibition and will be at the event. Email her at bbvmarcy@hotmail.com for more information, or call the museum at (434) 845-3455. To access the newsletter, click on the link: http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNCGeneric_CA_02082017.pdf You can read Morning News Call Canada via TOPNEWS Canada page. If you would like to receive this newsletter through your email, please register at: https://forms.thomsonreuters.com/MorningNewsCall/ ECONOMIC EVENTS 08:15 House starts annualized for Jan: Expected 200,000; Prior 207,000 11:00 TR IPSOS PCSI for Feb: Prior 50.17 COMPANIES REPORTING RESULTS Feb 8: ARC Resources Ltd (ARX). Expected Q4 earnings of 13 Canadian cents per share Atrium Mortgage Investment Corp (AI). Expected Q4 earnings of 25 Canadian cents per share ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc (ATA). Expected Q3 earnings of 9 Canadian cents per share Firan Technology Group Corp (FTG). Expected Q4 earnings of 4 Canadian cents per share Home Capital Group Inc (HCG). 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Expected Q4 earnings of 19 Canadian cents per share Manulife Financial Corp (MFC). Expected Q4 earnings of 51 Canadian cents per share Meg Energy Corp (MEG). Expected Q4 loss of 33 Canadian cents per share Mercer International Inc (MERC). Expected Q4 earnings of 23 cents per share Precision Drilling Corp (PD). Expected Q4 loss of 15 Canadian cents per share Sierra Wireless Inc (SW). Expected Q4 earnings of 16 cents per share Telus Corp (T). Expected Q4 earnings of 58 Canadian cents per share Vecima Networks Inc (VCM). Expected Q2 earnings of 16 Canadian cents per share Wi-LAN Inc (WIN). Expected Q4 earnings of 6 cents per share CORPORATE EVENTS 10:00 ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc (ATA). Q3 earnings conference call 10:00 Genworth MI Canada Inc (MIC). Q4 earnings conference call 11:00 Intact Financial Corp (IFC). Q4 earnings conference call EXDIVIDENDS Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc (RBA). Amount $0.17 For Morning News Call U.S. -- a preview of market-moving news for the trading day: - type US/MNC in a news browser if you are an Eikon user, or type RT/US/MNC in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For The Day Ahead -- a recap of the day's events and preview of the next trading day: - type DAY/US in a news browser if you are an Eikon user or type RT/DAY/US in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For an index of our newsletters click on For more than 20 years, world-renowned pianist Awadagin (ah-wah-DODGE-in) Pratt has been breaking the conventions of a typical classical musician. Early in his career, Pratt played from a 14-inch high lamp stand that he used as a low-slung piano bench. He still ditches the conventional tux and tails, favoring jeans or slacks along with brightly colored T-shirts and button downs during performances. And it takes a certain level of cool to pull off a leopard- and zebra-print shirt when performing for the President of the United States at the White House, which Pratt did in 2009. In a genre of music dominated by white musicians, Pratts presence among the modern greats makes a real impact. It's interesting, one of the classes I teach here at Randolph, the very first article that I have the students read is titled Dead White Men in Wigs, said Emily Yap Chua, professor and chair of the music department of Randolph College. And that's a lot of times what people think of when they think of classical music now. Pratt sets them straight the moment he sits down in front of the keys and plays renditions of famous compositions, like Beethovens sonatas, with intensity and deep introspection that blend together to provide new insight into a classic piece. There's a passion and a kind of fierce energy to Pratt's playing, with an explosive power simmering just beneath the surface, Janelle Gelfand wrote in the Cincinnati Enquirer, reviewing Pratts 2005 debut performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music after he joined the colleges faculty. "His Beethoven sonatas the E Major, Op. 14, No. 1 and A-flat Major, Op. 110 were probing and dramatically explosive, yet delivered with such clarity that the listener discovered elements one never knew existed, the review continued. In particular, Beethoven's great Op. 110, with its thundering climaxes and rapt soft passages, was a revelation of color and emotion." Many critics over the years have remarked on Pratts unique reinterpretations, a term with which Pratt does not agree. I don't think of myself as reinterpreting, he said during a phone call last week. I'm starting from the score and so, I take everything all of what I decide and understand from what the composer wrote on the page and from whatever information that I have about the context of when the piece was written; stylistic concerns that can be directly addressed and not guessed at. Thats the information that I have, the information that I use. Pratt, who began studying piano at age 6, startled the music world when he won the prestigious Naumburg Piano Competition in 1992, becoming the first African-American instrumentalist to do so, just before graduating from the Peabody Institute. He also became the first student in the schools history to graduate with degrees in three performance areas: piano, violin and conducting. It was fearless and for someone that age, remarkable," former Peabody professor Robert Weirich told the Baltimore Sun in 1994 of Pratt's piano audition into the conservatory. "You can't tell most piano students apart at that age. Awadagin was already Awadagin. In his years with me, he was always experimenting things went crazy sometimes, but they were never dull." Two years later, Pratt received an Avery Fisher Career Grant and debuted at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic. I remember when I was in school in the 90s and hearing about him. Hes sort of been on my radar ever since then, Chua said. For anyone who has any awareness of classical music, his name is one you'd recognize. He has performed around the world, on TV programs ranging from the Today Show to Sesame Street and for two presidents at the White House. Pratt, who will play this Saturday at Randolph College as part of the schools free concert series, currently holds three distinct careers, as a touring pianist, a conductor and an educator. I think its great that he, along with a lot of other artists their activity in the field demonstrates that classical music is not some sort of arcane, historic and almost dead practice, said Chua. That it can be more contemporary, and more diverse and more relatable than what people think when they think of the bust of Beethoven. Prior to his concert here, Pratt talked with The Burg about his take on the limitless possibilities of the piano, his approach to concert sets and his impact on the music world. During your 2016 Peabody commencement address, you told the students to ask themselves who they are. So, I am asking you, who are you? I am essentially a person, as far as music is concerned, whos really passionate about communicating with an audience. What Im communicating is essentially the emotions, the emotional life, the expression of the composer. The audience experiences it through me as a lens. The composer can't express themselves in playing and theyve left it up to this music, and my job is to communicate this music, these notes, to the audience and have them feel what the composer was feeling. Essentially, the big picture about art in general is about keeping us kind of connected to our humanity and our shared experiences, and it also celebrates what were capable of as human beings. All of the emotions, the fullness of life that we experience, I think art also celebrates that. I'm someone who's fully engaged with that process, with the communication of it. You have described the piano as an infinite art. What do you mean by that? I mean by that you play a piece, do all of your due diligence, if you will study, analyze, practice and then perform the next time you come back to that piece, you've kind of got to start all over again. No performance is ever going to be the same, but also, you discover more things. It couldnt just be one thing if you can play a piece for a very long time. There's always something some relationship, some sound relationship, some allusion the composer made to a big event later [in the piece] theres always something that shows up. So, in that sense, it's infinite. One can never fully know a piece and that process is really giving you something every time. In terms of a score, how does the context energize a piece for you? Knowing what Beethoven's instrument was for instance. What the fortepiano sounded like, what the early pianoforte sounded like. Would the capabilities and limitations of those instruments impact how I conceive of the sound that Beethoven was familiar with, which has nothing to do with the modern concert grand? So, that kind of imagination of what this might sound like or [what] his conception was of a particular sound world comes from that contextual information. You talk about the idea of being an innovator in music. How do you think youve been one? I think that in terms of innovation up to this point, I would say the most its nothing but its something I think I loosened the dress code for classical musicians, for concert artists. Now, a lot of conductors, even, don't wear tails and tuxes; soloists for sure dont. Though, some still do, but really at the time when I started some 20 years ago, I was really the only one and very quickly, a few people followed. And I don't know what the long-term effects of that will be. I dont know if that sort of begins to break down these aesthetic barriers to people feeling more comfortable coming to concerts if they havent been. Certainly, if the performers are not overly concerned about, in particular, having to represent quote unquote high culture, then the audience doesnt feel like this is some alien thing. That they have to have a certain protocol and certain sort of learned behaviors that they have to know before they can come into the hall. It's a small thing, but maybe it does, over some period of time, invite more people into the concert hall. What do you think classical music means to this next generation? I think it represents anything that it has in any other generation as far as I was talking about on the arts and humanities. Those things don't change, those things that concern us in our lives or in our families, and love and happiness and sadness are the same things that concerned Beethoven and Franck and Bach and John Adams. The relevance and the immediacy of the connection remains the same, it's just a question of continuing to break down some of these barriers about what people think music means. A global manufacturer is bringing 150 jobs to the former General Motors Powertrain plant in Spotsylvania County, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday. Missouri-based idX Corp., which produces decor, fixtures, graphics and millwork for retailers, is investing $7.2 million to set up shop at the plant on Tidewater Trail, according to a governors office news release. The company hopes to have a soft opening June 1 and be fully operational later that month, idX spokeswoman Lin Courtois said in an email to The Free LanceStar. It will fill the jobs over an estimated three years, she said. An undetermined number of the 150 jobs will be filled by existing employees in Columbia, Md., which is about 90 miles north of Fredericksburg. The company is moving its operations there to Spotsylvania, Courtois said, but idX anticipates hiring a good number of Virginians. She could not immediately provide a pay range for the workers. The 289,000-square-foot facility across from Fredericksburg Country Club has been vacant since the GM plant closed in 2010. McAuliffe approved a $400,000 state grant to help the company improve the plant. In addition, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program will contribute an unspecified amount of funding and services for idXs employee training activities. The company also will receive about $1.5 million in incentives from Spotsylvania over 10 years, according to a county news release. A county spokeswoman said the Board of Supervisors must approve the incentives agreement before she can publicly release it. Virginia competed against Maryland and North Carolina to win the project, according to the governors office. The manufacturer is purchasing the 77-acre facility from RACER Trust, which a federal judge created to sell off GMs former assets after the company declared bankruptcy in 2009. The sale is expected to be finalized soon. idX has locations across North America, in addition to Asia, Europe and the Indian subcontinent to meet the needs of global customers, the governors release states. It specializes in wood, metal, glass, acrylic, laminates, veneers and upholstery. Winning this project is a testament to both Spotsylvania County and the commonwealths open and competitive business climate, strategic location and top-notch workforce, McAuliffe stated in the news release. Spotsylvania County Administrator Mark Taylor lauded the companys bold decision to adapt and enlarge the former plant, saying the jobs will reduce commutes for some of our talented Spotsylvania workforce. A county news release said the company will expand the plant over five years. Supervisor Gary Skinner, whose Lee Hill District includes the site, said officials have worked hard to replace the lost jobs at the GM plant, which employed 300 people in its heyday. idX is a very good start for us to replace those jobs, Skinner said. Terry Schultz, CEO of idX, said in a statement that the Spotsylvania investment will strengthen the companys East Coast manufacturing and distribution network. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. Revisit the founding of the JSA and foreshadow its future in The New Golden Age #1 preview And see what lies ahead in the future of the DC Universe BLOWS FOR ROWLEY Im not in your choice of men. You have a responsibility to determine who you associate with and to know when to get out and the State will try to help. This comment by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during his Conversations with the Prime Minister forum on Monday in Maloney, caused a tidal wave of condemnation and outrage among the nations women, many of whom took to social media and via press releases (from advocacy groups) demanding a full apology from the prime minister for comments deemed as victim shaming and victim blaming. Rowleys response, in a press release last night, was unequivocally unapologetic and in fact stated he sought to empower women to make smart choices. A release from the Office of the Prime Minister said Rowleys remarks were misinterpreted by some groups which claimed he blamed the victim for the heinous incident on Sunday at MovieTowne, when Jamilla De Revenenauxs throat was slit. The Prime Minister was conversing with the people and his statement has been taken out of context. He categorically rejects this interpretation of his statement, the release stated. The Prime Minister, being a father and grandfather and understanding the importance of the association we keep and our personal well-being offered further empowering advice to our women, by advising women that, you have the responsibility to determine who you associate with and know when to get out. The Prime Minister wants women to be empowered to make smart choices. The Prime Minister does not blame the victims of domestic violence but rather sympathises with the victims and the families of both the victims and the perpetrators. The statement urged domestic violence victims to call a help-line, STATE HAS A DUTY Head of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies Dr Gabrielle Hosein said emphatically that it is not women but men and the State, who have a responsibility for male violence. Women have no responsibility for male violence. Mens violence is entirely their choice and occurs in situations where they are exercising control, and in a wider context where male superiority is considered natural. This all leads to an invisibility around male violence except when it becomes severe, Hosein said. Women, she said, do not seek a relationship with an abusive man. Abuse develops over the course of a relationship when certain factors come into play such as a pregnancy, when women get their own jobs and the man loses his. Abuse and its severity tend to develop over time, she said. It is therefore not an individual issue but a societal issue, a public health issue and a citizenship issue. Greater vulnerability to violence defines women in TT, she said, adding that the States response to violence against women has never been adequate at the level of policing, social services, the court system, and anti gender- based violence training in schools. The protection order system needs to be completely revamped, as it is not working in womens interests, Hosein insisted. (See Page 5A) WOMANTRA, AMEEN ROAR Gender advocacy group Womantra yesterday demanded that Rowley take responsibility for the damage he caused to the integrity of his office. The group demanded that he apologise for his terrible lack of judgement and faulty reasoning behind the comment. Women are not killed because they have made a bad choice in men but because their lives are not valued as much as male aggression is and the ownership of female bodies is. We are watching closely and await your response, Womantra said in a release. For her part, Opposition Senator and UNC Chairman Khadija Ameen said Rowleys statement reeked of machoism and was reckless and insensitive. Ameen, who spoke during yesterdays sitting of the Senate, reminded Rowley that former Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee was forced to resign after blaming women for crimes committed against them over the way they dressed. This after Japanese pan player Asami Nagakiya was murdered during Carnival 2016. Ameen said in the same way Tim Kees statement was unacceptable, Rowleys, is totally unacceptable because this is the same type of thinking that says victims of rape are responsible for the rape. Declaring that Rowley lacks understanding on the issues of victim shaming and victim blaming, Ameen called on him to, do us one favour. Google victim shaming. Google victim blaming. Have a read and then come back to us. Ameen said that as a father of two daughters, she is calling on Rowley, to examine the psychological effects of violence against women and look at violence in our nation from a different approach...for the sake of this country. Repeated attempts by Newsday to contact Camille Robinson-Regis, chairman of the PNMs Womens League, for a comment on Rowleys statement proved futile. SOCIAL MEDIA ABUZZ Meanwhile, many ordinary citizens yesterday used social media to express anger over what they described as insensitive statements by Rowley. One man said, When a man meets a woman in the beginning, he acts well-behaved and puts up a very decent front and is only after he wins her love and gets comfortable, is when he start to show who he really is. The man added that Rowley should have talked about providing women with access to legal representation, promoting gender equality in schools, bringing greater attention to violence against women and giving free self defence or martial arts courses to women. Another man opined on social media that the prime minister humiliated all female victims of domestic violence. Rowley your speech is sending the wrong message to abusive men and also to victims, the man said. (Additional reporting by Darcel Choy and Sean Dougla Boy Boy charged for Nadias murder Ramroop, a yam vendor of Ramdass Trace Extension in Santa Flora, appeared in the First Court before Magistrate Armina Deonarinesingh who read the charge that sometime between January 27 and February 2, at Field Road, St Clyne in Santa Flora, he murdered Simms. Sgt Darryl Corrie of Homicide Bureau Region III laid the charge. An autopsy performed at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James, proved inconclusive because of the advanced state of decomposition. Yesterday, at the court hearing, Charlene Kalloo represented the accused together with attorney Roopnarine Rambachan, who was retained by Ramroops relatives. Addressing the magistrate, Kalloo raised two concerns on behalf of her client, the first being that Ramroop is a State witness in a capital matter and his safety is paramount while he remains on remand. The second concern was that Ramroop has kidney problems and needs proper medical care while in custody. Attorney Rambachan told the court that Ramroops relatives have not seen him since last week Friday and wanted to visit him at the Siparia Police Station. Court prosecutor Sgt Anthony Baptiste responded that relatives can visit him at the prison where there are facilities to accommodate them. After taking note of all issues raised, Magistrate Deonarinesingh remanded Ramroop into police custody and adjourned the case to March 7. Pan Trinbago demands NCC probe A press release from the pan bodys Public Relations Officer Michael Joseph, said the current impasse between itself and the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, via the NCC was, very unfortunate given the kind of outstanding contributions the steelpan fraternity has made towards the recognition and development of Trinidad and Tobago at home and abroad for over 50 years. The release sought to dispel information in the public domain namely the president of Pan Trinbagos salary and the reason/reasons behind the lack of construction of its headquarters. The president is not now or ever was in receipt of a salary of $75,000 plus perks to the tune of $20,000, the release stated. The NCC, Pan Trinbago stated, rented vehicles for Pan Trinbago Central and Regional executives, knowing it to be an integral tool in the operation of the organisationit is strange the organisation evolved to the point of being able to rent vehicles for its operations, according to its needs, we are accused of squandering by those who have not now or ever done an assessment of our needs. The release added that the skeletal remains of the proposed pan headquarters has been a victim of political gerrymandering when former prime minister Basdeo Panday was voted out of office. Panday, the release stated, gave it the parcel of land off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway and promised to build the headquarters. The release stated that Pan Trinbago and its line minister always had a close and cordial relationship and asked, what gave rise to the kind of adversarial position that now seems to exist between this new and youthful minister (Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly) and the organisation? Tanty Joan (Yuille-Williams) or Big Sister Marlene (McDonald) would have applied more class and style in their dealings with groups under their charge. Dialogue would have been the very first intervention. Not bacchanal and scandal in the public domain, the release added. Here Are the Most Overrated Tourist Spots in the US It appears the world is about to get familiar with the fascinating story of Oney Judge. As the New York Times explains, Judge (also known as Ona) was one of George Washington's slaves until she managed to escape. The president took this as a personal affronthe huffed at her "ingratitude"and tried to recapture her for years, right up until his death. Washington famously freed his slaves in his will, but Judge technically belonged to Martha Washington and thus wouldn't have been affected. Judge's story hasn't been widely told, but it is now included in an exhibition at Mount Vernon and is also the subject of a book, Never Caught, by the University of Delaware's Erica Armstrong Dunbar. "We have the famous fugitives, like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass," says Dunbar. "But decades before them, Ona Judge did this. I want people to know her story." And quite a story it is: Judge was born into slavery at Mount Vernon, and she traveled with the first couple first to New York and then to Philadelphia when Washington became president. It was in Philadelphia that Judge learned she was to be given to Martha Washington's granddaughter and re-shipped south. Instead, she slipped away from the presidential mansion with the help of free blacks and made it to New Hampshire. She would marry and have three children there, and though she lived in near poverty, she expressed no regrets in two interviews before her death in 1848, at around age 75, reports Philly.com. Washington, for his part, tried to skirt federal rules on the recapture of slaves and enlisted a customs employee to get her back, reports the New York Post. Judge, however, evaded all attempts at recapture. (A kids' book on Washington's slaves didn't go over well.) Synthetic fleece is greatuntil you consider the fact that every time it's washed, it releases thousands of microfibers into the environment. Microscopic plastic fibers may now be one of the most common types of plastic debris found in samples from the environment, including animals, ecologist and evolutionary biologist Chelsea Rochman tells NPR, and that means we humans are likely eating the synthetic fibers without realizing it. Previous studies have found microfibers in table salt and fish; last year, Alternet explained that marine life is particularly prone to ingesting microfibers because they go from the washing machine through the sewage system and into various waterways. Microfibers are, it turns out, more pervasive in the environment than even microbeadswhich were banned in the US in 2015 over similar problems. In 2011, one ecologist found that 85% of human debris on shorelines around the world is synthetic microfiber. Now, outdoor outfitting company Patagoniawhich often uses microfiber in its productsis also looking into the problem, and has found that a polyester fleece jacket shed as many as 2 grams of microfibers (that's an amount weighing more than a paperclip) each time it's washed, and even more when washed in a top-loader. The next question: Are these microfibers harmful to wildlife and humans? The answer is not yet clear, but one conservationist says he's not waiting to find out; he recommends washing your microfleece as little as possible. The Guardian reported last year that there are also a few ideas floating around for products that would trap microfibers in the washing machine rather than allowing them down the drain. (This microfiber fabric generates its own electricity.) An angry North Carolina mother has lodged an unusual complaint about her infant's day care: She says a worker breastfed her 3-month-old son without permission. Kaycee Oxendine tells WTVD-TV in Durham that security footage inside Carrboro Early School showed a woman adjusting her top and bringing Oxendine's child to her chest to breastfeed him, per the AP. Oxendine said she had mentioned that her son was constipated, and a woman working in the nursery asked if she could breastfeed the boy to see if it would help. Oxendine twice said no. Day care director Daron Council said another employee reported what happened and the worker is no longer there. Oxendine said she brought her lactose-intolerant son to the hospital that night because he was throwing up. She said the worker was fired, but she also wants her to face criminal charges. Police were investigating, but no charges have been filed so far. (Read more breastfeeding stories.) A fugitive murder suspect who vowed he wouldn't be taken alive killed himself after being cornered at a Georgia motel Tuesday, police say. William "Billy" Boyette died of what police say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound moments after alleged accomplice Mary Rice surrendered at a motel in West Point, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Cops believe the pair murdered Alicia Greer and Jacqueline Moore at a motel in Milton, Fla., on Jan. 31 before killing Peggy Broz in Lillian, Ala., on Feb. 3 to steal her car. A fourth victim, Kayla Crocker, was shot in Pensacola, Fla., on Monday and died from her injuries on Tuesday, USA Today reports. Rice has been charged with robbery and first-degree murder. Police say they found the pair and that a standoff at the Motel West Point began after they received a tip from a citizen who spotted Crocker's car outside the motel at 2:30pm. The vehicle was stolen after a home invasion in which Crocker was fatally wounded but her 2-year-old son was left unharmed, AL.com reports. Boyette was confirmed dead and Rice was arrested at around 6:15pm. Boyette was in a relationship with Greer, but police say there was no known connection between him or Rice and any of the other three victims. "There is nothing to make sense of this. He needed a car, and he did not care 'cause he's an evil person," Broz's father-in-law tells NBC News. (Read more murder stories.) "I found paradise and it's called Isla Ina," wrote Catherine Johannet on Jan. 28 on Instagram of an island off Panama's coast. It would be the 23-year-old's final post. The 2015 Columbia University grad was found dead Sunday afternoon on the country's Bastimentos Island. Now the New York Daily News cites Panama's La Prensa in reporting an initial autopsy suggests she was strangled. The Edgemont, New York, native was last seen Thursday morning. The Briarcliff Daily Voice reports she had planned to leave Colon Island, where she was staying, to go to Red Frog Beach on Bastimentos for the day; authorities were alerted when she didn't return to her hostel, and her body was found by a police officer days later in a wooded area near Bastimentos' shore. The Daily News calls Johannet a "globetrotting Scarsdale woman," and her brother Paul elaborates on that in a Facebook post. "She was a world travelerby the age of 23, she had already visited 6 continents and innumerable countries, including a recent 18-month trip to Vietnam where she taught English Literature to local students." Panamanian investigators, in concert with the FBI, on Tuesday conducted raids on the area as part of their investigation, though no details have been given regarding them or whether there are any suspects. Adds brother Paul, "She was cheerful, adventurous, thoughtful and warmall qualities I strive towards. I'll always look up to my youngest sister." (A teen confessed on Monday to killing an American tourist in London.) Somalia holds a groundbreaking presidential election Wednesday amid a security lockdown that has closed the capital's international airport and cleared major streets. Fears of attacks by Islamic extremist group al-Shabab have limited the election to the country's legislators, who will vote at the airport, a heavily guarded former air force base in the capital, Mogadishu, the AP reports. It is considered the country's most secure site. Rounds of voting are expected to narrow down the 22 candidates to a winner. The nation, shattered by years of warlord-led conflict and al-Shabab attacks, along with famine, is trying to put together its first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century. The legislators voting Wednesday275 members of the lower legislative house and 54 senatorswere selected by the country's powerful network of clans. Weeks ago, a joint statement by the UN, the US, European Union, and others warned of "egregious cases of abuse of the electoral process." Examples included violence, intimidation, and men taking seats that had been reserved for female candidates, the statement said. With reports of votes being sold for up to $30,000 apiece, "this is probably the most expensive election, per vote, in history," Mogadishu-based anti-corruption group Marqaati said. Militants launched fresh attacks late Tuesday, with two mortar rounds landing near the election venue, the BBC reports. (Read more Somalia stories.) Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on Tuesday after a severe storm moved across the state's southeast corner, injuring about 40 people. Edwards said he was heartbroken to see Louisiana families suffering again, the AP reports. He said seven parishes were hit by tornadoes and much of the worst damage was in eastern New Orleans, part of the 9th Ward that was so heavily flooded by Hurricane Katrina. He promised that the state will provide affected residents with the resources they need as quickly as possible. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said late Tuesday that 31 injuries had been reported in the city, six of them severe, with around 250 properties badly damaged over the path of a tornado, the Times-Picayune reports. The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama. An official at NASA's Michoud facility in New Orleans said it suffered some structural damage but the deep-space equipment being built there, including hardware and tooling used in the Orion and Space Launch System projects, does not appear to have been harmed. Michoud will have to make a "significant effort" to cover everything up so any subsequent bad weather doesn't affect it while the building's roof and walls are repaired. Two Mississippi counties reported wind damage, but no injuries, from suspected tornadoes. Other areas of Mississippi saw heavy rain and hail from the storm system that spawned multiple tornadoes in Louisiana. (Read more Louisiana stories.) A woman who climbed atop a life-size donkey statue at a Mexican restaurant in Florida is suing said restaurant after she says she fell and broke her back. Kimberly Bonn says she mounted the donkey for a photo during a visit to El Jalisco Southwood in Tallahassee on Aug. 31, 2015, per the Tallahassee Democrat. This wasn't such an unusual thing to do, according to Bonn, as restaurant workers encouraged customers to sit atop the statue. The issue, she alleges, was that there were no steps to help customers onto the donkey's saddle-less back, which was "smooth and slick." In a negligence lawsuit filed last week in Leon County Circuit Civil court, Bonn says she fell "hard to the floor" from the donkey and fractured her spine, reports Florida Politics. She's seeking more than $15,000 in damages. Meanwhile, a group in support of the restaurant has received hundreds of likes on Facebook. "Just because you are an a-- doesn't mean you should be treated like one! Join us in standing up for this poor donkey from El Jalisco Restaurant here in Tallahassee as he prepares for the fight of his life," a Tuesday post reads. (Read more Florida stories.) The three judges who grilled attorneys about President Trump's travel ban are expected to decide later this week on whether it should be put back into effect. While it's anybody's guess what they'll say, most of the coverage is focusing on how skeptical the judges seemed about the Justice Department's rationale for the executive order. In fact the department's attorney sensed that things weren't going well and thus suggested a compromiserestore part of the ban. "I'm not sure I'm convincing the court, so I want to make one really key point with regard to the injunction, and that is that it's overbroad,'' said August Flentje, per Bloomberg. He suggested reinstating the ban so that it affects only people who have never been to the US before, reports the Wall Street Journal. "Previously admitted aliens who are temporarily abroad now or who wish to travel and return to the United States in the future" would be free to come and go as they please, he said, reading from a brief. But as the New York Times notes, one of the judges, Richard Clifton, sounded skeptical that was the court's role. Why shouldnt we look to the executive branch to more clearly define what the order means? he asked. And opposing attorney Noah Purcell complained that "they've changed their minds about five times" since the order was issued about its exact terms. Meanwhile, the president weighed in on Twitter Wednesday morning: If the U.S. does not win this case as it so obviously should, we can never have the security and safety to which we are entitled. Politics! (Read more Trump travel ban stories.) Two Australian parents are blasting President Trump for including the incident that killed their children on his list of 78 terror attacks he contends weren't properly covered by the media, USA Today reports. British tourists Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, and Tom Jackson, 30, were stabbed to death at an Australian hostel in August. Police say Smail Ayad, the French national who killed them, may have been "romantically obsessed" with Ayliffe-Chung. He has no connection to the Islamic State and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. Despite that, the deaths of Ayliffe-Chung and Jackson were deemed terror-related by Trump. In an open letter to Trump, Rosie Ayliffe accuses the president of using her daughter's death to "further this insane persecution of innocent people" and "lead ignorant people into darkness and hatred." In his own open letter, Les Jackson says Trump is purposefully lying about his son's death to "suit his agenda." Ayliffe says that after seeing Trump's list, the police chief in charge of the investigation emailed to let her know there was still "no terror link" in the case, the Guardian reports. Even people whose family members actually were killed in terror attacks aren't thrilled with Trump's list. Alpha Chung, whose father died in such an attack in Australia, tells ABC it's a "painful experience" to have the death of a loved one dragged back into the news to further a political agenda. And he says the attack that resulted in his father's death was heavily covered all over the world. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Feb 8 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** BlackBerry Ltd is preparing to turn its once-proprietary BBM secure-messaging system into a subscription service that app developers can build into their software to allow for seamless, encrypted communications. https://tgam.ca/2k1YFH2 ** Canada's largest private-sector union, Unifor, has publicly thrown its weight behind deposed union leader Bob Kinnear as an increasingly nasty battle over who should represent 10,000 of Toronto's transit workers heated up with allegations of "spies" and a "coup". https://tgam.ca/2k20Fnn NATIONAL POST ** The Toronto Stock Exchange is vying for a piece of the expected initial public offering of Saudi Aramco as international bourses battle for a slice of what could be the world's largest IPO. http://bit.ly/2lpLBNF ** Husky Energy Inc had sold a cargo of one million barrels of oil to China, making it a major shipment of oil from Atlantic Canada headed across the globe to markets in China. http://bit.ly/2kR1a2Y (Compiled by Gaurika Juneja in Bengaluru) New Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor also got into the pitched battle with fellow auto makers to lure prospective buyers this year by launching the dual-tone of its hatchback Etios Liva on Tuesday. The new Liva comes with a revamped exterior and is equipped with dual front SRS Airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat Locks. Here are the technical specifications of the new Etios Liva - Model and Price The refreshed Etios Liva comes in two models, V and VX models, and is attractively priced in the range of Rs 5,94,535 to 6,44,861 for petrol and Rs 7,24,361 to Rs 7,61,403. Exterior Appeal The Etios Liva's exterior has new front grille with black finish, chrome fog lamp bezel, electrically-foldable ORVMs and a new roof spoiler. New list of features on the inside include piano black instrument panel and rear removable headrests, among others. Safety The Liva has been designed with better safety measures which include dual airbags for both driver and passenger on the front, Anti-Lock Breaking (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) across all models and all grades, all five seats with three-point ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) seatbelts, etc. N. Raja, director and senior vice president (Sales and Marketing) said the focus of the new car is on improved safety. "The new Etios Liva sets a benchmark in safety with standardized dual airbags and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) across all grades which is the first in the industry. New ISOFIX child seat locks for all models and all grades has been added to ensure safety of children." " It is with this underlying philosophy that Toyota has come a long way with the Etios series. We had introduced our first dual tone Etios during the festive season in the year 2015 which had received overwhelming response. Later during September 2016, we had introduced the Platinum Etios and Liva catering to the changing taste of Indian customers, setting new standards of safety, dependability, quality and performance." The new generation Dual-Tone Etios Liva is a whole package with the best in class safety features, fuel efficiency, space, stylish looks, quality and performance. It sets a benchmark in safety with standardized dual air bags and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) across all grades which is the first in the industry. New ISOFIX child seat locks for all models and all grades has been added to ensure safety of children. We are confident that Indian customers will appreciate the most trendiest hatchback in town. He further added. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: After signing in an interesting star cast of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has roped in another diva for his upcoming period drama Padmavati. We are talking about Aditi Rao Hydari, who will reportedly be seen playing Ranveers wife in the movie. Interestingly, this is the second time the actress will be working with Ranveer. Earlier, the two had paired up for a play nine years ago. Talking about the same, Aditi told a leading daily, Do you know even before Padmavati, Ranveer and I worked together? It was not a movie but a skit on Bollywood that me and Ranveer enacted, Shaad Ali directed and Farah Khan choreographed for Pariss Nuit Blanche Festival in 2008. Ranveer hasnt changed one bit. He is still an Energizer bunny, a ball of fire. He says I used to have chubby cheeks back then. He is right. I did have chubby cheeks. But he hasnt changed one bit. Also Read | Padmavati controversy: Aditi Rao Hydari comes out in support of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, says 'he should be given more freedom' While the diva is excited to reunite with Singh again, she cant stop gushing about being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and admitted that it is a dream come true moment for her. I remember when I had come to Mumbai, I was this lost waif trying to find my way around, my best friend asked me my wish-list of directors and I vividly remember I had mentioned three names: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mani Ratnam and Vishal Bhardwaj, Aditi told a leading daily. Interestingly, the Wazir actress has got the chance to work with two of her favourite directors simultaneously. While she will be working with Bhansali in Padmavati, Hydari is working with Mani Ratnam in his Tamil directorial Kaatru Veliyidai. Working with Mani Sir and Sanjay Sir is every actors dream come true. When I think of how much Ive learned from them, my eyes well up. Ive already got two of those names. I hope to soon get Vishalji to direct me, Aditi added. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Protests, Walkouts, and Congratulations from President Trump: Reactions to Betsy DeVos Winning Tightest Confirmation Ever The reaction to Betsy DeVos confirmation as education secretary on Tuesday was fast and mostly furious, with celebrities and Democratic politicians unleashing outrage on social media, and a sprinkling of supporters including President Donald Trump and Jeb Bush congratulating DeVos on her narrow win. Despite a rare, all-night protest by Senate Democrats on Monday night that carried into Tuesday morning, DeVos was confirmed by Senate in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President Mike Pence casting a historic, tie-breaking ballot. DeVos, a wealthy GOP donor, has been widely criticized for weeks for her multiple conflicts of interest and her apparent lack knowledge of basic education policy. As DeVos was confirmed on Tuesday, hundreds of New York City high school and college students walked out of class and gathered in Manhattans Foley Square in protest of Trump and his executive order temporarily banning refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. According to Gothamist, the protesters also booed DeVos coinciding confirmation after one student speaker shouted, Betsy DeVos was confirmed today despite her shameful inexperience and complete lack of understanding for the very job she seeks. Others took to social media to speak out against DeVos confirmation. To all who are angry or frustrated about today's vote confirming DeVos, please know: the vote may be over, but our fight must continue. pic.twitter.com/QHFveiRv9d Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBookerOffice) February 7, 2017 Elementary math under Betsy Devos Q: Ned and Sheryl each have 4 apples. Who has more apples? A: Whomever Mike Pence decides has more apples. Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) February 7, 2017 Betsy DeVos confirmed. What is also confirmed is that there is not one single man of courage in the Republican Congress. Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) February 7, 2017 I wouldn't trust Betsy Devos with my dry cleaning. This is a very sad day. The @GOP are such money grubbing cowards. Shameful. billy eichner (@billyeichner) February 7, 2017 Congradgulations to Betsy DeVos! Childrens need learning go give them learning Betsy!!!!! Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 7, 2017 The U.S. Senate Republicans who just put through the most unqualified Education Secretary in our history have just betrayed our kids. F#*k U https://t.co/wRPLbq3zjQ Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 7, 2017 Meanwhile, the president took to Twitter to congratulate his controversial pick for education secretary: Story continues His presidential primary rival, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, also voiced his support for DeVos, as did former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Senate confirmation of Betsy DeVos is real victory for parents and children choosing schools they need.victory for Pres Trump and America Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) February 7, 2017 I congratulate @BetsyDeVos on her confirmation as our nations next Secretary of Education. The President made an excellent choice. https://t.co/BEdEJoL7AK Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 7, 2017 DeVos herself address the Senates heated debate over her nomination in a tweet following her confirmation. I appreciate the Senate's diligence & am honored to serve as @usedgov Secretary. Let's improve options & outcomes for all US students. Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) February 7, 2017 I appreciate the Senates diligence & am honored to serve as @usedgov Secretary. Lets improve options & outcomes for all US students, she wrote. New Delhi: A day after his first defence of demonetisation in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday. PM Modi will reply to debate on motion of thanks to Presidentas address in Rajya Sabha later on Wednesday. Here are the live updates: #Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM Congress President Sonia Gandhi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/brMclRsUNt a ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/Sm1Sz3A2mc a ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 #Delhi: Kerala MPs stage a protest in front of Gandhi statue inside Parliament House complex over Father Tom issue. #Delhi: TMC MPs stage a protest in front of Gandhi statue inside Parliament House complex on Demonetisation #PM Narendra Modi to reply to debate on motion of thanks to President's address in Rajya Sabha PM Narendra Modi, who refrained from speaking on demonetisation during the winter session of Parliament, finally broke his silence on Tuesday when he defended his move in Lok Sabha. He said that the timing of the currency ban move was perfect as that time the economy was in good health and there was a lull in business following the festive season. aWhen can you have an operation? When the body is healthy. The economy was doing well and thus our decision was taken at the right time. Like Swachh Bharat, the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India (from corruption and black money),a he said. He called demonetisation a apro-poora move, saying the government was clear from the beginning that awe are ready for a discussion on demonetisation but some were more keen on TV bytes and not debates.a aHowever big you are, you will have to return what rightfully belongs to the poor,a he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu made it clear that Centre or BJP has no role in internal matters of crisis-ridden AIADMK. Naidu asserted that Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will take a decision in line with the Constitution to resolve the issue. Rift widened within the AIADMK when acting CM O Panneerselvam on Tuesday night claimed that he was forced to resign from the post to pave the way for party General Secretary VK Sasikala's elevation to the post. I don't want to comment on what is happening internally in AIADMK. And Centre and BJP doesn't have any role in it. Secondly, the allegations against the Governor too are wrong. He will take the right decision at the right time in line with the Constitution and after seeking opinion of legal experts, he told reporters. ALSO READ | Party remains united and will not be cowed down by Panneerselvams revolt, says Sasikala When asked about allegations levelled against him by some of his opponents that BJP was behind him, Pannerselvam on Wednesday said, They (his opponent) don't have any strong ground against me. They can't level any allegation against me. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chennai: The political turmoil in Tamil Nadu has prompted veteran actor Kamal Haasan to exhort people to become incorruptible themselves rather than blaming politicians. In a series of tweets, the 62-year-old actor said the entire country is with the state in the ongoing stand-off between AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and Sasikala. Weve wasted our freedom years gambling our fanchise on wrong& corrupt politicians. Lets stop blaming them. Lets become incorruptable (sic). Dont break TN in to a country. I promise, All India will fight for TN in a civil war of Ahinsa. None might die but the ignorant will come alive, Haasan wrote. ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu turmoil: Sasikala set to parade 130 AIADMK MLAs before President if Guv Rao refuses to invite her; Guv to reach Chennai tomorrow A political turmoil was triggered in the state after sacked Treasurer and Chief Minister Panneerselvam revolted against party General Secretary Sasikala saying she has no powers to sack him as Treasurer and she herself was elected on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation faced by the party after Jayalalithaas demise. Amid the row, 131 MLAs attended Sasikala-chaired meeting to discuss the fallout of the revolt by Panneerselvam. Don't breakTN in2 a country. I promise, All India will fight 4TN in a civil war of Ahinsa.None might die but the ignorant will come alive Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 We've wasted our freedom years gambling our fanchise on wrong& corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them Lets become incorruptable. Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ghaziabad: With the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh nearing, Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed an election rally in Ghaziabad, where he attacked UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the ruling Samajwadi Party. On Congress-SP alliance, PM Modi said that Akhilesh has kept his feet on a drowningA boat. Uttar Pradesh is going to polls between February 11 and March 8 in seven phases. Here are the highlights: #Some people are in a problem because of my fight against black money and corruption, even after so many days they still talk about it #Akhilesh Yadav has kept his feet on a drowning boat by joining hands with Congress #Why should builders harass citizens who are keen to buy a house and have saved money for that #Why are traders and small business harassed in Uttar Pradesh? We will protect the business community #Unemployment is a cause of concern in UP. Youth are not given chance to prove their expertise #We need to make Uttar Pradesh corruption-free and for this the corrupt govt needs to be removed #UP's law and order situation needs improvement but the state government is not bothered #This is so unfortunate for Uttar Pradesh that here women can not step out of home in evening #When Kalyan Singh Ji and Rajnath Singh got a chance to serve, criminals did not get a free hand #When Akhilesh Yadav won in UP, the expectations were huge. We thought a young CM will do good but UP is disappointed #Akhilesh ji, the public knows what you did with your father, uncle and brothers #The ruling party in UP has to give an account of their work but why aren't they doing that #This UP election is to end the 'Vanvas' of development #Prime Minister begins his speech at the rally in Ghaziabad PM Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/FulGJbq3to a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 8, 2017 Uttar Pradesh: PM Narendra Modi to address an election rally in Ghaziabad, shortly pic.twitter.com/BHXhaH0FRl a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 8, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remark on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his vote of thanks speech in Rajya Sabha. PM Narendra Modi, during his speech in Rajya Sabha, took a jibe at former prime minister and said ''no one knows the art of bathing inside bathroom wearing a raincoat better than Dr Manmohan Singh''. After PM's remarks, the Congress MPs created a ruckus in the House and later walked out in protest. Chidambaram while addressing the media outside the House said that the PM attacked Manmohan Singh in a very unacceptable manner. It is an ugly statement against Manmohan Singh, extremely poor test. We are very disappointed so we have walked out in protest, said the former finance minister. Key Highlights | PM Modi in Rajya Sabha: Attacks on me or govt are understandable but why was RBI dragged into politics? Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh maintained his silence on the issue. He said that he doesnt want to speak anything on PM Modi's remarks. After the Congress MPs staged a walkout, PM Modi again resumed his speech and said, When you criticise other, you should also have the patience to accept criticism too. We can pay back in the same coin. Also read: PM Modi's vote of thanks, speech in Lok Sabha on Tuesday Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said: "PM Modi chooses to speak when everyone else is done & then makes unsubstantiated allegations. We cannot tolerate this and we will not let him speak until he apologises for his remarks." Among other Congress leaders, senior leader Ahmed Patel said that he wis unable to find words to criticise PM Modi for his remarks. It is highly disrespectful of a PM using these words. Read: FULL PARLIAMENT COVERAGE For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chennai: Two months after Jayalalithaas death, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said he would recommend an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge to probe the doubts surrounding the health condition and demise of the late leader. The chief ministers announcement came a day after senior party leader P H Pandian made some allegations over Jayalalithaas death. There are widespread doubts on Ammas health among people. It is the responsibility of a government to clear those doubts. An inquiry commission will be recommended to be set up under a sitting supreme court judge (to probe the matter), he said. ALSO READ | DMK slams Sasikala, seeks CBI probe into OPS' allegations of 'forced' resignation He was responding to reporters queries about doubts surrounding Jayalalithaas health and subsequent death. Doctors, including the British specialist who treated Jayalalithaa, had recently explained in detail the treatment given by Jayalalithaa. Pandian, who reiterated his allegations made against Sasikala yesterday, said he will file a complaint in this Regard. Panneerselvam says never met Jaya in hospital In his first public comments on Jayalalithaas hospitalisation, Panneerselvam said he could not meet her even once during her 75 days of hospitalisation. He also said that no political leader could meet her in the Apollo Hospitals where she died on December 5. Live | Sasikala hits out at Panneerselvam, says will give a big blow to act of betrayal For 75 days I went to the hospital. But I could not meet her even once. Even my family members used to ask me every day whether I met Amma. At one stage, I even thought of lying that I had met her. But I did not do so, Panneerselvam told a Tamil TV channel. Panneer, who was allocated the portfolios held by Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation, said he explained to his family that visitors were not allowed since she was in the intensive care unit and there was a possibility of infection. We were informed that Amma was recovering. We were confident. When we came to know that Amma has passed away, we felt we have lost all our powers, he said. Replying to a question whether anyone other than Sasikala met Jayalalithaa, he said: I do not have information about any political leader meeting her. Only the Governor went inside twice. I neither saw nor heard of any other leader meeting her. His comments assume significance as a host of leaders including BJP President Amit Shah, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Chief Ministers of neighbouring states had visited the Apollo Hospitals during Jayalalithaas hospitalisation. On whether Jayalalithaa wanted to meet him since he was a loyalist or he took any effort to visit her, the senior AIADMK leader said he tried several times. But thought may be I was unfortunate and a sinner not to have seen her in the hospital. To a question on recent resignation of some key state officials in the Chief Ministers office, he said there was no compulsion from him and it was a decision taken by them on their own. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Twitter is buzzing with news alerts from India and rest of the world. Here are the latest updates from the world of Twitter in one scroll:A #11:27 PM Paneerselvam writes to bank, says he is the Treasurer of AIADMK,asks not to allow any transactions in party account without his consent - ANI #10:35 PM He has already resigned, so why do you want to talk about him?: Thambidurai,AIADMK MP on Paneerselvam - ANI #10:09 PM Somalia's ex-PM Farmajo wins presidential vote after incumbent admits defeat. - AFP #9:58 PM He demeans his position and himself more than anyone else. Today's events were saddening and frankly; they were shameful:Rahul Gandhi - ANI #9:57 PM When a PM reduces himself to ridiculing his predecessor years his senior, he hurts the dignity of the parliament &the nation: Rahul Gandhi - ANI #9:55 PM I had said on Day 1 that this SP family feud is a high profile drama and nothing else: Yogi Adityanath,BJP MP - ANI #9:19 PM Commander of US-led coalition in Iraq says he expects to retake Mosul and Raqqa from IS within `next six months' - AP #9:03 PM Delhi to Bengaluru Go Airways flight makes emergency landing at Delhi airport due to a technical fault - ANI #8:48 PM Cabinet apprised of Framework Agreement between India and Vietnam on cooperation in exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes - ANI #8:32 PM AIADMK leaders(Sasikala supporters) got aggressive when cameras recorded their movements into Minister Edappadi K Palanisami's residence - ANI #8:28 PM Cabinet approves MoU between India and Senegal in the field of Health and Medicine - ANI #8:27 PM Cabinet approves 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyana - ANI #8:21 PM 30 year old South Sudan national allegedly sexually assaulted in Delhi. Police register case - ANI #8:18 PM Congress to boycott PM Modi in both houses of Parl for rest of budget session till he apologises for his remark on Dr.Manmohan Singh: Sources - ANI #8:14 PM Himalayan Glaciers are retreating but not at a rapid pace. No abnormal trend in their melting documented in recent years: Govt. - PTI #7:59 PM Trump attacks federal courts as 'so political,' defends travel ban - AFP #7:59 PM Zimbabwe protest leader Evan Mawarire released on bail: judge - AFP #7:49 PM 13 AIADMK MPs left Chennai for Delhi, earlier this evening - ANI #7:34 PM Maharashtra Guv Ch Vidyasagar Rao, holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu, to leave for Chennai tomorrow afternoon: Raj Bhavan official - PTI #7:30 PM Ghaziabad-Man shot his wife & mother-in-law in Kavinagar; wife died on spot, mother-in-law critical. Man absconding with wife's body: ANI #7:29 PM Over 7.6 lakh consumers & merchants won Rs 117.4 cr prize money under Lucky Grahak Yojana & Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana as on Feb 7: @NITIAayog: PTI #7:25 PM BSSC examination scheduled for Sunday has been cancelled due to exam paper leak on social media: ANI #7:25 PM Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on Thursday: ANI #7:24 PM Lok Sabha adjourned till 11am on Thursday: ANI #7:23 PM DDPS school student shot at by another student in Ghaziabad's Kavinagar. Admitted to hospital: ANI #7:10 PM Russia's Navalny to push on with campaign for president despite guilty verdict - AFP #6:59 PM Russia court hands Kremlin foe Navalny 5-year suspended sentence - AFP #6:54 PM It is unbecoming of a PM to use such language for a former PM, unbecoming for anyone to say such harsh ugly statement: P Chidambaram - ANI #6:54 PM Walked out as protest, such harsh&ugly comments not acceptable.No PM in past made such comments about a former PM: PChidambaram on PM's speech A -ANI #6:50 PM C Vidyasagar Rao will arrive in Chennai tomorrow afternoon - ANI #6:43 PM DDPS school student shot at by another student in Ghaziabad's Kavinagar. Admitted to hospital - ANI #6:40 PM Himachal Pradesh: 2 arrested in Kangra district, with skin of 2 leopards; their vehicle has been seized; case registered. - ANI #6:36 PM ED attaches movable & immovable properties worth Rs 2.77 cr under PMLA of K. Suresh, retired IAS Officer of Madhya Pradesh State Cadre A -ANI #6:33 PM I don't have enough to criticise this speech: Ahmed Patel on PM Modi's remark on former PM Manmohan Singh - ANI #6:29 PM Elderly woman dumps husband who had voiced support for Donald Trump in run-up to the US presidential polls. - PTI #6:28 PM Look at his arrogance, he chooses to speak when everyone else is done & then makes unsustainable allegations: Kapil Sibal, on PM's speech - ANI #6:22 PM Appointments committee of Cabinet approves appointment of Karnal Singh as Director of Enforcement Directorate, for a period of two years: ANI #6:09 PM Uproar in Rajya Sabha over PM's remark on Manmohan Singh - ANI #6:00 PM Spokesperson of AIADMK claims 131 MLAs attended today's meeting chaired by party General Secretary V K Sasikala. -PTI #5:52 PM In Dimpaur, there was no election, but problem started there, we fail to understand their (protesting groups) intention: TR Zeliang - ANI #5:44 PM Red Cross says six staff killed, two missing in Afghanistan - AFP #5:40 PM PM Modi to reply to debate on motion of thanks to Presidentas address in Rajya Sabha - ANI #5:39 PM Law & order situation created by mob, they don't know what they are doing, I hope people understand the reality: TR Zeliang, Nagaland CM - ANI #5:37 PM Why are you(Cong) sprouting virtues of cash when it has so many economic vices? Your own white paper in 2012 said this: FM Jaitley in RS - ANI #5:35 PM Body of Bengali actor Bitasta Saha found at her Kolkata residence. Police investigation underway - ANI #5:29 PM Anand Sharma ji is even putting the blame of the new US Govt visa policy on us: FM Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha - ANI #5:25 PM Including almonds in diet may reduce risk of #cardiovascular diseases in Indians with #diabetes, new study claims. - PTI #5:15 PM Request all private sector doctors to come forward to, aPledge for 9a and provide free services on 9th of every month: JP Nadda - ANI #5:14 PM Delhi HC raps South Delhi Municipal Corporation, asks list of delinquent officers who allowed illegal construction in Sainik Farms - ANI #5:00 PM I want to see the day when Mr. Obama purchases a bed sheet which has ' Made In Uttar Pradesh' written on it - Rahul Gandhi in Ghaziabad #4:58 PM Bihar govt mulling capacity expansion of prisons to accommodate nearly 35,000 people arrested under new liquor law. #4:57 PM Chennai: Tributes paid to Naik Thiruppandi of 54 Rashtriya Rifles who lost his life in an avalanche on 6 February in Jammu & Kashmir. - ANI #4:52 PM Nobody knows where he (governor) is, what MLAs can do, they have to come and meet President: Subramanian Swamy, BJP on TN political crisis - ANI #4:45 PM Congress VP Rahul Gandhi addresses an election rally in Ghaziabad. - ANI #4:44 PM Two Israeli rights groups ask the country's Supreme Court to overturn a newly adopted law legalizing settlements. - AP #4:43 PM Ilyushin 38 Sea Dragon Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft of Navy carried out successful Anti Ship Missile firing on a target ship - ANI #4:25 PM Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee attacks PM, says people suffering even 3 months after demonetisation - PTI #4:22 PM Mohan Bhagwat visits Betul jail, pays tributes to RSS ideologue Golwalkar who was imprisoned there in 1949. - PTI #4:18 PM 7 killed, 1 hurt as car rams into tree on Mumbai-Goa Highway in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra's Konkan region. - PTI #4:18 PM DMK welcomes Panneerselvam's announcement to recommend inquiry commission to probe 'doubts' regarding Jayalalithaa's health. - PTI #4:17 PM CM Akhilesh Yadav addresses a rally in Bijnor - ANI #4:17 PM The kind of momentum budget has given in various sectors, we should be able to reach a growth of 7% plus in the next year: Shaktikanta Das - ANI #4:14 PM A Russian court has found opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty in the retrial of a 2013 fraud case. - AP #4:14 PM Terrorism, especially nuclear terrorism, is an international threat that should not serve national strategy, says Foreign Secretary #4:13 PM DMK never supported Panneerselvam, extended support to only certain issues of govt: MK Stalin. - PTI #4:10 PM Par committee says powers given to CBI inadequate; proposes separate law for the probe agency - PTI #4:10 PM LOP and Congress MLA Abdul Mannan admitted to hospital after being injured in ruckus over property damage bill in West Bengal state assembly - ANI #4:08 PM BJP is trying to fish in troubled waters of Tamil Nadu "unconstitutionally" and instructing the Governor to not go to the state: Congress. - PTI #4:08 PM Congress asks SC & EC to initiate action against BJP for including triple talaq, Ram Temple issues in manifesto. - PTI #4:06 PM Leader of Opp in Bengal Assembly Abdul Mannan hospitalised after he was taken ill while being evicted by marshall from the house. - PTI #4:05 PM Goons have been sheltered that is why women feel unsafe in the state: PM Narendra Modi at Ghaziabad rally. - PTI #4:05 PM Huge blaze engulfs overcrowded slum in Manila, leaving as many as 15,000 people homeless. - AFP #4:04 PM When Akhilesh became CM we thought he is young, educated and will achieve something, but in 5 years UP has been destroyed: PM - PTI #4:04 PM 130 AIADMK MLAs (Sasikala supporters) being taken in a bus to a Hotel: Sources - ANI #3:44 PM Ruckus took place in West Bengal Assembly after the opposition demanded more amendments in Property Rights Bill. - ANI #3:40 PM Sensex drops 45.24 pts to end at 28,289.92; Nifty up 0.75 point to 8,769.05. - PTI #3:40 PM Delhi HC adjourns hearing of CBI's plea for cancellation of bail granted to ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi&others for 22 Feb in AgustaWestland case - ANI #3:36 PM Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh summoned by Pak Foreign office over alleged killing of a Pak national in cross-border firing - ANI #3:30 PM Amma appointed me, sacked because I supported OPS.Congratulate new person appointed but will continue to work on Amma's path: G Ramachandran - ANI #3:28 PM Massive undersea landslide in depths of Great Barrier Reef that may have led to huge tsunami over 300k yrs ago, found by JCU scientists. - PTI # 3:10 PM RBI says currency in circulation worth Rs 9.92 lakh crore as on January 27 - PTI # 3:10 PM Total 9.92 lakh crore rupees of total currency including new notes of 500 & 2000 is in circulation as of 27th January: RBI - ANI #A 3:10 PM Assure on behalf of RBI that India's banking system is robust, saying there are flaws because of few incidents is wrong-SS Mundra Dy Guv RBI - ANI #A 3:05 PMA Both new notes of Rs.2000 and Rs.500 are difficult to copy, the ones being found are photo copies: RBI - ANI # 3:03 PM RBI to establish a separate EnforcementDepartment to ensure compliance. - PTI #A 2:57 PM AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala sacks IT wing sec G Ramachandran for anti-party activities and appoints VVR Raj Sathyan in his place. - ANI # 2:56 PM From 13 March there will be no limit on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts: RBI - ANI # 2:55 PM Limit on cash withdrawal from savings backs accounts to be relaxed in 2 stages. From 20 Feb limit to be increased from Rs 24k to Rs 50k: RBI - ANI # 2:46PM Surplus #liquidity to fall with progressive #remonetisation; abundant liquidity with banks may persist into early months of FY18. - PTI # 2:43 PM MonetaryPolicy committee shifts policy stance to "neutral" keeping in mind transitory effect of demonetisation on inflation. - ANI # 2:42 PM Some people are in a problem because of my fight against black money and corruption, even after so many days they still talk about it: PM - ANI # 2:41 PM RBI changes policyA stance from "accommodative" to "neutral". - PTI # 2:39 PM RBI lowers GDPA growth forecast for this fiscal to 6.9 pc; expects rebound to 7.4 pc next year. - PTI # 2:37 PM RBI says expected growth is 7.4 percent for 2017-18 fiscal year - ANI #2:35 PM RBI says expected growth is 6.9 percent for 2016-17 fiscal year ending in the month of March - ANI #2:34 PM RBI keeps policyA rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent. - PTI # 2:30 PM Repo Rate remains unchanged at 6.25 percent, Reverse Repo Rate also remains unchanged at 5.75 percent - ANI # 2:07PM Akhilesh ji, the public knows what you did with your father, uncle and brothers - ANI # 2:05PM The ruling party in UP has to give an account of their work but why aren't they doing that - ANI # 2:03 PM Congress promises new law on hate crimes for enhanced punishment to those creating tension on basis of caste, gender, religion in UP Manifesto - ANI # 1:47PM Uttar Pradesh: PM Narendra Modi to address an election rally in Ghaziabad, shortly -ANI # 1:44 PM Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at International Counter Terrorism Seminar in Manesar (Gurugram). - ANI # 1:41PM China defends blocking a move in UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar; says conditions not met. - PTI # 1:40PM Centre or BJPA has no role in "internal matters" of A AIADMK,A says Venkaiah Naidu after revolt by O PaneersevlvamA against SasikalaA - PTI # 1:33PM "Nobody has the power to split or divide us..betrayal has never won," SasikalaA tells MLAs. - PTI # 1:38 PM BSP supremo Mayawati addresses a rally in Badaun. UP Polls 2017 # 1:32 PM BJP President Amit Shah addressing an election rally in Hathras. uppolls2017 - ANI # 1:30 PM Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against: Sasikala Natarajan - ANI # 1:27 PMA Sasikala Natarajan hits out at Panneerselvam, says will give a big blow to the act of betrayal and disloyalty - ANI # 1:25 PM Our opponents are after us & spearheading whatever is happening today,but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path: Sasikala Natarajan - ANI # 1:25 PMA Wrongdoings which O Panneerselvam had done, as Gen secy it became my responsibility to put an end to it: Sasikala Natarajan - ANI # 1:23 PM I could sense the acts of CM who completely connived with the opposition: Sasikala Natarajan- ANI # 1:21 PM After Amma's demise, the supporters asked me to take the responsibility; I couldn't as I was very sad: Sasikala Natarajan- ANI #A 1:00 PM Congress releases manifesto for UP Assembly Polls - ANI #12:54 PM Such allegations are not good, it's not right to give political colour to the situation: MoS Home, Kiren Rijiju on TN political crisis - ANI #A 12:49 PMA I've full majority in the State Assembly, all AIADMK MLAs stand with me: O Panneerselvam - ANI #A 12:48 PMA I'll continue to discharge my duties in accordance with the wishes of people of Tamil Nadu - ANI #A 12:47 PMA To be a TN CM is a huge task but at each and every step, humiliation was carried out by the insiders who were close to me: O Panneerselvam -ANI #A 12:46 PMA I continued with my post only after union govt asked me to do so after resignation: O Panneerselvam -ANI #A 12:45 PMA After assuming CM position, experiences which I had gone through had pained me a lot; being a CM I was targeted & humiliated: O Panneerselvam -ANI # 12:38 PM SPP withdraws from SC plea for execution of bail bond, stay on release of attached assets of Dayanidhi, Kalanithi Maran. Aircel Maxis Case - PTI #A 12:37 PM SC decides to set up a panel of 3 former judges of apex court to look into the issue of compensation in the SSP project on river Narada. - ANI # 12:34 PMA It's an equal battle, Bangladesh did well in New Zealand just now, can't take any aspect of their team lightly: Virat Kohli on IndiavsBangladesh - ANI # 12:31 PMA UP: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressing an election rally in Hathras. - ANI #A 12:28 PM ECI sent a copy of complaint to AIADMKA on Feb 2 asking for its response; No date fixed by ECI for submission of the response. - ANI #A 12:27 PM One game doesn't overshadow 2 years of hard work, he is the most solid batsman of our team in the test format: Virat Kohli on Ajinkya Rahane - ANI #A 12:18 PM Ajinkya Rahane will replace Karun Nair in Indian team for test match against Bangladesh on February 9 in Hyderabad - ANI # 12:13 PMA Chhattisgarh: IT Dept conducts raids at 7places related to businessmen brothers Ramavtar & Pawan Aggarwal in Bilaspur;Docs,computers seized. - ANI # 11:49 AM There have been times when Jayalalithaa inside assembly greeted me, smiled. Can Sasikala question this act of Jayalalithaa?: MK Stalin,DMK - ANI # 11:49 AM Shameful to say that smiling is an objectionable thing. Now what will she say about the mess people are laughing on now? :MK Stalin, DMK - ANI #A 11:46 AM 22 trains delayed (arriving late in Delhi area), 1 cancelled and 9 rescheduled due to fog and other operational reasons. - ANI # 11:45 AMA Sasikala Natarajan has reached party headquarter in Chennai for AIADMK MLAs meeting. - ANI # 11:44 AM 2G case: Special Public prosecutor Anand Grover withdraws plea in Aircel-Maxis case where a Special CBI Court discharged Maran brothers - ANI #A 11:33 AM Sasikala Natarajan has now reached party headquarter in Chennai for AIADMK MLAs meeting. - ANI # 11:32 AMA Sasikala Natarajan leaves Poes Garden residence in Chennai for AIADMK MLAs meet at party headquarter.- ANI #A 11:26 AMA Hearing on bail application of all 11 accused in Vijay Mallya loan default case, completed. Special CBI court to pronounce order on 10th Feb - ANI #A 11:19 AM Congress President Sonia Gandhi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. - ANI # 11:17 AM Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. - ANI #A 11:13 AM I will accept Deepa's (J Jayalalithaa's niece) support, if offered: #OPanneerselvamA - ANI #A 11:09 AM Seven judge bench of Supreme court issues contempt notice to Calcutta HC Judge CS Karnan, initiating suo moto criminal proceedings - ANI #A 1:03 PM Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM - ANI #A 12:59 PMA Chennai: Sasikala Natarajan at AIADMK party headquarters. - ANI #A 11:01 AM Tamil Nadu Political crisis: #OPanneerselvam at his residence in Chennai, says will prove my strength in the assembly - ANI #A 11:00 AM Union Govt supporting Tamil people. Whoever extends support to Tamil people, we will accept it: #OPanneerselvamA - ANI # 10:56 AM Tamil Nadu Political crisis: Will meet Tamil Nadu people, in each and every city to make my point says #OPanneerselvam in Chennai - ANI # 10:56 AMA I will prove my strength in the assembly: #OPanneerselvam in Chennai - ANI # 10:55 AMA Internal matter;to be seen by their local representatives-Union Min Rajyavardhan Rathore at NSG International Seminar on TN political crisis - ANI #A 10:52 AM Health queries regarding Amma raised in recent past,its duty of state Gvt to enquire. Recommended an enquiry commission: #OPanneerselvamA - ANI #A 10:49 AM If party cadres ask me to withdraw my resignation, I will do that: #OPanneerselvamA - ANI #A 10:49 AM There has been no instance where Panneerselvam has betrayed the party, while remaining in power or opposition: #OPanneerselvamA - ANI #A 10:47 AM Bulandshahr (UP): RLD Khurja candidate Manoj Gautam and one more arrested in connection with murder of his brother Vinod Kumar & his friend. #10:45 AMA #OPanneerselvam at his residence in Chennai, to address media shortly - ANI # 10:41 AM Chinamma will be Tamil Nadu CM undoubtedly, all AIADMK MLAs are behind her: AIADMK MP, Navaneethakrishnan #SasikalaNatarajanA - ANI #A 10:39 AM Numbers 154 or 132 will not be decided on roads but on the floor of the assembly: #AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan - ANI #A 10:38 AM Delhi: Kerala MPs stage a protest in front of Gandhi statue inside Parliament House complex over Father Tom issue. - ANI # 10:36 AM My conscience as Amma loyalist made me join #OPanneerselvam: AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan - ANI #A 10:33 AMA Delhi: TMC MPs stage a protest in front of Gandhi statue inside Parliament House complex #DemonetisationA - ANI #A 10:32 AMA AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan reaches O Panneerselvam's residence in Chennai. #10:14 AMA Tamil Nadu Political crisis: More police force deployment at #Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina Beach - ANI #10:10 AM Guv is constitutional authority;He's examining aspects,will take appropriate decision; There's no reason to criticise anyone: Venkaiah Naidu - ANI #10:03 AM #SasikalaNatarajan should be sworn-in as CM;If delayed itall be violence against Constitution;President must intervene-Subramanian Swamy,BJP - ANI #A 9:56 AMA Dangers of discriminating among terrorists, good or bad, and even yours and mine, are increasingly recognised: S Jaishankar, Foreign Secy # 9:52 AM Terrorism is an international threat, that should not serve national strategy; nuclear terrorism even more so: S Jaishankar, Foreign Secy - ANI # 9:48 AM Tamil Nadu crisis: Ahead of #AIADMK MLAs meet at party headquarter, #SasikalaNatarajan meets leaders including M Thambidurai at Poes Garden - ANI #9:42 AM Developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority: S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary - ANI #9:45 AM No immediate plan to add new countries to travel ban list: White House - PTI #9:45 AM PM Narendra Modi to reply to debate on motion of thanks to President's address in Rajya Sabha, later today. #9:30 AM Foreign Secy S Jaishankar speaking at Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism: -Developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority -Nuclear security will be a continuing concern -Comprehensive convention on international terrorism was proposed by India in 1996;hope that it'll be adopted soon -We hope that such horrors will never be repeated &cannot overstate importance of countries with nuclear weapons to be responsible -Negative consequences of atomic power cannot be ignored. World has witnessed immense destructive power of the atom #9:16 AM Sensex 19.70 points down, currently at 28315.46. Nifty at 8767.50 - ANI #9:14 AMA BSSC secretary Parmeshwar Ram detained by police in connection with Bihar Staff Selection Commission exam paper leak. - ANI #9:10 AM How can we support #OPanneerselvam when he's in oppo?We're major party,want to come back to power,expose AIADMK's wrongdoings: TKS Elangovan - ANI #8:55 AM Tamil Nadu Political crisis: There is a force behind everything that is happening, says #OPannerselvamA - ANI #8:20 AMA Demonetisation: TMC MPs to hold protest at Gandhi statue in Parliament at 10:30 am -ANI #A 8:08 AMA Mumbai: Fire broke out at Wadi Bunder yard a short while ago, now doused - ANI #7:56 AM Allahabad: Voter-verified paper audit trail machines, method of providing feedback to voters using ballotless voting systm,to be used in polls - ani #7:17 AMA Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to hold four election rallies in UP today-Hathras, Bulandshahr, Hapur and Ghaziabad - ANI #7:14 AM Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad today - ANI #6:06 AMA Earthquake with magnitude 6.2 in Southwestern Pakistan at 03:33 hrs - ANI For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Here are some of the key stories CNBC is following this hour: Gunmen killed at least six Red Cross workers in Afghanistan . The Afghan workers were in a convoy carrying supplies to areas in northern Afghanistan that had been hit by deadly snow storms. Two other workers were unaccounted for. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Chrystia Freeland, at the State Department. Her visit is expected to lay the groundwork for an anticipated visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. National Weather Service workers are in Scott County, Mississippi to assess damage caused by a severe storm. Preliminary reports show a tornado may have ripped through the area. The storm damaged buildings and uprooted trees. Data from the Distilled Spirits Council show the industry has taken market share from beer for the seventh-straight year. Last year, liquor sales reported a 4.5 percent bump in sales to wholesalers, with sales volume up about 2.5 percent. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. REGN is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2016 results on Feb 9, before the opening bell. The companys performance has been mixed so far. In the last four reported quarters, it has surpassed earnings estimates on three occasions and missed the same once. Overall, the company has recorded an average negative earnings surprise of 0.21%. Regenerons share price movement shows that the stock has underperformed the Zacks categorized Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry in the past one year. Specifically, the stock has lost 2.3% during this period, while the industry tumbled 0.4%. Last quarter, Regeneron recorded a positive earnings surprise of 6.17%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this quarter. Factors Influencing This Quarter Regenerons key growth driver, Eylea, should continue to perform well in fourth-quarter 2016 and contribute to the companys top line. Regeneron continued to witness strong sales growth for the eye treatment in both the U.S. and ex-U.S. markets. The company tightened its sales guidance for Eylea in the U.S. with sales projected to grow around 2325% in 2016 as compared to the 2025% growth projected earlier. However, Regeneron continues to see increased competitor discounts and rebates in the U.S. markets for Eylea. We note that Regeneron has a global development and commercialization agreement with Bayer AG BAYRY outside the U.S. for Eylea. Product revenues from ex-U.S. Eylea sales are recorded by Bayer. The company is working on expanding Eyleas label into diabetic retinopathy in an ongoing phase III study. Apart from Eylea, investors will remain focused on the performance of the PCSK9 inhibitor, Praluent. The challenge for the PCSK9 inhibitor class continues to be the significant reimbursement hurdles for the physicians offices and patients which in turn have resulted in a low volume of prescriptions being dispensed. Sales of Praluent have failed to impress so far. Story continues In Jan 2017, Regeneron received a major setback when the U.S District Court in Delaware granted Amgens AMGN request for a permanent injunction prohibiting the sale of Praluent. The injunction relates to a patent infringement lawsuit that was filed by Amgen for the two patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 8,829,165, and 8,859,741) pertaining to Repatha. It follows a favorable jury verdict that was received by Amgen in Mar 2016. The jury declared these two patents owned by Amgen, which describe and claim monoclonal antibodies to PCSK9, as valid. It ruled Regeneron and Sanofi had failed to prove the patents invalid due to lack of written description and enablement. On the fourth-quarter earnings call, focus will be on the companys performance, particularly Eylea along with managements take on Praluent setback. Investors are also expected to await updates on the companys pipeline as well. In Dec 2016, Regeneron and partner Sanofi SNY announced that the European Medicines Agency has accepted for review the companies marketing authorization application for Dupixent for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who are candidates for systemic therapy. The candidate is under review in the U.S. as well (priority review) with a response expected by Mar 29. Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively show that Regeneron is likely to beat earnings estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. However, that is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at $2.51. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: Regeneron currently carries a Zacks Rank #4. As it is, we caution against Sell-rated stocks (#4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. A Stock That Warrants a Look Here is a health care stock that you may want to consider instead, as our model shows that it has the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter. Incyte Corporation INCY has an Earnings ESP of +85.7% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company is scheduled to release results on Feb 14. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Just Released Driverless Cars: Your Roadmap to Mega-Profits Today In this latest Special Report, Zacks Aggressive Growth Strategist Brian Bolan explores a full-blown technological breakthrough in the making autonomous cars. He also spotlights 8 stocks with tremendous gain potential to feed off this phenomenon. Click to see the stocks right now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Sanofi (SNY): Free Stock Analysis Report Bayer AG (BAYRY): Free Stock Analysis Report Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN): Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report Incyte Corporation (INCY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Michael Flynn On Monday, Politico reported that Michael Flynn, the retired general and national security adviser to President Donald Trump, would advise the Trump administration to back Montenegro's entrance into NATO a move that surely would infuriate Russia. Flynn has longstanding ties to Russia most notably, he was paid to attend a gala event for Russia Today, a Russian propaganda outlet. On that occasion, he dined with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Wall Street Journal reported in January that US counterintelligence agents investigated Flynn's ties to Russia. Recently, a group of top Democratic lawmakers urged the Department of Defense to do the same. Throughout his campaign and presidency, Trump has repeatedly questioned the NATO alliance and the US's adversarial relationship with Russia. Despite that, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has backed Montenegro's NATO bid for over a year. During this time, the small Balkan nation faced increasing pressure from Russia including a failed coup in October that may be tied to Moscow. A special prosecutor in Montenegro said in November that Russian nationalists tried to sway the country's October election with a plot to kill Milo Djukanovic, the Western-leaning prime minister. "The organizers of this criminal group were nationalists from Russia whose initial premise and conclusion was that the government in Montenegro led by Milo Djukanovic cannot be changed in election and that it should be toppled by force," Milivoje Katnic, special prosecutor for organized crime in Montenegro, said at the time. montenegro nato Flynn's backing of Montenegro's entrance into NATO would seemingly fly in the face of Trump's proposal to try to befriend Russia, as Russia sees NATO expansion as aggression against its interests. Jorge Benitez, a senior fellow and NATO expert at the Atlantic Council, told Politico, "No NATO candidate country has ever faced such a dire attack or threat in the process of finishing its membership into the alliance." Story continues However, Flynn is not alone among Trump appointees in striking a more hawkish tone toward Moscow. The US's ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, also signaled such an approach, saying on Thursday, "The dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions." Russia officially denies a military presence in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has recently reignited. Before Montenegro could join NATO, its accession bid must be approved by all 28 current NATO states and two-thirds of the US Senate. NOW WATCH: A Norwegian mass killer is suing over prison conditions here's a tour of a luxurious maximum-security prison in Norway More From Business Insider Elizabeth Warren Republicans voted to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Tuesday night during a Senate floor debate over Sen. Jeff Sessions' nomination as President Donald Trump's attorney general. Warren, who is among the Democratic senators opposing Sessions' appointment, tried to read from a 1986 letter written by Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil-rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stopped Warren, contending that her recitation of the letter violated Senate Rule 19, which forbids senators to suggest another senator is guilty of "any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." The letter Warren read was written in opposition to Sessions, who in 1986 was nominated as a federal judge in Alabama. King wrote that Sessions was unfit for the position, accusing him of seeking "politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions" and describing Sessions as lacking the "temperament, judgment, and fairness" to be a federal judge. After McConnell called for Warren to stop reading from the letter, Warren challenged the motion. "I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate," Warren said. She asked to be given space to continue her remarks but was ultimately voted down. Warren said later on CNN, "They can shut me up, but they can't change the truth." Watch the exchange below: The Democratic National Committee issued this statement: "It's a sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate. Let Elizabeth Warren speak. The American people deserve to hear how Jeff Sessions is an extremist who will be a rubber stamp for this out-of-control Trump presidency." The proceedings follow what has been a contentious confirmation process for several of Trump's Cabinet nominees. His newly confirmed education secretary, Betsy DeVos, was the subject of a similar all-night Senate session Monday, during which Democratic lawmakers held the floor to oppose her confirmation. Story continues The move was unsuccessful. Vice President Mike Pence cast a tiebreaking vote Tuesday, officially confirming DeVos. She was sworn in later Tuesday. Lawmakers have expressed concern about Sessions' vocal support of Trump, prompting questions about whether he would remain neutral if he were confirmed as attorney general. You can read Coretta Scott King's full letter here NOW WATCH: This 2015 video of Jeff Sessions questioning Sally Yates foreshadows her firing More From Business Insider U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) speaks to members of the media after meeting with U.S. President Elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., November 17, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Financial Services Committee told CNBC on Tuesday that revamping the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law remained a "this-year priority" for President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan. Republican Representative Jeb Hensarling said he would soon reintroduce his legislation that gives banks a choice between complying with Dodd-Frank and holding more capital. While the bill is expected to easily pass the Republican-led House, it will face resistance in the Senate, where Democrats hold enough seats to filibuster. Pence can cast votes to break ties on legislation. On Friday, Trump ordered a review of Dodd-Frank's effects on business and the economy, which raised the possibility he may use his executive powers to block, undo or kill by neglect parts of the law on his own. The law, passed to prevent a repeat of the 2007-09 financial crisis, subjects banks to greater oversight and expands regulation of derivatives. Supporters say it has made the financial system stronger, while critics say it has entangled corporations in regulation that hurts the economy. Hensarling said on Tuesday he had conferred with Trump about his legislation, known as the "CHOICE act," and the president seemed to support much of it. While Hensarling used sharp words to describe the agency created by Dodd-Frank to guard individuals against predatory lending, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he did not say how it would be addressed in his bill. Calling the CFPB a "rogue agency," Hensarling said Trump should fire its sole director, Richard Cordray, after a U.S. court ruled in October its structure was unconstitutional. That decision has been stayed pending appeal. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Peter Cooney) Fear mongering: MSNBC host suggests Trump will be responsible for suspicious deaths of journalists MSNBC took its fear mongering smears of the Donald Trump administration to a dark new low Monday afternoon when reporter Katy Tur suggested the presidents war with the media would start racking up actual casualties. During an interview with Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, a Republican, Tur suggested Trump would take a page from Russian President Vladimir Putins playbook and start targeting journalists for death. (Article by Nicholas Fondacaro from Newsbusters.org) As we know, theres, since 2000, been a couple dozen suspicious deaths of journalists in Russia who came out against the government there, Tur reminded the Senator before unscrupulously suggesting Trumps distaste for the media would escalate, Donald Trump has made no secret about going after journalists and his distaste for any news that doesnt agree with him here. Do you find that this is a dangerous path he is heading down? Fischer defended the President, saying that its his job to foster relationships with leaders from countries around the globe. And I believe that President Trump will recognize, or does recognize right now, who Putin is, she added in his defense. But Tur wasnt having any of it, pressuring the Senator by asking, What makes you say that he does recognize who Putin is when he hasnt said so publicly? The Senator tried to argue that the new president wasnt going to sour the relationship right out of the gate, but was cut off by her interviewer. There is a difference between attacking and flattering, Tur spat. The Senator tried to put Turs worries about Trumps handling of Putin to rest, stating that Trump will have very firm, very harsh, if need be, conversations with Putin And that the United States would not allow Putin to re-establish some kind of empire for himself Tur scoffed at the idea that our allies would be reassured by the Trump White House. We will see if they are convinced by that, she said dismissively. NBC has demonstrated a blatant willingness to ignore Trumps toughness on Russia and mischaracterize his understanding of the Russian tyrant. Tur claimed Trump was going above and beyond bending over backwards for the Russian president. But these are the same people who blacked-out how the administration stood up to Russia during UN Security Council meeting last week. And to suggest that Trump would follow Putin down a dangerous path and start assassinating journalist is vile. Its reporting like this that helps to create the circumstances for the violent rhetoric were seeing from the left, such as Madonna talking about blowing up the White House and Sarah Silverman calling for a military coup. Transcript below: MSNBC Live February 6, 2017 2:31:25 PM Eastern KATY TUR: Senator, the junior senator in your state, Senator Ben Sasse, came out pretty strongly over the weekend condemning Donald Trumps assertion that we are just as bad as Russia. When he said that, you know, we America does bad and terrible things, too, when Bill OReilly asked him if Vladimir Putin was a killer. Why what is your sense of why this president is going above and beyond bending over backwards, if you will to stay away from criticizing the Russian president? And its almost give him an excuse. As we know, theres, since 2000, been a couple dozen suspicious deaths of journalists in Russia who came out against the government there. Donald Trump has made no secret about going after journalists and his distaste for any news that doesnt agree with him here. Do you find that this is a dangerous path he is heading down? DEB FISCHER: I know that Putin is a thug and he runs a gas station, and the prices are low right now. And so he is going to continue to be belligerent; he is going to continue to be aggressive. Ive led a codels to Eastern Europe; I led a codel to Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Romania. And we have a very full understanding of who Vladimir Putin is. And he is not a friend of the United States. Its up to President Trump to establish relationships with foreign leaders, but also to recognize them for who they are. And I believe that President Trump will recognize, or does recognize right now, who Putin is. And he will develop that relationship and he will know how to confront him. TUR: Very quickly, what makes you say that he does recognize who Putin is when he hasnt said so publicly? FISCHER: Well, I think when youre at the beginning of an administration, you really dont want to go out and start attacking people that youre going to have to work with. You know when I came to the United States TUR [over Fischer]: There is a difference between attacking and flattering. FISCHER: Well, when I came to the United States Senate, I told Nebraskans I was going to work across the aisle. You know, Im going to work with Republicans, Im going to work with Democrats. We have differing opinions on many things but we have to work together. And Im not going to attack them in public. Were going to try to get together. I think its important that we show that we can work together. We can be respectful. We can be civil. And the American people need to see that. So, I am hopeful that President Trump will have very firm, very harsh, if need be, conversations with Putin to let him know that here in the United States we understand who he is, we understand what we view as his agenda in trying to re-establish some kind of empire for himself, and that we will not allow that to happen. Our allies need to hear that. And I think here in the Senate, many of us have been very, very forthright in making sure that our allies understand that we are there for them against Putin. TUR: We will see if they are convinced by that. Read more at: Newsbusters.org Submit a correction >> Homeschoolers are under attack in Iowa One of the states that has traditionally been more accepting of homeschooling, Iowa, could soon enact a new rule subjecting parents who choose to exercise their right to educate their kids to regular home visits. S.F. 138, which was introduced by Democratic State Senator Matt McCoy, requires school districts to carry out quarterly home visits to check on the health and safety of children who are homeschooled. The home visits will occur with the parents consent and may entail interviews and observation. The school district could obtain a court order to enter the residence if parents refuse to comply, however. Currently, the state does not require families to undergo assessments or file anything if they choose to homeschool. The state of Iowa is estimated to have around 15,135 homeschoolers for the 2016-2017 school year, which is three percent of the states school-aged children. The bill was introduced after 16-year-old Natalie Finn, who was not enrolled in school, died of cardiac arrest after starving to death. Home School Legal Defense Association Attorney Scott Woodruff said the bill was a well-intended but misguided response and sent a letter urging senators to reject the bill. He pointed out that homeschooling did not appear as a risk factor in a comprehensive report by the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities. In the case of the girl who died, neighbors reported their concerns to police in the months leading up to her death but nothing was done about it. Ironically, the aforementioned report said that a previous report to social services was the single strongest predictor of childrens potential risk of death; homeschooling did not appear anywhere in the report. Woodruffs letter points to the example of Hillsborough County, where nine kids died because of maltreatment in just two years. In light of the fact that a report to social services was found to be the most important risk factor, the countys agencies took a closer look at open cases and new cases alike based on those documentable risk factors. The result? Deaths related to abuse there were eliminated entirely. Had West Des Moines followed Hillsborough Countys lead, Woodruff believes that Finn might still be alive today because officials would have noticed the many abuse and neglect reports made against her family. Similarly, Wichita, Kansas, was spurred into action after six children died from neglect or abuse in just nine months back in 2008. The community invested extra time, resources and money to the areas where these children hailed from, and they managed to stop maltreatment deaths entirely from 2011 to 2013 as a result. Finns is an unfortunate case, but most parents who homeschool their children are actually very involved in their childrens lives. Homeschooling a child does not put them in danger, and there is no reason they need to be checked up on simply because they do not attend public school. It does not make sense for Iowa to devote resources to checking up on kids who are homeschooled when there are more effective ways to curtail abuse and prevent tragedies. Of course, its entirely possible that those behind the bill are aware of this flawed reasoning and have other motivations instead; many school districts try to intimidate homeschoolers and get more children into the public school system, where the government can control what they are taught, demand they get vaccines, and get more funding. Last summer, the Clinton County school district in Kentucky started randomly auditing homeschooling families to examine their attendance and academic records in a move that many people felt was motivated by money. The district lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding because the homeschooled students were not taught in public schools. Parents often homeschool their children instead of sending them to public school because they want less government involvement in their childs lives, not more. Without any official allegations of neglect or abuse, its hard to believe the state would be allowed to simply enter peoples homes at will and inspect them just because they choose to homeschool. Sources include: OffTheGridNews.com A2ZHomeSchooling.com HSLDA.org NaturalNews.com Submit a correction >> Drug-resistant Malaria? Medication has failed for the first time The recent case of four separate malaria patients in the United Kingdom suggests that multidrug-resistant malaria may be evolving faster than researchers had previously thought, according to a study conducted by researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. The four patients, whose cases were unrelated to each other, all failed to recover when treated with a frontline malaria drug intended to combat even drug-resistant forms of the disease. It is believed to be the first documented failure of that particular malaria treatment. Because all four patients contracted malaria in Africa, the case also indicated the presence of multidrug-resistant malaria on that continent. Previously, malaria resistant to frontline drugs has mostly been found in southeast Asia. Frontline treatments starting to fail Malaria is considered a major global health concern. It is endemic to more than 100 countries, including large sections of Africa, the Americas, and Asia. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 14 million people were infected with malaria and 438,000 died from it. Most people who receive prompt treatment for malaria will recover fully. The disease is dangerous if left untreated however, which is why it is so deadly in countries with poor health systems. The United Kingdom sees about 1,500 cases of malaria per year. In 2016, at least four of those patients suffered a recurrence of the disease within a month of treatment with the combination drug artemether-lumefantrine (AL). All four recurrences were severe enough to require hospitalization. After analyzing blood samples from the four patients, researchers confirmed that the malaria parasites involved showed resistance to AL. AL is a form of artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), which is now the frontline treatment for malaria in many parts of the world. ACT consists of combining a drug in the artemisinin family (in this case, artemether) with a drug from another family in order to help bypass the growing problem of artemisinin-resistance. 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, lead researcher Colin Sutherland said. A concerted effort to monitor AL outcomes in U.K. malaria patients needs to be made. This will determine whether our front-line malaria treatment drug is under threat. All four patients recovered after being treated with other antimalarial drugs. Public health catastrophe looming Experts have been warning for some time that malaria is developing resistance to ACT. A study in early 2016 confirmed for the first time that malaria in three separate provinces of Cambodia is resistant to the frontline ACT therapy used in that country (dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine). As far back as 2013, the World Health Organization warned that efforts to contain artemisinin-resistant malaria were not stemming the spread of the problem. Even as containment efforts in Cambodia appeared to be working, multidrug-resistant malaria independently evolved in Thailand, Burma, and Vietnam. If history is any guide, if we were not to contain this problem, then it is very likely to spread elsewhere, he said. Especially risky is to sub-Saharan Africa, where the greatest burden still exists. And, if we were to lose the efficacy of the [frontline treatments] today, this really would be a public health catastrophe in Africa, said Robert Newman, director of the WHOs Global Malaria Program. The new study suggests that this catastrophe may already be taking shape. Notably, the four patients in the study had been infected in three different countries: Angola, Liberia, and Uganda. A recent report by the British governments Review on Antimicrobial Resistance predicted that by 2050, superbugs will kill 10 million people per year worldwide; more than cancer and diabetes put together. This was based on analysis of only six drug-resistant superbugs. One of them was malaria. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Submit a correction >> This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY - The city wants to build a community theater in a storied downtown clubroom that closed last year when the operator was convicted on fraud charges. The City Council has given Mayor Mark Boughton authority to buy the 7,000-square-foot Tuxedo Junction concert hall on Post Office Street, the pedestrian walkway off Main Street Tuxedo Junction closed after 21-year-old operator Ian Bick was sentenced to three years in prison for investment fraud. This could be a potential anchor for some of the work we want to do downtown, Boughton said. Our goal is to renovate it with an industrial warehouse feel that could be used to stage anything from Christmas programs to having a promoter come in and rent the space. The city does not plan to buy the adjoining Tuxedo Junction bar, which has an entrance on Ives Street and remains vacant. We picture this would be a small theater that seats maybe 250 people, Boughton said. The red-brick clubhouse, which featured rock artists Joan Jett and Kansas in its 1970s heyday, is on the market for $400,000. The building owner on Wednesday said he was not aware of the citys interest. He said it would be premature to comment, except to say that it is in a great location. Absolutely - it is right in the middle of the downtown, and not far from the 370 new apartments (at Kennedy Place), said Ron Jowdy who owns the building with his brother, Rick. It has been used for many years, and it is in great shape. The one-story building has 20-foot ceilings, a balcony and a stage. As recently as the fall, it was hosting live music acts, right up to Bicks sentencing. Bick was found guilty in 2015 of six counts of mail fraud and money laundering after he scammed investors out of nearly $500,000. The money was supposed to pay for concert promotions at Tuxedo Junction and online electronics schemes, but Bick spent the money on himself, prosecutors said. Bick pleaded for leniency, but a federal judge disagreed. I believe you scammed a large number of people whose only mistake was trusting you, federal judge Jeffrey Meyer told Bick during the sentencing hearing. The fact that you didnt see your conduct as wrong is absurd. Boughton said he got the idea about putting a theater in the building last year when it became vacant. We are still working out the management structure, he said, explaining that it could be operated by the city or by a non-profit group. Its name? Maybe well call it the Hat City Community Theater, he said. Were still working on that piece of it. rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342 NEW MILFORD - A New Milford man whose co-worker made up a story that he was planning terrorism is facing deportation to Mexico, according to local police, while his co-worker is being charged with filing a false report. Police say that Sixto Guerra, of Danbury, disliked Garzon Contreras, who worked with him at a New Milford diner, so he sent a letter to police alleging that Contreras was plotting with ISIS to attack the Elephants Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, the Seymour Public Library and the village of Sandy Hook. Please prevent this bloody massacre, the letter stated, according to police. We dont want more innocents to pay for this anger. The letter also claimed that Contreras and ISIS members had previously planned an attack at the Dutchess County Fair but that their equipment wasnt available in time. He said Contreras was in possession of an AK-47, grenades and homemade explosive devices. None of this was true, but in the course of investigating, police determined that Contreras was an undocumented immigrant. They contacted the Department of Homeland Security and Immigrant Services, whose agents arrested Contreras. He was previously deported to Mexico in 2011 and 2012, but returned to the United States. Investigators had contacted Elephants Trunk shortly after receiving the letter about canceling that weekends event. Organizers said it would cost them more than $45,000 to do so, and instead requested additional police presence at the flea market. Investigators, who were working on conjunction with state and federal officials on the case, interviewed Contreras landlord as well as his employer, who both said he was a hard worker and not a threat to anyone. Contreras, when contacted by police, agreed to let police search his home, and nothing was uncovered. He told police that he had no idea who would try to get him into trouble with the exception of his co-worker, Guerra. They worked together at the Dinerluxe on Danbury Road. While Guerra initially denied sending the letter to police, forensic evidence connected him to the document. Authorities continue to search for Guerra, who faces a charge of falsely reporting an incident. dperrefort@newstimes.com An official in Illinois has asked President Donald Trump for guidance on his administrations policy on the banking industry offering services to the cannabis industry. In a statement released in January, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said the presidents approach to the issue could impact the future of medical marijuana in the state of Illinois. He has sent a letter to the president, asking for his guidance on the issue. Related: The Wishful Outlook for Marijuana Jobs in 2017 While 28 states have legalized medical marijuana and eight have legalized recreational marijuana, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. That means working with the cannabis industry violates federal law, although federal policy under President Barack Obama took a hands-off approach. Banks have largely stayed away from the cannabis industry. That has left most marijuana businesses operating on a cash-only basis. In the letter, Frerichs said that this has left the legal cannabis industry with limited confidence it will not face criminal prosecution from federal officials. Frerichs asked Trump for some assurance that responsible financial institutions will not face criminal charges or penalties for offering services to state-licensed legal marijuana growers and dispensaries. He said such guidance could give marijuana businesses the confidence to move forward, and also assure medical marijuana users they can continue to buy cannabis legally. Medical marijuana is not right for everyone. However, its positive results for those with debilitating conditions, including veterans and children threatened by seizures, are undeniable, Frerichs said in the statement. Updating our banking laws to embrace commonsense change will allow Illinois to properly manage this reasonable program, guarantee uninterrupted access to medical users, and protect financial institutions that serve the industry. Big banks already work with marijuana businesses. Meanwhile, a survey of financial papers filed in Massachusetts shows that big banks are working with some cannabis companies, at least those applying to sell medical marijuana in Massachusetts. However, its not clear if this was a mistake on the part of the banks. Related: 4 Cannabis Business Ideas from the Frontier of the Legal Weed Industry The review, done by Chicago-based MRB Monitor for American Banker, found that 29 of the 84 applicants who filed financial papers to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts had accounts with either Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi or JP Morgan Chase. Of those 29, 17 had accounts with Bank of America. MRB Monitor provides advice to banks about working with the cannabis industry. American Banker provides financial and banking news aimed primarily at banking executives. Cannabis and banking. For the report, filings were looked at for the period between June 2015 and September 2016. The report found that some of the applicants had used personal names to open banking accounts, which could have meant that the banks were unaware of the connection to the marijuana industry. However, some used business names clearly connected with selling medical marijuana in other states. Related: The Many Ways the Cannabis Industry Lacks Traditional Marketing Expertise A commonly held belief seems to be that small institutions are more likely than large institutions to have marijuana-related accounts, knowingly or otherwise," Steven Kemmerling, CEO of MRB Monitor, told American Banker. "The data seems to challenge those assumptions and raises the question of whether any financial institution is adequately prepared to identify and manage this particular risk." Follow dispensaries.com on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: Illinois Asks Trump to Let Banks Take Medical Marijuana Business Jeff Sessions Offers Cannabis Industry No Reassurance 4 Cannabis Business Ideas from the Frontier of the Legal Weed Industry Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NEW MILFORD Three local clergy members and a rabbi banded together this week to oppose President Trumps recent travel ban. In a letter, the Reverends Michael Moran, Alex da Silva Souto and Jack Gilpin joined Rabbi Ari Rosenberg in a condemnation of Trumps Jan. 27 Executive Order Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry. Citing a worsening worldwide refugee crisis, the local religious leaders said the order should be lifted. We represent a variety of faith communities. But for all of us, the commitment to care for the oppressed and the downtrodden, and to welcome the foreigner and the stranger, is commanded in our Holy Scriptures, and affirmed throughout the history of our faith traditions, they wrote. We pray that our government will rescind this Executive Order; and we call on our fellow citizens to make their voices heard in opposition. blytton@hearstmediact.com WASHINGTON State legislators who will decide whether Region 12s proposed Agriscience-STEM academy project will receive state funding are generally supportive of the concept, but question whether the state has enough money for the project. Meanwhile, officials with the state agency that oversees school construction projects remain skeptical, and local critics, including Bridgewater First Selectman Curtis Read, continue to question the school boards enrollment projections. In an attempt to entice legislators and state officials into picking up 80 percent of the $29 million Ag-STEM bill, Region 12 school board members Monday approved spending $530,000 on builders and architects to get ready to build. Legislators said that will increase the school districts chances of getting state funding, but doesnt guarantee it. If the state doesnt fund the academy by the end of the legislative session, the school board will have spent $900,000 on the project in vain. Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, who co-chairs the General Assemblys Education Committee, said shes an Ag-STEM advocate, but she cant promise the project will be funded. State Rep. Arthur ONeill, R-Southbury, who represents all three of the Region 12 towns Washington, Roxbury and Bridgewater said the states fiscal uncertainty, coupled with state officials request to kill the project, has made the academy a hard sell in Hartford. The only problem is, do we have enough money? ONeill said. Do the numbers support the project? It boils down to simple math. Critics of the project said they arent sure enrollment projections are correct. ONeill said he still firmly backs the concept of the proposal, and his peers agree that an agriscience, engineering, technology and math academy at Shepaug Valley School would be great addition to the district. But a scathing letter from the state Department of Administrative Services, which oversees school construction, dealt a blow to the project by saying the programs needs might be better addressed in existing structures at a time when the state is pinching pennies on new construction, he said. Some, more bluntly, say the odds of the state green-lighting the project with a deficit of $1.3 billion are slim. Its a long shot that theyre gonna get this money, said Bridgewater First Selectman Curtis Read, the only town official from the districts three towns to vocally challenge the school board. I think theyre throwing good money after bad. In last months letter, Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Melody Currey asked legislators to drop Region 12 from the priority list saying that enrollment projections for the academy, though recently revised downward, cannot be validated, and that the slimmed-down project recently approved by the school board still has too high a square-foot-to-student ratio. On Monday, Region 12 Superintendent Patricia Cosentino said the letter had been rescinded, and the state is willing to work the district. DAS Director of School Construction Grants and Review Kosta Diamantis, said his department will work with the district as long as theyre on the priority list. But Curreys concerns about the amount of new construction and bloated enrollment projections are still standing, he added. School officials said Monday that some of the total $1.2 million they recently approved to get shovel ready on the project will be used to further shrink the project and get DAS approval. Region 12 parent Tim Laughlin has been an outspoken academy advocate since before a November 2015 referendum, when 69 percent of residents approved the project. On the states priority list, there are few projects that will impact Connecticut students as much as the academy, he added. If folks in Hartford think gyms and administrative offices are more important than schools, we have a problem, he said. blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton Sheryl Sandberg - Sun Valley In May 2015, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's husband, Dave Goldberg, died unexpectedly in Mexico during a trip. " Amid the nightmare of Dave's death when my kids needed me more than ever, I was grateful every day to work for a company that provides bereavement leave and flexibility. I needed both to start my recovery," Sandberg wrote Tuesday in a Facebook post. "Today, we're taking another step," Sandberg said, before announcing Facebook's newest family-friendly policies. According to the Facebook executive, effective immediately the company is extending its paid bereavement leave to up to 20 days to grieve the death of an immediate family member and up to 10 days to grieve the death of an extended family member. Facebook is also expanding its paid family leave to up to six weeks for employees to care for a sick relative. Finally, the company is also introducing paid family sick time, which offers employees three days to take care of a family member with a short-term illness like the flu. The news comes at a critical time for American families: Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, qualifying American are guaranteed 12 weeks of "reasonable" leave for certain family and medical situations including caring for a family member with a serious health condition. While the law requires companies with 50 or more employees to provide new parents with 12 weeks of leave, it doesn't require this leave to be paid, and the policy is also restricted to full-time employees who have been with the company for more than a year, which, all told, applies to about 60% of workers in the US. Though the number of companies expanding their paid parental leave benefits is rising, Sandberg acknowledged that it's less common for employees to get paid time off to care for sick loved ones, saying that the US needs public policies "that make it easier for people to care for their children and aging parents and for families to mourn and heal after loss." Story continues "People should be able both to work and be there for their families," Sandberg wrote. "No one should face this trade-off." Considering the US's lack of federal paid family leave policy, Sandberg said companies need to take the lead and support families with their own paid leave policies, which she said wouldn't just be nice to do, but would also improve the bottom line by increasing employee loyalty and performance. "I hope more companies will join us and others making similar moves, because America's families deserve support," Sandberg wrote. See Sandberg's full Facebook post below: NOW WATCH: These guys have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world More From Business Insider Highlights Net operating income per share of $1.58 for Q4-2016 and $4.88 for the full year for Q4-2016 and for the full year Q4-2016 combined ratio of 92.5% from strong property lines performance, offset by weaker results in personal auto from weather-related frequency and industry pools from strong property lines performance, offset by weaker results in personal auto from weather-related frequency and industry pools Premiums grew 3% in the quarter and a robust 5% for the full year in the quarter and a robust 5% for the full year Operating ROE of 12.0% despite $385 million in pre-tax catastrophe losses and total excess capital of $970 million at year end despite in pre-tax catastrophe losses and total excess capital of at year end Book value per share grew 7% year-over-year year-over-year Quarterly dividend increased 10% to $0.64 per share TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Charles Brindamour, Chief Executive Officer, said: "The success of our commercial P&C and personal property profitability initiatives allowed us to deliver a healthy combined ratio of 92.5% this quarter, in spite of weaker auto results. Looking ahead, there is good momentum in both auto lines as a result of the action plans already in place. We remain confident in the underlying strength of our operations, as demonstrated by our solid 2016 results in a year of record-breaking industry catastrophe losses. I am especially proud of the hard work and dedication of our employees as they helped customers get back on track after these events, and look forward to delivering more customer-focused innovations in 2017." Consolidated Highlights1 (in millions of dollars except as otherwise noted) Q4-2016 Q4-2015 Change 2016 2015 Change Direct Premiums Written 1,961 1,908 3% 8,293 7,922 5% Underwriting income 153 221 (68) 375 628 (253) Combined ratio 92.5% 88.6% 3.9 pts 95.3% 91.7% 3.6 pts Net investment income 104 110 (6) 414 424 (10) Net distribution income 24 22 2 111 104 7 Net operating income 212 265 (53) 660 860 (200) Net income 171 198 (27) 541 706 (165) Earnings per share (in dollars) 1.27 1.46 (13)% 3.97 5.20 (24)% Net operating income per share (in dollars) 1.58 1.97 (20)% 4.88 6.38 (24)% Operating ROE for the last 12 months 12.0% 16.6% (4.6) pts Book value per share (in dollars) 42.72 39.83 7% Total excess capital 970 625 345 MCT 218% 203% 15.0 pts Debt-to-capital ratio 18.6% 16.6% 2.0 pts (1) This table contains non-IFRS financial measures. Please refer to Section 23 Non-IFRS financial measures in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for further details. Industry Outlook 12 month The Company expects that industry premiums will grow at a low to mid single-digit rate. In personal auto , claims cost inflation is leading to rate increases in all markets. In personal property , the current firm market conditions are expected to continue, as companies are adjusting to changing weather patterns. The commercial lines remain competitive and the economy in Western Canada continues to pressure industry growth. , claims cost inflation is leading to rate increases in all markets. In , the current firm market conditions are expected to continue, as companies are adjusting to changing weather patterns. The remain competitive and the economy in continues to pressure industry growth. Overall, the industry's ROE is expected to improve but remain slightly below its long-term average of 10% over the next twelve months. Dividend The Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.64 per share on the Company's outstanding common shares. The Board also approved a quarterly dividend of 26.25 cents per share on the Company's Class A Series 1 preferred shares, 20.825 cents per share on the Class A Series 3 preferred shares, and 19.535 cents per share on the Class A Series 4 preferred shares. The dividends are payable on March 31, 2017 to shareholders of record on March 15, 2017 . Normal Course Issuer Bid As at December 31, 2016 , the Company had repurchased and cancelled 493,000 common shares for approximately $44 million under its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"). The NCIB allows for the purchase, for cancellation, of up to 6,577,156 common shares until February 11, 2017 , representing approximately 5% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares as at February 1, 2016 . The Board has authorized renewal of the NCIB for a subsequent year, for up to 5% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, subject to TSX approval. Underwriting Premiums grew 3% in the quarter despite robust profitability actions taken in all lines of business. For the full year 2016, the Company delivered solid premium growth of 5% as customers responded positively to new products, improved digital experiences, distribution and branding initiatives. 3% in the quarter despite robust profitability actions taken in all lines of business. For the full year 2016, the Company delivered solid premium growth of 5% as customers responded positively to new products, improved digital experiences, distribution and branding initiatives. Combined ratio of 92.5% in the quarter, with strong profitability in property lines and weaker results in auto. The Company is continuing its profitability initiatives, with particular focus on auto, implementing further rate, underwriting and claims actions. For the full year 2016, the combined ratio was 95.3%, including 5.0 points of catastrophe losses. in the quarter, with strong profitability in property lines and weaker results in auto. The Company is continuing its profitability initiatives, with particular focus on auto, implementing further rate, underwriting and claims actions. For the full year 2016, the combined ratio was 95.3%, including 5.0 points of catastrophe losses. Underwriting income was $153 million in the quarter, $68 million lower than Q4-2015 which had benefitted from mild weather conditions. For the full year 2016, the Company generated $375 million of underwriting income, $253 million lower than last year, driven by the increase in catastrophe losses including the Fort McMurray wildfires. Lines of Business Q4 2016 Personal auto premiums grew 3%, influenced by the Company's profitability actions and growth initiatives. The combined ratio of 100.9% was mainly impacted by higher weather-related claims frequency, losses from industry pools, and lower favourable prior year development. This resulted in an underwriting loss of $9 million compared to income of $28 million last year. The Company continues to implement its profitability initiatives to improve results through further rate, underwriting and claims actions. premiums grew 3%, influenced by the Company's profitability actions and growth initiatives. The combined ratio of 100.9% was mainly impacted by higher weather-related claims frequency, losses from industry pools, and lower favourable prior year development. This resulted in an underwriting loss of compared to income of last year. The Company continues to implement its profitability initiatives to improve results through further rate, underwriting and claims actions. Personal property premiums grew 7%, as growth initiatives continue to be supported by favourable market conditions. The combined ratio was very strong at 75.6% as the profitability measures remained effective, but 2.9 points worse than last year on higher catastrophe losses and variable commissions. This resulted in underwriting income of $120 million compared to $123 million last year. The full year 2016 combined ratio was a strong 90.9%, meeting our target of operating at 95% or better even with elevated catastrophe losses. premiums grew 7%, as growth initiatives continue to be supported by favourable market conditions. The combined ratio was very strong at 75.6% as the profitability measures remained effective, but 2.9 points worse than last year on higher catastrophe losses and variable commissions. This resulted in underwriting income of compared to last year. The full year 2016 combined ratio was a strong 90.9%, meeting our target of operating at 95% or better even with elevated catastrophe losses. Commercial P&C premiums decreased by 3%, as rate increases were outweighed by difficult economic conditions in Western Canada and competitive market conditions. The combined ratio was solid at 89.4% due to the Company's profitability initiatives, but increased 9.3 points mainly due to fire-related losses and catastrophe losses. This resulted in underwriting income of $45 million compared to $83 million last year. premiums decreased by 3%, as rate increases were outweighed by difficult economic conditions in and competitive market conditions. The combined ratio was solid at 89.4% due to the Company's profitability initiatives, but increased 9.3 points mainly due to fire-related losses and catastrophe losses. This resulted in underwriting income of compared to last year. Commercial auto premiums grew 8%, driven by innovative products for the sharing economy. The combined ratio improved 6.0 points to 101.9%, helped by ongoing profitability actions but suffered from unfavourable prior year development on large losses. This resulted in an underwriting loss of $3 million compared to a loss of $13 million last year. On a full year basis, the combined ratio improved 4.4 points to 94.6% but the Company is continuing its profitability initiatives to drive a combined ratio sustainably in the low 90s. Investments Net investment income of $104 million was $6 million lower than Q4-2015 as the low rate environment continued to contribute to a mild reduction in income as expected. Net investment losses for Q4-2016 were $97 million , mainly driven by unrealized losses on our bond portfolio due to rising interest rates. For the full year 2016, the Company delivered net investment income of $414 million , $10 million lower than last year. Net investment losses of $72 million were driven by lower bond prices. Distribution Net distribution income of $24 million was 9% higher than Q4-2015, driven by growth in our broker network, offset in part by lower variable commissions. For the full year, net distribution income increased $7 million to $111 million due to growth in our broker network and improved profitability. Net Income Net operating income of $212 million , or $1.58 per share, was down 20% from last year reflecting challenges in personal auto, as well as higher large losses and catastrophe losses. For the full year 2016, net operating income was $660 million , or $4.88 per share, hampered by elevated catastrophe losses. of , or per share, was down 20% from last year reflecting challenges in personal auto, as well as higher large losses and catastrophe losses. For the full year 2016, net operating income was , or per share, hampered by elevated catastrophe losses. Earnings per share of $1.27 for the quarter was down from $1.46 a year ago, reflecting decreased underwriting income and net investment losses from lower bond prices. For the full year 2016, earnings per share were $3.97 . Balance Sheet The Company ended the quarter in a very strong financial position, with an estimated MCT of 218% and $970 million in total excess capital . The Company's book value per share was $42.72 , an increase of 7% from a year ago. . The Company's book value per share was , an increase of 7% from a year ago. The Company's debt-to-capital ratio was 18.6% at December 31, 2016 , higher than last year after issuing $250 million of medium term notes in Q1 2016, and below the Company's target level of 20%. at , higher than last year after issuing of medium term notes in Q1 2016, and below the Company's target level of 20%. The operating ROE for the last 12 months remains healthy at 12.0%, despite absorbing elevated catastrophe losses and maintaining the Company's strong excess capital position throughout the year. Analysts' Estimates The average estimate of earnings per share and net operating income per share for the quarter among the analysts who follow the Company was $1.72 and $1.75 , respectively. Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Consolidated Financial Statements This press release, which was approved by the Company's Board of Directors on the Audit Committee's recommendation, should be read in conjunction with the 2016 MD&A as well as the 2016 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, which are available on the Company's website at www.intactfc.com and later today on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For the definitions of measures and other insurance-related terms used in this Press Release, please refer to the MD&A and to the glossary available in the "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.intactfc.com. Conference Call Intact Financial Corporation will host a conference call to review its earnings results later today at 11:00 a.m. ET. To listen to the call via live audio webcast and to view the Company's Financial Statements, MD&A, presentation slides, the Supplementary financial information and other information not included in this press release, visit the Company's website at www.intactfc.com and link to "Investors". The conference call is also available by dialing (647) 427-7450 or 1 (888) 231-8191 (toll-free in North America). Please call 10 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available later today at 2:00 p.m. ET until midnight on February 15. To listen to the replay, call 1 (855) 859-2056 passcode 40845928. A transcript of the call will also be available on Intact Financial Corporation's website. About Intact Financial Corporation Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) is the largest provider of property and casualty insurance in Canada with over $8.0 billion in annual premiums. Supported by over 12,000 employees, the Company insures more than five million individuals and businesses through its insurance subsidiaries and is the largest private sector provider of P&C insurance in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador. The Company distributes insurance under the Intact Insurance brand through a wide network of brokers, including its wholly owned subsidiary, BrokerLink, and directly to consumers through belairdirect. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements. These statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the evaluation of losses relating to the Fort McMurray wildfires as well as catastrophe losses caused by severe weather, the outlook for the property and casualty insurance industry in Canada, the Company's business outlook and the Company's growth prospects. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form and annual MD&A. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please read the cautionary note at the beginning of the MD&A. SOURCE Intact Financial Corporation For further information: Media Inquiries: Stephanie Sorensen, Director, External Communications, 1 (416) 344-8027, [email protected]; Investor Inquiries, Samantha Cheung, Vice President, Investor Relations, 1 (416) 344-8004, [email protected] Related Links http://www.intactcf.com Back by popular demand, Doritos Ketchup Roses are the better and bolder way to declare your love. TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2017 /CNW/ - Forget the chocolates and flowers this Valentine's Day, Canada's boldest Valentine's Day gift, Doritos Ketchup Roses, are back! Beginning today, February 6th, Doritos Ketchup Roses will be available for order at DoritosKetchupRoses.ca for a limited time only. People often go out of their way to express their love to that special someone on Valentine's Day but these declarations can easily go sideways. This Valentine's Day, the Doritos brand is encouraging Canadians to reconsider the tattoo of their lover's name and the romantic ballad sung off-key, opting for a better, bolder gift that their special someone will never forget: Doritos Ketchup Roses. "Doritos Ketchup Roses are a memorable way to declare your love this Valentine's Day," says Shereen Yasseen, Senior Director of Marketing - Frito-Lay Core & Global Brands, PepsiCo Foods Canada. "These unique creations will ensure your bold declaration of love goes right this Valentine's Day as it's a gift they will remember for all the right reasons." Doritos Ketchup Roses are an elegant bouquet of 12 long-stem roses made from deliciously tangy Doritos Ketchup tortilla chips. Each rose is hand-crafted with delicate petals, hand-selected from our finest Doritos Ketchup chips. These stunning creations, meant to be admired, will be available in very limited quantities to select addresses in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Lucky consumers can rest assured that their special someone will be greeted with the boldest gift of all this Valentine's Day, with Doritos Ketchup Roses delivered directly to their front door. Can't get your hands on a coveted bouquet? Head to DoritosKetchupRoses.ca to follow our DIY guide and video to create your own at home this Valentine's Day. Doritos Ketchup tortilla chips will be available on store shelves for a limited time beginning January 15, 2017 wherever Doritos products are sold. About Doritos Doritos is one of the leading brands from PepsiCo's global snack portfolio. To learn more about the Doritos brand, visit its website at www.doritos.ca. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2015, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com. SOURCE Doritos For further information: For media inquiries, contact: Alyssa Katzikowski, Citizen Relations, [email protected] | 416-934-8416 The government of Canada has released immigration plan for 2017, and the news looks good for individuals looking to immigrate to Canada through one of the economic or family sponsorship programs. Canadas population in 2017 is projected to be 36.6 million. The population in 2016 was 36.3 million. The population growth is mainly from the immigrants. Births, deaths and people leaving Canada ends up being about even. If Canada maintained immigration levels at about 0.9% of total population, then by 2025, the immigration quote would be about 360,000 and population would be about 40 million. Key highlights: Target number of newcomers through Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class increases by 23 percent. Government aims for 51,000 new immigrants to come through the Provincial Nominee Programs. Quebec aims to welcome more than 29,000 through economic programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. Economic immigration to make up a larger share of overall immigration than in 2016. More spouses, partners, children, parents and grandparents to arrive through Family Class sponsorship programs. Although the plan targets an increase in economic immigrants and sponsored persons, the target figures for the Refugees and Protected Persons immigration categories are down compared to the 2016 plan. However, the overall target for these programs, set at 40,000, remains far higher than at any time during the previous Conservative governments tenure. Overall, Canada may welcome as many as 320,000 new immigrants over the calendar year of 2017. The increased scope presented by the government the plan for 2016 allowed for up to 305,000 newcomers is likely reflective of a desire to increase immigration over the coming years in order to respond to labour shortages and demographic challenges. Earlier this year, Immigration Minister John McCallum said that theres a significant feeling that Canada does need more immigrants, partly because we have an aging population, and so we need more young blood to keep our economies going. Engineers at the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC, have been making advancements in an initiative called Component Miniaturization. Its mission focuses on making armament systems more precise, energy efficient, scalable and effective by reducing the size of critical components in sub-systems such as safe and arm devices, electronics packages, power supplies and inertial measurement systems. Size reductions in one sub-system can have a positive effect on another. For example, a smaller and more efficient electronics package design can reduce power supply demands as well as reduce the need for heavier supporting structures. The space savings and mass savings could then be used to add a larger explosive warhead or increase control surfaces for additional maneuverability. The reduced size and mass could also allow for additional portability to smaller calibers or to systems with greater launch velocities. The initiative involves several discrete projects, some of which are described below: Electronics and control systems for sensors in bullets and projectiles ARDEC is moving forward, along with private industry, in reducing the size of complex subsystems. Taking advantage of modern electronic fabrication techniques in the Fuze Development Center and other on-site facilities, ARDEC engineers and scientists develop prototypes that demonstrate the ability to transform larger subsystems to smaller calibers. The Small Arms Deployable Sensor Network is one such example. This allows the Soldier to gather intelligence on a building without actually entering the building, so they dont have to put themselves in harms way, said William Smith, the Director of Fuze and Precision Armaments. Say you cleared a building, you could leave these behind, or you could shoot them in through the windows of the building and it would sense and report the presence of an intruder in the building, said Smith. It has microphones, a magnetometer, a still image camera, GPS and a mesh radio network. Other examples are the development of proximity sensors small enough to fit into 30mm ammunition, guidance and control systems that fit into 40mm projectiles, miniature laser igniters for small caliber ammunition and small, high-density power sources. HyperX Chip The HyperX chip is a massive core parallel processing chip. Parallel processing is the coordinated and simultaneous processing of program segments by several different processors. The HyperX chip has up to 100 separate processors on a single chip, running as many as 25 billion floating point operations per second at extraordinarily low power levels, said Smith. This design significantly reduced the number of electronic components needed, resulting in a remarkable increase in processing efficiency. The HyperX is useful in military applications where rapid image processing is essential, or when large data streams need to be handled as efficiently as possible. For example, if the warfighter uses a sensor system to examine a target of interest across multiple frequencies, it would allow them to capture and process that data more efficiently. With radio systems, voice and data signals could be processed rapidly. We are trying to reduce the demand on Soldiers for extra batteries. Since the HyperX is low power, it will have a longer life and can operate multiple systems off a single power source without this processor being a significant draw on power, said Smith. MEMS for Fuzes Projectiles rely upon fuzes to safely initiate an explosive charge. Safe and Arm devices assure that projectile fuzes become armed and detonate reliably and only under specific conditions. For example, a safe and arm device in an artillery fuze would often be designed to arm only after experiencing setback forces of gun-launch and the intended spin rate after a safe down range distance from the artillery gun crew. Precision munitions often have additional safety features in the fuze firing circuit to assure the projectile is properly guiding before becoming fully armed. In efforts to remain one step ahead, ARDEC is designing smaller and highly reliable safe and arm devices for fuzes through Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems or MEMS components. ARDEC also designs Electronic Safe and Arm Devices (ESADs) that require high voltages to detonate in-line explosive components. These systems move away from traditional mechanical safe and arm devices that would use clockwork mechanisms to slowly rotate detonators to be in line with the rest of the firing train. We are using some of the same fabrications techniques you would use for electronics to produce small mechanical devices, said Smith. One example the Fuze and Precision Armaments Directorates Fuze Division is exploring the application of metal-based LIGA ((Lithographie, Galvanoformung, Abformung (Lithography, Electroplating, and Molding)) MEMS technology for the fabrication of Fuzing Safe and Arm devices. With MEMS, the traditional Safe and Arm devices can be reduced to a small fraction of their original size. Physical space in munitions becomes extremely critical as small munitions become more sophisticated. The introduction of a MEMS-based and arm device in 40mm projectiles allows for additional space that could be used by a power sources, lethal mechanism, sensing electronics, propulsion or a control system. ARDEC has successfully demonstrated MEMS Fuzing in 155mm and 40mm projectiles and is currently working on manufacturing technology for production transition. MEMS IMU While ARDEC is transitioning metal-based MEMS technology in fuzing, they have also successfully implemented silicon-based MEMS technology in Inertial Measurement Units for guided projectiles such as Excalibur. MEMS IMUs have replaced larger devices such as traditional gyroscopes, air-bearing gyros and ring-laser gyros for the inertial guidance reference in precision munitions. We are using similar sensors to what you would find in game controllers or in your phone, just more reliable, added Smith. ARDEC, along with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center, managed the development of common IMU devices for a wide range of projectile and missile applications. The Analysis and Evaluation Division developed detailed models that predict and display the forces acting upon these components in the gun-launch environment. These models were able to identify structural concerns, which were addressed to assure survivability under forces in excess of 15,000 Gs. Research in IMU size reduction continues and some day may result in atomic-level IMUs. Graphene and Other 2-D Materials ARDEC is exploring the emerging field of two-dimensional materials for armament system applications. We are looking at things now from an atomic level for the future of semi-conductors, specialty coatings, support structures and energetics, said Smith. These materials, fabricated and operating at the atomic layer scale, have unprecedented future applications, said Smith. ARDEC has joined a two-dimensional research consortium sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Research is conducted at the ATOMIC Laboratory, jointly established by Penn State and Rice University. We have also brought in exchange engineers from South Korea and Japan to help execute basic research in these areas, said Smith. CAPE TOWN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Africa's first fuel cell component plant using platinum as a catalyst will start production by December aiming to take advantage of rising demand for clean energy cars, officials from Isondo Precious Metals said. Isondo has secured a license from U.S-based Chemours Technology to assemble components for fuel cells using platinum, which has mainly been used in catalysts to clean up car emissions. South Africa is the world's top platinum producer and has the largest reserves of the precious metal. Vinay Somera, chief executive of Isondo Precious Metals, said tax breaks, relatively cheap labor costs and access to raw materials should give the plant a competitive advantage. "We are not re-inventing the wheel, we are going for what is available but locating the manufacturing here while doing it cheaper and at the same standard internationally," Somera said at an African mining conference in Cape Town. Isondo was looking at venture capital funds and other investors to help to raise around 120 million rand ($9 million) needed over the next two years to expand its production line. The new plant will be located in a special economic zone either in Johannesburg or Durban on the east coast. The number of vehicles using fuel cells has grown rapidly as car-makers including Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Daimler invest in technology to cut auto emissions. David Hart, director of Swiss-based sustainable energy consultancy, E4tech, said by 2030 there could be 1.6 million fuel cell vehicles globally. "It is very clear that there will be more people entering this market and if you do it in five years time, it is probably too late. So, to some level it is first mover advantage and this is important," Hart, who was also attending the mining conference, told Reuters. ($1 = 13.4542 rand) (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by James Macharia and Jane Merriman) FILE PHOTO: Visitors walk behind a logo of Takata Corp on its display at a showroom for vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, November 6, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan's Takata Corp is set to plead guilty Feb. 27 in federal court in Detroit to a single felony count of wire fraud to resolve a U.S. Justice Department investigation into ruptures of its air bag inflators linked to at least 16 deaths worldwide, according to a court filing Tuesday. Last month, the auto parts firm agreed to the guilty plea as part of a $1 billion settlement in the world's largest ever recall. U.S. prosecutors also charged three former senior Takata executives in Japan with falsifying test results to conceal the inflator defect linked the recall of about 100 million air bag inflators worldwide. Takata has agreed to pay a $25 million fine, $125 million in a victim compensation fund, including for future incidents, and $850 million to compensate automakers for massive recall costs, the Justice Department said. The auto parts supplier will be required to make significant reforms and be on probation and under the oversight of an independent monitor for three years. Last month, three senior Takata executives in the United States left the company, including Kevin Kennedy, who was president of Takata North America. Kennedy confirmed his departure in a posting on the employment networking website LinkedIn but did not return emails. Reuters reported Monday that Key Safety Systems (KSS) Inc has been selected to lead its turnaround, fanning concern that a court-led restructuring was on the cards. The Nikkei business daily, which first reported the news of KSS's selection, said automakers would support the pick on condition Takata pursue a court-mediated turnaround in both Japan and the United States, a move that could wipe out shareholders' equity. In a statement late on Saturday, Takata denied that it had selected KSS as its sponsor or a court-led restructuring as the way forward. (Reporting by David Shepardson) "Today's test demonstrates a critical milestone in the cooperative development of the SM-3 Block IIA missile," the director of the Missile Defense Agency, Vice Adm. Jim Syring, said in a statement. "The missile, developed jointly by a Japanese and US government and industry team, is vitally important to both our nations and will ultimately improve our ability to defend against increasing ballistic missile threats around the world." As the battle for world Supremacy and control over Asia's military space goes on, the United States has continued to show it won't relent in it's efforts to continue global order and crack down on any military monopoly China and North Korea are trying to play out in Asia, as the U.S in conjunction with ally Japan launched & successfully intercepted a ballistic missile over the weekend.Iran and China conducted military drills this week in response to Trump's tough talk towards them ( read here ), while North Korea has promised to launch attacks that could destroy a country as large as 'Los Angeles'Now, the US Missile Defense Agency and Japan's Defense Agency has announced that the USS John Paul Jones detected, tracked and took down a ballistic missile using its onboard Aegis Missile Defense System and a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor, a test which took place off the Hawaiian island of Kauai.With this test, Asian super powers like Iran, China and North Korea know that any attack on American soil or on allies of America in Asia, will be intercepted and met with serious repercussions.The U.S have also said they will defend Japanese Islands along the South China sea, claimed by China, while the U.S in conjunction with South Korea will this year deploy the THAAD -- Terminal High Altitude Area Defense -- anti-missile system. Homeland Security Secretary, John Kelly, has said visa applicants could be asked for passwords to their social media accounts by United States, US, embassies, going forward.Kelly said the move was necessary due to an ongoing effort to toughen the vetting of visitors and to screen out people who may pose security threats.Kelly made the declaration on Tuesday at a hearing of the Homeland Security Committee.Sky News quoted him as saying the development is one of the steps being considered, especially for visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries with very weak background screening of their own such as Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.He said, Were looking at some enhanced or some additional screening.We may want to get on their social media, with passwords.Its very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries. But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords.So we can see what they do on the internet.Anyone who refuses to cooperate would not be allowed into the United States.No decision has been made but tighter screening would be implemented, even if it means longer delays for awarding US visas to visitors.These are the things we are thinking about. But over there, we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line, he added.This is coming after US President, Donald Trump banned immigration into the country from seven Muslim-majority countries Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.Although the ban has since been suspended, it was primarily an executive order restricting travel for Muslims to the US for a temporary period of three months. The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, has hailed the striking out of a motion seeking an injunction to sto... The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, has hailed the striking out of a motion seeking an injunction to stop hijab usage in the state by the Court of Appeal.The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Tuesday heard the motion stay of execution filed by the Lagos State Government and struck it out.The case, CA/L/135/15, is between Lagos State Government, Asiyat AbdulKareem (through her father), Moriam Oyeniyi and Muslim Students Society of Nigeria.The struck motion was asking the court to stop the use of hijab in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State pending the ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter.After hearing from both parties, the presiding justice, Muhammad Garba, struck out the motion.With the current ruling, students in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State can now wear hijab to school without harassment unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise.Earlier, the Lagos State Government on Thursday, July 21, 2016 lost at the Court of Appeal when a full panel of the court gave approval to the Muslim students to use hijab to school.The Amir (President) of MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, Saheed Ashafa, applauded the judgement, saying that the favourable outcome was expected.According to him, the judgement will further strengthen fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.He stated that the MSSN Lagos would not entertain any act or form of harassment after the current judgement.He said, We applaud the judgement as this is not unexpected. The position of the law is very clear on the subject matter. This matter once more assure us that all hope is not lost on having a redeemed society.It gladdens to see that the injunction which the LASG is using as a basis to deny the implementation of the Court of Appeal judgement has been struck out.We hereby urge all stakeholders to be law abiding for a peaceful implementation of the judgement. There should be no violation of human rights against our Students while we expect an immediate implementation of the judgement in all schools across the state.While congratulating and thanking Muslims on the recent victory, Mr. Ashafa said, We congratulate the entire Muslim Ummah (community) and urge our Muslim students to uphold decency and cleanliness which are the hallmark of Islam while exercising their right.A special constituted panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on July 21, 2016 unanimously set aside the judgment of a Lagos High Court which banned students in public primary and secondary schools in the state from putting on the hijab with their school uniforms.The special panel of the court presided over by Justice A.B. Gumel held that the appeal was meritorious and should be allowed.In his lead judgment, Justice Gumel held that the use of the hijab was an Islamic injunction and also an act of worship, hence it would constitute a violation of the appellants rights to stop them from wearing the hijab in public schools.Resolving all the five issues raised in favour of the appellants, the appellate court held that the lower court erred in law when it held that the ban on hijabs was a policy of the Lagos State Government (respondent).Other justices in the five-member panel were M. Fasanmi, A. Jauro, J.S. Ikyegh and I. Jombo Ofor.Justice Modupe Onyeabor of an Ikeja High Court had on October 17, 2014, dismissed the suit instituted against the Lagos State Government by two 12-year-old girls under the aegis of the MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit.Dissatisfied, the appellants urged the appellate court to set aside the judgment and protect their constitutional rights.The government had banned the use of the hijab, arguing that it was not part of the approved school uniform for pupils.Following the ban, the students filed the suit on May 27, 2015, seeking redress and asked the court to declare the ban as a violation of their rights to freedom of thought, religion and education.In her judgment, Mrs. Onyeabor held that the prohibition of the wearing of hijabs over school uniforms within and outside the premises of public schools was not discriminatory.According to her, the ban did not violate Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the plaintiffs. The Boko Haram sect is currently plagued by financial difficulties, Jeffrey Feltman, UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, has... The Boko Haram sect is currently plagued by financial difficulties, Jeffrey Feltman, UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, has said.Feltman said this on Tuesday, while briefing the security council on the UN secretary-generals fourth report on the threat the group poses to international peace and security efforts to check and roll it back.The UN envoy also noted that Boko Haram was under intense military pressure, but warned against undermining its capacity to launch fatal attacks.ISIL-affiliate Boko Haram is attempting to spread its influence and commit terrorist acts beyond Nigeria, he said.And Boko Haram remains a serious threat, with several thousand fighters at its disposal.It is, however, plagued by financial difficulties and an internal power struggle, and has split in two factions.While the previous reports on the subject had focused on South East Asia, Yemen and East Africa, Libya and Afghanistan, the fourth report focused on Europe, North Africa and West Africa.It noted that ISIL had conducted a range of attacks in Europe since declaring in 2014 its intent to target the region.Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by ISIL personnel, while others were enabled by ISIL providing guidance or assistance or were inspired through its propaganda, it said.The said while the military offensive in Libya had dislodged ISIL from its stronghold of Sirte, the groups threat to Libya and neighbouring countries persists.Its fighters, estimated to range from several hundred to 3,000, have moved to other parts of the country, he said.ISIL has increased its presence in West Africa and the Maghreb, though the group does not control significant amounts of territory in the region.The reported pledge of loyalty to ISIL by a splinter faction of Al-Mourabitoun led by Lehbib Ould Ali may elevate the level of the threat.Following the increased military pressure, Feltman said ISIL is now on the defensive militarily in several regions, but was also adapting to military pressure by resorting to covert communications such as the dark web.Although its income and the territory under its control are shrinking, ISIL still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting, he warned.Feltman noted that ISIL relies mainly on income from extortion and hydrocarbon exploitation, even though resources from the latter are on the decline.According to him, UN member states are concerned that ISIL will try to expand other sources of income, such as kidnapping for ransom, and increase its reliance on donations.Feltman said that there were 19 universal counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, as well as related regional instruments on international terrorism, and relevant UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.He warned that foreign terrorist fighters leaving the conflict could pose a grave risk to their homeland or to the countries they are travelling to or transiting through, such as Iraq and Syrias neighbours, as well as countries in the Maghreb. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim has expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will soon re... Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim has expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will soon return to Nigeria.Speaking with newsmen yesterday, he said there's no need for Nigerians to be unduly apprehensive.According to him, President Buhari "is not sick but exhausted by the weight of the problems the country is going through."The destruction of oil pipeline that has cut production to almost half, fall in oil price, economic recession, and the falling exchange rate that has affected the purchasing power of most Nigerians are part of the problems the president is battling", he said.He said he has been in constant touch with the president and was with him the day he left the country. Tunde Bakare, serving overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari chose him as running mate in 2011... Tunde Bakare, serving overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari chose him as running mate in 2011, because he wanted a vice-president who can hold the nation together if he dies in power.Both men contested the election under the platform of the then Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).Addressing his congregants in Ogba, Lagos, last month, Bakare said Buhari rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjos choice of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance.He said all what transpired during that period had been documented in the book: Strategic Intervention in Governance, a book he authored.After I was called and I went to Abuja, and I sat with Mr President or General Buhari then, I said why me? Im not a politician, I do not belong to any political party, I am not carrying card of any party, why me?He gave me all the reasons, they are written in the book; Strategic Intervention in Governance. He gave three reasons, but the one that made everyone around me that day to dove their hats was when he said: I am not as young as you think, and even YarAdua that is younger is dead.In case I die, I know you can hold the nation together. That was when Jim (he didnt give his surrname) removed his cap and said egbon, you must agree.Bakare said on another day, he sat with Buhari and said, Sir, I need to understand something before I do anything. Every running mate of yours, including the one that was even your deputy in the military, is dead.Ume-Ezeoke is dead, Okadigbo is dead, Idiagbon is dead, I am not about to die?Bakare said Buhari told him; Pastor, you must be very funny, I have never even thought about it.I knew he had nothing to do with their deaths, but that man carries a dimension of grace that if you deal with him, and betray him, you pay with your life, Bakare said.So I said to him, hear me now, I will never betray you, I leave it to you to betray me if you wish to do so Im not kidding you, you dont know what transpired, for you, it was just campaign.Loyalty is a two-way traffic, if you cannot do that with God, forget, you cannot do it with men, youd betray the cause, somewhere along the line, when things get tough, when they are not as easy as you expect them to be.God builds your confidence if you heed to his agreement. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says Lai Mohammed, minister of information, never dares to speak against Muslim leaders who mak... The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says Lai Mohammed, minister of information, never dares to speak against Muslim leaders who make hate speeches, but that he comes after those of the church.The association was reacting to a statement in which the minister said reports of the killing of Christians were not true.Such fallacies like the Islamisation of Nigeria, the killing of Christians by Muslims, the labelling of Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world can only serve one purpose: trigger a religious war. Needless to say that no nation ever survives a religious war, Mohammed had said.The alleged Islamisation of Nigeria under the current administration is totally false and should be perceived in its entirety as a campaign of calumny. The secular nature of Nigerias constitution makes the issue of religious dominance and impunity improbable.In a statement issued by Adebayo Oladeji, media aide of Samson Ayokunle, CAN president, the association described the ministers statement as lies.We are disappointed but not surprised with the disparaging, lies and abusive statements credited to the minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Ilorin during the town hall meeting where he was accusing religious leaders of making alleged provocative statements that can lead to religious war, it said.Mohammed in his characteristic manner left out the issues but went after the so-called religious leaders, which we all know, are the Christian leaders because we know that the minister dare not speak against the Muslim leaders who had said worse things.CAN said that Nigerian Christians love their country and they not only promote peace and unity but also always pray for her and the leadership.It said, in the past one year, it declared fasting and prayers for Nigeria and her leadership twice.If we are thirsty for a war, we wouldnt have gone that far, the Christian body said.It asked Mohammed to disprove its claim that its members were killed by Fulani herdsmen in Kaduna, Benue and Plateau states.Is Lai Mohammed accusing of us of telling lies: That our members are being killed, maimed and burnt by the Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast? That our members are being killed by the Fulani herdsmen in Plateau, Benue and now Kaduna states? That those responsible for these killings profess Islam as their religion? it asked.That those who killed Madam Bridget Agbahime in Kano were Muslims who were arrested but later discharged and acquitted by the court as requested by the state attorney-general and commissioner of justice?That those who killed Madam Eunice Elisha Olawale while doing the morning preaching in Kubwa, Abuja were Muslim fundamentalists who were arrested but also freed by the police? Is Lai Mohammed telling us that no Christian was killed by the Fulani herdsmen who invaded southern Kaduna, killed and maimed our members and razed down their communities recently? Is Mohammed saying the Fulani herdsmen who have been killing our members are not armed with sophisticated weapons and is it wrong for us to ask where they get the AK-47 and other weapons they are using?When all those killings were going on in Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna, was there any time Lai Mohammed or anyone in the federal government raised up a voice against the atrocities?If those murderous Fulani herdsmen are faceless, how come the Sultan of Sokoto is claiming that they are not Nigerians and in another instance, the Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai said they had been paid for the wrong done to them? Why is it that whenever these murderers are perpetrating their atrocities, the security agencies look elsewhere until their victims decided to fight back? Is it because the security agencies are Muslim dominated? CAN says no to disparaging remarks in the name of politics. Enough of these lies by Lai Mohammed. DAY 8 / JANUARY 27: Trump's order to restrict people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States sparked confusion and anger after immigrants and refugees were kept off flights and left stranded in airports. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (Reuters) By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's review of post-crisis banking rules could sound the death knell for new global standards now being finalized and rip apart a common approach to regulating international lenders, bankers and regulators said. Central banks and watchdogs around the world have spent the past eight years drawing up regulation aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, but there are fears that project could unravel after Trump said he wants the U.S. to row back on capital rules. Trump's order for a regulatory review to overcome what he sees as obstacles to lending came as banking watchdogs were trying to complete the final piece of global capital requirements, known as Basel III. Given that the United States wants to shrink the banking rule book, there are doubts over whether the Basel rules can make it over the finishing line next month if they don't have backing from the United States. Without support from the world's biggest capital market, other countries would be less willing to commit too. The core aim of the outstanding part of Basel III that regulators are working on - dubbed Basel IV by critical banks who worry about more stringent capital requirements - is to impose more consistency into how banks calculate the amount of capital they hold against risky assets like loans. JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon said in the aftermath of the financial crisis that European rivals had been "a lot more aggressive" than American banks in calculating capital, meaning they were holding less. European policymakers have rejected that criticism, but their region's banks have been lobbying against the remaining Basel rules, saying they would force them to increase significantly the amount of capital they need to hold. If the United States fails to approve the completion of Basel III, the perceived problem that European banks get away with holding less capital than U.S. lenders may not be properly tackled, a source involved in the negotiations said. Story continues "It's in the interests of American banks to get this done," the source said. Others are less optimistic that a deal can now be done after Trump's intervention. "It's going to delay completing Basel III, and perhaps lead to it not being concluded," an adviser to banks said on condition of anonymity. "I do fear that Basel IV is doomed," a banking industry official added. There are headwinds from elsewhere, too. Patrick McHenry, Republican vice chairman of the House financial services committee, fired a warning shot at Federal Reserve Governor Janet Yellen about the Basel talks in a letter dated Jan. 31, ahead of Trump's executive order. The Fed must "cease" all attempts to negotiate binding standards "burdening American business" until the Trump Administration has had the opportunity to nominate officials that prioritize "America's best interests", McHenry said. While lawmakers often call on regulators to ease pressure on firms, regulators said Trump's intervention in banking rules gives more clout to McHenry's warning. The Basel Committee declined to comment. GLOBAL COOPERATION Trump's decision to review existing, post-crisis banking rules has rung alarm bells among regulators outside the country. Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, which regulates the euro zone's main lenders, said on Monday that easing banking rules could threaten financial stability. Draghi was chairman of the Group of 20 Economies' (G20) regulatory task force, the Financial Stability Board, which during the financial crisis was instrumental in building up a global approach to reinforcing banking standards. A former regulator said the United States would be scoring an own goal by withdrawing from multilateral bodies like Basel as it would no longer be shaping rules that impinge on U.S. banking competitiveness globally. "It's early days, but what we have seen in language and rhetoric from Washington is worrying," said David Wright, a former top EU official who was part of crisis-era efforts to create the global regulatory consensus. "If you break international consensus, you are effectively opening up a regulatory race and heaven knows where it will end," said Wright, now at Flint Global, which advises companies on regulatory matters. Wright was referring to what was seen in the run-up to the financial crisis, when countries like Britain resorted to a "light touch" approach to banks to make London a more attractive financial center. Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU's financial services chief, said last week that international regulatory cooperation had been vital in tackling the financial crisis and must continue. Much will hinge on how much regulatory change Trump can actually push through. Former Democratic Congressman Barney Frank, who jointly sponsored the Dodd Frank Act that Trump wants to review, told the BBC last week he does not expect Congress to approve the wholesale rolling back of rules, but the Trump administration could pressure U.S. regulators to ease up on applying existing requirements. Anil Kashyap, a Bank of England policymaker, said last month that Trump's nomination for the powerful role of Fed Vice Chair in charge of banking supervision would shape the U.S. approach to international rule-making. It will have a "huge impact", a regulatory source added. The fear among global regulators is that multilateral bodies like the Basel Committee and the Financial Stability Board could be abandoned by the United States under Trump. Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri, chairman of Spain's Bankia, told Spanish television on Tuesday he would be concerned if Trump was questioning the usefulness of international banking rules. "It would worry me very much because I think it's very important, very relevant that there have been advances in the homogenization of regulation amongst developed countries," he said. (Additional reporting by Paul Day in Madrid, editing by Giles Elgood) Spiritual leader of the Adoration Ministries in Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has said those working with President Muhammadu Buhari,... Spiritual leader of the Adoration Ministries in Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has said those working with President Muhammadu Buhari, are only interested in what they can get from the current administration.Mbaka insisted that Buhari had good intentions for Nigeria, but his efforts were being frustrated.In a sermon at the first Adoration Crusade for the year, Mbaka said: Unfortunately, he (Buhari) surrounded himself with officials who have different agenda.Buhari has good intentions for the country; unfortunately, his subordinates have different agenda they are interested in their pockets.Those wishing the president dead dont love this country. Children of God, what do people gain by wishing somebody dead? We should pray for our leaders; that is what the Bible says.He also encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, as there was light at the end of the tunnel. The police said yesterday that they recovered N111.3 million from 23 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials who condu... The police said yesterday that they recovered N111.3 million from 23 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials who conducted the December 10, 2016 rerun in Rivers State.The cash, they claimed, is part of the N360 million bribe allegedly paid by Governor Nyesom Wike to compromise electoral and security officials for his partys candidates to win.The unnamed officials have been indicted for their involvement in the violence that occurred during the election, the police said.Six policemen indicted for their role during the election have been dismissed. They are to be prosecuted.This is part of the report of the Joint Investigation Panel constituted by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris on December 22, 2016, to probe the violence that led to the killing of two policemen during the election.The report was submitted to the IG at the Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.But the governor rejected the report as malicious, defamatory and reckless. He denied all the claims by the panel, which he accused of being biased.The 12-member panel comprises nine policemen and three Department of State Services (DSS) personnel. It was mandated to investigate the various infractions, incidents, and violence that marred the rerun.The panel attributed the violence to lawlessness and leadership failure.The chairman of the panel, Damian Okoro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said N111.3 million was recovered from 23 INEC officers. He said three senior electoral officers collected N20 million each of the N360 million allegedly given to them by Wike. The remaining officers received N15 million each.Okoro said the committee established cases of misconduct on the part of some electoral officers and law enforcement agents who, unfortunately, allowed themselves to be compromised in their line of duties and deserve to be disciplined appropriately.He added that the task given to the panel was quite challenging because of the tense political and security situation in the state, especially the prevalence of violent crimes, such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and politically motivated killings, by militant and culture groups that enjoy the funding and protection of desperate politicians.These lawless elements target not only the political opponents of their sponsors but also law enforcement agents, especially the police, mostly within the Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area, which is the axis of evil of cultism.The violence that occurred in Rivers State, before during and after the rerun was a reflection of lawlessness and leadership failure of narrow-minded politicians and their gullible supporters. Oftentimes, politicians make inflammatory statements that incite their supporters into avoidable violence that results in the destruction of lives and properties and eruption of elections.Regrettably, these politicians often fail to realise that as very important personalities in their own right, they are the embodiment of some values cherished by their supporters.Apart from their utterances, politicians, in their desperation for political power also arm thugs and unleash terror on their opponents. When motivated by their sponsors these criminal elements can do anything to further the political aspirations of their principals, including extra- judicial killings and rigging of elections with impunity.Okoro went on: We discovered that failure of leadership and followership rather than law enforcement was responsible for political upheaval in the state.A source close to the investigation confirmed that forensic analysis showed that Wikes was the voice the one in a controversial tape that went viral on the social media following its leakage to an online medium.The source, pleading for anonymity, said: After forensic analysis was conducted, it was discovered that the voice was truly that of the governor. Also, those indicted were interviewed and they confessed on video tape that the governor gave them money. They explained how they were invited and escorted back to their hotel rooms with money in different bags.We also discovered that the governor withdrew N2billion from the government coffers for the purpose of rigging the rerun. Imagine what the money would have been used for. The money would have built many schools, hospitals and a lot of things.The IG said the panel wrote to Wike but he refused to cooperate.He said its report and recommendations would be forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, for further action.Said Idris: The Panel tackled what has been going on in this country where politicians have turned election into a do-or-die affair and we have been failing in this country because we have allowed things to derail to this level.I see no reason why a rerun will lead to the beheading of our officers who were there to do their lawful duties. I believe that the report will go a long way to put an end to individuals seeing election as a do-or-die affair.We will take appropriate actions in conjunction with the law officer of the federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, in order to put an end to most of the abuses and electoral violence in this country.People that were arrested are going to be prosecuted because they are public officers. We are going to forward the report and our recommendation to the Attorney General of the Federation.On the source of the recovered money, the police chief said: From the confession of those the money was recovered from, they said the money was from the state government. I can assure you that from here, the money will go into government treasury because these are recoveries on the basis of an investigation conducted.Six police officers were indicted and they have already been dismissed and I can assure you that they would also be charged to court.Asked about the doubt Wike had on the panel and if its report was not targeted at tarnishing his image, Idris said: it is a joint investigation and that means it is between the police and SSS and I think the whole of this country have confidence in both agencies to provide security for them and to deal with issues that are detrimental to peaceful co-existence of Nigerians in any part of this country.We are in a democracy and everybody has the right of free speech. Anybody can wake up any day and say anything but what I am saying is that you have to go through the report to see the processes we took before arriving at where we are.The investigation was open and very transparent. We wrote to the governor, they went to meet him but, in his own wisdom, he refused to cooperate. We believe that what determines outcome of this report is the transparency and the good will.Whoever that is involved has been arrested and isolating the governor will be a disservice to this country. The report should be seen as a corrective measure. Those indicted cut across different classes of life.The IG described the manner in which two policemen were killed as barbaric.The Governor Nyesom Wike administration in Rivers State has condemned alleged blackmail by the committee set up by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to probe the December 10 last years bloody legislative rerun, describing the polices action as shameful, defamatory and reckless.Commissioner for Information and Communications Dr. Austin Tam-George yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital claimed that the committee was being economical with the truth.Tam-George said: The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the melodramatic images of heaps of cash, circulated in the media by the so-called police panel of inquiry into the rerun elections in Rivers State, on the 10th of December, 2016.According to the police, the heaps of money were evidence of bribe allegedly given to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, during the rerun polls.We consider the allegations of the police as shameful, defamatory and reckless in the extreme. Never in the annals of infamy have we seen a vital state security institution descend to the lowest depths of blackmail and criminality, as the Nigeria Police Force has done in this case.A month ago, we alerted the world to the dark, Orwellian plot by the Nigeria police to implicate Governor Wike in a phoney bribe scandal. Now, the police appear to be acting with shocking predictability, by making wild and completely groundless allegations against Governor Wike.The Rivers State Government challenges the Nigeria Police to show proof that Governor Wike financially induced any official of INEC. Do the police have bank records of the purported transactions between Governor Wike and the electoral officers? We challenge the Nigeria police to move quickly to prosecute and imprison the so-called electoral officers on the basis of this dubious investigation.Tam-George said Wikes administration strongly believed that the committee was part of a bitter, politically-driven smear campaign, allegedly launched by the Federal Government against the state governor and the people.He noted that the government also believed that the police were desperately seeking to divert attention from the alleged disgraceful and criminal roles played by their officials, in the snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes during the December polls.Tam-George said the state would not succumb to what he called the juvenile antics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its security surrogates. Hollywood actor Richard Hatch, who was known for his role as Captain Apollo in the TV series "Battlestar Galactica," has died.According to his manager Michael Kaliski, he died Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at around 1:30 p.m. in Santa Clarita, California, with his son, Paul, by his side.The 71-year-old actor had been battling pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from his family. In the original "Battlestar Galactica" series that ran from 1978-1979, he played Captain Apollo and in the 2003 remake, he played Tom Zarek.He received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the first series. Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has said that the trend of hate speeches in Nigeria could become a hydra-headed monster... Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has said that the trend of hate speeches in Nigeria could become a hydra-headed monster if left unaddressed.He said for Nigeria to achieve a just and egalitarian society, appropriate laws must be enacted to check hate speeches.The minister made this known while speaking on Tuesday night in Lagos at the conference dinner of the first West Africa regional round of the Oxford prize media law moot court competition.He raised concern over the growing prevalence of hate speeches in the country, stating that the fast growing trend constitutes a threat to national peace and security.Hate speech is becoming increasingly prevalent in all areas of our national endeavour, including religious, social, political and communal life.Experts, therefore, alerted that the level, trend and occurrence of hate speech constitute a threat to the peace, unity and security of the country.The phenomenon, if left unchecked could grow to become a hydra-headed monster which latently and silently creates a Rwandan-type experience, he said.While admitting that section 39 (1) of the 1999 constitution guarantees freedom of expression, he noted that section 45 (1) of the same constitution provides a caveat that the freedom shall not undermine public safety, public order and national peace.The minister recalled that in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) observed and condemned a rise in hate speech.Mohammed noted that the enactment of such a law is not new, citing several examples of other countries where hate speech and hate crimes are penalised.Belgian law penalises public announcements of intention to discriminate, hate or perpetrate violence against persons on grounds of race, colour, origin, descent or nationality.Danish law also forbids public statements that threaten, insult or degrade on account of race, skin colour, national/ethnic origin, faith or sexual orientation.In the same vein, Sweden punishes racial agitation, which includes expressions that threaten or demonstrate contempt on the grounds of race, colour, national/ethnic affiliation or religious belief, he said. Some youths from Bauchi State on Wednesday took to the streets to publicly debunk claims President Muhammadu Buhari is dead. Some youths from Bauchi State on Wednesday took to the streets to publicly debunk claims President Muhammadu Buhari is dead.The youths in their hundreds trooped out to support the Buhari-led government.The protesters displayed placards with inscriptions: Buahri is alive, say what you like, Support Baba Buhari, I love Naija, I love Buhari.The Pro-Buhari campaigners started their march from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium to other major streets in the state.See photos below The last couple of days has seen Iyanya tease fans and the media with photos indicating that he may be signing a new deal with Jay Z's Roc Nation. In some of the photos, he even sat on the same sofa that Tiwa Savage sat on back in July 2016 when she signed her management deal with the New York based company.Iyanya is still in New York and can't be immediately reached for comments, but LIB reached out to his management in Nigeria, The Temple Management Company whose media officer Femi Salawu responded to our enquiries with a carefully worded statement that reads:'TMC and Mavin Records are focused on building bridges globally for the benefit of our talents. Both Companies' primary objective is to continually maximise the opportunities in the African continent as well as explore and develop new frontiers across the globe. Strategic international partnerships are key in achieving these objectives aimed at raising the profile of Mavins talents and our other talents. As the world is a global village, we are positioned as global players in the industry in bridging all divides globally. We will provide a detailed press release in due course'.It's now safe to say after 3-months with Don Jazzy's Mavin records, Iyanya is finally 'Up to something'. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Christian leaders to always preach the love of Jesus Christ rather than hate messages. ... Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Christian leaders to always preach the love of Jesus Christ rather than hate messages.Osinbajo noted that hate among various groups and people led to killing of innocent citizens and destruction of properties across the nation.He noted that the burden of faith for Christians is to fulfill the mandate of Christ by preaching the love of Jesus Christ.Osinbajo spoke while declaring open the 14th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria whose theme is From Glory to Glory.He said for Christians to live eternally, they must be ready to die for the gospel.The Acting President stated that it was unfair for people to suggest that the Federal Government was silent on the crisis of Southern Kaduna because it supported the killings.Osibanjo explained that the Federal Governments approach was to allow Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to intervene just as he did in the Shiite clashes.He stated that the failure of past administrations to stop religious and ethnic killings could be attributed to failure of the criminal justice system.He said: Our greatest enemy is hate. In the past few years, we have seen the most brutal killing of men and women. The history of blood and religious conflict extends to every Nigerian government.On the Southern Kaduna Killings, he said: Since investigations are still going on, I cant make any categorical statement. The Federal Government has taken steps by first aligning with the state government working with the police to be the first respondents.It is not true to say that the FGN was silent, it is not true. Troops were sent in after a security council briefing were received from the state and police after they found themselves of not been able to curtail the killings.However, from the foregoing it is obvious that every Nigerian leader whether Christian or Muslim has tried to solve the problem of the killings and none has succeeded. Indeed killing has increased in velosity and intensity.In many respects, the failure of our criminal justice system to punish culprits has not helped matters. But meanwhile the suicide bombers and those ready to die along with their victims have added a more satanic dimension to the public.Why is it that no government has succeeded in stopping these age-long killings? Let me say that it is because the answer to it, the response to gross wickedness lies with the church.Everything about the gospel contradicts our flesh. As far as the gospel is concerned, the way to live and be fruitful is to die. Russia says seven of its sailors and one Ukrainian have been abducted on Nigerias territorial waters. Russia says seven of its sailors and one Ukrainian have been abducted on Nigerias territorial waters.The Russian embassy in Nigeria has asked the Nigerian authorities for assistance in locating the abducted sailors.The BBC Caribbean ship came under a piratic attack in the territorial waters of Nigeria, the embassy said on Wednesday via its twitter page.Seven Russian citizens and one Ukrainian citizen have been kidnapped from the ship.In connection with the seizure, the Embassy of the Russian Federation requested the authorities of Nigerias assistance in locating the stolen.General cargo ship BBC Caribbean was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea 45 nautical miles south-west off Brass, Nigeria, the Russia News Agency TASS said.The incident happened near Pennington Oil Terminal in the Niger Delta region. The cargo ship was approached by a motor skiff with armed men on board, who opened fire.The guards on board of the general cargo ship BBC Caribbean returned fire but were later overpowered.On November 27, 2016, three Russian sailors were taken hostage when the Saronic Breeze ship was attacked in the territorial waters of Benin.The captives regained freedom on December 20, 2016. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to receive the report of the police panel that investigated activitie... The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to receive the report of the police panel that investigated activities surrounding the December 10, 2016 parliamentary re-run polls in Rivers.The panel, which was constituted by police high command, submitted its report to the Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday in Abuja.The report said that N111 million bribe money was recovered from 23 INEC officials that participated in the elections.The recovered cash was displayed during the presentation of the report at police headquarters.INECs Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the commission had not been briefed on the report.He said if availed with the report, INEC would support all processes to prosecute officials who were bribed.Chairman of the panel, Damian Okoro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, made the allegation while presenting the teams report to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, in Abuja on Tuesday.He alleged that three senior INEC officials collected N20 million each out of the N360 million allegedly given to key officials by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.He said the other officials received N15 million each.Mr. Osaze-Uzzi said we await the police report; just like everybody saw it on the media that was how we also saw it.As at today, they have not communicated to say this is the report.We know the panel has submitted report to the IG, maybe, he will study it and avail us with the report if need be.The director said the commission would allow the law to take its course on any of its staff members indicted in the alleged bribe.If any of our staff has been found culpable, we will deal with him appropriately and then allow the law to take its course.If they are charged to court, then normal administrative process will follow.If they are convicted, necessary action will be taken. If they are not convicted, we will examine if they have committed any administrative breach.If they have committed any administrative breach we will deal with that administratively, while the police will deal with the criminal aspect of it.Mr. Osaze-Uzzi said the commission had been cooperating with the special investigative panel and the police on the matter.We are determined to weed out any bad egg from the system, he said The old movie featured Eddie Murphy and its still one of the best, if not the best he ever starred in but what if I tell you that Nigerias rising high-life artiste, Humblesmith has starred in a sequel of that and it was directed in Nigeria by the fabulous TY Bello?It was a unique story of a Golden Prince who is set to leave his comfort zone for a new and more fulfilling life. It is the story of Humblesmith, the Golden Prince of Africa and who else could have shot it perfectly like TY Bello.A photoshoot like no other, themed after the famous movie, Coming to America. If Eddie Murphy could see this, he would jump at the perfect representation of that hit movie. No, Humblesmith is not starring in a movie but TY Bello re-enacted Eddie Murphy into Humblesmith in a recent photoshoot in Lagos. donald trump President Donald Trump repeated a debunked claim about the US murder rate on Tuesday, incorrectly telling a group of sheriffs that the country's murder rate was at its highest point in 47 years. "The murder rate in our country is the highest it's been in 47 years, right?" Trump said at a White House meeting with members of the National Sheriffs Association, according to the Chicago Tribune. "Did you know that? Forty-seven years. I used to use that I'd say that in a speech and everybody was surprised. Because the press doesn't tell it like it is. It wasn't to their advantage to say that." "But the murder rate is the highest it's been in, I guess, from 45 to 47 years." FBI statistics show that the US murder rate in 2015 the most recent year with available statistics was 4.9 per 100,000 people. That's one of the lowest rates ever. The murder rate was that year less than half of the nation's peak rate of 10.2 in 1980, or its second-worst year, 1991, when the rate was 9.8. The 2015 murder rate was also notably lower than it was between 1996 and 2009, when it descended from 7.4 to 5.0. Now, the 2015 figure did mark a slight uptick from the year before, jumping from a record-low 4.4 to 4.9. That marked an increase of about 11%, and was the highest one-year increase of the murder rate in 50 years. But the murder rate was still considerably lower than in previous decades. As some reporters have noted, Trump may be confusing that one-year increase with the actual murder rate but they're not the same thing. Trump frequently misstated the murder rate as a candidate on the campaign trail, and has repeated the falsehood since winning the election in November. NOW WATCH: 'It's a lie': Jake Tapper calls out Trump during a fiery interview with Kellyanne Conway More From Business Insider donald trump President Donald Trump apparently needs to apologize to the American people for his criticism of the Iraq War. As White House press secretary Sean Spicer argued on Wednesday, it is shameful for anyone to criticize a successful military operation that resulted in loss of life, whether it be a raid in Yemen where an armchair general said "almost everything went wrong," or war in Iraq, Afghanistan, or elsewhere. Yet Trump hasn't always been so favorable toward "successful" military operations like the one in Yemen, where one SEAL died, three others were injured, a $75 million helicopter was destroyed, and roughly 30 civilians died, including an 8-year-old American girl in addition to 14 militants that were killed. A prominent talking point of his campaign was his claim that he was "totally against the war in Iraq." In a 2004 interview with Esquire, he called the US military's efforts there a "mess," and said he would have never handled it the way President George W. Bush did. Only years later, the "mess" that Trump described flourished into a budding democracy free from terrorism that conservatives such as Ann Coulter, one of his prominent supporters, called the "most magnificent United States foreign policy success in 50 years." Talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh railed against the media for convincing Americans of the Iraq War's supposed failure. Here's how you should view the Iraq War, if you subscribe to the White House's new standards: For anyone, including Trump to suggest that the Iraq War was not a success does a disservice to the 4,411 service members who gave their lives in that war, and the 31,954 who were wounded. They fought knowing what was at stake in that mission, which was accomplished on May 1, 2003. Furthermore, anyone anyone who would suggest otherwise doesn't fully appreciate how successful that mission was, what the information that they were able to retrieve was, and how that war helped prevent future terrorist attacks. Story continues As we know, the Iraq War completely decimated terror groups, denied them propaganda, and hurt their funding and recruitment. Anyone who undermines the success of that war owes an apology to all those brave men and women who died. Any suggestion otherwise is a disservice to their courageous lives and the actions that they took. Full stop. NOW WATCH: This 12-million-gallon 'indoor ocean' can simulate the world's worst wave conditions More From Business Insider * Erdogan, Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday * Turkey says it proposed plan for IS-held Raqqa city * Turkish-led forces advance into outskirts of al-Bab * Turkish sources say new CIA director to visit Thursday * US-Turkish ties strained over Syrian YPG militia, Gulen (Adds Erdogan spokesman, Turkish-led forces on edge of al-Bab) By Tulay Karadeniz and Humeyra Pamuk ANKARA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in an overnight phone call on joint action against Islamic State in the Syrian towns of Raqqa and al-Bab, both held by the militants, Turkish presidency sources said on Wednesday. U.S.-Turkish differences during former President Barack Obama's administration impeded the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State, and closer coordination could mean faster progress towards freeing swathes of northern Syria from IS. Erdogan now hopes that relations with Washington, strained by the presence in the United States of a cleric he blames for an attempted military coup last year and by U.S. support for Kurdish militia in Syria, can be reset under Trump. Turkey has the second largest army in the NATO alliance and is key to any success in rolling back and eventually neutralising IS in Syria and Iraq where IS declared a cross-border caliphate after lightning advances in 2014. Turkey has presented a detailed plan to oust Islamic State from its Raqqa urban stronghold in northeastern Syria and strategy discussions with the Trump administration are under way, according to Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin. "The operational details were not discussed on this call ... Now detailed planning will be conducted in coordination," he told Turkish broadcaster NTV in an interview. Ankara believes recent IS attacks in Turkey, including a New Year's Day shooting in an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people, have been steered from al-Bab and Raqqa, and regards a clear-out of the towns as a national security priority. Story continues Turkish government and Syrian rebel sources said on Wednesday insurgents backed by Turkey's military had taken the outskirts of al-Bab, northeast of Aleppo. If al-Bab falls, Ankara would strengthen its sway over an area of northern Syria where it has created a de facto buffer zone. Syrian government forces have also advanced on al-Bab from the south, bringing them into close proximity with their Turkish and rebel enemies in one of the most complex battlefields of Syria's six-year-old civil war. But Turkey said international coordination was under way to prevent clashes with Syrian forces. The White House said that in the phone call, Trump spoke about the two countries' "shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms" and welcomed Turkish contributions to the fight against Islamic State. But it gave few details. Sources in Erdogan's office said the two leaders had touched on issues including a "safe zone", as well as the regional migrant crisis and the fight against terrorism. Turkey has long advocated a secure zone for displaced civilians in Syria threatened by Islamist militants or forces fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They also said Erdogan had urged the United States not to support the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and that new CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be in Turkey on Thursday to discuss that and other issues with Turkish counterparts. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington of Pompeo's visit. But the offices of both leaders said Trump had reiterated U.S. support for Turkey "as a strategic partner and NATO ally" during Tuesday's phone call. Turkey has long urged world powers to help create a safe zone, which it also sees as a way to purge its border of Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters, and stem a wave of migration that has caused tensions with Europe. Obama and U.S. allies balked at the idea, saying it would entail significant ground forces and planes to patrol a "no-fly zone", a dicey commitment in such a crowded and messy conflict. "TWO FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES" The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of U.S.-backed militias, launched a new phase of its campaign against Islamic State in Raqqa on Saturday. Turkey has repeatedly said it wants to be part of the U.S.-led operation to retake Raqqa from the ultra-hardline Sunni militant Islamic State, but does not want the YPG, which is part of the SDF alliance, to be involved. Relations between Erdogan and Obama soured over U.S. support for the YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist group and an extension of Kurdish insurgents fighting inside Turkey. The Turkish army and Syrian rebel groups it supports have been fighting IS in a separate campaign around al-Bab, northeast of the city of Aleppo. Ankara has complained in the past about a lack of U.S. support for that campaign. Kalin said there had been better coordination with the U.S.-led coalition on air strikes in the last 10 days. He added that Ankara's priority remained the creation of a safe zone between the Syrian towns of Azaz and Jarablus, a strip of border territory to the north of al-Bab. The Turkish sources said Pompeo would discuss both the YPG and steps against the network of U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating last July's coup attempt. Gulen denies any involvement. Turkey has been frustrated by what it considers to be Washington's reluctance to hand over Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. "As you know, we have two fundamental issues with the U.S. administration inherited from Obama's period. One is the support given to YPG and the other is the (Gulen) problem," Kalin said. "Our president spoke about these openly and clearly. Trump was informed on these and, without going into too much detail, he said let's ask our teams to work on this and let's give the necessary instructions." (Reporting by Washington newsroom, Tulay Karadeniz and Humeyra Pamuk in Ankara; editing by Nick Tattersall and Mark Heinrich) The 1811 Louisiana slave revolt that was almost lost to history President Donald Trump's immigration order could set a dangerous precedent for immigrants seeking to enter the United States from countries other than the seven listed in the ban, Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. chief technology officer, said Wednesday. "The executive order makes it explicit that [policymakers] may look beyond these ... seven countries. It sets the precedent with these seven. And has explicit instructions to the team to look anywhere under any circumstance. And so the problem is not just the seven countries, although they're not insignificant," Chopra told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street ." Chopra, the first-ever U.S. CTO, said that if followed, the order's detrimental economic effects could outweigh any protection the administration insists it provides. "The costs to the economy are far greater than the added benefits to security for this shift in how we handle immigration procedures," the former Obama aide continued. Chopra, the first-ever U.S. CTO, said that if the order is backed by the courts , it could have a "terrible effect" on what he called the country's "long-term economic dynamism." It would also make recruiting more difficult, in turn pushing technology companies that actively seek high-skilled workers to pursue that talent abroad, he said. "More research and development centers of excellence will likely locate outside of the country in this period of uncertainty," Chopra said. "You [have] to take the talent that's out there and apply the best talent to the problems. And if you can't bring the talent here, you're going to have to invest elsewhere and locate those talent centers elsewhere. And that's terrible for the country." And while technology giants may be the hardest hit, they won't be the only industries feeling the brunt of the order's effects, said AMIDEAST President Theodore Kattouf. Kattouf was also a U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates under President Bill Clinton, and to Syria under President George W. Bush. Story continues "I doubt many of your viewers know that we have about 6,000 Syrian doctors practicing medicine in this country who were born in Syria, got their medical degrees in Syria and then came here on medical residencies, and often work in areas where there are very few doctors serving the communities," Kattouf told "Squawk on the Street" on Wednesday. Beyond that, Kattouf's organization AMIDEAST gives thousands of students from the Middle East and North Africa the opportunity to study in the United States on scholarships. "They study here, they get a good education, they get exposed to American values, and I think it's a win-win. I would note that President George W. Bush and the late king of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, agreed to bring tens of thousands of Saudi students here. And let's face it, the Saudis were the prime perpetrators of 9/11," Kattouf said, noting that he meant Saudi individuals, not their government. "And yet we've had 80,000 Saudi students at one time in this country [and] nobody said anything," he added. Trump defended the order on Wednesday, saying it was made quickly to prevent terrorism. His administration has repeatedly said it was issued hastily to prevent potential threats from "pouring in" to the U.S., but has provided no evidence of heightened risk. First date? These New Orleans restaurants may help break the ice Wine shops sometimes use the free tastings to introduce customers to wine from specific regions. (Dinah Rogers Photo) Donald Trump 's travel ban has created a "propaganda bonanza," that threatens the lifeblood of the technology industry, said Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow (ZG). The order imposes a 90-day ban affecting citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and a 120-day bar on all refugees. A federal judge suspended the order after Washington state challenged it. Nearly 130 technology companies filed an amicus brief in support of Washington as a federal appeals court hears the challenge. Rascoff said the order has been perceived abroad as a ban on the Muslim faith, sparking dangerous propaganda. "We think it's bad for business, we think it's bad for the country, and frankly we don't think it makes the country safer, I think it makes us less safe," Rascoff said. "It cuts at the very center of the culture of the country, which welcomes refugees." Rascoff told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " on Wednesday that he only speaks out on issues like housing and technology that directly affect his company, which provides technology to help in the buying, selling renting and financing of homes. He said the recent executive order is one such issue. "The reason that you hear tech leaders speaking out about this is tech and immigration are inextricably intertwined," Rascoff said. "The innovation that immigrants bring to this country, the ingenuity, the entrepreneurialism, a lot of that is the lifeblood of the tech industry." Still, Rascoff said that Zillow plans to work closely with Trump's nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson. "I don't know Dr. Carson personally, though we look forward to working with him," Rascoff said. "We've always had a very close relationship at Zillow Group with HUD, the Treasury, Fannie, Freddie and the White House. ... We're a very important voice on housing because of the size of our audience, so we think it's important to be working with government to shape housing policy." Story continues The new administration comes amid a challenging environment for Zillow, as the housing market slows slightly, Rascoff said. Home affordability fell to the lowest levels in seven years at the end of 2016, according to a report from Black Knight Financial Services. Zillow shares dropped more than 7 percent Wednesday, despite posting better-than-expected quarterly results of 14 cents per share, adjusted, on revenue of $228 million. "We reported a great Q4 in terms of revenue and profit, ahead of expectations, but as usual, the stock always reacts to the forward-looking guidance," Rascoff said. Zillow is making investments that Rascoff expects to pay off down the road, including brand advertising and building software tools for real estate agents. "The guidance that we gave for 2017 was a really strong revenue number ... which for a company less than ten years old is really impressive," Rascoff said. "But some short-term investors would like us to be more profitable in the near-term." Correction: Nearly 130 technology companies filed an amicus brief in support of Washington state's challenge to the travel ban. An earlier version mischaracterized the move. More From CNBC 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. * Famine now a real possibility for 2017 - UN aid chief O'Brien * Yemen economy collapsing, imports dried up, malnutrition "rife" * 7.3 mln people "don't know where their next meal is coming from" * Saudi-led coalition imposes "strict restrictions" on ports (Writethrough with quotes from news briefing) By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Wednesday that 12 million people in Yemen faced the threat of famine brought on by two years of civil war and the situation was rapidly deteriorating. It appealed for $2.1 billion to provide food and other life-saving aid, saying that Yemen's economy and institutions are collapsing and its infrastructure has been devastated. "If there is no immediate action, and despite the ongoing humanitarian efforts, famine is now a real possibility for 2017. Malnutrition is rife and rising at an alarming rate," U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien told a news briefing. "A staggering 7.3 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from," he said. Yemen has been divided by nearly two years of civil war that pits the Iran-allied Houthi group against a Western-backed Sunni Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia that is carrying out air strikes. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Nearly 3.3 million people - including 2.1 million children - are acutely malnourished, U.N. figures show. They include 460,000 children under age five with the worst form of malnutrition who risk dying of pneumonia or diarrhoeal disease. About 55 percent of Yemen's medical facilities do not function and the health ministry has no operational budget, said Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen. "Many of the people never make it to the feeding centres or the hospitals because they can't afford the tranport," he said. "Many people die silent and unrecorded deaths, they die at home, they are buried before they are ever recorded." In all, nearly 19 million Yemenis - more than two-thirds of the population - need assistance and protection, the United Nations said. Story continues "Ongoing air strikes and fighting continue to inflict heavy casualties, damage public and private infrastructure, and impede delivery of humanitarian assistance," it said. "The Yemeni economy is being wilfully destroyed," it added, saying that ports, roads, bridges, factories and markets have been hit. Yemen's main port at Hodeida is badly damaged and lacks cranes for offloading, leaving 30 ships offshore at any time and delaying deliveries, McGoldrick said. The Saudi-led coalition imposes strict restrictions on the ports which it controls. An estimated 63,000 Yemeni children died last year of preventable causes often linked to malnutrition, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last week. "In Yemen, if bombs don't kill you, a slow and painful death by starvation is now an increasing threat," Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement as the U.N. plan was launched. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Miles and Angus MacSwan) Today Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Tomorrow Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Weather Alert ...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Dense fog will reduce visibility to 1 NM. * WHERE...Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, Mississippi Sound and Lake Borgne. * WHEN...From midnight CDT tonight to 9 AM CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Low visibility will make navigation difficult. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must navigate, proceed with caution. Use proper fog signals. Make sure all running lights are on. Remember to use your radar and compass. && marine afghanistan An active-duty US Marine captain wrote a stinging op-ed for the Marine Corps Gazette, going through all the problems he sees with the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps in addition to recent failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. The biggest problem, according to Capt. Joshua Waddell, is "self-delusion." "Let us first begin with the fundamental underpinnings of this delusion: our measures of performance and effectiveness in recent wars," he wrote. "It is time that we, as professional military officers, accept the fact that we lost the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." The active-duty infantry officer, who served with and lost Marines under his command with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, in Afghanistan, didn't come to this conclusion lightly. He said it took several years for him to accept that, with the goal of improving the system. A case in point, he says, is a comparison of the US military with other adversaries. The Pentagon's budget dwarfs the combined defense spending of the next 10 countries. The Army and Marine Corps are arguably the best-trained fighting forces in the world. The Air Force has the most high-tech aircraft and weaponry, while the Navy maintains nearly 20 aircraft carriers far more than adversaries like Russia and China that have only one each. Related Video: For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. These stats should mean the US military is unstoppable, but the budget, talk of being the best in the world, and other claims it makes don't square with measures of effectiveness, Waddell writes. "How, then, have we been bested by malnourished and undereducated men with antiquated and improvised weaponry whilst spending trillions of dollars in national treasure and costing the lives of thousands of servicemen and hundreds of thousands of civilians?" he wrote. Waddell continues: "For example, a multibillion-dollar aircraft carrier that can be bested by a few million dollars in the form of a swarming missile barrage or a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capable of rendering its flight deck unusable does not retain its dollar value in real terms. Neither does the M1A1 tank, which is defeated by $20 worth of household items and scrap metal rendered into an explosively-formed projectile. Story continues "The Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Organization has a library full of examples like these, and that is without touching the weaponized return on investment in terms of industrial output and capability development currently being employed by our conventional adversaries." His article isn't just a critique; Waddell offers several solutions to get the military out of the "business-as-usual" mindset that looks good in PowerPoint briefs but doesn't translate to success on the ground. While military leaders typically complain to Congress that constrained budgets have a "crippling" effect on the military, Waddell says the military should work more efficiently with the money it has. He gives an example of a nation already doing this: Russia. usa military spending Moscow's military budget is about $52 billion, versus Washington's proposed defense budget of $583 billion. Yet with far less money, Russia has been a consistent thorn in the US's side in Syria, Ukraine, and now Afghanistan. That's not to mention Moscow's success in cyberwarfare. "This is the same Russian military whom the RAND Corporation has estimated would be unstoppable in an initial conventional conflict in the Baltic states, even against the combined might of the NATO forces stationed there," Waddell wrote. "Given the generous funding the American people have bequeathed us to provide for the common defense, is it so unreasonable to seek an efficient frontier of that resource's utility?" Waddell's critique includes a call to fix inefficiencies between the Defense Department getting gear to war fighters, as some have to buy things they need because they don't get there before they deploy. Waddell also calls for an audit of the Marines to see whether there are redundant efforts among contractors. military "There is no reason we should be paying twice for the same work or, as is often the case, paying government personnel for work that they have instead outsourced to more capable contractors for tasks within the government worker's job description," he wrote. "I would be willing to bet that a savvy staff officer with access to these position and billet descriptions as well as contracting line items could save the Marine Corps millions of dollars by simply hitting Control+F (find all) on his keyboard, querying key tasks, and counting redundancies." It's unclear how much of an effect this op-ed would have on any changes. The Marine Corps Gazette is read mostly by senior Marine leadership, but whether that translates to taking this captain's advice in an institution that is resistant to change is an open question. "I have watched Marines charge headlong into enemy fire and breach enemy defenses with the enemy's own captured IEDs in order to engage in close combat," Waddell wrote. "This same fighting spirit from which we draw so much pride must be replicated by our senior leaders in leading comprehensive reform of our Corps' capabilities and in creating a supporting establishment truly capable of fostering innovation." NOW WATCH: What to do if you get pulled over by the police More From Business Insider Welcome to non league daily news now - your number one spot for all things relating to the National League System. Our dedicated reporters have come straight from the sidelines to bring you news fresh from the dugout - but not before theyve stopped off at the burger van first! We know that non league football fans are full of heart, passion, and belief. You trust the manager, you believe in the team, and, for some strange reason, you trust those rickety stands, too! Here at Non League Daily, we hope we can become your trusted non league news resource - a platform thats just as passionate about non league daily news now as you. Come rain or shine, well be out reporting on the latest non league fixtures. Well also be scouring the news, refreshing social media, and sourcing information from team websites in the hopes of finding the latest breaking non league daily news for our readers. As youll soon see, weve got exclusive match reports on the Vanarama National League, weve got transfer speculation thatll affect the National League South, weve found great stories thatll spice up the National League North, and weve even got news on the latest giant killers of the FA Cup. We may not be able to agree on who is going up this year, but we can all agree that any news on the NLS worth knowing will be published here, at Non League Daily. 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. Lewis Central High School is celebrating a high mark on a state rating of schools, although the rating system has some detractors who argue state tests arent aligned well to the Iowa Core. The Iowa State Report Card rates each public school in the state based on a set of performance measures and then assigns each school a rank. Iowa lawmakers first created the report card, which was newly released last month, in 2013 as part of a legislation requirement to provide schools and communities with an easily accessible comprehensive look at schools in Iowa. The performance measures include information on student proficiency rates in math and reading, student academic growth, narrowing achievement gaps among students, college and career readiness, student attendance, graduation rates and staff retention. Many of the indicators are derived from or connected to students score on state assessments, which are also used to meet federal accountability requirements. Based on each schools performance over a two-year period, the report card assigns one of six ratings: exceptional, high-performing, commendable, acceptable, needs improvement and priority. One area school happy about its ranking on the report card this year is Lewis Central High School, which secured a commendable ranking, moving the school up a category from the acceptable ranking it received on last years report card. Im pleased with the kinds of improvements were seeing in terms of proficiency and growth and those are the targets weve had for a long time, said Dave Black, school improvement specialist for the Lewis Central Community School District. Were seeing good movement toward our goals. For most measures, school ratings in the recent report are based on data from the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years. Principal Joel Beyenhof attributes the schools success to a number of different efforts. Were really excited, Beyenhof said. I think the credit goes to our teachers and our staff. Our teachers have worked extremely hard over the last five years on continuing to raise the bar and go the extra mile to help kids be successful. The high school ranked above the state average with 85.3 percent in the proficiency category in the subjects of reading and math from the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years. The states average is currently 79 percent. Beyenhof said the above average score is a result of teachers continuing to challenge students through rigorous course selections. Were making sure that were using best practices that are supported in research, Beyenhof said. We really looked at research and whats going to make the biggest impact on achievement. Looking toward the future, Beyenhof said the high school will be working to receive the high performing ranking on the next report card. Once youve kind of mastered something you have to practice and challenge yourself, Beyenhof said. Were constantly exposing our students to challenging texts in all our subject areas and making sure they have a passion for independent reading, While the state report card can provide data to help school districts measures milestones and set goals, Black said its important to remember that the labels that the report card puts on schools are just that labels. Our schools are so much more than what the Iowa Report Card can provide, Black said. In past years, Lewis Central and other districts have been happy to see growth on assessments an indication that students are learning at least a years worth of content for a years worth of school and have placed limited emphasis on the report cards findings. Council Bluffs Community School District Superintendent Martha Bruckner went further, calling the state report card unfair and unnecessary. The Iowa Report Card is based primarily on a state assessment system that is not aligned to the curriculum that we are asked to teach, she said. Of the two high schools in the Council Bluffs district, Abraham Lincoln received an acceptable ranking while Thomas Jefferson received a needs improvement ranking. I dont know if we need one more invalid reason to rank schools, Bruckner said. Our schools work miracles with many children, and we try very hard to meet so many different needs that kids have and to rank them primarily on the Iowa Assessment is not fair. Elsewhere in the region, Underwood and Treynor were ranked high-performing while AHSTW in Avoca was ranked commendable. Among those ranked acceptable were Glenwood, Missouri Valley, Riverside in Oakland and Tri-Center in Neola. The Midlands Humane Society will begin providing animal shelter services for rural areas and small towns within Pottawattamie County on March 1. The countys board of supervisors on Tuesday approved a three-year contract with the humane society at 1020 Railroad Ave., ending a long tradition of sheltering dogs found at large at its own facility at 18670 Applewood Road, on land owned by the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy plant. SIRE has given the county $100,000 to pay for relocation purposes. The contract that the boards majority agreed on Tuesday is the same it agreed upon last month, but which then needed approval by the Midlands Board of Directors. That was recently done, according to Matt Wyant, the county Programming Departments director. Its a good contract, and its in the best interest of the county to go this route, Wyant told the board before its vote on Tuesday. Board chairman Justin Schultz agreed. I would like to see this thing pass, said Schultz, who also works for SIRE. The board then approved the contract 4-1, with Scott Belt in opposition. The contract calls for the county to contribute $72,330 a year to Midlands for housing the dogs the county catches. Currently, the county is spending $87,000 yearly to operate its own shelter. The contract also calls for the $100,000 from SIRE to be used for building improvements at Midlands facility. Officials at the humane society was unavailable on Tuesday for comment, as well as spokespeople for the Pottawattamie County Animal Shelter volunteers for their reaction. Open letter asks board not to vote to close Crescent Dear Mr. Troy Arthur and fellow board members: I am writing to you today in opposition of closing the Crescent Elementary School. I am a resident of the city and my husband and I are business owners in the community. I also chair the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Crescent. If our school is closed, we know the lasting detrimental effects this will leave on our community, city and business owners. The City of Crescents ability to attract new families to the area is largely due to the Crescent Elementary School. In fact, we have the second phase of a new housing development in the planning stages, which would help increase the attendance at the school. Not to mention all the up-and-coming little ones who already live in our community. As an alternate solution to the school closing, I would like to formally request you seek the avenue of bringing back sixth grade to Crescent (national statistics say kids at a sixth grade age dont do well in a middle school setting) and start up a pre-kindergarten program, which has always been needed in Crescent but never provided. Since pre-K has not been provided, parents have diverted their children to other schools that offer this program. And many of the students, had they started in Crescent, would have stayed in Crescent. We also invite you to bring children from Council Bluffs that might be struggling to learn due to the large size of their current classrooms. They could possibly thrive in our smaller classroom setting. Crescent Elementary as a school facility/investment property is in much better shape than many of the current Council Bluffs public school buildings. Therefore it is more energy efficient, easier to maintain and will ultimately last longer as a investment. Not to mention, its located in a safe community. On a side note, I am greatly disappointed that the Council Bluffs school board kept this plan a secret and didnt give the residents of Crescent time to adequately respond to your plans of closing the school. I have interpreted your action as unprofessional and a strong show of disrespect to the City of Crescent, business owners and the residents of our community. I strongly urge you to understand the hardship that will befall us all, if the school is closed. (This is an abbreviated version of a letter Cindy Shea sent to the school board and state agencies). Cindy Shea, Crescent Abortion rate would climb if defunding plan OKd The Iowa Legislatures rabid determination to defund Planned Parenthood belies common sense. Here are some facts to consider: No state or federal dollars are used for abortions. Medicaid (not the State of Iowa) reimburses Planned Parenthood for providing covered family planning services. Services under that umbrella include birth control, STD testing, pregnancy testing and cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood provides screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer (via Pap testing), as well as uterine and other gynecologic cancers. Again, no state or federal dollars are used for abortions. The Iowa Senate has proposed legislation that will prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving reimbursement for the family planning services named in the last paragraph. Again, no state or federal dollars are used for abortions. In Iowa, the number of abortions has dropped 23 percent since 2011, as reported by Guttmacher Institute. Nationally the abortion rate is the lowest it has been since passage of Roe v. Wade. Researchers credit the drop in abortions to a rise in the use of contraceptives, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives. According to the Guttmacher report, the proportion of clients receiving long-acting reversible birth control which is more effective than other forms from Title X family planning clinics jumped from 7 percent in 2011 to 11 percent in 2014. Often, clients who go to Title X facilities, such as Planned Parenthood, are young and low-income populations that account for a majority of unintended pregnancies, the report said. Denying affordable, reliable birth control will cause the number of unintended pregnancies to rise. The resulting effect is that the number of abortions will also rise. Bottom line, if the Iowa Legislature passes Senate File 2 and defunds Planned Parenthood, the number of abortions performed in Iowa will rise. Is this really what anyone wants to see happen? Contact your legislators before its too late. Kristanne Garrison, Davenport The Volkswagen logo is seen at the company's display during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch By Ilona Wissenbach and Edward Taylor FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said it was weighing steps against ex-Chairman Ferdinand Piech after media reports said he had informed key supervisory board members about potential diesel cheating six months before the scandal became public. While the allegations about whether Piech had informed the company's top directors as early as March 2015 could not immediately be verified, Volkswagen's strong rejection of the claims shows a deepening rift with the ousted chairman. Ferdinand Piech or his representatives could not be reached for comment. "The supervisory board of Volkswagen AG emphatically repudiates the assertions made by Ferdinand Piech as reported recently in the media," VW's supervisory board said in a statement on Wednesday. "The board of management will carefully weigh the possibility of measures and claims against Mr Piech," it said, adding that VW would not comment on ongoing investigations as a matter of principle. Labour representatives Bernd Osterloh and Berthold Huber, both members of the supervisory board's steering committee at the time, called for Volkswagen's management to consider legal steps against Piech. Huber, who took over as interim chairman after Piech was ousted, has since left the board. "The allegations are untrue. Had Dr Piech informed us, we may have been able to spare the company and its workforce from substantial harm. We now expect the management board to thoroughly evaluate whether steps need to be taken against Piech," Osterloh and Huber said in a joint statement issued late on Wednesday. Huber told Reuters: "I can swear in any court in the world that Piech did not talk to me about the matter." Bild am Sonntag said Piech had raised the issue with then-Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn and members of the supervisory board steering committee in March 2015 after getting a tip-off from an Israeli security firm. Winterkorn had assured him that everything was under control, Bild am Sonntag reported. Story continues Winterkorn was not immediately available for comment. Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 to having installed software to cheat diesel-emission tests in the United States, causing a collapse in its share price, Winterkorn's resignation and tens of billions of euros in fines and legal costs. Piech had said the previous April he was "distancing himself" from Winterkorn, without elaborating, sparking a power struggle that saw senior VW figures rallying around Winterkorn and forced family patriarch Piech to step down. (Additional reporting by Andreas Cremer and Jan Schwartz; Writing by Edward Taylor; Editing by Christoph Steitz and Georgina Prodhan) It reduced returns to 4 Singapore cents per quarter. Given the challenging telco market in Singapore, StarHub decided to introduce a new dividend policy for its shareholders, slashing DPS to 16 cents, or 4 cents per quarter this year. According to Maybank Kim Eng, this may be due to the threat coming from TPG's entrance to the telco market. The firm said there could be a surprise in costs, which are expected to be structurally higher in the next three years, coming mainly from staff costs as StarHub invests in ways to differentiate customer service. The telco giant might also have to brace for heavier content costs due to the impact of a stronger USD. "We have highlighted USD cost of content as a risk before. Capex was maintained at 13% of revenue, but the staff and content costs already comprise almost 30% of revenue," Maybank noted. More From Singapore Business Review Another internet giant wants to bring free internet to one of the world's most populous countries. Where Facebook failed, Alibaba might succeed, if they play their cards right. 4 Reviews Alibaba is attempting to crack open the Indian mobile market by making the Internet more accessible to specific regions in India where connectivity is lacking. In an interview with Business Insider India, President of Overseas Business at Alibabas mobile division Jack Huang said that they are currently in the process of negotiating with the relevant telecom operators and Wi-Fi providers to give people free Internet services. We will definitely look at the opportunity to work together with service providers or even some Wi-Fi providers. We are trying to offer lower cost data to users and better connectivity, even free of cost connectivity. Wi-Fi providers and other players can be potentials and we are in talk, Huang said. As of now, Alibabas plans are still in the works and nothing concrete has been laid out, but Huang explained that the company recognizes that internet access is distributed unequally across its 29 states and that Alibaba is targetingits services at regions with low connectivity. Facebook attempted to set up a similar service in India a not long ago with their Free Basics program, but the effort was ultimately scrapped as Indian telecom regulators cried foul at the proposed system. Hopefully, Alibaba wont make the same mistakes. Flight cancellation, delay disappoint I had been so excited when North Platte changed its airline service from Great Lakes Airlines to PenAir. I thought that North Platte might finally have a reliable carrier. Well sadly, that has been proven wrong! Fifteen hours prior to my departure on my first flight with PenAir, I was called and notified that my flight on Feb. 1 at 8:45 a.m. had been canceled. No explanation offered at all. If you value your travel plans, do not trust flying PenAir from North Platte! Three days later, my return flight was delayed. So it appears that they are doing no better than Great Lakes Aviation was doing. Yet, I sat in Denver as they put two flights out to Kearney. There need to be penalties for any airline that accepts federal subsidies for providing services deemed as essential air routes by the government. Scott Schneider North Platte Impressed with airline; more riders needed Last week I had my first opportunity to fly out of North Platte on PenAir Airlines. I was extremely impressed. The plane was nicer than anything we have had available for a very long time, and the flight attendant and crew were very professional. On the return flight, bad weather had moved into Denver quickly. All of the regional airlines were canceling flights, including the airline that most recently served North Platte. PenAir did not. We went through the de-icing process, and it delayed the takeoff, but I was really relieved to be flying on that airline last week. The only problem I observed is that there were not enough passengers. North Platte needs this airline if we are to grow and stay relevant. The Airport Authority board and staff have worked hard to get PenAir here. There were apparently some problems when PenAir first started service here, but it is clear to me that they have those figured out and provide a service we are lucky to have. I would encourage anyone who has the option to fly PenAir to do so. Their success is vital to this area. David Pederson North Platte Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt says he is ready to take his kicking game to another level ahead of his last season with the Broncos. Hunt will leave Red Hill at the end of the 2017 NRL season after signing a five-year deal with the St. George Illawarra Dragons. A huge deal like that brings with it added pressure and huge expectations, and Hunt has made it his mission to prove his worth by working on arguably the worst aspect of his game his kicking. It's been the main focus of the 26-year-old's pre season, and although there are still improvements to be made, he said he feels like it is heading in the right direction. "I've been working on my kicking game. I think it's an area that all of the halves at the club have been trying to improve on," Hunt said. "Overall I've definitely made a big improvement on last year, but I still don't think it's where it needs to be just yet. "I'll keep at it and hopefully there will be visible improvements come Round 1 against the Sharks." That match will signal the start of Brisbane's 2017 premiership campaign and the Broncos are hungry for success. Brisbane are desperate for a premiership after a 10-season drought, but for that to happen Wayne Bennett's men will have to make some improvements on their failed 2016 season. "There are a few things our side needs to do this year that we didn't manage to do last year," Hunt said. "We pride ourselves on our defence and that dropped off a bit last year. "Our attack also has certain aspects that could be done better. "I think we need to improve our forward movement coming out of our own half. Hopefully this will create more options." One area where Brisbane have improved is in their backline, with the Broncos acquiring former Gold Coast Titan David Mead in the off-season. Mead was one of Brisbane's best in their 30-12 trial win over the Sharks on Saturday night, with the 28-year-old looking lively in attack and solid in defence. He will be another attacking weapon for Hunt to utilise, and the Brisbane half already likes what he's seen. "I think he's what will make our backline go one better this year. I've never seen anyone that loves footy as much as David," he said. "Everything he does is at 100 per cent and he never stops trying. I'm very happy to have him in the side. "He's one of those lads from PNG that can bring out the huge hits. In our trial against the Sharks he was cutting blokes in half." Northwest Indiana's casinos started the year on a down note, bringing in more than 5 percent less gambling revenue in January than in the same month a year ago. Gaming win totaled $75 million in January, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission, down 5.3 percent from last January's $79.2 million. Dan Nita, general manager at Hammond's Horseshoe, called the month "a little soft," but noted an unfavorable calendar this year, with four full weekends. Last January, the strongest since 2012, had five full weekends. Ameristar East Chicago General Manager Matt Schuffert also said the calendar hurt. "We gave up a Friday-Saturday for a Monday-Tuesday," he said. "From that perspective, the declines were expected." Ameristar was off 8.6 percent year-over-year, taking in $17.1 million in January. At Horseshoe, gaming win was down 3.7 percent to $33.8 million. The two Majestic Star boats in Gary took in 5.7 percent less, with a win of $12.1 million, and Michigan City's Blue Chip won 4.6 percent less, at $12 million. The bulk of the casinos' business and the bulk of the decline comes at the slot machines. Play there was down 6.5 percent year-over-year, to $614.9 million, while table-game play was down 2 percent, to $79.6 million. Admissions were down 6.7 percent to just over 774,000. The spread of so-called video lottery terminals, or VLTs, to restaurants, bars and other businesses continues to be a drain, Horseshoe's Nita said, both to revenue and guest-count. "The decline in admissions is purely a slot (machine) challenge due to the VLTs in Illinois," he said. Illinois casinos in the Chicago market saw an identical decline in gambling revenues to Northwest Indiana's, Nita said. Northwest Indiana's casinos paid $24.2 million in wagering and admissions taxes in January, down from $26.2 million a year ago. Statewide, gambling establishments showed a 3.8 percent dip in gaming win as compared to a year ago, to $172.7 million. Admissions were down 9.1 percent to 1.26 million. Indiana's casinos and racinos paid $49.8 million in wagering and admissions taxes in January. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy CLEVELAND A woman who escaped a home where she and two others were held captive for a decade is joining a Cleveland television station to bring attention to other missing-persons cases in a daily segment. As the new host of the segment on WJW-TV, Amanda Berry said she wants to help locate missing people and support their families. "When I was missing, the people who were looking for me never gave up," she said. "My wish is that this segment will not only help find those who are missing but offer hope for the loved ones who are looking for them." The segment will air on news broadcasts throughout the day. Berry, 30, will discuss details of a different northeastern Ohio missing-person case each day and talk about how viewers can help the families of the missing and the investigators searching for them. Berry, who disappeared a day before her 17th birthday in 2003, has become an advocate for the missing since she escaped her captor's shuttered home in May 2013 and made a dramatic call to authorities: "Help me! I'm Amanda Berry. I've been kidnapped, and I've been missing for 10 years, and I'm here. I'm free now." Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight had been abused and held by Ariel Castro for years. Berry also had given birth to Castro's daughter in 2006. Berry and DeJesus wrote a book together about their ordeals. Knight, who legally changed her name to Lily Rose Lee, wrote a separate book about her experience. Castro, who kidnapped the victims between 2002 to 2004, hanged himself in his cell after he pleaded guilty to a long list of charges and was sentenced to life plus 1,000 years in prison. Berry said her life now is full of normal activities like grocery shopping, dealing with her daughter's school and appointments, and spending time with family. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Authorities are investigating after white supremacist fliers were left on doors across Indiana University's Bloomington campus. The school's Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel posted a statement on Monday saying the fliers were found on office doors of "faculty members of color or scholars of race and ethnicity." Robel says they fliers were designed to intimidate and provoke anger. The fliers are attributed to a group promoting white supremacy. Similar postings of fliers have been reported at other U.S. schools in recent months. The university says it is working with the FBI to identify those responsible for posting the fliers. Tips are being sought from the public. Robel says the school "rejects all forms of racism, bigotry and discrimination." ___ This story has been corrected to say the fliers were posted at Indiana University, not University of Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS More Lake County children would be eligible for state-funded pre-kindergarten classes, and the On My Way Pre-K program could expand to Porter and LaPorte counties, under legislation approved 61-34 Tuesday by the Republican-controlled House. House Bill 1004 allows 4-year-olds from families with significantly higher incomes than the current maximum to participate in the preschool pilot program operating in Lake and four other counties for the past two years. For example, a child from a family of four with an income of up to $67,433 a year could enroll if the proposal becomes law. The existing annual earnings eligibility cap for a family of four is $30,861. The measure also authorizes the expansion of On My Way Pre-K to five additional counties selected by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. However, children likely would not begin attending preschool classes at high-quality providers in the expansion counties until at least January 2018, and then, only if funding for the expansion is included in House Bill 1001 the two-year state budget. The preschool expansion legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, attracted a large number of "no" votes because it also makes any child who attends On My Way Pre-K permanently eligible for the state's private-school voucher program. State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, echoed a number of representatives when he said he couldn't believe he was voting against a preschool program, but felt he had to because he opposes private schools siphoning state funds away from public education. "It is like taking money for hungry children and spending a good portion of it to fund private birthday parties. It just doesnt make sense, and it is not right," Smith said. The proposal now advances to the Republican-controlled Senate. INDIANAPOLIS Casino communities in Northwest Indiana can breathe a temporary sigh of relief after state lawmakers Wednesday dialed back proposed changes in the distribution of gaming revenues. House Bill 1350 was amended to delay the reduction of supplemental admission tax payments to local governments until at least July 2019, and then only reducing the annual $48 million distribution by $6 million over two years instead of an $18 million cut this July. As originally written, Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, Michigan City, Lake County, LaPorte County, the county tourism agencies and the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy stood to lose a collective $9.8 million if the proposal became law. The revised legislation also delays until July 2018 the planned replacement of the $3 admission tax at riverboat casinos with an additional 3 percent wagering tax. Likewise, Indiana casinos still would be subject to "double taxation," with paid wagering taxes counting as income for tax purposes, until next summer. State Rep. Todd Huston, R-Carmel, said he didn't fully realize how much local governments rely on gaming revenues until he worked with stakeholders from the Region and elsewhere to revise his original proposal. He concluded that it's in everyone's best interest to give local communities a "soft landing," with time to make forward-looking budget adjustments, since the supplemental gaming revenue provided by the state since 2002 may not always be available. "Quite honestly, $48 million is more than half a percent of the K-12 (school) funding formula, and if we ever had a financial problem that'd be a quick place to go find $48 million to put in K-12," Huston said. His rewritten legislation passed the Public Policy Committee, 9-1. It next goes to the Ways and Means Committee for further review of the financial impact. PORTAGE The City Council will meet in special session Thursday to complete what council President Mark Oprisko termed unfinished business regarding Mayor James Snyder. The 8 p.m. meeting will be at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. The council is scheduled to vote on a proposed ordinance that deletes the $30,000 annual salary of the Utility Service Board chairman, a position that had been held by Snyder. The council on Tuesday removed Snyder from that position. Snyder said he plans to fight the city, noting the utility board voted 5-1 Wednesday to hire legal counsel to defend itself. Snyder said state law protects him from the recent action by the council. "My point is that there is a clear separation of power in the state constitution. They (the council) will be spending tens of thousands of dollars, and all they have to do is wait until my (federal) hearing is over," Snyder said. Snyder was indicted in federal court in November on three counts including bribery and tax evasion. His trial is set for April 10. The proposed ordinance to remove the salary attached to the position needs a second reading since it didn't receive unanimous approval when read on Tuesday, Oprisko said. City Councilman John Cannon, R-4th, cast the only dissenting vote. That change requires any future expenditures of the board to go before both the clerk-treasurer's office and the City Council, Oprisko said. Oprisko said approval of the proposed companion ordinance will kill the $30,000 salary for the mayor. "This (ordinance) will also delete the salary for any other board chairperson," Oprisko said. The ordinance removing the mayor as Utility Service Board chairman was a way to put more checks and balances in place and to return finances back to taxpayers, Oprisko said. Snyder has the option of vetoing both ordinances over the next 10 days, Oprisko said. Council members gave two reasons for their actions regarding Snyder. First, the mayor sought reimbursement for $93,000 of his personal legal fees prior to his indictment without seeking approval from the Utility Service Board. Second, the council is also questioning reimbursement requests from Snyder after he took a recent trip to Washington, D.C., for a mayor's conference and to attend the presidential inauguration, taking two police administrators and his family. Snyder traveled Jan. 16 to D.C. to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting and the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Council members, including Oprisko, have asked Snyder in recent days to step down as mayor. INDIANAPOLIS State Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, won Senate approval Tuesday for a third infrastructure funding option, in case Hoosiers reject the plans for tax hikes and spending cuts that are pending in the House. Senate Bill 262, which passed 41-9, authorizes the Indiana Finance Authority to sell up to $500 million in bonds for transportation projects. In a unique twist, the legislation requires the debt first be offered to the Indiana Public Retirement System to purchase as both an investment on behalf of its public employee members as well as an investment in the state. Should INPRS pass on the purchase option, or not buy all $500 million, the bonds then would be offered for sale to the public. "It would be a patriotic way of showing support for Indiana," said state Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, a co-sponsor, along with state Sens. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago. Tallian did not specify how the borrowed money would be used. She said that's still "a work in progress." Her proposal now advances to the Republican-controlled House which in recent years has aggressively opposed debt-funded state spending. Accumulating snow on Region roads early Wednesday made for a dangerous start to the morning commute. Police in Schererville and Hobart said about 8:45 a.m. road conditions were improving and reported no major crashes. Northbound Interstate 65 was backed up for at least an hour, after several crashes near Merrillville and Crown Point, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation's Trafficwise website. Snowfall was expected south of Interstate 80 in Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties, according to the National Weather Service's Romeoville office. Up to 2 to 4 inches were possible south of Rensselaer. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches of snow were possible south of U.S. 6 in LaPorte County through late afternoon, with an inch or less to the north, according to the weather service's northern Indiana office. SCHERERVILLE The Schererville Plan Commission has given the green light to several commercial developments. In a unanimous vote, plan commissioners gave secondary approval to the project that will see the demolition of the existing White Castle Restaurant at 800 W. Lincoln Hwy. and replacement with a more modern White Castle. Daniel Free, civil engineer with V3 Companies of Illinois, told commissioners the timeline for the project is spring to mid-summer and that it is expected to take three to four months to complete. The porcelain-faced building is being changed to a white brick and stone exterior in the latest evolution in the 95-year-old restaurant chain. Remodeling of the Kentucky Fried Chicken at 985 U.S. 30 received primary approval for what Josh OHara of Lend Lease called a refresh. The changes will include interior upgrades, new signage and some landscaping, said OHara, who represented the owners Bryan and Terry Robinson at the meeting. The easement between KFC and the nearby Pizza Hut will be recorded as part of the documents, said Robert Volkmann, town manager. The Plan Commission also gave primary approval for a two-lot commercial subdivision where a new 7,700-square foot physicians office would be built at 1050 Caroline and 1500 Eagle Ridge Drive. Both Gary Torrenga of Torrenga Engineering Inc. and architect Nick Georgiou of St. John provided details about the medical office building. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, resident Ginni Thomas asked about the height of the building, the hours of operation and what kind of lighting would be used. I wonder what lights will be shining into my windows, she said. Georgiou said the building will be one-story with 12 examination room and the offices will be open no later than 9 p.m. six days a week. We are well aware of site lighting and very sensitive to those concerns, he said. We intend to have nice landscaping. Ken Drenth of K & C Property Holdings LLC requested that property at 7771 U.S. 41 be rezoned from C-3 Highway Commercial and R-1 Residential to all C-3. I have 10 acres. Theres 350 feet zoned C-3 and the rest in back is R-1. I plan on dividing the property and sell off some portion. No one wants to build a home there, Drenth told the commissioners. Resident Debra Meyers said shes concerned about water flooding the home shes lived in since 1980. We have had flooding in our house. During the winter our neighbors house had ice three feet deep, Meyers said. I dont care what they do with the property. Volkmann said the town is working on a sanitary sewer project in that area that will release water to a ditch on U.S. 41. Speaking in favor of the rezoning, Don Koliboski, Vice President of Economic Development with the Lake County IN Economic Alliance, said that part of the alliances role is to market property. This does not have a strong R-1 potential. Rezoning to C-3 will allow us and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to market it, he said. The Plan Commissions favorable recommendation will now be forwarded to the Town Council. PORTAGE The City Council on Tuesday removed Mayor James Snyder from his job as chairperson of the Utility Service Board. The pay, which is $30,000, will go back to taxpayers, City Council President Mark Oprisko said. In addition, the budget of the Utility Service Board was replaced with the name "finances" with any future expenditures having to go before the clerk-treasurer's office and the City Council. Oprisko said the ordinance, which was unanimously approved by the council, was a way to put more checks and balances in place and to return finances back to taxpayers. "Myself and the City Council will do whatever it takes. We have your backs," Oprisko said. Snyder, who wasn't at the meeting because he was at a Chicago hospital visiting a friend, issued a statement through a staff member. The statement was as follows: "I intend to stay high while others go low. The facts in Portage government are that we have saved the city millions of dollars in waste, fixed more roads, buildings and infrastructure than any administration and have rejuvenated the pride in Portage. Council members are focused on normal city operations that will be approved and substantiated by the State of Board of Accounts. The council is behaving in a way of presumption of guilt, which is the opposite of what American, Indiana and any decent citizen believes." Council members, who were applauded several times for their measure, said the action was due to two events. First, the mayor sought reimbursement for $93,000 of his personal legal fees prior to his indictment without seeking approval from the Utility Service Board. Secondly, Snyder took a recent trip to Washington, D.C., for a mayor's conference and to attend the presidential inauguration, taking two police administrators and his family. Snyder was indicted on three counts in federal court in November including bribery and tax evasion. His trial is set for April 10. Snyder, along with his wife and four children, traveled to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 16, to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting and the inauguration of President Donald Trump. In addition to the Snyders, Police Chief Troy Williams and Assistant Chief Ted Uzelac Jr. and Uzelac's son also attended the conference and inauguration. In a written answer to Clerk-Treasurer Christopher Stidham, Snyder denied "ordering" the administrators to attend the conference and inauguration. He said he "granted them permission" based on the content of the conference. He also denied collecting any reimbursement from the Utility Services Board. Although many of those residents who attended the council meeting applauded the efforts of officials, at least one resident, Edna Maturkanich, questioned why officials had gone around the mayor's back. "I feel like you are roasting the mayor and he wasn't even here. Isn't a person considered innocent until he goes before a court of law?" Maturkanich asked. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning refugees from certain countries isnt out of line with American values on refugees. As the compassionate nation that we are, we accepted about 86,000 refugees in 2016, up 15,000 from 2015. How compassionate should America be? Shouldnt we have a say on who and how many refugees we accept? Instead of the media's fixation on the new president, why arent there any facts being presented that our refugee vetting process has serious problems? FBI Director James Comey and other top intelligence officials have expressed security concerns regarding the refugee vetting process. Americans' national security concerns should be Washingtons top priority. Greg Serbon, Griffith Some city students skip school to speak out against President Trump's travel ban. "The students, united, will never be defeated!" the students chanted. They gathered in Lower Manhattan to call for a permanent repeal of the ban. Demonstrators say the executive order denies help to some of the world's most vulnerable people. Although many of the students say they are not old enough to vote, they still think it is important to voice their concerns. "We demand equity for all people! All religions! All ethnicities, and all nationalities," said one student. "We're here to protest Trump and all his hateful policies," said another. "We're standing up for our student body, with a lot of undocumented immigrants that Trump puts at risk." The demonstrators then marched a few blocks to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building. WASHINGTON Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, took part in a CNN Town Hall about the Affordable Care Act. Both took questions from the audience, mostly focused on the future of the Affordable Care Act. Cruz made a push for the GOP to quickly make good on its promises to repeal Obamacare. The Republican party hasn't yet reached a consensus on an alternative to the law. Meanwhile, Sanders, a Vermont Democrat, warned that the people who only got coverage because of the law could lose their insurance. "What can you do, to protect people like me, who are alive because of Obamacare," an audience member asked. "Every proposal that's been submitted, every significant proposal that's been submitted, to replace Obamacare, to fix the problems in the health care system, after Obamacare is gotten rid of, to protect people in your situation, all of them prevent insurance companies from canceling someone because they got sick, Cruz said. "Ted, I cannot believe what you just said. That's a direct contradiction to everything you ran for president on. What Ted has said is, he wants to get rid of all federal mandates. Did you say that a hundred times? said Sanders. Cruz leaped onto the national stage with a 20-plus hour filibuster against Obamacare in 2013. Sanders supports a single payer federal health care system that he refers to as Medicare for All. Police need help find a missing teen from the Jamaica section of Queens. Authorities say 15-year-old Skye Azhar was last seen January 30 around 8 p.m. He went missing from his home at 7565 Utopia Parkway. His mother says he never reported to school and left his cell phone behind after clearing most of his messages. She's concerned since he left without his coat. Azhar is described as 5'5", approximately 110 lbs, brown eyes, and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing Nike beige sneakers. Anyone with information is being asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. Count executes plan in Hobart Cup Count da Vinci Sunday's Gr.3 Hobart Cup winner Count da Vinci, who raced in New Zealand as Faaltline, has been a revelation since arriving in Tasmania.The six-year-old son of Faltaat managed just one win from 18 starts from Jim Wallace's Opaki stable in the early stages of his career, although he also amassed 11 minor placings.Since arriving in Tasmania and taking on a new name it has been a different story.Sunday was his seventh start since being purchased from New Zealand and his sixth win, with his only other start in the apple-isle netting a second-placing in the weight-for-age Summer Cup.Count da Vinci provided a dream result for owner Wayne Notman, who hatched a plan to win the $200,000 Hobart Cup (2400m) eight months ago and approached Leonard Russo, of Bluegrass Bloodstock.Russo is best-known for selecting star-sprinter Malaguerra as a yearling for owner Bruno Micalizzi.Russo spent time working at Cambridge Stud and Te Runga Farm during the early 2000s and still follows New Zealand racing with great interest. He pinpointed Faaltline as a likely type."I love the New Zealand thoroughbred and over the past four months I have purchased another three New Zealand tried stayers for clients to race in Australia," Russo said. "Two for the very promising Victorian trainer Shea Eden and one for Group One winning trainer Peter Gelagotis."While initially trainer Scott Brunton had some doubts about their purchase after assessing Faaltline's New Zealand form, the newly renamed Count da Vinci's results on the track certainly allayed them as he racked up five wins on the trot."Lenny Russo identified the horse in New Zealand for Wayne Notman and I was skeptical about the form," Brunton said. "That's why they're the smart blokes. I do the training and they do the buying. It's well documented they got what they paid for him back with some well-placed bets at his first start for us."Sunday's hometown Cup win for owner and trainer came at the expense of the Darren Weir-trained race favourite Big Duke. Count da Vinci settled behind pacemaking stablemate Gladstone before challenging as the field straightened and going to the line one and a half lengths clear of Big Duke, with Gladstone a half length back in third.Brunton is now weighing up his options with the up-and-coming gelding, considering either the Launceston Cup later this month or the Warrnambool Cup later in the year. Ethiopian Airlines is in an expansion drive as it positions itself as the largest airline group on the continent to not only connect Africa within but also beyond. According to a statement from the airline, seven new destinations are to be launched within five months during the 2017 calendar year. This is one of the greatest expansions in the companys history. From February to June, Ethiopian will launch new services to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Conakry (Guinea), Oslo (Norway), Chengdu (China), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Singapore. With the addition of these stations, Ethiopian Airlines will have a service from Addis Ababa to 98 different international cities located across the world. Africas share of the global aviation is the smallest, which is only around three per cent. As the largest airline group on the continent, we are highly concerned about the low base of air connectivity in the continent and we are setting record expansion to enable Africans enjoy safe, reliable and economical air connectivity both within the continent and the rest of the world, the group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said in a statement. He further noted that there is a belief the continent will attract more foreign direct investment, trade and tourism, which are the engines of air travel growth. Therefore, a strong aviation industry has a key role in developing other sectors. In the just-ended calendar year alone, new flights to Moroni (Comoros), Windhoek (Namibia) and Newark (United States) were launched, as well as three cities in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines envisages reaching 120 international destinations worldwide by the year 2025. barangasam@gmail.com SANTA ANA A Santa Ana gang member convicted in 2014 of first-degree murder was found guilty again Tuesday but could face less prison time after being granted a new trial as part of Orange Countys jail-snitch controversy. Eric Ortiz, 26, was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Emeterio Adame, 54, outside a Santa Ana home in 2006. Originally, Ortiz was convicted of first-degree murder and faced a potential sentence of life without parole. In the latest verdict, Ortiz could face a lesser sentence of 15 years to life when he returns to court June 2. Ortiz was also found not guilty Tuesday in the shooting of a second victim, Benjamin Lopez, who survived. In his first trial, Ortiz was convicted of that shooting. The differences in the verdict means that Ortiz could spend fewer years in prison. Ortizs lawyer, Rudy Loewenstein, said he was disappointed and a little confused by the verdict that found his client guilty of shooting Adame, but not the other victim who was right next to him. But this verdict saves him a lot of time in custody, Loewenstein said. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said in a prepared statement that Ortiz was one of three gang members convicted at various times in the shooting. This case illustrates how dangerous gang members go hunting for rival gang members and murder innocent victims in the process, Rackauckas said. Mr. Adames family has suffered, not only because they lost a loving father, but also because they had to endure multiple trials. We will continue to seek justice for this family. It was the third trial for Ortiz. A judge overturned his first conviction after four Orange County sheriffs deputies refused to testify about the use of jailhouse informants to gather evidence against Ortiz. In the second trial, a jury deadlocked. http://launch.newsinc.com/js/embed.js _informq.push([embed]); Ortizs case is one of six affected by the nearly four-year probe by the Orange County Public Defenders Office into the withholding of evidence and the misuse of jailhouse informants by police and prosecutors. Sentences have been reduced, charges dropped and convictions overturned because of allegations that authorities violated the constitutional rights of jailed defendants. The U.S. Department of Justice, the California Attorney Generals Office and the Orange County Grand Jury are each investigating allegations that authorities created a network of jail informants to surreptitiously coax confessions illegally from inmates who had legal representation. Jail cells have been wired and evidence withheld from defense lawyers, leading one judge to bar the Orange County District Attorneys Office from the penalty phase of a mass murderer who pleaded guilty to killing eight people at a Seal Beach salon in 2011. Senior Deputy District Attorney David Porter said the prosecution for the third trial did not have a key witness a jailhouse informant who testified in the first trial that Ortiz had confessed to the shooting after he befriended him in jail. We went forward and argued things a little different, took more time in certain areas, and we were able to bring a guilty verdict on a homicide and hold Mr. Ortiz accountable, Porter said. During the latest trial, Loewenstein told jurors that his client was not at the site of the 2006 shooting and was the victim of a fellow gang member trying to shift the blame for the killing. The alleged accomplice received a plea deal on manslaughter charges that will allow him to get out of prison in September, Loewenstein said. Prosecutor Porter offered a vastly different account. He alleged that Ortiz and fellow gang members were on the hunt for rivals when Ortiz shot bystander Adame in the back outside the victims Santa Ana home. Ortiz was arrested in 2011, five years after Adames death. When a key witness fell through before Ortizs trial, Loewenstein alleged, authorities placed Ortiz next to an informant, a convicted burglar, inside the jail to gain incriminating statements. Prosecutors said the informant was not working for authorties, but gathered information on his own accord. Ortizs original conviction was overturned in late 2015 by Judge Richard King after Orange County Sheriffs deputies Seth Tunstall, Benjamin Garcia, William Grover and Bryan Larson invoked their Fifth Amendment rights to remain silent rather than answer questions about the use of informants and records kept on them. Six weeks before Emeterio Adame was killed, his 21-year-old son Randy Adame was shot to death by a rival gang. Emeterio Adames daughter, Jackie Adame, said her family has been devastated by their two losses. Im disappointed he didnt get first-degree murder, but at least some justice was served, she said Tuesday. Jan. 29 Around 3 a.m.: Disturbing the peace. 17100 block of PCH Around 3 a.m.: Robbery. 6000 block of Bolsa Chica Ave. Around 7 a.m.: Vehicle theft. England Street and Yorktown Avenue Around 9 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 16600 block of Bolsa Chica St. Around 11 a.m.: Physical fight. 7000 block of Norma Drive Around 11 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 16800 block of Bream Lane Around 4 p.m.: Vandalism. 200 block of Elmira Ave. Around 7 p.m.: Burglary. 6000 block of Doyle Drive Around 8 p.m.: Vehicle theft. 8200 block of Talbert Ave. Around 9 p.m.: Vandalism. Ash Lane and Sycamore Dr. Around 10 p.m.: Domestic violence. 19400 block of MacGregor Circle Around 10 p.m.: Burglary. 19200 block of Coenson Circle Jan. 30 Around 4 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 600 block of 9th St. Around 8 a.m.: Vandalism. 16400 block of Gothard St. Around 10 a.m.: Petty theft of a license plate. 16900 block of Gothard St. Around 11 a.m.: Burglary. 6600 block of Silverspur Lane Around 12 p.m.: Burglary. 16600 block of Tunstall Lane Around 1 p.m.: Vandalism. 5800 block of Warner Ave. Around 1 p.m.: Burglary. 5900 block of Bolsa Ave. Around 3 p.m.: Vehicle burglary. 21000 block of Lochlea Lane Around 4 p.m.: Grand theft. 100 block of Main St. Around 4 p.m.: Vandalism. 1st Street and North Pacific Avenue Around 4 p.m.: Assault. 100 block of 5th St. Around 5 p.m.: Disturbing the peace. 7500 block of Center Ave.: Police made at least one felony arrest. Around 11 p.m.: Disturbing the peace. 7500 block of Edinger Ave. Jan. 31 Around 7 a.m.: Domestic violence. 7700 block of Starshell Drive Around 7 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 21000 block of Lochlea Lane Around 7 a.m.: Burglary. 18800 block of Delaware St. Around 8 a.m.: Burglary. 16400 block of Pacific Coast Highway Around 10 a.m.: Burglary. 21100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Around 11 a.m.: Vehicle burglary. 4000 block of Aladdin Drive Around 11 a.m.: Vehicle burglary. 1100 block of Alabama St. Around 3 p.m.: Petty theft of a license plate. 6700 block of Warner Ave. Around 4 p.m.: Assault. 19800 block of Isthmus Lane Around 5 p.m.: Vandalism. 18500 block of Beach Blvd. Around 6 p.m.: Brandishing a weapon. 16000 block of Windemeir Lane Around 8 p.m.: Domestic violence. 16900 block of 9th St. Around 11 p.m.: Drunk in public. 16000 block of Beach Blvd. Around 11 p.m.: Disturbing the peace. 17400 block of Beach Blvd. Feb. 1 Around 3 a.m.: Assault with a deadly weapon. 16700 block of Algonquin St. Around 6 a.m.: Vandalism. 7800 block of Center Ave. Around 8 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 16700 block of Beach Blvd. Around 10 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 100 block of Main St. Around 11 a.m.: Petty theft. 8300 block of Talbert Ave.: Police made at least one arrest. Around 3 p.m.: Vehicle theft. 7700 block of Warner Ave. Around 4 p.m.: Grand theft. 8500 block of Sierra Circle Around 6 p.m.: Petty theft. 5900 block of Edinger Around 7 p.m.: Petty theft. 15000 block of Edwards St. Around 10 p.m.: Loud music. 1st Street and Olive Ave. Around 11 p.m.: Loud party. 2500 block of Florida St. Feb. 2 Around 4 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 5200 block of Heil Ave. Around 7 a.m.: Vehicle burglary. 16900 block of Rockcreek Circle Around 8 a.m.: Burglary. 16200 block of Parkside Lane Around 8 a.m.: Assault with a deadly weapon. 5800 block of Research Drive Around 8 a.m.: Vandalism. 7500 block of Edinger Ave. Around 9 a.m.: Assault with a deadly weapon. 21500 block of Brookhurst St. Around 1 p.m.: Attempt burglary. 900 block of Georgia St. Around 3 p.m.: Petty theft. 19000 block of Goldenwest St. Around 3 p.m.: Vandalism. 17300 block of Osterville Lane Around 4 p.m.: Assault. 17500 block of Beach Blvd. Around 4 p.m.: Vandalism. 7500 block of Appleby Drive Around 5 p.m.: Grand theft. 16300 block of 26th St. Around 10 p.m.: Petty theft. 7700 block of Edinger Ave.: Police made at least one felony arrest. Feb. 3 Around 12 a.m.: Burglary. 6800 block of Edinger Ave. Around 6 a.m.: Burglary. 20200 block of Wind Cave Lane Around 8 a.m.: Vehicle burglary. Delaware Street and Garfield Avenue Around 11 a.m.: Vehicle theft. 16500 block of Beach Blvd. Around 12 p.m.: Vandalism. Ford Drive and Goldenwest Street Around 3 p.m.: Forgery in progress. 8900 block of Atlanta Ave.: Police made at least one felony arrest. Around 3 p.m.: Petty theft. 7700 block of Edinger Ave. Around 5 p.m.: Vehicle burglary. 18500 block of Beach Blvd. Around 5 p.m.: Disturbing the peace. 18000 block of Beach Blvd.: Police made at least one arrest. Around 7 p.m.: Loud party. 7700 block of Fir Drive: Police issued a first response notice to the address. Around 7 p.m.: Credit card fraud. 21100 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Police made at least one felony arrest. Around 9 p.m.: Disturbing the peace. 300 block of Main St.: Police made at least one arrest. Around 10 p.m.: Petty theft of a bike. 6000 block of Warner Ave. Feb. 4 Around 3 a.m.: Burglary. 7900 block of Yorktown Avenue Around 4 a.m.: Physical fight. 7900 block of Yorktown Avenue Around 7 a.m.: Disturbing the peace. 19700 block of Beach Boulevard: Police investigated and found no signs of a disturbance. Around 8 a.m.: Burglary. 7800 block of Liberty Drive Around 9 a.m.: Burglary. 400 block of Memphis Avenue Around 10 a.m.: Vehicle burglary. 16100 block of Sher Lane Around 3 p.m.: Disturbing the peace. 18800 block of Beach Boulevard Around 4 p.m.: Brandishing a weapon. 6800 block of Warner Avenue Around 5 p.m.: Vehicle burglary. 8200 block of Michael Drive Around 7 p.m.: Vandalism. 16400 block of Waterway Circle Around 8 p.m.: Burglary. 19800 block of Sidcup Lane Around 8 p.m.: Assault. 21500 block of Brookhurst Street Around 9 p.m.: Petty theft. 7700 block of Edinger Avenue: Police made at least one felony arrest. Around 10 p.m.: Loud party. 18200 block of Foss Lane Around 11 p.m.: Loud party. 200 block of Toronto Avenue: Police issued a warning to the address. The crime log was compiled by Stephen Bydal and consists of selected items from the Huntington Beach Police Department. Calls represent what was told to the officer in the field by the radio dispatcher. No assumption of guilt should be drawn. Time of day for each incident was rounded to the nearest hour by the source. OTTAWA The weather is frigid on the border between North Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba, but still they keep on coming: a growing flow of asylum seekers tramping through frozen farms, in flight from the United States, hoping for refuge in Canada. Its a new underground railroad, said Bashir Khan, an immigration lawyer in Winnipeg, Manitoba, referring to the clandestine network that slaves used in the mid-19th century to escape North to freedom. Last weekend, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that it picked up 22 people near the border town of Emerson, after they had walked for as long as four hours in subzero temperatures, risking frostbite and worse. They were taken to offices of the Canadian Border Services Agency, where they all made refugee claims. In the past six months alone, Khan said hes handled at least 30 claims of asylum seekers who sneaked over the border. Two of Khans clients, 24-year-old Seidu Mohammed and 35-year-old Razak Lyal, suffered severe frostbite when they got lost in a farmers field in waist-high snow on Dec. 24 en route to Canada. Mohammed has lost all of his fingers, and Lyal is left only with his thumbs. They have asylum hearings scheduled for next month. Mohammed fled to the United States from Ghana in 2015, claiming asylum because of his sexual orientation. When his claim was denied, he made his way to Minneapolis. There he met Lyal, who is also Ghanaian, and the two traveled north to the border. Khan said the increased flow of refugees north has become acute since the election of President Donald Trump, particularly after last months travel ban was announced. Nobody ever comes to Manitoba in the dead of winter. It shows how desperate they are, he said. They really are afraid of whats happening in the U.S., said Rita Chahal, executive director of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council. Theyre concerned about deportations and about not having a fair hearing in the U.S. Chahal said her agency opened 270 new cases in the first nine months of 2016, compared with 60 or 70 in a typical full year. The asylum seekers are taking these risks because of the Safe Third Country agreement between Canada and the United States, which means a refugee claimant must make their claim in the country of arrival. If they first land in the United States, Canadian authorities will send them back if they try to make a claim at the border. The agreement presumes each country is safe for refugees and is aimed at reducing asylum shopping. But the agreement only is enforced at formal ports of entry like airports and land crossings. If you cross into Canada by foot and call the police or flag down a passing car, youre free to claim asylum. With no barriers on the vast prairie, crossing over to Manitoba is relatively simple in good weather. Most of the claimants are Africans, with Somalis dominating. Abdinasir Abdulahi, an immigration lawyer in Minneapolis, said word of mouth is spreading in the citys large Somali community that Canada is a viable alternative. I had a court date a few days ago for a client who was wasnt there. I bet hes crossed into Canada, he told The Post. Abdulahi said that even before the U.S. election, asylum claims were becoming more difficult for Somalis, and the denial rate has been rising. In part, its because of the Real ID Act, which requires asylum seekers to show identification documents they often cant access or that have been destroyed because of the war and chaos that has prevailed in Somalia for years. The U.S. system is much harsher than Canadas, according to Khan, the Winnipeg immigration lawyer. Most asylum seekers are held in detention centers and dont have adequate access to legal advice before their hearings, which are often held in the detention facility. In Canada, the refugees are given access to a legal-aid lawyer and are free on their own recognizance. Khan said the success rate for asylum claims he handles is about 80 to 90 percent. And he praised the rural Manitobans who pick up the refugees as they cross the border. Canadian farmers are very hospitable and polite. They have good values. Farhan Ahmed, one of the asylum seekers who crossed over last weekend, is a Somali who fled the country in 2014, fearing for his life. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he flew to Brazil and traveled through South and Central America before crossing into the United States, where he was initially detained in Texas. His asylum application was denied, but thanks to a bureaucratic mix-up he was released under supervision and given work authorization. Ahmed worked as a truck driver, but immigration officers began looking for him. Thats what took him to the Manitoba border, which he crossed with a group that included a family with children. They walked for four hours into Canada before calling 911. Already Ahmed told the CBC that he is feeling welcome. Canada is a good country. It is a friendly country. I wish we (can get) protection because I cannot go back to Somalia, and I have a wife and kids I havent see in like two, three years, he said. I wish Canada that they give me a new life. LOS ANGELES An audit finds a wastewater treatment authority that serves a large swath of the high desert northeast of Los Angeles mismanaged millions of dollars in federal emergency management funds. The Los Angeles Times reports Tuesday that auditors determined the Victor Valley Water Reclamation Authority did not comply with numerous regulations on Federal Emergency Management Agency contracts worth nearly $32 million. The agency which serves cities including Victorville, Hesperia and Apple Valley got the money after major flooding six years ago led to a ruptured pipeline. A spokesman says officials are disappointed by the report and that the agency had responded in detail to concerns raised by auditors. The audit was conducted by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security. Il Barone, known for hosting power lunches over elegant plates of fine Italian cuisine, is relocating within Newport Beach. But business executives whove grown accustomed to handshake deals inside Il Barones bistro should not fret. The restaurant, tucked in MacArthur Square near John Wayne Airport, is moving one mile away to a shuttered Cocos on Bristol Street. The Newport Beach location is in the same crowded strip center anchored by popular restaurants Moulin and Juliette Kitchen & Bar. We were very lucky, co-owner Donatella Barone said about securing a nearby location. Last summer, Barone and her husband, Franco, didnt feel so fortunate. Their MacArthur Square landlord had hoped to redevelop the property on Martingale Way with a high-rise tower. But in July the Newport Beach City Council shot down the project, which called for a 384-apartment complex and retail space. Il Barone and its Italian market, Barone Bottega, would have been part of the retail development. We were heart broken when it was denied, Donatella Barone said. She and her husband began looking for a new location soon after the council vote. Panic set in over the holidays when the Barones learned that their landlord was selling the building. It sold within a month. We died. We were in deep depression, Donatella Barone said. Il Barone is as old school as it gets. Donatella greets regulars like family, giving them warm hugs at the door. While shes charming diners in the front of the house, her husband is in the kitchen whipping up classic Italian American dishes from spaghetti carbonara to veal Milanese. Often, guests are speaking Italian at the table. Orange County executives have sealed important deals here since it opened seven years ago. This is our life, she said of the restaurant. In January, they got discouraged when they couldnt find a location close to MacArthur Square, which has seen many tenants flee. They didnt want to move far, as the restaurants core lunch business relies on powerful clients who work nearby. This is where deals happen, Donatella said. Then, buona fortuna smiled on them: The owner of the Cocos building approached the couple about taking over the space. They jumped at the chance. The 5,000-square foot coffee house is nearly double the size of the current restaurant. A 4-seat bar will double in size, and a larger kitchen will allow chef Barone to dream big, his wife said. He envisions adding a pasta room and pizza oven. He has huge plans, Donatella said during a phone interview this week. Once the couple gets the keys on Thursday, they will begin renovation. The menu and decor will embrace the same fine dining cuisine with a casual flair of the current restaurant, she said. Il Barone will remain open at its current location until they move at the end of May. The 90-seat Cocos space will give the new restaurant about 20 extra seats, plus a patio something they never had. Their Italian market next-door, Barone Bottega, is not relocating to the new space. They plan to expand on the bottega concept at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, where their new restaurant Il Barone Italian Street Food is expected to open later this month, Donatella said. The more casual restaurant, located at the luxury centers Lot 579 food hall, will sell whole pizzas, pizza by the slice, salads, pastas and calzones. Contact the writer: nluna@scng.com SANTA ANA The Santa Ana City Council voted late Tuesday to prepare a resolution condemning President Trumps executive orders withholding funds from sanctuary cities and barring immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. The 4-2 vote exactly three weeks after council members unanimously adopted an ordinance declaring Santa Ana a sanctuary for all residents, regardless of immigration status was supported by a handful of speakers from the public, the majority of whom identified themselves as of Muslim background. Councilman David Benavides, who led the charge for the citys sanctuary ordinance and resolution, said the executive orders are essentially bullying by the president of the United States toward some of the most vulnerable. I ask members of our council to consider standing up for whats right, he said. Councilman Sal Tinajero, who joined Benavides resolution request, said it is the only way we can continue to protect our freedom, to protect our rights. Every step of the way, we have to be vigilant, Tinajero said. Councilman Vincent Sarmiento said he had planned to join Benavides and Tinajero on the request but ran out of time, and urged other Orange County municipalities to follow in Santa Anas footsteps. Councilman Jose Solorio said he joined his colleagues in standing with our Mexican brothers and sisters and asked that legal resources for immigrants be incorporated. The two dissenting votes came from Councilman Juan Villegas, an Orange County sheriffs officer, and Mayor Miguel Pulido. Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez had left the council meeting before the issue came up. Villegas said the issue was very difficult for me because he is the son of immigrants and a veteran, but said the city should focus on the many issues it faces within its borders shootings and gang activity, among other crimes. I would rather just let those issues work themselves out in the courts because thats where theyre going to end up anyway, Villegas said. The mayor sided with Villegas, saying, we all want to support the Muslim community, but much has yet to play out. During public comment, Hugo Ivan Salazar, policy analyst for the Orange County Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, said the resolution would send a clear message to Washington that xenophobia and Islamophobia are not acceptable. An attack to some of us is an attack on all of us, he said. Wearing a blue hijab, Shabnam Dewji spoke in favor of the resolution as a mom and a professional citizen of the United States. Youre going to set the tone that the rest of the world will follow, she said. This country was formed for the people, by the people, to protect our unalienable rights. Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong SAN FRANCISCO A panel of appeals court judges reviewing President Donald Trumps travel ban hammered away Tuesday at the federal governments arguments that the ban was motivated by concerns about terrorism, but also questioned an attorney who said it unconstitutionally targeted Muslims. The hearing before the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges was the greatest legal challenge yet to the ban, which temporarily suspended the nations refugee program and immigration from seven mostly Muslim countries that have raised terrorism concerns. Judge Michelle T. Fried-land, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked whether the government has any evidence connecting the seven nations to terrorism. August Flentje, arguing for the Justice Department, told the judges that the case was moving fast and the government had not yet included evidence to support the ban. Flentje cited a number of Somalis in the U.S. who, he said, had been connected to the al-Shabab terrorist group after judges asked for evidence. Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush nominee, asked an attorney representing Washington state and Minnesota, which are challenging the ban, what evidence he had that it was motivated by religion. I have trouble understanding why were supposed to infer religious animus when in fact the vast majority of Muslims would not be affected. He said only 15 percent of the worlds Muslims were affected, according to his calculations, and said the concern for terrorism from those connected to radical Islamic sects is hard to deny. Noah Purcell, Washington states solicitor general, cited public statements by Trump calling for a ban on the entry of Muslims to the U.S. He said the states did not have to show every Muslim is harmed, only that the ban was motivated by religious discrimination. Under questioning from Clifton, a Justice Department lawyer did not dispute that Trump made the statements. The ban has upended travel to the U.S. for more than a week and tested the new administrations use of executive power. The government asked the court to restore Trumps order, contending that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the United States. Several states insist that it is unconstitutional. The judges two Democratic appointees and one Republican repeatedly questioned Flentje on why the states should not be able to sue on behalf of their residents or on behalf of their universities, which have complained about students and faculty getting stranded overseas. The states challenging the ban want the appellate court to allow a temporary restraining order blocking the travel ban to stand as their lawsuit moves through the legal system. Purcell said that restraining order has not harmed the U.S. government. Instead, he told the panel, Trumps order had harmed Washington state residents by splitting up families, holding up students trying to travel for their studies and preventing people from visiting family abroad. A decision was likely to come later this week, court spokesman David Madden said. Whatever the court decides, either side could ask the Supreme Court to intervene. Trump said Tuesday that he cannot believe his administration has to fight in the courts to uphold his refugee and immigration ban, a policy he says will protect the country. And a lot of people agree with us, believe me, Trump said at a roundtable discussion with members of the National Sheriffs Association. If those people ever protested, youd see a real protest. But they want to see our borders secure and our country secure. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told lawmakers that the order probably should have been delayed at least long enough to brief Congress about it. If the case does end up before the Supreme Court, it could prove difficult to find the necessary five votes to undo a lower court order. The Supreme Court has been at less than full strength since Justice Antonin Scalias death a year ago. The last immigration case that reached the justices ended in a 4-4 tie. How and when a case might get to the Supreme Court is unclear. The travel ban itself is to expire in 90 days, meaning it could run its course before a higher court takes up the issue. Or the administration could change it in any number of ways that would keep the issue alive. Associated Press writers Martha Bellisle and Gene Johnson in Seattle, Matthew Barakat in Chantilly, Va., Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Pa., Colleen Slevin in Denver and Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report. A list of 78 terror attacks considered by the Trump administration to be under-reported includes the Dec. 2 attack in San Bernardino. Sort of. The citys name is misspelled San Bernadino in the White House-distributed list of attacks from September 2014 to December 2016. Also misspelled are the words attacker attaker and attackers, spelled in the document as attakers. Inland congressional Democrats, including Pete Aguilar of Redlands, who represents San Bernardino, took to Twitter to denounce the list and its spelling errors. .@POTUS You cant even spell #SanBernardino but you exploit our community to justify your #muslimban. Rep. Pete Aguilar (@RepPeteAguilar) February 7, 2017 If White House didnt know how to spell San Bernardino they shouldve read one of thousands of heartbreaking articles remembering victims. Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) February 7, 2017 The list followed President Donald Trumps assertion this week that the media deliberately do not report on acts of terrorism. The San Bernardino attack by a radicalized Islamic couple, which killed 14 people, received extensive press coverage, as did other attacks on the list. Besides being dinged for its spelling, the list also is being criticized for focusing on Western nations and ignoring terror attacks targeting Muslims, like the one in Quebec City last month that killed six Muslims at a mosque. The force has awakened. During the Walt Disney Companys first quarter 2017 earnings call, company chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced that Star Wars lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World would open in 2019. The announcement was also made on the Disney parks blog. Construction on the new land, which will occupy 14 acres at Disneyland, started early last year. Besides the new land, attractions and more, it also meant a reworking of Frontierland and its Rivers of America, which has been closed too. It is slated to open later this year. Meanwhile, construction continues with large cranes dominating the skyline in the northwest portion of Disneyland. Iger provided few other details, such as the month it would open, during the call. Bloomberg contributed to this report. The OC Fair & Event Center was one of three county fairs recently honored with a industry award for two of its programs that serve guests with special needs and another that entices visitors to bring donations in exchange for free admission. The Western Fairs Association presented the Fair & Event Center with the Merrill Award for its We Care Wednesday and Friends of the Fair programs at its Reno, Nev conference last month, along with and 17 achievement awards, including eight first-place honors. The Merrill Award, named after fair association founder Louis Merrill, honors entries that demonstrate innovation, vision and excellence, according to the associations website. Friends of the Fair and We Care Wednesday are amazing programs that allow us to give back to the community and thats why the recognition is so special, said Terry Moore, director of communications for the Fair & Event Center. Friends of the Fair provides guests with special needs a free, private fair experience the morning before it opens to the public. Last year, 10,188 guests participated, a record since the program was launched in 1989. The number of guests is limited so they can move freely through the fairgrounds at their own pace. On Wednesdays during the month-long fair, visitors receive free admission and a free carnival ride with a donation to a partnering nonprofit. Last year, We Care Wednesday provided 28 tons of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank, 56,000 new and used books to Share Ourselves, 37,000 pounds of clothes to Goodwill Industries and more than 150,000 school supplies to Think Together to give to children from low-income households. The program began in 1998 and draws more than 20,000 each week. Visiting the fair is not necessarily an easy task for everyone, which is why we created this opportunity for all individuals to access and enjoy the fun of the fair, OC Fair & Event Center CEO Kathy Kramer said in a statement. Friends of the Fair and We Care Wednesdays were specifically developed to give back to the community and together these two events have served more than a half million guests over the years, The Fair & Event Center received the Merrill Award in 2002, 1993, 1989 and 1985. Other recipients of this years Merrill Award include the Nevada County Big Fresno fairs. More than 1.3 million visitors attended the 2016 OC Fair. The 2017 OC Fair runs from July 14 through Aug. 13. Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@scng.com FULLERTON Authorities have released the name of the man arrested in connection with two sexual assaults at Fullerton College: Aris Hyung Yoon, 34, of Buena Park. Fullerton police arrested Yoon on Feb. 1 but didnt released his name because, they said, officers were still doing their investigation. At the time police said a man was suspected of grabbing two female students in the crotch. On the evening of Jan. 31 officers were called to Fullerton College regarding two sexual-battery incidents that happened within seven minutes of each other, Sgt. Jon Radus said on Tuesday. The crimes both occurred on campus walkways between the buildings near Lemon Street and East Chapman Avenue. The day after the assaults, Fullerton College Campus Safety detained a man, later identified as Yoon, acting erratically and displaying signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Radus said Yoon is not affiliated with the school. The Fullerton Police Department asks anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Yoon to call Sgt. John Ema at 714-738-6580, or to report a tip anonymously via the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or at occrimestoppers.org. Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or afausto@scng.com FULLERTON Police are investigating whether four trash bin fires discovered Tuesday in Fullerton are connected to a series of arsons in the city since September. Around 5:15 a.m., officers and firefighters were dispatched to the dumpster fires in the 1200 block of North Gilbert Street, said Fullerton police Sgt. Jon Radus. Since Sept. 1, there have been 15 arson cases in Fullerton, Radus said. Six of the 15 fires have occurred in the 1200 block of North Gilbert Street, he added. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on these fires is encouraged to contact Sgt. K. Hamel at 714-738-5336 or at khamel@fullertonpd.org. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or go to occrimestoppers.org. Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline A San Juan Capistrano man remains in a coma after being struck Sunday by a hit-and-run driver near Niguel Road and Ridgeway Avenue. The Orange County Sheriffs Department would not confirm the victims name, only that he was a male adult in his mid-30s. However, multiple online support pages identified him as Steve Schenkenberger. Schenkenberger sustained injuries to his brain and the left side of his body after he was hit while riding his bicycle, according to a Plumfund page created in his name. He is being treated at Mission Hospital. The medical fund for Schenkenberger, a husband and father of five boys, had raised more than $29,000 as of Tuesday night. Contact the writer: 714-796-7844 or snewell@scng.com TEHRAN, Iran With Iran calibrating how to deal with President Donald Trump, its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, caustically thanked the new U.S. leader on Tuesday for revealing the true face of the United States. We are thankful to this newcomer, Khamenei told Iranian air force commanders, according to a report posted on his official website. Iranian officials had been showing caution since Trump took office last month. Despite expressing anger at his policies and comments, even hard-liners have taken care not to provoke the new U.S. president. But on Tuesday, it became seemingly apparent to Irans leaders that Trump is not easily ignored. After Khamenei spoke out sarcastically about Trump, others expressed worries. Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said in an interview with a local newspaper that he expected difficult times ahead for Iran, now that Trump was in charge. Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, defended the nuclear agreement between his country and six world powers, including the United States, by saying that the deal was win-win for all. But Trump who has described the nuclear agreement as really, really bad but has not made any moves to alter it disparaged Iran again on Twitter, this time in a defense against criticism that he is too close to Russia and its leader, President Vladimir Putin. Trump wondered how President Barack Obama could have made a nuclear agreement with Iran, a country Trump described as #1 in terror. Trump seemed to be summarizing comments by his new defense secretary, Jim Mattis, who on Sunday called Iran the biggest sponsor of state terrorism. Many Iranians have expressed astonishment and ridicule at such assertions, pointing to terrorist groups that despise Iran and the West. First al-Qaida, responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and more recently the Islamic State, which has been killing thousands in the Middle East and is responsible for committing and inspiring attacks in Europe and the United States. Trump is trying to corner Iran, to make us bow before the U.S. and change our behavior, or face confrontation, said Nader Karimi Joni, a political activist close to Rouhanis government. Trump included Iran on a list of seven predominantly Muslim countries whose citizens have been barred from entering the United States under an executive order that has been blocked, for now, in the U.S. court system. Trumps national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, warned Tehran last week that it had been put on notice after an Iranian missile test. Washington imposed new economic sanctions on 25 people and entities after the missile launch, which Flynn said had violated a 2015 United Nations Security Council resolution approved after the United States and other world powers reached an agreement with Iran on its nuclear program. Iran has asserted that its missile tests do not violate that resolution and fall within its rights to self-defense. For Khamenei, Trumps ascent appears to have vindicated many suspicions harbored by the Iranian leader, who has said many times that the United States cannot be trusted. He has proven what we have been saying for more than 30 years we would always speak about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the U.S. administration this man revealed it during the election campaign and since then, Khamenei said, according to a translated text of the speech. Hamidreza Taraghi, a political analyst close to Irans leaders, said Trumps threatening and ranting style reflected a miscalculation of Irans power. He will soon realize Iran will not be intimidated, Taraghi said. The history of animosity between both countries is long and deep. Several U.S. administrations, including Obamas, have argued for years that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, because of its support for the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which the United States regards as terrorist organizations. Iran also has been held responsible by the United States for several terror attacks, most decades ago. One of them, of course, was the seizure of 54 members of the U.S. Embassy staff in Tehran for 444 days during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Iran also has been accused of involvement in a 1983 bomb attack at a Marines barracks in Lebanon, where 241 service personnel died. In 2003, a federal judge ruled that Hezbollah carried out the attack at the behest of Iran. Several judges have ordered Iran to pay billions of dollars in damages. Iran denies the accusations. Iran has pressed several claims against the United States. Iran holds the United States responsible for having supported Saddam Hussein with intelligence, funds and weapons after he attacked Iran in 1980, dragging both countries into an eight-year war where thousands of Iranians and Iraqis died. In 1988, a U.S. naval vessel, the USS Vincennes, shot down an Iran Air commercial plane, flying over the Persian Gulf to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. All 290 people aboard died. Iran called the attack deliberate, and the United States called it a mistake. Under a settlement at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the United States offered no apologies and was ordered to pay around $60 million in damages to families of the victims. Some of Trumps top aides apparently view Iran and its clerical leaders as a leading source of evil. During his inaugural speech Trump vowed to unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth. At the time many thought he meant the Islamic State group, but in books and speeches both Flynn and Mattis said Iran was radically Islamic and described the country as the biggest threat to peace in the Middle East. Khamenei, in his speech on Tuesday, added that a report that a 5-year-old boy had been handcuffed at Dulles International Airport, outside Washington, during enforcement of Trumps travel order shows the real meaning of American human rights. Although the boy was detained the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said that to assume that just because of someones age or gender, or whatever, that they dont pose a threat would be misguided and wrong he was apparently not handcuffed. In a Twitter post on Friday, Trump said: Iran is playing with fire they dont appreciate how kind President Obama was to them. Not me! Khamenei responded to Trumps Friday posting in biting fashion with his own remarks on Twitter. Iran shouldve appreciated Obama! he wrote, adding, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State: How come? Appreciate him for #DAESH, war in Iraq &Syria or public support for 2009 unrest? In a follow-up post, he said that Iranians would hold a rally on Friday, the 38th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, to show their position toward threats. Much-needed oversight for Orange County law enforcement is going to take a little longer. The Board of Supervisors appears to have jumped the gun on hiring Gary Schons, a former senior state attorney general, to take up the long vacant position as head of the Office of Independent Review. He withdrew his application last week, citing conflict of interest concerns. If all had gone well on Thursday, the board was set to hire Schons and have him start immediately, the Register reported. Instead, Schons wrote a letter to supervisors this week explaining that his law firm, Best Best & Krieger in San Diego, said that he couldnt accept the position because it presented too many conflicts of interests with the numerous municipalities the firm represents. Were back to square one, and, as the Register notes, The board, which has operated without any external law enforcement oversight for 10 months, plans to launch another search for a new executive director a nearly five-month process that could leave the job unfilled until July or later. It is extremely disappointing for this hire to have been so seemingly botched because that is far too long to wait. Local law enforcement is being tarnished by a scandalnow. The U.S. Justice Department, the California Attorney Generals Office and the Orange County Grand Jury are all investigatingnow. Oversight is needednow. And if we needed a reminder of why this matters, we got one this week when Eric Ortiz was again found guilty of murder. Ortiz was convicted in 2015 but that conviction was overturned after four sheriffs deputies invoked their Fifth Amendment rights over the use of jailhouse informants. Justice delayed is justice denied. To be sure, the Editorial Board has its reservations about the OIR. We were an early supporter in principle, believing that it could have done something with Sheriff Mike Carona. In practice, however, our view of the office quickly soured due to the excessive deference it showed to the sheriff. The role, and powers, of the OIR going forward must be clearly defined, and its relationship with its subjects one of impartial investigation, rather than deference. But the countys top law enforcement agencies must have meaningful oversight. COSTA MESA A temporary citywide ban on marijuana uses authorized under a state voter-approved recreational marijuana measure was extended for another 101/2 months to give city staffers time look for ways to implement the law. Without much discussion Tuesday, the City Council approved the extension of the urgency ordinance with a 5-0 vote. The initial 45-day ban was approved Jan. 3 and set to expire Feb. 17, according to a city staff report. It will give the city time to develop permanent regulations, said Jay Trevino, a consultant with the development services department. Under the prohibition, marijuana uses allowed under Proposition 64 such as the cultivation of more than six plants, outdoor cultivation and recreational marijuana businesses that do not conflict with a city-sponsored medical marijuana measure are illegal. The cities of Santa Ana, San Clemente and Aliso Viejo have passed similar bans. The state basically said that if you dont have something (ordinance) in place, then youve basically approved it and you have to go by that states rules, Councilman Jim Righeimer said. Though marijuana for adults 21-years-old and older is legal in the state, Californians can still face penalties in some instances. The citys marijuana ordinance, known as Measure X, sets aside an industrial zone north of the I-405 freeway and west of Harbor Boulevard for medical marijuana businesses. After obtaining permits, the businesses will be able to manufacture, research, test, develop, distribute and transport medical marijuana products, along with paying an annual six percent tax. Retails sale are not allowed. Were having to go through and hire outside consultants to figure out how do you tax it, how do you collect it, Righeimer said. The council also approved a resolution to access the local and federal criminal histories of medical marijuana business applicants. Business owners and employees will be required to undergo criminal background checks prior to the business being issued a permit. Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@scng.com Hijabs are becoming more prevalent in the United States. While some Muslim women wear the hijab as a display of humility and modesty in obedience to the Quran, others believe it is optional and wear it as a display of their identity and an expression of their feminism. Regardless of intent, the hijab has been a controversial topic and has provoked reaction, both good and bad. Many younger Muslims are very fashion-forward and express through their modest dress a hip and modern sense of style. Islamic teachings mandate modesty for both genders. For men, this means dressing modestly. For many Muslim women, this means covering their hair. The main idea of the hijab (modest dress and head scarf) in Islam is to allow women to avoid unwanted sexual harassment focused on their physical appearance. In some countries, women are forced to wear a covering; in other countries, they are prohibited from fully covering. In the United States, where women enjoy the freedom of choice, some Muslim women who choose to cover report facing hostility. Many, however, find it liberating and report being treated with greater dignity and respect by both men and women. At the same time, many practicing Muslim women choose not to cover their hair, doing so only when observing the five daily prayers. WHAT THE QURAN SAYS Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity: this will be most conducive to their purity [and] verily, God is aware of all that they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms [in public] beyond what may [decently] be apparent thereof; hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms. SHOULD WOMEN BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN CLOTHING? Percentage agree it is up to a woman to dress whichever way she wants. ISLAMIC VEILS OF THE WORLD Various types of Islamic veils and regions where they are most commonly worn. Hijab (Global) The type most commonly worn in the West is a square scarf that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear. Shayla (Gulf region) A long rectangular scarf popular in the Gulf region and becoming popular in North America. It wraps around the head and is tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders. Al-Amira (Global) A two-piece veil that consists of a close-fitting cap and an accompanying tube-like scarf. Women around the world wear this style. Khimar (Saudi Arabia) A long, cape-like veil that hangs down to just above the waist. It covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely, but leaves the face clear. Chador (Iran) A full-body cloak worn by Iranian women outside the house. It is often accompanied by a smaller headscarf underneath. Displayed only in black. Niqab (Yemen) A veil for the face that exposes only the eyes, sometimes obscured by a separate eye veil. It is worn with a headscarf, such as a khimar. Displayed only in black. Burqa (Afghanistan) The most concealing veils, they come in blue or black. The blue burqa is one piece and light- weight. The black burqa is made of a thicker material in three pieces. WHERE ISLAMIC VEILS ARE BANNED AND MANDATORY 1. Germany bans teachers from wearing veils in some states. 2. The Netherlands bans the full veil in schools, hospitals and on public transportation. 3. Belgium bans full-face veils. The fine is up to seven days in jail or 1,000 euros. 4. Switzerland bans the full-face veil with fines of up to 10,000 euros. 5. France bans the burqa in public. 6. Spain has laws against burqas and niqabs in several parts of Catalonia. 7. Italy has restrictions on full-face veils in Novara. 8. Niger bans veils in the region of Diffa and is considering banning the hijab. 9. Chad bans the full veil. Burqas seen on sale are burned. People may be arrested and jailed for wearing one. 10. Cameroon bans burqas in five of the countrys provinces. 11. Congo-Brazzaville bans wearing veils in public. 12. Turkey allows women to wear the veil except if they work in judiciary, military and police positions. 13. Malaysia prohibits public servants from wearing a full-face veil or niqab. 14. China has a ban on veils in the city of Urumqi in Xinjiang province. 15. Russia bans hijabs in schools. Note: Countries in North and South America have no known bans or mandatory laws regarding Islamic face veils or headscarves. Sources: Jihad Turk, president of Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School; Pew Research; BBC; The Washington Post; The Birthplace of the Arab Spring; islamfashionidentity; and news reports MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines dressed down more than 200 police officers on national television Tuesday, presenting them with a thorny ultimatum: Resign or be shipped off to a terrorist hotbed known for beheadings and attacks on police stations. Duterte accused the 228 officers of a litany of criminal and professional misdeeds including corruption, drug use and dealing, and, in one high-profile case, the kidnapping and murder of a South Korean businessman. Calling the group of National Police officers from Manila, the capital, rotten to the core, Duterte said he was ordering them to Basilan, an island in the countrys restive south and home to Islamic terrorist organization Abu Sayyaf. I need policemen in the south. There is a lack of police officers in Basilan; that is why the police stations there are often under attack, he told the officers, who were forced to stand for more than an hour in the sun. That is why all of you who are here; you are going to be part of Task Force South, he told the officers. If you dont want to go there, go to your superior officer and tell them that youre going to resign. He gave the officers 15 days to prepare for their new assignment, and he said the deployment would last for at least two years. If you survive, come back here, Duterte said. If you die there, Ill tell the police not to spend to bring you here and just bury you there. Since taking office in June, Duterte has led a bloody crackdown on drug users and dealers that has left at least 3,600 people dead, and possibly thousands more. Last week, the president replaced the National Police force with the military as the primary enforcers of his campaign after a scandal emerged when it was discovered that it was police officers who killed the South Korean businessman. A mans home may be his castle, and the protection of private property may have been one of the foundational principles of the revolution upon which this nation was built, but, regrettably, property rights have been continually eroded over the years. From the U.S. Supreme Courts horrendousKelo v. City of New Londoneminent domain abuse decision to numerous zoning, environmental, labor and other regulations that prevent, restrict or substantially increase the cost of property ownership and use, property rights have suffered a long-term decline. But even many of these abuses are not so blatant and invasive as those suffered by California farm and other agricultural property owners. At 5:00 a.m., United Farm Workers of America representatives entered the property of Cedar Point Nursery, a family-owned strawberry farm in Dorris, Calif., on October 29, 2015, during the busy harvest season. According to Cedar Points legal complaint, the UFW members disrupted work by moving through the trim sheds with bullhorns, distracting and intimidating workers. But the unions actions are completely legal in California, thanks to the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975. Interestingly, when the law was being crafted, the UFW and its supporters had lobbied for a provision that would allow union organizers to gain access to workers on their employers private property but the Legislature decided not to include such a stipulation, notes the Pacific Legal Foundation, a nonprofit, public-interest law organization that fights for private property rights and individual liberty, which is representing Cedar Point and fellow plaintiff Fowler Packing Co. of Fresno. However, the Act also created the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, which then did what the state Legislature could not accomplish and decreed an access regulation immediately, PLF asserted in a blog post. The regulation allows union representatives to access property by merely filling out a Notice of Intent to Take Access form and presenting it to the board and the employer in advance. The union may then access the property for up to three hours a day and up to four 30-day periods per calendar year. The plaintiffs allege that this allows the union to impair their Fifth Amendment rights by taking their property without just compensation, and violate their Fourth Amendment rights by engaging in unlawful seizures of their property. The U.S. District Court in Fresno rejected Cedar Point and Fowlers claims, prompting them to appeal the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Cato Institute recently filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs. The Cato brief offers numerous legal citations going back even before the nations founding confirming the vital importance of property rights to our liberties as a whole, and how the ability to exclude others from our property is at the heart of those rights. To that end, it includes one of my favorite property rights quotes. In a speech before Parliament, William Pitt who was a staunch supporter of the American colonies, told the House of Commons in 1763: The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail, its roof may shake, the wind may blow through it, the storm may enter, the rain may enter but the King of England cannot enter! All his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement. Had the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Department been the ones coming onto Cedar Points property with bullhorns, the Cato brief contends, this would constitute, at the very least, a Fourth Amendment seizure. That the Legislature deputized union organizers to do the same thing changes nothing. For those skeptical of the merits of the argument, the brief offers a challenge: [O]pen up your house for three hours a day, 120 days a year as the Access Regulations dictate and see if it meaningfully interferes with your rights. How far we have come since the days of John Locke, William Pitt and the Founding Fathers. There have been many welcome advances in civil liberties since then, of course, but property rights have, sadly, gone in the opposite direction. Yet, civil liberties, property rights and economic liberties are all forms of the requisite human freedom that we need to make the most of our lives and live in peace. Only when we offer all of them ultimate and equal protection may we fulfill the promise of Americas founding. Adam B. Summers is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. FRESNO A coalition of state and local leaders is pressing California to lift restrictions on urban water use after the wettest winter for years. Water regulators in Sacramento on Wednesday will decide on a recommendation to extend the drought rules, uncertain if rain and snow will continue through spring. Republican State Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber, who leads a swelling coalition of law makers and local water districts statewide, says its time for Gov. Jerry Brown to end the drought emergency, or lose the publics trust. Californians heeded the call during the historic drought, taking shorter showers and ripping out their lawns during the five-year drought, but the weather has dramatically changed, which everybody can see, Nielsen says in a letter to the governor also signed by other officials. This is an emergency? Nielsen told The Associated Press. Its pretty hard to argue to the public, the citizens of California, that we are now in an emergency. January rains drenched the state rising reservoirs, and the snowpack measures at 182 percent of normal. Tuesday storms swelled a creek in Marin County, flooding 40 homes. A rockslide blocked two lanes of a highway pass in the Santa Cruz mountains, officials said. Managers of Lake Oroville, one of the states largest reservoirs, stopped sending water over the dams spillway Tuesday, after spotting bolder-size chunks of concrete falling off at the bottom. Authorities say theres no damage to the dam itself, and that theres no danger to the public. So much rain had fallen in Los Angeles by Monday that the yearly total for downtown hit about 15 1 / 2 inches exceeding the normal annual rainfall, even though the new rain year wont start until October, the National Weather Service says. The state, however, is not yet declaring an end to the drought, California Natural Resources Agency spokeswoman Nancy Vogel said in an emailed statement. The governors office referred request for comment to Vogel. Some residents in the San Joaquin Valley still survive on bottled water because their wells are depleted, and swings from wet to dry years is only intensifying with climate change, Vogel said. Brown declared the drought emergency in 2014 during the driest four-year period in Californias recorded history. He later ordered Californias nearly 40 million people to cut water use by 25 percent the first mandate of its kind in the states history. The State Water Resources Control Board, which enacts regulations, relaxed the requirement last year with more normal weather, allowing local districts to set their own conservation measures. Water districts still must to weight their water supplies against demand, among requirements and report their water use to the state. Roughly 80 percent of local water districts in Northern and Southern California say they have ample water supplies, no longer requiring water-use cutbacks. Tracy Quinn, a senior water policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, wants the state to hold onto its restrictions. She says its unclear what weather the spring will bring, let alone next year. She says water districts arent always motivated by conservation but rather by money, because their revenue is tied to how much water they sell to customers. Many water districts say theyve invested millions in water efficiency and dont need the states oversight. The healthy snowpack and brimming reservoirs also dont tell the whole story, she said, adding that the drought decimated groundwater supplies and will take years to be replenished. This is a long game, Quinn said. Although we have had a welcomed respite from the drought, we dont know whether this is an aberration in an extended drought. WASHINGTON Republicans seized her microphone. And gave her a megaphone. Silenced on the Senate floor for condemning a peer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., emerged Wednesday in an elevated role: the avatar of liberal resistance in the age of Trump. Late Tuesday, Senate Republicans voted to halt the remarks of Warren, already a lodestar of the left, after she criticized a colleague, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the nominee for attorney general, by reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. The decision led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority leader, who invoked a rarely enforced rule prohibiting senators from impugning the motives and conduct of a peer amplified Warrens message and further inflamed the angry Senate debate over Sessions nomination. He was expected to be confirmed later Wednesday. In the meantime, some of her peers from the Democratic caucus, including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico, have read Kings letter without facing any objection, prompting some activists to raise charges of sexism. Warrens moment rekindled the gender-infused politics that animated the presidential election and the womens march protesting Trump the day after his inauguration last month. For her supporters it was the latest and most visceral example of a woman silenced by men who do not want to listen. The subsequent explanation from McConnell about why he muzzled Warren She was warned, she was given an explanation, nevertheless, she persisted seemed made for a future Warren campaign ad. After an unsuccessful effort to draft her for the 2016 presidential race, she is considered a very early front-runner in 2020, should she choose to run. McConnells coda has already been repurposed as a sort of rallying cry. Across social media, Warrens allies and supporters posted (hash)ShePersisted, calling to mind some Democrats embrace of the term nasty woman after Trump deployed it to describe Hillary Clinton during a debate. Appearing with Clinton in New Hampshire in October, Warren reminded Trump that nasty women vote. Warren has long displayed an instinct for capitalizing on highly visible fights. After she was barred from speaking on the Senate floor late Tuesday, she began reading the 1986 letter from King on Facebook. By Wednesday afternoon, the video had attracted more than 7 million views. In the letter, King, the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., took aim at Sessions record on civil rights as a federal prosecutor in Alabama, saying he had used the awesome power of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens. On Wednesday morning in a conference room in the Capitol the rule only prohibits Warren from speaking about the nomination from the Senate floor Warren addressed civil rights leaders, recounting her long night. What hit me the hardest was, it is about silence, she said. Its about trying to shut people up. Its about saying, No, no, no, just go ahead and vote. She went on. This is going to be hard, she said. We dont have the tools. Theres going to be a lot that we will lose. But I guarantee, the one thing we will not lose, we will not lose our voices. On Wednesday, Republicans betrayed no regret for their move, accusing Warren of thinking of a 2020 presidential run and ignoring repeated warnings to avoid violating the Senate rule, known as Rule XIX. She had also read a letter from Ted Kennedy, who also represented Massachusetts in the Senate, disparaging Sessions. You dont insult whether it be from a letter, or from a message from God, or on golden tablets, said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Thats the rules of the Senate. They want to complain about it, complain about it. Democrats have since resumed their protest against Sessions with renewed swagger, despite their long odds of preventing his confirmation. If Mr. McConnell or anybody else wants to deny me the right to debate Jeff Sessions qualifications, go for it, Sanders said from the Senate floor Wednesday. A Southern California man was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday for pimping two women in Orange County, crashing his car during a high-speed chase and leading police on a foot pursuit in Stanton. Delane Williams, 42, of Sun Valley, pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court to one felony count each of pimping, criminal threats, evading while driving recklessly, pandering and attempted pimping, according to the Orange County District Attorneys Office. Williams also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count each of resisting and obstructing a police officer, aggravated trespassing, destroying or concealing evidence, and violation of a protective order, and sentencing enhancements for prior felony convictions, prosecutors said. On Jan. 6, 2015, Williams met a 20-year-old woman in Los Angeles and said he would drive her to a storage unit that contained her belongings but instead took her to areas of Orange County known for human trafficking and prostitution, prosecutors said. Williams booked a motel room in Anaheim and demanded the victim give him all the money she received from prostitution, according to prosecutors. In one instance, the woman fought off a customer and escaped from his car in Stanton. She called 911 and members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force responded to the scene, prosecutors said. Williams was identified as a suspect, but police were unable to locate him. Then on May 31, 2016, Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force members observed Williams picking up another woman in Stanton suspected of being involved in prostitution, prosecutors said. Williams crashed his car into a tree while trying to evade officers. He ran through yards in a Stanton neighborhood, hid in a garage and was confronted by a homeowner who had a gun, prosecutors said. Williams threw cash at the homeowner and told him not to call the police. He was eventually arrested in the backyard of another Stanton residence. Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline Taiwan recently banned euthanizing abandoned animals in shelters, a law believed to have been prompted by the shocking suicide of a young veterinarian, in May 2016. 31-year-old Chien Chih-cheng injected herself with euthanasia drugs, after becoming extremely disturbed by the large number of animals she had to put down. Chien Chih-cheng was the director of of an animal shelter in Taoyuans Sinwu District. She had chosen to work at the shelter because of her love for animals, and her colleagues remember that she often worked overtime, rarely took a proper lunch break, and sacrificed her holidays to give the dogs more attention and make their lives better. After graduating from one of Taiwans top university with the highest score in a civil service examination, Chien could have opted for a number of desk jobs, but she chose to dedicate her life to helping abandoned animals and getting them adopted by new families. But her job also required her to euthanize the animals that didnt get adopted after a certain period of time, and this took a heavy toll on the young animal lover, especially after animal rights activists accused her of killing hundreds of abandoned dogs. Some animal welfare activists have unleashed relentless attacks on the Sinwu shelter and Chien was a target of those attacks, Taoyuan City Councilor Wang Hao-yu wrote on Facebook last year. She was even described as a butcher. For a young woman who chose to work at the shelter because of her love for animals and whose duties involved euthanizing stray animals every day, those abuses were like stabs to the heart. Photo: Sina Weibo Indeed, after it was revealed she had put down 700 dogs in two years, Chien Chih-cheng became known as the beautiful slaughterer. It didnt matter that she hated having to put down innocent animals, or that the rate of pet abandonment was so high in Taiwan that shelters were becoming overcrowded, people saw Chien and others like her as evil killer, and attacked her relentlessly. In May of last year, the pressure of having to put down so many dogs, and the constant harassment became too hard to bare for the young shelter director, and she took her own life, by injecting herself with the same drugs used to euthanize the animals. I hope my departure will let all of you know stray animals are also life, a note she left behind read. I hope the government knows the importance of controlling the source [of the problem] Please value life. Photo: Singapore STOMP News of her euthanasia shocked Taiwan to its core, and the general opinion about abandoned animals started to change. Newspapers accused the Government of murdering Chien Chih-cheng by failing to come up with effective ways to fight pet abandonment and prevent stray dogs from reproducing. High-level bureaucrats were accused of trying to convince the public that Chien wasnt strong enough to handle the pressure of her workplace, as if they could ever understand what she felt after having to put down hundreds of scared dogs. But ultimately, people realized that the entire Taiwanese society needed to take responsibility for her tragic death, after contributing to the problem of pet abandonment or just doing nothing to fix it. We are frequently scolded. Some people say well go to hell. They say we love to kill and are cruel, Kao Yu-jie, one of Chiens co-workers, said after her death. But people still abandon their dogs. You hear all kinds of reasons: their dog is too mean, or not mean enough, barks too much, or doesnt bark enough. Photo: Sina Weibo Everyone understood that it was this kind of attitude from pet owners that contributed to the problem that ultimately claimed Chien Chih-chengs death, so authorities decided to do something about it. A no-euthanasia law has been in the works in Taiwan for months, and on February 4, 2017, it was finally enforced. It has become illegal to euthanize abandoned animals, but as veterinarian Kung Chien-chia said last year zero euthanasia is a false policy if there are no supportive measures to reduce pet abandonment rates to zero. Shelters have limited spaces, personnel and resources, but the number of admitted animals will keep increasing. Taking this into consideration, Government will invest 190 million Taiwan dollars ($5.8 million) in increasing shelter capacity and supplementing the number of inspectors. The new law also requires pet owners who wish to abandon animals at a shelter to pay a fee of $125. Authorities have claimed that the new law has nothing to do with Chien Chih-cheng heartbreaking story, which was simply a human tragedy, but there are many who say that her euthanasia did in fact set in motion a chain of events that led to the adoption of the new law. Photo: Sina Weibo Sources: BBC, The Washington Post, Taipei Times After several attempts to remove a cockroach that had crawled into his ear while he was sleeping, a Chinese man decided to kill the intruder by spraying bug spray into his ear canal. The 60-year-old man from Chengdu told doctors that a cockroach crawled into his ear on February 1st. He could feel it wiggling around inside, so he tried to force it out with various tools. First he tried using his fingers, then he moved on to ear wax scoops, toothpicks and tweezers. None of them proved successful, so he then tried scaring the insect by hitting his head with his hands, but that didnt work either. After three days the insect seemed to have advanced further into his ear, so he decided it was time for desperate measures. He grabbed a canned on insecticide and sprayed it into his ear, hoping to kill the intruder. This time, the man, referred to as Liu Qian (a pseudonym) by the media, was successful, but that didnt actually solve his problem. The cockroach died almost instantly, but it remained stuck in his ear. Doctors say the chemical warfare the man waged on the insect didnt help very much, as the spray caused his ear canal to swell up, trapping the bug inside. In the end, he had to visit a doctor to have the cockroach removed, an operation that took only a few minutes. It turned out that the insect measured around one centimeter. Cockroaches tend to move towards warmer locations, so they will always go indoors during winter. The sticky earwax also has a mild odour, which is the cockroaches favourite,', Dr Wang Ji, who conducted the operation said. He advised people who might one day be confronted with this problem to pour clean oil into their ear to smother the insect or force it out. Picking your ear or using bug spray only causes irritation to the sensitive skin inside the ear. via SCMP APCO Reps Leader of Democratic Opposition in Belarus Wed., Sep. 28, 2022 APCO Worldwide is providing media relations services for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the democratic opposition to Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko. She stepped in for her husband and ran for president in 2020 but lost in the rigged election. Newly appointed CIF President Dominic Doheny has called on the Government to work with the construction industry to create an ambitious strategy that delivers sustainable growth, exports and jobs across Ireland today at a meeting of Irelands leading construction executives. Mr Doheny, who is from Tullamore, Co. Offaly and is joint Managing Director of John Flanagan Construction Ltd, said, The Government is turning to construction to deliver ambitious targets in the delivery of world class infrastructure, housing and the specialist buildings that attract and retain global companies to Ireland. They must set out with industry a growth strategy that builds our capacity to deliver the sustainable level of 25,000 housing output required annually and the 43billiion infrastructure set out in the Governments Public Capital Programme " DKM consultants estimate that achieving these targets would see the construction industry grow from 15bn to 20bn by 2020, generating around 110,000 jobs. Mr Doheny commented, "This could be a transformative period for the Irelands economy and society if our industry is supported in the same way Irelands food, med-tech and financial services industries have been over the past 30 years. "I believe that industry and Government must collaborate to set out an ambitious strategy for construction similar to those established with the food and financial services industries. The prize is a dynamic economy and society with connected and thriving regional economies that provide opportunity for people to work and live in communities around Ireland. The price of inaction is a continuing housing and homelessness crisis, the decline of rural Ireland and a congested capital choking under the weight of producing over 40% of Irish GDP." He stated that the industry currently accounts for 7% of GNP and the widely-accepted level in a developed but growing economy is 12-15%. The CIF believes that this gap can be filled by supporting regional construction companies to deliver housing and infrastructure outside the Greater Dublin area. The industry currently employs around 140,000 people directly, far more than any other sector in Ireland, so the potential for regional job creation is huge. "In 2017, the CIF is calling for a significant increase in capital expenditure in the upcoming review of the public capital programme. This review coupled with the imminent National Planning Framework will be seminal for Irish economic development over the next few decades. we must get it right. The Government must help ensure that the construction industry has the capacity to deliver in the coming decade," Mr Doheny stated but he noted that currently housebuilding, particularly outside Dublin, isnt viable. "Housebuilders cannot gain access to finance at the right terms from banks or other sources. How can we have balanced regional development if there are no construction companies capable of building outside our major urban centres? In addition, infrastructure funding is at record lows and any increase in the budget will not be felt by the civil engineering sector for 2-3 years due to lead in times. Dominic Doheny is a graduate of both Bolton Street and Trinity College Dublin and has been the joint Managing Director of John Flanagan Developments since 1989. He is the former Chairman of the Irish Home Builders Association and brings a wealth of personal experience, spanning more than three decades, to the role. He will hold the role for two years. Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen has warned that rural communities in Offaly will suffer under the Governments latest national development plan. The Ireland 2040 plan was published last month by Minister for Housing Simon Coveney and sets out the key development priorities for the Government over the next 23 years. Deputy Cowen said, This latest development plan unveiled by the Government is underwhelming. There is a disproportionate focus on encouraging economic development in our major cities such as Dublin and Cork while areas such as Offaly miss-out. This is a short-sighted decision as the infrastructure in the cities is already creaking under the pressure of continued population growth. Sky high rents are also putting enormous strain on peoples incomes in these areas. He said the Government should have used this new plan as a way for incentivising development in small towns, villages and rural communities adding that encouraging people to live in these communities will relieve the pressure on cities and would also inject a new lease of life into our towns and villages. "We need a plan to reinvigorate rural communities in Offaly, but unfortunately the proposals put forward by Minister Coveney fall well short of this," he remarked. "We need to see a rebalancing of the focus and budgets of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland with the view to giving greater priority to the Midlands. Marginalised and isolated communities must be at the heart of the Governments development plan. Fine Gael has been fixated on focusing investment in our cities over the last six years. This has been detrimental to small towns, villages and rural communities. I believe the plan must put in place a new mechanism to group a number of towns together with the aim of developing a common development strategy. For example, Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore should have a joint development plan to promote growth. This plan should place a special emphasis on developing infrastructure such as improved broadband and transport services. Its also disappointing that the latest plan unveiled by the Government does not take into account the ongoing review of the Capital Investment Plan. Theres a lack of joint up thinking when it comes to connecting the various initiatives that the Government has in place. The Capital Investment Plan should work hand-in-hand with the Ireland 2040 plan to develop rural communities in Offaly, with a key focus being placed on developing infrastructure such as broadband to encourage inward investment, Deputy Cowen concluded. Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD has launched the 10th annual SciFest and has called on second-level students from Offaly to demonstrate their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills. Since its inception in 2008, over 40,000 students have participated in the competition, which represents a year on year increase of 23% in participation. Supported by Science Foundation Ireland, the aim of SciFest is to give students of all abilities the opportunity to develop research, problem solving, critical thinking and presentation skills. The closing date for SciFest 2017 is Friday, March 10. In SciFest, second-level students showcase STEM projects at a series of one-day science fairs held locally in schools and regionally in the 14 Institutes of Technology, DCU and St. Marys College, Derry. The winners from each regional science fair will go on to compete at a national final in November 2017. The national final winner(s) of SciFest 2017 will be presented with a trophy and will represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2018 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. SciFest is funded primarily by Science Foundation Ireland, Boston Scientific and Intel Ireland. Speaking at the launch of SciFest 2017, Sheila Porter, SciFest Founder and CEO said: 2017 is an important year for SciFest as it marks our 10th edition of the competition. Over the last 10 years we have had the opportunity to experience some of the best young minds that Ireland has to offer. 2016 was our best year ever with over 8,000 students participating and exhibiting their projects at local or regional science fairs all across the country and we hope to build on this success in 2017 and beyond. As always, our aim is to develop a passion for STEM, and to promote inquiry-based learning, creativity and innovation among second level students from Offaly. Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Education and Skills said: It is a pleasure to launch SciFest 2017, here at St Marys Secondary School in Killester. SciFest is now in its 10th year and I wish to congratulate all the organisers, the Institutes of Technology and DCU, and indeed the participating schools and teachers on reaching this important milestone. For the generation of children currently in school and about to enter it, creative thinking and problem-solving skills will be absolutely key to how they develop and achieve their potential. In particular, their ability to think critically and develop solutions will be vital for their prospects in life. Our ambition is to make Irelands education and training system the best in Europe within a decade. Providing STEM Education of the highest quality is essential if Ireland is to become an innovation leader at the forefront of technological and scientific change. We need to encourage our existing students, as well as future generations of students, to understand and embrace areas related to STEM. SciFest plays an important role in instilling in our students that a STEM education can open many doors and by encouraging young people to develop a love of these subjects and to engage their passions outside the traditional classroom setting. Outlining the commitment from Science Foundation Ireland to its continuing support of SciFest, Margie McCarthy, Head of Education and Public Engagement, Science Foundation Ireland said: At Science Foundation Ireland we are proud of our longstanding support of SciFest, which contributes hugely to the development of STEM education in Ireland. We always seek to promote science among young people and through this event students develop a passion for STEM that will stand to them for their whole lives. Last years overall national final winner was 6th year student Caolann Brady from St. Wolstans Community School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, for herproject which focussed on the natural treatment of asthma through humming and breathing techniques as opposed to using inhalers and nebulisers.Caolann will represent Ireland at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Offaly students wishing to follow in Caolanns footsteps can log on to the SciFest website (www.scifest.ie) and enter online or download a paper entry form. Completed entries must be submitted by Friday 10th March. SciFest 2017 will be the third year of the prestigious Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award, which is presented at each of the 16 regional science fairs; the overall winner of this award will receive the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award at the national final in November. Agricultural News Red Meat Exports Finished Strong in 2016 with New Record Volume of Pork Shipped Internationally U.S. pork and beef exports wrapped up an excellent 2016 performance with very strong December results, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork export volume reached a record 2.31 million metric tons (mt) in 2016, up 8 percent year-over-year and 2 percent above the previous high in 2012. Export value increased 7 percent from a year ago to $5.94 billion. December pork exports totaled 222,635 mt, up 18 percent year-over-year, valued at $564.2 million, up 20 percent. Exports accounted for 25.8 percent of total 2016 pork production and 21.5 percent for muscle cuts - up from 24.2 percent and 20.8 percent, respectively, in 2015. December ratios were 28 percent for total production and 23 percent for muscle cuts only - up significantly from December 2015. Export value per head slaughtered averaged $50.20 in 2016, up 4 percent from the previous year. The December average was $56.06, up 24 percent. Beef exports increased 11 percent in volume (1.19 million mt) and 1 percent in value ($6.34 billion) from 2015. December exports totaled 116,847 mt, up 24 percent year-over-year. This was the largest monthly volume since July 2013 and the largest ever for December. Export value was $619.1 million in December, up 22 percent. Exports accounted for 13.7 percent of total beef production in 2016 and 10.5 percent for muscle cuts - up from 13.1 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in 2015. December exports accounted for 15.6 percent of total December beef production and 12.1 percent for muscle cuts only - each up more than 2 percentage points from a year ago and the highest since 2011. Export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $262.17, down 6 percent from 2015, but the December average was $301.97 - up 14 percent and the highest in nearly two years. Pork to Mexico sets fifth straight volume record; China/Hong Kong also record-large A remarkable second half pushed 2016 pork export volume to Mexico to its fifth consecutive record at 730,316 mt - breaking the previous record by 2 percent. Export value to Mexico totaled $1.36 billion, up 7 percent year-over-year and the second-highest on record, trailing only the $1.56 billion mark reached in 2014. "At this time of record-large pork production, it would be hard to overstate the importance of Mexican demand to the U.S. industry," said Philip Seng, USMEF President and CEO. "This is especially true for hams, as we are locked out of Russia - once a large destination for U.S. hams - and China's demand for imported hams has moderated in recent months. So now more than ever, we need strong demand from our key customers in Mexico, and they have responded with extraordinary results. December exports to Mexico accounted for nearly $16 per head, and that's absolutely critical to the entire U.S. pork supply chain." Though down from the high levels seen earlier in the year, December pork exports to China/Hong Kong were still up 40 percent year-over-year in volume (47,242 mt) and 42 percent higher in value ($96 million). For the full year, exports to China/Hong set a new volume record of 544,943 mt (up 61 percent) and broke the $1 billion mark for the first time ($1.07 billion, up 53 percent). Other 2016 highlights for U.S. pork exports include: Japan remained the leading value destination for U.S. pork, though exports fell 5 percent in volume (387,712 mt) and 2 percent in value ($1.56 billion) compared to 2015. However, chilled exports to Japan set a new record of 218,211 mt, up 8 percent. Led by a record performance in Central America and a fourth-quarter surge in Colombia and Chile, exports to the Central/South America region increased 11 percent in volume (135,954 mt) and 9 percent in value ($334.5 million). Pork shipments increased to both Australia and New Zealand, as export volume to Oceania reached 69,963 mt (up 10 percent) valued at $197.3 million (up 3 percent). Exports to the Dominican Republic set another record in 2016, topping the previous year's totals by 10 percent in volume (25,591 mt) and 6 percent in value ($56.4 million). Fueled by increases in China/Hong Kong and Canada and steady exports to Mexico, pork variety meat exports jumped 20 percent in volume to 523,199 mt and 24 percent in value to $999 million - just short of the record levels reached in 2014. Asian markets drive strong beef export growth Driven by strong demand for higher-value chilled cuts, beef exports achieved new value records in South Korea and Taiwan in 2016, and rebounded strongly in Japan. In Korea, December beef exports soared by 81 percent in volume (20,333 mt) and 88 percent in value ($130 million) from a year ago, capping a remarkable year in which exports totaled 179,280 mt (up 42 percent) valued at $1.06 billion - up 31 percent from a year ago and breaking the previous value record by more than 20 percent. Korea's per capita beef consumption set a new record in 2016 of 34 pounds (carcass weight) - so the U.S. not only gained market share, but also capitalized on the market's overall growth. Beef exports to Taiwan were also strong in December, with export value ($43.3 million) hitting its highest level ever. Full-year exports to Taiwan were up 25 percent in volume to 44,053 mt and 14 percent in value to $362.8 million. 2016 exports to Japan were the largest of the post-BSE era at 258,653 mt, up 26 percent year-over-year. Export value totaled $1.51 billion, up 18 percent. Chilled beef exports to Japan totaled 112,334 mt, up 44 percent from 2015. "In addition to the strength of the U.S. dollar, U.S. beef overcame other severe challenges in these north Asian markets and achieved remarkable results," Seng said. "Despite facing higher tariff rates in Japan compared to Australian beef, U.S. beef displaced its competition and won back significant market share. And the investment the U.S. industry made to rebuild consumer confidence in Korea is paying tremendous dividends, especially in the retail sector. We're seeing U.S. beef featured regularly by retailers who were once reluctant to carry the product." Other 2016 highlights for U.S. beef included: Beef exports to Mexico increased 7 percent year-over-year in volume to 242,373 mt, though value fell 11 percent to $974.9 million. While challenged by a weak peso, Mexico remains a key destination for muscle cuts such as shoulder clods and rounds, as well as for beef variety meat. Led by strong growth in Chile and a doubling of exports to Colombia, beef exports to South America increased 6 percent in volume to 22,810 mt, valued at $92.7 million (down 2 percent). The region should see further growth in 2017 with the reopening of Brazil. Exports to Central America were up 7 percent in volume (12,745 mt) with top market Guatemala up 1 percent and exports to Honduras nearly doubling. Export value was $71.8 million, up 1 percent. Fueled by a resurgence in Indonesia and solid growth in Vietnam, beef exports to the ASEAN region were up 41 percent in volume (29,920 mt) and 15 percent in value ($156.9 million). Indonesia expanded access for U.S. beef in early August. Despite being closed to many products through the first seven months of the year, U.S. exports to Indonesia set a new value record of $39.4 million. Beef variety meat exports increased 10 percent in volume (341,433 mt) and 4 percent in value ($902.2 million) in 2016. Liver exports increased 12 percent to 81,727 and reached a broader range of markets. While liver exports to Egypt - the largest destination for U.S. livers - increased 4 percent, further growth was achieved in Central and South America and with the reopening of South Africa to U.S. beef. Lamb muscle cut exports continue upward trend Although U.S. lamb exports were down in 2016, this was largely due to a sharp decline in variety meat exports. While total exports fell 11 percent in volume (8,248 mt) and 4 percent in value ($18.4 million), muscle cut exports increased 26 percent (2,239 mt) and 16 percent ($12.3 million) respectively. Leading market Mexico followed a similar pattern, as variety meat exports declined significantly, but muscle cut exports increased 9 percent in volume (965 mt) and 1 percent in value ($2.8 million). Emerging markets showing promise in 2016 included Bermuda, the Philippines, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. Complete 2016 export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb are available from USMEF's statistics webpage. Monthly charts for U.S. pork and beef exports are also available online. Source - US Meat Export Federation WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Agricultural News Cattle Producers Gather at Noble Foundation to Learn About Sustainable Practices on the Ranch To support producer education, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will host its sixth annual Texoma Cattlemen's Conference, the premier beef conference in the Southern Great Plains. One of the event's organizers, Hugh Aljoe of the Noble Foundation, spoke with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about the conference and the topics that will be discussed. "The theme this year is The Future of Sustainable Beef," said Aljoe, producer relations manager. "The question about sustainability all goes back to where our food is sourced." This year's conference will showcase the efforts of several participating U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) member entities, including the Noble Foundation. The USRSB is a national effort to help make the entire U.S. beef value chain more sustainable. "The public's perception - they want to feel confident with our food supply," he said. "For us as cattle producers, out product is beef. The key thing that we want to be able to do is communicate that much of what our producers are already doing is sustainable." Aljoe says this conference is designed to help producers in the region stay on top of the science and technologies that are available and applicable to their operations. He notes that the focus will be on becoming proficient in sustainable practices within your operation and learning to continually strive to achieve greater efficiency in order to produce a product that is economically, environmentally and ethically congruent with the consumer's expectations. Guest speakers being featured at the conference this year include: Townsend Bailey, McDonald's director of supply chain sustainability: The Future of Sustainable Beef and Sustainable Beef Value Chain panel John Butler, Beef Marketing Group chief executive officer: The Future of Sustainable Beef and Sustainable Beef Value Chain panel Billy Cook, Ph.D., Noble Foundation senior vice president and Agricultural Division director: Sustainable Beef Value Chain panel Leigh Ann Johnston, Tyson Foods director of sustainability: Sustainable Beef Value Chain panel David Orme, Integrity Beef Alliance president: Sustainable Beef Value Chain panel Derrell Peel, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist: Cattle Market Outlook Noble Foundation Agricultural Division researchers Ron Hays, Oklahoma Farm Report, moderator According to Aljoe, being sustainable in many cases, is just showing others what you already have in place on the farm or ranch. "If producers are doing things well, probably the only real step that's necessary is to document," he surmised. "And what we feel like is necessary is to have a plan in place - also be able to talk about what they've actually done and then the results." The conference is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, February 24, at the Ardmore Convention Center. Registration and trade show open at 8 a.m. Registration is $40 and includes lunch. For more information or to preregister, please visit www.noble.org/agevents or contact Danielle Pacifico at 580-224-6376. Listen to Hays' complete conversation with Aljoe about this year's cattle conference, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below. Click below to listen to Ron Hays' complete conversation with Aljoe about this year's cattle conference WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Medica Health Plans has opened an office in Nebraska because its health insurance clientele has increased five-fold in the state, mostly because of plans sold through the federal Affordable Care Acts online exchange. The regional office is at Suite 304 of 331 Village Pointe Plaza in Omaha, an office building west of the Village Pointe shopping mall. The office is open for walk-in traffic and appointments from people who want to talk about health plans, as well as visits by insurance brokers and others. Craig Ashby, senior director of individual and family plans, said the Omaha office will serve the significant number of members Medica now has in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas, more than 80 percent from ACA exchange plans. In Nebraska, 35,553 people have made their initial payments on Medica health plans for 2017, up from 6,276 in 2016. Iowa membership went from 1,430 last year to 13,129 this year, and so far 7,426 Kansans have signed up for coverage, the first year Medica is offering plans there. Aetna Health also offers plans on the exchange. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and UnitedHealthCare offer off-exchange coverage but dropped their exchange plans for 2017 because of what they said were heavy losses. Ashby said via email that plans for the Omaha office went ahead despite discussions in Washington about repealing or replacing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. We are moving forward under the assumption that any changes in the ACA will not have a material impact on our business, he said. The company plans to continue selling health insurance outside the ACA exchange at HealthCare.gov no matter what happens, he said. Medica Chief Executive John Naylor and others will attend a ribbon-cutting at the new office from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday. Based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a Minneapolis suburb, Medica also sells health insurance in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica is a nonprofit company with about 1.7 million members and 1,250 employees. Besides individual health plans, it offers employer-based, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D insurance. In 2015, Medica spent 88 percent of its $5.1 billion in premium revenue on health care expenses, with the rest covering administration and other nonmedical costs. They said it was only fat. But there was 130 pounds of it, as heavy as a newborn giraffe. What they said was fat descended from his stomach. While Roger Logan sat in an armchair, as he spent too much of the last decade, the mass rested on the floor. When he walked, he described a pendulous and cumbersome sensation, Logan told ABC 23 in a recent interview from a California hospital bed, as though three cement bags had been tied around his neck. It kept the 57-year-old Mississippi man out of the antique store he used to run and away from the shores where he fished, he said to the Bakersfield Californian. No matter which physician he asked, the explanation for the weight remained the same. "They said, 'you're just fat,'" Logan said in the ABC 23 interview. On Facebook, Logan wrote that the mass was too large to be examined through a conventional CT scan or other test. It would not be until after surgery that Logan was told the 130-pound was not, in fact, just fat. It was a tumor. Vipul Dev, a surgeon at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, in Bakersfield, California, proposed to the Bakersfield Californian that the 130-pound mass began as an ingrown hair. It was possible the hair follicle became infected, and the tumor swelled to immense size as new blood vessels fed into the site. After several months of research, Logan's wife Kitty discovered Dev. The California doctor had previously treated someone with a similar mass. In the past, other surgeons had determined that Logan's 130-pound mass was inoperable. Still, the couple decided that the California medical facility was worth a shot. In late January, they embarked on a 40-hour road trip from their Mississippi home to Bakersfield; Logan sat in a reclining chair, bolted to the floor in the back of a cargo van, the AP reported. The surgery successfully removed the mass. "We are very fortunate that we can do this surgery with little to no complications," Dev told ABC 23. Logan put it more succinctly in a Jan. 31 public message on his Facebook account: "Still here suckers!" In February, Logan began a two-week rehabilitation therapy program in California, part of his long road to recovery. The last time Logan "hurt this much and was this tired," he wrote on Facebook on Saturday, "I got hit by a school bus." At 130 pounds, the tumor was massive but not the largest ever recorded. In 2014, Beijing doctors excised a 240-pound tumor from the back of a man with neurofibromatosis. And in 1905, Texas doctors treated a woman with an abdominal cyst weighing 328 pounds. Federal regulators have until mid-May to complete an investigation into the employer of an electrician who was injured in a fire near downtown Omaha in December and then died. Steven Nitz, an electrician, was injured Dec. 13 at the Sprint Communications building near Seventh and Leavenworth Streets. This week, Taylor Wilson, a spokesman for Nebraska Medicine, confirmed his death, but wouldnt provide additional information, citing privacy regulations. Its unclear when Nitz died; Wilson said he couldnt disclose that information. Nitz had been hospitalized at the Nebraska Medical Center since being injured Dec. 13, Wilson said. At the time of the fire, Nitz, 59, was working as a contractor for Sprint, the phone company has said. Officials with the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration said they opened an investigation into Nitzs employer, Electrical Testing Solutions of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Dec. 15, two days after the blaze. OSHA always investigates the employer of the victim, agency spokesman Scott Allen said. Sprint isnt being investigated in connection with the incident, he said this week, because it had hired Electrical Testing as a contractor. A man who identified himself on the telephone Tuesday as an executive with Electrical Testing Solutions said the company is not allowed to comment on the mans death or the OSHA investigation. He wouldnt give his name. OSHA also wouldnt comment further. The regulator doesnt provide information on pending investigations. The agency has six months, in this case until about May 15, to complete its investigation, Allen said. An Omaha Police Department report on the December incident says Nitz, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, had been shocked and burned when authorities found him inside a Sprint building southeast of downtown. The blaze was a small one in the buildings main electrical breaker, authorities said. When firefighters arrived, they were told by workers that an injured man was downstairs in the electrical room. The fire caused an outage affecting landline and cellular phones in the Omaha area. Service was restored later that day. Sprint expressed its condolences for Nitzs death earlier this week. Fire officials have listed the fires cause as accidental. The owner of a northwest Omaha restaurant questioned Wednesday why charges were filed in the first place after a jury decided he had not obstructed a government operation last summer. On Aug. 13, John Horvatinovich, the owner of Salt 88, tweeted out photos of two teens with the comment, Omaha restaurant peeps: These two are trying to ruin your night w/ sting operations in town. The teens had gone into the restaurant at 3623 N. 129th St. and attempted to buy beer as part of the Nebraska State Patrols alcohol compliance checks. The teenagers were denied after presenting their real IDs, according to trial testimony. If he had been convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Horvatinovich could have faced up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. I think it was an absolute waste of taxpayer money, Horvatinovich said outside the courtroom after the verdict. Horvatinovich has said the last six months have been difficult as he has spent less time at the restaurant and sales are down. The six-member jury reached a verdict after deliberating 2 hours Tuesday afternoon and less than an hour more on Wednesday morning. My argument is still that we have freedom of speech and that he was well within his rights to send this tweet out, said Carolyn Wilson, Horvatinovichs attorney. Project Extra Mile, an organization that works to prevent underage drinking, and law enforcement agencies have been doing the compliance checks since 1997. The question before the jury was whether Horvatinovich knew the teens were a part of the compliance checks and intentionally chose to hinder the government operation. Assistant City Prosecutor Makayla Maclin said Horvatinovichs tweet impeded the compliance checks. After the tweet was sent, a sergeant told the teens to return to the office for their safety. The two 17-year-olds and two troopers didnt complete checks on the seven remaining businesses on their list. Wilson said the tweet was a public service announcement to remind fellow restaurateurs to check IDs. Horvatinovich and Wilson both questioned how the compliance checks are conducted and said they hoped this case would lead to changes. Wilson said she had concerns about the involvement of State Patrol family members one of the teens is the cousin of a trooper involved in the case and the use of minors in the checks. That was the big issue here. Who put their safety in jeopardy? Was it my client or the Nebraska State Patrol? Wilson said. Horvatinovich said that while he doesnt think the compliance checks should be eliminated, he does think Project Extra Miles involvement with the checks should be eliminated. Diane Riibe, executive director of Project Extra Mile, said the organizations involvement is administrative. She said they provide paperwork for the checks but do not pick the restaurants or the minors involved. And Riibe said the checks work. When the checks started in 1997 Omaha had a noncompliant rate of 41 percent, which is now down to 6 percent, according to Project Extra Mile. City Prosecutor Matt Kuhse said the use of a relative in the checks did not strike him as odd as investigators look for people who would be willing to cooperate and do those types of investigations. I dont think theres anything wrong with seeking out family members or friends of family and things like that, Kuhse said. The charges were filed, he said, because thats how the legal system works. If theres evidence to charge someone with a crime, then its a prosecutors obligation to move on those charges. And people like Mr. Horvatinovich have an absolute right to have a trial and let a jury decide whether the charge fits or not, Kuhse said. LINCOLN A bill that would allow teachers to use physical force to control violent students drew support Tuesday from the Nebraska State Education Association. Our members have told us in no uncertain terms that they need strong support and additional resources to maintain control of their classrooms, said Jay Sears, speaking for the teachers union. Legislative Bill 595 had no other friends among the dozen or so people who spoke at a public hearing before the Education Committee. Opponents said the bill could open the door for abuse, lead to injuries, even death, and be used disproportionately against students with disabilities and minority students. The proposal is bad for teachers, bad for schools and bad for kids, said Karen Haase, an attorney who specializes in school law. But State Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte, committee chairman and introducer of LB 595, said the bill is intended to make it possible for teachers to do their jobs. He said he has heard from several teachers, including some in his own family, about increasing numbers of violent, unruly students. Discipline in the classroom is of utmost importance in order to allow students to focus and learn and teachers to effectively communicate to the entire class, he said. Groene said LB 595 would allow teachers or administrators to control their classrooms without fear of legal action or administrative discipline, as long as their actions are reasonable. The bill would permit the use of physical force or physical restraint to subdue violent students and physical restraint on students who are damaging school property. Neither action would be considered corporal punishment under the bill. Current state law prohibits corporal punishment in Nebraska schools. LB 595 also would let teachers remove students from their classroom for being repeatedly or seriously unruly, disruptive or abusive and give teachers the final word about whether those students could return. On Tuesday, Groene offered an amendment saying that students could return to a teachers classroom if required under federal laws concerning special education students. Classroom violence and student discipline are major concerns for Nebraska teachers, Sears said, pointing to the more than 7,000 responses to an NSEA survey on the issue. He said 80 percent of those responding said violence has increased in their schools and 60 percent listed unruly, disruptive students as their biggest problem. In addition, the survey found that a majority of teachers dont realize state law already allows some physical contact with students to preserve order in the classroom. But Sears reported that many teachers said they dont want to be involved in physical altercations with students because they know violence begets violence. They want to learn more about how to de-escalate situations and how to get help for students. He said there may be better solutions and urged the committee to explore the issue more in an interim study. Wood River resident Lynn Redding, who opposed the bill, also urged more time to study the situation. As a person with a disability who has been subjected to restraints, she said she fears that LB 595 would represent a step backward for Nebraska. She said the bill does not require that teachers be trained on restraint techniques or provide for parent involvement. There is a line that needs to be drawn to protect a child, even one that is disruptive, Redding said. Jane Byers, speaking for the Nebraska Association of Special Education Supervisors, said LB 595 brought attention to the growing mental health needs of Nebraska students. She said many disruptive children have special education needs. She and others pointed to efforts to expand resources for treating those children as a better option. Spike Eickholt, a lobbyist for the ACLU of Nebraska, called the bill breathtakingly broad in what it would allow school employees to do without legal repercussions and in its lack of definitions for key terms. It would give license for some school employees to physically attack students for a wide range of student behavior, he said. WASHINGTON Disappointed opponents of Betsy DeVos said they will be paying attention to her approach as the countrys new secretary of education. We will be closely watching what Betsy DeVos does, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, Nancy Fulton, said in a press release. And we will hold her accountable for the actions and decisions she makes on behalf of the more than 50 million students in our nations public schools. DeVos nomination squeaked through the Senate on Tuesday, helped across the finish line by all four senators from Iowa and Nebraska. DeVos was confirmed 51 to 50, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote. It was the first time in history that a vice president has broken a tie to confirm a Cabinet secretary. She was sworn in later Tuesday. The outcome was hailed as a victory for local control of education by Republican officials and DeVos supporters, but denounced by those who have questioned her qualifications and commitment to public education. The Iowa and Nebraska senators, all Republicans, saw a flood of calls from DeVos opponents, but the spotlight fell mostly on Nebraskas Deb Fischer as one of the few Senate Republicans who hadnt publicly taken a position on the nomination by the middle of last week. Fischer said in a radio interview that she was a little irate about news coverage casting her as a key vote on the nomination, which brought her extra attention from DeVos opponents. Its typical in the case of close votes, however, for advocates to focus on lawmakers who havent said how they would vote. As opponents targeted Fischer, who is up for re-election in 2018, the Nebraska Republican Party solicited statements from Republicans who backed her. The resulting GOP press release praising Fischers vote included laudatory quotes from Nebraska Republican National Committeeman J.L. Spray, former State Board of Education member Bob Evnen and Tyler Thompson of Scottsbluff, who teaches English at Gering High School. In an interview, Thompson praised Fischer and said he had supported her Senate campaign in 2012. He told The World-Herald he was offering cautious support for DeVos, even though she has said things he wouldnt have including her suggestion that schools might need guns to ward off bears and her responses to questions about programs for students with special needs. But I think that shes expressed enough support and has thrown her weight behind the notion that education should be a local decision, that it should be best carried out by the teachers who are in the classrooms, by the administrators who are in the building, he said. Thompsons sentiment echoed Fischers rationale, which focused on commitments she received from DeVos to fight for all children and respect local control. As a strong proponent of local control, I believe a decision to provide vouchers, scholarships or other public support for students who choose to attend a nonpublic school should not be mandated by the federal government, DeVos wrote Fischer. Rather, this is a state and school district matter. Therefore, if confirmed, I will not impose a school choice program on any state or school district. That kind of assurance did not satisfy those opposed to the nomination. She is not qualified, Fulton said. She has never worked as an educator, or in public education at all. She pushes vouchers that funnel tax dollars from public schools to for-profit charter and private schools. She lobbies against any regulation of charters, and for the expansion of failing for-profit charter schools. Thompson said concerns about DeVos gutting public education funding are overblown. When she expresses support for voucher systems or charter schools, its more saying that students that are in failing schools should have the opportunity to get an adequate, good education, that they shouldnt be stuck in a school where their needs arent being met, Thompson said. The University of Nebraska-Lincolns investigation into the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity has yielded unexpected results. While the investigation into alleged vulgar comments directed at women continues, UNL announced Tuesday that it has found other infractions, including alcohol abuse at Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji. The examination of Phi Gamma Delta members behavior began over claims by protesters during the Womens March on Lincoln last month that young men at Fiji made lewd remarks to them. The UNL chapter of the fraternity has denied making such comments. That investigation continues. But UNL said Tuesday that in the process, the university found a pattern of behavior that violated UNLs student code, including reckless alcohol use ... during recent academic terms. UNL has placed the fraternity on interim suspension. Juan Franco, UNLs vice chancellor for student affairs, indicated that the investigation into alleged vulgar comments last month continues. While behavior outside the fraternity during the Womens March attracted public attention, our investigation has shown broader conduct issues at the fraternity, Franco said in a press release. This conduct required our immediate action, even while our investigation continues. Phi Gamma Deltas national executive director in Kentucky said he supports UNLs need to uphold and enforce the student code of conduct. The national office will continue to work with the university while it finishes its investigation. At that point, we will take appropriate action based on the facts, said the director, Bill Martin. UNL spokesman Steve Smith said an interim suspension can become permanent. He called it likely that the administration will take further, longer-term action. LINCOLN Lawmakers shot down a filibuster proposal Tuesday that would have given more power to the Nebraska Legislatures majority. The vote came as senators continued to fight over legislative rules. Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer agreed to extend the temporary rules another week after lawmakers ended the 24th day of the 90-day session without adopting permanent rules. Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus called on the body to drop proposed changes to the Legislatures filibuster rules in exchange for the appointment of new Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood to the budget-crafting Appropriations Committee. Clements earlier was unanimously recommended to the committee by the bipartisan Committee on Committees to replace Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion, who resigned last month. Clements appointment to the committee still needs approval by the full Legislature. Peace has been offered, Schumacher said. Its now up to the final step for peace to be accepted. Still, debate continued on the changes to the Legislatures filibuster rules. Under the Legislatures current rules, ending a filibuster requires 33 votes, or a two-thirds majority of the 49 senators. Seventeen lawmakers can sustain a filibuster, or block legislation. Cloture motions are filed when a supporter of a piece of legislation wants to end a filibuster, which is a delay tactic used by those who want to kill a bill. Cloture forces an immediate vote on a bills advancement. If not met, a bill effectively dies. Sen. Tyson Larson of ONeill proposed an amendment that would require 25 votes to invoke cloture, unless 20 lawmakers, or two-fifths of the body, voted against it. Larsons proposal would increase the number of senators needed to continue a filibuster and would put pressure on senators who are absent or present but not voting to go on record if they want to kill a bill. He said hes pushing it because of threats from a group of 17 senators to block every bill in response to the first day of the session when a group of 27 senators voted together to elect mostly conservative lawmakers into leadership positions. Others have said those threats dont exist. Voting against Larsons proposal were the Legislatures 15 Democrats, plus eight Republicans, including Scheer. Those voting in favor of his proposal were 22 of the Legislatures 32 Republicans, including Clements. LINCOLN A debate over the future course of pension plans for Omaha and Lincoln police and firefighters drew experts from as far away as California and Kentucky to the State Capitol on Tuesday. While representatives of two groups argued that Omaha and Lincoln faced financial crises due to underfunded pension plans, officials with police and fire unions maintained that changes already have been made, and that intervention by the State Legislature would hurt instead of help. The city has a funding plan that is working and will continue to work if left alone, said Sgt. John Wells, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association. Wells was among a parade of testifiers at a three-hour public hearing for Legislative Bill 30. State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, who heads the Legislatures Retirement Systems Committee, said he introduced the bill after becoming increasingly concerned about the unfunded pension liabilities in the states two largest cities. Omahas police and fire pension system, for instance, has a roughly $600 million unfunded liability, and is about 50 percent funded. Similar pension programs in Lincoln are now about 79 percent funded, just below an 80 percent level considered financially healthy. Kolterman said his intent was not to cut pension benefits for existing police and firefighters, but to make sure cities can deliver the benefits they have promised. He expressed disappointment that the leadership of Omaha and Lincoln had allowed their pension debts to rise. To a certain extent, shame on them, Kolterman said. His bill would require Omaha and Lincoln to adopt cash-balance retirement plans for newly hired police officers and firefighters instead of the defined benefit plans now offered. Cash-balance plans are now used by state employees and civilian city workers, and are a hybrid of traditional pensions and 401(k) retirement plans. Many private employers have scrapped defined benefit plans, though a 2011 legislative study recommended that Nebraska cities keep their traditional plans. Officials with the Omaha-based Platte Institute and California-based Retirement Security Initiative were among the supporters of LB 30. They said cash-balance plans are a better deal for taxpayers, because communities are not guaranteeing a certain pension benefit and because investments are no longer generating the necessary income. The municipal pension debt crisis could cause economic hardship on the scale of the housing bubble across the country, said Jim Vokal, CEO of the Platte Institute and a former Omaha City Council member. The 8 percent annual rate of return assumed by the Omaha pension plan is unsustainable, Vokal and others said. State intervention, they said, is needed because Omaha politicians lack the will to make changes. But representatives of the Omaha and Lincoln police and firefighters union, as well as the Omaha and Lincoln City Councils, argued that the two cities have already instituted pension fixes that will work, given enough time. Omahas rate of return on its pension plan has been above 8 percent over the past 15 years, officials said. Omaha police and firefighters, in recent years, have agreed to benefit cuts and increased contributions that are projected to make the plan 100 percent funded in 18 years, said Steve LeClair, president of the Omaha firefighters union. Within 11 years, the plan will be at 80 percent, he said. (Supporters of LB 30) want us to solve this the California way. We need to solve this the Nebraska way, at the kitchen table, LeClair said. He and others said that changing to a cash-balance pension plan would hurt recruiting and retention of police offices and firefighters. Wells said that Omaha already faces challenges in hiring new officers, with applications declining from about 2,000 in 2010 to less than 1,000 in 2015. Frank Lima, a Los Angeles firefighter, said that when cash-strapped San Jose, California, scrapped its traditional defined-benefit pension program for police and fire, 652 police officers retired or resigned in less than six years. The community, according to Lima, eventually had to backtrack on its pension reforms, use detectives to patrol streets and enact steep wage increases to fill the ranks. This is a bad bill, said LeClair, the Omaha fire union head. This is a social experiment that failed miserably. Pete Constant, executive director of the Retirement Security Initiative and a former San Jose City Council member, disputed that. He said that about 450 police jobs were eliminated due to budget shortages. Several communities, he said, have faced bankruptcy because of pension debt. LINCOLN One year ago, a new Oklahoma law triggered its first round of income tax cuts. The trigger was based on projections of state revenue growth, but those increased revenues never materialized. Instead, the cuts went into effect just as the oil and gas industry took a steep dive, pulling state revenues down with it. As the red ink mounted, the state had to make midyear spending cuts, and the shortfall has persisted into this year. Now some Oklahomans are calling for the laws repeal. Gov. Pete Ricketts wants Nebraska lawmakers to pass a similar tax cut trigger law. Legislative Bill 337 would bring the top individual income tax rate down to 5.99 percent in eight steps, with each step triggered by state revenue growth projections. A public hearing on the bill, as well as a Ricketts proposal to change how agricultural land is valued for property taxes, is set for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the State Capitol. A World-Herald analysis of Ricketts income tax plan showed that: It would not yet have reached its tax rate goal if it had been in place since 2001. It would have twice triggered tax cuts as revenue started slowing. It would have deepened the nearly $900 million current budget shortfall. Ricketts spokesman, Taylor Gage, defended the plan, calling it a prudent and measured approach to cutting taxes while protecting the budget. It is a step-by-step approach with a long-term view toward providing meaningful tax relief to middle-class families and small businesses, he said. Gage said critics of the plan oppose any kind of tax relief. But Renee Fry, executive director of the OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based think tank, called the plans tax cut triggers irresponsible and arbitrary. Simply put, we shouldnt put future tax cuts on autopilot, as they interfere with the ability for lawmakers to deal with present-day realities, she said. She also faulted the plan for directing most of the tax cut benefits to the wealthiest Nebraskans. When Ricketts announced the income tax plan last month, he touted it as a way to spur economic growth and make Nebraska more competitive with neighboring states. What this is about is putting more of the peoples money back in their pockets, the governor said. LB 337 would cut the top individual income tax rate from 6.84 percent down to 5.99 percent in eight steps. State Revenue Department officials estimate that the plan would reduce state income tax revenue by $288 million per year when fully implemented. The bill includes a trigger mechanism intended to phase in tax cuts as state revenue allows. The trigger would not work in reverse to increase taxes if state revenues slide. Such triggers are new to Nebraska but have been implemented in seven states and the District of Columbia in recent years, according to the Tax Foundation, a tax research group based in Washington, D.C. Ricketts proposal would trigger cuts based on the revenue projections issued each October by a state board. The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board is charged with making the revenue forecasts used by the governor and Legislature when crafting the state budget. Under LB 337, the boards October forecasts would determine whether a tax cut step is triggered. Projections of growth would have to exceed 3.5 percent to trigger a cut. The first step could occur in 2020 if projections allow. The state could take two steps at a time if revenue growth was projected at 4.2 percent for that year. However, The World-Herald analysis showed that the plan would have triggered only six of the eight tax cutting steps between 2001 and 2016. That would have gotten the top tax rate down to 6.2 percent, not the 5.99 percent goal. The analysis assumed that the tax cuts would not have altered revenue projections and actual revenue growth in those years. Two tax cut steps would have been triggered just as the state headed into economic troubles. One would have been in 2008, the other in 2016. In October 2007, the forecasting board projected revenue growth of 3.8 percent in the next fiscal year. That would have triggered a tax cutting step for 2008. Actual revenue that year fell by 4.2 percent as the nation plunged into recession. In October 2015, the board forecast revenue growth of 3.6 percent, which would have triggered a tax cut in 2016. Actual tax revenues began dropping off shortly afterward. The actual growth will not be known until the current fiscal year ends June 30. State Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, who introduced LB 337 on behalf of the governor, acknowledged that potential outcome. But he pointed out that, in other years, revenue projections would not have triggered a cut while actual revenue turned out much higher. What Im seeing here is it evens out over time, he said. The type of reduction triggered by this is a modest, modest cut. Sarah Curry, policy director at the Platte Institute for Economic Research, an Omaha-based think tank, said using projections instead of actual revenue to trigger tax cuts can create problems. But she said properly structured triggers can be a good tool for cutting taxes in a slow, responsible manner. She said they demonstrate a states commitment to reducing taxes, which creates confidence in business. Curry said the Platte Institute supports income tax cuts along with an offsetting expansion of sales taxes. Ricketts plan does not include any offsetting revenue increases, and the governor opposes tax expansions or increases. Bringing down the top individual income tax rate has long been a priority for Nebraska business groups. The Omaha, Lincoln and state Chambers of Commerce are backing the governors plan, along with the Nebraska Federation of Independent Businesses. Those groups say individual income taxes are important to business growth because thats the tax most small businesses pay. When talking about a 1 percent reduction, it can mean the difference between being able to grow and not being able to grow, said Adrian Suarez, an Omaha business owner. State Chamber President Barry Kennedy said Nebraskas top rate is 16th highest in the country. That top rate has not changed for 20 years. Nebraskas three other rates were cut in 2013. Although LB 337 would change only the top rate, Ricketts and others say it would benefit middle-class Nebraskans. More than half of married couples and about 30 percent of single Nebraskans make enough to be affected by the top rate. The top rate applies to the portion of an individuals income, after deductions, that exceeds $29,830 per year. For married couples, the rate applies to the portion of income after deductions that exceeds $59,660. Fry said the proposal would give the biggest cuts to well-off Nebraskans while providing little or no benefit to middle- and lower-income people. About 86 percent of the cuts would go to the top 20 percent of income earners, people with annual incomes greater than $95,000, she said. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. LINCOLN The Nebraska state flag is likely safe for another year. A proposal regarding the flags design appears dead for the 2017 session after five state senators on Wednesday voted against advancing it to the full Nebraska Legislature. Under Legislative Resolution 3, sponsored by State Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha, a task force of lawmakers would have been charged with exploring designs for a new state flag. Harr argued that the flag, which is blue with the state seal in the middle, doesnt represent Nebraska and could be reworked to better market the state during its 150th anniversary of statehood. He and others said that the current design is hard to read and that the overall design is similar to numerous other official state flags that use state seals on blue backgrounds. At a committee hearing earlier this month, Harr said the current flag is so unremarkable that it was flown upside down outside the State Capitol for more than a week from Jan. 4 to Jan. 11 before someone noticed. No one testified in opposition to the proposal during the hearing. But some members of the Legislatures Executive Board who voted against advancing the idea during an executive session Wednesday said it was a waste of time and that a new design wouldnt be ready in time for the Nebraskas sesquicentennial on March 1 anyway. Lawmakers voting against advancing the proposal were Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer of Norfolk and Sens. John Kuehn of Heartwell, Dan Hughes of Venango, John McCollister of Omaha and Dan Watermeier of Syracuse. Those in favor of advancing it were Sens. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, Ernie Chambers of Omaha, Sue Crawford of Bellevue and Tyson Larson of ONeill. A 41-year-old passenger died and three others were hurt in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday night about 20 miles northwest of Grand Island. The Hall County Sheriffs Office said Terrill Sorensen of Cairo, Nebraska, died at the scene of the 6:07 p.m. crash at Nebraska Highway 2 and Schauppsville Road. The location is about 4 miles east of Cairo. The Sheriffs Office said a preliminary investigation indicated that a westbound 2002 Pontiac Bonneville, driven by Brandon Salyers, 23, of Grand Island, crossed the center line and veered into the eastbound lane. The Pontiac struck an eastbound 2001 Ford Mustang driven by Colleen Race, 29, of North Platte. Sorensen was a passenger in the Mustang. Race, Salyers and his passenger, Jesse Adams, 22, were taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island for treatment of their injuries, the Sheriffs Office said. The crash remains under investigation, the Sheriffs Office said, and an autopsy will be conducted. WASHINGTON Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., met Tuesday with President Donald Trumps nominee to the Supreme Court. Neil Gorsuch, a federal appellate judge, has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill, engaging in the traditional courtesy calls on those who will determine the fate of his nomination. In the case of Sasse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gorsuch hardly needed to press his case. Sasse has been effusive in his praise of the pick since it was announced. Judge Gorsuch is a supremely qualified and thoughtful nominee, Sasse said in a press release after Tuesdays meeting. The Chicken Little hysteria from some of my friends on the other side of the aisle is just sad and absurd. If they keep working to paint Judge Gorsuch as a mouth-breathing bald eagle hunter, theyll embarrass themselves. Sasse said the two talked at length about the Constitution and its checks and balances. Whenever Democrats want to stop dealing in fiction, Im confident Judge Gorsuch is ready for a serious conversation, Sasse said. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also met with Gorsuch on Tuesday and later said he had serious, serious concerns about the nominee. Schumer, stopped short of saying he would oppose the nomination, the Associated Press said. The Nebraska Legislature has a big question to answer this session: Can it find a way to accommodate rural senators calls for more aid to rural schools while still meeting the needs of urban school districts and not busting the overall state budget? To say thats a difficult task is an understatement, of course. Consider the hearings Monday before the Education Committee. Lawmakers held hearings on three bills from Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson, offering ideas to boost the amount of state aid given to rural school districts and taxpayers. Legislative Bill 144 would reduce, in stages over four years, the degree to which agricultural land valuations are counted as part of a school districts financial resources. This would mean increased state aid. At present, the value of agricultural land used by the formula to calculate local school resources is 72 percent. By fiscal 2020, the percent would be reduced to 20 percent. LB 265 would ensure that every school district in Nebraska receives some aid, meaning the total statewide amount would need to increase by an estimated $71.8 million in fiscal 2019 and $152.6 million in fiscal 2020 to fund schools at current levels. And under LB 571, each district would get to keep 20 percent of the state income tax collected from the districts residents, as they did under the states original school aid bill approved in 1990. Testimony made it clear that heavy burdens are weighing on rural counties and their school districts in the wake of the ag economys downturn. The testimony also showed, though, that theres no clarity yet on how to pay for the proposals. And theres no guarantee that passage would prevent school districts from continuing to raise tax rates. Committee members will need to set priorities that responsibly balance rural and urban school needs in making any adjustments to the school aid formula. Theyll also need to coordinate with their members working on budget and tax-policy issues to make sure any legislation coming out of the Education Committee is fiscally realistic. At times during Mondays committee discussions, one got the impression there was some golden moment in the 1990s when Nebraskans were in harmony about how to allocate school aid. But such thinking misreads the actual history. Within months after passage of the 1990 measure creating the aid formula, more than 50,000 Nebraskans signed a petition to repeal the funding formula law. The repeal effort led to a state ballot measure, although it was defeated at the ballot box in November 1990. It became routine in nearly each legislative session thereafter to have major debate on how to change the school aid formula, with adjustments large and small approved. In 1994, lawmakers debated fixing the formula by adding consideration for transportation costs, special-education students and at-risk students to the formula. In the end, the Legislature wound up taking a different course, changing how property valuation figures were used to calculate districts financial needs. The change generated complaints from some school districts. In 1996, lawmakers criticized the laws provision that each district keep 20 percent of state income tax collected from district residents. That funding concept shortchanged many of the states neediest districts, they said, and the Legislature voted to remove the provision. Friesens current LB 571 would restore the original funding approach. On Monday, John Bonaiuto, director of the Nebraska Association of School Boards, testified before the Education Committee and urged lawmakers to come up with a funding approach that serves all the children of Nebraska. His words echoed closely what a testifier told the Education Committee back in 1997: As a state we are going to have to come up with a system so that everyone assumes their fair share of responsibility for educating these children. Who was that testifier in 1997? That same John Bonaiuto, representing the same school boards association. Fixing Nebraskas school aid challenge, in other words, seems a never-ending challenge. The obligation for state leaders to address it responsibly, fitting it into a soundly crafted state budget, is abiding. OPS signals it wont work with feds A resolution passed by the Omaha Public Schools board states that OPS will not turn over information on a students or familys immigration status to federal authorities, unless compelled by a court order or law or with the familys permission. (Board looks to reassure immigrants with resolution, Feb. 7 World-Herald). OPS is now a sanctuary school district. OPS taxpayers must be very proud of this latest achievement. Jim Sanford, Blair Holman a great addition to board It was with great joy that I read that Shavonna Holman is the Omaha Public Schools boards selection to fill the position left vacant by Justin Wayne. Holman has been interested in education ever since she was in my second-grade class. She told me that she wanted to be a teacher. Her wishes have come true and then some. She has been a student, parent, educator and administrator. She is an assistant professor of educational administration at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She will be able to understand all levels of clientele in the Omaha Public Schools. She truly is trustworthy, honest and has integrity. And she will help spread equitable resources across all schools and put together a concrete plan to tackle student behavior problems. Congratulations to the OPS board on its perfect choice for its new board member. Sharon L. Struve, Omaha We dont need voter ID amendment As an experienced volunteer poll worker in Douglas County, I am disappointed that Nebraska state senators are pushing a constitutional amendment for voter ID requirements after similar legislative bills have failed year after year. I know from first-hand experience that our election officials work hard, take their task seriously and train poll workers very well. I also know that Nebraska voters take their voting rights and responsibilities seriously. We should all be proud that elections in Nebraska are fair. With all the issues that do require attention from our political leaders, this seems like a solution in search of a problem. The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized voter identification efforts as discriminatory against persons who are elderly or poor. Nebraska state senators should not amend our state constitution to erect more barriers to fundamental voting rights. Deana Liddy, Omaha Ricketts goes too far What Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts cant buy outright, he wants to take by rigging the courts. Nebraska governors appoint Nebraska judges from a list of candidates selected by bipartisan commissions. Each commission has four lawyers, elected by members of the bar where the judge will serve, and four citizen members appointed by the governor. The statute reads, The Governor shall appoint two alternate citizen members, not of the same political party. But Legislative Bill 644 strikes out not of the same political party and inserts All citizen members shall be affiliated with the political party with which the Governor is affiliated. LB 644 also flatly crosses out the bipartisan: Not more than two member lawyers of each commission shall be registered members of the same political party or category, and not more than two alternate lawyers shall be registered members of the same political party or category. And how about this? The Governor Executive Council of the Nebraska State Bar . . . shall appoint, now reads, The Governor shall appoint . . . For 80 years, Nebraskas governors and our bipartisan legislature have respected all Nebraskans. But Ricketts seems determined to change our history. This isnt a democracy; this is a takeover. Roy and Linda Deeds, North Platte, Neb. Bullying was appalling Im appalled that any child would treat another child the way Raeann Dabney was treated and not have to face consequences (After bus incident, family calls for bullying to stop Feb. 4 World-Herald). This is a very big deal. What was the bus monitor doing? The bus driver is not innocent, either. And the kids on the bus watched this happen and did nothing. A one-day bus ban as a deterrent and supposed punishment is a joke. The two girls who wrote on this child should be removed from the bus for the remainder of the school year, as well as losing a chance to continue any extracurricular opportunities for the school year. Their actions are inexcusable. Rosemary Merit, Blair A bad time for NAFTA concerns After overwhelmingly supporting Donald Trump for president, Nebraska farmers and ranchers, as well as the organizations representing their interests, are apparently shocked by and overwhelmingly oppose the implementation of one of his main campaign promises U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (Growing concerns over a NAFTA shake-up, Feb. 4 World-Herald). Its mind-boggling to think it wasnt common knowledge before the election among those whose livelihoods depend on the trade agreement. And now they demand that the rest of us accept everything that this administration does without protest while at the same time they escape any personal responsibility for the decision they made with such gusto. Can someone explain this to me? Jim Regan, Omaha Enforcement or harassment? When I go by a officer clocking vehicle speed on the highway, I often flash my headlights to oncoming drivers to alert them to slow down so as not to get an expensive ticket. As I read the Feb. 7 World-Herald article about a restaurateurs tweeting about possible underage stings, I wondered if I would be considered as committing a crime when I flashed my lights. I thought that I was doing the police a favor by slowing down speeders, kind of what the restaurateur was doing by reminding bartenders to check IDs so as not to serve anyone underage. I remember driving through Kansas long ago. As I approached each small town, there was invariably a sign warning drivers to slow down through town. But once I saw a police car parked a few hundred yards before the town. I hit the brakes and was well within the prescribed limit when I passed the cruiser. It turned out to be a junk car, painted to look like a police car. Ill bet it cost next to nothing and worked every time. It made me wonder whether the job of the police was to give out tickets or trick us into making ourselves behave. Peter Vidito, Omaha Russia, Putin no friends of U.S. Obviously a president needs to get along with world leaders, but for President Donald Trump not to condemn Vladimir Putin and Russia doesnt speak well of him. This is Russia were talking about, where there is no freedom of speech, religion or the press. There is no political democracy. This is Putin, who is responsible for thousands of deaths in Ukraine and for the downing of a commercial airline and who knows what else. This is a person that Donald Trump respects? This is not a reality game show, and Trump isnt a developer who thinks he can say whatever he wants without any repercussions. He needs to show some restraint and not just lash out at whoever disagrees with him, such as calling out a so-called judge just because he put a hold on Trumps travel ban. The president needs to get out of campaign mode and start serving the people. Clark Squires, Omaha Enough with the tweeting, Mr. President Will someone please take President Donald Trumps electronic devices away from him before he destroys all the credibility he has left? Dennis Bruns, Omaha The classy Obamas I watched the inauguration, and, to me, the most impressive aspect was, by far, the graciousness with which the former president and first lady handed over power to a successor with whom they disagree. It was unforgettable. George Bernard Van Haven, Omaha Were they for or against pollution? After reading the Feb. 1 World-Herald article N.D. lawmaker says Army clears the way for pipeline, I found it funny how the people protesting that the Dakota Access pipeline could potentially pollute their water source left behind trash, tents and even cars that will take weeks to clean up. I think this speaks volumes about some protesters who come out just for the publicity and not for the real cause. If they were so concerned about pollution, they wouldnt have left all the trash that they did. Kerry Hanson, Omaha Wednesdays rush-hour snow is already melting, but there is still a 90 percent chance of a campaign blizzard in the forecast. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, who faced criticism over the citys response to a rush-hour snowstorm last year, said Wednesday that the city had dispatched its 110 trucks to plow major streets, along with another 190 contractor trucks in neighborhoods. But former State Sen. Heath Mello, her opponent in the May 9 election, was quick to criticize Stothert as snow snarled the morning commute and frustrated Omaha drivers. Nearly 3 inches fell. In a press release, Mello criticized Stothert for being out of town as public works employees cleared the snow. He also said the response to the snowfall was inadequate. Ive received calls and messages this morning from residents who are frustrated by the slick and dangerous conditions across the city, he said Wednesday in the press release. The mayor promised to send snowplows out, but it must be difficult to dispatch snowplows from an undisclosed location. He referenced the Jan. 19, 2016, rush-hour storm that temporarily closed West Dodge Road near 90th Street and led to intense criticism of the city. Stothert was in California with her husband Wednesday for a birthday trip but said by phone that she was monitoring the situation. (The mayor does not personally dispatch public works vehicles.) Mr. Mello has got to understand technology like cellphones and computers, she said. It doesnt matter if Im sitting up in my office at City Hall, or if Im out of town for a couple days, I remain in constant contact. Snow plowing and other basic city services, such as filling potholes, are often key to mayoral campaigns. Theyre one of the ways that Omahans lives directly come into contact with government. Last year, in the wake of the January storm, the city surveyed residents on their expectations for snow removal. After getting those results, Stothert and the Public Works Department revamped the citys snow plan. Now, contractors begin plowing neighborhood streets earlier during storms and the city begins pretreating streets up to three days before snow begins to fall. The city also hired 16 new public works employees, in part to plow snow, and bought 14 new plows to replace those that were aging. But even with the additional resources, both the mayor and public works officials said snow during rush hour is the most difficult to clear. Assistant Public Works Director Todd Pfitzer noted that snowplows can move only as fast as the cars on the street. A rush-hour storm is our worst nightmare, he said. But Pfitzer said long commutes had nothing to do with Stotherts presence or lack thereof. Weve been plowing snow in this city for 100 years whether the mayor is out of town or not, he said. On Wednesday, drivers reported that commutes that normally take 15 to 30 minutes stretched past two hours. But they offered mixed opinions about whose fault it was. Some, like Nebraska Medical Center communications specialist Sydnie Hochstein, said delays are normal during a rush-hour snow. I dont think anyone is to blame, said Hochstein, who left from Lincoln at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday. Its just the circumstances and the timing of the snow it came right as everyone was going to work. Others, such as Cris Nelson, who spent two and a half hours commuting Wednesday morning, pointed the finger in part at City Hall. This is the second time this has happened, he said. Both times Dodge Street was not cleared. There werent even any accidents to slow up traffic. This was drivers being overly cautious and the road crews not clearing a main artery through the city. Having an all-wheel drive vehicle made no difference. Austin Rowser, Omahas street maintenance engineer, said Omahans should blame the traffic tie-ups on the bad timing of the snow but thank city crews for their efforts. Give some credit to our guys, Rowser said. Theyre working hard away from their families to protect Omahas citizens. According to Stothert, Rowser and Pfitzer, the city did the following to address the snowfall: Public Works employees began working around the clock in 12-hour shifts on Monday. City crews were dispatched about 30 hours before snow began to fall. City contractors were dispatched around 8 a.m. Wednesday to begin plowing residential streets. In all, about 300 vehicles were on the road plowing. Still, roads in the Omaha area were so slick that 30 accidents involving 50 vehicles were recorded between 3 and 9 a.m. No serious injuries were reported. Rowser attributed the difficulty to the fact that the heaviest snow coincided with the rush hour. Mello said he thought the city could have done more. He criticized Stothert for not being in town during the storm, though he declined to say that if elected he would promise to not go out of town during the winter. He asserted that Stothert left the city without a blueprint for snow removal. When informed of the citys lengthy snow plan, Mello questioned its rush-hour provisions, given Wednesday mornings commute and last years Jan. 19 storm. Whatever is in that master plan, he said, its not working when it comes to rush-hour snow removal. He didnt offer specific changes to the snow plan, but he did say that he wants to add live GPS data on snow plows to the citys website. If youre asking a mayoral challenger to come up with an entire snow plan in light of the campaign ... thats a pretty tall order, he said. When I get into City Hall, were going to do things differently. Were going to look at every single process, were going to look at every single procedure, and that obviously includes snow removal. Stothert accused Mello of politicizing the snow issue. A snowstorm during rush hour is particularly challenging, especially like this morning when school is still in session, she said. We appreciate peoples patience and their feedback. The mayor said she was on her way back from California on Wednesday and planned to be back in the office bright and early this morning. World-Herald staff writers Mara Klecker, Jay Withrow and Nancy Gaarder contributed to this report. The latest weather service forecast for the Omaha area: Today: Partly sunny, a high near 30. Light wind. Tonight: Partly cloudy, lows around 25. Friday: Mostly sunny, highs in upper 50s. Friday night: Mostly cloudy, lows in mid 30s. Saturday: Mostly cloudy, highs around 50. Saturday night: Chance of rain/snow mix. Sunday: Mostly sunny, highs in low to mid 40s. Snowfall totals Lincoln 0.2 Omaha/Eppley 2.8 Valley 4.0 Blair 4.0 West Point 5.0 Norfolk 5.0 Neligh 6.5 Oakdale 7.5 Royal 8 Ainsworth 10 Valentine 4.3 inches Yes Bank depositors rush to ATMs but most unable to withdraw cash Can cash cause coronavirus? Should you stop using it Two posing as cops rob Iraqi man of cash, gold in Gurugram RBI to lift cash withdrawal limit on savings accounts from March 13 India ians-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday decided to do away with cash withdrawal limit on saving bank accounts from March 13. The RBI said that it would remove the cap on cash withdrawals from saving bank accounts in two phases. In the first phase on February 20, the withdrawal limit will be raised to Rs 50,000 from Rs 24,000 a week. From March 13 onwards all cash withdrawal limits would be lifted. At present, the weekly withdrawal limit is Rs 24,000 for savings accounts and there is no limit on current account. The limit on current accounts was lifted on January 30. As on January 27, RBI has stated that total currency in circulation was worth Rs 9.92 lakh crore. The Reserve Bank had capped withdrawal limits on ATMs and bank branches following the demonetisation move announced by the government on November 8. This had led to a massive cash crunch and long queues outside banks and ATMs. OneIndia News Why PM Modi has urged everyone to visit Nadabet, the 'Wagah of Gujarat' NCP supremo Sharad Pawar slams Modi, says PM should focus more on weakening economy Congress MPs walk out of RS after Modi's jibe on Manmohan Singh India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer The Congress MPs walked out of Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Referring to corruption and misrule during UPA rule, Modi said Manmohan Singh knows the 'art of taking bath while wearing a raincoat'. Ek bhi daagh nahi laga un par? Bathroom mein raincoat pehen kar nahaane ki kala sirf Dr. saab(MMS) hi jaante hain: PM Modi ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Modi also said his government's war against corruption and black money was not a political fight and said it was meant to empower honest people. "There is no denying that corruption has spread its roots in the society. The biggest sufferers of this parallel economy are the poor whose rights are snatched and the middle class," Modi said during a debate in the Rajya Sabha. Uproar in Rajya Sabha over PM's remark on Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/oqaJeIud6d ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Defending his November 8 decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, Modi said the step was to empower the honest. "Honest forces will not be empowered unless harsh steps are taken against the dishonest. The ultimate beneficiaries of these steps will be the poor. These steps will empower the honest," he said. (OneIndia News with IANS inputs) Contempt against sitting HC judge a first in Supreme Court history India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Feb 8: All eyes will be on the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The apex court is all set to hear a contempt case against a sitting judge of a high court. It's a 'historic' case as this is for the first time when the SC will be dealing with a case pertaining to a sitting judge. A seven-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India JS Khehar will hear the case against Justice CS Karnan, who had earlier lashed out at his colleagues accusing them of corruption. On Wednesday, the bench is likely to issue notices to Justice Karnan and direct him to appear in person. The SC is likely to call upon Justice Karnan of the Calcutta High Court and charge him with obstructing dispensation of justice. Justice Karnan is likely to appear in person and argue the case in the apex court on February 13. Justice Karnan had created a storm after he alleged that he was being targeted because he was a Dalit. He also questioned the collegium of the SC which transferred him from the Madras High Court to the Calcutta High Court. He has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23 accusing a sitting high court judge due for elevation of corruption. Justice Karnan added that the charges levelled by him must be probed. OneIndia News Derailment mastermind unlikely to be deported from Nepal India oi-Vicky By Vicky On Tuesday a key arrest was made in Nepal in connection with the train derailment cases in India. Shamshul Huda considered to be the mastermind of the train derailment cases was picked up in Nepal, but he is unlikely to be deported to India. National Investigation Agency sources that they would send a team to Nepal to question him. Huda's name cropped up following an investigation conducted by the Bihar police. It was revealed that Huda had activated a module in Bihar to trigger train accidents in India. November's Kanpur derailment case is being blamed on this module. [Shamshul Huda: The man who masterminded ISI's terror on tracks] As per information, Huda is said to have been paid Rs 30 lakh by the Inter-Services Intelligence for this operation. He was asked to tell the module in Bihar to trigger blasts on railway tracks. He had allegedly instructed the module to plant a pressure cooker bomb on the tracks. During the interrogation it was said that one Brajesh Giri was the go in-between man. He would pass on the orders to Indian recruits. The original orders would come from Huda, investigations also suggested. Moti Paswan, one of the arrested in the case said that he had reached Kanpur with a gas cutter. "A few hours before the train could arrive, I removed the fish plates (a metal bar that is bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track) and the pandrol clips (used to fasten railway sleepers). Two others -- Mohammad Zubair and Zia-ul -- were with me at the time of the operation," Moti told interrogators. For this operation, a sum of Rs 7.5 lakh had been deposited in Giri's account. "I was paid Rs 50,000 for this operation. I was also told that soon I would be given an SUV and also a flat in Delhi," Moti told the police. OneIndia News As Amma lay in hospital, how AIADMK avoided a split on caste lines Gold Armour row: Paneerselvam, Dinakaran fight it out to win over Thevars in TN Ex-AIADMK minister, music composer come out in support of Paneerselvam India oi-PTI Coimbatore, Feb 8: Former AIADMK minister K Damodaran and Tamil film music composer Gangai Amaran on Wednesday came out in support of caretaker Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, saying he had backing of the people of Tamil Nadu and also that of party workers. Talking to reporters, Damodaran, former agriculture minister, said Paneerselvam managed to successfully solve many problems facing the state in the past two months, after Jayalalithaa's demise. He also succeeded in getting approved some schemes from the Centre by meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. Asserting that he does not want to see a split in AIADMK, Damodaran said support of other MLAs and ministers will depend on their mental preparedness to face party chief VK Sasikala. He said he will go to Chennai to meet Paneerselvam in person. Already an MLA from the city, V A Arukutty, has reportedly met the chief minister at his residence in Chennai. Speaking to reporters near Tirupur, Tamil film music composer, Gangai Amaran said people of the state and party workers were 'wholeheartedly' supporting Paneerselvam. "Paneerselvam has taken a bold step, which other party MLAs and functionaries failed to take," he said. PTI I respect Deepa Jayaram as Jayalalithaa's niece: Panneerselvam India oi-Anusha By Anusha Ravi Chennai, Feb 8: Even as AIADMK MLAs gathered at the party headquarters for a meeting with general secretary Sasikala Natarajan, Panneerselvam addressed the press at his residence. With MLAs Manikkam, V Alexander and Aarkutti and one RS MP Maitreyan for support Panneerselvam has rattled Sasikala's camp. "I will withdraw my resignation if party cadre wants," said Panneerselvam. He added that nobody had the right to remove him from the party post. "We will seek a probe into Amma's death. Doubts about Amma's health are prevalent and hence the government has the duty to probe them. A probe commission will be set up under an SC judge," he added. Panneerselvam rubbished allegations of the revolt being a BJP conspiracy. "Since 1977, I have worked hard and come to this stage in the party," he said refuting allegations of him being power hungry. I will prove my strength in the assembly," he added. He said that he will go to every city in Tamil Nadu to make his point and present his case to the people. "Amma was chief minister for nearly 16 years and I happened to become CM twice. I have always followed Amma's path and will work towards her goals for the people of Tamil Nadu," he said. He assured that he would fulfill his duty without tarnishing Jayalalithaa's name or image. Panneerselvam said that he would meet the governor as soon as he visits Chennai.Speaking on Jayalalithaa's niece further, Panneerselvam said that he would not mind accepting support from Deepa. "I respect Deepa Jayaram as Jayalalithaa's niece," he added. Lashing out at Sasikala Natarajan he sought fresh elections to the post of general secretary. Lashing out at Sasikala, he sought fresh elections to the post of general secretary. "A proper election must be held to elect a General Secretary to replace the current temporary general secretary." AIADMK founding member P H Pandian who stood by Panneerselvam as he addressed the media accused Sasikala of being money minded. "I have to protect Panneerselvam and will do it at any cost. They should not trouble either Pannerselvam or the MLAs. If they do, I will file a complaint against them. All that she (Sasikala) cares about is money and wants to grab power," he alleged. He also added to his Tuesday's statement that doctors administered wrong medication to Jayalalithaa while she was hospitalised. Tamil Nadu political crisis (Live) "Sasikala's rush to become the chief minister is strange. I am forced to speak out since the party is in crisis. People are losing faith in the AIADMK. Just like I was forced to resign, MLAs are being forced to support Sasikala," he said. "Everyone was told that she was recovering. Her death came as a shocker. I was not allowed to see Amma at the hospital even once in 70 days. I suppose the governor was allowed to see her once but no one else was. I cannot comment on speculations over her death and only medical experts can," he said on Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and death. Panneerselvam also claimed that he had much more to disclose but would not leave the party. "I would never defy the party and they used this against me to force me to quit from the chief minister's post. I am an original AIADMK member and I will not quit the party," he said. He was removed from the post of AIADMK treasurer by Sasikala after an emergency meet. Taking a dig at Sasikala who accused of him being in cahoots with the leader of opposition M K Stalin for smiling at him during the assembly session, Panneerselvam said that smiling was no crime. "The difference between an animal and human being is the power of a smile. Only human being smile and animals don't. I do not think smiling is a crime." Panneerselvam thanked his followers and in sheer dissent said that Jayalalithaa had given him the post of treasurer in the AIADMK and none could remove him from the same. It is all out war in Tamil Nadu. While the AIADMK is putting out a united face at present, many are expected to jump camps and extend support to Panneerselvam. By his statements, Panneerselvam has made it clear that the battle has begun and he will fight till the end. OneIndia News Truth has come out, says Sasikala in reaction to OPS's remark before panel Never interfered in medical treatment of Jayalalithaa: Sasikala denies all allegations levelled by panel 'I will be sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister': Sasikala Natarajan India oi-Anusha By Anusha Ravi In her first ever television interview Sasikala Natarajan went all out in her attack against O Panneerselvam. In her interview to network 18, Sasikala called the Tamil Nadu chief minister a traitor. "I outrightly reject Panneerselvam's claims of him being forced to resign," she said. Sasikala claimed that Panneerselvam was a traitor who insulted the party as well as Jayalalithaa's ideologies. Lashing out at critics, Sasikala said that she was willing to fight all odds and treated this as one of the many hurdles that she has faced in life earlier as well. "My party is by my side and we will bring back Amma' s government," she said. Sasikala reiterated that Panneerselvam's claims of being targeted for 'good work' were untrue and that he was fully aware of the party's decisions unlike what he claimed on Tuesday evening. Sasikala breaks down during interview Sasikala broke down when she was asked about Jayalalithaa and her death. Marred by controversies, many have asked for a probe into her death. "I am willing to face any probe. None know the grief I went through when she passed away," Sasikala said. She lambasted the DMK for instigating Panneerselvam to revolt. She accused the party of never working for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. [Also read: Supporters gather outside Panneerselvam's house, pledge support] A confident Sasikala concluded by saying she will most definitely be sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Governor Vidhyasagar is expected to arrive in Chennai on Thursday and meet the MLAs by afternoon . He is expected to put an end to the suspense over the political scenario in the state. Sasikala has also cancelled the plan to send MLAs to Delhi to meet the President. Meanwhile, Panneerselvam has written to banks that he is the treasurer of the AIADMK and that no transactions relating to the party should be done without his consent. [Jayalalithaa was given wrong medicines: Rebel AIADMK leader] OneIndia News In dark UP, voters want eco-friendly solar power to brighten their lives India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Lucknow, Feb 8: In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, power cuts are a regular affair. The problem is so acute that in many places, the residents of the state have to endure 12 to 16 hours of power cuts daily. This has made their lives miserable, especially for farmers and factory owners. As the state is all set to elect members for a new legislative assembly soon, majority of voters want solar power to solve the perennial problem. According to a survey commissioned by 8minutes Future Energy Ltd, a huge chunk of voters have expressed their preference for solar power to deal with electricity crisis. The digital survey has been conducted recently in association with IndiaSpend and FourthLion. Around 87% of voters in UP would opt for solar energy if it helped improve air quality and reduce pollution, stated a report by The Economic Times. The worst affected people by power cuts are women, rural people and Dalits "The survey has revealed that of the 38% of UP voters facing power cuts every day, 58% are women, 59% are rural voters and 61% Dalits," added The Economic Times. Almost half of the urban residents feel that air pollution is causing harm to their health. Around 46% of urban voters said the air they breathe is polluted, compared with 26% of rural voters, revealed the survey. Surprisingly, people belonging to the low income groups are more supportive of solar power than higher income voters. Reason, perhaps because they believe that solar energy could be a lower cost alternative. In fact, the 8minutes announced the survey results on Tuesday after the inauguration of its rooftop solar project at Lucknow's Ambar mosque. Thus the mosque became the first all-women run minority religious institution in the country to go green. Arjun Srihari, head of marketing and partnerships, at 8minutes Future Energy, said, "This rooftop solar project is a great example of how every community can benefit from solar. The entire process of taking either your home or your business solar is extremely quick and simple, and will result in significant financial benefit in terms of the savings on your electricity expenditure." OneIndia News Jaya DA case: Was Ktaka's reminder to pass order timed with Sasikala's elevation? India oi-Vicky By Vicky On Monday, Karnataka made a mention before the Supreme Court that asking for it to pass the order in the Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case. While making the mention, senior counsel Dushyant Dave who appeared for the state of Karnataka reminded the court that order which was reserved in June has not yet been delivered. The timing of this mention is very interesting considering it came just a day after O Panneerselvam resigned as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu paving the way for Sasikala to succeed him. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and two others who were convicted by the trial court were later on acquitted by the high court. Karnataka preferred an appeal in the Supreme Court. The case is very crucial and if the SC upholds the conviction, then Sasikala cannot become the CM. It would also bar her from contesting the elections under the Representation of Peoples' Act. The question now is whether Karnataka timed the mention before the SC or was it a mere coincidence. Let us take a look at what the inside story is. Was the mention in the SC timed: The verdict was reserved in June 2016. In August, Karnataka's legal team discussed mentioning the matter before the Supreme Court seeking an early verdict. It was said that in criminal matters the verdicts are usually delivered in three months time. Although not a rule it was a convention, the team also discussed. However, the decision to remind the SC about the verdict was put off since Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital. Karnataka felt it would be insensitive on its part to rake up this issue at such a time. After two months, when a medical bulletin stating that Jaya was showing improvement in health was put out, Karnataka once again decided to remind the Supreme Court about the verdict. During one of the discussions it was mentioned by one team member that the delay was not good. It was the Supreme Court which after all directed the HC to hear the matter urgently and pass the verdict. Normally appeals come up before the high court after 3 years, but in this case it came up in less than six months and a time when TN was preparing for the elections. The acquittal gave Jayalalithaa the much needed boost and she went on to win the elections and become CM. Just when Karnataka was preparing to make the mention, Jayalalithaa passed away and the decision was yet again put on hold. Sources say that after her death on December 5, Karnataka decided to wait to make a mention as TN was going through a difficult time. Moreover there were vacations too in between which delayed the decision. The source however denied that the decision to make a mention on Monday was timed with the OPS resignation. It may have been a coincidence the source said. It had to be done sometime or the other and hence we decided to do it on Monday, the source further added. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 12:09 [IST] Ready to quit cinema if it becomes hurdle to political career: Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan exhorts people to stop blaming politicians and become 'incorruptible' India oi-PTI Chennai, Feb 8 : The political turmoil in Tamil Nadu has prompted veteran actor Kamal Haasan to exhort people to become 'incorruptible' themselves rather than blaming polticians. In a series of tweets, the 62-year-old actor said the entire country is with the state in the ongoing stand-off between AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and Sasikala. "We've wasted our freedom years gambling our fanchise on wrong & corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them. Lets become incorruptable (sic). Don't break TN in to a country. I promise, All India will fight for TN in a civil war of Ahinsa. None might die but the ignorant will come alive," Haasan tweeted. A political turmoil was triggered in the state after sacked treasurer and Chief Minister Panneerselvam revolted against party general secretary Sasikala, saying she has no powers to sack him as treasurer and she herself was elected on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation faced by the party after Jayalalithaa's demise. Amid the row, 131 MLAs attended Sasikala-chaired meeting to discuss the fallout of the revolt by Panneerselvam. 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 Nuclear security will be a continuing concern: Jaishankar India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia New Delhi, Feb 8: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that nuclear security will be a continuing concern during the inauguration of nuclear security meet 'Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism' organised by Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Atomic Energy in New Delhi. Delhi: Foreign Secy S Jaishankar speaking at Implementation and Assessment Group Meeting of Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism pic.twitter.com/hTTNVY86CK ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 Speaking at the event, Jaishankar said that Negative consequences of atomic power cannot be ignored. World has witnessed immense destructive power of the atom. ''We hope that such horrors will never be repeated &cannot overstate importance of countries with nuclear weapons to be responsible,'' Jaishankar said. He further said that dangers of discriminating among terrorists, good or bad, and even yours and mine, are increasingly recognised. Terrorism is an international threat, that should not serve national strategy and nuclear terrorism even more. ''Developing a comprehensive global response is the highest priority. Comprehensive convention on international terrorism was proposed by India in 1996; hope that it'll be adopted soon,'' he added. OneIndia News Revolt in Tamil Nadu: Sasikala expresses confidence of becoming CM India oi-PTI Chennai, Feb 8: In a dramatic development, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary VK Sasikala alleged that the main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was behind Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's revolt against her and asserted that all the party MLAs were with her and hence there is 'no problem' in her becoming the Tamil Nadu CM. "All the MLAs are there like a single family, so there is no problem," she told reporters at a crowded press meet. This was Sasikala's very first interaction with journalists, albeit at an impromptu press meet in front of her residence at around 1.15 am on Wednesday. Though she had addressed party leaders and MLAs after taking over as party chief in December last, this was her first interaction with journalists. Asked if Panneerselvam, who was removed from the post of party treasurer, would also be removed from AIADMK's primary membership, she asserted, "For sure, we will do it." When asked if she thought that her swearing-in was being delayed by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, though she has been elected leader of the legislature party, she shot back "I feel the same what you feel." In reply to another question, she said "DMK is behind Panneerselvam...the reason is that in the recent assembly session the chief minister and the leader of opposition were looking at each other and laughing together." She denied Panneerselvam's charge that he was coerced to resign, saying, "He was saying what he was told." Sasikala waved the AIADMK two leaves symbol to party supporters gathered outside the residence, smiled, quickly completed the press meet and went back inside. Earlier, Stalin said Panneerselvam's statement that he was coerced to quit was shocking and added that his party may seek convening of the Assembly. "In Tamil Nadu, a situation of a virtual absence of government has arisen, that Sasikala not at all allow him to function has become very clear from the utterances of the chief minister," Stalin said. Bharatiya Janata Party leader H Raja said the governor has many options now. "He can check if the signatures affixed by MLAs voicing support for Sasikala was out of their own volition." He also said that the legality of Panneerselvam's resignation has come under a cloud. Former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss tweeted "Request TN governor to hear each and every MLA's consensus individually before appointing the next CM of TN." PTI Making of Thalaiva : How low-profile Panneerselvam turned into a hero overnight India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Chennai, Feb 8: Till yesterday, O Panneerselvam, Chief Minister in-charge of Tamil Nadu, was seen by electorate across the state as an 'obedient' leader, who always followed the diktats of his bosses (read Late Jayalalithaa and Sasikala Natarajan). The low-profile and quiet Panneerselvam was never seen in public speaking vociferously about any cause. Even when he helmed the affairs of the state on several occasions as the CM, Panneerselvam always kept the picture of Jayalalithaa in his official chair while delivering his duty. Last year, after Jayalalithaa's demise, we saw teary-eyed Panneerselvam carrying a photograph of Jayalalithaa in his pocket during his swearing-in ceremony. Back in 2012, Paneerselvam set tongues wagging when he prostrated himself in front of Amma--as Jayalalithaa is popularly known among her supporters. However, that image of OPS is a history now. Today, he is a man who speaks his mind without any fear. Finally, Panneerselvam, the Thalaiva (Leader), has arrived. And, Tamilains are cheering the occasion loudly. On Tuesday night, we saw how after meditating in front of Jayalalithaa's memorial in Chennai, OPS decided to raise his rebellion against Sasikala Natarajan, the CM in-waiting. A calm and composed OPS told the world how he was forced to relinquish the CM's chair to make way for Sasikala's ascent. The users of social media hailed him as a 'brave' warrior. So, thus the people on streets as supporters of the 66-year-old leader gathered in front of his residence in the city to celebrate the 'revolt' by their 'hero'. One man's revolt against the system or political conspiracy On second thought, the entire dissent displayed by Panneerselvam does not look to be a revolt by an individual. There is more to the political drama than meets the eye. Never in the past OPS has spoken against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or the party's leadership. Recently he gave his resignation as the state's CM without any murmur. So, what is the reason behind his sudden outburst? Is it his 'conscience' or forces at the Centre behind the protest? Why Panneerselvam is BJP's best bet The Bharatiya Janata Party has been trying to gain a foothold in the southern state for some time now. Since the demise of Jayalalithaa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-BJP government is trying to cosying up to the AIADMK. It seems it did not work out in the BJP's favour. Thus when Sasikala was elected as AIADMK legislature party leader, the Centre made sure that her swearing-in ceremony gets delayed. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, in-charge of the state, is missing to administer the oath-taking ceremony of Sasikala. This could be at the behest of the Centre, suggest political pundits. The BJP is waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict on a case of corruption against Sasikala. The court had reserved orders and is likely to pronounce its verdict next week. Many leaders of the BJP have openly opposed Sasikala as the next CM. In such a scenario, the role of the BJP in OPS's rebellion can't be ruled out. OneIndia News SC bars Justice Karnan from judicial work, issues contempt notice India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued contempt notices to Justice C S Karnan, a sitting judge of the Calcutta high court. The SC also directed the judge to be present before the court on February 13 to explain why contempt proceedings could not be initiated against him. The court also withdrew all judicial work from Justice Karnan and asked him to return all files. It is for the first time in history that a contempt case is being heard against a sitting judge of a high court. A seven-judge Constitutional bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, J S Khehar is hearing the case against Justice C S Karnan who had lashed out at his colleagues accusing them of corruption. Justice Karnan had created a storm after he alleged that he was being targetted because he was a Dalit. He also questioned the collegium of the Supreme Court which transferred him from the Madras high court to Calcutta. Justice Karnan had also written to the prime minister on January 23 accusing a sitting high court judge due for elevation of corruption. He also said that the charges leveled by him must be probed. OneIndia News Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth! Tamil Nadu: Heavy rains in several parts of Tamil Nadu in next 2 days Supporters gather outside Panneerselvam's house, pledge support India oi-PTI Chennai, Feb 8: A day after he raised the banner of revolt against VK Sasikala, scores of AIADMK supporters from across the state have been thronging the residential premises of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to express solidarity with him. Several cadres were seen visiting his house at Greenways Road, a prominent location in the city, where several Ministers and government officials stay, since last night. Party cadres have been coming to meet Panneerselvam attired in white shirt and dhoti with a photo of late Jayalalithaa in their shirt pockets. Tamil Nadu: #OPannerselvam surrounded with supporters outside his residence in Chennai pic.twitter.com/v1w3XAHJ6r ANI (@ANI_news) February 8, 2017 They raised slogans hailing 'Amma' (Jayalalithaa) and vowed they will never call anyone as 'chinnamma' (referring to Sasikala). Posters and placards with messages like "Save AIADMK party. Make OPS as CM," donned the area. Another poster read "with blessings of Amma, let's make OPS as the General Secretary." Whenever there was an entry by a prominent person, the supporters would break into slogans "OPS vaazhga, OPS vaazhga" (long live OPS)." AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Maithreyan, former Electricity Minister 'Natham' Viswanathan, actor and director K Bhagyaraj were among those who met Panneerselvam. PTI Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth! Tamil Nadu state IB is unhappy: Can the state afford this crisis? India oi-Vicky Chennai, Feb 8: Tamil Nadu is staring at a political crisis today. While the crisis is likely to drag on for some more time, it would be pertinent to note that being a border it cannot afford to let this problem drag on for too long. When a political crisis had broken out in Arunachal Pradesh, the Intelligence Bureau officials said that some elements from China could use this issue to fuel tension. What is most ironic is that the Inspector General of Police in the state intelligence unit, K S Sathiyamurthy was asked to go on leave at a time there was a change of guard at Fort St. George. Following the death of Jayalalithaa, the state was staring a political crisis in the absence of a successor. However, O However, Panneerselvam, who, like always, has filled that void, but as usual has been temporary. He claims he was forced to step down and make way for Sasikala. The big question now is whether Tamil Nadu can afford to let this political crisis drag on for too long. The ruling AIADMK is split with one set of supporters backing Panneerselvam. What normally happens in such a situation is that the administration slows down considerably and this has an effect on law and order as well. The state IB in disarray With the outbreak of this political crisis there have already been several shake ups in the bureaucracy. The Inspector General of Police in the state intelligence unit, K S Sathiyamurthy has not been attending duty since Saturday after he was told to go on leave. Sheela Balakrishnan, the advisor to the government too quit. Secretaries to the CM, K N Venkataramanan and A Ramalingam too were told to leave. While these are indeed big shake ups, the bigger problem is with the issue regarding Sathyamurthy. The intelligence is a very crucial unit especially in a bordering state. Any shake up of this nature does cause problems and it may be recalled in the United Progressive Alliance days, there was a time that the IB had stopped sharing intelligence with the government over the Ishrat Jahan issue. There is already considerable heart burn in the TN IB. Questions such as was he sidelined are being asked by officers close to him. In such an event, officers close to him are unlikely to take the issue kindly and this is likely to compromise key intelligence sharing. His colleagues say that although he had told them he was going on ten days leave, it is not a routine affair. "Such a senior IB officer cannot go on leave at such a crucial time. There is intelligence that needs to be shared both on the crime and political level. Normally in times of a political crisis, leaves are cancelled, but in this case it is the opposite," a senior Intelligence Bureau official in Delhi informed OneIndia. Field day for anti-social elements Tamil Nadu has had several problems where its borders are concerned. There is a lot of smuggling activity that takes place. The state has been a transit point for drug dealers who move the merchandise to Sri Lanka and South-East Asia. The end of the civil war in Sri Lanka witnessed a rise in heroin smuggling to that country via Chennai. Officials in the NCB say that heroin smuggling is up since the substance is heavily used in Sri Lanka. Drugs smuggled out of TN also make it to countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. While drug smuggling is one issue, there have also been complaints about radicalisation in the state. TN has over the past three years witnessed elements from the Islamic State and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence operating in the state. The ISI has set up shop in Sri Lanka with an aim of opening several modules in Tamil Nadu. The state has been considered as a gateway to the South for the ISI. With the political instability and problems within the IB, there is every chance that elements from the ISI will look to take advantage of the problem. OneIndia News Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth! TN political crisis: Governor to meet Sasikala, OPS ascertains he is still treasurer India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer The political crisis in Tamil Nadu is likely to conclude with the Governor of the state scheduled to meet MLAs of the AIADMK at Chennai on Thursday. After keeping away from the state for three days since the crisis broke out, Governor Vidyasagar Rao will visit Chennai on Thursday to put an end to the crisis. Sasikala Natarajan, who was to visit Delhi and meet with the President, has cancelled her plans after the Governor said that he would be visiting the state. On Thursday, Rao is scheduled to meet with MLAs of the AIADMK. The meeting is likely to take place at 2.30 pm. Rao is also expected to meet with Panneerselvam on Thursday. Meanwhile, O Panneerselvam has ascertained that he is the treasurer of the party. He has written to banks that no transactions relating to the party shall take place without his consent. It may be recalled after his open revolt, OPS had been removed as treasurer of the party. OPS, however, maintained that he is still the treasurer of the party and dashed off a letter to the banks. Panneerselvam who is the care-taker CM of TN said that the ball is now in the court of the Governor. The Governor will do what he has to do and he is no one to advise him. He said that all he was trying to do was echo Jayalalithaa's involvement with the poor section of the society. ['I will be sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister': Sasikala Natarajan] Personally, I think there was a conspiracy, but to clear the confusion regarding her death, I had sought for an inquiry, he also said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 23:19 [IST] UP elections: Challenges galore for GeNext scions India oi-PTI Lucknow, Feb 8: Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will not just be a fight for power, it will also be for inheriting political legacy by the new generation of several leaders cutting across party lines. If the scions of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress -- Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi -- have come together for claiming power through an alliance in the most populous state, there are also sons and daughters of several political bigwigs who will be making an electoral splash this time. Interestingly, many of these debutants also have solid academic backgrounds and have quit promising careers to either pursue family traditions or their heart's call. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestion to senior leaders not to press for tickets for their kin, the Bharatiya Janata Party has given nomination to a fair number of new faces having more established names to take up the contest for government formation in UP. Leading the "son rise" brigade of the saffron party is UP BJP general secretary Pankaj Singh, son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who has been fielded from Noida in place of sitting BJP MLA Bimla Batham. Pankaj (38), an MBA from Amity University, has been active in politics since 2002 and had been in ticket contention since 2007 Assembly election when he was almost set to make his debut from Chandauli, the home town of Rajnath. He has for company Rajasthan Governor and former UP CM Kalyan Singh's grandson Sandeep Singh from the traditional family seat--Atrauli. Sandeep is a post-graduate from the University of Leeds in England. PTI UP polls: Campaign for phase-I ends tomorrow; voting on Feb 11 India oi-PTI Lucknow, Feb 8: The campaigning for the first phase of the high-stake Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will come to an end on Thursday in 73 constituencies spread over 15 districts including riot-scarred Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Polling in these constituencies will be held on February 11. The Bharatiya Janata Party had won just 11 of the 73 seats in 2012, but improved its performance significantly in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The party has gone all out this time to woo the electorate. The saffron brigade was led by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah, both of whom hopped from one venue to another in a race against time. Modi asked people to "rid the state of SCAM - S for Samajwadi (party), C for Congress, A for Akhilesh (Yadav) and M for Mayawati", saying they have to choose between development agenda of BJP and those who give shelter to criminals, indulge in vote bank politics and encourage land and mine mafias. Not to take the comment lying down, Samajwadi Party President and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in his rallies told the electorate that SCAM actually stood for 'Save the Country from Amit Shah and Modi'. Hitting back at Modi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi alleged that one who is in the wrong, sees scam in everything and said "S infact stands for 'service', C for 'courage', A for 'ability' and M for 'modesty'." Both Modi and Shah slammed Congress and Samajwadi Party, saying Rahul ran a campaign against the SP government and wondered as to what happened overnight that they were embracing each other. Taking potshots at Rahul and Akhilesh, the BJP chief said "both are 'khoobsurat shehzade' (good-looking princes) who are out to mislead the public... Mother is fed up with one and father is fed up with the other. How will they help UP? One has looted the country, while the other has looted the state". In his no-holds-barred attack, Shah said, "Congress-SP alliance is an alliance of corruption and criminalisation". Rahul, on the other hand, harped on the issue of note ban and attacked Modi, saying, "Demonetisation has hurt the poor most". There would be a three-cornered fight between BJP, BSP and SP-Congress alliance in UP. Out of the 403 assembly seats, SP would be contesting 298 and Congress the rest 105. PTI How the numbers add up in UP: This is what BJP's win percentage was UP polls: Split in Muslim votes may work as advantage BJP India oi-PTI Lucknow, Feb 8: It is more the merrier for the BJP as whenever the saffron party is challenged by a number of Muslim rivals, a split in votes on communal lines helps turn the tide for its candidates in UP. Going by the past record, BJP was the major beneficiary of division of minority votes and polarisation during polls. While BSP has given ticket to 99 Muslims, SP-Congress are claiming to be the real "sympathiser" of the community to seek their votes. Besides, AIMIM has also fielded its candidates at a few seats. In 2012 polls, there were at least 26 seats where Muslim candiates lost due to division of votes due to fight between them. Among these seats, there were many where the margin of victory was very thin. In Nakud seat of Sahranpur, Dharm Singh Saini of BJP emerged victorious due to division of Muslim votes between Imran Masood of Congress and Firoz Aftab of Samajwadi Party. As Firoz secured over 30,000 votes, Imran lost by about 4,000 votes to Saini. There was an interesting contest on Thana Bhawan seat won by BJP's Suresh Rana, infamous for his alleged role in Muzaffarnagar riots. He scraped through by 265 votes only, while RLD candidate Ashraf Ali Khan and BSP's Abdul Waris secured 53,000 and 50,000 votes respectively. Former BJP state president Lakshmikant Bajpai won Meerut seat due to split in votes among Muslim candidates. Same was the case in Saharanpur City (BJP), Gangoh (Cong), Kairana (BJP), Bijnor (BJP), Noorpur (BJP), Asmoli (SP), Meerut South (BJP), Sikandaraband (BJP), Agra South (BJP) and Firozabad (BJP) seats. PTI Fact Check: Images falsely shared with claim that it is chopper that crashed in Uttarakhand Portals of Gangotri shrine close for winters, devotees can worship at Mukhba village now Anand Mahindra's tweet about UPI at country's 'last tea shop' is every Indian's emotion Uttarakhand: Assets of 60 MLAs double in five years India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Feb 8: Average assets of 60 MLAs contesting the 2017 Uttarakhand polls has nearly doubled in the last five years, registering a jump of over Rs 1.75 crore. According to a report by election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms, average assets of the 60 MLAs jumped to Rs 3.62 crore in 2017 from Rs 1.85 crore in 2012, an increase of 96 per cent. Jaspur MLA Shailendra Mohan Singhal, who joined the BJP from the Congress, saw his assets grow at a massive rate of 1,015 per cent, to reach in excess of Rs 35 crore from Rs 3.19 crore he had declared in 2012. The average assets of 29 recontesting MLAs from the BJP went up to Rs 4.42 crore from Rs 2.39 crore in 2012, a rise of 85 per cent, while the 28 Congress MLAs have seen their assets grow by 105 per cent to reach Rs 2.81 crore from Rs 1.37 crore in 2012. However, five of the recontesting MLAs -- four from the Bharatiya Janata Party and one from the Congress -- saw negative growth of their assets. IANS Know why China does not want a conflict with the US International oi-PTI Sydney, Feb 8: Beijing has played down the prospects of conflict with the United States over the South China Sea in the wake of aggressive rhetoric by Donald Trump's administration, saying both sides would lose. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich region despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. The artificial islands are considered a potential flashpoint and recent comments from White House spokesman Sean Spicer and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have raised the temperature. But Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit to Australia that war would benefit no-one. "For any sober-minded politician, they clearly recognise that there cannot be conflict between China and the United States," he said in Canberra through an interpreter on Tuesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. "Both will lose and both sides cannot afford that." Spicer last month said the US "is going to make sure we protect our interests" in the South China Sea while Tillerson said China's access to the islands might be blocked -- raising the prospect of a military confrontation. Wang said the US-China relationship had defied "all sorts of difficulties" over decades and pointed to more recent statements by US Defence Secretary James Mattis that it was important to give priority to diplomatic efforts, ABC said. After scheduled strategic dialogue talks with Wang, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday said Beijing was keen for a close relationship with the Trump government. "Beijing certainly welcomes a deep engagement with the United States," she told Sky News. "They are looking forward to an era of cooperation, they see opportunity with the new administration to deepen the connections and as he (Wang) said, the United States and China have too much to lose for there to be conflict between them. "My impression was that China is looking forward to engaging positively with the United States," she added. Under President Barack Obama's administration, Washington insisted it was neutral on the question of sovereignty over the South China Sea islets, reefs and shoals. But, while calling for the dispute to be resolved under international law, the US supported freedom of navigation by sending naval patrols through Chinese-claimed waters in a move supported by Canberra. PTI Woman ends 21-year-long marriage over husband's support for Trump International oi-PTI Los Angeles, Feb 8: A 73-year-old woman has separated from her husband of over 20 years after he voiced support for Donald Trump in the run-up to the US presidential polls. Gayle McCormick, a retired California prison guard, said she was shocked last year when her husband Bill McCormick, 77, mentioned during a lunch with friends that he planned to vote for Trump. "I was in shock. It was the breaking point. The Trump issue was the catalyst," she told the People magazine. It was the toughest decision Gayle, who is now living in her own apartment in Washington, said she has ever had to make. "It took us many, many months to make this decision. We went to counselling and saw a priest. This wasn't a snap decision," she said. Gayle, who describes herself as a Democrat leaning toward socialist, met Bill in 1980 while they were both working at the same prison. She said she felt like she had no voice in the relationship. "When things are 51 per cent good and 49 per cent bad, you just stay. I was tired and older and I didn't want to argue and neither of us was going to change," Gayle said. When politics would come up, she would usually walk away, she said. It was only when Trump came up that she knew she could not stay silent. "I just couldn't. I was surprised Bill could agree with Donald Trump on anything," she said. Although Bill ended up not voting for Trump in the election, Gayle knew they still had to separate. "We are just too different. It had more to do with the fact that I had not been true to myself for so long and that I had not stood up for myself for so long. I need to recapture myself," Gayle said. "It's hard and not an easy thing. I love him and I want him to be happy," she said. The news about their separation comes amid stark political divide in the country over President Trump's ban on refugees and visa holders entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries. Several hundred people have protested against President Trump's immigration order. PTI Amit Shah says BJP will ensure jobs in UP Lucknow oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Hathras, Feb 8: BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday addressed a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Sadabad Hathras district ahead of assembly elections. While addressing, Shah said wherever the BJP government has formed in the state, it has always ensured to provide jobs to the youth. In two-and-a-half years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided employment to 8 crore youth across the country. Shah declared in a patronising manner that if his party is voted to power it would provide jobs to the youths and change Uttar Pradesh. He further said that if RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal) wins it will tie up with with Samajwadi Party and Congress. Taking potshots at Rahul and Akhilesh, the BJP chief said the youth have faced injustice in the name of religion and caste in the state. Praising the Modi government at the Centre, Shah urged the people of UP to vote for change so that the destiny of the state takes a new shape. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 14:22 [IST] 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that personal data collected by the Bureau of Consular Affairs from Taiwanese citizens traveling abroad and sent to the ministry's overseas offices through an email system may have been hacked, after irregularities were found recently within the email system. by Graham Pierrepoint In an age where political fatigue appears to have set in for many people on both sides of the Atlantic the election of Donald Trump in the US and the Brexit referendum result largely being to blame for this last year humor has quickly become the go-to bastion of support that many people who voted against either of these big changes have flocked to in the past few months. Facebook, Twitter and more have erupted in tongue-in-cheek memes and viral jokes, showing that while some people may argue that satire died the day Trump got elected, laughing about a situation still very much holds its merits. It appears, however, that even UK prime Minister Theresa May is joining in on a joke regarding Trump that has been doing the rounds since the President first started his election campaign almost two years ago. The media and the online community have, in varying numbers, made jokes relating to the size of the US Presidents hands with some photos even claiming that he had an image where he was accompanying former President Barack Obama manipulated to increase their size. Trump, according to these jokes, has small hands and while this is clearly a case of subjective opinion, May appears to have cheekily waded into the fray with a comment made at a fundraiser this week. The event the Black and White Ball, an annual occasion where funds are raised for the Conservative Party saw the Prime Minister advise the crowd I dont think I have received such a big hand since I walked down the colonnade at the White House. Its thought that May is referring to famous pictures where she was snapped holding hands with the new President in a walk during her recent visit to the US. The joke, if intended, is a brave one as Trump has famously fought against jibes about his hands from political opponents and more besides on previous occasions. Trump, too, has famously taken on anyone in the mainstream through his Twitter account could May be in the firing line for some Trumpian wit? May and Trumps special relationship as the camaraderie between the heads of the UK and US have come to name it will be tested over their first year on either side of the Atlantic. Will it be a relationship that weathers the storms that could be set to come? We will have to wait and see. SOHH 17 Jun 2022 In 1999, R&B Diva Mariah Carey spoke out against media bias regarding her as a songwriter. Today, she leads the 2022 class of.. BANG Showbiz 31 Oct 2022 Julia Roberts says the late Martin Luther King Jr and his wife Coretta Scott King paid the hospital bill for her birth. Wales Online 27 Oct 2022 "Hopefully this approach will be able to help other patients who are otherwise inoperable with standard techniques" Rudy Boesch, who was on the debut season of 'Survivor' has died ... TMZ has learned. Rudy was the retired Navy SEAL who had an.. TMZ.com 02 Nov 2019 From Christen Thomson, Citigate Dewe Rogerson: Reading some of the mainstream financial press, you would be forgiven for thinking that the hedge fund business model is dead. One august news organisation headlined one particularly gloomy story, "The Golden Era of Hedge Funds Draws to a Close With Clients in Revolt". The media narrative is of industry contraction, investor redemptions and poor performance (derived from misleading comparisons between hedge fund indices and equity indices). It is undoubtedly the case that the hedge fund industry faces a highly challenging external environment, characterised by scrutiny, hostility and negativity. However it is worth considering the underlying "mega-trends" that are really driving the hedge fund industry "institutionalisation, globalisation, regulation and retailisation. Let's take institutionalisation first. The biggest post-crisis trend in the hedge fund industry globally has been that the new money coming in has been very largely institutional, typically from pensions, endowments and sovereigns, while much of the high net worth money has left the industry. That has meant that the overall balance of assets under management has gone from being roughly 50-50 high net worth/institutional pre-crisis to a big majority institutional now. That has been a game-changer for the industry. It has meant that the industry has had to become much more institutional itself "in terms of operational infrastructure, risk managemen...................... To view our full article Click here Matthias Knab, Opalesque: RCM Alternatives writes on Harvest Exchange: Despite no snowfall since Mid-December in Chicago, we witnessed a solid eight of nine days straight with the sun nowhere to be found. In its midst, we set off for the Sunshine State to warm Miami, where MFA and Context Summit took place one right after the other. It seems Florida in February is a great time to have a conference and there was definitely a great show from people from all different parts of the industry. Here are some of the highlights from the likes of Ed Shim of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, Trent Webster of the Florida State Board of Administration, Brian Hurst of AQR, Adam Duncan of Cambridge, Jonathan Miles of Wilshire, Christopher Solarz or Cliffwater, Herman Laret of Titan Advisors, Jackie Rosner of KKR Prisma, Andrew Bound of Tudor, Nick Granger of Man AHL, and Michael of Harris Campbell. On Global Macro trading: It remains a crowded space, with many more players these days. Macro is no doubt struggling of late, and a result is that macro is under-represented in investor portfolios. Macro managers seem to be struggling to deploy risk, even though their "price" in terms of fees, minimums, etc. remains the same. Has institutional investor desire for low volatility forced macro managers to ha...................... To view our full article Click here Opalesque Industry Update - William Heard, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Heard Capital LLC, announced today that Michael Warren, Managing Principal of Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) in Washington, D.C., will join the Heard Capital LLC Board of Advisors. As ASG Managing Principal, Mr. Warren is chief executive of the global firm, responsible for overall strategic direction, growth and management. "I'm honored by Michael's demonstration of confidence in Heard Capital by joining the Board of Advisors," said William Heard. "Michael's expertise at the intersection of global financial markets, geopolitics and broader policy implications will be a tremendous asset to our firm. In our rapidly changing world where uncertainty breeds opportunity, there could not be a better time to welcome Michael to our Board of Advisors I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead." "In its five plus years in a rather perilous environment, Heard Capital has built a remarkable track record generating solid risk-adjusted returns for investors," said Michael Warren. "I believe in William's long term vision and work ethic and am eager to help Heard Capital continue to succeed and grow globally." ASG is the premier global strategic advisory and commercial diplomacy firm, with offices and affiliates based in more than two dozen countries around the world. Mr. Warren is a Trustee of the District of Columbia Retirement Board, DC's public pension fund, where he served two terms as Chairman and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Investment Committee. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Commonfund, a Connecticut-based institutional investment firm that manages $24 billion in assets. In 2010, Mr. Warren was appointed by President Obama to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. development finance institution, where he chairs the Audit Committee. During the first term of the Obama Administration, Mr. Warren served as Senior Advisor in the White House Presidential Personnel Office, overseeing the appointments process for the economic agencies in the U.S. Government. He was also a member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition as co-lead for the Treasury and Federal Reserve agency review teams. Opalesque Industry Update - A former UK Foreign Office official has warned the City's financial services sector that any carving out of a sector-based agreement as part of a post-Brexit trade deal is likely to be seen as 'cherry picking' and unacceptable to the European Union's remaining member states. In an address to more than 300 financial services practitioners, FTI Consulting's Louise Harvey OBE said the third country regime which allows outside jurisdictions to place financial products into the EU was never intended to deal with an external player the size of London. "For a situation like Brexit where potentially the majority of all services would come from a country that is not a member state, that is not an attractive option for the EU 27 The only solution that could potentially take into account all those issues and sensitivities would be a bespoke deal for financial services," said Ms Harvey. Bespoke financial services trade deal could be considered cherry picking and unacceptable "However, a bespoke financial services trade deal could be considered cherry picking and therefore difficult for the EU 27 to accept as they will want to negotiate a broad, horizontal free trade agreement." She said such a co-operative framework would need to address supervisory co-operation, even contributions to EU regulatory bodies, on-site inspections, the ability to impose sanctions, data flows and agreement on treatment of cross-border financial activity. Ms Harvey pointed to the Guernsey financial services sector as having a 'head start' in this regard. It already had third country status, was small but valuable enough to maintain equivalence with EU regulation and could 'offer a welcome status of independence during these uncertain times. You need to blow your trumpet about this," she said. The Brussels-based businesswoman told the Aldersgate audience at the Guernsey Funds Masterclass that she did not subscribe to the idea that the EU wanted to punish the UK but added it would be a mistake to think Brexit was primarily about EU economics, rather than politics. "The UK had a reputation for being the 'awkward squad', but its contribution was also recognised as a counterweight to the Franco-German alliance and a 'big' member state around which other smaller member states with similar liberal, free market leanings could gather," said Ms Harvey. As a result, all EU member states now have or are setting up their own Brexit units, and they will be fighting for the home team, their own countries, as much as the EU collective. "The view amongst our EU partners was that in light of the current political landscape and crises Europe was facing, the Brits chose a very bad moment to have a collective nervous breakdown about their membership of the EU," she said. Ms Harvey concluded her keynote speech by saying talk of a rapid UK-US trade deal was premature as 'no amount of flag-waving can or will make up for the sheer technical challenges facing both sides.' The event, which was titled 'Fundraising in the post-Brexit world' was hosted by Guernsey Finance in conjunction with the Guernsey Investment Fund Association. It was sponsored by Carey Group, Mourant Ozannes, Ogier and Trident Trust. From Paul Craig Roberts Website Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin (Image by abc.net.au) Details DMCA If you want to be an American TV talking head or a Western presstitute, you are required to be braindead and integrity-challenged like Bill O'Reilly, CNN, MSNBC, and the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and all the rest. In an interview with President Donald Trump, O'Reilly said: "Putin is a killer." O'Reilly is indifferent to the fact that thermo-nuclear war is a killer of planet Earth. For O'Reilly, President Trump's desire to normalize relations with Russia is an indication that the President of the US is comfortable making deals with killers, as if America's last three presidents have not been mass killers comfortable with their destruction in whole or part of many countries and millions of peoples. President Trump's response to O'Reilly's was: "We've got a lot of killers. What do you think -- our country's so innocent?" The only thing wrong with President Trump's response is that it implicitly accepts that Putin is no different from Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Yet there is no evidence that Putin is a "killer." This accusation is an assertion from those who prosper from having a "Russian threat" to keep the money and power flowing to themselves. As Finian Cunningham shows, Trump should have reprimanded O'Reilly for his unsupported and undiplomatic accusation against the president of a country with which President Trump hopes to restore normal relations. President Trump's statement of an obvious fact was quickly branded "defense of a killer" by congressional Republicans, Hillary Democrats, the liberal, progressive, left-wing, and the Western presstitutes. Even online sites, such as politico.com, jumped in to criticize "Donald Trump's defense of Vladimir Putin's homicidal history." Allegations of "Putin's homicidal history" are astonishing after 24 years of Washington's genocide against Muslins in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, and Syria, and non-Muslims in Yugoslavia and the Russian regions of Ukraine. Washington ranks as one of the worst mass murderers in human history, but the Western presstitutes brand Putin as the one who is homicidal. Listen to these members of Congress who represent Americans in Washington: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, Ky) said referring to the thrice elected President of Russia: "He's a thug." McConnell has gone along with Washington's mass murder of peoples for 15 years, and this accomplice to mass murder said that Washington's murder of countless millions, which have sent refugees all over the Western world, are not evidence against America. In his response to Trump's statement, McConnell actually said: "We don't operate in any way the way the Russians do. I think there's a clear distinction here that all Americans understand, and I would not have characterized it that way." The Republican senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, said: "We are not the same as Putin." Of course we aren't. We are mass murderers. The Republican senator from Nebraska, Ben Sasse, said, and this is a level of ignorance hard to believe even for Americans, that "Putin is an enemy of political dissent. The U.S. celebrates political dissent and the right for people to argue free from violence about places or ideas that are in conflict [as at Cal Berkeley]. There is no moral equivalency between the United States of America, the greatest freedom loving nation in the history of the world, and the murderous thugs that are in Putin's defense of his cronyism." The Wall Street Journal's Bret Stephens said: "Trump puts US on moral par with Putin's Russia. Never in history has a President slandered his country like this." No Bret, you have it backwards. No US president has ever slandered Russia like this. There is no moral equivalency between Washington and Moscow. Washington is totally devoid of all morality. Russia is not. It is not Russia that has murdered, maimed, and displaced peoples in at least nine countries in the last 15 years, sending refugees all over the Western world, some of whom no doubt bear legitimate grudges. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Counterpunch Why is the Trump administration threatening Iran? On February 1, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn announced that the administration was "putting Iran on notice" after it tested a ballistic missile which the US sees as a violation of Iran's treaty obligations. Flynn's frigid tone made it clear that the administration is considering the use of military force. But why? Under current UN resolutions (Resolution 2231), Iran is forbidden "to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons." Read that over again. Iran is not forbidden from testing "all ballistic missiles" just missiles that are "capable of delivering nuclear weapons." The resolution could not be clearer. There's no gray area here, none at all. Flynn is just fudging the resolution's meaning, so he can rattle a saber. But, why? And why are other members of the administration, including the president himself, making equally belligerent remarks? In a tweet last week, Trump said, "I won't be as 'kind' to Iran as Obama" which was followed by a speech by US Defense Secretary James Mattis who called Iran "the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world." What's going on? Why the full court press against Iran? And how are these threats consistent with Trump's campaign promise to avoid pointless confrontations abroad? Here's an excerpt from a speech Trump delivered in Cincinnati on December 1: "We will pursue a new foreign policy that finally learns from the mistakes of the past...We will stop looking to topple regimes and overthrow governments... Our goal is stability not chaos ...In our dealings with other countries, we will seek shared interests wherever possible and pursue a new era of peace, understanding, and good will." Where is the "peace, understanding, and good will" towards Iran? There doesn't seem to be any. This is the same incendiary rhetoric we're heard from every US administration dating back to the Iranian Revolution in 1979. But, why? Isn't the problem the same as it was with Iraq, Libya, Syria and every other country the US has either toppled or tried to topple in the last 65 years? Of course it is. Washington abhors any country that conducts its own independent foreign policy or resists US attempts to install its own puppet government. With Iran, the problems run even deeper since Iran sits on a vast ocean of oil and natural gas to which the western oil giants feel they are entitled. They think the oil is theirs and they expect Washington to help them expropriate it. Washington wants to return Iran to the glory days of the Shah, an era in which the USG had a trusted ally in Tehran who would follow its directives, crush the domestic opposition, and preserve the privatization-model of oil production. It's worth noting that the Shah was installed in a CIA coup that triggered a nearly 40-year reign of terror for which the US is entirely responsible. Here's a short except from The Harvard Crimson that will help readers to understand the horror Washington unleashed on the Iranian people to achieve its foreign policy objectives: "The Shah systematically dismantled the judicial system of Iran and the country's guarantees of personal and social liberties... Nearly every source of creative, artistic and intellectual endeavor in our culture was suppressed. "The SAVAK conducted most of the torture, under the friendly guidance of the CIA which set up SAVAK in 1957 and taught them how to interrogate suspects. Amnesty International reports methods of torture that included 'whipping and beating, electric shocks, extraction of teeth and nails, boiling water pumped into the rectum, heavy weights hung on the testicles, tying the prisoner to a metal table heated to a white heat, inserting a broken bottle into the anus, and rape...' "The Shah greatly expanded the military and turned it against his own people. With newfound oil wealth the Shah bought $2C million of U.S. arms. The U.S. military trained Iranian officers. Despite claims that a strong army was needed to prevent external aggression, its real purpose became clear when the army murdered more than 50,000 Iranians fighting the Shah... The number of students tortured, lost or murdered is unknown." ("Life Under the Shah," The Harvard Crimson) This is America's legacy in Iran: "Whipping, beating, electric shocks, extraction of teeth, boiling water pumped into the rectum, and rape." This is how the exceptional nation exported democracy to Iran. The US has never tried to make amends for the suffering or death it inflicted on the Iranian people, nor have its crimes ever been prosecuted at an international tribunal, nor has there ever been any talk of monetary reparations. Instead, the US has done everything in its power to further isolate and punish Iran for resisting Washington's savage intrusion into their affairs. For many years, Washington has justified its cruelty by claiming that Tehran was developing nuclear weapons that would endanger the region and the world. As it happens, there's no evidence that Iran ever had nuclear weapons program, it's all a hoax concocted by the political class and their allies in the media. Here's a quote that sums up the "Iran nukes" fable in one short paragraph: Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. There isn't an easy, kind, or right way to open this conversation with people that have stood up for the rights of people worldwide as well as on the home front for decades. Any and every starting point seems wrong. Since there is no good starting point, let's go to the honest one. The current political climate be damned. How are 25% of American voters, the percentage that voted for Hillary, now a protesting majority? What's the makeup of that 25%? Do all of them care about women's, human, or civil rights? These questions aren't as difficult to answer as the truth will be to hear, especially for progressives. I'm going to show why the best-qualified candidate Bernie Sanders never stood a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected to the US presidency. To get there, look at the simple math, which shows that if Sanders had got the nomination, we might be looking at President Romney today. In early June 2016, I started writing about real voting blocs that have the size to shape national politics. The simple math works like this. Out of 231,556,622 eligible voters, 25.6% voted for Clinton, and 25.5% voted for Trump. This is the final voter percentage tallies. Out of the eligible voter pool, if we take 13% (low conservative reckoning) for the combined emigre bloc vote, their contribution is 30,102,360 bloc votes. Not shown at the CEEC link are the Middle Eastern, South and Central American, Russian, or the Asian portions of the emigre bloc. These articles show the background of the groups and how they work together en-bloc. I wrote them back then for today. [1 ] [2 ] [3 ] [4 ] [5 ] [6 ] [7 ] [8 ] Out of Hillary Clinton's total count of 65,844,610 votes, the emigre bloc made up 45% because 92,622,648 Americans didn't cast their ballot. Keep that last figure in mind for later. In real terms, 13% became 45% because of low voter turnout. The emigre bloc percentage is based on total eligible voters (231,556,622) and the bloc number didn't change. When the real vote total was known, it could be measured against the bloc. The value of the votes in the bloc skyrocketed with low turnout. The reason Bernie Sanders did not have a snowball's chance in hell is the combined emigre bloc vote. Bernie should have been a shoo-in for them. His father is Galician. Galicia is the still-disputed land between Poland and Ukraine, including the regional capital of Lviv. He claims Polish ancestry, and that is the true nationality, border or no border. Both emigre groups claim to support Polish and Ukrainian people. He was the natural candidate for them except for one thing. Until the fall of the Soviet Union, these groups were known as the anti-communist emigres. They are the children of groups that manned Hitler's SS. The problem with Sanders is he calls himself a socialist. He was not electable as long as this type of bloc vote exists. If Sanders got the nod to run in the general election, a deal would have been cut for a new Republican candidate at the convention. If you look back, things started to shape up that way. The only thing a nationalist hates worse than an enemy outside his country, is the enemy within. For an anti-communist and nationalist, there is no greater enemy than a socialist. Progressive's have already forgotten how Sanders was derailed. Most progressives don't realise that, very directly, it WAS the emigre community that did it. Even after seeing Propornot, progressive, libertarian, and conservative publications are spewing the memes created by these same people that put them on lists to be hacked, isolated, and eventually shut down. It began when journalists started questioning the Syria narrative and support for ISIS. Did the "Berners" make any change to the Democratic party? "It is very concerning that Bernie Sanders is so intent on taking over a party that he's not even a member of that he'd insult the beloved vice president -- and really the president -- about a failed status-quo approach," said Texas Democratic chairman Gilberto Hinojosa." Was Sanders ever a viable candidate for the Democratic Party? Was he ever treated like one? Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Mike Malloy Website What a crazy news cycle, Truthseekers. The Falcons loss on Sunday was depressing enough, and now we have Jesus freak Betsy DeVos heading the Dept. of Education, Trump admitting to Bill "50 Ways to Love Your Loofa" O'Reilley that the US government is just a bunch of killers, insulting another Federal judge, and accusing the "dishonest" press of ignoring real terrorist plots. Maybe he's just pissed because the "dishonest" press is covering the imaginary terrorist attacks invented by Kellyanne Conway, like the Bowling Green Massacre. Trump is right about one thing, the media is ignoring serious terrorist threats against the US, many of them plotted by religious extremists. Only these are planned by domestic terrorists. American citizens who seek to massacre gays, liberals, Planned Parenthood employees, blacks, Jews, and various other minorities, and the media is not, in fact, giving them adequate representation. This is the subject of an excellent article in the Daily Beast by Dean Obeidallah: "A trial began in federal court on Monday of a radical religious cleric who allegedly plotted to kill Americans of another faith to prove his 'commitment to our God.' Why haven't you heard about this, you might be asking? Could it be as Donald Trump claimed Monday that the 'dishonest media' is not covering all 'radical Islamic' terrorist plots? "No, the actual reason is that the man on trial in a Tennessee federal district court is not Muslim. Rather he's self-professed Christian minister Robert Doggart. If he were Muslim, we would of course have heard of his sinister plot. But as we have seen time and time again, terrorist plots by non-Muslims are met with a collective yawn by most in our media. "Undercover FBI agents allege that Doggart was plotting to travel to upstate New York to kill Muslims there using explosives, an M-4 assault rifle and even a machete to cut the infidels to shreds. The FBI's investigation also found that Doggart viewed himself as a religious 'warrior' who wanted to kill Muslims to show to his commitment to his Christian God. Doggart even boasted that the attack on the Muslims 'will be cruel. And we will burn down their buildings [Referring to their mosque and school]... and if anybody attempts to harm us in any way... we will take them down.' "This man sounds no different from an ISIS terrorist wanting to kill people of other faiths in accordance with their own perverted interpretation of their religious faith. "My hope was that by the time Doggart's case finally went to trial, the media might cover it. But that didn't happen. In fact a Google news search of 'Robert Doggart' within 24 hours of the first day of his trial came back with only one story, that being from a local Tennessee media outlet with an article titled, 'Tennessee man with plans to attack a Muslim community appears in court.' "The double standard of how Muslim versus non-Muslim terror plots are treated was made even more acute by Trump's speech on the very day Doggart's trial began, when he claimed that the 'dishonest media' didn't cover radical Islamic terrorism. Is Trump actually suggesting that Muslims have killed Americans in terror plots on U.S. soil and our media ignored it? These stories are ratings gold for cable news." The media loves Trump, are you kidding? Especially broadcast media, which is experiencing a rating bonanza since Trump first announced his presidential intentions. That's what makes Trump's anti-press accusations so laughable, they are responsible for legitimizing his candidacy in the first place! Had they correctly identified him as a baffoon poser with the tang of Birther madness surrounding his golden coif, he wouldn't have survived to the first debate. Without the media's wholehearted support, Trump would've gone done in history as a trust-fund-baby billionaire-cum-reality TV star with a slew of sleazy kids, broken marriages, shady universities, stripper-filled casinos, a penchant for pussygrabbing, and obsession for incontinent Russian hookers. Now he's the President instead. Even when the talking heads decry his constitution-eroding policies, they are funneling an endless stream of free publicity into his pudgy little hands. Yeah, the media hates Trump like Chris Christy hates Krispy Kreme. Justice Harold Burton recalled from a 1957 meeting with President Eisenhower that the President said his two biggest mistakes were sitting on the Supreme Court: Justices Earl Warren and William Brennan. Both were Republicans. Warren was the governor of California who participated in the detention of Japanese Americans during World War II. Brennan was appointed to New Jersey Supreme Court by Republican Governor Alfred Driscoll. Brennan was not a liberal on New Jersey's highest court. Justice David Souter, appointed by George H.W. Bush, and Harry Blackmun, appointed by President Nixon, turned out to be liberals. Byron White, appointed by John F. Kennedy, turned out to be much more conservative than expected. The first point is that once on the Supreme Court, justices can go on their own path. The second point is that judges with slim records, like Judge Gorsuch, are not easy to predict. Liberal Signs Gorsuch lives in the ultra-liberal college town of Boulder, Colorado. He also teaches at the University of Colorado's law school, also a progressive bastion, and is supported in his quest for the Supreme Court by most of the faculty and students there. Gorsuch is also a member of the St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder. The Episcopal Church has embraced very liberal positions on a variety of issues, including performing same-sex commitment ceremonies since the 1980s and eventually same-sex marriages. At church, he often hears a very liberal point of view. Mike Orr, a spokesman for the Episcopal Church in Colorado, described Gorsuch's church as a congregation that "does a lot of social justice and advocacy." He said, "It's a healthy and vibrant congregation. It's very diverse in its congregants as well as its ministry." The first word that St. John's uses to describe itself on its website and Facebook page is "inclusive," and the church is led by a female rector. On its website, the church encourages members to write letters to Congress asking for actions addressing climate change. Judge Gorsuch has heeded that action, by affirming Colorado's clean-energy law (discussed below). Cases Judge Gorsuch sided with an Albuquerque middle schooler who was strip-searched by his school, dissenting while his colleagues ruled that the school, police officer and other employees were immune from lawsuits. Judge Gorsuch cited in a brief, colorful dissent, "Oliver Twist," in which a judge admonishes Mr. Micawber that the law thinks a man should control his wife. Micawber responds: "If the law thinks that, then the law is a ass, a idiot." Gorsuch concluded: "Often enough the law can be 'a ass -- a idiot,' Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist 520 (Dodd, Mead & Co. 1941) (1838) -- and there is little we judges can do about it, for it is (or should be) emphatically our job to apply, not rewrite, the law enacted by the people's representatives. Indeed, a judge who likes every result he reaches is very likely a bad judge, reaching for results he prefers rather than those the law compels. So it is I admire my colleagues today, for no doubt they reach a result they dislike but believe the law demands -- and in that I see the best of our profession and much to admire. It's only that, in this particular case, I don't believe the law happens to be quite as much of a ass as they do. I respectfully dissent." Judge Gorsuch's opinion in this case was published six months ago. He does not sound very conservative in this dissent. Judge Gorsuch wrote an opinion upholding a Colorado clean-energy program against a challenge alleging it would hurt coal producers from out of state. Colorado law requires electricity generators to ensure that 20% of the electricity they sell to Colorado consumers comes from renewable sources. Gorsuch upheld the liberal legislation of the Colorado legislature that was challenged by the Energy and Environment Legal Institute, a conservative, anti-environment organization. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From Robert Reich Blog With congressional Republicans in the majority in Congress and unwilling to cross Donald Trump, the job of containing Trump's incipient tyranny falls to three centers of independent power: the nation's courts, its press, and a few state governments. Which is why Trump is escalating attacks on all three. The judiciary After federal Judge James Robart -- an appointee of George W. Bush -- stayed Trump's travel ban last Friday, Trump leveled a personal attack on the judge. "The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" Trump tweeted Saturday morning. This was followed by another, late Sunday night: "Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system." For a President to personally attack a federal judge who disagrees with him is a dangerous overstepping of presidential power. As Alexander Hamilton famously wrote in the Federalist No. 78, the judiciary is the "least dangerous" branch of government because it has "no influence over either the sword or the purse." It depends for its power and legitimacy on congress and the president. Mike Pence tried to defend Trump, saying "the president of the United States has every right to criticize the other two branches of government. And we have a long tradition of that in this country." Wrong. While other presidents have publicly disagreed with court decisions, none before Trump has gone after individual judges with personal invective. None has tried to intimidate individual judges. None has questioned the legitimacy of the courts. Trump is on the warpath against Robart because he defied Trump. The press Speaking to the U.S. Central Command on Monday, Trump veered off his prepared remarks to make a remarkable claim: The media was intentionally covering up reports of terrorist attacks. "You've seen what happened in Paris, and Nice," Trump told the assembled military officers. "It's gotten to a point where it's not even being reported. And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that." Trump thereby elevated his adviser Kellyanne Conway's "Bowling Green massacre" justification for his travel ban -- a massacre that she claimed the press had failed to cover, but which in fact never occurred -- to a higher and vaster level of conspiracy. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The parent company of Certas Energy, the Irish conglomerate DCC plc, has reached agreement to buy Essos retail petrol station network in Norway for NOK2.43bn (235m). The network is the third largest in Norway with approximately 20% of retail volumes. It comprises 142 company-operated sites (127 retail service stations and 15 unmanned stations) and has contracts to supply 108 Esso-branded dealer owned stations. Esso Retail Norway sells about 600mlpa of fuel annually. The majority of the stations are in the more populous south of the country and, of the 142 company-operated sites, 110 are held freehold, with 32 being leasehold. As part of the transaction DCC Energy will enter into long-term brand and supply agreements. Since December 2015, the convenience retail element of the company-operated sites has been operated by NorgesGruppen, the largest grocery retailer and wholesaler in Norway, under a long-term agreement. NorgesGruppen have been rolling out its Deli de Luca retail concept across the network. Esso Retail Norway will be integrated into DCC Energys retail IT and operating infrastructure. This infrastructure was developed during 2015 to enable DCC Energys integration of the Esso France retail business. It was designed to be scalable and facilitate a hub and spoke operating model, where key pricing, supply and back office functions can be operated remotely from an operations centre near Dublin, Ireland, enabling the management of the business in conjunction with local management teams. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, and is expected to complete in the final calendar quarter of 2017. Tommy Breen, chief executive of DCC plc, said: The acquisition of Esso Retail Norway is another material step for DCC in building its retail petrol station business in Europe. From a modest position three years ago, DCC Energy will, following completion, operate over 1,000 retail petrol stations and is ambitious to continue this development. The acquisition is consistent with our aim to operate world-renowned retail fuel brands and be an excellent partner for oil majors. Meditation (Image by Moyan_Brenn) Details DMCA In 2003, after President George W. Bush and his henchmen led us into an ill-advised, immoral, and illegal war in Iraq, I wrote a piece about how we can each make a difference even in dark and challenging times. Merely substitute "Donald Trump" for "George Bush" and "ISIS" for "Osama bin Laden," and my essay is highly relevant today. Around three decades ago I traveled from Tennessee to Washington, D.C. to join a protest against the war in Vietnam. My housing had been prearranged; the group I was traveling with would be staying with a family of Quakers. The weather that weekend in November tested our resolve: bone-chilling temperatures and a strong wind out of the north. Nonetheless, we marched, we sang, half a million strong we came together confidently in common cause. Late on the final day of that weekend, my brother-in-law, Johnny, and I found ourselves with a group of militant activists at the Justice Department. I was caught up in the excitement of the moment--until the D.C. police started discharging tear gas canisters into the crowd. We beat a hasty retreat, doing our best, but failing, to avoid the asphyxiating gases around us. Later, as I sat excitedly recounting the tale of the confrontation, I noticed a troubled glance from the elderly man whose hospitality we were enjoying, not disapproving, but gravely concerned. Years later I would remember that expression as I read the words of Marianne Williamson: I am of a generation which thought that we could bring peace to the world, and we didn't think it mattered if we ourselves were angry. What we learned is that an angry generation cannot bring peace. Sometimes I'm certain that the apocalypse is upon us. My delusional president and his Mayberry Machiavellis continue shipping other folks' kids (but certainly not their own) to Iraq to kill for peace even as things spin out of control there. The airwaves are awash with politicians who claim they care about you and me, but most only seem interested in advancing their political careers. Elected officials of both political parties dole out billions in corporate welfare while company officers make out like bandits and ship jobs overseas. The Patriot Act, passed after 9/11, is supposed to protect us from terrorists, yet many fear it leads us down the slippery slope toward fascism. The Asian Brown Cloud, an enormous haze of pollution two miles thick and seven times the size of India, is hovering over southern Asia, and the lives of millions are threatened. Eight hundred million people around the world go to bed hungry each night, and 24,000 die. Seventy-eight million acres of rain forest are destroyed annually, and 50,000 plant and animal species become extinct. The United States spends over two and one-half billion dollars every day on the military while one of every five children in the U.S. lives in poverty. Similar to the Titanic, our planet is rapidly approaching its "iceberg," our physical limits to growth, yet our elected leaders seem content to merely rearrange the chairs on the deck. What then can we do to keep a level head and a loving heart in the midst of all this madness? How can we hope to bring about a more compassionate, just and sustainable world? For sometimes the temptation is great to turn away, to proclaim there is nothing that one person can do, to become cynical, to go into denial about the need to do anything, to go back to sleep. But once we have awakened, is unconsciousness ever really an option? I believe that each of us comes into the world utterly whole, inherently worthy, entirely blameless. And I believe that each of us, as we mature and become more conscious, deeply longs to make a positive difference in the world. Now, we may lose sight of that along the way. One may come to believe that the road to fulfillment is through the accumulation of lots of stuff--a fancy car, a bigger house, or tailored clothing. Or one may think that finding the perfect romantic partner will bring contentment (it might help). Or a great job and status in the community may appear to be the Holy Grail. But even if we achieve these things (or other similar goals), all too frequently there is still a sense that something is not complete, some element of life is missing. Consciously or unconsciously, each of us helps to create the world we live in--day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment. Every thought in our minds, every word we speak, every action we take makes a difference in our world. So then, the question is not "How can I make a difference?" The question is "What kind of difference do I choose to make?" If you choose to act out of love--smiling at the baby in the grocery cart in the long checkout line or contributing money, food, or clothing to folks in need--you help to create one kind of world. If you choose to react out of fear--snarling at the person in the slow-moving car in front of you or clinging to all of your material wealth for dear life--you help to create another kind of world. Many of us look around today and see a civilization in disarray. Many of us believe that our leaders have failed us. But the truth is, my friends, that the situation around us is our creation. If you want to discover what you really want, look at what you've got. The situation in our homes, in our community, in the U.S., in the world, is our responsibility. And if you want something different, it is essential that you think, say, and do what is necessary to create that change. No one else can do this for you. All around us are opportunities to make a difference. Life constantly sends forth a barrage of wake-up calls--the hungry child, the neighbor with cancer, the polluted air, the dying Fraser firs, airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center, the Iraqi family terrified at the onslaught of American troops. We ignore life's wake-up calls at our own peril. Like the drunk who's in denial, we may refuse to come to grips with reality. Like the pretense of a loveless marriage, we may be unwilling to confront the truth. But if we do not acknowledge the gift in even the most horrific event, discern its meaning for us, and adjust the course we are on, one thing is certain: When the Universe wants to get our attention again, to awaken us as individuals and a culture, we can count on the next wake-up call being even bigger than the one that came before it. Cynicism, denial, and hopelessness are merely forms of victimhood, placing the blame somewhere else for that which ails us. Let me suggest another way: radical responsibility. Rather than blaming others, this path requires us to ask ourselves at every challenge, "How did I help create this situation and what can I do to resolve it?" Sometimes this is not easy, especially when we are certain that someone else is at fault. But doing so puts us, not others, in charge of our lives. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Podcast Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their podcasts after publishing them. To see if the podcast was renamed or re-published, please click here. Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016) http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=901350&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-polyoxytetramethylene-ptmg-market-2016-industry-analysis-research-share-growth-sales-trends-supply-forecast-to-2021.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/reports.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.The research report on global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market offers an in-depth analysis, presenting insights into the key growth factors, which are estimated to encourage growth of the global market. 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Some of them are given below:What are the key factors supplementing the growth of the global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market?Which key factors are likely to curb the development of the overall Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market?Which product segment is projected to lead the global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market in the near future?Which technology and application segments are expected to encourage market growth?Which geographical segment is anticipated to witness progressive growth in the coming years?What is outlook of the competitive scenario of the global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market?What is the estimated size and share of the global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market in the next few years?Furthermore, the research report throws light on the leading players operating in the Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market across the globe. A list of all these leading players have been included in the scope of the research report in order to offer a strong understanding of the global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) market. The key marketing tactics and advertising activities have been highlighted in the research report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Market Overview 11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) 11.2 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Segment by Types 21.3 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Segment by Applications 31.3.1 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2015 31.3.2 Spandex Fiber 41.3.3 PU Resin 51.3.4 TPEE 51.4 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Market by Regions 61.4.1 USA Status and Prospect (2011-2022) 61.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2022) 71.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2022) 71.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2022) 81.4.5 Asia Other Status and Prospect (2011-2022) 81.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) (2011-2022) 92 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Market Competition by Manufacturers 102.1 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016) 102.2 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016) 122.3 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Average Price by Manufacturers (2011-2016) 132.4 Manufacturers Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Types 142.5 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Market Competitive Situation and Trends 162.5.1 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Market Concentration Rate 162.5.2 Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers 162.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion 173 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Regions (2011-2016) 193.1 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016) 193.2 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016) 213.3 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016) 233.4 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016) 253.5 USA Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016) 253.6 Europe Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016) 263.7 China Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016) 263.8 Japan Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016) 273.8 Asia Other Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016) 274 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 284.1 Global Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Consumption by Regions (2011-2016) 284.2 USA Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 304.3 Europe Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 304.4 China Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 314.5 Japan Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 314.6 Asia Other Polyoxytetramethylene (PTMG) Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016) 32For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com LATAM Adalimumab Market: Adalimumab Sales in Latin America are Expected to Surge due to the Implementation of Favorable Government Policies http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8716 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/latam-adalimumab-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Only a few companies hold the leading share in the Latin America adalimumab market. These enterprises are currently capitalizing on untapped opportunities in the region to sustain their growth. As per a new study by Transparency Market Research, the majority of these companies have reduced prices of adalimumab to remain competitive in the market post the entry of biologic drugs. This situation on a positive note, is likely to increase sales of biosimilar adalimumab in Latin America.Download Exclusive Sample of this Report:Adalimumab Sales in Latin America to Increase due to Favorable Government PoliciesThe impending patent expiration of blockbuster drugs is expected to have an adverse impact on the LATAM adalimumab market. Despite witnessing slow growth since the last few years, adalimumab sales in Latin America are expected to surge due to the implementation of favorable government policies, said an analyst at TMR. Latin America is also home to many skilled professionals, as leading enterprises are engaged in R&D into biologics. This has translated into higher investment in the research and development of biologic drugs, thus boosting prospects for international and local players, alike, he added.High Cost of R&D to Discourage Product InnovationSince Brazil presently boasts the most favorable regulatory scenario, a majority of key players are looking to capitalize on the opportunities existing in the country. On the flip side, high cost incurred on clinical trials and increasing expenditure on research and development has compelled manufacturers to keep the prices of their products low. This subsequently inhibits the markets trajectory in Latin America to an extent. Furthermore, absence of proper reimbursement policies for biologic drug therapy also has an adverse impact on the markets growth.Nevertheless, with multinational companies looking to venture into emerging economies of Asia Pacific and Latin America, the adalimumab sales in the region are still expected to increase in the forthcoming years.Brazil Exhibits Most Lucrative Prospects for Sales of AdalimumabMexico, Argentina, and Brazil presently exhibit the most attractive opportunities for sales of adalimumab. Among these countries, Brazil has emerged as the leading adalimumab market in Latin America. As per TMR, the Brazil adalimumab market stood at US$276.7 mn in 2014 and is expected to reach US$352.8 mn by the end of 2023. The LATAM adalimumab market will exhibit a 1.2% CAGR between 2015 and 2023.In other countries such as Peru, Chile, Venezuela, and Columbia, the majority of the population belongs to the low or middle income groups. Furthermore, these countries dont have a proper regulatory framework for biosimilars in place. Therefore inadequate government support and the absence of native production facilities limit the sales of adalimumab in these countries.In terms of application, use of adalimumab to reduce signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is expected to surge considerably. The rheumatoid arthritis segment held the leading share in the market in 2014 and is likely to maintain its dominance through the forecast period. Other than this, adalimumab is also used in the treatment of psoriasis, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis.As per Transparency Market Research, the LATAM adalimumab market had a valuation of US$994.8 mn in 2014. Rising at a CAGR of 0.4% between 2015 and 2023, the market is expected to reach US$1,186.4 mn by the end of 2023.View Full Research Report:This review is based on information published by Transparency Market Research in a report, titled LATAM Adalimumab Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023.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. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems Major Manufacturers in 2016 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=904504&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/united-states-eu-japan-china-india-and-southeast-asia-traffic-management-systems-market-size-status-and-forecast-2021.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/reports.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.The research report on United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market offers an in-depth analysis, presenting insights into the key growth factors, which are estimated to encourage growth of the global market. In addition, the research study throws light on the drivers, barriers, latest opportunities, current trends, and the technological developments in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market have been presented in the scope of the research report. The research study further includes business policies and strategies of the leading players operating in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market, highlighting the regulatory ecosystem, future projections, and the limitations in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report, as a whole, offers answers to various important questions concerning the development and challenges within the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market. Some of them are given below:What are the key factors supplementing the growth of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market?Which key factors are likely to curb the development of the overall Traffic Management Systemsmarket?Which product segment is projected to lead the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market in the near future?Which technology and application segments are expected to encourage market growth?Which geographical segment is anticipated to witness progressive growth in the coming years?What is outlook of the competitive scenario of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market?What is the estimated size and share of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market in the next few years?Furthermore, the research report throws light on the leading players operating in the Traffic Management Systemsmarket across the globe. A list of all these leading players have been included in the scope of the research report in order to offer a strong understanding of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Traffic Management Systems market. The key marketing tactics and advertising activities have been highlighted in the research report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Traffic Management Systems1.1 Traffic Management Systems Market Overview1.1.1 Traffic Management Systems Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Traffic Management Systems Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Traffic Management Systems Market by Type1.3.1 Integrated Urban Traffic Control System1.3.2 Freeway Management System1.3.3 Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)1.3.4 Advanced Public Transportation System1.4 Traffic Management Systems Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Urban Traffic1.4.2 Inter-Urban1.4.3 Parking Management1.4.4 Info-mobility2 Global Traffic Management Systems Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Traffic Management Systems Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in FutureFor Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Menopausal Hot Flashes Market is Expected to Rise to a Valuation of US$5.3 bn by 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2856 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/menopausal-hot-flashes.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global menopausal hot flashes market was recorded at US$3.8 bn in 2014. It is progressing at a CAGR of 3.70% within a forecast period from 2015 to 2023, and will reach US$5.3 bn by the end of 2023, according to a research report released by Transparency Market Research. The report, titled Menopausal Hot Flashes Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023, encapsulates the key drivers, restraints, and trends regarding the treatments for menopausal hot flashes in the coming years.View Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report:Hot flashes, also known as hot flushes, can be described as a rapid sensation of heat within the body. It is accompanied by a blushed red face and sweating. They occur during or immediately before menopause and can be repetitive. More than two-thirds of the women in North America are affected by hot flashes during perimenopause. Hot flashes are caused by the dilation of blood vessels close to the skin. Some women also experience chills and a sudden increase in the heart rate. The exact cause of hot flashes is not yet fully understood. The intensity of a hot flash varies from woman to woman.The report segments the global menopausal hot flashes market in terms of therapy type, pipeline drug, and geography.On the basis of therapy type, the global menopausal hot flashes market is segmented into hormonal and non-hormonal therapies. The two most common hormones used to treat menopausal hot flashes are progesterone and estrogen, of which the market is led by estrogen. It held the largest share in the market in 2014 in terms of volume of prescription and revenue generated. It is considered to be the most effective way to treat hot flashes and no other treatment has come close to it in terms of effectiveness.Despite this, non-estrogen treatments are expected to show a decent growth rate. They are almost 70% effective when compared to estrogen treatments and are showing an increase in demand over time.Geographically speaking, the report puts North America as the dominant region in the global menopausal hot flashes market for 2014, followed closely by Europe. The high growth rate of this market in both regions is owed to the larger percentage of older women in the overall population, since they are also capable of purchasing treatment options for hot flashes. The growth of these two regions in the near future can come from the increasing demand for non-hormonal drugs.At the same time, the report expects Asia Pacific to show the fastest growth rate in the global menopausal hot flashes market for the given forecast period, owing to its rapidly increasing population density, the increasing number of individuals with a high disposable income, and higher healthcare expenditure and growing knowledge of womens health issues. Similar growth rates can be seen in the Rest of the World segment. For instance, nearly 32% of the 30 mn women in Brazil are currently aged between 30 and 65 years. This provides a large enough opportunity for the global menopausal hot flashes market to grow in these regions.Browse Full Research Report:In terms of the competitive landscape, the global menopausal hot flashes market is a highly fragmented one. A large portion of the market is taken up by small and mid-sized companies that produce generic treatment options. Nearly 44.50% of the global menopausal hot flashes market was occupied by only a few dominant players in 2014. These key players include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Pfizer, Inc., Novo Nordisk Corporation, Novartis International AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., Bayer AG, and Allergan plc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Europe Neurological Disorder Drugs Market to be Driven by Increasing Therapeutic Treatments http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=17567 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/europe-neurological-disorder-drugs-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com This report on the neurological disorder drugs market studies the current as well as future prospects of the market in Europe. Health concern related to life threatening diseases are the major concerns in the developed and developing countries of Europe.This research report provides a detailed analysis of the neurological disorder drugs market and helps understand the various driving factors for the growth of the market. The market overview section analyzes market dynamics and trends such as drivers, restraints and opportunities that influence the current nature and future status of the market.Download Exclusive Sample of this Report:Market dynamics factors such as market attractiveness analysis have also been explained in order to deliver a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the Europe neurological disorder drugs market.Europe Neurological Disorder Drugs Market: SegmentationThe neurological disorder drugs market has been segmented by disorder, by drug class, by distribution channel and by countries. The disorder segment has been sub-segmented into Epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebrovascular disease and others. The drug class has been segmented into Anticholinergic, Antiepileptic, Antipsychotic, Analgesics, Hypnotic & Sedative, Antihypertensive, Anticoagulants and others. The distribution channel segment has been sub-segments into retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and eCommerce.Europe Neurological Disorder Drugs Market: ScopeThe executive summary provides detailed insights about the report and the market in general. This elaborate executive summary provides a glimpse into the present scenario of the Europe neurological disorder drugs market, which includes a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments.The executive summary also provides overall information and data analysis of the Europe neurological disorder drugs market with respect to market segments based on disorder, drug class, distribution channel as well as geographic regions.The market for neurological disorder drugs has been extensively analyzed based on their usefulness, effectiveness, sales revenue and geographic presence. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ Mn for each disorder, drug class, distribution channel as well as geographic regions has been provided for the period from 2016 to 2024. This report on the neurological disorder drugs market also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) for each market segment for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year.Europe Neurological Disorder Drugs Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the neurological disorder drugs market has been segmented into 10 major regions: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, U.K., Russia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland and Rest of Europe. The market size and forecast for each of these regions have been provided for the period from 2016 to 2024, along with CAGR (%) for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The research study also incorporates the competitive scenario in these regions.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:A list of recommendations has been provided for new entrants as well as existing players to help establish a strong presence in the market and increase market share. The report also profiles major players in the neurological disorder drugs market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, product portfolio and recent developments.View Full Research Report:Major players profiled in this report include Merck & Co., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Bayer AG, Astra Zeneca, F-Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Novartis AG, and GlaxoSmithKline plc.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. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Scleroderma Diagnostics and Therapeutics Market is Driven by Rise in Clinical Trials for Systemic Sclerosis http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2498 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/scleroderma-diagnostics-therapeutics.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Scleroderma, a very rare autoimmune disorder of the skin, is a term coined from the Greek words sklerosis, which means hardness, and derma, meaning skin. Thus, scleroderma literally translates to hard skin. Scleroderma is a group of diseases that involves the abnormal growth of connective tissue, which supports the skin and internal organs. In some forms of scleroderma, the extent of the abnormality of the disease is limited to hard, tight skin.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:In certain other forms, however, the predicament is worse, where the impact goes much deeper, affecting blood vessels and internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Scleroderma has no known cure and is a chronic condition, in which patients are affected for life. Localized scleroderma patients, however, with mild symptoms, often see the skin patches disappear on their own in a few years post-onset.This report on the global scleroderma diagnostics and therapeutics market analyzes the current and future prospects of the market. The markets of diagnostics and therapeutics are independently analyzed as two separate markets within the report. The market for scleroderma therapeutics is segmented based on drug class, indication and region, while the market for scleroderma diagnostics is segmented on the basis of test type and region. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments. The research is a combination of primary and secondary research.A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining market growth and opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period between 2014 and 2024 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all the segments, considering 2015 as the base year. Market related factors such as new drug launches, drugs in the pipeline, industry-institute collaborations in research for finding a pertinent cure, and historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size.Growth rates for each segment within the global scleroderma diagnostics and therapeutics market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, clinical trials, and regulatory requirements. These factors would help the market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their share in the global market.Based on indication, the global scleroderma diagnostics and therapeutics market has been segmented into localized and systemic scleroderma. Localized scleroderma affects only the skin, and in certain patients, the underlying muscle, however, systemic scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis) is much severe and affects the internal organs as well.The major drug classes for treatment of scleroderma include Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressive Agents, Endothelin Receptor Agonists, Calcium Channel Blockers, PDE-5 Inhibitors, Chelating Agents, Prostacyclin Analogues, and Others. The others segment includes the drug classes of analgesics, proton pump inhibitors, prokinetic agents, H2 blockers and ACE inhibitors etc. which are used in symptomatic relief to the patient. Immunosuppressive agents and low dose corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed agents to treat scleroderma.Based on test type, the diagnostics market has been segmented into skin biopsy, imaging techniques, blood test, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, and pulmonary function tests. Diagnosis of the disease is based on physicians assessment of patients medical history and clinical manifestations. In addition, tests and procedures are undertaken to validate the clinical diagnosis and exclude alternative diagnoses, and later for assessment of organ involvement and monitoring of disease progression.Geographically, the global scleroderma diagnostics and therapeutics market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In addition, the regions have been further segmented by major countries for the scleroderma therapeutics market These include the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Mexico, the UAE, and South Africa. The competition matrix section included in the report is likely to assist the existing players to increase their market shares and new companies to establish their presence in the radiodermatitis market.Browse Research Report:The report also profiles major players in the scleroderma therapeutics and diagnostics market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Key companies profiled in the report include Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer AG, Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and Sanofi.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. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Rise in Heart Related Diseases is the Favorable Factor for the Central Nervous System (CNS) Biomarkers Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1622 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cns-biomarkers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Biomarkers are measurable biological indicators that are used to diagnose or predict diseases, examine disease progression, and estimate treatment response. Biomarkers help in understanding the development of chronic diseases, its relationship with environmental chemicals, and identify subjects who are at high risk of developing disease. For several years, biomarkers have played a significant role in drug research and development of new drugs and in diagnostics. Moreover, biomarkers play important role in understanding disease mechanism, developing effective treatments, and improve quality of patient care.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The development in related technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, and imaging system, has reflected on evolution of newer biomarkers. Considering the complexity of central nervous system (CNS), biomarkers are now expected to play a significant role in identification of several neurodegenerative diseases at early stage, provide enhanced diagnosis, and eventually better treatment.Consequently, the global market for central nervous system (CNS) biomarkers is projected for a double digit growth rate during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024. To provide a complete picture of the market, this report divides it into lucrative segments and also profiles some of the key players for their market share, product portfolio, and development strategies.The global CNS biomarkers market can be segmented on the basis of application, type, end user and geography. By application, the market can be divided into diagnostic development, personalized medicine drug discovery and development, and disease risk assessment. All of these segments are in high demand, contributing significantly in the growth of CNS biomarkers market.The report picks out the development in proteomics, genomics, and imaging system as the primary driver in the market. These developments has led to increased investment from government and private players, which is further fueling market. Moreover, the rise in diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and other heart related diseases is another favorable factor for the market. Some of the other drivers highlighted by the report are: favorable government policies and regulations, successful clinical trials of several biomarkers, and FDAs approval to CNS biomarker drugs.Conversely, the report highlights two factors which may hinder the growth rate during the forecast period, which are the high cost of CNS biomarker tests and diagnostics and unclear reimbursement policies in many prospect country-wide markets. Untapped market in Asia Pacific is projected as an opportunity for players to invest with long-term prospects.Geographically, this market can be divided into the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest the world. Currently, North America contributes to the maximum demand, owning to the rise in life-style oriented diseases such as cancer, stroke, and other heart diseases. In 2014, Europe served the second most significant demand but the emerging economies of China, India, Japan, and Korea are expected to turn Asia Pacific into a highly lucrative market during the course of the forecast period. These countries are aggressively investing in improving their healthcare spending, and have skilled labor at affordable cost. This as a result is creating immense opportunities for the players who are willing to take initiative.Browse Full Research Report:The key players in global central nervous system biomarkers market include Thermo fisher scientific, Enzo biochem inc, Abiant Inc, EKF diagnostics holdings Inc, Abastar MDX Inc, Acumen pharmaceuticals Inc, Adlyfe Inc, Apitope international, Alseres pharmaceuticals Inc, Aposense, Banyan biomarkers, Avid radiopharmaceuticals Inc, Diagenic ASA, Avacta group plc, Applied neurosolutions Inc, Merc & co. Inc, and Exonhit therapeutics. The players strategically invest on research and development for innovative and technological advancements, and focus on partnerships with domestic players to expand their outreach.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. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Come and enjoy Read more [...] Governmental Aid and Growing Awareness Rate Boost Global Food Flavoring Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1918 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The trigeminal senses are what create the entire spectrum of taste for a consumer. Smell, taste, and sight deduce the flavor, texture, and temperature of a food while ingesting. It is this spectrum with which a person can identify what he/she is eating. This perception of food flavor can be altered by the addition of artificial or natural additives that essentially change the way our senses perceive a food.Flavorings are chemicals that alter the characteristics of a food items flavor. They can impart a diverse range of tastes varying from pungent, salty, sour, tangy, sweet, and bitter. An essential advantage flavorings possess is the ability to convert undesirable tastes and textures into desirable ones, allowing people to consume the food without difficulty. Flavorings, also called flavorants, are also used to enhance the taste of a food, especially snacks, frozen products, confectionaries, bakery goods, dairy items, and beverages. The overall food and beverages industry utilizes three types of flavorants; they are artificial flavorants, synthesized flavorants, and natural flavorants.Key companies operating in the global food flavoring market are Givaudan, Takasago International Corporation, Symrise AG, and Kerry Ingredients & Flavors.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Global Food Flavoring Market Relies on Certifications for Approval and AppealOne of the greater complications of the global food flavoring market is the reluctance of food and beverage manufacturers to reveal the exact ingredients in their flavorants. This is done to ensure uniqueness of the product in the market to maintain consumer ratings. Some manufacturers, however, make use of animal products, dairy products, or alcohol to create their flavorants. In order for a consumer to know whether a product they are consuming contains specific ingredients or not, the food and beverage industry has come to rely on the use of certifications to prove the credibility of their claims. For instance, manufacturers in the Western markets make use of the Jewish Kosher Pareve mark in order to confirm that their products are devoid of dairy and meat.Technological Advancements Drive Global Food Flavoring MarketThe global food flavoring market is currently driven by the influx of new technologies that allow the food and beverage industry to create a larger spectrum of flavorants that can create a wider range of tastes for consumers. At the same time, the global food flavoring market is also experiencing a steady growth trend due to the growing demand for premium foods and gourmet foods as more and more consumers are approaching larger disposable incomes that let them choose a higher quality of food. The global food flavoring market can capitalize on this trend in order to create a greater range of high-quality tastes and flavorants that can be preferred by the majority of the population. As such, in a regional sense, Asia Pacific is showing growing demand for food flavoring due to the rapid rate of industrialization. This can prove to be a lucrative avenue for the global food flavoring markets international players.The global food flavoring market will also find favor among food and beverage manufacturers that are looking to expand their product line through either a greater choice of flavors or through the introduction of health-conscious products that are more palatable due to the addition of flavorants.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 Food Security Technologies Market to be Propelled by Growing Adoption of Food Security Technologies till 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=6556 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global food security technologies market is expected to grow rapidly during the period from 2015 to 2023 due to growing adoption of food security technologies across the regions of North America and Europe.Increasing Food Security Applications in Agriculture to Drive Global MarketFactors such as rapid growth in demand for food security technologies and applications in the agriculture sector, increasing awareness about food security technologies, and support from the government will drive the global food security technologies market during the forecast period. Increase in the use of technology in food production and security is the primary reason for the growth of the global food security technologies market. For example, as per the statistics and reports provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the area under organic agriculture increased from 21 mn hectors in 2004 to 37 mn hectors in 2012, worldwide. Rapid rise in the use of advanced technologies and applications of organic agriculture will propel food security applications in the coming few years.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Government support for the use of food security applications and recent introduction of several applications from leading players will further drive the global food security technologies market during the forecast period. Some of the restraints that the global food security technologies market will face in the competitive market include the increasing cost of advanced technologies, limited availability of resources, and technical incompatibilities in many regions across the globe. However, irrespective of the restraints, the global food security technologies market is expected to observe steady growth during the forecast period.North America to Account for Highest Share in Global Food Security Technologies MarketThe global food security technologies market is segmented on the basis of geography and technologies. By geography, the global food security technologies market is divided into regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World. Europe and North America are the two most prominent regions in the global food security technologies market owing to strong research and development practices. Implementation of technologically advanced food security applications and the latest research and development trends will allow the North America and Europe regions to dominate the global food security technologies market during the forecast period.Among other regions, Asia Pacific is expected to witness the strongest development during the forecast period. By technology, the global food security technologies market is divided into technologies such as micro irrigation, precision agriculture, sprinkler irrigation, integrated soil fertility management, organic agriculture, no-tile technique, crop protection technologies, heat tolerant characters, and draught tolerant characters. Food security applications include the use of advanced techniques such as pesticides and fertilizers, agriculture biotechnologies, nanotechnology, micro irrigation, and chemical tools. The primary focus of food security applications and technologies is to avoid wastage of food by producing the required amount of food products that would fulfill the needs of people in the respective regions.The global food security technologies market is marked by leading players in the market introducing different food security technologies in different areas. Some of the prominent players in the global food security technologies market are Bayer CropScience AG, Cargill Incorporated, Mahindra and Mahindra, DuPont Pioneer, H.J. Heinz, Nestle, John Deere, Novozymes, Kraft Foods, BASF and 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: Software Container Market - Key Trends, Opportunities, Challenges, Report Overview And Competitive Landscape http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13424 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Software container is used for maintaining various software within a single repository. Container helps in isolating the data and application from other existing applications. Main objective of a container is to separate application from the network infrastructure and operating system. It is integrated within the kernel of the operating system and performs virtualization of the instance of that particular application. Software containers make sure that any particular software would run properly after they are moved from one computing environment to the other.Containers have gained immense popularity during recent years due to the reduced need of using a licensed operating system for each application stored in repository. Previously, all the software applications were run on a separate operating system, this new feature of containers enables the application to manage itself and receive only those resources which are needed by it. Also, software containers provide security from other existing applications and their harmful resources.Vendors are competing to fill the gaps in container use, which includes security, networking, data services and management and orchestration. Increasing number of open source software projects and commercial backing received by these projects is driving the market. Open source community efforts are preferred compared to the vendor specific tools and services.Get Sample Report Copy :Software container market has high potential to grow in the future as new technologies are emerging to improve the current architecture of containers. Partnerships and co-operation between the vendors and service providers in the software container market are expected to fulfill the growing demands of implementation and support from the enterprise segment. Startups and new entrants are integrating with the big players to use the existing channels and provide innovative solutions for software container requirements. Software containers are a complete solution for changing computer environments as they store the entire runtime environment required for an application or software such as the libraries, configuration files, dependencies and other binaries. It has increased the convenience for enterprises and is the main reason behind their increasing adoption. Containers provide lightweight and efficient services compared to virtualization technology. Containers have a single operating system which they share with other containers using kernels. It results in low consumption of resources compared to virtualization. Size of the container is only in tens of gigabytes whereas size of the virtual machine including its operating system could be up to several gigabytes. Due to the smaller size of containers, server can store large number of containers compared to a few virtualization machines. Also, boot time is reduced significantly with the help of containers. These advantages of software containers over virtualization technologies are increasing their popularity and driving the demand. However, the security capabilities of the containers could be questioned as they are not able to provide the same level of isolation provided by hardware virtualization. Innovative technologies are being implemented to improve the security capabilities of the software containers.The software container market is divided on the basis of applications which are monitoring and logging, security, storage and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), management and orchestration, networking and data management and services. Furthermore, on the basis of geography, software container market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Major players associated with the software container market include CoreOS, Inc., Docker Inc., Codenvy, Inc. etc.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: United States Organophosphate Pesticides Market Research Report 2017 ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/932939-united-states-organophosphate-pesticides-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/932939-united-states-organophosphate-pesticides-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=932939 ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES MarketDescriptionThis report studies sales (consumption) of Organophosphate Pesticides in United States market, focuses on the top players, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player, coveringMonsantoDOW AgriscienceBayer CropscienceSyngenta AGBASFDupontAmerican Vanguard CorpFMC CorporationAdama Agricultural SolutionsNufarmMarket Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisRequest for Sample Report @Split by product types, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoHerbicideFungicideInsecticideOthersSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Organophosphate Pesticides in each application, can be divided intoCrop BasedOil SeedsFruits & VegetablesGrains & CerealsNon Crop BasedTurf & Ornamental GrassOthersComplete Report @Table of content:United States Organophosphate Pesticides Market Report 20171 Organophosphate Pesticides Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Organophosphate Pesticides1.2 Classification of Organophosphate Pesticides1.2.1 Herbicide1.2.2 Fungicide1.2.3 Insecticide1.2.4 Others1.3 Application of Organophosphate Pesticides1.3.1 Crop Based1.3.2 Oil Seeds1.3.3 Fruits & Vegetables1.3.4 Grains & Cereals1.3.5 Non Crop Based1.3.6 Turf & Ornamental Grass1.3.7 Others1.4 United States Market Size Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) of Organophosphate Pesticides (2012-2022)1.4.1 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Average Price by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 Organophosphate Pesticides Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 Organophosphate Pesticides Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 Organophosphate Pesticides Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by States (2012-2017)3.1 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.2 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Revenue and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.3 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Price by States (2012-2017)4 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2012-2017)4.1 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Price by Type (2012-2017)4.4 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers8.1 Organophosphate Pesticides Industrial Chain Analysis8.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing8.3 Raw Materials Sources of Organophosphate Pesticides Major Manufacturers in 20158.4 Downstream Buyers11 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Market Forecast (2017-2022)11.1 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales, Revenue Forecast (2017-2022)11.2 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales Forecast by Type (2017-2022)11.3 United States Organophosphate Pesticides Sales Forecast by Application (2017-2022)11.4 Organophosphate Pesticides Price Forecast (2017-2022)Tables and Figures:Figure Picture of Organophosphate PesticidesTable Classification of Organophosphate PesticidesFigure United States Sales Market Share of Organophosphate Pesticides by Type in 2015Figure Herbicide PictureFigure Fungicide PictureFigure Insecticide PictureFigure Others PictureTable Application of Organophosphate PesticidesFigure United States Sales Market Share of Organophosphate Pesticides by Application in 2015Figure Crop Based ExamplesFigure Oil Seeds ExamplesFigure Fruits & Vegetables ExamplesFigure Grains & Cereals ExamplesFigure Non Crop Based ExamplesFigure Turf & Ornamental Grass ExamplesFigure Others ExamplesContinued...Buy now @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 Genetically Modified Seeds United States Market Industry Research Report 2022 Genetically Modified Seeds Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/933413-united-states-genetically-modified-seeds-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/933413-united-states-genetically-modified-seeds-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=933413 www.wiseguyreports.com SAMPLE REQUEST@Notes:Sales, means the sales volume of Genetically Modified SeedsRevenue, means the sales value of Genetically Modified SeedsThis report studies sales (consumption) of Genetically Modified Seeds in United States market, focuses on the top players, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player, coveringBayer CropScienceDowDuPontGroupe LimagrainMonsantoSyngentaBASFDLF Seeds and ScienceKleinwanzlebener Saatzuch SAAT SELand O'LakesSakata SeedTakii SeedMarket 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 Genetically Modified Seeds in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2COMPLETE REPORT DETAILS @Table of ContentsUnited States Genetically Modified Seeds Market Report 20171 Genetically Modified Seeds Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Genetically Modified Seeds1.2 Classification of Genetically Modified Seeds1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Application of Genetically Modified Seeds1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 22 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)3 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by States (2012-2017)3.1 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Sales and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.2 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Revenue and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.3 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Price by States (2012-2017)...5 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Sales (Volume) by Application (2012-2017)5.1 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)5.2 United States Genetically Modified Seeds Sales Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)5.3 Market Drivers and OpportunitiesCONTINUEDBUY THIS REPORT @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 LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India RockFit Watch Review-Does RockFit Watch Work-Complete Info RockFit watch is a health and health tracker smartwatch that enables you check your exercising development. According to the official website, this device does no longer only preserve note of what number of energy youve burned or how many steps you've got walked, however it also monitors your blood pressure, heart charge, and sleep metrics. http://claimspecialdiscount.site/Get-RockFitWatch-Now Therefore, with a watch along with this one, you may readily live up to date RENTOKIL STERITECH COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ALLGOOD SERVICES OF GEORGIA, INC. www.rentokil-steritech.com www.allgoodservices.com www.rentokil-steritech.com Reading, Pa. (Feb. 7, 2017) Rentokil Steritech, announces today its acquisition of Allgood Services of Georgia, Inc., headquartered in Duluth, Georgia which lies in the Atlanta metro area. This is one of two companies operating in Georgia as Allgood Pest Solutions. Allgood Services, Inc. (headquartered in Dublin, Georgia) is not included in this transaction. This acquisition marks a significant expansion for Rentokil Steritech in the southeast United States. The deal closed on Feb. 1 and terms were not disclosed.The acquisition brings 13 branch offices covering northern and coastal Georgia plus eastern Tennessee and a team of 260 colleagues including 140 pest control specialists. The company offers residential and commercial pest control, as well as termite, mosquito, bed bug, and wildlife control. All current employees will stay on and the existing leadership will remain in place to run the operations going forward to ensure the smoothest transition for all customers.We are very excited to have acquired Allgood Pest Solutions of Duluth, Georgia. The addition of such a quality team serving the key Southeast market allows us to strengthen both our residential and commercial capabilities, said John Myers, president and CEO, Rentokil Steritech. We immediately recognized a strong cultural compatibility between our companies as our teams both deeply value the importance of delivering superior customer service to residential and commercial customers.This move marks the start of a great partnership with Rentokil Steritech and we are thrilled to join forces with such a well-run and growth oriented organization, said Chuck Tindol, Senior VP of Marketing and Sales for Allgood Services of Georgia, Inc.For additional information on Rentokil Steritech and its family of regional pest control brands in the United States, please visit. For information on Allgood Pest Solutions, please visitLance Tullius, LR Tullius, Inc., represented and acted as exclusive financial advisor to Allgood Services of Georgia, Inc.About Rentokil SteritechRentokil Steritech is part of Rentokil North America. The company, which also owns regional pest control brands Western Exterminator, Presto-X Pest Control and Ehrlich Pest Control, provides commercial and residential pest control to customers in the U.S. and Canada through its expertly trained team of technicians. Rentokil Steritechs approach focuses on a technician/customer partnership to ensure the highest quality pest control service which includes a comprehensive pest management solution encompassing pest control, termite, mosquito, bed bug and nuisance wildlife control, vegetation management, bird management solutions and fumigations. Rentokil North America is a division of Rentokil Initial plc, a leading business services company, operating globally in 66 countries. For more information, visit888 S Figueroa StreetSuite 1000Los AngelesCA 90017 Amazon AWS Cloud Hosting Now Supported by Nanobox Development Platform https://nanobox.io/ February 7, 2017 - Nanobox, a software development micro platform that aims to simplify the dev to production lifecycle for software developers and dev ops teams, announced today that it now supports using its platform with Amazons AWS cloud hosting environment. This announcement is an important expansion of Nanoboxs list of supported cloud hosting providers and allows their product to be used in the environment that owns approximately one-third of the cloud hosting market.Differing from other application development platforms currently available, Nanoboxs micro platform is designed to allow users to choose where to host their production environments. Until recently, those options included only DigitalOcean cloud hosting. Now, with this announcement of the completion of the Nanobox hosting adapter for Amazon AWS, the cloud hosting option of choice for millions of developers, the company intends to make its product much more attractive for that specific audience.In cases where an adapter exists, Nanoboxs platform can be hosted on any cloud service. Nanobox has provided guides for developers to write their own adapters to facilitate hosting in their preferred environment. Prioritization was made in this case for creation of an Amazon adapter because of both the audience represented by Amazon as well as the complexity of coding the adapter. As with all of Nanoboxs official cloud hosting adapters, both its Amazon and Digital-Ocean adapters are open source.Nanobox community members are already working on or have completed Nanobox adapters for other hosts, including Google Public Cloud, Proxmox, Rackspace, Profitbricks, and Liquidweb. As Nanobox penetrates the market, it is expected that many other adapters for other hosts will be made available through the Nanobox community.Prior to this announcement of a new adapter Nanobox already provided support for hosting its platform on the DigitalOcean environment and has indicated that it will be adding official adapters for the Google Cloud Platform and for Linode in the coming weeks.The Nanobox Micro Platform differs from Heroku and similar PaaS offerings in that it de-couples the hosting from the platform, and extends the development workflow onto the developer's workstation. Nanobox is poised to give developers and organizations the ability to run their apps how and where it makes the most sense.Tyler Flint, Nanobox CEO, stated that, Nanobox is a portable, micro platform for running web applications and has been designed to run on any cloud provider or even personal servers. To accommodate the proliferation of supported cloud providers, we have created an open specification to write and host adapters for any cloud provider. We're excited to release the AWS adapter, in addition to the existing DigitalOcean adapter. Both of these adapters implement the open specification and have been released as open-source.About NanoboxNanobox is a Utah-based technology startup devoted to making software development easier. The Nanobox micro platform removes app environment configuration overhead for developers and dev teams so they can focus on coding instead of configuration. Visit us atNanobox1609 N. 300 E. Lehi, UT 84043Alan@nanobox.ioAlan Rainsdon Asia Pacific Flexible Glass Market to Witness 36.5% CAGR from 2014 to 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb--60 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb--60 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) announces the release of its latest report titled, Asia Pacific Flexible Glass, Market Opportunity; 2014 to 2020 Forecast." According to the report, the Asia Pacific flexible glass market is expected to account for $612.7 Mn by 2020, registering a CAGR of 36.5% during the forecast period. Incorporation of flexibility threshold in displays is expected to contribute to the growth of the Asia Pacific flexible glass market over the forecast period.In terms of application, Asia Pacific flexible glass market is mainly segmented into display and solar PV (photovoltaic). Currently, display application segment dominates the Asia Pacific flexible glass market. The display segment was valued at US$ 74.2 Mn in 2013, and is expected to reach US$ 417.3 Mn by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 33.4% for the forecast period. Moreover, the development of Roll2Roll process is expected to create a demand for flexible glass in solar PV application. As a result, solar PV is projected to be the fastest growing application segment for the forecast period.The display application is further sub-segmented as smartphones and tablets, curved TV, building mounted displays and, wearables. Among all the aforementioned sub-segments, smartphones & tablets segment is expected to dominate the market with 50.1% of the total revenue share by 2020. However, curved TV is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR of 37.1% during the forecast period. Additionally, influx of new entrants is predicted to fuel the growth of curved TV application segment over the forecast period.Request Free Report Sample@Country-wise, the Asia Pacific flexible glass market is segmented into Japan, China, South Korea and others. Japan is the most lucrative market, followed by South Korea and China. Moreover, Japan is expected to contribute 40.0% market share to the Asia Pacific flexible glass market by 2020. The growth of South Korea market is supported by the strong presence of smartphone & TV manufacturers along with growing number of R&D centres in South Korea.Assessing the various factors driving this market, FMI lead analyst, Abhishek S. said, Incorporation of flexibility threshold in displays, development of Roll2Roll process for flexible PV and growing R&D investments in flexible glass by key glass manufacturers are expected to fuel the demand for Asia Pacific flexible glass market.Key players in the Asia Pacific flexible glass market are Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., Corning Inc., Schott AG and Nippon Electric Glass Company Ltd.Send An Enquiry@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.comWebsite: Plans Underway for Australias High Speed Rail and Smart City Future www.qldconference.com.au www.expotradeglobal.com While talk of a high speed rail has been on the cards for over three decades in Australia, the Consolidated Land and Rail Australia (CLARA) plan now hopes to galvanise these ideas, turning them into a palpable reality alongside a number of innovative smart cities dotted along the Australian landscape.CLARA, a privately funded $200 billion, 35-year plan that relies on financing through value capture, proposes the building of two new cities in Victoria as well as a further six in NSW developed over three decades. These smart cities will be characterised by sustainability and innovation that is expected to reduce the environmental pressures and outputs of a typical city.It is believed that the eight cities would deliver high passenger numbers for the high speed rail network and unlock significant financial benefits to the Australian economy of inland city development.These regionally based, compact and sustainable cities would accommodate between 250,000 and 400,000 people, connected by an advanced high speed rail. The High Speed Rail (HSR) network would run between Sydney and Melbourne via Canberra. The plan necessitates the construction of new rail stations in each of the eight proposed smart cities as well as the development of High Speed Rail platforms for Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.Fast-rail networks have been discussed as an option Australia-wide for near on half a century and would dramatically alter the geography and composition of our cities. A fast connecting rail system could significantly reduce urban density and overcrowded conditions in major metropolitan areas whilst contributing to regional development and infrastructure.While high speed rail networks dominate Europe and Asia, they have yet to penetrate Australian shores. A high speed rail network future would additionally see more interconnection between inland and coastal regions, faster commute times, the alleviation of road traffic congestion and less reliance on aviation. According to the CLARA plan, the envisioned infrastructures design focus is on both liveability and connectivity, made possible through smart connected networks and built-up urban spaces.Potentially beginning within the next five years, phase one of the plan would see Melbourne linked to the Greater Shepparton Region with a $13bn high speed rail into northern Victoria and the development of two new partner cities in the region over 30 years.CLARA Chairman and founder Nick Cleary will appear at the 8th Annual Queensland Transport Infrastructure Conference to discuss the proposal and how it addresses key issues across the country including overcrowding in major Australian cities.The Queensland Transport Infrastructure Conference will look at infrastructure development and planning for the state as well as the latest trends and industry innovations. Attracting a range of expert speakers and 200+ delegates, the Conference convenes on the 23rd and 24th of May 2017 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.More info at:About ExpotradeExpotrade is a global conference and event organizer with its head office based in Melbourne, Australia. Expotrade has delivered some of the largest, most successful B2B industry conferences and events in the areas of infrastructure, major projects, sustainability, technology & architecture. For almost 10 years, our unique blend of knowledge, experience and flexibility has accomplished an array of consistently top quality events. Today, Expotrade events enjoy such a distinctive edge, they are amongst the best patronised in the calendar.For more information, visitSuite 1, Level 1, 2 Brandon Park DriveWheelers Hill VIC 3150 Australia New study: India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities 2025 |The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/india-liquefied-natural-gas-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000337 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000337 The India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market to 2025 - Analysis and Forecasts by Applications and End-User Verticals report provides a detailed overview of the major factors impacting the global market with the market share analysis and revenues of various sub segments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market to 2025 @Liquefied Natural Gas mainly contains methane, which is condensed to liquid state by cooling at 256 degree Fahrenheit. The higher reduction of volume when compared to CNG is an advantage to transfer LNG from one country to another as per the requirement. Increasing consumption of energy will accelerate the usage of LNG further. It is estimated that more than 250 years of renewable natural gas is available as per the current consumption level, new pipelines, inter connections and LNG infrastructures are being built to exploit this unconventional resource.The report aims to provide an overview of India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market along with detailed segmentation of market by application, and end-user verticals. Continuous growth of Indian economy, along with competitive fuel and gas pricing is the major factor driving the growth of LNG market in India.Request Sample Copy @The objectives of India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market report are as follows: To provide overview of the India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market To analyze and forecast India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market on the basis of application, and end-user verticals To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend To provide exhaustive PEST analysis To profiles key India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesInquire about discount on this report @Some of the important players in India Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market are Shell, Chevron, Atlantic, Total, Bechtel Corporation, BG Group, GAIL, and Petronet LNG Limited.About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 High Fructose Corn Syrup Market : Global Snapshot by 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/6727 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/6727 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener utilizing a modified form of corn syrup which is also an alternative to sucrose used in foods and beverages industry. High fructose corn syrup is made from corn using a process called wet milling. It holds around nine percent of overall global sweeteners market. There is no as such difference in composition or metabolism from other fructose glucose sweeteners for instance sucrose, honey, and fruit juice concentrates. It generally contains either 42 percent or 55 percent fructose, the remaining sugars being primarily glucose and higher sugars. HFCS is has more stablility, particularly works well in acidic beverages, available in liquid form makes it easier to transport, handle, and mix better than granulated sucrose. Since, fructose is sweeter than glucose, the overall sweetness of the syrup increased resulting in more cost-effective use over sugar in food processing. Its caloric content is equivalent to sugar and thus it shares the same concerns from consumers and industry as that of sugar. Further, the human body metabolizes fructose differently than glucose and so high consumption of HFCS has also been attributed to increasing rates of obesity. HFCS has been widely adopted by U.S. food manufacturers because it offers advantages over granulated sucrose, for instance it is easy to supply, good for stability and ease of handling. Corn is an abundant and reliable crop grown widely across the U.S., while sucrose production is limited. This means most supplies must be imported into the U.S. from sugar-growing countries, which leaves the supply vulnerable to changes in the weather and political conditions in those countries. HFCS is also more stable, particularly in acidic beverages, and because of its liquid form, it is easier to transport, handle, and mix than granulated sucrose.On the basis of applications the high fructose corn syrup market is segmented into food and beverage and pharmaceutical industry. Food and beverage industry is sub-segmented into baking, canning, cereal product, dairy, carbonated soft drinks, condiments, confections, ice-cream and desserts.Geographically High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa. North America and Japan is one of the significant market place for high fructose corn syrup.Request to view table of content @High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) market is growing with the demand for sweetener in food and beverage industry. High fructose corn syrup 42 is a good alternative sweeteners of sugar and honey in food preparation to the consumers since consumers are trying to avoid sucrose for its harmful effects; HFCS 42 consists around 42 percent fructose where sugar consists around 50 percent and honey consists around 48 percent fructose which is driving the HFCS market. However, health consciousness and change in life style among consumers of emerging countries are restraining the market since rate of obesity and diabetes are increasing day by day. Hence, zero calorie sweeteners market is much popular among consumers, which is also growing at higher rate in terms of both value and volume. However, high fructose corn syrup is granted Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). HFCS has been widely adopted by U.S. food manufacturers because it offers advantages over granulated sucrose, for instance it is easy to supply, good stability and ease of handling. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) market seeking high opportunity in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Latin America market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Some the key players operating across the value chain of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Inc., INGREDION INCORPORATED, Tate & Lyle.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Lead Acid Battery Market Poised to Hit US$ 31,708.4 Million by 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-430 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-430 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights, in its latest report titled,Lead Acid Battery Market: Asia Pacific, Latin America, Japan, Middle East & Africa Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020, states that the target regions lead acid battery market accounted for US$ 24,210.5 Million in 2014, and is expected to reach US$ 31,708.4 Million at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Asia Pacific, which accounted for the major chunk in the target regions lead acid battery market, is expected to expand at an estimated CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period.By application type, the target regions lead acid battery market is segmented as transportation, stationary industrial, motive industrial, commercial, residential, and grid storage. Transportation and stationary industrial collectively contributed to around 82.4% of market revenue in 2014. Transportation was the largest end-use application in the target regions lead acid battery market in 2014, and is anticipated to continue its dominance through 2020. Stationary industrial is the second largest contributor to the target regions lead acid battery market, and is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period.The report finds that grid storage is one of the smallest end-use application segments in the target regions lead acid battery market, but is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period.Request Free Report Sample@Lead acid batteries are predominantly used in passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two wheelers. In addition to that, demand for lead acid battery has also surged due to the increasing adoption of UPS, owing to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. Adoption of grid storage technology in developing countries such as India and China is expected to fuel the target regions lead acid battery market. In addition to that, an increase in the demand for electric vehicles is expected to further accelerate the expansion of the lead acid battery market globally.Moreover, key challenges in the lead acid battery market are raw material price volatility and stringent emission regulations. Lead is the essential raw material used in the manufacturing of lead acid batteries. Lead prices account for approximately 49% of the overall cost of the lead acid batteries. Any fluctuations in lead prices affect the overall profitability of lead acid battery manufacturers.Region-wise, Asia Pacific is the largest contributor in the target regions lead acid battery market, and is expected to continue its dominance till 2020. Currently, the Asia Pacific lead acid battery market is valued at US$ 15,995 Million and is expected to reach US$ 19,881 Million by 2020. Latin America and Japan are other major markets contributing 14.4% and 14.1% respectively, to the target regions lead acid battery revenue. Middle East & Africa accounted for the lowest contribution in terms of revenue in 2014, but is expected to register a significant growth at a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period.Send An Enquiry@The degree of competition in the target regions lead acid battery market has been analysed in the report, which also presents the comparative view of the key strategies and financial outlook of major companies operating in target regions lead acid battery market. These include Johnson Controls INC, Exide Technologies, GS Yuasa Corporation, EnerSys and Yokohama Industries.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.comWebsite: Global Alpha Mannosidosis Market is set to Exhibit a Strong CAGR of 11.9% in Coming Years Alpha Mannosidosis Market Report http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=931760 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/alpha-mannosidosis-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2024-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://twitter.com/MktResearchHub https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-research-hub https://www.facebook.com/MarketResearchHub/ A genetic disorder disease named Alpha Mannosidosis is the focus of a new report broadcasted to the online repository of Market Research Hub (MRH). With the rise in the occurrence of alpha-mannosidosis globally, the market for treatment is anticipated to grow widely in coming years. The report titled Alpha Mannosidosis Market- Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Trends and 2017-2024 Forecast provides comprehensive market understanding by using Porters five forces analysis. According to the research analysts, the overall market is projected to boost strongly at a CAGR of 11.9% between the year 2017 and 2024. Moreover, it is expected to value at about US$21.8 mn until the end of 2024.Request Free Sample Report:In terms of geography, the market has been segmented into five key regions including Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Through the regional analysis, the report analyzes the market attractiveness for each region, which provides insights into the major market which are beneficial to invest in future. Currently, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the market in 2017, with the maximum market share. Furthermore, the market has been segmented by treatment, indication and by end users.Alpha Mannosidosis is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disorder characterized by immune deficiency, facial and skeletal abnormalities, hearing impairment and intellectual disability. The symptoms, development & severity of alpha-mannosidosis diverge widely from one person to another, including between siblings who share the same mutation. The disease can be varied in three types such as type I, type II and type III. However, this is a rare disease, a definite rise in the population has surged the number of patients thereby augmented the demand for drugs required for treating alpha-mannosidosis. Based on end-user, the market has been segmented into hospitals and specialty clinics. Between these two, hospitals segment dominated the market from past years and also expected to remain dominant.Moving further, the report also studies some of the factors driving this market, like the exclusivity of orphan drugs, increasing investment in the rare disease treatment, fee reductions and tax credits etc.At present, Bone marrow transplant (BMT) and Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) are the two treatment options for alpha-mannosidosis. It affects 1 in every 10,00,000 people universally. The most severe form of the disease, the infantile phenotype (type 1) leads to quick progressive mental retardation and typically death between 3 and 12 years of age.Read Full Report with TOC:Moreover, a leading company named Zymenex has developed a recombinant enzyme designated for patients with Alpha-Mannosidosis disease, known as Lamazym (velmanase alfa). Lamazym enzyme has also received orphan drug designation in Europe and the U.S.About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Details:90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Follow Us on:Twitter:LinkedIn:Facebook: Fingerprint Sensors Market Poised for Steady Growth in the Future http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-219 www.futuremarketinsights.com A fingerprint sensor captures extract biological features of the finger prints in the form of the live scan and compares it with existing biometric template stored in the database. Fingerprint sensors are used to provide authentication and authorization to the individual. Finger print sensors are most commonly used biometric authentication system for commercial securities. Fingerprints provide reliable, fast and easy access to personal contact details, payment information, mails, location data and other form of encrypted data to authenticated person. Fingerprint sensors are now increasingly used in consumer electronics like smartphones, tablets and laptops and are expected to drive future market.The fingerprint sensors offer many advantages such as wide acceptance, security, reliability and ease of access. Fingerprint sensors also facilitate easy record keeping and management to attendance portals.Request Free Report Sample@The fingerprint sensors are comparatively less costly as compared to other biometric authentication systems. They are easy to install and train people for using fingerprint sensors. On other hand, fingerprint sensors suffer from some technical problems related to false rejection and conditional physical disability.Fingerprint Sensor Market DynamicsThe factors that drive the global fingerprint sensor market are - need for easy, simplified and secure user access to data & services and increasing demand for biometric identification and authorization along different areas. The high market growth of consumer devices like smartphone, tablets etc. demand use of fingerprint sensors to maintain privacy and security of data and access. Internet based online and mobile commerce options has further enhanced the demand for fingerprint sensors globally. On the other side, factors such as lack of awareness about security essentials & constraints and complexity of integration of smartphone like devices with fingerprint sensors can restrain the growth of fingerprint sensor market.There has been increase in demand for fingerprint sensors for security checks in government and corporate organizations. The global fingerprinting market is expected to show significant double-digit growth rate during the forecast period due to rapid implantation of fingerprinting based authentication system across different application areas especially by government.Request For TOC@ Request For TOC@Tremendous market opportunities are present in the development of less expensive fingerprint sensors for a wide range of applications. There is an increase in adoption of integrated fingerprint sensor based two-way authentication systems or multi-factor authentication systems that can provide highly accurate security and access for the application areas which belong to high-end security requirements. The global fingerprint sensor market is characterised by numerous application areas and low competition.Fingerprint Sensor Market SegmentationThe global fingerprinting sensor market is segmented on the basis of type, sensor technology, material, application and region. On the basis of type, the global fingerprint sensor market can be segmented into touch sensor, swipe sensor and area sensor. On the basis of sensor technology, the global fingerprint sensor market can be segmented into optical sensor, capacitive sensor, thermal sensor, ultrasonic sensor and others. Capacitive sensors can be further sub segmented into active capacitance and passive capacitance. On the basis of material, the global fingerprint sensor market can be sub segmented into optical prism, piezoelectric material, adhesive, sapphire and others. On the basis of application, the global fingerprint sensor market can be segmented into mobile devices, law enforcement, military & defence, government, banking & finance and others. Mobile device segment can be further sub segmented into smartphones, tablets, smart watches and others. On the basis of region, the global fingerprint sensor market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Easter Europe, Western Europe, Asia pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East & Africa and Japan as a separate region.Fingerprint Sensor Market: Key PlayersMajor players of Fingerprint Sensor market are Fingerprint Cards AB, IDEX ASA, Cross Match Holdings, Inc., Synaptics Incorporated, VKANSEE Technology, and Integrated Biometrics, Inc. Countries such as U.S., U.K., Germany, China and South Korea have strong market share in global fingerprint sensor market. The market is reporting successive collaborations between mobile device manufacturers and fingerprint sensors manufacturers.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: Positive Growth Prospects for Global Law Enforcement and Firefighting Protective Clothing Fabrics Market Until 2024 Protective Clothing Fabrics Market http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=910651 http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/law-enforcement-and-firefighting-protective-clothing-fabrics-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html http://www.marketresearchhub.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/market-research-hub https://www.facebook.com/MarketResearchHub/ https://twitter.com/MktResearchHub This precise discussion with a deep highlight on Law Enforcement and Firefighting Protective Clothing Fabrics Market for the forecast period of 2016 to 2024 can be found in a recently added report to the vast database of Market Research Hub (MRH). This report provides a wide-ranging analysis of the market along with its value chain analysis. It also covers impression of the drivers & restraints on demand for law enforcement and firefighting protective clothing fabrics market during the forecast period. The base year considered in the report is 2015.Request Free Sample Report:Geographically, the report segments the market into some of the following key regions including North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. According to the report findings, developed countries dominate the global market in terms of production and demand.Moreover, the report also highlights opportunities in the market at the global and regional level. At present, the degree of competition within the global law enforcement and firefighting protective clothing fabrics market is anticipated to be high and remain strong in the coming years. Analysts have estimated the market to grow steadily at a CAGR of 6.5% by 2024, in terms of value. Also, it is projected to reach US$1.67 bn by the end of 2024.Firstly, the report starts by defining the market introduction along with its scope and market segmentation. Basically, firefighting protective clothing fabrics are used to manufacture protective clothing for a variety of end-use applications and provide benefits such as flame resistance, chemical & biological protection and cut resistance. One of the major advantages of the protective clothing is, they do not explode when exposed to a source of ignition. Furthermore, the report provides details of the wide range of applications for which protective clothing is beneficial. It covers: Police Ambulance/EMT Military Fire Service Wildlands Gear Station Wear Turnout Gear Mining and othersFactors such as growing concern towards the safety of workers coupled with stringent governmental regulations lead to continuous growth in demand for protective clothing from various end-user industries. Additionally, emerging countries like China, India etc. are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for growth in this market due to increasing military and firefighting applications.Moving further, Porters Five Forces model for the law enforcement and firefighting protective clothing fabrics market has also been contained within to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. One of the key factors, hindering the growth of the market is the high cost associated with it.Browse Full Report with TOC:At present, leading players in the global market are Koninklijke Ten Cate NV (TenCate), National Safety Apparel, Gunei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Milliken & Company & Glen Raven, Inc., Teijin Aramid B.V., PBI Performance Products Inc, W.L.Gore & Associates, Solvay S.A.About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of Market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Details:90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:Follow Us on:LinkedIn:Facebook:Twitter: India Air Treatment Products Market Intelligence Report Offers Growth Prospects http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-in-246 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-in-246 www.futuremarketinsights.com The air treatment equipment includes those products which modify or change the technological characteristics and properties of air. This modification may include the treatment of harmful gases present in the air, increasing or decreasing the air temperature, compressing the air, removal of harmful microorganism from the air, increasing or decreasing the air pressure, removal of extreme odours and others. The air treatment equipment includes air compressor, air dryers, air washers, air filters, injectors and others.?On the basis of application the air treatment products are available for both industrial and domestic use. It is also used for roadways vehicles, waterways vehicles such as for ships, marines, and also for airways such as in aeroplane, spaceship, fighter plane and others. For domestic use air treatment equipment are offered to the consumers in the modified form and available in the consumer durable products for their convenient use. The air treatment consumer durable product includes hot air blowers, air conditioners, automatic washing machine, microwave, oven, automatic washer dryers, hair dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers and others.On the basis of domestic use the air treatment products is sub-segmented into air conditioner, air purifier, humidifiers and dehumidifiers and others. Among all these sub-segments air purifiers are further sub-segmented into air filters purifiers, ionizing purifiers, ozone generators, adsorbents and others. Whereas air conditioners is sub-segmented into room air conditioners, split air conditioners, window air conditioners and others.Request Free Report Sample@Globally Asia-pacific is considered to be the highest market for the air treatment products followed by North America and Europe. In Asia Pacific China, India and Japan represent ample opportunities for players in this market. This growth in these countries is supported by increasing number of health conscious consumers and rising disposable income of the consumers.Among all these countries, India accounted for low growth for air treatment products in 2011 due to economic slowdown. Moreover, the demand of air conditioner segment also registered less growth as monsoon arrived early in the country. However, the market growth for air treatment product showed a positive growth in 2013 due to rise in country economic condition and urge of the consumer for better and healthier life. It is expected that India will show a potential growth for air treatment products in the forecasted period. This growth will be supported by rise demand for air conditioners in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and others due to rise in heat and temperature. It is expected that air conditioner will occupy the largest position of the pie as the consumers in India are making their switch from ceiling fans or table fans to air conditioner. Among all the sub-segments of air conditioner, split air conditioner is expected to show the highest growth. Furthermore, it has been found that awareness among the consumers for purified air will also fuel the market growth for air treatment products in India. States such as Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat is expected to support the growth of air purifiers as these states possess large number of industries.Request For TOC@In India, high entrant of manufacturing industries, outsourcing companies and rise in commercialization are some of the major drivers supporting the market growth. In addition, increase in number of health consciousness among the consumers coupled with rising disposable income is also expected to fuel the market growth for air treatment products in India.However, the market of air treatment products in India possess some restraining factors. This includes lack of awareness among the consumers regarding the product such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers and others. Additionally, the consumers perceives these products as quite expensive and also it is considered as a luxury product and not an absolute necessity.The key players for air treatment products in India includes Bajaj Electricals Ltd, Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd., Usha International Ltd., Panasonic Corp, Atlas Copco AB, Eureka Forbes, OSIM International, SANYO Electric Co ., Ltd and others.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: Automated CPR Devices Market expected to grow at a CAGR of 11% during 2015 to 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-720 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-720 www.futuremarketinsights.com Demand for automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices will surpass US$ 60 million by the end of 2016, up from US$ 50.7 million in 2014. Strong demand for automated CPR devices from EMS and hospitals is expected to fuel the market in the future.Favourable government support is driving the adoption of automated CPR devices, especially in developed economies. For instance, Harris County Emergency Ambulance Authority in the US approved purchase of 10 automated CPR units to be carried on-board ambulances.Rising awareness on survival strategies during a cardiac arrest have also brought automated CPR devices in the limelight. The recent study by Institute of Medicines (IOM), titled, Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival: A Time to Act has provided an impetus to the use of CPR devices in emergency situations. Increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidences is also fuelling the adoption of automated CPR devices.High Cost Remains a Key Challenge for Widespread AdoptionAlthough FMI maintains a positive outlook on the global automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices market, high cost remains a key challenge for adoption. The average cost of a CPR device is nearly US$ 10,000, making it difficult for healthcare institutions to adopt them en masse.Request Free Report Sample@Europe and North America Most Lucrative MarketsEurope and North America are the largest markets for automated CPR devices. Demand for automated CPR devices in Europe was to the tune of US$ 18.3 million in 2014; FMI expects it to reach US$ 22.5 million by the end of 2016. Europes share in the global automated CPR devices market is expected to reach 38% by 2025, gaining 180 BPS between 2014 and 2025.The automated CPR devices market in Europe is fuelled by strong demand from Germany and U.K. Demand for automated CPR devices in Germany is expected to reach US$ 5 million by 2016 end, whereas U.K.s market is anticipated to be worth US$ 3.5 million.The U.S. remains a lucrative market for automated CPR devices, accounting for over 80% market value share in North America. In contrast, demand for automated CPR devices in Canada was worth US$ 2.3 million in 2014; FMI expects it to reach US$ 2.8 million by 2016.ZOll Medical Corporation will Surpass Physio-Control, Inc. by 2016 to become the Leading PlayerZOLL Medical Corporation, Physio-Control, Inc., Brunswick Biomedical Technologies, Michigan Instruments, and SunLife Science Inc. are the key players in the global automated CPR devices market. Physio-Control, Inc. and ZOLL Medical Corporation collectively hold nearly two-thirds of the market share currently. North America remains the most lucrative market for all the key players, except SunLife Science Inc., which has a strong presence in Asia Pacific.Send An Enquiry@Physio-Control is the dominant player in the automated CPR devices market, accounting for nearly 40% market share. The company offers LUCAS, a pneumatically-driven piston CPR device. FMI forecasts Physio-Control to lose market share to ZOLL Medical Corporation on account of gradual decrement in the use of piston-driven devices.ZOLL Medical Corporations flagship offering AutoPulse is fast gaining popularity owing to its thoracic compression theory. FMI expects ZOLL Medical Corporation to surpass Physio-Control by 2016, holding a 38.6% market share vis-a-vis 36% share of Physio-Control.Michigan Instruments, SunLife Science Inc., and Brunswick Biomedical Technologies will account for less than 10% share of the global market by 2020, owing to consolidation by ZOLL Medical Corporation and Physio-Control.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.comWebsite: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2014-2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-283 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-283 www.futuremarketinsights.com Autonomous vehicle technology is proactively design and developed by automotive industry to bring benefits of safety, traffic control and ultimately enhancing driving experience. Technology has become one of the main constraints of premium and luxury car buyers, especially when it comes to safety. Various advancement in safety features has been designed and developed by automotive industry players such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The main application of ADAS is obstacle detection and avoiding collision. ADAS is the set of systems comprises electronic devices, equipment, radar camera and sensors. One of the most popular feature of ADAS is cruise controlThe global advanced driver assistance systems market is increasing rapidly due to various factors such as stringent government norms related to safety and consumer preferences shifting to new technology advancement and active safety features. The global advanced driver assistance systems market is expected to register 16% to 18% CAGR for the forecast period. The global advanced driver assistance systems market is geographically segmented into seven key regions which are North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East & Africa. As of 2013, North America registered the largest share in global advanced driver assistance systems market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific region respectively. In terms of growth rate Asia Pacific segment is projected to register highest growth in global advanced driver assistance systems market with double digit CAGR, closely followed by Japan and South Korea. The growth in Asia Pacific segment of the global advanced driver assistance systems market is fueled by increasing penetration rate of active safety systems especially in region like China and India due to supporting macroeconomic factors such as rising income and purchasing power, changing lifestyle to due growing urbanization and increasing awareness about active safety systems. Additionally, countries like Japan and South Korea is also forecast to register significant growth of demand inadvanced driver assistance systems and is expected to account for double digit growth in terms of revenue in the global advanced driver assistance systems market due to stringent government legislations and safety norms.Request Free Report Sample@The global advanced driver assistance systems market is further segmented into channel which include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket. OEMs accounts majority of share in terms of revenue in the global advanced driver assistance systems market, and is forecast to maintain its dominance for the forecast period in global advanced driver assistance systems market. On the basis of vehicle type the global advanced driver assistance systems market is further segmented into passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle sub-segments. As of 2013, the passenger vehicle segment dominates the overall global advanced driver assistance system, and it is expected to maintain its dominance in global advance driver assistance systems market throughout the forecast period. Currently, advance driver assistance systems are majorly available as factory installed equipment in luxury in premium cars but in future these systems are expected to witness increased penetration in low segments cars too, thereby giving rising the demand in global advance driver assistance systems market.Request For TOC@The technology segment of global advanced driver assistance system includes infrared sensors, laser sensors, radar sensors, image sensors, and ultrasonic sensors. On the basis of type the global advanced driver assistance systems market includes adaptive cruise control (ACC), blind spot detection (BSD), park assist, lane departure warning system (LDWS), tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and others (night vision, driver monitoring system, forward collision warning, heads up display).The adaptive cruise control segment of the global advanced driver assistance systems market is predominant in terms of revenue, and it is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period in the global advanced driver assistance systems market. The penetration rate of adaptive cruise control is high, whereas other ADAS such as TPMS, LDWS, night vision and forward collision warning is low especially premium and low-range cars. The global advanced driver assistance systems market is fragmented with number of global and local player. The key players in the global advanced driver assistance systems market are Continental Ag, Delphi Automotive Plc, Denso Corporation, Magna International and Robert Bosch GMBH.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: Bio Polyol and Green Polyol Market to Witness Steady Growth during the Forecast Period 2014-2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-273 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-273 www.futuremarketinsights.com Green polyols and bio polyols are eco-friendly alcohol solutions containing multiple hydroxyl groups. Green polyol is derived from recycled polyethylene terepthalate (PET) and polyurethanes, while bio polyol is extracted from different vegetable oils such as canola, castor and corn. Polyether polyols and polyester polyols are the two primary types of green polyols and bio poyols which are commonly used. These products are used in series of applications such as adhesives, sealants, coatings, and polyurethane foams (flexible & rigid). Different end-user consumers of these polyols include packaging, construction, transportation, furniture and carpet among others.The demand for green & bio polyols market has been majorly growing from certain end user industries such as transportation and construction. Several growth factors such as availability of raw materials and increasing prices of crude oil leading to price rise in conventional polyols have contributed to the growth of the market. Other factors such as the lower carbon footprint have also lead to a higher sustainability for green polyols and bio polyols. However, lack of technology and desired effects as compared to conventionally used polyols is expected to slow down the growth of the green polyol and bio polyol market.Request Free Report Sample@North America is the largest consumer of green polyols and bio polyols where soybean and corn are the commonly used raw materials to manufacture bio polyols. Future market growth is expected to be from emerging regions such as Asia Pacific with growth of the end-user industries such as automotive and packaging, which are also expected to provide growth opportunities to the market.Request For TOC@Arkema S.A., BASF SE, Biobased Technologies LLC, Bayer MaterialScience, Cargill Inc., Global Bio-Chem Technology Group Co. Ltd., Emery Oleochemicals (M) Sdn Bhd, Johnson Controls Inc, and Jayant Agro Organics Ltd. are some of the key industry manufacturers dominating the green polyol and bio polyol 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.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: Bentonite Market to Expand at 5.8% CAGR through 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-348 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-348 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI), delivers key insights on the bentonite market in its latest report titled, Bentonite Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 20152025. According to the report, revenue from the global bentonite market is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. Bentonite is a highly colloidal clay mineral which contains a various minerals such as feldspar, quartz, gypsum and calcite. Properties such as water swelling, absorption, hydration and viscosity broaden the application scope of bentonite across a wide range of industries, such as food and pharmaceuticals. It finds its use in the manufacture of detergents, paints pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, polishes, dyes, animal feed and paper. For instance, it is used as a binding agent in the production of iron ore pellets and finds application in foundries. Also, based on application or use of finished product the mechanical and chemical properties of bentonite can be modified through various combinations and additions of raw materials.Versatility of this material is driving increasing adoption in various industries, including automobiles, construction and chemicals. Technological advancements in bentonite production and increasing demand through exports are major underlying factors anticipated to fuel growth of the Asia Pacific bentonite market between 2015 and 2025. This is forecast to offer bentonite manufacturers, distributors and product converters unprecedented opportunities in the market. Furthermore, the trend is even more pronounced in emerging economies of the world (Brazil, India, Russia and China). Healthy trade relations and government support in these regions has served to boost bentonite export-import activities.Demand for bentonite is highest in North America -- the region accounting for 36.3% share of the global market in 2014. North America is expected to remain the most lucrative market for bentonite throughout the forecast period. India is projected to play an important role in this market owing to low labour and operational costs. Owing to the growth in the oil industry, especially in Asia Pacific and Middle East, the drilling fluid- and clarification agent- application segments are expected to exhibit high growth rates of over 6% during the forecast period.Request Free Report Sample@Some of the major driving factors identified in the global bentonite market include rapid growth of the construction sector in emerging markets and Use of bentonite in treating and filtering water is also driving the growth of the market. In addition, government support to SMEs in this region is forecast to further boost growth of the market. However, stiff competition on account of substitute products and shrinking profit margin can impede the growth of the market. Increasing application of bentonite in landscaping and landfill as a geosynthetics clay liner (GCL) are the key trends in the market.On the basis of product type, the global bentonite market is segmented into calcium, sodium, and others. Key end-use application segments include sealant, binder, clarification agent, drilling fluid, and absorbent/adsorbent. Oil, food, construction, foundry, and pharmaceuticals are the key end-use industries for the bentonite market. North America is the largest market for bentonite, while Asia Pacific is the fastest growing.The report analyses the global bentonite market in terms of value (US$ Mn) and volume (000 tonnes) by region, product type, end-use application and end-use industries, and provides insightful information regarding market dynamics, value chain, competitive landscape, current trends, market estimations and forecast.Key market participants covered in the report include Black Hills Bentonite, LLC, Halliburton Co., Kemira OYJ, Charles B Chrystal Co. Inc., Mineral Technologies Inc., Clariant AG, Alfa Aesar, Kutch Minerals, Kunimine Industries Co. Ltd., Ashapura Group of Companies and Wyo- Ben Inc.Send An Enquiry@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.comWebsite: Carbon Steel Market Forecast Research Reports Offers Key Insights http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-307 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-307 www.futuremarketinsights.com Carbon steel which is also known as plain carbon steel is an alloy which is manufactured using the combination of iron and carbon. Carbon steel is also the term used to refer steel which is not stainless steel. Carbon steel also contains other metals in extremely small quantities. Other alloying metal used in the manufacturing of carbon steel includes manganese, copper and silicon. The proportion of carbon is increased in the steel in order to increase the physical properties of the product. High carbon content in the metal increases the hardness as well as strength of the product. However, increased proportion of carbon reduces the ductility of the product making it extremely difficult to weld. High carbon content usually lowers the steels melting point and also its temperature resistance. The carbon content in the steel varies from 0.1 to 1.5%. However, there are steels that contain above 2% of carbon content but they are rarely used and have extremely specific applications. Carbon steels are mainly classified as low carbon steel, medium carbon steel and high carbon steel depending on the carbon content in the steel alloy. Carbon steel is one of the most widely used steel alloys. Low carbon steel or mild steel is the most common form of carbon steel used owing to its easy availability and cheap price.Medium and high carbon steel is widely used in many common applications. High carbon steel are used to manufacture a wide range of tools and equipments which includes knives, saw blades, chains, brackets, wear parts,pneumatic drill bits, railway wheels, shear blades, wire for structural work and jaws for vices among others. Carbon steel is majorly used in manufacturing a range of cutting tools owing to their great hardness and brittleness. Carbon steel is used in sheeting and in various structural forms owing to its amenability to tooling and wielding. Carbon steel is also used to in the construction industry. Carbon steel is widely used in the construction of bridges. Thus, the growing construction industry is expected to drive the growth of the carbon steel market. Carbon steels also find applications in the automobile industry. Carbon steel is an important material used in the manufacturing of automobiles framework. The automobiles body is usually manufactured using carbon steel. Carbon steel is used in manufacturing ships and rail roads.Thus, the growing automobile industry is expected to boost the overall demand for carbon steel market.Request Free Report Sample@Asia Pacific is the largest manufacturer of carbon steel. Presence of many carbon steel manufacturers in China is expected to boost the overall demand for carbon steel market. Asia Pacific is also the largest consumer of carbon steel. The increase in urbanization coupled with the growing economies in the region is expected to augment the overall demand for carbon steel in the region. Asia Pacific is followed by Europe in terms of consumption of carbon steel. Presence of many automobile manufacturers in the region is expected to boost the demand for carbon steel in the region. The demand for carbon steel is expected to grow rapidly owing to the high demand for the steel alloy in the railway and ship industry.Request For TOC@Curtis Steel Co., Inc., Omega Steel Company, Afarak Group, ArcelorMittal SA and Bushwick Metals LLC are some of the participants of the global carbon steel 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.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: Force Sensors Market size and Key Trends in terms of volume and value 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-272 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-272 www.futuremarketinsights.com Force sensors are also known as force transducers that converts an input mechanical force into an electrical output signal. It act as a force sensing resistor in an electric circuit. It has various benefits such as flexibility and ultra-thin sensor construction which leads to minimal interference in normal action of device and precise response. Depending upon the working and sensing method, variety of force sensors are available in the market.Force Sensor Market: Drivers and RestraintThe global force sensor market is expected to witness substantial growth over the period of forecast. Technological advancement, low manufacturing cost, increasing product demand, rise in the demand of industrial robots, advancement of medical devices with force sensing technology, innovations and development in the manufacturing are the few factors encouraging the growth of global force sensor market.Request Free Report Sample@On the other hand, factors which are restraining the global force sensor market are instability in the demand across various end-user industry and underdeveloped aftermarket sales channels.Force Sensor Market: SegmentationThe global force sensor market can be segmented into type, application and region. On the basis of type, the global force sensor market can be segmented into, optical force sensor, piezoresistive force sensor, capacitive force sensor, magnetic force sensor, ultrasonic force sensor, strain gauges, and electrochemical force sensorsSensors has become an essential part of any measurement and automation applications. Overall global sensor market is witnessing a trend of increasing sensor accuracy, reliability, response time, efficiency, communication capability and robustness encourages the demand for sensors across various applications. On the basis of application, the global force sensor market can be segmented into, medical & pharmaceutical sector, automotive, printing & packaging, consumer electronics, industrial (robotic & manufacturing), and aerospace & defence. Key developments in the prominent industries such as medical & pharmaceuticals, robotics, aerospace & defence, manufacturing and others is expected to encourage the growth of global force sensor market by 2025. Force sensors are used in manufacturing tools, transportation equipment, microelectronic packaging, transportation equipment etc. Force sensors can also be used in wireless inventory management system to improve order scheduling which helps in avoiding inventory stock-out issue.Request For TOC@Force Sensor Market: Region wise outlookOn the basis of region, the global force sensor market can be seven regions which include North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East & Africa. North America is dominating the global force sensor market due to high technological advancement and increasing adoption among various end-user applications. However, revenue contribution from Asia Pacific excluding Japan is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period.Force Sensor Market: Key PlayersKey players in the global force sensor market are FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc., OMRON Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated are the top players are global force sensor market. Apart from them, various other players are existing in market such as TE Connectivity Ltd., Tekscan, Inc., ATI Industrial Automation, and Sensata Technologies, Inc. Key players are focusing on development of new technologies and new product launch. Merger and acquisition is another activity observed in the market by the market participants to increase their product portfolio and to grow the business. The growth in global force sensor market is also due to growing awareness about the potential use of force sensors in different electronic devices by the original equipment manufacturers. For example, in August 2015, Apple, Inc. posted a patent report, An Advanced Force Touch Patent for the iPad Surfaces in Europe to develop techniques to integrate the force sensors into the iPhone and iPad.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: Iron Oxide Market is Projected to be Valued at over US$ 2.8 Bn by 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1254 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1254 www.futuremarketinsights.com Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the global iron oxide market in its latest report titled, Iron Oxide Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015-2025. In terms of value, the global iron oxide market is projected to increase at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period, owing to various factors, regarding which FMI offers vital insights in detail in this report.Iron oxides are chemical compounds that, apart from iron ores, find wide application as pigments, catalysts, etc. Construction and paints & coatings are the major end-use industries for iron oxides.Growth in construction industry, supported by rising urbanization, is expected to be among the major drivers for global iron oxide market. Major application of iron oxides in the construction industry is to colour concrete blocks and pavement bricks. Iron oxide pigments are being widely used in paints and coatings industry for their use as primers for automobiles and steel structures.Stringent government regulations are expected to adversely impact global iron oxide market significantly. This is especially the case in China, where, over the last two years, various small- and medium-scale companies have exited the iron oxide market due to high costs involved in ensuring regulatory compliance. The same trend is expected to continue over the near future.Request Free Report Sample@The iron oxide market is segmented on the basis of product type, application and region. On the basis of product type, the global iron oxide market is segmented into red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, orange iron oxide, brown iron oxide, green iron oxide and other blends. On the basis of application, the global iron oxide market is segmented into construction, paints & coatings, plastics, chemicals, paper & pulp manufacturing, textile, ceramics, leather and others (fertilizers, cosmetics and rubber). Regionally, the global iron oxide market is segmented into Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa and Japan.Among product types, red iron oxide was the largest revenue contributor to the global iron oxide market in 2014. Wide application of red iron oxide across various industries is expected to support growth of the segment over the forecast period.In 2014, the construction industry segment dominated the global market, accounting for around 50% revenue share. Growth of the construction industry is in turn expected to drive growth of the iron oxide market over forecast period. In order to enhance their market share, iron oxide producers are focusing on development of new applications for iron oxides.In 2014, Asia pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) was the largest market for iron oxide, both in terms of production and consumption. In terms of consumption, APEJ was followed by Western Europe and North America, respectively.Send An Enquiry@Key players profiled in this study of the global iron oxide market include LANXESS AG, Huntsman International Inc. Cathay Industries, Alabama Pigments Company LLC, Shenghua Group Deqing Huayuan Pigment Co LTD, TODA KOGYO CORPORATION, Jiangsu Yuxing Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., Hunan Three-ring Pigments Co., Ltd., Yaroslavsky Pigment Company and Tata Pigments Company. LANXESS AG has been estimated to account for the largest share in the global iron oxide market in 2015.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.comWebsite: Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market To Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-566 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-566 www.futuremarketinsights.com In global information and communication industry one of the significant trend is shifting of internet services from computers to mobile devices. As the penetration of smart phone is increasing exponentially, most of the companies around the world is focusing to deliver their services with enhanced user experience over the mobile platforms. User experience (also UX) is all about how convenient a person feels while interacting with a system, this system could be a utilization of hardware, web application or a software. User centered designs is one of the key ingredient of digital services and devices and by creating it as differentiator can become the companys competitive advantage in market place while increasing the operational performance at the same time. The user experience includes various functions such as media, visuals, information and functional architects, etc.Request Free Report Sample@Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global advanced mobile UX design services is increasing exponentially due to various driving factors such as increasing smart phone penetration in developing economies such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, increasing mobile banking, mobile shopping, gamming social media browsing, etc. Also, growing penetration of 4G LTE infrastructure is supporting the growth of the advance mobile UX design services market. However, some security factors such as data security and cyber-crime are posed to be major restrains towards the growth of the global advanced mobile UX design services market.Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: SegmentationThe global advance mobile UX design services market is broadly segmented into geography and type of services. There are various advance mobile UX design services are available nowadays such as, voice over internet protocol, video on demand, web browsing, micro-blogging, live tv streaming etc. Some of the major service type segment included in the global advance mobile UX design services market are;Web browsingStreamingVoIPMicro-blogOthersAdvanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: OverviewWith rapid technological advancement and wide acceptance of smartphones, the global advance mobile UX design services market is expected to expand at healthy CAGR of around 10% during the forecast period (2015-2025). Some of the latest trends identified in the global advanced mobile UX design services market are enhancing personalization features such as rearranging tabs and functions within the mobile app, Date/Time format, themes (color, image, etc.), and preferred language etc.Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global advanced mobile UX design services market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global advanced mobile UX design services market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. As of 2014, North America, and Western Europe dominated the global advanced mobile UX design services market in terms of market revenue. Asia Pacific & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will contribute to the global advanced mobile UX design services market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2016?2025.Visit For TOC@Advanced Mobile UX Design Services Market: Key PlayersThe rapid technological changes such as change in operating system, communication technology are pushing advanced mobile UX design services providers to go extra mile for technological advancement to meet the demand of future. Some of the key market players in global advanced mobile UX design services market are Mindtree Ltd., Infosys Limited, RapidValue Solutions, AKTA, Sourcebits, Feathersoft Info Solutions Private Limited, Space Chimp Media, Computer Sciences Corp. and SoftServe 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. 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.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Bromine Market To Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-658 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-658 www.futuremarketinsights.com The Global bromine market has made remarkable growth over the past few decades. This market has largely been driven by the increased usage of bromine in various applications such as flame retardant, photographic chemical, bleaching & oxidizing chemical, precision cleaning, monomers for specialty polymers, organic intermediates and lot more. The growing demand for flame retardants by textile and electronic industries is anticipated to offer outstanding opportunities for bromine market.Bromine belongs to halogen group and is the only liquid nonmetallic element. It is volatile element that is reddish-brown in color and is extracted from seawater, salt lakes, and brine wells. In seawater bromine appears in very small amount and it is recovered through the treatment of seawater with chlorine gas. There is no need to produce the bromine in laboratory as it is present commercially in the market. The bromine vapor may cause throat and eye irritation so maximum precautions are taken while handling it.Request Free Report Sample@The growing consumption of bromine in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, Pesticides and water treatment industry is poised to show an impressive growth for global bromine market during the forecast period 2015-2020.Bromine Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe demand for global bromine market is anticipated to show considerable growth during the forecast period 2015-2020 due to its increased demand in several applications such as biocides, flame retardants, oil & gas drilling, plasma etching, and PTA synthesis. The growth in Bromine consumption by numerous industries such as cosmetic industry, textile industry, pharmaceuticals and Agro-Fumigants is set to fuel the demand for bromine market. Though bromine is very vital element for various industries and used in large scale, it has some negative effects also. Brominated flame retardant are considered toxic in nature. Thus, rising environmental concern such as water and soil pollution due to bromine may affect the demand for global bromine market.Bromine Market: Market SegmentationThe global bromine market is broadly classified into six segments by applicationsFlame retardantsBiocidesOrganic IntermediatesPTA synthesisPlasma etchingOil & Gas drillingFlame retardants is the biggest application among all other bromine applications and expected to show tremendous growth during the forecast period.The global bromine market is broadly classified into five segments by end user industryPharmaceuticalsCosmeticsTextilePesticidesAutomotiveOthersThe global bromine market is broadly classified into five segments by derivativesClear brine fluidsHydrogen bromideOrganobrominesAmong all Organobromines is the largest derivative for bromine.Bromine Market: Regional OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global endoscopy visualization systems and components market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. As of 2015, Asia-pacific is the largest market in global bromine industry followed by North America and Western Europe. In Asia Pacific region China is the largest market for bromine and it is the worlds third largest producer of Bromine after U.S. and Israel. Growing automotive and construction industries in Asia Pacific region and their increasing consumption of bromine are the major drivers for Asia Pacific bromine market.Visit For TOC@Bromine Market: Market PlayersMajor players operating in Global bromine market are, Israel Chemicals Limited (Israel), Albemarle Corporation (U.S.), Tosoh Corporation (Japan), , Tata Chemicals Limited (India), Chemtura Corporation (U.S.), Jordan Bromine Company Limited (Jordan), Gulf Resources Inc. (China), and Hindustan Salts Limited (India), Tetra Technologies Inc. (U.S.), are some of the major manufacturers of bromine in the world.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 trends616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Good Growth Opportunities in Global Poultry Feed Market 2015-2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-716 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-716 www.futuremarketinsights.com Poultry feed market is a part of vast animal feed market and makes an important part of it as poultry is invariably consumed in most parts of the world. The concept of animal feed has been there in the market for several years especially in the developed markets. However, with the advent of globalization and rise in the standard of living of consumers, companies are expanding in the emerging markets of the world with improved products and wide range of options for each animal group. Poultry meat is the highest among others such as pork, beef and fish meat. Therefore, vast opportunity lies in the poultry feed segment.Poultry Feed Market: Drivers & RestraintsRising per capita income and widespread poultry diseases are the major driving factors of the poultry feed market globally. In addition, growth of domestic and international quick service restaurants in developing countries and demand for quality meat products by consumers has significantly contributed to the rising demand of poultry feed those regions. In 2014, Asia Pacific was the largest market in terms of poultry feed demand and revenue and would continue to dominate the market for several factors. The market growth is attributed to the higher standard of living among consumers coupled with shift towards away-from-home-eating. Manufacturers are closely working with the factory farmers to direct them towards higher yield of poultry thereby increasing their return on investment (ROI). For instance, Cargill Inc. were engaged closely with Malaysia based TD Poultry to deliver best poultry solution. As a result, TD Poultry could achieve remarkable results in broilers with 1.63 feed conversion rates. Also, 2.35 kg body weight was achieved in 35 days, down from previous 40 days.Request Free Report Sample@Poultry Feed Market: SegmentationThe various type of poultry feed additives available in the market consists of antibiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids, feed enzymes and feed acidifiers. Feed acidifiers are the largest among all other poultry additive segment across the world. The regional segmentation includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is the largest market followed by North America. On the basis of type, the poultry feed market can be segmented as broilers, layers, turkey and others. The consumption of meat varies from region to region, for instance, in North America, broilers is the most preferred meat category and antibiotics falls under the largest category under the feed additives segment.Poultry Feed Market: Market OverviewPoultry feed is required to increase the feed conversion ratio by improving gut micro flora thereby enhancing animals health. It also maintains animal health by preventing diseases among them. The manufacturers are concentrating more on the developing markets to tap the under penetrated feed market in countries such as Vietnam, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Lebanon and Turkey. These markets offer greater opportunities to increase revenue and sales with higher per capita expenditure on quality food. Moreover, it is a proven fact that with rise in per capita income, people tend to consume more meat and meat products. Therefore the poultry feed market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR through the forecast period (2015-2020).Poultry Feed Market: Recent DevelopmentPlayers such as Novus International, Inc. and Kemin group continue to deliver new products for poultry farmers. In November 2012, Novus International, Inc. launched AVIMATRIX- a feed solution for optimized broiler performance by acting over gut environment through targeted and controlled release of compounds in the broilers gut. There is an increasing demand of solution oriented customized products from the poultry farmers in the emerging markets. In May 2013, a South African firm AgriProtein Technologies bagged the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) for developing a commercial method to develop animal feed through maggots.Visit For TOC@Poultry Feed Market: Key PlayersKey global players of the poultry feed market include Alltech Inc., ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company), ABF Plc (Associated British Food), BASF (Badishce Anilin und Soda Fabrik), Charoen Popkhand Foods, Cargill Inc., Evonik Industries AG, CHR.Hansen Holdings A/S, Novus International Inc, Nutreco NV, Royal DSM N.V., DLG Group and InVivo NSA.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.comWebsite: Food Processing Food Sales - Market Size, Share, Analysis And Global Industry Forecast Report To 2021 https://marketreportscenter.com/reports/505975/global-food-processing-food-sales-market-report-2017 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-sample/505975 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-discount/505975 https://marketreportscenter.com Global Food Processing Food Sales Industry 2021 Market Research Report analysed the current state in the definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The report also focuses on the development trends as well as history, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions etc in the international markets.Global Food Processing Food Sales Industry 2021 Market Research Report is a professionally prepared report comprising of in-depth information as well as knowledge which is helpful to the new entrants and the established players. Key statistics on the state of the industry and the complete demand analysis of the industry is showcased in the report.Get the Exemplified Analysis for the Products of Food Processing Food at:The development policies, plans as well as the bill of materials, cost structures are well studied and explained within the report for a better understanding. It also includes the study of the sales, import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. Also, the complete analysis of the prices, revenue share, growth rate etc.Through combining the well-integrated data with the deep analytical skills valid findings are detected. It gives out a strong prediction about the growth of the Food Processing Food Sales industry in the future years to come. Furthermore, each and every important variable which is responsible for shaping the Global Food Processing Food Sales Industry in the incorporated during the preparation process of the report.The report begins with the industry overview furnishing the details about the specifications, classification, applications, industry chain structure as well as gives out the policy analysis of the industry. It moves further on towards determining the manufacturing cost structure analysis, technical data as well as the manufacturing plant analysis. A lot of insightful predictions about the production, export/import, and consumption is provided in the report.For Sample Copy, click here:Future Development Trends in the Global Food Processing Food Sales Company through the market share, SWOT analysis, revenue, gross margin is indicated through the report. Apart from it the report also provides great prospects of the new projects investments, SWOT analysis of the new projects, details about the key consumers with the complete contact details for the new entrants to engage in better opportunities.The competitive landscape of the market state showcases the study of the most renowned players in the China markets in the field of Global Food Processing Food Sales industry. A detailed and thorough analysis of the company profiles, production as well as consumption, traders, marketing distributors along with the impact is covered throughout the report. The overall research conclusions with the investment avenues are prevalent in the report. Through the report, the new entrants are able to get the complete overview of the current state of the Global Food Processing Food Sales which will be beneficial for them.Ask for Discount @About Us:Market 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.Contact for more details:Sam Collins303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, IndiaEmail: info@marketreportscenter.comWeb - Biochip Market Growth with Worldwide Industry Analysis to 2021 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Biochip-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2017-2021/up78 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Biochip-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2017-2021/upcomingdetail78 www.sa-brc.com Biochips allow simultaneous testing of higher number of analytes to achieve high throughput and low cost per test. Nanotechnology has helped in miniaturization of devices to achieve higher performance standards. Microarrays are most important part of biochips which send signals to the biochip to deliver end results. Microfluidic biochips have become modern alternative to routine laboratories. Microfluidic technology which enables controlling flow of liquids in micro and pico quantities has become an indispensible part of biochip applications.Biochip technology has been widely used in genetic engineering and analysis. These chips have DNA strands attached to the surface, and can detect samples with extremely small concentration. Genetic biochips or genechips have accelerated genome sequencing and are now being incorporated in devices for easy and rapid analysis. Scientists have developed biochip transponder which is placed under the skin to provide unique identification. Integration of biochip technology with genetic and protein research has facilitated rapid and accurate analysis. Application of microarray and microfluidic technology in veterinary diagnosis has increased considerably in the recent past. Biochips in animal health are used in disease diagnosis and genotyping.Free Sample Report@Increasing understanding of biomarkers and genetic makeup and their role in disease diagnosis and progression is expected to increase application of biochips in routine diagnosis. Majority of the overall biochips market is dominated by North America, Europe and Asia Pacific geographies. It is expected that more number of biotechnology research institutes would emerge in the near future owing to increased government funding and acknowledgement of success in biopharmaceutical research through regulatory approvals and new policy amendments.From the clinical point-of-view, there is huge demand for rapid diagnosis and targeted therapy. Economic burden for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological diseases is increasing rapidly across the globe. National Cancer Institute, U.S. estimates over 1.68 million new cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S. in 2016. In U.K. 0.35 million new cancer cases were recorded as per Cancer Research U.K, while globally more than 8 million patients die due to cancer. According to World Health Organization (WHO) over 422 million individuals were recorded having diabetes in 2014 globally. Research also estimates that the prevalence of these chronic diseases is expected to rise in the coming years, which would provide necessary leverage for the biochip market growth.Click For TOC@ProtoArray human protein microarray by Thermo Fisher Scientific consists of over 9,000 unique human proteins and enables biomarker identification with concentration as low as 10 ?L. These systems also help in mapping protein-protein interaction for providing more insights to complex biochemical pathways. Other key players in the global biochip market are Agilent Technologies, Inc., Bio-Rad laboratories, Inc., PerkinElmer Inc., Randox Laboratories, Illumina, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Oxford Nanopore, VHLGenetics, Median Diagnostic, Inc. and others.About UsSpearhead Acuity Business Research & Consulting Private Limited (SA-BRC) is a premium Life Science business intelligence and data analytics firm. SA-BRC team offers a wide range of business intelligence services to multiple stakeholders such as Medical Device Manufacturers, Service Providers (Hospitals, Payers, etc.), Suppliers, Group Purchase Organizations, Distributors and all other individuals in the entire value chain of healthcare industry. Our research and consulting capabilities extend across several sub-domains within the sphere of Life Sciences such as Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Medical Devices, Veterinary Sciences, Wellness Products and Pharmaceuticals.Contact UsJohn Whitmore10685-B Hazelhurst Drive,Suite 17411Houston, Texas 77043,United StatesPhone: +1(832)-426-3701Email: sales@sa-brc.comWebsite: Global Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Market Expected to Grow Till 2021 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Polymerase-Chain-Reaction-PCR-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2017-2021/up80 http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Polymerase-Chain-Reaction-PCR-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2017-2021/upcomingdetail80 www.sa-brc.com Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a routinely used system in life science laboratories to amplify small amount of DNA. PCR applications have increased radically in the recent past due to surge in genetic research. The technology has been applied in varied areas including agriculture, forensic, disease diagnosis and bio-pharmaceutical research. Recently the technology has been integrated with therapeutic application in companion diagnostics. PCR technology witnessed swift acceptance among researchers across the globe due to wide scope of application, low cost, and ease of operation. In spite of introduction of various advanced technologies, PCR has still remained a mainstay in basic DNA research. The global polymerase chain reaction market is segmented into two broad categories on basis of technology into: digital PCR and quantitative PCR; and by components into: devices, reagents and consumables, and software.Polymerase chain reaction market is largely driven by regulatory approval of PCR based diagnostic tests, allowing rapid growth in the clinical application segment. In 2016, the U.S. FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a number of PCR based tests for Zika virus diagnosis. Some of the tests authorized by the regulatory agency include LightMix Zika rRT-PCR test by Roche Diagnostics, and Zika Virus RNA Qualitative RT-PCR test by Quest Diagnostics among three others. In 2015, FDA also cleared cobas Influenza A/B test, an rt-PCR based test by Roche for diagnosis and differentiation of Influenza-A and -B variants. Development of drug resistance is also become a growing crisis for which accurate diagnosis in early stage has become paramount.? Companion diagnostics allows physicians to make informed decisions prior to prescribing cancer treatment. This has helped in increasing success rate to a large extent. With this, PCR has found an important position in cancer diagnosis and treatment which is related to millions of mortalities globally. Considering these success parameters, the technology is gradually being applied in various medical fields. The global PCR market is also expected to boost with increasing incidences of disease and need for rapid disease diagnosis.Free Sample Report@Large percentage of the global polymerase chain reaction market has been concentrated in the North America and Europe. Latin America and Asia Pacific have higher percentage of share in research, as compared to medical applications. Evolving healthcare sector in developing countries in these regions would assist PCR applications in medical field, thus driving the overall market.The polymerase chain reaction market is largely fragmented with more than 15 major players operating globally. Key players in the polymerase chain reaction market include Agilent Technologies, bioM?rieux, Bio-Rad Laboratories Ltd, Roche Diagnostics, Qiagen N.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific and others.Click For TOC@About UsSpearhead Acuity Business Research & Consulting Private Limited (SA-BRC) is a premium Life Science business intelligence and data analytics firm. SA-BRC team offers a wide range of business intelligence services to multiple stakeholders such as Medical Device Manufacturers, Service Providers (Hospitals, Payers, etc.), Suppliers, Group Purchase Organizations, Distributors and all other individuals in the entire value chain of healthcare industry. Our research and consulting capabilities extend across several sub-domains within the sphere of Life Sciences such as Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Medical Devices, Veterinary Sciences, Wellness Products and Pharmaceuticals.Contact UsJohn Whitmore10685-B Hazelhurst Drive,Suite 17411Houston, Texas 77043,United StatesPhone: +1(832)-426-3701Email: sales@sa-brc.comWebsite: Now Available Global Gas Leak Detectors Market Forecast And Growth 2014-2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-67 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-67 www.futuremarketinsights.com A gas leak detector is a piece of equipment or a device that senses and detects the existence of gases in a particular area. These devices are used as a part of safety systems installed in factories, homes and commercial complexes. A gas leak detector system detects the gas leaked and generates a signal to take proper action. Industrially, gas detector systems are fitted with a sound alarm to evacuate the area in case of toxic gas leakage. The popularity of such devices is growing due to the influx of new chemical facilities across the world. Further, the growing gas storage facility network across the globe has deployed a significant number of gas leak detectors for safety systems.Due to their design modifications, gas detectors are broadly categorised on the basis of technology as electrochemical, infrared imaging, infrared point, ultrasonic, semiconductor and holographic. On the basis of product type, the global gas detectors market is bifurcated into portable gas detectors and fixed gas detectors.Request Free Report Sample@Portable gas detectors are widely used in lab application whereas fixed detectors find their maximum application in gas extraction and processing fields. Fixed gas detectors can also be used for residential applications such as using itin a bedroom. Further, industrial fixed type gas detector application includes SCADA monitoring.Gas detectors are used in applications such as gas turbines, building and construction, health care, food and beverages, water treatment, oil and gas refineries, chemical plants, underground gas storage facilities, and others. The segments for refineries and chemical plants applications dominate the global market at present. Nevertheless, gas detectors are widely used in underground gas storage. The growing gas supply network is spurring the demand in this segment.One of the major driving factors for gas leak detectors market is the ever growing oil & gas industry. The increasing number of gas field explorations and widening gas supply network has been fuelling the demand for gas leak detectors. In addition, active government organizations have been imposing safety regulations on the industries. This, in turn, has propelled the demand for gas leak detectors. Further, Asia Pacific is likely to lead the league in terms of growth of the industrial sector, mining sector, medicine and healthcare sector, and construction sector. This is likely to create opportunities for the growth of theglobal gas leak detectors market. However, the market is facing strong competition due to the influx of new players in the market and frequent product launches.Multi-gas detector coupled with an analyzer system is one of the emerging trends in the global leaked gas detector market. This kind of detector is gaining popularity due to its compact designs and better features as compared to conventional gas leak detectors. It is expected that the after sales market is likely to develop further in future and a number of market participants will enter this segment. It is also expected that the gas leak detector manufacturers will expand their business to aftermarket sales through forward integration and strategic alliances.A number of product launches can be seen in the global gas leak detectors market. For instance, market participants such as Scott Safety, GE and RAE Systems recently launched a few new gas leak detectors. The global gas leak detectors market has also been witnessing strategic alliances such as that between Cbiss and Old Man Partner. To expand the business globally, a number of gas leaked detectors manufacturers have acquired other companies such as the acquisition of Edinburgh Instruments Ltd by Techcomp Group Ltd., the acquisition of RAE Systems by Honeywell International Inc. and the acquisition ofGroveley Detection Ltd by Emerson.Request For TOC@Some of the prominent players in global gas leak detectors market are City Technology Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Mine Safety Appliances Co., Dragerwerk AG & Co., KGAA, Testo AG, ABB Ltd, Industrial Scientific Corporation, California Analytical Instruments Inc., Figaro Engineering Inc., Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Hitech Instruments Ltd, Ametek Inc., Emerson Electric Co.,Halma Plc, Trolex Ltd,GE Measurement & Control, Gasmet Technologies OY, Enerac Inc., Xtralis Pty. Ltd, Horiba Ltd and others.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.comWebsite: Global Aquatic Product Sales Market 2017 with Growth Rate, Key Company Profile and Forecast to 2021 https://marketreportscenter.com/reports/505955/global-aquatic-product-sales-market-report-2017 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-sample/505955 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-discount/505955 https://marketreportscenter.com Global Aquatic Product Sales Industry 2021 Market Research Report analysed the current state in the definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The report also focuses on the development trends as well as history, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions etc in the international markets.Global Aquatic Product Sales Industry 2021 Market Research Report is a professionally prepared report comprising of in-depth information as well as knowledge which is helpful to the new entrants and the established players. Key statistics on the state of the industry and the complete demand analysis of the industry is showcased in the report.Get the Exemplified Analysis for the Products of Aquatic Product at:The development policies, plans as well as the bill of materials, cost structures are well studied and explained within the report for a better understanding. It also includes the study of the sales, import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. Also, the complete analysis of the prices, revenue share, growth rate etc.Through combining the well-integrated data with the deep analytical skills valid findings are detected. It gives out a strong prediction about the growth of the Aquatic Product Sales industry in the future years to come. Furthermore, each and every important variable which is responsible for shaping the Global Aquatic Product Sales Industry in the incorporated during the preparation process of the report.The report begins with the industry overview furnishing the details about the specifications, classification, applications, industry chain structure as well as gives out the policy analysis of the industry. It moves further on towards determining the manufacturing cost structure analysis, technical data as well as the manufacturing plant analysis. A lot of insightful predictions about the production, export/import, and consumption is provided in the report.For Sample Copy, click here:Future Development Trends in the Global Aquatic Product Sales Company through the market share, SWOT analysis, revenue, gross margin is indicated through the report. Apart from it the report also provides great prospects of the new projects investments, SWOT analysis of the new projects, details about the key consumers with the complete contact details for the new entrants to engage in better opportunities.The competitive landscape of the market state showcases the study of the most renowned players in the China markets in the field of Global Aquatic Product Sales industry. A detailed and thorough analysis of the company profiles, production as well as consumption, traders, marketing distributors along with the impact is covered throughout the report. The overall research conclusions with the investment avenues are prevalent in the report. Through the report, the new entrants are able to get the complete overview of the current state of the Global Aquatic Product Sales which will be beneficial for them.Ask for Discount @About Us:Market 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.Contact for more details:Sam Collins303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, IndiaEmail: info@marketreportscenter.comWeb - Temperature Monitoring System Market to Maintain Healthy CAGR in Coming Years, 2026 Temperature Monitoring System Market, Temperature Monitoring System http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/12163 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/12163 www.persistencemarketresearch.com Temperature Monitoring System Market: IntroductionMaintenance of air temperature in a controlled environment ranging from factory floors and storage areas to industrial scale freezers, ovens and walk-in refrigerators is a crucial element as far as longevity of the products and productivity of the manufacturing equipment is concerned. The temperatures to be maintained in these areas has to be precise and within the range as fluctuations in temperature can affect the shelf life of the product. These fluctuations in temperature is recorded and stored in the server in real time by the temperature monitoring system. Temperature monitoring system thus is a complex system assembled with different electronic devices comprising of a computer acting as a server, temperature sensors, data connectivity devices or interfaces between the computer and the sensors and an alarm system to notify the personnel when temperature reaches critical levels. The sensors are placed in temperature critical zones where fluctuations of temperature is the highest. Productivity, being one of the most important aspect of a manufacturing company, can be hindered by the slightest variations in the operating conditions of the factory floor by various factors including the fluctuations in ambient air temperature. Therefore, temperature monitoring systems has been increasingly adopted by manufacturing companies and warehouses in order to achieve improved levels of productivity.TOC of this report is available upon request @Temperature Monitoring System Market DynamicsThe growth of temperature monitoring system is directly related to the market fluctuations in the application area. One such application is its usage in manufacturing corporations. The manufacturing activities on a global level scale is on a steady rise in the current scenario and is estimated to grow at an accelerated pace in the future thereby positively influencing the growth of the temperature monitoring system. E-commerce is one of the fastest growing and widely accepted marketplaces requiring large number of warehouses and storage facilities, these storage facilities are controlled enclosures where temperatures has to be properly maintained by the temperature monitoring system. Therefore, the increase in number of warehouses and storage system is one of the important factor driving the growth of temperature monitoring system. Another application driving the growth of temperature monitoring system market is its adoption in food & beverage industry and pharmaceutical industry, which commonly deals with perishable goods and products, requiring stringent temperature monitoring and recording system.Temperature monitoring system is a capital intensive system that requires precise pre-planning and installation, skilled personnel with an extensive knowledge of sensing electronics are required so as to enable the temperature monitoring system to function normally. Low availability of such personnel coupled with high cost can hamper the growth of the temperature monitoring system.An important trend identified in the temperature monitoring system are miniaturization of the entire system by implementing wireless technologies for data transmission. Manufacturers of the temperature monitoring system have also tweaked the system by eliminating dedicated wireless data transmission devices for enclosures which already has a central wireless connectivity system in place.Temperature Monitoring System Market: SegmentationOn the basis of product type, Temperature Monitoring System Market can be segmented as:1. Wireless System2. Wired SystemOn the basis of application, Temperature Monitoring System Market can be segmented as:1. Agriculture2. Automotive Industry3. Food & Beverages Industry4. Pharmaceutical Industry5. Logistics6. Electronics Industry7. Oil and Gas IndustryTemperature Monitoring System Market: Regional OutlookBased on the geography the Temperature Monitoring System Market is divided into seven key segments as North America, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Middle-East & Africa (MEA), and Japan. High adoption rates of temperature monitoring system is anticipated in the North America, Western Europe, and Japan region owing to maturity in manufacturing sector while the growth in Asia Pacific Excl. Japan (APEJ) and Latin America region is expected to be slow due to restricted usage of advanced technologies in the manufacturing companies and warehouses.Temperature Monitoring System Market: Key PlayersSome of the players identified in the Global Temperature Monitoring System Market are: Banner Engineering Corporation Cooper-Atkins Corporation Vaisala Oyj Fluke Process Instruments Isensix, Inc. DeltaTrak, Inc. Imec Messtechnik GmbH KTR Kupplungstechnik GmbH Emerson Electric Company Physitemp Instruments, 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 categories such as market segments, geographies, types and applications.The report covers exhaustive analysis on: Market Segments Market Dynamics Market Size Supply & Demand Current Trends/Issues/Challenges Competition & Companies involved Value ChainRegional analysis includes: North America Latin America Asia Pacific Japan Western Europe Eastern Europe Middle East & AfricaThe report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts, and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macroeconomic indicators and governing factors, along with market attractiveness within the segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and various geographies.Sample of this report is available upon request @Report highlights: Detailed overview of parent market Changing market dynamics in the industry In-depth market segmentation Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape Strategies of key players and products offered Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth A neutral perspective on market performance Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprintAbout 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: Convenience Foods Market Regulations and Competitive Landscape Outlook to 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-96 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-96 www.futuremarketinsights.com The convenience foods market is driven by busy lifestyles and ageing population. It includes a range of processed foods that has longer shelf life and are easy to use. The major attributes that consumers look for in convenience foods are ease of use, packaging, nutritional value, safety, variety and product appeal. These are prepared by adding various preservatives at specific conditions and few of them need an efficient supply chain and storage to retain their properties. Convenience foods save time and energy for preparing food at home or hotels. Technology and innovative packaging options have widened the food choices that are available in the market in various categories such as frozen, chilled, packaged foods, etc.The market has been segmented by type as canned foods, frozen foods, ready-to-eat snacks, meals, chilled foods and others. The market can also be segmented on the basis of distribution channels into supermarkets and hypermarkets, departmental stores, mom-and-pop shops, convenience stores and others. Geographically, the market can be segmented into Asia-Pacific, North America (the U.S., Canada and Mexico), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & North Africa and RoW (Rest of the World, including Latin America and South Africa).Request Free Report Sample@With more women in the workforce, the demand for convenience foods is rising, primarily in emerging economies. The rapid growth of the food service industry in large number of developing markets is also expected to fuel the demand of packaged ready-to-eat snacks such as potato fries, bakery products and meat products. However, lack of proper storage and logistics is a threat to the frozen and chilled category of convenience foods in developing countries. There are stringent regulations on labelling and manufacturing of convenience foods in both developed and developing nations. One of the major drivers for convenience foods industry growth is widened distribution channels and tendency of consumers to buy off-the-shelf especially in emerging markets of BRICS and MENA.The U.S. is the largest market for convenience foods in the world and the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America would fuel the future growth of the same. The U.S. will remain a strategic market for convenience food processors in the forecast period due to declining trend towards away-from-home dining and at-home cooking. There is a rising demand for meal solutions/ready-to-eat meals that can be prepared in two-step cooking. For instance, in December 2013, ConAgra Foods launched 23 new varieties of quality meals and desserts in Bertolli and P.F. Changs brands to enhance consumers at-home dining experience with convenience. In addition, consumers are looking for meals with foraged, hyper-local ingredients with different flavours and blends such as mushrooms, nettles, blackberries, rose hips, seaweeds, truffles, etc.The global convenience foods market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR from 20142020. Some of the emerging markets may even experience a double-digit growth rate through the forecast period in significant categories.Large multinational corporations follow multiple strategies to develop and penetrate the market for convenience foods in different regions. However, providing products that match local consumer taste is of utmost importance. Pricing is another important factor for convenience foods, however nowadays, consumers are ready to pay a premium price if they get to buy quality convenience foods with health benefits. Some of the common strategies that companies have adopted in recent times are portion controlled packaging, in-store promotions, mergers & acquisitions and health claims in labels. There is a growing trend towards healthy convenience foods that are rich in proteins, functional fibres, vitamins, probiotics and omega-3 fatty acid. For this, many market leaders are integrating their operations by acquiring ingredient manufacturers to increase their technical know-how. Availability of customized food ingredients has become a boon for convenience food manufacturers as they can provide large varieties in each category.Request For TOC@Some of the key companies manufacturing and distributing convenience foods are Amy's Kitchen, Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, ConAgra Foods, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc., Mondel?z International, Inc. and Kraft Foods Group Inc.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.comWebsite: Corn Based Ingredients Market to Register a Strong Growth By 2026 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9944 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9944 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Global corn based ingredients market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. On the basis of type Corn Based Ingredients are segmented into vitamin C, baking Powder and brown sugar. Among all the sub-segments vitamin C is the leading segment followed by other types of Corn Based Ingredients. Vitamin C is anticipated to have maximum market share over the forecast period owing to the health benefits associated with the consumption of vitamin C. Based on the application global corn based ingredients segmentation includes popcorn, corn chips, corn flakes and corn meal. Among all the segments of the global corn based ingredients market, corn meal is anticipated to be the dominating segment, in terms of revenue contribution followed by the popcorn segment. Based on the region global corn based ingredients market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan. Of which, North America is the expected to contribute maximum market share owing to the U.S. being the largest producer of the corn in the global corn ingredients market.Corn is one of the mostly used ingredient of global coarse-grain which accounts for about three-quarters of total volume in recent years. Most of the corn that is used in applications such as feed and also in industrial and food uses. Corn products are available in the processed form which includes flour, corn meal, sweeteners.The global corn based ingredients is expected to witness healthy growth over the forecast period owing to the health benefits associated with the consumption of corn based ingredients. Corn based ingredients contains various nutrients that are beneficial for the consumer health due to the presence of the protein, carbohydrates and also small amount of fat. Globally, among all regions, North America is expected to contribute highest market share due to the largest producer of corn is U.S., followed by Europe over the forecasted period owing the increasing demand for Corn Based Ingredients in the European countries. However, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness highest growth.However Asia Pacific is expected to witness highest growth owing to the rising number of health conscious consumers in the region coupled with the growing awareness among consumers related to the health benefits associated with the consumption of corn based ingredients.A sample of this report is available upon request @Major factors that are expected to propel the market growth of the corn based ingredients are increasing population coupled with the rising consumer awareness regarding the health benefits of the consumption of the corn based ingredients. However, major restraining factor that hinders the market growth of the corn based ingredients is the rising prices of the corn based ingredients coupled with the emergence of the various cereal based ingredients.Request to view table of content @Key players operating in the corn based ingredients are Tate & Lyle PLC, Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC. Cargill Incorporated and SunOpta Inc.. Companies manufacture corn based ingredients used in cereal and baking applications. For example Sunopta manufacture corn based ingredients specifically for baking, cereal and snack applications. These corn based ingredients are Non-GMO certified and superior quality ingredients that caters to rising need of food manufactures for high quality food products. Cargill Incorporated manufactures corn based ingredients named Maizewise. This Maizewise are available in various flavors that includes toasted and neutral corn.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: PMR - Beauty Drinks Market Will Continue to Grow by 2022 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9950 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9950 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Beauty drink market is expected to exhibit remarkable growth due to the rise in early aging. Other factors that promotes the beauty drinks market are increasing air pollution and busy lifestyle of the customers which leads to early ageing. Air pollutants includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that ultimately results in accelerated ageing. Consumers seek healthy options which eventually supports the beauty drinks market across the globe.Global beauty drinks market is expected to exhibit remarkable growth. Major factors that are expected to propel the demand for beauty drinks market globally are rising number of health conscious consumers across various countries coupled with increasing disposable income of consumers. Moreover, other factor that is expected to support the market growth of the beauty drinks across the globe is the easy availability of beauty drinks through online sales. Various other factors that are expected to fuel the overall market of beauty drinks market are increasing air pollution which eventually leads to early ageing and promotes the demand for beauty drinks market.Request to view table of content @The global beauty drinks market is anticipated to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period. Globally among all regions, Europe is expected to contribute maximum market share followed by North America. Demand for beauty drinks is maximum in Europe due to the more awareness among consumers in comparison to other regions through educational marketing campaigns. However Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period. In Asia Pacific, Japan is expected to contribute maximum revenue due to the high consumer willingness to attain healthy skin.A sample of this report is available upon request @Key players that operates in the global beauty drinks market are SIPA spa, THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, Sappe Public Company Limited, Big Quark LLC, DyDo DRIN CO, INC. and Nestle S.A. Various companies operating in the global beauty drinks markets are continuously launching new types of beauty drinks used for different target customer and applications. For instance, Big Quark LLC launched beauty drink named BeautySleep that includes sleep and beauty inducing ingredients.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Worth US$ 186 Billion by 2020 End http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11260 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/active-pharmaceutical-ingredient-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/11260 According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market the global active pharmaceutical ingredient market was valued at US$ 127 Bn in 2014 and is estimated to reach US$ 186 Bn by 2020 at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2015 to 2020.Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) refers to a therapeutically active ingredient or substance combination used in manufacturing a drug product. Production of active pharmaceutical ingredients is a highly sophisticated and technically demanding process. The global active pharmaceutical ingredient market is surging due to the increased demand for pharmaceutical drugs, which in turn is driven by aging population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, neurological and infectious diseases among others. Further, fragmented nature of the pharmaceutical supplies market, brings a smaller profit share to each player.A Sample of this Report is Available Upon Request @The global active pharmaceutical ingredient market encompasses geographies such as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Rest of the World. North America accounted for the largest segment in the global active pharmaceutical ingredients market in 2014 due to fact that North America is the leading consumer of APIs and API exporters consider North America as the most lucrative market. India and China are the major suppliers of APIs to North America due to low production and labor costs. Moreover, biologics have become one of the top-selling drugs in North America. Thus, the expected market entry of biosimilars with flexible regulatory process would boost the API market in North America. The API market in the U.S. displays high level of competition, with mergers and collaborations between various key players such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Sandoz (Novartis AG), Mylan, Inc., and Allergen plc.Additionally, demand for biological APIs is high in the region, as technological developments in the pharmaceutical industry are paving the way for newer biotechnology drugs. These expansion strategies intensify the competition between the global players, which is a result of expected high growth in the API market.Asia Pacific ranks second due to the factors such as availability of low cost production facilities and cheap labor in countries such as India and China. The cost difference ranges from 30% to 60% if the drugs are manufactured in China or India compared to other countries. Hence, China and India are expected to witness significant growth in the near future due to increase in production capacities and presence of large number of global and domestic players... Thus, Asia-Pacific is the most competitive market in API and the competition is expected to intensify between India and China, as these are the most attractive destinations for pharmaceutical manufacturing.In Europe pharmacists are offered incentives for substituting branded drugs with generic versions, which contributes to the growth of the API market in the region. Regulations also play a vital role in the API market, as the law disallows development of generic APIs in Europe until patent expiry. However, the governments of various countries in Europe have started supporting the manufacture of generic drugs post the financial crisis. Patent expirations of major blockbuster drugs in Europe during the forecast period would fuel the growth of the API market in the near future.Request to View Tables of Content @Demand for generic drugs is increasing not only in developed countries, but also in developing and underdeveloped countries in South America and Africa. Brazils health authority Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA) allows the procurement or manufacturing of APIs only for companies registered with ANVISA. Moreover, foreign companies find it difficult to enter the generics market in Brazil, as nearly 80% of the market is controlled by the four local companies namely, EMS, Medley, Eurofarma and Ache/Biosintetica. According to reports published by Mexicos National Association of Drug Manufacturers (ANAFAM), in 2013 86% of drugs used in Mexico were produced domestically to help curtail rising healthcare costs. Other factors boosting the API market growth in developing regions are cost-efficient manufacturing, large patient pool, rising demand for generic drugs, and improvement in the healthcare infrastructure. For the same reasons, the API market in South America is developing steadily and is likely to witness significant growth during the forecast period.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated re-search, 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, Con-sumer 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 en-gagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com 3D Concrete Printing Market Industry Analysis, Segments, Key Players, Drivers, Trends, and Forecast 2016 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1992 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/3d-concrete-printing-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1992 Market Highlights3d Concrete Printing is an innovative construction method that promises to be highly advantageous in the construction field. This method is used to fabricate building or construction components. The key drivers for the growth of 3D Concrete Printing Market are increasing popularity of green construction, less time consumption and cost effective technology. 3D Concrete Printing is extensively used in wall, roof, floor, staircase and others, where wall dominates the component segment of this market. However, high capital investment may hamper the growth of 3D Concrete Printing Market. On the basis of region, Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing market by value. 3D Concrete Printing Market is expected to grow at CAGR of 13% by 2022Key Players Kier Group Plc., LafargeHolcim, Heidelberg Cement AG, Sika, CRH Plc., Balfour Beatty,Request a Sample Report @Intended Audience 3D Concrete Printing manufacturers Distributer & Supplier companies End Users consultants and Investment bankers Government as well as Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on 3D Concrete Printing Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2022Additional Information Regulatory Landscape Pricing Analysis Macroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis Geographical analysis across 15 countriesAccess Report Details @Company Information Profiling of 10 key market players In-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report title Competitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesScope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the Global 3D Concrete Printing Market, tracking three 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.Make an Enquiry for 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.ContactAkash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Global Multi-String Inverter Market 2016 Top Manufacturers in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa Multi-String Inverter Market http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-multi-string-inverter-market-research-report-2016-98256 https://goo.gl/OvjjeE This research report on Global Multi-String Inverter Market 2016 is being made by the experts to create a reliable and detailed picture of the global market, including analysis of the present and past performances of the Multi-String Inverter market all around the world.The report has considered different dimensions of the market and has segmented the Multi-String Inverter industry according to the geography, production, application and many more. Each such segment is analyzed by the experts to get detailed idea of the revenue (gross/net).Get full report with TOC @Considering the utility to the users, makers of the report has studied various aspects of the Multi-String Inverter industry such as the value chain and major policies that influence the market. Factors such as growth drivers, restraints, and future prospects of the market are extensively evaluated in this report.Apart from this, the given report educates reader about availability of different product in the market along with their pricing, production volume, demand and supply, and their contribution in terms of revenue in the global market.Various analytical tools have been used to collect data for this report. The methods used and the sources are factual and reliable, making this report trustworthy for its users. The report has considered different market tools such as investment feasibility, investment return, and market attractiveness analysis in relation to the global Multi-String Inverter market.Get Free sample report @The user of the Multi-String Inverter report will be able to design his market strategies that are likely to pay off in the long run as the report consists of potential and present key players of the market with their probable future strategies too.Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact UsJoel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@marketresearchstore.com Global Tyre Curing Press Market 2016 Competitive Research, Emerging Companies & Forecast - 2021 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=711108&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-tyre-curing-press-market-professional-survey-report-2016.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com/reports.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com Global Tyre Curing Press Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.This report on global Tyre Curing Press 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 Tyre Curing Press. 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).Get discount copy @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 Tyre Curing Press 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 Tyre Curing Press 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 Tyre Curing Press1.1 Definition and Specifications of Tyre Curing Press1.1.1 Definition of Tyre Curing Press1.1.2 Specifications of Tyre Curing Press1.2 Classification of Tyre Curing Press1.3 Applications of Tyre Curing Press1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Tyre Curing Press1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Tyre Curing Press1.5.1 Industry Overview of Tyre Curing Press1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Tyre Curing Press1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Tyre Curing Press1.7 Industry News Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Tyre Curing Press2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Tyre Curing Press3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Tyre Curing Press3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Tyre Curing Press Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Tyre Curing Press Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Tyre Curing Press Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Tyre Curing Press Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global Tyre Curing Press Overall Market Overview4.1 2011-2016E Overall Market Analysis4.2.1 2011-2015 Global Tyre Curing Press Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 Tyre Curing Press Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2011-2015 Global Tyre Curing Press Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 Tyre Curing Press Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2011-2015 Global Tyre Curing Press Sales Price4.4.2 2015 Tyre Curing Press Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)4.5 Gross Margin Analysis4.5.1 2011-2015 Global Tyre Curing Press Gross Margin4.5.2 2015 Tyre Curing Press Gross Margin Analysis (Company Segment)For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Forklift Truck Market Expected to Reach $51 Billion by 2022 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/forklift-truck-market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/automotive-and-transportation/freight-and-logistics-market-report According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Forklift Truck Market by Product Type, Engine Power, End User, and Class: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20142022, the global forklift truck market is estimated to reach $51 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific accounted for the highest market share in 2015, and is anticipated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period.Summary of the Forklift Truck Market Report can be accessed on the website at:Forklift is a power industrial truck used for handling different materials. The forklift market is expected to witness notable growth in future owing to the competitive advantages of electric forklift trucks such as high efficiency, eco-friendly nature, and low operation cost compared to other forklift trucks. Increase in applications of forklift in the industrial sector, such as in food industry and automotive, is expected to fuel the market growth. Moreover, increase in warehouse space for automotive and food industry boosts the demand for forklift trucks.Based on product type, the forklift truck market is bifurcated into warehouse and counterbalance forklift trucks. Counterbalance was the highest revenue-generating segment, accounting for $24 billion in 2015. However, warehouse is expected grow at the highest CAGR of 7.4% to reach $14 billion by 2022.Based on class type, the market is segmented into class I, class II, class III, class IV, and class V forklift. Class IV generated the highest revenue, accounting for $12.6 billion in 2015. However, class II segment is projected to witness fastest growth rate of 9.1% to reach $7 billion by 2022.Based on end user, the market is divided into retail & wholesale, logistic, automotive, food industrial, and others (chemical, timber, and paper). Retail & wholesale and logistics are expected to register the highest CAGRs of 6.7% and 8.2%, respectively. However, retail & wholesale was the highest revenue-generating segment in 2015, accounting for $13.6 billion.Based on geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue, in 2015, with $15 billion and is expected to retain its dominance ahead as well. It is expected to reach $25 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.8%. Europe and North America are the second and third leading regions, in terms of revenue, for forklift truck market, respectively.According to Komal Sharma, Research Analyst, Automotive and Transportation at Allied Market Research, Forklift truck, also called lift truck or fork truck, is a truck used to lift and move material from one place to another. Japan, China, and India are the major economies in Asia-Pacific that contribute to the adoption of forklift trucks. In addition, Chinas fast-growing e-commerce sector drives the demand for electric forklift trucks such as LMHs newly developed pallet stacker. Moreover, stringent government regulations related to carbon emissions in Japan and China and rise in adoption of electric forklift truck are expected to fuel the electric forklift truck market growth in the future. Food industries and logistics are identified as lucrative targets for investment in this market, which are expected to rise with the highest market share owing to increase in adoption of forklift trucks.Key findings of the study: In 2015, class IV forklift truck led the overall forklift truck market, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. IC engine-powered forklift truck dominated the market, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8%. In 2015, counterbalance forklift truck was the dominant type, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4%. Retail & wholesale forklift trucks led the overall market in 2015, and this segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7%. Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest market share in 2015, and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR of 7.8%.The key players in the forklift truck market focus on expanding their business operations in emerging countries, with new product launches as a preferred strategy. Major players engaged in this market are Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), Kion Group AG. Jungheinrich AG, Hyster-Yale Material Handling, Inc., Crown Equipment Corporation, Mitsubishi Nichiyu Forklift Co. Ltd, UniCarriers American Corporation, Anhui Forklift Truck Group Corp, Hangcha Group Co., Ltd, and Komatsu Ltd.Summary of Similar Reports can be accessed at: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.Dhananjay Potle5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1 (800) 792-5285 (U.S. & Canada)Fax: +1 (855) 550-5975E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com Global Smart Building Market to exceed Around USD 36.0 Billion by 2020 http://bit.ly/1TSWt4s http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/smart-building-market-z38199 http://bit.ly/2dfgrsG http://www.marketresearchstore.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Smart Building (Building Energy Management System, Physical Security System, Building Communication Systems, Plumbing & Water Management System, Parking Management Systems, and Elevators & Escalators Management System) Market for Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Airports, Institutional, Industrial, and Other Buildings: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 - 2020. According to the report, the global smart building market was valued at approximate USD 7.0 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 36.0 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of slightly over 30% between 2015 and 2020.Request Sample Report:Smart or intelligent buildings are buildings that through their physical design and IT installations are responsive, flexible and adaptive to changing needs from its users and the organizations that inhabit the building during its life time. The building will supply services for its inhabitants, its administration and operation & maintenance. The intelligent building will accomplish transparent 'intelligent' behavior, have state memory, support human and installation systems communication, and be equipped with sensors and actuators.The smart building market is driven by various factors such as rapid pace of urbanization across the world, low operating cost and security of building and its inhabitants. Increasing support and favorable government regulations is also expected to mobilize the global smart buildings market. Additionally, smart buildings plays crucial role in energy conservation. However, high cost of smart buildings is expected to be major constraint for this industry.Browse the full "Smart Building (Building Energy Management System, Physical Security System, Building Communication Systems, Plumbing & Water Management System, Parking Management Systems, and Elevators & Escalators Management System) Market for Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Airports, Institutional, Industrial, and Other Buildings: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 - 2020" report atOn the basis of types the global smart building market has been segmented into building energy management system, physical security system, building communication systems, plumbing and water management system, parking management systems and elevators & escalators management system. Building energy management systems holds major share in smart buildings market. Building energy management systems reduce overall energy consumption and cost.Residential buildings, commercial buildings, hospitality, airports, institutional, industrial, and others are the key application segments of smart building market. Commercial building segment dominated the smart building market in 2014. Europe was the largest regional market for smart building in 2014. Strong demand from Germany, UK and France has been resulted into growing demand for smart buildings in the region. Europe was followed by Asia pacific and North America. Asia Pacific is projected to be second highest growing region due to rapidly increasing urbanization.Do Inquiry before buying:Some of the key players in the global smart building market such as Johnson Controls, ABB, General Electric, CISCO, Hewlett-Packard, Accenture, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, Delta Controls, Emerson Electric, Honeywell, Hitachi, IBM, Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls, TYCO International and Siemens.This report segments the global smart building market as follows:Global Smart Building Market: Systems Segment AnalysisBuilding energy management systemPhysical security systemBuilding communication systemsPlumbing and water management systemParking management systemsElevators and escalators management system.Global Smart Building Market: Application Segment AnalysisResidential buildingsCommercial buildingsHospitalityAirportsInstitutionalIndustrialOthersGlobal Smart Building Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Research 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. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses 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 Zion Research syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food and 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, our syndicated reports strive to serve the overall research requirement of clients.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite: Recent Market Survey on SDN, NFV & Network Virtualization Ecosystem Industry 2015 - 2030 | Researchmoz http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=489943 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=489943 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The SDN, NFV & Network Virtualization Ecosystem: 2015 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" to its huge collection of research reports.While the advantages of SDN (Software Defined Networking) and network virtualization are well known in the enterprise IT and data center world, both technologies also bring a host of benefits to the telecommunications service provider community. Not only can these technologies help address the explosive capacity demand of mobile traffic, but they can also reduce the CapEx and OpEx burden faced by service providers to handle this demand by diminishing reliance on expensive proprietary hardware platforms. The recognition of these benefits has led to the emergence of the NFV (Network Functions Virtualization) concept that seeks to virtualize and effectively consolidate many service provider network elements onto multi-tenant industry-standard servers, switches and storage.Mobile operators and internet service providers have already begun making SDN and NFV investments in a number of functional areas including but not limited to EPC/mobile core, IMS, policy control, CPE (Customer Premises Equipment), CDN (Content Delivery Network) and transport networks. SNS Research estimates that service provider SDN and NFV investments will grow at a CAGR of 54% between 2015 and 2020. As service providers seek to reduce costs and virtualize their networks, these investments will eventually account for over $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The SDN, NFV & Network Virtualization Ecosystem: 2015 2030 Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts report presents an in-depth assessment of the SDN, NFV and network virtualization ecosystem including enabling technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, use cases, deployment case studies, regulatory landscape, standardization, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents market size forecasts from 2015 till 2030. The forecasts are segmented for 10 submarkets, 2 user base categories, 9 use cases, 6 regions and 34 countries.The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report.Topics CoveredThe report covers the following topics:- SDN, NFV and network virtualization ecosystem- Market drivers and barriers- Enabling technologies, protocols, architecture and key trends- Use cases, applicatons, PoC (Proof of Concept) and deployment case studies- CapEx saving potential of SDN and NFV- Orchestration and management platforms- Regulatory landscape and standardization- Industry roadmap and value chain- Profiles and strategies of over 240 leading ecosystem players- Strategic recommendations for ecosystem players- Market analysis and forecasts from 2015 till 2030Forecast SegmentationMarket forecasts are provided for each of the following submarkets, user base and use case categories:Submarkets- SDN Hardware & Software- NFV Hardware & Software- Other Network Virtualization SoftwareUser Base Categories- Service Providers- Enterprises & Data CentersNFV Submarkets- Hardware Appliances- Orchestration & Management Software- VNF SoftwareService Provider SDN Submarkets- SDN-Enabled Hardware Appliances- Orchestration & Management Software- SDN Controller Software- Network Applications SoftwareEnterprise & Data Center SDN Submarkets- SDN-Enabled Hardware Appliances- SDN-Enabled Virtual Switches- SDN Controller SoftwareService Provider Use Case Categories- CDN- CPE- Data Center- EPC/Mobile Core- Fixed Access Networks- IMS & VoLTE- Policy, OSS & BSS- RAN (Radio Access Network)- Transport & BackhaulThe following regional and country markets are also covered:Regional Markets- Asia Pacific- Eastern Europe- Latin & Central America- Middle East & Africa- North America- Western EuropeCountry MarketsArgentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, UK, USAAdditional forecasts are provided for:SDN and NFV Induced Service Provider CapEx Savings by RegionKey Questions AnsweredThe report provides answers to the following key questions:- How big is the SDN, NFV and network virtualization opportunity?- What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?- How is the ecosystem evolving by segment and region?- What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?- Which regions, submarkets and countries will see the highest percentage of growth?- How are service provider led initiatives driving SDN and NFV investments?- How does regulation impact the adoption of SDN and NFV centric networks?- How can NFV make the VoLTE (Voice over LTE) business case work?- How can software defined DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) complement SDN functionality?- What level of CapEx savings can SDN and NFV facilitate for service providers?- Do SDN and NFV pose a threat to traditional network infrastructure vendors?- Who are the key market players and what are their strategies?- Is there a ring leader in the SDN and NFV ecosystem?- What strategies should enabling technology providers, network infrastructure vendors, mobile operators and other ecosystem players adopt to remain competitive?Key FindingsThe report has the following key findings:- SNS Research estimates that service provider SDN and NFV investments will grow at a CAGR of 54% between 2015 and 2020, eventually accounting for over $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020.- At present, virtualized EPC/mobile core, IMS and policy control platforms represent over 70% of all VNF (Virtual Network Function) software investments.- Although the use of SDN is widespread in the enterprise and data center domain, service providers are only beginning to adopt the technology to programmatically manage their networks.- Investments on orchestration platforms will account for nearly $2 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020, representing more than 9% of all service provider SDN and NFV spending.- The growing adoption of SDN and NFV has created a natural opportunity for silicon and server OEMs to combine their server platforms with a networking business stream.List of Companies Mentioned- 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)- 6WIND- A10 Networks- Accedian Networks- ACCESS CO.- Accton Technology Corporation- Active Broadband Networks- Actus Networks- ADARA Networks- Adax- ADLINK Technology- ADTRAN- ADVA Optical Networking- Affirmed Networks- Agema Systems- Airbus Defence and Space- Akamai Technologies- ALAXALA Networks Corporation- Albis Technologies- Alcatel-Lucent- Allied Telesis- Allot Communications- Alpha Networks- ALTEN Calsoft Labs- ALTEN Group- Altiostar Networks- Alvarion Technologies- Amartus- AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)- Amdocs- ANEVIA- Argela- Aricent- Arista Networks- Arkoon Netasq- ARM Holdings- ARRIS Group- Artesyn Embedded Technologies- ASOCS- AT&T- AudioCodes- Avago Technologies- Avaya- AWS (Amazon Web Services)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 Shale Gas Market to Record an Impressive Growth USD 105.0 Billion by 2020 http://bit.ly/1XXn7aE http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/shale-gas-market-by-technology-z38366 http://bit.ly/2ksuWrf http://www.marketresearchstore.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Shale Gas Market by Technology (Horizontal Drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Water Usage Issue) for Power Generation, Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Transportation and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014-2020. According to the report, the global demand for shale gas was valued at USD 63 billion in 2014 is expected to reach USD 105 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 9% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, the global shale gas market stood at around 10.0 trillion cubic feet in 2014.Request Sample Report:Shale gas is also known as natural gas and it is derived from shales. Shale is fine-grained sedimentary rocks and it is highly loaded resources of petroleum and natural gas. Shale gas is generally obtained from the various shales like are marcellus, eagle ford, niobrara, barnett, and bakken. It is primarily used as a feedstock for production of ammonia and ethane gas. To extract shale gas from the source rock, the oil and gas industry uses two proven techniques: horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting high-pressure water to crack the source rock and release the natural gas it contains. 99.5% of the injection fluid is a mixture of water and sand, while the rest is a small quantity of additives needed to prevent bacterial contamination of the reservoir and make the process more efficient.The major driving factor for shale gas market is rapidly increasing demand across the world. In an attempt to lower down dependence on crude oil as source of energy, U.S. is highly focused on shale gas. Moreover, government funding coupled with large investment by many private players is expected to fuel the growth of this industry. However, high cost of production as compared to any other conventional source of energy is expected to limit the growth of this industry. However, ongoing research & development and introduction of new technologies in the field of shale gas are expected to bring down cost of production. Large number of proven reserves for shale gas in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific is expected to provide future growth opportunity to industry participants.Browse the full "Shale Gas Market by Technology (Horizontal Drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Water Usage Issue) for Power Generation, Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Transportation and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014-2020" report atHorizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and water usage issue are the key technologies involved in the shale gas extraction process. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are extensively used for extraction process across the globe. Power generation, residential, industrial, commercial, and transportation are the key applications of shale gas market. Industrial applications segment was the largest segment of global shale gas industry and accounted for more than 30% share of the entire market in 2014. The power generation is the second largest application segment for the global shale gas market. Residential applications segment is also expected to exhibit rapid growth during the forecast period.North America dominated the production and consumption of shale gas in 2014. North America accounted for over 75% share in production and consumption of shale gas in 2014. North America. North America is followed by Europe and Asia Pacific respectively. However, with commencement of shale gas production in China, growth of shale gas industry in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a robust growth. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to remain smallest regional market for shale gas during the forecast period.Do Inquiry before buying:Some of the key players in the global shale gas market include Baker Hughes Incorporation, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, BHP Billiton Limited, Devon Energy, EnCana Corporation, ConocoPhillips Co, Royal Dutch Shell plc, ExxonMobil, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and BP plc.The report segments the global shale gas market as:Shale Gas Market: Technology Segment AnalysisHorizontal drillingHydraulic fracturingWater usage issueShale Gas Market: Application Segment AnalysisPower generationResidentialIndustrialCommercialTransportationShale Gas Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeAsia PacificChinaLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Research 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. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses 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 Zion Research syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food and 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, our syndicated reports strive to serve the overall research requirement of clients.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite: X-Band Radar Market to Reach Nearly US$ 7 Bn by 2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-879 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-879 www.futuremarketinsights.com According to a new market report published by Future Market Insights titled X-Band Radar Market - Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016 - 2026, the global X-band radar market was valued at US$ 4.6 Bn in 2015 and is expected to register a CAGR of 3.8% from 2016 to 2026 to reach US$ 6.9 Bn by 2026. Growth of the global X-band radar market is primarily driven by increasing need of advanced security and surveillance systems across the world.Increasing significance of weather and climate predictions, and aviation safety is propelling the demand for X-band radar market globally. X-band radars help improve aviation safety and increase the operational efficiency of the entire air transport industry. Besides, they also provide alerts on floods through continuous monitoring of rainfall. Vendors such as Saab Group and Northrop Grumman Corporation recently introduced weather monitoring radar.Request Free Report Sample@Inability to adjust quickly to track a stream of separate missiles is one of the factors restraining the growth of the market. Sea-based X-band radar can be supported by a land-based early warning radar in case of an event of an attack. These radars could help X-band radars by identifying a definite location for Sea-based X-band Radar (SBX) to focus on. However, aiming and re-aiming the giant radars beam is a clumsy process. This inhibits X-band radars ability to bend swiftly enough to track a range of different missiles.On the basis of type, the global X-band radar market is segmented as mobile X-band radar and sea based-X-band radar. The mobile X-band radar segment was valued US$ 3.1 Bn in 2015 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period 20162026. The sea-based X-band radar segment was valued US$ 1.5 Bn in 2015.X-Band Radar Market: Region-wise SegmentationNorth America, the largest market for X-Band radar, was valued US$ 1.5 Bn in 2015and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period of 2016-2026. In North America region, ARL-E long range radars developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation have witnessed traction in their adoption by the U.S. government. These radars have enhanced the U.S. Armys C4ISR capabilities.Western Europe region is expected be the second largest market of global X-band radar, followed by Eastern Europe. Ground Master 400 radar, developed by the Raytheon Company is very popular in this region.Send An Enquiry@Key Players in X-Band Radar MarketKey players of the global X-band radar market include Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Company, Saab Group, Japan Radio Company Limited, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, Furuno Electric Co.,Ltd, Terma A/S, Detect, Inc., Reutech Radar Systems, and ProSensing, Inc.Leading players in the global x-band radar market are focusing on the development of end-to-end products and services such as logistics, infrastructure and maintenance, and providing support to their clients. Companies such as Saab Group, Raytheon Corporation, DeTect, Inc. serve both domestic and international government customers as a prime contractor and subcontractor of defence and related programmes.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: The LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Ecosystem Industry Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2017 - 2030 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=458908 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=458908 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Ecosystem: 2017 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts" to its huge collection of research reports.Until recently, most M2M and IoT services have largely relied on licensed cellular, wireline and satellite networks for their wide area connectivity requirements. Cellular networks, in particular, have enjoyed significant success in the arena. However, for many low bandwidth IoT applications, traditional cellular networks are deemed too expensive due excessive power consumption and complex protocols that lower battery life. As a result, a number of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) alternatives have emerged that specifically seek to address these concerns.LPWA networks are optimized to provide wide area coverage with minimal power consumption. Typically reliant on unlicensed frequencies, LPWA devices have low data rates, long battery lives and can operate unattended for long periods of time.Already prevalent in IoT applications such as smart metering, lighting control and parking management, LPWA networks are expected to make a significant contribution to the M2M and IoT ecosystem, with an estimated $27 Billion in service revenue by 2020.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) Networks Ecosystem: 2015 2030 Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts report presents an in-depth assessment of the LPWA networks ecosystem including LPWA technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, vertical market applications, deployment case studies, regulatory landscape, standardization, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents market size forecasts from 2015 till 2030. The forecasts are segmented for 9 vertical markets and 6 regions.The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report.Topics CoveredThe report covers the following topics:- LPWA networks ecosystem- Market drivers and barriers- LPWA technologies, spectrum bands and key trends- Assessment of competing cellular, satellite, wireline and short range networking technologies- Vertical market applications, opportunities and deployment case studies- Regulatory landscape and standardization- Industry roadmap and value chain- Profiles and strategies of over 100 leading ecosystem players- Strategic recommendations for ecosystem players- Market analysis and forecasts from 2017 till 2030Forecast SegmentationConnection and service revenue forecasts are provided for the following submarkets:Technology Submarkets- Proprietary LPWA Technologies- NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things)- LTE Cat-M1 (eMTC/LTE-M)- EC-GSM-IoT (Enhanced Coverage GSM for the Internet of Things)Vertical Markets- Agriculture- Asset Management & Logistics- Automotive & Transportation- Consumer Applications & Home Automation- Energy & Utilities- Healthcare- Intelligent Buildings & Infrastructure- Public Safety, Security & Surveillance- Retail & Vending- OthersRegional Markets- Asia Pacific- Eastern Europe- Middle East & Africa- Latin & Central America- North America- Western EuropeKey Questions AnsweredThe report provides answers to the following key questions:- How big is the LPWA networks opportunity?- What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?- How is the ecosystem evolving by segment and region?- What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?- Which regions and submarkets will see the highest percentage of growth?- How are smart city initiatives driving LPWA network investments?- What are the key performance characteristics of LPWA technologies such as Sigfox, LoRa, NB-IoT, LTE Cat-M1 and EC-GSM-IoT?- How does regulation impact the adoption of LPWA networks?- Do cellular LPWA networks pose a threat to proprietary LPWA technologies?- Who are the key market players and what are their strategies?- What strategies should LPWA technology providers, mobile operators, MVNOs, aggregators, IoT platform providers and other ecosystem players adopt to remain competitive?Key FindingsThe report has the following key findings:- Already prevalent in IoT applications such as smart metering, lighting control and parking management, LPWA networks are expected to make a significant contribution to the M2M and IoT ecosystem, with an estimated $23 Billion in service revenue by 2020.- At present, a majority of LPWA networks are based on proprietary technologies and operate in license-exempt spectrum primarily in sub-GHz bands.- With the recent completion of the NB-IoT, LTE Cat-M1 and EC-GSM-IoT standards by the 3GPP, mobile operators are aggressively investing in software upgrades to build their own carrier-grade LPWA networks.- By 2020, SNS Research estimates that more than 35% of all LPWA profile IoT devices will be served by NB-IoT, LTE Cat-M1 and EC-GSM-IoT networks.- As of Q42016, SNS Research estimates the cost of a typical LPWA module to be $4-18, depending on the specific technology. As LPWA network deployments mature, we expect that the cost per module can drop down to as low as $1-2 in volume quantities.Countires Covered- Afghanistan- Albania- Algeria- Andorra- Angola- Anguilla- Antigua & Barbuda- Argentina- Armenia- Aruba- Australia- Austria- AzerbaijanMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Magnesium metal market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 7.1% during 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1550 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1550 www.futuremarketinsights.com Global demand for magnesium metal will reach 1,085 KT in 2016, representing market value worth US$ 3.13 Bn. Steady automotive sales in the US and Western Europe, combined with a rapidly growing Asia Pacific automotive market will continue to drive demand for magnesium, as manufacturers increase their emphasis on fuel efficiency and emission control. Magnesiums applications in making automotive wheels, transmission cases, and engine blocks will continue to fuel demand in 2016 and beyond.Environmental and legislative influences will continue to promote the use of magnesium vis-a-vis steel and aluminium. As lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles gain centre stage in the automotive landscape, magnesium is gaining traction as a preferred manufacturing material.Request Free Report Sample@Application-wise, magnesium alloys and die-casting will continue to remain the largest segments, accounting for 349 KT and 302 KT respectively in 2016. Demand will also be supported by magnesiums growing applications in iron and steel desulphurisation. Magnesium will continue to witness stable demand from the aerospace sector, owing to its excellent properties as a reductant in manufacturing titanium.While magnesiums excellent properties will continue to boost its adoption in end-use industries, slower economic growth and stringent import regulations can impede demand in 2016. Leading players in the magnesium metal landscape are expected to focus on capacity expansions and capacity additions to address these challenges.Send An Enquiry@Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) will remain the largest market for magnesium metals, accounting for 518 KT of magnesium in 2016, up from 482 KT in 2015. The region accounts for a major share in overall global automotive and steel production, and magnesium is widely used in these industries. China will continue to be the most lucrative market for magnesium -- of the overall global magnesium production capacity, around 85% is concentrated in China, while the remainder is distributed in pockets across the globe. Key China based players include Taiyuan Tongxiang Magnesium Co., Ltd, Shanxi Wenxi Hongfu Magnesium Co., Ltd.,Wenxi YinGuang Magnesium Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., and Shanxi Wenxi Zhenxin Magnesium Co., Ltd. among others. Some of the key players based outside of China include US Magnesium LLC.; Dead Sea Magnesium Ltd.; POSCO; RIMA Group; Solikamsk Magnesium Works OAO. Players based outside China are channelising efforts towards ramping up production capacities to better cater to growing magnesium demand across the globe. Over the next two to three years several new magnesium production facilities are slated to become operational across the globe.Long-term Outlook: The global magnesium metal market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 7.1% during 2016-2026, reaching 6.2 Bn in revenues by 2026. APEJ will remain the largest market throughout the forecast period, increasing at a CAGR of 7.3% through 2026.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: Latest Survey on VoLTE (Voice over LTE) Ecosystem Industry Analysis 2015 - 2030 | Researchmoz http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=336797 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=336797 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "The VoLTE (Voice over LTE) Ecosystem: 2015 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" to its huge collection of research reports.VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology allows a voice call to be placed over an LTE network, enabling operators to reduce reliance on legacy circuit-switched networks. Powered by IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) architecture, VoLTE brings a host of benefits to mobile operators ranging from the ability to refarm legacy 2G and 3G spectrum to offering their subscribers a differentiated service experience through capabilities such as HD voice and video telephony.First deployed by South Korean operators in 2012, VoLTE is beginning to gain momentum globally. As of Q32015, more than 20 operators have commercially launched VoLTE services and several roaming and interoperability agreements are already in place.SNS Research estimates that VoLTE service revenue will grow at a CAGR of 36% between 2015 and 2020. By the end of 2020, VoLTE subscribers will account for nearly $120 Billion in revenue. Although traditional voice services will constitute a major proportion of this figure, over 12% of the revenue will be driven by video calling and supplementary services.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The VoLTE (Voice over LTE) Ecosystem: 2015 2030 Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts report presents an in-depth assessment of the VoLTE ecosystem including enabling technologies, key market drivers, challenges, collaborative initiatives, regulatory landscape, standardization, opportunities, operator case studies, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents forecasts for VoLTE smartphone shipments, subscriptions, service revenue and infrastructure investments from 2015 till 2030. The forecasts cover 7 individual submarkets and 6 regions.Table Of Content1 Chapter 1: Introduction 121.1 Executive Summary 121.2 Topics Covered 131.3 Historical Revenue & Forecast Segmentation 141.4 Key Questions Answered 151.5 Key Findings 161.6 Methodology 171.7 Target Audience 181.8 Companies & Organizations Mentioned 192 Chapter 2: An Overview of VoLTE 212.1 What is VoLTE? 212.2 Architectural Evolution of VoLTE 212.2.1 CSFB (Circuit-Switched Fallback): The First Step Towards VoLTE 212.2.2 The Push From CDMA Operators 222.2.3 Towards an IMS Based VoLTE Solution 232.2.4 SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity) 242.2.5 Integrating Video Telephony 252.3 Key Enabling Technologies 252.3.1 VoLTE Infrastructure 252.3.1.1 IMS Core: CSCF, HSS, BGCF & MGCF 262.3.1.2 VoLTE Application Servers 272.3.1.3 SBC (Session Border Controller) 272.3.1.4 MRF (Media Resource Function) 272.3.1.5 PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) 272.3.2 VoLTE Devices 282.3.3 Roaming & Interconnection Technology 292.3.3.1 LBO (Local Breakout) 292.3.3.2 S8HR (S8 Home Routing) 292.4 Market Growth Drivers 302.4.1 Spectral Efficiency & Cost Reduction 302.4.2 Enabling HD Voice, Video Calling & Rich IP Communications 302.4.3 Improved Battery Life 312.4.4 Integration with WiFi: Enhanced Indoor Voice Coverage 312.4.5 Bundling Voice with Other Services 312.4.6 Fighting the OTT Threat 322.5 Market Barriers 322.5.1 Initial Lack of Compatible Devices 322.5.2 Roaming & Interconnect Issues 332.5.3 Limited Revenue Potential 332.5.4 Service Assurance Challenges 333 Chapter 3: Collaboration, Standardization & Regulatory Landscape 353.1 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) 353.1.1 Release 8 353.1.2 Release 9 353.1.3 Release 10 363.1.4 Release 11 363.1.5 Release 12, 13 & Beyond 363.2 GSMA 373.2.1 Feature Requirements 373.2.1.1 IR.92: IMS Profile for Voice and SMS 373.2.1.2 IR.94: IMS Profile for Conversational Video Service 373.2.2 Roaming, Interworking & Other Guidelines 383.2.2.1 IR.64: IMS Service Centralization & Continuity Guidelines 383.2.2.2 IR.65: IMS Roaming & Interworking Guidelines 383.2.2.3 IR.88: LTE Roaming Guidelines 383.3 VoLTE Interworking Technology Consultation Group, Korea 394 Chapter 4: VoLTE Deployment Case Studies 404.1 AT&T Mobility 404.1.1 Service Launch Strategy 404.1.2 Vendor Selection 404.1.3 Future Prospects 404.2 China Mobile 414.2.1 Service Launch Strategy 414.2.2 Vendor Selection 414.2.3 Future Prospects 414.3 DT (Deutsche Telekom) 424.3.1 Service Launch Strategy 424.3.2 Vendor Selection 424.3.3 Future Prospects 424.4 KDDI 434.4.1 Service Launch Strategy 434.4.2 Vendor Selection 434.4.3 Future Prospects 434.5 KT Corporation 444.5.1 Service Launch Strategy 444.5.2 Vendor Selection 444.5.3 Future Prospects 444.6 LG Uplus 454.6.1 Service Launch Strategy 454.6.2 Vendor Selection 454.6.3 Future Prospects 454.7 NTT DoCoMo 464.7.1 Service Launch Strategy 464.7.2 Vendor Selection 464.7.3 Future Prospects 464.8 Rogers Communications 474.8.1 Service Launch Strategy 474.8.2 Vendor Selection 474.8.3 Future Prospects 474.9 Singtel 484.9.1 Service Launch Strategy 484.9.2 Vendor Selection 484.9.3 Future Prospects 484.10 SK Telecom 494.10.1 Service Launch Strategy 494.10.2 Vendor Selection 494.10.3 Future Prospects 494.11 SoftBank Mobile 504.11.1 Service Launch Strategy 504.11.2 Vendor Selection 504.11.3 Future Prospects 504.12 Swisscom 514.12.1 Service Launch Strategy 514.12.2 Vendor Selection 514.12.3 Future Prospects 514.13 Telefonica 524.13.1 Service Launch Strategy 524.13.2 Vendor Selection 524.13.3 Future Prospects 524.14 Verizon Wireless 534.14.1 Service Launch Strategy 534.14.2 Vendor Selection 534.14.3 Future Prospects 534.15 Vodafone Group 544.15.1 Service Launch Strategy 544.15.2 Vendor Selection 544.15.3 Future Prospects 54Make 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 @ Shipborne Radar Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends & Opportunities Analysis For 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19193 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/shipborne-radar-market.html Radar is a mechanism that is used to determine the presence, range, speed of an incoming objects such as missiles, aircrafts, ships weather formation and spacecraft among others. Radar uses radio waves to determine the object and it can be mounted on an aircraft, motor vehicles, and ships. A radar comprises of a transmitter which produces electromagnetic waves, a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna and a receiver and a processor to identify the object. Presently, the seas across the globe are becoming rapidly dangerous due to growing cross-border contingencies via seas, pirate attacks, and territorial disputes among others. Due to this, radars are a necessity on any ships. These shipborne radars are mounted on military and defense ships as well as cargo ships to identify enemy missiles, aircraft, and ships and also to determine the weather condition around the sea.Download Research Brochure PDF@The major factor that is driving the market for shipborne radar is to encounter sea activities. Currently, pirate attacks or cross border attacks via sea have increased across the globe. This has led the military and defense to equip their ships with the latest radar technology in order to safeguard their ships and personnel. The cruise and cargo ship manufacturers are also incorporating their ships with the radar systems to protect the ships from any attacks and also to detect object in the sea. In addition, the shipborne radars are promoting an indigenous capabilities to the developing countries in order to develop independent defense forces which will in turn boost the shipborne radar market. Moreover, this shipborne radar systems is increasing the interest of ship manufacturers to integrate new enhanced technologies in the existing system as well as in the new vehicles.The high cost involved in procurement of raw material and manufacturing of final product increases the cost of end product which in turn is limiting the market of shipborne radars for cruise and cargo ship customers. In addition, the high cost of the shipborne radar systems are restraining the growth of the market in the military and defense sector. Moreover,the maximum range for medium to long range radar is 250 kms, for detecting any incoming objects, and any objects beyond 250 kms cannot be detected. This range limitation is hindering the growth of the market for shipborne radar.To strengthen the naval force with the latest radar technology, the developing countries such as Africa, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia among others are investing huge sums of money. The investments in naval forces are anticipated to boost the shipborne radar market over the coming years. In addition, growing business and trading between countries via seas is helping the ship industry to grow which in turn is escalating the market for shipborne radar.The market for shipborne radar can be segmented on the basis of end use and geography. The end user of shipborne radar systems are military and defense ships, cargo ships and cruise. Geographically, the shipborne radar market is categorized in to North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. North America has the largest market followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. In the North America region, the U.S. dominates the market. Moreover, the cargo transportation and cruise movement has rapidly increased in the U.S. in recent years.The leading manufacturers of shipborne radar are Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S), BAE Systems (U.K.), Raytheon Company (U.S.), Thales Group (France), Harris Corporation (U.S.), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), Saab AB (Sweden), Kelvin Hughes Limited (U.K.), Reutech Radar Systems (South Africa) and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (Israel).Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Technology Advancement- United States OLED Panel Market Size, SHares, Trends, Forecast Report 2017 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/945882 Sales, means the sales volume of OLED PanelRevenue, means the sales value of OLED PanelThis report studies sales (consumption) of OLED Panel in United States market, focuses on the top players, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player, coveringSMDRiTdisplay CorporationVisionoxPioneerFutaba-Former TDKLGDSony-Japan DisplayChimei InnoluxAUOTrulyUnivisionBOERainbowPHILIPSOsramPIOLe-MaginCCO DisplayKonica MinoltaCPTTianma Micro-electronicsGE LightingMarket 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 OLED Panel in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2Download Sample Copy of This Report:Table of ContentsUnited States OLED Panel Market Report 20171 OLED Panel Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of OLED Panel1.2 Classification of OLED Panel1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Application of OLED Panel1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.4 United States Market Size Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) of OLED Panel (2012-2022)1.4.1 United States OLED Panel Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States OLED Panel Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 United States OLED Panel Competition by Manufacturers2.1 United States OLED Panel Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 United States OLED Panel Revenue and Share by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.3 United States OLED Panel Average Price by Manufactures (2015 and 2016)2.4 OLED Panel Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 OLED Panel Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 OLED Panel Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 United States OLED Panel Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by States (2012-2017)3.1 United States OLED Panel Sales and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.2 United States OLED Panel Revenue and Market Share by States (2012-2017)3.3 United States OLED Panel Price by States (2012-2017)4 United States OLED Panel Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2012-2017)4.1 United States OLED Panel Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.2 United States OLED Panel Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 United States OLED Panel Price by Type (2012-2017)4.4 United States OLED Panel Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)5 United States OLED Panel Sales (Volume) by Application (2012-2017)5.1 United States OLED Panel Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)5.2 United States OLED Panel Sales Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)5.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6 United States OLED Panel Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis6.1 SMD6.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors6.1.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.1.2.1 Product A6.1.2.2 Product B6.1.3 SMD OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.2 RiTdisplay Corporation6.2.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.2.2.1 Product A6.2.2.2 Product B6.2.3 RiTdisplay Corporation OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.3 Visionox6.3.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.3.2.1 Product A6.3.2.2 Product B6.3.3 Visionox OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.4 Pioneer6.4.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.4.2.1 Product A6.4.2.2 Product B6.4.3 Pioneer OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.5 Futaba-Former TDK6.5.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.5.2.1 Product A6.5.2.2 Product B6.5.3 Futaba-Former TDK OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.6 LGD6.6.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.6.2.1 Product A6.6.2.2 Product B6.6.3 LGD OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.7 Sony-Japan Display6.7.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.7.2.1 Product A6.7.2.2 Product B6.7.3 Sony-Japan Display OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.8 Chimei Innolux6.8.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.8.2.1 Product A6.8.2.2 Product B6.8.3 Chimei Innolux OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.9 AUO6.9.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.9.2.1 Product A6.9.2.2 Product B6.9.3 AUO OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.10 Truly6.10.2 OLED Panel Product Type, Application and Specification6.10.2.1 Product A6.10.2.2 Product B6.10.3 Truly OLED Panel Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)6.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview6.11 Univision6.12 BOE6.13 Rainbow6.14 PHILIPS6.15 Osram6.16 PIOL6.17 e-Magin6.18 CCO Display6.19 Konica Minolta6.20 CPT6.21 Tianma Micro-electronics6.22 GE Lighting7 OLED Panel Manufacturing Cost Analysis7.1 OLED Panel 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 OLED Panel8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers8.1 OLED Panel Industrial Chain Analysis8.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing8.3 Raw Materials Sources of OLED Panel Major Manufacturers in 20158.4 Downstream BuyersMarketResearchReports.biz supports your business intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz The research report provides an in-depth analysis of the Laboratory Isolators Market to 2017 - 2025 https://goo.gl/mIINex https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=99 https://www.tmrresearch.com/laboratory-isolators-market Global Laboratory Isolators Market: OverviewLaboratory isolators are used to provide aseptic processing and accelerate microbiological control in the laboratory and other healthcare facilities. The range of use of lab isolators can be diversified through clinics, pharmaceutical industries, and other minority usage scopes. In addition, laboratory isolators also permit aseptic operations and sterility testing for laboratory processes through continuous contaminant removal processes. These isolators are also used in several healthcare facilities including pharmaceutical industries, clinics, laboratory, and research facilities.The microbial control using laboratory isolators can be done through sterilization processes, microbiologically retentive filters, and sporicidal processes. The selection isolator types is commonly based on their sporicidal capacities. Factors such as biological indicators and gas distribution can modify this sporicidal capacity to a large extent. In addition, the efficacy of the laboratory isolators also depends on the air change rate of the instrument and use of laminar, unidirectional or turbulent air flow of the system.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Laboratory Isolators Market: Top SegmentsThe global laboratory isolators market can be segmented on the basis of its various types. The key types of laboratory isolators found today include flexible film isolators, flexible half-suit isolators, rigid isolators, rigid half-suit isolators, and transfer isolators.Global Laboratory Isolators Market: Key Trends and DriversOf the several advantages of owning laboratory isolators, its global market is being driven by their cost-effectiveness, low spatial uptake requirement, and their easy maintenance. In addition, technological advancements and the introduction of innovative equipment by leaders in the global laboratory isolators market is likely to stimulate the market growth over the coming years.Request for TOC of the Report @For instance, Geneva Scientific LLC currently offers Hospital Pharmacy Isolators for negative and positive recirculation pressure. This device provides a superior sterility of products as compared to open front clean air systems such as biological safety cabinets and laminar flow clean benches. Class Biologically Clean, Ltd. offers Breeder Isolators that are featured with a polypropylene holding box. This device is use to breed selective colonies of germ-free rodents with the companys flexible film materials. Similar introductions will positively work in the favor of the global laboratory isolators market by providing a healthy competitive platform for the development of newer products.However, high cost of laboratory isolators is currently restraining the global laboratory isolators market in terms of overall growth rate, especially when it comes to implementing newer and often costlier products in developing economies. Additionally, stringent regulatory policies surrounding the use of laboratory isolators will further create hindrances for the overall growth rate of the market.Read Complete Report @Global Laboratory Isolators Market: Regional AnalysisGeographically, North America was considered as the leading region for the consumption of laboratory isolators so far, owing to the high volume uptake of these devices by a large number of research laboratories and pharmaceutical companies within the region. In addition, the introduction of advanced laboratory isolators by key domiciled players is likely to improve the growth rate of the market within the region for the coming years. Europe has been in the second place within the global laboratory isolators market in terms of demand volume so far. Its growth was mainly attributed to the multiple initiatives taken up by European governments to develop the overall healthcare infrastructure in Europe. Europe also holds the presence of several leaders in the global laboratory isolators market that are persistent in their efforts to bring about innovative products. One such example can be found in Azbil Telstar, S.L., which offers different types of laboratory isolators, including the Cytolators, the MSC III and the Sterilatos. These offerings increase the level of acceptance for the global laboratory isolators market in Europe, further driving the markets growth here.Asia Pacific is the currently considered as the emerging region in the global laboratory isolators market, owing to a rising acceptance of laboratory isolators by pharmaceutical companies and clinical laboratories. In addition, improving healthcare infrastructure India and China as well the Middle East countries is likely to boost the global laboratory isolators market over the coming years.Global Laboratory Isolators Market: Players Mentioned in the ReportSome of the more prominent companies in the global laboratory isolators market so far have included GENEVA SCIENTIFIC LLC, Class Biologically Clean, Ltd., Noroit Corporation, Azbil Telstar, S.L., The Baker Company, and The Waldner Group.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Trekking poles Market Research Forecast Report 2016 - 2021 Trekking poles Market http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/trekking-poles-market-2016-global-industry-size-trends.html http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/report/78329/request-sample The recent report on Trekking poles Market throws light on the various factors governing the market across the globe. The report, titled Trekking poles assesses the growth of the Trekking poles market and estimates the valuation of the overall market by the end of the forecast period. The report provides an overview of the market and lists down the key drivers and restraints which will affect the market during the forecast horizon. Analysis of Porters Five Forces on Trekking poles market in the world has been mentioned in the report. The report also compiles insightful information about the key players in the market.Read Complete Report @The report segments the Trekking poles market in the globe on the basis of product types and end-use application segments. The report analyzes the entire value chain of the Trekking poles market and forecasts the market size and revenue to be generated by each of the segments. Various micro- and macro-economic factors governing the global Trekking poles market has been mentioned in the report. In globe, the present slow growth of the economy and the impact of the governments latest initiatives have been taken into account while forecasting the growth of the Trekking poles market in the region.The report discusses in details about the vendor landscape of the Trekking poles market. The market has been analyzed on the basis of market attractiveness and investment feasibility. The report lists down the key players in the Trekking poles market and provides crucial information about them such as business overview, revenue segmentation, and product offerings. Through SWOT analysis, the report analyses the growth of the key players during the forecast horizon.Request for Sample Report @The report determines the leading players in the global market. The company profiles of the major participants operating in the global Trekking poles market have been reviewed in this study.9D Research Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USA The collective rise in the spending of countries on developing Mail Service Pharmacy Market is expected to improve the markets revenue https://goo.gl/uBElhh https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=105 https://www.tmrresearch.com/mail-service-pharmacy-market Global Mail Service Pharmacy Market: OverviewThe global mail service pharmacy market involves services related to the delivery of medication primarily through mail. It covers managed care programs that include healthcare maintenance organization and preferred provider organization. Mail service pharmacies can help save prescription co-payments, allow access to expert pharmacist advice, offer potential cost saving loyalty schemes, and reduce the risk of a patient missing their dose through methods such as medical subscriptions or reminders for purchase.Customers can order medication by phone, mail or through the companys secure website. Mail service pharmacies save money that otherwise is owed in the form of co-payments for medication. Additionally, customers can benefit significantly through these services rather than face shortage of medicines in local pharmacies. Many companies provides exclusive home delivery services through express scripts mail services that will ultimately save time and eliminate extra payments.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Mail Service Pharmacy Market: Drivers and Top TrendsThe global mail service pharmacy market is witnessing a very positive rate growth, owing to the solid presence of various multinational mail service pharmacies across all key regions. These companies provide 24x7 services and benefits to their customers, improved consistently through online surveys, consumer feedback, and other suggestions. This would ultimately increase the number mail service pharmacy users, thereby stimulating the markets growth. Another key factor influencing the growth of the global mail service pharmacy market is an increasing demand of fast and effective services within medical industries on a global scale. Mail service pharmacies offer a better level of service than conventional mailing systems due to a stronger distribution network.Many key players provide custom services as well, such as OptumRx, Inc. with their OptumRx mail service pharmacy, a system known to save time and money. In addition, mail services today use computerized quality control systems supervised by licensed pharmacists, thereby helping to avoid harmful drug interactions and accuracy in prescription delivery. PBM Plus, Inc.s mail service pharmacy offers an accurate and easy prescription-filling system along with the convenience of home delivery. These services offered by key players will attract more number of customers to the global mail service pharmacy market over conventional pharmaceutical sales. However, the overall lack of knowledge about mail pharmacy services in developed countries will restrain the market growth to the some extent.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Mail Service Pharmacy Market: Regional AnalysisGeographically, North America dominated the global mail pharmacy services market in 2016, due to an increase in the need for healthcare and biotech samples and equipment. Europe is considered second in terms of size of share in the global mail service pharmacy market, and its growth is mainly attributed to the quick and effective courier services provided by key players in the region. Asia Pacific nations such as India and China are the emerging locations in the global mail services pharmacy market, due to an increasing use of mail pharmacy services by medical facilities and other customers.Global Mail Service Pharmacy Market: Market LeadersVarious key players in the global mail service pharmacy market so far, have been Justia, Walgreen Co., OptumRx, Inc., Blue Shield of California, PBM Plus, Inc., Fairview Health Services, United HealthCare Services, Inc., WellCare, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., Walgreen Co., Caremark, L.L.C., Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.Read Complete Report @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Nano Films Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Analysis During Forecast 2016 - 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=9031 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/nano-films-market.html Nano film is a fabrication of quantum dot layers with a built-in gradient of nanoparticle size, composition or density. The unique characteristics of nano films are finding its applications in energy storage devices and design of solar cells. Nano films are generally used for surface modification process in the technological world. Surface modification improves the performance of new and existing products. Techniques used for surface modification process include surface treatments, where the composition of mechanical properties is changed or the deposition of thin films or coatings is altered and a different material is deposited to create a new surface.Download Research Brochure PDF@Nano films have extensive applications in microelectronics industry, storage industry, solar energy and optics industry. The commercial method of manufacturing nano films is a challenge. Traditional methods of building nanostructured materials cant form nanostructures while more effective methods like langmuir-blodget microchemical method or atomic layer deposition are expensive. The cost-efficient alternative for manufacturing nano films is flying particles method. Nano films are used for photovoltaic applications to enhance transport of electrons and improve internal quantum efficiency and photocurrent. Magnetic nano films have unique properties and are used in medical industry for biomedical applications. Magnetic nano films are used as a solution for closing surgical wounds and as nanoplasters for localized drug release.The growth in end-use industries is expected to increase consumption of nano films. The growth of microelectronics, storage and solar industry is expected to boost demand for nano films for surface modification applications. In addition, rising consumption of electronics in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific is set to drive nano films market. Furthermore, nanotechnology?based thin films for biomedical applications are expected to provide new opportunities for market growth. However, availability of substitutes and volatile raw material prices could hamper the growth of this market.The Asia Pacific market is projected to be the fastest growing market for nano films due to increasing demand for electronics and solar energy. The BRIC (Brasil, Russia, India, China) countries are a major market for microelectronics industry. Most of the major international microelectronic manufacturers are focusing on expanding their base in BRIC. Rise in disposable income, large population and rapid economic development is expected to contribute to the growth of microelectronics in emerging economies such as China and India. The growth of microelectronic industry is expected to drive the growth of the nano films market. Mexico, Argentina, Thailand and Turkey are other potential markets for nano film industry. Europe and North America are mature markets and expected to experience moderate to high growth.The nano film industry is highly fragmented and dominated by small and medium enterprises. Companies are investing in research and development to develop different grades of nano films to compete in the market. In addition, companies are using strategic acquisitions and aggressive marketing to capture market share. Furthermore, companies are expanding their presence in emerging economies due to growing demand from end-use industries. Some of the key players operating in this market are Nanofilm( U.S.) , Nanofilm Technologies (U.S.) Nano Foam Technology Private Limited (India), Nano Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd (India), Nano Lab India (India), Cosmo Films Limited (India), Smart Source Technologies (India), NanoGram Corporation (U.S.), MAT-VAC Technology (U.S), LOT-Oriel (United Kingdom), Maxtek Technology (Taiwan) , MicroChem (U.S.) , MetaTechnica (U.S.) and Advanced Thin Film (U.S.) among others.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Europe Mattress Market 2017 by Manufacturers - Sealy, Breckle, Pikolin, Silentnight, Magniflex, Tempur-Pedic Mattress market https://goo.gl/eycXaS https://goo.gl/Fu8xIg http://www.bigmarketresearch.com/europe-mattress-by-manufacturers-countries-type-and-application-forecast-to-2022-market http://www.bigmarketresearch.com A market report titled, Mattress was recently added by Global Info Research. The report offers an in-depth study of the Mattress market and includes resourceful insights such as size, share and growth of the Mattress industry. The current trends, opportunities and developments in the Mattress market are intricately highlighted in the presented study. The scope and the feasibility of the upcoming projects and technological advancements in the Mattress market are examined in the presented report. The factors that influence growth of the Mattress market are listed down along with factors that hinder industry growth. The current status of the market is accurately included in the report. The opportunities and challenges in the Mattress industry are analyzed and included in the report.Do Inquiry For Sample Report @Scope of Mattress Market:This report focuses on the Mattress in Europe market, especially in Germany, UK, France, Russia, and Italy. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversHilding AndersRuf-BettenSertaRecticelSealyBrecklePikolinSilentnightMagniflexTempur-PedicSelect ComfortEkornesVeldeman GroupAuping GroupKingKoilEcusAsk For Discount @Market Segment by Countries, coveringGermanyUKFranceRussiaItalyMarket Segment by Type, coversInnerspring mattressFoam mattressLatex mattressOthers mattressMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPrivate householdsHotelsHospitalsOthersBrowse Complete Report @There are 17 Chapters to deeply display the Europe Mattress market.Chapter 1, to describe Mattress Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Mattress, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers in Europe, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Europe market by countries, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Mattress, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type and application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application, covering Germany, UK, France, Italy and Russia, with sales, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Chapter 12, Mattress market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe Mattress sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc.Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Mattress Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data sourceAbout US:With the arsenal of different search reports, we help 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.Contact US:Dhananjay Potle5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect :+ 1-503-894-6022Toll Free : + 1-800-910-6452Email: help@bigmarketresearch.comWeb: Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, and Thickeners: Global Market Intelligence https://www.reportsworldwide.com/report/emulsifiers-stabilizers-and-thickeners-global-market-intelligence-2011-2020 https://www.reportsworldwide.com/enquiry?report_id=4366 ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, and Thickeners: Global Market Intelligence to its growing collection of premium market research reports.The report Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, and Thickeners: 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- Application of emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickeners is widely accepted in bakery and confectionary, beverages, meat and poultry products among many others.- USA, UK, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are the leading country markets among others.- Sprout Intelligence expert team estimated that the global emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickeners market in 2015 was worth more than USD 10 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 Hydrogenated Bisphenol A Market - Global Industry Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 Hydrogenated Bisphenol A Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19187 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Hydrogenated bisphenol A (HBPA) is a saturated dialchol with a cycloaliphatic structure produced by dehydrogenating bisphenol. With a configuration similar to bisphenol A, it is available as a white, flaked material soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. Hydrogenated bisphenol is used as a raw material for various engineering plastics and paints such as epoxy, unsaturated polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyacrylate, and polysulphone. It is also employed in the preparation of alkyd, polyester, and epoxy resins, in which color stability and improved weatherability are important to ensure lasting quality. The aromatic groups of bisphenol A are highly rigid, leading to polymers with mechanical strength and high glass transition temperatures. As a result, bisphenol-based resins and polymers find application in consumer products and medical devices. For instance, bisphenol-derived resins are employed in coil and can coatings in food & beverages containers. Bisphenol-based polycarbonates and their copolymers also produce baby bottles, tableware, and water bottles, apart from applications in casting, laminating, coatings, and fiber production.In recent years, bisphenol-based resins have been under scrutiny due to health concerns. These polymers are susceptible to degradation and yellowing upon exposure to light, heat, and certain chemicals. With their degradation, BPA and its derivatives can make their way into the content of the food and beverage containers or medical storage devices and subsequently into the body. This is where hydrogenated bisphenol A polymers come into the picture. HBPA polymers exhibit hydrolytic stability, heat & chemical resistance, and low toxicity. Additionally, with upgrading technology, HBPA-based polymers can be formulated for their high flexibility and excellent adhesion.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:The market for HBPA can be segmented by type into the epoxy resin-used, unsaturated polyester resin-used, and other varieties. Based on application, the market can be bifurcated into the epoxy resin and unsaturated polyester resin categories. Epoxy resins containing HBPA are employed for making paints, adhesives, a variety of protective coatings, as well as electrical laminates for printed circuit boards (PCBs). Cured epoxy resin offers protective liners on the inside of cans used for packing foods and beverages to maintain their quality. Because of a combination of desirable properties such as toughness, chemical resistance, and adhesion, HBPA is also used in protective coatings.In terms of regional outlook, Asia Pacific dominated the global HBPA market, accounting for a share of over 50% in the total consumption in 2015. It represents a majorly important market for the HBPA industry, mainly driven by emerging economies such as China and India. The overall HBPA market is propelled by increasing demand from key end-user industries such as automobiles, construction, can manufacturing, and electrical & electronics. However, volatile crude oil prices have remained a major concern for manufacturers of HBPA and they may act as a restraint.Key players operating in the global Hydrogenated bisphenol A market include Maruzen Petrochemical, New Japan Chemical, Way Pharm, Milliken Chemical, Avera Chemicals Inc. Yangzhou Baohua Chemical Technology Development Co.,Ltd., and Puyang Huicheng Electronic Materials.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: The study provides a decisive view of the Malignant Pleural Effusion Treatment Market by segmenting it based on regions https://goo.gl/8XirL2 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=106 https://www.tmrresearch.com/malignant-pleural-effusion-treatment-market Global Malignant Pleural Effusion Treatment Market: General OutlineWhen cancer grows in the pleural space, malignant pleural effusion is caused. In this advanced state of cancer, which is frequently the factor pertaining to decreased life expectancy of the patients, fluid is accumulated between the thin layer of chest wall and pleural tissue lining of the lung. The major type of cancer that are responsible for this condition include breast, lung, and ovarian. Generally, malignant pleural effusion is symptomatic where patients experience shortness of breath, heaviness and pain in chest, dry cough, continuous felling of unwell, and inability to do physical exercise. This fluid accumulation can be detected via a simple physical examination along with x-ray of chest and is confirmed by ultrasound imaging or by the process of thoracentesis. With the exponential rise in chronic diseases such as cancer across the world, the global market for malignant pleural effusion treatment is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Malignant Pleural Effusion Treatment Market: Trends and ProspectsIn the past few years, owing to the lucrativeness of this market where patients spend significant chunk of their income and for a long period of time, several prominent companies have invested in the research and development to find innovative treatment for malignant pleural effusion. This is the primary factors driving the surge of demand in the global market. For instance, Novartis Pharmaceuticals studying effects of zometa as adjuvant treatment of malignant pleural effusion due to non-small cell lung cancer, Chinese National Taiwan University Hospital developing intrapleural bevacizumab injection for malignant pleural effusion in lung cancer, Advantagene, Inc. in collaboration with prestigious University of Pennsylvania is developing intrapleural AdV-tk therapy in patients with malignant pleural effusion, Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd evaluating usage of endostar and cisplatin for treatment of malignant pleural effusion. Along with this, U.S. based National Cancer Institute collaboration with University of Virginia is studying role of docetaxel in treating patients with malignant pleural effusion.Moreover, suitable reimbursement conditions laid out by several governments and the prevalence of several types of cancer is another favorable factor for the market. Conversely, high cost of these treatments is expected to hinder the growth rate of the market during the forecast period.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Malignant Pleural Effusion Treatment Market: Geographical OutlookThe global market for malignant pleural effusion treatment can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. The North America dominated by the U.S. where more than 200,000 new cases of malignant pleural effusion registered every year, according to a journal published by American Thoracic Society (ATS) in 2009. European market is dominated by the U.K., wherein lung and breast cancer together account for 50% to 65% of all malignant pleural effusion. This market can also be segmented on the basis of classes of drugs used for treatment malignancies such as alkylating agents, topoisomerase inhibitor, and antineoplastic agents.Read Complete Report @Some of the prominent players in global malignant pleural effusion treatment market are Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Roche Pharma AG.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Nitrobenzene Market - Global Industry Analysis By 2016 - 2024 Nitrobenzene Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18620 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Nitrobenzene is a kind of organic compound which is used in the manufacturing of aniline and acts as a predecessor for the production of chemicals and numerous derivatives in cosmetics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and other types of industrial applications. It is also used as a chemical to manufacture pesticides, synthetic rubber, and lubrication oil. Rising demand for rubber in the automotive industry is likely to fuel the growth of the nitrobenzene market over the forecast period. Expansion of the construction industry is one of the key factors likely to drive the nitrobenzene market over the forecast period. Rapid urbanization in developing economies such as China and India among others has led to the growth of the construction industry, which has been one of the dominant factors driving the nitrobenzene market.Growth of the agriculture industry coupled with the mounting demand for fertilizers is driving the nitrobenzene market globally. Rise in the demand for bio-based chemicals and strict environment regulations are restraining the nitrobenzene market from expansion. Availability of cheap labor and low cost of raw materials in China is expected to drive the nitrobenzene market in this region.DOWNLOAD INDUSTRY RESEARCH REPORT BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INSIGHTS:The nitrobenzene market has been segmented on the basis of application and end-user. On the basis of application, the nitrobenzene market is segregated into pesticides, lubricating oil, aniline production, and synthetic rubber. Aniline production was the most dominant segment in 2015 and it is expected to remain so over the forecast period. On the basis of end-user, the market is segregated into pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial applications. Agriculture registered the most dominant share in the nitrobenzene market in 2015 and is likely to retain its position over the years to come.Geographically, the nitrobenzene market is segmented by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest market share in 2015 and it is expected to remain so over the forecast period. Rapid pace of urbanization in developing countries such as China, India, and Bangladesh is a key driver of the nitrobenzene market in this region. Growth of agricultural industry in this region has fuelled the growth of the nitrobenzene market. North America accounts for a considerable share in the nitrobenzene market. Growth of the pharmaceutical industry is driving the market for nitrobenzene in this region. The European Commission has proposed reduction in the level of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions which has resulted in the demand for bio-based chemicals which is likely to enhance the growth of the nitrobenzene market growth.Asia Pacific has an increasing demand for nitrobenzene owing to developments in agriculture. China accounts for majority share of the nitrobenzene market in Asia Pacific. Growth in the construction industry and rapid pace of urbanization is one of the major drivers for the nitrobenzene market in Asia Pacific. Increasing development in the dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and chemical industry among others in the developing nations has been one of the key drivers for the nitrobenzene market. Middle East & Africa has an emerging nitrobenzene market owing to increase in the demand for bio based chemicals and strict environmental regulations. Latin America occupies a considerable share in the nitrobenzene market. Brazil is one of the large markets for nitrobenzene in this region.The major players in the nitrobenzene market are BASF SE, Aromsyn Co., Ltd., Bann Quimica Ltda. and Finetech Industry Limited. Some of the other key vendors in the market are China National Petroleum Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, Shandong Jinling Chemical Co., The Chemours Company, Total S.A., The Dow Chemical Company, and Yantai Wanhua Polyurethane Co. Ltd. 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. 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: Metal Processing Oil Market - Global Industry Analysis, Forecast 2016 - 2024 Metal Processing Oil Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19130 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Metal process oils are process oils used in metal processing for lubrication, cooling, and anticorrosion purposes. Metals need to undergo several mechanical processes such as casting, forging, cutting, drawing, and hardening for usage in a particular application. However, significant amount of heat and friction is generated during these processes. This causes overheating and wear of worked metal, tools, and machine tools. Metal processing oils are used to control high temperatures and lower wear and tear of tools, machine tools, and forging machines. Metal processing oils are largely employed in manufacturing processes such as machining, cold and hot drawing, forging, broaching, quenching, heat treatment, rolling, grinding, and cleaning.Rapid industrialization and expansion of the manufacturing sector are expected to drive the metal processing oil market across the globe. Increase in proclivity toward efficient and effective manufacture of metal parts by lowering the operating costs is anticipated to boost the metal processing oil market in the near future. These oils increase the durability of tools and dies by reducing friction and heat, ultimately lowering the tooling and die manufacture costs. Furthermore, growth in the automotive industry is estimated to fuel the metal processing oil market in developing countries such as India, China, Brazil, and South Africa. Volatility in prices of oil and gas affects the prices of metal processing oil, as crude oil is the precursor to their production. Decrease in prices of crude oil has led to a fall in the prices of metal processing oil. This volatility is also estimated to hamper the market of metal processing oil in the near future.DOWNLOAD INDUSTRY RESEARCH REPORT BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INSIGHTS:Based on type, the metal processing oil market has been segmented into straight oils, also known as neat oils; soluble oils, also known as emulsifiable oils; semi-synthetic oils; and synthetic oils. Neat oils or straight oils are mineral based oils and occupy significant share of the metal processing oil market. These oils are used for heavy duty operations such as cold drawing and rolling, hobbing, and machining. Based on feedstock, the metal processing oil market can be divided into Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, and Group V. Group I base oils are widely used feedstock source for manufacturing metal processing, oils as they are cheap and easy to obtain.However, manufacturers of Group I base oil are shifting toward the cleaner Group II and Group III feedstock sources due to the high sulfur content. In terms of application, the market can be split into machining, forging, heat treatment, drawing, and finishing operations. Of these, machining accounts for substantial market share due to the extensive use of metal processing oil in operations such as cutting, turning, milling, and drilling. This segment is followed by metal drawing application, especially cold drawing operations.Based on geography, the metal processing oil market can be segregated into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is one of the key consumers of metal processing oils, as countries such as India and China are manufacturing hubs. The region is also a prominent manufacturer of automobiles in the world. This is boosting the metal processing oil market in Asia Pacific. It is followed by the market in Europe and North America, as these regions also have strong automotive market. Thus, the manufacturing sector in these regions accounts for significant share of metal processing oil. The metal processing oil market in Latin America is also projected to expand at significant pace in the near future, due to the rapid industrialization in countries such as Brazil and Mexico.Key manufacturers of metal processing oil include Exxon Mobil Corporation, Castrol Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, and United Oil Company.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: Report Released on Automotive Sunroofs Market: Europe Leads Demand! http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17465 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global automotive sunroof market is currently being driven by the rising consumer demand for safety and comfort. Increasing disposable incomes are allowing a greater number of consumers to afford high-end luxury cars, while technological advancements in architecture and materials is allowing lower range cars to be optionally fitted with quality sunroofs. Both factors are likely to provide a substantial impetus to the global automotive sunroof market over the coming years. The global automotive sunroof market is also being propelled by the increasing development of passenger cars in general. However, the market is currently being stifled by utility issues such as the crushing of sunroofs during accidents or due to manufacturing defects. The installation of sunroofs also increases the overall maintenance cost of a car, making it an unwanted feature for low-end car buyers.The overall global automotive sunroof market was calculated at US$4.3 bn in 2015 and is projected to reach US$11.4 bn by the end of 2024, after expanding at a CAGR of 11.5% within a forecast period from 2016 to 2024.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:Europe Leads Demand for Automotive SunroofsThe automotive sunroofs market across the globe is currently driven by its exceptionally high volume of demand in the European region. Europe also holds a high potential demand for premium vehicles and along with increasing consumers demand for comfort systems, the adoption of sunroofs in all passenger vehicles has increased over the forecast period in Europe. Glass sunroofs are adopted in approximately 60% of the vehicles using sunroof systems in Europe.Asia Pacific occupies the second position in terms of demand in the global automotive sunroof market, after Europe. A majority of the car buyers as well as manufacturers treat sunroofs as an after-sales market in Asia Pacific, allowing a massive scope of entry for all levels of players in this region. The complementing growth of the automobile sector in Asia Pacific is expected to further drive the market for sunroofs in India, China, and Japan. Governments from Asia Pacific, MEA, and Latin America are providing incentives to environment friendly industries, of which the global automotive sunroof market can be a part of. This has in turn helped in draw in huge investments from leading global companies of automotive sunroofs providers for setting up new facility manufacturing units in these regions.Glass Sunroofs Top Demand VolumeBased on material types, in terms of revenue, the global automotive sunroofs market was primarily driven by glass sunroofs with the leading market share in 2015 and is also expected to hold the top market share over the forecast share. Glass is a commonly used material in the manufacturing of sunroofs. Glass sunroofs are preferred by consumers since they offer better transparency, along with an open and spacious atmosphere. The market for fiber sunroofs will experience declining growth owing to the decline in demand for convertible tops. With growing lightweight and fuel efficiency trends, carbon fibers and polymers are also gaining popularity. In the glass sunroof type market segment, the in-built glass sunroof sub-segment occupies the leading market share. Pop-up, tilt and slide, panoramic, top-mount, foldable, and removable sunroofs are the most commonly available varieties. Solar sunroofs are the new entrant and the energy from the photovoltaic cells of the solar sunroofs are now being used to power the vehicles climate control systems.Leading players operating in the global automotive sunroofs market so far, have included Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. (Japan), Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V. (Netherlands), Inteva Products, LLC. (Troy), Webasto SE. (Germany), and Valmet Automotive (Finland).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: Stainless Steel Round Bar Market: Global Industry Analysis, Forecast By 2016 2024 Stainless Steel Round Bar Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=11027 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The swift growth in the automotive sector owing to the increasing vehicle production is predicted to fuel the stainless steel round bar market. Within the industry of construction, stainless steel round bars are highly utilized in structural parts that are exposed to bridge pins, tie rods, heavy load, and other load transfer devices. The rising penetration of stainless steel (SS) round bars within the construction industry is stimulating the development of the global stainless steel round bar market.This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the market by presenting the key dynamics impacting the overall growth of the market. These dynamics include drivers, challenges, and opportunities. The top segments present in the market are benchmarked on the basis of their growth rate, general attractiveness, and size in the market. Analysis tools such as SWOT analysis and Porters five forces model have also been taken into consideration while presenting the competition present in this market. In addition, the key trends and the market attractiveness analysis have been highlighted through this study.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:The top technological developments taking place in the stainless steel round bar market and their impact on the development of this market have also been presented. The regulatory scenario, and the micro and macro-economic indicators have also been presented in the purview of this report. The weaknesses and strengths of the key market vendors have been highlighted under the competitive landscape section of the reportStainless Steel Round Bar Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global stainless steel round bar market is highly utilized in the manufacturing of numerous products such as dairy equipment, anchor bolts, industrial nozzles & valves, food processing equipment, sanitary fittings & faucets, machine and automotive shafts, reinforcing bars, and various other hardware products. Hence, the increasing application areas of SS round bars will positively impact the development of the global SS round bar market. In addition, the increasing utilization of SS round bars in the sector of oil and gas in the offshore and onshore construction projects and the increasing employment in the application of heat exchangers will work in favor of the growth of the overall market.SS round bars present numerous excellent properties such as sustainability, fire resistance, toughness, magnetism, thermal and electrical conductivity, fire resistance, and high corrosion resistance, among others. The demand for SS round bars is on the rise due to these excellent properties exhibited by them, hence driving the growth of the overall market. On the other hand, the skyrocketing cost of nickel may negatively impact the development of the global stainless steel round bar market.Stainless Steel Round Bar Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of geography, the stainless steel round bar market was led by Asia Pacific in 2014 and this trend will continue all through 2023. This is owing to the swiftly rising human population, increasing infrastructure expansion, and the rising expending of governments in favor of SS round bars in this region. In Asia Pacific, Japan, India, and China are the top contributors driving the development of the market in this region. North America and Europe, respectively, trailed Asia Pacific in the same year. This is owing to the booming automotive industry and the increasing industrialization in these two regions.Key players Mentioned in the Report are:The leading players in global stainless steel round bar market are ArcelorMittal, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, CRS Holdings Inc., Dongbei Special Steel Group Co. Ltd., Crucible Industries LLC, Garelick Steel Company, Shri Bhagavati Bright Bars Limited, J. H. Stainless, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Valbruna Stainless Inc., Walsin Lihwa Corporation, and Tsingshan Holding Group Co. Ltd., 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. 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: Adult Diapers Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends Analysis For 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4772 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/adult-diapers-market.html Global Adult Diapers Market: OverviewOver 19 million people in the U.S. have some form of incontinence or other, and almost 85% of them are women. Incontinence is a common condition, which can treated by suitable medication or surgery in some special cases. However, those unwilling to undergo intrusive procedures have the option of choosing adult incontinence products. An adult diaper can be classified as incontinence care products and those meant to be worn if suffering from severe diarrhea, incontinence, mobility impairment, or dementia. The growing aging population, urbanization, greater affordability, and improved awareness are the chief factors driving the global adult diapers market.Download Research Brochure PDF@By product, the global adult diapers market can be segmented in terms of product, application, and geography. By product, the market constitute reusable and disposable adult diapers. The market can be further classified into pad type diapers, pant type diapers, and flat type diapers. The report provides a detailed analysis of the various factors supporting the markets growth across the aforementioned segments. It also lists the restraints that could inhibit the markets expansion. It compiles exhaustive information sourced through proven research mythologies to help stakeholders get a better perspective of the global adult diapers market.Global Adult Diapers Market: Trends and OpportunitiesSlow growth in personal income, lingering unemployment, and high cost of living have continued to weigh on the spending habits of consumers and their decisions to expand families. As per information shared by the Census Bureau, the retiring baby boomers have resulted in the surge of geriatric population (65 years of age and older) in the U.S., which is expected to nearly double itself from that in 2012 and reach nearly 83.7 million in 2050. The rapidly growing aging population, improvement in the healthcare system, and economic affluence are the chief factors driving the global adult diapers market.The geriatric care takers and parents are commonly educated and trained through media regarding the importance of hygiene when using baby or adult diapers. Some of the branded manufacturers are consciously focusing on creating awareness regarding the same, which is projected to have a positive influence on the market.Despite the favorable opportunities, lack of awareness and social stigma often attached with incontinence especially in underdeveloped economies are hindering the growth of the market. Nevertheless, with efforts by governments and big brands to eradicate such social stigma, in future the market will witness considerable growth for raking in higher profit.Global Adult Diapers Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global adult diapers market can be segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, MENA, and Rest of the World. As China, trailed by India, has the largest population of aged people, these countries are also expected to demonstrate the fastest growth in terms of the demand for adult diapers through the course of the forecast period. Market trends suggest, a majority of new entrants will focus on expanding their business in emerging economies to capitalize on the opportunities prevalent therein.Global Adult Diapers Market: Vendor LandscapeSome of the most prominent companies operating in the global adult diapers market are DSG International, Covidien, First Quality Enterprises, Inc., Daio Paper, Hengan Group, Fu Burg Industrial, Medline Industires, Kao Corp., Nippon Paper Industries, Kimberly Clark, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), P&G, Ontex International, Unicharm., and Tranquility. In the forthcoming years Procter & Gamble (P&G) is projected to strengthen its market position as compared to other leading brands in the market.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Advanced Combat Helmet Market: Insurgency and Urban Warfare Threats on the Rise http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19238 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global advanced combat helmet market is largely driven by the growing need of governments and defense agencies to provide better standards of soldier safety and combat tactical advantage in the face of growing global security threats such as terrorist attacks, border insurgencies, and internal conflicts. The defense sector is heavily adopting advanced combat helmets in order to protect their soldiers and law enforcement officers from head injuries caused from gunshots, IED explosions, and shrapnel. In addition, the demand for helmets integrated with the best vision and communication technologies is also increasing. Features such as night vision cameras that offer better situational awareness in the dark or in any difficult situations are becoming more of a necessity. The demand for these integrated technologies is also boosting the global market for advanced combat helmet.In terms of revenue, the global advanced combat helmet market was valued at US$1.7 bn in 2015, and is expected to reach US$3.0 bn by 2024, after expanding at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2016 to 2024.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:North America Bags Top Demand Volume for Advanced Combat HelmetsGeographically, the global advanced combat helmet market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Of these key regions, North America held the leading share in the global advanced combat helmet market: more than 25% of the total market revenue, in 2015. The U.S. was estimated to hold the top market volume with more than 60% of the overall revenue of North America market for advanced combat helmet for the same year. The research and development effort undertaken by manufacturers in the U.S. is continuously focusing on the safety of the soldiers and law enforcement officers during any combat operations. It is allowing players to manufacture lightweight and increasingly tactile helmets. Mexico is predicted to grow at an exceptionally fast pace in North America as the country is increasingly focusing on strengthening its military and defense forces with better technologies in general. Owing to these facts, the market for advanced combat helmet in North America is estimated to propel over the forecast period.The advanced combat helmet market in Europe is estimated to grow at a substantial pace through Germany, France and the U.K. and their expansive activities in military and defense. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is estimated to be the leading region in terms of growth rate in the advanced combat helmet market over the coming years. China, Japan, and India above all are investing substantially in the procurement of advanced combat helmets that can offer enhanced safety to the soldiers. China lead the Asia Pacific advanced combat helmet market share in 2015 and India is estimated to be the faster growing country in terms of demand. The increase in investments in the defense sector and law enforcement agencies are expected to boost the market for advanced combat helmet in Asia Pacific during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.Military and Defense Applications of Advanced Combat Helmets at All-time HighBased on applications, the global advanced combat helmet market can be segmented into military and defense, and law enforcement agencies. The military and defense segment us the leading consumer of advanced combat helmets, due to the growing global warfare and terrorist activities and borders insurgencies, while the law enforcement agencies are also adopting advanced combat helmets at a fast pace. Due their rapid adaptation rates, the law enforcement agencies are estimated to be growing swiftly in their demand within the global advanced combat helmet market.The key players in the global advanced combat helmet market so far, have been ArmorSource LLC, BAE Systems, Gentex Corporation, Morgan Advanced Material PLC, Revision Military, Ceradyne Inc., MKU Limited, Honeywell International Inc., Point Blank Enterprises Inc., and DuPont.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: Detailed analysis and forecast of the Molecular Spectrometry Market on a global and regional level https://goo.gl/qCII5Z https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=113 https://www.tmrresearch.com/molecular-spectrometry-market Global Molecular Spectrometry Market: SnapshotSpectrometry refers to an analytical technique to classify elements and compounds by measuring the radiant energy emitted by a substance due to excitation by an external energy source. In the past few decades, spectrometry instruments have played a pivotal role in analytical and life science industry. Molecular spectrometry is frequently used to understand the arrangement and structure of atoms and electrons within a molecule, and aids in determining variety of molecular properties such as dipole and quadrupole. With the healthcare industry expanding exponentially and application of molecular spectrometry in several other industries, the global market for molecular spectrometry is estimated for a healthy growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.By technology, the global market for molecular spectrometry can be broadly classified into nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, ultraviolet visible spectrometry, infrared molecular spectrometry, and raman spectrometry. By application, the market encompasses segments of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food & beverage testing, environmental testing, and research institutes for analyzing known and unknown samples.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Molecular Spectrometry Market: Trends and OpportunitiesIncreased investments by several prominent healthcare industry players for the research and development of new technology is the primary driver for this market. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry is used to analyze structure, solubility, and diffusion properties of molecules, besides proving access to DNA and protein sequence in biological and clinical related application. For instance, Agilent technologies launched ProPulse NMR system in 2013, while Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the PicoSpin 80 the same year, a portable NMR spectrometer. Moreover, an infrared spectrometry analyzes the infrared interaction of molecule and has major application in organic and inorganic chemistry such as identifies the impurities in compounds and functional group determination. By technology the infrared spectrometry can sub-categorized into benchtop, portable, hyphenated and Terahertz.The growing inclination among pharmaceutical companies towards international GMP and GDP certifications for drugs and excipients, increasing demand for spectrometry instruments in drug development and quality control, and growing concerns for food and safety are some of the other factors that augur well for the future of global molecular spectrometry market. However, the report points out high cost of instrument and the need for skilled operator are two of the most prominent factors that are expected to hinder the growth rate during the forecast period.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Molecular Spectrometry Market: Overview of the Leading RegionsGeographically, the report studies the market for molecular spectrometry in the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. Currently, North America is detected as the most lucrative regional market, driven by developed economies of the U.S. and Canada that have robust healthcare infrastructure as well as funding and sponsorships offered by several national level research institutes and government agencies. The report also projects the region of Asia Pacific to extend the demand quickly during the forecast period due to increasing penetration of global pharmaceuticals and research organizations in emerging countries such as India.Agilent Technologies, Bruker Corporation, JASCO International Co., Ltd., Shimadzu Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, FOSS Company, and PerkinElmer, Inc. are some of the prominent companies currently operation in this market.Read Complete Report @About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Musculoskeletal Pains Market : The report segregates the market based on type, components, applications and geography https://goo.gl/DJv3zW https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=117 https://www.tmrresearch.com/musculoskeletal-pains-market Global Musculoskeletal Pains Market: SnapshotMusculoskeletal pains refers to the acute or chronic pains of soft tissues or organs, which can be caused due to an injury, falls, jerking movements, falls, sprains, fractures, dislocations, and overuse of the organ. For instance, lower back pain is a common work related musculoskeletal pain that is caused due to prolonged immobilization or poor posture. Localized or widespread pain, stiffness of the body, fatigue, lack of sleep, twitching muscles, and burning sensation in muscles are some of the common symptoms of musculoskeletal pains. Depending on the location of pain, musculoskeletal pains are of different kinds including bone pain, muscle pain, tendon and ligament pain, fibromyalgia, joint pain, and tunnel syndromes. Bone pains, which are majorly caused due to injury, is the most common type of musculoskeletal pains, followed by joint pains, which is frequently associated with rheumatoid arthritis.Musculoskeletal pains treatment includes various methods such as physical and occupational therapy, heat or cold treatment, acupuncture, strengthening, and conditioning and stretching exercises. Although there are no medications currently available for the treatment of musculoskeletal pains, some of the medications recommended to relieve the symptoms are: acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opioids, and neurotransmitters. The global market for musculoskeletal pain is projected for a robust CAGR during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025. This report is a comprehensive analysis of all the factors that are expected to impact the growth rate and also profiles some of the key players to reveal their market share, product portfolio, and latest developments.Request a Brochure of the Report @Global Musculoskeletal Pains Market: Trends and ProspectsResearch and development activities by several market players to find drugs that can be used to treat musculoskeletal pains is the primary driver of the market. For instance, one of the major players Nordic Bioscience A.s in collaboration with Novaratis AG has developed the drug by the name calcitonin. Currently, the drug is under clinical trial phase three and is predicted to be highly beneficial for the treatment of musculoskeletal pains and thereby boost the market. Hydrocodone bitartrate, bupivacaine transdermal, prednisone, and clibranopadol are some of the other under train drugs. However, side effects such as nausea liver and kidney damage, acid-peptic disorders, and irritation of gastric tract associated with these drugs are restraining the market expansion.Request for TOC of the Report @Global Musculoskeletal Pains Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the report segments the global market into the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. Currently, North America contributes to the maximum demand due to robust healthcare infrastructure in countries such as the U.S. and Canada. However, Asia Pacific is expected to rise at the strongest CAGR during the forecast period due to the presence of vast population and improving healthcare facilities in several emerging economies such as China, India, and Japan.Read Complete Report @Apart from Novasratis AG and Nordic Bioscience mentioned above, some of the other major market players in global musculoskeletal pains market are DURECT Corporation, Zogenix, Inc., Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Limited, Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc., TransPharma Medical, Ltd. and Purdue Pharma L.P.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com The Personalized Cancer Drugs Market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period 2017 - 2025 https://goo.gl/S21G9B https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=118 https://www.tmrresearch.com/personalized-cancer-drugs-market Personalized Cancer Drugs Market: OverviewPersonalized drugs, or customized drugs, are tailored to suit the needs of individual patients. Earlier, various patients suffering from the same type of disease were given the similar treatment plan. However, it became evident to physicians that a particular treatment worked differently for different patients, mainly owing to a varied genetic makeup. The concept of personalized medicine is based on the analysis of etiology of disease in individual patients and offers treatment that is more efficient, predictable, and precise.Cancer is a common chronic disease and a major cause of fatality around the globe. The development of personalized cancer drugs has gained pace as they have relatively fewer side effects compared to standard drugs. Personalized cancer drugs target a specific protein or gene responsible for the growth and survival of a cancer type.Request a Brochure of the Report @Personalized Cancer Drugs Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe personalized cancer drugs market is primarily fueled by the rising prevalence of various cancer types such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and leukemia, and colorectal cancer. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an estimated 13,397,159 people in the United States were affected with various cancer types in 2011. Moreover, in 2014, around 1,666,540 new cancer cases were diagnosed in the country, with nearly 585,720 deaths resulting from cancer. The personalized cancer drugs market is also driven by several advantages associated with this new treatment therapy and ongoing developments in the field of genetic science.On the flip side, high cost associated with the genetic testing of patients and tumor samples may serve as a growth restraint on the market for personalized cancer drugs. In addition to this, the lack of insurance plans to cover these tests in developing nations of Asia Pacific and Rest of the World hampers the market to some extent. This can be attributed to low per capita income and poor reimbursement scenario.Request for TOC of the Report @Personalized Cancer Drugs Market: Geographical AssessmentFrom a geographical perspective, the personalized cancer drugs market has been broadly segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World (RoW). The market for personalized cancer drugs is led by North America. The chief factors responsible for the regions lead position are aggressive research and development activities, technical advancements, higher affordability for expensive treatments and therapies, and greater healthcare awareness. Europe is also a key market for personalized cancer drugs owing to significant funding from several governments and the growing penetration by U.S.-based companies.Asia Pacific holds immense promise for players in the personalized cancer drugs market, powered mainly by Japan. The regional market is likely to be fueled by the presence of a large pool of cancer patients and improving healthcare infrastructure. The growth of the APAC personalized cancer market can also be attributed to the rapidly evolving medical tourism industry. In the RoW segment, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa represent potential markets.Read Complete Report @Personalized Cancer Drugs Market: Competitive LandscapeSome of the key players competing in the personalized cancer drugs market are F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pfizer Ltd., Cell Therapeutics, Inc., H3 Biomedicine, Inc., bioTheranostics, GlaxoSmithKline, and Abbott Laboratories. Zelboraf (vemurafenib) by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Xalkori (crizotinib) by Pfizer Ltd. are some notable targeted drugs for the treatment of cancer.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Potash Market to Gain From Growing Demand for Food and Biofuels Worldwide : Analyzes the trends and opportunities http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/533979 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressrelease/519 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global Potash Market Report: 2015 Edition provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"MarketResearchReports.biz now features a report that studies the state of the global potash market. The report, titled Global Potash Market Report: 2015 Edition, analyzes the trends and opportunities as well as threats that currently prevail in this market. Potassium chloride (KCl) is the most widely found form of potash on the market today.According to the report, the global potash market is primarily driven by a mounting demand for biofuels and a rise in the global population in general, which has necessitate the production of more food worldwide. This aspect assumes importance when one considers the fact that over 90% of the potash produced worldwide goes into fertilizers. Also, as the demand for oil palm and rice rises, compounded with a shrinkage in arable land owing to the urban sprawl, the need for high-quality fertilizers will naturally rise too. Higher sales of fertilizers will augur well for the demand for potash as well, the report notes.Furthermore, the report also points toward noteworthy developments and trends that can will influence the future of the global potash market. Among these, the report expects optimizing fertilizer application to be a high-impact growth driver for the global potash market. The report, published in January 2016, is composed of 56 pages.Download Sample copy of this Report at:Emerging countries are expected to act as lucrative markets for the growth of potash consumption. This trend will further support the rebound in potash consumption that is currently being seen worldwide. Despite have a favorable outlook, the global potash market will have to face a few restraints, especially with water scarcity becoming a real worry worldwide. In some instances, oversupply could also hamper the growth of the global potash market, as will the falling prices of crops.The markets studied in the global potash market are: Latin America, East Asia, Western Europe, and North America. Within this, the report lays a special emphasis on regional markets such as Brazil, Malaysia, China, the U.S., and India.View Press Release at:The report predicts the growth of the global potash market by using verifiable data from reputable sources. The authors of the report have made use of significant variables that will affect the markets forward march in one way or another. The report also deploys a regression model created for the purpose of this study to obtain accurate data about the direction in which the market is headed. Of equal importance is studying several independent variables and their relationship with dependent variables a fact that the reports authors have not overlooked. The report, composed of numerous tables and charts, creates a holistic view of the global potash market.Companies that have been profiled in the global potash market report are: Mosaic, Uralkali, The Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp), and K+S.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact us:Mr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E : sales@marketresearchreports.biz Saudi Arabias Personal Accident and Health Insurance: Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=954974 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=954974 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Saudi Arabias Personal Accident and Health Insurance: Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Timetrics 'Personal Accident and Health Insurance in Saudi Arabia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segment, and a comparison of the Saudi Arabian insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, total assets, total investment income and retentions during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Saudi Arabian economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together Timetrics research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.SummaryTimetrics 'Personal Accident and Health Insurance in Saudi Arabia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segment, including:An overview of the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segmentThe Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the Saudi Arabian economy and demographicsTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the personal accident and health insurance segment in Saudi Arabia:It provides historical values for the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segment for the reports 20112015 review period, and projected figures for the 20152020 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020.Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Saudi Arabian personal accident and health insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the personal accident and health insurance segment.Key HighlightsPersonal accident and health insurance, which includes both compulsory and non-compulsory lines, accounted for 52.0% of the industrys gross written premium in 2015.In December 2015, the CCHI made health insurance mandatory for visitors to Saudi Arabia.In May 2016 the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority issued new regulations on the expansion of branches for insurance entities, including insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries.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 @ Anti-counterfeit Electrical & Electronics Packaging Market: Global Analysis, Technological Advancements, Evolving Industry Trends, Insights 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=9572 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The malpractice of counterfeiting has become a severe matter of concern for the OEMs of (Electrical & Electronics) E&E products across the globe. Counterfeiting is globally affecting the E&E industry, resulting into innumerable tangible and intangible losses for the players operating in the industry. A large number of counterfeit E&E products, carrying brand name of the leading industry players, are making their way into the local market. Apart from affecting the companies financially, the market penetration of such products also causes an enormous damage to the brand image of the affected company, earned over a long course of period.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:The forged electrical & electronics products are so well packaged that there detection during normal investigation becomes impossible and, thus, these products make their way into the local retail markets. The poor quality of these forged E&E products leads to various problems, such as short circuits, small appliance-life, rise in probability of electrical fires, etc., which in turn lead to the further deterioration of the brand image of the affected company. The global electrical & electronics industry endures huge monetary losses every year due to the presence of counterfeit products in the market.Anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging technology has emerged as one of the most efficient solutions to limit the market infiltration of counterfeited electrical & electronics products globally. Growing population and urbanization is further propelling the demand for E&E products globally. Due to their high demand, E&E products are available virtually in all markets. Easy availability of these products in the local market makes them more susceptible to being counterfeited. Besides, ever-increasing cases of counterfeiting in electrical & electronics products is compelling the market players to go for anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging.Besides, various new and innovative technologies for the verification and authentication of original electrical & electronic products are making foray into the market. The utilization of such technologies on a commercial scale by E&E OEM manufacturers is leading to the rise in demand for anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging worldwide. High use of this packaging is anticipated to lead to the significantly high growth rate of the market over the forecast period of 2016-2024.Customers too, in order to skip the trouble caused by forged products and for the best utilization of their money, are becoming increasingly concerned about counterfeited products. Various governments are also becoming increasingly active against the use of counterfeit E&E products. This makes the global companies more optimistic about investing in advanced anti-counterfeit technologies. Due to these reasons, the global anti-counterfeit electrical and electronics packaging market is anticipated to expand at a significantly higher growth rate over the forecast period, accounting for multi-millions US$ by the end of the forecast period.There are also some factors which are restraining growth of the anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging market currently. High capital expenditure required to set up anti-counterfeit technology systems and usage-impact of this system on the supply chain network of the companies work are the major factors restraining growth of this market currently.The global anti-counterfeit electrical and electronics packaging market is segmented on the basis of technology and regions. On the basis of technology, the market is segmented into authentication packaging technology and track and trace packaging technology. The authentication technology segment is further sub-segmented into ink & dyes, holograms, watermarks, and taggants. The track and trace packaging technology segment is sub-segmented into barcode technology and RFID technology.On the basis of geography, the global anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging market is segmented into seven main regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East & Africa, and Japan. North America, followed by Europe market, are expected to account for the largest share of the global anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging market. The market in the Asia-Pacific region is also expected to grow at a significant rate, thereby contributing to the overall growth of the global anti-counterfeit electrical & electronics packaging market over the forecast period.Some of the key players covered in this study of global anti-counterfeit Electrical & electronics packaging market are Zebra Technologies, Alien Technology Corp., AlpVision, Avery Dennison Corp., SICPA HOLDING SA, Microtrace, LLC, Impinj, Inc. and 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: Global Cloud Backup and Recovery Software Market 2017 : Acronis, Arcserve, Asigra, Intronis, Microsoft, Symantec Cloud Backup and Recovery Software http://bit.ly/2lpXzH6 http://bit.ly/2ln0Dmc A market study based on the "Cloud Backup and Recovery Software Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Cloud Backup and Recovery Software Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Cloud Backup and Recovery Software industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This ReportAcronisArcserveAsigraBackup AssistCA TechnologiesCarboniteCloundBerryCommVaultDell SoftwareEMCEvaultFalconStor SoftwareHPIBMInfrascaleIntronisMicrosoftSymantecUnitrendsThe report studies the industry for Cloud Backup and Recovery Software across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market & dynamics of demand and supply of Cloud Backup and Recovery Software into consideration. The 'Cloud Backup and Recovery Software' research study covers each and every aspect of the Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market globally, which starts from the definition of the Cloud Backup and Recovery Software industry and develops towards Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market. The geographical segmentation of the Cloud Backup and Recovery Software industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Cloud Backup and Recovery Software is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Cloud Backup and Recovery Software market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Cloud Backup and Recovery Software production volume, data regarding demand and Cloud Backup and Recovery Software supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Cloud Backup and Recovery Software across the globe.About Us :Worldwide Industry are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Worldwide Industry, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive and Aerospace.Contact Us :Worldwide IndustryUnited States Automotive Thermal Systems Running On Alternative Fuels to be In Demand, Says TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4400 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global automotive thermal system market is oligopolistic in nature, with the top four key players accounting for 73.4% of the market in 2014. Leading players in the market include Mahle, Denso, Valeo, and Gentherm. The threat of new entrants is low in the automotive thermal system market, as new setups require huge investments. The capital-intensive nature of the market makes it a risk for new players to enter the market, suggests a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Improvement in thermal systems is the prime area of focus for the key market players. For instance, Gentherm Inc. is investing heavily to bring about improvements in thermoelectric generators.Established players in the automotive thermal system market can afford to invest huge sums of money on research and development activities, enabling innovation. Expanding the product catalog is another leading growth strategy implemented by automotive giants. A case in point would be Denso Corporation, which expanded its operation in Silicon Valley, California, in 2014 to focus on R&D activities in different areas.Rising Consumer Preference for Electric Vehicles to Boost Demand for Automotive Thermal SystemsThe heightened demand for luxury cars in Europe and Asia Pacific is fueling the demand for automotive thermal systems. Another factor driving the demand for thermal systems is the inclusion of newer HVAC systems. The rising implementation of new technologies and upgrades in existing ones are becoming the key drivers behind the growth of the global automotive thermal system market.The shift in the preference of customers towards lightweight automobiles has also led to the growth of the automotive thermal system market. Other factors such as stringent emission norms, the rising demand for electric vehicles, and increased usage of eco-friendly refrigerants are also boosting the demand for automotive thermal system market.Concerns over Depleting Ozone Layer to Dampen Automotive Thermal System MarketThe factors restraining the growth of the global automotive thermal systems market include high costs and strict government norms. The high cost of these systems is due to the implementation of improved and advanced technologies. Meanwhile, the growing concerns regarding the adverse effect of automotive emissions on the ozone layer are causing governments of various countries to impose strict environmental regulations. This is expected to dampen the demand for automotive thermal systems in the coming years.Get More Information :Automatic Thermal Sensors to Play Major Role in Automotive Thermal SystemsAutomatic thermal sensors are anticipated to be used in all automobiles and are thus expected to play a major role in automotive thermal management systems. These sensors are expected to serve as a growth opportunity in the automotive thermal systems market.The heightened demand for thermal systems that run on alternative fuels will also open new growth avenues in the market. The demand for systems that run on fuels such as liquid hydrogen, bio-alcohols, P-Series fuels, ethanol, and propane is expected to rise.According to the report, the global automotive thermal system market is expected to be worth US$48.5 bn by 2020. By component, the HVAC segment has led the market in the recent past and is expected to remain in the lead in the coming years as well. The segment is expected to account for 54.2% of the global automotive thermal system market by 2020. On the basis of geography, Asia Pacific is expected to account for a dominant 35.1% of the market by 2020. The regions growth in the market is marked by a rise in the demand for construction vehicles. Additionally, the rising disposable income is enabling consumers to purchase automobiles, thus driving the automotive thermal system market in Asia Pacific.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: 2017 Prediction for Cover up labels Market - Competitive Analysis, Trends, Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17984 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Labelling plays a significant role in product packaging. Over the past few years labelling has been considered as one of the major tool for promoting a product. Labelling industry is experiencing a healthy growth in the developing and developed economies. To have a competitive edge, manufacturers are inclined to adopt a new and innovative products. Cover up labels are one of the important labelling solution available to the brand owners. Print errors are not a rare incident in the business and due to which the cover up labels have gained popularity as it prevent the original labels and save considerable money that goes into producing a new label to fix a small mistake. In addition, Retail industry is expected to be one of the major end user of the cover up labels owing to the changing price scenario.Download Research Brochure PDF@Cover up labels: Market DynamicsThe global cover up labels market is anticipated to be driven by the significant growth in organized retail sector. Price changes are done on regular basis in the organized retail industry, which requires a mechanism or a tool like a cover up label to overcome this challenge. Relabeling is a long process that can create a huge loss of the company. So, many organized retail companies are adopting cover up labels to prevent the original labels. Apart from that, rising acceptance in pharmaceutical sector is expected to further propel the growth of cover up labels market during the forecast period. Moreover, ecommerce industry is experiencing double digit growth in developing economies that in turn is expected to escalate the sales of cover up labels market over the forecast period. In addition, discounts offered by the ecommerce retailers during the festive seasons also require them to use cover up label as the discounted prices are for a particular time and these labels cover up the original labels with the initial price. Pharmaceutical companies are also increasingly using cover up labels to showcase the composition of the drugs attractively. In addition, cover up labels are extensively used in the various distribution channel of a company because the product go through several use cycles that can damage the original labels.Cover up labels: Market SegmentationThe global cover up labels market is segmented on the basis of material type, end user, technology typeBased on the material type the global cover up labels market is segmented into:PaperPlasticBased on the end use industry the global cover up labels market is segmented into:RetailPharmacyHealthcareLogisticsEcommerceOthersBased on the printing technology the global cover up labels market is segmented into:FlexographicDigitalCover up labels Market: Regional outlookIn terms of geography, the global cover up labels market has been divided in to five key regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Asia pacific region is expected to register highest CAGR during the forecast period. Mounting growth of ecommerce sector coupled with the changing lifestyles of the consumer is expected to fuel the sales of cover up labels market in the Asia pacific region. North America is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Europe is also anticipated to witness healthy growth in the cover up labels market over the forecast period. However, Middle East & Africa region is expected to be sluggish during the forecast period.Cover up labels Market: Key playersSome of the key players in the global cover up labels market are Imprint Enterprises Inc., Consolidated Label Co. Inc., Etiquette systems Inc., Presto Labels, Mindware Holdings Inc., Lewis Label Products Corporation, W.T. Nickell Label Company, Alpine Packaging, Inc., MPI Label Systems, Inc., QuickLabel Systems Inc., Chicago Tag & Label, Inc. etc.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 Mobile Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments Market Report: 2016 Edition http://www.reportbazzar.com/request-sample/?pid=542398&ptitle=Global+Mobile+Payment+Industry%2C+Technology+%28Near+Field+Communication%29%2C+Remote+and+Proximity+M-Payments+Market+Report%3A+2016+Edition&req=Sample http://www.reportbazzar.com/product/global-mobile-payment-industry-technology-near-field-communication-remote-and-proximity-m-payments-market-report-2016-edition/ http://www.reportbazzar.com/discount-form/?pid=542398&ptitle=Global+Mobile+Payment+Industry%2C+Technology+%28Near+Field+Communication%29%2C+Remote+and+Proximity+M-Payments+Market+Report%3A+2016+Edition&req=Discount Gens report, Global Mobile Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments Market Report: 2016 Edition provides detailed market and segment level data on the Global and Chinese consumption of Mobile Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments. 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 Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments 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.Request Sample Report Here: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 Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments by country or region (North America, China, EMEA, Asia except China), and by application/type.4. Growth, trends and forecast of 2016-2021 Mobile Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments market and some important proposals for new investment of Mobile Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments Industry before evaluating its feasibility.Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 Global and Chinese Mobile Payment Industry, Technology (Near Field Communication), Remote and Proximity M-Payments industry covering all important parameters.Browse Complete Report Summary With TOC:Table of Content:Chapter 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 ApplicationEnquiry Before Buying:About Us:Reportbazzar.com is your trusted source for the most inclusive and informative assortment of market research reports designed to empower you with the latest in industry information that translates to time and cost savings for your business. We not only help you give wing to your latent business ideas but also facilitate you in taking the best informed and strategic decisions that guarantee success in your most promising business endeavors.ReportBazzarMary Jane30 Wall Street, 8th floor,New York, NY 10005.US: +1 (212) 389-6363India: +91 20 66528525Email Id: sales@reportbazzar.com Worldwide Food Service Equipment Market - owing to Growth of Hospitality Industry http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1547 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research has published a report on the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market. As per the report, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is expected to expand at a 4.80% CAGR during the period between 2014 and 2020. The report, titled Food Service Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, states that the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market was valued at US$31.5 bn in 2013 and is predicted to reach US$44.3 bn by 2020.Constant developments in refrigeration technologies and increasing availability of large refrigerators has helped the growth of the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market in the recent past. Rapid growth of the hospitality industry is expected to be the major driver of the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market till 2020. Busy lifestyles have led to changes in the eating habits of the majority of the global population. Changes in eating habits have led to increasing demand for ready-to-eat-food products, thus fuelling the demand for refrigeration systems. Increase in the number of food outlets, restaurants, and hotels is expected to generate more opportunities for the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market during the forecast period.Get More Information :The global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is segmented on the basis of product type and geography. Based on geography, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is divided into East Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, North West Europe, South West Europe, Russia, and Central Europe. In 2014, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market was dominated by North America. Growth of the North America market is driven by an increase in the activity of the hospitality industry and advancements in food refrigeration procedures. With recent developments, the leading players in the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market are expected to give tough competition to the new entrants. Some of the leading players in the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market are Ali Group, Hobart Corporation, Meiko, Manitowoc Company Inc., Cambro Manufacturing Company Inc., Hoshizaki Electric Co. Ltd., and Dover Corporation.By product type, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market is classified into ice machines, refrigerated vending machines, beverage dispensers, glass door merchandisers (GDMs), commercial fridges/freezers, blast freezers, ice cream machines, ice cream cabinets, walk ins, and others. In 2014, the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market was led by the walk ins segment; this segment registered the largest revenue, of close to US$5.3 bn, and is predicted to maintain its dominant position till 2020. In 2014, the walk ins segment registered sales of 990,790 units owing to the rising number of luxury hotels and restaurants in the hospitality sector. The beverage dispensers segment has the highest growth potential in the years to come. Advancements in cooling and refrigerating systems are expected to foster increased demand for better refrigeration systems, especially in the hospitality sector. Availability of commercial refrigerators in various sizes and with various capacities is expected to boost the global food service equipment (commercial refrigeration) market during the forecast period.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Matte labels Market - Evolutionary Trend to Step Ahead in Packaging Industry - Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18182 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Matte labels is a perfect choice for applications that requires a durable waterproof labels, such as bath and body care products, test tubes, personalized bumper stickers, outdoor signage and water bottles. It is generally made up of different types of materials such as paper, polyester and can also be made from a wide range of adhesives. Matte labels is one of the prominent types of labels, owing to its cost- effectiveness, muted look and most importantly, because of their ability to be written on, after printing.Download Research Brochure PDF@The subtle or muted look make it different from gloss labels, and also remains attractive to the consumers, who want their labels to have some sort of aesthetic appeal to them. The reason behind muted look of the matted labels is because matte materials absorbs more of the ink, in comparison to the gloss materials, which is a significant advantage of matte labels over gloss labels. Furthermore, the ability to write on them after printing with a good enough quality makes them more demanding as shipping and mailing labels, household labels, food packaging labels and many more. Henceforth, preference for matte label is anticipated to continuously rise over the forecast period, thus fuelling more revenues in the global matte labels market.Global Matte labels Market: DynamicsGrowing demand for digital printing technology coupled with aesthetic visual graphics and robust growth of food & beverage industry are major factors, driving the growth of matte labels market. Increasing focus on sustainable packaging across ever growing presence of large retail chains, are further fuelling growth for matte labels market. Increasing inclination towards sustainable labelling and sustainable packaging amid increasing focus by big brand owners on carbon footprint and life cycle analysis is another prominent factor fuelling the demand in the matte labels market. Along with, relatively low cost of labels and growing need for bar codes labelling has drastically changed the overall packaging and labelling industry, also affecting the global matte labels market.The increasing trend of mergers and acquisitions among chemical industry manufacturers have led to consolidations of the supplier base, which in turn poses a major hindrance to the labelling manufacturers, owing to increased price of raw materials.Matte labels Market: SegmentationOn the basis of application, the global matte labels market is segmented into,FoodStorage/shipping/mailingPromo/office productsCosmeticsHousehold labelsKids labelsBar-coded productOthersOn the basis of types, the global matte labels market is segmented into,White matte paper labelsPolyester matte labelsMatte polypropylene labelsOthersOn the basis of printers, the global matte labels market is segmented into,Inkjet printersLaser printersOn the basis of printing technology, the global matte labels market is segmented into,Digital PrintingLithographic PrintingOthersMatte labels Market: Region Wise OutlookGlobal matte labels market is segmented into five regions namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Asia pacific region, is anticipated to witness higher growth rate among all the regions over the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the emerging economies like India and China, due to the increasing industrialization and urbanization in these countries. These economies are projected to grow at twice the rate of developed countries and tapping the best opportunities for the matte label market. Europe is also expected to contribute significantly to the global matte labels market between 2016 and 2024, due to major demand from food & beverage industry. North America is also anticipated to account for a significant market share over the forecast period, due to reviving economy and rising demand from household and cosmetic products. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to witness sustainable growth over the forecast period. In Latin America, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico are expected to create market opportunities for companies involved in the matte labels market.Matte labels Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players of the global matte labels marker are:Seiko Epson CorporationPlanet LabelDura fast label CompanyConsolidated Label Co.Masteroast Coffee Company Ltd.L&N Label CompanyMatt Label Inc.About TMRTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Tonometers Market - Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/66 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/tonometers-market-66 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ https://blog.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Some of the major players of the global tonometers market include Canon Inc., Icare Finland Oy (Icare Finland is a part of Revenio Group Corporation), Topcon Corporation, HAAG-STREIT GROUP, NIDEK CO., LTD. and Reichert Technologies among others. Inorganic growth strategies are helping leading companies to obtain a competitive edge. Focus on enhancing product portfolio and inorganic growth approaches are some of the key strategic initiatives undertaken by these companies. In September, 2016, Icare launched Icare ic100 in order to expand its product portfolio.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights :Tonometers: An efficient device for early detection of a serious eye disorder, glaucomaTonometers are devices assist in helping the eyecare professionals to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP) inside the eye. IOP is a fluid pressure in the eye. Tonometry is a diagnostic test which aids in examining whether the patient is at risk of glaucoma. This is an eye disorder wherein excess fluid pressure inside the eye tends to damage the patients optic nerve and might lead to permanent vision loss, if the damage retains. Tonometers help to detect this disorder, which usually does not show symptoms until at a later stage. The common target population for such kind of disease is the geriatric population. Moreover, diabetic patients are also at high risk of glaucoma. Hence, tonometers tend to be increasingly advantageous for such target population and they contribute towards the growth of the global tonometers market.Increasing geriatric population significantly supports the growth of tonometers marketGlobal tonometers market is driven by various factors, the foremost of which is increasing geriatric population. It is mostly detected among people aged 60 years and above. Moreover, chronic eye disorders also assist in driving the demand for tonometers. Glaucoma is also found as an inherited disorder; hence people with family history of glaucoma also fall under the target population of the global tonometers market. However, there are some limitations pertaining to tonometers. For instance, Goldmann applanation tonometers might lead to corneal abrasion or risk of spreading infection. Non-contact tonometers also include restraining factors such as poor accuracy level in the measurement of the ocular pressure. Hence, the aforementioned factors are expected to restrain the global tonometers market to some extent.Applanation and indentation tonometers are the most commercially available tonometersGlobal tonometers market is segmented on the basis of product type, end user and region. Product type is classified under applanation tonometers, indentation tonometers, rebound tonometers, pascal dynamic contour tonometers and others. Further, applanation tonometers are segmented into Goldmann applanation tonometers, Perkins tonometers, non-contact tonometers, ocular response analyzer and others. Applanation tonometers help in determining ocular pressure by applying a force which flattens the disk to the cornea. These tonometers are the most widely accepted by the eyecare professionals primarily due to the fact that such diagnostic testing device allows for accurate measurement. On the other hand, indentation tonometers are used to examine through a force which will indent or sink into the cornea of the soft eye as compared to a harder eye. Rebound tonometers are also emerging owing to its numerous advantages such as it does not require anesthetizing the eye. It is a contact rebound tonometer, which uses an extremely light probe.Browse Global Strategic Business Report :On the basis of end user, tonometers are segmented into hospitals, clinics and others. Hospital segment is considered as the largest market owing to its wide usage in such facilities and hence, contribute towards significant revenue generation.Technological advancements are propelling market growth in North AmericaGeographically, tonometers market is classified under North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. North America is accounted for a significant share for the global tonometers market. This is primarily due to the fact that the healthcare expenditure in country like the U.S. is constantly growing, which in turn is expected to help the market for tonometers to grow. Moreover, technological advancements are also on a peak in these countries, which is expanding the product portfolio of tonometers. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is anticipated to gain lucrative growth over the forecast period due to increasing prevalence of diabetes in country like India. For instance, in 2015, 69.1 million people were suffering from diabetes in India according to International Diabetes Federation.ABOUT USCoherent 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 USRaj ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog : IGOR IANKOVSKYI: OVERCOMING THE INTERNAL MIGRATION Igor Iankovskyi Few days ago, web-site Metrocosm has published the world map of migration as of now, all available data on who moved where can be accessed in the real time. Almost 300 thousand people have left Ukraine in five years from 2010 to 2015: this data gave a new impulse to the discussion that is being ravaging in Ukrainian social networking segment and printed media for the past two weeks.Honestly speaking, I dont have a simple answer on whether the migration is #zrada (#) or #peremoha (#) for Ukraine. Having lived behind the iron curtain, even if not for longtime, I consider the freedom for everyone to choose where to put a coma in to leave impossible to stay to be an unconditional good. For the people of young and even middle age it is no longer a problem to go working or studying abroad. Furthermore, they could have absolutely different reasons for this from downshifting to greater self-realization.Giving modern connectivity technologies and high-speed Internet, the physical location it is no longer an issue whether in Ukraine or on Bali. According to the recent report IT Ukraine. IT services and software R&D in Europes tech nation, there are almost a thousand Ukrainian IT-companies and 90 thousand software developers that are being contracted by the wide range of agents in information technologies sector. On the other hand, no less than 100 global companies, specialized in IT, e-commerce, software development and gaming industry have their R&D facilities in Ukraine. Talented scientists, wanted specialists and successful companies are fully integrated into the global society.One can argue as much as he wants about the brains outflow, but this process couldnt be stopped. The knowledge has always been disseminated over the State boundaries and political regimes, long before the invention of the Internet.Nevertheless, I see there a problem too. It is because of its flexibility that the globalized economy, built on the network concept, can function bypassing the whole territories and social groups, marked as unproductive ones and though excluded from the global processes. Unproductive people and institutions havent moved anywhere, but they are the internal migrants. Unseen by the business, uninteresting to the investors.Modern Ukraine is reproducing such an internal migration, and what is more shocking in the sphere that has to be the most open one science and innovations. In the end of November I participated in conference entitled United by innovations. It reunited academy scientists, young start-uppers and business representatives. Everybody has been speaking about their sectorial problems, but the discussion ended with emergence of a big picture: the scientists do not comprehend the business logic and dont see the need to commercialize their inventions; the business is not interested in science, being not ready for the long investments. The scientists are being isolated from the global context while the business is not aware about the possibilities of Ukrainian innovators and seeks to buy foreign technologies, not always being the newest and the most effective ones. This is the vicious cycle.In my opinion, to breach this cycle is to make a serious step towards Ukrainian integration into the global innovative cluster. But before we have to do our homework, meaning the liquidation of the internal migration, when the main subjects of innovative process are literally living in different worlds. It is only by operationalizing the links within the country that we would be able to make a unique offer to our partners from all-around the world. It is useless to fence from the global processes, but it would be useful to become an interesting and productive nation."Initiative for the Future" is a Ukrainian Charity Foundation, founded by Igor Iankovskyi a successful Ukrainian businessman, financier and philanthropist. Charities unite like-minded people in a common goal - to develop and implement educational and cultural programs in Ukraine. Activities of the organization are based on voluntary initiatives.Since its creation, the Foundation supports talented young people from all over Ukraine, contributing to the creation of a highly cultured society. The Foundation has a strong international dimension, having successfully completed a range of projects abroad: in Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom and the USA.12, Amosova Street, build. 1,Horizont Park Business Center,Kiev, 03680, Ukraine Interactive Whiteboard Market to Grow at a CAGR of 6.77% during the period 2016-2020 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/securecheckout/paymenta/1914?msfpaycode=sumsf https://marketsizeforecasters.com/enquire-for-discount/1914 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/global-interactive-whiteboard-market-2016-2020 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/get-sample/1914 https://marketsizeforecasters.com/computer-and-related-services-in-spain-isic-72 http://marketsizeforecasters.com/ For overview analysis, the report introduces Global Interactive Whiteboard Market basic information including definition, classification, application, industry chain structure, industry overview, policy analysis, and news analysis, etc.The Report Announces the Publication of its Research Report Global Interactive White Board Market 2016-2020The Report recognizes the following companies as the key players in the global interactive white board market: BenQ, Samsung, Seiko Epson, and Smart Technologies.Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: Interphase, IPEVO, Luidia, Mimio, Sharp, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Julong Educational Technology, and Vestel.Commenting on Global Interactive Whiteboard Market, the expert of research team said: One trend in the market is rise in education gamification. Gamification is considered to be a powerful tool to engage students, develop creative skills, and drive innovation. It is gaining momentum as an important element within the education sector, as it allows students to learn while being engaged in effective education games. In online video learning, the use of games, puzzles, and online questionnaires has helped in maintaining students' attention and increasing interactivity. Also, the cost of video production and promotion has lowered with the emergence of better web resources and high bandwidth utilization.The Report analysts forecast the global interactive white board market to grow at a CAGR of 6.77% during the period 2016-2020.Global Interactive Whiteboard Market of 58 pages having tables and figures is available for purchase atAccording to Global Interactive Whiteboard Market, one driver in the market is technological advancements. As the demand for tools and technology is rising in the education sector, users ask for more advanced IWB systems. Ultrasonic tracking is one such technology that is gaining high popularity in the market. It has the unique advantage of turning any normal or regular whiteboard into an interactive surface. Vendors are now offering IWBs bundled with accessories such as stylus pens, cables, and pocket sensors. With the help of these sensors, faculty can turn any flat surface into a whiteboard. This feature is highly suitable for educators to encourage students in collaborative learning. This is a highly compatible and reliable option for institutions that seek to incorporate smart interactive technologies at a low cost and without the hassle of installing IWBs. This technology captures data written on conventional boards using dry-erase markers. Smart Technologies has launched products incorporated with this technology at reasonable rates. Vendors are also making available the IWB software.Further, Global Interactive Whiteboard Market states that one challenge in the market is sustainability issues. IWBs are facing strong competition from IFPs in the global market. IFPs are increasingly gaining market share as an alternative to IWBs in classroom teaching. They incorporate various collaborative features because of which increasing number of schools and colleges globally are shifting to IFPs. Although an IFP's upfront cost is higher when compared with an IWB's, the total cost of ownership is lower during the years of usage. In countries such as the UK, a huge emphasis is being laid on the adoption of panels as they offer almost similar functionalities as of IWBs. Globally, IFPs and projectors are used as alternate devices with similar functionalities of an IWB.The listed pricing for this Global Interactive Whiteboard Market report starts at $ 2500. Request Discount for Global Interactive Whiteboard Market Research Report @Table of Contents in Global Interactive Whiteboard Market Research ReportPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Global Interactive Whiteboard Market landscapeGlobal education hardware marketGlobal classroom displays marketPART 06: Global IWB marketMarket overviewTechnology landscapeIWB industry structureMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisPART 07: Global Interactive Whiteboard Market segmentation by end-userGlobal IWB market by end-userGlobal IWB market by pre-K-12Global IWB market by higher educationPART 08: Geographical segmentationGlobal IWB market by geographyIWB market in EuropeIWB market in North AmericaIWB market in APACIWB market in ROWBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Global Interactive Whiteboard Market Report @Global Interactive Whiteboard Market was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.Request a sample copy of Global Interactive Whiteboard Market Research Report @Related Reports: -Computer and Related Services in Spain: ISIC 72The Industrial market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the Computer and Related Services market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.MarketSizeForecasters.com, a Skyline Market Research LLP brand, is an online aggregator of market research reports. MarketSizeForecasters.com offers a comprehensive collection of full length reports on global and regional markets in 100+ industry verticals. We have partnered with some of the leading business and market research publishing houses and regularly update our online library to offer wide range of reports to our customers.Market size forecastersThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketsizeforecasters.comWebsite:Connect with us: LinkedIn | Twitter Injectable Drug Delivery Market Trends, Growth, Price, Demand and Forecasts To 2022 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-sample/283113 https://marketreportscenter.com/reports/283113/injectable-drug-delivery-market-outlook-global-trends-forecast-and-opportunity-assessment-2014-2022 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-discount/283113 https://marketreportscenter.com The Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market accounted for $26.8 billion in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% to reach $76.1 billion by 2022. The factors driving the injectable drug delivery market include rising incidences of chronic diseases, technological advancements and increase in demand for self injection devices. Chronic disease rates are increasing at 14% each year. In 2012, 63% of the deaths across the world were due to chronic diseases. However, factors such as needlestick injuries are inhibiting the market growth. According to World Health Report 2002, more than 35% of Hepatitis B, around 40% of Hepatitis C and about 4% of HIV/AIDS in Health-Care Workers around the world are due to needlestick injuries. Lack of access to or failure to use appropriate personal protective equipment can cause needlestick injuries.Download Sample Report @Acceptance of auto-injectors under insurance reimbursement by governments is further encouraging patients to switch from manual injections and prefilled syringes to auto-injectors, thereby boosting the market for auto-injectors. North America commanded the largest share dominated by the the United States in 2014. The Asia Pacific market is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The high incidence of target diseases such as diabetes in promising economies such as China and India is one of the significant market driver. In Asia Pacific, China and India are anticipated to be the fastest-growing injectable drug delivery markets. High prevalence of anaphylaxis in New Zealand and Australia is one of the major factors to fuel the growth of auto-injectors market during the forecast period in the region.Some of the prominent players in injectable drug delivery market include Baxter International Inc., Becton Dickinson & Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Terumo Corporation and Elcam.Types of Injectable Drug Deliveries Covered:Auto injectorsPen InjectorsNeedle-Free InjectorsPrefilled SyringesSafety SyringesApplication Types Covered:Autoimmune DiseasesAnaphylaxisHematopoieticAnticoagulantsNeurologyMetabolic DiseasesVaccinesAntiviralEmergency MedicineComplete 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 8 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, Indiainfo@marketreportscenter.com Intracranial Pressure Monitors Market 2015 - 2023; Driven by increasing application in the detection and management of various cerebrovascular disorders http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/intracranial-pressure-monitors-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=6445 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ As the global intracranial pressure monitors market undergoes a paradigm shift from invasive to non-invasive devices, manufacturers are facing intense competition, prompting them to focus on technological advancements. Leading players such as Integra LifeSciences Corp., Medtronic Inc., and Codman & Shurtleff Inc. are aggressively integrating advanced technologies in their products. In line with this trend, companies are now racing to introduce next-generation products in the market.Looking forward, untapped markets in emerging economies are likely to offer lucrative opportunities to participants. Entering into strategic partnerships with local players will help major companies to seize better shares in the market.Read Full Report:Intracranial Pressure Monitors Gain Impetus from Rising Incidence of Traumatic InjuriesThe frenzied lifestyle of people across the world has increased the frequency of traumatic injuries and augmented the prevalence of strokes, thereby escalating the demand for intracranial pressure monitors, says an analyst at TMR. Cranial injuries and head trauma are mostly caused by road and industrial accidents, which lead to death or permanent disability for hundreds of individuals every year. Elevated intracranial pressure causes around 2 casualties in every 10 cases of head injuries across the world. The increasing reports of brain injuries in adults as well as pediatric patients have also fueled the demand for intracranial pressure monitoring significantly.Strokes are another prominent factor that has escalated the application of these pressure monitors. Large hemispheric strokes increase the cerebral perfusion pressure and enhance the mean flow velocity of the middle cerebral arteries in the patient, raising the intracranial pressure. The growing prevalence of high blood pressure among people across the world has augmented the frequency of strokes, thereby boosting the demand for intracranial pressure monitors substantially.Hitherto, the risk associated with the invasive nature of intracranial pressure monitors, such as bacterial infections, hampered their adoption across the world. The reports about cerebrospinal fluid infection, which sometimes leads to fatal consequences, have limited the application of intracranial pressure monitors significantly.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Despite North Americas Claim on Leadership, Asia Pacific to Emerge ProminentlyDespite of being hindered by these factors, the global market for intracranial pressure monitors has a bright future ahead of it. TMR expects this market to expand at a CAGR of 6.30% during the period from 2015 to 2023, with market opportunity swelling from US$0.94 bn in 2014 to US$1.63 bn by the end of the forecast period.Currently, North America holds the largest share in this market and will continue to lead over the next few years. However, the future of this market lies in Asia Pacific. The rapid increase in geriatric population, rising prevalence of cerebrovascular disorders, and escalating healthcare expenditure in this region together are likely to offer rewarding opportunities to participants in the coming years.This study is based on the findings of a TMR report titled Intracranial Pressure Monitors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023.About us: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: By 2020, Cement Market to Expand Their Businesses $5.27 Billion http://bit.ly/2d09OHz http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/cement-market-for-residential-commercial-infrastructure-and-other-35998 http://bit.ly/2cyvrf6 http://www.marketresearchstore.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Cement Market for Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure and Other Applications: Saudi Arabia Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 2020 According to the report, Saudi arabia region demand for cement was valued at USD 3.90 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 5.27 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of slightly above 5.1% between 2014 and 2020. In terms of volume, the cement market in the Saudi Arabia stood at 61,000 kilo tons in 2014.Request Sample Report:Cement is a one of the key binding material used in construction industry. Cements acts as a binding agent for mortar, concrete, non-specialty grouts and stucco, etc. Cement is manufactured from raw materials such as limestone, sand and clay. These kinds of raw materials are widely available in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, cheap and widely available petroleum fuel has been resulted into cost effective manufacturing of cement in the region. Various physical and chemical properties of cement such as high durability, high dependability, cost-effectiveness and versatility are favorable for construction applications.Key factors driving the demand for cement market in Saudi Arabia is increasing the construction activity in different segments such as commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure. Rapidly growing population has been resulted into growing demand for residential & commercial buildings as well as infrastructure. Residential application market for cement in Saudi Arabia is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period. Infrastructure is one of the largest segment, which accounted for around 50% share of the total market in 2014. Infrastructure refers to the construction that includes roads, bridges, canals and dams. The increasing number of airports and road construction projects are anticipated to boost the cement market in Saudi Arabia. Commercial application is the second largest application segment of the market in 2014, which include construction of walls, floors, exterior walkways and pavements of commercial buildings.Browse the full "Cement Market for Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure and Other Applications: Saudi Arabia Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast 2014 2020" report atThe cement market was dominated by Central region of Saudi Arabia, which accounted for slightly above 32% share of the Saudi Arabia market in 2014. Saudi Arabia was followed by the Western, Eastern, Southern and northern regions respectively. Cement market in central region is also expected to witness rapid growth as compared to other regions. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in construction activities in the Saudi Arabia, especially in the eastern and central provinces. Various cities in the Kingdom have initiated infrastructure projects, thereby fuelling demand for cement. Strong economic growth in the Saudi Arabia is expected to fuel growth of the cement market in various cities of the Saudi Arabia.The manufacturing companies of cement have a significant impact on the value chain through a higher degree of vertical integration. These companies manufacture raw materials as well as the final product. Some of the key players operating in the Saudi Arabia cement market include Saudi Cement Company, Riyadh Cement Company, Yamama Cement Company, and Najran Cement Company. This report segments the global market as follows:Do Inquiry before buying:Saudi Arabia Cement Market: Application Segment AnalysisResidentialCommercialInfrastructureOthers (including cement bricks and farm construction)Saudi Arabia Cement Market: Regional Segment AnalysisCentralEasternNorthernSouthernWesternAbout UsZion Research 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. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses 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 Zion Research syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food and 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, our syndicated reports strive to serve the overall research requirement of clients.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite: President of Gambia and Hermes-Sojitz agrees upon attraction of foreign investments. hermes-sojitz, gambia, senegal In the end of January, Adama Barrow, the new President of the Republic of Gambia, met with the management of the Hermes-Sojitz International Direct Investment Fund in Dakar.Issues relating to the economic development of Gambia and opportunities to attract investments to the country were discussed during the meeting. Following the results of the meeting, President Adama Barrow and the funds representatives agreed to establish the Gambia Sovereign Wealth Fund that will be focused on creating conditions and arranging cooperation with international investors in order to attract foreign investments to the country.Thanks for the democratic shift in Gambia promoted by the Resolution of the UN Security Council supporting elected President Adama Barrow, the African country makes its steps on the new path of the development. After a long stagnant period, Gambia is ready to discuss questions relating to interaction within economic cooperation with other countries.Hermes-Sojitz Investment Fund, having a great experience in implementing the large-scale projects all over the world, including in Africa, initiated creation of the Working Group focused on attraction of foreign investments to the country in order to implement projects in the area of development, hotel business, food industry, as well as in the area of extraction and processing of biological and mineral resources.According to Oleg Yantovski, Head of Hermes-Sojitz Representative Office in Russia, Gambia now takes the progressive path of political, economic and social development. This project will make it possible to create favorable conditions for the inflow of foreign investments to the country as well as will provide the impetus for integration of Africa into the world economy.Hermes-Sojitz International Investment Fund is an alliance of Asian and European investors. The fund is focused on direct investments to projects on the territory of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Main funds investment directions: field development, food industry and property development. Asset value under funds management amounts to USD 42 bln.Hermes-Sojitz DevelopementSouth Tower, World Finance CenterHarbour CityTel. +81 50 5806 6800Tel. +852 8192 55 33info@hermes-sojitz.com Alcohol Ingredients Market to witness increasing growth by, Globally 2024 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/alcohol-ingredients-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/malt-ingredients-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/frozen-bakery-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/alcohol-ingredients-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Market Research published new report on "Alcohol Ingredients Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024" in its databaseGlobal Alcohol Ingredients Market: OverviewAlcoholic beverages are drinks that consist of a significant amount of ethanol. It is depressant in nature, whereas the low amount of alcohol may cause sociability, euphoria, and reduced anxiety. However, higher doses may cause unconsciousness and intoxication. In addition, long-term drinking can lead to alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and physical dependence. These beverages include flavors, yeast, colorants, and enzymes. They are widely accepted recreational drugs globally. Alcohol drinking is found to be important in the much social culture. However, the government in several countries monitors production, consumption, and sale of the alcohol carefully.Request Free Sample Report @Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Growth FactorsIncreasing demand for alcoholic beverages across the world is anticipated to foster the global alcohol ingredients market growth in future. In addition, people are getting more addicted to alcoholic beverages, which is leading to increasing growth of the global market in the near future. Moreover, drinking alcohol has become as a status symbol; this may fuel the global alcohol ingredients market. Increasing disposal income and changing consumer habit for branded product is anticipated witness growth in future.Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: SegmentationThe global alcohol ingredients market is categorized based on ingredient type as colorants, and flavors and salts. Of these, flavors and salts segment is the dominating segment in the global market. These flavors are added to the beverages in order to prevent from loss of taste throughout food processing. These flavors can be artificial or natural. Flavored alcoholic beverages such as beers, spirits, and wines are getting more popular across the world. They have become an integral part of alcoholic beverages sector. Based on beverage type, the global market is bifurcated as spirits, beer, and wine. Of these, beer is the leading beverage type segment in the global alcohol ingredients market owing to increasing demand for cider beer, beer made from fruit juice, and craft beer, which may propel the global market growth in the future.Related Reports:Malt Ingredients Market:Frozen Bakery Market:Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Regional AnalysisEurope is the dominating region for alcohol ingredients and this demand expected to increase in the near future, due to growth in the beverages manufacturing activities. North America is considered as a mature market for alcoholic beverages, owing to increasing food and beverages industries. Companies focus in this region is to occupy other regions as well. However, beverages manufacturers are planning to penetrate into newer markets primarily in Asia Pacific. Changing consumer preferences for leading brand in the beverages in the India and China may enhance the global alcohol ingredients market.Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Competitive PlayersKey players in the global alcohol ingredients market are Threatt, Angel Yeast, Crystal Pharma, Bio Springer, D.D. Williamson, Chr. Hansen, ADM, Sensient, Dohler, Ashland, Kerry, and Synergy Flavors, and Biorigin. Other major players influencing the global market are Kothari Fermentation and Biochem, Koninklijke DSM, Suboneyo Chemicals Pharmaceuticals, and Chaitanya.Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @What Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.For More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Forecast report for Global Cheese Ingredients Market by 2016-2024 https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/cheese-ingredients-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/cheese-ingredients-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/cheese-ingredients-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Market Research published new report on "Cheese Ingredients Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024" in its databaseGlobal Cheese Ingredients Market: OverviewCheese is considered among complex dairy products as far as the manufacturing process is concerned. The manufacturing process of cheese includes chemical, biochemical, and microbiological procedures. The entire process has different processes such as milk acidification packaging, milk coagulation, and storage. In total, there are almost 400 different varieties of cheese manufactured by using various milk sources.Request Free Sample Report @Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Growth FactorsThe global cheese ingredients market is anticipated to witness considerable growth in the near future. Changing lifestyles and rising adoption of expediency foods are some of the factors propelling the global cheese ingredients market. Different countries have adopted cheese ingredients so as to meet the increasing demand of changing taste patterns from end-users. This, in turn, is anticipated to boost the global cheese ingredients market in the future. The increasing application of cheese in various food products including burger and pizza is another major factor driving the growth of the global market in a positive way. Furthermore, government initiatives to increase awareness, change in eating patterns, unmet needs, lack of time for cooking, and improved economic and social stability are other factors fostering the growth of the global cheese ingredients market. Conversely, different regulations imposed on cheese ingredients usage such as a ban on the utilization of condensed milk in cheese manufacturing may hamper the global cheese ingredients market to some extent.Global Cheese Ingredients Market: SegmentationThe global cheese ingredients market is segmented on the basis of cheese type, ingredient type, and regions. Based on the ingredient type, the global market is segmented as milk, additives, cultures, and enzymes. Of which, the milk segment is influencing the global market which is followed by enzymes segment. On the basis of cheese type, the cheese ingredients market is classified as natural cheese and processed cheese. Of these, processed cheese segment dominates the global market owing to low production cost and high demand from packaging manufacturers. Geographically, the global cheese ingredients market is segmented as Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Middle East & Africa.Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Regional AnalysisNorth America is anticipated to witness a significant growth in the global cheese ingredient market in future. This trend is followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia Pacific is considered to be the fast growing markets for cheese ingredients market mainly owing to the emerging economies including Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan. One of the major producers of cheese is New Zealand.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the major players in the global cheese ingredients market are Fonterra Co-Operative Group Limited, Saputo Inc., CSK Food Enrichment, and E. I. du Pont De Nemours and Company. Other key players influencing the global market include Chr. Hansen Holdings A/S, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Almarai, Altura, Arla Foods, and Koninklijke Dsm N.V.Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @What Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.For More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Organ-on-a-chip Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2016-2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/49 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/organ-on-a-chip-market-49 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ https://blog.coherentmarketinsights.com/ 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.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights :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.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.Browse Global Strategic Business Report :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.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.ABOUT USCoherent 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 USRaj ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog : Military Communications Market - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2013 - 2019: Major Players like General Dynamics, Alcatel Lucent, Lockheed Martin, Harris Corporation, Raytheon etc. http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=197296 http://www.researchmoz.us/defense-and-security-market-reports-139.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://deep-research-report.blogspot.com/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Military Communications Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast, 2013 - 2019 " to it's Large Report database.The Global expenditure over Military Communication has crossed a trillion mark, as huge investment is made by federal government to adopt innovative communication solutions in different government departments. Interoperability and better security of military services are the factors driving the market growth. Military communication market includes advanced components and technologies. Software defined radios are growing at a rapid pace and are used in various kinds of radios such as tetra radio, joint tactical radio and mobile radio systems. Cost involved in adoption of advanced technologies pose a big challenge to the growth of this market. Multiple communication platforms such as LTE, 3G, 2G and 4G requires considerable hardware and increases complexity and ultimately increases the cost.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:The military communication market is segmented on the basis of different components into Mobile Satellite Service (MSS), military Satellite Communication (SATCOM), Fleet Satellite Communication System (FLTSATCOM), Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (MILSTAR), military radio systems, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) , military sonar and radar systems military security systems (interception system, encryption system and electronic countermeasure system); by types of communiation: air-ground communication, airborne communiation, underwater communication, shipborne communication and ground based communication. Furthermore the market is segmented by types of applications into situational awareness, routine operations, control and command and other applications. Geogaphically the market is segemtned into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.Read All Defense and Security Market Research Reports @Since early times, military communication has uplifted many folds with adoption of new frequencies, cost effective methods and software embedded products. Confidentiality and security of data is of prime importance in military communications this increases the adoption of new and innovative solutions.Companies are expected to invest in the military communications market at an encouraging rate in the coming years despite economic limitations, potential technological challenges and budget cuts. Developments in various technologies and products such as AEHF band satellite systems, software defined radio with fast and secure communication are expected to show strong growth in coming future. Some of the major players in this market include General Dynamics, Alcatel Lucent, Lockheed Martin, Harris Corporation, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Thales Group and Rockwell Collins.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's 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. ResearchMoz's 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.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at: Global Markets for Smart and Interactive Textiles http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=87243 https://goo.gl/Ak94Y8 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/smart-and-interactive-textiles-market.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com The report covers forecast and analysis for the Smart and Interactive Textiles market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on volume and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes a study of opportunities available in the Smart and Interactive Textiles market on a global level.Get a copy of Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the Smart and Interactive Textiles market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the Smart and Interactive Textiles market has also been included, strategic development along with patents analysis is included in this report. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, where in type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Smart and Interactive Textiles finds widespread applications in Industrial, Military and Defense, Medical and Healthcare, Retail and Consumer, Transportation and Other. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil.Inquire more before buying this report @The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Fibertronic Ltd., Globe Manufacturing Company, LLC, Interactive Wear AG, Outlast Technologies Inc., Textronics Inc, and Toray Industries Inc.This report segments the Smart and Interactive Textiles market as follows:Smart and Interactive Textiles Market: Applications Segment AnalysisIndustrialMilitary and DefenseMedical and HealthcareRetailOtherSmart and Interactive Textiles Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @About Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Micronutrients Market continuous to increase by 2021 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=87244 https://goo.gl/SgIKw6 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/micronutrients-market.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com The report covers forecast and analysis for the Micronutrients market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on volume and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the Micronutrients market on a global level.Get a copy of Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the Micronutrients market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario, and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the Micronutrients market has also been included, strategic development along with patents analysis is included in this report. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, where in type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Zinc and Others are the major types of Micronutrients. Micronutrient finds widespread applications in Fertigation, Foliar, Soil, Seed Treatment and Other. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.Inquire more before buying this report @The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Agrium Inc., BASF SE, Coromandel International Ltd., The Mosaic Company, Wolf Trax Inc., and Yara International.This report segments the Micronutrients market as follows:Micronutrients Market: Type Segment AnalysisBoronCopperIronManganeseMolybdenumZincOthersMicronutrients Market: Applications Segment AnalysisFertigationFoliarSoilSeed TreatmentOtherMicronutrients Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @About Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite: CVT Machineox Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2017 by Market Reports Center CVT Machineox Market https://marketreportscenter.com/request-sample/503908 https://marketreportscenter.com/reports/503908/global-cvt-machineox-market-research-report-2017 https://marketreportscenter.com/request-discount/503908 The Global CVT Machineox Market Research Report 2017 give insights upon the world's major regional market conditions of the CVT Machineox industry which mainly focus upon the main regions which include continents like North America, Europe and Asia and the main countries i.e. United States, Germany, Japan and China.Request to Sample of This Report @The Global CVT Machineox Market Research Report 2017 is a professionally prepared report that offers in -depth knowledge as well as information regarding the CVT Machineox industry with respect to definitions, classifications, applications, industry chain overview; industry policies as well as plans, product specifications; manufacturing processes, cost structures etc.It properly analyzes the worlds major regions market conditions and helps the established players as well as the new entrants with a comprehensive insight of the current situation in the CVT Machineox industry. With the complete framework as well as details one is able to prepare and have an edge over the competitors across the targeted locations.The report is broadly divided into six parts and each part focus upon the industry overview, condition of the CVT Machineox Industry, the investment feasibility as well as various policies and strategies. The report begins with the CVT Machineox Industry Overview which is based upon by the classifications, specifications, modifications. It also talks about the analysis of the import and export and draws a market comparison focussed upon the Development Trend. Furthermore, the report talks about the complete analysis of the raw materials as well as demand and supply of the CVT Machineox.Complete Report with TOC Available @In addition, the report brings the key players and their product development as well as the latest trend that should prove out to be quite beneficial for the new entrants to understand the industry in a better way. Apart from it, the details about the key manufacturers as well as their company profiles too are provided in the chapters of the report. The report also throws light upon the Productions, Supply, Sales, Demand, Market Status and Forecast of the CVT Machineox industry in the North American markets.Also, the trend in the European markets is also focussed inside the report that deals with the proper details about the Marketing Channels and new project investment so that the established players, as well as the new entrants, are able to get the complete research of the trends and analysis in these regional markets. Keeping in mind the environment status and up gradation of the products, the report foreshadows each and every detail.In order to prepare the report, all the important details, strategies and variables are studied so that all the useful information is blended together for the purpose of the study and understanding the major facts about the Global CVT Machineox Industry. The production value and market share along with the SWOT analysis everything is included in the report.Ask for Discount @About Us:Market 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.303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, India Global DC Industrial UPS Sales Market Report 2017 (Offline, Line-Interactive UPS, Online) Analysis by Manufacturers, Size, Regions, Type, Application and Forecast to 2022 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales Market Report 2017 http://globalqyresearch.com/download-sample/157276 http://globalqyresearch.com/global-dc-industrial-ups-sales-market-report-2017 http://globalqyresearch.com/checkout-form/0/157276 http://globalqyresearch.com/ https://twitter.com/GQYResearch https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-qy-research This report studies sales (consumption) of Global DC Industrial UPS 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, coveringEatonEmersonSchneider-ElectricAbbAegAmetekS&CGeneral ElectricBenning Power ElectronicToshibaBorriFalcon ElectricDelta GreentechDownload Sample atMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of DC Industrial UPS 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 intoOffline/Standby UPSLine-Interactive UPSOnline/Double-Conversion UPSSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of DC Industrial UPS in each application, can be divided intoPetroleum IndustryChemical IndustryElectric Power IndustryLight IndustryView full report atTable of ContentsGlobal DC Industrial UPS Sales Market Report 20171 DC Industrial UPS Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of DC Industrial UPS1.2 Classification of DC Industrial UPS1.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS1.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS1.2.3 Online/Double-Conversion UPS1.3 Application of DC Industrial UPS1.3.1 Petroleum Industry1.3.2 Chemical Industry1.3.3 Electric Power Industry1.3.4 Light Industry1.4 DC Industrial UPS Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe 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 and Volume) of DC Industrial UPS (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global DC Industrial UPS Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global DC Industrial UPS (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global DC Industrial UPS (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)2.4 Global DC Industrial UPS (Volume) by Application3 United States DC Industrial UPS (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Application4 China DC Industrial UPS (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China DC Industrial UPS Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China DC Industrial UPS Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe DC Industrial UPS (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Application6 Japan DC Industrial UPS (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Japan DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Application7 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales and Value (2012-2017)7.1.1 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)7.1.2 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)7.1.3 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)7.2 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers7.3 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type7.4 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Application8 India DC Industrial UPS (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 India DC Industrial UPS Sales and Value (2012-2017)8.1.1 India DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)8.1.2 India DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)8.1.3 India DC Industrial UPS Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)8.2 India DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 India DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 India DC Industrial UPS Sales and Market Share by Application9 Global DC Industrial UPS Manufacturers Analysis9.1 Eaton9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.1.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.1.3 Eaton DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 Emerson9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.2.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.2.3 Emerson DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Schneider-Electric9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.3.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.3.3 Schneider-Electric DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Abb9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.4.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.4.3 Abb DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.5 Aeg9.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.5.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.5.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.5.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.5.3 Aeg DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.6 Ametek9.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.6.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.6.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.6.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.6.3 Ametek DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.7 S&C9.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.7.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.7.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.7.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.7.3 S&C DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.8 General Electric9.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.8.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.8.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.8.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.8.3 General Electric DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.9 Benning Power Electronic9.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.9.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.9.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.9.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.9.3 Benning Power Electronic DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.10 Toshiba9.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.10.2 DC Industrial UPS Product Type, Application and Specification9.10.2.1 Offline/Standby UPS9.10.2.2 Line-Interactive UPS9.10.3 Toshiba DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.11 Borri9.12 Falcon Electric9.13 Delta Greentech10 DC Industrial UPS Maufacturing Cost Analysis10.1 DC Industrial UPS 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 DC Industrial UPS10.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of DC Industrial UPS11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers11.1 DC Industrial UPS Industrial Chain Analysis11.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing11.3 Raw Materials Sources of DC Industrial UPS 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 DC Industrial UPS Market Forecast (2017-2022)14.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Price Forecast (2017-2022)14.1.1 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.1.2 Global DC Industrial UPS Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.1.3 Global DC Industrial UPS Price and Trend Forecast (2017-2022)14.2 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast by Regions (2017-2022)14.2.1 United States DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.2.2 China DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.2.3 Europe DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.2.4 Japan DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.2.5 Southeast Asia DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.2.6 India DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2017-2022)14.3 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales, Revenue and Price Forecast by Type (2017-2022)14.4 Global DC Industrial UPS Sales Forecast by Application (2017-2022)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: Correctional Mental Health And Jail Suicides - Virginia Frusteri Sollars, Author of 'And Some Will Triumph'. Believes Much More Must Be Done Author Virginia Frusteri Sollars http://www.virginiasollars.net A group of articles on the Al.com by Amy Yurkanin discuss a number of mental health issues in the Alabama Prison system, the most urgent of which is suicide. Suicide in jail is not unique to Alabama certainly - it is a high priority concern that impacts prison systems and jails nationwide. Virginia Frusteri Sollars, author of 'And Some Will Triumph: Stories of the Mentally Ill in a Correctional Setting and the Nurses Who Care for Them', understands intimately the challenges we face in regards to correctional mental health."Whenever people are incarcerated, suicide becomes an issue," Sollars stated. "For a while, the jail I worked in had the lowest suicide rate in the county and I feel this was due to the psychiatric nurses who worked there. One of the things we did was give a briefing every three months or so, giving the deputies pertinent information on how to gauge if a person was suicidal. Was the inmate isolating themselves, not eating or talking with others, did that person have a history of mental illness and has he or she stop taking their medication? Was the inmate giving his belongings away, has his or her mood changed dramatically? Though we were very busy, it worked. Our mental health department followed up on all the deputies referrals. Sometimes it was nothing, but most times we found depressed people who were helped by our follow-up system, or by antidepressants before their depression changed into suicidal thoughts or a plan for suicide.""I agree with Amy Yurkanins article of Jan. 31, 2017 regarding mental health in the Alabama Prisons. You must have staff, both deputies and nurses alike who are well versed in psychiatric disorders. We actually worked with a very small mental health staff, but due to the eyes of the deputies, we were not alone. Correctional Officers should be educated. They should know what to look for and advise the proper people when they see a potential problem. I am sorry to say that in Orange County, Ca. out of the 664 hours of basic training the deputies receive, there is maybe three hours devoted to dealing with the mentally ill. This is not enough. Crises Intervention Training should be mandatory as the jails and prisons have become the new dumping grounds for the mentally ill.""As medical insurance prices climb, I am afraid that we will be seeing even more of the mentally ill within corrections. There are no longer institutions for long term care and as soon as a mentally ill person is stabilized, they are back home or on the streets again, not taking the medications they need and getting into trouble with law enforcement. Some cant afford their medication and many outpatient clinics cannot take care of the many in need.""Though we did our best, many of the mentally ill incarcerated in the jail were sometimes locked down all day for weeks at a time. We could not force medication unless they became a danger to themselves or others. There were times the cells were filthy, as due to staffing, we did not have the personnel to take dangerous inmates out and clean them or the cells. Even if the nurses were available, everything had to be coordinated with the Correctional Department.""I understand that Lauras and Kendras Law has helped, but there are stringent conditions to qualify for the court mandated program and I feel that many will fall through the cracks. The mentally ill are here to stay and we need to find the money to help them."Sollars uses her captivating and sometimes shocking stories of fact-based fiction to reveal the stark truths that lie behind the curtain of todays current issues- the fundamental facts often obscured by our headline culture. Her gift for raw storytelling takes readers backstage, where they will experience, in vivid 3-D the challenges her semi-fictional characters must face. She brings the truth into the light, and lays bare the stunning reality behind these stories in ways that mere headlines could never achieve.As a psychiatric nurse, Virginia journeyed inside the minds of the mentally ill. She not only allows her readers to participate in the day to day struggles that ensue behind the heavy steel doors of the correctional facility, but takes her readers into the thoughts, fears and secrets of the psychiatric inmates. Virginia explains the reasons why the criminal justice system has become the dumping ground for the mentally ill and why there are so few beds available to them on the outside, a matter of great concern in the United States.Sollars' book has received rave reviews from readers. Kirkus Reviews said the book is " . . .a remarkable timeline of the treatment of mental illness in the past 40 years, and its a triumphant account of her boldness as a mother, nurse, and woman. At a time when mental health is in the forefront of conversations about our health care system, her story is one of hope."One reader stated, "Absolutely the best book Ive read in years, uncensored look into correctional mental health, patients, inmates and the professionals who deal with some of societys most troubled criminals, their day to day struggles all interwoven within a gripping story of murder and suspense. A must read!" Another said, "Awesome story! While the story keeps you turning the page to see what happens next, the real plight of the mental health patients in a correctional setting is heartbreaking.Virginia Sollars is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at virginiasollars@yahoo.com. 'And Some Will Triumph' is available at online retailers. More information is available at her website.Virginia Frusteri Sollars was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and became a registered nurse in 1980, working as a psychiatric nurse for most of her career. She worked in the jail system for twenty-six years, caring for and treating the mentally ill. She continues to advocate for the mentally ill though her presentations and radio shows advising people of the plight of the mentally ill.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC, 28459 To Grow At a CAGR of 12.84% MRO Market for Automation Solutions 2017-20 https://goo.gl/0GGFgR Albany, New York, Feb 08, 2017"Global MRO Market for Automation Solutions 2017-2020" The Report covers current Industries Trends, Worldwide Analysis, Global Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-The need to optimize operation and produce superior-quality products within the least possible time contributed to the adoption of automation solutions in the production facilities. Also, the need for continuous maintenance and repair work, and the necessity to achieve high operational efficiency of automation products drives the demand for MRO service from service providers, third-party vendors, and OEMs.Initially, end-users used their in-house expertise to address MRO requirements for automation solutions in plants. As a result, they spent huge sum of money to provide training for the employees to carry out MRO. With technological advances in automation solutions, end-users need to update the training modules for the employees, and this has led to a large OPEX. In order to curtail the expenses, end-users started to outsource the MRO activities. The presence of both OEMs and independent service providers ensure service offerings of the highest quality. With the outsourcing of the MRO services, end-users are able to run their operations efficiently, thus reducing the time to market and ensuring higher production volume.Get Sample Report With TOC @** Technavios analysts forecast the global MRO market for automation solutions to grow at a CAGR of 12.84% during the period 2016-2020. Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global MRO market for automation solutions 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of MRO services for industrial automation solutions. The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global MRO Market for Automation Solutions 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 vendorsABBHoneywell International Inc.Rockwell Automation Inc.Siemens AGW.W. Grainger Inc. Other prominent vendorsBilfingerBrammerEmerson ElectricGeneral ElectricOmronRexelSchneider ElectricToshiba InternationalWESCO InternationalWoodYokogawa ElectricYaskawaMitsubishi Electric Market driverGrowth in outsourcing of operationsFor a full, detailed list, view our report Market challengeLimited presence of single service provider with multi-vendor product knowledgeFor a full, detailed list, view our report Market trendEmergence of Industry 4.0For 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 Patient Warming Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecast Up To 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7877 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/patient-warming-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ This report on the patient warming devices market studies the current as well as future prospects of the market globally. The stakeholders of this report include companies and intermediaries engaged in the manufacture and commercialization of various patient warming devices such as surface warming devices as well as new entrants planning to enter this market. This report comprises an elaborate executive summary along with a market snapshot providing overall information of various segments and sub-segments considered in the scope of the study. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the global patient warming devices market with respect to the leading market segments based on major products, applications and geographies.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :The global patient warming devices market has been studied based on major product/device segments, application segments, and their regional as well as national markets. Based on product type, the global market has been categorized into three major segments: surface warming systems, intravascular warming systems, and patient warming accessories. Based on applications, the patient warming devices market has been categorized into four major segments: acute care, perioperative care, new born care, and others. The market for these segments has been extensively analyzed based on their utility, effectiveness, sales, and geographic presence. Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period from 2013 to 2023 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2015 to 2023 are provided for all segments, considering 2014 as the base year.The market overview section of the report explores the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that currently have a strong impact on the patient warming devices market and could influence the market in the near future. Market attractiveness analysis has been provided in the market overview section in order to explain the intensity of competition in the market across different geographies. Porters five forces analysis is also provided in this section to understand the patient warming devices market considering the different parameters that have an impact on the sustainability of the companies operating in the market. The competitive scenario among different market players is evaluated through market share analysis in the competitive landscape section of the report. All these factors would help market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their shares in the global market.Geographically, the patient warming devices market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Each regional market for patient warming devices has been further categorized into major national markets such as the U.S, Canada, Germany, the U.K., Japan, China, and Brazil. Market revenue in terms of USD million for the period from 2013 to 2023 along with CAGR % from 2015 to 2023 are provided for all the regions and nations considering 2014 as the base year.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :The recommendations section included in the report would assist existing market players in expanding their market shares, and new companies in establishing their presence in the global market. The report also profiles major players in the patient warming devices market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Major players profiled in this report include 3M Health Care (3M), Covidien plc (Medtronic plc), C. R. Bard, Inc., GE Healthcare, INDITHERM (Inspiration Healthcare), Philips Healthcare, Smiths Medical (Smiths Group plc), Stryker Corporation, and ZOLL Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Group).About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: HVAC Sensors & Controllers Market - Rapid Growth of both Industrial & Residential Sectors http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=11762 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The demand for HVAC sensors and controllers is set to increase sharply between 2016 and 2024 in the non-residential businesses and automotive industry segments.The global market is expected to be boosted further by increasing government assistance in the form of incentives and increasing consumer awareness regarding energy saving measures.The incorporation of HVAC sensors and controllers to form a smart electronic system that can help reduce energy consumption and improve building processes is creating a strong demand for them across industries.The combination of these factors can be expressed in the 6.9% CAGR shown by the global HVAC sensors and controllers market from 2015 to 2024. This market is expected to cross US$9 bn by the end of 2024, and was valued at US$5.18 bn in 2015.North America Maintains Global HVAC Sensors and Controllers Market Dominance, Players Also Look to Asia PacificOver 33% of the global HVAC sensors and controllers markets regional revenue share was held by North America in 2015. Europe and Asia Pacific rank second and third respectively, while the rest of the world held the lowest share for that year. Furthermore, North America will be growing at the fastest rate, retaining its leading position till 2024.This region is heavily driven by the need to lower power consumption, and the need to replace older HVAC systems with modern ones that hold better connectivity. Industrial sectors in North America are also making heavy HVAC equipment implementations to get the best of their systems in terms of efficiency.Request A Sample Of This Report:From a development perspective, the North America HVAC sensors and controllers market is already a matured one. As a result, global players are now seeking growth opportunities in other regions, namely, Latin America and Asia Pacific.Both regions have been experiencing a rapid growth of both industrial and residential sectors, creating a plethora of chances for global players as well as regional new entrants to enter these regions. Therefore, while North America will still be dominating the market in 2024, Asia Pacific and Latin America will be showing the faster growth rates till then.Transport and Logistics Will Retain HVAC Sensors and Controllers DominanceIn 2015, over 38% of the global HVAC sensors and controllers market was held by the applications segment of transportation and logistics. Its market dominance was followed by commercial applications in second and residential applications in the second and third place respectively.The industrial applications segment held the lowest share of a little over 25% in 2015. All four segments are expected to maintain these positions till the end of 2024, due to equally paced market drivers affecting them.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: Air Conditioning Systems Market - Energy Efficiency, given Escalating Global Concerns over Energy Conservation http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=436 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Air conditioning systems have been witnessing a surge in demand from both commercial and residential applications, with the popularity of smart thermostats and inverter air conditioners rising with increasing adoption.The focus of most manufacturers of air conditioning systems is energy efficiency, given escalating global concerns over energy conservation. Concerns associated with air pollution have also spurred the demand for air purifying technologies, a trend the air conditioning systems market has been capitalizing on.The presence of a large number of leading players makes the global air conditioning systems market extremely competitive. This is projected to give the market a significant boost in the coming years, with the opportunity in this market amounting to over US$167 bn by 2024.Usage of Air Conditioning Systems Across Commercial Sector Continues to Grow StrongerAir conditioning systems find application in commercial, residential, automotive, and industrial sectors. Accounting for a revenue share of almost 40% in 2015, the commercial segment dominated the overall air conditioning systems market. This segment is poised to retain its lead through 2024 driven by the growing usage of air conditioning systems in areas such as hotel and tourism, construction, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare.By volume, however, the residential application segment dominated the market in 2015. This segment is also anticipated to expand at the highest CAGR based on revenue from 2016 to 2024.By type of equipment, the air conditioning systems market includes window, portable, cassette ACs, split, chillers, single packaged, and airside air conditioning systems.Split air conditioning systems are the most preferred kind and accounted for a revenue share of over 76% in 2015. This segment also dominated the air conditioning systems market by volume.Request A Sample Of This Report:The global market for air conditioning systems comprises Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. By revenue, Asia Pacific is projected to dominate the global market for air conditioning systems with a share of over 55% during the forecast period.The demand for air conditioning systems in Asia Pacific is likely to be driven by Japan, China, and India. In addition, the replacement of air conditioning systems with energy-efficient equipment is forecast to significantly drive the demand for air conditioning systems in the coming years.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: Commercial Refrigerators Market - 30% Rreduced Energy Consumption, will Witness Wider Commercialization http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=13139 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The commercial refrigerators market in Asia Pacific will continue to rise, with China leading the market from the front, Transparency Market Research says. As the region faces the mushrooming of convenience stores, hypermarkets, super markets, grocery shops, and restaurants, the installation of commercial refrigerators is expected to rise considerably in the forthcoming years. Along with this, the conspicuous demand for energy-efficient solutions will pave the way for research and development activities in the market.With opportunities for foreign direct investment widening in the food retail sector, Transparency Market Research (TMR) expects the commercial refrigerators market in Asia Pacific to surge at a 9.8% CAGR between 2016 and 2024. Around this time, technologies such as magnetocaloric refrigeration, which offer 20% to 30% reduced energy consumption, will witness wider commercialization.The booming hospitality sector and the food retail industry will enable the commercial refrigerators market in Asia Pacific to reach US$38.83 bn by 2024, rising steadily from nearly US$16.99 bn in 2015.Request A Sample Of This Report:The commercial refrigerators market is gaining considerable traction across China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. The rapid proliferation of quick service restaurants and the increasing penetration of multinational retailers in these countries have fuelled the demand for energy-efficient commercial refrigerators.China reports the highest demand for commercial refrigerators in Asia Pacific. It held over 33.5% of the Asia Pacific commercial refrigerators market in 2015. The country boasts a considerable presence of both local and multinational manufacturers; hence, commercial refrigerators are available at a comparatively lower purchasing cost in China. This will in turn propel the China commercial refrigerators market at a CAGR of 7.3% by revenue, from 2016 to 2024.Demand for commercial refrigerators is also likely to increase considerably in India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Rest of Asia Pacific.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: Wine Sterilizer Global Market 2017 Examination and Forecast to 2022 Wine Sterilizer Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/937782-global-wine-sterilizer-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/937782-global-wine-sterilizer-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=937782 www.wiseguyreports.com SAMPLE REQUEST@Notes:Sales, means the sales volume of Wine SterilizerRevenue, means the sales value of Wine SterilizerThis report studies sales (consumption) of Wine Sterilizer in Global market, 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, coveringKRONESOMVE NetherlandsDE LAMAHydrolockTurattiSirman SpaTetra PakSwedlinghausStephan MachineryCFT PackagingMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Wine Sterilizer 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 intoWine PasteurizerHigh Temperature Wine SterilizerUltraviolet Wine SterilizerSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Wine Sterilizer in each application, can be divided intoIndustrial UseCommercial UseCOMPLETE REPORT DETAILS @Table of ContentsGlobal Wine Sterilizer Sales Market Report 20171 Wine Sterilizer Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Wine Sterilizer1.2 Classification of Wine Sterilizer1.2.1 Wine Pasteurizer1.2.2 High Temperature Wine Sterilizer1.2.3 Ultraviolet Wine Sterilizer1.3 Application of Wine Sterilizer1.3.1 Industrial Use1.3.2 Commercial Use2 Global Wine Sterilizer Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Wine Sterilizer Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Wine Sterilizer Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Wine Sterilizer Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Wine Sterilizer (Volume and Value) by Type3 United States Wine Sterilizer (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Wine Sterilizer Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Wine Sterilizer Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Wine Sterilizer Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Wine Sterilizer Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)...5 Europe Wine Sterilizer (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Wine Sterilizer Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe Wine Sterilizer Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe Wine Sterilizer Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe Wine Sterilizer Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe Wine Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Wine Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Wine Sterilizer Sales and Market Share by ApplicationCONTINUEDBUY THIS REPORT @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 LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Finance Malta participates in insurance linked securities event in New York Finance Malta Governor, Dr Matthew Bianchi and the Head of Business Development Manager, Ivan Grech have recently travelled to New York to participate in an Insurance Linked Securities (ILS) event entitled Artemis's ILS 2017. This event consisted of a full day of insightful talks from leading Insurance linked securities and re/insurance market thought-leaders along with other guests from inside and outside the industry.During this event Finance Malta set up an information desk in the expo area where Dr Bianchi and Mr Grech interacted and met up with some of the most senior decision makers across the insurance-linked securities and reinsurance market seeking information about the Maltese financial jurisdiction.Dr Bianchi and Mr Grech explained that what is attracting foreign investors to invest and set their operations in Malta, is primarily driven by the presence of comprehensive legal and regulatory framework covering insurance business as well as the standards and level of expertise of its professionals. Dr Bianchi and Mr Grech also spoke about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in mobilizing the capital markets to invest in insurance risk.Commenting about Maltas participation in this event FinanceMalta Chairman, Kenneth Farrugia said that, we are constantly on the look out to participate in carefully curated events designed to attract industry specialists and decision makers or those that provide the unique opportunity to network with thought-leaders. As in previous years throughout, 2017 we will continue to promote Malta as a financial service centre by participating in international events and fora similar to Artemis's ILS 2017.During the seminar the Maltese delegation had the opportunity to attend various sessions where industry topics including the ILS market evolution, expansion and global resilience, ILS and InsurTech and the niches within ILS were discussed. The event was also an opportunity to network with senior executives from (re)insurance companies, catastrophe bond & ILS fund managers, pension investors, hedge funds, service providers, technology start-ups and investment bankersWere JPA, an integrated communications agency. Some of us are marketing people and some are design people. Were digital, social and most of all, passionate. We listen, we think, we share, we eat cake and we love what we do. Thats how we generate results.JP AdvertisingSuites 5-7Giuseppe Cali StreetTa' XbiexMalta Global Headphone Market Share, Size, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017-2025 http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-headphones-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/ http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-headphones-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/ http://www.slideshare.net/IndexBox_Marketing/world-headphones-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020 www.indexbox.co.uk IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Headphones - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2025" ().This report has been designed to provide a detailed analysis of the global headphone 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.The global earphone and headphone market is expected to reach 12.5 billion USD by 2020. The industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR above +1.9% over the forecast period due to the recent technological advancements, which resulted in the miniaturization of earphones and headphones.Production of headphones posted steady growth over the last few years. Global production of headphones was estimated at 10,900 million USD in 2015, which was 240 million USD higher than in 2014. There was an annual increase of +2.0% in value terms for the period from 2007 to 2015. In physical terms, global headphone production reached 331 million units in 2015, growing by +2.6% annually.According to market research conducted by IndexBox, China was the largest producer of headphones in absolute volumes, with 6,905 million USD. It was followed by the U.S. (2,386 million USD) and Japan (852 million USD).China (+3.6% per year) attained the most notable growth rate in headphone production among the main producing countries from 2007 to 2015, while the U.S. and Japan experienced negative paces of growth.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!You can also find a template on SlideShareIndexBox 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: TORONTO De Beers is shelving immediate plans to study an expansion project at a remote northern Ontario diamond mine after failing to get support from a neighbouring aboriginal community, a disappointing setback for the worlds top diamond producer, the mines manager said.The isolated Victor mine in the James Bay lowlands produces some 600 carats of diamonds annually and is scheduled to stop production in late 2018 and close in early 2019, De Beers Canada general manager James Kirby told Reuters late last week.The nearby Tango deposit could have added five or six years, but assessment work will not proceed without formal support from the First Nation of Attawapiskat, 90 kilometers (56 miles) east of the mine, Kirby added.oh well... Global Cheese Market Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017-2025 http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-cheese-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/ http://www.indexbox.co.uk/store/world-cheese-market-report-analysis-and-forecast-to-2020/ http://www.slideshare.net/IndexBox_Marketing/ib-sample-world-cheese-market-report www.indexbox.co.uk IndexBox has just published a new report "World: Cheese - Market Report. Analysis And Forecast To 2025" ().This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global cheese market. Within it, you will find the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption and production, food balance and price developments, as well as global trade (imports and exports). The forecast reveals market prospects to 2025.From 2007 to 2015, global cheese exports increased by +2.9% per year, amounting to 26.7 billion USD in 2015. In physical terms, exports in the global cheese market reached 6,380 thousand tonnes in 2015, an increase of 139 thousand tonnes against the previous year.Fresh (unripened or uncured) cheese, including whey cheese, and curd accounted for the largest share of exports, with 1,783 thousand tonnes (28% of total exports) in 2015. It proved to be one of the most fast-growing products in terms of global exports, expanding with a CAGR of +7.6% from 2007 to 2015. It was followed by processed cheese, not grated or powdered, accounting for 9% share of total exports, with a CAGR of +2.1%.In 2015, according to market research conducted by IndexBox, Germany (1,171 thousand tonnes), the Netherlands (841 thousand tonnes) and France (681 thousand tonnes) were the main global exporters of cheese, together comprising 42% of global exports. From 2007 to 2015, these countries had positive export dynamics: the Netherlands (+3.8%), Germany (+3.5%) and France (+1.5%).Export prices for cheese dropped by -1.1% annually from 2007 to 2015. The highest annual rates were recorded in New Zealand (+1.7%), followed by the U.S. (+1.4%), while export prices for other countries illustrated a negative dynamic trend. The average export price for cheese stood at 4,197 USD per tonne in 2015. Export prices varied considerably by country of origin. Italy (6,903 USD/tonne) was a high priced supplier, while New Zealand (3,426 USD/tonne) and Germany (3,215 USD/tonne) were amongst the lowest.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!You can also find a template on SlideShareIndexBox 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: Global Home Medical Equipment Market Research Report 2018 https://goo.gl/KJQ9we https://goo.gl/hdfliN www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research presents this most up-to-date research on "Home Medical Equipment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 - 2018"The global home medical equipment consumption pattern will depend on demographic and epidemiological development. Increased efforts in the fight against chronic illnesses such as respiratory diseases, kidney disorders, and cancer will boost the demand for home therapeutic devices. Products such as portable oxygen concentrators, continuous positive airway products, ventilators, and other accessories will undergo the fastest growth in sales in this market. Increasing numbers of baby boomers and an increase in the population of aged people on a global scale will also assist in the growth of this market.Development in the convenience in handling and usage of these equipments due to the increase in chronically ill patients will create a rapid increase in demand. The home IV devices segment will also experience upward growth as intense control in outpatient visits and shorter hospital stays will lead to an increase in the number of cancer and other chronic disease patients to be administered parenteral nutrition, and other therapeuticmodalities at home.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :It is estimated that the U.S. will be the largest market for home medical equipments owing to its wide base of home healthcare equipment providers, good reimbursement policies, better healthcare infrastructure and high healthcare expenditure. Moreover, the recent changes in the healthcare industry due to Obamacare will also boost the demand for such equipment, since almost 30 million uninsured Americans will now enjoy medical coverage.Emerging economies such as the BRIC countries will be the fastest growing market for such products as the economic condition of such countries is rapidly improving. On the other hand, the already developed markets of Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, and South Korea will show fair demand for therapeutic, monitoring, and support products as the sales levels in these markets will rise.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsBrowse Global Strategic Business 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: Automated External Defibrillator Market Share, Growth , Trends and Forecast 2012 - 2018 https://goo.gl/6isTVQ https://goo.gl/s84AM1 www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research presents this most up-to-date research on "Automated External Defibrillator Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2012 - 2018"Over the recent years, global automated external defibrillators (AED) have witnessed double digit growth rate owing to the factors such as aging population and rising incidences of various cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, advancement in medical technology and widespread availability of medical services for patients suffering from SCA are some of the major drivers for this market. A Cardiovascular disease such as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the major disorders affecting the population worldwide. SCA is a condition in which the heart unexpectedly and suddenly stops functioning or beating which ultimately leads to the stoppage of blood supply to the brain and other vital organs. Many patients (about 95%) who suffer from SCA die within a minute. This arrest is due to a disturbed heat rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. To treat such diseases a portable electronic device named Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is used to check the heart rhythm or enable diagnosis of potential life threatening cardiac arrests of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in patients. It works on the principle of application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia by re-establishing an effective rhythm.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :By technology, the AED market is segmented into Semi-automated and automated external defibrillators. The Implantable/Internal Cardiac Defibrillators segment is one of the largest segments whereas External Cardiac Defibrillators is one of the fastest growing segments. The growth in External Cardiac Defibrillators is due to increased awareness in the US healthcare system. The end-user market for AED consists of Pre-hospitals, Hospitals, Public access and other alternate care market. Among all geographical regions, North America accounts for a larger share of the Global AED market followed by Europe and China. Asia-Pacific region is also one of the fastest growing regions.Some of the major players in this market include Boston Scientific Corporation, Defibtech LLC, Biotronik GmbH & Co. KG, Cardiac Science Corporation, Nihon Kohden Corporation, St. Jude Medical Inc., GE Healthcare Ltd., HeartSine Technologies Inc., Sorin SpA, Medtronic Inc., Welch Allyn and Philips Healthcare.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsBrowse Global Strategic Business 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: Deaf-aid Global Market 2017 Research In-Depth Analysis, Applications, Forecasts To 2021 Deaf-aid Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/935825-global-deaf-aid-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/enquiry/935825-global-deaf-aid-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=935825 Deaf-aid MarketSummaryWiseguyreports.Com Adds Deaf-aid -Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and analysis of Top Key Player Forecast to 2021 To Its Research DatabaseThis report studies sales (consumption) of Deaf-aid in Global market, 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, coveringCochlear LimitedGN ReSound GroupGN Otometrics A/SSiemens HealthcareSonova HoldingStarkey Hearing TechnologiesWidexSeboTek Hearing SystemsAudina Hearing InstrumentsAmplifonFor Sample report @Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Deaf-aid 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 intoType IType IISplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Deaf-aid in each application, can be divided intoApplication 1Application 2Enquiry before buying @Table of ContentsUnited States Deaf-aid Market Report 20171 Deaf-aid Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Deaf-aid1.2 Classification of Deaf-aid1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Application of Deaf-aid1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.4 Deaf-aid Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Europe 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 and Volume) of Deaf-aid (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Deaf-aid Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Deaf-aid Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)......9 Global Deaf-aid Manufacturers Analysis9.1 Cochlear Limited9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Product A9.1.2.2 Product B9.1.3 Cochlear Limited Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 GN ReSound Group9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Product A9.2.2.2 Product B9.2.3 GN ReSound Group Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 GN Otometrics A/S9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Product A9.3.2.2 Product B9.3.3 GN Otometrics A/S Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Siemens Healthcare9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 Product A9.4.2.2 Product B9.4.3 Siemens Healthcare Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.5 Sonova Holding9.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.5.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.5.2.1 Product A9.5.2.2 Product B9.5.3 Sonova Holding Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.6 Starkey Hearing Technologies9.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.6.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.6.2.1 Product A9.6.2.2 Product B9.6.3 Starkey Hearing Technologies Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.7 Widex9.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.7.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.7.2.1 Product A9.7.2.2 Product B9.7.3 Widex Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.8 SeboTek Hearing Systems9.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.8.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.8.2.1 Product A9.8.2.2 Product B9.8.3 SeboTek Hearing Systems Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.9 Audina Hearing Instruments9.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.9.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.9.2.1 Product A9.9.2.2 Product B9.9.3 Audina Hearing Instruments Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.10 Amplifon9.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.10.2 Deaf-aid Product Type, Application and Specification9.10.2.1 Product A9.10.2.2 Product B9.10.3 Amplifon Deaf-aid Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)9.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview.Buy This Report @Continued...Contact Us: Sales@Wiseguyreports.Com Ph: +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 LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Hepatic Colorectal Metastasis Treatment Market Share, Size, Growth & Forecast 2024 Illuminated by New Report https://goo.gl/1VsvWh https://goo.gl/HS9Q8y www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research presents this most up-to-date research on "Hepatic Colorectal Metastasis Treatment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020"Malignant tumor in liver spread as a result of infection of cancerous cells to some other organ of the body is referred as liver metastasis. Colorectal cancer that spreads in liver is termed as hepatic colorectal metastasis. Liver is the most common site for metastasis owing to the presence of dual and rich blood supply.Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in western countries and accounts for the second largest type of cancer leading to deaths in Europe and North American region. Morbidity rate of hepatic colorectal metastasis is dependent on morbidity rate of colorectal cancer. Thus, increasing morbidity and mortality rate of colorectal cancer worldwide is resulting in rise in hepatic colorectal metastasis cases globally. In addition, delay in diagnosis of hepatic colorectal metastasis results in increased mortality rate of hepatic colorectal metastasis. Colorectal patients having hepatic colorectal metastasis are asymptomatic. Common symptoms such as sudden weight loss and abdominal pain are observed with the presence of advanced stage hepatic colorectal metastasis. Hepatic colorectal metastasis is detected using fecal occult blood test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, complete blood count (CBC) and liver function tests. Once the hepatic colorectal metastasis is detected, further tests such as computed tomography (CT) scan of colon, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of chest, abdomen, pelvic and brain and positron emission tomography (PET) in some cases are performed to check if the colon carcinoma has spread further.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :Based on the treatments, the global hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market is segmented as follows:Ablative modalitiesRadiofrequency ablation (RFA)Monopolar radio frequency ablation (MRFA)Bipolar radio frequency ablation (brfa)Microwave ablation (MA)Irreversible electroporation (IRE)Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)Drug eluting beads (DEBS)OthersRegionally, the global hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Presently, North America is dominating the global hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market and is closely followed by Europe. High morbidity rate of colon cancer, availability of highly advanced cancer treatments, reimbursement coverage, higher healthcare spending, rising awareness about colon carcinoma and related treatments are some of the factors that are driving the North American and European hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market towards growth. Asia Pacific is a lucrative market for hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment. Factors such as rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure, availability of highly advanced healthcare facility, skilled and qualified healthcare professionals at cheaper price are expected to attract global hepatic colorectal metastasis and colon cancer patients to Asia Pacific countries. Countries in Asia Pacific region mainly, China and India are likely to show rapid growth in the hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market due to rapidly developing medical tourism industry in this region. Apart from India and China, Japan is expected to play significant role in the Asia Pacific hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market due to increased focus of Japanese government on the development and improvement of healthcare facilities in the country to serve healthcare needs of geriatric population in the country. Latin American countries mainly, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina will augment the growth of hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market in the Rest of the World (RoW) region. African countries are expected to show slower growth rate in the hepatic colorectal metastasis treatment market owing to lesser developed healthcare facilities and lack of regulatory framework.Browse Global Strategic Business 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: Schizoaffective Disorders Treatment Market: Future Demand & Growth Analysis https://goo.gl/3RcXeo https://goo.gl/1zTvmo www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research presents this most up-to-date research on "Schizoaffective Disorders Treatment Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020"Presence of combination of two or more symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusions and hallucinations is referred as schizoaffective disorder condition. Schizoaffective disorders leads to deregulated emotions and abnormal thought process. Symptoms of Schizoaffective disorders include sudden changes in energy and appetite, disorganized and illogical speech, delusions, paranoia, delusions of reference, mood swings, lack of concentration, hallucinations, social isolation, non-stop speaking, difficulty in sleeping, sudden sadness and lack of grooming and hygiene concern.Various blood tests such as complete blood count are performed to rule out the other conditions with similar symptoms. In addition to blood tests, imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrocardiogram (ECG) and computed tomography (CT) are also used to eliminate other conditions with similar symptoms. Further, physicians recommend psychological evaluation for checking mental status by observing substance abuse, mood, and hallucinations.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :Based on the treatment, the global schizoaffective disorders treatment market is segmented as follows:Medicinal therapyAntipsychoticsClozapineRisperidoneHaloperidolOlanzapineOthersMood stabilizersLithiumDivalproexOthersAnticonvulsantsCarbamazepineValproateOthersAntidepressantsCitalopramFluoxetineEscitalopramOthersPsychotherapyPsychotherapy and counselingFamily or group therapyOthersRapidly rising sedentary life style, prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing healthcare spending, availability of advanced healthcare treatments and increasing awareness about schizoaffective disorders are some of the factors that are driving the global schizoaffective disorders treatment market. While on the other hand, social stigma associated with schizoaffective disorders stringent regulatory approval procedures and lack of diagnosis at right time are some of the factors that are restraining the growth of the global schizoaffective disorders treatment market.Geographically, global schizoaffective disorders treatment market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. Presently, North America is dominating the global schizoaffective disorders treatment market and is followed by Europe. Availability of well structured regulatory framework, higher rates of practicing defined regulatory framework, availability of advanced healthcare facilities, reimbursement coverage and higher rates of awareness about growth disorders are some of the factors that are driving schizoaffective disorders treatment market in North America and Europe. Asia Pacific is expected to have tremendous growth potential for schizoaffective disorders treatment market. Rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure, government initiative to strengthen healthcare and biotechnology sectors in the Asia Pacific countries on the ground of swift growth of the medical tourism industry in Asia Pacific region are expected to drive the Asia Pacific schizoaffective disorders treatment market towards growth in the forecast period. In addition, rising disposable income, increasing healthcare spending, availability of advanced healthcare facilities and rising awareness about available healthcare facilities are some additional factors that are expected to augment the growth of the Asia Pacific schizoaffective disorders treatment market. Asia Pacific countries especially, China and India are projected to show speedy escalation in the schizoaffective disorders treatment market owing to growth of medical tourism industry at a faster pace than other countries in Asia Pacific region. Apart from China and India, Japan will play significant role in the Asia Pacific schizoaffective disorders treatment market due to increased focus of Japanese government on improvement of healthcare facility in the country.Some of the key players in the global schizoaffective disorders treatment market include, Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA., Eli Lilliy and Company, Elan Pharmaceuticals, Ciba Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca plc, and Janssen-Cilag Pty Limited.Browse Global Strategic Business 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: Primary Systemic Amyloidosis Market: Emergence of Advanced Technologies and Global Industry Analysis 2020 https://goo.gl/2zuI5A https://goo.gl/SRxWLs www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research presents this most up-to-date research on "Primary Systemic Amyloidosis Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020"Amyloids are the substance made up of abnormally formed protein in the bone marrow that gets saturated in different tissues or organs of the body. The condition is termed as amyloidosis. There are various types of amyloidosis out of which primary systemic amyloidosis are most common, these are associated with plasma cell dyscrasia and has no historical evidence of disease. Kidney, intestines, liver, heart and nerves are the common organs where amyloids get deposited and result in various localized complications. Deposition of amyloids in the heart causes continuous progression towards heart failure by cardiomyopathy, accumulation of amyloids renal system causes renal dysfunction and hepatomegaly can happen because of amyloids infiltration in the liver. Generally diagnosis of this disease is delayed because of no specific symptoms associated with it; however, some symptoms associated with disease include severe fatigue with weakness, feeling of satiety every time, difficulty in swallowing, swelling of tongue. There are several tests used for diagnosis of primary systemic amyloidosis depending on the organ affected, out of which Urinalysis, whole blood count, test for high creatinine level and liver function test are common.Download Exclusive Brochure of This Report :Though primary systemic amyloidosis is very rare disease but it has spread across the world. According to article published by American Society of Nephrology (ASN), it is estimated that around five to twelve people per million per year are affected by primary systemic amyloidosis. At the same time, several numbers of cases of this disease remain undiagnosed. The scenario is similar in all regions of the world. All these facts represent significant demand of the various treatment options for primary systemic amyloidosis globally. The investment in research and development, suitable reimbursement conditions and advancements in diagnosis technologies may drive the growth of the market. On the other hand high cost involved in treatment and limited awareness may hinder the growth of the overall market. Currently there are many research projects under study that are focused on advancement in the treatment of primary systemic amyloidosis. Celgene Corporation in collaboration with Italian institute Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. - Policlinico San Matteo studying the use of of cyclophosphamide, lenalidomide and dexamethasone for previously treated patients with primary systemic amyloidosis, Boston University evaluating the safety and effect of doxycycline in patients with amyloidosis, French Nantes University Hospital studying the effect of lenalidomide in combination with melphalan and dexamethasone in newly-diagnosed patients, National Cancer Institute (NCI) in collaboration with Mayo Clinic using evaluating the use of lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone in treating patients with primary systemic amyloidosis.Primary systemic amyloidosis market can be segmented according to different categories such as regional geography and available treatment options. Geographically, this market can be segmented in four regions namely North American, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World, out of all these segments North America region will have highest contribution in terms of value because of high awareness, higher percentage of total income spent on healthcare compared to other economies and appropriate reimbursement circumstances. Followed by this, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World respectively could be major segments of the market. The market can also be segmented according to treatment options such as enzyme inhibitors, immune modulators, diuretics and others. The market can be divided according to symptomatic therapies.Currently many established players in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology market catering varied range of products in this market. Out of these companies, Prothena Corporation plc, Celgene Corporation and Onclave Therapeutics Limited Llc are leading contributors.Browse Global Strategic Business 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: Meningococcal Vaccines Market (Polysaccharide, Conjugate, Combination and Men B Vaccines, along with Pipeline Analysis) : Emerging Market Trends, Size, Share and Growth Analysis Meningococcal Vaccines Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/meningococcal-vaccines-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1666 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Meningococcal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis is a life threatening condition which severely infects the meninges or the thin lining surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Five out of many serogroups of the bacterium are responsible for the invasive meningococcal disease. These serogroups are predominantly present only in humans in the dormant state and may eventually cause the diseased condition due to environmental or immunogenic factors. The disease is known to be contagious and its consequences can be fatal within 24 hours from the onset of symptoms. Prevalence of the serogroups responsible for the disease varies with age, time and geographical locations. The global market for meningococcal vaccines was valued at USD 1,537.3 million in 2013 and is expected to reach USD 4,450.4 million in 2022 at a CAGR of 12.4 % from 2014 - 2022.The global meningococcal vaccines market is segmented broadly into polysaccharide, conjugate, combination and Men B vaccines. These vaccine types are further segmented into different brands available in the market. Polysaccharide vaccines is the oldest type available in market since last three decades. However, the presence and widespread use of conjugate vaccines has drastically reduced the incidences of bacterial meningitis due to the prolonged immunity achieved against the disease-causing serogroups, unlike polysaccharide vaccines which provide immunity for a very short period. Combination vaccines against invasive meningococci in combination with other organisms such as pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type B are considered as new weapons to fight against two bacterial infections. This has shown to reduce the number of injections needed to be administered when compared to their individual doses.Browse full report on Meningococcal Vaccines Market -Recently approved Men B vaccines include Bexsero by Novartis, and Trumenba by Pfizer. The U.S. FDA approved Bexsero in January 2015 and Trumenba in October 2014. In January 2013, Novartis received marketing authorization for Bexsero as the only vaccine against serogroup B, across the European Union, Canada and Australia, and has been currently filed for U.S. FDA licensure. The notable pipeline conjugate vaccine against meningococcal disease includes NmVac4-DT by JN International Medical Corporation. NmVac4 DT has been developed against the broad range of (quadrivalent) serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. Moreover, JN- International claims the vaccine to be animal component free, which is expected to be the major driver for its demand post market launch.Major growth drivers for the global meningococcal vaccines market include favourable public-private partnerships to support development of vaccines at low cost, and the medical emergency status of the disease. Increase in the demand for vaccines and also the number of people getting immunized has been majorly contributed to the education and awareness campaigns conducted by manufacturers as well as non-profit organizations in the developed economies. Government intervention such as approval of legislations to mandate immunization programs for school children up to a certain age, and stringent regulations for Hajj pilgrims and sub-Saharan travellers also contribute positively to this market due to increased demand for these vaccines from the non-profit organizations.Geographically, North America is the largest market in terms of revenue in 2013. In North America and Europe, due to government intervention with respect to legislations, immunization programs and awareness campaigns incidences of meningitis have reduced to a large extent. According to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1,000 to 2,600 people contract meningococcal disease each year in the United States, whereas in Africa, it is estimated to be 1,000 cases per 100,000 population. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market followed by Rest of the World (RoW) during the forecast period. Factors driving the market in this region include the continuous growth in the population base, the cyclic occurrences of meningococcal disease outbreaks in past and the rising focus on preventive measure against the dreadful disease. The onset of recent trends such as enrolment of pharmacists in training programs conducted by New Zealand Ministry of Health is also contributing to the market growth.The key players contributing to the global meningococcal vaccines market include Sanofi SA, Novartis AG, GSK plc, Pfizer, Inc., Nuron Biotech, JN International Medical Corporation, Serum Institute of India Ltd., Baxter International and Biomed Pvt. Ltd.Request for sample 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: G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) Market : Emerging Market Trends, Size, Share and Growth Analysis G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/g-protein-coupled-receptors-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=550 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com GPCRs market comprises assays and kits that aid in drug discovery and development. GPCRs is a large family of cell surface receptors that respond to a diverse range of external stimulus and play a major role in modern pharmacology due to their significant function in cell communication. More than 30% of the drugs available in the global market target GPCRs and most of the drugs that are currently under clinical and preclinical studies target this highly studied receptor protein. A wide range of GPCR assays such as cAMP assays, calcium level detection assays, etc. have been developed over the years that have helped in drug discovery processes worldwide.The global GPCRs market has been categorized based on six assay types: calcium level detection assays, GTPS binding assays, cGMP assays, reporter gene assays, receptor internalization assays, and cAMP assays. The cAMP assays segment held the largest share of the market, followed by the calcium level detection assays segment in 2013. Key factors attributed to the high growth of this segment are increasing demand for cAMP assays in high throughput screening (HTS) and various other major drug discovery platforms, introduction of advanced cAMP assays and wide applicability of these assays in a range of therapeutic applications.Browse full report on G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) Market -In terms of therapeutic areas, the market has been segmented into seven categories: cardiovascular system, central nervous system (CNS), respiratory system, immune system, reproductive system, oncology, and others (abdominal, urinary, orthopedics, etc.). Oncology was the largest segment of the global GPCRs market in 2013. The segment includes several prime cancer therapeutic areas such as breast cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and/or several other malignant tumorous outgrowths. High prevalence and increasing incidence of several of these cancers are expected to drive the growth of the segment in the near future.Geographically, the GPCRs market has been categorized into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America dominated the global GPCRs market followed by Europe owing to high geriatric population and rising obesity-related diseases due to unhealthy lifestyle habits, unhealthy eating habits, excessive alcohol intake and smoking leading to cardiovascular diseases. The regions also account for high number of research and development activities for the development of highly effective therapeutic drugs, which would require increased usage of GPCR assays. Asia Pacific was the third largest market for GPCRs, and is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Large untapped opportunities, improving health care infrastructure, rising research and development activities, expansion of large pharmaceutical manufacturers and CROs, and rising geriatric population in the region would contribute to the growth of the market.Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., EMD Millipore, Becton, Dickinson and Company, PerkinElmer, Inc., Cisbio Bioassays, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., DiscoveRx Corporation, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, QIAGEN N.V., Promega Corporation, Abcam plc, and HD Biosciences Co. Ltd. are the major players operating in the global GPCRs market. Most of these players constantly innovate and develop technologically advanced and/or improved GPCR assays and assay systems to maintain their positions in the global market. For instance, Tango GPCR Assay System and GeneBLAzer Validated Functional Assays from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., ACTOne cAMP Assay from Becton, Dickinson and Company and Cyclic AMP cell-based assay kits from Cisbio Bioassays, would help in capitalizing on future customer preferences. These market players also collaborate with other companies as well as various global organizations through long-term agreements to develop innovative, technologically advanced or improved GPCR assays, assay platforms and systems.Request for sample 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: Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment (GBM) Market : Emerging Market Trends, Size, Share and Growth Analysis Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment (GBM) Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pipeline-review-of-glioblastoma-treatment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=4807 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a high-grade gliomas and the most malignant astrocytic tumor, composed of complexly differentiated neoplastic astrocytes, a subtype of central nervous system (CNS). Glioblastoma is clinically classified as grade IV astrocytoma and differs from anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III) due to the presence of necrotic tissue and hyperplastic blood vessels. The diagnosis of GBM is carried out with imaging modules such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). In case of GBM treatment, there are many restraints and challenges such as its resistance against DNA-modifying agents, migration of malignant cells into adjacent brain tissues increases the complexity of the surgery, and current FDA approved treatments may cause neurotoxicity in patients. Thus, as available treatment options lack in efficiency, the mortality rate of glioblastoma is characterized by rapid progression and poor survival rate with only 8.7% of the patients surviving more than two years post diagnosis. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011, approximately 22,000 adults in the U.S. were diagnosed with primary malignant tumors of the brain and spinal cord out of which gliomas accounted for the highest rate of incidence.Although, the rising mortality rate of GBM has made it one of the lethal type of cancers; the pipeline of GBM is well equipped with various types of novel therapies including immunotherapy, biologics, small molecules and other drugs. The pipeline of GBM is currently rich in number of various therapeutic drugs and devices that are expected to receive FDA approvals for conducting the clinical trials. The FDA approved drugs currently present in market are temozolomide (Temodar, Temodal and Temcad), bevacizumab (Avastin) and carmustine wafers (BiCNU). The geographical segmentation of GBM market comprises North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. Bevacizumab (Avastin) is the latest addition to this artillery, while temozolomide was leading the GBM market in 2013 due to its effectiveness when combined with surgery. Bevacizumab is the first monoclonal antibody drug approved for GBM treatment which is more efficient than temozolomide and is expected to surpass its revenue by 2016. Temozolomide market was drastically affected in 2013 as it has lost the market exclusivity in 2012 and generics manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. entered the market. Geographically, in 2013 North America was observed as the most leading GBM market due to increasing support from government and non-government organizations to raise public awareness by and advanced healthcare infrastructure to boost the pipeline research in this market. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market, rising awareness against GBM is boosting the diagnostic rate in this region and developing healthcare infrastructure is also assisting the market growth.Browse full report on Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment (GBM) Market -The pipeline analysis of GBM treatment include biologics, small molecules, devices, surgeries, and immunotherapy. In the current scenario, the pipeline review of glioblastoma seems to be strong as more than 50 molecules are in phase I and phase II clinical trials. The most promising drugs in phase III trials are Rindopepimut or CDX-110 (Celldex Therapeutics) and DCVax-L (Northwest Biotherapeutics). These molecules have performed well in phase II of the clinical trials in terms of exceeding the overall survival rate.The key players involved in the GBM market are Abbvie, Inc., Celldex Therapeutics, Inc., Exellixis, Inc., Brostol-Myers Squibb Co. and F. Hoffman La Roche. In 2013, F. Hoffman La Roche was observed to be the most promising and efficient source of GBM treatment due to its novel drug delivery system known as brain shuttle.Request for sample 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: Rick Ratzlaff opened the abandoned Canon City storage shed that he had just bought for about $50 and discovered more than he had bargained for: an ax, a blood-stained rope and bloody socks inside a manila envelope marked Evidence.Thats when I knew it was bad really bad, Ratzlaff said.Ratzlaffs discoveries evidence from a cold case murder of 17-year-old Candace Hiltz led to the suspension of a sheriffs lieutenant who had previously rented the storage shed, triggered an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and emboldened the victims mother, Delores Hiltz, to speak openly about her long-held belief that the Fremont County Sheriffs Office grossly bungled the investigation into her daughters murder and possibly covered it up.The mishandled evidence also freed Hiltz from worries that her own mentally ill son, James, could be charged with murder in the 2006 death of her daughter, a threat that has been hanging over her since that day she discovered the body of her nearly decapitated daughter crammed under a bed.The December discovery of evidence from Candace Hiltzs murder case in a storage unit rented by sheriffs Lt. Detective Robert Dodd infuriated Delores Hiltz, and she refuses to remain silent about her daughters death.Sheriff Jim Beicker did not return several phone messages seeking comment, but he has previously said Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents are reviewing the circumstances of the misplaced murder evidence. CBI spokeswoman Susan Medina also declined to comment.The evidence was discovered after Dodd fell behind on his rental fees for a storage unit at Dawson Ranch Mini Storage, which is west of Canon City. The owner said he auctioned the contents after Dodd paid him with a bad check. Water Treatment Systems Market refers to the treatment of water to make it suitable for specific end-uses such as drinking, irrigation, industrial water supply :2024 Global Water Treatment Systems Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=10862 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.in/ Global Water Treatment Systems MarketWater treatment refers to the treatment of water to make it suitable for specific end-uses such as drinking, irrigation, industrial water supply, and river flow maintenance. The increasing demand for clean water for drinking and industrial purposes has boosted the demand for water treatment systems. Water treatment systems make water more potable or useful through processes such as purification, softening, and deodorization.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :Water treatment systems are usually installed at either point-of-entry or point-of-use. Water treatment technologies such as disinfection, filtration, distillation, reverse osmosis, water softening, adsorption, and electrolysis are commonly used to treat industrial, irrigation, drinking, and other water supplies. Among these, filtration is the most widely used water treatment technology at point-of-entry. At point-of-use, reverse osmosis is an effective water treatment technology. Water treatment devices such as faucet-mounted filters, under-the-sink filters, countertop units, and tabletop pitchers are used to treat water at point-of-use.Global Water Treatment Systems Market: OverviewWater scarcity is fast emerging as a crisis due to the rise in population and rapidly growing industrial activities. In a recent report, the World Bank has stated that water scarcity might reduce GDP by 6% across some economies. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, about 1.2 billion people across the world live in areas affected with water scarcity. Another 1.6 billion people face economic water shortage. These factors have augmented the global water treatment systems market. Rise in industrial activities and growing water contamination have further necessitated the treatment of water to make it fit for end-use purposes. However, the high cost of water treatment systems is expected to hinder the growth of the market in the next few years. The rising scarcity of clean drinking water in under-developed and developing regions provides a growth opportunity for the global water treatment systems market.Demand for water treatment systems is increasing rapidly in the residential sector. The commercial and industrial sectors employ large amount of water for various purposes and thus require water treatment systems; however, the residential sector contributes significantly toward the growth of the global water treatment systems market, as drinking water is the key priority for the population. Lack of adequate potable water in the residential sector is driving the market for water treatment systems.Global Water Treatment Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global water treatment systems market has been segmented into four key regions: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. In developed economies in North America and Europe, stringent regulations regarding water treatment have propelled the market. However, the demand for water treatment systems is expected to surge phenomenally across Asia Pacific between 2016 and 2024, owing to the rapid industrialization and ensuing water pollution. Governments in Asia Pacific countries are focusing on creating awareness about water treatment systems with growing water crisis in the region.Prominent players in the global water treatment systems market include Danaher Corporation, Honeywell International, The Dow Chemical Company, Pentair plc, and 3M Company. The key players are focusing on introducing new water treatment systems while adhering to the standards set by governments and regulatory authorities.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 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.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : Alternators Market - Most Lucrative & Luring Opportunities Segments 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=6814 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com This report provides strategic study of the global alternators market, and the growth forecast for the period 2016 to 2024. The scope of the report includes competitive analysis of various market segments based on voltage range, rotor type, application industry, and in-depth cross-sectional scrutiny of the alternators market across different geographical segments.Alternators are generators that convert mechanical energy or direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The growing application of alternators in automobiles, coupled with the growth of automotive sector, is primarily driving growth of the alternators market.Additionally, the growing demand for power, from both conventional and non-conventional sources, has been boosting the application of alternators in the power generation sector.This in turn is also steadily boosting growth of the global alternators market. Furthermore, the growth of telecommunication industry has been promoting the use of stand-by power equipment for telecommunication towers, which has again aided in increased application of alternators.Considering the positive impacts of the factors mentioned previously, the alternators market can be anticipated to grow steadily during the forecast period.Global Alternators Market: SegmentationOn the basis of voltage range, the alternators market has been segmented into different voltage levels including low voltage (0V 1,000V), medium voltage (1,000V 4,160V) and high voltage (4,161V 15,000V). On the basis of rotor type, the global alternators market has been segmented into salient pole, smooth cylindrical and others.Request A Sample Of This Report:Others segment primarily covers claw pole type alternators, which is mostly used in the automotive sector. The market revenue for alternators has been provided in terms of USD million and market volume has been provided in terms of thousand units, along with the CAGR for the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.Application industries covered under this report includes oil & gas, marine, power plant, stand-by power, mining and others. Others segment of application industry covers industries such as automotive, railways and manufacturing among others.Furthermore, each application industry segment also contains data by voltage range. The regional market analysis gives in-depth analysis of the current trends in different regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle-East & Africa (MEA).Global Alternators Market: Competitive LandscapeTo aid in strategic decision-making, the report also includes competitive profiling of leading players in the industry, overview, their market share, SWOT analysis, business segments, various business strategies adopted by them, and revenue.The SWOT analysis, provided for each of the companies profiled, discusses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for those companies, thus providing a better understanding of the major players in this market. The key trends analysis, provided in the report for each region, details the current trends of the alternators market for that region.The market attractiveness analysis, for each segment, and Porters five forces analysis included in the report provide insight into industry competition, market dynamics and the most profitable segments in the alternators market.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: A Fremont man pleaded guilty Monday morning in Dodge County District Court to being involved with a burglary and for being in possession of drugs. Michael J. Schutz, 25, was found guilty by Judge Geoffrey Hall of being in possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine, a Class IV felony; and burglary, a Class IIA felony. The defendant has two open case files, one in relation to the burglary and one in relation to the drug offense. Schutz was initially arrested Sept. 21, 2016, after the III CORPS Drug Task Force conducted a probation check at a Fremont residence after being granted permission to do so by the Nebraska Probation Office. During the probation check, an arrest affidavit shows law enforcement made contact with Dokata R. Smith, 21; and Taylor L. Groves, 21, at the door, and subsequently made contact with Aaron M. Schlieker, 24; and Lonnie D. Schulzkump,23; whom the probation check was in regard to. Once inside of the residence, Law enforcement entered the apartment's lone bedroom where two more individuals were located; Schutz and a 17-year-old female, an arrest affidavit shows. A search of the residence turned up numerous illegal items, and within the bedroom the Task Force found: two self-seal bags of methamphetamine containing .23 and .33 grams of meth, respectively, numerous glass pipes containing white residue, two bongs, a digital read scale, numerous self-seal baggies and other items of drug paraphernalia, the arrest affidavit shows. After reading the suspects their Miranda Rights, law enforcement spoke with the individuals and determined Schutz, Schulzkump, Groves, Smith and the 17-year-old female were using meth inside of the residence. Smith, Groves, Schulzkump and Schutz were subsequently arrested. Schutz was once again arrested in November 2016 for his role in the October 2016 theft of two vehicles, a 55-inch television, three checkbooks containing blank checks and a gun safe containing several firearms, antique swords and ammunition from a Fremont residence, an arrest affidavit shows. Schutz will return to Dodge County District Court in March for sentencing. While school districts all around Nebraska do their best to serve students in the best ways possible, sometimes a districts reach can only go so far in regard to providing youth with everything they need to achieve the absolute best education. Because of this, 50 years ago a Nebraska state statute brought Educational Service Units to communities all across the state. Today, there are 17 ESUs in the State of Nebraska, and at least one ESU in all 50 states, said Ted DeTurk, who has served as ESU 2s administrator in Dodge County for the past three years since leaving his job as superintendent of West Points School District. During a recent interview with the Tribune, DeTurk spoke at length about why Educational Service Units are valuable resources for the districts they serve. Often times, he said, ESUs act as a middle man in regard to interacting with a district, finding out what its needs are and moving forward with helping a school within a district operate at the highest level possible. I think the best way to illustrate what we are all about is by looking at our name Educational Service Unit, DeTurk said. Our middle name is service, we come down with services for all of our schools. We (ESU 2) serves schools in Burt County, Saunders County, Cuming County and Dodge County thats 16 school districts. Those districts, he said, are comprised of approximately 12,000 students grades kindergarten through 12. Services provided generally can be broken down into four categories, DeTurk said. Those categories include: professional development for teachers, technology services, special education services and grant application work. ESU 2 has five professional developers on its staff, DeTurk said. Their job consists of working with schools to improve instruction, integrating technology into the schools, evaluating faculty and ensuring that state standards are being met in regard to classroom content. In terms of technology, ESU 2s professional staff help instructors integrate the latest and greatest technology into classrooms. They also work with technology infrastructure, technology backup plans and holding student and financial records. All 16 schools run their email through the ESU, DeTurk said. So we have this very large data center that controls all of that. When it comes to special education services, ESU 2 sends numerous trained professional throughout its umbrella of districts handling situations that are a bit out of the ordinary, something that wouldnt be dealt with in a typical special education classroom. Some of these professionals, who maneuver around the districts by need, include: a speech language pathologist, school psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, instructors of the visually impaired and an instructor trained with assistive technology. All that really is, lets say, is if a student cant hold a pencil just incapable of it, I have somebody who can work with them on that, he said. One of the biggest aspects of the ESU 2 is helping its districts receive federal and state funding through grants. Right now, DeTurk said, his faculty is working diligently on several grant projects. In addition, he added that 10 of the 16 schools his organization serves have Title 1 grants which address reading instruction through the ESU. Its important to understand that schools arent able to do all of these things on their own, he said in regard of the grant application process. So we become a more efficient and effective way to provide necessary services to kids. After serving as West Points superintendent for 10 years, DeTurk is thoroughly enjoying his relatively new position. Its far different, but equally as gratifying. I really hang my hat on the respect that we have with our school districts, he said. We have tried very hard over the last three years to make sure the schools know we are there for them. Its very gratifying to have conversations where they (the districts) tell us that we really do make a difference with what they are trying to accomplish. Two dozen Nebraskans joined Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln on Monday in urging state senators to create a task force to develop a strategic plan for Nebraska to prepare for climate change. Opportunities exist for the people of Nebraska to respond appropriately to these risks, Pansing Brooks told the Legislative Councils executive board. And that includes economic opportunities through the development of renewable energy from Nebraskas wind and solar resources along with reduction of pollutants and development of agricultural innovation, she said. Former Sen. Ken Haar of Malcolm headed the parade of supporters who urged senators to approve LB646, which would create a pests, drought, flood and extreme weather mitigation and preparedness task force to develop a strategic plan. Climate change presents a new area of risk, challenges and opportunities, Haar said. Agriculture, water, health care, energy generation and usage, forestry, transportation, rural and urban communities, all will be impacted by extreme weather and the ongoing challenges of climate change, senators were told. Average temperatures in Nebraska are expected to rise by four to eight degrees by the end of the 21st century. An increase in severe weather events, including both drought and flooding, is also anticipated. Invasive Cardiologist Farid Zayed, M.D., recently joined the heart and vascular team at MidMichigan Health. This team includes cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, structural heart specialists, as well as vascular, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons. Zayed sees patients at his office in Alma and Mount Pleasant, where he joins Invasive Cardiologist Radwan Alkiek, M.D. After high school, Zayed decided to pursue medicine as his future career. I wanted to work with people and be able to help them, he said. Nothing is more rewarding than being able to cure or save a person and put a smile on their family members faces. Zayed attended medical school at Kuwait University Faculty of Medicine in Kuwait City, and completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac. In addition, he completed a fellowship in cardiology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Zayed is board certified in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine, and also holds certifications in interventional endovascular medicine, vascular medicine, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. After practicing general medicine for five years, Zayed found himself more interested in the field of cardiology. I was fascinated with the advanced technologies and procedures and the ability to save lives, he said. I acquired advanced training in all aspects of cardiology to be able to provide comprehensive, up-to-date, evidence-based medical care, Zayed said. I believe in giving my patients the necessary time to express their concerns and allow discussion and education about their condition. I am committed to being available to my patients, providing compassionate care and treating them with respect. Zayed holds a special interest in vascular procedures, endovascular disease, minimally invasive procedures for veins and arteries, valvular heart disease and congenital heart disease management and treatment. He is especially interested in advancements in vascular and endovascular interventions and vein ablation procedures. Over the years, Zayed has authored and co-authored a variety of research journals and clinical abstracts. Zayed and Alkiek welcome new patients to their main office on the campus of MidMichigan Medical Center Gratiot at 160 E. Warwick Drive, Suite 1200, in Alma. They also see patients at their satellite office in MidMichigan Health Park Mount Pleasant. For more information about becoming a patient, call (989) 466-3621. The Mid-Michigan Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) will host its February dinner and program meeting Feb. 21 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference Center, One Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth. The meeting will take place in conjunction with the Saginaw Valley Engineering Councils annual National Engineers Week Banquet. National Engineers Week will be observed Feb. 1925. The collegiate chapters of the Mid-Michigan Section of SAE International will report on their efforts to compete in the SAE Collegiate Design Competitions. The Collegiate Design Series events include the Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Formula SAE, Supermileage and the Mini Baja. This competitive annual design series involves more than 140 colleges worldwide. Students from Central Michigan University, Kettering University, Saginaw Valley State University and the University of Michigan - Flint will participate. The student chapter presentations will cover the challenges they face and real-world lessons in project management, design, cost analysis, manufacturing and teamwork. The student presentations will be rated by a team of judges. The student teams will display their vehicles. Social hour is at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m. The program begins at 8 p.m. The menu is Bavarian Inn style chicken dinner buffet. The dinner cost is $35 for SAE and Saginaw Valley Engineering Council members, $30 for retirees, $20 for students and $40 for non-members. This event is open to the public. There is no charge for the program only. For more information and dinner reservations, contact Bernard Santavy at SAEMidMichSec@cs.com or (810) 635-7948. Dinner tickets may also be purchased online at www.midmichigansae.org It Just Keeps Getting Worse for Donald Trump's First Military Action By Dustin Rowles | Politics | February 8, 2017 | On January 29th, Donald Trump launched a military action in Yemen, not while sitting in the Situation Room and reading intelligence reports, but over dinner with Stephen Bannon, Jared Kushner, and his Secretary of Defense, General Mattis. It was a military raid that, weeks before, President Obama had declined to pursue. Reports came out almost immediately that just about everything went wrong with the raid. A Navy SEAL was killed, several soldiers were wounded in a shoot-out, and an eight-year-old civilian was killed among 14 other civilians. Sean Spicer and the Trump Administration, nevertheless, insisted it went well. The raid that was conducted in Yemen was an intelligence-gathering raid. Thats what it was. It was highly successful. It achieved the purpose it was going to get, save the loss of life that we suffered and the injuries that occurred. It wasnt a success. In fact, according to the Washington Post, not only did people die unnecessarily, but the military didnt achieve its primary mission: To kill Al-Qaeda leader, Qasim al-Rimi. Over the weekend, Qasim al-Rimi released an 11-minute recording taunting Donald Trump for failing to kill him (U.S. Central Command has since insisted that al-Rimi wasnt the target, although if he wasnt, then the military expended a lot of resources and suffered a lot of casualties for a few laptops). After a classified briefing of the matter, Senator John McCain was unequivocal in his assessment: It was a failure, he said. Yesterday, bad went to worse when Yemen after seeing grisly photographs of children allegedly killed in the raid decided to bar the United States from Yemen, withdrawing permission to the U.S. from running Special Operations missions against terrorist groups in the country. From the NYTimes: The raid stirred immediate outrage among Yemeni government officials, some of whom accused the Trump administration of not fully consulting with them before the mission. Within 24 hours of the assault on a cluster of houses in a tiny village in mountainous central Yemen, the countrys foreign minister, Abdul Malik Al Mekhlafi, condemned the raid in a post on his official Twitter account as extrajudicial killings. And heres the kicker: President Trump was apparently convinced by Mattis to green-light the mission because Mattis told Trump that Obama never would have been bold enough to launch the mission. He said that capturing the raids intended target would have been a game changer. The White House continues to insist, however, that it was a success. 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. GOP Representative Wants to Abolish DeVos' Department of Education By Bekka Supp | Politics | February 7, 2017 | The dust hasnt even settled over DeVos confirmation , but that doesnt mean House Republicans are done yet. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced legislation to abolish the entire department Betsy DeVos will lead. I know this is a somewhat hilarious turn of events, but this isnt an olive branch. This is a cattle prod. His bill is only a page long, but succinctly states that the Department of Education will terminate on December 31, 2018. It is Massies belief that policymakers at the state and local levels should be accountable for education policy, and not the federal agency thats been in place since 1979. Massies reasoning? Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our childrens intellectual and moral development. States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students, Massie said in a statement. The bill is strikingly similar to proposals former President Ronald Reagan unsuccessfully submitted during his 1980 presidential bid, in which he called for dismantling the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. Massie is joined by seven other Republicans who signed on to his bill: House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (Utah) and Reps. Justin Amash (Mich.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Jody Hice (Ga.), Walter Jones (N.C.) and Raul Labrador (Idaho). Teachers unions, liberal groups, and even students have protested against DeVos. And again, shes the perfect example of pay-for-play politics. The only reason to abolish the Department of Education would be to eliminate the budget of the department to save money. Trump has claimed that he wants to fill a $500-billion-plus hole in the federal budget, and part of his plan to get there would be to cut the $67 billion budget of the Department of Education in an effort to play to Trumps small-government strategy. Even then, the alternative to eliminating this department would be block grants, and to replace it with block grants to the states would require an act of Congress. So, you know, fingers crossed I guess. Look, Trump and the majority of his team want to dismantle much of the federal government. And yet, that team cant possibly hope to politically get away with shutting down major agencies or even significantly slashing their budgets, unless they also manage the public reaction to those moves. I know its disheartening to think that all the faxes, emails, tweets, letters and phone calls feel like they didnt work this time. But remember, two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), voted against DeVos, citing thousands of calls to their offices from people opposed to her nomination. So, rage on. If our representatives lack the spines, we got them in spades. It Was a Sh*tshow On the United States Senate Floor Last Night By Dustin Rowles | Politics | February 8, 2017 | In in extraordinary moment on the Senate floor last night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell silenced Senator Elizabeth Warren under a rarely-used rule that prohibits Senators from speaking ill of other Senators. In this case, the ill words being spoken was a letter from Martin Luther King, Jr.s widow, Coretta Scott King, written in the 1980s objecting to the nomination of Jeff Session for a position on the federal bench. Senator McConnell told Warren she could not read a letter from the wife of the greatest civil rights leader in American history because it was mean. McConnell rebuked Warren, prohibiting her from not only reading the letter, but from continuing to participate in the debate on the nomination of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General. .@SenWarren cut off as @SenateMajLdr says she "impugned the motives" of Jeff Sessions by quoting Coretta Scott King https://t.co/UHcNv2eia8 pic.twitter.com/tntBWZ4oxc ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 8, 2017 I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate, Warren said after McConnells motion. It makes no sense not to suspend this rule when the Senate is debating the nomination of another Senator for a cabinet position. That's the key point. Rules against criticizing other Senators cannot apply when you are DEBATING THE NOMINATION OF A SENATOR! https://t.co/mLQqP7z14d Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 8, 2017 The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, McConnell said. The full Senate voted 49-43, along party lines, to uphold McConnells objection. This is incredibly fucked up. Moreso considering that, for instance, Ted Cruz was not rebuked when he openly called Senator McConnell a liar on the Senate floor. This is unreal. Senate Republicans have ruled that any Democrat that criticizes Sessions' record will be stripped of the right to speak. https://t.co/At5fqUkVWF Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 8, 2017 Afterwards, Senator Warren went ahead and read the letter in the hall of the Senate. Over one million people watched. Senator Warren reading Coretta King's condemnation of racist Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III. In the hall. On Facebook. One million views pic.twitter.com/3qqGCA1e0m Ray Pride (@RayPride) February 8, 2017 Cory Booker and other Dem Senators also had her back: Thank you @CoryBooker for having @SenWarren's back. And ours. "There comes a time when silence is betrayal" -MLK. pic.twitter.com/qi38Z4OUu4 Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 8, 2017 The irony, of course, is that this all might have gone unnoticed had McConnell not silenced Warren. would anyone have noticed Warren;s speech if not for McConnell? Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) February 8, 2017 But now? Coretta Scott Kings letter was blasted all over social media last evening and well into this morning. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted, Mitch McConnell said of Elizabeth Warrens refusal to be quiet. It was that line nevertheless, she persisted that became a rallying cry on social media. [Warren] was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted, said @SenateMajLdr, providing a history of feminism. Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) February 8, 2017 "Nevertheless, She Persisted." Yeah, that'll fit on the ballcap. Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) February 8, 2017 "Nevertheless, she persisted" is all women's history. It's not just Warren who persisted in speaking right, but Coretta Scott King too. Apocalyptica (@ApocalypticaNow) February 8, 2017 "Nevertheless, she persisted." Nice move, Mitch, you grown-up-baby-from-ERASERHEAD-looking urinal cake of a man. Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 8, 2017 "Nevertheless, she persisted" is the summarized story of each woman in history who made a stand against injustice.#LetLizSpeak Najwa Tannous (@NTnewsociety) February 8, 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. NORMAL Walking quickly through uptown Normal on Wednesday morning, Illinois State University junior Ryan Mitchell was without a coat and was wearing jeans that were cut off just below the knee. Yesterday, I would have been comfortable, but today, not so much, he said. Yesterday, I believed in global warming. Today, not so much. Yesterday, I thought spring was on the way. Again, today, not so much. Mitchell, like many others, was caught somewhat off guard by a storm system that dropped about 4 inches of snow on the Twin Cities on Wednesday the first measurable snowfall in a month. Sometimes, forecasting snow storms can be difficult, said Eric Laufenberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln. That was very true with a fast-moving system like this which created just enough lift to drop more snow than what we originally expected. Forecasters on Sunday were predicting snow showers for Wednesday, but with each day, as the system moved closer, the snowfall forecast increased slowly. By the time snow began falling in downtown Bloomington after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the NWS had issued a winter weather advisory, with a chance for 1 to 4 inches. As the snow continued to fall, officials in Bloomington-Normal considered if and when to initiate parking bans, which typically are enacted after 2 inches of snow to make it easier to plow the streets. In Normal, no parked cars are permitted on any streets and must be moved off the streets to a driveway, garage or parking lot. In Bloomington, parking is not allowed on snow routes, and residents are asked not to park on streets. This was a difficult decision because the temperatures are expected to rise again on Friday and the pavement temperatures were actually warm going into this event, said Bloomington Public Works Director Jim Karch. Quite a bit of the snow on side streets did melt already. So this was not as easy of a decision to plow the entire city as it normally is. The town of Normal initiated the ban about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Bloomington made the call about an hour later. Police departments for Bloomington, Normal and McLean County reported a number of minor accidents and vehicles in ditches in rural areas. In Heyworth, a school bus driver who had just finished her route was injured when her bus rolled over into a ditch before hitting a power pole at 2:23 p.m. at the intersection of McLean County roads 700 North and 1550 East. No students were aboard. School had been dismissed early because of the snow. The driver was taken to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, with what appeared to be minor injuries, said Heyworth Superintendent Lisa Taylor. She was pretty shook up, and very worried about the bus, which should have been the least of her worries, Taylor said. The storm also caused a delay in a visit by Gov. Bruce Rauner and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti to Heartland College, Normal. It's dangerous out there, he said after arriving at the school about 15 minutes late. The Twin City area has recorded just 0.7 of an inch of snow since Jan. 1, making it the eighth-least snowy January on record. Normally, about 7 inches are recorded that month. Historically, Bloomington-Normal receives about 5.5 inches of snow in February. After the snowstorm clears, the forecast calls for a mostly sunny Thursday, though it will remain cold with a high of 25 degrees. Another warm-up arrives on Friday with a high near 50 that day, said the weather service. FRISCO, Colo. On Jan. 31, 2017, Carolyn Trixie Yeagle, 56, of Frisco, Colo. unexpectedly left this world, at Frisco, Colo. The beloved wife of Gary Pringey, youngest daughter of Allison and Norah Yeagle, and adored sister of her six surviving siblings, Trixie brought laughter and joy wherever she went. Trixie was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Pamela Yeagle; and nephew, Christopher Yeagle. Trixie was born Aug. 15, 1960, in Farmer City, where she spent her childhood trying to keep up with her older brothers and sisters and putting on roofs with her dad. She combined her exceptional math and science abilities with her love of nature, particularly flowers and birds, into an ecology, ethology and evolution degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Trixie went on to serve in the Peace Corps in Guatemala. In 1986, Trixie left Illinois for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where she became a longtime resident of Summit County and where she met Gary. The couple married on June 15, 1990, and called Frisco, Colo., home for 30 years. Trixie worked for many years for Summit County Environmental Health, Frisco Sanitation, and eventually went on to own and operate an environmental testing lab, Alpine Environmental Testing. Trixie was greatly admired by her 21 nieces and nephews and 10 great-nieces and -nephews, and the favorite aunt of many of them. She could make the most ordinary activity seem like a special event, whether it was shopping for a new pair of shoes, walking her treasured dog Rupert, or sharing a meal with friends and family. She approached life with delight and shared that joyfulness with all those around her. All who were blessed to know Trixie will forever remember her smile, her sweetness, and how special she made everyone around her feel. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date in Summit County, Colo. In lieu of flowers, please donate to LAPS (League for Animals and People of the Summit) at www.summitlaps.com, indicating that your donation is in honor of Carolyn Yeagle by clicking on Add special instructions to the seller before you submit the donation. Republican politicians Rodney Davis, Adam Kinzinger and Darin LaHood have started off wrong in the Trump era. They have recklessly supported the arbitrary, unethical and illegal immigration proclamation of Stephen Bannon, through his puppet, Donald Trump. Bannons Muslim ban against Muslims from seven countries regardless of circumstances is outrageous and dangerous to our military. Davis, Kinzinger and LaHood forget that the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi Arabians (15), United Arab Emirates citizens, Egyptian and Lebanese. No 9/11 hijackers were from the seven banned countries that coincidentally do not have Trump properties. Davis, Kinzinger and LaHood will be facing far greater tests until Trump is no longer president. These include: protection of Americans civil rights from the Bannon wacky birds; ACA reform; Trumps policy toward Israel and Mideast peace; climate change and regulations covering pollution; tax reform proposals that only benefit ultra-wealthy Americans; increasing income inequality and declines in education; Trumps chaotic foreign relations, including his insults; financial deregulation less than a decade after the Bush recession and military conflicts throughout the world. Davis, Kinzinger and LaHood do not appear up for the challenge. They should be our representatives, not toadies for Trump," disciples of Bannon, and proxy votes for Republican leadership and donors. Daniel G. Deneen, Bloomington Over the weekend, a teenager was shot dead by a Walmart customer in Orange County, Florida. He was believed to be shoplifting diapers and other baby items. His mother is now demanding to know the full story and believes her son should not have been killed the way he died. Reports did not identify the teenager by name in earlier reports, but according to WFTV 9,he was 19-year-old Arthur Adams. He was with three to four people inside a stolen vehicle when the confrontation took place with the Walmart customer. Adams and his companions were first confronted by a Walmart employee when the customer decided to step in. The unidentified customer, who is described as a 50-year-old black man, said he pulled the trigger because someone from inside the car looked like he was getting ready to reach for something he believed was a weapon. The incident took place on Saturday at around 8 a.m. after Adams and another male were said to have loaded two carts full of diapers into the stolen car without paying them, Global News reported. It remains unclear why they were trying to steal diapers. Police are yet to determine if the customer who shot the teenager will be charged. Another person was injured from the shooting as well. None of the other suspects have been apprehended but the other person injured later turned herself to the police. The mother of Adams said the Walmart employee or the customer should have called 911 instead of shooting her son. She said she wants to see the person who shot her son in jail because she believes what happened to her child was murder. Adams' mother also said she wants the full story about what really happened. Police said Adams has had numerous felony arrest warrants in the past. He also had four convictions. The investigation is ongoing and police urged the public not to rush to judgment. Days after it was reported a possible new vaccine would be the answer to Zika virus, new reports surfaced saying the warmer-than-average winter in Florida will increase the possibility that more people will be catching the virus. The Mississippi Health Department also recently confirmed new patients with Zika virus were recorded for the year of 2017. Mosquito control workers believe Zika will still be a threat in Florida because the weather has not gotten cold enough to kill the main sources of the virus. Orange County Mosquito Control said they received 200 calls in January this year asking for places to be sprayed and mosquito traps to be set up. This is more than 100 percent higher than the number recorded in January of last year, WFTV 9 reported. The publication added residents in Florida are very concerned with the mosquitoes being around despite the weather. One expectant mother said she is scared because it might have an effect on her baby. One of the most common effects of Zika virus is microcephaly in infants. Florida is the hotbed of the virus. Last week, Governor Rick Scott announced $1.3 million will be reserved for the budget to develop a Zika vaccine. It will be given to the University of Central Florida. As for the number of patients this year regarding being infected with Zika virus, The Clarion-Ledger reported two travel-related cases were recorded. They are from Warren County and they traveled to an area north of Venezuela. Last year, Mississippi recorded 23 travel-related cases. State epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said it is important to remember that there are many mosquito-borne diseases so taking precautions would be necessary to avoid mosquito exposure. Zika virus' symptoms are joint pain, fever, rashes, and conjunctivitis. Most of the outbreaks are in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Other countries affected are Africa and Southeast Asia even before the outbreak. Aside for mosquito bites, Zika virus could be submitted through sexual intercourse. 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 Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Apple's CEO Tim Cook arrived unannounced at the Buchanan Street Apple Store where he was flooded with selfie requests by excited store staff and customers. He said: "It's great to be here. I'm here but I'm already enjoying it. It's my first time in this Apple store. I've been to Scotland many times." He visited the store ahead of his sold-out talk at the University of Glasgow where he received an honorary doctorate of science. Just click on our cover graphic above to enlarge. Work stopped for around 15 minutes on Wednesday afternoon as staff and customers greeted Mr Cook and took photographs. Before leaving, he was presented with two gifts a tartan scarf and an embroidered picture as noted in the photos below (click on the photos to enlarge). Over the weekend Apple's CEO was having the time of his life in France and Germany visiting with selective Apple Stores and their staff, customers and developers captured in a series of photos you could review here. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. On January 22, Patently Apple posted a report titled "Samsung and Experts Point to a Short Circuit in the Batteries as the Fault of the Note7 Fires." Samsung had three experts attend their special event designed to demonstrate Samsung's commitment to quality while showing how they intensely investigated the battery disaster of their now defunct Note7 smartphone. SDI was the leading manufacturer of the initial battery for the Note7, and as noted in our cover graphic, Samsung's expert illustrated where the SDI battery failed. There's an old saying that states "Truth is stranger than Fiction." Well today we have a great example of that. Not only did the SDI batteries cause fires in the Note7, but they've also caused a fire outside and inside the SDI plant today to show the world just how nasty these dangerous batteries could be. According to a new Reuters report, "A minor fire that broke out at a Samsung SDI Co Ltd factory in China on Wednesday was caused by waste products including faulty batteries, the Korean company and local emergency services said. The fire broke out at the Samsung Electronics Co Ltd affiliate's factory in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin earlier on Wednesday and has been extinguished, a Samsung spokesman said, adding that there were no casualties or significant impact to the plant's operations. The fire broke out not on the production line itself but in a part of the facility used for waste, including faulty batteries, said Samsung SDI spokesman Shin Yong-doo. He added that most of the factory was running as normal. The local fire department, however, said on its microblog that the fire was caused by batteries inside the facility. The "material that caught fire was lithium batteries inside the production workshops and some half-finished products", the Wuqing branch of the Tianjin Fire Department said in a post on its verified Sina Weibo account. It added it had sent out 110 firefighters and 19 trucks to put out the fire." Not exactly a tiny fire as Samsung wants it portrayed. Reuters finally noted that "SDI is set to start supplying batteries for Samsung's upcoming flagship smartphone Galaxy S8 in the first quarter of this year. The S8 replaces the Galaxy Note 7 mode, which suffered a global recall last year due to battery defects." This is not the image Samsung wants shown around the world as they begin the process of manufacturing the Galaxy S8. How can you trust the SDI battery from not repeating it's disastrous performance when you see the plant in chaos over a fire due to their batteries? The nightmare for Samsung continues. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Earlier today Patently Apple posted a report noting that it was interesting to see Companies from Japan, China and South Korea willing to work with President Trump to bring jobs to the U.S. while the contribution made by American companies thus far Silicon Valley has to been to line up and complain about a 90 day ban in several Muslim countries that Obama had first deemed dangerous. I further noted that hopefully Tesla and other responsible U.S. companies would step up to the plate in the coming years and hit some home runs bringing more manufacturing jobs to the U.S. because whining produces nothing but ill will. As the report was being posted some great news came from the Oval Office with Donald Trump and Intel's CEO about a new plant in Arizona as noted in the video below from CNBC. Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich met with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, where the company announced it will invest $7 billion in a factory employing up to 3,000 people. The factory will be in Chandler, Arizona, the company said, and over 10,000 people in the Arizona area will support the factory. Krzanich confirmed to CNBC that the investment over the next three to four years would be to complete a previous plant, Fab 42, that was started and then left vacant. The 7 nanometer chips will be produced there will be "the most powerful computer chips on the planet," Krzanich said in the Oval Office with the Trump administration. Most Intel manufacturing happens in the U.S., Krzanich said. "America has a unique combination of talent, a vibrant business environment and access to global markets, which has enabled U.S. companies like Intel to foster economic growth and innovation," Krzanich said in a statement. "Our factories support jobs high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs that are the economic engines of the states where they are located." For more on this read the full CNBC report here. It's refreshing to see a top Silicon Valley giant make a commitment to bringing more jobs to the U.S. Way to go Krzanich, you're a great example of being a proud American company wanting to make America Great Again. You could read the Intel follow-up announcement here. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. On January 9, Patently Apple posted a report titled "LG & Samsung Set to Announce Future Plants in the U.S. Due to President-Elect Trump's 'Made in America' Pledge." Was it just political empty promises? Not in the least. One month later and we're now learning that LG Electronics has started building its new North American headquarters in the United States, investing some $300 million on the three-year project that the firm believes will generate tens of millions of dollars for the regional economy. The Seoul-based firm said Wednesday that the building in New Jersey will open at the end of 2019. The move is part of the firm's bid to maximize efficiency by integrating its scattered offices in the U.S. into the new headquarters. "The new building is expected to contribute some $26 million annually to the local U.S. economy by creating jobs and paying taxes," an LG Electronics official said. "While building the new headquarters, we also estimate more than 2,000 jobs will be created in the construction industry there." The report further noted that "The project comes as the protectionist stance of U.S. President Donald Trump is feared to affect Seoul-based technology titans including LG and Samsung. He has urged non-American firms to establish manufacturing facilities in the U.S. For this reason, LG expects the new headquarters to be a milestone for its expansion there. The U.S. market is a cash cow for LG Electronics' overseas businesses, making up some 30 percent of the firm's total sales abroad as of the end of the third quarter last year. LG's premium products, including televisions and refrigerators, have driven up its profitability there." If that much of their profits are made in the U.S., then it's only right that they make a contribution for jobs in the U.S. as a way to say thanks. The report further noted that "The Company's mobile business is also performing well in the U.S., accounting for 15.7 percent of the U.S. smartphone market in the third quarter, according Strategy Analytics data." One LG official stated that "Backed by our LG SIGNATURE premium built-in kitchen appliances and high-end organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) televisions, the new American headquarters will speed up our plan to achieve a second leap forward in the U.S." The company also said employees from other LG affiliates, including LG Household & Health Care and LG CNS, will use the new building. High-ranking officials, including LG Electronics North America CEO William Cho, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco and Larry Rockefeller, an environmental lawyer, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. The latest rumor leaking out of South Korea today about the upcoming Galaxy S8 is that its digital assistant 'Bixby,' will support seven to eight different languages including Korean, English, French and Chinese. That translates to supporting at least five more languages than the Google Assistant currently supports. Samsung will use this as an advantage over their competitors. The reasoning for supporting so many languages in the new Galaxy S8 is lure users to their next generation home appliances, televisions and even Samsung Pay that will support Bixby. Samsung Electronics is planning to develop Bixby as an open-type platform that can be linked to third-party's services as well as its own services such as Samsung Pay and Samsung Health. Samsung's First U.S. Appliance Plant On the second front this week, Samsung Electronics has confirmed its plan to build a home appliance manufacturing plant with an annual production capacity of 2 million units to tentatively operate early next year in South Carolina of the U.S though an alternative site could be located in Alabama. Currently Samsung manufactures appliances for the U.S. market in Tijuana Mexico. The plant will be its first American production line for home appliances and aims to manufacture 2 million units a year from next January. Samsung Electronics has advanced its plan for the plant because U.S. President Donald Trump directly put pressure on the company. After agreeing to a plant, President Trump sent out a tweet "Thank you, Samsung. We would love to have you!" The report importantly noted that "one-third of sales of Samsung Electronics' Consumer Electronics division come from North America," so it's only reasonable to request that a plant be opened in the U.S. to support the U.S. economy. Why be allowed to make huge profits in the U.S. and not contribute to the economy of one of their largest customers? It's not Mexico generating 33% of their sales. So Trump's insistence on companies making huge profits in the U.S. contribute accordingly. It's why Apple makes iPhones in China to gain that country's business. It's interesting to see companies from Japan, China and South Korea willing to work with President Trump while the contribution from U.S. tech companies thus far has to been to line up and complain about a 90 day ban in several Muslim countries that Obama had first deemed dangerous. Hopefully Tesla and other responsible U.S. companies will step up to the plate in the coming years and hit some home runs that wil bring more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. because whining produces nothing but ill will. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. . . . Particularly St. Augustines Position Portrait of St. Augustine (c. 1480) by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (3-1-07) ***** I was made aware of a thread at the blog DeoOmnis Gloria.com: 10 Questions for Bible Christians. It seems that that venue has been visited as of late (starting on 4 January 2007) by a very inquisitive Protestant who wants to learn more about Catholic beliefs: a person who goes by SandT@cctv.org. I think others are doing a good job there, but the more the merrier, so Ill put in my $00.02 worth too, since attempting some sort of answer to why do Catholics believe so-and-so? or how do you support that from the Bible? is what apologetics is about, and I do apologetics for a living. Besides, it isnt often that one runs across someone who is vigorously asking about important questions that divide Protestants and Catholics. Its a great opportunity for constructive discussion. His words will be in blue. * * * * * Now, since RC apologists hold to what early church fathers say over or equally to Scripture, read the following. We do not. What we believe is that Sacred Apostolic Tradition that has been passed down and confirmed by the Bible and the Church, is authoritative, but its not over Scripture or opposed to it at all; it is simply alongside it and in harmony with it (and this is itself a quite biblically-explicit concept). The fathers show what this Tradition is when considered as a group. Some fathers get some things wrong. The Church guided always by Holy Scripture and received Tradition decides who is ultimately right or wrong. Augustine: This Mediator (Jesus Christ), having spoken what He judged sufficient first by the prophets, then by His own lips, and afterwards by the Apostles, has besides produced the Scripture which is called canonical, which has paramount authority, and to which we yield assent in all matters of which we ought not to be ignorant, and yet cannot know of ourselves. [St. Augustine, City of God, Book XI, Chapter 3] Here Augustine states that Scripture has paramount authority. Paramount means supreme, as in the very top. Augustine clearly states that Scripture has the highest authority. Of course it does. But it is not to the exclusion of the authority of Sacred Tradition and the Church. Added to this commentary is that all matters should to the supreme authority vested in the Scriptures. But the Scriptures must always be interpreted correctly. This is the problem. And we all know how Protestants cannot agree amongst themselves as to the proper interpretation. When I previously raised this point, Jay and others would randomly quote Augustine with the hope of convincing themselves as well myself that Augustine gave tradition equal authority to the Scriptures. Now I have found a quote by Augustine in particular that clearly says that Scripture has the highest authority. My question to you is can you find a quote from Augustine that clearly states that tradition is equivalent to the Authority of the Scriptures? Sure; Im delighted to be of service: As to those other things which we hold on the authority, not of Scripture, but of tradition, and which are observed throughout the whole world, it may be understood that they are held as approved and instituted either by the apostles themselves, or by plenary Councils, whose authority in the Church is most useful, . . . For often have I perceived, with extreme sorrow, many disquietudes caused to weak brethren by the contentious pertinacity or superstitious vacillation of some who, in matters of this kind, which do not admit of final decision by the authority of Holy Scripture, or by the tradition of the universal Church. (Letter to Januarius, 54, 1, 1; 54, 2, 3; cf. NPNF I, I:301) I believe that this practice [of not rebaptizing heretics and schismatics] comes from apostolic tradition, just as so many other practices not found in their writings nor in the councils of their successors, but which, because they are kept by the whole Church everywhere, are believed to have been commanded and handed down by the Apostles themselves. (On Baptism, 2, 7, 12; from William A. Jurgens, editor and translator,The Faith of the Early Fathers, 3 volumes, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1970, vol. 3: 66; cf. NPNF I, IV:430) . . . the custom, which is opposed to Cyprian, may be supposed to have had its origin in apostolic tradition, just as there are many things which are observed by the whole Church, and therefore are fairly held to have been enjoined by the apostles, which yet are not mentioned in their writings. (On Baptism, 5,23:31, in NPNF I, IV:475) The custom of Mother Church in baptizing infants [is] certainly not to be scorned, nor is it to be regarded in any way as superfluous, nor is it to be believed that its tradition is anything except Apostolic. (The Literal Interpretation of Genesis, 10,23:39, in William A. Jurgens, editor and translator, The Faith of the Early Fathers, 3 volumes, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1970, vol. 3: 86) But those reasons which I have here given, I have either gathered from the authority of the church, according to the tradition of our forefathers, or from the testimony of the divine Scriptures, or from the nature itself of numbers, and of similitudes. No sober person will decide against reason, no Christian against the Scriptures, no peaceable person against the church. (On the Trinity, 4,6:10; NPNF I, III:75) It is obvious; the faith allows it; the Catholic Church approves; it is true. (Sermon 117, 6) As a Protestant I believe that all Christian doctrines and practices must be supported by the Bible. All things yield to the authority of the Scriptures. We agree that Christian doctrine must be in harmony with the Bible, and not contradictory to it. What we disagree with is the isolation of the Bible over against the Church and Tradition, because the Bible itself teaches that those things are authoritative and nowhere teaches the Protestant novelty of sola Scriptura (Scripture as the only infallible authority). Nor do we think all things are explicitly stated in the Bible. Yet the Bible is materially sufficient: all things necessary to salvation are contained in it. According to Jay and others, the early church fathers, including Augustine, supported and the idea of co-authority between Scripture and traditions set by the church. I merely showed that this is not so. Not at all. One cant do that by selecting one passage that talks about the authority of Scripture and ignoring many others that talk about Tradition and the Church. One has to consider all of these together to form a proper understanding of the Catholic view of authority. Moreover, many Protestant church historians assert that Augustine did not believe in sola Scriptura. For example: Augustines legacy to the middle ages on the question of Scripture and Tradition is a two-fold one. In the first place, he reflects the early Church principle of the coinherence of Scripture and Tradition. While repeatedly asserting the ultimate authority of Scripture, Augustine does not oppose this at all to the authority of the Church Catholic . . . The Church has a practical priority: her authority as expressed in the direction-giving meaning of commovere is an instrumental authority, the door that leads to the fullness of the Word itself. But there is another aspect of Augustines thought . . . we find mention of an authoritative extrascriptural oral tradition. While on the one hand the Church moves the faithful to discover the authority of Scripture, Scripture on the other hand refers the faithful back to the authority of the Church with regard to a series of issues with which the Apostles did not deal in writing. Augustine refers here to the baptism of heretics . . . (Heiko Oberman, The Harvest of Medieval Theology, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, revised edition of 1967, 370-371) Augustine, therefore, manifestly acknowledges a gradual advancement of the church doctrine, which reaches its corresponding expression from time to time through the general councils; but a progress within the truth, without positive error, for in a certain sense, as against heretics, he made the authority of Holy Scripture dependent on the authority of the catholic church, in his famous dictum against the Manichaean heretics: I would not believe the gospel, did not the authority of the catholic church compel me. . . . The Protestant church makes the authority of the general councils, and of all ecclesiastical tradition, depend on the degree of its conformity to the Holy Scriptures; while the Greek and Roman churches make Scripture and tradition coordinate. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity: A.D. 311-600, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1974; reproduction of 5th revised edition of 1910, Chapter V, section 66, The Synodical System. The Ecumenical Councils, pp. 344-345) Sola Scriptura is the following. All that is needed is found in Scriptures, anything that is not supported or founded in Scripture is to be rejected. Again, I have bought this point many at times on this blog. This is insufficient as a definition. What it describes is the material sufficiency of Scripture (and Catholics agree with that). The classic view of sola Scriptura, held by Luther and Calvin, and their legatees, is that Scripture is the final infallible authority. Catholics disagree, because we believe that Tradition and the Church can also be infallible (and that they are always harmonious with Scripture). Here Paul writes that the Bible has all that is needed for Christian doctrine. Exactly. It is materially sufficient. But the same Bible does not rule out the authority of Tradition and Church. Thats the point. Protestants want to rule out infallibility anywhere except in Scripture, but the Bible itself doesnt teach that. Not only that, but Paul foresees others turning away from the truth and following unsound doctrine. He even instructs Timothy to be prepared to rebuke and reprove, obviously with the Scriptures, which Paul had just wrote is good for rebuking and correction. Paul does not mention oral tradition. [in 2 Timothy 3 and 4] He didnt have to, because he had already done so in the first and second chapter of the same epistle. It was already on the table and assumed: 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 2 Timothy 2:2 . . . what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Moreover, in his first letter to Timothy, Paul had called the Church (not the Scripture) the pillar and bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15; RSV, as throughout) . So you cite Paul only when he talks about the authority of Scripture. We add the parts where he acknowledges the authority of Tradition and the Church as well. A half-truth is little better than an untruth. Furthermore, to back all this up, Paul in Corinthians [1 Cor 4:6] writes do not go beyond what is written. . . . I dont know what that means to you, but it sounds like, if it is not written in Scriptures, dont do it or believe it. The context of 1 Corinthians 4:6 is clearly one of ethics. We cannot transgress (go beyond) the precepts of Scripture concerning relationships. This doesnt forbid the discussion of ethics outside of Scripture (which itself cannot possibly treat every conceivable ethical dispute and dilemma). If what is written refers to Scripture, it certainly points to the Old Testament alone (obviously not the Protestant rule of faith). Thus, this verse proves too much and too little simultaneously. Pauls own frequent references to authoritative tradition (even oral tradition: e.g., 1 Cor 11:2, 2 Thess 2:15, 3:6) and the authority of the Church would contradict such a notion anyway. Either Paul contradicts himself or Protestants do. I opt for the latter. Once again, I asked you to show where Augustine gives tradition or the church paramount authority or directly says that the tradition has equal authority to the Scriptures. You have not done so. . . . Again, my challenge is for someone to show a verbatim statement by Augustine in which he says that Scripture and Tradition are equal. None of you have done so yet. You have quoted Augustine giving authority to the church. But Augustine clearly saying that SCRIPTURE and TRADITION are equal in authority has not been proven. Maybe this other person didnt, but I certainly did above, from Augustines own words and from the opinion of highly-respected, reputable Protestant historians (Oberman and Schaff). And my point is that Augustine never gave equal authority to tradition and the Scriptures. I showed that he did, above: . . . final decision by the authority of Holy Scripture, or by the tradition of the universal Church. But those reasons which I have here given, I have either gathered from the authority of the church, according to the tradition of our forefathers, or from the testimony of the divine Scriptures . . .Note how the word or in both statements (Ive bolded them) make the authority of Tradition and Church equal to that of the Scriptures. I could care less about Mr. Schaff. All you did was quote his opinions. This is obviously one of the problems here. All youre doing is spouting your opinions, yet if someone cites a learned Protestant historian, you derisively dimiss it, as if you can learn nothing from even a Protestant scholar. In doing so, you cut off the limb you are sitting on. Why should anyone care about your opinions, either? But we all have a right to our opinions, and we ought to accept the opinions of scholars who devote themselves laboriously to learning about their fields. Matthew cited Schaff with regard to what the early Fathers believed about Tradition and Scripture, which is exactly relevant to the discussion. I cited him expressly regarding Augustine, since you have repeatedly challenged us to prove that he believed something other than sola Scriptura. Its beyond silly to expect us as laymen to prove something by citation, yet to deny the validity of citing an expert in the field who has studied the matter in great depth. I find this to be a ridiculous know-nothing or anti-intellectual approach. There is a long history of it in certain fringe realms of Protestantism. All I am asking is for you to provide a writing from Augustine that has him clearly stating that Tradition is equal to Scripture in authority. I have shown where he has said that Scripture has the highest authority. Can you show me a statement from Augustine that proves your point? You have not done so. You are very persistent! What will you do now that I have provided exactly what you were calling for? Will you change your mind about what Augustine believed? My original post was a challenge to for someone to show where Augustine clearly says that Tradition has equal authority to Scripture. All you have shown are statements from Augustine that you interpret as him equivocating Scripture and Tradition. I however, have shown you a quote where simply says that Scripture has the highest authority. That means there is no equal. It is simple English and simple logic. Yes it is! You took the words right out of my mouth! Lets do a little bit of this logic, from the statements above, that were portions of my earlier longer citations from Augustine: St. Augustines words: . . . final decision by the authority of Holy Scripture, or by the tradition of the universal Church. can be re-stated, by the rules of logic and English grammar and syntax, as: . . . final decision by the authority of Holy Scripture . . . . . . final decision . . . by the tradition of the universal Church. Sola Scriptura holds that the Bible always holds the power of the final decision. But Augustine believes that the Church and Tradition have the same authority. This precisely provides what you are demanding from us, and expressly proves that Augustine did not hold to sola Scriptura. Lets do it again with another statement of his: But those reasons which I have here given, I have either gathered from the authority of the church, according to the tradition of our forefathers, or from the testimony of the divine Scriptures . . . can be re-stated, by the rules of logic and English grammar and syntax, as: But those reasons which I have here given, I have . . . gathered from the authority of the church, . . . But those reasons which I have here given, I have . . . gathered from the authority of the . . . tradition of our forefathers . . . But those reasons which I have here given, I have . . . gathered . . . from the testimony of the divine Scriptures . . . Clearly, according to grammar, simple English and reason, he views all three as possessing the same authority (because they can all be appealed to as a final authority).They are all of a piece: the three-legged stool of Catholic authority. It couldnt be any clearer than it is. Isnt logic wonderful? Our friendly Protestant opponent then appeals to St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Cyril of Jerusalem as supposedly believing in sola Scriptura. I recently devoted an entire paper to Gregory of Nyssa. A Lutheran was arguing in the same fashion, quite passionately and confidently. But when I made a reply with lots of documentation, he was nowhere to be found. Ive also shown how St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom and St. Irenaeus and several other fathers didnt believe in sola Scriptura, either. What were you paraphrasing and please show what in Acts 16 shows the scriptures tell us to submit to the authority of the Church. Because I do not see it. Im delighted that you brought this up, as it is a compelling biblical argument for absolutely binding and infallible Church authority. In the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:6-30), we see Peter and James speaking with authority. This Council makes an authoritative pronouncement (citing the Holy Spirit) which was binding on all Christians: Acts 15:28-29: For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. In the next chapter, we read that Paul, Timothy, and Silas were traveling around through the cities, and Scripture says that: . . . they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. (Acts 16:4) This is Church authority. They simply proclaimed the decree as true and binding with the sanction of the Holy Spirit Himself! Thus we see in the Bible an instance of the gift of infallibility that the Catholic Church claims for itself when it assembles in a council. For more on this, see: * * * * * * * * If Calvin or the Roman Catholics have a belief, yet cannot prove it via Scriptures and yet still hold on to that belief, then the answer is no. No they dont hold Scripture with the highest authority. Like I said, the Bible is not vague. Now, if one has a belief and it is not proven via Scripture, if said person lets go of that belief, then they regard Scripture with the highest authority. Let me do a play-on-words, to describe the situation you find yourself in: If Protestants claim that some doctrine cannot be proven via the Scriptures and it is shown them that indeed it can be, yet they still deny that belief, then they dont hold to Scripture as the highest authority after all. Now, if one disbelieves something but it is proven via Scripture, if said person then accepts that belief and reverses their previously mistaken one, based on false human tradition, then they regard Scripture with the highest authority. Anyone who believes something that is contradictory to Scripture or not proven by Scripture does not hold Scripture with the highest regard. Oh, I couldnt agree more, though the proven has to be clarified. There is not explicit proof of all things in Scripture; sometimes there are only kernels and deductions. Rather I hold to the fact that I can be taught and corrected with the Scriptures, since they are all God Breathed. If you can show me clear proof, then I will believe. Excellent. I eagerly look forward to your retractions, then. That is why Roman Catholics always degrade what they understand to be sola scriptura and therefore give all authority to the Pope and the Vatican because if they were too hold Scripture as the ultimate authority, a lot of false doctrines would be found in Roman Catholicism. We dont denigrate Scripture at all; we only accept all of it, including the parts that give authority to Church and Tradition; rather than carefully selected portions which appear at first to suggest a certain thing, because other parts are ignored. ***** Im flummoxed by what happened on the Senate Floor yesterday. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, had been holding forth on the Senate floor on the eve of Mr. Sessionss expected confirmation vote, reciting a 1986 letter from Mrs. King that criticized Mr. Sessionss record on civil rights. Sensing a stirring beside her a short while later, Ms. Warren stopped herself and scanned the chamber. Across the room, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, had stepped forward with an objection, setting off an extraordinary confrontation in the Capitol and silencing a colleague, procedurally, in the throes of a contentious debate over President Trumps cabinet nominee. The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, as warned by the chair, Mr. McConnell began, alluding to Mrs. Kings letter, which accused Mr. Sessions of using the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. Mr. McConnell called the Senate to order under what is known as Rule XIX, which prohibits debating senators from ascribing to another senator or to other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator. I was vaguely aware of the existence of this rule. I had not, however, considered the consequences of applying this rule to situations where a sitting Senator is nominated for a cabinet position. This rule, if applied as it was yesterday, severely hampers the Senates ability to fairly discuss and debate a presidents cabinet nominee. The Washington Post has covered the origins of this rule here, and needless to say they were far different from yesterdays circumstance. It would be reasonable to conclude, from an understanding of the argument that precipitated the rule, that it was never meant to cover situations like this one, in which a sitting Senator is being considered for a cabinet position and another Senator is merely reading a statement from an influential civil rights leader about the mans record earlier in his career. Lets be very clear about somethingMcConnell did not have to invoke this rule. His colleagues did not need to vote to affirm his invoking of the rule, and his silencing of Warren. No. The Washington Post suggests that this rule is generally considered archaic, and is rarely invoked. The Republicans chose to use this rule to stop Warren from reading Coretta Scott Kings letter. She was warned, Mr. McConnell said of Ms. Warren. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. The Republicans are blatantly using this rule to silence discussion of a presidential cabinet nominationin the very body which is tasked with confirming the nominees. In light of this reality, I would like to make a proposal. If the rule cannot be amended, presidents should be barred from nominating sitting Senators for cabinet positions. If Jeff Sessions would like to be considered for Attorney General, in other words, he would first have to resign from his Senate seat. This done, the Senate could thoroughly and fairly examine and discuss his career and actions, without being prohibited from discussing problematic aspects of his past. Now yes, I know it would be impossible to get such a provision enacted, and its possible that such a provision would be unwise. What I want to draw attention to is the bizarre situation we are inafter all, the Senate is free to fully examine and scrutinize the past and present of every other cabinet nominee. What were looking at is a special circumstanceSessions is being held to a different standard, because he is a sitting Senator and his colleagues are therefore prohibited from speaking badly of him. Between this and DeVos being confirmed by Senators whose campaigns she had given tens of thousands of dollars, I am becoming increasingly upset with glaring problems in our nations cabinet nomination process. I have a Patreon! Please support my writing! US: Iran 'Kidding Itself' If It Doesn't Realize Trump Has New Approach 02/08/17 By Michael Lipin and Payam Yazdian, VOA WASHINGTON - The White House has dismissed a defiant message from Iran's supreme leader about Donald Trump, saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should realize "there is a new president in office." In his daily press briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump would not remain idle in response to Iran's "violations, or apparent violations," of its 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and five other world powers. He said Trump "will continue to take action as he sees fit. ... [H]e is not going to project what those actions will be, and he will not take anything off the table." Spicer was responding to a question about Khamenei, who earlier in the day made his first public remarks about Trump since the president took office January 20. According to Khamenei's website, he spoke to a gathering of military commanders in Tehran about Trump's recent warning that Iran was "on notice" for carrying out a January 29 missile test that Washington said undermined regional security and put American lives at risk. "[Trump] says, 'You should be afraid of me.' No! The Iranian people will respond to his words on February 10 and will show their stance against such threats," Khamenei said. Iran will mark the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on that date. Source: Tehran Times A U.N. Security Council resolution underpinning the Iran nuclear deal urges Tehran to refrain from testing missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear warheads, but imposes no obligation. The White House has said the January 29 missile test was not a direct breach of Iran's nuclear pact with the world powers but violated what it called the "spirit" of that deal. Khamenei also used his speech to thank Trump for exposing what he called the "real face of America." He said Trump's anti-establishment rhetoric during and after the 2016 presidential election campaign "confirmed what we have been saying for more than 30 years about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the U.S. ruling system." He also said Trump's executive actions, such as a bid to pause immigration to the U.S. from Iran and six other Muslim-majority nations, showed the "reality of American human rights." Spicer suggested Khamenei's gratitude toward Trump was misplaced. "I think Iran is kidding itself if it does not realize there is a new president in town," he told reporters. Middle East security analyst Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council told VOA Persian's NewsHour program on Tuesday that the Trump administration's approach toward Iran was very different from that of its predecessor. "Under the Obama administration, Iran had enormous latitude politically and economically in terms of reaping benefits from the nuclear deal," said Berman, who serves as senior vice president of the Washington-based conservative research institute."Under the Trump White House, it is not known whether the nuclear deal is off the table completely, but it is very clear that the new administration is going to pursue a more confrontational approach [toward implementing it]." Berman based his assessment of the new U.S. policy on what he called the Trump national security team's "remarkable ... commonality of views" about Iran. "From Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to national security adviser Michael Flynn, there is very deep skepticism about Iranian intentions and whether or not it's a good idea to continue the nuclear deal, and there's very deep apprehension about the destabilizing role that Iran can play in the Persian Gulf region," Berman said. "So I think you see a much more realistic view of Iran beginning to take shape." Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has rejected accusations that his nation has acted in a destabilizing manner, posting a tweet last Friday saying: "We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense. Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement." We will never use our weapons against anyone, except in self-defense. Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement. pic.twitter.com/xwGquvqLvb Javad Zarif (@JZarif) February 3, 2017 VOA's Persian service contributed to this report. About the author: Michael Lipin covers international news for VOA on the web, radio and TV, specializing in the Middle East and East Asia Pacific. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_Lipin Related Stories: RT: Call Iran! 02/08/17 By Navid Hassibi (source: LobeLog) Left: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Right: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif A link needs to be urgently established between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and newly sworn-in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson amid the needless escalation in tension between the Trump administration and Iran. This week alone, the Trump White House imposed a blanket travel ban on Iranian nationals. Iran launched a provocative missile test and reciprocated with its own travel ban (since rescinded, at least for the U.S. wrestling team), which in turn led to Trump putting Iran "on notice" and imposing additional non-nuclear sanctions. The president has also been tweeting impulsively against Iran, possibly in response to remarks made by Iranian officials dismissing his bellicosity. At this rate, the president is on track to ignite a needless and catastrophic conflict against a country that had a functional rapport with the previous U.S. administration thanks to the historic nuclear deal. A line of communication between the Trump administration and Iran's leadership is desperately needed. It would be a shame for the United States to throw away the channel that was developed between the Obama administration and Iran via former Secretary John Kerry and Foreign Minister Zarif. This channel was leveraged to secure a historic nuclear deal that peacefully removed the threat of war in an already volatile region of the world. It was also valuable for non-nuclear matters such as last year's prisoner swap, the release of U.S. naval detainees by Iran, the settlement of a longstanding financial dispute, and some limited cooperation through the International Syria Support Group. Thus far in the early stages of the Trump administration, Secretary Tillerson appears to be the most level-headed official on the issue of Iran. During his Senate confirmation hearing, he told the Foreign Affairs Committee that he did not reject the Iran nuclear deal outright but, rather, supported a full review as well as possibly renegotiating it or negotiating a follow-up agreement. Unlike Defense Secretary James Mattis, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who are all ardent Iran hawks, Tillerson's willingness to maintain the Iran deal and negotiate a follow-up arrangement reflects his openness to talk to Iran. Last year, while still CEO of ExxonMobil, he indicated that he would consider doing business in Iran. He said in a television interview that ExxonMobil would certainly take a look at investing in Iran "because it's a huge resource-owning country." A call between Tillerson and Zarif is urgently advised as a tit-for-tat escalation in rhetoric and action can head only in one direction, confrontation. In this light, the deputy chief of staff of Iran's president tweeted that the United States should de-escalate tensions and interact with Iran rather than challenge it. An introductory call would allow both foreign ministers to build a rapport. For the United States, this could add a voice of reason on U.S.-Iran relations within the White House. The risk exists that this may backfire as Trump marginalizes Tillerson in favor of the Iran hawks in the administration. There is also the risk that Tillerson will side with the Iran hawks. But, still, it is worth the effort. On matters of war and peace, diplomacy is worth every bit of effort, even if that means picking up the phone and making a call. About the author: Navid Hassibi is with the Council on International Policy. He tweets @navidhassibi. The opinions here represent his own. mSecure password manager review TechRadar Pro Updated In our mSecure password manager review, we take an in-depth look at this password manager to help you decide if its the most secure way to handle your sensitive data. If youre reading this article on a PC, its quite likely the processor under the hood is 64-bit. Most computers these days run 64-bit CPUs, and most computers run 64-bit operating systems. Arch Linux is acknowledging that fact by making February the last month the distribution will include an i686 (32-bit) download option. Due to the decreasing popularity of i686 among the developers and the community, we have decided to phase out the support of this architecture, Bartomiej Piotrowski said in a January 25 announcement on the Arch Linux website. The decision means the February ISO will be the last that allows [installation of] 32-bit Arch Linux, Piotrowski continued. The announcement goes on to say that i686 installs will continue to receive upgraded packages for a nine-month deprecation period. But starting November 2017, i686 will be effectively unsupported. Arch is one of the first of the major Linux distributions to stop supporting the 32-bit architecture; although, as PCWorld reported last July, Ubuntu, Fedora, and OpenSUSE all anticipate the imminent demise of 32-bit distros. Fedora, for its part, stopped offering 32-bit versions of its server images with Fedora 24, but for the time being you can still get 32-bit desktop versions of Fedora 25. The community distro OpenSUSE Leap dropped 32-bit support in 2016 with Leap 42.1. Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS are both 64-bit only distros for x86 architectures as well. Arch Linux February is the last month users will have the option of installing the i686 version of Arch Linux. Linux was available fairly early on for AMDs 64-bit architecture, which is why some 64-bit builds still carry the label of amd64 instead of the more agnostic x86_64. While 64-bit Linux can run 32-bit versions of software, it often requires a lot of duplication in the form of libraries and other dependencies. Arch will keep maintaining its multilib repository, which provides 32-bit binary packages (usually prefixed by lib32-). For many desktop Arch users, the multilib repository is unneeded, though some packages (like PlayOnLinux and 32-bit versions of WINE) require access to the multilib repo. Arch is kind of a special case in the world of the Linux desktop. Since its a rolling-release distribution, offering new images every month, Arch is more agile than its standard-distribution counterparts such as Fedora or Ubuntu. But given that Arch is already making the move away from 32-bit, we may see the big distrosFedora, Ubuntu, and Mintdrop support this year as well, as new versions of those OSes come out. In the case of Ubuntu, 2016 was a long-term support year. Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, which includes a 32-bit version, will be supported until 2021, per Ubuntus guidelines. Odd non-LTS years for Ubuntu see shorter-term releases that often experiment with features that are later released in an LTS versions. While theres no official date for Ubuntu to drop 32-bit, its feasible we could see that support drop in an October (17.10) release. Right now, Canonical is still listing 32-bit images of Ubuntu 17.04 in its nightly builds, so Aprils release will likely retain a 32-bit image option. Although 32-bit operating systems and applications still have their place, server and consumer desktop computing largely transitioned to 64-bit long ago. The Arch devs are not wrong for acknowledging this fact, and other distributions will eventually follow suit. This year may be the last one youll see download links ending in i386, i686, or x86 for new releases of major distributions. This article has been updated to reflect the fact OpenSUSE Leap dropped 32-bit support in 2016 with the release of Leap 42.1. Tip of the hat to Neal Gompa for the heads-up. X Facebook is taking its Safety Check feature beyond the ability to just mark yourself and others as safe with a new addition called Community Help, which started rolling out Wednesday. Facebook first announced Community Help in November at the companys Social Good Forum. Community Help allows Facebook users to offer each other assistance for basic needs during a crisis. This can be food, a place to sleep, baby supplies, and other essential goods or services. Facebook Facebooks Community Help feature. When Community Help is active users in the affected area will see a Find Help link on the Safety Check page for their particular crisis. Underneath that will also be a Give Help option for those who want to assist their neighbors. Community Help will initially be available to users in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Saudi Arabia. Community Help was inspired in part by Facebook users who were already banding together to offer each other help in times of need. The company says it also consulted experts and humanitarian relief organizations to develop the new feature. The impact on you at home: As Community Help is part of Safety Check it will only be available in times of crisis, but the feature wont show up for every emergency. Facebook says that it will only show up for accidental and natural disasters such as a flood or tornado. That may only be the beginning, however. The company says that as it learns from people using Community Help, Facebook will look to expand it to additional types of incidents. Intel CEO Brian Krzanichs meeting with new U.S. president Donald Trump was followed by a big announcement: The company will invest US$7 billion over the next three to four years to complete a factory to make 7-nanometer chips. The completion of Fab 42where the chips will be madewill create about 3,000 jobs in the Chandler, Arizona, area, Intel said. The chipmaker expects to help create 10,000 jobs tied to supporting the activities of Fab 42. Trump has been pushing for more jobs in the U.S. and for bringing manufacturing back to the country. Making the announcement after meeting with Trump amplifies Intels efforts to promote itself as a jobs creator. But just last year, the company laid off more than 12,000 employees to restructure operations. Also, this isnt the first time Intel has committed to creating jobs and investing billions to make Fab 42. It made a similar announcement in 2011 but then backed off. In February 2011, then-CEO Paul Otellini announced the company was investing $5 billion to complete Fab 42 to make 14-nm chips and create 4,000 jobs. That announcement was made during former President Barack Obamas visit to an Intel facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. Intel slammed the brakes on that plan in 2014 to keep the space available for unspecified future technology. The construction of Fab 42 began in 2011, but its completion was delayed, William Moss, an Intel spokesman, said in an email. Were making this investment now in anticipation of the growth of our business, Moss said. In 2011, Intel announced the factory as it expected to grow its mobile device business. But Intel has now stopped making smartphone chips and is instead focusing on growth in the internet of things, server, automotive, and other markets. The White House hailed the completion of the factory as a positive development. Trump called the announcement a great thing for Arizona. Were very happy, and I can tell you, the people of Arizona are very happy, he added. Intels announcement is the latest in a wave of economic optimism since Trump took office, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, said later. Outside the U.S., Intel also operates factories in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Israel, and Ireland. Many of Intels chip design takes place in Israel, and the company is making its latest Optane memory chips in Dalian, China. Intel regularly establishes new factories to create smaller, powerful and more power-efficient chips. The 7-nm factory is a big investment and could lead toward longer battery life to smaller devices. The 7-nm chips will be made for PCs, sensors, and other high-tech devices. The chips will enable things like artificial intelligence, more advanced cars and transportation services, breakthroughs in medical research and treatment, and more, Krzanich said in an email to Intels employees. Two weeks ago, Intel said it was establishing a pilot 7-nm plant to manufacture test chips. Intel currently ships 14-nm PC, server, and IoT chips, and is expected to start shipping its first 10-nm PC chips code-named Cannonlake by the end of the year. The announcement also gives a time frame for when Intel will make its first 7-nm chips. Intel will likely release three or more chip architectures on the 10-nm process, like it has with 14-nm, before switching over to 7-nm. The 7-nm could also introduce new tools like EUV (extreme ultraviolet), which will help make finer chips, and materials like gallium-nitride (GaN) in chips. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation that would extend Californias upcoming ban on cramped conditions for egg-laying hens to millions of out-of-state chickens. Voters passed Prop. 2 in November 2008. Starting in 2015, chickens must have enough room to extend their wings and turn around. Several large egg producers in the Inland area will be covered by the rules. Schwarzenegger opposed Prop. 2. But in a signing statement Tuesday night, the governor wrote, The voters overwhelming approval of Proposition 2 demonstrated their strong support for the humane treatment of egg producing hens in California. By ensuring that all eggs sold in California meet the requirements of Proposition 2, this bill is good for both California egg producers and animal welfare. The bill, AB 1437, passed the Legislature with bipartisan support last month. Tuesday was the last day for Schwarzenegger to act on the measure. By signing this bill, Gov. Schwarzenegger has taken an important step in protecting animal welfare in a way that will also improve food safety for consumers across California, said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, which backed the legislation. Jim Miller jmiller@pressenterprise.com A 20-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 7, after police say they found stolen checks from four different California counties and a Nevada county inside the vehicle he was driving. Anthony Garcia was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, possessing burglary tools and identity theft and booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, according to a Beaumont Police news release. Police say that shortly after 11:30 a.m., they stopped a vehicle at Interstate 10 and Singleton Road in Calimesa and discovered a number of checks inside. The checks, they say, were not addressed to Garcia. They say Garcia admitted to driving around various cities and breaking into mailboxes to obtain the checks. The checks worth about $31,000 involved victims from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Kern Counties as well as Henderson, Nevada, according to officials. Police say the departments Multiple Enforcement Team is working with the United States Postal Inspector and the United States Attorney Generals office to pursue federal charges. The Beaumont Police Department is asking anyone with information about the case to call 951-769-8500. Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@scng.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter. About 200 people converged on Riverside City Hall Tuesday, Feb. 7, to support or oppose a residents suggestion that Riverside become a sanctuary city. The City Council is listening to peoples comments during its meeting, but council members will not vote on the issue because there is no sanctuary city proposal on their agenda. Supporters, led by Riverside resident Rafael Elizalde, want the council to pass a resolution that declares immigration law is a federal responsibility, and that the city would not collect or share data such as religion or citizenship status to help create a national registry or enforce immigration law. Elizalde, an aide to Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, is campaigning for a Riverside City Council seat. Opponents, some of whom have called and emailed city officials, are urging the council to reject the proposal, citing concerns about crime, potential loss of federal funding and objections to illegal immigration. The crowd, watched over by extra police officers, filled the council chambers. An officer turned people away, but some held up signs to be read through the glass. Mayor Rusty Bailey told the audience that nearly 60 people had filled out cards wishing to speak on the issue. He asked people to be respectful, but boos and other noises could be heard as residents spoke. People spoke on both sides of the issue. In heaven they have a wall, they have a gate, they have extreme vetting, Ken Hunter said. If the most important sanctuary city that exists has those, I think we should too. Ben Clymer Jr., a local business owner, said Riverside cant afford to lose federal money that could be withheld if it became a sanctuary city. He asked if the sanctuary city proponent would house undocumented immigrants in his home. Italia Garcia, a 16-year Riverside resident, urged the council to be on the right side of history, and noted that some undocumented immigrants pay taxes and buy homes. Riverside resident Kevin Akin told the council that Japanese internment was legal. Some laws must be ignored and some must be defied by thinking, decent people. In so-called sanctuary cities, law enforcement does not cooperate with federal immigration officials to identify undocumented immigrants. President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, leading California state legislators to pursue creating a sanctuary state. After speaking to the council, pro-sanctuary supporters left City Hall to march down Main Street chanting, This is what democracy looks like as the council continued to listen to public comments. After a few tense moments during a break when people from both sides yelled and chanted at each other, a man yelled himself hoarse about stopping immigration. Elizalde told the crowd The city council wants to be silent on this issue. Their silence means something. No Inland community has been declared a sanctuary city. A 2014 proposal from Riverside City Councilman Andy Melendrez that the city affirm its support for the humane treatment of immigrants caused an outcry before the council rejected it. Melendrez said last week that its unclear exactly what people mean by the term sanctuary city and added that the way its being used sounds highly political to me. Riverside police Chief Sergio Diaz said Monday that his department occasionally cooperates with federal immigration officials when appropriate human trafficking cases are one example but We do not routinely ask people for their papers or initiate investigations into their immigration status. Our policy and our practices are within the mainstream of what police departments do, not only in California, but throughout the country, Diaz said. Theres no public safety benefit to creating people that are living in the shadows and refusing to report crimes. Getting ready to rally in favor of sanctuary city status pic.twitter.com/TtEGq4PXES Alicia Robinson (@arobinson_pe) February 8, 2017 Anti-sanctuary demonstrators also have a bullhorn. pic.twitter.com/tAtwNu15Z4 Alicia Robinson (@arobinson_pe) February 8, 2017 RELATED Amid Trumps funding threats to sanctuary cities, police, county sheriffs perform balancing act Riverside Council says no to immigration resolution San Jacinto schools now a safe haven Rialto councilman apologizes for aborted sanctuary city exploratory meeting Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 orarobinson@scng.comTwitter: @arobinson_pe Its great to see Ontario International Airports top executives pushing hard to attract Chinese courier companies. The idea is that the companies would used ONT as their e-commerce gateway to U.S. and Latin American markets. Our main objective is to establish this region and the beachhead or the jumping-off point for them to come into the U.S. and connect their market to ours, said Mark Thorpe, chief development officer for the Ontario International Airport Authority, at a recent exporters roundtable discussion held at the district office of Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario. Much as UPS and FedEx deliver packages for Amazon, China-based companies like SF Express and STO Express could serve Amazon or its Chinese equivalent, Alibaba, and other Chinese e-commerce companies, through ONT. Airport execs want to benefit from the bidirectional opportunities that were going to see in the next few years, Thorpe said. Casting a bit of a pall over the whole enterprise is President Trumps tough talk about trade with China. Trump has threatened to slap big tariffs on Chinese goods to reduce our trade deficit with the Asian nation. And the president picked UC Irvine economist Peter Navarro, a harsh critic of China as a trading partner, to lead a new White House office overseeing trade and industrial policy. Still, ONT officials should press on with their wooing of Chinese partners. We can all be pretty sure that trade between China and the United States is not going away even if there is some kind of reset. And ONT is well positioned to take advantage of it. While 2016 passenger traffic increased less than 1 percent over 2015s numbers, ONTs cargo jumped 12.5 percent over the year before to 543,328 tons. Officials are trying to position ONT as the midpoint stop for China-Latin America freight logistics, too. This is the most aggressive air service development campaign Ive ever been involved with, airport CEO Kelly Fredericks said at the roundtable. Its not just our domestic and international passengers. When we talk air service development, it is cargo, and it is e-commerce as well. Aggressive development is exactly what ONT needs. Southwest Airlines new nonstop service to Dallas is a good start; Inland travelers anxiously await more routes. A new jaguar cub is The Living Deserts first baby of the year. The nameless tot was born Jan. 26 to Magia and Memo, two of the zoos jaguars. The cub and Magia wont be on display anytime soon, but the public can take a peek at them on the zoos live jag cam. The cam shows the mom and her new baby mostly snuggling and napping in their den. The zoo didnt revealed any details about the cub in a news release Wednesday. In fact, veterinary staff will conduct an assessment of its weight, sex and development later this week. As time goes on, theyll perform a comprehensive medical exam on the baby, including vaccinations. In a turn for the technological, the zoo will reveal the babys gender via Facebook Live so those unable to greet the new cub in person can still benefit from some of the warm fuzzies. The reveal is tentatively set for Feb. 11, but the duo will be off-exhibit for months, the release said. The cub will remain nameless until he zoos Zoobilee Gala on March 4, when folks are invited to help name it. The zoos new addition isnt 7-year-old Magias premier as a mom. She gave birth to Rico and Tesoro in April 2014, the release says. She arrived at The Living Desert in 2011 from a zoo in Texas. The cubs dad, Memo arrived in 2013 from Panama, the release says. The Star Wars-themed land under construction at Disneyland in Anaheim and Disneys Hollywood Studios in Florida will open in 2019. Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger made the announcement Tuesday, Feb. 7, during the Walt Disney Companys first-quarter earnings conference call, according to the Disney Parks blog. The blog did not specify an opening date. The Ontario man accused of sexually abusing two teens at a community swimming pool pleaded not guilty to all charges and is expected to be back in court on Tuesday, Feb. 14, according to court documents. Cephas Hendricks Jr., 36, of Ontario, pleaded not guilty Monday to several charges, including oral copulation of an intoxicated victim, sexual battery, rape by force, kidnapping and intent to commit mayhem or rape, court records show. Hendricks was arrested Jan. 31 in the 3200 block of Westmont Lane, less than two blocks from the community pool in the Edenglen complex, 3800 E. Riverside Drive where Ontario police believe the alleged assaults took place. According to police, a community resident later identified as Hendricks, allowed two 17-year-old girls into the pool. Police say Hendricks asked the girls whether they would like some alcohol and when they asked for water instead, authorities say he came out with two partially filled water bottles. They drank from them and became disoriented, police said. One of the victims reported passing in and out of consciousness but witnessed the assault of her friend, according to a police statement. When the unknown drug wore off, police said, both girls found themselves partially undressed and fled the area. They reported the incident and authorities identified as Hendricks as a suspect, officials said. Police say there may be other victims. They are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Craig Pefferle at 909-395-2754. With jurors unable to overcome an impasse, a mistrial was declared Tuesday, Feb. 7 for a man accused of gunning down his alleged crime partner more than a decade ago at a busy Moreno Valley restaurant because the victim was cooperating with authorities in an investigation. A Riverside jury spent four days in deliberations following a month of testimony in the trial of 37-year-old Edgar Alvarez, but could not reach a unanimous verdict. After inquiring whether the panel might benefit from additional time and receiving a negative reply, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz declared jurors hopelessly deadlocked and dismissed them. Schwartz scheduled a retrial status conference for Feb. 21 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Alvarez remains behind bars without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside. Hes charged with first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of murdering a witness to a crime in connection with the 2006 slaying of 49-year-old Pedro Emeon Hernandez. If convicted, the defendant could face life in prison without the possibility of parole Alvarez, the victim and a third man, Francisco Vasquez, were allegedly engaged in a drug-related money laundering operation involving tens of thousands of dollars and had all gone to Chicago in October 2006 for a transaction monitored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Agents arrested the trio, and while in custody, Hernandez agreed to speak with investigators, providing extensive information about Edgar Alvarez and his drug dealing enterprise, according to a trial brief filed by the Riverside County District Attorneys Office. The Cook County District Attorneys Office in Illinois had filed charges against Hernandez and Vasquez, but did not immediately charge Alvarez, who bailed out of jail within a couple of days. Hernandezs statements to investigators were videotaped, and Cook County prosecutors turned that evidence over to an attorney for Vasquez, who shared it with Alvarez, according to the brief. The defendant allegedly became incensed on learning that Hernandez had cooperated with law enforcement. Both men resided in Moreno Valley, where Hernandez owned the Pearl Seafood Restaurant and Bar at 24175 Hemlock Ave. The prosecution alleged that on the night of Dec. 29, 2006, Alvarez went to the establishment, wearing a Santa Claus hat and wielding a 9mm handgun. As Hernandez was setting up a table, the defendant quickly approached from behind and opened fire, striking the victim multiple times, even continuing to fire after Hernandez had collapsed onto the floor, prosecutors allege. An estimated 100 people were in the restaurant, and several waitresses, as well as patrons, recognized Alvarez, who fled to a getaway vehicle parked out front, racing away minutes before the first sheriffs deputies arrived, according to prosecutors. Hernandez died at the scene. Alvarez allegedly hid out in Mexico for several years, slipping in and out of the U.S. at least once. He also domiciled in Las Vegas and possibly the Nashville area, according to the FBI. He was captured by federal agents in Coral Gables, Florida, in February 2013. UPDATE (Wednesday, Feb. 8): Inappropriate relationship between Riverside teacher, student did not involve anyone else, police say Police arrested a Riverside teacher Monday, Feb. 6, on suspicion that she had inappropriate physical contact with a student, according to officials. Camryn Raelynn Zelinger, 32, of Corona was arrested at the Encore High School for the Arts on suspicion of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and annoying or molesting a child under 18, according to online jail records. She was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center and was released on $50,000 bail on Tuesday, according to the records. Riverside police officials say the departments Child Abuse Unit began investigating allegations that there had been an inappropriate relationship between Zelinger and a female student. The investigation, they say, revealed inappropriate physical contact and communications between the teacher and student. A news release put out by the school Tuesday said that counselors would be on hand to help students through what it described as a difficult time. This team will be in place throughout the week and as long as students need, the release reads. Police say the Encore High School for the Arts has fully cooperated with the investigation and has stated that Zelinger is no longer employed there. Encore has campuses in both Hesperia and Riverside. The Riverside location has about 413 students from grades 7 through 12. It has a focus on music, dance, acrobatics, theater and technical arts such as photography. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools exempt from many parts of the states education code. They have more flexibility to use innovative learning methods than traditional public schools and are governed by charters typically issued by local school districts and county offices of education. Riverside Unified School District trustees approved Encores five-year charter in December 2014. Board member Tom Hunt said the school has been well run and he hasnt heard of any complaints. It is surprising, Hunt said. Charter schools are careful who they hire. I know they have a good core group of administrators. Im sure theyre addressing this unfortunate situation and will protect the kids going forward. Denise Griffin, the schools founder and CEO, referred questions to the corporate office in Hesperia. No one answered the phone at that number Tuesday evening. The Riverside Police Department is asking anyone with information for their investigation to contact Det. J Adcox by calling 951-353-7121 or by emailing jadcox@riversideca.gov. They can also contact Det. E Bercian by calling 951-353-7950 or emailing ebercian@riversideca.gov. This is a developing story. Check back for additional details. Some of Riversides old wounds were reopened and some residents left disgusted or angry after the City Council late Tuesday rejected a proposed statement that Riverside supports humane treatment for all in the city including recent immigrants. Councilman Andy Melendrez, who suggested the nonbinding resolution that would not have committed city funds, said it would have reaffirmed the citys long commitment to social justice reflected by downtown statues of civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. We have been a community that has always been a beacon for that, and I believe that our community still is, Melendrez said Wednesday, adding that he was blindsided by the opposition from the dais. Before opening the floor Tuesday to dozens of speakers, Mayor William Rusty Bailey suggested the resolution was unnecessary because the city has had a statement of inclusion since 2001. Councilmen Mike Gardner, Mike Soubirous and Steve Adams, who voted no, agreed that the resolution may veer into immigration policy, which is federal jurisdiction. Councilmen Paul Davis, Chris Mac Arthur and Jim Perry were absent. I agree with the compassion. I disagree with breaking the rules, Adams said. The atmosphere was so tense, a minor altercation outside City Hall led to an arrest and citation for misdemeanor battery. RIVERSIDE: Proposed resolution for fair treatment of immigrants Melendrez crafted the resolution in response to recent protests in Murrieta, where in July people blocked three busloads of migrants reportedly largely women and children from entering an immigration facility for processing, and in Fontana, where some of the migrants were later taken. Several people who spoke said they were involved in the Murrieta protests, prompting others in the audience to ask angrily why theyre involved with Riversides business if they dont live there. I dont come out from another city and try to impose and threaten council people that if you dont vote their way, youre not going to be (re-elected), Riverside resident Paul Chavez said. The debate, at times vitriolic, featured plenty of rhetoric but very little nuance, with most speakers either characterizing Melendrezs proposal as the least residents could do for downtrodden refugees seeking help, or as an intolerable endorsement of lawbreakers who sponge off the United States social safety net. I would really like to see the city of Riverside take leadership and say, These are people and these are human beings and I welcome them, said Fernando Romero of the Justice for Immigrants Coalition of Inland Southern California. Others rejected the description of the recent wave of immigrants as poor, exploited mothers and children. They argued that the resolution would put a financial burden on Riverside and neighboring communities by attracting people seeking assistance. You are advocating equal treatment of everybody, and yet you want the illegals, who include underage gang members, to be more equal and have better treatment than the rest of us, said Stella Stephens, who didnt say where she lives. How dare you encourage anyone to accept unscreened illegals and expose the rest of us to contagious diseases like TB, hand and foot and mouth disease, and other diseases, she said. Several residents cited Riverside schools 1960s decision to voluntarily desegregate campuses, the 1995 controversy over the naming of Riversides Martin Luther King High School and the response to the 1999 Riverside police shooting of Tyisha Miller, a black teenager, as moments when city officials took a stand for justice. Melendrez said Wednesday that he was surprised Bailey and other councilmen didnt object to comments saying that (immigrants) were diseased, they were criminals, and they were individuals living off the system, which had nothing to do with the resolution this is a humanitarian matter. Gardner, who voted in a subcommittee to send the resolution to the council , said it was a big enough issue for the council to consider but that he didnt necessarily support the proposal. Gardner said comments from people outside the city didnt affect his vote. My view is the city is better served by not becoming embroiled in the sort of hot-button social issues that it cannot influence than it is to get involved in them, Gardner said. Melendrez said the resolution is dead, but he will pursue a proposal to make Cesar Chavez Day a city holiday in Riverside. Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 or arobinson@pressenterprise.com Plans by the Marine Corps to move as many as 1,500 desert tortoises from a Twentynine Palms training base expansion area have cleared a major hurdle. Federal wildlife officials based in Palm Springs have completed an analysis that found that moving the reptiles, which are listed as threatened with extinction, wouldnt jeopardize the survival of the species. The finding puts the Marines on track to move the tortoises out of the Johnson Valley this spring so they can use the land for live-ammunition training missions with tanks and ground troops. Congress in 2013 added some 88,000 acres of the valley area to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms. Tortoises have been moved from military and solar development sites in the past, but the Twentynine Palms endeavor would be the largest such move ever in the Mojave Desert, say wildlife officials. http://cdn.thinglink.me/jse/embed.js Biologists plan to capture the animals and transport them by helicopters to Bureau of Land Management areas outside the combat centers new boundaries. Most of the tortoises already have had radio transmitters affixed to their shells so they can be more easily located. The move still needs final sign-offs from the Navy and Interior Department officials. Marine Corps officials at Twentynine Palms plan to brief Navy Secretariat staff members on the environmental studies, said 1st Lt. Karen Holliday, a base spokeswoman, in an email. A decision from the Navy on the project could be as early as late this week, her email said. The timing of the approval is important because tortoises spend the cold winter and hot summer months in underground burrows. It is best to move them when they are active and above the ground in the spring or fall. In the spring, its generally best to move tortoises between late March and early May, wildlife experts say. The move is opposed by environmentalists, who say the imperiled reptiles cant afford to lose more of their natural range. It is going to be a direct hit on the limited amount of habitat the desert tortoise has left at a time when their numbers are declining, said Ileene Anderson, a wildlife biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. But military officials have said the use of Johnson Valley for training exercises will enhance national security by expanding the reach of large-scale, live-ammunition operations. Such missions involve three battalions operating in extreme desert heat in real-world warfare conditions The analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, called a biological opinion, is an essential step before the relocation effort may start. It found that the moved tortoises are expected to survive at the same rates as those that are not moved, said Brian Croft, a biologist and chief of the wildlife services West Mojave Desert Division and an author of the analysis. Croft added that the BLM land that will receive the tortoises should have enough food resources for the newcomers as well as the tortoises already living in those areas. We looked for places where the population densities were already low, he said. One potential problem is that the relocated tortoises may be more vulnerable to coyotes. The military plans to shoot coyotes if such predation becomes excessive, but they hope such measures are not necessary, Croft said. Coyotes can be legally hunted in California all year long. Contact the writer: 951-368-9471 or ddanelski@scng.com The Ghana Police Administration has announced a major reshuffle of its personnel, Peacefmonline.com can confirm. The changes effected by the Police Service are as follows; The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, COP Kofi Boakye has been reshuffled to hold a position at the Police National Headquarters. COP Kofi Boakye is to take the position currently held by COP Rose Bio Atinga as Director of Research and Planning while COP Rose Bio Atinga becomes the Director General, Technical. DCOP Isaac Ken Yeboah, the Northern Regional Police Commander, will become the Ashanti Regional Police Commander. COP Ransford Ninson, Director General of Administration will now become the Director General of Welfare. COP James Oppong-Boanuh, Director General, Services, has now been appointed as the Director General, Administration. Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College at Winneba, COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare is to become the Director General of ICT, a post which was previously held by the current Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante- Apeatu. The Director General, Special Duties, DCOP Osabarima Oware Asare Pinkro III has been appointed as the new Accra Regional Police Commander. ACP Timothy Yosa Bonga, current commander of the Accra Regional Police Command, is to Head the Inspection Unit of the Police Service. DCOP George Tuffuor, Director of the Education and Training Directorate, has been transferred to to be the Tema Regional Police Commander and the Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwasi Mensah-Duku, has been appointed the Western Regional Police Commander. The IGP has also appointed DCOP Kwame Tachie-Poku, currently the Central Regional Police Command has now been transferred to the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command. ACP Nana Asomah Hinneh, currently the Deputy Volta Regional Police Command moves to head the Command in the Region. The Director General of the MTTD, ACP Patrick Adusei Sarpong, has been moved to head the Northern Regional Command and ACP Kwadwo Boapea Otchere, has also been appointed as the new Upper West Regional Commander. This was revealed by the Public Relations Officer of the Police Service, Cephas Arthur in an interview on PeaceFM News Bulletin at 6 pm. New IGP's first shake-up The new acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, on January 27, made his first changes at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service, a unit he once headed. The Director-General of the CID, COP Prosper Agblor, was moved to head the Special Duties Department as the Director General, and his Deputy, ACP Dennis Ako-Dem,also moved to the Special Duties Department. DCOP Bright Oduro, who was the Director General;Welfare, was appointed Director General of the CID. ACP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah, who previously headed the police command and staff college, and moved to the ministries divisional police command, and finally at PIPS within a space of seven months, was appointed second in command at the CID. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi /Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Access to birth control can be a challenge for women across the world. In Uganda unintended pregnancies are common. According to the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, more than four in 10 births are unplanned. Women face a number of challenges accessing contraception. One is access, they live far away from health services. Another one is information, they simply dont know about methods. And a third is, often times, opposition by their partners, said Sara Tifft, PATH Reproductive Programme health Officer But a new single use contraceptive injection could change this pattern. Developed by US global non profit organisation PATH in -conjunction with other partners, Sayana Press, is a three-month, progestin injection that can be administered by health care providers, or even women themselves. It is currently being tested in remote regions of Uganda. PATH says it is affordable as it can go for a dollar per dose in some of the worlds poorest countries. Source: africanews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The reassignment of Ashanti Regional Police Commander COP Nathan Kofi Boakye and other officers was not because there had been a change of government, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, has said. COP Kofi Boakye has been reassigned to head the Accra Police Research and Planning unit. This was announced in a statement on Tuesday, 7 February. Other prominent transfers include COP Rose Atinga Bio, Director General Research and Planning, who is now Director General Technical. Director General of Services COP James Oppong-Boamah becomes Director General, Administration; COP Frank Adu Poku Director General, Technical, is now Director General, Services; COP George Akuffo Dampare, Commandant, Ghana Police Command and Staff College, also assumes a new role as Director-General, ICT. The release continued: COP Ransford Moses Ninson, Director General, Administration, to Director General, Welfare; DCOP Yaagy Akuibah, Regional Commander, WR, to Director-General, National Patrol & Visibility; DCOP David Nenyi Ampah Benin, Director General, to Regional Commander, Central Region; DCOP Maxwell Atingane, Regional Commander, Brong Ahafo Region, to Director-General, MTTD; DCOP Osabarima Oware Asare Pinkro III, Director General, Special Duties, to Regional Commander, Accra Region. This is the second major reshuffle by acting Inspector General of Police David Asante-Apeatu since being at the helm. Speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Wednesday, 8 February, Supt. Arthur said: Transfers have been a part of the Police Service. The transfers were meant to enhance the delivery of service by the officers. It is all in the interest of Ghana. The transfers were not because there had been a change of government. When John Kudalor came, he transferred some officers. When Mohammed Alhassan took over from Paul Quaye he also transferred some officers to different locations within the same government, and, so, it is when police leadership changes that the transfers are done, not when government changes. Every IGP has his own mission, hence the transfers. Source: Classfmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr Nosratollah Maliki, Iranian Ambassador, said his country is ready to support Ghana to develop its oil and petrochemical industry. He said Iran was prepared to share its expertise in that sector with Ghana for the mutual benefits of the two countries. Dr Maliki gave the commitment when he paid a courtesy call on Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, the Speaker of Parliament at his office in Accra. Present at the meeting were Mr Ameyaw Kyeremeh, Majority Chief Whip and Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Minority Chief Whip. Dr Maliki noted that Ghana and Iran have had good diplomatic relations, which dated back many years. He said Iran was prepared to support Ghana to develop her agriculture sector with the right skills for the country to be self-sufficient in food production. Prof Ocquaye said the visit by Dr Maliki was further evidence of the good relations between the two countries. He said he was very much aware of the assistance the Iranian government had given to the University of Ghana. He said Ghana had more to learn from Iran in the area of oil and the petrol chemical industry since the country was new in that sector. Prof Ocquaye said Ghana was prepared to learn from the local content of Iran in relation to the oil sector and adopt the best practices for the country. He extended invitation to the leadership of the Iranian Parliament to visit the country to deepen co-operation between the two institutions. Mr Kyeremeh said the visit by the Iranian Ambassador was a way of cementing the relationship between the two countries. He urged members of House to take interest in the various friendship associations within Parliament with their foreign counterparts. Alhaji Mubarak lauded the Iranian government for its support to the countrys agriculture sector over the years. He praised Iran for its contribution to the countrys education by establishing a university in the country. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Dramani Mahama has vacated his official Cantoments residence. The house in which Mr Mahama lived as Vice-President and later as President has been earmarked by the state as the official residence for vice presidents. Sources close to the former administration confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the former Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, signed a report of an inventory conducted in the residence by officials of the administration and the Public Works Department (PWD) yesterday morning to signify the official handing over of the house. Security personnel at post in the house confirmed that Mr Mahama had packed out of the house, but could not tell exactly when he did. Media personnel who were at the residence of Mr Mahama to observe a tour by the PWD and some officials of the past administration to authenticate the inventory report, were denied the opportunity. The PWD officials and the officers of the past administration, including Mr Debrah also declined to speak to journalists after the inventory tour. Observations The Daily Graphic observed that security around the house which hitherto was very tight was a bit more relaxed. It was also observed that people and vehicles used the street in front of the house as a thorough fare without having to go through the hitherto strict scrutiny, because neither a president nor a vice president was currently living in it. However, security presence was felt as security personnel where still at post discharging their duties. As part of the security measures there, the journalists who were allowed to enter the house were screened to be sure they had not taken any photographs within or without the premises. The immediate vicinity of the house has been marked as a security zone. Background Mr Mahama is reported to have made a request to keep the official house in which he was living as his retirement home, which was declined by the government. The house in which Mr Mahama lived as Vice-President and later as President has been earmarked by the state as the official residents for vice presidents. The Transition Act, Section 10 of the law requires the President and the Vice-President to vacate their official residence a day before the inauguration of a new president. However, he is entitled to a retirement home. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian award winning playwright, Ebo Whyte, fondly known as Uncle Ebo, who comes across as a straight-from-the-shoulder commentator, has said that men of God who usually preach against particular subjects consistently, are actually guilty of the very things they shoot down. Citing an example, he said if your pastor is always criticizing fornication and other sexual impurity, bear in mind he is guilty of it. Uncle Ebo is also an authority in counseling and motivational speaking. As an experienced person, his words cannot be easily sniped. He made this startling but somewhat true assertion on The KSM Show hosted by the King of Satire in Ghana, KSM. Video below- Source: presspeep.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Liberia Law and Enforcement Agencies on Tuesday started a three-month training programme being organized by the Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Ghana. The training course is to build the capacity of the sixth batch of 27 Officers to enable them serve their country in ensuring peace and order. The programme, post-graduate diploma in Public Administration and certificate in public administration is funded by the Irish Aid of the United Nations. GIMPA had already trained five batches of senior officers of Liberian Police and the current intake of 27 brings the total to 119. Professor Samuel Bonsu, the Dean of Business School, who welcomed the officers to the country said, GIMPA prides itself in excellence and quality education. He therefore charged the current intake to emulate their predecessors and compatriots who demonstrated professionalism in their field of work during their course of study. He urged the officers to be focus and work assiduously ahead of the training and put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired to strengthen the peace and security of Liberia. Mr Julius Atikpui, Acting Registrar of GIMPA, advised the Officers to be disciplined and adhere to the rules and regulations of the Institute, urging them to work hard to earn the certificates. DCOP Randolph Dennis, Leader of the Liberia Police Officers, commended GIMPA and UN for organizing the programme. He said he expected the participants to learn new ideas and build on the knowledge they already have to strengthen the security of Liberia. The officers would undertake courses such as introduction to Human Resource, Introduction to Organizational Behaviour, Introduction to Budgeting and Financial Management, Strategic thinking Policy Formulation and Analysis, Principles of Management, Police Administration and Basic Statistics. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video James Agyenim Boateng, former aide to Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has revealed that some National Security operatives were at his home on the morning of Tuesday, 7 February in search of missing state cars. This brings to three officials of the past National Democratic Congress (NDC) government who have had their vehicles seized under the Akufo-Addo-led government. Last week, some armed military men stormed the home of Kofi Adams, the NDCs National Organiser, to confiscate some vehicles suspected to be state properties. There were also reports that the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, had his cars seized. Mr Agyenim-Boateng tweeted on Tuesday: National Security officers came to my home at 6am. They were looking for missing cars. Meanwhile, the government has formed a task force to retrieve all state properties in the hands of former government officials. The task force is made up of personnel from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Revenue Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), and the Office of the President. The taskforce is mandated to retrieve movable and immovable assets and state assets which are still in the possession of past government officials. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin says over 200 official cars are nowhere to found at the seat of government, Flagstaff House. The cars, which he said are part of the presidential pool of official vehicles, are missing from the Flagstaff House garage. Subsequently, he said, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been forced to use a 2007 model of a saloon car within Accra. President Akufo Addo is currently using a 2007 BMW model purchased by the state during the Ghana @50 celebrations...That is what he is using. So where are the cars? he questioned. Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show dubbed Ghana Montie Eugene Arhin intimated that the president, when going on a long journey outside the capital, uses his own private vehicle for such official duties. Just this last week Saturday, the president had to use his private Land Cruiser for an official duty in Kyebi. That is the same Land Cruiser he used during the campaign time he told host Kwesi Aboagye He strongly held the belief that governments decision to set up a committee to retrieve state assets suspected to be in the possession of some individuals in the previous administration will yield fruitful results. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Supreme Court has struck out an application filed by former Attorney General Martin Amidu to cross-examine businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome in connection with the GHS51million judgement saga. Mr Amidu, who filed the case ahead of the 2016 general elections, told the court on Wednesday, 8 February that since there has been a change in government, he would leave the matter to new Attorney General and Minister of Justice Gloria Akuffo to retrieve the money, Accra100.5FMs Court Correspondent Ama Brako Ampofo reported. Mr Amidu filed the application in November last year. He said in a statement at the time that: I have this morning 4th November, 2016 filed an application at the Supreme Court for leave to examine the judgment debtor as the citizen public interest plaintiff in favour of whom the case was decided for the Republic of Ghana. Mr Amidus action followed a move by then Attorney General Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong to discontinue oral examination of Mr Woyome in connection with the judgment debt. The then-AG had said in a notice that: Please take notice that the 1st Defendant Judgment Creditor [Attorney General] herein has this day [26th day of October 2016] discontinued the present application to orally examine the 3rd defendant Judgment Debtor [Alfred Agesi Woyome] with liberty to reapply. Before filing his application in November, Mr Amidu said: I have examined the circumstances surrounding the governments reluctance to enforce the judgment and orders of the court with the seriousness which the matter deserves. I share the view expressed by objective and reasonable members of the public that because the government was the 1st defendant/respondent against whom the Supreme Court made declarations of unconstitutional conduct in paying the judgment debt to Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the government has been pretending for purely political reasons at each turn to take steps to enforce the judgment and orders of the court only to deliberately abort them. I agree that the governments objective has always been to create the appearance and impression in the minds of the unsuspecting public that it is complying with the enforcement orders. The Attorney Generals latest application to discontinue the governments application to examine its financier, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, is one more such trick to deceive the public and obstruct the course of justice. Mr Woyome was paid the money by the Mills administration following the cancellation by the Kufuor administration of a contract he allegedly had with the state. The Supreme Court later ruled, following an application by Mr Amidu that Mr Woyome got the money fraudulently and unconstitutionally. He was directed to refund the money to the state. So far, Mr Agbesi has refunded only GHS4million. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 22-year-old man has died after being struck by lightning during the wild storms that swept through Sydney and parts of NSW yesterday. Police say the man was attending to a small grass fire on a property about 25km north of Mudgee when he was struck by lightning about 3pm yesterday. Rural Fire Service members immediately commenced CPR before NSW Ambulances paramedics arrived, however, the man sadly died at the scene. Sydney copped half a months worth of rain in a few hours yesterday, with the State Emergency Service responding to 160 calls for help. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that more rain and possible thunderstorms are on the way, before temperatures hit the high 30s and into the 40s over the weekend. Some parts of #SydneyWeather have had significant rain since 9am yesterday. More showers to come today. Fcst at https://t.co/lnZQdONrwI pic.twitter.com/p6XfVuNRCf BOM New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) February 7, 2017 Photo: Twitter / Amanda Syrowatka. When I was a kid, one of my favourite pastimes was imagining all the things Id buy when (not if) I won the lottery: a house with a bouncy castle room, a helicopter, an island in the Pacific where Id keep a pod of friendly dolphins. Now, of course, my list consists solely of a single room shack less than an hours drive from one of Australias capitals. A girl can dream. You and I might have missed out on living our Scrooge McDuck pool-of-money fantasies, but not so a farmer from the far north Queensland town of Mareeba. Hes won a $15 million first division Oz Lotto prize, and he knows exactly what hes going to spend it on. The man in his 50s, who is (probably wisely) choosing to stay anonymous, told the Cairns Post: Ill be able help my kids and my family and buy a house for starters. We might go for a little cruise on holiday or something like that. I really get into my cars too, so now I can buy the ute I always dreamt of. I can honestly say that no other reference to buying a ute has ever made me feel quite so much vicarious joy. I am really, genuinely thrilled for this farmer to buy his dream ute. Incidentally, the newsagent where he purchased his winning ticket, Piagnos News on Byrnes Street in Mareeba, has sold five other division-one winning tickets. A trip up north might turn out to be a sound investment in realising those island-owning dreams. Source: Cairns Post. Image: Fox. If youre unfamiliar with Australias extremely sophisticated and highly respectable political system, allow me to break it down for you: a bunch of adult babies in suits smugly try to euphemistically call each other a huge bitch as much as possible without contravening a set of arbitrary laws about insulting language invented in circa 1160 AD by a weird priest. While, ostensibly, you might think parliament is about passing or modifying legislation in the best interests of the country, its actually mostly about scoring very weird, thinly-veiled owns against your opposite number. If youre having trouble spotting these owns on account of how they have to be extremely subtle to get past the Speaker, you can recognise them from the well-rehearsed delivery, shit-eating grin of the politician delivering the own, and the chorus of hooting and hollering that it elicits from their colleagues. If youre to believe how red in the face Barnaby Joyce went, one of these owns occurred today when Turnbull had a go at Shorten during a debate over the Governments proposed welfare reforms. Im sure theres a case to be made that this is just a series of coincidences, but it definitely seems like Turnbull was making a bunch of weird, borderline-homophobic blowjob jokes at Shortens expense: There was never a union leader in Melbourne that tucked his knees under more billionaires tables than the leader of the opposition. He lapped it up, yes, he lapped it up. [] This sycophant, blowing hard in the House of Representatives, sucking hard in the living rooms of Melbourne, what a hypocrite. [] He likes harbourside mansions, he is yearning for one, he is yearning to get into Kirribilli House. Because somebody else pays for it. Just like he loved knocking back Dick Pratts Cristal and looked forward to living at the expense of the taxpayer, this man is a parasite and has no respect for the taxpayer. Look, maybe Im seeing things that arent there, but people on the internet seem to agree with me. im being very charitable with my reading of this line but it is only parsing one way for me https://t.co/hpnAxl4NXM j.r. hennessy (@jrhennessy) February 8, 2017 Turnbull just yelled homophobic insults at Shorten for doing the same things the libs do, and right wing commentators are extremely wet 4 it pooper (@lonelydandruff) February 8, 2017 You can watch it for yourself below keep an eye on Barnaby, who at all times looks like he is about to explode: Politics, huh. Source: SBS. Photo: Getty Images / Stefan Postles. Look, you can eat delicious and fancy looking food and throw back a Negroni or two in loads of nice places around Oz. But isnt it way more of an ~immersive experience~ when you consume said food and drink in a truly spectacular space? Yes, yes it is. Australia is really killing it atm when it comes to well thought-out, gorgeous interiors in the bar and restaurant scene. In fact, 19 projects were shortlisted in the UK based Restaurant & Bar Design Awards for 2016, and the year before, three Aussie spots Kitty Burns, Pink Moon Saloon, and So 9 won big. Heres our round up of the most aesthetically pleasing spaces to grab a bite (or a beer) at. ACME, Sydney With those industrial design vibes courtesy of Sydney architecture duo Luchetti Krelle, ACME has that sexy, minimalist feel that works perfectly with its date-night share plate food situation. Cucina Vivo, Broadbeach Part of the Jupiters Casino behemoth, this light and breezy Italian restaurant really utilises the fab GC weather one whole side is open-air so youre basically going it alfresco in most of the place, and the pastel/beige combo plays on that whole casual-beachside thing that just totally works on the Goldie. Kitty Burns, Melbourne Cafe/restaurant Kitty Burns makes gr9 use of light, and keeps things airy and fresh with greenery and blonde wood. Food-wise, its one all-day menu with meals that work perfectly whether its 8am or 3pm. Osteria Oggi, Adelaide Sure, this SA Italian joint won a prized place on CNN Travels 10 best new places to eat in the world list last year, but its offering up more than just delish fresh pasta dishes. The chilled out interior features a cement counter that runs the length of it, with long communal tables mixing amongst cosy booths out the back. Eastside Grill, Sydney This American-Japanese Chippendale newbie was designed to bring NYC Meatpacking district vibes, with its exposed brick walls, worn leather chairs, brass accents and dark wood flooring. That giant mural that stretches one wall is the first in the Southern Hemisphere from acclaimed Belgian-born graffiti artist Caratoes, too. XO, Canberra One of the most hyped ACT restaurants, XO is a minimalist masterpiece that wine wall is how they show off their beverage ops, and the interior is all white-washed brick walls and pale wood. Food wise, expect a South East Asian influence and a focus on share plates. The Rabbit Hole, Sydney If you love tea, and want to drink your tea while sitting in a gorgeous architectural setting, this is your kinda place. Theres a bazillion on offer, but its also full of quirky takes on interiors, like this tea display above. Petition Kitchen, Perth For around two decades, the Old Treasury Building in Perth was sitting abandoned and severely run down. Enter Petition Kitchen, whove taken over and restored the State Building into something that blends the modern with the historic from the outside, the building still looks straight outta the 1800s, but within its all long leather benches and white walls. They havent completely 2000ed up the interior little peeks of the original brick have been left, and of course theres those insanely high ceilings. J&M, Sydney Walking into J&M is like stepping back in time set inside the historic Angel Hotel in the Sydney CBD, the 60s/70s inspired whiskey bar is all peeling walls and velvet furniture, making you feel youre in the prohibition era sneaking a cocktail in before the po-po get wind of it. Pink Moon Saloon, Adelaide Pink Moon Saloon is a small bar that utilised a teeny service alley literally, it was 4 metres wide and turned it into a small bar thats getting rave reviews both for its food and drink offering, and its unique design. From the outside it literally looks like a tiny house, with the interior giving off cosy wood cabin feels with its almost all wood theme. PS40, Sydney Given this is the bar front to whats actually an all-natural soda company, it makes sense that unlike many Sydney small bars, PS40 has windows and is all bright and fresh. The predominantly black colour scheme is off-set by high ceilings and pops of colour and neon lighting. Smalls Bar, Melbourne This South Melbs laneway wine bar is another lil drinking spot that eschews being dark and moody for utilising natural light, this time via skylights. This, teamed with a colour scheme thats mainly variations of grey with brass accents, makes for a pretty unique vibe. Norsk Dor, Sydney First yes, those are pelts hanging off the back of each chair in this basement-level Sydney restaurant. Thats because this hidden joint is Scandinavian themed, and the entire experience you enter a blink-and-youll-miss-it door, head down underground, then buzz to be let in makes you feel like youve really left the busy Sydney streets behind. Naturally, being a basement location means Norsk Dor has made itself softly lit and cosy, which works well with their comfort food offering. Hotel Jesus, Melbourne Self-coined as a Mexican tostaderia meets tile-laden diner Americana, Hotel Jesus is all fun and no-frills feels. Using pops of rich red amidst tiled white walls, youll 100% feel like you took a trip to the Mexican border. Hubert, Sydney If youre Sydney based or just an avid foodie, youre no doubt across French restaurant Hubert, the first proper restaurant offering from the Shady Pines/Frankies Pizza guys. And so far its 100% been living up to the hype, both in terms of how delish the food is and for its inspired interiors. Theres a grand piano in front of a red curtained stage, wood panelled walls, and an insanely stocked bar (which is v Baxters Inn). Images: Supplied. The Kardashians All Dressed Up As Different Eras Of Kris Jenner & The Footage Is Chefs Kriss UPDATE: Verdict in for Pa. lawyer accused of raping female client, 22 An attorney is eastern Pennsylvania has been promising to tell his side of the story after being charged with allegedly raping an intoxicated, 22-year-old female client at her home back in August 2015. As the Pottstown Mercury reports, the trial for Vincent Cirillo Jr., 57, of Lower Merion, Pa., is underway in Montgomery County, where the attorney faces charges of rape of an unconscious victim, rape of an impaired person, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, indecent assault and making false statements to authorities. Cirillo is claiming the sex was consensual. Details of the case according to the Pottstown Mercury, which has been covering the trial extensively: The 22-year-old woman says she was raped by Cirillo in her home where Cirillo met her for legal consultation. The woman, who was drinking, says she was alone in the residence with Cirillo when she "blacked out" around 9 p.m., and has no memory of the events that followed. She told police she did not consent to any sexual contact with Cirillo. Police say in subsequent recorded conversations between the woman and Cirillo, the attorney "repeatedly confirmed he had engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim" and assured her he was careful to avoid pregnancy and that he did not have any sexually transmitted diseases. And when confronted by detectives, Cirillo allegedly admitted to performing a sex act on the "highly intoxicated, semi-conscious" woman in her bed. However, contrary to what he said during the recorded conversation, Cirillo denied having intercourse with the woman, according to court papers. Stay tuned to PennLive.com for updates on the trial. The U.S. National Tour Association has named Lin Wang as director, China Market Services. Lin will continue to grow NTAs extremely successful China Inbound Program, including educating members on how to attract this lucrative international segment of business, creating domestic familiarization trips and coordinating U.S. delegations to China. Launched in 2008, NTAs China Inbound Program is the only such tour operator registration program approved by the China National Tourism Administration. Comprised of more than 225 companies, the program is a resource for U.S.-inbound travel professionals and is the leader in facilitating Chinese leisure group travel to the United States. By joining the China Inbound Program, tour companies have access to special programming, including exclusive Fam trips and NTA business events. They are included in the yearly Best of the USA: NTA Directory for the China Market, can attend the NTA China Market Forum and can access best practices and resources to attract business. Lin, a native of Hangzhou, China, brings with him a firsthand knowledge of China, as well as extensive expertise in tourism marketing and client relations. Prior to joining NTA, Lin was an account manager for Partner Concepts Inc. He holds a masters degree in tourism administration from the George Washington University, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fudan University in Shanghai. I have heard great things about NTA and its members, Lin said. I feel really fortunate to join the team and look forward to working with all the members and helping with their success in the China market. China ranks fifth in the number of annual visitors to the United States, having set records in 2015 for both arrivals (2.6 million) and spending ($30 billion). In 2015, inbound travel rose 18 percent. China is the fastest-growing source of travel into the United States, increasing from 320,000 visitors in 2006 to a projected 4.5 million in 2019. By 2021, China is projected by the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office to become the third-largest inbound market, sending some 5.7 million visitors to U.S. destinations. Lin will be on-site in St. Louis for the upcoming NTA Travel Exchange, Feb. 26March 2. For information on the NTA China Inbound Program, visit NTAonline.com. Brazil has launched a formal complaint to the World Trade Organization over Canadian subsidies to the aerospace sector, hours after the federal government announced millions in interest-free loans to Bombardier. Bombardier President and CEO Alain Bellemare stands next to a Global 5000 aircraft, in Montreal on February 7, 2017. The federal government says it will give Bombardier $372.5 million in repayable loans over four years to support the Global 7000 and CSeries aircraft projects, a move which has prompted a complaint from Brazil. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson Manulife is removing the need for nicotine testing for some of its life insurance applicants as part of its efforts to streamline the process. A smoker puts out a cigarette in a public ash tray, in Ottawa in a May 31, 2016, file photo. Today is the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prior to the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, during the second day of the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, July 9, 2016. Trudeau is off to Europe next week to address the European Parliament and for a face-to-face meeting with Merkel. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski The leader of the Parti Quebecois says the federal response to Bombardier's financial request only helps to bolster the sovereigntist cause. PQ Leader Jean-Francois Lisee salutes delegates during his opening speech at the Parti Quebecois national council meeting, in Quebec City in a January 14, 2017, file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Clement Allard Palestinian labourers work at a construction site in a new housing project in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, near Jerusalem, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. A Palestinian Cabinet minister on Tuesday called on the international community to punish Israel for a contentious new law, just hours after the Israeli parliament adopted the bill to retroactively legalize thousands of West Bank settlement homes built unlawfully on private Palestinian land.(AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Here, there, everywhere why car washes seem to be on every corner Trump trade war could hurt oil, gas prices; fuel exports to Mexico U.S. oil and gas prices may tumble on trump's energy revolution' NEW YORK Petroleumworld.com 02 08 2017 President Trump's vow to unleash an energy revolution by reversing regulations may send oil and natural gas prices tumbling in 2018, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Domestic oil and gas prices will likely suffer as the U.S. continues to increase its output, analysts including Francisco Blanch, head of commodities research, wrote in a note dated Feb. 3. Though U.S. oil and natural gas producers could see a surge in investment under Donald Trump's numerous proposals from a likely reform of the corporate tax code to a possible border tax, prices may suffer from the resulting increase in output. The industry has high hopes for less red tape, a more pragmatic approach to regulation and lower costs of having to comply with climate change rules, the analysts said. The impact of Trump's policies will take months if not years to play out. The implementation of such a tax would be a net positive for WTI versus Brent, but a net negative for refined petroleum product prices, the analysts wrote. Mexico exports 600,000 barrels a day of crude oil to the U.S. and buys large amounts of gasoline and diesel. The jump in natural gas production combined with relaxing the Clean Power Plan will likely send prices lower through 2018. If Mexico reciprocates with its own border tax and sparks a trade war, natural gas exports and prices would be severely hurt at the Henry Hub, as the U.S. currently sends five percent of its annual gas to Mexico via pipelines. American companies are sending record amounts of gas south of the border, with exports touching 4 billion cubic feet per day. However, many of Trump's policies are unknown at this point and yet to be formed in detail, so it is perhaps too early to draw strong conclusions on how they may impact investment decisions and energy prices, the analysts said in the note. 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 The son of a fabled slain Uzbek militant commander has been luring Uzbek men in northern Afghanistan to join the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group, according to officials in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul. Abdul Rahman Yuldash, a reclusive wanted man, is reportedly leading efforts to help establish an IS footprint in Afghanistan's northern provinces bordering his native Uzbekistan. Officials are not sure where he is based or how he operates. Authorities, however, say they "have received reports about the presence of Tahir Yuldash's son in some villages," Zahir Wahdat, governor of restive Sar-e-Pul Province, told VOA. Tahir Yuldash was a co-founder and leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). The hard-line Islamist group was established in the mid-1990s in Uzbekistan and included fighters from several central Asian nations, operating from bases inside Tajikistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, analysts say. Once a strong ally of the Taliban, the IMU later became closely associated with Al-Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden. Following the Taliban ouster in 2001, Tahir Yuldash and his followers settled in tribal areas in Pakistan near the Afghan border; however, disputes followed with local tribes that accused Yuldash of imposing his extreme ways on locals, including women, and recruiting them for military training. Tahir Yuldash's men engaged in clashes with local militant groups and were accused of killing many tribal elders, which led to their eventual move to Afghanistan's Zabul Province in 2007. Tahir Yuldash was reportedly killed in a U.S. drone strike in August 2009. Little is known about the younger Yuldash, but he reportedly lived in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi after his fathers death. "He used to live in Karachi and may still be based there," said Wahid Muzhda, a Taliban analyst in Kabul. IMU Splits Yuldash has twice been seen in Sar-e-Pul's Sayyad district recruiting for IS, local security officials told VOA's Afghanistan service. Many militants previously associated with the Taliban are now signing up for IS in the area, officials say. According to Muzhda, Uzbek fighters in northern areas of Afghanistan are fleeing the Taliban and switching sides to join IS, a claim he says the Taliban denies. "The IMU has split up into three smaller groups," Muzhda said, adding that one of the groups has pledged allegiance to IS. The IMU was closely linked with the Taliban and fought against the Afghan government. However, analysts say differences surfaced after the Taliban announced their disassociation with international terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, and abandoned plans to support the spread of terrorist activities into Central Asia. Osman Ghazi, Tahir Yuldash's successor and son-in-law, accused the Taliban of being apostates and pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to Muzhda. Following the split, the two groups engaged in fierce fighting in 2015 in Zabul, which left at least 110 dead and dozens wounded. To show its loyalty to Islamic State, the IMU fighters kidnapped and killed around a dozen ethnic Shi'ite Afghans. Ghazi was arrested and hanged by the Taliban last year. Yuldash was recently injured in an explosion after visiting his family in Zabul, Muzhda said. The IMU's presence is known in some parts of the northern provinces where locals have spotted Uzbek fighters and their families. "About two years ago, 10 or 15 families that belonged to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan came and settled in Darzaab," a local resident in neighboring Jouzjan Province told VOA's Uzbek service on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. "We believe the IMU is training fighters," he said. "I know some local Uzbeks from Sar-e-Pul, Faryab, and Badghis have also joined them." Militant Activity Grows Afghanistan's northern provinces have recently seen an increase in militant activities. More than 4,000 fighters from different militant groups are active in Sar-e-Pul, according to Zabihullah Amani, a spokesman for the provincial government. According to the governor of Sar-e-Pul, Afghan forces are engaged in heavy battles with militants in five districts. The Kohistanat district, he said, has been under the militants' control for the past 18 months and is where foreign fighters train local militants. "Parts of Sar-e-Pul have become bases and safe havens for anti-government militants," he said, adding that many fighters from Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan are present in the area, including Tahir Yuldash's son. "IS does not have a large base yet, but some local commanders [militants], who used to be with the Taliban, are now sympathizing with IS and want to join the group. No doubt, they [IS] are trying to establish a large base in the province," the governor told Afghan Tolo TV. -- Written by Noor Zahid for Voice of America Last Thursday night, I loitered a few minutes near the corner of 45th and Locust Streets, a quiet intersection lined with no-frills African restaurants. One by one, a stream of fresh-faced but bewildered people stopped to ask, "Is there a bar around here called Fume?" I couldn't blame them -- either for mangling the name (it's pronounced fume-may) or for their confusion (there's no sign). I pointed them to the unpromising entrance: a side door that leads through Abyssinia, an Ethiopian restaurant, and up a dingy, twisting staircase that spills out into Fiume, a small room decorated with patchy maroon paint and beer cases stacked to the ceiling. Twinkle lights illuminate a handful of tables and chairs where patrons sip an unexpected selection of obscure whiskeys and craft beers to go with fragrant, injera-lined platters of food from downstairs. I, too, was a little disoriented as I grabbed a table next to the tower of beer cases and ordered a Heebie Jeebie ($11) -- a sour-sweet concoction in a coupe glass made with bourbon, Pimms, white rum, lemon, and Swedish Punsch, an arrack-based liqueur. I remembered Fiume from my college years as a place whose great appeal was vodka tonics that cost $4. When did it join the craft-cocktail movement? Operator Kevin James Holland confirmed that my Stoli-soaked memories of Fiume's early days were accurate. In true West Philadelphia fashion, "Abyssinia got literally a bunch of self-described anarchists to run the upstairs bar," he said. "Then, three or four months after it opened, they all disappeared, and it sort of fell apart. This is how we know they were authentic anarchists: Definitively, it can't last." So, Holland, a regular, found himself in charge of the place -- and he slowly set about reinventing it. During Philly Beer Week one year, he decided to offer 50 beers; now, it's 150, or about 130 more than fit on the wall-size menu (let the bartender help you choose an easy-drinking IPA or obscure gose.) He celebrated a "whiskey week" another year, and now has a menu of 80 whiskeys, mostly American bourbon and rye. There's an $80 pour of the Pappy Van Winkle 20-year-old, and a budget alternative in the W.L. Weller Special Reserve, for $7. Then, he marked "cocktail week," introducing drinks like the Lead Apron, made with 1792 bourbon, Amaro Averna, house-made bitters, and a hunk of ice sculpted into a sphere -- a flourish not much seen in this corner of the city. Other aspects of Fiume Holland hasn't bothered to change: There's still no phone. It's still cash only. And there's still attitude. "Welcome to bars. Don't be [a jerk]," advises a sign that sets the minimum tip at $1 per drink. These days, the crowd is a mix of neighborhood folks, hipsters, and preppy young professionals who pile out of Ubers from Center City. (Who else is ordering $80 whiskey?) It's a come-as-you-are kind of place -- as long as you can find it. Fiume 229 S. 45th St.; no phone When to go: It's open daily, 6 p.m.-1:45 a.m. (The kitchen downstairs closes at 1 a.m.) If you go later on Thursday night, expect a large crowd and no seating. Whom to bring: Reformed anarchists. People whose snarky comments about West Philadelphia you'd like to silence once and for all. The bourbon aficionado in your life. Seriously: No one who has trouble with stairs. What to order: The Lead Apron ($12) if you like whiskey; the Pappy Van Winkle ($80) if you really, really like whiskey. Either way, stop downstairs and order the vegetable combination plate. (It's $9.95. Order from the dining room, not the bar. They'll bring it up to your table.) Bathroom situation: Single stalls -- worse than you'd find in a dorm, better than in a prison. Sounds like: On a quiet night, 80 decibels of cocktails being stirred, muted jazz, and a loud guy at the bar over-sharing about his recent trip to Southeast Asia. Even when it's busy, it's usually not deafening. As we get older, we hear more about "growing old gracefully." But what does this phrase actually mean? Do we stop fighting the greys and widening waistlines and just accept that it is all downhill from here? Or do we force back the hands of time as much as possible? Maybe it simply means that we take care of ourselves and live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, but not beat ourselves up about the things that we cannot change. Making your health a priority will allow you to fully embrace all of the fun adventures this new decade may bring. Some of our local health and fitness experts share their advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in our 50s. Its never too late to get in shape "Too often I have heard people tell me it's too late to get in shape! I'm too old! Nothing can be further from the truth," said Phil Nicolaou, PhD, NASM, IFPA, ISSA, NESTA, a senior training specialist. Nicolaou explained that easing into exercise can be as small as taking a 20-minute daily walk. "After training countless people over 50, I always start them slow, especially those that have not done anything, ever or for a while," Nicolaou said. For weight training beginners, Nicolaou recommends starting with a slow tempo (not moving the weight super fast) and working toward a set of 12-20 repetitions for the first month. He also likes to incorporate balance, core conditioning and flexibility into his training programs. Dont skip cancer screenings According to Carolyn Fang, co-leader of the cancer prevention and control program at Fox Chase Center, risk of cancer increases with age and there are a variety of factors that may contribute to this increased risk. "For example, there are age-related changes in biologic processes (e.g., weakening of the immune system, cellular senescence) that can be conducive to cancer development," Fang said. "In addition, the longer we live, the greater exposure we might have to various carcinogens such as environmental chemicals or radiation." In the U.S., the most common cancers are breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer. By age 50, both men and women who are of average risk and are asymptomatic should begin colon cancer screenings. When it comes to the prostate, Fang suggests that men talk with their doctors about the pros and cons associated with prostate cancer screening. Be kind to your eyes We depend on our sight for every part of our day, so if you start to notice a change in your vision, it can be worrisome. According to the American Optometric Association, once we hit our 40s, we may start to have more vision problems and this can continue to develop in our 50s and 60s. The most common problem is presbyopia, which causes difficulty seeing clearly at close distances. If you have never worn glasses before, you may need your first pair during this time, and if you already wear glasses you might need bifocal or multifocal lenses. John Liantonio, MD, assistant professor of family and community medicine at Thomas Jefferson University emphasized that keeping up with eye appointments at least every two years is important for ensuring that your eyes remain healthy. Keep in mind that health condition like diabetes and high blood pressure can affect your vision as well as certain medications. You should also know if you have a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration. Protect your heart health Our risk for heart disease increases as we age so now is the time to be vigilant. "Know your numbers weight, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure," said Bruce D. Klugherz, MD, director of the Abington Hospital Catherization Lab. "Also don't ignore early warning symptoms. It is important to recognize that heart disease is a masquerader." Unusual symptoms to watch out for include acid reflux, new onset of fatigue and onset of shortness of breath. Klugherz also added, "the biggest problem facing Americans is a lack of interest and dedication to fitness." Know your body While it is important for both men and women to be able to tell when something is off in their bodies, women at this time are particularly going through a big transition: menopause. Some women will experience it in their late 40's while others in their early 50s. Every woman's experience with menopause is different. Most common symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, irritability, sleep disorders and cycle disorders, decrease in libido and painful sex. Claire Robinson, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist with Einstein Hospital, said that many women worry that they are seriously ill because they don't realize that these symptoms are naturally occurring with menopause. Be sure to talk to your gynecologist about your symptoms and how to manage them better. Dont be afraid to ask for help "Many people in their 50's find themselves not only caring for children or grandchildren, but often taking on the additional responsibility of caring for elderly adults as well," explained Thomas E. Lawrence, MD, system medical director of geriatric medicine and long term care, Main Line Health. When your to-do list keeps growing, it can be hard to find time for healthy sleep, eating and exercise patterns that are essential to your health maintenance. Lawrence said it is important to acknowledge the stress you are under and to seek support when feeling overwhelmed. Schedule a routine well visit with your doctor "Generally speaking, one of the most important things we forget to do as we get older is to go to the doctor when we are healthy, not just when we are sick," said John C. Munshower, DO, FACSG of Main Line Health Center Primary Care in Newtown Square. Munshower said that health maintenance becomes more and more important as we get older. Schedule a routine well visit with your doctor, not only for the clinical exam, but also to discuss all the testing and medical care you will need based on your age and your underlying medical history. Women may want to talk to their doctor about getting screened for osteoporosis. This is the fifth installment in series on healthy living tips for every age group. Have a suggestion? Contact us at health@philly.com. Geekologie has shut down. Thank you to everybody. Now go be happy. FOREST CITY AnDa Union, a world-renown ensemble from Chinas Inner Mongolia, will be in Forest City Feb. 20-24, as part of the Arts Midwest World Fest. AnDa Unions music comes from the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia where various ethnic nomadic tribes have lived for centuries. AnDas music includes a combination of instruments, like horsehead fiddles, and vocal styles, like throat singing. Formed in 2000, the nine-strong band unite tribal and music traditions from all over Inner Mongolia. While AnDa Union is in Forest City, the group will host workshops and performances for all ages at the Forest City and North Iowa Schools districts, Waldorf University, Good Samaritan Center and the Forest City YMCA. Forest City Community Schools, Grow Forest City, Waldorf University and several local volunteers have partnered to coordinate and host the ensemble. The public is invited to a community concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. This performance is part of Waldorf Universitys Community Artist Series. Tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased prior to the event at the Forest City Chamber of Commerce or Waldorf Universitys Music Department. Ticket price for adults is $10, and youth are free. Forest City is fortunate to have AnDa Union, and the prior artists with the Arts Midwest Fest Partnership, come to our community, said Waldorf University President Bob Alsop. Its not often smaller communities like ours have the chance to host international ensembles at all let alone a full week. The music and culture AnDa Union will share is so different from what we normally experience. You wont want to miss this incredible opportunity." Arts Midwest, one of six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, partners with program sponsors like The National Endowment of the Arts and the 3M Foundation to cover a substantial portion of the program costs so that communities throughout the Midwest can enjoy this experience. Forest City was selected as one of only nine Midwestern cities to host the Arts Midwest World Fest and is the only partner community chosen in Iowa. Its a real honor to be part of this program, Alsop said.